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My teaching approach is getting flipped upside down…repeatedly.
It all started with my on-line introduction to Yeap Ban Har's discussion on number bonds. Here is the link for anyone interested: Number Bonds . This was the first time my mathematical mind was blown. Throughout my years teaching elementary school, I had stumbled across multiple approaches in computation, but never had the pitfalls of memorizing procedures and algorithms without context been succinctly explained. This is literally a 2 minute 50 second video!
This one youtube video launched my researching life. Don't get me wrong, I had always tried to search for great lessons, etc., but this was the first time I felt like I was (for lack of better explanation) doing everything wrong in my teaching.
The timing for this epiphany was not super as I was pregnant with my second child and about to take the majority of the school year off to take care of my baby. In between changing diapers, cleaning spit up, and a very snowy winter trapped in the house, any spare moment was spent investigating better ways to teach math. Fast forward through 10 months massive sleep deprivation, the trials and tribulations (and wonder) of having two children instead of one, and intermittent mathematical research, I was back in my classroom wondering what to change first.
I have written a post about my first foray into 3-act math, as the great Dan Meyer was also a new discovery to me during my maternity leave/initial research period. Not only did I "meet" Dan Meyer, I also was "virtually" introduced to Andrew Stadel, Robert Kaplinksy, Jo Boaler, and of course, the DESMOS and MTBOS communities. Although I have never actually met any of these mathematicians in person, this growing group of educators provides me with daily inspiration.
Throughout this year, many 3 act lessons have made their way into my classroom. One that I recently completed, Robert Kaplinsky's Zoolander had me questioning if what I was doing was working. Were these lessons as amazing I thought? Did they provide students with a context that made the experience and math meaningful? Were students making connections in their brains? Was I providing enough structure? In short: effective or not?
Whenever I try something new, it is normal for me to question myself. Acknowledging this fact, I can see that this has been a wonderful transformation for my teaching and math learning for my students. These lessons have had a major impact and I know this from events in the last few weeks. Several weeks after the Starburst lesson by Dan Meyer and the Zoolander lesson by Robert Kaplinsky, my students were referencing them in math conversations in the hallway and classroom. You read that right, the hallway!!! Apparently there was a question on the standardized test about scale models and the students were discussing how easy it was compared to the work they had to do in the Zoolander lesson. Another student commented that the Zoolander lesson helped them really understand the concept better than any book and that was why the question was so easy. I rest my case.
The Starburst lesson initiated a debate about sample space. A passionate debate! When does this happen from a textbook example? I have no reference for that. In short, these lessons make a difference.
At the same time I have felt success achieved in my teaching and by my students, it has also been an immense struggle for me professionally. This is especially poignant with my lower performing students. How do I convince them to believe in themselves and see the beauty in mathematics? If they don't know the basics, can they still participate in these lessons with confidence? How often will they give the line of, "I don't understand" in lieu of a rigorous debate with their peers and investigative excitement?
In all honesty, I have experienced both ends of the participation specturm from lower achieving students. Although I had read numerous and convincing articles by Jo Boaler, I only just obtained a copy of her wondrous book Mathematical Mindsets. As I am reading it, I am shouting, "YES! Oh my goodness, I agree! And then in the next minute I am asking, "How can I do this every day? When does procedural math come in to play, does it?" What does this look like lesson by lesson, day by day? Does it transform the students the way she says it does? I am so IN and can't get enough, period.
As I was researching youcubed, I noticed an opportunity for the summer to attend a workshop with Jo Boaler in California. At this time, I cannot afford to fly to California, pay for the workshop and a hotel room, not to mention the childcare issue, but oh to dream. I am going to take Boaler's courses through youcubed and finish her book soon. Every free moment I have is spent reading, taking notes, and rereading it. It is my current math bible.
I do not have a neat and tidy way to wrap up this blog post. Once again, I am asking the mathematical world for a conversation about balancing the math classroom. Have you read Jo Boaler's books? Have you tried 3-act math? What were your successes? What were your failures? How can we work together to keep the math conversation evolving and growing? Anyone else in? Leave a comment, tweet me at @drpolakmath, or send me an e-mail at email@example.com. The larger our community, the greater our collective success in helping all students achieve in mathematics. Who is with me?


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Ten of the starting twenty-two players in tonight's France-Portugal semifinal in Munich were sitting on a yellow card prior to the match. With Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda in the middle, I was wondering how many of them would be facing suspension by the time the match was over. Judging by Larrionda's previous performances as well as that of the teams, it seemed likely that several starters might be forced to become spectators for their next match – the championship or third-place game depending on the outcome.
So let's jump into the action and see how Larrionda and the teams fared. But before doing so, I'd like to give a special shout-out to ESPN announcer Marcelo Balboa and all of the American conspiracy theorists who think that this ref had it in for the U.S. in their 1-all draw with Italy. Clearly, FIFA disagreed with that biased assessment, not only by assigning Larrionda to a couple of matches in the knockout rounds (including one of only two semifinals), but they also suspended Pablo Mastroeni for three weeks as a result of how recklessly dangerous his red card offense was against Italian playmaker Andrea Pirlo.
But enough of that, how'd Larrionda do in THIS match.
In only the first minute of action, Malouda was through to goal, but a defender caught up with him and forced the Frenchman's effort to go wide. And for the next several minutes, it was all France. Portugal would then take things back the other way and Deco would force Barthez to make a tough save.
A few minutes later I noted how surprising it was that there hadn't been any fouls and that the teams clearly came to play. Moments later, in the 7th minute, France would win a corner. That amounted to nothing and then in the following minute Ribery was tracking a ball down but ended up on the deck after a bit of contact. No foul was called and rightly so as the ball went out for a goal kick.
Maniche cracked one just over the bar in the 9th minute after Ronaldo no-looked it back to him about thirty yards from goal. In the following minute, the first foul of the match would be called – it wasn't all that much really – when Henry went down near midfield. I'm thinking that this probably set a record at this tournament for the longest stretch to start a game without a whistle for a foul.
Shortly thereafter Portugal had a call comin' back out of defense. There was a lot of midfield play for a while and then France had an excellent opportunity, but Henry couldn't latch onto a cross sent along the ground across the face of goal. But they were able to win a corner. However, a push in the back ended that threat though.
In the 16th, Figo took a crack at goal from twenty-five and then connected with Patrick Vieira on the follow-through. The Portuguese midfielder stayed on the turf and was eventually stretchered off, but it wasn't a foul and Figo was back on a minute or two later.
More midfield action and then Abidal was called for going over the back in the 21st. It wasn't the most high intensity match at this point, more like long-distance runners setting a slow pace. And then in the 26th, Deco won a call I thought he really didn't deserve…and neither did Claude Makelele. Sure I was rooting for Zidane and Les Bleus, but I try to be objective in my analysis of the action. Just like when I'm refereeing a match.
A minute later, Zidane wanted a call as he was in the attacking third of the pitch, but I thought Larrionda made the right decision not to blow his whistle. However, Vieira definitely was guilty going back the other way even though he suggested that it was perhaps a dive by his opponent.
In the 28th, Henry did well to beat Miguel with a couple of fakes and shimmies, but he was unable to pick out one of his teammates in the middle. Going back the other way Cristiano Ronaldo won a call he really didn't seem to deserve, but the AR called that one and Larrionda went with his decision.
And now we come to the game's point of controversy. Did Carvalho trip Henry or not in the penalty box? Larrionda was emphatic in pointing to the spot upon blowing his whistle. And I have to say that after seeing the replay it was clear that the Portuguese defender did catch Henry's ankle. And while it might not necessarily have seemed like much to the average viewer at home, it was very likely enough to stop his progress and knock him off balance. And while I don't doubt that Henry may have "helped" the referee to make this decision, I believe that the penalty was the correct call.
And who stepped up to the mark to do what only one of four Englishmen was able to do against Ricardo in the shootout at the end of their quarterfinal match a few days ago? Zinedine Zidane. And just like he did so well against the English, Ricardo guessed the right way, to his right. But Zidane was perfect, cracking it into the side netting to give France the opening lead in the 33rd minute.
Barthez snagged a cross in the 35th and then a minute later stopped a thirty-five yard shot. On the next play a Portuguese player was down in the box on a cross. Was it a dive? Was it a shove? Or was the player just going for the ball? Well on replay it appeared that it was nothing more than Ronaldo diving to reach the ball with his head. It was a lame attempt really and maybe that's why a couple of his teammates raised their hands in protest, but in the end, Larrionda got it right…no foul, no simulation…just a missed opportunity.
On the next play Ronaldo did well to win a corner. On the kick, there didn't seem to be any infraction by the Portuguese strikers, but Larrionda called a foul for some contact on Barthez. It made no difference really as he had won the ball anyway.
France on the attack now and Ribery wriggled between a couple of defenders near the touchline. As he broke free, one of them seemed to stick a leg out as the Frenchman ran by. No call from the AR and nothin' from Larrionda, but a few seconds later he'd award the French a kick at midfield.
Zidane was "fantastiche" (this according to our German kommentator) in the 42nd, but Figo put a stop to his former Real Madrid teammate's progress and got whistled for it as well. Another call went France's way, but then it was Henry with a little touch foul in the Portuguese defense to end the attack.
Ribery was fouled by Nuno Valente with an arm to the back of his head on an aerial ball, but a minute later the rising young French superstar was done an injustice when he got knocked in the back.
In stoppage time Portugal mounted an attack of their own and took a shot that hammered Vieira, just a few yards from the shooter. The Portuguese wanted a call for handling the ball, but no referee would ever give that as it was without question NOT deliberate and Vieira's arm was not extended away from his body.
As the halftime whistle blew, I noted that despite the lack of any cards, a number of Larrionda's decisions did surprise me a little. However, the most important call of the match was one that I believe he got right. No doubt, some will disagree, including a few of the guys who I watched the game with; but the onus was on Carvalho not to make illegal contact with the attacking Henry. And on that point, Carvalho was guilty.
In the 47th minute Figo was rightly called for a foul as he tried to go over Thuram while he was on the ground. You have to go around a player to get to the ball, not over him; and the Portuguese attack would end.
Going back the other way Henry almost beat Ricardo from a tight angle, but the keeper did well to get an arm to the ball just as it was about to slip underneath him and into the goal. Instead, it spun out of play for a French corner. From that, the ball would eventually find its way to Ribery who wheeled and dealed and ripped a shot from twenty-two yards, forcing a tough save by Ricardo once again.
The following minute Henry begged for a call he didn't deserve, but then the French would win the ball back when Figo was called for the high boot. A few minutes later it was Pauleta's turn to beat Thuram, turning on him quickly and sending a shot into the side-netting left of the goal.
Ronaldo won a corner a minute later. Nothing. Back the other way Henry won a corner after finding some space down the left touchline on a counter-attack. Nothing for France.
Portugal then won a foul, er actually a throw-in, which confused and annoyed Figo who had some words with the referee. Thuram was then fouled on a French counter, but then the Portuguese turned things around and Miguel beat a couple of defenders before dishing the ball off. As he did so he went to ground and thus, was unable to receive the return pass.
The Portuguese players remonstrated extensively that Miguel had been knocked to the turf, but the replay clearly showed that Larrionda got this one right as the attack-minded defender landed oddly after passing the ball and injured himself on the play. Three minutes later he would leave the game for good, unable to continue.
And before the Chelsea defender Paulo Ferreira entered the match in the 63rd minute to replace his fallen compatriot, Abidal was down for the count for France after taking a stinging cross to the face. It seemed legit as I doubted that he was trying to work some time off the clock.
In the 64th, Barthez snagged a cross and a minute later the ref played the advantage when Figo went down to the turf. The play would end, however, when Pauleta was flagged for being barely offside.
On the next play of the match, Larrionda emphatically said "NO" to Pauleta who clearly wanted a call to go his way. Two minutes later, the Portuguese striker made his exit to make way for Simao Sabrosa. Immediately, he seemed to be obstructed on an attack, but the referee whistled him for a hold; a tough decision I thought.
Then Wiltord came in for Malouda to bring on some fresh legs for the French midfield. Barthez would then collect a cross, however, Portugal, now a little desperate, would soon win a corner.
Still on the attacking end a minute later in the 72nd, Portugal was called for offside, but I think the AR might've been a little hasty on his decision as the 'guilty' player appeared to have been the one who ran back towards his own goal, thus allowing one of his onside teammates to play the ball that came over the top. But who really knows?
Govou would then come in for Ribery like he did against Brazil. And then two minutes later Portugal was offside once again.
Postiga came in for Costinha in the 75th minute, clearly an offensive move as a striker replaced a defender. On the very next play two Portuguese players went down in the box almost on cue it seemed as the ball passed their way. But Larrionda saw nothing untoward and he was probably right as neither player protested the decision.
But a minute later, in the 77th, Ronaldo did well to trick the referee into giving him a call when he went down without virtually any contact about twenty-five or so yards from goal. The shot was directly at Barthez, but it must've been a knuckler because he misplayed it, allowing it to bounce off his body and directly back to a couple of hard-charging Portuguese attackers. But the best that one of them was able to do was to head it over the bar.
In the 78th, Zidane was clipped in the ankle. A couple minutes later Ronaldo went down to ground far too easily in the penalty area and Sagnol rightly yelled at him for trying to unfairly win a call from the referee.
Moments later Thuram DID hold Ronaldo, but the ensuing free kick was easily cleared. Going back the other way, Carvalho was way late AND came in from behind on Henry. The only thing that saved him from being tossed out was that his studs were not showing. And this, folks, was the very first caution of the game – in the 82nd minute.. But it would cost Portugal as it meant that Carvalho would only be a spectator in his team's next match.
Figo then won a corner that was poorly kicked. Three minutes later, in the 87th, Manchester United striker Louis Saha, who only played a total of about ten or fifteen minutes combined in France's matches with Brazil and Portugal, received his second booking overall (his first of the night) as he came in a little recklessly from behind. He might have gotten the ball, but he got the man too. As a result, he too would be unable to participate in France's next match. Maybe David Trezeguet will get some playing time as a result.
France would then win a foul in their defensive third after some nice work by Zizou. Figo would not get the call he wanted in the 89th. And then Zidane was fouled by Nuno Valente as we learned that there would be four minutes of stoppage time.
It was all Portugal in these desperate final moments. They'd win a foul in their own defense and then Meira had a good opportunity from twenty, but the shot was blasted well over the target.
In the next minute a cross was misplayed by Barthez and Portugal would win a corner. Ricardo came up from his goal to join the attack now.
France would knock the ball away, but the Portuguese keeper kept it alive by kicking it back up over his head with his back to the French goal, sending it into the mixer. Figo was able to latch onto it on the left eventually, crossing to the far post, but Barthez ultimately got his hands on it, and as he so often does, made a poor decision.
He played the ball only about twenty yards to a teammate in the middle of traffic. Not much time was left now, but Portugal stole it back and played it through with one last desperate attempt to score…but it was stopped by a flag from the AR. The attacker had clearly mistimed his run. And now, it surely was all over. It would be an all blue final pitting Les Bleus from France vs. Italian Azurri. The French have been dominant in their white tops at the tournament, so watch out if it's Italy and not France who comes out wearing their blue unis.
Zizou congratulated Larrionda and then traded jerseys with his former teammate and friend, Luis Figo. This is the end of Portugal's "Golden Generation". Cristiano Ronaldo will obviously be the heart of his country's future football glory. Thierry Henry was seen hugging and having a few words with the talented young midfielder. Perhaps he was telling him not to pay attention to the hate-filled garbage in the English media. Hopefully when he steps back on the pitch again at Old Trafford with his teammate Wayne Rooney, life will go on and the English fans can stop blaming him for their country's failings in Germany.
And in the end, I can't help but wonder if maybe some of FIFA's new mandates have finally begun to sink in with the players as most of the quarterfinals and certainly the two semifinals were carried out in a manner befitting of the motto "My game is Fair Play". Certainly, tonight exemplified that to the maximum extent possible for a match of such gravity. But then again, maybe the players were holding back just a little, perhaps fearful that they'd miss a chance at the final if they were to receive another yellow card. If so, don't expect the players to worry about such things on Sunday.
And lastly, to all my new friends at WorldCupBlog.org HQ here in Berlin – Sean, Chris, Bob, Nick, Mika, Peter, and Mihai – thanks for a great week. I didn't have any idea what to expect before I got here, but you've all made me feel quite at home. Hopefully, when the World Cup concludes later this week, it will only be beginning of greater things to come.
Until next time…

subset: commoncrawl


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Tonga 13 is a gorgeous sandal that gives the perfect mix of comfort and style. The all-leather construction makes it a great at wicking-away moisture from your feet. The three adjustable hook-and-loop straps make this a great slip-on style. The beautiful outsole made from a mixture of cork and polyurethane absorbs shock and and gives support that moulds to your feet over time. A protective TPR outsole is added for further grip.
- Heel height: 3 cm
- Platform height: 1 cm


text: On 12/12/10 4:27 PM, Dan Brickley wrote: > On Sun, Dec 12, 2010 at 10:18 PM, Kingsley Idehen > <kidehen at openlinksw.com> wrote: >> On 12/12/10 11:44 AM, peter williams wrote: >> Im not sure why you think a webid with IP address is a world "without DNS". >> Each IP address is just a reverse-DNS name. >> >> Because it is. >> >> I can have<http://kingsley.idehen.net/dataspace/person/kidehen#this> or IP >> Address + "#this" with similar effect re. access to my structured profile en >> route to locating a public key post successful TLS/SSL handshake. DNS is >> just an option. No rule exists for the shape and form of my WebID bar >> resolution to a structured profile that's associated with public key. > I understood Peter to be saying something along lines of "you can > take dns names out of Web addresses, but that doesn't take the dns out > of the Web addressing ecosystem that the name lives in". Yes. > More specifically, I get ec2-75-101-141-105.compute-1.amazonaws.com. > by plugging 18.104.22.168 into the nslookup utility, presumably > allowing me to exploit other metadata attached to that name. Although > you can write RDF statements using dns-less URIs, they're still quite > intimately linked to that system in other ways. > > But yup, I take your point. Yes, in a nutshell. Kingsley > cheers, > > Dan > >> Links: >> >> 1. http://18.104.22.168/dataspace/person/kidehen#this >> 2. http://kingsley.idehen.net/dataspace/person/kidehen#this . -- Regards, Kingsley Idehen President& CEO OpenLink Software Web: http://www.openlinksw.com Weblog: http://www.openlinksw.com/blog/~kidehen Twitter/Identi.ca: kidehen


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|Photo Credit: David Yu
Mission Versus Business
Here's a fundamental challenge in our business: the greater the alignment between our lending and our mission, the greater the strain on our loan portfolio performance. Phrased another way, the highest impact loans--those to ex-offenders, domestic violence survivors, and the temporarily homeless-- are also the riskiest. This is through no fault of their own; rather, it's simply a result of the tremendous strain that personal and financial instability places on a person.
As a nonprofit, it is incumbent on us that we adhere to our mission, which is to use financial services to create pathways out of poverty. Yet as a business, especially as one that debt finances its lending operations, we must also ensure that we are fiscally sound. To address this tension, we've taken several approaches. First and foremost, the interest rates we charge are designed to compensate for higher losses. In fact, whenever someone questions why we charge 30% on Emergency Loans, our answer is simple: losses are around 15% and servicing costs are very high. That said, we don't really care who pays the interest; funders are welcome to subsidize the loans so that the borrower pays a lower rate!
A Balancing Act
Second, we try to balance our portfolio by making larger, lower-risk loans, such as our DoubleGreen Loans (which go up to $10,000), the profits from which offset high-impact loans that are also riskier. Still, it's a tight rope act. We've found that those with no bank account and poor credit, for instance, consistently fall behind on their payments.* It of course doesn't do any good to make a bad loan--either for us or for the borrower--but the end result is that a lot of applications are denied.
All this is to say that we have been searching for a better tactic and that we have may have hit on one! A little background: several months ago our friends at the Catholic Diocese told us that we just had to talk to Father Ruggieri of St. Patrick's Church in Providence. Father Ruggieri spoke to us of the large number of parishioners who were approaching him for financial assistance for everything from catching up on rent or utilities, funeral expenses, and vehicle repairs. He quickly realized that, though he had some funds set aside to help his congregations, the demand far exceeded the supply...
A Promising Pilot
Father Ruggieri was therefore very interested in partnering with us to make loans to families in need. Together, we have launched a pilot wherein St. Patrick's has put up $5,000 as loan loss reserve funds. Each congregant interested in a loan must first meet with the Father or one of his assistants to discuss their need. After this vetting process, applicants are sent to us for final underwriting. Most germane to this post, because we are depending on the Father's guidance and able to leverage the loan loss reserve, we will be able to base our decisions purely on ability-to-pay and meeting our basic prerequisites.
We are thrilled by this partnership because it means that we can make loans to the truly vulnerable and poor without unduly burdening our loan portfolio. We are confident that these loans will perform well, but even if they don't, the loan reserve will offset losses. And if the pilot goes well, it is our goal to duplicate this model in places of worship throughout Rhode Island and, eventually, the country.
Lastly, it seems like we are on to something, as evidenced by a recent Washington Post article titled Churches step in with alternative to high-interest, small-dollar lending industry. The article talks about similar programs, such as ones where the church offers "...funds as collateral so that [applicants can] qualify for a loan through..." partner credit unions. It is a similar concept to ours, and shows that we aren't the only ones seeking to put predatory lenders out of business and to replace them with more equitable options.
We'll be sure to keep you updated as our pilot progresses. We're certainly off to a great start: we had over 60 attendees at our first presentation at St. Patrick's last Sunday!
* In contrast, those with a bank account that haven't had an overdraft in the past two months perform well, irrespective of credit score.


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PHILADELPHIA (AP) Syracuse has made a habit of losing the last game of the regular season. The Orange have lost seven straight and figure it's about time to end the dubious streak.
``I've never won my last regular-season game,'' senior wide receiver Alec Lemon said as the Orange prepared to face Temple on Friday morning. ``That's something I want to do - go out with a win. We've got to win every down, go out there and be physical, and make every play when the ball's thrown to you.''
Syracuse (6-5, 4-2 Big East) was sitting at 7-3 entering the final two games of 2010, eligible to play in the postseason for the first time since 2004. Instead of finishing with a flourish, the Orange floundered, losing to Connecticut and Boston College at home before rebounding to defeat Kansas State in the Pinstripe Bowl.
Last year, the Orange stood at 5-2 at midseason and lost their last five games.
``I kind of don't want it to creep into our minds,'' offensive tackle Justin Pugh said. ``That's kind of what happened with that Pinstripe Bowl team. We kind of felt complacent after that. We had two games and we lost those two games. We could have really had a good year that year and we kind of let off the pedal.
``Last year, losing those last five games, we don't ever want to end a season (that way). Our goal is to go out and win this next game and win three in a row.''
Syracuse has rallied with four wins in five games to qualify for the postseason for the second time in three years and has something more to shoot for. While the Big East's BCS bid will go to Rutgers or Louisville, Syracuse and Cincinnati (3-2 Big East) can still clinch a share of the conference championship if a number of games go their way in the final two weeks.
``We were fortunate enough to achieve our goal this season, but our regular season isn't over yet,'' said Syracuse quarterback Ryan Nassib, who grew up in West Chester, Pa. and will have a large entourage at the game. ``We've still got a game ahead of us that we want to win. We want to finish the season off right, finish the regular season with a winning record.''
Temple (4-6, 2-4) has a lot riding on the game, too. The Owls, in their first season back in the Big East since 2004, are trying to schedule a 12th game in Hawaii, and a win over Syracuse is paramount. If the Owls do get that extra game and beat both the Orange and Hawaii, they'll have the six wins needed to play in a bowl game.
``We're down the home stretch right now,'' Temple head coach Steve Addazio said. ``We have to play Syracuse. I told our team we're playing for a bowl game,''
Syracuse is coming off an impressive comeback victory Saturday night at Missouri. Nassib hit Lemon for the winning touchdown in a 31-27 win with 20 seconds left on the clock, but the Orange left the field in tough shape and with a short turnaround.
Head coach Doug Marrone said half his 22 starters were banged-up, and there's no rest in sight. Temple beat Army 63-32 last week at West Point to snap a four-game slide - all in the Big East - as the Owls scored nine more points than in the four losses combined.
Montel Harris rushed for a Big East-record 351 yards and seven touchdowns against the Black Knights and gave quarterback Clinton Granger some breathing room in his first college start. Granger threw only four passes.
The Orange expect a difficult game.
``Everybody is a little sore, banged-up. You fight through it,'' Syracuse defensive tackle Jay Bromley said. ``Especially with what they did last week at Army, you can't look at this team as a pushover. You really have to go out there and play this game because they're going to give you everything they've got.
``We know that Temple is not what their record says they are. When we were 1-3, we knew we were better than our record. With Temple, they're way better than their record shows they are.''
And with Temple, you know what you're going to get.
``We know they're going to run, run, run, and when they get tired run some more,'' said Bromley, who had six tackles and two sacks against Missouri. ``They're a hard-nosed football team. We know we have to work hard to beat this team.''


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Advantages Of Hiring A Licensed Electrician In Round Rock TX
Homeowners that have electrical needs are faced with a choice of hiring a licensed electrician or a handyman with electrical skills. In order to save money some will choose the handyman instead of the licensed Electrician In Round Rock TX. There are many advantages to hiring an electrician that is licensed, knowing these advantages can help many in doubt make a more informed decision.
Hiring an electrician that has been licensed by their local state to do electrical work in residential areas will have taken the time to learn all of the codes of the state. In order to pass a state inspection all electrical work has to meet state code. Many handyman do not have this knowledge. This can mean your renovation or electrical work will not pass the state inspection. Now you will have to go back and make sure the work meets the code and usually you hire a licensed electrician anyway.
A license is earned by the electrician. This means that person has successfully met the criteria for their knowledge. They not only know the codes, but also how to safely wire residential units. A handyman has not gone through this training and instead may have some knowledge, but there can be many things they will not know. Faulty wiring can lead to damage and further repair as well as a possible fire.
A licensed Electrician In Round Rock TX will also carry insurance to protect themselves and the homeowner in case of accidental damage. Few if any handymen carry such insurance. Only a licensed electrician can carry insurance covering electrical work. This insurance is a safety blanket for the electrician as well as the homeowner.
While on the face of it the handyman may be able to do the same work as the electrician, yet charge substantially less allows the homeowner a false sense of security. A licensed electrician will stand behind their work, few handymen will do that. The insurance that electricians carry is not only for themselves. but also to protect the homeowner as well. Poor electrical work can at best cause a short in a new appliance for example and at its worst can potentially cause a fire. Neither scenario is one that any homeowner wants to deal with.


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About Katie Morgan:
Age: 38
Location: California, USA
Height: 5'5"
Weight: 106 lbs
Measurements: 34D-24-34
Astrological Sign: Pisces
Katie Morgan is a busty MILF from Los Angeles, CA. This mature starlet has hosted her own adult radio show and podcast, and appeared in the film Zack and Miri Make a Porno. She has a green frog tattooed on her abdomen, and has piercings in her navel and lip. Katie has received AVN Awards nominations for Best Actress, Best Supporting Actress, and MILF Performer of the Year.


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Campaigns and issue-advocacy efforts usually spend the lion's share of their money on TV ads. Very few campaigns test ads to ensure that they will work on their intended audience before they air them. Of those that do test ads, many employ focus groups or dial tests to elicit feedback about their ads. The problem is that focus groups (and their dial-test cousins) are not very good measurement tools. These "tests" are typically nothing more than an 11 (or so) sample with the propensity to produce highly questionable conclusions.
1. Hawthorne effect: People who know they are being studied/observed act differently then those in more natural circumstances.
2. Priming effects: We start focus groups by telling participants that they are here to talk about an election, election ads, and how those ads influence their opinions. Unfortunately, framing the activity this way primes them to pay more attention, take positions, debate those positions, and reflect upon whether their own opinions are shifting. Unfortunately, this is not the mind-state in which most people normally watch commercials. The reality is that a campaign's commercial is going to be played in between a Jeep Wrangler commercial and a Charles Schwab IRA commercial, all while the kids are playing in front of the TV. After this series of 30-second commercials has ended, the viewer will be thrilled that his or her show is back on. The average viewer does not spend 10 minutes thinking through what they just saw.
3. Self-selection bias: The type of person willing to drive across town and spend 2-3 hours away from their kids on a school/week-night for $25-$100 is probably not representative of the larger electorate as a whole.
4. Geographically non-representative: A given focus group can only draw people from one geographical region, usually an urban one. This means that state-wide candidates often only receive feedback from a geographically skewed portion of their electorate. Ads that work well for urban voters do not necessarily work well for rural voters.
5. The moderator effect: Different focus group moderators will lead group discussions in different directions, whether consciously or unconsciously, by employing various verbal and nonverbal cues. Group moderators have incredible power to influence the topics that are discussed and the conclusions which are reached. When a measurement's outcome is dependent on the individual running the measurement and cannot be repeated by others, it is referred to as pseudo-science (right up there with telekinesis or fortune telling).
6. Dominant respondent bias: In any group, some individuals have stronger opinions than others. When you gather participants around a table, the group as a whole tends to defer to those who express the strongest opinion, regardless of whether it is a shared opinion. In real life, people do not typically absorb ads next to someone with a strong opinion helping to shape their perceptions. The influence of dominant participants undermines the ecological validity of focus groups and skews their conclusions in unpredictable ways.
7. Laughably underpowered: You wouldn't believe a pollster if he took a poll of 11 people, so why on Earth would you believe 11 people's opinion about your ad? The reason they call focus groups 'qualitative research' is because the statistical laws that allow us to generalize 'quantitative research' don't apply to such small samples.
8. Bonus – if we add a dial it must be better… right? Nope, still qualitative pseudo-science: Adding a dial and the instruction to "turn left if you like what you are seeing, turn right if you don't like what your seeing," makes for some cool graphs and the feel of quantitative measurement. However, all of the same biases and statistical limitations still apply to the new, fancier measurement data. We are still taking people out of the conditions they will see the ads in, priming them to over-rationalize, opening ourselves to strong self-selection bias, and subjecting our participants to the distorting influence of both moderators and dominant participants. With dials, focus groups may be able to provide fancy graphs, but in the end, they are still underpowered, small-sample studies tracking something we don't really care about. After all, we don't care if people like or hate an ad, we only care whether an ad is able to influence how someone is going to vote.
The good news is that there exists quantitative, representative, empirically sound methods for testing ads. At Øptimus, we have developed, deployed, and changed the course of statewide elections using these quantitative methods. If TV ads are going to be the largest amount of spend on your campaign, shouldn't they work?
Get in contact with us to figure out which ads work, and which ads don't.


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I am almost out of school and I have a job lined up as a team driver with a buddy of mine. I'm wondering what kind of items you have in your trucks for personal use. Since there will be two people in the truck, space will be tight. So let me know what you guys think.
Comments for What is the most important personal items you have for over the road?
Click here to add your own comments
Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Ask A Trucker.


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Analysis of Scottish Census lets us see where the families with children in Private Rented Sector (PRS) actually live
Given the growing number of families with children in PRS and the importance placed on this group by Scottish Government I thought it would be useful explain and summarise the latest data from Census. The relevant detailed information was only finally published in November 2014 Census Release 3k
I began by mapping this data to provide a definitive guide to where and in what numbers families with children in the PRS actually live. http://j.mp/PRSfamilies
The clear message is that families with children in the PRS are evenly distributed across every socio-economic group in Scotland from the most expensive house in Heriot Row to the most affordable flat in Govan.
Those families in the PRS that are vulnerable are thankfully relatively small in number and can be helped with more targeted initiatives than with crude broad brush changes to the entire lettings sector. Radical tenancy reform has the potential to stifle the improvement of, investment in and expansion of the PRS.
|All households
|Households with dependent children
|All households:
|Social rented:
|Private rented or living rent free:
In summary the numbers of families with dependent children living in PRS is: 83,057 which represents 13.5% of all households with dependent children in Scotland.
Of these 36,741 are lone parent households, 41,393 are couples, and 4,923 are other households. Looking at couples with dependent children in PRS the map shows a very broad geographic spread – with PRS families well represented in the least as well as the most deprived areas.
PRS household total (325,372) includes 30,000 or so households living rent free. This total represents 13.7% of all Scottish households (2,372,777)
It is true families with dependent children in PRS represent just over 1 in 4 (25.5%) of all households in PRS. Many commentators emphasise that this number has doubled but this is only because the total size of PRS has doubled. Analysis of 2001 Census data tells us there were 41,400 PRS households with dependent children out of a total PRS household population of 175,354 (23.6%).
The current proportion of families with dependent children in PRS is barely different from the owner occupied sector where 25.8% of households have dependent children or the social rented sector where the figure is 26.7%.
Analysing where these PRS households live in terms of the local area deprivation ranking is helpful to understand how many households may be particularly deprived. More on deprivation here: http://www.scotland.gov.uk/Topics/Statistics/SIMD
All you really need to know is that 1 is most deprived and 10 is least deprived. And if we profile households in PRS by deprivation decile (ten population weighted categories) we see that most are in the middle – though interestingly there are more in the least deprived (10) than there are in most deprived (1)
If we look at deprivation profile of all PRS households with dependent children we see a flat distribution – still with more in middle but slightly fewer in the least deprived categories than the most deprived.
These profiles bears no resemblance to the grim picture of the PRS so often painted by lobbyists, politicians and the media. It is evidently not a poverty stricken tenure of last resort but more a fully dispersed and integrated housing option for all.
Key Messages:
- PRS is not a single amorphous market but many disparate markets and any policy intervention needs to recognise this
- In 2011 PRS families with dependent children make up 25.5% of all PRS households
- In 2001 PRS families with dependent children make up 23.6% of all PRS households
- More PRS households in the least deprived decile (27,806) than the most deprived decile (25,051)
- Families with dependent children in PRS represent 3.5% of all Scottish households
- There are PRS houses families with children in every type of neighbourhood
- The highest local level concentrations of families with dependent children in PRS are actually found in military services housing.
Article contributed by Dan Cookson, Head of Research, at Lettingstats, part of Lettingweb. This article was created from the Lettingstats Autumn 2014 Private Rental Sector Report, published in December 2014.


text:
From: Tony Stark (email@example.com)
Date: Tue May 02 2000 - 13:47:21 EDT
In a message dated 5/2/00 5:28:09 AM Eastern Daylight Time,
email@example.com writes:
<< I've read some concerning modern linguistics and discourse analysis. I'm
wondering if anyone would be willing to take us through a brief passage
pointing out what D-A brings to the field of interpretation and what we're
missing if we aren't cognizant of its benefits?
>>If this is inappropriate for list discussion, please feel free to
e-mail me at >>
I am also interested in this topic as well. Please e-mail me off- list if
this is necessary. Thanks
Tony Stark :-)
B-Greek home page: http://sunsite.unc.edu/bgreek
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To subscribe, send a message to email@example.com
This archive was generated by hypermail 2.1.4 : Sat Apr 20 2002 - 15:36:24 EDT


text:
Preparing for a daunting 26.2-mile run is often the pinnacle of a recreational athlete's career. A marathon requires intense physical, mental, and emotional stamina. It takes most runners around four months to prepare by building up weekly mileage over time, committing to long runs every 7–10 days, as well as making sure to give their bodies time to rest. Training for the big day involves a daily commitment to running and other cross-training exercises, a nutrient-rich diet, and, of course, building the perfect marathon playlist.
Marathon Training Tips
For beginner runners, the best way to get ready for a marathon is to start small with 5k, 10k, and half-marathon races. According to Runner's World, including shorter races as part of your master training plan is a great way to set more manageable goals and have concrete deadlines along the way. Keeping a training log is another excellent way to hold yourself accountable and see your progress in one organized place. Adding in specific details such as the meals you ate that day, the amount of water you drank, and your resting heart rate is always a good idea.
For more advanced runners, timing is key. To train your body to remain energized and on-pace, even when you are at your most tired, 2:13 marathoner Keith Dowling suggests completing a long run one month before the race. During that run, you should gradually speed up at the 18-mile mark with the last few miles running at or slightly above your marathon goal pace. On race day, it's important to run the first two to three miles around 10 to 15 seconds per mile slower than your goal pace. This ensures that your body won't use up all of its glycogen stores too early so that you can finish strong.
Top Songs for Your Marathon Training Playlist
According to Running USA, the average marathon finishing time in 2014 for men in US marathons was 4:19:27, and the median finishing time for women was 4:44:19. Runners need a long playlist that will keep them motivated and on-pace throughout their whole training process. Take a look at some of the most inspiring, upbeat songs to add to your marathon training and race-day playlists.
In 2014, the average marathon finishing time for men in US marathons was 4:19:27, and the median finishing time for women was 4:44:19.
Source: Running USA
Artist: Sia
This moving anthem featured on Sia's 2016 album, "This is Acting," received abundant positive feedback for its message of empowerment. Its catchy and spunky lyrics such as "I'm invincible. Yeah, I win every single game. I'm so powerful. I don't need batteries to play" will keep you running and feeling energized. Especially important to play on days when you would rather stay on the couch than train, this song will keep you on track to achieve your marathon goals.
"Me Too"
Artist: Meghan Trainor
Another great empowering song, "Me Too" is all about being content with the person you are. Written by lyrical powerhouses Jason Derulo, Peter Svensson, and Trainor herself, this marathon training song will have you feeling self-assured and ready to rock your long runs. The upbeat tempo and irresistibly cheeky lyrics make it a great addition to your running playlist when you need a little extra dose of confidence.
"Can't Feel My Face"
Artist: The Weeknd
A fitting song to play when you've hit the "runner's high," this single from The Weeknd mirrors the euphoric, endorphin-filled feeling you get while running long distances. In fact, a study conducted by researchers at the University of Maryland's School of Medicine in Baltimore shows a clear connection between listening to your favorite music and the release of endorphins. So, if you love The Weeknd's alternative R&B tracks, consider turning up the volume to "Can't Feel My Face" and enjoy all of the pain-relieving and mood-boosting benefits.
"I Got You (I Feel Good)"
Artist: James Brown
It's impossible to feel uninspired while listening to this classic song by James Brown. "I Got You" is Brown's highest-charting song and is frequently played at sporting events to liven up the athletes and spectators. Adding a little soul and funk to your marathon training playlist lets you switch it up and keeps you engaged throughout your training runs.
"I Bet My Life"
Artist: Imagine Dragons
This power ballad was written by Imagine Dragons lead singer Dan Reynolds about his rocky but ultimately joyous relationship with his parents. Sure to trigger powerful emotions, this song will encourage you to give your all in pursuit of your goals—running or otherwise. Whoever or whatever your inspiration is for running a marathon, "I Bet My Life" will fuel your passion on your training journey.
Artist: Lady Gaga
When you've reached the final stretches of your race with the finish line in sight, Lady Gaga's "Applause" will give you the energy needed to take those last few steps. Inspired by the cheering of her fans at live performances, this song will have you imagining the roar of the crowd and the proud faces of your loved ones who came to support you at the end of the race. At 140 BPM, "Applause" is a fast-paced, suitable option to play while you finish strong.
The Best Running Companion
Throughout the training process and race, you'll need a durable pair of sports headphones that can stand up to the long hours of training. The MDR-XB80BS Sports In-ear Bluetooth® Headphones were built for the challenge, with an IPX5 rating that allows them to handle sweat and a good wash after a run. The ergonomic ear hooks and cable adjuster will keep your headphones in your ears where they belong throughout the entire race. The MDR-XB80BS headphones will also allow you to listen to your high-energy, bass-heavy marathon playlist with its EXTRA BASS technology that enhances the low frequencies and provides powerful, punchy beats to keep you motivated.
Whether it's your first marathon or you are setting out to achieve a new personal record, music is a key component in keeping you focused and driven. Press play on your marathon playlist, hook in your MDR-XB80BS headphones and get ready to run!


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In these difficult times, when economy has recently been hit by a major crisis, we understand why so many people are willing to cut back on so many things. Life insurance should not be on the list of things you consider not purchasing. It is an element of financial stability and it provides sufficient funds for your family when you no longer are able to fulfill this task.
Any breadwinner must be responsible and must ensure that no matter what will happen, the family will be able to have a decent living. If you are searching for affordable deals, getting life insurance quotes is imperative. It is not enough to knock on the door of every door of an insurance company or to call every insurance representative or life insurance brokers. Things can be done much faster if you use the internet.
It is important to understand that cheap life insurance is not always the best. Clearly you will find many extremely cheap policies, especially for those that promote term life insurance. It is important to understand each policy that is presented and what it offers. Besides general specifications, companies have the liberty to add or subtract different features.
For example, in whole life insurance you have the possibility to borrow against policy after a certain number of years. Some companies will offer this feature while others will not include it. Also, a cheaper policy will not include some riders and advantages. The most important riders that you must have are ADD (accidental death and disability) rider, family benefits riders, return of premiums, waiver of premiums, sick benefits and final expense insurance.
Internet can be your greatest ally and will help you in your quest. Although you can directly go to the website of any insurance company, you will have to visit numerous websites in order to give you an idea about what you should purchase. Instead, you can visit a website specialized in collecting life insurance offers. All you have to do is to select between several policies and input some relevant data and options. In a matter of seconds, you will get relevant results. Do not waste time and visit now websites offering free online life insurance quotes.
Furthermore, we would like to mention that we are not an insurance organization and we do not directly sell insurance but instead we help consumers to connect with the right insurance agents or policies. Our website offers informative articles and resources essential in providing customers with the exact information about various types of insurances, the most flexible coverage options or advantages and things one should know before getting life insurance. In few words, it helps you to take a wise decision when you want to purchase a life insurance policy.


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These Kanger Evod replacement coils – heads are Low Resistance (LR) 1.8 ohm coils. This means that they will produce more heat, resulting in fuller, thicker, more flavorful vapor production!
Kanger eVod Replacement Coil head 5 pack gets you 5 replacement coils in One package. The kanger eVod coil is changed by removing the entire base and then removing the coil/head unit, replacing it with this unit. The coil unit can be easily screwed on and screwed off. Simply screw the bottom part from EVOD cartomizer, remove the old coil unit from the bottom base, replace with new one! Please allow 1-2 minutes for the E-Juice to feed into the coil before you start to vaping. Or Give the cartomizer a quick shake to make it faster.
These will also work on the Kanger ProTank and give a slighly less airy draw to that tank.
Please Note: There are no refunds, returns, exchanges, or warranty on coil units.


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Eagles @ Cowboys Post Mortem: Irrational Version
Neither Reid nor McNabb decided to show up. Offensively the execution was poor both by McNabb and his WR. Nothing but missed throws and dropped passes. Several lapses by Reid whether it was timeouts that didn't need to be called or FGs that shouldn't have been kicked.
The defensive game plan was atrocious with limited blitzes in 1H. Tackling was suspect at best. I didn't see anyone flying around out there making plays.
As far as I can tell, the only people who decided to show up where Celek and . . . and . . . I guess the bus drivers who brought them to the game since I know I saw the Eagles on the football field. To lay the blame for this game on any one player (or 4 players) is to slight the entire team dis-effort that was displayed out there. Both coaches as well as players. I'll say it one more time: unbelievable. I never thought I'd see that game played. Close loss? Sure. But a blow-out loss with #2 playoff seed on the line?
Seriously, WTF just happened?!?!
Labels: football


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Thank you to Vincenzo who sent me a link to this image. This ring is located in the Cattedrale Santo Anello. Again, I cannot read italian so I'm posting this here in the hopes that someone can go to this site and interpret for us what is said of this ring.
Here is the description Blessed Anne Catherine Emmerich gives of the Blessed Virgin Mary's wedding ring: "I saw the Blessed Virgin's wedding-ring; it is neither of silver nor of gold, nor of any other metal; it is dark in color and iridescent; it is not a thin narrow ring, but rather thick and at least a finger broad. I saw it smooth and yet as if covered with little regular triangles in which were letters. On the inside was a flat surface. The ring is engraved with something. I saw it kept behind many locks in a beautiful church. Devout people about to be married take their wedding-rings to touch it. "
If this is Mary's ring, this would be an apt description of it.


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The North Valley
Rio Verde
Active Adult lifestyle in a tight-knit community.
Rio Verde is considered tailor-made for retirement,1 but that certainly doesn't mean settling down. The city features amenities that encourage an active lifestyle, including tennis and pickleball courts, an art studio, a fitness center and hiking and biking trails. But the real draw of Rio Verde is its world-class golf.
Rio Verde is home to two traditional style championship golf courses fit for all levels of players and an active golf community. For the price of membership, you'll have full access to all Rio Verde Country Club has to offer, on and off the course.2
Rio Verde is home to two traditional style championship golf courses and an active golf community.
Rio Verde is a retirement community for people ages 55 and above who enjoy an active lifestyle, mountain views and lots of amenities.
Locals love: The variety of physical and social activities for senior living, especially tennis and golfing.
Nearby attractions:
- Social experiences and activities at the Rio Verde Country Club
- Hiking and walking trails in the Tonto National Forest
- McDowell Mountain Regional Park
Closest cities: Fountain Hills, Scottsdale, Cave Creek
Freeway access: Loop 202, AZ Route 87, AZ Route 51, Loop 101
Helpful city information:
Explore Meritage communities in Rio Verde:
- 1rioverdearizona.com
- 2rioverdearizona.com
- visitarizona.com
- rioverdearizona.com
- rioverdearizona.com
- city-data.com
Cave Creek
A small rural community with a western flair.
Set in the foothills of northwest Scottsdale, Cave Creek offers a peek into the Old West.
Throughout Cave Creek, you'll find art galleries, upscale home decor stores and five-star dining. Just don't be surprised to see a hitching post for your horse out in front.
This town has plenty of places for two-stepping, horseback and bull riding, and it's signature event, Wild West Days, features a parade and a cattle drive. But it's not all old western fun. Throughout Cave Creek, you'll find art galleries, upscale home decor stores and five-star dining. Just don't be surprised to see a hitching post for your horse out in front.
The combination of a slower-paced lifestyle, gorgeous mountain views and variety of attractions draw couples age 55+,1 but all are welcome to enjoy.
Locals love: There's no shortage of things to do, from visiting the art galleries, attending community events, spending a day on Lake Bartlett, or enjoying nature's beauty while hiking, or by renting an ATV 4-wheeler.
Nearby attractions:
- Cave Creek Regional Park
- Historic Spur Cross Ranch for hayrides, cookouts, horseback riding and more
- Bartlett Lake
Freeway access: Carefree Highway, Agua Fria Freeway (Loop 101)
Closest cities: Carefree
Helpful city information:
Explore Meritage communities in Cave Creek:


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Allegations of mistreatment and abuse of migrant workers surfaced again yesterday, with a Vietnamese woman saying she was paid less than NT$2,500 (US$75) a month while a social worker said two Filipino laborers recently died of overwork.
Two migrant workers yesterday related their sad experience working in the country in a press conference held by Chinese Nationalist Party (KMT) Legislator Joanna Lei (
"I have been sold [by brokers] to six different employers since coming to Taiwan and my identification card has been confiscated," said "A-ming," an alias used by a caretaker from Vietnam.
Weeping, A-ming said she could hardly survive on her meager salary of NT$2,500 per month, not to mention repay her broker's fee and send money back home.
The caretaker came to Taiwan as a migrant worker through the introduction of a legitimate broker, but she was asked to work for employers who have no permit to hire foreign caretakers.
"They told me that I can't go out, saying that I would be seized by the police, and asked me to work every day. The work is hard," she said.
Lee Li-hua (
"The Filipino workers were forced to work more than 16 hours a day and were not allowed any days off in an entire year," Lee said.
"The second victim once requested sick leave when he was feeling unwell, but the request was denied," Lee said.
In an annual report on global human trafficking released by the US State Department in June, Taiwan was downgraded to the "Tier 2 Watch List" for failing to increase its efforts and lacking the political will to address the problem."
The US report also said that a "significant share" of foreign workers, mainly from Vietnam, Thailand and the Philippines, who are lured to the country for low-skilled jobs, end up in forced labor or slavery by labor agencies and employers.
"The foreign labor broker's system has a lot to do with the trafficking problem in Taiwan," Lei said, urging the government to abolish the broker system.
While the Council of Labor Affairs has said that brokers are allowed to charge the worker's first month's salary as the broker's fee on top of a 10 percent share of the worker's monthly salary as administration fee, Lei said that "this is not the real situation."
"I know that some migrant workers use the first three months of their salary to pay their brokers. Some even pay up to 20 months of their salary," Lei said.
"Many brokers also `detain' the migrant workers' identification cards on the pretext that this is a safeguard to prevent them from running away," Lei said.
"[That's the] same thing they do with their [the workers'] salaries, keeping up to 90 percent of the amount," Lei said, allegedly to prevent them from fleeing.


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I hope you all had a happy 4th of July! To start off your weekend reading I have something a little different today and to be completely honest, totally outside of my comfort zone. Today we have a post about style. Now, if you know me in person you may want to wait until you stop laughing to continue reading…
My entire life I've wanted to be one of "those" people…you know, the ones that look all pulled together. Not a hair out of place, accessorized perfectly, like they stepped out of a magazine. My idol growing up was Audrey Hepburn, her poise and style are impeccable! Unfortunately for me I was instead gifted with out of control hair and two left feet so there was nothing particularly stylish or graceful about me.
Later, in high school, I fell in love with fashion and actually went to art school for fashion design for a year and a half before I decided it wasn't right for me. Fast forward 15 years, a marriage and 3 kids in less than 5 years and anything and everything fashion or style related was put on the back burner.
My general uniform for the last seven years has been more or less an Old Navy t-shirt, jeans, and flip flops for quite some time now. Most days I'd try to put on a little makeup and "gussy up" just before my husband got home from work but overall I had absolutely no care about how I looked. The last time he went to Iraq I barely did anything at all for the entire year-who had time, I was pregnant and caring for a 3 and 4 year old! I was fine with it at the time, I mean I was in the trenches of mothering little people-priorities, right?!
It didn't bother me until recently when I was just feeling sort of, well, down, about it. I would run into another mom from the PTO at the store and feel embarrassed to be out looking so sloppy…and those feelings of unattractiveness don't just go away-it was carrying over to my marriage too. My husband constantly complimented me but I just didn't believe it.
So where am I going with all this? I have decided I needed a change. All that time I wasn't doing anything for myself, I was still pinning pretty outfits and makeup tips and hairstyles. My youngest son is about to turn 3 and lately I've felt the urge to finally stop pinning cute outfits and start wearing them. Stop reading awesome blogs like Maskcara and The Small Things Blog and actually pick up some eyeliner and a curling iron and take the extra 15 minutes to give myself that "pulled together" look I've always wanted.
The first thing I did was sign up for Stitch Fix, where you answer a detailed questionnaire and a stylist picks out 5 items for you and sends them to you to try on in your own home. If you keep them the $20 "styling fee" is taken off the price and you give feedback to help them hone in on your style. While I didn't keep anything from my first "fix" it was more due to fit issues than the style so I'll be trying it again here soon.
I also made myself purge my closet of all the old, ill-fitting clothes I was hoarding for no apparent reason. I can't tell you how many times I pulled on a t-shirt and halfway through the day realized there was a hole in it. Who does that? Am I the only one that keeps clothes that so very obviously need to get trashed? Or don't fit? I still had clothes I wore during my last pregnancy (and no, this lady right here is not having any more kids so I have no excuses to still have clothes 2 sizes too big!)
After the clothes were purged I was left with a pared down wardrobe that made it a lot easier to pick out nicer outfits because I wasn't blinded by all the junky stuff.
I took a gift card I had been saving and went to Loft (my all time favorite clothes store) and bought a few cute pieces to update my wardrobe while they were having a big sale…here are two things I picked up:
Sooooo, all that to say I'm considering posting "what I wore" type posts occasionally for my own accountability and would love your feedback! They would be on the weekend when I don't normally post so they wouldn't take away from my normal DIY, decor and recipes; but I thought it'd be nice to share a different side of my life and maybe there might be a few of you out there that are in the same boat.
Tell me what you think!!


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Sean is the only one who has sent me preliminary photos of a sculpture in progress! Has anyone else been making art, or working on sculptures? Post photos in the comments!
Sean is the only one who has sent me preliminary photos of a sculpture in progress! Has anyone else been making art, or working on sculptures? Post photos in the comments!
Hello all, I hope you are making art and continuing to immerse yourself in the arts. Last week I attended a scientific exhibit, Body Works Vital. I learned a lot about the human body. It was beautiful, interesting and amazing. The show is at Faneuil Hall in Quincy Market until early spring, its only 25$. gather up your families and friends and check it out!!!!! Easy to get to from the T! The exhibit is comprised of real plasticine human bodies exploring the inner workings of the amazing human body as it operates as a whole organism, and the roles
Happy Sculpting!
Aern't we all foresting for art in our lives? This is a great site. It features awesome artists, studio spaces, artwork and more. Similar to the Jealous Curator, but a little more all over the place, check it out,
Angela check this artist out: Interesting take on self portraits, Canadian Artist Andrew Salgado.
And Jen: For some reason this reminded me of you: Rachel Levit, illustrator
I know we don't have class today, and I am missing our classroom chaos and fun art making. Here is some local Boston sculpture for you to check out! This sculpture was recently in a sculpture exhibition at Massart!
HAppy Holidays!!!
"I want to communicate my perspective, but also I want to provoke viewers into really thinking about the motivation behind the work. My work is experimental and structural. I communicate my ideas through the juxtaposition of structure and material. I like to manipulate the viewer's relationship with appearances. My sculptures are influenced by solid architectural structures which I contrast with strong and fragile elements and ideas"
"Making sculptures for me is not easy, especially when I am working within specific materials for a certain project. When I make art I usually don't think about it, I let my hands do what ever they want. When I am finished, I reflect on meaning. I am inspired by my memories, daily life, and by other artist's work. People also influence and inspire me"


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Suspected Prime-minister killer and member of "baton-league" elected for the ruling party in Sweden.
4 years ago 2 ministers were kicked out because of not paying the TV-license and hiring a nanny without paying taxes.
But a (suspected) Prime Minister-killer seems to be OK.
Theres something wrong i the kingdom of Sweden.
Scaber Nestor, Arnesdotter, Sven Anér.
Pinged at Twingly, Intressant
Läs även andra bloggares åsikter om anti avsan, dekoriamannen, baseboll-ligan, batongligan, Norrmalmspolisen, polisen, Olof Palme, mord, murder, statsminister, prime minister
The correct word is SUSPECTED.. he has not been convicted on any charges so far, and unless he is convicted of any crime I see no reason not to allow him to be a member of the parliment.
Not paying TV-licence is a crime in sweden, so is hiring black labour..
PP ftw ofc.. but if we nag about beatrice ask's purple envelops of SUSPECTED sex offenders, then we should not whine about this person, what ever he is "suspected" of..
And thus i write "suspected".
I recommend that you read the links, then you will see that it is more to this story.
To be innocent until proven guilty is a rule for the comman man. That rule cannot be valid for persons sitting on chairs based on trust. When you read about this guy, you will find he is guilty as sin, but he has obviously covered by police and our legal system. To have this guy in parliament is a shame for our democracy. A shame.


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(Read the full article here: Russia Is Flexing Its Military Might In A Big Way – But For Whom?)
There was another show of might today, when two Russian Navy ships entered the eastern Mediterranean as an advance unit of an 11-warship flotilla. This, according to James Brooke of VOA, is to be "the largest display of Russian naval power in the Mediterranean since the collapse of the Soviet Union."
"Russia has a crystal clear position," said Yevgeny Michenko, the director of the International Institute for Policies Expertise in Moscow. "It means that Russia does not want to support changes of the Syrian president, and Russia doesn't support any kind of military operation like it was in Libya."…Read More.
Follow on Ology: David Barnett | CartoonOlogy
Follow on Twitter: @blankbarnett | @OlogyPolitics


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Muy Thai in Bangkok
I have a huge amount of photos that I've never posted on-line that I want to share. So I will start with photos from my trip to Thailand last year.
Last year I went to Bangkok for a week. It was the most beautiful and interesting place I have ever gone. It really left a serious impression on me. I previously posted photos of the temples and palace that I visited.
One of the really cool highlights of the trip was when I bought front row tickets to an evening of Muy Thai matches at a stadium in Bangkok.
Muy Thai (Kickboxing) full of culture. The fighters pray and do a ceremonial dance around the ring before each match begins. Their coach also symbolically removes the fighters headbands for them. I had an amazing chance to capture this in pictures and want to share it as most people probably think of kickboxing as a violent sport and don't realize the culture and ceremony contained within it.
Despite recent civil unrest in Thailand, do not take it off of your list of places to go. Bangkok is AMAZING so SO WORTH the trip. I would definitely choose Bangkok over Tokyo or any other major Asian. The people are warm and smile, the prices are cheap, and the food is delicious!


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Italian premier Enrico Letta has suggested that Italy could put itself forward as a candidate for the 2024 Olympics, causing friction between Rome and Milan over which city would be better equipped to host the sporting event.
Letta made his remarks after the International Olympic Commmittee (IOC) voted in Buenos Aires on 8 September to select Tokyo – over Madrid and Istanbul – as the host of the 2020 Olympic games. "What happened in Buenos Aires makes me think that Italy can bid for the 2024 Olympics" Letta said, although he failed to specify which Italian city he had in mind.
It is believed that Letta was referring to Tokyo's victory against the odds; Japan had to work hard to allay concerns over its Fukushima nuclear plant which was damaged during the country's 2011 tsunami. Also potentially in Italy's favour is the fact that near neighbour Spain was ruled out of the 2020 Olympics, as the IOC tends to alternate continents when selecting host countries.
Politicians and sporting figures in Rome and Milan were quick to canvas support for their respective cities. Leading the charge was Rome mayor Ignazio Marino who said "There are the right conditions for Rome to host the games because the city has all the necessary requirements." Marino said he would be requesting a meeting with Letta and the president of the Italian Olympic Committee (CONI) Giovanni Malagò to discuss the idea further.
The Lombardy governor Roberto Maroni is keen for Milan to put itself forward as a candidate, as is Antonio Rossi, the former Olympic champion canoeist and current sports councillor of the Lombardy region. "I don't want to trigger a row with Rome – said Rossi – but Milan has the facilities of the Expo [2015]: with the construction of a stadium and a swimming pool in the area, after 2016, Milan would have more of a chance."
However, after speaking with his Rome counterpart, Milan's mayor Giuliano Pisapia said his city would not be at loggerheads with the capital. "I can guarantee that if the 2024 Olympics were to be in Italy, there won't be any clash between the cities and we'll take a decision together," he said.
Rome was regarded as one of the favourites for the 2020 Olympics before former prime minister Mario Monti decided last year to abandon the city's bid over financial concerns. The Italian capital hosted the 1960 Olympics as well as the World Swimming Championships in 2009.


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By Malcolm Johnson
MJ: What was it like having Jeff Johnson, who's a pretty core surfer in his own right, as your dad?
JJ: Well, it was amazing. I mean, he was taking me out on a surfboard before I even had my own board; I just remember I used to go out and ride on my knees on the front of his board while he'd surf…it's weird, since before I even really have memories, I have images in my head of riding down waves, watching the water go by, just abstract memories. But he used to take me out all the time. I had two older brothers as well, and they'd always take me out too. He's just a pretty crazy guy, I mean, he was in the generation of people that were going and searching for big waves before there were cameras and stuff, you know…like nowadays, most big-wave surfers are all about getting the shot, have a camera crew with them always…
MJ: They've got fifty thousand buck prizes on the line
JJ: Yeah, exactly, they'll call up the camera crew before they go surf, but my dad and his whole crew, they were just in it for the love of surfing big waves, going off and surfing out at Kaena Point with no-one around, taking boats out; and Makaha, and Waimea, and Sunset.
MJ: What year was it when he headed out there?
JJ: Well, he's from Southern California, the South Bay. He's 57 or so now and he moved there when he was 21. So that would've been '65 or around there…I was born in '75 and they'd already been there for quite a while.
MJ: Must be some crazy stories around the dinner table
JJ: Yeah, for sure, I mean the North Shore's a crazy place. It used to be even more so. It's like the Wild West, kinda self-policing; you see police around sometimes, but people mostly deal with their own problems, kinda settle things on their own. There's a lot of theft around there; there's so many tourists at the beach park, so there's a lot of car theft, stereo theft, stuff like that. Lots of people getting in hassles.
MJ: Parts of Vancouver Island are like that too. Rough around the edges, you know, frontier feel. Pretty similar places I think, except for the weather…but when I was in Maui, in Paia, the surroundings felt so familiar.
JJ: There's something beautiful about that though, sometimes, the element of when everything's not picture perfect…like, the North Shore wouldn't be the North Shore without some guys cruising around that're sorta shady and stuff. It just makes it a little more interesting I guess.
MJ: The fact that you grew up on the North Shore seems to be something that gets mentioned every time anything gets written about you, I guess because it's just a real easy thing to pick up on. But nobody really goes into it, just sorta mentions it and leaves it there. What were some of the moments that kinda sum up the North Shore experience for you?
JJ: It's uh, pretty much when you think of getting to sit there and that view of watching Pipeline, because being that we were right there, we were always sitting on the front porch watching the waves all day. It was like come home, run out, surf, come back into the house and be eating cereal on the front porch watching everybody else surf, and getting to see some of those famous rides; there was Tom Curren, this one wave that we all saw in person, me and all my friends were watching, this wave at Backdoor, that really long barrel he gets and he comes out and does a classic cutback. I think it might've been the first wave in one of Taylor Steele's movies. Getting to see stuff like that was pretty great, you know, and just being around for all the different Pipe Masters, getting to see from Gerry Lopez and guys like that surfing it, Tom Carroll and Derek Ho's era, and then on to Kelly Slater and Tamayo Perry. Just having a bunch of friends, getting to watch the guys I used to go surf with be the Pipe masters now…like Tamayo Perry, I don't know if you know his name, but that was my best friend growing up. We went all through school together, we surfed Pipeline big our first day together, we used to always go out and push each other
MJ: And he's pretty much the guy out there now
JJ: Yeah, Tamayo, Braden, Bruce Irons, Kelly, guys like that.
MJ: When you were growing up there, who were the guys that were sorta the untouchables, the idols, the guys that would walk by and you'd just be, like, 'wow'
JJ: It's kinda weird, you'd see them in magazines and stuff, but you'd always just see them around. It's a really small little neighbourhood, and so people like Gerry Lopez, I'd always see him cruising around, and Laird Hamilton, I knew him as being my brother's friend. Rabbit Bartholomew, I remember seeing him around as well. But I'd see those guys in the front yard a lot of times before I'd see them in the magazines; so when you did see them in the magazines, it didn't faze you that much. I don't know, it was weird, it's just a small place, so even when people like Tom Curren and Mark Occhilupo would come around, you'd see them in the pizza shop…it was cool, you'd just be a starstruck little kid but you'd get to see all them around. I was like any other surf kid growing up, it was like Tom Curren was a god to me, and then you'd get to see god walking around the street, or in the beach park by your house. But all the same, those people were still just as influential and amazing to see in person, and to get to talk to them…
MJ: That's weird, I mean up here there's a lot of great surfers, but we're so removed from that whole world. With all the travelling you've done, films and trips and whatnot, what's the dream wave for you so far? Don't have to name it, but a description
JJ: Well, Indo is kinda littered with good waves. All around Indonesia. Some of the best waves I've ever gotten were before I was making surf movies. I used to go down there usually once a summer with my brothers, or good friends. We used to take trips down when we were in high school, and into college, and just travel around. I like when it's six to eight feet, rights, reefbreaks that are real hollow. That's kinda the dream wave for me. Lefts I like too, but I bashed my face in real bad on a left, which kinda fazed me a bit for riding backside in the tube, it sketched me out. I still like to, but as a kid I used to be really into it, you know, surfing Pipe, but I have this big thing of second-guessing myself backside. I like rights more…and Rincon down in Santa Barbara, the coast is set up down there so it's pretty much all rights.
MJ: A perfect session, who would you be out with?
JJ: There could be about a thousand different ones…three or four good friends; or depending on the waves, as long as it doesn't start to be a problem how many people are out, there could be up to like ten people, as long as there's enough waves for everybody. I think ideally I would just pick all people that you probably wouldn't recognize their names, you know, except for somebody like Tamayo. Actually, there's guys like Kelly Slater, he's fun to surf with…somebody like him, he's so famous, the most popular surfer in the world, but the reason he's so good is because he loves surfing so much. That guy's so fun to surf with…a lot of times there's cameras around, he can't really avoid that, but other times we'll be at my house and it'll be pouring rain and the waves will be kinda crappy but he's always so inspired to surf, he's getting you all excited to go out and find junk little waves and make them fun. He's really motivated. And there's other guys, like Chris Malloy's really fun to surf with, and Tamayo. Me and Tamayo are, like, surfing buddies since the very beginning, trying to do aerials and stuff together when we were in the seventh grade.
MJ: Following from that, numbers of surfers and whatnot, your films have gone into areas of the planet that are fairly fragile, sensitive in terms of the ecology and the culture. How do you deal with the fact that some of those places might be altered by this influx of surfers going in…it's a problem in B.C., there are places that can't sustain a lot of surfers, and there are people who have definitely earned their rights to be there, but then there are all these people flooding in just because board culture and surfing is all cool right now, they're coming in not necessarily aware of how the area works, how it needs to be treated, how the people that are established there should be treated…so where do you go with that?
JJ: It's actually interesting, I can't claim I've had the answer from the beginning. It's something I've learned along the way. I actually think about it a lot now, and I'm not even sure I want to do another surf movie, just because of the effect it has. Like, people tell me, 'oh, I went to the Mentawais because I saw your movie', and stuff like that, and you really start to realize something you weren't really thinking about before. I started making surf films pretty young, well I'm still pretty young now, but I slowly started to realize that it's something you have to think about. I have mixed emotions about, it's definitely confusing sometimes. I'm definitely somebody that would associate myself with being down with the locals in areas; I have very good etiquette. If I ever go surf a spot that's a localized spot, I like to show up with just me and one friend, or alone. I'm very aware after growing up in Hawaii and seeing somewhere that used to be uncrowded getting just flooded, and the whole scene that goes with that, so I've got mixed emotions about surf films in general. Especially ones that go off and expose a lot of spots. We always try not to name any of the spots in the movies, but word gets out of where it was.
JJ: I don't think I'm doing it consciously, it's kinda just a case of communicating the stuff I'm into, as far as what I like to listen to. But I think it's good, at the same time, if you're going to have sixteen-year-olds at the show, it's nice to be able to turn them on to stuff they don't know about, and get them diggin' on people who have something to say, like Bob Dylan, or by covering Marley or Hendrix, because a lot of kids don't even know about that stuff. I mean, when I was growing up, I didn't know about much, but I had two older brothers who were always turning me on to stuff. But yeah, I know what you mean, it's a challenge; there's easier songs to cover that people will respond to; we play Sublime songs, and everybody knows it, gets right into it, and then we play Last Thoughts on Woody Guthrie and everybody's kinda like 'ok, what the heck is this…?'
MJ: There's definitely a morality in the lyrics and the films; there's a certain vision of life that's coming through.
JJ: It's just trying to get a feeling across. With the films at least, it's like you were saying, kinda a departure from what was going on. It seemed like there was a lot of sensationalism, which is just kinda the easy way out, and that Jackass style of humor. I mean I'll crack up and watch that stuff too, but at the same time, I see surfing as being something really special, and the way I was raised and what surfing meant to me, I wanted to get that feeling across. It wasn't about just going out and trying to do the most radical trick, it was kinda a whole way of life, the culture and the family of it, trying to get that across. And with the music, a lot of times I'll see people that seem like they're struggling with an issue, and they might think it's specific to themselves, but you realize there's something there that everybody deals with, and you wish you could just sing them a song that would make them feel better right then…I'll write a song later that deals with something I saw. One of the nice things people say is that they felt a certain song was about what they were going through at the time…and when it appeals to a lot of people, that makes you feel good
MJ: Yeah, it's why guys give their girls mix tapes.
JJ: Heh. I hope…
MJ: Your concerts seem to be becoming real community events, where it's not just a bunch of random people at a show, but there's a real sense of solidarity in the audience and between the audience and the music. Ben's shows are like that too. Do you see that, and if you do, what's the feel that you're getting?
JJ: It's funny, yeah, I know what you mean. But there's differences between Ben and I, like with Ben's music, he's super heavy, he's got that element where if I'm at one of his shows and people are talking, I start getting mad, I just want everybody to be so quiet and listen
MJ: It's incredible the way he commands attention, like five thousand people in the audience and it can be just dead quiet, he's so intense.
JJ: Definitely. And I guess with my stuff, it's more just a singalong. I kinda dig when everybody gets into it…I don't necessarily need everybody quiet. It's two different things. But it's nice if you're playing a new song and the lyrics are something you want people to hear; I like the quiet in those situations. I guess with the community events, I really like just feeling the energy of it, I like when people are at the shows for the right reasons, just wanting to have a good time.
MJ: It seems that with your album Brushfire Fairytales, it's just been this slow burn since it was released, to the point that a lot of people outside the surf community have only heard about it recently. Was there ever a point where you felt it just wasn't going to go?
JJ: Nah, it was a slow build the whole time. It's funny that you metion the surf community, and that was the whole idea when we recorded it. We had an idea that we might sell 5,000 copies, and that's all we expected, the surf community, people who know about the films would go out and get it, and then it sold 5,000 pretty quick and went further, and everything since then has been almost a bonus; ever since a month after it came out, it's all been more than expected, slowly picking up the whole time, and every week I can't believe that it's still growing.
MJ: On the flip side of that, was there a certain moment when you realized that things were really starting to blow up?
JJ: Sometimes all of a sudden I'll trip out…I was on a surf trip for the last few weeks and before that we were in Australia, so I've been out of the country for a month. I never really try to follow the numbers, it's kinda just this weird thing they do, but my mom gets all excited, she always finds out where we are on the Billboard charts and tells me, and so when I got back into the country the other day and talked to me she told me that we were #74 on the charts, and I was just like 'what?!'; it freaked me out, because when I left it wasn't like that, and I hadn't thought about it for a month, and it's quite far beyond where it was when we left for Australia. Just weird to think, you know, #74…pretty crazy, pretty wild.
MJ: Does it scare you, that too much exposure, too much attention will make it harder for you and Kim to live the kind of life you want?
JJ: That's not anything I really worry about. She's really involved. A lot of people told us your wife shouldn't be involved in the business, because it could mess things up, but we decided a long time ago that we'd rather try to do it and be together; and if it didn't work out, to just stop doing music at all. She's much more important to me than the music career. We've been together for eight years, and the music's been going on for like a year and a half now. We decided to forget what everybody said, because otherwise I didn't want to do music if it was going to take me away from her. It's worked out really good for us, actually. The way everything keeps growing is just overwhelming sometimes…like, 'whoa, I didn't know what I was getting into.' Not with Kim, but the idea of getting in front of more and more people. I like playing some of the smaller clubs, but it's like things keep growing and you don't even really have a chance to think about it, and the next thing you know you're playing in a much bigger place, you come through town and get to the spot and look around it's like 'whoa, why are we playing this place? This place is huge…'
MJ: Yeah. Well the Commodore's a sweet place, and there's a heck of a lot of people glad they're in here and not shut out at Richard's on Richards…and back to surfing, had you heard much about surfing in Canada?
JJ: Not too much. There were kids that came to the shows and gave me pictures and things.
MJ: Have you done much cold-water stuff? And don't count Rincon in winter as cold water, because we're dealing with forty-five degrees up here.
JJ: Heh, California's about as cold as I've gone. I've surfed in Ireland, and that was pretty damn cold.
MJ: What are your impressions of Canada in general?
JJ: I've been here three times now, and I love it. It's really nice. To be honest, I've never had a chance to check out the coast, we've always just been straight to Vancouver, and as a town, as a city Vancouver's so nice. It's such a clean city, as far as cities go. I generally don't like cities at all, but in Vancouver I actually like rollin' around the streets.
MJ: That's kinda funny, us island folk get here and get stressed out and want to get back to the island a.s.a.p
JJ: Nah, it's great. San Francisco is a nice city too, there's certain ones that I kinda dig on being in.
MJ: Have you been the target of any jealousy, you know, any people saying that you're only making it because you're a surfer, any people accusing you of using surfing as a marketing tool, anything like that?
JJ: I don't know, I've never heard it.
MJ: I mean, the music has to stand up on its own, which it definitely does. I've got a ton of friends who are musically sophisticated and don't know or care a thing about surfing and totally love the music. Plus surfers are pretty damn adept at distinguishing what's authentic from what's not.
JJ: Thanks, I hope it's like that. But just because I haven't heard any flak doesn't mean that it doesn't happen. I just haven't caught it yet.
MJ: OK, last question, dream jam session?
JJ: Tom Curren. He's a really good guitar player. I've never played with him yet, um, he played drums one time and I played bass for this little kid's thing, it was called the Surf Night on the North Shore, I played bass and Kelly was singing and Tom was playing drums and Rob (Machado) was playing guitar, and it was all just for the kids…but he's a really good guitar player, and we keep talking about it…he lives around Santa Barbara and he's come to a couple of my shows and has a studio in his house, so I want to get into his studio and just hang out and play some music, the two of us…it'd be pretty fun, just because he's such a huge, I mean, if you ever dreamed of being a rock star, what Jimi Hendrix would be to you, that's what Tom Curren was to me as a kid…I never really thought of doing music back then
-- Malcolm Johnson
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NI AWR Design Environment
NI AWR Design Environment
AWR is now NI. Visit ni.com/rf to learn more about NI RF tools.
3D Glass Solutions, Inc. (3DGS) provides complete glass-enabled systems integration services using their patented APEX Glass.
AFRL (Air Force Research Laboratory) foundry program improves manufacturing process for Air Force communication system components using GaN HEMT MMICs.
ams (austriamicrosystems) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of high performance analog ICs.
GAETEC (Gallium Arsenide Enabling Technology Center) is a vertically integrated GaAs foundry comprising of design, wafer fabrication and assembly, testing and reliability evaluation facilities.
GCS (Global Communications Semiconductors) is a leading open foundry services provider located in Torrance, CA that supports III-V compound semiconductors such as HBT, PHEMT, MESFET and Optoelectronics.
GLOBALFOUNDRIES is a leading full-service semiconductor design, development, fabrication and innovation company with locations across the globe.
HRL Laboratories is a trusted foundry for the department of defense and all other U.S. government customers.
IHP Microelectronics
IHP (Innovation for High Performance) is a member of the Leibniz Association with core competencies include the design of systems for wireless communication, RF circuit design, the extension of CMOS technologies, the operation of a pilot line, and the integration of new materials into semiconductor technologies.
Click to view the IHP/AWR PDK datasheet >>
LFoundry, based in Europe, is an advanced analog mixed signal 200 mm pure-play foundry with core technologies down to 0.15 µm and providing services such as 2nd source manufacturing, pure-play foundry and joint technology development.
Northrop Grumman Space Technology
The Northrop Grumman Aerospace Systems foundry, located in Redondo Beach, CA, processes commercial volumes of HBT and HEMT MMICs.
OMMIC is a leading European supplier of Epitaxy, Foundry Services and MMICs based around advanced III-V processes.
ON Semiconductor
ON Semiconductor is a leading supplier of semiconductor-based solutions, offering a comprehensive portfolio of energy efficient connectivity, sensing, power management, analog, logic, timing, discrete, and custom devices.
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Qorvo (formerly TriQuint Semiconductor) designs, develops and manufactures innovative high-performance RF solutions using GaAs, GaN, SAW and BAW technologies.
Silanna invests in disruptive technology and brings cutting edge products to the marketplace. In particular, Silanna designs and manufactures microelectronic devices using unique configurations of both CMOS and compound semiconductor process technologies.
Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC)
Established in 1987, TSMC is the world's largest dedicated semiconductor foundry with a reputation of offering advanced wafer production processes and unparalleled manufacturing efficiency.
TowerJazz, the global specialty foundry leader, manufactures integrated circuits for more than 150 customers worldwide and offers a wide range of customizable CMOS specialty wafer processes.
Click to view the TowerJazz/AWR PDK datasheet >>
United Monolithic Semiconductors (UMS)
UMS is the European source for products, solutions and foundry services up to 100 GHz - offering leading edge RF and millimeter wave components and solutions into the telecom infrastructure, space, defense and security, automotive and ISM markets.
WIN Semiconductors
WIN Semiconductors Corp. founded in October 1999, was the first pure-play 6-inch GaAs foundry in the world, has established an advanced GaAs wafer fab in recognition of the growing demand for low cost manufacturing of high speed and high quality GaAs MMICs and RFICs.
Wolfspeed, A Cree Company, stands alone as the premier provider of the most field-tested SiC and GaN power and RF solutions in the world.


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AdventureFamilyTravel Tips
What to do if you fall in love on vacation
Step to Step Guide
Falling in love is one of the most wonderful feelings on the planet. It most often happens when you least expect it. So, you've just set off on your #familyadventurevacation to a place of wonder, and the last thing on your mind is falling in love. Then bam, out of nowhere, you fall in love, steals your heart and your return home lovesick.