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<TITLE>Review for Wonder Boys (2000)</TITLE>
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Wonder Boys (2000)

reviewed by
Edwin Jahiel

BY EDWIN JAHIEL

THE LONG WEEKEND or CAMPUS CONFIDENTIAL

WONDER BOYS (2000) *** Directed by Curtis Hanson. Written by Steve
Kloves, from the novel by Michael Chabon. Photography, Dante Spinotti
.Editing, Dede Allen. Production design, Jeannine Oppewall. Music,
Christopher Young ( "Things Have Changed" written and performed by
Bob Dylan). Produced by Scott Rudin and Hanson. Cast: Michael Douglas
(Grady Tripp), Tobey Maguire (James Leer), Frances McDormand (Sara
Gaskell), Robert Downey Jr. (Terry Crabtree), Katie Holmes (Hannah
Green), Rip Torn (Q), Walter Gaskell  ( Richard Thomas), Richard Knox
(Vernon Hardapple), Jane Adams (Oola), et al. .A  Paramount release.
112 minutes. R. (drugs)

"It's a puzzlement" as the King of Siam would tell Anna. And some
movies can be bigger puzzlements  than others. More films than one
suspects need a second viewing, so that the past, seen again and
recollected in tranquility, might result  in a really valid opinion.
Ideally that viewing should come days or weeks or months later, but
of course this comes too late for the first, hot-off-the-press
review. That's where retrospective judgments come in.

The great majority of viewers have given "Wonder Boys" a warm
welcome. I add my voice to theirs, but it cannot be as categorical as
most. My margin of error is larger than usually.

The movie has interesting makers. Director Curtis Hanson has made
some ten pictures (since 1972)  including "Bad Influence" and "The
Hand That Rocks the Cradle" before vaulting to fame for his  1997
"L.A. Confidential." Writer Steven Kloves had scripted three :
"Racing with the Moon" (1984),  "The Fabulous Baker Boys" (1989)  --
both very good -- and "Flesh and Bone" (1993) which I don't know.
Neither Hanson nor Kloves seems to be in a hurry. "Nice," as Onslow
might say in "Keeping Up Appearance."

The cinematographer, the production designer, the editor ( the
legendary Dede Allen, resurfacing after many years) are among the
best.

The actors are notable and cast with originality. Michael Douglas,
the male lead, has never been simpatico. Clark Gable always was,
Harrison Ford always is, but Douglas has a kind of ego-centered face
that's an asset in some roles but not in others.

Tobey Maguire, now 25, is a major wunderkind of the last decade. So
is  Katie Holmes, now 22, the revelation of "The Ice Storm" (which
also starred Maguire) who went on to TVs  "Dawson's Creek,"  the
appealing, offbeat "Go" and the fiasco "Teaching Mrs. Tingle. "

Talented in idiosyncratic ways is Frances McDormand , known as the
winner of the Best Actress Oscar in "Fargo" but not for many other,
remarkable appearances. In "Hidden Agenda" for instance.

What first struck me about "Wonder Boys" is that it has no pretty men
and women,  except for Katie Holmes (but who knows what she'll look
like in fifteen years?) And what struck me as the movie progressed
was that Michael Douglas, in a non-simpatico role, paradoxically has
our sympathy, if you follow my drift.

The plot rather convoluted. I have not read the source book but
reliable persons tell me that the script follows it well and does not
betray it.

At the tall tale's center is fifty-something Professor Grady Tripp,
played by 56-ish Douglas. He teaches creative writing at a college
in Pittsburgh, where the picture was shot, using many Carnegie-Mellon
sites.  Some eight years ago Tripp had huge success with his first
novel. Since then he's been working on his next one. Seized by
post-mid-life crisis, plus the fear that comes with  the pressure of
following a tough act (his own book), unable to make decisions, Grady
Tripp keeps writing a mammoth, single-spaced manuscript, He is on
page 2611.

Adding to his state of mind is an overkill of other factors : his
third wife just left him; his lover of five years, Sara Gaskell
(McDormand) who is the Chancellor of the school, tells him she is
pregnant by him. Her husband Walter Gaskell  ( Richard Thomas) is the
ingratiating head of the English Department hence Tripp's boss.
Unkempt Grady is a kind of outdated hippie who is partial to pot,
wears rumpled, probaly smelly clothes, has dishevelled hair and
sometimes looks like something the cat dragged in.

The events take place over the long weekend of "Wordfest," the
school's annual literary shindig that brings to campus writers,
agents, publishers, some of them weird, as are certain other
attendees.  "Wordfest" 's host is Walter Gaskell. For a reception in
the Gaskell house, he has purchased Lafitte-Rotschild wine,
improbably so, since it is so pricey that only a few football coaches
might afford it. That's just part of the film's improbabilities,
which can be simultaneously part of its appeal-- the story being a
kind of semi-affectionate blackish comedy.

Its alternate title might have been "Campus Confidential" an expose
of Academe's private face which seems to be an insider's report but
in fact is not. Yes, campuses are not exempted from what the Romans
used to call "hankium-pankium." Yes, strange people (professors,
students, staff and others) do strange things. Yes, many
campus-dwellers can be caricatured. But it seldom happens that
matters are as pronounced, even blatant, as in the movie. Its
authenticity is often questionable.

Among the facts and/or developments are: Sara's pregnancy
(decisions, decisions); cute, intelligent, promising writer Hannah,
one of Grady's students, rents a room at his house (the third Mrs.
Tripp, never seen, has her own house in the burbs) and would love to
start something with Grady, who could be her grandfather and wisely
takes no action. (The crush is flattering to the quinquagenerian but
hormonally unlikely). There is the  aside of a  black dude whose car
he claims Grady has taken. (It's there for farcical absurdism though
at the end this gets worked into the story).

What rules the set-up is the person of James Leer (Tobey Maguire),
another brilliant writer from Grady's class. Wonderboy James gets
somehow involved (don't ask) in the big reception, where a new and
very odd relationship is created between him an the other "wonderboy"
(at 50-plus?) Grady. Peculiar developments follow. Among them James's
shooting dead (with what he had claimed was a toy pistol) Professor
Walter Gaskell's blind dog which hates and attacks Grady --who will
limp for th rest of the picture; the theft of a valuable Gaskell
memento, a jacket worn by Marilyn Monroe at her wedding with Joe
DiMaggio; the improbable carrying around the dead hound, for days,
inside the trunk of Grady's car.

More complications that raise eyebrows.  Grady's editor, the creepy
Terry Crabtree (Robert Downey Jr.) now on the professional skids,
comes to the colloquium with a towering transvestite played by
Michael Cavadias of the rock group Bullett. Terry is taken with James
(with whom he eventually sleeps) while counting on James's and
Grady's books-to-be to save  his career. (I wonder how Downey, in
jail off and  mostly on  since 1996, has managed to be in about 10
films since 1997!!!)

James is undeniably a huge talent, we are told, though we never have
any real proofs of it. James, a sophomore I think is  morose,
near-catatonic,  with all sorts of mysteries, secrets and
peculiarities.His character  is pushed to such extremes that these
also push away one's interest in James.

It was Gertrude Stein who said that she prefers normal people over
abnormal ones, "because the normal ones are so much more interesting."

I'll modify this by "eccentrics can be appealing; weirdos seldom are."

James is a congenital liar, a fabulator who keeps inventing his past,
an occasional thief, a smoker of Grady's cannabis. I suppose that
those traits mean that he's a genuine writer.

Moreover, James is a savant on matters cinematographic. When it comes
to Hollywood facts and trivia he has a bottomless memory. Early on he
recites a list of actors who  killed themselves, with precise dates
of their suicides. He could win millions with movie trivia  such as
"Marilyn was small but most people don't know it." It's unreal, even
if film history teachers would love to have James clones in their
classes. And it also reminds me of what philosopher Henri Bergson,
the 1927 Nobel winner for literature,  said around 1900: "Memory is
the intelligence of imbeciles."

The movie is hellbent on throwing the viewers off-balance,on
depicting weirdness at all costs,whether arbitrarily open --as
in-jokes-- or as cryptic allusions. Even fleeting details are
commandeered, such as Sara's car, a white vintage French Peugeot DS,
already rare in the 60s and 70s USA. Does this intend to connect to
the older, hippie days  for the benefit of sharp-eyed cognoscenti and
deconstructionists? Yet over and above throwaway bits, irritations
and such, the movie does have its big share of fun, human comedy and
near-slapstick. If ever a film needed a follow-up screening, this is
it.

"Le mauvais gout mene au crime"(Stendhal)

Edwin Jahiel's film reviews are at: http://www.prairienet.org/ejahiel/

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In this month's Charting Progress, Dr. Rick Valachovic looks at the debate over teaching the placement of dental implants in predoctoral and specialty curricula.
This past summer, the Commission on Dental Accreditation (CODA) adopted revised accreditation standards for advanced education programs in prosthodontics, ending one of the longest and most contentious standard review processes in recent memory.
At issue was the inclusion of standards related to dental implant placement. Although historically the surgical procedure has not been associated with prosthodontics, prosthodontists began placing implants in the early 1980s. A decade later, prosthodontics programs were lengthened to accommodate the introduction of implant therapy.
Lily says 2003 was pivotal for prosthodontics. That is the year when the American College of Prosthodontists adopted a new definition—one that made clear that implant placement, as well as implant restoration, fell within the specialty's scope. A 2013 survey showed that 90% of prosthodontics residency programs were already training residents in implant placement. The new CODA standards go a step further: They ensure accountability by making the training a requirement for all advanced programs in the specialty.
Given that the standards largely ratified the on-the-ground reality, why did their adoption take so long to approve? Since researchers at the 1982 Toronto Osseointegration Conference in Clinical Dentistry validated the placement of implants as a long-term alternative to bridges and dentures, many dental specialties have laid claim to one part or another of implant dentistry.
"Periodontists and oral surgeons took on placing implants, prosthodontists took on restoring implants, orthodontists use a type of implant for anchoring, endodontists are placing implants and want to include this as part of their specialty, and periodontists want to include the name 'implant dentist' in their specialty's name in the near future. The public is confused about who should be doing this." That's the assessment of John Da Silva, D.M.D., M.P.H., Sc.M., Vice Dean of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine and President of the American Academy of Implant Dentistry (AAID), which offers a 300-credit-hour certification program. John has limited patience with what he calls the "underlying battle going on among all the specialties about who should own implant dentistry." His association represents 5,000 general dentists and specialists, and he says that general dentists appear to be placing more implants than are specialists.
"Some general dentists refer out to specialists, and some don't have access to specialists in their communities. Those folks tend to go out and learn how to do implant dentistry, and many of them do it well," he told me.
"I think a motivated and well-trained general dentist is ideal for implant placement," says Mark Latta, D.M.D., M.S., Dean at Creighton University School of Dentistry. Creighton does not have advanced education programs, so Mark feels passionately that implant dentistry should be a core competency for general dentists—not just the treatment planning, but understanding the concepts involved in the surgery and hands-on knowledge of the restoration.
"What we're trying to articulate to our students is that the restoring dentist has to be at least an equal partner with the dentist who places the implant to achieve the best success," Mark told me. So is it feasible in Mark's view to include implant placement in the predoctoral curriculum?
Many would agree with Mark, but not everyone. How much dental students should learn about implant placement, what is more appropriate for residency training and which specialties should be involved remain open questions and the source of considerable debate. Implants have become the first choice of care for a majority of patients with missing teeth, and it's not clear if dentistry will be able to meet future demand for this treatment if implant placement remains a strictly advanced-level competency.
At the direction of her former Dean, Mike Alfano, D.M.D., Ph.D., and with the support of her current Dean, Charles Bertolami, D.D.S., D.M.Sc., Leila has taken the lead in developing the implant dentistry curriculum at NYU for the past decade. She has also trained faculty at 48 schools in the United States and abroad, helping them establish their own implant curriculum.
Leila's views have been challenged by others who perform surgical procedures, who argue that today's graduating dental students are not as well surgically trained as their peers were 20 years ago, and are therefore unprepared to learn implant placement. All students do not necessarily have the same experiences in periodontal surgery or flap surgery for extractions, her surgeon colleagues tell her. "I agree with that," she responds, and she offers as a solution putting more surgical training in the curriculum.
Another objection also dogs proponents of predoctoral education in implant placement: the potential for competition between advanced dental education and predoctoral programs when it comes to finding patients. To get a handle on this issue, I called Mike Reddy, D.M.D., D.M.Sc., Dean at the University of Alabama at Birmingham School of Dentistry. Mike has researched bone regeneration, implant site development and abutments, and he considers implants one of the major health care innovations of the last 30 years.
Dr. Jahangiri also thinks that fears about access to adequate numbers of patients are misplaced. She points out that 40% of Americans over the age of 65 are edentulous in at least one arch, and she says 120 articles discuss the beneficial impact of a simple two-implant overdenture for the lower jaw on the general health of older adult patients.
Once these benefits are more widely known, Leila believes this patient population—along with others—will supply more than enough training opportunities for dental schools. In her view, there are bigger issues. These include the high cost of implants—which are covered by some private, but no public, insurers—and outmoded educational requirements that inappropriately influence which prosthodontic care choices students recommend.
At least in the academic dentistry community, there seems to be a consensus that dentists of all stripes can and will continue to be engaged in implant dentistry, and that all dentists must learn to collaborate in this endeavor for the sake of their patients. A 2015 survey published in the Journal of Dental Education confirmed that more than 90% of dental schools are teaching restorative procedures related to implants, most often in the third year.
While John Da Silva does not advocate the categorical exclusion of general dentists or specific specialty groups from implant placement, he is concerned that everyone who practices implant dentistry be thoroughly trained and that the field has the opportunity to evolve and mature. To encourage progress in these areas, he and his fellow AAID members are working toward creating an implant dentistry specialty through the American Board of Dental Specialties. John says a separate specialty would allow dental schools to establish formal implant dentistry programs, which would build a critical mass of dentists who understand the full scope of implant treatment—including ancillary surgical procedures.
"A specialty would create a group of people who can go beyond the routine and simple things and become a resource for the dental community. To me, that's how you move a profession forward—by having experts you can rely on to drive the frontier further," he says.
I have no doubt we can, and that the dental education community will show the way in doing so.
I am pleased to write in support of the proposed standards for prosthodontic education. The University of Minnesota, where I serve as the Dean of the School of Dentistry, has a long tradition of excellence in prosthodontic graduate education that has received deserved strong support from the school and the university.
The advanced training program in prosthodontics at the University of Minnesota has in recent years determined that competency in the diagnosis and treatment of the partially and fully edentulous patient must include the utilization of implants in prosthodontic practice including the surgical placement of implants.
In the era of comprehensive restorative driven care, the ability to provide implant surgical care to competency is a needed service vital to the best treatment of patients. As in general dental practice surgical procedures are an essential part of numerous dental specialties in addition to the surgically based specialties of oral and maxillofacial surgery and periodontics. These areas of surgical competencies in non-traditional surgical specialties exist in endodontics and pediatric dentistry for example. Invasive surgical procedures in medicine and surgery are now replete in non-traditional surgical specialties such as radiology, gastroenterology and cardiology. Simply put surgery is not just for surgeons and surgical principles can be safely applied, often with greater patient benefit, by a variety of specialists and experts.
What special value does the prosthodontist bring to implant surgery? It is in part integrating the restorative plan, biomechanical design and esthetics to the overall success of the dental treatment plan and creating modifications and nuances that have the potential to provide for a higher level of integration of restorative and surgical services.
Of course not every situation or every case would benefit from that approach, but it is time to support the educational needs of prosthodontic graduate programs to seek higher levels of service and quality through the development of implant surgical knowledge and skill.
Our program's experience demonstrates that this new standard will only serve to elevate the level of care for the partially and fully edentulous patient by creating this competency in every new prosthodontist. .
Bringing prosthodontists into the arena of surgical placement of implant will not only improve education. It has the promise of advancing clinical practice and improving patient care.
Thanks for sharing it with us.This blog has great information about Placing Dental Implants: The Search for Common Ground. If we followed the IOM [Institute of Medicine] recommendation that the dental doctoral degree be a five-year degree," Mark responded, "then in that fifth year, there would be an opportunity to teach more complicated dental therapies, including implant surgery. thanks a lot for this blog post.


Each year, the GE-Reagan Foundation Scholarship Program selects numerous recipients to receive a $10,000 scholarship renewable for up to an additional three years – up to $40,000 total per recipient. Awards are for undergraduate study and may be used for education-related expenses, including tuition, fees, books, supplies, room, and board. In addition, Scholars are invited to participate in a special awards program and receive ongoing leadership-development support.
The 2019 program will accept applications from October 16, 2018 through January 4, 2019.
Semifinalists will be required to provide a recommendation from a community leader, such as a high school principal, elected official or executive director of a nonprofit organization, and must provide documentation to certify academic performance and financial need. Finalists will be interviewed via Skype or telephone by a member of the selection committee.


Now we use computers in a lot of our everyday activities. Our work, communication and some parts of entertainment couple years ago migrated into digital realm. In all these spheres it's all about informational exchange. Every day we spread our data across the internet. There we share our thoughts with friends, create reports or presentations at work, listen music. Bits and bytes interact in both ways. But in this article we will talk only about you creating data.
Our main tool for creating data in the text format is a keyboard. Since it has become so important device, our productivity depends a lot on skills of working with it. Someone may assume that such skill is not a major factor for being successful. But if you work a lot with keyboard (like writing, programming and translating) – imagine how much time will you save if your typing speed will be twice faster. This guide will show you how to simply do that in just one month of short everyday exercises.
The speed of typing is limited by standard human abilities at the mark of 600-700 characters per minute. But still this number (10 characters per second) is impressive. It is only possible when using "blind" typing with all 10 fingers involved. To start with you will need some time to overcome your previous habits.
Now your every finger is responsible for only one zone of keyboard. Put your hands on it and try to feel the tiny plastic marks on letters "F" and "J" with your index fingers of both hands. Now you know their role – this is where your hands should be placed while typing.
They will help you learn the blind typing in an easy way.
If it is extremely hard for you to switch to the blind typing try the Ratatype.com tutorial. It will adapt you to remember all zones.
Now when you don't look at keyboard while typing, use the Klava.org "English training" exercise. Set it to 5 minutes and consider the average speed at the end of the drill at the top right. You should pass this exercise for 2-3 times every day for one month. It takes only 5 minutes each time, so don't hesitate.
At first don't concentrate on speed. Because on early stages you will struggle with accuracy a lot. Remember, it will be easier in next couple days.
I decided to stop at the mark of 200 words per minute, but you can continue and overtake. You will see how much more independent have you become when you type without looking at keyboard. Find a couple 5-minute breaks everyday to practice.
By the way, this article was written using "blind" typing technique.


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Askja Energy – the Icelandic and Northern Energy Portal is an independent information source on energy issues in the countries of the Northern Atlantic and Arctic region. Our experts cover all topics relating to the energy sector, presented and explained in plain language with topical data, maps, photos, charts and other visual explanation.
Our aim is to be the perfect source for concise understanding of energy issues in the Northern Atlantic and Arctic region. We especially focus on the potentials in utilizing renewable energy sources. This includes issues like upcoming power projects, energy infrastructure, financial- and engineering services, legal- and regulatory environment etc. We offer our readers a clear and concise understanding of energy issues from:
Canada and Alaska
Greenland and Arctic-Russia
We are located in Reykjavík, Iceland. You can contact us through our contact-form.
Energy Expertise
Askja Energy Partners is an Iceland-based energy consulting firm. We deliver independent analysis, critical knowledge and data on energy industry trends, energy markets, geopolitics, law, and strategy. Askja Energy's expertise covers all the renewable energy sectors, with special emphasis on hydropower, geothermal energy, and electricity transmission in the Northern Atlantic region.
Askja Energy is frequently quoted by the international media as an important source on energy issues, as for example in the New York Times and CNN. In addition to Iceland, our regional focus is all the Northern Atlantic region, including Eastern Canada, Greenland, the Nordic Countries, and the United Kingdom.
Besides offering consulting services, Askja Energy Partners is the producer and developer of the Icelandic and Northern Energy Portal; a special information and data website covering all topics relating to energy issues in Iceland and other countries in the Northern Atlantic region. We offer our readers clear and concise understanding of energy issues in the region, presented in plain language with relevant maps, photos, charts and other visual explanation. Askja Energy Partners also provide consultancy on petroleum activities and strategy regarding the continental shelfs of Iceland and Greenland.
Askja Energy Partners takes active part in discussions and development of Icelandic and Northern energy policies. Mr. Ketill Sigurjónsson, founder of Askja Energy Partners, is an accomplished analyst, strategist and advocate, with deep knowledge and experience in the fields of energy development and finances. He is a frequent speaker at national and international conferences and roundtables, and a media commentator on issues of energy, development, law and economics.
Mr. Sigurjónsson earned his MBA from Copenhagen Business School (CBS) in 2008. He also holds degrees in law and business, having studied at the London School of Economics (LSE) and the University of Iceland. In his spare time Mr. Sigurjónsson is a voracious mountain hiker.
100% Green Electricity
Important basic facts:
› Electricity production in Iceland is 100% from renewable sources.
› Iceland produces more electricity than any other country (per capita).
› So far only half of the best options have been utilized. Construction is under way for both new geothermal and hydropower projects. In addition, Iceland has interesting potentials for harnessing the wind as a power source.
› With rising energy demand in the world, climate concerns, and EU's ambitious renewable energy targets (20/20/20) Iceland's green energy sources will become more competitive than ever before.
All electricity in Iceland comes from renewable power sources (hydro and geothermal). Icelandic electricity is also utilized in producing green fuels. Natural geothermal heat supplies most of the nation with low cost central heating and offer numerous other industrial possibilities. In comparison, more than three-quarters of the EU's electricity comes from fossil fuels and nuclear plants.
Several attractive hydro and geothermal locations in Iceland are still unharnessed and there are new projects currently in development. Furthermore, it is likely that Iceland will soon focus on harnessing its excellent potential for wind power. The same applies to marine energy; the coast around Iceland offers numerous promising locations for experimenting with marine energy technology and possibly harnessing it in the future.
You will find more information about upcoming power projects under our renewable sources menu.
Strong Drivers
Iceland's green energy portfolio and the European legal framework offer investors and industries possibilities to gain from some of the strongest drivers and incentives affecting the world's energy sector.
Rising world energy consumption, growing demand for renewable energy, concerns about global warming, and international geopolitics are all important drivers affecting the world's energy sector. These concerns are for example reflected in the European Union's (EU) ambitious renewable energy policy.
EU's energy policy includes binding targets for all the EU's member states regarding more renewable energy and less carbon emissions. This policy is one of the drivers making Iceland's renewable energy more competitive than ever before.
For more information go to our legal section.
HVDC Subsea Cables
Subsea power cables are steadily becoming longer and being laid at more depths. Such a cable between Iceland and Europe will probably be close to 1,200 km in length and the greatest depth at the cable-route will be close to 1,000 m. In the Mediterranean subsea power cables have been laid at more than 1,600 m depth. Presently, the longest cable of this kind is close to 600 km and we will soon see cables extending 700-800 km, such as between Norway and Britain.
The first High Voltage Direct Current (HVDC) interconnector between Iceland and Europe might become a reality within a decade. Strong and important drivers, like access to more renewable power and increased energy security, are likely to speed up the process of such a project.
When looking further ahead, Europe and Northern America may become connected with power cables via Greenland and Iceland. Within a relatively short timeframe, cables between Europe and Iceland, Iceland and Greenland, and Greenland and Canada, may all becoming technically possible options for connecting power markets. This development will open access to new and important sources of renewable energy, especially highly flexible and controllable hydropower. Here at the Global Icelandic Energy Portal we present excellent information about the technology and economics of such cables under the category of subsea interconnectors.
Electricity prices for industries in Iceland are substantially lower than the prices offered in the USA or Canada. In comparison with Europe, Iceland becomes even more competitive.
Thus, Iceland is a very economical location for firms that have electricity as an important cost factor. This fact has for decades drawn energy-intensive industries such as aluminum smelting to Iceland. With rising energy prices around the world and especially in the countries within the EU, new types of industries and services are finding Iceland an increasingly attractive location.
Currently, Iceland's main power producer is offering long term electricity contracts at a fixed price of 43 USD/MWh. You can read more about the energy related business opportunities in Iceland in our investing section.
Icelandic engineers and technicians are known for their world-class expertise.
Icelandic engineering and consulting firms have up to 50 years experience in development and construction of hydro- and geothermal power plants and related areas, such as power transmission and infrastructure. Their projects are all around the world, covering wide range of services, including engineering, procurement, construction and maintenance.
For more information about the Icelandic engineering sector go to our pages on engineering & technology. You can also explore more related information, such as the main industries in Iceland and possibilities for foreign investment, under the invest category in the Main Menu.
Iceland's stable renewable energy sources and secure and reliable electricity supply create competitive advantage and strong incentives for industries to locate in Iceland.
As Iceland is a member state of the European Economic Area (EEA), the energy business environment is based on the EU's regulatory framework. This means that the arrangements applying to the single European market extends to Iceland.
Therefore EU and EEA firms can invest, for example, in industries and/or energy production in Iceland. Iceland is also participating in EU's carbon trading scheme and has same kind of legal framework as the EU member states regarding electricity production and distribution.
Because of Iceland's unharnessed renewable energy sources, it may be feasible to link Iceland and Europe with a green high voltage electricity cable. Recently, the world has been experiencing fast advancement in HVDC-transmission technologies, making this a real and an interesting possibility.
You will find more information about the technology and the business model behind such a connection under the transmission menu. Also, you may be interested in our investment section.
Reliable Hydropower
The glacial rivers in Iceland are the source of some of the most cost-efficient hydropower stations in the world.
By sustainable utilization of this renewable natural resource, Iceland now generates more electricity per capita than any other nation. The Icelandic power stations also rank among the worlds best regarding secure electricity supply.
By sustainable utilization of this renewable natural resource, Iceland now generates more electricity per capita than any other nation. Icelandic power stations also rank among the world's best in terms of secure and reliable electricity supply.
For more information about Iceland's hydropower, go to our hydro- and geothermal pages.
Geothermal Leader
Unique geophysical conditions in Iceland offer numerous possibilities for low cost utilization of geothermal power.
Besides electricity generation, this for example includes direct central heating in Icelandic private homes, harnessing geothermal resources for spas and swimming pools, use of greenhouse farming and aquaculture, and even heating some of the streets in Reykjavik during winter to keep them from freezing over
Thus, it is not surprising that geothermal power utilization is a fast-growing industry in Iceland. Additionally, due to its cool climate, very competitive electricity prices and new cable connections, Iceland may become an especially interesting location for data centers.
The photo shows the Krafla Power Plant in Northeast Iceland that has a current capacity of 60 MW. An expansion is expected to make it twice as large within a few years. For more information about the Icelandic geothermal sector please visit our geothermal pages.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
FDA advisory panel recommends Pfizer vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11
Joe Neel - NPR
FDA may soon authorize the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for kids ages 5 to 11. Teens, like the 17-year-old pictured, are already eligible for the vaccine. (Patrick T. Fallon/AFP via Getty Images)
A panel of independent advisers to the Food and Drug Administration is recommending that the agency issue an emergency use authorization for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine in children ages 5 to 11 years old. The vote was 17 in favor and one abstention.
The FDA panel accepted Pfizer's data indicating the vaccine is safe and 90.7% effective in preventing COVID-19 infections in this age group.
The agency typically goes along with the advice of its expert panels, though it isn't bound to do so. It will issue a decision within the next several days. If the FDA authorizes the vaccine for younger children, as seems likely, another panel of experts advising the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention would make recommendations on its for this age group next week.
The vaccine provides a broad defense against COVID-19 and "effectively neutralized the delta variant" in young kids, said Dr. William Gruber, senior vice president of vaccine clinical research and development at Pfizer, speaking during the committee hearing.
A dose of Pfizer for young children contains one-third the amount of active ingredient compared to the adult dose. Children would receive a second dose 21 days or more after their first shot.
Gruber said the dose size was chosen to "strike the right balance" between providing strong immunity and limiting side effects. He said that the observed adverse effects seen in the company's studies "did not suggest any safety concerns." An FDA review supported that conclusion.
Children 5-11 years of age have accounted for approximately 9% of reported COVID-19 cases in the U.S. overall and currently account for approximately 40% of all pediatric COVID-19 cases, says Dr. Doran Fink, clinical deputy director of the division of vaccines and related products for the FDA. Currently, the case rate in children 5-11 years of age is "near the highest" of any age group, he says.
Fink and others testifying at the meeting acknowledged that serious effects of infection, including long COVID-19, hospitalizations, and deaths are less frequent in children than in adults, but argue that the significant numbers of serious illness in young children warrant concern.
Unvaccinated children with COVID-19 can develop a serious complication called multisystem inflammatory syndrome or MIS-C, as well as an inflammation of the heart muscle called myocarditis.
Myocarditis occurs naturally after infections with other viruses and it has also been seen as a rare side effect after vaccination with the two mRNA vaccines, Pfizer and Moderna, especially in young men.
Myocarditis was a focus of the scientific presentations and discussion on the possible risks of the vaccine if authorized for young children.
Researchers observed no cases of myocarditis in studies of young children submitted by Pfizer to the FDA. But Dr. Leslie Ball, a medical officer at the FDA, said that the studies seeking emergency use authorization were not large enough to necessarily pick up an uncommon side effect like myocarditis.
Overall, the incidence of serious side effects in Pfizer's studies was less than 2 in 1000, Ball said, and all were unrelated to the vaccine. Less serious side effects occurred more often, including swollen lymph nodes in a few children and symptoms like pain at the injection site, fatigue and headache, she said.
Several people opposed to the authorization testified during a public comment period, citing cases of vaccine-related side effects. They maintained that children don't get sick as often as adults and that the possible risks of side effects outweigh whatever benefits might accrue.
The committee discussed concerns about a higher frequency of myocarditis seen in adolescents who've gotten the Pfizer vaccine.
"It's always nerve-wracking, I think, when you are asked to make a decision for millions based only on studies of a few thousand children," said committee member Paul Offit, a pediatrician at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. But Offit said he was "reassured" that the number of myocarditis cases in children 5-11 years old was lower than that seen in older adolescents and young adults.
Capt. Amanda Cohn, a physician and medical officer with the CDC, also a voting member of the FDA committee, said that the number of children in the Pfizer studies is similar to the number that has been used to approve other childhood vaccines.
"I don't want to minimize the risk," Cohn told the committee during a debate over the vote. "At this moment, based on the totality of the evidence, the benefits do outweigh the risk," she said.
"We have incredible safety systems in place to monitor for the potential for myocarditis in this age group and we can respond quickly," she added. "To me, the question is pretty clear. We don't want children to be dying of COVID, even if it is far fewer children than adults, and we don't want them in the ICU."
Pediatric cardiologist Matthew Oster, who works with the CDC's Center on Birth Defects and Developmental Disabilities, presented an extensive review of what is known about this side effect. He said both historical studies of myocarditis before the pandemic, during the pandemic and after vaccination show that myocarditis is most common in children and adults between 16 and 29 and much more likely to happen in males than females. Most children and adolescents recover from myocarditis.
The committee's recommendation comes as more than 1.9 million cases have been reported in children ages 5-11, with approximately 8,300 children hospitalized to date, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. About one-third of these hospitalized children required treatment in the ICU. The rate of hospitalization is three times higher in children of color than white children.
Many in the public health community see an urgent need to get vaccinations started in young school-age children, in part to address the unequal effect of the pandemic on people of color.
Dr. Fiona Havens of the CDC presented data to the FDA committee showing that between August and early October, COVID-19 outbreaks have closed 272 school districts, affecting 2,074 schools. Some 1,069,116 students and 68,718 teachers were affected. She said there was a disproportionate impact on children of color.
Havens further said 5,217 children had gotten MIS-C, a serious complication of COVID-19. Nearly 40% of cases occurred in 6- to 11-year-olds; more than 60% of those cases were in children of color. The complication causes serious inflammation of several organ systems in the body.
As for long-term effects of the infection in children, Havens said that data are lacking on how often children develop long-term COVID, though one study from the U.K. found 7% to 8% of children had symptoms more than 12 weeks after the initial diagnosis.
The FDA modeling several scenarios to estimate the effect of vaccinating children. One showed that vaccinating 1 million 5-11 year olds would prevent 58,000 infections, 241 hospitalizations and one death. In that same 1 million, there might be anywhere from 22 to 106 cases of myocarditis associated with the vaccine. Most would be expected to fully recover.
An adviser with the FDA, Hong Yang said that in most scenarios, the benefits of vaccinating the 5-11 year old population "clearly outweigh" the small risk of myocarditis.
However, when the level of COVID-19 transmission in the community is low, there may be more hospital admissions due to myocarditis than COVID-19, Yang said. At the present time, with high levels of COVID-19 transmission in most areas of the country, the overall benefits of vaccination "may still outweigh the risks" she concludes.
Dr. James Hildreth, a committee member and president of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tenn., ultimately voted to authorize the vaccine, but said it was a "challenging decision."
Hildreth said he was surprised to learn that as many as 40% of children in this age group have been infected with the coronavirus so far, which he says could mean that as many as 30 million children may have some form of immunity already. And he said he was also "disappointed in the [low] number of minorities" included in the Pfizer studies, "because they bear the brunt of disease and hospitalizations."
"It just seems to me in some ways we're vaccinating children to protect the adults," Hildreth said. "It should be the other way around." The focus, he said, should be on adults getting vaccinated to protect the children.
He said he voted yes "because I want to make sure the children who really need the vaccine — primarily the black and brown children in our country — get the vaccine."
Pfizer's Gruber said that other advantages of early childhood vaccination would include possibly reduced virus transmission, improved herd immunity and increased in-person learning, supporting child development.
But Ball said that in the FDA's analysis, the agency was unable to determine if there was an impact of vaccination on the spread of the virus. Gruber said that given that the antibody response was similar to that seen in adults, and that high antibody levels had slowed transmission in older populations, "it would be reasonable to expect" that the same would be true for children aged 5-11.
The formulation being used for this pediatric dose is not only a lower dose, the company is using a different substance to maintain stability so that the vaccine can be stored for up to 10 weeks in a refrigerator. The doses for those 12 and up must be kept frozen until the day of use and have a more limited shelf life.
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text:
from django.db import migrations, models

class Migration(migrations.Migration):

    dependencies = [
        ('photos', '0006_photo_local_path'),
    ]

    operations = [
        migrations.AddField(
            model_name='photo',
            name='local_id',
            field=models.CharField(blank=True, max_length=255, null=True),
        ),
    ]

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


text:
Hot BMW M135i: full details and pics
BMW is planning hot hatch supremacy with its racy 316bhp M135i
by Greg Kable
BMW is planning hot hatch supremacy with its racy 316bhp M135i. Seen here in production guise for the first time, the turbocharged 3.0-litre, six-cylinder M135i has been officially confirmed as the performance flagship of BMW's second-generation 1-series line-up after being previewed as a concept at the Geneva motor show in March.
The rear-wheel-drive M135i is the second model to join BMW's new M Performance line-up, following the M550d xDrive. Unlike its 376bhp, tri-turbocharged diesel sibling, the petrol-powered M135i has been engineered for both left and right-hand drive, and local sales begin in September.
Pricing for this long-anticipated hot hatch has not yet been officially confirmed, but Munich sources have revealed to Autocar that it will hit UK showrooms for about £29,900 in standard three-door, rear-wheel-drive guise.
Key among its rivals will be the significantly more expensive but soon-to-be-superseded £39,950 Audi RS3 Sportback, the £30,575 Volkswagen Scirocco R and the £26,040 Renault Mégane 265.
Also lined up firmly in BMW's sights is the soon-to-be-revealed Mercedes-Benz A45 AMG, which is expected to reach Britain early next year bearing a similar price tag and packing 335bhp from a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine.
Alongside the initial three-door model revealed here, BMW is also readying a five-door version that is tentatively planned to go on sale in the UK in November.
The M135i is powered by the latest take on BMW's widely used N55 engine. Recently launched in the 640i coupé and convertible, the 3.0-litre straight six uses a twin-scroll turbocharger along with BMW's patented Valvetronic variable valve control and double Vanos variable camshaft control systems, along with the latest in piezo valve-guided direct injection to deliver 316bhp at 5000rpm and 332lb ft of torque at just 1350rpm.
BMW 1 Series 2015-2019
A final facelift for the rear-wheel drive BMW 1 Series, as it aims to take class honours from the formidable Audi A3 and the Mercedes-Benz A-Class
Channelling drive to the rear wheels is a standard six-speed Getrag manual gearbox, or an optional eight-speed automatic from ZF — both featuring stop-start and brake energy recuperation functions.
The M135i's outputs aren't quite a match for the 335bhp and 369lb ft of the older N54 twin-turbo 3.0-litre unit used in the discontinued 1-series M Coupé. It also fails to match the 335bhp of its main rival, the all-wheel-drive Audi RS3 Sportback, although the M135i matches the 332lb ft of the RS3's turbocharged 2.5-litre, five-cylinder petrol unit.
BMW claims, officially, that in manual form the M135i is capable of cracking 0-62mph in 5.1sec. The eight-speed automatic version cuts this figure to 4.9sec. The fastest rival, the RS3 Sportback, hits the same mark in 4.5sec.
The new go-fast 1-series also delivers a 50-75mph fourth gear split of just 4.3sec, a standing kilometre time of 23.9sec and a top speed governed to 155mph.
Combined economy is put at 35.3mpg for the manual and 37.7mpg for the automatic. The respective CO2 figures are 188g/km and 175g/km.
A claimed kerb weight of 1425kg gives the most powerful 1-series hatchback yet a power-to-weight ratio of 222bhp per tonne. In comparison, the 1575kg RS3 packs 203bhp per tonne.
The M135i is distinguished from its standard three-door 1-series siblings by an aggressively styled body kit developed in-house at BMW's M division.
The sculpting includes a deep front bumper with larger air ducts for increased engine cooling, chunkier side sills under the long frameless doors, shapely mirror housings, a prominent spoiler atop the tailgate and a heavily reworked rear bumper with a blackened lower section housing two chromed tailpipes.
The exterior styling changes ensure the M135i retains the same frontal area as other new three-door 1-series models, but the drag coefficient rises from 0.31 to 0.33, due mainly to the larger wheels and tyres.
BMW M division insiders have already begun talking up the M135i's on-road talents, suggesting its standard rear-wheel drive layout will ensure that it offers inherent dynamic benefits to lift it above the front-drive and four-wheel-drive competition.
As with every model developed by BMW's M division, it has undergone extensive chassis testing, including a 6000-mile programme at the Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit in Germany.
The new car rides on a reworked version of the standard 1-series' rear-wheel drive chassis, with MacPherson struts up front and a five-link arrangement at the rear. Stiffer springs, dampers and bushes give the car a lower ride height than other new three-door 1-series models.
Included as standard are uniquely styled double five-spoke 18-inch wheels — 7.5 inches wide up front and 8.0 inches at the rear — shod with 225/40 and 245/35 tyres respectively.
Further changes have been directed at the steering; the electro-mechanical system has been tuned for added directness and more urgent response.
The brakes, too, have been upgraded and feature 340mm ventilated discs up front and 345mm ventilated discs at the rear.
They are grabbed by newly developed four-piston calipers up front and two-piston calipers at the rear — all bearing a blue colour scheme and sporting the stylised M logo of BMW's M division, which has been responsible for the development of all the company's new M Performance models.
From November onwards, BMW will offer a four-wheel drive option with a similarly powered M135i xDrive, although this won't be sold in the UK. British buyers will, however, be able to choose a five-door M135i from this November.
FlashBastd
Re: Hot BMW M135i: full details and pics
While I really fancy the 1M, this just seems a bit, meh. Has it got the M differential?
At the quoted price it seems like a pretty good deal. I would love one, if only it wasn't one of the ugliest cars currently on sale.
theadamh1234
should be a good drift machine! The RWD will be the thing that persuades the buyers away from the Audi.
This car is as ugly as sin. Sorry, BMW, but I will not be seen in a car that embarrasses me - no matter how marvellous it is in other respects. You need to know that I am a BMW fan but like many other BMW fans, I have been put off buying a new 1-Series because of its awkward, unattractive appearance. Engelbert
Coolracer
This a turn up for the books a BMW that under cuts its rivals ok not by much but still it is a money saving opportunity know the less. The only problem is that it go throw tyres so quickly and you have got to remember that tyres are run flat(fairly costly) and low profile (very costly) which means that the money that you initially saved will be spent on tyres. Thats the down side of this car but looks of this car are so much better than the last model just because its looks more aggressive it m-sport kits i know that car more looks like face lift to the old model but i think that the first generation put bmw in the market now they want to be market leader in this very competitive and the badge is much to that car but i think they have taken criticism tried there best to make it better.
Rich_uk
Having sat in a few BMW showrooms recently, I can safely say it looks far better in the metal than the photos. It won't win a beauty contest but it's not bad. A bit like me really! ;) And in terms of interior, I think it's more stylish than the current A3.
The comments section needs a makeover... how about a forum??
disco.stu
[quote Rich_uk]Having sat in a few BMW showrooms recently, I can safely say it looks far better in the metal than the photos.[/quote]
I think that all that's really needed is a nose job (the car, dunno about Rich). Other than that, it's not too bad, especially in the M135i guise.
www.TheCarExpert.co.uk
[quote disco.stu]
Agree with the nose job suggestion. Ok, the car doesn't look that bad in metal, as it does in photos, but "not that bad" really isn't quite good enough for a supposedly premium hatch, that is otherwise a pretty decent car.
I completely disagree. It's bad in the pictures, and it's even worse in the flesh. It's revolting.
The one in question looks to be very good, but it's pig ugly, and I wouldn't buy one with my own money.
[quote theadamh1234]should be a good drift machine! The RWD will be the thing that persuades the buyers away from the Audi.[/quote]
True, I've seen many a BMW drifting in the snow, shame it's into the nearest hedge though!


text:
The capital city of Western Australia, Perth is home to more than 2.1 million people and is ranked in the top ten world's most liveable city.
Is Perth easy to travel to?
21 international and 13 domestic and regional airlines operate scheduled services to and from Perth, connecting to more than 110 destinations around Australia and overseas.
At Perth Airport, the international terminal operates 24 hours a day and is known as Terminal 1 (T1). Qantas operates their international and domestic flights from Terminal 3 and 4 (T3/T4). Terminals 2, 3 and 4 (T2, T3 and T4) are the domestic and regional terminals.
Is it too far to travel?
Perth is only two flights away from major destinations such as Europe, the United Kingdom and the USA. Perth is the only Australian city offering a daily direct flight to London. There are also direct flights from New Zealand and from most major cities in Asia.
Perth is a long way from home, how long will it take to fly there?
Adelaide 3 hours 30 mins
Auckland 7 hours 35 mins
Bangkok 7 hours
Brisbane 4 hours 15 mins
Denpasar 3 hours 50 mins
Frankfurt 17 hours 50 mins
Doha 11 hours 20 mins
Dubai 11 hours
Hong Kong 7 hours 55 mins
Jakarta 4 hours 50 mins
Johannesburg 10 hours 45 mins
Kuala Lumpur 5 hours 30 mins
London 17 hours 20 mins
Los Angeles 19 hours 40 mins
Melbourne 4 hours 20 mins
Rome 16 hours 20 mins
Singapore 5 hours 10 mins
Sydney 5 hours 10 mins
Tokyo 12 hours 25 mins
Will I need a visa to enter Australia?
All visitors except those from New Zealand, require a visa to visit Australia. A business visa covers stays of up to three months.
The Department of Home Affair's International Event Coordinator Network (IECN) offers free advice to people seeking to organise or attend an event in Australia www.homeaffairs.gov.au
What is the time difference in Perth?
Australia is divided into three time zones:
UTC/GMT + 8 Hours
This applies to Western Australia including Perth and is the same time zone as Singapore, Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Kuala Lumpur, Manila and Taipei.
Central Standard
UTC/GMT + 10 Hours
This applies to South Australia and Northern Territory
Eastern Standard
This applies to Queensland, New South Wales, Australian Capital Territory, Victoria and Tasmania.
Daylight saving does not apply in Western Australia or Queensland, however most states, advance clocks forward by one hour between the first Sunday in October and then back one hour on the first Sunday in April the following year.
Banking, Currency and Credit Cards
Banking hours in Western Australia generally operate 9.30am to 4.00pm Monday to Thursday, and until 5.00pm on Friday. Some banks and credit card societies are open on Saturdays for limited hours. Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs) are widely available across the city.
Is Perth easy to get around?
There is a Free Transit Zone (FTZ) allowing free travel on any public transport at all times in the city. In addition to accessing regularly scheduled buses and trains servicing local commuters, visitors to Perth are also available to travel free on Transperth's CAT buses which offer a fast and convenient means of travelling in and around Perth's CBD. This range of free services connects delegates to all the major attractions, venues and hotels.
Taxis are usually plentiful in Perth with dedicated ranks available at major shopping hubs and nightspots during the busiest times. A cab fare from the domestic airport terminal to Perth Central Business District (CBD) is around $35 and from the international airport around $43.
Transperth (public transport) offers a regular bus service from the airport. There are also a number of private shuttle bus services available.
Uber and other ride sharing companies are available in Perth.
Will it be warm in Perth when I come?
Max ®C Max ®F Min ®C Min ®F Rainfall (mm) Sunny Days
J 32 90 17 63 9 28
F 32 90 17 63 15 25
M 22 72 10 50 104 18
J 19 66 9 48 171 13
A 18 64 8 46 120 15
S 20 68 9 48 71 17
O 22 72 10 50 47 21
N 26 79 13 55 25 23
D 29 84 15 59 11 27
Perth has more hours of sunshine than any other Australian capital city.
Is it safe to drink the water in Perth?
Water in Western Australia is among the safest in the world. It complies with international water quality standards and is fine to drink straight from the tap.
Australia uses an AC240V electricity system and unique three-pin plugs. Ask your hotel reception for an adaptor or you can purchase one at electronic stores and airports.
Tipping and currency conversion
Tipping is generally not expected within Australia, however it is acceptable to leave a small amount should you feel you have received exceptional service. Find out how much your currency is worth at today's exchange rate (https://www.xe.com/ ).


text:
Fleximize's Jyoti Patel Wins #Merky Books New Writers' Prize 2021
Fleximize's Content Manager, Jyoti Patel, has been announced the winner of this year's writing competition launched by Stormzy's #Merky Books with Penguin UK
After months of hard graft and dedication, Fleximize's own Content Manager, Jyoti Patel, was today announced the winner of the prestigious #Merky Books New Writers' Prize 2021 for her debut novel, Six Of One. As this year's champion, Jyoti will receive a publishing contract with #Merky Books, an imprint of Penguin Random House UK, and the coveted opportunity to publish her debut novel with the support of their team.
#Merky Books was launched in 2018 to amplify the voices of young, unpublished writers from a range of diverse backgrounds across the UK. The platform provides the much-needed representation for ethnic minorities that's still often lacking in British publishing today, and ensures that their invaluable stories don't go untold.
Now in its second year, the competition received over 2,000 submissions from hopeful applicants between September and October 2020. This year's judges, including academic Emma Dabiri, comedian Guz Khan and founder Stormzy, were unanimous in their decision to award this year's prize to Jyoti.
Thanks to Zoom, you can watch the video below to see Jyoti's reaction when she found out that she was this year's winner!
We managed to steal Jyoti away from her duties at Fleximize HQ to ask a few questions about this latest achievement in her writing career.
How and when did you discover your talent for writing?
Some of my earliest memories were sitting at the kitchen table writing stories and reading books. There's something about the immersive nature of storytelling and writing that's always really appealed to me, and it's been a dream of mine to publish a novel for as long as I can remember.
Tell us about your debut novel, 'Six of One?'
As the title suggests, it's a book about equivalence. It's all about the feeling of having one foot in two very strong cultures and coming to terms with what that means for one's sense of belonging and identity.
Did the events of 2020 impact your writing?
2020 was a particularly tough year for me. I was working 3 days a week at Fleximize whilst doing my Master's in Creative Writing full-time when the pandemic struck. Our little marketing team turned into a mini press office, and launching our coronavirus business advice hub meant lots of busy days at work, while squeezing in my dissertation and working on the novel. I'm glad I'm out of the storm and something beautiful has come from it all.
What's the significance of amplifying minority voices in the literary world for you?
I've been working on this novel for almost three years now, and at times, it's really felt like I'm looking at the publishing industry from the other side of a very thick glass wall. Initiatives like the New Writers' Prize, and all the work that's quietly going on behind the scenes to support young debut authors like me, just means the absolute world. It makes me feel like there's space for me and the stories I want to write. From the very start, especially when I spoke to Lemara, Merky's commissioning editor, for the very first time, I felt seen and supported in a way I didn't think was possible. I just couldn't imagine a better home for my novel.
What does it mean to you to have won the award?
Everything. Being told my novel is going to be published is a total dream come true. The support from Flex has been unbelievable, from Caz and Peter allowing me to go down to part-time hours whilst studying, through to the support I've received since graduating from the MA.
Do you have any advice for future young writers?
Just keep going and don't give up!
The Fleximize team is overjoyed for Jyoti, and we're all looking forward to supporting her as she begins this exciting journey to becoming a published writer!
Staff Coverage


Grab a two-pack of one-metre high-speed charging cable compatible with iPhone for $10 from NZ Trading Solutions Ltd.
Pay $4 extra for delivery for any number of items, up to the purchase limit. Please note. Rural addresses need to be available on this link: https://www.nzpost.co.nz/tools/address-postcode-finder/. If your address is not included in this link, please provide an alternative address. Enter address when purchasing. No PO Boxes. No refunds unless required by law, no cashback, not to be used with any other offers.


The 4th of July is one of our "favorite-st" holidays! Fireworks, yummy food and the pride of our country make this celebration of freedom ONE. FUN. DAY. We were even more thrilled about this 4th since our hometown of Gainesville, Texas is a finalist in Rand McNally's "The Best of Road-Most Patriotic Town in America"! Rick & Sandi, a couple that tours and votes on the finalist towns, arrived yesterday to start sightseeing the historical city along with Rand McNally, USA Today and The Travel Channel. Storefronts, yards and porches have been dressed to the nines to show this Medal of Honor Host City's patriotism.
The Rand McNally's bus and crew stopped at one of our favorite shops, Cahoots Handbags! Paige Davidson is the owner of this savvy shop downtown that carries handmade clutches and handbags out of vintage fabrics, a line of Cahoots Baby perfect for a little one, artwork by Paige Davidson, jewelry by Kelly Lane and other unique gifts and knickknacks. Some of her art is being displayed on the new TV show "Dallas" and in some of our residences we have worked on (pictures to come).
Oh, how we love this festive clutch! Check out the store at Cahoots Handbags.
Feeling so motivated by all the RED, WHITE & BLUE, we wanted to share some DIY projects, designs and products for your home that add a little pop and flash of American inspired pattern and color!


This study presents a theoretical method for planning and controlling agile bipedal locomotion based on robustly tracking a set of non-periodic keyframe states.
Kwan Suk, successfully defended his PhD Thesis on Intelligent Collision Management in Dynamic Environments for Human-Centered Robots. Huge Congratulations!
Steven's summer project with NASA JSC, IHMC and U. Michigan on Intuitive Whole-Body Control of Valkyrie!
Congratulations to Prashant Rao from the ReNeu Lab, Gray Thomas from the Human Centered Robotics Lab, and ReNeu's Lab PI Ashish Deshpande, for winning the IEEE ICRA 2017 Best Robotic Manipulation Paper Award!


The 19th Premier League season begins on August 14th with an exciting round of opening fixtures, including last season's 4th and 5th placed teams, Tottenham vs. Manchester City, and two of the "traditional" big 4 squaring off when Liverpool play Arsenal on Sunday 15th. I say "traditional" because it's good to remember that things weren't always like this.
Nowadays, the Premier League is the biggest league in the world with huge television revenues and very little turnover in terms of who competes for the title or finishes in the top 4 spots, which bring with them Champions' League qualification and more money to boot. But this oligarchic nature of the top flight of English football is a product of the Premier League structure rather than something that has always been in existence. In its first season, the Premiership looked much different, and was a lot less predictable.
England and Germany have played one another for more than a century, but it was only after WWII that the tensions really showed. The origins of the bad blood do in fact reach back before the conflict, to the rise of the Nazi party and a friendly played in Berlin before 100,000 fans. The English squad were given commands to perform a Nazi salute before the game, which they did, at the time not particularly caring one way or another. Looking back, it's a sure sore spot. By the by, that 1938 matchup ended in a win for the lions.
War and interim friendlies aside, we come to the World Cup final of 1966, played in Wembley between England and the newish West Germany.


The ESL Program provides services to English Language Learners attending St. Charles Parish Public Schools in grades K-12 and their families. The primary focus of ESL instruction is the development of English language proficiency. Appropriate instructional accommodations are implemented by the classroom teachers and ESL instructors.
English Learners are initially identified and then exited from the ESL program in accordance to the Louisiana Department of Education's English Learner Guidebook, May 2018 and Bulletin 111, Chapter 40.
The mission of the ESL Program in St. Charles Parish Public Schools is to assist English Language Learners in becoming proficient in the English communication skills of listening, speaking, reading, and writing in order for them to become responsible, productive citizens and enthusiastic life-long learners.
Brain Pop ESL - usernames and passwords are available from the ESL teacher.


text:
Cruz lays out pathway for more inclusive GOP
CNN's Ashley Killough
Washington (CNN) – Ted Cruz, the Republican senator-elect from Texas who's replacing retiring Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, knows he doesn't quite fit certain molds found in Washington.
"I'm something that's not supposed to exist: An Hispanic Republican," he said Thursday.
But it's precisely that background and his grass-roots appeal that make him attractive to a Republican base that's hastily seeking to adapt to the nation's changing demographics.
According to election exit polls, 10% of the 2012 electorate was Hispanic, marking the first time the voting bloc reached a double-digit figure. In 2008, they represented 9% of the vote. President Barack Obama overwhelming won Hispanic voters, 71% to 27% over GOP candidate Mitt Romney.
Speaking to a crowd of conservatives at the American Principles Project gala in Washington, Cruz offered his own post-mortem analysis of the GOP's big election loss. He said Republicans "didn't win the argument" on the contraceptive debate and the so-called war on women.
"But far more important," he said, pausing, "was 47%."
Perhaps the shortest catchphrase of the election, "47%" has made both parties cringe. Romney took a shellacking from Democrats, as well as some Republicans, after he was secretly recorded saying that nearly half of the country is "dependent" on government and consider themselves victims. Those people, he said, are the ones who would automatically vote for Obama.
Cruz, whose father came from Cuba, said such remarks were "antithetical" to the country's founding principles.
"We embraced in that comment the Democrat notion that there is a fixed and static pie: the rich are the rich, the poor are the poor, and all that matters is redistributing from one to the other," Cruz said.
In the days since the election, more Republicans have been frank in their criticism, arguing that Romney portrayed the GOP as a party too willing to write off half of the country.
Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal, a former surrogate for Romney, sharply criticized Romney's comments after the election, especially after the former GOP nominee expanded his remarks on a private call with donors, arguing that Obama had offered policy "gifts" to certain minority groups.
"I absolutely reject that notion," Jindal said at the Republican Governors Association conference in Las Vegas. "I think that's absolutely wrong."
He went on to say that Republicans need to chase after 100% of the votes, not just 53% - a thinly veiled swipe at the "47%."
"I don't think that represents where we are as a party and where we're going as a party," he continued. "That has got to be one of the most fundamental takeaways from this election."
In that light, Republican lawmakers and pundits have stressed the need for an urgent makeover of the party that's more inclusive and welcoming to minority groups, particularly Hispanics.
And Republicans aren't wasting time. This week, two retiring senators - Jon Kyl of Arizona and Hutchison of Texas - teamed up to introduce a Republican version of the DREAM Act, legislation that would offer a path to legal status for children brought to the U.S. illegally if they meet certain requirements. With Congress in a lame-duck session, the bill is unlikely to be taken up.
But Cruz said the party must be careful in its approach. Rather than rush to address immigration, the senator-elect suggested a different path that focuses on jobs and small businesses, two topics that rank consistently high in polls measuring the top concerns among Hispanics.
Cruz argued that the GOP did an "incredibly poor job articulating the message of opportunity" to minority groups and that the focus needs to return to convincing Hispanics that the Republican Party can lay the framework for those wanting to achieve the "American Dream."
A rising star in the party, Cruz was elected with strong grass-roots support and falls farther to the right of his predecessor. But his heritage, combined with his influence as a soon-to-be senator in a state with many electoral votes, already has some in the political class talking about a potential presidential bid.
Speaking Thursday night, Cruz made no mention of his future aspirations but suggested it won't be too long until his kind of conservative takes the White House.
"It took Jimmy Carter to give us Ronald Reagan," he said. "And I am convinced the most long lasting legacy of Barack Obama is going to be a new generation of leaders within the Republican Party standing up and defending liberty."
Filed under: 2012 • Ted Cruz • Texas
Dear Mr. Cruz,
The Republican Party needed to show that all Americans could have a place in the GOP. Evidently those in charge were not interested in attracting anyone who did not subscribe to the ideology of the Conservative members. They took hold of the party and no other ideas were acceptable.
The best thing that you could do would be to find a way to work with Democrats and to put party affiliation and ideology aside in favor of finding legislation which would set us back on the road to economic recovery.
November 29, 2012 11:30 pm at 11:30 pm |
Donkey Party
How do you say "delusional" in Spanish? It doesn't matter. Conservatism is a diseased ideology that is going to soon be extinct, along with the GOP.
Defending liberty by doing exactly what? Suppressing the vote, looking into people's bedrooms. All these new faces talk about jobs,small business,where are the NEW ideas. Who doesn't want ample employment? Tell us something progressive! How about our infrastructure left neglected and taken for granted these last forty years? Where is our country going with power generation? Come on and join the 21st century!!!!
As a Texan let me tell you that Ted Cruz is a true... Idiot.
You don't fool me Cruz. Hope you are willing to work with the Commander in Chief or you will find you new found fame a short one
November 30, 2012 12:26 am at 12:26 am |
DixonIV
The Republicans just don't get it.
November 30, 2012 01:47 am at 1:47 am |
It will be longer then you think Mr Cruz.
Richard Head
'One of the saddest things about Republicans is there's a great many of' them.
Couldn't have said it better myself. But there will be fewer and fewer of them in the years to come. And that makes it less sad as the years go by until the gop is extinct. Happy Days!
As far as Cruz running for President, I hope he does. He's a crooked lawyer that is involved in all kinds of scandals. I don't know how he even won that senate seat. No way he could be President.
Larry in Houston
this guy was endorsed by sarah palin – he is a tea party favorite – even perry didn't like him – Perry wanted his corrupt buddy IN – ( david dewhurst) but Cruz had more money –
CraigM
Well put Mr. Cruz..............I still want to know though are we as a country of laws just going to say to illegal ailens that it was absolutely ok to break our laws and now we will put you on a path to citizenship with no penalities for breaking the law? This does not pertain to the small children who may have been brought here but to adults and teenagers who absolutely knew they were breaking our laws.
NATHAN WIMBERLY
This guy is a Akin/Mourdoch clone. Keep giving him a microphone.
sosimplyput
Wise of lib media to get this guy out of the spotlight..he is an incredible debater, has an IQ way over 1200 (unlike the San Antonio twins) and fresh ideas in spite of party id.
anonoymous
Cruz says the gop doesnt need latinos just needs to get their base(whites) to vote. hmmmmm i love the way the gop keeps talking about minorites like we are not listening. i dont think most of us what to belong to a party that doesnt like us but will take our vote.
Cruz is one of Sarah Palin's picks.


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We thoroughly enjoyed working with The Usability People. You guys did such an amazing job of educating us all the way through the project from our first encounter to our last. It was a great experience, a great result and a great pleasure to work with your team. Thank you very much.


I didnt know where to take my car to have it repaired my husband had always fixed it and now he is to sick so i need an auto shop my friend recommended hoesly it is close to where i work so i can drop the car off and walk to my work.They called me and went into detail about the things they found wrong and i gave them the go ahead to repair it and it was ready in a few hours.I was treated with respect and i was happy with the work done and i now know where togo the next time my car needs work done.
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I recently used Hoesly for some standard maintenance stuff (e.g. oil change, filters, fluids, etc.). They also did a test drive and a full analysis of my car.The work was solid, they finished it when they said they would, they were friendly and easy to work with, and really just provided great service all around.However, what really stood out to me was their feedback on the analysis they did. My car is a 15 year old Nissan Sentra with over 230,000 miles on it, so I knew it had plenty of small issues. I fully expected to get a sales pitch on everything I needed to do and how important all of these things were, etc. etc. along with a $3,000 estimate. Instead I was given a very honest, and practical assessment of each item on the list, including the fact that some of these repairs would make little difference considering the condition and value of the car vs. the cost of the repair. They are definitely my new car shop.
Efficient, positive, friendly, courteous. Willing to answer questions in detail in layman's terms, provided transportation to my loaner car, kept me updated on progress, charged me fair and square. I wouldn't hesitate to return or to recommend this fine company to others. My car is running like a top! Thanks.
The service as usual that was provided to me is second to none. I actually enjoy having a mechanic(s) shop that is willing to use their time to figure out quirky problems with my vehicle. With this visit they quickly fixed my car in the course of the day along with doing a full service oil change. When there was a problem with a little o-ring the mechanic noticed while changing the gasket of my axle, they chose to replace the o-ring though they did not need to. I prefer customer service such as this to ensure a complete visit and allowing a potentially larger problem to be fixed before anything is affected. Another plus to the service is they provide my wife a ride home promptly once she drops my vehicle off to be worked on. Thank you very much.
we are so glad we took our mazada to Hoesly. they are very professional at what they do. fair and honest hard to come by. we will be going back with any other repairs that may occur. thanks again great job.
quick and accurate. no surprises. good work at a fair price.
Always on time always honest about what needs to happen now and what can wait. They have been great I used to take my cars to dealerships and buy tires here but their service won me over.H.F.W.
I know in todays trying times, service providers are easily frustrated, however, I always recieve prompt curtious service at Hosely Eco Auto.


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text:
All prices in euros unless indicated otherwise
Written by Administrator Administrator
Parent Category: High End 2012 High End 2012
Created: 06 May 2012 06 May 2012
SnapShots! Gallery 2
Captionless semi-random photos taken during the show
May 6 Product Coverage Gallery
Companies featured in gallery below: Vitus Audio, Hegel, Essential Sound Products, Zellaton, Fono Acoustica, Brinkmann, Dynaudio, Burmester, Tidal Audio, Canton, Auralic, Audio Physic, Isophon
Companies featured in gallery below: Rockport Technologies, AudioQuest, Manufaktur, Harmonic Audio Labs, Harbeth, Norma Design, Sennheiser, Beyerdynamic, Mola Mola, Soundelux, Esoteric, Pro-Ject, Antelope Audio
Companies featured in gallery below: Siltech, Crystal Cable, Ascendo, Margules Audio, Absolare, Inspire Hi-Fi, Tannoy, Sonus faber, KEF, Constellation Audio, Pathos, Amphion, NuForce, Orpheus, Soulution
Companies featured in gallery below: Wadax, WideaLab, AudioNec, Raidho Acoustics, Hanss Acoustics, Audioaero, Forster Audiotecnik, Kharma, Kaiser Acoustics
Written by Jeff Fritz Jeff Fritz
The Growing Disconnect Between High Fidelity and the High End
The world is indeed a smaller place these days. Social media has connected people from all walks of life and makes for the instant transfer of information around the world. Technology is, in fact, the vehicle for the convergence of cultures and the examination of disparate ideas by diverse groups of people even worlds apart. Our connectedness and its effect on our lives are unprecedented in human history.
Written by Doug Schneider Doug Schneider
High-End In-Ear Hi-Fi: Sennheiser's IE 800 Earphones
Sennheiser's new IE 800 earphones so intrigued me when I shot them for our product coverage that I went back to my hotel, grabbed my B&W C5 earphones, and then went back to compare the two through listening. The IE 800s are priced at 600€, the C5s at 179€. I use the C5s all the time. Could the 800s be that much better and worth that much more?
The Mystery of Qualia & Co.
Qualia & Co.'s marketing department is based in Los Angeles, their materials research is conducted in France, and their products are designed and manufactured in Japan. The products' prices and build quality are extreme by anyone's standards. So just who is behind Qualia & Co.?
KEF's new LS50 speaker is said to be a modern-day homage to the classic BBC-designed LS3/5A monitor that was created in the '70s and used KEF-made drivers. It was, at least to some, the ultimate nearfield monitoring tool. To others, like me, it was an interesting little speaker, but with some problems. Perhaps more important, I'm a "minimonitor" guy, but I never wanted a pair of those. I'm not sure why; it's just that nothing about it excited me. But I can't say the same thing about the LS50. Read on . . .
Tidal's Watershed Moment: The Agoria Loudspeaker
There are watershed moments that can mark a shift in a company's direction. Certainly, when Tidal Audio of Germany introduced their Sunray loudspeaker back in 2003, that product informed Tidal's offerings for almost a decade. But time and technology march on, and yesterday's flagship is, well, yesterday's news. The brand-new Tidal Agoria might just signal the next watershed moment in Tidal's relatively short history of competing in the Age of the Superspeaker.
King of the Gryphons: The Pendragon Loudspeaker
It was 2004 when I first heard the Gryphon Poseidon four-tower loudspeaker system (then $130,000 USD per pair). I was the first reviewer in the world to hear that speaker, as I traveled to Gryphon's home in Denmark for just that purpose after that year's Munich-based High End show in Germany (at that time, High End was held in Frankfurt). That listening session was an experience not to be missed -- the sound I heard that day left quite an impression. I remember coming away from that visit thinking that Gryphon had accomplished a remarkable feat: a company known mostly for its exceptional electronics had successfully transitioned into the realm of the superspeaker. That does not happen very often.
High End 2012 began on Thursday, May 3, but on Wednesday Doug Schneider and I attended the German premier of Magico's S5 loudspeaker, held at Life Like HiFi Studios, a retailer that seemingly carries every audio product under the sun. (The Magico event was sponsored by German distributor Audio Components.) We attended the event because Magico was promoting the S5 as having the highest price/performance ratio of any speaker they've ever offered. We were obviously anxious to hear just what the buzz was about and to decide for ourselves if it was indeed true. The S5 retails for $28,600 per pair in the United States.


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If you feel that your dog is starting to slow down a little with age, or is just putting a bit of weight on, then take a look at the senior range, which is designed as a Lite food as well, ideal for helping to shed a few pounds, or even just to maintain the current weight.