All posts tagged: excellence

Isabella Rossellini to Receive Locarno Film Festival Excellence Award

Isabella Rossellini to Receive Locarno Film Festival Excellence Award

Published by Daniella Wilson

The Locarno Film Festival will celebrate Italian-American actress, model, filmmaker and icon Isabella Rossellini with its Excellence Award at its 79th edition this summer. Rossellini will be honored on the opening night of the festival, Wednesday Aug. 5 in the picturesque Swiss town’s Piazza Grande. “An icon of contemporary cinema, television, and fashion whose name is virtually synonymous with artistic daring and technical excellence, Rossellini has long fused the technical brilliance of Hollywood with the European spirit of artistic fearlessness across an extraordinary, multi-faceted, decades-long career,” Locarno organizers highlighted. “After first making a major cultural impact as a model, Rossellini seared herself into the collective imagination as the haunting Dorothy Vallens in David Lynch’s masterpiece Blue Velvet (1986), a role that blended glamour, raw vulnerability, and unforgettable intensity.” Added the festival: “Born of cinema royalty, Rossellini has left her distinct mark on film history, forging a career featuring collaborations with filmmakers like Robert Zemeckis, David O. Russell, Taylor Hackford, Marjane Satrapi, Guy Maddin, the Taviani brothers, or of course, most memorably of all, David Lynch, …

Chocolate now has standards for excellence, like wine and coffee : NPR

Chocolate now has standards for excellence, like wine and coffee : NPR

Published by Sam Flores

Julien Simonis, Programme Manager for Cacao of Excellence, smells and meticulously inspects halved cocoa beans during a physical quality evaluation at the laboratory in Perugia. This sensory and visual assessment allows for the immediate verification of fermentation levels and the identification of aromatic potential or internal defects in the samples Valerio Muscella for NPR hide caption toggle caption Valerio Muscella for NPR Stay up to date with our Global Health newsletter, sent weekly. In central Rome, Julien Simonis holds a tiny bar of chocolate made from cacao beans that originated in Hawaii. He cracks it into pieces before unwrapping the gold foil that surrounds it. Simonis places a morsel on his tongue and then breathes in through his mouth and out through his nose to heighten his perception of the chocolate’s aroma and taste. A look of reverence comes over him. “My god,” he whispers. “Each time I taste this, I’m always amazed. You have a boost of acidity. This burst of fresh flavors.” Simonis detects a fruitiness and a hint of cardamom and nutmeg. …

Competence, Merit, and Excellence Are Social Strengths

Competence, Merit, and Excellence Are Social Strengths

Published by Jenni Sidey

Competence, Merit, and Excellence Have Always Been Social Universal Strengths Neither competence, merit, nor standards of excellence is a fashion, a preference, or a cultural construct. They are universal principles that inform what exists, what works, what endures, and what advances skills, knowledge, insights, and understanding. Every successful human endeavor (from the earliest stone tools to the most recent complex technologies) has been governed by the same universal laws. Universal laws are not invented; they are discovered. Once discovered, as noted, these universal truths lead to ongoing advancements in skills, knowledge, insights, and understanding that need to be applied to achieve standards of excellence (Friedman et al., 2024; Oliveira et al., 2024; Siemoneit, 2023). Thoughts, Choices, Actions, Merit, and Competence The pyramids did not rise because someone wished them into existence. The Egyptians, the Aztecs, and the Incas all independently developed and built monumental structures in accordance with universal truths. This is as true in the intellectual realm as it is in the physical, external world. Medicine did not advance because someone felt it should. …

Livermore Computing: Accelerating excellence in HPC

Livermore Computing: Accelerating excellence in HPC

Published by skeptic

Judy Hill, Deputy for High Performance Computing at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), shares a look at the Livermore Computing high-performance computing centre and the groundbreaking work taking place there. High-performance computing (HPC) enables discovery and innovation through the extraordinary simulations it makes possible. HPC is now high on the list of priorities for the US, harnessing its potential to save energy, reduce emissions, boost competitiveness, and strengthen the country’s position as a global technology leader. At U.S Department of Energy (DOE) facilities such as Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), HPC has become the ‘third pillar’ of research, joining theory and experiment as an equal partner. LLNL’s premier HPC centre, Livermore Computing, delivers systems, tools, and expertise to support the advancement of HPC capabilities. The centre’s missions are threefold: To learn more about the work taking place at Livermore Computing and the potential this has for a wide range of real-world applications, The Innovation Platform spoke to LLNL’s Deputy for High Performance Computing, Judy Hill. Can you briefly elaborate on how LLNL is contributing to …

Building research excellence in support of energy transition

Building research excellence in support of energy transition

Published by skeptic

The STREACS initiative, led by the American University of Armenia, aims to enhance Armenia’s research capacity in the energy transition to align with European standards and foster collaboration with experts in the European Research Area. Against a backdrop of accelerating climate and energy policy reforms, energy security has gained a prominent position in policymaking globally and in Armenia. Evidence-based guidance on this complex transformation requires a strong research capacity that engages policymakers, business, and society. The EU-funded STREACS, led by the American University of Armenia (AUA) Acopian Center for the Environment, offers this support, with the aim of strengthening Armenia’s energy research ecosystem to both serve national and regional policymaking and enable greater integration of Armenian researchers in the European Research Area and networks. Armenia is aligning its national energy transition agenda with broader European climate and security objectives. The country’s energy system reflects challenges shared by many net energy-importing countries, making it a relevant case for European-wide discussions on resilience, diversification, and decarbonisation. Currently, Armenia’s energy supply is heavily dominated by imported fossil fuels. …

Author Mark Billingham awarded Diamond Dagger for ‘sustained excellence’ in crime writing

Author Mark Billingham awarded Diamond Dagger for ‘sustained excellence’ in crime writing

Published by Daniella Wilson

Get the latest entertainment news, reviews and star-studded interviews with our Independent Culture email Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Get the latest entertainment news with our free Culture newsletter Crime author Mark Billingham has been honoured with the prestigious Crime Writers’ Association (CWA) Diamond Dagger, recognising his significant contribution to the genre. The 64-year-old, celebrated for his “sustained excellence” across a prolific career, is best known for his 19-novel Tom Thorne series, which began with his 2001 debut, Sleepyhead. Expressing his delight upon receiving the accolade, Billingham remarked: “Presuming this is not an administrative error, I could not be more thrilled or honoured. To be added to a list that features most of my literary heroes is fantastic. That so many are also friends is the icing on the cake and, for me, a mark of how very special the crime-writing community is.” His popular Tom Thorne novels were adapted for television by Sky One, with David Morrissey starring as the titular detective in the Thorne series, which first aired …

Apple’s unrivalled commitment to excellence is fading – a designer explains why

Apple’s unrivalled commitment to excellence is fading – a designer explains why

Published by skeptic

Apple introduced Liquid Glass in June 2025 in a self-declared attempt to bring “joy and delight to every user experience”. The visual design style – which is being applied to all Apple products from iPhone to watch to TV – is named for the company’s new type of screen designed to look like translucent liquid. Standing out by design has been paramount for Apple ever since Steve Jobs co-founded the company half a century ago. He was quick to kill off every uninspired idea, declaring: “Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.” Jobs’ leadership style could verge on the tyrannical, yet his approach was essential to Apple’s enduring success, which, more than 14 years after his death, still ranks as the world’s most valuable brand. To Jobs, the twin importance of design aesthetics and user experience (UX) was non-negotiable – both must be perfect for the public to see the product. But the recent history of Liquid Glass – introduced under Jobs’ successor as CEO, Tim Cook – suggests …

Horizon Europe programme amplifies UK research excellence

Horizon Europe programme amplifies UK research excellence

Published by skeptic

A major new government-commissioned analysis has revealed that UK researchers achieve stronger results, greater global influence and more enduring impact when they are supported by international collaboration through the Horizon Europe programme. Commissioned by the Department for Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), the report examines how UK participation in the EU’s flagship research schemes has shaped outcomes across science, health, technology and agriculture. It concludes that backing from Horizon-style programmes significantly increased the likelihood that ambitious research ideas were fully realised rather than scaled back or abandoned altogether. UK Science Minister Lord Vallance explained: “Better Type 1 diabetes care and more productive farming techniques are just some of the breakthroughs made possible by the UK’s past involvement in Horizon. “Today, the programme is supporting innovators whose ideas are set to boost economic growth and improve our public services. “This new evidence shows why it is so crucial that we support our brilliant scientists, researchers and businesses to seize the opportunities Horizon offers. In 2026, we’ll continue doing just that.” Evidence from Horizon 2020 shows lasting benefits The analysis focuses on the Horizon 2020 programme (H2020), which ran from 2014 to 2020 and laid the foundations for …

Democratic Excellence | Corey Robin

Democratic Excellence | Corey Robin

Published by José Betancourt

This essay is part of a series in which writers reflect on Zohran Mamdani’s inauguration as the mayor of New York City.  Illustration by Stuart Davis Zohran Mamdani has introduced several changes to American politics—joining ideological maximalism to policy minimalism, crafting a winning political identity as a Muslim socialist, taking a stand on Palestine, listening to voters. One innovation has not received the attention it deserves: his pledge, on election night, to “leave mediocrity in our past” and make “excellence…the expectation across government.” Since the French Revolution, professions of excellence and proscriptions of mediocrity have been mostly the preserve of the right. “To obey a real superior,” declared the English conservative (and uncle of Virginia Woolf) James Fitzjames Stephen, is “a virtue absolutely essential to the attainment of anything great and lasting.” True to form, Mamdani’s conservative opponents have warned that socialism will send the city slouching toward shabbiness. Since the 1970s, Democrats have largely ceded this rhetorical ground to the right. Instead of offering an alternative vision of excellence or mounting a robust case …

École Ducasse: Learning French culinary excellence – Entre Nous

École Ducasse: Learning French culinary excellence – Entre Nous

Published by Sam Flores

To display this content from YouTube, you must enable advertisement tracking and audience measurement. Accept Manage my choices One of your browser extensions seems to be blocking the video player from loading. To watch this content, you may need to disable it on this site. Try again ENTRE NOUS © FRANCE 24 Issued on: 10/12/2025 – 14:44Modified: 10/12/2025 – 14:45 05:52 min From the show Reading time 1 min France is known around the world for its culinary delights and the art of French cooking. That’s where École Ducasse comes in. Founded by Alain Ducasse – one of the most acclaimed chefs in the world – the school focuses on high-level training in culinary arts, pastry and hospitality management, blending traditional French techniques with modern, innovative approaches. To find out more about the school, we meet Karine Hyon-Vintrou, General Manager of École Ducasse. A programme produced by Amanda Alexander, Marina Pajovic and Georgina Robertson  Source link