Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala/Una, June 2

Sports facilities at the district level are not being put to use, resulting in wastage of funds. The facilities at Una and Dharamsala are a clear illustration of the fact.

In Una, a swimming pool was constructed in the Indira Gandhi Stadium during the stint of the Congress, in power from 2003-07. More than Rs 1 crore was spent on construction of swimming pool. However, in the last more than 8 years now, the pool has not been put to use.

Sources here said the District Sports and Youth Welfare Department tried to outsource the management of swimming pool. However, even the private party could not operate it, allegedly due to some technical fault in the construction. Sources here said the swimming pool loses water very quickly after filling, due to which, the private firm that was handed over the operations of the pool also gave it up.

Officials in the Department of Sports and Youth Welfare, said they did not have funds to operate the swimming pool. Sportsmen in Una have demanded an inquiry into construction of the swimming pool. Recently, the Director Sports visited the area and sources here said he had asked the officials to prepare a proposal for making the swimming pool operational. Una also recently got a second astroturf hockey stadium. The stadium can host even international matches. However, while designing the stadium, the authorities did not construct any visitors gallery near the hockey stadium. The stadium also got damaged after the retaining wall alongside fell in the hockey stadium.

The Director Sports had ordered an inquiry into construction of the astroturf and collapse of the retaining wall. Deepak Thakur, an international hockey player from Una district, had raised questions regarding the quality of construction of the astroturf. Dharamsala got the first synthetic athletic track of Himachal about three years ago.

The rest is here:
Sports facilities not being put to optimum use - The Tribune

Per TDOT Specifications, there will be no temporary lane closures permitted on interstates or state routes beginning at noon on Friday, May 22 - 6:00 a.m. Tuesday, May 26 in observance of Memorial Day Holiday

District 47 - West TN - Northern

CARROLL COUNTY, SR-22A: Bridge repair in Huntingdon over Brier Creek at LM 0.34 and over CSX Railroad at LM 3.10.

Restrictions: Monday, March 9, 2020: SR 22A was reduced to one lane traffic with a traffic signal system.

CARROLL COUNTY, SR 1 (US 70): The resurfacing on U.S. 70 (S.R. 1) from S.R. 22 at Court Square to Rosser Circle will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

DYER COUNTY, I-155 and US 412 interchange:

Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21, 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., and Friday, May 22, 6:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be partial closures for concrete pavement repairs at the interchange of I-155 and US 412 in Dyer County. Work will be taking place on the westbound I-155 off ramp to US 412 eastbound.

Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.: There will be a full and partial closures for concrete pavement repairs at the interchange of I-155 and US 412 in Dyer County. Work will be taking place on the westbound I-155 off ramp to US 412 eastbound. A Detour will be posted.

LOOK AHEAD:Wednesday, May 27 through Wednesday, June 3, 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.: There will be full and partial closures for concrete pavement repairs at the interchange of I-155 and US 412 in Dyer County. Work will be taking place on the westbound I-155 off ramp to US 412 eastbound. A Detour will be posted.

DYER COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): The repair of bridges on US 51 (SR 3) over SR 211 (LM 11.99) in Dyersburg will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

DYER COUNTY, SR-20 (US-412): The resurfacing on SR 20 from US 51 (SR 3) to the Crockett County Line will cause temporary lane closures throughout the project.

HENDERSON COUNTY (New Lexington By-Pass): The grading, drainage, construction of bridges and retaining walls, signals and paving on US 412 (SR 459) from US 412 (SR 20) west of Lexington to near SR 22 south of Lexington. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway.

HENRY COUNTY, SR-54: The grading, drainage, construction of bridges, retaining wall and paving on SR 54 from near Rison Street to near Smith Road. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. *Speed limit has been reduced to 35MPH.

Restrictions: Monday, November 25, 2019: Bridge work on SR 54 at LM 12.02 (Bridge nearest Guthrie) is causing a 10 lane restriction. *Traffic has been shifted to Phase 3 of traffic control.

OBION COUNTY, Future I-69 (Phase 2): Grading, drainage, construction of eight bridges on future I-69 from south of US 51 (SR 3) to south of US 45W (SR 5) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH through the US 51 (SR 3) portion of the project. The southbound traffic has been switched to the northbound side on SR 3 throughout the work zone, for phase 2 construction.

Restrictions: Wednesday, November 6, 2019: SR 3 will have traffic in the outside lanes in both directions. Inside lanes will be closed for construction. Traffic is reduced to one lane in each direction with an 11 6 lane restriction.

OBION COUNTY, Future I-69 (Phase 3): Grading, drainage, construction of bridges and paving on future I-69 from west of SR 21 to US 51 (SR 3) will cause possible lane closures throughout the project.

Monday, July 29, 2019: SR 21 North from Clifford Rives Road to Lindenwood Road. The closure is expected for approximately 1 year to allow the construction of the overhead Bridge on the new portion of SR 21 along with the Road & Drainage of the I-69 mainline. Northbound traffic will detour from SR 21 East onto Clifford Rives Road, then North on Bethlehem Road, West onto Lindenwood Road before proceeding North on SR 21. Southbound traffic will be in reverse order. Detour routes are posted.

OBION COUNTY, SR-43 (US 45E): Repair of the bridges (right & left) on SR 43 over overflow will cause possible lane closures throughout the project.

Restrictions: Beginning on Friday, January 24, 2020: SR 43 traffic will be reduced to one lane in each direction at the bridges over overflow with a 12 lane restriction and a 5 6 shoulder restriction.

WEAKLEY COUNTY, SR-43 and SR-372 (45E Business) interchange (Region 4 Concrete Repair):

Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21, 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m., and Friday, May 22, 6:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be a full and partial closures for concrete pavement repairs for the on and off ramps at SR-43 to Business 45E (SR 372) and SR 22 and US 45E in Weakley County. Only one ramp or lane will be closed at a time. A Detour will be posted.

Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.: There will be a full and partial closures for concrete pavement repairs for the on and off ramps at SR 43 to Business 45E (SR 372) and SR 22 and US 45E in Weakley County. Only one ramp or lane will be closed at a time. A Detour will be posted.

District 48 - West TN Middle/SouthernHAYWOOD COUNTY, SR-19 (Brownsville Bypass): The construction of an I-Beam bridge along with grading, drainage, and paving may cause temporary lane closures on SR 19 (Brownsville Bypass) from east of SR 87 LM 11.12 to west of Windrow Rd. LM 14.73. One lane will remain. Motorists should watch for trucks entering and exiting the roadway. Speed limit is reduced to 45 MPH within the project limits. On February 17, 2019 Shaw Chapel Rd was closed, and a detour put in place.

HENDERSON COUNTY, I-40: Wednesday, May 20, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.: There will be temporary lane closures on I-40 east and west bound at MM 95-126 for pothole repair.

HENDERSON COUNTY, I-40: Thursday, May 21, 8 a.m.-2 p.m.: There will be temporary lane closures on I-40 eastbound at MM 116 for bridge repair.

HENDERSON COUNTY, SR-20: The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on US 412 (SR 20) from Crucifer Road to near Sea Horse Drive will cause temporary lane closures daily.

HENDERSON COUNTY, SR-20: The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on US 412 (SR 20) from east of SR 22 (LM 12.85) to near the Chesterfield By-Pass (LM 20.03), including bridge expansion joint repair and thin epoxy overlay will cause temporary lane closures daily.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-1: The repair of a bridge on SR 1 near Spring Creek, TN (LM 28.99) along with grading, drainage, and paving will cause temporary lane closures.

Restrictions: On April 13, 2020 there was an 11 width restriction and a temporary signal put in place. Motorists should watch for crews and equipment in the roadways.

MADISON COUNTY, I-40: Resurfacing from the Madison/Haywood County line to just west of Lower Brownsville Rd.

Wednesday, May 20 through Thursday, May 21, 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. and Friday, May 22, 6:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: Speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH during active closures. There will be daytime temporary inside and outside lane closures on

I-40 eastbound from LM 0.00 (MM 67.1) to LM 7.30 (MM 74.4) for OGFC paving operations. (Time contingent on lower ADT and minimal queueing. Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21, 7:00 p.m.- 6:00 a.m. if traffic starts to increase.) WEATHER PERMITTING

Tuesday, May 26 through Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.: Speed limit is reduced to 60 MPH during active closures. There will be daytime temporary inside and outside lane closures on I-40 eastbound from LM 0.00 (MM 67.1) to LM 7.30 (MM 74.4) for OGFC paving operations. (Time contingent on lower ADT and minimal queueing. Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 7:00 p.m.- 6:00 a.m. if traffic starts to increase.) WEATHER PERMITTING

LOOK AHEAD:

Wednesday, May 27 through Wednesday, June 3, 6:00 a.m.- 10:00 p.m.: There will be daytime temporary inside and outside lane closures on I-40 East bound from LM 0.00 (MM 67.1) to LM 7.30 (MM 74.4) for OGFC Paving operations.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-186 (US 45 Bypass) and I-40: Interchange improvements on SR 186 (US 45) north and southbound from the I-40 ramps to Old Hickory Blvd for paving and construction of retaining walls. Widening of I-40 from just east of Exit 79 to just east of Exit 82.

Thursday, May 21, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

LOOK AHEAD:

Thursday, May 28 and Friday, May 29, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

Friday, May 29, 8:00 p.m. through Sunday, May 31, 8:00 p.m.: Close I-40 eastbound and westbound off ramps as well as the westbound on ramp at Exit 82 to install storm drainage across the ramp. The ramps will be closed one at a time. WEATHER PERMITTING

Monday, June 1 through Wednesday, June 3, 9:00 a.m.3:00 p.m.: SR 5 (Highland Avenue) will have intermittent left and right lane closures both north and southbound from Vann Drive to the Carriage House/Ridgecrest intersection for bridge construction activities.

MADISON COUNTY, SR-198: The construction of a concrete box bridge on SR 198 over Bear Creek (LM 8.65) along with grading, drainage, and paving will cause temporary lane closures.

Restrictions: On April 29, 2019 there was an 11 width restriction and a temporary signal put in place. Motorists should watch for crews and equipment in the roadways.

MCNAIRY, SR-15 (US 64): The resurfacing with hot in-place recycling on SR 15 (US 64) from the Selmer city limits to near North SR 224, including bridge repair will cause intermittent lane closures daily.

TDOT District 48 MAINTENANCE:

Wednesday, May 20, Thursday, May 21, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., and Friday, May 22, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis.

Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures at various locations in Region IV in order to repair pavement on an as needed basis.

TDOT District 47 and 48 On-Call Guardrail/Concrete Barrier Rail Repair:

Wednesday, May 20 and Thursday, May 21, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be night time lane closures at the following various locations to repair damaged guardrail. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting.

I-40, Haywood, Madison, Henderson, Carroll, Decatur, and Benton counties east and westbound (MM 43.30 to MM 134.60)

Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be night time lane closures at the following various locations to repair damaged guardrail. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting.

I-40, Haywood, Madison, Henderson, Carroll, Decatur, and Benton counties east and westbound (MM 43.30 to MM 134.60)

District 49 - West TN Southwest

FAYETTE COUNTY, I-40: Resurfacing of I-40 from MM 35.0 to MM 43.0; Bridge Repair on I-40E over Wilder Creek at MM 34.5.

Thursday, May 21, Tuesday, May 26, and Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 a.m.-8:00 p.m.: I-40 will have intermittent lane closures east and westbound from MM 35.0 to MM 43.0 for resurfacing activities. Speed limit will be reduced to 60 MPH during active closures. Time contingent on lower ADT and minimal queueing. If traffic starts to increase, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.) WEATHER PERMITTING.

LOOK AHEAD:

Friday, May 29, 8:00 p.m. through Monday, June 1, 6:00 a.m.: I-40east bound at MM 34.5 will have a lane closure of the left lane for bridge repair activities over Wilder Creek.

FAYETTE COUNTY, I-40: Maintenance patching from MM 27.0 to MM 35.0

Wednesday, May 20 & Thursday, May 21, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: I-40 will have intermittent lane closures westbound from MM 27.0 to MM 35.0 for maintenance patching operations.

LAUDERDALE COUNTY, SR-371: The repair of bridge over Cane Creek will cause a lane closure with temporary traffic signal near Pipkin Rd.

SHELBY COUNTY, I-40: The concrete repair using hot applied fiber reinforced polymer patching material on I-40 from MM 2.2 to MM 5.0.

Tuesday, May 26, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on I-40 east and westbound from Levee Road to Hollywood Street to perform full and partial depth concrete pavement work. Weather Permitting.

LOOK AHEAD:

Wednesday, May 27, through Tuesday, June 2, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: INTERMITTENT There will be lane closures on I-40 east and westbound from Hollywood Street to Levee Road to perform full and partial depth concrete pavement work. Weather Permitting.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-3: Resurfacing on SR-3 (Union Ave) from Bellevue Blvd (MM 9.9) to BB King Blvd (MM 11.7).

LOOK AHEAD:

Sunday, May 31 through Wednesday, June 3, 9:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures with one lane to remain open in each direction for construction of ADA ramps and asphalt paving operations.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Resurfacing on SR-14 from the Mississippi State Line (MM 0.0) to SR-175 (MM 3.0)

Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 6:30 a.m.-6:30 p.m.: There will be temporary lane closures on SR-14 (Third Street) north and southbound for resurfacing and curb ramp activities. One lane will remain open in each direction.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: The grading, drainage, construction of concrete Bulb-Tee and I-beam bridges, signals and paving on SR 14 from east of Old Covington Pike to SR 385 will cause possible lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

SHELBY COUNTY, SR-14: Construction on SR 14 for a widening project from SR 385 to east of Kerrville Rosemark Rd. There will be possible temporary lane closures throughout the project. *Speed limit has been reduced to 45 MPH.

TIPTON COUNTY, SR-3 (US-51): Resurfacing on SR 3 (US 51) from Winn Avenue to Hope Street

Thursday, May 21, Tuesday, May 26, and Wednesday, May 27, 6:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.: There will be intermittent lane closures on north and southbound SR 3 (US 51) from Winn Avenue to Hope Street (MM 15.0MM 19.0) for resurfacing. Time contingent on lower ADT and minimal queueing. If traffic starts to increase, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.) Weather Permitting.

TDOT District 49 MAINTENANCE:

Thursday, May 21, Tuesday, May 26, and Wednesday, May 27, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on all interstates and state routes in District 49 for routine maintenance activities on an as needed basis.

Friday, May 22, 9:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.: There will be possible lane closures on all interstates and state routes in District 49 for routine maintenance activities on an as needed basis.

TDOT On-Call Striping and Retrace:

Wednesday, May 20, Thursday, May 21, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m., Friday, May 22, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m., Tuesday, May 26 and Wednesday, May 27, 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be moving lane closures for retracing of lines in Shelby County on various State Routes.

TDOT District 49 On-Call Guardrail/Concrete Barrier Rail Repair:

Wednesday, May 20, Thursday, May 21, and Tuesday, May 26, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: There will be night time lane closures at various locations on SR-3 (Shelby, Tipton, and Lauderdale Counties), SR-385 (Shelby County), I-40 (Fayette and Shelby Counties), I-269 (Shelby and Fayette Counties), I-55 and I-240. One lane will be CLOSED to repair damaged guardrail. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather

Wednesday, May 20, Thursday, May 21 and Tuesday, May 26, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: The following ramps will be closed to repair damaged guardrail: THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting.

I-55 northbound on ramp from EXIT 12C Metal Museum Drive

I-55 southbound EXIT 6B to I-240 Westbound

I-55 southbound EXIT 9 to Mallory Ave

I-240 westbound EXIT 25A to I-55 southbound

I-240 eastbound EXIT 28B South Parkway westbound

I-240 westbound EXIT 30 to Union Ave westbound

I-240 eastbound EXIT 23A to northbound Airways

Thursday, May 14, Tuesday, May 26, and Wednesday, May 27, 9:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m.: There will be day time lane closures at various locations in Lauderdale County SR-3; Tipton County on SR-3, SR-59, SR-206, and SR-178; Fayette County on SR-86 and SR-196; and Shelby County on SR-204 and SR-388 to repair damaged guardrail. One lane will be CLOSED in each direction to repair damaged guardrail. If weather prohibits, the repairs will be performed on the next available day. Flagmen will be used where necessary. THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting.

LOOK AHEAD

Wednesday, May 27 through Tuesday, June 2, 8:00 p.m.-6:00 a.m.: The following ramps will be closed to repair damaged guardrail: THP will assist with traffic control. Weather Permitting

I-55 northbound on ramp from EXIT 12C Metal Museum Drive

I-55 southbound EXIT 6B to I-240 Westbound

I-55 southbound EXIT 9 to Mallory Ave

I-240 westbound EXIT 25A to I-55 southbound

I-240 westbound EXIT 30 to Union Ave westbound

I-240 eastbound EXIT 23A to northbound Airways

I-240 eastbound EXIT 28B South Parkway westbound

Excerpt from:
West Tennessee Weekly Construction May 20-27, 2020 - tn.gov

CLICK ON THE ARROWS AT THE SIDES OF THE PHOTO TO SEE MORE IMAGES

The slope to the west of the Hillside Drive location of The Home Depot will keep moving for the foreseeable future, according to a Thompson Rivers University geology professor who has for years used the area as a field-trip aide to show students what unstable ground looks like.

Last week, the big-box hardware store was forced to evacuate and close for days after ground instability led to movement in a support column on the southwest corner of the building.

Now back up and running, the affected section of the store remains closed and support jacks have been installed beneath the impacted columns and beams.

In nature, naturally, hills want to be eroded, TRU geology professor Dr. Nancy Van Wagoner told KTW.

So, you take things from high spots and move them to low spots. Thats what is happening.

Van Wagoner said the slope on the eastern edge of Kenna Cartwright Park was altered when The Home Depot store was built more than 15 years ago.

The outlet opened in June 2003.

A retaining wall on the western edge of the stores parking lot was constructed to hold back the hill, but Van Wagoner said an underground fault has created problems that are evident along nearby trails in Kenna Cartwright Park.

When you undercut the slope, you really need to do something to retain it, she said.

Van Wagoner and her husband, Steve, who also teaches geology at TRU, have been taking students to the slope west of The Home Depot for years, pointing out geological characteristics like cracks in the earth and heaving paths prominent features they say change on a regular basis.

On May 12, The Home Depots Kamloops store was evacuated and closed. Hand-written signs posted on a barricade erected at the parking lot entrance said the cause was unstable ground.

We have engaged structural engineers and teams to ascertain the current situation, one sign read.

Due to structural concerns as a result of ground movement near our store, we are temporarily closing for the near future for the health and safety of our associates and customers, read the other.

The store reopened on May 16, but the southwest contractors entrance remains closed, as does the tool rental section, located near those doors.

An employee of The Home Depot, who was not authorized to speak on the record, told KTW the plan is to shutter the store for an extended period to address the issues in a fulsome manner. The worker said scheduling that work is being complicated by the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Steps to ensure the safety of The Home Depot have been taken for years in Kenna Cartwright Park, but the problem is not going away.

The issue is most problematic each spring, when snowmelt and rain make the ground wet.

Van Wagoner compared it to building a sand castle. A little bit of water will help the material stay together, but too much can be catastrophic sloppy sand will flatten out.

The problem slope adjacent to The Home Depot is glacial till, Van Wagoner said poorly consolidated material left behind by prehistoric glaciers.

Fifty-five million years ago, an active volcano sat where Kenna Cartwright Park is today, Van Wagoner said, describing it as more active than eruptions in present-day Hawaii.

The glacial till rests up against the volcanic material. When it gets wet, Van Wagoner said, a fault forces material down and toward the store within the slope, buckling up underneath The Home Depots parking lot and, potentially, the building itself.

West of The Home Depot, red metal pipes stick out of the ground in Kenna Cartwright Park. They are used by engineers to measure the slopes water level. On the retaining wall in the stores parking lot, white plastic piping collects water through perforated lines drilled into the hill. It is all an expensive effort to keep the slope where it is.

The problem is not an uncommon one in Kamloops, but Van Wagoner said it usually happens in residential neighbourhoods where slopes are prevalent Juniper Ridge, Aberdeen and Batchelor Heights, among others.

Landslides are a major issue for us here, she said. It depends on the rainfall, it depends on a lot of things that are going on, but these things can change.

According to Van Wagoner, Mother Nature is trying to claw back the slope that was altered when The Home Depot was built in 2003. But, she said, shes confident engineers will be able to figure it out and keep the building safe for the time being.

Im sure the engineers are looking carefully to remediate the situation, Van Wagoner said.

But, if people were to go away, eventually that retaining wall would go away and this glacial till would slide and go back to what we call an angle of repose a very stable slope.

See the original post:
Sliding slope near The Home Depot a lesson in unstable earth - Kamloops This Week

The East Somerset Railway has announced that refurbishment and construction work on their Museum building and platform has been completed.

Outside, contractors, Wells Roofing have done a fantastic job of restoring the roof & chimney, and platform two surfacing were both finished just before the COVID-19 update.

Resurfacing work was completed in time to allow the volunteers to fit station items like lamps, along with building a retaining wall before the first weekend of passenger trains back in March.

Inside the museum building, extensive repairs or replacement has taken place on the many of floors, ceilings and electrics throughout the building, bring them up to date and fit for services for many more years.

The waiting room requires more attention, with a window needing replacement and new supporting beam to be manufactured.

Walls and ceilings are having wallpaper and paint removed to assess their conditions before redecoration can begin.

For more information or to support the East Somerset Railway, please visit their website here.

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Go here to read the rest:
East Somerset Railway Cranmore Station and Museum Work Finished - RailAdvent - Railway News

Thirty years ago this month, Microsoft released Windows 3.0, a graphical environment that represented a dramatic leap over its predecessors in terms of capability and popularity. Heres what made Windows 3.0 special.

In the early days on IBM PC compatible machines, most PCs ran Microsoft MS-DOS, a command-line based operating system that typically could only run one program at a time. As computers grew in power in the early 1980s, multitasking became a huge buzzword in the industry. Magazine editorials spoke of the productivity increases that would come from being able to run two applications at the same time.

Around that time, ideas about graphical and mouse-based computer interfaces that had been pioneered on the Xerox Alto had begun to filter down into the personal computer industry. After witnessing several early GUI-based operating system approaches, Microsoft released its own graphical mouse-based interface, Windows 1.0, in 1985. It ran on top of MS-DOS and provided a bitmapped display with non-overlapping application windows.

Neither Windows 1.0 nor Windows 2.0 proved successful in the market. Then came Windows 3.0 in 1990, another GUI shell that ran on top of MS-DOS. It allowed multitasking of both MS-DOS programs and specially written Windows applications. Unlike previous versions of Windows, it proved to be a hit, selling over 10 million copies. Third-party application support followed, and Microsoft cemented its PC market operating system dominance.

Here are some of the elements that came together to make both Windows 3.0 unique and successful.

RELATED: PCs Before Windows: What Using MS-DOS Was Actually Like

In todays Windows, the Start Menu provides a quick and easy way to organize and launch installed applications. In Windows 3.0 that job was held by Program Manager, which was also the main interface (shell) for Windows.

As a shell, Windows 2.0 had used MS-DOS Executive, which was basically a glorified list of files with no support for application icons. Compared to that, the large 16-color icons in Windows 3.0 felt like a revelation, bringing icon detail matching expensive color Macintosh computers to relatively inexpensive PCs.

Also, Program Manager was easy to use. Compared to MS-DOS by itself, or Windows 2.0s MS-DOS Executive shell, Program Manager provided a very non-intimidating interface. Users could easily find and launch applications while being mostly shielded from accidentally messing up its file-based underpinnings.

If you did want to manage files in Windows 3.0, you needed to launch a separate application called File Manager. Today, File Explorer serves as both the main interface and the file manager of Windows 10.

By now, Solitaire is so heavily associated with Windows that its hard to picture the two apart. The famous partnership first came together in 1990 when Microsoft shipped its first-ever version of Solitaire with Windows 3.0. With its detailed cards (and amusing card backs), Solitaire proved an able example of Windows graphical capabilities. And of course, it was also a great way to kill time between tasks in the office.

Solitaire featured card faces designed by Susan Kare, who had previously designed many graphical elements and fonts for the Macintosh. She also designed many icons for Windows 3.0. Microsoft used Kares card graphics all the way up to Windows XP, finally replacing them in Vista.

Windows 3.0 also included the game Reversi with every copy. While Microsoft dropped Reversi in Windows 3.1 (in favor of Minesweeper), Solitaire shipped with Windows all the way up to Windows 7. (Now its a weird pay-to-play parody of itself, but thats another topic entirely.)

Windows 3.0 included advanced memory management that let it use large amounts of RAM, allowing both larger programs and true cooperative multitasking for the first time. When it came to multitasking MS-DOS programs (which many people still used frequently), Windows 1.0 and 2.0 served basically graphical application launchers. In Windows 3.0, users could run multiple MS-DOS applications simultaneously, which felt like magic at the time.

What kind of MS-DOS applications were people running in 1990? Thanks to backward compatibility, anything and everything, from Lotus 1-2-3 to Captain Comic. Windows proved a boon to multi-node BBSes at the time as well, allowing multiple instances of DOS-based BBS software to run easily on one machine.

It seems amazing today, but Windows 3.0s buttons represented serious eye candy for a PC graphical interface at the time. They included simulated highlights and shadows that gave the illusion of depth, and as a result, most people referred to the buttons as being 3D.

Overall, the cleanly-executed Windows 3.0 interface felt crisp and professional, with detailed icons, well-thought-out window arrangements, and nice fonts. For the first time, Windows matched (and arguably surpassed) the visual fidelity of Mac OS, which most considered the benchmark GUI of the time. That visual flair helped make Windows 3.0 so massively popular.

Windows 3.0 represented a turning point in the evolution of PC compatibles when machines capable of a good graphical interface (and all of the peripherals involved) had become low cost enough for mainstream users. In 1990, you could buy a low-end PC capable of running Windows 3.0 for under $1000, while the cheapest color Macintosh was about $2400 at the time. With a PC, a mouse, and a $149 copy of Windows, you could build an almost Mac-like machine on the cheap.

When more people buy a platform, more companies want to develop for it, and thats exactly what happened to Windows 3.0. While third-party support had been few and far between in the Windows 1.0 and 2.0 eras, many software vendors hopped aboard to support Windows 3.0, including Aldus with its popular desktop publishing software Aldus PageMaker. For office productivity, Microsoft itself released excellent versions of PowerPoint, Word, and Excel for Windows 3.0, among others. You could get real work done in Windows 3.0.

As we close our look back at Windows 3.0, who can forget the glorious 16-color high-resolution (640480!) wallpaper Microsoft included with every copy?

In an era where VGA cards were finally going mainstream, many users began running the environment in higher resolutions such as 640480. Suitably, Microsoft included CHESS.BMP, a graphical showcase that depicts a handful of chess pieces flying through the air over a seemingly endless checkerboard plane. Windows users didnt get built-in screensaver support until Windows 3.1 in 1992, so we took what small pleasures we could get. CHESS.BMP fit the bill perfectly.

Happy birthday, Windows 3.0!

For a blast from the past, well show you how to install Windows 3.1 in DOSBox and run it on a modern PC. Windows 3.1 was released a few years after Windows 3.0 and featured a similar interface.

RELATED: How to Install Windows 3.1 in DOSBox, Set Up Drivers, and Play 16-bit Games

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Windows 3.0 Is 30 Years Old: Heres What Made It Special - How-To Geek

(CNN) Being unable to affordair conditioningor wanting to save more by using it less is a normal circumstance for some of us.

Usually, in addition to using a few life hacks to stay cool, we would go see amovie, take a dip in the pool or visit an air-conditioned public facility to find some relief from hot summer temperatures.

But thepandemichas rendered those remedies inaccessible in many places. Many areclosed for safety precautions, so when the heat becomes unbearable, it could feel like theres no place left to go.

However, there are ways to feel comfortable without cranking the air conditioning unit or going without. Here are more than 12 methods for cooling your body and buffering your house from the outside heat.

When youre hot and flushed,hydrating yourselfis the first and foremost step to cooling down, said Wendell Porter, a senior lecturer in agricultural and biological engineering at the University of Florida.

The temperature of the water doesnt matter since your body will heat it, he added. If your body is suffering from the heat and needs to cool itself, it cant perform the function without enough moisture.

Taking a cold shower orbathhelps cool your body by lowering your core temperature.

For an extra cool blast, use peppermint soap. The menthol in peppermint oilactivates brain receptorsthat convey whether something youre eating or feeling is cold.

Place a cold washrag on your wrists or drape it around your neck to cool your body. These pulse points are areas where blood vessels are close to the skin, so youll cool down more quickly.

Place box fans facing out of the windows of rooms youre spending time in to blow out hot air and replace it with cold air inside.

If the weather in your area tends to fall between 50 and 70 degrees Fahrenheit in the mornings and evenings, open the windows during those times to facilitate a cross-flow ventilation system. The outdoors can pull the hot air from your home, leaving a cooler temperature or bringing in the breeze. Just be sure to close windowsas the sun comes out, then open them when the weather is cool again.

Usually we might not leave windows open in consideration of crime, but while were home during this time, this method could be feasible, Porter said.

Resting near a fan would reduce just your body temperature.

If you have windows that face the suns direction in the morning through afternoon, close the curtains or blinds over them to keep the sun from coming directly into the house and heating up [the] inside, Porter said.

You could also install blackout curtains to insulate the room and reduce temperature increases that would happen during the day.

If you do turn the air conditioning on, dont drop it to below 70 degrees Fahrenheit in an effort to cool the house faster, said Samantha Hall, managing director of Spaces Alive, a design research company helping to create healthy, sustainable buildings.

It just runs for longer to reach that temp and will keep going until you start to feel a bit chilly and is then hard to balance, she added. Instead, keep the unit temperature as high as possible while still comfortable.

Cotton is one of the most breathable materials, so cotton sheets or blankets could help keep you cool through the night.

Thelower the thread countof the cotton, the more breathable it is, Porter said. Thats because higher thread counts have more weaving per square inch.

Common advice for staying cool without air conditioning includes refrigerating or freezing wet socks, blankets or clothing then ringing them out for sleep. But this isnt a good idea, Porter said.

The amount of energy they can absorb from your body that night, they will be warm in just a matter of minutes, he said. And then youd have damp stuff that would mold your mattress. So you definitely dont want to do that.

If no ones using a room, close it off to keep the cool air in only occupied areas of the house.

Flip the switch for the exhaust fan in your kitchen to pull hot air that rises after you cook or in your bathroom to draw out steam after you shower.

Incandescent light bulbs generate a higher temperature than LED light bulbs do. To make the switch, watch for sales on energy-efficient bulbs then slowly replace the bulbs in your house, Porter said.

Switching light bulbs can save money but wont reduce a lot of heat in the home, Hall said. But if you focus on switching the bulbs in areas youre sitting near, that would make a more noticeable difference, Porter said.

Oven heat can spread throughout your house. Keep the heat centralized in one area, such as a slow cooker. Or, cook outdoorson a grill to keep the heat outside.

Eating an ice pop or ice cream to cool down may help for a moment. Butdont go overboard on the sugarif youre overheated or at risk of being overheated, Porter said.

Sugar would run your metabolism up and youd start feeling internally hot, he said. So the cool treat might be good, but the extra sugar might not.

View original post here:
How to stay cool as warmer weather arrives - FOX40

Cricket Australia Director and former Australia captain Mark Taylor urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to take a decision on the mens T20 World Cup. The tournament is scheduled to be held from October 19 to November 15 in Australia, but is under a cloud of uncertainty due to the coronavirus pandemic. It would probably be good (if a decision is made this week), Taylor told the Nine Network. Because then everyone can start planning and we can stop sitting here and saying well ifs, buts or maybes.

The window of October to November is also a period that the Board of Control of Cricket in India (BCCI) is looking at as a potential period to hold the Indian Premier League (IPL). But they have made it clear that is only if the ICC decides to postpone the showpiece event.

Also read:His body can bend when he moves: Suresh Raina names Indias best fielder

The cash-rich T20 league was scheduled to start on March 29 but was postponed due to the outbreak of the pandemic in India.

My feeling is the World T20 wont go ahead in Australia in October as planned. Is it going to be viable to have a world tournament in October or November? The answer to that is probably no, said Taylor.

While many of the current and former Australian players have themselves said that they dont see the likelihood of the World T20 happening in October-November as per initial schedule due to the restrictions that have come in due to the coronavirus pandemic, former Australia skipper Allan Border has made it clear that the Indian Premier League shouldnt be given priority over the showpiece event.

Also read:Take stress out of Virat Kohlis life:Former India pacer bats for Rohit Sharma as captain inT20Is

(Im) not happy with that, the world game should take precedence over a local competition. So, the World T20, if that cant go ahead, I dont think the IPL can go ahead, Border said on ABCs Grandstand Cafe radio program.

I would question that decision (to replace it) -- its just a money grab, isnt it, that one? The World T20 should take precedence, for sure.

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Mark Taylor feels it is probably not viable to have WT20 in October or November - Hindustan Times

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The common thread behind the desire to end the childcare scheme as well as a push from the Coalition backbench to end the JobKeeper wage-subsidy program early is concern about the fiscal cost of such programs. Despite the fact that the government will and should run deficits topping $130 billion for the next two years, there has been a reflexing return to the debt and deficits mantra to which the government was wedded prior to COVID-19.

Yet the way to deal with the debt accrued to get the country through the COVID-19 crisis is to shrink it away as a share of Gross Domestic Product by growing the overall economy. With the government able to borrow long-term for less than 1 per cent, the carrying cost of even $260 billion of new debt is tiny between $2 billion and $3 billion a year out of a $500 billion a year budget.

The real question is how do we get that economic growth?

One possibility is through population growth from immigration. That has been a big part of Australias economic growth story in recent years, but seems unlikely to continue in the foreseeable future. International movement of people is likely to be subdued generally, and there is already pressure from some quarters for the Australian government to restrict immigration and prioritise local workers.

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A second possibility is to increase the productivity of the existing workforce. This has proved hard in recent times, with labour productivity below 1 per cent per annum for the last 5 years and was even negative in 2019. In an economy with increased automation and few game-changing labour-productivity enhancements since the 1990s computer revolution this avenue will likely continue to be hard.

The most likely path to growth is from increased labour force participation. Australias participation rate is quite strong relative to other advanced economies, but there is room to get above our roughly 66 per cent rate. That requires getting parentsespecially womenback into the workforce.

To do so we need a taper, rather than a radical rollback, of childcare support. A gradual reduction in the increased subsidies brought in last month, not cutting them off entirely. That might mean a sliding scale that reduces the current 100 per cent-free model to 90 per cent next quarter, then 80 per cent, and so on.

Of course, free childcare is not the only, or even the best model or use of government funding going forward. Last year we proposed a plan where households could continue to use the pre-COVID childcare subsidy scheme without modification, or opt to forego those arrangements an instead receive a tax deduction for child-care expenditures up to an annual cap.

Having the option to stick with the CCS means that no household could be worse off, but a significant number would be better offmore than 205,000 households, representing 22.5 per cent of households with children. The average couple with children would be $618 per annum better off and households in the bottom 20 per cent -40 per cent of the income distribution would be an average of $626 a year better off.

And from an economy-wide perspective, the plan would boost labour force participation by providing increased access to affordable childcare while removing the high effective marginal tax rates for working extra hours that can sometimes mean that parents can, perversely, earn less on a net basis by working more, once actual tax rates and the loss of childcare subsidies from additional income are factored in.

There were important issues about getting parents who want to back into the workforce, as well as the gender-wage gap which stands at 14 per cent before COVID-19. Those issues are still with us, but we now also need to consider how to boost economic growth in a very challenging environment.

One way to do that is to continue with the current free childcare scheme, although taper it off gradually.

Another attractive way to achieve those goals is by increasing labour force participation through well-designed subsidies. That may not involve free childcare forever, but it certainly does involve repurposing the subsidies introduced in April along the lines of our plan, rather than doing away with them altogether at the end of June.

Rosalind Dixon is a Professor of Law and Director of the Gilbert + Tobin Centre of Public law. Richard Holden is a Professor of Economics at UNSW Sydney.

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Replace free childcare scheme with tax deductions to kickstart economy - Sydney Morning Herald

Allan Border. (Photo Source: Twitter)

Cricket has affected severely due to the ongoing Coronavirus pandemic. No international cricket has taken place since March with even the marquee Indian Premier League (IPL) also being postponed until further notice. Even as some of the boards are pondering resuming the sport behind closed doors, the doubts continue to linger over the happening of the T20 World Cup scheduled to be played in Australia later this year.

Reports suggest that the postponement is inevitable and the ICC is likely to confirm the same any time in the next week. Moreover, the ICC event not happening in October-November opens up a window for the IPL to take place. Speculations are being made that the BCCI might look to host the T20 extravaganza in India during this period depending upon the situation in the country.

However, former Australia cricketer Allan Border is against it. He stated that the IPL shouldnt replace the World event and also didnt seem to be happy with it. According to him, the ICC tournament should always take the precedence and also suggested the other boards to not send their players to feature in the cash-rich league if it goes ahead.

[Im] not happy with that, the world game should take precedence over local competition. So, the World T20, if that cant go ahead, I dont think the IPL can go ahead. I would question that decision [to replace it] its just a money grab, isnt it, that one? The World T20 should take precedence, for sure. The home boards should stop their players going to the IPL if thats the case, he said while speaking in ABCs Grandstand Cafe radio program.

Allan Border understands that India is responsible for the major income in world cricket but also cautioned that if IPL takes precedence over T20 World Cup, it would send a wrong signal to world cricket. That would be just shut the gate, you know, India running the game. Theyre pretty close to it now, but I suppose if youre responsible for 80 per cent of global [cricket] income, youre going to have a fair say in what goes on, I get that.

But I think the world game cant allow that to happen. I dont think you can have India superseding what the international game has in place. That would be going down the wrong path, the 64-year-old added.

Originally posted here:
Its just a money grab Allan Border against IPL 2020 replacing T20 World Cup later this year - CricTracker

talkSPORT rounds up all the latest transfer news and football gossip at Liverpool.

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Former Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has urged Kai Havertz to snub a move to the Premier League and continue his progress at Bayer Leverkusen

The 20-year-old midfielder has been linked with 90million moves to Liverpool, Manchester United and Barcelona.

All eyes are on the Bundesliga at the moment and when you score goals and play good football it is no surprise that teams like Liverpool want you, Berbatov toldBetfair.

I would like to see Havertz in the Premier League at some point, but not right now. I think it is a bit too early for him, I want to see him play more games, score more goals and get more confidence and maturity.

I think he should stay at Leverkusen and develop even more and get that experience which will help him for when the time comes to go somewhere else.

Liverpool will sell THREE players this summer to fund a move for RB Leipzig forward Timo Werner.

The Reds have long wanted Werner but the financial fallout of coronavirus means they will be unable to splash the cash this summer.

However, The Athletic say they will look to raise the necessary funds for him by cashing in on Xherdan Shaqiri, Harry Wilson and Marko Grujic.

The three have fallen out of favour at Anfield but would help recoup a large chuck of what Werner would cost.

Sadio Mane is overtaking Kylian Mbappe as Real Madrids main target this summer.

According to Le10Sport, the La Liga club are frustrated with PSG over negotiations for Mbappe.

And now they are set to move onto to Mane as Zinedine Zidane looks for a replacement for Karim Benzema.

It looks increasingly likely that Liverpool will lose one of their attacking stars in the coming months.

Timo Werner has become the target of phone calls from Jurgen Klopp, who hopes to bring the Germany forward to Liverpool.

The RB Leipzig ace, who has 102 career goals to his name at the age of 24, is allegedly keen on joining the Anfield outfit rather than staying in Germany and joining Bayern Munich.

Klopp has been calling Werner over a move to Liverpool as he prepares for the potential departure of either Mohamed Salah or Sadio Mane.

Both attackers have been linked with Real Madrid and, according to Le10Sport, Klopp is considering Werner as his priority signing to replace whichever one leaves.

Liverpool look set to win the race for Leicester City centre-back Caglar Soyuncu, AS claim.

Man City and Barcelona are also said to be interested in the 23-year-old but the Reds are the favourites to sign the Turkey international.

Soyuncu has been outstanding for Leicester this season taking over the mantle from Harry Maguire following his move to Manchester United last summer.

Adama Traore is reportedly a summer transfer target for Premier League heavyweights Liverpool, Manchester United and Manchester City.

The Wolves star has been one of the top-flights most improved performers this season with four goals and seven assists.

He has become a regular fixture in their side after starting just five league games last term following an 18million move from Middlesbrough.

Le10sport claim the Premier Leagues big guns are interested in signing 70m-rated Traore.

Icon Sport - Getty

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp is pulling out all the stops to sign Kylian Mbappe having reportedly contacted the players dad.

Mbappe, 21, is one of the worlds most sought-after players and has been touted with Real Madrid in a move that could eclipse Neymars world-record transfer to PSG in 2017.

However, Liverpool have also been linked with the forward having won the Champions League, Super Cup and Club World Cup in 2019. They also have a 25-point lead at the top of the Premier League.

And thats put them in contention to sign the World Cup winner, who has 30 goals for Paris Saint-Germain this season.

French outlet Le10 Sport reports that Klopp is so desperate to land Mbappe, hes even called the Frenchmans dad.

Trent Alexander-Arnold would love to see special talent Jadon Sancho at Liverpool.

Borussia Dortmund and England forward Sancho is expected to move to England this summer with Manchester United seemingly leading the chase for him.

Alexander-Arnold said: If he came to us, hed make our team better.

So, Id be more than happy for him to come because I played with him at England and hes a special, special, special, special talent.

Timo Werner has reportedly ruled out a move to another Bundesliga club when the transfer window opens.

The Germany international, who has scored 21 goals in 25 league matches this term, is Liverpools top target this summer andis said to have a 51million release clause that expires on June 15.

According to Bild, he is not willing to move to another club in the German top flight and a move to Anfield is his preferred option.

Meanwhile, Liverpool chiefs fear they may miss out on Werner as they can not meet with the player because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Jurgen Klopp wants to bring him to Merseyside but his plans to meet the player in person to finalise the deal have been thrown up in the air due to the virus, German outlet Bild claim.

Klopp hoped to convince Werner to join personally but the current travel restrictions could scupper the transfer.

Sadio Mane could be tempted to join Real Madrid, according to his Senegal team-mate Keita Balde.

The Liverpool forward is being heavily linked with a move to Spain later this year.

I dont know what his decision is, Balde told AS. In a year or two, you may want to change.

I dont think he wants to be there forever. He is a smart boy and he knows what is good for him and what he has to do.

getty

Liverpools plans to build a dynasty under Jurgen Klopp have come under threat with Germany reportedly earmarking the Reds boss as the long-term successor to Joachim Low.

Klopp is one of the hottest properties in management after steering the Reds to Champions League glory last season and guiding them to within only six points of their first English league title in three decades.

The 52-year-old put pen to paper on a new deal last December to keep him Anfield-bound until 2024.

Despite insisting he will see out his deal, Germany have decided he is the right man to take over from Low in the near future, The Mirror claim.

It is believed Klopp has told bosses at Anfield that Liverpool will be the last club he manages and sees a transition to the national team as a natural step for him to take.

Timo Werner would reportedly have his preference of shirt number if he seals a move to Liverpool in the summer.

Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah currently occupy the No.9, No.10 and No.11 shirts respectively.

But the Express claim Werner would have his pick of any squad number.

Liverpool have zero interest in bringing Philippe Coutinho back to Anfield.

It has been claimed recently that the Reds could look into re-signing Coutinho amid news Barcelona are looking sell once the transfer window re-opens.

The Brazilian has been on loan at Bayern Munich this season and scored nine goals in 32 appearances.

But his future remains unclear and The Mirror say Liverpool are not interested.

The 27-year-old could potentially join a Premier League rival with clubs likely to be keen.

Liverpool defender Dejan Lovren is attracting interest from Arsenal, Tottenham and West Ham.

The 30-year-old Croat is out of favour at Anfield and looks set to leave the club soon.

Teamtalk claim the Premier League trio are looking to keep Lovren in England and will move for him when the transfer window opens.

Lovren has made just nine league appearances this season.

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Liverpool transfer news and gossip: Kai Havertz urged to snub Reds, Klopp phoning Werner, Real step up Mane - talkSPORT.com