Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

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if(theVolume > 0.0 || cssVolume > 0){ $('#media-container-' + playerState.ORIGINAL_ID + ' .mute-overlay').css('display', 'none'); }else{ $('#media-container-' + playerState.ORIGINAL_ID + ' .mute-overlay').css('display', 'block'); } }); WVM.reinitRawEvents(playerState.ORIGINAL_ID); setInterval(function(){ WVM.reinitRawEvents(playerState.ORIGINAL_ID); }, 2000); } if(!WVM.rawCompleteEvent){ WVM.rawCompleteEvent = function(e){ var playerState = WVM['player_state139682']; console.log("firing raw event due to all other events failing"); var currId = playerState.VIDEO_ID; var newMediaId = WVM.getNextPlaylistIndex(currId); //if(playerSettings.autoplay_next && newMediaId){ if(newMediaId){ WVM.load_video(newMediaId, true, playerState.ORIGINAL_ID); } }; } if(!WVM.rawTimeupdateEvent){ WVM.rawTimeupdateEvent = function(e){ var playerState = WVM['player_state139682']; var rawVideoElem = document.getElementById('html5-video-' + playerState['ORIGINAL_ID'] + '_html5_api'); var fullCurrent = rawVideoElem.currentTime * 1000; 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NEW BERLIN (CBS 58) --The annual NARI Home & Remodeling Show will be slightly smaller this year as the coronavirus pandemic keeps more people at home and interested in making improvements.

NARI Milwaukee is hosting its home and remodeling show Oct. 16-18 at State Fair Park. Around 70 NARI Milwaukee members will host exhibit booths. Last year, more than 100 members staffed exhibit booths. The home and remodeling show has exhibitors for all types of remodeling and home improvement products and services.

Were excited to connect homeowners who are eager to get their home improvements underway with local contractors. By hosting a safe and accessible show, were helping reopen the economy and support area small businesses, said Diane Welhouse, executive director of NARI Milwaukee, in a news release. Nearly 80% of our members are small businesses with fewer than 10 employees so the annual show is important to them.

With people staying at home more during the pandemic, NARI members have said that business is good even though some segments of the economy are seeing significant declines as a result of COVID's effect on business.

Todays home is working overtime as adults and children are using it as their restaurant, office, classroom, entertainment spot and vacation destination, Welhouse said in the release. NARI Milwaukee members report many homeowners are looking to improve, repurpose and expand their space due to these increased demands.

The show will have a limited capacity with one-way aisles to enforce social distancing. All exhibitors and attendees will be required to wear face coverings, in compliance with a statewide mask mandate.

I had the chance to speak with Michael Maples, general manger of "Renovations Group" out of Hartland. He took me on a tour at a home in New Berlin.The houserecently underwent a major renovation project, including an 1100 square-foot addition, raised roof, and new kitchen cabinetry. Maples says the upcoming NARI show is invaluable. It's a way to ask the experts to help you formulate a plan. But he says you need to do some research before you attend. You should know what your budget is along with a general idea of what you're wanting.

For all the information about this weekend's NARI Home & Remodeling Show, just click here. Keep in mind there are some COVID restrictions you need to know about before you show up to the event.

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This weekend's NARI Home & Remodeling Show a good tool to tackle renovation projects - WDJT

The Building Industry Association (BIA) of Clark Countys Remodeled Homes Tour looks a little different this year. With the COVID-19 pandemic at the forefront of the communitys mind, the BIA Remodeled Homes Tour is coming to Clark County in a virtual fashion complete with pandemic inspired renovations, lending tips and more.

We really wanted to show up for the community this year, Chair of the Remodeled Homes Tour Elizabeth Gomez said. A lot of people like to tour homes and get inspired...so we decided to do a virtual edition of the tour this year.

Starting on Thursday, Oct. 15, and continuing through Nov. 1, the BIA of Clark County will release remodeling videos for free to their website and social media pages. The remodeling videos released will cover a wide range of topics on the subject. Gomez explained how she wanted the tour to cover multiple topics because there are many different ways and styles to approaching a remodel and she wanted the viewers to know their options.

According to Gomez, because the pandemic is causing people to spend more and more time at home, renovations are on peoples minds. She mentioned that there has been a drastic increase in the number of remodeling projects this year, and she wanted to ensure homeowners got a tour this year to know what they can do.

People have had the time to assess what is working for them, what isnt and what they can change (in their home), she said.

In a normal year, the remodeled homes tour allows guests to walk through homes with newly remodeled kitchens, bathrooms, bedrooms and more. Seeing the renovations could give homeowners ideas on how to renovate their own homes. While in person viewings are on hold for the year, Gomez said there are a couple of benefits with holding the show online. Most notably, smaller renovations will be highlighted more. For example, Gomez and her contracting group Bridge City Contracting, are highlighting a smaller bathroom renovation this year.

Bathroom renovations are usually near the top of a list when talking about remodels. This year, Bridge City Contracting is taking COVID-19 inspirations into the bathroom with ultraviolet sanitation and Washlet toilets.

Im not sure if people would drive to see someones master bathroom (in a normal year), Gomez explained. But the online tours provide a way for people to look at projects that really deserve attention and it provides a convenient way to do that.

Last year, local contractors focused on adding basements and multi-room overhauls during the Remodeled Homes Tour. In 2019, Bridge City Contracting joined the tour for a second year and had the theme of functionality and flow in their Battle Ground renovation which included a cup warming drawer and built-in espresso bar in the kitchen.

This year, the tour will feature over six homes in the Clark County area. With each home having its own aspect of renovations, viewers can expect to see kitchens, bathrooms, master bedrooms and more on the tour.

Along with this, Gomez explained that the tours leading sponsor, Columbia Credit Union, will be hosting a video on the aspects of financing a remodel. Other topics include why you should hire a contractor, and how to save time and money. Gomez said that hiring a contractor saves both time and money because there will be less mistakes to fix and professionals on the job.

Kitchen remodels can be a fun way to spice up your downstairs entertainment space. Last year, Bridge City Contracting added a full espresso bar to a kitchen during a renovation.

The theme for Bridge City Contracting in this years Remodeled Homes Tour is Self Care and the theme makes itself known in their bathroom renovation. Gomez explained how Bridge City Contracting looked at ways to reduce stress in a year when stress is affecting everybody more than normal. Their bathroom renovation included a freestanding spa and soaking tub, a spa shower with body sprays and heat warmers built into the floor. Gomez said that, in a normal year, most people would put me time on the bottom of their list. However, with the pandemic causing stress and people spending more time at home, me time has become more of a priority. I remember pre-COVID how a lot of people would regard a bathtub as a luxury item instead of a necessity whereas now a lot of people are realizing that self care is essential.

Self care and me time arent the only ways the pandemic has changed the aspects of home renovations. According to Gomez, a lot of new features in the homes are centered around cleaning and sanitation. In the bathroom, the contractors installed a Washlet toilet complete with toilet paper free sanitation, heated seats and even an ultraviolet cleaning and sanitation feature.

Renovation techniques and norms being influenced by the events of the world arent a new thing, Gomez explained. Each year, home renovations are inspired by culture, art, fashion and politics. One year, the biggest thing was smart technology such as light bulbs controlled by phone applications, voice assistants and thermostats connected to the internet. Along with this year's pandemic inspired rooms, Gomez said one renovation was themed around Halloween as the tour takes place at the end of October.

Each and every contractor featured in the online tour works and builds in Clark County. Bridge City Contracting is one of many contractors in the BIA Group Remodelers of Clark County. All of the remodelers (on the tour) are a local group of craftspeople that support each other and support the community, Gomez said.

Me Time was one of Bridge City Contractings main inspirations this year. With more people spending time at home, more people are realizing the importance of self care. Renovations could include the addition of a sauna and/or a spa shower and tub.

The tour is completely free to view online at biaofclarkcounty.org/get-involved/rocc/remodeled-homes-tour/ and on the BIAs Facebook page at facebook.com/BIAofClarkCo.

Read the original here:
Remodeled homes tour comes to Clark County in virtual format - The Reflector

Just this month, the New England Journal of Medicine published an article titled, Dying in a Leadership Vacuum. In the piece, its noted that, throughout the world, leaders had to make hard choices as to how to respond to the Covid-19 crisis. Under this presidents alarming lack of leadership, the Journal noted that the United States has taken a crisis and turned it into a tragedy.

This tragedy is the America we are experiencing today and the country in which we live and take pride is not the America we all deserve. The country is more divided politically, socially and emotionally than ever before. Basic values around race, equality, the merits of science just to name a few have all been called into question.

There are no winners in this rhetoric. When our leaders seek to divide us by our differences, we all lose. The notion of unity and being united is woven into the fabric of America yet here we are, standing fractured, farther apart than ever before.

As we look out over the next four years, we need a leader who can unite. This requires a leader who listens, who is empathetic, who is kind. While these qualities seem like basic traits, we must not take them for granted after the last four years.

Thats why I am voting for Joseph R. Biden as the next president of the United States.

Biden understands what it means to struggle through adversity and loss, and he understands the support everybody needs to soldier on through their own hardships to arrive whole on the other side.

Continued here:
Restoring leadership in the White House requires a change - Buffalo News

OWEGO (WBNG) -- The Owego Hose Team is tackling another restoration project in an effort to preserve Owego's history.

Owego was once home to the oldest operational steam fire engine in the United States. The Amoskeag Steam Fire Engine dates back to the 1800's, but it has not been functional since the 1980's. This early version of a fire truck used steam to pump water through hoses.

"In the old days, things were a little bit different," said Owego Hose Team Treasurer John Loftus. "Steam-powered, horse driven, and this one back in the 1800's was actually pulled by hand."

The project will be done in three phases, and it could take a couple of years, costing upwards of $100,000. However, the hose team says they have a purpose, all in hopes of inspiring a new generation of firefighters.

"We're all preserving history for not only what we remember when we were kids, but for our kids and our grandchildren going forward. It's really that pride we have for our community," said Loftus.

The hose team will be hosting fundraising events for the restoration. The "steamer" will be restored in Hope, Maine. To read more about the project, head over to their website.

Originally posted here:
Owego Hose Team takes on new restoration project - WBNG-TV

Television shows such asThe Blockcan make renovating look easy, but when it comes to costs financial and emotional theres much to consider before taking the leap.

Financial and mental aspects are very much interlinked when it comes torenovations, says PRD Real Estate chief economist Diaswati Mardiasmo. They go hand in hand.

There will always be some sort of financial and mental stress inrenovations, it is inevitable, however thorough research and preparation can mitigate this to a certain extent.

Dr Mardiasmo says renovators need to prepare themselves for extra costs, time delays, unexpected paperwork and hurdles that usually require immediate solutions.

Your ability to jump those hurdles, will depend on how prepared you are. According to Dr Mardiasmo, research and preparation are key.

Intensive, deep-dive research can mitigate these issues to some extent.

While there are many factors to consider before deciding whether to embark on a renovation process, according to senior interior designer at SJS Interior Shilpa Mohan cost is the most important.

You want to ensure you spend enough money to attain your desired outcome, without overcapitalising on your property, says Ms Mohan.

Try and do some research on recently sold properties in your area that have undergone a renovation and to see what price they sold for.

You should also consider whether you intend, or need, to live in the property during the renovation.

Keep in mind that if you engage a builder, they usually move a lot quicker if you dont live at the property, says Ms Mohan.

But living elsewhere might cost you extra if you have to rent another property.

To avoid financial and emotional shocks, its important to start preparing for a renovation months in advance.

The timeline really depends on the amount of work you are doing and whether you need any approvals, says Ms Mohan.

You should be thinking about the design process, the time for approvals to be finalised and lead times on materials, furniture, fixtures or fittings that you need to source for your renovation.

You should also be prepared for it to be a long and emotional process.

Renovations arent always easy, so be mentally prepared for it by planning adequately beforehand.

Renovations can be classified as cosmetic, code-assessable and structural, according to property developer Ian Ugarte, of Small Is The New Big.

Cosmetic renovations involve minor changes like repainting or refinishing floors, and usually dont require approval. Code-assessable renovations may involve removing internal walls or changing layouts, and may require sign-off from a private certifier. Structural renovations involve expanding the floorspace of a home upwards or outwards, and need council approval.

When considering a code-assessable or structuralrenovation, Mr Ugarte says you should first ask yourself some key questions.

What am I trying to achieve with thisrenovation? Am I trying to add value to my property to sell, or just create a more beautiful home in which to live? If Im trying to add value, does it measure up?

Ideally, arenovationshould increase the value of the property by 1.5 times the amount youre spending.

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Next, ask yourself how much you have available to spend on arenovation.

Will you need to dip into the equity in your property, if possible, to fund therenovation? Have you allowed for additional costs, like the costs of going through the planning process, if youre considering a full structuralrenovation?

Another factor that must be taken into account is the potential for the building costs to blow out through variations to the scope of works.

To avoid this, its advisable to not only compare at least three quotes for therenovationplans, its also advisable to get another builder, tradesperson or building professional to cast their eye over the quote/s to ensure its a realistic reflection of the costs involved to carry out therenovation, Mr Ugarte said.

That way, when you lock in a price, youre more likely to be able to avoid any changes in price from unexpected variations.

When considering arenovation, you also need to prepare mentally for the challenges this presents, such as the level of inconvenience or disruption and if you will find it sustainable.

For example, if yourrenovationsdont require you to move out, you will need to be prepared to live in clutter, mess and chaos, Mr Ugarte said.

Likewise, you may need to rely on neighbours and friends for access to bathroom facilities, or even use a temporary on-site toilet.

Scheduling delays and cost blowouts can also cause stress and frustration.

To avoid derailing, try to manage your expectations and anticipate that everything wont just go to plan.

Remember, to be forewarned is to be forearmed.

Read the original here:
How to financially and emotionally prepare for a renovation - Domain News

If your washing machine is on the blink and you're looking for appliance repair, be wary new evidence reveals that you can't always trust Google when it comes to finding a reliable local appliance repair person.

A months-long investigation by CBC's Marketplace found questionable business practices such as fake Google Maps addresses and bogus company names are plaguing the appliance repair industry.

In some areas, as many as 50 per cent of the local appliance repair companies returned in a Google Maps search appeared to be fake. Fake company names and locations change all the time, so a phoney company listing that appears on Google Maps one day may be gone the next, the investigation found.

"I think it's unethical, and I think as a customer you deserve to know who you are dealing with you shouldn't have to be second-guessing," said Joseph Renaud, an Ajax, Ont., resident who unwittingly called a fake local company when trying to fix his tenant's appliance.

Marketplace uncovered similar tactics during an investigation of the locksmith industry earlier this year.

And now Marketplace has learned the owners of one company, Omega Appliance, appear to be linked to fake appliance repair and locksmith listings popping up in major cities and towns across Canada.

The owners of Omega Appliance refused an interview, but through their lawyer they told Marketplace that "Omega has never created its own fake locations since those are part and parcel of the external professional corporations' services in promoting Omega and advertising its services."

Experts in online searching question why Google hasn't been doing more to combat fraudulent map listings.

"I think it decreases consumer trust in how to find businesses," said Mike Blumenthal, an American search engine consultant and Google Maps local search expert. "It is well within Google's capability to aggressively monitor and shut down fake businesses."

When Renaud went to fix his tenant's stove earlier this summer, he reached out to Ajax Appliance Repair, thinking it was a local company located a few minutes' drive away in his community just east of Toronto.

"Their name came up [in a Google Maps search] and they had really good reviews," he said.

WATCH | During its investigation, Marketplace also tracked down where all those missing socks go.

Renaud called and booked an appointment after he was told the initial service fee was $75. When the technician arrived, he said the problem was the bake element, and Renaud was quoted about $400 for the part and labour.

"Something just didn't seem right I just thought, 'This sounds like way too much,' " Renaud said.

While he took some time to think about it, the company emailed him the quote and he noticed it came from a different firm altogether, Omega Appliance.

When Renaud told them he had contacted Ajax Appliance Repair and not Omega Appliance, the Omega employee responded: "Ajax Appliance Repair is Omega Appliance."

Renaud discovered that Omega Appliance is based in Concord, Ont., about 50 kilometres from Ajax,and has poor reviews and complaints about it lodged with the Better Business Bureau.

He found reviews about confusing business names, expensive repairs and appliances breaking down shortly after being repaired by a technician.

On the HomeStars website, which calls itself "Canada's largest network of verified and community-reviewed home service professionals," Omega Appliance has negative customer reviews averaging a 0.7 rating out of 10.

Ajax Appliance Repair, with many five-star positive reviews, does not exist. When Marketplace visited the location given on the Google Maps listing, they found that the address is a strip mall.

Renaud told an Omega employee that if he had known he was using Omega Appliance, he would not have agreed to a service call.

"It seems very odd to me that they would use a fake address and say they are local," Renaud told Marketplace in an interview, "and there's no physical store at all."

Renaud said he felt misled and that "there was a discord between what they were advertising and actually what was showing up at the property."

The Marketplace investigation has determined, through an analysis of listings on Google Maps and interviews with individuals who have knowledge of the company's business practices, that Omega Appliances seems to be the main company behind most fake appliance repair companies located around Toronto, southern Ontario and even across Canada.

Many of the calls made to fake Google Maps appliance repair companies lead to one call centre in Concord that is owned and operated by Eran Gurvich and Ilay Avnin, who also own FC Locksmith, a locksmith company.

FC Locksmith was featured in a Marketplace investigation in January 2020 that linked that company to more than 80 fake Google Maps locksmith addresses and reviews in the Greater Toronto Area.

Gurvich and Avnin refused repeated interview requests, and responded to Marketplace via their lawyer, Jonathan Weingarten, who said his clients' companies do not create their "own fake locations" since those are "part and parcel of the external professional corporations' services" hired to promote Omega and advertise its services.

Marketplace has found that Omega Appliance uses fake company names and locations as a means of advertising and marketing for its own Concord-based appliance company, Omega Appliance, just as it did with its other company, FC Locksmith.

An Omega employee told Renaud via email that "we service different areas and advertise with the area name and local number."

In a podcast on wealth management, Gurvich discusses FC Locksmith's advertising techniques and its growth into appliance repair.

"We had no idea what we were doing. And all of a sudden, we found a formula, and from there, it was kind of a copy/paste."

Gurvich said the formula that they found"in terms of the advertising, is suitable mainly for mobile services ... now it was easier to get bigger. And naturally, soon enough, we started to touch some other industries: appliances repair services, garage door services."

Outside Ontario, the company acts as advertisers for local companies, Gurvich said."We have established local companies that can execute the work for us, and we act as ... advertising."

The phoney appliance repair companies always appear to be "nearby" the customer in a Google Maps search. In Toronto, they use local location names such as Upper Beaches Appliance Repair, Leslieville Appliance Repair and Yonge and Lawrence Appliance Repair. In Calgary, one of the company names they use is Evergreen Appliance Repair. And in B.C., one of the locations is named Surrey Appliance Repair Pros.

The Google Maps address for the Yonge and Lawrence Appliance Repair is actually a Starbucks coffee shop.

In Calgary, the address for Evergreen Appliance Repair is a Shoppers Drug Mart. Surrey Appliance Repair Pros is a Scotiabank in Surrey, B.C.

When Marketplace called in Upper Beaches Appliance Repair and Leslieville Appliance Repair for an appliance repair, an Omega technician came to the door.

WATCH | How one companyis linked to a network of fake locations and names on Google Maps:

Upper Beaches Appliance Repair used the address of a local jewellery store. Leslieville Appliance Repair is a Food Basics grocery store.

With fake company names and locations changing all the time, consumers may see different results in Google Maps every time they search.

Weingarten, a lawyer based in Maple, Ont., said Omega Appliance hires outside companies to promote its services online, just as it did with locksmith locations.

"Omega has never created ... its own fake locations since those are part and parcel of the external professional corporations' services in promoting Omega and advertising its services," he said via email.

WATCH | How some firmsuse fake reviews to lure you in:

Weingarten did not provide the name of any external professional corporation used by Omega Appliance and FC Locksmith.

"Most of the locksmith and appliance services around the world are mobile and not done in a specific store," he said. "Therefore, the true relevance of quality of service to clients is not the location of the business but the location of the service, which is at the clientele homes, all performed by local professionals."

As for customer complaints, he said they are treated with respect and "on many occasions, even when the complaint is found to be unjustified, the customer is fully refunded the cost of the services."

Mike Blumenthal, an Olean, N.Y.- based Google Maps local search expert and consultant, warned in the previous Marketplace investigation that fake listings are prevalent in the appliance repair, locksmith and garage-door repair industries.

Blumenthal said that, in some markets, as many as 85 per cent of local Google home services listings could be fake.

The practice appears to create an illusion of competition that he said causes harm on many levels.

"Why would Google leave up fake listings?"

"Google thinks that they're not seen very often and in the aggregate, they're not," Blumenthal said, "but the reality is that Google has 95 per cent of local searches" and that affects a lot of people, looking for local services.

"Google is not doing their job," he said.

Google's failure to invest more resources in fighting fake listings hurts consumers, local businesses and ultimately, Blumenthal said, trust in Google itself.

While Google does have rules regarding fraudulent listings, Canada's regulations have not yet caught up.

Marie-Christine Vzina, senior communications adviser for the federal Competition Bureau, said while there is nothing in the Competition Act specifically regarding fake online company names and locations, "the Competition Act prohibits anyone from making materially false or misleading claims to promote a product or business interest."

Vzina said the bureau encourages anyone who suspects deceptive marketing activities to file a complaint via the bureau's online form, as "ensuring truth in advertising in Canada's digital economy is a priority for the bureau."

When the bureau receives a complaint, the information is examined to determine whether an investigation should be launched.There are two potential enforcement routes under the act to address false or misleading representations and deceptive marketing practices: the civil or criminal courts.

Under the criminalcourt system, there is a potential penalty of a fine of up to $200,000 or a jail sentence of up to one year.

In thecivil route, the court could order a person to cease the activity, publish a notice and/or pay a monetary penalty. For thefirst occurrence, an individual could be liable for a penalty of up to $750,000, while a corporation could be liable for a penalty of up to $10 million.

Google told Marketplace it takes fake business locations very seriously, monitors closely for scams and fake listings will be removed.After Marketplace alerted Google to the fake locksmith locations we discovered, it seems Google took action most fake locksmith listings no longer appear in Google Maps.

A Google Canada spokesperson said: "In response to the issue reported to us, we are now auditing all appliance repair listings created in Canada and are in the process of removing any that we find to be fraudulent."

While some fake appliance repair listings have already been removed since Marketplace alerted Google, they will often pop up again, sometimes under different names or using different addresses.

All this leaves consumers somewhat on their own when trying to find a reliable local appliance repair service.

Blumenthal said that until Google figures out a way to stop fake listings for good, the best way to find a local business or service is to get advice from others you trust, via word of mouth and neighbourhood or community social groups.

1. Check the address. If the business is not at the address provided on Google Maps, you may find a vacant lot, grocery store, drugstore or even a parking lot.

2. Do you see only glowing five-star Google reviews? It could be a sign that these are fake reviews, and a fake location and company.

3. If you see reviews where users claim the business is fake, misleading or not at that address, it might be a fake location listing.

4. If you suspect a fake listing or company location, alert Google.

1. Open the business's Google Maps profile

2. Scroll down and click or tap "Suggest an edit."

3. Select whether you're looking to change details or request a removal.

4. Fill out the form and click "Submit."

Read more:
Looking for local appliance repair? Why you can't always trust what you find on Google Maps - CBC.ca

Imagine this scene from a not-distant future: youre driving in your new car and hear a loud bang. Immediately your vehicle starts pulling sharply to the right and you hear a distinctive flapping sound of rubber hitting pavement. Youve blown a tire!

Fortunately, you have a spare. You pull over, put the car up on a jack and safely install the tire. But when you get behind the wheel to drive away, your car wont start. A flashing light on the cars digital display tells you that it cant recognize the tire youve installed. Your vehicle informs you that you are required to use dealer approved tires installed by a licensed roadside technician. Youre instructed to call your dealers premium roadside service, where you learn that you need to upgrade to premium support and that the soonest a roadside service technician can get to you is in two hours.

Creepy, right? But what should really scare you is knowing that the technology to make this dystopian future real already exists and is already installed on modern vehicles.

Digital rights management (DRM) of the kind Microsoft and Sony use to keep pirated games from running on their gaming consoles is part and parcel of modern vehicles, as well. Today, it isnt used to prevent owners from putting non-manufacturer approved parts on their vehicles but it easily could be.

If youre thinking to yourself no way, Id advise you to visit farm country, where small family farms are engaged at this moment in a struggle for their economic survival with multi-billion dollar equipment makers like John Deere and Caterpillar.

Question 1 is a pro-consumer ballot measure that will give car owners and independent repair shops access to wireless maintenance data needed to service and repair modern vehicles.

Absent an equivalent right to repair law covering farm equipment, those companies have engineered their tractors, combine harvesters and other equipment to work in just this way. Today, many farmers are locked out of their own equipment. Software forces them to pay exorbitant costs for repair and servicing of their own property by exclusively dealer authorized service technicians.

Or, consider smart home appliances. As this story by VICE indicates: GEs newer refrigerators have RFID sensors that monitor whether owners have installed GE branded replacement water filters. The GE filters, which sell for two- to three times the price of generic filters, contain an RFID tag that makes sure theyre accepted by the fridge. Non-GE filters arent recognized, disabling the refrigerators water filtration or degrading the refrigerators operation by disabling filter health monitoring or displaying warning messages.

These examples bring us back to why Question 1 and why the right to repair measure may be the most consequential issue youre asked to vote on this year.

Question 1 is a pro-consumer ballot measure that will give car owners and independent repair shops access to wireless maintenance data needed to service and repair modern vehicles. If passed, it will close a loophole in an existing state law that requires automakers to make data needed for purposes of maintenance, diagnostics and repair available in a standard format to vehicle owners. That law, passed in 2013, included an exception for so-called telematics data that is transmitted wirelessly, rather than via a wired connection to a data port located under the dashboard.

Seven years later, many new vehicles use the wireless telematics systems to transmit maintenance and repair data. The cars cellular internet connection bypasses the repair shop computers, talking directly to cloud-based servers operated by the automakers. Question 1 simply requires automakers to provide vehicle owners with a standard web-based platform to access those maintenance clouds.

No big deal, right? Theres nothing extreme or dangerous about the idea that mechanical data shared via a wired connection to a computer in a repair shop should also be accessible wirelessly. Thats why automakers are anxious to change the subject. The Coalition for Safe and Secure Data, a group funded by automakers, has blanketed TV and radio in Massachusetts with ads warning that Question 1 will give cyber stalkers and burglars the keys to your car and even your home.

These warnings about cyberstalking are misleading and have little basis in fact.

A group I founded, SecuRepairs, represents close to 200 of the worlds top information security experts. Weve been vocal in our support of Question 1 and are encouraging voters to look past auto industry scare tactics. In our professional opinions, this simple expansion to the states right to repair law does not increase the risk of identity theft, cyberstalking or vehicle hacking.

We shouldnt consign ourselves to a future in which we are tenants, rather than the owners of our things.

But Question 1 is about much more than the question of whether you or the corner repair shop can work on your car.

Like farm equipment and home appliance makers: automakers increasingly see their vehicles as smartphones on wheels and their customers (and their data) as the real product. Locking down access to their platform is a prerequisite to locking in the revenue. Thats why, as our homes, businesses and public spaces fill with smart, Internet connected stuff, a right to repair like the one spelled out by Question 1 is critical to our well-being and the economic health of our families and communities.

In the years to come, corporations will bring forward all manner of smart and connected products with gee whiz features. These products may well deliver convenience. But the price of that convenience cant be software-enforced monopolies that stifle competition and innovation, while bleeding consumers of their money, their data or both.

The right to repair our cars, appliances, phones and other stuff is essential. We shouldnt consign ourselves to a future in which we are tenants, rather than the owners of our things. I urge you to vote yes on Question 1.

Follow Cognoscenti on Facebook and Twitter.

Original post:
Question 1 Is About Much More Than Car Repair. Its A Civil And Consumer Rights Issue - WBUR

Google's acceleration program for startups and companies in their growth stages launched this week a new cycle of startups that will receive a multidisciplinary support of the technology giant on their way to break into new markets and reach a wider customer base. This is Google's second cycle of the Gaming Growth Lab program, which is designed to support promising mobile gaming companies on their growth journeys. The upcoming cohort, which opened this week, will include eight startups: Funorama, Innplay Labs, Brain Games, Dramaton, SuperPlay, Klever, Obscure games, Baba Entertainment, Storytime app, and Zarzilla.

Startup Growth Lab is an exclusive Google accelerator designed for marketing leaders from Israel's most promising startups, aiming to accelerate their business. It consists of hands-on workshops and ongoing one-on-one mentoring. The accelerator program covers topics such as industry analysis, brand communication, UX/UI, measurement, creative, and advertising. The program was launched in 2018, and graduates from its first two cohorts include Elementor, Melio, Guesty, DayTwo, and Bookaway.

The success of the Startup Growth Lab in Israel, led to the program being launched in Spain, Portugal, U.K., Japan, Korea, Brazil, and more, Lior Noy, Startup Growth Lead at Google said. The new cycle, which opens this week, is the second round of the program that is intended exclusively for gaming companies. In January 2021 Startup Growth Lab will open the fourth cycle of the program to which startups from all sectors can be admitted.

Among the eight startups that graduated from the third cohort of the program, you can find companies such as Orcam Technologies, Voom, Workiz, and Jasper.

Orcam Technologies that was founded by Mobileye founders Amnon Shashua and Ziv Aviram has created the wearable assistive device, OrCam MyEye, which is being used by tens of thousands of blind and visually impaired people around the world. OrCams mission is to harness the power of artificial vision by incorporating pioneering technology into a wearable platform that improves the lives of individuals who are blind, visually impaired, or has reading difficulties.

Workiz was founded in 2014 by three home service professionals Saar Kohanovitch, Idan Kadosh, and Erez Marom to help make their work easy. The company developed a field service management and communication software for small-medium on-demand service businesses such as locksmith, junk removal, carpet cleaning, and appliance repair. Workiz has experienced a monthly double-digit growth following the Covid-19 outbreak. Thousands of home service companies use Workiz to manage their business. Workiz has raised $7.3 million to date.

See the article here:
Google launches the second cohort of Gaming Growth Lab acceleration program - CTech

With nearly 12,000 votes counted, the citys municipal election results are much clearer, although not yet official.

A round of preliminary results released by the city Friday afternoon show Assembly member Alicia Hughes-Skandijs winning reelection to her District 1 seat City and Borough of Juneau Assembly seat and Christine Woll winning the race for an open District 2 seat. Both seats have three-year terms.

Those are the same results indicated by earlier unofficial counts released by the city, but with more than a thousand additional votes tallied, the count is likely close to what the official results will ultimately show. A Canvas Review Board will start work at 10 a.m. on Tuesday to certify the results.

Assembly member Maria Gladziszewski ran unopposed for an areawide seat, and Juneau School District Board of Education member Brian Holst and Martin Stepetin Sr. ran in a noncompetitive race for two open school board seats. All of those seats have three-year terms.

[Juneau district court set to reopen in November]

Woll paced a four-way race for a District 2 seat that is being vacated by Assembly member Rob Edwardson. She received 5,116 votes, according to the unofficial results. Woll ran against Derek Dzinich, Robert Shoemake and Lacey Derr.

Im feeling great, felt great before knowing the results because we ran a great campaign, Woll previously told the Empire. Woll did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Shoemake came in second with 3,034 votes.

I think its pretty cool we hit 3,000 people, Shoemake said.

He said that is about the number of votes he anticipated receiving based on how many homes his business, Budget Appliance Repair, has brought him into.

In some Assembly races, such as 2018s race for two District 2 seats, Shoemakes vote total would have been enough to win a seat.

Shoemake declined to definitively say whether he might run for office again, but its something he wouldnt rule out.

In the District 1 race, Hughes-Skandijs received 6,350 votes to Kenny Solomon-Gross 5,044. Solomon-Gross did not immediately return a call seeking comment.

Im feeling pretty excited to see the latest results just now, Hughes-Skandijs said in a phone interview. Feeling pretty thankful to the voters and supporters and volunteers.

Hughes-Skandijs said she was impressed by the elections robust voter turnout, which unofficial results put at 42.6%. Its the first time in 20 years turnout in a municipal election has topped 40%, according to city data.

She said shes glad to have secured a three-year term. Hughes-Skandijs was first appointed to the Assembly in early 2019 and won a one-year term on the Assembly that October. This election was her second time on a ballot since her appountment.

This will be my first three-year term, which will be funny, Hughes-Skandijs said. Im really excited to have what most people normally have, which is three years to do the work.

Giving them props

Voters rejected one ballot proposition, but OKd another one, according to unofficial results. A $15 million bond package that is meant to generate funds for city projects, including school roof repairs, passed 6,912-4,664, according to unofficial results.

A proposition that would have established a charter commission was rejected 7,424-3,957, according to unofficial results. The proposition, which is required by City and Borough of Juneaus charter to appear on ballots every 10 years, has failed every time it has appeared on ballots.

Contact Ben Hohenstatt at (907)308-4895 or bhohenstatt@juneauempire.com. Follow him on Twitter at @BenHohenstatt

More:
Latest round of unofficial results bring election into clearer focus - Juneau Empire

Vulnerable people are losing tens of thousands of pounds a year to cold callers who targeting them with potentially fraudulent insurance.

Some victims have been tricked into paying more than 1,000 a month to insure kitchen appliances such as fridges and ovens.

In a report, consumer group Which? said it received more than 150 complaints about potentially fraudulent insurance policies in the year to July.

It said many of these related to appliance cover for washing machines and other white goods.

Of the 62 companies that were reported, only two were regulated - despite this being a legal requirement.

Many described what they were selling as "service plans", although some referred to it as insurance over the phone.

In one case, a woman found that her father-in-law - who had recently passed away - had been paying 28 direct debits for appliance cover.

His bills equated to more than 1,000 a month.

Have you been targeted by cold callers? Get in touch: emma.munbodh@mirror.co.uk

He had four policies with one firm. One of these was for 516 to cover a fridge-freezer from March 2018 to 2021, yet he was also paying another firm, Protect Your Bubble Ltd, to cover the same appliance over part of the same period.

The company is unrelated to the insurer Protect Your Bubble, which is part of Assurant Direct Ltd, a regulated firm.

The Financial Conduct Authority, the City watchdog, issued a warning against Protect Your Bubble Ltd last year.

It said the website was a clone company that was acting fraudulently.

"Almost all firms and individuals carrying out financial services activities in the UK have to be authorised or registered by us. This firm is not authorised or registered by us but has been targeting people in the UK, claiming to be an authorised firm," the regulator said.

"This is what we call a 'clone firm'; and fraudsters usually use this tactic when contacting people out of the blue, so you should be especially wary if you have been cold called. They may use the name of the genuine firm, the 'firm reference number' (FRN) we have given the authorised firm or other details."

The woman also discovered her father-in-law was paying a firm called Premier Protect 365 to cover his fridge.

Companies House records show this brand is the trading name of Premier Protect Holdings Ltd, which shares a director called Abdelhak Akayour with Protect Your Bubble Ltd.

On reviews platform Trustpilot, there are more than 100 complaints about the same company.

In many cases, customers said they eventually gave up on their claims, while others claimed they were led to believe Premier Protect 365 represented their existing provider.

One person claimed their elderly mother-in-law was convinced into giving out her bank details to renew a policy she did not have.

Get the latest money advice, news and help straight to your inbox - sign up at mirror.co.uk/email

Soon after, 195 was taken from her account. Her family threatened the company with legal action and the money was returned.

Which? said one in five people have received a phone call about appliance insurance or extended warranties in the past year.

While this is only illegal if it's about your pension, there are concerns that some of these firms could be fraudulent.

Caroline Abrahams of Age UK, a charity, said cold callers should be completely banned in the UK.

"Many rely on their landlines and cold callers know they are likely to be spending much longer at home over the next six months. Its vital that action is taken by the authorities to prevent these calls," she said.

If you're concerned about nuisance calls, you can register your landline with the telephone preference service (TPS).

It's a free service that allows you to opt out of unsolicited sales or marketing calls. You can access it via your landline provider.

Jenny Ross, at Which? said more needs to be done to shut these firms down.

"We've found evidence of a surge in appliance repair cold-calls, with some companies using dubious tactics to sell expensive and unnecessary "cover plans" for household appliances to vulnerable people.

"While there are some legitimate firms that operate within the industry, it is clear there are also many rogue traders exploiting people and evading regulation - and much more must be done to shut them down.

"We've shared our findings with the Information Commissioner and National Trading Standards who are investigating the issue. We'd also like telecoms companies to consider providing their free call-blocking services by default, rather than customers opting-in, to avoid more people falling victim."

Read the original post:
Cold callers tricked my father-in-law into paying 1,000 a month to insure his fridge - Mirror Online