Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

According to a report by Savills, undertaken in collaboration with the Cold Chain Federation (CCF), cold storage in the UK accounts for an estimated 12% of total warehouse space. A further 1.6 million m2is currently under construction to cater for growing occupier demand.

Netherlands-based NewCold is one advanced cold logistics supplier contributing significantly to efforts to boost UK capacity.Preparations for its second UK deep freeze storage facility, in addition to its existing Wakefield site, are on course, says the company and after construction began in October, it is expected to go live just one year later.

Based in Corby, the facility sits on a 23-acre plot. Country director Jon Miles says it's a prime location in the logistics golden triangle, with proximity to frozen distribution centres of large retail and foodservice customers and perfectly located to help customers reduce food miles and cut costs.

Corby ideally situated

Even though its Wakefield hub can store 143,000 pallets and is only just over five years old, NewCold was already making plans early in 2019 to establish an additional site further south, says Miles.We needed to enhance our national service, particularly for customers wishing to benefit from a closer facility than the Wakefield site. To this end, Corby is ideally situated to support UK frozen food manufacturers and importers looking to enhance their supply chain value.

Miles further explains that in keeping with NewColds focus on sustainability and as demonstrated at their uniquely designed Wakefield site, the new facility will use half the energy of an equivalent conventional cold storage operation.This, coupled with our ability to reduce food miles by using high-volume trailers will greatly reduce CO2 emissions and energy use.

The company has been speaking to high-volume potential customers about using the site, including McCain Foods (GB), Nomad Foods, Froneri International, Finsbury Foods and Grupo Bimbo.

Announcing the Corby project initially, Miles said:The decision to build a second facility has been driven by an increasing wide-scale demand for storage and handling, while the number of deep-frozen storage facilities has reduced. This has seen cold stores at capacity during certain times over the last 2 years and the trend appears to be continuing, so we feel this is the right time to invest.

Artist's impression of NewCold's Rennes facility

Automated cold store near Rennes

The announcement of the Corby facility came just six months afterNewCold broke ground on its NewColds automated cold store in Montauban-de-Bretagne, near Rennes, France. That facility, which also serves customers such as Froneri usesautomated storage and retrieval systems (ASRS) to automatically move and store products in the dark high-bay warehouse.

The equipment and operators will be directed by advanced software systems, while products are kept in optimal conditions with all coldstore areas cooled down to temperatures as low as 23C.The facility will be one of the largest in France with a storage capacity of over 700.000 m3 comparable to the volume of one million household refrigerators.

At present, Savills calculates that there are 678 warehouse units with cold storage space over 4,645m2 in the UK, equating to 12.4 million m2, 29% of which are located in Yorkshire and north west England. A further 22 units, currently under construction or being fitted out by occupiers, are also set to contain cold storage.

However, there remains a lack of supply. On a per capita basis, each UK household requires 0.46m2 of cold storage. Taking the country's current housing requirement of 337,235 new homes every year into consideration, an extra 785,030m2 of cold storage space over the next five years should be required, Savill's research claims. That's even before a potential increase in demand from structural changes associated with both Brexit and COVID-19.

Energy-efficient infrastructure

No wonder the sector's climate impact is keeping a lot of people up at night. Thankfully, the CCF states that as well as boosting cold storage capacity, the addition of new energy-efficient infrastructure under construction will help the industry towards its net zero future in line with the Governments 2050 target.

Ahead of its Towards a net zero cold chain report, which is expected in early 2021, it released a preliminary paper Shaping the cold chain of the future: the road to net zero.In it, it maps the supply chain for New Zealand lamb headed for UK consumers' tables to break down all the cold chain processes involved and highlight two priority areas to target for greenhouse gas reduction.

It details eight main stages:

Considering first how to improve energy management in cold stores, the report asks two questions.

How can the UK maximise efficiency in buildings and refrigeration systems?

How can smarter ways of generating and reusing energy offset emissions associated with refrigeration?

It then highlights consequent research priorities to grapple with these issues.

Understanding the issue

Future energy management models

Future regulation

Turning to temperature controlled distribution, the research takes the same approach.

Fuels: Transitioning away from diesel as the primary fuel for mobile refrigeration;

Refrigerants: The use of high GWP refrigerants in mobile refrigeration;

Industry standards:

Understanding the issue: Gaps in our understanding of TRUs present a major risk to effective policy making. Data requirements requiring research include:

Industry:

Technological:

The paper concludes by outlining five likely stages on the pathway to net zero:

1. Reducing the energy required for cooling: i.e, energy efficiency measures in cold stores, better building design;

2. Technological advances to reduce direct emissions: e.g. low GWP refrigerants and emission free methods for mobile refrigeration;

3. Supply-chain wide collaboration: to improve visibility, maximise efficiency in distribution and work in partnership to tackle chainwide issues;

4. Developing better ways to manage energy and waste heat: e.g. demand management, district heating and utilising cold stores as virtual batteries;

5. Powering remaining cooling load from sustainable sources.

Mackie's produces more than ten million litres of ice cream a year

Global specialist in industrial cooling, heating and sustainable energy solutions GEA Refrigeration Technologies is one company supplying refrigeration systems using the low GWP refrigerant ammonia reference in point 2 above. It's one of the refrigerants of choice as the EU F-Gas regulations, which will transfer into UK law from 1 January 2021, phase out fluorinated greenhouse gas alternatives in the coming years.

In October, the company signed an order to install a 4.5m low carbon, energy efficient cooling system running on ammonia with absorption chiller for premium ice cream manufacturer Mackie's of Scotland.

The systemwill replace the existing freezing plant at the business's Aberdeenshire plant.It will be the first large-scale ice cream production plant in Scotland to combine biomass heating and absorption cooling, supporting Mackie's aim to cut CO2emissions by 90% and deliver savings in energy costs of 70%-80%.

Mackie's produces more than ten million litres of ice cream annually. The new cooling system will be one of the most advanced in Europe and will use ammonia to replace the high-GWP partially halogenated chlorofluorocarbons (HCFC) gases used in its refrigeration systems. Ammonia is a natural, environmentally friendly refrigerant that has no impact on global warming or ozone depletion.

Renewable energy

"Our corporate vision includes the goal of being the most environmentally friendly company in the UK," says Mackie's finance director Gerry Stephens. "Over the years we have invested locally in renewable energy, including four wind turbines and the largest solar farm in Scotland.

"As our energy needs grow with us, we are excited about this innovative combination of technology and environmentally friendly refrigeration. It represents the final step in our efforts to become self-sufficient in renewable energy."

Malcolm Coates, safety and environmental manager at J&E Hall, which designs, makes and installs ammonia-based refrigeration systems, sums up some of the benefits of ammonia: "Primarily, it is a natural refrigerant which does not deplete the ozone layer and has excellent thermodynamic qualities which give it a wide temperature range.

"Ammonia has fantastic thermodynamic properties, is widely available and can be employed at very low temperatures as low as -40C in some instances. It is cheap to buy and use which means it can make a significant impact on energy bills. This can make a big difference to the bottom line at a large scale food processing operation."

Originally posted here:
Carbon footprints in the snow: refrigeration and climate change - FoodManufacture.co.uk

Tile floors are low maintenance, durable, and easily customized to your personal style. However, they can show dust and dirt, making finding the best vacuum for tile floors a vital step in long-term tile floor maintenance. Vacuums come in several types, from cordless to canister and upright to wet/dry. The right one for you will depend on your homes flooring types, how much of the flooring is tile, and the amount and type of daily foot traffic. Pets and children, for example, create more messes than a house of adults.

This shopping guide includes recommendations for some of the best vacuums for tile floors along with information to narrow down the options. The range of vacuum types included can accommodate varying home, family, and cleaning types and situations.

Every home is different; likewise, users have different likes and dislikes when it comes to vacuum cleaners. All of these personal preferences come into play when deciding on the right vacuum. Weve listed some of the top considerations to factor in as you choose a vacuum.

A homes size acts as a starting point for vacuum size and powerthe larger the house, the larger the vacuum. A stick or cordless vacuum may be enough to clean a small home or apartment. However, it could run out of battery power cleaning a space larger than 1,000 square feet.

The vacuum size will also determine how often you empty it. A small stick vacuum could fill up every time its used in a spacious home, whereas a large, bagged upright may only fill every few weeks. Its a balancing act between the vacuum size and power along with the available storage space.

It comes down to thisthe vacuum size and power should complement the home size.

Corded vs. cordlessthe ongoing debate about which is better isnt likely to end soon. Thats because one or the other is better in certain situations and for different users. The choice comes down to what kind of user you are and how you want to use the vacuum.

Corded vacuums never run out of power, meaning you get full suction no matter how long you run the vacuum. However, the cords length affects how you clean. Once you reach the end of the cord, youll have to stop vacuuming and move to a different outlet. Some people dislike maneuvering around a cord.

Larger vacuums, like full-size uprights and canister vacuums, have the longest cords, with some reaching nearly 30 feet. Stick vacuums have shorter cords in the range of 15 to 20 feet. Retractable cords add convenience. Otherwise, most corded models have an on-board cord storage system built into the vacuums body.

Cordless vacuums arent limited by cord length. You can carry them for use almost anywhere in your house without tripping over a cord. In the past, cordless vacuums could be heavy due to the weight of their lead-acid batteries. However, most modern models now have relatively lightweight lithium-ion or lithium-ion polymer batteries.

These two types of batteries dont have issues with memory effect, wherein the battery loses its ability to hold a full charge if its not completely discharged with each use. Theyre also more eco-friendly than past lead-acid, nickel-cadmium, or nickel-metal hydride batteries, which you may find on older cordless vacuums.

Vacuum cleaners have a universal motor that operates on both direct current and alternating currents. A good indication of motor power is amps, although this can be somewhat deceiving in that a vacuums total amps include power used in other parts of the vacuum. But in general, vacuums with higher amps have more power and, consequently, more suction power.

Keep in mind that high suction power uses more electricity. If youre cleaning a small home or apartment, you may not need a high power vacuum. Usually, a stronger suction power is needed in a house with a larger square footage.

Vacuum airflow is measured in cubic feet per minute (cfm), with the best vacuums having an airflow of over 125 cfm. However, airflow should be balanced with the vacuums suction, also called the water lift or static pressure. A vacuum can have good airflow but low suction, leaving you with a model that underperforms for its power. Good suction powermeasured in inches of water lift, or how many inches the motor will lift 1 inch of water verticallystarts at 80 inches.n Balanced vacuum specs should have more than 125 cfm and over 80 inches of suction.

All that airflow also needs good filtration. High-efficiency air particulate (HEPA) filters remove particles as small as .3 microns. Allergy sufferers benefit from this filtration level, removing pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and other common allergens.

Lugging around a clunky vacuum builds extra work into cleaning. Thats where maneuverability comes into play. Stick and cordless vacuums offer the best maneuverability, especially if they have a swivel head that pivots around furniture and everyday household obstacles.

As far as full-size models go, uprights have a leg up on canister vacuums, which can be cumbersome to drag. However, canisters tend to perform better on tile floors due to the vacuum head design. These designs make them one of the best vacuums for tile floors.

The average vacuum cleaner produces 75 decibels (dB) of noise. To give you an idea of how loud that is, the average homes noise levels stay around 40 dB. Vacuums that run at 71 to 75 dB will sound fairly loud. A quiet vacuum runs between 65 to 70 dB.

Vacuum capacities vary widely, from robot vacuums and stick models accommodating around .5 liters (L) to full-size uprights and canister models holding around 4.5 liters. More considerable volumes allow you to empty the bag, dust bin, or canister less often. Make sure the vacuums capacity fits your homes size. If you have a large household, more than 1,000 square feet, you may need to empty a small bin before youve finished vacuuming the house. Small containers work best for small spill clean up rather than whole-house vacuuming.

Accessories expand a vacuums usefulness. Standard accessories typically include a crevice tool, upholstery brush, and extension wands. However, a few other extras worth considering are additional hoses (for canister vacuums), motorized brush heads, and pet brush heads.

Onboard storage keeps accessories at your fingertips. However, it also adds weight. Other designs have a storage bag or a case for extra accessories, which keep the vacuums weight to a minimum. A downside to this is that a separate bag or a case can also be misplaced.

The following vacuums offer features tailored to tile floors. Canister vacuums with powerful automatic suction adjustment, cordless models, and wet/dry vacs that pull double duty made the list. Your unique circumstances and preferences will help you decide which is the right choice for you.

Photo: amazon.com

The Miele Complete C3 Alize provides premium features like six suction settings and a sensor to automatically adjust them. In part, the suction settings work so well on tile floors because of the AirTeq floor head that stays in almost constant contact while in use. The design optimizes suction while decreasing overall energy use.

The Complete C3 Miele also includes an impressive 4.5 liters canister capacity, reducing the number of times youll need to empty it. A telescoping handle makes vacuuming more comfortable and adds another 6 feet to the vacuums 30-foot cord reach. This model features a silence motor to maintain a quiet environment.

This model includes onboard storage for its three accessoriesa crevice nozzle, dusting brush, and upholstery nozzle. For those with allergies, a HEPA filter and an AirClean 3D filter bag remove and contain common allergens. The price stands as one of the few downsides to this model. It weighs 16 pounds and requires three AAA batteries to operate.

Photo: amazon.com

This convertible vacuum offers the convenience of a stick and hand vacuum with the suction power for hard floors.

The Bissell Featherweight offers three configurations and good suction for a vacuum at this price. The vacuum head stays in close contact with the floor to better remove dirt and dust from tile floors.

This model has a dirt cup capacity of .67 liters and also converts to a hand vacuum with a built-in crevice tool for use on furniture or stairs. The diverse configurations add versatility to this vacuums general use. A 15-foot power cord keeps the suction consistent no matter where its used, but it does limit the vacuums reach. At 2.6 pounds, its ultra lightweight and compact.

Photo: amazon.com

An easily maneuvered swivel head helps the vacuum glide over low-pile carpets and hard floors. However, it has a detachable cleaner head for stairs, windowsills, and other hard-to-reach places so that it can do far more than tile. With a dirt cup capacity of 1.58 liters, this vacuum weighs 17.1 pounds and has a 30-foot cord.

Shark also incorporates noise reduction technology that cuts decibels and softens the vacuums overall pitch. A HEPA filter removes common allergens. While the APEX works well for tile, the brushes do not turn off and could scratch hardwoods. Finally, this top pick features LED lights on the floor nozzle and handle to reveal hidden debris in dark areas.

Photo: amazon.com

The Hoover Floormate uses water and scrub brushes to remove dirt, dust, and other messes. This model features dual tanks to keep the dirty and clean water separate, reducing the risk of dirty water coming into contact with your floors.

The Floormate also features two modes: wash and dry. In wash mode, the vacuum uses both brushes and suction to pull up water and remove dirt. In dry mode, the brushes disengage so the suction can fully remove excess water. Modes are controlled with easily accessed buttons on the handle, where you can also activate a clean boost that adds extra detergent. Like other wet/dry vacuums designed for hard floors, theres a low percentage of these types of vacuums having sensor issues or early breakdowns. It weighs less than 14 pounds, it has a 20-foot-long cord and a dirt cup capacity of 1.58 liters.

Photo: amazon.com

With a dirt cup capacity of 3.5 liters, this model is smaller than Mieles full-size canister vacuums but doesnt lack suction power. A combination of the 1200-watt vortex motor and vacuum head design creates uninterrupted suction that pulls in more dirt and dust while enhancing energy efficiency. It features an 18-foot cord and weights less than 15 pounds.

This model includes six suction powers you can manually adjust using a dial on the canister body. Despite its compact size, it holds three accessoriesa crevice tool, a dusting brush, and an upholstery tooldirectly on the hose. It also has a HEPA filter to remove common allergens. Like other Miele vacuums, this model comes in at the high end of the price range. However, this compact model is one of their more affordable designs.

Photo: amazon.com

The Eureka RapidClean offers a lightweight but efficient cleaning experience on tile floors. At just over 5 pounds, this vacuum is an ideal choice for multitaskers. It has an easy rest feature if you need to temporarily prop the vacuum against a counter, a chair, or another piece of furniture.

A rechargeable 25.2-volt lithium-ion battery provides excellent power with a maximum 40-minute run time cleans larger spaces with the convenience of a cordless model. The runtime goes down if the extra features such as max power boost, are used.

With the dust bin at the top of the handle, this model can reach underneath deep furniture pieces and collect debris with its .7 liter canister. Additionally, the LED headlights help illuminate dark spaces while cleaning. Finally, the RapidClean converts into a handheld vacuum for use on stairs and other hard-to-reach places for versatile cleaning options.

Photo: amazon.com

The RoboVac 30C keeps cleaning simple. The vacuum connects to an app through which you can set the cleaning schedule on your phone or device. Set RoboVac to vacuum once, twice, or three times per day, so you can do something else while the floors get clean. If you dont want to use your smartphone, you can operate this feature with the included remote control. A sensor automatically adjusts the suction setting to the floor surface with low-powered suction on tile floors and higher suction on carpet to use the battery life more efficiently. However, you can also set it to run at max, which picks up more debris from tile floors than the standard suction setting. It has a dust bag capacity of .6 liters and runs off of one lithium-ion battery.

Two brushes pull debris into the vacuum. The bristles reach baseboards, which works well when on the perimeter setting. While this model doesnt feature some of the higher-end settings like GPS tracking, you get highly effective cleaning at an affordable price for a robotic vacuum. Additionally, its height of 2.85 inches makes it ideal for cleaning underneath furniture easily.

Thankfully, vacuums that work for tile floors often work well on other types of flooring, too. Some models have automatic sensors that change the vacuum height or suction based on the flooring type. This feature allows you to seamlessly move from tile to carpet and back again. Weve provided a few more tidbits and tips for vacuuming those tile floors.

Todays cordless vacuums generally have good suction that works well on small areas (less than 1,000 square feet) of tile flooring. Theyre great for spot cleaning in large homes, but the battery life could limit their use as a whole-house vacuum in homes over 1,000 square feet. However, for a tiny space or a home with a small tile area, a cordless vacuum provides maneuverability and portability to accommodate these areas of the home.

Many robot vacuums work well on tile floors. Those with multiple suction settings and automatic sensors that adjust the suction setting based on the flooring type perform the best. Models with numerous suction settings let you adjust the suction based on the amount of debris in the home. For example, pet hair typically requires extra suction, so a model with a suction boost setting or mode will probably work best.

Make sure the floor is clear of objects that could get sucked into the vacuum. If the vacuum head height is adjustable, lower it to the bare floor setting or the lowest setting available. Finally, follow a vacuuming pattern to keep track of where youve vacuumed.

Go here to see the original:
The Best Vacuums for Tile Floors in the Home in 2020 - BobVila.com

This time last year, I would not have guessed that facemasks and UNC sanitizers would become stables on out kit in 2020. But here we are, almost made it to 2021, and while we don't know what that year will bring, I think it's a good idea to get technology to work for us and allow us to get more done, have more downtime, and feel less stressed.

Here is a small list of my top tech items to kick-off 2021. I have tested everything on this list under real-world conditions, and nothing has found its way on this list based on a snazzy press release. Everything featured here is the tech that I use and rely on daily.

Must read: Paying money to make Google Chrome faster and use less RAM

The Zendure SuperTank was previously my favorite power bank, and it traveled with me across many countries at the end of last year. This year, the SuperTank Pro takes its place.

The power bank is robust and delivers the promised power.

This is a monster power bank capable of a maximum output of 138W through the four USB-C ports.

The OLED display is clear and displays what's going on for each of the ports. Like the SuperTank, the SuperTank Pro offers a UPS/pass-through feature that allows you to charge the power bank and use the power bank to charge or power other devices, so it acts as a power distribution hub.

The power bank comes with a 1-meter USB-C-to-USB-C cable and a USB-C-to-USB-A adapter.

Everything is high quality, well-made, and oozes exceptional design and engineering.

Grab a massive 25% off the SuperTank Pro on the Zendure website with the code ZSTP25. Preorder now for shipping starting December 9.

As much as I like my iPhone, the Ulefone Armor 9 is fast becoming my favorite smartphone when I need to venture into the outdoors or need to carry out diagnostics using the thermal camera and borescope.

Not only is the Armor 9 fast, tough, exceptionally well-made, I keep finding more and more uses for the built-in FLIR thermal camera. The other day I used it to find a leaking sink, and high resistance in an extension cord.

Combined with the optional borescope that clamps onto the side (leaving the USB-C port free), this is like having a go-anywhere toolbox in your pocket.

This is the perfect Android smartphone for the engineer.

The days of using SMS for 2FA are coming to an end, and about time too.

There are a lot of YubiKey hardware authentication keys out there, but the two I use the most are the USB-C/Lightning version, and the USB-C/NFC version. I've added both to all my online accounts that support hardware 2FA, and they're both performed flawlessly.

Yubico YubiKeys are compatible with a huge list of services and apps -- from password managers such as LastPass and 1Password, to services such as Twitter, Login.gov, GitHub, Bitbucket, CloudFlare, AWS, Dropbox, andmore.

Don't have one? Get one!

An encrypted flash drive that you unlock using your smartphone. It's a great way to secure data when on the move, and I'm finding myself using mine more and more for those times when cloud storage isn't convenient or practical.

Everything on the drive is protected by a 7-15-character password or a biometric unlock such as Face ID/Facial recognition, Touch ID/Fingerprint or IRIS scanning from a smartphone or tablet. The comms between the device and drive is handled by a secure Bluetooth authentication communication using any smartphone/tablet (iOS/Android) or Apple Watch. The Bluetooth channel is secured by a FIPS validated encryption layer and is only used for connection purposes.

The drive itself is completely host independent, so it will work with Windows, Mac, Linux, Chrome and so on, VDIs such as Citrix and VMWare, and also with embedded systems such as medical devices, TVs, drones, printers, scanners, or pretty much anything with a USB port.

It looks like the working from home thing might be around for a while, so if you are relying on your old router to deliver Wi-Fi, then you really need to upgrade your network setup.

The Meshforce M3s Mesh Wi-Fi router kit is everything you need to bring your home Wi-Fi setup into the 21 century!

The rest is here:
Must-have tech gadgets to start 2021 the right way - ZDNet

Creative arts. When Baby Shark meets Crayola, they create a Color Wonder Mess Free coloring book and markers. While this set keeps kids entertained, especially if Baby Shark is their background music, parents can relax knowing the markers only work on the magic paper, not skin, clothing or carpets. Best for ages 3 and up. $7.99. Toddlers like to touch things so this Christmas give them free rein with the EasyClean Finger Paint Station, which allows them to paint on a paper locked in place. In the happenstance a little (or a lot) of paint gets outside the station, cleanup is easy since the paint is washable. Best for ages 1 and up. $19.99, shop.crayola.com.

Make play time mess-free with a Baby Shark-themed coloring book and markers that only work with the booknot clothes or any other surface.Courtesy of Crayola

Credit: Handout

Credit: Handout

Mold and shape. Kids can get creative with all-natural plant-based colorful jars of dough from The Dough Projects. Each batch is made with organic wheat flour, sea salt, cream of tartar and vegetable oil; color comes from a variety of sources, including beets, purple carrots and turmeric, making it chemical-free. As yummy as the ingredients may sound and the life-like food items that kiddos may make, its best they wait for edible food during snack time. Best for ages 3 and up. Available as a three, six or nine pack. $19.99-$59.97, thedoughproject.com.

Kids can get creative with all-natural plant-based colorful jars of dough.Courtesy of The Dough Project

Credit: Handout

Credit: Handout

Bedtime buddy. Little ones can feel safe and sound snuggling up with a soft Bedtime Elmo, who wears his favorite glow in the dark pajamas. And, in case your toddler hears something bump in the night, Elmos friendly face flashlight makes things bright. Best for ages 1 and up. $34.99. walmart.com.

Melody making. Babies love to be stimulated, and an interactive grow-with-me mat does the trick for years. Opt for the Fisher-Price Deluxe Kick and Play Piano Gym to keep baby engrossed in activities such as lay and play or tummy time; during the toddler stage, they can explore songs, colors, shapes and numbers. The piano features real notes, so kids can play Christmas jingles or just bang on the toy to make their own version of music. Best for newborns to 36 months. $39.99, target.com.

Rock with it. Hop up and hang on to a plush elephant rocker from Pottery Barn, which features wood handles and runners for a secure yet gentle rocking motion. Plan to keep this, and pass it down for a rocking good time for generations to come. Customize by adding the childs name on the bottom wooden panel. Best for ages 18 to 36 months. Rocker, $149; with personalization, $161, potterybarnkids.com.

Excerpt from:
2020 Gift Guide: Ideas for babies and toddlers - Atlanta Journal Constitution

REVIEW One of the bedrooms in our house needs to serve two purposes: For most of the year its my office, but when the kids come back for the holidays its a bedroom. Half of the room has my desk with my computers, and the other half needs a bed. I havent bought that bed just yet, but I plan to get something like a captains bed or a mini loft. Because the bed will be up against the wall, I wont have room for a traditional end table with a lamp, so Ive been looking for ideas for a light source that could be used when reading in bed. Thats when I found the Polygon light tiles.

Polygon light tiles are a set of modular, hexagon-shaped tiles that are designed to be creatively grouped together and attached to a wall. When touched, they light up; the more tiles that are touched, the brighter the light. Polygon is an American company based in New York City that focuses on creating unique, design-focused products.

Polygon was gracious enough to send me both their Starter Pack and an Expansion Pack, and they arrived in a pair of cylindrical-shaped boxes. The Starter Pack contains:

The Expansion Pack contains:

Together, these gave me 15 tiles to work with.

Each tile is in the shape of a polygon. The top half is white plastic, and the bottom half is a very light grey plastic. When the tile is lit, the entire top turns white; theres not a bezel around the edges. Each of the six sides has a magnet that holds it together with the next tile as well as a pair of metal pieces that conduct the electricity. They are a non-traditional source of lighting whose design is simple and practical.

There are three steps for installing the Polygon lights. First, pick any tile and plug it in to the power supply. Touch the top of the tile, and it will light up.

Second, place the tile on a flat surface, like a kitchen table, and begin connecting the other tiles. The magnets will hold the tiles next to each; if you happen to place two tiles together such that their magnets are repelling, simply rotate one of tiles. Right about now is when your creativity should begin to kick in. You realize that you can connect the tiles together in any way you want to make any shape you can imagine. The only requirement is that they all have to be touching. As you connect the tiles, use a sweeping motion with your hand to touch the tops of several tiles, and you will see them all light up. Sweep again, and they turn off. Its really quite cool to see the tiles work together.

Third, mount them on the wall. Polygon provides two mechanisms for mounting the tiles on the wall. One, there are pair of nail holes in the back of each tile that you could use with small nails or brads. Two, they have included a set of sticky pads (fancy double-sided tape) with each pack. I have read that these pads are really sticky and tend to pull paint off the wall if you attempt to take them down, so you might want to use command strips instead, especially if you think you might move the lights around. Whatever you prefer, mount the powered tile first, using a level to keep it straight (unless, of course, you have a very creative design that isnt supposed to be level), and make sure that the tile is rotated to allow the power supply cord to hang down. Keep in mind the length of the cordits about six feet longto ensure that it can reach a power outlet. Then one at a time connect the rest of the tiles. Polygon recommends that 70% of the tiles be mounted to the wall. When they are all mounted, plug in the power, and youre done!

Heres a picture of what we finally settled on. Im a Tolkien fan and am planning to decorate my office with a Middle Earth theme, so a sword seemed like a reasonable use of the tiles.

If you want to read the manual for yourself, you can find it in this PDF.

The lights are a warm white color, and they add a nice glow to the room. The surface is not a button; rather it has a capacitive sensor that responds to touch. In my testing, I found that it responded best when touched with several fingers or a palm; if I touched a tile with a single finger, sometimes it turned the tile on but sometimes not.

The lights are perfect for reading. I think they would be a natural fit to hang near the bed that I will add to my office, and they could also be used near a chair, a couch, or any place that you need some extra light at night. Since each tile lights up individuallyits not all or nothingyou essentially have a light that you can make as bright or as dim as you want. At this point, you might be tempted to react by asking, You mean, they are just lights? Yes, absolutely! Thats exactly the point! On their About page, Polygon says that they believe in products that are creative, beautiful, and functional. They are not just about a creative arrangement of tiles, they are intended to be a functional source of light for your room.

Speaking of being creative, you can arrange the tiles together any way you want. You can make simple lines or geometric shapes, though I think the neatest designs are those incorporate other elements on the wall, like this rain cloud or this hot air balloon. How cool is that! What creative ideas do you have? If you had 15 tiles, how would you arrange them? Id love to hear your ideas in the comments below.

When putting the tiles next to each other, you dont hook them together with clips or tape or anything. The magnets on each side attract the tiles together and keep them from moving around; the magnets are not, however, strong enough to hold them together on the wall. In other words, you cant mount one tile with a pair of nails and then expect the magnets to hold the remaining tiles in place. I believe that Polygons recommendation to mount 70% of the tiles is spot on.

If theres anything about the Polygon lights that would be a cause for concern, it would be the price. Five tiles with the power supply cost $112. Thats over $20 per tile. Ouch! If you bought the two packs that Polygon sent me for testing, that will set you back $248. Thats not cheap! If you just need some light, it would be cheaper to buy a couple of lamps. Polygon lights, however, are more than just lights: They are a blend of creativity, functionality, and interactivity, which is exactly what the Polygons founder, James Vanderpant, is looking to encourage.

While I think the lights are very cool as they are, if there was one thing I could add, it would be color. LEDs are capable of a wide range of colors, and it would be nice to have some way to change the color, thus setting a different ambiance in the room.

These lights dont have any extra features, but Polygon also sells cork tiles and plant tiles, which can be interspersed among the light tiles for extra creativity and variation.

Polygon lights are a modular lighting system that is both minimalistic and functional. The hexagon-shaped tiles be can hung on the wall in any shape or pattern, limited only by your creativity (and your budget). They provide varying amounts of warm white light, depending upon how many tiles you touch. I think they will be a wonderful light for my kids to read at night, once I am able to find the perfect bed for my office. If youre looking to add a creative light source to your room and have a little extra money, then I recommend splurging for these lights.

Price: $112 (Starter Pack), $136 (Expansion Pack)Where to buy: Polygons online storeSource: The sample for this review was provided by Polygon.

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Polygon Light Tiles review The Gadgeteer - The Gadgeteer

I love how apps don't see platform borders. There are so many great apps out there that work no matter whether you're an iOS (or iPadOS) user or an Android user. And the more I switch between the two platforms, the more I appreciate this. It is, after all, the apps that make a platform, not the shiny hardware -- no matter how much we like the shiny hardware!

Must read: Paying money to make Google Chrome faster and use less RAM

I love power naps, and I know it sounds weird to say that an app can help with napping, but I've consistently found that I get the best possible power naps using Pzizz.

If you suffer from insomnia, or are just finding it hard to get to sleep, Pzizz can help with that too.

There are lots of features to tweak and play with, and you can use it offline (so no annoying notifications or phone calls can wake you up!).

Setting up a new device means entering passwords and rather than rely on autofill in Google Chrome or the Apple Keychain, I have a separate password manager. I've gone with LastPass because it is packed with features -- especially security features that allow me to lock down my LastPass account -- and it works on a whole raft of devices.

Before I opted to use Dropbox as my go-to cloud storage provider, I was leaving files all over the placeand then forgetting where I'd left them.

And then I'd have to trawl through half a dozen services looking for them.

Having one service that I can access across all my devices makes sense. And for me, Dropbox is that service.

Where possible, I like to have two-factor authentication protecting my online accounts, and wherehardware 2FAisn't possible, then an authenticator app is a good alternative.

While many password managers have authenticator apps built in, I went for Authy because it means I keep my passwords separate and get an app that works on pretty much any platform you can think of.

I've been using this VPN service for years, put gigabytes on gigabytes of data through it, and never had a problem. I've tried others, but I keep coming back to it because it's easy to use, no-fuss, just works, and the app is one of the best I've used (for example, I turn it on, and it stays on, happily running in the background).

It's the perfect prescription for shady Wi-Fi connections.

A very reliable way to test network speeds.

I used to use this more to satisfy my curiosity than anything, but now as Zoom video conferencing has exploded, I'm using it to make sure my connection is good enough for my meetings.

Again, this is a service I've been using for years, and while I've tried countless others, this is the one I keep coming back to.

I don't lose things, but I have been known to misplace things for some time and to prevent that hassle I now have a Tile in my luggage, laptop bag, wallet, and backpack. Yes, Tiles aren't cheap, but neither is losing your keys or wallet.

Again, this is one of those products that I've tried and tested over thousands of miles in several countries, and it just worked.

I also love the fact that I can also use a Tile to find my lost smartphone.

See the article here:
7 must-have apps for your iPhone and Android smartphone - ZDNet

A ceramics project created by art students at St. Georges School was recently chosen as a winner in the 2020 Bow Seat Ocean Awareness contest. The installation, called The Wave, won the Making Waves award in the Art Category.

The annual ocean awareness contest is run by the Massachusetts-based nonprofit Bow Seat Ocean Awareness Programs, which seeks to combine ocean science and arts education. The Making Waves award recognizes projects that attempt to raise awareness for ocean conservation in a creative way. There were 5,300 entries received from around the world.

Ceramics teacher Jennifer Davenport said her ceramics class is asked to do an art installation in the schools gallery every year. Its up to my students what the installation is going to be, she said.

Last year, after much discussion, the students wanted to focus on the ocean. Several of them had recently learned about the giant garbage patch that floats in the middle of the ocean, Davenport said. That inspired their focus on the ocean.

Each student designed a proposed project, then the students voted on which one to create. They settled on an ocean wave made out of ceramic tiles.

Its in the shape of the wave, but its made of individual ceramic tiles, Davenport said.

Each tile was hand cut and shaped and then glazed with one of several ocean colors. The students also made small ceramic water droplets. Some were included in the installation and others were given to gallery viewers as souvenirs to hopefully prompt them to think about ocean preservation, Davenport said.

Student Anna Klim, who was a sophomore last year, helped create the installation.

We wanted the project to be reflective of each of our uniquenesses but at the same time illustrate that together we could create a unified whole, she said. Each wave tile was created individually, but together it made our wave.

The students wrote in their contest application about what they wanted to convey with the piece.

The shadows and layers we have created work to make a dramatic visual effect that leaves an impression on the viewer, they wrote. We want our installation to remind people of how beautiful the ocean is, how important it is to the world, the very real possibility we could lose it, and the necessity of taking action to save it.

Davenport said the students werent planning to enter any contests with their installation. In fact, none of her classes had previously entered any contests. But as her students were working on their project, she saw an ad in a teaching magazine about the Bow Seat competition.

The project they had come up with totally fit the parameters of the contest, she said.

The students added a few posters to the installation and submitted it last spring.

Davenport said she wasnt expecting to win anything because she knew the contest drew a high number of applicants every year. Shed also checked out the previous years winners and saw how polished and professional their work was.

I was really proud and surprised, she said of learning about her students win. I didnt know if our first attempt at entering would get any attention.

She tracked down each of her students from last year to tell them about their win. Some have graduated and gone on to college and two were students from China who are attending classes at St. Georges virtually this year.

With Anna Klim, the students who helped create the installation are Norma Broderick, Krystal Huang, Angelina Jiang, Sonja Klim, Fair Niven, Pearl Wenzel and Selina Yang. They also share a $500 scholarship with the Making Waves award.

The installation had already been removed from the schools art gallery and packed away, but the school has worked to find a spot for it. The area is smaller than the original installation, so Davenport said she will have to redesign it slightly to make it fit.

The school has requested I reinstall it permanently, she said.

After The Wave is placed on display again, perhaps it will serve to remind people to be mindful of the oceans and to take care of them so they can be enjoyed by all, as intended by its creators.

Nina Culver can be reached at nculver47@gmail.com

More here:
Making 'The Wave': St. George's students win international contest with ceramic piece depicting the oceans - The Spokesman-Review

Amazon Sidewalk is a feature built into Echo and Ring devices, turning them into a wireless hub for other smart devices that anyone can make use of, piggy-backing your internet connection and in return, you can use it on other people's devices, of course.

Sidewalk uses products such as the Echo (4th gen), Echo Dot (4th gen) as bridges for devices such as Tile trackers and Ring car alarms to connect to. Those devices might be yours, or they might be your neighbours. The intention is to create a wide-ranging network covering whole cities, that everyones devices can access, provided of course they approved to work with Sidewalk.

This means that a Tile tracker in your wallet can tell you roughly where it is even if you're well out of range, or a smart sensor in your car can warn you of a break-in even from across town.

Sidewalk uses 900MHz radio signals and Bluetooth to create a wireless network thats independent of your Wi-Fi. Those radio signals can reach as far as half a mile in open ground.

Sidewalk Bridges, which are hubdevices such as Echo smart speakers, act as access points for Sidewalk-enabled devices such as smart sensors. The interesting bit is that the Sidewalk network is for everybody, not just you. If someone across town also has a Sidewalk hub, then your devices can connect to their Sidewalk Bridge when your Bridge is out of range.

That means you could find your keys with a Tile tracker even when theyre too far away for your devices Bluetooth to find them, or get alerts from your Sidewalk-enabled car alarm no matter where you park it.

The goal here is to have a wireless Sidewalk network that offers seamless coverage across entire neighbourhoods.

Sidewalk will initially be a US-only service and should launch in December 2020. Initially at least, itll suffer from the only fax machine in the world problem: Sidewalk needs lots of users to be worthwhile, but to begin with itll be very patchy because few people will know about it. Thats presumably why Amazon intends to switch it on by default on Echo devices that have the tech to support it. More of that in a moment.

No. Sidewalk is a low-power, low-bandwidth network: it can transmit security alerts from devices, but it doesnt have the bandwidth to stream video from something like a security camera. Its load on your internet connection should be negligible: the maximum bandwidth for a Sidewalk Bridge is 80Kbps and it wont use more than 500MB a month per account.

The more of your online life Amazon can be a part of, the more stuff it can sell you so if it can persuade everybody to embrace Sidewalk, it can sell them lots and lots of Echos and devices that work with it.

Sidewalk itself isnt there to mine data andit has three levels of encryption to protect user privacy against someone trying to snoop on the Sidewalk network but it encourages you to put Amazon devices in your home, in your pocket, in your car

At launch, the following devices can be Sidewalk Bridges:

Echo Dot 2nd Gen and newer, including the model with the clock Echo 2nd Gen and newer All Echo Show devices All Echo Plus devices Echo Spot Echo Studio Ring Floodlight Cam (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Wired (2019), Ring Spotlight Cam Mount (2019)

In addition, these devices have been confirmed to connect to Sidewalk:

Ring Car Alarm Tile trackers

More third party support should be announced soon.

Sidewalk is an opt-out service, so as soon as it goes live which should happen this month itll go live on your compatible devices. We understand the thinking here, because Sidewalk needs lots of users to deliver on its promises. But its a bad look from a privacy perspective.

If you want to turn Sidewalk off, you do it in the Alexa app. In the app, go to More > Settings > Account Settings > Amazon Sidewalk. Theres a toggle there to turn off Sidewalk across all your devices for that account, or you can just disable the Community Finding feature. Thats the one that lets other peoples devices locate missing keys or pets, but it also gives away the approximate location of your Sidewalk Bridge.

Link:
Amazon Sidewalk: what is it, and how to opt out if you want - T3

Pack your bags, because The Amazing Race is back! Every week, Parades Mike Bloom will bring you interviews with the team most recently eliminated from the race.

Siblings are a complicated relationship. While there is a bond by blood that connects you, differences in interests and philosophies can lead to spats and rivalries. When brother/sister team Eswar Dhinakaran and Aparna Dhinakaran entered the Amazing Race 32 family, they experienced both sides of that. While their participation in the Mine Five alliance helped get them to the end game, it was a surprising U-Turn that left them steamed in Cambodia, feeling as pressed as a tile.

Back in Leg 2, Eswar and Aparna were part of the first five teams out of Colombias salt mines. The group decided to work together from there on out, a moment that would reverberate and inform the rest of the season. But despite the safety in numbers, the siblings were far from safe. Despite never finishing in last, they still struggled in certain tasks, whether it be Eswar putting together a recycled cello or Aparna matching painted figures with their real-life counterparts. Because of this, they spent most of their race bouncing between 5th and 6th place, though they were notably able to avoid the language curse with their visit to their home country of India.

The Mine Five were all who was left in Cambodia, and Eswar and Aparna figured it would be every team for themselves. Little did they know that a core group of three teams were targeting DeAngelo Williams and Gary Barnidge. Unfortunately, they couldnt take action on that plan, as Gary and DeAngelo were first to the seasons final U-Turn board. In an instant, they threw Eswar and Aparnas pictures up on the board, the only team they knew were behind them. The siblings ranted about the decision as they planted seeds in the Detour, and those seeds only grew when they got to the Roadblock and saw their U-Turners were still there. But while Aparna had some choice words for the former NFL players, it would turn out to be her final words to them.

Now out of the race, Eswar and Aparna talk with Parade.com about

Related: The Amazing Race Season 32: Everything We Know So Far

Apana, I know you were lit up on Twitter last night watching the episode. What was that experience like?Aparna Dhinakaran: Honestly, it just reminded me of how dumb I still think Gary and DeAngelo and the beard bros were. It was just a really bad move on their part. I think. Im curious to see if they feel the same about it two years later.

What makes you think both in the moment and now that it was such a bad move for them?Aparna: We were the last to actually find the gnom. And when we got to the temple, we could go in one at a time. So there was no way to overtake anyone. We did the fish Detour alongside Gary and DeAngelo and the beard bros. And at the U-Turn board, you have the option to go after Hung and Chee or Will and James. This was the last U-Turn of the season; we all knew that going in. Its time to make a big, bold move.

We all talked about how the Mine Five was no more, and everyone was in a race for themselves moving forward. But then, when it came down to it, it seemed like they were making a really dumb decision to keep with the alliance. Theyre not going to cross the finish line holding hands together! One team wins, so you need to optimize to figure out how to get teams that have always beaten you or consistently ahead of you out of the season because you might not get another chance further on. There were a lot of comments online last night about how Gary and DeAngelo didnt know how long the other Detour was. I mean, we all knew there were clues in the box, so you can figure out if you took the fastest Detour and how many teams were behind you.

What had been your relationship with Gary and DeAngelo up to that point?Aparna: Up until that leg, Gary and DeAngelo were probably one of the teams we were closest to. We would often arrive at the mat together, like in Paris. In the airport flying to Cambodia, we sat next to Gary and DeAngelo and had such a good bond. We spent a lot of downtime with them because we didnt know about this core alliance.

I know that the race isnt about friendships. But I think for us, it stung to see Gary and DeAngelo make a dumb decision to U-turn us and not a team thats always beaten them. And then to see the beard bros burn the board. I mean, how dumb can you be to do that? Dont you want to take out a team thats always beating you? Thats, I think, where our frustration came from. We thought, You guys arent playing the game to win for yourself.

You spoke about that core alliance of Maddison and Riley, Hung and Chee, and Will and James, who wanted to try to U-Turn DeAngelo and Gary this past leg. Did you have any knowledge of that core group or their plans going into Cambodia?Eswar: Dhinakaran We didnt know about any of that. Like Aparna said, what shocked us so much about the U-Turn was how much we had been playing under the radar most of the race. That was our strategy for a lot of the legs. Thats why the others planned to U-Turned Gary and DeAngelo.Aparna: Theyre loud personalities. They kept bragging about themselves and saying how theyre going to win. So they topped off their threat levels.Eswar: So seeing the plan to U-Turn them affirmed our strategy up to that point to lay low. I think we really just got screwed over by Gary and DeAngelo not being willing to U-Turn the beard bros who were right behind them. Like literally two feet behind them!

Lets talk about that other aspect of the U-Turn. Did you have a different reaction to seeing what Maddison and Riley did?Aparna: Theres kind of a subtle thing here going on with the beard bros. They were being a little shady. They had this thing with Will and James and Hung and Chee, but they also told Gary and DeAngelo that they wanted the athletes to work together. It makes sense. In a group of friends, you have people who are obviously closer to each other.

We figured that the beard bros were closer to Gary and DeAngelo and Hung and Chee. So I think they didnt want to U-Turn Gary and Deangelo because that would make it seem obvious that they werent really seeing this alliance as real. But I feel like youve got to be willing to cut your alliances and move forward in the last three legs. If we had a spot on that U-Turn board, we would have U-Turned Will and James or Hung and Chee. Consistently, those two teams have done extremely well. If theres a chance to take them down in this leg, you want to take it. You dont want to wait to have them pass you and win the whole thing.

A lot of talk with the Mine Five before was around that core trio of teams and their dissatisfaction with Gary and DeAngelo. I wasnt sure why you were never talked about in the alliance, maybe simply because you were in the back more than they were. Talk to me about what your position was in the Mine Five.Aparna: To be honest with you, Eswar and I saw that as a one-leg alliance. We thought the mines were the same as Leg 1 in Trinidad, where the four teams at the back said theyd work together. Similarly, the five teams at the front of the pack in Leg 2 said, Lets try to keep our lead. Lets try to finish the top five teams. And we didnt really think much of it after that. Its a huge alliance; its half the teams in the entire season. It just doesnt work that way.

There were some times they helped us, like printing out maps for us in Paraguay. But it was a very loose alliance. We never really got much help. And youre absolutely right. Maybe its because they were always ahead of us, and they couldnt feel like they could give us enough information. But there were moments where they could have, and they didnt. When I went down the building in Berlin, I saw Hung and Chee still waiting for their cab. They could have told me it was sauerkraut and left Leo to fail.

So it never really felt like an alliance for us. We always felt like we were running the race on our own. Even with things like the pie-throwing in France or the table setting in India, they were helping certain teams and not us. I think Gary and DeAngelo were the ones who built this narrative around the Mine Five and getting them to the end. I feel like the other teams didnt put as much stock into that alliance as Gary and DeAngelo did, and they got the most from it.Eswar: I think hindsight is 20/20 in some ways. I think back, and one moment particularly stuck out to me, which was maybe a hint that I should have taken. In Paraguay, I was blowing it on the cello task. That was still in the wake of this Mine Five alliance. Phil had asked us about it on the mat once already. I was struggling, so I asked Chee for help. And Chee just gave this sort of vague response. I then saw Maddison walk over to Chee, and Chee gave him very specific instructions like what strings to put on. At the time, I was like, Maybe he was just really frustrated or was in a different spot than I was. Now looking back, that was definitely when lines were already starting to form.

Lets talk about the Roadblock from this leg. Eswar, despite you figuring out you need to grease the tile up before DeAngelo, he finishes before you. What happened there?Eswar: We were the last ones to leave. I want to say we got to the mat about 40 to 45 minutes after Gary and DeAngelo. So it wasnt super neck-and-neck. Once DeAngelo left, I definitely felt deflated, a little loss of hope. You lose momentum in the moment. To be honest, I dont know why I didnt get it before DeAngelo, considering that I saw the waxing part first. My tile just kept crumbling. I really dont know what I did differently on my successful attempt compared to the others.Aparna: It takes a couple of tries to get to know the equipment. And were competing with the team whos been using that equipment for at that point, three hours. I think Eswar was probably one of the faster ones to figure out that task. But it was this added thing of taking the time to ramp it up. Once you see that youre the last team, you can feel a bit of dejection.Eswar: This is me also looking back a couple of years. But Im fairly sure when DeAngelo left, I had just messed up a tile. And the tile-making process isnt super quick. It takes maybe five or ten minutes to spin the thing and get the pressure correctly. So even if I did it correctly, I had an extra ten minutes.

Aparna, we saw you take advantage of the downtime at the Roadblock to dig into DeAngelo and Gary for U-Turning you. Was this choice more out of frustration or a chance to get in their heads?Aparna: Up until the Roadblock, we were focused. Were like, Okay, weve just got to get there and keep fighting. But I saw DeAngelo, and he just did his little simple, Hey, guys, as if nothing had happened. He just infuriated me. You just U-Turned us! We just spent an hour trying to figure out a moving garden in the heat of Cambodia. It just seems so fake in that moment.

I knew the Roadblock was in the hands of my brother, and I felt a little bit helpless because I couldnt do anything. But I did have all of these emotions and frustrations at DeAngelo and Gary for putting us in this situation. And I would have had those frustrations as the beard bros as well if they were still at that Roadblock. So I ran in like guns blazing. I literally said, [Expletive], you DeAngelo. And hes like, Okay, well, thank you for that nice greeting. And I was like, What the [expletive] do you expect? You U-Turned us! I think he was expecting us to be like this super sweet team, like were buddies again waiting at the airport. I was laying into him trying to get their rationale. Why us? Why not take out Will and James?

Why did you dig into DeAngelo more than Gary?Aparna: To be honest, at first, I couldnt even look at Gary. I mean, he was half-napping. He was dead. But honestly, Gary at that point was trying to convince me why Eswar was going to get it ahead of Deangelo. He was laying into DeAngelo to us, like, Hes not even looking at the demo guy. You guys are gonna get it. Its really hard to hate on a guy who is rooting for you! [Laughs.] I think Gary was so over DeAngelo at that point, and he just wanted to blame it on him.

And you can see my talk was working on DeAngelo. He was getting flustered! He was talking back to me; he was losing focus. He felt bad. It was a good ten to fifteen minutes of me talking smack to him. It helped me feel like I had some power in the situation, even though I couldnt help with the Roadblock.

Finally, you came into the season admitting you didnt spend a lot of time together. Considering how close you got during the race, how has your relationships changed in the years since?Aparna: Its been the best experience of our lives; were so grateful. Though were siblings, were not like Kaylynn and Haley. Were not attached and hip and so alike. Were very different people. We would bicker a lot when we were training for the race. And I think it made us appreciate that while we dont think the same and might not do things the same, that doesnt mean that the other person is wrong. Thats their way of doing something, and it makes you have respect for your teammate and what they bring to the table.Eswar: Before the race, we didnt hang out that often. But my race partner became one of my close friends, not just my sister. With COVID, were actually both living in our parents house. So the race was definitely an interesting pivot point. We went different ways and started becoming different people during college. And now we respect each others differences.Aparna: Its been especially great for our parents. They introduced us to the show as kids. Seeing it come full circle, where were on the show, has been an awesome experience to share with them.

Next, check out our interview with Kaylynn and Haley Williams, who were eliminated in the Mega Leg of Leg 8.

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The Amazing Race 32: Eswar Dhinakaran and Aparna Dhinakaran Post-Elimination Interview (2020) - Parade

Topps Tiles has ambitions to secure 1 in every 5 spent on tiles in the UK within five years.

The listed tile retailer hopes to hit the target by improving the value it offers to retail customers and by continuing to grow its commercial business to clients such as architects and designers.

It comes as the business, which has its national HQ just outside Leicester, confirmed revenues were down to less than 193 million for the year to September 26, a drop of 12 per cent on last year.

It made a pre-tax loss of almost 10 million, reflecting the huge impact of shop closures during the first lockdown. Last year the pre-tax profit had been 12.5 million.

The business said it saw strong recovery in its retail like-for-like sales in July, August and September although shops have only been open to trade and click and collect customers during the latest lockdown.

However it said retail sales had benefited from an increase in home improvement activity.

The business has scrapped its final dividend after the drop in sales and also wrote down the value of its budding commercial tiles business, to the tune of 5.6 million, "based on a prudent view of the commercial market following Covid-19".

It said it was keen to re-instate its dividend policy as soon as was appropriate.

In its annual report to the markets the business said: In our retail business, we have launched a new strategy, Great Experience, Great Product and Great Value, ensuring the journey for our customers starts and ends with a great service experience whether in-store or online.

The world-class customer service delivered by our staff across our 342 stores remains key to our offer and this is bolstered by our recently relaunched website which, during the first national lockdown, saw online sales treble.

In our commercial business, we remain committed to our strategy of disrupting the commercial tile market and constructing a new market leader over the medium term.

Sustainability is becoming a key part of our agenda; we are working with suppliers on high recycled content tiles and investing into energy efficient infrastructure.

Chief executive Rob Parker said: In what has been a very challenging year, I am pleased with our response as a business, in the resilience we have shown and, in particular, the strong bounce-back in retail sales delivered since the initial national lockdown.

Underpinning all of this have been our exceptional colleagues across the group, and I would like to thank them all for their hard work and commitment throughout this testing period.

During the year we have transformed our balance sheet and have accelerated our strategic development, building on our credentials as the UKs leading tile specialist.

We are ambitious for the business and have set ourselves a new goal of taking 1 in every 5 spent on tiles and associated products in the UK by 2025.

It has been a year of challenge and change for Topps but we are emerging stronger and refreshed.

Our new financial year has begun strongly, with retail like-for-like sales in the first eight weeks ahead by 19.6 per cent.

With our true omni-channel offer, specialist credentials and strong financial footing, Topps is well-positioned for growth as the UK economy begins to recover.

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Topps Tiles wants 1 in every 5 spent on tiles in five years - Business Live