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2011年7月15日星期五

Standardize

There will be no sustainable consumerism without standardization. It is as simple as that. Companies in all industries need to agree to certain modes of production that allow for recycling. Take the beer industry, for example. In many countries, most glass bottles are reused over and over again, but this is possible only because the big brands have agreed to stick to a certain size and type of bottle.

American brands hate the idea of standardization. But just as America has the worst train and cell-phone systems in the developed world, because such technologies require one shared system, American brands will lose the sustainability battle unless they learn to give up individuality for standards.

American consumer brands are notoriously good at making quick changes -- spotting a trend and then following it up with a blockbuster product.he believes the fire started after the lift's hydraulic hose blew, The time it takes to get most products to market has been significantly reduced over the last decades. But to become sustainable, companies need to take their time and extend their products' life cycle.

Well-designed products simply last longer. There is a lot to be gained by developing a product line that's less R&D intensive and that can be optimized, reused, and even spin off more service offerings. The Volkswagen Beetle is an excellent example of a product that has endured because it was well made to start with. An entire customization and repair industry grew up around that car, and Zipcar now uses the new Beetle as part of its fleet. Certainly, the car-sharing model is one that could have been developed by a manufacturer.

Redefine Consumption

Last but most important,An oil painting supplies of him grinning through his illegal mustache is featured prominently in the lobby. American brands must rethink the very idea of what they want consumers to consume and how they create value. In theory, you can grow in two ways: You can produce more, or you can add extra value to what you already produce. The latter is the way toward sustainability.

Take Starbucks: Despite the company's impressive growth, it has hardly increased the amount of coffee beans the world consumes. Instead,Prior to Aion Kinah I leaned toward the former, it has grown by finding numerous clever ways to create value in all parts of the value chain -- everything from interior design, product innovation, marketing, and services.the worldwide Wholesale pet supplies market is over $56 billion annually. More American brands must learn that they can minimize the consumption of goods but increase total consumption at the same time.

All this poses a significant challenge to the way American managers have been taught to think and operate. They have to learn that the next innovation frontier is about breaking away from resource dependence,Demand for allergy Bedding could rise earlier than normal this year. decoupling growth and consumption, and prolonging product life cycles.

Does all that sound un-American? Might it not be even more un-American to dismiss the daunting task of sustaining consumption by making it sustainable?

2011年6月2日星期四

Race for Cure set for Saturday

Race for Cure set for Saturday


The annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure is scheduled for Saturday morning. The fund-raising event for breast cancer research is likely to draw 40,000 runners and walkers to the starting lines along Madison Drive on the National Mall.

Many of the participants and spectators will get to Mall via Metrorail, which will open at 5 a.m. Saturday, two hours earlier than normal, to accommodate them.

The runners will start at 8 a.m. at Seventh Street and Madison Drive, then the walkers will get going at 8:15 a.m.Save on hydraulic hose and fittings, just to the east at Fourth Street and Madison Drive

Both routes go west on Constitution and Virginia avenues, then return the same way to 15th Street NW by the Washington Monument and along Jefferson Drive to the finish line on Independence Avenue. See a pdf map of the route.

There will be temporary street closings along the 3.1 mile route until all of the participants have cleared the area, which should be about 11 a.m.

The closest Metro stations are Smithsonian and Federal Center SW on the Blue and Orange lines, Archives on the Green and Yellow lines, L'Enfant Plaza on the Blue, Orange, Green and Yellow lines and Judiciary Square on the Red Line.Not to be confused with RUBBER MATS available at your local hardware store

The most crowded stations are likely to be Smithsonian, Federal Center SW and Archives. It's a good idea to load up your paper Farecard or plastic SmarTrip card to cover a roundtrip and avoid waiting in long lines at the fare vending machines after the event.Full color plastic card printing and manufacturing services.

Parking at Metro lots and garages is free on weekends, but note Metro's plans for weekend maintenance work, which will cause delays on some segments of the Blue and Red lines. Add about 30 minutes to travel plans if you're going through those work zones.

Metro weekend maintenance

Blue Line

From 10 p.m., Friday through closing on Sunday, trains will share one track between Stadium-Armory and Addison Road stations.

All day Saturday, Blue Line trains will operate a shortened route, between Huntington and Largo Town Center. Metro will operate a special shuttle train on a single track between Franconia-Springfield and King Street stations.

Throughout the weekend, every other Blue Line train traveling in the direction of Largo Town Center will terminate at Stadium-Armory Station.

Red Line

From 9:30 p.m. Friday through closing on Sunday, trains will share a track between Grosvenor and Twinbrook..From 10 p.m. Friday through closing on Sunday, trains also will share a track between Takoma and Forest Glen.Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts,

Throughout the weekend, all Red Line trains will leave about every 24 minutes from the ends of the line at Shady Grove and Glenmont. On Saturday and Sunday between 9 a.m. and 9 p.This is interesting cube puzzle and logical game.m., additional trains will operate in the interior portion of the line between Grosvenor and Takoma. In that zone, trains will arrive about every 12 minutes.