Today is a good day to check out some other plastics-related blogs. The ICIS Chemicals Confidential blog has an entertaining post: "Will Royal Wedding be good for plastics demand?" The answer, from blogger Barbara Ortner, is a tongue-in-cheek "yes."
Injection moulding machines across the world are poised for a plastic souvenir bonanza, following yesterday's announcement of the Royal Wedding. Amongst the acres of coverage about the design of the engagement ring and the wedding dress, and how they will inspire all of next year's brides to buy the same, there is so far little coverage of the containers full of plastic knick-knacks which will be heading for the impressionable markets of Europe and the US.Britain's Guardian does have a story about the global rush to make souvenir mugs, plates, paperweights and other "collectables" to commemorate the wedding. (If you haven't heard about the upcoming wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton -- please don't look to Plastics News for additional coverage.) Also from the blogosphere today, Alex Tullo in The Chemical Notebook has a fun post wrapping up his coverage from Dow Chemical Co.'s recent investor day. The post, "Odds And Ends From Dow's Dog And Pony Show," shared with readers "some impressions and tidbits that won't make it into" Chemical & Engineering News. The top two:
- Dow CEO Andrew N. Liveris is not without his talents. CEOs of chemical companies often bring unique skills to their jobs. Jon M. Huntsman, for instance, is one of the industry's best negotiators. Liveris is at his best when he is moving his lips. He is a salesman of first rank. When you ask him a tough question, he acts as if he woke up that morning hoping someone would ask him that.
- Even Andrew Liveris can be stumped. A reporter from Michigan Public Radio asked him about hypocrisy of investing in solar cells and lithium batteries in the U.S. while pursuing coal-to-chemicals in China. Liveris wobbled to his feet muttering things about best practices, Responsible Care, and planting lots of elm trees.