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The world leader in integratedtechnology solutions dedicated to the soft goods industries,showcases its complete and integrated suite of solutions dedicatedto the manufacturing of Industrial Fabrics for the wind energyindustry at the WindPower 2008 Show. Held at the George R. BrownConvention Center in Houston, Texas, June 1 - 4, 2008, theWindpower 2008 Conference & Exhibition is expected to have over9,000 attendees. Lectra (booth #3501) will showcase its latestinnovations for the wind turbine industry. The WindPower 2008 Conference & Exhibition is North America'slargest wind energy industry event of the year. Gathering in Texas,the nation's number one market for wind power, Lectra's showcasedsolutions include DesignConcept 3D, its 3D/2D conception andindustrialization solution dedicated to industrial fabrics, and theVectorTechTexFX cutting solution for single and multiple plycutting. A complete and integrated offer dedicated to the processing ofindustrial fabrics for Wind Turbines. Today, all industrial fabrics manufacturers have one thing incommon: a need to produce a wide range of products with a very highlevel of precision. Ever-tighter shipment deadlines and controllingcosts are major strategic challenges. These companies are underconstant pressure to minimize material waste and reduce errors.Whether they make Formula 1 cars, wind turbine blades, boat hullsor aircraft components, they have their own specific needs anddemand totally dedicated solutions. All these challenges dictate that these businesses use the mostinnovative tools and secure processes to achieve success. Byoffering a truly and complete integrated range of solutions fromthe creation of 3D models all the way through cutting, Lectra isthe only integrated technology solutions (software, CAD/CAMequipment and associated services) supplier that can offer theindustrial fabrics manufacturers of wind turbine bladesflexibility, accuracy, control and success in their global process.Using a wide scope of proven technologies, Lectra ensures globalmanagement of product development through a complete set ofapplications associated with a value-added service offering. Wind energy has been the fastest growing energy source in the worldsince 1990. Wind power generating capacity increased by 27% in 2006and an additional 45% in 2007, proving wind is now a mainstreamoption for new power generation. "The high global demand for wind turbines is driving anunprecedented growth in the wind energy industry," said RoyShurling, Senior Vice President for Lectra's Worldwide Automotiveand Transportation Markets. "By offering a complete solution fromproduct design through manufacturing that results from our strongcommitment to innovation, Lectra's high performance solutions forthe conception, industrialization and cutting of industrial fabricsensure that our wind turbine clients are well positioned to meetthe needs of this growing sector." Lectra cutting solutions: power with intelligence At the show Lectra will present its newest VectorTechTex which isideally suited to wind turbine blade manufactures needing toprocess a variety of materials from pre-preg carbons, multiplelayer cutting of dry materials like fibreglass and even thecapability to cut some core materials such as phenolic honeycomb. The entire Lectra range of dedicated cutting solutions forindustrial fabrics brings the most advanced response to theproduction needs of manufacturers working with sophisticatedmaterials. Lectra's range incorporates a suite of cutting solutionsfor single ply low volume pre-preg materials to high volumemultilayer cutting of aramid materials such as fiberglass, Kevlar,Spectre and dry carbon. Lectra is the only company that can supplycutting solutions based on drag knife, wheel, laser and oscillatingknife technology to perfectly meet the challenges of its clients. Today, cutting precision and traceability are essential forcompanies processing industrial fabrics and Lectra solutions areperfectly adapted to these constraints. They are user friendly,provide process security, and have integrated features to ensuremaximum performance and production availability. High performance 3D/2D conception software Lectra will also present DesignConcept TechTex, its 3D/2Dconception and industrialization solution dedicated to advancedmaterials. Based on Lectra's solid experience in industrialmanufacturing solutions, this application provides powerful toolsto facilitate the analysis of product feasibility, finished productquality, and cost, thus enabling companies to make key decisions inthe product development phase of wind turbine blades and therebyreduce time to market and minimize costs. About Lectra Lectra is the world leader in integrated technology solutions(software, CAD/CAM equipment and associated services) dedicated tolarge-scale users of textiles, leather and industrial fabrics.Lectra addresses a broad array of major global markets, includingfashion (apparel, accessories, footwear), automotive, aeronauticaland furniture. Lectra serves 20,000 customers in more than 100countries with 1550 employees and $297 million in 2007 revenues.
This is the GINA Light Visionary Model, BMWs new research vehicle,and the fruit of a project that has been shaping the brand in termsof design, research and development, and manufacturing for nearly adecade. Click here to see more On the surface it looks like a modern day BMW sports car, allsculpted taut muscles, displaying an interactive flow of concaveand convex surfaces that has become the brands signature formlanguage. GINA, however, may look like a typical car, but is infact made of cloth. The virtually seamless polyethylene-coatedLycra Stretch Fabric is secured on a meshwork formed from metalwires. Individual elements of the aluminium substructure are movable.Electro-hydraulically controlled, they change their position tohelp the flexible fabric skin take on new shapes for a high degreeof personalisation. For instance the driver can activate a sensor to lift the beltlineslightly to form a more aggressive stance. Another slowly opens thedoor triggering almost shark-like creases across the profile. Onentering the stark cloth cabin, GINA awakens; the centre consoleand instrument panel swivel to almost cocoon the driver whilstinvisible headrests rise from the minimalist seats. The car is based on the Z8 chassis, BMWs first aluminium spaceframe roadster where the frame carries the crash and structuralload so that the rest of the car can have its own purposes. GINAwas conceptualised in California at the think-tank studioDesignworks, and later made into a full-scale sculpture by head ofexterior design Anders Warming in Munich.
Thing the little boy walking on the trail with his motheron Tuesday afternoon noticed was the broken sign hanging fromchains. He asked corduroy Brook Enhancement Association executive directorBarry Manuel if the wind broke it, but Mr. Manuel told the littleboy quietly that someone "broke that sign on purpose." The little boy said, "That is not very nice." Vandals were not nice at all to the walkways, hand-rails, garbagecontainers and signage on Friday night. Dozens of metres of handrails were rocked from their place andthrown into the ponds. Benches were also destroyed, along withdamage to signage. Mr. Manuel said there was a large group of teens, estimated torange in age from 12-16 years old, reportedly assembled at thewalking trail a short distance from the Conservation Place entrancethat night. The vandalism occurred sometime between 9 p.m. Friday night and 6a.m. Saturday morning. Mr. Manuel said it seems that group is the one responsible for thedamage. "You have 20-25 young people congregating here late on aFriday night and everything is in good order and then someone comesin here Saturday morning and everything is beat up, you can add twoand two," he said. "It seems to me the young people whotake part in these types of activities have no fear." He said unfortunately the vandals seem to have no worries of beingheld accountable for the damage they cause, since it appears thereare no consequences if they are caught and found guilty of theoffences. He said people should take some action about the needlessdestruction. "When you have no fear you have no respect, that is thebiggest problem, I think," said Mr. Manuel. "It is timefor someone to take a stand - all of us." He was unable to put a dollar figure on the damage, since most ofit was able to be repaired using existing materials, which werecarried out by volunteers from the association's board ofdirectors. Mr. Manuel pointed out vandalism is not specific to the trail andseems to be an increasing problem in Grand Falls-Windsor. Hebelieves it is a social problem that needs to be addressed. His organization has tried to be part of a solution over the yearsby engaging young people in activities and programs such as itssummer camps for kids, Alternative Measures and Skills Linkprograms in an effort to bring young people onside and teach theman appreciation for the outdoors. He suggested community groups and law enforcement should take therecent incident as a sign they have to take action to curb thevandals. "A long term solution may never be reached totally, but if youcome up with something it may help," said Mr. Manuel. "Town police, RCMP, the town and groups like ours need to sitdown and start discussing this problem because this is big. It isnot just here, it is everywhere. It's a tough one to tackle butunless we tackle it, it is not going to go away." Sgt. Harold Nippard of the Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP said the matteris under investigation. He called the vandalism "a senselessact." He said citizens can help police put a stop to vandalism by beingaware of their surroundings and calling on the RCMP when they seeanything suspicious. "Anyone using the trail or seeing anything unusual should callin and report it to us so we can have an opportunity to check itout," he said. "Do not confront them yourselves." Anyone with information pertaining to the investigation can callthe Grand Falls-Windsor RCMP at 489-2121 or Crime Stoppers at1-800-222-8477.
The Authoritative Book ‘ Friction in Wool Textile Materials’ Will Be a Standard Reference for the Textile Industry and ThoseResearching This Important Topic DUBLIN, Ireland--( BUSINESS WIRE )--Research and Markets ( http://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/c94089 ) has announced the addition of Friction In Textile Materials totheir offering. Friction is a major issue in both the production of textiles and inthe finished product. This authoritative book reviews how frictionoccurs and the ways it can be measured and controlled. The book begins by looking at how friction can be defined and howthe structure and properties of textile fibres lead to frictionbehaviour. It also discusses slip-stick phenomena in textiles andways of measuring friction in yarns and fabric. The second part ofthe book reviews friction in particular textiles, including cotton,wool and synthetic fibres as well as woven fabrics. These and otherchapters also discuss ways of controlling friction, includingfabric finishes and lubricants. With its distinguished editor and contributions from some of theworld ’ s leading authorities in the subject, Friction in textile materialswill be a standard reference for the textile industry and thoseresearching this important topic. Content Outline: PART 1 UNDERSTANDING FRICTION IN TEXTILES Textile fiber morphology, structure and properties in relation tofriction B S Gupta, North Carolina State University, USA Introduction. Fiber classification. Formation of man-made fibers.Concepts of semi-crystalline two-phase structures of fibers.Structure and morphology of textile fibers. Fiber properties.Summary. References. Fundamental concepts of friction and lubrication affecting textilefibers B S Gupta, North Carolina State University, USA Introduction. The basic laws of friction. Adhesion-shearing theory.Slip-stick patterns in sliding. The role of surface roughness.Deformation and ploughing. The area of contact between metals. Theformation and growth of junctions. Normal adhesion. The effect ofhardness on friction. Heating at junctions during sliding. Theeffect of speed on friction. Wear and abrasion. Frictional behaviorof elastomers. Rolling friction. The frictional behavior ofpolymers and fibers. The relationship describing friction inpolymers and fibers. Lubrication. Lubrication of polymers andfibers. Friction between lubricated fibers. Summary.Acknowledgments. References. Friction behaviour of fibrous materials used in textiles B S Gupta, North Carolina State University, USA Introduction. Differences in structure and properties of fibers,metals and elastomers. Classical friction behavior. Frictionalbehavior of fibers in experimental investigations. A structuralmodel of friction behavior. Generalized equations and the structureof the friction constants a and n. Factors playing a role infriction. Experimental results from selected studies. Summary.Glossary. Acknowledgements. References. Stick-slip phenomena in textiles R Kovar, Technical University of Liberec, Czech Republic, B SGupta, North Carolina State University, USA and Z Kus, TechnicalUniversity of Liberec, Czech Republic Introduction. Physical basis of stick-slip phenomena (SSP). Impactof SSP on textiles. Review of experimental principles for measuringSSP. Experimental results. Rheological description of SSP. Scopefor future research on SSP in textiles. Sources of furtherinformation. Glossary. Acknowledgements. References. Experimental methods for analyzing friction in textiles B S Gupta, North Carolina State University, USA, J O Ajayi,Abubaker University, Nigeria and M. Kutsenko, GoulstonTechnologies, USA Introduction. Relevance of test methods to processing and use oftextiles. Friction models and parameters. Classification of testmethods. Fundamental test methods based on rectilinear motion.Measurement of friction in fabrics. Fabric surface roughnesscharacterization. Subjective assessment of friction. Summary:testing friction in fabrics. Standard test methods and commerciallyavailable friction meters for yarns. Standard friction tests forstaple fibers and nonwovens. Standard friction test and commercialapparatus for fabics; the KES system. References. PART 2 FRICTION IN PARTICULAR TEXTILE FIBRES, STRUCTURES ANDPROCESSES Friction and surface characteristics of cotton fibers Y E El-Mogahzy, Auburn University, USA Introduction. Cotton fiber surface and frictional characteristicsat the microscopic level. Cotton fiber surface and frictionalcharacteristics at the macroscopic level. Cotton surfacetreatments. Summary. References. Friction, felting and shrink-proofing of wool J A Rippon, Deakin University, Australia Introduction. The chemical and physical structure of wool. Surfacefriction of wool. Shrinkage of wool. Methods of reducing thefelting shrinkage of wool. Commercial shrink-resist processes.Future trends in the shrink-resist treatment of wool. Summary.References. Friction and surface characteristics of synthetic fibers Y E El-Mogahzy, Auburn University, USA Introduction. The developments of synthetic fibers. Surfacecharacterization of synthetic fibers. Surface wettability. Surfacecleanability and decontamination. Surface lubrication. Frictionbehavior in wet media. The stick-slip phenomenon. Surface finish.Summary. References. The role of fiber friction in staple fiber processing V K Kothari and A Das, Indian Institute of Technology Introduction. Friction in fibers. The importance of fiber frictionin staple yarn formation. Changes in fiber friction duringspinning. Control of fiber friction by spin finish. Fiber frictionat different stages of spinning. Product quality. References. Friction in woven fabrics J O Ajayi, Abubaker University, Nigeria Introduction. Definition of fabric friction. Stick-slip motion infabrics. Geometric considerations in woven fabrics. The effects offabric structure on friction. The effects of yarn friction. Theeffects of finishing treatments on fabric friction. The effects oftesting variables. Surface classification. Summary. Glossary.References. Finishes and treatments to control friction in textile fibers M Kutsenko and T W Theyson, Goulston Technologies, USA Introduction. Using the Stribeck lubrication curve to analysefriction in fibers. Fabric finishes and high speed yarn-to-solidbody friction. Fabric finishes and low speed fiber-to-fiberfriction. Summary. References. Boundary lubrication phenomena in coated textile surfaces Y Li and J P Hinestroza, Cornell University, USA Introduction. Using lateral force microscopy to analyse frictionbehavior. Effect of lubricant properties on friction behavior.Types of textile lubricant. Boundary lubrication phenomena intextile materials. Summary. Glossary. References.
Coimbatore: Low carry-over stock of 43 lakh bales (170 kg each) is behind thesky-rocketing of raw cotton prices this year, says the textileindustry. According to B K Patodia, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director ofGTN Textiles Ltd, the ending stock at 43 lakh bales amounted to 18per cent of the stock-in-use ratio and this low carry-over has ledto soaring of domestic cotton prices, whereas the global averagestock-in-use for 2007-08 is 44 per cent. More India business stories Some of Indias competitors such as China, Pakistan and Turkey havehigher stock-to-use cotton ratio of 34 per cent, 35 per cent and 31per cent respectively. Allowing export disproportionate to itsdomestic consumption has created imbalance in demand and supply,Patodia felt. He held that cotton export should be below 20 per cent of the crop.He also felt the need for levying 5 per cent duty on cotton exportas exporting Indian cotton at low prices would amount tosubsidising foreign buyers. Alternatively, he wanted the duty oncotton imports be removed or brought down to 5 per cent. One of the traditional tools of Cotton Textile Materials industry in arrivingat the comfort zone of raw material buffer at the end of the cottonbudget (Oct-Sept) year is estimating the stock-to-use ratio ofcotton (namely, the stock left as a percentage to the totalconsumption demand) available by end-September (when the cottonyear closes). The thumb rule from industry stalwarts stipulates a carryover stockequivalent to an average three months cotton consumption by theindustry or 25 per cent of stock-to-use ratio that will allow theindustry to retain consistency in production. As per the current consumption figures, the average monthlyconsumption of cotton by the textile industry is put at 22 lakhbales and hence the total desirable level of carryover stock willbe 66 lakh bales. The balance sheet for 2007-08 worked out at theCotton Advisory Board (CAB) meet last month has spelt the closingstock for the season at 43 lakh bales, one of the lowest evercarry-over stocks in recent times, according to the industry. According to the CAB worksheet for 2007-08 cotton season, of thetotal estimated cotton supply of 369 lakh bales (comprising a finalestimated production of 315 lakh bales along with an opening stockof 47.50 lakh bales and imports of another 6.50 lakh bales), thetotal demand for mill consumption and non-mill consumption is putat 241 lakh bales (comprising organised mill consumption of 203lakh bales, SSI mill consumption of 23 lakh bales and non millconsumption of 15 lakh bales). More India business stories Besides, the balance sheet has also worked out the total cottonexports for the yearat an all-time high of 85 lakh bales which,according to the industry, represents 27 per cent of the total cropand is responsible for eroding the closing stock.
The company plans to roll out the stores across the country. " planto open 700 stores over the next three years in metros and tier-2and tier-3 cities," Nikhil Sen, director, Rosebys interiors India,told Business Standard. Unlike its multi brand outlets in the UK, which are known asRosebys Interiors', the stores in India will be single brandstores under the name Rosebys London' sporting a tagline -Inspiring your imagination. Apart from company owned stores, amajor part of expansion will come through the franchisee route. According to Sen, in India out of the Rs 15,000-crore home linenvertical, the organised sector accounts for only Rs 3,000 crore andis growing at an annual rate of 8-10 per cent, providing ampleopportunity to a format like Rosebys. Going by the new on-the-go culture in the country, the company istargeting working segment in the age group of 25-35 year in thecountry. " aim at providing affordable luxury for everyday lifestyle topeople along with helping them save time and money and giving thema feel good environment. Our stores will be very approachable andwill cultivate experiential buying in the country," Sen added. Another growth opportunity the company has identified is gifting. "something is good for you it is also good enough to be gifted andthat change in psyche gives us a great opportunity," Sen said. Like its stores in the UK, Rosebys India will provide complete homefurnishings and lifestyle products from bedding, curtains tokitchen and children's room accessories.Rosebys, has over 320stores across the UK and is one of the biggest home Textile Accessories retailchain company in the UK. While the major part of Rosebys products will be manufactured atGHCL's Vapi plant, the company also plans to source them fromcontract manufacturers in India and abroad.
Astana, June 10 (IANS) Spurred by the success of the Palace onWheels and other luxury train services in India, Kazakhstan hassought help from India’s tourism ministry for similarpackages along the famous Silk Route that dates back over twomillennia. “We would like to have a luxury train along theSilk Route, which is similar to India’s luxury trains,including the Palace on Wheels,” Kazakh Vice Minister forTourism and Sports Kairbek Uskenbayev said. “We could even consider joint partnerships to improve thequality of our product,” Uskenbayev told IANS after attendinga presentation organised here by the Indian tourism ministry. The presentation, at the invitation of the Kazakh government, wasto address tour operators, hoteliers, investors and officials onbrand and logo development for the hospitality industry and sharetheir expertise in luxury trains. Officials said a train service on the Silk Route via Kazakhstanruns through Central Asia covering Kyrgyzstan, Azerbaijan,Turkmenistan and Tajikistan, but the tracks needed to bestandardised to broad gauge and wagons upgraded. The new luxury train will be a part of five tourism projects onKazakhstan’s list of priorities for which it has a budgetexceeding $30 billion, explained the Kazakh tourism and sportsminister. The Silk Route, which dates back to around 110 BC, stretched fromChina and the Indian subcontinent to Central Asia and Europe. Itwas used not only by the traders to transport their merchandise butalso by monks, pilgrims and soldiers. Kazakhstan’s economy is expanding as fast as India’sand China’s with a growth of 10 percent expected this year,due mainly to its huge hydrocarbon reserves and mineral resources. M.N Javed, deputy director with India’s ministry of tourism,said as part of the growing bilateral ties, a two-day road showwill be held in Almaty this September to push the relationshipfurther, especially in the hospitality sector. The event will coincide with a meeting of mayors from citiesfalling on the Silk Route train service to discuss common visas topresent the region as a single tourist destination. “We would like to learn from India’s experience inbrand building to build our own brand,” said Uskenbayev,referring to the Incredible India campaign of the Indian tourismministry that has secured worldwide acclaim. At present Kazakhstan receives around six million visitors a yearwith a target to grow to 10 million by upgrading its infrastructureover the next four years. With business and tourism traffic between India and Kazakhstanexpected to grow further in the near future, Air Astana is hopingto expand its services to India, the airline’s PresidentPeter Foster said. The airline, 51 percent owned by the Kazakh government and the restwith BAE Systems of Britain, wants to step up its scheduledservices to New Delhi to three this summer from the present two,Foster said. The professionally managed Air Astana was recently declared thefourth fastest growing airline in the world by Airline Businessmagazine. It plans to induct two more A-320s in the next two monthsto expand its fleet to 21 aircraft.
Yoga Workshop for Women Over 40, core and more, focus on strength,flexibility, and balance; June 21, 10 a.m. to noon, Plasha YogaStudio. Cost: $15. Call 864-1114. Senior Women's Exercise Classes, ongoing every Monday, Wednesdayand Friday, 10 a.m., It Figures East, 2016 Station Road. Cost: $5per class, free for Foreverfit and Silver & Fit members. Call ItFigures 899-6333 for details. Stress reduction Recovery from Divorce workshops; For Women, Wednesday, 7 to 8 p.m.;For Men, June 18, 7 to 8 p.m., Hamot Health Connection. Cost: $5,full reimbursement for HealthAmerica members. Call to sign up. Prevention Heading Off Migraines, Thursday, 6 to 7 p.m., Hamot HealthConnection. Cost: $5, full reimbursement for HealthAmericanmembers. Call to sign up. Highmark Osteoporosis Prevention and Education Program, H.O.P.E.,six-week bone health program that includes exercise, nutrition andstress management; Wednesdays, June 25 to July 30, 10 a.m. to noon;Hamot Wellness Center. Cost: $90, full reimbursement for HealthAmerica members, no charge for Highmark members. Call to sign up. Nutrition Personal Nutrition Coaching by appointment, Hamot Wellness Center.Cost: $50 initial consult; $35 follow-up consults; free forHighmark members. Call to sign up. Safety First Aid, CPR, AED, adults and infants; also CPR, AED for theprofessional rescuer; all at Greater Erie County Chapter of theAmerican Red Cross, 4961 Pittsburgh Ave. Registration and advancedpayment required. Call 833-0942, Ext. 245. Eight-hour AARP driver safety class, Wednesday and Thursday, 9 a.m.to 1 p.m., Millcreek Municipal Building, 3608 W. 26th St.; alsoJune 18 and 19, 5 to 9 p.m. Call Judy Zelina at 833-1111 toregister. Four-hour AARP driver safety class, June 19, 9 a.m. to 1p.m., Erie Center on Health and Aging, 406 Peach St. All AARPdriving classes are offering a Bring-A-Friend special until June15. Bring a friend and class is only $10 for both of you. It isnormally $10 per person. Call Lois at 866-2072. Screenings Mammograms for Women Without Insurance; Tuesday, St. Mary's atAsbury Ridge, 4855 West Ridge Road.21 Call to schedule appointment,383-9000 or (800) 477-6647. Erie Center on Health and Aging screenings, free blood-pressurescreenings, $10 cholesterol tests, and $5 blood-sugar colorectalcancer test; Monday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Millcreek MunicipalBuilding, 3608 W. 26th St.; Thursday, 9:30 to 11:30 a.m., Erie WestSenior Center, 1210 W. Eighth St.; Thursday, 2:15 to 3:30 p.m.,Blasco Library Senior Program, 160 E. Front St.; Call 453-5072. Ongoing Noon-Time Classes, 12:10 p.m., at the Hamot Wellness Center; BodyBlast, Mondays; Cardio Step, Tuesdays; Cardio Step, Wednesdays;Strength Circuit, Thursdays; Basic Kickboxing, Fridays. Cost: $5,free for Wellness Center members. Call 877-7030. After-work group fitness classes, Hamot Wellness Center; BasicKickboxing, Mondays, 5:25 p.m.; Body Blast, Mondays, 4:45 p.m.;Step and Sculpt, Tuesdays, 5 p.m.; Core and Stretch, Tuesdays, 5:50p.m.; BOSU 101, Wednesdays, 4 p.m.; Head-to-Toe yoga, Wednesdays, 5p.m.; Body Blast, Wednesdays, 4:45 p.m.; Basic Kickboxing,Wednesdays, 5:25 p.m.; Step and Sculpt, Thursdays, 5 p.m.; AdvancedYoga, Thursdays, 5:30 p.m.; Core and Stretch, Thursdays, 5:50 p.m.Cost: $5, free for Wellness Center members. Call 877-7030. Titleist Performance Institute Golf Screening, by appointment.Determines any physical limitations that might be impeding agolfer's swing and includes 18-session customized workout programand reevaluation. Lawrence Park Golf Club, 3700 East Lake Road.Cost: $90. Call Jennifer Eberlein at 572-7997. Fitness Basics, Tuesdays, 3:45 to 4:30 p.m.; AbdominalStrengthening, Tuesdays, noon to 12:30 p.m.; Saint Vincent HealthCenter Medical Office Building. Cost: $20. Call to sign up. SilverSneakers classes; YogaStretch, Muscular Strength, CardioCircuit; Hamot Wellness Center. Cost: $5, no charge to eligibleHighmark members. Call to sign up. American Red Cross Babysitting Training, will schedule as peoplesign up, to be held at the Salvation Army, 1022 Liberty St. Free.Call 454-6497. Free blood-pressure screening, first Thursday of each month, 11:30a.m. to 1 p.m.; Hamot Health Connection. Call to sign up. Free blood-pressure check, second Tuesday of each month, TidiouteSenior Center, 174 Main St., 11 a.m. to noon. Call (814) 827-1851. Free blood-pressure check, first Thursday of each month, 10 a.m.to 4 p.m., Titusville Area Hospital Chapel. Call (814) 827-1851,Ext. 548. Free STD testing, Mondays, 9 to 11 a.m.; Wednesdays, 1 to 3 p.m.;and Thursdays, 3 to 5 p.m., Erie County Department of Health, 606W. Second St. Testing is confidential. Call 451-6700. Yoga Classes, all levels from gentle to vigorous, Plasha YogaStudio, 10 E. Fifth St. Cost: $8 to $10. Call 864-1114 for classtimes and days. Multi-Level Flow Yoga for all Levels, Beginner Yoga, Advanced YogaVigorous and Challenging Flow Yoga, Barefoot Buddha, 2225 ColonialAve. Cost: $4 to $10. Call 838-0350 or visit www.barefootbuddhayogastudio.com . Personal Nutrition Coaching, Titusville Area Hospital, byappointment. Free to Highmark Members, $25 to $50 for nonmembers.Call (814) 827-1851 or (800) 950-1851, Ext. 548. Mommy and Me Playgroup, first and third Tuesdays of every month,10 a.m., Saint Vincent Women's Center. Free. Call to sign up. Breakfast Bunch Walking Program for adults 18 and older, breakfastafter walk, Mondays through Fridays, 8:30 a.m., Erie Center onHealth and Aging, 406 Peach St.. Also Fit for Life Fitness Classeswith Nancy Adams, Tuesdays from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.; Line dancingclasses with Charlyne Sebald, Thursdays, 10 to 11 a.m., Free. Call453-5072. Breakfast Bunch Tai Chi and Strength Training Classes for adults18 and older through the Erie Center on Health and Aging, Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., classes held at MartinLuther King Center, 312 Chestnut St. Free. Call 453-5072. Healthy Steps, fall prevention and home safety one-day workshops,for men and women 50 and older, offered through Erie Center onHealth and Aging. Includes lunch. Free. Call Nancy Adams toschedule a workshop for your group or organization, 453-5072, Ext.21. Jin Shin Do Acupressure Services, heal physical and emotionaltension and pain, improve immunity, Hamot Health Connection. Cost:$75 for 75 minute session. Call to sign up. Menopause Coaching and Cholesterol Coaching, private consultationwith registered nurse, Hamot Health Connection. Cost: $40 forone-hour appointment. Call to sign up. Cardiac Fitness Club, instructor-led low-impact aerobics, strengthtraining, recreational volleyball, health education classes andsocial support activities; Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30p.m., Emerson Gridley Elementary School, 816 Park Ave. North. Free.Call Walt Hoener at 868-6437 or Dan Landsberg at 864-3672. Yoga at all levels, including for beginners, Saturdays, 8:30 to9:30 a.m.; head-to-toe yoga on Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.;advanced yoga on Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.; YogaStretch --Chair-Assisted Yoga Exercises, Wednesdays, 10:15 to 11 a.m. andFridays, 9:15 to 10 a.m., Hamot Wellness Center. Cost: $5 perclass, packages available. Call to sign up. Free body-fat analysis, third Thursday of each month, 9:30 to10:30 a.m., Titusville Area Hospital, 406 W. Oak St. Call (814)827-1851. Childbirth preparation, breast-feeding, playgroups, CPR andgrandparent classes now forming, Saint Vincent Women's Center.Cost: $35 to no charge. Call to sign up. Cardio sculpting classes Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays, 5:30to 6:30 p.m.; fitball classes, Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m.,Millcreek Cheer-n-Dance, 4919 Pacific Ave. Cost: $30 per month.Call 833-6299. Strength training, Tuesdays, 12:30 to 1 p.m.; beginner Pilates,Tuesdays 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.; cardio combo, Tuesdays, 5 to 6 p.m.;abs, Wednesdays, 12:30 to 1 p.m.; yoga, Thursdays, 7 to 8:30 p.m.;cross training, Thursdays, 3:45 to 4:30 p.m.; Pilates/fit ball,Fridays, noon to 12:30 p.m. Saint Vincent HealthU Happenings. Costsvary. Call 452-5619. Group Fitness Yoga Classes, Beginners, Saturdays, 8:30 to 9:30a.m.; Head-To-Toe Yoga, Wednesdays, 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.; AdvancedYoga, Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. Hamot Wellness Center. Call tosign up. Exercise classes at Saint Vincent Health Center, StrengthTraining, Tuesdays, from 12:30 to 1 p.m.; Beginner Pilates,Tuesdays from 3:45 to 4:45 p.m.; Cardio Combo, Tuesdays, 5 to 6p.m.; Abs, Wednesdays, 12:30 to 1 p.m.; Yoga, Thursdays, 7 to 8:30p.m.; Cross Training, Thursdays, 3:45 to 4:30 p.m. Cost: $20 to$50. Call to sign up. Personal Fitness Coaching, Hamot Wellness Center, by appointment.Call to sign up. Self Defense for Kids, Mondays 6 to 7 p.m., Saturdays 10 to 11a.m., Hamot Wellness Center. Cost: $5 per class. Call to sign up. Kidz Get Fit, Saturdays, 11:15 to noon, Hamot Wellness Center.Cost: $5 per class. Call to sign up. Noon-time exercise classes, Mondays through Fridays, beginning at12:10 p.m., Hamot Wellness Center. Call to sign up. Body Blast, Mondays 5:25 to 5:55 p.m.; Wednesdays 4:45 to 5:15p.m., Hamot Wellness Center. Call to sign up. Cardio Step, Tuesdays, 12:10 to 12:40 p.m., Hamot Wellness Center.Call to sign up. Cardio Boot Camp, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., HamotWellness Center. Call to sign up. Free Breakfast Bunch Walking Program, for adults age 18 and older,Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m., Erie Center on Health & Aging.,406 Peach Street. Free breakfast after walk. Call Nancy Adams at453-5072. Free Breakfast Bunch Tai Chi & Strength Training Classes, Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Open to adults age18 and older. Classes held at Martin Luther King Center. Call453-5072. Prime Time Health Fitness Classes, Erie Center on Health & Aging,406 Peach Street on Tuesdays from 9:30 to 10:15 a.m. Call 453-5072. Line Dancing classes, Thursdays from 10 to 11 a.m. at Erie Centeron Health & Aging, 406 Peach Street. $2 per class. Call 453-5072for further details. After-Work Water Aerobics Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, 5:30 to6:30 p.m., Villa Maria swimming pool, 2551 W. Eighth St. Call838-5451 Ext. 229. Lifeguarding Classes and Lifeguarding and CPR/PR Recertification,Villa Maria swimming pool, call 838-5451, Ext. 229, for dates,times, and cost. Aerobics, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Holy RosarySchool Gym, 1012 E. 28th St. Cost: $2 per class. Call 459-7567. Aquatic exercise program for people with fibromyalgia Tuesdays andThursdays, Eberle's Physical Therapy, Edinboro. Call 734-7444 fordetails. Gentle Exercise, Mondays and Wednesdays, 10:30 to 11:30 a.m.,Hamot Health Connection. Cost $48 for 16 sessions. Call to sign up. Strength Training, Mondays and Wednesdays, 3:30 to 4:20 p.m. or4:30 to 5:20 p.m., Hamot Health Connection. Cost: $48 for 16sessions. Call to sign up. Water Aerobics Class Tuesdays and Thursdays at 9 a.m., Wednesdaysat 10 a.m., Tuesdays at 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays at 10:30 a.m. VillaMaria Center Swimming Pool, 2551 W. Eighth St. Cost: $6 per classor $50 for 10 classes. Call 838-5451, Ext. 229. Arthritis Water Exercise Class Mondays and Wednesdays at 10 a.m.,Villa Maria Center Swimming Pool, 2551 W. Eighth St. Cost: $6 perclass or $50 for 10 classes. Call 838-5451, Ext. 229. Deep-Water Aerobics, Mondays 10 a.m., Villa Maria Center SwimmingPool, 2551 W. Eighth St., Cost: 6 per class or $50 for 10 classes. Advanced Yoga, Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., Hamot Wellness Center, 300State St. Cost: $5. Call to sign up. Just for Jocks, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 10 a.m., Titusville Health& Aging, 714 E. Main St., Titusville. Call (814) 827-9134. Yoga for Seniors, Mondays and Fridays, 11 a.m., Titusville Health& Aging, 714 E. Main St., Titusville. Call (814) 827-9134. Pilates, 6:30 p.m. daily, Saint Vincent Health Center's McGarveyLearning Center. Cost: $20 for six sessions. Call to sign up. Yoga, 7 p.m. daily. Saint Vincent Health Center's McGarveyLearning Center. Cost: $20 for six sessions. Call to sign up. Aquatics exercise program for people with fibromyalgia, Tuesdaysand Thursdays, Eberle's Physical Therapy, Edinboro. Co-sponsored bythe Arthritis Foundation. Call 734-7444. Aerobics and Strength Class Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 6:30p.m., Saturdays, 8:30 to 9:30 a.m., Holy Rosary Catholic Churchgymnasium, 1012 E. 28th St. Cost: $2 per class. Call 459-7567. Fitness class for men age 60 and older, Mercy Center on Aging, 444E. Grandview Blvd. Call 824-2214. After-Work Water Aerobics, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30to 6:30 p.m., Villa Maria Elementary School, 2551 W. Eighth St.After Wednesday, Tuesdays only. Call 838-5451, Ext. 229. Yoga Classes Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays for various skilllevels, Studio at Panterra, 8579 Hardscrabble Road, Westfield, N.Y.Cost $90 for a nine-week course. Call (716) 326-3993. Mercy Center on Aging offers exercise classes for people age 60and older. Call 824-2214. Breakfast Bunch Tai Chi and Strength Training classes, Mondays,Wednesdays and Fridays, 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., Martin Luther KingCenter, 312 Chestnut St. Call 453-5072. Prime Time Health Fitness Classes, Tuesdays, 9:30 to 10:15 a.m.,Erie Center on Health and Aging, 406 Peach St. Call 453-5072. Pi-Robics, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 5:30 p.m., Hamot WellnessCenter. Cost: $5. Call to sign up. Basic Kickboxing, Mondays and Wednesdays at 5:25 p.m., HamotWellness Center. Cost: $5. Call to sign up. Gung-Fu Self Defense classes for adults with Master Sam Copeland,Mondays and Thursdays, 6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Hamot Wellness Center.Cost: $5. Call to sign up. Cardio Dance, Mondays and Wednesdays at 4:45, Hamot WellnessCenter. Call to sign up. Get on the Ball Workout, Wednesdays, 6 to 7 a.m., Hamot WellnessCenter. Call to sign up. Boot Camp Wednesdays, 12:10 to 12:40 p.m., Hamot Wellness Center.Call to sign up. Therapeutic Massage by appointment, Inner Balance Pilates Studio,2503 W. 15th St. Cost: $60 per hour or $40 per half hour. Call833-2300. Smoking Cessation Classes, Erie County Department of Health. Free.Call 451-7855. Also, Internet cessation class at www.quitnet.com and telephone cessation at (800) QUIT-NOW. Yoga for Women, Mondays and/or Thursdays, 5:30 to 7 p.m. Cost: $8per class or $45 for six weeks. Call 452-4098 or e-mail juliazen02@yahoo.com . Yoga fitness class, Tuesdays, 7 p.m., Willie Blanks FitnessCenter, 2315 W. 12th St. Cost: $5 per class. Call 454-0975. Exerball class, Tuesdays, 8 a.m., Willie Blanks Fitness Center,2315 W. 12th St. Call 454-0975. Yogalates, Willie Blanks Fitness Center, 2315 W. 12th St. Call454-0975. Walking, Monday through Friday, 8:30 to 9 a.m., by Erie Center onHealth & Aging, 406 Peach St., or at Gannon Recreation Center.Free. Call 453-5072. Tai Chi/Strength, Training Monday, Wednesday and Friday, 9:30 to10:30 a.m., Martin Luther King Center, 312 Chestnut St. Free. Call453-5072. Primetime Fitness, Tuesdays, 9:30 to 10:15 a.m., Erie Center onHealth & Aging, 406 Peach St. Free. Call 453-5072. Line dancing, Thursdays, 10 to 11 a.m., Erie Center on Health &Aging, 406 Peach St. Cost: $2 per class. Call 453-5072. Jazzercise, Mondays and Wednesdays, 5:45 p.m., Tuesdays andThursdays, 9:30 a.m., Kuhl Hose Co. Social Hall, Route 8, GreeneTownship. Call 825-7196. Kripalu Yoga Classes, Goddess Peach Skin Care, 1360 W. 11th St. Cost:$10 per class. Call 453-7847. Fun and Fitness class for special needs, Mondays, 6 to 7 p.m.,Erepa Grotto/Saga Club, 3828 Washington St. Cost: $35; free forcaregivers. Call 833-3419. After-Work Water Aerobics Class, Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays,5:30 to 6:30 p.m., Villa Maria Center pool, 2551 W. Eighth St.Cost: $6 per class or $50 for 10 classes. Call 838-5451, Ext. 229. Tai Chi, Mondays and Thursdays, 5:30 to 6 p.m., Whole Life Healthand Education Center. Cost: $35 per month. Call to sign up. Head-to-Toe Yoga, Wednesdays, 4:30 p.m., Hamot Wellness Center.Cost: $5. Call to sign up. Boot Camp high-energy drills, Fridays, 5:15 to 6 p.m., HamotWellness Center. Cost: $5; group fitness package available.Designed for all fitness levels. Call to sign up. Tai Chi classes Tuesdays, 1 p.m., and Thursdays, 6 p.m., BethanyLutheran Congregation of Luther Memorial, 254 E. 10th St. Half-hourclasses led by Ed Matthews. Cost: $5 per person. Call 456-6254. Total Fitness conditioning classes for people age 60 and olderMondays, 9 or 10 a.m.; Tuesdays, 8:45 a.m.; and Fridays, 8:30 or9:30 a.m., Mercy Center on Aging, 444 E. Grandview Blvd. Cost: $3per class. Call 824-2214. Pilates on the mat, Tuesdays, 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., and Thursdays,5:15 to 6 p.m., Hamot Wellness Center. $5 per class. Call to signup. Cardio Circuit, Tuesdays, 12:10 to 12:40 p.m., Hamot WellnessCenter. Call to sign up. Aerobics and Strength Classes, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 6 to 7:15p.m., Belle Valley Fire Department Social Hall, 1514 Norcross Road.Cost: $3 per class. Call 875-3229. Pilates, Yoga and Fitness Ball classes, Mondays through Sundays,Nautilus Fitness & Racquet Club, 2312 W. 15th St. Cost fornonmembers: $8 per class or five for $32. Call 459-3033. Silver Sneakers I Muscular Strength Class, Tuesdays and Thursdays,9:15 to 10 a.m., Hamot Wellness Center. Cost: $5 for nonmembers,free for center and Highmark members. Call to sign up. Stroller Class, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 9:15 a.m., and Wednesdays,6:15 a.m., Millcreek Mall. Call 452-6441. Full-Figure Fitness Classes, YMCA, 31 W. 10th St. Call 452-3261,Ext. 228. Sibling Classes, third Saturday of alternating months, 10 to 11:30a.m., Titusville Area Hospital. 406 W. Oak St., Titusville. Free.Call (800) 950-1851, Ext. 548. Understanding Relationships Classes for women; various times forGirard, Union City and Corry residents. All classes, sponsored byMercy Center for Women, are free. Call 455-4577. Yoga Classes for women with certified yoga teacher, Mondays, 5:30to 7 p.m., White Tara Yoga, 1132 W. Ninth St. Cost: $45 forsix-week session. Call 452-4098. Simply Lite by Jazzercise, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8 a.m. Cost:$25 per month. Call 835-0244. Team Dance by Jazzercise, Saturdays, 11 a.m. to noon. Cost: $25per month. Call 835-0244. Staying Fit, strength, cardio and flexibility classes, Tuesdays,6:30 to 7:30 p.m., Union City Senior Center, 27 Johnson St. Call438-7203. Step N' Sculpt, Tuesdays and Thursdays at 4:45 p.m., HamotWellness Center. Call to sign up. Cardiac Fitness Club & Family Support Program exercise program,Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays, 5:30 p.m., Emerson-Gridley School,816 N. Park Ave. Call 453-4767. Clinician's Day Saturdays, 1 to 4 p.m., Whole Life Health andEducation Center. Services offered by the center's practitioners.Call 833-7333. MS Swim Program, Gertrude A. Barber National Institute pool, 100Barber Place. Participants have choice of two of four classesoffered at various times throughout the week. Free. Doctor's noterequired stating that the person is able to participate in anaquatics program. Call 878-4071. Stott Pilates, Mondays and Fridays, 11 a.m., and Wednesdays, 1p.m., Marguerite's Academy of Dance, 4433 West Ridge Road. Call833-7553. Mat Pilates, Wednesdays, noon, Hamot Wellness Center. Call to signup.
Food Packing Box In many parts of the world food is in very short supply, and it hasbeen reported that 18,000 children die each day from starvation orstarvation related cases. Jim Russell's involvement with Feed My Starving Children beganalmost three years ago while he was visiting his daughter and herfamily in St. Paul, Minn. His 15-year-old grandson told him that he was volunteering to packfood for needy children as a public service project, and invitedhim to go along. Russell and his grandson helped to pack 5,000meals and Jim became totally hooked on the importance of becoming apart of this vital relief organization. He "talks-up" the programwhenever an opportunity presents itself at his church, and duringhis other volunteer activities, in an effort to recruit volunteersto help with the packing at mobile packing events that are held atlocal churches, synagogues, schools and corporations, and at thepermanent site in Aurora. "I love children, and I feel this is a worthy cause," Russell said."Packing food for Feed My Starving Children is something that thewhole family can get involved in, and is a way of teaching thechildren by example that it is important to help people in need." Feed My Starving Children was founded in 1987, and is a nonprofitChristian organization with headquarters in Brooklyn Park, Minn.Their mission is "Feeding God's Starving Children Hungry in Bodyand Spirit." Volunteers of all ages pack highly nutritious mealsfor severely malnourished children that are distributed in morethan 50 countries around the world. The meals consist of rice,textured soy protein, dehydrated vegetables, 20 vitamins andminerals with a vegetarian chicken flavoring, and each meal has allthe nutrients a starving child needs for an entire day. The meals cost 17 cents each, and the ingredients are purchasedentirely through donations. The meals are hand packaged and sealedin bags by volunteers who work in teams to measure and weigh theingredients, and then packed into boxes for shipping. Feed MyStarving Children partners with missionaries in over 50 countrieswho help assure that meals are given to children who need them themost, and are distributed in schools, orphanages, refugee camps,and relief centers in Haiti, Tanzania, Indonesia, Sudan, Cambodia,Peru, Swaziland, the Philippines, and dozens of other countries. Permanent packing locations are located in Brooklyn Park, Eagan,and Chanhassen, Minn.; a new location is open in Aurora, and plansare underway to open a site in Rolling Meadows by the end of 2008. Last year, 40 million meals were shipped and their goal is to ship55 million during 2008. Because all the packaging of the food isdone by volunteers, 95 percent of all donations received during2007-08 went directly to the feeding program. Russell is very active at St. Raymond's Catholic Church in MountProspect, where he serves as a minister of care and takes communionto the homebound, and as a bereavement minister of care, whichinvolves assisting families to plan funerals and assisting toconduct funerals. He also volunteers as a PADS (homeless shelter)volunteer.
Packaging Tins CONTROVERSY and sex are a potent marketing mix. At least, thatseems to be the gamble of Melbourne-based condom company LegendsRubbers, which is about to launch prophylactic packaging featuringworks by controversial local artist Hazel Dooney. There's a long history of artists collaborating with products— from the much-coveted Louis Vuitton stylings of TakashiMurakami to Australia's own Pro Hart and Stainmaster carpet. Now, Legends, a small operator that moves about 4000 tins ofcondoms a month, has struck a royalty deal with Hazel Dooney, whoseirony-tinged works explore sex and sexuality, often through theportrayal of semi-naked women. Legends, which sells condoms in colourfully decorated tin boxes,was founded by 36-year-old Daniel Moeschinger in 1999 and won abronze medal in last year's Packaging Design Awards. The judge's comments: "Legends are packed in a neat tin that hasthe utilitarian charm of a tobacco tin and the masculine cache of aZippo lighter." Mr Moeschinger says he approached Dooney with the idea because, hesays, he liked her artwork. He acknowledges the collaboration mayattract some controversy "to a degree". "It's skimming on the edge; it's pushing the boundaries of what wecan do," he says. "Controversy wasn't the main thing; it's that shepaints well, the images look fantastic on a tin and it's about themessage behind them that I really like." The works featured will form part of an forthcoming exhibition ofDooney's work. She says the Legends collaboration is consistentwith her approach of distributing her work outside the"conventional" art system. Adjunct professor of communications at RMIT University NoelTurnbull points to other campaigns where artists were linked toproducts. "The most famous in Australia has been in wine labels," he says. Helikened the Legends approach to a campaign launched in Australiafour years ago, called Snake Condoms, which used cheeky marketingto appeal to young indigenous Australians. "The real test for this is whether or not it actually enhancesproduct sales or whether it is just a question of being noticed,particularly as condoms have moved on from notoriety to utility,"he says.
Tea Seed Oil Samantha Leigh Neff and Samuel Ward Hale, II were married Saturday,May 24, 2008, at Cullowhee Presbyterian Church on the campus of Western Carolina University in Cullowhee, North Carolina. Samantha is the daughter of Mr. Donald O. Neff andwife, Mrs. Katherine S. Neff of Shelby. She is the granddaughter ofMr. Ira B. Smith, Jr. of Eureka, CA and Mrs. Hazel J. Hartman ofSallisaw, OK, and the late Mr. Herbert L. Neff, formerly ofJacksonville, FL, and the late Mrs. Bettye B. Neff, formerly ofShelby. She is a 2004 graduate of Shelby High School, and is asenior at Western Carolina University, where she plans to graduatein May 2009 with a B.A. in Elementary Education. She has justcompleted an Internship I as a second-grade student teacher forSmoky Mountain Elementary School in Whittier. She is a member of PiGamma Mu Honor Society, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, and theDean's List and is a North Carolina Writing Fellows Scholar throughWestern Carolina University in Cullowhee. She is employed by theWriting Center at Western Carolina University. Samuel is the son of the Rev. Samuel W. Haleand wife, Mrs. Margaret Y. Hale of Sylva. He is the grandson of thelate Mr. Woodrow W. Yeargin and wife, Mrs. Virginia P. Yeagin ofAnderson, SC, and the late Rev. Henry E. Hale, III and wife, thelate Mrs. Lucy R. Hale, formerly of Gloucester, VA. He is a 2000graduate of Smokey Mountain High School in Sylva. He is a 2004graduate of Western Carolina University with B.A. degrees in bothU.S. History and Anthropology. He earned a M.A. in Public Historyfrom Western Carolina University in 2006. He was a member of theHonors College and on the Dean's list while attending WesternCarolina University. He is presently serving as an Elder forCullowhee Presbyterian Church. He is employed by The Whistle StopAntique Mall in Franklin. THE REHEARSAL DINNER was hosted by the bridegroom's parents in theCullowhee Presbyterian Church Fellowship Hall, catered by Mr.Martin Arkansas of Waynesville. The bride wore an ivory satin chapel-length gown withexquisite re-embroidered mocha cameos and mocha lace accents on thebodice, matching mocha lace on the hemline with a mocha satinribbon at the natural waist anchored with a silver rhinestonebroach, beaded spaghetti straps and ivory satin-covered buttonsdown the length of the back. An ivory beaded two-tieredfingertip-length veil attached to a comb at the back of the bride'shalf up-do. A silver and 14-carat gold comb decorated with threeone-inch ivory porcelain roses surrounded by tiny gemstones,flowers and seed pearls she wore as a crown. Gold and pearl dropearrings were borrowed from her mother, a strand of freshwaterpearls were borrowed from her sister, and she wore ivory satinballet slippers with an embroidered scrolling heart pattern adornedwith seed pearls. The bride carried a bouquet of 25 ivory roseswith pearl accents at the center of each bloom, surrounded by greenruscus, hand-tied with ivory organza ribbon secured with pearlaccent pins. The bride chose her sister, Mrs. Robin Neff McIntosh of Bluffton,SC, as her matron-of-honor. Bridesmaids were Mrs. Carrie MatthewsFriddle of Cullowhee, and Miss Mary Ellen Auten of Charlotte.Flower girls were Miss Nicole Lister and Miss Brittany Lister,nieces of the bridegroom, both of Charlotte. All three of thebride's honor attendants wore rose satin sleeveless A-linetea-length gowns with scoop necklines at front and back, mochasatin sashes with rose appliqués at the natural waists, andpearl drop necklaces, earrings and bracelets given as gifts fromthe bride. All three ladies carried bouquets of 18 light pink anddark pink rosebuds with pearl accents at the center of each bloom,surrounded by green ruscus, hand-tied with dark pink organza ribbonsecured with pearl accent pins. The bridegroom chose Mr. Price Berryhill of Cullowhee as his BestMan. Groomsmen were Mr. Benjamin Friddle of Cullowhee and Mr.Daniel Fielder of Gastonia. Ushers were the bride's brother-in-law,Mr. Christopher McIntosh of Bluffton, SC, and the bridegroom'sbrother-in-law, Mr. Scott Lister of Charlotte. The bridegroom's sister, Mrs. Jennifer Hale Lister of Charlotte,attended the register. Wedding director was Mrs. Bonnie R. Sanford,Church Educator for Shelby Presbyterian Church, of Shelby. Mr.Elwin Stilwell and Mr. Brian Stilwell of The Victorian Rose Studioin Shelby provided the wedding day photography.
Tea Beverage Consumers seem to see the link between soft drinks and obesity, and people often believe that ready-to-drink fruit juices, iced teas,herbal drinks, cordials, sports drinks and some yoghurt drinks are better options than the bubbly, sugary colas. What people do notrealise, unfortunately, is that these alternative beverages can bejust as unhealthy as their fizzy counterparts. Many expertsconsider fruit juice, bottled iced tea or even a flavoured yoghurtdrinks as just another junk drink containing refined sugar - amajor cause of diabetes. The sugar content may be equal to, orhigher than, that in a similar quantity of a soft drink, and may bejust as harmful to health. Akin to soft drinks, many sugar-laden beverages can increase therisk of tooth decay, osteoporosis and metabolic syndromes - aconstellation of health problems from high blood pressure, largewaist circumference and many other health ailments that can belinked to the development of heart diseases and strokes. Becausesugar is addictive, consuming it causes sugar cravings and bingeeating. And frequent consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages mayincrease the risk of diabetes through their excessive calories andlarge amounts of rapidly absorbable sugars. Additionally, anexcessive intake of sugar can cause a rapid rise in adrenalinelevels and hyperactivity in children. According to statistics complied by the ministry's Dental HealthDivision, many children start to acquire a sweet tooth at the ageof four months because they are fed on sweetened milk, yoghurtdrinks and fruit juices, and that may result in toddlers havingtype 2 diabetes. Although type 2 diabetes is typically found inoverweight people over the age of 40, in recent years youngerpeople have been showing signs of the disease. According to theministry's Nutrition Division, a case of type 2 diabetes in an11-year-old Thai child has been confirmed. Though refined sugar is generally unnecessary in any diet, one canconsume a certain amount and still be relatively healthy. Accordingto Dek Thai Mai Kin Wahn (the Sweet Enough Campaign Network), theacceptable amount of sugar varies according to daily calorieconsumption - on a 1,600 kilocalorie diet, limit sugar to sixteaspoons or 22g per day, and on a 2,200 kilocalorie diet, limit itto 12 teaspoons or 44g per day. However, the problem lies in the fact that sugar is everywhere -from ketchup and salad dressing to low-fat ice-cream, peanutbutter, as well as the obvious sugary fruit, yoghurt and tea drinks- and many people have become sugar-addicted without knowing it,said dentist Piyada Prasertsom of the Dental Health Division. For a clearer picture, research by Dek Thai Mai Kin Wahn in 2007indicates that while a 325ml can of soft drink contains between 8.5to 11 teaspoons of sugar, a 500ml bottle of honey lemon green teacontains approximately 15 teaspoons of sugar and a 450ml bottle ofa yoghurt drink contains around 13 teaspoons of sugar.Surprisingly, a tiny 80ml bottle of a yoghurt drink contains up to3.6 teaspoons of sugar. "Tea has been lauded for its antioxidant power, and yoghurt drinksare considered good for stomach health. But apparently,ready-to-drink tea is likely to contain far fewer antioxidants thanfreshly brewed tea. Most people also regard yoghurt drinks as akind of milk. And for many, milk equals good health, and thattotally is a mistake. Some sweet yoghurt drinks can be regarded asquintessential junk food as they are high in calories and sugar butnot high in the other nutrients that you need," said Piyada. "Many drinks contain added honey syrup or have labels that useterms like sucrose, glucose, fructose and high fructose corn syrupto make the products appear to be 'different' or 'healthy'alternatives to other sugary drinks. Actually, they all are sugars,and they can significantly raise your blood sugar level if consumedin large amounts," she said. Even with no sugar added, a fruit juice contains about the sameamount of sugar in the same quantity of a soft drink, said Piyada.A 480ml glass of "100 per cent prune juice, no sugar added", forinstance, contains 36g of sugar or around nine teaspoons of sugarfrom the fructose that's naturally present in the fruit. In thecase of juices made from "concentrates" or "essences", most of thesugar is in the form of high-fructose corn syrup and likely lacksthe advertised benefits. "Many bottled varieties contain little vitamin and fibre, butplenty of added sugars that overwhelm any of the fruit benefits.Although a 100 per cent fruit juice does offer some nutrients, it'snot the same as eating a piece of fruit, as the juice lacks fibre,a key nutrient that a whole fruit provides," said Piyada. What is even worse is that many people nowadays buy bottled juicesfrom street vendors even though their wares have not been approvedby the Food and Drug Administration, said Sa-nga. "You will not getanything in return but loads of sugar, calories and perhaps toxinsthat could harm your health," he said. One specific product or ingredient, however, should not be blamedas the root cause of harmful health. Instead, there are manycontributing factors - from wrong dietary choices and inactivelifestyles to hormonal imbalances. To make the right food and drinkchoices, consumer should insist on getting all the informationabout the product before making a decision, said Yuthasak Supasorn,president of the National Food Institute of Thailand.
fruit jam Healthy is cool at Northland schools such as Whangarei's TikipungaPrimary, which runs a host of programmes to make sure pupils arehappy and fit. It's an "Active School", supported by Sport Northland, andhaspupil-led activities at lunchtime such as Jump Jam aerobics. It's also part of the Health Ministry's Fruit in Schools programme,promotes sun safety, has the children brushing their teeth everyday and offers walking-school buses. The teachers role-model healthy behaviour by wearing hats, drinkingwater and eating well. Tikipunga has also just applied to join the KidsCan programme,which funds raincoats for children who otherwise would come toschool in bad weather soaking wet, or just stay home. Health teacher Maureen Toki says it "just makes sense" for a schoolto want the best for its pupils. "I think we've just got to look at the needs of our pupils andaddress them as best we can," she said. "I think our current programmes fill those needs but we'll alwayslook at what else we can work with." The Fruit in Schools scheme makes sure each pupil gets one or twopieces of fruit a day. "Fruit is pretty expensive now and often thechildren get something like a nectarine or kiwifruit, which many ofthem have never had before," Mrs Toki said. Since the schoolstarted promoting healthy lifestyles, fewer pupils were buying pieson the way to school and more were taking part in organised sportoutside school, Mrs Toki said.
Coffee Mixer In celebration of National Home Safety Month, Palomar Pomerado Health will have a home safety fair and lecture. “Is DangerLurking in Your Home?” features exhibits and screenings from5 to 7 p.m. Thursday, Palomar Medical Center Graybill Auditorium,555 E. Valley Parkway, Escondido. Free. Jack Johnson will perform on guitar and ukulele, 6 to 9 p.m.Thursday, Beach Grass Cafe, 159 S. Coast Highway 101, Solana Beach.No cover charge. (858) 509-0632. Mission San Luis Rey will celebrate its 210th anniversary with awine tasting event. The afternoon begins with a horticultural tourfrom 2 to 4 p.m. Friday followed by the wine tasting from 4 to 6p.m., 4050 Mission Ave., Oceanside. Cost: $10 for tour only; $10for four samples of wine. Reservations: (760) 757-3651, ext. 164. San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians will have a“Native-American Spiritual and Cultural Celebration”Friday through Sunday, Mission San Luis Rey, 4050 Mission Ave.,Oceanside. Check-in is at 4 p.m. Friday, and the retreat ends at 5p.m. Sunday. (760) 757-3659. Author Liz Palika will autograph her book, “Pets, People& Books,” 5:30 p.m. Friday, Oceanside Public Library, 330N. Coast Highway. (760) 435-5580. The 12th annual Gourd and Fiber Fine Art Show is on display throughJune 22 at the Fallbrook Art Center, 103 S. Main St. Cost: $5.(760) 728-1414. Fallbrook Newcomers Club will meet for coffee, 9:30 a.m. Thursday,Fallbrook Presbyterian Church, 463 S. Stage Coach Lane. (760)941-1902. Women's Empowerment Group will meet at 6:15 p.m. Thursday inEncinitas. Topic will be “Creating More Time ForYourself.” Cost: $30. For location, call (760) 942-2517. Rikki Reinholz will give an art demonstration at the Escondido ArtAssociation meeting, 7 p.m. Wednesday, Joslyn Senior Center, 210 E.Park Ave. (760) 489-0338. Fallbrook Gem and Mineral Society will meet at 7 p.m. Thursday, 123W. Alvarado St. Those attending should bring a pie to share.
Seasoning Sauce The whiff of the sea air, aroma of the fields and the fragrancesfrom the cuisine intermingled, releasing the many flavours of Jamaica at Eric 'Busha' Clarke's crab party at Paradise Park,Savanna-la-Mar, in Westmoreland, last Saturday evening. The crab party culinary team, led by 'crab chef' extraordinaire,Brian HoSue, created heaven on Earth with a lip-smacking carte du jour of crab in black-bean sauce, crab rundown, garlic, curried andboiled crab. With this delightful fare, there was mouth-wateringspare ribs, conch, roasted and boiled corn. The art of cooking the eight- legged omnivores has been observed bythe Clarke family since the 1950s. Once again, Busha Clarke hit the jackpot, this time by serving over200 dozen (2,400) black, blue and red female and male crabs. And itwas not as if they (the crab) did not try to escape theirinevitable fate by climbing up the sides of the buckets they werehoused in, but any success was thwarted by anxious crustaceanlovers who devoured them heartily. As if that was not enough, Busha's creative juices inspired him totitillate the taste buds with Chinese sweets marinated in Tequila. With tables laid beneath cotton trees and bonfires adding someromantic touches, the tradition lived on. The hundreds of patrons who came from near and far for this annualritual were more than satisfied with premium liquor, exciting fruitdrinks and flavourful concoctions. Add that to good music, laughter and great conversation, and theconsensus is, Eric 'Busha' Clarke and his team did it again.
Juice Concentrate POG translates to passion, orange and guava juice and is oftenstocked at Gordon Food Service. If you can't find it, create yourown POG by combining equal amounts of passion, orange and guavajuices to make just over 2 gallons of mixture. Add water to the (33.8-ounce) POG concentrate following thedirections on the container. Each POG concentrate makes about 135ounces of liquid. To prevent over-diluting the drink, substitutesome of the water with ice. In a large container, combine the POG juice and dark rum. Serve in a real or plastic coconut shell and garnish with freshcitrus slices and a frilly paper parasol. Nutrition information per 8-ounce serving: 155 calories, 0 fat, 1gram protein, 26 grams carbohydrate, 1 gram fiber, 0 cholesterol,10 milligrams sodium
carbon fibre tube This classy rod is finely finished in a varnished dark bottle greenwith fuji rings and high single snakes. The rod features a plainbut practical metallic black reel fitting but a very attractive,elegantly shaped cork handle, and beautifully hand-painted roddetails on the lower blank. The rod comes in a smart grey-greenaluminium tube and grey rod bag. When we first received this rod we feared the worst. Our lab testsshowed the rod to be medium-slow in action with little inner steel.The whole rod would bend through to the handle when under pressureand felt quite different to most modern rods. Its tested frequencyput it firmly in the medium-stiffness category yet it felt softerthan this, The rod was a revelation; an eye opener and a reminder of joyspast. It took me back to my long ago favourite fly rod the HardyJet 9ft #6 glass. I loved that rod and I loved this one too. This Burkheimer fly rod was simply a glorious delight to use. We pairedit with a #7(+) long bellied weight forward line and put it throughthe whole range of spey casts on the lovely river Tyne. The rod wasbeautifully balanced, light as feather and responded to afeather-like touch—yet the line fairly sailed into thedistance, simple as you please, thank you very much. Casting withthis rod was like conducting an orchestra with small smoothdelicate movements resulting in long, tightly unfurling note-likeloops. Have we forgotten how lovely flycasting can be? This is thefirst Burkheimer we’ve used and we want to try more. It hasbrought us back to the noble, gentle art yet in a modern contextand is a brave departure from the current norm. We highly recommendboth the rod and the gentle art of flyfishing that is represents. This is a genuine specialists tool to be brought out on thosespecial occasions when grilse fishing in low water with floatingline and tiny flies. It is for feather-light fishing on those sunnydays with broken cloud and gentle summer breezes. I can think of nobetter rod for fishing the lovely river Alness in July, or perhapson a summer’s eve on a shrunken Dee at the mouth of theFeuch, in front of the Banchory Lodge hotel with diners watchingon. We are talking here of delicate work with the most sensitivesalmon fly rod we have ever encountered and the thrill of hooking afresh grilse on a size 12 blue charm with this rod excites me now.
Mineral Raw Materials A second straight rise in petroleum prices droveindexes for manufactured goods and raw materials prices to recordlevels in April. Prices charged by manufacturers, as measured by the IndustrialProduct Price Index, rose 1.4 per cent after rising 1.8 in March. Statistics Canada reports the increase was almost entirely drivenby petroleum and coal products, which continued their upward climbwith an increase of 7.9 per cent. Prices of non-energy products grew 0.5 per cent, largely on thestrength of chemical products and motor vehicles and othertransport equipment. The index was up one per cent over a year earlier. The Raw Materials Price Index hit a new high with a monthlyincrease of 5.1 per cent in April, after a 6.7 per cent rise inMarch. Statistics Canada attributed the rise mainly to strong prices formineral fuels, without which the index would have fallen 1.2 percent. Raw materials cost plants 23 per cent more than a year earlier,primarily due to higher prices for mineral fuels and vegetableproducts.
titanium carbide powder
stone and rockCeradyne Inc (NASDAQ: CRDN ) will speak at the JMP Securities Research Conference on Tuesday,May 20 at 1:00 PM ET. A live webcast of the presentation will be available on thecompany website at ceradyne.com under the Investor Relations section.
rocks and sand With summer officially starting, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineersis reminding people to think about safety when near the jetties.Jetties were not constructed for recreation purposes and should notbe used for fishing, walking, driving or climbing because of thepotential hazards. They are there to break waves. And they can bedangerous places. Construction of the jetties began more than 100 years ago to helpmariners navigate between the Pacific Ocean and coastal ports, andwere never intended for recreational purposes, the Army Corps saidin a press release. Additional work has been performed on thejetties to lengthen and strengthen them. Despite that, waves canremove even the largest boulders from jetties, and underwatercurrents — which penetrate the structure — removesmaller rocks and sand from inside the jetty. This creates visibleand hidden dangers. The agency has discouraged people from walking on jetties,particularly Coos Bay’s north jetty, which was damaged bylast winter’s big storms. Open crevasses between large boulders create stepping hazards.Sinkholes, caused by drifting sand pushed up against the jettybeing eroded by moving water inside the structure, can give wayunexpectedly. Caverns within the structure, caused by the erosionof stones and sand, could be hidden below a thin surface andsuddenly collapse. Sea spray causes rock surfaces to becomeslippery. Sudden larger waves, even in calm weather, can knock aperson off balance or into the water. Waves and strong currentsnear the jetty can prevent safe recovery after a fall into thewater, the agency said.
magnesium alloy chips Since the discovery of high-transition-temperature (high- T c ) superconductivity in layered copper oxides, extensive effort hasbeen devoted to exploring the origins of this phenomenon. A T c higher than 40 K (about the theoretical maximum predicted fromBardeen–Cooper–Schrieffer theory 1 ), however, has been obtained only in the copper oxidesuperconductors. The highest reported value for non-copper-oxidebulk superconductivity is T c = 39 K in MgB 2 (ref. 2 ). The layered rare-earth metal oxypnictides LnOFeAs (where Ln isLa–Nd, Sm and Gd) are now attracting attention following thediscovery of superconductivity at 26 K in the iron-based LaO 1- x F x FeAs (ref. 3 ). Here we report the discovery of bulk superconductivity in therelated compound SmFeAsO 1- x F x , which has a ZrCuSiAs-type structure. Resistivity andmagnetization measurements reveal a transition temperature as highas 43 K. This provides a new material base for studying the originof high-temperature superconductivity.
Hot DIP Galvanizing
Sheet Metal Design Techmetal Industries designs, develops and installs a wide range enclosure from complex sheetmetal. Techmetal Industries provides chassis, standard 19” racks, special design cases and ETSI cabinet in accordance with standards and specifications. Techmetal Industries provides an extensive range of services which includes design and fabrications, wiring, finishing, accessorising, badging and delivery. Techmetal Industries provides precision designing of components in a wide range. Techmetal Industries offers an extensive range of products which includes P-Series Raks, Econo-Raks, open frame raks, mini-raks, console systems and accessories. Techmetal Industries designs and develops complex sheetmetal works to meet any specific applications. Techmetal Industries designs and manufactures the components precisely. Techmetal Industries supplies sheet metal components and enclosures for electronics, electrical and communications industries. Techmetal Industries offers badging of equipment enclosure with respect to any corporate style. Techmetal Industries also designs special badges with colour combination ideal for cabinet decorations. Colour matching with adhesion, film thickness and hardness are also offered.
Hot DIP Galvanizing North American Galvanizing and Coatings of Tulsa and LSB Industries of Oklahoma City were among the 50 companies ranked in Business Week's annual list of Hot Growth Companies published in the June 9 issue. North American Galvanizing and Coatings ranked fourth and LSB is ranked 38th out of the 50 companies. "Making the Hot Growth Companies list for the second consecutive year is a great accomplishment and one I share with the entire LSB team of approximately 1,800 men and women whose dedication made this achievement possible," said Jack Golsen, chairman and CEO of LSB. North American Galvanizing & Coatings reported a 104-percent increase in earnings for 2007. Net income for the year totaled $9.2 million, or 72 cents per diluted share. The provider of hot dip galvanizing and coatings reported revenues for the year of $88.4 million, up from $74.1 million a year earlier. LSB Industries reported a 202.2-percent hike in net income for 2007. Operating income for both of the Oklahoma City-based company's core divisions increased sharply. The climate-control business manufactures air conditioning and heating products, including water-source heat pumps, geothermal heat pumps, hydronic fan coils and large custom air handlers at plants in Oklahoma City for commercial and residential buildings. LSB's chemical business manufactures chemical products at plants in Texas, Arkansas and Alabama for the industrial, mining and agricultural markets.
flue gas treatment Picarro, Inc. has introduced a new and improved analyzer formonitoring trace levels of H2S (hydrogen sulfide) in ambient air,with a lower detection limit of 1 ppbv that is an order ofmagnitude lower than earlier models. Based on the company's WS-CRDS(Wavelength-Scanned Cavity Ring Down Spectroscopy) technology, thenew Picarro G1104 H2S analyzer provides a very large dynamic range(up to 300 ppmv), operates in real time (seconds), and has norequirement for frequent calibration. Unlike H2S sensors based oncompetitive techniques, the G1104 H2S analyzer does not suffer fromcross-talk due to changes in other ambient gas components,including other trace sulfur compounds such as SO2 and COS, as wellas variations in moisture and CO2 at atmospheric levels. WS-CRDS is an ultrasensitive technology that measures the opticaldecay time in a flow cell using an internal laser beam with aneffective path length of many kilometers. This enables theconcentration of a particular species to be measured withsensitivity and precision several orders of magnitude higher thanby any other optical technique. This new H2S analyzer achieves itssuperior precision and accuracy because it incorporates improvedtemperature control of the internal optical components. StatesPicarro President and CEO Michael Woelk, "This improved H2Sperformance is testament to Picarro's commitment to continuedengineering to make better products that meet the changing and moredemanding regulatory requirements for ambient gas analysis." The new Picarro G1104 H2S analyzer is compact and rugged with nomoving parts, making it ideal for use in a wide range of sensingapplications, operating equally well as a remote unattended monitoror as a state-of-the-art laboratory instrument. Specificapplications include petrochemical plant emissions, in stacks,flares and flues, as well as emissions from landfills, sewagetreatment plants and wastewater facilities. Picarro, Inc. is a privately held company dedicated to developinginstrumentation for the highest sensitivity, precision and accuracymeasurements of specific molecules of interest in environmentalanalyses, process monitoring, and emissions control. The company isa leader in wavelength scanned cavity ring down spectroscopy(WS-CRDS) technology with eight exclusive licenses to StanfordUniversity patents and nine of its own on WS-CRDS extensions.
Coloured Cotton Bula Sports fans! What a truckload of great sports that we've hadthis Ratu Sukuna Day long weekend! From the NBA Conference finals, courtesy of ESPN, with the westcoast final series won by my main man, Kobe Bryant and his LALakers, coached and guided by the legendary Phil Jackson. The east coast champions to face the Lakers in the 2008 NBA finalsstarting later this week will be none other than the BostonCeltics, led by Kevin Garnett. Although the Celtics will have the advantage of the first and lasttwo games in the 7-game final at home in Boston, I'm putting mygreenbacks on the Lakers to clench the 2008 NBA title within thefirst five games! The other sports biggie on the tele this weekend of course was the2008 Super 14 final on Saturday night. And what a game that was! Well I have to be honest and say what a2nd half that was as that's all I caught of it. I guess you justhave to hand it to the Crusaders winning their 7th of nine finalsthat they have contested over the last 11 years of the competition. I've never been a big fan base of their monotonous style, but Iknow a champion team when I see one and I salute the mightyCrusaders as provincial rugby champions of the southern hemispherefor this current decade. The 2008 Super 14 final was all the more interesting for the factthat Crusaders Coach Robbie Deans now crosses the Tasman to take uphis new post coaching the Wallabies! As Crusaders and All Black captain, Richie McCaw politely statedafter Saturday's final, "New Zealand's loss is Australia's ga-in". I think New Zealand's loss is going to come back and bite the kiwisin the bum BIG TIME! Mark my word. No other New Zealander, including current All Black Coach, GrahamHenry, comes close in terms of consistent top level internationalrugby achievement. OK, it may not be test match rugby, but no onewould argue with the quality, commitment and intensity of lastSaturday's final against the Tahs. It was right up there with thebest test match in recent years and Deans with his Crusaders haswon the Super 14 five times! The other stand out for me in the 2008 Super 14 has been theimpressive form of the Australian franchises, with the Perth-basedWestern Force more than holding their own both at home and awaywhile the Queensland Reds were the most improved of all the teamsin the competition. I think that Aussie tight five play in particular has reallymuscled up and as a result the 2008 Wallabies forward pack will bedominant in their set pieces and very competitive at the tackleball, of which there were 220 tackle ball situations in Saturday'sSuper 14 final and old forwards will argue that's where the gamewas won. Just to finish off on my rugby notes for this weekend, I alsocaught three secondary schoolboy games from under-14 years throughto under-16 years grades on Saturday morning at the NationalStadium and made some interesting observations; they don't allowpushing in the under-14 year scrums and there was way too muchkicking in all games. While I appreciate the safety aspect of not allowing pushing in thescrums of the under-14 grade, this is such a fundamental aspect ofthe game that it just didn't look like rugby. Maybe the Fiji Secondary Schools Rugby administrators need tore-consider weight-based grades and in doing so allow pushing inthe scrums again. After all, that's what forwards live for isn'tit? Having said this, the forward play and overall structure of thegame in the under-16 year grade was pretty good so maybe Ishouldn't over-react! The kicking in general play was horrendous and needs to be coachedout of the game at this early age. It will only help Fiji's specialrunning brand of rugby if at the under-14 and under-15 grades weban and penalise kicking in general play so that teams have to runthe ball. Last but not least this weekend was the Fiji Bitter FA CupTournament played in Nadi. I got an earful of the event listeningto Raymond Stoddart's commentary on Radio Sargam over a couple oflong drives to the west and back and I must say that either thestandard of football has improved or Raymond's commentary skills,or both! I tried to get into Prince Charles Park on Saturday afternoon forthe Lautoka game but parking was such a hassle and then it startedto rain, which ultimately drove me away. Later that evening I ran into a couple of Police roadblocks withbreathalysers between Nadi and Lautoka and I was happy for that asit can only mean safer roads for the travelling public. From the sound of Raymond's commentary, the Babasiga Lions lookedlike the team to beat, but Navua have the backing of SouthernForest boss, Anil Sharma and he knows how to manage winners! Onlytime will tell. Last week I told you about our champion kite maker, Anil, and howwe made kites out of old newspapers with sasa framing held togetherby glue made from boiled rice. A reader reminded me that in those days the best kite paper fromthe Chinese shops cost three cents a sheet and the professionallymade kites at the best kite shop in Suva - Kishore and Sons inSamabula, next to where the French Bakery is now, sold for theprincely sum of 25 cents. That was a small fortune way beyond our reach in the early 70's soapart from gazing ever so longingly at the multi-coloured kites inthe show glass we had to make our own. Apart from obtaining the best fighter kite one had to have the bestcotton and maja to fight and win epic kite fights high in the skiesabove Suva. So there I was standing in front of Rupeni, our magical maja man,probably looking like how Junior Mangal used to while growing up inIndia! On this day which I had managed to wag off school, Rupeni was goingto maja our cotton in readiness for the upcoming big kite fightversus the kite gang from Samabula on the weekend. Maja, for those of you who don't know, is the mixture of powderedglass, rice and other secret ingredients applied to the totallength of your kite-flying cotton to enable you to engage the enemykite in a battle of cotton and kite-fighting ability so that themaja on your cotton cuts the enemy cotton and kite from the sky! Rupeni, our magical maja man, soaked the cotton reels in slimyhibiscus leaf juice then he unwound the cotton from their reels,joining one to the other in a continuous thread like a magazine ofmachine gun bullets. This length of cotton could run to over 500Metres and was carefully hung between two posts for the applicationand drying of the maja. The sharpest glass came from fluorescent tubes or green bottles andthis was carefully pounded into a very fine but razor sharp powderwhich was then mixed with rice for stickiness and the secretingredients, which were only revealed by the maja man on life-swornsecrecy. Because the confidentiality agreement for our maja secret has nowelapsed after 40 years I can reveal that my Tamavua Kite Gang's 2secret maja ingredients were the white sap of the green cactusplant and fresh chicken poo. It was my honour that day to collect the secret maja chicken poo,mix it in and apply it to our cotton with my bare hands!
submerging material From DNA to Clean-Power Communities, New Generation of Pitt FacultyReceive Awards to Explore Next-Generation Technologies National Science Foundation CAREER Awards support emerging researchin harvesting neural stem cells, analyzing DNA, developingsustainable power, creating better electronics, and buildingsmarter computers PITTSBURGH-Communities powered by clean, local-source energy.Faster, more reliable technologies and computers with a bettergrasp of human language. Medical care tailored to your DNA, orneural stem cells readily available for treating neurologicaldiseases and injuries. Five University of Pittsburgh faculty members will advance thefutures of energy, health, and technology as part of Faculty EarlyCareer Development (CAREER) awards they received this year from theNational Science Foundation. The awards fund junior facultymembers' emerging careers and include an education component thatencourages outreach to women and underrepresented minorities. Four recipients teach in Pitt's Swanson School of Engineering:Tracy Cui, an assistant professor in the Department ofBioengineering; Di Gao, an assistant professor in the Department ofChemical and Petroleum Engineering; Lisa Weiland, an assistantprofessor of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science; and JunYang, an assistant professor in the Department of Electrical andComputer Engineering. Rebecca Hwa, an assistant professor in the Department of ComputerScience in Pitt's School of Arts and Sciences, also received anaward. Pitt is among 22 schools to receive five or more of the nearly 400CAREER awards granted so far this year-the award cycle ends Sept.30. Matching Pitt with five awards are Cornell University, Harvard,the University of California at Los Angeles, the University ofMassachusetts at Amherst, the University of Missouri at Columbia,and the University of Utah. The University of Illinois atUrbana-Champaign tops the list with 16. A description of each Pitt recipient's research is below. Tracy Cui will develop a platform for better understanding how toharvest neural stem cells for therapeutic use for neurologicaldiseases and injuries. Her research involves creating a surface ofelectroactive polymers on which neural stem cells can be directedto become functional neurons. This technology would allowscientists to answer the predominant questions regarding neuralstem cell growth and neural tissue regeneration, namely, if stemcells can become functional cells on an engineered surface and, ifso, under what circumstances. Di Gao could help usher in the much-heralded future of personalizedmedical care based on an individual's DNA in his effort to revampthe technique for screening and separating DNA molecules. Gao'sapproach would stretch DNA strands tethered to a solid surface viaan electric field, allowing them to be pulled from the surface andanalyzed based on their viscoelasticity. This method would overcomethe limitations of the predominant method ofelectrophoreses-submerging the strands in a matrix and applying anelectric field. By stretching the DNA, chromosome-sized DNAmolecules can be separated and studied, large fragments can bescreened for mutations, and longer sequence fragments can beextracted. The technique might also be applied to RNA. Theeducation component of Gao's project includes outreach to minorityhigh school students through a related course and workshop atBaldwin and Westinghouse high schools in Pittsburgh, both of whichhave large African American student populations, and collaborationwith Tsinghua University in China on an international field studymodule for Pitt undergraduates that focuses on international viewsof the ethical and social issues of genetic research. Rebecca Hwa aims to improve the ability of computers to process andtranslate human language. She will address the difficulty manysystems have in processing texts from such specialized domains asbusiness emails or scientific literature as well as texts that areautomatically translated from foreign languages. Specifically, Hwawill create machine-learning algorithms that find correspondencesbetween “standard English” and texts from specializeddomains. The project focuses on three types of correspondences:direct translations, such as bilingual documents; loosetranslations, e.g., paraphrased articles; and indirectly relatedtexts without an explicit translation. Building from thesecorrespondences, a standard system will be adapted to translatetexts in specialized domains. Better language processing for a widerange of texts could allow for such computer applications asintelligent tutoring programs and data mining for medicaldocuments. Lisa Weiland will undertake a twofold effort to help sustainableenergy gain a foothold in Western Pennsylvania by implementingself-powered materials into an ongoing project to power the town ofVandergrift in Westmoreland County with hydrokinetic power. TheVandergrift project, based in the Swanson School's Mascaro Centerfor Sustainable Innovation, will harness the Kiskiminetas River andhelp power the town's main business district with free,clean-source electricity using micro-hydro generators. Because theriver-and thus the generator-is small, Weiland will investigate apotential power harvesting method based on electromechanicalmaterials that would generate power as the river's current movesover them. One material Weiland will focus on are known asionomers. Ionomers have been tested for such uses as self-poweredsensors in bridges and for monitoring blood flow in patients atrisk for arterial blockage; as the sensors move from vibrations orfluid flow they would simultaneously send out an electric datasignal and recharge themselves. But ionomers have not yet beenapplied to such high-power devices as generators because of aconcern that electrical output and fragility increase in tandem. Aspart of her CAREER project, Weiland will work on constructing morerobust ionomers that can produce more power without becoming toodelicate. The education component of her project includes workingwith civic and business leaders in Vandergrift-and eventually othercities-to develop tailored plans for becoming more efficientproducers and consumers of energy and goods. As technologies become more compact and powerful, themicroprocessors within them become more prone to overheating,leading to poor performance, reduced reliability, and shorterlifetimes. Jun Yang will investigate ways of controllingtemperature by proactively scheduling workloads among differentprocessing cores-which perform specific tasks within a processor-oftoday's multicore processors. Current processors adopt a reactivetemperature control by decreasing power flow within the entireprocessor-even if only one core overheats. Yang's technique insteadprevents overheating by swapping a high-stress task in anoverheating core with a low-stress task from a cooler core. Thisapproach would diminish the occurrence of hotspots and maintain atemperature at which the processor can function with maximumperformance and reliability. Yang focuses her research on computerarchitecture particularly power and thermal aware design, energyefficiency, and chip multiprocessor designs.
textile for bag China tries to curb addiction to plastic bags 1 day ago BEIJING (AFP) — China joined a small group of nations Sundayin restricting the use of plastic bags, but there are doubts therule would be effective in a country that consumes one trillion ofthem a year. Supermarkets and other shops began charging for plastic bags as agovernment crackdown on the environmentally damaging items creakedinto action. The production, sale and use of ultra-thin plastic shopping bagswas also banned in an attempt to rid the country of the "whitepollution" that clogs its waterways, farms and fields. Only a few other countries, ranging from Ireland to Bangladesh,have already taken similar measures. But environmental organisations questioned whether the ban on freeplastic shopping bags could be effectively implemented in theentire country. "The question remains about the smaller shops, particularly whenyou go out of the bigger cities to smaller towns -- are they goingto have the same law enforcement?" questioned Sze Pang Cheung,comunications director for Greenpeace China. "China has had a poor record of enforcing its environmental law inthe past -- laws about pollution, the environmental impactassessment in factories. Many of the pieces of legislation are welldrafted, but the problem is enforcement." Some shoppers admitted they might still be tempted to buy plasticbags from supermarkets, which could cost as little as 0.1 yuan(0.01 dollars) each. "If I go to the supermarket, I might still choose to buy theplastic bags because it is more convenient," Wang Yongjiang, 26,told AFP in front of a supermarket in central Beijing. China, like many other countries, is addicted to the use of plasticbags. A trip down to the supermarket only serves to confirm that. Everynon-food item, be it a sponge or toothbrush, is wrapped into asmall plastic bag before being added into a bigger bag full ofgroceries. The country consumes an estimated three billion plastic bags a day. The official Xinhua news agency reported that consumers used morethan one billion plastic bags a day at supermarkets, quoting anexpert at the textile industry association in the eastern provinceof Shandong. Another two billion were consumed daily in other places. Most Chinese people are in favour of the ban on free plastic bags,saying it is a good move towards protecting the environment in acountry known for its huge pollution problems. A survey conducted by CIIC-COMR, an online market research company,on nearly 5,200 people from around the country revealed that 77.5percent of the respondents supported the move. Sze said that despite doubts over enforcement, it was a good stepfor China to have come out with a progressive regulation that fewother countries in the world have embraced. "But plastic bags are not the worst environmental problems inChina, far from it. Air quality, for example, is much worse," shecautioned.
Carbon Fiber Fabric Construction workers look at a bridge column in Calexico, Calif.Hamid Saadatmanesh, a University of Arizona civil engineeringprofessor, has developed a method of applying carbon fiber sheetswith a special epoxy he formulated that is helping revolutionizethe way deteriorating concrete, steel and brick structures can besalvaged and repaired.
filtering fabric Managing 10GbE migration Fabric demands and migration paths to 10 GbE and how to tackle themwith a modular hub. While most applications servers such as the processing of sessionsor gateways are way below the need for 10GbE interfaces, processingof IP media may need 10GbE high-speed uplinks to interconnectsystems and to distribute traffic to the processing blades withinthe system. Another key requirement is the operation of multiplenetworks within the backplane. Future generations of processorblades may connect over 10GbE on the backplane. A modular design ofthe Kontron AT890x ATCA hub allows easy upgrades and growthaccording to demand. The paper shows a summary of fabric demands,migration paths to 10 GbE and how to tackle them with a modularhub. Uplink and fabric capacity in ATCA For telecommunication systems, there is huge diversity ofapplications. Concerning their systems architecture, communicationservers can be classified into the following major categories: (1) Session Processors , such as Call Servers, Media Gateway Controllers, or IMS, (2) Gateways , i.e. systems with TDM interfaces (Time Division Multiplex) toconnect circuit switched telephone networks or radio base stationsand convert signalling and traffic between TDM and IP, (3) Media Processors to support media streaming and transcoding of media for contentadaptation, content filtering or IPTV, (4) Packet Processors for deep packet inspection and filtering at packet level. For the majority of applications, the total traffic per system willstay well below 1 GbE. This is the case for Session Processors,Gateways and Media Servers in mobile networks. Media Processor forIPTV (over DSL or Cable TV networks) and Packet Processors may needhigher uplink capacity of 10 GbE to interconnect with other systemsand to distribute traffic to the processor blades. The system contains different kinds of processing elements: Sessionprocessors blades to handle media sessions, media processor bladesincluding DSPs for the conversion of media, and main controllers torun the system. The system configuration is redundant. There aretwo hubs to pick-up and distribute traffic. Each hub contains onemain controller, with one of them active and another one instandby. The Session and Media Processors operate in load sharingand are connected to both hubs over independent networks. In the basic configuration, each hub may pick up 4x GbE of trafficfor the Base interface, and 4x GbE of traffic for the Fabricinterface via its front panel uplinks. Port aggregation may be usedto bind those links together. The Hub blade comprises separateswitches for Fabric and Base in order to keep the user plane andcontrol plane separated. Thus, the system contains 2 fullyredundant and completely separated networks in the backplane (whichrepresents the standard ATCA architecture). The AT8902 hub allowsrunning a 3rd network in the backplane over the Fabric interface.This network is also handled by the fabric switch. In order to keepthe networks separated, the fabric switch supports VLANs andprotected port groups. The same mechanisms may be used for furthersegmentation of the networks. In total, each processor blade may connect over 6x GbE, with 3x GbEto each hub. With each hub able to pick up 8x GbE, the volume oftraffic is balanced for a 6-Slot system with 4 processor blades.For a larger system, e.g. with 14 Slots and 12 processor blades, ahigher uplink capacity may be desirable. Also, several systems maybe interconnected to each other and need extra capacity at theuplinks to handle interconnection traffic. So how to upgrade to10GbE? How to handle growth? The ability to upgrade 1GbE uplinks or 10GbE uplinks certainlyfacilitates handling growth. A first step is the provision of 2x10GbE Fabric uplinks per hub. Should there may be higher demands oninterconnection traffic, it should be possible to provide extra 2x10GbE uplinks per hub. A bigger step of migration is to move to aFabric of 10 GbE in the backplane. Such a step could happentogether with upgrade of 1GbE processor blades to 10GbE processorblades. For a 14-Slot system with 12 processor blades and 4x GbEconnectivity to each slot and high traffic load for Media Server,an uplink capacity of 10 GbE per hub seems to be adequate. An extra10 GbE uplink may be used to interconnect systems. A desirableapproach to handle such upgrades is to add uplink capacity byadding modules. Should higher uplink capacities be needed, the hubsshould be capable to accommodate extra 2x 10GbE uplinks and thecorresponding switching capacity. A more difficult step is the migration to 10GbE in the backplane.The difficult part is that most of todays processor blades operateat 1GbE and it is difficult to mix 10GbE blades and 1GbE bladeswithin the same backplane and over the same hub. Should individualblades, such as I/O processing blades or packet processing bladesneed to communicate with others over 10GbE, one possibleintermediate step is to use a meshed backplane and operate the10GbE in a point-to-point mode. Alternatively, the complete systemneeds to move to 10 GbE. While the backplane can operate with 10GbEover 4 Fabric ports (instead of individual Fabric ports for 1 GbE),the implications are expensive replacements for hubs and processingblades. While an upgrade of backplane capacity usually also impliesan upgrade of the total system capacity and processing power (i.e.new node boards), the replacement of hubs is surely wasted. Aconcept, which also allows upgrading the hubs to a 10GbE Fabric,thus represents a serious contribution to protect investments inapplications where 10GbE may be an option later on. AT890x Modular Design protects investment The AT890x hub series is based on a modular concept. In order toease the selection of the right configuration, it is available inthe following packages: the AT8901 for Base interface (GbE) only,the AT8902 with additional GbE Fabric interface, and the AT8904with a 10GbE Fabric interface. Each configuration supports 14 and16 slot shelves and each configuration contains 2 AMC slots forcustomisation. The AT8902 provides uplinks for the Base and Fabricinterfaces on the front panels with 4x GbE. All configurationscontain a Kontron IPMI controller (IPMC) implementation and supporthot-swap capabilities and full redundancy. The Base interface in handled by a separate, non-blocking layer 2/3switch with 2x GbE to the backplane and 1x GbE connection to eachAMC slot. Among the routing protocols are OSPFv2, RIPv2, VRRP,DiffServ and ARP. The Fabric interface is handled by anothernon-blocking layer 2 switch with support of VLANs and protectedport groups. It provides 1x GbE to up to 16 slots, and extra 1x GbEconnectivity to the logical slots 2, 3, 4 and 5. It also provides2x 10GbE connectivity to each of the AMC slots. The two AMC slot may be used for customisation, for example to host " Processor AMCs as main controllers " Storage AMCs as mass storage devices for Processor AMCs " Dual 10GbE uplink AMCs to interlink the Fabric. The AM4310 Interlink AMC provides 2x 10GbE uplinks on the frontpanel via optical XFP connectors and CX4 connectors, which itroutes via XAUI ports to the AMC connectors (using AMC ports 4-7and 8-11). The AT8902 hub picks up the 10 GbE ports and switchesthem to the Fabric interface. The AM4310 Interlink AMCs representone part of the modular design of the AT890x hub. Fabric mezzanine The second essential module is the Fabric mezzanine on the AT890x.The fabric mezzanine determines the type of AT890x package: a GbEFabric mezzanine generates the AT8902 for a PICMG 3.1 GbE Fabricinterface including customisation with extra 10 GbE uplinks withthe AM4310. Using the same platform, a different Fabric mezzaninecreates the AT8904 with a PICMG 3.1 10GbE Fabric interface, whilemaintaining the customisation with 2x 10GbE to both AMC slots for10GbE uplinks. The 10GbE Fabric with 10GbE connectivity to up to 16slots is also handled by a non-blocking layer 2 switch includingsupport of VLANs. The mezzanine concept also allows providing otherPICMG3.x extensions, such as Infiniband, RapidIO or ASI. The AT890x provides managed switches with access over CLI, SNMP andTELNET. It supports IPMI version 1.5. Among the protocols supportedat Ethernet layer are link aggregation (IEEE 802.3ad), VLANs(802.1Q), Spanning Tree (802.1D), QoS (802.1p), flow control(802.3x), GVRP and GMRP. At IP layer, it supports OSPFv2, RIPv2,VRRP, IGMP snooping, IPv4 forwarding, DiffServ, ARP and ICMP. The mainstream version of the AT890x provides a high degree offlexibility to cover different demands of functionality andcapacity. Its modular design enables existing installations to beupgraded rather than to enforce replacements of the whole hub. Itthus significantly contributes to protect investment. In order tosupport cost critical projects at high volume, the AT890x is alsoavailable in light versions with a reduced level of functions andcomponents. In summary, Media Servers beyond mobile networks will need tohandle traffic demands beyond 1GbE. While link aggregation allowscovering increasing traffic demands to some extent, the next stepis to pick up traffic over 10 GbE uplinks, and interconnect withother systems over 10 GbE. In a multiprocessor system, the trafficcan be distributed to processing nodes over 1GbE connections.Another key requirement is the capability to run multiple separatednetworks within the same system in redundant configurations. TheAT8902 hub covers both: it supports easy upgrades with 10GBEuplinks via AMCs and can handle multiple networks within thesystem. The AT8902 also allows Fabric upgrades to 10GbE byexchanging its Fabric mezzanine. Thus, it represents the rightchoice to handle growth. Kontron www.kontron.com Dr. Stephan Rupp is Senior Systems Architect and Wolfgang H
Yves Saint Laurent dies at 71 Yves Saint Laurent , who was cut from the same cloth as iconic fashion designers Christian Dior and Coco Chanel , died Sunday night at his home in Paris following a long illness.He was 71. Known as a classicist who designed elegant and tasteful pieces,Saint Laurent was interested more in creating style than justfashion. He defined the modern sophisticated, post-war woman byfeminizing the basic shapes of the male wardrobe - putting women insharply tailored suits with trousers as well as skirts, "le smoking(a simple black suit with satin lapels based on a man's tuxedo,which became the alternative to the frilly evening gown)," brassbuttoned pea jackets, safari jackets, and flying suits. "Fashion was not only supposed to make women beautiful, but toreassure them, to give them confidence, to allow them to come toterms with themselves," Saint Laurent once said. His inspiraton came from history, art and literature, from thepaintings of Picasso to the minimalist work of Mondrian and thedeStijl movement (shown in the primary colors of his geometricallyblocked wool jersey dresses of 1965) to writings of Marcel Proust that inspired his taffeta gowns of 1971.
natural plant fabric General Motors announcement today that itwill close the Janesville plant and three others is an economicblow to the Wisconsin community that has long been entwined withauto making. The Janesville plant opened in 1919. It has survived theDepression, a world war, and GM's major layoffs in the 1980s. Scott Lambert has worked at the plant for 13 years. Lambert saysthere were some tears and alot of people were "ticked off"following the announcement today, but he says it's all part of thebusiness. The 39-year-old autoworker planned to buy an atlas to figure outwhere other GM plants were located and where the company might behiring. The company has cut production in recent years, as sales dwindledfor the large SUVs built there - the Chevrolet Tahoe and Suburbanand GMC Yukon. Up to 200 workers were laid off. The Janesville plant is GM's oldest. It was long the largestemployer in Janesville, but cutbacks shrunk the workforce to about2,600, so it's no longer the city's biggest employer. Mercy HealthCare now holds that title. Local economic experts say GM had an average of nearly 2,800workers and a payroll worth $229 million last year. That's downfrom a payroll of $330 million for 4,100 employees in 2003. Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. Thismaterial may not be published, broadcast, rewritten orredistributed.
The other four businesses being honored are Comcast, CommunityHealth Center of Snohomish County, Community Transit and WesternType & Print. "Each year the Chamber's HomeStreet Bank Business Excellence Awardsspotlight businesses and organizations that exemplify the strengthand leadership of the local business community," said ChamberPresident Jean Hales. "Our 2008 award recipients represent theeconomic breadth and the community resourcefulness of our region." The awards luncheon is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. onJune 10 at the Mill Creek Golf and Country Club. Bob Drewel,executive director of the Puget Sound Regional Council, willpresent the keynote address. For more information on the HomeStreet Bank Business ExcellenceAwards or the awards luncheon, visit www.s2c3.com , call (425) 774-0507 or e-mail info@s2c3.com . New executive dean appointed at North Seattle Community College NSCC's workforce education programs, critical in these times ofeconomic insecurity and displaced or underemployed workers, has anew leader. Steve Miller was recently appointed the new executivedean for career/workforce education. Miller came to NSCC from Centralia College where he was the dean ofworkforce education. His prior positions include campus manager atOlympic College-Shelton and the director of continuing education atPierce College. He has also worked in private industry, for GeneralElectric and Proctor and Gamble. Miller earned a Master of PublicAdministration from The Evergreen State College and his bachelor'sdegree from Western Illinois University. Northgate buildings win the gold Mayor Nickels recently announced that two city facilities inNorthgate won environmental awards from the U.S. Green BuildingCouncil. The Northgate Community Center and the Northgate Branch Library,co-located on a campus in northeast Seattle, have earned LEED(Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) gold ratings. Twelve public buildings in Seattle recently earned LEED ratings.There are 23 LEED-certified buildings citywide. "Building an energy-efficient community center and libraryhighlights our commitment to Northgate and to the environment,"Nickels said. "I'm proud of our leadership as a city and of theprivate sector's initiative to build green." Green features in the Northgate Community Center and NorthgateBranch Library, which opened in July of 2006, include: * Insulated building walls, roof and windows that minimize heatloss. * High efficiency lighting, boilers and air-conditioning units. * Access to an outdoor view and natural light. * Landscaping and roof overhangs that save energy and reduce glarein the buildings. * Water efficient landscaping that reduces potable water forirrigation use by 50 percent. * Forty-one percent reduction in water use through the use ofwaterless urinals and low flow showerheads, lavatories, and sinks. * A 148,000-gallon underground vault that accumulates water usedfor irrigation protection for nearby Thornton Creek by the vault,which captures and cleans storm water from the adjacent street andfeeds the appropriate amount into the creek. * Maintenance of the adjacent park without the use of pesticides. LEED is a third-party certification program and the nationallyacknowledged benchmark for the design, construction and operationof high performance green buildings. The U.S. Green BuildingCouncil is a nonprofit organization committed to expandingsustainable business practices. Northwest Hospital's Sandpoint Internists welcomes new doctor Northwest Hospital & Medical Center recently announced the additionof Donna Richman, M.D. to its medical staff as a board-certifiedinternist. She will be joining the practice of Sandpoint Internistsat 10330 Meridian Ave. N., Suite 230, in North Seattle. Dr. Richman earned her medical degree from the Yale UniversitySchool of Medicine in New Haven, Conn. and completed her internalmedicine residency at Boston City Hospital in Boston, Mass. Sheserved as assistant clinical professor of medicine at TuftsUniversity School of Medicine in Boston before relocating toSeattle where she is currently an assistant clinical professor ofmedicine at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Dr. Richman enjoys working with all patients on their healthconcerns and on disease prevention. After work, Dr. Richman spendstime with her family outdoors hiking, biking and skiing. For more information about Northwest Hospital and its programs andservices, call (206) 364-0500 or (206) 633-4636 for the PhysicianReferral Line, or visit www.nwhospital.org . Elegant Clutter makes a house a home Lisa Quall has wanted to have a shop of her own since she was alittle girl. Arranging accessories in her home and for others is apassion of hers. After years in the retail industry, Quall experienced a mild strokelast November that caused her to re-evaluate her life. In recovery,she told her husband it was time to open her store, and he agreed.It wasn't long before they found the small spot in Mill Creek thatis now called Elegant Clutter. "It's a little pocket of a place that is just exactly what I'vealways wanted," said Quall. Not too big, the store is the rightsize to feel like a hobby rather than work. Elegant Clutter is filled with lovely home décor that is handchosen by Quall. Artfully arranged, merchandise rotates through thestore so customers see something new each time they come in. It's anatural extension of the home restyling business she has owned foryears, and now, instead of keeping all the great finds shepurchases in her garage, Quall puts them in her shop. As a home restylist, Quall loves to take the items a customeralready owns and make them work in their home. Through furnitureplacement, grouping of décor and arrangement, she bringsthings together in ways that complete the picture. And, if thehomeowner needs something more to do that, she probably has it inher store or knows where to find it. "We really wow them when we're done," she said. "It's all in thedetails." Elegant Clutter has a lot of one-of-a-kind merchandise, and Qualllikes to support local artists by selling their cards, jewelry andother items. Everything in the store, including the furniture usedto display items, is for sale, so merchandise is constantlyrotating, keeping it fresh and new. Elegant Clutter is located at 16300 Mill Creek Blvd., Suite 114. Itis open Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and onSaturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Construction progress offers first impression of new senior livingcommunity A $100 million development, Skyline at First Hill is underconstruction between Eighth and Ninth avenues and Cherry andColumbia streets in downtown Seattle. Construction on the high-rise is reaching skyward with verticalaccession taking place at the rate of three floors per month towardthe top of the 26-story independent living tower. Crews are nowworking on the 12th floor of residences, and construction progressis being mirrored on the connected nine-story health care center,where crews are building the fourth floor, according to projectsuperintendent Tim McKey of Sellen Construction. Skyline at First Hill will offer seniors maintenance-free,independent, cosmopolitan living, with various residences offeringspectacular views of Mt. Rainier, Puget Sound, the Olympic andCascade mountains and downtown Seattle. "You can see the vision of this community starting to come tolife," said Shelly Parks, marketing director for Skyline at FirstHill. "For our more than 170 future residents, seeing their newdowntown residences being built brings into focus the new lifestylethey will soon be leading." During the first part of the year, much of the focus onconstruction at Skyline at First Hill was on completing thestructural frames for the fourth and fifth floors, or podiumlevels, which encompass many of the common areas within thecommunity. These floors, which sit atop the 3.5 stories of garageparking, span an entire city block. Within these floors are many ofthe amenities that make up the Skyline lifestyle, such as a numberof dining venues with a large kitchen to prepare gourmet meals, anindoor swimming pool, fitness center, social and meeting space, andan exterior courtyard. "The common areas will be the heart of this community," said Parks."From residents enjoying a restaurant-style meal with friends totaking part in a water aerobics class, the space they're completingnow will be the social hub of Skyline." During construction, the Skyline at First Hill lifestyle is beingshowcased at the community's Information Center at One UnionSquare, 600 University St., Suite 1612. Visitors can call theInformation Center at (206) 405-4100 to schedule a showing of ascale model, a virtual tour of both exteriors and apartmentinteriors, and floor plans. Skyline at First Hill information isalso available at www.skylineatfirsthill.org. Seattle'sPresbyterian Retirement Communities Northwest (PRCN) is thenot-for-profit sponsor of Skyline at First Hill. Exciting new changes for Wallingford Center Lorig, developer and manager of Wallingford Center, has announcedthat the mixed-use retail and residential complex has undergonesome exciting changes. Two new tenants,model yarn and So MuchFun Sporty Chic, have opened stores in the building, and currenttenant Yazdi has completed a significant expansion. Bad Woman Yarn, a knitting and yarn shop targeting the "InsatiableKnitter" relocated from Manzanita, Ore. to Wallingford Center. Theyoffer quality yarn and knitting supplies as well as knittingclasses in a comfortable and friendly atmosphere. So Much Fun Sporty Chic is a new take on women's active wear. It'sa place where high-tech fabrics meet stylish cuts and a place wherewomen of all activity levels from walkers, hula-hoopers, totriathletes are celebrated. Yazdi is a retailer of contemporary styled women's clothing andaccessories, specializing in ethnically influenced styles andexotic fabrics. The store was expanded to occupy the entirenorthwest corner of the building's second story, adding nearly 800square feet to the previous space. The expansion has allowed Yazdito add more dressing rooms, have a more convenient merchandiselayout and carry even more sizes (the store was already well knownfor its selection - offering styles in every size from XS to 3X). Located at 45th Street and Wallingford Avenue, in the heart ofWallingford, Wallingford Center has long been a unique retaildestination. Housed in an early 20th century elementary school,Wallingford Center provides customers with a quality and eclecticshopping experience. Trackman is missing link at Von's Golf World class best describes the newest golf club fitting toolavailable at Von's Golf and Putter Studio in Seattle. TrackmanLaunch is the latest technology being used on the PGA Tours, USGAtesting and R&A testing facilities. Many have seen it in use at the2007 U.S. Open and the British Open. This advanced golf club fitting and testing tool offers the latestin 21st century technology. A golf ball radar unit allows golfersto see the ball during flight and report back every detail.Graphics are displayed in 3D and accuracy is to the foot. From thetime the ball is struck to the time it lands, every possiblecalculation is displayed for a knowledgeable club fitter tointerpret and then apply. It serves as the ultimate fitting tool inthe hands of an expert club maker. Jim Von Lossow, owner of Von's Golf, has long been recognized as aprominent golf club fitter and PGA professional in the PacificNorthwest. "Replacing our existing launch monitor with the Trackmanis a very exciting step forward for our company," said Von. "Itwill enable us to provide the best data possible, which in turnallows golfers to see results in real time during their session."Von has been at this since 1973, with over 30 years as a PGAprofessional, tour player, tournament winner and teaching pro. Hispath has now taken him into the equipment side of the game. "Trackman is the final piece, the once missing link at the studio,"said Von. Also known as a top putter fitter and teacher, Von has new computeranalysis tools to track a golfer's putting stroke. This specializedfitting takes about 30 minutes and can include loft and lieadjustments, counter balancing of the putter, along with length orgrip changes. One of the things that sets Von apart in the local golf market isthat he not only analyzes and measures with the very latestequipment, he will build customers the correct club, with shaft andweight based on those facts. Golfers will see the differences rightaway. Von was recently named one of the World's Top 100 ClubFitters for2008 by KZG. Appointments are necessary. Von's Golf & Putter Studio is locatedat 2811 B N.E. 55th St. in Seattle. Contact them at (206) 524-6716or visit www.vonsgolf.com for further details. Electric Bikes Northwest & California and Folding Bikes West movesto new location After 12 years in Fremont, Eric Sundin recently moved his bicyclestore to Ballard. Located at 4810 17th Ave. N.W., the new storeoffers room for growth of the business and easy parking forpatrons. An enthusiastic electric bicyclist, Sundin views his business asmore of a hobby than work. Since opening in 1996, Electric BikesNorthwest & California and Folding Bikes West has become theleading dealer in folding bikes for Seattle and for electric bikesin the nation. Though electric bikes have a huge market overseas, Sundin has seenthem grow in popularity in the United States as well and, accordingto him, Seattle is probably the number one city in the nation withan interest in electric bikes. "Seattle is progressive enough to be a good place for anything inits relatively early development," said Sundin. For Sundin, the number one reason to own an electric bike is thatthey are fun. "You have extra umph compared to regular bikes," hesaid. The bikes augment human power, they don't replace it. Peoplecontinue to pedal, but hills are much easier and commuters arriveready to work without the need to shower or change clothes. According to Sundin, the electric bike is a true hybrid. It usesabout the same amount of energy as a light bulb and has very littleimpact on the environment. For those who want to provide all the power behind their peddling,Sundin sells foldable bikes which ride extremely well and can beeasily folded to fit in a car trunk or taken into the office.Customers find these very convenient for traveling. Electric Bikes Northwest & California and Folding Bikes West isopen Monday through Friday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Visit their Web site at www.ebikesnw.com or call (206) 547-4621 for more information. Laser MD joins the Greater Edmonds Chamber of Commerce Dr. Kathryn E. Upton and Laser MD has recently joined the GreaterEdmonds Chamber of Commerce. Laser MD offers laser and skinaesthetics medi-spa; laser treatment of wrinkles, sun damage veinsand hair, Botox cosmetic and dermal fillers. Included in the celebration were Denice Schwind, PA-C and JanetteTurner of Laser MD, as well as Andrew Kruze, ARNP and MichelleNeason, CMA of Dr. Upton's Family Medicine Clinic. Also joining inthe celebration was Mayor Gary Haakenson, Debbie Adams, Lisa Speer,Asha Novak, Lars Oquist, Brenda Brown and Haley Green, ChamberAmbassadors and Linda Aufrecht, Chamber Membership Manager. Laser MD is located at 120 W. Dayton, A-8 in downtown Edmonds. Formore information call (425)672-1064 or visit www.lasermdedmonds.com . Owners of Palace of China open Fortune Cafe in Shoreline After a two-year break, the Chin family has opened a new restaurantin Shoreline. With many requests from previous customers, patronswill be glad to know they can get the same delicious food theyenjoyed at Palace of China at Fortune Cafe. The Chins have been in the restaurant business since 1980. Thisfamily of four knows how to please palates with almond chicken,Mongolian beef, chow mein, egg foo young and kung pao chicken,among other favorites. With a full service menu of Chinese specialties and some Americandishes, the family has reduced their previous prices in order toaccommodate a slower economy and allow families to continue to eatout. "We made it more affordable so people can go out to eatwithout spending a lot of money," said Mona Chin. Regulars at Palace of China will find a more relaxed atmosphere atFortune Café, which is designed to be family friendly. Takeout, delivery and catering are also available. Fortune Café is located at 14725 Aurora Ave. N. in Shoreline.It is open Monday through Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. andweekends from noon to 10 p.m. Luncheon specials are availableMonday through Saturday until 4 p.m. Reservations are not required, but can be made by calling (206)367-1226. Northwest CCTV enables the visually impaired to read Most people take their vision for granted. Either they havegenetically healthy eyes or are able to see well with glasses. Butfor those who cannot see even with the help of augmentation, thereis new hope thanks to the technology of closed circuit televisionsystems. After years of working in the industry, Joe Handelman recentlyopened Northwest CCTV in Seattle, specializing in a 22-inch flatscreen closed circuit television for the visually impaired. The way it works is simple, explains Handelman. You put anything inhard print on a tray under a mounted video camera and it isdisplayed on a 22-inch flat screen. Adjustable controls make theimage bigger or smaller, reverse it or increase contrast - whateveris necessary to get it in the viewer's comfort zone for reading. The technology is an improvement on previous magnification systems.Rather than displaying one letter at a time, it shows an entireword or several words spread across the screen, making readingeasier and more enjoyable. "People's vision changes from day to day, and even from hour tohour," said Handelman. "This is fine-tuned (and adjustable) toexactly what you need." Northwest CCTV has work stations set up so potential customers cancome in and try the device and, if they choose to purchase one,receive training for optimal use. "The main training piece is to have people try them before they buythem," said Handelman. "It's fairly evident once they sit down andtry it whether it will work for them or not." In addition to reading, the apparatus allows people to look at oldfamily photographs, something that magnification makes possible forthe elderly or visually impaired. "It makes a huge differencebetween being able to recognize a face or not," said Handelman."And it's good for stamp and coin collectors as well." Open for appointments, Northwest CCTV can be reached by calling(206) 273-7944 for more information. Seattle Mattress opens in Ballard Brian and Tony McLauchlan, owners of Ballard Canvas Supply,recently moved their retail store, Seattle Mattress, to 6019 15thAve. N.W. in Ballard. The new location provides 3200 square feet of display for thecustom made mattresses available through Seattle Mattress. "Our custom mattresses are made for specific non-standard sizes andshapes," said owner Tony McLauchlan. "Our niche started here andthe mattresses got so popular that people requested them for theirhomes as well, so we opened a retail store to accommodate them." Having worked in the family business for 35 years, Brian and Tonyknow their product and how to provide excellent customer service.In addition to their custom made line of mattresses, they sell theLady Americana line, which is better than most major brands andcosts half as much. By eliminating the middle-man, Seattle Mattressis able to offer substantial savings to customers. The store also sells Italian made Magnaflex mattresses which areeco-friendly and completely recyclable. Made without chemicals,with foam comprised of aloe and water-based latex, these providemedical benefits for everyone and are perfect for anyone dealingwith allergies or chemical sensitivity. Seattle Mattress carries a line of organic crib sets, includingmattress, bumper and sheets.
other crops FACED WITH INSUFFICIENT rice production and unmet rice supplyquotas, Compostela Valley is shifting to corn and indigenous rootcrops, and is introducing hybrid rice seeds to its uncontrollablydecreasing rice fields. What rice crisis? Low rice production has been a problem [here]for several decades already, provincial board member RogelioArambala said on Tuesday. But, he said, the public need not worrysince we have many alternatives to rice anyway. Weve been eatingcorn, bananas. Besides, he said, panic generated by the perceived rice shortagecould only be exploited by unscrupulous traders, triggeringincreases in rice prices. Provincial officials met recently with representatives from theDepartment of Trade and Industry, National Food Authority, and the11 municipal agriculture officers to evaluate the current status ofthe provinces rice supply. Dr. Rolando Simene, provincial agriculturist, said the shift fromrice to other crops, particularly bananas, in recent years hadcontributed to the drop in rice production. He cited data from theBureau of Agriculture Statistics showing that 3,581 hectares ofrice lands had been converted to banana plantations since 1989. To cover up [for] the loss of production due to farm conversion,and for us to be rice-sufficient, we need about 3,000well-irrigated farm lands, Simene said. Arambala said farmers could not be prevented from converting theirrice fields since it is their right to determine for themselveswhat type of crops to cultivate for them to earn. An ideal alternative in the midst of the perceived productionshortfall, therefore, would be the cultivation of cardava bananavariety and indigenous root crops, like cassava and camote, hesaid. I also encourage the mayors to push and prioritize the cultivationof corn, particularly white corn, in areas deemed as cornproducers. They can help the farmers by subsidizing substantialamounts from their coffers for the seeds, he said. Arambala is a former mayor of Laak, one of three towns with thesmallest areas devoted to rice farming in the province. Of the11,537 hectares of rice land in Compostela Valley, 9,647 hectaresare irrigated, BAS data reveal. Compostela town has the biggest area devoted to rice with 3,496hectares. Pantukan town has the smallest with 35 hectares in onebarangay, but it has one of the biggest areas of bananaplantations. Simene said full food sufficiency could be achieved if hybrid palayseeds were planted in about 7,000 hectares of existing rice lands.Yield could also be optimized if farmers used organic fertilizers,he said.Data from the provincial agriculturists office show that inbredpalay varieties produce at least some four tons per hectare, whilehybrid seeds can yield up to six tons.In Zamboanga del Sur, Zamboanga del Norte and Zamboanga Sibugay,however, farmers and some officials are against the planting ofhybrid rice to address the crisis.Hybrid rice kills our farmers in terms of fertilizer cost. It willdamage our soil. And hybrid rice is a one-shot deal & Besides, thecost of each bag of seeds is quite expensive compared to inbredrice seed, said Mayor Mary Ann Cartalla of Bayog, Zamboanga delSur. Bayog is the provinces main producer of rice. We can [use] the seeds of inbred for future planting season [whichwe cannot do with the hybrid] & We need to buy new seeds forplanting and God knows when because hybrid rice seed maintenancealters the acidity of our soil. That means we are altering theplanting and harvesting season calendar, Cartalla said. Panfilo Abiog, 58, a rice farmer in Buug town in Zamboanga Sibugay,said his farm was one of the governments showcase during theMarcos regimes Green Revolution and Masagana 99 campaigns, and Iregret such decision. Abiog was among the recipients of government subsidy forfertilizers and other farm inputs, and it took me almost a decadeto restore the fertility of my soil.Abiog said he planted inbred rice in two hectares of his land, and until now, my farm is productive.With a report from Julie S. Alipala, Inquirer Mindanao
Inflammatory Bowel Disease TORONTO - With upwards of 1,000 species of bacteria teeming in yourgut, odds were good this intestinal jungle did more than digestfood and fight harmful organisms.Scientists now have the findings of a study that show how onestrain of friendly bacteria protects the health of its human host.And experts say it suggests gut microflora is an untapped resourcethat could reveal new therapies to fight human diseases. In a study released in the journal Nature, U.S. researchersdescribe how a common strain of bacteria, called Bacteroidesfragilis, offers protection against inflammatory bowel disease inmice. They found a single molecule produced by the bacteria can shut downthe intestinal inflammation that causes the animals to getinflammatory bowel disease, a condition which includes Crohn'sdisease and ulcerative colitis. Previous studies revealed the bacteria is important for immunefunction in animals. But the authors say this is the first study todescribe how a molecule produced by "good" intestinal bacteriaworks to prevent disease in animals. The finding has exciting implications for future research into gutmicroflora, says Dennis Kasper, study co-author and professor ofmedicine, microbiology and molecular genetics at Harvard MedicalSchool. "Here we have a reservoir of unknown organisms each with its ownunknown molecules," he says. "The gut may be a vast warehouse orstorehouse for potential therapeutics that we don't know about." To investigate the bacteria's potential, Kasper and his colleaguesused special mice bred to have no intestinal microbes. Animals thatwere fed an intestinal bacteria, called Helicobacter, developedinflammatory bowel disease. But animals that received a combinationof Helicobacter and the beneficial bacteria, B. fragilis, werefine. Further experiments revealed a specific sugar molecule produced bythe beneficial bacteria, called polysaccharide A, prompted theimmune system to launch an anti-inflammatory response, whichprevented inflammatory bowel disease from flaring up. Dr. Brian Feagan, director of the clinical trials group at theRobarts Research Institute, University of Western Ontario, callsthe study important because it pinpoints a specificbacteria-controlled mechanism that regulates inflammation. "This holds promise for a very specific low-toxic, or non-toxic,therapy that is based on flora found in the guts," says Feagan, anexpert on inflammatory bowel disease. Canada has one of the highest rates of the disease in the world, hesays, with roughly 200 people per every 100,000 diagnosed withCrohn's disease or ulcerative colitis.
Plant Growth Regulators Federal Finance Minister Jim Flaherty, with themajority of his provincial counterparts agreeing, insisted Canadawon't slide into a recession despite suffering through the firstquarterly contraction in real gross domestic product in five years. "If you were in the meeting, you'd be impressed by the optimismaround the table," he said. "Yes, there's slowness in the autosector . . . forestry sector. But the strengths of the economyacross the country is quite remarkable. "If some people are saying (Canada is entering a recession), Idisagree with them." His assessment was backed by Quebec Finance Minister MoniqueJerome-Forget, and to a lesser extent by Ontario's Dwight Duncan.Their central Ontario provinces have been particularly hard hitwith thousands of job cuts in the key forestry and auto sectorsbecause of the high dollar and slumping demand from the UnitedStates. But the areas of agreement coming out of Thursday night's workingdinner and Friday morning meetings of the finance ministers mostlystopped there, particularly over the key issues of what to do tohelp the auto and lumber industries - the main culprits behind thefirst quarter retreat - and the issue of a national securitiesregulator. With Flaherty continuing to urge Ontario to join him in cuttingbusiness taxes to stimulate jobs, Duncan countered with causticcomments about Ottawa's single-track approach. Flaherty and the Ontario government have been fighting for monthsabout how best to boost the economy, with the federal Conservativesfocused on corporate tax cuts as the remedy while Ontario's Liberalgovernment seeks federal money to help attract job-creatinginvestments from automakers and other companies. "There are some strengths in the economy, but what struck me wasthe relative strength of the U.S. economy to the Canadian economy,and it points to me that we haven't had a federal partner," Duncansaid. The provincial minister pointed to a proposal for a new Ford Canada(NYSE:F) engine factory in Windsor that he said won't happenwithout Ottawa's financial aid, "yet they won't come to the table." "I think if we learn anything from those numbers is that we don'tneed a federal finance minister who is going to be beating down theOntario economy," he added. "Corporate tax cuts are not going to lower the dollar, corporatetax cuts are not going to lower the price of oil, corporate taxcuts are not going to strengthen the U.S. economy - targeted taxcuts aimed at all industries will improve productivity in the longterm, but you need a broader approach to that." Flaherty also got nowhere on his attempts to bring provinces onboard to create a national securities regulator to replace the 13different provincial and territorial commissions and regulationsthat he said are discouraging investment and making policing offraud more difficult. The key obstacle, Quebec's Jerome-Forget, said the subject barelycame up following her unequivocal rejection of the idea before themeeting began Thursday night. But most of the meeting Friday was spent on the economy,particularly the unexpectedly low GDP number that was released byStatistics Canada just as Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney wasbriefing the ministers. It was not revealed what Carney told the ministers about theeconomy, or how the Bank of Canada's forecast of a one per centgrowth rate, last made about a month ago, could have been so faroff the mark. Several ministers did say that Carney had told them the currenthigh price of oil was based on fundamentals, and was not due tospeculators driving up the price. But the ministers' generally rosy comments on the economy suggestsCarney had stressed the positives, including that while real,inflation-adjusted GDP had shrunk, nominal GDP growth remained asolid 4.6 per cent. As well, the western provinces are booming because of high energyprices and soaring demand for coal, grains, fertilizer and othercommodities produced there. Flaherty repeatedly pointed out that most of the latest economicweakness was confined to two sectors - autos and forestry - addingmuch of that was due to manufacturers shutting down in the quarterto clear built-up inventories. Quoting a private sector analysis, Flaherty noted that the autosector centred in Ontario is due for a sustained recovery laterthis year with the opening of a new Honda engine plant in Allison,Ont., and increased production from Toyota's plant in Woodstock "There's some brightness on the horizon and certainly reason forconfidence," he said. He also added that the rest of the economy isdoing well with 120,000 jobs created in the first four months of2008, wage increases at an annual rate of 6.2 per cent andcorporate profits rising by 9.9 per cent. The minister added that the federal tax cut stimulus that heintroduced last October, which included lower personal and businesstaxes "is just arriving at Canadian households and businesses." Hesaid income tax rebates so far this year are 14 per cent higherthan last year. Jerome-Forget, which rejected the idea of a national securitiesregulator, offered tacit endorsement of Flaherty's approachregarding taxes, saying she believed the minister had done enoughto stimulate the economy.
automatic hose reel Gilbert Pneumatics & Hydraulics provides a diverse range of lubrications products. Theselubrication products include hose reels, cable reels, oil ormoisture filtration products, automatic grease lubrication systems,control valves and oil lubrication systems. Hose reels provided by Gilbert Pneumatics & Hydraulics havebeen specifically designed for heavy duty applications such asmining and service vehicles. Lincon range of hose reels havelengths ranging from seven metres to about 25 metres. CustomReeling series of hose reels from Gilbert Pneumatics &Hydraulics are available in different types such as manual hosereels, spring hose reels, hydraulic hose reels, electric driverewind hose reels and air hose reels. These hose reels are suitablefor workshops, service trucks, painting, welding as well as generalindustry applications. Gleason series of cable reels provided by Gilbert Pneumatics &Hydraulics include compact cord extension DC light reels, 600ampere reels, spring as well as power driven cable reels. Thesecable reels have been specifically designed for various DCapplications such as power points and extension lightingapplications. Gleason cable reels consist of powder coatedcomponents that enable these cable reels to be used for bothinternal as well as external operations.
brown basmati rice The Government’s steps to control food and fuel prices maycontain price pressures in the short term, but by heighteningmarket distortions and subsidy pressures, they could hurt growthover the medium term, says G. SRINIVASAN. An alternative to total ban on non-basmati rice export could be to prescribequantitative ceilings and impose export duty. With inflation heading into the uncomfortable 8 per cent range, theUPA Government is in an unenviable position, particularly in therun-up to a series of State Assembly elections this year, to befollowed by the General Election in early 2009. The prospects ofescalating prices of essential commodities, coupled with a distinctgrowth slowdown in the economy this fiscal, on the back of ageneral slowdown of the global economy, would definitely beunnerving for the Governme nt. It has to be on guard, lest anywrong move it makes in managing the economy should dent itselectoral fortunes. Considering the fact that the economy saw an annual average rate ofgrowth in GDP in the last five years of above 7 per cent, asbrought out by the Economic Survey 2007-08, and with the twin threats of a global slowdown and commodityprice boom-stoked inflation due to a combination of short-termsupply shortages and the high growth in economic activity in theemerging economies, the portents at this juncture appear none tooencouraging. The upsurge in prices and the distinct economic slowdown in thesecond year of the Eleventh Five-Year Plan have thus come at aninopportune moment for the governing coalition. The series of fiscal measures the UPA government initiated include,besides the duty cut on edible oil and pulses, a ban on export ofwheat and agricultural products such as non-basmati rice. CommerceMinistry numbers show that, other than basmati, rice exports duringthe first 11 months of fiscal 2007-08 (April to February) fetchedthe country Rs 6,073.02 crore, against Rs 3,668.44 crore in thecorresponding period of 2006-07 — a robust growth of close to66 per cent. Food security The ban on non-basmati rice exports was put into effect from April1, 2008, prompted by the realisation that the country’s foodsecurity should not be put at risk. Thus the government hasresponded to sharply rising commodity prices by slapping price capsand export restrictions on food, fuel and such construction itemsas cement and steel that are in short supply. Be that as it may, the latest report on India by rating agencyMoody’s says that such measures might contain price pressuresin the short term by preventing their pass-through to consumers.But, by heightening market distortions and fiscal subsidy pressuresover the medium term, they could hurt future growth or inflationdynamics and contribute to the government’s large debtburden. It is also interesting to note that the country’s annualsupplement to the Foreign Trade Policy (FTP) announced on April 11set the target of $200 billion for the current fiscal on the backof $155 billion achieved in 2007-08. According to Moody’s,the composition of merchandise exports is shifting away fromtextiles and primary products towards higher value-added areas suchas engineering goods, auto components, chemicals and refinedproducts — which enable a better defence of export productionmargins amidst a global slowdown. Discriminatory Even as India’s exports have diversified product-wise anddestination-wise in recent years, there has been acceleration inexports of rice, tobacco, spices oil-meal and marine products. Butexports of commercial crops such as tea, coffee and cotton havedecelerated. The unusual growth in exports of rice (basmati andnon-basmati), of close to 45 per cent between April 2007 andFebruary 2008, in the wake of commodity-price induced inflation,has set the authorities thinking in terms of slapping an exportduty on basmati rice, coupled with a minimum export price (MEP),both amounting to $1,200 per tonne, while completely banning theexport of non-basmati rice. Within the non-basmati rice, premium varieties such as ponni andsona masuri and matta, mostly exported from Kerala, Karnataka,Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh today stand banned and therepresentatives of the trade have gone on record protesting thediscriminatory approach of the Government in singling out theirrice varieties for the ban. They say that the share of contribution of non-basmati rice to theFood Corporation of India (FCI), even by rice-growing NorthernStates such as Punjab, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand, haddeclined in recent years. This is because the basmati millers have diverted the non-basmatirice land to basmati paddy cultivation including that of anon-notified premium variety such as PUSA 1121 that enjoyslucrative markets all over the world, except Europe. When such a non-notified premium variety such as PUSA 1121 is grownin larger volumes and on wider areas in non-basmati rice-growingNorthern States, this exerts a considerable downtrend innon-basmati rice production and, hence, procurement. Says Mr P. Vishnukumar, Secretary, South India Rice ExportersAssociation: “The government should examine seriously whetherthe 1.50 lakh tonnes of ponni rice exports affects the foodsecurity of the country or if it is the so-called larger volume ofa non-notified premium variety such as PUSA 1121, exported asbasmati rice”. The trade-off It is even suggested that instead of a total ban on non-basmatipremium variety like ponni, the authorities could export this sortof rice from Southern ports by prescribing quantitative ceilingsand imposing export duty as they have done in the case of basmatiexports, which have a minimum export price, export duty and portrestrictions. This way, the exporters do not lose their entrenched overseasmarkets and the government earns revenue by export duty. But given the domestic compulsions of keeping inflation underleash, the government is in no mood to relent its ban onnon-basmati rice exports, which are low-priced varieties that couldbe sold for domestic consumption. Even as one flank of the rice export industry is pleading forending a discriminatory export ban, India’s rice export rivalPakistan has announced a series of MEPs for its basmati andnon-basmati rice and is contemplating imposing a MEP for brown ricewithout imposing an export ban on any of the varieties of rice itsells abroad. A populous country such as India has its own logic in framing itstrade policy, particularly on sensitive products such as wheat andrice. When contacted, Mr T. Nanda Kumar, Secretary, Ministry ofConsumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, told Business Line that at a time when global prices of food-grains are ruling high,“some hard decisions” are needed to provide respite topeople reeling under inflation. He said the ban on non-basmati rice would have affected the profitsof exporters in the wake of the steep rise in rice prices globallybut, otherwise, the people in the country would have to fork outglobal prices for these essential items. This is the trade-off and the government has opted for shieldingthe domestic consumers from spiralling prices of food-grains. As production and productivity gain momentum in the agriculturalarea, perhaps the policy-makers will refrain from placing aselective ban on exports that rob the credibility of the exporters,besides their earnings.
chunks from singapore Hong Jun Jie and Emi Mizushima are champions of the Inter VarsityDancesport, winning the competition last year.And Joshua Lim is a gold medallist in last year's SEA Games. Heswam in the 4 X 200m relay. They are also recent graduates of Singapore Polytechnic. In a tribute to youth, sports and the competitive spirit, weinvited them to a special lunch. Holland Village is a short bus ride from Singapore Polytechnic, andit is also a popular hangout for the young.The village has a casual vibe, with nice restaurants and quirkyshops. And the latest member of its dining community is Al Qasr.It serves Lebanese and Middle Eastern food.The restaurant is run by Lebanese chef Ghazi Georges Khanashat. He is full of wise insights and interesting stories. Chef Ghazi isa really colourful man. Almost as colourful as his restaurant.Lanterns and twinkly lights brighten up the place, and the food heserves is also bursting with colours (greens, reds and yellows)that make the mouth water. Emi thinks the place would be ideal for hanging out with friendswhile Joshua said: 'It'll be perfect for a date.The students were divided when it came to their individualfavourites. Jun Jie favoured the sanboosilk, a crispy pastry stuffed withcheese, onions, parsley and pine kernels.He said: 'It's cheesy and melts in the mouth. It's slightly sweet -exactly the way I like it.'Joshua liked the ras afoor (minced lamb with Lebanese cherry jam).He said: 'The jam was quite good - it wasn't too sweet. I've tastedjam with lamb, but never stir-fried.' And Emi gave the thumbs up to the tabbouleh, made with choppedparsley, wheat, tomatoes, onions and mint. 'It was very appetising because I like sour stuff.'Just as there wasn't a dish that everyone liked, there wasn't adish that everyone disliked.Joshua didn't like the Al Qasr hommos (chickpea paste).'The taste just didn't suit me. But it wasn't too bad.'
malaysia palm oil Indian soybean and rapeseed futures arelikely to open lower on Friday, tracking weak palm oil futures inMalaysia, analysts said. Rapeseed and soybean are crushed to obtain edible oils likerapeseed oil and soyoil, which competes with palm oil. Malaysian crude palm oil futures fell as much as 3.5 percent onFriday to their lowest level in three weeks, dragged down byweakening crude oil prices and a lack of demand. Soybean July futures NSBN8 on the National Commodity andDerivatives Exchange ended up 0.75 percent at 2,480.5 rupees per100 kg on Thursday, while rapeseed September futures NRSU8 ended up1.23 percent at 658.35 rupees per 20 kg. (Reporting by DebiprasadNayak; Editing by Prem Udayabhanu)
Fresh Cut Flower BRUNSWICK -- Employees at the Legacy Manor Farm in Boonsboro picked 24 pounds of asparagus Sunday morning to bring to the BrunswickFarmers Market. An hour into the market, it was all gone, said Samuel Ecker, farmowner.The farm was one of 10 vendors to participate in Brunswick's firstfarmers market Sunday afternoon in the parking lot behind CityHall. "I'm really happy with it," said Mary Nix, manager of the BrunswickMain Street program which sponsors the event. "We've had a lot ofpeople walk through." Janet Madsen brought her Jefferson-based business, Janet's CutFlowers, to the market because she wanted to support the communitywhere she grew up. She brought herbs -- including basil, rosemary and mint -- cutflowers and native plants. "Lavender is always a good seller," she said. "People lovelavender. It takes them to the Mediterranean in their ownbackyard." Local artist Karin Birch was busy selling aprons she made out ofrestored fabrics and note cards with her artwork on display.She decided to participate in the market because it was severalblocks from her home."It seemed like a perfect fit for me," she said. She also likes the fact that residents no longer have to drive morethan 15 miles to shop at the closest market, in Frederick."I'm thrilled there is a farmers market," Birch said.With the sun blazing overhead and temperatures in the mid 80s,Beans in the Belfry's freshly squeezed lemonade was a hot-sellingitem."You've got to have something to drink while you are shopping,"said Nadia Vigliotti, manager of the local caf?. Besides lemonade, the cafe sold homemade croutons, snack crackers,strawberry sauce and cookies at the market.Beans in the Belfry employees are happy to be part of the market,she said."It's something else toward creating a better community(environment)," Vigliotti said.While it was sunny for most of the market afternoon, a cloudburstdampened the festivities a bit for about five minutes."The rain isn't stopping us," Vigliotti said. After the rain ended, business started right back up again withresidents milling from booth to booth.
Another big fall in house-building will see the economy struggle again next year, with recovery delayed until 2010, a new report predicted. Davy Research, part of Ireland’s largest stock broking firm, also believes that consumers will switch off this year, leaving the economy with growth of just 1%. Unemployment will climb to 7% next year and it would go higher except that immigration is expected to fall dramatically. "We now expect consumer spending to grow only 1% this year, due to lower employment, softer income growth, rising food and energy costs, the absence of interest-rate cuts, and tighter credit," Davy economist Rossa White said. The big problem he sees for next year is house construction. Based on estimates for housing starts this year, Davy thinks only 25,000 units will be finished in 2009 -- a fall of almost 50% on this year. That would be enough to knock one percentage point off growth in 2009. Davy says the economy will expand by just 2%, making the two years together the worst for the economy since the 1980s crisis. Paradoxically, growth of 2% despite 15,000 fewer houses implies that the rest of the economy grows at a healthy 3.5% next year. This is based mainly on continued strong growth in exports, especially of services, but Mr. White said there were risks that the outcome could be weaker. The housing estimate was challenged as "too pessimistic" by the Construction Industry Federation (CIF). It was one of the first to predict that house building would fall close to 40,000 this year, but believes 37,000 will be completed next year. "The Government plans for social housing, along with one-off houses, should amount to 25,000 units alone," said Hubert Fitzpatrick, director of the Irish Homebuilders Association, part of the CIF. "We expect builders to deliver another 12,000 units, which is still down on this year, but not zero." Davy says house prices should stabilize by the end of this year. They had already fallen 10% by last February and the report says the average price this year will be 10.7pc less than the average paid in 2007.
In recent decades cement plants have become more automated, integrated and efficient, but the 11 cement plants in California churn out the stuff in largely the same way they have for many decades. Now, the cement industry has the full attention "It is crucial that we are able to continue to provide building materials for infrastructure projects throughout the Silicon Valley and the Bay Area. All of these projects are essential to our way of life," wrote Tim Matz, Hanson's director of environmental affairs, in an April statement. "There is no substitute for cement." Cement is the crucial ingredient that fixes the mixture of sand, gravel and water in concrete. British stonemason Joseph Aspdin created the first batch in his kitchen in 1824 and named it for the color of the stone from the Isle of Portland, off the British coast. It is produced by quarrying limestone, blending it with clay and other additives and burning it in a 250-foot kiln at 2,750 degrees. The result is small dark grey nodules called clinker, which is ground up and mixed with a small proportion of gypsum to produce cement. One of 11 plants in California, Hanson supplied cement for Shasta Dam in the early 1940s and supplied the rebuilding of the MacArthur maze last year. It has a permit to produce 1.6 million tons of cement per year and provides two-thirds of the cement used in the county. It also accounts for a big chunk of the 13 million metric tons of cement California consumed in 2007. Of that, 31 percent was for highways and streets, 28 percent for other public construction, 23 percent for residential construction and 18 percent for non-residential construction, according to the Portland Cement Association, based in Skokie, Ill. The state's capacity, 12.6 million metric tons of clinker, can't quite keep up with demand. Nationally, 21.6 percent of the 114.5 million metric tons consumed in 2007 was imported, according to the PCA. Imported cement from Asia comes with much higher emissions. Demand pressures have eased as the economy and home building slide into a possible recession. "We're hurting right now, I know that. We're way down," said Tom Tietz, executive director of the Orange County-based California Nevada Cement Association, in April. The PCA's chief economist predicts a recovery in cement demand in 2010 and 2011 after a 10 percent drop in consumption in 2008 and a 3.6 percent drop in 2009. In an apparent effort to reduce costs, plants such as Hanson are looking at different fuel sources - some of them not so new. The Bay Area Air Quality Management District recently granted Hanson a permit to switch from burning coal to heat its kiln. It can now increase its use of petroleum coke, a chunky black byproduct of petroleum production, from eight tons per hour to 20 tons per hour. "In essence it is a waste material," Matz wrote. "Using it helps to deplete the need to mine additional coal, and it helps keep this product out of landfills." Further, its current source is a refinery in the Bay Area, according to the BAAQMD, while the coal the plant uses comes from other states, such as Utah. The two are very similar in heat value and emissions, except that petroleum coke, which sits in huge open-air piles as high as lampposts at Hanson, has higher levels of heavy metals. "The main thing we would like ideally is to see an environmental impact report done for this project," looking at the impact of open-air storage and emissions on water, air and human health, said Karen del Compare, a member of West Valley Citizens Air Watch. In particular, she is worried about hexavalent chromium, a heavy metal found in petroleum coke and made infamous by the movie Erin Brokovich. Hanson is required to test for it regularly, but the BAAQMD has not yet released its conclusions on emissions results. "We are striving to have more alternative fuels allowed in California," said Tietz, referring to agricultural waste, used tires and hazardous materials that can be completely burned at kilns' high temperatures. Hanson has experimented with burning tires in the past. "I know we're way behind other countries in this area. We're land-filling things used in cement plants elsewhere." Hanson, the industry and regulators have some work ahead of them. Demand is expected to rise after the current slowdown. Opposition to Hanson's planned quarry expansion and pressure about its environmental impact is not likely to disappear. Changes in the cement industry, including the Hanson operation, may reduce the struggle to meet demand and create a more environmentally friendly foundation for modern society. Henry J. Kaiser founded what is now called the Hanson Permanente Cement plant and quarry in the hills above Cupertino in 1939. It was the Kaiser Cement Corporation at the time.
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