In the early 1970s, Bob Dylan was famously recorded on tape trying to wriggle out of a meeting with fan-turned-garbologist A.J Weberman by saying he needed to build some tables and shelves for his wife and hed been putting it way off.

During lockdown, and with his Never Ending Tour on hiatus, Dylan appears to have again put the home maintenance jobs on hold, having signalled his first album of original material for eight years.

After several years of releasing cover versions of Frank Sinatra lounge standards followed by a series of shows that placed his own canon firmly in that vein, the icon, who turns 79 on Sunday, appears back at his elusive best.

The new double album Rough and Rowdy Ways will be available from June 16, but Dylan has already dropped three of its songs online.

Such is the fervour of Dylans ageing audience of completists, theres little doubt the pre-digital types who have heard the songs will also buy the album not the least because he again appears to be giving hints about his world view.

On March 26, as the world was in the first weeks of lockdown, the 2016 Nobel laureate offered up a 17-minute opus on the assassination of President John F Kennedy, Murder Most Foul.

In a distinctly un-Bob-like message, Dylan thanks his fans for their support and loyalty, adding: This is an unreleased song we recorded a while back that you might find interesting. Stay safe, stay observant and may God be with you.

Given the reclusive star suffered in 1997 from a life-threatening fungal infection, histoplasmosis often caused by bird or bat droppings in the age of the coronavirus, it moved some fans to ask Is Bob OK?.

Turns out Dylans musings on all angles of JFKs demise was just the start of a promotional blitz for new material that offers a few hints into his thoughts on our current age.

Murder Most Foul is not perfect, its sprinkled with a fair share of clunky lines among the familiar Nobel-prize-winning brilliance, but it also places Dylan back in the spotlight as a chronicler of a place and time.

The day that they killed him, someone said to me, Son, the age of the Antichrist has just only begun, Dylan sings over lilting violin that channels the Sinatra crooning hes been practising on the road.

Air Force One coming in through the gate, Johnson sworn in at 2:38Let me know when you decide to throw in the towel. It is what it is, and its murder most foul.

The song then morphs into a series of playlist requests to radio DJ Wolfman Jack featuring classic songs and pop culture moments that may, or may not, have redeemed America in the years since the tragedy in Dallas.

If Bob had stopped at this track, the Dylanologists would have had a years worth of material to write about, but he followed up in April and May with two more tracks.

They also offered some intriguing lines, which may, or may not, show us what the great man has been thinking in the eight years since he released Tempest.

First was I Contain Multitudes a riff on the famous Walt Whitman poem, Song of Myself, which sees the protaganist muse: Today, and tomorrow, and yesterday, too. The flowers are dyin like all things do.

Follow me close,Imgoing to Bally-na-Lee. Illlose my mind if you dontcome with me. I fuss with my hair, and I fight blood feuds. I contain multitudes.

Bally-na-Lee was the home of Irish poet Anthony Raftery, the only one of nine children to survive a smallpox outbreak.

In the final lines the singer could be talking direct to death, albeit in the guise of a woman: Get lost, madame, get up off my knee. Keep your mouth away from me. Ill keep the path open, the path in my mind,Ill see to it that theres no love left behind.

Then if there was any doubt that Dylans new material is rooted in both the path and the present, the bluesy False Prophet appeared to provide even more proof.

Released with an image of a skeleton holding a blood filled syringe and the image of a hanged man with a suspiciously familiar Trump-quaffed hairdo, the growling stripteaser walks a fine line between the protagonist smiting false prophets or actually being one.

You dont know me, darlin. You never would guess. Im nothing like my ghostly appearance would suggest. I aint no false prophet. I just said what I said. Im just here to bring vengeance on somebodys head.

Hello, stranger. Hello and goodbye. You ruled the land. But so do I. You lost your mule. You got a poison brain. Ill marry you to a ball and chain.

With Murder Most Foul already topping the Billboard digital charts, Dylans first No.1 under his own name, theres little doubt the new album will be picked over as one of 2020s most intriguing comebacks.

He may have been putting off releasing new original music, but now Dylan has ticked that off the list he can get back to the home renovation jobs hes been putting way off and popping up some shelves like the rest of us.

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Rough and rowdy Bob Dylan gets around to some new music - The New Daily

When Singapore's circuit breaker period ends on June 1, more businesses and activities will be progressively allowed.

On Tuesday, the Government said there will be three phases in the reopening.

Phase one, from June 2, will last for at least four weeks as some restrictions are eased.

Phase two will last several months as even more measures are lifted. This will lead to phase three, which will be the "new normal" until a vaccine or treatment is found for Covid-19.

The Straits Times answers some questions about what you can do from June 2, when the first phase begins. Government agencies say some details are being ironed out. You can also send your questions toaskst@sph.com.sg.

A Companies must adopt telecommuting to the maximum extent. Employees who have been working from home so far should continue to do so.

They should go into the office only when the employer can demonstrate that it is necessary, such as to access specialised systems or equipment that cannot be accessed from home, or to complete a contract or transaction that is legally required to be completed in person and on site.

A You can return to the workplace if your company is on the list of businesses permitted to resume operations from June 2, and if your employer has put safe management measures in place.

Your employer must also demonstrate the business or operational reasons why you are unable to work from home despite reviewing and redesigning work processes.

Ministry of Manpower (MOM) inspectors will assess the efforts put in by companies to implement work-from-home arrangements, based on whether it is practical for workers to work from home, given the nature of their jobs.

A Employees must telecommute where possible. They can report workplace safety and health issues to MOM via the SnapSafe mobile application.

A School bookshops and retail shops selling school uniforms can resume activities.

Selected services, including motor vehicle servicing, air-conditioner servicing, basic pet services and full hairdressing services, can also resume.

Businesses that still cannot resume include bars, pubs, nightclubs, theatres and cinemas. They are deemed higher-risk because they draw crowds in an enclosed space.

To manage the risks of transmission, most retail outlets will have to remain closed until further notice. Department stores will remain shut.

All libraries will remain closed and their on-site services such as book drops and reservation lockers will continue to be unavailable.ST PHOTO: KUA CHEE SIONG

A No. Such sports and outdoor recreational facilities in HDB estates will continue to remain closed to the public. They will likely be able to reopen only in phase two, at least four weeks away.

Similarly, tennis courts, pools and other recreational facilities in condominiums remain closed. So will private gyms.

A The authorities will be giving more details on this in about a week.

A No. All libraries will remain closed and their on-site services such as book drops and reservation lockers will continue to be unavailable. You will not be fined if you have not returned material that is due. You will have three weeks after libraries eventually reopen to do so.

A No, these services remain closed. Beauty salons may continue to sell products online and deliver them to customers.

However, the good news is that hair salons will be able to offer colouring and chemical treatments from June 2.

A No, foot reflexology services will not be allowed in phase one.

A No. Car showrooms will remain closed and you still cannot test-drive a car. But motor companies can continue to sell vehicles online and deliver them to customers.

Motor workshop services, however, will be allowed to reopen and resume services. Currently, they can tend to only emergency cases.

Property viewings still cannot be conducted in person, but they can be done virtually. Agents also cannot meet clients face to face.ST PHOTO: GIN TAY

A No. Such home-based cleaning services are not allowed to resume.

A No. Property viewings still cannot be conducted in person. But you can do so virtually.

As for property agents, while they still cannot meet clients face to face, they can do so where the clients' physical presence is legally required to complete a transaction. The meeting must take place in the office of the real estate company.

A All construction work, including home renovation, will need approval from the Building and Construction Authority before they can restart. Priority will be given to projects that had started before the circuit breaker and were suspended.

New renovation works will depend on factors such as whether the renovation contractor has sent its workers to be tested for Covid-19. More details will be announced later this week.

Students can choose to wear a face shield or a face mask when they return to school from June 2.ST PHOTO: GAVIN FOO

A Yes, they can choose between a face shield and a face mask.

A No. Just as tuition and enrichment centres remain closed, face-to-face lessons by private tutors will remain suspended in phase one. Tutors and students can continue with online classes.

Bubble tea shops, as well as other outlets selling predominantly beverages, are not allowed to reopen. Food and beverage outlets, food caterers and canteens can provide only takeaway and delivery options.ST PHOTO: WANG HUI FEN

A No. Outlets selling predominantly beverages, such as alcohol and bubble tea, are still not allowed to reopen. Food and beverage outlets, food caterers and canteens are permitted to open, but can provide only takeaway and delivery options.

A It depends. Applications to resume business will be approved by the Monetary Authority of Singapore on a case-by-case basis.

This depends on whether a money changer is able to restrict the number of staff on site to ensure safe distancing, and whether it can implement safe management measures at its outlets.

A No. Maid agencies are not allowed to reopen their physical outlets. They can continue to operate online.

A No. To manage the risks of transmission, most retail outlets, including those selling health supplements, will have to stay closed until further notice. They may continue to sell their products online and fulfil the orders through delivery.

A No. They cannot reopen their physical outlets but can continue to operate remotely.

A No. Insurance agents still cannot have face-to-face meetings with clients, except where the physical presence of the client is legally required to complete transactions. These meetings must take place in the office of the insurer.

A Yes, basic grooming, animal physiotherapy and rehabilitation services for pets can restart on June 2.

But there will be restrictions. Grooming, for instance, includes the maintenance of skin and fur, teeth brushing, emptying of anal glands and medicated baths. It excludes cosmetic styling of pets' fur and spa baths.

If you are taking your pet for physiotherapy or rehabilitation, you will need a referral from a vet.

All services must be by appointment. Non-essential services such as pet-sitting, daycare for animals, walking, boarding and the sale of pets will remain prohibited.

See more here:
Circuit breaker to be lifted: What you can and cannot do from June 2 - straits times

Image caption Volunteers were needed to help prepare bodies for burial

Newham in east London has the highest proportion of deaths from coronavirus in England and Wales. BBC News looks at why, and what it means for the community.

For much of April, Ghouse Fazaluddin was consumed by one thought: "We couldn't just stand back and watch our dead be buried in mass graves."

Using his background as a telecoms project manager, he set to work.

A WhatsApp group was created, and volunteers from the Jamia mosque in Newham, where Mr Fazaluddin is a trustee, were recruited.

The task in hand was essential, but grim.

There had been so many deaths that a backlog of bodies had built up and people were required to prepare each person for burial.

A stream of people came forward, and over the course of 10 days, they cleansed and prayed for 32 people.

"The most important thing for me is how the community has come together," says Mr Fazaluddin.

"The common goal was, we cannot forget our deceased, we cannot just leave them to be buried without the ritual washing that takes place, and that people's dignity, the dignity of the deceased, was preserved."

To facilitate the process, a side room to the mosque was demarcated, with volunteers in personal protective equipment, sourced from builders' merchants, responsible for handling the bodies.

Adam Hussain, a 23-year-old furloughed maintenance engineer, felt a responsibility to step up.

"At first I was a little bit scared to volunteer, but I just couldn't stand back," he says.

"I thought, I'm doing this for the community, doing it for their family, and I just felt happy."

Covid-19 has preyed on Newham like nowhere else.

Data released by the Office for National Statistics shows the east London borough has suffered the highest proportion of deaths from the disease in England and Wales.

While there is local concern that some people did not take the virus seriously at first and continued mixing, a combination of deprivation and ethnicity has allowed the disease to exploit the area's mainly black and Asian population.

The victims have included key workers such as GP, Dr Yusuf Patel, teacher Dr Louisa Rajakumari, and Anwar Hussain Oli, one of several taxi drivers who've died, as well as at least nine residents of the Bakers Court care home in Little Ilford Lane.

"The past few weeks have been really depressing," says Ayesha Chowdhury, a Labour councillor in Newham who knows around 15 people who've died from coronavirus, many of them Bangladeshis.

"When they pass away, the community cannot participate in the funeral, they cannot visit the family so everything is completely shocking.

"Besides dealing with the sadness, they also have to think about the finances of a funeral."

Newham has long been recognised as one of the poorest areas of England, the 2012 Olympic Park was located there in an effort to regenerate the area.

That has brought benefits to some parts, but long-standing high levels of both overcrowding and underlying health conditions, such as cardiovascular disease and asthma, have remained.

Despite its problems, the government has cut around 6m, in real terms, from Newham's public health budget since 2016.

The recent ONS data, which showed people in poor areas dying at twice the rate seen in more affluent districts, mirrors earlier research on the impact of pandemics.

A 2012 paper, looking at the much smaller consequences of the 2009 swine flu outbreak in England, found deaths were three times higher in poorer communities and recommended socio-economic disparities be part of future pandemic planning.

Researchers say there is little evidence that happened.

"This is not an equalising virus. This is a virus with a disproportionate effect on poor communities," says Rokhsana Fiaz, Labour Mayor of Newham.

"If you want to avoid a second wave, if you want to minimise deaths, we've got to be given the resources and flexibility to spend at a local level.

"Top down, command and control, will not work in light of the evidence we have."

Public health experts agree that a targeted approach will be needed as the disease develops.

Jonathan Pearson-Stuttard, a public health researcher at Imperial College London, says communities deemed to be most at risk from Covid-19 should get priority whenever a vaccine is developed.

"Once those most in need, such as health and care workers are vaccinated, it's very reasonable to assume that those most at risk would be next in line to receive the vaccine."

In Newham, the community that has lived through this crisis, must now rebuild the borough.

At the East London Science School, they have been hit hard - about 40 staff members have had symptoms, at least 10 pupils have lost relatives and one staff member is caring for two children who have been orphaned after both their parents died of Covid-19.

For head teacher, David Perks, bringing hope means restoring normality.

"Being serious about the education we offer gives them a way of seeing a future for themselves," he says.

"We can't obviously turn things back, but the fact that they can see a future is the best thing we can give them."

See the rest here:
Coronavirus: Restoring hope in the hardest-hit community - BBC News

A house fire is one of the most horrifying calamities a homeowner can experience. A blaze can cause catastrophic damage in a matter of minutes, destroy priceless mementos, and threaten the lives of any occupants.

Thankfully, many residential fires are preventable. By understanding the most common causes of these disasters and taking the necessary precautions, you can vastly reduce the chances of your property going up in smoke.

Cooking

According to the National Fire Protection Association, cooking is the leading cause of house fires and injuries caused by these fires. Cooking fires typically occur when the kitchen is left unattended during meal preparation, and most cooking fires start on the stove. If a fire starts while you are out of the room, it can quickly spread before you can fight it on your own.

Hot grease is a common source of ignition. David Beaudrie, writing for the home design site The Spruce, says grease that reaches a temperature of about 600 degrees Fahrenheit can spontaneously combust. The NFPA says flames can easily spread if combustible materials like oven mitts and towels are kept too close to the stove.

Appliances can also sometimes lead to fires. Beaudrie says portable appliances like electric griddles might heat up enough to ignite nearby materials. House Beautiful says fire risk is also heightened if appliances are crowded too close together, allowing more heat to build up.

Never leave the kitchen unattended while cooking, particularly if you are making a dish where grease will be produced. The NFPA says you should turn off the stove even if you just need to leave for a short period of time. When baking, simmering, or otherwise making a meal that requires a longer preparation time, set a timer so you don't forget about the food.

Practice regular cleaning to cut down on combustible materials. Beaudrie says you should thoroughly clean your cookware to prevent grease from building up, and regularly clean potentially flammable materials out of your appliances such as crumbs in a toaster oven.

If a small fire occurs while cooking, it can often be smothered quickly. The NFPA says the easiest thing to do is to put a lid over a flaming pot and turn off the burner, or turn off the heat and keep the door closed if a fire occurs in the oven.

Since fires can often start in the kitchen, keep a fire extinguisher in the room in an easily accessible area. The Donegal Insurance Group of Marietta, Pa., says the extinguisher should be rated A-B-C to take on all types of blazes. Wolgast Restoration, a Michigan home restoration company, says materials such as salt, baking soda, or flour should not be used to douse a grease fire, since these can cause the flames to flare up.

Heating

Homeowners seeking to keep their homes at a comfortable temperature during the winter can inadvertently create a hazardous situation. The NFPA says heating equipment accounted for 15 percent of residential fires in the United States between 2012 and 2016, with half of these blazes occurring between December and February.

Keeping a heater too close to flammable materials is a common source of fires caused by heating systems. Beaudrie says space heaters and electric baseboard heaters can easily ignite nearby materials, while heaters that use fuel such as kerosene can catch fire or explode if they are not used properly.

If a fireplace is used for home heating, a layer of flammable creosote will build up on the inside of the chimney over time. This can eventually ignite, with a chimney fire potentially spreading to other parts of the home.

Make sure there's ample space around any home heaters. The NFPA recommends a three-foot buffer zone between any heating equipment, including fireplaces, space heaters, and furnaces.

Make sure fireplacesincluding pellet stoves and fireplace insertsare properly installed and have the necessary safeguards. Open fireplaces should have a screen to block sparks and embers, and ashes should be allowed to cool thoroughly before being removed to a metal container stored a safe distance from the home. The chimney should be professionally cleaned at least once a year.

Follow all instructions on portable space heaters, and look for a model with safety features such as an automatic shutoff that will be activated if the device tips over. Beaudrie says you should also inspect them regularly to see if they are in good condition.

Central heating equipment is rarely to blame for residential fires, but it never hurts to be cautious. Donna Boyle Schwartz, writing for the home improvement professional Bob Vila, says an annual inspection will ensure that the system is working properly.

Electrical

Faulty wiring is the third most common cause of house fires, according to the NFPA, though fires sparked by this source also caused the most substantial property damage. Beaudrie says electrical fires are commonly caused by short circuits that ignite building materials or overloaded circuits that cause wiring to get too hot.

Electrical fires can also be caused by an outdated electrical system or unsafe practices. House Beautiful says major appliances should be plugged into their own outlets, not a shared power strip. You should also never connect multiple extension cords or use frayed or otherwise damaged electrical cords. Wolgast Restoration says the risk of an electrical fire is heightened if you use an older appliance, run cords under rugs or other heavily trafficked areas, or plug too many devices into a single outlet.

Make sure your home's electrical system is up to date with the recommended safety features. The NFPA says these include arc-fault circuit interrupters to cut off electricity and prevent short circuits. Electrical work should be completed by a licensed professional.

Periodically inspect the cords on appliances and other devices to look for damage. Schwartz says any worn or damaged cords should immediately be replaced.

Be safe when using the outlets in your home. Never overload an outlet, and make sure the wattage of your light bulbs does not exceed the recommended wattage of the light fixture.

Look out for any warning signs of trouble with the wiring. Wolgast Restoration says these may include flickering lights, repeatedly tripping breakers, or a suspect odor. Have an electrician inspect the system if you notice any of these issues.

Open flames

Smoking materials such as cigarettes and cigars cause a small percentage of house fires, according to the NFPA, but are the leading cause of deaths caused by these incidents. Beaudrie says fires caused by smoking materials are often ignited when embers fall on a flammable item after the smoker falls asleep, resulting in the greater possibility of a fatality.

Smokers can reduce the risk of a house fire by using fire-safe cigarettes, only smoking outdoors, and keeping smoking materials out of the reach of children. If you do smoke indoors, use a deep ashtray, keep smoking materials away from any flammable items, and douse smoking materials in water before discarding them.

Caution should also be used when burning candles in the home. While they add a pleasant ambience to a room, candles can lead to disaster if they fall over or set fire to nearby materials.

The NFPA says candles should be kept in sturdy holders and placed on uncluttered surfaces, at least one foot away from anything that might burn. Don't leave candles unattended or use them in the bedroom, where an occupant might fall asleep without blowing out the flame.

Consider alternatives to candles. You should have a flashlight handy so you can use it instead of an open flame for lighting during a power outage. Beaudrie says there are also flameless battery-powered luminaries that provide the same effect as a candle without the danger.

If medical oxygen is stored in the home, refrain from smoking or using candles indoors.

Certain appliances, such as furnaces and water heaters, have pilot lights that could potentially start a fire. Wolgast Restoration recommends that any flammable materials be kept at least three feet away from these appliances.

Flammable materials

Several household materials are combustible, including gasoline used for lawn mowers, propane tanks for grills, paint thinners, and mineral spirits. These materials often pose a serious fire risk because they emit fumes that can travel a long distance and ignite when they encounter a furnace's pilot light or other ignition source.

Flammable lint can accumulate in and around a clothes dryer. Dust, dander, and other materials can create a combustible mass on vents and filters in the home's HVAC system.

Safe storage is key in preventing flammable materials from causing a fire. Schwartz says gasoline, propane, kerosene, and similar materials should be stored in proper containers and kept outside the home. Beaudrie says containers should be no more than 95 percent full to allow room for vapors to expand safely.

Store paint thinners and other hazardous materials in proper containers and keep them at least 50 feet away from potential ignition sources. The ideal storage location is a fireproof cabinet in a separate location from the main living space.

Never keep oil- or chemical-soaked rags stored together, as they can spontaneously combust. Spread the rags out in an outdoor location to allow fumes to disperse, at which point the rags can be cleaned and reused.

Regularly clean the dryer vent before running a load of laundry. Wolgast Restoration says you should also periodically clean out the dryer's exhaust vent, sweep lint away from surfaces around the dryer, and avoid piling up laundry on or around the appliance.

Seasonal dangers

Some fire risks are seasonal, as they are associated with activities that typically take place at a certain time of year. Outdoor grilling during warmer weather is one potential risk, as flare-ups or problems with the grill's heat source can start a blaze.

The NFPA says grills should be regularly cleaned to remove accumulated grease, and the grill should be kept a safe distance from the home, deck, overhanging branches, or anything else that might catch fire. Inspect gas grills for leaks each year, and don't light the grill if you smell gas. Never leave a grill unattended.

Summer is also a time for homeowners to light up their fire pits, which naturally pose a hazard to the property if they aren't used properly. The Donegal Group says fires should not be lit outside when the surrounding vegetation is dry or when there are strong winds. Don't leave the fire unattended, and keep a water source or other firefighting option handy.

Halloween brings jack-o-lanterns, which traditionally use candles. Keep them away from dry decorations such as cornstalks or crepe paper, and consider using battery-powered flame lights instead.

Sumptuous cooking is a hallmark of the winter holidays, but this is also associated with a higher risk of cooking fires. Christmas also has some unique fire hazards. Make sure you keep a natural Christmas tree from drying out, hang decorations so they are a safe distance from any ignition sources, and make sure your holiday lighting is safe.

Excerpt from:
Common causes of house fires and how to prevent them - theday.com

Moving can be such a stressful time. The checklist of things to do can feel a mile long. Between finding a new place, packing, and wrapping up loose ends in your old home, it may be difficult to see the light at the end of the tunnel. Its important to remember that moving doesnt have to be such a burden, once youve got a few tricks up your sleeves. If youre in the process of moving or just thinking about moving, here are four ways to take the worry out of what could be a chaotic situation and put your mind at ease.

In order to find a new home within your price range thats also in the neighborhood or school district of your choice, you may need to buy a fixer-upper. Fixer-uppers need a lot of love due to damage like water or mold. As long as you have the time, think about bringing in restoration services. If you live in the Chicagoland area, J.C. Restoration, Inc. can help you bring your new home back to its pre-loss condition. Whether the house needs big fixes like structural repairs and electrical work or smaller fixes like interior decorating and landscaping, youll be in great hands. J.C. Restoration, Inc. has successfully restored damaged properties for thousands of home and business owners. You can put your mind at ease knowing your restoration will be done right.

Moving into a new neighborhood is always stressful, because even if it appears nice, you never really know who youre living next to. Is it safe for your children to play in the front yard unattended? Is it wise for your children to go over and hang out at a new friends house? You can let go of some of that worry if you arm yourself with information. Introduce yourself to your neighbors, get their names, and then do a quick search of public records to see if there are arrest records or mug shots associated with each person. Go Look Up is an online information search engine that shows background checks and so much more. Youre sure to find the information you need to sleep easy.

Its so easy to think you can just do it all yourself, but thats a lot of additional pressure that you dont need. Hiring professional movers can save you some mental space and might even prevent you from injuring your back. If youre worried about getting the best price and hiring a company that will treat your furniture and possessions with respect, call around, read reviews, and dont be afraid to ask questions. With extra hands, your move will go faster, and youll get to move onto the fun partdesigning your new spacein record time.

When you start the moving process, the first thing that youll ignore in your daily routine is self-care. You can be so preoccupied with getting each facet of moving accomplished that you dont take time for yourself. You might think that youre gaining some extra time to complete each tiring task by skipping workouts or daily meditation sessions; however, its actually quite the opposite. Activities like working out and meditating help you to manage stress and put you in the right frame of mind to move forward. By removing that from your daily life, youre doing yourself a great disservice. You might find it harder to concentrate or problem solve. If youre really worried about time, shorten your workout or meditation, but try to keep some semblance of your regular routine.

See the original post:
Take the Burden Out of Moving: 4 Ways to Put Your Mind at Ease - NuWire Investor

Some of the major changes included opening up the views and bringing continuity to the spaces; raising the ceilings two feet toward the back of the house to build an extension with the kitchen (the focal point of the house) and living room; raising the floor of the master suite; installing a large steel and glass opening on the rear faade to let the light in; and adding three balconies.

Designed to be functional and fit the owners needs, the home features effortless style with its round and arched contours to balance out the hard lines in the steel doors.

The very cool suspended lighting device comes from Flos.

The scalloped plaster fireplace was done by Kamp Studios, and the art flanking it is by Matias Sanchez Martin.

It was built to complement our lifestyle, which is to have friends over for long dinners, good music, many candles, great cocktails and wine, and lots of laughs, Lindsay says. This house is to enjoy and celebrate life in the morning and at night, with no part of it overly precious.

Classic brownstone details are visible in the trims and molding throughout the house in off-white tones mixed with edgier touches like the matte black staircase. We stayed neutral throughout, but played with different textures and tones, incorporating decorative wall finishes like plaster and wallpaper, Jae says. We wanted to keep a sleek modern feel, while avoiding the bare and stark impressions associated with contemporary interiors.

BEFORE: This bedroom layout felt cramped and crowded.

AFTER: The master bedroom redo is all about clean lines and architectural details. The sculptures on display are by Jenny Min.

For the couple, the Brooklyn home is a study of equilibrium, where grids are balanced by curves, matte is juxtaposed with texture, and simple is only occasionally disrupted by grandeur. The house, according to the couple, is like Axel Vervoordt in the middle of a Kanye concert.

BEFORE: The master suite section had to be reconfigured entirely to make the space functional.

AFTER: The result was created with softness and serenity in mind. The scones in the bathroom are by Arne Jacobsen, and the faucets are by Waterworks.

AFTER: The master suite now boasts a grand master bathroom with a large freestanding tub and a custom vanity.

AFTER: Here, another bathroom was designed with a little more moody flair.

Although they invested a significant amount of energy, the couple enjoyed every part of the process. Renovations are very funnyyou feel like you end up with a Ph.D. in what not to do, Lindsay and Kayvan smile. A gut renovation on a townhouse is the most daunting, frightening, fiscally challenging, draining experience, but when you finally get the keys to your house, it becomes the foundation for your future memories that makes everything worth it.

The parlor floor gained a whole new chic living space after the expansion. The steel doors let in an incredible amount of light which brightens the entire floor. The big puzzle artwork is from M. Crow.

See the original post:
This Brooklyn Townhouse Gets a Refined Renovation - Architectural Digest

If the City Hall in Jersey City doesnt make you want to do home improvement projects, then nothing will. Well, thats certainly a sentence we never thought we would write. But its totally true because while the coronavirus pandemic was shutting down local businesses, keeping residents sheltering in place indoors, and forcing restaurants and eateries to transition to contactless options only, Jersey City began focusing on renovation projects that would otherwise disturb residents if they were done during normal life.

In a now-viral tweet, Jersey City Mayor Steven Fulop explained, We used COVID-19 shutdown to do projects that wouldve been inconvenient for residents regularly {street paving, park renovations, etc}. One project was ripping up the 1960s vinyl floor at City Hall. We thought wed find garbage, but instead we found the original from 100 years ago {sic}.The details on the gorgeous discovery.

{Photo credit: Twitter}

Move over, HGTV! We dont need your DIY home improvement channel when weve got City Hall!

City Halls surprise renovation didnt just impress the people of Jersey City. In fact, Mayor Fulops tweet gained national attention and went viral when it was picked up by Instagram meme account @kalesalad.

See More: 15 DIY Projects to Stay Busy and Productive at Home

While we are here why did every house cover hardwood floors with carpet in the 1960s @stevenfulopjc, the account @kalesalad wrote in the caption.

The reaction to the home improvement project has been overwhelmingly positive. One Instagram user wrote, Love when this happens. Like when a mosaic from a renowned artist was found in an NYC building entry during a reno.

Another chimed in, The old floor looks really pretty actually they should try and preserve that design!

All in all, the picture posted to @kalesalad garnered more than 330,000 likes and Mayor Fulops original tweet received 2.8K comments, 15.6K retweets, and 146.7K likes.

After the positive reaction to Fulops original tweet about the renovation, he began providing updates on other areas of the floor that have since been pulled up.

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Stephanie Osmanski writes honest things about health, the planet, and being a woman. Her words have appeared on Business Insider, Parade, Eat This Not That, Dogster, Scary Mommy, Green Matters, Parents, Seventeen, Life & Style, InTouch Weekly, and more. Her articles have been syndicated on World Economic Forum, MSN, MSN UK, and MSN Canada. In her free time, Stephanie and her registered therapy dog, Koda, volunteer at local hospitals, nursing homes, and other healthcare facilities.

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If You Need Some DIY Inspo, Check Out the Floors of City Hall in Jersey City - hobokengirl.com

May 9, 2020

Posted: May 9, 2020

Updated: 1:16 PM

SAN DIEGO (KUSI) As of this week, over 30 million Americans have filed for unemployment. This economic upheaval is forcing many Americans, 45 million of which were slated to retire this year, to reevaluate their finances and navigate the new normal.

If you were planning on retiring this year or in the next few years and just got laid off due to the coronavirus, here are some tips from Steve Sexton, financial consultant and CEO of Sexton Advisory Group, on how to assess and improve your financial health:

Assess your financial situation if you recently got laid off and you were planning to retire soon, the first question I ask my clients is can you maintain your lifestyle without working? To figure this out, youll need to determine all sources of income, your source of health insurance until you qualify for Medicare, and any major expenses coming up, like a home renovation or a new car. Dont forget to take into account how inflation might impact your cash flow in the the next few years. Seek temporary employment If you cant maintain your lifestyle without working this means youll need to seek employment as soon as possible. Depending on your line of work, it may be a while until you get a full-time job in your industry and unemployment benefits only last for so long. In fact, assistance from the stimulus bill is expected to run out on July 31st, which means jobless workers would only get their state unemployment benefit after this date. This means youll need to look for temporary employment, even if it means considering jobs that are not in your skill set, but allow you to earn money now. Downsize and/or reduce your expenses Ive said this multiple times on previous segments, but its so important to eliminate any unnecessary spending right now. You can live with less, whether that means getting rid of your cable service, canceling that wine club membership, moving to a less expensive home or even choosing to share a car with your spouse especially since theres little need to drive over the next few months! Weigh your social security options most Americans cant rely on social security checks alone, but selecting the right benefits can make a big difference in the long run. There are 567 different ways to elect benefits, so make sure youre educated on which option will provide you with the highest income in your retirement. Consider low-risk investing theres no denying an astronomical amount of money has been lost in stocks in the past two months. If youre hoping to have a comfortable retirement, this means opting for low-risk investment options which may not offer big returns, but are safe. Work with a financial advisor to find out what options work best for you.

If youre looking for more guidance on what to do if youve recently been laid off, Im hosting a free webinar on Thursday, May 21st at 4 p.m. PST. For more info and/or to RSVP, go to RetireSmartMag.com.

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Coronavirus and your finances: What to do if you're laid off - - KUSI

While kitschy palm tree prints and seashell motifs are de rigueur in the Sunshine State, fashion blogger and designer Blair Eadie preferred a style that leaned more Palm Springs than Palm Beach for her 1920s Sarasota, Florida getaway. She and her husband Andrew snagged the cottage-style vacation home three years ago, and have since completely transformed its interiors.

Think graphic black and white patterns, pops of bold, saturated color, and midcentury moments mixed with contemporary elements, all layered atop what the couple calls good bones, a linear layout, and no shortage of character. And by character they mean the result of a series of previous renovations that left them with ceilings so low in parts of the home that six-foot-four Andrew could not even stand up. It had dangerous wiring within the walls, three different roofs layered on top of each other, plus a master bedroom with a door leading to the kitchen and the smallest bathroom in the house.

BEFORE: Changes afoot in Florida.

BEFORE: Construction begins to raise the roof.

No matter, though. Situated on a flag lot, the 1,900-square-foot home offered what felt like, for two Brooklyn-dwellers, an abundance of both privacy and space. And Blair and Andrew saw potential in the floor plan, opting to take on an extensive 18-month renovation that ultimately left them with four bedrooms, 3.5 bathrooms, and, in some spots, a 5-foot-higher ceiling.

The resulting expanse of continuous white walls and concrete flooringthat felt old-meets-new and also kept the home coolleft the couple essentially with a blank canvas. Blair, known by 1.6 million Instagram followers for her instantly recognizable and highly curated fashion aesthetic, then enlisted the help of Havenly design and creative VP Shelby Girard to help translate her sartorial sensibilities for an interior environment.

The final design concept from Havenly.

The design had to be playful, unexpected, and full of personality, just like Blairs wardrobe, says Shelby. You can have more fun and take more risks with second homes, especially in a destination like Florida. There is a pervasive vacation mentality and mindset.

To bring warmth to the stark contrasts of concrete and white, Shelby added a Blue Ivy by Clare paint accent wall in the living room that draws the eye and helps separate the space from the dining and sitting areas. With the pool situated in the center of the home, accessible by four sets of French doors, the wall reflects a water-like hue, and two Rove Concepts Womb Chairs carry the tone into the sitting area.

Read the original here:
See How This Fashion Blogger Transformed a Florida Beach Home with Her Signature Style - Architectural Digest

SOUTH ORANGE, NJ Seton Hall University was granted an extension of the approval for an addition and renovation to the University Center; the action was taken at the May 4 South Orange Planning Board meeting. Seton Halls extension was granted for one year, and their attorney stated that it would be the final extension requested. The original approval wasgiven on July 6, 2016.

The meeting had three additional applications scheduled; however at request of applicants their applications were held over to the June 1 meeting.

Village Trustee Bob Zuckerman gave the Economic Development Committees report. He said that letters are going out to those residential and commercial properties who continue to have unrepaired code violations. Those who are in violation will receive a letter advising that after the State of Emergency they will be given consideration and time to remediate the items in violation.

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He noted that these are very challenging times to the food and retail sector. There could well be a 30 percent vacancy rate after the pandemic, he warned. He said Julie Doran, executive director of South Orange Village Center Alliance, is doing a great job with merchants and property owners, helping them get SBA and PPP loans. He suggested thatshopping local promotions and getting food to go as well as local gift cards are helping local businesses.

Every Saturday of May and June will be Small Business Saturdays, said Doran to the Board. She said many property owners are working with the tenants on rent issues. SOVCA continues itsstreet cleaning program to keep the town looking inviting and that local businesses are making delivery directly to homes daily. Doran noted that residents would get better service shopping locally than online, and there is very little that cant be gotten locally.

The draft of the Master Plan has been sent to Village Administrator Adam Loehner and Village President Sheena Collum, Board Planner/Zoning Official Greer Patras reported, and she said she will walk them through it. The document will then be reviewed by the committee and the Planning Board.

Patras said the updated Master Plan supports fast recovery coming out of COVID-19 quarantine, with flexible zoning offering more diversification for future development. She noted that South Orange is positioned to handle recovery better than other towns because of new zoning rules, as more housing diversity and office options are long-term better for the town. Doran concurred, and said flexible zoning will be important for recovery.

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Seton Hall University Gets Renovation Extension from South Orange Planning Board - TAPinto.net