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REPORTING ON THE
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Used construction equipment: Afterlife
As the equipment in a rental fleet ages and customer demands change in response to new legislation, the fleet must be updated. But what happens with the old construction equipment?
MHM's Managing Director Mat Llewellyn (left) with Anthony Morris, the firms' Used Equipment Sales Manager, beside a selection of used MHM generators ready for sale
Used Construction equipment - global reach
Rental companies have different options open to them. For instance, Riwal's used equipment strategy has three aspects to it. In the countries where the firm has rental operations, it sells locally to end users and rental companies; in other countries, it sells through its international department, Riwal International Sales; and in both instances it supplements used equipment from its own fleet with used equipment sourced from elsewhere. Only 80% of the used equipment sold by Riwal comes from its own fleet.
Sidney Metz, International Account Manager of Equipment Sales, told International Rental News (IRN) that it is not simply a matter of supplying the used equipment Riwal already has but also offering other equipment based on an understanding of what customers want; "We try to source machines with input from local people."
Sidney Metz, International Account Manager of Equipment Sales, Riwal
He added, "So that's the main strategy – not to just put used machines on the market but also listen to the local sales people because the need for machines can be different in Spain, for example, than in Poland."
Indeed, Metz also made the point that rental companies in the Netherlands, to take another example, primarily buy new equipment, whereas the demand for used equipment is higher among rental companies in Poland. Machines generally move further away from Europe as they age.
"For example, after ten years we can sell them to Eastern European countries, and then after that the Eastern European countries sell those machines to international traders and they sell them again overseas, maybe to Asia or Africa, and so on until they're scrapped," said Metz.
Three-pronged approach
UK-based MHM Plant also has a three-pronged approach, offering customers the choice of buying either new or quality used equipment, or re-renting. The company's national re-rental facility is available only to rental firms, not end users.
MHM's entire range of machines, including ex-rental, are available for purchase. The firm's Used Equipment Sales Manager, Anthony Morris, is responsible for marketing the used equipment and he does so through various online and social media channels, as well as by more traditional methods such as mailshots and face-to-face sales.
Morris said, "Our intention is to keep our rental fleet as modern as possible and then offer them for sale whilst they are still in relatively good condition."
With some older machines, MHM prefers to target overseas clients or make them available for auction.
How construction equipment is recycled
Loxam often sells decommissioned machines through auction houses such as Ritchie Bros and Euro Auctions too, in order to reach a wide audience. However, the company also has another outlet.
View over Loxam's Equipment Recycling Centre
Thierry Lahuppe, Equipment Director at Loxam, told IRN, "As part of its innovation drive, Loxam has a long tradition of channelling resources into an Equipment Recycling Centre, designed and tailored to get the most out of decommissioned machinery at the end of its useful life."
The centre was created 40 years ago and now has a platform called Pideo, which provides Loxam branches with an online catalogue listing all the spare parts available from the centre.
"At the end of their useful lives, approximately 250 large machines and 450 small items of equipment are recovered and taken apart following stringent procedures – depollution and recycling of all waste," said Lahuppe. This allows hundreds of parts in good working order to be recovered.
Sebestyen Martin
Martin Sebestyen, Head of Rental and Fleet Management at Zeppelin Rental
In the case of Caterpillar's German rental outfit Zeppelin Rental, it continuously rolls out Caterpillar machines to its sister company Zeppelin Baumaschinen to be sold on. Through this mechanism, "Zeppelin Rental can adjust its fleet size and adopt new technologies accordingly," says Sebestyen Martin, Head of Rental and Fleet Management at Zeppelin Rental.
When it comes to non-Caterpillar equipment, on the whole it is sold either directly to customers in connection with long-term rentals, or in packages to selected dealers who sell machines outside of the company's rental territory.
Zeppelin Rental also sells some products to manufacturers who offer buy-back programmes.
Equipment buy-back programmes
An example of one such OEM is Yanmar Construction Equipment Europe (CEE). The company recently launched a new used equipment remarketing service, intended to help equipment rental firms update their fleets with state-of-the-art models.
Available through approved dealers across the UK and Ireland, the new service enables fleet managers to invest in new equipment without the inconvenience of reselling their existing machines.
Working in partnership with Mascus, an online equipment marketplace, to manage the ongoing resale of each used model, Yanmar CEE pledges to evaluate and purchase existing rental machinery, offsetting the value against new Yanmar models.
Olivier Crahay, remarketing manager at Yanmar CEE, said, "Our remarketing service aims to make refreshing your fleet quick and easy, while alleviating the issue of selling used equipment. In result, we hope to increase operator access to the latest Yanmar models."
Another manufacturer, Hitachi is accelerating the growth of its dealer rental initiative in Europe by buying used machines from contractors and providing them to its dealers so that they can be offered for medium- and long-term rentals.
Since the initiative was started in Spring last year, 375 machines have entered dealer fleets. Hitachi is now working on proposals for contractors in France, the Netherlands and Scandinavia to acquire their fleets and replace them with Hitachi managed rental machines.
René Danielsson, Manager of the rental programme, told IRN that it was now discussing how Hitachi could "consider buying their fleet, upgrade and optimise them, and redefine the number of machines required."
It is planned that an additional 500 machines will be added to the company's fleet in Europe this financial year and the same number again in the following year.
Generac launched a new virtual used equipment showroom at the start of April this year
Italian manufacturer Generac launched a new virtual used equipment showroom at the start of April this year, which offers a portfolio of used, reconditioned and part-new stock for Generac branded products across lighting, pumps, wash racks and dust suppression.
Alessandro Rossi, Managing Director for Generac Mobile, said, "We have seen more demand in emerging markets for low-cost and used machines, and yet do not compromise on quality."
Before being sold on, the machines are reviewed under the same production criteria as Generac's new products; "Complete transparency on the origins of the used equipment is also made available to purchasers with product specifications detailing hours of work, conditions of body work and electrical system. All products are fully supported with our manufacturer's warranty and service," said Rossi.
Moving forwards, the company hopes to feature different brands and machines on the platform.
Under the hammer - auctioning used equipment
Rental companies are particularly important to auction houses such as bidadoo and Euro Auctions, both as sellers and buyers of used equipment.
When Hawk Plant Hire went into administration, Euro Auctions sold its stock for a total of £29 million
According to Euro Auctions' Commercial Director, Jonnie Keys, "Following the 2008 crash, when OEMs either slowed or stopped production of new equipment, rental companies turned to Euro Auctions to provide stock for their fleets, and those relationships still hold true today."
Occasionally, Euro Auctions also works with administrators, organising forced sales of rental fleets. The biggest was the disposal of Hewden's crane stock when the company went into administration in 2016. The sale of Hewden's 130 mobile cranes came to a total of £76 million. A more recent example is that of Hawk Plant Hire, which went into administration at the beginning of 2019. The firm's entire stock was disposed of for a total of £29 million.
Over the course of the next ten years, rental companies are predicted to become one of the largest sectors embracing new sustainable technology. As the old equipment is replaced, Euro Auctions expects to sell a lot of it, with much of the non-compliant stock likely to go to Africa, India and parts of the Far East.
Jonnie Keys, Euro Auctions' Commercial Director
Meanwhile, bidadoo's President, Howard Hawk, stresses that the company is more than an auction house; it partners with rental companies, primarily in North America, to offer its reMarketing Solution. Through a suite of tools provided by bidadoo, from reValue – which helps with asset pricing and sales metrics – to reFleet – which supports fleet inventory management – it was said that rental companies are able to better market their equipment to a global buyer base.
Through bidadoo's online platform, it was said that high volumes of equipment can be sold across the globe without the need to transport equipment to an auction yard. The weekly auctions that are run every Thursday by bidadoo, attracting between 50,000 and 70,000 viewers, give sellers a frequent opportunity to sell their used equipment rather than having to wait long periods of time to amass large numbers of machines before holding an auction.
International Rental News - November-December 2019
Delivered directly to your inbox International Rental Newsletter features the pick of the breaking news stories, product launches, show reports and more!
Bidadoo
Euro Auctions
MHM Plant
Riwal
Yanmar Construction Equipment Europe
Zeppelin Rental
Boels increases offer price for Cramo
Offer price raised by €0.50 to €13.75 per share to encourage remaining shareholders to accept
ERA to launch campaign on sustainability
The ERA will promote rental as a model that supports the aims of the EU's European Green Deal
Bobcat to unveil electric mini excavator
E10e model is based on design of successful E10 and debuts at UK Executive Hire Show next month
More International Rental News
Phoenix expands Yanmar fleet
Phoenix Hire and Sales invests £1.5 million in Yanmar mini excavators for rental
Offering clarity on pre-delivery inspections
ERA's Technical Committee provides a priority checklist for the PDI process
Leadership change at Husqvarna
Company's construction division president, Henric Andersson, will be next group CEO


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I'm being told there is now obvious construction activity going on near the train tracks. Apparently visible from Fireman's Landing and the train of course. More construction walls have gone up. To me it sounds like they are going forward with the next big replacement ride to renew the "legacy" attractions. The rumor has been that Fire in the Hole is the next in line for replacement and that it would be replaced with an entirely new indoor coaster or dark ride.
We'll see what happens, but obviously something has started and they typically take a full two years to develop these rides, so whatever has kicked off will most likely open in 2023.
ah, very cool. Starting now for 2023 should make for it to be a significant sized attraction!! is this in that "triangle" area behind fireman's landing....or closer to side where the wilderness water toboggan was located?
Quote from: cowboy on September 24, 2021, 01:27:52 PM
Shadd's parking lot
KevinLong
Quote from: shavethewhales on September 24, 2021, 11:59:24 AM
The rumor has been that Fire in the Hole is the next in line for replacement and that it would be replaced with an entirely new indoor coaster or dark ride.
As beloved as the ride is to me - its replacement might be OK as long as its not themed to some IP. It really needs to be even less current than the background for time traveler, it was saved by the steampunk angle. the very last thing it needs to be is tied into some cartoon or childrens IP.
School Master, Circuit Rider, and Novelist
We're History!
The most recent dark ride surveys (two or three years ago) were pretty generic and kind of fantasy-based as I recall. Lots of sparkle ad glitter, but no theme to go along with the park - and none were Bald Knobbers. Fingers crossed if anything replaces FitH, that it will stay true to history, heritage, and nostalgia.
Always SEEKING Memories Worth Repeating
I mean if it's going right next to Fireman's Landing then it's definitely going to be firefighter themed. No need to worry about that. Will they keep the baldknobber story? Probably not. They still do tell the story of the baldknobbers in the lantern tour and of course FiTH, but other than that it isn't prevalent around the park. Do I wish that it'll be themed to it? Yes, yes I do. But I also know that times change and new stories need to be told. We still have the current FiTH for now and when it's gone we'll have the memories of it, and I'm sure they'll save some things from the inside to keep the legacy of it. They know how iconic it is to everyone that visits.
sdcfan88
Yeah the signs are there now it's probably the beginning of the end for FITH. And yes you can count on its replacement to be watered down and PC.
It upsets me that Dollywood's Blazing Fury will outlive it even though it will be the closest we will get to keeping and experiencing the original despite it's theme being watered down as well.
« Last Edit: September 25, 2021, 05:59:48 PM by sdcfan88 »
it would be quite easy to convert from Baldknobbers to a "moonshine runner" theme. it is a part of the heritage of the area, fits the time period, and seems not so controversial that it could not be used.
you could keep the vintage Fire fighter theme of FITH - but up grade with real fire effects -
A lumber camp (runaway logging train) might be another theme, or even an actual MINE themed coaster dark-ride (think calico mine at knottsberry) could clear the way for the replacement of the flooded mine.
my greatest fear is the loss of the proper 1880's time frame in the change.
another 2 cents
Quote from: KevinLong on September 26, 2021, 08:24:18 PM
Location indicates a firefighting theme.
Due to the location and if it really is a FITH replacement, a fire company theme is pretty much guaranteed. I think it will be a generic "towns on fire" theme. Maybe they will lightly mention the baldknobbers, but they probably wont have any hoods.
The real question is how they will approach the ride system itself. Is is going to be thrilling, or more of a dark ride? Aimed at allowing younger kids, or will they do something crazy that raises the height limit? Will there be a world's first? Will it be reliable, or break down continuously?
Personally I'm hoping that it is true to the original with lots of practical effects and props during a long slow dark ride section followed by the classic fire in the hole drop at the end. Keep it relatively simple so that kids can ride and it doesn't break down every hour.
^ Agree!!! How many of us were introduced to rollercoasters with FITH? I was and so were my kids. It's still my favorite ride at SDC. Keep the Baldknobbers please - it's part of the history and legacy.
I'm Your Huckleberry
Pintrader
Who Loves SDC More Than Me.....No One!
So if the rumors are correct next season 2022 will be the 50th anniversary and also the final year of FITH. I would presume there would not be much fanfare associated with the anniversary since Flooded Mine didn't receive much. Also wouldn't make much sense to celebrate something your going to remove by the next year.
A person would need to be in their mid to upper 50's just to remember when it wasn't there. I am just wondering how they are going to handle the negative blowback when they announce it. Saying there will be a new ride to replace it will definitely help some but I would expect a pretty large negative response.
Is it completely impossible that they could just refurbish and rebuild the ride in house? - for 1/2 the cost of a new production coaster/dark ride I would think they could do it themselves and really make it stand out. While cutting edge time traveler was 25 million - for 10-15 mill they could probably rebuild/ upgrade Fire in the Hole it as it stands and still have a standout attraction.
I'm sure Swoosh has some inside scoop.....
So are we on the right track when we say - New fire in the hole, demolition of old ride, +new train station in 2022?
Or is the information you have - new fire themed roller coaster near fireman's landing?
I was looking at the height requirements of Firechaser Express and they were only 39" compared to Blazing Fury at 42" (Fire in the hole is 48, 36" with adult). Could they just mirror what they did at Dollywood and build a Firechaser at SDC and refurbish the Fire in the Hole with new track from RMC? Or is the SDC building in much worse shape than DW's - being only 6 years different in age?
Just some random thoughts...
Quote from: KevinLong on September 27, 2021, 10:58:21 AM
The building and ride has deteriorated so bad that it'll cost less to build a new one in a more fitting location. If you keep band-aiding the building and ride like they have been, it's not gonna help in the long run.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Bush Ratings Sinking: Chief of Staff Andy Card resigns to "spend more time with his son…"
March 28, 2006 Staff National News
(UCS News : Washington D.C.) President George W. Bush announced the resignation of his Chief of Staff Andrew Card. The long suffering Card has been with the President since he moved into the White House in 2001. While many Republicans have demanded the President "shake up" his staff, both he and Card deny outside pressure is the reason for the split. Speaking to reporters Andy Card stated emphatically "Really! I want to spend more time with my son…. in the garage playing guitar and smoking pot with his friends."
Card will be replaced by Joshua Bolten, the White House Office of Management and Budget Chief who had been a deputy chief of staff. Bolten who has overseen the creation of the massive Bush deficits is well qualified to help ruin the country for the next three years. Andy Card was asked to clean out his desk and leave the property immediately. The extra security was required to insure Card did not walk off with the almond scented Presidential soap for the staff wash room.
A native of Holbrook, Massachusetts, Card and his wife Kathleene have three children and four grandchildren. In preparation the move out of the White House Card had already asked his son to "lay in a keg, fire up the bong and call up is band-mates" Andrew Card Jr. is the base player for a "garage rock" band The headless Republican Meat Puppets. The band has been playing club dates in Virginia for several years but has no real prospects for success nor the desire according his mother Kathleene Card.
Before his retirement the black vinyl lazy-boy in his three stall garage, Card was known to have headed the White House Iraq Group (WHIG), whose members include Karl Rove, Lewis "Scooter" Libby, Condoleezza Rice, Karen Hughes and Mary Matalin. This group is known for controlling public relations for the Iraq War. It is failure of this effort that may have set Card on the path to resigning.
Some close to Card suggest the Presidents shockingly bad poll numbers and failure to deliver any meaningful domestic policy caused the resignation. Others claim the mounting war dead and huge deficits caused the split. Even others blame the Plame Gate affair and or the medicare Part "B" debacle.
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Republican Spin Machine Breaks Down: George W. Bush is Spitting Mad!


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Karl Lagerfeld: Design Icon, Dead at 85
The Legendary Career of John Buscema
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INTERVIEW: Bynoe discusses new EP and upcoming Riot Squad releases
Comics/Animation June 14, 2017
Salute » Posts » Comics/Animation » DC Readies New Bombshells Series
DC Readies New Bombshells Series
Renji Kuriakose
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The original DC Comics Bombshells debuted six years ago and has provided a unique take on classic DC super-heroines. The original Bombshells comic was about female superheroes guarding the United States while the men were off at war.
The comic was written by Marguerite Bennett and drawn by a group of artists such as Mirka Andolfo and Lauren Braga. Bombshells will be ending it's run with issue #100 coming out later this month.
Bennett was recently interviewed by comicsbeat.com about the series. She told them that she always wanted the series to be a combination of her two greatest loves; superheroines and history.
When DC Comics approached her about working on the comic, she could not refuse. Though she did know what she wanted for the series and where she would take the concept.
She explained, "I didn't want it to be a story where [the premise was] 'oh all the men are off and away, so I guess the women will have to do something'. I just wanted to [start with the idea that] 'the women were here first.' No heroine is derivative of a male counterpart…it wasn't like Superman existed and then Supergirl [did]– it was going to be her first."
The heroines within the Bombshells universe are not exactly the same as they are in the main canon. In the Bombshells universe, these heroines are not perfect and are provided with the opportunity to improve and be redeemed.
"I'm very into fallible heroines," Bennett said. "I understand why so many inspirational characters are given to girls, whether it's to make up for the years that their weren't any or that there were so many damsels in distress, but there's a degree at which when we only give children– but little girls especially– aspirational heroines, we're denying them the ability to screw up.
To have a complete human experience. Being a child and seeing these role models, I knew that I could never possibly compete or live up, so when I screwed up it was horrible. These characters weren't afforded the opportunity to fail and come back from it."
Even though the original series is ending, the Bombshells universe will remain alive. It was announced that on August 25th, DC will release a new weekly digital title called Bombshells United. Bennett will return to write the series and will be joined by a rotating team of artists– many of whom are veterans from the first series.
Bombshells United will explore America's failure to protect the rights of up to 120,000 Japanese Americans when the national government imprisoned them in internment camps for the duration of World War II.
Cassie Sandsmark and Donna Troy, who have both held the moniker of Wonder Girl, will be second generation Japanese Americans whose friends and family are being held against their will.
Bennet has put a lot of research into this era in history and will do her best to tell the story without offending anyone. Though Cassie Sandsmark and Donna Troy are not Japanese Americans in the main continuity, they will be in this universe.
Bombshells United will have each arc focus on one heroine or team of heroines unlike the original where the title focused on a different set of heroes in each ten page chapter. "Then," explained Bennett, "the next four or five issue arc will focus on a different group. That
way, we'll be able to visit everyone in turn– and yes, we'll be seeing a lot of new heroines."
Bennet has teased the inclusion of Black Canary, Katana, and Bumblebee as new heroes in upcoming arcs. Conversely, she teased the return of old villains including Edward Nygma, Rhakontys the Bringer, and the Tenebrae.
They'll be joined by new villains such as Black Adam and Clayface as well as not-quite-villain Talia al Ghul. Generally speaking though, she hopes every character there is a Bombshells design for will get a moment in the sun, building towards a"truly bombastic finale" that will "will be build up and come together a few years down the line into something I hope is truly mind-blowing."
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NAU Robotics Establishes Its Own Robot Development and Mass-Production Systems
The robot industry has high potential. Therefore, in Korea, various policies have been announced to promote the industry.
NAU Robotics (hereinafter referred to as NAU), founded in 2016, is a company specialized in robots and it has supplied automation equipment, industrial robots and software optimized for establishing smart factories for the past six years.
NAU currently is developing robots for its full-scale growth to be a robot enterprise and is about to release them. The company plans to launch the robots which are being developed next year.
Moreover, robots are anticipated to be used for more sectors, such as service and health care, as well as industrial sites, so it is necessary to sophisticate the technology.
Accordingly, NAU Robotics, an industrial robot maker, is accelerating its efforts in various aspects by developing its own robots and establishing a mass-production system, to engage in fully-fledged development initiatives as a robot enterprise.
NAU has developed 6-axis-based handling take-out robots.
Those robots were made to be easily applied in industrial sites by developing software to transform the existing coding-type multi-axes robots into types utilizing the UI icon system.
In addition, the company is carrying out tests to release orthogonal handling take-out robots in October.
CEO Lee Jong-ju of NAU said, "NAU is going to develop robots to grow into a robot maker and establish a mass-production system," adding, "Our goal is to increase the synergy effect between the existing robot automation business and robot models developed by us."
He also stressed, "Combining its unique technology accumulated in various industrial sites and within the company during our history and new products to be introduced soon, NAU will accelerate its development."
In the meantime, the technological research institute of NAU is conducting R&D for development, control and programming of robots by securing a large number of experts possessing excellent know-how and long experience, and is developing robots and key parts of robot driving controllers.
Source: Daily Secu
https://www.dailysecu.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=128350


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Protests to be held on Irish border telling Johnson to 'back off' on Article 16
Border Communities Against Brexit will protest at five locations on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic in support of the protocol.
A series of demonstrations will be held along the Irish border next week telling Boris Johnson to "back off" on plans to trigger Article 16.
The group Border Communities Against Brexit (BCAD) will protest at five locations on the border between Northern Ireland and the Republic in support of the protocol.
It has accused the British Government of damaging the peace process with its threats to suspend elements of the treaty, which has prevented a hard border in Ireland but created trade barriers between Britain and Northern Ireland.
Speaking on Saturday, chairman Damian McGenity said: "Boris Johnson's Government has been pursuing a reckless course in negotiations with the EU around the protocol, including threats to trigger Article 16.
"We are calling on Boris Johnson to back off, and to protect and implement the protocol."
Mr McGenity said many in Northern Ireland believe the protocol is working, and has protected the region from the worst impacts of Brexit.
"Communities, businesses, workers, farmers and students along the border want the protocol to be implemented in order to protect jobs, livelihoods and community life on this island," he said.
"Businesses, manufacturers and farmers are benefiting from the protocol and thousands of jobs are being created and secured as a direct result of it.
"The protocol has mitigated the worst effects of Brexit for communities such as ours.
"The majority of people and political parties in the North opposed Brexit and support the protocol as the key mechanism to prevent a hard border and protect the all-island economy and Good Friday Agreement."
He criticised the British Government's approach to the issue as damaging to the peace in Northern Ireland.
Damian McGenity from the campaign group Border Communities Against Brexit (Niall Carson/PA)
"They need to listen to the concerns of border communities, to businesses and to farmers who will be devastated by any triggering of Article 16.
"Communities along the border are determined not to be dragged back to the past, it is shocking after years of Brexit uncertainty for border communities that a deal which was signed only a very short time ago is being torn apart.
"We will not allow any reimposition of a hard border and the untold social and economic damage this would cause.
"We will not allow the peace process to be undermined."
BCAB will stage demonstrations at Flurry Bridge in Carrickcarnon, Belcoo/Blacklion, Moybridge in Aughnacloy, the Lifford Bridge and Bridgend in Derry from 3pm on November 20.
Mr McGenity said: "We are asking everyone living along the border, on either side, to make an effort to attend their nearest demonstration.
"We are calling on all trade unions, representative groups, civic leaders, sporting organisations and citizens to join with us on Saturday 20th November at 3pm to say loudly to Boris Johnson to back off and protect the protocol."
Lord Frost (Peter Byrne/PA)
The UK Government has set a December deadline for a resolution in talks on the protocol.
The arrangement effectively keeps Northern Ireland inside the EU's single market for goods, resulting in some checks for products crossing the Irish Sea from Great Britain.
But Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Brexit negotiator Lord Frost have argued the EU's interpretation of the deal has led to difficulties.
The EU has presented a package it believes will eliminate the need for 80% of checks, but the UK has insisted the oversight role of the European Court of Justice is removed, a move Brussels firmly rejects.
Lord Frost called for "new impetus and energy" to be brought to negotiations, which will continue in Brussels next week.
Viral News | 1 hour ago


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Buy Cheap Mariah Carey Las Vegas Concert Tickets at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace with Promo Code
Posted on May 2, 2018 April 30, 2018 by Ticket News Source
Mariah Carey has announced a 2018 Las Vegas residency at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace.
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In 1988, Carey met record executive Tommy Mottola at a party. After receiving her demo from Starr, Mottola was so impressed that he signed her to Columbia Records. In 1990, she released her debut album, Mariah Carey, which rose to #1 on the Billboard 200 chart. The album won Carey two Grammy Awards and produced the hot pop single, "Vision of Love". Her third album, Music Box, was her best-selling album of all time, with over 28 million sales.
Throughout the '90s and early 2000s, Carey released several top-selling singles like "One Sweet Day," "My All," "I Still Believe," and "Heartbreaker" and her signature song "We Belong Together". She toured throughout the world and ticket sales for the Long Island native were through the roof.
Through the years, Carey has remained one the most popular singers in the world. Lately show has played sold-out shows in New York at the Beacon Theatre and at her residency in Las Vegas which ends July 2017. Obtaining tickets to see Mariah Carey is truly a concert experience. Her show in Las Vegas, "#1 to Infinity", entertains fans with all her popular hits.
Mariah Carey is an American singer and song-writer from New York. She rose to fame in 1990 with her self-entitled debut album which had four number one singles.
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Iron deficiency - symptoms, causes and a targeted treatment
You want to learn more about iron deficiency, recognize it faster and treat it properly? Then you've come to the right place. Iron is one of the most important building blocks of a healthy human body. Unfortunately, a deficiency of the trace element is widespread in many Western nations and can be recognized by a variety of physical symptoms.
Since an iron deficiency often remains undetected, I would like to help with this article to ensure a sustainable supply of iron. Let's go!
Briefly explained
Closing words
Notice: This article is not a substitute for medical advice, but only provides general ways to correct an iron deficiency. Please see your doctor if you feel unwell or want to prevent health problems with medical care.
Iron - The neglected nutrient
The chemical element is found, very finely distributed, in every human body. A healthy organism has a total of a few grams of iron, mostly as a component of red blood cells.
Even if a healthy and sustainable nutrition is on the menu, few people constantly think about a sufficient supply of iron. Since, as with most nutrients, a gradual depletion takes place, iron must be taken in regularly through the diet. Our modern eating habits are not necessarily designed for thisiron deficiency has become a widespread disease, which in turn affects others, diet-related diseases can have as a result.
What makes the situation more difficult is that even if sustainable consumers Supply sufficient nutrientsthey often do not know how much iron is contained in a food. Unlike vitamins and minerals, the iron content is rarely indicated on packaging.
What does iron do in the body anyway?
Iron is Basis for the formation of the pigment of the red blood cellsalso called hemoglobin. In addition to coloring, iron performs a very useful task: oxygen absorbed through respiration binds to the iron and can be moved through the bloodstream to all the cells of the body.
If an iron deficiency occurs, the production of hemoglobin is no longer regulated. Oxygen can no longer be transported properly through the body, which far-reaching consequences for the vitality and functioning of our organism has. After all, a basic building block for the production of a sufficient number of red blood cells is missing, so that the entire supply system of the body can come apart at the seams.
Can I store iron in the body?
The good news: Yes, the body stores iron absorbed through food as so-called Ferritin in. This storage takes place primarily in the spleen and liver. If an iron deficiency occurs, the body can first use up the stored ferritin before real deficiency symptoms appear.
Unfortunately, millions of people in this country are not able to help themselves to the stored ferritin. Due to malnutrition, the Supplies mostly long since depleted. It is not possible to store iron again, since the iron absorbed through food is needed directly for the production of hemoglobin.
Symptoms: How does an iron deficiency manifest itself?
The importance of iron for the human body is not limited to the formation of hemoglobin. The trace element is an important component of other body building blocksfor example, of myoglobin as an important muscle protein. The symptoms are therefore also of a multifaceted nature. However, it manifests itself particularly frequently when red blood cell production falters.
Typical consequences and signs of an insufficient supply of iron to the body are mainly:
Brittle hair and nails
Torn corners of the mouth
Very light skin coloration
Blistering in the mouth
Constant feeling of tiredness
Many of the physical symptoms arise because the organism transmits the available and bound oxygen to vital organs and ensures their functional efficiency. In comparison, shiny hair or beautiful fingernails are a "luxury good" of the body. In the case of a severe intrinsic deficiency, the entire supply of oxygen to the organism can suffer. This is then reflected above all in poor performance, fatigue or lack of concentration.
Tip: How to get away from iron deficiency become fundamentally more concentrated I'll explain how you can do this in a separate article. Feel free to have a look!
Causes: When does iron deficiency often occur?
Can I actually prepare myself for an iron deficiency? Ideally, the undersupply of the essential trace element does not occur in the first place. Among other things through the Targeted consumption of iron-rich foodssuch as legumes, green vegetables, nuts, seeds and kernels, you can prevent the health problem, for example.
However, in some phases of life the iron deficiency can be expected due to the greater load on the body. Also, taking an iron supplement can then help your body in situations when a lot of red blood cells need to be produced or the organism performs at its best.
Iron deficiency is particularly common in:
Blood donors directly after blood collection
Competitive athletes
Intensively physically working people
Since all these situations can be assessed, you can also take iron as a preventive measure. In this way, you alleviate the threatening effects of an undersupply of oxygen and prevent a lack of hemoglobin from occurring in the first place.
Treatment: How can iron deficiency be treated?
To Treat iron deficiency properly the first step, together with your family doctor, is to determine the Cause to be clarified. In pregnant women or competitive athletes, the deficiency can usually be explained immediately. Here it is worth taking iron over a limited period of time during which the particular stress.
In other cases, it is necessary to find out whether the body is being supplied with a sufficient amount of iron. There are people who consume the recommended daily dose through a healthy and balanced diet and yet suffer from iron deficiency. In such cases, a Metabolism disorder which must be diagnosed and treated by the attending physician.
However, for the majority of those affected, the deficiency in iron occurs because insufficient amounts of the trace element are supplied in the daily diet. A Adjustment of the menu or the Taking supplements can solve the problem in the long term.
How much iron should I consume?
Depending on size, age and gender, it is assumed that the human body can store between two and four grams of iron. This would be the equivalent of 2,000 to 4,000 milligrams. On average, it is assumed that the body relies on 1.0 milligrams of iron per day.
The problem: The gastrointestinal tract can only utilize a fraction of the iron supplied through the diet.
Roughly, one tenth is assumed to become the trace element available to the body from the iron in food. With a requirement of 1.0 milligrams per day should therefore be a minimum of 10.0 milligrams of iron supplied daily through the diet should be taken. In order not to be exactly at this lower limit, the intake of 12.0 to 15.0 milligrams per day is often recommended.
Provided that the individual iron requirement is covered, additional iron would serve to store it in the body. It is therefore It makes sense to supply more than the mentioned 15.0 milligrams over a longer period of time.to slowly build up a new iron store in the body. The organism can help itself to this if a renewed deficiency occurs via the diet.
Special cases mentioned above, such as Pregnant women or competitive athletes, the increased intake is accordingly of 20 or 30 milligrams per day is recommended. Your attending physician can determine which value is individually sensible based on the evaluation of your blood values. During pregnancy, monitoring of iron levels is obligatory anyway.
Can I take in too much iron per day?
Anyone who has recognized that there is an iron deficiency will want to compensate for it as quickly as possible. Here it is of little use to feed an overdose of iron over a short period of time and believe that the body will store these large amounts. Those who read serious reports and Books on the subject of nutrition knows: Many of the nutrients supplied are not metabolized and excreted again if they are supplied in too large quantities in too short a time.
Doctors advise against overdosing on iron due to the threat of organ damage. This is difficult to achieve with Western eating habits anyway, basically only through an overdosed intake of dietary supplements. In case of a longer intake of such means, you should therefore consult your family doctor. He knows the most important Reference values for vitamins and minerals for which a deficiency is imminent.
Is a vegetarian diet a risk factor?
Traditionally, meat and other animal foods have been known to contain more iron on average than plant foods. Fortunately, iron is also present in many plants. Those who, like me, eat a vegan diet are nevertheless at greater risk of iron deficiency. Iron is one of the potentially critical nutrients during the vegan lifestyle.
It is not so much the amount of iron in the food that plays a role here, but the possibility of absorption by the organism. The above figure of 10 percent iron entering the metabolism from food can be broken down again. Animal iron, due to its chemical structure, is absorbed as "bivalent iron" with an average share of 20 percent. Plant iron, also called "trivalent iron," averages 5 percent. This means that Es requires a significantly larger amount of plant foodsto reach the daily dose of iron.
Especially for vegetarians and vegans, it therefore makes sense to have their iron levels checked regularly. By taking a supplement, the deficiency can definitely be compensated for in the long term without having to compromise on dietary habits.
Which foods can I take in iron?
Many animal products such as meat are known to provide iron. Especially blood sausage, liver or beef and pork. But since I eat a purely plant-based diet, I switch to vegan iron suppliers. These include especially:
Pumpkin seeds (12.5 mg per 100 gram)
Soybeans (11 mg per 100 gram)
Hulled hemp seeds (9.6 mg per 100 gram)
Lenses (8 mg per 100 gram)
Quinoa (8 mg per 100 gram)
Tempeh (5 mg per 100 gram)
Oatmeal (4.6 mg per 100 gram)
Dried apricots (4.4 mg per 100 gram)
Hazelnuts (3.8 mg per 100 gram)
Soy and lentils are good sources of iron, which should ideally be consumed daily. There is no general recommendation for the consumption of iron; instead, an iron deficiency that is discovered should always be accompanied by a doctor. This shows how much iron per day is supplied by food. If this is not compatible with your own lifestyle or current situation, you should consider supplementing with an iron supplement.
Should I turn to a dietary supplement for iron deficiency?
High quality supplements are useful, but do not have to be taken for every iron deficiency. Thus, the attending physician can determine that an extremely unhealthy diet with a variety of deficiency symptoms is present. If a new and balanced diet is worked out here, the deficiency of iron and other trace elements, minerals and vitamins should be eliminated in the long term.
At the other end of the spectrum are pregnant or breastfeeding women, who are almost always advised to take an iron supplement for several months. In the middle are people who otherwise have no major deficiencies in nutrients and only have a deficit in iron. This can be changed with a targeted intake of a preparation to remain efficient and to fill the internal storage.
Basically, I can recommend you the following supplements with iron:
Vegan multi-nutrient capsules: you get here*
Iron capsules with vitamin C: you get here*
Is there anything I need to be aware of when taking it?
As if the absorption of iron by the body were not just difficult enough, other components of food can slow it down. One example is caffeine, which is found in Tea and coffee can be found. The tannins contained bind the iron ions already in the stomach so that they cannot enter the metabolism. Anyone who regularly reaches for a cup of coffee throughout the day should not be surprised about an iron deficiency.
It is generally recommended to take an iron supplement with sufficient distance to meals. Capsules should only be washed down with a little water when taken. This ensures that no undesirable binding of the iron takes place and that the maximum amount of bivalent or trivalent iron enters the bloodstream via the intestine.
At the beginning should also carefully dosed be. The absorption of iron not infrequently leads to stomach pain, and a dark coloration of the stool is also not uncommon. These are normal signs of the body and prove that a substantial part of the supplied iron cannot be absorbed by the organism. If the patient becomes accustomed to it after a few weeks, the dose can be increased if necessary.
Iron deficiency can usually be remedied
Iron deficiency is not uncommon in Germany and many Western nations. Poor nutrition is often to blame, which no longer allows the body to build up its own iron stores. Special features of life, such as regular competitive sports or pregnancy, become an additional burden. But as a rule, an iron deficiency is one of the health problems that can be quickly diagnosed and specifically remedied.
By changing the diet or taking iron supplements, it is possible to gently combat the deficiency. Often, treatment over a few months is sufficient to replenish the internal iron stores. This should be done under medical supervision according to individual blood count, so that over- or underdosing does not occur. So please do not hesitate to consult your doctor if you experience the symptoms described above.
Do you have any questions, tips or your own experiences with an iron deficiency that you would like to share? Then I look forward to your comment.
Stay healthy,
PS.: Do vegans actually have better blood values? You can get the answer now in the linked blog article!
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Bamboo straws 14 €


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Remote physical security in the data centre
Physical security in the data centre has traditionally meant locked doors, access cards, biometric finger scans and video surveillance but increasingly these measures are being supplemented with remote connectivity solutions.
Marc Marazzi, Avocent discusses how these tools can provide secure remote physical access to the data centre with its role in enhancing logical security, auditing and reporting, and in alerting management layers.
Generally speaking, the IT infrastructure is exposed to two main types of risk:
Loss or alteration of data;
Discontinuation of service.
The threats that constitute these risks typically come from one or more of the following sources:
Nature of threat
Likelihood of impact
Human error 55%
Physical security problems 20%
Dishonest employees 10%
Disgruntled employees 6%
Viruses 4%
Other reasons 4%
Outside attacks 1%
(Source: IBM)
The role of any security strategy should be to evaluate the above risks and reduce their potential impact on the company's IT assets as much as possible. To reduce these threats, IT administrators in the data centre environment should implement a physical security plan that makes servers accessible to only authorised personnel. This rigid approach limits the type of access available to individual users and provides administrators with a greater level of control.
Security strategy components
Multiple data centre locations and geographically dispersed IT administrators increase the importance of a sound security strategy which establishes guidelines and responsibilities to protect the information assets of a company.
Apart from physical theft and tampering, security must also include the protection of valuable servers and IT equipment from accidental damage and spillages. In some rack-based server environments a 'crash cart' is used to resolve problems; a cart holding a keyboard, video display and mouse. When a server crashes, the technician identifies the faulting server, plugs in the crash cart and takes local control of the server.
These work environments are uncomfortable and insecure. They also result in higher support costs from reduced productivity; and increased risk of personal injury from rolling a cart through and around racks.
IT management is increasingly facing growth in very controlled environments - areas where access is restricted to registered or authorised users - especially as data centres increase in size and are in different geographic 'lights out' locations. Authorised personnel may be required to enter and exit using special issue access cards and biometric finger scans. Video surveillance cameras in the building may monitor all activities in strategic locations.
Increasingly IT managers are supplementing physical security strategy by providing secure, remote access and control of data centre servers and devices to authorised personnel no matter where they or the devices are located.
Logical security
Logical security strategies require IT managers to identify and authenticate users. User IDs need to be established to identify the person connecting to the system and the resources they are able to access. It also involves defining the administrative authority.
An important issue in managing servers and devices is that some may have their own unique management interface, authentication and password lists and IT managers need to find a way of unifying their management.
Auditing and reporting
All effective auditing and reporting systems include the ability to track user access to data centre devices so that administrators can see who has accessed what device, when, and, indeed, what IP address they used. As noted in the introduction, sixteen per cent of data centre security threats are the result of disgruntled or dishonest employees and audit trails of activities act as a strong deterrent to those types of threats.
Another useful facility in administrator audit mode is stealth control which enables the administrator to watch activities and changes on a server or device in real-time, without the user being aware and take immediate action to disable the user, if required. Again, the ability to centralise the management of these systems is paramount to enable the administrator to act swiftly in the event of a threat.
User applications influence physical security
In the main, there are two types of user access requirements to the data centre. The first type is real-time access, where end users are working full-time on computers and require complete bandwidth access. This includes test labs, demo labs and designer environments. Apart from physically securing the servers, the real-time access scenario also has requirements for logical security, auditing and reporting, and alert management.
The second user access type is administrative-level access. IT administrators are faced with the daily challenge of managing many different and distributed systems across the enterprise. In many cases the administrator needs to have full administrative-level access to servers and devices no matter where they are located.
Every administrative function conducted on a target device, including full-power recycling, watching screens as a machine boots-up and access to BIOS settings, needs to be conducted as if the target device is in the same room. This level of access is required both locally and remotely.
It is important that the administrator controls all administrative-level access to servers and devices. Device-level rights must be assigned based on a user's name so that administrators have access to more devices than, for example, an entry-level technician. Auditing and reporting of all activity is also important to keep track of 'who does what' within the network infrastructure.
The challenge is more complex when administrative-level access to secure servers and devices is required from multiple remote locations. Not only should the links be encrypted and secure, the actual access needs to be controlled through common authentication and tracking procedures.
Remote management and physical security
There are some very clear requirements for effective management of physical data centre security. The administrator needs the ability to locate servers and devices in a physically secure area.
Ideally, the administrator should have full access to all of these servers and devices and conduct any configuration or administrative function without having to visit the server room. At the same time, control would be maintained over logical security, auditing and reporting, and alert management.
Remote management tools negate the need for countless keyboards, monitors and mice within the corporate data centre - providing single console BIOS-level control and access over servers and other connected network devices from local and remote locations.
This is facilitated by connecting directly to the ports of target devices, enabling operators and users to access multiple computers as if they were sitting directly in front of each machine. Although many server management functions can be performed remotely through network management systems tools, some more fundamental levels of server configuration can only be accomplished through remote connectivity tools.
In recent years the scope of these technologies has expanded beyond the local control of multiple racks of servers over a proprietary network. Control of target devices from any location is now available over standard protocols such as an IP network and has expanded to allow access and control of serial devices such as headless servers, routers, power strips and environmental systems. Additionally, administrators can now maintain and troubleshoot all their servers and serial devices from anywhere using one screen and management software.
The simplification of management through a single-seat scenario allows for better management of firewalls, host and network-based intrusion monitors and access control - vital parts of the security landscape for any data centre manager.
www.avocent.co.uk
Security / data / privacy


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G. Bizet
Sheet Music: Study No. 50 in G major
Study No. 50 in G major
from 72 Studies for the Boehm Flute
Louis Drouet (1792–1873)
D4–G6
Tune of the Day: Study in G major by Drouet
This jumpy "Allegro molto" is the fiftieth piece from French flutist and composer Louis Drouet's 72 Studies on Taste and Style for the Boehm Flute, published in 1855.
4. Study No. 4 in D major Flute solo
8. Study No. 8 in E-flat major Flute solo
9. Study No. 9 in A major Flute solo
10. Study No. 10 in G major Flute solo
11. Study No. 11 in F major Flute solo
13. Study No. 13 in C minor Flute solo
14. Study No. 14 in E minor Flute solo
15. Study No. 15 in E major Flute solo
17. Study No. 17 in C major Flute solo
18. Study No. 18 in D-flat major Flute solo
24. Study No. 24 in B-flat major Flute solo
28. Study No. 28 in D minor Flute solo
29. Study No. 29 in A-flat major Flute solo
39. Study No. 39 in G-flat major Flute solo
40. Study No. 40 in F-sharp major Flute solo
46. Study No. 46 in A-flat minor Flute solo
54. Study No. 54 in G minor Flute solo
59. Study No. 59 in B major Flute solo
68. Study No. 68 in F minor Flute solo
Flute Sheet Music: Study No. 24 in D minor (J. Andersen)
Flute Sheet Music: Caprice No. 22 in F minor (J. Andersen)
Flute Sheet Music: Allegro maestoso (N. Paganini)
Flute Sheet Music: Study No. 23 in E-flat major (J. Demersseman)
Flute Sheet Music: Study No. 20 in C-sharp minor (L. Hugues)
Flute Sheet Music: Study No. 5 in G major (E. Köhler)


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Donnie Rafter
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Fall Semester Finals Week 2018
Just a reminder that we will be on FINALS schedule during the week of December 17th. Students will take two finals a day and be released at 12:30 on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. Friday will be a non-student day as teachers work to finalize grades.
Please click the image at the left for specific bell schedule.
Early Finals and Winter Break
As we inch closer to the end of the semester, finals and our Winter Break are fast approaching. Please be advised that the last day of school is December 20th and vacations should not start prior to that date. We will not administer early finals to students who plan to be absent prior to the end of the semester.
Check out our most recent Counseling newsletter here.
Excalibur Robotics Tournament at Foothill High School
On Saturday Nov 10th, our 5 teams went to Foothill High School to compete in the Excalibur Robotics Tournament hosted by Foothill. It was the second tournament of the season for each of our teams. After a long day's work in competitions, our 2496R won the Design Award, and our 2496N team won the overall Excellence award. That makes a total of 4 teams to qualify for the State tournament in March.
Beckman in Space!
On November 10, 2018, the Irvine Cubesat Program successfully launched its first cubesat, Irvine01, on an Electron rocket operated by Rocket Lab from Mahia Rocket Lab Launch Complex in New Zealand. Irvine01 marks the first satellite built by high school students to be successfully launched into orbit and even now is orbiting around the Earth sending Morse code "Irv1…Irv1…" to ground stations throughout the world. Irvine01 also features deployable solar panels to charge its batteries while in orbit, an electronic propulsion system for maneuverability, and a low-resolution camera for the mission of taking photos of Venus from space. Currently, Beckman students in the Cubesat Program are working with teams at other Irvine schools and mentors in various aerospace programs to calculate two-line element (TLE) data in order to track Irvine01's orbit and receive messages from the cubesat when it passes by a nearby ground station.
In addition to Irvine01, students will also have their hands full as they will be launching a second cubesat, Irvine02, aboard a Falcon 9 Rocket as part of the SpaceX SSO-A mission managed by Spaceflight Industries in Vandenberg, California.
https://youtu.be/8EKg4CvW7ho
Wednesday, November 14th was National Letter of Intent signing day across the country. At Beckman, we honored 8 current BHS athletes who signed their NLI: Jill Schneggenburger - Volleyball (Colorado), Sean McLain - Baseball (Arizona St), Connor McGuire - Baseball (UC Irvine), Justin Goldstein - Baseball (Oregon), Madison Chi - Volleyball (Univ of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign), Carly Tobias - Lacrosse (Lindenwood), Lauren Drysdale - Soccer (West Point), and Karl Stenlund - Volleyball (Long Beach State).
BHS Band Carries on the Tradition
From a recent article on OCSportsZone (link here): "Beckman High's band members, led by band director Matt Bausman, continued the tradition this year of playing in the pool for the boys water polo team's senior day. The band members, some in water polo caps, got in the pool and played for half of the game during timeouts and the first quarter break. Players, fans and band members had some fun continuing the tradition started by former band director Jim Kollias."
Athletic Spotlight
Over the past four years, our Girls Tennis program has improved greatly and is now achieving at a high level. A consistent contributor to the team in those four years has been Kayla Cruz. She's been a starter for our Varsity team since her Freshman year and has demonstrated great versatility for the program. Being a team player, Kayla has volunteered to split time between singles and doubles during her tenure. Last year, as a Junior, Kayla was a part of our CIF Championship team, paired up with Emily Lu to form our #1 Doubles team. Kayla then went back to playing Singles for the team her Senior year. With Kayla as our #1 Singles player this year, she helped lead the Patriots to their best regular season ever, finishing in 2nd place in the Pacific Coast League. Kayla is an excellent role model for the underclassmen demonstrating a great attitude on the court while simultaneously achieving in the classroom. Coach Friendt added, "What I really admire about Kayla is that she's not afraid to constantly challenge herself on and off the court." Kayla has been an integral part of the program's development over the past four years and she'll be remembered as a leader and a winner.
Recent BTV Episodes
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Why Challenge Success?
Why Challenge Success


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By Francis Wiese
Since COP26, the world has been lurched into new crises. How will this impact COP27 promises of climate finance?
Under an intense spotlight, many nations declared new climate commitments and pledges at COP26 last year. They also reiterated promises of financial support for those who most urgently need to adapt the impacts of rising global temperatures. But since then, much of the world has lurched into new crises around basic living—including costs of food, energy, and water.
At the Bonn Climate Change Conference in June, John Kerry, US climate envoy, warned that the war in Europe can't serve as an excuse to prolong reliance on coal. Experts also raised flags saying that wealthy nations could continue to renege on their climate adaptation and mitigation financing promises to low-income nations.
At November's COP27 in Egypt, leaders are being looked upon to carry out important actions. They include implementing carbon markets, embedding more ambitious nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and long-term strategies, doubling finance for adaptation measures, and for the global north to live up to its commitments under the Paris Agreement. But as inflation soars and stock markets struggle to recover, where will climate action fall in the priority list for nations? Will we see it drop as countries deal with an increasing number of citizens struggling financially?
Francis Wiese
Vice President, Science Director, Climate Solutions
Contact Francis
In the face of living crises, rising energy prices, and devastating weather impacts, where will climate action fall in the priority list for nations at COP27?
Local actions, global emissions
Action on CO2 may be local, but the CO2 emission account is a global one. To transition to a net zero future as fast as we can means prioritizing projects that reduce or remove carbon quicker and in greater quantities. This is regardless of where they are in world or whether they are accounted for in national policies or private-sector targets.
Net zero policy and action needs to respond to this global-local balance to challenge where we can get the best results. While early actions on carbon emissions locally may be cheap, it's not long before the easy wins are won. then the cost of carbon abatement goes up. With the limited amount of global economic firepower on display in 2022, it seems foolish to use capital to remove carbon at around US$12,000 per ton in developed nations when emerging economies still have not actioned their quick wins.
Our teams are involved in some projects that are "easy wins" in low-income countries. These projects also support adaptation and other ecosystem services goals. They include enabling the participation of Africa's private sector in climate-related investments, supporting countries to develop their intended NDCs, and helping Ethiopia achieve climate change ambitions.
Some energy-efficiency measures that seem basic in some parts of the world—more efficient lighting and better building insulation—represent untapped potential in less developed countries.
In many areas, securing reliable electricity via microgrids and home solar systems could reduce CO2 emissions. As an example, West Africa still relies on dirty and expensive diesel to run backup generators to cover more than 40% of its electricity needs.
Directing money to emerging economies requires developed nations to be smarter about the best use of equity. The cost of carbon abatement, as part of whole life carbon analysis, is a critical metric to direct limited financial resources and get maximum benefit in the near term.
Net zero policy and action needs to respond to the global-local balance to really challenge where we can get the best results, such as easy wins that simultaneously support adaptation and other ecosystem services goals in low-income countries.
Competition to encourage action, and collaboration
This does not mean developed nations and the private sector should buy their way out of their emissions. Governments and the private sector need to work together. We know competition encourages action, innovation, and investment. It's how we encourage global executives to implement changes, drive improvements, and create better services.
But at the same time, we are all connected across the world. Private sector peer-to-peer collaboration and public-private partnerships have a key role to play to adapt to and mitigate climate change. By working together and sharing clever ideas, we can produce thought leadership, innovation, and implement change—with some healthy competition thrown into the mix to drive it on that much further. Indeed, this need for partnerships to tackle climate change and other global challenges has been recognized for some time and is reflected in the U.N.'s Sustainable Development Goal 17: Partnerships for the Goals.
However, it requires a shift from purely thinking about shareholders and stock prices. It's essential to include the global human, environmental, and economic factors while supporting a global transition to a net zero future.
But as inflation soars and stock markets struggle to recover, where will climate action fall in the priority list for nations?
It can happen
Some recent examples of inspiring cross-sector partnerships and collaborations include:
USAID Power Africa Initiative: It is a collaboration between USAID and more than 150 companies to bring online 30,000 megawatts of cleaner and more renewable energy connecting 60 million new homes and businesses.
Global Forest Watch: It is a partnership between Google, the World Resources Institute, the University of Maryland, and more than 40 other partners. The goal is to quickly and more accurately detect deforestation, It will lead to appropriate forest protection.
Green Climate Fund: It combines private and public funding to work together on climate innovation and test new business models.
We Mean Business Coalition: This cross-sector collaboration is designed to raise the bar and send a signal that the private sector is not only acting on climate but also that it expects government and other stakeholders to act.
We are in this together. Only together will we help safeguard environmental and human well-being and accelerate the technological innovations we still need.
With more than 25 years working in the marine environment throughout the world, Francis is active in increasing climate change awareness and providing solutions.


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Home > Featured > NEIL YOUNG + PROMISE OF THE REAL – THE MONSANTO YEARS
NEIL YOUNG + PROMISE OF THE REAL – THE MONSANTO YEARS
July 9, 2015 August 17, 2015 Music Express
(Reprise Records)
As the album title implies, this is a work about dust, hard work, and being taken for a ride by the Man. In this 21st century version of outrage, the symbol of the Man has been replaced by the Corporation, that vast descriptor for the power behind all things going wrong in the world, especially in North America.
Joined by the band Promise of the Real with Lukas Nelson (vocals/guitar) and Micah Nelson (guitar, vocals), sons of Willie, plus Anthony Logerfo (drums), Corey McCormick (bass), and Tato Melgar (percussion), Young embeds the feel of dust and sweat in the music; raw guitar chords and raspy vocals with just enough twang to sit on the fence between folk rock and country. The songs are dirty and gritty and you have the sense that dust was everywhere in the studio when the band was recording.
Young's plaintive timbre is dry, reflective of the lyrics and the fact that he is still angry after all these years. And that is good. There isn't enough thoughtful protest in music anymore, or if there is, it isn't being played on the corporate radio stations.
Young, having cut his teeth in the era of sit-ins still waves the flag of indignation. Though it's more difficult to be noticed now it helps when one defines a common villain: Monsanto, Walmart, Starbucks, and Chevron give name to the villain with the underlying narrative is that corporations are bad and rob us of our dignity. Note bad, not evil for Young sings in "Big Box" that corporations have souls just like us only they're "just harder to control."
To give Young credit, he acknowledges that listeners are complicate in the issue in "People Want To Hear About Love." He focuses on the apathy of those who don't want to hear songs about reality and the tribulations of the world, who desire their music to be sugary sweet and empty of meaning, to which I am in full agreement.
Also, it is curious to hear how Young uses the word Monsanto through many of the songs as choruses, refrains, and near chants. This repetition tends to wear a little thin after a few listens, but it certainly drives home his point.
Unfortunately, Promise of the Real are simply supporters in this venture where more diversity of sound would have been welcome. This isn't a great album, but it's a necessary one with melodies that are catchy enough to elevate the material above curmudgeonly rants from an aging rocker. Give it a listen when you think that the world is falling apart. It won't cheer you up, but it can provide a soundtrack to your angst and help you realize that you are not alone.
Consider: A New Day For Love, People Want To Hear About Love, A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop, and Workin' Man
[youtube width="390″ height="228″ video_id="belEBMZu_Tg"]
Featured News A New Day For Love, A Rock Star Bucks A Coffee Shop, and Workin' Man, Neil Young, People Want To Hear About Love, THE MONSANTO YEARS
Pemberton: The Ultimate Festival Experience
Danielle Marie – Here Right Now


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by Paige Donner (All photos © 2019)
Ever wondered what the (not 'a', but 'the') famous French chef's vegetable gardens look like? You know the chef I mean, the one whose 3-Michelin starred Parisian all-vegetable restaurant became world-famous precisely because of the chef's skill with, and quality of, his vegetables.
Of course I am referring to Chef Alain Passard and his one-of-a-kind Arpége.
In an era when many 3-Michelin star chefs find it challenging to make their prestige restaurants profitable, and so open up bistros and branded niche foods in multiple locations and dozens of countries, this chef has chosen to remain with one, and one only, iconic, landmark dining legend.
"Je suis bien chez moi," he declares, when asked. "I like being in my own kitchens. I like being 'at home' where everything is familiar. I don't feel the need to go elsewhere, or open up a global empire of restaurants…".
In other words, he seems pretty happy.
Certainly one of the brilliant components to his success is his recognition of his raw materials, in this case vegetables. They must be treated, he advises, with jewel-like reverence and care.
"The gardener is as important as the chef, " said Alain Passard at lunch last week, "At least until harvest time and up until the vegetables arrive in my kitchens."
Lunch, before it has met with Chef Passard's formidable skill
This lovingly restored Château in Normandy is not the only gardens he cultivates and possesses. He started on this quest for the perfect herbs and vegetables several decades ago with his first vegetables cultivated on his land in Sarthe. Up here in Normandy, about an hour and 15 minutes from Paris, is, however, the space where he has room to receive guests. On March 11th, thanks to Oenoteam, a Libourne (Bordeaux) based team of enologists, some 30 of us had the privilege and delight to be Chef Passard's guests for lunch.
No meat passed our lips that day at lunch. Though we dined on boeuf bourguignon (in a blind tasting anyone would have sworn to it) and a miniature hamburger-slider – each dish based on the magic of a beetroot under the care, cultivation, guidance and manipulation of Chef Passard's creativity and skillful tool sets.
Wines were provided by Oenoteam, whose wine consulting includes over 200 clients in both the Left and Right banks of Bordeaux, as well as clients in Southwest France, the Loire and other prestige regions of France. The team is: Stéphane Toutoundji, Thomas Duclos, Julien Belle and Marie-Laure Badet Murat. Their philosophy is to allow wines their own expression, rather than to impose a style onto a wine. Oenoteam.
It's not always easy to pair wines with vegetables and all-vegetable meals. But each of the choices here, including a 2015 Pomerol, were right on the mark.
As a parting shot, the chef challenged us all to return with a wine for him to pair with Asparagus. : )
For groups interested in booking the chef's Château Normandy for a private gathering of their own, contact the Chef's team @ alain-passard.com/en/
And, local's TIP: (Find it on his website)
Bring home a piece of Arpège…
Every morning, our gardeners harvest vegetables & fruits that are then served at the restaurant. And every morning, they pick a little more, and fill wooden baskets with the jewels of our soil, just for you…
Subscribe to our newsletter, and you'll receive all our weekly offers of Baskets & Treats, to pick up from the restaurant or to be delivered at your doorstep !
MORE PHOTOS ON FoodWine.Photography
All sculptures pictured here are by the Chef Alain Passard.
Listen to the Paris GOODfood+wine podcast. Chef Passard was featured in our first season.
Find it HERE: soundcloud.com/paigedonner/episode-9-goodfoodwine-host-producer-paige-donner-copyright-september-2015-29-10seconds


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Tikkun (https://www.tikkun.org/unprecedented-moral-challenge)
Unprecedented Moral Challenge
By David Ray Griffin | April 16, 2015
Fossil-fuel corporations, aided and abetted by political leaders and the major media, especially in the United States, have already put sufficient CO2 into the atmosphere and ocean to guarantee that coming generations will live on a much less pleasant planet. The crucial question now is whether the political world, with continued inaction, will inflict on coming generations a planet that is not merely unpleasant but hellish – a hellish world that, with still more inaction, will lead to the destruction of civilization. Or will the political world finally rally, acting fast and decisively enough to save a tolerable planet for our descendants? This is an unprecedented moral challenge.
This article is an excerpt from Unprecedented: Can Civilization Survive the CO2 Crisis? published by Clarity Press in 2015.
The basic statement of the National Climate Ethics Campaign, which was started in 2011, says:
The U.S. has failed to take aggressive action on climate change in large part because the issue has been framed around economic self-interest: opponents of action claim that the costs to jobs and the economy are too high; proponents of action claim emission reductions will create jobs and be good for the economy. Missing from this debate is the deeply disturbing moral and ethical implications of climate change.
This challenge, as Bill McKibben has said in his Rolling Stone article "Global Warming's Terrifying New Math" is "the greatest challenge humans have ever faced." To have a chance of meeting this challenge, the human race will need to give primary attention to this task for at least the next three decades. During this period, the human race will need to operate out of a moral stance that, far from belittling the importance of this task, provides motivation to make whatever sacrifices and tough decisions will prove to be necessary. Decisions need to be made, in other words, on the basis of climate morality.
Climate Morality
An adequate treatment of the issues involved in climate morality would be long and complex, but some of the main issues can be mentioned.
A Global Ethic
Although it is sometimes claimed that there are no universal moral principles, this is an exaggeration of the truth about cultural relativism. Many commentators (including: Gene Outka and John P. Reeder, Jr., Prospects for a Common Morality; Henry Shue, Basic Rights: Subsistence, Affluence, and U.S. Foreign Policy, 2nd edition; Hans Küng, A Global Ethic for Global Politics and Economics; and David Ray Griffin, "Ethics and the Fabric of the Universe.") have pointed out that there is sufficient commonality in the various traditions to ground a global ethic.
Roman Catholic theologian Hans Küng, in a book entitled A Global Ethic for Global Politics and Economics, has pointed out that all, or at least most, religious traditions affirm some version of what Christians have called the golden rule - at least in its negative formulation, sometimes called the "silver rule": Do not do to others what you would not want them to do to you.
Even Michael Walzer, who had previously emphasized cultural relativism, has argued, in his book Thick and Thin: Moral Argument at Home and Abroad, that the various traditions provide "the makings of a thin and universalist morality." Such a morality would be "a set of standards to which all societies can be held - negative injunctions, most likely, rules against murder, deceit, torture, oppression, and tyranny." Within Western civilization, he added, "these standards will probably be expressed in the language of rights," which "is not a bad way of talking about injuries and wrongs that no one should have to endure."
Ten Climate Commandments
This is also not a bad way of talking about morality in relation to global warming. Phrased in terms of negative injunctions and couched in biblical language, we could state ten climate commandments thus:
Thou shalt not ruin civilization's climate.
Thou shalt not impose hotter weather on people.
Thou shalt not impose drought on people.
Thou shalt not increase destructive storms.
Thou shalt not deprive people of clean water.
Thou shalt not deprive people of food.
Thou shalt not ruin people's seas.
Thou shalt not flood people's lands.
Thou shalt not force people to migrate.
Thou shalt not lie to justify any such acts.
The fossil-fuel corporations have violated all of these commandments. By failing to protect people from these violations, the US government, along with many other governments, is equally responsible for the violation of these commandments. By way of illustrating the minimal amount of protection that people should be able to expect from the present system of global governance, which is led by the United States (although officially by the United Nations), ethicist Henry Shue, in "Let Whatever is Smouldering Erupt? Conditional Sovereignty, Reviewable Intervention and Rwanda 1994," used the 1994 Rwanda massacre:
"Any system of global governance [said Shue] is ridiculous if it allows . . . people with machetes [to] move house to house, day by day, hacking unarmed civilians to death until half a million innocents have been murdered and twice that number of people have fled from their homes in panic."
This provides a good analogy for what is going on with climate change. Our system of national and global governance is ridiculous insofar as it allows people owning oil, coal, and natural gas companies to pollute our air and oceans day after day, year after year, decade after decade, getting filthy rich by violating all 10 climate commandments, thereby making the planet increasingly inhospitable. These moral reprobates – both the fossil-fuel corporations and the governments that give them a free hand, even providing them with subsidies and low taxes – have already forced millions of people from their habitats, with many tens of millions to follow. It is long past time for the climate commandments to be enforced.
Basic Human Rights
Although the language of "ten commandments" alludes to a particular tradition, Henry Shue, like Michael Walzer, refers to universal rights – rights that belong to humans qua humans. In referring to the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which was approved by the General Assembly of the United Nations in 1948, James Nickel wrote, in his book Making Sense of Human Rights: Philosophical Reflections on the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, that it referred to rights that are "universal, to be held by people simply as people."
This idea, which goes back at least to the Stoic philosophers, was articulated in 1789 in the French Declaration of the Rights of Man, which spoke of rights that are "natural" and hence "imprescriptible." The same basic idea was expressed in the American Declaration of Independence, which spoke of "unalienable rights." This idea has, of course, had major effects. For example, philosopher Alfred North Whitehead pointed out, in "Democracy and the French Revolution," that the idea of "the essential rights of human beings, arising from their sheer humanity," was a necessary condition for the 19th-century delegitimation and abolition of slavery in the West.
The idea of human rights is equally relevant to the delegitimation and abolition of energy systems based on fossil fuels, which will be necessary if human beings in coming decades and centuries are to enjoy their right to a comfortable climate, a flourishing ocean, and clean air and water.
Building on the idea of human rights, Henry Shue, in a book called Basic Rights, distinguished between basic and less basic rights. Some human rights are basic because the "enjoyment of them is essential to the enjoyment of all other rights." One of those basic rights - which is stated at the outset of the Declaration of Independence - is the right to life. This right implies rights regarding everything necessary for life. Although the American government has recently given primary attention to violations of physical security, ethicist John Vincent, agreeing with and quoted by Shue, has written, "the right to life is as much about providing the wherewithal to sustain life as protecting it against violence."
Shue pointed out, moreover, that John Stuart Mill even gave it priority, saying that security from violence is the "most indispensable of all necessaries, after physical nutriment." This point was also made in the 1980 Presidential Commission on World Hunger, which said:
"Whether one speaks of human rights or basic human needs, the right to food is the most basic of all. Unless that right is first fulfilled, the protection of other human rights becomes a mockery."
Food is, of course, not the only basic right implied by the right to life. The right to water to drink and to grow food is equally necessary for life, as is the right to non-toxic air and other necessities. To come to the main implication of the distinction: Basic rights, by virtue of being basic, trump all nonbasic rights. Rights that are essential to life are people's vital interests in the most literal sense of the term. The vital interests of people should always take precedence over the non-vital interests of others. Even if these non-vital interests be considered rights, they are not basic rights and hence can be trumped.
Some people hold that an interest in having an unlimited amount of money gives one a right to make it, along with a right to have all the luxury items one desires. But insofar as a right to such riches and luxuries exists – it is really a desire, not a right - it would be immoral to allow it to trump the vital necessities, and hence basic rights, of others. Shue noted that John Locke, whose writings inspired much in early American thought, "had taken for granted that the right to accumulate private property was limited by a universal right to subsistence."
In light of these moral principles, the "right" of ExxonMobil, Chevron, and the Koch brothers to accumulate more and more money would, in a moral system of national and global governance, be trumped by the basic rights of people around the world to have non-toxic air, non-polluted water to drink, adequate water for agriculture, thriving land and marine life, and a sea-level that will not force them to move.
(This article is an excerpt from Unprecedented: Can Civilization Survive the CO2 Crisis? published by Clarity Press in 2015.)
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About David Ray Griffin
David Ray Griffin is emeritus professor of philosophy of religion at Claremont School of Theology and Claremont Graduate University.
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The Psychopathology of the 2016 Election
IT'S NO SECRET that the past several decades have witnessed growing economic inequality and deepening economic insecurity for a very large section of working people both in the U.S. and other capitalist countries around the world. Yet what most analysts miss are the hidden injuries of class that become dramatically intensified when the underlying psychological and spiritual dysfunction of global capitalism interacts with economic insecurity.
30.2 Spring


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Click Here for Required Stage 1 |2 |3 |4 |5 |6 |7 |8 |9 |10 |11 |12 |13 |14
Reflections of a Globe Trotting Pensioner
Never before had I arisen at 4 am on New Years day to commence a cycle tour, but then this was rather a special tour. It was almost 4 hours later that cycling history was made in Southern California when the largest group ever (247) set off on a bicycle trek around the World.
Following 7 years of planning Odyssey 2000 ® had been dubbed as the cycle event of the century. It will last for 366 days and cover 28,000 Kilometres over 45 Countries and 5 continents. Having personally toured extensively over the past 6 years (since retiring) this was for me the climax of my own 3 1/2 years of planning and preparation.
The first 8 kilometres of day one was completed in a glare of publicity (as only the Americans know how) and for me, being one of only 2 UK registered riders it was a unique and unforgettable experience. The start of Odyssey 2000 ® coincided with the famous annual Tournament of Roses Parade in Pasadena and we (247 of us) had been invited to lead the parade at a sedate 5 MPH. The parade was due to be screened on the Nations TV networks starting at 8 am, but for reasons (yet unknown) our Police motorcycle escort moved us off at 7.50 am . In spite of this there were an estimated 1 million spectators who lined the famous Colorado Boulevard some of whom had camped out the previous night to ensure a good spot.
When I registered for Odyssey 2000 in July of 96 I did not fully appreciate that the final weeks of planning and preparation would be so traumatic and stressful. The climax of literally moving house and planning for an absence of over one year came when I locked the door on April Cottage (my home in the Vale of Glamorgan) on 10th December, and the following day handed over the keys of my car. There was almost a sense of relief at that point, although there was still much to be done before our departure for Gatwick at 5.30 am on 12th so much so that I did not get to bed the previous night.
It had been over 12 months earlier that I had decided to avoid travelling out to California over Christmas so I had reserved accommodation from 12th December at Escondido between San Diego and Los Angeles. At the time I had no idea who would be travelling with me (if anyone) there were in the end 6 of us including my sole UK companion for the year 2000 (John a CTC member from Lincolnshire) together with his wife Celia and 3 other friends.
We touched down at San Diego at around 4.30 pm local time on 12th after a 15 hour journey which included a stopover in Phoenix Arizona. After picking up our hire vehicle we checked in to our apartment near Escondido, a mountain resort situated 45 miles north of San Diego.
Monday the following day saw us returning to San Diego where John and I had arranged to collect our Global 2000 Odyssey bikes. As expected adjustments and additions were required, plus the fitting of our own saddle and pedals so, it was arranged that we would return on Thursday after getting in a couple of rides.
Whilst I was down as a reserve driver on our hire vehicle I was thankful that John had agreed to do most of the driving for the next 2 weeks. Whilst I have had some driving experience in the US, I felt this was another experience I could do without even as a passenger travelling on the 8 lane interstate highway which runs from San Diego to Los Angeles. (it makes the M4 look like a country lane)
On Sunday 19th Dec we had a rendezvous with around 12 of our Odyssey 2000 companions who live within driving and cycling distance of our apartment. Then after Christmas it was back to the drawing board with the final packing before we travel on 30th December to the Hilton Hotel at Burbank north of Los Angeles for the 2 days of meetings/celebrations with the 240 odd folk who will be our cycling companions for the 366 days commencing on New year`s day.
Arthur (can`t wait to get going) rider number 89.


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Welcoming to staff and guests alike
By Cao Qian | March 11, 2011, Friday | Print Edition
FOR Alvaro Rautenberg, general manager of Kempinski Hotel Suzhou, the kitchen, before anything else, is the heart of the operation in a hotel.
The Brazil-born German, tall and loquacious, is more than qualified to suggest this. Prior to his position as a general manager, he has been overseeing the food and beverage business in hotels around the world for about 20 years, in addition to six years' experience of cooking during the initial stage of his hospitality career.
"I don't know whether it is true for others, but I remember from my own upbringing at home that the biggest family gatherings were always in the kitchen and I think the hotel business is somehow the same," said Rautenberg, who first came to China in 1994 for roughly four years before returning to the country in 2003 and staying ever since. "It is true that guests stay and sleep in the rooms but when it comes to food, it is one of the big parts of the hotel business."
Even after more than 20 years, Rautenberg admitted that he's still fascinated when he sees people busy in a kitchen, with everyone knowing exactly what to do. It is, out of all, the "action" that keeps him enthralled.
"I have to be honest that it was because of the kitchen that I chose to work in the industry," he said.
But now, as the general manager of a five-star hotel with 458 rooms and suites, Rautenberg is required to spend more time getting along with people, which fortunately seems to be another interest and strength of his.
"The good thing about being a general manager is that you can combine both - getting along with people and being involved in the action," he said. "You are not bound to your desk and always have the possibility of walking around."
An advocate of the idea of sharing, the 42-year-old spicy food lover adopts an open-door policy for his management style, which means every employee is welcome to visit him anytime he is in his office.
And his straight-forwardness seems to be paying off.
"The team have done outstanding work. My biggest happiness and biggest achievement is that I put a team together which works well together," he said.
It is also a Kempinski style, or one of the strengths of the Kempinski brand, which is, compared to some other international hotel chains, a more people-oriented company.
Oldest luxury hotel group worldwide with prestigious heritage, Kempinski, as a private company, has been growing around the world in a highly selective way, which has enabled it to become a company which, to some extent, knows every one of its employees by their name.
In his latest effort to promote talent, Rautenberg fought hard to win support from headquarters to send one of his Chinese employees to Egypt for a 40-day training program.
"It's important, though sometimes difficult, to keep people in mind," he said. "At Kempinski, we report every three months what we have done in regards to people."
While enjoying his role as a general manager being capable of motivating and directing people to success, which helps lead to his own success as well, Rautenberg has his own perspective toward intensified competition from a growing number of counterparts.
"On one hand, it is a good sign to see more companies coming because it must be a region that everyone believes will boom," he said. "On the other, margins are getting smaller and if you cannot do a good job, your pieces of cake can get smaller."
Boasting a 1,850-square-meter grand ballroom, probably one of the largest in the region, Kempinski Suzhou has been attracting strong MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions) business.
And instead of cutting prices to lure customers as some of his counterparts would do, especially during the hard times, Rautenberg prefers to focus more on adding value to his property. In particular, by adding something that other hotels and competitors cannot do, such as an indoor tennis court and a 50-meter-long swimming pool.
Competitive, passionate and target-oriented, Rautenberg said he actually has no time in mind to leave China after living here for more than 10 years in total.
"I feel at home and safe in China despite my foreign outlook and not very good Chinese language skill, except from perhaps some crazy drivers," he joked.
There is no better time to spoil yourself and your family with the best deal in town than the present. Discover the joy of being with your loved ones and indulge with us, right here, right now.
Kempinski Suzhou's spacious lakeview guest rooms, breathtaking lakeside private garden and spectacular health club with fully equipped gym, 50-meter-long heated indoor swimming pool and Jacuzzi will guarantee you a memorable fun-splashing good time with your family. For 1,280 yuan (US$195) plus a 15 percent surcharge you can enjoy a one-night stay in a Deluxe Room, complimentary sumptuous buffet breakfasts for two adults and one child, complimentary extra bed for a child, complimentary in-room high-speed Internet access and free access to the health club.
For an extra 100 yuan, you can be upgraded to a Deluxe Lakeview Room. Valid until May 31. Favorite Dish
Crispy pork knuckle is a typical Bavarian dish and a favorite all over Germany. It is the perfect mix of crunchy crackling and tender caraway and garlic-infused meat.
June 2009~currentGeneral manager of Kempinski Hotel Suzhou
April 2007~May 2009General manager of Kempinski Shenyang
February 2007~April 2007 EAM of Kempinski Shenyang
February 2006~February 2007EAM of Kempinski Sanya