Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

This year, the year that Marty McFly crash lands into in Back to the Future Part II, holds a lot of water for technologists, since it gave the world a peek at then-fictional innovations like food hydrators, indoor gardens, and video calling. And while some of those home technologies have actually come to pass (hydrators, you have to Oct. 21 until Martys flux capacitor shorts out!) these six inventionscurrently exhibiting at the International CES in Las Vegasare ready to bring the future to your door, right now. For more on the smarter, more connected home of the future, check out Times cover package.

Even though CES is packed with tech titans showing off their latest wares, entrenched services like cable and home security systems are often the target of upstart technologies at the event. This year, ADT strikes back with a setup that connects a wide range of sensors together through an intuitive smart phone app. Powered by IFTTT, a wide-ranging web service that already links everything from the Android operating system to Yahoo Fantasy Football (with other technologies ranging from Dropbox to text messaging to weather alerts in between), the companys Pulse app gives ADT home security subscribers the ability to turn on lights, monitor for carbon monoxide, arm alarms, and even control the heating, with their voice, alone. And with voice passwords, the app itself is locked down as tight as the homes security system.

Move over, Rosie, here comes something better. Alright, maybe this robot, built by Five Elements Robotics, cant eclipse the Jetsons legendary robo-maid, but it can serve as an able assistant, carrying up to 50 pounds indoors and out, over sidewalks and up rampsbasically most places you go. Designed to follow a transmitter that the owner (or is it master?) wears, the $1,399 droid can zip along up to 2.4 miles per hour. With a battery life of up to 10 hours, he can run about as long as most people, and when not needed, he can be folded up for easy storageonly weighing about 20 pounds and able to fit into the trunk of a car. When was the last time you stuffed your assistant in the trunk of your car? (Actually, dont answer that.)

Whats better than one wall oven? If you said a wall oven with the Android operating system baked into it, youre right. (But two wall ovens would also also be acceptable.) Sporting solo and dual doors, Dacors Discovery convection ovens are Wi-Fi connected and have a graphic user interface to get your brownies baking like no other. With a Samsung one gigahertz processor and 512 megabytes of RAM, this setup isnt just tech for techs sake. Its designed to power the Discovery IQ cooking app, which guides users through all sorts of dishes and family recipes. And with the ability to download from Google Play store, theres many more appsand appetizers, I hopeto come.

Finally, some gear the whole family can enjoy. A kitchen communication appliance, Triby is first and foremost a Bluetooth speaker, able to take calls and stream music from your smart phone. But the magnetic-backed, rubber-edged device takes utility a step further by linking two a pair of phones (Moms and Dads, perhaps) via the Triby app, so people can call them at the push of a button. The app also lets mobile users send hand written notes back to Triby, displaying them on the Wi-Fi connected devices e-Ink display. And in addition to being able to play FM radio signals, the fridge phone also has a pair of radio buttons that lets users pre-program their favorite streaming radio stations. Toss in a battery that lasts a month and a $199 price tag, and youve got some smart tech, indeed.

Some people are put off by web security cameras in the home, but with a facial recognition feature that can identify the members of your household, Netatmo Welcome does something truly helpful. Notifying smartphone users when family members arrive home, this HD, night vision-capable camera is a must-have for connected latch key kids. And, paired with Netatmo Tags, the system can alert you when doors, windows, mailboxes or even drawers are opened. But perhaps the smartest thing about this camera is that it can store data on an onboard SD card, keeping your video recordings off the internet (and free from subscription services).

Named as one of Times Best Gadgets of 2014, SmartThings is not content to rest on its laurels, rolling out new hardware and premium services that may make it the most clever smart home setup, yet. Available in the summer, a new SmartThings hub will sport a better processor and backup battery power, making this a connected home system that stays in sync even when the power is out. In addition, the companys motion and multi-sensors are slimming down, providing more subtle home monitoring. But the smart home is all about being inter compatible with other products and services, something this system does better than anyone. For instance, the SmartThings hub will now play nice with everything from August locks to Racchios lawn irrigation controller. Beat that, McFly!

Link:
6 of the Coolest Smart Home Innovations at CES

Mitsu Yasukawa/ Staff Photographer

Lee Albert stand in the doorway of his Fair Lawn home.

FAIR LAWN A Hartley Place resident who for years has been fighting the borough on tens of thousands of dollars in property maintenance violations was hit with his latest set of fines Wednesday: $21,600.

The grey house, which has cracked steps to its front door and scrubbed out red graffiti outside, also could have a potential buyer. For years Lee Albert, 65, has wanted to rid himself of the home and move out of the country, but has been held back by the legal issues surrounding the site. Some nearby neighbors also have been unhappy with the state of his property over the years.

Albert pleaded guilty Wednesday in Fair Lawn Municipal Court to all 18 pending violations he received over a six-day period in June. The violations are for blighted property, failure to cut weeds and grass, and excessive debris and rubbish on the property.

The fines comes out to $1,200 per violation, though the maximum possible fine per summons is $2,000, Fair Lawn Municipal Court Judge Steven C. Schechter said.

Municipal Prosecutor Marc Ramundo said Schechter found Albert guilty this summer of a similar set of violations dating from 2013, and he was fined the maximum amount per charge totaling about $30,000. Those fines remain unpaid. The tickets issued over the summer were for the same issues at the site, as Albert failed to fix his property, Ramundo said.

These were just the reissuance of the same summonses, Ramundo said. He added that it would be exhaustive to go to trial all over again.

Albert told the judge he was unable to take care of his property or hire an outside company to do so because he has been ill and traveling to Thailand for medical treatment over the summer.

I wasnt well enough to be here and take care of the property, said Albert, who also did not attend that first trial.

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Fair Lawn man fined $21,600 for property maintenance violations

A Ten Commandments monument on the Oklahoma Capitol grounds that was destroyed by a man who drove into it was replaced Thursday with an exact replica.

Workers used a large crane to move the 2,400-pound granite monument onto its repaired base on a staircase landing outside the Capitol building.

"While the destruction of the original monument was tragic, this replacement is identical in every respect, and we look forward to it standing the test of time," said Rep. Mike Ritze, R-Broken Arrow, whose family commissioned the original monument for $10,000.

Gary Mosier of Wilbert Memorials, which rebuilt the 6-foot-tall headstone-like monument, said the granite came from a quarry in South Dakota. The design, which is an exact replica of a monument at the Texas Capitol, was added at the company's facility in Kansas. Mosier said the company fronted the cost for the new monument, and Ritze said he's raising the money privately to reimburse the company.

The monument, which is at the center of a lawsuit, was smashed into pieces in October when someone drove a car across the Capitol lawn and crashed into it. A 29-year-old man was arrested the next day after he showed up at a federal building in Oklahoma City, spit on a picture of President Barack Obama and acknowledged destroying the monument, according to a police report. The man was admitted to a hospital for mental health treatment, and formal charges were never filed.

The original monument was erected in 2012 after a bill authorizing it was passed by the Republican-controlled Legislature and signed into law by then-Gov. Brad Henry, a Democrat. A Norman man has sued to have it removed, saying it violates the state constitution's prohibition against using public property to support "any sect, church, denomination or system of religion." The case is pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court.

Other groups have also asked to erect their own monuments on the Capitol grounds, including a satanic group that wants to put up a 7-foot-tall statue that depicts Satan as Baphomet, a goat-headed figure with horns, wings and a long beard. A Hindu leader in Nevada, an animal rights group and the satirical Church of the Flying Spaghetti Monster have also made requests.

Link:
10 Commandments statue replaced at Oklahoma Capitol

De Boer Services
De Boer Services servicing Kapiti and Porirua Areas http://www.deboerservices.co.nz "Reliable lawn mowing services Servicing Kapiti and Porirua areas"

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De Boer Services - Video

Even though January has just started and spring may seem a long way away, the city of Denison is asking residents to take the time to keep their lawns maintained when the inevitable growing season comes.

The Denison City Council authorized the placement of $38,896 of liens on 371 lots throughout the city for mowing services that were rendered on neglected or abandoned lots throughout the city over the past year. City Manager Robert Hanna said the lots were mowed because they were out of compliance with the city code, which limits grass to being less than 12 inches tall.

At some point in time it starts to become a health and safety hazard, said Hanna, adding that the tall grass can attract pests and dangerous snakes and also become a fire hazard. Beyond being a safety concern, Hanna said the tall grass can become a nuisance and an eyesore.

According to a list of frequently asked questions on the citys website, in the event of a violation, code enforcement will notify the property owner to correct the violation. If the violation is not corrected within seven days, a citation will be issued by the city. This citation is separate from the lien placed for mowing services.

These are just properties where the the grass has gotten too tall, said Denison Mayor Jared Johnson. So the city has to get them mowed.

From May of 2014 through November, the city mowed 371 lots, with some lots mowed multiple times. While some of these lots were abandoned, some are occupied.

When the economy goes bad, the weeds go up, said Hanna. Some people cant afford lawn care services anymore.

The liens placed on the property mowed by the city include mowing fees, which range from $17.50 to $75, and a flat administrative fee of $65 for each instance. The average cost of the liens is $104.84.

Hanna said the administrative fee arenot meant to act as a punitive measure and instead allow the city to recover legitimate administrative costs including the use the city attorneys time in filing the liens, the cost of city staff time in researching case history and other in-house costs connected to the service.

It is still a net loss for us, said Hanna. We dont like doing it, but this is a public safety issue.

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Denison official say mowing liens about recouping costs

Derbyshire Street Pocket Park
Landscape architect: Greysmith Associates.

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Derbyshire Street Pocket Park - Video

Grid INTRO | STRUCTURE | Trailsnodes | birdhide | Bird Hide OUTSIDE | Augmented Reality
Landscape architect: Project Studio Park Works.

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Grid INTRO | STRUCTURE | Trailsnodes | birdhide | Bird Hide OUTSIDE | Augmented Reality - Video

The University of Chicago is proposing that the Obama presidential library be built on about 20 acres of South Side parkland, either in Washington or Jackson parks, according to the university.

The information, released Tuesday, was privately submitted last month to the president and first lady. Since then, pressure has built from library planners who are hoping to avoid any real estate or legal challenges associated with building a library in a public park.

The two sites are:

21 acres in western Jackson Park, bounded by South Stony Island Avenue to the west, South Cornell Avenue to the east, East 60th Street to the north and East 63rd Street to the south.

22 acres in western Washington Park and 11 acres outside of it, stretching as far west as South Prairie Avenue, and encompassing the Garfield Green Line stop. The park space is bounded by South Martin Luther King Drive to the west, Ellsworth Drive to the east, East Garfield Boulevard to the south and East 51st Street to the north.

The parcels outside of Washington Park are controlled by a combination of owners, including the U. of C., the city of Chicago, the Chicago Transit Authority and private individuals or companies.

The museum is expected to occupy only a fraction of the land. As a comparison, if the George W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum in Dallas were to be spread out on one floor, it would take up about 5 acres. The entire campus measures 23 acres.

"In the first place, there's a long tradition of museums in the parks in Chicago," said Susan Sher, who is leading the U. of C.'s library bid, about the use of parkland. "When you look at the possibilities and the criteria of having enough space for the legacy of a major historical figure, you can't just plop it in the middle of a shopping center."

In her discussions, Sher said, residents of neighborhoods surrounding the university have jockeyed for the library. Sher has not found any "not-in-my-backyard" resentment, she said.

Residents will get a chance to publicly weigh in at two community hearings, Jan. 13 and Jan. 14, at Hyde Park Academy High School and the Washington Park Fieldhouse,respectively. The Park District is weighing whether to transfer the parcels to City Hall control. Such control was stipulated by library planners, led by Chicago private equity executive Martin Nesbitt.

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U. of C. plans: Obama library in the park

Winning tip: Pirin Mountains, Bulgaria

A friend and I completed a 55km, three-day hike across the Pirin mountains. We started in picturesque Dobrinishte, stayed in mountain huts for two nights and finished in the famous wine-growing town of Melnik, via the stunning Rozhen monastery. The variety of landscape was wonderful, from the glacial lakes of the upper mountains to the gentle Alpine forests below and finally the almost sub-tropical sandstone pyramids, dense vines and creepers around Melnik. jamescrouchman

Three days is all it takes to complete one of New Zealands great walks. The trek takes you through dense forest to rocky mountainsides with some spectacular waterfalls on the way. Side treks are also available for those who want a little more adventure. These are greatly advised particularly Conical Hill, which gives a panoramic view of the mountain range. Alpine parrots will accompany your journey, but keep an eye on your picnic! Really friendly guides give you all the information you need in the excellent huts on the way. David Grant

The Travessia Petrpolis is a three-day trek inland from the city of Rio that takes you up above the clouds to over 2,000m in the Parque Nacional da Serra dos Orgos. You will see spectacular sunsets and sunrises and can bathe in a refreshing waterfall. You can spend two nights in mountain shelters, hire a tent or take your own. You will need to pay a small fee to access the park, which can be done online, where you can also book the shelter and find a local guide. When you get back to Rio, you can carry on trekking with climbs up the numerous peaks of that amazing city.

bikeandwalk bikeandwalk

This is one of the last great wilderness walks in the British Isles, and not for the faint-hearted. Its a rough, tough five-day trek with no roads, no accommodation other than basic bothies and no other people! What it does have is superb coastal scenery, abundant wildlife and remarkable geological phenomena. writeofway

My partner and I trekked through Burmas Shan State, from Kalaw to Inle Lake, over three days. The states agricultural hinterland comprises a patchwork of farmland and an endless vista of hills and forest, dotted with villages, pagodas and monasteries. Stopping overnight, we were warmly welcomed to stay in wooden village houses, experiencing rural Burmese life in a place that felt off the beaten track. Along the way, we chatted to locals, rested in small tea shops over sweet, milky drinks and ducked into monasteries to escape the suns midday glare. BenStarkey

This is a great trek for several reasons. First, its history - the pilgrim way to Santiago was one of the great routes of the Middle Ages. Second, the architecture Cluniac monasteries, tiny Romanesque churches, great pilgrim hospitals, and the amazing cathedrals of Le Puy and Compostela at either end. And third, the landscape, from the great droving tracks of Aubrac to the Pyrenees, the narrow gorge of the Lot to the fertile vineyards and fruit orchards of Gascony, the route traverses some of the finest landscapes of southern Europe. andreakkk

The Nuortti hiking trail is a circular 40km trek near the Finnish/Russian border in the Urho Kekkonen national park. The trail runs along the Nuortti river, which is a popular destination for fishing and offers views of dense forests and deep canyons. It is an extremely well-catered-for trek offering reservable huts equipped with wood for fires, an outhouse, gas cooker and kitchen utensils. Id advise spending two nights in the forest its a magical environment to immerse yourself in, a place to feel detached from the hustle and bustle of life. connect10

The valley of Glenlough lies facing the wild Atlantic in south-west Donegal, Ireland. Its en route from Port to Maghera, which is a comfortable two-day trek, edging the coast, along spectacular cliffs and breathtaking scenery. Accessible only on foot, the valley was once briefly home to poet Dylan Thomas, who spent the summer of 1935 living and writing there. (The old stone cottage where he stayed is now a ruin.) The area and surrounding mountains are also home to rare flora and fauna and have been described by the Enviromental Protection Agency (EPA) as one of the last remaining wilderness frontiers in Europe, and the sea stacks offshore are some of the largest in Ireland. glendoan

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Great treks around the world: readers travel tips

By Farooq Soomro | January 7, 2015

The night sky in Kirthar range is so clear that you can spot the Milky Way with your naked eyes. The landscape is so vast that it stretches beyond man-made boundaries.

A land so enriched with history that one feels lost in time. The mountain range forming a natural boundary between Balochistan and Sindh is home to several peaks, most notably Gorakh Hill (5,700), Kuttay-ji-Qabar (6,877) and Bandu-ji-Qabar (7,112) .

The 150+ mile long stretch provides a sanctuary to different wild life and its torrents, tributaries, canyons, ponds and historical sites making it an ideal excursion for a variety of people.

Unfortunately the uncertain security situations cloaks the ground reality that the local hospitable people are more than eager to welcome tourists and help improve the image of their area.

I went to Gorakh Hill last year and had been yearning to go back to Kirthar range ever since. A family friend was hosting a kacheri on Badro Jabal and I jumped into the invitation as soon as I heard about it.

Badro Jabal in Kirthar range was a much safer and easier destination than the rest. It was only 320km from Karachi and a metal road connected it with the Indus highway.

The drive was rather uneventful until we reached the elevation of 3,000 feet where we saw the panoramic view of the valleys below. An oil exploration company had dug wells across Badro plateau and we could see dirt roads connecting various spots across the mountain.

We found a small guesthouse there that had been built by the government a long time ago and was now in desolate condition. We made a stop there and walked leisurely to the edge of the mountain. We saw a dirt road below in the gorge.

Here we met a local shepherd there who lived across the gorge. He told us that they had been promised development in the area due to the oil companys investment.

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The night sky in Kirthar range is so clear that you can spot the Milky Way with your naked eyes. The landscape is so ...