| TRADE-SOUTHERN AFRICA: Non-Tariff Barriers Blocking Flow of Goods
Many countries in the SADC region are looking at ways to install pre-clearance facilities, which would lead to a decrease in congestion at the borders. They also want to simplify customs documentation.
For this to work well, the different countries in the region need computer software that can talk to each other. But unfortunately the countries have incompatible excise and customs software, Mthembu-Slater points out.
The many problems encountered at Beit Bridge have led truck drivers on the routes between South Africa, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo to prefer the Botswana route.
While the Groblers Bridge option on the border between South Africa and Botswana is less direct than the Beit Bridge crossing, the costs are lower.
Anders Meanders
Tips, touts and tidbits from the road. RSS feed If you use an RSS reader, here is feed for Anders Meanders: XML. Learn more about RSS. What's on this page? The entry titled "Want your photos published? Save them in high rez." Categories .
Filed under: MilwaukeeBucks
Random sports thoughts. Mike Wahle was cut by the Panthers yesterday. Does anybody think that the Packers should bring him back. I think they should. He's only 30, which admittedly isn't in his prime, but certainly not past it either. If they sign Wahle at guard, that would solidify a position that was arguably the weakest on the team last year. He's not a long term solution by any means, but let him play for a year or 2 while Colledge learns behind him. I really believe that Colledge can be a pretty good guard given the time. Signing Wahle would give him that time. Of course, I don't want to see them overpay for him, but it's something to think about. This just in, the Bucks are horrible. They lost to the Knicks and Clippers at home, yet the coach still tries to sell us on the fact that they can miraculously turn this around after the all star break.
Comeback time for the 'value' American funds
The main hangover from 2007 will be the number of unsold homes in the US, which has been caused by falling house prices and tightening credit conditions," says Jenny Jones, the manager of Schroders' US Small and Mid Cap fund. "This, combined with several large investment banks announcing losses amounting to several billion dollars and high oil prices, has increased fears of a recession. In fact, consensus appears to be pretty finely balanced as to whether the US will enter a recession in 2008 or narrowly avoid it." Last week Merrill Lynch, the Wall Street giant, said the latest employment figures showed that America was already in the first month of a recession. Economists rarely agree, of course; Lehman Brothers, for example, claims that Merrill Lynch's conclusions are too pessimistic.
Spending habits: Americans at all income levels tighten their belts
Until recently Shannon Palmer, like many Americans, spent money freely. She assembled a nice wardrobe, took four vacations a year, and ate out often. But now, as she listens to economists discuss the likelihood of a recession, she recognizes the need to get her own finances in order. "I'm young and I feel mostly secure in my job, but I have a good deal of debt on my back," says Ms. Palmer, a publicist in Andover, Mass. As a step toward fiscal responsibility, she has begun a "very aggressive" plan to pay off student loans, a car loan, and credit-card bills. She has also started to save. "This is a time for action when it comes to people taking responsibility for their personal finances," she says. "This is just the motivation I needed. It's forced me to look at things differently." Looking at things differently is a theme running through conversations of Americans at all income levels these days as they review their spending habits.
HP's Robust 1Q, Outlook Bolsters Tech
With a stellar start to its new fiscal year, Hewlett-Packard Co. has given technology investors something else to get excited about besides Microsoft Corp.'s audacious bid to buy Yahoo Inc. Now Wall Street will try to figure out whether the success of the world's largest technology company bodes well for the rest of the industry as the U.S. economy sputters toward a possible recession. Boosted by rising computer sales, HP demonstrated its strength amid the economic weakness with a 38 percent increase in its fiscal first-quarter profit and a pledge to deliver even better results during the rest of the year. Shares jumped 7.5 percent, or $3.30, to $47.25 in early trading Wednesday. "This is good news for tech," said Gartner Inc. analyst Martin Reynolds.
INKED! Grabbing the PROBE by the Horn
Starting Monday, with the help of the state Parole Board and the state Department of Mental Health, Imperial Valley's newest favorite son Richard Horn will become our latest acquisition, ushering in a new Golden Age of Horn-penned PROBEs.
I know, I know you're saying he's a violent sexual predator, an animal released from captivity into our community. But I'm convinced this phenom is reformed or he wouldn't have been released.C'mon, his name is Horn. What more do you want?PROBE and Horn is like peanut butter and jelly, milk and cookies, ball gags and zippered hoods made of leather. And dammit, we need readers like a fat kid needs cake.So, give ol' Horn a fair shake. I have. I've already had the chance to read a week's worth of PROBEs, and while they're, um, different, they're good.
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