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North Interbay group seeks to loosen ind...

uebmm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:06:38 +0200

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.

Metal Fabricator requests rRoad closing...

uebmm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:05:16 +0200

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.

India copper eases on rising LME

uebmm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:04:25 +0200

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].

Control4 introduces standards-based IP e...

uebmm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:03:35 +0200

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.

Magnetic sensor ignores large local fiel...

uebmm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:02:38 +0200

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.”

CRM's CDC Software,Schneider Electric sa...

uebmm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:01:47 +0200

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.

Reliance Steel purchases PNAGroup for $1...

uebmm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 17:00:50 +0200

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

Reliance Steel&Aluminum Co. signs deal t...

uebmm — Sat, 21 Jun 2008 16:59:06 +0200

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.

Zhou Xun grows green moustache to save w...

uebmm — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:14:30 +0200

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)

Party Line: Carnival parties wind down

uebmm — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:13:23 +0200

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 .

Best readies Kingsgate Native for sprint...

uebmm — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:12:15 +0200

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

Teas to try: the health benefits of gree...

uebmm — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:10:49 +0200

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.

Price Increase To Affect Consumers

uebmm — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:09:32 +0200

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.

Cheaper edible oils through ration shops...

uebmm — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:08:24 +0200

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.

New organic food supplier proves an inst...

uebmm — Sat, 14 Jun 2008 10:07:01 +0200

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