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The Lakes - Annecy

2011-01-23T01:43:00.000-08:00

An idyllic setting, close to Switzerland and Italy, the city is located in a deep gorge on the Thiou river at the northern end of Lake Annecy. Within easy reach of the mountains by road are Semnoz (20 mins). There are also well renowned ski resorts within 45mins drive

Peak of perfection: the ultimate eco ski hotel

2011-01-09T07:02:00.001-08:00

The 29-apartment Lagació mountain residence, which cost €8m to build and took just eight months to complete. Photograph: Marcel Hagen for the Observer

There is something about taking a train journey across the European Alps that can melt the heart of even the most hardened traveller. My 7.30am start from a snow-packed Munich, where I live, is followed by a five-hour whiz through landmark stops: Rosenheim at the foot of the Bavarian Alps, Innsbruck in Austria, the Brenner Pass to Italy, before a change at Fortezza, in the heart of the Unesco World Heritage-listed Dolomites, followed by a further train trip to Brunico.

My ultimate destination is Lagació Mountain Residence, in the small mountain town of San Cassiano, Alta Badia, in the province of Bolzano-Bozen. A one-hour car journey from Brunico takes me through a mesmerising sequence of hairpin bends, inclines and tunnels. I reach San Cassiano as snow begins to swirl down. Gazing up, it is impossible to see the higher peaks because of cloud, but the landscape is dramatic. Mountains appear to be wrapped around this small town, and when combined with the cloud cover, the peaks bring to mind images of bygone centuries when inhabitants of the Alps lived in fear of dragons and other creatures.
The principal challenge facing the contemporary Alps revolves around sustainability. When Lagació opened in December 2009, it was certified by South Tyrol's Climate House Agency as CasaClima A, the second-highest award possible in a scheme that evaluates the energy efficiency of buildings in this autonomous region of Italy. Lagació uses fewer than 30kWh per square metre for heating, compared with 120 to 220 for a typical building in South Tyrol. Not carbon neutral, but for the eco-conscious tourist, a better bet than most lodges and hotels in the Alps.
"We were not thinking about creating an eco hotel," explains Margareth Canins, owner (with husband Pio) and the beating heart of the hotel. "The eco elements – the type of windows and solar energy, for example – sort of evolved; it was a process. Our architect wanted to use lots of different materials, such as Formica, and I refused. I wanted woods and slates," she says adamantly. "The architect asked me if I really wanted to use all of this material just for guests. I told him: 'We are also doing it for us, the family.' If I come out of my apartment [which is above the hotel] I need to feel at home. Only then will guests also feel at home. Sustainability has always been very important to me, but most important was that everyone has to feel comfortable here."

The subterranean spa at Lagació. Photograph: Marcel Hagen The 29-apartment Lagació cost around €8m to build and took just eight months to complete. It quickly caught the imagination of German and Italian style magazines for its attractive mountain location, spacious rooms and minimalist design, not to mention the subterranean spa. Margareth insisted on using local materials throughout, such as pine, spruce and larch, loam and loden fabrics, though the slate for the stairs comes from Brazil, she tells me. Water, from a local spring, is "revitalised" using the Grander method: a process which claims to add "energy" to improve the "structure" of water via magnetic generators.
Of the 18 staff at Lagació, seven belong to the local Ladin population, which has inhabited parts of the Dolomites for centuries. South Tyrol is an area that until relatively recently belonged to that behemoth of European history, the Austro-Habsburg dynasty. It was only in the wake of Austria's defeat in the First World War that it was handed to Italy. The Italian-Austrian-German influences are a huge part of the appeal of this part of the world and manifest themselves in the food, architecture and language.
I get a first-hand insight into the language complexities in conversations with Margareth. She insists on speaking English (she needs the practice, she says), but we are intermittently interrupted by her son Matteo, who occasionally appears to be speaking the wonderfully impenetrable South Tyrolean German dialect; at other times, I hazard a guess that he is speaking Ladin, a Rhaeto-Romance language spoken by around 40,000 people in the Alps. Indeed, "Ladin is not a dialect, it's a language" is a sentence I hear often. In addition to German and Ladin, away from the hotel, in shops and at school for example, Matteo might also speak the third regional language, Italian. Visitors with decent German or Italian will have no trouble, but English is strictly in fourth place here.
As topics of conversation, only food comes near family as the most popular subject during my stay. Breakfast is the principal meal served at Lagació, taken in the Stube, the spacious and rustic L-shaped breakfast room characterised by old beams and cabinets. Within the Stube there is a smaller, more intimate and refined dining room. All the food is produced locally, which for breakfast means home-baked breads, cheeses, fruits, eggs, mueslis, cold meats, plus other local specialities and honey. As the buffet is available until 11am, guests are encouraged to take their time, relax, and enjoy the food and a chat.
Lagació's spacious apartments range from doubles to family rooms. My own U-shaped apartment, Bellerophon (all apartments are named after Dolomite fossils), has an intelligently designed walk-in wooden wardrobe near the entrance, perfect for discarding wet clothes and muddy boots, a huge bed and – best of all – patio doors that lead to a balcony from where the mountains seem to be within touching distance. As this is San Cassiano, however, the stylish fitted kitchen is unlikely to get much use during my short stay: with two Michelin-starred restaurants in San Cassiano itself (St Hubertus, led by executive chef Norbert Niederkofler, is just 300m away), and a handful of other more reasonably priced options, it is no surprise that the wider Alta Badia area has been labelled by the Ski Club of Great Britain as "probably the best resort in the world for foodies". Try regional specialities canederli (bread-based dumplings) and tutres (ricotta cheese, sauerkraut or spinach pancake-like dishes), while gnocchi and strudel are staples on most menus.

With great food and plentiful snow, added to the spectacular background of the Dolomites, the economies of numerous small communities have inevitably come to rely on attracting winter-sports tourists during the winter months. Alta Badia is neither considered the most challenging ski area to be found in the Alps (90% of slopes are deemed "easy" and "medium"), nor is it renowned for après-ski excitement. While 95 slopes across 130km in a spectacular location is an obvious attraction, many visitors are enticed by its decidedly relaxed, more family-oriented atmosphere.
The impact on the natural environment, however, of snow-making machines, countless lodges perched halfway up mountains and numerous ski lifts (450 in the Dolomiti Superski Skipass area alone) is obvious. The managing director of Lagació, Christof Irsara, sensibly does not deny the contradiction, admitting that much work needs to be done for winter sports to become more sustainable. He points to a "growing trend for walking activities in the snow, activities that do not need a ski lift, for example". It is, however, difficult to imagine tens of thousands of passionate skiers and snowboarders converting to the less exhilarating sport of snow walking.
But it is equally difficult to be overly critical. Lagació could be described as a reluctant eco hotel pin-up. Sustainability has always been just one aspect of Margareth's wider vision of creating a hotel that is built and decorated almost exclusively with natural materials, that is family-focused and that relies entirely on locally produced food. The result should be warmly welcomed: Lagació is ahead of much of the field not just in terms of style and hospitality, but also in terms of sustainability.
Good place to start… 90% of the runs are easy or moderate.

Global oil reserves and fossil fuel consumption

2011-01-09T06:56:00.000-08:00

The world is showing no sign of weaning itself off fossil fuels: in the 28-year span covered by the BP data below, worldwide reserves of oil fell only twice – in 1998 and 2008

Have we passed peak oil? Photograph: David McNew/Getty images

Oil has been the world's fossil fuel of choice since the late 1960s and our taste for it doesn't seem likely to diminish in the short term. Oil companies are still keen to secure any undiscovered reserves while continuing to be a powerful lobbying presence.

You may think that with pressing concerns over peak oil and global warming, the world would be slowly weaning itself off the energy-rich liquid. But in the 28-year span covered by the BP data below, worldwide reserves fell only twice – in 1998, and a decade later in 2008.

Opec nations control the lion's share, with 76% of the world's reserves. Interestingly, many of the Opec countries' proven reserves have barely changed in the past 20 years, despite massive exporting activity.

The largest percentage growth in oil wealth is in Vietnam, with a 39% surge in its proven oil reserves from 2007-08. This newfound wealth corresponds to 1.3bn barrels, which may sound like a lot, but would feed the world demand for less than three weeks (17 days) at 2008 levels of consumption.

Oil consumption fell by 0.29% from 2007-08, while its more polluting relation coal saw a 3% increase in its use. Reasons for coal's recent rise include the low price of emissions trading permits and the fuel's increasing promotion as key for 'energy security'.

The Australian airline Qantas

2011-01-09T06:48:00.000-08:00

The Australian airline Qantas will this month announce a deal to build the world's second commercial-scale plant to produce green biojet fuel made from waste for its fleet of aircraft.

Its proposed partner, the US-based fuel producer Solena, is also in negotiations with easyJet, Ryanair and Aer Lingus about building a plant in Dublin, although this project is less advanced.

Airlines are trying to reduce their reliance on fossil fuels ahead of their entry into the EU's carbon emissions trading scheme in January 2012 and the introduction of other new environmental legislation. Under the scheme, any airline flying in or out of the EU must cut emissions or pay a penalty.

Solena's joint venture with Qantas – which could be announced within the next fortnight – follows a tie-up with British Airways, signed in February last year, to build the world's first commercial-scale biojet fuel plant in London, creating up to 1,200 jobs.

Once operational in 2014, the London plant, costing £200m to build, will convert up to 500,000 tonnes of waste a year into 16m gallons of green jet fuel, which BA said would be enough to power 2% of its aircraft at its main base at Heathrow. The waste will come from food scraps and other household material such as grass and tree cuttings, agricultural and industrial waste. It is thought the Qantas plant, to be built in Australia, will be similar.
Solena uses technology based on the Fischer-Tropsch process, which manufactures synthetic liquid fuel using oil substitutes. Germany relied on this technology during the second world war to make fuel for its tanks and planes because it did not have access to oil supplies.
Airlines have been using synthetic fuel made in this way from coal for years, but this results in high carbon emissions.
The use of biomass – which does not produce any extra emissions – as an oil substitute has more recently been pioneered by Solena. The privately owned company says that planes can run on this green synthetic fuel, without it having to be mixed with kerosene-based jet fuel. In the UK and US, regulators allow only a maximum 50% blend, and the fuel was only recently certified for use by the UK authorities. BA is understood to be exploring the possibility of using 100% biojet fuel, once it is approved as expected.

Airlines including Virgin Atlantic have also been testing biofuels – made mostly from crops, which are converted into fuel – by blending them with kerosene-based jet fuel. But experts say these blends have to have a low level of biofuels to ensure that engine safety and performance are maintained. In February 2008, Virgin became the first airline in the world to operate a commercial aircraft on a biofuel blend, but this was only 20% and through just one of the plane's four engines.

The use of conventional, crop-based biofuels is controversial. Some environmentalists are concerned that an increase in the farming of crops and trees for biofuels could take up too much agricultural land and hit food production. But Solena plans to make its biojet fuel using waste, not crops.
Industry experts say that, in the future, biojet fuel will work out cheaper than kerosene-based fuel as oil prices rise. Producers such as Solena could also earn subsidies by using waste materials that may otherwise have to be sent to landfill. The Germany airline Lufthansa is also understood to be interested in a joint venture with Solena. But with each plant costing £200m to build, it will take time to roll out the technology.
One challenge faced by Solena is securing a supply of biomass waste for its new plants. Ideally, facilities will be located in or near cities, where most of the waste will be sourced, and near airlines' bases. The bioenergy producer will face competition from other companies planning to build incinerators, which also need to use waste to generate subsidised electricity.

Allen Limousine Service. Dallas

2011-01-07T01:53:00.000-08:00

Allen Limousine is the nation’s premier limousine service, We offer private door- to-door transportation that’s available throughout the nation…all with the convenience of one invoice. Whether it's for transportation to Dallas Fort Worth Airport or Love Field Airport, to get across town or for a trip in the suburbs, Allen Limousine should be your one-stop source for all your car service needs.
Here at Allen Limousine our mission is providing you with excellent professional customer service that‘s reliable and affordable. Allen Limousine Service offers the finest limousines available, equipped with the most current amenities. All of our chauffeurs are professional, bonded, and insured. Whether it’s a trip to the airport, or that special event, Allen Limousine will ensure you arrive on-time in luxury and style. Allen limousine provides unmatched, quality service and value. Our staff remains sincerely dedicated to first class service and total customer satisfaction. We are driven to provide consistently superior service that will exceed your every expectation. With over 20 years of transportation experience, our staff will go above and beyond to deliver exceptional attention to detail in providing the utmost of quality service. Allen Limousine offers a complete solution for your Luxury Car Service, Limousine and Van Transportation needs all around the Dallas Metroplex area as well as around the country. Dallas Limousine Service & Car Service in Dallas Texas. Allen Limousine specializes in Group transportation, corporate travel, meetings & events as well as airport and executive Sedan service around the Dallas Metroplex area. We look forward to serving you here at Allen Limousine.

Business ‘bed and breakfast with a difference’

2011-01-06T03:18:00.000-08:00

Business ‘bed and breakfast with a difference’

Pre-order your hamper for traditional or continental breakfast to prepare yourself.

For maximum flexibility, and because requirements vary so much, we can offer our accommodation as a holiday let for virtually any duration, or as a comfortable and secure alternative to a hotel. As such we can offer each room as a separate, self-contained unit with private bathroom, TV and wireless broadband - together with a shared kitchen and living area. This is particularly useful for busines people or for people connected with the horse racing industry who wish to retain a flexible schedule. We supply a daily breakfast hamper (please not we have a vegetarian option) for either continental or cooked breakfasts (including tea and coffee):

Traditional Breakfast

Sausages
Eggs
Beans
Tomatoes
Bread (choice)
Fruit Juice

Continental Breakfast

Croissant
Jam
Cereal
Bread(choice)
Fruit Juice

Gingell Cottage is set within a grade II listed estate. Grove Farm, the main house has recently been extensively and sympathetically extended with 6 bedrooms and three receptions. Gingell Cottage has followed the theme of style and taste throughout. On part of the estate there is a listed barn, ready for renovation, which contains 500 year old graffiti that has been reproduced as the logo for Fizz Equine Marketing Ltd and Gingell Cottage.
Gingell Cottage has been designed to offer two extremely comfortably en suite rooms, both private and secure with their own lockable doors. The accommodation lends itself equally to a family holiday, a business stopover with bed and breakfast, or a weekend getaway for lovers.
A ten minute walk away is an Award Winning informal dining venue, Harveys Garden Centre. The Pub we recommend and who gives our customers a complimentary drink is The Gardeners Arms in Tostock. An extra special treat for visitors to Gingell Cottage on a Sunday night is the Gardeners Arms Line Night. Twenty three pints of various beers are free to customers as they are drawn off the barrells. The food is traditional hearty pub food serving local dishes such as Suffolk Ham and a prize winning homemade pie.

Fast, accurate laboratory quality results in the field

2011-01-05T14:57:00.000-08:00

There is never a guarantee of success today in mining and mineral exploration. You make the best decisions based upon your mine models and your company’s experience. Yet one prerequisite for success endures: the immediate need for dependable fast geochemical data.
Being able to quickly delineate ore boundaries, mine mapping, sorting, grading, extraction or the prevention of environmental by-products all require accurate, fast geochemical data. On-site labs or sending material off site for analysis is expensive, time consuming and impractical in remote locations.
Fortunately there is a cost efficient solution for determining the elemental composition of sample data at all stages of the exploration and mining process.
The range of Niton XRF analysers places in your hands an instrument that can deliver laboratory specific data within seconds at any location. With a number of tools from Bluetooth to PC connect ability and a range of soft ware packages the Niton range leads the world in portable hand held XRF technologies. You have a mini lab right there in your hands!
Nitons new GOLDD + range delivers the lowest detection limits and the fastest measurement times for light elements ranging from Magnesium (Mg) to Uranium (U).

The team at PAS can draw on a collective 20 years experience in instrumentation. This experience covers all technical assistance, training and sales through to applications use across a diverse range of industries including: Mining & Exploration, Scrap Metal Recycling, Engineering & Fabrication, Mineral processing, Petrochemical and Gas exploration and production, Environmental, Consumer goods and Precious Metals (Jewellery).
Our comprehensive knowledge and full factory support guarantee you have the best possible team to assist you with all aspects of your instrument.

Sales and support
Training
Technical support and repairs
Application advise
Consulting

The Cotton House - Mustique Island

2011-01-03T07:11:00.001-08:00

The Cotton House is a 20-room 5-star luxury boutique hotel in Mustique, the Grenadines.
The hotel is on the small Grenadine island of Mustique, which is only 3 by 1 / 2 miles that surround Cotton House on a picturesque hill on the Caribbean Sea in the west and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. Mustique is one of the most exclusive islands in the world and the Cotton House is the island only full-service hotel.
The Cotton Hill Residence offers a panoramic view of the Atlantic Ocean and the park has to this very private two-room residence its own butler to meet every request. It has a spacious living room, dining room with an additional outdoor gazebo and large private swimming pool. Each room is equipped with king-size beds and signature French antique furniture. The bedroom is set beside the main house, each room has a large bathroom with double sinks, soaking tub and separate shower, is the master bedroom with outdoor shower overlooking the Atlantic Ocean.
This recently renovated duplex suites are furnished to the highest point of the resort's breathtaking views of the island in the Atlantic side. The upper floor of each suite has a bedroom with a king-size bed in romantic voile netting and set up a large private balcony is perfect for concealed in-room dining or private spa treatments. Spacious bathrooms and fully equipped locker rooms are located on the upper and lower floors of these suites are located, making them ideal for families. Located just outside the living room on the lower level, a wooden deck with private pool. Elegant shade with sun umbrellas and lounge chairs set up, the private terrace offers another ideal place to enjoy an in-suite massage or a romantic dinner.
Two superior suites on the upper level and two deluxe suites on the lower floor, all come with French doors from both the bedroom and living room on a large private verandah removed. The two suites on the ground floor have private pools that flow from the elegantly appointed suites with veranda pool deck. These rooms are for couples with a maximum of two children since extra single beds can be included in the living room. A door separates the bedroom from the living room and the suites each have a main bathroom en-suite rooms with a powder from the living room.
Luxury Deluxe King rooms face the Caribbean Sea, and all are furnished with rattan pieces signed and have four-poster beds crowned in decorative netting. All rooms equipped with elegant verandahs with private pools and pool decks
Cottages are charming stand alone West Indian-style with each room a view over the garden and distant Atlantic Ocean views. Bedroom with king-size bed with decorative netting, spacious dressing rooms and bathrooms with raised spa. Each room opens onto a large veranda, furnished with sun loungers and dining area.
The Veranda Restaurant is open for breakfast and dinner. Eating at this restaurant include the best of the Caribbean flavors including local deliveries in the offer a menu that a simple, but an eclectic international gastronomic experience.
The great room has a colonial feel that this space make a focal point of the hotel where guests mingle, relax and be. Enjoy afternoon tea on the veranda provides that the pond have to look at Lilly, a cocktail before dinner or after dinner cigar and cognac, the room is a living room, a sense of being.
For in-room dining, guests can choose from the chef menu or a specially created menu, you choose served in your own private dining area. In Room Dining at the Cotton House is more than just room service, it is an experience that reflects the attention to detail and a moment of culinary delight.
The Beach Cafe and Bar offers al fresco dining on the water's edge, a casual atmosphere, you can only experience the Cotton House is. Menu estimates that the local produce and offers a selection of fresh fish, lobster, salads, baguettes, fried seafood baskets, pizza and barbecue concepts, which is simple and yet light and delicious.
The pool deck is the pool bar, where a complete selection of beverages is available as well as beach towels upon arrival, with complementary refreshing sorbets, chilled towels and cold water are offered during the day waiting. Lifeguards also have a full drinks from the poolside bar which was the original Sugar Mill.
promote Cotton House Spa offers massages and treatments and to restore, promote relaxation, healing, balance and peace of mind and body. The team of professionals has developed a number of innovative programs to meet a variety of special needs and lifestyles.
The ground floor of the spa houses the well-equipped fitness center with state of the art cardiovascular equipment consisting of treadmills, cross-training, multi-work-out and bike machines all with panoramic views through the large glass window on the hotel gardens the Caribbean Sea.
Originally from the 18th Century coral warehouse and sugar mill, the late British designer, Oliver Messel carefully restored many of the original features of the Cotton House. It is well established as one of the best in the Caribbean Luxury Resorts recognized.
Facilities:ServicesAirport transportation (complimentary)Babysitting or child careBeauty treatmentsFree breakfastConcierge ServiceFitness facilitiesFull-service spaHairdressersInternet access - wirelessLaundryParking (free)Room service (limited opening times)Safety deposit box - front deskSelf ParkingHelp with trip planningBusiness & EventBanquet facilitiesDry cleaning / laundry serviceLibraryMeeting rooms (small groups)Rooms (all rooms have)Air ConditioningBalconyCable TV serviceCeiling FanClock RadioCoffee / teaDesigner toiletriesDial-up Internet accessDVD PlayerHairdryerBudgetChild care (in room surcharge)In-room safeMinibarLinensWindow opens

Rockcliffe Hall Spa & Golf Resort in Hurworth, England

2011-01-03T07:10:00.000-08:00

A resort is a place used for relaxation or recreation, attracting visitors for holidays or vacations. Resorts are places, towns or sometimes commercial establishment operated by a single company. Such a self-contained resort attempts to provide for most of a vacationer's wants while remaining on the premises, such as food, drink, lodging, sports, entertainment, and shopping. The term "resort" may also used to identify a hotel property that provides an array of amenities and typically includes entertainment and recreational activities. A hotel is frequently a central feature of a resort, such as the Grand Hotel at Mackinac Island, Michigan. A resort is not merely a commercial establishment operated by a single company, although in the late twentieth century this sort of facility became more common.
Towns that contain resorts—or where tourism or vacationing is a major part of the local activity—are often called resort towns. Towns such as Sochi in Russia, Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt, Barizo of Spain, Cortina d'Ampezzo of Italy, Druskininkai of Lithuania, Nice or French Riviera of France or Newport, Rhode Island or St. Moritz Switzerland, Blackpool, England or larger regions, like the Adirondack Mountains, the English Lake District, or the Italian Riviera are well known resorts. The Walt Disney World Resort is a prominent example of a modern, self-contained commercial resort. Resorts exist throughout the world, increasingly attracting visitors from around the globe. Thailand, for instance, has become a popular destination. Resorts are especially prevalent in Central America and the Caribbean. Closely related to resorts are convention and large meeting sites. Generally these occur in cities where special meeting halls, together with ample accommodations as well as varied dining and entertainment are provided.

Rockcliffe Hall in Hurworth, County Durham, England is all that we have come to expect from a stately home in the English countryside. There is a large, red brick villa on a spacious estate, romantic images of times, horse-drawn shuttle would be good to and pulled from their country to do shelter.

Fast forward to modern times and Rockcliffe Hall is a 5-star hotel that services an increasingly sophisticated clientele. Eager to offer its guests with the best spa experience, Rockcliffe Hall recently, the services of RTR-Design, a busy architectural and design firm of Burton-on-Trent in Derbyshire. The result is a stunning modern luxury spa that shines and shows, modern interior design excellence.

The first thing that strikes you about the spa is how big the plant. Many hotels house the Spas in tight areas, you shuffling of the massage treatment rooms through a maze of narrow corridors - not Rockcliffe Hall. The Spa at Rockcliffe is spacious and has a core of Whirlpool, which can comfortably accommodate enough people who do not wait for others to finish their relaxation time, before you can begin. The furniture in the entire spa is contemporary, relaxed the strengthening of the modern subject and make visitors and a million miles from anywhere.

We love the fact that the owners of the hall Rockcliffe bold enough to the modern design, the RTR design to have been presented to hug her. Glorious from the outside, this hotel is the modernization of providing a wow factor and inside what is sure to please his claims.

DigiTech Launches The New BP355: Multi-Effects Bass Pedal

2010-12-31T11:25:00.000-08:00

Even though most of the new era rock hugely relies on the ‘Bass’ to provide the perfect undertone and harmonics, you will be surprised to realize that when it comes to Bass Effects Processors, you might hardly find a few trustworthy ones; But let me assure all those Bassists out there, this cool new BP355 Bass Pedal Effects Processor might just be the thing you were looking for!

Marketing Consultants,II4SEE Retail Solutions

2010-12-29T07:55:00.001-08:00

We are Sales & Marketing Consultants, specializing in the Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector. We understand Shopper & Consumer Needs and we are able to turn Insights into Actions that will grow your Brand and the respective Category for the Retailer.

We are a small, dynamic team based in central London (Southbank, behind the Tate Modem) and we are working on local, regional and global Shopper Marketing projects with both FMCG Companies and Retailers.

We thrive on challenges, problem solving and motivating teams in order to deliver long- and short-term results.

Michail Psaltakis, our Managing Director has a clear record of successfully implementing business transformation, change management and profit enhancement in more than 20 countries across Europe (Western and Eastern), SE Asia and Latin America during a 15-year international Sales & Marketing career at Unilever.

We are offering 3 'Retail' & 2 'Cat Man' Solutions aiming to improve a Brand’s Visibility & Availability in-store while growing profitably the respective Category for the Retailer.
Click on the product logos on the left and right side menus (Growth Accelerator, Trade Motivator, Price Calculator, Store Connector and Shelf Attractor) to learn more.
We are also offering 2 'Design' Solutions (Promo Activator and Brand Communicator) for delivering Activation Platforms, Point-of-Sales Material creation, Multimedia Presentations and Below the Line Digital/Print Communication

VSEP teknoloji

2010-12-28T02:18:00.001-08:00

VSEP Membrane Cleaners In addition to filtration systems, New Logic manufactures a complete line of chemical cleaners designed to maintain maximum flow rates in all VSEP applications.Years of exhaustive research and development by New Logic engineers have resulted in seven chemical cleaners formulated to attack the most stubborn foulants across a wide range of membranes and feed streams.While designed for VSEP membrane filtration systems, these advanced formulas are perfect for cleaning any membrane.To learn more about VSEP Advanced Cleaning Solutions, please choose a link below to visit our sister site

While membrane-based separations of liquids from solids have enjoyed increasing popularity over the last 20 years, the technology has an inherent Achilles heel that affects all membrane devices: fouling. This long-term loss in throughput capacity is due primarily to the formation of a boundary layer that builds up naturally on the membranes surface during the filtration process.In addition to cutting down on the flux performance of the membrane, this boundary or gel layer acts as a secondary membrane reducing the native design selectivity of the membrane in use.EMERYVILLE, Calif. and IPSWICH, Australia, Sept. 21 /PRNewswire/ -- New Logic Research, Inc., the maker of VSEP, the vibrating membrane filtration system, announced today its participation in the official commissioning ceremony for the Australian Hardboards Water Recycling Plant in Queensland, Australia.

On hand for the ceremony were members of the Australian Hardboards and New Logic executive team, as well as numerous business leaders and local officials, including Cr. Paul Pisasale, the mayor of Ipswich.

The wastewater treatment and recovery system, which combines seven i84 VSEP nanofiltration membrane modules, recovers wastewater for reuse within the plant. The system, which is capable of processing approximately 200,000 gallons per day, runs continuously automated by a programmable logic controller (PLC).

According to New Logic CEO Greg Johnson, "VSEP is fast becoming accepted as the best available technology for tough wastewater treatment applications in Australia. The Australian Hardboards installation represents our second Australian installation in as many months; still more will be coming online within the next year. We were honored to be a part of the ceremony, and to show our commitment to helping to solve the Australian water shortage problem."

New Logic International Sales Manager Melysa Reiss adds, "The paradox of Australia's decreasing water resources and increasing industrial demand requires innovative technologies to bridge the gap. We are proud to have the opportunity to do just that for Australian Hardboards and other firms throughout the continent."

Water shortage caused by drought and increased populations has created a crisis in many parts of Australia. Water supply levels have fallen to 30% of normal, and continue to drop. Local water districts have implemented severe water restrictions to try to stop the drop in supply levels. Brisbane is currently at a Level 4 water restriction that requires mandatory conservation. By recycling its wastewater and reducing its fresh water intake using the VSEP system, AHL has conserved the equivalent of 2000 homes worth of water supply per year. This example of water conservation is being used as a showpiece for other industries to follow.

About New Logic Research, Inc.

Headquartered in Emeryville, California, New Logic Research is the leading provider of high-performance membrane filtration systems used in a wide variety of applications from pure water and wastewater treatment to chemical process clarifications. Founded in 1987, New Logic has grown to meet the needs of its ever-expanding customer base, which includes major corporations from around the World. Today, New Logic provides a breadth of products and services for pure water and wastewater treatment, industrial and chemical processing, power, pulp and paper, oil and gas production and processing, paint and pigments and electronics industries. For more information

GM to unveil new Buick hybrid

2010-12-27T13:33:00.000-08:00

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- General Motors will unveil a hybrid version of its popular Buick LaCrosse sedan this week at the Los Angeles Auto Show. But don't expect GM to call it a hybrid.
The new car, which uses a 4-cylinder engine and a lithium-ion battery pack, is expected to get 37 miles-per-gallon on the highway and 25 mpg in the city. Compared to the current 4-cylinder LaCrosse, the hybrid will provide roughly 25% to 30% better fuel economy.

GM's eAssist system relies on a relatively small battery, which helps preserve trunk space.

This new version will go on sale for the 2012 model year, replacing the non-hybrid 4-cylinder LaCrosse. Customers will then be able to choose either a 6-cylinder LaCrosse or the hybrid car, both starting at about $30,000, according to GM executives.
GM won't call the car a hybrid, however, even though the term fits. Instead, the automaker is calling the fuel-saving system used in the new LaCrosse "eAssist."
The system is an improved version of the mild-hybrid system used in the Chevrolet Malibu Hybrid, which was available in the 2008 and 2009 model years, but found few buyers.
LaCrosse's eAssist has a more powerful battery pack -- in addition to other enhancements -- resulting in a much greater fuel economy gain, than the extra 3 mpg buyers got in the Malibu Hybrid. In designing this new system, engineers used information they learned in developing the Chevrolet Volt and GM's big hybrid SUVs, said Jim Federico, GM's executive director for compact and electric vehicles.
The new battery and more efficient electric motors provide greater assistance to the gasoline engine, so the car can go short distances at higher speeds without the gasoline engine running.
Besides better fuel economy, there are other reasons to think this hybrid might fare better than GM's last try.
For one thing, there will be no non-hybrid version selling for less money alongside the new hybrid car. Also, by not using the word "hybrid" in describing the car, GM is avoiding comparisons to cars like the Toyota Prius or the Lincoln MKZ hybrid, said Buick spokeswoman Carolyn Normandin.
Ford Motor Co.'s MKZ Hybrid -- a smaller car compared to the LaCrosse -- gets 39 mpg in combined city and highway driving, while the Prius gets 50.
"We're clearly not trying for the largest fuel economy number we can get," Normandin said.

She added that their engineers didn't want to sacrifice performance or quietness for the sake of fuel economy.

Do electric cars have enough drive to go mainstream?

2010-12-27T13:29:00.000-08:00

London, England (CNN) -- Major car manufacturers are poised to launch their electric vehicles and expectations are so high Nissan says it has closed its U.S. waiting list with 20,000 pre-orders.
It's no wonder people are excited, with promises of zero carbon emissions, running costs less than a quarter of that of conventional cars and government incentives in some countries including subsidies, exemption from road tax and free parking.
So are these silent machines about to take over the world?
Well, not quite. Despite their impressive claims, even their most ardent supporters admit electric cars aren't about to replace conventional vehicles.
Michael Lock, chief marketing officer at THINK, manufacturer of the world's best-selling electric car so far, told CNN: "Some manufacturers are marketing electric cars in the same way as conventional cars, but that creates confusion.
"They are a niche, and people need to understand their function. They are basically for city driving or commuting into a city, where the round trip is 60 to 80 miles."
Electric cars can go around 70 miles between charges and have a top speed of around 70 miles per hour.
Lock said: "They are not at the stage where they could replace the primary car for many people.

Electric vehicles could be taking 20 to 25 percent of the total car market by 2020
--Michael Lock, THINK

RELATED TOPICS

Cars and Car Design
Electric Vehicles
Alternative Energy Technology
Automotive Technology

"The range needs to double or treble and the cost needs to come down before they can be seen as replacing petrol or diesel cars.
"With anticipated advances in technology, we believe electric vehicles could be taking 20 to 25 percent of the total car market by 2020."
This target is a long way off at the moment. The THINK City car has sold 2,500 models so far, mostly in Norway where the company is based. It has recently expanded to other European countries, with more to follow soon.
THINK will sell its first cars in the United States in December, starting with 300 cars bound for Indiana.
The major car manufacturers are just breaking into the market. Mitsubishi launched its i-MiEV in Japan in April and will break into the UK in January next year. Nissan launches its Leaf in the United States in December, having received 20,000 pre-orders.
The cars don't come cheap. The THINK City costs around €30,000 ($42,000), although the price in each country depends on government incentives. The UK government, for example, is offering a £5,000 ($7,860) subsidy. In the United States, where cars are cheaper, the Nissan Leaf costs $25,280 after federal tax savings.
The running costs, however, are low. Christina Fell, program manager of CABLED, an electric car trial in the UK, estimated most electric car fuel costs are between a fifth and a quarter of those of conventional cars.
Tim Armitage, of the engineering firm Arup, which is leading the CABLED trial, told CNN, "We are still very early in the electric car era. Most manufacturers are still dipping their toes in the water.
"I don't think in my lifetime or my children's lifetime electric cars will completely replace petrol or diesel cars, because they are also becoming more efficient.
"There will be a mix on the roads and people will think about what's best for the type of journeys they make."
CABLED is the largest of eight year-long low-carbon car trial schemes in the UK where householders lease vehicles for a year and data from their usage is recorded.
Initial results of the trial suggest that usage of electric cars is similar to that of conventional cars and that their range is sufficient for most participants' everyday journeys.
Although electric cars themselves have zero emissions, their environmental benefit depends on how the electricity that powers them is generated.
In the UK, a Department for Transport report estimated electric cars have 40 percent less carbon and greenhouse gas emissions than conventional vehicles over their lifetime. The report predicts this will improve further as electricity generation becomes greener.
Lock told CNN that the growth of the electric car market depends on the speed at which governments build the infrastructure for charging them in city centers, as well as the price, range and performance of the cars themselves.
He said the most advanced cities so far were Oslo, Vienna and Amsterdam, although they could all be overtaken by London if proposed measures go ahead.
London Mayor Boris Johnson announced he wants 100,000 electric cars on the city's streets as soon as possible, up from 1,700 currently. He has promised 25,000 charging stations across the British capital by 2015.

China's state news agency Xinhua this month quoted Minister of Science and Technology Wan Gang predicting the country would produce one million electric vehicles a year by 2020 to help combat pollution in cities.

UC4 certified for use with the Avaloq Banking System

2010-12-27T12:54:00.001-08:00

Automated scheduling of Avaloq Banking System (ABS) and enterprise systems with UC4 Workload Automation Suite

VIENNA, February 3, 2009 – UC4 Software, a leading global provider of workload automation, job scheduling and IT process optimization solutions, today announced the certification of UC4 Workload Automation Suite for use with the Avaloq Banking System (ABS) version 2.6. The companies have also signed a partnership agreement that will enhance Avaloq to refer customers requiring a complementary scheduling and automation solution to UC4 Software.

“The certification of the UC4 adapter enables organisations to utilise a complementary technology that has been successfully tested and validated against our Model Bank environment,” said Adrian Bult, COO, Avaloq Evolution AG. “Joint customers will be able to increase the return on their existing technology investments leveraging a solution that interfaces directly with the Avaloq Banking System.”

Avaloq solutions are changing the IT landscapes within private and retail banks in Switzerland, Germany, Liechtenstein, Luxembourg, Singapore, Hong Kong and other markets. With UC4 Workload Automation Suite enterprises remove manual intervention, reduce latency and mitigate risk from their end-to-end business processes. The UC4 Business Integration for Avaloq communicates directly with ABS through application interfaces, allowing customers to extend the automated scheduling of their core banking systems and integrate with external applications.

UC4 Workload Automation Suite can manage back-end processing for ABS and all other surrounding systems that many finance institutes rely on. Avaloq users receive regular software updates which support banks in remaining compliant with industry regulations. When utilizing additional tools it is important that Avaloq users work with solutions that are compatible and certified for use with Avaloq. This reduces maintenance and support issues and allows joint customers to benefit from the enterprise wide visibility and control provided by UC4.

“It gives UC4 great pleasure to extend its relationship with Avaloq,” said Cesare Capobianco, chief executive officer, UC4 Software. “We have benefited from an excellent working partnership working towards receiving this certification. It has allowed us to develop an interface that is compliant with Avaloq’s technical specifications, which also delivers measurable business value to our joint customers.”

About Avaloq
The Avaloq Group, with branches in Luxembourg and Singapore, is the Swiss market leader in the field of standard banking software. For over a decade, the Swiss company has been developing and marketing the Avaloq Banking System. It is trusted by leading financial service providers in private, retail and universal banking in international financial centres around the globe. A network of specialists with first-class partners in the areas of implementation, software, service and technology enables Avaloq to offer its clients a comprehensive all-in-one solution – a modular, innovative and integrated standard software for the financial sector. Avaloq is owned by its management and employees.

About UC4 Software
UC4 Software is a leading global provider of workload automation, job scheduling and IT process optimization solutions that ensure core business processes and enterprise information systems run faster, more accurately and without interruption. More than 1,600 companies worldwide have successfully enhanced application processing performance and improved IT efficiency using UC4’s business acceleration solutions. Customers include American Suzuki Motor Corporation, Cadbury, eBay, Eastman Kodak, General Electric, Mattel, McGraw Hill, Panasonic, Robert Bosch, Sun Microsystems, Symantec, T-Systems and Verizon

Finding WordPress Help

2010-12-25T11:09:00.000-08:00

Besides the helpful WordPress forums and this Codex, there are many sites dedicated to helping WordPress users use WordPress even better. WordPress help is everywhere. So how do you find it when you really need it?
The WordPress FAQ provides extensive answers to frequently asked questions. We've even included a document on how to use the WordPress support forums to get better results on your requests for help.
Before posting in the forums, since it is run by volunteers working hard over long hours when they could be doing something much more constructive, maybe you should start with a search.
To increase your search capabilities, you can add the Codex Searcher Plugin and search the Codex from your WordPress Administration Panels. Click on one of the search results and the page will open in a new window or tab so you can have the article open while working on WordPress.

Conduct Surveys

2010-12-25T11:06:00.003-08:00

SurveySource assists editors to quickly poll local business executives in their readership or viewership area regarding a topic of their choice. Business Wire uses its vast database of local business executives at public and private companies, organizations, agencies and non-profits to deliver your survey to the targeted audience.
Survey responses are sent directly back to the local editor for compilation and publication*. As an added benefit, Business Wire will run a news release regarding the results of your survey after it has been published.

Clips & Research

2010-12-25T11:06:00.001-08:00

NewsTrak Clips provides the broadest, most in-depth media monitoring in the industry. The easy desktop interface has just been completely redesigned to provide more management and reporting capabilities than virtually any other electronic clipping service. Powered by CyberAlert, the service monitors over 55,000 online news sources, television news, and social media websites covering more than 7 million posts on 75 million blogs, online video sharing sites and public posts on Facebook and Twitter; and covers media in almost 200 countries and more than 250 languages.
Proprietary software with full Boolean search capabilities and other sophisticated features delivers high quality clips to you each day based on your customized search profile of up to 15 keywords and/or keyword phrases. Clips are pushed to you daily and stored online in a fully-searchable, password-protected database, giving you 24/7 access to your clip archive from anywhere.
With the information on circulation, web or broadcast rankings, and reach ("opportunities to see") that is provided for each clip, you can dynamically generate 3-D charts and graphs for media measurement. You can export clips to Excel and other formats; create your own folders by keyword or other parameters; and easily select clips to move, share, or delete.

Tracerco is a world leading industrial technology

2010-12-25T11:05:00.002-08:00

Tracerco is a world leading industrial technology company providing unique and specialised detection, diagnostic and measurement solutions.

Our goal is to drive technical innovation to bring significant benefits to our customers in the petroleum industry and in the security tagging niches we serve.

Our promise to our customers is simple and clear: we can add value to your business by increasing revenue, decreasing costs and saving time by:

Improving process control and optimising overall asset performance
Determining the real time, on line conditions in a process system allowing operators to visualise flow and detect leaks, blockages or other problems
Investigating the integrity of critical plant units to avoid production losses, increasing throughput and averting environmental or safety incidents
Protect industrial products from fraudulent copying, counterfeiting or adulteration via use of our covert forensic tagging technology
Delivering training and advice on radiation protection and the operation and maintenance of our technology, ensuring compliance with national and international legislation.

ELISEEV PALACE HOTEL

2010-12-25T11:05:00.000-08:00

The Taleon Imperial Hotel is the only lodging in St. Petersburg providing accommodations in a czarist-era palace. Restored and modified by some of Russia's finest artistic talent, the hotel opened in May 2003 in time to celebrate the city's 300th anniversary. LOCATION: 59, Moika emb. METRO STATION: Gostinny Dvor / Nevsky ProspectAziendaleader nell’ intermediazione immobiliare e promozione turistica a Porto Rotondoe per le ville di prestigio in tutta la Costa Smeralda. I 25 anni di esperienzahanno ormai consolidato ed affermato l’ azienda a livello internazionale. Lostaff della Socoin, ha raggiunto da tempo un altissimo grado di professionalità,riuscendo a soddisfare appieno le numerose richieste dei propri clienti.La società ha la fortuna di svolgere la sua attività in una delle zonepiù affascinanti del mondo, fra spiagge paradisiache bagnate da un mare colorsmeraldo ed inebrianti profumi mediterranei. Il Nord Est Sardegna meglioconosciuta come Costa Smeralda, è un angolo magico di questa terra antica, dovecultura millenaria e folklore si fondono mirabilmente con mondanità ed eleganza,in una modernissima concezione di vacanze, grazie ai modernissimi portituristici, i campi da golf e le varie strutture ricettive e sportive. Oggi PortoRotondo e Porto Cervo sono luoghi dove gli ospiti vengono coccolati e viziatisia dal lusso che dalla semplice bellezza del territorio.La tradizioneed il carattere di quest’isola collocano l’ospitalità al primo posto fra imolteplici pregi naturali.L’esperienza maturata nei 25 anni di attivitàpermette alla Socoin di poter offrire ai propri clienti una consulenza su misurasia per i loro Investimenti in Costa Smeralda (acquisto e gestione di ville eappartamenti) che per le loro vacanze con una grande offerta di dimore inaffitto ( anche settimanale per gli appartamenti ) dove è possibile godere lalunghissima (da maggio ad ottobre), profumata, fresca estate dellaSardegna.Affinché le vostre vacanze siano ancora più spensierate epiacevoli, siamo tra le pochissime Agenzie Immobiliari in grado di fornire tuttii servizi, quali cuochi qualificati, colf, domestici, giardinieri, manutentori,per il periodo e le ore di cui avete bisogno.Porto Cervo is the main centre of the so-called Costa Smeralda, one of the most prestigious tourist areas in Gallura on Sardinia's north-western coast.Resorts such as Cala di Volpe, Liscia di Vacca and Baja Sardinia are now considered very sought-after tourist destinations.Porto Cervo is a village of multicoloured buildings, recently built in front of the natural port and the surrounding hills.The Porto Vecchio (Old Port) dates back to the 60's and is on the south-eastern side, while the new harbour is equipped with the most modern and complete tourist infrastructures for international marine traffic.The wharves and quays are Porto Cervo Spa's private property and therefore fees must be paid for docking and enjoying the use of the facilities.The Port is visible from the sea and makes reference to Capo Ferro, a 46 m high promontory with a lighthouse indicating north of Porto Cervo. From the sea you can also admire the lights of the numerous tourist resorts present in the area.Anyone not wanting to use the port might anchor in the bay. The entrance is indicated by the lights.Obviously, Porto Cervo couldn't not have a Yacht Club (the Costa Smeralda Yacht Club) and a meeting point for nightlife (La Piazzetta

ıspanaklı olduğunu söylemedikce kimsenin anlamayacağı ve tarifini isteyeceği bir pasta

2010-12-24T22:55:00.000-08:00

Malzemeler
3 yumurta
1.5 su bardağı toz şeker
250 ıspanak
3/4 su bardağı sıvı yağ
2 su bardağı un(elenmiş)
1 paket Dr. Oetker Hamur Kabartma Tozu
1 paket Dr. Oetker Şekerli Vanilin
3 su bardağı süt
3yemek kaşığı un
yarın su bardağı şeker
1 paket Dr. Oetker Şekerli Vanilin
1 subardağı süt
1 paket Dr. Oetker Krem Şanti

YapılışıIspanakları yıkayıp iyice süzdürdüm ve yaprak kısımlarını önce az yağda kavurdum daha sonra robottan geçirdim. Yumurta ve şekeri beyazlaşıncaya kadar çırptım. un, kabartma tozu ve vanilya ekleyip biraz daha çırptım. Ispanakları ekleyip iyice karıştırdım ve yağlanmış kalıba döküp, 175 derece fırında 25-30 dakika pişirdim.
Krema malzemelerini karıştırıp, pişirdim ve soğuttum. Krem şantiyi 1 bardak soğuk sütle çırptım. Kekin kenar kısımlarını bıçakla kesip, çıkan kırıntıları rondodan geçirdim. (Bu kırıntılar krema döküldükten sonra pastayı süslemek için kullanılacak.)
Keki ikiye kesip, arasına krema sürdüm ve üstünü krem şantiyle kaplatıp kırıntılarla süsledim. AFİYET OLSUN

büsküvili muhallebi

2010-12-23T04:29:00.000-08:00

MALZEMELER
1 çay bardagı bugday nişastası
2 çay bardagı şeker
10 çay bardagı süt
Küçük bir paket kare bisküvi
Üstünü süslemek için ceviz veye pasta süsü
YAPILIŞI
Bütün malzemeleri tencereye koyup birbirine iyice yedirerek ocak üstünde sürekli karıştırarak kaynayana kadar pişirin.
Islattıgınız borcam kalıba iki kepçe kadar dökün üstüne bisküvileri dizin.
Daha sonra kalan muhallebiyi döküp üstünü süsleyin.
Soguduktan sonra servis yapın
Afiyet olsun
Bu tatlı yumuşak oldugu için kızım severek yer,onun için bizim evde çok yapılır üstüne ben cevizi size süslü görünsün diye serptim kızımın bogazına takıldıgı için ben genelde koymam.hafif bir tatlı tavsiye ederim.

Huntron Scanners

2010-12-23T04:24:00.001-08:00

Add Scanning Capabilites to Your Huntron Tracker Model 30 System
Tracker Model 30 shown with Scanner II underneath

Adding a Huntron® Scanner to your Tracker Model 30 system lets you access components using standard DIP clips and cables, custom cables to PCB connectors or interface to a bed-of-nails.
You can compare one component with another in real-time (64 pins max.) or use your PC to automate testing and scan up to 128 pins.
Huntron Scanners can be used with a Huntron Access Prober to provide Common line connections while the Prober is probing a PCB. This method gives you up to 128 selectable Commons to use. For example, you can connect the Scanner to a connector on a PCB mounted in the Prober using a common ribbon style cable. While the Prober is probing, any one of the lines on the connected ribbon cable can be selected as the Common reference. This would provide you true point-to-point testing capabilities.
Note: The ProTrack Scanner will be replaced by the Scanner II and/or the Scanner 31S effective 1/1/2008. This applies to commercial sales only.

Scanner II and Scaner 31S users may want to consider these Optional Accessories to enhance their test capabilities.

Highlights:

The Scanner II and Scanner 31S accessories add scanning capability to the Tracker Model 30
All Scanners have a minimum 64 pin capability
The Scanner II can scan up to 128 pins when the A and B channels are combined
The Scanner 31S use standard IDC style connectors
The Scanner II uses the common SCSI-2 (68 pin) style connectors
Up to 8 Scanner IIs can be “daisy-chained” to increase the available number of test pins
Selecting Accessories for your Scanner II
The Scanner II accessories for interfacing to your printed circuit board come "ala carte". This means that you select the accessories you want included with your Scanner. Choose from SMT or through-hole style DIP clip and cable kits (Scanner Adapter required with Scanner II) or a mutli-pin breakout cable. Details on these accessories are provided on this page

Tracerco -endüstriyel teknoloji şirketi

2010-12-23T04:22:00.000-08:00

Winged luxury submarines 'fly' underwater

2010-12-23T04:21:00.000-08:00

The Deep Flight Super Falcon made its maiden voyage in San Francisco Bay in September.

Hawkes has been in the business of building underwater craft for more than a decade. In the early days, his company, Hawkes Ocean Technologies, built vehicles for researchers and moviemakers.
But in the past few years, the ultrarich have increasingly looked for cool playthings for their ocean adventures.

What better toy to have on the end of your 200-foot yacht than a submarine capable of diving to 1,500 feet below the sea's surface?

Whoops. Did we say submarine? It's a submersible that can "fly" underwater.

The Deep Flight Super Falcon looks like a fighter jet, with its thin body, two seats, two sets of wings and two tail fins.

"We just had to tear up everything we knew about submersibles and start again on winged subs -- underwater flying machines," Hawkes said.

He said Deep Flight submersibles are designed to be more agile than any creature living in the ocean -- with the exception of dolphins. The company says that because of the wings, the Super Falcon can go barrel-rolling with dolphins while traveling at speeds much faster than other private submarines.

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Deep Flight
The craft can stay underwater for up to five hours and travel at speeds up to 6 knots, the company says on its Web site.

The first client for the Super Falcon was venture capitalist Tom Perkins, who wanted a toy to keep on his mega-yacht, the Maltese Falcon. The base price: $1.3 million. Another model, which has open cockpits and cannot dive as deep as the Super Falcon, sells for $350,000.

Perkins, writing in Boating International magazine, said he joined the project to take the Super Falcon from prototype to a fully functional craft.

"Like some of my other projects, we didn't finish on time, but also like some of the others, the end result exceeded all our expectations," he said.

The second machine is being built for Hawkes' personal use.

A submarine driver wouldn't recognize the cockpit of the Super Falcon.

"There are no valves, there are no gauges," Hawkes said. "You just power up the thrusters, start your take-off run, put the joystick forward, then the nose goes down. The wings literally pull it down."

That's very different from conventional submarines, which basically dive by changing the ballast of the ship to make it sink.

"It's not just that they look like airplanes, they actually are," Hawkes said. "The machines we build underwater should look like airplanes, not submarines. Airplanes don't look like balloons."

He won't take credit for the idea, saying the idea of a submarine with fins and wings has been thought of before. The 1972 French comic book, "Tintin and the Lake of Sharks," included a shark-like submarine with dorsal fins and a tail. Hawkes said that although the idea of wings may have been obvious, "The prize goes to he that does."

On one of the submersible's first test voyages, Hawkes' team encountered a group of hammerhead sharks. The sharks were curious and swam around the watercraft. One engaged the sub in a game of chicken, only to veer off at the last minute. It was a great reward, Hawkes said.

The craft is powered by batteries and the turbines that drive the ship were made with special care to be incredibly quiet. The maneuverability also lets it navigate in strong currents that stifle other underwater craft, the creators said.

The business plan for Deep Flight includes schools for underwater pilots to fly future versions of the Super Falcon. The next school is scheduled for this summer in the Turks and Caicos, said Karen Hawkes, the company's manager of marketing and communications, in an e-mail.

The three-day course costs $17,000. There is also a half-day, ride-along dive that costs $5,500. Karen Hawkes said the company enrolls 10 to 15 people per course and had open spots for this summer's courses.

She also wrote that while "there really isn't something akin to the FAA governing submersible operations," her company thinks sub manufacturers should offer pilot training to the owners of machine.

Then the owner can load his or her new toy onto their yacht and discover the underwater portion of this planet that most people never see, Hawkes said.

"Do you want to stalk a shark?" he asked. "Do you want to go to a Great White and go woo-hoo? Do you want to do a barrel roll with a whale?
"Shall we go and find some territories that humans have never seen before? ... Get in one of these machines, get below 150 feet -- the deepest that divers go -- and you are the first human eyes to look at that piece of the planet."
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/03/06/eod.luxury.submarines/index.html