L-Glass fiber is a new low-loss glass fiber yarn that has been developed for printed wiring board (PWB) applications.
The low dielectric constant (Dk) and low dissipation factor (Df) properties of L-Glass fibers are ideally suited for designs requiring increased signal speeds and better signal integrity than traditional E-Glass/epoxy substrate materials.
Substrate materials that provide low dielectric constant and low dissipation factor properties have become an essential element of high-speed digital systems such as mobile communications base stations, high-end routers and servers and high speed storage networks. As these systems move to higher processing speeds, substrates with low-loss properties are needed to ensure the speed and integrity of the signals.
L-Glass fiber is a cost-effective alternative to current systems.The low-loss properties make it ideal for applications operating at the highest signal speeds and provide designers a compelling alternative to traditional materials.
APPLICATIONS
Mobile communications infrastructure
High-speed routers/servers
High-speed storage networks
IC packaging
Backplanes
General Motors may have sold off Saab to Spyker for $74 million and a 50 gallon bucket of Swedish meatballs, but it appears the “Born From Jets” automaker isn’t saying goodbye to Michigan altogether. The Detroit News is reporting that Saab has chosen small but trendy Royal Oak, MI as the location for the company’s North American headquarters. The move makes sense given the fact that Michigan has oodles of engineering talent and many of the world’s automakers and suppliers have a presence in the Mitten State. The move will be a short one as well, as WWJ radio in Detroit reports that the 60 workers will transfer from Saab’s old headquarters at the Renaissance Center in downtown Detroit.
To help lure Saab to the Southeast Michigan suburbs, the state’s Economic Development Authority has reportedly granted Saab a five year, $1.2 million high technology tax break. In exchange, the state of Michigan keeps 60 jobs that pay, on average, $88,000 per year and opportunity for growth in the next few years. In fact, Saab says there is potential for the company’s North American headquarters to grow to 158 people by 2014. That would represent an estimated $2 million per year for the beleaguered state, a development that would turn the tax break into a win for the region.
Mike Colleran, chief operating officer of Saab Cars North America, told the DetNews that the company closed on the 13,000 square foot facility in February and employees will inhabit the building by the end of March.
Last year a very important lawsuit was filed, challenging whether or not it was legal to patent genes. While that trial is still (slowly) moving forward, a study has come out pointing out that one of the genes that’s at the center of that trial, BRCA1, from Myriad Genetics, is incredibly broad and could be used to stifle all sorts of important research:
For instance, BRCA1 is on chromosome 17. But long stretches of DNA on chromosome 1 are identical to stretches in the Myriad patent, the researchers said.
“This claim and others like it turn out, on examination, to be surprisingly broad, and if enforced would have substantial implications for medical practice and scientific research,” they wrote.
In the meantime, we’re still waiting for someone to explain how it possibly makes sense to patent genes.
I’m not Japanese so there’s no way I can fully understand the culture behind the Yakuza ink. I’ve read about it, talked about it, but I’ll never get the same acculturation that a Japanese has unless I
If you’re a big American Idol fan than you most probably know that Ford is a huge sponsor of the Fox show. Ford is now adding a new element to its sponsorship by giving each of the top 12 contestants a chance to work with Ford designers to create their very own customized 2011 Ford Fiesta graphics.
“Ford has been a sponsor of ‘American Idol’ since the show premiered in 2002, and each season we try to take our relationship with the show to the next level in a fun and meaningful way,” said Connie Fontaine, manager, Ford Brand Content and Alliances. “This year, the Idols will get a closer experience with our vehicles as they interact with our designers and customize a Fiesta design that reflects their own personality.”
The whole process will be featured in a video segment on tonight’s episode which airs at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed on FOX.
The Fiestas customized by the Idols will be on display at www.americanidol.com from March 17 through May 21, 2010. Fans can enter the Ford Music Video Challenge for a chance to win one of the Fiestas and a trip to the set of a Ford Music Video shoot or the grand prize.
Refresher: The 2011 Ford Fiesta is powered by a 1.6L DOHC 4-cylinder engine making 119-hp with a peak torque of 109 lb-ft. It is estimated to deliver best-in-class highway fuel economy of 40 mpg. Pricing for the 2011 Ford Fiesta starts at $13,320.
2011 Ford Fiesta:
FORD FIESTA, TOP 12 ‘AMERICAN IDOLS’ GET PERSONAL
* Ford is adding an exciting new element to its sponsorship of “American Idol” by giving each of the top 12 contestants a unique opportunity to work with Ford designers and create their own customized 2011 Ford Fiesta graphics
* This new element will be featured in a video segment in tonight’s episode of “American Idol,” which airs at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed on FOX; fans will be able to see the Idols’ customized Fiesta designs at www.americanidol.com
* With the help of four up-and-coming Ford designers, the Top 12 Idols created their own personalized Fiesta theme, using color, custom body graphics, wheel treatments and other accessories to make the vehicle an expression of each contestant’s personality
* More than 100,000 people have already expressed an interest in the all-new 2011 Ford Fiesta due to the success of the Fiesta Movement social media initiative
DEARBORN, Mich., March 17, 2010 – Ford Motor Company is adding an exciting new element to its sponsorship of the hit television series “American Idol,” giving the top 12 Idols a unique opportunity to work with Ford designers and create their own personalized 2011 Ford Fiesta.
Tonight’s episode of “American Idol,” which airs at 9:00-10:00 p.m. ET live/PT tape-delayed on FOX, will feature this new element in a video segment.
All of the Idols’ Fiestas will be on display at www.americanidol.com. From March 17 through May 21, 2010 fans 18 and older can enter the Ford Music Video Challenge weekly for a chance to win one of the vehicles and a trip to the set of a Ford Music Video shoot or the grand prize, which includes a Fiesta with their choice of one of the Top 12 designs and tickets to the finale. Official rules and entry details are available at www.americanidol.com/ford/challenge.
“Idolizing” the Ford Fiesta
Ford began the design process by giving each of the top 12 contestants a palette of nine Fiesta colors to choose from, including vibrant shades like Lime Squeeze, Blue Flame and Bright Magenta. So the design team could get to know each contestant on a more personal level, the Idols also were given a personality survey to fill out with questions like, “What are the three things you are most passionate about?” and “What do you want your car to say about you?”
Four up-and-coming Ford designers – Dillon Blanski, Gustavo Bizyk, Lesli Ann Agcaoili and Dean Carbis – reviewed the questionnaires, traveled to Hollywood to meet with the Idols, and then helped each contestant develop the concept for his or her personalized Fiesta, using color, custom body graphics, wheel treatments and other accessories to transform the vehicle into an expression of each contestant’s individuality.
“We explained to the Idols that the graphics they design will actually be a symbol of them and their life experiences,” said Carbis, who most recently served as lead exterior designer for the 2010 Ford Taurus. “They were really excited to work with us.”
According to Carbis, Tuxedo Black was a popular color choice among the male contestants while the girls seemed to favor more vivid shades like Bright Magenta and Lime Squeeze. Some of the contestants even opted to accessorize their Fiesta with a four-piece 3dCarbon body kit.
“Some of the Idols are familiar with graphic tuning so they wanted to get the body kit and create more of a sports tuner package,” he said.
Not surprisingly, music was a common theme among the contestants.
“Many of the Idols are obviously very music-oriented, so we talked about taking an instrument they play or the lyrics to their favorite song and somehow incorporating that into the graphics,” said Blanski, 26, the youngest member of the Ford design team.
Both Carbis and Blanski say they are thrilled to participate in the “American Idol” project.
“Typically I’m expressing myself through the vehicles I design. Trying to interpret somebody else’s passion and ideas and then help them put that into graphic form is totally different from anything I’ve done before,” said Blanski. “It’s a challenge, but it’s also fun.”
2011 Ford Fiesta: A hit before leaving the gate
Thanks to the success of the Fiesta Movement social media initiative – which has generated more than 6.2 million YouTube views, more than 750,000 Flickr views and nearly 4 million Twitter impressions – more than 100,000 people have already expressed an interest in the 2011 Ford Fiesta.
Going on sale this summer, the all-new Fiesta features an expressive, vibrant design, sharp reflexes, and a global track record that will redefine U.S. small car customers’ expectations. With 15 class-exclusive technologies and a projected best-in-class highway fuel economy of
40 mpg, Fiesta brings efficiency and convenience together in one package.
It’s also designed to be versatile, personal and adaptable. In fact, Fiesta is expected to deliver best-in-class convenience and connectivity with the segment-exclusive SYNC® voice-activated communications system, as well as an expressive color palette and available graphics.
Ford is planning many appearance and functional accessories for the Fiesta, including a lower body kit by 3dCarbon, a large, sporty rear hatchback spoiler brought over from Europe, several different shift knobs, and innovative body-side graphics by Original Wraps. A preview of these offerings and more is available at www.fordvehicles.com/fiesta while the graphics can be explored at www.fordfiestagraphics.com. The full Fiesta accessories offering will be available to review and purchase at www.fordaccessories.com when the Fiesta launches this summer.
Already, more than 7,000 consumers have made reservations for the Ford Fiesta – half of them from non-Ford customers. Customers can begin placing their order for the new Fiesta today through their local Ford dealer.
In the debate over efforts to expand HIV testing by making it less “exceptional” and more like other important tests done in medical care — something I heartily endorse (no kidding) — comes one particular protest that makes absolutely no sense to me.
It goes something like this:
We cannot expand HIV testing before guaranteeing that all newly-diagnosed people can get access to care.
ARRGGGH!
In what other disease do we make this stipulation? Would we stop recommending cancer or diabetes or hypertension screening in poor communities because there is no guarantee that they will be “covered” if we find something?
Look, the desire to get everyone access to care is laudable. And we should plan for an increase in cases when testing expands, as has so impressively happened in Washington DC. But we’re hardly going to fix the whole health care system at the same time we change antiquated HIV testing laws.
It’s especially ironic that this keeps coming up in HIV. Is there another disease with so many safety nets in place for coverage as HIV/AIDS?
Some would argue – I would — that we have in HIV care a pretty impressive model for national health care.
Although previously the subject of some early obituaries, it appears that the future of the Cadillac Converj showcar is indeed at a dead-end. According to Automotive News, a production future for the rakish extended-range coupe has been scuttled due to “priorities and the conviction that the Volt and Ampera will use all available capacity for years to come” – that’s according to a text message from General Motors vice chairman Bob Lutz.
Lutz, who is himself retiring on May 1, openly championed the Converj, including telling members of the Society of Automotive Analysts that the car would be built after 2012. Prevailing logic also had the well-received 2009 Detroit Auto Show concept getting the green light, if only because affixing a higher-margin Cadillac badge to its flanks would presumably help GM recover some of its massive investment in the E-Rev technology it shared with the Chevrolet Volt and Opel Ampera. However, in a Bloomberg report from earlier this month, some company managers apparently successfully argued that the business case for the Converj could not be made.
Alright, we’re calling it. Healthcare is going to pass.
Dennis Kucinich has announced his intention to support the bill, and now, according to ace Washington Independent reporter David Weigel, even the tea partiers are feeling dispirited.
Kucinich is an odd one, but he’s actually important, and presumably he wouldn’t throw away his much-vaunted independence if he thought he was going to be on the losing side of the battle. He obviously knows that Pelosi and Hoyer and Co. can gin up the necessary votes.
Healthcare stocks are getting smacked around today on this same anticipation (although it’s not obvious that the law will actually hurt them).
And, finally, you can just hear the way the way the conversation has changed to “when” Obama signs it, rather than “if”.
Michael Jackson has secured the largest recording deal in the history of the business and there are two winners in the equation. Michael Jackson’s estate will net easily $200 million out of the deal, and Sony wins because they will get nine albums out of the deal. The Washington Post thinks its ten albums, which is simply astounding. Despite already having around a dozen albums to his name, MJ kept writing and recording songs during all of the legal, financial and medical matters during the last years of his life. You must remember he hadn’t released an album since Invincible (aside from This Is It) so it will be interesting to see what happens. This will also mean he will eventually have 20 albums to his name.
Sony has noted that a new record is scheduled to be released this November.
EA has set a May worldwide release for the third entry in their Skate franchise. Gamers in the US will get their copies come May 11 while those in the UK will get theirs on May 14.
With our free pick on Thursday for our forum audience we will select from the opening round of the NCAA Tournament as the Washington Huskies will do battle with the Marquette Golden Eagles. They tip off this game at the HP Pavilion in San Jose California at 7:20PM Eastern Time and you can watch it on CBS. With our free pick we will play on the Washington Huskies +2 points against the Marquette Golden Eagles.
Washington played very well down the stretch winning the Pac 10 conference tournament and winning 7 straight games. The Huskies have shot the ball very well and will provide a difficult match up for Marquette. The location greatly favors the Huskies as they remain on the west coast for their opening round game. It will be very difficult for Marquette to adjust to the Huskies style of basketball after competing against the Big East style clubs. Marquette struggled on the defensive end allowing 53.6% shooting to Georgetown and 54% to Villanova in their last two games. The Huskies are playing their best basketball of the season and will control tempo in this game to get the cover.
Social networks are a big part of many people’s lives and plenty of other people use them occasionally. This makes them a valuable source of information for anyone interested, including government agencies. The Internet rights watchdog, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), has requested several US government bodi… (read more)
John Resig, jQuery’s author and Mozilla employee, announced on March 16, 2010 that Microsoft would be continuing and even extending their involvement in the jQuery project. The Redmond-based giant will be delivering project integrations, new initiatives, code contributors and allocation of additional resources.
Last week DynDNS released its beta support for Wide Area Bonjour and DNS Service Discovery. This means that if you own your own domain name, and you have a Custom DNS service with DynDNS, you can configure your Apple AirPort device (AirPort Extreme, AirPort Express and Time Capsule) to present itself as part of that domain, automatically updating your domain name and broadcasting configured services.
What is Wide Area Bonjour?
Wide Area Bonjour enables the same zero-config automatic service discovery functionality over the public Internet that we all enjoy on our local network (seeing our shared files, printers, scanners and so forth). If you have a MobileMe account and utilize the Back To My Mac functionality, you’re already using Wide Area Bonjour without even knowing it.
Why would we use this?
Most of us who use DynDNS use it to be able to let the IP Address that our ISP give us resolve with a friendly domain name (such as myname.homedns.org). This basic free DynDNS service works really well as long as you have a third-party router that supports DynDNS (which most of them do). Unfortunately Apple, being Apple, does not support DynDNS in its routers, leaving you to run the OS X DynDNS updater application on your computer. The downside to this is that if your computer is asleep and your home Internet connection drops and reconnects (giving you a new IP address) DynDNS does not get updated until the computer wakes up. When wanting to use Snow Leopard’s Wake On Demand feature this is a problem, so this has meant “tough luck,” requiring you to run the DynDNS Mac client on multiple machines and hope the IP updating occurs often enough. It generally works fine, with the occasional expected downtime when your home IP changes at midday if computers are sleeping.
Does it work?
This DynDNS Community post explains the current problem the DynDNS team are having. The gist is that while the Wide Area Bonjour service discovery works just fine, the domain name IP allocation will only work if your IP does not resolve a reverse name lookup. This is an issue since almost all Internet Providers that give you a dynamic IP address have a full domain name allocated already. For instance, if you do a reserve name lookup on your dynamic IP you may get a name of 123-148-53-102.dyn.ispname.com. This is a problem because of the way Apple’s Global Dynamic Hostname configuration currently works. It will only attempt to configure a name for the IP address if a name doesn’t already exist. DynDNS has queried Apple about the way this works and it appears to be non-intentional behaviour caused by a bug. Apple has indicated on the bonjour mailing list that a fix will come some time in the future, but at this stage there is no ETA. Apple will have to issue firmware updates for the Airport devices to make this work as expected.
What is working fine at the moment is Wide Area Bonjour service discovery. So if you have a static IP that does not resolve with a reverse name lookup and would like to emulate the kind of automatic service discovery functionality that you experience with Back To My Mac, you can achieve this goal with DynDNS now. DynDNS have two guides to assist with the appropriate configurations if you want to give it a try:
So, the music press has been busy talking about the accusations from Eddy Grant that the band Gorillaz copied his old tune with one of their recent hits. You can compare the two songs here. There appear to be some similarities, but they’re pretty different songs:
The timing on this is a bit interesting. Gorillaz is a band from Damon Albarn, and just a couple months ago, the manager of Albarn’s musical acts (Blur, Gorillaz) was screaming about how he wanted to give “pirates” who leaked the Gorillaz album a “good kicking.” Perhaps he ought to stay away from Eddy Grant for a bit.
Of course, it’s a bit silly for Grant to be upset too. He wrote a song that was popular years ago, and now he wants free cash because some other band made a song that has some vague similarities?
Here’s a little something interesting about the gold market that was put out in a note this morning:
Based on a seasonal study by the Commodity Trader’s Almanac, Gold tends to make a peak around January 14 and work lower over the next 38 trading days. The Almanac says that this has been a sound trade 23 times over the past 35 years, or a 65.7% profit probability. Not bad. This year April gold peaked early on December 3 and reached its nadir on February 5, or 46 trading days later. While the start dates are different, we consider the approaching end of the seasonally weak period on March 18 important as we should not trade against it and it gives us one more reason to be bullish. The April gold future closed above its 50-day moving average Tuesday, and the June Dollar index future is poised to test/break its up trendline.
Analyst Dave Rosenberg speaks about the sour state of the US housing market in this morning’s appropriately titled “Guinness With Dave” newsletter.
As month-over-month slides in housing continue to increase, we are running out of ways to shield ourselves from the cold, hard truth. Housing starts are toast, like it not. And you can’t blame the weather on that:
Guinness With Dave: The U.S. housing market is definitely weakening. That 5.9% MoM slide in housing starts, to 575k at an annual rate in February, was far more than just a weather report because even excluding the Northeast, activity still fell 5.4% on the month.
The single-family sector dipped 0.6% MoM, to 499k at an annual rate. Single- family starts appear to have bottomed out last spring/summer, but the problem is that there is no follow-through despite all the stimulus — in large part because of the still large overhang of supply.
The multi-family sector was the key culprit, falling 30.3% MoM in February back down to 76k at an annual rate. Moreover, there is no reason for the weather to have played a role in the fact that building permits were down 1.6% in February — the second decline in the past three months. And, the NAHB index is highly suggestive of further declines in both home sales and housing starts in coming months. Single-family starts and the NAHB are both back down to June-July levels and yet the S&P Homebuilding index is up 40% from that time. That is what you call …. a whole lot of air.
In the debate over efforts to expand HIV testing by making it less “exceptional” and more like other important tests done in medical care — something I heartily endorse (no kidding) — comes one particular protest that makes absolutely no sense to me.
Social networks are a big part of many people’s lives and plenty of other people use them occasionally. This makes them a valuable source of information for anyone interested, including government agencies. The Internet rights watchdog, the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), has requested several US government bodi… (
John Resig, jQuery’s author and Mozilla employee, announced on March 16, 2010 that Microsoft would be continuing and even extending their involvement in the jQuery project. The Redmond-based giant will be delivering project integrations, new initiatives, code contributors and allocation of additional resources.
