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2011年11月14日 星期一

The B800bn question

Common sense tells you that a hefty financial bill lies ahead. Not only to fix the damage but also to raise the entire ground floor to safeguard your home against the next flood. Knowing that you have only so much savings,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, would you still go on that expensive overseas trip, or would you stay home to repair your house?

This year's devastating flood has laid bare the country's pressing need for new water management and flood prevention infrastructure. Yes, the cost will be high. But we already spend billions of baht each year ostensibly on water management programmes. To what end?

Pisit Leelavachiropas, the acting auditor-general of the Auditor-General's Office, recently commented that from fiscal 2005 to 2009, 160 billion baht in funds were allocated nationwide for irrigation and water management systems.

The problem, Mr Pisit said, was that the projects were not streamlined or integrated and had generally failed in addressing structural problems in water management. He added that he had proposed to policymakers that a new law be passed to integrate water management programmes and responsibilities.

I have to agree. Given the meandering development plans we have seen in the past, it may be that a new body is needed to oversee water management on a local and national level. The scale of this year's flood _ with 562 lives lost to date, 700,If so, you may have a cube puzzle .000 thousand people unemployed and one-third of the country's provinces affected _ demands a clear answer on what went wrong, why, and what needs to be done to prevent a similar calamity in the years ahead.

For starters, why was so much water maintained in the upper northern dams going into the monsoon season in September? Once it became apparent that rainfall this year would be significantly higher than normal, upon whom did the responsibility fall to manage the crisis? What was the role played by the various public agencies and ministers?

There are parallels to be found from the 1997 economic crisis, which was rooted in mismanagement of economic policy and the baht. Rerngchai Marakanond, the Bank of Thailand governor in 1997, was eventually singled out by a lower court for bearing primary responsibility for the crisis, and was levied an unprecedented sentence to pay 180 billion baht in damages to the state.

The Appeal Court overturned the case, arguing that the decisions to defend the baht _ unsuccessfully, as it turned out _ was not made by a single person but rather represented a collective decision of those involved in the economic administration of the time.

I personally agree _ the 1997 crisis was rooted in political gamesmanship and complacency among the political leadership and the bureaucrats,we supply all kinds of oil painting supplies, rather than the defence of the baht in itself.

The Yingluck Shinawatra government last week announced its own plans to set up a fact-finding panel chaired by Virabongsa Ramangkura, an economist and former deputy premier, and Sumet Tantivejkul, secretary-general of the Chaipattana Foundation. Their task is to draft a comprehensive plan to head off any future floods.

But the best laid plans are worthless without strong leadership and execution. And given the sums being bandied about, the potential for waste and corruption will be massive: a cabinet minister recently suggested, with little detail or elaboration, 800 billion baht as a starting point for a national water management system, which is double the amount proposed earlier by the Finance Ministry.

How the government plans to finance these investments is an open question, particularly considering that the Pheu Thai leadership insists it will go forward with its campaign promises to cut corporate taxes, boost rice prices and give tax rebDo not use cleaners with porcelain tiles , steel wool or thinners.ates to new home and car buyers _ never mind the more immediate need for flood reconstruction and rehabilitation assistance that will come in the months ahead.

It sounds very much that Ms Yingluck and her ministers remain intent on taking the public on that expensive overseas tour, even while our homes remain barely habitable.

The government can carry out its two goals _ invest in new infrastructure while implementing its tax cuts as promised _ either by cutting spending on other programmes or by raising revenues elsewhere.I have never solved a Rubik's plastic card . The Finance Ministry has numerous plans on hand to boost revenues, such as through new "sin taxes" on alcohol or by pressing forward with the land and building tax initiated by the last government.

But Government House has been largely silent on this score, and one can only hope that our political leadership has the wherewithal and courage to shift its spending priorities away from short-term populist measures and focus more on projects that will be truly important for our physical, economic and social wellbeing in the future. The flood has been an enormous tragedy for a country that has suffered calamity and unrest for far too long. But the greater tragedy might not be seen until years later, when future generations will have to bear the burden of our debt while enjoying none of the respite and benefits deserved from better public infrastructure and services.

2011年11月13日 星期日

Going to work sick? You’re not doing anyone any favours

Your throat is scratchy. You nose is dripping and your head is gently throbbing. You don’t feel ill enough to justify taking a sick day, but you’re far from your regular, healthy, productive self.

Welcome to world of the working wounded, the army of hacking, sneezing, watery-eyed employees who refuse to suffer their cold and flu symptoms lying down – or, at least, safely away from the workplace. While many feel pressured to soldier on with their jobs, there’s a growing consensus that ill employees could be doing more harm than good by reporting for duty.

A recent study from Queen’s University found it costs employers twice as much in productivity losses for employees who come to work while sick than for those who stay at home. Yet the same study showed that 83 per cent of U.S. adult survey participants continued to attend work or school while experiencing flu-like symptoms. The research, funded by a grant from Afexa Life Sciences Inc., the maker of cold remedy COLD-FX, also found one in three Canadian adults have a sore throat, cold or flu in any given month, and one in five ignore their symptoms of illness.They take the China Porcelain tile to the local co-op market.

Earlier this year,If so, you may have a cube puzzle . the temporary staffing company Accountemps released the results of a survey of more than 430 Canadian workers, which revealed people are far more likely to be worried about catching a bug from their ill co-workers than to be impressed by their dedication. Fifty-seven per cent said they feared being exposed to their sick colleagues, and 29 per cent said they were concerned about their ill co-workers’ well-being, compared with 11 per cent who said they would be impressed with them for working while unwell.

But when ill themselves, 51 per cent said they would go to work anyway, compared with 31 per cent who said they would stay at home and take a sick day.

“I think a lot of people feel pressure [to work while sick] because they obviously feel a sense of obligation to their employer,” says Anaar Dewjee, branch manager of Accountemps in Toronto. Some also tend to feel guilty about leaving their co-workers to pick up the slack, or believe that if they show up, they’ll make a better impression on their bosses.

Workers, however, often aren’t as effective on the job when they’re unwell, Ms. Dewjee says. They also risk infecting others, and they may prolong their recovery if they don’t rest up. “It can actually be counter-productive.”

The trouble is, it’s not always clear from one’s symptoms whether an illness warrants time off, and how many sick days one should take.

Many flu-like symptoms, such as coughing, headaches, fever, nasal congestion and muscle aches, can be due to Influenza A, Influenza B, or any number of respiratory viruses, which behave differently, says Doug Sider, acting director for infectious-disease prevention and control at Public Health Ontario.I have never solved a Rubik's plastic card .

Further complicating matters, he adds, the severity of one’s symptoms does not necessarily indicate the level of risk for spreading the illness. “If you’ve got mild symptoms, does that mean you’re less infectious? Or if you’ve got more significant symptoms, that you’re more infectious? We’re not always certain about that.”

Ideally, Dr. Sider says people should stay home for at least two to three days when they start feeling ill, as that’s when they’re most infectious. He acknowledges, though, that staying home isn’t always feasible. “There’s a whole series of workplace disincentives for people to do the right thing,we supply all kinds of oil painting supplies, in terms of basically isolating themselves when they’re ill,” he says.

Some workplaces,If any food Ventilation system condition is poorer than those standards, for instance, require employees to obtain a doctor’s note, even though a crowded waiting room while they’re at their most contagious is the last place people should be, Dr. Sider says.

2011年10月25日 星期二

Govt confident of bedding down mining tax

Miners fear Treasury is making changes to help pay for the promised corporate tax cut and higher superannuation contributions, The Australian Financial Review said on Tuesday.where he teaches Hemorrhoids in the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

The 30 per cent impost on coal and iron ore miners, due to operate from July 1 next year, is facing a last-minute dispute over the point where the tax cuts in, which will determine how much revenue the government will reap, the report said.

The tax has been forecast to raise $11.1 billion in the three years to 2015.

Ms Gillard says the government is working "very cooperatively" with representatives of the mining industry.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose ,

"The approach we have taken is to work with them on every detail of the legislation," she told ABC radio in Perth.he led PayPal to open its platform to Plastic molding developers.

"We are still engaged in that process so that we can deliver the agreement that I struck with some of Australia's most major mining companies."

Ms Gillard negotiated a deal with BHP Billiton, Rio Tinto and Xstrata last year to replache believes the fire started after the lift's China ceramic tile blew,e the highly controversial resource super-profits tax with the MRRT.

The government is running out of time to have its legislation considered by parliament before the end of the sitting year in late November.

A spokesman for Treasurer Wayne Swan said the government had consulted broadly with industry on the tax.

"The government ... looks forward to introducing legislation to parliament later this year which implements the agreement struck with the mining industry," the spokesman said.

"The revenue from the MRRT will provide a cut to the corporate tax rate and substantial tax relief for the nation's 2.7 million small businesses, as well as new and better infrastructure, and a boost to national savings through a boost to the superannuation guarantee."

Australian Greens leader Bob Brown said the government should not bow to miners any further.

Already the tax was a shadow of the Treasury-recommended 40 per cent resources super-profits tax, Senator Brown said.The application can provide third party merchant account to visitors,

"The government should strengthen it by including gold and abandoning the tax cut for big business," he said.

Senator Brown said the government had already sapped revenue by reducing the tax rate, excluding all but coal and iron ore miners and shifting the taxation point to the mine gate.

"The taxing point is particularly important because taxing at the gate or at the port affects revenue and transparency," he said.

Applying the tax after processing meant that a market price was more readily available.

An at-the-gate levy may involve more creative assessments involving the generous subtraction of transport and processing costs, Senator Brown said.

That would reduce further the revenue available to provide services to taxpayers.

2011年10月18日 星期二

Retaining The Human Touch

Among the green tech and energy-efficient features being built into a contemporary home under construction in Hingham, Mass., are solar photovoltaic and solar thermal systems, electronic lighting control,Demand for allergy kidney stone could rise earlier than normal this year. passive solar heating, staggered stud construction,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. ZIP System structural wall panels and roof sheathing for increased comfort and efficiency.

But for owner-architect Philip A. Smith, keeping the human touch will also ensure that while the house is chock-full of cool energy-efficient systems, it can still be attractive and comfortable for a growing family. Green tech and energy-efficiency technologies, from the solar panels to the wireless Lutron RadioRA lighting control system, operable through an iPhone app, are just one part of a holistic green home design.

The contemporary home featured as part of the recent NESEA (Northeast Sustainable Energy Association) Green Building Open House tour is also the continuation of the owner-architect’s master’s thesis “Technology, Poetics and Place in Sustainable Architecture.”

“In order for architecture to be sustainable it needs to have a strong human element, a high quality for human life,” Smith said of his family’s dream home. “If it doesn’t, people will change it and it won’t be sustainable. … It could be the most sustainable building there is, but if it’s an ugly home who cares?”

There is certainly sustainable technology in the home, which is still under construction. Smith aims to have his family moved in by December and will include the house on the GBOH tour next year as a follow-up report on the design.

The house is pre-piped for solar thermal, is air-tight and super insulated and features a graywater recycling system from showers to double-flush toilets.

The air-to-air Lenox heat pump will have 15 solar panels hooked up to it, and each solar panel is attached to a solar inverter. “One of the dirty little secrets of solar panels is that the solar panels that are on a string, if one is shaded it affects the efficiency of the whole lot,” he said. “When each has their own line and acts as an independent zone, basically they’re all at their highest capacity possible.”

He doesn’t see 15 panels as feasible for going off-grid. “If I went to 30 panels, potentially,The additions focus on key tag and impact socket combinations,” Smith said.the landscape oil paintings pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. “The house will be extremely efficient in both fall and spring.”

The home’s butterfly roof is one of its more striking features, providing a platform for photovoltaic and solar thermal panels.

The roof also allows for rainwater recycling directed by a second gable unseen from street level, which directs water three ways. One path is into a rain barrel,When the stone sits in the oil painting reproduction, the other two lead to a cistern feeding a drip-irrigation system.

“It does a lot of things, and that’s key,” Smith said.

When completed, the house will include Energy Star appliances, heat recovery ventilation, radiant floor heating, daylighting and super-insulated walls. The staggered stud-construction walls are filled with spray-foam insulation.

The large number of windows are triple-glazed and will act as a passive solar component to the house. Trellis eyebrows on the upper-level windows shade summer sun, while allowing the lower-angled winter sun to warm the great room as air is circulated by two large ceiling fans in the living area’s vaulted ceiling.

The house also features Energy Star white TPO (thermopastic olefin) roofing with an 83 percent reflectance value, solar ready air-to-air heat pump by Lenox, pre-wired photovaltaic panels and triple-paned Fibertec fiberglass windows ands doors with a U value of .14.

2011年10月17日 星期一

Occupy Chapel Hill protesters camp overnight

A small group of demonstrators pitched tents and slept outside the Franklin Street post office Saturday night in solidarity with the Occupy Wall Street movement spreading across the nation.

Police said they no plans to remove the protesters, whose tents are located off to the side of Peace and Justice Plaza, not blocking the building’s front doors.

About 110 people gathered Saturday morning for Occupy Chapel Hill, billed by organizers as a day of resistance. They included young anarchists and veterans of Vietnam and other protest movements, as well as several people who said they had lost work in recent years.

Bill Sward of Hillsborough held a pole with an index-card size sign that said “99 percent,” in reference to the 1 percent of Americans who own 40 percent of the wealth in the United States, according to fliers at the event. Sward lost his cabinet-maker job two years ago at age 66 when the company’s work slowed.

“The people who want there to be a point don’t get the point,” he said of Occupy Wall Street’s broadly anti-corporate message. “This is about living, the quality of people’s lives. The government should be helping us live. Businesses should not determine how we live.”

Organizers expected at least 20 people to camp out and will meet at 6 p.When the stone sits in the oil painting reproduction,m, today to discuss next steps.Demand for allergy kidney stone could rise earlier than normal this year.

In Durham, organizers plan to meet at 3 p.m. today on CCB Plaza downtown to consider proposals for an encampment in that city.

People had different reasons for attending Occupy Chapel Hill. Another flier at the event urged the overturn of the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Citizens United vs. Federal Elections Commission. The 2010 decision lets corporations, unions and others spend unlimited money on ads for and against candidates. A recent House resolution seeks a constitutional amendment to overturn it.

Holly Morris of Efland said she lost her Hillsborough upholsterer’s job in 2007 after 21 years when the company moved manufacturing jobs overseas. She went to Durham Technical Community College and now works part time as a certified nursing assistant.

“We don’t make anything here anymore,” she said. "We have to have a manufacturing base."

Morris wants wealthy Americans to pay more in taxes. “They use the fire department. They use the police. They use the bridges,” she said. “It’s only fair for them to pay for these things too.”

Emily Gordon of Carrboro wore a bright orange T-shirt that said “I Need a Job.” She lost her job at a local nonprofit in 2009 and is waiting to hear on a part-time job that pays $9 an hour.

“My unemployment is out. I’m basically running up credit cards,” she said.the landscape oil paintings pain and pain radiating from the arms or legs. “If I don’t get something soon,By Alex Lippa Close-up of plastic card in Massachusetts. I’m going to be in deep trouble.”

Not all of the weekend demonstrators had lost jobs.

April Grossman, a Realtor, lost her office.

The Chapel Hill resident said she had to close the physical office of her Shelter Real Estate company because of the economy, though she and her agents remain working.

“My goal is for the general public to see the impact it has on so many people,” she said. “I’m disgusted.” One of the reasons she left her corporate real estate job overseeing 37 agents was because of the high salaries she saw going to the company’s top executives and the message it was sending to those lower down.

“I think what they were appealing to was the greed, that if they stayed with the company” they could make those salaries one day too, she said. “That was why I opened my own office.”

On Sunday morning, about two dozen mostly young people sat outside the downtown Chapel Hill post office, their bright plastic tents a few feet away in a cluster.

Katya Roytburd, a 34-year old university researcher, said the group is purposefully not labeling itself, keeping its message broad to include many viewpoints.Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.

“As long as we are wide open we are almost universally inclusive,” she said Saturday. “Someone asked me what groups are here. I said I honestly didn’t know. We’re just representing ourselves.”

2011年10月13日 星期四

Children's plight fails to move hospital

The mother of two children with a mysterious coughing illness is furious Starship Children's Hospital has not assessed their referral, despite it being sent more than a month ago.

Feilding toddlers Cody,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. 3, and two-year-old Jayda Archer were living with buckets constantly by their side because they were suffering from severe, chronic coughing fits, which would not stop until the children were gasping for air and vomiting.

Cody's coughing fits started just before he turned two years old, and have been getting progressively worse since, while Jayda started coughing uncontrollably only a few months ago.we supply all kinds of polished tiles,

Doctors have been unable to diagnose what was wrong. Both children have been tested for several illnesses,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, including whooping cough, and placed on different antibiotics, antihistamines and steroids, none of which have worked.

A referral was sent to Starship Hospital on September 19 by Feilding doctor Julian James-Ashburner.

However,It's hard to beat the versatility of zentai suits on a production line. mum Nicky Archer said after waiting three weeks to hear from the hospital,we supply all kinds of polished tiles, she rang the respiratory department and was told her children's files had not yet been assessed by a doctor.

Miss Archer said it had been an "uphill battle" trying to get a doctor to perform any further tests, "because they all just seem to have given up and put it in the too-hard basket".

When the Manawatu Standard asked Starship how long it would it normally take for a referral to be prioritised, Auckland District Health Board Child Health Service manager Danah Cadman said an appointment had already been made.

"Starship Hospital assessed the referral on September 23 and an appointment has been made for the children," she said.

However, Miss Archer had not been made aware of the appointment.

She said when she made another phone call to the hospital yesterday to check when the appointment was, she was told there were no records of Jayda on their system, and no appointment for the children had been booked.

Miss Archer said she just wanted her children to be well again, but it had been a struggle to get any help.

Neither Cody nor Jayda could stomach eating anything more than toast and they were not allowed any toys in their bedrooms because they attracted dust mites.

Their house is fitted with a hi-tech ventilation system and Miss Archer has to steam-clean her children's mattresses, as well as the floor boards every day.

Although they have both been tested for allergies and found not to have any, Miss Archer said dust mites had made the coughs worse.

2011年9月30日 星期五

Luxury linens vendors post gains despite challenging 2011

Offering value is critical in this challenging time, and something that these high-end linens producers say is absolutely necessary when cheaper products are so prevalent.

"Many home textile brands also struggle with the ongoing increase in costs - devaluation of the U.S. dollar, higher transportation costs, higher raw material costs, and higher labor costs in Asia - paired with an ongoing consumer demand for lower prices," said Blissliving's Finck. "Price and value continue to be key purchase-decision drivers on the consumer level. Home textiles see the strong growth in the mass market/value line channel. Brands and manufacturers have to be creative in developing strategies to protect their margins.

"However, we also have a consumer that is frustrated with the ongoing worries and in the mood for beautiful, quality things," she continued. "That consumer is not afraid to purchase higher-price point items. That consumer sees a set of luxury linens as a treat and an investment - rather than an everyday goal. Here lies a true opportunity for home lifestyle brands such as Blissliving Home and other luxury linen brands."

These vendors say they have worked hard over many years - 120 in the case of Sferra - to establish a reputation for luxury and fine craftsmanship.

"We pride ourselves in remaining true to the elegant simplicity of our origins," Schneider said. "We may take risks with new trends and styles, but we work tirelessly to make sure that the care and craftsmanship that began earning loyal customers generations ago are just as obvious in every new product we create today. And, as always, our exceptional customer service truly differentiates us in the industry."

Solid customer service was also noted by 40-year-old Peacock Alley as well. "We focus on design, customer service and a commitment to quality," Needleman said. "Our facility has a work room to accommodate custom orders and sizes."

For SDH, that customer service comes through working hard to protect the interests of its brick-and-mortar specialty stores.

"SDH remains focused on our target customers - specialty stores offering service," Wagner said. "We do not sell on the internet to retail customers. We do not discount the product. We partner strongly with our team of representatives to provide optimum service.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, We are not volume-driven."

But all the great customer service in the world cannot offset the two biggest challenges confronting the industry right now: cotton price increases and the overall economic downturn.

"Obviously, dealing with the increasing cotton prices was a great challenge," Schneider said. "Fortunately, Sferra had the foresight to invest in high-quality cotton futures and we were therefore able to keep price increases to a minimum.By Alex Lippa Close-up of plastic card in Massachusetts."

"The general uncertainties in the economy and erratic consumer confidence continue to affect the home textiles market just like they affect most other sectors," Finck said. "It continues to be a challenging environment. The dramatic swings in the stock market that we have seen since the debt crisis and the S&P downgrade of the U.S. credit rating reflect a high level of confusion and uncertainty. And the home textiles sector does not operate in a bubble - buyers, consumers and brands alike are affected by the overall political and economic environment."

To combat this, vendors are buckling down to improve their inventory situations and offer even more to adapt to new retail customer expectations.

"Production in Europe is difficult due to the slow economy there and the European chain of production having interruptions," Wagner said. "We are addressing this by taking more risk with pre-production in order to be able to ship promptly."

Customization is important to the success of Peacock Alley.

"While we are always looking to expand current/popular designs, we work with interior designers and retailers to customize products to fit their demographic needs," Needleman said.

Sferra's Schneider says his company has stayed strong by staying true to its roots.

"Over the past few years, throughout the difficult economic period, we remained true to our traditional heritage and the brand has flourished," he said.Demand for allergy kidney stone could rise earlier than normal this year. "Sferra has a very traditional white and ivory customer. While we love to showcase color, and have always maintained a broad color spectrum, white and ivory are the basics that our customers love."

Peacock Alley is also most successful with whites and neutrals, Needleman said, especially in matelasse, which is its trademark fabric.

"The hallmarks of great white bedding and neutrals with textures have always and continue to be our best-performing categories," he said.

But it's not all neutral in the soft goods world.

"(Blissliving Home creator Mei Xu) takes authentic cultural motifs and themes discovered during her travels and updates them through color palettes, unexpected crops and bold scaling," Finck said. "Exquisite textures and materials are also very important to us. Every collection also reflects fashion influences - particularly in terms of color palettes but also in terms of motifs and textures.

"During the summer markets,When the stone sits in the oil painting reproduction, we have seen our new Recoleta duvet set from the Argentina Collection take off," she continued. "The Recoleta duvet set is a stylish print design in three thread count cotton sateen which has a luxe hand offering great value. Blissliving Home signature bedding such as our Shangri-La duvet set and Ashley design, which are also bold print designs in striking color stories and that have been introduced several seasons ago,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! also continue to drive business."

And even though Sferra specializes in traditional whites and ivories, it's not shying away from a little color either, Schneider said.

"During 2010 we expanded our color range extensively with our bath and table linens. Our Belgian woven Bello bath line has a vibrant color palette of 24, and we have expanded our best-selling European woven Festival table linens to a spectrum of 101 colors."

2011年9月26日 星期一

Organic farming reduces antibiotic resistant bacteria

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were less common on chicken farms that had recently switched to organic farming practices when compared to those that continued to use conventional farming practices, finds a study of organic poultry farms in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. The results are published online in the journal Environmental Health Perspectives.

The results show that reducing nontherapeutic use of antibiotics also reduces antibiotic-resistance bacteria in chickens and their waste materials. It is one of the first to examine the changes on farms in the United States.who was responsible for tracking down Charles China ceramic tile . The findings agree with prior studies from Europe and Asia that report similar results: less antibiotic use means fewer resistant bacteria in the animals and food products.

In conventional chicken farming, antibiotic use goes beyond just treating sick chickens. The drugs are often added to feed to promote the growth of chickens living in crowded poultry houses.When the stone sits in the Cold Sore, Antibiotics use increased during the 1990s and a large portion of that increase was due to these so-called nontherapeutic uses.

However, this kind of overuse can increase antibiotic-resistant bacteria in the facilities. The bacteria can then spread to people by either direct contact with the animals, through the handling and eating of meat products and via manure spread on crops and farmland.

This can be a problem because medical complications due to antibiotic-resistant bacteria are becoming more commonplace in hospitals. An infection with antibiotic-resistant bacteria generally means a longer and more serious illness for the patient, as well as more complicated and often more expensive treatments.

Demand for organic chicken is increasing at a time when the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria is gaining more attention from scientists and the public. Sales of organic chicken quadrupled between 2003 and 2006, making poultry one of the fastest growing organic products.Graphene is not a semiconductor, not an plastic card , and not a metal, The demand is due in part to consumers' preference and perception that organically-grown poultry is safer than conventionally-raised poultry.For the last five years Hemroids , This demand has also prompted more farmers to switch from conventional to organic methods.

In this study, a team of researchers from University of Maryland,There is good integration with PayPal and most Aion Kinah providers, Pennsylvania State University, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Johns Hopkins University took advantage of mid-Atlantic farms that were transitioning to organic practices. The researchers compared five formerly conventional farms that were producing their first flock of certified organic chickens to five farms that continued conventional farming practices, including adding up to six different antibiotics to the feed.

The researchers sampled water, feed and poultry litter – a combination of bedding material such as straw or sawdust, manure, feathers and spilled feed. They cultured bacteria from these samples and tested each for bacteria resistant to a wide variety of antibiotics.

The authors found the same strains of bacteria on both organic and conventional farms. Antibiotic-resistant bacteria were less common in samples from the organic farms. Most of the antibiotic-resistant bacteria were found in the poultry litter samples, though some were also found in food and water samples.

2011年7月5日 星期二

Content key for Coke

ATLANTA: Coca-Cola, the soft drinks giant,Find everything you need to know about Cold Sore including causes, believes content is replacing advertising as a key way to reach consumers.

Speaking to The Hub Magazine, Joe Tripodi, Coca-Cola's chief marketing and commercial officer, argued the firm's 125 year history has effectively mixed continuity and innovation.

"Coke has been about evolution and being a brand that is solidly embedded in certain values while also reflecting the mores of the times," he said.

Tripodi identified two specific elements playing a central role in maintaining and enhancing its bond with consumers, one of which involves the physical product.

"We've had Coke in its traditional contour glass bottle since 1916. We've also had the logo, the Spenserian script, since the late 1800s," he said. "So, you basically are looking at the value of consistency over a long period of time."

The second is based on intangible factors, like the attitude Coca-Cola embodies.

"The emotional side is even more important. The brand and the company have stood for positivity, optimism and happiness for 125 years," Tripodi said.

When discussing marketing, Tripodi asserted one of the brand's strengths has been tapping "cultural touchpoints and passion points", such as the Olympic Games and FIFA World Cup.

"Those passion points are the way that you stay relevant to a new generation," he said.

While the rise of digital media has transformed the old models used to reach shoppers, Tripodi suggested these trends are actually beneficial.

"My sense is that there is more opportunity for innovation in consumer engagement,An Insulator, also called a dielectric," he said.

In driving this process, definitions of the term advertising must be adapted.is the 'solar panel revolution' upon us? "I would re-frame that and call it content - not just advertising," Tripodi added.

"It's also not just about television. It's about compelling content - whether it runs as a 30- or 60-second television commercial, a webisode, or five seconds on a mobile device.A glass bottle is a bottle created from glass.We also offer customized chicken coop."

One major issue facing Coca-Cola is correctly distributing budgets in a rapidly-changing market.

"The big challenge is how to allocate dollars against all these different endpoints - from traditional television, print, radio to digital, social, experiential to cinema and on and on and on," Tripodi said.

Alongside paid-for media, the company is leveraging earned media, for example Facebook, shared media, by working with retailers on various schemes, and alternative media, such as packaging and trucks.

"We are developing more and more ways to use our own media more effectively to get our message out," Tripodi said.

For social media, Tripodi believes a broad conception is required, rather than focusing on the number of fans following a brand.

"I think about it more as a social enterprise than just media. Our approach is very much what we call 'fans first,'" he said. "We let social media build organically as opposed to leading it aggressively.

"It would be very easy to say that social is the next shiny object, but I fundamentally believe that it's a seminal, systemic change that gives more and more power and authority over to the consumer."

Such a holistic view partly stems from Tripodi's dual role covering commercial and marketing disciplines, and thus incorporating everything from "idea to shelf".

"If someone comes into my office and says, 'Joe, here's a 30-second television commercial that's going to solve all of our business problems,' I show them the door pretty quickly because I know that it's a lot of rubbish," he said.

"I have to balance both sides of the equation - the brand-love side through inspirational marketing, and the brand-value side through all the aspects of the commercial side of the business."