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Over 30 esperts from India and Latin America analyze the future of cooperation between the two regions.
Institutions, exponential trade and equality in the age of algorithms.
What is the best way to reconcile flexibility and predictability within international trade agreements? Between October and November 2017, a series of sessions was held on the WTO and its role in the governance of the international trading system in the run-up to the 9th WTO Ministerial Conference (MC11), which will take place in December in Buenos Aires.
A new edition of Nanomercosur was held in Buenos Aires, where scientists, entrepreneurs and public officials presented the main trends in nanotechnology in the region and the world.
Which jobs run the greatest risk of being made obsolete by automation?
The opportunities and challenges brought by the convergence of the digital economy, changes in mobility and consumption, regulation, and care for the environment.
Recent publications selected by our library that provide more information on the issues covered in this INTAL Connection.
How will exponential automation impact Latin America's position in the global market and the diversification of its production structure? Will robotization destroy or displace jobs or will it create new, more sustainable ones? INTAL/IDB brought together experts and thought leaders to respond to these strategic questions.
Having employees with so-called hard skills is valuable because they find solutions to technical problems. However, crises or unexpected situations are solved through a combination of these and soft skills, which are related to emotions.
The two countries are seeking fairer conditions for farmers, especially for the least developed countries, and are also focusing on food security issues.
The two countries met to review bilateral economic affairs and plan future agendas.
The initiative will include support from the Inter-American Development Bank and CAF to improve physical connectivity in the region.
The two countries are seeking to simplify and streamline the entry and exit process for goods at customs facilities.
As pro-tempore president of the MERCOSUR, Brazil guaranteed that it would fast-track negotiations in the hope of presenting the agreement at the upcoming WTO conference.
Eight countries will receive training from Korea and will share their experiences. They are seeking to simplify public intervention formalities and make these more transparent.
The upgrading project includes technological development, digitization, infrastructure work, and new trade policy measures.
The Caribbean Community continues to strengthen its trade system with the aim of repositioning itself in the global economy.
The two countries are seeking to expand their export offer in the short term by breathing new life into negotiations.
The agreement increases each MERCOSUR member's opportunities for trade with new markets.
The repowering of Argentina's Embalse Nuclear Power Plant will extend its services for a further 30 years and increase its capacity by 5%. This building work aims to complement the growing demand for electrical energy in the region, maintain the share of nuclear power, and ensure the diversity of the energy matrix.
The COSIPLAN Network of Freight Logistics Experts is moving ahead with its work plan analyzing national projects to promote the development of integrated logistics systems.
INTAL/IDB and the Ministry of Modernization organized an event to discuss the 17 UN Sustainable Development Goals.
The president of Accenture Argentina, Sergio Kaufman, shared his vision of the future of work with IDB staff.
A next-generation agreement that strengthens production- and investment-related ties
Two years ago, the WTO Agreement on Agriculture was reformed, eliminating export subsidies for these goods, which were a source of serious distortions to trade. The relative dynamism of these markets has brought about positive changes in negotiations, albeit at the margins.
This year, the Internet of Things will grow by 20% globally. This article examines the main applications for a technology that is still in its infancy and the industries where it is being used.
The preparatory workshop for the 11th Ministerial Conference took place at the headquarters of the World Economic Forum in Geneva.
The meeting took place in the city of Mendoza in Argentina and sought to develop a positive integration agenda for the two regional blocs.
INTAL has launched a new publication on the future of employment. The study contains contributions from 40 international experts.
INTAL will hold a high-level academic conference on the global governance of international trade, in partnership with Argentina's Ministry of Production and other high-profile organizations. The event will be part of the WTO's MC11 and will take place on December 12, 2017, in Buenos Aires.
This seminar set out to examine a wide range of issues agreed on at the earlier Ministerial Meeting. It combined presentations by government officials from countries in each of the two blocs, experts, and private-sector representatives.
The shape of intraregional trade in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Some of the answers to the development challenges facing Latin America and the Caribbean may lie in the hands of creatives, designers, artists, and entrepreneurs.
Recent publications selected by our library that provide more information on the issues covered in this INTAL Connection.
There are numerous reasons why a firm might decide to sell its products on the international market. This is no easy task, and like any business initiative, it requires training and preparation to be a success.
The two parties reached a broad scope agreement that will benefit European exports. In addition to tariff elimination, negotiators included clauses on worker, consumer, and environmental protection.
The two countries have expressed interest in formalizing an agreement in the short term, given the possibilities of opening up other markets through this connection between the two regions.
Both countries would expand their export market if the agreement is formalized.
The two countries are continuing to make progress toward reaching a broad, innovative trade agreement. Authorities expect that the final draft of the text will be completed during the next round of negotiations.
The bloc has been debating the steps it should take toward reducing poverty, improving food security, and protecting the environment.
A meeting of high-level government officials ended with an exchange of opinions with a view preparing a regional agenda for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.
The two countries are still holding working meetings with a view to reaching trade agreements that will cover issues that include the space industry.
Authorities from regional economic blocs met with experts on international trade policy to debate the trade-related challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for the Caribbean.
Authorities from the two countries will evaluate the feasibility of an electrical interconnection plan. They will also look at interconnection with Argentina.
The announcement came at the 12th Pacific Alliance Summit. The bloc is seeking to expand its markets and has established bilateral agreements that will connect it with the Asia-Pacific.
One of the COSIPLAN priority projects for energy integration in Latin America and the Caribbean is due to be completed in 2018. The objective of these projects is to improve the distribution of energy generated by the hydroelectric power stations that Paraguay operates in partnership with Argentina and Brazil.
The UNASUR's South American Infrastructure and Planning Council (COSIPLAN) met in Uruguay to analyze integration infrastructure priorities.
A seminar on social innovation was held as part of the Inspira series of talks. It was attended by government officials and representatives from NGOs.
The development of portable electronics has been putting pressure on the lithium battery industry. This article looks at the projects underway in Chile, Argentina, and Bolivia, which have the largest global reserves of the mineral.
The EU's recent agreements with Canada and Japan have put it at the forefront of the regionalization of global trade.
INTAL/IDB presented its study "The Millennial Beat. Generation Y in the Age of Integration 4.0. How Young Argentinians View Technology, the Future of Work, and Trade Ties with Latin America."
Toward a Positive Agenda for Integration.
Participatory processes are starting to be used during the early stages of project planning for integration infrastructure, so as to respond to sectoral, economic, social, and environmental issues.
Recent publications selected by our library that provide more information on the issues covered in this INTAL Connection.
The internet is changing consumption patterns, the outlook for firms, and economic prospects in the region.
How the accumulation of technological knowledge impacts the competitiveness of Latin America and the Caribbean.
IDB/INTAL's Alejandra Radl and Ignacio Estévez presented a new information system on integration infrastructure in South America.
Those of us who work in the world of international trade know that we operate in a highly competitive market where the slightest gain in the time it takes to design, manufacture, or ship goods can be key to getting a buyer to choose our product.
The United Nations has issued a global "call for action" to halt the effects of pollution on the marine ecosystem and mitigate the effects of climate change.
The measure was implemented in 2015 to try to mitigate the impact of plummeting oil prices.
Peru continues to seek new Asian markets and is negotiating the possibility of exporting new products to China.
Some 20 years after the agreement entered into force, the two countries have reformulated parts of it and added two new sections, one of which focuses on gender.
The two countries have made progress on creating a group to promote small and medium-sized enterprises, particularly in less-developed regions.
The Argentine government has formally established a unit to fully implement this system, which will be led by the Secretariat of Commerce.
The joining of the two countries' trade borders marks the creation of the first customs territory in the Americas.
The Caribbean Community celebrated 25 years of bilateral relations and the technical cooperation it receives from Argentina.
The two countries remain committed to forging closer, mutually beneficial ties.
The bloc is seeking to create attractive internal markets so as to achieve greater international competitiveness that will benefit all members.
The two blocs are seeking to consolidate trade through a preferential tariff system
A recent Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) study that was presented at INTAL-LAB has made a significant contribution to our knowledge of trade facilitation. The event was attended by government authorities, specialist academics, and representatives from chambers of commerce.
A recent workshop focused on the skills that government officials and employees need to develop to keep up with technological change.
From São Paulo in Brazil to the Chilean ports of Antofagasta and Mejillones, a new interconnected road system is being planned that will cover more than 3,000 kilometers and cross four countries.
Work on the longest tunnel in Latin America is expected to be put out to tender in November 2018. This infrastructure project is one of the main ones currently being developed in South America and is part of the COSIPLAN Project Portfolio.
Demand is evolving very differently in the United States and the European Union. What impact is this having on the economies of Latin America and the Caribbean?
The UNASUR countries are continuing to work toward improving the physical integration of the region. At an annual exercise that was attended by authorities and technical teams from different relevant ministries, UNASUR members discussed progress on COSIPLAN priority projects and updated the project portfolio.
South American citizens can now access information on 581 regional infrastructure projects on the new COSIPLAN website.
A preparatory workshop for the 11th World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference was held in Geneva on May 31 and June 1, 2017, which INTAL helped organize.
Find out how do you know about Trade and Commerce!
New technologies are being incorporated into agricultural production in Latin America and the Caribbean with increasing intensity.
Opportunities for productive innovation to sustainably improve competitiveness in an underexplored area.
As technologies take over the tasks traditionally performed by human labor, there is growing concern around the future of employment.
At the second event in the Discussion Series on Technological Prospects, researchers from INTA and INTAL and international experts shared their views on the challenges that synthetic meat poses in terms of technology, production, and trade.
International Business Alliances (link in Spanish) applied in response to a business opportunity to sell Uruguayan products to the Costa Rican company Grupo Britt.
China has presented its plans to create trade corridors with Europe, Africa, and Latin America.
Bolivia continues to seek access to the sea to improve trade. It is considering different alternatives, which include negotiations with Argentina and Paraguay.
The main focus is on SMEs, which seek to export products with value added.
The new mechanism seeks to facilitate and improve infrastructure in the region and improve the competitiveness of the private sector.
An official visit to China to take part in the Silk Road Forum led to the signing of agreements that the two countries had been negotiating.
The two South American countries are currently drafting an agreement with a view to formalizing it this year.
The focus of negotiations is on expanding the supply of grains, which are essential to Mexico's trade in livestock products.
Representatives from the two blocs reiterated the importance of expanding ties with foreign partners.
Data mining determines the behavior pattern of companies that might be evading taxes.
The full implementation of the project will bring about an additional 1% annual growth in GDP.
The government has lifted the disqualification of sanitary records for meat products from Brazil.
The bloc seeks to expand its trade ties with the world and renew its ties with one of the world's largest economies.
Ministers of the economy and finance from PA member countries worked together to draft an action plan to consolidate the bloc's economic and financial relations.
The Tacna–La Paz road corridor is one of the most important connections between Bolivia and Peru as it is the shortest, most direct route between the Bolivian capital and the city of Tacna.
Second Workshop on the Implementation Plan for the Agua Negra Binational Tunnel Territorial Integration Program.
The growth in global meat production is linked to a strengthening of supply capacities in emerging countries, including some in Latin America.
A new IDB report stresses that the value of exports grew at a year-on-year rate of 17% in the first quarter of 2017.
International trade in meat products has grown in recent years.
3D printing is on the rise, as are industrial applications of it. Last year, the total turnover for the industry was US$13.2 billion.
The FinTech industry is on the rise in Latin America. The main local players and new products.
Synthetic meat production is being put forward as an alternative to traditional livestock farming. A seminar organized by INTA and INTAL looked at what the process entails and the challenges ahead.
These are the publications selected by our library to find out more about the topics of this issue of INTAL Connection.
The Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL), in its role as the Technical Secretariat for COSIPLAN, has presented an infographic summary of the nearly 600 integration projects in South America.
A dynamic infographic for examining the relationship between trade and the environment.
¡Descubre cuánto sabes sobre integración y comercio!
Overview and opportunities for equitable development in the region.
Key issues and prospects for a sustainability-based research agenda.
Speakers at the presentation of INTAL's new publication, Eco-Integration in Latin America, pointed to the importance of tackling the consequences of climate change as part of the integration process in Latin America and the Caribbean.
A webinar created by the ConnectAmericas team focuses on exporting to Asian markets and includes specific examples and success stories.
WTO members are seeking to adapt rules and regulations to the new realities of trade.
This year, the Asian giant is on its way to outstripping the United States as the world's largest oil consumer.
The aim of the document is to create a space for investment within the bloc and increase guarantees for local and foreign investors.
The third round of negotiations for the modernization of the free trade agreement between Mexico and the European Union has concluded.
The Caribbean Community Steps up the Struggle against Climate Change.
The Pacific Alliance is seeking to expand its economic relations through free trade agreements.
The two blocs held a much-anticipated meeting and agreed on the importance of integrating with one another given the current context of international uncertainty.
Mexico's deputy minister of foreign trade evaluates the negotiations that are currently underway with Argentina.
Negotiations between MERCOSUR countries and the Pacific Alliance will open up regional manufactures markets
Investment in this railway is hoped will quadruple the volume of freight currently transported and boost regional economies, connecting them with the rest of the world through the ports on the Paraguay–Paraná Waterway.
Rogelio Frigerio, Argentina's minister of the interior, public works, and housing, inaugurated activities for 2017 in his role as pro-tempore president of UNASUR's COSIPLAN. He drew attention to planning and the implementation of infrastructure as a necessary condition for development and integration in the region.
A High-Level Dialogue at INTAL-LAB marks the start of a process of reflection in the run-up to the 11th WTO Ministerial Conference and the next G20 Summit.
The director of IDB/INTAL presented the MERCOSUR Futures report to the bloc's new Ministerial Council.
Agricultural trade between Mexico and some South American countries is one of the missing links in Latin American integration.
Countries in Latin America are diversifying their energy matrix and seeking to develop their wind power capacity.
Can trade agreements help reduce pollution through the adoption of best practices?
What trade incentives promote good environmental practices?
Strengthening environmental governance in Latin America and the Caribbean: a look at the main challenges to improving environmental performance.
INTAL has presented a new publication in which 30 global experts put forward ideas on inclusive sustainable development, inspired by the papal encyclical Laudato Si'.
Small-scale producers from the MERCOSUR account for 5 million of the region's agricultural establishments and supply most of its basic food basket. How can they use ICTs to improve access to financing, production, and logistics?
Test your knowledge on integration and trade!
Discover Latin America's main trade partners.
The Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL), in its role as the Technical Secretariat for COSIPLAN, has presented a new publication on high-impact projects for the physical integration and socio-economic development of Latin America and the Caribbean.
What are the possible outcomes of the impact of technology on employment?
How can national development banks contribute to financing and implementing the Sustainable Development Goals?
Video summary of the MERCOSUR Futures international colloquium.
The operation of the ProCórdoba Agency and success stories from this province.
The two countries renewed their bilateral relations and committed to working together on various issues related to trade and investment.
The Southern Common Market is seeking to consolidate its internal structures with a view to integrating better into global trade, especially through trade agreements with other blocs.
The two parties have reached the end of their analysis periods and are moving toward the formalization of a trade agreement.
Between January and December 2016, Peru's exports to India grew by 37.4% in comparison with the same period during the previous year. This trend is expected to continue.
Customs authorities have approved an ID system for companies that benefit them during trade with other countries within the bloc.
Argentina is Mexico's fourth-largest trade partner in Latin America and the Caribbean and the 22nd-largest at the global level.
Tourism and the movement of goods were identified as the keys to development during the next stage, according to the last meeting of the CARICOM representatives.
The decision will benefit global trade and it is hoped that countries that have not yet signed the agreement will do so soon.
The PA countries are seeking an alternative agreement to guarantee integration and trade development.
The new port at Yurimaguas will strengthen the economic and social integration of Peru's coastal and mountain regions and will facilitate trade with Brazil along the River Amazon.
Once again, the INTAL/Latinobarómetro Alliance will be finding out how the citizens of Latin America and the Caribbean view major issues.
How citizen consultation processes work for large physical connectivity projects in the region.
In 2016, the downward trend that had predominated among commodity prices since late 2014 began to level off. Which factors determined this shift?
Software companies from Latin America and the Caribbean are seeking to become exporters.
The Amendment of the Agreement on Trade-Related Aspects of Intellectual Property Rights (TRIPS) became effective.
Alejandro Ramos Martínez, integration and trade specialist at IDB/INTAL, and Fernando Vilella, director of the Department of Bioeconomics, Public Policies, and Prospectives at the University of Buenos Aires' School of Agronomy, argue in MERCOSUR Futures how agricultural integration can leverage a competitive integration into global markets.
Fernando Lorenzo, director of Uruguay's Center for Economic Research (CINVE), argues in MERCOSUR Futures that the challenges of climate change need to be integrated into the design of common development strategies.
Álvaro Ons, Uruguay's secretary of productive transformation and competitiveness, puts forward in MERCOSUR Futures an agenda of feasible short-term initiatives to bring credibility to intraregional trade.
What is the future of MERCOSUR? A special publication was presented at INTAL-LAB. 25 years after the creation of the bloc, this report seeks to understand the new global challenges faced by integration and to establish a basis for a smart regionalism.
More and more people in Latin America and the Caribbean are using broadband mobile internet, but disparities between countries persist.
In its role as the Secretariat for COSIPLAN, The Institute for the Integration of Latin America and the Caribbean (INTAL) has redesigned the Project Information System (SIP) platform, which receives over 68,000 visits a year.
Interviews with the presenters at the INTAL Annual Colloquium: Integration 4.0.
This Alert disseminates information about the documents registered in the INTAL Lib databases, highlighting some publications, and providing links to newsletters and open access journals. Click here to access all the information aquí
E-commerce in Latin America.
Three question about E-Commerce
The two countries are seeking to strengthen their economies and put the period of stagnation behind them by playing a greater part in the international economy.
The two blocs have concluded negotiations and have announced their intention to formalize a trade agreement.
Despite the exponential leaps that digital technology has made, it has only recently started to truly penetrate industries.
National and International Strategies to Facilitate Investment Flows.
A new publication has been released as part of INTAL's role as the Technical Secretariat for COSIPLAN. It is part of the process of achieving physical integration and social and economic development for South Americans by planning and implementing infrastructure projects.
The agreement between the Caribbean regional bloc and Cuba will benefit a range of economic sectors, notably tourism.
The block continues to implement actions to develop trade technology. Chile calls on other members to leverage e-commerce.
Companies say there will be new investments and a major opening up of the labor market.
The region is seeking to sign agreements that will lead to the regulation and facilitation of customs activities.
The countries of Latin America championed joint efforts and cooperation to tackle their common problems.
Uruguay is seeking to position rail transportation as an attractive alternative for regional freight carriers. The rail connectivity it is developing will keep step with the country's growing needs.
In recent months, INTAL LIB has been undergoing a transformation to put its wealth of knowledge in the hands of more users in Latin America and the world.
In ancient times, trade began as a barter system in which people exchanged one object for another. Prehistoric humans traded animal skins or services for food. Over time, coins and currencies began to emerge.
The World Trade Organization has been working intensely to encourage and promote e-commerce. This article discusses the progress it has made and the challenges it is facing.
How new trade technologies can contribute to the region's development and what public policymakers can do to provide incentives to increase trade flows.
Three questions about infraestructure.
For the first time, transportation, energy, and communications projects are shaping a network of connectivity in South America that will bring countries together and strengthen the region's international integration.
This technology platform demonstrates that transparency in public works is possible and is a reality of life in South America today.
How local industries, especially SMEs, can leverage new forms of energy to create jobs.
With a view to next year, when Argentina will host the G20 meeting, experts discussed the main issues for the regional and global integration from a social perspective.
Last December 13th took place the IV Foreign Trade Forum "Uruguay faces the Pacific". The activity gathered private sector, academic and government representatives, as well as experts in trade negotiations processes with China.
Through COSIPLAN, which INTAL functions as the technical secretariat for, South America is making headway on its commitment to transparency around high-impact infrastructure for development.
The TIFA will foster private investment, promote growth, improve technology, and deepen sustainable economic development.
The Russian government has proposed that Uruguay sign (link in Spanish) a "strategic plan" in pursuit of greater cooperation in various areas.
Officials from Argentina and Chile held a series of meetings to strengthen relations and regional integration processes.
The annual global ranking of innovation capacities and outcomes.
This ongoing dispute at the WTO is over subsidies to Chinese aluminum producers.
Countries are facing the twofold challenge of repairing the damage caused by the financial crisis and creating employment opportunities.
A new publication has been released as part of INTAL's work as the Technical Secretariat for COSIPLAN/IIRSA with a focus on the results achieved by COSIPLAN's work areas in 2016.
The region's leaders emphasized that 2017 would be a key year for consolidating reform within the Caribbean Community.
The formalization of the agreement between the two countries will imply major alternatives to foreign trade and advantages for local firms.
The agreement opens up the EU market for almost all Ecuadorian export products.
This initiative is part of the Central American Trade Facilitation and Competitiveness Strategy (EFCC) and is supported by the European Union.
The country follows Nicaragua as temporary leader of the regional bloc.
More than 90 government officials took part in COSIPLAN's online course and said how valuable it was for them to have access to a regional program that allows them to expand their knowledge and exchange ideas and experiences.
The United Nations' development agenda is in line with Latin Americans' views and opinions
The two countries have defined their strategies and working agendas for addressing the convergence of the two blocs.
This is a major milestone on the road to electrical integration.
The latest technological advances that could play a fundamental role in protecting the environment.
COSIPLAN plans and implements infrastructure projects to improve physical integration and economic and social development for South Americans.
New tools and modern technology platforms are contributing to spreading COSIPLAN's mission of achieving a better connected and more integrated South America.
The public opinion survey of more than 20,000 citizens in 18 Latin American countries carried out by the INTAL/Latinobarómetro partnership revealed that social issues are the number one demand in the region.
INTAL developed this interactive tool that explores the issues addressed in 2016, establishing connections and providing a detailed overview of the global and regional agenda.
How much do you know about trade and integration? ¡Find the answers in INTrivia!
An initiative to help countries and interested parties to achieve sustainable objectives in the fight against climate change
The voices of the experts who presented the book The Fracture. The Quest for Social Equality in Latin America, Past and Present (links in Spanish).
Opinions from the main speakers at the presentation of the Trade and Integration Monitor 2016 (link in Spanish).
A look back at INTAL's year: how we inspired collective intelligence and cocreated knowledge on the ways that new technologies are impacting integration processes (link in Spanish)
Overview of regional trade negotiations and agreements. For news and to learn more about the progress made on trade agreements and negotiations, visit the Legal Instruments of Integration Observatory (IJI).
A visualization that shows the factors that drove the improvement in social equity of the region.
Two new publications have been launched as part of INTAL's work as the Technical Secretariat for COSIPLAN/IIRSA's work on disaster risk management
An exclusive report from the research team at ConnectAmericas argues that Latin America is a solution to China's limited natural resources.
The Secretary General of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS), June Soomer, made an official visit to Cuba, in which it was agreed the development, next March in Havana, of the XXII Ordinary Council of Ministers of the organization.
The two countries held their seventh meeting under the umbrella of the bilateral consultations agreement that has been in force since 2001
This investment will enable progress on the road infrastructure megaproject between Argentina and Chile
The member countries of the Andean Community will gradually update their immigration systems. Peru has already successfully done so.
A new report describes possible scenarios for trade dynamics in the region, which vary at the subregional level
A new book published by INTAL and FCE analyzes the historic roots of inequality in Latin America and puts forward creative ideas for moving toward greater social inclusion.
The two countries opened a new border crossing as part of their intention to form a customs union
The project will be a source of employment in the region once the anticipated investments materialize
The initiative is the outcome of an investment-related decision by the bloc's heads of state
The main aim of this initiative is the electronic exchange of information on foreign trade transactions, in line with international standards.
Academics, government officials, and members of international organizations and Latin American and global NGOs analyzed the current state of affairs for science and technology and their impact on labor markets.
The delegates from the countries of South America to COSIPLAN met online to agree on the 2017 Work Plan. As the secretariat for the CCT, INTAL will support the implementation of the activities the countries decide to prioritize.
The Trade and Integration Monitor 2016 analyzes different aspects of the downshift in global trade and the effects that this is having on the region.
The MERCOSUR Report No. 21 analyzes the macroeconomic outlook for the MERCOSUR and member countries' trade and investment flows, as well as the main features of the bloc's internal and external agenda.
INTAL participated in an international conference in Chile with experts from the region and China where the future of the relationship with the Asian giant was discussed.
Experts share their perspectives on law and sustainable development.
How much do you know about regional integration and trade? Find all the answers here at INTrivia.
Overview of regional trade negotiations and agreements. The IJI is an analytical compilation of regulatory texts, commentaries, and follow-up on legal commitments and developments concerning the various integration processes taking place in Latin America and the Caribbean. For news and to learn more about recent progress on trade agreements and negotiations, visit IJI.
The display shows the international agreements that countries in Latin America and the Caribbean have reached with partners from within the region and beyond it. These include free trade agreements, economic or physical integration agreements, cooperation agreements, and partial scope agreements.
This latest report, Downshifting, argues that a dramatic shift is needed in the region's international integration policies if they are to adapt to the changing pace of globalization.
What global challenges must we face up to if we are to prevent inequality from growing as a consequence of job loss?
Leaders of the Asia-Pacific Forum reasserted their commitment to keeping their markets open.
The Climate Summit in Morocco highlighted the role of the trade in goods and services to stimulate investment.
The project aims to address the challenges of the border area and assess progress toward implementing common projects.
Ecuador has joined the free trade agreement that Colombia and Peru are already party to.
In an attempt to fast-track the start of the project, the two countries committed to holding periodic meetings.
Representatives from the two countries signed the agreement to streamline commercial transactions and make them more transparent.
The two countries are seeking to consolidate economic relations and have planned joint activities for 2017.
The two countries are following up on the work plan that was started during Barack Obama's visit to Argentina in March 2016.
Problems in the steel sector have affected trade flows.
The two countries expressed their commitment to fostering negotiations between the two blocs.
The agreement is expected to be made official in the coming months.
CARICOM ministers have endorsed a roadmap for the implementation of the Caribbean Regulatory System for Medicine (CRS).
Uruguay's Chamber of Deputies unanimously passed Bolivia's protocol of accession to become a full member of the MERCOSUR.
The third Chinese presidential tour to Latin America was an opportunity for China to emphasize its commitment to the region and consolidate bilateral relations.
The 1st Latin American Course/Workshop on Road Surfaces and Basic Roads shared innovative, low-cost solutions for improving the conditions of unpaved roads.
Specialists shared the results of research that analyzes the interplay between law and sustainable development from a multidisciplinary approach.
The IDB's Demand Solutions event took place in Buenos Aires this year. Entrepreneurs shared ideas to improve lives through solutions that promote access to drinking water, sanitation, and better nutrition.
Government officials from Argentina and Chile discuss the region's experience of drafting the Territorial Integration Program that will facilitate the construction of this new link between the two countries.
In recent years, several countries have signed free trade agreements with China which have included specific causes on technological transfer. What impact have these agreements had? This article presents the main points of an ongoing research project.
How many of us are willing to pay taxes or take on credit to improve logistics costs in Latin America and the Caribbean?
Some 71% of Latin Americans say that foreign capital is beneficial for local economies.
After partnering to carry out 20,000 exclusive surveys in 18 countries in the region, INTAL and Latinobarómetro have created an overview of economic, political, technological, social, and environmental integration.
5 resources about Innovation that inspire on new trends in integration and exponential technologies.
Exclusive interviews with the main speakers of the Regional Integration 4.0. conference.
A World Bank report analyzes the short- and medium-term prospects for economic development in the region on the basis of changes in the macroeconomy and trade.
The challenges ahead and an action program for the optimization of the bloc.
The deluge of data that comes from our interconnectedness is providing us with new tools to increase productivity.
How much do you know about regional integration and trade? Find all the answers here at INTrivia.
According to an exclusive document drafted by ConnectAmericas, China's role in global business has been rising steadily in recent decades. This constitutes an enormous opportunity for products and services from Latin America and the Caribbean.
The two countries signed various agreements during the Uruguayan president's two-week tour of China.
This infrastructure project aims to become an alternative form of connectivity between the two countries and to foster production potential and service generation in the region it covers.
The agreement was described as "next generation" because of the new issues it includes.
The mechanism will contribute to strengthening the security system and data exchanges among members.
China already has free trade agreements with Peru, Chile, and Costa Rica. Colombia is making headway on negotiations.
The regional bloc made up of Chile, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico continues to actively seek out new trade partners.
The two countries have continued the trade negotiations they began at the end of 2015 around tariff expansions within their bilateral agreement.
Those present also decided on initiatives for the fight against climate change, terrorism, and the refugee crisis.
Some 1,500 businesspeople, diplomats, and government officials from China and LAC took part, making this the best-attended event in the summit's history.
The climate change agreement that was reached in December 2015 will be made official at the next UNFCCC conference.
INTAL and Latinobarómetro have launched a partnership to monitor citizens' opinions on issues that are fundamental to public policies.
As part of the joint training initiative organized by IDB/INTAL and the WTO, a course on e-commerce and its role in development was held in Asunción.
The winning project from INTAL and MIT's competition for creative industry start-ups traveled to Washington to take part in Demand Solutions, a megaconference for entrepreneurs. The company's director tells us all about the experience.
COSIPLAN's work demonstrates how technology can provide support for public policy–related decision making, the planning of infrastructure works, and prioritizing investment. A new video explains the initiative.
INTAL's annual flagship event included a panel on the study of the best incentives for fostering cooperation and trade.
The experts who took part in the INTAL conference held parallel workshops with representatives from the public sector and academia.
Global experts took part in INTAL's annual flagship conference. The focuses this year were big data, behavioral economics, and export diversification.
IDB open online course on e-learning platform edx.org, starts on 25th. October and lasts six weeks.
The sharing economy can optimize resources, create employment, and contribute to developing the use of new technologies.
Leadership and building agendas for transformation form part of this analysis of the current global state of affairs and the challenges the world is facing.
How much do you know about regional integration and trade? Find all the answers here at INTrivia.
Overview of regional trade negotiations and agreements. The IJI is an analytically oriented compilation of regulatory texts, commentaries, and follow-up on legal commitments and developments concerning the various integration processes taking place in Latin America and the Caribbean. For news and to learn more about the progress made on trade agreements and negotiations, visit IJI.
A network of experts, a course, the prospects of a strategic logistics chain and optimizing sectoral connections are some of the synergies between integration software and hardware.
This binational program is the result of work by Argentina and Chile to integrate their borders through infrastructure while taking into account social, economic, and environmental factors so as to strengthen the areas in question.
Combined with the slowing of the downturn in exports, this puts one of the world's largest economies in a more balanced position.
3D Printers Are Turning Up the Heat On Traditional Forms of Trade and Manufacturing.
Government officials analyze possible agreements between the two blocs and resume negotiations.
Paraguay will be exporting gourmet-quality products to Switzerland.
The two countries are continuing to hold working sessions with a view to implementing the system in the short term.
The PA is hoping to expand its global presence and extend its ties with the international economy.
Following several disputes with the European Union, there has been a significant step forward in favor of Argentina.
The initiative is part of a plan to promote intraregional trade facilitation.
Those present also decided on actions in relation to the fight against climate change, terrorism, and the refugee crisis.
Different studies show that women use social networking sites more than men and spend more time on them.
Government officials announced that binational cabinet meetings would be held with the governments of Ecuador, Colombia, Bolivia in order to tackle border integration issues.
The two countries are seeking to bolster economic relations. Japan is contributing to relief efforts following the earthquake in the Ecuadorian province of Manabí.
An agreement will provide US$33 million in financing for sustainable infrastructure projects in the Caribbean region.
Mexico's SIEPAC Interconnection Commission met for the first time since being established.
Short-distance routes for increased integration in Mesoamerica.
The mechanism will have resources of up to US$80 million for financing initiatives among SMEs in Mexico, Colombia, Peru, and Chile
The award-winning projects from the creative industries competition organized by INTAL and MIT took part in another high-profile competition for innovators in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Between September 7 and 9, 2016, INTAL held a Regional Workshop on the Trade in Services Agreement (TiSA) and the Negative List Approach to Services and Investment Liberalization, in partnership with the IDB's Integration and Trade Sector and CARICOM's Office of Trade Negotiations (OTM). The workshop took place in Hastings, Christ Church, Barbados.
The current state of 3D printing worldwide and in Latin America and the Caribbean. How the spread of this technology may impact industries and services.
INTAL's annual flagship event, Regional Integration 4.0, took place on October 5, 2016, and included a special panel on the transformation of production patterns.
How digital manufacturing and the Internet of Things can change integration and the way we do trade.
The Caribbean is seeking to mitigate the effects of natural disasters on transportation and roads.
The sharing economy is growing as a form of trade in different spheres. What factors have contributed to its growth and what part can it play in development?
Demand Solutions brings together some of the most innovative creative minds to discuss and share their solutions to the challenges of development industries.
An increasing number of countries in Latin America and the Caribbean use Exporta Fácil, a service that reduces transaction costs for MSMEs and helps them to integrate into the international market, which brings social benefits.
Innovation and trade are increasingly interconnected. A new approach to the interface between them is needed if we are to develop appropriate policies.
The INTAL D-TEC competition identifies and gives awards to start-ups providing innovative technological solutions. Some 120 firms from 15 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean took part in the competition.
A new book summarizes the Territorial Integration Program for the Agua Negra Binational Tunnel, which involves the provinces of San Juan and La Rioja in Argentina and the Coquimbo Region in Chile. The technical aspects of the project were coordinated by INTAL.
How much do you know about regional integration and trade? Find all the answers here at INTrivia.
Interview with presenters from the INTAL Winter Colloquium.
What role does Latin America and the Caribbean play in the market for services?
The two largest economies in the MERCOSUR seek to move forward with bilateral trade facilitation.
Chile's minister of foreign relations, Heraldo Muñoz, tackled issues related to trade and cooperation with representatives from the two countries.
Officials from the two countries started a work and cooperation plan to pursue common goals.
Experts and researchers met specifically to analyze the situation in South America.
Financial incentives seek to increase countries' negotiating capacities and enable them to take part effectively in the global trading system.
The differences, advantages, and perspectives women in leadership positions bring and their impact on organizations, according to two experts on the matter.
A new IDB publication analyzes how financial strategies can contribute to promoting clean energy.
The country has added its signature to the fight against climate change.
The Ministry of Production is to launch a competition to support firms with export potential.
Representatives from the two governments put forward an instrument to promote economic activity.
The legislation forms part of the international trade commitments the country has adopted.
The news was announced at the 11th Summit of the Pacific Alliance, which included a consolidation of international relations and a review of the progress this regional integration mechanism has made.
A project is seeking to end hunger in Latin America and the Caribbean by 2025.
INTAL's annual flagship event, Regional Integration 4.0, will take place on October 5, 2016, and will include a panel on big data and integration.
INTAL, Argentina's Ministry of Industry, the US Embassy in Argentina, and ARGENBIO held a communications seminar for government officials, researchers, and decision-makers.
To integrate MSMEs into the export base and facilitate trade, South American countries are seeking to strengthen and expand the Exporta Fácil project to include concrete initiatives that will consolidate the system in the region.
Innovation and regional integration were the focus of the INTAL Winter Colloquium. The event underlined the role of SMEs as drivers of employment and their potential as service exporters.
How much do you know about regional integration and trade? Find all the answers here at INTrivia.
Overview of regional trade negotiations and agreements.
The presence of Latin America and the Caribbean in the market for knowledge-based services
Publication by the Working Group on the UNASUR South American Infrastructure and Planning Council (COSIPLAN) Geographic Information System (GIS).
How and how much measures concerning beef exports have impacted the founding members of the MERCOSUR
Batteries that can provide power to whole villages, microchips that could take the place of organs in medical research, and autonomous vehicles are some of the innovations that will be most influential in the short term.
Interviews with the presenters at the INTAL Winter Colloquium
Broadband can help companies who are targeting the base of the population pyramid to improve the effectiveness of their operations and their services to their clients. Companies that started using broadband in their operations increased their productivity by 10% on average, according to the McKinsey Global Institute.
Under the slogan "From Decision to Action," the UNCTAD meeting aimed to develop an inclusive and equitable environment for trade and development.
CARICOM assessed the current status of the free movement of goods and persons and called on authorities to work towards harmonizing policies.
The two governments the two governments agreed on the need to review and expand the provisions in the agreement, which has been in force for 12 years
The agreements reflect the two countries' intentions to relaunch relations.
The Gas Exporting Countries Forum has put forward a proposal to tackle climate change and halt the rise of global temperatures
New trends in the Colombian capital are generating economic growth and quality employment
Over 7000 Colombian products will benefit from tariff reductions that have already been negotiated and approved
The country has added its signature to the agreement
Member countries are seeking to coordinate trade regulations that facilitate intrazonal and international trade
Costa Rica and China Consolidate Their Strategic Alliance
The US Congress has passed a new incentive for the Alliance for Prosperity plan for Honduras, Guatemala, and El Salvador, consisting of an additional US$750 million for 2017
Government officials from Mexico and Brazil met with the aim of expanding their Economic Complementarity Agreement (ECA)
The presidents of Argentina and Mexico met in Buenos Aires and talked about how to build closer ties between the MERCOSUR and the Pacific Alliance.
Different events and meetings mark the start of dialog between the two blocs
INTAL's flagship annual event, which will be held on October 5, 2016, will focus on neuroscience, big data, artificial intelligence, and the Internet of Things. How can these contribute to integration in the future?
Through the use of modern information technology and territorial planning methodologies, a Geographic Information System was put in place to facilitate the design, implementation, and operation of physical integration projects in South America.
The latest issue of the Integration & Trade Journal analyzes the transformation of the Chinese economy, the role of innovation, and the technology transfer policies that could drive productivity in Latin America.
As of 2016, the portfolio is made up of 581 infrastructure and connectivity projects representing an estimated investment of US$188,337 million. Another 12 projects were successfully completed in the last year.
Advances in artificial intelligence are one of the most dramatic challenges of our times. Robots are starting to compete for our jobs. How will Latin America and the Caribbean take on this new challenge?
How might Great Britain's decision to leave the European Union affect trade in the region?
What sort of erosive effect might the latest technological advances have on global value chains?
Almost 700 projects from 20 countries in Latin America and the Caribbean took part in the creative industry competition launched by INTAL in partnership with MIT. Find out more about the winners in this article.
According to an expert from MIT who gave a presentation at INTAL-Lab, the main changes will be in energy, transportation, and health. The impact on trade and integration.
¿Cuánto sabes sobre integración regional y comercio? Encontrá todas las respuestas en INTrivia.
Overview of regional trade negotiations and agreements. The IJI is a compilation of regulatory texts, commentaries, and follow-up on legal commitments and developments of an analytical nature concerning the various integration processes taking place in Latin America and the Caribbean. For news and to learn more about the progress made on trade agreements and negotiations, visit IJI.
Which jobs are most at risk of automation?
An analysis promoted by ALADI seeks to identify the impact of the creative industries on regional integration
Regional organizations called a meeting to evaluate and expand economic and cooperation relations.
Members of the business community and government officials worked together to draw up an action plan to strengthen the Peruvian department of La Libertad.
Government representatives, high-level officials, and over 20,000 members of the public attended the opening ceremony.
The two organizations have signed an agreement that seeks to make a significant positive impact on the cost, time, and forecasting of traffic through border crossings in the short term.
The two countries are seeking to consolidate a single customs area that covers 44% of the total area of Central America so as to create a more attractive market for local, regional, and foreign investors.
The signing of the Agreement on Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments demonstrates the countries' interest in expanding bilateral economic relations.
Signing this instrument strengthens integration through new common instruments and projects.
Find out which services or industrial processes the Internet of Things (IoT) can help make more efficient.
At a seminar at INTAL-Lab, academics who specialize in the bilateral relations between Latin America and China analyzed the recent transformations the latter has been undergoing and how these might impact the former.
A new publication as part of INTAL's role as the COSIPLAN/IIRSA Technical Secretariat on the importance of infrastructure to the development of the Guianese Shield Hub in South America.
Government representatives drew attention to the growth in bilateral trade and promised a closer relationship between the two countries
The meeting between the two countries' leaders took place as part of the OECD Week 2016.
Ministers from the two countries met in Brasilia to review bilateral affairs and reach new agreements.
The announcement was made at the 15th Meeting of the Pacific Alliance Council of Ministers.
Trade negotiations seek to revive the two countries' weakened economies
La iniciativa busca aumentar la superficie marina protegida para avanzar en la protección y desarrollo de un espacio de diversidad biológica.
The FAO agreement binds countries to implement measures to protect fishing.
A study by the Konrad Adenauer Foundation puts forward topics and tools for discussing the geopolitical and economic challenges the region is facing.


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Blockchain Training in Riyadh for Beginners
Date(s) - 02/02/2019
7:30 pm - 9:30 pm
Course Schedule
This class will be held as Remote LIVE Instructor led Online course as well as Onsite classroom at a physical location comprising of 5 sessions of 2 hours each. All sessions will follow the schedule below:
- February 2, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM US Pacific Time
- February 3, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM US Pacific Time
- February 9, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM US Pacific Time
- February 10, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM US Pacific Time
- February 16, 2019 from 9:30 AM to 11:30 AM US Pacific Time
Course Overview
The course provides an overview of the Blockchain technology including its history, evolution and the future. Students learn about bitcoin, which is powered by blockchain technology, bitcoin mining, other cryptocurrencies such as Ethereum, Block, Hash, cryptography, how to develop a simple blockchain application.
Who can take this course
Anyone aspiring to learn new technology can take this the course. Students and professionals interested in a career in the blockchain technology should opt for the course.
Those who have no programming knowledge will still get a lot of value from taking this course just as a beginner would learn a lot from watching someone cooking a meal or changing a flat tire.
Course Objectives
After completing this Training, you should be able to:
- Understand the importance of Blockchain technology
- Perceive, how bitcoin transactions are validated by miners
- Create and use bitcoin account effectively
- Have a deep insight into bitcoin and its network
- Understand Ethereum blockchain
- Comprehend the cryptography and cryptocurrency concepts
- Learn Solidity: Prominent language to develop smart contracts
- Deploy your private blockchain on web where you can visually see your chains
- Develop private Blockchain in MultiChain
- Discuss the compelling use-cases of the blockchain
- Interpret the prospects of blockchain
- Assess, how blockchain can improve your business standards
Refund Policy
- 100% refund can be applied if request is initiated 24 before the 1st course session
- If a class is rescheduled/cancelled by the organizer, registered students will be offered a credit towards any future course or a 100% refund.

subset: commoncrawl


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How Much Do Basement Windows Cost?
Discussing How Much Basement Windows Cost
The cost for basement windows ranges from $200 to $2,000 or more. The price varies based on type of material, manufacturer, and size. Costs typically include the window, labor, and trim.
The lowest priced basement window isn't always the best long-term choice. A cheap basement window can lead to frequent repairs and if the windows are leaky, mold and flooding may follow. Choosing the most expensive type of basement window may not be the best decision either.
Type of material
The type of material plays a major role in determining whether or not you will pay $200 for your windows or more than $2,000. Basement windows are available in aluminum, cellular PVC, fiberglass, steel, vinyl, and wood. Steel and wood are the most expensive materials, followed by fiberglass and aluminum. Cellular PVC and vinyl are the least expensive materials for basement windows. Wood is susceptible to rot and decay, and it may warp over time. So it may need to be replaced more often than other types of windows.
There are hundreds of basement window manufacturers to choose from, but several manufacturers are considered the most popular — and the most expensive. They are:
- Andersen
- Marvin
- Pella
Each company offers pre-made basement windows, but they're known for creating custom-windows. Opting for custom basement windows will increase the cost of your windows even more.
The basement window size varies depending on location within the structure. All basement windows must meet federal, state, and local building codes. In most states, this means the windows must be large enough for a firefighter to climb through. Check with your state Department of Housing, Building, and Construction or Office of State Fire Marshal to verify requirements. The price difference between a narrow window and a wide one can total up to several hundred dollars.


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Lenore Malen is an artist and writer who uses the lens of history and humor to explore utopian longings and the sciences and technologies that inform them. Working across diverse media, including photography, video, installation and performance, she has explored such subjects as Mesmerism, the social structure of idea and imaginary communities, and recently she has re-imagined human culture as a hive in a three channel installation. From 2000-2013 she exhibited and performed at Apex Art, NY, Participant Inc., NY, Location One, NY, Art in General, NY, Skidmore College, NY, Slought Foundation, NY, Tufts University, Medford, Mass. Wesleyan University, Middletown, Ct. Skidmore College, Saratoga Springs NY, The Cue Art Foundation, NY, and The Mediations Biennale, Poznan, Poland. She performed for the BBC as Doctor Mesmer in Miriam Margolyes' television production "Dickens in America." Malen served two terms as editor of Art Journal (published by the College Art Association) from 1990-1996. In the 1980s she was an editor at Chanticleer Press, NY. As a critic she has written for Art in America, Art News, Arts Magazine, M/E/A/N/I/N/G and The Brooklyn Rail. Her book "The New Society for University Harmony" was published by Granary Books in 2005. She is the recipient of numerous awards including a NYFA Grant in Interdisciplinary Art (2009) and a Guggenheim Foundation Fellowship (2009). She is currently at work on an installation and evening length performance inspired by a 15th century manuscript illumination of Eden. This work titled "The Universal Availability Of All Things Past," views Eden as a cautionary tale made newly relevant by the ticking clock of climate change, habitat loss and extinction. For more information about her work, visit.www.lenoremalen.com, and www.lenoremalenblog.com
Graduate Core: Group Crit A (Spring 2021)
Graduate Core: Group Crit B (Spring 2021)
Graduate Core: Studio Visits


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In CUDA, Supercomputing for the Masses: Part 14 of this article series, I focused on debugging techniques and the use of CUDA-GDB to effectively diagnose and debug CUDA code -- with an emphasis on how to speed the process when looking through large amounts of data and how to use the thread syntax and semantic changes introduced in CUDA-GDB. In this article, I discuss mixing CUDA and OpenGL by utilizing a PBO (Pixel Buffer Object) to create images with CUDA on a pixel-by-pixel basis and display them using OpenGL. A subsequent article in this series will discuss the use of CUDA to generate 3D meshes and utilize OpenGL VBOs (Vertex Buffer Objects) to efficiently render meshes as a colored surface, wireframe image or set of 3D points. All demonstration code compiles and runs under both Windows and Linux.
The articles in this discussion on mixing CUDA with OpenGL cannot do more than provide a cursory introduction to OpenGL. Interested readers should look to the plethora of excellent books and tutorials that are readily available in bookstores and on the Internet. Here are a few that I have found to be useful:
- GPU Gems and NVIDIA OpenGL whitepapers.
- The OpenGL tutorials by Song Ho Ahn.
- The gamedev.net tutorials.
To focus on CUDA rather than OpenGL, I use an OpenGL framework that can mix CUDA with both pixel and vertex buffer objects. It is anticipated that this framework will be used and adapted by many others as they investigate various aspects of mixing CUDA and OpenGL not covered in my articles.
In many cases, only the CUDA kernels that generate the data will need to be modified to create and view your own content -- as will be shown in a second example at the end of this article that generates and allows interactive movement over an artificial landscape. Finally, this same framework will be used in the next article with minor modifications to discuss and demonstrate vertex buffer objects.
In a nutshell, creating a working OpenGL application requires the following steps that are instantiated through the files in the framework as illustrated in the schematic below:
simpleGLmain.cpp: Create an OpenGL window and performs basic OpenGl/GLUT setup.
simplePBO.cpp: Perform CUDA-centric setup; in this case for a Pixel Buffer Object (PBO).
callbacksPBO.cpp: Define keyboard, mouse, and other callbacks.
kernelPBO.cu: The CUDA kernel that calculates the data to be displayed.
I anticipate that many readers will just copy and paste these four files and build the example. This is fine. Similarly, many readers will also cut and paste the additional two files, perlinCallbacksPBO.cpp and perlinKernelPBO.cu used in the second example to see the artificial landscape in action.
For many, working with the source code of these two examples will be sufficient (along with the comments) to provide the basic visualization functionality needed for their work or to establish a known-working code base that can be leveraged and adapted to create other more advanced CUDA applications.
Following is the source code combined with a discussion of the essential features needed to combine CUDA and OpenGL in the same application to create images.
Interested readers might also like to watch the video of Joe Stam's presentation given at the 2009 NVIDIA GTC (GPU Technology Conference) entitled What Every CUDA Programmer Needs to Know about OpenGL. Joe's presentation discussed many of the OpenGL concepts covered in my articles and provides a live demonstration of the simplest PBO and VBO demonstrations from this and the follow-on article.
Framework and Rational for Combining CUDA and OpenGL
Just as in the NVIDIA SDK samples, GLUT (a window system independent OpenGL Toolkit) was utilized for Windows and Linux compatibility. Figure 1 illustrates the relationship between the four files used in the framework.
As we will see, CUDA and OpenGL interoperability is very fast!
The reason (aside from the speed of CUDA) is that CUDA maps OpenGL buffer(s) into the CUDA memory space with a call to
cudaGLMapBufferObject(). On a single GPU system, no data movement is required! Once provided with a pointer, CUDA programmers are then free to exploit their knowledge of CUDA to write fast and efficient kernels that operate on the mapped OpenGL buffers. However, the separation between OpenGL and CUDA is distinct so OpenGL should not operate on any buffer while it is mapped into the CUDA memory space.
There are two very clear benefits of the separation (yet efficient interoperability) between CUDA and OpenGL:
- From a programming view: When not mapped into the CUDA memory space, OpenGL gurus are free to exploit existing legacy code bases, their expertise and the full power of all the tools available to them such as GLSL (the OpenGL Shading Language) and Cg.
- From an investment view: Efficient exploitation of existing legacy OpenGL software investments is probably the most important benefit this mapped approach provides. Essentially, CUDA code can be gradually added into existing legacy libraries and applications just by mapping the buffer into the CUDA memory space. This allows organizations to test CUDA code without significant risk and then enjoy the benefits once they are confident in the performance and productivity rewards delivered by this programming model.


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"Somehow we have developed this large contingent of know-it-all baseball fans who bay like wounded coyotes at any mention of wins, losses, RBI or batting average. I never know whether I should blame myself for this or not.." (Bill James)
Wednesday, July 21, 2010
Little Lumber Company
The ball stayed down a little, and went right through Ryan Doumit; 1-0 Brew Crew. And Young got the error! Doumit needs to do something with his glove; it seems like he costs us a run every game thanks to some misplay.
But it must be contagious. Randy Wolf walked Jose Tabata on a grind 'em out, 11 pitch at-bat. He scampered to second on a wild pitch, and came home on a single up the middle by Young. DY plated when the red-hot Neil Walker doubled into right center, perhaps helped a bit by the sun as Carlos Gomez actually overran the ball.
Wolf settled down after that, but it was 2-1 after the first.
The lead lasted for two batters, when eight hitter George Kottaras hit his eighth homer. Four have been against the Pirates. The Greek National player came into the game hitting .203 against the league, but .381 against the Bucs. Can't complain about the scouting either, at least in this case. Duke gave him a heater between the belt and letters right down the middle.
Tonight was apparently Pittsburgh's turn to be generous. With two away and Ryan Braun on first, Pedro backhanded a ball and threw a one-hopper to first. Garrett Jones, like Dewey before him, couldn't come up with the ball, and there were runners on the corners.
Carlos Gomez, a bunt candidate, hit a Baltimore chop over Alvarez's glove; he was even with base to guard against one being laid down. 3-2 Brew Crew, and two of the three were gifts.
The Pirates made a change in the fourth; Eric Kratz took over behind the dish; Doumit was suffering from light-headedness caused probably by the collision he was in after missing the ball in the first frame. Duke got the Brewers 1-2-3, and the Pirates went to work.
Jones singled to lead off the fourth, and then Pedro pounded one through the right side hole to put runners at first and third. Milledge doubled in one run, and a safety squeeze by Ronny Cedeno brought home another. Duke tried the same thing, and popped out, almost doubling Milledge off at third.
But he didn't, and Jose Tabata singled him in. Then Young pulled a belt-high, middle of the dish hook over the short fence in left, and before Randy Wolf could cry wolf, it was 8-3.
How many times have you heard that you have to out slug the Brewers to beat them? Well, the Bucs have taken it to heart. In the fifth, Jones missed wrapping one around the foul pole by inches, and ended up drawing a walk. Pedro took all the drama away when he dropped one just over the wall to straight center; it was 10-3 Pittsburgh at the end of five.
And how was the Zachster handling the lead? Just fine, thank you. He retired seven in a row, walked a batter, then got a DP and a K after that. Paying attention, Brad?
Wolf was taking one for the team, with Milwaukee's bullpen being way over exposed recently. But there's only so much Kenny Macha could do - Duke, Tabata, and Young singled for a run (DY's fifth of the game, a career high), and even a DP ball smacked by Walker scored another. Jones singled, and Wolf's run was done after 5-1/3 innings, with twelve runs given up on thirteen hits and 108 pitches.
Duke, in his second start since his rehab assignment, got the hook in the sixth when the first two hitters - Kottaras and AA call up Lorenzo Cain - singled off him, bringing his pitch count to 102; Brendan Donnelly relieved and closed the inning against the top of Milwaukee's order.
Duke went six, giving up two earned runs on six hits, with three Ks, two walks, and a plunked batter.
The Pirates added another pair off David Riske in the seventh on RBI knocks by Andy LaRoche and Walker scoring Milledge and Cedeno.
The Bucs added another in the eighth when Pedro crushed one high off the right field screen off Kameron Loe; it may have been a river shot if it had slid a bit further inside the pole.
It also provided the perfect spot to get Sean Gallagher some work, and he did a yeoman's job. Gallagher went two innings with a hit and a K, while throwing 21 pitches, 14 for strikes.
The Baby Bombers blasted their way to another win. It's amazing how a few runs help minimize the little mistakes they still make, the same mistakes that were coffin nails in the first three months of the season.
Ross Ohlendorf and Yovani Gallardo will start tomorrow night.
-- The five RBI by Alvarez last night and five tonight by Delwyn Young is the first time since 1973 that Pirates teammates had at least 5 RBI in back-to-back games. The last duo to perform that feat were Al "Scoops" Oliver and Rennie Stennett, who had six apiece.
-- Just a little anecdote told by the FSN announcers about the Pirate locker room, which has kept its head even when the season was spinning away: when Eric Kratz came to the club, one of the first to greet him was Brendan Donnelly, who told him that he too was a 30 year-old rookie when he was first called up, and he's still in the show nine years later.
Chemistry doesn't mean everything, but it helped hold the club together when things were dark, and it's old vets like BD who deserve some credit for keeping a young club's fragile psyche intact to fight another day.
-- The Pirates signed eight more Latino players. Jen Langosch on her By Gosh blog has a brief Rene Gayo blurb about each of them.
2 comments:
- WilliamJPellas said...
Delwyn Young is a good, professional hitter. It's too bad he doesn't really have a position, but a guy like that who can come off the bench and give you professional at-bats is a valuable commodity. I'd think he would be very attractive to some contending teams, particularly in the AL where he could DH. I'm surprised his name hasn't come up in trade rumors before now.
- July 22, 2010 at 3:02 PM
- Ron Ieraci said...
He is, Will, but without more pop, he's not likely to get much in return. I'd like to see him remain as a piece here, a bench presence that can spot start.
- July 24, 2010 at 9:53 AM


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From madness to sanity. I recommend Universities Under Attack by Keith Thomas, who was president of Corpus Christi College, Oxford way back when I was a student there. Read it! Read it and weep, but read it nonetheless. By way of contrast with the other article I mention, he recalls
a time when the 'new' universities of the 1960s were devising novel syllabuses, constructed with an eye to the intellectual excitement they generated.Also, the article is not just hand-wringing: he proposes action that the academic community could take in response to the current malaise.


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Money Management Presents: G Money Benjamin (Feat. Narcisse & Lufilthy) - White Satin [Unsigned Hype]
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text: Culture 23 January 2012 The Dreyfus Affair Sign-up The Dreyfus Affair Piers Paul ReadBloomsbury, 416pp, £20 "What a poignant drama," wrote the French novelist Émile Zola about the spectacle of the Dreyfus affair as it unfolded in front of him. In 1898, he wrote an open letter entitled "J'accuse" to alert the public to what Piers Paul Read describes as an infamous miscarriage of justice. Read quotes Zola in defence of his decision to publish another book on the affair, hard on the heels of the excellent account by Ruth Harris, which appeared in 2010. His intention is to tell the story as it stands and he does so vividly and intelligently but he does not add very much to what is already known. The tale is perhaps as close as history gets to fiction, which may well explain why a novelist of Read's stature has taken it on. The case was a product of its time: a Jewish officer in an army full of Catholic diehards; growing fears and tensions between Third Republic France and imperial Germany; endless stand-offs between a modernising, radical France and the disappointed France of Church, army and gentry, whose world fell apart in 1870 with the end of the Second Empire. When an incriminating document - the bordereau, or memorandum - was found in a wastepaper bin at the German embassy in Paris, the army hunted around for a likely culprit on the general staff. Captain Alfred Dreyfus was not much liked and his handwriting seemed similar (though clearly, to those involved, not the same) to that on the bordereau. When accused, he made little effort to defend himself and in the subsequent court martial, his behaviour alienated those who might have given him a hearing - one witness reported that "his voice was atonal, lazy, his face white". As is now well known, there was no case to answer. But the army needed a scapegoat. Dreyfus won no sympathisers and the sentence was life in a penal colony. Devil's Island off the coast of French Guiana was reopened just for Dreyfus; here it was hoped he would conveniently die and the brief tension between France and Germany would be allowed to simmer down. What is striking, as Read makes clear, is the failure of the French Jewish community to do much to help Dreyfus. It was worried that a strident defence would invite a wave of Jewish persecution in a country where Édouard Drumont's anti-Semitic tract La France Juive had sold a million copies. The army, too, had no real interest in whether Dreyfus was innocent or guilty as long as the spy scandal was solved at a tricky time in international relations. It was uninterested when new evidence appeared showing that a shallow, impoverished officer, Count Ferdinand Walsin Esterhazy, was the author of the memo. New documents were forged that appeared to confirm Dreyfus's guilt and Esterhazy was told to lie low. Miscarriages of justice almost always suit somebody; otherwise, they would not happen. The interesting question raised by Read's account is how the few who came to realise that there had been such a miscarriage were able to circumvent all the efforts to stifle inquiry. This had something to do with the conservative and withdrawn prisoner on Devil's Island but, in the final analysis, a good deal more to do with tensions in French society. The Dreyfus affair became a symbol that grew rapidly out of all proportion with the original case. The progressive left and centre used it as a stick to beat the army and the Church; the clerical and nationalist right used it as a way to discredit secularists and liberals and to sustain French anti-Semitism. The affair exposed deep fissures in the French nation that reflected the profound differences between the revolutionary and the counter-revolutionary traditions. Responsible senior officers did eventually find the forged evidence. The forger killed himself, Esterhazy fled to England and Dreyfus was recalled after five years to face a second court martial. The court was packed with anti-Dreyfusards and Dreyfus himself made such a poor impression (hardly surprising after five years in the tropics on poor food - his survival alone was miraculous) that he was found guilty again. By this time, Dreyfus had become an international cause célèbre. A wave of international and domestic protest led the government to organise a pardon. In 1906, after a third investigation, he was finally exonerated entirely, readmitted to the army and allowed to live in peace once again after a dozen years of dishonour. Read is keen not to see the affair as a precursor to the savage racism of the later 20th century or to find in it the seeds of collaboration with the Holocaust. But he does not explain this further. The book cries out at the end for some link to be made between the France of Dreyfus and the France of Philippe Pétain, who was old enough to be an officer through the Dreyfus period and took his revenge, when he had the chance, on socialists, liberals and Jews. The answer does not need to be crudely teleological but the history of the 40 years that separate the two will show important continuities that are more disturbing, perhaps, than Read would allow. Richard Overy is a professor of history at the University of Exeter. His latest book is "The Third Reich: a Chronicle" (Quercus, £8.99) Subscribe For more great writing from our award-winning journalists subscribe for just £1 per month! This article first appeared in the 23 January 2012 issue of the New Statesman, Has the Arab Spring been hijacked? SUBSCRIBE More


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Then, at the beginning of last summer, I was assured that Texas Governor Rick Perry would take Romney out as the safer conservative choice. That did not happen. I then heard that some of my co-workers were planning to donate to former Senator Rick Santorum's campaign, thus making it easier for the president to be re-elected.
At some point, this went beyond political analysis to simply wishful thinking. This was not only happening in my office, but at every political water cooler in the country. Yet, Romney continued to stack up delegates.
I remember a guy that I grew up with writing about Romney on Facebook, "Maybe this guy is playing chess while everybody else is playing checkers."
As it stands now, and it will as this goes to print, Mitt Romney is trailing in the polls in every important state heading into November. Great debate performances do not change polls, but they still matter.
For the last year, Romney supporters have been relatively quiet. The disciples of Bachman, Santorum, Perry, Ron Paul, and Barack Obama have all been more energized. The Romney supporters have been of the "silent majority" persuasion.
Following Romney's excellent debate performance last week, however, Romney supporters can puff out their chests. Romney's debate performance matters because it shows the "I'll guess I have to go with Romney" crowd that they were wrong to doubt his candidacy.
Do you think that Ron Paul would have done as well against the president? What about Rick Santorum? We won't even get into how easily the president would have dissected Michelle Bachman or Newt Gingrich.
Romney may not win in November, although the polls have been proven wrong before. One thing is certain, however, he was the right nominee for the Republican Party.
Another reason why this debate was interesting was that Republicans usually do not fare well in debates. It is not to say that they are not as good as their Democratic opponents, but the Republican Party likes having the image candidate more than they prefer the intellectual candidate.
Eisenhower was the image candidate, and Adlai Stevenson was more intellectual. Reagan was the image candidate, and Jimmy Carter was more intellectual. George W. Bush was an image candidate, and John Kerry was more intellectual. Inspiration trumps the thought process. This time, however, the Democrats have the image candidate. Romney may have the intellectual edge as a candidate, even if it does not bear fruit in November.
Barack Obama has what Dwight Eisenhower and Ulysses S. Grant had to their credit: they were pieces of American history. Obama's election four years ago is one of the most import moments in American history. To defeat him means to run against a major historical figure.
Romney, having dual Harvard degrees, saving the Olympics, and governing Massachusetts, is not a piece of American history. Romney did, however, allow Republicans to watch last week's debate with a sense of confidence that no GOP nominee in my lifetime has ever accomplished.
Solar and Wind Energy
In last week's debate, Mitt Romney said that he too supports alternative energy, but "not to the tune of $90 billion," alluding to the incentives that the president has given to alternative energy programs.
Whenever you get into the billions of dollars in this awkward economy you are talking about serious money. But the president giving $90 billion in incentives is not that dramatic. The incentives we gave big oil companies over the last 50 years are massive.
Once wind, solar, and biodiesel get off the ground, they will require fewer government incentives. This is an investment that is worth it. Sure, there are going to be bad companies like Solyndra, but that is no reason to throw the baby out with the recycled cooking oil.
We are going to benefit from these incentives at some point. Simply put, if we do not subsidize these industries, we are going to be in the same boat 20 years from now with oil-producing countries.


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Dance Review: San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker
Instead of whipping out a small nutcracker that Drosselmeyer later makes big, the nutcracker should be at least as dramatic in its appearance as Drosselmeyer himself, so that the child from Pacific Heights in the third row, dressed in velvet togs from a Sacramento Street boutique, isn't tempted to think, "Big deal—I've got a better nutcracker at home!"
When Life Hands you a Nutcracker, Make (lots of) Snow!
Helgi Tommason's restaging of The Nutcracker in the image of turn-of-the-last century San Francisco has created a pageant version, where most of the icons are on parade, but the storyline can suddenly lurch off-script in this tale of Clara, a girl who leaves childhood behind on a Christmas Eve, when the traditional party her parents host provides the material for a dream in which larger than life characters take up residence within and amid the furniture of her parents' sumptuous Edwardian home.
Now in its ninth year, one finds it pleasant still to read the screened message that greets audiences. It says, "Compliments of the Season, the old, old greeting, kind and true." In the midst of complaints (and not all of them issuing from the Christian right) that Christ has gone out of Christmas, it is reassuring to recall that no one seemed to object to the "Season's Greetings" salutation of decades' back. Projected images from the San Francisco Public Library History Room show the "Jewel City," circa 1915, with flower-filled carts, horse-drawn street cars, and finally, the Market Street façade of Drosselmeyer's Fine Clocks shop, where the curtain opens on Uncle Drosselmeyer, played amiably by Ricardo Bustamante, tending store, in the first of his ubiquitous appearances throughout the ballet.
Not present on this Market Street are the Chinese immigrants who came to build the railroads, nor Black San Franciscans who migrated from Texas and Louisiana after the Civil War. In this version, there is no Chestnut Lady, but instead a woman selling flowers, nurses walking babies in their prams, and others in the service of the wealthy, who on Christmas Eve do not join in the festivities, but instead labor in the streets and alleys to make deliveries to those whose income renders them comfortable enough to make merry.
The party scene at the Stahlbaum's poses the first of several problems, large, medium and small, with this production. Its now-ordered, now-chaotic tempo suffers from an absence of discreet dramatic beats. Were they there, they would underscore the important events which in an understated way are supposed to import themselves into Clara's dream in the second half of Act I, streaming content for the mimed recounting of his heroism by the Nutcracker Prince. Without that information cascade, the drama flattens, and the audience is unprepared for what is to come. One can still enjoy the costumes and dancing—and the sets where there are sets—but the dramaturgy stops short of bringing us on board for Clara's somnambulant journey.
To make matters worse, when at last the prince reaches the point of heatedly miming his story, the orchestra has slowed, and so there is no accompanying urgency in the music. It looks as if the prince is playing a very trying game of charades rather than relating a tale of derring-do. And the Sugar Plum Fairy, to whom he tells the story, has been given little else to do besides be a good listener, and so it is as if the ballet has suffered a fatal interruption.
The first step in stopping this train wreck would be to shape the party scene into something more discernible. Drosselmeyer's entrance should be a dramatic moment instead of the unceremonious one that it is. It shouldn't compete with foreshadowing Fritz's anti-social leanings or Grandpa's escalating inebriation. Instead of whipping out a small nutcracker that Drosselmeyer later makes big, the nutcracker should be at least as dramatic in its appearance as Drosselmeyer himself, so that the child from Pacific Heights in the third row, dressed in velvet togs from a Sacramento Street boutique, isn't tempted to think, "Big deal—I've got a better nutcracker at home!" We would prefer that he or she "ooh" and "aah" at this moment, but that requires some forethought and attention to the libretto.
The children in the party scene have an opportunity to learn from Jorge Esquivel, known for having partnered Alicia Alonso in Cuba for two decades. He dances the role of Grandfather, and students should notice how fastidious he is about his preparations and aim to emulate him. A certain critic in the audience yelled "Bravo!" after his performance with Anita Paciotti of the Grandparents Dance. The party scene is rescued not only by Esquivel, but the Dancing Dolls. First out of the box is Myles Thatcher as the Pierrot or Harlequin doll. His bridged splits on the floor contrast sharply with the mincing steps of the party guests. Elizabeth Powell was put in for Dores André as the Dancing Doll, and she is a marvelously tall and limber one, who delivers bourrées that bounce ever so slightly, as if she has foam rubber in her joints, smiling all the while as if she knows everyone's' fantasies and secrets.
As Clara, San Francisco Ballet School student Charlotte Ogden-Moore comes into her own in the second half of the first act as she sets the stage for her dream. Drosselmeyer reappears as a kind of benevolent Rothbart, making more small things large—this time the Christmas tree, which grows and brightens, and the furniture and fireplace surrounding it. Perhaps the best improvement in this Nutcracker over its predecessor is the Battle of the Soldiers and Mice. The mice climb out from behind the now-engorged gifts under the Christmas tree, and soldiers march out of a cabinet. While their encounter is low tech (no drones!) and light weight, the Mouse King's death by virtue of a mousetrap dragged in by a soldier, and his momentary reprieve when he escapes from it, is now improved by having him fall into the orchestra pit where he suffers his death agony. The Nutcracker, injured during the party scene, and repaired by Drosselmeyer, was placed on the hearth. The heat (or something) from the fireplace has caused him to grow, and become more intriguing, because he looks as if Maurice Sendak designed him. When Drosselmeyer strips him of his outerwear, the Jaime Garcia Castilla whom we see, looks relieved, as if to say, "Man, it sure is stuffy inside that costume!"
Here is where the story line jumps the track. The Snow Queen who we usually see with her King—the couple that dances the Grand Pas de Deux at the close of the ballet, enters here. She and her King dance the Snow pas de deux, and Koto Ishihara, partnered by the ever-gallant Gennadi Nedvigin is a real sparkler! Her timing, technique and bravura come together in lifted split jetés that boost performance quality to the brim. The Snowflake corps dancers piqué about her with arms in low fifth or second and hands extended brightly. Once again this year, there is a surfeit of snow, and you feel for the dancers who have to squint their way through the avalanche. By now, the pungent odor of children's fruit candy that smells oddly similar to baby poop suffuses the theater. It can't be because we've arrived in the Land of the Sweets because there is no such land mass in this production. "What???" you exclaim. Yes. No, there is none.
Act II takes us instead to San Francisco's famous Golden Gate Park Arboretum, or a reduced version of its greenhouse glassed in set from earlier iterations. There, ballet-student bugs and flowers dressed in Martin Pakledinaz's costumes of amaryllis reds, verdant greens and goldenrod yellows, assemble to cross-pollinate, utilizing no boys and minimal, though not minimalist choreography. They also surround the Sugar Plum Fairy, danced this night by Courtney Elizabeth, also given a minimum number of steps and bare bones combinations with which to scatter her fairy dust. There is another flaw here. It may arise from deciding to not have the Sugar Plum Fairy dance the Sugar Plum variation, and instead give her what used to be the soloist music in Waltz of the Flowers, but by now I am so confused that I need something on the order of Google Earth to account for what has gone missing.
I do see for the first time how pale Elizabeth can be made to look by lighting her too brightly and dressing her in what looks like a faded, washed out, though otherwise lushly designed tutu. It needs several hours in a dye bath. She should stand out among the flowers, but the sum total of all these linear, misbegotten effects has everything going in the opposite direction, burying her in other dancers' colors. She seems to be struggling to be visible among student dancers who, with their "developing" technique, swarm about her unrestrained, with Drosselmeyer thrown in for good measure. It is an unenviable role in the way that it has been created for this version.
I want to like it because the arboretum idea is appealing, and the more elaborate set from nine years ago, with the black lace butterflies and glass panels descending from above created an otherworldly setting, but what counts is what one fills it with, and I'd honestly rather see the Sugar Plum Fairy dance to her own variation, the flowers be flowers and have soloists dance their flower solos. That preference is high on my list of seasonal wishes.
This brings us to another problem. Instead of the Land of the Sweets backdrop for the Act II divertissements, there is the stage, empty of sets, with only the hanging Arboretum appurtenances above. It feels as if the Land of the Sweets has been looted, and the dancers forced to perform on a cold, empty set. It diminishes the excitement, with the dances rolled out unobserved by the Royal Court. The Spanish variation jump starts the divertissements with a rousing quintet of Ellen Rose Hummel, Alexandra McCullagh, Diego Cruz, James Sofranko and Francisco Mungamba. Kimberly Braylock delivers a sultry Arabian, her eyes mysterious as her glances linger with each undulation. Her partners, Sean Bennett and Alexander Reneff-Olson turn the group into a finely profiled threesome. Wei Wang leads the Chinese Lion Dance with limpid jumps and turns. He is one to watch! French with its burlesque curlicues is danced smartly by Dores André, Sasha DeSola and Dana Genshaft. Russian is always a hit because the three dancers jump through three screen designs of a Russian Easter egg. Madame de Cirque and her Buffoons has replaced Mother Ginger, and is an absurd divertissement from start to finish, with Madame draped in bunting, lifting her skirt salaciously, as children in cow-spotted costumes run out from underneath and jump up and down rhythmically while a (California) bear emerges doing gross off-balance arabesques.
The Grand Pas de Deux, like the Snow Pas, is emblematically representative of the traditional Nutcracker in its grandeur, classicism, theatricality and technique. This evening, Jaime García Castilla partners Clara Blanco. Their costumes are of antique green and yellow gold, colors reminiscent of the post cards showing interiors of Russian museums housing imperial treasures. Blanco is one of those rare short dancers who doesn't strain against her height in order to appear taller. Her grandeur is found in her exquisite gesture, alertness, sparkling eyes, economy of motion, focus on the music and her partner. She and Castilla lock eyes as punctuation to a fouetté arabesque. Her arms caress the air, descending upon it as if there was a cloud on each side of her. The tiniest bourrée carries with it its own passport, to step through a larger portal, perfectly spaced, light and swift. Her glance is a queenly hair's breadth away from smoldering, as she smiles confidently at her partner. In the Sugar Plum variation she raises just an eyebrow to signal a change of direction, and it is as important as the more difficult shift to a step back in detailing the xylophone crescendo that identifies this music as belonging to Tchaikovsky and his Nutcracker Suite. She and Garcia Castilla place the official seal of the season on tonight's show, ending it on a celestial note.
San Francisco Ballet Nutcracker performances continue through December 28. For ticket information, click on sfballet.org.
Toba Singer, author of "First Position: a Century of Ballet Artists" (Praeger 2007), was Senior Program Director of the Art and Music Center of the San Francisco Public Library and its dance selector until her retirement in 2010. Raised in The Bronx, she graduated from New York City's School of Performing Arts with a major in Drama, the University of Massachusetts with a BA in History; and the University of Maryland with an MLS. Since high school, Singer has been actively engaged in a broad range of pro-labor, social, and political campaigns. She has lived, worked, organized and written in Baltimore, Boston, The Bronx, Cambridge, Charleston, West Virginia, Jersey City, Richmond, Virginia, San Francisco, and Washington, D.C., working in steel mills, chemical refineries, garment shops and as an airlines worker; also editing, teaching and as an office worker. Singer has contributed articles to the "Charleston Gazette," "San Francisco Chronicle," "Dance Magazine," "Dance Europe," "City Paper," "Provincetown Advocate," "Voice of Dance," CriticalDance.com, "InDance," and "Dance Source Houston."
Singer returned to the studio to study ballet after a 25-year absence, and in 2001, was invited to become a founding member of the board of Robert Moses' KIN dance company. Singer studied ballet with Svetlana Afanasieva, Nina Anderson, Perry Brunson, Richard Gibson, Zory Karah, Celine Keller, Charles McGraw, Francoise Martinet, Augusta Moore, E. Virginia Williams, and Kahz Zmuda; and Modern Dance with Cora Cahan, Jane Dudley, Nancy Lang, Donald McKayle, Gertrude Shurr, and Zenaide Trigg. Her son James Gotesky dances with Houston Ballet. Singer lives in Oakland, California, with her husband Jim Gotesky.