South African President Cyril Ramaphosa cut short a trip abroad to deal with an escalating crisis at the state power company, which imposed a sixth day of blackouts that threaten to tip the economy into recession. The rand declined the most in a month Tuesday as Eskom Holdings SOC said there's a high likelihood of power cuts all week and mining companies including Sibanye Gold Ltd., the world's biggest platinum producer, temporarily halted operations. Vodacom Group Ltd., the nation's biggest mobile operator, said the outages are disrupting its service. Ramaphosa is en route back home from Egypt, having terminated his trip a day early to "attend to urgent domestic priorities," the presidency said in a statement. Eskom management will brief the president on Wednesday morning on "plans to mitigate and resolve the current electricity crisis," it said. Eskom, which supplies 95% of the power used in Africa's most industrialized economy, has struggled to meet demand for power since 2005, due … [Read more...] about Ramaphosa cuts short trip as power crisis grips South Africa
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Get Your Mtn. View Youngsters To Love Their Vegetables
By FREYA HOOPER (Star Patcher)What could be better than vegetables in underwear? Well maybe a great glass of red wine and some smelly cheese, but I digress! I mean what could be better than vegetables in underwear in a kid's book? Well darn if I know! So luckily for us they both play center stage in this new picture book.Don't forget to visit my website at www.onegreatbook.com so that you won't miss a single book where underwear gets the old legume treatment. Oh, and you will discover more fabulous books for your kids!Title: Vegetable In UnderwearAuthor: Jared ChapmanTarget: Preschool - KindergartenWhat this book is about: Why I love this book: I love the endpaper in the book. At the beginning we see all the veggies in their clothes and at the back of the book we see them all in their perfect undies, although our babies are still smarting a little from having to wear diapers.Who this book is for: Final thoughts: Also see from Freya: Another Great Summer Read For Your KidsAnd another … [Read more...] about Get Your Mtn. View Youngsters To Love Their Vegetables
Family Day Trip, Mtn. View? See Newly Preserved Historic Features Of Alcatraz
The National Park Service unveiled newly preserved historical features on Alcatraz Island Wednesday following a $3 million stabilization project.After a year of work stabilizing the guardhouse complex, which includes the original sallyport, or entranceway, to the island that was built in 1857, "historic features that have been hidden for decades" were revealed, according to a statement released by the NPS.The building's original entrance sign, "Alcatraces 1857," which dates back to the island's use as a military reservation until 1934, has not been visible for decades.It has been fully exposed and can now be seen by all visitors passing through the gate.From 1934 to 1963, the island served as a federal prison with notable inmates such as Al Capone.The $3 million project has also stabilized, re-roofed, and re-painted the guardhouse, library and schoolhouse structures, according to the NPS.In the east guardroom, the cannon port embrasure has also been restored to its original condition, … [Read more...] about Family Day Trip, Mtn. View? See Newly Preserved Historic Features Of Alcatraz
A Can’t-Put-Down Read For Your Mtn. View Teens
By FREYA HOOPER (Star Patcher)While it is not as often that I delve into the Young Adult category of kid's literature, this book just peaked my interest. I always love books with alternating view points, and this one did not disappoint. While it is filled with heavier subject matter, it never gets bogged down and it even has it's laugh out loud moments. This is one I am very happy to have picked up.Don't forget to visit my website at www.onegreatbook.com for all the books that may seem quite serious, but also show us that life has humor and optimism!Title: We are All Made of MoleculesAuthor: Susin NielsenTarget: Grade 7 and upSeries: NoWhat this book is about: Why I love this book: Stewart is an incredibly engaging character because he always seems to find his optimism despite the problems in front of him. Ashley's downfall is her less than stellar academic ability which leaves her just vulnerable enough that the reader can find some humor and humanity in her.I also loved the … [Read more...] about A Can’t-Put-Down Read For Your Mtn. View Teens
You Tell Us, Mtn. View: Should Minions Be Used to Sell Candy and Junk Food?
Those lovable little Minions are getting a bad rap.First, the characters were accused of blurting out swearwords after being released from children's Happy Meals boxes at McDonald's. Now, they're being told to stay off the packaging of candy and junk food.The Center for for Science in the Public Interest, a national nonprofit watchdog group that is the "organized voice of the American public on nutrition, food safety, health and other issues during a boom of consumer and environmental protection awareness," issued a plea to NBCUniversal to remove the Minions characters from the packaging of candy and other low-nutrition foods marketed to children."The popular characters, clad in their goggles and blue overalls, are being used to market candy such as Fruit Gushers and Fruit by the Foot, as well as Cheese Nips, Pez, Tic Tacs, Jello, and McDonald's Happy Meals," stated CSPI in a release."Ensuring that your characters only are used to promote healthier products would be heralded by parents … [Read more...] about You Tell Us, Mtn. View: Should Minions Be Used to Sell Candy and Junk Food?