Despite oft-mentioned concerns about higher energy and commodity prices, a lower growth rate for consumer spending, a slowing of the housing and auto sectors, and higher interest rates, the manufacturing sector appears to be on solid footing and poised for yet another year of expansion.

Higher energy prices have taken their toll of hopes for top-line growth. 'Cost-cutting' as a driver of earnings is back on the radar screen.

Today's acquisition reinforces our North American strategy to maintain our growth momentum in Texas energy by building on our current presence in this important market. We look forward to bringing to these new Texas-based customers the benefits of our experience and bench strength as a leading energy and related services provider in North America's most progressive competitive energy markets.

If the headwinds from energy costs fade, the sky for growth should start to clear a little bit,

Principles of design:
1. Use both knowledge in the world and knowledge in the head.
2. Simplify the structure of tasks.
3. Make things visible: bridge gulfs between Execution and Evaluation.
4. Get the mappings right.
5. Exploit the power of constraints.
6. Design for error.
7. When all else fails, standardize.

Will robot teachers replace human teachers? No, but they can complement them. Moreover, the could be sufficient in situations where there is no alternative––to enable learning while traveling, or while in remote locations, or when one wishes to study a topic for which there is not easy access to teachers. Robot teachers will help make lifelong learning a practicality. They can make it possible to learn no matter where one is in the world, no matter the time of day. Learning should take place when it is needed, when the learner is interested, not according to some arbitrary, fixed schedule