Clancy . . . overflow . . . the best bits . . . funnies

This time they were bailed up by members of Robin Wood, a German environmental group at the Paperworld show in Frankfurt who unfurled a banner proclaiming
Paper companies are clear cutting Sumatra. This follows a vigorous campaign last year against the company’s copy paper by UK greenies that led to major merchants refusing to stock it. According to a report from Print Week, Robin Wood rainforest expert Jens Wieting said the organisation has been targeting APP about its forestry methods for the last two years.

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If you ever wondered why Kodak is suddenly interested in re-entering the graphic arts market that it left five years ago consider this . . . the company suffered worse than expected deterioration in the sales of its traditional film business film around the world. Last year management expected a decline of 20 per cent worldwide and 30 per cent around the world, but the word is the figures proved much worse and are expected to nosedive even faster in 2005.

Say graphics.

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The good news continues for Heidelberg with its third quarter report the best in years. Incoming orders in the period were Euro 2.73 billion, a good 13 per cent up on the same period of the previous year (approx. Euro 2.43 billion). “The growth in the global economy also increased capacity utilization in print shops”, said Bernhard Schreier, CEO of the Company. “We will increase sales in the continuing operations and will attain our year-end objectives as planned.”

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Even better news for Adobe, which has lifted its revenue targets from revenue of $450 to $470million for the first quarter of the year. It attributed the good oil to stronger than expected sales of Acrobat 7.0, which began shipping in Australia and New Zealand his month.

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When is a price rise not? When it’s a paper price rise.

It seems the recent attempts to push a rise in the price of paper in the latter part of 2004 have largely failed, at least in Europe. Fierce resistance from printers meant the projected five per cent rises in publication papers and coated wood frees did not stick.

Paper merchants here are still hoping the price rises attempted last year will sustain, although industry observers doubt they will.

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And finally . . . this from Dave Bell of Beloran, who got it from a community of computer programmers.

Six retired Floridians were playing poker in the condo clubhouse when Meyerowitz loses $500 on a single hand, clutches his chest and drops dead at the table. Showing all due respect the other five finish the game standing up.

Finally Finklestein asks, “So, who’s gonna tell his wife?”
They cut the cards. Goldberg picks the two of clubs and has to carry the news. They urge him to be discreet, be gentle, don’t make a bad situation worse.

“Discreet? I’m the most discreet person you’ll ever meet. Discretion is my middle name. Leave it to me.”

He goes over to the apartment and knocks on the door. Mrs Meyerowitz answers through the door and asks what he wants.

“You husband just lost $500 in a poke game and is afraid to come home,” declares Goldberg.

“Tell him to drop dead,” yells the wife.

“I’ll go tell him,” says Goldberg.