Ken Colburn, Special for The Republic Published 7:00 a.m. MT Jan. 27, 2020

This photo taken Monday, Aug. 7, 2017, shows a Microsoft Widows sign on display at a store in Hialeah, Fla. (AP Photo/Alan Diaz)(Photo: Alan Diaz/AP)

QUESTION: I was forced to upgrade to Windows 10 and I hate it! Is there any way to make it work more like Windows 7?

ANSWER: The dramatic changes to the Windows 10 interface, along with privacy concerns, are a couple of reasons that many were hesitant to make the switch until their hand was forced.

If you're concerned about the privacy issues that surround Windows 10, Wired posted an excellent article reviewing how to check all of the privacy settings.

One of the first things that throws a new-to-Windows 10 user are the tiles that appear to the right side of the Start menu.

Any of the tiles can be removed by right-clicking them and selecting "Unpin from Start"or if you want them to take less space, select "Resize"to make the tile smaller.

If you remove all of the tiles, youll be left with something that looks a little more like Windows 7s list of programs.

Tinder is releasing a panic button, which could alert authorities with the user's real-time location and any details users add about the outing. USA TODAY

If you really want the Windows 10 Start menu to look like Windows 7, you can download a utility called "Open Shell"that used to be called Classic Shell and Classic Start.

This utility is what is known as an open-source project, which means that the source code is available to any programmer that wants to contribute new features. This also means that it resides on a website that might be confusing for some to navigate .

If its too confusing to download and install yourself, ask a techie friend to help you.

Once it completes the installation, youll have the choice of three different classic menus to switch to and an option to replace the Start button.

This utility offers a large number of modifications throughout all of its menus, but I would avoid getting too carried away unless you are fairly technical.

If you dont like the large search box just to the right of the Start button, you can turn it into a search icon or make it go away completely by right-clicking any blank part of the Taskbar to open a menu. Look for the Search option at the top, which has a sub-menu that shows you three options: Hidden, Show search icon or Show search box.

If the voice recognition tool known as "Cortana"isnt of any interest, you can remove the associated icon a circle from the taskbar by removing the check mark in front of the "Show Cortana button"while youre in the menu.

To get rid of any of the unwanted icons on your Taskbar, just right-click on them and select "Unpin from taskbar."

Windows 10 is designed to automatically update when critical updates are released, which is a good thing from a security standpoint, but can be an annoyance when it automatically restarts your computer in the process.

You can avoid a random restart by setting the active hours in the Settings menu of Windows 10. Under Update & Security is an option to "Change active hours"that can be up to 18 hours.

Windows 10 is supposed to be the last version of Windows from Microsoft, so Id suggest you get used to its look and feel at some point.

Ken Colburn is founder and CEO of Data Doctors Computer Services,datadoctors.com.Ask any tech question atfacebook.com/DataDoctorsor on Twitter@TheDataDoc.

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Prefer Windows 7 over Windows 10's updates? Here's how to make the adjustment - AZCentral

The Honolulu Medical Examiners office needs a lot of work.

Refrigerators holding the corpses frequently warm up to levels that quicken decomposition, Acting Medical Examiner Masahiko Kobayashi said.

After years of the citys band aid approach to its leaky roof, an employee slipped on a puddle in October, injuring her head and wrist. She is still out on medical leave.

The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division said its investigating the office after another employee complained about mold.

The building is aging, so that creates all the challenges, Kobayashi told Civil Beat earlier this month.

MasahikoKobayashi, Honolulus acting medical examiner, said an organ scale once dropped from the ceiling while he was working.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

The city has known for years that the office is in disrepair. Two years worth of maintenance records recently obtained by Civil Beat show a litany of problems: frequent leaks, falling ceiling tiles, termite and ant infestations, black mold.

Roof needs to be replaced, a facilities maintenance official wrote in response to a September 2018 work order. Former and past carpentry supervisors have been pointing this out for a while now. The repairs we have been making are only temporary at best.

In November, a grate on the morgue floor fell in. A year prior to that, an organ scale fell from the ceiling. Luckily there werent any body parts in it at the time, Kobayashi said with a laugh.

The office is still experiencing many of the same issues it had the last time Civil Beat toured the office two years ago. Despite a budget allocation of $5 million approved in 2018, the only capital improvement project the medical examiners office has undergone since then is a $105,000 upgrade to the electrical system, according to the city.

But improvements are on the way.

A new refrigeration system, approved in last years budget process, is scheduled for installation starting in April, Kobayashi said. In May, re-roofing is supposed to start and a $4 million contract for interior renovations, including expanding body storage, will go out for bid. Interior work is slated to start this fall.

Its not like we approve the budget and all of a sudden, it starts to happen, said Managing Director Roy Amemiya, adding that the city has two years after capital budget approvals to spend the money. Theres planning and designing, and that happens before we go out to bid.

Still, other buildings have undergone improvements sooner including firehouses, which serve as secondary residences to firefighters, and Honolulu Hale, which got a new roof last year.

There are priorities. There are roofs that we fix and roofs that have to wait, he said, noting his own department leaks. I dont believe that people here suffered any more than others in the city.

During a Civil Beat tour of the facility on a sunny Friday, the building didnt seem to match the chaos reflected in the work orders. There was a drainage system on the ceiling of the autopsy room, and a few ceiling tiles were missing. But for the most part, the tiles were intact and mostly clean. The mold in the lobby was removed.

The ceiling is patched up where there used to be a tarp catching rainwater.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

An internal city email obtained by Civil Beat helps explain why. In the week between Civil Beats request for a tour and the visit itself, the city with Amemiyas help scrambled to improve its appearance.

Dr. Kobayashi, Charlotte, Charles, and I are all working with (the Department of Facility Maintenance) to repair the facility since the Civil Beat is possibly doing a follow up story, a medical examiners office administrator wrote in a Jan. 13 email to staff.

This morning I met with the Assistant Chief of DFM, as well as from the divisions of Carpentry, Plumbing, Painting and Electrical. Thankfully, we have the support of the (Managing Director), who has directed DFM to assist us asap.

The office didnt want to show off its mold problem, Kobayashi said.

So they fixed all the things so, kind of, quickly, he said.

The email lists a to-do list of 10 items to address including leaks, black mold, stabilizing grates and yard work.

When you called, we looked at some of the things that had not been completed and our facility maintenance people sent a crew down, Amemiya told a reporter. We wanted to put our best foot forward.

The problems at the medical examiners office are a nuisance, but Kobayashi said they dont threaten the integrity of evidence. That includes the bodies, he said.

The refrigerators are supposed to be around 40 degrees, like a fridge in ones home, Kobayashi said. But the morgues refrigerators sometimes increase into the 50s.

Honolulu needs body refrigerators that stay cold. The city says a new system will be installed this year.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

His employees have to check on the system three times a day to make sure its working. If its not, maintenance workers respond to get it back on track.

If the system breaks down completely, they have to remove the bodies and send them to a storage facility to the tune of $25 per body, per day, Kobayashi said. But that hasnt happened in years, he said.

As for how the warmth impacts the bodies, Kobayashi wasnt concerned. If the body were left at a warmer temperature for half a day or longer, it could accelerate decay, according to Kobayashi, but he hasnt heard of any issues.

Usually we can quickly find out, so it should be OK, he said.

Sally Aiken, president of the National Association of Medical Examiners, said rising temperatures can cause some problems if a body warms up before its been autopsied. DNA and evidence from a sexual assault, like semen, degrade with heat, she said.

Loss of evidence is unlikely, she said, but possible, especially if the bodies arent autopsied right away because of a holiday or backlog.

Ceiling tiles often need to be replaced at the medical examiners office. The facility needs a new roof.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

Probably Honolulu needs to invest some money because it sounds like a lot of work for the medical examiner to keep checking all the time and making sure its working, she said.

Blood samples in vials and specimens of organs in glass jars are not exposed to leaks or mold, Kobayashi said.

Aiken didnt doubt that but said the crumbling ceiling is a problem.

You could damage evidence with a tile striking the right place, she said.

In the past, local criminal justice advocates have expressed concern about the state of the Honolulu medical examiners office.

The integrity of that particular workspace is important, Jack Tonaki, a former public defender who is now a judge, told Civil Beat in 2018.

Ken Lawson, co-director of the Hawaii Innocence Project, worried tainted blood or tissue samples could lead to wrongful convictions.

Weve become accustomed to not trusting anything that comes out of those labs because we dont believe that theyre reliable, Lawson said at the time.

Representatives from the Hawaii Public Defenders office and Honolulu Prosecuting Attorneys office did not respond to requests for comment for this story. Neither did former Medical Examiner Christopher Happy, who resigned last year amid criticism from Amemiya that he wasnt meeting the demands of his caseload.

Beyond evidence, perhaps the bigger issue is preserving the bodies for the deceaseds family, Aiken said. Storage can be prolonged if the office has trouble locating next of kin or the family is taking some time to make arrangements.

You preserve bodies because families may want to look at them, she said. It may not be what they desire if youre having problems with your refrigerator every day and the temperature is increasing.

While they wait for renovations, Kobayashi acknowledged that leaks in his office can create a hazard.

Honolulu doesnt think moving the medical examiners office out of its Iwilei Road facility is worth the trouble.

Cory Lum/Civil Beat

I dont want that to happen again, he said of his employees slip and fall.

The problems have gotten the attention of the Hawaii Government Employees Association which said its members have complained about potentially unsafe working conditions including the leaking roof and mold.

The Union takes health and safety issues very seriously, HGEA Executive Director Randy Perreira said in an emailed statement. We are currently conducting further investigations into the situation and are considering our options to try to force the City & County of Honolulu to make immediate repairs.

Despite the buildings issues, Amemiya said the city isnt considering moving the morgue to a new location. The approvals needed to establish a new medical examiners office are a non-starter, he said.

Structurally, this building is still good, he said.It needs some tender loving care. With the roofing project, the refrigeration project and the $4 million renovation, well get it up to the standard that is deserving of the department.

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The Honolulu Morgue Is Still A Mess - Honolulu Civil Beat

By Robert Clements. Dated: 1/30/2020 1:23:21 PM

"Amazing!" I exclaimed at what I was reading on a website, "Two-thirds of the world's 946 billionaires made their fortunes from scratch, relying on grit and determination, and not good genes." I read on, "Bill Gates was a dropout, who finally got his honorary degree from Harvard University in June, 30 years after quitting the prestigious school to sell software!""Other billionaires, such as Oprah Winfrey, made their fortunes against far greater odds! Born in rural Mississippi, she spent her early years living in poverty on her grandmother's farm. She moved to Wisconsin to be with her mother, but was sexually molested by her male relatives! At age 14, she reportedly gave birth to a premature baby who died! Only after moving to Nashville to be with her father did her luck finally start to turn!"Farther down same page were comments from youngsters, on the article and I grimaced at what they had to say: " Out of ur billions plz give me some......." was what ninety per cent wrote!To all who wrote those comments and others who think likewise; a small story:There was a museum laid with beautiful marble tiles and which had a huge marble statue displayed in the middle of the lobby. Many people came from all over the world just to admire this statue. One night, a marble tile, resentment writ all over its shining face started talking to the marble statue."Statue," it said, "it's just not fair. Why does everybody from all over the world come all the way here just to step on me while admiring you?"Replied the Marble Statue, "My dear friend marble tile, do you remember we were actually from the same cave?""Yes," said the tile bitterly, "that's why it's even more unfair. We were born from the same cave and yet we both receive different treatments now. Not fair!""Then," continued the Marble Statue, "do you still remember the day a designer tried to work on you but you resisted his tools?""I hated the guy," said the tile angrily, "how could he use those tools on me?""Well he couldn't work on you, when you resisted," said the statue, "so he started working on me instead. I bore all the painful tools he used on me! There was the sharp chisel and the heavy hammer and how they went at me! Hammering and chipping, day after day!""I saw those tools and I was scared," said the tile."My friend," whispered the marble statue, "there is a price to everything you want to be in life! I paid the price and here I am, you didn't and there you are stepped on by all who come to see me!"You decide what you want to be; Bill Gates or a tile, but stop envying those who allow hard circumstances of a hammer and cutting trials of a chisel shape their lives into success.If you can't tolerate discipline and hardship, then shut up as others walk all over you..!bobsbanter@gmail.com

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Bill Gates and a Lowly Tile..! - Kashmir Times

Ever since the launch of The Sims 4 TinyLiving Stuff Pack, cunning and crafty Simmers have been looking for ways to trickthe system.

With space at a premium, but the benefits of a Tier 1 micro home plentiful, there are many reasons why you might want to squeeze everything into this itty bitty lot.

Tier 1 Tiny Living lots restrict you to 32 tiles only, but it comes with loads of perks. Theyre as follows:

Sounds good, right? It is, but 32 tiles govery quickly.

Simmers have been getting very creative withtheir workarounds, though. From using windows as walls to objects from thedebug catalogue where theres a will, theres a way.

But theres a super simple way to make thiswork. Roofs! Yep. Because the game only counts closed rooms as tiles, you canget around the restrictions by using roofs as walls to enclose tiles laid downon terrain.

If building in The Sims 4 scares you, dontworry. This workaround doesnt require epic building skills, you just need tolearn your way around the roof tool and have a bit of patience. Once you havelearned the basics, the options are endless.

YouTuber Simproved shared a tutorial on howto use roofs to get around the 32-tile restriction.

You can find the full video tutorial below,but we have put together a step-by-step tutorial below to get you start at themost basic level.

First, draw out a rough floor plan for your house. The grid has been kept on for the screenshots so that you can see the tile restrictions arent being affected.

Now, decide where you want the front door to be and draw a wall to place the front door on.

Now we can begin filling in the gaps with various roof options. For this tutorial, we have used the half gabled roof, but you can play around with other options too.

Simply use the roof tools to extend the roof so that it fits in the gaps. The glass roof tiles add lots of light to your build, but you can also use a solid tile and intersperse the clear.

To create the completely see through look, you will first have to add some tiles so you can build up. You can then delete the floor and the wall to drop your tile count back down.

Now, extend the roof upwards with the up arrow.

Then, use the eaves to draw the window without extending its wall. The eaves are the triangular arrows you see on the sides of the window.

To plug the gap, simply make a copy of theroof and reduces the eaves again like so.

Continue like this in whichever combination you like. You can build up or stick to one floor.

You will need to place at least four tiles somewhere for the game to register the build, though. If you build a second floor, youll have to spend a bit more time fiddling with the roof tool to make sure the house is protected from the elements. Itll all be worth it when your happy Sims gets those Tiny Living perks, though.

Our example house for this tutorial has been given a very rough finish with the roof, but you get the idea.

As you can tell, this house only counts for 24 tiles.

This neat little trick which hopefully the developers wont change makes building micro-homes a bit more interesting. While there is much fun to be had in the challenge of sticking to the tile restrictions like building a single-tile bathroom for example you can get really creative using roofs.

For a more detailed visual tutorial of how to cheat the tile restrictions, watch the tutorial by Simproved below.

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How to trick The Sims 4 Tiny Living tile restrictions for Tier 1 micro homes - Extra Time Media | Sports News and Features

LEGO has officially revealed its long-rumored new product line, LEGO Dots. The initial wave of the 2D tile-based arts and crafts theme features bracelets, picture holders, a jewelry stand, a pencil pot, and the first in a series of Extra Dots emoji booster packs. Prices vary from US $3.99 to 19.99 with availability beginning on March 1st.

The spiritual successor to LEGOs previous Clikits play-jewelry product line, the Dots theme centers on colorful 11 tiles (square, round, quarter-circle and new gem tiles) with bright colors and expressive prints including emojis, rainbows, glitter, animals, space, music, and more. (Keen-eyed readers will also note that several of the tiles have appeared previously in 21045 Trafalgar Squares hidden art gallery.)

LEGO states that the intent of the Dots line is to offer kids a creative canvas to express themselves by building their own designs and mosaics, utilizing more than 30 mood tiles (i.e. emojis) to decorate wearables and room dcor.

LEGO has reportedly been testing and refining the Dots product line for two years, conducting a large quantitative play study with more than 7,200 children and 10,800 parents across the US, China and Germany, in addition to qualitative monthly hands-on play sessions and focus groups.

The product line was revealed in London this morning with an interactive art exhibit House of Dots made in conjunction with artist Camille Walala featuring 2 million LEGO Dots being used to decorate an entire five-room studio, including a slide.

The full LEGO Dots product line including pictures, piece counts, prices, press release, and an expanded photo gallery are included below.

CAMILLE WALALA INSTALLATION TEASES NEW LEGO ARTS AND CRAFTS BUILDING CONCEPT

Designer unveils HOUSE OF DOTS a five-room interactive house with an 8ft slide built with the help of 180 children and a group of passionate LEGO adult fans to introduce new LEGODOTS

28 JANUARY 2020 London: Artist Camille Walala today unveiled her most interactive work to date at Coal Drops Yard in Londons Kings Cross to introduce the entirely new 2D tile play concept from the LEGO Group LEGO DOTS.

To tease the new product, Walala was invited to bring LEGO DOTS to life in a free public art installation that celebrates their shared values of creativity, self-expression and accessibility, expressed through the vibrant colours and bold geometric patterns of both the new product and her own signature work.

The result is HOUSE OF DOTS: a fantastical house comprising five rooms spread over eight shipping containers, in which everything from the walls and floors to the rugs, frames and furniture has been customised in a mashup of LEGO DOTS and Walalas distinctive patterns and colours.

Playful and immersive, HOUSE OF DOTS invites people to journey through a living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and finally a unique DOTS DISCO room designed to celebrate self-expression and let the body flow freely with DOTS disco moves to a custom playlist from Ele Beattie. While they explore the space, guests are encouraged to get involved by designing their own patterns and bracelets and even take elements away with them ahead of the release of LEGO DOTS in March 2020.

If that werent enough, guests can exit via an 8ft slide down the side of the installation.

Camille Walala, artist, says: Its a joy to create a fun space where kids and adults can spontaneously express their creativity, make something beautiful and show off who they are. HOUSE OF DOTS captures all the exuberance and playfulness that people know me for, with something extra special: the chance to let your imagination go wild and create your own work of art. Oh, and a slide.

LEGO DOTS taps into the arts and crafts space by using a 2D tile-based play concept that offers children a creative canvas for self-expression.Based on multiple shapes and colourful tiles, it is supported by an exciting portfolio that ranges from wearables to room dcor with surfaces designed for individual customisation and self-expression. To excite young creatives even more, over thirty mood tiles are also being introduced, incl. facial expressions, music note, cosmic planet, star night, paw prints and a rainbow pooh and many more.

Being based on the LEGO System in Play, there are limitless ways children can DOT their world, taking all elements apart and redesigning again to help build their creative flair and confidence.

Lena Dixen, Senior Vice President and Head of Product and Marketing Development at the LEGO Group, says about the collaboration with Camille Walala: Were extremely excited to introduce LEGO DOTS as a new arts and crafts building concept giving children a creative canvas for social, self-expressive play with endless, ever-changing patterns, colours and designs. As someone who epitomises how confidence in your creativity can have a tremendous impact, Camille was perfect to collaborate with to announce it to the world. She has created something extraordinary and immensely fun that we cant wait for our fans to explore and be inspired by.

When creating LEGO DOTS, LEGO designers were inspired by internal research showing that kids are increasingly looking to shape their creative confidence through more personalised forms of play where they can explore freely and express themselves through their own designs. This particular insight draws on a quantitative study conducted with 10,800 parents and 7,200 children across the US, China and Germany, and among the participants a total of 21,600 play observations were mapped out and used to identify the relevance and concept direction of DOTS.

The specific DOTS product development phase has since been further informed by monthly hands-on play sessions, biannual focus groups and quantitative tests across US, UK, Germany and Denmark with more than 500 parents and kids over two years, ensuring the design development aligns to consumer input.

Fans excited about this new play concept will be pleased to hear that more 2D tile-based LEGO products are in the pipeline.

HOUSE OF DOTS will remain at Coal Drops Yard January 28 February 2 and can be visited by the public through sign-up here: https://houseofdots.eventbrite.co.uk. Kids under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

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LEGO Dots revealed: New arts and crafts theme puts emoji tiles front and center [News] - The Brothers Brick

Camille Walala in the ballpit of her HOUSE OF DOTS installation for LEGO. Photo credit Getty Images.

Camille Walala has today unveiled her most interactive work to date at Coal Drops Yard in London's Kings Cross to introduce the entirely new 2D tile play concept from LEGO.

Called LEGO DOTS, Walala was invited to bring them to life in a free public art installation that celebrates their shared values of creativity, self-expression and accessibility, expressed through the vibrant colours and bold geometric patterns of both the new product and her own signature work.

The result is HOUSE OF DOTS, a fantastical house comprising five rooms spread over eight shipping containers, in which everything from the walls and floors to the rugs, frames and furniture has been customised in a mashup of the new toy range and Walala's distinctive patterns and colours.

Playful and immersive, HOUSE OF DOTS invites us to journey through a living room, kitchen, bedroom, bathroom and finally a unique DOTS DISCO room with a custom playlist from Ele Beattie. While you explore the space, you are encouraged to get involved by designing your own patterns and bracelets and even take elements away with you ahead of the release of LEGO DOTS in March.

If that wasn't enough, you can exit via an eight-foot slide down the side of the installation. Where do we sign up?

Speaking of the project, Walala said: "It's a joy to create a fun space where kids and adults can spontaneously express their creativity, make something beautiful and show off who they are. It captures all the exuberance and playfulness that people know me for, with something extra special: the chance to let your imagination go wild and create your own work of art. Oh, and a slide."

HOUSE OF DOTS will remain at Coal Drops Yard from today until 2 February 2020. Find out more here. Kids under 18 years of age must be accompanied by an adult.

Camille Walala's HOUSE OF DOTS installation for LEGO at Coal Drops Yard from 28 January - 2 February. Photo credit Getty Images

The bold colour and pattern of HOUSE OF DOTS' interiors are inspired by the LEGO DOTS range. Photo credit Getty Images.

Workshop with kids at Camille Walala's new installation for LEGO, celebrating the launch of DOTS. Photo credit Getty Images.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

The disco room of Camille Walala's HOUSE OF DOTS installation for LEGO. Photo credit Getty Images.

Behind the scenes shot of Camille Walala playing with the new LEGO DOTS range in her studio. Photo credit Dunja Opalko.

Shot of the newly launched, tile-based LEGO DOTS range in Camille Walala's studio. Photo credit Dunja Opalko.

Camille Walala experimenting with colour, pattern and shapes in her studio for major collaboration with LEGO. Photo credit Dunja Opalko.

Shot of Camille Walala drawing in her sketchbook at her studio, working on the newly launched installation for LEGO DOTS. Photo credit Dunja Opalko.

Camille Walala has partnered with LEGO to celebrate creativity through a new colour and pattern focused range, called LEGO DOTS. Photo credit Getty Images.

Image courtesy of Getty Images

Excerpt from:
Camille Walala's HOUSE OF DOTS is a giant interactive building made of colourful LEGO in her signature style - Creative Boom

Apple is reportedly planning to release a smart tag that can attach to any object and be tracked with an iPhone through the Find My app, according to a new report from analystMing-Chi Kuo via MacRumors.

Kuo is an analyst for TF International Securities, and he has previously provided accurate reports about products Apple has in the works, although his track record isn't perfect. Along with predicting high-end headphones and a 4.7-inch iPhone, Kuo forecasts a smart tag similar to Tile coming in the first half of 2020.

Rumors about a Tile-like device have been circulating for nearly a year. As early as April 2019, Business Insider reported that Apple was designing an accessory that would combine and replace the Find My iPhone and Find My Friends apps. The tag will reportedly be linked to an iCloud account through an iPhone, and could be attached to any item, like keys or a purse.

In August, MacRumors reported that the device would work with the Find My app, which was a new edition in iOS 13, and replaced the functions of Find My iPhone and Find My Friends, and would contain a "My Items" tab. At the time, the outlet reported that users could receive notifications when they are separated from from the tags, and they could then set the tag to sound so that it could be easily found.

AirTags will likely take advantage of the iPhone 11'sultra-wide-band chip, which could allow more precise tracking. For longer-range tracking, AirTags could take advantage of Bluetooth connections to other Apple products to help locate a device. Some reports indicate that the new gadget could even use AR to point users to lost items.

Apple did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

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Apple will release AirTags in 2020 to help you find lost items: report - Business Insider - Business Insider

From her office at Black Belt Treasures Cultural Arts Center in downtown Camden, Kristin Law can see pine needle baskets intricately woven by Maxine Hopkins of Dallas County, displayed next to handmade scarves by AC Reeves of Selma. One is so colorful, the other is straight from the earth, yet they complement each other, Kristin says.

She notices something new every day when she walks in to do her job, which doesnt feel like a job at all. As art programs and marketing director, Kristin is one of those lucky people who have found their true calling in life, and she couldnt be happier to be doing it in her hometown.

A Camden native, she grew up learning art from her artist mother. Kristin majored in ceramics in college and became curator of collections at the Heritage Museum and Gardens in Norfolk, Va., where she lived for eight years. Then she learned of an opportunity to return to Camden and take a job in her field.

Never in my wildest dreams did I think Id come home to Camden and work in the arts, she says. I was absolutely blessed to luck into this job.

Black Belt Treasures, which opened in 2005, is a nonprofit organization that promotes the work of artists from the Black Belt region. Its 2,500-square-foot gallery features the work of more than 350 artists, all of it for sale. In addition, art classes are offered for adults and children in a variety of media, from painting to pottery, from basket-weaving to quilting.

This hub of creativity is located right in the middle of the Black Belt, Kristin says. You can go in any direction and see the unique people who make this region what it is. As a collective group of counties working as one, we can do so much more to make arts stronger in Alabama.

Black Belt Treasures is housed inside a former car dealership on Claiborne Street. In the back part of the building, where the body shop used to be, there is 6,500 square feet of warehouse space currently being renovated in three phases. The first phase is complete and includes a pottery studio/classroom and kiln room, as well as a multimedia art room and an artists studio space for the Arts Cultivate program to help artists get their start.

Within a year, the center will start fundraising for the other two-thirds of the expansion for the Black Belt Art House, a large event/meeting/workshop space and small stage, with maker spaces for four to six artists as well as a changing gallery for solos shows and even touring exhibitions.

Since 2012, the Black Belt Teaching Artists Program has also provided art programs in schools in nine counties from 24 teaching artists.

Arts education begins the moment anyone comes through the front door, Kristin says. We share stories of the Black Belt, how things are made, the artists, techniques and history.

Among the longtime artists whose work is for sale at Black Belt Treasures are Andrew McCall from Letohatchee, who sculpts churches and angels from barn wood; James Winky Hicks of Clarke County, who makes turkey callers with such perfect sound, says Kristin, that theyre shipped to hunters all over the country; and Minnie and Tinnie (pronounced Tiny) Pettway, sisters from Gees Bend who are as full of personality as their potholders are, Kristin says.

Available for less than $20 each, the potholders are miniature versions of the famous Gees Bend quilts. Each one is a one-of-a-kind, small work of art, says Kristin.

Visitors have come to Black Belt Treasures from every state as well as 32 countries. One day, there were customers from Australia, Scotland and San Francisco, all of whom had found their way to Camden. We finally have that great combination of things to do that make the entire Black Belt a place for a weekend destination, Kristin says, citing nearby Gees Bend, bed-and-breakfast inns, The Pecan on Broad and other restaurants in the area. Big events are happening this spring, too, including the Wilcox County Tour of Homes in March and the Hog Wild for Arts Festival in conjunction with the Chamber of Commerces annual Barbecue Cookoff in April.

The center also played a key role in the creation and installation of 11 beautiful new concrete benches adorned with mosaic tile telling stories from the area, celebrating everything from the natural resources to the architecture to the founding of Wilcox County and Camden. Funded by an AARP grant, the bench project was led by mosaic tile artist Linda Munoz with the help of some 100 volunteers.

The Black Belt is known as an economically depressed area. But, like the soil from which the region got its name, the Black Belt is rich in creativity. We take what we have and make what we need, says Kristin. That speaks to quilters, basket-makers, weavers and pottery-makers. What at one time was made as a necessity have become true works of art. The Black Belt is a great melding of old and new, telling a story through their art.

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Celebrating art in the heart of Alabamas Black Belt - AL.com

(Left) Lot 308 Pablo Picasso, Buste de femme, 1950, painted and partially glazed ceramic; fragment (est. 15,000-25,000); Lot 340 Pablo Picasso, Visage, painted and glazed ceramic; large round plate, 1965 (est. 25,000-35,000)

Most art lovers covet a Picasso original, but bona fide artworks by the grand master are few. Soon, art collectors can look forward to a spectacular selection of Pablo Picassos works from the private collection of his granddaughter, Marina Picasso. The auction, titled Sothebys Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale, was unveiled at Sothebys Impressionist & Modern Art Department, London, on January 5, 2020. Pieces will be available for public viewing from January 29, 2020.

Pablo Picasso is one of the most renowned and best remembered icons of the 20th century. His stylistic quiver spanned a spectrum of mediums and expressions such as painting, sculpture, drawing, ceramics and printmaking. Picassos style underwent several metamorphoses over the course of his life, with naturalism, neoclassicism and surrealism characterising the various phases of his prolific career.

Lot 340 Pablo Picasso, Visage, painted and glazed ceramic; large round plate, 1965 (est. 25,000-35,000) (2)

Lot 339 Pablo Picasso Tete de faune, 1956, painted and glazed ceramic; square tile (est. 8,000-12,000)

Lot 338 Pablo Picasso Visage, painted, incised and partially glazed ceramic; tomette (floor tile) (est. 12,000-18,000)

This personal collection of Marina Picasso comprises 42 rare works on paper and ceramic arcing Picassos entire career. The works range from characterful sketches to unique clay creations. Over the years, we have had the privilege of working with Marina Picasso on the sale of a number of Picassos paintings and drawings from her private collection. This forthcoming sale provides a wonderful opportunity for art collectors and connoisseurs to explore two of the most original aspects of Picassos genius, says Tania Remoundos, Deputy Head of Sothebys Impressionist & Modern Art Department, London.

Lot 337 Pablo Picasso Tete de faune, 1961, painted and glazed ceramic; square tile (est. 10,000-15,000)

Lot 328 Pablo Picasso, Visage soleil, 1956, painted and partially glazed ceramic; square tile (est. 10,000-15,000)

Lot 327 Pablo Picasso, Visage soleil, 1956, painted and partially glazed ceramic; square tile (est. 10,000-15,000)

Lot 321 Pablo Picasso, Visage masque, 1947, painted and glazed ceramic (est. 20,000-30,000)

These handpicked artworks are significant in Picassos illustrious oeuvre. These works represent a singular insight into Picassos fascination with portraiture. They span the entirety of the artists career and bridge both his painterly and sculptural mastery of the ceramic medium as well as his celebrated and spontaneous draughtsmanship on paper. It is a select and personal grouping that recognises the artists lifelong practice of caricature, the results of his constant engagement with the characters surrounding him, notes Remoundos.

Lot 319 Pablo Picasso, Profil droit, 1933, gouache and brush and ink on paper (est. 8,000-12,000)

Lot 318 Pablo Picasso, Femme debout de profil, 1924, pencil and coloured crayons on card (est. 5,000-7,000)

Lot 317 Pablo Picasso, Femme debout de profil, 1956, coloured crayons on card (est. 6,000-8,000)

Lot 309 Pablo Picasso, Femme au collier (Portrait de Madame Rubinstein), brush and ink on paper, 1923 (est. 30,000-40,000)

The auction promises to appease several budgets, with many ceramics priced lower to benefit genuine Picasso collectors. Collectors of Picassos ceramics range from first-time buyers to serious Picasso ceramic collectors. Ceramics offer new and experienced collectors the opportunity to own an original work by Picasso. The most delightful aspect of owning a Picasso ceramic is discovering that they fit in everywhere and do not take up much space, says Remoundos.

Lot 302 Pablo Picasso, Visage de profil, brush and ink on paper, 1959 (est. 25,000-35,000)

Sothebys Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale will be available for public viewing from today, January 29, 2020.

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London: Get your hands on an original Picasso at Sothebys Impressionist & Modern Art Day Sale - Architectural Digest India

On a recent visit to San Francisco, as I sat alone at the counter of the most Lynchian diner you could imagine the Silver Crest Donut Shop in the city's Bayview-Hunter's Point neighborhood I found myself marveling that a place like this could still exist in a city so marked by change.

Not that Los Angeles has room to talk. Southern California was once dotted with old-school diners. Back then, they weren't old-school. They just were. Built at the height of car culture, designed with Space Age flourishes to symbolize the progress of a new era.

Every time I drive by Johnie's, I lament that I'll never get to stop in for a slice of pie. Whenever I see the Ship's sign towering over the corner of Olympic and La Cienega, I wish modern health codes encouraged more restaurants to have toasters on each table.

We can't resurrect all the Armet & Davis gems we've demolished or abandoned, but we can still find a few vintage gems dotting the landscape.

THEN: Before it became a Best Western, the hotel that houses the 101 Coffee Shop was called the Hollywood Franklin Hotel. It has been owned by the Adler family since the 1940s. In its earliest days, the hotel's ground-floor restaurant attracted clientele like James Dean and the Keystone Kops. By the 1990s, it needed a revamp. That's where Susan Fine Moore and her husband came in. After renaming it the Hollywood Hills Cafe, they spent $50,000 turning it into the kind of spot A-listers like Nic Cage and Brad Pitt might want to visit. The place got a jolt of fame from Jon Favreau's 1996 movie, Swingers, although the screenplay may actually have been written with a certain diner on Beverly in mind.

NOW: After the Hollywood Hills Coffee Shop closed in 2001, Warner Ebbink and Brandon Boudet (both of whom had previously worked at the aforementioned diner on Beverly) took over. To the delight of vintage fans, not to mention location scouts, they updated the space to its current retro-meets-modern perfection. The decor features quilted brown leather booths, vintage-looking globe light fixtures and intricate brown-and-blue tilework. On the menu, you'll find a mix of comfort food staples like buttermilk waffles and mac 'n' cheese alongside a fried tofu sandwich, mushroom taquitos and a kale Greek salad, making this one of the more vegetarian-friendly diners around.6145 Franklin Ave., Hollywood. 323-467-1175, 101coffeeshop.com

THEN: Cindy's has been in the same spot on Colorado Boulevard since the '20s, according to Paul Rosenbluh, who currently owns the diner with his wife, Monique King. It may have been the site of The Rite Spot, a storied burger stand that claims it created the "hamburger with cheese" (the word "cheeseburger" had yet to be invented). In any case, the current building became Cindy's in 1948 along what was then Route 66, which explains its roadhouse vibe. The diner, originally configured as more of an open-air patio-style spot that was later covered over to create the dining room you seen now, according to Rosenbluh, was named after the daughter of the original owners. She lived in a little house behind the place until 1980, when they sold the restaurant. It then changed hands several times without any major updates.

NOW: In the mid-2000s, King and Rosenbluh, who owned and worked as chefs at Pasadena's Firefly Bistro, were approached by the elderly owner's adult daughter. She asked if they might be interested in buying the restaurant, which was serving primarily as a filming location. After modernizing the kitchen, overhauling the menu to feature Southern-style cooking and taking pains to restore the spot's vintage charm (they refurbished the original sign and replaced the awful green carpeting with formica flooring that more closely resembles the original material), Cindy's was back in business. After a brush with a drunk driver in 2016, Rosenbluh and King closed the place for six months to overhaul the place down to the studs, restitching the Cony's signature orange booths and shining up the vintage counter.1500 Colorado Blvd., Eagle Rock. 323-257-7375, cindyseaglerock.com

THEN: When a San Francisco millionaire feuding with his business partner decided to open a restaurant in Los Angeles, he enlisted Armet & Davis the L.A.-based design firm whose Jetsons-style buildings are probably what you imagine when you think of '50s and '60s diners to turn his space-age dreams into a reality. Stanley Burke's Coffee Shop opened in 1958. It was later renamed Stanley Burke's Corker, which was originally the name of the on-site lounge and bar where Billy Joel reportedly played the piano in the '70s. According to an old menu on eBay, you could get a steak for less than $5 or a spaghetti burger (intriguing!) for $2.75. Those were the days.

NOW: A new owner bought it and in the '80s turned it into The Lamplighter, a family-friendly local chain known for its glasses of red Jell-O and its blue-plate specials. The Lamplighter was extinguished in 2010, but the building remained intact, paving the way for Corky's to make its triumphant return in 2010 under new ownership (aka the same folks who own the equally fantastic Paty's in Toluca Lake). The dining room featured groovy, rainbow-hued glass panels and seafoam-green booths. Sadly, Corky's closed in December 2019.5043 Van Nuys Blvd., Sherman Oaks. 818-788-5110, corkysla.com

THEN: Opened in 1959 as The Penguin, this Googie-style restaurant quickly became a Westside hub, beloved for its iconic sign and the penguins painted on the walls inside. The folks who operated the long-gone Rose City Diner in Pasadena were in charge in 1990, when the diner shut its doors, to the chagrin of students at nearby Santa Monica City College and Santa Monica High School. It became a dentist's office for most of the '90s, although much of the original exterior architecture was left intact.

NOW: When Western Dental left the space a few years back, San Francisco-based restaurant chain Mel's swooped in and got to work peeling back all that drywall. They restored the space to its original glory, maintaining many of the touches that made The Penguin so great. The newest Mel's outpost has been open since June 2018. It offers 24/7 weekend service and a menu that mixes chili fries and sizeable omelettes with more updated fare, including a full complement of smoothies and pressed juices. The sign out front says Mel's, but thankfully the penguin remains perched on top.1670 Lincoln Blvd., Santa Monica; 310-392-0139; melsdrive-in.com

THEN: Named for its original owners, Nathaniel and Katherine Banks, Naka's Broiler has been in business since 1956, making it the first black-owned business in Compton. Thanks to Katherine (who worked there for years, even after she sold the restaurant), the diner became a refuge for black students attending Centennial High School, across the street. Throughout its storied history, it has attracted famous patrons such as Muhammad Ali, Johnnie Cochran and Sammy Davis Jr.

NOW: Katherine sold Naka's to David Fisher, who grew up eating there, in 2001, and he operates it to this day. The unassuming little brick building the couple built in the '50s endures, and Centennial students still flock there after school. When you open the menu, emblazoned with the words "You tried the rest... Now come in and have the best," make sure to give the Southern-style breakfast dishes your full attention (especially that pork chop and grits). Not your jam? Order a taco or sandwich. 1961 W. El Segundo Blvd., Compton, 323-566-5450

THEN: After serving in the Navy during World War II, the restaurant's namesake, Nick, returned to Los Angeles and built a diner near the charred remains of China City (the precursor to Chinatown). He later sold the establishment to a pair of LAPD homicide detectives, who were still running it when L.A. Times food writer Jonathan Gold swung by in the '90s. Back then, they were still making dishes with Nick's signature ingredient: ham, ham and more ham.

NOW: The restaurant remains mostly the same. Seating is limited to the original U-shaped counter, and you have to jump into a seat as soon as it's vacant (similar to the Apple Pan). Ham is still very much on the menu. Speaking of which, you can't go wrong with Nick's Famous Ham & Eggs. The neighborhood around the diner, meanwhile, has seen plenty of changes. The old freight yard site is now Los Angeles State Historic Park and rents are rising in Chinatown. Still, Nick's endures and draws crowds on the weekends. Business is so good enough that current owner Rod Davis opened the Rock'n Egg Cafe in Eagle Rock last year.1300 N. Spring St., downtown L.A. 323-222-1450, nickscafela.net

THEN: The diner chain founded by L.A. native and used car salesman Norm Roybark opened its La Cienega location in 1957, where it has been serving affordable omelets, burgers, steaks and stacks of pancakes ever since. Another Armet & Davis design, the layout of this Norm's was designed to look like a car showroom, right down to the upholstered booths. Go-Gos rhythm guitarist Jane Weidlin has written about working at this Norm's in the late '70s (she had to wear a wig to hide her blue hair), and a photo of the restaurant is featured in the liner notes for Scottish power pop group Teenage Fanclub's 1995 album, Grand Prix.

NOW: You'll still see a few Norm's scattered around L.A. but there aren't as many as there used to be (the first one was located on Sunset near Vine). The La Cienega Norm's was threatened by a West Hollywood developer in 2015, but thanks to the efforts of the L.A. Conservancy, the Cultural Heritage Commission voted unanimously to approve the structure's Historical Cultural Monument status. Stop in for a late-night bite next time you find yourself at Largo. Norm's still has low prices and some of the best people-watching. ICYWW, it is the diner featured near the end of Sam Raimi's 2009 film, Drag Me to Hell.470 N. La Cienega Blvd., West Hollywood. 310-657-8333, normsrestaurants.com

THEN: Pann's wasn't the first restaurant opened by Greek immigrants George and Rena Panagopoulos but it is the longest lasting. They opened Rena's Cafe in Inglewood in 1948 and Yum Burger on Manchester Boulevard in 1951. By 1958, they enlisted Armet & Davis to construct Pann's, a Space Age-style diner complete with a pointed, gravel-covered roof and interior rock walls. The family also owned a nearby restaurant called Holly's later called Hawthorne Grill where Pulp Fiction's iconic diner scene was shot. (That one was razed to make way for an AutoZone.)

NOW: Pann's endures as one of L.A. County's best examples of Googie architecture. The red leather booths, the flecked formica floors, the distinctive neon sign. Longtime Angelenos swear it has barely changed since the '80s. Pann's stopped serving dinner back in 2016 (reportedly due to the rising minimum wage) but it's still home to some of the best fried chicken around. It has to be one of the only diners in L.A. still operated by its original owners and it's an essential stop on your way to or from LAX.6710 La Tijera Blvd., Los Angeles; 323-776-3770; panns.com

THEN: Founded in 1958, Rae's has, for years, been a prime meeting spot on the edge of West L.A. and Santa Monica. Ted Delgado, the restaurant's current owner, started out washing dishes there in 1967 after immigrating from Jalisco, Mexico. He saved up enough money to buy his own place (Ned's Coffee Shop, which closed in 1988) then bought Rae's in 1992. He has been running the place ever since, along with his other restaurant, Teddy's Cafe, located about a half mile east on Pico.

NOW: Rae's has been excellently preserved, making it another prime filming location. You can see it in Lords of Dogtown, True Romance, Bowfinger... the list goes on. "We try not to change very much," Delgado told us back in 2011, and indeed, the blue-and-white color scheme remains the same. You'll never leave hungry, as Jerry Seinfeld and Brian Regan found out when they hopped out of their 1970 Dodge Challenger during a 2016 episode of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Make room for a plate of biscuits and gravy. You'll thank us later.2901 Pico Blvd., Santa Monica. 310-828-7937

THEN: The Armet & Davis-designed building on Fair Oaks in Pasadena has been home to two storied local coffee shop chains. Built in 1964 for Richard S. Preble, who cut his teeth at the International House of Pancakes, Preble's offered an affordable menu and specialized in homemade pies and hamburgers. Described by a contemporaneous Pasadena Independent reporter as a "young, dynamic, and often controversial" character who looked like James Dean, Preble had big plans. Less than a decade later, the building had changed hands and become the first location of Henry Yost's Salt Shaker chain. (In a weird reversal of fate, one of Preble's other diners the one on Figueroa in Lincoln Heights is now an IHOP.)

NOW: This particular Salt Shaker is still standing although it goes by the shortened moniker Shakers. (One internet-fueled legend states that they dropped the "salt" when people started worrying about sodium being bad for their health.) Still owned and operated by the Yosts, the restaurant retains much of its vintage charm and is a popular filming location. You won't find the 95-cent fish-and-chips special we saw in a 1968 ad but classic breakfast dishes are still on the menu along with fun twists like Hawaiian bread French toast (highly recommended).601 Fair Oaks, South Pasadena. 626-799-9168, shakersrestaurant.net

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LA's Vintage Diners, Then And Now - LAist