text:
A system for batch forming a sheet of spring elements in three dimensions includes a top spacer layer. A plurality of ball bearings is arranged in a predetermined pattern on the top spacer layer. A spring element sheet containing the spring elements defined in two dimensions is positioned on the top spacer layer and the plurality of ball bearings. A top spacer layer is positioned on the spring element sheet. The top spacer layer and the bottom support layer are adapted to have a force applied thereto to push the plurality of ball bearings against the spring element sheet, such that the spring elements extend above the plane of the spring element sheet, thereby forming the spring elements in three dimensions.
1. A system for batch forming three dimensional spring elements, comprising:
a spring element sheet including two dimensional spring elements;
a first spacer layer disposed on a first side of the spring element sheet;
a die plate having three dimensional structures and disposed on a second side of the spring element sheet opposite the first side,
the three dimensional structures contacting and forming the two dimensional spring elements into the three dimensional spring elements when the die plate and spacer layer are pressed against the spring element sheet;
a first press plate disposed on a side of the first spacer layer opposite to the spring element sheet; and
a second press plate disposed on a side of the die plate opposite to the spring element sheet, the first press plate and the second press plate configured to remain without deformation when receiving pressure and transmitting pressure during formation of the three dimensional spring elements.
2. The system of
a second spacer layer, the second spacer layer containing a plurality of openings; and
a plurality of configurable die, the configurable die being positioned in at least some of the plurality of openings in the second spacer layer and providing the three dimensional structures of the die plate.
3. The system of
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9. The system of
10. A method for batch forming a sheet of spring elements in three dimensions, comprising:
defining a plurality of individual two dimensional spring elements in a spring sheet;
providing a spacer layer to contact the spring sheet and patterning the spacer layer with a set of spacer layer holes;
arranging a first set of die comprising a first set of die in a die plate to contact some of the individual two dimensional spring elements; and
arranging the spacer layer on a side of the spring sheet opposite to the first set of die and aligning the spacer layer with the set of die such that positions of the set of spacer layer holes correspond to positions of the first set of die;
after arranging the spacer layer, pressing the spring sheet against the first set of die to form the contacted two dimensional spring elements into three dimensional spring elements,
the arranging of the first set of die to contact some of the individual two dimensional spring elements comprising:
providing a first set of die plate holes arranged in a first pattern in the die plate;
inserting the first set of die into at least some of the first set of die plate holes according to a second pattern; and
aligning the spring sheet and die plate so that planar positions of the first set of die correspond to positions of the two dimensional spring elements; and
placing a second set of die into at least some of the set of spacer layer holes, the second set of die arranged to contact the spring sheet at different planar locations than planar locations where the first set of die contact the spring sheet.
This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/412,729, filed Apr. 11, 2003, which is herein incorporated by reference in their entirety.
This application also claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/554,816, filed Mar. 19, 2004, and International Application No. US04/011074, Filed Apr. 9, 2004, both of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to forming spring elements in three dimensions, and more particularly, to a method and system for batch forming spring elements in three dimensions using a configurable die.
2. Background of the Invention
Electrical interconnects or connectors are used to connect two or more electronic components together or to connect an electronic component to a piece of electrical equipment, such as a computer, router, or tester. The term "electronic component" includes, but is not limited to, printed circuit boards, and the connector can be a board-to-board connector. For instance, an electrical interconnect is used to connect an electronic component, such as an integrated circuit (an IC or a chip), to a printed circuit board. An electrical interconnect is also used during integrated circuit manufacturing for connecting an IC device under test to a test system. In some applications, the electrical interconnect or connector provides a separable or embedded or remountable connection so that the electronic component attached thereto can be removed and reattached. For example, it may be desirable to mount a packaged microprocessor chip to a personal computer motherboard using a separable interconnect device so that malfunctioning chips can be readily removed, or upgraded chips can be readily installed.
There are also applications where an electrical connector is used to make direct electrical connection to metal pads formed on a silicon wafer. Such an electrical connector is often referred to as a "probe" or "probe card" and is typically used during the testing of the wafer during the manufacturing process. The probe card, typically mounted on a tester, provides electrical connection from the tester to the silicon wafer so that individual integrated circuits formed on the wafer can be tested for functionality and compliance with specific parametric limits.
Conventional electrical connectors are usually made of stamped metal springs, which are formed and then individually inserted into an insulating carrier to form an array of electrical connection elements. Other approaches to making electrical connectors include using isotropically conductive adhesives, injection molded conductive adhesives, bundled wire conductive elements, springs formed by wirebonding techniques, and small solid pieces of metal.
Land grid array (LGA) refers to an array of metal pads (also called lands) that are used as the electrical contact points for an integrated circuit package, a printed circuit board, or other electronic component. The metal pads are usually formed using thin film deposition techniques and are coated with gold to provide a non-oxidizing surface. Ball grid array (BGA) refers to an array of solder balls or solder bumps that are used as the electrical contact points for an integrated circuit package. Both LGA and BGA packages are widely used in the semiconductor industry and each has its associated advantages or disadvantages. An LGA connector is usually used to provide removable and remountable socketing capability for LGA packages connected to PC boards or to chip modules.
Advances in electronic device packaging technology have led to shrinking package geometries and increasing lead count. That is, the spacing (or the pitch) between each component electrical connection (also referred to as a "lead") on an electronic device is decreasing, while the total number of connections is increasing. For example, existing IC packages may be built with a pitch of one mm or less with 600 or more connections. Furthermore, IC devices are designed to be operated at increasingly higher frequencies. For example, IC devices for use in telecommunication and networking applications can include input and output signals at frequencies over 1 GHz. The operating frequencies of the electronic devices, the package size, and lead count of the device packages place stringent requirements on the interconnect systems used to test or connect these electronic devices.
Advances in semiconductor technologies have also led to shrinking dimensions within semiconductor integrated circuits, and particularly to decreasing pitch for the contact points on a silicon die or a semiconductor package. For example, contact pads on a semiconductor wafer can have a pitch of 250 microns or less. At the 250 micron pitch level, it is prohibitively difficult and expensive to use conventional techniques to make separable electrical connections to these semiconductor devices. The problem is becoming even more critical as the pitch of contact pads on a semiconductor device decreases below 50 microns and simultaneous connection to multiple contact pads in an array is required. In particular, the mechanical, electrical, and reliability performance criteria of an interconnect system are becoming increasingly demanding. Conventional interconnect technologies have not been able to meet all of the mechanical, electrical, and reliability requirements for use with high speed, small dimension, and large pin count IC devices.
A particular problem encountered by today's interconnect systems is the variation in coplanarity (vertical offset) and positional misalignment of the leads in the electronic components to be connected. Coplanarity variations result in some contact elements being compressed more than others. This difference results primarily from the sum of the following three factors: (1) variations in the planarity of the package, (2) variations in the planarity of the board, and (3) any tilting of the package with respect to the board.
In a conventional LGA package, the pads (the leads) of the package can become non-planar due to substrate warping. When the amount of the resulting vertical offset exceeds the tolerance of a LGA connector, some of the pads may not be able to make electrical contact with the connector at all. Planarity variations of the pads of an LGA component make it difficult to make high quality and reliable electrical connections to all the leads of the electronic component.
Moreover, the location of the leads may also deviate from their predefined ideal position due to manufacturing limitations, resulting in positional misalignment. An effective interconnect must accommodate the horizontal positional variations of the leads of the electronic components to be connected. To make matters worse, the positional deviation of a lead relative to the lead size itself, due to either coplanarity variations, positional misalignments, or both, on an electronic device from its ideal location increases as the size of the package decreases.
Planarity problems are not limited to IC packages but may also exist on the printed circuit board (PCB) to which these IC packages are attached. Planarity problems may exist for LGA pads formed as an area array on a PCB due to warping of the PCB substrate. Typically, deviation from flatness in a conventional PCB is on the order of 50 to 75 microns or more per inch. The LGA connector must be able to accommodate the overall deviations in coplanarity between the components being connected, a package and a PCB for example. This means that the contact elements must function in both the least compressed state, where the curvature and tilt of the package and PCB are such that they are farthest apart from each other, and the most compressed state, where the curvature and tilt of the package and PCB are such that they are closest together. Hence, it is desirable to have a scalable electrical contact element that can behave elastically so that normal variations in coplanarity and positional misalignment of the contact points can be tolerated.
While LGA connectors can be effectively used to electrically connect an LGA package to printed circuit boards or modules, the connector interface between the connector and the component to be connected are subject to potential reliability degradation. For instance, corrosive materials or particulate debris can enter the interface area, preventing a proper electrical connection from being made. Also, the repeated mating and separation of an LGA package may degrade the LGA connector, causing intermittent connection conditions and inhibit reliable electrical connection.
When making electrical connections to contact pads, such as metal pads on a silicon wafer or on a LGA package, it is important to have a wiping action or a piercing action when the contact elements engage the pads in order to break through any oxide, organic material, or other films that may be present on the surface of the metal pads and that might otherwise inhibit the electrical connection.
While it is necessary to provide a wiping or piercing action, it is important to have a well-controlled wiping or piercing action that is strong enough to penetrate the surface film 108 but soft enough to avoid damaging the metal pad 104 when electrical contact is made. Furthermore, it is important that any wiping action provides a sufficient wiping distance so that enough of the metal surface is exposed for a satisfactory electrical connection.
Similarly, when making contacts to solder balls, it is important to provide a wiping or piercing action to break through the native oxide layer on the solder balls to create a good electrical contact to the solder balls. However, when conventional approaches are used to make electrical contact to solder balls, the solder balls may be damaged or dislodged from the package.
When the substrate 202 is subsequently attached to another semiconductor device, the crater 204 in the solder ball 200 can lead to void formation at the solder ball interface.
Conventional interconnect devices, such as stamped metal springs, bundled wire, and injection molded conductive adhesives, become difficult to manufacture as the dimensions are scaled down. Stamped metal spring elements, in particular, become brittle and difficult to manufacture as the dimensions are scaled down, rendering them unsuitable for accommodating electronic components with normal positional variations. This is particularly true when the spacing between the contacts scales below one millimeter, as well as where the electrical path length requirement also scales to below one millimeter to minimize inductance and meet high frequency performance requirements. At this size, spring elements made by existing manufacturing technologies become even more brittle and less elastic and cannot accommodate normal variations in system coplanarity and positional misalignments with a reasonable insertion force of about 30 to 40 grams per contact.
It is desirable to provide an electrical contact element that can provide a controlled wiping action on a metal pad, particularly for pads with a pitch of less than 50 microns. It is also desirable that the wiping action provides a wiping distance of up to 50% of the contact pad. Furthermore, when electrical contact to solder balls are made, it is desirable to have an electrical contact element that can provide a controlled wiping action on the solder ball without damaging the contact surface of the solder ball.
It is desirable to provide an electrical interconnect system which can accommodate normal positional tolerances, such as coplanarity variations and positional misalignments, in electronic components to be connected. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide an electrical interconnect system adapted for use with small geometry, high lead density electronic devices operating at high frequencies.
Existing methods and systems of forming spring elements in three dimensions have utilized custom tools, which are often designed for a specific size spring element, are not configurable, and are expensive to manufacture. There is therefore a need for a method and system for forming spring elements in three dimensions that is flexible, configurable to different spring element characteristics, and low in cost.
An array of contact arms 310 is fabricated in layer 312, as better observed with reference to
According to one configuration of the present invention, the following mechanical properties can be specifically engineered for a contact element or a set of contact elements, to achieve certain desired operational characteristics. First, the contact force for each contact element can be selected to ensure either a low resistance connection for some contact elements or a low overall contact force for the connector. Second, the elastic working range of each contact element can be varied. Third, the vertical height of each contact element can be varied. Fourth, the pitch or horizontal dimensions of the contact element can be varied.
Referring to
In one configuration, the connector of the present invention is formed as follows. First, the dielectric substrate 704 including conductive paths between the top surface and the bottom surface is provided. The conductive paths can be in the form of vias or an aperture 708. In one configuration, the dielectric substrate 704 is a piece of any suitable dielectric material with conductive plated through holes. A conductive metal sheet or a multilayer metal sheet is then patterned to form an array of contact elements including a base portion and one or more elastic portions. The contact elements, including the spring portions, can be formed by etching, stamping, or other means. The metal sheet is attached to the first major surface of the dielectric substrate 704. When a second set of contact elements is to be included, a second conductive metal sheet or multilayer metal sheet is similarly patterned and attached to the second major surface of the dielectric substrate 704. The metal sheets can then be patterned to remove unwanted metal from the sheets, so that the contact elements are isolated from each other (i.e., singulated) as needed. The metal sheets can be patterned by etching, scribing, stamping, or other means.
In an alternate configuration, the protrusion of the elastic portions can be formed after the metal sheet, including patterned contact elements, has been attached to the dielectric substrate. In another alternate configuration, the unwanted portions of the metal sheets can be removed before the contact elements are formed. Also, the unwanted portions of the metal sheets can be removed before the metal sheets are attached to the dielectric substrate.
Furthermore, in the configuration shown in
In one configuration, the connector 800 can be formed using the following process sequence. The first metal layer 806 is processed to form the first group of contact elements 802. The metal layer 806 can then be attached to a dielectric substrate 812. Subsequently, an insulating layer, such as the dielectric layer 810, is located over the first metal layer 806. The second metal layer 808 can be processed to form the contact elements and attached to the dielectric layer 810. Via holes and conductive traces are formed in the dielectric substrate 812 and in the dielectric layer 810 as needed to provide a conductive path between each contact element to a respective terminal 814 on the opposing side of the substrate 812.
Referring to
The spring portion 908 is formed to curve away or angle away from a plane of contact, which is the surface of the contact point to which the contact element 902 is to be contacted, the surface of the metal pad 912. The spring portion 908 is formed to have a concave curvature with respect to the surface of the substrate 904, or is formed to be angled away from the surface of the substrate 904. Thus, the spring portion 908 curves or angles away from the surface of the metal pad 912, which provides a controlled wiping action when engaging the metal pad 912.
In operation, an external biasing force, denoted F in
Another feature of the contact element 902 is that the spring portion 908 enables a large elastic working range. Specifically, because the spring portion 908 can move in both the vertical and the horizontal directions, an elastic working range on the order of the electrical path length of the contact element 902 can be achieved. The "electrical path length" of the contact element 902 is defined as the distance the electrical current has to travel from the distal end of the spring portion 908 to the base portion 906 of the contact element 902. The contact elements 902 have an elastic working range that spans the entire length of the contact elements, which enables the connector to accommodate normal coplanarity variations and positional misalignments in the semiconductor or electronic devices to be connected.
The contact elements 902 are formed using a conductive metal that can also provide the desired elasticity. In one configuration, the contact elements 902 are formed using titanium (Ti) as a support structure that can later be plated to obtain a desired electrical and/or elastic behavior. In other configurations, the contact elements 902 are formed using a copper alloy (Cu-alloy) or a multilayer metal sheet such as stainless steel coated with a copper-nickel-gold (Cu/Ni/Au) multilayer metal sheet. In a preferred configuration, the contact elements 902 are formed using a small-grained copper beryllium (CuBe) alloy and then plated with electroless nickel-gold (Ni/Au) to provide a non-oxidizing surface. In an alternate configuration, the contact elements 902 are formed using different metals for the base portions and the spring portions.
In the configuration shown in
The connector 1000 can be used to contact a semiconductor device 1020, such as a BGA package, including an array of solder balls 1022 mounted on a substrate 1024 as contact points.
First, the contact elements 1002 contact the respective solder balls 1022 along the side of the solder balls. No contact to the base surface of the solder ball 1022 is made. Thus, the contact elements 1002 do not damage the base surface of the solder balls 1022 during contact, and effectively eliminate the possibility of void formation when the solder balls 1022 are subsequently reflowed for permanent attachment.
Second, because the spring portions 1008 and 1010 of the contact elements 1002 are formed to curve away from the plane of contact, which in the present case is a plane tangent to the side surface of the solder ball 1022 being contacted, the contact elements 1002 provide a controlled wiping action when contacting the respective solder balls 1022. In this manner, an effective electrical connection can be made without damaging the surface of the solder balls 1022.
Third, the connector 1000 is scalable and can be used to contact solder balls having a pitch of 250 microns or less.
Lastly, because each contact element 1002 has a large elastic working range on the order of the electrical path length, the contact elements 1002 can accommodate a large range of compression. Therefore, the connector of the present invention can be used effectively to contact conventional devices having normal coplanarity variations or positional misalignments.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector can include one or more coaxial contact elements.
As thus constructed, the connector 1500 can be used to interconnect a coaxial connection on a LGA package 1520 to a coaxial connection on a PC board 1530.
A particular advantage of the connector 1500 is that the coaxial contact elements can be scaled to dimensions of one millimeter or less. Thus, the connector 1500 can be used to provide a coaxial connection even for small geometry electronic components.
Method for Making an Electrical Connector
After the support layer 1702 is deposited, a mask layer 1704 is formed on the top surface of the support layer 1702. The mask layer 1704 is used in conjunction with a conventional lithography process to define a pattern on the support layer 1702 using the mask layer 1704. After the mask layer is printed and developed (
Referring to
The support regions 1702 a to 1702 c are then subjected to an isotropic etching process. An isotropic etching process removes material under etch in the vertical and horizontal directions at substantially the same etch rate. Thus, as a result of the isotropic etching, the top corners of the support regions 1702 a to 1702 c are rounded off as shown in
Then, referring to
The structure in
To complete the connector, the support regions 1702 a to 1702 c are removed (
Variations in the above processing steps are possible to fabricate the connector of the present invention. For example, the chemistry and etch condition of the isotropic etching process can be tailored to provide a desired shape in the support regions, so that the contact elements have a desired curvature. Through the use of semiconductor processing techniques, a connector can be fabricated with contact elements having a variety of properties. For example, a first group of contact elements can be formed with a first pitch, while a second group of contact elements can be formed with a second pitch that is greater or smaller than the first pitch. Other variations in the electrical and mechanical properties of the contact element are possible.
A process similar to that described above in connection with
Fabricating the contact element 1810 as part of an integrated circuit manufacturing process provides further advantages. Specifically, a continuous electrical path is formed between the contact element 1810 and the underlying circuit 1802. There is no metal discontinuity or impedance mismatch between the contact element and the associated circuit. In some prior art connectors, a gold bond wire is used to form the contact element. However, such a structure results in gross material and cross-sectional discontinuities and impedance mismatch at the interface between the contact element and the underlying metal connections, resulting in undesirable electrical characteristics and poor high frequency operations.
According to another aspect of the present invention, a connector is provided with contact elements having different operating properties. That is, the connector can include heterogeneous contact elements where the operating properties of the contact elements can be selected to meet requirements in the desired application. The operating properties of a contact element refer to the electrical, mechanical, and reliability properties of the contact element. By incorporating contact elements with different electrical and/or mechanical properties, a connector can be made to meet all of the stringent electrical, mechanical, and reliability requirements for high-performance interconnect applications.
According to alternate configurations of the present invention, the electrical properties can be specifically engineered for a contact element or a set of contact elements to achieve certain desired operational characteristics. For instance, the DC resistance, the impedance, the inductance, and the current carrying capacity of each contact element can be varied. Thus, a group of contact elements can be engineered to have lower resistance or to have low inductance. The contact elements can also be engineered to display no or minimal performance degradation after environmental stresses such as thermal cycling, thermal shock and vibration, corrosion testing, and humidity testing. The contact elements can also be engineered to meet other reliability requirements defined by industry standards, such as those defined by the Electronics Industry Alliance (EIA).
The mechanical and electrical properties of the contact elements can be modified by changing the following design parameters. First, the thickness of the spring portion of the contact element can be selected to give a desired contact force. For example, a thickness of about 30 microns typically gives a low contact force on the order of 10 grams or less, while a flange thickness of 40 microns gives a higher contact force of 20 grams for the same displacement. The width, length, and shape of the spring portion can also be selected to give the desired contact force.
Second, the number of spring portions included in a contact element can be selected to achieve the desired contact force, the desired current carrying capacity, and the desired contact resistance. For example, doubling the number of spring portions roughly doubles the contact force and current carrying capacity, while roughly decreasing the contact resistance by a factor of two.
Third, specific metal composition and treatment can be selected to obtain the desired elasticity and conductivity characteristics. For example, copper alloys, such as beryllium copper, can be used to provide a good tradeoff between mechanical elasticity and electrical conductivity. Alternately, metal multilayers can be used to provide both excellent mechanical and electrical properties. In one configuration, a contact element is formed using titanium (Ti) coated with copper (Cu), then with nickel (Ni), and finally with gold (Au) to form a Ti/Cu/Ni/Au multilayer. The Ti provides elasticity and high mechanical durability, the Cu provides conductivity, and the Ni and Au layers provide corrosion resistance. Finally, different metal deposition techniques, such as plating or sputtering, and different metal treatment techniques, such as alloying, annealing, and other metallurgical techniques can be used to engineer specific desired properties for the contact elements.
Fourth, the shape of the spring portion can be designed to give certain electrical and mechanical properties. The height of the spring portion, or the amount of projection from the base portion, can also be varied to give the desired electrical and mechanical properties.
First, a base spring material for the sheet of contacts is selected, such as beryllium copper (Be—Cu), spring steel, phosphorous bronze, or any other material with suitable mechanical properties (step 1902). The proper selection of material enables the contact elements to be engineered to have the desired mechanical and electrical properties. One factor in the selection of the base material is the working range of the material. Working range is the range of displacement over which the contact element meets both contact force (load) and contact resistance specifications. For example, assume that the desired contact resistance is less than 20 milliohms and the maximum allowed contact load is 40 grams. If the contact element reaches a resistance range of less than 20 milliohms at 10 grams of load and then is carried over to the maximum load of 40 grams for the beam member, while maintaining a resistance of less than 20 milliohms, then the distance over which the contact element has traveled between 10 grams and 40 grams of load would be the working range of the contact.
The sheet can be heat treated prior to subsequent processing (step 1904). Whether the sheet is heated at this point in the process is determined by the type of material selected for the sheet. The heating is performed to move the material from a half-hard state into a hard state or highly-tensile state that provides desired mechanical properties for forming the contacts.
A contact element is designed and is copied into an array form, for use in batch processing (step 1906). The number of contacts in an array is a design choice, and can vary depending on the requirements for the connector. The arrays are repeated into a panel format, analogous to chips or die in a semiconductor wafer, resulting in a scalable design that lends itself to batch processing. After the contact design has been completed (usually in a CAD drawing environment), the design is ported to a Gerber format, which is a translator that enables the design to be ported to a fabrication facility to produce the master slides or film to be used in the subsequent steps.
The panel format can have anywhere between one and a large number of contacts, because the use of lithography permits placing a high density of contacts onto a panel. This high density of contacts provides an advantage over existing methods in that a batch process can be used to singulate the contacts, as opposed to stamping and forming individual contacts. The method 1900 permits a large number of contacts to be patterned, developed, and etched at once.
A lithographically sensitive resist film is then applied to both sides of the sheet (step 1908 and
Using the artwork defined in step 1906, both the top and bottom of the sheet are exposed to ultraviolet (UV) light and then developed to define contact features in the resist (step 1910 and
The sheet is then etched in a solution specifically selected for the material being used (step 1912). Each particular material that can be selected for the sheet typically has a specific etch chemistry associated with it to provide the best etch characteristics, such as etch rate (i.e., how well and how fast the solution performs the etch). This is an important consideration in the context of throughputs. The etchant selected also effects other characteristics like the sidewall profile, or the straightness of a feature as seen in cross section. In the method 1900, chemicals common in the industry are used, such as cupric chloride, ferric chloride, and sulfuric hydroxide. Once etched, the protective layer of resist is removed in a stripping process, leaving the etched features in the sheet (step 1914 and
A batch forming tool is designed, based upon the artwork defined in step 1906 (step 1916). In one configuration, the batch forming tool includes a plurality of ball bearings arranged, into an array format, preferably by being set into an array of openings in a support surface. The ball bearings can be of different sizes, to apply different forces to the contacts, thereby imparting different mechanical characteristics to contacts on the same panel. The curvature of the ball bearings is used to push the flanges away from the plane of the sheet. The flanges of the contacts are then formed in all three axes by applying the forming tool to the sheet, to produce the desired contact elements in a batch process (step 1918), as discussed in more detail with reference to
The sheet can be heat treated to relieve stress caused by the forming process (step 1920). As with step 1904, the heating step 1920 is optional, and is dependent upon the material selected for the sheet. Based upon the material and the size of the contacts to be defined on the sheet, heating may be performed to obtain the physical properties desired for optimal forming conditions.
The sheet is then surface treated to enhance adhesion properties for a subsequent lamination process (step 1922). If there is inadequate adhesion, there is a propensity for the sheet to separate from a substrate or delaminate. Several methods for performing the surface treating can be used, including micro etching and a black oxide process. The micro etching is used to pit the surface of the sheet, effectively creating a greater surface area (by making the surface rough and cratered) to promote better adhesion. However, if the micro etching is not properly controlled, it can lead to damage on the sheet.
The black oxide process is a replacement process involving a self-limiting reaction in which an oxide is grown on the surface of the sheet. In this reaction, the oxygen diffuses only through a set thickness, thereby limiting the amount of oxide grown. The oxide has a rough surface in the form of bumps, which helps to promote adhesion. Either the micro etching or the black oxide processes can be used for the surface treatment step, and a preference for one process over the other is a design choice.
Prior to pressing, a low flow adhesion material and dielectric core are processed with relief depressions or holes located beneath flange elements (step 1924). This is intended to prevent excess flow of material up on the flange during the lamination process. Should this flow happen, the contact properties would be altered, causing the contact element to be unsuitable for electrical and mechanical use.
The following list is a typical stack up generated for lamination pressing (step 1926). This arrangement could be altered to have the contact elements inserted as internal layers.
a. Layer 1 is a top press plate material
b. Layer 2 is a spacer material with a relief hole over the spring contact element
c. Layer 3 is a release material with a relief hole over the spring contact
d. Layer 4 is a top sheet of formed contact sheets
e. Layer 5 is an adhesion material with a relief hole beneath the spring contact
f. Layer 6 is a core dielectric with relief holes under and above the spring contact
g. Layer 7 is an adhesion material with a relief hole above the spring contact
h. Layer 8 is a bottom sheet of formed contact elements
i. Layer 9 is a release material with a relief hole below the spring contact
j. Layer 10 is a spacer material with a relief hole below the spring contact element
k. Layer 11 is a bottom press plate material
The stack up is pressed under temperature conditions optimized for desired adhesions and flow conditions for the adhesion material (step 1928 and
The panel surfaces and openings are then plated to electrically connect the top and bottom flanges (step 1932). This step takes the top flange and electrically connects it to the bottom flange by a plating process known as an electroless process. The process effectively deposits a conductive material on the top surface, into the through hole to connect both sheets of contact elements, and then onto the sheet on the other side of the substrate. The plating process creates a route for an electrical current to travel from one side of the board to the other.
Next, a photosensitive resist film is applied to both sides of the panel (step 1934). A pattern is exposed and developed to define the individual contact elements (step 1936). A determination is then made as to the contact finish type, either hard gold or soft gold (step 1938). Hard gold is used in specific applications where the numbers of insertions required are high, such as a test socket. Hard gold itself has impurities that cause the gold to be more durable. Soft gold is a pure gold, so it effectively has no impurities, and is typically used in the PCB or networking space, where the number of insertions is fairly low. For example, a package to board socket used in a PC (soft gold) will typically see on the order of one to 20 insertions, whereas other technology using hard gold will see a number of insertions between 10 and 1,000,000.
If the contact finish type is a hard gold, then a partial etching is performed to almost singulate the contact elements (step 1940). The resist film is removed via a stripping process (step 1942). A new layer of resist is applied, covering both sides of the panel (step 1944). The previously etched areas are exposed and developed (step 1946). The panel is then submitted for electrolytic Cu/Ni/Au plating via a hard gold process (step 1948).
The resist is removed to expose previous partially etched scribe lines (step 1950). The entire panel is etched using electrolytic Ni/Au as a hard mask to complete singulation of the contact array (step 1952). Final interposer outlines are routed out of the panel to separate the panel into individual connector arrays (step 1954), and the method terminates (step 1956).
If a soft gold finish is used (step 1938), then etching is used to completely singulate the contact elements (step 1960). The resist film is removed via a stripping process (step 1962). Electroless Ni/Au, also known as a soft gold, is plated onto the panel to complete the contact elements (step 1964). Final interposer outlines are routed out of the panel to separate the panel into individual connector arrays (step 1954), and the method terminates (step 1956).
The soft gold finishing process singulates the contacts prior to plating. Ni/Au will plate only on metal surfaces, and provides a sealing mechanism for the contact element his helps to prevent potential corrosive activity that could occur over the system life of the contact, since gold is virtually inert. Singulation prior to plating is a means to isolate or encapsulate the copper contact with another metal, resulting in cleaner imaging and a cleaner contact, which has a low propensity for shorting.
A bottom spacer layer 2406 (shown in partial top plan view in
While the exemplary configuration shown in
Ball bearings 2412 or other configurable die are placed into holes 2410 by manual or mechanical means according to a desired pattern to form the spring elements or dome features that may then later be patterned and etched to form spring elements. Ball bearings 2412 can have a slight interference fit so that they are pressed and held in position. As shown in
After one or more configurable die 2412, such as ball bearings, are inserted and press fit into holes 2410, spacer layer 2406 can retain the configurable die, such that the resulting spacer layer containing configurable die can operate as a die plate for shaping deformable sheets to form spring elements in the sheets. The resulting die plate contains three dimensional features corresponding in size and shape to the portions of individual configurable die protruding above the plane of spacer layer 2406, imparting a three dimensional surface, for example, surface 2450 as depicted in
Thus, according to a predetermined design desired for the final three dimensional spring elements, the shape and size of features of surface 2450 can be tailored by changing the shape and size of configurable die inserted in spacer layer 2406. For example, a predetermined design may call for spring elements to have a shape of a circular arc as viewed in cross section, as illustrated for layer 2414 in
Ball bearings 2412 or other configurable die can be made of hardened tool steel or stainless steel and can vary in diameter depending upon the desired characteristics of the spring elements to be formed. Ball bearings 2412 could also be made of any other suitable material, such as AL 6061, AL 76075, chromium steel, or tungsten carbide. As an example, ball bearings 2412 can range in diameter from approximately 0.3 mm to approximately 127.0 mm. The depth of insertion of ball bearings 2412 into layer 2406 is limited by bottom press plate 2402. The depth of insertion of ball bearings 2412 (as shown in
In one configuration, a spring element sheet 2414 having positioning holes 2416 for alignment with dowel pins 2404, or other alignment means, is placed on top of ball bearings 2412 or other configurable die. Sheet 2414 contains spring elements defined in two dimensions and can be formed by various methods, including etching or stamping. An example of a spring element sheet with the elements defined in two dimensions is shown in
Referring again to
In an alternative configuration shown in
As shown in
Top spacer layer 2418 may be constructed of similar or different materials as bottom spacer layer 2406. Openings 2422 in layer 2418 could be smaller, the same size or larger than holes 2410 in bottom spacer layer 2406. In this manner, some control over the final shape of the spring elements can be achieved by changing the size of openings 2422. In addition, the thickness of top spacer layer 2418 can also help to determine the final height of the spring elements above the surface of the sheet 2414.
Alternatively, spacer layer 2418 is made of a compliant material (for example, silicon rubber) substantially conformable around configurable die 2412 in order to form the spring elements on the contact area of configurable die 2412, as shown in
Referring again to
As shown in
The amount of force required to form the spring elements depends upon the properties of the material being formed, and can be limited by the yield strength of the bottom press plate 2402 if desired. However, in view of the size and scale of the contact arms being formed, this is generally not an issue.
As noted above, in alternate configurations, where configurable die are pressed into top layer 2418, a result similar to that shown in
When the alternate configuration of spring element sheet 2414′ is used, the pressure applied forces ball bearings 2412 against the underside of spring element sheet 2414′, pushing spring element sheet 2414′ upward to form three dimensional domes 3010, as shown in
An electrical connector having a spring element formed by using a ball bearing in accordance with the present invention has unique characteristics. Pressing the spring element over the ball bearing causes the spring element to have a torsional force added to the spring force of the material, to provide additional spring characteristics. This results in unique physical configurations that provide the electrical connector with a better wiping action to an abutting electrical contact. The torsional force exists any time there is a twisting of the material; in the present case, the material is formed around a spherical ball bearing, causing it to be twisted around the surface of the sphere, thus supplying a torsional force. It is noted that arrangements of configurable die with surfaces having shapes other than the aforementioned spherical ball bearings are contemplated in the present invention. Accordingly, the degree and nature of forces imparted into electrical contacts formed over a configurable die of the present invention can be varied.
In accordance with the principles of the present invention, a method 3100 for forming spring elements in three dimensions can also be derived, as shown in
While specific configurations of the present invention have been shown and described, many modifications and variations could be made by one skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention. The above description serves to illustrate and not limit the particular invention in any way.
Those skilled in the art will recognize that a connector according to the present invention could be used as an interposer, a PCB connector, or could be formed as an integral part of a PCB. The scalability of the present invention is not limited, and can be easily customized for production due to the lithographic techniques used and the simple tooling die used for forming the connector elements in three dimensions.
The foregoing disclosure of configurations of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed. Many variations and modifications of the configurations described herein will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art in light of the above disclosure. For example, the use of the terms "top" and "bottom" in referring to elements of stack up 2400 is for the purposes of clarity. Configurations in which top and bottom elements are reversed are within the scope of the invention. Additionally, configurations in which the layers of stack up 2400 are arranged as a horizontal stack are contemplated. The scope of the invention is to be defined only by the claims appended hereto, and by their equivalents.
Further, in describing representative configurations of the present invention, the specification may have presented the method and/or process of the present invention as a particular sequence of steps. However, to the extent that the method or process does not rely on the particular order of steps set forth herein, the method or process should not be limited to the particular sequence of steps described. As one of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate, other sequences of steps may be possible. Therefore, the particular order of the steps set forth in the specification should not be construed as limitations on the claims. In addition, the claims directed to the method and/or process of the present invention should not be limited to the performance of their steps in the order written, and one skilled in the art can readily appreciate that the sequences may be varied and still remain within the spirit and scope of the present invention.
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Pure Price ? A Definition
Pure Price means that the price you see posted? in an ad, on the dealer's website, or on a menu display board in the dealership ? is the price you will pay. This includes vehicles, accessories, and even finance and insurance products. All our prices are clearly posted.
Why Use Pure Price?
Our customers told us they want a shorter, simpler process with less pressure ? and we listened. With the Scion Pure Price Solution, you don't have to negotiate price ? or sit around the dealership waiting for someone to "crunch the numbers."
In many cases, you'll deal with only one person for the entire transaction ? start to finish. That makes it easier on you ? and easier on us. We can devote more time and attention to getting you the car you want ? and getting you on your way.
Benefits to You
Pure Price saves time. No one has to sit through an extended negotiation period.
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Pure Price is open and consistent. What you see is what you get. No surprises. Nothing hidden.
With Pure Price, you don't have to be a good negotiator to get a good deal.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
2010 Complete Election Coverage: Hosni Mubarak praises Barack Obama speech in Cairo
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- Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak praised Barack Obama's speech last week in Cairo. Reuters
Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak on Thursday praised Barack Obama's speech last week in Cairo, saying he appreciated the president's new approach to addressing the Muslim world.
"Under the past administration, there was a feeling that the Islamic world was a group of terrorists, Islam was hated and Muslims should be watched and that the previous administration was scared of any Muslim," Mubarak said in an interview with state television, according to Reuters.
"But Obama came and said, 'We will not fight Muslims and Islam.' He is a sympathetic man and says the United States will not fight Islam because Islam is a heavenly religion," he said.


text:
Dyna-Glo Bronze Metallic 62,000 BTU 5 Burner LP Gas Grill with Side Burner
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About this item
This Dyna-Glo 5-burner propane (LP) gas grill combines performance, durability, and quality and brings a unique combination of a stainless steel and burnished bronze metallic finish. The grill offers 62,000 total BTU's with 708 square inches of total cooking and 530 square inches of primary cooking space. Key features include: stainless steel heavy gage cooking grates, a warming rack, and stainless steel heat tents which flavor foods from vaporized fallen juices bring that great BBQ taste while at the same time are protecting the 5 stainless steel straight burners. A 12,000 BTU stainless steel side burner is included.
The cabinet style offers two doors, where there is an easy access pullout slot to get to the propane (LP) tank (tank not included).
Overall, this grill offers the usage of multiple heat zones, and 708 square inches of total cooking space to enjoy the whole outdoor BBQ grilling experience. Grill up to 28 hamburgers at one time, or any other choice foods from steak, fish, pork, lamb and veggies for family and friends. A universal type rotisserie kit will work on this grill (not included).
- Easy push button start electronic pulse ignition system ensures quick and reliable ignition
- (3) Heavy gage stainless steel cooking grates for retaining heat and to sear foods to lock in those natural juices, and a warming rack
- (5) Stainless steel commercial grade straight burner tubes for ultimate performance
- (5) Stainless steel heat tents to protect the burners as it flavor foods from fallen juices
- Stainless steel side burner
- Double-wall liner lid assembly to retain heat, and temperature gauge
- LP tank pullout allows for easy access to the propane tank from the front of the grill
- 62,000 TOTAL BTU's of heat-generating cooking power, 50,000 BTU's on primary cooking space, 12,000 BTU's on side burner, all with infinite control valves, ultimately providing flexibility on temperature choice while using multiple heat zone settings for that great outdoor BBQ experience
- 708 square inches of total cooking space offers a significant outdoor grilling experience, grill up to 28 hamburgers at one time, or any other choice foods from steak, fish, pork, lamb and veggies for family and friends
- Related cover (sold separately): item #368318
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text:
Jan 19 2012
"At every crossroads on the path that leads to the future, tradition has placed against us ten thousand men to guard the past."
A Belgian poet named Maeterlinck said that. I confess that I don't know what events in his day prompted that musing, but it came to mind recently as I took another look at the film Contact. That's the Jodie Foster movie based on the late astronomer Carl Sagan's imagined first encounter between humans and an advanced race from a distant star.
A central theme of Contact is the bitterly cold and difficult upstream swim of any idea that is big and dangerous enough to threaten our collective sense of self. In any age it seems, there are those ten thousand men, guarding the past.
It is also the rare movie that distills the overwhelming sense of awe that comes from pondering life's darkest and gnarliest mysteries. It is a beautiful movie, based on a thoughtful novel. Sagan not only made astronomy and physics accessible to an entire generation, he had an extraordinary talent for reconciling the discipline and rigor of science with our emotional need for wonder. Contact embodies the best of his gifts.
We first meet the movie's heroine, Ellie Arroway, as a whip-smart and plucky 12-year-old, seated at the edge of a chair that is a bit too big for her, adjusting the frequency dial of a ham radio transceiver. The set produces only static. Her frustration grows.
Ellie's father stands nearby, on the threshold known well to any parent, between helping find the answer and rushing over and to show how it's done.
"Small moves, Ellie. Small moves," Dad advises.
She applies a gentler touch to the frequency dial. "CQ, this is W9GFO. Come back?"
A voice answers in a mild Southern drawl. Ellie's radio has snatched a signal from more than 1,000 miles away in the Florida panhandle. Her father goes to the sprawling U.S. map on the wall and stretches a blue string anchored by a pushpin at Pensacola, to another marking their house in Wisconsin. And so begins Ellie's fascination with a voice from afar.
Years later Ellie stands at the edge of a rainforest, looking down on the massive Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. She is now a scientist with the Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence (SETI). We follow her career along a thorny path of skepticism and ridicule.
"You're far too promising a scientist to be wasting your gifts on this nonsense," warns a superior.
Ultimately, her work leads to detection of a signal from Vega, the brightest star in the constellation Lyra, 25 light-years away. First an endless series of prime numbers, this intricately layered transmission reveals detailed plans for a mysterious device we are apparently meant to build.
Full Disclosure: I have a high level of geekiness around this subject. The Senior Astronomer for the real SETI wrote a book called "Confessions of an Alien Hunter: A Scientist's Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence." He signed my copy with this inscription: "To Mark, a guy who will really understand the stuff in this book!" (Translation: Good grief what a geek.)
Cornell and University of California astrophysicist Frank Drake is the father of SETI. He and Sagan together designed the gold anodized plaque on NASA's Pioneer spacecraft, the one that describes in symbols and drawings, who we humans are, and where our Earth is located. Fifty years ago Drake devised something now famously known as the Drake Equation, which estimates the potential number of advanced civilizations in our galaxy. It is the basis of this entire quest.
I met Dr. Drake last summer and he was kind enough to notate the Drake Equation for me, in his own hand, with a Sharpie. It is framed in my home. Just putting that out there for context. I'm not impartial. I believe this is important, historic work. I do not know that we will ever make a discovery. But I think it would be a tragedy to have never asked the question.
That said, this movie stands on its own merits, whether these questions interest you or not. You need only have, on some summer night, in pitch darkness, marveled at the stars.
Having watched this movie more than a few times, I cannot imagine anyone but Jodie Foster as Ellie Arroway. Contact is strengthened by smart casting throughout. Particularly notable is the great John Hurt. Tom Skerritt, James Woods, William Fichtner and David Morse deliver as well, as does Jena Malone as the young Ellie. Jake Busey is, not surprisingly, ragingly convincing as deranged saboteur.
In a refreshing twist, Matthew McConaughey plays the role usually relegated to The Girlfriend. He serves as eye candy and generally agreeable foil to the heroine. In the tropical scenes, he is shirtless. In snow-dusted Washington, D.C., he wears fun sweaters and pretty scarves. But his character, a prominent theologian named Palmer Joss, is essential to the story, as he and Ellie stand at the intersection of religion and science.
That exotic device detailed in the message from Vega does get built, and after a series of setbacks, much political maneuvering and a disaster resulting from sabotage, Ellie is the representative of Earth ultimately chosen to experience whatever it is this machine is designed to deliver.
From Ellie's perspective, and ours, she travels through a portal in space-time known as an Einstein-Rosen Bridge. The journey lasts some 18 hours, but only a fraction of a second in Earth Time.
The message from the alien race is a simple one, but it is given to Ellie alone. An apparition of her dead father and memories of childhood are drawn from her mind, a frame of reference constructed for an encounter totally outside human experience. Ellie wants others to share her journey, to see what she has seen. But it becomes clear that she is to be sent home with no record or proof.
"This was just the first step," explains the alien emissary. "Small moves, Ellie. Small moves."
Upon her return, much doubt is cast on whether she went anywhere at all. Many believe her. Many do not. And that's what makes Contact so interesting. Typically, science puts facts, reason and logic against human belief. Here, the tables are turned as scientist Ellie is asking a skeptical world to accept her story on faith alone. Her experience is transcendent, even redemptive, and she struggles to describe it in words.
At a Congressional hearing it is suggested that it was all an elaborate hoax. In the most intense and poignant moment in the film, Ellie is challenged to defend the objective reality of what occurred.
"I had an experience. I can't prove it, I can't even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real. I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever. A vision of the universe that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how rare, and precious we all are. A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater then ourselves, that we are not, that none of us, are alone."
Whenever I think about this movie, I recall a passage from another of Carl Sagan's books, in which he ponders a famous photo taken by a Voyager spacecraft, some four billion miles from Earth. In the grainy image, our home planet is a tiny dot, a pinpoint, against endless space.
"Look again at that dot. That's here. That's home. That's us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every "superstar," every "supreme leader," every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there, on a mote of dust, suspended in a sunbeam."
And with these words, I feel humbled, small and isolated. But before I let myself feel too inconsequential, I remember something else he said:
"For small creatures such as we, the vastness is bearable only through love."
Carl, how we miss you.
110 Comments and 22 Replies
Kim V On Thursday, January 19 at 6:16 am
This is one of my favorite movies- I had read Sagan's book when it first came out, after being a huge fan of the PBS series, and couldn't wait to see the film. It didn't disappoint then and it still doesn't!
amy On Thursday, January 19 at 6:22 am
Mark, I am loving your reviews and your movie choices, as they are my all-time favorites. What's more, as I read about a movie you post, I realize my kids haven't seen it and we can all watch it–me for the 50th time, them for the first.
Contact is an incredible movie, hard not to tear up when she sees her dad on the beach. And the ambiguity at the end with James Woods' one line "Well, that is interesting", is a brilliant piece of writing and acting. I agree with you on the beautifully depicted intersection of faith vs./and science–this is a movie that makes you think.
AngAK On Thursday, January 19 at 6:37 pm
goosebumps here! Love Love this movie, and I generally do not like SciFi at all, but, this is not your typical scifi. And the ending, where they find the missing time discrepency—I just shout out every time and want the movie to continue so that I know they find out Ellie's truth.
Stasha On Thursday, January 19 at 6:31 am
"if we are alone in this universe, it's an awful big waste of space!"
Sarah Kay On Thursday, January 19 at 8:18 am
I saw this movie as a little girl, and this is my favorite, most memorable quote from this movie. How true it is.
Erin J On Thursday, January 19 at 9:45 am
One of my favorite quotes. Love this movie!
Jennifer On Thursday, January 19 at 2:23 pm
I agree on that particular quote. I don't know how many times I've used it in discussions. Now I need to go home and re-watch the movie.
Katy On Thursday, January 19 at 7:05 pm
"The heavens declare the glory of God, and the sky above proclaims his handiwork." -Psalm 19:1.
This is good enough for me! If we are alone in the universe, than this is a perfectly good reason for all that "space" to exist.
Minnow in Hampton Roads On Thursday, January 19 at 6:32 am
I LOVE this movie. Haven't seen it in a while but now I'm going to have to rent it ….
Allie On Wednesday, January 25 at 8:23 am
It's one of our favorites, too. I'll have to dust that one off again soon!
And–totally from left field–Jodi Foster's gown and coat for the ball scenes are simply amazing!
Bratfink On Thursday, January 19 at 6:43 am
This was one of the first DVDs I bought myself. I could watch it once a week and still marvel at it all. I loved the book, too, and yes, I miss Carl Sagan.
But we have Neil de Grasse Tyson, who is very much like Carl in a lot of ways.
Mark Spearman On Thursday, January 19 at 11:47 am
Yes, NDT is great!
jennifer in b'ville On Thursday, January 19 at 12:03 pm
Ha! Yes! I'm glad you mentioned Dr. NDT! He is so great at bringing things down to my/our level and adding humor to his lessons. The Pluto Files was awesome!
Margie On Thursday, January 19 at 6:49 am
This movie, along with Dogma, reconciled the conflicted feelings I had concerning my Catholic faith and my understanding of science. After viewing both of these movies, I've never been any happier.
Annie B On Thursday, January 19 at 7:11 am
Thank you for a moving and beautiful review of the movie and the tribute to Carl Sagan. I just happened to watch the movie this week, probably my fourth time. I always enjoy your columns, but this one was especially good.,
Donna P On Thursday, January 19 at 7:42 am
This is one of those movies that sucks me in whenever I happen upon it flipping through channels. It has a strong emotional impact on me every time. Thanks for your review and for reminding me of the wonderful words of Carl Sagan! He was always a thoughtful voice and I wonder if he would be surprised at the current state of our country's current science versus faith discussion in the media.
zoom On Thursday, January 19 at 12:31 pm
It does seem like we reward greed and ignorance versus compassion and knowledge. For many of us, faith and science are not exclusive of one another. How can you have one without the other? I miss some of the geeks of PBS. There was something so comforting about Fred Rogers and Carl Sagan.
Amy S On Thursday, January 19 at 7:42 am
I absolutely loved this movie when it came out, and my favorite part of the movie is when someone mentions that while they have no video feed of what happened, they have hours of static.
It was truly an interesting, thought-provoking movie and is still one of my favorites.
Tara On Thursday, January 19 at 8:03 am
What a review. I haven't seen it, but I am anxious to now!
Shirley On Thursday, January 19 at 8:34 am
Great Reviews Mark!! You are my kind of Movie Man.
I saw this movie in the THEATRE and bought a copy on DVD early on. I love this film and am, too a big fan of Sagan. I was raised to think this way. Thanks Mom!
NorthernPayne On Thursday, January 19 at 8:41 am
I'm ok to go.
Elly On Thursday, January 19 at 8:56 am
Yes! The bravery in the face of the unknown. Loved it.
-mis On Thursday, January 19 at 8:52 am
…they filmed most of the big Cape Canaveral scenes during the coldest months in FL; we, as 'extras' had to show up at around 4am for filming (three days…?) and pretend we were on the beach on a beautiful, summer day. I was in high school then and remember an assistant director talking about what would be added with digital effects later SO the final film was cool to see…
Mark Spearman On Thursday, January 19 at 11:50 am
An EXTRA in this one – NEAT.
Karen On Thursday, January 19 at 8:52 am
Loved this movie!
Melissa On Thursday, January 19 at 8:56 am
One of my earliest memories of outer space and Carl Sagan is that "voice" saying "billions and billions of stars." To us geeks, he was a phenomenal presence in our lives and one of the truly gifted minds. He was able to take the abstract, the "way out there" and make it attainable to the everyday guy/gal. This film is a prime example of how he entertained, educated and made us ask questions. Thanks so much for this. Loved it!
Emily B On Thursday, January 19 at 9:11 am
I have seen this movie once in the theater. I loved it and I think about it often. I don't know why it's not one I watch over and over but just recently I was thinking that I would and then today, BAM!, you're review. It's weird how things like that happen. Thanks so much for writing it and sharing.
Amanda at The Martha Initiative On Thursday, January 19 at 9:13 am
How can a movie review leave me crying??? Great job on this, and on all of your reviews. Keep up the good work!
Andrea H. On Thursday, January 19 at 9:16 am
I love this movie, and the way it spins science on its head and challenges it with faith. I agree that JF is perfect in this role. Tough but vulnerable. And MM as eye-candy? Why yes, I'll have some of that too!
Andrea H. On Thursday, January 19 at 9:18 am
And the blind scientist who had even less to go on than the rest of us? Such a great symbol of stretching yourself and going beyond what is right in front of you.
Anne On Thursday, January 19 at 9:21 am
I have not seen Contact, but am dying to rent it now! You are so talented in the writing of your reviews. Please keep 'em coming!
Tara On Thursday, January 19 at 9:28 am
Thank you for this post. I adore this movie. I watched it last week and was crying from an array of emotions. Love Jodie Foster <3 There is so much going on in this movie I am always mentally exhausted afterwards—in a good way.
Rebecca On Thursday, January 26 at 12:18 pm
I second that emotion!!!
Jennifer On Thursday, January 19 at 9:42 am
Wow. Thank you for posting this beautiful post. This movie has always been in my top ten list. I have loved it since the first time I saw it, and this reminds me of why. I haven't watched it in a long long while, and will be putting that at the top of my to do list.
Elizabeth On Thursday, January 19 at 9:53 am
Carl Sagan words keep my troubles in perspective. Thanks for reminding me this morning.
Long live the geeks!
Flatlander (Linda) On Thursday, January 19 at 9:54 am
If you haven't seen this movie you owe it to yourself, your family and especially your children to see it. SUCH A GREAT MOVIE!!! One of our favorites … we watch it several times a year and each time come away with something new from it. GREAT REVIEW!!
Chris On Thursday, January 19 at 9:59 am
I love this movie. I have seen it many, many times!!!
My BIL actually works at the VLBA in NM were it was filmed!!! COOL…
Nancy T. On Thursday, January 19 at 10:06 am
"Contact" is one of my all-time favorite movies, because it helps me believe that there is potential for other worlds out there… that, in fact, we really are not alone. Carl Sagan believed that, and it comes through in this film. He was a wonderful, brilliant man. I used to put a big picture of him up in my office, with "Happy Birthday, Carl" written on it, on his birthday. It was frightening to see how many people did not know who he was. But others were fans, like me. So again… I was not alone! Yes, Carl… we miss you!
Cathy On Thursday, January 19 at 10:13 am
I'm okay to go.
brenda On Thursday, January 19 at 10:18 am
I've only seen parts of Contact but I live in NM where it was shot. Every time I drive to Albuquerque I drive by the turn off to the Very Large Array and think of this movie.
Marilyn On Thursday, January 19 at 10:19 am
I've always thought that it was conceited of us, the human race, to believe that we are the only life forms in the utter vastness of space. I often feel that my brain isn't big enough or that I'm smart enough to truly comprehend the size, the distances of space. I recall a quote that we are but a mote in God's eye, and it's certainly true.
I've passed up watching Contact several times, having watched it many times. But I think I'll watch it again.
You are a talented writer, Mark, and your reviews have given me new perspectives (and reminders!) about some great movies. Thanks.
Kate W On Thursday, January 19 at 10:27 am
Oh my, crying at my desk now. Such a profound and entertaining movie. Jodi Foster was brilliant, but then so was the script, especially dialogue. Adore it. And now have to rewatch it.
"No words. No words to describe it. Poetry! They should've sent a poet. So beautiful. So beautiful… I had no idea."
jennifer in b'ville On Thursday, January 19 at 12:07 pm
ugh!!! Now I'M crying! :oP
Carolyn On Thursday, January 19 at 10:34 am
You write the most beautiful posts and as always I was moved to tears. This movie is on my list of all time favorites, and thank you for the gorgeous and thought provoking quote from Carl Sagan.
Terri On Thursday, January 19 at 10:35 am
Again you have written a wonderful review, not only about a really good movie, but about a brilliant man.
I used to have the biggest crush on Carl Sagan…he was my hero when I was a girl. "We make our world significant by the courage of our questions and by the depth of our answers."
And how you can make me tear up just by reading your posting is beyond me.
Sherry Coleman On Thursday, January 19 at 10:37 am
I am SO not impressed with most movies produced these days, I am loving your reviews of some wonderful films I haven't thought of in a while–and I'll be checking them out again soon. Your reviews are beautifully written.
Mary Camu On Thursday, January 19 at 10:43 am
What a great article! I loved this movie when it came out and am so happy to be reminded of it again. I just love those quotes. Thank you!
Sarahkaylee On Thursday, January 19 at 10:53 am
GREAT review! I have always loved this movie. I can't tell you how many times I watched it. I think I wore out the VHS and had to eventually get a DVD.
PattiRabbit On Thursday, January 19 at 10:56 am
Hated it. But, to each his own.
Jen F On Monday, January 23 at 2:18 pm
Agree. I'm not a Carl Sagan fan and I thought this movie was awful but the review was well-written.
Lisa H On Thursday, January 19 at 10:57 am
Love the movie~! Loved this commentary! Glad to know that I'm not the only one that deeply analyzes movies!
Flo On Thursday, January 19 at 11:02 am
Wow, you write well. Thanks for the deeper insights into the movies you review.
talea On Thursday, January 19 at 11:04 am
I didn't hate it, but I saw it on TV a couple of times and it didn't gain a lot of traction.
But until now I didn't realize it was inspired by Carl Sagan. So I'll dig it up and try again.
I echo everyone else when I say your movie reviews are well written and — even more important — well thought out and analyzed, with lots of information about culture, history,background that give them a weight most reviews don't have.
Stephanie @ Hugs, Kisses and Snot On Thursday, January 19 at 11:40 am
I LOVED this movie. As soon as I saw it I ran out to get the book and devoured it! I found a strong message of faith in this book. Taking the leap of faith in something that you know to be real and meaningful but can't fully express it.
I loved Ellie's explanation of her experience. It so fits with my view of God. We are not alone and even better we are loved more than we can possibly imagine.
Thank you!
Patty Paulsen On Thursday, January 19 at 11:46 am
Here, here! Thanks again for a beautiful read.
Mark Spearman On Thursday, January 19 at 11:52 am
PS – "Contact" is streaming on Netflix…
jennifer in b'ville On Thursday, January 19 at 12:12 pm
Funny. I own it on VHS and haven't watched it in a while. I just went to Amazon and bought it on DVD.
Thanks for the wonderful, insightful article and for reminding us what a great movie this is!
p.s. On an almost embarrassing side note, I was going to correct you on your misuse of the word "gnarliest" based on a California surfer-slang point of reference. Then I was gently reminded that the word "gnarly" has been around a lot longer than California surfers. (:
Barbara On Thursday, January 19 at 11:52 am
Another beautiful article, Michael. So interesting. I loved that movie too, and once, had the opportunity, as a screenwriter, to have a meeting with Jim Hart, one of the final screenwriters on this movie. He was a fascinating, brilliant guy who shared that his breakthrough, in writing this script, was finding the point of view, namely Jodi's, through which to frame and focus the story. That might seem obvious in hindsight, but as you can imagine, creating a movie based on Carl Sagan's idea must have been daunting. Once he realized that she was the lens through which everything would be seen, it clicked together. Anyway, just thought I'd share that with you, since you're a fan of this amazing film.
Kate W On Friday, January 20 at 9:51 am
Makes perfect sense. Ultimately the type of journey Contact follows is a completely personal and individual one, so the POV would need that focus or it would just be an abstract exploration with no emotional impact and no authentic depth. And Jodi's/Ellie's POV is by far the most compelling.
reenierootie On Thursday, January 19 at 12:04 pm
Awesome post on an incredible movie, Mark, you always nail it.
dianeygirl On Thursday, January 19 at 12:27 pm
Wonderful commentary, truly an all time great movie, I have watched Contact countless times, and never get tired of it, it is so nice to read such words from someone who appreciates the movie so deeply.
Cat Cooks in WI On Thursday, January 19 at 12:52 pm
Carl would be proud. Nice post.
hennifer On Thursday, January 19 at 12:55 pm
There is a joke among my friends and I about my lack of love of most things science fiction. Popular culture gives me so many references to the Star franchises and I love The Big Bang Theory for the exploration of geeky awkwardness but it is like there is some switch that never got flipped for me and most sci-fi makes me roll my eyes and tune out.
All that to shortly say that I ended up enjoying Contact because of the very human elements you mention here. Thanks for a great article!
Carol Ann On Thursday, January 19 at 1:05 pm
My god, man. You can write.
Melinda On Thursday, January 19 at 1:08 pm
I love this movie. The book was wonderful, too. This is one of the best movies.
indiansummer On Thursday, January 19 at 1:12 pm
Mark, I've only recently discovered your posts, but they affect me as much as the movies you talk about. Beautiful writing.
I still remember the day I saw this movie in the theater. It remained with me for the rest of the day and ever since. I put it in our Netflix queue to rewatch – thanks for the tip! They're probably going to wonder why all the interest in Contact all of a sudden…
Bobby Sue Taylor On Thursday, January 19 at 1:28 pm
Grew up in the Carl Sagan era. What a sad loss when he died. He made science and space and "other life" exciting to think about and to study.
Dawn On Thursday, January 19 at 1:30 pm
I love this movie but for a different reason-if you take that congressional hearing and apply it to faith-it makes total sense. We don't see God but we know He is there. I love that part. I knew this movie had to do with her meeting someone from another galaxy but I took away from it was that God put her through all of it to see how much he loved her. There was no other way for her to believe until she had that experience. She couldn't explain it but she knew it was real.
Marcia Ann On Thursday, January 19 at 1:52 pm
Thank you for a wonderful review and the quotes. Both had me in tears remembering so fondly this beautiful work from a truly beautiful mind.
Jesslyn On Thursday, January 19 at 1:53 pm
Another great review of a beautiful film. Have always loved this movie for several reasons, one of which is that I would die to have the dress she wears to the fancy dinner!
Mary Lou Kemp On Thursday, January 19 at 1:56 pm
I can't believe your article brought me to tears. Well written about a wonderful film!
Kris On Thursday, January 19 at 2:02 pm
I love this movie. It stirs up this yearning in my soul that there is more out there. I'll stop whatever I'm doing and watch it whenever I come across it on tv. I love the moment when Ellie realizes she hears something. It's a very thought provoking movie. Love it!
JudyB On Thursday, January 19 at 2:45 pm
I had kind of forgotten this movie–thanks for the reminder. Worth looking up and watching again.
Christie McGetrick On Thursday, January 19 at 2:55 pm
Love this movie – Really enjoyed your article.
Ellen Wexler On Thursday, January 19 at 3:44 pm
This post has made me cry. Thank you for sharing. Contact is one of my favorite movies ever and one of the very few I can watch once or twice a year.
cathy On Thursday, January 19 at 3:58 pm
i thought this was one of the most boring movies i had ever seen.
Carrie On Thursday, January 19 at 4:42 pm
Ditto Cathy. It's at the top of my "worst movies ever made" list. It is extremely boring and disturbing all at the same time.
Vicky On Thursday, January 19 at 4:46 pm
I always loved this movie. Even liked Tom Skerritt, but his character was a wiener.
Cynthia On Thursday, January 19 at 4:58 pm
I love the movie Contact. It had perfect casting, I can not either anyone else playing those characters.
Thanks for the flash back!
CottageGirl On Thursday, January 19 at 5:18 pm
It's so nice to see another's perspective on a most interesting movies.
Long ago, I had a near death experience.
This movie parallels my experience is so many ways, I find myself in tears through much of the film, especially when she says, "I had an experience. I can't prove it, I can't even explain it, but everything that I know as a human being, everything that I am tells me that it was real. I was given something wonderful, something that changed me forever. A vision of the universe that tells us, undeniably, how tiny, and insignificant and how rare, and precious we all are. A vision that tells us that we belong to something that is greater then ourselves, that we are not, that none of us, are alone."
Tonight, you can bet, I'll be watching it on Netflix.
Thanks so much!!
Claire in CO On Thursday, January 19 at 5:21 pm
One of my very favorite movies EVER. I have tears in my eyes reading the excerpts of dialogue from the film. I know I will go home tonight, pop it into the DVD player, and enjoy it all over again. It was the first DVD I bought.
Thanks for this moving and informative review Mark, very well written, and as they say on Open Salon – Rated!
Barbara On Thursday, January 19 at 5:33 pm
Oops! Sorry Mark, I accidentally called you Michael earlier! My bad.
Mark Spearman On Thursday, January 19 at 10:00 pm
I have enormous respect for screenwriters, such a unique art form with its own rules of the road. And yes, I imagine adapting Sagan's novel to the screen was no easy task…
Louise in Wenatchee On Thursday, January 19 at 5:58 pm
This movie has been a fav for many year. Yes, I read the book before the movie was even thought of, I miss Carl Sagan and his series a lot. Too bad they don't have reruns of it because we could all still learn from them.
Long live geeks!
Denise On Monday, January 23 at 1:35 pm
Cosmos is available for streaming at Netflix and Hulu with a great intro by Sagan's widow, Anne Druyan (same as on the DVDs, I imagine). It brings back a lot of fond high school memories!
Jaime On Thursday, January 19 at 6:10 pm
What a great review and recap of this wonderful, underrated movie. This is one of my favorite movies of all time!
I work at NASA's Johnson Space Center and am inspired by the discoveries and advances made in space every day. From the International Space Station with her crew of 6 astronauts proudly circling above us every day, to the autonomous explorer missions searching our galaxy for the next "big thing" – amazing stuff going on! Keep dreaming people!
marie On Thursday, January 19 at 7:00 pm
Yes, yes, yes.
How I love the story, the questions and the answers.
SF forever!
Mary On Thursday, January 19 at 7:07 pm
I absolutely love this movie. It is one of my favorites and I was so excited to see it featured on one of my favorite websites. You've got my favorite monologue from the movie in your article.
Evelyn On Thursday, January 19 at 7:07 pm
Your writing would make Winnie the Pooh sound inspiring. You are a fantastic writer and I love your posts.
Susan On Monday, January 23 at 4:16 pm
Winnie the Pooh IS inspiring.
missy On Thursday, January 19 at 7:17 pm
Dear Mark,
Geekdom…yup, I am there. Love this movie….my husband and I fell in love sharing stargazing. We made a special trip to the array in New Mexico long before this movie because of our fascination with extraterrestrial life. When our children were born we held them carefully up to the night sky and whispered our family saying… "Behold,the only thing greater than thyself." (stolen,of course from 'Roots") So I must admit to watching this film over and over……thanks for such a great write-up!!
missy from the bayou
Michelle On Thursday, January 19 at 7:18 pm
I loved this movie. This review? Just…lovely.
Jin On Thursday, January 19 at 7:40 pm
This is one of my best friend's favorite movies. I watched it at his house and I nearly fell asleep. Granted it was a hot day and he had no AC.
Cali76 On Thursday, January 19 at 8:14 pm
One of my favorite movies. Thanks for the great review!
Cissy On Thursday, January 19 at 8:21 pm
That was so gorgeous that I wanted to post a comment. Thank you for the Carl Sagan quotes, for the tip to read Contact, and for the sudden urge to go watch that movie again. I love movies–and books, for that matter–that capture humanity so perfectly.
Maressa On Thursday, January 19 at 8:35 pm
Loved this movie! I was 15 when it came out and felt that it was an eye opener. I remember tearing up and thinking of the vastness and greatness of it all and falling in love with Jodie Foster, what a performance. Thanks for bringing it to the forefront, I will definitely be watching it again in the near future. Love the Entertainment category, thanks Mark and Ree!
Sandra Lynn On Thursday, January 19 at 8:35 pm
LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to the MAX this movie. I have it on VHS, (have not seen in a few years), but am going lickety split to the video store to order on DVD tomorrow. Thanks for the wonderful review and making me remember one of the best movies ever.
Vicki D On Thursday, January 19 at 8:55 pm
Never met you face to face, but you are a special glimmer on that "dot", Ree. You are Carl's message, because the "love" he mentions pours from you. It's always a joy to read, see, hear you. Thanks for all you give us.
Melanie On Friday, January 20 at 6:33 am
Hi, Vicki. Just wanted to point out that Ree didn't write this post.
Vicki D On Saturday, January 21 at 5:07 pm
Oops! Kudos to Mark, but my remark and appreciation still holds for Ree.
Tracey On Thursday, January 19 at 9:08 pm
This is one of my favorite movies. I actually own it on VHS! My daughter and I just watched it recently. Its one of those movies that even though you know how it ends and whats going to happen, you still watch it as if it was new.
Plano Mom On Thursday, January 19 at 10:00 pm
A wonderful tribute to my favorites.
Vincent On Friday, January 20 at 1:52 am
But wait? doesnt the hours of static count as some sort of evidence? its not totally on faith.
Leslie On Friday, January 20 at 9:21 am
Nice post- you capture everything so well, I had to see it a couple of times to catch all of it- I only knew Carl from "the Cosmos" series. So many things portrayed in the movie, particularly the politics of science, are very close to the truth. If it hadn't been for the deep pockets of a private investor like Hurt's character, Hadden, Ellie would never have taken her fantastic ride. Today, SETI is unfunded, and has to literally turn the radio telescopes off when money runs out. The latest I knew from it's current location in CA, private donors keep it going at a diminshed power. Agreed, never trying to find an answer guarantees ignorance.
Meghan R On Friday, January 20 at 9:41 am
Beautiful post, once again, Mark! Can't wait to see which movie you choose next!
LeBe On Friday, January 20 at 9:51 am
Love, love , love this movie….. and your review. I'm putting Contact and Witness on my "to buy" list. Both movies stop me in my tracks whenever they air on TV……Thanks for the reminder.
Danielle On Friday, January 20 at 1:50 pm
2 hours of buildup to meet the alien and it looks like her dad?! That was a huge disappointment to me.
Lizzie On Friday, January 20 at 2:00 pm
Mark, excellent review. I love all the quotes you chose.
Tamiko On Friday, January 20 at 2:01 pm
This is one of my all time favorite movies…I watched the series Cosmos religiously; I read the book when it came out; I absolutely loved anything and everything related to space and I couldn't wait for this movie to come out. In all honesty, I think the opening scene is probably the best ever made.
Shelby O. On Friday, January 20 at 3:22 pm
LOVE this movie! One of my Dad and I's favs!
Linda @ bushel and a pickle On Friday, January 20 at 4:57 pm
I have not seen this movie in years but sure did enjoy it. I saw Jodie Foster in a promotional interview and she was asked about Mc Conahay a question you don't hear often much less an answer even though everyone wants to know. Yes, ladies, Jodie thought he was good kisser.
Scarlett On Friday, January 20 at 5:41 pm
Great Movie! Spot on review!!!!!
Sandra S Fulcher On Friday, January 20 at 7:43 pm
Carl Sagan was a man years and years ahead of his time. I miss him. I am comforted by the fact that he knows all there is to know about the universe now.
Contact is one of my favorite movies–and I love how you have shared how the movie has affected you.
StacyAC On Friday, January 20 at 9:26 pm
I loved this post. People often look confused and then tease me, when I tell them I have a favorite astrophysicist. I ask, doesn't everyone?
Mine's Neil Degrasse Tyson, by the way. I also "collect" meeting astronauts (I have met five). And I write gushy fan emails to authors and my favorite blog writers, and get squealy when they sometimes write me back.
Embrace the geekiness, it's so much more interesting than cool.
Paula B. On Saturday, January 21 at 9:07 am
Once again, a beautifuuly written post. It is a pleasure to read what you deliver to us!
Dawn On Saturday, January 21 at 11:15 am
Gonna find and watch today
More Than Stitches On Saturday, January 21 at 3:54 pm
This looks good, will try to find it.:)
Carrie On Saturday, January 21 at 5:26 pm
I love your reviews Mark! This one knocked my socks off.
Emily U On Saturday, January 21 at 8:09 pm
Excellent post! I first saw this movie w/ college friends. Her boyfriend (now husband) is a religious scientist and I'm so glad I saw it w/ them.
alicia h. On Monday, January 23 at 8:52 am
Fabulous post! One of your best to date!
laura On Monday, January 23 at 9:05 am
Kim On Monday, January 23 at 9:43 am
Mark, a wonderful review. I saw Contact many years ago. Time to rent the DVD and see it again.


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The grandstands were full Sunday night for the final event of this year's Hamilton County Fair -- trailer races. Caleb Oswald was one of many local entries, shown here in his 1/2 2 P entry. The... + continue reading
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The deadline for getting letters and packages to the Aurora Post Office in time for that day's outgoing mail will be moved up by more than an hour to 1:54 p.m. effective Aug. 15.To read more, see this week's print or e-editions. + continue reading
The Hamilton County Fair is about to be in full swing with a variety of new and different events this year along with the old favorites.To read more, see this week's print or e-editions. + continue reading
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The Aurora Post 42 Seniors Legion team came up on the wrong end of a 6-2 B-4 district final against Beatrice. Aurora needed to win both games to win, but lost the first game6-2. The loss ends the season for Aurora, finishing with a 21-11 record. + continue reading
Straight line winds of more than 50 miles per hour blew through parts of Hamilton County Friday night snapping huge tree branches and flattening some area crops, though officials reported minimal damage overall.To read more, see this week's print or e-editions. + continue reading
When facing rows of corn that look as if they run for miles on end, many people would run when asked to walk through the field all the way to the other end, but young detasselersx see the value and of course the dollar signs that come along with a task like that.For the past two weeks, that is exactly what teens in the area have been doing. Many... + continue reading
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An aerial attack was on display Saturday morning during the 7-on-7 Husky Classic.Husky Stadium was split into two 40-yard fields and they used the two practice fields to the east for the other two... + continue reading
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This year's Hamilton County Fair unofficially kicked off Sunday night with a horse show north of Giltner, showcasing a small but enthusiastic group of 4-H horse lovers.Though the start was delayed an... + continue reading
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At least 12.5% of Western Massachusetts residents are living below the poverty line, and that number is growing.
The documentary A Place at the Table was theatrically released last Friday, March 1. The film tackles the issues of hunger and food insecurity in America while telling the story of individuals struggling to make ends meet.
Over the weekend, the reviews came in. Here's what the critics are saying:
"The filmmakers vividly illustrate the power and depth of the long-spiraling problem of 'food insecurity' by immersing us in the hardscrabble lives of a cross section of our nation's poor." – Gary Goldstein, L.A. Times
"It's a beautifully shot and reasonably balanced film, but one that struggles to find a hopeful note to end on." – Roger Moore, Chicago Tribune
"After all, the numbers are scary. As rich as we are as a nation—still—many of our citizens are, at best, malnourished. One in six says they regularly don't have enough to eat." – Stephen Whitty, NJ Star-Ledger
"A Place at the Table presents a shameful truth that should leave viewers dismayed and angry: This nation has more than enough food for all its people, yet millions of them are hungry." – Walter Addiego, SF Chronicle
"The film shows the challenge can be met only with involvement. It's impossible not to care when you see the face of hunger close up. This terrific call to action gives us the look we need." – Joe Neumaier, NY Daily News
If you are interested in viewing the film, The Food Bank of Western Mass. invites you to a special screening at Amherst Cinema on March 7th at 7pm. Following the film there will be a panel discussion featuring Food Bank Executive Director Andrew Morehouse, Rep. Jim McGovern (D-MA, featured in the film) and UMass Professor Julie Caswell. For ticketing information please visit www.amherstcinema.org.
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Fun with all the Bling
Just what I wanted
The quality of the chain is A+! All my friends want one so I referred to to this site.
took me a while to find the perfect ones so this is perfect!
Pretty eyeglass chain; very sparkly and bright. I don't think it will snag my shirts; at least I hope it doesn't.


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The Bruins' 2015 schedule features match-ups with Akron, Georgetown and Maryland.
Former UCLA players continue to make big impacts around Major League Soccer in 2015.
College Soccer News named Carlin-Voigt one of the nation's 15 best assistants.
Numerous former UCLA players have made big impacts for their professional clubs early in 2015.
The UCLA Soccer 2015 Class will be updated live as the National Letters of Intent are received.


text: Our Mission For TasteWhen Ron Joyce joined his father's chicken business, almost everyone in America was producing the standard white chicken and only that. And people had gotten the idea that chicken is chicken is chicken. So Ron started looking for ways to produce a tastier chicken than anyone else. A chicken that would please the top-tier chef.


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I'd imagine a similar system will occur for the WiiU, but we shall see. I sincerely doubt they'll tie all games to each system, rather, a 'cloud' system like Valve, where everything is tied to a name, instead. Nintendo seem to be addressing people's complaints, such as poor online, lack of 3rd party support, lack of HD graphics etc., but perhaps too late. It all comes down to how Nintendo want to go next gen.
VGChartz' not-so-undercover Writer, At Your Service
Here lies the dearly departed Nintendomination Thread.


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This is my new place on the Web.
I've been getting increasingly miffed with the continual spam attacks on my old site (which ran on a combination of WordPress and MediaWiki) so hacked together a new CMS to run the site on. I took advantage of the rework time to come up with this new design too...
I used to run several sites, different ones for each of my various interests, but have now combined them all here. If you are looking for my various Python notes, photography or music, it is all here!
This site is pretty much guaranteed to be always Under Construction so don't be too surprised if random stuff breaks.
I've had a couple of negative comments about the legibility of the navigation text (dark colours on dark backgrounds aren't particularly good for accessibility!), particularly on Windows browsers. I'll try some updates over the next few days and see if that improves things.


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MD5000 Dual Masters Essentials
Those who enter the dual masters MBA/MA in Ministry will have a wide variety of academic, work, and life experiences. As the first course for all entering students, MD5000 Dual Masters Essentials begins the process of capitalizing on these differences and assures the skills and tools necessary to succeed in the remainder of the program. The orientation course is a rigorous overview of Biblical studies and theology as well as accounting, economics, finance, marketing, and operations, while building the student's self-awareness and skills in use of information technology, written and verbal communications, group and leadership styles, and problem solving. (This course is the prerequisite for the remaining courses in the MBA/MA in Ministry program.)