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(Kelly Sinyei/Epicurious.com)
Practice your knife skills
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From slicing a pork loin to dicing a pineapple, knowing how to work with knives is critical to success in the kitchen. Equipping yourself with the proper knives is key, says Brendan McDermott, chef-instructor and resident knife skills expert at New York's Institute of Culinary Education.
If you're equipping your first kitchen, thinking of giving a great set of knives as a wedding or holiday gift, or staring down a brawny butternut squash on your countertop, you'll want to know which knives are a cook's best friend. Read on to discover the four essential knives every home cook should own, plus how to use them, how not to use them, and what price point yields the best-quality blade.
How to Choose and Use a Chef's Knife
How to Use It: A classic chef's knife is the most important knife in your collection. Brendan McDermott recommends an 8- to 10-inch chef's knife, which he acknowledges may be slightly longer than most people are comfortable with at first. However, the longer edge makes the knife more versatile and efficient. "The more blade you have, the more knife you have to do the work for you," he explains. "And the bigger the blade you have to slice through an ingredient, the safer it is." A chef's knife is the go-to tool for more than 90 percent of daily kitchen tasks, McDermott notes, including a most slicing and dicing of fruits, vegetables, meats, and fish.
How Not to Use It: While a chef's knife may be the "king of the kitchen," it should not be used to butcher or carve poultry, to remove the skin of large vegetables such as butternut squash, or, as some people have tried, to puncture a hole in cans. The broadness of a chef's knife blade makes it unwieldy for tasks better suited to a smaller knife.
Price: Of all the knives you own, McDermott recommends spending the most on your chef's knife and suggests a price of about $100 for a high-quality chef's knife. "Remember that knives are heirlooms," he says. "And the good ones should last forever."
How to Choose and Use a Paring Knife
How to Use It: A paring knife picks up where a chef's knife leaves off. It's best for slicing and mincing items that are too small for an 8- to 10-inch blade, such as garlic, shallots, or strawberries. "Because the average paring knife blade is about 3 1/2 inches long, it's a great tool for any foods that require an attention to detail," McDermott says.
How Not to Use It: Avoid using paring knives to cut very hard vegetables, such as carrots, celery root, or parsnips. These smaller knives don't carry enough weight to easily slice through the foods, which may prompt you to increase the pressure or tighten your grip as you're cutting. "If you find yourself applying pressure at any point, you're doing something wrong," McDermott counsels. Forcing the cut is a signal that you aren't using the right blade for the job, and it can be dangerous, too, causing the knife to slip.
Price: McDermott recommends spending about $20 for a good-quality paring knife. Steer clear of ceramic knives and opt for a metal blade for a longer lifespan.
How to Choose and Use a Serrated Knife
How to Use It: Serrated knives may be most commonly associated with slicing bread, which is why they are also called bread knives. But according to McDermott, the toothed blade can take on almost any job not suited to the straight blade of a chef's knife. A serrated knife, with an average blade length of 6 inches, is especially useful for foods with waxy surfaces, such as tomatoes, pineapples, watermelons, citrus, and peppers. The jagged edge can grip and penetrate those slippery exteriors, while the flat blade of a chef's knife would slip and slide across the surface. Bottom line: Think beyond bread.
How Not to Use It: Serrated knives should only be used for slicing, rather than chopping, foods. Using a sawing motion with the knife allows the teeth along the blade to grip and cut through ingredients, which is also why a serrated knife should not be used to slice smaller items such as fresh herbs, garlic, or berries.
Price: McDermott recommends spending $30 to $40 for a good-quality serrated knife. If you take good care of your serrated knife, it will stay sharp for years to come, says McDermott. And if your knife gets dull, McDermott recommends simply replacing it.
How to Choose and Use a Boning Knife
How to Use It: As its name implies, a boning knife is the best blade for cutting up or boning fish, meat, or poultry of any size, whether a 3-inch-long anchovy or a 150-pound side of pork. "Most knives are designed to cut straight lines," McDermott says. "But when it comes to anything with a ribcage and joints, there is no such thing as a straight line in the body, so you need a blade that can move and flex." A boning knife gives you that leeway.
How Not to Use It: A boning knife should not be used to cut through bones, but rather to cut around bones. The knife functions similarly to a jigsaw, providing the flexibility to deftly separate meat from bone as well as slice through joints and cartilage.
Price: McDermott recommends spending about $30 for a good-quality boning knife and suggests investing a bit more if a boning knife will get heavy use in your kitchen.
How to Choose and Use a Honing Steel
How to Use It: The fifth essential tool for your knife block is actually not a knife at all but rather a honing steel, which is designed to keep your knives at their peak sharpness for as long as possible. "A honing steel is likely the second most important tool in the kitchen after a chef's knife," McDermott says. Running your knife along a steel realigns the teeth (or fibers) on the blade, which leads to a sharper edge and thus a cleaner cut. Knives should be honed every time you use them, but because honing doesn't actually sharpen the blade, McDermott suggests home cooks have their knives professionally sharpened once a year.
How Not to Use It: A honing steel can be used with any straight-sided blade, such as a chef's knife or paring knife, but it should not be used on serrated knives since the teeth won't glide along the steel.
Price: A honing steel is often included when knives are purchased as sets; however, they can also be purchased individually. In that case, McDermott recommends either a ceramic or steel model that costs about $25.


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This section includes all of our childrens gifts and is bursting with groovy products that your kids are sure to love. Toys, games, craft kits, you'll find them all and much more besides.
This is where you'll find all of our childrens gift ideas. Everything we sell for both the boys and the girls has been placed in this section giving you the opportunity to browse our full collection of childrens gifts all at once. There's so much choice that you're sure to find something for your child, whatever their interests may be.
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text: You may remember a video I posted back in Feb, it was called "Augmented Hyper Reality", Keiichi Matsuda's vision of what Augmented Reality could become in the future… So, 7 months on and Keiichi Matsuda is back with another Augmented Reality vision, this time, he has blended Augmented Reality into the every day city life that you can view with 3D glasses (I hope, I don't have any at home to test it actually works!). An amazing production. Very very cool. (thanks Jose)


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25° in Africa
25° in Africa is the latest addition to Media in Africa's range of independent, unbiased magazines.
Published quarterly in print format and on the web and with an international readership, 25° covers the whole gamut of energy sources and provides meaningful, educational and technical reporting on the major energy issues of the day throughout the African continent, with interviews and reports from international experts, governmental policy statements, statistical analyses, and the views of decision makers – all forming part of our balanced independent editorial programmes.
Media In Africa
Media in Africa is a renowned and respected publishing company that has been producing high-quality, glossy, niche, specialised publications for over 22 years, purposely tailored to the requirements of our markets and customers.
To maintain our role as a major player in the niche markets by providing superior quality products. We aim to maintain our culture of unequalled client service, encouraging ethical and principled business practices and being a positive influence on the community we serve.
To establish powerful communication vehicles that connect suppliers with customers and service providers with clientele through the core value of excellence in customer liaison and media.
Why have an energy magazine?
Addressing global energy stress
There are manifestations of increasing stress on energy supplies from a global economy that is outgrowing its support systems; many people have crossed the bridge in accepting the idea that there is going to be a need for restructuring the global energy economy. Alternative energy is emerging as a cornerstone of the new economy.
Africa's energy contribution
Africa's energy potential is vast, but is coupled with serious socio-economic issues that also need to be addressed. This publication aims to provide meaningful, technical and edifying information to educate the global energy community about prospective opportunities for energy generation (and related issues) in Africa and report on innovations and technologies.
Unbiased and independent platform
As an independent platform, we aim to publish alternative viewpoints and opinions to enrich our readers' outlook and become an integral part of the knowledge sharing process. We will ask, and attempt to answer, some tough questions: What is Africa's real need and capabilities? What policies and strategies can reasonably be implemented in Africa?
If the information you seek relates to Africa, energy and the environment, www.25degrees.net will provide you with a smorgasbord of current, up-to-speed and incisive content dedicated to energy generation needs, moratoria and debates. 25° in Africa's newly designed portal is dedicated to showcasing the magazine's content, and all things energy related. It provides an at-a-glance overview of the Africa's energy landscape, and also provides links to pertinent energy content, an updated business directory, reports and reviews and event announcements.
A virtual magazine
In a bid to save precious carbon miles, and lessen the amount of paper lugged across the ocean in print format, 25º in Africa, Africa's Independent Energy Publication is now available as a VIRTUAL PUBLICATION online, also onwww.25degrees.net .
If you feel you have a contribution to make – let's hear from you.
Why 25°?
25° is recognised as being the Standard Ambient Temperature (SAT). In relation to that, energy is needed to reach SAT in winter through various methods of heating, and in summer airconditioning and refrigeration are required in order to maintain these human comfort levels.
The problem is that in pursuing its quest for comfort the human animal is making huge if not unrealistic demands upon the Earth's natural resources – in some cases depleting them beyond recovery.
If we are to continue without restriction, the equilibrium in nature might change to the extent that SAT will be increasingly more difficult to reach in future due to severe climate change. Global warming is but one of the many consequences of this hedonistic approach by the human race, and the warning signs are already there.
Meanwhile we intend to maintain an open forum on these issues, and if you have anything that is pertinent to our readership and the aims of the magazine, we would like to hear from you.
African Alternative Technologies (AATec)
African Alternative Technologies (AATec) was formed with the primary objective of positioning itself as an Alternative Energy project developer and technology supplier and is associated with experts in consulting regarding financing of green projects. AATec has preferential agreements in place with cutting edge technology development companies; and has engaged with individuals and organisations who assist companies in setting and realising their environmental objectives, by identifying and connecting clients with projects to offset or negate the carbon generated by clients business operations.
Our primary focus at present is the opportunity created by NERSA finalising the REFIT, and how this relates to our Joint Venture's with HelioDynamics of the UK, Launchpoint Technologies, FasTransit, Gravity Power and Green Wave Energy Corp of the USA. The application of these cutting edge, and innovative technologies towards achieving South Africa's ambitious Renewable Energy target as set by the 2002 White paper, and the stimulation of the economy, job creation, rural empowerment and the reduction of green house gas emissions are AATec's current priorities.
South Africa is in the fortunate position to draw on all the experience and technological advancements of the world before embarking on this ambitious goal, and we at AATec believe we have some of the most advanced, innovative, efficient and cost effective solution for Utility Scale Renewable energy, enegy storage, energy saving and cutting edge transport solutions available at this time, Consequently AATec looks forward to exciting progress in the immediate future and is interested in partnering with Government and communities as well as aligned businesses in implimenting this viable solution.
African Alternative Technologies (AATec) was created by a group of committed citizens, who are dedicated to making a difference in our challenged society. The obstacles to a sustainable future are created by a "Business as Usual approach" and the industrial age model has left society vulnerable.
We take the approach of focussing on the solutions, and although it is essential to be aware of what has caused society's current predicament, to dwell on the problems is counterproductive as the only way forward is action.
The Team have all been active in developing, consulting, promoting and lobbying, solutions in different ways for many years, and these activities have been in the sectors of sustainable agriculture, community development and renewable energy primarily. Socially and environmentally responsible entrepreaneurship is the way we aproach business as it has the added bennefit of delivering substantially to the triple bottom line in the near term and even more so into the future.
People, Planet, and Profit is the credo.
The Flagship solution we have developed is the Sustainable Integrated Decentralised Agro-processing and Community Development Project, or SID
Our SID model and its associated technology offers good returns to investors and is not reliant on ongoing government subsidies. Job creation is maximised in the project which is primarily based on Agro-processing, biomass to bio-energy production and includes the complete value chain, while empowering community ownership in the project, (this is a fundamental component of the business model). Communities are incrementally developed as suppliers of the feedstock, by employing technology driven processes, through Co-operatives and Worker's Trusts and by utilising the Build, Operate and Transfer (BOT) mechanism.
The SID also addresses the challenge of Food Vs Fuel constructively and actually enhances food and energy security at the same time, through its innovative methodology and approach. The SID model is an African Alternative Energy (AAE) project, which is a sister company to AATec, as well as being a home grown solution, an African solution for Africa.
On the Renewable Energy front AATec has focussed on a number of solutions, and the opportunities created by our Joint Ventures and exclusive agencies with cutting edge technology developers and equipment manufactures are very exciting right now, as well as holding great prospects for future development .
HelioDynamics has developed cutting edge world class, Compact Linear Fresnel Reflector Solar thermal Technology for Utility Scale Electricity generation and storage, industrial and comercial process heat, cooling and desalinisation.
LaunchPoint Technologies has developed a number of cutting edge technologies and we are concentrating on their Gravity Power Utility Scale Electricity storage systems and the FasTransit Magnetic Levitation transport solutions at the moment.
Green Wave Energy Corp is developing cutting edge technology in the Renewable Energy sector and focuses on wind, wave and water current electricity generation.
AATec is developing a pilot 1Mw Solar Thermal Electricity Generation project with 6 hours storage to demonstrate the viability of the technology as proof of the magnitude of this opportunity, in line with the opportunity created by the Renewable Energy Feed In Tariff (REFIT) programme finalised by the National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) last year.
Heliodynamics CLFR solar thermal technology that AATec is focussing on is revolutionary in many ways!
We believe these projects will contribute substantially towards realising the targets set by our government in the renewable energy white paper and in creating a growth sector inspite of the adverse economic conditions currently afecting our country.
AAtec invites everyone who identifies with these ambitions and principals and would like to partisipate in any way to contact us.
This is a major undertaking and is not only the responsibility of the AATec team, but all people and organisations who identify with the solutions and approach being emphasised, and feel they can contribute or would like to participate.
African Energy
African Energy's philosophy
Published fortnightly, 24 issues a year, African Energy has a strong focus on the people and personalities shaping the continent's energy future, as well as a strong appreciation of the political risk issues that concern established operators, new entrants and financial sector investors.
Through its independent, investigative approach to reporting, African Energy has become a fixture on the African energy scene by delivering incisive and outspoken analysis in perspectives undistorted by advertising, third-party media or government communication channels.
African Energy does not just rewrite press releases or wire copy like so many web-based news aggregators and 'information portals'.
Since its first issue in April 1998, African Energy has gone further for its stories and information than many of its competitors to bring you an informed, no-nonsense appraisal of the latest developments – in the process talking to both government and opposition figures, utilities and regulators, oil majors, independents and NOCs, and corruption watchdogs.
African Energy's highly experienced editorial team is based in the UK, and mainland Europe, with correspondents across the African continent - in some cases protecting themselves by filing anonymously. Many of African Energy's contributors live and do business in Africa, while editorial staff frequently visit African countries and talk to top political and business figures, among a wide range of key contacts.
The depth with which subjects are treated means that African Energy has a long shelf-life and is held as a source of record and learning, by government departments, corporate information centres, and leading academic institutions and industry bodies.
In addition to producing the flagship fortnightly African Energy, AE's team of experienced analysts also produce briefings and reports on a range of topics and issues that affect the region. Our expertise can be tapped by anyone and delivered in a range of formats.
African Energy News Review
About African Energy News Review
Few things can affect politics, business and the economy as much as energy issues do. Right now the situation in South Africa is a prime example of this, with the country facing an electricity supply crisis, rising fuel and electricity prices, and escalating food prices that appear closely linked to the current energy situation.
In today's information era it is those with the best access to information that find themselves better equipped to deal with the changing economic conditions that are closely linked to local and international energy issues.
While the internet is an invaluable tool to find information, the sheer volume of news available means that few people have the time to stay on top of important areas like energy without some kind of filtering and analysis service.
For this reason, African Energy News Review tracks thousands of news stories every week, and manually selects the most relevant information for our readership. We follow local and international trends closely in order to assist business and government decision makers to stay on top of the issues and make better strategic choices.
While some of this information may be available though other sources and publications, no other service provides as thorough an analysis of energy for the African continent as our weekly email service.
The African Energy News Review email edition reaches approximately 5 000 subscribers on a weekly basis. The subscriber list includes government, business, the media, NGOs, academics and the general public.
Topics covered include electricity generation, energy efficiency, fossil fuels, biofuels, nuclear, renewable energy, climate change & emissions, pollution, business and other issues affecting sustainable development.
So whether you are a decision maker in the energy sector, or just a business leader who would like to make strategic decisions regarding energy, consider the worth of reading just one important article in each weekly edition.
African Sustainable Fuels Centre (ASFC)
The African Sustainable Fuels Centre (ASFC) aims to catalyse the development of the biofuels industry in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) by providing support for sustainable biofuels initiatives. Sustainable biofuels are those that adhere to the following principles...
1.they release significantly more energy in their use than in their production
2.they do not place an unsustainable burden on the nation's water resources
3.they do not have negative impacts on the conservation of natural resources and biodiversity
4.they do not impact on national food security
5.they provide greater self reliance to the poor
Alternative Energy Africa
Alternative Energy Africa, launched in January 2008, is a Petroleum Africa publication which seeks to fill the energy information gap in Africa.
Drawing on its parent company's extensive knowledge of the energy industry of Africa, as well as its resources, Alternative Energy Africa will provide a forum for stakeholders to engage each other in discussions about this industry, and will seek to become the magazine of choice for African governments, ministries, NOCs, indigenous companies, and international businesses, as it is for Petroleum Africa.
Alternative Energy Africa will update readers on private sector projects, government initiatives, business and investment news, and strategies for a thriving alternative/renewable energy market on the African continent. Our dedicated and knowledgeable editorial team is confident that our publication will become "the premiere source" of alternative and renewable energy news covering the African continent.
Association for Renewable Energy Cooking Appliances (AFRECA)
Acting on behalf of suppliers, distributors, developers and promoters in the industry, the association is operational throughout Southern Africa. AFRECA is a division in the Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa (SESSA), an organization that aims to support renewable energy and energy efficiency in the Southern African context.
Through the joint relationship with SESSA, AFRECA's members will have access to the ISES Solar World Congress 2009, during October 2009. A pivotal congress, its theme is aptly named, "Renewable Energy: Shaping our Future".
Representing the producers' interests, AFRECA's members are able to take advantage of the associations existing infrastructure; access to product research and development; as well as the benefits of lobbying key stakeholders for effective industry change. Access to trainng in best industry standards; educational and marketing material; business referrals; technical assistance; and a platform to market products to the end-consumer, makes AFRECA an effective association and industry leader.
The association recognizes that access to clean, safe, reliable and affordable cooking technologies, remains an enormous challenge for the majority of low-income households in Southern Africa. Hence, AFRECA supports the industry to work together delivering improved cooking technologies to the market through the development, production and marketing of safe and effecient cooking appliances. Through the broad promotion and development of energy efficient technologies the association and its members remain aware of the development and promotion of technology that improves quality of life, by overcoming energy challenges and shortages in a sustainable manner.
Industry Leader
AFRECA was founded in February 2005 at the first meeting held in Johannesburg, where divergent organisations including Government, NGO's, technology suppliers as well as end-users were represented. As a division of SESSA (a registered non-profit organization), the association benefits from its alignment with international networks through the International Solar Energy Society (ISES).
AFRECA, through its members aims to:
Deliver improved cooking technologies to the market through the development, production and marketing of safe and efficient cooking appliances;
Create awareness and disseminate information on the availability of efficient, renewable cooking options;
Engage key stakeholders to lobby for support and recognition of efficient, renewable cooking options in policies and strategies at a regional and national level;
Act as an industry association, overseeing general good conduct and orderly development of the renewable and efficient cooking industry.
AFRECA is committed to address the need for renewable and energy efficient cooking appliances.
Member Benefits of Afreca
Training and promotion opportunity on energy efficient techniques and practices
Access to research and development studies and findings
Ideal platform for marketing products to consumers and general public
Direct interaction with consumers and studies
Business enquiries and referrals
Mentoring service offered
Invitations to exhibitions, events, courses, symposia, meetings and discussion groups held by AFRECA and partners
Display opportunities at key events, exhibitions or workshops
Invitations to participate in research and product development forums
Training in best-industry standards
Web-link and web product advertisement for information dissemination
Joint membership of AFRECA and Sustainable Energy Societ of Southern Africa (SESSA), allowing access to ISES Solar World Congress 2009
Monthly AFRECA newsletter and the industry's membership directory
AFRECA, is a division of SESSA (Sustainable Energy Society of Southern Africa), a registered non-profit organization (037-484 NPO), with its region of operation including the whole SADC.
Supported by ProBEC (Programme for Basic Energy Conservation), a SADC regional development programme that aims to ensure low-income population groups satisfy their energy requirements in a socially and enviromentally sustainable manner. ProBEC targets rural and urban households, as well as small business and institutions using biomass energy (wood fuel, agricultural residues) for thermal applications.
Supported by GTZ (Deutsche Gesellschaft fur Technische Zusammenarbeit), an international cooperation enterprise for sustainable development with worldwide operations, federally owned, the enterprise supports the German Government in achieving its development-policy objectives. It provides sustainable, forward looking solutions for political, economic, ecological and social development in a globalised world.
Association of SADC Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCCI)
ASCCI Programmes
- Policy & Advocacy
- Trade and Investment Promotion
- International Trade and Business Linkages
- ASCCI Functions and Events
- SMME Development Programmes
- Economics Office and Publications
- SADC Business Forum and Other Bodies
- Research Development Initiatives
- Business Development and Services
- ASCCI Membership Benefits
- ASCCI Membership Form
- ASCCI Toolkit Forms
Association's primary objective is to encourage governments in the region to put into place policies and legislative instruments that are conducive to doing business in the region.
ASCCI is committed to working with all national governments in all the 14 countries in the region, as well as the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, to develop mechanisms that will increase the flow of capital in the region, and foreign direct investment. This will increase enterprise, SMME and Industrial development.
ASCCI is further committed to facilitate processes that enhance economic productivity and efficiencies and reduce the cost of doing business in the region. As a result, ASCCI signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the SADC Secretariat in 2002 as the secretariat private sector partner.
This partnership ensures benefits to ASCCI members, the private sector in the region as well as all governments and related public sector stakeholders who are committed to the development of our region.
ASCCI has set up the following commissions in order to increase and enhance dialogue between private sector organisations and governments in the region:
Trade, Investment and Industrial Development Commission.
Taxation, Customs, Monetary and Fiscal Affairs Commission.
Infrastructure and Services (includes Road, Rail, Air Transport
and Water Services Commissions).
Human Resources, Science and Technology Development
Agriculture and Food Security Commission.
Environment and Natural Resources Management Commission.
Tourism and Wildlife Management Commission.
Health, Social and Cultural Activities Commission.
2010 – World Cup Opportunities for SADC Commission.
Public - Private Sector Partnership and NEPAD Initiatives
Economics Commission.
Immigration, Visa and related matters Commission.
ICT Commission.
International Trade and Business Commission.
All ASCCI members, and affiliated organisations are allowed appointment of 2 representatives to serve in each commission. Each commission meets four times per year to prepare position papers and reports for members and stakeholders who will present
these position papers to ASCCI Council, Council of Ministers of Trade and Summit of the Heads of States through SADC Secretariat with a view to influencing policy and legislation in the region and within respective countries.
ASCCI Regional Business Climate Survey
One of the tools used by ASCCI to influence policy and advocacy in the regions is the ASCCI Regional Business Climate Survey which ASCCI conducts in all the countries of the region together with its associated chamber members. At present the survey is published
in conjunction and in partnership with the German Technical Corporations Agency (GTZ/ASPB) see attached information regarding Regional Business Climate Survey.
Business Development and Services
ASCCI together with its partners in the region facilitate a networking platform for its chamber members as well as corporate members to participate in various business development initiatives. Some of the initiatives include among others:
SADC Intravest
Intravest or intra-regional trade and investment provide an ongoing business to business network with on the spot transaction facilitated by online trading involving respective
members of ASCCI Chambers.
Under SADC Intravest, the ASCCI Secretariat also engages in bilateral and multilateral trade forums with the full participation of ASCCI members to interact rigorously amongst themselves and with chambers and trade bodies outside of the SADC region.
The trade forums are to be complemented by semi-annual workshops on the implementation of best business / management practices in lecture-style formats, including role playing and question and answer sessions involving captains of industry from best run companies in the region.
EU-SADC Investment Promotion Programme (ESIPP)
The ESIPP is the EU-SADC Investment Promotion Programme and is a joint programme of the European Union and the Southern African Development Community administered in
conjunction with the SADC Secretariat in Gaborone, Botswana.
The Programme is designed to attract foreign investment into the region and promote long-term investment cooperation agreements in specific key sectors on a structured, continuous
and sustainable basis and will boost the economic growth and development of Southern Africa. A key aspect of ESIPP's mandate is the facilitation of Business-to-Business Investments Promotion and Business Co-operation Meetings to bring together entrepreneurs from Europe and Southern Africa.
Biodiesel Centre
Initially established on a farm just outside Durbanville, Cape Town, Biodiesel Centre moved to Stikland in July 2007 It manufactures Biodiesel and builds and sells a range of Biodiesel Plants of variying capacities ranging from 600 litres / batch ( as seen on Carte Blanche ) to the largest plant capable of producing 20,000 litres per day. Turnkey mega projects are also undertaken with the support of a large network of contacts throughout the world.
Our history stems from farming , grain trading ( specifically Canola) and animal feeds from which the business started in 1991. When low oil seed prices caused us to think of adding value where better to go than to cleaner greener Biofuels Save the ozone layer and get waste vegetable oil out of the food chain was the thought.
The midrange and upper range equipment we now market was developed in conjunction with very innovative man Org Niewoud from the Eastern Cape and is Branded BIOFUELSON
There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that Biofuels are here to stay and we have had an amazing 100 % success rate in terms of customer satisfaction for plants sold to date. Customers are happy , making their own diesel and referring new customers . Our technology , quality and effectivesss seem to be highly competitive. As there are many ways to make Biodiesel we are continually researching and testing new systems that our clients will be exposed to at very little extra cost. The plants sold can also be tailored to be Grow plants and can be expanded with little extra cost and very quickly.
The following is a list of services in which we are active and seek partners.
- Business Plans from Seed to Diesel
- Joint Venture Agreements / BEE Partnerships
- Oil Supplies
- Franchise Agreements - Biodiesel Centres - Multiple plants in a Centre
- Biodiesel Supplies and Blending
- Biodiesel Plants & Equipment - Buying & Selling
- Management Contracts - let us develop your business with you
- Training & Education - for those who buy our equipment
- Jatropha Plantations and agronomy. We have contact with 3 major companies who have established approx. 2500ha of Jatropha
Biofuels Research Chair
Envision a southern Africa producing sustainable cellulosic biofuels from agricultural residues and local energy crops without threatening food production and natural vegetation ....
We strive to help developing second generation technologies for the production of cellulosic biofuels via biochemical and thermo-chemical conversion, model integrated biorefineries for biofuels and high-value chemicals production and assist in applying these technologies through costs and life-cycle analyses to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of these technologies.
In March 2007, Stellenbosch University was awarded the Senior Chair of Energy Research (CoER) : Biofuels and Other Alternative Clean Fuels by the South African National Energy Research Institute (SANERI).
The CoER : Biofuels is led by the Research Chair, Prof WH (Emile) van Zyl at the Department of Microbiology, Stellenbosch University, together with a team of core members:
•Dr Marinda Bloom (Department of Microbiology)
•Prof JH (Hansie) Knoetze (Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University)
•Prof Johann F Görgens (Department of Process Engineering, Stellenbosch University)
•Prof Harro von Blottnitz (Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Cape Town)
The CoER steers a Postgraduate Programme in Biofuels striving to:
•develop human capital with a strong scientific and engineering training,
•develop and establish technologies for commercial application,
•interacting with South African experts from industry, businesses and NGOs, and
•staying abreast with latest technologies and research through extensive international collaboration networks.
The vision of the CoER : Biofuels R&D programme is to focus on the technological interventions required to develop commercially-viable value chains for second generation lignocellulose conversion to biofuels in South Africa.
This will assist South Africa to become a technology- and services-provider to biofuel producers in Africa, where neighbouring countries have substantially better biomass potential than South Africa.
The programme builds on existing expertise in:
•feedstock development,
•biological processing,
•yeast biotechnology and
•non-petroleum hydrocarbon processing.
As it is not possible to predict which technology will work better on different lignocellulosic feedstocks, the CoER will focus on 2nd generation technology development looking at both biochemical (fermentation) and thermo-chemical (pyrolysis and gasification) processes. It is also important to note that biochemical and thermo-chemical processes for lignocellulose conversion to liquid biofuels have comparable efficiencies and economics.
The CoER specifically focuses on developing
•second generation technologies for the one-step fermentation of starch to ethanol;
•the use of lignocellulose as feedstock for biofuels production by biochemical and
•thermo-chemical conversion;
•process modelling for integrating biofuels and high-value chemicals production in biorefineries; and
•costs and life-cycle analyses to evaluate the environmental and economic impacts of these technologies.
All together, valuable inputs will be acquired that can help determine the commercial feasibility of 2nd generation technologies for lignocellulose conversion.
The CoER also interacts closely with the Centre for Renewable and Sustainable Energy Studies (CRSES) awarded to Stellenbosch University in 2006, with the CoER serving on the CRSES steering committee.


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New Server IP
Server IP has changed to game.hokutens.com. Please refer to Facebook if you have trouble logging in.Read More
Join our Closed Facebook Group
One of the first steps to getting started should be joining our closed group on facebook, you will be in our community of players who can help you get started.
You will need to request to join the group, generally an administrator will approve you within 5-10 minutes. We also use this page to communicate with players.Read More
@dem, @holla, @mea, @vaz, @altep, @yhoat will warp you to their respective telepoint crystals at any level. No more waiting on that white mage!Read More
@shop can be used to purchase general items out in the field, this includes foods, medicines, ninja tools and more. Type @shop for more info.Read More


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Staring at rocks for a really long time. Includes Biblical archeology.
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WTI's 4G LTE Cellular option for CPM-1600 Series hybrids helps to minimize downtime and speed response to outages by providing remote cellular access to console port command functions and power reboot control, even when In-band networks are down.
When an unresponsive device at a remote site disrupts access to vital network services and capabilities, support personnel can quickly restore communication by creating a cellular connection to the CPM-1600 Series Console Server + PDU Combo. Once connected, support techs can then reboot unresponsive devices or access console port command functions in order to run troubleshooting or diagnostic routines to address the problem and restore critical services.
The 4G LTE Cellular option is available on our DSM Series Console Servers and CPM Series Console Server + PDU Combos. When both the 4G LTE Cellular option and Dual Ethernet option are present on DSM or CPM series units, this provides NOC techs with three secure, reliable channels for dealing with network emergencies at remote equipment sites.


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Taylor Swift Forms All-Star Band for 2013 CMA Awards Performance
Taylor Swift has assembled an all-star "band" to join her when she performs at the 2013 CMA Awards on Nov. 6, and it's quite an impressive cast of musicians.
Alison Krauss, Vince Gill, Sam Bush, bassist Edgar Meyer and percussionist Eric Carken will partner with Swift for a CMAs version of 'Red,' the title track from her latest and greatest album, the AP reports.
There are no further details regarding how things will play out, but that just means you have to tune in and watch -- it sounds like it'll be another "can't miss" performance courtesy of Swift. While the starlet is often criticized for crossing over into the pop world, she is keeping her heels firmly planted in the country genre she calls home by inviting the likes of Krauss and Gill to team up with her.
Swift is up for a total of six awards, including Entertainer of the Year, at the ceremony, which airs on ABC at 8PM on Nov. 6. That, combined with the cast of musicians she has assembled to play with her, ensures it will be a night to remember for the 'Tim McGraw' hitmaker.


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Ask Me Another's Grand Prize Winners
Ask Me Another's grand prize winners have walked away with some enviable, one-of-a-kind gifts, which were chosen and presented by none other than their show's Mystery Guest.
Here are some of the season's best prizes:
Anagha Apte is the winner of this week's show, featuring Momofuku Milk Bar chef Christina Tosi. Anagha took home a couple Milk Bar pies, a signed copy of the Momofuku Milk Bar Cookbook and a Milk Bar tote bag.
"I shared the pies with a group of friends a couple of days after the show. One was a good friend of mine visiting from DC for his birthday. He became an instant crack pie addict and finished all of it.
As for the cookbook, I read the entire thing and meant to make some of the things in it, but...in the meantime a Milk Bar opened in Carroll Gardens so instead I've been working my way through all the delicious things I read about. Next up: volcanoes."
ESPN's Jeremy Schaap told us about witnessing Gloucester, England's annual cheese-rolling competition, so winner Leslie Billig won a gift certificate to Murray's Cheese in New York City.
Former C.I.A. agent Peter Earnest took Bill MacDonald and his family on a private tour of Washington D.C's Spy Museum, but if he told us about it, he'd have to kill us.
Paula Henning was the winner of one of our Washington D.C. shows.
"The tour [of NPR headquarters] with [correspondent/host David Greene] was great. We had lunch at Busboys and Poets, and then I got shown the whole building. He was really informative about how NPR works, how they do the live and taped material, etc. He took a great photo of me hamming it up at the mic in one of the empty newsrooms with the NPR News sign behind me. Very educational, and he's also a genuinely super nice guy; me and my friends have him on the hook for a pool party sometime this summer up in Baltimore."
Ask Me Another's Grand Prize Winners
Kyle Warren won a personalized voicemail tag, sung in the style of a barbershop quartet by The Gregory Brothers.
Earlier in the season, Melissa Kirsch won lunch and a closet consultation from Mystery Guest Simon Doonan, and Judge John Hodgman bestowed winner Tom Kelso with a personal judgment via Skype.
We picked Margaret Bortner to tag-team a celebrity trivia match alongside Meghan McCain, and for Margaret's efforts, we awarded her with her very own Twitter account under the moniker @askmemargaret. Please help her reach 1 billion followers by 2013.
Mike Taylor won when Chuck Klosterman was the Mystery Guest, so in addition to winning copies of Klosterman's latest books, Mike received an old school mixtape (ok, it was a mix CD), handcrafted by the rock critic himself. Here's the tracklist:
- Star Trek / Main Theme
- MadMixMustang / "Super Jumper: ABBA vs. Van Halen"
- Black Sabbath / "Killing Yourself to Live"
- Radiohead / "Vegetable (Live)"
- The Bob Seger System / "2+2"
- Steve Martin / "One Way to Leave Your Lover"
- [Unknown] / "Maybe I'm Amazed" (cover)
- Daryl Hall / "Something in 4/4 Time"
- Shellac / "A Minute"
- Friends Like These / "7th Street Queen (featuring Craig Finn)"
- Steve Martin / "Freebasing"
- Tricky / "Black Steel"
- Pretty Boy Floyd / "Rock and Roll Outlaws"
- Eddy Grant / "Electric Avenue"
- Steely Dan / "The Bear"
- Weezer / "I Just Threw Out the Love of My Dreams"
- Alice Cooper / "Under My Wheels"
- The Dead Weather / "Looking at the Invisible Man"
- Daniel Johnston / "The Beatles"
- John Lennon / "What You Got"
- Morrissey / "You Know I Couldn't Last"
- Mitch Hedberg / "Movie Pot"


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Manchester City and Liverpool FC to meet Wednesday July 30 at Yankee Stadium as part of Guinness International Champions Cup
Match set for 7 PM ET kickoff on Fox Sports 1
NEW YORK, NY (February 20, 2014) - Relevent Sports, a division of RSE Ventures, today announced that English Premier League rivals Manchester City and Liverpool FC will face off at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, July 30 as part of the Guinness International Champions Cup. Kickoff for the contest, which will be broadcast internationally on Fox Sports 1 is set for 7:00 PM ET.
Exclusive presale tickets for the Liverpool FC v. Manchester City contest will be available March 11 at 10AM ET while general public will have access to tickets beginning March 13 at 10AM ET. Tickets will be available through Ticketmaster and in person at the Yankee Stadium Box Office. Additionally, this year fans will have the opportunity to purchase an Ultimate Fan Pack which includes one supporters section ticket, team gear and priority access to select team training. Also available are VIP Team Travel Packs that allow fans to experience the games alongside their favorite teams, providing VIP tickets, charter travel and world-class accommodations to all of their teams' Guinness International Champions Cup games. All tickets and packages are available at www.internationalchampionscup.com.
The Guinness International Champions Cup is a unique tournament featuring eight of the world's best and most recognizable soccer clubs: Real Madrid CF, Manchester United, Manchester City, Liverpool FC, AS Roma, Inter Milan, AC Milan and Olympiacos. Twelve round robin contests will be hosted across North America with matches in New York, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington D.C., Charlotte, Denver, Phoenix, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis, Dallas and one additional city from July 24-August 2. The tournament will crown an overall champion Monday, August 4 at Miami's Sun Life Stadium. For more information on the full Guinness International Champions Cup, including the tournament bracket and team information, visit www.internationalchampionscup.com.
"We are thrilled to return to Yankee Stadium, one of the most iconic sporting venues in the world," said Relevent Sports Chief Executive Officer Charlie Stillitano. "We have no doubt that the area's soccer fans will be excited to watch two of England's top teams face off in the Bronx."
Founded in 1880, Manchester City has become one of the world's top clubs after being purchased in 2008 by the Abu Dhabi United Group. The club went on to qualify for the UEFA Champions League in 2012 and win the FA Cup the same year. A year later, The "Citizens" won the Premier League, its first league title in 44 years. For more information on City, visit www.mcfc.co.uk.
The club is coached by Chilean Manuel Pellegrini and features Belgian defender Vincent Kompany and also features stars such as Argentine goalscorer Sergio Aguero, Spanish creative midfielder David Silva and three-time consecutive African player of the year Yaya Toure.
Manchester City and Belgium national captain, Vincent Kompany, said "Manchester City has always enjoyed terrific support across the five boroughs having visited the states many times. The passion of our New York fans was clear for all to see when we played at Yankee Stadium last year. It was the highlight of our post-season tour and the players are relishing the opportunity to return for the Guinness International Champions Cup."
Founded in 1892, Liverpool FC is one of the world's most historic and famous football clubs having won 18 League Titles, seven FA Cups, eight League Cups, five European Cups, three UEFA Cups, three European Super Cups and 15 Charity Shields. Their five championships are tied for third, only behind Real Madrid (9) and AC Milan (7), both of whom are also participating in the Guinness International Champions Cup. Liverpool FC has one of the best records in all of European football and has the most top-flight wins than any other English team. For more information on the Reds, visit www.LiverpoolFC.com.
"I travelled with the team when we were last in the USA in 2012. It was a phenomenal experience. We did a lot of work in local communities and saw first-hand some fantastic charitable projects in this country. To top it off, thousands of fans travelled to see Liverpool play, it was a humbling experience to be part of one of the world's greatest football families" said Liverpool legend Robbie Fowler. "We know we have massive support in this country with over 21 million followers and 22 official supporters clubs with the New York branch being one of the biggest"
Further details about the Guinness International Champions Cup can be found at www.internationalchampionscup.com. Teams required to qualify for 2014-15 international competition based on 2013-14 domestic league finishing position may be subject to change.


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Whittier, CAHome Menu
City Calendar
Mega-Makers 3D Design Club-Whittwood
- Date: 05/29/2019 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
- Location: Whittwood Branch Library
10537 Santa Gertrudes Ave.
Whittier, California 90603
Come and learn how to design your own objects to be printed on our 3D printer. We will provide the computers and teach some 3D basics. Registration required and space is limited. For 5th through 8th graders.Return to full list >>


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Color Wow Kale Cocktail Bionic Tonic
Browse all deals at Forever 21
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* This offer may contain time-sensitive information and offers. Please check with Forever 21 to confirm actual price & availability.
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Forever 21
One Crossgates Mall Road, #99x06
Albany, NY 12203
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Saratoga Springs, NY 12866


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hmlAUTHENTIC POLY JERSEY S/S
Sports top with chevrons
Choose colour
Choose size
- Free shipping on orders above 120 EUR
- Easy returns
- Delivery within 3-4 business days
- Performance enhancing fabric
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- Quality: 100% polyester
- Fitting: Regular
Fashioned from performance enhancing fabrics, the hmlAUTHENTIC POLY JERSEY S/S feels as light as a feather and provides maximum ventilation. A classic colourway combines with contemporary styling to guarantee you get the attention on and off the field. Iconic chevrons run across the shoulders and a hummel® Bumblebee® logo adorns the chest. Pair with any shorts or pants from the hummel® AUTHENTIC range for a fabulous winning combination.
Item no.. 204919-1525


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From NYT, By JULIA WERDIGIER. October 24, 2010
LONDON — Once a week, year six pupils at Ashmount Primary School in North London settle in front of their computers, put on their headsets and get ready for their math class. A few minutes later, their teachers come online thousands of kilometers away in the Indian state of Punjab.
Ashmount is one of three state schools in Britain that decided to outsource part of their teaching to India via the Internet. The service — the first of its kind in Europe — is offered by BrightSpark Education, a London-based company set up last year. BrightSpark employs and trains 100 teachers in India and puts them in touch with pupils in Britain through an interactive online tutoring program.
The feedback from pupils, the schools and parents is good so far, and BrightSpark said a dozen more schools, a charity and many more parents were interested in signing up for the lessons. The one-on-one sessions not only cost about half of what personal tutors in Britain charge but are also popular with pupils, who enjoy solving equations online, said Rebecca Stacey, an assistant head teacher at Ashmount.
But the service also faces some opposition from teacher representatives who are fearful that it could threaten their jobs at a time when the government is pushing through far-reaching spending cuts. The 3 percent that is to be cut from the budget for educational resources by 2014 might be small compared with cuts in other areas, like welfare and pensions, but money at schools will remain tight.
Read the rest in NYT.
With thanks to muriel.


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LOS ANGELES (AP) The Los Angeles Galaxy has signed Italian goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini from English Premier League club Tottenham.
The former Chelsea goalkeeper ends a three-year stay with Tottenham, where he appeared in 37 matches after struggling to establish himself as a first-team regular.
The Galaxy says the 39-year-old Cudicini's move to Major League Soccer has been secured ``pending the receipt of his International Transfer Certificate and work visa as well as Cudicini passing his medical examination.''
With Brad Friedel, Heurelho Gomes and, most recently, Hugo Lloris ahead of him in the pecking order at Tottenham, Cudicini had been limited to appearances in cup competitions.


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Home → Baseball → High Hopes → high hopes interview 2019 → Interview with Reading Fightins C Jack Conley
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Jason Springer has spent more hours than he can count watching, listening to, playing and discussing sports. A longtime fan of Philadelphia sports teams, his life has been shaped in part by both the agony and exhilaration of those allegiances.
Jeffrey Cohen has attended hundreds of sporting events all over North America, including the World Series, NCAA Basketball Championship, bowl games, Stanley Cup playoffs, NBA playoffs and countless Major League and Minor League Baseball games). He has also participated in youth sports, having coached baseball, basketball and hockey, giving him a unique perspective on the development of the athlete.
The Heart Of Sports
Tweets by theheartofsport


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The Municipal Corporation of Cape Charles Harbor protects and preserves the lives, health, safety, and well-being of any person who uses or works at the Cape Charles Harbor. The Harbor Master protects the property of these persons by regulating the use of the facility and charging reasonable fees for the use of the harbor. The primary objective of the Cape Charles Harbor is to provide a protected haven to small boats. The Harbor policies maximize the use of the facility by all segments of the boating public to the limit of the harbor's capacity of number, size, and use of boats. The facility ensures adequate access of users to safe and enjoyable boating in the Chesapeake Bay. The facility provides fuel service and basic assistance to both pleasure and commercial boats. The Harbor Master manages the finances of the facility to ensure funds are available for maintenance and future improvements.
The Cape Charles Town Harbor has partnered with Dockwa to provide free and secure online reservations.
Charlie FarlowHarbor MasterSpencer Travis
Assistant Harbor MasterJames JonesHarbor AssistantMailing Address:Cape Charles Harbor11 Marina RoadCape Charles, VA, 23310Phone: 757-331-2357Fax: 757-331-3479Email: firstname.lastname@example.com: Monitor 16 Talk 06


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Honda Cars domestic sales down 26% in May
The company has sold 2,344 units of its new compact sports utility vehicle (SUV), BR-V.
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The company has sold 2,344 units of its new compact sports utility vehicle (SUV), BR-V.
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225000+ Industry Leaders read it everyday
Is the American motoring dream in India coming to an abrupt and complete end? The answer looks affirmative. After the unceremonious exit of General Motors and Ford Motors' complete sellout to Mahindra & Mahindra, the solitary American two-wheeler offering; Harley-Davidson is stopping production and scaling down operations to imported bikes only. This would leave the premium superbike market for the major European ones like Triumph, BMW, Ducati and Japanese rivals like Honda, Kawasaki, and Suzuki. How will the luxury bike market and overall auto market pan out in a complete absence of American players? Chanchal Pal Chauhan reports.
Ashesh Dhar joined the auto industry in 1991 and worked with TVS, Bajaj Auto and Mahindra before joining Tata Motors.


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Froome abandons, Nibali gains time on wild day at Tour de France
ARENBERG, France (AP) — Reigning champion Chris Froome crashed twice and quit the Tour de France on Wednesday during a chaotic, nerve-jangling, filthy fifth stage full of spills.
Froome fell even before the seven cobblestone patches on the slick road from Ypres, Belgium, to Arenberg-Porte du Hainaut in France. Riders had known months ago about the bone-jarring course; incessant rain made it even more treacherous.
The withdrawal of the Team Sky leader left the race wide open with 16 stages still left.
Overall race leader Vincenzo Nibali wasted little time in speeding ahead, notably after he saw that his other big rival for the title this year, two-time Tour victor Alberto Contador, had trouble on the second run on cobbles.
Sensing the danger from the rain, race organizers scrapped two of the nine scheduled cobblestone patches, and reduced the stage by three kilometers (two miles). But that still wasn't enough to stop many riders from tumbling.
Froome, already nursing pain in his left wrist from a crash on Tuesday, took his third and last spill in two days about halfway through the stage. With a cut under his right eye, the Team Sky leader limped over to a team car, climbed in, and drove away.
Froome tweeted he was "devastated" to have to withdraw. "Injured wrist and tough conditions made controlling my bike near to impossible," he wrote. He wished luck to new Sky leader Richie Porte of Australia and his other teammates for the rest of the race.
The last time a defending champion abandoned the Tour was five-time winner Bernard Hinault of France in 1980, according to French cycling statistics provider Velobs.com.
Nibali, too, was one of several high-profile riders who crashed, recovered and excelled on the 152.5-kilometer (95-mile) route. The Italian finished third and extended his lead. He and second-place Jakob Fuglsang of Denmark were 19 seconds behind stage winner Lars Boom of Denmark.
"This is a special, special day for me," said Boom, who rides for Belkin Pro Cycling. "I was really looking forward to the cobblestones."
Overall, Nibali leads Astana teammate Fuglsang by 2 seconds. Cannondale rider Peter Sagan of Slovakia was third, 44 seconds back. Contador, breathing hard under a mask of mud at the finish, lost about 2 1/2 minutes to Nibali: He's 2:37 back, in 19th place.
Others who went down but kept going included Americans Andrew Talansky and Tejay van Garderen, Alejandro Valverde of Spain, and Germany's Marcel Kittel, winner of three of the race's first four stages. In what was perhaps the day's most visually dramatic crash, Belgium's Jurgen van den Broeck went hurtling over his handlebars in a bend on a cobblestone patch, and tumbled into a grassy roadside.
While the chaos on the course raised questions about riding in such poor conditions - critics in social media had a field day - it made for great racing imagery: Many riders were caked in sloppy, wet mud on their faces and shins, their biceps jiggling as they held their handlebars. A mix of sweat, rain, mud and drool dropped from many chins. Many looked as if they'd ridden through a shower of chocolate pudding.
The race heads to Champagne country on Thursday, with a mostly flat 194-kilometer (120-mile) run from Arras to Reims in Stage 6.


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This is almost a weekly meal in our house. It's a healthy meal that everyone eats and doesn't take too long to cook. After you've made it once, you'll never purchase a grocery store rotisserie again! The Grill Friends Porcelain Chicken Sitter Stand heats up and gives way to a moist tender chicken on the inside and yummy crispy skin on the outside.
1 4-5 pound roasting chicken, preferably Amish or Kosher or Organic
1 Elizabeth Karmel's Grill Friends Porcelain Chicken Sitter Stand
3 tablespoons of favorite dry spice rub recipe, divided
Olive oil
Kosher salt and freshly-ground pepper
Liquid to fill Chicken Sitter; water, apple juice, beer, white wine
Grilling Method: Indirect/Medium Heat
Remove neck and giblets and pat dry chicken with paper towels.
Brush chicken all over with oil and season with 2 tablespoons dry rub or simply salt and pepper. Set aside.
Fill Chicken Sitter about ¾ of the way full with any liquid, beer, water, apple juice, white time. Also sprinkle one tablespoon of dry rub inside the Chicken Sitter as well. Place Chicken Sitter in center of cooking grate and move legs apart so the body cavity slides over the top of the Chicken Sitter. The chicken will appear to be "sitting" on the grate.
Cook chicken for 1 – 1½ hours or until the internal temperature registers 165ºF in the breast area and 180ºF in the thigh. Remove from grill and let rest for 10 minutes before carving.
Note: When removing from grate, be careful not to spill contents of Chicken Sitter, as it will be very hot. Use a pair of locking tongs and grab the bottom of the beer can and place on a platter or cutting board to cool.
Recipe adapted from www.elizabethkarmel.com


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Meet Sioux Falls Youngest Band: Natural Disaster
Yes, this could be the youngest organized bands in Sioux Falls! Have you heard about The Melley Brothers Band? If you haven't, check this out! Thanks to Peter Melley Sr. we are telling you a little more about them! They'll be performing in a Battle of the Bands coming up in a week and they would love it if you came out to support them!
Peter, age-11, 5th grade, rhythm guitar, lead vocals, recorder, keyboard
Matthew, age-10, 4th grade lead guitar, lead vocals
Patrick, age-9, 3rd grade bass guitar
Daniel, age-7, 1st grade percussion (i.e. drums, bongos, hand held percussion)
I told you they were young! But it's pretty cool. When most kids are playing video games these kids are spending time learning to play instruments and singing! Here's more on the band called Natural Disaster!
Instructor: Dave Vanderlinde, Instructor at Sioux Falls University & DAPA
Members of Dakota Association of Performing Arts (DAPA) at the Washington Pavilion
The boy's (Peter/Matthew/Patrick) have been playing as a trio for the past 3.5 years. Daniel wanted to join about 2 years ago but do to his size and age the 3/4 size guitar was not happening. End of the 2012 summer we searched for a new instructor willing to work with everyone and that search lead us to Dave Vanderlinde. The Melley Brother's Band has been in its current configuration for almost 1.5 years.
The boy's use both acoustic (6 string and bass) and electric guitars interchangeably. Daniel also trains on both bongos and the full drum set.
I think it's pretty cool. Having grown up watching The Partridge Family, let me be the first to say....you never know! They've already played a ton of gigs. By the time they hit junior high they'll be seasoned veterans!
Share this story with your music friends! Tell them about Natural Disaster, The Melley Brothers from Sioux Falls!
They'll be playing The Battle of the Bands February 22nd at Asbury Methodist Church. I'm guessing they'll be the youngest band there!


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All Options Are Open
Optional finials and colors are all yours to choose from to adorn this changing table. Beautifully handcrafted by talented craftsmen of Corsican, this changing table has a vintage design with modern flair. For more than 40 years Corsican Furniture has manufactured iron furniture and accessories with a commitment to quality and attention to detail. A changing pad is included and can be comfortably covered with our additional pad cover. All Corsican products meet the safety standards and can be used for many years to come.


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To coincide with Remembrance Day, here is a letter from a St Asaph's Road resident following a bombing raid in September 1940. The letter was found by Tressillian James on the BBC 's People's War website:
The online home for all things Brockley (SE4), Deptford, Ladywell, Lewisham and New Cross
To coincide with Remembrance Day, here is a letter from a St Asaph's Road resident following a bombing raid in September 1940. The letter was found by Tressillian James on the BBC 's People's War website:
There's a series of six letters on the site (link below). Interesting & disturbing reading as they include accounts of a live parachute bomb swinging from a lamppost; diving for cover in Adelaide Ave gardens as German fighters gun/bomb Hilly Fields; and distraught parents wandering the street after their child was killed in a raid.
Lest we forget.
Many thanks for posting - the letters make emotional reading.
Indeed, lest we forget.
Looks like being nasty weather tonight,hey but who cares.
I read all those letters and anecdotes. Fascinating if harrowing. He refers to photos he has enclosed a couple of times but they don't seem to be accessible. Interesting to read that on VE Day there was an enormous street party on Asaph Rd with a massive bonfire in the middle of the street outside his family home which he says damaged the road surface and he said that from then on (1945) you could hear traffic bumping over the damage into the 1980s! It clearly took 40 years to repair the road damage. What hope is there of repairing some of the potholes from last winter?!
Wow, what kind of stomach-churning experience must if be to walk home past burning houses, just waiting to find out whether or not your road had been hit
Seems the roads haven't changed much.
What has changed is that people have stopped writing letters since the advent of txt and e-mail.
Which means no permanent record for future historians.
The Library of Congress is archiving all the world's tweets. British Library is thinking of doing the same. Blogs, social networks and emails have seen an explosion in the amount of personal thoughts and stories written down. I don't think future historians will struggle.
They'll struggle with just too much data...
One nice thing about ancient greek literature - you can actually read all of it.
Or to put it another way:
"One nice thing about ancient Greek literature is that there wasn't very much of it."
We could just delete 99.9999% of the historical record, if it would make it more digestible for you Tamsin.
I wasn't being entirely serious. I haven't studied it myself but I have a friend who has and the really frustrating thing is the rare snippets that survive as quotes in other authors' works.
On the history side, though, I have heard debate on the radio about the difficulties of there being just so much in the way of papers, newspapers, diaries, recorded footage relating to the mid decades of the 20th Century compared with, say, the 18th and 19th. And if tweets and e-mails are being banked somewhere the weight of material is even greater. On the other hand it is probably something that will be ameliorated by technology and ever improving automatic search facilities.
Quite. The internet has put more information than we could possibly consume at our fingertips, but Google et al make it easier than ever to find out what we want.
By the logic of your earlier post, it would be better to scrap the internet and rely on an encyclopaedia.
On the contrary, Tamsin, you can't read all that much of ancient Greek literature. Every copy of every text was hand-written and most have been lost, not least because of the destruction of the Great Library of Alexandria. Fragments of papyrus turn up in the desert but it's rare to find a papyrus with more than a few lines from a literary text. Most are letters, wills and shopping lists, also fascinating, but not perhaps quite as valuable as one of the lost plays of Sophocles.
What we have now are the works and parts of works that did survive, largely because monks all over Europe kept on copying old texts and storing them, until the arrival of printing made it a lot less likely that texts would disappear altogether.
[spot the Classicist!]
Who needs the Library of Alexandria when you have the collected knowledge of the people of Brockley.
To stay drifting up this by-way for one more post, I don't know about you but I now find there's too much thrown up by Google - particularly on an image search. Talking the other day to people working in programming for digital publishing and they were saying that the next steps were to introduce some form of human intervention and moderation, rather than relying on totally automated searches.
Also even digital takes space - anyone recall the (I think) Ann McCaffery short story (or maybe it was Andre Norton) that well anticipated the web and using computers as confessional - with students tasked with reviewing and deleting old material?
@ Tressiliana - I did mean surviving Greek literature, hence my reference in the next post to the frustration of what we know of only as fragmentary quotes in other works.
I don't know about you but I now find there's too much thrown up by Google - particularly on an image search.
Yep, too much information is always a bad thing....
The internet is masivly diversified so I doubt the info will ever be really deleted. Searching for it may be a challange but I'm sure there's some uber-geek who will find a way.
It is a bad thing if you are looking for an image of a specific item and find the search engine chucks thousands of photographs at you many of which seem to have no relation to the topic at all - except presumably the key-word mentioned somewhere in the accompanying site.
On the other hand I've just re-done a former search to check on what I've said and didn't find the same problem. Someone is listening out there!
To go back on topic - the weather for Up the Line was perfect - not raining nor too cold but intermittently sufficiently overcast to give a lot of lambent light. Hope people enjoyed it...
I just worry that a rogue magnet will go on the rampage in one of these digital libraries.........
I enjoyed Up The Line but would not have missed the wind.
Regarding image searching, Google enhanced the functionality of its search engine about 6 months ago so that you can refine your search.
But where else will the collected works of Lou and Cat Man be archived?
Incedently I'm self publishing a book of selected cat quotes. Will be out in time for crimbo. It's called "it's illegal to be racist if you're black"
Is that an actual quote!?
MB, don't forget to include an exclusive interview with the cat's lodger from Botswana, a complimentary CD of steel band hits and a few postcards of the real Christmas markets of Winchester.
Oh, and perhaps you could do a follow up with a cookbook of acceptable 'fusion' cooking.
Hummble appologies to The Cat, he was far less snappy. The actual quote was...
"......I know non-black people would be critised for being racist if they said this but black people cant legally be racist.
1 February 2008 18:04 "
It's a good job that the historians of the future will be super-intelligent robots, because I can't make head nor tail of that sentence.
I'm holding out for my personality to be downloaded to a 59p iPhone App. I'll be in pockets everywhere.
That was a really interesting story and the link to the BBC People's War is fascinating reading.
Indeed, imagine coming home from a night in the shelters unsure if you still had a home......:-(
So many newer houses amid older ones (there's a good example in Stillness Road, SE23 - not quite Brockley I know) are a sad reminder of people's homes destroyed.
I find the thought of V2s the most terrifying. Radar picked up heavy bomber planes as they crossed the sea heading towards London so sirens could be set off before the planes arrived. V1s were fairly noisy until their engines cut out, however V2s, the world's 1st missiles, lierally meant yuo could be sitting at home watching TV and next second one could go off in the street leaving you buried under a pile of rubble with broken bones... There was NO warning at all. Good thing they nazis didn't develop them earlier in the war or they could have destroyed public morale and brought the country down.
Do i have to get an auto insurance when i buy a used car? or else, they don't sell the car to a person who doesn't have an auto insurance? I currently have a lease car that will be returned this January next year. But i want to get a used car soon so that i can work on the car, but i won't be driving it around. The car will be in my garage until i return the lease car and get an auto insurance. I live in Philadelphia, PA
Any suggestion?


text:
It seems more people and publications are asking: Where are all the browner-looking farmers? The reaction is to Dodge's use of an "ode" to the farmer by right-winger Paul Harvey. The ad shows all these different farmers, but not different in color.
Actually, that wasn't my reaction at all. My reaction: What about the farm workers? Specifically…
And then he said, "oh shit, we need farm workers!" So, then, broken down trucks drove, I mean, migrated, to those farms…"
My reaction to farmers (which are defined as the actual farm owners) came from deep memories of our trek to North Dakota one year–and in an old, '68 Chevy truck with a bad transmission. Our family business had hit some trying times, so my Dad decided that perhaps a summer of hoeing sugar beets would get us back on track. Boy, were we wrong. It ended up being a summer of indentured servitude, with the farmer "providing" overpriced housing in the form of an ugly, dusty trailer house. Of course, there was also that high-interest "credit" account the farmer provided at a local grocery store he either owned or got kick-backs from when the account was settled.
The store account was settled at the end of the summer because families got paid at the end of the summer, too. In our case, it ended a little early because of a sudden illness that hit my Dad. But, since my Daddy was a businessman, he was quite the bookkeeper. When the farmer brought us his accounting of the store credit account, well, it sure didn't match-up to my daddy's accounting of things. If anything, we were getting screwed–big time! Of course, what recourse do farm workers have, citizen or not? Especially in some other state. We headed back to Texas, with dreams of paying off bills and maybe even having enough to buy a new truck (Ford, not Dodge) dashed.
Still, we were a proud family. We knew how to make ends meet, and my parents knew how to work. We fought through the bad Reagan economy, Dad got a job working with the Highway Department, and completed that dream of home ownership. And yes, he got his Ford F-150. To my Dad, it seemed, that things were much different with farmers than when his Daddy was a sharecropper in South Texas and had better working relationships with them.
Perhaps that does not describe all farmers, but frankly, when Congress seems to be doing everything to take advantage of cheap labor through this new round of CIR talks, the beneficiary is ultimately the farmers. But as a friend pointed out, the whole Americana view of the farmer is quite tainted since family farmers (even like the one who screwed my family) are few and far between, taken over by corporate farms.
Funny, how a bunch of hot air from a right winger can set one off. Then again, we are in Texas.


text:
Oh, RumChata. For the longest time I wondered what proper application you'd find in this boozy world that could somehow extend your purpose beyond just a pour n' serve shot or an addition to coffee for Sunday Funday.
Well fortunately for all of us, thanks to Home Slyce, RumChata has become a team player and participated in a collaborative effort to form a sweetened drink so sumptuous that it may rival the boozy milkshakes found at some of Baltimore's high-end burger restaurants — Abbey Burger, you're on notice. Bartender Ricardo Vargas preludes his most recent creation by noting, "When RumChata was totally in vogue I wanted to try and do something different with it other than just shots." Which he has done in spades. Behold, the Creamy Dream.
The Creamy Dream, while weak in appearance, is deceptively mighty as there isn't a single nonalcoholic ingredient. With RumChata, amaretto, Van Gogh Double Espresso and Dark Chocolate vodka with Bacardi Coco Rum on top, it makes a perfect dessert cocktail. It's like drinking a mudslide on steroids in the best way possible.
Chocolate, coffee, cinnamon, every flavor piled in together — and a sugar rimmed glass. This thing is horrifically delicious. You could drink this with brunch, breakfast, after dinner, happy hour. It's time-irrelevant delicious. Deadly delicious. Did I mention delicious?
The only thing I could think of that could improve this drink is if it were made available in a blended form. If slushies are as in vogue as they seem to be — as RumChata used to be, according to Ricardo — a blended Creamy Dream would sell like wildfire. Get on it, Home Slyce.
How to make the Creamy Dream
2 oz. RumChata
1/2 oz. amaretto (or less)
1/2 oz. Van Gogh Double Espresso Vodka
1/2 oz. Van Gogh Dark Chocolate Vodka
1/2 oz. Bacardi Coco Rum
Sugar rim
Combine all ingredients over ice, shake vigorously. Strain into chilled glass over ice.
Where to get the Creamy Dream
Home Slyce
336 N. Charles St., Downtown


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|This is the article on the weapons dealer from Naruto: Clash of Ninja. For the shinobi from the Benisu Island, head to Bandō.
|バンド Bando
|Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2
|Appears in
|Voice Actors
Bando (蛮道, Bandō) is an arms dealer that appears in the American-exclusive Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2.
Bando is a hulking figure, described in-game as a "giant of a man," with spiky, red-orange hair, and a greedy personality. His cheekbones are well-pronounced, and his eyes are grey. Bando wears a sleeveless blue shirt that is tucked into dark grey pants, which, in turn, are tucked into military-style boots. The pants are held up by a red belt, which match a strap going across Bando's chest from his right shoulder to under his left arm. This strap holds his two large chakra cannons on his back. Bando attaches these two cannons directly onto his left forearm, where he has a nozzle of sorts usually hidden underneath a prosthetic hand. The reason why his left hand is missing is unknown, although it's most likely that he lost it in battle.
Bando is a giant of a man whose muscular frame gives him a powerful and straightforward style of attacking. This hard-hitting taijutsu, if it could even be called that, places him in a category with characters like Zabuza and Kisame from other Clash of Ninja games. In this sense, he may have been initially designed as a spiritual successor to Zabuza, who had been omitted from the American Clash of Ninja games beginning with the previous Revolution game. A fact to support this is that, prior to Kakuzu's debut in Naruto Shippūden: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! EX 3 and the overhaul to the throw system in Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3, Bando was one of only three characters who used a different throw from all others, and the only character using this throw who was not a member of the Seven Ninja Swordsmen of the Mist like Zabuza and Kisame. However, beyond this, there are few similarities between Bando and Zabuza, though Bando and those two coincidentally cannot have ambidextrous stances due to the weapons holstered on their backs.
Bando's main weapons, other than his body itself, are a pair of large chakra cannons that he keeps strapped across his back. He uses these cannons in several different ways, even as blunt weapons with which to hit the opponent. His left hand is missing for reasons unknown, and, instead of a normal prosthesis, he has a sort of metal "nozzle" affixed to the stump. By removing the false hand that he usually keeps attached to the nozzle for aesthetic purposes, Bando can attach one of his cannons directly onto his arm and fire a blast of explosive chakra at an enemy. Due to the way it works, this technique can only be used by him. Bando even notes this after defeating Kakashi, whom he refers to openly by his moniker, the Copycat Ninja, in a multiplayer match, saying, "I'd like to see you copy my technique" or "You can't copy me," depending on the game.
Bando's basic combo and midair weak attack become the basis for some of Killer B's moveset in Naruto Shippūden: Gekitō Ninja Taisen! Special.
Plot Overview
During the game's story, Bando made his first "appearance" when a rogue ninja was captured by Naruto, Gaara, and Kakashi outside the village gate for questioning. Before the three could interrogate their newfound prisoner, he was hit by a flaming projectile from seemingly out of nowhere, which incinerated and killed him. Given Bando's choice of weapons, this was presumably his doing, to silence the captured comrade. Because of this, it can be inferred that Bando was probably a part of, if not the leader of the group of rogue ninja who infiltrated the village, probably to supervise the casting of the Soulbane genjutsu on several of the resident ninja.
Later on, the arms dealer made his real debut speaking with Kagura, giving her a report about how their plan was going along smoothly. This cutscene wasn't long, and didn't reveal much other than what the story's villains looked like. At this point, neither of their names were revealed to the player.
Bando later appeared again at Kagura's side, at first only referring to her as "the boss" when Kakashi, Naruto, and Gaara infiltrated the enemy hideout to rescue Sakura, who had been kidnapped by Bando and Kagura's forces for unknown reasons (although it was later revealed that she was kidnapped because she was Tsunade's apprentice). Bando fought Naruto and Kakashi alongside Kagura, until Kagura's mask was knocked off and her identity was revealed. His identity, however, was left unknown, although his name appeared on his health bar during the fight. After their 'defeat,' however, the two were unfazed, with Bando saying that the plan to destroy Konohagakure would go on unhindered. Bando and Kagura disappeared, despite Naruto's protests, leaving the small rescue squad wondering just what their plans really were, and if their troubles were only beginning.
Shortly after this cutscene played out, Bando was seen meeting with a shadowy figure, later revealed to have been Kabuto (although most fans would likely recognise his voice and/or silhouette before his actual revelation), and the two discussed the plan to destroy the Konoha. Bando questioned Kabuto's motives for wanting to orchestrate this plan, to which Kabuto replied that he was simply "rather bored of late," and that it was "just a whim." Bando claimed that he didn't understand Kabuto, but quickly brushed it off, deciding that it didn't matter anyway. He ended the cutscene noting that victory was close enough that he could taste it.
By the time the group who had rescued Sakura got back to Konoha, it seemed that Bando and Kagura's true plans had already been initiated, as several of the ninja who were in the village were already under the effect of a stronger version of the Soulbane genjutsu. Bando appeared on the rooftop of the Chūnin exams finals' stadium, where the Third Hokage had fought Orochimaru, guarding one of the barriers keeping up the genjutsu from Jiraiya, who aimed to take the barrier down and protect Konoha. Jiraiya correctly guessed Bando's identity, based on information he'd long since heard about the weapons dealer's reputation and attitude. Bando, commending Jiraiya for guessing correctly, explained how he had manipulated Kagura, and how she had "leapt at the chance" when he showed her his plans (which were evidently, in fact, Kabuto's) to destroy Konoha. He also explained why he'd profit from Konoha's fall: if the village was destroyed, then the balance of power in the ninja world would be lost, and the world would plunge into a conflict that could rival the Third Shinobi World War. Bando's weapons sales, and, therefore, his profits, would go through the roof. Bando then made an offer to Jiraiya for them to "get rich together," an offer which Jiraiya readily declined, saying that "low-lifes like him [Bando] made him sick."
Bando and Jiraiya faced off on the roof, resulting in Bando's defeat. Bando, stripped of his weapons by Jiraiya, pleaded that Kagura was actually the one manipulating him, not the other way around, as he'd said, and that he'd help Konoha find Kagura and take her down, selling his weapons to the village for extremely low prices as a bonus. He then dropped the barrier to try and convince Jiraiya to let him go. However, Jiraiya easily saw through Bando's greed and cowardice-driven act, and claimed that both Bando and Kagura were pathetic; Bando for trying to get off the hook with Konoha with such pathetic deceit, and Kagura for falling for that same kind of manipulation. Shortly after, Towa arrived, and Jiraiya had the Anbu member restrain Bando and take him into custody. Bando, furious that Jiraiya had declined his offers for partnership and got him to drop the barrier, swore that he'd have his revenge on Jiraiya for the humiliating defeat. His ultimate fate is left unknown, although, given that the Anbu quickly managed to find Kagura's hideout in the village soon after, it's possible that Bando was interrogated for the location of her hideout.
Video Games
Bando is a playable character in the following video games:
|Game name
|Japanese release
|English release
|Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3
|17 November 2009
|Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution 2
|21 October 2008
In Naruto Shippūden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3, Bando runs the shop. He shows annoyance if the player leaves the shop without buying anything, and will even remind them of this annoyance on their next return. On the other hand, if the player buys something, he tells them to "come back again" and welcomes them on their next return. If the player is notified that new items are added to the shop and goes to the shop right after the notification, Bando says, "Hey, nice timing." He is unlocked late in the game, and is the second-to-last character that can be unlocked. In order to unlock Bando as a playable character, the player must have 70,000 ryo in their wallet after purchasing everything else in the shop except him and Anbu Kakashi, referencing, of course, his greedy personality. However, strangely, he is only bought for half as much ryo. He disappears from the shop once the player has purchased him as a playable character, first asking if the player is actually considering "hiring" him, and then saying, "You don't know how long I've been waiting for this" as they leave.
As a playable character, he now has an interaction at the beginning and end of a fight with Jiraiya, showing anger over the fact that he's "out of business" because of Jiraiya, and also showing awareness of Jiraiya's writing, saying that his books "won't sell for squat." He also shows enthusiasm when encountering an Akatsuki member, although the reason why is unknown.
- Among the four original characters featured in Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 and Revolution 3, Bando seems to be the "odd one out," as he is the only one that does not wear a mask, and is not known to have ever been part of the Anbu, or even have had allegiance to a shinobi village. He is also the only one of the four original characters that doesn't carry a sword or one of the four featured in Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 and Revolution 3 that cannot be unlocked from the start in Revolution 3 by having Revolution 2 save data on the Wii, and must be unlocked by normal means.
- Due to his hair colour, the jagged shape of his hairline, pronounced cheekbones, and personality, Bando is strikingly similar to a character of the same name from the manga Elfen Lied. Of note is that in one of his last appearances in Elfen Lied, Bando's right arm is severed in almost the same place on the forearm that the weapons dealer's left arm seems to have been.
- In comparison to the other three original characters created for Revolution 2, the etymology of Bando's name is by far the most puzzling, as bando, unlike the names of the other characters, does not seem to have a single, simple meaning in Japanese. Although Bando never appeared in any of the Japanese media, like the other original characters, the fact that the other characters' names all have meanings in Japanese that reference them shows that Bando's name was probably intended as a reference to something of the same name, and is also meant to reference his design or personality in some way. The following may be possible origins of the arms dealer's name:
- Bando was the name of a prisoner-of-war camp in the Tokushima prefecture of Japan. In 1947, it became the city of Naruto, which now famous for its whirlpools. Given Bando's military theme and the series' connection to the city of Naruto, his name may reference the camp.
- Bando is the name of a type of martial arts that originated in Burma (Myanmar). While Bando's attacks don't generally seem to reference the style, it seems to be the most well-known use of the word.
- Albeit possibly pronounced differently due to being an English word, "bando" is English slang for a kind of late nineteenth-century rifle. As Bando uses two large chakra cannons that many fans have mistaken for actual real-world guns or rifles, this may or may not be just a coincidence.
- Bando is referenced in Kabuto's bio in the Strategy Guide for Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm.


text:
Submitted by Charles Hugh-Smith of OfTwoMinds blog,
Lowering interest rate and making credit abundant doesn't make employers hire more workers.
The Federal Reserve's policy of targeting unemployment is based on a curious faith that low interest rates and lots of liquidity sloshing around the bank system with magically lead employers to hire more workers. I say this is a curious faith because it makes no sense. In effect, the Fed policy is based on the implicit assumption that the only thing holding entrepreneurs and employers back from hiring is the cost and availability of credit.
But as anyone in the actual position of hiring more staff knows, it is not a lack of cheap credit that makes adding workers unattractive, it is the lack of opportunities to increase profit margins by adding more workers.
If the economic boom of the mid-1980s proves anything, it is that the cost of credit can be very high but that in itself does not restrain real growth. What restrains growth is not interest rates, it is opportunities to profitably expand operations.
What the Fed cannot dare admit is that in a crony-capitalist, globalized, State/cartel-dominated economy, there are few profitable opportunities, regardless of the cost of credit. Yes, there is a natural-gas boom in the Dakotas, but outside of energy plays the harsh reality is that the only way for most businesses to increase profits is reduce labor, not hire more workers.
The second survival tactic is to lower labor costs by recycling full-time, full benefits jobs into part-time or lower-paid jobs. Rather than pay insanely high healthcare premiums on full-time jobs, businesses lay off full-benefit workers and replace them with a mix of part-time workers who receive no benefits or contract workers who handle their own healthcare costs.
There is another way to recycle jobs to reduce costs: fire a $90,000/year employee and hire someone for $60,000 to do the same job. Mish has shown that virtually all the gain in employment since the start of the "recovery" is in the 55+ age group: Startling Look at Job Demographics by Age (Mish)
Older workers often complain that they have been replaced with "cheaper" younger workers who will work for less, but the real trend to is to hire higher-productivity workers for less pay. In most cases, as revealed by the above chart, the older workers are higher productivity for a number of self-evident reasons: they won't take maternity leave, they know their work well and have proven a work ethic that younger workers may not have had the opportunity to prove.
It is difficult to transition to a new career or get a job as an inexperienced worker for the reason that employers want someone who can be productive on Day One. Sadly, it is too costly and risky to take chances with on-the-job training or mentoring; it is lower-risk to find someone who can do the work immediately.
Older workers' healthcare insurance costs are skyhigh, but the solution is to hire older workers as consultants and push the costs of healthcare onto them. In many cases, older workers are covered by a spouse's insurance, so they can afford to take a job that offers no benefits.
The other trend the Fed cannot dare recognize is that cheap credit enables employers to reduce labor by investing in automation and software. If opportunities are scarce (and they are), or if the business is hanging on by a thread, then hiring more employees is the last thing an employer would do to boost productivity: the solution is reduce headcount and invest in tools that make the remaining employees more productive.
We can see this reality in the following charts: full-time employment has returned to levels reached 13 years ago, but median wages are lower, reflecting the "recycling" described above.
Meanwhile, labor's share of the non-farm private economy has fallen off a cliff, along with money velocity, which measures the relative activity of cash and credit:
So exactly what mechanism is the Fed trying to boost with super-low interest rates and massive liquidity (free money) in the banking sector? Answer: push businesses into high-risk ventures.
Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago President Charles Evans: "The investment climate seems to be one where people are increasingly understanding that very low interest rates on super safe assets are going to be around for a while. And if they're worried by that they need to take on more risk - and taking on that more risk will help get the economy growing."
In other words, the Fed's policy is to push for more mal-investment. There is no other way to describe the flow of money into risky, marginal ventures.
Note to Fed: there is too much of everything. Too many restaurants, too many apps, too many empty dwellings (19 million at last count), too many malls, too many nail salons. There is too much junk for sale everywhere, from retail outlets to online to jumble/garage sales. The developed world is awash in overcapacity in every sector other than a relative handful of special equipment/services (deep-ocean drilling rigs, etc.)
Pushing businesses to borrow money to gamble in risky ventures is precisely what happened in Japan in the late 1980s. With interest rates low and credit in abundance, bank reps went around to enterprises small and large begging them to borrow money for essentially any reason.
The net result: massive bubbles across asset classes and an overhang of debt that remains 20+ years later, as unpayable now as it was in 1992. That is the result of pushing enterprises into risk-on bets: bubbles and collapses.
What those with access to the Fed's free money--big banks and hedge funds--are doing with the zero-cost credit is invest in rentier skimming operations: buying 5,000 single family homes, buying $1 billion in apartments and homes to rent out, etc.
"It's hard to find a private-equity firm on the planet that doesn't have a strategy in this space," Gary Beasley, chief executive officer at Waypoint Homes, said last week at the American Securitization Forum's annual conference in Las Vegas. The Oakland, California-based company has bought homes in California, Arizona, Illinois and Georgia.
How many jobs are created by rentier skimming? Very few. Get the houses painted, hire a few handypeople to take care of maintenance and a few people to handle the property management.
The other way to make money with nearly-free credit is to chase risk-on assets, for example stocks. Why would any hedge fund or bank trading desk with easy access to the Fed's free money bother taking risks in the real economy which is burdened with massive over-capacity and sclerotic State-mandated cartels (healthcare, defense, etc.) when the easy money is in chasing assets higher?
How many jobs are created by chasing assets higher? Maybe the Fed thinks that high-end Manhattan restaurants will add staff to handle the influx of new money skimmed from the stock and bond markets, but if they think rentier/speculative skimming is going to add millions of jobs to the economy, they are delusional.
Perhaps if any of the Fed governors had ever operated a real business in the real economy, the board might have a somewhat better grasp on reality.