The new movie "Noah," director Darren Aronofsky's $130 million epic retelling of the story of Noah's Ark and the Great Flood, carries this advisory: "While artistic license has been taken, we believe that this film is true to the essence, values and integrity of a story that is a cornerstone of faith for millions of people worldwide."

"Noah" has been banned in some Middle Eastern countries, and attacked by some Christian critics for taking liberties with scripture. Aronofksy told the New Yorker that "Noah" is "the least biblical biblical film ever made," hardly the kind of comment to calm the faithful.

Fair disclaimer, but it's likely not one that will reach all filmgoers who see "Noah" with the expectation that the Aronofsky's version will closely mirror the biblical series of events. For a little scriptural background and film fact-checking, Steven D. Greydanus, a film critic for the National Catholic Register and his own website, Decent Films, and a Bible student at the Archdiocese of Newark viewed the film before its release. The experts' general verdict: there's a lot that closely mimics the epic story, but some liberties are taken. Warning: Spoilers for the film obviously follow.

Is the word God missing from the film as some critics have charged?

No, says Greydanus. "For the most part, God is referred to in the film as 'the Creator' and this is a creative choice that I think does a lot for the film. It helps to defamiliarize the language somewhat, it makes the figure of God a little more mysterious to us." But His name is clearly spoken when Ham, second son of Noah, says to Tubal-cain: "My father says there can be no king. The Creator is God."

So who is this Tubal-cain?

Tubal-cain, introduced in the Book of Genesis, is a descendant of Adam and Eve's son Cain. He doesn't actually cross paths with Noah in the Bible but, as Greydanus explains, "the film needs someone to represent the evil of mankind that is responsible for God's judgment."

Ray Winstone plays Noah's nemesis, Tubal-cain, a descendant of Cain, in "Noah."

And what's with those giant rock creatures on Noah's ship-building crew?

That one is a little tricky. According to Greydanus, the giant Watchers of the film are derived from the Nephilim of the Book of Genesis, thought of as human-angel hybrids by some scholars, and the Watchers of the Book of Enoch in the Torah. "In Aronofsky's version, the angels crash-land on Earth and, because of their disobedience to God, are punished by having their bodies of light merged with the rock," Greydanus says. "So The Watchers of the Book of Enoch become the Nephilim in Aronofsky's telling."

Read more:
From Animals to Arks, How 'Noah' the Movie Compares to the Bible

Confusion and controversy have arisen after the Port Authority recently offered a window replacement program as part of their noise mitigation efforts for roughly 100 Bayonne homes affected by the Bayonne Bridge construction project.

On Wednesday, Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith sent out a letter urging residents to be wary of the terms of the program, since it was believed residents would lose any rights to sue. In a statement released by city officials yesterday, Smith was critical of the Port Authority and opposed any release requirements it has put in place.

Many residents were surprised by the release clause which the owners were required to sign in order to receive the noise mitigation benefit, Smith said. The release says in part, that the owner releases the authority and its agents from any claim related to noise, dust and other such nuisances resulting from construction activities.

Smith added: For many months now, the Port Authority has touted their window replacement program as the cornerstone of their Noise Mitigation program, now to require people to release the authority from any and all noise, dust and nuisance claims is too much. Their project is causing these issues and we expect them to be responsible for mitigating these exposures without any cost to our property owners.

But Port Authority spokesman Chris Valens clarified that the limited release clause applies exclusively to the window replacement program.

It was never our intent for the contract to cover anything other than the window replacement, said Valens. Were working to clarify and simplify the language.

The Raise the Roadway project, which will take four years to complete, is necessary to make sure the larger cargo ships currently in use will be able to pass under the bridge en route to ports in Newark and Elizabeth, officials have said.

The effort, which began seventh months ago, is one of the largest infrastructure projects taking place in the nation.

Lucia Frazier, 66, of Avenue A has been unhappy with the effects the construction has had on the surrounding neighbor hood. She remained resolute, saying she wouldnt sign any of the recent forms provided by the Port Authority.

I want to sell my house but with all this, how am I going to? said Frazier. I spoke with Bill Young (Port Authority liaison for residents) and he told me I should thank the mayor for letting us keep our houses from the Port Authority.

Read more:
Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith concerned over Port Authority window replacement program

Confusion and controversy have arisen after the Port Authority recently offered a window-replacement program as part of their noise mitigation efforts for roughly 100 Bayonne houses affected by the Bayonne Bridge construction project.

On Wednesday, Bayonne Mayor Mark Smith sent out a letter urging residents to be wary of the terms of the program, since it was believed residents would lose any rights to sue. In a statement released by city officials yesterday, Smith was critical of the Port Authority and opposed any release requirements it has put in place.

Many residents were surprised by the release clause which the owners were required to sign in order to receive the noise mitigation benefit, Smith said. The release says in part, that the owner releases the authority and its agents from any claim related to noise, dust and other such nuisances resulting from construction activities.

Smith added: For many months now, the Port Authority has touted their window replacement program as the cornerstone of their Noise Mitigation program, now to require people to release the authority from any and all noise, dust and nuisance claims is too much. Their project is causing these issues and we expect them to be responsible for mitigating these exposures without any cost to our property owners.

But Port Authority spokesman Chris Valens clarified that the limited release clause applies exclusively to the window replacement program.

It was never our intent for the contract to cover anything other than the window replacement, said Valens. Were working to clarify and simplify the language.

The Raise the Roadway project, which will take four years to complete, will create clearance below the bridge for larger container ships, particularly those that will pass through the Panama Canal, to fit under the bridge en route to ports in Newark and Elizabeth, officials have said.

The effort, which began seven months ago, is one of the largest infrastructure projects taking place in the U.S.

Lucia Frazier, 66, of Avenue A, has been unhappy with the effects the construction has had on the surrounding neighborhood. She remained resolute, saying she wouldnt sign any of the recent forms provided by the Port Authority.

I want to sell my house, but with all this, how am I going to? said Frazier. I spoke with Bill Young (Port Authority liaison for residents) and he told me I should thank the mayor for letting us keep our houses from the Port Authority.

Read more:
Port Authority window program may carry risks for Bayonne residents

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Richardson, TX (PRWEB) March 28, 2014

LandPlan Development recently awarded Adolfson & Peterson Construction (A&P) a contract for a new Medical Office Building and Ambulatory Surgical Center, located at the corner of Kimzey Street and Locke Avenue in downtown Fort Worth.

The project, named Park Hill MOB and ASC, includes a 3-story, 51,000 square foot medical office complex. The first floor will house an 18,262 square foot ambulatory surgical center, and the remaining two floors will be shell space for future clinics.

The ambulatory surgical center will consist of reception, six pre-op rooms, a procedure room, four operating rooms, sterile preparation, eight PACU rooms, four step-down bays, staff locker rooms, staff lounge, and a family waiting area.

A&P has constructed multiple projects for LandPlan in Texas, including Forest Park Medical Center in Southlake.

A&P is excited to partner with LandPlan to build this important project, said Bob Lemke, Project Executive with A&P. As on all of our projects, our commitment is to provide the highest quality facility, with the greatest attention to safety, while carefully managing the construction process so as to minimize disruptions within the local community.

David Ransom, AIA, Vice President with LandPlan said that LandPlan is pleased once again to be working with the A&P team. We selected A&P because of their ability to consistently deliver quality facilities on time and on budget. A&P has always provided us with client driven, project focused construction services which have resulted in very successful projects for the LandPlan team. We value our relationship with A&P and look forward to the completion of this project.

Peak construction is anticipated in July 2014, with approximately 150 construction workers on site at that time.

The project is slated to break ground in April 2014 with completion scheduled for December 2014.

About Adolfson & Peterson Construction

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Adolfson & Peterson Awarded Park Hill MOB and Ambulatory Surgical Center

Demolition began this week on the former AT&T building in Santa Rosa, the first step in a long-awaited effort to redevelop the vacant downtown eyesore into a glass-clad office building.

About 14 workers from Richmond-based demolition firm C. Hammond Construction began gutting the interior of the windowless, fortress-like structure, long considered a blight on the downtown.

Because we build things, we're excited to be building something, developer Hugh Futrell said.

The $16 million project, dubbed Museum on the Square, is a downsized version of the 10-story mixed-use tower originally proposed for the site.

But the plan promises to reinvigorate the long-lifeless southwest corner of Old Courthouse Square, with up to 255 workers and thousands of visitors to the wine museum and restaurant planned for the ground floor.

It's the latest and most high-profile of several development projects updating the look of downtown Santa Rosa. These include Luther Burbank Savings' new branch on the site of the former Traverso's deli; Humboldt Apartments, a five-story 51-unit building at Humboldt and Seventh streets also built by Futrell; and the Sonoma County Museum's expansion into the former Conklin Bros. flooring company building, at Seventh and B streets, which is becoming an art gallery.

On Wednesday crews dismantled metal racks holding obsolete telephone switching gear and extracted miles of wires running throughout the five-story building.

Workers at times looked as if they were battling sea serpents or mythical hydras as they wrestled huge tangles of telephone cables through the dimly lit building.

It's very time-consuming work, said Fred Kurestian, who is managing the project for Futrell.

The renovated 90,000-square-foot building will be the new downtown home of Luther Burbank Savings and TLCD Architecture, which designed it. A wine museum and restaurant are also planned for the first floor.

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AT&T project finally in motion downtown

ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) - Five Republicans running for Minnesota governor stood united Thursday in their opposition to a planned Senate office building but showed slight separation from one another on the hot-button issue of medical marijuana.

The candidates held a rare joint news conference at the Capitol to showcase their distaste for a government building they said represents misplaced priorities by Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton and his partys legislative leaders. The glass-faced structure - given preliminary approval last year - is due to rise in the shadow of the Capitol and cost $90 million when two nearby parking ramps are included.

The GOP hopefuls tried to outdo each other with the superlatives. Hennepin County Commissioner Jeff Johnson called it a monument to government; former state Rep. Marty Seifert labeled it opulent; state Sen. Dave Thompson used decadent; businessman Scott Honour went with palatial; and former House Speaker Kurt Zellers opted for wasteful and unnecessary.

The office building has been attached to the broader renovation of the state Capitol. Senators will be forced out beginning next summer and need at least temporary space. Supporters of the new building argue it would open up more Capitol corridors to the public.

But the Republicans noted that the new plan also greatly expands the office footprint of the governor when the Capitol fix is completed in 2017. Dayton and his staff must relocate to a temporary office this summer and the governor wont return for years.

Seifert argued Dayton could still scuttle the project by not allowing his Department of Management and Budget sell the bonds to cover construction. Its not a done deal, he said.

Zellers ridiculed the design and noted that it wont even house all 67 senators in a Legislature that meets only three to five months per year. They said the money that will be paid back through a lease-to-own mechanism could have been better spent on other things.

Its the fact that it demonstrates a focus on St. Paul, said Thompson, referring to the seat of state government. The Democrats have focused on taking care of legislators and taking care of bureaucrats and taking care of union bosses and not taking care of the people.

Dayton spokesman Matt Swenson dismissed the criticism as scoring political points for the next election. He said the once-in-a-generation restoration project commands that leaders are focused on long-term needs. The House Rules Committee has the final legislative sign-off on the plan, but no meeting for that vote has been scheduled.

Meanwhile, the candidates weighed on a controversial proposal to allow marijuana for medical uses.

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United against building, GOP hopefuls split on pot

This is the year when a little work can go a long way when it comes to making improvements on your home. Making just a few minor upgrades will not only improve its curb appeal and function, but it will also boost your homes value when its time to sell.

According to Remodeling magazines 2014 cost vs. value report, the value of remodeling projects is up across the board. The average cost recouped on remodeling projects hit 66.1 percent nationally, up 5.5 percent over last year and the largest increase since 2005.

For local builder Scott Tarkleson of Fenton Lakes Building & Design, these numbers not only mean that more people will be investing in their homes this year, but that they will be more confident doing more extensive projects like master bath suites, major kitchen remodels, two-story additions, etc.

So many of the homes in the tri-county area are built with just a rudimentary tub or shower, toilet and sink, said Tarkleson. You can really add value for fewer dollars and create a real selling point for your home.

Projects like replacing your front door, doing minor kitchen renovations (appliances, countertop, cabinetry hardware) or building a deck can make a big impact on your homes value without breaking the bank. These small fixes can make your whole home appear more modern, updated and upscale.

Remodeling projects that dont make the grade

Many of these projects require additions that add function and space, but are also costly renovations.

Home office remodel

Average cost: $28,000

Average cost recouped: 48.9 percent

See more here:
Remodeling your home in 2014?