With just their input cables, human neurons can perform difficult logic calculations previously only seen in entire neural networks. To restate: human neurons are far more powerful devices than originally thought. And if deep learning algorithmsthe AI method loosely based on the brain thats taken our world by stormtake note, they can be too.

Those are unconventional, fighting words.

For 70 years, neurons were considered the basic computational unit of the brain. Yet according to a new study published this month in Science, the neurons in our cortex, the outermost crust of our brain, seem to have uniquely evolved to sustain incredibly complex computations in their input cables. Its as if someone finally obtained proof that your computers electrical wiring is actually made up of mini-processors, each performing calculations before sending results to a CPU.

Its weird. Its controversial. But it has also just been seen for the first time in human neurons.

As the authors conclude: we long assumed that a neuron could only operate logical functions such as AND and OR, whereas more complex computations required entire networks. We find that activity in a neurons input cables can support complex logical operations using completely different rules than a single neuron.

So why should we care? Fundamentally, it has to do with intelligencewhy we stand out among the animal kingdom, and how we can potentially replicate that intelligence with AI.

Like the Earths crust, the cortex is also made up of multiple layers, with distinctive wiring patterns that link up neurons within layers and among different ones. Neuroscientists have long thought that our enormously intricate cortex contributes to our intellectual capabilitiesin fact, deep learning was inspired by computations embedded within cortical neurons.

But the new results, recorded from surgically-removed brain chunks from patients with brain tumors and epilepsy, suggest that current deep learning methods are only scratching the surface of replicating our brains computations. If AI systems can incorporate these newly discovered algorithms, they could potentially become far more powerful.

A textbook neuron looks like a leafless tree: massive roots, called dendrites, lead to a sturdy, bulbous basethe body. Like water and nutrients, incoming electrical signals shoot up dendritic roots into the body, where a hump-like structure synthesizes all the information. If the stimulation is sufficiently strong, it gets passed down a singular tree trunkthe output cable called an axonthen transmitted to another neuron by way of bubbles filled with chemical messengers or with electricity. If the input signals are too weak, the neuron kills the data. Its why neuroscientists often call single neurons binary or digital: they either fire or dont.

Simple, no?

Wellnot quite. For decades, a question nagged at the back of neuroscientists minds: why are dendritic trees, compared to a single lonely axon, so much more intricate?

By recording from single neurons in rodent brains, scientists recently began figuring out that dendritic trees arent just simple passive cables. Rather, theyre extremely active components underlying a hidden layer of neural computation. Some dendritic trees, for example, can generate electrical spikes five times larger and more frequently than classic neuronal firing. Just in rats, the discovery of active dendrites mean that the brain could have 100 times more processing capacity than previously thought.

The new study asks: does the same hold true for humans?

Compared to rodent brains, the multi-layered human cortex is much thicker and denser. Layers 2 and 3 (L2/3) especially stand out for their elaborate and densely-packed dendritic forests. Compared to other speciesor even the rest of the human brainthese layers contain a disproportionate amount of neuronal matter. The root cause of this strange thickening lies in our genes, which encode a brain development program to guide the characteristic. Some even believe that its fundamental to what makes us human.

If dendrite inputs help shape our neurons computationand our intelligencethen L2/3 is where we should be able to observe them, the authors reasoned.

Measuring electrical activity from dendrites, each 100 times smaller than the diameter of a human hair, is much easier said than done. Its partly why these enormously powerful calculations have been hard to capture using electrodes even in animalsthe process is similar to gently sucking on an ants back with a Roman column-sized straw without hurting the ant.

Rather than recording from a living, intact human brain, the team opted to look at fresh slices of the cortex removed due to epilepsy or tumors. Its a smart strategy: slices are much easier to examine using traditional neuroscience methodsfor example, something called a patch clamp that records directly from neuronal components. Slices can also be examined under the microscope using fluorescent dyes that glow during activity. Using brain tissue from two different types of patients can then help weed out signals unique to each brain disease to get to the root of human dendritic computations.

A bizarre signal immediately emerged. Human dendrites sparked with activity, but the electrical spikes quickly dissipated as they traveled towards the cell body. In contrast, a standard neural signal doesnt taper down as it gallops along the output cable towards its next destination. Even weirder, the dendritic signals relied strictly on calcium ions to generate their electricity, which massively differs from classic neural signaling.

Its like suddenly discovering a new species that consumes carbon dioxide, rather than oxygen, to sustain its activityexcept that species is part of you. These signals, dubbed dCaAPs, have never been observed in cortical cells from any mammals previously, the authors said.

There was a eureka moment when we saw the dendritic action potentials for the first time, said study co-author Dr. Matthew Larkum at Humboldt University of Berlin. The experiments were very challenging, so to push the questions past just repeating what has been done in rodents already was very satisfying.

But it gets weirder. Unlike a neurons all-or-none firing, human dendrites seem to go analogue. That is, their response is graded, but in an unintuitive way: the stronger their stimuli, the lower their response. This is in stark contrast to other neuronal computations, where stronger input, even from multiple sources, usually leads to stronger output. And while these dendritic spikes arent loners per sea few dCaAPs helped change the firing of its neuronmany of the dendrites electrical activity seemed to do their own thing.

Cataloging the secret lives of human dendrites is already interesting, but the authors went a step further to ask what it all means.

Using computational modeling, they recreated dCaAPs unique firing pattern and challenged it to solve a logic function called XOR. It compares two inputs, and if the bits are the same, the result is 0. If theyre different, it results in 1. Unlike the simpler AND and OR functions, XOR normally requires an entire neural network to perform.

However, human dendrites strange behavior, where one input only leads to one output, allowed them to effectively compute the XOR operation, the authors said. When stacked together with a neurons normal AND and OR functions, its then possible to condense entire network functions into that of a single neuron. However, for now the idea remains theoreticalthe authors werent able to model an entire neuron along with dendritic computations.

But keep your eye out for updates. The results, if validated in intact human brains, hold enormous possibilities for improving deep learning algorithms. For now, deep learning uses individual artificial neurons that link into multi-layered networkssimilar to our previous understanding of human brains. Adding dendritic computations could in theory massively expand deep learning capabilities. In a way, AI is now neurosciences theoretical playground, a collaboration made in heaven.

Regardless, the results peel back another onion layer towards understanding and replicating our intelligence. Dendrites make up 95 percent of the surface area of pyramidal cells in the cortex, but have remained unexplored territory in the human brain, said Dr. Michael Husser at University College London, who was not involved in the study. By hunting for similar signals in rodent brains, we may be able to determine whether the special electrical properties of human dendrites play a key role in making human brains special, he said.

Image Credit: Image by Gerd Altmann from Pixabay

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Photograph Source: U.S. Government Public Domain

On January 17, 2020, the Irregulators will appear before the U.S. District Court in Washington, DC, to argue that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has facilitated one of the largest accounting scandals in American history.

The Irregulators is an independent, expert Telecom Team comprised of senior telecom experts, analysts, forensic auditors, and lawyers ,including former FCC officials.They will be represented byW.Scott McCollough, Esq., a former Texas Assistant Attorney General.McCollough acknowledges, We paid for fiber-to-the-home and we are getting 5G.

On April 15, 2019, theIrregulators submitted legal briefs to the Washington District Court seeking standing.Standing isa requirement under Article III of the Constitution, the capacity of a party to bring suit in court.To bring suit signifies the ability of a party to demonstrate that s/he had sufficient connection to and was harmed by an action being challenged.The FCC declined to challenge the Irregulators standing claim and, on June 6th, the Court formally ruled that the Irregulators had standing and the case against the FCC could proceed.

The Irregulators argument is simple:

Over the last decade, we uncovered a massive financial cross-subsidy scheme and it is being done by manipulating the FCCs cost accounting rules that are being applied to the state-wired telecommunications public utilities revenues and expenses controlled mostly by AT&T, Verizon and Centurylink.

They are accusing the FCCof freezing its cost-accounting rules 19 years ago, thusallowing the nations telecommunications companies the telecom trust to engage in a bookkeeping slight-of-hand practices that costs telecom users, states and taxpayers across the country an estimated $50-$60 billion a year over the last decade and,over the last decade, totaling an estimated $500 billion and $1 trillion since 2000.

The Irregulators challenge to the FCC is based on an acknowledgement that the different lines of business offered by a telecom e.g., Verizons FiOS or wireless to pay their expenses based on formulas set by FCC accounting rules set in 2000, 20 years ago. The case will show how, for example, Verizon was able to make all of its state utility networks appear unprofitable by using these FCC rules.

The expenses Verizon and other telecoms paid in 2019 are based on the same percentage as 2000.However, local (orintrastate)service i.e., the basic copper-based phone service provided was the majority of revenues in 2000 for most telecoms and paid the majority of expenses.For example, in 2019, Verizon NY Local Service accounted for only 21 percent of its reported revenues but is accounting for 60+ percent of its expenses. The FCCs policies amount to a cross-subsidy practice in which traditional wireline services help pay for wireless services.

One consequence of this accounting policy is that all of the other lines of business are paying a fraction of the actual expenses that they incur.Thus, for example, wireless in New York State pays a fraction of the construction expenses while local service paid the majority even though the infrastructure wiring hasnt been upgraded or maintained.In addition, the telecoms receivedtax benefits and users saw their basic phone rates rise.

The case is about more thanan accounting shell-game.It concerns the very future of the countrys telecommunications services, including of 5G the proposed next generation of telecom service as well as the Digital Divide, fiber-to-the-home and net neutrality.Bruce Kushnick, Irreglators team lead, is emphatic: Irregulators vs. FCCexposes all of the financial hanky-panky that has been going on for over a decade. We took this case to stop these abuses at the federal and state level.

At the heart of the Irregulators case is a call for federal and state officials and ordinary telecom users to remember that phone services arestate regulated public telecommunications utilities.The infrastructure consists of the existing copper wires as well as the fiber optic wires that facilitate wireless and broadband services as well as what is known as Business Data Services (i.e., backhaul or special access).

The case will be adjudicated by the Court over the next few months.Ever optimistic, the Irregulators anticipate a number of possible outcomes to the case:

+ The Court could require the FCC to fix its rules to stop cross-subsidies.This will result in returning billions of dollars to states to building-out or upgrade the infrastructure and lowering rates on most services.

+ The Court could decide that the FCC rules are no longer required, thus forcing the FCC to give up control over the infrastructure to the states and get back the billions gained from the cross-subsidies.

+ The Court could leave things as they are, thus enabling the status quo to get worse.The consequences of this decision could be considerable: the cross-subsidies will continue; the questionable 5G deployments will proceed; telecom competition will further shrink; higher service fees will only increase; and new made-up fees and government subsidies will continue.

The outcome of the case could have significant consequences, especially for the FCC.The worst-case outcome, the Courts decision could strengthen the hand the FCC.

Like other federal agencies, the FCC is a corporate-industry captured government agency that has stopped working for the publics best interests.The current U.S. Attorney General, William Barr, got his political start serving as General Counsel forGTE Corporation, a telco that merged with Bell Atlantic to form Verizon.He worked closely with former FCC Chairman Michael Powell, a Pres. Clinton appointee, to establish the new accounting procedures. In addition, the current FCC chair,Ajit Pai, who formerly served as VerizonsAssociate General Counsel, pushes ever-greater deregulations and limited accountability of the telecoms.

A favorable Court decision could return oversight of the telecom networks to state utilities and likely end cross-subsidies and customer overcharging.This could force the giant telecoms to deliver on their repeated broadband commitments, including providingfiber-to-the-home instead of the inferior (and some say harmful) 5G telecom service.This would be an invaluable step in ending the Digital Divide and facilitating net neutrality rather than the further privatization of a public utility.

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The Irregulators vs. FCC: the Trial Begins - CounterPunch

In the consumer electronics world, you will often hear about watts, power handling, and power output. The terms are used interchangeably to refer to two values, that is, root mean square (RMS) and peak power rating. Power rating is among the essential factors that contribute to an ideal sound system. It is, therefore, important to know what these two values refer to whether youre searching for speakers, amplifiers, or subwoofers.

When looking to build a high-performance entertainment system, most people tend to shop for audio and sound equipment based on the one that has the highest power rating. However, this may prove difficult for starters who don't understand the difference between RMS and peak watts. Also, some may choose to ignore the ratings and go for brands, but this will affect the final outcome in one way or another.

So, if youre going to spend your hard cash on a surround-sound speaker, subwoofer, or even an amplifier, you'll need to have basic information on power ratings. This comprehensive guide will help you understand these two values to assist in you assembling a decent sound system.

RMS Watts Explained

Root mean square or simply RMS watts refers to continuous power handling of a speaker or a subwoofer or how much continuous power an amplifier can output. RMS values are usually lower than peak watts ratings, but they represent what a unit is truly capable of handling. Think of RMS power as the average power that a speaker can handle on a daily basis without compromising sound quality or experiencing any distortion.

Peak Watts Explained

The peak power handling is the highest power level that a speaker or a subwoofer can handle in a short burst without blowing. The same holds for amplifiers as the absolute highest amount of power they can put out before failing or without resulting in distortion.

We can think of peak watts as the number atop of your car's speedometer. For example, you can drive for maybe 180km/h, but you can't sustain that speed for long without causing mechanical or thermal damage to the car. In the same way, the peak power level can only be maintained for a fraction of a second, although theres no clear definition of how long.

If the unit is subjected to constant peak power, the wires may overheat, which could quickly damage the voice coils.

RMS Power vs. Peak Power

When shopping around, you'll notice that some manufacturers rate their products' power-handling capabilities using either the peak watts rating or RMS rating, while most use both values. For example, a unit can be rated at 150 W while another brand may be advertised at 75 W.

At first glance, one might be tempted to think that the former is better because its rated at a higher power level than the latter. However, upon a closer look, you may notice that the first product is rated for peak watts while the second one is advertising RMS watts. Typically, a units peak power handling is double the RMS power handling, which basically means that the above products are actually rated the same: 150 W peak/75 W RMS.

Most audio equipment manufacturers, though, prefer to stress more on the peak power rating to make the products look like they deliver more power than theyre capable of. While this may sound convincing, utilizing peak power not only disturbs your neighbors, but also makes your sound equipment depreciate in value, requiring you to replace some parts or buy a new unit altogether. As such, if you want to your speaker to last for years, the figure to look out for is the RMS wattage, the power input at which you should be enjoying your music.

However, when it comes to these technical details, don't get confused by speaker power ratings and amplifier specifications. Amplifiers generate power in an audio system, which is not the case with speakers and subwoofers. Therefore, speaker power ratings refer to the amount of power your speakers can handle from an amplifier. The specifications on the amp, on the other hand, refer to how much power it can produce for maximum audio performance.

Conclusion

Both RMS and peak watts play an important role in your sound system, and theyre vital when comparing your speakers with amplifiers or subwoofers. When matching speakers or subwoofers to amplifiers, you should compare either two RMS values or two peak ratings.

Therefore, one should not get confused when comparing peak and RMS ratings. This will ensure that you'll get the best out of each component. If the power outputs arent correctly matched, the components can overheat and create a couple of other issues. However, its important to stress that you should always use RMS ratingsnot peak wattagewhen matching and comparing gear.

David M. Foster is Head of Content at SpeakerChampion.

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Custom built in 2000, complete main floor renovation w/high quality finishes in 2017-2018. Main level features 12' ceilings, ceramic tile, 8' doors, sep office, master w/frpl, luxury bath w/jet tub & sep shower. The kitchen/great rm & brkfst room is fabulous w/brkfst bar that seats 8, sep center island w/quartz counters, GE Cafe SS appl & over-sized Eletrolux refrig. A new gas frpl, large butler pantry/wet bar, w/wine fridge & ice maker, walks out to composite deck overlooks level lot backing to Des Peres Park.Sep DR, mud rm, laundry rm & 2 1/2 baths finish the main floor. The extensive finish LL w/8-9' ceilings, most at or above grade, 3 BR's, walk-in closets, 2 full baths, bar w/fridge & DW, fam rm w/movie screen w/rear projector, pool & game table (negotiable), sep work-out room & 2nd laundry room. Zoned HVAC, tank-less WH, carpet (Nov '19), plantation shutters, alarm system, surround sound, irrigation system & 3 car garage are just some of the amenities to this amazing home!

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HOUSTON Budget retailers T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and HomeGoods sold 19 different recalled products after they were recalled between 2014 and 2019, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced this week.

The recall involves about 1,200 units of recalled products from rocking sleepers to speakers. In the case of the infant sleepers involved in the recall, multiple children have died in cases linked to the products use.

The CPSC and TJX Companies Inc. advised that people should stop using the recalled products immediately and contact the recalling firms to receive the remedy listed in the recall, which is either a refund, replacement or repair.

TJX said in a statement issued to one news outlet:

At TJX, product safety is very important to us. We deeply regret that in some instances, recalled products were not properly removed from our sales floors despite the recall processes that we had in place. We are taking appropriate steps to strengthen these processes moving forward. We apologize to our customers and encourage anyone who believes they may have one of these products to participate in the recall."

The CPSC advises consumers to contact the recalling companies listed below directly. Go to the Recall Details section for the remedy. T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, and HomeGoods can be reached as follows:

T.J. Maxx at 800-926-6299 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.tjmaxx.com then click on Contact Us at the bottom of the page.

Marshalls at 888-627-7425 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.marshalls.com and click on Contact Us at the bottom of the page.

HomeGoods at 800-888-0776 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.homegoods.com and click on Customer Service at the bottom of the page.

Here are the products:

Inclined Sleeper Accessory for Ultra-Lite Day & Night Play Yards Recalled by Fisher Price

Recall Date: June 27, 2019

Original Sale Dates: October 2014 through June 2019

Hazard: Infant fatalities have been reported while using other inclined sleep products, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 19-151)

Contact: Fisher-Price online at http://www.service.mattel.com and click on Recalls & Safety Alerts or at 800-432-5437 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Portable Speakers Recalled by ION Audio

Recall Date: May 21, 2019

Original Sale Dates: March 2016 through March 2019

Hazard: Hydrogen gas can leak from the portable speaker battery when charging and the speaker can burst, posing an explosion hazard.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 19-124)

Contact: ION Audio toll-free at 833-682-0371 from 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at http://www.ionaudio.com and click on recalls located at the top of the page.

Rocking Sleepers Recalled by Kids II

Recall Date: April 26, 2019

Original Sale Dates: March 2012 through April 2019

Hazard: Infant fatalities have occurred in the Rocking Sleepers, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 19-112)

Contact: Kids II toll-free at 866-869-7954 from 8 a.m.to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit http://www.kids2.com and click on IMPORTANT RECALL INFORMATION.

Rock n Play Sleepers Recalled by Fisher-Price

Recall Date: April 12, 2019

Original Sale Dates: 2009 through April 2019

Hazard: Infant fatalities have occurred in Rock n Play Sleepers, after the infants rolled from their back to their stomach or side while unrestrained, or under other circumstances.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 19-105)

Contact: Fisher-Price online at http://www.service.mattel.com and click on Recalls & Safety Alerts or toll-free at 866-812-6518 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday.

Glass & Ceramic Drawer Knobs Recalled by TJX

Recall Date: December 13, 2018

Original Sale Dates: October 2015 through October 2018

Hazard: The glass and ceramic drawer knobs can break or shatter when pulled, posing a laceration hazard.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 19-050)

Contact: T.J. Maxx at 800-926-6299 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday or online at http://www.tjmaxx.com and click on Contact Us at the bottom of the page. Marshalls toll-free at 888-627-7425 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday or online at http://www.marshalls.com and click on Contact Us at the bottom of the page. HomeGoods at 800-888-0776 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday or online at http://www.homegoods.com and click on Customer Service at the bottom of the page.

Bistro Chairs Recalled by Jimco

Recall Date: September 11, 2018

Original Sale Dates: January 2018 through June 2018

Hazard: The chairs seat can break, posing a fall hazard.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 18-219)

Contact: Jimco Lamp & Manufacturing Company at 800-643-0092 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at http://jimcolamp.com/ and click on Recall Information at the bottom of the page.

Swivel Barstools Recalled by TJX

Recall Date: September 6, 2018

Original Sale Dates: September 2017 through December 2017

Hazard: The wood joints on the barstool can break, posing a fall hazard.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 18-216)

Contact: HomeGoods at 800-888-0776 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.homegoods.com and click on Customer Service at the bottom of the page. Marshalls toll-free at 888-627-7425 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.marshalls.com and click on Customer Service at the bottom of the page. T.J. Maxx at 800-926-6299 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.tjmaxx.com then click on Contact Us at the bottom of the page.

Childrens Cardigan Sets Recalled by Carters

Recall Date: May 2, 2018

Original Sale Dates: July 2017 through March 2018

Hazard: The cardigans toggle button can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 18-148)

Contact: Carters Consumer Affairs department at 800-692-4674 from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.carters.com and click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the page.

Sharper Image and Frigidaire Mandoline Slicers Recalled by Premier Kitchen

Recall Date: May 1, 2018

Original Sale Dates: May 2017 through April 2018

Hazard: The small blades in the julienne slicer attachment can separate from the plastic assembly, posing a laceration hazard.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 18-147)

Contact: Premier Kitchen Products at 800-304-4035 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, email at recall@pkpny.com or online at http://www.pkp-recall.com.

Glass Beer Mugs Recalled by TJX

Recall Date: July 13, 2017

Original Sale Dates: May 2017 through June 2017

Hazard: The glass beer mug can break if heated or used with hot liquid, posing burn and laceration hazards.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 17-187)

Contact: HomeGoods at 800-888-0776 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.homegoods.com and click on Product Info/Recalls at the bottom of the page.

Coffee Presses Recalled by Bradshaw International

Recall Date: May 16, 2017

Original Sale Dates: July 2016 through March 2017

Hazard: The glass beakers of the coffee presses can break during normal use, posing a laceration hazard to users.

Remedy: Replace (see Press Release #: 17-153)

Contact: Bradshaw International toll-free at 877-614-9571 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. PT Monday through Friday or online at http://www.bradshawintl.com and click on Recalls.

Oball Rattles Recalled by Kids II

Recall Date: March 2, 2017

Original Sale Dates: January 2016 through February 2017

Hazard: The clear plastic disc on the outside of the oball rattles can break, releasing small beads, posing a choking hazard to young children.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 17-104)

Contact: Kids II toll-free at 800-230-8190 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit http://www.kidsii.com and click on Recalls at the bottom of the page.

Cutlery Knives Recalled by Calphalon

Recall Date: February 22, 2017

Original Sale Dates: September 2008 through December 2016

Hazard: The blade on the Contemporary Cutlery knives can break during use, posing a laceration hazard.

Remedy: Replace (see Press Release #: 17-092)

Contact: Calphalon at 800-809-7267 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.calphalon.com and click on Customer Support at the bottom of the page.

Self-balancing Scooters/Hoverboards Recalled by Swagway

Recall Date: July 6, 2016

Original Sale Dates: September 2015 through March 2016

Hazard: The lithium-ion battery packs in the self-balancing scooters/hoverboards can overheat, posing a risk of the products smoking, catching fire and/or exploding.

Remedy: Repair (see Press Release #: 16-211)

Contact: Swagway toll-free at 844-299-0625 from 9 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or online at https://swagway.com and click on Product Recall.

Foldable Lounge Chairs Recalled by TJX

Recall Date: May 25, 2016

Original Sale Dates: During March 2016

Hazard: The chairs can collapse unexpectedly, posing a fall and injury hazard.

Remedy: Refund (see Press Release #: 16-174)

Contact: T.J. Maxx at 800-926-6299 from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or online at http://www.tjmaxx.com then click on Product Recalls at the bottom of the page or Marshalls toll-free at 888-627-7425 or online at http://www.marshalls.com and click on Customer Service at the bottom of the page.

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T.J. Maxx, Marshalls and Home Goods sold 19 recalled products, some deadly, after they were recalled, CPSC says - KPRC Click2Houston

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If you open your closet doors to find an environment that feels like an interrogation room or a black hole well, you can do better. The goal is to find a lighting solution that helps maximize your closets potential as useful storage and also makes it the most attractive space it can be within your home. The good news is that its easier than ever to make both of those things happen simply and at an affordable price.

To find the best closet lighting ideas, we reached out to the pros to learn how to choose closet light fixtures that make the space safe (i.e., not a fire hazard), bright, and functional. Heres how to choose the best closet lighting, according to interior design experts.

Fluorescent lighting is still a popular choice for closets because it runs cool and is energy efficient. Erin Strasen, an interior designer for the online home refresh resource Spoak, recommends them for those reasons but with caveats. With all the lightbulb options out there, fluorescent bulbs are a good middle ground if youre looking for something that lasts but isnt overly expensive. However, she adds, A consideration with fluorescent bulbs is what to do with them when they do burn out. You have to dispose of these at specific drop-off sites, so theyre higher maintenance in the long run.

That's one reason you might consider light-emitting diode bulbs (LEDs), she says. If you own your home, or youre willing to take your lightbulbs with you when you leave your rental, then LEDs are the way to go, Strasen recommends. Theyre more expensive up front but they are better at mimicking a traditional incandescent bulb, which is by far the most flattering light because the warm glow prevents colors from feeling stark and washed out.

Brittany Zachos of Zachos Design Group in Westchester, New York, also suggests LEDs specifically, ones that allow you to select the color temperature. I like to recommend a color between 2,500 and 3,500 kelvins, she says.

While Strasen suggests battery-operated or rechargeable light fixtures in situations where hard wiring a light fixture is cost prohibitive. However, the added expense for hard wiring can be worth it. A hard-wired light fixture offers more flexibility since you don't have to depend on an outlet and its always nice to not be concerned with batteries or recharging a fixture, she says.

Zachos agrees when considering the tradeoff. I think a battery-powered light or pendant that is plugged into the wall is best in reading nooks or art accent lighting an area where you arent using it every day, she says. Otherwise I think it is worth the investment to have an electrician install a hardwired light.

LE

She also suggests another option that costs little but offers a great solution: LED tape lighting. The color temperature can be selected, and its a very affordable option, she says.

The tape can be run along a door frame or up above closet shelving and some even come with remote controls. Since it is LED, it can last a lot longer than a fluorescent or battery-operated light. And they can be concealed, so it is a nice accent for a smaller closet.

Strasen is another fan of LED strip lights. You can stick them anywhere and cut them to the length you need Just make sure you secure the plug somewhere easily accessible so you can turn them on and off [easily]. They do require a plug, but the cables are often thin so you can snake the cord outside your closet to the nearest outlet.

Of course, no matter which choice you make with bulbs and fixtures, youll want to keep safety a top priority. Although the regulations vary, its always a good idea to allow at least 12 inches of space between a light fixture and the items being stored if you want to play it extra safe, Strasen says. Most building code regulations require that you stay away from exposed or bare bulbs as well. When in doubt, consult an electrician or the latest version of the National Electrical Code.

Zachos gives a simple rule of thumb. Any fixture that has an exposed bulb can get too hot," she says. "It is best to use a light fixture that is concealed with a glass or cover.

... consider functionality, Strasen advises. If youre lucky enough to have a walk-in closet, then you probably want two options for lighting: a dim option for when youre winding down for the night and just need enough light to find your way around, and a brighter option that lets you double-check that the sweater youre wearing is, in fact, navy and not black.

But form matters just as much, she says, and closet lighting should be pretty and appealing, too. Flattering light is always nice in larger closets with mirrors. Downlights directly overhead cast unflattering shadows so make sure your light is well placed and ideally coming from more than one source to avoid looking ghoulish, she notes. If you have a dresser in a large closet, consider styling it with a light both for functionality purposes and to make the space feel cozy."

Ultimately, you'll want to choose a safe set of lights that appeals to your design sensibilities. "Lights are just objects when theyre turned off," Strasen says, "and theyre a great opportunity to show your personality.

Excerpt from:
How to Choose the Best Closet Lighting - Closet Light Fixture Ideas - GoodHousekeeping.com

Boasting beautifully restored hardwood floors and rustic floor to ceiling barn doors, this home is the perfect blend of modern and historic charm. It offers two bedrooms, two bathrooms, a detached two car garage, a large fenced in backyard and is close to town. The bathrooms have been remodeled to include stunning tile showers and floors. The kitchen has also undergone a full renovation, featuring two-tone cabinets, open shelving, and stainless steel appliances. The washer and dryer are also staying with the home. This home has had many updates including: water heater (2014), windows and siding (2015), electric wiring (2015), plumbing (2015), ductwork (2015), privacy fence (2015), remodeled kitchen (2015). remodeled bathrooms (2015), drywall (2016), roof (2017), doors and trim (2017), refinished hardwood floors (2019). Call to make your appointment to see this one of kind property today.

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The open living room and 48" hallways is easily accessible for a wheelchair users in the Gill family's ADA-compliant home in Naperville, Illinois. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

The open living room and 48" hallways is easily accessible for a wheelchair users in the Gill family's ADA-compliant home in Naperville, Illinois. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

The open living room and 48" hallways is easily accessible for a wheelchair users in the Gill family's ADA-compliant home in Naperville, Illinois. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

The open living room and 48" hallways is easily accessible for a wheelchair users in the Gill family's ADA-compliant home in Naperville, Illinois. (Stacey Wescott/Chicago Tribune/TNS)

Homes with accessibility are in great demand, but that doesn't mean they're easy to find

Matthew Gill, 25, was 19 years old when he jumped into the Rock River in Wisconsin. He dove in, not realizing the depth of the water he was diving into, and hit his head, according to his father, Bill Gill.

Matthew's spinal cord injury put him in a wheelchair for the rest of his life.

The accident changed the trajectory of the Gill family in many ways, including in terms of housing. Matthew's childhood home in Lisle, Illinois, was no longer conducive to his new mobility. The split-level, five-bedroom, three-bath residence was too small.

"I am in a wheelchair, full time we got a chair lift put in. I would transfer to that and use that up the stairs and someone would have to bring up the wheelchair," Matthew said.

"That led to a lot of frustration for my son early on," Bill said.

And despite Bill being in the real estate industry for 32 years, his experience and expertise did not make it easier to find a home that was compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

When the Gills started looking for homes, they wanted to stay in their current school district for their youngest daughter (then in elementary school). But after looking at "hundreds of homes online" and viewing about 80 homes in person -- seeking residences with first floor masters or ranch homes that could be remodeled -- and not finding anything suitable with the help of colleagues and competitors, Bill, Baird & Warner's branch manager in Naperville, Illinois, decided to design and build their own home.

"Some of the homes just needed so much work," he said. "And we were doing all of this with everything else going on -- trying to work, a sixth grader, three kids in college, and then Matt. The entire family was just devastated at this injury."

But before their custom home was built, a six-bedroom, 4.5-bath home in Naperville became available. The Gills remodeled and moved in during March 2015.

"The house was about the same floor plan that we were designing and yet buying it was half the cost of building a house," Bill Gill said. "And the modifications we did were about half the cost of what any other house we looked at would have been."

The modifications entailed:

Taking out a pantry to add a vertical platform lift for Matthew's wheelchair (A cross between an elevator and a forklift, it doesn't require inspections like an elevator).

Hardwood floors.

A bedroom with a fan, thermostat and lights controlled by Matt's phone

A video-monitoring system to see who is coming up the walk/driveway.

A roll-in luxury shower.

Custom bathtub.

Custom-built vanity.

Hallways and doorways that are wider than his 28-inch chair.

No steps in the house, including to the outside deck.

A refrigerator with shallow shelves and wide doors, so he can reach all the shelves.

A kitchen island that allows Matt access to the oven and stove.

A three-car garage with a ramp that allows Matt direct access to the house.

Bill says these are all things that you don't think about until you have to.

"This is where the real challenge lies: Accessible means different things to different people. To some people it means a ranch home, but it might be a ranch home with steps down to the family room. The biggest problem is defining what exactly an accessible home is. Here, Matthew can get into every room in the house," he said.

Options for aging in place

The Gills aren't alone in their search for a home centered around a loved one's mobility needs. While they were looking for a home that provided a new normal for them, others may be looking to age in place and add features to their living space. According to the Housing America's Older Adults 2019 report released by Harvard University's Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS), just 3.5% of all U.S. homes had basic accessibility features, including grab-bars or handrails in the bathroom, extra-wide hallways and doors, and a bedroom on the entry level, in 2011. Given that mobility and other difficulties increase with age, the report projects many older homeowners will need to make accessibility improvements if they want to remain in their homes.

"We have been doing a lot more jobs where we're basically getting houses more accessible as our clients age," said Bob Zuber, a partner at Morgante Wilson Architects. "I think we're also seeing a lot of in-laws staying with clients and getting that ready to go. We're talking about bigger bathrooms, elevators, wider hallways, and first floors that are closer to ground level with the possibility of ramps integrated into the landscape or into the front porch."

Knowing a client's needs means fewer broad strokes and more specificity when it comes to finding or designing for one's accessibility, says Dave Ernst, a principal with Morgante who designed Susan and Jon Newsome's Winnetka, Wisconsin, residence to adhere to Jon's myotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) needs. Their home includes:

A ceiling-mounted lift system that uses a sling to transport Jon between the master bedroom and bath, which features an ADA-compliant vanity and tub/wet room area.

Wide halls and doorways that accommodate wheelchair accessibility.

An elevator that accesses the basement and second floor.

A main hallway that transverses the center of the home and provides access to all major first-floor living spaces. (A reinforced handrail is gracefully incorporated into the hallway's wainscot paneling chair rail.)

Jon, 77, was diagnosed in 2010 and is completely immobile now. Susan said that although they had some idea of what adaptations the house would need, architects were helpful in the research that they provided. Communication is key too.

"It's important that they find out what that person is going to need based upon their lifestyle and what they want to do," she said.

Ernst said the Newsomes brought the idea of the lift system to Morgante when designing. He also said Morgante is currently working on homes for 30-somethings that will leave room for accessibility features to be added when the time comes.

Matthew is now working toward becoming a full-time financial adviser; and "getting ever so slightly tolerant of his situation," per his dad. Matthew said he and his brother are talking about eventually moving into a Chicago apartment together. One possibility for an accessible space is 640 N. Wells St., which has 30 ADA-compliant units with roll-in showers, kitchen countertops and cabinetry that can be lowered to fit the needs of the resident and electrical wiring to allow for notification systems for those who are deaf, according to Ericka Rios, leasing director and co-founder of Downtown Apartment Co., a matchmaker for buildings and renters.

Bill looks back and says networking with more people in the same situation is essential when looking for and preparing to buy an accessible home. Finding out what worked and what didn't work for other individuals and their different experiences would have prepared the Gills a bit more for their circumstances.

"Finding resources to help you -- people who have gone there before -- that's the biggest thing," Bill said. "I felt like we were doing that, but the bottom line is we were not doing it enough. You need more perspectives and input and that's going to be the best help you can get. You'll see themes. If you talk to six people and they tell you the same thing, you better listen. The more you interact and the more you network, the more it helps you."

When looking for accessible homes, Zuber recommends focusing on properties with most of the living space on one level; doorways that are oversized; and 5-foot diameter spaces for wheelchair turnaround.

"A lot of people aren't familiar with what the requirements are, so we educate them so that they know why we are providing those extra spaces," Ernst said. "Giving clients exactly what they want and need, making it less of a house and more of a home."

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Homes with accessibility are in great demand, but that doesn't mean they're easy to find - Manistee News Advocate

If youre looking to add smart connectivity to your Christmas tree, any holiday lights, or pretty much anything else in your house that isnt already connected to your phone or a voice assistant, this is the deal for you. Use the coupon code 40BG3TCZ at checkout and you can snag a 4-pack of Aoycocr Mini WIFI Smart Plugs for an all-time low of just $19.79. At that price youre paying just $4.95 apiece for smart plugs that work with an iPhone or Android app, Alexa, Google Assistant, and IFTTT without the need to buy a separate hub. This price is absolutely unheard-of, and the deal wont be around much longer. Make sure you use this link to get them though, because the seller has to be XZLB-US or else the coupon code wont work.

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Along with Genie, Chamberlain is one of the big two garage door opener manufacturers, offering equipment under its own brand name as well as the popular LiftMaster and Craftsman brands. As such, it stands to reason that it would have some idea of how to make high-quality smart garage door technology. Turns out, that instinct is correct.

The Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Hub supports a wide range of openers from a multitude of brands, but youll need to check myQs fine print to determine exactly whether your opener is compatible. Since I have recent-model Liftmaster openers in my home, I encountered no compatibility issues.

Unlike some other brands, the myQ Smart Garage Hub is completely wireless. You only need to plug it into wall power and attach a sensor to the door. In essence, the myQ system works just like any other add-on garage door remote control, pairing directly with your opener hardware via the learn button. Once paired, you can communicate with the hub via myQs mobile app in order to send a wireless signal to the opener, telling it to open or close.

Because no additional wiring is necessary, setting up the myQ is quite simple. Unbox and plug in the hub unit, mount the wireless sensor on the door with Velcro and sticky tape, and press the learn button when instructed. After also creating an account through the myQ mobile app and pairing the hub with your Wi-Fi network, the process is complete. I didnt experience a single hiccup along the way.

Chamberlain provides a mounting bracket and screws to let you affix the controller to the ceiling, but it works just as well in a less permanent configuration.

The myQ app is relatively self-explanatory, though it provides two ways to organize your garage doors, either with a single large opener button front and center or with all the openers on the same page. This isnt exactly unusual, except for the fact that in order to open a door, you must tap the open icon just once in one of these views, and double-tap it if youre in another view. At first, I thought the system wasnt working when single taps failed to open the door, only to realize my error after a little experimentation.

One myQ hub can manage two compatible garage-door openers, but the price tag for the second sensor is a whopper.

The myQ system feature set includes the ability to set up alerts when a door is opened, closed, or stopped in between, as well as the ability to set up schedules. There is no automatic close feature included. My only complaint is that each alert must be manually configured, and the interface for setting up these alerts isnt the friendliest. If you want alerts to warn when a door has been opened, closed, and left open for a certain amount of time, you must manually create three different alerts.

The good news is that these all worked fine in my testing, and myQs logging system made it easy to keep track of everything that was going on.

When you use the app to close a garage door, youll immediately discover the most common complaint about the system: A loud beeping that lasts for a full 30-plus seconds (in my case, continuing until well after the door was completely shut).

This is of course a safety feature designed to alert anyone standing under the door that its about to shut on them, but it is nonetheless a grating nuisanceand many homeowners will find it simply unnecessary given the safety features that may already be built into their opener. As there is absolutely no way to turn the alarm off, some owners have actually taken to cutting the wire to the speaker to shut the thing up.

Thats a small drawback on an otherwise amazingly capable controller, and its list of additional features is impressive. Key among these is the fact that you can use a single hub to control two doors. Be wary when you shop for that additional sensor, though, as there are two models. This $25 model (at Amazon) controls this garage hub and another model, but it was out of stock at press time. This other model costs $60 at Amazon and controls only the garage hub reviewed here. I tried the former configuration in my home and had no trouble at all with it.

If you dont mind giving a delivery person access to your garage, the myQ system is compatible with the Amazon Key in-home delivery service.

The myQ system also supports the new Amazon Key delivery platform, and its building its own ecosystem of myQ-branded gear and third party products that work with the system. With add-ons like the myQ light switch, you can sync a switch to activate along with the garage door. In other words, you can have a light in the stairwell illuminate when you come home in the dark. (These accessories are a bit more liberally priced.)

Its also worth noting that myQ works with HomeKit and Wink, but not SmartThings. The system is also not compatible Alexaat least not officially. Both IFTTT and Google Assistant support are now free for a limited time. (Previously you had to pay $1 per month to use myQs IFTTT channel or connect to Google Assistant.) Heres hoping that limited time remains in place for the long haul.

In the final analysis, myQs outstanding capabilities and rock bottom price make it a no-brainer, top-tier choice in the smart garage controller field. If your system is compatible, I wouldnt hesitate to recommend it.

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Chamberlain myQ Smart Garage Hub review: The smart garage controller to beat is also the least expensive - TechHive