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Obama Takes On Extremism On Guns
WASHINGTON — President Obama went big in offering a remarkably comprehensive plan to curb gun violence, and good for him. But his announcement Wednesday is only the beginning of a protracted struggle for national sanity on firearms. Extremists have controlled the debate on guns for many years. They will do all they can to preserve a bloody status quo. The irrationality of their approach must be exposed and their power broken.
Far from acting as if his work was now done, the president made clear that he is fully invested in seeing his agenda realized — and fully prepared to lead a national movement to loosen the grip of resignation and cynicism in the face of brutality and carnage. Gun violence is not some "boutique" issue, as it is occasionally called. We are in danger of having mass shootings define us as a nation. As a people, we must rise up against this obscenity.
This fight is especially challenging for many who view themselves as "moderates" or "centrists." Moderation is a thoroughly honorable disposition, and Obama's proposals are moderation incarnate. By international standards, they are very cautious. The president did not call for registering all guns or confiscating assault weapons. He strongly endorsed the Supreme Court's interpretation of the Second Amendment right to bear arms. He is operating within a broad consensus about what is possible and what can work.
An assault weapons ban received 38 Republican votes in the House in 1994 and is backed by 58 percent of Americans, according to a Washington Post/ABC News poll. Were those Republicans outside the mainstream? And what about that 58 percent of Americans? The poll also found that 65 percent favored a ban on high-capacity magazines, another part of the Obama plan, and 88 percent favored closing the gun show loophole, part of the effort to make sure there are background checks for all gun purchases.
But the lobbies that purport to speak for gun owners (while actually representing the interests of gun manufacturers) don't care what the public thinks. They tried to pretend the president's ideas are radical. And it shows how perverse our national conversation can become when those who speak in the name of civility, reason and bipartisanship give in to timidity.
Too often, moderation has become a synonym for cowardice. Too often, moderates lack the guts to define the sensible middle of the road themselves — as Obama has done on the gun issue — and then defend it. Instead, they yield to the temptation to calibrate where everyone else stands before deciding what they believe. This allows extremists who lack any shame to drag our discourse off the road entirely, into a ditch of unreason, fear and invective.
After the NRA's vile new advertisement that uses Secret Service protection for the president's daughters to make a small-minded political point, can anyone take the organization's arguments seriously again? Aren't politicians who continue to bow low before the NRA complicit with a crowd that lacks any sense of decency?
It tells us all we need to know that the gun lobby is deeply afraid of the facts and the evidence. This is why one of the most important actions the president took was to end the ban on research into gun violence by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention that the weapons lobby had forced through a compliant Congress.
Yet Obama and Vice President Joe Biden also worked hard to find middle ground in their anti-violence program in drawing on concerns raised since the Sandy Hook tragedy by gun rights advocates. Obama thus addressed not only firearms issues but also the imperative to improve school security and our mental health system, as well as the need to know more about the impact of violent videogames.
Most heartening of all was the tone the president took. He did not cast himself as an evenhanded umpire far above the fray, handing down ideas that all people of good will would inevitably accept. He acknowledged that the battle ahead would be difficult. He predicted he would have to fight the lie that his plan constituted "a tyrannical assault on liberty." And he sought to mobilize a new effort to counteract the entrenched power of those who have dictated submissiveness in the face of bloodshed.
"Enough," Obama declared, insisting that change would come only "if the American people demand it."
Will we?
E.J. Dionne's email address is firstname.lastname@example.com.
(c) 2013, Washington Post Writers Group
Photo credit: AP/Charles Dharapak


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Do you wonder who recommends you change your toothbrush every three months? It's the manufacturers. Those who would benefit most from you changing your toothbrush four times a year. Do you believe them? Until I see scientific evidence to the contrary I am happy to use my toothbrush for a year, or more if it's still looking good. I use an electric toothbrush and I do take care of it, when you have a £150.00 top of the range Oral B, you look after it! It actually gets treated better than my girlfriend! (She didn't cost so much!)
Water filters are another thing that can be used more than the manufacturers recommend. Of course they say four weeks will use up the goodness contained in their little filters. Well, that's based on the filter being used by an average family of four. I'm certainly not average, and I'm definitely not a family of four. I'll use those filters (instead of bottle water which is about twenty times as much!), for at least six weeks, depending on actual consumption.
Try to overuse things and squeeze the value from every product you use and save those pennies.

subset: commoncrawl


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Well, I'm back from Lilac Lane once again. I'm Melissa Ann Stramel. Do your kids have the January blahs? Bake up this easy activity bag for them and fill it with crayons, coloring books, puzzles, books and games. It's great for a car trip or church. Even better, one charm pack makes two bags! You will use every piece of the charm pack to make two activity bags.
- 1 charm pack (I used Love U by Deb Strain)
- 1/2 yard of two different coordinating fabrics (one for each bag)
- 1 magnetic snap
- small piece of medium weight interfacing (4 inches by 15 inches is plenty)
- very small piece of heavyweight interfacing (2 x 4)
There are lots of good ways to dress up these bags: buttons, ricrac, ribbon, lace, felt appliques, etc. However, this fabric is so cute, I felt no embellishment was needed.
2. Choose nine squares for the front of the bag and nine for the back. Think about where the front will join the back and make sure you don't put two very similar ones together. At this time you should also pick out two squares for the back pocket and one for the inside pocket.
3. Using a 1/4″ seam, sew two large nine-patch blocks with the squares you've chosen for the front and the back of the bag. Go ahead and sew the two pieces for the outside pocket together as well. The pocket will be horizontal, so if your fabric is directional, make sure to place it correctly.
4. Now, taking your half yard of coordinating fabric, cut the following:
- 2 – 14 x 14 inch pieces for the bag lining
- 1 – 5 x 5 for inside pocket
- 1 – 5 x 9.5 for outside pocket
- 1- 5.75 x 15 for crayon pocket
- 2 – 4 x 14 for bag handles
5. Working with the fabric you cut for the crayon pocket, fold it in half so that it is still 15 inches long, but half as wide and sew down the raw edges with the right sides together. Leave both ends open. Turn it right side out.
6. Press the pocket so that the seam is at the bottom and the fabric, if directional, still faces the right way. (Hint: If you don't put the seam at the bottom, it's harder to take crayons in and out of the pocket.)
7. Center the crayon pocket in the middle of the bottom seam of the 9-patch you made for the bag front. Pin in place and then topstitch (1/8″ or less) along the bottom of the pocket.
- It works best to start at the bottom seam that you already made and work up to the top of the pocket.
- Make your lines as straight and as evenly spaced as possible, but don't worry if you get off. Once the crayons are in the pockets, they cover many mistakes.
- Make sure to snip all your threads.
9. There are lots of ways to make pockets. I prefer mine lined. To make pockets this way, take the outside pocket, sew around three sides, leaving one of the short sides open. Clip the corners and turn right side out.
10. Press the pocket flat and then turn in the open side 1/4 inch and press it closed.
11. Center the pocket on the middle row of the 9-patch you created for the bag back. Pin in place and sew around all sides except the top. (You do want it to open!)
12. Repeat these steps for the small inside pocket. (Kids love pockets!) Center it in the top third of one of the lining pieces and sew around the three sides.
13. Take the bag front and back and placing right sides together, sew around three sides, leaving the top open.
14. Turn the bag right side out. It should look something like this.
15. Repeat the last step for the bag lining EXCEPT leave a large opening in the bottom of the bag. Somewhere between 6 and 8 inches should be plenty. You will need this to properly put the lining of the bag into the outside of the bag.
16. Place the bag, with the right sides facing out, inside of the bag lining. pin the side seams together and make sure everything looks like it will fit together. Then measure the middle point across the top of the bag. (Should be about 6.5 inches.) Measure 1.5 inches down and make a mark. Then taking the magnetic snap, mark where the prongs will push through the fabric. Use your ripper to make two small slits at this place. (really small, be careful!) Cut two pieces of heavyweight interfacing 2″ x 2″. Make the same slits in the middle of the interfacing piece.
17. Each snap has a male end, a female end and two washers. I prefer to put the female end on the back of the bag. The snap goes on the printed side of the bag facing. Carefully push the female end through the lining fabric. Then place the piece of interfacing over the prongs. Finally, place the washer over the prongs on the wrong side of the bag lining. Push the prongs inward to secure the snap. Hint: Pushing the prongs in instead of out makes the snap more secure. Repeat this procedure on the other side of the lining with the male end.
18. Now taking the two bag handles, press in 1/4″ on both sides.
19. Press the handle in half and measure its width.
20. Taking the measured width, cut a piece of medium weight interfacing 15 inches by 1/8″ less than your measurement. Push this piece of interfacing under one of the pressed under 1/4″ flaps. Fold the handle back in half and, if it is iron-on interfacing, go ahead and press it so it will stick to one side. Repeat with the other handle.
21. Topstitch along both sides of the handle. Hint: If you used iron-on interfacing, place the side with the interfacing fused to it on top. The handle will feed through the machine more easily.
22. Take one of the handles and place it inside of the bag, between the lining and the bag. Measure two inches from a side seam, and pin the outside edge there. Take the other end of the handle and do the same two inches from the other side seam. Then repeat with the other handle on the other side of the bag. (Hint: Now is a good time to make sure there are no twists in the handle.)
23. Stitch all the way around the bag with 1/4″ seam. You may want to use a few more pins to hold everything together.
24. Remember the hole you left in the bottom of your lining? Pull the right side of the bag out through that hole.
25. Keep pulling until the entire bag and its lining are pulled out of the bag.
26. Taking the bottom of the lining, pin the hole closed with the raw edges turned inside the lining about 1/4″. Topstitch along the bottom of the bag to close the hole.
27. Push the lining into the bag. Topstitch around the entire bag, keeping the lining on the inside and the top of the bag on the outside.
You did it! Fill your bag with goodies: games, little toys, crayons and coloring books. Make your child's day with something bright to fill those winter hours. Then come visit me at Lilac Lane for even more great ideas!


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In one instance of this hate crime, a single moment, thousands, tens of thousands, nay, hundreds of thousands were struck and terrified by this singular exhibit of this ongoing hate crime. This hate crime is so pervasive that it never ceases and is being furthered and perpetuated somewhere every hour of every day. This hate crime has several varieties but one surpasses all others combined in frequency and sheer forcefulness. When the hate crime, this particular form of hate crime, is committed it usually takes a form which strikes the hearts and lives of numerous simultaneously as is the intents of the perpetrators. This hate crime exists in every country, even in areas where its victims have never existed, visited, or ever been known by this select group of hate criminals. This is the only hate crime where there need not be any victim present or even within hundreds or even thousands of miles yet these hate crimes are still committed but often ignored. What is more remarkable is that places where there are real victims, unless one specific individual is struck personally, visibly, and dramatically with presentable damage or injury for the crime to be actually researched and possibly prosecuted. More often than not, contrary to much public opinion, another less visible result of the propensity and sitting on the extreme periphery of this specific form of hate crime, these more virulent nonspecific group targeted versions of this hate crime, the most common variety, the extent of police attention barely exceeds the taking of the initial report and just over half the time taking follow-up reports beyond taking a finalized list of physical damages and the cost of repairs.
What are the signs of this hate crime? Well, let us be honest, it is a group of hate crimes all aimed at a single measurable group who are readily identified though not necessarily easily discerned if one had to choose them from a line-up. Often these hate crimes are committed against the dead through desecration of grave sites, headstones, walls, gates and other items of areas of cemeteries set aside for the people who are victimized after their passing. Often the most affected are the relatives of those whose graves have been desecrated as well as those responsible for upkeep of their cemetery, either an entire cemetery or simply a reserved section. The resting places are far from the only targets as also gathering places are targeted such as retail stores, restaurants, food stores and any place where the victims shop or own some venture. Nothing related to these victims is safe, nothing anywhere. These hate crimes are rising in their commission at what are alarming rates across Europe while politicians are ignoring these crimes while focusing on similar crimes on other groups which are far less frequent. The reporting of these other hate crimes are very much shouted by the media ringing alarm bells regularly warning that the committing of such hate crimes against this targeted group is epidemic. This reported epidemic striking this particularly vociferous group whose protestations are of great interest in the media and the public conscience as their importance is apparently immeasurable has taken center stage while amounting to less than one third the number of the hate crime we are reporting about. Three times as many hate crimes are perpetrated against a group ignored while the lesser numbers are claimed to be propagated as a plague against society of which awareness must be immediately raised and kept at a sensitivity which could only encourage fake news over faked hate crimes.
That is exactly what had occurred since the election of Donald Trump. The Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) has reported numerous high profile such purported hate crimes against Islamic women where they were victimized, reportedly, because they were wearing scarves, headscarves, hijabs, where presumably easily identifiable Trump supporters, after all the perpetrators were white and male and showing hatred, this is a reported hate crime after all, and victimizing Muslims women, which has to be the ultimate current evil, identifying them from their dress, particularly the hijab which these men tore off, demanded they remove or demanded they leave their country or other hateful acts. The SPLC had reported that hijabs had been torn off victims of these horrific hate crimes by Trump supporters at the University of Michigan (since retracted), Louisiana State University (also retracted), San Diego State University (that too was retracted), the New York City subway (again: retracted), and the University of New Mexico (no witnesses, won't reveal attacker's name or report the incident for investigation) as reported in an article titled The Great Hijab Cover-Up by Ann Coulter. These are reports that have been granted, along with similar reported crimes, close-up and intense coverage by the mainstream media as their perusal has produced reported crime wave of Islamophobic induced hate crimes. Meanwhile anti-Semitism has been largely ignored by comparison which is counterintuitive if one is aware of the actual commission of actual hate crimes as reported by the FBI for 2014 in the United States alone (see image below). Another report which came with the headline "Anti-Muslim hate crimes are still five times more common today than before 9/11" reported the actual numbers of religious hate crimes displayed two graphs, one showing the increase in anti-Muslim crimes from before and after 2001 which was significant (see image below) but still needs to be placed in context of all religious hate crimes which they did with another graph showing actual hate crimes by religion for 2013 (see image below). The combination of the two graphs, one showing the increase and then reduction to a higher new-normal of Islamophobic crimes and then the comparison showing the dominance of anti-Semitic hate crimes compared to all others usually with anti-Semitism driven hate crimes almost universally, excepting one year which proved to be an exception, 2001, being over half of the total anti-religious hate crimes proved the mainstream media, Washington Post in this particular case, to trumpet Islamophobic actions while trying to ignore or minimize by comparison anti-Semitism.
The truths about hate crimes is that anti-Semitism is by all measures the most prevalent hate crime which only gets worse when one remembers that Jews make up such a small portion of the population of the United States (less than 2%), Europe (less than 0.2%), and the world (less than 0.2% and omitting Israel approximately 0.1%). Despite the small numbers and percentages of Jews in the populations of the world by nation, continent and the world, the measure and amount of anti-Semitic feelings, beliefs, hatreds, myths and amount of ill at ease found by the Index of Anti-Semitism released by the Anti-Defamation League has some stunning revelations. Their map gives a revelation of the percentage of people responding to their questionnaire revealing they have anti-Semitic beliefs and leanings is stunning in its disclosure of the percentages worldwide by each regional or continental area is stunning, shocking and plain horrific in what it relates (see map below). Places where there are few if any Jews, it is revealed, have amounts of anti-Semitism well beyond reasoning and logic. The site above has numerous comparison tables, links to studies from previous years, about information, actual questions from the survey and other interesting information which flushes out their studies.
Anti-Semitism has permeated human history all the way back to ancient Egypt under the Pharos as related in Torah and the Old Testament. This may even be the second oldest hate crime only exceeded by virgin sacrifices which were designed to promote a higher percentage of more friendly and greater amounts of male and female interactions of intimacy in the weeks, and particularly days and hours, approaching such sacrifices. Civility may have reduced the practice of human sacrifice but anti-Semitism continues to be woven within our societies around the world. The numbers tell the story but the silence in the media tells another side of anti-Semitism, media silence. In an age where every conceivable type of hate crime is getting pages upon pages of ink with what seems like an overly copious amount of charges which after full investigation are proven to be false. The latest has been the hijab campus hate crime wave where report after report has proven out to be false reports. Despite the percentage of false report of hijab victim crimes one might think that the media might be more cautious and wait for the initial investigation to be conducted as many of these incidents were disproven within forty-eight hours, but the media has jumped at the very first hint of a report or even in one case from the Ann Coulter article where one reported case to the SPLC actually had no witnesses, would not reveal attacker's name nor report the incident for investigation to the authorities yet it made it into reports and interviews with the media where the SPLC provided information or an interviewee for a news or editorial program, both radio and television as well as print. Yet media reporting of anti-Semitic hate crimes are given less prominence and far less hyperventilating by media reporting. One would be led to believe that Islamophobia is rampant across society, especially in Europe and the United States, while anti-Semitism has been all but eliminated when the reality is except for a one year exception, 2001; anti-Semitism has had three times the numbers of hate crimes than Islamophobic hate crimes. If the media were being honest, then pictures like those below would be more prevalent than Women in a hijab crying and sobbing while telling her tale to local and national if not international media.
The conclusion is obvious, anti-Semitism has been around for such a long time that it is not new and thus not news while Islamophobia is far more recent problem, though far less than anti-Semitism, and thus is of greater interest. Further, Islam is in the news and of more interest with the Syria war, Iraq war, the recent United States and allies' involvement in Iraq and Afghanistan and other news of great interest. Much of this news is of a negative type, thus the media, which seeks to minimize the harsh realities of the violence permeating many Islamic nations, interest in finding news which places Islam in a better and more sympathetic light. Having an attractive, young Muslim woman crying on camera telling about how she was assaulted for being a Muslim, well, that is a sympathy story. Add that they are claiming that the attackers were supporters of Donald Trump make the story irresistible. On the other side of the table, we have Israel. The media has had Israel in their sights as the Obama Administration blamed Israel for his failures in forging Middle East peace between Israel and the Palestinian Authority. The stories about Israel blamed for this, Israel responsible for that, about the only failure which was not blamed on Israel was the rising cost of health insurance under Obamacare. With all of this negative Israel stories, well, Jews were not exactly near the top of the list for sympathetic coverage. This could have contributed to the near invisible coverage of anti-Semitism. Whatever the reason for the unbalanced coverage, had the media covered reality as the numbers represent, then anti-Semitism coverage would have been beyond that of all other religious hate crimes combined as the above graphs reveal clearly. But since when was news about reporting reality and what is actually happening and not about painting the picture the media elitists want you to believe. With the mainstream media so utterly left-leaning and the current position of the left being predominantly anti-Israel and anti-Zionist, it does not take a huge leap in logic to conclude that anti-Semitism could not be all that far removed.
Beyond the Cusp


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Zesty Winter Squash Soup
December 20, 2015
It's winter! Time for soups and stews. This one from our local newspaper caught my eye because Beth Dooley, creator the this recipe, is one of our local food/cooking gems here in the Twin Cities. Also, this looked so different from the soups I've been making with a mirepoix base. While some ingredients are familiar – squash, beans, tomatoes and kale – others sounded exotic in a soup – za'atar, orange zest and juice. Randy and I both loved this – we could hardly stop eating it! The recipe says it serves 4-6, but honestly after one meal we only had a tiny portion left for my lunch the next day. I will probably double the ingredients next time I make it. I was excited that I met Beth yesterday at one of our local indoor winter farmers markets and was able to tell her how much we liked this soup.
Here's Beth's note from the article in the Strib: "Note: Think of this recipe as a series of suggestions; you can add other vegetables you have on hand, substitute chickpeas for white beans, try winter squash in lieu of pumpkin. Toss in leftover turkey or chicken and call it stew. The za'atar blend of spices can be found in the spice aisle of many grocery stores, culinary shops and food co-ops. From Beth Dooley." Check out Beth's website for more about her and see all the great cookbooks she's authored. A new book, a memoir, has just come out!
And here's my note: I've been obsessed with using dried beans in soups these days following the Cook's Illustrated brining method, so I've made some adaptations to Beth's original which uses canned. If you want to take the quick and easy route, you can do so with Beth's approach in her recipe. I won't judge 🙂 (This makes me laugh because when making this soup, I texted my blog partner "I'm kicking myself for using dried beans instead of canned!") Actually, this was pretty quick and easy using the dried beans, it just took the extra step to brine/soak them.
Serves 4 to 6.
2 tablespoon olive oil
1 medium onion, diced
2-4 garlic cloves (to taste), minced
1 to 2 tablespoons za'atar (see Beth's note)
Salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste
Generous pinch red pepper flakes
4 cups chicken, turkey or vegetable stock
1 cup brined dried cannelinni or red kidney beans, rinsed and drained
1 15-ounce can diced tomatoes with their juices (1 1/2 cups)
3 cups roasted kabocha or butternut squash or pumpkin, peeled and cut into 1/2-inch cubes
1/2 cup chopped parsley
grated orange zest from 1 medium orange (or to taste)
juice from half the medium orange (or to taste)
2 cups thinly sliced kale
Brine the beans: Dissolve 3 tablespoons salt in 4 quarts of cold water. Add the beans and soak overnight or up to 24 hours. Alternatively, you can bring the beans, salt and water to a boil, turn off the heat and let sit for 1 hour. In either case, drain the beans and rinse well.
Prepare the squash: Pre-heat the oven to 375 degrees F. I used Kabocha squash of the orange variety, but green Kabocha, butternut or pumpkin would be excellent in this recipe. Whichever you use, cut the squash in half and remove the seeds. Slice into 1-inch slices. Line a baking sheet with foil and then put a skim of vegetable oil on the foil. Place the squash slices on the foil and turn to coat both sides with the oil. Bake for 10 minutes at 375 degrees, turn the squash over using tongs and bake for another 8-10 minutes. Let cool. Remove the skin with a knife and cut into 1/2-inch cubes. Set aside. (This step can be done up to 2 days ahead of making the soup.)
Make the soup: In a deep stockpot or dutch oven over medium heat, heat the oil and sauté the onion until soft, about 5 minutes. Add the garlic and stir for about a minute till fragrant. Add the Za'atar, red pepper, salt and black pepper. Stir for a minute or two till fragrant.
Add the stock and the dried beans. Bring to a boil, turn down heat to low and simmer, covered, until the beans are done. This can vary depending on type and freshness of the beans you use from 30-60 minutes. I checked after 30 minutes and the cranberry beans I used were cooked through.
Stir in the squash and the tomatoes with their juices and continue simmering for about 10 minutes to blend the flavors.
Stir in the orange zest and juice, and parsley and continue simmering another 5 minutes until the flavors meld. Adjust the seasonings and add the kale before serving hot.
One Response to "Zesty Winter Squash Soup"
December 20, 2015 at 9:00 pm
Can't wait to try this one.


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Re-posted from FreshThinking: 5 tips for choosing a co-founder
They say choosing your partner is the most important decision you will make in life. I'd say choosing your co-founder(s) is the most important decision you will make in building your company. Here are five tips to help you choose wisely:
Demand Passion
Starting a company is lonely, thankless and costly. It will test the deepest fibers of your being. The only thing that melts these obstacles away, leaves you raring for more, is passion. You can't fake passion. It lights up your eyes and charges your voice when you talk about what you love. If you have a great idea, and you want to bring it to life, find someone who is passionate about your vision.
You either have it or you don't. When the dark clouds come – and they will – you find out really quickly if you trust someone. When your mortgage is on the line, you better have trust. Mistrust is a cancer in relationships; it breeds sleepless nights and suspicion. The good news is you can avoid it by choosing a founder you trust, then work to foster deeper trust in your relationship over time. Keep in mind that it's a never ending process.
More than Money
There's more to life than money, and chances are money is a long way off if you are building a company. So again, find someone with passion as they are sure to be in it for more than the money.
Choose your Compliment
Like a partner, a co-founder should be strong in areas you are not. A great compliment to your skills is someone who loves to do things you hate, someone who makes the sum of your parts greater than the whole.
Give them Equity
This may seem like a no-brainer when founding a company, but I meet people who expect others to care as much as them about the business when they don't own any of it. If you believe they will if they don't own a piece of the business you are seriously deluded.


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In this 15 minute video from the Baltimore-based The Real News network, host Aaron Mate talks to Leon Panitch, professor of political science at York University about the proposals announced at the Labour party's conference last month that Labour intended to renationalize some of the privatized utilities, introduce profit-sharing schemes and workplace democracy in firms with over 250 members, in which 1/3 of the board would be elected by the workers.
The video includes a clip of John McDonnell announcing these policies, declaring that they are the greatest extension of economic democratic rights that this country has ever seen. He states that it starts in the workplace, and that it is undeniable that the balance of power is tipped against the worker. The result is long hours, low productivity, low pay and the insecurity of zero hours contracts. He goes on to say that Labour will redress this balance. They will honour the promise of the late Labour leader, John Smith, that workers will have full union rights from day one whether in full time, part time or temporary work. They will lift people out of poverty by setting a real living wage of ten pounds an hour.
McDonnell also says that they believe that workers, who create the wealth of a company, should share in its ownership and the returns that it makes. Employee ownership increases productivity and improves long-term decision making. Legislation will be passed, therefore, for large firms to transfer shares into an inclusive ownership fund. The shares will be held and managed collectively by the workers. The shareholders will give the workers the same rights as other shareholders to have a say over the direction of their company. And dividend payments will be made directly to the workers from the fund.
Commenting on these proposals, Panitch says that in some ways they're not surprising. McDonnell stated that Labour would inherit a mess. But his remarks were different in that usually governments use the fact that they will inherit a mess not to go through with radical policies. Panitch then talks about Labour's commitment to bring the public utilities – rail, water, electricity, the post office – public ownership, pointing out that these used to be publicly owned before Thatcher privatized them. McDonnell particularly focused on water, before going beyond it, citing the 1918 Labour party constitution's Clause IV, which Blair had removed. This is the clause committing the Labour party to the common ownership of the means of production, distribution and exchange, under the best form of popular administration. And unlike previous nationalized industries, these will be as democratically-run as possible. Councils would be set up in the water sector made up of representatives of the local community and workers' representatives to be a supervisory council over the managers in the nationalized water industry.
They then go to a clip of McDonnell talking about the nationalization of the utilities. McDonnell states that the renationalization of the utilities will be another extension of economic democracy. He states that this has proved its popularity in opinion poll after opinion poll. And it's not surprising. Water privatization is a scandal. Water bills have risen by 40 per cent in real terms since privatization. 18 billion pounds has been paid out in dividends. Water companies receive more in tax credits than they pay in tax. And each day enough water to meet the needs of 20 million people is lost due to leaks. 'With figures like that', he concludes, 'we cannot afford not to take it back into popular ownership'.
Mate and Panitch then move on to discussing the obstacles Labour could face in putting these policies into practice, most particularly from the City of London, which Panitch describes as 'the Wall Street of Britain', but goes on to say that in some ways its even more central to financialized global capitalism. However, Panitch says that 'one gets the sense' that the British and foreign bourgeoisie have resigned themselves to these industries being brought back into public ownership. And in so far as bonds will be issued to compensate for their nationalization, McDonnell has got the commitment from them to float and sell them. He therefore believes that there won't be much opposition on this front, even from capital. He believes that there will be more resistance to Labour trying to get finance to move from investing in property to productive industry.
He then moves on to talk about Labour's plans for ten per cent of the stock of firms employing 250 or more people to go into a common fund, the dividends from which would passed on to the workers up to 500 pounds a year. Anything above that would be paid to the treasury as a social fund for meeting the needs of British people and communities more generally. Panitch states that this has already produced a lot of squawking from the Confederation of British Industry. Going to giving workers a third of the seats on the boards, Panitch states that it has already been said that it will lead to a flight of capital out of Britain. He discusses how this proposal can be radical but also may not be. It could lead to the workers' representatives on these boards making alliances with the managers which are narrow and particular to that firm. The workers get caught up in the competitiveness of that firm, it stock prices and so on. He makes the point that it's hardly the same thing as the common ownership of the means of production to have workers' sitting on the boards of private companies, or even from workers' funds to be owning shares and getting dividends from them. Nevertheless, it is a step in the right direction of socializing the economy more generally, and giving workers the capacity and encouraging them to decide what can be produced, where it's produced, and what can be invested. And if it really scares British and foreign capital, this raises the question of whether they will have to introduce capital controls. Ultimately, would they have to bring the capital sector into the public sphere as a public utility, as finance is literally the water that forms the basis of the economy?
Mate then asks him about Labour's refusal to hold a second referendum on Brexit, which angered some activists at the conference. Labour said that any second referendum could only be about the terms of the exit. Panitch states that people wanting Britain to remain in a capitalist Europe try to spin this as the main priority of the party's members, even Momentum. He states that this is not the case at all, and that if you asked most delegates at the conference, most Labour members and members of Momentum, which they would prefer, a socialist Britain or a capitalist Europe, they would prefer a socialist Britain. The people leading the Remain campaign on the other hand aren't remotely interested in a socialist Britain, and think it's romantic nonsense at best. He states that the Corbyn leadership has said that they want a general election as they could secure an arrangement with Europe that would be progressive without necessarily being in Europe. They would accept the single market and a progressive stand on immigration rather than a reactionary one. They did not wish to endorse a referendum, which the Tories would have the power to frame the question. And this is particularly because of the xenophobic and racist atmosphere one which the initial Brexit vote was based. Panitch states that he is a great critic of the European Union, but he would have voted to remain because the debate was being led by the xenophobic right. He ends by saying that capital is afraid of the Trumps of this world, and it is because of the mess the right has made of things here in Britain with the Brexit campaign that capital might give a little bit more space for a period at least to a Corbyn government.
This latter section on Brexit is now largely obsolete because Labour has said it will support a second referendum. However, it does a good job of explaining why many Labour supporters did vote for Brexit. The editor of Lobster, Robin Ramsay, is also extremely critical of the European Union because of the way neoliberalism and a concern for capital and privatization is so much a part of its constitution.
Otherwise, these are very, very strong policies, and if they are implemented, will be a very positive step to raising people out of poverty and improving the economy. Regarding the possibility that the representatives of the workers on the company boards would ally themselves with capital against the workers, who put them there, has long been recognized by scholars discussing the issue of workers' control of industry. It was to stop this happening that the government of the former Yugoslavia insisted that regular elections should be held with limited periods of service so that the worker-directors would rotate. Ha-Joon Chan in his books criticizing neoliberal economics also makes the points that in countries like France and Germany, where the state owns a larger proportion of firms and workers are involved in their companies through workers' control, there is far more long-term planning and concern for the companies success. The state and the workers have a continuing, abiding interest in these firms success, which is not the case with ordinary investors, who will remove their money if they think they can get a better return elsewhere.
My concern is that these policies will be undermined by a concentrated, protracted economic warfare carried out against the Labour party and the success of these policies by capital, the CBI and the Tories, just as the Tories tried to encourage their friends in industry to do in speeches from Tweezer's chancellors. These policies are desperately needed, but the Tory party and the CBI are eager to keep British workers, the unemployed and disabled in poverty and misery, in order to maintain their control over them and maximise profits.
Tags: 'Wall Street', Aaron Mate, Blatimore, Bonds, Brexit, Capital, City of London, Clause 4, Company Boards, Confederation of British Industry, Conservatives, Dividends, Donald Trump, Ha-Joon Chang, Industrial Democracy, Jeremy Corbyn, John McDonnell, John Smith, Labour Party, Leon Panitch, Living Wage, Lobster, Manufacturing Industry, Margaret Thatcher, Nationalisation, Neoliberalism, Part-Time Work, Post Office, Privatisation, Profit-Sharing, Public Utilities, racism, Railways, Robin Ramsay, Shareholders, Tax, Tax Credits, Temporary Work, the Disabled, The Real News, Theresa May, tony blair, Workers' Rights, Working Class, York University, Zero Hours Contracts


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I am a diehard Bond Girl. I've seen all the films, read all the books and of course, have my own opinions about who has been the best Bond of all. Having a major crush on Timothy Dalton, I am biased in his favor, but there is also something to be said for the talents (not to mention eye candy quality) of Sean Connery and Daniel Craig. All three are are quite handsome in a rough-hewn, craggy kind of way. Pierce Brosnan, though also quite a gorgeous specimen of the male gender, was a bit too polished and smooth for my taste. Roger Moore and George Lazenby were the weakest Bonds, in my book (haha!).
In rereading Casino Royale, I came to the conclusion that the reason these rough-around-the-edges cinematic 007s are more to my taste is because they are closer to his book character, which is why I like them. A man who is elegant and polished, yet still has that roughness, that "throw down," is incredibly sexy to me.
James Bond is not a very likable character, for all his perspicacity as a spy. He's witty, urbane, but with that dark edge that allows him to use people and not care about his effect in their lives. It's not just with women, although they do tend to be rather interchangeable and disposable. As an agent provocateur, it is probably a matter of life or death to be able to sharply and coldly cut someone out of one's life, and this aspect of Bond's character is much more apparent in the books, as his thought process and internal meanderings are well described. In Casino Royale, you get the origin of his coldness toward women, when he meets and falls hard for Vesper Lynd, a fellow secret agent who initially is not very impressed with Bond…..which, of course, intrigues him It's such a typically male response to a woman that it made me laugh.
Vesper and Bond share a luxurious dinner at the Casino Royale, while they wait for the high-stakes gambler Le Chiffre, whom they have been sent to watch and infiltrate his empire. Bond tells Vesper to order expensively and do honor to her fabulous evening gown. She takes him at his word and they order their meals.
"I'd like to start with caviar and then have a plain grilled rognon de veau with pommes souffles. And then I'd like to have fraises de bois with a lot of cream. Is it very shameless to be to certain and so expensive?" She smiled at him knowingly…………"While Mademoiselle is enjoying the strawberries, I will have half an avocado pear with a little French dressing."
Fraises de bois are wild strawberries, and difficult to find in New Mexico. However, seeing as strawberries and cream are one of my desert island meals, with the tartness of strawberries contrasting so nicely with a lightly sweetened cream, I couldn't not make it to go with the centerpiece meal. An avocado pear, which is a half-avocado stuffed with whatever you like, is delish! Lobster and avocado have a natural affinity for each other and I love them together, the jade green of the avocado and the deep pink of the cooked lobster creating a beautiful food palette that's almost too gorgeous to eat. Almost. And you can't beat lobster for sheer luxury. I got mine at Nantucket Shoals, and I highly recommend you visit there, either in person or via their website.
This is the method that worked for me for the stuffed avocado pear, taken from the great Emeril Lagasse, but with a few tweaks by me. Enjoy!
For the avocado pear:
2 large avocadoes
2 cups lobster meat, cooked and finely cubed
1 tablespoon homemade mayonnaise (see method below)
1 teaspoon of truffle oil
Juice of one medium lemon
Fresh chives, finely chopped
Mix together the lobster meat, the mayonnaise and the truffle oil. Let the flavors mingle in the refrigerator for about 30 minutes.
Add the lemon juice and taste for seasoning. Sprinkle in some sea salt if you think it needs it, but the homemade mayo has plenty of flavor and saltiness, so you may not.
Halve the avocadoes and carefully scoop out the meat, retaining their shape so that they form green cups. Squeeze over a bit of lemon juice to keep the avocadoes from blackening.
Put a large spoonful of the lobster mixture into each avocado half, so you have four tasty little green cups full of seafood heaven! Garnish with the chives and admire the beautiful pink and green deliciousness before chowing down. 007 would most certainly approve of this avocado pear!
The homemade mayo was simply one egg yolk (organic and free range), 1 teaspoon of Dijon mustard, one teaspoon of white wine vinegar, one teaspoon of lemon juice, a half-teaspoon of sea salt, and incorporated very slowly and whisked in drop by drop, a 3/4 cup of regular olive oil – all at room temperature. Don't use a blender or it will be runny. I hand-whisked for 20 minutes and although it is quite an arm workout, the end result is so worth it.
The strawberries, I simply marinated in Amaretto and lemon juice for about an hour, while I whipped some heavy cream with sugar and a dash or two of Campari liqueur. The Campari makes the cream a gorgeous, pale pink, like the inside of a seashell. It creates such a beautiful accent for the glistening, red strawberries. You pile it into a fancy glass and eat. Or, if James Bond were to drop by, you could have him feed it to you, berry by berry. (sigh) A girl can dream!
I would be a terrible Bond girl if I didn't include this classic paragraph:
"A dry martini," Bond said. "In a deep champagne goblet. Three measures of Gordons, one of Vodka, half a measure of Kina Lillet. Shake it very well until it's ice cold, then add a thin slice of lemon peel. Got it?"


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Coatings World's 2004 Top Companies Report
The following online report contains excerpts from Coatings World's 2004 "Top Companies Report." For the full Top Companies Report�including complete profiles, key personnel, statements from key executives and other items, please refer to the July 2004 print edition.
SALES: $5.9 billion
Major Products: Decorative, industrial, marine and protective coatings and automotive refinish paint.
New Products: Maskin, a temporary paint system, Tinova VX, a water-based exterior wood paint with a high solids content of approximately 65%, and Interfine 979 and 691 marine finishes.
The leader again in the global paint and coatings market, Akzo Nobel's coatings sector in 2003 recorded "three percent autonomous growth" and maintained "ROI at the 20% threshold," all while battling a tough economy, fluctuating currencies and increased pension costs. Part of Akzo's strategy was to zero in on core operations. Akzo divested its impregnated papers operation as well as 20 other non-core businesses, sold unneeded facilities and limited its acquisitions. In addition, it lowered its headcount.
According to Akzo Nobel, while business in emerging markets continues to expand, closer to home it hasn't been as easy. The decorative coatings market was tough in 2003, especially in retail. However, on the industrial side, Akzo said it held up "reasonably well" and market conditions for car refinishes remained very competitive.
It is in emerging markets where Akzo is really flexing its muscle, and its aggressive actions are paying off. The Asia-Pacific region now represents 14% of its worldwide sales, and the company continues to invest in infrastructure there. In 2003, Akzo opened a powder coatings facility in Vietnam and a non-stick coatings facility in Dongguan City, China. Akzo Nobel also pumped more money into its decorative coatings facility in Suzhou, China. In addition, it upped its stake in its powder coatings joint venture in South Korea. After dissolving a long-running relationship with Nippon Paint, Akzo set up its own marketing and sales company for marine and protective coatings in Japan. (For more on this deal, see Nippon Paint's profile on page 38 in print edition).
While its overall decorative coatings business was weak, with volume down and sales figures dropping from E1,9 billion in 2002 to E1,8 billion in 2003, the Asia-Pacific region-which it defines as China, Indonesia, Vietnam and Papua New Guinea-showed a double-digit volume increase. Part of its success stems from modernization efforts in emerging markets. For example, strong performance in Indonesia was fueled by the introduction of mixing machines in the mid-tier segment.
On the industrial side, Asia-Pacific sales were positive for Akzo Nobel, which has reported success in several countries and continues to increase its presence. A new factory in Vietnam, opened at the end of 2002, is already profitable, and in the Korean market, Akzo Nobel acquired the remaining 50% stake in Interpon Powder Coatings Korea which had been held by DPI. In China, Akzo purchased new land in Guangdong Province-earmarking it for further expansion of operations in the southern portion of the country. To buoy its marine coatings operations in the region, Akzo built a new marine and yacht coatings lab in Geoje, South Korea and invested funds in its Asia-Pacific technical center in Jurong Town, Singapore. Akzo Nobel continues to invest in Asia. This year it plans to expand powder coatings in China with new factories in Langfang and Guandong Province.
Not all of Akzo Nobel's expansion and improvement efforts are relegated to Asia. This spring, Akzo Nobel opened a new R&D laboratory at its marine and protective coatings facility in Felling, UK. The new lab is part of an ongoing investment of more than E10 million by the marine business unit to improve its research and development facilities around the world. The existing R&D building at the Felling site is being redesigned and transformed into the business unit's technology center.
Akzo Nobel also opened a new non-stick coatings facility in S�o Paulo, Brazil to supply non-stick coatings for the Brazilian cookware industry as well as coatings for specialized industrial applications, such as automotive pistons and copier rolls.
SALES: $4.83 billion
Major Products: Automotive OEM and refinish, industrial and packaging coatings and architectural paints and stains.
New Products: Velvecron soft-touch finish coatings.
For PPG, coatings continues to become more of its focus. In 2003, coatings sales reached $4.83 billion, representing 55% of total sales, outpacing the company's chemicals (20%) and glass and fiber glass businesses (25%). It's a far cry from a little more than a decade ago when coatings represented less than 40% of PPG's sales.
In 2003, PPG recorded coatings sales growth of eight percent, of which two percent was connected with improved volume in aerospace, architectural, automotive and industrial businesses. The company said that lower pricing in the auto sector offset high pricing in other coatings businesses.
From its Pittsburgh headquarters, PPG operates a truly global coatings operation. With 25 plants in the NAFTA region, PPG also operates five plants in Italy, three each in China, Germany and Spain and two each in Brazil, the UK and France. In addition, manufacturing is handled in Argentina, Australia, Malaysia, The Netherlands, Thailand and Turkey.
According to chairman and CEO Raymond W. LeBoeuf, growth in Asia has contributed to growth in PPG's industrial coatings unit, which supplies paint for many products ranging from laptop computers and cell phones to bulldozers, office furniture and general aviation equipment.
PPG is keeping pace with other paint makers in terms of expansion efforts in the Asia-Pacific region.
At the end of 2003, PPG's PRC-DeSoto unit began manufacturing aerospace coatings at its Suzhou, China applications support center. Production of Desothane HS topcoats started up just in time for PPG to take advantage of consolidation in the Chinese airline industry, which brought an increase in repainting opportunities.
In February, PPG Industries and Kansai Paint entered into negotiations to create an alliance focused on the global automotive original equipment manufacturer (OEM) industry. According to PPG and Kansai, the alliance would set up marketing and sales operations initially in North America and Europe for Japanese automotive OEMs. Following that, PPG and Kansai would set up marketing and sales operations in Shanghai, China, and later in other Asian countries to serve all of the region's automotive OEM customers. As this issue went to press, no further announcements had been made regarding those negotiations.
At PPG Industries' annual meeting held on April 15, CEO Raymond LeBoeuf said he was able see light at the end of the tunnel in terms of economic recovery.
"For the first time in three years, we at PPG are optimistic about the global economy," LeBoeuf said. "Obviously, improving economic conditions will help us. But just as important are the steps we took during the downturn to be able to generate growth when the economy rebounded."
While large-scale acquisitions aren't in the company's immediate future, LeBoeuf said "small acquisitions, especially in our optical products, and architectural and industrial coatings businesses, are possible. Over the next five years growth will come from these businesses."
Major Products: Decorative and architectural paint, paper and packaging coatings and adhesives.
New Products: Glidden EZ Track ceiling paint and Realife tough matte paint. In North America, ICI has been selected to manufacture This Old House paint. National Starch launched Aerobond 12-200A adhesive for board laminators.
UK-based ICI Group tallied sales of $4.78 billion in 2003 through sales of paint and adhesives manufactured by ICI Paint and National Starch. ICI's global paint business contributed $3.5 billion through sales of architectural and decorative paint and packaging and packaging coatings.
In the U.S. market ICI Paints has been working hard to expand its distribution and create a buzz in the industry with new lines and new marketing deals. On the distribution side, ICI Paints last year acquired eight architectural paint stores in the San Joaquin Valley, CA area from the Wilshire Paint Company. This spring, it inked an accord with McCoy's Building Supply Centers, in which McCoy's would stock Glidden in its 85 store chain located throughout in Arkansas, Mississippi, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
In January, ICI formed an alliance with the grand-daddy of all home improvement shows. This Old House Ventures, Inc. has chosen ICI to produce a new line of paint sold under the This Old House banner. Recently, ICI announced an exclusive three-year agreement with Champion Homes. Champion's manufactured housing division use ICI Paint products exclusively in all of its 30 North American plant locations
ICI's National Starch unit manufactures a wide range of products sold to a diverse customer base. One can find its products everywhere from food to healthcare to construction. The Bridgewater, NJ-based unit reported that adhesives sales accounted for 41% of its total revenue in 2003.
SALES: $4.61 billion
New Products: Liofol A 1883 waterborne one-component primer for flexible food packaging and Adhesin A 2354 adhesive for corrugated board boxes.
Henkel sells more than 3,000 different adhesives and sealants for use in just about every aspect of life here on earth. Last year Henkel made three purchases to expand its global presence-YIT Construction's Makroflex sealant and insulating business (a market leader in north, central and eastern Europe); Lucky Silicone of South Korea; and the adhesives and building auxiliaries business of DESC Group in Mexico City.
SALES: $4.36 billion*
HQ: Cleveland, OH USA
Major Products: Architectural and decorative paint, stains and varnishes, wood finishing products, caulks, adhesives, automotive finishes and industrial and marine coatings.
New Products: Thompson's Advanced waterproofer; Sherwin Williams ProXP; Krylon Fusion for Plastic; ExpressTech; Seaguard 6000 (relaunched); JetGlo Express; ULTRA 7000 matte clearcoat CC947; water-reducible UV-curable coatings in the Ultra-Cure line; Powdura NSF-61 certified powder coatings; Lusterless high solids polyurethane topcoat; Pro-Hide Silver high build interior latex coatings; enhanced SuPrime primers, sealers and undercoaters; Accolade, The Crown Jewel of Paints (relaunched); Colron Refined Danish Oil; Colron Refined Teak Oil; Builders Solution high-build product line for drywall; and Eco Guard latex spray paint.
At Sherwin-Williams, consolidated net sales in 2003 rose 4.3% to $5.41 billion and income before the cumulative effect of change in accounting principle increased 6.9% to $332.1 million, despite an after-tax $13.3 million headwind from a reduction in its net pension credit. (Coatings World's estimate excludes non-paint items and other administrative items reported by the company.)
Sherwin-Williams' paint store sales in 2003 rose 5.1%, with comparable store sales up four percent. Operating profit rose 1.2% compared to 2002. In 2003, the company added 45 new stores, bringing its total roster to 2,688 shops. In addition, S-W is now two-thirds of the way through a three-year program to update stores, with improvements including POS computer systems. Officials contend S-W remains on target to revamp the entire chain by the end of the year.
External net sales in the consumer segment rose just one percent to $1.2 billion in 2003 and operating profit was up 3.3% to $199 million. The company said a growing DIY market resulted in stronger architectural paint sales and increased sales of aerosol and wood care products at some of the segment's largest retailers.
Sherwin-Williams' automotive finishes segment posted a 0.6% sales increase.
Sales recorded by its international coatings segment rose 16.8% and operating profit reached $8.4 million in 2003, compared to an operating loss of $5.6 million in 2002. On a positive note, Sherwin-Williams said poor economic conditions that have existed in South America are showing signs of improvement and although demand remains flat now, its brand expansion continues. The company launched Minwax stains and varnishes in Chile and expanded its architectural and industrial distribution platforms with new accounts in Brazil.
In the UK, Ronseal delivered another "outstanding year of financial performance," according to the company.
Sherwin-Williams continues to work on its international presence. On the automotive side, Sherwin-Williams Automotive Finishes Corp. acquired ScottWarren in France and formed an alliance with Chemical Specialties Inc., the largest privately owned paint maker in South Africa, to distribute its auto refinish basecoat/clearcoat systems in the country.
As manufacturing moves to Asia, Sherwin-Williams is following. In March, the company's chemical coatings division opened two facilities in China to serve product finishers in the Asia-Pacific region. This plan included a 116,000-sq.-ft. plant complex on 10 acres in Shanghai to manufacture liquid and powder coatings and a facility in Dongguan that modifies liquid coatings for color, gloss and viscosity.
Proving that even a mature firm can be innovative, recent endeavors and new technologies from Sherwin-Williams have paid off. "Consumer response" and "sales results" for Krylon Fusion for Plastic have been "extraordinary," and the Twist and Pour container first used on the Dutch Boy line has enabled the brand to gain share in the DIY paint market every quarter, according to Sherwin-Williams. In addition, at the close of 2003, nearly 300 Ace retailers had signed on for a program to sell the company's Pratt & Lambert Accolade and Red Seal brands.
Of course the big story for Sherwin-Williams this year is its recent deal with Duron. Announced in mid-May, Sherwin-Williams entered into a definitive agreement to purchase 100% of Duron stock for $253 million, plus the assumption of certain financial obligations at closing.
SALES: $3.5 billion*
KEY PERSONNEL: Edward J. Donnelly, group vice president, Coatings and Colors Technologies; Marty M. McQuade, vice president/general manager, DuPont Herberts Automotive Systems; Eric G. Melin, vice president, general manager, DuPont Refinish; and Douglas L. Moore, vice president, general manager, DuPont Advanced Coatings Systems.
Major Products: Automotive OEM and refinish and industrial coatings.
New Products: ProTect Clear; SupraShield clearcoat; HyperCure primer and clearcoats; Imron Elite, Envex powder coatings; UV-cure powder coatings for furniture; Wet-on-Wet TuTone paint application process; and the AccuAngle metallic color protractor.
DuPont's Coatings and Color Technologies unit tallied a whopping $5.5 billion in sales in 2003-a nine percent increase over 2002, although sales volume was flat. The coatings and colors group's results include sales of coatings as well as digital printing and raw materials, such as titanium dioxide pigment. According to company estimates by sector, refinish coatings accounted for 30% sales in 2003, OEM some 23% and white pigments another 33%. Coatings World estimates that DuPont's "coatings" sales in 2003 were approximately $3.5 billion.
There have been some changes in DuPont's international operations. In December, DuPont and Kansai Paint agreed to amicably terminate their automotive coatings joint venture relationships due to "incompatible global strategies." The three joint ventures�which provide coatings to Japanese auto makers in North America and the UK�will continue to serve customers during the transition period. In 2003, Dupont reduced its headcount by 775 employees as part of a restructuring program to consolidate assets and eliminate redundancies that came with the 1999 acquisition of Herberts. In addition, the company closed manufacturing plants in Cologne, Helmstedt and Burogo, Germany.
SALES: $2.28 billion
HQ: M�nster, GERMANY
Major Products: Automotive OEM and refinish and industrial coatings and decorative paint.
New Products: ProGloss, Cathoguard 500, Glasurit 68 line and Glasurit 923-135 HS Racing Clear VOC 3.5.
BASF's global coatings business recorded sales of $2.28 billion in 2003, with 45% coming from its automotive OEM operation and 25% from the refinish side. Industrial coatings accounted for 20% of sales, and decorative coatings accounted for 10%, according to the company.
Coil coatings is a core element of BASF Coatings' growth strategy in industrial coatings, and the Asia-Pacific region is a big part of BASF's plans. As construction continues to fuel Chinese demand for color-coated steel, BASF recognized the need to set up local production. The company, which had operated a coil coatings business in China for a number of years and dedicated a tech service lab in Shanghai in 2003, has added production capabilities.
BASF continues to expand in another growing market-the Chinese automotive industry. At Nissan's plant in Haudu, Guangdong province-operated with Chinese Dongfeng Motor Corp.-BASF Shanghai Coatings (BSC) is the lead supplier for automotive OEM coatings, providing primers, basecoats and clearcoats for car bodies and bumpers. Work is carried out in cooperation with BASF NOF Coatings (BNC) in Tokyo, which became the lead supplier for Nissan's Japanese production locations several years ago.
BASF Coatings and Shanghai Eastern Star Automobile Trading Co., Ltd. - the sales and after-sales service partner of Mercedes-Benz China Ltd. for automotive refinish in eastern China-have expanded their partnership with a five-year contract. All Mercedes-Benz after-sales service stations in the eastern China distribution-network of Eastern Star will exclusively use Glasurit products.
BASF has also made investments in its decorative business, opening a new plant for Suvinil in S�o Bernardo do Campo, Brazil in March. Although it is the smallest sector of its total coatings operation-representing just 10% of sales in 2003-BASF is committed to its decorative business in South America. The Brazilian market currently produces 600 millions liters of decorative paints a year, of which 30% are BASF products.
"The new plant construction represents an important step for our company. It underlines our confidence in the growth potential of the Brazilian market," said Rui Goerck, vice president of BASF's coatings business in South America. "Despite the economic difficulties over the past few years, South America still has a lot of strategic importance," explained Goerck. Over the last three years, BASF invested approximately E100 millions in the region; 85% was spent on projects in Brazil.
The E2 million investment in S�o Bernardo do Campo has increased capacity by 30%, making the site the major coatings production center of BASF in South America. BASF operates a production site for decorative paints in Jaboat�o as well as distribution centers in Santa Cruz and Sapucaia do Sul.
On the production side, BASF Coatings announced plans to expand its existing resin factory at its headquarters in M�nster. The expansion effort includes installation of an additional production line for cathodic electrodeposition (CED) paint resin. The factory, which began producing resins in 1978, has been operating on a continuous 24-hour production cycle since 1992.
SALES: $2.24 billion
Major Products: Decorative, protective and industrial and paint, packaging coatings and automotive and fleet refinish products.
Valspar's 2003 net sales rose 5.7% from $2.1 billion in 2002 to $2.24 billion in 2003. While favorable foreign exchange rates contributed 2.2% of that growth, strong sales in the architectural, automotive and specialty product lines, partially driven by the introduction of a new product at Lowe's, plus the benefit of a 53rd week in fiscal 2003, contributed to the increase in sales, according to Valspar.
There is no denying the success Valspar's architectural business is having at Lowe's, the U.S.'s second largest home improvement retailer. In fact, the positive results of its alliance has spurred Valspar to increase its manufacturing capacity. In January, the company announced plans to build a new architectural coatings manufacturing and distribution facility in Lebanon, PA. The new plant is expected to be fully operational by mid-2005 and will provide a capacity similar to Valspar's Sacramento, CA facility.
At the beginning of 2004, Valspar acquired De Beer Lakfabrieken, a privately-owned manufacturer and distributor of automotive refinish coatings based in Lelystad, The Netherlands. Calling the De Beer operation an "excellent strategic fit," Richard Rompala commented, "This acquisition broadens our product offering and technology for the U.S. automotive refinish market and enhances our ability to grow in this attractive market on a global basis."
Overseas acquisitions, such as De Beer, have played an increasingly important role for the company since the mid-1990s. Starting with a "small, marginally profitable acquisition" in Europe in 1996, Valspar now has more than $600 million in sales coming from outside the U.S.
So far in 2004, Valspar's performance has been stellar. Net income for the second quarter ended April 30 rose 21.6% and sales rose 13.6% to $638.38 million, compared to the same quarter one year ago. Sales for the first half were up 10.6% to $1.14 billion compared to the first six months of last year.
"Second quarter results benefited from the recovery in the U.S. industrial economy, continuing strength in our architectural coatings product line and the impact of strong foreign currencies. We are pleased with our first half growth and expect good sales momentum for the balance of the year," said Rompala.
SALES: $2.08 billion
HQ: Medina, OH USA
Major Products: Industrial and consumer coatings and related products sold through a number of subsidiaries operating around the world.
New Products: Stonhard RTZ Flooring, DAP's Phenoseal, Varathane's stains and finishes product line, Rust-Oleum's Sierra no-odor product, Bondo's Truck Guard bed liner for trucks, Zinsser's Water-Tite basement paint, Tremco barrier systems, and Day-Glo's Chalk-It.
Through several subsidiaries that are market leaders in industrial and consumer paint markets around the world, RPM recorded a five percent rise in sales to $2.08 billion in fiscal 2003. (The company's mix of operating companies includes producers of raw materials for coatings. However, RPM does not breakout those sales.) Revenue growth combined with strong operational focus resulted in a 21% net income gain to $122.8 million, and an earnings per share increase of nine percent, both before a charge taken to increase reserves for asbestos liabilities-a major issue for the company.
RPM has always been a hunter, actively seeking out potential acquisitions that would add to its bottom line. While a restructuring plan put purchases on the back burner for some time, the company is back on the prowl. RPM acquired "at fair value businesses with approximately $70 million in annualized revenues," Frank C. Sullivan, CEO, wrote in the company's most recent annual report.
RPM has kept its acquisition strategy the same: buy the brand and keep people. According to Sullivan, RPM seeks out "great management teams willing to stay and run the businesses as part of RPM." In many cases, second- and third-generation family members still run operating companies within the RPM fold.
Along those lines, RPM Europe SA closed a deal in March, moving Ecoloc N.V./Lock-Tile Belgium N.V. and Compakta/Pactan-businesses with combined sales of approximately E20 million-into the RPM stable. Ecoloc, which makes commercial and industrial tile flooring and pioneered the first flooring system based on the principle of interlocking PVC tiles, will be run by founder Patrick Stoop and his management team. Compakta/Pactan, a German manufacturer of specialty silicone-based adhesives, joint filler and sealers, will be led by Michael Futscher and other existing employees.
"These transactions represent our expanded emphasis on completing acquisitions in Europe, an important part of our growth strategy," Sullivan said.
How serious is RPM about Europe? According to the company, its goal is to develop a "$500 million base of business in the European marketplace within the next three years."
SALES: $1.92 billion
New Products: Dekoral Secrets of Nature and Seigneurie Pancrytex.
Recent Acquisitions: Primalex.
In March 2003, Bain Capital completed its purchase of SigmaKalon from TotalFinaElf, giving the paint maker "increased financial resources and stability" and the "tools to grow our market share and pursue a variety of promising new business opportunities," said Pierre-Marie De Leener, SigmaKalon's CEO.
Since then, Sigma has done a lot to increase its market share and expand its presence in Europe and Asia.
At the beginning of 2004, Samsung Fine Chemicals (SFC) and SigmaKalon created Sigma Samsung Coatings (SSC). The Korea-based joint venture based will focus on shipbuilding as well as protective, coil and general industrial coatings markets. In the accord, SFC Coatings and Sigma Coatings will continue to serve their own customers but will combine manufacturing and technical support.
"This joint venture is a promising new business opportunity, in which we will be able to benefit from the technical experience and infrastructure of a solid partner in the Far East...[It] illustrates our strategy to develop our presence in the Far East coatings market," said De Leener.
Just last month, SigmaKalon acquired Primalex, a leading wall paint maker in the Czech Republic and Slovakia with sales of E20 million. Acquiring Primalex is part of SigmaKalon's plan to expand its presence throughout the EU as new countries gain membership. Sigma contends it holds a leading position in the Polish and Hungarian markets and has strong and developing positions in Romania and the Ukraine.
SALES: $1.61 billion
Major Products: Automotive, industrial and marine coatings and architectural/decorative paint.
Recent Acquisition: Mitsui Kinzoku Paints & Chemicals Co.
According to Nippon Paint, Asia accounts for approximately 60% of the worldwide market for marine coatings and more than 80% of new-building projects are carried out in Japan, Korea and China. Nippon plans on riding that market to new heights in the global coatings market.
After announcing plans to sever a long-standing relationship with Akzo Nobel's International unit, Nippon has a new strategy for its marine coatings business. Backed by capital investment from Wuthelam Holdings Pte Ltd.-Nippon's business partner in Asia since the 1960s-Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co., Ltd. is scheduled to start operations Nov. 1, the day after its alliance with International ends.
Nippon Paint plans to expand its overseas business network by using manufacturing, sales, service and logistic networks of NIPSEA, its joint venture with Wuthelam, and will also establish new bases at key locations in Europe, America and the Middle East. The company's goal: market share among the top three companies in the international marketplace.
SALES: $1.5 billion*
Major Products: Automotive, industrial, marine and protective coatings and decorative paint.
Kansai Paint, the second largest paint company headquartered in Japan, operates in several key markets�automotive, industrial, marine and protective coatings and decorative paint. The company also dabbles in non-paint areas, such as communications, electronics and biotechnology. Kansai reported total sales of $1.6 billion in FY 2003. Coatings World estimates its paint sales are approximately $1.5 billion.
Like its counterparts in the U.S. and Europe, Kansai Paint is also eyeing growth markets in Asia, specifically in China. The company has a solid starting point for future growth in the hotly pursued automotive area, where it already participates in several joint ventures: Tianjin Beacon Kansai Co. Ltd., Shenyang Kansai Paint Co. Ltd., Changqing Kansai Paint Co. and Hunan Kansai Automotive Coatings Co. According to Kansai, production volume of automotive coatings through its JVs in China was expected to rise from 12,000 tons per year in 2002 to 16,000 tons per year in 2003.
There have been changes in Kansai's joint venture agreements. In February, Kansai Paint signed a non-binding memorandum of understanding and entered into negotiations to explore an alliance to respond quickly and effectively to the demands and requirements of the global automotive OEM industry. Based on the initial memorandum, PPG and Kansai would set up marketing and sales operations initially in North America and Europe for Japanese automotive OEMs. PPG and Kansai then would set up marketing and sales operations in Shanghai, China, and later in other Asian countries to serve all of the region's automotive OEM customers.
This new accord with PPG came just months after Kansai and DuPont agreed to amicably terminate their automotive coatings joint venture relationships-some of which went back more than a decade-due to "incompatible global strategies." The DuPont and Kansai three joint ventures-DuPont Kansai Automotive Coatings Company in Troy, MI, Pinturas Automotorices DuPont Kansai, S.A. de C.V. in Mexico City and DuPont Kansai Automotive Coatings (UK) in Hemel, Hempstead, UK-provide coatings to Japanese auto makers in North America and the UK. At the time of the announcement in December 2003, Kansai and DuPont said the JVs would continue to serve customers during a one- to two-year transition period.
SALES: $1.28 billion
HQ: St. Paul, MN USA
Major Products: Adhesives and powder coatings.
Recent Acquisition: Probos.
H.B. Fuller posted a 2.5% increase in net revenue to $1.28 billion in 2003, a welcomed outcome following the 1.4% decline it recorded during fiscal 2002. Its global adhesives business recorded a 3.2% gain in sales, driven by positive currency exchanges, while its Full-Valu/Specialty segment posted a one percent rise in sales for the year.
Net revenue from its powder coatings business was down due to North America's sluggish economy and applicators moving operations to "lower cost countries," such as China-a country where Fuller does not have powder operations. It currently has coatings units operating in North America, the UK and the United Arab Emirates.
SALES: $1.06 billion
Major Products: Coatings, adhesives and sealants.
New Products: Ready-to-Ship general metal powder coatings and Mor-Melt R-7001E moisture-curing polyurethane reactive hot melt adhesive.
Rohm and Haas' sales of finished coatings, adhesives and sealants were $1.06 billion in 2003. Automotive coatings represented $107 million, a drop of two percent. Powder coatings sales jumped 43% to $324 million, primarily due to a full year of sales from the 2002 acquisition of Ferro's European powder coatings business.
Although the powder market isn't posting the dramatic gains it did a few years ago, Rohm and Haas is focused on expanding the technology's presence and its own bottom line. With Ferro's European business firmly in its fold, Rohm and Haas revamped its powder coatings unit, giving it a global focus and tapping Reggie Horne to serve as vice president and general manager of the operation.
To continue powder's penetration into liquid's territory, Rohm and Haas needs to make it easier for customers to get the products they need as quickly as possible. To that end, it created the Ready-to-Ship roster-12 distinct product lines and more than 250 color and texture choices for the North American general metal finishing sector.
Rohm and Haas' adhesives and sealants unit reported a seven percent increase in sales to $632 million in 2003
SALES: $928.5 million
Major Products: Adhesives, sealants and related construction chemical products.
Recent Acquisitions: Casco A/S (Denmark) and Secaicho Group's construction chemicals business (Japan).
If it involves a construction project or sealing, bonding,


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