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Sunday, March 07, 2010
the last abstractLatte
Well, it looks as if abstractLatte has brewed its last cup. After months of trying to revive and maintain my efforts, I've decided to end the blog. Although the comment feature will be turned off, I will keep the blog online so that readers can benefit from the articles, and for portfolio purposes. Thanks to everybody who supported the blog!
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
overheard words, spiced with culture
...I sat there once, eating ice cream."
{You should just buy a house and call it your Christmas House...}
"Oh, look at this fudge shop!
"Let's go to the fudge shop!"
"I know!"
"Fudge shop, now!"
Ye Olde Dominion Wine Shoppe: a small wine store that provides small tastings with big ambiance.
what it's about: commentary, culture, experiment, poetry
a fresh snack
Snacks don't last forever. As a matter of fact, they are consumed rather quickly, enjoying a rather short existence before being replaced by something better, tastier, more enjoyable.
As with food snacks, "ink snacks" has enjoyed spurts of brief existence. But it's not gone; instead, a better, more enjoyable, more versatile snack is awaiting ziplock greatness. Since another bite-sized iteration is in the works, I thought I'd review the first two versions since it's the past that the present uses to improve the future.
Round 1: concept piece (never distributed)
dimensions: 5"x5"
images: upper-left: cover; upper-right: table of contents; lower-left, lower-right: sample spread
round 2: "ink snacks: bite-sized creativity", first edition, distributed through Etsy
dimensions: around 4"x4"
images: top: cover, folded; bottom: interior, unfolded
This version of the zine had one major flaw that happened to be one of its best features: it was handmade. The benefit was obvious in that it had a lot of imperfections and details that were the result of it being constructed entirely by hand (to include the stamped lettering on the cover). The flaw was that it took way too long to make one copy; after distributing six copies (four sold and two given away for promotion), I ceased further distribution, which I'm ok with because it only makes the existing zines more valuable.
Round 3: ?
While there will still be handmade elements, it will be in a format that can be easily reproduced through printing. It will also remain in a portable size although I can almost guarantee its dimensions will be larger than the above iterations; as with the last iteration, round 3 will be sold through Etsy.
Stay awake and don't ruin your creative appetite, a fresh "ink snacks" is in the works!"
Monday, January 04, 2010
I'm sure you can imagine...
(for the background story behind these articles, click here)
what it's about: experiment, journal
Saturday, January 02, 2010
an interesting story or just a door?
[originally published July 9, 2009]
Inspect the door in the photograph, discover its intricacies, and consider...how many times has this door been opened/closed, who constructed the door, who created the elaborate door knob, how many pedestrians has this door seen walk past it? Think about the possibilities, realistic or ridiculous.
The subject of this photograph is a simple door in Harpers Ferry, WV; the basic function of a door is something familiar to all of us. But this exercise isn't about a door, it's about the "what ifs" behind an object. We go through life allowing most of what we see to pass through our brains as quickly as a single exhaled puff of cigarette smoke fades into its surroundings. It's a natural reaction, we can't truly look at everything we pass by in a given day. But what could we discover if we took a moment to experience just one random observation?
The purpose of the building that this door belongs to is unfortunately lost in the recesses of my memory. Fortunately, an object as weathered as this one has many stories to tell, even if they are fiction."
what it's about: commentary, experiment, narrative
"Va La!"
[orginally published July 19th, 2009]
I'm a wino...as in "wine? oh...definitely!". That means I enjoy a new adventure when it comes to the marvelous grapes that constitute the tasting experience. A few weeks ago, a new adventure is exactly what I found for in Pennsylvania there is a vineyard called Va La...
Their name is a tribute to a village called Giusvalla, located in northern Italy, the starting point of their family's immigration; the phrase "va la" means "go there" in formal Italian but their dialect aspires to a more "abrupt" meaning loaded in polite sarcasm. And that's where it begins. Their website is sarcasm at its best and the tasting experience includes more of the same but is saturated with interesting knowledge about their wines, along with an unforgettable tasting. Being from Virginia, I'm more than familiar with wine made in the Bordeaux style so Va La's Italian approach is a treat; it is, to say the least, many, many minutes of flavor explosions on the palette. And since food pairings are always on the Va La brain during the wine making process, the tastings include small samples of food (not crackers!) so that you get the full experience that their bottles have to offer.
So I purchased a glass and am going on record to say that I've never enjoyed an individual glass of wine as much as I enjoyed theirs. I swirled the wine in the glass, buried my nose to consume the aroma, held the glass up high to appreciate the color, sipped...then swirled again, buried, held, sipped, more sipping, more swirling...well, you get the point. Each glass deserves some time and that is why this vineyard should not serve as the final stop in a long day of wine tasting; I wouldn't do more than one other vineyard before or after Va La.
And since Va La has so much to offer, I will leave you to explore their website. There are too many gems of sarcasm and information sprinkled throughout the site for me to ruin the surprise by bastardizing the experience any more than I already have. So go ahead, discover for yourself. But I will say this...if you love wine, go to Va La. Don't "think about it", don't "check your schedule"...just go, it's worth the trip.
By the way, when you waltz up to the tasting bar and receive that first glorious pour, do me a favor...remember to ask for the monkey cheese!"
what it's about: commentary, wine
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
fifty-two {a study of words and their meanings}
Although I've started a series of posts about interesting words and their definitions called "typographic paint", I want to revive a previous idea I had in regards to words and their definitions. So, I give you..."fifty-two {a study of words and their meanings}".
I'm still going to draw the words...or maybe use collage...and possibly found letters, in order to convey their definitions. Each handmade treatment will support the word's definition while providing a bit of contrast between digital type and a sense of humanity. Every week a new image and hopefully, a new understanding of how letters communicate.
...{first word coming February 2010}...
I'm still going to draw the words...or maybe use collage...and possibly found letters, in order to convey their definitions. Each handmade treatment will support the word's definition while providing a bit of contrast between digital type and a sense of humanity. Every week a new image and hopefully, a new understanding of how letters communicate.
...{first word coming February 2010}...
what it's about: experiment
the Latte is back!
...I know, I know, no posts for months. Well, I needed a break. A long break. And, I felt as if the Latte needed to be recaffeinated, which wasn't an easy task. I also had to decide if it was time to move on or time to dig in.
At the end of this long and arduous thought process, I decided it was time to dig in and give the Latte a bit of an overhaul.
You'll probably notice a few changes...to the navigation, the portfolio, the content in general. I'm reworking the blog to focus more on my writing niches; I'm also trying to use it as a freelance portfolio without giving it a portfolio feel. I'll slowly add to the portfolio section over the next several days and I'll be deleting a few posts here and there, mostly older stuff, generally the stuff that deals exclusively with photography, painting, etc.
[edit, 1-06-10]
I'll also republish two articles since they truly reflect my style of creative writing and overall approach towards written interpretation. Why? I really want 2010 to be about creative writing. Period. No excessive updates, no art for art's sake. Everything will have a function within this blog space and creative environment.
While I have plans for fine art, they will focus on a journal style of fine art, not traditional photography, painting, etc; some of the more visual art based posts are a little too far from the style I have in mind. But fine art is a ways away so I'll post updates on that soon.
Well, that's about it. A small update to cover a large amount of time. My next post won't be until the new year and again, there will be small periodic adjustments to the blog. But, the important thing is that the espresso's been ground and the steamer warmed up. A fresh batch of caffeinated creativity is on it's way...seriously!
See you in the new year!"
Monday, August 03, 2009
I'm sure you can imagine...
See what happens when I sit still?
(for the background story behind these articles, click here)
written by: abstractLatte 1 comments
what it's about: experiment, journal
Thursday, July 30, 2009
typographic paint: "persnickety"
persnickety...(adj): overparticular; pretentious
ex: 'His persnickety attitude created a frustrating work environment.'"
[view main word list and the story behind the series]
what it's about: typographic paint
Subscribe to: Posts (Atom)


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In the early years of Pakistan, being a member of the Commonwealth countries, there was no requirement of getting British visa before travel and the people could get visa on arrival at any British airport. This position continued until 1972 when Pakistan opted to pull out of Commonwealth. I know it because when I first traveled to Britain in September 1972, I did not obtain visa from British High Commission in Pakistan and got visa on arrival at Heathrow Airport. This was the reason that when in early 1960s the old city of Mirpur (Azad Kashmir) was got vacated for the construction of Mangla Dam, most of its population preferred to travel to Britain and settle down there. This was the first time when large number of people from Pakistan went to England and obtained dual nationality.
Second phase of immigration started in the 1970s when the then Prime Minister of Pakistan, ZA Bhutto, made it easy to get a passport. Large number of people traveled not only to Britain but also to many other countries, especially to USA and to European countries, for getting higher education as well as for jobs. In those days, due to simple rules of immigration in those countries, the people, after staying there for a certain period peacefully, applied and obtained nationality of those countries and became dual national. This trend is still continuing although at much slower rate.
There was a third phase of mass travel (not immigration) when there was a boom in oil industry in oil-rich countries, especially in Saudi Arabia, and when Dubai developed as a business hub creating large number of jobs. The people obtained the jobs and traveled to Saudi Arabia and to Dubai for jobs. This was not for immigration because the Middle Eastern countries generally do not grant nationality to the foreign nationals.
So, in general, Pakistani people have been getting dual nationality, mostly in USA and in European countries, as under:
Getting jobs, and after completing the immigration requirements, got dual nationality.
Young people travelling for educational purposes, and again after completing the immigration requirements, got dual nationality.
Those who obtained the foreign nationality, they sponsored their close relatives to settle down with them.
These dual nationals have been earning money and sending it to their relatives in Pakistan, which is a major source of foreign exchange earnings for Pakistan.
A great majority of these dual nationals are living peacefully as law-abiding citizens in those countries. They have learnt the manners how to live and behave in a civilized country. They and their families have been taking part in all social, economic and political activities of those countries so much so that some of them are now considered good businessmen, and a good number of them have reached the honourable positions such as Mayors, Provincial Ministers and as Federal Ministers even after keeping the Pakistani citizenship.
These hundreds of thousands dual nationals still have links in Pakistan and due to these links they love and are sincere to Pakistan. However, some misunderstanding is being spread in Pakistan to consider these dual nationals as skeptical on the basis that they have taken the oath of loyalty of other countries. This is a baseless allegation. These dual nationals, being the national of both the countries, have equal rights and equal responsibilities in both the countries. No law of these foreign countries stops its citizens to be sincere and helpful to their native or any other country. That is the reason that some Pakistani dual nationals have worked in Pakistan even as Prime Ministers of Pakistan and nobody in Pakistan ever objected to it. On the other side, the authorities of those countries where these dual nationals got their second nationality, never suspected the loyalty of these dual nationals and never stopped them in taking part in the politics of their country on the excuse that they are also the nationals of their native countries.
Yet there is a second type of dual nationals and Aqama holders working in Pakistan. The intention of these people is not to live in the countries of their second nationality or Aqama, but to live and work full time in Pakistan to get all the privileges of the ruling class, mostly illegally, and loot Pakistan. Their intention to get a second nationality is for two purposes; one, to hide their illegal money in the foreign countries, and two, to run away whenever there is a risk for them to live in Pakistan. While the first type of sincere dual nationals, as mentioned above, earn and send a portion of their income to Pakistan, the later type of dual nationals loot the resources of Pakistan and take away the wealth from Pakistan. These are the persons who are not sincere to Pakistan. However, these insincere persons are holding key positions in Pakistan. It is a pity that even the educated people in Pakistan do not generally differentiate between these two classes of dual nationals. They suspect the sincerity of the sincere dual nationals and tolerate the insincere rather corrupt class of dual national as their rulers.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ashley Armstrong
HOUSE sales in the UK lifted over the summer despite the downturn, according to figures released yesterday by HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC).

Sales of residential properties costing more than £40,000 rose from 80,000 in August to 82,000 in September.

And sales in the three months to the end of September were 11 per cent higher than in the previous quarter.

But the total number of transactions for the year to date is still 21 per cent down on the same period last year.

The news comes just a day after the Council of Mortgage Lenders (CML) said there had been a rise in summer lending. But gross mortgage lending for September fell 27 per cent compared to the same period a year ago.

Activity is creeping back into the market as buyers take advantage of falling house prices.

But the rise in house sales has led to a surge in complaints to the Property Ombudsman, which have jumped by 17 per cent.


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Hi all, Just a few items of note as I work feverishly on my latest book, Murcat Manor, as it's currently in the editing stage.
Comet's Close Encounter With Mars: A comet will give Mars a close shave on Sunday, Oct. 19, and NASA isn't taking any chances.
Comet C/2013 A1, or 'Siding Spring,' is expected to come within 87,000 miles of the red planet. To keep debris from the comet's long trail from hitting the three NASA spacecraft now in orbit around Mars, the space agency has adjusted their positions so that they'll be on the planet's far side when the comet approaches.
The Sliding Spring flyby will also give NASA its first-ever close-up look at a comet from the Oort Cloud, a spherical "cloud" of icy objects in the solar system's outer reaches. The space agency hopes that by studying the comet's trajectory, scientists will gain a better understanding of comets that whiz close to Earth. Huffington Post Reference
The Survive and Thrive Bloghop: This event is Monday October 20th, and is meant to bring awareness of disease prevention and early detection regarding medical conditions that may be averted or treated if caught in the early stages.
Our desire is to motivate people to go in for early screening, and if a condition is caught early and treated, then our world just became a little better place to live.
The topics are wide open. You can post about a particular cause you support. Or you can share a personal or family experience that is near to your heart. You can still sign up at the Linky List below.
Weekend Follies: Speaking of Mars and Comet's, here's a little Intergalactic Humor for your weekend. And don't forget to sign up for the Survive and Thrive Blogfest below!


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A fun afternoon was had by all who attended our Members' afternoon. The "African" folio from the Guild was available to members for inspiration. The Regional AGM challenge was also introduced which some members choose to work on. Others brought their own work.
It was a lovely relaxed atmosphere and I think there was more chatting and tea drinking than stitching but it was nice to have a more social meeting.


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Fantastic Locations: The Frostfell Rift provides two doublesided poster maps designed for use with D&D Miniatures, plus a 16-page black-and-white encounter booklet for use with RPG campaigns. The maps in this product showcase exciting planar environments, including the icy Frostfell Rift, while the encounter booklet illustrates how Dungeon Masters can use the maps again and again in their D&D roleplaying game campaigns.
Mention of new D&D 3.5 releases. Sneak Peek at The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess & Poxnora


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Egg Snog by Lush
Philosophy already has the body wash/bubble bath market cornered with their Christmas-y Gingerbread Man and Cinnamon Bun scents. Lush seems to be making a go of it in makeup with their Egg Snog Lip Balm. Reviews are mixed. Grazia featured it in their Scent by Santa section today.


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It's not that easy to get into any colleges in any city these days.
The cost is so high that getting into college is like finding a needle in a Hay Stack. However, there are ways to get into college without spending too much or not shelling out a lot of money for college.
Credit: http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/5f/UP-Mindanao-Admin-Oblation1.jpg/220px-UP-Mindanao-Admin-Oblation1.jpg
Get a College Scholarship
There are many kinds of scholarships. The most common is Merit Scholarship. This scholarship is given to outstanding students on the merit of their academic performance. Colleges and Universities also grant this scholarship on the basis of financial incapability.
University of the Philippines: UPCAT
The University of the Philippines (UP) is a state university that grants merit scholarship. This university is one of Philippines' premier universities where almost all students want to study. Students are admitted in UP after they have passed the UP College Admission Test (UPCAT).
One among Thousand Aspirants
My daughter is one among thousand students who aspire to study in UP. She is scheduled to take the exam on August 06, 2011 at 12:30pm in UP Science Building, at Lahug, Cebu City. I accompanied her on her way to UP Lahug.
We arrived around 10:00am-two and a half hour ahead of schedule. I stayed in the waiting shed together with other moms, and wait patiently for my daughter to settle in the examination room before I start reading my favorite book.
Like a Car Show
An hour before the second batch is set to take the UPCAT examination; I noticed a lot of cars entering the UP campus. However, the security guard stopped them because the UP vicinity is Off limits to visitors especially those driving their cars.
I was amused at the showcase of various car makes and models as they enter the UP campus--then shift into reverse and start backing up after being stopped by the guard--I should have taken a few seconds to count and jot down the information on the car makers, the models and the colors. Sad to say, I was so starstruck with the folks driving their luxury cars slowly in front of me.
What are the Qualifiers to be Accepted in UP?
Is UP for the rich or the poor and deserving students? Is upper class domination also one of the basis-as emphasized by the "car show"?
To get that much coveted slot in UP, all applicants are rank according to the joint UPCAT scores, high school grades and equity factors. UPCAT passers are then screened according to their choice of UP campus, quota and cut-off grade set by their choice of campus.
Once students are qualified, they are screened for acceptance in one of their degree of choice. Qualified students are then ranked. Top ranking students are accepted according to the open slot for the program they chose.
I'm Satisfied with the Process. Heaps!
The process of getting a slot in UP should no longer be open to doubt. I hope the best for my daughter. By the way, her first choice was Fine Arts. However, my daughter is a computer enthusiast, so I told her to polish her craft and consider computer science.


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I can breathe a small sigh of relief today. The craziness of the home equity loan is over. We signed the papers yesterday. So there is a huge weight off of our shoulders concerning how to pay for the husbands teeth. It was touch and go there for a while. Before any major decisions, the husband misbehaves. I say this and it looks like I am talking about a child but in some ways, he acts like one. He is the only child of older parent. They never thought that they would have any children, so he was considered a miracle. (Sometimes, I consider him my curse.) He was given everything he ever wanted and never had to work for anything. Well, unfortunately, being a grown up normally doesn't work that way. So he is ill equipped when things don't go right.
But everything finally got sorted out. It looks like that on Tuesday, I will be getting my new computer. I am kind of excited but I wanted to get a new bed first. Hopefully with the new computer my writing muse will come back to me. I think she is seeking warmer weather somewhere. Or maybe, now that I am not so stressed, I will "want" to write.
Peace out,


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By Callum Borchers – The Boston Globe:
As she began looking for an internship this summer, Boston University graduate student Brynn Leggett knew one thing: She didn't want to work at a big, prestigious company that would look good on the resume if it meant performing the menial tasks often assigned to interns.
Instead, Leggett scored a paid internship at a small Hub start-up called Artaic, which makes custom mosaic tile displays using robotics and has a grand total of just nine employees. There, she is filling a critical void as the company's principal grant writer.
"I've always gravitated toward smaller organizations because I like the opportunity to be creative and be involved in stuff that you know is going to matter," Leggett said. "I'm not a go-for-coffee kind of girl."
With start-up fever gripping the tech sector in Massachusetts, Leggett is among the many college students shunning internships at larger, established businesses and opting for the rush of newly formed, fast-growing companies, where they often are much more involved in developing the businesses.
But for all their excitement, such small companies usually lack the structure or finances to find and host interns. So several industry groups have developed programs to match interns with entrepreneurs.
Leggett's internship, for example, was partly funded by the Massachusetts Technology Collaborative, which has an initiative that reimburses small businesses for up to half the cost of an intern.
"This program is manna from heaven," said Artaic's chief executive, Ted Acworth. "We can't really afford to compete with bigger companies to get the best talent for internships. We're usually not able to offer any compensation, and that makes it much harder to get talent."
Thanks to the MassTech subsidies, Acworth this summer took on Leggett and a second paid intern, Paul Heslinga.
A grad student at Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Heslinga last summer had an internship in the IT department of a major Boston law firm that mostly involved mundane daily tasks and answering to four or five bosses. Not surprisingly, he generally felt lost in the shuffle and was loath to repeat the experience this summer.
At Artaic, he is building on the skills he learns in the classroom like never before.
"At WPI, most of my work is research on new robotics, ideas and concepts," said Heslinga, who is studying robotics engineering. "This has sort of grounded me toward improving the industry and facilitating robotics in production."
The Massachusetts Life Sciences Center, a quasi-state agency, has run an internship program since 2009, and student participation has quadrupled since the first year.
The center matches young graduates and college students with start-ups that can use the help but often can't afford the interns. It pays $15 an hour for as many as 12 weeks and even covers payroll taxes.
"We like to say we're creating internship opportunities that otherwise wouldn't exist," said Ryan H. Mudawar, the center's manager of academic and workforce programs.
Wendy Maeda/Globe Staff
Brynn Leggett and Paul Heslinga intern at Artaic in South Boston.
The state government has a keen interest in providing such placements, said Susan Windham-Bannister, president of the life sciences center, because it increases the likelihood that young tech talent will stay on in Massachusetts. The center said that about one-third of its interns land jobs at the companies where they worked.
Meanwhile, colleges with interns in the center's program are able to improve their curriculums, based on the feedback from companies. And students and grads improve their job or fund-raising prospects by experiencing the start-up world first-hand.
After graduating from Western New England University last year, Brian Dutra spent the summer interning at FloDesign Sonics, an aerospace technology start-up in Wilbraham that could not have taken him on without the subsidy from the life sciences center.
After a few months, Dutra proved so valuable to the fledgling company that it kept him on as a mechanical engineer and is picking up the tab for graduate school.
"So right now I'm finishing up my graduate degree and haven't paid for a dime of it," Dutra said. "It's a pretty good deal."
The start-up vibe is so appealing that some of the big guys, including Microsoft Corp., are trying to replicate it. Last year, the software titan piloted an internship program called The Foundry at its New England Research & Development Center in Cambridge. Working in small groups, the students build their own apps, as if they were launching businesses at one of the co-working spaces that are so popular on Boston's innovation scene.
The Foundry, said Sara Spalding, the Microsoft center's senior director, is a "way to give students an opportunity to experience Microsoft who might say, 'I want to work in a smaller team. Instead of being a smaller part of a bigger project, I want to be a bigger part of a smaller project.' "
It's now so popular that the Foundry program has doubled in size to 40 students this year.
"It definitely feels like working at a start-up," said Annie Tang, a senior at MIT studying computational architecture and a member of this year's Foundry class. "We have a lot of ownership over what we do. On the other hand, we have all these resources — Microsoft employees, a lot of smart people who have been in the industry for a long time."
And some programs are taking it one step further and helping promising college grads and students start their own companies, such as the one at Highland Capital Partners, where Jon McKay and three friends from Olin College of Engineering are trying to launch a business to make microboards.
McKay had previously served in one of the tech industry's top-flight internships: a three-month gig at Microsoft, working on the Internet Explorer Web browser.
"They give you all these perks, excellent pay," he said.
That was the problem — life at a large corporation was too easy.
"Working at a start-up is a lot more exciting," McKay said. "It's also kind of terrifying."
Highland Capital said that 85 percent of the companies started in its program, now in its sixth year, are still running or have been acquired. The start-ups, about 20 altogether, have collectively raised more than $100 million — including a few investments from Highland.
Though the career path may seem risky to many students, Highland partner Sean Dalton said he would not have a second thought about where to steer his own children.
"I would advise my kids coming out of school to find an entrepreneurial, early-stage company and start building a career there," Dalton said.


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LED Frame- A4
Gift your beloved a LED frame, a wall mount or table top translit frame which looks like a normal photo frame in day, and a beautiful light emitting frame when on. With magnetic locking system, you can easily pull off the glass in front with a vacuum(included in the kit) to change the print inside. The frame comes with its adapter and 1 print of your photograph fixed already. Image Size: LED Frame - A4 9" h x 12" w


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Insidious: Chapter 3 is a 2015 released horror thriller movie directed and written by Leigh Whannell while film features stars like Dermot Mulroney, Stefanie Scott, Angus Sampson in lead roles. This film is the prequel of the first two Insidious movies and third installment in the Insidious series. At the point when young person Quinn Brenner (Stefanie Scott) detects that her late mother is attempting to get in touch with her, she looks for assistance from talented psychic Elise Rainier (Lin Shaye). Nonetheless, Elise's awful past makes her hesitant to utilize her capacities. After Quinn is assaulted by a malicious element, her dad (Dermot Mulroney) begs Elise for help. With backing from two parapsychologists, Elise wanders profound into The Further – where she finds an effective evil spirit with a voracious wanting for human souls. Due to awesome screen-play film scored 6.1 imdb rating while grossed $52,200,504 at US box-office. If you liked previous movies of Insidious then don't miss this one, download this film today and enjoy a great thrilling ride.
Initial release: May 29, 2015
Director: Leigh Whannell
Film series: Insidious
Box office: 113 million USD
Music director: Joseph Bishara


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IXYS Corp. (IXYS) Drops 5.74% on February 03Equities Staff Follow |
IXYS Corp. (IXYS) was one of the Russell 2000's biggest losers for Wednesday February 03 as the stock slid 5.74% to $10.83, a loss of $-0.66 per share. Starting at an opening price of $11.10 a share, the stock traded between $10.59 and $11.40 over the course of the trading day. Volume was 258,580 shares over 1,650 trades, against an average daily volume of 124,104 shares and a total float of 31.46 million.
The losses send IXYS Corp. down to a market cap of $340.72 million. In the last year, IXYS Corp. has traded between $16.76 and $10.00, and its 50-day SMA is currently $11.95 and 200-day SMA is $12.26.
The stock has a P/E Ratio of 18.
IXYS Corp is engaged in designing, developing, manufacturing & marketing power semiconductors, digital and analog integrated circuits, or ICs, and systems and radio frequency, or RF, power semiconductors.
IXYS Corp. is based out of Milpitas, CA and has some 958 employees. Its CEO is Nathan Zommer.
For a complete fundamental analysis analysis of IXYS Corp., check out Equities.com's Stock Valuation Analysis report for IXYS. To see the latest independent stock recommendations from Equities.com's analysts, visit our Research section.
The Russell 2000 is one of the leading indices tracking small-cap companies in the United States. It's maintained by Russell Investments, an industry leader in creating and maintaining indices, and consists of the smallest 2000 stocks from the broader Russell 3000 index.
Russell's indices differ from traditional indices like the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJIA) or S&P 500, whose members are selected by committee, because they base membership entirely on an objective, rules based methodology. The 3,000 largest companies by market cap make up the Russell 3000, with the 2,000 smaller companies making up the Russell 2000. It's a simple approach that gives a broad, unbiased look at the small-cap market as a whole.
For more news on the financial markets, go to Equities.com. Also, learn more about our independent proprietary equity research reports and our robust do-it-yourself Stock Valuation Analysis reports in our Research section.
All data provided by QuoteMedia and was accurate as of 4:30PM ET.
DISCLOSURE: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the authors, and do not represent the views of equities.com. Readers should not consider statements made by the author as formal recommendations and should consult their financial advisor before making any investment decisions. To read our full disclosure, please go to: http://www.equities.com/disclaimer


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March 7, 2018 · 0 Comments
Mark Pavilons
"That is the exploration that awaits you! Not mapping stars and studying nebula, but charting the unknown possibilities of existence."
– Leonard Nimoy
Billions of human beings believe in a supreme being, a cosmic force or a higher level of existence.
Some of the world's most important documents protect and enshrine religious rights and practices.
There are some fundamental truths about our human existence. Since time began we've been searching for a "meaning," thinking there must be a force at work in the universe, governing our lives. The very fact we question the meaning of life is so wonderfully human.
Is there a hidden meaning, fate or set of predetermined moves that we adhere to? Or do WE give meaning to life?
The meaning of life, is life. Maybe it's all in the adventure itself.
There's no doubt that life is a journey, and not just an ultimate goal or revelation. There are many things we can't change, like the direction of the wind, or the rotation of our planet, but we can change how we steer our own ship.
Shakespeare once wrote that we may know who we are, but perhaps we don't know what we're capable of. That's kind of like saying if opportunity doesn't come knocking, build a door!
Maybe it's not what lies ahead, or even our deep roots that matter. Maybe it's all inside us.
Words, ideas and yes, love can change the world. There's plenty of evidence to support this. Our whole human history is filled with stories of immense triumph, fortitude, accomplishments and deeds.
And along the way, God has often lent a hand.
"Just as a candle cannot burn without fire, men cannot live without a spiritual life."
– Buddha
Our species has seen many "gods" over the millenia. We've moved from a multi-theistic to a largely mono-theistic belief system, looking up to the All Mighty.
Whether you're Christian, Jewish or a child of Islam, God and His virtuous teachings are paramount.
Hinduism, the third largest religion in the world, emphasizes goals of human existence, such as ethics, passion, freedom and the cycle of rebirth.
In Buddism, our goal is to break the cycle of suffering and rebirth through reincarnation, by achieving ultimate wisdom, love and compassion.
If you examine all major religions, there is a common theme. It's one of constant evolution to achieve personal growth, a sort of improvement on the original model.
Whether our dedication to these ideals brings us closer to Nirvana remains to be seen. But I truly believe that all human beings, regardless of their birthplace or religious practices, want to be good, decent souls.
"Faith helps many people make sense of the world around them. Faith gives them a spiritual connection to something larger."
– David Harsanyi
We in the west celebrate our differences and revel in our cultural richness.
There's a certain amount of "sameness," and we all are much closer than you may think.
Aside from our spiritual side, all humans are all related. Scientists will tell you that everything – all forms of life and inorganic elements – originated from our sun. When our sun first shone, it sent out all kinds of life-giving debris, almost like seeds, to help spark life on our world. Everything, from your next door neighbour to the rocks in your garden, came from this star dust.
This is the cosmic connection that we all share.
Our DNA also confirms our earthly connection.
I get a kick out of those companies that offer a template of our genealogy based on our DNA.
We are all related, people! Early homo sapiens first emerged in Africa, and the Middle East is known as the cradle of civilization. If we all trace our "roots" back far enough, we'll stretch right back to those early hominids.
Homo sapiens most likely developed in East Africa between 300,000 and 200,000 years ago. The "recent African origin" model proposes that all modern non-African populations are substantially descended from populations of homo sapiens that left Africa after that time.
The cradle of civilization was Mesopotamia, the area between the Tigris and Euphrates Rivers (in modern day Iraq). This is the first place where complex urban centers grew, dating back to roughly 3500 B.C.
Much of our beautiful human past grew out of Iran, Syria, and Turkey.
One of the most widespread civilizations, the Indus Valley civilization (2600 BC to 1900 BC), included northeast Afghanistan to Pakistan and northwest India.
Here's the irony in all of this. Today, many in the west fear or even loathe Islam, yet all of our most impressive beginnings spawned from those regions. A lesson is human and religious history would do us all a world of good.
Whether you're deeply relaxed in a Reiki session, or talking with a bronze sculptor, you will realize that we're all spiritual beings. And we're all linked, bonded and related by blood and minerals.
I think a little more thought should be given to our collective souls and our entwined species. The ultimate goal for our planet should be unity and unification. Nothing else is more important.
Only then can we move forward and really evolve.
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Reuters is reporting that the Board of Executive Directors will hold a "straw poll" this Friday, ahead of the formal vote on the 16th. The usually well informed, Lesley Wroughton, writes "The board meets on Friday to conduct a straw poll to see if one candidate emerges as a clear favourite. It is expected to announce its choice on April 16, in time for the IMF and World Bank meetings of global finance leaders in Washington the same week."
Tag Archives: World Bank President
Promise-breaking at the World Bank, Part 3: Contenders
It is onto the terrain of unprecedented global financial malgovernance that Kim now strides. To be sure, on the way, he's being tripped up a little by disgruntled neoliberals like Reuters columnist Felix Salmon, who concludes, correctly, "the US government in general, and the Geithner-Clinton axis in particular, doesn't actually want any real change at the World Bank. Change can only come from a strong president who is strongly supported by Continue reading
Promise-breaking at the World Bank, Part 1: Before
That 66th birthday month of his, March 2012, was auspicious for adding a little spice to his dreary life, but no, it just can't last. Born in March 1946 alongside his evil twin, IMF, in Savannah Georgia, after conception in what must have been a rather sleazy New Hampshire hotel (the 'Bretton Woods') in mid-1944, the old geezer known as the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development, or much better by his nickname World Bank (but let me just use WB), really ought to be considering retirement. Continue reading
Former World Bank senior managers send an open letter to the Board
As reported earlier today by the AFP, "In an open letter, 39 former managers and economists called on the Bank's executive board to make their decision on merit, when the board considers more than one candidate for the job for the first time."
Here is the letter in full: Continue reading


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When I was a school girl, I thought, "if only I had friends..."
When I was in high-school, I thought, "if only I could be a cheerleader..."
When I was a stylin' hair stylist (before having kids), I thought, "if only I had a great figure..."
When I was a young mom, I thought, "if only I had a nicer house..."
When I was in the middle-school-parenting years, I thought, "if only I were a better mom..."
When I was first an empty-nester, I thought, "if only I had a couple more kids..."
Now...if only...I could lose the 15lbs...and move to Florida every winter...(in that order of course)
Whenever I focus on the "if-only's" or my "have-not's" my focus leaves anyone else and fixates on 'poor me'.
All my 'if only' statements are external, temporary things. Things that do not ultimately satisfy, and are fleeting. {are you picturing it? Elementary friends? High-school accomplishments? Great figure when I'm 80? (okay, don't picture that one!) The house 10 years after a remodel? The inevitable empty nest?} Going, going, gone!
Then I saw that all toil and all skill in work come from a man's envy of his neighbor. This also is vanity and a striving after the wind. Ecclesiastes 4:4
This week our STUCK focus was on becoming content (unSTUCK from our discontent) and can you believe we came up with more than a few areas of discontent on our list? And it appears that different seasons bring different things that we struggle with. The common denominator in discontent is paralysis or bondage (ie: stuck). We get stuck if we are focused on the things we don't have.
What is the remedy?
How does that sound to you compared to a large vanilla latte? Compared to owning a brick house with grand pillars and white board fences along your grandiose driveway? Compared to a successful career surrounded by people praising you? Compared to a Hawaiian vacation every year?
At first glance, that Hawaiian vacation looks quite appealing to me at the end of this seemingly endless Wisconsin winter. Unless I were to compare my longed-for vacation with eternity.
Everything pales when you think of eternity. The forever place of continual discovery of God, the glorious Artist.
I attended the play Kingdom Undone last weekend. I was drawn in by the amazing artistry of the playwright and the artistic talent of the director and the actors and by the moving music of the orchestra. When it was over, my heart wanted to run and grab and hug each person invested in the play because they gave me something I treasured, a life-experience that took me beyond myself and brought to view a greater glimpse of God's amazing eternal story. I wanted to do more than watch. I wanted to 'engage' with the artists.
I think that is what it is like with God. Last summer I spent about a month in Montana, I marveled at God's artistry as the carver of magnificent mountains and the painter of stunning skies! Seeing made me want to engage more somehow with the Artist. It was so wonderful, so amazing, but it somehow STILL didn't feel like enough! I wanted something more. You know what I mean. You have had the same experiences. Where you delight in a moment, then the moment is gone and you want more, but it is done. There is a thrill, and simultaneously-or shortly afterward-a regret that there isn't more...
A true artist leaves you with the desire for a connection to more art, yes...but ultimately to the creator of the art itself... That is God's desire in ALL of His good gifts (Like friends, and houses, and our bodies, and our vacation experiences, etc): It's like He is saying in each of them, "Enjoy these displays of my love for you because I want you to want more of ME!"
If we enjoy something and never look up and give thanks, we lose our joy. We are left wanting. Thanksgiving is one of two keys of removing the discontent in our hearts, lives and frees us to live fulfilling lives of purpose and meaning.
The first key, which is necessary for thanksgiving to take place is found in focus. Where we focus determines our attitude. Our contentment is based on where we set our sights.
So the first key is focusing our hearts on HEAVEN!!! If our mind is heavenward, our expectations (focus) are not on this life and the fleeting outward things that disappoint us or leave us feel unsatisfied. If our mind is on heaven, we keep proper perspective and can give thanks in all circumstances because of His promises to bless and keep us. And ultimately we know that He is going to take us home where we will be free of all the brokenness and longings of living this fleeting life. We will be truly satisfied.
Isn't that how we endure our hard things? Things like having a baby? We endure the temporary pain knowing that we receive relief and joy on the other side. Or doing a difficult project, we endure the work knowing we will have the satisfaction on the other side of the difficulty.
The keys to contentment then, are:
Eyes on Heaven & Hearts of Thanksgiving!
So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal.
2 Corinthians 4:16-18


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From where I stand some bad things and some good things happened last night.
First the bad: I'm obviously disappointed with the outcome of the Presidential Election. Finger pointing on the Right has already begun and I'm sure the 2016 campaign will start before we finish carving our turkeys in a few weeks. Smarter political minds than mine will dissect yesterdays results ad nauseam but I have no interest in that. President Obama won and I hope he and the Congress very quickly pivot from campaign mode to governing mode. The nation faces very serious problems that, as Charlie points out, need to be addressed quickly.
The so-called fiscal cliff Washington is headed toward could have serious implications for Georgia. We have a large number of military installations in our State and should the Pentagon bear its share of half a trillion in cuts Georgia will be impacted. Other cuts mandated by sequestration could impact Georgia's budget as well. Yes serious cuts to the Federal budget need to be made but I fear the gridlock in DC means no serious reforms will be made only more unfunded mandates pushed down to the States. The end of various temporary tax cuts and the implementation of new taxes related to Obamacare are also of concern. I have little hope these problems will be addressed adequately. Perhaps after a few good nights of sleep my optimism will return.
Now for the good: I'm very pleased the charter school amendment passed with solid support. I've written more on that topic than I care to think about but suffice it to say I remain convinced this is a positive step forward for our State. I'm glad most Georgians agreed with me on amendment 1.
We can examine results in particular races as we move forward but last night remains for me a bittersweet election day.


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The following is a sampling of clients, for whom we have recently worked. Please download our Qualifications Package for a more comprehensive list.
Architectural Clients
- Array Healthcare Facilities Solutions, New York, NY
- Comito Associates P.C., Newark, NJ
- DIGroupArchitecture, New Brunswick, NJ
- Eric Baker Architects, Glen Ridge, NJ
- FKA Architects, Oakland, NJ
- Genovese Associates, Inc., Ridgewood, NJ
- Optimus Architecture, Rhinebeck, NY
- Parette Somjen Architects, LLC, Rockaway, NJ
- Pomarico Design Studio, Newburgh, NY
- Posen Architects LLC, West Orange, NJ
- SSP Architectural Group, Bridgewater, NJ
- Longo Architects & Associates LLC, New Providence, NJ
- Weiss Design Group, Livingston, NJ
Public Sector Clients
- Borough of Bernardsville
- Morris County
- Morris Union Jointure Commission
- Raritan Valley Community College
- Town of Dover
- Township of Hanover
- U.S. Dept of Veteran's Affairs
Private Sector Clients
- Archdiocese of Newark
- Avison Young
- Cedar Crest Village
- Commercial Realty Group
- DHJ Management
- Honeywell
- Kearny Federal Savings
- Nobel-Biocare
- Reproductive Medicine Associates of NJ
- Travelers Insurance
- Wells Fargo


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Finding The Best Restaurant
The aroma of fresh seafood, such as flounder, oysters and shrimp, wafting from the inside of a restaurant sometimes lures you inside to see what all the fuss is about. Many of the best seafood restaurant are located along the coast where the business can get the freshest ingredients each day. Sometimes, there will be daily specials because of an abundance of one type of seafood over another. When you visit Plano TX seafood restaurants, there are a few tips that you can keep in mind to have the best dining experience possible.
Think about what you're craving at the time. Some restaurants offer more in the way of specialty dishes, such as sushi, while others have a buffet of items to choose from that includes everything you could imagine that comes from the ocean. If you're looking for something that has a little more flavor, then try Cajun seafood or items that are breaded with salt and pepper.
Do a little research online to find the best restaurants in the area. Look at the prices along with the extra items that are offered. This is a way that you can tell exactly what is offered by the business before you step foot through the door. Read the reviews that are posted, and look at the pictures that are presented on the website to get an idea as to how the food might be prepared. See if there are any specialty items that are served. From hush puppies to macaroni and cheese that is made with small pieces of crab or lobster, most restaurants have a signature dish or two that can't be compared with other businesses in the area.
If you are like many people, you might want to eat healthier at a seafood restaurant. Even though there are several items that are fried, there are a few things that are baked or broiled, which are healthier options while still giving you the flavors that you desire in seafood. Grilled items are also ideal. Try to pair the seafood that you choose with vegetables or whole grains to fill up on healthy foods instead of a lot of meats.
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