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Fabrix Capital and Berliner Union Film Ateliers (BUFA) have appointed Dutch architects MVRDV and the German Institute for Participatory Design (IPG) to revitalise the film and office campus in Berlin where the Oscar-winning film Cabaret was filmed.

The London-based investment manager acquired the BUFA campus on behalf of a European family office in 2016. The studios are located on the border of Berlins Tempelhof and Neuklln districts. Over the past three years Fabrix has focused on understanding the sites context in Berlins history and the role it might play going forward.BUFAs first studios were built in 1912, with world famous films such as Emil and the Detectives, The Golem and Cabaret having been filmed there. The 256,000 sq ft campus, which overlooks Berlins Tempelhof airport, contains office, studio, post-production, craft and warehouse space, and will be occupied by a range of media companies and change makers including social art and activist groups, scientific and educational organisations as well as NGOs and businesses with human rights, social, or ecological objectives.MVRDV was appointed with a brief to create a place that reflects the key principles of Soil, Soul, Society and Celebration in line with Fabrixs vision for the site to become a place that fosters expression, dialogue and action.As part of the redevelopment, MVRDV plans to create a variety of attractive spaces within the site which will house event spaces as well as social, cultural and educational facilities that can be used by the whole community. MVRDV will follow circular economy principles by using natural and reclaimed materials to create a truly sustainable and inclusive campus.The landscape architecture, which IPG is undertaking, will showcase sustainable life in cities by combining local food production, biodiversity enhancement, urban-rural relationships and educational spaces on site. When complete, the new campus will house playgrounds, gardens, secret pathways and rooftop terraces to enhance creativity, knowledge-sharing and community connections on the site.Along with the site, Fabrix also owns Berliner Union-Film GmbH & Co. KG, an operational film company that provides studio space and post production services to the media industry. As part of the upgrade, Fabrix will also refurbish lettable spaces and develop vacant land to create a campus where occupiers can increase their positive impact and work together.

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Fabrix appoints architects MVRDV and IPG to revitalise Berlin campus - Property Funds World

Beijing's latest, hotly anticipated skyscraper opened to the public today: the Zaha Hadid Architects-designed Leeza SOHO tower already made a big splash in architectural media long before it was even finished with its 623-foot-tall, full-height atrium (the world's tallest) and spectacular, Piranesiesque construction photos of the, then still rising, structural skeleton.

The 45-story tower development marks the anchor for the new Beijing Fengtai business district, a growing financial and transport hub outside of the city center and closer to the recently opened, and also ZHA-designed, Beijing Daxing International Airport to the south.

"Leeza SOHOs site is diagonally dissected by an underground subway service tunnel," explains project description from ZHA. "Straddling this tunnel, the towers design divides its volume into two halves enclosed by a single facade shell. The emerging space between these two halves extends the full height of the tower, creating the worlds tallest atrium at 194.15m which rotates through the building as the tower rises to realign the upper floors with Lize road to the north."

Leeza SOHO concept video, courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects

"This rotation of the atrium intertwines Leeza SOHOs two halves in a dynamic pas de deux with connecting skybridges on levels 13, 24, 35 and 45; its glaced facade giving panoramic views across the city.Leeza SOHOs atrium acts as a public square for the new business district, linking all spaces within the tower and providing varying views due to its twisting, sculptural form; creating a fantastic new civic space for Beijing that is directly connected to the citys transport network."

"The atrium brings natural light deep within the building, acting as a thermal chimney with an integrated ventilation system thatmaintains positive pressure at low level to limit air ingress andprovides an effective clean air filtration process within the towers internal environment. Leeza SOHOs double-insulated, unitised glass curtain wall system steps the glazing units on each floor at an angle, providing narrow ventilating registers to draw outside air through operable cavities where required; creating extremely efficient environmental control for each floor."

"The two halves of the tower shade the atriums public spaces, while the double-insulated low-e glazing maintains a comfortable indoor environment in Beijings extreme weather conditions. With a u-value of 2.0 W/mK, the glazing has a shading coefficient of 0.4. The towers overall external envelope u-value is 0.55 W/mK."

"At the forefront of 3D Building Information Modelling (BIM) in design, construction management and building operations, Zaha Hadid Architects and SOHO China have implemented proven technologies to reduce the energy consumption and emissions at each of their four collaborations, totalling 15 million square feet (1.4 million sq. m) of mixed-use urban space in Beijing and Shanghai."

"Designed to achieve LEED Gold certification by the US Green Building Council, Leeza SOHOs advanced 3D BIM energy management system monitors real-time environmental control and energy efficiency. These systems also include heat recovery from exhaust air and high-efficiency pumps, fans, chillers boilers, lighting and controls. The tower incorporates water-collection, low-flow rate fixtures and grey water flushing as well as an insulating green roof with photovoltaic array to harvest solar energy."

"2,680 bicycle parking spaces, with lockers, shower facilities and dedicated charging spaces for electric and hybrid cars are located below ground; while low volatile organic compound materials are installed throughout Leeza SOHO to minimise interior pollutants and high efficiency filters remove particulates via the air-handling system."

Project Data:Architect:Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA)Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik SchumacherZHA Project Director: Satoshi Ohashi

Top of facade: 199.99 mTop of atrium: 194.15 mStandard floor to floor height: 4.1 mNumber of floors: 45 floors above ground,4 floors below groundSite area: 14,365mGross floor area: 172,800mProject Start Date:October 2013Site Works Start Date:April 2015Completion Date:19 November 2019

Be sure to take a deep dive into project drawings and various diagrams in the image gallery below.

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First photos of Zaha Hadid Architects' newly opened Leeza SOHO tower (and the world's tallest atrium) - Archinect

On November 11, 2019, Elizabeth Diller, a cofounding partner of Diller, Scofidio + Renfro and the recipient of the first MacArthur Foundation fellowship awarded in the field of architecture, spoke to a standing-room-only crowd on campus about the completion of two of New Yorks most recent high-profile building projects, the latest expansion of the Museum of Modern Art and the opening of the Shed, the multi-arts center in Hudson Yards.

Amale Andraos, dean of the Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation, which hosted the event, introduced Diller and noted theastonishing impact of her firms work.

DS+R, an interdisciplinary design studio that integrates architecture, visual arts and performing arts, has shaped what it means to be a cultural institution today and for the future, as well as reimagined how we interact with these institutions and how we understand their role in urban public space," Andraos said, adding that the firm'swork is more than buildings. "The practice has creatively probed the boundaries of architecture as a discipline" and "has a remarkable capacity to visibly render material, the constant question we pose ourselves as architects, which is where to draw or build the line.

In her talk, Diller compared the Museum of Modern Art withthe Shed, both of which are in midtown Manhattan, six avenues apart and 27 streets north-south from one another, yet they couldnt be more different, she said.

After Dillers presentation, Andraos asked her if designing projects in her own city, New York, is different fromworking in other places. Diller answered that there are a lot of architects whoparachute into other cultures,and they need to be sensitive to the fact that culture isn't global. However, she said,"it would be bad if we just worked in our own backyard, we need to import and export talent, but theres a huge learning curve.

Andraos then asked Diller if she thought architecture schools should teach students about entrepreneurship and how to create business plans.

The key, Diller said, was to keep everything in balance. She suggested that students should be willing to do something youre unqualified to do because it could be your best work."

But Diller conceded that being an expert in everything is impossible. "We used to think architects weregeneralists, but were specialists who find the right collaborators. Architecture is not independent and autonomous; its part of everything else. So, figure out how to make the right alliances to have your voice heard.

Excerpt from:
Recap: Architect Elizabeth Diller on MoMA and the Shed - Columbia University

In the markets, a corporation's fortunes may turn on a dime; more often, they turn on a quarter -- a reporting quarter, that is. The narrative Dollar Tree(NASDAQ: DLTR) provided last quarter of improving health in its Family Dollar segment was completely forgotten as a reduced full-year outlook became the dominant story line. Shares of theconsumer staples giant withered by as much as 17% on Tuesday following the company's release of fiscal third-quarter 2019 earnings. Let's unpack the last three months and trace the roots of investor displeasure, bearing in mind that allcomparative numbers refer to those of the prior-year quarter.

Data source: Dollar Tree. EPS = earnings per share.

Image source: Getty Images.

Dollar Tree's fourth-quarter outlook anticipates a bit of stumbling at year-end. The company expects low-single-digit comps growth next quarter, resulting in expected revenue of$6.33 billion to $6.44 billion. At the midpoint of this range, the fourth quarter's top line will advance by just 2.8% over the prior-year period.

Management quantified the fourth-quarter impact of trade import tariffs under Sections 301-310 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974, more commonly referred to as Section 301 tariffs. Dollar Tree estimates that Section 301 tariffs imposed on its imports from China will inflate its cost of goods sold by $19 million, or $0.06 per share, in the final three months of the year. Fourth-quarter diluted EPS, including this impact, is expected to land between $1.70 and $1.80.

At the midpoint of this range, EPS will fall below diluted EPS of $1.93 achieved in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2018 (after adjusting for a number of one-time charges the company incurred during that period). The expected tariff impact accounts for one-third of the drop of $0.18 between last year's fourth-quarter EPS and the midpoint of the current projected range. The rather weak fourth-quarter sales growth and some additional expected margin obstacles are supplying the rest of the differential.

The company characterizes these obstacles as "additional pressure on merchandise margin based on lower-margin consumables growing faster than originally forecast; payroll cost pressure in distribution centers; and increased run rates for repairs and maintenance, utilities, and depreciation."

The year-end weakness also affects Dollar Tree's full-year forecast. Management tightened its fiscal 2019 revenue expectation to a range of $23.62 billion to $23.74 billion from a previous range of$23.57 billion to $23.79 billion. Diluted EPS for the 12-month period is now projected to land between $4.66 and $4.76. This is well below the $5.45 in fiscal 2018 adjusted EPS. Moreover, just last quarter, management raised the EPS targetto a range of $4.90 to $5.11 from an original projection of$4.77 to $5.07.

How did Dollar Tree's profit picture erode so quickly? Slower retail shelf growth is a prime culprit. Essentially, as the company has focused on closing underperforming Family Dollar stores this year, its net store openings have curbed significantly. The organization expanded total selling square footage by 3% in fiscal 2018,but is on pace to increase retail selling space by just 1.1% this year.

Without brisk net store additions, Dollar Tree must rely on same-store sales for most of its revenue growth. But as comps have remained soft in the low-single-digit range, the dollar store specialist has lost the ability to easily absorb rising cost pressures. Of course, management has mostly stabilized the Family Dollar business in 2019, so the pace of net store openings should presumably rise again in the coming quarters, supporting revenue and providing much-needed operating leverage. But that's likely of meager solace to shareholders checking on their DLTR positions, awash in red, today.

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Dollar Tree Constricts Its Earnings Outlook, and Shares Follow Suit - Nasdaq

We want to be right in there as a known team, a team on the map, not just this little team that got promoted in 1993 into the Football League.

Thats Wycombe Wanderers manager Gareth Ainsworth, talking to us as part of the latest in our Footballs Front Linesseries on Saturday.

The Chairboys specialise in punching above their weight, reaching the semi-finals in both the FA Cup and League Cup in the last two decades.

But, like many other Football League clubs, theyve been flirting with an uncertain financial future for years almost through no real fault of their own.

Wycombes losses were estimated at around 600k a year, spending beyond their means merely just to stay afloat rather than on exuberant new additions.

Adams Park is in dire need of some TLC. They dont have an academy. The floodlights are a poor quality. The training ground was described a glorified metal shed with a couple of football pitches next to it in a recent report by The Athletic.

In 2014 they escaped relegation from League Two by the skin of their teeth, a final day win at Torquay enough to leapfrog Bristol Rovers and preserve their Football League status.

And Ainsworth is under no illusion as to how damaging a situation that could have been for the Buckinghamshire club.

Action Images - Reuters

We nearly went out of business. Ainsworth confesses. We nearly went out the league, we didnt know if the wages were going to get paid at times.

The Supporters Trust made sure they were paid every month and that was fantastic, but we were losing money hand over fist.

Five-and-a-half seasons on and seven years into Ainsworths tenure he is now the longest serving manager in Englands top five leagues its safe to say Wycombe are now moving in an altogether different direction.

And fast.

The Chairboys, despite starting pre-season with just nine players and having their playing budget cut by 30%, are sitting pretty at the top of League One and fantasising of the Championship.

They have never reached the second tier of English football but, having dispatched historic clubs like Sunderland and Portsmouth already this campaign, that dream could soon become a reality.

But even more crucial than any league position, they are now deft free after prospective new American owners The Couhigs settled any outstanding payments.

Before passing the 75% threshold required for a takeover mandate in late October, the Louisiana-based investors paid off their 2.2m debts and supplied a further 1m for other means.

It is testament to their popularity that an approach by a blockbuster consortium containing Dennis Bergkamp and Ronald Koeman, among others, wasnt seriously considered.

Thats because Peter Couhig, the prospective Chief Finance Officer, isnt your average owner.

Wycombe fans were really worried about being bought by overseas owners, Phil Catchpole, match commentator for BBC Three Counties Radio, told us.

You hear so many horrible stories and things that go wrong. But the Couhigs have come in and these guys are just fans.

Theyve had three months on the ground here before the vote went through and the best thing about them for me is that theyre in the bar, on the terrace, hanging about in the town.

Theyre with the fans, theyre not on the old prawn sandwiches. Theyre proper football people and theyve really connected with the people of Wycombe.

Couhigs infectious personality was emphasised on Saturday, mobbed by adoring fans as he led us through the bar area to watch the pre-match entertainment.

As we listened to a performance of The Wanderer, a song by Ainsworths own band the Cold Blooded Hearts,Couhig tells me of the instant rapport he struck up with both the Wycombe boss and the local area.

YouTube / Wycombe Wanderers

Weve got a rock and roll gaffer, Couhig says, beaming. Louisiana is a very musical place, so hooking up with Gareth was a no brainer.

We looked at a lot of different clubs but Wycombe had something special going on.

The difference between a really solid League One and League Two player and someone in the Championship or Premier League is really more opportunity than talent level.

When we look at other clubs that have done what theyve done in similar circumstances, like Sheffield United, I really dont believe theres a cap on what we [Wycombe] can do.

Action Images

Wycombe now have owners, a manager and a bristling playing squad all firing on all cylinders.

Ainsworth was heavily linked with the recent Lincoln City vacancy and reportedly has several Championship suitors, but seems set on adding a fairytale finish to the project he has masterminded at Adams Park.

Including his three years as a player he has now completed a decade at Wycombe, developing from veteran winger into one of the most sought-after managers in England.

To be top of the league going into the end of November is remarkable, Phil Slatter, co-host ofThe Wanderer podcast, says.

Theres no way we could envisage being in the top six, let alone top of the table.

A lot of it is down to Gareth Ainsworth, his mentality, his attitude, the players hes brought in.

He went through a very dark stage a few years ago when we were nearly relegated and learnt an awful lot from that experience.

He wants to manage in the Championship and be ambitious and his dream is to do that here.

PA:Press Association

Wycombe also boast the likes of Adebayo Akinfenwa, Joe Jacobson and captain Matt Bloomfield; a trio Phil Catchpole calls the generals.

Between them they boast over 800 league appearances in Wycombe blue and are still making telling contributions well into their mid-30s.

Jacobson, fresh after making his 500th appearance for the club last week, scored a nerveless late winner from the penalty spot on Saturday to clinch a narrow 1-0 victory over Doncaster.

Jacobson, who admits there was a strange atmosphere in the summer prior to the takeover, says Ainsworth makes it impossible for the players not to feel motivated.

PA:Empics Sport

He makes it so simple that you cant help but run through a brick wall for him, the Welshman tells us.

Like I said weve got a lot of players here that all buy into what he wants to do and its working so far.

There is now a tangible positivity from top to bottom, spearheaded by the insatiable Ainsworth.

The 46-year-old has combined inspirational man-management with a pragmatic financial approach when so many clubs around them are bending the rules.

Action Images - Reuters

This club has been crying out for the Couhigs, and not just finance wise, Ainsworth eulogises.

Theres not going to be millions of pounds available, were not going to turn suddenly into the Sunderlands or Portmouths of this world in this league, no chance. Were going to do it right.

Its not going to be overnight, its going to take some time. Weve got a long term plan, were just probably going a little bit ahead of the curve at the moment on the pitch. Im happy with that.

With sustainability achieved and a core group all singing from the same hymn sheet, who knows what the future holds for these perennial overachievers?

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Underdog story is an overused term but here it doesnt remotely do it justice - Dream Team FC

BUFFALO, N.Y. (AP) The NHL said Tuesday it is investigating allegations Calgary Flames coach Bill Peters directed racial slurs toward Akim Aliu when he and the Nigerian-born player were in the minors a decade ago.

The NHL called the alleged behavior repugnant and unacceptable. The league added it will have no further comment until it looks into what happened more thoroughly.

Aliu tweeted Monday that Peters dropped the N bomb several times towards me in the dressing room in my rookie year because he didnt like my choice of music. Aliu said he rebelled against him, and Peters responded by asking Chicago Blackhawks executives John McDonough and Stan Bowman to send Aliu to a lower minor league level.

The tweet did not name Peters specifically, but referred to a protege of fired Toronto coach Mike Babcocks who is now in Calgary. Babcock has been a mentor to Peters since Babcock coached him in college.

Flames general manager Brad Treliving said the team is investigating the allegations Aliu raised during Calgarys overtime loss at Pittsburgh. Peters was not made available following Monday nights game.

I havent had the chance to sit down with Bill or our people internally to talk about this and get to the bottom of it, Treliving said. We take these matters very, very seriously.

The Blackhawks issued a statement saying nothing had previously been brought to their attention regarding Peters and Aliu before Monday. The team added it had no affect on any player personnel decisions involving Aliu.

Email and voice messages left with Aliu have not been returned to The Associated Press. The Flames were scheduled to practice Tuesday in Buffalo, where they close a four-game road trip Wednesday night.

The timing of the allegations come with the Flames slumping. Theyre 1-5-2 in their past eight a year after Calgary won a franchise-record 50 games in Peters first season as coach.

Peters was hired by Calgary after spending four seasons coaching the Carolina Hurricanes. The 54-year-old made the jump to Rockford after leading the Western Hockey League Spokane Chiefs to a Memorial Cup championship in 2008.

Aliu played under Peters during the 2008-09 and 2009-10 seasons. He was demoted to the Toledo Walleye of the ECHL during the 2009-10 season. Aliu, who was born in Africa but raised in Ukraine and Canada, later played seven NHL games over two seasons with Calgary. The 30-year-old Aliu has had a transient career since being selected by Chicago in the second round of the 2007 draft.

Hes not playing this season after appearing in 14 games with Orlando of the East Coast Hockey League last year. The Solar Bears were Alius 11th team over a six-year span, which included stops in Russia, Sweden and Slovakia.

Alius tweet were prompted after reports surfaced of how poorly Babcock dealt with his players in Toronto. Forward Mitch Marner confirmed that during his rookie season Babcock asked him to rank Maple Leafs players in order of hardest to least-hardest working. Babcock then shared Marners list with numerous players.

UPDATE:

1:15 p.m.

Calgary Flames general manager Brad Treliving says coach Bill Peters remains on the staff but wasnt certain whether hed be behind the bench for the next game.

The team and the NHL are both investigating an allegation the Peters directed racial slurs at a player 10 years ago when the two were in the minors. Akim Aliu, a Nigerian-born player, says Peters dropped the N bomb several times in a dressing room during his rookie year.

Peters has not commented on the allegation. Treliving apologized for not having many definitive answers at practice in Buffalo on Tuesday, a day before the Flames play the Sabres.

Peters was not at the arena while his players were on the ice. The GM says he had stayed at the teams hotel. Flames associate coach Geoff Ward oversaw practice, which included a brief huddle with the players at center ice.

Treliving understands the seriousness of the allegations and called them repugnant if true, while adding its his responsibility to find out exactly what happened.

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How the Penguins have become one of NHLs best defensive teams - NBCSports.com

Surprise, surprise, Major League Baseball's off-season is off to yet another dull start.

It has been almost a month since the Nationals were crowned World Series champions and almost nothing has happened since then. There have been a handful of moves -- reliever Will Smith to the Braves and catcher Yasmani Grandal to the White Sox -- but most of the elite free agents are still looking for a home.

Toronto's priorities remain the same as they were at the end of the regular season. Right-hander Chase Anderson was brought in through a minor trade and the Jays have made some small changes to their 40-man roster, but the major additions have yet to surface.

In the NBA and NHL, deals can't seem to get done fast enough. MLB is a completely different story with every team tripping over itself to give an appearance of being patient and disciplined. It's not a great look for the league, but it's one that is likely to change in the coming weeks with the annual Winter Meetings right around the corner.

The Jays havent done anything consequence, but there's still a lot to talk about when it comes to this team's off-season. With that, it's time to open the weekly mailbag. As always, questions can be submitted to bluejaysmailbag@gmail.com or by reaching out on Twitter to @GregorChisholm. Please make sure to include your first name and hometown.

The following questions have been edited for length and grammar:

Is a Vladimir Guerrero Jr. likely to increase his average and power numbers by much, or are rookie season stats usually a decent guide?-- John, Northern Ireland

The Blue Jays haven't seen the best of Guerrero quite yet. His rookie season was solid enough, but still a bit of a disappointment considering the lofty expectations he faced at the beginning of the year. A slash line of .272/.339/.433 certainly wasnt terrible, but there's every reason to believe this is a guy who will post better numbers in the future. The biggest obstacle for Guerrero, outside of fatiguing down the stretch, was not getting enough loft on the ball. He hit far too many balls on the ground last year but some changes to his swing could help remedy that. Guerrero still has as much upside as anyone in baseball and he's someone I would bet on to have a much better year in 2020.

1. The Jays have clear needs in the rotation and have the fewest dollars allocated to the 2020 payroll. Wouldn't it make sense going after big-name starter right now in free agency? Guys like Gerrit Cole, Stephen Strasburg, Zack Wheeler. Next year's class isn't as great as this year and we're one-to-two seasons away from competing. Spend the money now to get that "ace". 2. Would Didi Gregorius, be a good fit for the Jays? Let Didi play short, Bo over to 2, Biggio to play 1st? Worried about Biggios defence.-- Josh, Prince Albert, Sask.

The first question references a strategy I proposed earlier this month. Toronto currently has a projected payroll of approximately $65 million for next season, including arbitration and pre-arbitration players. In 2021, there is just $18.7 million on the books. There is a unique opportunity for ownership to flex its financial muscle by frontloading deals to sign prime free agents, before the rest of the young core starts making a lot of money. That said, it doesn't appear to be an approach the Blue Jays are taking this off-season.

As for the second question, Gregorius would fit on just about any roster, but the priority must be pitching and outside of a first baseman/designated hitter, possibly an outfielder, there likely won't be a lot of changes on the position player front. There are legitimate questions about Toronto's defence up the middle but Bichette has displayed a lot of progression there and I wouldn't rule out a similar trajectory for Biggio. Both guys deserve more time to secure their spot on the field.

The Jays have several players with low BA, low OBA, and 20 HR power (Derek Fisher, Brandon Drury, Billy McKinney, Teoscar Hernandez, Rowdy Tellez, Danny Jansen, Randal Grichuk). Do you think any of these players will break out to an average OBA of .330 or above?-- Bill, Wetaskiwin, Alberta

The name that sticks out to me is Jansen and he's another player I think will be much better next season. In Jansen's final year with Triple-A Buffalo, he posted a .275/.390/.473 slash line with an OPS of .863. His first stint in the majors was equally impressive with an OPS+ of 115. Jansen struggled with the bat this year, but he can easily be forgiven considering his demands behind the plate. Now that he's more settled, Jansen, who has never been afraid to work the count, should take a big step forward in 2020. Hernandez is another possibility because he finished 2019 with a .325 wOBA despite a terrible start to the year. The others on this list? Probably not so much.

I am a Dutch Blue Jays fan and follow your columns as much as possible. I understand that they are in the rebuild but cannot follow the strategy. They were already weak in the rotation and then they trade Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez instead of extending them. Then you get a Fisher back and now they are considering trading Gurriel and/or one of the talented young catchers ... Jays seem more like a trading house than a club in rebuild mode. How do you see this? Do you think the front office is acting well? -- Gert, Netherlands

To be honest, I think most of the trade talk surrounding Toronto's position players has been overblown. Did the Jays listen when other teams came calling? Yes. Did they potentially throw out a couple names in broad discussions during their search for pitching? Sure, but it doesn't mean any of it is likely to happen. As mentioned before in this space, the Jays need to get creative this winter to fill the holes on their pitching staff. That inevitably leads to some uncomfortable questions about which members of the young core they would be willing to trade to make it happen, but that's not the top priority. The goal is to make a couple of significant adds through free agency, not to part with in-house assets. Judge the front office for the moves it will eventually makes, but don't read too much into these early reports. It still seems improbable to me that Gurriel, Jansen and others will be moved this winter.

When is something going to happen?-- Henry, Clarington, Ontario

Fair question. The consensus is that the market is moving a bit quicker than it has the last couple of years, but it's still a far cry from the way things operated 5-10 years ago. Super agent Scott Boras holds most of the cards this winter because he represents most of the top free agents. At some point, he's going to have to start clearing the board to manage his workload. Gerrit Cole seems unlikely to sign before the New Year, but others such as Strasburg and Anthony Rendon are candidates to get new deals before -- or during -- the winter meetings. Once those guys start going off the board, the mid-tier market, where Toronto is shopping, should see some movement as well.

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Your MLB wild card proposal was a good idea but ... BEFORE ANY OF THESE CHANGES, LETS MAKE THE DIVISIONAL SERIES A BEST 4 OUT OF 7 RATHER THAN 3 OUT OF 5. THEN YOU CAN DO ANY OTHER CHANGES TO THE PLAYOFF FORMAT.-- Wayne, Toronto

First off, why are you yelling? Second, I completely agree. Wayne is referring to a proposal I made in Monday's blog, which would see the addition of two wild card teams in each league. Changing the division series to a best-of-seven format, is another idea I can get behind because it's a truer test to determine the better team. But the biggest issue of all, in my mind, continues to be the lack of a balanced schedule. It's not fair that teams in the AL East are competing for the same wild card as teams in a weak Central Division. Having a wild card spot for each second-place team would ease those concerns a bit, but eventually MLB needs to find a way to even out the schedule for all teams in the AL and NL.

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Mailbag: Have the Blue Jays already seen the best of Guerrero? - Toronto Star

Being attuned to the latest technological breakthroughs in the construction and home industry always is a wise idea for homeowners, who could benefit when it comes time for a renovation.

Take, for example, the problem of water infiltration. Is there anything more damaging to a home than having a leaky roof, walls, siding, faucets or toilets? How about water that gets into a basement and damages everything on the floor and more?

According to Ray Cipriani of Cipriani Remodeling Solutions, water infiltration causes billions of dollars of damage to homes across the country.

You spend all this money to fix it, and its all preventable and many contractors are not using the latest installation techniques to prevent water infiltration to the homes, he said. A lot of contractors are not keeping up with the ways to install flashing.

Something as simple as kickout flashing is a type of flashing that kicks the water out from behind the siding and into the gutter, Cipriani said. The vinyl kickout flashing device is flexible and withstands heat and cold. Its also inexpensive.

We were finding water was getting behind the siding and rotting out the house framing, he said.

According to the National Association of Certified Home Inspectors (NACHI), kickout flashing provides excellent protection against the penetration of water into a building.

Several factors can lead to rainwater intrusion, but a missing kickout flashing, in particular, often results in concentrated areas of water accumulation and potentially severe damage to exterior walls, according to the NACHI.

Another advancement is using 3D software when designing a project for a client, which allows the homeowner to walk through the space similar to a project management software so that the homeowner can visualize the project as it is being completed, Cipriani said.

Building products also have changed, with vinyl replacing cedar and pine more and more, said Alan Archuleta of Archuleta Builders in Morristown. Although vinyl is more expensive, homeowners are looking to use it as a long-term investment.

It might be double the price, but these are products that never need to be replaced, he said. The good thing most people dont calculate. Now I dont have to paint my house every five years. The siding is expensive, but in 10 years it pays for itself.

For high-end homes, the biggest technological breakthrough is a Wi-Fi system that completely converts the house into a wireless abode, Archuleta said.

Then there is the smart home technology trend that allows homeowners to control their lights or heating and air conditioning thermostats, as well as their garage doors, all through their phone or tablet.

We can walk into a room and say, Alexa, turn on the kitchen lights, and the lights come on, Cipriani said.

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Tech transformations that are built to last for the modern homebuyer - Jersey's Best

NEVADA CITY, Calif. November 26, 2019 The incoming winter storm arrives today bringing heavy snow, rain, and strong winds to the area with major travel impacts extending into the Thanksgiving holiday. Much cooler temperatures are in store for the week.

The well-advertised strong system is on track to bring rain, heavy snow (measured in feet) to the foothills and mountains, and strong southerly winds later this afternoon into tonight. Impacts will be severe during the peak pre-Thanksgiving travel period later today through Wednesday. Another strong, cold winter storm is forecast to impact NorCal this weekend through early next week.

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Today is your last day to prepare for the storm. Please make sure your people, pets and plants are safe from the storm and the freezing temperatures.

Be Prepared

Sandbag locations

Sandbags are available throughout locations in the Foothills. Bring your own shovel, sand and bags are provided for free.

Nevada County

Residents must bring their own shovel to fill the sandbags with sand. Sand bags are very limited, Nevada County OES requests that residents only take what they plan to use for protection of their personal property.

Report Nevada County Road Issues due to Weather

For road failures and trees down in the right of way during business hours call (530) 265-1411 and call 911 for any emergencies. You can also report issues with County roads online with theAsk Nevada County web pageor download the app in the App Store or Google Play.

Placer County

El Dorado County:

Reminders for severe weather preparedness:

If you are operating a vehicle, please review the following tips:

Dont forget to accomplish the following if possible

Rock and mudslides on mountain roadways are likely. Reduce your speed, turn on your headlights and be aware of your surroundings.

Travel could be very difficult with some roads covered by water. Turn around, do not drown.

Safety tips from PG&E:

Be prepared before storms arrive:

If outages occur:

Before calling PG&E about a power outage:

Please be safe everyone!

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Thanksgiving winter storm sandbag locations, storm preparation tips - YubaNet

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RepairmentInstallation and ReplacementOther

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VillaHotel ClubSchoolHospitalOthers

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Eaves Trough and Gutter Service Market Up-To-Date Analyses Of Industry Trends And Technological Improvements Report - thenewschain