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North Interbay group seeks to loosen industrial zoning

Industrial Pipeline Developers like Thompson just want to make more money on theirgambles in industrial real estate, he charges. "This is all aboutinstantaneous gratification." The City Council could take up the Interbay NeighborhoodAssociation's proposal this fall. North Interbay is a triangular sliver of the city, boundedgenerally by West Dravus Street, the BNSF railroad yards and busy15th Avenue West. It's a jumble of vacant lots, storage yards and mostly olderfactories and warehouses. Most who work in the area or live nearby agree it's rundown. "It's dead here. Just dead," says Chuck Read, whose companymanufactures custom cutting boards. About one-third of the area, mostly along Dravus and 15th, is zonedfor commercial uses. The Interbay Neighborhood Association is pushing for big changeshere, too — a rezone to allow condo or apartment towers up to125 feet tall. The city's Department of Planning and Development last monthproposed towers not top 85 feet. Planners said taller buildingswould be incompatible with nearby industry. North Interbay's industrially zoned blocks hold businesses thatmanufacture doors and cabinets and musical instruments. There's a steel-products warehouse, a marine-equipment supplyoperation and several machine shops. Other businesses don't really qualify as industrial: adog-obedience school, a fitness club, a company that rents partytents and canopies, another that markets sex toys. The Interbay Neighborhood Association cited that mix in itspetition to trim the area from BINMIC. The neighborhood already lacks the intensity of "hard-core"industrial uses that should define a manufacturing/industrialcenter, proponents argue; deleting it would just reflect reality. The city's restrictions on nonindustrial uses "lump me in with100-acre tracts in South Seattle that are pouring steel," saysRead. "Every area has different needs and different requirements." Thompson, Nitty Gritty's developer, contends mixed-use projectslike his would create "a more upgraded environment for industrialuses and a more respectful environment for customers." But just 12 percent of the land in Seattle is zoned industrial. AndAakervik, of the BINMIC Action Committee, says North Interbayoffers the access to rail and water that industry needs, and thatfew other areas offer. Industrial development in the area has been stymied, he says,because property owners aren't satisfied with its potential returnsand are speculating that zoning changes will make them richer. Dave Gering, executive director of the Manufacturing IndustrialCouncil of Seattle, says a project like the Nitty Gritty wouldcause him more heartburn if it were proposed in a heavy-industrystronghold like Georgetown or SoDo, rather than North Interbay. Gering's organization supported the limits on nonindustrial usesthe City Council approved last December. 

 
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Metal Fabricator requests rRoad closing for growth

Metal Fabricator The company fabricates metal for power plant ducts, structuralsteel, conveyors, hoppers and stainless steel scrubbers for coalplants, Mr. Parker said. The company also manufactures powertransmission lines for the Tennessee Valley Authority, he said.Another large customer is Georgia Power. Mr. Parker said he started his business in 1995 with a building andan acre of land. He expanded twice, and bought five acres adjoiningthe site two years ago, and then bought another tract on BrownStreet. The road closure also would benefit his company and a neighboringbusiness by preventing theft, Mr. Parker said. Both companiesfrequently have break-ins, he said. "I'll sit out here at night and they'll circle the block lookingfor something to steal," Mr. Parker said. The commission approved a request by former planningcommissioner Mike Price to grant a road-width variance at the ElderCove subdivision in Tiftonia. The request was not on the Mondayagenda. Mr. Price, owner of MAP Engineers, said he had filed thevariance with the planning agency, but the case was not scheduledto be heard until the July meeting. The Elder Cove developers are installing roadside drainage in thesubdivision and needed to reduce the road's width. The projectwould have been held up if the developers had had to wait until theJuly planning commission meeting, Mr. Price said. Planning agency director Barry Bennett said after the meeting thatwhile granting a request that's not on the agenda is unusual, itcan be done under extreme circumstances. 

 
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India copper eases on rising LME

lme copper Indian copper futures gave up early gains and eased on Tuesday after rising inventories dampened sentiment, analysts said. At 4.50 p.m., the benchmark June copper MCCM8 on the Multi Commodity Exchange of India (MCX) was down 0.39 percent at 344.25 rupees per kg. Copper inventories on the London Metal Exchange were up 1,500 tonnes to 123,550 tonnes on Tuesday. "Rising inventories pushed down copper after it gained in the morning but it should rise again because the outlook continues to be strong," said an analyst from Motilal Oswal Commodities Broker Pvt Ltd. Prices found support earlier after China reported a 25.6 percent surge in urban investment in the first five months of the year which indicated a positive demand outlook for metals. Copper prices also found support from falling Chinese imports. China is importing less copper, despite domestic demand, and expectations are that the local shortage will push traders to buy the metal over, supporting prices China's imports of unwrought copper fell 25 percent in May from April. Prices also rose on fresh supply concerns from Peru, where protestors blocked a mine belonging to Southern Copper (PCU.N: Quote, Profile, Research) (SPC.LM: Quote, Profile, Research), the country's largest copper producer [nN16263028].    

 
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Control4 introduces standards-based IP entertainment

lighting wire Control4 Corporation, a leader in affordable IP-based controland entertainment systems, today announced the release of Control4 ? Suite Systems, a customized version of the company ’ s popular home automation and entertainment control technology forthe hospitality market. The Control4 Suite Systems provides aplatform of innovative convenience and automation for the in-roomenvironment by enabling hotel guests to control lighting, roomtemperature, television/video systems, music, draperies andrequests for services through a single Control4 ? remote. "We' ve worked closely with the industry to develop a fully customizedroom automation platform that is incredibly easy to use, installand maintain, ” said Will West, Chief Executive Officer at Control4. “ The Control4 Suite Systems truly transforms the guest experience byproviding completely new functionality that significantly enhancesthe customer ’ s stay and provides differentiation for the destination. Thehospitality market represents a huge market opportunity forControl4 ? technology and we look forward to applying our expertise forcontinued innovation. ” Control4 Suite Systems provides the hospitality industry apractical, reliable automation operating system that is affordable.For new property construction, operators will see significantsavings in construction costs because the Control4 Suite Systems ’ wireless features eliminate virtually all in-room, low-voltagewiring, and require less conduit, labor and materials for controland lighting systems than traditional wire-based systems. The Control4 hospitality solution also offers a non-obtrusive andeasy way to save money by managing precious resources such asenergy, water, money and time. Control4 Suite Systems can beprogrammed to automatically put a room into unoccupied status uponcheckout — turning down or off the heating/cooling system, televisions,lights and any appliances. According to Green Lodging News,lighting accounts for up to 35 percent of a hotel ’ s energy bill, while up to 50-70 percent of a hotel ’ s energy bill is attributed to heating and cooling. "The Mandarin is renowned for offering personalized comfort andconvenience for our hotel guests, ” said David Heckaman, VP Technology, Mandarin Resorts. “ Control4 Suite Systems provides a technology platform that takesthat personalized experience to an entirely new level. Bothcorporate and leisure guests will delight in this highlysophisticated, yet easy-to-use service that makes the roomenvironment more relaxing and enjoyable. ” Control4 Suite Systems is also easy to install. Wired and wirelesssolutions are available for installation in both new constructionand most retrofits of properties meeting LEED certificationbuilding standards. To facilitate interoperability and integration between partnerproducts and Control4 ’ s digital home platform, Control4 is licensing its operating systemthrough the C4iQ ? certified partner program. C4iQ ? approved technology enables companies to embed the Control4operating system into a range of products, such as televisions,routers, receivers, etc. 

 
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Magnetic sensor ignores large local fields

Small Magnet Researchers at the Fraunhofer Institute have developed a novelmagnetic sensor that they claim for the first time detects tinyfluctuations in a small magnetic field – even when there is astrong magnet right beside it. The sensor can therefore be utilised even in places where powercables generate an interference field – for instance, in acar’s side mirror. In the car mirror application, if there is a change of driver it isnormally required to adjust the position of the mirror and theseat. To provide automatic adjustment for each driver, a tiny chip in thekey or a corresponding button on the dashboard can be pressed,enabling all adjustment to be performed very easily. There is a tiny magnet in the mirror and another in the seat, whoseposition is detected by a magnetic sensor and which enables themirror to be correctly adjusted. The only problem with this systemis that the cables supplying the power for heating the mirror andcontrolling the stepper motor also generate a magnetic field. The sensor therefore sees not only the field generated by themagnet, but also that of the power cable – and errors can bemade. Up to now, therefore, such magnetic field sensors have had tobe screened. This is difficult and expensive. A new type of integrated 3-D magnetic field sensor from theFraunhofer Institute for Integrated Circuits (IIS) in Erlangen,Germany, can work without screening. The researchers have arrangedseveral sensors in a pixel cell in such a way that they can measureall three components of the magnetic field in one place. If two ofthese pixel cells are placed on a chip, the sensor measures notonly the magnetic field as such, but also how the position of themagnetic field changes. IIS team leader Dr Hans-Peter Hohe states:“This sensor enables us for the first time to identifymagnetic interference fields as such and to separate them from theuseful field. The sensor works perfectly even when the interferencefield is considerably larger than the useful field. There istherefore no need for shielding.” 

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CRM's CDC Software,Schneider Electric says upgrade

 Hardware Supply CRM vendor CDC Software, a wholly owned subsidiary of China’s CDC Corporation, has announced that Schneider Electric (News - Alert) has gone live with its upgrade to cWMS Release 10, a warehouse management system part of the CDC Supply Chain suite. With more than 2,000 employees and revenue in excess of the equivalent of $977 million, Schneider sells electrical distribution and automation control products and services in the country and has rapidly expanded its logistics operations over the past 10 years.  Since first implementing an earlier version of CDC Software’s (News - Alert) “cWMS” 10 years ago, Schneider consolidated two of its warehouse sites, while at the same time expanding capacity to 50 tons of throughput per day, covering 14,000 product lines, resulting in cost savings and higher productivity. Andrew Holdroyd, logistics projects manager, said the company “needed to upgrade our warehouse functionality and systems to support our growing business volume and new distribution service in a multi-brand environment.” Michael Shrimplin, logistics development analyst for Schneider, said while the initial go-live “covered an ‘as-is’ upgrade, the latest version of cWMS will allow us to implement additional functionality… these include capabilities such as cartonisation, which will help improve item scanning, picking accuracy and overall quality control.” CRM vendor CDC Software, a wholly owned subsidiary of IT company CDC Corporation, has announced three multi-million dollar contracts recently.

 
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Reliance Steel purchases PNAGroup for $1.1bln

Platinum Bar Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. said Tuesday it agreed to buy PNAGroup Holding Corp., a steel service center group owned by PlatinumEquity, for about $1.1 billion. Shares of Reliance rose $6.82, or 4.7 percent, to $74.43 shortlyafter the opening bell. The deal is expected to close within 60 days, pending regulatoryapprovals. Los Angeles-based Reliance Steel expects to finance the dealthrough its existing credit facility and by raising about $750million by issuing new debt and equity securities. Reliance, which processes and sells products to aerospace, energyand construction companies, said it expects the deal to immediatelyboost earnings. Through its subsidiaries, PNA Group processes and distributesprimarily carbon steel plate, bar, structural and flat-rolledproducts. PNA subsidiaries include Delta Steel LP, Feralloy Corp.,Infra-Metals Co., Metals Supply Company Ltd., PrecisionFlamecutting and Steel LP and Sugar Steel Corp. PNA had 2007 sales of about $1.6 billion. Reliance reported saleslast year of about $7.26 billion. PNA has 23 steel service centers in the United States, five jointventures and seven service centers in the U.S. and Mexico. Reliancehas about 180 locations in the U.S. and about 37 across Belgium,Canada, China, South Korea and the United Kingdom. Copyright 2008 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This materialmay not be published broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed 

 
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Reliance Steel&Aluminum Co. signs deal to acquire PNAGroup

including aluminum Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. (NYSE:RS) announced today thatit has reached an agreement to acquire the outstanding capitalstock of PNA Group Holding Corporation, a national steel servicecenter group owned by Platinum Equity. The transaction is valued atapproximately $1.1 billion. PNA ’ s subsidiaries include the operating entities Delta Steel, LP,Feralloy Corporation, Infra-Metals Co., Metals Supply Company,Ltd., Precision Flamecutting and Steel, LP and Sugar SteelCorporation. Through its subsidiaries, PNA processes anddistributes primarily carbon steel plate, bar, structural andflat-rolled products. 2007 and first quarter 2008 revenues for PNAwere about $1.6 billion and $474 million, respectively. PNA has 23steel service centers throughout the United States, as well as fivejoint ventures that operate a total of seven service centers in theUnited States and Mexico. The transaction is expected to be consummated within the next 60days, subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, includingobtaining required regulatory approvals. Reliance expects tofinance the transaction, including the replacement of PNA ’ s existing debt, through a combination of borrowings under Reliance ’ s existing credit facility and by raising approximately $750million through the issuance of a combination of new debt andequity securities. “ The PNA operations complement our existing business and add newproducts in many geographic areas that further enhance thecustomer, product and geographic diversification of our business.Through the PNA joint ventures, we also gain entry into a newmarket for us in Mexico, ” said David H. Hannah, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer. Inregard to the financing, Hannah stated, “ We expect that this transaction, including the impact of theexpected financing, will be immediately accretive to our earnings,with the dilution from any new shares issued offset by the earningsfrom PNA and savings from our lower cost of capital. Additionally,we expect our balance sheet and liquidity to remain strong. ” Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co., headquartered in Los Angeles,California, is the largest metals service center company in theUnited States. Through a network of more than 180 locations in 37states and Belgium, Canada, China, South Korea and the UnitedKingdom, the Company provides value-added metals processingservices and distributes a full line of over 100,000 metalproducts. These products include galvanized, hot-rolled andcold-finished steel; stainless steel; aluminum; brass; copper;titanium and alloy steel sold to more than 125,000 customers invarious industries. Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. ’ s press releases and additional information are available on theCompany ’ s web site at www.rsac.com . The Company was named to the 2007 “ Fortune 500 ” List and the Fortune 2007 “ 100 Fastest Growing Companies ” List and the Fortune 2008 List of “ America ’ s Most Admired Companies ” and the 2008 Forbes “ Platinum 400 List of America ’ s Best Big Companies. ” This release may contain forward-looking statements relating tofuture financial results and the proposed acquisition and relatedfinancing of PNA. Actual results and events may differ materiallyas a result of many factors over which Reliance Steel &Aluminum Co. has no control. These risk factors and additionalinformation are included in the Company ’ s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2007and other reports Reliance Steel & Aluminum Co. has on filewith the Securities and Exchange Commission. 

  
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Zhou Xun grows green moustache to save world

Oolong Tea  Drink  It's not easy being a celebrity, attending endless receptions andVIP parties, so my recent hometown holiday in Tianjin was just whatthe doctor ordered. Whenever I return to my roots I head straightto a downtown teashop called the Qing-Cha Bubble Pot, which servesoolong tea and plates of my favorite snacks, "ear-eye" fried ricecakes and "take no notice of the dog" steamed buns. It was herethat I made my debut as a cross-talk performer and got into a fightafter making jokes about one of the patrons. Generously, the ownerdoes not hold this against me. Much of the teashop gossip focused on a local lady known as the"Tianjin Mouth", who has upset traditionalists in the cross-talkcommunity by performing naked. I worry that I will have to followsuit, though I am cheered slightly by the fact that televisionmakes one appear bigger. There was also talk about constructing anAussie Rules football stadium, costing around $1.5 million. Notmany people know that Tianjin is twinned with Melbourne, I didn't,but that was the explanation given for building the white elephant.I just can't imagine my homies charging around after a rugby ballshouting "g'day mate, fancy a vegemite sandwich?" On my return to Beijing I was perusing the newsstands when I spiedour nation's sweetheart, Zhou Xun, on the cover of Time OutBeijing, with a leaf glued on to her upper lip. I suspected theactress and singer was promoting some novel kind of moustache-likebody adornment for women, or alternatively a natural airpurification system. It turned out that she was recently made a UNgoodwill ambassador for the environment. The green moustache isstill a mystery. On Saturday night (back in the swing) I went to a champagne andmodels reception at Hilton's Zeta bar for fashiontv (www.ftv.com),which positions itself as the favored portal for fabulousfashionistas. At the party clean-cut foreign fashiontv presenterswith strange English accents mixed with skinny models, who got topmarks for posing but failed to do much more than wiggleuncomfortably on the dance floor. One of the party hosts brought me up to date with the latest goingson in celebrity circles. Like the models, it was thin pickings. Theonly remotely interesting snippet was news that next month57-year-old billionaire Terry Gou is planning to marry dancer DeliaZeng, 34, after a whirlwind three-month affair. The headlong rushinto nuptials has the press speculating that Zeng is pregnant. Atan event attended by the couple journalists popped the shotgunmarriage question, but Zeng was keeping mum. Hu Deman, legendary Beijing crosstalker and confidante to China'sbiggest celebrities, talks to Jules Quartly (China Daily 06/11/2008 page18)
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Party Line: Carnival parties wind down

artificial grapes  The royal couple participated in RaMet's mini float parade atAppling Manor. "Tuscany" was the parade theme, so lots ofartificial grapes were used in float decorations. The young mencomprising the queen's Loyal Order of Scarabs held Queen Peytonaloft on a pallet decorated with plastic grapes and vines. Withbunches of grapes attached to his crown, King Howard joined thegroup. The 1978 movie, Animal House, was the theme of the grand krewe of Ptolemy's toga party Thursdaynight at the University Club of Memphis. The king and queen wereexempt from wearing togas. And no costumes made out of bed sheets for the Scarabs, either. "Wewear tails no matter what," said Michael O'Mell. "No togas." Proud clubs present their own royalty Memphis clubs honored their Carnival Memphis princes and princesseswith parties during Carnival Week. This year, the University Club of Memphis held a party for itsroyalty outside on the tennis courts. Princess Selden Elise Humphreys and Prince Sisco Larson were presented Friday at "Cruisin' at the U-Club." That was thefirst time since 1992 they've held the annual Carnival party on thecourts, said Oakley Jordan, University Club president. He wanted to "bring back romance, bringback magic, bring it back to what it was." Princess Laura McKee and Prince Neely Mallory were presented Thursday night at The Memphis Country Club. Princess Taylor Crow and Prince Whitt Tucker were honored at a reception earlier that day at the NineteenthCentury Club. Taylor Rebecca West was the Tournament Players Club at Southwind princess, Adrienne Lloyd Adler was princess of the Chickasaw Country Club and Virginia Tully Dickinson was the Racquet Club of Memphis princess. And don't forget, it's a party with a purpose This year, $100,000 was raised by Carnival Memphis and its grandkrewes for the Children's Charity Initiative beneficiaries: theCystic Fibrosis Foundation, Carnival Memphis Kids' Cafe and theHarwood Center, said Ed Galfksy, Carnival Memphis executive director. The announcement was made at a barbecue supper Thursday afternoonat the Memphis Zoo. Among those attending were members of the organizations andCarnival dignitaries. To see party videos go to commercialappeal.com. To see more partypictures, go to iDivamemphis.com. Contact Michael Donahue at 529-2797 or e-mail donahue@commercialappeal.com .
 
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Best readies Kingsgate Native for sprint crown

 Native Produce  The flying wizards from Oz will once again be at Royal Ascot, withTakeover Target, winner of the King's Stand Stakes two years ago,leading the raid on Tuesday's opening-day sprint feature. Theglobetrotting nine-year-old gelding showed himself as good as everin Singapore last month with a narrow defeat of compatriot Magnus,who will again oppose next week. But this year the home side may have more to say about thedestination of the first British leg of the Global SprintChallenge, a series that has lifted the profile of specialistspeedsters. And in particular, with two three-year-olds, old rivalsFleeting Spirit and Kingsgate Native. Fleeting Spirit, from Jeremy Noseda's Newmarket yard, is currentlyfavourite, on the strength of her scorching return to action 18days ago in the Temple Stakes at Haydock. Kingsgate Native, trainedby John Best at Hucking, Kent, will be making his seasonal debut inthe five-furlong dash, now restored to top-level status after 20years. The pair have met once before, when the filly narrowly beat thecolt in the Molecomb Stakes at Goodwood, but thereafter their pathsdiverged. Fleeting Spirit took a conventional route for one of hersex, talent and aptitude (Lowther-Flying Childers-Cheveley Park).But Kingsgate Native boldly went where few juveniles had gonebefore. He broke his maiden in a Group One contest against older horses,the Nunthorpe Stakes, and very nearly made it a double in thatcompany, running a brave second in the Prix de l'Abbaye, ridden onboth occasions by next week's pilot Jimmy Quinn. His performancesprompted the Cheveley Park Stud to acquire stallion rights, thoughhe will still race in the colours of Epsom-based former bookmakerJohn Mayne. The return of the Native is eagerly awaited, not least by Best. "Wehaven't run him simply because there hasn't been anything to runhim in without carrying a penalty," he said, "but he's in excellentorder. We've had no hold-ups at all and he had a decent racecoursegallop last week, and he's showing us he's still got the appetitefor it. It's going to be a tough rematch with Fleeting Spirit– that run at Haydock looked incredible – but we're upfor it." One of the son of Mujadil's weapons last year was his unusuallymature physique. "If someone had told you he was a four-year-old,you'd have believed them," said Best, "and of course against theolder horses he was getting all the weight allowances. The concernmust be that some of the others may have caught him up. "But he has definitely progressed physically, nonetheless, and I'mdelighted with what we've got. Jimmy said he was like a little bulland when Chris Richardson [Cheveley Park director] came down lastweek to see him he was very pleased. I see him every day and it wasgood to have a fresh, objective eye confirm what I think." Kingsgate Native's first experience of a racecourse came at theRoyal meeting, when he was beaten a head in the Windsor CastleStakes over Tuesday's track. The colt handles most ground but, withhis tactical hat on, Best is hoping for some ease. "I'm glad theKing's Stand is when it is," he said. "Fine weather is forecast allweek, so I think they'll have to produce genuine good ground on thefirst day, because it will dry up from there. And Fleeting Spiritwants it as fast as it can get." Kingsgate Native is also in the Golden Jubilee Stakes on themeeting's final day. "We'll see how things go on Tuesday," saidBest. "It looks as if he's still a serious horse – I wouldn'tswap him for anything – and it's going to be an excitingweek." Phillip Makin is in hospital with a crushed vertebra following afall on the gallops. The accident happened while Makin wasexercising horses at David Barron's Thirsk stable and the jockeycould be out of action for a month. Interesting? Click here to explore further
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Teas to try: the health benefits of green, black, and white...

Gunpowder Green Tea  For fortune-tellers, gazing into tea leaves reveals the future. Fortea-drinkers, the leaves of certain teas may be harbingers of a healthier future. Aside from herbal or fruit-infused teas, most teas come from theleaves of the same tea bush, Camellia sinensis . The benefit of each kind of tea from the Camellia sinensis depends upon when and where the leaves are harvested and how theirproperties are brewed or extracted. To get to the truth about tea,we need to gaze into the leaves a bit, too. Green tea Read the leaves: Green tea reigns as the current health superstar of teas. Youngleaves of the Camellia sinensis bush are harvested to make green tea, then steamed, dried, androlled. When brewed, the leaves yield a delicate, grassy flavour.Tons of varieties exist, infused with different flavours, likefruit or toasted rice. Some kinds are handled differently, as withthe "gunpowder" variety, in which the leaves are rolledinto balls that look like gunpowder pellets used in cannons. Harvest the benefits: Tea from the Camellia sinensis family contain catechins, a type of antioxidant that can protectcells in the body from oxidative damage that may lead to cancers.Because it goes through less processing than other tea types, greentea contains a higher amount of a certain kind of catechin calledEGCG. EGCG is at the heart of numerous scientific studies researchinggreen tea's potential medical uses and health benefits. Some of itssuspected uses include: helping to maintain healthy weight slowing the growth of some cancers and lowering risks of others reducing inflammation associated with rheumatoid arthritis andCrohn's disease and ulcerative colitis reducing the risk of death from cardiovascular disease Is all this a tempest in a teacup? Can green tea live up to all ofits hype? Most people don't drink enough to get the kinds ofresults seen in research studies, in which highly dense extracts ofgreen tea may be used. Still, risks of cardiovascular disease andprostate cancer were found to be drastically reduced when peopledrank 5 cups per day (one cup of green tea provides 20-35 mg ofEGCG). Drinking 5 cups of green tea each day may work for some, buteven one or two a day may give you some of the benefits. Black tea Read the leaves: Known as "red tea" in some cultures, black tea iscreated from the withering, crushing, oxidizing, and drying of theleaves of Camellia sinensis . Since the leaves are oxidized, which darkens the leaves and givesit its recognizable "tea" flavour, some of the healthbenefits are leached out of the tea. Black tea provides the basefor many tea blends, including the popular Earl Grey and EnglishBreakfast teas. Chai - named with the Hindi word for tea - is ablend of black tea and spices, including cloves, cinnamon, andginger. Harvest the benefits: The ritual of taking tea offers a moment of respite from stress,and black tea specifically has been linked to lowering the levelsof stress hormones in the body. Despite its reputation as atooth-stainer, black tea may have dental benefits because of itsfluoride content. Black tea may also aid the healing process ofthose with coronary artery disease. And like its greener kin, blacktea contains antioxidants and is a low-calorie, low-fat beverage. White tea Read the leaves: To create the "white" variety of tea, the youngest budsand leaves of Camellia sinensis are harvested in early spring. They are then put through an evenmore delicate process than the leaves of green tea: low heat, norolling, extended time to wither. White tea's caffeine contentvaries depending on the blend and quality of the leaves. Itsflavour is described as sweet. Harvest the benefits: White tea extract has lately been added to some toothpaste brandsbecause of its purported ability to fight the growth of bacteria onteeth. Due to its extra-delicate processing, white tea retains evenmore of its antioxidants than green tea and holds promise as apotential sunscreen additive. Let these ideas steep Keep the following in mind as you decide whether to add some tea toyour days: Tea may contain less caffeine than coffee, but it is caffeinenonetheless. Caffeine has been linked to high blood pressure andcan trigger symptoms of conditions, including heartburn andheadaches. The tannins in tea may interfere with or decrease the effectivenessof some medications. Ask your doctor or pharmacist whether yourmedications can mix with green tea. The tannins may also hinder iron absorption. Women who are pregnant should not drink large amounts of green tea.EGCG can interfere with neural tube development. Mixing tea with citrus may up its antioxidant strength. To get the most of tea's benefits, drink it freshly brewed, ratherthan bottled. Let tea steep for a few minutes to release thecatechins.
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Price Increase To Affect Consumers

Frozen Chicken  Price Increase To Affect Consumers Publish date/time: 11/06/2008 [16:05] Rising world food prices will affect consumers in Fiji again fromsometime next week. Prices and Incomes Board officials have confirmed that the newprices have been forwarded to the manufacturers and consumers willfeel an increase in the price of rice and local frozen chickenproducts from next week. Prices for Thai Long Grain Rice will increase by 20 percent. Theincrease is for the brown rice milled here. This is due to the increasing world price of rice. Meanwhile, there will be an average increase of 3 percent in theprices of local frozen chicken products including whole birds andchicken portions. The increase in the price of frozen chicken products is due to theincrease in livestock feed prices as it is major component iswheat. The impact of the increase will be felt by the consumers by nextweek. PIB will also monitor the price increase margins placed bywholesalers and retailers. 
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Cheaper edible oils through ration shops soon in three state...

RBD Palm Oil  New Delhi, June 10: The Centre may start supplying edible oilsthrough ration shops in at least three states -- Himachal Pradesh,Chhattisgarh and Tamil Nadu -- from this month, as part of itsmeasures to give relief to the common man from rising prices. The government would supply one litre of cooking oil to each familycovered under below poverty line and Antyodaya Anna Yojana Schemeof the Public Distribution System (PDS) at subsidised rates. The centre would provide a subsidy of Rs 15 a litre for thisprogramme. The government has entrusted state-owned trading agencies MMTC,STC, PEC and co-operative major Nafed with the task to import onemillion tonne of edible oil to meet PDS requirement. These agencies have already contracted to import 1.72 lakh tonnefrom global suppliers, sources said. STC has contracted to import 46,000 tons, while PEC 85,000 tons,MMTC 17,000 tons and Nafed 24,000 tons, sources said, addingmajority of the quantity contracted are RBD Palmolein. "These agencies have been asked to import RBD Palmolein asgovernment intended to start supplying cooking oil under PDS at theearliest," a senior official said. RBD Palmolein is a refined oil and cane be directly distributed toconsumers after packing here unlike Crude Palm Oil (CPO) that needsto be refined. Apart from RBD Palmolein, these agencies are importing crudeSoyabean oil, which will be refined and then supplied under PDS. 
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New organic food supplier proves an instant success

Instant Food  They sell meat, fruit and vegetables, dairy products and bread thatis either organic or traditionally produced - the vast majoritywithin County Durham. It is then delivered to the customer's home. Mrs Deacon and Mrs Rose- Gray admitted even they were surprised bytheir instant success. Mrs Deacon said: "It has taken off even better than we expected. "We are getting orders from all over the region. Initially, westarted off delivering in Durham City, then a further ten-mileradius, and now we are taking orders from Stanhope, Burnopfield,Washington and Sunderland. "Initially, we were just thinking of serving only the domesticconsumer, but we are starting to take commercial orders as wellsuch as schools and nurseries." Mrs Deacon said that herself, Mrs Rose-Gray and a third friend whois a silent partner, had first seen the possibility of starting abusiness after their own experiences of having to travel todifferent locations to get various products such as fruit and meat. She said: "That was the reason the business was formed. We both ateorganic and if I wanted meat I had to go to one part of town and ifI was wanting vegetables I had to go to another. "On other occasions I was going to the supermarket which I didn'tfeel right about because I wanted to know where the meat was comingfrom." As they buy the vast majority of their stock from local producers,within a 35-mile radius of Spennymoor, the pair believed everybodygained. Mrs Deacon said: "Everyone is benefiting, we are giving a fairprice to farmers in this area. "It is about supporting local producers. We have some fantasticproducers in the North-East but a lot of people don't know aboutthem." The business partners were also delighted with winning theircertification from the Soil Association. Both gave up jobs working at a direct mail company to set up theirbusiness. With limited experience of running a business, the pair had help insetting up from Business Link North-East, which provides freeadvice and guidance to the region's budding entrepreneurs andestablished companies. Mrs Deacon said: "Business Link helped us source financial supportfor our corporate identity, website and design - without which wewould not have been able to communicate with new customers." Colin Willis, Business Link account manager, said: "The Honest FoodPartnership has proved to be a huge success already as SoilAssociation accreditation is only given to businesses whose foodproducts are produced and processed to strict animal welfare andenvironmental standards." The Honest Food Partnership can be contacted on 01388-817085 or goto thehonestfoodpartner ship.co.uk 12:12pm today Print Email this Comment
 
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Berry festival yields plenty of plump sweets

 Frozen Blackberry  Summer is here and so are the berries. Plump blackberries andblueberries at the peak of ripeness and bursting with flavor areready for harvest. This Saturday, Petals From the Past in Jemisonwill hold its sixth annual Black and Blue Berry festival, where youcan pick your fill of the luscious fruit. Were going into our ninth year on the planting that we put in andits as large a crop that we have ever seen, said Jason Powell,owner of Petals From the Past. The fields will be closed the week before the festival to ensureplenty of berries on Saturday. Powell also has arranged with twoadjacent farms to have extra blackberries on hand. And just to besure no one leaves disappointed, additional berries have beenpicked, frozen and bagged. We want to make sure that if you cometo this festival, you go home with berries, he said. If your childhood recollections of blackberry picking include thememory of those unholy itch-producing little redbugs best known aschiggers, have no fear. The nasty little critters are not an issuehere because the plants are grown on wire trellises, nicely spaced,and easy to access. Southern Sweets will have tasting stations in the air- conditioned barn where you can satisfy the most voracious sweettooth. For just five dollars you can sample everything she has setup in there, said Powell. Blackberry cobbler is the most requestedbut the fried pies are also popular. Last year she had ablackberry and blueberry buckle that had a creamy consistency andit was very, very good, Powell said. When youve got freshblackberries and blueberries you cannot go wrong. In addition to desserts, Southern Sweets will offer a box lunch andChilton Christian Academy will sell hot dogs and hamburgers toraise funds for their school. Plants will be for sale for those who want to grow berries in theirhome gardens and Arlie Powell, Jason Powells father, will presenttwo free talks on the best ways to care for them. Will Madison said he found the lectures particularly helpful. I learned a lot from the lectures, he said. They have atrellis-type growing system that they use and recommend. And Ipicked up some free pamphlets. Madison purchased two Kiowa blackberry plants at the festival in2006 and has already reaped the tasty rewards. We picked berriesoff them last year, and it looks like there will be even moreberries this year. Madison also enjoyed seeing other crops grown on the farm. Theyhave a fig orchard and I found that interesting. But the figswerent ready at that time. Figs generally ripen later in thesummer and one of the fig trees (Brown Turkey) came from ThomasJeffersons garden at Monticello. We had heard such nice things about their operation and we wantedto see it, said festival attendee Paula Cole. I was veryimpressed by how organized it was. All the staff were veryknowledgeable about the plants. And they had a small gift shop thatwas nice, too. It had gardening implements, books, as well asdecorative items. The festival will include bluegrass and gospel music and a pettingzoo and pony rides for the kids. Powell is especially glad to havechildren come to his farm. We want more people to be exposed to afarm atmosphere, to see where fruits and vegetables are beinggrown, he said. For many of these kids, its their firstexposure. When the Powells began their nursery in 1994, they startedprimarily with antique roses, heirloom shrubs, cottage perennialsand herbs. One of their missions is to educate the public about theolder types of plants. So when people are picking their blackberries and blueberries,they are going to be walking right through gardens that arefeaturing antique roses, Powell said. Some of these varieties aretwo or three hundred years old. What we are finding is that theplants that are surviving droughts like we had last year are theplants that our grandmothers grew. And theyll be here long afterwere gone.
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Motorola, Philips Obtain Chinese TD Licenses

Mobile Data Terminal Nineteen TD terminal manufacturers, including foreign brandsMotorola ( MOT ) and Philips, have obtained a network access license from China'sMinistry of Information Industry for a total of 29 types of TDterminals, including 24 mobile phones and five data cards. The 24 TD mobile phones are Datang TG1000, Philips TM700,Holley8310, HuaweiS220, HuaweiS330, HuaweiS660, HaierT300,HisenseT68, HisenseT66, LongcheerTD290, LenovoTD800, LGKD876,MotorolaL800t, SamsungL288, SamsungI688, TCLU398, UTStarcomD60,PandaTD988, AmoiT5, XinyoutongN268, Yulong Coolpad6260, ZTEU85,ZTEU980 and ZTEU981. The five TD data card are Chongyou D-HSDPA data card TCN230, DatangData Card DTM5722, Huawei Data Card ET608, Xinyoutong TD-HSDPADataCard H301 and ZTE Data CardMU318. Compared with April 1 when there were only six types of TDterminals when TD was first put into commercial trial use, thecategory of China's TD-SCDMA terminals has been much enriched withthis expansion. Consumers will have more options after China Mobilecompletes the second round of TD bidding
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Jairam to write to Modi on setting up of spice zone in Gujar...

Power Supply Products National Jairam to write to Modi on setting up of spice zone in Gujarat Vadodara (PTI): Union Minister of State for Commerce and PowerJairam Ramesh on Sunday said he will write to Gujarat chiefminister Narendra Modi for setting up of spice zone and developmentof marine products hub in the state. The spice zone should be set up in 100 acre land in Mehsana todevelop value added products to meet the domestic and exportdemand, Ramesh here to attend a function told PTI. Ramesh said he would also request Modi to develop 1600 km longcoastal line of Gujarat as marine products hub which will createmore job opportunities. There is need for development of acquaculture products in the stateand centre will give assistance under MPDEA (Marine Products Exportdevelopment Agency), he said. On plans to formulate any policy for allocating gas to the gasbased Thermal power units, he said after meeting the demands of thefertiliser plants gas can be given for power generation. Admitting a huge gap between power demand and supply in thecountry, he said an ambitious plan is chalked out for generation of78,000 mw power during the 11th Five year plan. He denied Gujarat government's allegation that Centre waswithdrawing unallocated 200mw of power from the Gujarat's powersystem. He said Gujarat will get 4,000 mw power from Reliance power projectin Sasan, Madhya Pradesh. The Minister said Gujarat will be allocated coal from the coalmines in Orissa whcih can reduce its transportation cost formeeting requirements of coal based thermal power station in thestate. National
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Canon brings Dual Flash Memory recording to SD camcorder ran...

Digital Camcorder Batteries01 June 2008 - Dubai, UAE - Canon Middle East revitalises theStandard Definition (SD) market with the launch of a stunning rangeof camcorders that record movies to flash memory. The MegapixelCanon Digital Video Camcorders FS11, FS10 and FS100 are not onlycompact and power efficient - they are also graced with a stunningnew sense of style. In fact, these designer camcorders are theideal solution for all types of moviemaker: from teens in the park,to office workers on a night out and grandparents on holiday.Thanks to solid state memory, they offer the kind of storagecapacity previously only seen in Hard Disk Drive (HDD) models, yetare housed in a body no larger than the size of a family digitalcamera. For total convenience, the Dual Flash Memory FS11 and FS10 giveusers the option of shooting to standard SD/SDHC memory cards orinternal memory - either 16GB (FS11) or 8GB (FS10), offering up toover 10 hours or over 5 hours of recording respectively. Withever-larger SDHC memory cards now on the market, users can easilyincrease the overall recording capacity of these models, all thewhile retaining the ability to just pick up and shoot when a cardisn't to hand. The FS100 records to SD/SDHC memory cards only -compact and easily removable, they are ideal for sharing withfriends and family. As Canon camcorders, all three models naturallybenefit from class-leading video technologies, including the new45x Advanced Zoom system. "The FS series is a groundbreaking addition to Canon's rangeof digital imaging devices, offering content creators and familymoviemakers everywhere the ultimate in style, compactness andconvenience," said Hendrik Verbrugghe, Marketing Manager,Canon Middle East. "The style and good looks of each model arereminiscent of Canon's popular range of compact digital stillcameras - the introduction of flash memory recording demonstratesthat Canon remains committed to refining and improving itscamcorder range, bringing the latest technologies to everyuser." The new FS series: * Dual Flash Memory imaging devices recording to SD/SDHC andinternal memory (FS11 and FS10) - for high capacity and responsivecontrol * Direct to SD/SDHC recording (FS100) - perfect for sharing * Stylish, lightweight design that incorporates a high resolutionMegapixel CCD with True Wide High Resolution 16:9 recording * New 45x Advanced Zoom with genuine Canon video lens and DIGIC DVII[1] processor * Compatible with Canon's new standalone Canon DVD Burner DW-100 * New Intelligent battery system displays remaining recording time(accurate to the minute) * Still image capture to internal memory (FS11 and FS10) or SDmemory card * Microphone input connection for superior quality audio * Software Solution Disk and Application Disk supplied[2] Dual Flash Memory recording Canon's Dual Flash Memory system benefits both the FS11 and FS10.Combining the best of both worlds - internal flash memory andSD/SDHC memory card recording - both of these camcorders offerlarge storage capacities, until now the preserve of HDD models.Storing up to over 10 hours (FS11) or over 5 hours (FS10) ofmovies, they are still no bigger than an average digital camera. The advantages of internal memory are numerous: there are no hiddenmedia costs and no need to carry spares around - not to mention thefact that users can just pick up and shoot whenever they want.Since the FS11 and FS10 also allow movies to be shot directly toSD/SDHC memory cards, they are equally well equipped for situationsrequiring more storage - on such occasions a memory card can beused to supplement internal capacity. When users want to sharememories with friends, video can also be copied directly from theinternal memory to an SD/SDHC memory card. Ideal for spontaneous shooting, the FS100 records video and photosto standard SD or SDHC memory cards. Memory cards are aneasy-to-share way of shooting since they can be easily removed fromthe camcorder and handed to friends and colleagues. Footage canalso be easily uploaded to a computer using a compatible cardreader or via a USB connection. Stylish, lightweight design Flash camcorders offer several key advantages. Along with lowerpower consumption and faster start up times, flash memory isphysically smaller than tapes, DVDs, and Hard Disk Drives. Thisfact allows flash camcorders to be made significantly lighter andmore compact - the FS series is ergonomic and refined, sittingcomfortably in the palm of the hand. And since flash involves nomoving parts, each camcorder can withstand bumps and knocks withoutendangering stored footage. FS series camcorders set a new benchmark in powerful imagingperformance packaged in a truly compact design. Across the range, aMegapixel CCD provides superior image quality and True Wide HighResolution 16:9 recording. After the shoot, a 2.7" 16:9 LCDscreen allows widescreen movies to be previewed in the correctdimensions. Advanced Zoom With a 45x Advanced Zoom, the FS series sets a new standard in themarket. The Advanced Zoom system is an innovation that allows usersto capture distant events - such as the action of a sports match -in perfect clarity. Combining the quality of a genuine Canonoptical zoom lens with the processing power of the unique DIGIC DVII image processor, users can get closer to the action than everbefore. Simple DVD burning To make sharing footage with friends and family even easier, FS11,FS10 and FS100 are compatible with Canon's new standalone Canon DVDBurner DW-100. The burner connects directly to the camcorder,allowing videos to be copied to a full-size DVD without the needfor a computer - the perfect accessory for anyone who enjoyssending movies to distant relatives and friends. Intelligent battery A new intelligent lithium-ion battery system displays exactly howmuch recording time is left. Accurate to the minute, the systemmakes it easier to monitor available power and therefore avoidrunning out at the crucial moment. Writing to flash memory has afar lower power requirement than other recording formats, too -over three hours of shooting is possible with the supplied batterypack. Digital photography features Combining video recording with advanced digital photographyfeatures, the FS11, FS10 and FS100 capture high quality stills.Photos are easily transferred to a computer via USB. A CanonSolution Disk, supplied with every model, helps users store,enhance and manage their digital still photos. Superior audio Each FS series model features a microphone input connection,allowing superior quality audio to be captured. By attaching anexternal microphone, users are better able to record a strongsoundtrack in otherwise challenging circumstances - at a schoolconcert for instance, or similar occasions when ambient noise mightotherwise interfere with what is being recorded. Further information about Canon Middle East is available at:www.canon-me.com Agency Contact: Linsey Worgan d'pr Tel: (9714) 331 1104 Email: linsey@d-pr.ae ? Press Release 2008 from d'pr Jun 1 2008.Press Rlease .more info
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Stainless steel maker Outokumpu plans to invest €420M todoub...

HELSINKI, Finland : Metals group Outokumpu plans to invest €420 million todouble ferrochrome production in Finland to 530,000 tons a year. The world's second-largest Stainless Steel Good maker says its board hasapproved the move and that the new capacity will be reached by2011. Outokumpu says the plans were sparked by a substantial increase inthe demand for ferrochrome by the stainless steel industry andwould make the company self-sufficient in its chrome needs. Outokumpu Oyj has 8,200 workers in some 30 countries. In recentyears it has divested other production in a move to reach itsdeclared goal of becoming the world's No. 1 stainless steel maker.
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Deutsche Raises China Growth Forecast

China's economy will expand about 10.7percent this year, Deutsche Bank said, increasing its estimate toaccount for reconstruction spending following the worst earthquakein 58 years. Deutsche Bank raised its 2008 economic growth forecast from 10percent and estimated 2009 expansion of 9.7 percent from 9.3percent previously. Spending to rebuild will exceed 500 billionyuan ($72 billion) over three years, Ma Jun , a Hong Kong-based economist wrote in a note dated yesterday. Spending will peak from the fourth quarter of this year to thesecond quarter of next year, boosting demand for cement, glass,machinery and steel, Ma said. The revisions were consistent withboosts to growth after earthquakes in India, Indonesia, Iran,Japan, Taiwan, Turkey and Pakistan, he said. The spending would provide support for companies including Asia Cement Corp. , Shui On Construction Machinery China Infrastructure Machinery Holdings Ltd. , Yanzhou Coal Mining Co., Maanshan Iron & Steel Co., DoosanInfracore Co. and Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ma said. China's cement demand will rise by 61.1 percent in the yearstarting July 1 from the previous 12 months because of thereconstruction, compared with a previous estimate of 12 percent,according to the report. Demand for construction glass will rise by 39.2 percent for thesame period, compared with the previous forecast of 18 percent, andsteel demand will rise by 14.3 percent, compared with 12 percent,Deutsche Bank said. Reconstruction Spending Reconstruction spending will begin boosting economic growth in thefourth quarter of this year, when it will add 1.4 percentagepoints, Ma said in a telephone interview. It will add 1.2percentage points in the first half of next year, he added. Rising demand prompted Ma to revise his 2009 inflation forecast to 4.7 percent from 4.3 percent, he said. Fixed-assetinvestment will be boosted by 3 percentage points over the ninemonths from October through June next year, he said. Ma left his forecast for consumer price rises this year unchangedat 7.2 percent, adding earthquake rebuilding would cause ``highinflation for longer.'' Consumer prices will fall 1 percentagepoint to 7.5 percent in May and another half a percent to 7 percentin June as vegetable prices fall after recovering from snowstormsearly this year, he said. China faces inflation close to a 12-year high and weakening globaldemand for exports. The People's Bank of China said yesterday itregards the danger from rising prices, a problem exacerbated by thequake, as the bigger threat. In the second half of next year, economic growth likely willdecelerate ``sharper than expected as fixed asset investment growthpeaks,'' Ma said. After seven earlier earthquakes in India,Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Taiwan, Turkey and Pakistan, GDP growthfell by 2.5 percentage points in the second year after the quake,Ma said. The government has set up a 70 billion yuan fund to pay forreconstruction costs in areas affected by the quake. To contact the reporters for this story: Helen Yuan in Shanghai at hyuan@bloomberg.net Kevin Hamlin in Beijing at khamlin@bloomberg.net Last Updated: June 3, 2008 03:31 EDT
 
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Retailers go green bag makers red

Retailers in China are now fighting a battle for the "green" highground in a bid to turn fashion-conscious customers into eco-awareshoppers, as plastic bags face the ban. Muji, the Japanese lifestyle store is offering simple but stylishlinen and cotton bags in its newly launched outlet in westernBeijing. While Levi's, the US clothing maker is printing its insignia, theback-pocket seagull stitch, on its non-woven shopping bags - whichcustomers get free when purchasing jeans at its stores. Shuang'an Department Store, located near Beijing's West Third RingRoad, held a recycle bag design competition last month and receivedaround 400 applications, indicating the interest in more ecofashion. The "green" shopping bag campaign seems to be a win-win for allinvolved. Companies can adopt it as a brand-building tool.Consumers see it as an iconic statement against throwaway plasticbags, which are given away in billions every year. "I like cloth bags, they are green and fashionable," says Lucy Liu,a 25-year-old office worker in Beijing. She said that carrying arecycled bag can send out two messages at the same time: Caringabout the environment and being fashionable. The State Council has banned the production, sale and use Building Plastic bags starting from June 1. Shops are alsoforbidden to provide free plastic bags. Retailers who continue tooffer free plastic bags will be fined between 5,000 and 10,000yuan. Supermarkets now charge 0.2 to 0.5 yuan for each plastic bag andsell cloth bags priced between 3 and 10 yuan. While the new government policy has forced some plastic bagproducers to shut down their businesses, others like Shi Jingdongsee the move as a chance to boost business. "Our business grew at least 50 percent during the past two months,"said Shi, sales manager of Beijing Color Printing PackagingMaterial Co. The company can produce 100,000 non-woven bags amonth. Businesses from outside of the retail market are also investing ineco-bag branding. May Flower Dental, a one-and-a-half-year-old private dental cliniclocated on Beijing's Financial Street, last week teamed up with OleSupermarkets and the Oriental Plaza to offer customers freenon-woven bags. The company distributed 10,000 bags in a week. The clinic, which also has English-speaking doctors, said it hassimilar target consumers as Ole as more than half of the storeshelves are packed with imported or organic food. "It is impossible to expect that shoppers come to our clinic rightafter they get the bags. But we do hope that when they have troublewith their teeth one day, our clinic's name will jump into theirhead," said Song Min, from the company's marketing department.
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Architectural Glass IPO price rise

MUMBAI: Sejal Architectural Glass, a glass processing house, hasfixed the price band between Rs 105 and Rs 115 per equity share forits forthcoming public issue. The company proposes to come out witha public issue of 91,94,155 equity shares of Rs 10 each for cash ata price to be decided by the 100 per cent book-building process. The objects of the issue are to raise capital for part financingthe funds required for setting up of a new manufacturing facilityfor the production of float glass and general corporate purposes.Of the total issue, at least 50 per cent of the net issue will beallocated on a proportionate basis to Qualified InstitutionalBuyers (QIBs). Five per cent of the QIB portion will be availablefor allocation on a proportionate basis to mutual funds only. 35per cent of the net issue will be available for allocation on aproportionate basis to retail individual bidders. The issue would constitute 32.84 per cent of the fully diluted postissue paid-up equity capital of the company. The company nowproposes to set up a manufacturing facility for the production Building Glass with an installed capacity of 2,00,750 MT per annum atBharuch in Gujarat, Sejal Architecturals Chairman and ManagingDirector, Amrut S Gada, told reporters here today. The company has already acquired 6,08,540 square meters of land forthis backward integration project and Larsen & Toubro has beenawarded the contract for executing the construction and civilworks, Gada said.
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Plataine's Executive Appears on Better Process

Plataine's Executive Appears on Better Process Internet Radio Show Richard Piacenza invited to discuss metal fabrication industrychallenges and strategies for success. Deerfield, IL (PRWEB) June 3, 2008 -- Richard Piacenza, VicePresident of Sales, Metal Fabrication, was invited to share hisviews on the state of the metal fabrication industry on the BetterProcess Internet radio show. The interview is now accessible at http://www.podcasternews.com/bpp/5100/ . The Better Process Podcast features interviews onmanufacturing-related topics. Ken Rayment started The BetterProcess Podcast with the goal of sharing information and knowledgethat small and midsize manufacturing firms can apply to theirbusinesses. Over 500 shows have been recorded to-date and new showsare added almost daily. Piacenza has over 20 years of metal fabrication industryexperience. Prior to joining Plataine, Piacenza was Director ofSales and Engineering at Vulcanium Corporation, a global providerof titanium products to the aerospace, medical, and othercommercial product manufacturers. Prior to that, he was Director ofSales and Marketing at Chicago Metallic, a provider of metalsolutions for the Building Metallic Materials. Speaking with Rayment, Piacenza discussed the global and economictrends affecting metal fabricators in North America, as well as anumber of strategic directions that successful fabricators haveapplied in order to maintain a competitive edge. "One of the greatest challenges facing metal fabricators thesedays is adapting to the changes brought on by industryconsolidation," says Piacenza. "Many of the longstandingrelationships in the industry have evaporated, resulting in reducedpredictability of supply and demand. Limited visibility fordecision makers can lead to losses due to higher raw materialcosts, unnecessary inventories, and poor utilization of labor andequipment. Fabricators need to find new ways to manage through aconstant state of change in order to survive and thrive in thisenvironment." "Piacenza has outlined not only the challenges facing metalfabricators, but also specific strategies that companies use toaddress these challenges, as well as some examples that we can alllearn from," says Rayment. The complete interview is accessible at http://www.podcasternews.com/bpp/5100/ . About Better Process Podcast The Better Process Podcast features interviews onmanufacturing-related topics, with specific emphasis on small andmedium-sized manufacturing firms. Over 500 shows have been recordedto-date and new shows are added almost daily. Recorded shows can beaccessed online and downloaded for future replay on any computer orMP3 player at http://www.podcasternews.com/bpp/ . About Plataine Plataine is a leading provider of production optimization solutionsfor manufacturers of metal, wood, textile and composite-materialproducts. Plataine's production optimization solutions enablemanufacturers to be more competitive by increasing materialutilization, improving productivity, and shortening manufacturingcycles to ensure on-time delivery of products to customers.Plataine's solutions are used by hundreds of manufacturersworldwide, including Bassett Furniture, Boeing, Century Furniture,Drexel Heritage, Ethan Allen, Ford, General Motors, The Gap,Hagger, Nike, and Wrangler. For more information, visit www.plataine.com or contact your local Plataine office. 
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Dual SCART operates from +3.3 and +12 V power supplies

Scart Jack MAX9598 is switch matrix for routing of audio and video signals between MPEG decompression chip and 2 external SCART connectors. It integrates DirectDrive(TM) technology to prevent click-and-pop noise. Contained in 6 x 6 mm TQFN package, unit operates from 0 to +70°C and includes audio and video channels featuring input-source-selection multiplexers, input buffers, and output buffers. It consumes 70 mW of quiescent power and is controlled through I2C-compatible interface. Industry's First +3.3V Dual SCART Saves Power and Reduces Component Count in Set-Top Boxes and A/V Receivers +3.3V Dual SCART Solution Minimizes Power Consumption in Set-Top Boxes o The MAX9598 is a complete dual SCART solution for set-top boxes and A/V receivers that have two SCART connectors.o Designed to address the emerging requirements for "green" consumer products, the MAX9598 consumes less power than any existing dual SCART solution.o The MAX9598 operates audio and video circuitry from a +3.3V supply and only requires +12V for the slow-switching signal.o This low-voltage operation, combined with its low operating current, enables up to 9x reduction in power consumption, when compared with competing solutions. SUNNYVALE, CA-April 15, 2008-Maxim Integrated Products (Pink OTC Markets: MXIM) introduces the MAX9598, the industry's first +3.3V dual SCART solution for set-top boxes and A/V receivers that have two SCART connectors. This device utilizes power-saving, "green" technology to achieve the industry's lowest power consumption. Additionally, the MAX9598 integrates the Company's patented DirectDrive(TM) technology to prevent click-and-pop noise and eliminate the need for costly AC-coupling capacitors on the audio outputs.* Available in a space-saving, 6mm x 6mm TQFN package, the MAX9598 is the industry's smallest complete dual SCART solution.
 
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China energy project shortlisted for global green awards

Solar Energy Charger The world's leading green energy prize announced here on Thursday that a China renewable energy project has been shortlisted along with projects from Africa, Asia and Latin America for energy champion. Shining a light on the yak-herders of China, a solar revolution for tent-dwellers which represents Renewable Energy Development Project (REDP), will compete to be the Ashden Awards' Energy Champion, with prize money of up to 40,000 pounds (some 80,000 U.S. dollars), said a press release from the Award. Since 2001, REDP has enabled sales of over 402,000 photovoltaic(PV) solar-home systems to rural people who live off the land by tending yaks or other animals in remote areas of western and northwestern China. Previously most relied on kerosene, butter lamps and candles for light. Around 1.6 million people, who live in tents for at least part of the year and had little access to electricity, now have an improved quality of life through better light, communications and entertainment. The portable systems are ideally suited to the lifestyle of these semi-nomadic users who are able to take them with their tents into the summer pasture in the hills. The solar-home system comprised of two lights, a radio and a mobile phone charger was installed through the REDP-subsidized program between 2001 and 2007 in a portable metal carry-case. Larger systems can power radio-cassettes, TVs and DVD players. The average sale price in 2007 was 1,221 yuan (about 176 dollars), about the same as the price of a yak. For users, the main benefit of the REDP program was brighter, cleaner lighting, for study, work and recreation. Use of radio-cassettes and mobile phones, to keep in touch with the outside world, is also greatly appreciated. Yak herder Yongzang, said from his tent: "We bought the system just in time for the spring festival last year. We had the money saved up from selling fungus .. it's so much better than before --we used to just have candles .. It's good for charging the phone, and for the music. It's good that we can carry it with us -- we came here just a week ago for the spring pasture now that the snow's melted." The China project, set up in 2001 by the National Development and Reform Commission and the World Bank, with funding from the Global Environment Facility, aims at promoting the solar-home systems in remote off-grid homes in nine western Chinese province and facilitating cooperation between the PV sector in China and the rest of the world. The Ashden Awards are a UK-based charity that works to increase the use of local sustainable energy worldwide. They find, reward and publicize the work of leading sustainable energy programs working across the developing world and in Britain. The overall international winner -- energy champion -- will be announced on June 19 at a ceremony in London. 
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LogicVision to Demonstrate Desktop Silicon Debug

Silicon Cable LogicVision, Inc. (Nasdaq: LGVN), the leading provider of semiconductor built-in-self-test (BIST) and diagnostic solutions, today announced that it will showcase the latest release of its Silicon Insight(TM) Desktop product at DAC 2008 using a customer performance board for a 65 nm SoC device. LogicVision will also demonstrate its SerDes BIST solution with Silicon Insight characterizing a 6.2 Gbps SerDes high-speed I/O. Silicon Insight is a key component of LogicVision’s recently announced Dragonfly Test Platform(TM). Silicon Insight and the new Dragonfly Test Platform will be demonstrated at Booth 1620 at the Design Automation Conference 2008, June 9-12 in Anaheim, CA. About Silicon Insight Silicon Insight Desktop provides comprehensive, at-speed, SoC device-level debug and characterization using a PC laptop connected to a device performance board through a USB-to-JTAG cable interface. The latest release of Silicon Insight adds support for GPIB-based benchtop equipment, enabling design and test engineers to also perform voltage and frequency based characterization from the same laptop PC environment. Silicon Insight now makes it possible to perform full device debug, diagnostics, and characterization without the need to access or tie-up expensive automatic test equipment. On the production floor, Silicon Insight now adds the option to perform automated production data logging, enabling product engineering teams and their foundry partners to analyze detailed failure and performance data. The production data log can be used with LogicVision’s Yield Insight(TM) tool to identify systemic yield-limiting issues and help accelerate product yield ramps. Interactive Demonstrations LogicVision will be showcasing two interactive Silicon Insight Desktop demonstrations at this year’s DAC conference. The first will highlight real- time detailed characterization of memory and logic within a customer’s 65nm SOC device. Using an easy-to-use graphical interface, characterization activities such as measuring the frequency response of individual memories and determining which individual flip-flops are fed by the most-critical paths will be demonstrated. The second demonstration will show how jitter and jitter tolerance parameters of a 6.2 Gbps SerDes channel can be measured to sub- picosecond accuracy. The repeatability of these measurements will be shown as well as their strong correlation to expensive benchtop equipment. About LogicVision Inc. LogicVision (Nasdaq: LGVN) provides proprietary technologies for embedded test and yield learning that enable more efficient manufacturing test of complex semiconductors. LogicVision’s embedded test solutions allow integrated circuit designers to embed test functionality into a semiconductor design that is used during semiconductor production test and throughout the useful life of the chip. The company’s advanced Design for Test (DFT) product line, ETCreate(TM), works together with Silicon Insight(TM) applications and Yield Insight(TM) to improve profit margins by reducing device field returns and test costs, accelerating silicon bring-up times and shortening both time to market and time to yield.  2008-05-30 13:29:40
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Offline Switched-Mode Converter helps ensure reliability

Satellite TV Tuner Card Anadigics Inc of Warren, NJ, USA has introduced its ACA2420 power doubler line amplifier, a high output power device designed to ensure optimal video and data delivery in deep fiber HFC architectures and other cable TV deployments that minimize the use of cascaded system amplifiers. “Cable operators are improving the customer experience with a migration to deep fiber node scenarios, whereby the number of subscribers on each node is reduced, thus increasing the available bandwidth for high definition TV, interactive gaming, and video-on-demand,” says Ron Michels, senior vice president and general manager of Anadigics’ Broadband Business. “The ACA2420 combines high output power with low distortion to meet the stringent demands of next generation 1GHz fiber-deep nodes and system amplifiers.” The ACA2420 supports high output power levels (+58dBmV/ch.) up to 1GHz. Signal integrity is assured by the ACA2420’s high crash point, which allows the device to maintain low carrier-to-intermodulation noise (CIN), composite triple beat (CTB), and composite second order (CSO) distortion. Available in a 16-pin surface mount package, the ACA2420 consists of two parallel amplifiers with low distortion and low noise figure that are optimized for use in a balanced configuration.  The device provides 21.5dB of RF gain and a superior gain flatness of +/- 0.2dB, operating from a single 24VDC power supply. The ACA2420 is available at $24.28 in quantities of 1000 units.  Anadigics ships production volumes of its AWT6277 WCDMA PA to LG Anadigics also announced that it is shipping production volumes of its AWT6277 WCDMA power amplifier (PA) modules to LG Electronics for use in the new LG Viewty (LG-KU990), a camera phone currently available in the UK.Features of the Viewty camera phone include 5.0 mega pixel resolution, auto and manual focus, image stabilization and a handwriting editing function. The video camera can take video at up to 120 frames per second.  With just one click, users can upload a recorded video directly to Google’s YouTube. The 3.0 inch full touch screen offers high quality DivX video files in wide screen format. "We are very pleased that LG Electronics has chosen our AWT6277 PA module for their cutting-edge LG Viewty 3G camera phone,” said Dr Bami Bastani, president & CEO of Anadigics. Designed to meet the needs of feature rich mobile handsets, the AWT6277 HELP WCDMA PA includes HELP technology which reduces WCDMA average power consumption by 50%, says the firm. Combined with low leakage current in shutdown mode, the AWT6277 PA delivers longer battery life and additional talk-time-two key metrics for mobile handset designers.
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Apphire HD3850 AGP graphics card

Scart Cable You might think motherboards using an AGP slot are things of the past, but there's huge chunk of the population still using platforms based on it. Indeed, some motherboard companies, such as Asrock, still offer boards combining Intel’s 775 socket and an AGP slot. One company that offers current graphics technology for AGP users is Sapphire, and its latest card is the HD3850 AGP. Sapphire also offers an AGP version of the HD3650. Far from being just a half-hearted attempt at simply offering something for this market segment, Sapphire has actually tinkered with the HD3850 AGP and increased its core and memory clocks. As standard, the HD3850 comes with 670MHz core and 825MHz memory clocks. But for this AGP card, Sapphire has upped the core to 700MHz while the 512MB of GDDR3 memory runs at 846MHz (1,692MHz effective). The rest of the specifications are as per a standard PCI Express card; 320 stream processors and support for both Shader Model 4.1 and DirectX 10.1. There’s also ATI’s Powerplay technology that reduces power consumption depending on what the card is doing. Due to the lack of available bandwidth with AGP, the card doesn’t support recording of HD audio through. However, it still offers support for HDCP thanks to the dual dual-link DVI ports. Sapphire has used a single-slot cooler on the HD3850 AGP, with a passive heatsink over the power regulators. The AGP bus can’t supply the voltage required by the RV670 core (this uses a eight-pin PCI Express power connector), although a six-pin cable will supply enough power. If your power supply has neither, Sapphire supplies a four-pin Molex to six-pin power adaptor in the box. On the CD you'll find Cyberlink Power DVD 7 and DVD Suite, along with a copy of Futuremark’s 3DMark06 benchmark.
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In Johnston courtroom, mother watches as children tell of da...

PVC Jacket A 9-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy said Wednesday that the Johnston County woman accused of killing their little brother two years ago beat them almost every day. Lynn Paddock, 47, is charged with murder in the Feb. 26, 2006, death of her 4-year-old adopted son, Sean. Investigators said Sean suffocated after she wrapped him tightly in a blanket to keep him from wandering around the house at night. Defense attorneys insist the death was accidental, not punishment or discipline. Hannah Paddock, Sean's biological sister who was placed with the Paddock family in 2005 along with Sean and their older brother, David Vorenkamp, testified Wednesday to the abuse she suffered at the hands of Lynn Paddock. Dressed in a denim jacket top and a pink skirt, a bubbly Hannah demonstrated for jurors how she was forced to sit crossed-legged for hours facing a wall. She also said Lynn Paddock once forced her to eat feces after she had defecated in her room – she wasn't allowed to use the bathroom alone. "She made me put it in a bag before, and then I had to get it out and eat it," she said. David, who has since been adopted by another family, spoke primarily in monosyllables when discussing his time in the Paddock household. He said he recalled "the spanking rod" most of all Authorities have said Lynn Paddock beat her stepdaughter and six adopted children with PVC piping. "She was mean," said David, who wore a dress shirt, tie and slacks. "I tried not to scream because I didn't want to get spanked again," Hannah said about being hit with the white rod. In response to defense questions, both children said their adoptive father, Johnny Paddock, was at home when the beatings occurred. Hannah said she wasn't sure if he heard them going on. Kayla Paddock, 11, another adopted child, testified that Lynn Paddock would tape her mouth shut and tape her hands together. She also forced the children to jump on a trampoline for hours and would beat them if they moved their arms or faced the wrong direction while jumping. "She wouldn’t let us play or talk to anyone. I just had to sit or jump on the (trampoline) all day," she said. Kayla also described undergoing the same blanket-wrapping technique that authorities said killed Sean.
 
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Zanzibar enters eighth day without electricity

Power Supply Cable The semi-autonomous islands of Zanzibar, heavily reliant on tourism, on Thursday entered their eighth day without electricity after a submarine cable linking them to mainland Tanzania failed. The power outage started last week, when a massive blackout hit the rest of Tanzania. Zanzibar's power stayed off once the mainland's power was restored later the same day. Local media have reported that the outage has raised fears for public health because pumps supplying running water have been halted. The archipelago's economy has been largely crippled, with airlines avoiding night travel and the only source of power expensive diesel generators. Local media said hospitals and hotels have been forced to turn off air conditioners to conserve generator power. A spokesman at state-run Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO) said the firm was awaiting technicians from Norway to help fix the cable. "A technician will come, find out what is wrong with the (cable) supplying electricity to Zanzibar and then go to Norway and return with the necessary equipment to rectify the problem. That will take some time," Mshana said, without giving a timeframe. Zanzibar generates most of its revenue from the tourists drawn to its sparkling beaches and its history as an exotic spice-trading post. It has a population of about one million and receives most its electricity from Kidatu, a major hydropower dam in mainland Tanzania. Tanzania has previously suffered power interruptions, but they were attributed to supply constraints due to drought that slashed generation from dams.
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Request-to-Exit Button features green illumination

Push Button Switch Illuminated by 12/24 Vdc LED that provides up to 50,000 hours of operation, mushroom-cap Model SD-7251GCEX1Q features low current drain of 12 mA and normally open/normally closed contact rated 5 A at 125 Vac. Single-gang, stainless steel plate has EXIT and SALIDA silk-screened on it. SECO-LARM Introduces the New SD-7251GCEX1Q Green Illuminated Mushroom-Cap RTE Button IRVINE, CALIF., May 8, 2008 - SECO-LARM is now shipping of the new -7251GCEX1Q Green Illuminated Mushroom-Cap RTE Button. The illumination is provided by an LED that is 12/24VDC, and provides up to 50,000 hours of operation. Additional outstanding features include:o 12/24VDC Operation.o Low current drain 12mA.o Single-gang stainless-steel plate.o "EXIT" and "SALIDA" silk-screened on plate. See the attached product information sheet for more information. Also a Hi resolution photo is attached. This new button is just part of a full line of SECO-LARM CCTV, RF Wireless, security, and access control products available worldwide for securing the interior and exterior of commercial, industrial, residential, and institutional sites.
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Spellbound signs plush toy partner for Koala Brothers

Aurora World to create new line based on pre-school TV series.
UK children's rights owner and producer Spellbound Entertainment is partnering with Aurora World for a range of plush toys based on The Koala Brothers.
Under the multi-year deal, Aurora World has been awarded the rights to develop, manufacture and distribute products across the plush category in the UK and Korea.
In addition, Spellbound has granted the firm exclusive manufacturing rights to supply Australia and Poland. It is anticipated that the deal will expand into other markets as Spellbound appoints licensees overseas. Further toy deals are due to be announced shortly.
Aurora will begin developing new product lines immediately, with initial product expected to debut in the UK this autumn and roll out to other markets (including Korea) expected to begin in autumn 2009.
"We are delighted to have appointed Aurora World as our new plush toy licensee for The Koala Brothers," said Spellbound's joint MD Peter Curtis. "Aurora World has an incredibly strong pedigree in creating beautiful plush products and we are confident that they will help us build The Koala Brothers into a leading global children's brand."
Nigel Layton-Hill, sales director at Aurora, added: "We are huge fans of The Koala Brothers and are thrilled to be able to work with Spellbound on this much loved brand."
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Get your Clank toy with preorder, but only from one source

Secret Agent Clank is being released in the middle of June for the PlayStation Portable, and if you preorder at your local GameStop, you'll get your own limited-edition Clank toy. While supplies last. Yes, I do honestly think this is exciting. The game looks great, and you can read about the title and this promotion at the official PlayStation Blog. High Impact Games has done a fantastic job in keeping the fun that is Ratchet & Clank, but taking the game in a new direction. We hope you'll agree that the team really outdid themselves in taking all that is cool about spy technology, exciting chase scenes, and even a bit of stealth gameplay and wrapped it up into the thrill-ride that is Secret Agent Clank," Frank Simon, the senior producer at SCEA wrote. "The funny thing is, I've only listed some of the great moments from the game, and there’s way more to come…" I think this is a neat promotion for a game I'm looking forward to playing, but I do have to grouse a little bit. I have a few friends who work at GameStop and they run a tight ship, but overall you're guaranteed a long, hard sell to preorder five things or to trade in every game you own before you can get to your actual business. Not only that, but the attitude of many of the employees who work behind the counter simply isn't welcoming; my better half despises even going into most of the local stores, she describes it as feeling like she's going into the treehouse of a 15 year-old boy. I don't disagree, outside of the fact that I sadly turn into a 15 year-old boy in most gaming stores. Anyway, this rant has a point: I wish these sort of giveaways and the ever-present collector's editions of games weren't exclusives to GameStop so frequently. I realize nothing happens by accident, and this is a great way for GameStop to push its "preorder, play, trade-in" philosophy of gaming by setting up these promotions with the pubishers, but I'd love to be able to get some of these toys from other sources. Yes, it's just a little plastic figure, but a large number of gamers will love it, and they'll go into GameStop for it. Heck, so will I. I'll just grit my teeth while I do it. And Jess will stay in the car.
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It’s Easy Being Green: Kid-Tested, Mother Approved

Reports in the last year of toys tainted with lead paint have sparked outcry from parents and consumer groups who are demanding toxic-free toys for children. Aside from lead paint, many children’s toys often contain the plastic polyvinyl chloride, which can contain phthalates, chemical compounds that have been accused of causing cancer and hormonal disturbances but also make plastic more flexible. The verdict is still out on these chemicals, but the good news is that there are toys that bypass these potentially harmful chemicals completely.
Branch, a San Francisco-based sustainable design company, makes children’s toys out of natural wool and bamboo. Their products are hand-knitted by women who belong to a collective in rural Kenya that is connected to the East Africa Hub, a non-profit organization of socially responsible businesses. Nest and ChildTrek are similar companies offering natural toys made out of wood and other sustainable materials. ChildTrek even offers a blog and a parents’ resource on their website. Another company, Like-A-Bike, manufactures sustainable, plastic-free bikes made from birch plywood. Sensing the growing consumer demand, even Toys ‘R’ Us has “gone green,” launching a new line of natural wood toys and dolls.
Other green toys promote educational goals. Thames and Kosmos provides kits about alternative energy and environmental science. For young engineers-in-training, Gibson Tech Ed sports a build-it-yourself solar car, demonstrating solar energy in action. A complete line of solar toys is also available from Select Solar, a UK-based company.
Another way to green your child’s toys without buying new ones is to recycle them. Plenty of charities collect used toys for re-use, while eBay, Craigslist, and Freecycle connect toy seekers with toy givers. Toy sharing is also an emerging concept. The Pittsburgh Toy Lending Library, an indoor playspace for children, allows parents to borrow toys for home use. Alternatively, buying toys from local manufacturers can cut down on the distance a toy travels to a child, and by extension its emissions from transport. Local toys are also usually handmade, reducing concerns about toxins or unsafe materials.
The most eco-friendly toy of all remains Mother Nature herself, who offers a carbon neutral, emission-free playground. Planting a tree with a child or taking a walk on a trail in the woods are great ways for children to learn about and enjoy the outdoors—and these activities don’t have to cost a penny.
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Parents breathe easy as kids’ toy guns go up in flames

If Ernest Hemingway’s classic A Farewell to Arms were to be written afresh, this tale from Manipur could very well be the plot of another heartwarming story.
Over a hundred children from Keinou and its neighbouring villages in Manipur’s Bishnupur district today made a bonfire of their toy guns — almost real-looking AK-47s, 9mm pistols, M-16 rifles and machine guns — igniting a novel campaign to stop children from playing with violent toys.
M. Rohit Singh saw his AK-47 go up in flames, but he seemed more relieved than sad. The toy had injured his best friend during the Yaoshang festival in March this year while they were playing a “war game”.
But at the Keinou playground — where the bonfire was lit — most of the happy faces were that of the parents, who decided on the campaign after having to nurse their children with injuries sustained while playing with the toys. The injuries often led to bitter quarrels among the parents.
“Most of the children in our locality and the state these days prefer these toy guns to anything else. Playing with these toys is dangerous as many children sustain injuries,” said a parent, Mangi Leima.
Marjit Khuman, another parent, agreed with Leima. “The bullets could damage the eyes of the children, if hit,” he said.
Some of the guardians said their wards preferred to “shoot” mostly in the “head”. They even spoke of “ambushing” their friends while playing with the toys.
Though no case studies have been done on the effect of the toys on children, the parents were worried about the psychological fallout of these toys on their children. Many of them apparently exhibit an undesirable fascination for weapons.
“We are worried that playing with the toy guns would have a negative impact on the minds of the children when they grow up. Manipur is a place where violence is a daily phenomenon. So we want to keep our children away from the gun culture,” another parent, Rani Devi, said.
The parents, who vowed to keep their children away from toy guns in future, took out a rally to encourage others to follow their example. The children also took part in the rally, with many carrying placards reading “We don’t want guns, we want football”.
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Grand Toys signs Letter of Intent to sell its Playthings

Grand Toys International Ltd. (GRIN: News, Chart, Quote ) on Wednesday said it signed a non-binding agreement to divest its subsidiary, International Playthings, Inc. The toy maker said it also gave the potential buyer an initial 30-days exclusive period to make a binding offer for International Playthings.
The Hong Kong-based firm noted that the non-binding agreement is subject to due diligence, negotiation of definitive agreements, and other conditions.
Grand Toys develops, manufactures, and distributes toy and toy-related products worldwide. It also develops and manufactures party goods. The company has operating subsidiaries in Hong Kong, People's Republic of China, and the U.S.
GRIN closed Tuesday's regular trading at $0.65, down $0.02, on a volume of 5K shares.
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European Commission proposal on toy safety

Forum Malta fl-Ewropa, the Malta Standards Authority and the Enterprise Europe Network together are organising a session for stakeholders to discuss a European Commission proposal on safety requirements for toys.
The session will provide not only information on the current developments but also an opportunity for those interested to comment and present their views. It is being held at the Trade Winds Hall at the Malta Enterprise in San Gwann on 4 June, from 1 to 3 pm.
The EU Directive regulating toy safety has been in force since 1988 and its replacement and modernisation is required. The EC legislative proposal seeks to introduce new and more stringent safety requirements, strengthen manufacturers’ and importers’ responsibility for the marketing of toys and enhance the market surveillance obligations of the member states.
Important elements of the proposal entail the prohibition of chemical substances that could cause cancer; a reduction in the permissible quantities of certain dangerous chemical substances such as mercury and lead; the prohibition of allergenic fragrances; a ban on toys attached to food products; as well as more responsibility on importers and manufacturers, among others.
This proposal is currently under discussion within the Council and the European Parliament.
Participation at the session is free of charge but prior registration is required. These should reach FME’s office by 2 June on forumconsult@gov.mt.

 

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Hasbro's new CEO sees possibilities beyond toys

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (AP) - Hasbro's new chief executive is running more than a toy company. Brian Goldner takes over tomorrow at the Pawtucket-based company.
He says that with a trove of well-known brands such as Monopoly, Transformers and G.I. Joe, it's essential the world's second-largest toy maker think beyond its traditional business and across all platforms. Goldner has been Hasbro's chief operating officer since 2006.
He's been praised for helping retiring CEO Alfred Verrecchia turn around the once-ailing company. He's made working with Hollywood a key part of his vision. His first test was last year's "Transformers" movie, based on the Hasbro toy line.
The movie took in more 700 million dollars worldwide and helped revive the Transformers brand.
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Irondequoit 11-year-old a model for Indiana Jones toy

An Irondequoit boy is going for a ride on the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull merchandise juggernaut.
An image of John Grande — an 11-year-old at Rogers Middle School and now a product model — is featured on the packaging for Hasbro's kid-friendly approximation of the bullwhip used by Harrison Ford in what's expected to be the blockbuster film of the summer.
The youngest of Paul and Laura Grande's five children, John is normally involved with "soccer, skateboarding, computer games, video games, all the normal, almost-teenage boy stuff," says Laura.
And now her son is sporting jungle-explorer's wear and a fedora, just like Indiana Jones, on both sides of the box. "He's just so darn cute," his mom says, citing his blue eyes and dimples. "He wanted to do it, and it worked out that way."
Soccer, sure. But a modeling career? "It seemed cool to do that kind of stuff," says John, expressing surprise that he made the cuts at a series of auditions, the first of which was at a local hotel two years ago, when he was 9 years old.
"There were 3,000 people; the place was packed," says Paul. "They picked 35 to go down to Myrtle Beach and showed them how to walk on a catwalk, things like that. Then they took them to do a mock commercial."
Producers and advertising agencies were on hand and, out of the experience, John got two phone calls: one from a producer in Hollywood, with whom he is still in contact, but not doing any work for, and the second with an ad agency in Buffalo.
That second contact has brought John a few jobs. Hasbro hired him for an advertising shoot for a Spider-Man web-shooting toy, although the image was not used. John's image did help market new Corning glass products being introduced in South Korea.
Neither opportunity has the potential to spread John Grande's image around the globe as much as the soft-fabric whip, which in actuality couldn't break the skin of one of the Soviet henchmen who menace Indiana Jones in the movie. But by activating a button on the handle, young whippersnappers can enjoy the sound of a cracking whip and the Indiana Jones theme song all day, until the three AA batteries, or their parents' patience, wear out.
John's evaluation of the product: "Pretty cool." His review of the movie, which opened Thursday: "Pretty awesome."
Paul and Laura Grande, who are both Rochester police officers, say their son's modeling career has involved the family paying a few minimal fees at the initial auditions, plus the travel to South Carolina. "Ninety-five percent of what he gets goes to college," Paul says. "The other 5 percent he keeps, because he worked for it. He's made a few thousand dollars. It's not like it's taking over his life."
Indeed, the Grandes have turned down several auditions, including a movie in New York City. "School comes first," Paul says. "A lot of parents push their kids into stuff like this. He did it all on his own."
With his eye on that runway of the future, John points out that a little theater work he's done at Rochester Association of Performing Arts will "help on the rsum."
"No matter how far he gets with this," Paul says, "it will benefit him in communicating himself in his adult life. And it's just a cool thing. If he never does anything again, he was on an Indiana JonesAn Irondequoit boy is going for a ride on the Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull merchandise juggernaut.
An image of John Grande — an 11-year-old at Rogers Middle School and now a product model — is featured on the packaging for Hasbro's kid-friendly approximation of the bullwhip used by Harrison Ford in what's expected to be the blockbuster film of the summer.
The youngest of Paul and Laura Grande's five children, John is normally involved with "soccer, skateboarding, computer games, video games, all the normal, almost-teenage boy stuff," says Laura.
And now her son is sporting jungle-explorer's wear and a fedora, just like Indiana Jones, on both sides of the box. "He's just so darn cute," his mom says, citing his blue eyes and dimples. "He wanted to do it, and it worked out that way."
Soccer, sure. But a modeling career? "It seemed cool to do that kind of stuff," says John, expressing surprise that he made the cuts at a series of auditions, the first of which was at a local hotel two years ago, when he was 9 years old.
"There were 3,000 people; the place was packed," says Paul. "They picked 35 to go down to Myrtle Beach and showed them how to walk on a catwalk, things like that. Then they took them to do a mock commercial."
Producers and advertising agencies were on hand and, out of the experience, John got two phone calls: one from a producer in Hollywood, with whom he is still in contact, but not doing any work for, and the second with an ad agency in Buffalo.
That second contact has brought John a few jobs. Hasbro hired him for an advertising shoot for a Spider-Man web-shooting toy, although the image was not used. John's image did help market new Corning glass products being introduced in South Korea.
Neither opportunity has the potential to spread John Grande's image around the globe as much as the soft-fabric whip, which in actuality couldn't break the skin of one of the Soviet henchmen who menace Indiana Jones in the movie. But by activating a button on the handle, young whippersnappers can enjoy the sound of a cracking whip and the Indiana Jones theme song all day, until the three AA batteries, or their parents' patience, wear out.
John's evaluation of the product: "Pretty cool." His review of the movie, which opened Thursday: "Pretty awesome."
Paul and Laura Grande, who are both Rochester police officers, say their son's modeling career has involved the family paying a few minimal fees at the initial auditions, plus the travel to South Carolina. "Ninety-five percent of what he gets goes to college," Paul says. "The other 5 percent he keeps, because he worked for it. He's made a few thousand dollars. It's not like it's taking over his life."
Indeed, the Grandes have turned down several auditions, including a movie in New York City. "School comes first," Paul says. "A lot of parents push their kids into stuff like this. He did it all on his own."
With his eye on that runway of the future, John points out that a little theater work he's done at Rochester Association of Performing Arts will "help on the rsum."
"No matter how far he gets with this," Paul says, "it will benefit him in communicating himself in his adult life. And it's just a cool thing. If he never does anything again, he was on an Indiana Jones toy box."
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Health Canada is examining the way it tests noisy toys

Many toys seem to sing, shout, beep and wail at deafening decibels.
And the current testing method -- holding a toy at an adult arm's length -- doesn't reflect the reality that kids hold toys close to their ears, audiologists warn.
Noise-induced hearing loss is growing. Studies in the U.S. show 12.5% of children have hearing problems caused by noise in one or both ears.
UNDER REVIEW
"A number of elements of the (laws) for toys that make or emit sound are under review, including the sound emission limit, the parameters used to assess sound emissions and the test methodology," Health Canada spokesman Paul Spendlove said.
The section of the Hazardous Products Act -- which was drafted when Pierre Trudeau was prime minister -- bans toys emitting noise levels exceeding 100 decibels. Audiologists say this level is too high.
A private members' bill, introduced by Winnipeg NDP MP Judy Wasylycia-Leis, would see the act revised to allow 75 decibels as the maximum level.
"I was floored to hear that so many toys on the market are way above what the World Health Organization recommends," Wasylycia-Leis said.
"It made me realize we've got a problem here in Canada and it shouldn't take too much to fix it."
"This bill will lead to the protection of the hearing health of millions of Canadian children," said Ondina Love, Association of Speech Language Pathologists spokeswoman.
A lot of hearing damage caused in childhood is preventable, said Ottawa audiologist Karyn Bursch. "We're putting hearing aids on younger and younger folks."
Health Canada's national consumer product safety program is reviewing the laws and their application, Spendlove said.
Any proposed changes to the law will be published for consultation with interested stakeholders.
"The current Canadian act permits a noise level which is potentially dangerous, because it does not take into account the typical use of toys," the Canadian Association of Speech-Language Pathologists and Audiologists said in a release.
A sound travelling in a child's ear canal will arrive at the eardrum at a greater intensity than in an adult's larger ear canal. The inner ear of a child is more sensitive to noise and might be susceptible to hearing loss for noise exposures that are safe for adults.
"Parents should be sure they're buying products in the appropriate range and they shouldn't be doing harm to their kids," Ottawa audiologist Rodney Taylor said.
ENFORCE STANDARDS
"Unfortunately, parents can't walk around with a sound level meter and see what's safe, that's why we have the government enforce some standards."
If you're wondering if a toy is too loud, put it up to your ear. If you're uncomfortable, it's too loud.
"If you have to raise your voice to talk over it, it's too loud," Bursch added.
"Just like we don't smoke in the car anymore, we shouldn't let children play with toys that we can't stand the volume of, or we have to talk louder to hear ourselves over. It's just a matter of education."
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HK Enterprise Debut New Online Store Offering Kids Toys

May 29 2008. Hong Kong. Gotoymall online Babies & Kids Toy store debuts. The new enterprise Gotoymall.Ltd formed one month ago recently reveals its online retail store under the domain name www.gotoymall.com with a full preparation of over 1000 different toys and crafts classed over 20 catalogs.
As you can see our online store mainly are targeted on parents who
want to buy toys for their babies and kids' said Tom Jackson, one of executives of Gotoymall Ltd, 'for babies, we can provide their parents with baby stools, baby dolls, lovely animal toys and animated music dolls; for kids we offer radio controlled mini cars, submarines and helicopters, educational DIY puzzles and models, Chess & Sudoku players and Robot toys', 'As kids safe are the main concern to parents when chose toys, Gotoymall.com make sure all listings are complied with parental safe degree, no harmful materials' added Tom.
Take one key catalog for further report. RC toys (remote control toys) are featured on gotoymall.com. Currently there are over 3 hundreds of different types and styles of RC toys sorted into four main kinds - they are RC cars, trucks, vessels and aircrafts. Based on real object, these battery operated models are highly enjoyable to kids and also easy operated. Every child can find her/his favorite toys in this catalog. Visit www.gotoymall.com/gotoymall-Cars-Electronic-cars-cid-1-list.html for more informations.
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