text:
Cooling In A Small FootprintAugust 11, 2010 7:37 am | Product Releases | Comments
The MovinCool CM25 ceiling-mounted air conditioner has a total cooling capacity of 25,000 Btu/h and a sensible cooling capacity of 18,900 Btu/h. At only 20" high, the CM25 was designed to fit in small spaces with dense heat loads. A built-in mounting bracket, flanges, and vibration isolators allow for low-cost installation.
Reduce Industrial NoisesAugust 11, 2010 7:36 am | Product Releases | Comments
The SZ Acoustic Curtain Walls from Zoneworks can reduce noise levels inside buildings by up to 22-25 decibels, making a space approximately four times quieter than it would be without them, depending on existing noise frequency levels. The modular walls can be custom-fitted to existing spaces with Velcro connections, eliminating the need to invest in permanent walls.
Hurricane-Safe Industrial DoorsAugust 11, 2010 7:35 am | Product Releases | Comments
The TKO CruiserWeight Door with the Wind Load Package is approved for high wind load environments, providing facilities in hurricane-susceptible environments with a safe solution for loading dock doors. According to the company, these doors are built on technology that allowed previous TKO doors to survive the impact of Hurricane Katrina.
Programmable Heat GunAugust 11, 2010 7:35 am | Product Releases | Comments
Master Appliance Corp. has introduced its Model PH-1500 Proheat LCD Programmable Heat Gun, which features six preset, changeable factory programs and an easy-to-read digital display. Temperature and air flow are keypad-adjustable, with increments of 10° from 130° to 1,000°F, and air flow from 4 to 16 CFM.
High-Powered Pocket FlashlightAugust 11, 2010 7:34 am | Product Releases | Comments
The Pocket LED Light Stick (PCLED6) from E-Z Red uses a high-powered, wide-angle LED to cover an area about ten times the size of conventional flashlights, according to the company. A pocket clip is molded into the light for easy access. The rugged construction is made to last, and is also water-resistant.
Wireless Multimeter DisplaysAugust 11, 2010 7:34 am | Product Releases | Comments
The Fluke 233 DMM true-rms multimeter features a wireless removable display that can be up to 33 feet away from the measurement point. The 233 gives the user flexibility in hard-to-reach and unusual measurement scenarios, or allows technicians to measure safely in hazardous areas or clean rooms.
Impact Power, Ratchet VersatilityAugust 11, 2010 7:33 am | Product Releases | Comments
The 2015MAX and 2025MAX Hammerhead low-profile Impactools — from Ingersoll Rand — are designed for performance in extremely confined spaces. The Hammerhead delivers the power of an impact, plus all the capabilities of a ratchet, within a head height of less than 2" and max torque of 180 ft-lb.
Fire-Safe ManufacturingAugust 11, 2010 7:26 am | Product Releases | Comments
Pikotek has developed the VCFS — which consists of an E-ring, a compression-limiting back-up ring, and special washers to retain bolt load — to meet the need for a fire-safe isolation kit. The technology has passed the API 6FB Fire test and is the only validated fire-safe isolation kit available in the world, according to the company.
The Death Of The Middle ClassAugust 11, 2010 7:00 am | Articles | Comments
Everyone, regardless of their political inclinations, is clamoring about the death of the middle class, and that can be tied directly to the loss of American manufacturing jobs. Thom Hartmann, radio host and author, joins MSNBC to talk about why all these jobs have disappeared. According to Hartmann, our "laissez faire" trade policy has just served to create a situation where "trade" equates to "outsourcing.
Bat-Like Robot Clings, Climbs WallsAugust 11, 2010 6:36 am | Articles | Comments
This wall-climbing robot uses a pendulum to generate the energy required to scale walls, and has potential applications along soldiers overseas if it can overcome its one downside: As of now, it can only climb carpeted walls. One probably doesn't see many of those in the likes of Afghanistan. Visit msnbc.
Bionic Legs Help The Paralyzed WalkAugust 11, 2010 6:35 am | Articles | Comments
Richard Little and Robert Irving, co-founders of Rex Bionics, explain the development of electromechanical bionic legs. They are available for people that are able to use an electric wheelchair, and will hopefully be available in the United States next year. If you're having trouble watching this video, try downloading the latest version of Flash Player or contacting your IT department.
Buy The Better Safety GlassesAugust 11, 2010 6:34 am | Articles | Comments
In this homemade safety video, a slingshot enthusiast tests the damage that could be done to one's eye if they aren't careful around projectiles. He tests cheap sunglasses and your typical safety glasses, but the results point to only one conclusion: If someone is pointing a high-powered slingshot in your direction, you might want to reach for the more expensive eye protection.
Most Vocal Enemies Of Climate Bills Are Major PollutersAugust 11, 2010 4:56 am | by Cathy Bussewitz, Associated Press Writer | News | Comments
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The Texas-based oil companies that are the primary backers of a November ballot effort to suspend California's global warming law are among the state's biggest polluters, according to a report issued Tuesday by two groups advocating for inner-city residents. Valero Energy Corp.
Auto Parts Company Opens Ind. Plant, Closes In OhioAugust 11, 2010 4:44 am | News | Comments
HUNTINGTON, Ind. (AP) — Officials say an auto parts company plans to reopen a closed factory in northeastern Indiana while it is shutting down an Ohio plant. The Journal Gazette of Fort Wayne reports that Continental Structural Plastics expects to spend at least $9.1 million on upgrades to the Huntington factory and perhaps have 350 workers there by 2012.
Gov't: Probe Found No More Toyota Safety IssuesAugust 11, 2010 4:36 am | by Ken Thomas, Associated Press Writer | News | Comments
WASHINGTON (AP) — A government investigation into runaway Toyotas has found no new safety defects beyond problems with accelerator pedals that explain reports of sudden acceleration in the vehicles, according to preliminary findings released Tuesday. Safety experts have said vehicle electronic systems could be to blame for the problems that have led to Toyota's massive recalls but the review by the government, while still at an early stage, has not found any evidence of those issues.
China's Manufacturing Slows, Inflation JumpsAugust 11, 2010 4:19 am | by Joe McDonald, AP Business Writer | News | Comments
BEIJING (AP) — China's industrial growth slowed further in July as Beijing clamped down on a credit boom, fueling expectations it will ease monetary policy to shore up its economic expansion. Inflation spiked to its highest level this year as summer flooding wrecked crops but analysts said the increase will likely prove temporary.
NAM: Tariff Bill To Support 90,000 Manufacturing JobsAugust 11, 2010 4:16 am | News | Comments
WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House says President Barack Obama will sign a bill on Wednesday that will help U.S. manufacturers by reducing and suspending some tariffs on certain materials they must import to make their products. Obama is scheduled to sign the bill at the White House. The National Association of Manufacturers says it will help create jobs, cut costs for businesses and consumers and boost U.
Beer Distributor Reopens After Deadly ShootingAugust 11, 2010 4:13 am | News | Comments
MANCHESTER, Conn. (AP) — The president of a Connecticut beer distributor where nine people died in a shooting rampage last week says the company will be reopening after a moment of silence. Hartford Distributors Inc. President Ross Hollander says employees will return to work at the company's offices and warehouse in Manchester Wednesday morning.
Safer, Cleaner MoppingAugust 10, 2010 11:17 am | Product Releases | Comments
Nilfisk-Advance now offers the Advance EcoFlex System floor scrubber, which helps facilities maintain clean, safe, and sanitary floors while reducing cleaning costs. The scrubbers provide the flexibility to select the right blend of pad pressure, water, and detergent. The EcoFlex lets staff clean low-traffic areas with water only, or use low amounts of detergent when needed to tackle dirtier areas.
Air-Driven PumpsAugust 10, 2010 11:16 am | Product Releases | Comments
The Pumps 2000 America dual-diaphragm pump from Megator is targeted for demanding applications, and comes in 1", 1-1/2", and 2" models capable of passing up to 1-1/2" solids. The air motor runs without any lubrication, and requires low air consumption. In addition, the system's material design is 41 pounds for the 2" model, helping prevent neck and back injuries, and helps resist deterioration in low pH environments.


text:
Body Solid GDR60 2-Tier Horizontal Dumbbell Rack
- Free Pickup
Keep your workout area organized, clean and, most importantly, safe. Our weight trees and dumbbell racks can be placed against any wall or centered in a room. Nobody builds stronger or more space efficient storage units. Heavy gauge steel with all 4-side welded construction is deburred inside and out for user safety. The rack easily holds one pair each of 5-50 lb. hex dumbbells. Optional (sold separately) third tier allows storage of up to 70 lb. hex dumbbell pairs. Heavy duty 2" x 3" mainframe features a reversed pitch design that allows easy access to all three tiers. Dumbbells are sold separately.
Assembled Country
Assembled Size
32" H x 23" L x 62" W
Component Country
Ask & Answer
Warranty InformationBody Solid In Home Lifetime warranty covers everything, forever
There is no additional information available for this item.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Updated for 2015! The award-winning Gregory Baltoro 85
(4880+ cubic inch capacity) backpack boasts a wealth of access points, an array
of features, and an innovative, custom-fit suspension system that combine to
make it a backcountry workhorse.
Updated for 2015! The award-winning Gregory Baltoro 75
(4300+ cubic inch capacity) backpack boasts a wealth of access points, an array
of features, and an innovative, custom-fit suspension system that combine to
make it a backcountry workhorse.
Denali Pro was long the pack of choice for mountaineering and alpine
expeditions. The Denali 100 brings that same durability and load carry (up to 80
lbs) at a fraction of the weight and with a modern set of features.
The little brother of the massive Denali
100, the Gregory Denali 75 combines durability and load-hauling capability (70
lbs) in a more streamlined package that is ideal for multi-day backpacking or
top-of-the-mountain explorations.
As part of a Boy Scout project, 14-year old Wayne Gregory designed his first backpack. Little did he know, he'd found his life's work. Dissatisfied after an initial foray into the business of external frame backpack design, Wayne founded a company in 1977 dedicated to the creation of innovative, well-fitting internal frame backpacks.
Over a quarter of a century later, Gregory remains an industry leader in advancements to comfort, fit and durability. Self-adjusting shoulder harnesses and waistbelts, high quality durable fabrics, and ground-breaking features ensure the high performance of Gregory packs. In fact, you'll have a hard time dreaming up an adventure too big for a Gregory backpack.
Backcountry Edge is proud to be an authorized Gregory dealer.
Click here to visit the official Gregory website. (Note: you will be leaving Backcountry Edge.)
Technical packs with the features needed for climbing and mountaineering.
View more videos in our Video Library.


text:
Lackmond SG12BGT1251 - PRODUCTS BGT Series 12"x.125x1"-20mm Dry Cut Diamond Blade for Cured Concrete
The BGT series blade is our highest quality contractor series blade. The BGT achieves the lowest cost per inch foot of cut for this category blade. When performance and longevity is your primary concern, there is no substitute for the BGT. Designed for dry cutting of general purpose cured concrete, and masonry applications. To be used on high speed-hand held saws as well as low-horsepower walk behind saws.
Lackmond orders over $100 Ship Free!
Dimensions: 12"x.125x1"
Burns Tools
Contact & Directions


text:
The Dirtiest Word in UX: Complexity
It's hard to read anything about UX without finding a reference to the constant tension between simplicity and complexity. People have strong preconceived notions about the words, especially when it comes to experience design. You don't have to be a UX practitioner to understand that simplicity is a good thing; no one goes around the office saying, "Alright team, let's make this application really, really complex!"
Removing that layer of confusion to make the user's goals easy to achieve means making things simple and clear. However, removing confusion doesn't always mean removing complexity—it's somewhat of a grey area. Sometimes complexity actually isn't such a bad thing. In this article I'll examine some of the many faces of complexity and explore the balance we need to find for successful solutions.
Is Simplicity Overrated?
Although most people would say they seek simplicity in life and products, our actions say something different. We actually enjoy, and at times prefer, complex things. Imagine looking at a sky that's completely clear and compare that with a sunset with a variety of colors, layered with clouds, and the beams of sunlight striking the sky. One view would seem less interesting or not as photo-worthy.
In some cultures complex products are more appealing than products that appear simple. In South Korea, for example, products like refrigerators are designed to appear more complex than non-Korean ones, even when the prices and specifications are very similar, because that complexity is equated with sophistication and value, and is thus a symbol of prosperity.[1]
Think about how we compare products when looking to make a purchase—we examine the features. Can this blender do the same things as this other blender, and more? A "simple" blender might seem like it doesn't do as much as a similarly priced one with fewer controls, making it perceptively less valuable to consumers. Even if the simplicity is intended to make the device easier to use, if it diminishes the consumer's sense of the blender's value and the manufacturer's ability to sell it, then simplicity in this case is bad.
For example, Siemens released a smart washer with sensors that can detect the amount of laundry, the kind of fabric, and the soil level. There were only two program settings, and the machine would take care of the rest. This means the washer's control panel could be very simple, but in fact Siemens designed it to have more controls than their other non-automated washers. Even when manufacturers find ways to simplify complex processes, it seems people don't want to give up control and don't necessarily trust the automation, and manufacturers don't want to downplay the apparent sophistication of their products.[1]
The Appearance of Complexity
In design and UX, a simple-looking approach generally receives more praise than a complex-looking one. Google is often held up as an exemplar of simplicity. Even though the back-end workings of Google are incredibly complex, a search engine's UI inherently lends itself to simplicity; the interface doesn't require much in the way of controls or content. Simplicity of use sometimes is confused with taking a minimalist approach in the UI design.
Comparing the context and purpose to other sites reveals more about the apparent simplicity of Google. Google is a search engine whereas Yahoo! and MSN are Web directories—two different types of tool that require two different approaches to the UI.[2]Donald Norman explains why these other tools seem more complex than Google:
Why are Yahoo! and MSN such complex-looking places? Because their systems are easier to use. Not because they are complex, but because they simplify the life of their users by letting them see their choices on the home page: news, alternative searches, other items of interest.[3]
The appearance of simplicity in physical products can also be deceptive. Consider ice skates or a guitar; it's obvious from their appearance how they're meant to be used. But it takes years to learn to use them well. Their lack of controls and few moving parts decreases their apparent complexity, but actually means they're more complex to operate. A jump in ice skating or strumming a melody on a guitar requires a complex range of actions on the part of the user.[4]
As John Gruber of Daring Fireball said, "If your UI even vaguely resembles an airplane cockpit, you're doing it wrong."[5] The cockpit of an airplane certainly is as complex-looking as interfaces can get. When we see an interface or product that appears complex, we assume it must be difficult to use. But to assume that a complex-looking interface means it is difficult to use disregards the goal and tasks involved that a user may require of the interface.
Presenting Information
How information is presented in the UI is an important consideration. There are two important concepts presented by Edward Tufte that relate to how we present the visual layer of interface:[6]
Adjacent in space is taking elements of an application and positioning them all on the same screen. Depending on the information and number of features an application has, it can make the screen appear more, or less, complex. An airplane cockpit is an extreme example of this approach. It makes all of the controls readily available to pilots and keeps critical readouts and important data ready at hand to help pilots make quick decisions. The adjacent in space UI approach gives more immediate power and control. It also reduces the need for navigation between screens to reach additional functionality, speeding up interactions.
Stacked in time is splitting the functionality up into several screens or layers, like a story being spread across pages in a book rather than crammed into a single long page. This approach can reduce the chance of the users making a mistake by guiding them down clear path. It also offers a gradual engagement, showing and hiding controls so only the necessary UI/information is displayed, reducing the perceptive complexity of the UI. It can allow more screen space for feedback and guidance for the user, and can allow for a more aesthetically pleasing and/or branded experience. The stacked in time approach tends to make an application less intimidating and doesn't overwhelm the user with choices.
The adjacent in space and stacked in time approaches each has its own trade-offs. In most cases placing too many elements on screen at the same time creates unnecessary complexity. Not all controls are needed at once, so they should only be presented when needed. However, a stacked in time approach also can become overwhelming to a user if not executed correctly. If the features aren't mapped in logical paths or are split across too many layers, users might not be able to quickly find what they need. This is especially apparent on smaller screens for devices.
When Less is More… Confusing
The amount of data that needs to be presented affects the perceived complexity of applications. When creating a UI, generally speaking, having as few elements as possible on screen is usually the best approach. Simplifying UIs by removing unneeded navigation and UI elements is important to creating focus. But in some cases, it's more important to keep a higher level of information density. As Tufte explains, "Small screens, as on traditional cell phones, show very little information per screen, which in turn leads to deep hierarchies of stacked-up thin information—too often leaving users with 'Where am I? puzzles. Better to have users looking over material adjacent in space rather than stacked in time."[7]
This need for balance was made clear in a recent comparison of the interfaces of the iPhone and the forthcoming Windows 7 Series Phone. Luke Wroblewski wrote up a comparison of the content resolution between the phones showing a significant difference in how much information each device displays at any given time. The Windows phone takes a more minimal approach with the UI, reducing the amount of content that can be displayed in one screen. In some cases, the Windows phone requires one or two extra steps (or taps) to get to the information, whereas the iPhone reveals it immediately because of its higher information density.
The navigation in an application should propel the user toward his goal rather than act as a barrier created just to satisfy an aesthetic requirement for a simpler-looking UI. Simplification in UI design should be focused on reducing "computer administrative debris" while keeping the focus of the interface on content and information.[8]
Using Training Wheels
Many applications are designed to cater to the first-time user by easing the initial learning curve (this is called "onboarding"). They offer a very guided experience, which is good for the beginning user. This guidance is typically presented by stacking content in time, which requires additional navigation interactions because fewer features and less information can be displayed on a single screen. There is also often contextual instructional content to make sure the path is clear.
But leaving these "training wheels" on too long makes the experience difficult or frustrating when users become more familiar with the application and require less guidance.
Consider the graphical user interface (GUI) of computers today. The GUI is an alternative to command-line interfaces, which power users are able to operate quickly but at the expense of having to memorize a lot of commands and parameters. GUIs, on the other hand, take advantage of users' mental models to create applications that are intuitive and easy to learn. But this comes at the cost of efficiency and speed for power users.[9]
Recently, heads-up displays (HUDs) like Alfred and Quicksilver, which allow the user to skip window manipulation to quickly access files or applications, have become popular among power users. Apple has simplified the tablet OS by hiding much of the file metaphor on the iPad.
Using techniques like onboarding to simplify an experience are important, but should be carefully implemented. There should be consideration for the posture of the application or website. If the user is going to be using it often and for longer periods of time (sovereign), then the onboarding help should be able to be turned off or gradually be removed as the user grows. If users rarely visit and only for a short period (transient) this type of interface would continue to be helpful, rather than a hindrance.
Complex Tasks Are Complex
Simplicity allows many applications to be powerful. The UIs are not clouded with unnecessary controls. They are focused on specific tasks and don't get in the way by forcing the user to do too much at once. There are some occasions, though, that the normal workflow for a particular set of users is complex. Therefore, it can be expected that the application that controls these types of tasks will be more complex.
In fact, a complex UI can sometimes be exactly what the user needs. For example, a dashboard that displays visualizations of large data sets can only ever be complex because its purpose is complex.
The cockpit analogy needs to be viewed from the perspective of a trained pilot. The complexity of this interface is necessary because the task of flying a plane is quite complex. One would not expect to be able to fly a 187,000 pound hunk of metal from one end of the globe to another with one button. Pilots would lose control of the system if it were heavily automated and the interface were highly abstracted. Removing all the controls and distilling them down too far for the sake of simplicity alone would come at a very high cost.
Living in a Complex World
As an interactive designer, my first instinct is to simplify things. There is beauty in a clean and functional interface. But through experience I've found that sometimes I can't remove every piece of complexity in an application. The complexity may be unavoidably inherent to the workflow and tasks that need to be performed, or in the density of the information that needs to present. By balancing complexity and what the user needs, I have been able to continue to create successful user experiences.
In the end, simplicity for its own sake should not be the goal. Balancing the amount of complexity that we engage with is something that UX people deal with on a daily basis. A good experience should be the result of using UX design to find what is meaningful to that end user and present it in the best way possible. Donald Norman puts it best: "Complex things will require complexity. It is the job of the designer to manage that complexity with skill and grace."[10]
- Simlicity is Highly Overrated - Don Norman
- Google Says "More is More" - Luke Wroblewski
- The Truth About Google's So Called "Simplicity" - Don Norman
- The Psychology of Everyday Things
- How Bad Is Bad? - Daring Fireball
- Learning from "bad" UI - 37Signals
- iPhone Interface Design - Edward Tufte
- Information Resolution on the Windows Phone 7 Series - Luke Wroblewski
- About Face 3: The Essentials of Interaction Design - Alan Cooper
- Why is 37 Signals so arrogant? - Don Norman
Image Credits
- Airplane image: http://www.check-6.com/gallery/heavies/B-2-Spirit-Cockpit-by-Chad-Slattery.php
- Blender Image: http://www.flickr.com/photos/35006614@N05/3250917143/sizes/l/
- iPhone vs. Windows Phone image: http://www.lukew.com/ff/entry.asp?265
Add new comment
One of the many tasks I have here at About: Macs is reviewing Mac apps. In doing so, I find many products that are decent, well-designed applications. I also see a few apps that have me scratching my head, wondering what the developers had in mind when they built such an abomination. Needless to say, those apps never see the light of day here http://smartmil.com.
Great article. Now for some fun let me reply to the comment posted on Apr 21, 2011 by someone who I have a feeling is an engineer:
Twentysomething yupster punks, eh? Sometimes their UI's are still preferable to completely filling the screen with every f-ing feature you can possibly think of, no matter how obscure a use case, "designed" by a bunch of aging, lonely, bolding, yet sporting long dirty hair around the top geeks who come to work in jean shorts and sandals, and whose house is void of furniture unrelated to playing video games, yet full of empty food packages going back 5 years.
Interesting article. Quite often we actually forget that there are great variety of different kind of users. I am personally working quite much with UX of professional tools, and there the simplicity can really be a problem. Some important and often needed feature will be hidden to second level of menu if you try to do it too simple. That's why I partly disagree with John Grubers's statement with the airplane cockpit and agree with you when you say that some tasks just are complex. Plane pilots are highly trained to use that UI. It makes the game totally different. So, simplicity is often a good way to make UI also intuitive, but in cases user is highly trained professional the efficiency overrules simplicity. For novice user, for example for basic mobile consumer the simplicity can be benefitial.
This all leads back to the most important basic rule: You must know the user and their needs to be able to design good user experience. Simple or complex.
I can't believe I just found this site. I'm a student who is still directionless, but I keep finding myself interested in UX design. You know you like something when you can read articles about it without getting bored :D
Beautiful article. I've been trying to get this across for a while. Oversimplified UIs have been the bane of my existence as long as I've used technology. The simplicity always seems to come at the cost of functionality and that's just not acceptable.
The funny part is that I always cite airplane cockpits as a paragon of good design (for the most part). It's nothing short of flagrant hubris to claim that something that's been tried and tested and refined over 100 years in a field where mistakes can mean horrible tragedy is somehow inferior in design to some corny app a couple of twentysomething yupster punks came up with in an afternoon because the latter is "simple".
PS: There's an irony in a UX magazine requiring me to put the "http" in my homepage link.
Interesting choice of words--"prosperity". One wonders if the author associates it with all Asians...
Great article, and collects some of my favorite authors and references! I read some interesting stuff by David Segal in the NY Times and in REWORK (from 37signals) about design and complexity. I hope you'll forgive the link to my own site, but that includes links to all of the sources (both contextually and literally). http://bit.ly/cCFPQ8
Cheers, and thanks for more great reads.
Excellent read.
Ultimately, what constitutes the correct level of simplicity in an interface depends on many factors. One of the most vital being the requirements of the target user. If there's a clear identifiable group - e.g. technical users, then the interface typically can (and should) look and feel more advanced. When designing for a variety of user types, it can become a trade off. As Andy Gott puts it above:
"The real genius, and the real advances, occur when a UI designer finds a way to reduce complexity without reducing power".
Indeed. Also, it can be wise to offer tiered levels of functionality. E.g. multiple interfaces based on user preferences.
What an excellent article, thank you.
Seems like the most important thing in designing for the User Experience, is still making the tasks the user needs to perform as obvious and easy as possible, but not by limiting the number or complexity of tasks involved?
Great read, more like this please!
As Einstein said, "Everything should be made as simple as possible, not simpler."
Matching the simplicity to the desired power and the options is the challenge, not just making it simple by proving one giant button.
To botch a famous qoute, "make things as simple as possible but not any simpler".
A good vid along these lines:
George Whitesides: Toward a science of simplicity
I think the fundamentals of success or failure in UI design are summed up well by darwyn4's Einstein quote above.
There's always a trade-off between simplicity and power - if you don't have a way to specify a certain option, that option is removed, and the application becomes less powerful. This means that you're always accommodating for the middle ground (which is specific to your users, of course), in which the bulk of your users have enough power for their needs with the simplest possible interface.
The real genius, and the real advances, occur when a UI designer finds a way to reduce complexity without reducing power.
It's so important to understand your users well, and their perception of "simple". Many programmers and sys-admins, for example, find many tasks simpler using the command line than they do using a GUI.
Deciding on the right tool(s) for the job is alluded to here.
Simple tools that are easy to use are good, simple tools that require mastery are good; complex tools that are easy to learn are good, complex tools that require mastery are good.
As for the blender: that's subjective. I used to go for A, but now I choose B. Experience has taught me that A makes me think, makes me choose, makes me ponder the options; B - I just blend, and I control.
I really enjoyed that. Lots of excellent examples and nicely made points.
I do worry about the 'complex tasks are complex' argument, though.
It's easy to use that as an excuse to avoid designing simple solutions that meet mainstream users' needs.
I'd say that tasks are as complex as we want them to be. An SLR and a point and shoot camera both take photos. It's a question of how much control you want.
Experts want complex, precision control. Most people just want to get the job done with the minimum of fuss and get on with their lives.
I agree. It's a hard balance to keep from being too simple or too complex in UI. Also, a backlash from the "simplicity" mindset is that now you see UIs that are completely devoid of everything, even the elements it needs to work right. Making some plain and simple just to make it plan and simple complicates the process for the user.
My favorite quote on this subject:
"What about confusing clutter? Information overload? Doesn't data have to be "boiled down" and "simplified"? These common questions miss the point, for the quantity of detail is an issue completely separate from the difficulty of reading. Clutter and confusion are failures of design, not attributes of information."
— Edward Tufte, Envisioning Information, p. 51
Excellent article -- really enjoyed the treatment of the two approaches of "stacked in time" and "adjacent in space." Seems like we need *more* ways to navigate functionality and content, and need to offer *multiple* paradigmatic or task-focused interfaces.
The software architect part of me says: if we could just "chunk up" UIs in conceptually clear, comprehensible slices, why couldn't we layer those slices -- i.e. re-use the chunks -- within different navigational paradigms? This would save immensely on development. Just thinkin'...
>>> a dashboard that displays visualizations of large data sets can only ever be complex because its purpose is complex.
Aren't you conflating complexity of content with complexity of navigation here? Just because the content is complex doesn't mean that manipulating it or applying application functionality has to also be complex.
>>> One would not expect to be able to fly a 187,000 pound hunk of metal from one end of the globe to another with one button.
Why not? Sounds great to me.
Again, great article and great links. Enjoyed it and learned a lot.
I agree, simplicity for it's own sake would give the wrong result. I have done a lot of user research on technical users like developers and found that they want sophisticated interfaces for thier applications like bug tracker, IDE. They want an interface that they can master.


text:
It may 'get better' for bullied gay, bisexual youth
POSTED: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 - 7:00am
UPDATED: Wednesday, February 6, 2013 - 7:04am
CNN — Whether it "gets better" for gay or bisexual youth who experience bullying depends on how you look at it, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics.
Lesbian, gay and bisexual (LGB) adolescents are victims of bullying twice as often as their heterosexual peers. But research finds that the overall incidence decreases after high school, particularly among girls. However, the scars of emotional distress remain significantly higher in LGB youth.
"What we see is, slightly over half of LGB teens are bullied when they're ages 13 to 14, and then when they're ages 19 to 20, the rates of bullying are fewer than 10 percent," said study author Joseph Robinson from the Department of Educational Psychology at University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
Robinson says these numbers support the message of the "It Gets Better Project." The project features user-created videos and was designed to remind lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender teenagers "the levels of happiness, potential and positivity their lives will reach - if they can just get through their teen years," according to its website.
"These data provide strong empirical support that it does get better," Robinson said. "We've been hearing ... this message of hope. These data are consistent."
Researchers studied 4,135 students in England who were in year 9 (equal to eighth grade in the United States) in 2004-- half boys and half girls. All were white and British. Of the total group, 4.5% identified themselves as LGB. Participants were interviewed annually through 2010.
At the start, researchers surveyed parents about whether their child was called names.
Throughout the study, the students answered questions about being bullied through name-calling, threats of physical violence against them or actual physical violence within the year prior. They also reported if they felt unhappy, depressed or worthless.
The numbers of LGB youth who reported being victim to bullying significantly dropped overall. However, the decrease was not seen when gay/bisexual boys were compared to heterosexual boys. In fact, gay/bisexual males were more than four times as likely to report bullying at the end of the study, when the participants were ages 19 to 20.
"We need to better understand why (relative) rates of bullying get worse for gay/bisexual males after high school," Robinson said.
One year after high school ended, LGB youth had significantly more emotional distress than their heterosexual peers.
Robinson says the study suggests a need to focus on reducing bullying.
"Bullying and emotional distress during high school predict about half of the LGB-straight disparity in emotional distress after high school, suggesting that we may be able to reduce that disparity by reducing bullying during high school and treating earlier emotional distress," he said.
The study authors note the data is self-reported and the results may not generalize to other countries, even though there was no reason to suspect different results between the United Kingdom and the United States.


text:
Q&A Open Forum
Jimmy Akin was born in Texas and grew up nominally Protestant. At age 20 he experienced a profound conversion to Christ. Planning on becoming a Protestant pastor or seminary professor, Jimmy started an intensive study of the Bible, but the more he immersed himself in Scripture, the more he found it to support the Catholic faith. He entered the Church in 1992. His conversion story, "A Triumph and a Tragedy," is published in the book Surprised By Truth.
Akin is Senior Apologist at Catholic Answers, a member on the Catholic Answers Speakers Bureau, a weekly guest on the global radio program, Catholic Answers LIVE, a contributing editor for Catholic Answers Magazine, and the author of numerous publications, including the books Mass Confusion, The Salvation Controversy, The Fathers Know Best, and Mass Revision.
His personal blog is www.jimmyakin.com.
Former Protestant Jimmy Akin and former Catholic priest Dr. Anthony Pezzotta face off and hash out their differences respectfully and informatively with specific references to Scripture and to the beliefs and teachings of the early Church.


text:
First day? Welcome!
True or False: You're ready to achieve your higher education and career goals? That's
what we thought. And that's what we're here for. From college to career-we've got
you covered. So get going! Your future's waiting.
This school is named a Best Western College by The Princeton Review. Our goal is simple: to identify some of the colleges and universities that we feel stand out within each region.
See the full list
This school is one of the colleges designated as one of the best overall bargains based on cost and financial aid among the most academically outstanding colleges in the nation.


text:
Pass pet parenting with flying colors! Take free petMD University classes to learn from our experts and confidently care for your pet at all stages of life, have fun collecting badges to show your expertise, and be the best pet parent you can be!Get Started Now
Inappropriate dog behavior is a drag for everyone, but it doesn't have to be that way. You can teach your dog to feel comfortable when alone, as well as how to be polite under any circumstance. Enroll Today!Enroll in Course
Cats are pretty careful, and they are much less likely to eat whatever comes their way than your typical dog. However, that does not mean that they never have accidents. We're going to cover how you can do just that when the time comes. Enroll Today!Enroll in Course
Slowing down is a natural part of aging, but there are ways to make it easier on your cat. Learn how. Enroll Today!Enroll in Course
Start Today! Register now to enroll in a course.


text:
Hand knitted clothes for babies and children. Sweaters, wool longies, slippers, and more!
Reviews (0)Be the first to review this listing!
On Newsstands Now: Apr/May 2015
Trending on BUST
Upcoming Events
|Amber Tamblyn Book release for Dark Sparkler + Yo La Tengo (NYC)
Mon Apr 06 @ 7:00PM - 11:00PM
|PEN DIY with Jennifer Weiner: How to Be Authentic on Social Media (NYC)
Mon Apr 06 @ 7:30PM -
|60th ANNIVERSARY OF ALLEN GINSBERG'S HOWL With Music, Words, and Funny People (CA)
Tue Apr 07 @ 7:30PM -
|BUST MAGAZINE READING hosted by Roxane Gay and Amber Tamblyn (Minneapolis, MN)
Fri Apr 10 @ 7:00PM - 11:00PM
|Speed Rack Season 4 (Denver, CO)
Sun Apr 12 @ 3:00PM - 07:00PM


text:
A collected three-volume boxed set containing all the acts from the 1990 charity concert at Knebworth, England benefitting the BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology. This incredible benefit concert was an instant success due to the high-energy, awe-inspiring performances of such rock 'n' roll legends as Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, Pink Floyd, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Mark Knopfler, Robert Plant, Jimmy Page, Status Quo, Tears For Fears and Cliff Richard & The Shadows.
Saving Playlist
We are saving your playlist, please wait.
Click the Autofill icon and let us fill your queue.
Don't worry, we will only add similar artists ;)
Switch on DJ MODE to create your queue and watch the videos you like.
Click on video thumbnails around the site and add them to your queue.
Then enter DJ mode to search, browse and queue your favourite music videos.


text:
Also, ME4, I really, really hope lets you pick your race and your class and features Shep or Hackett (depending on whether or not Shepard survived in your ME3 file) as a supporting character a la Anderson in 1.
Awesome sig by Elyaan is awesome.
I think Zaeed would be the first one to grab a seat by the swimming pool.
You remember that epilogue image of him in a poolchair?
Thats in Normandy.
You heard it here first.
Back again now, time to kill some Collectors!
---------- Post added 2012-10-09 at 07:34 PM ----------
Success! https://twitter.com/BioEvilChris/sta...21747968565248
The store is ultra slow too.
---------- Post added 2012-10-09 at 07:46 PM ----------
Collector Sniper Rifle I! That was the only new thing in 4 packs though. Did finally get the Krysae as a consolation prize however.
---------- Post added 2012-10-09 at 07:47 PM ----------
Official success message: http://blog.bioware.com/2012/10/09/o...drive-success/
Omega DLC.
New Character: Aria T'Loak *romancable*
IF Renegate: threesome unlocked.
+ Pink Ending: Shep sends your most hated character to the teleporter in his place while stayed at Normandy drinking Piña coladas.
Wouldn't this be an awesome DLC? BIOWARE, HIRE ME!
Fun. Joined a game where the host obviously had some problems. Was so out of sync that no enemies could be seen at all. Could still die to them though.
---------- Post added 2012-10-09 at 07:57 PM ----------
And another where it bugged because the host left.
---------- Post added 2012-10-09 at 07:59 PM ----------
And ANOTHER with the host leaving........
---------- Post added 2012-10-09 at 08:02 PM ----------
And I just got in a game with the exact same host, doing the exact same thing again. -.-


text:
Hoisin Chicken
Hoisin Chicken
Hoisin chicken – easy chicken stir-fry with vegetables in a savory Hoisin sauce. This recipe takes 20 minutes with easy-to-get store ingredients.
Posted in April 13, 2013. Updated with new photos.
When it comes to Chinese cooking, soy sauce and oyster sauce are two of the most used sauces. However, there are other sauces that taste great, but are less common, for example: Hoisin sauce. Hoisin sauce is usually used as a dipping sauce, for example: Peking duck. Hoisin sauce, or in Chinese, 海鲜酱, literally means seafood sauce, but ironically, there is no seafood in the sauce. Hoisin sauce is made of sweet potatoes, soy beans and other flavorings.
The savory, sweet, and umami tasting sauce is actually great for stir-fries, as in this simple Hoisin Chicken that I made a few days ago. Chinese stir-fries are mostly cooked with soy sauce and oyster sauce, so using Hoisin sauce brings a new dimension in taste. I like the slight sweetness that comes with the sauce, and it makes this Hoisin Chicken very appetizing, and especially great with steamed white rice.
For the vegetables, I used the leftover broccoli in my fridge, but leafy greens such as baby bok choy will be a great substitute. I also dressed it up with some Shiitake mushrooms. You can use any mushrooms you like, for example: button mushroom.
Anyway, this Hoisin chicken recipe reminded me of my trip to a Chinese village outside of Beijing a few years ago. I had a very humble home-cooked meal in the village. The villagers cook and eat whatever they raise or have in their farm. That day, we had a simple chicken with leafy green and mushrooms, seasoned with the leftover Hoisin Sauce from the Peking duck that they packed from Beijing. The organic chicken raised in the village was lean and juicy. The fresh greens and the wild mushrooms were absolutely delectable, and the Hoisin sauce pretty much made the dish complete. The best foods are the ones prepared with the simplest and freshest of ingredients. Enjoy!
Sign Up for Email Updates
Enter your email for new updates: recipes, giveaways, and more!
33 comments... read them below or add one
Love the old-school enamel platter!
Use it as a marinade for chicken that I roast in the oven; will try this as it's a popular flavour in the house. Thanks for the recipe!
I mostly substitute hoi sin sauce for barbecue sauce.
Thanks for the recipes Bee. I use your site constantly for dinner ideas. Love the red peony enamel plate. Brings back childhood memories.
This looks like another great recipe. Can't wait to try. If you can't find oyster mushrooms what would you recommend as an alternate?
This dish remind heavily of something i had in Hong Kong in a chinese family household. However she used "jie lan" instead of regular broccoli and she made it with pork instead. But sauce combo were more or less the same.
The grandmother who kindly invited me as a foreigner inside showed how she prepared family dinner. She used typically 3-4 ingredients in her sauces and no msg ("wei jin"). With my very limited chinese I understood at least what she talked about when adding ingredients.
It might be a bit out of context. I remember one incident there. The daughter in the house sounded like she was yelling at her grandma and I went "heeey. why are you yelling at your sweet grannie? and she went: yelling? what are you talking about? I just asked her if you could stay for dinner.
Bad joke set aside. Keep the simple stir fries coming.
And about not appreciating the enamel as a kid. There are plenty of things we grow to appreciate when pass our 20s something something and up.
My homemade char siu pork contain Hoisin sauce. And I always include hoisin sauce in my stir fried pork with asian bbq sauce. It's something about the hoisin sauce that go incredibly well with pork.
This is a great recipe for chicken with hoisin. My family will enjoy this one. Thanks for sharing and for providing the info on hoisin sauce – I'm always asked what it contains when I use it for stir fry dishes. Now I can refer to your post on it. Thanks for the information, Bee!
i am like you ar food
Thank you Bee for all the yummy recipes you had posted. I enjoy cooking them.
I know. Hoisin sauce is not used or featured nearly enough besides being roast duck dip or popiah spread. I quite like the savoury sweetness. I think it would work with beef with some minced ginger too, right?
Personally I'd say that hoisin sauce is even more versatile than oyster sauce. After experimenting for a while with asian cooking I often found the oyster sauce mixture Bee mentioned in this post work better with beef and seafood. Hoisin sauce so far passed the "test" on beef, pork, chicken and duck. Haven't tried it with any seafood yet or lamb/mutton.
Anyone tried using it with seafood before? and how's it like?
I love this dish but I've never tried making it at home. It's on my list for this week. I'll pretend I have a red enamel plate. :)
Im confused on the marinade. it makes a tiny paste, this really should be more clear.
What a delicious sounding recipe! I grew up with my mom using Hoisin sauce on everything! She'll love this recipe…thanks for sharing!
Do you double the quantity of everything if you are cooking for two?
Thanks Rasa, I have a steaming bowl of this with steamed rice right now, it's a delicious combination. This one is made with Quorn vegetarian chicken pieces. By chance I too had broccoli and oyster muschrooms in the fridge. For the Quorn I used a bit more shaoxing wine as the texture is more like cooked chicken than raw chicken, so it needed more marinade. Thanks again, this is my first time trying one of your recipes, I'll try more!
thanks for such a great site-I use it weekly, although I have no idea how a southern girl like me got such a passion for this kind of food. Now I prefer it, though my granny is likely rolling in her grave!
What is the "starch" for the marinade? Is that corn starch? Thanks!
I love the homemade version of hoisin sauce, I make mines with spare ribs mostly and everyone loves it.
Hello, I tried this on a whole broiled chicken hehe, substituted mirin for Shaoxing wine and put bell pepper and onion leeks as I had no broccoli on hand. Turned out great, thank you for sharing! :-)
Hi, may I know what can I subtitue shaoxing wine or rice wine with?
I hope this is not a dumb question but if you cook with Shaoxing wine or rice wine does the alcohol cook out of the food , and if you skip using either shaoxing wine or rice wine will it change the taste.This is my first time trying Asian cooking and my first time cooking with wine of any kind.


text:
Wooden Hall Chairs
- Item No.
Key Features
Click to See Complete Item Details »
Item Details
- Width:
16 7/8 Inches
- Height:
36 Inches
- Depth:
19 1/2 Inches
- Period:
- Origin:
A bold scroll design distinguishes this intriguing pair of hall chairs. Crafted of luxurious mahogany, these sturdy chairs exhibit outstanding carving, from the rounded back with its shield center, to the pierced front legs and rare, connected back legs. Hall chairs are characterized by their smaller size, ornate back splats and contoured seats. To find an original pair is of the utmost desirability.
Circa 1890
16 7/8" wide x 19 ½" deep x 36" high
Circa 1890
16 7/8" wide x 19 ½" deep x 36" high


text:
Back to School Sales 2015
Back to School Sales 2015
How to Save During Back To School Sales
It's that time of year again, the back to school sales are here! Whether you're sending your kids to elementary school or college check out our big savings for everything from clothing, school supplies to dorm necessities like sheets and organizers. There's no need to spend big. We're helping you shop the best back to school sales to keep you and your wallet happy. Looking for school supplies? Shop great back to school online deals from Staples, Target, and Office Depot. Looking for a great new wardrobe or uniform? Check out deals from JCPenney, Kohl's, Macy's, and The Children's Place. Take a look at our 10 Back to School Sales 2015 offers including 1 coupon code, 8 sales, and 1 free shipping coupon. Latest offer: 'Save Up to 50% Off Sale Items' In the last day, 9 promos have been used. The last time an offer was used was March 31, 2015.
Back to School Deals
Save Up to 50% Off Sale Items
Save $5 Off $50+
Exclusions Apply.
Save $5 Off Next $50+ In-Store Purchase With Home Depot Email Signup
College Student Deals - Up to $120 Off
Sign up with your .edu email to have coupon codes e-mailed to you!
Save Up to 55% Off Hot Brand Names
Save Up to 70% Off Clearance Section
Plus Free Shipping on All Orders.


text:
School department's 'vision' to come into focus in 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
SANFORD — With the new year here, Sanford Superintendent of Schools David Theoharides is taking stock of the academic year thus far and is looking to the months ahead.
Theoharides also listed new measures and programs that have taken hold this year.
The school department currently is working to integrate ELOs and Service Learning projects into the earlier grades as well.
Theoharides said on Wednesday that the new school and technical center will be a "huge economic boom and a boost for our students in general."
On the whole, Theoharides said he is looking forward to the coming year.


text:
Cradle-to-Cradle Design at Herman Miller: Moving Toward Environmental Sustainability
Deishin Lee, Lionel Bony
Revision Date:Dec 16, 2009
Publication Date:May 30, 2007
Discipline:Operations Management
Source:Harvard Business School
Product number:
English Hardcopy Black & White
Also Available in:
|English Hardcopy Black & White
$ 6.93
Herman Miller, an office furniture supplier, decided to implement the cradle-to-cradle (C2C) design protocol during the design of its mid-level office chair, Mirra. The C2C protocol was a set of environmentally friendly product development guidelines created by architect William McDonough and chemist Michael Braungart. The essence of this protocol was to eliminate waste and potentially harmful materials by designing the product so that, at the end of its useful life, the raw materials could be fed back into either a technical or biological cycle and used for the same or other purposes. Therefore, materials remained in a closed-loop, eliminating the need for landfill and other toxic forms of disposal such as incineration. The case describes the C2C protocol, the details of how Herman Miller implemented C2C during the design of the Mirra chair, as well as the impact of the new protocol on their internal processes: design decisions, manufacturing, and supply chain management. The proximate decision point in the case is whether the company should replace the polyvinyl chloride (PVC) material in the arm pads of the Mirra chair. PVC was a highly toxic material to manufacture and dispose of and thus violated the C2C protocol. However, it was the standard material for arm pads and many other parts in the office furniture industry as it was durable, scratch resistant, and inexpensive. To switch to thermoplastic urethane (TPU), a more environmentally friendly material, for the Mirra Chair arm pad required at least modification of a production tool, or possibly a completely new tool. In addition, the cost of TPU was higher than PVC. There was also uncertainty about how consistent the quality of the arm pad would be with TPU.
learning objective:
To show that by scrutinizing processes through an environmental lens, Herman Miller can also improve performance.
subjects covered:
Environmental protection; Operations management; Product development; Small & medium-sized enterprises; Strategy; Supply chain management; Sustainability; Waste disposal
- Geographic: Michigan
- Industry: Chemicals
- Industry: Office furniture
- Event Year Begin: 2002
- Event Year End: 2002


text:
Gallery in a Box - Wood Gallery Frames
- Free Shipping
- Overview
Our Gallery in a Box set comes with everything you need to easily create a beautiful wall of memories. Choose from a set of six or a set of 10 wood frames with archival mats to add a display in any space.
- Set of 6 contains frames listed below:
- Single-Photo Frame (1): holds one 4 x 6" photo
- 3-Photo Frame (1): holds three 4 x 6" photos
- Single-Photo Frame (2): holds one 5 x 7" photo
- 2-Photo Frame (1): holds two 5 x 7" photos
- Single-Photo Frame (1): holds one 8 x 10" photo
- Set of 10 contains frames listed below:
- Triple Wood Gallery Frame (2): holds three 4" x 6" photos
- Single Wood Gallery Frame (2): holds one 4" x 6" photo
- Single Wood Gallery Frame (3): holds one 5" x 7" photo
- Double Wood Gallery Frame (1): holds two 5" x 7" photos
- Single Wood Gallery Frame (2): holds one 8" x 10" photo
- Set of 15 contains one of each frame.
- Crafted of alder wood with either a black, white or espresso painted finish.
- Bevel-cut archival quality mat is included: Black and White frames with a white mat. Espresso with an ivory mat.
- View and print our gallery frames style guide, click here.
- Dimensions & Care
- Backed with sawtooth for wall mounting only both vertically and horizontally.
- Single-Photo Frame (1): 9" wide x 11" high (holds one 4 x 6" photo)
- 3-Photo Frame (1): 11" wide x 18" high (holds three 4 x 6" photos)
- Single-Photo Frame (2): 11" wide x 13" high (holds one 5 x 7" photo)
- 2-Photo Frame (1): 15" wide x 11" high (holds two 5 x 7" photos)
- Single-Photo Frame (1): 14" wide x 16" high (holds one 8 x 10" photo)
- Clean glass with standard glass cleaner.
- Shipping Info
This is a general shipping item.
View our Shipping Information
Customer Service - Shipping Information
Return Policy
At Pottery Barn, we take great pride in the quality and craftsmanship of our products. Attention to design, materials, safety and construction is our priority. We carefully inspect your order prior to shipment. Upon receipt, please inspect your purchase and notify us of any damage; we will arrange for a prompt replacement. If, within 7 days for Quick Ship upholstery and 30 days for all other products, you are dissatisfied for any reason, you may return your purchase for a refund of the merchandise value.
We cannot accept returns on monogrammed, personalized, special-order items, or on items damaged through normal wear and tear. We also cannot accept returns of final-sale items which are identified by a price which ends in .99.
For returns of items purchased from your Pottery Barn registry, we will gladly provide a refund or exchange for the merchandise within 90 days of your event or within 90 days of purchase, whichever date is later.
You may return merchandise through the mail for a refund or replacement. For detailed procedures for returning items through the mail, please contact Customer Service at 1.888.779.5176, 7 days a week, 5:00am - 9:00pm (PT).


text: With the opening of "The Lego Movie," the first full-length feature showcasing Legos, the little blocks are enjoying a true moment in the sun. Not that Legos have ever gone out of fashion. After all, there's such a sense of satisfaction when you press one Lego block into another and feel them click snugly... Read more »


text:
Tuesday, 3 May 2011
My name is Katy - it's nice to meet you
Anyway - this is me right now. Actually I am not wearing scruffy house clothes because we went shoe shopping earlier so I had to put something tidy on. If you happen to be at Spring Market next week you may well spot me in this outfit, it's a favourite (confession - the shirt makes me look like I have boobies and that is a good thing for someone as lacking in that department as me).
So, what can I tell you about myself that you may or may not already know?
I'm pretty tall - 5 feet 9" and skinny. I've been skinny since I was a teenager but this is abut the thinnest I've been since I got married. I was ill thin then - broke and too quick to spend my money on partying rather than food. I'm allergic to dairy these days and dairy foods have a lot of fat, so I miss out (and, boy, do I miss out - before I found out I was allergic I cooked with cream and butter and cheese all the time. Nearly everything that tastes really really good has dairy in it, and I can eat. I love to eat). I rarely wear heels, they're a pain in the a$$, and I have trained myself to not buy them anymore since I had a closet full of crazy high heels that I couldn't walk in. Most days I am wearing leggings with something because otherwise I get cold legs and I won't wear tights unless I have something on that I am certain won't fly up and show my backside off. I'm 36, not looking forward to hitting 40 in a few years. I've been married for almost 13 years and we have an almost 12 yr old daughter and a 5 year old son, and 2 cats.
I'm kind of a prude. I don't like to have a lot of flesh on display, I never wear low cut anything and I always wear a vest (tank) under everything. It makes me feel secure. I just like to be safe in the knowledge that if my shirt flew off I'd not be stood in my underwear.
In saying that though, I am perfectly comfortable in my own skin. I just think it's improper to show flesh unnecessarily.
Big groups of people scare me. Except when they are people I feel comfortable with. Strange as it may seem, going to Market last fall for the first time did not scare me. That was like meeting friends. Same this year, and I am travelling on my own for the first time too. Teaching classes at the Festival of Quilts in Birmingham this August and having a booth is scaring me so much that I can't think about it. When I do I get flustered and have a little panic. It makes me feel a tiny bit sick. Not sure how I'll get round that, but I guess on the day I'll be fine.
I am not Religious. As a family we don't have a Religion at all but my daughter goes to a Christian school. I have a strong belief in the moral upbringing a Christian education will give her, although I'm not sure if there is anyone up There, so to speak.
I'm proud to be English, I love the history our little Country has and the Royal family. I love that there are roads that stretch back to the Roman times and that we have huge stately homes dotted all over. London is my favourite city in the world, it's cramped and noisy and a bit mucky in places but it has everything you could ever wish to see in a city and some of the best museums and galleries in the world - and they're all free. Everyone should visit London at least once in their lifetime. Preferably once with kids and once without, just to experience both sides.
And this is where you will find me most of the time. My little spot in the house. Excuse the slightly dark photos - I've literally snapped as I found it, to show you how it really looks and not how I'd like it to look all tidy and prettied up.
My desk is a travesty. I need to get it tidied before I go to Market or I'll come home to everything gone. It happened last fall, the husbeast got carried away and just cleared out my crap - he gets sick of me being so messy. And I am. I am really messy. The door in the background there is my fabric closet but I can't get to the fabric in it - it's too full of other junk. There could be some good stuff but I don't know. (Actually, I am pretty sure it's not good stuff, that's kind of where the not so good stuff has been banished to and I really need to get in there and clear it out and just get rid of it).
The majority of my good stuff lives in the drawers of this trunk. This is also a general dumping ground. I have a little pile of stuff I need to mail out to a friend and then I also need to get this sorted before Market so I can keep the man of the house smiling.
My little spot in the house is actually the kitchen and dining room - I don't have a room of my own, I make do with what I can, and in actual fact I like it - I'm still part of the house when I'm sewing and not tucked away in a room somewhere. So my sewing table is the dining table and when we have dinner my stuff is stacked on the floor. Some people in the house get a little annoyed by this constant mess (spot the running theme???) and I make false and empty promises every week that I will be better next week. I'm usually worse.
During the day if I have any hand sewing to do I sit here on this trunk and look out into the tiny garden. Our house is pretty nicely sized but our garden is pathetic. Luckily I'm not a gardener so I don't fret too much by this. If we could move, my choice would be to the city centre in a lofty apartment overlooking the rooftops. Maybe with a balcony so I could step outside and feed the birds.
Most of the quilts I make I get long arm quilted. There are a couple of reasons - I don't much enjoy the quilting part because I'm not very good at it (I know, practise makes perfect) and (mostly) I really love going to see my long arm quilter, Chris. I'd make quilts just to go see her, she is so clever and wonderful and I could talk to her for hours. I have to drag myself away to let her get on with work, because she's not the sort that would chase me out, but she's busy and whilst I'm there chatting with her she could be quilting. Plus having a quilt quilted isn't as expensive as you may think - especially not if you have a simple all over design. The husbeast and I don't go out much, we don't drink (him not all, me just occasionally) so we don't spend money on stuff like that. I don't often buy clothes, when I do they tend to be pricey (I know what I like and I stick to it) and they last. Same with shoes. So I'd rather spend money on getting a quilt long armed than a new sweater that I won't like after it's been washed because I'll be critical of the fabric or the way the shape has held up (yes, I know - I sound like a right pain in the you know what...I kind of am).
So that's me - questions?
87 comments:
Love you blog. Thought you were American living in England. Your blog caught my eye because I learned to quilt in Texas and when I came back here I didn't know where to buy anything and no-one else seemed to know either. Loved how you recommended shops last year. I have used some of them.
Do you shop in American shops too? which ones. i like etsy but I try and support my local shop too. Thanks for a great blog
- 3 May 2011 at 09:28
- Georgia said...
What a great post! It's nice to 'meet' you.
I love that first photo - happy, happy! And I love your little quilty spot. AND I love England too! I've only spent 6 weeks there, but cannot wait to go back. I read far, far too many Enid Blyton books when I was growing up and I had wanted to visit ever since. It didn't dissapoint. ;-)
Oh - and I want your little house sewing box too. :-)
- 3 May 2011 at 09:32
- Nicole Follow the White Bunny said...
Lovely post Katy, even though I think I knew most of what you wrote from reading your blog for the last 2 or 3 years! Lovely photo too! :) x
- 3 May 2011 at 10:14
- rderrett said...
That's my favourite quilty Essex girl! It's actually quite a flattering pic and yes the blouse does make you look like you have boobies... I'd offer you a transplant but I think you might fall over.
PS I hate London with a passion. I can't cope with the noise and rudeness but that's just my opinion. Then I am a Dorset girl at heart, loving the green and fresh sea smells but living on Hampshire.
- 3 May 2011 at 10:20
- highwaycottage said...
Well, I just got through this post and had to scroll down to read the previous ones.
I love the bio you just wrote for us. It gives us a bit more insight into "you". If I ever get ot the UK, I AM coming to visit (was meant to be next year). I like your attitude. I love my tattoos even though sometimes I forget they are there, I wouldn't know if anyones ever judged me for them , I'm not sure I pay enough attention to notice :-)
I had to laugh at the description of your hubby, very cute. My DH used to be a "boot-boy" and is now a good citizen, but might hit someone I have to say (he's good at housework too).
I have noticed some bitchiness in the bloggy world lately. Shame. I'm just gonna walk on by. Live and let live.
Keep on sewing and have a great time at market!
- 3 May 2011 at 10:48
I hope you soundly beat that cheeky child! Imagine laughing at one's mother. I bet Prince Charles doesn't do that.
I know it isn't so new anymore but I love the new haircut.
- 3 May 2011 at 10:49
- Jane said...
What a lovely, engaging, honest post!
- 3 May 2011 at 11:10
- Sarah@PingsAndNeedles said...
What a great bio ... I love it! And your tattoos look exquisite (I went on to flickr and looked at it full size!) beautiful colouring ... show us more!
Thank you for the link too to your longarm quilter - one day when I make something truly worthy of quilting I will send it out. No question!
- 3 May 2011 at 11:10
- grendelskin said...
What a delightful introduction! I thought after all that fuss you'd be slathered with tattoos but you only have two sleeves that appear to be quite lovely.
As always, thanks for your honesty, your charm and your recommendations. You'll do just fine at your booth; just remember they're all sewists too!
- 3 May 2011 at 11:14
- Andi said...
Lovely to "meet" you miss Katy!!
You and I have much in common. Except I am NOT tall and skinny and if I am allergic to dairy, I'm ignoring it! NO ONE is messing with my butter/cheese/chocolate/you get the picture! ;)
Andi xx
- 3 May 2011 at 11:25
- restitcherator said...
When I met you last fall in Houston, sitting across from you in that Mexican restaurant, I was so intimidated at first. Not just that you're close to 1/2 foot taller than me, but you were there with all of your FQ crew. But as soon as you started pulling out your Sample Spree loot, and your face lit up, I thought "wow, she's a lot like me". It was wonderful to meet you and Brioni and get a taste of all that delicious British-ness. Thank you for being so open...it's wonderful and refreshing.
- 3 May 2011 at 11:32
- rachelmp said...
What a great post Katy. I've been reading you forever, but its great to see it all in one spot here. Love it
- 3 May 2011 at 11:39
- Camilla said...
Good to meet you Katy, your comments about mess made me laugh, as I think the attitude of your husband is the same as mine with all my crafty bits dotted about as I don't really have a dedicated area...now if i got rid of the kids ;)
Thanks for sharing
- 3 May 2011 at 11:48
- Charlotte said...
hello, lovely to meet you :-) Your tattoos are gorgeous!
- 3 May 2011 at 11:50
- cauchy09 said...
Hi, Katy! I think I love you.
- 3 May 2011 at 12:07
- Cass said...
Nice to meet you Katy
- 3 May 2011 at 12:10
- Jo @ a life in lists said...
Nice to meet you! Love the collection of random facts, and the tattoos :)
I am also v envious of your wardrobe - I am very much in the podgy post natal stage, and can't fit back into any of my slightly-more-stylish-than-worn-out-leggings-and-tunic clothes.
- 3 May 2011 at 12:34
- bearpaw said...
Thanks for letting us have a good nose! You look really cute, even with the tattoos, which though they aren't something I really 'get' do look very beautiful.
- 3 May 2011 at 12:58
- stitchinpenny said...
Love the tattoo. See it is good on you while I still woulodn't have one. I have the luxury of having a full time room and a part time room in which to quilt and everytime I start a project everything seems to just jump out all over the floor and any flat surface. I might do better if I had to straighten at every meal.
- 3 May 2011 at 12:58
- MelanieO said...
I love the fact that you sew on the dining room table (as do I) and that certain people are fed up with your mess (same in my house) and that your husbeast sometimes "cleans up" your stuff without your consent (as does mine). I actually have both extender boards in my dining room table so I can shove the sewing off to the side (yes, it's a small room, you just have to make your way around the table). It's lovely to see how much we have in common and interesting to see the differences. Thanks for sharing :)
- 3 May 2011 at 12:59
- lily boot said...
Hello! Nice to meet you Katy :-) I love your glasses - the nice sharp, pointy corners - I wish I had some of them. I have a corner of the guest room to sew in, but I too sew at the dining room table - why wouldn't we - it's nice and big with plenty of room to spread out. Makes sense to me. Only I don't move the piles - I make us eat on the sofa :-0 I also don't like buying clothes - the fabrics are rarely decent quality, the stitching is poor and they never fit properly. Unless I buy really nice things and then I'd rather spend the money on fabric. I love that you love your England - I've been such an Anglophile since spending part of my childhood in Malaysia and watching enviously as all my English friends headed home to marvellous (!) boarding schools in the countryside where they played lacrosse and took bracing walks. Now I read Country Living and World of Interiors. Love your Mac screen and so sorry to hear about your dairy allergy - bummer. Lovely to see you :-)
- 3 May 2011 at 13:04
- Sara said...
Thank you for the introduction:) I am getting down to earth, from you. You sound like a very easy person to get along with if one excepts the mess-he,he! I think a lot of us quilters don't really like to spend a load of money on clothes all the time when they could be buying fabric ya know! LOL!
- 3 May 2011 at 13:06
- Justine said...
Hello lady what a very lovely post! It made me chuckle as I can imagine Grace just walking out the room when she got bored of picture taking!!! Keep the blouse on it really does give you boobies and as for the hubby,keep him sweet - you never know what you might get!
- 3 May 2011 at 13:13
- Sylvie said...
What a nice post to introduce yourself!
I am pleased to know you better.
- 3 May 2011 at 13:14
- ange_moore said...
I love seeing the faces behind the blogs that I love to read. And you shared even more than just your face, you shared your home, your garden, your fears, your dreams! Thank you so much and enjoy your time at the Quilt Festival - it'll be fabulous I'm sure.
(and as an Aussie who lived in London for 2.5 years - I agree, London is a fabulous city and is a must see on any travel list!)
- 3 May 2011 at 13:24
- Mary said...
Hi! I feel your pain about dairy. I'm 31 and just found out a couple of months ago that I am allergic to milk (and everything with milk in it). I feel much better, but it is hard because I can't even go to the store and just buy a loaf of bread...
I too leave messes all over our tiny (1056 sq ft) house, which I am certain (insert husband eye roll here) would not happen if we had a larger house with enough space to actually store unused things.
- 3 May 2011 at 13:26
- Jan | Daisy Janie said...
You are too incredibly cute for words - love this post, love getting to know you better! I found myself nodding along and laughing!! Thanks for sharing!
- 3 May 2011 at 13:28
- Michele said...
It's so nice to get to know you more. You're a creative cutie!
- 3 May 2011 at 13:29
- MB in MI said...
Very nice to meet you, katy! thanks for the lovely introduction, i really enjoyed your post today. you are a very talented YOUNG lady, by the way--thanks for sharing that with us, too! :-)
- 3 May 2011 at 13:34
- quiltygal said...
Ok so I dont do dairy either & I'm not skinny sigh...(I dont do gluten either so should be really skinny)must be the chips :)
As someone with a lot of boobies it's not all it's made out to be lugging them around!!..
I loved London when we were there last year & more amazing my husband loved it too & wants to go back there... Kayla & I got so good on the tube when we were there we ended up helping tourists!
I wish I'd had enough balls to have a tatt when I was younger was too scared of the parents reaction but love that the younger gen go for it...
My VERY Aussie husband sat through all of the Royal wedding saying isn't it great look at that!!
lastly all sewing areas should be messy ...feel like I know you a whole lot more now...:)
- 3 May 2011 at 13:39
- oversewn said...
Oh Katy - SO so lovely to officially meet you! I think we might be the same person, just on different sides of the pond.....
And that shirt really does give you some nice knockers!!
xo Raven
- 3 May 2011 at 13:48
- badlandsquilts said...
Glad to meet a fellow messy girl...sounds like our husbands have a lot in common too. I haven't done much sewing lately as I have been trying to clean & organize myself so I can perhaps be a bit tidier?! Great post!
- 3 May 2011 at 13:52
- Sequana said...
LOVEly to meet the real you. *S* Those tatts are just beautiful.
I avoid having to be careful about my mess by living alone. :) Well, I'm old. I can do that.
So that is the puter you're on when you're prowling about in my flickr.
Oh.....and by the way....you look so lively! No wonder you have fun.
- 3 May 2011 at 14:11
- Kathie said...
Hi, looking forward to coming to you with some barley sugar at festival of quilts in august!
- 3 May 2011 at 14:44
- Wendz said...
Hi Katy,
Wow, I so admire that you don't let anyone try and spoil your style. In fact, you're probably inspiring people like me who are shy and introverted to get on out there. Have loved your blog for sometime now and your fantastic vomit quilt is high on my list.
I'm counting myself lucky to have one half of the spare room upstairs and can just close the door :)
Enjoy the market and bring us back all the gossip and peaks at the new stuff too.
wendzneil [at] googlemail [dot] com
- 3 May 2011 at 14:51
- Heather said...
You're so cute! I can't wait to see you again next week!
- 3 May 2011 at 14:53
- Lexilooo said...
I love that you mention that you always wear a vest/tank under your shirt, because I do the same thing, and I thought I was the only one who liked feeling secure :)
- 3 May 2011 at 15:04
- Hoola Tallulah said...
Good god, I am just about coming to terms with you being a southerner and now I discover you are actually from ESSEX, it's all too much to take in, I think I need a nap and a cookie.
I <3 your tats btw, and your mess and your clothes and ah damn it your bloomin' awesome! nice post :)
- 3 May 2011 at 15:10
- PamKittyMorning said...
Can't wait to see you! xo
- 3 May 2011 at 15:20
- Des said...
You're darling. Perhaps I'll pass you in an aisle! I don't know if I'd be brave enough to say hello, so I'll say it now, Hello.
Travel safe. Salt Lake is a beautiful place.
- 3 May 2011 at 16:59
- Elena said...
So nice to meet you! Great post :)
I was just in London for several days (during the big protest, actually) and really liked it! Especially the ice cream cones :)
- 3 May 2011 at 17:00
- Alice said...
Great post Katy! x
- 3 May 2011 at 17:15
- Dirt Road Quilter said...
What a fabulous post! Thanks so much for sharing a bit about who you are and I think who you are is awesome!
- 3 May 2011 at 17:28
- Sarah said...
Such a lovely post, thank you!
- 3 May 2011 at 17:35
- Angela {fussycut} said...
hehe, I <3 you Katy! what a fun post. xx
- 3 May 2011 at 17:36
- Julie Phillips, aka Julieloveslucy SCS said...
Ok...so I think that I would love to live closer so we could visit! I like your sense of fashion.
- 3 May 2011 at 17:39
- madhatcher said...
Can we have a whole post just about your tattoos? They are lovely!
- 3 May 2011 at 17:39
- Isa said...
Hello Katy.
It's so nice to meet you too!!
Thank you for this post, it's great to come "backstage", and learn that there's real people back there :-)
- 3 May 2011 at 17:45
- Jacqueline said...
I think you are fabulous. And I am so bummed that I wont be able to give you a squeeze in person. I appreciate hte lovely post and open view into your personal life. Are you planning on going to Fall Market?? xoxo
- 3 May 2011 at 17:59
- Catherine said...
How lovely to meet you - in the flesh - at long last. I loved this post
- 3 May 2011 at 18:02
- Ina said...
I really enjoyed reading this post! I don't think you look like a nerd in the pic your daughter took...I think you look happy. ;0
I do have one question...why did you name your blog I'm A Ginger Monkey?
- 3 May 2011 at 20:02
This was a fun post to read! Thanks for sharing your world with us, and since you asked...I'd like to know about your tattoos :)
- 3 May 2011 at 21:05
- Allison said...
You're so cute! See you next week!
- 3 May 2011 at 21:09
- Poppyprint said...
I have a question. How come I was expressly instructed to send ONE and only ONE thread catcher, but it seems you have sent TWO, that's right, TWO sweet dolls to my address? Hmm? You naughty monkey.
If you haven't figured it out already, I want to be your friend (and not just you, but all of the hilarious UK bloggers). Every one of you make me laugh on a regular basis - which is why I follow your blogs. I think I would really love living in Britain. The free museums and galleries would help, too.
Thanks for sharing. Safe travels and enjoy market!
- 3 May 2011 at 22:01
- Stormy Days said...
Loved that, thank you.
- 4 May 2011 at 00:21
- Molly said...
Katy, you're a doll. Thanks for sharing yourself with us, I knew there was a good reason I always come back to see what you're up to.
- 4 May 2011 at 02:37
- Karen said...
Great to meet you. Don't worry about turning 40 its nothing. You actually start feeling younger when you reach 40! Well maybe you wish you start feeling younger.LOL. I turned 40 last year and loved it. I hope you have a fabulous time at market. Thanks for creating a wonderful blog.
- 4 May 2011 at 04:04
- Anita said...
That is such a happy pic of you! I love it! And thank you for such an honest bio. Maybe I will bump into you at market.
- 4 May 2011 at 04:21
- Jennifer O. said...
Katy Jones...It is very nice to meet you!
Love the whole monkey thing too! Also by the way of the tatoo discussion I had imagined some one like Kat Von D. But your tatoos are very lovey!And not overly excessive. I love that you are British! It is nice to see past all the American hum drum in quilting. But I do like our hum drum too! And I am glad to see that you are not a stuffed away in some fancy quilting room. That is where you and I and many other have in common. There are days that I wish I had a room of my own to releive the mess in the house. But I do enjoy being around my family. I have grown used to the kids and husband being around when I sew.
I also agree with you to see London at least one in a life time. I missed out on the last oppertunity 10 years ago. Now it is something I am hoping to share with my daughter when she gets a bit older.
- 4 May 2011 at 05:05
- Tinder said...
"I always wear a vest (tank) under everything." Me too!!! Even in the height of summer .. I just can't wear a t-shirt with nothing underneath! Feels too breezy! We have quite a lot in common :P
Thank you thank you thank you for the link to the quilter person! There was me thinking you did it all yourself. I'm shedding tears right now as I've had all the pieces for a quilt for my son since before he was born 15 months ago and never had the time to put it together as I've just been too busy. Now I know all I have to do is make the top and they can do the rest!! I already have the bottom fabric. Honestly. Made me cry. Silly hormonal mummy that I am.
- 4 May 2011 at 07:05
- Helen in the UK said...
Lovely to 'see' you and your work area. I'm hoping to get to FoQ this year and if I do I'll keep an eye out for your booth and say hi :)
- 4 May 2011 at 07:50
- two hippos said...
Hi Katy. Great post, love your tattoo's, I'm not brave enough - me and needles! I'm going to have to come up to the festival of quilts this year, I missed last year.
- 4 May 2011 at 09:23
- Cristina said...
I love it. Thank you for being a real person. :)
- 4 May 2011 at 17:44
- Mego said...
I SO needed you today! Love your 'studio'...I have the same. Love the pix! You look GREAT! Went down and read previous posts and I totally agree that a)you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover and b)honestly, is it anybody's business! Thanx for the honestly...it's nice to know it LIVES!
- 4 May 2011 at 18:39
- molly::applecyder said...
oh yay! great post! that first pic is beautiful. and i love your "office"--it is just like mine.
i also enjoyed the bit re: how you don't spend $ on going out/drinking/lots of clothes. i am the same way.
- 4 May 2011 at 21:10
- FionaPoppy said...
Hi katy I really enjoyed reading your post and getting a little peek into your life :) your sewing area looks a lot like mine. Your blog is one of my favourites x
- 4 May 2011 at 22:07
- circle retreat quilter said...
Hi there greetings from down under, just wanted to say that i love that you have a messy creative space. How can u get it all going if its neat as a pin.
- 5 May 2011 at 00:52
- Jessica Levitt said...
Nice to meet you, Katy. Looking forward to meeting you in person in SLC!
- 5 May 2011 at 00:55
- sewkatiedid said...
Fun. We have a load in common. Not making it to SLC, I have no excuse to go, but maybe in the Fall.
- 5 May 2011 at 01:21
- Tonya Ricucci said...
nice to meet you. you're a cutie! I envy you the skinniness but not the dairy allergies. I have a far messier sewing area than that, but I'm really lucky that my husband doesn't mind and has gotten used to it after 18 years... Good thing too since my sewing area is all the dining room/living room.
- 5 May 2011 at 01:40
- Cathy said...
It is lovely to get to know you a little more Katy. I love your working space and those tattoos, I think you are very brave I have an aversion to pain! I would love to see your sewing machine one? Great colours! xo
- 5 May 2011 at 02:35
- mascanlon said...
Nice to me! Monica sent me although I have you in my bookmarks too fro FQ . I love London, my daughter went to King's for a year and we went over. I couldn"t get anyone to leave the museums and check out quilt stores though. Maybe someday!
- 5 May 2011 at 04:33
- Birdie said...
Hi, Katy. I just stumbled onto your blog and this was a great intro post for me. I love your projects and your beautiful tattoos. Your house looks a lot like mine ha!
- 5 May 2011 at 09:11
- alobsiger said...
Nice to mee you, lovely lady!
- 5 May 2011 at 11:57
- alobsiger said...
Oh and my word verification was dedstsy. I think he's the next banksy.
- 5 May 2011 at 11:58
- audreypawdrey said...
It was so much fun to read about you! I love seeing what people actually look like and where they spend their days. I love your little garden in the back; our yard is just a wee bit bigger, but it doesn't come close to looking as nice as yours. My husband is constantly reminding me that I don't, in fact, have a green thumb. I am in denial of that.
- 5 May 2011 at 15:03
- Kelly said...
i've always thought you were quite amazing, i'm now certain you're one amazing lady {love the picture too!}
- 5 May 2011 at 18:09
- Hollie said...
Thanks for sharing! I love your blog and I love learning more about you.
- 5 May 2011 at 20:32
- Rachaeldaisy said...
Hi Katy, Lovely to meet you. What a great post, thanks for sharing! I love that you sew in the dining room. I've got a little sewing room but recently set up a table in the loungeroom because I want to be were the action is. I think your tattoos are beautiful!!
- 5 May 2011 at 22:26
- laura said...
what a lovely post. nice to meet you. my dining room looks the same. i just assume if it doesn't bother me, it shouldn't bother anyone else!
- 6 May 2011 at 02:01
- ifabrikate said...
Hello - it's great to put a face to the name! I have a few thing in common with you - EXCEPT - I would gladly lend you the boobies for as long as you want- I'd love to go without mine for a while!!! Also, I seriously got down about hitting 40 - for a whole year, but by the time I turned 41 I was over it and now I'm looking down the barrel at 50... not scary at all! And I also love the tatts - if I wasn't such a wuss...!!!
- 6 May 2011 at 12:01
- Michelle said...
Hi Katy, thanks for your blog and your tweets, I really enjoy them. I love your quirkiness and your cats and how open and friendly you are. I am Aussie and we live in Melbourne but my husband is from Yorkshire and we lived there for a year, so I have even more of a soft spot for you! Tarrarabit! michelle x
- 6 May 2011 at 12:19
- Tam said...
It's been forever since I popped over to you lovely girl! And so glad to have found this gorgeous post all about you. Life with 5 boys has kind of taken over from blogging and quilting for that matter - knitting is the addiction of convenient choice at the moment - you know pick up and put down easily.
Hope all is well in your lovely corner of the world - and for the record, can't wait to visit London;)
Take Care,
Tam xx
- 6 May 2011 at 12:22
- amy smart said...
Yay Katy! I loved this. You are one of my favourites (see my British spelling?) and, I second you, London is the best city in the world. Salt Lake is almost as nice (but there no good chippy's). So excited you are coming. I want so much to meet you and hope I get to!
- 8 May 2011 at 04:11
- Micmacker said...
I love this post! And I know I'm not alone when I say it would be great to have a good long chat over a cup of tea. Thank you for sharing so much about yourself.
- 16 May 2011 at 01:25
- Hi! My name is erica. Would you be my friend? said...
I thoroughly enjoyed that post. It was lovely to meet you. :)
- 8 June 2012 at 02:03
- Bea García said...
Hi Katy!!! I liked this post and your blog a lot... nice to meet you...
- 11 November 2012 at 05:11
Post a Comment
I try to reply to comments as often as I can. Sometimes my life gets a bit too busy but please know I really appreciate each and every one!
Blog Archive
- ► 2014 (117)
- ► 2013 (246)
- ► 2012 (220)
- ah, back to my old self
- Quilt Market Scavenger Hunt - Prize Pack
- Bella Solids Parade - Expert Picks Day 7 (lavender...
- Bella Solids Parade - Expert's Picks day 6 (betty ...
- Bella Solids Parade - Expert's Picks day 5 (betty ...
- Bella Solids Parade - Expert's Picks day 4 (raspbe...
- Quilt Market - it's all about the business
- Bella Solids Parade - Expert's Picks Day 3 (brown)...
- Bella Solids Parade - Expert's Picks day 2 (countr...
- Bella Solids Parade - Expert's Picks Day 1 (purple...
- Salutations from Salt Lake City!!!
- The Dixon
- want to play a game?
- tough decisions and playing with scraps
- little packages
- My name is Katy - it's nice to meet you
- giveaway winners and thanks
- ▼ May (17)
- ► 2010 (102)


text:
Will buy one the moment they will be aveilable
Phoronix: KDE Vivaldi Tablet Finally Shipping For QA Testing
KDE's Vivaldi tablet is finally starting to ship... but only for QA testing and the open-source tablets haven't yet received their certification...
Will buy one the moment they will be aveilable
If they really still plan to launch a tablet with 800x600 resolution... well good luck finding people who are into cheap, crappy hardware.
Also, it's probably still a TN display with bad viewing angles.
Last edited by anybody; 07-22-2013 at 07:10 PM.
Considering The teams surrounding Kubuntu have gone into the 'cave' regarding innovation and supporting forward projects like Mir, I'm not surprised at the low specs on this tablet.
They haven't even upgraded since last year and a half. You're talking about a $60 kindergarten tablet when comparing the china electronic shows and what's on offer.
Then consider the prospect of PlasmaActive using Wayland it's got slim hopes of being ported to other devices any time soon.
I hope they wake up. I was once a big supporter of PlasmaActive btw.
Last edited by TheBlackCat; 07-22-2013 at 08:28 PM.
I don't understand that hate around kickstarter projects. Canonical has the capital to make this all on their own, but they are trying to create buzz by using IndieGogo. This kickstarter is just a special one-off thing anyways. They already have the deals for shipping other phones in may.
I come to the realisation it had little chance of getting successful as it was crippled by the ability to move to other devices easily. Mir solves this problem since it uses Android drivers, but Kubuntu teams have demonised Mir and have locked down to Wayland, therefore what hope is there. Some claim Wayland and the Sailfish project show promise of Android leanings, but no where near the vision of Canonical's Mir which is a fundamental to them to use Android drivers.
PlasmaActive is also a closed shop and the teams don't listen to criticism from users. The interface is lacking and slow to progress.
Anyway it's a matter of opinion. You can pass my comments by.


text:
- Mexican Grand Prix
- Hulme secures title as Clark wins
October 22, 1967: Jim Clark won the season finale at the Mexican Grand Prix, but it was Denny Hulme whose third place was enough to secure the drivers' championship by five points from team-mate Jack Brabham who finished second.
- United States Grand Prix
- Clark leads home Hill in Lotus one-two
October 1, 1967: Jim Clark won the United States Grand Prix at Watkins Glen, with team-mate Graham Hill taking second to complete a memorable weekend for Lotus.
- Italian Grand Prix
- Surtees wins Monza classic
September 10, 1967: John Surtees won an epic Italian Grand Prix at Monza, beating Jack Brabham in one of the closest finishes seen for years. The result meant Brabham was only three points behind team-mate Denny Hulme in the drivers' championship with two rounds remaining.
- Canadian Grand Prix
- A Brabham one-two at Mosport
August 6, 1967: Jack Brabham won the inaugural Formula One Grand Prix at the challenging Mosport Park circuit in Canada, cutting the championship lead of team-mate Denny Hulme, who finished second, to nine points.
- German Grand Prix
- Hulme extends lead with Nurburgring victory
August 6, 1967: After two races where his Lotus failed to last the distance, Jim Clark bounced back with victory at Silverstone, his fifth win in the British Grand Prix in six years, but Denny Hulme's second place extended his lead in the drivers' championship to nine points.
- British Grand Prix
- Clark continues British GP love affair
July 15, 1967: After two races where his Lotus failed to last the distance, Jim Clark bounced back with victory at Silverstone, his fifth win in the British Grand Prix in six years, but Denny Hulme's second place extended his lead in the drivers' championship to nine points.
- French Grand Prix
- Brabham cruises to Le Mans win
July 2, 1967: Jack Brabham won the French Grand Prix at Le Mans, in what was described by The Guardian as a "dull race on an unpopular new circuit"- Motorsport went further in referring to it as a "driving school circuit".
- Belgian Grand Prix
- Gurney capitalises to take victory
June 18, 1967: Dan Gurney won the Belgian Grand Prix at Spa-Francorchamps, the fourth different winner in as many races, leaving the drivers' championship wide open.
- Dutch Grand Prix
- Clark wins with faultless display
June 4, 1967: Jim Clark won the Dutch Grand Prix, his first win of the season in front of 80,000 spectators at a wind-swept Zandvoort.
- Monaco Grand Prix
- Hulme win overshadowed by Bandini crash
May 7, 1967: Denny Hulme won the Monaco Grand Prix, his first championship win, but the day was overshadowed by the death of Italian Lorenzo Bandini who crashed while in second place
- South African Grand Prix
- Rodriguez reigns in race of attrition
January 2, 1967: The first championship grand prix to be staged at Kyalami was won by Mexican driver Pedro Rodriguez, driving a Cooper Maserati, leading home Rhodesian John Love.
- 1967
- Hulme takes Brabham to second consecutive title
January 1, 1967: A review of the 1967 season


text: PanPastel Colors are genuine artists' quality pastels, uniquely packed in a pan format. PanPastel Colors were developed so that artists can easily lift, apply and control pastel color, just like true painting! The pan format holds the color like paint for easy application. Loaded with the highest quality artists' pigments; PanPastel Colors are made using a unique manufacturing process requiring minimal binder and fillers, resulting in a rich, ultra soft and low dust formulation. All of these professional quality colors are highly pigmented, have excellent lightfastness and are fully erasable. Each pan contains 40%* more material than the average pastel stick. PanPastel Colors are fully compatible with traditional pastel sticks, pastel surfaces, conventional fixatives and other artists' colors. For pastel painting and mixed media work, use PanPastel Colors to: • Quickly block in large areas of color in seconds, e.g. for backgrounds and underpainting • Achieve a more painterly effect in pastels • Apply controlled marks – from intense strokes to delicate marks • Build up multiple layers while controlling the surface "tooth" fill • Apply ultra thin "glazing" layers & veils of color The colors can be mixed and blended together, eliminating the need to invest in hundreds of colors for a complete pastel painting palette. PanPastel packaging protects the colors, keeping them separate and clean. Making them perfect for both studio work, and for traveling / plein air work. The pans interlock securely together making it easy to store and organize the colors, minimizing the amount of storage space required. Check out our PanPastel Multimedia Gallery. There you'll find videos showing how to get started, inspirational images of gorgeous works made using PanPastels and some basic tutorials made by Barb & Jess as they experiment with the medium and learn to use the products.