Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Take yourself back to February 2012. The previous year was a landmark year for RPGs, with The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim and Dark Souls being some of the best role-playing games ever. Now that youre done with those two, what could be the next best thing? Enter Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning.

Okay, we may be exaggerating slightly: in February 2012, fans of the fantasy genre were also treated to games like Final Fantasy XIII-2 and SoulCalibur V, but Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning was offering something a little different.

With inspiration from games like Fable, World of Warcraft, and God of War, Amalur was really touting itself as the next major evolution of action-RPGs. While that aspect of the game is debatable, Amalur is definitely a really fun game and a new remastering is more than welcome.

Some might say that the story behind Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning is even more infamous than the game itself; it tells a tale involving former US baseball players, Todd Macfarlane, and a massive loan from the state of Rhode Island.

Nonetheless, the game has since garnered a cult following thanks to Amalurs take on a vibrant fantasy world, where players can define their fate in the world in any way they want, as well as a combat system that is just as fun and engaging.

The best way we can describe Amalur for the uninitiated is that it takes the moral choices and freedom of Fable, the sprawling lands in World of Warcraft, and a combat system akin to the original God of War trilogy.

In Kingdoms of Amalur, you play as the Fateless One, a person who has cheated death and has no predetermined fate in the mortal world. This sets you up to be any kind of character you want: an inherently evil mage-warrior hybrid, a rogue with a heart of gold, or a completely neutral character who just wants to do right by the world.

This is also extended to the free norm class system, which allows you to use a combination of skills from either fighter, mage, or rogue. You could choose to specialise in just one skill tree, two trees, or a balanced take on all three.

Combat is fast and fluid, with you mixing up light and heavy attacks on enemies, dodging and weaving between enemy attacks, and using a variety of spells and abilities at your disposal.

Theres also a ton of weapons to choose from, ranging from your typical staves, daggers, greatswords to more unique armaments like chakrams, scepters, and Faeblades. The best part is that you get to equip two weapons at a time, which lets you essentially make your own combos.

As you fight, you can build up your Reckoning meter, which essentially works like the Devil Trigger in Devil May Cry. Once full, you can beat up enemies more easily and end it all with a quick QTE, just like the finishers in God of War. Doing these well will typically net you extra EXP.

In short, we are excited for this new remastering. While details are scarce, hopefully, new additions will be made to the game, whether it is a new skill tree of sorts, a multiplayer mode, or even mounts to traverse the huge open-world. Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning deserves a second chance to be great once more.

See the original post:
Why We Cannot Wait for Kingdoms of Amalur Re-Reckoning - IGN Southeast Asia

Monday, June 1st saw the last parts of the country emerge from the Modified Enhanced Community Quarantine (MECQ). As many Filipinos continue to return to work, we should revisit the status of the governments COVID-19 budget.

Ten weeks since the passing of the Bayanihan Act, 89 percent of targeted beneficiaries have received the first tranche (or portion) of government aid for social amelioration. This is up from 83 percent on May 18. But the second tranche of aid, which was slated for distribution by the end of May, remains unreleased by the Department of Social Welfare and Development (DSWD).

In a previous article, we examined the size, sources, and sectoral breakdown of the COVID-19 response budget under the Bayanihan to Heal as One Act (Republic Act (RA) No. 11469). As explained in that article, the response budget is actually larger than the oft-mentioned PHP 275 billion (theCovid-19 Citizens Budget Trackeror CCBT pegs its latest tally at PHP 385 billion) and that at least for now, the government has enough cash from revenues and borrowings to cover planned spending.

Based on available data, 46 percent of the total budgetor PHP 178.2 billionis reported to have been spent. The uptick in spending from two weeks ago is explained by:

Additional spending on social welfare (+ PHP 6.6 billion), labor support (+ PHP 4.2 billion), and farmer and agriculture support (+ 0.3 billion) programs

PHP 1.3 billion liquidated by one province, eight cities, and 58 municipalities as part of the PHP 37 billion one-time Bayanihan grant available to local government units (LGUs)

PHP 0.6 billion worth of additional PhilHealth payments to health care institutions

PHP 14.1 billion of spending by the Department of Health (DOH)

Having previously unpacked the basics, further clarity may be helpful around a few more aspects of the COVID-19 budget.

So far, we have focused on the governments COVID-19 budget across three categories: social amelioration, health, and local government assistance. However, it is critical to highlight that this does not constitute the totality of the governments planned COVID-related spending nor does it capture indirect costs from interventions such as tax exemptions, concessionary loans, or regulatory relief. Rather, it represents the direct spending that is authorized by the first Bayanihan Act to support immediate response and relief efforts.

In April, the Department of Finance (DOF) released the first iteration of the governments larger socioeconomic recovery plan,We Will Rise As One. The still-evolving blueprint is estimated to be worth PHP 1.7 trillion and involves a four-pronged approach:

Pillar 1 Emergency support for vulnerable groups and individuals (PHP 595.6 billion)

Pillar 2 Marshalling resources to fight COVID-19 (PHP 58.6 billion)

Pillar 3 Fiscal and monetary actions to finance emergency initiatives and keep the economy afloat (PHP 856.3 billion)

Pillar 4 An economic recovery plan to create jobs and sustain growth (financed by Pillar 3)

Source: Department of Finance

The PHP 385 billion Bayanihan Act budget is but a subset of this greater spending plan and is encompassed by Pillars 1 and 2. Examples of additional spending that are not included in the PHP 385 billion figure are free online upskilling courses offered by the Technical Education and Skills Development Authority (PHP 3 billion) and a Department of Trade and Industry loan program for micro, small, and medium businesses (PHP 1.2 billion).

Additions are possible, with a second Bayanihan bill that may expand the provisions of its precursor underway.

As the government frees up fiscal space for urgent priorities, it is important to be aware of what we are giving up in the process. How has the 2020 National Budget been reprogrammed to accommodate the COVID response budget? The same question can be asked about future budgetary realignments that may be made by the President using his emergency powers.

Broadly speaking, there are three buckets within the national budget that the government is permitted to tap to generate resources for COVID-19 response efforts under the Bayanihan Act: namely, (a)discontinuedappropriations, (b)continuingappropriations, and (c)unprogrammedappropriations.

At the risk of oversimplification, appropriations can be thought of as Congress-approved budget items that correspond to

(a) budget meant for programs, activities and projects that will no longer be used, (b) budget earmarked for specific projects or purposes

(c) discretionary budget that can be released when revenue collections or foreign funds exceed targets

So far, the total value that has been secured from these three buckets is PHP 350.4 billion. This includes pooled savings across government entities, including national departments, government owned or controlled corporations, and state universities and colleges.

Allotments generated from this budget reprogramming exercise are then reallocated to agencies at the forefront of government response efforts.

Lastly, it is important to stress that reported spending does not necessarily equal real-time spending. What the CCBT team is able to track is mostly limited to the numbers provided by the government. It is possible that actual expenditure is higher than what is reported, if there is a delay in the documentation or release of data. This is likely what happened with the DOH, the bulk of whose spending was only accounted for this week, despite qualitative reports of the agency procuring PPE sets and medical equipment even before June.

Likewise, spending may not necessarily equate to proper disbursement. We cannot discern from the reported spending figures alone if disbursements are going to their highest and best use and if they are reaching their intended recipients. Are we paying fair prices for medical equipment? Are there certain policies or strategies that would deliver greater bang for buck than what is currently being pursued?

Cash meant for social amelioration that is released to LGUs may be marked as disbursed, but there is still a need to validate the veracity of beneficiary lists. These are just some of the considerations that should be kept in mind.

Hence, while the CCBT can give us a general understanding of the rate and breakdown of government expenditure, it cannot tell the full story. To be sure, laws such as thePrice Act(RA 7581) and validation processes of agencies such as the Commission on Audit (COA) and the DSWD exist to prevent the misuse of funds.

Nevertheless, even with such checks in place, we should all be encouraged to seek out and scrutinize data. This not only shows us where our money is going, but that can help us evaluate whether funds are being spent in the best way possible and whether they are indeed going to the people who need them. This entails monitoring both health and socioeconomic outcomes as well as continuously assessing whether government interventions are working as intended. Once spending is fully accounted for, the next step is to ask another important question: Are the high-level reports consistent with whats happening on-the-ground?

To learn more about the status of the governments Covid-19 budget, visitcovidbudget.ph. Raya Buensuceso is a finance and economic analyst atPolestrom, an infrastructure advisory firm that specializes in public-private partnerships. She was formerly a research fellow at the Asia Center of the Milken Institute, a US-based policy and economic think tank, and graduated from Princeton University in 2017.

See the original post:
Tracking the COVID budget: Second portion meant to aid millions by end of May has not been released - ABS-CBN News

Oldboy (2003)

Park Chan-wooks shocking, twisty revenge thriller sees a man held hostage in a hotel room for 15 years with no idea of why. When hes finally released he has just days to track down his captor and discover his motives. The second part of director Parks Vengeance Trilogy (which is also a standalone though Sympathy for Mister Vengeance and Lady Vengeance are also available), its packed with standout sequences like the infamous corridor hammer massacre and the eating of a live octopus. The ending is bonkers too.

A mythical quest into the depths of hell dressed up as a hoodie horror set in a Glasgow high rise, Citadel sees a young man with agoraphobia venture into a terrifying tower to battle demonic youths who have taken his baby. As a modern take on classical tropes its clever and well observed but it works just as well as a twisted urban horror.

Very much a film of three parts, it starts as what looks like a low budget Japanese zombie film gone wrong, morphs into an interesting meta movie, and ends with a final third thats more joyful than you could possibly imagine. The fun is in the discovery so try to avoid reading about this, instead hang around until the end for a clever, funny, and uplifting love letter to indie film-making.

Directed by Clive Barker based on his novella The Hellbound Heart, Hellraiser is an infernal body horror featuring S&M demons whove found a way out of a dark dimension and want to take you back there. This is the movie which introduced chief Cenobite Pinhead (played by Doug Bradley) who would return for seven more Hellraiser sequels. But the first is of course, remains the edgiest and the best. Hellbound: Hellraiser II is also available.

A cyberpunk hybrid of Eraserhead, Blade Runner, Scanners, and your worst nightmares about machines run amok, Tetsuo: The Iron Man was the first feature by iconoclastic Japanese filmmaker Shinya Tsukamoto (who also stars in the picture). Surreal, shockingly violent and unforgettably relentless, Tetsuo is a fever dream of orgasmic human/metal mating and murder that is almost indescribable and utterly strange. You cant unsee this perverse triumph of twisted imagination

Read more:
The Best Horror Movies to Watch on Shudder - Den of Geek UK

Arrow Video is excited to announce the June rollout of titles on their subscription-based Arrow Video Channel, including the exclusive debut of Miguel Llanss Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway. A hit on the international festival circuit, the film boasts an Irish-accented Joseph Stalin, a kung-fu-fighting Batman, a mix of Afro-futurism, Cold War paranoia, Lynchian surrealism, the dystopian world of Philip K. Dick and 60s exploitation cinema.

Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway is available June 1st exclusively on the Arrow Video Channel in the US and the UK. Additional new titles available June 1st include The Woman (UK/US), Bloodtide (UK/US), Dream Demon (UK/US), White Fire (UK/US) and The Stuff (US). The Arrow Video Channel is available on Apple TV in the UK and US, as well as on Amazon in the UK.

RELATED: Streaming This Weekend: Becky, Shirley, The Last Days of American Crime and More

In Jesus Shows You the Way to the Highway, the year is 2035, and Special Agent Gagano (Daniel Tadesse, Crumbs) dreams of leaving the CIA to open a business with his wife Malin (Gerda-Annette Allikas). Before he can hand in his resignation, however, a strange cyber virus attacks Psychobook, the CIAs operating system, forcing Gagano to enter cyberspace via virtual reality to combat the threat. Before long, however, the virus starts to reach out into the real world, destabilizing the fragile socio-political order for its own ends, and Gagano, trapped in the VR world, must find a way out before its too late.

In the coming months the Arrow Video Channel will be adding more cult classics from East Asia including a collection of the Japanese classic Gamera movies and American made horrors such as Creepshow 2, Children of the Corn, and Lake Michigan Monster. In addition to crowd pleasing cult movies on the service, the Arrow Video Channel will continue to give you an exclusive platform to brand new genre offerings from around the globe.

The Arrow Video Channel gives cult movie fans the opportunity to watch a wide selection of movies that the Arrow Video brand has been famous for, personally curated by members of the Arrow team. From horror to sci-fi, thrillers to westerns, the Arrow Video Channel is home to cutting edge cult and undiscovered gems such as Takashi Miikes Audition, Wes Cravens seminal masterpiece The Hills Have Eyes, George A. Romeros contagion classic The Crazies, Edwin Browns slice-and-dice staple The Prey and so much more.

The Arrow Video Channel also hosts a growing collection of documentaries, interviews and never-before-seen content from the Arrow Video archives, as well as newly-produced material. These documentaries will breathe new life on the Arrow Video Channel, giving movie fans an immersive look into the creation of many cult movie classics such as Donnie Darko and Hellraiser. The service will be updated regularly with new content, new curation focus and never-before-seen content, all hand-picked by the Arrow Video team.

Topics: Streaming

Excerpt from:
What's Streaming on the New Arrow Video Channel in June - News Brig

Here's something to consider before you buy an LG Oled TV: the South Korean manufacturer uses the same Oled panel type for its lower-tier models as its best Oled TV.

Yes, the flagship model will likely have a more refined design, better speakers and perhaps a more powerful processor.

But the picture quality, which is impeccable due to the millions of light-emitting pixels in an Oled TV that produce perfect blacks and bright whites, is generally similar across LG's Oled TV lineup.

Thus, it may make more sense for users - especially those who have invested in a good sound system - to choose an upper mid-range model like the latest LG CX Oled TV ($4,099 for the 55-inch version tested, available on Lazada and Shopee) over the higher-end GX model ($4,799 for 55-inch).

I would even venture to say that last year's C9 Oled TV, the predecessor of the CX which has dropped to around $2,500 for the 55-inch model, could actually offer even better value than the CX.

This is because while the CX has excellent picture quality, I am hard-pressed to say with certainty if it is better than the C9 without a side-by-side comparison.

What I can say is that the CX exhibits virtually no dirty screen effect (uneven splotches on the screen when viewing an uniform colour, like a football pitch). Viewing angles are superb with minimal reflections.

If I am picky, the CX has a hint of banding and is not as bright as a top LED TV. But these minor issues were also present in last year's versions.

The design of the CX is almost indistinguishable from that of the C9. Both televisions perch their ultra-thin Oled panels on an identical, low sloped stand, one that is low enough that my soundbar actually blocks a sliver of the bottom screen.

The CX's ports and connectors are also found at the same locations at the back as the C9's.

Like the C9, the new model has four HDMI 2.1 ports. Compared with HDMI 2.0, the newer 2.1 standard enables higher resolutions and frame rates, as well as variable refresh rates and an automatic low-latency mode for lag-free gaming.

But there are practically no HDMI 2.1 source devices available, at least not till the end of the year when the next-generation game consoles from Microsoft and Sony are expected to launch.

PC gamers, though, can enjoy a smooth gaming experience, thanks to the CX's support for Nvidia's G-Sync technology, which works with compatible Nvidia's graphics cards, to reduce stuttering by synchronising the frame rates in a game with the CX's 120Hz refresh rate.

The CX also comes with a HGiG mode - created by the HDR Gaming Interest Group industry body - that recommends how the high dynamic range (HDR) effect, which produces more lifelike and realistic visuals, are implemented in games.

For video content, HDR formats like Dolby Vision and HDR10 are supported but not the Samsung-led HDR10+ format.

Both G-Sync and HGiG are also available for the C9 with a firmware update. This is good news for C9 owners but makes the CX a less compelling upgrade.

To be fair, the CX does have a newer processor that is said to improve the TV's ability to upscale lower-resolution content to its native 4K resolution. This works well - for instance, upscaled 720p content looks suitably sharp to my eyes and could pass off as 1,080p content.

The CX also has a black frame insertion feature, dubbed Oled Motion Pro, that adds black frames between normal frames to create the illusion of smoother motion, especially for fast-moving content like sports. When I tested it, the feature darkens the visuals, especially at High setting.

Personally, I do not use any sort of motion smoothing feature, which is why I found the CX's new Filmmaker Mode to be very handy.

As its name suggests, this picture mode - created by the UHD Alliance industry body - gives viewers the cinematic experience as intended by the director. In practice, this mode basically turns off the TV's processing, like motion smoothing and image sharpening.

To cater to users who watch TV in diverse lighting conditions, the CX also has a Dolby Vision IQ mode that uses the TV's light sensors to measure ambient light and adjust picture settings accordingly.

Both these modes are great additions to the CX, though I wonder if they will be made available for the older C9, too.

The CX's updated interface now comes with the Apple TV app, alongside popular apps like Netflix, Spotify and YouTube. Mediacorp's CNA and meWatch apps are also available from the TV's app store.

Navigating the CX's responsive interface was made easier with the versatile LG Magic Remote, which has a motion-based pointer and handy shortcuts to Netflix and Amazon Prime Video.

Overall, the LG CX is an outstanding Oled TV that offers excellent visuals and supports the latest technologies. Its gaming features are especially appealing to those who plan to buy a next-generation game console.

New picture modes

Responsive user-friendly interface

Comes with Apple TV app

Nvidia G-Sync support

Future-proof

Identical design as last year's model

Still no HDR10+ support

Price: $4,099 (55 inches, version tested), $5,999 (65 inches), $17,999 (77 inches)

Picture features: Maximum resolution of 3,840 x 2,160 pixels, HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision IQ

Audio features: 2.2ch (40W), Dolby Surround, Dolby Atmos

Operating system: webOS 5.0

Connectivity: 4 x HDMI, 3 x USB, Optical output, headphone output, Ethernet, Wi-Fi

Features: 4.5/5

Design: 4/5

Performance: 5/5

Value for money: 4/5

Overall: 4.5/5

ST Tech Editor's Choice

More:
Tech review: LG CX is a superb Oled TV - The Straits Times

Carly really enjoys staying up to date on the latest trends and technology as she takes a lot of joy in meeting her clients needs. Some of the new styles that customers have been interested in include large format tiles, wood-look porcelain, and decorative mosaics that offer unique designs. A lot of tile companies have beautiful geometric patterns, elegant crackled glass, organic-like shapes and lots of texture.

In addition to the material, she has experience with a computer software program called Sketchup which allows clients to see their kitchen, bathroom or whole area in a three dimensional rendering. With this, they are able to see their tile selections applied in the room helping give a visual representation of their choices. Its a tool that allows us to go to job sites, measure spaces and help connect the homeowner, contractor and installer. Personally working with the installers, contractors and designers is an important aspect that helps ensure a smoother finished product. Im still learning everyday so its essential for me to be in good communication with everyone. When Im provided with the correct square footages, we can review the Sketchup design that details layouts and placements.

Finding a professional and qualified tile installer and contractor is just as important as finding your favorite tile. While Stone Cavern does not provide installation, they certainly will advise contact information for some of the best in the area. A few exceptional installers like Rob Russ, Alex Smith, Jim Burden and William Roa can sometimes be hard to come by! Stone Cavern is not only working with new contractors in the area but has long standing relationships with accomplished contractors including Bill Dacchille with Dacchille Construction, Chick and Vickie Fuller with Fuller & Fuller Construction, Brett Schwebke with Tynecastle, Mike Flannigan with Cornerstone Construction, Sean Pepin with Pepin Construction, Pete Archer with Rattlesnake Mountain Construction Co., Rick Doty with Doty Homebuilders, Jim Frye with Associated Construction Trades and Tom Eggers with Eggers Construction. They also work with local design firms like Dianne Davant & Associates, Tatum Galleries & Interiors and Creative Interiors.

Another helpful visual that Stone Cavern is currently working on is a large Schluter shower vignette that features a curbless shower entrance, linear shower drain, Ditra Heat mat and wire for a heated bathroom floor that you can stand on and feel, Schluter profiles like Rondec, Jolly and Quadec, different size tiles including 847, 1224 and 2448 along with a floating bench, Schluter niche, shelves and Tileware products. This allows customers to physically see what really is the most vital part of any shower installation; the underlayment. Schluter offers a lifetime guarantee of their products using their complete system, which is a great reason to choose Schluter.

Soon we may have the opportunity to host yearly Schluter workshops from reps that will teach installers, contractors and others the foundations of using Schluter products. It will be a great chance to expand proficiency while bringing some of the community together.

Excerpt from:
New Owner, Same Great Stone and Tile Selection at Stone Cavern as Carly Moore Takes Over - High Country Press

If you've scrolled through your phone at all today, you may have noticed dozens of people on Instagram posting black tiles with the hashtag #BlackoutTuesday, something proponents say will help raise awareness for the nationwide uprisings that have erupted following the death of George Floyd, a Black man killed by police last week.

Such posts, though easy in effort and innocuous in intention, have already been digested, regurgitated, and spit out by the rapid social media cycle, with some arguing that black tiles are not only ineffective at helping the Black Lives Matter movement but possibly detrimental. Below, we break down everything to know about #BlackoutTuesday, from how it started to how to effectively participate.

Two Black women in the music industry, Jamila Thomas and Brianna Agyemang, initially started the social media campaign to hold the music industry accountable for profiting off Black talent and creatives. Originally called #TheShowMustBePaused, the initiative's intent to "disrupt the work week" has morphed into an altogether different beast as many began posting black tiles on Instagram with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, an important channel for activists and those protesting on the ground to spread news and resources.

In their original statement, Thomas and Agyemang wrote, "Tuesday, June 2nd is meant to intentionally disrupt the work week. Monday suggests a long weekend, and we can't wait until Friday for change. It is a day to take a beat for an honest, reflective and productive conversation about what actions we need to collectively take to support the Black community."

They explain how the multibillion-dollar music industry and its affiliates benefit from Black entertainment without empowering Black people at large. "To that end," they wrote, "it is the obligation of these entities to protect and empower the Black communities that have made them disproportionately wealthy in ways that are measurable and transparent. This is not just a 24-hour initiative. We are and will be in this fight for the long haul. A place of action will be announced."

You can keep up with their updates on their Instagram or Twitter account.

After people began to notice that the #BlackLivesMatter channel was flooded with black tiles, effectively blotting out any pressing news or resources for protesters and organizers, criticism began to mount online.

Kehlani retweeted a video of someone going through the recent #BlackLivesMatter posts, writing, "I don't like this."

Lil Nas X also pointed out the blacked-out hashtag channel. "This is not helping us," the musician wrote on Twitter. "Bro who the hell thought of this?? ppl need to see what's going on."

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Another vein of criticism paints the black tiles as a form of virtue signaling, a pithy sign of solidarity thatwithout the accompaniment of material resources or support in the form of donations, information, protesting, or otherwiserenders the perhaps well-intentioned post moot.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

This content is imported from Twitter. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

If you've already posted a black tile with the hashtag #BlackLivesMatter, your safest bet is to delete it. As others have pointed out, even if you've changed the hashtag to #BlackoutTuesday, the post will still be featured on the original hashtag channel, thus contributing to the difficulty of disseminating critical information for organizers and others on the ground.

Another way to efficiently partake in today's campaign is to uplift and amplify the voices, content, and businesses of Black creators, while halting any self-promotion, selfies, or other banal posts from your daily life.

If you're still considering posting a black tile, it would be critical to use other hashtags like #BlackoutTuesday or #TheShowMustBePaused. Yet, even so, rememberespecially if you are non-Blackthat a movement is sustained beyond feel-good shows of solidarity. Take the time to post resources on protests, match donations to bail funds, and tough out difficult conversations with yourself and those around you. The fight won't be won on your Instagram feed.

This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. You may be able to find more information about this and similar content at piano.io

This commenting section is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page. You may be able to find more information on their web site.

Read more from the original source:
What Is #BlackoutTuesday? Here's Everything You Need to Know - HarpersBAZAAR.com

Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Google+ Pinterest

Built in 1956, Breland Hall, named after Rufus Galloway Breland, is home to the College of Arts and Sciences, which includes 26 departments. Originally built as mens dormitories, Breland Hall accommodated 300 men and offered modern facilities such as a television and recreational lounge along with laundry facilities. Breland Hall served as a dorm for two decades before being repurposed into an academic building for the College of Arts and Sciences, which provides the core liberal arts education at NMSU. The departments for humanities and social sciences are mainly located at Breland Hall along with the offices of the dean, while other areas such as astronomy, biology, geology, chemistry and biochemistry are housed in separate facilities on campus with both classrooms and laboratories.

About Rufus Galloway Breland

Rufus Galloway Breland was born in Maryland in December 1906. Breland came to NMSU in 1925 as an English professor. He taught English literature, public speaking, and vocabulary. Although he was a strict professor, he was beloved by his students. After teaching for four years, he served as department head until his death in 1940. In February 1956, the Board of Regents voted to name the new mens dormitory in honor of Rufus Breland. The dormitory was officially dedicated during homecoming in 1958 when Brelands brother from New York City could be there for the ceremony.

Architectural History

Breland Hall was part of the new wave of architecture after the university outgrew architect Henry C. Trosts master plan that was developed in 1907 for thirteen buildings positioned around "The Horseshoe." His plan was followed faithfully until the growth of the school and its programs required expansion beyond the horseshoe.

The architectural style adopted by Trost and McGhee was still utilized to some degree by other architects following World War II and well into the 1950s. Breland Hall was one of the buildings that included Trosts Spanish Renaissance style that featured hipped roofs with clay tiles and domed towers.

Santa Fe architect Leo J. Wolgamood worked as a draftsman under many renowned architects around the world and served in the Civil Engineer Corps of the U.S. Navy before becoming a registered architect in New Mexico where he formed a partnership with Alfred R. Millington in Santa Fe.

In the mid-1950s, Wolgamood designed several school buildings across New Mexico. At NMSU, Wolgamood designed Breland Hall, along with Gardiner Hall and the Chemistry Building. His buildings reflected the trend toward Regional Modernism by incorporating Modernist styling, such as large glass curtain walls at the main entries, with touches of Spanish Renaissance Revival styling, such as red tile roofing, that emulated the work of previous architects Trost and Percey McGhee.

In October of 1952, the Board of Regents applied for $1 million in loan assistance for the construction of Breland Hall and Hamiel Hall. Construction began in 1954 and Breland Hall was completed by September 1, 1956 at a cost of $705,666.

Renovations over the years

Breland Hall has undergone several renovations and improvements over more than 60 years. The most significant project was in 1976 when the facility was remodeled, changing its use from a dormitory to accommodate the College of Arts and Sciences offices, classrooms, and laboratories. The renovation cost $1.9 million.

NMSU History Archives

Here is the original post:
NMSU's Breland Hall evolves over more than 60 years - New Mexico State University NewsCenter

TRULY A DREAM HOME! This incredible home is located in the High End subdivision of NORTHGATE in beautiful St John, IN! This home is BRAND NEW and brought to you by TG Luxury.

View Listing

Read more from the original source:
27 of the Most Expensive Homes for Sale in Northwest Indiana - Kenosha News

Rediscovering the charm of a Chicago brownstone

Rebekah Zaveloff likes walls. In that, Chicago-based co-founder/ principal designer of KitchenLab Interiors http://www.kitchenlabinteriors.com is at odds with a substantial subset of her peers, many of whom never met a space they didnt want to open up.

Zaveloff, who runs the full-service firm with her husband Nick, says she likes the way well-placed walls can define space and frame compositions.

I am one of those people who always wants to bring back a wall. People are like What youre crazy! But thats something I really love about old houses that they do have separate spaces.

Thats the perspective Zaveloff brought to an elderly brownstone two-flat in Chicagos West Town, which clients had tasked her with restoring after a series of poorly-conceived renovations left the floor plan disjointed and choppy.

Down the middle of the space there were a bunch of posts and some beams that were kind of hodge-podged together, explains Zaveloff.

Along with the building puzzles came the challenge of a tight budget. To meet it, Zaveloff turned to her tried and true practises to avoid overspending.

Often, its structural. Someone may hate the railing of the stair and think the only option is to replace it. I say no, lets paint it white or black, says Zaveloff, especially if we are going to put a sofa in front of it.

Some things, however, simply must get fixed. Here it was shrinking a full bath on the main floor installed, no doubt, when it was a flat to a powder room. The new room is small but makes a mighty design statement with deep-toned, large-scaled floral paper, grounded by bold geometric tile.

Often, says Zaveloff, well-made, handsome moulding will be a sound design investment. It is going to create a foundation and background. We were lucky here the casing was wide and had nice backbands and some character. It was good enough, and painting it brought everything to a cohesive place.

Other big questions possibly with expensive answers will include flooring. Do you save up, do you make do, do rip it out? When it comes to tile and light fixtures, though, there are so many products out there, and thats where we do our high/low, our mixing.

Original elements a wonderful street-facing faade topped by a stained-glass transom window were kept. Vintage touches a ceiling medallion and fireplacereplaced builder-grade options used earlier.

One notable aspect of the design are the handsome vistas, the pleasing views between rooms, the sense of flow. That reflects Zaveloffs focus as a fine art student, where she explored the medium of collage, a process that took up to 15 steps to get on canvas.

My work was literally layered, she says. So much of my fine art is relevant to my interior design work.

A stint as a set designer honed composition skill, and an ability to weed out false notes in historically-referenced restorations. We were determined to bring back the charm and the character, but in a modern, fun, young way, says Zaveloff.

Shes especially happy with the kitchen, where Zaveloff says we really nailed that high contrast (with the) unusual choice of black on cupboards and a white island. Some clients would insist it be done the other way, but they trusted us.

Both Zaveloff and her husband also look at design through the lens of the hospitality industry: Nick was a partner in a restaurant, and Zaveloff waited on tables for years as a student.

Those experiences, she says, gives them insight into how to create best seat in the house spots throughout a home.

Its the one you look for as soon as you enter as restaurant, the one with the nicest lighting, the great view, the best seating. We want to create those moments for people in their homes.

Vicky Sanderson is the editor of Around the House, www. aroundthehouse. ca. check her out on instagram @ athwithvicky, on Twitter @ ATHwithVicky and on facebook. com/ATHWithVicky

See the original post:
Walls that work - Toronto Sun