Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

A dark hole of knowledge about strange lights seen during the 2011 Christchurch earthquake has been illuminated by new research out of North America.

Many witnesses recounted seeing white and blue lights in the sky before, during and after the quake.

Cameras near Lyttelton Road Tunnel and Princess Margaret Hospital were also reported to have caught blue flashes after the quake.

Researchers writing in the latest issue of Seismological Research Letters have found this phenomenon was caused by a type of earthquake in which one of the Earth's tectonic plates was pulled apart, creating a rift.

The tension during this process created an electronic charge, which turned into light when it reached the surface.

Earthquake lights have been seen worldwide, with some only at ground level and others being projected into the sky.

Pedestrians during a 2009 earthquake in the Italian city of L'Aquila reported fire flickering from the stone pavement of their town's historical city centre.

This was one of 65 of the best-documented earthquake light events in North America and Europe the researchers studied.

They found 97 per cent of the events happened during continental rift earthquakes, similar to the ones that hit Christchurch.

Those types of earthquakes made up just 5 per cent of all quakes, as most quakes occurred when two plates collided, not when one plate was pulled apart.

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Research sheds light on quake mystery

If a new wine-focused restaurant with proprietor-sommeliers who specialize in obscurity sounds like a great night out, then get yourself to The Barrel Room in Rockridge.

Sarah Trubnick and Carolyn Johnson are in launch mode for The Barrel Room, an expanded version of their San Francisco wine bar of the same name. Theyre furthering a win-win trend of successful businesses like A-16 (also in Rockridge) that are crossing the Bay for better rents and eager, sophisticated diners in Oakland.

The Barrel Room in Oakland (photo: Granate Sosnoff)

As media guests, we visited this new restaurant with a twist, which builds a menu around the wines rather than vice-versa. They feature a rotating wine list with an emphasis on small-production, terroir-expressive (buzzword alert) wines from around the world.

Accompanied by a food menu slated to change every 8 weeks, the idea is to keep it fresh and inventive, sharing new food, wines and wine education without a lot of pomp.

The Barrel Room in Oakland will feature the gifts of Chef Sam Paulding, (formerly of Paulding and Co., and Oliveto) an East Bay native, excited to live and work in Oakland as a part of this creative venture.

Sarah Trubnick and Sam Paulding

Open since mid-December, theyre starting with a French-influenced menu including classic charcuterie options paired with the certified sommeliers wine flights.

In the coming year, diners and drinkers can look forward to German, Italian and other international and regional menus, sure to be inspired and surprising.

Because were lazy and trust, we let owner Sarah Trubnick choose our food and wine pairings. We werent disappointed.

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The Barrel Room rolls out in Oakland

Perhaps in an effort to keep pre-CES 2014 buzz going, Samsung has again released details on its new audio line-up ahead of the big show. Included in the suite is an entry-level addition to the companys brand new wireless multi-room speaker system, a new sound bar, a new all-in-one home theater audio system, and Samsungs answer to the growing popularity of speaker bases for televisions. Here are the vital details.

Samsung only recently introduced its Shape M7 speaker, a wireless multi-room audio solution similar in some respects to Sonos wireless audio solutions because it uses a wireless mesh network to allow a significant amount of control over music playback via a simple mobile device app. We recently reviewed the M7 and we think the system shows a lot of promise, but weve felt there needed to be a cheaper alternative available to attract a wider array of consumers. The M5 (picture currently not available) aims to fill that need. As a smaller speaker, we expect the M5 to come in at a lower price point than the $400 M7, but pricing wont be discussed until the official product unveiling at the show.

Samsungs previous flagship sound bar offerings saw the addition of vacuum tubes in the pre-amp stage and increasingly slim form factors. This year, the companys premium model adds compatibility with the aforementioned wireless multi-room audio systems mesh network for enhanced music distribution and control. Samsung says the sound bar packs a 320-watt amplifier, and is compatible with its Television Sound Connect feature, which offers wireless audio signal delivery and volume control from compatible Samsung televisions. Details on wired connectivity are not yet available.

The Sound Stand (pictured left and above) breaks Samsung into a rapidly developing new category of speakers that double as television stands. By making the speaker short and deep, manufacturers can capitalize on a greater amount of cabinet space than can be afforded to sound bars. The result is a speaker with richer sound quality and more bass than can be achieved by a sound bar that isnt aided by a subwoofer. Since the speakers are so slight in height, they dont take up much more real estate than a stand mounted television occupies, making them an easy addition to any entertainment setup.

Samsungs flagship all-in-one system this year offers a handful of attractive features for those seeking true surround sound from a hassle-free, all-inclusive system. The HT-H7730WMs tall boy speakers feature midrange drivers, which can be angled up in order to bounce sound off the ceiling. This approach is meant to generate an effect similar to that of the height speakers found in elaborate surround systems. The systems rear surrounds get their audio signal wirelessly, though they must be plugged in for power. The Blu-ray player in the system boasts Ultra HD upscaling for enhanced resolution from standard and high definition sources played on new Ultra HD televisions. Once again, Samsung includes its vacuum tube technology for supposedly smoother sound from digital audio sources. Finally, Samsung boasts that this system is the only one being introduced at CES 2014 that is compliant with DTS new Neo:Fusion codec, a type of surround processing which creates a virtual 9.1 system from a 7.1 speaker system.

DT

Caleb is a professional musician, amateur chef and A/V electronics guru. Growing up, Caleb was the guy you would find in the garage tearing apart vintage electronics while other kids rode bikes or played football. His early immersion in consumer electronics has led to countless car stereo, home theater and live audio installations which laid down the foundation for his current work as A/V Editor and reviewer at Digital Trends. Contact him on twitter (@caleb_denison) or via email (cdenison@digitaltrends.com).

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Samsung dishes details on its audio lineup ahead of CES 2014

In the span of the last year, Adrian Romero went from construction worker to food truck operator to brick-and-mortar restaurateur, specializing in the Agua Prieta-style Mexican cuisine he grew up on in Douglas.

On Dec. 13, Romero, who has lived in Tucson 13 years, opened Ol Rico Mexican Steakhouse in the old Mr. Ks BBQ space at 1830 S. Park Ave. The restaurant serves a streamlined menu of burritos, Mexican sandwiches and quesadillas, ranging in price from $2.50 to $4.50. The most expensive item on the menu is the $12 grilled-steak plate served with tortillas.

Romero said he has been cooking all his life, but he made his living doing construction with an uncle in Tucson.

Last spring, he rolled out his Ol Rico food truck, which looks like a little cabin on wheels. He cooked steaks and burgers on an outdoor grill fueled by mesquite wood. He parked mostly on Tucsons southwest side near South Valencia Road and South Westover Avenue, and took the truck out on weekends to a few community events including Cyclovia and Second Saturdays Downtown.

Business was good, but the southwest-side neighborhood wasnt the safest.

It was kind of dangerous where I was at, Romero said. Where I was at in Pima County, it was hard to find a spot.

Romero said he decided to make the leap to permanent restaurant after talking to the buildings owner, Charles Kendrick. Kendrick, the namesake for Mr. Ks BBQ, runs his Afro-American Heritage Museum in half of the building and has had a restaurant in the other half since the late 1990s.

I think it was the only possible setup for me to work the menu because he has the outside grills, Romero said.

Romero said he started working on cleaning up and painting the space in November. It had been vacant for months, since a short-lived Caribbean restaurant closed last summer. Mr. Ks, which Kendricks son, Ray, ran for more than a decade, moved farther south to 6302 S. Park Ave. in the summer of 2012.

Ol Rico has an Old West feel to it, with small saddles serving as kids booster seats, a patch of barbed wire from Southern Arizonas ranching history displayed on one wall and mining tools prominently displayed on another. Miniature versions of old movie posters, many of them filmed in the Tucson area, hang in the dining room.

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Mexican restaurant moves into old Mr. K's

Kyiv-based McDonald's Ukraine Ltd. on Dec. 31, 2013, opened a renovated restaurant at 31 Smilianska Street in Cherkasy, the company said in a press release.

Over Hr 15 million was invested in the renovation of the facility, as a result of which its total area was increased by over 100 square meters and its interior and exterior underwent changes, the company quoted Senior Director for Business Development at McDonald's Ukraine Andriy Lukyanenko as saying.

"The area of the renovated restaurants was extended by over 100 square meters. It made it possible to increase the number of seats for visitors, ensure a more comfortable stay for everyone who visits McDonald's in Cherkasy," Lukyanenko said.

The renovated restaurant offers 129 seats in the main hall and 68 seats at the terrace. The restaurant will be able to serve about 4,800 people per day.

McDonald's Ukraine Ltd. on Dec. 28, 2013, opened a restaurant with an area of about 600 square meters in Kherson's Fabrika shopping and entertainment complex at 18 Zalaegerszeg Street, which was the company's first restaurant in that city.

Over UAH 18 million was invested in the construction of the Kherson facility, Senior Director for Production at McDonald's Ukraine Oksana Chopa said.

The McDonald's restaurant in Kherson is designed for 150 seats in the main hall, up to 70 at the terrace and about 10 at McCafe. Two round-the-clock McDrive lines will be open for car drivers. The restaurant will be able to serve about 4,500 people per day.

McDonald's Ukraine Ltd. was founded in 1995. Its first restaurant in Ukraine opened in Kyiv on May 24, 1997.

As of Jan. 2, 2014, McDonald's Ukraine Ltd. operated 79 restaurants in 22 Ukrainian cities. The restaurants service about 400,000 visitors every day.

McDonald's Ukraine Ltd. in 2012 invested about Hr 200 million in the development of business in Ukraine and opened four new McDonald's restaurants in Kyiv, Rivne and Kharkiv.

Link:
McDonald's Ukraine invests over Hr 33 million in regional projects in December

It's become commonplace to see construction on Interstate 35 in Central Texas, but now building projects are popping up along the busy highway as well.

"Construction business comes and goes and right now we're in a boom so it's good for us," construction superintendent Tom Ceravole said.

Ceravole and his crew are building another new restaurant in Temple.

Growing communities all over Central Texas also mean the construction force is growing as well.

For Ceravoles crew to work this time of year is actually a sign of how busy they are.

"Normally it's a slow time of year, he said. Within the last couple years, business has been starting to pick up."

And his company won't have to look for work anytime soon.

"We're booked probably for the next year to two years," he said.

Officials say the construction field in Central Texas will continue to flourish along with the communities.

"We've seen an increase every single year in the construction area, or the construction field," Tom Elmore with the Workforce Solutions of Central Texas, said.

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Growing demand for Central Texas construction workers

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Anderson IN Remodeling Contractors - Video

What happens when you combine the words house and buzz?

The answer is the online community "Houzz," where design is democratic, said Liza Hausman, vice president of community at Houzz.

"Houzz is a website and mobile app for home remodeling and design," Hausman said. "It helps homeowners all the way through their home build, remodel or decorating project."

Co-founders and Palo Alto residents Adi Tatarko and Alon Cohen created the online community while remodeling their own home in 2009. Houzz officially became a company the following year.

Houzz inspires, educates and connects, Hausman said. Users include homeowners and design professionals such as architects, interior designers, landscapers and contractors. Because the company earns revenue from advertising, Hausman added, using Houzz is free for homeowners and professionals alike.

More than two million high-resolution images of renovated homes are accessible through Houzz, Hausman said, and users can save images they like to online folders called "ideabooks."

"Homeowners can use (ideabooks) collaboratively with an architect, designer or contractor who they hire. Visuals are an effective way for homeowners who do not have the language of design to communicate," she said.

Houzz also includes a budgeting tool called the "Real Cost Finder," which shows cost ranges for projects, materials, labor and products based on ZIP code.

To date, more than 16 million homeowners use the free website each month. The Houzz mobile app, also free and available for both iOS and Android platforms, has been downloaded more then 12 million times, Hausman said.

"Many professionals around the country and in Palo Alto are getting new clients (by using Houzz)," Hausman said. "They are able to showcase their work to a much broader audience than before, when things were more strictly word of mouth."

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Remodeling: In da Houzz

JULY

A human fetus with a gestational age incapable of sustaining life was found in a cup in the front yard of a Barstow residence. There were no charges filed against the mother who discarded the fetus.

A 17-year-old boy, Daniel Sanchez, was airlifted to a trauma center after a hit-and-run while riding his bicycle. Sanchez was the second of two hit-and-run victims in a span of a week, both of which were minors riding bicycles. Sanchez died from massive head trauma. Henry Chavez Jr. was released from the hospital after being involved with a hit-and-run the previous week. A 12-year-old boy suffered major injuries later that day when a car hit him on his bicycle in Hesperia. Unlike the previous two collisions, the driver of the car remained at the scene.

Vandals wasted 1 million gallons of water after opening three remote fire hydrants.

The San Bernardino County District Attorney's office filed felony child cruelty charges against a Hesperia couple who allegedly refused to get medical attention for their daughter's injured foot. The charges would later be dropped.

Two Victorville residents were arrested on suspicion of distribution of methamphetamine and conspiracy after FBI agents raided their house.

A local residents grandson, Wade Parker, lost his life along with 18 other firefighters in a fire that destroyed over 2,000 acres in Arizona.

Tim Donnellys bill to abolish the fire preventive fee was deemed as good as dead by a Donnelly spokeswoman. The bill was a part of a large reaction against a fire fee that must be paid by owners of inhabited properties in State Responsibility Areas.

Two to three homes in Hinkley were being demolished each week by Pacific Gas and Electric, according to local residents. Streets once lined with homes have been left with one or two. Many residents are selling their properties to PG&E and leaving the area due to the groundwater contamination caused by PG&E years earlier.

A MEGA Millions lottery ticket valued at $338,643 was sold at the AM/PM minimarket on Montara Road in Barstow.

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2013 Year in review pt. 2