Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Washing skyscraper windows remains a perilous profession, requiring workers to have the reflexes of a trapeze performer high above city streets. The dramatic rescue Wednesday of two New York City window cleaners stranded nearly 70 stories off the World Trade Center tower has put a fresh spotlight on a high-risk job that often begins with modest pay.

And the practice of putting men and women aloft to scrub windows isnt expected to change any time soon, as the use of labor-saving robots to replace workers has yet to gain a foothold across the industry, experts say. I guess with our modern technology, we can put people on the moon, but we cant develop the equipment that can work across the board, Mark Reinhart, the president of the International Window Cleaning Association, said Thursday.

One product on the market for homeowners operates like a robotic vacuum cleaner, moving up and down the surface of the windowpane. There are other unmanned machines that scrub larger buildings, typically around 10 stories or lower but theyre only useful on a handful of structures, said Stefan Bright, the International Window Cleaning Associations safety director. They have to be all glass because brick and windows can really mess things up, Bright said.

Despite the inherent dangers involved in the industry, it can take a while before a window washer sees a soaring salary. A window cleaner washing storefronts or homes might only earn $12 to $15 per hour, Reinhart said. But someone doing larger commercial properties, including skyscrapers, could earn $15 to $25 per hour. In New York, where the risks are presumably higher because of the dizzying heights, its not unheard of for veterans with all the know-how to reach $29 to $35 per hour. Getting paid top dollar, however, requires months and years of experience with equipment and certification.

With an emphasis on safety training a top priority, there is a silver lining: Deaths remain rare in the industry. There has been one high-rise fatality per year in the last four years in the U.S., according to the International Window Cleaning Association. Thats with an estimated 1.5 million exposures when workers are on the sides of buildings a year.

Window washers who spoke with NBC News said theyre in no rush to see their jobs taken over by new technology. This work is demanding but steady, said Brent Weingard, whos washed skyscrapers in Manhattan as tall as 60 stories. Some of us think theres an art to what we do, he said. Ive seen the machines, but I still believe a man on the glass washing windows does it best.

First published November 13 2014, 12:47 PM

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What Window Washers Are Paid For Death-Defying Work

HughPickens.com writes "Patrick McGeehan writes in the NYT that the image of a pair of window washers clinging to a scaffold dangling outside the 68th floor of 1 World Trade Center have left many wondering why robots can't rub soapy water on glass and wipe it off with a squeegee relieving humans of the risk of injury, or death, from a plunge to the sidewalk? The simple answer, several experts say, is that washing windows is something that machines still cannot do as well as people can. "Building are starting to look like huge sculptures in the sky," says Craig Caulkins. "A robot can't maneuver to get around those curves to get into the facets of the building." According to Caulkins robotic cleaning systems tend to leave dirt in the corners of the glass walls that are designed to provide panoramic views from high floors. "If you are a fastidious owner wanting clean, clean windows so you can take advantage of that very expensive view that you bought, the last thing you want to see is that gray area around the rim of the window."

Another reason for the sparse use of robots is that buildings require a lot more maintenance than just window cleaning. Equipment is needed to lower people to repair facades and broken windows, like the one that rescue workers had to cut through with diamond cutters to rescue the window washers. For many years, being a window cleaner in Manhattan was regarded as one of the most dangerous occupations in the world: by 1932, an average of one in every two hundred window cleaners in New York was killed each year. Now all new union window cleaners now take two hundred and sixteen hours of classroom instruction, three thousand hours of accredited time with an employer and their union makes sure workers follow rigorous safety protocols. In all, there are about 700 scaffolds for window washing on buildings in New York City, says union representative Gerard McEneaney. His members are willing to do the work because it pays well: as much $26.89 an hour plus benefits. Many of the window cleaners are immigrants from South America. "They're fearless guys, fearless workers."

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Window Washing a Skyscraper Is Beyond a Robot's Reach

News Release: Lowndes County November 13, 2014

Lowndes County, Ga. Due to the arrival of cooler temperatures, Lowndes County would like to remind citizens to take precautions necessary to protect themselves and their pets from the elements. Lowndes County Fire Chief, Richard Guyton, encourages citizens to follow safety standards established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), in order to safely heat homes. According to the NFPA, Heating equipment is a leading cause of home fire deaths. Please follow these simple tips to keep your family safe during cooler months:

Special attention should also be paid to pets as temperatures begin to drop. Lowndes County Animal Welfare Officers are prepared to ticket citizens with pets kept in conditions that do not meet the minimum standards of care outlined in city and county Animal Welfare Ordinances.

Pet owners are required to provide adequate food, water and shelter at all times. During periods of cold weather, a little extra food for animals that must remain outside will provide the calories their bodies need to keep warm. Animals can still become dehydrated in cooler temperatures; a constant supply of clean drinking water is required by the local ordinances. In addition, pets left outside must be provided with proper shelter and bedding which is normally defined by a house type shelter and bedding manufactured for pet use. Common examples of shelter methods that DO NOT meet local ordinances include:

Attention to detail and the appropriate preparedness measures will ensure the safety of all Lowndes County citizens as temperatures begin to dip over the next few months.

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Cooler Temperatures: Please Keep People and Pets Safe

CAPE GIRARDEAU, MO (KFVS) - ??Here is a list of road projects around the Heartland scheduled for Friday, November 14.

Butler County, MO

Route 72 in Bollinger County will be reduced to one lane as Missouri Department of Transportation crews perform shoulders repairs. This section of roadway is located from Old Route 72 to Route B.

Existing lanes of Route 67 from CR 323 to Route 160/158 will be signed as Route C. The north end of Route C (existing Route 67) will remain closed for about two months as work is completed at the intersection of Route 67, Route C, and CR 323.

Cape Girardeau County, MO

Northbound Interstate 55 in Cape Girardeau County will be reduced with a width restriction of 16 feet as contractor crews perform pavement repairs.This section of roadway is located from MM 91 to MM 93.Weather permitting, work will take place Tuesday, Nov. 18 through Thursday, Nov. 20 from 7 p.m. to 8 a.m. daily.

Property owners adjacent to the bridge will have access to their properties. A marked detour is proposed here:

From the north: Route 61 south to Route KK, west on KK to I-55, south on I-55 to Route E, then east on Route E to Route 61. From the south: Route 61 north to Route E, east on Route E to I-55, north on I-55 to Route KK, then east on KK to Route 61. Maps are available at MoDOT's Sikeston Office on N. Main St. Property owners can request a hearing in writing if affected.

Madison County, MO

Route 67 will be reduced to one lane while crews make pavement repairs. This section of road is located between Route 72 and Route E. Weather permitting, crews will be working on Monday, Nov. 3 through Friday, Nov. 14 from 7:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. daily.

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Heartland road projects for 11/14

On the UC Davis campus, public art is more than just a part of the scenery. Art unifies the campus, inspires myth among the student body and is the result of some very rich history.

The majority of the campus sculptures are a result of an art-in-public-places campaign by the Nelson Gallery Price Amerson and the UC Davis Fine Arts Collection.

In Davis, students and community are connected to our arts, which is unique for a college campus, said Rachel Teagle, director of the Jan Shrem and Maria Manetti Shrem Museum of Art.

The pieces are the result of the many talented artists who have passed through our university over the years, and their diverse styles match Daviss quirky atmosphere.

In selecting pieces, we consider what is appropriate to our audience. We pick pieces that reflect our history. said Teagle.

In addition to staying true to the campus history, the art is also selected to spark conversation and sometimes, debate.

If nobody is talking about it, its probably a [poor] work of art, Teagle said.

Here is an overview of some of the campus most interesting sculptures:

Apollo by Ralph Johnson (1987)

Original post:
Arts Feature: A crash course in UC Daviss sculptures

MILEAGE. Fr. Robert Reyes (second from left) runs with some local environmentalists to protest the cutting of 58 trees to pave the way for the Naga City Sports Complex. (SUN.STAR PHOTO/ALEX BADAYOS)

THE City Government of Naga will be planting 2,900 tree seedlings to replace the 58 trees that they cut down for the construction of a track oval inside the Naga City Central School.

The tree-planting was part of the agreement the City and the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) 7 forged before the tree-cutting permit was issued to the local government unit.

Dr. Eddie Llamedo, DENR 7 spokesperson, told reporters that the City of Naga is expected to replace the trees on Nov. 21, once a commitment will be signed to plant the replacement trees. The site of the tree-planting is in Barangay Lutac, one of the citys mountain barangays.

The site has been identified as a reforestation area of the DENRs National Greening Program, said Llamedo.

About 60 percent of the trees that the City will plant are narra trees.

Llamedo said that the DENR 7 only required the City of Naga to replace 50 seedlings for every felled tree as the primary project is not a road widening.

For a road widening project, an applicant for a tree-cutting permit is required to provide 100 tree seedlings per felled tree.

Llamedo said that aside from planting replacement trees, the DENR 7 required the City of Naga to organize a multi-partite team that will monitor the progress of the trees that will be planted in Lutac.

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Naga to plant 2.9T seedlings to replace trees

This Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 photo shows a small rosemary "tree" sitting on a windowsill that provides beauty, fragrance, and flavoring despite the snowy background on the other side of the window in New Paltz, New York. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)

WASHINGTON -- As the weather cools down and winter looms, new gardening mysteries arise. But with the right plants and proper soil treatments, savvy gardeners can make it through.

The secret to rosemary Christmas tree survival

Yes, I know; it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But one of my favorite holiday plants is already on sale at garden centers and upscale supermarkets across our region, and I feel obligated to help you not kill these treasures right away. I'm talking about the lovely and fragrant living rosemary plants that have been pruned into the shape of Christmas trees and sold in festive pots.

These little trees make great living outdoor decorations. And, as people who do a lot of cooking have learned, there's usually more usable herb on these things than you'd get for three times the price in any other form.

And yes, I do mean outdoors. While rosemary is a Mediterranean plant that won't survive bitter cold temperatures, it's much heartier than the traditional plants of summer and can stay outside as long as the nights don't dip below 30. If they do threaten to plummet deeper, just bring it inside for the night.

But it won't survive any weather if it's trapped in that tiny little pot. The problem with these plants is that the producers have to start with a really big shrub (or multiple shrubs crammed together) to be able to prune them into the desired shape. You'll see when you lift the plant out the pot -- it's all big roots down there, with very little room for soil.

So to prevent the classic "death by browning in three days," these trees should be replanted into a container twice as large as soon as you get them home; otherwise, the root-bound beauties won't last a week. Just lift the plant out of the old pot and get some compost, high-quality garden soil or a bagged potting mix that doesn't contain chemical fertilizers, and a bigger pot with good drainage holes in the bottom.

Put a couple of inches of soil in the new pot, drop the root ball on top and add or remove soil until the old soil line is at the right spot for the new plant. Then fill in the sides, tamp it all down gently and let the whole thing sit in a sink with a few inches of water for an hour. Then let it drain. It's best not to rewrap the pot, but if you must, make sure no water sits down there.

Rock the plant every couple of days. When it seems to be somewhat lighter in weight, repeat the watering process. Don't overwater, or let water sit inside the wrap or in a protective saucer underneath.

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LM - HOLD: Guide to festive trees and the merriest of mulches

This Monday, Feb. 24, 2014 photo shows a small rosemary "tree" sitting on a windowsill that provides beauty, fragrance, and flavoring despite the snowy background on the other side of the window in New Paltz, New York. (AP Photo/Lee Reich)

WASHINGTON -- As the weather cools down and winter looms, new gardening mysteries arise. But with the right plants and proper soil treatments, savvy gardeners can make it through.

The secret to rosemary Christmas tree survival

Yes, I know; it's not even Thanksgiving yet. But one of my favorite holiday plants is already on sale at garden centers and upscale supermarkets across our region, and I feel obligated to help you not kill these treasures right away. I'm talking about the lovely and fragrant living rosemary plants that have been pruned into the shape of Christmas trees and sold in festive pots.

These little trees make great living outdoor decorations. And, as people who do a lot of cooking have learned, there's usually more usable herb on these things than you'd get for three times the price in any other form.

And yes, I do mean outdoors. While rosemary is a Mediterranean plant that won't survive bitter cold temperatures, it's much heartier than the traditional plants of summer and can stay outside as long as the nights don't dip below 30. If they do threaten to plummet deeper, just bring it inside for the night.

But it won't survive any weather if it's trapped in that tiny little pot. The problem with these plants is that the producers have to start with a really big shrub (or multiple shrubs crammed together) to be able to prune them into the desired shape. You'll see when you lift the plant out the pot -- it's all big roots down there, with very little room for soil.

So to prevent the classic "death by browning in three days," these trees should be replanted into a container twice as large as soon as you get them home; otherwise, the root-bound beauties won't last a week. Just lift the plant out of the old pot and get some compost, high-quality garden soil or a bagged potting mix that doesn't contain chemical fertilizers, and a bigger pot with good drainage holes in the bottom.

Put a couple of inches of soil in the new pot, drop the root ball on top and add or remove soil until the old soil line is at the right spot for the new plant. Then fill in the sides, tamp it all down gently and let the whole thing sit in a sink with a few inches of water for an hour. Then let it drain. It's best not to rewrap the pot, but if you must, make sure no water sits down there.

Rock the plant every couple of days. When it seems to be somewhat lighter in weight, repeat the watering process. Don't overwater, or let water sit inside the wrap or in a protective saucer underneath.

Visit link:
Guide to festive trees and the merriest of mulches

Summary: The Microsoft Band is a data collection machine and with the ability to select your tile interface, it can do as much or as little as you want it to.

Daily activity tracker, multi-platform smartwatch, GPS sport watch, heart rate monitor, and fitness coach. The Microsoft Band can be whatever you want and that is the real power of the Band.

I've now spent nearly two weeks with the Microsoft Band read my first impressionsand it has secured a place on my wrist for the foreseeable future.

As a guy who covers the mobile space, I use smartphones running every mobile operating system; the Microsoft Band is currently the only wearable to work across Windows Phone, iOS, and Android. Come to think of it, I will have to test it with my BlackBerry Passport and the Android Microsoft Health app since my Pebble works through this approach.

One specification that concerns me is the dust and splash resistance. I sweat a lot when I work out and I regularly run in the rain in Washington State. I hope that the Band doesn't fail during these typical conditions and that it's practically rainproof.

You won't find many wearables with this much tech crammed into it and I just hope that long-term usage doesn't end up causing failures like I have seen a number of times on advanced wristbands like the Jawbone UP.

I provided a detailed walkthrough of the hardware in my first impressions article so I won't repeat that here. I will say that I continue to find the Microsoft Band very comfortable on my left wrist, so much so that I don't even notice it is strapped on most of the time. However, it is not comfortable on my right wrist where my outside upper wrist bone seems to be a bit more prominent.

As I stated in my last article, I highly recommend you put a screen protector on the Microsoft Band before you even start using it. I scratched up the plastic to the right of the display in the first two days. The screen protector actually covered up those minor scratches and the display looks fantastic with the protector in place.

I wear the Microsoft Band with the display face down under my wrist 95 percent of the time since it's much easier to view and interact with the Band in this position even more reason to have the screen protector installed.

There have not been any issues with the hardware over the past two weeks. Heart rate monitoring has been spot on when I compared it to the Mio Link dedicated heart rate monitor while out running and in various daily activities.

Originally posted here:
Microsoft Band review: Unlike any other wearable and uniquely yours

111314 DREAM CENTER FIRE
The East Texas Dream Center. located at 301 South First received an occupancy certificate in March 2013 and moved in shortly after. The building they now occupy is the old Conroe Hospital....

By: SCOTT ENGLE

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111314 DREAM CENTER FIRE - Video