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Dollar tomorrow is not sunny

��һ, 11 �� 2008 07:28:03 GMT

At 23:06 on January 8, 2008 Source: Author and Web: Liu Chuntao
Comment (2) support (1) against (1) mentioned that the United States economy would have to say that the United States, the current credit crisis, the economic predicament is naturally not escape the eyes of investors, with the 07, financial disaster continues to expand, Dow Jones, the dollar index began to fall, gold, crude oil prices have broken a record. Oh, the original record is so broken, the dollar fell. The deterioration of economic fundamentals to the Federal Reserve lowering interest rates, other countries are also following suit, and cut global campaign began, equity market is a major bright spot in the market extremely exhausted, the total shadow of the hands of policy , the injection of central banks, many of the original ideas to interrupt the market fell, rebounded and then fell, then rebounded to the melodrama many investors goods to the Five and taste.

07 dollars to complete the wave pretty high diving, the main currency decline more than 10 percent. Is many years has not experienced a decline. In addition to four months of the dollar index, in the other eight are on the decline. 83.66 from the beginning of the year is approaching the end of 76.00. System and the average parallel downward.

Looking dollar next year, the trend is still downward, the Fed's rate cut in the rescue role of the market still observed. At the same time, the sharp devaluation of the dollar, leading to the increase in demand for crude oil and other commodity prices rose sharply, the global upsurge of inflation pressure. If the United States economy is facing price pressures that the Fed's rate cut space will be affected. On the one hand, the domestic economy is facing recession, while price pressures soared. Internationally, the United States and tensions between Iran. Make the surge in international oil prices is imminent. Bound to impact on the dollar.

The international market, there are many variables in a very powerful force that is sovereign wealth Fund, with the dollar the currency in the global spread and become stronger, the sovereignty of wealth Fund, including China, to maintain and increase the value of assets of course, Let powerful energy can be aroused by the difficulties of the world-class investment bank to concede defeat. China bought Blackstone, although the shares to Blackstone Lou Jiwei eat a lot of losses. Investment may doomed to a loss, not blame his own every morning and the first thing that the plan and how to spend money to make money.

Summary above, 07 U.S. economic situation occurs, the risk of further intensify 08, the dollar fell hard currency in 07, 08 days is still not over, or down.

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appreciation of the renminbi dollars

��һ, 11 �� 2008 07:25:51 GMT

The very fact of children in the United States and sent back to her some time dollars. The very fact regard these peacetime existence of dollars in the bank, the past few days, the very fact that the media reports on RMB revaluation also a record high, and my heart started a bit anxious, hurriedly rushed to the banks to exchange settlement dollars, replaced by the renminbi.

Several reporters from the commercial banks that, along with the increase of foreign exchanges, more and more people have different Daocheng amount of dollars. At present, the appreciation of the renminbi is still in the channel, but there are still market expectations of an interest rate increase, the stock market is changeable. Under such circumstances, how to manage their dollars into the hands of the focus of attention of many people.

China's foreign exchange trading centre from the latest data indicate that, last Friday, that is, on the 15th, the RMB exchange rate to 7.6238 yuan for a third straight trading day to hit the highest level since. The change, in accordance with the exchange rate of 8.11, the change has been accumulated appreciation of the RMB has been close to 6.38 percent.

Qingdao branch of China Merchants Bank financial experts told reporters that any investment should be made from the individual investors of the actual situation, not only to see the potential rate of return, the level of liquidity demand to decide the length of the investment period, the level of risk tolerance and financial decisions knowledge learning ability investment in the choice of tools, which is the basic personal finance and investment principles. Recent yuan-to-dollar exchange rate has grown, and the foreign exchange hands of the investors, such as the absence of clear objectives and the use of investment channels, may consider foreign exchange to circumvent the RMB exchange rate risk. In addition, the person must hurry to consider the Settlement, if at the hands of dollars to change all of the renminbi, although the dollar can continue to avoid the risk of devaluation, but hastily Settlement, not only dollar commitment fees, the appreciation of the renminbi will also book losses immediately honoured .

Some investors that the appreciation of the renminbi in the news after the first time wanted to terminate their foreign exchange financing products. Strokes to experts, China's domestic banks are selling dollars in financial products in the average yield of around 5%, higher than the yuan fixed income products now level of return. If the termination, taking into account 2%, 3% of the redemption costs, coupled with the appreciation of the RMB rate, equivalent to investors before the benefits of the loss. If the rate of return higher than the rate of depreciation, then the hands of dollar-denominated assets can still hedge against inflation or even increase their value. In fact, the bank's foreign currency assets are usually invested in the international market, many products, both to the rise in market products, the market also fell products.

Experts also suggested that now the best investment of foreign exchange financing products do short-term investors, one month to three months, many products now yield 5% in the vicinity, even if the yuan to appreciate, within a few months can not be very high, the actual receipts or investors bargain the. But for holders of foreign currency assets to investors, by choosing a suitable investment tool for foreign exchange, increase the rate of return and reduce the risk of appreciation. If the risk bearing capacity of strong, optional high-risk high-yield foreign investment tools, such as foreign exchange trading and foreign exchange margin trading, foreign exchange options trading, risk bearing capacity of low or no time and energy investors may choose to invest foreign exchange financing products , in particular the flexibility, mobility-products.]]>

Mental health hot lines help

��, 28 ʮ�� 2007 17:07:39 GMT

NASHVILLE, Tenn. - American farmers no longer have to stoically face all that Mother Nature and the economy can dish out. At least eight states offer free mental health hot lines to assist farmers and producers through difficult patches. During times of exceptional drought, such as the one that has covered the Southeast this year, the hot lines report a jump in calls from farmers needing emotional counseling and stress management.

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The confidential hot lines offer a variety of resources such as vouchers for therapy sessions, referrals to mental health providers and trained financial experts who can analyze a farmer's bills. Some hot lines are operated by nonprofit or religious organizations while others, like Tennessee's, are a part of a university's agriculture department.

Agriwellness Inc., a nonprofit devoted to the behavioral health of people in agriculture, coordinates hot lines in Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota and Wisconsin and gets an average of 12,000 to 14,000 calls a year.

Michael R. Rosmann, the executive director of Agriwellness, said drought is especially tough on farmers and producers because its effects last over more than one season.

"It wears down people's spirits. You don't know when it's going to end and what you're going to do about it," Rosmann said.

Georgia Gov. Sonny Perdue's decision to recently lead a state vigil praying for precipitation may have been derided, but Rosmann thinks the gesture brought immense comfort to many people.

Richard Jameson, a 53-year-old farmer in western Tennessee, watched his cotton and soybean crops shrivel under several weeks of extreme heat and a prolonged drought this year. He says it would have been harder to weather the crisis if he hadn't decided on his own to seek therapy about nine years ago.

"I was waking up at 4 a.m. every day with my heart pounding," Jameson said. "I had gotten to a point in my life when I knew I needed help."

Jameson says his regular visits to a therapist in Memphis, about 50 miles from his Haywood County farm, help him realize that he isn't alone in dealing with depression.

"Farmers often work by themselves. That near isolation can really exacerbate feelings of worthlessness, anxiety or depression," Jameson said. "We feel like nobody in the history of mankind has any idea what we go through."

Rural farming families face several obstacles to getting mental and emotional help in times of crisis, says Kathy Bosch, extension specialist at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Bosch has studied Nebraska panhandle farmers and ranchers who are now in their eighth year of drought.

"There has been a stigma attached to asking for help," Bosch said. "Some of them were very leery or cautious to ask for help."

The University of Tennessee's hot line has reached an estimated 15,000 farm families since 1986.

"We can't solve all the problems, but we can help people think through a number of alternatives," said Clark Garland, a professor and coordinator of the hot line.

Untreated stress can push farmers into substance abuse, domestic abuse or suicide, according to Rosmann, who is also a clinical psychologist. About 2 percent of callers to the Agriwellness hot lines are people who are suicidal and rates of suicide are higher among rural males than their urban counterparts, he said.

"One of the things that helps is talking to other people and sharing feelings of uncertainty or disillusion. The verbal sharing of stress helps a lot," Rosmann said.

Jameson said he's not embarrassed to talk about his therapy with other Tennessee farmers and will encourage them to take advantage of the hot line as they prepare for next year's season.

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NBA Today

��, 28 ʮ�� 2007 17:05:49 GMT

By The Associated Press
November 27, 2007

SCOREBOARD

Wednesday, Nov. 28

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Orlando at Seattle (10 p.m. EST). Seattle is off to its worst start (2-12) since its inaugural season of 1967-68.

STARS

Monday

-- Steven Jackson and Monta Ellis, Warriors. Jackson scored a season-high 32 points and Ellis added a career-high 31 to power Golden State over Phoenix 129-114.

-- Tracy McGrady, Rockets, 36 points, including 19 in the fourth quarter, to propel Houston past the Los Angeles Clippers 88-71.

-- Caron Butler, Wizards, scored 35 points to lead Washington past Dallas 110-98.

-- Beno Udrih, Kings, had a career-high 27 points and Sacramento downed San Antonio 112-99.

-- Stephon Marbury and Zach Randolph, Knicks. Marbury scored a season-high 28 points and Zach Randolph added 25 points and 14 rebounds to help New York beat Utah 113-109.

IT'S MAGIC

Hedo Turkoglu scored 21 points and Rashard Lewis had 20 and Orlando beat Portland 85-74 on Monday to become the first NBA team to win 13 games this season. The Magic (13-3) came into the game tied with San Antonio for the most wins but the Spurs lost 112-99 at Sacramento on Monday. Orlando has won eight of its past nine, with the only loss to San Antonio.

BOUNCING BACK

Golden State beat Phoenix 129-114 on Monday for its sixth victory in seven games following an 0-6 start. ... New York defeated Utah 113-109 to earn its second straight win after an eight-game skid. The Knicks shot 53 percent from the field. ... Houston beat the Los Angeles Clippers 88-71 and have back-to-back wins following a six-game losing streak. The Rockets have beaten the Clippers four straight times at Staples Center.

MARVELOUS MARKO

Marko Jaric scored 21 points to help Minnesota (2-10) get its second victory of the season, 103-94 over New Orleans on Monday. The win was the Timberwolves' first on the road this season. Jaric has scored in double figures in three straight games and has had at least 20 in his past two.

TEAM RECORD

Dallas fell to Washington 110-98 on Monday but converted all 29 free-throw attempts for a club record, breaking the previous mark of 27 set in February 2002 against New Jersey.

SNAPPED

Golden State snapped Phoenix's eight-game winning streak with a 129-114 victory on Monday. ... Caron Butler scored 35 points and Antawn Jamison added 27 to help Washington hand Dallas its first home loss of the season and third straight overall, 110-98 on Monday. The Mavericks, who started the season 6-0 at home, lost their third in a row against Eastern Conference foes after going 27-3 against the East all of last season. ... Sacramento snapped San Antonio's five-game winning streak with a 112-99 victory on Monday.

STRONG IN DEFEAT

Carlos Boozer scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds but Utah had its three-game winning streak snapped with a 113-109 loss to New York on Monday. Deron Williams added 26 points and eight assists for the Jazz. ... Chris Paul scored 31 points in New Orleans' 103-94 loss to Minnesota. ... Steve Nash had 23 points and 13 assists but Phoenix couldn't overcome Golden State, falling 129-114.

OUT

Toronto forward Jorge Garbajosa plans to have more surgery on his left leg and ankle and will be out indefinitely. The 6-foot-9, 245-pounder broke a bone in his lower leg and dislocated his ankle while trying to block a shot in March. The injury ended his rookie season.

SPEAKING

"Maybe that's the thing, I don't know. They can joke for now. We won, so that's fine." -- Minnesota's Marko Jaric, after teammate Antoine Walker joked that Jaric has been overachieving on and off the court recently. Jaric scored 21 points to help the Timberwolves beat New Orleans 103-94 on Monday.

Yahoo! Sports Fantasy Basketball ��07. Get off the bench and register today.

Updated on Tuesday, Nov 27, 2007 5:32 am, EST

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NBA Power Rankings for Week Four

��, 28 ʮ�� 2007 17:04:21 GMT

November 27, 2007
By Cortez Strickland
PA SportsTicker Staff Writer

Here are PA SportsTicker's weekly NBA power rankings with last week's finish in parentheses.

1. Phoenix Suns (1) 11-3 - We've seen this act before, but it never gets old.

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2. San Antonio Spurs (5) 12-3 - After four championships, coach Gregg Popovich still has his team playing hard early en route to a franchise-best start.

3. Orlando Magic (2) 13-3 - Their only setbacks are to Detroit, San Antonio and Phoenix. Impressive.

4. Boston Celtics (3) 11-1 - Ray Allen has saved the Celtics twice from falling flat on their face on the road.

5. Utah Jazz (8) 10-5 - Carlos Boozer is a double-double machine as the Jazz look good early. Monday's loss to the New York Knicks was a rare slip-up.

6. New Orleans Hornets (6) 10-6 - Chris Paul and the Hornets had bounced back from an injury-riddled campaign last season, but losses in four of their last five have them reeling just a bit.

7. Denver Nuggets (7) 9-5 - Defense was supposed to be the problem but injuries might keep them from reaching their potential. Kenyon Martin - while expected - just added to the list.

8. Milwaukee Bucks (16) 7-4 - An early-season surprise in the Eastern Conference, the Bucks - winners of five in a row - are tied atop the deep Central Division.

9. Cleveland Cavaliers (12) 8-6 - With LeBron James throwing up triple-doubles every night, the Cavaliers are keeping their collective head above water.

10. Dallas Mavericks (4) 9-5 - Still a talented bunch, Dirk Nowitzki and company may be saving themselves for a deeper postseason run.

11. Toronto Raptors (15) 7-7 - Chris Bosh finally has returned to prominence. But Jorge Garbajosa most likely won't get a chance to do the same.

12. Detroit Pistons (10) 8-5 - Ho-hum. The Pistons are just waiting for the playoffs.

13. New Jersey Nets (20) 7-7 - Vince Carter is back on the court and Richard Jefferson is perhaps the most excited on the team to see him.

14. Houston Rockets (11) 8-7 - A tough schedule and injuries have slowed up the preseason hype.

15. Golden State Warriors (22) 6-7 - After an 0-5 start, the Warriors have returned to form with Stephen Jackson in the lineup.

16. Los Angeles Lakers 7-6 (9) - Three straight losses might get Kobe Bryant's trade demands started up again.

17. Charlotte Bobcats (13) 6-7 - Gerald Wallace didn't take as serious a hit as once thought. But the Bobcats' confidence might have after their last-second loss to the Celtics.

18. Indiana Pacers (19) 6-8 - Danny Granger might have to get used to a lead role with Jermaine O'Neal's status in limbo.

19. Los Angeles Clippers (14) 6-7 - Don't forget to vote Chris Kaman as an All-Star.

20. Altanta Hawks (24) 5-7 - The talented Hawks have yet to play consistently this season. Two wins over the lowly Miami Heat and Minnesota Timberwolves may have gotten the ball rolling.

21. Sacramento Kings (21) 5-9 - A win over the defending champions on Monday night might be the hightlight of their season.

22. Portland Trail Blazers (23) 5-9 - Back to reality: Young Blazers followed a surprising four-game win streak with a five-game skid before edging Sacramento on Friday.

23. Washington Wizards (17) 7-7 - The loss of Gilbert Arenas for three months has their postseason hopes on life support.

24. Miami Heat (18) 3-10 - Dwyane Wade is back, and Shaquille O'Neal has stepped up, but it is not translating into wins.

25. Memphis Grizzlies (28) 4-9 - I wonder if Washington regrets letting go of Juan Carlos Navarro?

26. New York Knicks 4-9 (30) - Two in a row for the embattled Knicks? Maybe, Isiah Thomas does have nine lives.

27. Chicago Bulls (27) 2-10 - The chants of "we want Kobe" are starting to get louder with each defeat.

28. Philadelphia 76ers (25) 3-9 - Louis Williams looks promising but the Sixers' record at the end of the season will not.

29. Seattle SuperSonics (26) 2-12 - A message for coach P.J. Carlesimo: Put rookie Jeff Green in the starting lineup.

30. Minnesota Timberwolves (29) 2-10 - So far, Al Jefferson is the only good thing that has come from the Kevin Garnett blockbuster trade for Minnesota.

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Earthquake rocks eastern Indonesia

��, 07 ʮ�� 2007 03:46:10 GMT

A moderate quake measuring 5.6 magnitude on the Richter scale struck eastern part of Indonesia Tuesday evening, but there was no report of damages or casualty, said the Indonesian Meteorology and Geophysics Agency.

The quake jolted at 22:48 Jakarta time (1548 GMT) with epicenter at 89 kilometers southeast Ende town of East Nusa Tenggara and at 105 kilometers in depth, an official of the agency said.

In September 2007, a 7.9-magnitude quake rocked Bengkulu province in Sumatra Island of western Indonesia, in which 23 people were killed and thousands of buildings destructed.

In 2004, over 170,000 people were killed in Aceh province in northern tip of Sumatra Island after a tsunami triggered by a powerful quake devastated coastal areas of the province and other countries in southeast Asia.

Indonesia is laid at a vulnerable zone so called "the Pacific Ring of Fire" where two continental plates, stretching from the Western Hemisphere through Japan and Southeast Asia, meet, which causes frequent volcanic movements. (Source: Xinhua)

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China to subsidize oil firms to ease shortage

��, 06 ʮ�� 2007 18:28:19 GMT

China will offer subsidies to domestic oil companies to offset high international oil prices amid efforts to ensure market supplies, the nation's top economic planning agency said on Wednesday.

Many gas stations across the country are experiencing shortages, with refineries unwilling to raise output in light of the low, government-controlled domestic fuel prices.

Experts said the government should reform the oil pricing mechanism to reflect international levels and allow oil firms to transfer cost to customers.

The government will offer oil firms some profit rebates and scrap oil import duties to compensate them for losses at their refinery units, the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said.

China raised the prices of gasoline, diesel and aviation kerosene by 500 yuan (67.6 U.S. dollars) per ton, almost a 10 percent rise, starting from November 1.

Light, sweet crude for January delivery on the New York Mercantile Exchange was down 99 cents to 88. 32 U.S. dollars a barrel on Dec. 4. The price has risen about 50 percent so far this year, despite a recent retreat from it record high of 99.29 U.S. dollars a barrel last month.

The losses at oil refineries are still huge despite the fuel price rise and many local refineries still halt or reduce output, the NDRC stated.

As as result, supplies of fuel, in particular diesel, are still tight and some gas stations are still without supplies or only provide limited supplies, according to the NDRC.

China's oil consumption has been rising rapidly with the booming economy. Its crude consumption has jumped 6.8 percent year-on-year to 173.03 million tons in the first half of 2007, according to official figures.

To ease the shortage, PetroChina and Sinopec, the nation's two largest oil producers, are running at full capacity to increase output, especially that of diesel, and trying to draw on stockpiles as much as possible.

The NDRC ordered local authorities to step up market supervision and crack down on gasoline retailers that withhold stocks and raise prices without government authorization. It also ordered the setting up of an early warning system to tackle emergency fuel shortages. (Source: Xinhua)

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DNA IN THE COURTROOM

��, 30 ʮһ�� 2007 01:26:22 GMT

The Nature of Evidence Evidence is any statement or material object from which reasonable conclusions can be drawn. It is a broad category embracing anything perceptible to the five senses including documents, exhibits, facts agreed to by both sides, and the testimony of witnesses. Evidence in a criminal trial concerns the intent, motive, means, and opportunity to commit a crime. In general, evidence is divided into two categories: circumstantial and physical. Circumstantial evidence consists of information gleaned from witnesses and documents that point to an individual as the perpetrator of a crime. Physical evidence consists of actual objects ?bodies, weapons, body fluid stains, fingerprints, hairs, fibers, etc. ?that are associated with the crime and may be linked to the perpetrator. It is the work of forensic scientists to examine the physical evidence, and using the methods of science, to reconstruct the events that constituted the crime. The prosecutor must then combine this data with statements of witnesses and evidence from documents such as correspondence, telephone records and credit card receipts to develop an overall theory of the case which can be presented in court. Scientific evidence is an increasingly important part of both civil and criminal trials. Forensic science is a growth industry. New technologies for analyzing physical evidence are growing rapidly and private companies are becoming an increasingly important resource for the legal system. The testimony of experts is the primary means of introducing scientific evidence. Because these experts are imparting information "beyond the ken" of the layperson, they must present information that goes beyond first hand observation, opinions and hearsay not permitted under ordinary rules of evidence. Lay witnesses are constrained to testify only about matters they have directly observed. Expert witnesses are allowed to draw inferences from facts which the judge or jury is not competent to draw. They may also rely on seminars, publications, records and conversations with other experts that are part of their normal course of business. Despite fictional presentations to the contrary (Perry Mason is a prime example), there are very few surprises in actual trials. This is because of the process called discovery, whereby opposing attorneys are permitted to learn the facts and expert opinions upon which the other side is basing its case prior to the actual trial. In addition, each side is required to provide the other side with a list of its witnesses before the start of trial. Providing discovery materials in criminal cases is binding only upon the prosecution in all but a few states and Canada. Access to materials through the discovery process is the main avenue the defense has for learning what evidence will be presented against the accused at trial. This allows the defense to re-examine the evidence and develop alternative hypotheses to the prosecutors case. In California, the defenses access to scientific evidence is defined in the Griffin decision which provides that the defense can have the evidence only after the prosecution has completed their testing. Also, under both Griffin and a U.S. Supreme Court decision in Arizona v. Youngblood, the prosecution may consume the evidence in the testing process, as long as they act in good faith. Beginning in 1989, furious battles erupted over discovery efforts in the DNA war. Gen-erally the defense has been able to examine autoradiographs from the case in question, laboratory reports, and the lab notes that support them in addition to the lab procedure manuals and proficiency testing results. Requests for additional materials such as other autoradiographs, validation studies, population data bases, and raw data face harsher scrutiny and often were not honored. Early DNA cases were marked by long and costly litigation over discovery. The defense claims that the prosecution and the labs they employ "stonewall discovery requests. The lab resist discovery, maintaining that the requested materials are privileged, constitute trade secrets, are legally irrelevant. Forensic labs also claim that the defense regularly makes overly burdensome and duplicitous requests for reams of material. If they were required to comply, lab personnel would be doing little else than identifying and duplicating discovery materials. DNA discovery battles are still being strenuously fought. Indeed, O.J. Simpsons chief lawyer, Robert Shapiro, has labeled Cellmark a "discovery outlaw." However most commentators would agree that many of the issues surrounding discovery already have been litigated or settled in other ways. Scientific Evidence Admissibility Standards The key element in whether scientific evidence is admissible is whether it is trustworthy. To be considered trustworthy, it must demonstrate accuracy (validity) and consistency (reliability). Admissibility is determined by the Frye rule, which stresses "general acceptance" or by the Federal Rules of Evidence (followed by some state courts) which stress helpfulness, reliability, and relevance. In all of the trials to date in which DNA evidence has been involved, courts have ruled it as evidence or, on appeal, have remanded the case to the trial court in 22 reported cases and have limited its admissibility in 16 cases, generally because of statistical questions. The Frye Standard In the 1923 decision United States v. Frye, a District of Columbia circuit court ruled against the admissibility of lie detector evidence in a murder case because the technology had not been accepted in the relevant scientific community. Since then, most state courts have followed this general standard on whether or not to allow novel scientific evidence. The so-called Frye hearing gives the prosecution and defense the opportunity to attack adverse scientific evidence and try to keep it out of the trial. The key paragraph in this decision reads: ]]>

Ferromatik Milacron Develops Industry Solution

��, 28 ʮһ�� 2007 10:29:41 GMT

Malterdingen -- Introduced in the fall of 2006, the first machines are already proving a great success in production: the CAP-TEC from Ferromatik Milacron is one of the new breed of customized machines designed for specific, demanding injection molding tasks. CAP-TEC is built for the beverage industry and produces caps and closures for bottles, cartons, tubes, and bags. It does nothing else, but it does that perfectly and under production conditions that meet the real-world needs of beverage companies. As we have already seen with the production of PET bottles, the production of closures is increasingly being done right at the bottling facility.
Screw closures are a true mass production item. The German beverage industry alone accounts for many millions of these little parts each year. They weigh only a few grams, yet they require precision in their production if they are to fulfill their function reliably. The technical requirements for closures are greater than they may appear an

Washington, DC - The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recently renewed its alliance with the Society of the Plastics Industry (SPI). The alliance will continue to provide SPI members and other stakeholders in the plastics industry with important information, guidance, and access to resources to promote a safe and healthful workplace.
"This cooperative alliance continues to ensure that Americas working men and women in the plastics industry have the necessary knowledge to reduce injury and illness in the workplace," said Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA Edwin G. Foulke Jr. "I am pleased that this strategic partnership continues to build upon our successes and strives to protect employees health and safety."
"Our relationship with OSHA is essential as SPI works to provide our member companies and their employees with the tools and guidance they need to create the safest and healthiest work environment possible in their plants

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UK MBA school rank

��, 25 ʮһ�� 2007 14:01:01 GMT

In October - November 2000 we carried out some research into UK MBA schools. We wanted to know what were the relative reputations of MBA schools across the UK. This meant not just the top MBA programmes but also the good national MBA schools as well. We researched MBA recruiters (in house and agency) and MBA graduates and candidates. The ratings from this survey (and a comparison with the FT 2001 research) are repeated in this commentary and are also available UK MBA RANKINGS as a single table.

In this report, we��ve divided up the rankings into a number of divisions. The first is that of business schools which have a truly international reputation.

Tier 1: Schools with european or top national reputations

Below LBS in the UK tables are the schools with excellent national and wider European reputations but which are less well known outside Europe. The key schools in this second tier in the UK are Cranfield, Imperial, Warwick and Manchester. These schools often have especially good reputations for key areas, such as Cranfield (manufacturing and marketing) and Imperial (research). Based on anecdotal reports the marketing modules at Cranfield are at least equal to those at LBS.

The other schools in this tier are City, Oxford (Said), Cambridge (Judge), Ashridge, Henley, and Edinburgh University. Our research here shows differences from the FT research which places Oxford (Said) and Edinburgh (at 2nd and 6th respectively) within the key schools in this tier. For this reason we have combined these schools into this second tier. Both schools performed well in our research (7th and 11th respectively) and we��ve heard some very good comments on the Edinburgh MBA. But we��re surprised that Oxford��s Said school has been rated as the 2nd best in the UK. It��s a good course, but has only recently started and it still seems to early to have earned this position.

The schools in the bottom half of this tier all offer very good quality education, but for those of you looking for "calling card" MBAs they won��t offer the recognition (especially at the international level) of schools higher up the rankings.

Some of the schools in this list are also well known for particular areas. To take one example City University offers a range of MBAs (including specialist MBAs in subjects such as marketing) and has very strong links to financial institutions in the City of London.

As mentioned above, we believe it is possible that the rankings of some schools, such as Oxford and Cambridge and perhaps Bristol, may have been boosted by a number of factors. While doubtless offering excellent courses it is possible that the placings have been boosted by the recruiting policies of some major recruiters (such as McKinsey who have the Oxbridge business schools on their preferred list) and also by their deserved reputation in other areas. Overall we think it��s still too early to properly evaluate the quality and true ranking of the MBAs from both Oxford and Cambridge. The Bristol MBA has been "transfered" to Edinburgh University Management School so while the Bristol MBA appears in our research Bristol appears to have no further plans to offer their own MBA.

Tier 2: Good National MBA Schools
Tier three schools are similar in both research studies. Our research indicates that Leeds, Sheffield, Bristol (see above), Lancaster, Bradford, Strathclyde, Kingston, Oxford Brookes, Bath, Newcastle, Durham, Exeter, Manchester Metro, Nottingham Trent, Southampton, and Sheffield Hallam all rank in this tier. The FT research shows a similar picture, as can be seen from the FT rankings alongside our own. The FT research also included Nottingham University, which we were surprised not to see in our own research.

While no new universities (former polytechnics) appeared in the FT research a number showed up in ours, the highest placed being Kingston (18th) and Oxford Brookes (19th

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