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Menshiet Nasser is one of Cairo's largest slums

But instead of waiting for Prime Minister Hazem Al-Beblawis slum renewal project, announced in November, to bear fruit, many are simply coping as best they can without the state.

When basic services are lacking, it is often down to slum dwellers to use their own initiative. They dig land, construct septic tanks and water pipes, install storage barrels, and raise community funds to get private engineers to build sewage pipes and connect them to the main network.

These communities have an inherent self-reliance in finding ways to get by, said Thomas Culhane, co-founder of Solar CITIES, an NGO that invests in solar and renewable energy in poor communities.

Few sit around waiting for the government to fulfil its promises.

Theres a lot of mistrust among slum residents regarding the governments intentions. Theyve been promised so many things, yet nothings been delivered, said Khalil Shaat, technical advisor at the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ).

According to official government figures, Cairo has 112 informal areas. Out of those, 24 are classified as category I, or life-threatening. Twenty-eight are category II, meaning unsuitable housing; 11 are category III, meaning health-threatening; and 49 are planned.

Ezzat Naem Guindy, the founder of the Spirit of Youth Association for Environmental Service (SOY), which works in Manshiet Nasser, one of Cairos largest slums, says the area is a model in terms of self-reliance. While the government is not completely absent, poor infrastructure and the irregular provision of public services create serious problems.

IRIN took a look at how Manshiet Nasser slum residents survive, and how they compensate for the lack of state support with their own networks of services.

Water and sewage

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Living without the state in Cairos slums

Porches "Xanny Bar" / Out Of Town Films
When we met up with Aaron Maine aka Porches one sunny day, he sat down and played us two songs inside Girard Hall. The first being a stripped down version of...

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Porches "Xanny Bar" / Out Of Town Films - Video

Updated: Wednesday, January 22 2014, 07:14 PM EST

Rochester, N.Y.--Mark Bartholomew has a hard enough time staying warm as he races from call to call. Combine his daily routine as a paramedic for Rural Metro with slippery roads and often un-shoveled walkways or porches and their response times can be greatly impacted.

"It gets very dangerous to try to carry somebody out because now we have to make sure we have solid footing, we don't slip while carrying somebody and then they get hurt and we get hurt," explained the veteran paramedic.

At times EMS workers must act more like public works employees during winter.

"Whoever the parter, who is not taking care of the patient if they have a shovel and shovel a oath we carry salt so we can salt the sidewalk, salt the steps so we can have a little better traction," added Bartholomew.

First responders urge residents to shovel a path to the street if able, for those who live near elderly or disabled people, they encourage them to help their neighbors.

Often times those being transported are not dressed for severe cold, making the moments EMS have to get them into an ambulance more precious.

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Conditions hamper paramedics

San Antonio Remodeling 210-740-0407
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4AKEOmbY7oQ San Antonio Remodeling 210-740-0407 We are San Antonio Home Remodeling Contractors We work with you to design the ...

By: Sandy Johnson

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San Antonio Remodeling 210-740-0407 - Video

Planning to remodel a bathroom this year?

Think shower, not tub. And bring in the light lots of it.

Those are two of the trends that turned up in a recent survey on bathroom remodeling projects by Houzz (www.houzz.com), the home design and remodeling website and phone app. Houzz invited its newsletter readers to share their remodeling plans, and 7,645 responded, said Liza Hausman, the companys vice president of community and marketing.

This was Houzzs first bathroom trends survey, so its impossible to use the findings to make specific comparisons to the past. But the study does show whats hot right now in bathroom design.

One of those trends is what Hausman called the amazing shower.

Showers are getting bigger and more elaborate, she said. More homeowners are installing two-person showers with multiple sprays, sometimes outfitted with accessories such as seats or shower heads that simulate rain.

Apparently some homeowners are making room for a bigger shower by eliminating a tub, which Hausman found surprising. Forty-three percent of respondents said theyre choosing to forgo a bathtub, even in the master bathroom.

The older the homeowners, the less likely they are to want a tub, although Hausman isnt sure why. Maybe theyve been around long enough to know how infrequently garden tubs and jetted bathtubs get used. Or maybe theyre opting for accessible showers that require more space, she speculated.

Those showers are almost always enclosed in all glass, especially in the master bathroom. Frameless glass is popular, with 54 percent of homeowners choosing it for the master bathroom and 37 percent for other full baths in the house. Glass block is out, Hausman said, but shower curtains are still showing up in 10 percent of master baths and 33 percent of other full baths.

The preference for glass enclosures is probably related to the popularity of light in bathroom remodeling projects. People are bringing in light in abundance through windows, skylights and even shower heads with LED lights that seem to change the color of the water, she said, and clear glass enclosures let that light shine through. Hausman said maintenance wasnt raised as an issue by survey participants, so apparently people are willing to squeegee their shower enclosures religiously or else, she said with a laugh, theyre willing to live with the water spots.

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Showers beat tubs in bathroom trends

Cosmic Log

Alan Boyle, Science Editor NBC News

12 hours ago

Jim Hollander / EPA

Davida Eisenberg-Degen, an archaeologist with the Israel Antiquities Authority, shows Greek letters and a decorated "Christogram" that are part of a mosaic from a Byzantine-era church uncovered in Moshav Aluma, Israel. Stylized birds appear to be lifting the cross from the floor.

A 1,500-year-old mosaic floor with colorful images of animals, botanical and geometrical designs has been brought to light during the excavation of a Byzantine-era Christian church in southern Israel.

"The church probably served as a center of Christian worship for the neighboring communities," the Israel Antiquities Authority said in a news release about the find, issued Wednesday. The floor and other remains of the basilica were found over the past three months during preparations for the construction of a new neighborhood at Moshav Aluma, the agency said.

The church was part of a major Byzantine settlement located next to the main road running between Ashkelon on Israel's Mediterranean coast and Jerusalem to the east. Previous excavations along the road had found traces of other communities from the same period, but no churches.

The mosaic that was in the church's main hall features 40 decorative medallions. Some of the medallions depict animals including a zebra, a leopard, a turtle, a wild boar and various types of birds. Three medallions contain Greek inscriptions that commemorate two church leaders named Demetrios and Herakles.

Archaeologist Daniel Varga said another mosaic features "a 12-row dedicatory inscription in Greek containing the names Mary and Jesus, and the name of the person who funded the mosaic's construction." Inside a pottery workshop, archaeologists found jars, cooking pots, bowls and oil lamps.

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Marvelous mosaics revealed inside 1,500-year-old church in Israel

A 1,500-year-old church complete with a sophisticated mosaic was uncovered by archaeologists in southern Israel.

The Israel Antiquities Authority (IAA) say the Byzantine-era structure "probably served as a center of Christian worship for neighboring communities."

The discovery was made during a routine salvage excavation conducted by the IAA prior to the construction of a new neighborhood in the area.

The building is approximately 72 feet long by 40 feet wide and consists of a central hall with two side aisles divided by marble pillars. An open courtyard at the front of the structure is paved with a white mosaic floor and a cistern.

Directly off of the courtyard is a rectangular hall with another more intricate mosaic floor with colored geometric designs.

Including among the finds are five inscriptions, one of which mentions Mary and Jesus.

"At its center, opposite the entrance to the main hall, is a twelve-row dedicatory inscription in Greek containing the names Mary and Jesus, and the name of the person who funded the mosaic's construction," archaeologist Daniel Varga said in a press release.

The main hall has a mosaic with depictions of a variety of animals including zebra, leopard, turtle and wild boar. The designs also include Christian symbols.

Archaeologists also discovered glass vessels, oil lamps, amphorae, cooking pots, kraters, and bowls. These finds "indicate a rich and flourishing local culture" during the Byzantine period.

In order to preserve the site, it will be covered with dirt and the IAA is making plans to remove the mosaic floors to be put on display.

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Byzantine church uncovered

A bible from the 1800s and anti-liquor pamphlets were among the contents of a time capsule found in Berkeley last week. Photo: Leonard Nielson

A time capsule discovered last week during the demolition of a Berkeley community church included a carefully wrapped 1875 family bible from one of the churchs founding members, newspaper articles about the church groundbreaking in 1948, and several other related records, such as a church history and roster, published sermons related to the founding pastor, and an architectural flier about the building. Several pro-temperance fliers written by the pastor, seemingly in support of an election coming up around the time of the churchs construction, were also among the contents.

Pastor Leonard Nielson, of the San FranciscoPresbytery which is based in Berkeley, oversees about 77 Bay Area churches, and was the former property owner of the church opened the time capsule Monday after it was given to him by developer William Schrader Jr. Schrader is constructing a new apartment building on the site ofSt. Pauls Church, at2024 Durant Ave., where the time capsule was discovered by construction workers last week.

Schrader has plans to put the box, with modern contents, back into the new Durant apartment building behind its original cornerstone from the church.

Have ideas for what to include in the new time capsule? Share them in the comments section below. Schrader says he will consider all suggestions.

In addition to the reburial of the time capsule, Schrader said he plans to install the historic church cornerstone on the site of the new apartments. He also plans to incorporate the churchs large copper steeple as public art, part of the landscaping on the property. He hopes those efforts will serve as a way to help carry some of the past forward, he said.

Ijust think you should connect the past to the future if you can do it somehow, he said. That building didnt have anything really distinctive other than this beautiful copper steeple. I dont want to just sell it and see it get melted down.

The copper box, measuring 10 inches long by 8 inches wide and 8 inches tall, had been soldered shut to be completely air- and watertight, said Nielson. He took the box home and opened it carefully so as not to damage it, he said.

In addition to the items described above, Nielson said the box also includeda 1926 book of government for the denomination, a bulleted short historyfrom the churchs founding in 1945 until its groundbreaking in 1948, bylaws of its incorporation, and some programs from the groundbreaking ceremony itself, which mentions the time capsule and its contents.

Its all just a bit of local history, he said, via email. Very homey.

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Berkeley time capsule contents unveiled: historic bible, anti-liquor pamphlets, more

Woodstock, GA (PRWEB) January 23, 2014

In recent years, ASAPpliance Repair has emerged as a premier provider of residential and commercial appliance service in the North Atlanta metro area. Today, ASAPpliance Repair launches a new web site: ASAPApplianceAtlanta.com. This web site more clearly describes ASAP's commitment to honest, transparent, and prompt service and adds new convenience features such as online booking and consumer appliance tips.

Lana Grishin, owner of ASAPpliance Repair, says, "Our goal is to streamline and expedite the appliance service experience. There are hidden costs to delayed service, including time investment, spoiled food, and operational costs in commercial settings. Whether you need same-day refrigerator repair in Woodstock, dryer repair in Kennesaw, or oven repair in Marietta, we're the service to call."

The new web site adds an online appointment booking form which allows customers to book appointments for appliance repair online in minutes. Additionally, ASAP now provides invaluable consumer resources including appliance maintenance tips, energy conservation tips, and appliance manufacturer resources.

In addition to the desktop web site, ASAPpliance Repair provides a fully-featured mobile web site for mobile users. The mobile web site includes all of the essential features from the desktop site: online booking, detailed service descriptions, promotional coupons, and pricing / warranty information.

ASAPpliance Repair sets itself apart from other appliance repair companies by providing fully transparent pricing and warranty details and a commitment to simple, streamlined service. Customers will never have to experience confusing call menus, no-show appointments, or hidden costs.

Each of ASAPs technicians undergoes expert training and thorough background checks and each technician is EPA-certified, meaning they can handle even the most hazardous appliance issues. Other awards ASAPs technicians have received include Master Certified Appliance Professional (MCAP) and Certified Service Manager (CSM) from the Professional Service Association, an independent appliance repair authority.

For more information about ASAPpliance Repair, to inquire about appliance service, or for press and media inquiries, please visit our web site at http://www.ASAPApplianceAtlanta.com.

About ASAPpliance Repair

ASAPpliance Repair, North Atlanta's premier appliance service provider, offers residential and commercial appliance repair services to homeowners and businesses in Woodstock and throughout the Atlanta metro area.

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ASAPpliance Repair Launches New Web Site Serving Woodstock & North Metro Atlanta

JUST ABOUT everyone that I have spoken to about renting outside of the Center City district has a horrible slumlord story to tell. Every month thousands of tenants like myself pay their rent on time, but the landlords refuse to make what most professionally trained contractors would deem as necessary repairs.

There are at least 1,547,607 Philadelphians and, according to the National Multi Housing Council, at least 16 percent of them are renters. The number of renters who live in Philly comprises equal the populations of Reno, Nev., or Scottsdale, Ariz.

Every apartment building I have lived in in this city has had a bug and/or mouse problem, leaking/cracked ceilings, black mold issues and blatant fire and safety hazards; all have been owned by slumlords who own multiple properties in Philadelphia. All the apartment buildings have been below adequate standards according to the laws that govern our great city, yet the slumlords could care less about abiding by the laws because they don't operate with a moral code and they don't suffer any severe financial consequences.

I have been renting apartments for 10 years in Philadelphia and not once has a landlord provided me with a certificate of rental suitability, which is the law of the land according to the Philadelphia Property Maintenance Code (Section PM-102.6.4).

Where I currently reside in the Northeast - talk about a disaster in the making - we have only one repairman who possesses no certifications or licenses that would attest to his aptitude to properly fix the maintenance problems that occur in the 200 apartment units built with 1960s construction. How is this arrangement even legal? In most instances when you're lucky enough to get a hold of the property manager, he promises you the maintenance man is going to show up - but he rarely does.

A few years ago, a housing and fire inspector showed up at my apartment after I made a referral to the 3-1-1 service line. She saw firsthand that we still had no heat in November and the same for my neighbor. I also provided the inspector with written proof that I had notified my slumlord in October that we had no heat. My wife and I even showed her our gas bill to prove that we were current on the bill because, even though we had no heat in our apartment, we still got charged for cooking gas. I spoke to her on the phone a few days later to do a follow-up. The inspector started arguing with me about why I was bothering her with this matter, and said, "Your landlord said you have heat."

When slumlords sell their properties it's usually to another slumlord. This crisis has become so outrageous that even city employees get in on the act. The slumlord that owns the apartment building on Frankford Avenue where I once lived is an assistant division engineer for the Water Department.

On Dec. 4, I sent a certified letter to Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez, the chairwoman of the committee that oversees Licenses & Inspections, detailing my slumlord experiences over the years while living in Philadelphia. I included several pictures and my contact information in the letter, but the only response I got from her office was a signature indicating that my letter had been received.

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Slumming it: Apartment living in Phila.