Judge Harry T. Roman, an electrical engineer and inventor, has selected the best of the crop in the 2006/2007 Tech Directions Inventors Award Competition. The challenge this year called on students to slow the filling of landfills by devising uses for discarded plastic water, juice, soda, and sports-drink bottles. Judge Roman noted "many common…

The Chinese system of education is described, emphasizing the "Key Point" schools which serve gifted and creative students and are better funded than other schools. These students, from primary level to high school, complete informational, political, and behavioral studies and are expected to study up to 16 hours each day. (JDD)