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Um robô (ou robot) é um dispositivo, ou grupo de dispositivos, eletromecânicos capazes de realizar trabalhos de maneira autônoma ou pré-programada. Os robôs são comumente utilizados na realização de tarefas em locais mal iluminados, ou na realização de tarefas sujas ou perigosas para os seres humanos. Os robôs industriais utilizados nas linhas de produção são a forma mais comum de robôs, uma situação que está mudando recentemente com a popularização dos robôs comerciais limpadores de pisos e cortadores de gramas. Outras aplicações são: tratamento de lixo tóxico, exploração subaquática e espacial, cirurgias, mineração, busca e resgate, e localização de minas terrestres. Os robôs também aparecem nas áreas do entretenimento e tarefas caseiras.

Etimologia

A palavra 'robô' em si não era nova, tendo sido usada na língua tcheca como robota (que significa servidão, um termo aplicado a camponeses obrigados ao serviço obrigatório sob o sistema feudal). O termo "robô" foi aplicado pela primeira vez para se referir a autômatos artificiais na peça R.U.R. em 1920, do escritor tcheco Karel Čapek. No entanto, Karel originalmente lhes chamaria de labori (do latim labor, trabalho) mas seu irmão Josef Čapek sugeriu o termo robô (originalmente robot/roboti- singular/plural). Na concepção atual, robôs são compostos de partes mecânicas, enquanto os "robôs" de R.U.R. eram seres semi-humanos e sem alma fabricados com matéria orgânica sintética para servirem de escravos da humanidade sendo, portanto, mais próximos dos replicantes e dos clones humanos.

A palavra robótica, usada para descrever este campo de estudo, foi cunhada pelo escritor de ficção científica Isaac Asimov. Ele  criou as "Três Leis da Robótica" que são um tema recorrente em seus livros e em obras de autores posteriores.

Visão geral
Segundo a definição da RIA (Robotics Industries Association), um robô seria um dispositivo automático que possui conexões de realimentação (feedback) entre seus sensores, atuadores e o ambiente, dispensando a ação do controle humano direto para realizar determinadas tarefas, podendo também haver robôs parcialmente controlados por pessoas. O grau de automatização de um robô pode atingir o nível de aprendizado automático, dependendo dos algoritmos utilizados - ainda que com muitas limitações, devido às óbvias dificuldades de simular a realidade em nível computacional.

Os robôs executam tarefas através de atuadores (elétricos, pneumáticos, sonoros etc.), produzindo sons, acendendo elementos luminosos ou displays, movendo um braço, abrindo ou fechando garra robótica, ou realizando o seu próprio deslocamento.

O controle é provido por algoritmos que relacionam as entradas e saídas do robô, através de unidades de processamento eletrônicas e de softwares, que podem ser desde um circuito eletrônico de controle até mesmo um computador pessoal. Por esta definição, muitos dispositivos automáticos poderiam ser chamados de robôs.

A grande maioria dos robôs seriais existentes está na indústria e lá, as tarefas mais executadas são o deslocamento em um ambiente (locomoção) e a movimentação de objetos ao seu redor (manipulação). Esta distinção por tarefas pode dividir os robôs em duas categorias: robôs móveis e robôs manipuladores, ainda que alguns executem ambas as funções.

As estruturas mecânicas dos robôs são elaboradas de forma a executar determinados movimentos. Os manipuladores são geralmente em forma de braço antropomórfico. Suas articulações podem executar movimentos de rotação e de translação.

As juntas são elementos mecânicos que conectam os membros (partes) da estrutura dos robôs móveis ou dos manipuladores e podem ser:

 rotatória (movimento de rotação ao redor de um eixo fixo)
 prismática (movimento de translação)
 Ou combinação das duas. (por exemplo: movimento de um parafuso)

Um robô paralelo é aquele formado por cadeias cinemáticas fechadas e são geralmente caracterizados por não possuírem atuadores nos membros móveis.

O número de Graus de Liberdade se refere a liberdade de movimento no espaço cartesiano, por exemplo. Um corpo rígido livre no espaço cartesiano pode apresentar 3 rotações em torno dos eixos XYZ e mais três translações ao longo destes mesmos eixos XYZ, num total de 6 gdl. Já o braço humano pode ser representado por um corpo rígido com sete gdl. O braço humano não é um corpo rígido pois o mesmo é flexível e pode ser modelado com muito mais do que 6gdl.

Os sensores proprioceptivos recebem sinais dos atuadores do robô (como por exemplo registradores de posição relativa entre dois eixos, registradores de posição angular, contadores de voltas). A propriocepção é um dos sentidos mais importantes do corpo humano.

Alternativamente, o termo robô tem sido utilizado para a designar uma série de máquinas que substituem diretamente o ser humano ou um animal no trabalho ou no lazer. Desta forma, um robô pode ser visto como uma forma de biomímica. A falta do antropomorfismo é provavelmente a principal causa que nos impede de reconhecer uma lavadora de louças altamente complexa como se fosse um robô. Entretanto, no conceito moderno, este termo implica um certo nível de autonomia que iria impedir que muitas máquinas automáticas fossem chamadas de robôs. A busca por robôs autônomos ou robôs cognitivos cada vez mais autossuficientes, é atualmente um dos focos de pesquisas na robótica, levando  ao campo da inteligência artificial.

O termo robô é também muito utilizado para se referir a dispositivos mecânicos sofisticados que são controlados remotamente por pessoas possuindo pouco ou nenhum grau de automação, tais como os waldoes e os ROVs. Essa classe de robôs proporciona a simulação de presença, se forem utilizadas câmeras de vídeo transmitindo imagens em tempo real ao controlador do robô.

História
A ideia de pessoas artificiais data de épocas como a da lenda de Cadmus, que semeou os dentes de um dragão que se transformaram em soldados, e do mito do Pigmalião, no qual a estátua de Galateia se torna viva. Na mitologia clássica, o deus deformado da metalurgia (Vulcano ou Hefesto) criou serventes mecânicos, variando de serventes douradas inteligentes a mesas utilitárias de três pernas que poderiam se mover por força própria. As lendas Judias se referem ao Golem, uma estátua de argila animada através de mágica Cabalística. Similarmente, o Younger Edda, da Mitologia escandinava conta que um gigante de argila, Mökkurkálfi ou Mistcalf, foi construído para auxiliar o troll Hrungnir em um duelo com Thor, o Deus do Trovão.

O escritor checo Karel Čapek introduziu a palavra "Robô" em sua peça "R.U.R" (Rossum's Universal Robots, cujo livro foi lançado no Brasil pela editora Hedra com o título A Fábrica de Robôs), encenada em 1921. O termo "robô" realmente não foi criado por Karel Čapek, mas por seu irmão Josef, outro respeitado escritor checo. O termo "Robô" vem da palavra checa "robota", que significa "trabalho forçado".

Dentre as ideias mais antigas que se conhecem sobre dispositivos automáticos, ou autômatos, data de 350 A.C., a criada pelo matemático grego Arquitas de Tarento, amigo de Platão. Ele criou um pássaro de madeira que batizou de "O Pombo". O pássaro era propulsionado por vapor e jatos de ar comprimido tendo, para muitos, mais méritos de ter sido a primeira máquina a vapor do que a inventada por James Watt.

No ano 60, o matemático e engenheiro Heron de Alexandria construiu um triciclo de movimento independente e programável, acionado pela força um peso em queda. O "programa" consistia em cordas enroladas ao redor do eixo. O cientista da computação Noel Sharkey aponta este triciclo como o primeiro robô programável da história. Uma moderna réplica do veículo funcionou perfeitamente, provando que o invento não fora apenas especulação teórica ou fruto da imaginação de Heron.

O primeiro projeto documentado de um autômato humanoide foi feito por Leonardo da Vinci por volta do ano de 1495. As notas de Da Vinci, redescobertas nos anos 1950, continham desenhos detalhados de um cavaleiro mecânico que era aparentemente capaz de sentar-se, mexer seus braços, mover sua cabeça e o maxilar. O projeto foi baseado em sua pesquisa anatômica documentada no Homem Vitruviano. Não é conhecido se ele tentou ou não construir o mecanismo (veja: Cavaleiro mecânico de Leonardo).

O primeiro autômato funcional foi criado em 1738 por Jacques de Vaucanson, que fez um androide que tocava flauta, assim como um pato mecânico que comia e defecava. A história "The Sandman" de E.T.A. Hoffmann traz uma mulher mecânica semelhante a uma boneca, e "Steam Man of the Prairies", de Edward S. Ellis (1865) expressa a fascinação americana com a industrialização. Uma onda de histórias sobre autômatos humanoides culminou com a obra "Electric Man" (Homem Elétrico), de Luis Senarens (1885).

Uma vez que a tecnologia avançou a ponto de as pessoas preverem o uso das criaturas mecânicas como força de trabalho, as respostas literárias ao conceito dos autômatos (robôs) refletiu o medo dos seres humanos, de serem substituídos por suas próprias criações. Frankenstein (1818), de Mary Shelley, muitas vezes considerado o primeiro romance de ficção científica, se tornou sinônimo deste tema. Quando a peça de Čapek RUR (1921) introduziu o conceito de uma linha de montagem que utilizava robôs para tentar construir mais robôs, o tema recebeu uma conotação econômica e filosófica, posteriormente propagada pelo filme clássico de Fritz Lang Metropolis (1927). Porém, na década de 1940, o engenheiro químico Isaac Asimov começou a escrever diversas obras sobre robôs domésticos educados e fieis ao ser humano, onde grande parte do temor do domínio das máquinas (mecânicas) foi afastado parcialmente. Mas, os populares Blade Runner (1982) e The Terminator (1984) são ícones deste temor. No século XXI, com os robôs se tornando mais reais e perspectiva do surgimento de robôs inteligentes, uma melhor compreensão das interações entre os robôs e o homens é abordada em filmes modernos como A.I. (2001) de Spielberg e Eu, Robô (2004) de Proyas.

Muitos consideram o primeiro robô, segundo as definições modernas, como sendo o barco teleoperado, similar a um ROV moderno, inventado por Nikola Tesla e demonstrado em uma exibição no ano de 1898 no Madison Square Garden. Baseado em sua patente 613 809 para o "teleautomation", Tesla desejava desenvolver o "torpedo sem fio" para se tornar um sistema de armas para a marinha estadunidense.

Nos anos 1930, a Westinghouse fez um robô humanoide conhecido como Elektro. Ele foi exibido no World's Fair de 1939 e 1940.

O primeiro robô autônomo eletrônico foi criado por Grey Walter na Universidade de Bristol, na Inglaterra, no ano de 1948.

George Devol (1912-2011) patenteou o primeiro robô industrial, denominado Unimate, empregado na fábrica da Ford Motor Company de Trenton (Nova Jérsei) em 1961.

Robótica
De acordo com a American Heritage Dictionary, a robótica é a ciência ou o estudo da tecnologia associado com o projeto, fabricação, teoria e aplicação dos robôs. A palavra robótica foi utilizada primeiramente impressa na história de ficção científica de Isaac Asimov "Liar!" (1941). Nela, o autor se refere às 'três regras da robótica' que posteriormente se tornaram as "Três Leis da Robótica" na publicação de ficção Eu, Robô. Asimov não sabia que estava inventando o termo; como a ciência e tecnologia dos dispositivos elétricos é a eletrônica, ele assumiu que a robótica já se referia à ciência e tecnologia dos robôs. Em algumas das outras obras de Asimov, ele afirma que o primeiro uso da palavra robótica foi em seu conto Runaround (Astounding Science Fiction, março de 1942), onde ele introduziu o conceito das Três Leis. No entanto, a publicação original de "Liar!" antecede o de "Runaround" em dez meses, então o primeiro é geralmente citado como a origem da palavra.

A robótica requer conhecimentos sobre eletrônica, mecânica e software. A parte mecânica requer conhecimentos sobre cinemática, pneumática, hidráulica e a parte eletrônica e de programação, conhecimentos sobre o tipo de unidade processadora a ser utilizada, que podem ser microcontroladores ou CLPs. O processo padrão de criação de robôs começa pela exploração dos sensores, algoritmos e atuadores que serão requeridos para o projeto. Algumas ideias como a relação entre o peso do robô e sua fonte de alimentação primária também são decisivas para o projeto.

Após a base mecânica estar montada, os sensores e as outras entradas e saídas do robô são conectadas a um dispositivo que tomará as decisões, sendo mais comum o uso de um microcontrolador como unidade de processamento. Este circuito avalia os sinais de entrada e calcula a resposta apropriada para cada combinação, enviando sinais aos atuadores de modo a causar uma ação ou reação.

Os robôs são maquinas poderosas que nos ajudam a vida atualmente.

Usos contemporâneos dos robôs

Os robôs são utilizados para realizar trabalhos que são muitos pesados, sujos ou perigosos para os seres humanos. Os robôs industriais nas linhas de produção são a forma mais comum de robôs, porém isto vem mudando recentemente pela entrada de robôs faxineiros e cortadores de grama. Em 2017, um robô de carga pessoal, que pode transportar até 40 quilos de suprimentos de forma autônoma ou seguindo um operador humano. Outras aplicações incluem a limpeza de lixo tóxico, exploração subaquática e espacial, cirurgias, mineração, busca e regaste e a busca de minas terrestres. Os robôs também estão surgindo nas áreas de cuidados de saúde e entretenimento.

Os manipuladores industriais possuem capacidades de movimento similares ao braço humano e são os mais comumente utilizados na indústria. As aplicações incluem soldagem, pintura e carregamento de máquinas. A indústria automotiva é um dos campos que mais se utiliza desta tecnologia, aonde os robôs são programados para substituir a mão de obra humana em trabalhos repetitivos ou perigosos. A adoção generalizada deste tipo de tecnologia, entretanto, foi atrasada devido à avaliabilidade de funcionários baratos e aos altos requerimentos de capital dos robôs. Outra forma de robôs industriais é o AGVs (Veículos Guiados Automaticamente). Os AGVs são utilizados em estoques, hospitais, portos de contêineres, laboratórios, instalações de servidores, e outras aplicações onde o risco, confiabilidade e segurança são fatores importantes. De mesma forma, o patrulhamento autônomo e os robôs de segurança estão aparecendo como parte de alguns prédios automatizados.

No começo do século XXI, os robôs domésticos começaram a surgir na mídia, com o sucesso do Aibo, da Sony e uma série de fabricantes lançando seus aspiradores robóticos, tais como a iRobot, Electrolux, Vileda e Karcher. Cerca de um milhão de unidades de aspiradores foram vendidas em todo o mundo até o final de 2004. A iRobot planeja produziu um robô de mapeamento similar no tamanho e forma aos aspiradores robóticos. As corporações japonesas foram bem sucedidas em seus desenvolvimentos de protótipos de robôs humanoides e planejam utilizar esta tecnologia não apenas nas linhas de produção, mas também nos lares japoneses. Existem expectativas no Japão de que os cuidados caseiros para a população idosa podem ser melhor realizados através da robótica. No Brasil, por incentivo de políticas públicas, foi fundada uma indústria de robôs denominada ARMTEC Tecnologia em Robótica , que desde 2004 vem gerando robôs bombeiros, ROVs, de avaliação de pavimentos entre outros.

Os robôs também são comumente utilizados como uma forma de Arte de Alta Tecnologia.

Desenvolvimentos atuais

Quando os roboticistas tentaram imitar os movimentos humanos e de animais em robôs, eles descobriram que isto era muito difícil de ser realizado, necessitando de muito mais poder computacional do que estava disponível na época. Então, foi dada ênfase a outras áreas de pesquisa. Robôs simples utilizando rodas foram utilizados para conduzir experimentos sobre comportamento, navegação e planejamento de percursos. Estas técnicas de navegação atualmente se encontram disponíveis nos sistemas de controle de robôs autônomos. O exemplo mais sofisticado de um sistema de navegação autônomo disponível inclui um sistema de LASER e o sistema VSLAM (Localização e Mapeamento Visual Simultâneos) da ActivMedia Robotics e da Evolution Robotics.

No momento em que os engenheiros estavam prontos para tentar criar robôs que caminhassem novamente, ele começaram com pequenos hexápodes e outras plataformas com muitas patas. Estes robôs imitavam os insetos e artrópodes em forma e função. Estes tipos de corpos comumente oferecem alta flexibilidade e adaptatividade a muitos ambientes, porém o custo da complexidade mecânica adicional tem adiado sua adoção pelos consumidores. Com mais de quatro patas, estes robôs são estaticamente estáveis, o que os torna mais fáceis para se trabalhar. O objetivo da pesquisa com robôs bípedes é obter uma caminhada utilizado movimento passivo-dinâmico que imite o movimento humano. Temos algum progresso recente na locomoção bípede, entretanto um caminhar bípede robusto ainda não foi atingido.

Outro problema técnico que impede uma adoção mais aberta dos robôs é a complexidade de manusear objetos físicos em um ambiente natural caótico. Sensores de toque e melhores algoritmos de visão podem resolver este problema. O UJI Online Robot da Universidade Jaime I da Espanha é um bom exemplo de um progresso atual neste campo.

Recentemente, grandes progressos tem sido realizados na área da robótica médica, com duas companhias em particular, a Computer Motion e a Intuitive Surgical, recebendo uma aprovação regulatória na América do Norte, Europa e Ásia para que seus robôs sejam utilizados em procedimentos cirúrgicos médicos invasivos. A automação em laboratórios é uma área crescente. Nesta, os robôs são utilizados para transportar amostras químicas ou biológicas entre instrumentos tais como incubadores, recipientes e leitores. Outros lugares aonde a robótica poderá substituir o trabalho humano é na exploração do fundo do mar e exploração espacial. Para estes trabalhos, os corpos do tipo artrópode são geralmente preferidos. Mark W. Tilden, do Los Alamos National Laboratories, se especializou em robôs baratos com patas dobradas porém sem juntas, enquanto outros buscam reproduzir o movimento completo dos caranguejos.

Robôs experimentais com asas e outros modelos explorando a biônica estão ainda no princípio de seu desenvolvimento. Os "nanomotores" e os "smart wires" podem reduzir drasticamente a quantidade de energia utilizada para realizar os movimentos, enquanto a estabilização em voo pode ser melhorada por giroscópios extremamente pequenos. Um dos motivos mais significativos para estes trabalhos é o interesse militar em tecnologias de espionagem.

Expectativas futuras
Alguns cientistas acreditam que os robôs serão capazes de se aproximar a uma inteligência semelhante à humana na primeira metade do século XXI. Mesmo antes destes níveis de inteligência teóricos serem obtidos, especula-se que os robôs podem começar a substituir os humanos em muitas carreiras com trabalho intensivos. O pioneiro da cibernética Norbert Wiener discutiu alguns destes temas em seu livro The human use of human beings (1950), no qual ele especulou que a tomada de trabalhos humanos pelos robôs pode levar a um aumento no desemprego e problemas sociais a curto prazo, porém que a médio prazo isto pode trazer uma riqueza material às pessoas na maioria das nações.

Alguns acreditam que estes robôs coletivamente podem formar um "proletariado robô", ou classe operária, que permitiria que os humanos ser preocupassem principalmente com o controle dos meios de produção (tais como os equipamentos de fazendas e indústrias), assim aproveitando os frutos dos trabalhos dos robôs. Tal mudança na produção, distribuição e consumo de mercadorias e serviços iria representar uma mudança radical do sistema socioeconômico atual, e para evitar a pobreza normalmente causada pelo desemprego e para poder aproveitar os frutos do trabalho robótico, acredita-se que o proletariado humano teria que derrubar a classe dominante, estando de acordo com as previsões de Karl Marx.

A robótica provavelmente continuará sua expansão em escritórios e residências, substituindo aparelhos "não inteligentes" por seus equivalentes robóticos. Robôs domésticos capazes de realizar muitos trabalhos caseiros, descritos nas histórias de ficção científica e mostrados ao público nos anos 1960, continuarão a ser aperfeiçoados.

Aparentemente existe um certo grau de convergência entre humanos e robôs. Alguns seres humanos já são ciborgues, com alguma parte do corpo ou mesmo partes do sistema nervoso substituídos por equivalentes artificiais, tais como o marcapasso. Em muitos casos a mesma tecnologia pode ser utilizada tanto na robótica quanto na medicina.

Mesmo não sendo robótica restrita, existem alguns estudos nesta área pelo professor Kevin Warwick.

Possíveis perigos
O conceito de que os robôs podem competir ou rivalizar com os humanos é comum. Em sua série Eu, Robô, Isaac Asimov cria as Três Leis da Robótica em uma tentativa literária de controlar a competição dos robôs com os seres humanos, estas leis são:

 Um robô não pode ferir um ser humano, ou, por omissão, permitir que um ser humano seja ferido.
 Um robô deve obedecer às ordens recebidas dos seres humanos, a não ser no caso de estas ordens entrarem em conflito com a Primeira Lei.
 Um robô pode proteger a sua própria existência, contanto que tal proteção não entre em conflito com a Primeira ou Segunda Leis.

Infelizmente, este problema pode não ser tão simples de resolver. O próprio Asimov baseou o enredo de uma série de romances e histórias curtas na análise da aplicabilidade e suficiência das três leis. As leis ou regras que podem ou devem ser aplicadas aos robôs ou outro "capital autônomo" em cooperação com competição com os humanos incentivaram a investigação macroeconômica desta competição, notavelmente por Alessandro Acquisti construindo um trabalho posterior a John von Neumann.

Mesmo sem uma programação maliciosa, os robôs e os humanos simplesmente não possuem as mesmas tolerâncias e capacidades corporais, o que pode levar a acidentes : Em Jackson, no estado de Michigan, em 21 de julho de 1984, um robô de uma fábrica esmagou um operário contra uma barra de proteção, aparentemente na primeira morte relacionada a um robô nos Estados Unidos. Desde então as cortinas de laser tem sido requeridas para proteção contra tal tipo de perigo com equipamentos pesados.

Em março de 2009 um robô programado para simular emoções humanas teve um 'ataque obsessivo'. Kenji, um robô projetado pela Robotic Akimu, empresa ligada à Toshiba, e programado para simular emoções humanas, agiu fora do normal após passar um dia com uma pesquisadora. Ele tentou evitar que ela fosse embora, bloqueando a porta de passagem, e ficou exigindo abraços.

Em outra visão, o episódio da série Star Trek: Voyager "Prototype" mostra um grupo de robôs conhecidos como Automated Personnel Units (Unidades Pessoais Automatizadas), que haviam sido construídas para combater em um grupo guerreiro porém matou seus criadores quando a guerra terminou.

Competições de robôs

Dean Kamen, o fundador da FIRST e da American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) criou um fórum competitivo que visa inspirar nas pessoas jovens, em suas escolas e comunidades uma apreciação pela ciência e tecnologia. A competição robótica deste grupo é uma competição multinacional onde times profissionais e pessoas jovens resolvem problemas de engenharia de forma intensa e competitiva. Em 2003 a competição atingiu mais de 20.000 estudantes em mais de 800 times em 24 competições. Estes times vem do Canadá, Brasil, Reino Unido e Estados Unidos. Ao contrário das competições de sumo que ocorrem regularmente em alguns eventos, os as competições Battlebots na televisão, estas competições incluem o processo de criação do robô.

A RoboCup é uma organização competitiva dedicada ao desenvolvimento de um time de robôs humanoides totalmente autônomos que possa vencer o campeão mundial de futebol por volta do ano 2050. Existem muitas ligas para simulação para humanoides de tamanho real.

A RoboCup Jr. é similar à RoboCup. RoboCup Jr. é uma competição para qualquer pessoa com menos de 18 anos de idade, e é um pouco mais fácil do que a RoboCup normal. A RoboCup Jr. inclui três competições: futebol (um campeonato de futebol), resgate (um curso de obstáculos aonde um item deve ser levado de um local a outro) e dança (os robôs são julgados pela dança, criatividade e roupas). Como na RoboCup, todos os robôs devem ser construídos e programados pelo time que o construiu, não é permitida a compra de outros robôs.

O Sumô de Robôs é uma disputa de robótica entre dois robôs que buscam empurrar o adversário de uma arena circular, igual ao esporte sumô. É uma das modalidades mais populares do mundo com competições internacionais em países como Japão, Estados Unidos, Polônia, México e Brasil.

O DARPA Grand Challenge é uma competição para veículos robóticos completarem um percurso de 200 milhas no deserto de Mojave. O desafio consiste em cumprir um trajeto definido momentos antes da disputa, em menos de 10 horas e de forma autônoma. O prêmio de $1.000.000 não foi atingindo por nenhuma das equipes na primeira edição do evento, em 2004. A maior distância que um participante conseguiu atingir nesse ano foi de apenas 7.4 milhas. O prêmio ficou acumulado para 2005 no valor de $2.000.000 sendo neste ano então conquistado pela Universidade de Stanford. Nesta corrida, quatro veículos completaram o percurso com sucesso. Esta é uma das amostras de que a tecnologia robótica e os algoritmos de navegação autônoma estão evoluindo muito rapidamente.

O Intelligent Ground Vehicle Competition (IGVC), é uma competição para veículos terrestres autônomos que devem atravessar obstáculos em ambientes abertos sem nenhuma intervenção humana. Esta competição internacional suportada pela Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International (AUVSI), é uma competição de projetos estudantis de nível universitário e tem mantido competições anuais desde 1992.

Os dois AAAI Grand Challenges se foram na Interação entre homem e robô, com uma sendo um robô participando de uma conferência e a outra um desafio de interação entre o operador e o robô em um resgate.

Os Centennial Challenges são campeonatos da NASA com prêmios visando avanços tecnológicos não financiados pelo governo, incluindo a robôtica, por cidadãos estadunidenses.

Em competições Micromouse, pequenos robôs tentam sair de um labirinto no menor tempo possível.

A popularidade dos programas de televisão Robot Wars Robotica e Battlebots, sobre competições de nível colegial de sumo entre robôs, o sucesso das "bombas inteligentes" e dos UCAVs em conflitos armados, os "gastrobots" comedores de grama na Flórida e a criação dos robôs de alimentação demorada na Inglaterra, sugerem que o medo de uma forma de vida artificial nociva, que entre em competição com a vida selvagem não é uma ilusão (ver: Rebelião das máquinas). O worldwide Green Parties em 2002 pediu ao público que aumenta-se sua vigilância contra tal tipo de competição, como base em preocupações de biossegurança. Assim como ocorreu com as preocupações de Aldous Huxley sobre a clonagem humana, as questões que Karel Čapek levantou anteriormente na ficção científica se tornaram debates reais.

Ver também
 Robô antrópode
 Robô autônomo
 Robô humanoide
 Robô hiper-redundante
 Robôs com rodas diferenciais
 Walker
 Nanorrobô
 Robô de serviço
 Robô educacional
 Robótica Livre
 kit Robô
 AISoy1
Talos

Ligações externas

Robótica
Temas da ficção científica
Palavras decorrentes da ficção
Tecnologia da informação
Ciência da computação

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaWikipedia


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After practising for just three years, Rebecca Garden, age 26, has retained her enthusiasm for life as a lawyer, with a keen interest in the legal process.
With her two younger brothers, Rebecca grew up between New Zealand and the United States as her parents moved between Wellington and Boston for work; her father is a doctor and her mother a teacher. However, during her teenage years, she completed most of her high school education at Wellington Girl's College. In her seventh form year Rebecca participated in an overseas exchange to Chile before coming back to Wellington to complete double degrees at Victoria University of Wellington: a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Spanish and Italian, and a law degree. It was a pleasure to talk to Rebecca about how she was finding her legal career so far. Rebecca comes across as a very confident, friendly, eloquent young woman.
"Practising law is pretty different to studying it..."
"I think that it was a natural progression. So when I left school I thought I would want to do a degree where there was a clear job of what I'd do at the end of it. And I liked English and those sort of subjects so I did a BA and then I did the law degree and decided that I did actually like law so it seemed like an obvious choice."
Initially unsure of what specialty to focus on, Rebecca did "…as broad a law degree as I could". However, she's always had an interest in Public Law, which is what led her to work for the Crown Law Office, after completing a summer clerking job at the Parliamentary Counsel Office followed by two months at the Treasury. She has been at Crown Law for two and a half years.
In 2015 Rebecca was the Convenor for the Wellington Young Lawyers' Committee but she has passed the torch in 2016 in order to focus on her job.
"Practising law is pretty different to studying it. You learn the law at law school but you don't learn the practical act of applying it."
Entering the profession, she was a little uncertain about procedure, practical application and processes but that uncertainty soon eased as less than a week after admission Rebecca flew to Auckland as part of a team appearing on a family law case at the High Court, where she worked in a training capacity.
The support offered during this case seems to be well appreciated as, although she didn't appear, she dealt with submissions and research.
Diversity is something Rebecca says she enjoys about her work at Crown Law: "We definitely deal with a range of matters and types of work … with litigation files ranging from immigration issues to MSD and education."
She light-heartedly responds: "it's one of those funny things where nothing to do with practising law is covered in law school … but it is also fine because I expected that it would be very different."
Her biggest adjustment was changing from the unaccountability and flexibility that university offered, "…to all of a sudden you have to be in the office working set hours. That was kind of, weirdly, the most challenging."
Are there any issues currently facing the legal profession the you'd like to highlight?
Acknowledging that there are definitely still a lot of people who prefer working with hardcopy files, she understands that there is shift happening toward using more technology in law and in the courts.
"There are benefits to it … you can work from home and have more flexibility with working arrangements."
The downside to this is "working out work/life balance when you're accessible all the time."
Rebecca has always looked up to her dance teacher Jean Goodman, who is now 83 and still teaches. She says Goodman "…is a good example of living life to the fullest" which has inspired her to do the same.
In her spare time Rebecca likes activities that focus her attention enabling her to decompress from work; like dancing and crafting work.
She has a an eclectic taste in music and last year, to expand her music range, Rebecca and her flatmates created 'Album of The Week' where a different person introduces new music to the flat, "I've listened to so much new music in the last year!"


text:
Next-Generation Network Market
HOME › Press Releases › Next-Generation Network Market worth $32.81 billion by 2023
Next-Generation Network Market worth $32.81 billion by 2023
According to the new market research report "Next-Generation Network Market by Offering (Hardware, Software, Services), Application, End User (Telecom Service Provider, Internet Service Provider, Government), and Geography (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, RoW) - Global Forecast to 2023", The next-generation network (NGN) market to grow from USD 21.86 billion in 2018 to USD 32.81 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 7.0% from 2018 to 2023.
Browse 60 market data Tables and 32 Figures spread through 117 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Next-Generation Network Market - Global Forecast to 2023"
https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/next-generation-network-market-61867062.html
Demand for high-speed services, increase in public private partnerships for NGN developments, and low operational cost are among the driving factors for the growth of the market.
Telecom service provider to hold major share of NGN market during forecast period
Telecommunications companies are increasingly adopting NGN to meet the growing requirements for high-speed data services. The exponential growth in IP and mobile data traffic has been the major reason for the increasing adoption of NGN in the telecommunications industry. As the number of smartphone and tablet users increases day by day, demand for high-speed data services grows significantly. Also, the rising trend of Voice over Internet Protocol promotes telecommunications companies to provide services pertaining to quality as well as the quantity of data. Many companies in this industry proactively provide NGN products and services and are likely to transform traditional network to high-speed packet-based NGN.
Market for hardware to hold major share of NGN market from 2018 to 2023
The major hardware devices required for NGN include routers, switches, and gateways. To upgrade traditional network into NGN, the hardware needs to be replaced with advanced capabilities including huge data handling, compatible for software interface, and support legacy network. The growth for hardware offering is primarily attributed to the rise in data traffic in networks and increase in virtualization and technological advancement to reduce OPEX. Moreover, technological advancements and growing IoT and cloud-based services are expected to create opportunities for the NGN market.
APAC to hold major share of NGN market from 2018 to 2023
The growth is attributed to the increasing network upgrade activities in APAC and growing public–private partnerships to offer high-speed data connectivity. APAC consists of the highest number of mobile subscribers, and the number is expected to grow at a faster rate in the coming years. APAC is a diversified region with a range of countries moving toward digital transformation. The NGN market, including 4G, is at a growing stage in APAC driven by a large number of mobile subscribers and huge demand for high-speed data connectivity.
Cisco (US), Huawei (China), ZTE (China), Ericsson (Sweden), Nokia (Finland), Juniper Network (US), NEC Corporation (Japan), Samsung Electronics (South Korea), IBM (US), Ciena Corporation (US), Hewlett Packard Enterprise (US), AT&T (US), ADTRAN (US), TELES (Germany), KPN International (Netherlands), Infradata (Netherlands), PortaOne (Canada), TelcoBridges (Canada), CommVerge Solutions (Hong Kong), and Extreme Networks (US) are among the major players in the NGN market.
Don't miss out on business opportunities in Next-Generation Network Market. Speak to our analyst and gain crucial industry insights that will help your business grow.
What are the Known and Unknown Adjacencies Impacting the Next-Generation Network Market
Published Date: Aug 2018 | Report Code: SE 6549

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


All the people are holy, and God is amongst them. And so everyone, and not only the priests, should be let to serve in God's Temple.
That is Korach's rallying-cry: through which he leads a rebellion against the whole concept of a priesthood.
God calls Korach's followers in this rebellion sinners.
God has recently told the people to take up their tribes' positions within the camp—Judah at the front; Levi in the center; the priests at the Tent of God; and so on—as the people travel together towards the Land.
Before, they had all dwelt together: a single group at the base of the Mountain, learning the Laws and learning what they will need to know when they enter the Land, like children at school.
Then, the people graduated into their specific roles: Judah at the front; Levi in the center; the priests at the Tent of God; and so on.
But Korach said: all the people are holy. He wanted everyone to be priests, together. He did not want anyone to graduate into differentiated roles, into unique lives.
He hoped that the people would remain schoolchildren forever.
That was the basis of his rebellion. And that was his sin.


APOSTOLIC CHRISTIAN ACADEMY (ACA), in addition to being an institution of education, is a channel through which the Lord Jesus Christ can be more clearly revealed. However, in this context, it is necessary for us to present a clear statement of our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ and the Holy Bible. We should combine with that statement a substantive and definitive school purpose.
We believe the Bible to be the inspired, the only infallible Word of God.
We believe that there is only one God.
We believe in the deity of our Lord Jesus Christ, in his Virgin birth and His sinless life, in His miracles, in His vicarious death through His shed blood, in His ascension, and in His personal return in power and glory.
We believe in the resurrection of both the saved and the lost; they that are saved, unto the resurrection of life and they that are lost, unto the resurrection of damnation.
Our school purpose is to offer a Christ-centered program which will effectively instruct the student in our basic Christian heritage, lead him to a personal knowledge of Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior, and help him develop the qualities of Christian character and Christian leadership. A superior academic program with emphasis on the subjects, meaningful experiences, and problem solving is offered at ACA. A strong reading program is maintained.


Ross Pangilinan has parted ways with Leatherby's Cafe Rouge. He had helmed the Costa Mesa restaurant's kitchen as executive chef since 2010 and has left to open his own chef-driven concept in downtown Santa Ana, tentatively called Mix Mix. Pangilinan's position has been filled by Greg Stillman, whose culinary credits include working with famed chef Thomas Keller in addition to stints at the popular Downtown Disney restaurant Catal. Leatherby's Cafe Rouge, Renee and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall, 615 Town Center Dr., Costa Mesa, CA 92626, 714-429-7640.
Local celebrity chef Chris Tzorin has parted ways with Brea's Tempo Urban Kitchen. Tzorin, who has added numerous appearances on various Food Network programs to his resume in recent years, has moved on to helm the kitchen at Cafe Tu Tu Tango, the contemporary tapas venue located within The Outlets at Orange. A replacement chef for Tempo has not been announced. Tempo Urban Kitchen, 1060 Imperial Hwy., Brea, CA 92821, 714-529-2900.
Marc Johnson has moved on from his post as executive chef at Newport Beach's Oak Grill at the Island Hotel. He has not moved far, as he has taken the reins as corporate chef for Red O, Rick Bayless' regional Mexican eatery located in Fashion Island. Johnson departs Oak Grill after opening the eatery in 2014. Oak Grill, Island Hotel Newport Beach, 690 Newport Center Dr., Newport Beach, CA 92660, 949-760-4920.
Chef Jason Montelibano has parted ways with EATS Kitchen + Bar, the flagship eatery at Hotel Irvine. Montelibano will be plying his craft back at Chapter One: The Modern Local in Downtown Santa Ana, where he previously served as executive chef prior to moving to the Irvine-based venue. EATS Kitchen + Bar, Hotel Irvine, 17900 Jamboree Rd., Irvine, CA 92614, 949-230-4452.
Manhattan Steak & Seafood, the sleek steakhouse and lounge in Orange, has closed its doors after serving up classic steakhouse and continental cuisine for seven years. No reason was given for the shuttering. No replacement venue has been announced. Manhattan Steak & Seafood, 202 S. Main St., Orange, CA 92868, no phone.
Jason's by the Circle, owner/chef Jason Kordas' eclectic global culinary concept just east of Old Town Orange, has closed its doors. No reason for the shuttering was given. A replacement venue for the now-abdicated space has not been announced. Jason's by the Circle, 513 E. Chapman Ave., Orange, CA 92866, 714-347-1130.


text:
Is the Reign of the UHF Microphone Coming to an End?
It's no secret that the incentive auctions pose a major threat to the current RF ecosystem. 40% of the spectrum between 470 MHz and 698 MHz could be erased, with whatever remains at serious risk of interference from TVBDs. UHF systems (which use 470-698 MHz) are far and away the most widespread systems in use, so this is going to be a major shakeup and require a number of adaptations. One of the least discussed options is making for greener pastures and moving out of the UHF range altogether. Aspects of the incentive auction are making it likely that we will see, at the very least, a greater diversification in the number of different frequency ranges in which manufacturers are offering wireless microphones.
Certain rules of the incentive auctions (which you can read more about here), make it likely that UHF will bear the brunt of increased traffic, and that wireless microphones are the most vulnerable to the changes in this band. This has caused some hand wringing. Luckily, in the United States, microphones can legally operate in any frequency range that the FCC determines acceptable for unlicensed use. The "UHF" band, is the upper 470-698 MHz portion of the larger broadcast band, that stretches from 54 MHz to 698 MHz, with a few holes in between (check out this supersize spectrum chart). There are a number of other unlicensed bands available that wireless microphones do not use for various reasons, but could. These include VHF, 900 MHz, 1.9 GHz, 2.4 GHz, and 5.8 GHz. It is likely that congestion in the UHF band will be severe enough that manufacturers will be motivated to branch out into one or several of these, and UHF will no longer be the only option for professional grade mics.
The prevailing wisdom is that UHF provides the best audio quality, and the best propagation characteristics. As we've said before, there is no inherent reason why UHF gives better audio quality, all other factors being equal. There are certainly differences in propagation distances, with the lower frequencies generally being longer and the higher frequencies being shorter. But most wireless microphone don't involve large distances at all. How many of you have a microphone to receiver antenna distance of more than 200 feet?
Gigahertz unlicensed bands become an attractive option when paired with directional antennas and simple changes in technique. With a good directional antenna, 2.4 GHz can support transmission distances close to 300 feet. And one of the best ways to reduce interference is moving the receiver as close to the microphone as possible--in which case long propagation is no concern.
VHF, between 54 MHz and 470 MHz, is also a very promising possibility. VHF gives better propagation than UHF. It can travel longer distances and pass through objects with greater ease. [Update: RF guru James Stoffo recently wrote more about VHF and TVBDs over at ProSoundWeb.] Historically, VHF has a reputation for being an interference prone, audio killing band. There are almost no professional grade mics still in production that use VHF, but that may change. The problems with VHF were caused by radio equipment that is crude by today's standards, rather than something about the frequency itself. If manufacturers return to VHF and apply the multigenerational hardware improvements that have accrued since VHF was abandoned alongside adaptive digital technology for interference control, we may look at VHF with fresh eyes.
Of course VHF is also home to TV stations. Broadcasters used to occupy UHF and VHF to the same degree, but with the DTV transition, viewers began reporting interference on digital VHF channels using DTV receivers. Broadcasters blame the propagation characteristics of VHF for the interference, and frequently request transfers up into the UHF band for this reason. These transfers, and the reluctance of broadcasters to be relocated there after the auction, may mean more space for users of wireless microphones.
Ultimately, we do not know how crowded the UHF or any other unlicensed band will be until after the auction is complete. Manufactures will also have to juggle a number of variables before committing to new models--including uncertainty about the regulatory future of frequencies, the task of re-educating and advertising new equipment to consumers, and of course the costs associated with designing new technology.
Leading image courtesy "taberandrew."


text:
Tom Griffin (February 14, 1946 – March 20, 2018) was a playwright. His most successful work is The Boys Next Door, while other plays include Amateurs, Einstein and The Polar Bear, Pasta, and Mrs. Sedgewick's Head.

References

External links
doollee.com, the Playwrights Database
The Boys Next Door Review

21st-century American dramatists and playwrights
1946 births
2018 deaths
20th-century American dramatists and playwrights


text:
<?php

/**
 * Icons Model
 *
 */
class T_vat_reg_dtl_hotel_srvc extends Abstract_model {

    public $table           = "t_vat_reg_dtl_hotel_srvc";
    public $pkey            = "t_vat_reg_dtl_hotel_srvc_id";
    public $alias           = "a";

    public $fields          = array(
                                't_vat_reg_dtl_hotel_srvc_id'            => array('pkey' => true, 'type' => 'int', 'nullable' => true, 'unique' => true, 'display' => 'ID Cust Order'),
                                't_vat_registration_id'  => array('type' => 'int', 'nullable' => true, 'unique' => false, 'display' => 'ID Cust Order'),
                                'services'          => array('nullable' => true, 'type' => 'str', 'unique' => false, 'display' => 'Fasilitas'),
                                'description'            => array('nullable' => true, 'type' => 'str', 'unique' => false, 'display' => 'Deskripsi'),
                                 'creation_date'         => array('nullable' => true, 'type' => 'date', 'unique' => false, 'display' => 'Created Date'),
                                'created_by'            => array('nullable' => true, 'type' => 'str', 'unique' => false, 'display' => 'Created By'),
                                'updated_date'          => array('nullable' => true, 'type' => 'date', 'unique' => false, 'display' => 'Updated Date'),
                                'updated_by'            => array('nullable' => true, 'type' => 'str', 'unique' => false, 'display' => 'Updated By'),

                            );

    public $selectClause    = "a.*";
    public $fromClause      = "t_vat_reg_dtl_hotel_srvc a";
    public $refs            = array();

    function __construct() {
        parent::__construct();
    }

    function validate() {
        $ci =& get_instance();
        $userdata = $ci->session->userdata;

        if($this->actionType == 'CREATE') {
            //do something
            // example :
            $this->record['creation_date'] = date('Y-m-d');
            $this->record['created_by'] = $userdata['app_user_name'];
            $this->record['updated_date'] = date('Y-m-d');
            $this->record['updated_by'] = $userdata['app_user_name'];

            $this->record[$this->pkey] = $this->generate_id($this->table, $this->pkey);

        }else {
            //do something
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            $this->record['updated_date'] = date('Y-m-d');
            $this->record['updated_by'] = $userdata['app_user_name'];
            //if false please throw new Exception
        }
        return true;
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    function getVRegDtlRest(){

        $sql = "SELECT * FROM v_vat_reg_dtl_restaurant";

        $query = $this->db->query($sql);
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        return $items;
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    function getVRegDtlHotel(){

        $sql = "SELECT * FROM v_vat_reg_dtl_hotel";

        $query = $this->db->query($sql);
        $items = $query->result_array();

        return $items;
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    function getVRegDtlEntertain(){

        $sql = "SELECT * FROM v_vat_reg_dtl_entertaintment";

        $query = $this->db->query($sql);
        $items = $query->result_array();

        return $items;
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    function getVRegDtlParking(){

        $sql = "SELECT * FROM v_vat_reg_dtl_parking";

        $query = $this->db->query($sql);
        $items = $query->result_array();

        return $items;
    }
    function getVRegDtlPpj(){

        $sql = "SELECT * FROM v_vat_reg_dtl_ppj";

        $query = $this->db->query($sql);
        $items = $query->result_array();

        return $items;
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}

/* End of file Icons.php */

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


Type: Wet Look/PU. Color: Black. Pattern: Plain. Material: Polyester.
Size:	S,M,L,XL Color:Black Pattern:Patchwork Material:PU Package Include: 1*Woman Pants Note: There might be 2-3% difference according to manual measurement. Please check the measurement chart carefully before you buy the item. Please note that slight color difference should be acceptable due to the light and screen.
Type: Fashion. Color: Multi. Pattern: Color Block. Material: Polyester.
In a heathered stretch knit, these leggings feature multi-color blocks panel down the sides, a bodycon-cut fit, and moisture management. To wear with loose shirts or crop tops are both ok.
Size:	S,M,L,XL Style:Fashion Pattern Type:Solid Material:Milk Silk Length:Regular Occasion:CasualSport Package Include:1* Leggings Package Include: 1*Woman Leggings Note: There might be 2-3% difference according to manual measurement. Please check the measurement chart carefully before you buy the item. +Please note that slight color difference should be acceptable due to the light and screen.
The leggings are suitable for women to do exercising. The leggings are plant-printing and splicing. The leggings are hollowed-out and high-waisted. You will feel comfortable when you wear it.
You can totally keep your style in this fashion leggings. It is designed with geometrical hawk printing and stretch band at waist. Wear it with your white top and ankle boots.
Type: Fashion. Color: Red. Pattern: Printed. Material: Polyester.
Leggings is what we daily needs! No doubt that you should add this into your closet in no time. Pair this with shirt or longline top is ok.
Size:	S,M,L,XL Color:Purple Pattern:Print Material:Polyester+Spadndex Style:Sports Package Include: 1*Woman Leggings Note: There might be 2-3% difference according to manual measurement. Please check the measurement chart carefully before you buy the item. +Please note that slight color difference should be acceptable due to the light and screen.


text:
Teamwork Helps to Lick the Doomsayers
Written on the 22 October 2008 by Sydney Morning Herald
Sydney Morning Herald, Page: 29
In tough economic times, the power of a franchise can brinci sweet success, writes Keeli Cambourne.
The global financial crisis may have many businesses rethinking their fu-ture but for franchises there is a positive side to the dire economic circumstances.
Franchise Works director Tim Dixon says the nearly full employment rate over the past few years has meant many franchisors have been unable to find suitable people to take on new businesses.
"With predictions that unemployment will rise, it means there will be more people considering their options and looking into a franchise," Dixon says.
And for those already in the industry, the franchise system offers a buffer to many of the problems that independent small business owners may face in the coming months.
"A franchise system is about providing a format for being successful.
"Those franchises with a better system are now in a better position and they can be more focused on the things that make them successful. And being part of a franchise means these small businesses have more market power as well. A sole operator doesn't have that market influence and group power of a franchise, so franchises usually do well in a tougher market.
"Market confidence is the underlying thing and smart franchisors and franchisees will be taking advantage of it in the current climate and play on their brand power." The executive director of the Franchise Council of Australia, Steve Wright, agrees franchising historically has done well in tough economic times.
"It is the stability of brands and the familiarity of them that helps franchises," Wright says.
"Franchises are well-systemised, well-run and have the power of a network with the aggregated purchasing and marketing power which makes it relatively easier for franchise businesses to tough it out.
"And that also makes them more attractive to potential new business entrants. For people who may have lost their jobs, or those who have been in long-term employment in professional or public service-type roles and may be looking for a change, the concept of being your own boss and franchising is attractive." Although people will be watching their discretional spending, Dixon says there are several sectors within the franchise industry that he believes will do better than others during the economic downturn.
"Fast food will increase in business because rather than spending money on an expensive night out, people will go for something cheaper," he says.
"Serviced offices I think will do well too, because businesses can scale up and down in size to meet their needs.
"[Richard Branson's Virgin Active] is about to enter the gym world, so I think there will be pressure in that sector to lower prices." Wright says the food industry is relatively safe from any hiccups, so long as what is being offered isn't a "niche luxury".
"People still need to eat and drink, so if you are providing good value retail food-anddrink offerings you have a good chance of weathering the storm," he says.
"But the closer you are to what people consider the luxury end of any business the more at risk you are." Geoff Jackson, the business development manager for Endota Spas, says the health and well-being business is one of the fastestgrowing in the world and may even grow in the global credit crunch.
"Even though people are cutting back on the big-dollar items, in this sort of environment they go back to the small luxuries so they can make themselves feel good," Jackson says.
Endota entered the franchising industry in 2003 and in the past two years has more than doubled its franchises. It is expected to have 40 franchises operating throughout Australia by Christmas.
"The growth [in franchisingi has been strong and it continues to be strong," Wright says.
"In fact, the growth in franchising has continued at around 7-8 per cent per year for the past five or six years.
"Although we are expecting a slight decrease in the next few months, we expect that it will only be some tapering of the growth.
"The areas that may feel the most pressure are those dealing with bulky goods; that is where the franchising systems in place will be tested." The only problem Wright and Dixon see arising from the financial crisis is a tightening of credit but both agree that if a franchise system is operating well, obtaining credit should not be as necessary as for other small business operators.
"Businesses that are dependent on a third party which may be affected by the downturn Be your own boss are the franchises that may feel a squeeze," Wright says.
Dixon says some industry sectors will be looking to accelerate in the conditions that are expected but points out their success will depend on whether they need much extra working capital. -"It is really hard to get any money anywhere, so that is one of the things that businesses who haven't geared themselves properly may find a bit of a bother if they have to go through any sort of restructure," Dixon says.
Roses bloom in an icy climate
DAVID ROSE knew very little about ice-cream five years ago, apart from it tasted good and everyone loved it.
But while holidaying with his wife, Gab, in Queensland, the former electrician visited an icecreamery that changed their lives.
~We saw the Cold Rock Ice Creamery on the Gold Coast and thought it was a great concept," Rose says.
HAnd we wondered whether it would work back home." Home for the young couple was Cronulla and, after 18 months of negotiations, the Roses opened their first Cold Rock Ice Creamery in January 2004.
~There [were] already a few Cold Rock franchises operating in NSW one in Parramatta, one in Manly and a couple on the Central Coast," Rose says.
With a vibrant economy and a hot climate, the Roses' Cronulla franchise boomed and 18 months ago the couple bought the Manly store.
Rose is confident the business will continue to flourish despite the gloomy economic forecast.
I think Cold Rock will actually be immune to the financial downturn because of its point of difference," Rose says. It is not a traditional ice-creamery and the fact that people can come in here and make any one of 3000 combinations is a good pick-me-up." The Roses are sure that no matter how tight some budgets may be, an ice-cream will never be out of reach.
They are in the process of expanding again and have recently hired new staff and managers in both stores.
"We have also been able to do it all with three kids under three, which proves that a successful business doesn't need to interfere with your family life," he says.
Keeli Cambourne
Author: Sydney Morning Herald


text:
Take a deep breath. The wait is over. After the second season finale left fans with quite a few cliff-hangers, 90210's third season begins tonight. But make no mistake: a new season won't necessarily bring answers. The one thing we can count on is new storylines.
And, thankfully, I could count on Ryan Eggold (Ryan, 90210) to give me the dish last week as we chatted about the new season, his character's evolution and just which of his talented castmates he'll share significant screentime with in the upcoming episodes.
TeenDramaWhore: First off, I wanted to wish you a happy belated birthday.
Ryan Eggold: Oh, thank you very much. I appreciate that.
TDW: Did you celebrate on set?
Eggold: No. I didn't. I wasn't working. It's really funny – I live near Universal Studios and we actually ended up going to Universal Studios. It was just sort of a random, "Why don't we do this?" and it was a lot of fun. They have a new rollercoaster there that's awesome.
TDW: Really? I'd love to try it.
Eggold: Yeah, this new Mummy ride. It was fantastic.
TDW: Well, I've been meaning to come out to L.A., and I was really bummed that I missed last week's City of Beverly Hills' 9-02-10 Day event.
Eggold: Yes! Oh my gosh, it was insane.
TDW: What did it mean to you to be part of the 90210 franchise on that day?
Eggold: It was cool. It was really fun. It was kind of weird because in Beverly Hills, and all over the place actually, they had posters up that said 90210 for 9-02-10 Day, not for the show. But it felt like it was for our show, because I can't separate 90210 from anything but the show. I'd just see these posters all over town, in L.A. and Hollywood. It was kind of overwhelming, but it was fun. It was fun to be a part of something that means something to the history of a city.
TDW: I was able to watch a live-stream of the red carpet and part of the event online, and what I loved was seeing almost the whole cast there. The whole cast hasn't been out in public for a while. There were only a few of you at The CW upfront, so this was the first time nearly all of you were together at an event in a long time. It was a really special event.
Eggold: Yeah, that's true. I didn't even think about that. It has been a while since everyone's been out somewhere together. It was fun.
TDW: And you guys got feted with all sorts of amazing food and wine!
Eggold: Oh, there was some incredible food. If you make it out here, you have to eat in Beverly Hills. Everyone was sampling their restaurants, and it was amazing. And I was really hungry, too, so I was walking around eating everything in sight. It was delicious. There's this place called Bouchon and they had these melons with feta cheese on top of it, and it was the best thing I've ever had in my life.
TDW: That's awesome. So, there were no cast members there from the original series, right?
Eggold: No, there weren't. I'm not sure why. I don't know if they invited them or didn't. I assume they did but I'm not sure. I assumed I'd see at least Jennie Garth (Kelly, Beverly Hills 90210) there or somebody, you know?
TDW: What memories do you have of the original show?
Eggold: I remember Luke Perry (Dylan, Beverly Hills 90210) being just sizzling. And I remember being just too young to be participating in what they were, in the sense that they'd be drinking and going to parties and having sex and all these things, and I'd be like, "What is that? I want to check that out. I don't really know what it is, but one day I'm going to be a big kid like them and I'm going to do that stuff and it's going to be awesome." That's what I remember.
TDW: That's really funny, because I was really young when I started watching and it put these ideas in my head of what it was supposed to be like to be a teenager, and I always felt really crappy when my life didn't measure up to theirs.
Eggold: Yeah, when you didn't get a Ferrari for your birthday.
TDW: Yeah, exactly. Alright, back to the present day and this show and this show's cast. A music video by Shenae Grimes (Annie) was recently released, and you starred in it. How did that come about?
Eggold: Shenae wanted to experiment with directing, and she got this song together. We actually ended up recording it here at my place, and had a lot of fun. She was embarrassed to sing, but she did and sounds great. She did a really great job. Everyone that's seen it has said it looks really great and came out really well, and I agree. I hope she continues directing stuff. It's fun to mess around with your friends in terms of making a short film or making a little music video or whatever.
TDW: I really loved it, and it was a surprise to see your face in the video and then it was a surprise again to see your name in the credits for providing some of the music as well. It just got me thinking how the whole cast has all these different side projects going on. Quite a few of you are involved in music, from Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna) to Tristan (Wilds, Dixon). All of you have these other avenues of art that you're experimenting in.
Eggold: Yeah, it's cool. There's some really creative people on the show, and it's really fun. I think everyone's going to keep doing their little passion projects, whether it's their music or writing or whatever they're working on. Shenae's into photography, too, and everyone's got different things going on. I know Jessica Lowndes is releasing a single, and Tristan's trying to put a record together, and I'm sort of trying to put some stuff together. It'll be cool to start hearing those things, and seeing those things come to fruition.
TDW: I don't expect you to remember, but I've actually interviewed you twice before.
Eggold: Oh, wow.
TDW: It was more than two years ago, on back-to-back days. It was your first CW upfront and the next day you guys came to the PEOPLE magazine offices where I was interning at the time.
Eggold: Yes!
TDW: And you guys just had preliminary ideas of what shape your characters would take, and I don't think anyone could've guessed Ryan would now be struggling with alcohol and his self-confidence and about to be a father. He's come a long way in just two short seasons.
Eggold: He's fallen a long ways. It's so funny to think about that day. When we first were starting the show, we had no idea what to expect.
TDW: I think an original storyline that you guys teased in those first few interviews was possibly a student-teacher romance, and that never happened. I understand showrunners have changed, and storylines are always rewritten. But something I've noticed recently is that Ryan isn't interacting with the West Beverly students as much as he used to.
Eggold: No. He's definitely more in his own storyline with Jen (Sara Foster). But this season Naomi (AnnaLynne McCord) and I develop sort of a relationship, because I'm having a kid with her sister and sort of being part of the family in that way. Their relationship is affected because of it. Naomi and Jen haven't been the best of sisters, but through this and her having a nephew, they kind of come back together a bit, which is nice to see. Also because of the Mr. Cannon (Hal Ozsan) stuff, which I caught a glimpse of in the finale of season 2, Naomi's dealing with some really interesting stuff and some terrible stuff from what happened. I sort of become part of that with her and help her with that. I think Ryan is a good sort of – what's the word, not role model – he's a good guy to be a teacher because he's grounded and he's got a good heart. He cares for his students. I think he can be there for her. And it's great to work with AnnaLynne.
TDW: What storylines would you like to see for him, or is there a cast member you haven't worked with much that you'd like to share some scenes with?
Eggold: I've always said that I want to work with Lori (Loughlin, Debbie). That would be a lot of fun. I'd love to do some more stuff with Tristan, just because we have such a great time off set. He's such a great dude. I often work with my romantic partners, whether it's Jen or Laurel (Kelly Lynch) or somebody, and I'd like to see [Ryan] branch out of that, and see him develop relationships with the kids, maybe a new character or something.
TDW: I believe you guys are about a quarter of the way through the season in terms of script reads, and I thought it would be fun to play a quick game of Two Truths And A Lie. So if you could give me three plausible spoilers for the upcoming season, two of which are completely true and one of which, while possible, isn't at all going to happen.
Eggold: Okay, so two things that are true and one's not. Somebody dies in the first episode. Somebody is born in the first episode. And somebody becomes a woman, who is a man originally, in the first episode.
TDW: Funny. Very nice. Thank you. One last question, and I always ask everyone this because I keep track of it for my readers. I wanted to confirm that you're not on Twitter. I know you're not, but people rather hear it from you.
Eggold: I'm not on Twitter. I'm like a caveman. I'm not on Facebook. I don't even know if MySpace exists anymore. I'm not on Twitter. I feel disconnected. I'm probably a loser because I'm not on any of these things.
TDW: Well, I don't think you're a loser. You're a hot guy and a star of a popular show. So you're definitely not in loser territory.
Eggold: I like your interpretation better.
TDW: Thank you. But I would maybe ask your castmates to help set you up with a Twitter account. Nearly all of them have joined in the last year, and I think you have to be next.
Eggold: What do I say? What do you do on Twitter? Do I just say "I'm eating breakfast"?
TDW: Well, AnnaLynne likes to share a lot of her charity endeavors. Trevor (Donovan, Teddy) holds a lot of contests. He gives away swag to his followers. Tristan shares his music, and he'll go on Ustream and show us him recording his music. People do say what they have for breakfast, and others get to know their fans. It's what you make of it. It's like "Choose Your Own Adventure" because you can choose who to follow and who to reply to and all that.
Eggold: It sounds really cool. It sounds like a lot of work.
TDW: Well, there's no quota for how many times you have to tweet. But if you disappear, I might be upset with you but I'll get over it eventually.
Eggold: I would like to share a little bit of music. But I would end up writing bizarre comments, just those weird thoughts that you have mid-day that you don't share with people. I would end up sharing those and everyone would know I'm a total weirdo.
TDW: Well, I think Kanye West has that area covered on Twitter, but there's room for you, too. And I know fans would love to have you. So if you do it, great.
Eggold: I'm fighting this 21st century but I probably have to join.
TDW Interview Index
Tags: 9.02.10 Day, 90210, 90210 Day, Adrianna, AnnaLynne McCord, Annie, Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills 90210, Bouchon, City of Beverly Hills, Debbie, Dixon, Dylan, Facebook, Ferrari, Hal Ozsan, Hollywood, Jen, Jennie Garth, Jessica Lowndes, Kanye West, Kelly, Kelly Lynch, L.A., Laurel, Lori Loughlin, Luke Perry, Mr. Cannon, MySpace, Naomi, PEOPLE, Ryan, Ryan Eggold, Sara Foster, Shenae Grimes, Teddy, The CW, The CW upfront, Trevor Donovan, Tristan Wilds, Twitter, Two Truths And A Lie, Universal Studios, Ustream, West Beverly
Categories : 90210
News Roundup: Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, 90210 and The O.C.
Vogue has a spoiler-filled behind-the-scenes video of the Gossip Girl episodes that will feature Fashion's Night Out.
Parade.com has a great interview with Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl).
TV Squad has an interview with Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) about her eco-minded charity efforts.
Antwon Tanner (Skills, One Tree Hill) tweeted that he started a Ustream account.
Gregory Harrison (Paul, One Tree Hill) will appear on CSI: New York.
Us Weekly has a brief interview with Joe Manganiello (Owen, One Tree Hill).
Sharon Lawrence (Paulette, Beverly Hills 90210) has been cast in a recurring role on One Tree Hill. Warning: spoilers involved!
TV Fanatic has an extremely spoiler-filled interview with Jessica Lowndes (Adrianna, 90210).
In addition to Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210), Michael Steger (Navid, 90210), Ryan Eggold (Ryan, 90210) and Matt Lanter (Liam, 90210) will be at the City of Beverly Hills' 9-02-10 Day event.
Us Weekly has a brief interview with Kellan Lutz (George, 90210).
Michael Cudlitz (Tony, Beverly Hills 90210) will star in the The Grief Tourist.
The Associated Press has an interesting but sad story about the testimony Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210) and Rachel Bilson (Summer, The O.C.) gave regarding the burglary ring that targeted them.
Chris Carmack (Luke, The O.C.) will star in Shark Night 3-D.
Tags: 9.02.10 Day, 90210, Adrianna, Antwon Tanner, Associated Press, Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills 90210, Brian Austin Green, Brooke, Chris Carmack, City of Beverly Hills, CSI: New York, David, Fashion's Night Out, George, Gossip Girl, Gregory Harrison, Jessica Lowndes, Joe Manganiello, Kellan Lutz, Kristen Bell, Liam, Luke, Matt Lanter, Michael Cudlitz, Michael Steger, Navid, One Tree Hill, Owen, Parade.com, Paul, Paulette, Rachel Bilson, Ryan, Ryan Eggold, Shark Night 3-D, Sharon Lawrence, Skills, Sophia Bush, Summer, Teddy, The Grief Tourist, The O.C, Tony, Trevor Donovan, TV Fanatic, TV Squad, US Weekly, Ustream, Vogue
Categories : 90210, Beverly Hills 90210, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, The O.C.
The Real One Tree Hill Twitter account tweeted a very brief video with Lee Norris (Mouth, One Tree Hill).
Examiner.com has an interview with Amanda Schull (Sara/Katie, One Tree Hill). She made some interesting comments when discussing a possible return to OTH.
A pretty big picture of Joe Manganiello (Owen, One Tree Hill) is on the cover of the new issue of Entertainment Weekly. That's a huge achievement. Congrats to Joe!
Jana Kramer (Alex, One Tree Hill) has officially filed for divorce. She and Johnathon Schaech split a few weeks ago.
Takers, which briefly features Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210), stars Chris Brown (Will, The O.C.), and also happens to star Schaech and Rachel Bilson's (Summer, The O.C.) ex Hayden Christensen, opens in theaters tomorrow.
90210 and Dawson's Creek are included in The Daily Beast's look at "racy TV show scenes." It's sad, though, how respectable DC's is and how much 90210's isn't. That can be applied to the series as a whole, too, in my opinion.
Kristin has an "exclusive sneak peek" at 90210's new season. Looks like some new characters we haven't heard about may be introduced.
Earlier this month CBS announced a new channel in India, which would air 90210, and now it's been announced a new channel will also air the show in Australia.
Gossip Cop busted a false Star story about Tori Spelling (Donna, Beverly Hills 90210).
Taylor Momsen and her band The Pretty Reckless were on the Late Show With David Letterman last night.
Fashion publicist Kelly Cutrone is reportedly working with Fake Empire, which is run by Josh Schwartz (executive producer, Gossip Girl; The O.C.) and Stephanie Savage (executive producer, Gossip Girl; The O.C.), on a new fashion-based series.
OK! Magazine has a fall fashion feature with Autumn Reeser (Taylor, The O.C.).
Tags: 90210, Alex, Amanda Schull, Australia, Autumn Reeser, Beverly Hills 90210, CBS, Chris Brown, Dawson's Creek, Donna, Entertainment Weekly, Examiner.com, Fake Empire, Gossip Cop, Gossip Girl, Hayden Christensen, India, Jana Kramer, Joe Manganiello, Johnathon Schaech, Josh Schwartz, Katie, Kelly Cutrone, Kristin, Late Show With David Letterman, Lee Norris, Mouth, OK! Magazine, One Tree Hill, OTH, Owen, Rachel Bilson, Sara, Star, Stephanie Savage, Summer, Takers, Taylor, Taylor Momsen, Teddy, The Daily Beast, The O.C, The Pretty Reckless, Tori Spelling, Trevor Donovan, Twitter, Will
Ausiello has a "first look" at the Gossip Girl season 4 trailer. Tons of spoilers involved, so watch at your own risk.
Sam Page has been cast on Gossip Girl in a recurring role. Again, spoilers involved, so read at your own risk.
Kelly Rutherford (Lily, Gossip Girl) is featured in the new ad campaign for Monica Rich Kosann jewelry.
Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl) will star in Dance Of The Mirlitons.
Planet Green has an interview with Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) and Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) about the crisis in the Gulf.
Nichols tweeted today that he's going to shoot the movie LOL this week.
Emmanuelle Vaugier (Nicki, One Tree Hill) is now on Twitter. I've added her to the Twitter Directory.
Adrian Grenier and his band The Honey Brothers will appear on 90210. Once again, spoilers involved, so read at your own risk.
Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210) tweeted some interesting thoughts about 90210's upcoming gay storyline. He also spoke to JustJared about it, though there is spoilish info here so read both at your own risk.
Zap2it is reporting that Ryan O'Neal (Spence, 90210) won't be back. So I guess that's one element of the above that we won't actually see.
JustJared claims Jessica Stroup (Silver, 90210) and Dustin Milligan (Ethan, 90210) have split. I have not seen this confirmed anywhere yet.
Jason Priestley (Brandon, Beverly Hills 90210) is SoapNet's Weekly Crush.
Luke Perry (Dylan, Beverly Hills 90210) appears in the first episode of NBC.com's new webseries, FCU: Fact Checkers Unit. It was pretty funny, though they wasted the very obvious opportunity for a Dylan joke.
BlackBook has an interesting interview with Autumn Reeser (Taylor, The O.C.).
New York magazine has a great interview with Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson's Creek). She's on the cover of the new issue.
Tags: 90210, Adrian Grenier, Ausiello, Austin Nichols, Autumn Reeser, Beverly Hills 90210, BlackBook, Brandon, Brooke, Dance Of The Mirlitons, Dawson's Creek, Dustin Milligan, Dylan, Emmanuelle Vaugier, Ethan, FCU: Fact Checkers Unit, Gossip Girl, Jason Priestley, Jessica Stroup, Joey, Julian, JustJared, Katie Holmes, Kelly Rutherford, Kristen Bell, Lily, LOL, Luke Perry, Monica Rich Kosann, NBC.com, New York magazine, Nicki, One Tree Hill, Planet Green, Sam Page, Silver, SoapNet, Sophia Bush, Taylor, Teddy, The Honey Brothers, The O.C, Trevor Donovan, Twitter
Kristin tweeted that Gossip Girl's Chuck and Blair are not the subject of her wedding spoiler.
Josh Schwartz (executive producer, The O.C.) had tweeted this morning that there is "no truth" to the rumor that Blake Lively (Serena, Gossip Girl) has asked to have her character killed so she could leave the show BUT several hours later I saw that the tweet was deleted. When I checked with The CW earlier this week about this rumor, they issued a "no comment." Interpret as you wish.
Penn Badgley (Dan, Gossip Girl) will present at the MTV Video Music Awards next month.
Badgley did a feature for the launch issue of Bullet magazine, but I don't believe it's out yet. There's a behind-the-scenes video where he talks about the photo shoot and shows off some of his pian0-playing and singing skills.
Luke Kleintank (Elliott, Gossip Girl) has been cast on The Young And The Restless.
Star News came up with an interesting list of 5 crossover ideas for One Tree Hill.
JustJared claims Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) and Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) will present the Breakthrough in Green Innovation award to Global Green at the Breakthrough of the Year Awards this weekend. He apparently previously reported that Jessica Szohr (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) will get the Breakthrough Actress in Film award while AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) will get the Breakthrough Standout Performance award.
Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210) tweeted that he will be part of the city of Beverly Hills' 9.02.10 Day celebrations, and he's hosting a contest related to it.
SoapNet will have a Beverly Hills 90210 "Labor Of Love" marathon on Labor Day with Kelly-Dylan season 3 episodes. I could not be any happier. (Well, I'd be happier it if it was a super-long marathon about their whole relationship over the 10 seasons but…this…is…awesome!)
EW.com has a "first look" at Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210) on Desperate Housewives.
The Associated Press has an article about Vanessa Marcil (Gina, Beverly Hills 90210) returning to General Hospital.
According to TVGuide.com, Shailene Woodley (Kaitlin, The O.C.) makes $40,000 per an episode for The Secret Life Of The American Teenager, while one-time Beverly Hills 90210 guest star Ashley Tisdale will be making $30,000 an episode for The CW's Hellcats.
Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan, The O.C.) will be performing in The Glass Menagerie in California from September 1 to October 17.
Gossip Cop and I busted a false National Enquirer story claiming Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson's Creek) and husband Tom Cruise are feuding over a smoking addiction.
Tags: 9.02.10 Day, 90210, AnnaLynne McCord, Ashley Tisdale, Associated Press, Austin Nichols, Benjamin McKenzie, Beverly Hills, Beverly Hills 90210, Blair, Blake Lively, Breakthrough of the Year Awards, Brian Austin Green, Brooke, Bullet magazine, California, Chuck, City of Beverly Hills, Dan, David, Dawson's Creek, Desperate Housewives, Dylan, Elliot, EW.com, General Hospital, Gina, Global Green, Gossip Cop, Gossip Girl, Hellcats, Jessica Szohr, Joey, Josh Schwartz, JustJared, Kaitlin, Katie Holmes, Kelly, Kristin, Labor Day, Labor Of Love marathon, Luke Kleintank, MTV Video Music Awards, Naomi, National Enquirer, One Tree Hill, Penn Badgley, Ryan, Serena, Shailene Woodley, SoapNet, Sophia Bush, Star News, Teddy, The CW, The Glass Menagerie, The O.C, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, The Young and the Restless, Tom Cruise, Trevor Donovan, TVGuide.com, Twitter, Vanessa, Vanessa Marcil
Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210) tweeted a link to his Facebook profile, noting that all others are fake.
Vanessa Marcil's (Gina, Beverly Hills 90210) return to General Hospital begins tomorrow.
Crowdrise and Global Green are hosting a contest to win the One Tree Hill Season 7 DVD signed by the cast.
Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) and Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) filmed a PSA about the situation in the Gulf.
Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley, One Tree Hill) and her partner in Everly, Amber Sweeney, are enticing people to come to their show at the Corn Palace later this month by offering a scavenger hunt.
Kelly Tenney (co-producer, One Tree Hill) did a video interview with Karen, a One Tree Hill production secretary.
PopWrap has a great interview with Hilarie Burton (Peyton, One Tree Hill). In regards to a return to OTH, she essentially says "never say never."
TV Guide Magazine's brief interview with Burton about White Collar is now online.
Zap2it also has an interview with Burton about White Collar.
As I hinted to earlier, Ed Westwick (Chuck, Gossip Girl) and Jessica Szohr (Vanessa, Gossip Girl) are not an on again as a couple, despite reports claiming otherwise. Gossip Cop has the accurate details.
Love this tweet from Ellen DeGeneres congratulating Chace Crawford (Nate, Gossip Girl) on his Teen Choice 2010 win.
InStyle has a brief interview with Kristen Bell (Gossip Girl, Gossip Girl) about wearing a brunette wig for Burlesque, which also features Christina Aguilera (music guest-star, Beverly Hills 90210), Peter Gallagher (Sandy, The O.C.) and Cam Gigandet (Volchok, The O.C.).
The full trailer for The Romantics, starring Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson's Creek) and featuring Adam Brody (Seth, The O.C.) has been released. I believe Holmes also produced. I am really looking forward to it. It seems to have many teen drama elements, though the characters are older.
Kerr Smith (Jack, Dawson's Creek) is now on Twitter. The account is linked to the Life Unexpected cast Facebook page. I've updated the Twitter Directory. Thanks to MJ for letting me know.
Tags: 90210, Adam Brody, Amber Sweeney, Austin Nichols, Bethany Joy Galeotti, Beverly Hills 90210, Brooke, Burlesque, Cam Gigandet, Chace Crawford, Christina Aguilera, Chuck, Crowdrise, Dawson's Creek, Ed Westwick, Ellen DeGeneres, Everly, Everly Corn Palace, Faceboo, General Hospital, Gina, Global Green, Gossip Cop, Gossip Girl, Gulf Coast, Haley, Hilarie Burton, InStyle, Jack, Jessica Szohr, Joey, Julian, Katie Holmes, Kelly Tenney, Kerr Smith, Kristen Bell, Life UneXpected, Nate, One Tree Hill, OTH, Peter Gallagher, Peyton, PopWarap, PopWrap, PSA, Sandy, Seth, Sophia Bush, Teddy, Teen Choice 2010, Teen Choice Awards, The O.C, The Romantics, Trevor Donovan, TVGuideMagazine.com, Twitter, Vanessa, Vanessa Marcil, Volchok, White Collar, Zap2it
News Roundup: One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, 90210 and More
The CW had an event today, similar to the upfront, for the TCA (Television Critics Association), a somewhat-selective organization of television journalists. CW entertainment president Dawn Ostroff spoke and took questions before separate panels for Nikita, Hellcats and Gossip Girl.
The Futon Critic is reporting that Ostroff confirmed One Tree Hill has been given a full-season order for the upcoming season, but, as of this moment, I am not seeing other outlets reporting that.
Ostroff told Star News last night that OTH could be renewed after season 8, which Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) thinks is "fishy." Today Ostroff said that it was too soon to discuss whether this is the final season.
Ostroff also said there WASN'T an alternate ending for OTH last season, in case the show wasn't renewed. (Something I maintained all along, if you recall.)
Ostroff reiterated that the morning-after Nielsen ratings are not the only factor that is important to them when evaluating a show's success (hence the renewals of Gossip Girl, 90210, etc.). TVByTheNumbers.com has an interesting piece reacting to this.
For more on the session with Ostroff, check out these live-blogs and recaps.
The Gossip Girl panel featured Ed Westwick (Chuck), Josh Schwartz (executive producer), Stephanie Savage (executive producer) and Joshua Safran (executive producer).
A preview of season 4 was shown and some spoilers were divulged. Taylor Momsen (Jenny) will be back (something else I've maintained all along), and the producers admitted that they have an idea of how the show will eventually end but said it's a long time off.
For more on the Gossip Girl panel, check out these live-blogs and recaps. (Warning: spoilers included.)
Korbi has a spoiler-filled Q & A with Schwartz and Savage.
Chace Crawford (Nate, Gossip Girl) was on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night.
Crawford spoke with MTV about Juliet (Katie Cassidy, Gossip Girl) and GG shooting in Paris, which he did not partake in.
AfterElton spoke with Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210), Michael Steger (Navid, 90210) and Matt Lanter (Liam, 90210) individually about the possibility that one of their characters will be the one that comes out this season. Interestingly enough, they each give contradictory stories on how everyone found out about the storyline.
Crushable's interview with Lanter on the same topic is a bit contradictory, too, as he says he knows which character it is, but the above interviews seem to suggest they don't know who it is, if I'm reading this all correctly. Oh, and there's totally Lannie spoilers in that interview.
AnnaLynne McCord (Naomi, 90210) spoke to Us Weekly about Kim and Khloe Kardashian's guest appearance.
Jessica Stroup (Silver, 90210) performed a powerful monologue by Eve Ensler for MTV.
Rachel Bilson (Summer, The O.C.) will reprise her How I Met Your Mother role.
Joshua Jackson (Pacey, Dawson's Creek) hilariously spoke with MTV about Pacey-Con. LOL at the Jen-Con comment. I'm sure the reunion thing, though, will end up being blown way out of proportion by the media.
Tags: 90210, AfterElton, AnnaLynne McCord, Brooke, Chace Crawford, Chuck, Crushable, Dawn Ostroff, Dawson's Creek, Ed Westwick, Even Ensler, GG, Gosip Girl, Gossip Girl, Hellcats, How I Met Your Mother, Jen-Con, Jenny, Jessica Stroup, Josh Schwartz, Joshua Jackson, Joshua Safran, Juliet, Katie Cassidy, Khloe Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Korbi, Lannie, Late Night With Jimmy Fallon, Liam, Matt Lanter, Michael Steger, MTV, Naomi, Nate, Navid, Nielsen, Nielsen ratings, Nikita, One Tree Hill, OTH, Pacey, Pacey-Con, Paris, Rachel Bilson, Silver, Sophia Bush, Star News, Stephanie Savage, Summer, Taylor Momsen, TCA, Teddy, Television Critics Associations, The CW, The CW upfront, The Futon Critic, The O.C, Trevor Donovan, TVbytheNumbers.com, US Weekly
Categories : 90210, Dawson's Creek, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill, The O.C.
News Roundup: One Tree Hill, Gossip Girl, 90210 and Dawson's Creek
Despite its first-ever official Emmy campaign, The CW didn't receive any nominations.
Nomads, The CW pilot featuring Michaela McManus (Lindsey, One Tree Hill), is officially dead, with just HMS known to still be in contention for mid-season.
The next category in The CW Sourcies is Favorite Recurring Character. Among the nominees: Rachel, Chase and Grubbs (One Tree Hill), Carter (Gossip Girl) and Ivy (90210).
Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210) tweeted that he is in the August issue of Cosmopolitan.
Multiple places are confirming that Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210) is "finalizing a deal" for Desperate Housewives.
James Van Der Beek will appear on MTV's When I Was 17 this Saturday.
Jane Lynch (Mrs. Witter, Dawson's Creek) and Julie Bowen (Aunt Gwen, Dawson's Creek) were nominated for an Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy for the Primetime Emmys. Lynch was also nominated for Outstanding Guest Star In A Comedy.
Tags: Aunt Gwen, Beverly Hills 90210, Brian Austin Green, Carter, Chase, Cosmopolitan, David, Dawson's Creek, Desperate Housewives, Emmys, Gossip Girl 90210, Grubbs, HMS, Ivy, James Van Der Beek, Jane Lynch, Julie Bowen, Lindsey, Michaela McManus, Mrs. Witter, MTV, Nomads, One Tree Hill, Primetime Emmys, Rachel, Teddy, The CW, The CW Sourcies, Trevor Donovan, What When I Was 17
Categories : 90210, Beverly Hills 90210, Dawson's Creek, Gossip Girl, One Tree Hill
News Roundup: Gossip Girl, 90210, One Tree Hill and More
The next CW Sourcies category is Best Villain, with Georgina (Michelle Trachtenberg, Gossip Girl), Jen (Sara Foster, 90210) and Katie (Amanda Schull, One Tree Hill) among the nominees.
Chuck sleeping with Jenny in the Gossip Girl season finale is nominated for Moment That Made You Want to Throw Out Your TV in Kristin's Tater Top Awards.
PopMatters has a great (but long) piece on the trend of teen dramas showcasing teens in adult-like ways, with a look at the genre but most of the focus on Gossip Girl.
RadarOnline recorded Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210) as he went skydiving.
Kim, Khloe and Kourtney Kardashian will guest-star on the 90210 season 3 premiere.
Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210) and Megan Fox were married last week.
Sophia Bush (Brooke, One Tree Hill) was on KTLA this morning.
Bush told Zap2it that if she wins at Teen Choice 2010 in August, she will auction off her surfboard to benefit Global Green.
There is a contest to win (essentially) an all-expenses paid trip for two to the Everly, featuring Bethany Joy Galeotti (Haley, One Tree Hill), and Enation show at the Corn Palace in August.
Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, starring Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson's Creek), will be released January 21, 2011.
PEOPLE.com has a "first look" photo of Holmes as Jackie Kennedy.
Author Bret Easton Ellis, who has worked with at least two teen drama stars including James Van Der Beek (Dawson, Dawson's Creek), spoke to TVGuide.com about whether he inspired the teen drama genre.
The Daily Telegraph has an interview with Benjamin McKenzie (Ryan, The O.C.), where he mentions he is not in touch with Mischa Barton (Marissa, The O.C.).
Tags: 90210, Amanda Schull, Benjamin McKenzie, Bethany Joy Galeotti, Beverly Hills 90210, Bret Easton Ellis, Brian Austin Green, Brooke, Chuck, Corn Palace, David, Dawson, Dawson's Creek, Don't Be Afraid Of The Dark, Enation, Everly, Georgina, Global Green, Gossip Girl, Haley, Jackie Kennedy, James Van Der Beek, Jen, Jenny, Joey, Katie, Katie Holme, Khloe Kardashian, Kim Kardashian, Kourtney Kardashian, Kristin, KTLA, Marissa, Megan Fox, Michelle Trachtenberg, Mischa Barton, One Tree Hill, PEOPLE.com, PopMatters, RadarOnline, Ryan, Sara Foster, Sophia Bush, Tater Top Awards, Teddy, Teen Choice 2010, The CW Sourcies, The Daily Telegraph, The O.C, Trevor Donovan, TVGuide.com, Zap2it
Zap2it has an interesting look at the CW's Emmy chances. Emmys aside, I strongly agree with their assessment of One Tree Hill this past season.
Austin Nichols (Julian, One Tree Hill) is now on Twitter. Added him to the Twitter Directory.
For the season overall, Gossip Girl and 90210's total audience rating increased by 28 percent when you added in DVR viewing.
Chace Crawford (Nate, Gossip Girl) has been cast in Peace, Love, and Misunderstanding.
Digital Spy has an interesting video interview with Jessica Szohr (Vanessa, Gossip Girl).
Szohr and Trevor Donovan (Teddy, 90210) appear in another round of Op ads.
Kellan Lutz (George, 90210) is featured on PEOPLE's 50 Most Amazing Bodies list. The full list is in the new issue, which I haven't see yet so I'm not sure if other teen drama stars are on it.
Brian Austin Green (David, Beverly Hills 90210) and Megan Fox are engaged, her rep confirmed to Gossip Cop.
SoapNet has a new quiz called Which O.C. Lady Are You? I got Taylor Townsend and was told, "High-strung doesn't even begin to describe you. Brainy, passionate, focused — there's nothing you do that you don't dedicate at least 100 percent to. But as accomplished as this may make you, remember to let loose every once in awhile. Life can't always be planned out."
Gossip Cop and I busted an In Touch story about Tom Cruise wanting Katie Holmes (Joey, Dawson's Creek) to get Botox.
Tags: 90210, Austin Nichols, Beverly Hills 90210, Botox, Brian Austin Green, Chace Crawford, David, Dawson's Creek, Digital Spy, Emmys, George, Gossip Cop, Gossip Girl, In Touch, Jessica Szohr, Joey, Julian, Katie Holmes, Kellan Lutz, Megan Fox, Nate, One Tree Hill, Op, Peace Love and Misunderstanding, PEOPLE, SoapNet, Taylor, Taylor Townsend, Teddy, The CW, The O.C, Tom Cruise, Trevor Donovan, Twitter, Vanessa, Zap2it


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text:
Home >> Clark v. Sargent Irrigation District
Clark v. Sargent Irrigation District
S-21-0288
Case Audio
Case Time
Court Number
Hastings High School
Court Type
S-21-0288 Donald Clark and Kimberly Clark v. Sargent Irrigation District, a political subdivision, and Doug Kriss, an employee of Sargent Irrigation District [appellants]
District court for Custer County, Honorable Karin L. Noakes
Attorneys: Nicholas R. Norton and Nicholas J. Ridgeway (Jacobsen, Orr, Lindstrom & Holbrook, P.C., L.L.O.) for appellees --- Jared J. Krejci (Smith, Johnson, Allen, Connick & Hansen) for appellants;
Civil: Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act (PSTCA)
Proceedings below: District court denied motion for summary judgment, finding discretionary function exception did not apply.
Issues: The district court erred in (1) determining Appellees' noncompliance with the PSTCA, in particular the Neb. Rev. Stat. §13-906 requirement that Appellees wait until Appellant Sargent makes a final disposition of their claim before filing suit or otherwise wait at least six months from making the claim before filing suit, did not bar Appellees' claims; (2) determining it had subject matter jurisdiction over this action despite Appellees' claims being barred by the discretionary function or duty exception to the PSTCA; and (3) failing to grant summary judgment in favor of Appellants on the basis of sovereign immunity, the district court's lack of subject matter jurisdiction, and Appellees' noncompliance with Neb. Rev. Stat. §13-906.
Facts: Sargent Irrigation District is a political subdivision, and Doug Kriss is its employee. In July 2019, Kriss sprayed a herbicide on trees adjacent to real estate owned by Donald and Kimberly Clark in Custer County.
On June 29, 2020, the Clarks submitted a claim to Sargent under the Political Subdivision Tort Claims Act alleging Kriss negligently mis-used and over-applied the herbicide, resulting in damage to a corn crop that was growing on their real estate. They further alleged Sargent negligently supervised and trained Kriss. Sargent's Board of Directors addressed the claim at a meeting in July 2020, and minutes from the meeting show the Board agreed to not settle the claim and to follow advice of their insurance company. On September 1, the Clarks filed this lawsuit in district court.
After the lawsuit was filed, Sargent filed a motion to dismiss, which was subsequently converted into a motion for summary judgment. The motion alleged the court lacked subject matter jurisdiction due to the Clarks' failure to comply with the requirements of the PSTCA and because the Clarks' claims fell within the discretionary function exception to the PSTCA. The court denied the motion for summary judgment, and in doing so expressly ruled only on the discretionary function exception argument.
Sargent appeals. It challenges the finding that the discretionary function exemption does not apply and also argues the court should have found the Clarks failed to comply with the procedural requirements of the PSTCA because they filed suit before final disposition of the claim. In response, the Clarks contend the district court correctly found the discretionary function exception did not apply. And they argue their compliance with the procedural requirements of the PSTCA was not an issue presented to the district court.
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