Actors Benedict Cumberbatch and Sophie Hunter arrive at the 26th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival Film Festival Awards Gala at Palm Springs Convention Center on January 3, 2015 in Palm Springs, California.; Credit: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images

The 26th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival opened this weekend, distinguished by robust audience turnouts, megawatt celebrity visitations and constant reminders of the unique space PSIFF occupies and the specialized services it provides to Hollywood.

Falling as it does just before Sundance and just after the Golden Globes nominations, Palm Springs is as much a part of the awards season calendar as it is the festival circuit. Big ticket screenings are presented with all the photo op pomp that would greet a major world premiere at, say, the Los Angeles Film Festival, but in many cases this is to build buzz for (or to re-energize) films that are already in theaters.

At Sundance or Tribeca, the suspense is usually about whether the films in competition will get good reviews and/or find distribution. At Palm Springs, especially on opening weekend, it's more about whether you'll run into Brad Pitt in the guest and industry suite at the Renaissance Hotel.

At the PSIFF awards gala, Golden Globe nominee Reese Witherspoon took home the oddly gender specific Chairman's Award for her performance in "Wild."

J.K. Simmons received something called a Spotlight Award for his superb turn as the menacing music instructor in "Whiplash."

David Oyelowo grabbed the "Breakthrough Performance Award (Male)" for depicting Martin Luther King Jr. in "Selma." Brad Pitt's sing-along presentation of Oyelowo's award became the meme for much of the post-event press coverage.

Sing-a-long with Brad Pitt

Rosamund Pike got the "Breakthrough Performance Award (Female)" for "Gone Girl."

Michael Keaton presented the Director of the Year award to his "Birdman" collaborator Alejandro G. Iñárritu.

And the Palm Spring Convention Center stage was home to two young British heartthrobs who are in Oscar contention this year for period biopics about scientific genius: Eddie Redmayne, who grabbed the Desert Palm Achievement Award (Male) for portraying ALS sufferer Stephen Hawking in "The Theory of Everything," and Benedict Cumberbatch, who split glory with the cast of the Alan Turing biography "The Imitation Game" as co-winner of the Ensemble Performance Award.

The Desert Palm Achievement Award (Female) went to Julianne Moore in the Alzheimer's drama "Still Alice."

Every single one of the movies honored is in theaters now, almost all of them in the midst of slowly expanding release patterns as they mount their long slow march toward the Academy Awards.

The generous "one award per movie" policy and the care with which PSIFF avoids alienating celebrity affections by giving out trophies with such blunt and unequivocal titles as "Best Actress" or "Best Actor" mark the PSIFF awards gala as a psuedo-event: a kind of open-armed Hollywood team huddle before things get grim and serious with the Oscar announcements at the end of the month.

Even an Oscar-worthy oddity like Richard Linklater's "Boyhood" managed to find a place in the parade, with Linklater, who directed Shirley MacLaine in the 2010 black comedy "Bernie," presenting the 80-year-old actress with the Sonny Bono Visionary Award, essentially for career achievement.

Meanwhile, the festival's generous supply of indie, studio and foreign movies churned away in various local movie theaters, a really quite remarkable cluster of buzzworthy pictures, almost all of which have played elsewhere, including at Sundance and Toronto and Tribeca, and in many cases at your local multiplex.

This programming approach can be a double-edged sword. Director Ava DuVernay, whose civil rights-era epic "Selma" opened the festival, was unable to stay for her full run of Palm Springs personal appearances because her movie has been out long enough to spark a rather bitter controversy over its depiction of President Lyndon Johnson. DuVernay abandoned a Palm Springs Q and A in order to defend her film on Charlie Rose. 

While some audience members were bitterly disappointed at missing the chance to hear one of this year's golden ones, I'm sure the PSIFF Board of Governors understood completely. This time of year, you have to play the long game, and, in the words of the civil rights anthem, "keep your eyes on the prize."

Off-Ramp contributor R.H. Greene, former editor of Boxoffice Magazine, is in Palm Spring this week to cover the 26th Annual Palm Springs International Film Festival. Look for his missives here, and listen Saturday to Off-Ramp for his report on the festival.

This content is from Southern California Public Radio. View the original story at SCPR.org.

Warm Thoughts Giclee by Alonzo Adams is a(n) Limited Edition. The Edition is Limited to Limited Edition 500 pcs

11/17/2024 - 4:45 PM - Venue: Chaos Games and More

It's hard to imagine a less plausible venue for the annual UN-sponsored conference on climate than the dictatorial petrostate of Azerbaijan. Baku, the capital, has a walled medieval centre that's worth a day or two, but offshore the shallow Caspian Sea is littered with a century's worth of old and new oil wells.

As of Nov. 13, the Crock-Pot 20-ounce electric lunch box is available at Amazon for $29.99, a $15 discount.

Indian retailers are preparing for the upcoming winter shopping season despite a slowdown in consumer spending. They are ensuring ample inventory to avoid missing sales opportunities. While demand for winter wear has been unpredictable in recent years, retailers remain optimistic about sales. They are hoping for a strong winter to boost sales of seasonal products.

Swedish singer-songwriter Amelie Aldner shares a special moment with her new song, "Touch Me." This song feels like a warm hug on a cold night in Sweden. "Touch Me" gives…

Once again, scientists issued a red alert by analyzing ongoing world’s weather and its impact on the climate. The year 2024 is on track to be the warmest year on record, contributed by an extended streak of high monthly global mean temperatures. According to the World Meteorological Organization (WMO)’s “State of the Climate 2024 Update” […]

The study, published online in the Elsevier journal, was conducted on records of rainforests in sediments from Gujarat’s Vastan coal mines deposited in coastal lagoons around 56 million years ago

Use this printable math daily warm-up to reinforce your students' number and numeration skills.

Use this printable math daily warm-up to reinforce your students' number and numeration skills.

Bond, D; Grasby, S E. Geology vol. 48, 2020 p. 1-5, https://doi.org/10.1130/G47377.1
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20200056.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20200056.jpg" title="Geology vol. 48, 2020 p. 1-5, https://doi.org/10.1130/G47377.1" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Sun, R; Shen, J; Grasby, S E; Zhang, J; Chen, J; Chuang, Y; Yin, R. Precambrian Research vol. 383, 106891, 2022 p. 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2022.106891
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20220487.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20220487.jpg" title="Precambrian Research vol. 383, 106891, 2022 p. 1-9, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.precamres.2022.106891" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Li, S; Grasby, S E; Zhao, X; Chen, J; Zheng, D; Wang, H; Fang, Y; Zhang, Q; Yu, T; Tian, J; Du, S; Jarzembowski, E A; Wang, Q; Zhang, H; Wan, X; Wang, B. Geology vol. 50, no. 10, 2022 p. 1140-1144, https://doi.org/10.1130/G50016.1
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20220394.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20220394.jpg" title="Geology vol. 50, no. 10, 2022 p. 1140-1144, https://doi.org/10.1130/G50016.1" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Deegan, F M; Bédard, J H; Grasby, S E; Dewing, K; Geiger, H; Misiti, V; Capriolo, M; Callegaro, S; Svensen, H H; Yakymchuk, C; Aradi, L E; Freda, C; Troll, V R. Journal of Petrology vol. 63, 2022 p. 1-10, https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egac094
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20220242.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/20220242.jpg" title="Journal of Petrology vol. 63, 2022 p. 1-10, https://doi.org/10.1093/petrology/egac094" height="150" border="1" /></a>

Buchan, K L; Ernst, R E. Canada's northern Shield: new perspectives from the Geoscience for Energy and Minerals Program; Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 612, 2024 p. 375-410, https://doi.org/10.4095/332506
<a href="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_332506.jpg"><img src="https://geoscan.nrcan.gc.ca/images/geoscan/gid_332506.jpg" title="Canada's northern Shield: new perspectives from the Geoscience for Energy and Minerals Program; Geological Survey of Canada, Bulletin 612, 2024 p. 375-410, https://doi.org/10.4095/332506" height="150" border="1" /></a>

A new study highlights how some marine life could face extinction over the next century, if human-induced global warming worsens.

OM Russia organizes a winter camp for Siberian teenagers where they learn to always to trust God.

God supplies the money needed for OM Bosnia’s firewood project quickly this year, enabling them to give 100 households firewood by the middle of November.

Over the years, God used OM Bosnia’s firewood project tremendously. For the first time since 1999, there will be no wood provision this winter.

Tweaking the routes of a small number of planes could reduce the warming effect of contrails by half and cost less than €4 per ticket, according to a study.

Gerbing biedt een breed scala aan 12 volt verwarmde handschoenen aan. Deze zijn eenvoudig aan te sluiten op een 12 volt accu van een voertuig door middel van de accu-aansluitkabel. Ook zijn ze aan te sluiten op onze 12 volt draagbare batterijen waardoor onze verwarmde handschoenen ook gebruikt kunnen worden voor willekeurige outdoor activiteiten. Wij gebruiken de beste verwarmingstechnologie die er is en daardoor kunnen wij ook een levenslange garantie geven op de verwarming. Door middel van het hoogwaardige Microwire ® verwarmingssysteem, waarop patent is aangevraagd, zijn het de warmste handschoenen die ooit ontwikkeld zijn. Alle 12 volt verwarmde handschoenen worden geleverd met een accu-aansluitkabel en een in-line junior controller om de warmte van de handschoenen te regelen. Gerbing heeft de volgende typen 12 volt handschoenen in het assortiment: T-12 verwarmde handschoen: Een leren, waterdichte motorhandschoen met bescherming en een mogelijkheid om kleine batterijen te plaatsen (B12V-1400). G-12 verwarmde handschoen: Een basic leren, waterdichte motorhandschoen met een kortere schacht die. De G-12 heeft niet de mogelijkheid om gebruikt te worden in combinatie met kleine batterijen die in de schacht geplaatst kunnen worden. XR-12 verwarmde handschoen: Een leren waterdichte handschoen met extra knokkelbescherming. Net als de T-12 is deze handschoen ook te gebruiken met kleine batterijen. L-12 verwarmde handschoen. Een dunne lycra handschoen die veel gebruikt wordt bij het ultra light vliegen. Deze kan aangesloten worden op de accu van een voertuig maar kan ook aangesloten worden op een draagbare 12 volt batterij zoals de B12V-5200 of de B12V-8000. TEX-12 vewarmde handschoen: Een iets dikkere textiele handschoenen met wat extra gripprotectie aan de binnenkant van de handschoen. Deze kan net als de L-12 aangesloten worden op de accu van een voertuig of op de B12V-5200 of de B12V-8000. De TEX-12 is niet geschikt voor op de motor maar is geweldig voor de brommer, scooter of op de fiets. Al onze 12 volt verwarmde handschoenen zijn te combineren met met al onze andere 12 volt producten zoals de 12 volt verwarmde jas, 12 volt verwarmde broek en 12 volt verwarmde sokken

7 VOLT VERWARMDE JAS De meeste mensen zullen in eerste instantie denken dat de verwarmde handschoenen en verwarmde sokken de beste producten zijn! Het is echter zo dat op het moment dat handen en voeten koud worden dat veroorzaakt wordt door een koude romp. Op het moment dat de vitale organen te koud worden zal er extra warmte uit de handen en de voeten gehaald worden met als consequentie dat de handen en voeten als eerste koud worden. Daarom worden er ook veel meer 12 volt verwarmde handschoenen en 7 volt verwarmde handschoenen verkocht. Maar eigenlijk zijn onze verwarmde jassen functioneler. Nadat Gerbing een 12 volt verwarmde jas op de markt heeft gebracht voor de motorrijder zijn wij uiteraard ook begonnen met een verwarmde jas te ontwikkelen voor mensen die last hebben van kou bij willekeurige outdoor activiteiten. Dit heeft geresulteerd in een 7 volt verwarmde jas met afritsbare mouwen. Deze kan dus ook als bodywarmer gedragen worden. Deze jas heeft vier elementen. Twee elementen op de borst, één op rug en één in de kraag. Deze jassen worden geleverd met een 7 volt batterij kitje (B7V-2500 KIT) bestaande uit twee 7 volt batterijen met een ingebouwde temperatuurregelaar en één dubbele lader. Dit zijn dezelfde batterijen die gebruikt worden voor al onze 7 volt verwarmde handschoenen, 7 volt verwarmde sokken en alle overige 7 volt producten. De batterijen zijn eenvoudig te bedienen. Ze zijn voorzien van een powerknop en daarmee worden de batterijen aangezet en men kan tevens met deze knop de temperatuur instellen en de batterijen uitzetten. De verwarmde jas is verkrijgbaar in de maten XXS tot en met XXXL en zijn voor zowel mannen als vrouwen. De kleur is zwart. Deze 7 volt verwarmde jas draag je over één laag kleding en onder de gewone jas.

Not everyone had to get around on skis during the blizzard. During a Feb. 12 walk in Central Park with snow falling all around, I discovered where all the ducks and other birds were spending the snowy day: in the water and the trees [PARTIAL POST: VISIT THE SITE TO READ THE REST AND SEE PICTURES]

Posted by Frank On 03/01/06 At 12:04 PM

8 of the best dynamic exercises with multiple variations to choose from to warm up.

You may feel tempted to skip warming up before your workout, but don’t give in. It’s time to learn five reasons why you should warm up before you exercise.

The players and fans celebrated the win in style

Fr. Michael follows up last week's podcast ("Error to the Right") with a discussion about the warning to the Laodicean Christians to not be lukewarm (Revelation 3). "We are all sick, blind, naked, wretched, but it's only the lukewarm who don't think they are."

Fr. Gregory Hallam sermon on July 8, 2018.

Scotland are the great entertainers when they really need to be the great executioners, writes Tom English.

Jon Rahm’s play-off defeat in the Spanish Open by the world number 398 shows golf’s enduring capacity to yield upsets - but this trait rarely extends to the Presidents Cup, writes Iain Carter.

Igloos, rooftops and ski lodges.

This study aimed to assess the level of GW in Jordanian university students and compare the level of awareness of students according to their academic level (high and low), faculty (science and humanities), gender (male and female), and year of study (first and final years). This study is quantitative research that provides a comprehensive view of GW in Jordanian universities. A total of 383 university students of currently registered undergraduate programs from six independent universities in Jordan were recruited. An online questionnaire covering three aspects of GW was sent to participants in December 2020. Inferential and descriptive statistics were used to analyse data. Participants had 'good' (67%) overall knowledge about GW, a 'very good' level of GW causes (81%), and a 'poor' level of knowledge about the GW impacts on humans and the environment (47%) and knowledge about GW possible solutions (59%). Significant differences were founded between males and females, students from scientific faculties and students from other faculties, students with higher academic achievement than lower achievement in the total GW knowledge. But no significant differences were between students in the first year and the final years.

Knowledge management research applied to the development of real-time research capability, or capability to solve societal problems in hours and days instead of years and decades, is perhaps increasingly important, given persistent global problems such as the Zika virus and rapidly developing antibiotic resistance. Drawing on swarm intelligence theory, this paper presents an approach to real-time research problem-solving in the form of a framework for understanding the complexity of real-time research and the challenges associated with maximizing collaboration. The objective of this research is to make explicit certain theoretical, methodological, and practical implications deriving from new literature on emerging technologies and new forms of problem solving and to offer a model of real-time problem solving based on a synthesis of the literature. Drawing from ant colony, bee colony, and particle swarm optimization, as well as other population-based metaheuristics, swarm intelligence principles are derived in support of improved effectiveness and efficiency for multidisciplinary human swarm problem-solving. This synthesis seeks to offer useful insights into the research process, by offering a perspective of what maximized collaboration, as a system, implies for real-time problem solving.

Layer up and stay warm all season long

London — A new report from the Institution of Mechanical Engineers details how industries can adapt to future heat waves and rising temperatures.

Working outside in the winter exposes employees to a number of hazards, including the risk of weather-related conditions such as frostbite. Cold weather can affect the body's senses, altering the ability to see, smell and feel, according to the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

How do advanced performance fabrics help workers during warm weather?

Extremely cold weather can be dangerous for outdoor workers and those who work in an area that is poorly insulated or without a heat source. Two dangerous health risks associated with cold weather are hypothermia and frostbite.

Working outdoors already involves many hazards. Add cold temperatures during the winter months, and the number of risks grows.

According to the research, 38,154 of the 68,593 heat-related deaths in the summer of 2022 would not have occurred without anthropogenic warming.

The post More than half of European heat-related deaths in summer 2022 attributed to anthropogenic warming was curated by information for practice.

November opens on cloudy and rainy notes.

It’s warm for now. But a weak La Niña should produce a colder winter than last year.

Regarding my choice for the first part of my titular line, it is what it is: The weather. Nothing more. All else, is buell sheet. Let us leave it at that. Besides, have not we all had enough of the progressive Wokies and Fake News Media the world over waxing on ad hominem about it already? Climate hysteria has been going on for decades now. Even with their newest iteration, ‘The Green New Deal’ this climate hoax still comes up smelling of  well, sulfur. It really stinks. What is the adage again? Right: Lipstick on a pig… It does not hide the fact that a real pig, still resides behind the shiny lip-gloss. Climatologist progressives As of this writing, the dog whistling climatologist progressives are attending their annual gas lighting meeting in Scotland. As usual Sweet Child of Sweden, Great Thunberg is there. No surprise either that the pudgy yute girl, now teenager, is leading the “How dare you!’ vanguard charge. No big surprise either, that the world’s billionaire oligarchs attended. All, without exception arrived in their own private Lear jets; leaving their biggest carbon footprints in their wake. As many of you know, that is the wealth mongers’ signature move.

Alignment of each optical element at a synchrotron beamline takes days, even weeks, for each experiment costing valuable beam time. Evolutionary algorithms (EAs), efficient heuristic search methods based on Darwinian evolution, can be utilized for multi-objective optimization problems in different application areas. In this study, the flux and spot size of a synchrotron beam are optimized for two different experimental setups including optical elements such as lenses and mirrors. Calculations were carried out with the X-ray Tracer beamline simulator using swarm intelligence (SI) algorithms and for comparison the same setups were optimized with EAs. The EAs and SI algorithms used in this study for two different experimental setups are the Genetic Algorithm (GA), Non-dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC). While one of the algorithms optimizes the lens position, the other focuses on optimizing the focal distances of Kirkpatrick–Baez mirrors. First, mono-objective evolutionary algorithms were used and the spot size or flux values checked separately. After comparison of mono-objective algorithms, the multi-objective evolutionary algorithm NSGA-II was run for both objectives – minimum spot size and maximum flux. Every algorithm configuration was run several times for Monte Carlo simulations since these processes generate random solutions and the simulator also produces solutions that are stochastic. The results show that the PSO algorithm gives the best values over all setups.