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Rabbi Frederick Reeves

Board President

Rabbi Frederick Reeves is the senior clergy of KAM Isaiah Israel Congregation in Chicago, Illinois. In addition to serving as the spiritual leader of Illinois’s oldest Jewish congregation, he is the president of the Hyde Park & Kenwood Interfaith Council and serves as a member of the board for the Chicago Area Reform Rabbi’s Association. Prior to coming to KAM Isaiah Israel, Rabbi Reeves served as the Associate Rabbi of The Temple in Atlanta, Georgia. A native of Richmond, Virginia, Rabbi Reeves has a degree in French Literature from the College of William & Mary. He earned an M.A. in Hebrew Letters and was ordained at the HUC in Cincinnati, Ohio. Rabbi Reeves has five children: Violet, Asher, Levi, Hazel, and Judah. He and his wife, Lauren, love living in the Hyde Park neighborhood of Chicago.

Karyn Bass Ehler

Board Vice President

Karyn is a Civil Rights Practice Group Leader and Senior Counsel at the law firm of Grant & Eisenhofer. She recently served as the Chief of the Civil Rights Bureau for the Office of the Illinois Attorney General. In that role, Karyn oversaw investigations, litigation and legislation to address patterns and practices of discrimination in Illinois. Prior to joining the Attorney General’s office, Karyn was a partner at a mid-size Chicago law firm where she concentrated her practice in civil rights, constitutional law, commercial litigation and labor and employment law. Karyn also clerked for Judge William J. Bauer on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and Judge Matthew Kennelly on the United States District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Karyn is a co-founder and advisory board member of the Center on Public Interest Law at DePaul University College of Law. Karyn is a graduate of Northwestern University and DePaul University College of Law.

David Graham

Board Treasurer

David has been a partner at Sidley Austin LLP since 1986. He serves as a co-leader of the firm’s Securities and Shareholder Litigation team. David’s practice concentrates on commercial litigation and disputes, at both the trial and appellate levels, with an emphasis on the defense of securities fraud, antitrust and consumer class actions. He also frequently advises boards of directors on fiduciary and other issues, and represents companies and directors in M&A litigation matters. David has tried numerous matters in a wide variety of settings throughout the nation, including jury trials, bench trials, arbitrations and administrative proceedings. He has also argued dozens of appellate cases. Prior to joining the firm in 1980, David was a Bigelow Teaching Fellow and Lecturer in Law at The University of Chicago Law School. He also served as law clerk to the Honorable Charles L. Levin, Justice, Michigan Supreme Court. David lectures regularly on a variety of legal topics. He is also active in a variety of community and civic organizations and pro bono matters. He is recognized as a Litigation Star in the United States in the 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 editions of Benchmark Litigation, recommended in Securities: Shareholder Litigation in The Legal 500 US 2014, 2015 and 2016 and is listed as a “Best Lawyer” in Commercial Litigation, Litigation – Antitrust, and Litigation – Securities in the 2016 and 2017 editions of The Best Lawyers in America.

Sara cantor Aye

Board Secretary

Sara Cantor Aye co-founded Greater Good Studio to apply her background in ethnographic research and design strategy to overlooked problems and underserved people. At Greater Good, she designs effective and inclusive engagements, guides the research practice, and develops partnerships with clients, peers and mentors. Sara speaks regularly on designing for social impact and has facilitated social innovation workshops around the world with a wide range of learners, from nonprofit executives to high school students. Sara holds a master’s in design planning from the Institute of Design at IIT and a bachelor’s in mechanical engineering from Northwestern University.

Jeff Zaluda

Immediate Past Board President

Jeffrey A. Zaluda is a partner at Horwood, Marcus & Berk. He built his practice by creating long-term relationships with clients who value his accessibility and ability to bring creative, practical and empathetic solutions to their unique matters. Jeff’s clients include individuals, families, fiduciaries, closely held businesses, business owners, entrepreneurs, philanthropies and social impact investors. He advises on estate and tax planning, business and succession planning, asset protection and preservation, estate and trust administration, estate and trust litigation, and deployment of social capital.Jeff regularly speaks and writes and has prepared and presented dozens of professional articles, treatises and speeches on a variety of topics related to his trusts and estates practice. He is a Fellow of the American College of Trust and Estate Counsel and a member of the Tax Management Estate, Gifts and Trust Advisory Board, the Chicago Estate Planning Council and the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners, among other organizations. He regularly publishes in various professional journals.

Rich Amend and his wife Andy have been connected with JCUA for almost thirty years. Rich lives in Highland Park and retired in 2014 from his work in the distribution industry. He periodically works as an industry consultant on international supply chain and computer systems integration. Deeply committed to social justice causes, Rich has had more time to be active following his retirement. He is a board member of Curt’s Cafe and was part of the core team that brought Curt’s to Highland Park. Additionally he holds the following leadership roles in Jewish and community organizations: board member for Family Service of Lake County; Commission on Social Action member for the Religious Action Council; member of J-Street’s National Leadership Circle; and member of JCUA’s immigration task force. Rich also belongs to Makom Lakeside, the new synagogue entity resulting from the merging of Solel and Lakeside Congregations.

Zachary Braun

Zachary began his banking career with First Eagle Bank in Chicago in 2002 as a Credit Analyst. He is currently Senior Vice President and Group Head in the Bank’s Chicago location. Prior to joining the bank, Zachary was a Commercial Real Estate Broker handling leasing and sales assignments on the behalf of clients.Zachary obtained a Master of Business Administration degree from DePaul University with a dual concentration in Finance and Real Estate Investment & Finance. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Montana. Zachary has been a JCUA board member since 2012 and leads the organization’s CVP Advisory Committee.

Daniel Epstein

Daniel Epstein is a former litigator at Jenner & Block. He received his bachelor’s degree in economics and political science in 2007 from Washington University in St. Louis.  He received his J.D. in 2015 from The University of Chicago Law School. Mr. Epstein’s pro bono practice is active and has included the representation of clients before the Supreme Court of the United States and the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. In 2017 Mr. Epstein won Jenner & Block’s pro bono award. Prior to practicing law, Mr. Epstein was the Director of Government Relations for a global private provider of education services. He also worked as a consultant — focusing on business best practices research for Fortune 100 insurers — and led a nonprofit supporting educational initiatives on five continents. Mr. Epstein is a founder and the president of Perspective to the People (a nonprofit working to provide free security cameras to residents in Chicago’s Austin neighborhood), serves on the board of directors of the Young Professionals Council of the Lawndale Christian Legal Center, is a member of the Institute for New Economic Thinking’s Human Capital and Economic Opportunity Global Working Group, and is a Tony Patiño Fellow.

David Feinberg

As Managing Director of Regional Real Estate Services for IFF, Mr. Feinberg oversees strategy and implementation of IFF’s real estate work in its regional offices and aligns IFF’s real estate consulting work to other departments and initiatives throughout IFF.  Prior to joining IFF, Mr. Feinberg led the real estate development of more than 10 charter school campuses, totaling more than $125M in facilities projects and impacting more than 5,000 students on a national footprint.  He also provided real estate and facilities strategy and consulting for more than 15 charter schools.  He previously served as the CEO of the non-profit, Charter School Support Services, was a co-founder of the non-profit Launchpad Development Corp, and served as a Regional Director of Turner-Agassi Charter School Facilities Fund. David is passionate about educational equity and community redevelopment.  He began his career as a public school teacher in South Phoenix, teaching 3rd grade and middle school, and designing an after-school program for at-risk youth.  After obtaining his graduate degree in urban planning, he began focusing on the intersection of educational equity and community redevelopment in charter school real estate and operations. He currently serves as the Secretary of the Pulaski LSC. He holds a B.A. from Hampshire College, a M.Ed. from ASU, and a Masters in Planning from USC.

Maris Garcia is the Director of the D+I Studio at the University of Chicago. Using a human-centered design approach, she coaches partners in making the campus more equitable for underrepresented students, staff and faculty members. She is a trusted design researcher and strategist with 15 years of experience across sectors and industries. With a strong commitment to social innovation, she has led extraordinary nonprofits and foundations in creating new programs, strategies and tools to help people change mindsets, behaviors and conditions. Maris previously taught Research Methods at the School of the Art Institute Chicago (SAIC) and received a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis, where she studied architecture and psychology. She and her family are passionate Builders at Mishkan Chicago, where she serves on the community’s Organizing Team.

Rabbi Megan GoldMarche

Rabbi Megan is the Rabbi at the Silverstein Base Hillel at Lincoln Park and the campus Rabbi of Metro Chicago Hillel. She graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 2006 with a B.A. in Psychology and Women’s Studies. Megan then went to work for the Hillel at Yale University where she discovered her passion for working with college students, and realized that rather than pursuing a PhD in Clinical psychology she wanted to use the Jewish tradition as a source of meaning to empower young adults to create their own rich Jewish identities. Megan was ordained by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 2014 and also received an MA in Jewish Gender and Women’s Studies and a certificate in Pastoral Care and Counseling. Megan in an alumna of the Wexner graduate fellowship and prior to joining Metro Chicago Hillel, Megan served as the Senior Jewish Educator at Columbia/Barnard Hillel where she oversaw the social justice portfolio of the Hillel and was involved in various local social justice organizations in New York including JFREJ, T’ruah, and Picture the Homeless. She sought out JCUA as soon as she returned to Chicago and strives to bring local activism to her work at Hillel, seeing it as central to Jewish life and living.

David Levinson

Following graduation from Penn State (B.A. English ’79), David arrived in Chicago in the fall of 1979 as a VISTA, assigned as Energy Programs Coordinator to The Neighborhood Institute (TNI), the nonprofit community development arm of South Shore Bank (eventually Shorebank). His work TNI involved education, advocacy and direct service. In 1984, David left TNI and co-founded Recycling Services. Launched from a vacant lot on the north side of Chicago, the company become one of the largest independently-owned paper recycling companies in the Midwest. When the business was sold to Waste Management at the end of 2011, David joined the company as Director of Market Planning and Development, where he oversaw a team of eleven people who had responsibility for growing the recycling business in Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and Cambridge, Ontario (Canada). Since he left Waste Management in September of 2014, David has been consulting within the recycling industry.

Benetta Mansfield

Benetta Mansfield is a lawyer with more than 30 years of experience as an advocate and mediator. During her professional career in Washington, D.C., Benetta served as the Chief of Staff of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents more than 185,000 bus operators, maintenance and clerical employees throughout the U.S. and Canada. Previously, she was the Chief of Staff of the National Mediation Board and was appointed by a federal judge to direct the election of international officers for the International Brotherhood of Teamsters. Upon retirement, Benetta returned to her hometown of Chicago, Ill., where she lives today with her husband, Kalman Resnick. She previously served as Vice President of the Board of Arise Chicago and Chair of the Board of Operation Understanding in Washington, DC. She is also a board member of the Mansfield Family Foundation, a longtime supporter of JCUA. In May of 2019, she completed her second term as Chair of the Avodah Board of Directors.

Mike Rosenthal

Mike Rosenthal runs Rosenthal Manufacturing, a 3rd generation family business that designs and builds custom machinery. In addition to his work as an engineer, he is passionate about helping nonprofits, spending time with his large family, and enjoying the outdoors. One of his nonprofit causes, Imagine Englewood If, works to empower the Greater Englewood community through teaching youth and family healthy living and environmental awareness. Mike is actively involved in JCUA’s issue campaigns.

Irene Lehrer Sandalow

Irene Lehrer Sandalow is the founder and director of SketchPad a Jewish shared workspace and community for innovative, mission-driven Jewish organizations and entrepreneurs (JCUA is an anchor organization of SketchPad.) Irene has worked in the Jewish nonprofit sector for over 15 years. She has expertise in coalition building, project management, strategic planning, community education, outreach, and organizing. Most recently, Irene was the Chicago Senior Project Manager of URJ’s B’nai Mitzvah Revolution. Prior to that, Irene founded the Parent to Parent Initiative at The Jewish Education Project promoting parent leadership in Jewish day schools in New York. From 2006-2012, Irene worked at JCUA where she educated and mobilized members of the Jewish community in local and national social justice campaigns. Irene’s writings have appeared in eJewish Philanthropy, ZEEK: A Jewish Journal of Thought and Culture, Journal for Jewish Communal Service, and Sh’ma: a Journal for Jewish Ideas. She and her husband, Dr. Nathan Sandalow, are the proud parents of Eli, Abe, and Chananya (Henry).

Randi Stern

Randi Stern has been an active JCUA member since 2014, working primarily on the Trauma Center and Domestic Workers Bill of Rights campaigns. She was on the Hyde Park JCC Board from 2005 to 2008. Randi was the coordinator of the Hyde Park Israel Solidarity Day Walk for Israel in 2006 and 2007. Randi has a bachelor’s degree in microbiology from the University of Illinois-Urbana and has worked in the medical research field for over 30 years. For the past 15 years, until she retired two years ago, she worked at the University of Chicago. Randi was involved in numerous neighborhood activities while living in the Dearborn Park community in the 1990’s. Randi coached her children’s soccer team in the South Loop and currently coaches a girls softball team in the Hyde Park neighborhood. Randi loves to play basketball and has been fortunate to compete in women’s 3 on 3 basketball during the 2013 and 2015 Senior Games.

Cydney Wallace

Cydney Wallace is a Torah observant wife and mother of four, born and raised on the south side of Chicago. She joined JCUA after becoming increasingly frustrated with how the 2016 election was going. Cydney graduated high school a year early and attended Spelman College in Atlanta, GA, where she met her husband of nearly thirteen years, though she was unable to finish school due to a lack of funds. Working exclusively in customer service jobs, her first job as a grocery store stocker in Sandy Springs, GA paid her just $5.45/hr in 2004. Cydney began working for Epiq Global (formerly Document Technologies, Inc.) in 2011 pushing a mail cart and, as of April 2019, became a member of the Operations Team as the Resource Select Team Manager. After a childhood of constantly moving/being evicted, and a stint of homelessness in college, Cydney and her husband Brent bought their first home in Chicago Lawn/Marquette Park in to be within walking distance of Beth Shalom B’Nai Zaken Ethiopian Hebrew congregation.


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Figure out who’s driving: Opportunity or Crisis

“There can’t be a crisis next week. My schedule is full.” Henry Kissinger

I don’t know about you, but I’d rather spend fill up my schedule working on the next cool thing than running around like a chicken with my head cut off.

To be able to have schedules low on dealing with crises and high on leveraging opportunity, first understand what’s currently shaping people’s time. A common measure we keep our eyes on is operational vs. capital spending – how much is spent on “keeping the lights on” and maintaining the status quo as compared to how much is spent on investments in new technology. The goal is to decrease the former and increase the latter. Another, more nuanced aspect of analysis is identifying the drivers of investments, programs, even daily operational tasks. What triggers the work – opportunities or crises?

A wealth of opportunity triggers is indicative of an engaged, developed organization that understands the business mission and market. Signs include strong alignment of IT resources to strategic investments, seamless collaboration, and high stakeholder satisfaction with delivery. Simply put, when opportunity triggers are prevalent, people are working on stuff that is going to make things better – delighting customers, improving revenue, accelerating growth.

Work triggered by crisis is inevitable. Equipment breaks. Storms happen. Even opportunity can arise from crisis – if you aren’t currently lurching constantly from one catastrophe to the next within the same sub-optimal construct. An abundance of “been there, done that” crisis triggers indicate weakness and lack of maturity.

1.       Broken triggers. When help desk tickets are more “it’s broken” than “how do I…” it’s an indicator that technology is insufficiently maintained and managed. Accelerating change and increasing reliance often requires more resources to assist and educate people with technology. However, resources to support the new will be constrained if the existing is out-of-date and creaky.

2.       Firefighting triggers. Are meetings all about problem solving and barely about new ideas? Does the organization struggle to find time to discuss innovation and develop new skills? Well-conceived, planned and executed projects are less likely to experience crises and have operational issues. One intangible of a quality implementation is more time for opportunity-seeking vs. break-fixing. As Drucker says, strategy is a commodity, execution is art.

3. Talent triggers. Always scrambling to hire critical roles, whether database admins or analytics gurus? Exhausting your “go-to” people? Good leaders know to stock up on good talent before the need is there, so that opportunities can be accelerated, not delayed. Also, remember that while compensation is important, talented employees value being surrounded by other talented employees. Revive or remove dead wood.

4. Last but never least > security triggers. Lack of investment in cybersecurity has dire consequences. Organizations must have the talent, technology and processes to combat the relentless onslaught or risk constant distraction and anxiety. Most high profile breaches could have been avoided if leadership had paid attention to this issue.

Is opportunity or crisis the primary driver in your organization?

“I say luck is when an opportunity comes along and you’re prepared for it.” Denzel Washington, actor

Worth considering:

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Keep your curls

Hi Everyone!!

Today’s Blog is one that some of you lovely ladies have been badgering me to write up and I often get the question of, “What is your secret to keeping hair curly?”. Well, there is no secret- you just need to know how to prep your hair and that curls need time!……….Grab yourself a cuppa and prepare to be amazed, or not. These steps are so simple, it is all about the ‘cool down’.

First step is to prep your hair with mousse! I love the VO5 Plump it up mousse, it does the job and it smells amazing. This mousse also acts as a Heat Defence so it’s a bit of a double whammy!

spray some in the palm of your hands and rub through your hair roughly.

If you choose to add in more heat defence then I recommend the L’oreal heat defence spray, which you can get from most large supermarkets. You can never be too precious to your hair so make sure that if you are using hot hair tools that your tresses are protected.

Now for the styling! I start from the bottom with the curling so divide your hair into sections across your head. I use my Electric Head Jog titanium Gold waving iron (32mm) which you can get from Capital Hair and Beauty and it is on sale at the moment for £14.95 (ex Vat).  One by one curl………then this is the important bit- Roll your curls as you do them in the shape of the curl and pin them, I personally use the Hair Tools Double promg curl clips that I get from Capital Hair and Beauty.Then spray with Hairspray, preferably not a sticky one, I use the Vo5 Weather resistant Hairspray, again smells delicious  and doesn’t make the curls rock hard or tacky!  Do your makeup, have a glass of vino, sing a bit of karaoke in the mirror, then unpin them all! Treat them with a bit of love as you are taking them out, and you will have beautiful spiral curls.

Here is the fun bit! Take a wide toothed comb- I use an Andrew Barton one, I think it was only about £3 from Asda and gently brush through the curls. The curls are just absolutely stunning, I like to call them ‘Hollywood curls’. They are so versatile that they look amazing with vintage styles, boho styles and even just everyday effortless chic! Use a good hair spray just to gently spritz over them, for the very last spray I use BedHead HardHead spray- just to ensure these curls stay in all day or evening. Do not spray too much of this as it can be tacky, maybe get someone to spray it from a distance for you.

And that is it, simple ways to make curls stay in their shape, the key to this is the let them cool down……with a little help from some amazing hair products! 53c34ed9e12c548b706391e1a14d1c72

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Dear 2017

Dear 2017,

You were one of the craziest years of my life. So much had happened, both good and bad. I went through a lot. I’ve also grown so much.

So I just want to say thank you.

Thank you for teaching me to give it all I’ve got if I want to accomplish my dreams. Thank you for teaching me to believe in myself and in my work. Thank you for teaching me to slow down, take a deep breath, and take one step at a time. Thank you for bringing the most amazing people into my life. Thank you for giving me so many amazing opportunities. Thank you for showing me the importance of hard work.

Looking back at my journal, I can see that I really focused on myself this year. I wanted a chance to reinvent myself and feel like me again. However, I also lost myself towards the end of the year. I was in a strange and unfamiliar place that I am only starting to come out of now.

This year, I pierced my ear again, read more than ever before, went on a weeklong vacation with my family (over 20 of us), applied to colleges, got my first (and second) job, went camping, started my senior year of high school, got into 9 colleges, and became an adult (!!).

I am finally in a happy place in my life. I want to continue down this road, and make 2018 even more memorable than 2017.

dear 2018,

I promise to make you wonderful.

One thought on “Dear 2017

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Now, here in PR we have “Food Courts.”  Those big areas in the malls where you can indulge in all sorts of unhealthy cuisines accompanied by a big huge soda.  ( In WI, we’d call that a “pop”…in other words a Coke or Pepsi or sprite or some such drink.) You know what I am saying…   Well, I believe this is ingenious!  A Food Park!  No, we don’t have them in Puerto Rico…and by posting this, I guess I am derailing any dreams I may have had about starting one here.  Someone has GOT to pick up on this!

A Food Park is a place where food trucks (yes, we have those in PR) can all go and “park” and service customers in a central location.

Right now, the food trucks in PR have a set location and the customers travel to them to sample their delicacies.  No competition within miles.  All well and good.  But, better  is the idea, that the food trucks all go and park in a strategic location (weekday different from weekend) and hoards of customers (search the internet and find where they are today, and) flock to them. I.e.  I go with Gerry and Gerry wants something different than what makes my mouth water.  No problem!  There is a food truck for every taste!  And best of all, there is a whole slew of picnic tables where we can each bring our chosen delicacy and still eat together.

So on a recent trip to Fort Worth to visit Gerry (Jr.) , we had our lunch at the “Food Park,” along with about 100  other people:  I had vegetarian, Kelly had grilled cheese (YES! A grilled cheese food truck!  How cool is that?) and Gerry (Jr.) probably had a hamburger – typical male fare (sorry…).  This is a brilliant idea, waiting to come to PR!

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Black Friday Is Almost Here!
The Inventory team is rounding up deals you don’t want to miss, now through Cyber Monday. Click here to browse!

A Whitney Houston Hologram is Coming to a Town Near You

Illustration for article titled A Whitney Houston Hologram is Coming to a Town Near You

Soon you’ll have the chance to see a hologram of Whitney Houston perform all of the singer’s greatest hits. On Friday, Houston’s estate and Hologram USA announced that a Houston hologram will go on tour in 2016, as well as stream live on the company’s website. In addition to performing Houston’s best-known songs, the hologram will “interact with special guests.” Do you think the special guests will include Taylor Swift?

Lest you think this is a weird and maybe unethical use of Houston’s image, you can put your worries to rest knowing that the hologram has the complete backing of Houston’s estate. “It’s a great opportunity for her fans to see a reinvention of one the most celebrated female artists in history and to continue a legacy of performances that will not be forgotten in years to come,” Pat Houston, president of the estate, said in a statement.

Though critics have questioned the ethics of holograms, they’re apparently a thing now. First Tupac Shakur at Coachella, then Michael Jackson at the Billboard Awards, and now Whitney Houston. The same company who will produce the Houston hologram announced earlier this week that a Billie Holiday hologram will “perform” at the Apollo Theater in New York at the end of the year.

Image via Getty.

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Anime Drawing Requests

Anime Drawing Requests Her Name is Chloe Tell Me On This Pin if U Have A Request I
Anime Drawing Requests Her Name is Chloe Tell Me On This Pin if U Have A Request I

How To locate Drawing Ideas

Artist’s block is common and it can strike anytime. The good side is that there are some things that you can get to get drawing ideas. Here are some of the things that you can do:

Look around

You could be lacking drawing ideas but in a genuine prudence the ideas might be just there back your eyes. If you are sitting in a room, you lonely compulsion to see vis–vis the room and you will locate something that you desire to draw.

Some of the things that you can locate in your room can be a table, chair, television or all that might get your fancy.

As an player you probably know that the shades and textures that you put on the paper are the ones that determine the setting of your drawing and not the objects that you have drawn; therefore, it doesn’t matter what you have drawn as long as your drawing is of tall quality.

Consider portraits

It has been shown that portraits tend to have enough money you fast inspiration and drawing ideas. One of the easiest portraits that you charm is yours. Here you only infatuation to locate a mirror and pull your portrait.

The fine side with drawing your portrait is that you are always present in the same way as drawing; therefore, you are always handy as the subject. If you are following a friend, you can ask him/her to allow you draw a portrait of him/her.

Take a walk

Staying in one place for a long times is usually joined past nonappearance of ideas. If you locate that you are organization out of drawing ideas, it’s recommended that you agree to a walk or just sit external for some time.

When uncovered you should be cautious of everything that you can see. This can be light, sounds, smells, colors, temperature, trees, buildings, people, and anything else. By helpfully observing what nature has to offer, you will most likely locate something that you might be eager in drawing.

Once you locate something that gets your fancy you should begin drawing sharply – this is to ensure that you don’t forget what you were supposed to draw.

Take a look at what additional artists have done

Looking at what extra artists have over and done with is bound to give you some ideas. Here you compulsion to visit your local gallery or art museum. You can in addition to go to the library and peruse the various art books. behind the addition of technology, you can plus find many resources online.

Anime Drawing Requests has a variety pictures that similar to find out the most recent pictures of Anime Drawing Requests here, and after that you can acquire the pictures through our best anime drawing requests collection. Anime Drawing Requests pictures in here are posted and uploaded by Adina Porter for your anime drawing requests images collection. The images that existed in Anime Drawing Requests are consisting of best images and high character pictures.

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anime drawing requests drawing arts sketch anime drawing requests there are some pics about anime drawing requests out there our team have gallery of anime drawing requests hope you make use of it doodle session anime drawing requests 1 like i mentioned i decided to start this little mini series of doodle requests suggestion x3 this was fun to do o so suggest away in the comments x d credits anime drawing requests home facebook anime drawing requests 468 likes on this page you can ask me or anyone on it to draw somethin or simply just show off your art there will be a anime drawing requests google press question mark to see available shortcut keys sign in does anyone here do free anime drawing requests on i am not able to pay sorry i would draw you a piece of art but my ar looks more like something someone would make in a nevermind still i was just askin anime drawing request sabakunotemarii and yah like i said in the last vid this is her his prize for joining my drawing contest so please don t ask any request i ll tell u guys when thanks category howto style requests 12 obito my anime drawings okay here s a bunch of my anime drawings sorry if they look bad and if anyone wants to request any anime characters for me to draw that would be nice little shuu my anime drawings requests open the sad thing was every time i look at the both of them puppy and little shuu the scene where shuu laughed while holding the puppy friend was so cute

a request from yuki chan of herself
a request from yuki chan of herself art pinterest drawings from anime drawing requests
sorry again for not posting but does anyone have any request or asks
49 best greatest art inspirations images warrior cats art from anime drawing requests
oc request danasha amelia human angel
oc request danasha amelia human angel youtube from anime drawing requests


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K-Tuned K24 Race Header - RSX / 02-05 Civic Si

K-Tuned K24 Race Header - RSX / 02-05 Civic Si

The goal with any performance header design, is to get exhaust gases to flow out of the engine faster and more efficiently, which in turn will produce more power and performance. The K-Tuned RSX Header was designed with this exact theory in mind and utilizes a proven 4-2-1 Tri-Y design with extremely smooth slip fit merge transitions to increase the exhaust flow and power output of the Honda K engine. Like most Tri-Y designs, power gains are seen almost everywhere in the power band, not just the top end. Fitment is equally if not more important to us than function and although the subrame and swaybar on the RSX presented some design challenges, the final fitment was definitely worth some extra time. The secondary tubing passes perfectly through this tight area with extra clearance for engine movement.

The header features stepped piping beginning with 44mm primaries that progressively move into 48mm, then 50mm secondaries and finally a 64mm or 2.5” exit. Like all our headers, it is assembled with mandrel bent, 304 stainless steel tubing and is fully Tig welded. K-Tuned also uses a slightly thicker gauge tubing that allows for better weld penetration and additional strength. The CNC cut 3/8" thick flanges are also double welded and then ported for optimum flow at entry and exit.

This header directly replaces the OEM 2 piece design and eliminates the catalytic converter so we included a short 2.5" test-pipe with defouler for the secondary O2 sensor. However, please note that K-Tuned plans to offer an option for a cat in the future.

Vehicle Application Notes:
Direct bolt-on for all 02-06 RSX and EP3 civic with K24 engine swap. Mates up perfectly with K-Tuned exhaust systems for RSX and EP3 civic.

  • Fits RSX & EP3 civic with K24 engine ONLY
  • 4-2-1 Tri-Y Design
  • 304 Stainless Steel
  • CNC cut 3/8" thick SS Flanges
  • 2.5" Outlet

This is a Race Only product that is to be used solely for competition. It cannot be used on vehicles that are operated on public streets, roads or highways. Its use is limited to closed-course and open-course racing that is formally sanctioned by a recognized racing organization. Any other use, including recreational off-road use, could be in violation of local, state and federal laws.

K-Tuned K24 Race Header - RSX / 02-05 Civic Si

Regular price Sale $584.99
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Free standard shipping applies to this item within the continental United States. Orders shipped to Alaska, Hawaii, Virgin Islands, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, and PO/APO/FPO boxes are subject to additional shipping charges.
Ships: 6-10 business days
This is an estimated ship date once your order is placed from JHPUSA. Ship dates do not include weekends and holidays.
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Cancer & Reproductive Harm
Welcome Newcomer


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Evening Primrose Oil by Jipambe – 100 ml

In stock

Evening primrose oil is rich in omega-6 fatty acids, including gamma linolenic acid (GLA), which has anti-inflammatory properties and may help with conditions such as arthritis, eczema and hypertension. Evening primrose oil is also believed to help ease many symptoms familiar to women such as pre-menstrual problems and those associated with menopause. Packaged in glass bottle to protect the contents from heat, light, oxidation and moisture.

Essentials by Jipambe

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Red Pen Tidbits 10 (the end): Using articles — a, an, & the

Welcome back to the final in the series of Red Pen Tidbits (click for a full table of contents)! I will likely revisit this title, but it will no longer be part of a series. Last time we looked at a few of those tricky Verb Tenses.

This week as we embark on the end, we’ll explore the proper use of articles (a, an, and the).

What exactly are we talking about here?

Image result for article grammar cartoon
image from here

Articles define a noun as definite (specific) or indefinite (unspecific). They are found before the noun they define; although you may see an adjective or two separating them from the noun.

1. Definite Article — THE

The is a definite article. This limits the noun to one particular person, place, thing, or idea.

*TIP: Think about it as if someone was pointing at the item that is being defined.

  • I need to use the pen.
    • There is likely a pen in the vicinity that the speaker sees.
  • Did you hear the man on the announcements?
    • Only one person was speaking on the announcements that everyone just heard.
  • Who has the best grammar in our class?
    • Grammar is a thing, and this speaker wants to know which person is best at it in the class.
Image result for grammar article the
image from here

2. Indefinite Articles — AN

A and an are both indefinite article. This means a noun could be any of the possible people, places, things, or ideas available. It could be an alternate choice that is unavailable.

*TIP: Use a before words with consonant sounds. Use an before words with vowel sounds.

  • I need to use a pen.
    • The speaker doesn’t care which pen he/she uses.
  • I need an honest volunteer for this magic show.
    • The volunteer could be anyone in the audience. Noticean is used since honest starts with a vowel sound.
  • I wish I had a friendly aardvark.
    • This speaker wants any friendly aardvark. Noticea is used since friendly starts with a consonant sound.
Image result for articles grammar
image from here

For your last challenge of the series, take out your trusty Writer’s Notebook and write a poem featuring articles! Share your poem in the comments below or on social media! I can’t wait to see what you write.

If you need a bit more help after this tidbit, then please check out these other helpful sites.

2 thoughts on “Red Pen Tidbits 10 (the end): Using articles — a, an, & the

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UPDATE: 2/27/19 Part II

Renal labs came back tonight. Over all creatinine and BUN are down, however, they are still rising when I’m not doing dialysis, meaning that I can’t get off dialysis any time soon:

Published by J. Michael Jones

J. Michael Jones is a writer and PA who lives in Anacortes, Washington. He is the father of five children, who are now grown and out discovering this wonderful world on their own. He has previously focused his writing on non-fiction including medical topics and issues of the philosophy of Christian thought. With the success of his last book, Butterflies in the Belfry, Michael is now moving into fiction with his first novel, The Waters of Bimini.

5 thoughts on “UPDATE: 2/27/19 Part II

  1. Hang in there Mike. I know it’s so easy for someone who’s not going through this to say but, just needed to say it.

    Two other things. First, let Reid and me know how we can help in your garden raising in March. We are available both weekends but just need to know when you need help. I’m happy to bring food for whoever comes on either weekend for Saturday work if Denise needs that help.

    Second, and this might be something you’re not at all interested in but I just wanted to let you know, my training is as a health psychologist and most of my work was with those with chronic illness or injury. There is a grieving and sadness with those that’s hard for most people to understand and quite frankly those going through it often don’t want to share because it seems, as you have noted, like “whining “ to some. But, having a chronic illness and caring it around sometimes feels like caring around a load of bricks that emotionally, spiritually and sometimes physically gets so very heavy.

    If you ever just want somebody to talk to about what’s going on, someone who somewhat understands what you’re going through, give me a call. Happy to hang out and listen for a bit if that would help.

    Give Denise a hug for me.

    Ann Meyers

    Sent from my iPhone

    Liked by 1 person

    1. You can pick a date, March 16-putting up posts or March 23 – putting up fence panels, both days 11 AM to 1-2 PM. I suspect that if I continue on a path of a lot of bad news, when the dust settles and if my quality is low, I will face a temptation of depression, which so far hasn’t been a big issue. I will continue to pray for better news but keep you in mind. Thanks for your offer of both.

  2. oh man.. sorry to hear that Mike. Will keep praying for full renal recovery, and that you won’t have to continue dialysis. But glad to here your doing better at any rate.

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3 days old

R&D, Metallography Technologist (Mid-Career)

Livermore, CA 94550
Apply Now
Apply on the Company Site

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the posting date. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

We are seeking a R&D General Technologist to support and enhance the capability of its material characterization activities. In this role, the technologist will have specialization in sample preparation using metallographic methods for use in the physical, chemical, and structural characterization of metal alloys, polymers, ceramics, and associated composite structures. The position requires the performance of a variety of duties in such areas as solution chemistry, operation of instrumentation, computer interfaced applications, testing methods, and scientific data collection. In particular, the successful candidate will be an integral part of a team effort that is responsible for the day-to-day operation of a metallography laboratory.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

+ Use and perform routine maintenance of tools and instruments for metallographic preparation and materials characterization tasks including work with field service engineers to keep tools and instruments in good working order;
+ Perform on-the-job training provided by senior staff, and through external training, to provide support for activities that range from basic materials science research to applied engineering materials characterization which is integral to Sandias national security mission;
+ Be responsible for all aspects of metallographic laboratory tools that includes cut-off saws, polishing wheels, preparation of acid and base chemical solutions while working within chemical fume hoods, the use of these chemical solutions for polishing and etching;
+ Be responsible for maintaining a culture of engineered safety, support the development and documentation of safety systems used in laboratory activities that include operating procedures and the drafting of technical work documents, as e.g. primary hazard screening and standard operating procedures;
+ Be a motivated team member, have a dedication to customer service, work independently when needed, contribute creatively to team efforts, and show aptitude through verbal and written communication.

+ Associates degree in Physical Sciences or Engineering;
+ Experience operating metallography equipment including saws, polishing wheel, optical microscopes, hardness testers, and computers for data acquisition;
+ Experience working in a research and development laboratory;
+ Experience documenting techniques and results;
+ Ability to obtain and maintain a DOE Q level security clearance.

+ Experience executing multiple diverse tasks in parallel with high quality, that include milling, grinding, cutting, and polishing of microscopy samples;
+ Basic understanding of microstructural features, electrical and mechanical properties of materials;
+ Demonstrated interest in continuous professional growth through additional training and educational opportunities;
+ Experience overseeing operations in a laboratory with multiple users, such as maintaining laboratory inventory to keep supplies stocked, and other laboratory users trained;
+ Proficient with Microsoft office software and the ability to learn and execute other software packages for data acquisition and analysis.

Department Description:

The Metallography and Microscopy Team specializes in the characterization of inorganic and organic materials for energy and national security applications. This group supports laboratory programs through a variety of characterization methods that include optical microscopy; scanning and transmission electron microscopies; electron microprobe analysis; and macro-micro-nano indentation. In addition, this team supports a broad set of analytic equipment critical to the operations of the California site. The team provides a key element in a diverse set of Materials Science organizations and resources, managed both locally and across the corporation. Energy Nanomaterials Department staff members partner broadly with personnel within Sandia and many external institutions, taking advantage of our proximity to other research facilities and staff in the San Francisco Bay Area and Northern California.

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nations premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

+ Challenging work withamazingimpact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
+ Extraordinary co-workers
+ Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
+ Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
+ Flexible schedules, generous vacations,strongmedical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

_World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers._ Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

Security Clearance:

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE Q-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

EEO Statement:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

This Limited Term Employee (LTE) position is a temporary position for one year term, which may be renewed at Sandia's discretion up to a maximum of seven years.

Individuals in LTE positions may bid on regular Sandia positions as internal candidates, and in some cases may be converted to regular career positions during their term if warranted by ongoing operational needs, continuing availability of funds, and satisfactory job performance.

  • Engineering
Posted: 2020-11-20 Expires: 2020-12-21

 World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers.

National security is our business. We apply science to help detect, repel, defeat, or mitigate threats.

For more than 60 years, Sandia has delivered essential science and technology to resolve the nation's most challenging security issues.

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Livermore, CA 94550

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8 Child-Friendly Restaurants in Joburg

Looking to go out with the little ones for a yummy meal? We know how tough it can be to find a truly child-friendly restaurant. To help you out, we have compiled a list of our favourites. Have a look!

Take your little bambinos for some kid-friendly dining at Bambanani. Offering play areas for children and delicious food plus drinks to go with that – this might just become a family favourite. Parents can actually relax while kids keep busy with fun activities filled with excitement while keeping boredom at bay.

The Fat Olive

What do kids do when they hear, playgrounds, canoeing, animal farmyard and climbing trees? Well, we imagine they go completely crazy with excitement because that is simply children’s paradise… So go and explore The Fat Olive. While they burn the energy off, you can relax with a glass of sparkles or a cup of soothes.

What do you or think when Papachino’s is mentioned? Pizza, of course! And how many kids do you know who hate pizza? None! So there, you know where to go. If you’re not convinced, they also have burgers among other kiddies’ goodies on their menu. Plus, a rad play area for the kids to work off the sugar from their delicious milkshakes.

For a rustic feel and a wonderful atmosphere for parents and children alike, visit Picolino’s in Fourways. With occasional live events, live sports broadcasts, quiz nights and outdoor thatched lapas, this is the place for the whole family to enjoy. And let’s not forget the kid’s entertainment – there is a large play area filled with climbing walls, sandpits, slides, swings, jungle gyms, and more!

Tres Jolie

For some relaxation and fresh air, take a trip down to Tres Jolie with the family. With beautiful gardens and landscaping, complemented by fountains and water features, this is definitely the place to get away from the hustle and bustle of the city. Kids can enjoy the farmyard where they can feed the animals, have a pony ride, play on the jungle gym, dig in the sandpit and go for a swing, all within watching distance of parents.

AJ’s In The Park

When it comes to play areas there isn’t quite a play area like the one at AJ’s In The Park. Not only do the kids have fabulous fun but adults can join in – albeit on a separate playing field. So take off this weekend and enjoy some fun in the park. Did we mention they have amazing pizzas and burgers? Well, they do, so head over there!

Munch Cafe

For scrumptious food and drinks, take yourself and the little ones to Munch Cafe. With a kiddies menu to excite any child, you won’t have to bribe them to finish a plate at this cafe, for sure. Serving breakfast, lunch and dinner – it’s perfect for anytime family dining. So what are your waiting for? Go munch away!

Happily Ever Laughter

This boutique restaurant is nestled away in Bedfordview. Happily Ever Laughter is the perfect location for quality food, children’s entertainment and parties. So when you need a restaurant where your kids are entertained while you and your friends can lounge around and enjoy an elegant party, this is the venue for you!

Know other great child-friendly restaurants not mentioned above? Let us know below!

Remember that our “Top Picks” are not paid for and are compiled at the discretion of the journalist. We only write about what we love.

Click here for 7 Child-Friendly Restaurants in Pretoria!

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Helleborus Molly's White

Quick Overview

Molly’s White is another Lenten rose bred by Rodney Davey in the UK. It comes from a breeding success of crossing h. lividus, h. niger, and h. x hybridus. This variety bears white flowers with green tones atop 30-40 tall stems. They open continuously for a long period of time – often as long as 2 months – from late February until end April. Leaves are evergreen, large, leathery, very dark green with silvery grey marbling.

Hellebore likes heavy, evenly moist, neutral to alkaline, rich in humus soil in dappled shade or filtered sun. This hybrid will prefer at least half a day with direct sunlight. Fertilizing will increase flowering and help the leaves remain strong and nice throughout the winter. Grow it somewhere near your house entrance or close to the window you look out of frequently so that you can enjoy the plant when it starts flowering since at that time the weather outside is not yet ideal for walking around the garden.

Hellebores are the harbingers of spring, blooming for six weeks or more beginning in late winter. They are often flowering during the Christian season of Lent, from which they get their common name, Lenten Rose. This is the perfect plant for naturalizing in moist, woodland areas where its extensive root system will spread as far as it is allowed.

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Rural sanitation has not been given the much needed attention in National development issues. Currently the coverage is about 28%. This is poor and has serious Public Health implications for the rural folks who form about 60% of the National population. Achieving the Water and Sanitation Sector Millienium Development Goals will require innovating approaches and efficient use of resource with commitment from project beneficiaries. Many households currently do not have access to sanitation facilities because they are unable to make upfront cash payment of Seventy Thousand Cedis (an equivalent of US$7) as a non-refundable commitment fee. Considering the shortfall of 72% it is very clear that serious thoughts should be given to finding effective and flexible approaches to delivering rural sanitation in order to galvanize active community participation to improve coverage. This paper seeks to share some lessons learnt by Professional Network Association (ProNet) through its engagement with rural communities in northern Ghana in the delivery of household latrine facilities. A system of credit to rural households dubbed "Use now, pay Later" where households are supported to construct latrine facilities and pay for them during harvesting season when there income levels have improved, has helped to increase coverage by over 500% in three years in the Upper West region of Ghana.

Donkor Oduro, Arthur Benjamin
Accra ProNet - Professional Network Association GH
Werken in het water - sanitatie en hygiëne


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Millennials & Mission Organisations

Time_MillennialI’m a 1982 baby. Depending on what survey you’d like to agree with I sneak into the Millennial, or Gen Y, generation.

My wife and I headed to the Middle East when we were in our early twenties. Spurred on by a call to global missions we spent two years working as missionaries through a local school. Since then I’ve continued the ministry path as a Youth & Young Adults Pastor, and now working with the Australian Baptist mission agency – Global Interaction. My main tasks include walking alongside young adults and encouraging them to follow God into missions, connecting with churches and pastors, and facilitating short-term mission teams. For the last 12 years my world has involved working with youth and young adults in a variety of ways and mobilising them toward long-term mission service – here or overseas.

In the recent Evangelical Missions Quarterly journal Jim Raymo writes an article entitled “Mission & Millennials: Encouraging A Generation Toward Mission Service”. In this post I simply want to engage with it and affirm it. But also, after months of pondering and talking about this article with a few people I’d like to add my own reflections to what Raymo has said.

Engaging with Millennials is an important topic for mission agencies and churches to be thinking about. It will be the Millennial generation who will be the most active on the mission field in 10-20 years time. They will be the next team leaders, the next organisational leaders, the ones who will pass the faith onto the following generation and continue the enormous task of reaching the least-reached.

When I look at the Christian young adults I come across I see people who are wrestling with what God is calling them to. They want to serve Jesus in the best way possible, use their gifts, skills, and abilities in ways that will extend His kingdom, and bring love and compassion to those who don’t see much of it. They seek to serve God and serve others, willing to give up opportunities in the West to serve in other places and in other cultures.

In light of this mission agencies may like to consider the following points in how best to integrate young adults into the life of their organisation.

1. Communicate regularly and clearly
A large portion of the points Raymo makes are related to communication, spoken and unspoken. In fact, it may cover all his points. Leaders need to be willing to communicate the ‘why’ in everything. Whether it is the ‘why’ of the organisation or the ‘why’ of a particular task in a particular project. We like to know why we’re doing what we’re doing and whether it actually has any significance. There’s nothing worse than being given tasks that seem irrelevant. But if the relevance is explained and questions answered, that’s certainly helpful. Oh, and don’t skirt the issue, just tell us plainly what’s going on.

2. Give room for improvement and growth
Linked to communication is the aspect of improvement and growth. In each role I’ve had I have always wanted to grow in my experience and expertise. In any role I want to know if it is actually helping me in my ‘career’ or chosen vocation. If it’s not helping or is looking like a dead end I get nervous. I want to improve and better myself, organisations need to show how this can occur.

3. Show and tell high expectations
Everyone has expectations and we, as a Millennial generation, have high expectations. We want the best out of ourselves and the best out of everybody else. If people aren’t pulling their weight then we quickly become frustrated and annoyed with them and the system. It’s like the group assignments at uni, nothing worse than a person who doesn’t put in and gets good marks off the back of everyone else. The leaders we work for need to show they have high expectations for themselves too. Give us a task and tell us you want to achieve a high level of success, tell us your benchmark of what success looks like. We’ll try our damn hardest to get there if we reckon it’s a goer.

4. Be open to new ideas
The phrase “that’s the way we’ve always done it” is the worst possible phrase to come out of any leader’s mouth. Don’t say it. Don’t even think of saying it. If you do, you’ll lose us. Our ideas aren’t meant to be radical or cutting edge. They’re not meant to be upsetting for people who are not used to them either. Our ideas are simply that, ideas. But somewhere along the line you’ll need to give us the freedom to work with them and do them. Let us do that and you might be amazed at how things turn out.

5. Respect
If you’re not communicating, not giving us room to grow, not setting high expectations, and not open to new ideas then you’re telling us you’ve got no respect. Respect is earned, but it is also there initially when you take us on or when you have that first conversation with us. Respect us for who we are and what we can do and help us grow as people.

6. Have a big vision of God and the work
Of all organisations, mission agencies should be the ones who are leading and equipping people to serve God. God who rules the world and continues to play an active role within it. God who is spoken of with such high and lofty language in Scripture that we should be able to see that vision of God a mile off. Like generations of the past, we hunger after more of God and seek to be part of what He is doing. So tell me why your organisation is one I should be involved with and what kind of vision of God you have in the work you do.

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general info style trends

Design Budgets. On The Table.

Michael Ferzoco is the principle of Eleven Interiors, the interior design firm he founded in 2005. Michael is a regular contributor to my blog adding a fabulous design component to the conversation.  You can reach Michael at [email protected].

Given the “new economy” in recent years, most prospective clients considering a design project have had to tighten their belts.  I’ve had my share of clients approach me with financial trepidation about starting a new project.   They may have the finances, but they may want to implement the project in phases.  And many, I have found, are also a bit leery of beginning a project without some kind of certainty that they’re budget will be honored.  As professionals we owe it to our savvy clientele to “put it on the table”… to let them know exactly where they are financially at all times during the life of their project.

Budgets are a tricky conversation to have with a client. They often feel like they’re taking a leap of faith by telling a designer that they have a given dollar amount to put toward their project. I always insist on defining the budget.  There can be that cat and mouse game where the prospective client explains what they want to do and then asks “how much do you think that will cost?”  Well, it could cost a little or a lot, depending on how much they have available to spend!  Yes, a kitchen can be renovated with Ikea cabinetry and basic granite countertops or it can be done in custom cabinetry with all the bells and whistles and Caesarstone countertops, or perhaps it’ll fall somewhere in between.

Every client’s project is important regardless of the budget.  There are $20k clients and there are $500k clients….but to each of those respective clients, that’s a lot of green.

In an effort to “keep it all on the table”, I’ve always prepared a detailed budget and presented it to my clients at the beginning of a project. Inevitably, over time, that budget will change (the built-ins cost X instead of Y because they decided on a more, or less expensive, wood or finish; or they absolutely had to have those vintage chairs), but the client receives an update every week with the respective line item highlighted for their review and approval. That way, both of us can be assured that there won’t be any financial surprises at the end of the project. Good faith, all around. They share information with me and I share it with them. It makes the entire process so pleasant.

A client’s budget is the most important piece of information they can share with me.  Of course, chances are highly likely that I’m going to spend it because that’s what they told me they had available to spend!  But more than that, knowing the budget allows me to present clients with product that will work within that budget.

analytics general info

Sold At The First Open House!

I have posted at length about the lack of good inventory in all downtown neighborhoods but specifically in the South End,  of the frequencey of multiple offers, and the general need for inventory to keep the positive market momentum going.

This newly marketed  property offered for sale at $1,250K by listing agent Jamie Curtis went under agreement from the open house on Sunday. It is a beautifully designed parlor and street level duplex on Shawmut Avenue with great outdoor space.  There were 30+ folks at the open house.  Yes, it was a gorgeous weekend, which helped with the open house attendance…again no snow and bright sunshine, but the quality, condition and location of this property drove this sale.

So far this selling season, as well priced inventory comes on the market it sells immediately, so inventory doesn’t have a chance to build up. There are still only 99 condos for sale in the South End, an 18% decrease from last year at this time. 38 condos went under agreement in the past month in the South End with an average list price of $721K.

Everyone assumes that there will be a slow build up of inventory as we move into March.  It always happens. We shall see..and I will keep you posted.

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Real Estate This Week. Two Words. Multiple offers!

The first full week of February. Still no snow! Still no inventory.

Once again the story around the table at our business meeting was the 92 condos on the market in the South End.  A 22% decrease from last year at the same time. As I have said before, historically inventory is usually at its lowest level in mid winter, but this is  a new low.  In the $400K price range in the South End there are 15 properties for sale, only  1.75 months supply!

Many of our under agreements were products of  multiple offers. Properties that are priced well are selling quickly. Properties that have been on the market for a while are getting a second looks and selling. This is the view from the street.

The real estate outlook is running parallel to the bigger economic picture.  There is some momentum to the market, but it needs inventory to  fuel a strong spring selling season. The general economic picture is looking a bit more positive too.  A few more months of decent employment numbers and we just might be on a roll.

So far this week  (it is Thursday) 6 under agreements have come in. Three in the South End, one in South Boston, one in Concord and one in the Leather District, with list prices from $459K to $1,285K.  Agents are busy with buyers and sellers, and with temps in the high 40’s and low 50’s this weekend, we should see some great activity. I will give you an update next week.

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Best Bets For Snagging That Rare Apartment Rental Downtown

Briggs Johnson is one of my agent contributors to the blog. He specializes in rentals and sales in the downtown neighborhoods. He knows the rental market exceptionally well and gives the best advice and service. He is also a very smart and engaged sales agent and one of the most affable guys around. He will occasionally bestow his wise words upon us in my blog. The post below is a great primer on the rental market and a must read. Briggs can be reached at or at 617-997-2720

Last Week, I got an email from a mutual friend who was trying to help his brother find a rental in the Back Bay, Beacon Hill or the South End. He was looking at rentals up to 2k and although I focus on the higher end rental market, I told him I’d send him everything up to $2100 on MLS. There were a handful of listings (10) and I got a follow up message asking me to send listings under $1600. I did a seperate search of 1000-1600 and guess how many rentals came up in those neighborhoods……ONE!! As of Feb 4th, 2012, there is only 1 rental available to the real estate agents via MLS. Now, don’t get me wrong, this does not mean that there are no rentals out there in this range, but it is a big indicator that if you are looking to live downtown under $2000 this winter, you are going to have a very tough time. Here are some key points to consider if you are in the rental hunt right about now or over the next few months.

1. Season. Winter, in general, can be Slim Pickins! Most rentals do not come on until the Spring and Summer months and the reality is that  most landlords do not want to have a vacant apartment during the middle of the winter. Generally speaking, rents tend not to get top dollar in the winter and they have the potential to stay on the market vacant,  (but with inventory so low right now, prices can still be on the high side). Most rentals that tend to come on the market in the Winter are “lease breaks”, the occasional “tenant at will” and condo’s that decide to turn into rentals. One thing that is important (for any season), is that most apartments  become vacant when the tenant gives their proper notice. In Boston, the majority of leasses are 60 days notice and sometimes 90 days. If you are looking in February, then you should start in December. Yes, things do come up last minute, so its good to be aware, but know when its best to start your search.

2.Pets.  If you have a pet, it is going to be that much more difficult. I don’t have any statistics that confirm this, but i’d say about 75% of all Boston rentals are not pet friendly. No inventory, plus pets, means even more difficulty finding a place (or a decent place). You may have to pay more than you thought, or take something a little less nice,  just to find a place that will accept your pooch. If you have multiple pooches and a cat, your percentages have now been reduced even further. I remember getting a call from a desperate agent looking to help his client find a $1700 apartment for him and his 4 chihuahas. Really? I’d rather hunt for unicorns in the Blue Hills than take on that challenge. My tip for that type of renter is…well…buy a condo (if you can).

3. Open up your neighborhood search. If you won’t budge on quality and can’t find anything, open up your neighborhoods. If you start just looking at South End, Beacon Hill and Back Bay and see nothing….open it up to South Boston, Charlestown, Cambridge, Brookline etc….

4. Wait (if you can). If you have to move ASAP, then, you have to take something and bite the bullet. If you hate what is out there, I suggest only signing a lease till August 31st and start your search over again in the summer. There are few landlords that will be against this because it gets them “back on the cycle.” If you are currently in a place that has a flexible move out date than you have a better chance of finding something that better suits your taste. Things come up all the time, but really at random, so if you keep focused on whats out there you should have some luck.

5. Negotiation. If you are looking at a lease break, you usually won’t be able to negotiate on the price. You typically have to pay at least what the current tenant is paying because the owner has the current tenant in a contract and does not need to rent for less while he is currently in a contract for.  If you are looking at a vacant apartment and can occupy the place almost immediately, then you have the best chance to negotiate. If you are looking 2 months in advance, then you have less chance to get something for a lesser price because the landlord will most likely try to wait out for their asking price because time is on their side, not yours.

6. Paying a Fee. If you are a renter and are working with an agent, expect to pay a fee. I love getting calls from people and say they only want to see no fee rentals. If you want no fee rentals then  I suggest looking on craigslist or going straight to the management company. Most agencies will charge a fee, but i suggest at least trying to negotiate. Winter tends to be a little slow and its worth asking to see if the owner would at least split the fee. I reccommend all renters I work with, to at least try. It’s rare for owners in downtown Boston to pay the fee, but, slower months happen much more than summer months. Expect to pay a full fee in the summer months, because if you don’t, there is someone right behind you who will.

7. Doorman you ask? If you want a building with a doorman you should probably expect to increase your pricepoint. If you want a one bed in an elevator building with a gym, common roofdeck and a doorman, expect to pay at least $2300. anything under $2000 was about 2 years ago. You might be able to find something for less outside downtown Boston, but you’ll have to read about that on someone elses blog.   If you are looking ar a 2 bedroom in these buildings then you are looking at the $3500+ price range. If you are looking at even more luxurious building like One Back Bay,  the Ritz, 45 province, the Mandarin etc. your pricepoint has increased to a whole new level.

8. Be Flexible to view properties. I love getting the client who can only see places after 8:00PM because they work late and are 1 hour outside the city. It’s almost impossible to set up showings that late for a few reasons. 1, the other agent can’t do that late, 2, I can’t do that late ,3, the current tenant or owner won’t allow the place to be shown that late and 4, if its a leasing office, they usually close around 6pm. If that is all you can do, then know you will be even more limited and it will be frustrating for both your agent and for you. Also, if you can only see places on the weekends, that is where you will have the most competition and potentially miss out on the good ones. I notice that the people who are the most flexible, have the best results. If you can sneak out during lunchtime for the brand new listing that looks awesome, do it!!

Hope these hints help “manage your expectations” in regards to your rental hunt this winter. It’s tough, its competitive, and it’s not going to be easy. Good Luck!!

Cell 617 997 2720

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Real Estate Week In Review

Its February and you wouldn’t know it. There is no snow! Even better than that, the market is interestingly active.

The South End office had 7 under agreements this week. Our under agreements ranged from a property listed at $277K to one listed at $1,599K. Two under agreements over a million, 3 between $500K and $1M, and 2 under $500K.  This excites me more than anything. There is activity in all price ranges, and from what I hear around the office there are very serious buyers out there in all these price ranges just waiting for some good inventory.

The talk remains about the lack of inventory in all downtown neighborhoods. Available inventory is at an all time low of 2.23 months in the South End, and in certain price bands there is even less. The lack of inventory and strong buyer activity is creating many multiple offer situations. This is not mentioned to gin up excitement by any means but in order to maintain this early and healthy level of activity we do need additional inventory.

Some agents are even wondering if that winter vacation is such a good idea, as there is so much going on! I say go! Engage your coverage options and take a break as this early activity is boding well for a decent and busy Spring.

We had a great “robust” office meeting talking about the need to focus on a business plan and the need to utilize all the resources available in order to execute the plan, and of course the lack of snow and inventory. We had a fun agent and friends networking night out at Game On in the Fenway on Groundhog Day. I saw a post on fb this morning saying that Puxatony Phil is not a meteorologist and what the hell does he know anyway? 6 more weeks of winter? Hope not!

That’s it from here.

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Buyers Best Practices

Preparing to jump into the buyer pool in 2012? Below are Ilyce Glink’s tried and true steps. Ilyce is the home Equity Blogger from CBS Money Watch. Her advice is spot on. Steps 1-3 are just good financial practices. I think number 4 is the most important, and not because I am a realtor, but because the team you chose to surround yourself with to advise you in the biggest purchase of your life is paramount to a successful and profitable transaction.  Oy!..I could tell you stories about mismatched home buyer teams, and I probably will.

1. Pull a copy of your credit history and credit score. Mortgage lenders have become extremely conservative and restrictive in deciding which mortgages will get funded. Lenders will pull credit scores from each of the three credit reporting bureaus (Equifax, Experian and Trans-Union) and then use the middle score to determine your loans interest rate and terms. You need to know that information ahead of time. Go to and receive a free copy of your credit history and then pay for your credit score (about $9). You can also go to each credit reporting bureau or and purchase a copy of your credit history and score, if you’ve already used up your freebies.

2. Practice good credit behavior. Lenders regard borrowers with credit scores above 780 as their best customers. Unless your credit score is above that level, you should work on eliminating any errors, and practicing good credit behavior so that your credit score rises. The best thing you can do? Pay your bills on time and in full each month. The next-best thing you can do is maintain four open and active lines of credit. Each credit reporting bureau offers good credit behavior tips for free on its website, or you can go to (Full disclosure: I contribute real estate posts to the Equifax Finance Blog, where Equifax’s credit experts blog about credit trends and information.)

3. Shop around for the best loan. Even though the federal government is backing more than 90 percent of all the loans through Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, FHA, VA and USDA, it pays to shop around. Make sure you talk to at least four or five lenders before you sign your application, including a “big box” lender, a small local lender, a credit union, a mortgage broker and an online lender. Use the information you glean from each lender to negotiate a great deal for yourself. Yes, you are allowed to negotiate with lenders and ask them to give you a better deal.

4. Create a great home buying team. Whether you’re buying investment property or a home to live in, you’ll want to create a team of real estate professionals who can help you find the right property, at the right price, on the right terms, without any headaches. The team should include a great real estate agent, mortgage lender, real estate attorney, tax preparer (with experience in investment real estate if you plan on buying real estate as an investment) and real estate inspector to start. Residential real estate investors will want to add a 1031 exchange professional and commercial inspector (if appropriate) to the mix.

Having the right team in place will go a long way toward making your dream of homeownership come true.

by Ilyce Glink, RE journalist, home equity blogger @ CBS Money Watch

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2012 Housing Outlook. Compare And Contrast

In its latest economic outlook, NAR released its forecast figures for 2012. In attempting to bring it all right back home to what it means to us, I will compare and contrast these national figures with those here at home.

I have used MLSPIN data including all Boston neighborhoods for this post. MLSPIN groups all Boston neighborhoods together from South Boston to Back Bay to Dorchester and the Waterfront. This  broad data representation compares more effectively with broad national and regional data, in other words apples to apples, vs a more micro comparison with core downtown neighborhoods, which I will do in future posts.

NAR projects that new-home sales fell 5.9 percent in 2011 to 303,000, but will rise 16.2 percent in 2012 to 352,000 and jump a whopping 53.4 percent in 2013 to 540,000. National new home sales figures have less to do with our local market in that they represent such a small portion of it, but national and regional new home sales figures do drive attitudes and consumer confidence in general.

Existing-home sales, which we will use as the figure better relating  to our marketplace, fell 3.7 percent in 2010 from 2009 to 4.18 million units, according to NAR’s rebenchmarked figures. In 2011, final sales figures are expected to rise 1.7 percent to 4.25 million. In 2012, NAR predicts sales will jump 4.7 percent to 4.45 million with a further 5.2 percent increase to 4.68 million in 2013. The total number of condominiums sold in Boston in 2011 was 3,519, a 5% decrease from 3,713 sold in 2010.  The consensus varies for unit sales increases projected for 2012 but an allover 5% increase in units while not a consensus figure seems realistic to me relative to NAR’s 4.7% projected increase.

This year’s median price for new-home sales was an estimated $222,800, a slight 0.8 percent rise from 2010. NAR expects the median will rise 1.9 percent to $227,000 in 2012 followed by a projected 3.3 percent increase to $234,500 in 2013.

NAR expects the median price for existing homes to drop 4.4 in 2011 to $165,200. Nevertheless, NAR predicts prices will subsequently rise 2 percent in 2012 to $168,500 and another 2 percent in 2013 to $171,800. Median price for condos sold in Boston in 2011 was $380,000, a 3% increase over $369,000 in 2010. The average sale price in Boston for condominiums in 2011 was $535,000 a 3% increase from $520,000 in 2010.

For the first time, NAR forecasts rent inflation, predicting rents have risen 2 percent from 2010 this year and will rise 3 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively, in 2012 and 2013. We will hear more on this from Briggs Johnson my rental contributor in future posts.

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Solid Year End For Downtown Boston

I love getting my hands on “hot off the presses” year-end sales results from MLSPIN, the real estate industry’s data platform.  I have written in prior posts that the South End and the $1M+ markets in particular have fared well in 2011.  Well, the good new continues as we look at initial year-end data.

Boston’s core downtown neighborhoods showed strength and resiliency in 2011.  As a group of neighborhoods including Back Bay, Midtown, South End, Bay Village, Beacon Hill, Charlestown, Fenway, Seaport, Waterfront and the North End, the median condo sales price in 2011 was $545K,  up 1% from 2010. The average condo sales price $769K, was down only 2% year over year. Total sales units were 1727 vs 1707 an increase of 1%.  This is an important number as most of the year we had been up against the inflated sales numbers caused by the tax credit through spring 2010. Total core downtown neighborhood sales volume was even with 2010 at $1,329M. (That’s One Billion and three hundred twenty-nine thousand dollars in condo sales.)

When you look at all of Boston neighborhood’s*, including the core downtown neighborhoods and others from Allston/Brighton, Chinatown, South Boston, Dorchester, Roslindale, to W. Roxbury, the average median sale price for condos was $380K which was up 3%. The average sales price was $535K, up 3%.

These preliminary figures reflect  a market that remains consistently strong, and resilient. We are extremely fortunate to be living in Boston, and experiencing a relatively strong market where opportunity exists whether you are buying or selling. Boston is a great place to be in 2012.

*MLSPIN groups all these neighborhoods under Boston when doing a general “Boston” search.

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Bill Farmer Joins Beachfront Realty in Provincetown

With over 25 years of experience, Bill Farmer has made the move to Provincetown where he will continue helping buyers and sellers with all their outer Cape Cod and Boston real estate needs.

Bob O’Malley, broker/owner of Beachfront Realty says, “I’m so excited to have Bill on board. I really appreciate his years of professionalism, honesty and integrity. Please stop by, say hello and help us welcome Bill to Beachfront Realty.”

“I’m thrilled to be selling real estate in Provincetown after assisting buyers and sellers in Boston and Minneapolis for so many years,” adds Bill Farmer. Bill can be reached at 617.823.2444 or by email at [email protected].


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        TO MENU

        I recently had an ‘aha’ moment I wish I would’ve had when I was beginning my photography career. Early on I had a goal to find my ‘style’ and make sure I stuck to it so when people booked me, they knew what type of images they were going to receive. I felt pressured (mostly by myself) to find a style I could classify as ‘dark and moody’ or ‘light and airy.’ I was LOVING the dark, moody, warm images so I tried to find my niche in the moody world of photography. Editing was hard and frustrating. I would have shots that would probably look incredible if my style was light and airy, but that was not the look I was going for so I HAD to make the image fit into my style, because those were the rules I had set for myself. I felt stuck inside this box trying to get my images to ‘look’ a specific style.

        Now let me tell you my ‘aha’ moment…

        MY STYLE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE CLASSIFIED BY TONE OR COLOR OR THE BRIGHTNESS OF THE IMAGES. My style is the way my images FEEL, the way it makes the couple FEEL, the way it makes me FEEL. Of course I still want to edit with the tones that I love, but I believe my biggest focus when shooting and editing should be the two people right in front of me. What am I trying to accomplish with my shoots? How do I want these two to feel when they scroll through this gallery? I want them to remember laughing their heads off when Colby picked Nicolette up and her swimsuit rode up her bum. Or when they were running out of the water and the rocks started to jab into Nicolette’s feet so she started to fall (picture at the very end.) And most of all, I want them to feel the perfectly imperfect love they share everyday.

        That is what I want my style to look like.

        Nicolette’s Instagram

        Colby’s Instagram

        My Instagram

        Shoot Location

        p.s. I have a Pinterest board too!

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365 Days of Mike Patton: “Me and the Flamer,” The Fantomas Melvins Big Band (2002)

 In 1995, Faith No More and Mike Patton released my favorite FNM album, King For a Day, Fool For a Lifetime (featuring the banger “Ricochet”). In 1996 and 1997, Patton released two solo albums.

In 1998, apparently fearing he wasn’t quite busy enough, Patton formed a heavy metal supergroup called Fantomas that brought him, Melvins guitarist Buzz Osborne, Mr. Bungle bassist Trevor Dunn, and Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo together. At the time, FNM was basically dead. But Fantomas and its avant-garde metal sound was very much alive.

With the exception of its second album, The Directors’ Cut, Fantomas isn’t always an easy listen. But its live album that was recorded on New Years Eve 2000 and was released in 2002, Millennium Monsterwork 2000, has some interesting moments. It’s iffy if “Me and the Flamer” is one of those moments, particularly since much of the song features Lombardo simply tapping his cymbals before Patton screams something indecipherable.

But the screaming and mouth noises he makes is certainly a Patton special.

Ultimately, it’s OK to listen to this tune once and then skip over it the next time you hear it. A good portion of the Fantomas material makes me want to do that anyway.

To follow along on the 365 days of Patton, click here for a list of each day’s post.

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My brother ties the knot

Last Friday I travelled with my family to St. James, Mo. for my younger brother Justin’s wedding. The weekend went well overall. I got to see many of my relatives that I haven’t seen in years. Most importantly, I think Justin and his bride Becca will be very happy.

Justin, my youngest brother Jon, my parents, and I all went to the wedding rehearsal to learn how everything was supposed to go. Immediately after that we went to the rehearsal dinner. Every member of the wedding party was there. This was the part of the wedding that my parents were in charge of (and had to pay for). It was very nice, and the food was good. I spent most of my time talking with Justin’s best man, Jon Fuchs, and his girlfriend, Rebecca. As my uncle Jerry pointed out repeatedly over the rest of the weekend, her name was quite a weird coincidence.

Later Friday night we went to Becca’s aunt’s house for a party. I talked with Becca’s brothers, who are all very nice. I was able to spend a little more time with some of my uncles as well. There were many people from Becca’s family there (since the wedding was in their town), but I didn’t meet most of them. I probably should have spent more time meeting new people. Oh well.

On wedding day (Saturday), Justin, Jon, and I all had to arrive 2 hours early to change into our tuxedos with the other groomsmen and ushers. The funny thing is that they put us into the church’s toddler preschool room. The toilet in the bathroom was tiny. Two of the guys tried to use it and had difficulty standing up when they were finished. It was very funny. But we were bored most of the time, because there wasn’t anything to do. Justin was quite anxious, understandably, but he seemed to do well.

Before the wedding began, I saw a copy of the program (which I designed) and it looked good. The church sanctuary was decorated very beautifully in a “winter” theme.

The ceremony itself was nice. The bride, groom, groomsmen, and bridesmaids were all standing on the stage, and the pastor was on the floor below us, near the steps to the stage. This was an unusual arrangement, but I liked it. Usually the pastor faces the audience and the wedding party’s backs are turned. Justin and Becca’s pastor had travelled from Kirksville (where they both live) to preside over the wedding and I thought he did a good job.

The downside to being in the wedding party is all the standing and waiting. After the ceremony was over, we had to stand at the end of the receiving line and greet all the members of the audience as they left the sancutary. That took forever, and obviously I didn’t know half the people. Then after that we had to take lots of posed photos witht he wedding photographer. Justin and Becca had it the worst, since they were in every photo.

But the advantage is that the wedding party eats first at the reception, since we are at the head table with the bride and groom. And that was nice. We left the church and came to the reception as soon as the pictures involving the parents and the groomsmen were done. While we waited for the bride and groom to show up, I got to talk with many of my relatives, including some of my great-aunts and great-uncles that I don’t often see. It was nice to talk with them and hear their stories, especially from my Uncle Merl, who was my Grandpa Renaud’s brother. My Grandpa Renaud was a character… the most choleric Choleric in history. But he died about 7 years ago, so we can only relive stories about him from the past.

Justin and Becca showed up and things were nice. The food was okay, not near as good as at the rehearsal dinner, but not bad. There was lots of dancing, cake eating, and mingling, etc. It was fun, but like all weddings, the reception lasted a long time. I was very tired, mostly from standing for so long.

Justin and Becca eventually left and everyone threw rice as they went to their car. They went to a hotel in town for the night, and their plan was to go to Branson, Mo. in the morning for their honeymoon. My family and all my relatives went back to our own hotel and spent several more hours in a big conference room eating and drinking (I had a coke, no alcohol) and talking.

All in all it was a good time. We got to see Justin and Becca again Sunday morning, since they had something Jonathan needed, and my dad had their marriage certificate. They seemed pretty happy!

5 Replies to “My brother ties the knot”

  1. Congrats to your brother and his bride, Josh! I love reading about weddings. 🙂
    P.S. Sorry you were miserable…I think that is common in weddings, though.

  2. Nah, I wouldn’t say I was miserable. I enjoyed it overall. The only really bad part was the standing (especially in that line after the wedding)… but I enjoyed everything else.

  3. Congrats Justin! I haven’t seen you in awhile, but I wish you the best. Josh, I think you need a pic of you in that snazzy tux you stud!

  4. Thanks Steve….I have a TON of snazzy Josh in Tux pics. We got our wedding album in yesterday and he was looking sharp!!!

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