http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com SpoonyLife fr-FR http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/fishing-report-for-july-16-16759.html Short castsAn angler found a ketchup packet from a burger chain inside alargemouth bass he caught at Tempe Town Lake. Finally, something togo along with the hot dogs dunked for catfish. . . . For a chanceat a mixed bag of fish at Canyon Lake, throw a one-eighth-ounceKastMaster lure around such areas as Beaver Landing, Teddy BearPoint and Beer Can Point. Expect to catch lots of yellow bass(including some up to 12 inches), small largemouths, bluegills over8 inches, shad and a channel catfish or two. . . . Smallmouth bassup to 2 pounds are being very cooperative in the Black River. Usesmall, single-tail Yamamoto grubs for best results.Roosevelt LakeReports indicate one angler caught seven flathead catfish whilefishing the Salt River above the lake. One weighed 50 pounds, andthe rest were all over 25. The lunkers ate bluegills. Work theSally Mae area for crappies using minnows under lights at varyingdepths. Bass fishing can be frustrating, however. Some say Vixentop-water lures are hot for surface bass early in the day and oftenthroughout the day. Details: 928-467-2245.San Carlos LakeLargemouth bass action as been described as hot for anglerswielding crankbaits, Texas worms and Carolina rigs on points. Atnight the action turns to crappies, with fishermen coming up withbig numbers of good-sized specimens. Use minnows under lights forbest results. Details: 928-475-2343.Lake PleasantStriped bass are schooling mornings and evenings and are hittingtop-water lures. There are some isolated boils during the day.Largemouth action is tough during the hot part of the day. At nightthrow worms and jigs for largemouths in 20 to 30 feet of water.Catfish said to be cooperative on worms and bluegills. One anglerpicked up an 8 ?pound largemouth while fishing a dropshot rig. Tryswimbaits and Skinny Dippers.Bartlett LakeDropshotting main-lake points is working on bass for some anglers.Throw jigs and crankbaits in the channels. Drag jigs along untilthe line tightens. Use the cranks in deeper channels. At dusk,break out the top-water baits. Some anglers are finding fishsuspended under marina docks. Details: 602-316-3378.Alamo LakeWork chatterbaits in the river for largemouths. One expert said toburn them on top like a buzzbait. Phenix live jigs are working wellin the green pumpkin color. Senko flippers are also finding somesuccess. Details: 928-669-2088.Colorado RiverSome of the season's best fishing is on tap at Lees Ferry as thecicadas are in full bloom and are feeding the trout. Trout are onthe surface sipping midges in the back eddies and are also at theedge of the river looking for unsuspecting cicadas to drop in thecurrent. A good time to be a fly-fisherman, but action can also befound by spin fishermen. Details: 800-962-9755.Mogollon RimPower Bait has been taking trout at both Woods Canyon and WillowSprings lakes. . . . At Black Canyon Lake fish at first and lastlight for best results. Use Power Bait or small lures such asspinners. Details: 928-367-4281.White MountainsBig Lake trout are hitting yellow Power Bait, salmon eggs andworms. Boaters are trolling cowbells with an attached worm, luresand flies with good results. . . . Trout fishing is fair at CarneroLake on flies and lures only. Most fish are stockers from earlierthis summer as the lake experienced a winter kill. . . . Catfishare keeping anglers happy at Lyman Lake. Use worms or stinkbaits .. . Fishing is fair at Luna Lake on Panther Martin spinners andyellow Crickhopper lures. Details: 928-367-4281. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:36:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/princeton-tots-get-a-teddy-bear-picnic-16758.html The Dudas sisters had come bearing their favorite stuffed animalsto partake in the library's second annual Teddy Bear'sPicnic Day on Thursday. The event is held on the national TeddyBear's Picnic Day, a celebration in honor of an old childhoodsong with the same name.Pamela Groves, the youth services librarian in charge of the event,had transformed the library's third-floor story room into apicnic site in the woods. A blanket sat in the center, surroundedby wicker picnic baskets and branches of leaves. Cups of lemonadeand bowls of blueberries, cheese and teddy grahams lay scatteredacross the picnic blanket. A tree in the corner completed the look.Ms. Groves held two picnics on Thursday, one beginning at 3 p.m.and the other at 4:30 p.m. During the hour-long events, childrenages 4 to 6 introduced their stuffed animals to the rest of thegroup. They then listened attentively as Ms. Groves read books andpoetry about teddy bears. One book's title, "The BoyWho Thought He was a Teddy Bear," drew a round of giggles.The children also sang a teddy bear song and discussed real-lifebears. The picnic concluded with a photo opportunity thekids put their heads through a poster of a teddy bear with the headcut out. Ms. Groves took pictures and will email them to theparents."It's a gentle program," Ms. Groves said."It keeps it low-key. It's about having fun and aboutthe books. It's about engaging them with the books."She said the idea for the program had come from the song, "ATeddy Bear's Picnic," which she has always enjoyed.Only when she searched the song online did she realize there wasnational day in honor of the song. She decided to hold her programon that day.Each picnic was limited to 12 children and the maximum number ofchildren registered."I feel like I can have three picnics and they would all befull," Ms. Groves said. "It's verypopular."As they were leaving, the children all received a certificate fortheir stuffed animals. The bears were honored for a variety ofattributes, including being the gentlest, oldest, most playful andbest dressed.Six-year-old Amanda Lerner's bear, a furry red one namedSarah, had won the title of hungriest bear. Her mother, JillFeldman of Montgomery, said they had enjoyed the picnic as a nicechange of pace from their normal summer routine."The bears had a nice day out," she said, with a laugh. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:35:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/join-in-the-teddy-bears-picnic-fun-16757.html Springfields Outlet Shopping Centre is holding its SummertimeSpecial Teddy Bear猬"s Picnic on August 2.Eli the bear will be singing country and western style songs whileplaying the guitar.Children and their parents are invited to go along to the centre,in Camelgate, Spalding, to join in the fun.n For more information, call 01775 760909. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:34:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/every-weekend-offers-a-festival-16756.html Teddy Bear RegisterContents of Park Rapids Enterprise are available to you at nocharge.In order to serve you better and to enhance our service in thefuture, we are now requiring registration to view some of thecontent areas on our sites.Register for a free account »Please visit our privacy statement for more information.If you've already registered with a Forum Communications newspaper you may log-in below.Log In Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:33:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/my-diary-malady-16755.html YoungbloodMy diary maladyBy Jasmine T. CruzPhilippine Daily InquirerFirst Posted 01:37:00 07/17/2008The diary malady: That is the disease afflicting me. I am governedby the impulse to have every part of my life immortalized on paper.I have this compulsion to write about that girl who has thrivingforests in her armpits, the teacher who has illusions of morality,the guy who has the power to make me faint and the other guy whohas pimples also has the power to make me faint.I cannot identify the cause of this addiction; all I can do is tospeculate. My diary disorder could be genetic. My mom startedkeeping a diary when she was 15 years old because it was thefashionable thing back then. Unfortunately, she got hooked on thistrend. In fact, she was so dedicated to writing in her diary thateven though she was forbidden from staying up late by her parents,she would still write by candlelight. No wonder she now has pooreyesight.This diary disease could also quite possibly have stemmed from myexperiences as an only child. Being self-absorbed is a chronicillness of an only child. I had the full attention of my mother.Whenever I cried, talked or nagged, she had no choice but to listento me. Being the only kid in the house, I also became the favoriteof my grandma. Thus, I was given all the best clothes, all thelatest toys and all the delicious food. All this made it very easyfor me to become self-centered.However, being an only child also led to feelings of isolation. Ihad a lot of board games, but my opponent was often Teddy BuzzyBear or Hugums. Talking to other kids was replaced with talking toinanimate objects, to which I tried to give life by giving namesand even voices. For example, Wendy the rabbit had a girly voice,while Jem the Barbie doll had a mature voice.When I entered kindergarten, I was so enthusiastic to meet kidsthat I became this weirdo who always butted in on other peoplesconversations, thus, earning me the title of EPALOIDS. Peopleshowed their disapproval of my habits of self-expression with snidecomments, raised eyebrows or cruel silence.My desire to assert myself was repressed. Yet, just like all formsof repression, this was never fully silenced. That is why I becameattracted to the idea of keeping a diary. Through my diary, I wasable to strike a balance between the impulse to be self-absorbedand the desire to hide myself from the world. Through my diary, Ibecame an egotistical introvert, devoting several pages to theexpression of my identity while my introverted self was kept atpeace by withholding my personal confessions from the rest of theworld.This compulsion to write about my life started with a harmlessexchange gifts way back when I was in Grade 3. I was not tooenthusiastic about giving gifts and so I just picked up thecleanest, and therefore most unloved, squishy starfish from my boxof toys, wrapped it and brought it to our ballet club Christmasparty. When the gifts were randomly exchanged, I had the good luckof getting a diary with a cute teddy bear design. I was veryhappyuntil I saw the look on the face of the girl who got myhorrid, orange starfish toy. At that moment, I resolved to be theworthy owner of the beautiful gift that I receive.That was when my crazy habit began. In my desire to be the bestdiary owner in the world, I started to become obsessed with it. Istarted putting entry titles, table of contents and page numbers inmy diary. After I filled up my first diary, I bought another one,and then another one, and another. Then, I started putting volumenumbers on each diary and started giving them names based on theircover design. So far, I have 14 diaries and their names are: sugarcream puff diary, Pocahontas diary, heart diary, tic-tacdiary, fotofon diary, flower and clock diary, maui girldiary, bear diary, poem sterling diary, cool stradmore notesdiary, eyeglasses stradmore notes diary, survival diary, whyask why diary and kitty cutie diary.The special features in my diaries did not stop there. They beganto evolve. I started putting the profiles of important people in mylife like teachers, enemies, popular people and the like. Nostalker can improve on these entries. They come complete withpictures and Magnificat (our school paper) clippings. In each diaryI also have my own glossary which explains the meaning of theabbreviations, codes and insults I used.When I entered high school, I became too busy to write in my diarybecause of the demanding academic workload. Thus, I decided to havea pre-diary named invincible, not invisible. In this notebook, Ijot down notes about my day, which I develop into a diary entrylater when I have time. This ensures that updating my diaries willbe an inescapable task.My diaries contents are constantly morphing. Sometimes my entriesare merely my rantings in written form. The chronology is disruptedwith, Oh yeah I forgot to tell you that (insert forgotten story).There are also caveats, like This is going to be a messy entry,and postscript after postscript after postscript.However, I have also well-thought-out entries. Some of these werefirst written as drafts, and then edited, and then subjected tothesaurus-assisted beautification.Some people, when they get depressed, open their Bibles at randomand find themselves reading solutions to their problem. I dontopen the Bible; I open my diary.This diary-opening habit started just like any other Bible-openinghabit. One time, I was stricken with self doubt when I thought ofopening my diary. I found myself reading a page where I proudly andarrogantly proclaimed my own greatness. I felt considerably betterafter this, and was motivated to do this on a regular basis. Mydiary thus became a good way to find inspiring words that willuplift my spirit.Knowing all of these things, my general diagnosis is this: My diarydisease, which has played a big part in maintaining my sanity andmy means of self expression and inspiration, will be very hard tocure. So long as I have feelings to liberate, identities to balanceand individuals to wishfully annihilate, I will always be afflictedand cursed by my obsession to have my life inscribed on paperforever.Jasmine T. Cruz , 20, is a Bachelor of Science in Managementstudent at the Ateneo de Manila University. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:30:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/bears-ice-cream-fine-mix-16754.html Those who went out in the woods Tuesday at Vickers Park soondiscovered it was the day the teddy bears had their picnic.Despite initial fears of rain, the weather was perfect for the 25thannual edition of the event making for larger than expectedcrowds and a premium on good parking spots as hordes of youngfamilies strolled into the Thunder Bay park to enjoy the afternoon.We usually get about 3,000 people, said co-ordinator Dean Burke.This year, there‘s probably 3,500 to 4,000 here.With a wide range of free activities from arts and crafts to liveentertainment, there was certainly lots for the parents and kids tochoose from at the Teddy Bears Picnic.It‘s a good way to get out and enjoy the sunny weather,said Heather Cooper as she staked out a spot in the shade to sitdown with her daughter Jayda to enjoy some ice cream.And there‘s so many ways to keep the kids busy here, sheadded.For seven-year-old Jayda, the best part of the day besidesgetting the chance to check out one of the city‘s fire trucksup close, of course was the sweet treats.My favourite thing is eating ice cream, she said while breakingtradition and clutching a fuzzy white stuffed rabbit instead of abear.In addition, a teddy bear parade where kids were invited to singalong while parading around their park with their fluffy friends,bear owners had a chance to fix up their injured pals at the BooBear Station.Teddy bears are usually more of a bedtime thing kids liketo have them while they sleep, so when bringing them outside, thebears might get a little roughed up, said Burke. We‘reoutdoors and there‘s 4,000 people here. We have St. JohnAmbulance here for the people and we have our Boo Bear Repair thatcan fix up and put Band-Aids on your teddy bear.After a quarter century of Teddy Bears Picnics held in Thunder Bay,what keeps people coming back year after year is the event‘sfocus on children.There are not that many opportunities for children to come out andbe a part of our community, said Burke, pointing out thepopularity of adult events like Blues Fest and Summer in theParks. This is a really great thing for the kids to come out toand I think that what‘s really keeping this thing alive.Top of Page Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:29:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/join-in-the-4-h-teddy-bear-tea-16753.html Join 4-H for their annual 4-H Teddy Bear Tea at the Cape May County4-H Fair on Saturday, July 19, 12:30-1 p.m. in Lock-wood Center.Children, ages preschool to 8 years old are invited to bring theirfavorite Teddy Bear (or other stuffed toy) to the "4-H Fair TeddyBear Tea." The event is part of 4-H Action Activities with 4-Hribbons for all participants. Children will learn all about theTeddy Bear, the origin of tea, taste tea and have goodies.A highlight of the Teddy Bear Tea is the Teddy Bear Parade when allparticipants join in a parade around Lockwood Center, carryingtheir Teddy Bears following a life-size Teddy Bear. Of course, wehave Teddy Bear music... and lots of fun.All welcome, just stop by Lockwood Center or make reservations at609-465-5115 Ext.654. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:29:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/caribou-youth-charged-in-teddy-bear-prank-16751.html Five young Caribou, Maine residents discovered the American legalsystem isn't laughing at their teddy bear joke they tried onseveral Caribou area motorists recently. The drivers on South MainStreet in Caribou got a scare early one morning when a bearappeared in front of them in the darkness.It turned out, however, that the bear was stuffed, and the threejuveniles and two adults who police say were behind the caper thatfrightened drivers were charged with a misdemeanor crime.Sgt. Ron Curtis of the Caribou Police Department told the BangorDaily News said that the department began receiving calls fromseveral motorists just after midnight Tuesday. The callers said agroup of individuals had tied a teddy bear to a string and werehiding in some nearby bushes and pulling the stuffed bear out intothe roadway in front of cars.The surprised motorists were forced to jam on their brakes, and onedriver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, told police that theevasive action caused him to hit the windshield of his vehicle.Caribou police officers eventually tracked down the five believedto be responsible for the prank. Three male juveniles and twoadults aged 19 and 18 have been charged with reckless conduct,which is a misdemeanor. No one was injured during the incident. Fri, 18 Jul 2008 05:24:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/truck-transporting-steel-structure-expected-to-cause-delays-15039.html steel structure A 28-foot-wide, 100-foot-long U.S. Navyantenna is expected to clog traffic in the northbound lane ofInterstate 81 and back up traffic for two miles. The oversized load is scheduled to depart near Abingdon on Tuesdaynight to begin a two-day journey across Virginia. The massive load is destined for Baltimore, where it will beshipped to an island about 1,000 miles south of India. Sandy Myers of the Virginia Department of Transportation said theload will block two lanes of traffic and will be escorted by statepolice and a VDOT safety patrol. The load will travel in a portion of the acceleration lane, butMyers still expects traffic backups of two miles. State police say U.S. Highway 11 can be used to avoid thebottleneck. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:04:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/china-responsible-for-two-thirds-of-world-cement-15038.html cement clinker If carbon emissions rankings are any guide to Olympic medalsuccess, then Greenbang would like to tap her nose knowingly andsuggest you could do worse than put a few bob on China. (and ifyou'll follow such shoddy betting logic, you deserve to loseyour money. Go bet on Elvis to return on a UFO or something.) According to new research from the Netherlands EnvironmentalAssessment Agency, China's emissions are now 14 percenthigher than the US', and China has contributed two-thirds ofthe three percent rise in carbon emissions which happened lastyear. China now has almost a quarter of the world's carbonemissions under its belt, with the top rest of the top fivepolluters in order being the USA, the EU-15, India and the RussianFederation. Of course, if you break down the figures on a per person basis, thetop five looks a little different: USA (19.4 tonnes per capita),Russia (11.8), EU-15 (8.6), China (5.1 ) and India (1.8). So where's all this carbon coming from? Here's what theNetherlands Environmental Assessment Agency has to say: Of all industrial processes, the cement clinker production processis the largest source of CO2, apart from fossil fuel use. Itcontributes around 5% to the total of global CO2 emissions fromfuel use and industrial activities. With a production increase of10% in 2007, China now has a share in global cement production ofabout 50%. Cement manufacturing is responsible for almost 20% of the total ofChina Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:04:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/truck-loses-load-of-steel-pipes-on-long-onramp-15037.html Steel Pipes A semi-tractor trailer tipped over and lost its load nearsouthbound Interstate 5 Monday morning in Everett. The on-ramp at 172nd Street Northwest near Smokey Point was blockedfor several hours. The Washington State Patrol said the truck's heavy load of steelpipes was not properly secured and shifted while the truck wastraveling on the on-ramp. Nearly a dozen of the pipes rolled fromthe flatbed truck at about 9:30 a.m. Crews worked to clear the steel pipes that scattered on the edge ofthe road and shoulder, video from Chopper 7 showed. Each pipe weighed more than 5,000 pounds. KIRO 7's news partner the Herald said the driver, a 53-year-old manfrom Snohomish, was taken to a local hospital when he complained ofback pain, but he was not seriously injured. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:03:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/second-quarter-2008-loss-per-share-onrecord-increases-in-raw-material-costs-15036.html Decorative Materials OMNOVA Solutions Reports - Loss per share of $0.07 as compared to a loss per share of $0.23for the second quarter of 2007 - Net sales increased $31.7 million, or 16.9%, which included $24.0million of sales from Asian businesses, as compared to the secondquarter of 2007 - Operating profit of $3.0 million, down from $10.0 million due tounprecedented oil-based raw material inflation of $14.4 million - Significant new pricing actions to recover raw material costswere implemented late in the second quarter and early in the thirdquarter FAIRLAWN, Ohio, June 16 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- OMNOVA SolutionsInc. NYSE: OMN today reported a net loss of $3.1 million, or $0.07per diluted share, for the second quarter ended May 31, 2008,compared to a net loss of $9.8 million, or $0.23 per diluted share,for the second quarter of 2007. Included in the second quarter of2007 were debt redemption and restructuring costs of $12.5 million. Net sales increased $31.7 million, to $219.7 million, for thesecond quarter of 2008 compared to $188.0 million during the sameperiod a year ago. Contributing to the second quarter increase weresales of $24.0 million from the Decorative Products Asianbusinesses acquired in the first quarter of 2008, favorable pricingof $11.4 million and positive foreign exchange translation of $0.1million partially offset by net volume declines of $3.8 million.The volume declines primarily occurred in two product lines sold tothe residential housing industry: Performance Chemicals' carpetbusiness and Decorative Products' laminate business. Volumedeclines were partially offset by volume increases in PerformanceChemicals' paper chemicals business. Excluding the DecorativeProducts Asian businesses, the Company's sales grew $7.7 million or4.1%. Gross profit decreased $3.3 million to $33.8 million, with a grossprofit margin of 15.4%, in the second quarter of 2008 compared to$37.1 million, with a gross profit margin of 19.7%, in the secondquarter of 2007. Margins declined due to higher costs for rawmaterials, freight and utilities, product mix issues in NorthAmerica, and lower than average gross margins in the Asianbusinesses. Cost of goods sold of $185.9 million for the secondquarter of 2008 increased $35.0 million as compared to the secondquarter of 2007, due to manufacturing costs of $25.7 million fromthe inclusion of the Decorative Products Asian businesses, and$14.4 million of higher raw material costs. Cost of goods sold waspartially reduced by lower volumes of $2.9 million and lowermanufacturing expense of $2.2 million, primarily in North America. "Our priority to improve profitability continued to be challengedby record setting raw material inflation during the quarter," saidKevin McMullen, OMNOVA Solutions' Chairman and Chief ExecutiveOfficer. "Late in the second quarter, we implemented priceincreases at both Decorative Products and Performance Chemicalswith minimal loss of volume. However, as oil has continued to climbas high as $139 a barrel, we have experienced new record high costsfor OMNOVA's major raw materials during our third quarter startingin June. In response, we have announced additional price increasesof up to 30% across many of our Performance Chemicals products." "In addition to new pricing actions, we are also focused onproductivity improvements to restore profit margins to acceptablelevels. We continue to drive our LEAN SixSigma focus deeper intoour domestic plants while introducing the concept to our new Asianbusinesses. Our cost structure, excluding raw materials, is lowerthan anytime since our formation in 1999. Everyone in ourorganization is keenly focused on our most important priority,which is margin improvement," McMullen said. Selling, general and administrative expense in the second quarterof 2008, which included $1.7 million from the Decorative ProductsAsian businesses, increased $2.3 million, to $27.5 million, or12.5% of sales. This compares to $25.2 million, or 13.4% of netsales, in the second quarter of 2007. Interest expense decreased $1.4 million, to $3.5 million, for thesecond quarter of 2008 as compared to $4.9 million for the sameperiod a year ago, due to significantly lower average interestrates as a result of the Company refinancing actions in 2007 andlower base interest rates, which was partially offset by higheraverage debt levels. Total debt at the end of the second quarter of2008 was $197.9 million, up $24.9 million from the second quarterof 2007. The increase in debt included $32.4 million of borrowingsand assumed debt to fund the purchase price and transaction fees ofthe Decorative Products Asian joint venture acquisitions in January2008, partially offset by $7.5 million of debt reduction utilizingcash from operations. Net Debt was $193.8 million at the end of thesecond quarter of 2008. There was $27.8 million of unused andavailable liquidity under the Company's revolving asset- basedcredit facility. The weighted average cost of borrowing during thesecond quarter of 2008 was 6.6%, an improvement from 10.8% for thesecond quarter of 2007. The weighted average borrowing rate on May31, 2008 declined to 5.5%. EBITDA, as defined in the Company's borrowing agreements for thecalculation of the net leverage ratio, was $9.7 million for thesecond quarter of 2008 compared to $14.3 million for the secondquarter of 2007. EBITDA for the twelve months ended May 31, 2008was $43.9 million, compared to $44.5 million for the twelve monthsended May 31, 2007. OMNOVA's leverage ratio of Net Debt to EBITDAwas 4.4 at May 31, 2008, well under the covenant limit of 5.5. Anexplanation of how the Company defines EBITDA and Net Debt andreconciliations of EBITDA to income (loss) from continuingoperations and Net Debt to total debt are provided in the Non-GAAPand Other Financial Measures section of this earnings release. Performance Chemicals - Net sales during the second quarter of 2008increased 7.6% to $125.2 million compared to $116.4 million in thesecond quarter of 2007. The increase was driven by higher sellingprices of $10.4 million, partially offset by volume decreases of$1.6 million. Sales growth was achieved despite carpet industryvolumes being down approximately 13%. Segment operating profit was$1.9 million for the second quarter of 2008, down from $5.8 millionfor the second quarter of 2007. The year-over-year operating profitdecline was attributable to $12.6 million of higher raw materialcosts, lower volumes of $0.6 million, higher freight expenses andunabsorbed manufacturing overhead, which was partially offset bythe higher selling prices. Segment operating profit margin was 1.5%for the second quarter of 2008 as compared to 5.0% for the secondquarter of 2007. Even though operating profit was lower, efficiencyimproved as pounds produced per employee increased over 5% for thefirst half of 2008 as compared to the same period in 2007. During the second quarter of 2008, volumes in paper chemicalsincreased high single digits year-over-year, driven by volume winsfrom 2007 with customers utilizing the Company's innovativeGenCryl(R) Pt(TM) product, a high-strength latex binder forhigh-grade coated paper applications. All paper latex products wererepriced late in the quarter with no loss of major customers. Incarpet chemicals, the Company experienced a significant decrease involumes in excess of the overall market decline due to customermix, mill closures, and the loss of one customer, which waspreviously announced in the first quarter. New record-high prices for butadiene and styrene (up 25% and 12%,respectively, as compared to the second quarter of 2007) and mostsecondary raw materials continued in the second quarter of 2008.Butadiene, the Company's second largest raw material in pounds anddollar value, was put on allocation by all major North Americansuppliers during the second quarter of 2008. Although butadienesupply to the Company was reduced slightly, Performance Chemicalswas able to satisfy all of its customers' needs. However, industryforecasts call for butadiene prices to increase significantly inthe third quarter, with both supply and allocations tightening. Inresponse, Performance Chemicals is implementing third quarter priceincreases across most product lines of up to 30% in June. Decorative Products - Net sales were $94.5 million during thesecond quarter of 2008, an increase of $22.9 million or 32.0%compared to the second quarter of 2007. The increase in sales wasdue to $24.0 million of sales from the Asian businesses, priceincreases of $1.0 million, and favorable foreign exchangetranslation of $0.1 million, partially offset by lower domesticlaminates volumes of $2.2 million. Price increases implemented latein the second quarter and announced early in the third quarterrepresent a potential increase in sales of approximately $6 millionon an annualized basis. Operating profit declined $3.1 million, to$1.1 million, for the second quarter of 2008 compared to operatingprofit of $4.2 million for the second quarter of 2007. Key factorsimpacting the second quarter 2008 operating profit decline werehigher raw material costs of $1.8 million, negative profitvariances of $1.2 million from the Asian businesses, lower volumesof $0.6 million and higher manufacturing and overhead costs of $0.5million, partially offset by sales price increases of $1.0 million. During the quarter, domestic contract interiors, coated fabrics andMuraspec U.K. wallcoverings all achieved year-over-year salesgrowth despite several weak end-use markets, while laminate saleswere down year-over-year on lower residential kitchen and bathcabinet volume. The Company believes that Decorative Products hasgained market share across most end uses. In contract interiors,the Company completed the sampling and field placement of itsECORE(TM) brand recyclable wallcovering. In the Company's coatedfabrics product line, industrial films, rigids, and marine productsgenerated higher sales while transportation end uses were weaker.The price increases across most product lines addressed rising rawmaterial costs, especially market prices for polyvinyl chloride(PVC) resin, up 33% year-over-year and plasticizer, up 44%year-over-year. At the beginning of the quarter, OMNOVA went livewith its SAP business planning system at a second DecorativeProducts manufacturing plant in Monroe, North Carolina, with athird facility scheduled for third quarter 2008. All of theCompany's Performance Chemicals plants have previously converted tothe SAP platform. Also, union members at the industrial film plantin Jeannette, Pennsylvania ratified a new three-year laborcontract. Decorative Products Asia Operations - Effective December 31, 2007,the Company acquired the remaining 49.9% interest of its formerDecorative Products joint venture companies in China and Thailandfor $32.4 million in cash, assumption of debt and transaction fees.Previously, the Company used the equity method of accounting torecord its proportionate share of the net income or loss of theseAsian businesses as equity earnings in affiliates, and did notconsolidate sales or operating results of these businesses. Theoperating results of Decorative Products Asian businesses are nowconsolidated but continue to be recognized on a one month lag,meaning that the February through April time period is recorded forthe Company's 2008 second quarter. For comparative purposes, Decorative Products Asian sales for thesecond quarter of 2008 were $24.0 million compared to $20.4 millionfor the second quarter of 2007, an increase of 17.6%. The operatingloss for the Decorative Products Asian businesses was $0.9 million,as compared to an operating profit of $1.0 million in the secondquarter of last year. Unfavorable year-over- year comparisons weredriven by increased raw material costs, bad debt expense, thestrength of the Thai Baht and Chinese Yuan currencies, and weakerFebruary results due to manufacturing shutdowns in China fromsevere snowstorms. In Thailand, the Company implemented amanagement restructuring which is expected to provide future costreductions and manufacturing efficiencies. China had its bestoperating results of the fiscal year in May 2008, which will bereported in the Company's third quarter. The Decorative ProductsAsian consolidation resulted in certain significant increases inbalance sheet accounts as of May 31, 2008, including: netreceivables $18.9 million, net inventories $16.3 million, net fixedassets $30.9 million and current liabilities $25.8 million. Earnings Conference Call - OMNOVA Solutions has scheduled itsEarnings Conference Call for Tuesday, June 17, 2008, at 11:00 a.m.EDT. The live audio event will be hosted by OMNOVA Solutions'Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kevin McMullen. It isanticipated to be approximately one hour in length and may beaccessed by the public from the Company's website ( www.omnova.com ). Webcast attendees will be in a listen-only mode. Following thelive webcast, OMNOVA will archive the call on its website untilnoon EDT, June 24, 2008. A telephone replay will also be availablebeginning at 1:00 p.m. EDT on June 17, 2008, and ending at 11:59p.m. EDT on June 24, 2008. To listen to the telephone replay,callers should dial: (USA) 800-475-6701 or (Int'l) 320-365-3844.The Access Code is 926316. Non-GAAP and Other Financial Measures Reconciliation of segment sales and operating profit toconsolidated net sales and income (loss) before income taxes Management reviews the information below in assessing theperformance of the business segments and in making decisionsregarding the allocation of resources to the business segments.Management believes that this information is useful for providingthe investor with an understanding of the Company's business andoperating performance. Reconciliation of loss from continuing operations to EBITDA andtotal debt to Net Debt This earnings release includes EBITDA and Net Debt which arenon-GAAP financial measures as defined by the Securities andExchange Commission. EBITDA is calculated in accordance with thedefinition of Net Leverage Ratio as set forth in the Company's$150,000,000 Term Loan Credit Agreement dated as of May 22, 2007and excludes charges for interest, taxes, depreciation andamortization, amortization of deferred financing costs, netearnings of joint ventures less cash dividends, net earnings offoreign subsidiaries less cash dividends, loss on debttransactions, gains or losses on sale or disposal of capitalassets, loss from write-down of non-current assets, non-cash incomeor expense for the Company's pension plans, gains or losses fromchanges in the LIFO reserve, and non-cash charges for the 401(k)company match and up to $2.0 million annually for restructuring,severance and non-recurring charges. Net Debt is calculated astotal debt, outstanding letters of credit and the fair value of theinterest rate swap if in a loss position less cash, cashequivalents and restricted cash. EBITDA and Net Debt are notmeasures of financial performance under GAAP. EBITDA and Net Debtare not calculated in the same manner by all companies andaccordingly are not necessarily comparable to similarly titledmeasures of other companies and may not be an appropriate measurefor comparing performance relative to other companies. EBITDA andNet Debt should not be construed as indicators of the Company'soperating performance or liquidity and should not be considered inisolation from or as a substitute for net income (loss), cash flowsfrom operations or cash flow data which are all prepared inaccordance with GAAP. EBITDA and Net Debt are not intended torepresent and should not be considered more meaningful than, or asan alternative to, measures of operating performance as determinedin accordance with GAAP. Management believes that presenting thisinformation is useful to investors because these measures arecommonly used as analytical indicators to evaluate performance,measure leverage capacity and debt service ability and bymanagement to allocate resources. Set forth below are thereconciliations of these non-GAAP financial measures to their mostdirectly comparable GAAP financial measures. The Company did nothave any results from Discontinued Operations in the secondquarters or first six months of 2008 and 2007; therefore, theCompany's net loss for those periods is the equivalent of income(loss) from continuing operations as defined in the $150,000,000Term Loan Credit Agreement. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:02:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/different-bathtub-reopens-but-beach-still-has-old-attraction-15035.html Bathtub has been closed since late September, first because ofsevere erosion and then a lack of lifeguards. Swells left treestumps and roots exposed and damaged lifeguard stations, boardwalksand the parking lot. At high tide, there is no beach. Park department staff have done much to patch up damage, moving anoverturned lifeguard station back to its spot and fixing brokenstairs, and altering the design of the boardwalk. Signs also havebeen added to warn swimmers of submerged objects. And lifeguard positions, down to 12 full-timers from 17, are alsobeing filled by part-timers without training as emergency medicaltechnicians. John Handlen, a Martin County lifeguard for 20 years, said peopleshould be careful of the partially submerged root systems andexposed trunks, but noted that Bathtub was still "basically thesame thing." "The reef's a little smaller, the water's clean, it's a pretty goodday for opening day," he said. The long-awaited reopening, which was delayed several times, wasgreeted with little fanfare but much enthusiasm Monday. Umbrellasdotted the beach, toddlers dumped buckets of sand on themselves andthe gently lapping water, and many a visitor sprawled, book inhand. Beach-goers pointed out the differences - gnarled tree stumps, apuddle-filled root system, narrowed beach and newly patchedboardwalk and lifeguard stations - but noted that much of whatmakes Bathtub beloved remained. "It's perfect for children," said Joseph Foley, 32, of Port St.Lucie, who brought visiting family, including his young niece andnephew, to the beach Monday afternoon. Foley said even the exposed root system and stumps, which werecollecting little creatures and mossy algae, were like a sciencelesson for the children. Dew, who came to the beach with her two daughters, Courtney Dew,14, and Kelee Ritter, 8, said she wanted to see what had become ofone of her family's favorite recreational spots. She waded while Kelee and her friend, Hannah Grulich, 8, splashedin a large puddle in the root system left exposed by the recentswells. Older sister, Courtney, said the beach used to have moresand, rock caves to play in and prettier patches of coral out nearthe rocks. "It's still pretty, it's just not as pretty as it used to be," shesaid. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 16:00:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/kitchens-plus-keeps-it-local-with-cabinet-manufacturing-15034.html Bathroom Cabinets All the cabinetry will be custom-designed through the Kitchens Plusunique customer-centered design process. Kitchens Plus' Design Teamwill oversee the manufacturing process to certify that the finishedproduct will meet the tight specifications of each custom project.The high quality finished cabinets will be delivered in less timethan out-of-state manufacturers, with more versatility and finishchoices, at very competitive prices. The Kitchen Plus brand willassure the highest quality cabinetry with long-term local support,including a limited life-time warranty. "Kitchen Plus has been purchasing custom cabinets from elevendifferent manufacturers in nine states for more than twenty fouryears. In addition to our current lines, we felt it was time for usto bring the manufacturing home to San Diego's East County,"states Matt Barns, President of Kitchens Plus. "Locally wehave better quality control, savings in transport, more responsivewarranty and repair service and it keeps the jobs and money in ourlocal economy." Barns Continued, "In today's real estate market, a remodel isthe perfect solution to improving the lifestyle and financialposition of homeowners and their families. You imagine, wecreate... then you enjoy your new lifestyle and reap the financialbenefits of your investment." Kitchens Plus is a full-service General Contractor specializing in kitchen andbathroom remodeling. They have been remodeling homes throughout SanDiego for more than 24 years. Their remodeling process is uniqueand all-inclusive; it is a customer-centered design-build approachthat leads to complete satisfaction with cost-effective pricing.Kitchens Plus has a clear understanding that a home remodel is morethan just a construction project; for their customers, it is animprovement in lifestyle and an investment in their future. Thu, 19 Jun 2008 15:59:00 GMT http://oliver-me.spoonylife.com/setting-out-on-the-right-foot-14183.html brand running shoes When buying a new pair of running shoes, looks can be deceiving.History has shown time and time again that high fashions firstconsideration isnt always health and comfort. But the ever-enduring stiletto isnt the first shoe proven toactually harm the foot. The running shoe, originally constructed toenhance a persons fitness needs, also has potential for damage. The process of selecting a pair of running shoes involves more thandeciding on brand, color and price. Buying a pair of running shoesis a science that should involve individual customization andfitting. Failure to select the correct pair of running shoes canwreak havoc on the body and hinder athletic performance. Southern Sole, a specialty running store in Tuscaloosa, uses videogait analysis to film customers as they walk or run on a treadmillto assess their foot type and any possible problems. Gait analysis,originally associated with capturing a horses movement to assessits way of walking, is commonly used to study human movement andmeasure and analyze a persons walking or running style. Southern Sole owner Shawn Beitelspacher said people underestimatethe importance of the right pair of running shoes. When studyinghis customers gait analysis recordings, Beitelspacher paysattention to the persons foot type and their amount of pronation,which deals with the arch and the rolling motion of the foot fromheel to toe while walking, jogging and or running. I pay attention to the types or amount of pronation andsupination, and depending on what level you are, we match your footwith a shoe, he said. Understanding ones pronation type is crucial in getting the rightpair of shoes, according to RunnersWorld.com. The foots structureand shape are what determine a persons foot type, and the foottype causes different levels of pronation in the feet. The threetypical pronation categories include normal pronation,underpronation and overpronation. In addition to ones foot type and pronation level, Beitelspachersaid there are several other important factors to consider whenselecting a running shoe. Making sure the shoe isnt too small andthat it isnt too wide or narrow is crucial to preventing injury.Bad blisters and loss of toenails are tell-tale signs that the shoeis too small. Typically people freak out when they try on a shoe thats theright size. People really need to have an open mind when they gettheir shoes fit. A good rule of thumb is to go a whole shoe sizeup, Beitelspacher said. While bargain prices and popular style often bait customers inpurchasing one pair of running shoes over another, lower pricesdont correlate with better shoes and can lead to injury.Beitelspacher advises athletes to avoid purchasing running shoesunder $75, since thats often the price range at which shoecompanies insert proper cushioning. If you dont have a shoe with proper cushioning, your feet hit theground at four times your body weight. In my experience, if yourein a shoe and dont have proper arch support, everything in yourbody gets out of line. This can lead to arch, shin, knee and backpain, he said. University of Alabama graduate student David Kilgo knows first-handthe toll a bad pair of running shoes takes on the body. An avidrunner, Kilgo was averaging five to six miles daily until he beganexperiencing a sharp pain in his leg that no amount of stretchingcould fix. It was really frustrating not being able to run as far as I knew Icould, Kilgo said. A visit to an orthopedist led Kilgo to the discovery that hisrunning shoes were causing him to run off balance. Although Kilgohad gone to Athletes Foot in the past to get his shoes fitted, hesaid he hadnt with his latest pair, and he paid the price. Now,Kilgo does physical therapy three times a week for two hours,involving electrode stimulation and other strength trainingtechniques, with Champion Fitness Therapy, formerly known asTuscaloosa Therapy, at the University of Alabama Student RecreationCenter. Its very important to get your shoes fitted because if not, youface potential strains, Jennifer Appleby, the West AlabamaOrthopedic and Sports Medicine clinical coordinator said. Marathoner Catenya McHenry Ashford said the right shoes meaneverything when running, especially for a marathoner who needs tobuy new running shoes frequently. It could mean faster or slower times. It could mean comfort ordiscomfort. It could even mean long-term foot damage if the shoe istoo tight or too small or even too big or gaps in the areas whereyou need support, Ashford said. After purchasing a pair of trail running shoes that didnt have aspring in the ball area and caused her feet to fall flat, Ashfordgot video analyzed and was referred to a new shoe that she lovesand caters to her foot needs. I dont think you can cut corners when it comes to your feet, shesaid. Southern Sole and Athletes Foot both offer in-store gait analysisfor their customers. Athletes Foot Fit Print system is similar indesign to Southern Soles video gate analysis in that it featuresboth a static and moving recording. The static recording evaluatesthe pressure points on the foot, and the gait analysis assesses theindividuals walking style. Cortez Rice, manager of Athletes Foot in Northport, said fittingpeople with the right shoe is important to eliminating footproblems. You dont pick shoes off color, Rice said. Unfortunately, youhave a generation of people who are deficient. Tue, 17 Jun 2008 14:12:00 GMT