text:
Dear HTC
Please stop investing in useless gimmicks such as Beats and OnLive (though I find the latter phenomenal, it's not needed on a phone) and please concentrate on making awesome phones.
Taiwanese phone-maker HTC has just seen the $40m it shovelled into an internet gaming company go up in smoke. HTC [2498 Taiwan] invested in OnLive in February 2011 as part of its push into the gaming space. The American gaming company offered console-free cloud-gaming, and HTC bought the 5.33 million preferred shares in OnLive …
Yep, and that's "awesome phones" not "floods of poorly differentiated and increasingly mediocre phones". My HTC Desire was pretty much the best there was when it came out- when it died recently, I really could see nothing that made me want to go HTC this time around.
(Also, Beats.. sheesh, least said, soonest mended. Monster, of the scamtastic cables and now overpriced headphones with sound so T+A that Katie Price would consider it crass..)
"their stuff for the most part works" is not my experience with the Wildfire. It crashes regularly in poor reception areas and the whole display is often unresponsive, and that is after factory reset and minimal stuff installed. And don't get me started on the POS that is their Windows-only updater.
So HTC maybe you should concentrate on making *good* phones and then supporting the bloody things afterwards!
The world just ain't ready for cloud gaming As for being ready in the future...it's still a crapshoot. But in some markets, there will always be a need for locally-run software: mostly in performance- and security-sensitive applications. Too bad games fall into the performance sector.
Have you taken a look at [url=http://www.quakelive.com/#!home]Quake Live[/url] ?
Of course, not all games can be done like that, but Quake pretty much defined hardcore gaming, and its fluidity is nothing less than astonishing. I used to play Quake III on my PC - and I had to upgrade its essential components to get proper framerate and nice visuals.
With Quake Live, okay, the tech is old, but heck, I'm playing that monster in a browser ! Without installing anything !!
Beats me how they do it, but they did it.
If you're dumb enough to buy something which exists only in the cloud, then pray the company doesn't go tits up, or suddenly "restructures", or arbitrarily decides to restrict access to your content.
These sorts of services should be strictly for rental / subscription only where at least if they keel over you're only out a small amount.
IMO it should be a legal requirement for any service which operates a purchase based service to state clearly and in some standard format what exactly will happen in the even of the company's demise. One would hope such a measure would see more companies providing for that contingency, e.g. putting software licence keys in escrow so that people could download and play the copy locally if the cloud dies.
It is worth pointing out that an awful lot of people would be caught in the same situation if Steam fell over / was resold.
No rights to the physical media, no rights to refunds, requirement to agree to the Steam subscription to access any of the paid, third party, content.
Just because [encrypted .exe] instances of the game are installed locally, doesn't mean that a whole heap of PC gamers aren't entirely reliant on a cloud-based gaming service, and a large number of them don't even know it.
The ability though to buy half life 2, years in the past for a PC, forget about it and then recently download the steam client for your Mac and have most the games (many games of course have no Mac port) you purchased years ago available on the new platform is very nice. Like finding cash in an old coat you forgot about. Kinda of torn on Steam. Yes its DRM but its the only one done even half way right.
"Just because [encrypted .exe] instances of the game are installed locally, doesn't mean that a whole heap of PC gamers aren't entirely reliant on a cloud-based gaming service, and a large number of them don't even know it."
A lot of PC games these days are beholden to the cloud EVEN WITH physical copies because most if not all of them require a phone home, either for activation or for verification. At least Valve is the trailblazer and has a robust system. The odds of it going down at this point are slim, and not even EA has Valve's level of online infrastructure.
Someone high up in Valve has said they'll convert all Steam copies to offline ones in the event Steam were to go down permanently. However, I'm still waiting for that statement to be put in writing.
I bought Hellgate: London, a Microsoft Games For Windows thingy from EA.
Since then, EA has pulled the plug on the multiplayer servers, forcing me to play only the single-player part.
Microsoft and EA were behind this game, yet I have lost 50% of what I paid for back in the day.
Last I checked, neither Microsoft nor EA Games have declared bankruptcy, yet I can no longer play multiplayer on that game.
How's that for cloud reliability ?
HTC bought a large number of shares knowing they were locked in.
Startup company sat on their arses for 18 months and burned through HTC's $40 million plus I assume similar amounts from other investors. I presume they all had very expensive "habits".
Then when all the money is gone they lay off their staff and tell their investors to basically fuck off..
Or maybe they spent all the money on developing a serious product and this was their plan all along - i.e. it was a scam.
Now, there's a novel idea. A commercial objective that, if fulfilled, means the revenue stream needs no boosting from expensive investments in stuff that has fuck-all to do with a device's useability and dependability.
Currently, my HTC Desire HD is back in the repair shop, being sorted yet again because of the now all-too familiar 'intermittent network connection failure, Emergency Calls only / intermittent No Sim Card Found' phenomenon.
Well, I say 'well-known'. HTC seems unlikely ever to admit to this particular problem. But then again, it has been very distracted, looking away into other things, none of which have anything to do with customer care or the obligation is has to a purchaser to provide something that actually works.
I bought a Desire S at about the time the One came out, and as a combined phone, mp3 player and camera I think it's pretty good. But it's been spoilt by the preloaded, hardwired software, particularly HTC Locations, which tries to send you to a premium navigation service every chance it gets. I also don't want a Facebook app on my phone, but that can't be uninstalled either, without rooting. Emails to HTC get a reply starting "we listen to our customers" followed by "no, you can't delete all that rubbish we put on your phone."


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Video Interview with Karl Marlantes and Philip Caputo
Prior to the November 2010 National Writers Series event in Traverse City, the two featured authors, Karl Marlantes and Philip Caputo, stopped by the offices of MyNorth.com to discuss their craft. Marlantes is author of Matterhorn, a best selling novel about Vietnam, and interviewer Philip Caputo, one of America's most esteemed war correspondents, is author of A Rumor of War, Means of Escape, Horn of Africa and several other books.
Chloe Boudjalis and Maddy Mesa, students with the White Pine Press from Northwestern Michigan College, conducted the interviews. Videography by MyNorth's Kris Riley.
Read an interview with Karl Malantes.
Find out where to grab a bite to eat before or after National Writers Series events in the MyNorth Restaurant Directory.

subset: commoncrawl


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When schools close
Manilla faces an identity crisis with the loss of its school next year, but it's not alone in the fight. Elsewhere, communities have rallied.
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On March 6, the IKM-Manning School Board voted unanimously to close the classroom sections of its school building in Manilla. The building, which turns 100 next year, will continue to be used for junior high sporting events, as a central office and as a bus stop.
"There is no best decision in this kind of deal for the community"
~Brian Lingle, Manilla resident
March 28, 2014
Harsh words fly in a packed auditorium.
Fingers point in accusations of bias.
Calls for community cooperation are met with bitter dissent.
The scene is familiar in rural Iowa as shrinking populations force school districts to make the financial decision to consolidate or close school buildings - often the pride of the small towns in which they reside.
Earlier this month, this scene played out in Manning.
IKM-Manning school board members voted unanimously on March 6 to close the classroom sections of the middle school in Manilla, a move that will save the district roughly $400,000 in annually recurring general-fund costs.
It could also save the district nearly $1 million in building funds - the widely disputed price tag an outside consulting firm placed on renovations it believes would be necessary in the Manilla building over the next decade.
"It means we're dead," said Marjorie Benge, one of Manilla's 776 residents and owner of Mrs. B's Beauty Shop, the day after the vote.
They thought they had a few more years, she said.
The 2014-15 school year will mark the school's 100th anniversary - but only the gym and the central office will remain in use. The middle school students will attend class in Manning.
The Manilla building will continue to serve as a bus stop - but that didn't stop parents of more than 40 students from submitting open-enrollment forms to remove their children from the IKM-Manning school system next year.
Manilla residents contend that their leaders did not receive a fair hearing - that cost estimates were inflated and the board lacked transparency and failed to openly consider Manilla Mayor Pat Wuestewald's proposal to keep all three buildings open or to close the district's school in Irwin instead.
In a last-ditch effort to address these contentions, Wuestewald threatened that the city and local utilities company would sue the district.
"There is no best decision in this kind of deal for the community," said resident Brian Lingle, general manager of Allied Genetics in Manilla, of the board vote.
But whether a legal fight would be the best use of the city's financial resources - or worth the risk of further strain on relationships with its neighbors - Lingle was less sure.
"I think when you have something in your town and it's good, then you should fight to keep it there," he said.
"There's a price at which that all doesn't make sense - who knows what that is?"
In the past 50 years, Iowa has lost 120 school districts.
That's a 22-percent decline from 1965, according to Iowa Department of Education data. There are 338 districts today.
As districts consolidate, the number of school buildings used within each district decreases as well - leaving communities across the state facing the loss of their schools.
The closing of a school is a "signal of a community in transition," said rural sociologist and Iowa State University sociology professor Paul Lasley.
Area residents' recollections of more farm families with more children are confirmed by the numbers. According to the National Agricultural Statistics Service, there were 140,354 farms in Iowa in 1969 - a total that fell nearly 10 percent per decade to 88,631 by 2012.
While the size of farms grew, the average family size shrank, according to U.S. Census Bureau data. In 1970, nearly 42 percent of Iowa households boasted children under age 18. In 2012, only about 28 percent of households included school-aged children.
This confluence of factors results in declining enrollment, a reality that hits rural districts particularly hard - with state funding tied to this decreasing enrollment, school boards across the state have found themselves needing to cut costs.
In many cases, these efforts result in the closure of a school building - a measure that reduces expenditures on utilities, maintenance, staff and transportation.
But it is never an easy decision, said Lasley.
"Nobody closes a school gleefully," he said. "No one wants to close a school under their watch."
A school cannot save a small town, said Peter Orazem, an economics professor at Iowa State.
"If a school is the biggest employer, it signals a weak economy," he said.
Private-sector jobs must exceed those of the public sector - the government sector cannot be taxed to fund itself, Orazem explained.
But while economic concern is present, it is not the reason communities "fight like hell" to save their schools, said University of Northern Iowa education professor Tim Gilson.
The fight is fueled by fear.
"It's the emotion," Gilson said. "If we lose the school, what will attract families and employees to live in our area?"
Lasley agrees that the most significant impact a school closing has on a community is the loss of identity.
"Schools are often one of the last social institutions to close," he said. "It causes people to recall all the losses a community has experienced.
"It forces them to face the harsh reality of how their community has changed."
Acknowledging a school's lack of economic viability doesn't assuage the pain, Lasley stressed.
But the loss does not have to foreshadow the community's general demise, Lasley and Gilson agreed. Though Gilson contends that no other entity can fully replace a school in the community's psyche, Lasley argues that its loss can motivate leaders to address underlying issues - people don't migrate away from small towns because they don't like the atmosphere, but because they can't find any jobs, he said.
It can also challenge a community to see the school as a continued benefit, he added, to redefine itself and find a new way to use the building.
Orazem describes the "nexus" of a small town's strength as its ability to provide access to higher wages in an urban labor market, while offering cheaper housing and a lower cost of living.
The city of Auburn - which lost a public school in 1987 as well as a private Catholic school - has embraced this identity as a "bedroom community," said former mayor Larry Finley.
Located fewer than 15 miles from Carroll, Lake View and Lake City, Auburn - population 322 - boasts a quiet atmosphere, a couple eateries, a few niche businesses - sewing, welding, gun and woodworking shops, to name a few - and an attractive streetscape, Finley said.
"Our Main Street is very nice compared to some other small towns our size," he said.
The street project was completed about three years ago with financial assistance from the Roy Reiman family. The community has also pulled together to build a new fire station in recent years. It is also home to a robust soccer program, thanks to a recent influx of younger families.
When the public school closed, the city tried to convert it into a community center. A few square dances were held there, but in the end, the heating costs were too high. So the city opted to sell.
In 1990, the old Catholic school was purchased by Krudico, a wholesale water treatment company.
Todd Partridge, owner of the Breda logistics company Move-It, moved into the old public school in 2000, renovating the third floor as a private residence for his family of seven; the second floor for an offshoot of his shipping business, aptly christened Shipping Source; and the bottom level as a recording studio for his roots, rock and blues band, King of the Tramps.
"For someone in the right situation, it's a great solution," Partridge said of the decision to purchase the old school building. "I was driving by and thought, 'Wow, that empty space would be cool to develop.'
"You can do things you wouldn't be able to in a normal house."
Partridge purchased the building for $1. He said it was in great shape, minus some initial signs of neglect - a few broken windows, a leaky roof.
The key is to make a decision to sell or demolish sooner than later, Partridge advised communities.
"The cost of demolition goes up every day," he said. "Don't settle for someone who wants to store hay."
Breda was one of the few rural areas in western Iowa to show population growth between the 2000 and 2010 censuses - population 477 to 483 - an accomplishment leaders have not taken for granted.
Mayor Mike Schwabe credits local businesses "born and raised" in Breda - such as Snappy Popcorn, Move-It, Western Iowa Networks, Tiefenthaler Ag-Lime and Toyne Inc. fire-truck and emergency-apparatus manufacturer, of which he is part owner - for the city's success in becoming an employment community.
Schwabe estimates that as many people commute into Breda each morning as leave to go to work.
He also credits past council members and mayors for investing in the infrastructure that paved the way for its present.
But it wasn't an attitude that was born overnight.
Breda, home to one of the area's first Catholic schools in 1884, lost its high school in 1979 when St. Bernard High School merged with Kuemper High School, and then lost its grade school in 2003 when Christ the King and Holy Trinity Schools were merged into the Kuemper Catholic System in Carroll.
The community fears at the time mirrored those stirring now in Manilla, said Cindy Masching, St. Bernard Catholic Church secretary.
"Schools bring people to town," agreed Father Gary Snyder, St. Bernard pastor. "Particularly in smaller, rural towns - a ball game brings an entire community together."
But the majority of the community stuck together, Masching said. Families stayed and continued to support their neighbors' businesses and city initiatives.
Breda is now home to nearly 60 businesses ranging from local salons and restaurants to million-dollar manufacturing and transportation companies. The latest high-speed Internet connections are available. Outdoor options include local parks, a golf course and a central location on the Sauk recreation trail, which brings even more people into the community, she said.
The original grade school was torn down in 1980. Two houses now stand in its place.
The former high school was taken over by the St. Bernard Church. The lower portion was partially renovated into the Mary Nieland Center to host meetings, birthday and anniversary parties and other community gatherings. The gym is rented out for volleyball leagues, basketball practices and baseball training camps. For several years, the upper floor has been transformed into a haunted house, drawing nearly 2,000 people into the community each Halloween.
Today, city leaders continue to work to ensure development efforts do not stagnate and that goals remain high, Schwabe said, adding that he would love to see a gas station in Breda. In the meantime, recruitment efforts are focused on younger families - park and pool improvements, playground upgrades and development of the area around the bike trail.
Schwabe also hopes to see businesses promote "living locally" to their employees.
He stressed the need for organizations and individuals alike to face reality, but maintain a positive attitude.
"Go at it with positive thinking," Masching agreed. "You'll probably succeed."
Scranton's school closure in 2008 was a "blow to the community," said Dawn Rudolph, former mayor and school employee and current Greene County supervisor.
But the town found a way to use the school that would continue bringing people into the community.
The city of Scranton, population 557, purchased the building for $1 in 2010 and began a series of renovation projects to convert the school into a community center.
In 2013, the center hosted more than 100 events - including youth and adult sports programs, Nerf wars, business rentals, city meetings, teen nights and Memorial Day services - racking up more than 1,500 volunteer hours. The building also serves as the bus stop for students attending Jefferson-Scranton, and Rudolph hopes to start an after-school program - the center already has pool, pingpong and Foosball tables, as well as a computer lab. But for now, she collects donated coloring books and puzzles to entertain the younger students as they wait.
Most of the remodeling projects, such as refinishing the gym floor and replacing the mats, have been funded with $15,000 in local grants and roughly $50,000 in donations. A kitchen remodel is slated for this summer.
One of the old classrooms has been transformed into an alumni memorabilia room. An annual nostalgia night featuring six-on-six basketball, homemade soup and a country band is one of the center's most successful fundraisers, Rudolph said.
For 2014, the city is estimating the operating costs at $24,000. An anticipated $25,000 in rental revenue, fundraisers and recreational programs will help the city cover the costs.
One such rec offering - a dodgeball league - brought 130 participants from a three-county area into Scranton on a Saturday night in early March.
The Greene County school district gave the city two years' notice before closing the school, providing time to seek community feedback on a trial run, said Rudolph. It has also committed to a 10-year rental agreement with Scranton to use the gym for sports practices and games.
In 2012, it demolished the original 1915 three-story portion of the building when the city of Scranton decided it could not use it. Leaders had considered turning the entire school into apartments, but the plan was too costly.
"We were dreaming big," Rudolph said.
Jefferson-Scranton schools superintendent Tim Christensen cited the school board's efforts as part of its responsibility to its communities.
A district just can't justify operating a program - or a building - that isn't essential, he said. But eventually that empty building falls back on the city - and nobody wants that.
"It's just being a good neighbor," he said.
But what happens when a community already has a recreation center, a library, a meeting hall?
This question was thrust into the spotlight last September as members of the Southern Calhoun School Board debated whether to sell its Lohrville building or bulldoze it.
The Rockwell City-Lytton and Southern Calhoun districts will officially consolidate into the South Central Calhoun School District on July 1. The Lohrville elementary building, closed in 2012, was the third closed in the two districts.
Southern Calhoun closed its Lincoln Elementary building in Lake City in 2007, and Rockwell City-Lytton closed its Lytton Middle School building in 2009. Both buildings were sold to local residents, the former to Larry Waters for $22,000 and the latter to Mike Penniman for $10,000.
The school board received two bids for the Lohrville building, but one bidder was a felon and registered sex offender and another owned a string of derelict properties.
"I would absolutely have loved to repurpose it," said Tami Mohr, fourth-term councilwoman in Lohrville, and one of the most vocal advocates for demolition.
But a sale of the contents had stripped the building of many of its valuable components, and the small rural city simply lacked the resources to renovate the former K-12 building that spans an entire city block, Mohr explained. Besides, Lohrville already has a recreation center with a gymnasium, a new emergency-services building with a large community-gathering room and a recently expanded library.
Like Auburn, Lohrville, population 368, has embraced its status as a bedroom community, sitting 30 miles from both Carroll and Fort Dodge.
Demolition, Mohr said, would prevent the abandoned building from becoming an eyesore on Main Street, transforming the lot into green space instead.
In February, the school board accepted a $363,056 bid to demolish the structure. The site should be clear by July.
The town's loss of its school building was likely inevitable, residents Benge and Lingle agree.
Still, Benge doesn't understand the "sudden push" to close the school.
"None of us like it," Benge said.
Having traveled extensively through the Western Corn Belt for his work, Lingle has seen a lot of school buildings standing empty - it is not a future he wants to see for Manilla.
Down the street, retired farmers discuss the vote over coffee, struggling to articulate their town's identity, wondering what comes next.
In a phone call with the Daily Times Herald Wednesday night, Wuestewald said the city has not decided if it will pursue legal action and remains in contact with its attorney.
He also confirmed that no public meetings have been held in Manilla to seek community input on the possible litigation or to discuss future possibilities for the school building.
Not privy to the specific details of the Manilla case, ISU sociology professor Lasley expressed doubt that legal action would have the desired effect - though city leaders might receive more attention for their arguments, it is unlikely to change the underlying financial factors impacting the district.
"It shows the depth of emotion and concern people have about a community, but it also shows how fractionalized communities become," he said of the threats of litigation. "It tears the social fabric."
The worst-case scenario would be compounding that community sadness by watching the building fall apart and become a symbol of decline, Lasley said.
But it is not too late for Manilla to avoid this fate.
Lasley encourages communities facing the loss of a school to turn its closing into a celebration - a way to move on while recalling the town's past successes, or an opportunity to prompt discussion on how the building or grounds could once again be transformed into an asset.
"It's so challenging and so controversial," Lasley said. "But it's just the reality of the times we live in."
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The big government education machine doesn't fit into rural America and not the other way around. The industrial age educational establishment has been allowed to get away with this nonsense for decades and our politicians do nothing about it. There are options out there if only we had leadership.
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It's a shame that there are so many vacant school buildings, especially in tiny towns where there is little chance of reusing them. I live in a small Minnesota town, next door to the town's long-abandoned school building, and vandals wreak havoc on the place. It's really kind of scary.
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A winner of 76 Norway caps during a career in which he impressed at left-back for clubs including Liverpool FC and Rosenborg BK, Stig Inge Bjørnebye is now passing on his experience to the next generation in a new role as development manager for youth and children's football at the Football Association of Norway (NFF).
Bjørnebye, who was handed the task of leading the NFF's youth strategy at the start of 2012, told UEFA.com that patience is the key to developing young players. "As a player, I was always focusing on becoming a better player," he said. "I became impatient and became my worst enemy in the end. Then I understood the importance of being patient. There are no short cuts when it comes to developing as a player. Only hard work does the trick.
"Wherever football is debated, the underlying motive most of the time is to get better results, preferably as quickly as possible. In this climate, it is important to keep a cool head and focus on the work that goes on at the training pitch," added Bjørnebye.
The 42-year-old, who was assistant coach of the Norwegian national team for three years from 2003 to 2006 and then manager of IK Start, says the identification process of young talent in Norway is a crucial aspect that he needs to address.
"How young players are selected as talents is one area I want to confront. In my view, a talent is a player that in addition to showing qualities on the pitch, also shows patience, interest and makes the right choices. I see many clubs that choose their talents too early, before the young players are fully developed both physically and mentally. A lot of people can see that a ten or 12-year-old has talent on the pitch, but it is difficult to forecast if he or she has the mental qualities required."
Despite the NFF being one of the elite group of national associations with the maximum six stars in the UEFA Grassroots Charter, Bjørnebye also pinpoints retaining a high level of coaching among Norwegian youth team trainers as an area he wants to concentrate on.
"Norwegian football has to continue to educate its coaches," he said. "Last year there were over 13,000 coaches being taught in our system. Quality is important in all aspects of developing players. In my work, I will try to get everyone to understand how a quality training session looks, for instance. By securing quality among the coaches, we will ensure that fewer youngsters quit football."
©UEFA.com 1998-2017. All rights reserved.


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There's lots of news today from the industry's biggest & brightest names…let's dive right into it!
Becky Higgins has just announced on her blog that she is partnering with Stampin' Up! to create exclusive Project Life products for the direct sales market. The announcement promises card collections, accessory packs, albums, pocket pages, tools, other accessories, and stamps (in keeping of course with the mission of Stampin' Up!). The card packs will be somewhat different than the ones sold in retail stores in two major ways, however. First, they will have square corners – unlike the signature rounded corners of the current Project Life products. Second, the Project Life Stampin' Up! cards will come in packs of 100 double-sided designs, with no duplicates in a pack.
Project Life products will be available for order through Stampin' Up! representatives on May 1st, and more product preview information will be available soon. In the announcement, Higgins also promised a future digital release of the Stampin' Up! exclusive products. Continue Reading →


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Dr. Edythe Abdullah, Mr. John Barnes, Mr. Wilfredo Gonzalez, Mrs. Ann Hicks, Mrs. Joannie Newton, Mrs. Wanyonyi Kendrick, Mrs. Joy Korman, Dr. Katherine Robinson, Dr. Bruce Taylor
Mr. Luther Coggin, Mrs. Toni Crawford, Mr. Hugh Greene, Mr. Kevin Twomey
Chair Taylor recognized a quorum and called the meeting to order.
Chair Taylor reported on the Board's discussion regarding the President's performance, noting that the Board was thankful for President Delaney and his efforts on behalf of the university. Chair Taylor also commented on the Power of Transformation kick-off event, mentioning that it was well done.
President Delaney commented on the Power of Transformation, mentioning how the university was reaching beyond traditional supporters. He also commented that student involvement added tremendous significance to the event.
Chair Taylor offered an opportunity for comments from those in attendance. Upon receiving no comments, he moved forward with the meeting.
Chair Taylor stated that, in addition to the minutes, there were five items on the consent agenda – four items from the Finance and Audit Committee and one item from the Educational Policy Committee. He clarified that all items had been through their respective committees and emerged with a recommendation for approval by the full Board. He asked if trustees wished to pull any items from the consent agenda for further discussion. No requests were made so Chair Taylor asked for a MOTION for approval for the consent agenda. A MOTION was offered by Trustee Gonzalez and seconded by Trustee Robinson. The consent agenda was approved as presented.
Chair Taylor asked Trustee Kendrick to present these reports.
Trustee Kendrick provided highlights from the Finance and Audit Committee meeting, mentioning that the UNF Training and Service Institute, Inc. had provided much needed funding for the university. She thanked Vice President Shuman for her work in supporting that organization. Trustee Kendrick noted that the university was looking forward to continuing the commitment with MOCA Jacksonville. She then asked Vice President Shuman to present these reports.
Vice President Shuman stated that this report would include three of UNF's DSO, with MOCA Jacksonville being presented separately. She clarified that these three audits were clean with no management comments. Also, no issues were reported at the exit conference.
This item was provided for information only. No further action was required.
Vice President Shuman stated that MOCA's fiscal year changed to June 30 so these statements represented a nine month comparative. She reported that the financial statements were conservative and forecasted a loss for this year. She noted that the MOCA Jacksonville board had good donor commitments and felt secure that the endowment level would reach $600,000. President Delaney stated that UNF would assess this DSO in the spring and take a look at the next fiscal year. He reported that the university was clearly meeting the academic positives that were hoped for.
Vice President Shuman reported that all capital projects with major change orders were in close-out mode. She elaborated on the remaining two capital projects which were the Student Wellness and Sports Education Center and the science and humanities building (biology). She stated that programming was completed on the Student Wellness and Sports Education Center and the project was now waiting on funding. The biology building was through the programming phase and into the design phase. The university would seek the remainder of PECO funding for this building during the following fiscal year.
Vice President Shuman provided details regarding change orders and clarified that these were all within the confines of the Board's delegation to the President.
This report was provided for information only. No further action was required.
Vice President Shuman stated that the Board had delegated authority for accounts receivable write-offs to the President, for amounts under $10,000. She clarified that this report would account for these write-offs, as of June 30, 2009. She stated that the summary of accounts receivable write-offs showed a bulk write-off on old parking tickets and fines which occurred at this time as part of a system change and would not be repeated. She also mentioned the financial aid was a result of overpayments and collection efforts were underway.
Vice President Shuman reported that the university was able to stay within budget, even with the mid-year cuts. She stated that divisional budgets had remaining dollars from salary savings which would be added back to central reserves and would offset the budget cuts.
Vice President Shuman reported on the auxiliaries, stating that most businesses transferred funds to the Student Union project and the Brooks College of Health expansion. She provided commentary on the status report explaining the available fund balance, noting that all transfers were done at the end of the year to pay off capital projects.
This report was provided for information only. No additional action was required.
Vice President Shuman reported that the university earned $3.7 million in interest income and clarified that interest income was slowly recovering over time. She stated that the university was well invested and diversified.
Trustee Hicks asked Associate Vice President Campbell to present the first of these reports.
Associate Vice President Campbell reported that the university hired three administrators and 13 faculty members – all critical for enrollment or accreditation. She noted that the President had released 40 new positions which showed that the university was overcoming difficult economic times.
This report was for information only.
Associate Vice President Kaye reported that the university's enrollment for fall 2009 was over 16,500 students. She provided highlights for the student profile, noting that the average SAT was 1199.2 and the average GPA was 3.73. She added that geographic diversity was up slightly and minority enrollment was flat. Associate Vice President Kaye clarified that the university was able to maintain diversity and increase the student profile.
Associate Vice President Kaye spoke about the Jacksonville Commitment initiative, stating that UNF's first class of 39 students was retained at 100 percent. She announced that the program had 75 new students enrolled at UNF for the 2009-2010 academic year.
Mr. John Yancey, Director of Admissions, compared the 2008-2009 academic year to the current year, stating that headcount was up about 1,100 and the student profile had significant increases. He also mentioned that transfer student enrollment had more than doubled. Comparisons were made for the previous 10 years, showing that the university was indeed making an impact on the local community.
Trustees asked the administration to be mindful of students who may not meet such high standards. The administration clarified that Florida State College, Jacksonville was an alternative for these students, with the possibility of transferring into UNF. Trustees asked the administration to add this discussion to an upcoming workshop.
Chair Taylor provided closing remarks noting that in order for UNF to be a regional university of national prominence, it was important to promote diversity and to achieve the goals included in the vision and mission statements.
Chair Taylor adjourned the meeting.
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Top Donors, 2018 Cycle
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Rio Dell
Rio Dell, CA 95562Get Directions
- Monday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Tuesday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Wednesday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Thursday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Friday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Saturday11:00am - 9:00pm
- Sunday4:00pm - 9:00pm
ABOUT PIZZA FACTORYAs your neighborhood pizzeria, we want to say: thank you. We're proud to serve you delicious calzones, ooey gooey pasta, and of course, piping–hot pizzas. Since we made our first pie, we've used only the freshest ingredients around. But we wouldn't be Pizza Factory without hungry customers like you. So sit down, grab a slice (or two, or three), and dig in. That secret ingredient? It's love.
Jim Rich


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Second City Brings Cutting-Edge Comedy to Ball Theaterby Howard Hewitt • September 22, 2010 Share:
The legendary Second City Improv Group will be performing at 8 p.m., Friday, in Ball Theater. Students get in free, all other tickets are $10. Second City is best known for sending many of its past members on to Saturday Night Live and other comedy careers.
The weekend Homecoming performance highlights their current show "Fair and Unbalanced." Alums who got their start at Second City include: John Belushi, Dan Akroyd, Bill Murray, Gilda Radner, Steven Colbert, Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Steve Carell, and many others notable alums.
"Not only will an evening with The Second City provide audiences with the chance to see comedy stars in the making, but they will also have the opportunity to see absolutely hilarious satire and cutting-edge improvisation," the group offered in a press release. "No topic or subject matter is off limits for The Second City. If your parents asked you not to speak about it at the dinner table, chances are it will be made fun of in an evening with The Second City."


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nikster4247 on Family Tree Circles
view: full | list
Journals and Posts
Graves and Jackson Lines
It turns out that I'm part of the 150 generation of Graves, so I have traced that line back to before they left England. And, I came upon a member of my husband's family on-line that has the Jackson-Holland line almost back that far as well. So, I merged our two lines, and only have a tad more to do there. Am still working on the other lines though.
If anyone needs what I have on the first 2 lines though, drop a line. I love to help.
Looking for Graves of louisiana
I am trying to find family of Nathaniel Estes Graves. Born 1899 in louisiana, married Estine Octavia Orr. Son: Nathan Orr Graves
Grandchildren: Samuel Thomas Graves, Michael Nathan Graves, Nikki Marie Graves.
Have many more family names to share.
Also, am looking for Estine Ocatavia Orr born 1902. Father: Samuel Levi Orr.
Do not know much more than that about her, except she married once prior to Nathaniel Graves. Man named Neill.
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2011 Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series Promises Big Fleet Racing
10 December 2010
December 10, 2010 (Miami, Fla.) — A record-breaking twenty-six Audi Melges 20 teams have gathered in Miami, Fla. for a great weekend of competitive, fun, one design racing at the 2011 Miami Winter Series, Event No. 1, hosted by the Coconut Grove Sailing Club (CGSC). This number doubles the inaugural Series attendance level in 2009. "Coconut Grove would like to extend a very warm welcome to the Audi Melges 20 Class." said Richard Etkin, regatta co-chair. "Last year this event was spectacular. It lived up to every competitor's expectation and ours too. This year, with a fleet doubled in size, expect a lot of the same and more."
The entry list is dominated by teams from the U.S. - Florida, Michigan, Connecticut, Maryland, Illinois, Washington D.C., California, Washington State, New Jersey and South Carolina are all well-represented. 2010 Audi Melges 20 U.S. National and USA Sailing Series Champion Michael Kiss on Bacio looks to be the boat to beat. Significant wins in Charleston and Lake Geneva qualify him as a top player. Others to watch include John Arendshorst on Blink 20/20, Mary Anne Ward on M&M Sailing and Tony Tabb on Elevation Racing. Traveling from Canada, an aggressive posse from the famed Port Credit Yacht Club includes new-to-the-fleet Rhonda Joyce at the helm of Batteries Not Required, new boat owner David Pollack on CAN-142, Jon Messenger on CAN-666 and Erwyn Naidoo on Bohica.
The Audi Melges 20 is a growing and flourishing worldwide fleet. It is not unusual to see new faces at each event. Tate Russack on Diesel and David Pollack on CAN-142 are both brand new racers. Trying out the fun, simple-to-sail Audi Melges 20 are charter boats helmed by Russell Lucas on Shimmer, Chris Hamilton on PBR Street Gang and Ryan DeVos on Volpe
"Florida is an amazing place to sail during the winter months. Melges USA, in full coordination with the International Audi Melges 20 Class Association (IAM20CA), have worked very hard to configure the Series to be easy, really fun and most importantly, affordable. We're not the least bit surprised that there are more than 20 boats ready to race." said Melges Performance Sailboats President, Andy Burdick.
The experienced hand and eye of PRO Bruce Golison and team will guide two days of scheduled racing - Saturday, December 11 and Sunday, December 12. Registration takes place at the CGSC on Friday, December 10 from 1500-1730 with a skipper's meeting to follow immediately.
1.) George Gamble, A Little Wicked
2.) Michael Kiss, Bacio
3.) Jeff Jones, Bad Nemo
4.) Rhonda Joyce, Batteries Not Included
5.) Chris Hamilton, PBR Street Gang
6.) John Arendshorst, Blink 20/20
7.) Erwyn Naidoo, Bohica
8.) Jon Messenger, CAN-666
9.) Rob Wilber, Cinghiale
10.) Lance Smotherman, Details
11.) Tate Russack, Diesel
12.) Anthony Tabb, Elevation Racing
13.) Erik Wulff, Endorphin
14.) Marc Hollerbach,Fu
15.) Sid Gorham, Funner
16.) Daniel Thielman, Kuai
17.) Joe Williams, Lift Ticket
18.) Mary Anne Ward, M&M Racing
19.) Ken Haegar, Mach Schnell
20.) Paul Reilly, Red Sky
21.) Russell Lucas, Shimmer
22.) Tom Ritter, Tramp
23.) Erik Post, Vaya Con Dios
24.) David Pollack, CAN-142
25.) Ryan DeVos, Volpe
26.) John Lucas, USA-14
Official Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series, Event No. 1 Website
The second Audi Melges 20 Miami Winter Series event happens on February 12-13, 2011. Event No. 3, will be held in conjunction with the famous Bacardi Miami Sailing Week on March 10-12, 2011. More than 20+ boats are expected at each event so, save the dates and be there!
The Audi Melges 20 is red-hot in Europe. A ton of boats have been sold as the International fleet looks to usher in another great year of racing on the Audi Melges 20 Sailing Series circuit. Four fantastic events will take place throughout the spring, summer and fall months, culminating at the first European Championship on September 29-October 2. View The Entire 2011 European Schedule
Full race reports, interviews and photo galleries will be posted online each day after racing. Stay tuned to the Official Audi Melges 20 Web Site, the Official Audi Melges 20 Blog, Melges.com and Melgeseurope.com for all the latest details. You can also friend the Audi Melges 20 on Facebook, follow on Twitter and/or subscribe to the Official Audi Melges 20 You Tube Channel.


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Oct. 7, 2009
Nipomo, Callif. -
Courtesy Cal Poly sports information office
Cal Poly junior Bryan Pierce carded a six-under-par 65 Tuesday to lead Cal Poly to the men¹s team championship at the Firestone Grill College Invitational at the Monarch Dunes Golf Club in Nipomo.
Coach Scott Cartwright¹s Mustangs claimed the team title by seven strokes over Cal State Fullerton, fielding a golf team for the first time this season.
John San Juan paced the Titans with a 54-hole total of 215. He was trialed by Scott Rubzin at 217, Nick Ellis at 218, Dakota Duerr at 223 and Jake Golembiewski at 227.
Cal Poly carded a four-person 279 Tuesday for a seven-over-par 859 total for 54 holes. Cal State Fullerton was next at 866 followed by Holy Names (869) and Cal Baptist (879).
Pierce, who notched an eagle, six birdies and a pair of bogeys, missed the school record by one stroke. Chris Kirk shot a 64 in the Pacific Coast Intercollegiate in 2007 at Solvang.
On the women¹s side, Cal Poly and Cal State Northridge both finished with 917 totals, but the Matadors took home the first-place team trophy by virtue of a better score by the No. 5 golfers on each team. Tammy Panich had a 78 for the Matadors and Miquela Pendleton carded an 87 for Cal Poly.
Fullerton placed eighth in its second tourney of the season with a score of 981. Leading the way was Deidra Crabtree at 245 followed by Taylor Fowler and Neomi Hunt at 246, Mecaela Guzman at 250 and Kaori Suda at 253.
Defending Big West Conference champion Stephanie Yocum of Cal Poly captured top individual honors with a final-round 71 and a seven-over-par 220 total, six strokes ahead of Mustang teammate Maddy Fletcher, who had a final-round 75.
Pierce¹s round of 65 is a collegiate career best. The Arroyo Grande High School graduate carded a 67 a year ago on the same course.
He had a chance to tie the school record, but bogeyed his final hole, the 470-yard No. 9 hole. Pierce¹s second shot scooted off the back edge of the green by 10 yards and his chip and two putts resulted in a bogey five.
Pierce¹s eagle was on the 560-yard, par-5 sixth hole. He settled for a second-place tie behind individual winner Tyler Morris of San Diego State, who had rounds of 68, 71 and 68 for a six-under-par 207 total on the 6,810-yard, par-71 layout.
Pierce posted rounds of 72 and 74 Monday and finished at two-under-par 211, sharing second place with Mustang teammate Pace Johnson. Johnson carded a 72, 71 and 68, pitching from 30 yards off the front of the green into the cup on his final hole for a birdie and the runner-up finish.
Tom Berry of San Diego State aced the 121-yard third hole Tuesday, the second hole-in-one of the tournament. On Monday, Scott Rubzin of Cal State Fullerton aced the same hole. Rubzin finished with two eagles in the tournament.
Pierce and Johnson led the field in par-3 scoring with a 2.93 average and a one-under-par total. Pierce also was the leader on the par-5s with a 4.58 average and a minus-5 total.
On the women¹s side, third place in the team standings was UC Riverside with a 941 total, 24 strokes behind the Mustangs and Matadors. The No. 3 individual was Maurissa Medina of Cal State Northridge with a 227 total.
The women¹s course measured 5,847 yards and also is par 71.
Yocum led the field in par-4 scoring with a 4.11 average while she shared top honored on the par 5s with teammates Heath and Fletcher, all with 5.00 averages. Fletcher carded the most pars (37) in the tournament while Yocum shared top honors with Alexandra Erdman of UC Riverside for the most birdies with eight.


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From BioenergyWiki
(Redirected from Chinese)
Bioenergy > Regions > Asia > China
|The BioenergyWiki is no longer being actively updated.
Information about biofuels and bioenergy in China.
- China is the world's third-largest producer of ethanol, after Brazil and the United States. (RFA)
- As of 2006, 20% of "gasoline" consumed is actually a 10% ethanol-gasoline blend. (People's Daily Online)
- Although only 0.71% of the country's grain yield (3.366 million tons of grain) in 2006 was used for production of ethanol, concern has been expressed over potential conflicts between demands for food and fuel, as crop prices rose in late 2006.[1]
- 25-28 April 2012, Xi'an: BIT's 2nd Annual Congress of Bioenergy. (Themes: biofuels, feedstocks, biodiesel, energy, sustainability.)
- 25-29 April 2011, Dalian: World Congress of Bioenergy. (Themes: advanced biofuels, biogas, biotechnology, low-carbon strategies, markets, technologies)
- 27-28 June 2011, Haikou, Hainan Island: JatrophaWorld Asia 2011 (Themes: jatropha, markets, sustainability)
- 17 March 2010, Washington DC, USA: U.S.-China Cooperation: The Co-benefits of Reducing Black Carbon. (Themes: biomass, black carbon, China, pollution)
- 20-21 May 2010, Shenyang: China Bioenergy Technology and Investment Summit. (Themes: policy, technologies, waste feedstocks)
- 9-11 May 2008, Beijing, China: 2008 China Biomass (Straw) Comprehensive Utilization Seminar & Technique and Equipment Exhibition. (Themes: biomass, straw)
- 1-20 September 2008, Yingkou, China. 2008 International Training Workshop on Technology and Utilization of Biomass Gasification. (Themes: biomass, gasification)
- 23-24 September 2008, Beijing, China: BiomassWorld 2008. (Themes: biomass)
- 23-25 September 2008, Shanghai, China: IFAT China 2008 Global Environmental Solutions (The International Trade Fair for Water, Sewage, Refuse, Recycling and Natural Energy Sources)
- 19-21 October 2008, Beijing, China: 4th World Biofuels Symposium. (Themes: biofuels, ethanol, biodiesel)
- 20-21 November 2008, Hainan, China: Sorghum & Ethanol Summit. (Themes: sorghum, ethanol)
- 10-12 October 2006, Beijing, China: Asia Biofuels Conference and Expo IV.
- 24-27 October 2006, Beijing, China: Great Wall Renewable Energy Forum. Includes a technical conference and trade show.
- 7-9 November 2006; Beijing, China: Hart's 5th Annual World Refining and Fuels Conference: Asia
- RSPO Seeks to Certify Indonesian Crude Palm Oil, 23 November 2011 by Jakarta Globe: "The Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil aims to certify 3 million tons of Indonesian crude palm oil as sustainable, up 50 percent from this year's original target of 2 million."
- "Green campaigners say palm plantations are some of the biggest threats to the sustainability of rainforests in countries like Indonesia and Malaysia, which produce 85 percent of the world's supply of the commodity."
- "A producer's CPO can be certified if it can demonstrate that the production process does not cause undue harm to the environment or society."
- "Worldwide demand for CPO is around 45 million tons, with the biggest markets in India, China and Europe."
- "Indonesia's Palm Oil Association (Gapki) in October withdrew its membership from RSPO, saying it would focus on helping to develop the government-backed sustainability scheme."[2]
- China Makes Its First Biofuel-Powered Flight, 1 November 2011 by Forbes: "China joined the green jet age on Friday when an Air China 747 circled Beijing on a demonstration flight powered by a plant-based biofuel made by Honeywell UOP."
- "One of the 747-400's engines ran on a 50-50 blend of Honeywell's Green Jet Fuel and standard petroleum aviation fuel."
- "The biofuel was derived from jatropha, an inedible plant grown by PetroChina, a state-owned oil company, on a plantation in southwest China and refined by Honeywell."
- "Honeywell is working with PetroChina, Air China and Boeing to create an aviation biofuels infrastructure in China."
- "In June, a Gulfstream G450 owned by Honeywell made the first biofuel-powered transatlantic flight when it flew from New Jersey to Paris using a 50-50 blend of Green Jet Fuel in one of its engine."[3]
- Biofuels Mandates Around the World, 21 July 2011 by Biofuels Digest: "In Florida, the Digest today releases its annual review of biofuels mandates and targets around the world, looking at the state of biofuels mandates in 52 countries around the world."
- "The bulk of mandates comes from the EU-27, where the Renewable Energy Directive (RED) specifies a 10 percent renewables content by 2020 across the entire membership – though 7 percent of that will come from biofuels, the balance from the electrification of the fleet. The other 21 countries are primarily in Asia."
- "Besides the EU, the major blending mandates that will drive global demand are those set in the US, China and Brazil – each of which has set targets – or, in the case of Brazil, is already there – at levels in the 15-20 percent range by 2020-2022."
- "The major biofuels mandates – with some estimates of 2020 consumption, translate into the major drivers of the 60 billion gallons of global biofuels demand that are widely discussed, without addressing the demand for aviation, or the mandates in place in countries such as Canada, Australia, or throughout Southeast Asia."[4]
- Cargill Sets Sights on Worldwide Sustainable Palm Oil by 2020, 13 July 2011 by GreenBiz.com: "Agribusiness giant Cargill plans to only offer palm oil -- an ingredient in Girl Scout cookies and numerous other foods -- that is certified sustainable in select countries by 2015 and worldwide by 2020."
- "Cargill aims to have all of the palm oil it sells in Europe, United States, Canada, Australia and New Zealand be certified by the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO) within the next four years."
- "Cargill then plans for all palm oil sold in China, India and elsewhere to be RSPO-certified by 2020."
- "The first goal, however, excludes palm kernel oil, which is produced from the same oil palm trees that palm oil comes from and is used in food products, soaps and other goods."
- "The Rainforest Action Network, which has been dogging Cargill about its palm oil use, says that while the goals are a good start, the deadlines are too far away, RSPO certification is weak and palm kernel oil shouldn't be left out."
- "Cargill says, though, that it's trying to be realistic with its goals, and is aiming for achievable targets."[5]
- China Set to Increase Use of Biofuels, 28 April 2011 by Crienglish.com: "China can become a leader in the production of second-generation (2G) biofuels, made from agricultural waste instead of foodstuffs, such as sugar, starch and vegetable oils said a senior executive from one of the industries' leading companies."
- "By developing 2G technology, China can reduce the import volume of crude oil, and reduce CO2 emissions by 90 percent from current levels, Michael Christiansen, president of Novozymes (China) Investment Co Ltd, said."
- "The nation has announced plans to reduce CO2 emissions by 40 to 45 percent by 2020. It's expected that energy consumption of non-fossil fuels could account for more than 11 percent of the country's total energy consumption by 2015."
- "In addition, 2G biofuel production could benefit the economy with less effect on food supply and prices."
- "China's use of biofuel ethanol will reach 12.7 billion liters by 2020, while automotive ethanol gasoline usage will be 100 percent, and annual consumption of biodiesel will reach 2.3 billion liters, according to the targets set by the National Development and Reform Commission."[6]
- Rush to Use Crops as Fuel Raises Food Prices and Hunger Fears, 7 April 2011 by the New York Times: "The starchy cassava root has long been an important ingredient in everything from tapioca pudding and ice cream to paper and animal feed."
- "But last year, 98 percent of cassava chips exported from Thailand, the world's largest cassava exporter, went to just one place and almost all for one purpose: to China to make biofuel."
- "Each year, an ever larger portion of the world's crops — cassava and corn, sugar and palm oil — is being diverted for biofuels as developed countries pass laws mandating greater use of nonfossil fuels and as emerging powerhouses like China seek new sources of energy to keep their cars and industries running. Cassava is a relatively new entrant in the biofuel stream."
- "But with food prices rising sharply in recent months, many experts are calling on countries to scale back their headlong rush into green fuel development, arguing that the combination of ambitious biofuel targets and mediocre harvests of some crucial crops is contributing to high prices, hunger and political instability."
- "'The fact that cassava is being used for biofuel in China, rapeseed is being used in Europe, and sugar cane elsewhere is definitely creating a shift in demand curves,' said Timothy D. Searchinger, a research scholar at Princeton University who studies the topic. 'Biofuels are contributing to higher prices and tighter markets.'"[7]
- China biofuel policy may be in conflict with food security objectives, 28 March 2011 by Platts.com: "The United States Department of Agriculture says China's food security objectives may clash with its energy independence and environmental objectives, limiting the development of biofuels, according to the latest publication by the US International Trade Commission."
- "Like wheat, the Chinese government views corn as important for national food security and provides support for domestic corn growers by guaranteeing prices for domestic corn from state-owned enterprises and by providing subsidized seed, while controlling exports to ensure that corn is available for domestic use. But strong demand, coupled with poor production in 2009-2010 led China to import around 1.5 million mt of US corn and in 2010, China became a net corn importer."
- "According to the report, China has been making an effort to move away from grain-based ethanol production and into alternative feedstocks. Until May 2006, government subsidies were limited to fuel ethanol, at which time the central government outlined the creation of a special fund to encourage the development of renewable energy resources, including ethanol and biodiesel."
- "China's National Reform and Development Commission asserts that targeted biofuel production will not threaten China's grain security, but feedstock sources may be expanded to include sugar, oilseeds, sweet sorghum, wheat, and cassava, resulting in higher imports of these feedstocks."[8]
- BP declares biofuels the only route to cleaner transport, 3 March 2011 by Business Green: "Biofuels is the 'only game in town' when it comes to decarbonising the transport sector, according to Olivier Mace, a senior BP executive, who also downplayed the potential for electric vehicles as a near-term replacement for conventional cars."
- "Mace said he expected growing demand in India and China would by 2030 push the biofuel share of all road transport fuel well above the 12 per cent mark BP has previously predicted."
- "But despite the industry's enthusiasm, Kenneth Richter, biofuels campaigner at Friends of the Earth, warned that growing demand for energy crops would contribute to rising emissions."
- ""Research has shown that the current rush to biofuel will lead to an increase in greenhouse gas emissions, rather than a reduction," Richter told BusinessGreen. "This is caused by the need to convert massive amounts of natural habitat into biofuel plantations."[9]
- Failure to act on crop shortages fuelling political instability, experts warn, 7 February 2011 by The Guardian: "World leaders are ignoring potentially disastrous shortages of key crops, and their failures are fuelling political instability in key regions, food experts have warned."
- "Food prices have hit record levels in recent weeks, according to the United Nations, and soaring prices for staples such as grains over the past few months are thought to have been one of the factors contributing to an explosive mix of popular unrest in Egypt and Tunisia."
- "Water scarcity, combined with soil erosion, climate change, the diversion of food crops to make biofuels, and a growing population, were all putting unprecedented pressure on the world's ability to feed itself, according to [Lester] Brown" of the Earth Policy Institute.
- "Richer countries such as China and Middle Eastern oil producers have reacted by buying up vast tracts of land in poorer parts of the world, such as sub-Saharan Africa and parts of south-east Asia."[10]
- Malaysian palm oil destroying forests, report warns, 2 February 2011 by the Guardian: "Study by Wetlands International claims level of palm oil-related deforestation in Malaysia is higher than previously thought."
- "The report claims that between 2005 and 2010, almost 353,000 hectares of peat swamp forests were cleared – a third of Malaysia's total – largely for palm oil production."
- "The clearing, draining and burning of peat swamp forests is responsible for about 10 per cent of mankind's greenhouse gas emissions, according to Wetlands International."
- "Palm oil firms in Malaysia and Indonesia are under increasing pressure by major Western retailers and consumer goods brands, many of which use palm oil in their products, to halt the expansion of plantations that lead to forest clearance."
- "Some Malaysian palm oil producers have also joined the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil, but strong demand from India and China for unsustainably sourced oil means others can avoid doing so without necessarily harming their market share."[11]
- World 'dangerously close' to new food crisis, United Nations says, 17 November 2010 by the Washington Post: "The bill for global food imports will top $1 trillion this year for the second time, putting the world 'dangerously close' to a new food crisis, according to the United Nations."
- "The warning by the world body's Food and Agriculture Organization adds to fears about rising inflation in emerging countries from China to India."
- The FAO's Food Outlook "report said it was crucial that farm production - particularly of corn and wheat - 'expand substantially' in 2011-12 to meet expected demand and rebuild world reserves."
- "But the FAO also said the production response may be limited, because rising food prices have made other crops, including sugar, soybeans and cotton, attractive to grow."[12]
- Call to ban corn-based ethanol production, 10 August 2010 by Zhang Ming'ai: "Zhao Youshan, chairman of the Oil Flow Commission of the China General Chamber of Commerce, told the Beijing Times that they have submitted a letter to the NDRC in an attempt to ban corn-based ethanol production, because it has pushed up corn prices at home and turned China into a corn-importing country in the first half of this year from previously a corn-exporting country."
- "In 2004, in order to promote the development of renewable energy and new energy, the NDRC and the Ministry of Finance jointly put forward a policy, under which testing programs were launched in Heilongjiang to produce ethanol fuel from corn. Factories could get a subsidy of 1,880 yuan and be exempted from all taxes by producing one ton of ethanol fuel."[13]
- Subsidies for Renewables, Biofuels Dwarfed by Supports for Fossil Fuels, 29 July 2010 by Business Wire: "New research from Bloomberg New Energy Finance reveals that despite many platitudes and pledges, governments of the world are spending substantially more on subsidizing dirty forms of energy than on renewables and biofuels. In fact, support for cleaner sources is dwarfed by the help the oil, coal, and other fossil fuel sectors receive."
- "The BNEF preliminary analysis suggests the US is the top country, as measured in dollars deployed, in providing direct subsidies for clean energy with an estimated $18.2bn spent in total in 2009. Approximately 40% of this went toward supporting the US biofuels sector with the rest going towards renewables."
- "China, the world leader in new wind installations in 2009 with 14GW, provided approximately $2bn in direct subsidies, according to the preliminary analysis. This figure is deceptive, however, as much crucial support for clean energy in the country comes in form of low-interest loans from state-owned banks."[14]
- China, US launch airline biofuel venture, 26 May 2010 by By Joe McDonald: "The United States and China launched a research venture Wednesday to develop biofuels for use by Chinese airlines based on algae or oily nuts and said an inaugural flight could come as early as this year."
- "The two sides signed a series of research partnerships between Boeing Co., U.S. government agencies and Chinese research institutions and state companies including Air China Ltd. and PetroChina Ltd."
- "The first flight in China using biofuels could happen this year, and the fuel could be in use in commercial aviation in three to five years, said Al Bryant, Boeing's vice president for research and technology in China. He said four test flights using biofuels have been flown successfully in the United States."
- "Chinese companies have yet to decide which plants to use as a fuel source, but researchers are looking at algae and jatropha, a tree grown in south China that produces an oily nut, Bryant said."[15]
- China Farm Gets Shocking Amount of Power From Cow Poop, 6 May 2010 by The New York Times: "A 250,000-head dairy operation in northeast China plans to open the world's largest cow manure-fed power project in September, according to General Electric Co., the company supplying four biogas turbines to the Liaoning Huishan Cow Farm in Shenyang. For comparison, the largest U.S. dairy farms have 15,000 cattle."
- "China's newest livestock digester will reduce piles of dung, yield fertilizer and heat, and will supply 38,000 megawatt-hours of power annually to the state's power grid, enough to meet the average demand of some 15,000 Chinese residents. It produces biogas, a methane and carbon dioxide mix emanating from manure, grease, sewage or other organic materials allowed to stew in an oxygen-free chamber."
- "The barriers to the expansion of biogas are about economics, not technology, and how long it takes for biogas projects to pay off varies country by country."
- "The biogas field could be one more example of the ways the United States is falling behind China. Yesterday, Energy Secretary Steven Chu said that the United States is lagging behind China, which provides strong tax incentives for a host of renewable energy technologies."[16]
- Food and water drive Africa land grab, 29 April 2010 by UPI: "[T]he scramble for Africa is intensifying, with investment banks, hedge funds, commodity traders, sovereign wealth funds, corporations and business tycoons out to grab some of the world's cheapest land -- for profit."
- "China has leased 6.91 million acres in the Democratic Republic of Congo for the world's largest oil palm plantation."
- "According to various assessments, up to 123.5 million acres of African land -- double the size of Britain -- has been snapped up or is being negotiated by governments or wealthy investors."
- "As the foreign purchases of African land multiply unchecked, the United Nations and the World Bank are seeking to bring the land-grabbing under some sort of control."[17]
- PRC's Drive to Tap Biogas in Rural Sector Gets ADB Loan, 19 April 2010 press release by the Asian Development Bank: "The People's Republic of China's (PRC) drive to expand the use of biogas energy generated from waste materials is getting support from a $66.08 million Asian Development Bank (ADB) loan."
- "The financial assistance for the Integrated Renewable Biomass Energy Development Sector Project has been approved by ADB's Board of Directors. The loan will be used to help construct biogas plants in poor rural areas of Heilongjiang, Henan, Jiangxi and Shandong provinces, benefiting 118 livestock farms and agricultural enterprises.
- "The project will introduce high-temperature flare technology to minimize methane gas emissions from the plants. It will support the manufacture of bio-fertilizers from biogas sludge for eco-farming, aiding the government's push to encourage the reuse and recycling of organic waste."
- "Under PRC's Medium- and Long-Term Development Plan for Renewable Energy, about 10,000 large-scale biogas plants are earmarked to be set up on livestock farms by 2020 with an annual biogas yield of up to 14 billion cubic meters."[18]
- Aviation turns to China for biofuels capacity development, 13 September 2009 by Biofuels Digest: The "global aviation industry, which has set a target of 3 billion gallons of aviation biofuels by 2020, has begun an historic shift in focus to Chinese leadership in biofuels capacity development".
- "In related news, Boeing confirmed that it has commenced talks with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and 'several Chinese universities' about a potential development of low-carbon aviation biofuels. CCTV is reporting that near-term opportunities for collaboration between Boeing and China's alternative energy industry could focus on jatropha development in Yunnan, Sichuan and Guizhou provinces and Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. According to Xinhua News Agency, China is projecting '13 million hectares of biofuel plantations by 2020,' primarily to meet increased internal energy needs."[19]
- (China) Biofuels: learning from Obama, 21 August 2009 by China Dialogue: A 2005 "report from the energy bureau at the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), China's top economic planners, found that China could collect between 800 million and one billion tonnes of biomass from regular agricultural and forestry activities....By 2020, China would be able to reap an annual estimated harvest of two billion tonnes of biomass."
- "China already has the foundation it needs to commercialise cellulosic ethanol production. [For instance,] China was previously a world leader in acid and enzyme hydrolysis."
- "In accelerating the development of biofuel energy, China must coordinate on a national level and concentrate on two aspects....First, while commercialising mature technology as soon as possible, China should also strengthen basic research in key fields."
- "Second, while supporting commercial demonstration projects, industry need to coordinate development of upstream production, such as large-scale sustainable feedstock, and downstream issues, such as transport and sales infrastructure and the optimisation of vehicles for use with E85 alcohol fuel mixture. Legislation, such as standards for environmentally friendly vehicles and low-carbon fuels, must be put in place. This will ensure the materials, the market and the regulations that are needed to meet our targets."[20]
- Sustainable palm oil gets boost in China, 14 July 2009 by WWF: "Major China-based producers and users of palm oil have announced they intend to provide more support for sustainable palm oil, an important boost for efforts to halt tropical deforestation."
- "The public statement, made at the 2nd International Oil and Fats Summit in Beijing on July 9, committed the companies to 'support the promotion, procurement and use of sustainable palm oil in China,' as well as 'support the production of sustainable palm oil through any investments in producing countries.'"
- "China is currently the world's largest importer of palm oil, accounting for one third of all global trade. Increasing demand for palm oil, which is used in everything from soap to chocolate bars, is causing considerable damage to fragile rainforest environments, threatening endangered species like tigers, and contributing to global climate change."[21]
- China to establish giant oil palm plantation in DR Congo, 10 July 2009 by Mongabay: "ZTE Agribusiness Company Ltd, a Chinese firm, plans to establish a one million hectare oil palm plantation in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DR Congo) for biofuel production, reports China state media."
- Small-scale biofuels production holds more promise, says USAID, 21 June 2009 by BusinessMirror: "Decentralized biofuel production, or small-scale factories built on degraded or underused lands, has the potential to provide energy to half a billion people living in poverty in rural Asia."
- " The report, Biofuels in Asia: An Analysis of Sustainability Options…focused on China, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. It analyzed key trends and concerns and highlighted sustainability options for biofuel production."
- "Compared with large-scale biofuels production, small-scale biofuels production for local use may deliver greater social benefits, including improvement of rural livelihoods, support of local industries, and a lower tendency toward exploitation of workers and co-opting of land from indigenous peoples."
- (Aviation) Commercial use of biofuels may take time, 25 April 2009 by TradingMarkets.com: "Despite broad optimism in the aviation industry about the commercial use of biofuels, experts in Asia believe this won't happen very soon."
- "On April 1, at the conclusion of an industry summit in Geneva, about 400 aviation and environment leaders set an industry timeline for aviation biofuels....By the end of the year, a set of environmental sustainability standards for aviation biofuels should be in place, they said in a summit declaration."
- "In a separate interview, biofuels specialist Florello Galindo, director of Manila-based Asian Institute of Petroleum Studies Inc. (AIPSI), said China and Japan, being the region's main players in aviation manufacturing, would likely determine the fate of aviation biofuel use in Asia."[23]
- Chemical Breakthrough Turns Sawdust Into Biofuel, 23 July 2008 by ABC News: "A wider of range of plant material could be turned into biofuels thanks to a breakthrough that converts plant molecules called lignin into liquid hydrocarbons."
- China and Singapore to jointly engineer dedicated energy crops, 11 December 2007 by Biopact. Two scientific institutions in Singapore and China have agreed to begin joint research into developing energy rich hybrid plants. Sweet sorghum is to be a main focus.
- US and China sign biofuels cooperation pact, 11 December 2007 by Biopact. Governments have of the United States and China signed a memorandum of understanding that they will share technology through scientific exchanges. It is hoped that this initiative will help meet both countries' lofty goals for biofuels, and assist farmers in the process.
- China fires up biomass plants, 4 December 2007 by Reuters, reports that eight new biomass plants with a combined capacity of 200 megawatts have been launched in China by National Bio Energy Co. (a subsidiary of State Grid Corp.), "in leading grain-producing provinces in hopes of cutting carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation." The facilities "are expected to burn 1.6 million tons of stalks a year."
- China Holdings to build second 50MW biomass co-generation plant in Anhui, 7 November 2007 from Biopact: The CAPS II pyrolysis system will provide 50MW of power as part of China's stated goal of reaching 30GW power from biomass by 2030.
- CASP agreement to benefit biofuel producers in Mekong, 11 April 2007 from Biofuelreview.com. Agriculture ministers from 6 countries, Cambodia, China, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam have endorsed the Core Agricultural Support Program, which will work toward increasing trade and investment in agriculture in the Greater Mekong Subregion. A major focus will be helping farmers reap the benefits of new energy crops and related technologies.
- Chinese Biofuels Expansion Threatens Ecological Balance, 27 March 2007 from Renewable Energy Access. A recent agreement between China's top forestry authority and one of the nation's biggest energy giants to develop biofuels plantations in the southwest may come at great environmental loss to the region's forests and biological diversity.
- China plans to plant an area the size of England with biofuel trees, 8 February 2007 from China Daily. China will plant 13 million hectares, an area the size of England, with Jatropha trees to produce oil amounting to nearly 6 million tons of biodiesel every year. The jatropha trees can also provide wood fuel for a power plant with an installed capacity of 12 million kilowatts, will account for 30% of the country's renewable energy by 2010.
- Ethanol fuels hopes of China's small farmers, 29 January 2007 from The Standard. Beijing's push to create more ethanol from cassava and sugar cane may benefit farmers in Guanxi, but with China already a net-importer of tapioca and sugar it is not clear that there will be enough feedstocks to go around.
- Biodiesel Sweeps China in Controversy, 23 January 2007 from Renewable Energy Access. China is looking at new biodiesel feedstocks including a new variety of rapeseed, Chinese Pistachio and jatropha. However, standards and regulations are lacking and concerns over food vs fuel are growing.
- Biofuels eat into China's food stocks, 21 December 2006 from Asia Times Online: China has clamped down on the use of corn and other edible grains for producing biofuels due to concerns that it will impact on food security.
- China halts expansion of corn-based ethanol industry to arrest food price rise, 20 December 2006 from newKerala.com.
- China looking to expand non-grain biofuels, 18 December 2006, AFP, reported that the government has initiated "pilot programs for farmers to plant non-grain crops as raw materials for biofuels. The crops, including sweet sorghum and cassava "will be planted on lands that are unfit for grain production" in Shangdong Province and the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
- The article quoted Yang Jian, a director at the Ministry of Agriculture, as saying "We have a principle with regard to biofuel: it should neither be at the cost of foodgrains for people's consumption nor should it compete with grain crops for cultivated land."
- China Clean Energy outlines plan to expand biodiesel capacity using palm oil leavings as a feedstock, 18 December 2006 from Biofuel Review.
- What does China Clean Energy refer to when it talks about palm oil 'leavings', 16 December 2006 blog entry from biopact.com.
- Biofuel increasing China's corn imports, 1 December 2006 from Interfax China. China could become a net corn importer in a few years as a result of strong demand from ethanol production.
- $8.5m UN/Chinese programme to develop biofuel production in western China, 30 November 2006 from Biofuelreview.com. The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) project aims to create a market for Jatropha Curcas and use green technologies to reduce poverty and improve fragile ecosystems among ethnic minorities in western China.
- China to Subsidize and Protect Bioenergy Industry, 30 November 2006 from Biopact.
- China's oil giants explore green fuels, 28 November 2006 from China Climate Change Info-net.
- China to issue policies regulating ethanol industry, 27 November 2006 from China Climate Change Info-net.
- China to boost bio-energy use, 18 November 2006 from Xinhua English.
- Company launches major forestry and biofuel project in China, 14 November 2006 from biopact.com. Carbon Positive has secured and has begun planting 266,000 hectares of land for reforestation and biofuel crops (including jatropha).
- Use of renewable resources enhanced, 13 November 2006: "China will launch a raft of measures to boost the development of its bioenergy and biochemical industry."
- By 2010 50% consumption of Ethanol-gasoline blend in China, 13 November 2006 from the People's Daily Online.
- New announcements for China's biofuel policy, 12 November 2006 from Biopact.com. Measures include granting subsidies to bioenergy-producing companies when international crude oil prices fall below their production costs for an extended period.
- China forecasts 18 million tonnes biofuel use by 2010, 6 November 2006 from China Climate Change Info-net.
- The Renewable Energy Law of the People's Republic of China - English translation of the law, which took effect 1 January 2006.
- Target of 10% renewable energy of the country's total energy consumption by 2010. (Citation needed)
- Alternative fuels: 6 million tons by 2010 and 15 million tons by 2020.[24]
- Target of 50% use of ethanol-blended gasoline by 2010. (Citation needed)
- China has an annual production capacity of 1.02 million tons of ethanol. (source:People's Daily Online)
Biofuel production
- Implementation of Biogas Digestion to Clean up China's Livestock Industry and Provide Rural Energy (an Environmental Health Research Brief by the Woodrow Wilson Center) - reports on biogas projects in China, including how biogas digesters can help make use of livestock waste while providing energy in farming areas.
- This report notes that while "biogas power systems currently only account for a little over 100 MW in China, and are used mainly for cooking, lighting, and heating by individual farm households, the development of eco-agricultural systems that incorporate large-scale biogas production and animal farming is becoming a greater priority of the government", as reflected in the adoption in 2003 of a National Rural Biogas Construction Plan.[26]
Regional Organizations
- Core Agriculture Support Program - A program that includes southern China and the countries of the Mekong Subregion in South-East Asia, that provides support for biofuel feedstock and other agricultural programs.
Government Organizations
- english.gov.net is the main English language portal for the Chinese Government. Many agencies do not yet have English language pages.
China's circulars on bioenergy policy have been co-released by the following agencies:
- National Development and Reform Commission English overview of the NDRC, which is "a macro-economic regulatory department, with a mandate to develop national economic strategies". It deals with China's targets for biofuels.
- State Environmental Protection Agency (SEPA)
- Ministry of FinanceThe Ministry of Finance helps regulate subsidies and tax policy for bioenergy.
- Ministry of Agriculture (Chinese)
- State Forestry Administration (Chinese)
- State Administration of Taxation
Government websites (English)
- Cleaner Production in China with an overview of Chinese environmental law, policy and case studies relating to cleaner production and the circular economy.
- China Climate Change Info-Net Information on laws, events, organizations and news dealing with climate change and renewable energy in China.
Non-Government Organizations (NGOs)
- National Bio Energy Co., Ltd. (a subsidiary of State Grid Corp.) - operator of biomass energy plants.
- China National Petroleum Corporation
- CNPC, through its subsidiary Jilin Fuel Ethanol Ltd. Co, built China's first ethanol plant using corn as a feedstock and now runs several other ethanol projects. Press Release: China's First fuel ethanol line into production in Jilin 27 November, 2003.
- China National Cereals, Oils and Foodstuffs Corporation (Chinese only)
- Plans to invest more than US$1 billion in ethanol projects to increase production capacity to 3 million tons.
- Currently owns an ethanol plant in Heilongjiang Province and has a 20 percent stake in another plant in Jilin Province, both using corn as a feedstock
- The company is constructing an ethanol plant, which will use cassava as a feedstock, in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
- Is awaiting Government permission to build two 300,000-ton-per-year ethanol plants in Hebei Province, using corn and sweet potatoes, and Liaoning Province, using only sweet potatoes.
(source: Climate Change China Info-Net (.gov site))
- BBCA (Mostly Chinese) Large scale ethanol and biomass producer, using corn and cassava. Also doing research into cellulosic ethanol.
See books, reports, scientific papers, position papers and websites for additional useful resources.
- Clean Energy Trends 2010 by Clean Edge. "[S]igns of hope have begun to emerge for the clean-tech sector. From Beijing to Seoul, and Washington, D.C. to Brussels, clean energy has become a driving force for economic recovery." 2010
- Sustainable Production of Second-Generation Biofuels: Potential and Perspectives in Major Economies and Developing Countries (PDF) by the International Energy Agency, February 2010. "The paper focuses on opportunities and risks presented by second-generation biofuels technologies in eight case study countries: Brazil, Cameroon, China, India, Mexico, South Africa, Tanzania and Thailand."
- People's Republic of China Bio-Fuels: An Alternative Future for Agriculture 2006 prepared by Kevin Latner, Caleb O'Kray, Junyang Jiang; USDA Foreign Agricultural Service, 8 August 2006.
- Environmental and Social Impact Analysis: Stora Enso Plantation project in Guangxi, China UNDP, 5 February 2006. This analyzes the social and environmental impact of a large-scale forest plantation project. Although this project is intended to supply pulp, its impacts are the same as if it were supplying bioenergy.
- Liquid Biofuels for Transportation: Chinese Potential and Implications for Sustainable Agriculture and Energy in the 21st Century (PDF file) - GTZ, 2005.
- Health, Ecological, Energy And Economic Impacts Of Integrated Agricultural Bioenergy Systems In China And Institutional Strategies For Their Successful Diffusion (pdf) by John Byrne, Young-Doo Wang, William Ritter (supervisors); Center for Energy and Environment Policy, U. of Delaware, October 2004.
|Greater Mekong Subregion
| China | India | Indonesia | Japan | Korea (Republic of) | Malaysia | Myanmar/Burma | The Philippines | Singapore | Thailand | Vietnam
Institutions: Asian Development Bank
| Africa | Asia | Europe | Latin America and the Caribbean | Middle East | North America | Oceania & Pacific
See also: International cooperation | International organizations
What is bioenergy? | Benefits/Risks | Who is doing what?
Categories: Asia | Countries | China


text:
tshirt poll
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the poll has closed the results are: rezzing01 wins with 32% of the vote
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Cooking For Engineers
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Test Recipes: Pan Pizza
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Posted: Mon Feb 23, 2009 12:58 pm
Post subject: Pan/Pizza
I love the recipe. I've worked with yeast before and have had good luck. This time the yeast did not dissolve. I had prewarmed the milk as directed. As I was kneading it and handling it, the dough was not smooth. It was speckled with undissolved yeast. It took longer to rise (I used your method with the preheated/turned off oven). It took about 20 minutes longer. The dough still had undissolved yeast on the surface. It did, however, ultimately dissolve, by the second rising in the pan (I used a 12 inch caste iron skillet and prewarmed the skillet slightly. Ultimately the dough turned out good. It was light and completely baked, not soggy, hwoever, it had a strong taste of yeast. What did I do wrong? Maybe the milk cooled too much by the time I used it. Please advise. Thank you. jl
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Posted: Wed Mar 04, 2009 8:28 pm
Post subject:
I love this recipe, but I'm surprised that it uses olive oil. Olive oil, which is great usually, adds a fruity flavor to the dough that really doesn't taste at all like Pizza Hut. The Pizza Hut website has the ingredients list for their products, and they list Soybean Oil or Cottonseed Oil as their oil of choice, which are both neutrally flavored oils. I used peanut oil the second time I made this recipe, which was much closer to what you get from the restaurant.
Other than that, thanks a lot for this recipe! It really sates that junk-food deep dish pizza urge for much cheaper than ordering out!
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Posted: Tue Mar 31, 2009 1:12 pm
Post subject: pan pizza recipe
I made the pan pizza recipe and baked the pizza last night. As for ease and taste, the dough was great. I made it in my food processor with the dough blade (I have a heavy duty food processor, don't try that with a little one). I did a double rise in the oven (punching down in between) simply as I had a lot of time to kill.
When I baked them I did load them down, I'll admit, but the crust just wasn't quite done at the thickest part (done in the center but not toward the outside rim on the bottom). I only had 8" cake pans which possibly also caused trouble. I did 22 minutes at 400°F - should I raise the temp or lengthen the baking time? Everything else was great, toppings were hot, cheese bubbly, etc. This was honestly the easiest pizza dough recipe I've ever used. Hardly even got my hands dirty.
As for making it more like Pizza Hut pan pizza (also a favorite), you might try some garlic or onion salt in the dough, there is definitely some additional flavor. Also, it could have a lot to do with cooking it in a super-hot professional oven. Like true Chinese food, it's just not possible to obtain that much heat in a home kitchen.
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Posted: Sat Jul 11, 2009 12:33 pm
Post subject: Pizza sauce
If you are going to make just a couple of pizzas and do not want a lot of leftover sauce, Hunts makes a nice tomato sauce (actual sauce, not paste). It comes in a very small can, about 8 ounces, and it comes in flavors. I like the Basil, Garlic, and Oregano, but I think they have roasted Garlic and other flavors also. I find it is just enough for about 3 small pizzas--and it is very inexpensive.
You can also get real pan pizza pans rather than using cake pans (which have kind of a high side and might mess the crust up a bit. Instawares will sell to the public, though they might be slow in shipping if they don't have an open box to take just a few pans out for your order.
My daughter, the engineer, makes small pizzas from a similar recipe. She does like to pre-brown a bit, and does brush the crust with olive oil first. It is a bit crispy, but since we use a lot of sauce and cheese, it seems to even out in the second baking.
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berkeley student :)
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 1:09 am
Post subject: conversions....
isn't 330 grams of flour equivalent to about 11.64 ounces which is a little over a 1 1/2 cup of all purpose flour? where does the 2-2/3 cup come in? i really like the sound of your recipe and i'd like to make it as accurately as possible!
thank you
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Michael Chu
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 1654
Location: Austin, TX (USA)
Posted: Thu Sep 10, 2009 4:42 am
Post subject: Re: conversions....
berkeley student
isn't 330 grams of flour equivalent to about 11.64 ounces which is a little over a 1 1/2 cup of all purpose flour? where does the 2-2/3 cup come in? i really like the sound of your recipe and i'd like to make it as accurately as possible!
This is exactly why I measure all flour on a scale. Flour settles and becomes more dense. All flour volume measurements (unless from a prepublished recipe) on this site should be assuming sifted flour - the only way we can get any consistency when measuring flour by volume. Sifted flour is about 140 g per US cup. The flour that comes in a bag at the grocery store is labeled as pre-sifted which is not much use since after sifting it has settled. The total amount of settling depends on length of time and how it was handled. Commonly, you'll see this flour weigh in at 160g to 220g per cup. That makes recipes really hard to replicate since you don't know how much settling was assumed by the recipe writer. I don't know why they don't clarify this in cookbooks - either the author doesn't realize the difference (seems really hard to believe that) or doesn't care (also hard to believe). Pastry cookbooks and baking cookbooks will often specify sifted flour and encourage the use of scales.
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CompSci Engineer
Posted: Fri Sep 18, 2009 12:36 am
Post subject: milk?
I have a similar dough recipe but just use water instead of the milk. I can see how the milk can add a new flavor to the dough, but would there be a big difference if i used whole/2% milk instead of the nonfat? I personally never buy nonfat milk and wouldnt want to buy it just for this recipe. Would it really affect the consistency of the dough a lot?
Love the website btw, keep it up!!
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Posted: Sat May 22, 2010 1:10 am
Post subject: Test Recipe
I have made this pizza many times and it always tastes great. I think it belongs in the Recipe File, not Test Recipes. Please reconsider.
Thank you for your time.
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Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2010 11:45 pm
Post subject: Grid needs work
I loved this recipe the first time I made it, and am making it for the second time tonight. However, the pizzas are in the oven now and I realized I missed the step of the second rise, because it wasn't in the grid.
(My first time through a recipe I work from the detailed directions, and if I decide it gets a second chance, I print the recipe or in your case, just the grid.) So, tonight I made the recipe from the grid, and missed the second rise. I'm sure it will still be edible, just not as fluffy. I made a note on my copy, but you might want to update the grid to show that step!
Love the site and your food reviews on Orthogonal Thought!
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Michael Chu
Joined: 10 May 2005
Posts: 1654
Location: Austin, TX (USA)
Posted: Thu Jul 22, 2010 5:40 am
Post subject: Re: Grid needs work
Amanda wrote:
I loved this recipe the first time I made it, and am making it for the second time tonight. However, the pizzas are in the oven now and I realized I missed the step of the second rise, because it wasn't in the grid.
Sorry about that! I've fixed the recipe table to reflect the second rise (in the pan).
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Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 10:24 am
Post subject: What happened to my crust?
I've made this recipe many times and it's my favorite homemade crust. Tonight, something went wrong. The crust came out looking beautiful and golden brown as usual, but the texture was all wrong. It was spongy and soft instead of airy and crispy. Any idea what might cause this? Thanks!
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Joined: 19 Oct 2007
Posts: 1197
Location: central PA
Posted: Fri Aug 06, 2010 12:53 pm
Post subject:
one possibility is a not hot enough bake temp - a preheated bake stone is recommended to help cook the crust evenly
this can also happen with an especially heavy/wet topping 'load'
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Posted: Thu Aug 12, 2010 3:40 pm
Post subject:
Great recipe. Tweeted it to my followers & my fiance, who does most of the cooking. He was very appreciative.
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Posted: Wed Aug 25, 2010 8:45 pm
Post subject: 12 inch
how would i make a 12 inch pizza
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Posted: Fri Nov 12, 2010 1:39 pm
Post subject: metric conversion
hey, couldn't help but notice an error you made in paragraph 4 - 200 F is closer to 90 degrees centigrade than the 65 degrees you listed.
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