Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

In the market for a new car but not sure if it should be an electric vehicle (EV)? Want to save on running and maintenance cost but unsure about highway escapes? Want a refined ride experience but range anxieties keeping you confused? All of these, combined with the price of an EV itself, are natural - and obvious - concerns for all who may be considering taking the plunge into the world of battery-powered mobility.

India is at the cusp of an electric revolution in terms of mobility with the central and several state governments determined to roll out the red carpet for EVs. But the red carpet isn't going to be a magic carpet which helps such vehicles replace vehicles as we have known and driven for years together.

Therefore, here are five key and honest points to seriously consider before deciding on whether your next vehicle ought to be an electric vehicle:

Cost: Let's face it, an EV doesn't come cheap. Not here in India anyway. Not yet. A Nexon from Tata Motors, for instance, starts at around 6.99 lakh (ex showroom) but when a Nexon EV starts at 13.99 lakh (ex showroom). The upfront cost of an EV is, therefore, significantly higher than a regular vehicle but if you plan on keeping the product for a decade or more, it makes a whole lot of sense to take the dive. That is because the running and maintenance cost of an EV is significantly less. With per litre petrol cost well and truly above 81 (in Delhi), EVs make a strong case as a viable option for an affordable drive experience. Because there are fewer parts, maintenance of an EV is also expected to be a whole lot cheaper - over a long period of time, of course.

(Also read: 'Localization key, provides tremendous opportunity in EV market)

Infrastructure: This is still where EVs lose out against conventional vehicles. While EV infrastructure is constantly being updated in major cities, it is still from ideal. And out on highways and smaller cities, a public-charging station is an absolute rarity. And while an EV can be charged using a regular wall socket, the charging time is significant which may mean an EV owner is held hostage by the passing hours.

At present, many recommend that an EV should ideally be the second or subsequent vehicle in a typical Indian household. With infrastructure constantly being developed, first-time car buyers could jump right in at a consequent time.

(Also read: Tesla may enter India in 2021 as Elon Musk drops biggest hint yet)

Range: The above point is also directly linked to the whole question of range. People have always asked 'how much' in terms of mileage of a petrol or diesel car. The question with EVs is 'how many'. How many miles can an EV do per full charge is actually a question people are increasingly asking globally when considering such a vehicle. Different options get different battery packs which means varying range.

The distance that an EV can cover is, therefore, a key consideration and a factor which also depends on whether one uses it as a daily commute vehicle or a regular highway hauler.

Options: Here is where things are looking the brightest. While makers of two-wheelers are rushing in new electric products, car makers are also looking to catch on and cash in.

Hyundai was one of the first off the block with its Kona e-SUV, followed by the likes of MG ZS EV and Tata Nexon EV. The price of an EV is coming down as electric versions of more affordable vehicles are being rolled out.

But if you want absolute luxury, there is Mercedes EQC as well. The launch of the first luxury EV in India from the German brand could possibly make its rivals in the luxury segment sit up and drive in their respective offerings.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, OEMs like Mahindra and Maruti have either confirmed plans or are contemplating products.

Support: OEMs with EV offerings already in the Indian market are going the extra mile to allay concerns over post-sales service. Battery packs come with warranty running over several years while the service networks have professionals who are specifically trained to welcome an EV and keep it running silent smooth.

Several manufacturers are also installing wall charging units at the customer's preferred location without any additional cost.

As such, the EV movement in India is on the right track. There are more options than there have ever been and with incentives being dished out - Delhi has done away with road tax on battery-powered vehicles, the outlook is extremely positive. The pace of infrastructure for supporting vehicles, say many, is still a tad slow but there is no denying that it will pick up pace.

See the rest here:
Electric cars in India: Five points to consider before buying an EV - Hindustan Times Auto News

(Continued from last week)

Atrip of 10 miles one way with horse and buggy was about the limit for aSunday visit with relatives and friends. The first buggies had only atop with a reel of black canvas to shield against the weather.Protection on all sides and front, when needed was provided by curtainsof similar material. In winter blankets were used as a shield againstthe bitter cold. Later the cab was introduced which by means of glassprovided protection in front, rear and both sides. A family needed a 2seated surrey. (Note: My mother had and old horsehide blanket whichwas used as a cover in the winter. This family treasure

is still in the possession of my sister, Beth Metzger. It is a horse-hide on top with black wool for the backing).

Thefirst cars entered upon the scene about 1916. Most of these were Model TFords, which sold new at about $650.00. These first cars protectedagainst the weather by means of a windshield of glass in the front and ablack canvas-like cloth over the top and down the rear. Floppy curtainswere carried in the trunk for use in case of rain or cold weather. Whenthe first cars appeared about 1920 with glass protection on all sides,some far-sighted people proudly predicted that eventually all cars wouldbe such sedans. They also said many would be killed because of allglass closed cars. The astonishing velocity of 60 MPH, was the ultimatespeed imaginable. The first cars were a terror of many road horses. Inmany cases the driver of the horse had to jump out and hold the horse bythe bridle; he usually cursed thosenew fangled machines.

Whenthe first planes appeared in the sky about 1916, a pompous uncleproudly foretold: Some day air planes will become so common that thepeople wont even look up at them anymore. When the first milkingmachine in neighborhood was installed about 1915, the people flocked tosee the contraption actually at work and gave all kinds of reasons whyit would never succeed.

With the approach of the cool weather ofautumn farmers stored enough potatoes and fruit, some beets and cabbagein the basement or a cache in the garden for the long winter. (Note:Some farmers had an up-ground cellar for storage. This was usually a manmade hill and had a door.)

With the arrival of the cold weatherof winter, neighbors gathered to help one another slaughter enough hogsto last until the following spring. In addition to hams, shoulders andsides, nearly every part of the animal was used to make sausage, headcheese, blood pudding and similar delicacies. While the men were busyoutside slaughtering, bleeding, preparing the hot water for scalding anddressing the carcasses, the women inside, with the help of all grownchildren, were occupied with making sausages and puddings, with cuttingoff the fat to be rendered in a large kettle over and open fire outside,to make lard. Fat unfit for human consumption was rendered to be usedin the making of home-made soap. Hams, shoulders, sides and summersausage were smoked; the summer sausage was hung up in a dry cool place,the rest of the meat was stored in dry salt, and was salted down. Nowand then a steer was slaughtered for change of diet. (Note: Sausage wasoften friend down and preserved in lard, in a large crock and stored inthe basement. It was so good to come home from school and have asausage sandwich with homemade bread, covered with grape jam or jelly.Pon Hoss was a favorite of mine. It was made with head meat and oatmeal.Butchering was always a big time event).

In the 1920s ruralelectrification revolutionized farm life by permitting better readinglight in the home, illumination in the barns, electrically driven pumps,running cold and hot water in the home and refrigerators enabling thefamily to keep food for days. Later the freezing compartment was added.Some farmers didnt get electricity until 1946 (after World War II) sothey had to continue to use the ice box.

Dont forget the outhousebefore indoor plumbing and the Saturday night bath was taken in a washtub. Farm tractors came on the scent in the 1920s but many farmersdoubted that they could take the place or horses. Also during thedepression, which struck in 1929, most farmers couldnt afford atractor.

Father Mack continued: These people knew how tocelebrate and enjoy themselves. Relatives came from afar for eachwedding, which was always the occasion for great parties and leanded upwith a dance in the evening. During the winter months, there was atime in a home of the neighborhood nearly every week. The carpet wasrolled up from a room in the house, or a wooden floor of the barn wasswept clean; a violinist, a guitarist and a caller were recruited fromthe area and the people thoroughly enjoyed kicking up their heels. Kegsof beer flowed freely and at the proper time sandwiches were served. Asthe evening wore on most of the children fell asleep under theinfluence of the beer and music. Such a time was the tor of many a happyconversation for days before and after the event itself. Such was life on the farm back in the olden days.

See the original post:
Farming 1910 to 1930 - Delphos Herald

The 43rd Denver Film Festival (DFF43) announced today three Red Carpet Drive-In experiences that have been added to this years programming, leading off with Searchlights NOMADLANDOpening Night, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m. The Red Rocks Red Carpet Drive-In events will provide a one-of-a-kind experience for DFF43 patrons.Throughout this seasons Film On the Rocks Drive-In series, we have watched and shared the joy of audiences getting out of their homes and engaging in big-screen film entertainment, said Festival Director, Britta Erickson. While were excited to pivot to a virtual experience for the majority of this years Festival, and to reach new audiences through that opportunity, we are grateful to our film industry partners, the City of Denver, and of course, our amazing audiences to be able to deliver three unique film experiences Nomadland, Nine Days and Ammonite under the stars at beautiful Red Rocks Park. And the truth is, I cant think of a better, more appropriate way to experience all three of these films and Nomadland in particular than in your car, surrounded by beautiful Western vistas.

Tickets are now on sale for the Red Carpet Drive-In experiences and are priced per car at $75 for Denver Film Members and $85 for the general public. Films will be screened at Red Rocks Lower South Lot 2 parking area, which can accommodate up to 300 cars. Guests will view the films on a large screen, and can tune in to the audio through a designated FM station via their car radios. For safety reasons, guests are required to remain in their cars throughout the screening and are required to wear masks when visiting on-site amenities.

Despite the challenges that 2020 has thrown at us, and the belief that we would have to be 100% virtual for this years Festival, were thrilled to be able to present these three Red Carpet Drive-In experiences and provide our audiences with some select in-person screening opportunities at DFF43, said Director of Marketing and Partnerships, Kevin Smith. These very special screenings would not be possible without the partnership and support of the City of Denver, Arts & Venues, and event partners including Red Bull and Waterloo Sparkling Water.

NOMADLAND will receive DFF43s Rare Pearl Award which will be accepted by director, Chlo Zhao, in a video presentation before the film screening. The Rare Pearl Award highlights a film whose beauty and uniqueness stand out as finest of the year. Recent Rare Pearl Award winners include Portrait of a Lady on Fire (DFF42) and Roma (DFF41).

NOMADLANDOpening Night, Oct. 22 at 7 p.m.Red Rocks Drive-In ExperienceWomen+FilmFollowing the economic collapse of a company town in rural Nevada, Fern (Frances McDormand) packs her van and sets off on the road exploring a life outside of conventional society as a modern-day nomad. The third feature film from director Chlo Zhao, NOMADLAND spotlights real nomads Linda May, Swankie and Bob Wells as Ferns mentors and comrades in her exploration through the vast landscape of the American West.

CHLO ZHAOChinese filmmaker Chlo Zhaos debut feature film, Songs My Brothers Taught Me (DFF38), premiered at Sundance Film Festival to critical acclaim and earned a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature. Her second feature film, The Rider (2017), was critically praised and received nominations for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Film and Best Director. Zhao garnered further success with NOMADLAND, which received widespread acclaim and won the Golden Lion at the Venice Film Festival and the Peoples Choice Award at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The Denver Film Festival will include two additional Red Rocks Red Carpet Drive-In experiences: Centerpiece title NINE DAYS from Sony Pictures Classics on Saturday, Oct. 24, and Big Night title AMMONITE from Neon on Thursday, Oct. 29, both at 7 p.m. NINE DAYS will receive three DFF Awards: Emerging Filmmaker Award for Edson Oda, and Excellence in Acting Awards for both Winston Duke and Zazie Beetz, as well as feature a virtual post-film conversation, hosted by Lisa Kennedy, featuring all three award winners and Producer, Jason Michael Berman.

NINE DAYSCenterpiece, Oct. 24 at 7 p.m.Red Rocks Drive-In ExperienceWill (Winston Duke) spends his days in a remote outpost watching the live Point of View (POV) on TVs of people going about their lives, until one subject perishes, leaving a vacancy for a new life on earth. Soon, several candidates unborn souls arrive at Wills to undergo tests determining their fitness, facing oblivion when they are deemed unsuitable. But Will soon faces his own existential challenge in the form of free-spirited Emma (Zazie Beetz), a candidate who is not like the others, forcing him to turn within and reckon with his own tumultuous past. Fueled by unexpected power, he discovers a bold new path forward in his own life.

EDSON ODAMaking his feature-film debut after a series of highly acclaimed and award-winning short films and music videos, Brazilian-born writer-director Edson Oda delivers a heartfelt and meditative vision of human souls in limbo, aching to be born against unimaginable odds, yet hindered by forces beyond their will.

WINSTON DUKETrinbagonianAmerican actor, Winston Duke is best known for his role as MBaku in the Marvel Cinematic Universe films Black Panther, Avengers: Infinity War, and Avengers: Endgame. He also starred in Jordan Peeles horror film Us.

ZAZIE BEETZGerman-American actress, Zazie Beetz stars in the FX comedy-drama series Atlanta (2016present), for which she received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series. Beetz has also appeared in the disaster film Geostorm (2017), and has played the Marvel Comics character Domino in the superhero film Deadpool 2 (2018) and Arthur Fleck/Jokers neighbor in the psychological thriller Joker (2019).

AMMONITEBig Night, Oct. 29 at 7 p.m.Red Rocks Drive-In ExperienceSheila K. OBrien Spotlight on UK/Ireland CinemaIn the 1840s, acclaimed self-taught paleontologist Mary Anning works alone on the wild and brutal Southern English coastline of Lyme Regis. The days of her famed discoveries behind her, she now hunts for common fossils to sell to rich tourists to support herself and her ailing widowed mother. When one such tourist, Roderick Murchison, arrives in Lyme on the first leg of a European tour, he entrusts Mary with the care of his young wife Charlotte, who is recuperating from a personal tragedy. Mary, whose life is a daily struggle on the poverty line, cannot afford to turn him down but, proud and relentlessly passionate about her work, she clashes with her unwanted guest. They are two women from utterly different worlds. Yet despite the chasm between their social spheres and personalities, Mary and Charlotte discover they can each offer what the other has been searching for: the realization that they are not alone. It is the beginning of a passionate and all-consuming love affair that will defy all social bounds and alter the course of both lives irrevocably.###Throughout the expanded 18-day Festival, DFF43 will present more than 100 titles including local, national and international cinema, panel discussions, tributes, and achievement awards. This years Festival will include popular showcase selections including: Italian, UK/Ireland, Women+Film, CinemaQ, CineLatinx, and Colorado Spotlight, as well as welcome new showcases: Colorado Dragon, Spotlight on Social Justice, and a new virtual High School Day for high school students and educators across the state.

Individual tickets are now on sale at: https://www.denverfilm.org/dff43/

Denver Film Festival AllAccess Virtual Passes are on sale:https://dff.eventive.org/passes/buy

Read more:
DENVER FILM FESTIVAL ANNOUNCES NOMADLAND AS OPENING NIGHT DRIVE-IN EXPERIENCE AT RED ROCKS - North Denver Tribune

By Nicola Caul Shelley, Synergy Design & Construction

At Synergy Design & Construction, were big believers in giving homeowners insights into everything you need to know to make informed decisions about home remodeling.

As the pandemic wears on and were all spending so much more time at home, we know a lot of you are ready to make big changes. From kitchens to basements to bathrooms, interior remodeling services are in high demand especially as temperatures start to plummet and our attention turns to winter and the prospect of spending even more time indoors.

Other than kitchens, one of the most frequent home remodeling requests we get is bathroom remodeling. So, to help you on your remodeling journey, here are three dont tips you should know before you get started!

1. Dont Hire the Wrong Type of Contractor for the Job

Every day you see your powder room, your heart sinks a little and you make a mental note (again) its time to do something about it. If your powder room needs a little pep, its not a big remodeling project. But, just as you dont need a CPA to balance a checkbook, you dont need a full service design and build firm like Synergy if you just want to update a vanity and change a light fixture. Knowing who you need is the starting point. Doing your homework and aligning your needs with the type of service a particular contractor provides is a HUGE time (and money) saver. Read more in Best Remodelers in Reston and Where to Find Them.

2. Dont Assume You Need to Keep the Tub

We get this question a lot, Do I need a bathtub in my Master Bathroom?. The short answer is no. A soaking tub is aesthetically beautiful, but if you dont use it now you wont use it in the future. Weve completed a number of remodels for homeowners who chose to eliminate the tub altogether and create a larger shower that packs a design WOW! punch instead. If youre concerned about resale, most home buyers DO want a tub, but it doesnt necessarily need to be in the Master Bathroom. As long as theres one somewhere in the home for kids (and, yes, sometimes pets!) it isnt a deal breaker. Of course, keeping the tub and making a design feature out of it is always an option if you have plenty of room for one.

3. Dont Select Form Over Function

Its really easy to select finishes based on your HGTV vision of your space, not the real life version of how youll actually use it. Were all guilty of this one! For example, a pedestal sink can be a piece of artwork in itself, but it becomes a cluttered mess if you dont have a place to put everything. Spend your budget on storage-friendly vanities. Adding one might just reduce the stress you feel every time you walk into your bathroom and see cluttered countertops. Even the most modern floating vanities now come in all sorts of styles that include storage drawers, so if you have more contemporary taste, you dont have to sacrifice modern design.

Our featured remodel this month is a Reston townhome master bathroom remodel. This transitional bathroom is a great example of how removing the bathtub and creating room for a larger walk-in shower completely transforms the space. The result? A beautiful spa-like retreat.

Learn about the steps we take to ensure a safe home remodeling experience here. If youre ready for a design thoughtful home remodel, our consultations are FREE and we even offer virtual meeting options. If youre ready to chat, give us a call!

Read more:
Reno of the Month: Three Things Not To Do In Your Bathroom Remodel - Reston Now

Though both have been around for a while, construction professionals in the region said they are seeing them trend upward.

Old buildings for new purposes

Construction Engineers recently finished a project for Essentia Health that involved converting an old retail building into a state-of-the-art ambulatory care clinic.

The 23,000-square-foot building in Park Rapids, Minn., now includes 18 exam rooms, space for physical and occupational therapy, a speech therapy department, and a cutting-edge radiology department, among a number of other features.

Essentia moved into the space when Construction Engineers, headquartered in Grand Forks, N.D., was just finishing some final touches with the building in early September.

Mike Dunn, the construction companys business development manager, said this is not the first time the company has refitted a building for a new occupant. Dunn said vacant retail stores are prime real estate to convert to health clinics, in part because of the open spaces of vacant buildings.

We did a job very similar for Altru in Grand Forks where we repurposed a Scheels store, there on Columbia Road, into its PT and Performance Center, he said. These health care providers want to utilize these locations and save a little bit of money by remodeling into those buildings.

Dunn said there are some varying challenges repurposing old buildings, but the benefits surpass the hiccups. A couple of benefits is that the main structure is already built, and retrofitting an existing building instead of building a new one may save the new owners money.

I think there are definitely challenges with repurposing, but it can also help owners open faster because theyre not undertaking a totally new construction project, he said. I think that's why some of the owners like doing this. As an example, the Park Rapids project was a nice open floor plan to begin with and so it just involved adapting their layout for the flow of patient care and traffic patterns. It was totally transformed.

While businesses other than medical might find their own purpose for repurposing an existing building, it seems to especially be trending with healthcare providers.

They typically are in good locations and so the health care folks are seeing there's opportunity to put some of their specialty needs clinics in more retail locations and repurpose those buildings, Dunn said. We've seen a number of them do that. We see it all around the area, actually.

Dunn said he is unsure if the coronavirus pandemic has quickened the trend, because many remodeling projects started before the pandemic was declared. And from what hes seen, it is a trend not only locally but nationally.

A lot of these jobs have been in the works for three years or so, he said. I think it's more of a trend nationally with available buildings and, again, trying to fill up space instead of always doing new construction on the outskirts of town, that kind of thing.

Prefab and modular manufacturing

Modular construction and prefabricated buildings also are becoming more popular among medical facilities and the hospitality industry.

Something that makes these options appealing, according to Tim Torpey, general manager of B&T Manufacturing in Black Hawk, S.D., is that they are a cost-effective option, especially during economically challenging times.

There's no shortage of us having opportunities for projects, Torpey said. We continue to grow, and that includes our employees over the next couple of years.

The company is growing so remarkably, in fact, that it plans to open a new 60,000-square-foot facility this fall in Rapid City.

The Prefabrication and Modular Construction 2020 SmartMarket Report, published by Dodg Data & Analytics, echoed similar sentiments, explaining that prefabrication and modular construction are experiencing significant growth as the construction industry seeks to improve safety, productivity, project quality and cost-cutting measures.

Clearly the future is bright for continued growth in use of both prefabrication and modular construction for a number of reasons, according to the report. One of those reasons, Torpey said, has to do with the number of diminishing trade professionals.

Construction folks will tell you that with the shortage of qualified personnel when you think about the carpenters and plumbers there are not a lot of folks going into those trades these days, he said. So they're looking for solutions to still get their job done, and this provides possibly more job opportunities in this market where people are not going into those other fields as much. This helps to kind of balance that out.

A view of a finished, factory-built bathroom by Black Hawk, S.D.-based B&T Manufacturing. Image: Courtesy of B&T Manufacturing

B&T specializes in prefabricated and modular bathrooms for hospitals, hotels and restaurants, among other industries. The bathrooms are manufactured at B&Ts facility and then delivered to the project site for installation.

They're actually complete turnkey bathrooms with tile, mirrors, shower doors, vanities, Torpey said. They just slide into the envelope of the building. Once on site, we do about two hours worth of connections and you have a fully functioning bathroom.

Of course, thats a simplistic explanation. Torpey said there is a lot of pre-planning, measurements, and coordination that happen along the way and long before the bathroom is installed. It never fails him when the job is complete; he is always excited to see a project come together like a finished puzzle.

B&T also is doing something else with bathrooms, something Torpey said he believes will be a game changer on the job site. Say goodbye to portable potties on the construction scene, he said. Say hello to the wellness hub.

The Wellness Hub for Hygiene & Health fits into a variety of environments to connect to sanitation, fresh water, and electrical utilities. It includes natural lighting and porcelain fixtures. Basically, Torpey said, it is a smart bathroom that scans the faces of users to take their temperature, provides a hand-sanitizing basin, and once the occupant leaves the hub it locks the door and automatically sanitizes the room for the next visitor. The hub is on wheels so it can easily be moved to new locations of a job site.

The hub is just another way that Torpey said B&T is following trends and making new ones. In the larger picture, he said some general contractors still have a tough time with prefabricated and modular projects, but he understands why that may be the case.

The general contractors out here, the hotel builders and such, they've been doing their stuff for years and years, the way they've always done it, he said.

But he believes prefab and modular will continue to take hold and grow, and those who have come on board with it realize the benefits.

They see the potential, but it is still that leap of faith, he said. Basically what were doing, we're just bringing construction into a manufacturing process.

Andrew Weeks may be reached at 701-780-1276 or aweeks@prairiebusinessmagazine.com

Go here to see the original:
A couple of construction trends to keep an eye on - Grand Forks Herald

Fall calls for more than just a reset on our clocks. We need to prepare for a new season. Here are some ways to do so and save money at the same time.

At the grocery store

Buy fruits and vegetables that are in season. Overripe fruits and vegetables go bad faster, so choose the freshest produce available. When it comes to leafy greens, opt for those that are richly colored, with few to no limp or yellow leaves. When youre picking out root vegetables like potatoes and onions, weight is a good indicator of freshness: The heavier they are, the better.

In your clothes closet

The cheapest place to go shopping is right in your home. With cooler months approaching, its time to go through your closet and swap out your favorite shorts for your favorite sweatpants.

Take a day to go through everything you own, and create piles for things you no longer want, things you want to keep, and seasonal items. For clothing you wont need until next summer, properly pack it in airtight containers to avoid issues like moths.

Once your clothing is separated, youll probably have some items that are showing signs of wear. Dont toss them. Its surprisingly easy to re-dye clothing that has started to fade. If you have stained items, try soaking items in OxiClean. If you noticed that your workout gear is not looking as spry as it used to (or that its retaining a funky smell even after washing), bring it back to life with Purex Fels-Naptha.

If the idea of going through your wardrobe doesnt fill you with joy, get some friends together over Zoom for a virtual clothing swap. You might be able to nab a couple of new pieces from pals and rid yourself of stuff you dont love anymore.

Around the house

If youre itching to do some remodeling, try something that doesnt cost anything at all: rearranging your furniture.

First, decide what you want the focal point of the room to be and concentrate on that. If its the bay windows in your living room, figure out how to arrange the furniture so it doesnt impede the view. Position the largest pieces of furniture (such as the bed or sofa) first, and work outward from there. Try different layouts.

Once you have an arrangement you like, step out of the room and walk back in. A vibe check will allow you to see how the room feels.

After rearranging, you may find yourself in need of a new piece of furniture or two. But before you go shopping, take a look around your house to see whether theres anything you can repurpose. Could that old bookshelf be transformed into your new standing desk?

Clean and organize

Now that youve rearranged, why not take the extra step of making the furniture look new? To tackle lighter stains, a little warm water and dish detergent can usually do the trick (depending on the fabric).

If you need something stronger, or you need more than just a spot treatment, it may be worth getting an upholstery cleaner. A good upholstery cleaner may seem expensive, but its cheaper and more convenient than hiring a professional cleaner.

Want to give your bathroom an inexpensive face-lift? Organize anything you have stored in exposed shelving. Tidying up (and hiding things out of sight) is especially rewarding if you have a smaller bathroom. A clean space creates the illusion of a larger space. Or perhaps you can craft a new shower curtain.

Originally posted here:
It's fall. Time to refresh, reset and save - Minneapolis Star Tribune

After a 3-year-old named Matthew started having one seizure after another, his worried parents learned he had a chronic brain condition that was causing the convulsions. They faced an impossible decision: allow the damaging seizures to continue indefinitely, or allow surgeons to remove half of their sons brain. They chose the latter.

When Matthew emerged from surgery, he couldnt walk or speak. But bit by bit, he remastered speech and recaptured his lost milestones. The moment one side of his brain was removed, the remainder set itself to the colossal task of re-forging lost neural connections. This gut-level renovation was so successful that no one who meets Matthew today would guess that half his brain is gone.

BOOK REVIEW Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain, by David Eagleman (Pantheon, 320 pages).

Stanford neuroscientist David Eagleman is obsessed with probing the outer limits of this kind of neural transformation and harnessing it to useful ends. Weve all heard that our brains are more plastic than we think, that they can adapt ingeniously to changed conditions, but in Livewired: The Inside Story of the Ever-Changing Brain, Eagleman tackles this topic with fresh lan and rigor. He shows not just how we can direct our own neural remodeling on a cellular level, but how such remodeling a process he calls livewiring alters the core of who we are.

Our machinery isnt fully preprogrammed, but instead shapes itself by interacting with the world, Eagleman writes. You are a different person than you were at this time last year, because the gargantuan tapestry of your brain has woven itself into something new.

His expertise derives from his place at the center of the livewiring universe. As the CEO of NeoSensory, which makes sensory aids like wristbands that allow deaf people to feel sound, hes been an architect of brain plasticity research for more than a decade.

In a refreshing counterpoint to the biology-is-destiny drumbeat, Eagleman embarks on a lively tour of how we can transform our brains by exercising our own agency. The neurons we exercise thrive and make new connections, he says, while the unused ones wither away. Its essentially Darwins survival of the fittest playing out inside the human skull. Just like neighboring nations, neurons stake out their territories and chronically defend them, Eagleman writes. Each neuron and each connection between neurons fights for resources.

The brains remodeling ability offers us lots of room to compensate for our existing weaknesses. Just as Matthews neurons cross-linked in new ways to make up for the brain tissue he lost, the brains of blind or deaf people adapt by forming more neural connections to process information coming from other senses. Brain regions care about solving certain types of tasks, irrespective of the sensory channel by which information arrives, Eagleman writes. The cartography of the brain constantly shifts to best represent the incoming data.

Still, he stresses that these kinds of dramatic changes may not be lasting unless theyre actively maintained. If youre a football quarterback, the region of your brain devoted to split-second decisions will be a rich thicket of neural connections, exquisitely attuned to the task of speeding the ball to a receiver. But if you retire and retreat into couch potato-hood, these hard-won neural connections will atrophy. Decades down the line, you may have to summon all your concentration just to flip the ball to your grandkids.

Our profound neural adaptability stems in part from the brains bias toward maximizing novel input, a strategy Eagleman calls infotropism. Once the brain hits on a vein of new information, it sucks it up with vigor, valuing it over old or static inputs a bent that explains some of our more memorable neural quirks.

You are a different person than you were at this time last year, because the gargantuan tapestry of your brain has woven itself into something new, Eagleman writes.

Lots of people saw book pages with a faint reddish cast in the mid-1980s because office workers were staring at green-lit computer monitors for hours each day. In response to the new abundance of green, the brain re-calibrated its visual baseline, causing everything else to look just a little redder by comparison. (The effect disappeared once monitors started to display more colors.) In a similar way, your brain adjusts for stable visual stimuli like the fine scrim of blood vessels on your retina, so youre never conscious of seeing these vessels at all.

Importantly, Eagleman also addresses the limits of neural remodeling a discussion that lends surprising insight into our polarized political landscape. We experience a pronounced drop in brain plasticity as we age, which is one reason some older people seem mired in world views that may not align with todays global realities. Through years of border disputes, neural maps become increasingly solidified, Eagleman writes, later adding, Someday, your brain will be that time-ossified snapshot that frustrates the next generation.

Despite his acknowledgment of this reality, Eaglemans overall tone is one of heady optimism about livewirings potential. The dogged adaptability of the human brain, he says, suggests a broader guiding principle for designers and inventors: Dont build inflexible hardware; build a system that adapts to the world around it. He floats the prospect of International Space Station components that are initially incompatible, but muddle their way to compatibility by trying different connection strategies just as the brain muddles its way to solutions through repeated trial and error.

No technology yet exists to enable this kind of flexible machine intelligence, which underscores the immensity of the challenge Eagleman is posing. While Livewired is long on enthusiasm (and rightfully so), its a bit short on guidance for emulating or augmenting the adaptable system inside our heads. Its easy for the hype that surrounds brain plasticity to get ahead of reality, as when Elon Musks Neuralink prototype branded as a Fitbit in your skull to enhance neural activity proved to be basically a miniaturized set of electrodes.

Even so, the scientific discoveries that have been made are remarkable enough, and Eaglemans insights on their significance shrewd enough, to make his book a vital addition to the pop-neuroscience canon. Were still a far cry from harnessing our brains chameleon-like properties to the fullest extent. But that doesnt mean its too early to sketch out the possibilities that will open up when we do.

View original post here:
Book Review: The Remarkable Adaptability of the Human Brain - Undark Magazine

Caribou Coffee will have a counter inside the Festival Foods on Northland Avenue in Appleton.(Photo: Einstein Bros. Bagels)

Five things to know today: Several coming attractions in the Fox Cities updated their opening date plansthis week.

One business will unveilits expansionshortly, and an east-side organization puts on the brakes both because of the pandemic's effects.

Plus, theres a voteright nowthat has nothing to do with politics.

The new food court in the Northland Avenue Festival Foods in Appleton will open Nov. 13. Its currently hiring 20 people to run the area at the front of the store.

The reason why a 2,000-square-foot food court is drawing so much attention is that it will be the home of northeast Wisconsins first Caribou Coffee counter.

It will also have a gourmet popcorn counter, expanded HisshoSushi, Asian stir-fry and pizza by the slice.

Going to Pieces Quilt Co.completes its expansion nextweek at 1017 W. Northland Ave. in Appleton. The new space will house a new specialty fabric room and a nearly 900-square-foot quilting classroom that allows social distancing.

The business has seena surge of interestduring the pandemic as home sewers looked for new projects, said co-owners Mary Klein and Joanne Mjos.

Acocas remodeling/expansion in downtown Appleton should wrap up by the end of the month.

The mousy beige building was painted pimento red, making it stand outacross the street fromthe Fox Cities Performing Arts Center.

When it reopens, co-owner Bill Wetzel said it will havelimited hours to start and curbside pickup anddelivery only for its coffee drinks and breakfast items. As COVID-19 eases, hell add hours and expand the menu.

Thompson Center on Lourdes, a senior center on Appletons east side, will closetemporarily starting Friday becauseof COVID-19'saccelerationin the area. The center will reopen when the curve has flattened, its leaders said in a release.

More: COVID-19 in Appleton, Fox Cities: Thompson Center will close Friday to help slow spread of coronavirus

Kimberly-Clarks Nano diapers, made for preemies up to two pounds, area final four nominee in the Coolest Thing Made in Wisconsin, contest, an annual Wisconsin Manufacturers & Commerce promotion. Anyone can vote at madeinwis.com up until the winner is named Wednesday.

Besides K-Cs diapers made in Neenah, Plexus in Neenah and the Boldt Co. in Appleton had also made it into the contests final 16.

Contact reporter Maureen Wallenfang at 920-993-7116 or mwallenfang@postcrescent.com. Followher on Twitter at@wallenfang.

More: The Buzz: Changes include a grocery store closure in New London

More: Shred Day offered Saturday at Bank First

More: The Buzz: VFW building sold to local investment group

Read or Share this story: https://www.postcrescent.com/story/money/companies/buzz/2020/10/08/buzz-updates-caribou-coffee-acoca-quilting-shop-and-more/5922790002/

See the original post here:
The Buzz: Updates on coming businesses, plus a few COVID-related changes - Post-Crescent

When large interior spaces need to be lit, high bay lighting is usually appropriate. Consider spaces such as manufacturing facilities, gyms, warehouses, department stores, factories, and more; these facilities are usually spacious and include many vertical and horizontal spaces. This requires strong lighting to provide the appropriate level of foot wax to illuminate adequately. LED bay lights https://www.lepro.com/led-bay-light fixtures usually hang from the ceiling through hooks, chains, or pendants, or can be mounted directly to the ceiling (similar to a troffer lamp).

Outside thearea, the height of the ceiling and its shelves location affect the arrangementof lighting. For example, we need to use a denser range of high bay linearprojection lamps to illuminate a narrow hallway. So for the high ceiling, itwould be better to use a smaller beam angle to preserve the floors brightness.If you have a low ceiling and a spacious area, we can use a wider beam angleand less dense matrix for better uniformity.

The dazzlinglight causes discomfort for the storekeeper. There are many dangerous machinesand tools inside the warehouse, such as forklifts. The intense glare irritatestheir eyes and affects them when they see people or property near them.According to the latest report, around 15% of accidents are related to poorlighting. And therefore, having a good warehouse lighting system is vital. LEDproducts are equipped with exclusive lenses with a built-in glare controlfunction. This design can reduce glare by 60% compared to conventional lightingfixtures such as metal halide and halogen spotlights.

The primaryfunction of dimming is to maintain consistency in shine throughout the day.During the day, since a lot of sunlight is coming through the windows, we candim the warehouse lighting. At night, we can increase the brightness to provideadequate brightness for workers. This flexible handling helps maintain the bestworking environment.

The dimmeris also very useful for saving energy. As there are many functions in thewarehouse, and each of them has the best light requirement. For example, weneed more lumens for repair and less for general storage. It would beconvenient to use if the warehouse lighting can be dimmed for each use, withoutreinstalling the light.

The aislelighting in our warehouse supports both PWM and DMX dimming systems. You canalso select the photo sensor and motion sensor to detect light and people,respectively. If there is no need to turn on the light or use full brightness,the dimmer will automatically dim the brightness.

Have youever found that the light is not as bright even at 1000W? As they have very lowenergy efficiency, the brightness is very low even if you use the highpower fixture. However, LEDs have 8-10 times the luminous efficiency ofthese conventional lamps. And so, 100W LED replaces halogen or metal halidelamps of 1000W; we have different wattages for LED lighting products, from 60Wto 10000W, so that you can always find the most suitable lighting solutions.

Theinstallation cost is generally comparable to the cost of the lamp. So,selecting the high quality that works the longest will save you on maintenancecosts in the long run. LED lights have a lifespan of 80,000 hours, which isequivalent to 30 years of use based on 6 to 7 hours of use per day. If you usemetal halides, you may have found that you need to replace them almost everyfew months or every year. This is because the brightness decreases very quicklyfor non-LED lights.

Read the rest here:
Tips to consider to make LED lights more effective, where to put LED bay lights? - eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News

Where the Ark from Exod is concerned, its actually the best option regardless of scenario. The Ark is an inflatable tent with a carbon fiber frame that is perfect for a wide range of offroad situations. Its comfortable and solid, reliable and resistant to the elements, which should make it any offroaders best friend and ever-present companion.

The idea was to create a second outdoor home that can be used on the ground or suspended in a very stable way to adapt to any type of terrain in order to be limitless, Exod explains.

The Ark has been in developed for close to eight years, and each new prototype has been extensively tested on different expeditions crossing deserts, mountains and forests, Exod says. Its currently crowdfunding on KickStarter, with the ultimate goal of bringing this military-grade, France-made product to adventurers worldwide.

You inflate the exoskeleton, extend the frame and insert it, and secure the tent. And you wont ever have to worry about not finding a flat surface to pitch your tent on.

Because of the materials used, the Ark is very compact and relatively lightweight, at 17.9 pounds (8.1 kg). Its weight means its not exactly suitable for trekking on foot, but its just perfect for offroading on your bike or by a 4x4. The Ark can be used on the ground or suspended in a variety of ways thanks to the included cam straps.

The tent, made of one single sheet of durable and waterproof material used by the French military, has two points of entry, a high ceiling and a clear skylight for stargazing (which can be covered at any time). Because of the fixed carbon frame underneath, Exod guarantees you can move around the tent easily even when suspended, and not have it sway dangerously. In fact, they say it wont move an inch. You also get plenty of storage spaces inside, for small stuff like your phone.

The Ark is designed for one person, but adapted for two. Just dont expect to have much sprawling room if you bring a companion. The payload is of 160 kg (352.7 pounds) max on the edge and 250 kg (551 pounds) max inside.

Once the crowdfunding campaign is over, Exod estimates an April 2021 delivery date, with worldwide shipping. If you dont mind overly dramatic raspy voices and the ridiculous visual of a man scaling a peak in Converse trainers, heres a video of this awesome, versatile outdoor shelter.

Read the original post:
Exod Ark Is a Highly Versatile and Reliable Offroad Shelter - autoevolution