Janet and Lawrence Rosman had a dream starting their own business and eventually retiring comfortably.

Then Lawrence died unexpectedly at 51, the victim of a tragic accident and complications that followed.

"At that point, I didn't know what I was doing," Janet, now 50, said.

That was over a year ago.

Today, Janet has fulfilled their dream by owning and operating a mobile floor covering business based in Wellford.

Called Floor Coverings International, Janet says she grieved the loss of her husband of 30 years, and then decided to move forward.

"He was my biggest cheerleader and always had more confidence in me than what I had," she said. "He loved to make everyone laugh, but he'd make you work. The thing I missed most was always knowing he was there."

Janet, a graduate of Dorman High School, met Lawrence, a Chapman High graduate when she was 18 and he was 20. They soon married, and then had two children, a daughter who is now 16 and son who is 19.

He worked for many years at Milliken & Company and later with BMW Manufacturing for 25 years.

Janet worked part-time jobs while Lawrence helped put her through college. She studied psychology at the University of South Carolina Upstate then earned an associate degree in accounting at Spartanburg Community College.

She went to work for Copac Global Packaging in Spartanburg, then Electric City Print Company in Anderson.

In 2001, she went to work at Grace Management Group in Spartanburg, a locally owned company that makes, sells and markets fragrances worldwide.

Her responsibilities included marketing and product development, and she flew to different cities in the U.S. and around the world to set up marketing teams.

Then in early 2019, she decided she was ready for a career change.

"I was sitting back and thought, what am I doing?" she said.

Lawrence, meanwhile, was happy with his job in the body shop at BMW, but both began talking about venturing out on their own.

They explored various franchise businesses and looked hard at a flooring franchise opportunity.

At that point, they already had been in their home in Campobello and began to look ahead to their eventual retirement.

After visits to Floor Coverings International headquarters in Georgia, they learned they could obtain the franchise for Greenville and Spartanburg counties, build it up, then sell it for a profit.

"In the grand scheme of things, that sounded like a great thing," Janet said.

Norcross, Georgia.-based Floor Coverings International has been ranked as the top mobile flooring franchise in North America by Entrepreneur Magazine, with nearly 200 franchisees.

One day in September 2019, Lawrence was trimming a limb on a large oak tree outside their home when a strong gust of wind knocked the limb onto the ladder, and he fell on his back, breaking five ribs and puncturing a lung, she said.

He was taken to the hospital emergency room, treated, then sent home.

Within a couple of days, he began having a hard time breathing and had no appetite. He returned to the hospital, was placed on a ventilator,then told he was paralyzed, she said.

She said it was later determined he suffered post-traumatic Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorder in which the body's immune system attacks its nerves, eventually causing paralysis.

He died on Nov. 16, 2019, surrounded by his family. And he was not without friends.

"Everybody that met him loved him to death," Janet said. "At his service in November, there were over 1,000 people. We are all humbled, holding tears back, that he had made such an impact on everybody."

A couple of months passed, and the executives at Floor Coverings contacted Janet to see if she was still interested in obtaining the franchise.

She said she wasn't yet ready and decided to take a long-awaited vacation to Europe with her children.

"They held the territory for me until I was ready," she said of Floor Coverings. "That went a long way with me. I chose to start up in September (2020)."

She has since worked hard to build up the business, meeting with homeowners and builders, insurance and real estate companies, to provide for their flooring needs from hardwood and luxury vinyl to carpet, tile and even backsplashes.

"I have a mobile showroom," she said. "All samples are in a Ford transit van. I'm able to meet the customer at their place. My job is to realize what they're trying to put into their home or business."

She orders the floor coverings from a manufacturer, hauls away the old flooring, and then installs the new flooring.

"Business is going well," she said. "It's a little overwhelming getting started, but they (the home office) help guides you.

Kristen Kelley, who previously worked for Janet at Grace Management Group, is now office and project manager for Janet.

"I honestly would work for her anywhere," she said. "She is one of the best examples of just a hard worker, to the point where you want to try the best you can to be like her. She leads by example. She's hustling just as hard as you are."

Kelley said she offered support to Janet after Lawrence's accident and again after he died.

"Opening this company here is what she and her husband wanted to do together," Kelley said. "When he passed, that was obviously devastating.

"It has showedhow nothing can slow her down in the sense of meeting her dreams, her responsibility for the kids, and wanting a good life for them. She wants to succeed to make him proud."

Longtime friend Bryan Lawson said Janet helped set up the office at his business,Lawson Contracting and Construction. She also helped him with the recent startup of a cabinet company, C2C Cabinets (Concept to Completion).

She's highly motivated and determined that when she sets her mind to something, it's going to get done," Lawson said. "She's a very unique individual. She rises to the occasion.

"She took what was a tragic situation and started a new chapter in her life. She did it with a relentless attitude and work ethic. She's a definite inspiration."

Contact Bob Montgomery at bob.montgomery@shj.com

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Spartanburg woman overcomes tragic death of husband to launch dream business they planned - Spartanburg Herald Journal

A nearly 100-year-old New York mansion that once belonged to Robin Gibb of The Bee Gees was listed last week for $12.9 million.

Located in the Long Island village of Lloyd Harbor, the seven-bedroom, 10-bathroom home has views of Oyster Bay and Cold Spring Harbor, 500 feet of water frontage and a 200-foot pier with a deep dock, according to listing agent Bonnie Williamson of Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty. She shares the listing with Lauryn Koke, also of Sothebys.

It has always been a very special house, Ms. Williamson said. Its name, Kenjockety is an American Indian name for far from noise, which gives you a sense of the privacy that you have there.

In addition, the red brick, ivy-covered home has been meticulously restored over the last several years. About $7.5 million was spent in the process, according to Sothebys.

Everything was done over the top, Ms. Williamson said, adding that keeping the integrity of the house was a key element of the renovation. The work was done to make it last another 100 years.

Updates include a newly installed mahogany coffered ceiling which matches the original woodwork, custom mahogany closets, Venetian plaster wall treatments and new tilework throughout, according to the listing.

Radiant floor heating has also been added, Ms. Williamson noted, and the plumbing and electrical systems have been replaced. The kitchen received an overhaul as well, and now features all-new Wolf and SubZero appliances, custom cabinetry with granite counters and a new breakfast room overlooking the water.

The breakfast room that was added on to the kitchen is all window walls, so that definitely makes the kitchen nice and bright, Ms. Williamson explained.

A winter garden room allows guests and residents to soak up the light among the indoor plants, listing photos show. Outside, the manicured grounds include two greenhouses, mature gardens and a Gunite pool. The pier has been restored and the concrete seawall was rebuilt, Ms. Williamson noted.

Theres also a separate one-bedroom cottage and a four-car garage.

The home was listed in early December, according to records. It was removed from the market on Jan. 14 and relisted at the end of January. It last traded in 2011 for $7.8 million, property records show. The current owner was unavailable for comment.

Built by architect Bertram G. Goodhue in 1926, the mansion has only had six owners over the years. Gibb, one of the three brothers in the Bee Gees, which thrived in the disco era, owned the property until around 1983, according to a 2006 New York Times article. The musician died in 2012.

The Long Island Press first reported the listing.

Continued here:
Long Island, New York, Home With 200-Foot Pier Listed for $12.9 Million - Mansion Global

Louise Meire Dunn had a good answer for an IRS employee asking about a nonprofit organization she was creating to promote the legacy of her artist mother.

Louise told him anyone living in Washington, D.C., who needs a drivers license has to go to the Municipal Center, where theyll see an 80-foot-long outdoor frieze designed by Hildreth Meire, a mural painter, architectural decorator and Dunns mother.

She noted Meires artistic work also is prominently displayed at the National Cathedral and National Academy of Sciences in Washington.

The organizations application for nonprofit designation was soon approved. I will never forget that phone call, Louise said.

The Stamford-based International Hildreth Meire Association, formed in 2005, highlights Meieres accomplishments through a website, lectures, articles, social media, written and photographic archives, preservation support and other activities. A future goal is to make a one-hour documentary about Meire.

Louise serves as the groups president, while her daughter, Hildreth Meire Dunn, known as Hilly, is vice president. Both live in Stamford. A board of directors and an advisory board provide guidance.

Meire, who lived from 1892 to 1961, is perhaps best known for the three Dance, Drama, Song circular relief sculptures on the 50th Street facade of Radio City Music Hall in Manhattan.

She completed more than 100 commissions in her lifetime for government entities, businesses, universities, museums, Catholic churches, other religious institutions and private residences. They appear on building walls and ceilings throughout the United States.

The Nebraska State Capitol and St. Bartholomews Church, Temple Emanu-El and One Wall Street bank building, all in New York City, feature some of her more prominent compositions. So do Rockefeller Center and St. Patricks Cathedral. She did designs for buildings at the 1939 Worlds Fair.

Her most noted work in Connecticut is a lobby wall mosaic at the Travelers Insurance Co. headquarters in Hartford. She completed altarpieces, murals and sculptures for churches including Sacred Heart in Greenwich, Assumption in Westport, Episcopal of St. Paul and St. James in New Haven, as well as St. Josephs in Canaan and St. Anthony of Padua in Litchfield.

Fairfield University hosted a 2019 exhibit on Meires work focusing on her corporate commissions in Connecticut, New York and New Jersey. Previously, she was the subject of a major show at St. Bonaventure University that then moved to Washington, D.C., and New York City.

Meire primarily lived in New York, working out of a midtown Manhattan studio. She owned a weekend and summer home on Erskine Road in North Stamford in her later years.

According to the association, Meire pioneered a modern approach to murals that broke away from academic tradition, blending varied influences and demonstrating a willingness to explore new materials.

A 2014 book, The Art Deco Murals of Hildreth Meire, called her an unsung hero of Art Deco art and architecture, whose work helped revolutionize 20th century architectural decoration art.

One of the books co-authors, art and architectural historian Kathleen Skolnik, said Meire was extremely versatile in style and subject matter. She worked in many mediums including glass and marble mosaic, tile, terra cotta, tapestry, leather, wood, metal and paint and collaborated well with clients.

Louise first decided to form the nonprofit association to highlight her mother after being urged to do so by someone who heard her speak about Meires accomplishments at a 2003 conference.

A few years later, Louise gave another talk on her mom at an Art Deco Society conference. Audience members werent familiar with Meire.

Skolnik was in the audience that day and had just seen Meires glazed tile frieze at the Washington Municipal Center during a pre-conference tour, but still knew little about her.

I felt this woman was calling to me and that she needs to have more recognition, she said of Meire. Skolniks interest led her to write her book on Meires career.

Meire also was a female pioneer in a male-dominated field, although she wasnt one to emphasize her gender. She knew the challenges women faced because she faced them herself, Skolnik said.

She worked well with male architects, contractors and craftsmen. She often was the only woman on a project, said great-granddaughter and association board member Anna Kupik.

Hilly said Meire was sure to always credit the craftsmen who turned her designs into reality.

Kupik said Meire had the ability to adjust projects due to economic circumstances, client wishes or other reasons, and didnt promote herself to achieve fame.

She did the work because she wanted to be part of buildings in perpetuity, she said.

Meire served as a Naval architectural draftsman during World War I, acquiring many technical skills, and directed an artists committee supporting World War II efforts.

Considered an astute businessperson, she was active with many professional, academic and arts organizations. She founded and led the Liturgical Arts Society, headed the Mural Painters Society and was the first woman appointed to the New York City Art Commission.

She obtained a leadership position at the Architectural League of New York three years after it began allowing women as members. Many commissions were secured through her Architectural League involvement.

Despite her achievements, Meire isnt a household name primarily because architects and buildings usually receive the most attention. Plus, Skolnik said, architectural styles changed to emphasize minimalism rather than ornamental design.

For more information, visit hildrethmeiere.org.

This story has been updated to correct the spelling of Anna Kupiks name.

Brad Durrell is a freelance writer.

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Radio City Music Hall shares a surprising connection with Stamford artist - CT Insider

I am perfectly still. I can't make a sound. My back is in spasm. I huddle with three others behind a bathroom door. Locked inside a Capitol office suite. We are hiding from the source of the roar filtering through the walls. The voices of thousands who want to hurt me.

As a journalist, I've been behind the lens for too many mass casualty events. Am I going to be in one now? Sitting on the floor with my back leaning against the toilet, tile cool through my clothes. Lights are switched off and there are blinds on the window, but even in the cold, overcast day it's bright enough to see.

A colleague gingerly leans over the sill to catch a glimpse of the mob three floors down on the Capitol plaza. He twists the blinds shut with a delicate touch. Quietly. Gasps from a colleague shift my attention. She presses three fingers to her forehead, eyes squeezing shut, a grimace on her face. Crying, but no tears.

Slam. Slam. "Let's f---ing do this"! They're at the door. This. Is. It.

The walls don't feel like protection. They might as well be made of paper. It sounds like these people are in the room with us. They scream and curse. It's deafening. We hear people trying to burst through the door and enter the office suite.

I hear my producer. "Oh God." The adrenaline surge leaves my muscles heavy. My heart beats in my ears. A knot in my stomach holds me down.

I feel like I am finally in the shoes of any number of shooting survivors I've interviewed over the years. Their faces, their experiences blur in my mind. This type of fear is something I never understood as a journalist; to fully grasp it, it must be experienced.

Time stands still.

I think of Parkland. I was there, under the Sawgrass Expressway for weeks -- working, then, for another news organization -- after 17 were shot dead at nearby Marjory Stoneman Douglas High. I talked to the survivors. I got to know parents and friends of the teens whose young lives were cut short. Now, I'm in their place. Those kids hiding in a bathroom, praying that the footsteps would move away.

I see their tears. I hear their sobs. I think of the Pulse nightclub mass shooting in 2016. The call came in the middle of the night. I remember speeding up the Florida turnpike to a place where I used to work in college. Those caught in the nightclub hid in a cramped bathroom too. The horror bubbles over now, it seeps out my eyes, down my cheeks.

The day -- January 6 -- started like any other. The commute to work normal (except for so many Trump flags): 395 to D street to lot 16. The wheels on my cart, loaded with TV gear in bulky black cases, squeak on my push up the steep grade to the Dirksen Senate Office Building. I text my producer, asking if I'll have to get close to the Trump protesters today. I was assigned as "chase crew."

"Nope. We're indoor cats today." A relief. As I push down the tunnel toward the Capitol building, colleagues chatter about the influx of Trump protesters, mainly mask-less. I'll be happy to avoid getting breathed on during Covid -- only will be racing after senators for comment as they proceed in certifying Joe Biden's electoral victory.

I emerge from the tunnel and receive a text. My producer. I need a live shot out any window I can find. I look out from the 3rd floor behind the Senate gallery and see a large sea of red -- clothes, hats, flags. I see a thin bike rack barely holding a mass of people back from the east front plaza.

OK. This is something.

I point my camera out the window as the dam breaks. A flood of people swells and swarms over a barricade and toward the building. It's like a sea of fish escaping a net -- or an invasion.

My fingers can't call the assignment desk fast enough. I get through to the DC line, they tell me I have to call Atlanta. I call CNN headquarters in Atlanta ...Ok. Atlanta sees it. My boss is calling. They need this, NOW.

Other journalists join me looking out the window. There's talk of being evacuated from the third floor hallway to inside the chamber "if they get in." I can hear my producer screaming down the hall. "They've breached!"

Suddenly, a normal day on the Hill is anything but. Police scanner radios in the hallway squawk, "Stay away from exterior windows and doors." I'm defiant, not moving. I keep my eye focused on the crowd from above. I sense running and movement behind me.

My producer is pacing and swearing. My best guess: She's torn between the increasing danger and attempting to organize reporting. My focus is outside. The roar builds.

"Josh?... Josh! ... JOSH!" My producer pleads with me, she peers around the corner.

"What?" I have the shot. I don't understand.

Is this happening? I freeze for what seems like an eternity. I grab my camera off the window and sprint toward her voice. Tunnel vision. It's quiet. I can feel my Nikes grip the old carpet as I round the corner. I see a man at the end of the hall waving me in a door. Jolt, click. We're locked inside.

I often come back to this next moment in my dreams. The sound of shoulders slamming repeatedly into the door. Crash. Bang. "Let's f---ing do this!"

What would it be like to be taken? Would I fight? Would I go passive? Would they kill me? What does it feel like to be beaten and trampled? What does it feel like to have a bullet go through my head? I wrestle with this in my sleep. Sometimes I dream my children are with me and I have to protect them.

The door held. Time seemed to pass. Hours seemed like seconds. It got quiet.

Police came to escort us out. On the trip through the Capitol basement, I smelled tear gas. Hallways normally filled with business suits were now the front lines of war, a staging area for soldiers. Not the Capitol I recognize.

I've focused my lens on any number of terrible news situations over the years. In those moments, the lens protects me. It's work. Not this time. This time I felt the fear so many have tried to explain to me.

Continue reading here:
Is this how I die? - CNN

Dear Ken: We set our thermostat to 67 degrees in the day and 60 at night. Are we saving money? Also, it takes about 1 hours to get it back up to 67 in the morning. Is that too long? Sam

Answer: You definitely are saving heating dollars. I like your temperature spread; a 6- or 7-degree setback at night is about right. If you lower the temperature much more than that, it takes too long to reheat everything. Most modern homes lose about that much over a typical winter night so ideally the furnace wont run until the thermostat kicks up in the morning.

Im concerned, though, that it is taking far too long to reheat the house in the morning. At my place, I recover the 7 degrees in about 30 minutes or so, depending on the outside temperature.

There are many other factors that can affect your recovery time: the square footage of the house, new or old furnace, duct sizing, insulation, good windows, insulated drapes, and on and on.

Change your furnace filter monthly. Also, locate your return air grilles and make sure they arent blocked with furniture. If these fixes dont help, contact an HVAC contractor, so they can check air flow through your furnace.

If you have one of those fresh air ducts that runs cold outside air into the system, ask the contractor if it can be blocked off. The rules have changed, so we can now draw combustion air from the inside spaces. But DO NOT block that duct without this consultation, as you risk letting dangerous fumes into the house if you do it wrong.

Finally, many older houses have a heat duct or two run into the garage. That can sap gobs of energy from your heating system. Anyway, they are now a code violation (it was sort of overlooked 50 or 60 years ago) so they should be permanently sealed. Besides the energy waste they, too, can jeopardize your familys well-being as garage fumes can get sucked inside.

Dear Ken: We are adding exhaust fans as part of our remodeling. Should we run them into the crawl space or attic? Brooke

Answer: The attic is the better choice. Thats because the warmish moist air from the fans has a natural tendency to want to rise. And anyway, the last thing your average crawl space needs is more moisture. In the attic space, youre supposed to run the fan duct outside through a new hole cut in the roof. But for many years, we were allowed to simply point the fan duct directly toward an outside gable or roof vent, without having to cut a new hole to the outside. It seemed to work just fine; Ill leave the choice up to you.

And dont forget to create a flat spot in the duct by curving it level for a foot or so. That will create a water trap that will prevent condensed moisture from running back on to the sheetrock around the ceiling fan.

Dear Ken: We had some loose tiles. I removed them and found moldy drywall. There are studs and insulation behind the wall. How far should I invade to fix this? Sheila

Answer: You should keep going. Like a dentist filling a cavity, you need to go deeper and wider until youve seen all the damage and reach pristine drywall. Then, remove the moldy insulation and sheetrock, and seal it in plastic bags for disposal. If the 2-inch-by-4-inch studs are rotting (a pocket knife penetrates them easily), they will have to replaced.

Once youve dried out the wall cavity, wipe it down with some Clorox and water to kill mold spores. After its dry, apply two or three coats of KILZ or Bullseye 1-2-3 primer sealer. You could use waterproof (green) sheetrock as a replacement, but I prefer the cement-based backer sheathing, like Hardie Board.

Your question is a very timely reminder to the rest of us about maintenance in the bathroom. Even tiny pinholes in and around the tile in tub and shower enclosures can, over time, really cause inordinate damage as you are finding out. Thats why its important to regrout ceramic tile whenever you start to see chunks slough off during normal use. Also, renew the edges of the tile itself (corners and at the tub or shower base) with a good tub and tile sealant. I like the DAP siliconized product, but whichever you choose, do it often say two or three times a year.

Dear Ken: My house is over 90 years old. The furnace and water heater vent through the old brick chimney. Recently, Ive noticed paint peeling on the ceiling around the chimney. There is also some black gunk. Whats going on? Caleb

Answer: It may be melting snow leaking around the tarred flashing at the base of the chimney, or it may be combustion products oozing through the old brick and mortar. Rub some of the black stuff on a finger and smell it.

It will either remind you of tar like you smell when they are repaving the street or it will have a burnt scent. Ill bet its the latter, and that means that the chimney is letting condensation products from the furnace and water heater flue gases back inside the attic and then on to your ceiling.

Its been a requirement for some time that these old chimneys be lined with an aluminum duct, so the fumes go directly up and out, without oozing sideways into the house. That can let carbon monoxide build up in the attic a really hazardous situation for you and your family. Bottom line: Call an HVAC contractor right away to check it out. Ill bet they recommend a chimney liner.

Ken Moon is a home inspector in the Pikes Peak region. His radio show airs at 4 p.m. Saturdays on KRDO, FM 105.5 and AM 1240. Visit aroundthehouse.com

The rest is here:
Around the house: Save money by turning down thermostat at night - Colorado Springs Gazette

"THE BROTHER YEARS" by Shannon Burke (Pantheon Books, 288 pages, $26).

Knoxville author Shannon Burke, who beautifully rendered the American West in his 2015 novel "Into the Savage Country," takes readers to the suburbs of Chicago in his newest work of fiction, the moving and deeply personal "The Brother Years."

Set largely in the 1970s, "The Brother Years" is a reflective, episodic coming-of-age story, told from the point of view of Willie Brennan, a self-proclaimed "lover of books and music and poetry." Throughout the book, Willie, with his (mostly) sensitive persona, recalls difficulties from his turbulent upbringing with his parents and three siblings.

Late in the novel, Willie vows, "I was going to be the one in the family who remembered," but his need to hold onto often painful family memories can be felt from the opening pages. Whether he's recounting an argument over a motorcycle, a father-son boxing match or a gun accident, Burke's protagonist makes it clear that the Brennan household wasn't an easy place to grow up.

The source for most of Willie's home struggles can be traced to two people: his boisterous father and his older, "domineering" brother, Coyle. Willie's father rules the Brennan household with a commanding harshness, insisting the family follow his "religion of maximum effort" known as "The Methods." The pressure these demands including early morning paper routes, extended work at home and rigorous academic pursuits place on Willie causes significant stress to the young narrator. To make matters worse, sibling rivalry between Willie and Coyle escalates into repeated occurrences of physical violence. Home throughout much of "The Brother Years" is a place of conflict and anger.

The Brennans are flawed and sometimes incredibly brutal, but thanks to the meticulous layers Burke gives his characters, they always seem genuine. Stubborn Willie is a captivating voice. Part of his appeal is his honesty about his own flaws. He never fully condemns his family; instead, he often makes himself culpable. The patriarch, who could easily become a villain, transforms slowly into someone much more complex, more fully human. The same can be said for Coyle. He has his moments of cruelty, but thanks to Burke's insistence on treating his characters with respect, he too finds his moments of tender grace.

While "The Brother Years" is very much a rich, character-driven novel, it is also an affecting and consistently challenging study on class dynamics. Willie paints his family's financial status clearly:

"All the houses around us were large and fancy, with red tile roofs and manicured lawns and long curving driveways with multiple expensive cars parked in large garages. Our house didn't fit in at all. It was small, squat and redbrick, with dirt patches in the yard. We had one shower for the six of us. When we got in fights, they spilled out into the yard and all the neighbors peeked out to see what was going on with the weird, poor family in that rich neighborhood."

The Brennans' economic condition clearly marginalizes them and causes Willie and his family to exist in a bubble of otherness. Not only are the Brennans outsiders in their own neighborhood, but they are also viewed as being different at work and at school.

Burke reminds readers that while money undoubtedly grants opportunities, it isn't everything. Hard work and persistence can make dreams possible, too. Through determination, the Brennan kids attend the most prestigious school in the area; Willie gets to prove his athletic talent; and Coyle achieves the seemingly impossible.

The Brennans aren't a perfect family. Their household is chaotic; school is a trial; and work is constant. Yet they never give up. Their story is a stirring testament to the power of resilience.

For more local book coverage, visit Chapter16.org, an online publication of Humanities Tennessee.

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Book review: Knoxville author's 'The Brother Years' is a story of conflict and resilience - Chattanooga Times Free Press

Samsung will host its first Unpacked event of 2021 on Jan. 14.

2021 will bring some earlier-than-normal goodies from Samsung. The South Korean electronics giant sent out invites for its first Unpacked of 2021 to take place at 7 a.m. PT on Jan. 14 -- about a month earlier than last year. It touted "Welcome to the Everyday Epic" as the theme for the event.

"Over the past year, mobile technology has taken center stage in everyday life as people are working remotely and spending more time at home," Samsung said. "The accelerated transition to a mobile-first world brings with it the need for devices that can transform everyday life into an extraordinary experience."

Subscribe to CNET's Mobile newsletter for the latest phone news and reviews.

Samsung is expected to unveil its newest Galaxy S devices at Unpacked, which comes the same week as the all-virtual CES electronics show. This time around, Samsung likely will have three different models of the flagship phone: the 6.2-inch S21, the 6.7-inch S21 Plus and the 6.8-inch S21 Ultra. The devices are expected to look largely the same but have bigger camera modules, boosting their photo and video capabilities.

Samsung may also discontinue its Galaxy Note line this year and replace it with S Pen support on its Galaxy S21 Ultra. Early renders don't show a visible location for a stylus, which may mean it has to be housed separately from the phone when not in use. On Samsung's popular -- but niche -- Note lineup, the stylus slides into the device for storage.

Samsung will also have a press conference at CES on Jan. 11. It's expected to focus on its TV and home appliance businesses for that event, as it has done in past years. Unpacked will be the last day of CES.

A Jan. 14 date for Unpacked comes earlier than normal for Samsung. In the past, the company has typically unveiled its newest flagship phone in February, either slightly before or during theMobile World Congresstrade show and then released the device in March or even April.

Samsung announcedlast year's Galaxy S20 lineupandGalaxy Z Flip foldable on Feb. 11in what wasone of the tech industry's last in-person eventsbefore thenovel coronavirus pandemicforced borders to close and governments to issue stay-at-home orders. TheGalaxy S20 devices, all of which came with5G, began preorders Feb. 21 and hit stores on March 6.

The day after Unpacked,organizers canceled the Mobile World Congress trade showin Barcelona, which was slated for later in February. At the time of that decision, COVID-19 had infected more than 42,000 people and claimed more than 1,000 lives. That number has soared toabout 85 million infections and about 1.8 million deaths, as the world grapples with a crippling new wave of the virus.

Samsung, like most tech companies, has struggled to sell its priceysmartphonesduring the pandemic. While it was one of the first companies to release a phone with 5G,it was surpassed by Huaweias the world's biggest phone maker at a time it normally would have gotten a boost from Galaxy S sales. The Chinese handset maker became the biggest smartphone vendor in the world in the second quarter, the first time in nine years that Samsung orApplehadn't held that title. Analystsexpected Apple to become the world's second-biggest 5G phone vendorin 2020 -- with less than three months of sales. That put Samsung, once the leader with the new connectivity, in third place.

Losing its position at the top of the smartphone market has caused Samsung to make changes, including holding Unpacked about a month earlier than normal. Samsung also hasshifted its plans to deal with changing consumer preferencesduring the pandemic. In September, it introducedintroduced the Galaxy S20 FE, a cheaper model for its flagship smartphone lineup. The phone started at $700 -- or $300 less than the regular S20 costs -- and came as the pandemic prompted demand for less expensive devices.

Samsung overall regained ground in the third quarter toagain become the top smartphone vendorasHuawei struggled to survive amid sanctionsby the US. Samsung in late October reported its highest quarterly revenue ever, thanks to a "significant increase in consumer demand" for itssmartphones, computers and other products.

Tae-moon Roh, Samsung president and head of mobile communications, published a blog post in mid-December with details about the company's plans for 2021. Along with saying the company would share more in January, Roh said Samsung in 2021 would expand its foldable lineup and make the devices "more accessible" -- likely code for lowering prices -- as well as put more emphasis on the camera and video capabilities in its devices. The company will also bring features from its Galaxy Note devices to other phones in its portfolio, which is likely to include S Pen support on its upcoming Galaxy S21 phones.

"We have never believed in a one-size-fits-all mobile experience and we never will," Roh wrote. He added that Samsung is "working on revolutionary advancements in 5G," artificial intelligence and the internet of things "that will redefine the parameters of what mobile can do and give consumers the freedom to tailor their mobile experiences to fit their lives -- not the other way around."

Along with new connectivity capabilities and AI features, Samsung in 2021 plans to make it "easier to quickly locate the things that matter most, from your keys to your wallet -- even your family pet." The company is expected tointroduce physical Tile-style smart trackers, possibly called Galaxy Smart Tags, to help people keep track of their possessions using BlueTooth. Apple has longbeen rumored to be working on its own AirTags, but it hasn't yet unveiled anything in that arena.

Tune back to CNET for full coverage of Samsung's event on Jan. 14.

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Samsung will show off Galaxy S21 at Jan. 14 Unpacked event - CNET

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We asked our contractors what regular maintenance they recommend for homeowners. Preventative maintenance will go a long way in extending the life of the systems and products you have invested in.

Too often we coast along until something breaks. That can lead to large and unexpected repair and replacement bills. Take care of your home and it will serve you well!

Buyer beware: We always caution homeowners choose reputable companies. It is important to choose honest service providers. It is typically not a good idea to hire a provider based on a promotional add offering deep discounts. These promotions are often considered to be lost leaders that give repairman a foot in the door. Make sure you know whose foot is entering your home!

Lets look at what the pros recommend for regular maintenance.

Air conditioning and heating

Have a once-a-year system check. A thorough inspection includes checking the motor, capacitor, connections, coils, refrigerant levels, thermostat accuracy and settings, amp draws, making sure the drain lines are clear and replacing filters (if they are on site). Cost range is $100- $150 per unit, depending on size.

Water treatment

If you have a reverse osmosis system, a once-a-year service is required for a maintenance check and filter change. Have them check your water for hardness while they are there. Cost range is $100-$150, based on the size of the unit.

*A water softener requires regular salt replacement which can be done by the homeowner. Some water treatment companies will refill salt for the homeowner. The cost of salt averages $50-$60 annually for a family of four.

Appliances

Refrigerator: Cleaning condenser coils on your refrigerator once a year will keep the refrigerator from overheating and increase the efficiency of the appliance. Have your serviceman clean the door seals and check for leaks as well. Approximate cost is $180.

Microwave: An annual check of your microwave in recommended to ensure this appliance is not leaking dangerous microwaves. Dryer: Clean dryer and exhaust vent to the outside of the house every two years to help prevent excessive lint buildup, which causes dryer fires.

Roof

Have your roof checked once a year. Most reputable roofers offer free inspections to homeowners and save them from having to climb around on the roof.

The trained eye of a professional can identify existing and potential problems and offer solutions. Some of the things they will be looking for are broken and missing concrete and asphalt tiles, damage and sunburn of foam roofs, quality of underlayment, areas of transition and penetration connections.

Pool equipment

Take a water sample into your local pool supply before swimming season begins. With this sample they can help determine if your pool water needs to be drained.

When you do drain the pool have a pool company inspect the tile and the plaster for damage.

Pool motor: if you havent upgraded to a variable speed motor consider replacing it this year. They are quieter and cheaper to run as they require less energy and chemicals. The initial investment averages $1600.

Electrical system

Your electrical system works hard and most of us take it for granted! Old and neglected panels often do not trip correctly. A once-a-year inspection will keep it running efficient and safely.

An electrician will inspect the control panel breakers, circuits, wire and bus bar. An inspection will cost in the neighborhood of $220.

Replace any smoke detectors that are 10 years old or older.Have the breakers in your box labeled ($150-$300 for the average home)Add a surge protector at the panel (average cost-$340- $450)

Landscape sprinklers and lighting

Having your timer programmed two to four times a year will go a long way in protecting your plants by making sure they have plenty of water. It will also save on wasting water through overwatering.

Dont forget about the timers on your lights as well.

Lights will need to be adjusted based on sunrise and sunset and it is always good to check that wiring is in good condition.

Paint

Have your painter check the interior and exterior paint condition. An annual inspection can keep paint fresh longer by keeping any damage in check. They can keep an eye on caulk and drywall as well.

A general estimate for a house that is 1,600-2,100 square feet would be up to $500 for exterior maintenance and repairs and $250-$300 for the interior paint.

Expect to repaint the exterior of your wood home every 4-7 years. The exterior of a block home will last 12-15 years.

Security systems

Homeowners should also double check that their systems are connected to reliable technology!

For the most secure system you will want your security system to be on a cellular network of 4g or 5g. Approximately 85% of cellular systems are on 3g, technology that will be abandoned in three years.

Make sure you contact your provider to see what their plan is for upgrading your system.

If your security system states that you are on 2g your system that relies on 2g, be advised that it is no longer working as 2g has been abandoned.

If you cancel your landline and it is connected to your security system, your system will no longer work, of course.

Create a home savings account

To budget for repairs we recommend a savings account rather than a home warranty.

In our opinion home warranties often fall short of covering what is needed in the event of major repairs. And with a home warranty you are not able to choose the contractors who will perform the work.

Check out RosieontheHouse.com for contractors and service providers you can trust.

For more do-it-yourself tips, go to rosieonthehouse.com. An Arizona home building and remodeling industry expert for 35 years, Rosie Romero is the host of the Rosie on the House radio program from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturdays on KTAR News 92.3 FM in Phoenix, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. on KAFF-AM (930) in Flagstaff, and 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on KNST-AM (790) in Tucson.

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Budgeting for home maintenance will save you time, trouble in long run - KTAR.com

Multitaskers, this is for you. If you work with multiple apps and windows at once, you might find it frustrating to constantly switch back and forth between those windows. Or maybe, depending on what youre working on, you need to look at two windows at the same time. If youre copying info from one document into a spreadsheet, for instance, it can help to see those two windows side-by-side.

If youre lucky enough to have the space for a dual monitor setup, thats one option. Otherwise, there may be a relatively straightforward way to fix this problem. Apple launched its macOS Catalina operating system with a split screen view function. That means you can fill your screen with two apps without having to resize and drag your windows. If youre using Catalina or a later version, you should be able to access this feature. Heres how.

From the top left of your window, find the red, yellow, and green buttons. Hover over the green button or click and hold it youll see a series of options for viewing your screen.

Image: screenshot: kristin wong

Click on either Tile Window to Left of Screen or Tile Window to Right of Screen and your current window will display on the left or right of your screen, accordingly.

All of the other windows you have open on your Mac will display on the opposite side of your split screen. Click the window you want to display. Now you're in split screen mode.

Image: screenshot: kristin wong

You can now easily toggle between both windows in split screen mode. If you want to open other apps while in split view, open Mission Control using the Mission Control key, F3 on keyboards or the button with the three rectangles on the Touch Bar once the function keys are displayed, or by:

Pressing Control and the up arrow

Swiping up with three or four fingers on your trackpad

Double tap with two fingers on your Magic Mouse

All the other windows you have open will appear. Simply click on them to toggle back and forth between those windows and your split-screen view.

Image: screenshot: kristin wong

Want to switch sides? To move a window from one side to another in split view, drag that window to the other side by clicking anywhere on the gray menu bar of that window. (Keep in mind, in split view mode, the menu bars are hidden by default. But you can move your cursor to the top of the screen and the menu bars will reappear.)

Image: screenshot: kristin wong

Need a little more viewing space on your spreadsheet? To resize the windows, click on the black border between the two screens. Drag your cursor to resize the windows to your liking.

Once youve had your fill of split screen mode, its easy enough to exit. From either window, hover over the top of the screen until the grey menu bar reappears. Click on the green circle button and you will automatically exit split-screen mode. Alternatively, hover and click on Exit Full Screen.

That window will return to its normal view while your second window will remain in full screen mode. Use Mission Control to navigate to that window. Again, hover on the top of the screen to make the gray bar reappear and click on the green button to exit full screen view.

For multitaskers, split screen view is a must-have, but its a useful feature for just about anyone no dual monitor setup necessary.

Continue reading here:
How To Split Screen On Mac - Mashable India

Stacee Lynn Bell seems more at home on the side porch than anywhere inside the rural Montgomery County home she shares with her husband and two dogs.

Its their barndominium, the newest alternative housing craze that follows the much-hyped tiny houses, container homes and treehouse rooms that have captured the imagination of Americans looking for something more interesting than four walls and a roof.

At 56, Bell is entering a new and unexpected phase of her life as the barndo lady, who in a matter of months has parlayed a few comments on social media into a business the Barndominium Co. all during the coronavirus pandemic.

Midyear she was asked to design barndo floor plans for others, and by July her business was operational. By the end of 2020, she had 12 employees with plans to add more in February, and in the meantime, she has designed nearly 150 barndominiums for construction all across the country.

My barndos have flair and style. When Im done, youll never look at a metal building the same way again, said Bell, a Louisiana native who has lived in the Houston area for more than two decades. We take a metal building and make it look good.

Bell and her husband, Oliver 60 and a former Army airborne ranger and Army Reserves major who now owns a crisis consulting firm, Oliver Bell Inc. lived in Houstons Westchase area and wanted a cabin in the country. Looking for affordable options for their 14 acres on the edge of the Sam Houston National Forest, she stumbled onto barndominiums.

A military family, Oliver Bell and the couples two grown daughters are all West Point graduates, and their daughters Alexi and Annette and son-in-law are all serving in the Army now. Even their dogs German shepherds named General Scott and General Patton are a nod to their patriotism.

Theyre the natural evolution of what people used to call shouses shops with living space. People have built them to store everything from RVs and tractors to farm animals. They can be workshops, too, and they have the equivalent of a small apartment with a full bathroom, Stacee said.

Though Stacee has no formal design training, she started sketching ideas for how she would want her own metal barndo to look. The Bells started visiting their property on weekends to clear brush and prepare for construction, but the more they visited, the more they wanted to live there full time in a bigger barndo.

With Stacee operating as general contractor, they started with a workshop with a 725-square-foot apartment and lived in it while they planned and built the 5,200-square-foot home they live in now.

Once a foundation is poured, the shell of a barndo can go up in a week or two, and then the electrical, plumbing and interior finishes continue.

You dont find women, let alone Black women, in this industry, Stacee said. Youll find men who have been doing this. I bring a feminine touch to it I make metal buildings look good.

Her plans for barndos such as her shop/apartment combination cost $1,200 and up and $75,000 to $150,000 to finish, depending on size and height.

Plans for a full home in the 3,000-square-foot range cost $3,200 to $3,500.

The advantages are lower construction costs at about $150 per square foot. Theyre energy efficient, and the interior is completely flexible because the load-bearing walls are all exterior in one-story barndos. (Two-story barndos require some internal support walls.) Also, banks are starting to see their value and are willing to finance them, the Bells said.

The Bells home was designed for a casual, outdoorsy lifestyle, including a side porch that has everything you need except a bathroom: a full outdoor kitchen that includes a built-in pizza oven, a 12-foot island clad in Texas limestone, and a fireplace with a living room and dining area.

This is our favorite room in the house, Stacee said of the covered side porch. Sometimes well sit out here and Oliver will be grilling he does 99 percent of the cooking and Ill have music on or well be watching a game or something, and well ask ourselves, Why did we ever build a house?

Their main living area indoors is a cavernous space with 25-foot ceilings, and you get to that side porch through an automated glass garage door that rolls up for the ultimate indoor-outdoor floor plan. Inside, youll find a large living area, dining area and a kitchen with a 20-foot island with a stainless-steel counter.

The kitchen was designed around a massive antique hutch, which replaces cabinets for dishes and serving pieces.

Stacee understands the difference between a splurge and a save, and loves to note every cost-saving measure or resale-store find. For example, a pot rack in the pantry is really an old ladder she found at Round Top. Blinds in the primary bathroom are made from inexpensive stenciled burlap bags she found on Etsy.com, and the kitchen islands cabinet doors were replaced with cafe-length curtains that she changes out with the season.

She used black-and-white print tile from Home Depot in the pantry and two bathrooms and then found peel-and-stick wallpaper in a similar pattern. Rather than spend $2,200 to apply tile to the risers on the stairs to the second floor, she used the wallpaper, which cost just $170.

A first-floor flex room that Stacee was using as her offices has been adapted to a six-person work station for her employees. Upstairs, theres an oversized multipurpose room and a bedroom with a full bath.

The multipurpose room has plenty of seating, a big-screen TV and a fridge so its easily a home theater. But it also has daybeds two fulls and two queens built into the angle of the roof, so it can be a bunkhouse.

The Bells daughters have used it for that, and Stacee had several girlfriends over once and they all stayed up there, too.

We use every room every day. I think thats what people are looking for now how to make the best use of their space, whether its the kitchen, living room or any other room, said Oliver, whos planning to step away from some of his crisis-management business to help Stacee fully launch the Barndominium Co.

Theyre working hard to keep up with the demand for barndo plans, the voracious appetite of social media and the e-commerce site Stacee plans to launch with links to favorite products by vendors she uses.

There is likely to be a home-goods collection, too, with home accessories designed by Stacee for people who love the rustic barndo lifestyle.

diane.cowen@chron.com

See the article here:
Move over, tiny homes. 'Barndominiums' have arrived to the Houston area. - Houston Chronicle