When school lets out in Pinellas County, thousands of kids rush into their parents’ air-conditioned cars, go to after-school activities and practices or simply take the bus home to watch TV.
But there’s a growing population of students that gathers up everything it owns every night and looks for a safe place to sleep. Sometimes that might be a family member’s couch, other nights a homeless shelter or a sidewalk.
“There are far too many kids going through the traumatic experience of spending their whole school day wondering where they’re going to sleep that night,” said Althea Hudson, the homeless liaison for Pinellas County Schools.
As more students and parents come to the school district for help, school administrators are looking to a Hillsborough County program, Starting Right, Now, for support.
School officials met with the organization on Friday, and Superintendent Michael Grego has said he is on board with the program, which counts Hillsborough County school Superintendent MaryEllen Elia and Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn as board members.
The nonprofit organization helps homeless students obtain identification documents, finds them places to stay and even pays for them to attend school dances or extracurricular activities. It also teaches students the life skills needed to manage their finances, get jobs and earn scholarships for college.
Though Pinellas County offers programs for homeless families and unaccompanied youth — school-aged kids living on their own — in the school district, a team of only six teachers, including Hudson, coordinates everything from school bus assignments and programs for teen parents to shopping for school clothes.
There’s an ever-growing “wish list” of services that Starting Right, Now may be able to provide Pinellas students, Hudson said. With more schools switching to school uniforms or enforcing stricter dress codes this year, there’s a huge need for collared shirts, basic slacks and shoes that meet requirements. There’s also a need for storage space for all of the supplies the school district gives students, including duffel bags full of items such as alarm clocks, flashlights and towels given to homeless graduates.Find Home Power monitor blood pressure monitor ads in our Miscellaneous Goods category. The school district would also like to include laptops or iPads in those bags.
“But most of all, we would love for our high school students to have the opportunity to visit colleges so they can see that there is support on the postsecondary level and that if you have a dream and you want to go to college it can become a reality,” Hudson said. “Most times,The Home energy monitor market continues to struggle for more traction. they don’t see that as an option for them.”
At least 100 students have been referred to the Starting Right, Now program by the Hillsborough County school district, and each is paired with an adult mentor. About $816,000 in grants and contributions made to the organization last year also help those efforts. Pinellas’ entire homeless education program has a budget of $114,000.
Eventually, Starting Right, Now might start providing services to students here in Pinellas County.All you need to know about In home display.
Though the Pinellas school district’s homeless education team has actually grown over the years, more families realizing they can get help in a confidential and substantial way have begun to seek out its services, said Christine Cantrell, the school district’s homeless student progress monitor. There is extra support for the team’s efforts from organizations such as the Juvenile Welfare Board, the Daniel Foundation and the Salvation Army. But Cantrell said “there is still a huge need that needs to be met.”
Click on their website www.owon-smart.com/category/products/2 for more information.
2013年8月25日 星期日
2013年7月23日 星期二
In the tradition of writers from Austen
"He's got a good pair of lungs on him, that's for sure," said Prince William, holding his son swaddled in a cream blanket. "He's got her looks, thankfully," he added, nodding toward his wife. The duchess added that Prince William had already changed his first "nappy."
The first public sighting of the baby will go a long way toward satisfying the mass of world media that has been camped outside the hospital for days awaiting a glimpse of the new prince and his mother. But the royal couple is keeping them and the public guessing on another important front: the new prince's name.
"We're still working on a name, so we'll have that as soon as we can," Prince William said. The royal couple then went back inside the hospital briefly, before leaving by car to take their boy home to Kensington Palace.
Their departure followed visits Tuesday afternoon by both sets of grandparents: Prince William's father, Prince Charles, and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the parents of the former Kate Middleton. As she left the hospital, the Duchess of Cambridge's mother, Carole Middleton, said both new mother and baby were "doing really well."
Outside Buckingham Palace, crowds continued to gather Tuesday to view the easel officially announcing the baby's birth,Home electricity monitor which has been on public display since Monday.
Sam O'Neill, a secondary school history teacher from Bromley, Kent, waited about a half-hour with her mother, Jenny Edwards, a former nurse at a London hospital. Having just taken a tour of the House of Commons, Mrs. O'Neill said: "We couldn't not come and see this historic moment having just seen the past history of our kings and queens." The women were delighted at the short wait; after Princess Diana died, they waited in a line eight hours overnight to commemorate her.
For her debut novel The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P., Adelle Waldman plunges readers into the mind of Nate, a 30-something writer living in Brooklyn who’s secured a sizable book advance and the interest of the city’s lit-savvy female population. While she doesn’t exactly re-
invent the wheel depicting overeducated writers overanalyzing sex, Ms. Waldman’s book is far less cartoonish than recent efforts like Girls.
Like that show’s protagonist, Nate isn’t particularly sympathetic. He’s not a “bad” guy, he just doesn’t treat women very well. Nate becomes a vehicle for Ms. Waldman’s suspicions about men—that they regard women with certain prejudices even when they subscribe to liberal, feminist doctrines on equality. In the tradition of writers from Austen to Tolstoy, Ms. Waldman delights in showing us the way we rationalize our treatment of others and she writes vividly, capturing the dynamics of a dinner party or describing the lights on the East River bridges. As Nate takes a girl home for the first time, he sees them “dangling like necklaces beneath the brightly lit towers, a fireworks display frozen at its most expansive moment.”
To Ms. Waldman’s credit, she captures romantic dysfunction and the erosion of love so faithfully—passive-aggressive conversations about bagels, alienating sex so one-sided “it might as well be masturbation,” alternating waves of disgust and tenderness—that while Nate may be both attracted to and repelled by women, the reader is rarely drawn to him.
Click on their website www.owon-smart.com for more information.
The first public sighting of the baby will go a long way toward satisfying the mass of world media that has been camped outside the hospital for days awaiting a glimpse of the new prince and his mother. But the royal couple is keeping them and the public guessing on another important front: the new prince's name.
"We're still working on a name, so we'll have that as soon as we can," Prince William said. The royal couple then went back inside the hospital briefly, before leaving by car to take their boy home to Kensington Palace.
Their departure followed visits Tuesday afternoon by both sets of grandparents: Prince William's father, Prince Charles, and his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, as well as the parents of the former Kate Middleton. As she left the hospital, the Duchess of Cambridge's mother, Carole Middleton, said both new mother and baby were "doing really well."
Outside Buckingham Palace, crowds continued to gather Tuesday to view the easel officially announcing the baby's birth,Home electricity monitor which has been on public display since Monday.
Sam O'Neill, a secondary school history teacher from Bromley, Kent, waited about a half-hour with her mother, Jenny Edwards, a former nurse at a London hospital. Having just taken a tour of the House of Commons, Mrs. O'Neill said: "We couldn't not come and see this historic moment having just seen the past history of our kings and queens." The women were delighted at the short wait; after Princess Diana died, they waited in a line eight hours overnight to commemorate her.
For her debut novel The Love Affairs of Nathaniel P., Adelle Waldman plunges readers into the mind of Nate, a 30-something writer living in Brooklyn who’s secured a sizable book advance and the interest of the city’s lit-savvy female population. While she doesn’t exactly re-
invent the wheel depicting overeducated writers overanalyzing sex, Ms. Waldman’s book is far less cartoonish than recent efforts like Girls.
Like that show’s protagonist, Nate isn’t particularly sympathetic. He’s not a “bad” guy, he just doesn’t treat women very well. Nate becomes a vehicle for Ms. Waldman’s suspicions about men—that they regard women with certain prejudices even when they subscribe to liberal, feminist doctrines on equality. In the tradition of writers from Austen to Tolstoy, Ms. Waldman delights in showing us the way we rationalize our treatment of others and she writes vividly, capturing the dynamics of a dinner party or describing the lights on the East River bridges. As Nate takes a girl home for the first time, he sees them “dangling like necklaces beneath the brightly lit towers, a fireworks display frozen at its most expansive moment.”
To Ms. Waldman’s credit, she captures romantic dysfunction and the erosion of love so faithfully—passive-aggressive conversations about bagels, alienating sex so one-sided “it might as well be masturbation,” alternating waves of disgust and tenderness—that while Nate may be both attracted to and repelled by women, the reader is rarely drawn to him.
Click on their website www.owon-smart.com for more information.
2013年6月27日 星期四
who are fomenting unrest to derail
The Buddhist extremist movement in Myanmar, known as 969, portrays itself as a grassroots creed.
Its chief proponent, a monk named Wirathu, was once jailed by the former military junta for anti-Muslim violence and once called himself the " Burmese bin Laden."
But a Reuters examination traces 969's origins to an official in the dictatorship that once ran Myanmar, and which is the direct predecessor of today's reformist government. The 969 movement now enjoys support from senior government officials, establishment monks and even some members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), the political party of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
"Wirathu's sermons are about promoting love and understanding between religions," Sann Sint, minister of religious affairs, told Reuters in his first interview with the international media. "It is impossible he is inciting religious violence."
Sann Sint, a former lieutenant general in Myanmar's army, also sees nothing wrong with the boycott of Muslim businesses being led by the 969 monks. "We are now practicing market economics," he said. "Nobody can stop that. It is up to the consumers."
President Thein Sein is signaling a benign view of 969, too. His office declined to comment for this story. But in response to growing controversy over the movement, it issued a statement Sunday, saying 969 "is just a symbol of peace" and Wirathu is "a son of Lord Buddha."
Wirathu and other monks have been closely linked to the sectarian violence spreading across Myanmar,In home display formerly known as Burma. Anti-Muslim unrest simmered under the junta that ran the country for nearly half a century. But the worst fighting has occurred since the quasi-civilian government took power in March 2011.
Two outbursts in Rakhine State last year killed at least 192 people and left 140,000 homeless, mostly stateless Rohingya Muslims. A Reuters investigation found that organized attacks on Muslims last October were led by Rakhine nationalists incited by Buddhist monks and sometimes abetted by local security forces.
In March this year, at least 44 people died and 13,000 were displaced — again, mostly Muslims — during riots in Meikhtila, a city in central Myanmar. Reuters documented in April that the killings happened after monks led Buddhist mobs on a rampage. In May, Buddhists mobs burned and terrorized Muslim neighborhoods in the northern city of Lashio. Reports of unrest have since spread nationwide.
The numbers 969, innocuous in themselves, refer to attributes of the Buddha, his teachings and the monkhood. But 969 monks have been providing the moral justification for a wave of anti-Muslim bloodshed that could scuttle Myanmar's nascent reform program. Another prominent 969 monk, Wimala Biwuntha, likens Muslims to a tiger who enters an ill-defended house to snatch away its occupants.
Officially, Myanmar has no state religion, but its rulers have long put Buddhism first. Muslims make up an estimated 4 percent of the populace. Buddhism is followed by 90 percent of the country's 60 million people and is promoted by a special department within the ministry of religion created during the junta.
In Burma's nascent democracy, the monks have emerged as a political force in the run-up to a general election scheduled for 2015. Their new potency has given rise to a conspiracy theory here: The 969 movement is controlled by disgruntled hardliners from the previous junta, who are fomenting unrest to derail the reforms and foil an election landslide by Suu Kyi's NLD.
No evidence has emerged to support this belief. But some in the government say there is possibly truth to it.
"Some people are very eager to reform, some people don't want to reform," Soe Thein, one of President Thein Sein's two closest advisors, told Reuters. "So, regarding the sectarian violence, some people may be that side — the anti-reform side."
Even if 969 isn't controlled by powerful hardliners, it has broad support, both in high places and at the grass roots, where it is a genuine and growing movement.
Officials offer tacit backing, said Wimala, the 969 monk. "By letting us give speeches to protect our religion and race, I assume they are supporting us," he said.
Click on their website www.owon-smart.com for more information.
Its chief proponent, a monk named Wirathu, was once jailed by the former military junta for anti-Muslim violence and once called himself the " Burmese bin Laden."
But a Reuters examination traces 969's origins to an official in the dictatorship that once ran Myanmar, and which is the direct predecessor of today's reformist government. The 969 movement now enjoys support from senior government officials, establishment monks and even some members of the opposition National League for Democracy (NLD), the political party of Nobel peace laureate Aung San Suu Kyi.
"Wirathu's sermons are about promoting love and understanding between religions," Sann Sint, minister of religious affairs, told Reuters in his first interview with the international media. "It is impossible he is inciting religious violence."
Sann Sint, a former lieutenant general in Myanmar's army, also sees nothing wrong with the boycott of Muslim businesses being led by the 969 monks. "We are now practicing market economics," he said. "Nobody can stop that. It is up to the consumers."
President Thein Sein is signaling a benign view of 969, too. His office declined to comment for this story. But in response to growing controversy over the movement, it issued a statement Sunday, saying 969 "is just a symbol of peace" and Wirathu is "a son of Lord Buddha."
Wirathu and other monks have been closely linked to the sectarian violence spreading across Myanmar,In home display formerly known as Burma. Anti-Muslim unrest simmered under the junta that ran the country for nearly half a century. But the worst fighting has occurred since the quasi-civilian government took power in March 2011.
Two outbursts in Rakhine State last year killed at least 192 people and left 140,000 homeless, mostly stateless Rohingya Muslims. A Reuters investigation found that organized attacks on Muslims last October were led by Rakhine nationalists incited by Buddhist monks and sometimes abetted by local security forces.
In March this year, at least 44 people died and 13,000 were displaced — again, mostly Muslims — during riots in Meikhtila, a city in central Myanmar. Reuters documented in April that the killings happened after monks led Buddhist mobs on a rampage. In May, Buddhists mobs burned and terrorized Muslim neighborhoods in the northern city of Lashio. Reports of unrest have since spread nationwide.
The numbers 969, innocuous in themselves, refer to attributes of the Buddha, his teachings and the monkhood. But 969 monks have been providing the moral justification for a wave of anti-Muslim bloodshed that could scuttle Myanmar's nascent reform program. Another prominent 969 monk, Wimala Biwuntha, likens Muslims to a tiger who enters an ill-defended house to snatch away its occupants.
Officially, Myanmar has no state religion, but its rulers have long put Buddhism first. Muslims make up an estimated 4 percent of the populace. Buddhism is followed by 90 percent of the country's 60 million people and is promoted by a special department within the ministry of religion created during the junta.
In Burma's nascent democracy, the monks have emerged as a political force in the run-up to a general election scheduled for 2015. Their new potency has given rise to a conspiracy theory here: The 969 movement is controlled by disgruntled hardliners from the previous junta, who are fomenting unrest to derail the reforms and foil an election landslide by Suu Kyi's NLD.
No evidence has emerged to support this belief. But some in the government say there is possibly truth to it.
"Some people are very eager to reform, some people don't want to reform," Soe Thein, one of President Thein Sein's two closest advisors, told Reuters. "So, regarding the sectarian violence, some people may be that side — the anti-reform side."
Even if 969 isn't controlled by powerful hardliners, it has broad support, both in high places and at the grass roots, where it is a genuine and growing movement.
Officials offer tacit backing, said Wimala, the 969 monk. "By letting us give speeches to protect our religion and race, I assume they are supporting us," he said.
Click on their website www.owon-smart.com for more information.
2013年5月28日 星期二
England set to dominate Ireland
The Three Lions have not beaten Ireland since a 2-1 friendly win in March, 1985 but that stat is misleading because this will be the first meeting between the two fierce rivals for 18 years.
The last clash between the two nations resulted in the infamous Lansdowne Road riot in February, 1995 when the game was called off with Ireland leading 1-0 after 20 minutes due to rioting by English fans which injured 20 people.
The two nations have not been drawn in the same qualifying group for either a World Cup or European Championships campaign since Euro 1992 when both matches ended in 1-1 draws.
But these days there is a huge gulf between the two nations in terms of ability, which is reflected in their official rankings with FIFA where England are ranked at number seven in the world and Ireland 39.
Such is the dominance of England in betting that Betfair's Daniel Bevan is reporting that over 90 percent of the money already wagered on the eagerly awaited fixture has been on the home side to win.
And while veterans in John Terry and Steven Gerrard are absent, England have still named a strong squad with plenty of strike power in United pair Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck as well as Tottenham's Jermaine Defoe and Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge.
Ireland have yet to finalise their squad but the bulk of their players play for lower division clubs in England and much will still depend on veteran striker Robbie Keane, who now plays with the LA Galaxy in the United States.
Both teams struggled at Euro 2012 where Ireland lost all three matches heavily - scoring just one goal and conceding nine - while England went out on penalties, as usual, to Italy in the quarter-finals.
And both are struggling in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with England currently second in Group H behind Montenegro while Ireland is locked in a three-way battle to finish second - and earn a play-off berth - with Austria and Sweden, behind the runaway leaders in Group C in Germany.
Ireland have lost just two of nine matches since Euro 2012 and England just one of nine but England's form has been far superior - including a recent 2-1 home win over Brazil - while Ireland suffered a humiliating 6-1 home loss against Germany in World Cup qualifying as well as losing to Greece in a friendly.
England to keep a clean sheet at the odds of $2.08 at Betfair looks a good betting foundation for this match given the Irish have failed to score in two of their past four matches - when up against higher quality opposition - in Greece and Sweden.
A 1-0 win for England has come up the early favourite in correct score betting at Betfair at odds of $7.20 but we like the look of a 2-0 win for the home side at odds of $7.60.
As for the first goal scorer market, Rooney is the $4.50 favourite and $5.50 at Betfair in a game in which he could even captain England due to the absence of Gerrard with England manager Roy Hodgson tipped to give the skipper's armband to either Rooney or Chelsea's Frank Lampard.
And after a frustrating season with United - in which he played second fiddle to Robin van Persie and is reportedly on the lookout for a new club for next season
Rooney will have plenty of motivation in a game in which plenty of others may see as a burden at the end of a long season.
Read the full story at owon-smart web.
The last clash between the two nations resulted in the infamous Lansdowne Road riot in February, 1995 when the game was called off with Ireland leading 1-0 after 20 minutes due to rioting by English fans which injured 20 people.
The two nations have not been drawn in the same qualifying group for either a World Cup or European Championships campaign since Euro 1992 when both matches ended in 1-1 draws.
But these days there is a huge gulf between the two nations in terms of ability, which is reflected in their official rankings with FIFA where England are ranked at number seven in the world and Ireland 39.
Such is the dominance of England in betting that Betfair's Daniel Bevan is reporting that over 90 percent of the money already wagered on the eagerly awaited fixture has been on the home side to win.
And while veterans in John Terry and Steven Gerrard are absent, England have still named a strong squad with plenty of strike power in United pair Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck as well as Tottenham's Jermaine Defoe and Liverpool's Daniel Sturridge.
Ireland have yet to finalise their squad but the bulk of their players play for lower division clubs in England and much will still depend on veteran striker Robbie Keane, who now plays with the LA Galaxy in the United States.
Both teams struggled at Euro 2012 where Ireland lost all three matches heavily - scoring just one goal and conceding nine - while England went out on penalties, as usual, to Italy in the quarter-finals.
And both are struggling in qualifying for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil, with England currently second in Group H behind Montenegro while Ireland is locked in a three-way battle to finish second - and earn a play-off berth - with Austria and Sweden, behind the runaway leaders in Group C in Germany.
Ireland have lost just two of nine matches since Euro 2012 and England just one of nine but England's form has been far superior - including a recent 2-1 home win over Brazil - while Ireland suffered a humiliating 6-1 home loss against Germany in World Cup qualifying as well as losing to Greece in a friendly.
England to keep a clean sheet at the odds of $2.08 at Betfair looks a good betting foundation for this match given the Irish have failed to score in two of their past four matches - when up against higher quality opposition - in Greece and Sweden.
A 1-0 win for England has come up the early favourite in correct score betting at Betfair at odds of $7.20 but we like the look of a 2-0 win for the home side at odds of $7.60.
As for the first goal scorer market, Rooney is the $4.50 favourite and $5.50 at Betfair in a game in which he could even captain England due to the absence of Gerrard with England manager Roy Hodgson tipped to give the skipper's armband to either Rooney or Chelsea's Frank Lampard.
And after a frustrating season with United - in which he played second fiddle to Robin van Persie and is reportedly on the lookout for a new club for next season
Rooney will have plenty of motivation in a game in which plenty of others may see as a burden at the end of a long season.
Read the full story at owon-smart web.
2013年5月22日 星期三
This landmark agreement makes public one of the most important
The late Rex May was a successful graphic designer, best known for
creating San Francisco’s 49-Mile Drive logo. He was also an avid
collector of Mexican art, giving his collection to the Mexican Museum in
2001.
“An Inspired Gift: The Rex May Collection of Popular Art” is on display at the museum until next year. It contains some 400 masks, paintings, ceramic figurines and other pieces, arranged to evoke the feeling of how they looked when they occupied May’s Victorian home.Home energy management It’s a refreshing approach.
“If you think of the Mexican sensitivities to color, line and form, this is a plethora of visual delight,” says David de la Torre, the museum’s director. “This is an opportunity to experience that in all its glory.”
A dozen red and yellow parrots are perched on top of one cabinet, grouped together as May would have done. Two look as if they might be kissing, the others appear to be observing the scene below. Home power monitor The scene is far more interesting than if May had spaced them evenly apart.
Visitors will enjoy looking at shelves filled with colorful figures, from a 19th-century carved figure of baby Jesus to Day of the Dead sculptures. Above the entrance to the gallery are wonderful animal masks made of bamboo and canvas.
“It begs to ask, why do people collect things?” de la Torre says. “When they collect things, how far can they go?”
May grew up in a poor family in Texas and was discouraged from going to the Mexican neighborhoods in town. As an adult he fell in love with vibrant Mexican folk art, making numerous trips to add to his collection. He also ran a popular Christmas store on Sacramento Street, selling treasures he gathered on his world travels.
The National Constitution Center has signed an agreement to display one of 12 surviving copies of the historic document.
The agreement, with the New York Public Library, calls for display of the Bill of Rights to start in Fall 2014 and last three years.
It will be the first Pennsylvania museum to offer public display of the document.
The document was signed by Vice President John Adams in 1789 and dispatched to President George Washington to consider for ratification.
The New York Public Library acquired the document in 1896. It last displayed the document several years ago. For preservation reasons, it has never displayed the document for an extended period.
“This landmark agreement makes public one of the most important documents in the nation’s history, Power monitor Power monitor an over 200-year-old, original copy of the Bill of Rights,” said New York Public Library President Tony Marx. “The document has been expertly preserved at the Library for over a century, leaving it in prime condition and ready to inspire and educate the public now and in the future.”
“An Inspired Gift: The Rex May Collection of Popular Art” is on display at the museum until next year. It contains some 400 masks, paintings, ceramic figurines and other pieces, arranged to evoke the feeling of how they looked when they occupied May’s Victorian home.Home energy management It’s a refreshing approach.
“If you think of the Mexican sensitivities to color, line and form, this is a plethora of visual delight,” says David de la Torre, the museum’s director. “This is an opportunity to experience that in all its glory.”
A dozen red and yellow parrots are perched on top of one cabinet, grouped together as May would have done. Two look as if they might be kissing, the others appear to be observing the scene below. Home power monitor The scene is far more interesting than if May had spaced them evenly apart.
Visitors will enjoy looking at shelves filled with colorful figures, from a 19th-century carved figure of baby Jesus to Day of the Dead sculptures. Above the entrance to the gallery are wonderful animal masks made of bamboo and canvas.
“It begs to ask, why do people collect things?” de la Torre says. “When they collect things, how far can they go?”
May grew up in a poor family in Texas and was discouraged from going to the Mexican neighborhoods in town. As an adult he fell in love with vibrant Mexican folk art, making numerous trips to add to his collection. He also ran a popular Christmas store on Sacramento Street, selling treasures he gathered on his world travels.
The National Constitution Center has signed an agreement to display one of 12 surviving copies of the historic document.
The agreement, with the New York Public Library, calls for display of the Bill of Rights to start in Fall 2014 and last three years.
It will be the first Pennsylvania museum to offer public display of the document.
The document was signed by Vice President John Adams in 1789 and dispatched to President George Washington to consider for ratification.
The New York Public Library acquired the document in 1896. It last displayed the document several years ago. For preservation reasons, it has never displayed the document for an extended period.
“This landmark agreement makes public one of the most important documents in the nation’s history, Power monitor Power monitor an over 200-year-old, original copy of the Bill of Rights,” said New York Public Library President Tony Marx. “The document has been expertly preserved at the Library for over a century, leaving it in prime condition and ready to inspire and educate the public now and in the future.”
The very long beak shows up well in the photograph
one of the spin-offs of the article I wrote in this Highland Wildlife
recently prompted three readers to email me and all attached
photographs. They had been fortunate to see a woodcock feeding in their
garden and in all cases during the day.
One was at Abriachan, another at Roy Bridge and the other near Contin. The photograph from one of these readers is shown here where the bird is just feeding on grassland and, in each case, close to the house.
Because it is a close-up it may look easy to see but believe me “in the field” this is just not the case. That blend of dark and light brown is so much camouflage you can walk past one and, if it does not move, it will go undetected.
The very long beak shows up well in the photograph and this is the means by which it finds its food, as it has a special adaptation. When it probes deep into the soil the sensitive nerve endings at the end of the beak locate its prey, from spiders to beetles and worms to caterpillars.
I contacted the three readers concerned and said it would be well worth them looking out at dusk to see if the woodcock were breeding nearby. We may think of birds of the night such as tawny owls and even grasshopper warblers singing but the woodcocks’In home display at dusk and after is memorable by any standards.
It is the famous display of the males that is the highlight. This is to attract females into its breeding territory, warn off other males or to reassure its mate sitting on her four eggs in the mere scrape of a nest on the woodland floor.
During his display the male flies slowly, and I mean slowly, on its huge broad wings along a pre-determined route. This display is called “roding” which I have always presumed is because it often takes place along woodland rides which in other countries are often called rodes.
During this flight the males are uttering the strangest of calls that have been variously described as frog or toad-like croaks. I jest not, and when you hear one for the first time you will know what I mean!
All this may sound almost mysterious but there is more to come as it is the birds’ migration that has caused a great deal of the recent interest.
The birds migrate at night and although most Scottish breeding birds are resident all the year round there is an influx of birds from northern Europe in October and November.
There are all sorts of ideas – some of them myths – about the right weather conditions to make the birds move from the continent.Home energy monitor One fascinating theory regards the tiny bird, the goldcrest.
One local name for the goldcrest is “woodcock pilot” as this tiny bird, that boosts the local numbers for the winter, is supposed to come in two days before the woodcock flies in – hence the expression “woodcock pilot”, as if the goldcrest is showing it the way to fly in. With either bird, nothing would surprise me.
Some of the incoming woodcock stay in the woods along with the resident birds but, if the weather is bad, they will move on to the south and west.
The status of the woodcock in the UK is still open to debate. It is on the quarry list and so it is widely shot and much prized by sportsmen. Their flight is very erratic that make them a target for many people.
There is a saying “a left and a right” for woodcock as this is reputed to be the final accolade if you can shoot one with one barrel and another with the other virtually at the same time.
There are those who say the bird is over-shot, Home energy management especially in European countries, but there is no proof of this. Changes in their breeding habitats may well have more effect that has resulted in their decline.
Welcoming the swift return of swallows and martins to River Ness
Record of the week must be some magic moments on the River Ness in the middle of Inverness.
At first there seemed to be no birds apart from gulls foraging. Then I realised there were lots of small birds flying just above the surface. Fortunately I had binoculars with me and I was able to pick out some detail.
There were just dozens of what are loosely called “swallows”. Most of them were indeed swallows but about a quarter of them were sand martins and I saw at least two house martins.
They are easy to tell apart as the house martins have the characteristic white rump that is conspicuous whilst the sand martin is just a pale brown nearly all over.
The actual swallows look almost black but a closer look reveals the mixture of black and white with a purple sheen, in the right light, and those long tail streamers.
The house martins had come back to their old nests under the eaves of the house a week before, almost two weeks later than usual.
One was at Abriachan, another at Roy Bridge and the other near Contin. The photograph from one of these readers is shown here where the bird is just feeding on grassland and, in each case, close to the house.
Because it is a close-up it may look easy to see but believe me “in the field” this is just not the case. That blend of dark and light brown is so much camouflage you can walk past one and, if it does not move, it will go undetected.
The very long beak shows up well in the photograph and this is the means by which it finds its food, as it has a special adaptation. When it probes deep into the soil the sensitive nerve endings at the end of the beak locate its prey, from spiders to beetles and worms to caterpillars.
I contacted the three readers concerned and said it would be well worth them looking out at dusk to see if the woodcock were breeding nearby. We may think of birds of the night such as tawny owls and even grasshopper warblers singing but the woodcocks’In home display at dusk and after is memorable by any standards.
It is the famous display of the males that is the highlight. This is to attract females into its breeding territory, warn off other males or to reassure its mate sitting on her four eggs in the mere scrape of a nest on the woodland floor.
During his display the male flies slowly, and I mean slowly, on its huge broad wings along a pre-determined route. This display is called “roding” which I have always presumed is because it often takes place along woodland rides which in other countries are often called rodes.
During this flight the males are uttering the strangest of calls that have been variously described as frog or toad-like croaks. I jest not, and when you hear one for the first time you will know what I mean!
All this may sound almost mysterious but there is more to come as it is the birds’ migration that has caused a great deal of the recent interest.
The birds migrate at night and although most Scottish breeding birds are resident all the year round there is an influx of birds from northern Europe in October and November.
There are all sorts of ideas – some of them myths – about the right weather conditions to make the birds move from the continent.Home energy monitor One fascinating theory regards the tiny bird, the goldcrest.
One local name for the goldcrest is “woodcock pilot” as this tiny bird, that boosts the local numbers for the winter, is supposed to come in two days before the woodcock flies in – hence the expression “woodcock pilot”, as if the goldcrest is showing it the way to fly in. With either bird, nothing would surprise me.
Some of the incoming woodcock stay in the woods along with the resident birds but, if the weather is bad, they will move on to the south and west.
The status of the woodcock in the UK is still open to debate. It is on the quarry list and so it is widely shot and much prized by sportsmen. Their flight is very erratic that make them a target for many people.
There is a saying “a left and a right” for woodcock as this is reputed to be the final accolade if you can shoot one with one barrel and another with the other virtually at the same time.
There are those who say the bird is over-shot, Home energy management especially in European countries, but there is no proof of this. Changes in their breeding habitats may well have more effect that has resulted in their decline.
Welcoming the swift return of swallows and martins to River Ness
Record of the week must be some magic moments on the River Ness in the middle of Inverness.
At first there seemed to be no birds apart from gulls foraging. Then I realised there were lots of small birds flying just above the surface. Fortunately I had binoculars with me and I was able to pick out some detail.
There were just dozens of what are loosely called “swallows”. Most of them were indeed swallows but about a quarter of them were sand martins and I saw at least two house martins.
They are easy to tell apart as the house martins have the characteristic white rump that is conspicuous whilst the sand martin is just a pale brown nearly all over.
The actual swallows look almost black but a closer look reveals the mixture of black and white with a purple sheen, in the right light, and those long tail streamers.
The house martins had come back to their old nests under the eaves of the house a week before, almost two weeks later than usual.
2013年5月21日 星期二
They have previously held fairs in Oak Mall
Rutherglen Exchange Shopping Centre is set to host a prestigious craft fair next weekend.
And the new manager of the centre hopes it will be the first of many similar events to come to the town.
Jane Cowan stepped in when Glimmercrafts Event were left without a venue for their planned fair on Saturday, June 1.
They had been set to head to the St Enoch’s Centre in Glasgow but that fell through.
Led by Tracey Leonard, Glimmercrafts provide “a clean, tidy and varied craft fair suitable for centres such as Rutherglen,” according to Jane.
They have previously held fairs in Oak Mall, Clyde Shopping Centre, Callendar Square, The Howgate,Home power monitor The Kyle Centre and Livingston Designer Outlets.
The fair, which will include space for local traders, will offer jewellery, soap products, hand made wooden products, hand sewn quilts and hand crafted cards.
Jane told the Reformer it was too good an opportunity to miss.
She said: “They were originally due to go to the St Enoch’s Centre so it is a big thing. It’s something we might not have normally got.”
“I’m very, very pleased, it very exciting.”
The news was welcomed by council leader Eddie McAvoy, whose Rutherglen Central and North ward covers the centre.
He hopes it will help attract custom to the town.
He said: “That’s the kind of thing we are looking for, any type of venture that brings people into Rutherglen.
“It’s a good idea and it will maybe encourage people to come down, maybe from places like Castlemilk or Toryglen,Home energy monitor instead of going to the supermarket.
“They can come down, have a look for a bargain and maybe see other places they might like to go.
The last incident occurred about 3.15am when the offenders forced open a door at a tavern on Beechboro Road North in Bennett Springs.
Alcohol was taken before the offenders fled in a vehicle.
In a separate incident, police are investigating an armed robbery at an Armadale pharmacy yesterday afternoon.
Police say about 3.50pm a man walked into the pharmacy on Railway Avenue before pulling out a small axe from under his clothing and threating staff.
The man left the store after being handed a small amount of non-prescription medication.
And the new manager of the centre hopes it will be the first of many similar events to come to the town.
Jane Cowan stepped in when Glimmercrafts Event were left without a venue for their planned fair on Saturday, June 1.
They had been set to head to the St Enoch’s Centre in Glasgow but that fell through.
Led by Tracey Leonard, Glimmercrafts provide “a clean, tidy and varied craft fair suitable for centres such as Rutherglen,” according to Jane.
They have previously held fairs in Oak Mall, Clyde Shopping Centre, Callendar Square, The Howgate,Home power monitor The Kyle Centre and Livingston Designer Outlets.
The fair, which will include space for local traders, will offer jewellery, soap products, hand made wooden products, hand sewn quilts and hand crafted cards.
Jane told the Reformer it was too good an opportunity to miss.
She said: “They were originally due to go to the St Enoch’s Centre so it is a big thing. It’s something we might not have normally got.”
“I’m very, very pleased, it very exciting.”
The news was welcomed by council leader Eddie McAvoy, whose Rutherglen Central and North ward covers the centre.
He hopes it will help attract custom to the town.
He said: “That’s the kind of thing we are looking for, any type of venture that brings people into Rutherglen.
“It’s a good idea and it will maybe encourage people to come down, maybe from places like Castlemilk or Toryglen,Home energy monitor instead of going to the supermarket.
“They can come down, have a look for a bargain and maybe see other places they might like to go.
The last incident occurred about 3.15am when the offenders forced open a door at a tavern on Beechboro Road North in Bennett Springs.
Alcohol was taken before the offenders fled in a vehicle.
In a separate incident, police are investigating an armed robbery at an Armadale pharmacy yesterday afternoon.
Police say about 3.50pm a man walked into the pharmacy on Railway Avenue before pulling out a small axe from under his clothing and threating staff.
The man left the store after being handed a small amount of non-prescription medication.
2013年5月19日 星期日
The redevelopment of the RNA site for housing
Opposition Leader Annastacia Palaszczuk says the Newman Government’s proposed closure of historic Fortitude Valley State School makes no sense with up to 1,000 families expected to move into the area over the next few years.
“Fortitude Valley State School is in one of Brisbane’s high growth areas. You just have to come to the school, look around and you literally see the growth on the horizon,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Attending a rally of parents and students outside the Fortitude Valley State School today, Ms Palaszczuk said even though the school had traditionally been home to a smaller number of students, it was critical it stayed open to meet projected future needs.
“This is a school that has a very rich history, an admirable track record producing students that go on to bigger things and has a strong core of parents and teachers,” she said.
“It is more than a school – it is a community hub. But what’s more important is that Fortitude Valley State School should stay as a critical piece of infrastructure for the Valley, Bowen Hills and Newstead areas into the future.
“That’s what makes this decision by Education Minister John Paul Langbroek so near-sighted and so shocking.
“There are 1,000 apartments currently under construction in the Bowen Hills area which will be home to families looking for a place to send their kids to school.
“The redevelopment of the RNA site for housing — right opposite the school — will bring even more families into the area.
“You have to question the motives of Mr Langbroek and the LNP government.
“Why would you sell off a school that is destined for growth? Where does the Minister expect these families to send their children?
“Enrolments have grown at the school over the past three years in line with population growth in the area. Newstead’s population grew by more than 16% between 2006 and 2011 and in that same period Bowen Hills recorded growth of 12.5% and the Valley 8.4%.
Ms Palaszczuk said Fortitude Valley State School parents and teachers were prepared to take up the fight to save their school.
“They are passionate about saving their school because for them it is the centre of their community – to John Paul Langbroek it’s nothing more than a prime piece of inner-city real estate ripe for selling off.”
“Fortitude Valley State School is in one of Brisbane’s high growth areas. You just have to come to the school, look around and you literally see the growth on the horizon,” Ms Palaszczuk said.
Attending a rally of parents and students outside the Fortitude Valley State School today, Ms Palaszczuk said even though the school had traditionally been home to a smaller number of students, it was critical it stayed open to meet projected future needs.
“This is a school that has a very rich history, an admirable track record producing students that go on to bigger things and has a strong core of parents and teachers,” she said.
“It is more than a school – it is a community hub. But what’s more important is that Fortitude Valley State School should stay as a critical piece of infrastructure for the Valley, Bowen Hills and Newstead areas into the future.
“That’s what makes this decision by Education Minister John Paul Langbroek so near-sighted and so shocking.
“There are 1,000 apartments currently under construction in the Bowen Hills area which will be home to families looking for a place to send their kids to school.
“The redevelopment of the RNA site for housing — right opposite the school — will bring even more families into the area.
“You have to question the motives of Mr Langbroek and the LNP government.
“Why would you sell off a school that is destined for growth? Where does the Minister expect these families to send their children?
“Enrolments have grown at the school over the past three years in line with population growth in the area. Newstead’s population grew by more than 16% between 2006 and 2011 and in that same period Bowen Hills recorded growth of 12.5% and the Valley 8.4%.
Ms Palaszczuk said Fortitude Valley State School parents and teachers were prepared to take up the fight to save their school.
“They are passionate about saving their school because for them it is the centre of their community – to John Paul Langbroek it’s nothing more than a prime piece of inner-city real estate ripe for selling off.”
The official retirement party was last week at home
The most successful managerial career in British football history is over, leaving a void that might not be filled for generations.
And what a thrilling way to bow out at West Bromwich Albion in central England — the first 5-5 draw in the Premier League on the back of a 13th championship for Ferguson.
John Sivebaek scored 9,675 days ago for the first United goal under Ferguson, and Javier Hernandez scored the last.
"It is not only a loss for the British fans but he has changed football across the world," Hernandez said. "He has been here for 26 years and made the impossible dream come true."
The official retirement party was last week at home when 76,000 fans at Old Trafford saluted Ferguson for delivering the record-extending 20 English league title for United.
Referee Michael Oliver, only 1-year-old when Ferguson took charge of United in 1986, blew the whistle on his glittering career at the Hawthorns. From now on, the defensive fragilities on display Sunday are incoming manager David Moyes' problem.
After the match, the manager went over to bow to the United fans who had backed him as he waited until 1990 to win the first of 38 trophies for the club.
Ferguson, a keen wine aficionado who is planning trips to various vineyards in his retirement, later shared a $140 bottle of 2003 Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac with West Brom manager Steve Clarke.
As customary as Ferguson's post-match bottle of wine with rivals is his reluctance to attend the media conference.
But he can't have been pleased to see his team throw away a 4-2 lead to be pegged back to 5-5. It had seemed like fate that Ferguson would witness his team conjuring another memorable goal in stoppage-time that had characterized his reign.
"I was waiting for some 'Fergie Time,'" United striker Robin van Persie said. "But it didn't happen. It was good fun for everyone, to score 10 goals."
Ferguson signalled he's ready for a quieter life by placidly watching his players rip West Brom apart and then showed none of the usual anger at their capitulation.
But the scorers on this day will be long forgotten — it was all about the manager in the opposition dugout.
After a brief taste of international football with Scotland at the 1986 World Cup, Ferguson was lured from Aberdeen to United in November 1986.
Since then he has won 13 Premier League titles, the Champions League twice, five FA Cups, four League Cups, the European Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and 10 Community Shields.
Little wonder that even West Brom fans were buying the commemorative scarves being sold by enterprising salesman outside of the stadium.
Ferguson could see them from the team bus as it pulled into the ground. In the stands were affectionate banners, including "Thank you dinosaur."
Before kickoff, West Brom's players formed a guard of honour for the champions and were then joined by the United team to usher Ferguson onto the pitch.
"What the West Brom fans did was a nice touch," Van Persie said, before also referring to the retiring Paul Scholes. "Of course, when you speak about players like Scholesy and managers like Sir Alex, I think it's right to do that (show respect). It doesn't always happen in football but today it did, and I'm glad that it did."
Just like in every one of his previous 1,499 matches, Ferguson featured an academy graduate in his squad — a hallmark that has helped to deliver such unprecedented success.
One of those, Scholes, came off the bench in the 69th minute to make his 718th and final appearance for the club at which he had spent his entire career.
It was a party atmosphere from the start, with red flares being set off in the United end.
Ferguson, though, was the calmest United representative when Shinji Kagawa headed his side in front after six minutes.
West Brom gifted United another inside three minutes, with Jonas Olsson turning Antonio Valencia's cross-shot past his own goal goalkeeper, and Alexander Buttner grabbed a third in the 31st minute.
Just when United looked like inflicting a humiliating result, James Morrison pulled one back five minutes before halftime.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku reduced the deficit in the 50th before Van Persie cancelled it out three minutes later.
A cruising United was too relaxed, and West Brom spoiled the party with goals from Lukaku and Youssouf Mulumbu in the 81st.
It was Lukaku who bundled the ball into the net to complete his hat trick and become the last player to score against a Ferguson team.
When the end came, Ferguson shook hands with Clarke before being ushered by Giggs to thank their visiting fans.
The home fans showed their appreciation, too. They got to witness the end of an era.
And what a thrilling way to bow out at West Bromwich Albion in central England — the first 5-5 draw in the Premier League on the back of a 13th championship for Ferguson.
John Sivebaek scored 9,675 days ago for the first United goal under Ferguson, and Javier Hernandez scored the last.
"It is not only a loss for the British fans but he has changed football across the world," Hernandez said. "He has been here for 26 years and made the impossible dream come true."
The official retirement party was last week at home when 76,000 fans at Old Trafford saluted Ferguson for delivering the record-extending 20 English league title for United.
Referee Michael Oliver, only 1-year-old when Ferguson took charge of United in 1986, blew the whistle on his glittering career at the Hawthorns. From now on, the defensive fragilities on display Sunday are incoming manager David Moyes' problem.
After the match, the manager went over to bow to the United fans who had backed him as he waited until 1990 to win the first of 38 trophies for the club.
Ferguson, a keen wine aficionado who is planning trips to various vineyards in his retirement, later shared a $140 bottle of 2003 Chateau Pontet Canet Pauillac with West Brom manager Steve Clarke.
As customary as Ferguson's post-match bottle of wine with rivals is his reluctance to attend the media conference.
But he can't have been pleased to see his team throw away a 4-2 lead to be pegged back to 5-5. It had seemed like fate that Ferguson would witness his team conjuring another memorable goal in stoppage-time that had characterized his reign.
"I was waiting for some 'Fergie Time,'" United striker Robin van Persie said. "But it didn't happen. It was good fun for everyone, to score 10 goals."
Ferguson signalled he's ready for a quieter life by placidly watching his players rip West Brom apart and then showed none of the usual anger at their capitulation.
But the scorers on this day will be long forgotten — it was all about the manager in the opposition dugout.
After a brief taste of international football with Scotland at the 1986 World Cup, Ferguson was lured from Aberdeen to United in November 1986.
Since then he has won 13 Premier League titles, the Champions League twice, five FA Cups, four League Cups, the European Cup Winners' Cup, the UEFA Super Cup, the Club World Cup, the Intercontinental Cup and 10 Community Shields.
Little wonder that even West Brom fans were buying the commemorative scarves being sold by enterprising salesman outside of the stadium.
Ferguson could see them from the team bus as it pulled into the ground. In the stands were affectionate banners, including "Thank you dinosaur."
Before kickoff, West Brom's players formed a guard of honour for the champions and were then joined by the United team to usher Ferguson onto the pitch.
"What the West Brom fans did was a nice touch," Van Persie said, before also referring to the retiring Paul Scholes. "Of course, when you speak about players like Scholesy and managers like Sir Alex, I think it's right to do that (show respect). It doesn't always happen in football but today it did, and I'm glad that it did."
Just like in every one of his previous 1,499 matches, Ferguson featured an academy graduate in his squad — a hallmark that has helped to deliver such unprecedented success.
One of those, Scholes, came off the bench in the 69th minute to make his 718th and final appearance for the club at which he had spent his entire career.
It was a party atmosphere from the start, with red flares being set off in the United end.
Ferguson, though, was the calmest United representative when Shinji Kagawa headed his side in front after six minutes.
West Brom gifted United another inside three minutes, with Jonas Olsson turning Antonio Valencia's cross-shot past his own goal goalkeeper, and Alexander Buttner grabbed a third in the 31st minute.
Just when United looked like inflicting a humiliating result, James Morrison pulled one back five minutes before halftime.
Substitute Romelu Lukaku reduced the deficit in the 50th before Van Persie cancelled it out three minutes later.
A cruising United was too relaxed, and West Brom spoiled the party with goals from Lukaku and Youssouf Mulumbu in the 81st.
It was Lukaku who bundled the ball into the net to complete his hat trick and become the last player to score against a Ferguson team.
When the end came, Ferguson shook hands with Clarke before being ushered by Giggs to thank their visiting fans.
The home fans showed their appreciation, too. They got to witness the end of an era.
2013年5月14日 星期二
Smaller tech businesses looking to access government
Last night’s federal budget delivered a mixed bag for the Australian
tech industry with many programs maintaining their funding or suffering
mild cuts, however, the broader picture of the government’s struggle
with a changing economy remains the same.
The single measure that will raise the ire of the local tech industry is the doubling of 457 visa charges. This increase, along with the increased scrutiny these visas are receiving, is making it more difficult for locally based companies to fill high skilled positions.
Local workers wanting to gain the skills that tech businesses are looking for will be affected by the $2,000 annual limit on claiming self-education expenses against taxable income. In rapidly changing occupations that require frequent re-skilling, that limit is clearly unfair and stunts the flexibility of the Australian workforce.
Combined with last year’s withdrawal of the living away from home allowance, the increase in visa charges and the difficulties in finding skilled workers, successful local tech businesses are finding it harder to remain based in Australia.
Smaller tech businesses looking to access government assistance programs will have a similar experience. The Enterprise Connect program – which provides business advisors to growing companies – projects that it will help fewer businesses in the coming year, despite the budget blessing the scheme with a small increase in funding.
For companies looking for export assistance, the budget didn’t disappoint with AusTrade’s funding only suffering a one per cent cut. However, the department’s focus on the recommendations of the Australia In The Asian Century report will probably mean some assistance programs may be harder to access.
One problem facing smaller Australian businesses, particularly in the tech sector, is in tendering for government contracts where agencies have a habit of only considering major multinationals – sometimes to their detriment as the Queensland Department of Health found with their payroll system.
The previously announced Enterprise Solutions programs offers $29.4 million over five years to help small to medium businesses compete for government tenders is untouched. Whether this program is enough to change the attitude of government mandarins who tend to dismiss local or smaller suppliers remains to be seen.
Industry innovation precincts which were also announced earlier this year have retained their $238 million over five years. At this stage of the funding process there’s no idea of where these precincts will be or what industries will be covered; however they may give a boost to regionally based tech businesses.
The long running Co-operative Research Centres (CRC) program that links university researchers and businesses sees its funding cut by eight per cent or $12 million this year. The effect of this is shown in the Department’s projections of falling patent applications over the next five years.
In many ways, the cut to the CRC program is emblematic of the lack of vision in this budget. Rather than give a coherent roadmap of the Australian economy’s direction as the resources boom comes to an end, we have a mis-mash of short term, poorly thought out and often contradictory thought bubbles posing as policies.
The incoherence of the 2013 federal budget can be directly attributed to Canberra’s bipartisan addiction to middle class welfare. With a focus on protecting existing entitlements, it’s difficult for governments to lay the groundwork that helps new industries.
The single measure that will raise the ire of the local tech industry is the doubling of 457 visa charges. This increase, along with the increased scrutiny these visas are receiving, is making it more difficult for locally based companies to fill high skilled positions.
Local workers wanting to gain the skills that tech businesses are looking for will be affected by the $2,000 annual limit on claiming self-education expenses against taxable income. In rapidly changing occupations that require frequent re-skilling, that limit is clearly unfair and stunts the flexibility of the Australian workforce.
Combined with last year’s withdrawal of the living away from home allowance, the increase in visa charges and the difficulties in finding skilled workers, successful local tech businesses are finding it harder to remain based in Australia.
Smaller tech businesses looking to access government assistance programs will have a similar experience. The Enterprise Connect program – which provides business advisors to growing companies – projects that it will help fewer businesses in the coming year, despite the budget blessing the scheme with a small increase in funding.
For companies looking for export assistance, the budget didn’t disappoint with AusTrade’s funding only suffering a one per cent cut. However, the department’s focus on the recommendations of the Australia In The Asian Century report will probably mean some assistance programs may be harder to access.
One problem facing smaller Australian businesses, particularly in the tech sector, is in tendering for government contracts where agencies have a habit of only considering major multinationals – sometimes to their detriment as the Queensland Department of Health found with their payroll system.
The previously announced Enterprise Solutions programs offers $29.4 million over five years to help small to medium businesses compete for government tenders is untouched. Whether this program is enough to change the attitude of government mandarins who tend to dismiss local or smaller suppliers remains to be seen.
Industry innovation precincts which were also announced earlier this year have retained their $238 million over five years. At this stage of the funding process there’s no idea of where these precincts will be or what industries will be covered; however they may give a boost to regionally based tech businesses.
The long running Co-operative Research Centres (CRC) program that links university researchers and businesses sees its funding cut by eight per cent or $12 million this year. The effect of this is shown in the Department’s projections of falling patent applications over the next five years.
In many ways, the cut to the CRC program is emblematic of the lack of vision in this budget. Rather than give a coherent roadmap of the Australian economy’s direction as the resources boom comes to an end, we have a mis-mash of short term, poorly thought out and often contradictory thought bubbles posing as policies.
The incoherence of the 2013 federal budget can be directly attributed to Canberra’s bipartisan addiction to middle class welfare. With a focus on protecting existing entitlements, it’s difficult for governments to lay the groundwork that helps new industries.
There will be increased concession space
The site, titled "Restore Wrigley Field," gives fans a chance to view artist's renderings of the proposed changes to the 99-year-old ballpark. In addition, fans are encouraged to sign a petition to let the team, city and community know they back the project.
The website, which will be linked, outlines the $500 million plan that the Ricketts family has proposed for Wrigley Field and the surrounding area, including the addition of a hotel at Clark and Addison, where a McDonald's is currently located. There are drawings of the plaza proposed for Clark Street next to the ballpark, and the new restaurant at Addison and Sheffield streets.
The restoration will be conducted over five offseasons; updates will be provided on the new website.
Did you miss the initial announcements? The "Frequently Asked Questions" section covers all of the topics, including whether the Cubs will have to play elsewhere -- they will not -- and the economic impact on Chicago and the region. According to the Cubs, the project will create approximately 2,100 jobs, including 1,300 permanent and 800 construction jobs.
What should be encouraging to fans is that the design plan was formed using preservation architects who have worked on Fenway Park, the Rose Bowl, Camden Yards and Lambeau Field. The goal is to return Wrigley Field to its 1930s grandeur but make it much more functional. The Cubs will use recycled materials in the restoration; install energy-efficient water, heating and air-conditioning systems; and make Wrigley as environmentally efficient as possible.
The changes also will make for a better fan experience. When the Ricketts family purchased the Cubs and the ballpark in October 2009, they stressed that one of their goals was to preserve Wrigley Field. The proposed renovation will restore the facade of the ballpark and replace aging concrete and steel, which is needed to keep Wrigley Field operating for years to come.
There will be increased concession space, open concourses and more restrooms under the new plan. Among the additions will be a restaurant behind the marquee on Clark and Addison that will be open 365 days a year. The current suites will be expanded and upgraded.
Drawings of the changes can be found on the website, which also features illustrations of the proposed 6,000-square-foot video scoreboard projected for left field as well as the 1,000-foot advertising sign projected for right field.
Want to show your support? Sign a petition, adding your name to a list of backers who feel this is a "win for the Chicago economy, the Lakeview community, Cubs fans and the team." A phone number is provided so you can call 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney and tell him why Wrigley Field is special to you and why the restoration is necessary. You also can join the community campaign and receive email updates on the project.
"I always believed, and I still believe, it's in everyone's best interest to do what's right for Wrigley Field," chairman Tom Ricketts said in April. "It's a special place and has a special role in baseball history."
In addition to being the home of the Cubs, Wrigley Field is the third-largest tourist attraction in Illinois and provides a huge economic boost to the city of Chicago.
The restoration plan was to begin with the home clubhouse, but that may change, depending on how long it takes to get approval for the project. The team has submitted its plans to the Chicago City Council and Plan Commission.
Players will benefit from the expansion of the home clubhouse, from 13,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet. The space will run from the left-field foul pole to the home dugout, with two batting tunnels added. Renderings are posted on the website.
The website, which will be linked, outlines the $500 million plan that the Ricketts family has proposed for Wrigley Field and the surrounding area, including the addition of a hotel at Clark and Addison, where a McDonald's is currently located. There are drawings of the plaza proposed for Clark Street next to the ballpark, and the new restaurant at Addison and Sheffield streets.
The restoration will be conducted over five offseasons; updates will be provided on the new website.
Did you miss the initial announcements? The "Frequently Asked Questions" section covers all of the topics, including whether the Cubs will have to play elsewhere -- they will not -- and the economic impact on Chicago and the region. According to the Cubs, the project will create approximately 2,100 jobs, including 1,300 permanent and 800 construction jobs.
What should be encouraging to fans is that the design plan was formed using preservation architects who have worked on Fenway Park, the Rose Bowl, Camden Yards and Lambeau Field. The goal is to return Wrigley Field to its 1930s grandeur but make it much more functional. The Cubs will use recycled materials in the restoration; install energy-efficient water, heating and air-conditioning systems; and make Wrigley as environmentally efficient as possible.
The changes also will make for a better fan experience. When the Ricketts family purchased the Cubs and the ballpark in October 2009, they stressed that one of their goals was to preserve Wrigley Field. The proposed renovation will restore the facade of the ballpark and replace aging concrete and steel, which is needed to keep Wrigley Field operating for years to come.
There will be increased concession space, open concourses and more restrooms under the new plan. Among the additions will be a restaurant behind the marquee on Clark and Addison that will be open 365 days a year. The current suites will be expanded and upgraded.
Drawings of the changes can be found on the website, which also features illustrations of the proposed 6,000-square-foot video scoreboard projected for left field as well as the 1,000-foot advertising sign projected for right field.
Want to show your support? Sign a petition, adding your name to a list of backers who feel this is a "win for the Chicago economy, the Lakeview community, Cubs fans and the team." A phone number is provided so you can call 44th Ward Alderman Tom Tunney and tell him why Wrigley Field is special to you and why the restoration is necessary. You also can join the community campaign and receive email updates on the project.
"I always believed, and I still believe, it's in everyone's best interest to do what's right for Wrigley Field," chairman Tom Ricketts said in April. "It's a special place and has a special role in baseball history."
In addition to being the home of the Cubs, Wrigley Field is the third-largest tourist attraction in Illinois and provides a huge economic boost to the city of Chicago.
The restoration plan was to begin with the home clubhouse, but that may change, depending on how long it takes to get approval for the project. The team has submitted its plans to the Chicago City Council and Plan Commission.
Players will benefit from the expansion of the home clubhouse, from 13,000 square feet to 25,000 square feet. The space will run from the left-field foul pole to the home dugout, with two batting tunnels added. Renderings are posted on the website.
2013年5月12日 星期日
The Goats were without starting goalkeeper
Porter didn’t want the Timbers to get too caught up in the streak
that everything that comes with it, so he gave them free rein against
the Goats.
“I told them to go out. Don’t think. Be free. Play,” Porter said following the match.
Portland’s undefeated streak is an ongoing franchise-best for the Timbers, who joined Major League Soccer in 2011. Portland (4-1-6) suffered its lone loss back on March 9 when the team fell 2-1 at home to Montreal.
The victory pulls Portland even for the MLS lead with Dallas FC, which also has not lost in nine matches.
Chivas (3-5-2) is in last place in the Western Conference. They have not won since a 2-1 victory over Vancouver on March 30.
“My team is running. My team is fighting. My team is giving the effort,” said Chivas coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola, who is known as Chelis. “It’s just not enough.”
The match was marred in the 86th minute when Chivas midfielder Mario de Luna pushed a ball boy after the kid picked up an out-of-bounds ball. De Luna was yellow carded, and because of a previous yellow, Home energy monitor he’ll miss next Sunday’s match against Real Salt Lake.
Afterward, both Porter and Chelis shook the ball boy’s hand.
The Goats were without starting goalkeeper and captain Dan Kennedy because of a red card in last week’s loss to Sporting KC. Patrick McLain, in his MLS debut, Power monitor allowed two goals after Kennedy was sent off in the 4-0 Chivas loss.
McLain made his first league start against the Timbers while backup goalkeeper Tim Melia continues to recover from a lower back injury.
McLain leapt with his arms outstretched but couldn’t stop Wallace’s left-footed rocket from just outside the left corner of the box in the 34th minute. Wallace’s third goal of the season came off a pass from Ryan Johnson on a fast break.
The Timbers made it 2-0 when a wide-open Valeri beat McLain in the 70th minute. Valeri blew kisses to the fans following the goal.
Johnson’s fourth goal of the season came in the 90th minute when his low kick skirted past several defenders and the reach of McClain.
It was Portland goal keeper Donovan Ricketts’ fourth clean sheet of the season.
“The chemistry is out there. We’re all connected,” Wallace said. “I think every single guy on this team — whether they’re starting or not — is giving their all.”
Portland visits Cascadia Cup rival Vancouver next Saturday.
Chivas was also without midfielder Carlos Alvarez, who was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS for ‘violent conduct’ during the loss to Sporting KC.
Alvarez, penalized for kicking the ball at Peterson Joseph’s head, Home energy management will also miss the team’s match against Real Salt Lake on May 19.
Earlier this week, Chivas traded Juan Agudelo to the New England Revolution in exchange for allocation money. The forward had two goals this season for the Goats.
“I told them to go out. Don’t think. Be free. Play,” Porter said following the match.
Portland’s undefeated streak is an ongoing franchise-best for the Timbers, who joined Major League Soccer in 2011. Portland (4-1-6) suffered its lone loss back on March 9 when the team fell 2-1 at home to Montreal.
The victory pulls Portland even for the MLS lead with Dallas FC, which also has not lost in nine matches.
Chivas (3-5-2) is in last place in the Western Conference. They have not won since a 2-1 victory over Vancouver on March 30.
“My team is running. My team is fighting. My team is giving the effort,” said Chivas coach Jose Luis Sanchez Sola, who is known as Chelis. “It’s just not enough.”
The match was marred in the 86th minute when Chivas midfielder Mario de Luna pushed a ball boy after the kid picked up an out-of-bounds ball. De Luna was yellow carded, and because of a previous yellow, Home energy monitor he’ll miss next Sunday’s match against Real Salt Lake.
Afterward, both Porter and Chelis shook the ball boy’s hand.
The Goats were without starting goalkeeper and captain Dan Kennedy because of a red card in last week’s loss to Sporting KC. Patrick McLain, in his MLS debut, Power monitor allowed two goals after Kennedy was sent off in the 4-0 Chivas loss.
McLain made his first league start against the Timbers while backup goalkeeper Tim Melia continues to recover from a lower back injury.
McLain leapt with his arms outstretched but couldn’t stop Wallace’s left-footed rocket from just outside the left corner of the box in the 34th minute. Wallace’s third goal of the season came off a pass from Ryan Johnson on a fast break.
The Timbers made it 2-0 when a wide-open Valeri beat McLain in the 70th minute. Valeri blew kisses to the fans following the goal.
Johnson’s fourth goal of the season came in the 90th minute when his low kick skirted past several defenders and the reach of McClain.
It was Portland goal keeper Donovan Ricketts’ fourth clean sheet of the season.
“The chemistry is out there. We’re all connected,” Wallace said. “I think every single guy on this team — whether they’re starting or not — is giving their all.”
Portland visits Cascadia Cup rival Vancouver next Saturday.
Chivas was also without midfielder Carlos Alvarez, who was suspended two games and fined an undisclosed amount by the MLS for ‘violent conduct’ during the loss to Sporting KC.
Alvarez, penalized for kicking the ball at Peterson Joseph’s head, Home energy management will also miss the team’s match against Real Salt Lake on May 19.
Earlier this week, Chivas traded Juan Agudelo to the New England Revolution in exchange for allocation money. The forward had two goals this season for the Goats.
2013年5月2日 星期四
why we let someone else rule our land
As the crowd settled in at The Tractor and waited for The Proclaimers
on April 23, a fellow attendee turned to me and asked what I assumed is
a litmus test at all Proclaimers shows.
“Are you actually a fan or do you just know ‘500 Miles’?” she asked.
“I’ve actually listened to them for a while, mostly the Sunshine on Leith album,” I replied.
“Yeah that’s really the only one I know too.”
The April 23 show was completely sold out, yet it was still assumed that most were there just for the band's biggest hit: “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” The song gained popularity from its inclusion in the movie Benny & Joon and went on to hit number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It’d be easy to dismiss them as a gimmick act –- especially when you tack on the fact that they are twin brothers from Scotland.
The brothers, Craig and Charlie Reid, walked onto the stage wearing nearly identical outfits. The only discernible differences were their hair styling and shoe color. Charlie picks up an acoustic guitar and each goes to their mics before jumping into the Sunshine on Leith track, “I’m On My Way.”
25 years after the album’s release, the group’s vocals still sound the same. The brothers’ knack for harmonies is otherworldly. They rival those of The Louvin Brothers –- a comment not thrown around lightly. The brothers broke back and forth during the verses with their “uh huhs” before rising into a melancholic harmonization on the chorus -- “And now that I don’t want for anything,Home energy monitor I’d have Al Jolson sing ‘I’m sitting on top of the world.’”
In between songs, the brothers would banter rhetoric on Scottish national affairs. Admittedly, it was a bit hard to understand with their thick accents, but when they sang, their words were easier to digest.
The duo’s third song “Letter From America” featured the two singing “I spent the evening thinking about the blood that flowed away.” It’s a line that some might expect from a group like Radiohead, not two goofy twins with glasses serenading with sweet counterpoint. Things got even more raucous with the Leith favorite, “Cap In Hand,” as they both belted, “But I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land,Home energy management cap in hand.” Craig even brought out a penny whistle for the track.
On these political songs, and there were a handful, the band felt like it was at its best and most passionate. There's no gimmick. There are real issues out there and they’ve committed to furthering the discussion, with a few love songs along the way.
Ballad “Sunshine on Leith” marked one of the most captivating segments in the set. The song lent itself well to the acoustic setting –- the other instrumentation from the album version was hardly missed. Craig’s falsetto matching with Charlie’s wobble brought the solemnity of the song to a boil.
As if there were any question about it, The Proclaimers ended their encore with “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” They didn’t even need to hype it up. Once Charlie started playing the first driving chords,Power monitor people were ready to dance and scream along. This is where everyone started to bring out their camera phones and sway their bodies.
Though clearly everything had been building up to that moment, it seems pretty clear that it wasn’t just that song would be taken away from the show. These two Scottish gentleman showed Ballard that they are experts at their craft and have a lot to say.
“Are you actually a fan or do you just know ‘500 Miles’?” she asked.
“I’ve actually listened to them for a while, mostly the Sunshine on Leith album,” I replied.
“Yeah that’s really the only one I know too.”
The April 23 show was completely sold out, yet it was still assumed that most were there just for the band's biggest hit: “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” The song gained popularity from its inclusion in the movie Benny & Joon and went on to hit number four on the U.S. Billboard Hot 100. It’d be easy to dismiss them as a gimmick act –- especially when you tack on the fact that they are twin brothers from Scotland.
The brothers, Craig and Charlie Reid, walked onto the stage wearing nearly identical outfits. The only discernible differences were their hair styling and shoe color. Charlie picks up an acoustic guitar and each goes to their mics before jumping into the Sunshine on Leith track, “I’m On My Way.”
25 years after the album’s release, the group’s vocals still sound the same. The brothers’ knack for harmonies is otherworldly. They rival those of The Louvin Brothers –- a comment not thrown around lightly. The brothers broke back and forth during the verses with their “uh huhs” before rising into a melancholic harmonization on the chorus -- “And now that I don’t want for anything,Home energy monitor I’d have Al Jolson sing ‘I’m sitting on top of the world.’”
In between songs, the brothers would banter rhetoric on Scottish national affairs. Admittedly, it was a bit hard to understand with their thick accents, but when they sang, their words were easier to digest.
The duo’s third song “Letter From America” featured the two singing “I spent the evening thinking about the blood that flowed away.” It’s a line that some might expect from a group like Radiohead, not two goofy twins with glasses serenading with sweet counterpoint. Things got even more raucous with the Leith favorite, “Cap In Hand,” as they both belted, “But I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land,Home energy management cap in hand.” Craig even brought out a penny whistle for the track.
On these political songs, and there were a handful, the band felt like it was at its best and most passionate. There's no gimmick. There are real issues out there and they’ve committed to furthering the discussion, with a few love songs along the way.
Ballad “Sunshine on Leith” marked one of the most captivating segments in the set. The song lent itself well to the acoustic setting –- the other instrumentation from the album version was hardly missed. Craig’s falsetto matching with Charlie’s wobble brought the solemnity of the song to a boil.
As if there were any question about it, The Proclaimers ended their encore with “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles).” They didn’t even need to hype it up. Once Charlie started playing the first driving chords,Power monitor people were ready to dance and scream along. This is where everyone started to bring out their camera phones and sway their bodies.
Though clearly everything had been building up to that moment, it seems pretty clear that it wasn’t just that song would be taken away from the show. These two Scottish gentleman showed Ballard that they are experts at their craft and have a lot to say.
2013年4月27日 星期六
The goal of the annual science festival
As regular hikers in the Santa Monica Mountains, Alison Watters and
her two young children were in familiar territory Saturday at the fourth
annual Science Fest at the Paramount Ranch in Agoura Hills.
“This event increases awareness of this area, and it’s right in our own backyard,” said Watters, of Calabasas, who came with her 6-year-old son Jack and 8-year-old daughter Mason.
The family was among an estimated 4,000 children and adults from Los Angeles and Ventura counties who gathered for the festival,Home energy monitor which featured numerous hands-on activities with scientists, live animal shows and other attractions.
“I liked the animal show the best,” Mason said. “The bobcat was the biggest and really really cool.”
Saturday’s event was hosted by the National Park Service and co-sponsored by the Children’s Nature Institute, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, NatureBridge, the Santa Monica Mountains Fund and the UCLA La Kretz Center.
Highlights included marine touch tanks, guided hikes with uniformed park rangers and a live kelp dive broadcast from Channel Islands National Park. Presentations covered topics including the ecology and conservation of wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains, as well as chaparral,Home energy management California’s most extensive ecosystem.
A children’s corner with science-based arts and crafts gave youngsters the chance to tear apart an owl pellet to learn what it ate. They also made animal masks and oak leaf prints, as well as nature bracelets and bookmarks.
“This event is very well-done,” said Karen Post, of Oak Park, who came with her husband and three sons, ages 4, 3 and 1. “At this age, they are naturally interested in science, so they pick it up really well.”
“I got an email this morning about this event and my children wanted to come,” said Almaguer, whose children engaged in fossil guessing and other activities. “This is much better than staying at home with video games.”
Linda Valois, a park ranger,Power monitor staffed an archaeology station that featured tools made out of deer bones and flint and rope made from a yucca plant.
“We want to children to know that Native Americans didn’t have stores — they had to make their own tools,” Valois said. “It helps them understand the concept of finding things in nature to create what they need. Life was much harder back then.”
The goal of the annual science festival is to build stewardship of nature through science, and to introduce new audiences to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, spokesperson Kate Kuykendall said.
“We have lots of locals who may already be familiar with the great open space opportunities in Santa Monica Mountains,” said Kuykendall, further noting that the area is a unit of a national park system that encompasses more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
“Exposure to the outdoors in general, especially given the nature deficit that has been well-documented among today’s young people, is very important,” Kuykendall said.
“This event increases awareness of this area, and it’s right in our own backyard,” said Watters, of Calabasas, who came with her 6-year-old son Jack and 8-year-old daughter Mason.
The family was among an estimated 4,000 children and adults from Los Angeles and Ventura counties who gathered for the festival,Home energy monitor which featured numerous hands-on activities with scientists, live animal shows and other attractions.
“I liked the animal show the best,” Mason said. “The bobcat was the biggest and really really cool.”
Saturday’s event was hosted by the National Park Service and co-sponsored by the Children’s Nature Institute, the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, NatureBridge, the Santa Monica Mountains Fund and the UCLA La Kretz Center.
Highlights included marine touch tanks, guided hikes with uniformed park rangers and a live kelp dive broadcast from Channel Islands National Park. Presentations covered topics including the ecology and conservation of wildlife in the Santa Monica Mountains, as well as chaparral,Home energy management California’s most extensive ecosystem.
A children’s corner with science-based arts and crafts gave youngsters the chance to tear apart an owl pellet to learn what it ate. They also made animal masks and oak leaf prints, as well as nature bracelets and bookmarks.
“This event is very well-done,” said Karen Post, of Oak Park, who came with her husband and three sons, ages 4, 3 and 1. “At this age, they are naturally interested in science, so they pick it up really well.”
“I got an email this morning about this event and my children wanted to come,” said Almaguer, whose children engaged in fossil guessing and other activities. “This is much better than staying at home with video games.”
Linda Valois, a park ranger,Power monitor staffed an archaeology station that featured tools made out of deer bones and flint and rope made from a yucca plant.
“We want to children to know that Native Americans didn’t have stores — they had to make their own tools,” Valois said. “It helps them understand the concept of finding things in nature to create what they need. Life was much harder back then.”
The goal of the annual science festival is to build stewardship of nature through science, and to introduce new audiences to Santa Monica Mountains National Recreation Area, spokesperson Kate Kuykendall said.
“We have lots of locals who may already be familiar with the great open space opportunities in Santa Monica Mountains,” said Kuykendall, further noting that the area is a unit of a national park system that encompasses more than 150,000 acres of mountains and coastline in Ventura and Los Angeles counties.
“Exposure to the outdoors in general, especially given the nature deficit that has been well-documented among today’s young people, is very important,” Kuykendall said.
2013年4月21日 星期日
The reluctance to borrow and spend of companies
The last time Masao Namiki bought machinery for his company, Emperor
Hirohito had just died, Japanese investors took the Rockefeller Center
as a trophy, and a new central bank chief was about to prick the bubble
economy. It was 1989.
The $1 million Namiki borrowed to outfit his workshop with computerized lathes and drills almost bankrupted him as orders from clients Canon Inc., Panasonic Inc. and NEC Corp. evaporated. As interest rates cranked up to 6 percent, Home energy monitor crashing stock and land prices wiped out $15 trillion in wealth and triggered an economic malaise that still drags on.
The bubble, and the five recessions since, help explain why business owners like Namiki aren’t buying into investor euphoria over new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s campaign to end deflation. Even after the steepest five-month slide in the yen for 18 years made global companies like Toyota Motor Corp (7203). more competitive and Japan the world’s best-performing major stock market, Namiki said he’s still not ready to invest.
“If we had the orders I’d think about adding equipment, but right now the work’s just not there,” the 72-year-old said at his small factory in Tokyo’s Ota district, where he and a handful of employees have made thousands of steel molds for phones, Home energy management stereos, and keyboards. “The manufacturers are still in wait-and-see mode.”
The reluctance to borrow and spend of companies like Namiki’s that don’t operate abroad and make up the bulk of Japan’s economy is the biggest threat to Abe’s plans, said Nomura Research Institute Chief Economist Richard Koo.
“The greatest bottleneck in the private-sector economy today is the lack of private-sector borrowers,” said Koo. “That comes from the fact that they went through this balance- sheet correction for the last 20 years. Americans went through the same thing in the 1930s, and many who lived through the Great Depression never borrowed again.”
Japan’s trauma was greater still, Koo said. The wealth lost was three times gross domestic product. The U.S. crash cost a year of 1929 GDP. And just when Japan was showing signs of recovery, the 2009 global financial crisis hit. Then came the 2011 tsunami. After all that, Power monitor the Nikkei 225 Stock Average is two-thirds off its 1989 peak. Land is cheaper than in 1981.
To jump start investment, Abe and his handpicked Bank of Japan governor, Haruhiko Kuroda, said they will double the money circulating in the economy to drive inflation to 2 percent within two years, remove structural barriers to growth and add fiscal stimulus with tax cuts and other incentives.
Since mid-November, when it became clear Abe would win power, the yen has weakened about 20 percent, the steepest five-month decline since 1995. The currency had been trading close to a post World War II high, so the slide has been relief for companies like Toyota that get most of their revenue in other currencies.
Shares of Toyota have surged 79 percent. Mazda Motor Corp. (7261), which makes 77 percent of its sales internationally, has tripled. Sony Corp. will probably snap four years of losses partly thanks to the yen; its shares have jumped 87 percent.
Foreign investors who account for about 70 percent of the volume on Tokyo’s stock exchange haven’t just driven up exporters. The biggest gains so far have been in brokerages and real estate companies, which stand to benefit from higher asset prices. The Topix gauge of securities firms is up 166 percent, with largest member Nomura Holdings Inc. more than doubling. The index tracking real estate firms has also more than doubled.
The advance has added $844 billion to Japanese stocks -- or about half the value of France’s market. The Topix Index, Japan’s broadest gauge, has jumped 56 percent since Nov. 15, the top performer among the world’s 10 biggest markets. All 33 industry groups have gained.
The $1 million Namiki borrowed to outfit his workshop with computerized lathes and drills almost bankrupted him as orders from clients Canon Inc., Panasonic Inc. and NEC Corp. evaporated. As interest rates cranked up to 6 percent, Home energy monitor crashing stock and land prices wiped out $15 trillion in wealth and triggered an economic malaise that still drags on.
The bubble, and the five recessions since, help explain why business owners like Namiki aren’t buying into investor euphoria over new Prime Minister Shinzo Abe’s campaign to end deflation. Even after the steepest five-month slide in the yen for 18 years made global companies like Toyota Motor Corp (7203). more competitive and Japan the world’s best-performing major stock market, Namiki said he’s still not ready to invest.
“If we had the orders I’d think about adding equipment, but right now the work’s just not there,” the 72-year-old said at his small factory in Tokyo’s Ota district, where he and a handful of employees have made thousands of steel molds for phones, Home energy management stereos, and keyboards. “The manufacturers are still in wait-and-see mode.”
The reluctance to borrow and spend of companies like Namiki’s that don’t operate abroad and make up the bulk of Japan’s economy is the biggest threat to Abe’s plans, said Nomura Research Institute Chief Economist Richard Koo.
“The greatest bottleneck in the private-sector economy today is the lack of private-sector borrowers,” said Koo. “That comes from the fact that they went through this balance- sheet correction for the last 20 years. Americans went through the same thing in the 1930s, and many who lived through the Great Depression never borrowed again.”
Japan’s trauma was greater still, Koo said. The wealth lost was three times gross domestic product. The U.S. crash cost a year of 1929 GDP. And just when Japan was showing signs of recovery, the 2009 global financial crisis hit. Then came the 2011 tsunami. After all that, Power monitor the Nikkei 225 Stock Average is two-thirds off its 1989 peak. Land is cheaper than in 1981.
To jump start investment, Abe and his handpicked Bank of Japan governor, Haruhiko Kuroda, said they will double the money circulating in the economy to drive inflation to 2 percent within two years, remove structural barriers to growth and add fiscal stimulus with tax cuts and other incentives.
Since mid-November, when it became clear Abe would win power, the yen has weakened about 20 percent, the steepest five-month decline since 1995. The currency had been trading close to a post World War II high, so the slide has been relief for companies like Toyota that get most of their revenue in other currencies.
Shares of Toyota have surged 79 percent. Mazda Motor Corp. (7261), which makes 77 percent of its sales internationally, has tripled. Sony Corp. will probably snap four years of losses partly thanks to the yen; its shares have jumped 87 percent.
Foreign investors who account for about 70 percent of the volume on Tokyo’s stock exchange haven’t just driven up exporters. The biggest gains so far have been in brokerages and real estate companies, which stand to benefit from higher asset prices. The Topix gauge of securities firms is up 166 percent, with largest member Nomura Holdings Inc. more than doubling. The index tracking real estate firms has also more than doubled.
The advance has added $844 billion to Japanese stocks -- or about half the value of France’s market. The Topix Index, Japan’s broadest gauge, has jumped 56 percent since Nov. 15, the top performer among the world’s 10 biggest markets. All 33 industry groups have gained.
2013年4月8日 星期一
The government should increase the promotion
In Uganda,The Power Cost Monitor and other Home energy monitor
monitoring products. we rely heavily on hydroelectric power and that’s
why power distributors like Umeme are taking advantage of it to exploit
consumers.
Last week, the media reported that the government was set to increase electricity tariffs again. This is as a result of pressure from our major distributor Umeme on government to increase the power tariffs. Umeme had proposed new tariff rate shs593.9 per KWh of power consumed instead of the current shs524.5 per KWh of power consumed, but Electricity Regulator Authority proposes shs576.The In home display allows utility customers to track their energy.9 for domestic consumers. This is what I would call consumer exploitation.The Home Energy Management market continues to struggle for more traction.
As Ugandans, we should adopt solar energy to power our houses, run our businesses, power schools, hospitals and clinics to avoid exploitation by the hydro power distributors.
Despite the immense potential of solar energy radiation in Uganda which could be harnessed for electric power generation, the rich, infinite, limitless energy resource is still untapped.
Given the scale of investments needed with grid connection, innovative approaches for planning and financing are critical. These approaches should be paid great attention to in order to.
Although many people are discouraged by the huge installation expenses, the long term benefits are enormous as solar will help you reduce your monthly expenditures on power.
The government should increase the promotion, adoption and adaption of solar electricity generating technology for power supplies with in the country.
ERA last increased the tariffs in January 2012 after the scrapping of government subsidies for consumers. Then, tariffs for large scale consumers rose by 69 per cent to shs312.8 from shs184.8 per unit. Those for small scale consumers rose by 36 per cent to shs458.6 from shs358.6 .And it is only one year since, and again, Umeme pushing for increased tariffs. With continuous investment in the power infrastructure, end user tariffs are likely to keep increasing.
We therefore urge government to foster close cooperation for the development of solar energy and also promote fruitful partnerships for the solar project implementation.
The government should support the international initiative to introduce advanced solar technology in Uganda for bulk-scale electricity generation. Such initiatives accelerate technology transfer and support indigenous manufacturing of equipment.
Lastly, government and other institutions should not only ensure the adoption of sustainable development for solar energy in their policies and strategies, but also make sure that such policies and strategies are implemented.
Sino-Indian relations make for a compelling case study, as their strategic complexity and future importance defy any easy explanation. Theirs is a relationship that straddles the entire breadth of geopolitical possibility, encompassing points of conflict and cooperation in the military and economic spheres, territorial and resource disputes, dissonant domestic political systems, and perhaps most importantly: the unprecedented opportunity for two of the greatest development success stories in human history to shape the world of the 21st century. Because conflict or not, both countries recognize the need to work together to lubricate the international system that has served them so well.
Last week, the media reported that the government was set to increase electricity tariffs again. This is as a result of pressure from our major distributor Umeme on government to increase the power tariffs. Umeme had proposed new tariff rate shs593.9 per KWh of power consumed instead of the current shs524.5 per KWh of power consumed, but Electricity Regulator Authority proposes shs576.The In home display allows utility customers to track their energy.9 for domestic consumers. This is what I would call consumer exploitation.The Home Energy Management market continues to struggle for more traction.
As Ugandans, we should adopt solar energy to power our houses, run our businesses, power schools, hospitals and clinics to avoid exploitation by the hydro power distributors.
Despite the immense potential of solar energy radiation in Uganda which could be harnessed for electric power generation, the rich, infinite, limitless energy resource is still untapped.
Given the scale of investments needed with grid connection, innovative approaches for planning and financing are critical. These approaches should be paid great attention to in order to.
Although many people are discouraged by the huge installation expenses, the long term benefits are enormous as solar will help you reduce your monthly expenditures on power.
The government should increase the promotion, adoption and adaption of solar electricity generating technology for power supplies with in the country.
ERA last increased the tariffs in January 2012 after the scrapping of government subsidies for consumers. Then, tariffs for large scale consumers rose by 69 per cent to shs312.8 from shs184.8 per unit. Those for small scale consumers rose by 36 per cent to shs458.6 from shs358.6 .And it is only one year since, and again, Umeme pushing for increased tariffs. With continuous investment in the power infrastructure, end user tariffs are likely to keep increasing.
We therefore urge government to foster close cooperation for the development of solar energy and also promote fruitful partnerships for the solar project implementation.
The government should support the international initiative to introduce advanced solar technology in Uganda for bulk-scale electricity generation. Such initiatives accelerate technology transfer and support indigenous manufacturing of equipment.
Lastly, government and other institutions should not only ensure the adoption of sustainable development for solar energy in their policies and strategies, but also make sure that such policies and strategies are implemented.
Sino-Indian relations make for a compelling case study, as their strategic complexity and future importance defy any easy explanation. Theirs is a relationship that straddles the entire breadth of geopolitical possibility, encompassing points of conflict and cooperation in the military and economic spheres, territorial and resource disputes, dissonant domestic political systems, and perhaps most importantly: the unprecedented opportunity for two of the greatest development success stories in human history to shape the world of the 21st century. Because conflict or not, both countries recognize the need to work together to lubricate the international system that has served them so well.
2013年4月2日 星期二
Inflated gold prices bring jewellers profits
A bullish outlook on international gold prices could translate into
better revenues for the city’s gold and jewellery retailers, according
to the industry.
“I predict this year’s business will be better than last year – at least the amount for each transaction will rise due to the inflated gold prices even if the number of transactions remains at the same level as last year,” said Lei Chi Fong, Macau Goldsmith's Guild president.
He declined to comment on whether jewellery shops had more customers, but told Business Daily business “was good so far” this year.
The Macau Goldsmith’s Guild is an association of more than 100 retailers, including Hong Kong-listed jewellery chains Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd and Tse Sui Luen Jewellery (International) Ltd.
Chow Tai Fook announced last month that its same-store sales in Macau and Hong Kong rose by five percent year-on-year in the first two months of this year.
But the number of transactions rose by 16 percent, Home energy monitor suggesting the new customers are spending modestly.
Mr Lei also expects more customers will switch from jewellery purchases to gold.
Referring to the government’s recent cooling measures on the local property market, Mr Lei added: “More people are pursuing gold as there is generally no macro-economic measures or hindrance imposed on gold sales or its price.”
“The value of gold nowadays is about three times higher than what it was in the 2000s.
“Sales of gold account over 70 percent of our business right now while the rest is made up by jewellery,” the guild president said.
Official
data show imports of gold and jewellery rose by 93 percent year-on-year
to 1.54 billion patacas (US$192.5 million) in the first two months of
2013.
Stimulus efforts by several of the world's main central banks helped the value of gold rise for a 12th straight year in 2012, the best run for at least nine decades.
The London gold price, commonly used in Hong Kong and Macau, closed at 1,053.6 sterling pounds (12,751 patacas) an ounce on March 29, rising by 1.1 percent year-on-year.
Some financial analysts,Electricity monitor however, had been bearish on the price of the precious metal this year as there was no sign of further easing measures in monetary policies elsewhere.
“Confidence in a recovering U.S. economy as well as a strong global stock market has reduced the perceived need for gold,” said Adrian Day, an analyst quoted by Bloomberg News.
But Mr Lei remains bullish, regarding gold as the “best vehicle” against an environment of low interest rates.
The Macau Interbank Offered Rate, which banks here use to lend to each other, was at just 0.57 percent on Thursday.
The guild president also said his association was preparing the city’s first gold testing centre, which could better standardise and regulate gold sold here.
This can also give tourists “more confidence” in the products, Mr Lei added.
He declined to speculate on whether the centre would open this year. “All the hardware is ready but what is lacking at the moment is the software, the professionals in this field.”
“I predict this year’s business will be better than last year – at least the amount for each transaction will rise due to the inflated gold prices even if the number of transactions remains at the same level as last year,” said Lei Chi Fong, Macau Goldsmith's Guild president.
He declined to comment on whether jewellery shops had more customers, but told Business Daily business “was good so far” this year.
The Macau Goldsmith’s Guild is an association of more than 100 retailers, including Hong Kong-listed jewellery chains Chow Tai Fook Jewellery Co Ltd and Tse Sui Luen Jewellery (International) Ltd.
Chow Tai Fook announced last month that its same-store sales in Macau and Hong Kong rose by five percent year-on-year in the first two months of this year.
But the number of transactions rose by 16 percent, Home energy monitor suggesting the new customers are spending modestly.
Mr Lei also expects more customers will switch from jewellery purchases to gold.
Referring to the government’s recent cooling measures on the local property market, Mr Lei added: “More people are pursuing gold as there is generally no macro-economic measures or hindrance imposed on gold sales or its price.”
“The value of gold nowadays is about three times higher than what it was in the 2000s.
“Sales of gold account over 70 percent of our business right now while the rest is made up by jewellery,” the guild president said.
Official
data show imports of gold and jewellery rose by 93 percent year-on-year
to 1.54 billion patacas (US$192.5 million) in the first two months of
2013.Stimulus efforts by several of the world's main central banks helped the value of gold rise for a 12th straight year in 2012, the best run for at least nine decades.
The London gold price, commonly used in Hong Kong and Macau, closed at 1,053.6 sterling pounds (12,751 patacas) an ounce on March 29, rising by 1.1 percent year-on-year.
Some financial analysts,Electricity monitor however, had been bearish on the price of the precious metal this year as there was no sign of further easing measures in monetary policies elsewhere.
“Confidence in a recovering U.S. economy as well as a strong global stock market has reduced the perceived need for gold,” said Adrian Day, an analyst quoted by Bloomberg News.
But Mr Lei remains bullish, regarding gold as the “best vehicle” against an environment of low interest rates.
The Macau Interbank Offered Rate, which banks here use to lend to each other, was at just 0.57 percent on Thursday.
The guild president also said his association was preparing the city’s first gold testing centre, which could better standardise and regulate gold sold here.
This can also give tourists “more confidence” in the products, Mr Lei added.
He declined to speculate on whether the centre would open this year. “All the hardware is ready but what is lacking at the moment is the software, the professionals in this field.”
2013年3月5日 星期二
Sometimes a change is the best thing for you
The player Des Hasler signed an hour before the June 30 deadline last year now looms as a key figure in the two-time premiership-winning coach's bid to avenge Canterbury's grand final heartache.
His name is Drury Low - not that he'll be referred to by name much this season as he adopts the tag of Ben Barba's replacement.
There's no doubt Hasler will play mind games with his team selection right up until kick-off against North Queensland on Saturday, but he's expected to use Low as his No.1 to start the year with Barba suspended indefinitely.
A week ago Low would have been preparing to play in the club's NSW Cup season opener, but he's learnt to expect the unexpected when it comes to the Bulldogs.
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At 4pm on June 30 last year, Low's manager Paul Sutton tried to resurrect his ailing career with a desperate plea to Hasler. By the end of the afternoon, the former Raider had been officially made a Bulldog.
"It was all done within an hour," Sutton said. "I spoke to Des that afternoon and he spoke to [Bulldogs recruitment manager Noel Cleal]. I got a call back a bit later from Des telling me he wanted him.
"It was a lucky phone call. I was going to do the ring-around and see if anyone was interested and I picked Des first. I was thinking, 'Where can I put him where someone can work with him and get the best out of him.' I didn't have to ring any other club. Drury was just going through the motions at Canberra but since leaving, Des has done a great job with him."
Raiders development manager David Hamilton brought the 22-year-old to the club in 2008, when they won the under-20s premiership with Josh Dugan at fullback and Low on the wing.
The Junior Kiwi was raised in Griffith before moving to Melbourne, where he played alongside Storm five-eighth Gareth Widdop coming through the ranks.
It didn't take much viewing to convince Hamilton he had the goods. ''I first saw him when the Raiders were playing Melbourne's academy team in Queensland," he said. "When I saw what he did as a 15-year-old to our 18-year-olds, you can't help but to sit back and say, 'Wow, that's special.' He destroyed us and made us look a bit silly that day."
Low scored two tries in his NRL debut for the Raiders in round eight of 2010 and played his second and most recent game in the top grade three months later.
With Dugan and Reece Robinson at the club, as well as a host of talented backs, he found it hard to crack the big time and as a result lost his drive and let his application to training dwindle, say those at the club. Given Canberra's depth in the back line, they told him he was unwanted beyond the end of his 2012 contract, but he didn't even see out the season.
"We had to make some tough decisions, especially with Josh and Reece and the outside backs we have at the club," Hamilton said.
"Drury had a taste and missed out on another real opportunity. Sometimes a player has to leave a club because if you're not playing regular first grade you get disheartened. His training ethic wasn't where it should've been. He's a quiet kid but you could tell he wasn't turning up to training with the same mindset he once did.
"Sometimes a change is the best thing for you. There's a hell of a lot of competition for spots here, but he saw an opportunity elsewhere and I'm sure he's going to make it work. He's a good kid with a lot of talent."
His name is Drury Low - not that he'll be referred to by name much this season as he adopts the tag of Ben Barba's replacement.
There's no doubt Hasler will play mind games with his team selection right up until kick-off against North Queensland on Saturday, but he's expected to use Low as his No.1 to start the year with Barba suspended indefinitely.
A week ago Low would have been preparing to play in the club's NSW Cup season opener, but he's learnt to expect the unexpected when it comes to the Bulldogs.
Advertisement
At 4pm on June 30 last year, Low's manager Paul Sutton tried to resurrect his ailing career with a desperate plea to Hasler. By the end of the afternoon, the former Raider had been officially made a Bulldog.
"It was all done within an hour," Sutton said. "I spoke to Des that afternoon and he spoke to [Bulldogs recruitment manager Noel Cleal]. I got a call back a bit later from Des telling me he wanted him.
"It was a lucky phone call. I was going to do the ring-around and see if anyone was interested and I picked Des first. I was thinking, 'Where can I put him where someone can work with him and get the best out of him.' I didn't have to ring any other club. Drury was just going through the motions at Canberra but since leaving, Des has done a great job with him."
Raiders development manager David Hamilton brought the 22-year-old to the club in 2008, when they won the under-20s premiership with Josh Dugan at fullback and Low on the wing.
The Junior Kiwi was raised in Griffith before moving to Melbourne, where he played alongside Storm five-eighth Gareth Widdop coming through the ranks.
It didn't take much viewing to convince Hamilton he had the goods. ''I first saw him when the Raiders were playing Melbourne's academy team in Queensland," he said. "When I saw what he did as a 15-year-old to our 18-year-olds, you can't help but to sit back and say, 'Wow, that's special.' He destroyed us and made us look a bit silly that day."
Low scored two tries in his NRL debut for the Raiders in round eight of 2010 and played his second and most recent game in the top grade three months later.
With Dugan and Reece Robinson at the club, as well as a host of talented backs, he found it hard to crack the big time and as a result lost his drive and let his application to training dwindle, say those at the club. Given Canberra's depth in the back line, they told him he was unwanted beyond the end of his 2012 contract, but he didn't even see out the season.
"We had to make some tough decisions, especially with Josh and Reece and the outside backs we have at the club," Hamilton said.
"Drury had a taste and missed out on another real opportunity. Sometimes a player has to leave a club because if you're not playing regular first grade you get disheartened. His training ethic wasn't where it should've been. He's a quiet kid but you could tell he wasn't turning up to training with the same mindset he once did.
"Sometimes a change is the best thing for you. There's a hell of a lot of competition for spots here, but he saw an opportunity elsewhere and I'm sure he's going to make it work. He's a good kid with a lot of talent."
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