The indefatigable Dan Wickett is the hardest working man in book blogging. He is a tireless advocate for "emerging" writers, small presses, and literary journals. How he found the time to compile this post for us, I'll never know, but I'm glad he did.
Dag Solstad – His Shyness & Dignity is not his first novel, but it is the first available in English, and it was the best book I read all year. Graywolf Press took the chance on bringing this Norwegian's work to those of us without the skills to read his books in their original language, and they should be thanked.
Benjamin Percy – His debut story collection, The Language of Elk, was published by Carnegie Mellon University Press in the middle of the year and shows readers a new vision of the current west, with most of the stories set in Oregon. Percy's language crackles with masculinity and humor and the bizarre. Watch for him – he put a story in both BASS and Pushcart this year, has one coming in January's Esquire and his second collection is coming from Graywolf Press in 2007.
Robert Fanning – Are you kidding me? Wickett lobbed a poet into this list? Absolutely. Fanning's The Seed Thieves is his first full length collection of poetry, thanks to Marick Press, and it is beyond just being solid. Fanning has a fantastic way about his phrasing and observations that work both on page, and if you are fortunate enough to have the opportunity to hear him read his work.
William Gay with his novel Twilight from MacAdam/Cage. He follows up his previous two novels and short story collection with possibly his best yet. A frighteningly gothic near fairy tale about a young brother and sister combination and their efforts to expose a rather sordid mortician.
Daniel Woodrell and Winter's Bone, and Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie with Half of a Yellow Sun. Anybody reading this far into Max's post has probably visited my site. Enough said as I'm pretty sure searching my blog for 2006 will show these two names and titles coming up way more than anything else.
Tom Franklin with Smonk. The fever Franklin had that induced this story to come oozing out must have been 104 plus.
Steve Yarbrough and Ron Rash with The End of California and The World Made Straight, respectively. These two gentlemen deserve accolades for not writing with any flash, or verbal pyrotechnics, but instead delivering captivating novels, time and time again by simply telling a great story, and doing so with, while excellent writing, not the need to make you notice it.
Michael Ruhlman has once again delivered a fantastic book about cooking with his The Reach of a Chef. If you have ANY interest in the art of cooking, his books are all a must. And even if you don't, you have more than half a chance at becoming enthralled anyway.
Charles D'Ambrosio and Lee K. Abbott just may be the two best short story writers around and readers were fortunate enough to enjoy a new collection by D'Ambrosio (The Dead Fish Museum) and a Collected collection of Abbott (All Things, All at Once). There isn't a mis-step in either, and above and beyond that, there are probably close to a dozen stories between the two works that are prize winning, year end anthology worthy.
Colson Whitehead – I had the opportunity to see him read in Ann Arbor earlier in the year and bought a copy of The Intuitionist, which I promptly read and loved. His other three books are high up in my TBR pile.
Magnus Mills – I don't know why I bought his The Restraint of Beasts – I thought I remembered his name from Jeff Bryant's Underrated Writers Project from last year, but his name is not there. Whatever the case – I loved it and the follow up novel, All Quiet on the Orient Express as well. The rest of his novels and a short story collection reside in my TBR pile at this time.
Rupert Thomson – Thanks to Megan for nominating his latest, Divided Kingdom, as an LBC nominee. Another one who I immediately began looking for his backlog of many novels to pad my TBR pile.
Richard Powers – Oh well, at least I waited for a decent book to hop aboard – The Echo Maker – NBA winner. Thanks to Ed Champion for inviting me to the roundtable discussion of this wonderful title. There's approximately 2100 pages of unread Powers' novels on a shelf here now.
Peter Markus – Even more ridiculous when you find out he resides less than 30 minutes from my house. Went to see the aforementioned Robert Fanning read earlier this year and Markus read some unpublished work from what should be his fourth book of short fictions that deal with brothers, mud, fish, and the moon. He was kind enough to give me a copy of his first, Good, Brother, which was reprinted by Calimari Press earlier this year. I read it that night and had ordered both The Moon is a Lighthouse (from a store in Japan – the only one I could find online) and The Singing Fish (also published, last year, by Calimari Press). The man is a unique writer, an amazing writer, and one I highly recommend you try to find. Plenty of his work is available online.
Dan Wickett is a tireless advocate for "emerging" writers, small presses, and literary journals.
For me, 2012 has been at least as much a Year in Not Reading as a Year in Reading. Like a lot of members of the book-based community, I'm prone to making aspirational purchases, as though buying a book were somehow the first link in an unbroken chain of causation that ends, inevitably, with having read it. For me, it's become increasingly clear that this is a form of magical thinking, but there's no sign of my changing my ways just because I've had this realization. I'm always buying books on the basis that they are exactly the books I should be reading, while knowing that the likelihood of my ever starting them, let alone finishing them, is vanishingly small. I am, as we say in Ireland, a divil for it. I have no idea how many works of academic literary criticism I have bought on this basis, but it is, I fear, a number approaching shitloads.
There's one book in particular that I have spent much of this year not reading, and that's Adorno: A Biography by Stefan Müller-Doohm. I'm pretty sure that my relationship with this book is a lot more intimate and emotionally fraught than it would be if I'd actually read it. For the past nine months or so it has been squatting on my desk, in all its arrogant bulk and imperious disdain — like Ray Winstone in scholarly-volume form — taunting me with the fact of my not having read it. The thing about Adorno: A Biography is that it couldn't care less that I haven't read it; in fact, it seems to derive a kind of smug enjoyment from my continuing failure to do so. It knows all about the life and writings of Theodor Adorno, and will continue knowing all about them regardless of whether I read it. It also knows me better than I know myself, this book; it knows that I'm the type of person who will buy a 648-page biography of Theodor Adorno, but not, crucially, the type of person who will read it.
Waking in the middle of a dream, even the worst, one feels disappointed, cheated of the best in life. But pleasant, fulfilled dreams are actually as rare, to use Schubert's words, as happy music. Even the loveliest dream bears like a blemish its difference from reality, the awareness that what it grants is mere illusion. This is why precisely the loveliest dreams are as if blighted.
I also sat down and properly read a couple of books by Susan Sontag — Against Interpretation and Where the Stress Falls — and loved more or less every word of both, especially the stuff I vehemently disagreed with. I also dipped in and out of the first volume of her journals. As with so many of the best cultural commentators, Sontag's critical persona was itself a kind of ongoing work of art. I love the spectacle of her hawkish aestheticism; for its own sake, certainly, but also for the way it forced me to think more clearly about my own cultural values. (Right now, I couldn't tell you exactly what these are, but I do remember having a sense of them at the time).
The most fun I had with a book all year was definitely the Sunday I spent reading David Rees's How to Sharpen Pencils: A Practical and Theoretical Treatise on the Artisanal Craft of Pencil Sharpening, for Writers, Artists, Contractors, Flange Turners, Anglesmiths, and Civil Servants, with Illustrations Showing Current Practice. (With a title like that, it's basically immoral to shorten it to its first four words.) It's a deeply funny and fascinating exercise in sustaining a rarified tone in the face of an apparently absurd subject matter, and it's also a covert quasi-memoir about obsession and coming to terms with difficulties and disappointment in life and art. Primarily, though, it's a very, very detailed guide to sharpening the bejesus out of a pencil, and it's stood me in good stead in that regard. The second most fun I had with a book all year was the second time I read it, about three weeks later.
As for fiction, I spent quite a lot of time this year harassing friends, acquaintances and perfect strangers to read the Portuguese writer Gonçalo M. Tavares, who I feel confident is lurking somewhere in the general vicinity of genius. I read his "Kingdom" series of novels — Jerusalem, Learning to Pray in the Age of Technique, and Joseph Walser's Machine — straight through, one after the other, and the experience was a full-on revelation. He's one of those writers (like, say, Kafka or Beckett) who makes almost all other writers seem not fully serious, as if they are, on some crucial level, just messing about. Not everyone I bullied into reading him was as impressed as I told them they would be; a couple of people said they found his fictional world too cold and inhuman, but this is, I think, exactly what so enthralls me about him. In the best possible way, he writes like an alien.
Chris Ware's Building Stories was also a rich and remarkable experience. I don't really know what else to say about it, except that it's definitely a masterpiece.
Auther Charles D'Ambrosio has written two collections of short stories, The Point and, this year, The Dead Fish Museum. He also has a collection of essays, Orphans. D'Ambrosio's stories regularly appear in the New Yorker and other notable magazines. The best book D'Ambrosio read this year was the autobiography of a jazz musician. "Maybe this copping out," D'Ambrosio says,but the book I've loved the most this year is Art Pepper's autobiography, Straight Life, which was revised and reissued by Da Capo Press in 1994. I know next to nothing about jazz, haven't listened to a lick of Art Pepper, but a smart guy in a bar in Portland told me I had to pick up the book – we were drinking – and it is, as drunkenly promised, really good. It makes me wish I were an aficionado. Art Pepper lived through all kinds of hell, which may be standard stuff for jazz greats, I don't know, but what makes Straight Life an excellent read isn't the sexual compulsion, the heroin, the crime, the brutal life in San Quentin – all juicy reading, for sure – but the intimacy, the way you get inside the dreamy logic of being Art Pepper. With a reality like that, who needs dreams, I guess, but Pepper's story is, from beginning to end, so sad and soulful it's like he never happened on our frequency – and this book (along with the music, which I plan to hunt down) is the vibrant record of the peculiar sound he existed in.Thanks Charles!
The god of reading, a manipulative daemon who imposes a pattern on the seemingly random succession of books we get through each year, works in mysterious ways. This year's unifying theme for me was "teeth," or maybe it just seemed that way because, thanks entirely to my wife, I finally got on a dental insurance plan.
She said that if I didn't see her on Thursdays it meant she was dead and would I please go find her body. That was a terrible thing to ask of someone; also then I had to do my laundry on Thursdays.
In one of the most memorable, gruesome stories, "Doctor H.A. Moynihan," a girl accompanies her grandfather, a drunken bigot who happens to be the best dentist in Texas, to his office on a Sunday afternoon. There he tells her to pull out all his teeth so he can put in a set of his handmade dentures: his "masterpiece." This she does, cramming tea bags in his mouth to stop the bleeding and making her grandfather looks like a "scary monster, a teapot come alive, yellow and black Lipton tags dangling like parade decorations." That image captures the peculiar charm of the story, which is at once horrifying and perversely joyous.
I was also steered by my reading daemon to Valeria Luiselli's The Story of My Teeth, the "dental autobiography" of a charlatan auctioneer who has devised an "allegoric method" to hawk his wares. That is, he literally and figuratively lies through his teeth. He invents a provenance for 10 teeth, claiming each belonged to a different illustrious writer (Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Petrarch, Michel de Montaigne, etc.) and describing each as if it were a work of art: "Note the curve; it is like a wing in ascent." The "novel-essay" has some grating moments, and its afterword, in which Luiselli explains why her project is "a reverse Duchampian procedure," shuts off the heady flow of nitrous oxide. But the auction scene stays with me as a marvel of erudition and whimsy.
Eyes ablaze, forehead damp with sweat, the face of a Greek god on the chiseled body of an American dentist, Calvin ripped the bad tooth out of June's mouth with raw, barbaric animal energy.
When Calvin's wife finds out about the affair, she rather pathetically asks if his mistress's teeth are "white as a fresh blanket of snow." A man of honor despite his infidelity, he cannot but confirm his wife's worst fears. Blackmail, betrayal, murder, and a villainous office manager darken the tongue-in-cheek comedy, demonstrating that oral hygiene is no defense against moral rot.
Finally — and just to spite Bill Morris — I read several literary biographies this year. One of these was Robert Crawford's Young Eliot. This volume, which concludes in 1922 with T.S. Eliot opening the newly printed American edition of The Waste Land, chronicles the youth of a poet who always felt himself old. But why did my reading daemon compel me to devour this particular biography as opposed to the other doorstoppers I routinely return to the library unfinished? Surely it couldn't just be because Eliot's oft-ailing first wife, Vivien, was "ever fearful of dentists" and needed extensive, painful work: "I scream the whole time!" she writes in a letter.
Coincidence? Perhaps, but as Socol puts it in Tooth Decay, "…don't you love the way the word coincidental contains the word dental?" As I said earlier, the god of reading works in mysterious ways.
A lot of male writers….
i'm a male writer (who adores excellent female writers) and am honored to be included in Dan's list (he's been writing about my work for a while). but i was delighted, even more than seeing my work mentioned, to see that he was acknowledged for how HARD he works. he really does. he's a benevolent force out there in blogging the literary world, and i hope more and more people become aware of it.
I'll be honest, as a stats geek it's one of the first things I've noticed about my own lists for the year – of books I reviewed, of individual stories I discussed on my site, etc.
I did neglect to include in the post above another female author that did not fail me with her second effort and that was Kellie Wells with her debut novel, Skin. That said, I knew coming into the year that the section of favorite authors whose books I'd be reading during 2006 was going to be slanted male – those names above are some of my absolute favorite authors and I've known since late in 2005 that they were to have books published in 2006.
I'll be honest though, beyond specifically looking for work that was translated this year, I don't pay all that much attention to gender, or race (beyond Borders forcing me to go to a special section within their store at times) when looking for my next novel.
However, I do know that my post for books I'm looking forward to in 2007 is a more gender balanced post, as many of my favorite female authors have titles slated for next year: Alyson Hagy, Julianna Baggott, Liesel Litzenburger, and at least one newcomer I'm looking forward to in Rosa Liksom. Plus Baggott and Litzenburger had titles come out late in 2006 that I have set aside for the near future.
And thanks to both Max and Michael for the kind words about the fun, er, effort.
And the reason I hate starting lists, don't know how I forgot to mention greatly looking forward to Elizabeth Ellen's chapbook due out later this week from Future Tense Press, Before You She Was a Pitbull – she's only the most commented upon author at the EWN blog.
Am curious about one thing though – why anonymous? Why not proudly note that over 94% (told you, stats geek) of the authors mentioned were male and an even higher percentage of titles mentioned? It was a good, and interesting, observation.
Dan, I'm guessing Anon was just a "drive by" commenter, but, if not, hopefully he/she will come back and elaborate.
At any rate, the fun of stat-keeping aside, I think that if I were to have to constrain my reading choices to make sure that I was covering all my gender/demographic/genre bases, it would take a lot of the fun out of just picking up a book and reading it because it looks interesting or because a trusted fellow reader has recommended it.
There are many ways to measure a year, but the reader is likely to measure it in books.
I've been often distracted, dismayed by political outcomes this year, but I've remained blissfully absorbed in the thing that matters the most to me—books.


text:
Me and Juliet
Original Broadway Cast, 1953 (RCA) (3 / 5) It's hard to believe, but Rodgers and Hammerstein did have a few flops in addition to their many hits. Me and Juliet was one such failure, and the team's only foray into the backstage musical genre. Still, even this score contains flashes of brilliance. "Marriage Type Love" is a tuneful charm song with a wonderfully romantic lyric, while "That's the Way It Happens" has just the right pithiness and nonchalance that's called for. Probably the best and most famous item in the show is "No Other Love," based on a theme that Rodgers originally wrote for the background score of Victory at Sea, a television documentary on World War II. It's a lovely song with a beguiling melody, even if it is indicative of the non-character-specific writing in Me and Juliet. Many of the songs are misfires, particularly "We Deserve Each Other" and "Keep It Gay," both of which are leaden. There is one showbiz-themed song that succeeds: "Intermission Talk." Isabel Bigley as Jeanie heads the cast, fresh from her starring role in Guys and Dolls; Bill Hayes displays a very appealing voice as Larry; and Joan McCracken as Betty steals the show with her special brand of sassiness. — Gerard Alessandrini
← Mayor	Me and My Girl →

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
Book Review: Marcelo in the Real World by Francisco X. Stork
Title: Marcelo in the Real World
Author: Francisco X. Stork
Published March 1st 2009 by Arthur A. Levine Books
Age: Young Adult
Marcelo Sandoval hears music no one else can hear--part of the autism-like impairment no doctor has been able to identify--and he's always attended a special school where his differences have been protected. But the summer after his junior year, his father demands that Marcelo work in his law firm's mailroom in order to experience "the real world." There Marcelo meets Jasmine, his beautiful and surprising coworker, and Wendell, the son of another partner in the firm.
He learns about competition and jealousy, anger and desire. But it's a picture he finds in a file -- a picture of a girl with half a face -- that truly connects him with the real world: its suffering, its injustice, and what he can do to fight.
Reminiscent of "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" in the intensity and purity of its voice, this extraordinary novel is a love story, a legal drama, and a celebration of the music each of us hears inside.
I wanted to read this book after reading 'The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time'. I now understand why it won so many prizes, it's not easy to write Marcelo. After reading the first pages I wanted to protect him from the 'real world', especially from his lawyer father who expects him to be normal.
Marcelo has been on a special school all his life, where he can go at his own rhythm and do what he loves, working with horses. But his father thinks Marcelo would be better if he works at his office for the summer and prepare for the real world so he could go to a normal school next year.
Obviously Marcelo refuses, but after all his father is stronger than him and that's how Marcelo starts this journey where he will learn how to interact with people, understand what is right and wrong, and take charge of his life.
Marcelo has something like Asperger, but that didn't make it difficult to relate with him. I think most teenager live similar situations, after being protected by your family, you have to go to the 'real world' where there is a lot of bad people, some good, and doing the right thing is not easy.
Although it took me some time to finish it, I really liked Marcelo in the Real World. It's one of those books that leaves you thinking and with feeling, sometimes sad about how Marcelo was treated, other times just thinking....Marcelo is one of those guys who ask big questions. I feel like some things were left unresolved, but I still recommend it. It's not the typical young adult book.
More about this book at Goodreads, Amazon , The Book Depository.
By Gaby G Etiquetas: Contemporary, Francisco X Stork, Marcelo in the Real World, Review, Young Adult 3 comments:
Book Review: The Hero by Robyn Carr
Title: The Hero
Series: Thunder Point #3
Author: Robyn Carr
August 27th 2013 by Harlequin MIRA
In a moment of desperation, Devon McAllister takes her daughter and flees a place where they should have been safe and secure. She has no idea what is around the next bend, but she is pretty certain it can't be worse than what they've left behind. Her plan is to escape to somewhere she can be invisible. Instead, an unexpected offer of assistance leads her to Thunder Point, a tiny Oregon town with a willingness to help someone in need.
As the widowed father of a vulnerable young boy, Spencer Lawson knows something about needing friendship. But he's not looking for anything else. Instead, he's thrown his energy into his new role as Thunder Point's high school football coach. Tough and demanding to his team, off the field he's gentle and kind...just the kind of man who could heal Devon's wounded heart.
Devon thought she wanted to hide from the world. But in Thunder Point, you find bravery where you least expect it...and sometimes, you find a hero.
The Hero is the story of Devon, a young mother who is escaping from her 'safe' home, The Fellowship, and is found by Rawley, an old man who works at Thunder Point town and is willing to help her and her daughter with everything they need.
Devon was a very interesting character. Not only she's escaping from The Fellowship, but also from her ex lover and father of their daughter, who is the one in charge of The Fellowship and also father of the other children from the group. She has absolutely nothing, and is scared. But with the help of the people in Thunder Point, she starts to live her life as it's supposed to be. She also finds love with Spencer, the recently widowed father. Maybe it's too soon for both of them to have a relationship, but something is calling them and in a few weeks they are in love.
I liked this book mostly because of Devon. She's one of the strongest characters I've read. Obviously is wasn't a smart choice to enter The Fellowship, but she is brave to escape and try to rebuild her life. I already knew Spencer's story from the previous book, but I didn't click with him. I thought their romance was super fast, it wasn't the most important thing in this book, and also didn't like that he was scared after trying so hard to convince her to be together...he was even a little bit mean.
But it was nice to read a little bit more about Rawley, always lonely and silent. I think he was the real hero is this story!
By Gaby G Etiquetas: Contemporary, Review, Robyn Carr, Romance, The Hero, Thunder Point 6 comments:
The Book Thief Official Movie Trailer #1
In case you didn't know, The Book Thief by Markus Zusak is one of my favorite books!
I read it a couple of years ago thanks to a giveaway I won, and loved it so much that I bought the spanish edition for my mom to read it. I love when I read books without any expectations or thinking I'm not going to like it and end loving it.
That's why I'm so happy to watch the movie trailer! I didn't know the movie was so advanced and going to be released September 15th (USA). Any book lover should watch it (after reading the book of course!) ;)
I really want to re-read it soon and translate the review I wrote in spanish years ago!
By Gaby G Etiquetas: Book Trailers, Markus Zusak, Movies, News, The Book Thief 3 comments:
Stacking the Shelves #29
Stacking the Shelves is a meme hosted by Tynga's Reviews, where people like me can showcase our new books of
the week and make you jealous!
This week I got :)
One Night with the Laird by Nicola Cornick (netgalley)
Kinetic (The Luminaries #1) by S.K. Anthony (for review/blog tour)
What did you get this week?
By Gaby G Etiquetas: Stacking The Shelves 14 comments:
Waiting on Wednesday #114: Kinetic by S.K. Anthony
"Waiting On" Wednesday is a weekly event, hosted at Breaking The Spine, that spotlights upcoming releases that we're eagerly anticipating.
My pick: Kinetic by S.K. Anthony (The Luminaries #1)
Being strong is one thing. Being an unlimited source of power is quite another.
Genetically altered by the Organization, Annie Fox takes down criminals CIA-style with her luminary strength. With nothing to mend but her broken heart, she is relentlessly pursued by her boss Derek Lake.
Just when Annie is about to give him a chance, her ex-husband unexpectedly comes out of hiding.
A wanted man, Nick Logan is a cold-hearted murderer who is considered enemy number one, and orders are clear: kill on contact. He is more powerful than ever and threatens the lives of those she holds most dear. His plan? Get his hands on Annie and use her Kinetic energy to destroy them all. When Annie finds herself with an opportunity to end him, she pauses, horrified by the scars covering the face she once loved. A split second that will cost her everything…
I'm participating on a tour for this book, my review should be posted September 24th. I don't really accept books for reviews because I never have enough time, but Kinetic sounds interesting. I'm not used to read about a divorced protagonist but sounds like a good paranormal story.
By Gaby G Etiquetas: Kinetic, S.K. Anthony, The Luminaries, Waiting on Wednesday 6 comments:
Book Review: The Power of Six by Pittacus Lore
Series: Lorien Legacies #2
Published August 23rd 2011 by HarperCollins
I've seen him on the news. Followed the stories about what happened in Ohio. John Smith, out there, on the run. To the world, he's a mystery. But to me . . . he's one of us.
Nine of us came here, but sometimes I wonder if time has changed us—if we all still believe in our mission. How can I know? There are six of us left. We're hiding, blending in, avoiding contact with one another . . . but our Legacies are developing, and soon we'll be equipped to fight. Is John Number Four, and is his appearance the sign I've been waiting for? And what about Number Five and Six? Could one of them be the raven-haired girl with the stormy eyes from my dreams? The girl with powers that are beyond anything I could ever imagine? The girl who may be strong enough to bring the six of us together?
They caught Number One in Malaysia.
Number Two in England.
And Number Three in Kenya.
They tried to catch Number Four in Ohio—and failed.
I am Number Seven. One of six still alive.
And I'm ready to fight.
The Power of Six is the second book of the Lorien Legacies and follows the story exactly where I Am Number Four left us, with Four, Six and Sam escaping. Basically it's just them escaping and trying not to get caught by the police or the Mogadorians, while they discover more about their past and powers.
But this time it's not only Four the protagonist, but also Seven. She has a totally different life, but she's sure John Smith is one of them...the problem is convincing her cepan. Her only choice might be escaping before the Mogadorians find her...but what if other allies found her?
I really enjoyed reading Seven (Marina). Her life was much more interesting, or maybe I thought so because the only thing Four, Six and Sam where doing was running and getting caught in a love triangle-quartet that didn't seem to be important for the story and bored me.
But I still liked to discover more about Lorien, their past, their powers, Sam's father and even number Ten. It was a book full of action, fast paced, and the ending left me kind of surprised in a good way and wanting to read The Rise of Nine soon.
By Gaby G Etiquetas: I Am Number Four, Lorien Legacies, Pittacus Lore, Review, Science Fiction, The Power of Six, Young Adult 2 comments:
Book Review: Double Crossed by Ally Carter
Title: Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story
Author: Ally Carter
Series: Heist Society #2.5, Gallagher Girls #5.5
Published January 22nd 2013 by Disney Hyperion
Macey McHenry—Glamorous society girl or spy-in-training?
W.W. Hale V—Heir to an American dynasty or master thief?
There are two sides to every coin. Whether these two can work together is a tossup.
Born into privilege, Macey and Hale are experts at mingling with the upper class. But even if they've never raised an eyebrow at the glitz, neither teenager has ever felt at home with the glamour.
When Macey and Hale meet at a society gala, the party takes a dangerous turn. Suddenly they're at the center of a hostage situation, and it's up to them to stop the thugs from becoming hostile. Will Macey's spy skills and Hale's con-man ways be enough to outsmart a ruthless gang? Or will they have to seek out the ultimate inside girl to help?
The worlds of Heist Society and the Gallagher Girls collide in Ally Carter's fast-paced, high-stakes and tantalizing new story. Get a behind the scenes glimpse as Ally delivers an irresistible thriller that is full of her signature style and savvy twists.
I love the Gallagher Girls and Heist Society series, so a story that combines those two worlds sounded amazing! It didn't disappointed me. It's short but exciting and fun, event when it was a little weird to see Macey and Hale interacting, but they make a good team. I can see them working together in the future :)
Definitely recommended to fans of these series, or if you want to try and see spies and thieves are for you!
By Gaby G Etiquetas: Ally Carter, Contemporary, Double Crossed: A Spies and Thieves Story, Gallagher Girls, Heist Society, Review, Young Adult 5 comments:


text:
Artists and Architects
NE License Plate
Home | Art | The Virtues
The Virtues
Hildreth Meière
Glazed Ceramic Tile
The eight winged entities in the rotunda dorm form a celestial rose and represent sacred and civic virtues. The virtues are: Charity, Hope, Magnanimity, Faith, Justice, Wisdom, Courage, Justice, and Temperance. The winged and helmeted, art deco figures stand on pedestals holding hands and forming a circle.
Hildreth Meière described her work on the Virtues fondly:
Meière, too, was pleased with the dome, describing its effect as "glittering and magnificent," with "no mechanical, dead surface anywhere, and the light plays over it happily, as over good mosaics.
International Hildreth Meière Association
Development of the Figure, No. 123, 7/26/27, blackline print with colored pencil on paper. Avery Architectural and Fine Arts Library, Columbia University, New York, 1963.002.00858
About Hildreth Meière
Hildreth Meière (me-AIR) was one of the greatest American muralists of the 20th century. She was a pioneer in her field and created a more modern approach to murals that differed from the academic traditions at the time. She blended several classic influences, including classic Greek vase painting, Byzantine Mosaics, and Native American beadwork into a style known as Art Deco.
Up until her death in 1961 she acknowledged the Nebraska State Capitol as her crowning achievement.
Learn more about Hildreth
More Nebraska Capitol Artwork
The Coming of the Pioneers
The Blizzard of 1888
The Signing of the Mayflower Compact
Nebraska State Capitol
Capitol Virtual Tour
© 2023 | Celebrating Nebraska Statehood Inc
You cannot copy images on this site.


This post was edited on 2006-11-13, 03:07 by rmamddf.
this depends on the behavior of the other clients. In XMPP the Nickname of the contact normally is stored in your roster, and you can specify the Nickname on your own when you add a contact.
What some clients do is to retrieve the Nickname from the Vcard.
And there is also XEP-0172 User Nickname.


text:
Q: For which values of $α \in \mathbb R$ is the matrix $A$ strictly diagonally dominant? Justify Let the matrix $A \in \mathbb R
^{n×n}$. Then:
• $A$ is strictly diagonally dominant if $|A(i, i)| > \sum_{j=1,j \not= i}^n |A(i, j)|$ for all $i = 1, 2,..., n.
$
• $A $is diagonally dominant if  $|A(i, i)| \geq \sum_{j=1,j \not= i}^n |A(i, j)|$ for all $i = 1, 2,..., n$.
• If $A$ is symmetric strictly diagonally dominant matrix with positive diagonal entries $(A(i, i) > 0, i = 1 : n)$,
then $A$ is positive definite.
Let $A = C + α||C||_∞I$ where $C$ is a real $n×n$ matrix with positive diagonal entries $(C(i, i) > 0, i = 1 : n)$.
For which values of $α \in \mathbb R$ is the matrix $A$ strictly diagonally dominant? Justify
My attempt:
Note that: $||C||_∞ = max_{1 \leq i \leq n} |C(i, j)|$
$|A(i, i)| = |C(i, i) + \alpha||C(i, i)||_ ∞I(i, i) | = |C(i, i) + \alpha||C(i, i)||_ ∞|$ since $I(i, i) = 1$
And $|A(i, j)| = |C(i, j) + \alpha||C(i, j)||_ ∞I(i, j) | = |C(i, j)|$ since $I(i, j) = 0$ for $i \not= j$.
$A$ is strictly diagonally dominant if $|C(i, i) + \alpha||C(i, i)||_ ∞| > \sum_{j=1,j \not= i}^n|C(i, j)|$
But I didn't know how to proceed from there to get $\alpha$. Any help please?

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
Uwaga! Zawartość tej strony jest dostępna tylko w następujących językach: Angielski - Włoski
Information on the processing of personal data pursuant to Article 13 of Regulation (EU) 2016/679 ("Privacy & cookie policy")
This information is provided in accordance with Regulation (EU) 2016/679 (hereinafter "Regulations" or "GDPR"). It describes the methods of processing personal data of users who consult and use this website, accessible at the address www.celli.it ("Site"). It does not, however, concern other external sites or online services that may be reached through links on the Site.
A. DATA CONTROLLER
(Identity and contact details)
Following consultation of the Site, data relating to the user accessing the site (defined as the "interested party," as an identified or identifiable natural person) can be processed.
The data controller of the user is CELLI S.P.A., P. IVA IT00281460402 , with its registered office on via Masetti n. 32, Forlì (FC), e-mail: [email protected], P.E.C.: [email protected], tel.: +39 0543/794711; fax: +39 0543/794747 (hereafter "Owner").
B. DATA PROTECTION OFFICER (DPO)
The Data Controller has appointed a Personal Data Protection Officer (DPO). The interested parties can contact this person for matters related to exercising their rights and to request information on the personal data pertaining to them that was processed by the Data Controller.
The data protection manager of CELLI S.P.A. can be contacted at the Data Controller's registered office, located on via Masetti n. 32, 47122, Forlì (FC) – Italy, and at the following e-mail address: [email protected]
C. TYPE OF DATA PROCESSED, PURPOSE OF DATA PROCESSING AND RETENTION PERIOD
C.1. Navigation data
The computer systems and software procedures used to operate this site acquire some personal data during normal operation, of which transmission is implicit in the navigation of websites. This information is not collected in order to be associated with the identified interested parties; however, by its very nature, the data could allow users to be identified through processing and association with data held by third parties. This data includes the IP addresses or domain names of the computers used by users connecting to the site, the URL addresses of the requested resources, the time of the request, the method used in submitting the request to the server, the size of the file obtained in response, the numeric code indicating the status of the response given by the server and other parameters related to the operating system and to the platform operated by the user.
The above data is used for the sole purpose of obtaining anonymous statistical information on the use of the site and to check its correct functioning.
The legitimate interest of the Data Controller in ensuring the security and correct functioning of the Site.
The data collected will be deleted or rendered completely anonymous immediately after processing, except in the event that it could be used to ascertain responsibility in the event of hypothetical computer crimes that could damage the site: with this exception of this case, contact data on the website will remain no longer than seven days. Regarding cookies, please refer to the paragraph of this section B.
C.2. Access and registration to the Site
Celli S.p.a. collects and processes user data that is necessary for registration of a personal account on the site. This is done by filling in the form on page https://www.celli.it/en/contacts/registration/.
For registration and access to the reserved area, the personal data of the user and/or those that identify him/her is collected, such as his/her e-mail address and the password to access the personal account, which is processed during the registration procedure for the site.
Access and registration to the site, and in general, the provision of the service requested by the interested party.
This personal data is collected and processed for the purposes that can be activated at the user's request. The use of this data will also be required for accounting, administrative, declarative, financial and credit management purposes.
The data collected in this way is kept during the entire period in which the user is registered on the site and, in any case, according to what is allowed by current legislation.
C.3. Data communicated by the user
The optional, explicit and voluntary sending of communications by means of contact forms on the site or by email to the addresses indicated on this site, involves the subsequent acquisition of data communicated by the user, including the person's email address, and consent to receive any messages in response to the person's requests.
The provision of the requested services or the provision of a response to user requests, as the case may be.
Personal data provided in this manner is used only to satisfy or give feedback to the transmitted requests. The data is only communicated to third parties if it is necessary for this purpose.
The data is kept for the time necessary to fulfill the request and in compliance with current legislation.
C.4. Newsletter
The Newsletter is distributed automatically and free of charge by e-mail to those who request it by filling in the form on the Website. The data will be processed exclusively by the staff and collaborators of the Data Controller or its data controllers.
To stop receiving the newsletter, simply select the unsubscription link in each e-mail received. In case of technical problems, it is possible to send a report via e-mail to the Owner.
The User's free and explicit consent, expressed by ticking the check box in the bar specifically placed under the data request.
To provide the newsletter service by sending the user, who has explicitly requested it by filling out the form on the site, updated communications, commercial information on our events and our products, and news relating to the reference sector.
The data thus collected will be kept exclusively for the period in which the service will be active. After interruption of the service, only the data necessary to demonstrate registration/unsubscription requests received from the interested party will be stored.
C.5. Data provided voluntarily by the user (applications concerning job openings at the company)
Each interested party may voluntarily provide personal data to Celli S.p.A. to apply for open job positions by sending an e-mail and authorizing the Company to process personal data for the aforementioned purpose.
Data insertion is mandatory only for the purpose of submitting a job application. Therefore, the sending of a resume is left to the individual candidate's will and any refusal will make it impossible to use the service, without further consequences.
Consent to treatment is not necessary, pursuant to art. 111bis of Legislative Decree. n. 196/2003 (c.d. Privacy Code, as amended by Legislative Decree. n. 101/2018) and of art. 9, paragraph 2, letter b) of the GDPR, when the treatment concerns data contained in resumes spontaneously transmitted by candidates for the purpose of the possible establishment of a work/collaboration relationship, even if the data is included in the particular categories envisaged by art. 9 of the GDPR (for example, in the hypothesis in which the data in question is to be known due to the establishment of a working relationship, with particular reference to the candidate's belonging to protected categories or the need to carry out pre-requisite medical examinations). At the time of the interview, all the information concerning the processing of personal data will be provided to the interested party.
To fulfill the candidate's request to analyze the data provided in the resume with the purpose of possibly establishing employment or a collaboration relationship.
The analysis of the candidate's skills and experiences to evaluate the possible establishment of employment or a collaboration relationship.
The time needed to evaluate the request and, in any case, for a maximum period of 12 months from receiving the data.
Data sent by the user is deleted when the candidate sends a specific request to the Data Controller, using the contact details indicated above. Data cancellation may be managed automatically, so the candidate can receive further communications, for which submission had been planned, before the reception of the cancellation request, for a period of no longer than 72 hours.
C.6. Data provided voluntarily by the user (to receive communications for marketing and / or sales promotion purposes)
Communications of a commercial and marketing nature will only be sent if the user gives free and explicit consent by ticking the appropriate check box.
The prior consent of the interested party is, in fact, necessary for the sending of such communications, except in the case in which the personal data (e-mail address in particular), are provided by the interested party in the context of a product purchase. The data thus collected by the owner may also be used to send communications by e-mail relating to products similar to those already purchased by the user, pursuant to art. 130, paragraph 4, of Legislative Decree 196/2003, without the need for express and prior consent (so-called soft spam).
In any communication, in any case, the user is reminded that he/she can revoke consent at any time and without formalities. The data is deleted at the request of the interested party.
To send the user, who has explicitly given consent by ticking the appropriate check box in the bar on the site, advertising and promotional communications.
C.7. Cookies and other tracking systems
Cookies are information stored by the browser when a website is visited with any device (such as a PC, tablet or smartphone). Each cookie contains different data (for example, the name of the server it comes from, a numeric identifier, etc.). It can remain in the system for the duration of a session (until the browser is closed) or for long periods and can contain a unique identification code.
The legitimate interest of the owner in the correct functioning of the site for technical and anonymous analytical cookies; the free and explicit consent of the user for any profiling cookies.
Make the site usable and functional for technical cookies (i.e. those strictly necessary to ensure its correct operation); improve and optimize it for analytical cookies (optimize performance to offer you a better experience or allow the acquisition of anonymous statistics on use of the Site); analyze user navigation data to provide personalized advertising based on the activities for profiling cookies.
The retention time varies according to the individual cookies and their type: we specify this for each cookie in the "Cookie policy" section in as reading progresses in the second section.
D. DATA ADDRESSEES
The personal data collected is processed by the owner's staff, acting on the basis of specific instructions provided for the purposes and methods of the processing.
Furthermore, the data processors appointed by the Data Controller are recipients of the data collected following consultation of the Website. The relative list can be requested from the Data Controller using the contact data referred to in section A ("Data Controller").
E. RIGHTS OF THE INTERESTED PARTIES
The interested parties have the right to obtain from the Data Controller, in the cases provided for, access to personal data and correction or cancellation of the same or limitation of processing that concerns them or to oppose data handling. They also have the right to data portability (article 15 and after in the Regulations). These rights can be enforced by contacting the Data Controller using the contact data referred to in section A ("Data Controller").
F. RIGHT OF COMPLAINT
Interested parties who believe that processing of their personal data through this site is in violation of the provisions of the Regulations, have the right to lodge a complaint with the Guarantor (as required by art. 77 of the Rules) or to appeal to the appropriate judicial offices (as required by Article 79 of the Rules).
G. COOKIES
Cookies are information stored by the browser when a website is visited with any suitable device (such as a PC, tablet or smartphone). Each cookie contains different data (for example, the name of the server it comes from, a numeric identifier, etc.). It can remain in the system for the duration of a session (until the browser is closed) or for long periods and can contain a unique identification code.
What are they used for?
Cookies are used for different purposes depending on their type: some are strictly necessary for the proper functioning of a website (technical cookies), while others optimize performance to offer a better user experience or to allow the acquisition of statistics on use of the site, such as cookies analytics or allow the display of personalized advertising, such as profiling cookies.
Consent: user's consent may be saved by the Owner through a technical cookie, which has a duration of 12 months. The user is informed by means of a brief notice (banner displayed until consent is given or denied, as explained in paragraph "How to disable cookies") and through this extended information; furthermore, the links to the privacy policies of third parties are indicated, also for the purposes of their disabling (where directly available through the same).
Cookies can be disabled either through browser settings (see par. "How to disable cookies?") or through the mechanisms made available by some third parties (see par. "Cookies used on the site").
Type of cookies used by the site
The Celli S.p.A. website uses cookies that do not require your consent for their installation (such as technical cookies), as well as cookies that do require your prior consent in order to be used (such as profiling cookies).
a) Technical cookies (which DO NOT require your consent)
These cookies are necessary for site operation and allow you to access its functions (so-called browsing cookies) or to authenticate yourself in the session.
The use of functional cookies is also provided, which allow you to store your preferences and settings, thus improving your browsing experience on the website.
To ensure their operation, these cookies are not normally deleted when you close your browser. However, they have a predefined duration (usually up to 2 years), after which they are automatically deactivated. These cookies and the data they collect will not be used in any way for other purposes.
The installation of technical cookies takes place automatically following access to the website or to activate certain features (e.g. by selecting the "remember me" option). You can always choose to disable them by changing your browser settings at any time. However, you may encounter some problems viewing the site.
b) Analytical cookies (which DO NOT require your consent)
These cookies keep track of the choices made on the site and the data related to navigation in order to carry out statistical analyses in anonymous and aggregate form.
c) Profiling cookies (which require your CONSENT)
This site also uses profiling cookies and third-party cookies, the installation of which is subject to your prior consent.
Profiling cookies can include several categories, including advertising, retargeting or social media cookies.
Advertising profiling cookies: these cookies create a user profile that allows you to view advertising content in line with the preferences expressed while browsing the site;
Retargeting cookies: they are created in order to send you advertising content related to the products in which you have expressed interest;
Social media cookies: this site is set up for the installation of cookies related to social network plug-ins. These cookies are managed directly by third parties and allow you to view advertising messages in line with your preferences.
When you access the site, a special banner you will inform you of the presence of profiling and retargeting cookies. Use this banner to allow or refuse cookie installation. Naturally, you may revoke the previously given consent at any time, without jeopardizing the possibility of visiting the site and using its contents.
In addition, the geographical location of the Data Controller is indicated through the relative "Google Maps" function. The "Google Maps" privacy policy can be consulted at the following link: https://maps.google.it/intl/en/maps/about/behind-the-scenes/streetview/privacy/.
Cookies on the site
Analytical Cookies (anonymized)
They are used for the purpose of aggregate site visit analysis through the use of a third-party service. The indication of the first-party technical cookies used on the site is given below.
Description: this is a cookie used to identify the session. This cookie does not require your consent for its installation.
Supplier: Google Analytics
More information: developers.google.com
Description: this is a cookie used to limit requests. This cookie does not require your consent for its installation.
Description: used to distinguish users, as it stores information about visitors, sessions and campaigns. This cookie does not require your consent for its installation.
These cookies are used, for example, by Google Analytics to process statistical analysis on how users navigate the Site through computers or mobile applications, the number of pages visited or the number of clicks made on a page while browsing a Site. We treat the results of these analyses anonymously and exclusively for statistical purposes, only if the service provider uses cookies in connection with the browser installed on your computer or on other devices used to browse our site.
For more detailed information about Google Analytics, please click on the following link https://analytics.google.com/analytics/web/provision/#/provision.
To learn how to disable Google Analytics: https://tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout
How to disable cookies
a. First-party cookies – disabling through the browser
You can also choose whether or not to allow the installation of cookies using your browser settings.
However, not all the functions of this site may remain operational in the event that one or more technical cookies are disabled. The settings related to this choice can be verified and modified in the preferences window of your browser. The information regarding commonly used browsers can be found below:
Android e iOS
b. Third-party cookies and related opt-out links
The installation of profiling, retargeting, analytical and social media cookies, including any other activity connected to them, is managed through third-party services. For more information and to enable or disable these cookies, you can access the information provided directly by third-party companies.
c. Online tools
Please also note that from website https://www.youronlinechoices.com/ it is not only possible to acquire further information on cookies, but also to verify the installation of numerous cookies on your browser/device and to disable them, where supported.
Editing cookie settings
✔ Updated cookiesYou may need to reload the page to make changes
© Celli SpA cf. p.iva - vat n. IT00281460402 Polityka prywatności i plików cookie - Polityka prywatności i plików cookie


text:
2019-20 Preseason Info (PDF)
2018-19 Season Review Notes (PDF)
2018-19 Information Guide (PDF)
2018-19 Cumulative Statistics (PDF)
Live In-Game Stats and Radio Feed
Georgia Tech Basketball in the News
Yellow Jackets in the Pros
ACC Basketball
Recap | Box Score | GT Photo Gallery
Georgia Tech Head Coach
Opening Statement…
"Give FSU credit. Bottom line is they deserved to win that game more than we did. Not with just the way the game started, but in the second half when we took a little bit of a lead. We didn't play again with the poise and sense of urgency that you need when you play in a game like this that is tough and physical and has a big time player – he made all the plays down the stretch for them. So hats off to him and that's what you need in those crucial situations. We lacked a little discipline on the defensive end in the last four or five minutes and gave them five easy points which is something you can't do. We fouled them when we didn't need to foul them and unfortunately had the wrong coverage on the screen and gave them an open look. He's still got to make the shots, and he does so give them credit for that."
On guarding the pick and roll…
"We had gone over that action, the problem is you have to have all five guys guard that and we had some guys just fall asleep on the backside. Our coverage on that wasn't as tight as it needs to be. You can look at a lot of different things, but our coverage on that particular play probably cost you the game…That's what happens sometimes when you get in crucial situations at critical times, younger players in particular have a tendency to think of only one person – and that's themselves and who they're guarding. That's why I said as good as we were defensively Sunday in crucial times, we were as bad tonight. That's some of the ebbs and flows that you go through in the process that we are. Guys will see, they'll be even more disappointed about it and want to do something about it."
Michael Snaer's game-winner at the buzzer…
"Someone's got to go guard him. Unfortunately we had two freshmen on both sides. And sometimes in that case, experience is the only teacher you have. But you can't let the MVP of the ACC Tournament take the shot; you've got to let someone else take that shot. We can't let him get that shot. But that's probably the first time that those two guys on that side have ever been in that situation in a game like this."
On having only short time to prepare for the pick and roll…
"That's the thing I talked to the guys about. We have a base coverage that's been successful. We guarded the screen and roll exceptionally well against (Matthew) Dellavedova from St. Mary's. No offense, but we should be able to guard it against Ian Miller from Florida State. No offense to Ian Miller, but we didn't. That might have something to do with the quick turnaround, but that's an excuse. One thing is our players have to learn is we can't make excuses."
On FSU's hot start…
"We had a couple good looks early and we missed, and we didn't rebound the ball and they got six points on second-chance points early – two threes that they hit off offensive rebounds, and that was unfortunate. "
Florida State Head Coach
Leonard Hamilton
Opening Statement –
"Before the game started Coach Gregory came up and asked me how I like coaching a very young basketball team. My comment to him was you can probably write down all the issues you're dealing with and I can probably write down all the issues I'm dealing with and we'll probably be talking about each other. I thought it was two young teams scratching and clawing. I thought that probably the team who had the ball last probably was going to win the game. Fortunately for us we had the ball in our hands with the clock running down and we made a play to give us a chance to win the game.
I think Coach Gregory has done a tremendous job. In fact, I told our players coming into this game I thought they were executing a lot better than we were. I thought the fact that they had been doing such a good job motivated our guys and got our attention. I thought in the first half we did a much better job for the most part of executing, making the extra pass and creating offense. Obviously we had turnovers in the first half that gave them a chance to get back in it.
Brandon Reed came off the bench and gave them a big lift, but we had a lot of young kids step up and make plays tonight. Our teams are very similar. We're going through that period of development. I like what I see out of his players and I think we have potential to develop as well. We have some guys step up tonight. Obviously, Okaro White was having a tough night, but he helped us on the boards. I thought we had tremendous help from our youngsters who came off the bench. I think both our teams mirror each other. Even though our record might be a little better, I think Georgia Tech is a little farther along than we are as far as execution. I think the futures are very bright for both teams."
On how easy they got to the basket on the final shot….
"Mfon [Udofia] just slipped. There was some contact there, but there was a lot of contact all night long. That is the nature of the game. I thought he slipped and that was unfortunate for him because he was doing a great job defending. We wanted to take the shot with four seconds to go on the clock. We wanted to try and put the pressure on the defense and either get us to the free throw line or give us a path to the basket. We didn't want to take a jump shot."
On the middle screen and getting four-straight points off of it…
"They were doing a great job defending all our schemes. They were doing a very good job with our motion. They were putting pressure on our young inexperienced guards. We just changed and kept trying different things to give us a little more opportunity and keep the pressure off. They were very well prepared and did a good job defending us. Once we spread the floor a little bit, it gave us an opportunity to get some easier baskets."
July 16, 2019 B.J. Elder Joins Georgia Tech Basketball Staff
High-scoring guard from 2004 Final Four team named associate director of player personnel
B.J. Elder Joins Georgia Tech Basketball Staff
July 12, 2019 #TGW: Georgia Tech's Big3
Former Jacket stars Will Bynum, Dion Glover and Anthony Morrow join forces in the Big3 league
#TGW: Georgia Tech's Big3


text:
Modeling HCV disease in animals: Virology, immunology and pathogenesis of HCV and GBV-B infections
Journal Article (Review;Journal)
Hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection has become a global public health burden costing billions of dollars in health care annually. Even with rapidly advancing scientific technologies this disease still poses a significant threat due to a lack of vaccines and affordable treatment options. The immune correlates of protection and predisposing factors toward chronicity remain major obstacles to development of HCV vaccines and immunotherapeutics due, at least in part, to lack of a tangible infection animal model. This review discusses the currently available animal models for HCV disease with a primary focus on GB virus B (GBV-B) infection of New World primates that recapitulates the dual Hepacivirus phenotypes of acute viral clearance and chronic pathologic disease. HCV and GBV-B are also closely phylogenetically related and advances in characterization of the immune systems of New World primates have already led to the use of this model for drug testing and vaccine trials. Herein, we discuss the benefits and caveats of the GBV-B infection model and discuss potential avenues for future development of novel vaccines and immunotherapies. Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a major chronic disease that has infected greater than 150 million people worldwide. Given the breadth and duration of infection HCV disease could result in an economic crisis reaching into the 100s of billions within the next decade. Although acute infection is usually asymptomatic with self-resolution, 55-85% of infected persons develop chronic disease that can lead to progressive hepatic fibrosis, cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC; Hoofnagle, 2002) which is often fatal without treatment. There is also a strong association of HCV infection with extra-hepatic diseases such as cryoglobulinemia vasculitis (Luppi et al., 1998), diabetes (Mehta et al., 2000), thyroid disease (Pateron et al., 1992), lichen planus (Jubert et al., 1994), and neuropsychiatric conditions such as depression (Thomas, 2013). This is complicated by the fact that approximately only half of individuals are aware of their HCV status (Denniston et al., 2012), due, at least in part, to the rarity of symptoms in acute HCV infection. In 2007, mortality due to HCV infection surpassed that of HIV in the United States (Ly et al., 2012).
Manickam, C; Keith Reeves, R
Frontiers in Microbiology
5 / DEC
10.3389/fmicb.2014.00690


The pink colour top from The Vanca exclusive collection will surely impress fashionable women. Fringes in any form are the biggest trend of this year, so why not add them to the tops and make it more trendier! This top made from knitted fabric which featurtes in beautiful round neckline and lace detailing at yoke to give you the best look ! This classic red cotton top which will keep you relaxed all day long. A pair of black denims, a pair of open flats, a gold cuff and a cute pair of earrings will complete this casual look!
Cotton is an easy to handle product. For the first wash keep the garment separate from other clothing. Use regular detergent and machine wash under normal settings. Do not wring harshly. For drying hand under shade or inside-out (applies to your entire wardrobe, not jus The Vanca products). Iron under temperatures suitable for cottons. Do not iron on the lace directly – keep a cotton cloth above. For any lace induced piece, it is best to hand wash the product.


text:
You are here: home Articles Archive Atmospheric Science Solar Irradiance and Pan Evaporation Estimation from Meteorological Satellite Data
Solar Irradiance and Pan Evaporation Estimation from Meteorological Satellite Data
Author(s): Ming-Ren Syu, Ping-Ho Lee, Tzay-Ming Leou, and Yuan Shen
DOI: 10.3319/TAO.2015.11.11.01(A)
Keywords: Geostationary satellite Solar radiation Evapotranspiration Water Resources
Citation: Syu, M. R., P. H. Lee, T. M. Leou, and Y. Shen, 2016: Solar irradiance and pan evaporation estimation from meteorological satellite data. Terr. Atmos. Ocean. Sci., 27, 221-239, doi: 10.3319/TAO.2015.11.11.01(A)
Knowledge about spatial and temporal variations in surface global solar radiation (GSR) and evaporative water loss from the ground are important issues to many researches and applications. In this study empirical relationships suitable for Taiwan were established for GSR retrieval from geostationary satellite images using the Heliosat method for the period from 2011 - 2013. The derived GSR data has been used to generate consecutive maps of 10-day averaged pan evaporation (Epan) as the basis to produce regional ET estimation using a strategy that does not require remote sensed land surface temperatures (LST). The retrieved daily GSR and the derived 10-day averaged Epan were validated against pyranometer and class-A pan measurements at selected Central Weather Bureau (CWB) stations spread across various climatic regions in Taiwan. Compared with the CWB observed data the overall relative mean bias deviations (MBD%) and root mean square differences (RMSD%) in daily solar irradiance retrieval were about 5 and 15%, respectively. Seasonally, the largest MBD% and RMSD% of retrieved daily solar irradiance occur in spring (9.5 and 21.3% on average), while the least MBD% (-0.3% on average) and RMSD% (9.7% on average) occur in autumn and winter, respectively. For 10-day averaged Epan estimation, the mean MBD% and RMSD% for stations located in the coastal plain areas were 0.1 and 16.9%, respectively. However, in mountainous areas the mean MBD% and RMSD% increased to 30.2 and 34.5%, respectively. This overestimation was due mainly to the large differences in surrounding micro-environments between the mountainous and plain areas.
Published in: Atmospheric Science
2017 Young Scientist
Download paper:
v272p221.pdf
2019 (Volume 30)
Vol. 30, No. 4 (August) (Accepted)
Vol. 30, No. 3 (June) (In press)
Vol. 30, No. 2 (April)
Vol. 30, No. 1 (February)
Vol. 29, No. 6 (December)
Vol. 29, No. 5 (October)
Vol. 29, No. 4 (August)
Vol. 29, No. 3 (June)
Vol. 26, No. 2, Part II (April)
Vol. 26, No. 2, Part I (April)
Vol. 24, No. 4, Part II (August)
Vol. 24, No. 4, Part I (August)
Vol. 19, No. 1-2 (April)
Vol. 18, No. 1 (March)
Vol. 17, No. 3 (September)
Vol. 15, No. 4 (November)
Vol. 12, Supplementary Issue (May)
Vol. 10, Supplementary Issue (March)
1998 (Volume 9)
Vol. 9, No. 4 (December)
Vol. 9, No. 3 (September)
Vol. 9, No. 2 (June)
Vol. 9, No. 1 (March)


text:
'use strict';

System.register(['./validation-controller'], function (_export, _context) {
  "use strict";

  var ValidationController, ValidationRendererCustomAttribute;

  return {
    setters: [function (_validationController) {
      ValidationController = _validationController.ValidationController;
    }],
    execute: function () {
      _export('ValidationRendererCustomAttribute', ValidationRendererCustomAttribute = function () {
        function ValidationRendererCustomAttribute() {

        }

        ValidationRendererCustomAttribute.prototype.created = function created(view) {
          this.container = view.container;
        };

        ValidationRendererCustomAttribute.prototype.bind = function bind() {
          this.controller = this.container.get(ValidationController);
          this.renderer = this.container.get(this.value);
          this.controller.addRenderer(this.renderer);
        };

        ValidationRendererCustomAttribute.prototype.unbind = function unbind() {
          this.controller.removeRenderer(this.renderer);
          this.controller = null;
          this.renderer = null;
        };

        return ValidationRendererCustomAttribute;
      }());

      _export('ValidationRendererCustomAttribute', ValidationRendererCustomAttribute);
    }
  };
});

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Q: Can you export deck composition to a text format? Is it possible to export you card collection and deck composition into text format?

A: I'll update my response when we get additional information that's a bit more official.
In the mean time, according to the Scrolls Guide pseudo-official Scrolls Blog there is a mod update in the works for "a few weeks from now", which will hopefully translate into mid-July update.
From the very coy blog post, it looks like there will be a deck importation feature, as well as a previous match summary report.  Hopefully if there is a deck importer, there is a deck exporter.
Knowing Mojang's track record and general friendliness to the external dev community, I'd reasonably speculate that if an export function exists, it will be in a text-readable format and will most likely be XML.
UPDATE
Summoner, the unofficial mod-loader from Scrolls Guide is out.  (Get it here.)  This mod allows for the import and export of deck information and is available for Windows and OS X.


Somos especializados Ss Dutch Weave Wires Mesh fabricantes e fornecedores / fábrica da China. Ss Dutch Weave Wires Mesh atacado com alta qualidade como preço baixo / barato, uma das Ss Dutch Weave Wires Mesh marcas líderes da China, SHIJIAZHUANG QUNKUN METAL PRODUCTS CO.,LTD.
Wholesale Ss Dutch Weave Wires Mesh from China, Need to find cheap Ss Dutch Weave Wires Mesh as low price but leading manufacturers. Just find high-quality brands on Ss Dutch Weave Wires Mesh produce factory, You can also feedback about what you want, start saving and explore our Ss Dutch Weave Wires Mesh, We'll reply you in fastest.


text:
Ґолоше () — село в Польщі, у гміні Радзанув Білобжезького повіту Мазовецького воєводства.

У 1975-1998 роках село належало до Радомського воєводства.

Примітки

Села Білобжезького повіту

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


Beaufort SC is a beautiful land of many Islands and Lady's Island is one of the most desired because of the school district. Bluff Farm is a community on Lady's Island that boast large homesites and plenty of elbow room. Travel east across a bridge to St Helena Island and another bridge to Harbor Island. Harbor Island is a private gated beach with modest condos to luxury Ocean Front vacation homes. Travel over another bridge and you will find Hunting Island State Park and home to the Hunting Island Lighthouse and pristine beaches for all to enjoy. One more bridge eastward and you will be on Fripp Island. Fripp Island is a private gated oceanfront island with modest condos to extravagant ocean front vacation homes. To navigate the real estate market in Beaufort SC, you can count on the local knowledge of Deb and Russ Fielden. Call them at 843-524-8876.
Beautiful home located right on Ribaut Road. Gorgeous wood floors throughout, stainless steel appliances, granite counters, and a gas fireplace. There is a 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom guest cottage in back that has the same attention to details. Great location walking distance to TCL and Beaufort Memorial Hospital. Must see to appreciate the many custom details throughout the main house and guest house.
Three bedroom two and a half bath home in fabulous Lady's Island neighborhood. Updated kitchen with stainless steel appliances, solid surface countertops, & tile. Adjacent laundry room has half bath. Gorgeous hardwood floors throughout, brick fireplace in living room surrounded by custom built in cabinets. All bathrooms are newly renovated with new tile and vanities. Large family room is wired for surround. Completely painted inside and out. Extra-large two car garage has two large storage rooms….
Enjoy unobstructed views of the Cowan creek with easy access to the Beaufort River & Port Royal Sound from this beautiful tidal creek home with private dock/11ft. The main house has 3 bedrooms with additional 4th bedroom/office/study & 4 full baths& above the detached 2 car garage is a spacious guest suite with bath. Ask agent about golf, swimming, tennis & clubhouse amenities available by membership to Sanctuary Club at Cat Island.
Panoramic ocean view from oceanfront first floor condo (w/no steps). Two private patios overlook the beach. See the ocean from the entry front door & throughout the condo. 2B/2B/1276 sqft nicely furnished. Well-maintained. Includes CJFV private pool. On seasonal rental market.
Southern Living "Top 100 Most Popular" house plan located in Ocean Marsh neighborhood. Private,oversized lot with live Oak, Palm & Magnolia trees. Large master bedroom on first floor with vaulted ceiling/walk-in closet with window & master bath with garden tub. 9' ceilings on first floor with fully equipped open kitchen featuring "L" shaped oversized island. Living/dining area features gas fireplace & historic table/Windsor chairs. Screen porch has 10' custom built trestle dining table.


Jordyn Woods and Tristan Thompson's cheating allegations have taken the internet by storm today but could the reports be fabricated?
According to TMZ, Khloe Kardashian broke things off with her boyfriend Tristan Thompson after finding out that he cheated on her with her sister Kylie Jenner's BFF, Jordyn.
"On Sunday night [Thompson] was at a house party, where we're told he snuggled up with Kylie's BFF, Jordyn Woods. Witnesses tell us Tristan and Jordyn were all over each other … making out," TMZ reported.
Now, some people who follow the Kardashian-Jenner family are calling the whole thing a bluff.
Fans found the aforementioned comments particularly interesting because Jenner posted a Snapstory 21 hours ago and Woods is in it. The two women were hanging out in a bedroom, likely at Jenner's house, and seemed to be having a normal night in.
There is nothing in the video that even remotely suggests that Jenner and Woods are having a tough time or that the two are at odds.
"Khloe is more disappointed that someone so close to their family would betray her. She can't believe it," a source told the outlet. But Kylie is still hanging out with Jordyn which suggests that there's a huge family feud in the making — or the whole thing didn't actually happen, which is what some fans are thinking.
Of course, there is a chance that Jenner didn't find out about the rumors until after the two hung out, but the timeline isn't completely clear.
After the news was reported, Thompson tweeted and then deleted the words "Fake News," according to the Daily Mail.
Perhaps the biggest piece to the puzzle is that Khloe Kardashian actually commented on Jordyn's Instagram photo from two days ago. Check out the screenshot above.
The photo is a side view of Jordyn looking flawless in some serious contour and highlighter. Kardashian didn't waste too much time giving Jordyn some love.
If the news of Jordyn Woods and Tristan Thompson getting together broke days ago — remember, Kylie has been "reeling for days" according to reports — it seems like Khloe was either the last to know or perhaps there's something else going on.
Or the whole thing really is a publicity stunt and the Kardashian-Jenner clan haven't done the best job at keeping things under wraps, which is what many fans seem to believe at this point.
It didn't take fans very long to catch on, many commenting on the E! News' Facebook post suggesting that the whole story was made up for publicity — perhaps because the new season of Keeping Up With the Kardashians is upon us.
"Torn?" asked one Facebook user. "This whole thing is a publicity stunt. Their show premieres next month. They need the press," she added.
"Sounds like a storyline… Just not believing this… Ain't no way Jordy has been this close to this family all these years and would betray them… Most of all Kylie…," wrote another.
"How could Kylie have been 'torn for days' when Khloe was just commenting on Jordyn's picture yesterday? Hmmm… something is telling me this isn't right," added a third.
Jordyn Woods and Tristan Thompson are rumored to have hooked up but could the whole thing be fake news?


text:
Dictionary > Regional continuity model
Regional continuity model
A scientific model supported by Milford Wolpoff in which it holds that the modern humans came from a single, continuous lineage of early human species in a localized, simultaneous fashion.
For instance, modern Africans originated from early Africans that evolved from African hominids whereas the modern Asians came from archaic Asians that evolved from Asian hominids.
This theory is to contrast the out of Africa model which holds that all modern humans came from a single line of hominids that initially lived in Africa then dispersed in various regions of the world.
multiregional evolution hypothesis
multiregional model
Also called:
out of Africa model
Last updated on July 23rd, 2021
Running Water Freshwater Community Factors
This tutorial noted some of the physical and chemical factors that provide the framework of a running water community in..
Gibberellins and Gibberellic Acid
This tutorial describes the role of gibberellin family in plants. Find out the effects of gibberellin on plant growth an..
Non-Mendelian Inheritance
In this tutorial, find out more about certain types of inheritance that does not follow the Mendelian inheritance patter..
A Balanced Diet – Carbohydrates and Fat
Apart from vitamins, the human body also requires high energy sources such as carbohydrates and fats. If you want an ove..
Geological Periods
Geological periods is a study guide that cites the different geological periods on Earth's timeline. Each has a brief ov..


With six half centuries and 68 wickets, the left-arm spinner has been India's one of the most dependable players in tests this season.
Having started as a batsman initially, Jadeja has made a name as the go-to player in tests for Indian team.
Ravindra Jadeja - India's Most Valuable Player?
Ravindra Jadeja made his under-19 debut at the 2006 U-19 Cricket World Cup, and was the vice-captain of the team in the next edition of the tournament.
He came to 'limelight' when he became the first Indian player to score three triple centuries in first class cricket. All the three of his triple tons came within a period of one year.
After an impressive performance at the 2008-09 Ranji Trophy, Ravindra Jadeja was selected for the India's limited format team for the tour of Sri Lanka in 2009. He scored unbeaten 60 runs in his debut ODI match.
Following his superb triple centuries in Ranji Trophy, Jadeja was picked up for the Indian test team and made his debut against England in December 2012 at Nagpur.
While he got just three wickets and 12 runs in his debut game, he picked up 24 wickets against Australia in four-match series at home. He dismissed Clarke five out of six times in the series.
In 2013, Jadeja picked up 53 ODI wickets and also rose to number one in ICC's bowlers ranking. He became the first Indian bowler to hold the position since Anil Kumble, who achieved the feat in 1996.
India has won five of the seven test-matches Jadeja has scored a fifty in, with other two ending in a draw.
Against New Zealand last year, he went on to score 58 runs off 50 balls. India won the match by 197-runs.
Jadeja scored a 55 off 51 balls, took seven wickets in the final test against England; with India winning the series 4-0.
In the 2016-17 cricketing season, Ravindra Jadeja has scored six half centuries in tests equalling Virat Kohli, Murali Vijay and KL Rahul's number. His last fifty came at Dharamsala in the fourth test match against Australia.
With 556-runs and 68 wickets this season, Jadeja is the third cricketer in history to achieve the feat of 500-plus runs and 50-plus wickets in a season.
In a quest to win his first title of the year, Rafael Nadal advanced into the third round of the 2017 Miami Open. He defeated Israel's Dudi Sela 6-3, 6-3.
The 2017 International Champions Cup will begin from 18 July at Guangzhou. Four matches will be played in China from 18-24 July.


text:
Home Media-OutReach Newswire
Media OutReach Named A Top Press Release Distribution Service Provider In Asia
April, 26/2021 - 04:10
HONG KONG SAR - Media OutReach - 22 April 2021 - Media OutReach, the first global newswire founded in Hong Kong in 2009, was named by TMCnet as one of the leading press release distribution services in Asia in its Top 7 Asia Press Release Distribution Services Reviewed feature report. TMCnet is a full-service news portal providing thousands of articles and features covering today's most dynamic technologies, including, IP communications, wireless, CRM, cloud computing, WebRTC, contact center, and information technology.
In the report, TMCnet assessed and ranked the press release distribution services on key metrics such as distribution network and proven ability to deliver results; partnership agreements with Asian media outlets, newswires and top news organizations; and return on investment (ROI), with scores based on measurement and analysis tools for benchmarking results with target audience. Under these criteria, Media OutReach was acclaimed as "...the most important and influential Asian PR distribution service" with a "... world-class Asia-Pacific distribution network."
Media OutReach is a global newswire whose success is attributed to a number of key factors including: (1) its proprietary technology-led distribution platform that delivers multimedia assets and multilanguage content directly to the inboxes of journalists and editors; (2) its precise journalist and editorial targeting capabilities, thereby maximizing interview and write up opportunities; (3) it is the only press release distribution service that guarantees online postings on real news media thus enhancing online visibility, SEO and empowers social media sharing; (4) its pioneering Media and Journalist Insights dashboard which directly addresses the vexing question of whether journalists open client press releases - by tracking when releases are opened and conversion to write ups. These key factors combined with Media OutReach's in-depth understanding of the media landscape in Asia Pacific benefits its customers.
Jennifer Kok, founder and CEO of Media OutReach said "Since founding, our aim is to build a service to support our clients to achieve their communication goals. Leveraging our own Asia Pacific network and international distribution agreements with partners that shares our vision. We are pleased with this recognition of our achievement from TMCnet as a Top 7 Asian Press Release Distribution Service Provider and we will continue our focus on investing on building a service that ensures their communication success in Asia Pacific and internationally."
About Media OutReach
Founded and headquartered in Hong Kong in 2009, Media OutReach is the first global newswire founded in Asia Pacific with offices in Singapore, Malaysia, Vietnam, Japan, China and Taiwan as well as international reseller partnerships in Canada, USA and Europe. Media OutReach is the only newswire that owns its distribution network across 24 countries across Asia Pacific; possessing a database of more than 130,000 journalists, 400 trade categories, 62,000 media titles and 460 media partnerships, it is revolutionizing the industry by providing guarantee online news posting by language for each distribution. With proprietary technology at its core, Media OutReach Newswire distributes multi-language and multimedia press release contents directly to the inbox of targeted editors and journalists to optimize news write up, build media relations and automates the reporting process with key performance metrics and its pioneering post-release reports gives insights into journalists accessing the release by publication and by country.
Media OutReach Newswire is the go-to news release and content distribution partner for public relations, social marketing, digital agencies, and organizations in Asia Pacific. For more information on Media OutReach, please visit https://www.media-outreach.com/ or follow us on
Linkedin and
#media-outreach #pressreleasedistribution #asiapacificpressrelease #pressrelease #newswire #publicrelations
Prudential plc to open branch in Macau to provide life and health insurance solutions
EARIN - True Wireless Pioneers returns with the A-3 Launching exclusively via Shopee.sg
System4 Technologies: Universal therapy device for COVID-19, COVID-19 mutations, and other virus variants unveiled
Upgrading The Anti-Epidemic Protection in the Post-COVID Era - Taikkiso Launches A New Model of UVC LED Application
Dorsett Hospitality International improves air ventilation on guest floors in Hong Kong
Hong Kong ICT Awards 2021 opens for enrolment
CPP Investments and ESR upsize joint investment in Korea Income JV to US$1 billion
Nanyang Gifts' Business Operation Changes During COVID19
S&P and Moody's Assign First-time "B" and "B2" Ratings respectively to Datang


text:
Home << 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 >>
Zacks, O., & Friedman, J. (2020). Analogies can speed up the motor learning process. Sci Rep, 10(1), 6932.
Abstract: Analogies have been shown to improve motor learning in various tasks and settings. In this study we tested whether applying analogies can shorten the motor learning process and induce insight and skill improvement in tasks that usually demand many hours of practice. Kinematic measures were used to quantify participant's skill and learning dynamics. For this purpose, we used a drawing task, in which subjects drew lines to connect dots, and a mirror game, in which subjects tracked a moving stimulus. After establishing a baseline, subjects were given an analogy, explicit instructions or no further instruction. We compared their improvement in skill (quantified by coarticulation or smoothness), accuracy and movement duration. Subjects in the analogy and explicit groups improved their coarticulation in the target task, while significant differences were found in the mirror game only at a slow movement frequency between analogy and controls.We conclude that a verbal analogy can be a useful tool for rapidly changing motor kinematics and movement strategy in some circumstances, although in the tasks selected it did not produce better performance in most measurements than explicit guidance. Furthermore, we observed that different movement facets may improve independently from others, and may be selectively affected by verbal instructions. These results suggest an important role for the type of instruction in motor learning.
https://refbase.nfshost.com/show.php?record=105
Zopf, R., Friedman, J., & Williams, M. A. (2015). The plausibility of visual information for hand ownership modulates multisensory synchrony perception. Experimental Brain Research, 233(8), 2311–2321.
Abstract: We are frequently changing the position of our bodies and body parts within complex environments. How does the brain keep track of one�s own body? Current models of body ownership state that visual body ownership cues such as viewed object form and orientation are combined with multisensory information to correctly identify one�s own body, estimate its current location and evoke an experience of body ownership. Within this framework, it may be possible that the brain relies on a separate perceptual analysis of body ownership cues (e.g. form, orientation, multisensory synchrony). Alternatively, these cues may interact in earlier stages of perceptual processing�visually derived body form and orientation cues may, for example, directly modulate temporal synchrony perception. The aim of the present study was to distinguish between these two alternatives. We employed a virtual hand set-up and psychophysical methods. In a two-interval force-choice task, participants were asked to detect temporal delays between executed index finger movements and observed movements. We found that body-specifying cues interact in perceptual processing. Specifically, we show that plausible visual information (both form and orientation) for one�s own body led to significantly better detection performance for small multisensory asynchronies compared to implausible visual information. We suggest that this perceptual modulation when visual information plausible for one�s own body is present is a consequence of body-specific sensory predictions.
Keywords: Multisensory perception; Temporal synchrony perception; Virtual hand; Body representations; Body ownership; Sensory predictions


Miessence Belly & Breast Balm is a beautiful formulation that contains an amazingly powerful blend of organic and wild-harvested ingredients from around the world.
Love, honour and appreciate your expanding body with this lovely balm. It feels wonderful on your skin and smells absolutely divine, making your massaging ritual an utterly enjoyable and nurturing experience. Your baby will enjoy the gentle touch too.
Designed for use during pregnancy and beyond, the all natural skin balm can help minimise the occurrence of stretch marks.
Why choose Miessence Belly & Breast Balm?
Use daily, after showering or bathing.
Massage balm into breasts and all over the belly.
Also massage the buttocks and the upper thighs.


I have all but given up purchasing a used car. Now my goal is to buy an Opel Astra, perhaps one of the few quality small cars GM produces. This car intrigues because of the fact that it is not sold in the US (but will be soon as a Saturn), and because it is generally considered a high quality German engineered machine. Even though it is produced under the enormous American umbrella that is General Motors, the Opel subsidiary, at least to my knowledge, seems to be a somewhat independent entity.
But I must wait. I have only been working at my company for two months, and another month must pass before I am officially off "probation" and get all the goodies and bonuses that are given when you work for an international conglomerate. GM vehicles at a discount is one of these goodies.
So I am left with the Astra. The Corsa is too dated and too small, the Vectra too big, the Chevrolets too cheap or ugly, the GMCs and other trucks too expensive and vulgar. Astra once again.
The Astra, for those who don't know, is the size of a Golf. It is considered a family car in Europe, and the car of an elf or a western expat in the Middle East. I am an expat.
What is remarkable about the Astra, is that even though it is an extremely popular car in Europe, especially in the UK and Germany, I have to date only seen one in Dubai. Of any model year. In fact I haven't seen many Opels altogether.
Why? The answer probably lies in the fact that the Opel dealership is in Sharjah, the neighboring Emirate (but really almost a continuation of Dubai). Now this worries me. If the car dealership is in Sharjah, will I be charged extra for having the car registered in Dubai, where I live? Hopefully not.
My other big dilemma is the engine size. Is a 1.6 capable of cooling my body and maintaining highway worthy speeds in Dubai? The 2.0 would probably succeed, but insurance is higher, as well as price.
Does anyone know? What should I do? I'd rather have the 1.6, but I'm worried it won't be enough. And the 2.0, while expensive now, would probably be a vehicle I could be happy with for a few years to come as my career progresses and my income grows too. When I'm a big CEO and we have the monthly engine size comparison contest, a 2.0 won't merit as much of a ribbing. I'm taking a five year loan out, so this is important!
The search for a used car has probably met an end as I simply cannot find a quality used car in this country that I trust or like. I have test driven five vehicles, and I feel the used car dealers in this country are not reputable, or charge outrageous prices. My company allows me to get a huge deal on GM cars, and I think I am going to go with a new Opel Astra. I have yet to test drive one, but I plan to do so soon. The prices for new Astras are quite good, and I recently sat in an almost new VW Golf, a chief competitor to the Astra, and I liked the strength of the engine, as well as the strength of the A/C, as it battled 40 degree temperatures outside. Good enough for me, and a small 4 cylinder will be very cheap to fill up in this area of the world as well.
After sitting in dozens of cars, and test driving several others, I have to say it is quite clear in terms of initial quality that German cars are better made. Japanese cars are second, and American cars are a distant third. The interior quality of the Ford Mondeo and Euro-Focus, are decent, but still noticeably lacking. The Chevrolets are a disappointment, especially in terms of exterior aesthetics. Media photographs simply do not do these cars justice. German cars tend to photograph uglier, but in fact they are incredible inside. A colleague of mine recently bought a VW Golf, 2005 model, with only 20k km on the odometer, and the quality is stunning inside. They really are beautiful cars. I hope that an Astra will at least be comparable.
I will write more on this topic later, and soon. Needless to say, my experiences have been very eye-opening in many ways.