If you were around last winter, you made it through bitter temperatures and biting wind chills just as bad as what weve got now. But just because youve survived previous winters doesnt mean you should just coast through this winter.

Take for example your car. Most of us feel comfortable in our vehicles. Let them warm up a few minutes and youre okay, even with the below-zero temperatures outside. A far cry from days gone by where non-fuel-injected engines were harder to start. While youll probably make it to your destination with no problems, would you be safe if you had engine trouble?

Even if you have a cell phone to call a tow truck or mechanic, you may run out of warmth before they arrive. What then? With wind chills approaching -35 today and tonight, weve got to take a realistic look at the danger if youre traveling and break down.

Best idea is to have a safety kit in your car. Honestly, I have a blanket back there (mainly for the dogs) but in a pinch I could use that to stay warmer. But having a kit is a necessity in my opinion, moreso if you travel long distances or country roads for your commute.

So heres a checklist for what youll need to stay safe.

1. Extra hats, scarves, mittens. If you need to shovel yourself out, you may get these things wet. Theyll do little to keep you warm if theyre wet. Have extras on hand.

2. A small first-aid kit. If youre clumsy like me, you may need this even after the weather warms up.

3. Hand-warmers. For just a couple bucks, these could be a lifesaver if youre stranded in your vehicle without heat.

4. Tea-light candles. Yes, these candles can give off enough heat to warm you up. Since they (and a small lighter) are so lightweight and small, they are a good thing to pack along.

5. Garden trowel. You probably have one of these hanging on a nail in the garage. Smaller is sometimes better out thereespecially when you need to get the snow out from under your tires.

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The Eric Factor: 9 things you need in your car

By: Julia DengNewsWest 9

MONAHANS - A garage fire, believed to have ignited when a Volkswagen parked inside experienced mechanical failure, engulfed a N Main Ave house Tuesday night in Monahans.

Fire officials declared the home a total loss, after Monahans volunteer firefighters spent four hours putting out the blaze.

"This is heartbreaking," said Bernett Hernandez.

Her parents, Zulema and Ascencion "Sean" Prieto, own the house.

"My daddy has worked [for an oil field company here] for about 38 years, and that's how long they've had this home," she told NewsWest 9. "It is very, very hard to swallow."

Her father reportedly tried starting his Volkswagen "Beetle" Tuesday evening, had trouble starting the car's battery and left the car in the garage while eating dinner with his wife in the back of the house.

According to Hernandez, they "heard a pop" a few minutes later.

"The electricity went out, and they didn't realize anything was wrong in the garage," she said.

The Volkswagen went up in flames, which engulfed the garage, damaged another vehicle parked nearby beyond repair and promptly spread to the attic, fire officials told NewsWest 9.

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Car Fire Ignites Garage, Spreads to Attic, Burns Down Monahans Family's 'Dream Home'

Real Estate - Home Buyers Information Presentation - Sarasota, FL

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36 Coonan Street, Harlaxton Ray White Toowoomba Lorraine Walton Ray White Toowoomba Inspection of this entry level property is a must! Just minutes to the CBD, Northpoint Shopping Centre, and schools - position is everything! A solid timber home on concrete stumps, timber floors demanding to be polished and a north facing aspect, this home has a lot to offer. A generous lounge room leads to a large kitchen dining area, light, airy and open plan. All three bedrooms are built in with two facing north, offering a great aspect for comfortable living. The house is serviced with a practical bathroom with shower over bath, and toilet. The laundry is situated downstairs allowing ease of access to the rear yard. The rear of the house is begging for a deck to take advantage of the city lights for night time entertaining. Situated on a 531m2 low maintenance block, and fully fenced to protect pets and children. This house is security screened. A single concreted carport ... TWB7163589

36 Coonan Street, Harlaxton Ray White Toowoomba Lorraine Walton Ray White Toowoomba Inspection of this entry level property is a must! Just minutes to the CBD, Northpoint Shopping Centre, and schools - position is everything! A solid timber home on concrete stumps, timber floors demanding to be polished and a north facing aspect, this home has a lot to offer. A generous lounge room leads to a large kitchen dining area, light, airy and open plan. All three bedrooms are built in with two facing north, offering a great aspect for comfortable living. The house is serviced with a practical bathroom with shower over bath, and toilet. The laundry is situated downstairs allowing ease of access to the rear yard. The rear of the house is begging for a deck to take advantage of the city lights for night time entertaining. Situated on a 531m2 low maintenance block, and fully fenced to protect pets and children. This house is security screened. A single concreted carport ... TWB7163589

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If you visit one of my open houses in San Diego you'll see this presentation playing from my computer on the kitchen counter. Whether you are a first time home buyer, investor or move-up buyer, I would be honored to help you find your new home in San Diego.

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Why homebuyers choose Northpoint

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Pier Solar and the great Architects #05 - Spieglein, Spieglein
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The Slip House by Carl Turner Architects
This video tours Carl Turner Architects #39; 2013 Manser Medal-winning Slip House in Brixton The video was shot by Stephenson/Bishop (www.clickclickjim.com)

By: Architects Journal

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The Slip House by Carl Turner Architects - Video

Okapi The Architects - You Can Touch It
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Okapi & The Architects - You Can Touch It - Video

IT is a major project that will require a high level of expertise and patience.

But the architect firm that wins the contract to rebuild the partially destroyed Mackintosh Building at the Glasgow School of Art will also come under intense scrutiny as they resurrect the world famous building.

Companies based in Edinburgh, Glasgow, London and Hong Kong have today been named on the short list for practices who could design the restoration of the building which was destroyed in a disastrous fire last May.

The five-strong shortlist comprises Avanti Architects, John McAslan + Partners, LDN Architects LLP, PagePark Architects and Purcell, and their designs will all be examined in extreme detail as they resurrect Mackintosh's masterpiece.

Avanti is based in London, and its portfolio includes heritage work such as the project to bring back into use Alfred Waterhouse's 1887 Victoria Building at Liverpool University and the restoration of the Art Deco Midland Hotel in Morecambe.

Avanti is currently working with Scottish arts charity NVA on its St Peter's Seminary, Cardross project, which will transform the Grade A listed modern ruin into a cultural and education centre.

John McAslan is a Scottish architect, originally from Dunoon, and his company John McAslan + Partners is based in London, Manchester and Edinburgh.

It was involved in the restoration of Charles Rennie Mackintosh's 78 Derngate in Northampton.

The practice also led the restoration of Erich Mendelsohn and Serge Chermayeff's Grade I listed De La Warr Pavilion in East Sussex and the March en Fer in Haiti.

One of the McAslan's most recent projects is the development of London's King's Cross Station.

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Architects in running to revamp art school named

Published: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 5:22 p.m. Last Modified: Wednesday, January 7, 2015 at 5:24 p.m.

ALBERTVILLE Construction is underway at The Shoppes of Albertville, an $18 million, 135,000-sqaure-feet development that already is 92 percent leased.

GBT Realty Corporation, a commercial real estate development and net lease company based in Brentwood, Tenn., closed on the 13.2-acre site Dec. 29.

Tenants including PetSmart, T.J.Maxx, Hobby Lobby, Ross Dress for Less and Hibbett Sports already are lined up to join the center. There is an additional space for a junior anchor and a little more than 11,000 square feet of small shop space.

We are extremely excited about this retail development and the opportunity that it will give our citizens, neighbors and visitors to shop in Albertville, Mayor Tracy Honea said. The retailers GBT has already recruited will fill a void in our market for those soft goods and services provided. Im confident they will experience great success here.

GBT entered into a development agreement with the city, which is selling bonds to provide $5 million of funding to offset predevelopment and development costs. A portion of the sales tax generated at the shopping center will pay off the bonds.

The Shoppes of Albertville is situated at the intersection of the primary north/south and east/west commercial corridors through Northeast Alabama, approximately halfway between Huntsville and Gadsden, ideal sites to support the expansion plans of our retail partners, said Thom Hickman, GBTs senior vice president for acquisitions and development.

Jeff Pape, managing director for GBTs shopping center division, said shoe retailers, fast casual dining options and service-oriented tenants are being sought.

Overall, GBT has $65 million of retail space totaling more than 300,000 square feet planned or under development throughout Alabama. The company has projects in 21 states, with $1 billion of commercial development totaling 5 million square feet in the pipeline and under construction.

We are honored to have the most active private developer in the country bringing its expertise to the Albertville community, Honea said. We can only hope that this is one of many more announcements to come from GBT for our community.

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Construction underway at new Albertville shopping center