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The new Y1 phonics screening check(565 Posts)
The government's new phonics screening check is to be launched in England in June.
The results of the test will be given to the parents of each individual child but each individual school's results will not be made public.
What is the view on Mumsnet? Do you think the results should be made public or not? Either way, why or why not?
You can find out more about this test by going to the DfE site: http://www.education.gov.uk/schools/teachingandlearning/pedagogy/a00198207/faqs-year-1-phonics-screening-check
just to add i have s phonic sound level of a 7 year old and got through uni etc. however i spent till 12 at night doing my homework at school, i wish parents wolud speak up more about doubts on their childrens ablities , i loved school but i only found out as an adult the amount of time i took on my work was not the norm. i regul;artly got told by a science teacher i had poor spell i spell simular sounding words wrong , my english teacher however regularlly said which books had i copied the work from. So the phonics test is important as it helps children voice their itelligence without being put in lower streams because of phonological difficulties. Hence the test is vital for your child to be treated equallly regardless of phonics difficulties.
This test is very important i have a phonologic processing disorder only spotted at 23 by a uni lectuer who wasnt native to this country !
The test is vita lin spotting dyslexia or maybe even help spot a child on the borders of aspergers syndrome. It will also give a clear indication to poor teaching or lack of understanding on the childs behalf.
One of the things I found hardest with my son was that I couldn't help him with the reading. I learned to read very young (before I started school) and I'd say my approach is really more about absorbing chunks of text (I am a very fast reader, with a very big written vocabulary, caused by essentially being the youngest in a family of bookworms and having a somewhat lonely childhood) and I've never really paid much attention to how anything sounds. So the whole sounding it out stuff was something I was very unfamiliar with. I really tried to her ds so for example we got a phonetic dictionary, but then I discovered neither of us were very good at working out how many syllables the words had.
When ds has his tutoring I had to go too (part of the approach), and I was fascinated to discover more about how reading actually works. It worries me a bit how many schools use volunteers to help with reading, when most parents will probably have as little idea as I had how to read. My dh is a helper here in Canada, and the support materials for the program are all mixed method
I think it was writing that helped ds1, in breaking words down to work out the phonetic spelling, that somehow (eventually) got through to his brain being able to put them back together. So he never managed blending CVC words, but by Y3 or so, was able to use phonics.
Ds2 had speech therapy, and I'm sure this helped with blending, as we did a lot of breaking words down into sounds that he found difficult - so we'd look at a snowman, he'd say 'no-man', I'd say, 'yes, snowman, ssssss-nnnnnn-owman' so he was much more keyed into the ideas of words being made up of individual sounds, and his pronunciation of harder sounds like 'th' is much better than ds1's because we had to practise them so much.
For parents whose children have trouble blending, Feenie's advice is good. It is very important to say sounds precisely, as she says. But, if you want your child to get it every time, choose single-syllable words that have the structure CVC to start off with. Then move on to CVCC, CCVC and then to longer words (CCCVC, 'scrap', for example).
If you use words that begin with continuants - sounds that you can hang on to for a long time ('f', 'l', 'm', 'n', 'r', 's', 'w', 'z') - and ask your child to say the sounds as you run your finger under the sounds in the word, you can hear the word. For example, if you run your finger under the sounds in 'sat' (sssssaaaaat), you can hear 'sat'. It's easy! And, there's no memory work involved because you can hear the word immediately. After that, try longer words like 'milk' ('mmmmmiiiiiiiiillllllllllk) and ou will hear 'milk'. Then try 'flag' (fffffllllllaaaaag). Blending like this is a piece of cake.
However, once your child has read the word successfully, get them to say the sounds again, this time separately, and read the word. If you then put down some lines, one for each sound, you can get the child to write the word, saying the sounds separately as they do and then reading back the word.
Try it! It works!
betterwhenthesunshines DS1 never 'got' blending while learning to read, despite intensive phonics, he found new words v hard to work out, but learnt through memory, so by the end of Y1 he was a v good reader. Round about Y3 he suddenly 'got' blending, and could use it, but obviously the need was much less. Not the same thing as your issue, I don't think, but just the way his mind works - he is still ultra visual in his learning, eg in music he much prefers a piece of music in front of him, rather than playing by ear at all.
Does she have slow processing?
'Fling' has 4 phonemes: f-l-i-ng
Just a thought, and sorry if you do this already, but are you clipping the sounds short, with no 'uh' at the end? Because blending is very hard if you don't.
fuh-luh-i-ng blend to make fuhling, not fling. Make sure you say 'fff', not 'fuh.
Thanks - yes we have had her vision checked, she does have vision tracking problems etc that we are addressing, so I'm thinking it's more a blending thing and I'm not quite sure how I tackle that... have tried to get her to say 'fl' rather than 'fuh' 'luh' for example
til I'm blue in the face and she can do it when she sees them in isolation, just not in a word like fling! also have played with coloured foam letters, word building sounds, chunking games, all good, but really hoping it will click! I was just interested in your comment about memory, but certainly she is fine with 'holding' quite complex instructions, so it's not as you describe with the child you teach.
Bonsoir, a child who has been given good, explicit phonics teaching will be able to dissociate the two. A child who has had a more muddled 'mixed' teaching experience where phonics teaching is minimal and children are moved very quickly onto 'look and say' reading schemes may not be able to dissociate the two so well because decoding will not have been taught so clearly. So discovering that a child cannot 'consciously engage' their phonics knowledge for decoding when they need to is useful information and feedback on their learning to read.
I find your theory that children start with a knowledge of phonic decoding, then become unable to access that knowledge, then become able to consciously re-engage it again once they reach adulthood somewhat hard to follow? I can understand that if a child does not have a secure knowledge / teaching of phonics, but learns to read through mixed methods and then comes to 're-analyse' their knowledge of reading explicitly as an adult, then they do 'become able to use phonics explicitly' in adulthood in a way they could not as a child (as a child of the 70s, that is me). However, for today's children, who should receive explicit phonics teaching, the situation is different.
Yes, mrz, because they can consciously dissociate decoding and meaning if they so choose
yes Bonsoir and so can children
If the Ed Psych report says that she has 'superior' memory skills, then I would doubt that it is a working memory issue as that should have been one of the areas tested. See what the full report says.
The child I teach has very obvious (in lay speak as I don't really 'speak' Ed Psych language!) difficulties with memory in other areas e.g. needs to be given individual, extremely short instructions one at a time. Uses a task board to organise e.g. getting belongings together at the end of the day, or getting ready for writing (needs a number of writing aids). Would not, for example, be able to process 'Get your coat and then go out to play' - has to have those instructions separately. Can decode all through a sentence of short decodeable words but then not be able to recall who or what the sentence is about, though can answer that question just after he has read the relevant word etc.
So it may be a specific issue of segmenting, or blending, that your child has, or it may be an issue with tracking all through the word? I would very much not want to second-guess an Ed Psych who has actually done the full battery of tests. Have you had her vision checked?
I have in my class an SEN child with extremely poor working memory - he can decode almost all graphemes in isolation and in short words, but he cannot decode all through a long word because of his working memory issues. He would - correctly - pass the phonics screening test, but the working memory tests he has had show that that is where the problem lies. We are addressing the problem of him decoding longer words not by working on phonics - he has that knowledge - but by focusing his working memory issues.
I have a query... my DD (7) has difficluties with blending. She can recognise (at speed) all the phonics she has been taught (up to -au- -aw- type of alternative spellings) when they are in isolation, but seems to have big problems in putting them together when she sees them in longer words. Or maybe the problem lies in isolating the different building blocks? Also can't blend unknown or nonsense CVC words without sounding out individually, although she does then get them correct.
Would you think this might be a working memory issue? In which case how could we approach that?
She has recently had Ed Psych assessment (not yet had full report) who said her cognitive reasoning, memory were all superior but her written language problems were significantly lower than expected. Not sure what to do next as her phonic knowledge seems to be good, but she can't apply it very easily IYSWIM.
"It is conceptually possible for adults who have been reading for many decades Bonsoir"
Yes, mrz, because they can consciously dissociate decoding and meaning if they so choose. Adults with any luck and a bit of education have far more advanced analytical skills than children and can read on multiple levels. But you don't want to encourage a young reader to do that - you want, once they have learned to decode, to encourage fluent reading for meaning.
You may also like this quote from Boris TopDaddy
With incredible speed you are decoding clutches of letters into sounds, in order to identify the words; and those words are being virtually simultaneously converted into sense; and the reason you can do this so fast is that hard-wired into your reading brain is an understanding of how the alphabet generates the 44 sounds of the English language; and the best way to reach that instinctive understanding of how letters make sounds is a system known as synthetic phonics .
That is the system that rescued me after the appalling verdict of my grandmother. I remember going to primary school and sitting cross-legged as the class learned C-A-T, and how each sound helped to make up a word, and after a while I had cracked it; and I find it unbelievable that so many children are not given the opportunity to learn by this simple and effective means .
Edith beat me to it TopDaddy
Phonics was the primary method of reading instruction for four centuries the whole language/real books was a brief trendy American import.
If you are "traditionally" taught, then this may well mean phonics. Boris probably was - the modern methods which began in the 1960/70s didn't catch on quickly (if at all) in the private sector.
Phonics is about ability to decode - ie access the written word.
It is a misuse of the term to apply it to wider literacy. But that can only develop in any useful way once a child can competently and confidently read/decode the text in the first place.
My ds was 'taught' to read using traditional (well traditional from the 1970s-2000s) methods. The result was two years of struggle and frustration. Then he had six sessions of synthetic phonics tutoring and as a result actually learned to read, as opposed to guessing wildly and inaccurately before giving up because he thought he was stupid. Traditional teaching methods fail a significant proportion of children, and yet there are still teachers who are apparently still refusing to move to phonics despite the evidence that it is a far more effective method, children like my son are therefore still totally unnecessarily failing to learn to read. I welcome any test that shows them up so that they are pushed to make the change.
My son is very rarely lost for words, but if we hadn't helped him he would still struggle to read them.
I consider words are more than the sum of their parts, hence I have little belief in the phonics 'system' per se.
I am in favour of traditional learning through regular reading at increasing levels of complexity of sentence structure and extensiveness of vocabulary usage.
Boris Johnson is never lost for words and I imagine he was taught traditionally, he's perhaps reciting a poem to someone as you read this! ;O)
YES YES and YES and it's massive in small children learning their MT!
I appreciate that, but there still must be a category of completely unfamiliar words. No child will hear the full lexicon in everyday speech.
In fact, reading is held to be one of the most extensive sources of new vocabulary. If a child has closed its mind to learning new vocabulary from the reading route, by 'forcing' unknown' words into 'known' words it will not extend its vocabulary.
I can apply my phonics knowledge, if asked, to decode hoglash or jound or frazz or ipud. If told that they are nonsense words to which I can apply my phonics skills freely but reasonably, that is exactly what I would do. I do not attempt to apply 'sense' or 'word recognition', because I have been told that the words do not make sense. I have used the 'tool' in my 'reading toolkit' I have been asked to, and so have decoded the non-words. Why is that not possible for a child much closer to the original point of phonics teaching, where such conscious application of phonics skills in the classroom is [should be] a daily part of his / her school life?
It is conceptually possible for adults who have been reading for many decades Bonsoir
I am interested in your point, teacherwith2kids, that the Y1 phonics test has been designed as a test of "decoding in isolation". From my understanding, that is just no longer conceptually possible once a child is a fluent reader of a language in which they are orally proficient, given the nature of language acquisition.
I should also say (sorry for multiple posts) that for the majority of children, phonics tests with long unknown words and short nonsense words would be equally good tests of decoding skills.
However, for a minority - and one might argue that they are an important minority, as it will contain children who are failing to learn to read - short nonsense words are a better test because they allow a clear distinction between (and appropriately targeted interventions for) children who have poor phonics knowledge vs those who have working memory problems.
It could of course be argued that both should be picked up by good class teachers as a normal part of teaching (working memory problems such as my pupil has manifest themselves in a whole variety of ways) but it is useful that if a test is designed to test decoding, then it does that.
Sorry, Bonsoir, I meant to quote your original point but forgot:
"No-one on this thread has managed (or even really tried) to argue convincingly that short nonsense words are a better test of a child's decoding ability than long real words."
My argument would be that because the failure to decode a long real word could be due to a) a difficulty in decoding or b) poor working memory, it is better to use a short phonically regular nonsense word because the complication of working memory, which would cloud the results, is not introduced.
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Politics is not an exact science, any more I should think than theology.
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The Detroit Red Wings have been made aware of the situation surrounding 2010 first-round draft pick Riley Sheahan.
Sheahan, 20, was arrested October 29 in Grand Rapids and charged with "driving with a high blood-alcohol content, above .17, and giving false information," Grand Rapids Police Sgt. Allen Noles told The Detroit Free Press's Helene St. James. Sheahan pleaded not guilty to both charges November 6 in a Grand Rapids district court. He faces up to 180 days in jail if convicted.
The false information charge is described as providing a false name, false date of birth, or presenting oneself as someone else (an example of this is providing a fake driver's license). Noles did not specify what Sheahan did to violate that law.
"I'm aware that Riley was charged with a DUI," Red Wings general manager Ken Holland said. "We're handling it internally. He sat out a game. We've talked to him. We're aware of what's happened."
"We're gathering information internally and making decisions on what we can do to help him, if he needs help. Beyond that, I can't really comment. He's going through the court system, the legal system. Obviously, Riley made a very poor decision."
Holland went on to say that Red Wings assistant GM Jim Nill and Grand Rapids Griffins coach Jeff Blashill had all spoken to Sheahan.
Sheahan was also arrested for public intoxication in South Bend, Indiana during his freshman year at Notre Dame in 2010. He turned pro this past spring, and joined the Griffins.
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I dare the press to keep calling Beck a "populist"
Blog ››› ››› ERIC BOEHLERT
In the light of yesterday's Big Business spectacle, in which "populist" Glenn Beck urged his listeners to send cash to the supposedly beleaguered U.S. Chamber of Commerce (what's next, on-air pledges for Pfizer and PepsiCo?), it really is imperative that the Beltway press end its lazy habit of calling Beck a "populist," unless they're being sarcastic, since Beck is quite clearly the opposite of a "populist."
A reminder for all [emphasis added]:
"Populism": A political philosophy supporting the rights and power of the people in their struggle against the privileged elite.
Multi-millionaire Beck (along with Rush Limbaugh, Sean Hannity, etc.) literally worships at the altar of Big Business and looks to corporate America for inspiration for all that is true and righteous.
Plus, you'll recall that in 2008, Beck favored the federal government's unprecedented decision, under President Bush, to bail out failed Wall Street fat cats l(i.e. "I think the bailout is the right thing do"). In fact, in 2008, Beck stressed the government's $700 billion handout to bankers wasn't enough and that more taxpayer money needed to thrown Wall Street's way. That, in and of itself, ought to disqualify any journalist from ever describing Beck as a "populist."
But Thursday's stunt, in which Beck went from urging that taxes be spent to help out bail out Big Business for its poor judgement, to where he urged taxpayers to directly pledge their support by writing checks to the Chamber of Commerce, that really sealed the deal.
As I noted last year, when the press started misusing the (mostly) friendly "populist" term to describe the right-wing media's unhinged opposition to Obama:
[S]ince when do so-called populists claim the president's a "racist" with a "deep-seated hatred of white people," and who wants to put a spike in the heads of babies? Since when do populists call for a military coup to overthrow the White House, constantly compare the president to a Nazi, denounce him as a "small, petty and spoiled man," and pull their kids out of school in order to make sure they're not "indoctrinated" by the president?
Hating the President of the United States does not make you a "populist." And you know what, urging your listeners to donate their earnings and saving to corporate interests does not make you a populist.
The press has been leaning on the "populist" crutch for way too long with regards to Beck and it has always been annoying. Now, in light of his Chamber of Commerce shilling, any further attempt to label him a "populist" would be downright comical.
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This article was contributed and first published in Today on 26 February 2013.
More increments in foreign worker levies across the board and a complementary cut in foreign worker quotas for the services and marine sectors will, no doubt, further raise the level of anxiety for affected businesses.
We suspect it won't be long before we hear from another restaurant pointing out how no Singaporeans turned up for job interviews for waiters.
Although the tightening of foreign worker supply has stoked a buzz in recent weeks, one should not read these measures as being xenophobic. Rather, as the Finance Minister put it, the key emphasis is on reducing reliance on manpower — as opposed to merely replacing foreign workers with locals — in order to "catch up from a decade of slow productivity growth".
Probably the thought on the minds of many, is whether the underlying message to businesses is to "shape up or ship out". Or perhaps move offshore while retaining some core functions in Singapore (indeed, help is pledged to small and medium enterprises expanding their overseas footprints).
While this could well be the case (indeed, another minister's recent written reply to a parliamentary question states that "businesses that cannot restructure and adapt ... may eventually close down"), one wonders whether some sectors, in fact, deserve a greater helping hand.
Take the services industry, like food and beverage, for example. Any further weakening could have a knock-on effect on travel and tourism statistics, a not-insignificant part of our gross domestic product.
Despite the recent announcements of infrastructural link-ups, it will take a while to persuade people to have their next fancy meal in Iskandar.
Pain Alleviation
There are, of course, many aspects of the Budget aimed at countering the painful effects in this phase of restructuring the economy.
Some, such as the new Wage Credit Scheme, will clearly be of help to many businesses. Other than subsidising the future wage increases of Singaporean employees, it has the benefit of supporting both the SME employer as well as the larger MNC player.
And not surprisingly, given its prominence in the last few Budgets, the Productivity and Innovation Credit (PIC) scheme continues to be given tweaks. The current variant is a PIC bonus, where a dollar-for-dollar matching cash bonus (capped at a certain level) will be given to the extent that PIC qualifying expenditure exceeds S$5,000 per year of assessment.
More changes to the PIC scheme are reflected in the annexes to the Budget statement, and it is heartening that some of these changes reflect business practicalities — such as an indication that equipment that is a "basic tool" can qualify for PIC as long as it increases productivity.
In addition, the tried and tested corporate tax rebate will find its way back (as it has done a few times over the last decade or so) to help businesses again. This time, a corporate income tax rebate of 30 per cent, subject to a cap, has been announced for three years of assessment rather than for just one year.
It may be sending a telling sign to the rest of the world that this rebate, coupled with other tax features, means that a small profitable company with S$300,000 of taxable income will, in fact, have an effective tax rate of no more than 5.9 per cent, despite a headline rate of 17 per cent.


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You have a very refined way of constructing garments that makes them look very expensive
Miami, FL (PRWEB) March 05, 2014
For those of us that have been watching Project Runway since it first aired in 2004, the latest version of the show, "Under the Gunn," is truly a breath of fresh air. Although Heidi Klum's "auf Wiedersehen" is definitely missed by all, Tim Gunn's fierceness is heating things up, challenging the competitors or designers [as he lovingly refers to the contestants] and pushing them to their limits with each creation. In this season, one designer's story is certainly compelling, and from his performance so far, it seems as if he was quite ready to take on the challenge head on. His name is Oscar Lopez, a Cuban immigrant and self-taught designer who has made a name in South Florida as a fashion expert when it comes to creating lavish gowns for society ladies. "In the last couple of years I have enjoyed designing for some of South Florida's most glamorous socialites, but now I feel I am ready to spread my wings, and show the world what I have to offer," commented Oscar in a recent interview.
The fact is that he is no stranger to challenges. It was only nine years ago that the talented designer was able to reach the United States after two earlier attempts to flee his homeland. "For many years, I had the urge to escape Castro's regime that has taken over my country, but there were always complications. Finally in 2000 I was able to leave Cuba via Mexico, as part of a musical performing group. I lived there for four years and in 2004 I crossed the border into the United States, looking to reunite myself with family members and embark on the path to realize my dream." Once in Miami, he set out to make his dream a reality… one dress at a time. It seem like his destiny had already been crafted from the early age of 10, when he began to experiment with sewing and making patterns on his own. This self-taught little boy created his first dress when he was 11-year-old, using his mother's curtains because of their lack of means, and the scarcity of products in the island, didn't allow him to purchase new materials for his creations. "I remember sharpening my needles with nail files and candle wax because resources were scarce and I was only able to replace them when family members or friends would visit not only from the United States but from the European community as well . It was tedious process but I was determined and didn't mind the effort," remembers Oscar.
Before joining the show, Oscar had already started to navigate the competitive world of fashion design while building a loyal clientele that spans from South Beach socialites to Palm Beach and New York high-society ladies. From the first episode, his talent was eminent, and Oscar started to receive compliments from judges, very early on, every time he presented a new creation. They have called his designs flattering, sexy and fierce, praised his outstanding construction, and even has gone as far as saying that many of his gowns have the red-carpet "wow" that celebrities would kill for.
Renown costume designer and stylist Jen Rade, a judge on the show, has coined what could not have been worded better about Oscar's latest challenge creation "Fabulous and light years above and beyond everything else she has seen on the runway". Co-judge and Senior Fashion Editor at Marie Claire USA, Zanna Roberts Rassi has also pointed the one of his designing aptitudes — "You have a very refined way of constructing garments that makes them look very expensive". But all this success has not gone to his head, even when in episode six, the "Pompeii Team Challenge," he was named the individual winner of the challenge, taking home a $5,000 prize. Oscar's look on episode 6, was described on ThreadsMagazine.com as "wearable, unique, and sewn impeccably." Those that have had the privilege of working with him backstage can attest to his humble nature, helping out his opponents when he has time in his hands after finishing a project way before everyone else, and in the words of his mentor during the show, Nick Verreos, even cleaning out his space and sweeping the workroom floor. "I am certainly enjoying the show and all the glory, but most importantly, I am loving the opportunity to share my passion with a much larger audience, this has always been my ultimate dream and it is now a reality". There is no doubt that Oscar will continue to surprise the world with his charming personality, great demeanor, proven creativity, and amazing sense of style. Way to go Oscar!


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Wednesday, October 15, 2008
About Those Books Beginning With Dialogue
Also, you may have surmised from my own stated philosophy of "if it works it works" as well as the inclusion of a Third Way, that I too am in the "Depends" category. People have raised lots of very good examples of opening dialogue that worked, and those examples speak for themselves (get it?).
But here's why I brought this up. You may not have thought about opening a novel dialogue (or maybe you have), but it's something I notice right away when I'm starting to read a partial. Because when you start with dialogue, you can't hide.
That's because beginning a novel with dialogue is hard. It's very difficult to do it effectively, because the reader doesn't have context, they don't yet know why they should care, and a lot of people are turned off by gratuitous in media res.
Some of my fastest decisions when reading a partial have come from reading opening dialogue. If it doesn't work, it's pretty clear right off the bat.
In my ongoing collection of sports/publishing metaphors better known as EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT PUBLISHING I LEARNED FROM SPORTS, co-authored with Dan, let me use the following example.
If you lined up a bunch of people and told them to do something easy, like shoot a free throw, you might not be able to tell which are the good players and which are the great players. Pretty much everyone can shoot a free throw. Make them do something difficult, like dunk or shoot fadeaway jump shots, and the differences will be quickly apparent.
Same goes for difficult authorial tricks like starting with dialogue and/or breaking other "rules." If you can pull it off, fantastic, if not, an agent will be able to tell very quickly.
49 comments:
Maybe that's why so few novels start out that way. It is difficult to do well. I'm at a loss as to any I've read that have, but give me a minute to peruse my bookshelves...
- October 15, 2008 at 2:34 PM
- Thomas Mason said...
Starting a novel with dialogue can be a risky move unless it's all setup right. I think if an author had their character drone on about the futility of his life or job for 5 or 6 paragraphs I would put the book down and never go back.
However, if the author in 1 paragraph was able to write about the characters life and then get into descriptive examples, not from a first person view, then it would draw me into the story.
I agree with you about the readers not having context when authors just dive right into dialogue. My advice for those out there wanting to start a novel with dialogue is KISS "Keep In Short Supply".
Once the story has been a bit more setup and the reader is hooked, the dialogue will mean so much more to them.
Just my 2 cents!
- October 15, 2008 at 2:38 PM
- Margaret Yang said...
Ah ha! So this doesn't just apply to dialog, but to all the rules. If you're going to break them, you'd better play big or go home.
I like.
- October 15, 2008 at 2:44 PM
- ryan-field said...
You addressed my concern about beginning with dialogue. I've always been afraid to do it.
- October 15, 2008 at 2:47 PM
- Erik said...
Not to disagree, Nathan, but I think it takes more than skill - I think there should be a compelling reason.
If a character is served appropriately by defining them first by their speech, then it works. But people will form an image of that character in their head and you're gonna have to undo it if it's not right. And you can't undo it without pissing off the reader.
So you have to define that character with their speech, which generally means that what they say or the way they say it is something very important about them. If it's not? It's just a clever device, even if you're damned good. And clever devices for their own sake often piss off readers nearly as much as having their mental image of a character erased.
Of course, your mileage may vary. But I'd stay away from opening dialogue unless it really added something important.
- October 15, 2008 at 2:52 PM
- Brian Jay Jones said...
"I agree," he said. "With everything."
And then he was punched in the throat.
- October 15, 2008 at 2:52 PM
- Marilyn Peake said...
Hi, Nathan,
After reading your blog yesterday, I've been waiting with great curiosity for your follow-up opinion today. I found your post today both informative and refreshing. It's interesting to find out how an agent makes a decision about specific ways in which a novel begins, and it's a relief to hear that there are no unbendable rules despite so much chatter about the popularity of formulaic novels. My understanding is that there are always great artists on the verge of creating the next new form in every type of art, including novels, and that great novels have been written with widely varying techniques. I think that extreme variation is the hallmark of all creative fields.
- October 15, 2008 at 2:57 PM
- Ulysses said...
I can't imagine anyone sneaking a bad opening past you (or anyone with your experience) regardless of technique.
But are you saying that it's harder to tell with other forms of opening?
Why would that be?
- October 15, 2008 at 3:06 PM
- Travis Erwin said...
I like the basketball analogy.
- October 15, 2008 at 3:11 PM
- Melanie Avila said...
Please tell me we can buy this book. :D
- October 15, 2008 at 3:14 PM
Hey Nathan, isn't it about time for another contest?
- October 15, 2008 at 3:37 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
sarah g-
I'd need a lot more sudafed for that.
But honestly, not sure when the next contest will be -- the rest of this year is shaping up to be extremely hectic.
- October 15, 2008 at 3:40 PM
- Dennis Cass said...
"I wonder about starting a novel with a line of dialogue, pausing, and then saying part of it again, for emphasis."
He paused.
"I wonder . . . about saying part it again for emphasis."
- October 15, 2008 at 3:41 PM
- Gottawrite Girl said...
Dialogue's gotta be snappy and weaved with stage-direction-type description, so the reader can visualize. That's my goal! Thanks for the post, Nathan!
- October 15, 2008 at 3:44 PM
- Susan said...
I love specific, concrete advice like this, and I can see your points.
Now, what do you find in openings that is a PLUS, that makes you smile or nod or keep reading or ask for that partial?
(I'm expecting that that one's harder to define, but I'm hoping...)
Thanks for another great tip.
- October 15, 2008 at 3:46 PM
I thought the dialogue contest was very enlightening.
It asked us to jump right in with dialogue.
It's too bad you can't teach (nicely) from that group of attempts about what works and what doesn't and why.
- October 15, 2008 at 3:47 PM
- Timothy Fish said...
Tom Sawyer begins as Dennis describes. I have mixed feelings about dialogue openings. I don't like it because it messes up the drop caps. I like it because drops the reader into the action. It's hard to frontload a book with backstory if it starts with dialogue.
- October 15, 2008 at 3:49 PM
In his book "The First Five Pages," Noah Lukeman puts it pretty plainly:
Exposition is needed to establish a story.
He even goes so far as to say that opening with dialogue is melodramatic and a cop-out for a real hook.
Harsh, but true.
- October 15, 2008 at 4:13 PM
- Dan said...
So Mr. Co-Author,
Building off of Ulysses's question (and this entry), how does the decision process work from partial to full?
Do you ever think, maybe the story is good but the author simply didn't start it at the right point or with the right words?
Or do you just say, this is crap and a waste of my Kindle battery?
Of course, if we're talking about EVERYTHING I KNOW ABOUT PUBLISHING I LEARNED FROM SPORTS, then all these points are moot. However, keep in mind that someone can learn how to shoot a fade away. And though they can't learn to dunk, they can buy trampolines....
- October 15, 2008 at 4:16 PM
- something else said...
This post was extremely useful. I will definitely be keeping it in the back of my mind. That is if I ever get around to writing that book of mine...Thanks :-)
- October 15, 2008 at 4:19 PM
- Other Lisa said...
@ dan, speaking of trampolines....
Sorry, O/T I know, but this cracked me up no end.
- October 15, 2008 at 4:26 PM
- Kat Harris said...
I'm with Erik. There should be a compelling reason for starting a book with dialogue.
Bad cold, Nathan?
Try rubbing Mentholatum on your feet and wrapping them in a warm cloth. I know it sounds weird, but it always works for me.
- October 15, 2008 at 4:40 PM
- Elyssa Papa said...
Great blog... like everything in writing, you have to make sure if you do it, you do it well.
Hope you start feeling better.
- October 15, 2008 at 4:52 PM
- Wanda B. Ontheshelves said...
Convince Me
Disclaimer: I started my (first) novel with dialogue. I like it, because it's a straight arrow from the opening to the novel's close, visually – I start out with one of the characters in a sunset lagoon-printed Hawaiian shirt, and end with dolphins painted on the side of a van, "and the school of dolphins lumbered into the street."
A global warming fantasia, and by the time you get done with a 300-page novel, how hard is it exactly, to go back and add in exposition at the beginning. I mean, you've lived with these characters and this story for quite possibly years – possibly even before you set down one word, you've been thinking about your characters and story – so I don't think "flipping" (pardon the housing market lingo) the opening of your novel from dialogue to exposition, or the other way around, is that big of a deal.
I would consider very carefully any feedback about my opening, as long as it was specific, rather than a generic 'don't start novels with dialogue.' Convince me that this particular dialogue isn't clear, or is confusing, etc. Or that I need to back up and add in a couple paragraphs before I get to the dialogue. Etc.
Rule me no rules: Convince me.
- October 15, 2008 at 5:02 PM
- Lady Glamis said...
Thank you! I happen to hate dialogue openings - probably because, as you say, most of them suck. There's a few good ones out there, I guess. Still not a big fan.
And now I'm scared to death to ever try it myself!
I'll publish a few books first...
- October 15, 2008 at 5:05 PM
I didn't know it was that unusual. The novel I just finished starts off with dialogue...I think it works in this case, I hope it works.
It opens with not the main character speaking, but rather, her father shouting her name as she peacefully slumbers in bed, with all this craziness going on around her. I was trying to convey a sense that she's quite content with her life, which most readers would consider to be a life of miserable drudgery (trains going by, shaking the house at all hours, a pillow covered in coaldust, sharing a bed with her little sister, who's kicking her in the ribs), then she finally realizes she's late and that her father's been trying to wake her up and it's this mad dash to start breakfast.
I think, if done right, dialogue can add a sense of energy and immediacy to a scene.
- October 15, 2008 at 5:22 PM
- lotusloq said...
I'm so glad that your opinion falls right in line with mine. It makes me feel like I'm making progress and getting the hang of what really works. Yea! Thanks!
BTW it's actually "in medias res." Don't know if that's a typo or not but, anyhoo, the Latin teacher in me can't seem to let it pass.
It sounds like you're feeling better, but not much. Take care!
- October 15, 2008 at 5:46 PM
- Jeanne said...
Sick people are allowed to make all the typos they want. I made that rule up after last week when I had the liquid assets flu and could barely type or think clearly. (BTW, this virus clears up quickly but leaves you very drained.)
More great inside industry information, Nathan. You're nurturing talent by sharing these tips and making us think about things. Such as- know the old writing rules, and know when to throw them out the window.
Like in life, some rules are breakable but only if you're really sure you can get away with it.
- October 15, 2008 at 6:17 PM
- Jeanie W said...
Do you really have a cold or are you hoping we'll all send you sudafed for the meth business you're running now that the publishing industry is in its death throes?
- October 15, 2008 at 6:28 PM
- Stacey said...
Seriously, if I ever get around to finishing my novel and polishing it up, I will cry if Nathan rejects me! You are honestly the most informed and well written agent out there.
This was a subject I had never thought of much, but now I will pay attention to it!
- October 15, 2008 at 6:36 PM
- Robena Grant said...
it's probably my fault. I left the final "s" off in my post yesterday when I mentioned the phrase. But you are absolutely right, it is "in medias res" and if I'm going to quote Latin again I will look it up first. Ha ha.
- October 15, 2008 at 6:42 PM
- Marva said...
Like all the supposed rules, it's yet one more the debut author must avoid. After you're famous, then you can break all the rules. Sounds like freedom, but makes for crappy 10th+ novels by well-known authors.
- October 15, 2008 at 6:54 PM
"Great," I snarled with growing concern, "I checked three of my manuscripts and every one of those suckers starts with dialogue. Damn! I'm screwed."
I slammed my fist against the wall in abject frustration. And screamed from the pain. "No wonder I haven't snagged an agent," I cried. Then looking at my hand, decided I had better head to the emergency room...to see a good book doctor.
- October 15, 2008 at 8:00 PM
- Betty Atkins Dominguez said...
77% of you are incontinent. Poor people!
- October 15, 2008 at 8:44 PM
- Ulysses said...
That sounds about right, Betty. Most of us are incontinent. A few are in the islands, I suppose, and I believe Orion lives on a boat.
- October 15, 2008 at 8:57 PM
- Betty Atkins Dominguez said...
ulysses, where do they get their diapers?
- October 15, 2008 at 10:26 PM
Hated the basketball analogy - didn't even know it was basketball until another comment said so, and so for me it was confusing and I spent more time trying to work out what you were talking about rather than the message itself.
- October 15, 2008 at 10:34 PM
- Adaora A. said...
That's because beginning a novel with dialogue is hard. It's very difficult to do it effectively, because the reader doesn't have context, they don't yet know why they should care, and a lot of people are turned off by gratuitous in media res.
I bet loads of authors spend ages looking at the first line of their book and scrapping it, looking again and scrapping that next attempt too. Both ends know how crucial the opening lines are. If you mess it up, it's over. The pressure is definetly on. I'm really bad in that I flip to the beginning of a book, read the first lines, or I'll do the same thing for the back. I might even do both. If I don't like what I've seen, I honestly put it back and pick up the next cover/title that catches my eye.
- October 15, 2008 at 11:21 PM
- lotusloq said...
I loved the basketball analogy and thought it was spot on.
- October 15, 2008 at 11:22 PM
- Maris Bosquet said...
"Well, Prince, so Genoa and Lucca are now family estates of the Bonapartes."
It's not the best opener for any book, let alone War and Peace, but I think Tolstoy got away with it because he was writing a protracted, serialized St. Petersburg soap opera for the upper crust. The opener, delivered by a society woman during a soiree at her home, sets up the audience as well as the story.
- October 16, 2008 at 12:56 AM
- Luc2 said...
I love the basketball analogy, although if you'd ask a big guy to shoot free throws (read Shaq), and then to dunk, the analogy sinks faster than the Suns title hopes.
- October 16, 2008 at 4:15 AM
- Ulysses said...
Mail order.
- October 16, 2008 at 10:18 AM
I think the analogy works all the better, as Nathan was suggesting that shooting free throws (a simple task) does little to indicate a player's real ability, while dunking and shooting fade aways does. Thus, Shaq's ineptitude at the line bears the analogy out, as he is (or was) a dominant player, but watching him shoot free throws wouldn't tell you that. But you watch LeBron cross someone over and throw down a windmill in traffic... well, there's no mistaking genius (or should I have said a Kevin Martin pull up jumper in the lane?)
- October 16, 2008 at 11:04 AM
- Joseph L. Selby said...
Okay, I'll bite. How does dunking a basketball involve more skill than shooting a free throw? Dunking is the least talented action a basketball player can take.
- October 16, 2008 at 11:13 AM
What about us little 5'2" gals who can't dunk OR shoot a free throw? :)
Hope you're feeling better, Nathan!
- October 16, 2008 at 2:43 PM
- Luc2 said...
The Kevin Martin example is a better example in any event, Bryan. Bringing a Kings player into it will please Nathan.
I agree with Joseph, though. Dunking is mostly a testimony to athletic ability, not to skill or technique. So the fadeaway jumper is the best example, and then we should mention Mitch Richmond, one of Sacramento's alltime greats.
- October 16, 2008 at 3:03 PM
- Nathan Bransford said...
The dunking analogy was meant to convey that athletic ability is an innate trait, just as with writing talent. Some is learned, some is born. I can shoot a fadeaway, but I can't dunk.
- October 16, 2008 at 3:07 PM
- Belletristic Bloggette said...
So, I would assume that opening a novel with a character's thoughts falls into the same category as dialogue, right?
- October 16, 2008 at 7:19 PM
- Marian said...
Ender's Game by Orson Scott Card begins with dialogue... but it's easy to remember the standouts because so few novels start that way.
Definitely something to think about, Nathan. And to inspire some blog posts of our own on the topic.
- October 18, 2008 at 11:19 AM


text:
Website: www.ufv.ca/esl/
The English as a Second Language department at UCFV offers full-time and part-time classes in ESL. The classes include speaking, listening, grammar, vocabulary, reading, and writing. Students who plan to take university-level courses should complete the Bridge ESL courses.
Program office: Room A247, Abbotsford campus
Telephone: 604-854-4581
Sept. 3Dec. 17, 2003
Jan. 9April 28, 2004
May 3June 25, 2004
July 5Aug. 20, 2004
Special programs may be offered at different times.
Entrance requirements
You can become an ESL student if you have completed Grade 12 or equivalent, or if you are 19 years of age or older before the first day of classes, and if English is not your mother tongue. International students should contact the International Education department.
How to apply
Fill out an application form in the ESL office. There is a $45 application fee. You will be given an appointment for an assessment. All students do a written and an oral assessment.
Pick up a Permission to Register form from the ESL office. This will give you an appointment to register. If you register after classes have started, there is a late registration fee. Please remember to notify the ESL office and the Admissions and Records office of a change of address or phone number if you move or change your phone number.
It is very important to attend your first class. Please check your Permission to Register form for the time of your class. If you do not attend your first class, your place may be given to a person on the waiting list. You are expected to attend classes from the beginning to the end of the course. Classes with insufficient enrolment will be cancelled.
Grading policy
At the end of the semester students are assessed to determine an appropriate placement for the following semester. Students are given a transcript at the end of each semester. You must pass a course in order to be able to take the next higher course. If you do not attend classes regularly, you will not be passed to the next level. Courses carry college credit towards a General Studies diploma at UCFV.
Fees and additional costs
Fees stated are in effect for 2003/04 and are subject to change for 2004/05.
Courses are $42.50 per credit for tuition plus $4.25 per credit ancillary fees, plus $27 per semester for Student Union Society and the Cascade Student newspaper, for landed immigrants and Canadian citizens. Books must be purchased for each course. They are available in the UCFV bookstore.
Computer laboratory
Certain classes are scheduled in the computer lab. Drop-in times are also available. Students can use computer software to help them in any skill area in which they need to improve.
Beginner: Students will speak, listen, learn new words, and do some reading and writing in class. They will learn about Canada. The beginner classes provide a comfortable place to begin to learn English.
Intermediate: Students will improve their spoken and written English and increase their vocabulary. Students may want to take the phonics course or the pronunciation course at this or the advanced level.
Advanced and Bridge: Students will improve their reading and writing. They will develop a better knowledge of grammar and vocabulary. They will continue to improve their listening and speaking ability. These levels are a preparation for further academic study.
The ESL department offers three certificates: for intermediate proficiency, for advanced proficiency, and for academic proficiency in the English language. Students must apply for a certificate. Students must achieve a grade of C- or better in each of the courses taken at UCFV and an overall GPA of 2.0 or higher. Contact the department for details.
Program outline
The English Second Language program (ESL) at UCFV combines in-depth training in core language skills at six levels with a choice of electives to suit the individual needs of students. The gradual shift from ESL into academic subjects gives students practical support during this transition and helps them adjust to the increased study time required in academic studies. This approach also helps maximize student success in further academic or career programs by providing students with the opportunity to develop the skills required in Canadian universities. On completion of this program students receive a certificate and are eligible for entry into academic programs.
All reading, vocabulary, writing/grammar, and speaking courses are considered core. All other courses are electives.
1. Fall: September to December
2. Winter: January to April
3. Spring: May to June
4. Summer: July to August
ESL core subjects
Level 30-60 Pre-intermediate to Advanced
Writing, grammar, reading, vocabulary, and speaking
PLUS two electives: ESL courses
Level 70 Advanced 2,
Grammar, reading, and speaking
PLUS three electives:
Two ESL writing courses, and one other academic, pre-college, or ESL course
Level 80 Pre-University
Writing, grammar, and reading
PLUS three electives:
One ESL, and two other academic, pre-college, or ESL courses.
Course listings
For complete details on courses see Course descriptions section.
Neil Campbell, BA, MA (Seattle Pacific), Department Head
Naomi Born, BEd (Tabor/Kansas), Prof. Teaching Cert. (B.C.)
Maria Bos-Chan, BA (UBC), BEd (Toronto), MEd (OISE/Toronto), Prof. Teaching Cert.
Elizabeth Carpenter, BA (Toronto)
Lynne Hunniford, BEd (UBC), Prof. Teaching Cert. (B.C.), Child Care Counsellor Diploma
Joan Kilbride, BEd (Concordia), MEd (McGill), Prof. Teaching Cert. (Que), Cert. in
Androgogy (Concordia)
Nancy Sexton, BGS (SFU) Prof. Teaching Cert. (B.C.)
Jon Shanks, BS (Washington), ESL Certificate (VCC)
Dorine Garibay, Department Assistant
Michael Gough, BSc (UCFV), Computer Lab Manager
To course
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For general information about
UCFV contact: email@example.com


text:
You can control the direction or speed of your boat with a touch of your foot with the variable speed foot control unit. Spare units are also available as an accessory item. Shadow DR motors are stringently built to withstand the harsh conditions associated with freshwater fishing and you will come to appreciate the sleek design of these motors along with the silent yet powerful motor.
The most popular of all Watersnake motors. All models are fitted with stainless steel propeller shafts, weedless propellers and corrosion free composite shafts that flex on impact. A cut-off switch is installed that engages as soon as the motor is placed in the stow position. The mounts are very easy to install, easy to stow and light to carry. Another innovation is the placement of the potted circuit board, fully waterproofed and sealed in the motor casing for extra protection.


text:
Podcast: Three and Out w/ Talal Elmasry Week 11
Homecoming: Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Florida
Published: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 3:11 p.m.
Last Modified: Wednesday, November 7, 2012 at 3:11 p.m.
Talal Elmasry breaks down the week 11 Florida matchup against Louisiana-Lafayette.
Reader comments posted to this article may be published in our print edition. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.


text:
C. P. Sharma
Childhood - Poem by C. P. Sharma
Memories of childhood prattle sweet,
Strange, funny utterances incomplete;
Toddling walk on the faltering feet,
Falling down, the same to repeat.
The fondly fight among the siblings,
Pulling one another's strings,
Shielding us to mom we cling,
Affectionately she sweet kisses flings.
Later through sweet sour we wade,
Asking mom for sweet lemonade;
Never bothered about sun and shade,
All the day with friends we played.
When came back in game hurt,
With all sort of soil on shirt;
Silently and stealthily came in home
Dad's scolding on us large loom.
Passing away of grandpas
Of great grief it was a cause,
Of saving grace they were straws,
That day our grief we couldn't gauze.
The memories of childhood sweet or sour,
Make a person bloom as crimson flower;
When I think of the affectionate bower,
I feel as fresh as if I just had a shower.
Comments about Childhood by C. P. Sharma
Elena Sandu (4/7/2010 4:30:00 PM)
The memories of childhood sweet or sour,
Make a person bloom as crimson flower;
Lovely poem, lovely lines..and true! ! Wish I could give a hundred of 10's..you have to deal with only one, sorry.. (Report) Reply
Rachel Ann Butler (9/19/2009 3:52:00 AM)
When I think of the affectionate bower,
I feel as fresh as if I just had a shower.
Rachel Ann Butler (Report) Reply
Ruth Walters (8/20/2009 8:14:00 AM)
What beautiful sentiment C.P. I especially the last line in the last verse, very descriptive. A smashing poem this.
Ruthy: -D (Report) Reply
Vaibhav Pandey (2/10/2009 1:21:00 AM)
wow sir.......such a delightful piece......those childhood days will remain engraved in our hearts forever......thanks for writing this. (Report) Reply
Atsiylah Garfinkel (2/6/2009 6:19:00 PM)
A delightful piece! I enjoyed the easy read, and found it invoked my own childhood memories! Very well written! 10/10 (Report) Reply
Bonnie Collins (12/25/2008 10:13:00 PM)
Oh C.P. I trully enjoyed this.. How innocent can this be? I enjoyed the line about the mom's lemonade, it took me back to the days of my youth in the hot summer, and such a treat to have mom's lemonade... This was trully good....
Bonnie (Report) Reply
Maia Padua (11/7/2008 6:09:00 AM)
'childhood' makes my mind re connect to the past...my childhood days.....though i havent really experienced those things children loves playing..but i love your poem...it helped me find out that there's no more heartaches of being born as an Only child..having a very protective parents....thanks for your piece...sir...
my 10+++for this.... (Report) Reply
Ashley Ormon (10/6/2008 3:36:00 PM)
Amazing diction. I love the way you structured this poem, and how you depicted the ways of childhood.10+ (Report) Reply
Linda Weischedel (10/5/2008 11:04:00 PM)
I like the last part of your poem.
Great job, I enjoyed it.
If only we could go back for a little bit.
Re-living our childhoods (Report) Reply
Sandra Fowler (6/10/2008 4:46:00 PM)
Thank you for sharing your warm memories with your readers.
The last stanza is especially appealing.
Warm regards,
Sandra (Report) Reply
Onelia Avelar (5/30/2008 8:39:00 AM)
Ah, sweet, subliming memories of childhood - lovely revived here... (Report) Reply
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C. P. Sharma's Other Poems
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Stopping By Woods On A Snowy Evening
Robert Frost
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text:
700 Baybrook Mall Drive Friendswood, TX 77546
Charming Charlie in Friendswood, TX
Greetings, Friendswood! Oh, how we "adorn" you!
Welcome to your local Charming Charlie jewelry store! Conveniently located in Baybrook Mall at Interstate 45 South and Bay Area Blvd., our Friendswood store is your one-stop destination for all your accessorizing needs. Located just 18 miles southwest of downtown Houston, this sprawling shopping venue features over 170 specialty stores and is situated near the NASA Johnson Space Center.
Searching for specific handbags and occasion necklaces can be challenging — but not when you shop with us! Our designs are arranged by color palette to help you find exactly what you need in the hues for you. We call it finding your fabulous, and our layout helps you find it in a flash.
Stop by and browse our colorful accessories today!


text:
Happy's Homemade Taco Salad
READY IN: 50mins
Recipe by Happyfrog
FAT FAT AND MORE...this is pretty easy to make after you've gotten the hang of making the shells, you'll get faster, I promise.
Top Review by L-Boogie in Lansdow
Thanks Happy, I'm making this tonight. I've used tin foil molds before to mold the bowl in the deep fryer, but this sounds much better. Will let you know how it turns out.
See Discussion:1 Review
Ingredients Nutrition
- 2 lbs extra lean ground beef (or any meat, really)
- 4 large soft taco-size flour tortillas
- 1 (6 ounce) canof large black olives
- 1 small onion, diced
- 1 1⁄2 cups of grated cheese (any)
- 1⁄2 small cucumber, quartered
- 2 cups of torn up lettuce
- 1 large tomatoes, chopped
- 1 (1 1/4 ounce) package taco seasoning
- sour cream, mixed with
- onion soup mix
Directions See How It's Made
- prepare meat with taco seasoning as directed.
- while meat is simmering,heat the deep fryer.
- You'll need 3 large wooden spoons if doing alone, put tortilla in the hot oil, with both hands holding the spoons (tricky huh!) form a bowl in the oil, then once it stays that way, you can let go once it takes form.
- Let it turn a golden brown then flip it over to harden the outer edges.
- Once you're done you can dry on paper towels or on a brown paper bag.
- Pour in the meat cheese, onions, lettuce, tomato, oli dip, and your kitchen sink, if there's room.


text:
From: "Fujii Masao" <masao(dot)fujii(at)gmail(dot)com> > On Thu, May 10, 2012 at 8:18 AM, Euler Taveira <euler(at)timbira(dot)com> wrote: >> On 09-05-2012 19:17, MauMau wrote: >>> Then, does it make sense to remove "#define KEEPONLYALNUM" in 9.1.4? >>> Would it >>> cause any problems? If no, I wish that, because it eliminates the need >>> to do >>> the removal every time the users applies minor releases. >>> >> If you do so, you'll break minor versions. > > Right. And removing KEEPONLYALNUM is a feature change rather than bug fix, > so that should be proposed during major version development cycle. For information, what kind of breakage would occur? Is it performance degradation, extra index storage consumption, or undesirable query results? I imagined removing KEEPONLYALNUM would just accept non-alphanumeric characters and cause no harm to those who use only alphanumeric characters. Regards MauMau
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text:
|Eda LNG Ltd
Eda Oil Limited
Petromin Interest in the Moran Oil Project.
The Central Moran field (Moran Unit) is a unitized pool comprising PDL2, PDL5 and PDL6 portions of the Moran field operated by Oil Search (PDL2 & PDL6) and ExxonMobil (PDL5). Equity split is 44:55:1 to PDL2, PDL5 and PDL6 respectively.
Current JV partners in the Moran Unit comprising PDL2/PDL5/PDL6 (44/55/1) are:
Oil Search (PNG) Ltd 47.38 %
Ampolex (PNG Petroleum) Inc, Esso Highlands Ltd & Merlin Pacific Oil Company Ltd 28.95 % (all subsidiary companies of ExxonMobil)
Eda Oil Ltd 11.28 % (100% owned subsidiary of Petromin PNG Holdings Ltd)
AGL Gas Developments (PNG) Pty Ltd 5.24 %
Merlin Petroleum Company 3.07 %
Petroleum Resources Kutubu Ltd 2.97 % Petroleum Resources Moran Ltd 1.12 %
Petromin PNG Holdings Limited (Petromin) through Eda Oil Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary holds 20.5% interest in PDL5 which equates to 11.28% in the Moran Unit. This equity was acquired as a result of the successful transfer of Eda Oil Limited from Mineral Resources Development Company Ltd (MRDC) to Petromin in August 2007.
Oil was initially discovered within the PDL2 portion of the Moran field in 1996 and subsequently brought on production via Extended Production Test (EPT) in 1998 with production from Moran 1, 2 and 5 wells. Drilling of Moran 4 confirmed the northwest extent of the Moran field in block 1934 (former PPL138).
As part of appraisal activities of the Moran field, Moran 4 was added to the EPT in March 2000 followed by the grant of PDL5 over block 1934 in February 2001.
Drilling of NW Moran 1 in 2003 confirmed oil in block 1933 within PPL219. EPT production from this well commenced in September 2005 via a 23km pipeline from NW Moran 1 to the Agogo Processing Facilities. The Central Moran Unit Agreement by the PDL2 and PDL5 parties in March 2001 led to integrated development of the Central Moran field in September 2002.
PDL6 over NW Moran was subsequently granted in April 2008. However, it was deemed uneconomic for Eda Oil to exercise the State's entitlement to a 20.5% interest in PDL6.
The Moran field currently has 13 producing wells and 3 gas injection wells. Injection wells are located in higher structural elevation of the Moran field, relative to the location of the producing wells. Gas injection is the main oil recovery process, and involves the injection of gas at up to 100 million cubic feet per day. Development drilling continues in efforts to maximize recovery from the 4 producing fault blocks (Block A, B, J & K).
Kumul LNG Limited
Petromin interest in the PNG LNG Project
Kumul LNG Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Eda Oil Limited. Eda Oil Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Petromin PNG Holdings Ltd. Kumul LNG is a JV partner in the ExxonMobil-led PNG LNG Project and owns 0.2037% interest in the Project. Estimated to cost about US$18 billion, the PNG LNG Project will involve producing 960mmscf/d from assigned gas fields comprising Kutubu, Gobe, Moran, Hides, Angore and Juha. The gas will be transported to a gas treatment or liquefaction plant near Port Moresby for processing and export to overseas markets.
Since the signing of the Gas Agreement on 22 May 2008 between the PNG LNG Project JV participants and the State, the PNG LNG Project has progressed to the Front End Engineering and Design (FEED) stage. Final Investment Decision (FID) was made on 8 December 2009 with first cargo by early 2014.
Tolukuma Gold Mines Limited
The Tolukuma Gold Mine is located in Papua New Guinea, 100km north of Port Moresby, on the Owen Stanley Range at an elevation of 1,550 meters. It is comprised of a small open pit, but largely an undergrounds mine, containg high grade, narrow epithermal veins. It has been operating since 1995 with a history of successful reserve extensions.
Tolukuma has eleven Exploration License Tenements ('EL') and Mining Lease (ML) 104. The ML 104 covers an area of approximately 8km2 whilst the eleven EL's cover over 8,000 km2 located with a 40 minutes flying radius of the mine site.
The Tolukuma deposit is compromised of two sub-parallel structures that are connected by a series of linked structures trending generally northwest - south east. Individual quartz veins average 0.2m to 2.0m in width over a strike length of more than 1.4km. Likewise the Zine and 120 veins located approximately 250m to the east, have similar geological features.
These are connected by a series of linked structures trending generally northwest –southeast direction.
Mining is carried out within these veins in five sections that have different geological characteristics, Major zones include, from the north to south, Tolukuma, Zine, Tolimi, Tinabar and Gulbadi, The Gulbadi zone includes the Gulbadi and Gulbadi C veins, Clay zones of variable width are located in the intersections on two or more structures.
Open pit production began in 1995 and underground mining in mid-1997. The mine is a low capacity, high-grade operation and employs 630 people, including 130 contractors.
The current production, by tonnage, is sourced approximately 92 percent from underground mining and 8 percent from open pit mining. All open pit and underground mining is conducted using mining plant and equipment owned by TGM. Access to the underground workings is via declines. Mining is by the conventional uphole benching method with backfill.
The metallurgical plant is compact and follows conventional gold extraction technology. It is located on a steep ridge in very mountainous terrain.
As the Tolukuma mine is situated in a remote area, it is self sufficient with regard to the generation of power. Power is generated through a combination of diesel driven generator sets and hydro-turbine driven generator sets. Three hydro units are installed, currently capable of generating up to 1.5 MW of power. Three hydro units are dependant on the supply of adequate water. These generators supply 32,000 volts via overhead lines to the mine, where it is transformed down to 6,600 volts, 1,000 volts or 525 volts, depending on the requirement. Any shortfall from the hydro units is made up by the diesel units (a total of 3.2 MW of diesel generating power is installed).
Tolukuma's gold production was 44,181 oz for the year to 30 June 2007; 54, 790 oz for the year 30 June 2006; 76, 314 oz in 2005 and 85, 715 in 2004. According to Emperor Mines, Tolukuma's reserves and resources (as at 30 June 2007) were:
● Reserves – 0.137 Moz
● Resources – 0.410 Moz
Petromin PNG Holdings acquired 100 percent of the Tolukuma Gold Mine from Emperor Mines on the 6th February, 2008.
Eda Minerals Limited is the holding company for all of Petromin's Mining and Exploration interests, with the exception of Tolukuma Gold Mines Ltd.
Petromin Gas Limited is the parent company of Eda LNG Limited, which is the State nominee for purposes of the Elk/Antelope LNG Project which includes both the Upstream and Mid-stream development. Petromin Gas Limited is a wholly owned subsidiary of Petromin.
In October 2008, Petromin successfully entered into a Joint Venture with InterOil Corporation following the signing of the Investment Agreement to participate in the appraisal and development of the Elk/Antelope gas/condensate field. The Elk/Antelope fields are covered by 9 graticular blocks with in PPL238, and located in the Eastern Papuan Basin. This became Petromin's first petroleum upstream project in PNG. Under the Agreement, Petromin funds 20.5% of the costs of developing the gas/condensate field.
InterOil drilled Elk-1 in 2006 and discovered gas in fractured limestones from the Puri Limestone of Oligocene to Miocene age within the Elk Anticlinal Structure. Four more wells have since been drilled within the Elk and adjacent Antelope structures. The wells have proven the presence of significant quantities of gas and condensate and increased the potential size of the resource contained within both structures. . The Antelope structure is located immediately south of the Elk structure with gas/condensate intersected within reefal limestone facies of the Puri Limestone unit. Antelope-1 was a gas/condensate discovery within the Antelope Reef made in February 2009.Antelope-2 was a successful delineation appraisal of the Antelope Reef about 4 kilometers south of the Antelope-1 well in July 2009, and is expected to be completed in March 2010. Antelope-3 is the next well to be drilled between the Antelope-1 and Antelope-2 wells during the first half of 2010.
Petromin is committed to this exciting new gas discovery and the possible development of a LNG project based on the Elk/Antelope gas/condensate field.
In late 2008, the Operator InterOil applied for a declaration of location over the Elk/Antelope gas/condensate field to the Minister of Petroleum and Energy. The application was approved in early March 2009; and an Application for Petroleum Retention Licence over 9 blocks declared during the second quarter 2009, was submitted in late 2009. Work will subsequently proceed toward the submission of an application for a Petroleum Development Licence, after the award of a Petroleum Retention Licence.
For early cash generation, the Operator commenced work on the Condensate Stripping Project in 2009. This project involves the production of gas/condensate, stripping the condensate, and re-injecting the gas for the LNG project. Condensate will then be processed and stored for export. Engineering scoping study was completed in 2009, and work is in progress to complete the Front End Engineering and Design phase.
The Project Agreement between the State and InterOil for both the Upstream and Midstream sectors of the Elk/Antelope LNG was signed on 23 December 2009, formalizing the processes of working toward commercializing the hydrocarbon resource of the Elk/Antelope field.
Petromin (or a wholly owned subsidiary of Petromin) was appointed State Nominee for purposes of exercising the State's entitlement to a 20.5% interest in the Elk/Antelope fields via Instrument of Nomination dated 24 September 2008 under section 6 of the Petromin PNG Holdings Limited (Authorization) Act 2007 (Petromin Act). That Instrument was subsequently gazetted in National Gazette No.G26 dated 11 February 2009. A further Instrument of Nomination was issued under s.6 of the Petromin Act on 16 September 2009 (gazetted in National Gazette No. G180 of 18 September 2009) clarifying that the earlier nomination also extended to "the associated midstream project comprising of the relevant pipeline(s) and petroleum processing facilityies pursuant to the relevant Pipeline Licence(s) and Petroleum Processing Facilities Licence(s) granted under the Oil and Gas Act 1998 to Liquid Niugini Gas Limited".


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Natural order
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Ensemble effort ... from left, Hill Harper, Gary Sinise, Melina Kanakaredes, Carmine Giovinazzo, Vanessa Ferlito and Eddie Cahill.
CSI:NY is testing how far the mighty CSI franchise can be stretched. Michael Idato reports from the show's set.
With the CSI brand behind it you'd think the success of CSI: NY was a safe bet. The show's executive producer isn't so sure. "Just because we're under the CSI flagship doesn't mean we have this thing licked," says Anthony Zuiker, sitting in the show's Los Angeles production office. "We still have to learn through trial and error what works. We're still learning what this show is and what it isn't."
CSI: NY, which airs here on Channel Nine, is the third incarnation of the CSI franchise and stars Gary Sinise and Melina Kanakaredes as detectives Mac Taylor and Stella Bonasera. The cast includes Hill Harper (as medical examiner Dr Sheldon Hawkes), Vanessa Ferlito (as Detective Aiden Burn), Carmine Giovinazzo (as Detective Danny Messer) and Eddie Cahill (as Detective Don Flack). "Our running motto was we needed to find actors who can pick up a piece of evidence and make it interesting," Zuiker says.
As with each version of CSI, procedural police work takes star billing. The characters, however, come a close second, which is a first for the brand.
"It is still a forensic procedural drama, but we wanted to give it a different personality," Zuiker says. "This show is more character driven, it has shorter scripts, it plays with more music, it tells the story more cinematically. That's what we're attempting to do and there are a lot of growing pains at this juncture because it is a brand new show."
The emphasis on character undoubtedly played a crucial part in securing the services of Sinise, an Oscar nominee who had never worked in series television. Speaking to The Guide on set during a break in production, Sinise says one of the reasons he signed on was his confidence in Zuiker and his vision for the lead role. "We had good meetings, good talks about the character and creatively it sounded like a good thing," Sinise says.
As the series unfolds, the back stories of the characters will be developed: Taylor is a former soldier nursing the painful loss of his wife in the World Trade Centre attack, Bonasera is coming to terms with her late father's nefarious business dealings and Hawkes abandoned a surgical career after losing two patients and his confidence.
Sinise's other reason for signing up was the success of the franchise. "I knew what I was getting into," he says. "It was a different city, a different cast and a different set of writers, but I knew we were going to build off something that was already successful."
Successful is an understatement. In just five years CSI has become one of the most potent TV brands in the world. At a time of heightened insecurity, where the evening news is filled with dark, violent imagery, viewers are tuning to crime dramas in record numbers.
In that sense, October 1999 saw Zuiker in the right place at the right time. Invited by producer Jonathan Littman to pitch a series to Jerry Bruckheimer, Zuiker suggested a fictional twist on The New Detectives, a forensic documentary series on the Discovery Channel. CSI was born the next year, followed in 2002 by CSI: Miami and, last year, by CSI: NY.
What sets the CSIs apart, Zuiker says, is their visual style, editing, music and pace. "We coined the phrase feature television and that is what we're doing. We're making mini-Bruckheimer movies every week," he says.
The various versions of CSI take their distinct feel from the cities in which they are set. "The city is definitely one of the characters," Zuiker says. "You go to Las Vegas to escape, to Miami to be seen and to New York to change. All of the cities are characters in their shows."
The location also sets the visual style of the shows. CSI: NY initially took its colour cues from the darker end of the spectrum, its blue and black grains distinct from the bright neon and shadows of the original CSI, while Miami is richer in greens, browns and orange. "Where CSI is colourful and Miami is alive with hot colours, NY is steely and raw and rough, and its colours are more grainy because of the fabric of the city," Zuiker says.
Not everyone has been happy with the choice of palette for the latest instalment. "We learned at about eight episodes in that perhaps the show was looking too gloomy," Zuiker concedes. According to US media reports, the CBS network ordered someone to turn up the lights. "We're still monkeying with the light and finding the right colour palette," Zuiker says.
What prompted CBS's concern with the look of the show was its softer-than-expected ratings in the US. Channel Nine, facing the same problem here, is undoubtedly watching the numbers closely. Last year, CSI and CSI: Miami were its best performing imported dramas and CSI: NY was expected to join them, but the series was rushed to air with almost no fanfare to counter Seven's blockbuster dramas Lost and Desperate Housewives, and may have suffered from the lack of publicity.
Its performance might also suggest the police procedural genre has reached saturation point. Television spin-offs have always been risky ventures, but until now procedural dramas bucked the trend. Law & Order has given birth to three offshoots (Special Victims Unit, Criminal Intent and Trial by Jury) and CSI to two. Television is like the oil business, and eventually the dilemma arises: do you cap the well or pump it dry?
The relatively soft ratings in the US for CSI: NY and Law & Order: Trial by Jury could be the first sign that the genre is being pumped too hard. "It might be that nobody knew what the saturation point was for the crime shows," Los Angeles Times TV critic Brian Lowry wrote last year. "Maybe we're seeing the cusp."
Even within the CSI family, there has been angst about the risks associated with diluting the franchise. CSI actor Gary Dourdan told US journalists earlier this year that the spin-offs were "just not as good" and "kind of contrived".
His co-star, Jorja Fox, was equally disparaging. "They weren't anybody's creative brainchild. They came out of a way to make as much money as quickly as possible," she said.
None of this has stopped chatter about CSI: New Orleans (yep, it even has a title), though it's difficult to know whether the whispers are a hangover from aborted plans to make that city the location of the second spin-off or genuine discussions.
If there is to be a third, Zuiker says it will be without him. "This is definitely it. We're out of show producers," he says, laughing. "CSI: NY has a long, long way to go and until this show is at a 25-30 per cent share consistently there would be no reason to do another show. If you put another flavour of soda in the refrigerator, eventually people will quench their thirst. You have to watch that."
CSI: NY airs on Nine on Tuesdays at 9.30pm.
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What's the Deal with the Submarine In the Middle of the Street Photo?
It's today's hottest viral photo, a sumbarine has surfased on the streets of Milan, Italy. It rose to the top of Reddit's WTF board. So what's the deal?
The image hit reddit under the headline "I'm not a submarine expert but something is not right here." Another redditer to the rescue replies that the photo is a publicity stunt pulled off by an insurance company.
[More coverage from The Business Insider]
Is Fries King a New Fast Food Chain?
Did a new chain restaurant open in Chicago? People in one neighborhood were surprised to see their local Burger King converted to a 'Fries King.' What's going on? The photo of FRIES KING was uploaded to Reddit's r/MildlyInteresting board recently showing the 'former' Burger King location on Southport Avenue in Chicago.


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Quotes from 'My Hero'
I happened to see an interview of Kamal Haasan in a Malayalam channel when I was on holiday in Kerala recently. As usual, I was bowled over by his thought provoking views. I seem to be going very close to idolizing him!
I just wanted to put down two quotes from his interview as it struck me as very profound. So here goes.
- To a question about religion (I didn't hear the question fully as I just then switched on the TV), he said, "Would anyone ask a man if he is a man or a woman or what he did with his wife yesterday night? Religion is just as personal. No one should ask anyone else about it". I thought this was a beautiful way of looking at religion and that if everyone thought of it this way, may be we will have more peace and harmony in our universe.
- The host questioned him about whether he was afraid of aging. To which he answered, "No. Why would I? I look at life as a journey and death as a part of that journey; So, I can't be scared of it. Every sentence has a full stop, otherwise the sentence will become boring. It's the same with life." I was so enthralled with this analogy, I couldn't stop thinking about it. So, obviously the next thing was to blog about it.
I am not sure how this goes down with all of you, but because I caught myself thinking so much about it, I thought it wouldn't be a bad idea to put it down for those of you who would want to reflect on it.
[Original post on My mazed interior - My Mind blog]


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Dennis' Domino Blog
|« Module 3: First run configuration
|Module 1: Introduction »
Module 2: Installing Lotus Domino first time
05/09/12 11:36 am, by dennisvr, Categories: Administration, IBM, Lotus, article
Module 2: Installing Lotus Domino first time
So, we are going to get our hands dirty now. We start by installing the Lotus Domino server. For this we will use windows 2008, instructions vary a bit per OS ofcourse. See the references for materials on installing on AS/400 or Linux. We are going to install Lotus Domino as is, without preparing. During the course of the chapters, we'll redo it the right way, but as this is just our introduction, we'll go through the steps first, without throwing you in the deep end.
So for now, get yourself a Windows2008 server (can be a VM) with about 40Gb of C:\ drive, and the Lotus Domino Server software (we'll use Domino 8.5.3 for Windows 64bit, also named lotus_domino853_w64_en.exe ), and follow the install steps.
When you doubleclick the executable (rightclick + run as administrator in Windows 2008), you'll be prompted for UAC, followed by a location for the temporary files to be extracted.
Accept the defaults and click Next. The files are now being extracted for install.
The install wizard is now started. Click Next to advance to the following screen.
Read the EULA and accept it to advance.
Now it get's more interesting, we are going to enter the Domino server program files File path. We'll explain this in more detail, but as a general rule of thumb, never use spaces in paths. So we'll remove the default path, and put our own in place. The "partitioned server" checkmark can be discarded at this moment.
The path where the datafiles get installed is also updated to reflect our new path. Accept the current setting and continue.
This next screen, let's you choose what kind of Domino server this will be. As there are many different license forms out there, there are 3 defaults, and a customize option.
- Domino Utility Server: Install a Domino server that provides application services only. As we've seen in the Introduction chapter, Domino can provide Mail and Application services. This license type will only allow you Applications.
- Domino Messaging Server: Install a Domino server that provides messaging services. This license type will only allow you Messaging.
- Domino Enterprise Server: Install a Domino server that provides both messaging and application services. This license type also allows for clustering. We'll come back to that.
- Customize Domino Server: This allows you to select the features you want to install.
We'll now use the "Enterprise Server" version, as this allows us to view the most of what Domino has to offer. Please make sure your entitlement allows this before you go to production. You can add/remove tasks after install. Most times, customize will be your choice, because this will allow you to install only what you need.
A screen is now displayed that shows the choices made. After this the actual install is done.
Now we wait for the installation to finish
Congratulations, you've now succesfully installed your first Lotus Domino server. Let's move on to the next chapter to actually start using it.
This entry was posted by dennisvr and is filed under Administration, IBM, Lotus, article.
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Yet another Domino/Websphere Admin blog.
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Giving you a flattering lift that is easy to walk in, this contemporary wedge sandal has been carefully considered for optimum versatility. The contrasting white sole brings a youthful edge to its classic good looks, making it simple to team with almost any outfit, from tailored office-wear to your most relaxed holiday wardrobe.
Full grain leather
45 mm
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At ECCO we are committed to make your online shopping experience as easy as possible. The best way to make sure that you order the right size is to measure your feet and then compare it with the size chart below to find the appropriate size. Please follow these 4 simple steps to accurately measure your feet:
All your need to measure your feet from heel to toe is a piece of paper, a pencil and a ruler.
Place the paper on the floor up against a wall. Place the heel against the wall.
Mark the longest part of your foot on the paper. Repeat procedure with the other foot.
Measure the length of each mark and match it with the size chart.
Let the longest foot decide the shoe size.
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PhoneDog's innovative comparison tool can help you save on cell phones and plans. Find the best phone and plan for you today with PhoneDog!
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Popovic waiting on work permit
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Socceroos defender Tony Popovic will swell the number of Australians in the Premier League next season - provided he receives a work permit from the English government.
The 31-year-old Popovic this week agreed to a new two-year contract with promoted Crystal Palace, the club he joined in 2001 from the Japanese J-League.
However, he has not met The Home Office's criteria for a work permit because he has not played enough games for Australia over the past year.
Popovic is now waiting on the independent appeals panel to decide whether he should be allowed to play in England.
"Tony has agreed a new two-year deal," Popovic's agent Craig Nettelbeck told http://www.skysports.com.
"He is delighted to have pledged his future to Palace.
"We are still waiting to hear on the work permit and you can never be certain on that, but we are very hopeful."
Popovic has been a regular member of the Socceroos' first choice backline in recent seasons.


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Shares ride high on booming profits
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Illustration:Matthew Davidson
The Australian sharemarket hit a record high on Wednesday and Thursday, while overseas sharemarkets remained well below their record levels. Yet market watchers say local shares are cheaper than they have been for nine years and a better buy than shares in the US, Japan and Europe. How come?
The answer is simple. The underlying profit growth of Australia's listed companies has been so strong during the past year that even though the local sharemarket has been roaring ahead, it has not managed to keep pace.
Local shares are now considerably cheaper than they were at the start of the year and much cheaper than shares in many major overseas markets.
The good news from this for share investors is that, as Australian shares are relatively cheap, the local market is likely to keep heading higher during the next year, regardless of what happens overseas.
Certainly, that's the consensus among local stock experts. They are predicting that the Australian sharemarket will rise at least 5 to 10 per cent during the next year, offering a prospective return of between 8 and 13 per cent including dividends. Here are some of the reasons why they are saying it will rise.
The profit reporting season that finished on Tuesday delivered both booming profits and a bonanza in dividends for shareholders.
ABN Amro found that the average earnings growth achieved by all listed companies in the financial year was a roaring 19.7 per cent, 4.6 per cent higher than analyst expectations, while dividends jumped by 13.1 per cent, 6 per cent higher than expected.
Remember, these are averages - many companies thrashed these growth rates and raised dividends even further.
CommSec chief equities economist Craig James has estimated that the underlying profit growth across corporate Australia, excluding the banks, ran at more than 30 per cent for the year and at a 15-year high.
He has also calculated that the price-earnings ratio on the All Ordinaries index, at 14.3, was at the lowest level since January 1995.
The jump in dividends was also important - it showed that companies were confident of their earnings and cashflow for the coming year, and has made the yield on shares more attractive against other investments, such as property and cash accounts.
The big dividend payments were one of the big surprises of the profit season, according to AMP Capital Investors head of investment strategy and chief economist Shane Oliver, and another reason why investors will be attracted to the sharemarket during the coming year.
Dr Oliver said the rise in dividends had taken the sharemarket yield from around 3.6 per cent to more than 4 per cent.
"We've still got more upside in the market to go," he said. "Profit growth has been so strong that the market is remaining cheap and we are seeing some very attractive dividend yields."
CommSec's Mr James said there were many reasons to keep buying shares now, despite the market being near a record level.
"The good news is that it was not just the company profits that were strong in the reporting season," he said.
"Companies were also reasonably upbeat for the current financial year.
"Profits are rising, but share prices are not rising to the same extent."
Mr James said share valuations were cheap, the economy was continuing to roll on, global recovery was in place, and companies were bullish about the trading outlook. "Despite being at a record high, investors should have no qualms about dipping their toes in the water," he said.
Simon Bond, associate director of ABN Amro Morgans, was particularly impressed by the positive outlook offered by many company chief executives in the latest profit season.
"It was interesting to note the comments from a lot of CEOs that the profit outlook was solid," he said.
"As one of our strategists put it, the Australian economy is firing on more cylinders than a V8 Monaro at the moment and this was reflected in the corporate outlooks."
ABN Amro saw little evidence from companies trading with China that the Chinese economy was slowing, while continued power outages and transport bottlenecks there indicated quite the opposite, he said.
"There's still growth in China, and with the Olympics coming up in Beijing, it means China is going to be even stronger for longer," he said.
"That bodes well for the bigger stocks such as the resources heavyweights BHP Billiton and Rio Tinto."
ABN Amro saw little signs of profit margin pressure and despite the economy roaring ahead, saw few concerns about inflation.
"The banks have been roaring back into favour in the last week or so, because, for all the talk of bank profit margin pressure, there may not have been much at all," he said.


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The Bowie Playhouse is a 150-seat indoor theater.
Tickets for BCT productions can be purchased online via credit card or at the box office by cash or check on the night of the show. We recommend purchasing tickets online, as this guarantees your seats instantly. Any open seats will be available to walk-in patrons on the night of the show.
Our online ticket sales are provided through PatronManager and the SalesForce Foundation, which allows us to use the same secured purchasing system used by companies such as Starbucks and T-Mobile. Your personal information will never be shared or sold to any third party, and we will only contact you about BCT shows, news and events.
All Ticket Sales are final. Latecomers will be seated at the discretion of the House Manager.
There will be a processing fee per ticket for all credit card transactions.
Tickets Prices - Season 2017-2018
Single Show Tickets
* General Admission - $22.00
* Seniors (62+)/Students - $17.00
Season Tickets
* General Admission - $60.00
* Seniors (62+)/Students - $45.00
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* General, Students, Seniors (62+) - $15.00


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Teaser Poster For The Raid 2: Berandal
It's not over yet...
Regular readers will know of our deep, abiding affection for Gareth Evans' crazy action hit The Raid. And with Evans now busy editing the sequel after a long shoot in Indonesia, it's time for the marketing effort to ramp up. Evans has been talking on Twitter about preparing the teaser trailer for a likely launch next month and the first poster has arrived via Twitch.
The Raid 2: Berandal picks up the story where the first one left off and sweeps Rama (Iko Uwais) into a much broader world of corruption and violence as he infiltrates the ranks of a ruthless Jakarta crime syndicate.
Julie Estelle, Alex Abbad, Yayan Ruhian, Mathias Muchus, Tio Pakusadewo, Marsha Timothy, Cecep Arif Rahman, Matsuda Ryuhei, Endo Kenichi and Kitamura Kazuki are all part of the cast for this one, which promises to up the action levels (yes, really) while still keeping one eye on the plot. "We have 17 action sequences in the film – so there's going to be a lot fresh material unspoiled by any teaser or trailer we release," Evans wrote of the film on Twitter.
For more from the director, take a listen to what he said when he appeared on Empire's podcast a couple of weeks ago. The Raid 2: Berandal is aiming for a 2014 release, but whatever the date, we're simply listing it as 'Not Soon Enough'.