text:
Why do I need to audition/interview?
Out of hundreds of applicants, we only ever select a few to come on our prestigious #SetReady Course. Interviewees are selected on attitude and who demonstrate a huge potential to work professionally in TV & Film.
To become a member of the National Youth Film Academy you must take part in and successfully complete our #SetReady Course. The course will identify and hone your talent as a filmmaker and actor with two weeks spent training in your chosen field, learning from well-respected industry professionals and meeting with like-minded individuals to write, film and produce your very own short film. In the past, we have had guest speakers such as:
Simon Bird: Actor - The Inbetweeners
Ian Canning: Producer - The Kings Speech, Macbeth
Jason Flemyng: Actor - X Men: First Class, Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrel
Karen Lyndesy Stewart: Casting Director - Harry Potter
Gareth Edwards: Director - Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Godzilla
Phil Méheux: DOP - Casino Royale, The Smurfs, The Mask of Zorro
Paul Alexander: Writer - Red Dwarf, Emmerdale
To name but a few...
Audition/Interview Process
Auditions are very informal and relaxed. Once you have made your booking we will send you more information on what to prepare/what will be expected of you and the location of your audition/interview.
Why do we charge for the auditions/interviews?
The National Youth Film Academy is an organisation dedicated to helping the best and brightest young filmmakers and actors in the UK. Our courses are industry recognised and of the highest quality and we charge to cover the cost of the course itself in which we invest in the best quality equipment, venue, masterclasses etc.
Limited Spaces
We only ever audition a maximum of 1000 people for each course and spaces go quick! Make sure to book your audition/interview to avoid disappointment.


text:
2014 acura ilx Model Overview
Vehicle Overview
Acura has gone looking for customers at the bottom rung of the luxury ladder with the ILX, and although it's mechanically related to the Honda Civic, the 2014 Acura ILX has its own demeanor. For those Gen Y'ers not quite ready to make the leap for more expensive Japanese and German rivals, the ILX is one to consider.
Available only as a four-door sedan, the ILX offers three powertrain options. The base version is motivated by a 150-hp 2.0-liter four-cylinder. The racier ILX 2.4 model is fitted with a more powerful 201-hp 2.4-liter I-4 that comes only with a six-speed manual transmission. For the green-conscious, the ILX is also available as a hybrid, which utilizes the same Integrated Motor Assist hybrid powertrain found underneath the Honda Civic Hybrid's hood. The hybrid's 1.5-liter four-cylinder and electric motor produce a combined 111 hp and 127 lb-ft of torque, which is driven to the front-wheels via a continuously variable transmission. Although the hybrid will get you farther with its EPA rated 39/38 mpg city/highway, its major drawback is that it lacks a pure electric mode. While we like that each model is geared toward a specific audience, we don't like the strict packaging. For example, the sportier 2.4 models aren't available with navigation, or a six-speed automatic.
In a two-way comparison against the Buick Verano, the ILX 2.4 took the backseat, mainly because the Verano had several amenities that weren't available on the ILX, and also because of the un-luxurious-like loud cabin, which echoed with lots of road and wind noise. It's still a hoot to drive though, getting from 0-60 mph in 6.4 seconds.
What's New for 2014
The 2014 Acura ILX gets more standard features including 17-inch alloy wheels, leather seats, leatherette door liners, eight-way power driver's seat, heated front seats, and a multi-angle rear-view camera. Acura also added a new subwoofer and an Active Noise Cancellation system.
You'll Like
- High-revving 2.4-liter engine
- Smooth-shifting manual
- Firm ride
You Won't Like
- Cramped for taller drivers
- No navigation on 2.4 sport models
- No electric-mode only on the hybrid
Key Competitors
- Buick Verano
- Lexus CT 200h
- Mercedes-Benz CLA-Class
- Audi A3

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Well, ok, gravity might be #1, because it causes action figures to fall and break. Then there is heat which during the summer causes figures to warp, changing their center of gravity and then causing them to fall. And we have manufacturing issues like one leg being shorter than the other which adds to the likelihood that a figure will fall over. Finally, there is the domino effect which causes closely positioned figures to fall several at a time.
But today I want to talk about dust. For some reason, my figures, large and small, DC Direct, Mattel DCUC, Kenner/Hasbro Total Justice/JLA and HeroClix, all seem to attract and keep dust. I've even had opponents in HeroClix games comment on the dust on some of pieces I have brought. Back the the dust problem. Its actually 2 issues in 1.
1. How to remove dust. A lot of my pieces are already covered with dust. They have been on the shelves for a while. I generally clear off the shelves in my living room, wash the shelves, and then put up a display. After a while, it sort of comes together in a way I find pleasing and I can leave it there for months. Not just dust, but spiderwebs too. Apparently, the spaces between action figures are great for weaving spider webs.
2. How to prevent dust from getting on them in the first place. I know putting them under glass is an option, but adding glass to a display that did not start with it is a pain. Spiders and dust seem to be a way of life in my house.
Now that I've outlined the problem, and I will try to add some photos to detail the situation more, I want to hear from you. How have you handled this situation in your own collection? I'm open to all kinds of ideas because I am growing tired of the "never ending battle" with dust.
Erik Skov
14 Comments »
Canned Air, a Swiffer, and an old toothbrush are my usual tools for dealing with dust. I've often wondered if one of those Ionic breeze things would help the dust situation…
You know, it's funny you posted this because I was thinking about this issue not too long ago. When I lived in College Station during my time at aTm, my figures and the shelves collected a ton of dust. Every 2 months or so I would have to take them down and clean it up because dust balls would be flying around in there. The same thing happened when I moved back to Houston for a couple of years but it would take longer for the dust to accumulate, maybe 6 months and then cleaning would have to happen. About 11 months ago, I moved back to College Station, bought a house and set up my displays in what I'm calling a game room. I spend a decent amount of time in the room, maybe 6-7 hours per week (it fluctuates based on what girly show my wife is watching in the living room), the room is almost never subjected to direct sunlight from the window, and there is not a speck of dust on anything. The furniture, the electronics, the action figures, nothing. I came in here to clean about 3 weeks ago and couldn't find anything to clean. It's remarkable and I have no idea why it's happening. And just in case you're wondering, no my wife has not been cleaning the room haha.
how i deal with dust is just some canned air some time or after dusting the shelves take a swifter and go over the figure before putting them back. plus i also use another long duster and go all around my room to get rid of the cobwebs.
I don't have as big of a problem with dust, as I do with that dusty film that shows up on my JLU figures. I mainly use the canned air as a solution for common action figure dust. The dreaded JLUFilm is another issue.
Dust is one of the main reasons that our clients on Action Figure Hospital always battle to take out, and often bring the figures, statues and the like to us for cleaning.
Our mais solution is dusting with a brush of carbon fur (those used to clean camera lenses). Its a detail job and a hard one but we go to all the details a really clean a figure.
The canned air is great too, and the tooth brush sometimes work miracles.
The main problem with dust in figures is your hands…your hands leave swet in the plastic even if you think they are dry…that minimum amout of moisture is like a magnet to small ionized particles. All particles in the air get ionized just by traveling in the air. The friction of that small particle with the air kind of make them able to stick to any surface…even walls and other vertical things. Of course its not much but its enough to glue them there.
Use gloves, those plastic ones the doctors use are great!
Use brushes, those for paiting oil are very nice and sturdy too, or carbon brushes.
To avoid the dust, put the figures under glass or in a room with no acess to wind or air fiction. if you put them in a place where you ara always passing by you are carring lots os ionized dust that glues intantly to all surfaces around you…figures included!
I hope i could help some of you guys…im from Portugal and i have the first Action Figure Hospital in the world…go there and see what me and my team are doing for collector all over the World…www.actionfigurehospital.blogspot.com
Try Barrister Bookcases. They are bookshelves styled like display cases, with glass doors that slide down and forward enclosing each shelf level. That way the figures are displayed behind glass and can easily be removed and re-positioned by raising the door up. The glass enclosed shelves keep the majority of dust out.
My toy room is an upstairs room with a closed door and both windows covered by tall bookcases. I don't go on there much, so air circulation is limited.
So dust isn't that much of a problem.
Now, car hair's a whoopee other issue . . .
That should be whole not whoopee.
Damn autocorrect.
I too loathe dust. Most of my collection are in oak and glass display cases. The door to my toy room is shut tight when my wife cleans the house to prevent dust from blowing into the room. Other than that, I have to hunker down periodically and … Dust. :(- My least favorite thing to do in the world. A series of soft paint brushes work great for dusting off action figures. A device I've come to love is that battery operated green fuzzy spinning brush infomercial thing. Great for statues. For really delicate stuff, the brush on it works great w/o the power. Spinning, It's great for doing the tops of books on a shelf too. For shelves and glass you just need to windex. 🙁 Swiffer duster cloths work good on shelves too. B-
A glass enclosed cabinet is a very good option but it does still leave some dust particles on the figures. I'm such a lazy person when it comes to cleaning them. Maybe of the 3 years that I had them on display, I've only cleaned then once. But getting a glass cabinet is still your best option. Imagine, dealing with how to clean 100+ figures on a constant basis.
If your place (or at least the room where your display is) isn't carpeted, look into laying some. Carpeting acts like a magnet taking the dust right out of the air. My place was all hardwood, and five minutes after dusting, everything would be dusty again.
Another thing is dusting frequently. Even with glass cases and what-not, dust can still settle and build up on your figures. Worse, left unchecked, the dust will actually bond to the plastic in action figures. Then your looking at a full wash and thorough scrub to get it off, IF that even works.
Why not get acrylic cases and stick the figures on the base with earthquake putty? Case here: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10022884&N=&Ntt=action+figure Putty here: http://www.containerstore.com/shop?productId=10007847&N=&Ntt=eartquake+putty
I use a medium size paint brush. I find dusting my figures maybe time consuming but it often relaxes me. I get to relive the joy of when I first bought the figure and got it out of the packaging. It helps me unwind especially after a long day at work.
I've been wanting to try an air purifier but I keep spending all my $$ on toys.
Leave a Comment
- May 2019 [96]
- April 2019 [137]
- March 2019 [144]
- February 2019 [150]
- January 2019 [156]
- December 2018 [125]
- November 2018 [166]
- October 2018 [173]
- September 2018 [138]
- August 2018 [134]
- July 2018 [140]
- June 2018 [212]
- May 2018 [191]
- April 2018 [174]
- March 2018 [182]
- View complete archive...


text:
The documents released Tuesday regarding the various searches conducted in connection with the murder of Odin Lloyd reveals that the thorough, methodical process included a search of the contents of Aaron Hernandez's locker at Gillette Stadium.
Because Hernandez had visited the facility following the death of Odin Lloyd, police were looking for any evidence Hernandez may have left behind, including firearms, ammunition, or information that would shed light on the relationship between Hernandez and Lloyd.
The search warrant was executed on Thursday, June 27, one day after Hernandez had been released by the Patriots. As a result, the contents of the locker had been transferred to a locked container by the Patriots.
Authorities searches the contents of the container, and they found no evidence.


text:
Saturday, November 29, 2008
Shop info: Shinanoya, Roppongi
Update 6.5.2011: Please see the comments. This branch may have moved.
A word in your shell like ... the Shinanoya store in Roppongi had a few bottles of Plum Liqueur Cask Finish when I looked in there last week. I had heard it was supposed to be distributed only to bars. Perhaps that was just the initial release? Anyway, the price is just short of 10,000 yen. Personally, I think it is a steal but I can't afford it.
The store has a limited but quite interesting Japanese whisky selection. The Shinanoya stores in general are worth popping into if you are looking for the good stuff. Here is a map of their locations. This is the page for the Roppongi store. Here is the Shinanoya website and here is their Rakuten online shop.
I have put the Roppongi store on my map of whisky outlets in Japan and will try to add the others when I have a moment.
Address in Japanese
5 comments:
- butephoto said...
Japan are taking a lot of the awards this year. Absolutely fantastic whiskies.
- December 5, 2008 at 7:18 AM
Well, I went there today - and it would seem that Shinanoya is no more.
My sense of orientation is really bad, but I checked google streetview on location - that red marquee is gone, there is a shop for leather repairs and an empty shop window for a gallery now.
Please tell me that I am wrong or that they moved to another location...
- May 5, 2011 at 6:30 PM
Ok, seem like they have shops all over Tokyo, including Ginza:
Does anybody know which ones are worth seeking out, whisky-wise?
They all indicate that they sell 洋酒.
- May 5, 2011 at 6:41 PM
I will try to get into central Tokyo and check this out. Thanks for the tip.
Chris, Nonjatta
- May 6, 2011 at 3:50 PM
I continued my shopping in Ginza, and I can report that the Whisky corners in Matsuya and Meidiya are still more or less the way you described them - certainly no change for the better.
So where do you buy your whisky usually? Online? Visiting the destilleries?
I will try the Shinanoya webshop, though they have only half of their Japanese whiskys stocked.
- May 6, 2011 at 9:43 PM


text:
Species Profiles RSS
Showing results 51-60 on page 6 of 10
Favia pallida
This is generally a fairly hardy stony coral, yet if damaged, can suffer from tissue recession ...
Describer: (DANA 1846)
Nemateleotris magnifica
A long, slender fish. Face yellow, front half white, rear half red, with black second dorsal ...
Describer: FOWLER 1938
Echinophyllia aspera
Even though a naturally fairly common species, it is only occasionally available in the trade. ...
Describer: ELLIS & SOLANDER, 1788
Lobophyllia hemprichii
This is a hardy and disease-free stony coral that is commonly available, often in different ...
Describer: (Ehrenberg 1834)
Ostracion cubicus
Bright yellow with black spots as juveniles. The fish darkens and loses the spots as it grows, ...
Describer: Linnaeus 1758
Heliofungia actiniformis
Locate on sandy or coarse substrate in areas receiving bright light and moderate water ...
Describer: (Quoy & Gaimard 1833)
Heliopora coerulea
This is a very hardy and disease-free coral, and quite common in the trade due to its abundance ...
Describer: (Pallas, 1766)
Parazoanthus gracilis
This is a beautiful and somewhat hardy animal if fed various meaty foodstuffs, e.g., cyclops, ...
Describer: N/A
Forcipiger flavissimus
Typical tall, laterally compressed butterflyfish body, plus a long, pointed snout. Top half of ...
Describer: Jordan & McGregor 1898
Cynarina deshayesiana
This is a beautiful and very hardy stony coral that is seen quite frequently in the trade. ...
Showing results 51-60 on page 6 of 10


text:
The Renewable Energy Independent Power Producer Programme (REIPPP) was established to encourage new entry into the market.
The Regulatory Entities Capacity Building project review of the renewable energy sector includes:
The National Energy Regulator of South Africa (NERSA) is the regulatory authority established in terms of the National Energy Regulator Act, 2004.
The Regulatory Entities Capacity Building project will provide a comprehensive review of the regulators' role, linked with the policy framework and powers.
The review includes:
The South African Ports Regulator, established in terms of the National Ports Act 12 of 2005 is a relatively new institution. Time taken to establish the institution has meant it has only recently begun to be effective. Over the past three years it has flexed its regulatory muscle with significant revisions to the tariff book and pricing proposed by the National Ports Authority. Studies have been conducted on the tariff adjustments and the stakeholder submissions to the Ports Regulator. However, limited work has been done on the effectiveness of the regulator.
TIPS's assessment the regulation of ports in South Africa includes:
Ports Regulation: Are we achieving the objectives of the Ports Act? Comparisons with Ports Regulators from India, Australia and elsewhere (19 November 2013). Presentation by Dr Sheila Farrell, Imperial College London:
Closing Plenary Session
Session 8B the Global Financial Crisis - Micro Impacts
Session 7B: Regional Issues
Session 6B: Taxation and Trade Quotas
Sesssion 5B: Employment Opportunities and Outcomes
Session 4B: the Global Crisis and Poverty Outcomes
Session 1B: The Financial Crisis: Global and Regional Impacts
Session 1B: The Financial Crisis: Global and Regional Impacts
This paper employs the Bernanke-Gertler-Gilchrist "financial accelerator" model to study current economic conditions in South Africa. Given the turbulent financial market conditions we investigate the optimal monetary policy response as well as the potential role fiscal policy might play.
As typical in the literature, we find that monetary policy should not deviate from a standard Taylor policy rule that principally targets inflation. The optimality of the Taylor, however, depends on the hypothesized degree of integration between the financial sector and the real economy. Finally, we find that fiscal policy plays a significant role in stabilizing the economy.
About the authors:
Nicola Viegi is associate professor in Economics at the University of Cape Town. A graduate from the Scottish Doctoral Programme in Economics, he has held positions at the University of Strathclyde in Glasgow, at the University of KwaZulu-Natal and he is currently Visiting Scholar at De Nederlashe Bank. His main areas of research are economic policy theory, macroeconomic modeling and regional macroeconomic integration. Current research includes inflation targeting under uncertainty, monetary policy and assets prices, macroeconomic integration in Southern Africa.
Michael Parusel is an Economics Master student at the University of Cape Town. After graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration from the Berlin School of Economics he worked in the Semiconductor industry for two years. In 2007 he completed his Honours degree in Economics at the University of Cape Town. His main areas of research are monetary policy and asset prices and sustainability questions around the South African current account.
The trend towards the Regulatory State.
It has been argued that:
'A fundamental driver of the demand for regulation in recent years has been increasing 'risk aversion' in many spheres of life. Regulation has come to be seen as a panacea for many of society's ills and as a means of protecting people from inherent risks of daily life. Any adverse event is laid at government's door for a regulatory fix. (Banks, 2006, p. 11)
This paper examines the volatility spillovers between the South African currency and the currencies of selected markets in developed and emerging Europe as well as Asia and Latin America. Additionally, the exchange rate volatility spillovers are examined over one year window samples to determine the evolution of volatility spillovers between these currencies overtime. The empirical results show statistically significant negative exchange rate volatility spillover effects between the South African currency and the currencies in developed and emerging European markets, while no spillover effects can be established for the currencies in the Asian and Latin American markets.
Moreover, the one year window samples results confirm the hypothesis of changing exchange rate volatility spillovers across currency markets overtime.
South Africa is in its infancy regarding independent economic regulation of network utilities. Although economic regulation of public utilities have been exercised in South Africa for a number of years (usually by the line Government Department), the establishment of independent economic regulation had only emerged a little more than ten years ago.
Changes are already occurring in the regulatory scene with more independent regulatory entities developing, e.g. moving away from an electricity regulator to an independent energy regulator, the development of a ports regulator and changes in the regulation of telecommunications. There has been a move to more convergence for certain sectors. Overall, regulators have however developed pretty much in silos.
The purpose of this paper is to re-establish the rationale and principles of sound economic regulation of network industries and to highlight the importance of some principles, for example political independence. It will also provide a brief overview of the differences in terms of regulatory principles among current economic regulators in South Africa.
At the July 2007 Cabinet lekgotla, the Presidency was tasked with conducting a review of existing government programmes that target the 'second economy', in order to identify where programmes can be scaled up to achieve greater impacts, and where further innovation may be needed. The Review of Second Economy Programmes was done in January 2008 by the Second Economy Strategy Project, an initiative of the Presidency hosted in Trade and Industrial Policy Strategies (TIPS). This is an overview of that review, for the Fifteen Year Review.
SAIIA and TIPS have collaborated on a project investigating balance of payment dynamics issues in South Africa.
Professor Andreas Freytag, who has a Chair of Economic Policy at Friedrich-Schiller University Jena in Germany, has been working with SAIIA and the University of Stellenbosch on the following research: 'Balance of Payments Dynamics, Institutions and Economic Performance in South Africa: A Policy Oriented Study'.
Professor Freytag has presented his preliminary results at an exciting workshop in Pretoria on 13 August 2008. The workshop served as a platform to discuss current issues and positions on South Africa's current balance of payment and on the links between macroeconomic and industrial themes. The presentations given at the workshop engaged a wide range of stakeholders (including the FES, National Treasury and the IMF).
Presently, deep-sea vessels fishing Hake under-catch their annual allocation by nearly 10,000 tons and it is claimed that this is because there is no basis on which to target by-catch once the allowable Hake quota has been caught.
The following policy and regulatory issues would permit Horse Mackerel, which is a form of comparably cheap protein, to enter the local market:
Research and scientific surveys are needed such that this species can be caught according to the same sustainability test that applies to other species. According to Dr. Rob Leslie, a specialist scientist with knowledge in this sector, the existing research vessels could undertake the research and survey work; any costs would be associated with survey measuring equipment and possibly some additional ship time. This investment in time and equipment has the potential to add tens of thousands of tons to the Total Allowable Catch (or TAC) and probably would double the currently set allowable catch limit. This would make the industry more akin to that of Namibia's which conduct annual surveys and set scientifically-based catch levels.
If an annual TAC is set, the DEAT should put in place an allocations regime for Horse Mackerel for use by those vessels capable of catching it as a by-catch. This would align Horse Mackerel management with the management of other commercial species. There are no legislative implications in this regard.
• If there is reluctance initially to catch this low value species, the DEAT should consider initial incentives, such as reducing the per-kilogram landing fee. The Viking Company has dedicated processing and distribution infrastructure for Horse Mackerel. The over capacity, in general, of processing facilities would eventually be taken up those allocated the right to catch or sell the product to those who process and market it.
In the value chain of processing and marketing, specific policy terms (as incentives) may be designed to ensure that this element (other than catching) is left to small or medium enterprises with strong Broad-based Black Economic Empowerment (BBBEE) credentials.
There are some resistances to be considered.
Resistance 1: There is a perception that there is no market for Horse Mackerel in South Africa. This does not accord with the experience of those who sell the fish, nor does it accord with historic sales of the fish. Some eateries have replaced this fish with Hake, thus, meeting their clients' affordability levels.
Resistance 2: Some fishing companies will argue that low value species should only be processed as a bulk product in order to make a profit, as occurs with freezing it into blocks and exporting it or converting it into fish meal. With global fishmeal prices continuing to rise, policy design through incentives should ensure that the fish reaches the intended local market. There are many who believe that Horse Mackerel is a delicacy and that there should be a name change in order to market the product more effectively. The same fish is known as Jack Mackerel in Australia.
Very little value adding goes into South African catches of Horse Mackerel; processed Mackerel from Norway can be bought in most supermarkets today and sells at R120/kg.
By the late 1980s, many of South Africa's corporations were bloated, unfocused and run by entrenched and complacent managers. These firms were sustained and tolerated by a very different environment from that in advanced economies and capital markets. The mainstay of the South African environment was isolation. Tariffs and political isolation shielded firms from foreign product competition, while financial sanctions kept international institutions out of the domestic capital market, and South African firms out of international capital markets. Corporate practices fell behind international norms, as did laws and regulations.
In 2001, little of that comfortable, introverted world remains. With political reform, engagement and change have replaced isolation and stasis. South African corporations, their managers and domestic shareholders have been exposed, in succession, to a new political system, rapid trade liberalisation, demanding international investors, an emerging markets crisis and rapid-fire regulatory reform.
Corporate structure has changed irrevocably. A decade ago, the six mining finance houses - corporate structures peculiar to South Africa, though reminiscent of the Japanese pre-War Zaibatsu, and formed in similar circumstances - dominated the economy. Today the mining finance house no longer exists. Along with the demise of the mining finance house, two of its widely imitated characteristics - diversified holdings and the entrenchment of control through pyramid structures - have fallen from favour. Conglomerates have been unbundled, and elaborate control structures dismantled. At the same time legislation, regulations, listing rules and accounting standards are converging to international norms.
The rapid changes are explained by the development path chosen by South Africa since becoming a democracy. Upon taking power in 1994, the government chose to eschew confiscation of property, and instead to seek growth, which, among other things, could fund expanded social services and more employment. To attain higher growth, South Africa will need to increase mobilisation of both domestic and foreign capital, as well as use that capital more efficiently. Hence the central role of the capital market and private firms in the government's plans - a surprising policy choice that came at considerable political cost. Seen in this light, corporate governance, by which we mean the quality of corporate monitoring and decision-making, impacts both stability and growth prospects.
Stability. Modest debt-equity ratios and conservative banking practices enabled South African firms to avoid liquidity and solvency problems during the emerging markets crisis. A number of historic factors lie behind these sound balance sheets. But in future, proper disclosure, governance and market oversight will be the most important check on corporate gearing and bank lending. Also, by reducing investor risk, sound governance should increase the use of equity and bond markets as capital-raising alternatives to the highly leveraged balance sheets of banks. The future resilience of South African corporations and banks to macroeconomic shocks is to some extent a governance issue.
Growth. Over the last five years, corporations have mobilised more than three-quarters of South Africa's domestic savings, allocated and planned 85 percent of all investment, and currently own and manage three-quarters of the country's capital stock. The better firms are at allocating and managing these resources, the higher the output growth that can be squeezed from South Africa's modest accretion of capital stock. A knock-on effect of improved performance would be more attractive capital markets, and larger capital inflows. Conversely, misallocating resources to improve returns for control blocs, and shielding poor managements from the market for corporate control, will, if pervasive, reduce growth.
A deep equity culture. More than one-third of the assets of non-financial listed firms in South Africa was funded by the proceeds of equity issues, and more than half of recent asset growth in technology, media and telecommunications companies has been funded by fresh equity issues. However, the robustness of the primary market in equities has declined in the last two years, with new equity issuance virtually drying up, particularly for small and medium firms. Misgivings about the governance and leadership of smaller companies have played a role.
Forces for change. The most important force for corporate governance reform in South Africa has been the market. Market discipline imposed through falling equity prices has led to radical changes in corporate structure and conduct, among others the dismantling of the mining finance houses. Undoubtedly one element of South Africa's equity culture, widespread executive share compensation, brought home the impact of market disenchantment. But the leading role was played by foreign institutional investors, who robustly criticised corporate structure, governance and performance upon their return to South African markets in 1994.
The government, regulatory agencies, the accountants' profession and the stock exchange have also been forces for change, motivated largely by the desire to apply international standards in South Africa. New legislation against insider trading led to a palpable change in market attitudes and conduct, while improved listing requirements and accounting standards have eliminated some of the backlog of South African levels of disclosure compared to international practice.
Areas of poor performance. Disappointing progress has been made in the areas of director independence, director disclosure and the market for corporate control. A major factor has been opposition from among control blocs and family-owners of mid-sized companies on the Johannesburg bourse. However, in all three areas progress is imminent.
Two dynamics that will influence the future shape of corporate structure and conduct, and of capital markets generally, in South Africa need to be mentioned.


text: Take everything you love about the original Bananagrams and make it JUMBO. Kids will love racing to build crosswords again and again. The banana-shaped tote bag and water-resistant tiles make this game perfect for on-the-go fun. See? Sometimes bigger IS better. For ages 7 years and up.Jumbo Bananagrams Include: 144 water-resistant tiles and jumbo banana-shaped tote bagJumbo Bananagrams Dimensions: 19" x 5" x 4"WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD—Small parts. Not for children under three years.


text:
28 May 2012 at 1.14pm | Comment on this article
With designs now completed, work has begun to make the costumes, set and props for Hot House - an exciting community project bringing residents and schools together to create a new opera and dance work. Over the next two months, local groups and institutions will help to create everything from elaborate fire dancer costumes to enormous phoenix puppets for a Main Stage production. In all 150 people will come together to form a new national company.
The performance, which takes place on the 22 July as part of One Big Stage, is hotly anticipated and has already sold out.
The Royal Opera House in Thurrock is hosting 10 community workshops at the Woodview Campus of the South Essex College in Grays and running 30 workshops with local schools to enable schools and members of the community to develop the production. These workshops are energetic and productive, covering many different aspects of the production, from textiles and props, to costumes and the set.
The project will also see The Royal Opera House working with The Lowry and Hallé Youth Orchestra of Manchester, as well as Dance East's Centre for Advanced Training; based in Ipswich.
Most recently the costume team started creating the costumes for the Venetian market-goers, reworking costumes from retired Royal Opera House productions as well as adding their own embellishments.
In the print room, participants were busy sponging, splashing, and sweeping dyes onto the fabric that will be turned into the fire dancer costumes, while the set and prop enthusiasts created a mock-up of the phoenix puppet. This massive bird was quite a challenge as it needed to be flexible, mobile, light and durable, as well as large enough to fill the Royal Opera House stage!
If you're interested in getting involved in this exciting project email email@example.com or phone 01708 891 200 for more information.


text:
Now Viewing:
Model: 12-36SD4
This item is noncancelable and nonreturnable.
The CWR Series 12-36SD4 Cabling Wall Mount Rack with deep solid front door from Middle Atlantic is a 26" wide cabinet designed for accommodating rack equipment and cable installation. A wide-face rackrail comes standard in the cabinet and is set back 4" from the door, leaving room for cable management. Tapped with mounting holes and electrical knockouts, as well as featuring 4 d-rings, the rail is designed to provide easy and convenient installation of your equipment. The rack door can be installed as either left or right handswinging and can be locked and latched for security. The deep door leaves room for additional front cabling before reaching the rackrail. The swing open center section allows for accessing your equipment from the front or rear, and the back panel has a 12½ x 12½" cut-out for installing an electrical pull-box. A passive thermal management fan kit can be installed if additional heat dissipation is required.
|Material of Construction
Center Section and Back Pan: 16-gauge steel, phosphate pre-treated and finished in black powder coat
Rackrail: 11-gauge steel with black powder coat finish
|Rack Size
|Weight Capacity
|250.0 lb / 113.4 kg
|Dimensions (WxHxD)
Usable: 26.00 x 21.00 x 30.00" / 66.04 x 53.34 x 76.20 cm
Overall: 26.00 x 24.88 x 36.06" / 66.04 x 63.20 x 91.59 cm