Grangemouth chemical plant shut in blow to Scottish economy

By Simon Falush and Sarah Young

LONDON (Reuters) - Scotland's economy suffered a blow on Wednesday when the owners of the Grangemouth site shut the petrochemical plant and threatened to close the adjoining refinery, putting 1,400 jobs at risk.

The 210,000-barrels-per-day refinery, which provides most of Scotland's fuel, was shut last week by its private Swiss owner Ineos due to a long-running labour dispute. The owners say the site makes a loss.

The decision to close the petrochemical plant comes despite the protestations of Prime Minister David Cameron, who had called on all sides to continue talks. The move is also a setback for the Scottish National Party, which is leading the campaign for Scotland to become independent.

On the banks of the Firth of Forth in east Scotland, Grangemouth is one of only seven refineries left in Britain and is the biggest industrial site in Scotland. Around 1,400 staff work at the 7-square-kilometre (2.7-square-mile) site, with 800 of those employed at the chemical plant.

Opened in 1924, it accounts for around 8 percent of Scotland's manufacturing industry, according to David Bell, a professor of economics at Stirling University.

Ineos said liquidators would be appointed within a week for the petrochemical plant and it would now decide whether to restart the refinery, which would be dependent on the removal of the threat of further industrial action.

"This is the outcome that matches our worst fears," Scotland's first minister Alex Salmond said, adding that the Scottish government was trying to find a buyer.

"The Scottish government strongly believes the site has a positive future and we will continue to work with the UK government and all other parties concerned to find a solution that supports the workers affected and the wider Scottish economy."

Stirling's Bell said the shutdown of the petrochemicals plant would be the "heaviest blow" for Scotland since the disappearance of a number of electronics companies collectively known as Silicon Glen in the 1990s and early 2000s.

Scotland will vote on whether to become independent in a referendum in September next year. Many Scots polled on the issue have said their biggest concern will be the likely impact a separation would have on the economy.

Ed Davey, Britain's energy minister, said he stood ready to help with discussions between the management and the union.

The refinery moved closer to permanent closure on Monday this week after a clear majority of union workers rejected a plan that would have cut pensions and benefits.

PetroChina, which owns 49.9 percent of the refinery, said it was aware of the situation at the site, which Ineos operates. Ineos owns completely the attached petrochemical plant.

Grangemouth could be the latest in a line of refinery casualties, including Coryton in Britain - victims of competition from Asia and the Middle East, and falling demand for gasoline in Europe.

Grangemouth also powers BP's Kinneil terminal, which processes North Sea crude oil coming ashore via the Forties Pipeline System, a grade that helps set the benchmark for global oil prices.

Analysts said the Grangemouth dispute was supporting Brent prices.

(Writing by Kate Holton and Simon Falush; Editing by Dale Hudson)

• Labor Issues
• Grangemouth
• Ineos
• Prime Minister David Cameron

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/ineos-says-close-uk-chemical-plant-decide-refinery-102113219--finance.html
Category: Texas A&m   foxnews   how i met your mother   Polina Polonsky   catherine zeta jones  

Happy Birthday, Copy Machine! Happy Birthday, Copy Machine!

Audio for this story from Morning Edition will be available at approximately 9:00 a.m. ET.

 

Copy machines can be found in every office, and most of us take them for granted. But 75 years ago, the technology that underpins the modern photocopier was used for the first time in a small apartment in Queens.

Inventor Chester Carlson used static electricity created with a handkerchief, light and dry powder to make the first copy on Oct. 22, 1938.

The copier didn't get on to the market until 1959, more than 20 years later. When it did, the Xerox machine prompted a dramatic change in the workplace.

The first commercial model, the Xerox 914, was bulky and cumbersome. It weighed nearly 650 pounds. It was the size of about two washing machines and was prone to spontaneous combustion.

But even literally going up in flames wasn't enough to kill the product. In fact, it was in high demand.

"There was a distinct need for simple copying like this, and it just took off," says Ray Brewer, historical archivist for Xerox Corp. "We sold thousands of these machines, and the demand was such that we were manufacturing them in large quantities."

Brewer says the popularity of Xerox technology abroad inspired more clandestine uses for the copier. Some machines actually had miniature cameras built into them during the Cold War for the purpose of spying on other countries.

Back at home, the copier was proving to be a godsend for secretaries. One Xerox commercial features a female secretary saying:

"I make perfect copies of whatever my boss needs by just turning a knob and pushing a button. Anything he can see I can copy in black and white on ordinary paper. I can make seven copies a minute. ... Sometimes my boss asks me which is the original, and sometimes, I don't know."

Author and historian Lynn Peril says the machines had to have been "fabulously liberating."

"Oh my god, you didn't have to work with all the lousy carbon paper," she says. "You could just take it and put it on this glass surface, and press a button and you've got as many copies as you wanted."

The beauty of the technology, Peril says, was that it saved time for office workers without making their workplace role obsolete.

Angele Boyd is a business analyst at the International Data Corp. She says copier technology created a more democratic information system.

"Until then, you needed to go to a press or you needed to go to a third party external print shop to produce that kind of quality output," she says.

The core technology in the copier, later transferred to printers and scanners, has remained the same since the 1930s.

Source: http://www.npr.org/2013/10/23/239241106/happy-birthday-copy-machine-happy-birthday-copy-machine?ft=1&f=3
Category: Boulder Flooding   NSync   Tropical Storm Flossie  

Chill, Brah: The Best Gear for Hanging at the Ski Lodge

Some days on the mountain are spent conquering summits and finding hidden tree runs. Others are spent conquering nachos and locating the nearest happy hour.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/wV0LsQLMixs/
Similar Articles: Lake Natron   yom kippur   apple event   pharrell   Katy Perry Roar  

Adblock Plus' new target: Facebook 'annoyances'

Call it "walled-garden manicuring," if you will. Adblock Plus is now capable of blocking that many more of the sorts of annoyances that only Facebook provides to its readers.

Having the ad-blocking plug-in block the likes of sponsored stories, promoted posts, and so on isn't new. What is new is the ability to block things like upcoming events in your area, or "People You May Know" displays.

Twenty-one additional Facebook elements can now be blocked with the new plug-in. Most of them are attempts to glean feedback from the user about other Facebook content ("Games you may like" or "Rate movies you've watched"). Even Adblock Plus' own makers admit, "[These] are not advertisements. Rather, this material is actually from Facebook, and it is served to you based upon the information Facebook receives from your profile and activities."

The privacy implications of this are never gladdening, especially if such material ends up leaking out of Facebook entirely. No surprise then that some people would prefer it was never served up at all. But being able to one-up Facebook's own customization almost certainly won't sit well with Facebook.

Adblock Plus has garnered itself a mixed reputation from content providers and end-users alike. Many end-users understand all too well that the vast majority of sites need ad revenue to survive, but are fed up with obnoxious, experience-killing ads that leak privacy data. But Adblock Plus' attempts to dictate the direction of Web-based advertising via its Acceptable Ads initiative has come off as a heavy-handed attempt to dictate how advertising on the Web should work. (Adblock Plus recently reached out to Twitter to be non-annoying right as that company was filing for its IPO.)

Until now Adblock Plus has focused most of its work on blocking ads on sites where the difference between an ad and the actual content is normally quite clear. But now it seems Adblock Plus is also attempting to change the ways end-users experience sites where content, advertisement, and promotion are heavily -- sometimes inextricably -- mixed.

Facebook could fight back in any number of ways. The most urbane would be to change its service to allow the most annoying content to be removed entirely or maybe after a short period of use. (For example, you have to endure "Games you may like" at least one day a month before you're given the option to toggle it off.) But it's more likely the company'll fight back by finding ways to render Adblock Plus' blocking useless -- a move that could spark an arms race between two of the Web's most contentious and divisive presences.

It all amounts to a striking example of one third-party company providing ways for users to experience another third-party company's content -- perhaps even at the expense of Facebook losing a way to harvest information from its users in an aboveboard fashion.

That's the real worry: What if, when faced with challenges like Adblock Plus to its data-gathering model, Facebook decides to remind folks what's going on Friday night downtown in the middle of a chat session or asks you whether or not you've seen a movie right when you're typing its name in a reply to someone else's post?

This story, "Adblock Plus' new target: Facebook 'annoyances'," was originally published at InfoWorld.com. Get the first word on what the important tech news really means with the InfoWorld Tech Watch blog. For the latest developments in business technology news, follow InfoWorld.com on Twitter.

Source: http://podcasts.infoworld.com/t/web-browsers/adblock-plus-new-target-facebook-annoyances-229247?source=rss_applications
Similar Articles: Healthcare.gov   bart   once upon a time   lindsay lohan   mick jagger  

Stephen Elop says he's ready for change at Microsoft

All eyes are on Stephen Elop. Just hours ago, he introduced Nokia's first Windows tablet; he's also overseeing his division's integration into Microsoft; and Redmond is even considering him as its next CEO. During our interview today, Elop understandably couldn't comment on the prospect of taking ...

Source: http://feeds.engadget.com/~r/weblogsinc/engadget/~3/QCA0rsSrEcM/
Related Topics: nhl   Washington Navy Yard   apple stock   Yahoo Fantasy Football   Bryan Cranston  

Welcome to WIRED’s 5th-Generation iPad Liveblog

Hello, and welcome to WIRED’s 5th Generation iPad Liveblog! Apple has something new in the works, and we’ll be here to bring you all the action starting at 9 am October 22.

Source: http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/GearFactor/~3/FPZJUaCeN54/
Related Topics: Revolt TV   nfl standings   elton john   Wrecking Ball   paulina gretzky  

Garmin Tactix ruggedized GPS watch lets you play Navy SEAL for $450

Introducing Garmin tactix: A Tactically-Inspired GPS Navigator and ABC Watch

Garmin Tactix OLATHE, Kan./ October 22, 2013/Business Wire-Garmin International Inc., a unit of Garmin Ltd. (NASDAQ: GRMN), the global leader in satellite navigation, today announced tactix, a rugged high-sensitivity GPS navigator and ABC watch inspired by the requirements of Law Enforcement and Police Special Operations. Built for training, exploring, and more, this field-ready wristwatch boasts an altimeter, barometer, 3-axis compass, and extensive tracking capabilities for precise navigation in the field. tactix is waterproof to 50 meters, and can run up to 50 hours in GPS mode on one charge. It comes preloaded with tide data (U.S. units only) and Jumpmaster software, which could prove invaluable for amphibious and airborne operations. It has a stealth, matte black design with a curved lens and green backlight, so it won't flare out with night vision devices or compromise the user's position. tactix can withstand even the most extreme elements and situations, but is sleek enough to be worn as an everyday timepiece.

"Being able to go hands free while still having access to accurate information on barometric pressure, elevation, and GPS position could prove to be invaluable in the field," said Dan Bartel, Garmin's vice president of worldwide sales. "tactix packs Garmin's trusted navigation technology into a GPS watch that both soldiers and civilians can rely on. Plus, the preloaded tide data and Jumpmaster software, along with its stealth design, really sets tactix apart from other wrist worn GPS devices."

tactix is built to endure the roughest conditions. It combines a strong housing with a forged stainless steel rear case to survive shock and impact, and has a scratch-resistant, curved mineral glass lens that reduces "hot spots" from sun reflections. tactix features a large LCD display with a negative mode liquid crystal display for low light conditions. The black background and green LED backlight won't flare out with night vision devices. The preloaded tide data and Jumpmaster software are important features for both military operations and recreational activities. It has a bold, all-black design (bezel, screen, buttons and straps) that is stealthy, yet stylish. tactix is waterproof to 50 meters, and has a battery life of up to 50 hours in UltraTrac mode, 16 hours in full GPS mode, and five weeks in watch mode. Basic watch functions include alarms, tones, vibration alerts, timer, stopwatch and world clock with the ability to display several time zones, military time, and zulu time at once.

tactix boasts a comprehensive navigational toolset that allows users to plan trips, create routes, record waypoints (up to 1,000) such as rally points, landing zones or potential campsites. Users can record GPS bread crumb trails on the move, can navigate to coordinates, along a track or route, towards waypoints, geocaches or along any other selected bearing. A navigation arrow provides clear directional guidance, and the TracBack® function can guide users back along a previously recorded tracklog. This function provides users peace of mind, knowing that they're never "lost" and can easily find their way back in case of emergency or bad weather conditions. tactix also features a dual-position readout, so users can view their current location in multiple formats, including latitude/longitude and MGRS (military grid reference system) on the display simultaneously, simplifying navigation for professional, search-and-rescue and recreational uses. tactix comes preloaded with a worldwide basemap that displays cities nearby. Using the BaseCamp™ desktop and mobile application, tactix users can easily plan trips and share their adventures with friends and family. tactix is equipped with both ANT+™ capabilities and Bluetooth® to wirelessly share tracks, waypoints, routes, and geocaches with other compatible Garmin devices or smartphones with the BaseCamp mobile app. tactix can also be used as a remote for the new Garmin VIRB action camera.

tactix is equipped with ABC sensors (altimeter, barometer, and compass) to provide users with relevant, real-time information. The built-in altimeter provides elevation data to accurately monitor ascent and descent, and the barometer can be used to predict weather changes by showing short-term trends in air pressure. Users can keep their bearings the with 3-axis electronic compass, no matter if they're moving or not. Using its GPS receiver, tactix can auto-calibrate its ABC sensors and auto set the time based on location. For an extremely accurate temperature reading, not influenced by the wearer's body temperature, tactix can be paired with tempe™, Garmin's external temperature sensor.

tactix provides real-time performance data, such as distance, pace, cadence (sensor sold separately), and calories, helping users keep track of their progress during physical training (PT), or other fitness activities. tactix is compatible with the premium heart rate monitor for heart rate info, and with the speed/cadence sensor for distance, speed and cadence while on a bike. The displayed data fields are fully customizable right from the watch.

The new Garmin tactix will be widely available for purchase in fall 2013 for $449.99. tactix is the latest solution from Garmin's outdoor segment, which focuses on developing technologies and innovations to enhance user's outdoor experiences. Whether it's golfing, hiking, hunting or geocaching, Garmin outdoor devices are becoming essential tools for outdoor enthusiasts of all levels. For more information about Garmin's other outdoor products and services, go to garmin.com/outdoors, garmin.blogs.com and twitter.com/garmin.

Source: http://www.engadget.com/2013/10/22/garmin-tactix-gps-watch/?ncid=rss_truncated
Tags: darren sproles   The Blacklist   apple   Spring High School   Whitey Bulger