Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

From VDOT:

I-95 Northbound

Exit 98 (Doswell) to I-95 Northbound Safety Rest Area

Sunday Thursday, 9 p.m. 5 a.m. Mobile operation with single to double lane closures for milling and paving the travel lanes north of Exit 98/Doswell at mile marker 101 to mile marker 108, which is near the I-95 Northbound Safety Rest Area and Welcome Center. Crews will also close the off-ramp periodically when necessary between these hours at exit 104 (Route 207/Rogers Clark Boulevard). Northbound travelers seeking Route 207 are advised to use exit 110 (Route 639/Ladysmith Road) to I-95 southbound then use the southbound ramps to access Route 207 as the recommended detour. Drivers should use the most convenient alternate route to Route 207 depending on their destination.

Exit 126 (Spotsylvania)

Monday, 9 p.m. midnight. Single northbound lane closure for construction activities related to the Route 17 overpass replacement project.

Exit 148 (Quantico)

Monday Friday, 9 p.m. 4:30 a.m. Single northbound lane closure for construction activities for Improve95 projects.

I-95 Southbound

Exit 136 (Centreport Parkway) to Exit 133 (Route 17)

Monday Thursday, 9 p.m. 10 a.m. and Thursday 9 p.m. 4:30 a.m. Friday. Single southbound lane closure for construction activities for Improve95 projects.

Exit 133 (Route 17) to Exit 130 (Route 3)

Monday Friday, 9 p.m. 4:30 a.m. and Thursday Friday, 9 p.m. 6 a.m. Single southbound lane closure at 9 p.m. followed by double lane closures at 10 p.m. for construction activities for Improve95 projects. Double lane closures will end at 4:30 a.m. A single southbound lane will remain closed until 10 a.m. except on Friday, when all lanes will reopen by 6 a.m.

Exit 126 (Spotsylvania) to Exit 118 (Mudd Tavern Road)

Sunday Wednesday, 9 p.m. 5 a.m. Mobile operation with single to double lane closures for milling and paving the travel lanes south of Exit 126 at mile marker 121 to mile marker 117, which is near the Exit 118 interchange.

Stafford County

Route 1 Northbound

Monday Friday, 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Single northbound lane closure for Potomac Creek bridge replacement, between Potomac Creek Lane and Centreport Parkway intersection.

Route 1 Southbound

Tuesday. Route 1 southbound traffic at Potomac Creek will be shifted slightly left to use the future northbound lanes on the new bridge, under construction. This shift allows crews to build the southbound lanes of the new bridge. Two southbound lanes will remain open.

Route 3 Westbound

24-hour-lane closure. Right westbound lane on Route 3 between Route 607 and Route 218 at the bridge over CSX for work under the bridge.

Hospital Center Boulevard

Monday Thursday, 9:30 a.m. 3 p.m. and Friday, 9:30 a.m. 2 p.m. Single lane closures on Hospital Center Boulevard between Route 1 and Austin Ridge Drive for Improve95 projects construction.

Spotsylvania County

Route 17 (Mills Drive)

Sunday Friday, 7 p.m. 6 a.m. Alternating single lane closures on Route 17 at the bridge over CSX railroad tracks located between Route 608 and Route 609 for bridge work.

Route 608 (Benchmark Road)

Wednesday Thursday, 9 a.m. 5 p.m. Alternating single lane closure on Route 608 between Route 17 and Route 17/2 Business for paving and placing shoulder stone.

Route 620 (Harrison Road)

Monday Friday, 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Single lane closures on Harrison Road with one-way, alternating traffic between the I-95 overpass and Salem Station Boulevard for tree clearing associated with water line placement. Construction for development under permit.

Route 639 (Leavells Road/Salem Church Road)

Sunday Tuesday, 7 p.m. 6 a.m. Milling and paving. Mobile single lane closures for road resurfacing work between Route 3 and Route 208. Motorists can expect a temporary rough surface in milled areas.

Caroline County

Route 207

Sunday Friday, 8 p.m. 5 a.m. Alternating single lane closure on Route 207 from Route 3 to Route 208 for pavement work. Flaggers will direct drivers through the work zone.

Route 601 (Golansville Road)

Wednesday Thursday, 5 a.m. 5 p.m. Friday, 5 a.m. noon. Alternating single lane closure on Route 601 at the bridge over Stevens Mill for repairs. Flaggers will direct drivers through the work zone.

Route 625 (Passing Road/Supply Road)

Thursday Friday, 7 a.m. 7 p.m. Alternating single lane closure on Route 625 between the Essex County line and the King & Queen County line for surface treatment.Drivers will direct traffic through the work zone.

Surface Treatment

Drivers should expect alternating single lane closures on the following routes for surface treatment. Flaggers will direct drivers through each work zone.

Monday Friday, 7 a.m. 7 p.m.

Saturday, June 26 Sunday, June 27, 7 a.m. 7 p.m.

Essex County

Route 360

Sunday Thursday, 7 a.m. 7 p.m. and 7 p.m. 7 a.m. Drivers should be prepared for alternating single lane closures on Route 360 between the King and Queen County line to just east of Route 730 (Aviation Road) for milling and paving.

Route 629 (Battery Road)

Monday Thursday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Drivers should expect delays on Route 629 at the intersection with Route 624 (Essex Church Road) and Route 628 (Femlea Road) for the installation and removal of highway signs.Flaggers will direct drivers through the work zone.

Route 716 (Waring Mill Road)

Monday Friday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Drivers should expect delays on Route 716 at the intersection with Route 17 (Tidewater Trail) and Route 627 (Mt. Landing Road) for the installation and removal of highway signs.Flaggers will direct drivers through the work zone.

Gloucester County

Bridge Washing Operation

Sunday Friday, 7 p.m. 6 a.m. Bridge washing will take place at the following locations. Drivers should be alert to mobile single lane closures or flagging operations in the work zone:

King George County

Route 301 Northbound

Tuesday Thursday, 9 a.m. 3 p.m. Single lane closure on Route 301 northbound at the approach to the Nice Bridge for utility relocation as part of Marylands new Nice-Middleton Bridge project. A flagging crew will direct drivers in the work zone.

Route 605 (Bloomsbury Road)

Monday Thursday, 7 a.m. 7 p.m. Alternating one-way traffic on Bloomsbury Road between Route 3 and Route 218 for paving. Flaggers will direct drivers in the work zone.

Route 609 (Comorn Road)

Wednesday Thursday, 7 a.m. 7 p.m. Alternating one-way traffic on Comorn Road between Route 677 and Route 218 for paving. Flaggers will direct drivers in the work zone.

Route 623 (Jersey Road)

Road closure. Jersey Road is closed to through traffic near the Rt. 301 intersection for an emergency pipe replacement project. Road is anticipated to remain closed until Aug. 2021. Detour route is posted along Route 301 and Route 3.

Excerpt from:
Area road work this week - Fredericksburg Today

For Shelby Cooper, the day marked her last after 18 years in the cake decorating department. She came in as a cake decorator having known the job from a previous position at SuperValu. She recalls her first training prior to coming to Mason Brothers was one hour long. She picked up a thing or two since then and exits as the cake decorator supervisor.

Shelby Cooper readies another cake for delivery in the cake decorating room at Mason Brothers, Wednesday, June 30, 2021. It was her last day on the job. She's moving on to the next big journey of operating Over the Rainbow Floral in Wadena.Michael Johnson/Pioneer Journal

She left Wednesday still cranking out cakes with ease and finesse. A recent busy day had her decorating 110 cakes with care. She's likely completed hundreds of thousands over her career. And she not only can still look at the cakes, she said she still likes the frosting. That says a lot as there's about 700 pounds of the sweet stuff passing through the decorator work stations each day.

Cooper, a Wadena resident, saw the change from a small decorating room to a large expansion with room for a whole team of cake decorators. She's even gone outside those four walls and helped set up food shows and food sets at stores. While they used to be able to come in at 5 a.m. to complete orders, it's now more like 2-3 a.m. to make the truck delivery times.

"My role has changed a lot in these 18 years," Cooper said.

While it might be easy to give up the 2 a.m. schedule starts, leaving behind her family of coworkers was a tough change for Cooper.

"They are a great family," Cooper said. "It's an amazing company to work for. It's like a big family. I mean you've got people who have worked here for 60 years."

Cooper is not near retirement yet. Her leaving Mason Brothers is only to allow her take over her new position as owner/operator of Over the Rainbow Floral in Wadena. In fact, she transitioned from Mason Brothers on Wednesday, straight into the floral business on Thursday. She said she's excited about the opportunities to grow in that business alongside her daughter, who plans to help.

Also leaving on Wednesday was Karlene Snyder, who's been in cost accounting for nine years at Mason Brothers. She's been in accounting most of her life, some 50 years and said it just seemed like the right time to retire. She added that she's enjoyed the family of people she's been able to work with while there.

Karlene Snyder, cost accountant for Mason Brothers, works her final day on the job, Wednesday, June 30, 2021.

Her future plans involve a move to Little Falls to be closer to her grandchildren. She also hopes to travel, see more of her family and just relax.

Another staff member who has left her position but has remained on until her replacement can be found is graphic designer Jessi Hubbard. Hubbard has been the brains behind many of the signs that show off the Mason Brothers products throughout their assortment of locations in the Midwest. She's also been with Mason Brothers for nine years, leaving on the same date she was hired, May 21.

Hubbard is not yet reaching retirement, rather she is reaching a point where her own business, TJ Designs, is growing to the point where she needs to start putting more energy into it. In that business based in Miltona, Hubbard and her husband Terrance create custom items of all kinds (from bean hole boards to interior signage) using a laser engraver and printer that shows off her amazing graphic design skills.

Graphic designer Jessi Hubbard cuts out a banner for Abby's Bakery on Wednesday, June 30, 2021, at Mason Brothers.Michael Johnson/Pioneer Journal

With three people in the graphics department, and no replacement yet found, Hubbard continues to do contract work for Mason Brothers then head home and continue her entrepreneurial endeavors. She cares about the work so much she doesn't want them to be without the quality work they need.

"There's a lot of potential and I haven't had a ton of time to dedicate to it," Hubbard said. She looks forward to that home business being her main focus in the near future.

While the three ladies all work on opposite sides of the Mason Brothers complex in Wadena, all shared a common feeling of genuine love and pride in the work that they have done for the company. They also all recognized that they were one big family in the end, looking to each other for help at times and looking to leave the company better than they found it.

Link:
Mason Brothers trio leave their mark on the business - Wadena Pioneer Journal

For House Beautifuls 125th anniversary this year, we're digging into some of our favorite spaces from our archiveincluding, so far, decorator Sister Parishs New York Apartment and the West Hollywood home and studio of designer extraordinaire Tony Duquette, dubbed "the house of a magician." Here, we revisit a piece about the Clinton-era White House, from 1994, which was first published in our March issue that year.

27 years ago, then-First Lady Hillary Clinton gave House Beautiful an exclusive look at the newly redecorated White House, just over a year after her husband, then-President Bill Clinton, took office. To further explore this historic undertaking, we spoke to Matthew Costello, PhDthe Senior Historian of the White House Historical Association and the Vice President of the David M. Rubenstein National Center for White House Historywho provided some background information about the redecoration of the Peoples House during the Clinton administration.

In addition to working with Little Rock, Arkansas-based interior designer Kaki Hockersmith on the redecoration of what is arguably the most famous historic house in all of the United States, Hillary Clinton also collaborated with Richard Nylander,who was the Chief Curator and Director of Collections for the Preservation of New England Antiquities in Boston, Massachusetts. Nylander helped to oversee the project as a member of the Committee for the Preservation of the White House," explains Costello.

Of course, the Clintons knew that changing the decor of the Peoples House from administration to administration has gotten more and more difficult and more and more expensive, as Hillary Clinton told House Beautiful in 1994. We have to try to find a style to stand the test of time. Mrs. Reagan and Mrs. Kennedys renovations were built on by us, not discarded, the First Lady continued. Thats the way the house should be treated and dealt with from year to yearchanged but in a way that reflects the continuity. Its not necessary to be historically accurateits more the creation of a mood, an atmosphere.

To see the Clinton-era White House for yourselfand to read more of Hillary Clintons insight about this remarkable venturetake a trip back to 1994 through our latest archive dive.

Read the original story below:

When the Clintons were ready to show their refurbished private quarters to the public, they invited House Beautiful to take the pictures and tell the story

By Marian Burros

Photography by Oberto Gili

Produced by Margaret Kennedy

The initial photographic glimpse Americas armchair decorators had of the first familys refurbished White House led them to describe the Clintons as fanciers of Victorian style at its most Baroqueintensely vibrant colors, swags and festoons, tassels and gilding.

But a personal peek at the Clintons private quarters provides a different view, one far more reflective of the people who live thereunpretentious and comfortable. Theres hardly a tassel in sight.

We wanted to create an atmosphere that was warm and welcoming and suited to how a particular family lives and spends its time, said Hillary Rodham Clinton in an exclusive interview for House Beautiful. The challenge and the obligation is to sustain the historic significance and integrity of the house because it is a living museum, so you start with some givens.

The White House was not always treated as a living museum. Until the beginning of the 20th century, first families had generally redecorated in whatever style was currently fashionable. The simple furniture of the early 19th century was later replaced by curlicues, elaborate frescoes, Turkish curtains, even fringe hanging from one of the fireplaces. In 1882 an enormous screen of Tiffany glass was installed in the Cross Hall on the first floor. At one time, Mrs. Clinton pointed out, part of the long center hall on the second floor was used like a conservatory with rattan furniture, swings and big plants.

Efforts to give a period look to the house, which was first occupied by John and Abigail Adams in 1800, began in the early 1900s, but reproduction furniture was used. It wasnt until Jacqueline Kennedy lived there that museum-quality pieces became the focal point of the public rooms. It was then that the White House Historical Association was formed, along with a Curators Office and Residence Staff. Some of the furniture and fine arts used in Mrs. Kennedys redecoration had been moldering for years in storage; much else had been sold off because it was considered outmoded.

The Clintons, both history buffs, are anxious to carry on tradition. We need to have either a timeless or a historical sense of the White House, Mrs. Clinton said, because changing it from administration to administration has gotten more and more difficult and more and more expensive. We have to try to find a style to stand the test of time. Mrs. Reagan and Mrs. Kennedys renovations were built on by us, not discarded. Thats the way the house should be treated and dealt with from year to yearchanged but in a way that reflects the continuity. Its not necessary to be historically accurateits more the creation of a mood, an atmosphere.

What is historically appropriate for the public and quasi-private rooms that the Clintons have redonethe Oval Office, the Treaty Room and the Lincoln Sitting Room off the Lincoln Bedroomis not necessarily what the family wants to live with in the part of the mansion that is called the private quarters. In fact there is a striking difference between the decorating schemes of the two areas.

Referring to the intensity of the colors and the richness of pattern in the Lincoln Sitting Room and the Treaty Room, which the President uses as an office on the second floor, Mrs. Clinton said, We like color but we dont always like to have as much vibrancy. We like colors that are strong pastels.

Fortunately those are some of the colors Nancy Reagan used when she redecorated the private quarters on the second and third floors, because Mrs. Clinton was determined to keep whatever was salvageable from past schemes. For example, the curtains in the West Sitting Hall were retained, but the carpet in the East and West Sitting Halls and the Center Sitting Hall was worn though usable. It was moved to the third floor, where it brightens a smaller space that had been covered in an even more worn carpet of drab brown.

There was one exception to the make-do rule: the hand-painted wallpaper in the master bedroom that was covered with little birds. President Clinton told Kaki Hockersmith, the Little Rock decorator who is responsible for the White House refurbishing, to get rid of the birds. They reminded him of an Alfred Hitchcock movie.

While the Treaty Room, the Lincoln Sitting Room and the Oval Office are done in deep reds and golds with blues or greens, the private quarters are pastel tones of yellow, peach, pink, green and blue. The color scheme of the redecorated West Sitting Hall takes its cue from the old yellow draperies that frame the double-arched window. This is where the Clintons frequently gather and entertain guests, and it contains many of the familys personal mementos.

In Arkansas the kitchen in the Governors Mansion was the gathering place for family and friends. In Washington the small pantry, once Margaret Trumans bedroom, has been turned into an eat-in kitchen.

We love the second floor of the White House, Mrs. Clinton said. We are left totally alone. We dont have the Secret Service people following us and we can tell the staff we will take care of ourselves, so its like being in your own house when you are up there. I wanted a kitchen because I knew we needed a private place to have our meals. Even though the dining room is lovely, its a big formal space. We use the kitchen for breakfast every day and for lots of dinners when we are not entertaining. We heat up lots of leftovers. My husband might come home from a golf game and I throw something together for him. And Chelsea eats there every night.

The private quarters have florals, chintzes, linens and silks that create what Hockersmith calls an English country feeling. Chelsea, her mother said, wanted a much less fancy room, so we took down the crystal chandeliers and put up brass things to tone it down and make it more of a teenagers room.

In addition to having a strong opinion about the master bedroom wallpaper, the President was involved in the plans for the Oval Office and for the Treaty Room. Its very important that each president make his own space, and make a statement that reflects his personality, said Hockersmith, who had many conversations with the President about his preferences. The President wanted a lot more energy, something patriotic.

The Presidents two offices reflect the youth and vigor of his administration: strong colors and dark, rich words that are in sharp contrast to the subdued feeling that his predecessor preferred. In the Oval Office, pale blue and cream have been replaced by Prussian blue, crimson and gold. There are a number of John F. Kennedy photos and mementos as well as a Benjamin Franklin bust by Houdon and a bronze by Frederic Remington. Mrs. Clinton said the President was particularly anxious to have the famous Childe Hassam The Avenue in the Rain, with its many American flags, in the Oval Office.

The President was equally engaged by the plans for the Treaty Room, which was the Cabinet Room in the last half of the 19th century. The pale green walls are now red; the chintz draperies have been replaced by a deep red linen patterned with trompe loeil swags and tassels.

My husband wanted an office in the residence, Mrs. Clinton said, and a library for his books. Just after the election the Clintons were in the kitchen of the Governors Mansion and Mrs. Clinton was talking to Kaki Hockersmith about the redecoration. I actually got my husbands attention for fifteen minutes to talk about what he wanted, she said and laughed. His answer: a masculine, comfortable, historical room.

To find the appropriate period pieces for the White House was a matter of rooting around in the basement and traveling out to the storage facilities in a nearby Maryland suburb. Mrs. Clinton said she poked around in the basement, but her decorator spent a lot of time out in Maryland. Thats what I love about the White House, Mrs. Clinton said. There are all these things that go back in time.

Furniture, fine arts, lamps, even chandeliers were moved from other rooms and, according to Kaki Hockersmith, Mrs. Clinton did some of the rearranging herself. She loves to move furniture, Hockersmith said. The First Lady also enjoyed filling the shelves in second-floor Center Hall bookcases with interesting historic pieces that came out of storage: the only likeness on display in the White House of President Buchanan; a bronze sculpture of Calvin Coolidges chow, Tiny Tim; a gilt bronze mantel clock with a figure of George Washington. Mrs. Clinton is also planning to bring part of the White Houses new collection of crafts pieces up here. The Clintons brought most of their furniture with them and some of it appears in the third-floor Central Hall, which functions like a double drawing room.

The Lincoln Sitting Room, one of Richard Nixons favorite places, was redone in high Victorian style to make it a more fitting companion to the Lincoln Bedroom, which contains a suit of furniture bought by Mary Todd Lincoln. The small room is filled with sunlight that is filtered through silk curtains, giving the room a magical golden glow.

We took a lot of wonderful pieces out of storage and put them back into play again, said Hockersmith. The Clintons love history and wanted to make a comfortable sitting room that relates to the Lincoln bedroom.

The Sitting Room draperies were donated by Hockersmith, who had used them in a decorator showhouse in Arkansas earlier in the year. The room is filled with objects and paintings from the period: several Lincoln prints, two of Grant, an 1864 print of Lincolns New Years reception at the White House, a program from the Lincoln inaugural ball.

People weve entertained have been so excited to see what could, within reason, be called a historically correct room, Mrs. Clinton said, and if you have an invitation to a Lincoln party on the wall that just makes peoples eyes bug out.

Mrs. Clinton said that other rooms will be refurbished as they need it. And she continues to search for items that are historically appropriate. She would like, for example, to see more maps in the Map Room on the ground floor where she and the President conduct many of their interviews. This is the presidents house, she said, and we have an obligation to care for it and make sure it reflects well, not just on this president but on this presidency and the country.

The cost of the refurbishing was $396,429.46, and it came entirely from private donations to the White House Historical Association. The $50,0000 appropriated by Congress was returned to the Treasury.

Both the President and Mrs. Clinton have read extensively on the White House but she said her husbands level of awareness and historical sense are much deeper than hers. He has educated himself about this house and the objects of this house. He gives a great tour and never gets tired of it, a fact confirmed by several people who have been escorted after one of the Clintons small dinners.

He just adores the whole sense of what this house is and represents, so for him its a labor of love.

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Inside the Clinton White House, Designed by Kaki Hockersmith - HouseBeautiful.com

In The Know

TikTok in tears as a mom goes viral for making people feel "seen and valid" at Pride. Posted by her daughter, Amber Taylor (@hey_atay), this emotional footage has now been viewed over 3.5M times. the comment section has been flooded with over 12K heartfelt responses. In the video, Amber's mom holds a sign that reads, "If your parents aren't accepting of your identity, I'm your Mom now... ...Drink some water. Wear your seatbelt. Make sure you eat. I love you!". And judging by the reactions to Mom's sign, it's clear this is a message many people needed to receive. After reading her sign, complete strangers pull Amber's mom in for a tight embrace, often with eyes full of tears. TikTokers, deeply moved by Amber's video, jumped in the comments to praise her loving mom. "There is so much emotion behind each one of those hugs. They needed that hug. So happy youre doing this," one user wrote. If there's one thing our world needs more of, it's love, kindness, and acceptance!. We should all be thankful for people like Amber and her mom working hard to spread love to their fellow human

See original here:
Mom is 'saving lives' by normalizing less-than-perfect reality - Yahoo Lifestyle

In this July 1, 2013, file photo, protesters raise Hong Kong colonial flags during a march in a downtown street at an annual pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July 1, 2011, file photo, a protester shouts slogans as thousands of people march in Hong Kongs downtown street. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July 1, 2018, file photo, thousands of protesters march along a downtown street during an annual pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July 1, 2018, file photo, a poster of Chinese President Xi Jinping with his eyes blocked by words Not my president is seen as thousands of protesters march along a downtown street during an annual pro-democracy protest in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July 1, 2019, file photo, protesters flood the streets as they take part in a annual rally in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Kin Cheung)In this July 1, 2020, file photo, police display a public announcement banner showing the warning to protesters in Causeway Bay before the annual handover march in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July 1, 2019, file photo, a protester holds placards during a rally on the 22nd anniversary of the former British colonys return to China. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. Placards read: Carrie Lam step down, revoke evil law, investigate police. (AP/Kin Cheung)In this July 1, 2019, file photo, a protester breaks a glass wall as they try to enter the Legislative Council in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Kin Cheung)In this July. 1, 2020, file photo, protesters against the new national security law march and gesture with five fingers, signifying the Five demands not one less on the anniversary of Hong Kongs handover to China from Britain in Hong Kong, A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July. 1, 2020, file photo, Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, right, stands next to democratic lawmaker Lam Cheuk-ting, during a fund-raising event before the annual July 1 handover march in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July 1, 2020, file photo, pro-democracy lawmaker Andrew Wan, center, is detained by police officers after being sprayed with pepper spray during the annual handover march in Hong Kong, A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July. 1, 2020, file photo, police officers detain protesters during the annual handover march in Hong Kong, A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July 1, 2020, file photo, police officers detain protesters against the new security law during a march marking the anniversary of the Hong Kong handover from Britain to China in Hong Kong. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this July. 1, 2020, file photo, a reporter falls after being sprayed with pepper spray by police during a protest in Causeway Bay during the annual handover march in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)In this Dec. 12, 2020, file photo, Jimmy Lai who founded the Apple Daily, is escorted by Correctional Services officers to get on a prison van before appearing in a court in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Kin Cheung)In this March 4, 2021, file photo, Hong Kong activist Joshua Wong, one of the 47 pro-democracy activists is escorted by Correctional Services officers to a prison van in Hong Kong, A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Kin Cheung)In this May 28, 2021, file photo, pro-democracy activists Leung Kwok-hung, known as Long Hair, left, and Lee Cheuk-yan raise their hands as they are escorted by Correctional Services officers to a prison van for a court in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Kin Cheung)In this March 2, 2021, file photo, some of the 47 democracy activists are escorted by Correctional Services officers in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Kin Cheung)In this July 1, 2019, file photo, protesters flood the streets as they take part in a annual rally in Hong Kong. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Kin Cheung)In this July 1, 2003, file photo, tens of thousands of people pack a Hong Kong street while marching to Hong Kong government headquarters to protest the Hong Kong governments plans to enact an anti-subversion bill that critics fear will curtail civil liberties. A national security law enacted in 2020 and COVID-19 restrictions have stifled major protests in Hong Kong including an annual march on July 1. (AP/Vincent Yu)

HONG KONG In 2003, public opposition to a proposed national security law for Hong Kong swelled an annual protest held on July 1 to hundreds of thousands of marchers.

A few months later, the Hong Kong government dropped the legislation, and the idea remained largely dormant for more than 15 years. Then last year, the central government in Beijing unveiled a surprise: a national security law it had drafted and quickly imposed on the semi-autonomous city. It took effect on the eve of July 1.

Since then, Hong Kong authorities have used the law and COVID-19 restrictions on public gatherings to stifle major protests. The organizer of the annual march said it wouldnt try to hold one this year; three smaller groups have applied for police permission to do so, but it seems unlikely that will be granted.

July 1 is a glorious day in the eyes of Chinas long-ruling Communist Party, marking the date that Britain returned Hong Kong to China in 1997. Protests on that day have varied in size over the years, as public grievances against the government waxed and waned.

The 2019 protest was a large one. Hundreds of thousands of people marched against a proposal that would have allowed the extradition of criminal suspects to mainland China for trial. That same day, a group of hard-line protesters broke into and vandalized the legislature.

Thousands took to the streets last year, despite police having refused permission for a march and the security law having taken effect just hours earlier. Some set fires and ripped paving stones from sidewalks and scattered them in the streets. Police arrested hundreds, including the first 10 under the new security law.

Image courtesy of AP/Kin Cheung

The rest is here:
PHOTOS: The rise and fall of Hong Kong's July 1 protests | The Associated Press - Business Mirror

The most searched for celebritiesfrom across mid Essex havebeen revealed in an interactive map.

The map links place names with their most searched-for public figure on Wikipedia.

It includes a wide-reaching spectrum of celebrities, and counts 18th-century poets and wrestling champions among its pinpoints.

The link between the location and the celebrity ranges from their place of birth, their current home or a connection.

Produced by The Pudding, an online publication which debates culture in visual essays, the map covers villages, towns and cities across the UK.

And replacing Braintree on the map is The Prodigy.

The band hail for Braintree and was formed in1990 by keyboardist and songwriter Liam Howlett.

Lead singerKeith Flint sadly died two years ago.

Witham has been replaced on the map by singer Olly Murs.

The number one hitmaker, 37, was runner-up in the 2009 series of X Factor.

He has since gone on to have a successful recording career.

Witham was replaced by Olly Murs. Picture: PA

Halstead takes the name of Matt Cardle.

Cardle, 38, who won X Factor back in 2010 grew up in the town.

Bocking, meanwhile, has been renamedAugustine Courtauld after theyachtsmanand BritishArctic explorer who was born there in 1904.

Black Notley is replaced with John Ray theEnglish naturalist born in the village in the 17th century.

Coggeshall is given the nameDavid Nightingale Hicks after theinterior decorator and designer born in the town.

Matt Cardle features on the map

Kelvedon is renamedCharles Spurgeon after the 19th centuryParticular Baptistpreacher.

Earls Colne is replaces withHugh de Vere, 4th Earl of Oxford, and Sible Hedingham withEdward de Vere, 17th Earl of Oxford.

Not surprisingly, the Queen is the most searched for person connected to London's upmarket Mayfair district, while Margaret Thatcher has the honour in Grantham, Lincolnshire, which was her birthplace.

Ed Sheeran is the most searched for person in Halifax, while its Winston Churchill with Aberdeen and Bristol.

The Bee Gees have the most searches for Manchester, whileThe Beatles are tops for Liverpool.

The Pudding map states: Person/city associations were based on the thousands of People by city or town pages on Wikipedia.

The top person from each city was determined by using median pageviews (with a minimum of 1 year of traffic).

We chose to include multiple occurrences for a single person because there is both no way to determine which is more accurate and people can 'be from'multiple places."

The People Map of the UK website is based on data collected and processed using Wikipedia from July 2015 to May 2020.

Go here to read the rest:
Wikipedia map reveals most searched for celebrity in Braintree | Braintree and Witham Times - Braintree and Witham Times

Choosing a new water heater can be challenging, especially when you have several criteria to fulfill. You need to take into consideration the fuel type or energy source you intend to use and the annual operational costs you would incur as a result of the consumption. Secondly, the size of your household and the space constraints will play a major role in your decision. Being on your own or living with a partner in an apartment would most certainly mean that your day-to-day water requirements would be much lesser than a family of 5 people living in a house, for instance.

Also, space comes at a premium when you are residing in an urban setting, so its an important factor when choosing a water heater. It is also essential to know how energy-efficient or cost-efficient the water heater is before purchasing it. Installing the right water heater according to your needs is the only way to spend winters without any disconcertment. So lets break it down and help you find the perfect water heater based on your preferences and needs.

Conventional water heaters have for long been a prevalent water heating option worldwide. They are designed to feature a decent-sized insulation tank that is used to store warm water. These heaters have a low initial cost when compared with all their competitors unless youre going for the latest model.

Conventional water heaters also work efficiently in different climates, unlike the heat pump, solar, and tankless water heaters, which require certain conditions as a prerequisite to perform optimally. One of the drawbacks that conventional water heaters have is that they cause increased energy waste in order to keep the tank of water warm. Whereas tankless heaters heat up water only when it is needed. These heaters are made to store a large quantity of warm water, so one cannot get around their size.

The most obvious problem with this appliance is that if you miss any regular maintenance checks, it could cause you to end up in a situation where you would have to deal with corrosion and rust, which could lead to dramatically expensive damages to your house. So proper maintenance of this type of heater is critical for long-term usability.

Tankless water heaters heat water without having to store it and provide warm water almost instantaneously. A couple of considerations when deciding on what tankless heater to buy is the size that you want. They are usually compact, however, which means you wont have to worry about having a bulky storage space. Also, reduced energy requirement keeps the water warm results in lesser energy consumption, which means you can fully enjoy this power-saving appliance.

A couple of drawbacks that you may deal with are that it has quite a small capacity of hot water, which entails that it wont be a good option if you have a large family with a lot of consumption. Secondly, this heater has a significantly higher initial cost than its alternatives; the lowest-priced heater option starts from around $1,000. This high initial cost would certainly deter some people from investing in this appliance when there are much cheaper alternatives in the market.

These hybrid water heaters are made to move heat from one place to another without actually generating heat in the process. Theyre efficient enough to utilize the surrounding air and ground heat and then use minimal electricity to transfer the heat energy from one point to another. Multiple consumer reports have shown that heat pump water heaters are extremely efficient as they tend to use around 60% less energy than any conventional heater in the market.

Unlike conventional water heaters, the heat pump provides incredibly consistent performance and is not fussy when it comes to maintenance. A couple of drawbacks that one faces with heat pump heaters is that they typically dont have a very impressive life span which averages out to about 10 years. In comparison to tankless heaters, which span up to 20 years, and conventional heaters that average at 15 years, the heat pump water heaters just fall shy in their longevity.

There is usually a lot of qualitative research that goes in when deciding to install a water heating unit for your apartment complex or household. After analyzing the modern market and developing a well-rounded understanding of your needs through consultation with a local plumbing professional or manufacturer, you can be certain you are making the most informed decision.

Excerpt from:
How to Find and Install a Perfect Water Heater - Floridanewstimes.com

Editorial Note: Forbes Advisor may earn a commission on sales made from partner links on this page, but that doesn't affect our editors' opinions or evaluations.

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Theres nothing quite like taking a dip in crystal clear, refreshing water, especially on a hot summer day. Taking care of an inground pool does take time and effort. The last thing you want when you go to take a swim is a bunch of dirt and debris floating around.

An easy way to help keep your pool clean and efficient is with an inground pool cover. However, finding the right one can depend upon various factors including your pool shape, size and the intended purpose for the cover.

Although pool covers are not a required piece of equipment when owning a pool, there are many reasons why you should consider getting one. When your pool is not in use during prolonged periods, a pool cover will help save you time and money. Here are some more reasons why you should invest in one.

Keeping out twigs, leaves, toys, bugs or other random objects that may find their way into your pool is one obvious reason to get a pool cover. By covering the water when not in use, youll save time by not having to scoop the debris out of the water the next time that you want to swim. When you are ready to take a dip, just remove the cover and jump in.

Although swimming pools lose energy in various ways, evaporation is the largest source of energy loss. Covering up the pool helps reduce evaporation. According to the EPA, a typical uncovered pool in the United States can lose between 12,000 and 31,000 gallons of water due to evaporation every year. By using a pool cover, you can reduce evaporation by 95%.

For those who heat their pools, pool covers help retain heat after youve turned the heater off. Specialized solar covers help collect the suns heat and direct it into the water to warm it naturally for extra energy savings.Reduces Chemical Use

UV light degrades chlorine, the active chemical used in a pool to kill bacteria and microbes. Pool cover reduces the amount of UV light that comes into contact with the water, which means you wont have to use as much chlorine to keep your pool safe. Buying less chlorine also saves you money.

Some pool covers are designed to serve as safety barriers that keep people or animals from falling in. These covers are usually made from a sturdy mesh or solid material and have specific weight limits, depending on the cover. These covers are secured with sturdy straps to help prevent animals or small children from falling through.

Now that you know some of the benefits of having an inground pool cover, you can choose one that will help address your specific needs. There are four main types of pool covers:

Solar covers are an inexpensive way to keep your pool clean and heated at the same time. These covers are also referred to as solar blankets or bubble covers because they resemble a large sheet of plastic bubble wrap. Solar covers are available in various colors, thicknesses and sizes.

Most pool owners who use pool covers choose to use safety covers. These covers are designed to prevent drowning and are invaluable when you have young children or pets in the home. Safety covers are constructed from a solid, rigid material and typically have an anchor system around the pools edges to keep it in place.

Security covers come in both a mesh and solid form. Mesh covers are lighter in weight and allow rain and melted snow to drain into your pool. Despite their lighter weight, mesh covers can support thousands of pounds.

Solid covers are heavier and are an impermeable barrier on top of the pool. These covers do not allow water to seep into your pool, thus water must be pumped off the top of the cover regularly.

Also known as tarp covers, winter pool covers are the most basic type of pool cover. Made from polyethylene, this cover is used for protecting the pool during the cold season. This cover is the least expensive option.

Automatic pool covers use a series of interlocking gears to move over a pools surface. Once activated, it will start rolling on or off the pool to cover or uncover it. It does make covering a pool more convenient, but its expensive to install because it requires two parallel tracks to be mounted on the inside edge of the pool or pool deck.

Although pool covers have their advantages, using them properly will also help prevent accidents. According to Safety.com, drowning is the leading cause of unintentional death for young children ages one to four. However, keeping the pool covered is an excellent way to help prevent accidents. Pool covers should completely cover the surface and be securely strapped down so a child or animal can not slip under the sides. Rigid covers block water access better and automatic covers are often the safest and easiest to use.

The best pool cover depends on your most urgent needs. If you have small children or pets, a rigid or automatic cover is the best choice. For those who live in a cooler climate, a solar cover is a good choice. A basic security cover keeps debris out of your pool without breaking the bank. Consider your most essential needs, and pick a cover that addresses them the best. No matter your needs, its important to invest in a high-quality cover that will last you years to come.

Free, No-commitment Estimates

See the article here:
Inground Pool Covers: How To Choose The Best One For You - Forbes

EPCOTs new flagship merchandise location, Creations Shop, is set to open this summer, as well as Club Cool. Construction and painting at the World Celebration site have sped up in recent weeks as the opening approaches.

Tarp remains over most of the Creations Shop windows. Weve had a few glimpses inside thanks to Walt Disney Imagineer Zach Riddley on Instagram.

Pavement is now cleaned up around the new popcorn stand at one end of Creations Shop. The buildings color-blocked exterior is being painted over.

On the other end of the building, much of the roof overhang has been painted with grey primer.

Windows and walls have yet to be installed on this side of the faade.

Most of the supports have been painted with primer as well.

Windows are now being installed on the section closest Spaceship Earth.

This is the future location of Starbucks and an unnamed quick-service restaurant.

New transparent tarps hang across the Innoventions East bypass that will house Club Cool.

Scaffolding still surrounds much of the building as work continues on the roof overhang.

On the other side of the construction site, there has been significant progress on the Journey of Water walkthrough attraction, where construction only went vertical earlier this month.

Scaffolding surrounds new walls.

As always, keep following WDWNT for all of your Disney Parks news, and for the absolute latest, follow WDW News Today on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

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PHOTOS: Window Installation and Painting Continues at World Celebration Construction in EPCOT - wdwnt.com

Microsoft's Windows 11, expected to debut at a company event scheduled for June 24, has leaked online and is now appearing in screenshots on various websites.

The leaked Windows 11 'About this OS' page showing off Windows 11 Pro. Source: Baidu

Windows 11 build 21996.1 showed up on Tuesday in pictures on Chinese mega-site Baidu. A Windows 11 disc image (an ISO file) has also been circulating.

Behold, what the Windows 11 desktop will purportedly look like judging from the leaked build. Source: Hunter Rossi

The images of Sun Valley, as the release has been dubbed, reveal a visually appealing interface refresh and the conspicuous absence of Live Tiles in the Start menu, centered as it was in the cancelled Windows 10X project.

The Start menu includes a space for Pinned apps at the top. Below that, it features a Recommended section that lists recently used files and apps in a manner reminiscent of the Taskbar's Timeline feature.

A screenshot of the Windows 11 widgets menu

The Taskbar, centered or left-aligned per user settings, no longer includes Timeline and adds a Widgets button that presents a menu of Widgets (mini-apps) that do things like display the time, weather, stock prices, and news. Widgets replace news and interests in the Taskbar that have started showing up for Windows 10 users.

The new look implements rounded corners in context menus, apps, and File Explorer. It also makes effective use of animations when windows and apps open, close, or get moved around. In addition, touch gestures have been expanded to make interacting with touch interfaces easier and more intuitive.

There's now a window organization tool, similar to third-party macOS app Magnet and to Windows' built-in stack and snap window management functions, that's been attached to the window maximize button. It automatically arranges multiple windows next to one-another in several preset grid patterns.

Some aspects of the Windows 11 interface remain unchanged, but that's to be expected in an early build. Overall, the visual refurbishment has met with modest enthusiasm from the Twitterati, which is about the best anyone can hope for on the internet.

What the Windows 11 File Explorer will probably look like

The Twitter account Windows Aesthetics posted a poll soliciting opinions about the new look. With 860 votes cast, the breakdown was: it looks gorgeous (12.2 per cent); it looks nice (28.1 per cent); it's okay (37.7 per cent); and it looks garbage (22 per cent). Perhaps the new startup sound for the OS will change people's minds?

Microsoft did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Read more from the original source:
What Microsoft's Windows 11 will probably look like - The Register