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As part of our series The 46th, the hosts and guests on The Argument are debating what America under a Biden administration might and should look like.

This week, Ross Douthat is joined first by Jane Coaston, formerly of The Weeds, and future host of The Argument. Together they discuss the reasons for widespread theories of voter fraud among the Republican electorate and what led to such a moment. Then, the senior elections analyst of Real Clear Politics, Sean Trende, joins the pair to discuss the future of Trumpism and whether anybody else can capture the Republican Party quite like Donald Trump. And finally, Jane recommends building your character and your calf muscles.

How to listen to The Argument:

Press play or read the transcript (found by midday Friday above the center teal eye) at the top of this page, or tune in on iTunes, Google Play, Spotify, Stitcher or your preferred podcast listening app. Tell us what you think at argument@nytimes.com.

Ive been an Op-Ed columnist since 2009, and I write about politics, religion, pop culture, sociology and the places where they intersect. Im a Catholic and a conservative, in that order, which means that Im against abortion and critical of the sexual revolution, but I tend to agree with liberals that the Republican Party is too friendly to the rich. I was against Donald Trump in 2016 for reasons specific to Donald Trump, but in general I think the populist movements in Europe and America have legitimate grievances and I often prefer the populists to the reasonable elites. Ive written books about Harvard, the G.O.P., American Christianity and Pope Francis, and decadence. Benedict XVI was my favorite pope. I review movies for National Review and have strong opinions about many prestige television shows. I have four small children, three girls and a boy, and live in New Haven with my wife. @DouthatNYT

The Argument is a production of The New York Times Opinion section. The team includes Alison Bruzek, Phoebe Lett, Elisa Gutierrez, Vishakha Darbha, Kathy Tu, Kate Sinclair, Paula Szuchman and Isaac Jones. Special thanks to Corey Schreppel and Michelle Harris. Theme by Allison Leyton-Brown.

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The 46th: Who Will Replace Trump in the G.O.P.s Heart? - The New York Times

Lindus Construction Owner Andy Lindus was on the show to discuss simple, inexpensive ways to winterize your home.

It's been a nice run Minnesota, but winter is always around the corner.

Lindus Construction Owner Andy Lindus was on the show to discuss simple, inexpensive ways to winterize your home.

She provided the following project ideas:

A Tube of Window Caulk (About $10)

Use this to seal up any spots inside the window frame that allow air to get in. Or, use it in areas where existing caulk has hardened and is breaking away. Be sure to remove the old caulk first. Also make sure to buy 100% silicone caulk as it is waterproof, flexible, shrink-proof and will last over 20 years.

Also, be aware if youre putting lipstick on a pig when it comes to your windows. Sometimes replacement is worth it and windows can be installed even in the dead of winter.

Socket Sealers (24 for less than $3)

This is such an easy, cheap fix that can make a difference. You simply screw off the socket plate, place these socket sealers over the outlet and then screw the outlet plate back in place. (But, before you do that, just feel the draft that comes in once the socket plate is off the outlet!)

Door Draft Stopper (About $10)

This is a simple way to stop those dreaded under-the-door drafts. Just peel of and stick.

Hot Water Pipe Covers (25 ft for $10)

Another quick and easy task. These foam insulators fit snug around your hot water pipes to keep them warm in a cold basement and therefore, saving energy.

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Quick and easy home winterization tips - KARE11.com

MESA, Ariz., Dec. 9, 2020 /PRNewswire/ --American Warrior Auto Glass is excited to offer free full-vehicle window tinting on all windshield replacements covered by insurance. Because American Warrior Auto Glass accepts any insurance for their services, the top-rated Mesa-based auto glass company is offering this limited-time promo for complimentary window tinting on all insurance-covered replacements both an aesthetic and functional upgrade at no cost to their customers. What's more, they are extending this special offer to windshield replacement services paid at non-insurance cash rates starting at $150. Some restrictions do apply; there are some additional costs for vehicles containing more than six windows, and for vehicles that have existing tint film that needs to be removed.

As a veteran-owned business, American Warrior Auto Glass has one mission: to help their customers enjoy a safer, more comfortable ride in a vehicle with a superior-quality windshield. The entire team shares in founder and owner Ryan Koeppe's values of providing exceptional windshield replacements and window tints installed and applied with the utmost care and precision. Not only that, they install windshields using only the best resins and glass for maximum longevity, and they apply window tints carefully to ensure a smooth application that lasts. All of their work is offered at affordable and competitive rates with prompt turnaround times. What's more, they strengthen their services with quality workmanship guarantees, lifetime warranties, and a steadfast commitment to honesty, integrity, and excellence in everything they do. That said, they are proud to extend additional savings and perks to their customers as a way to say "thank you" for their continued business and loyalty.

American Warrior Auto Glass is recognized as a Top Rated Local auto glass company with outstanding ratings and rave reviews across multiple review platforms and it's easy to see why. With more than a decade of experience under their belt, Koeppe and his dedicated team of highly trained and professional technicians have built an impeccable reputation for providing prompt, reliable, and efficient auto glass replacements and window tints backed by friendly customer service. Not only that, the team is fully invested in the communities they serve and is genuinely passionate about helping their friends and neighbors in Mesa and beyond feel safer and more protected while driving.

If you would like to take advantage of this limited-time offer and get your vehicle ready for the summer heat, please visit American Warrior Auto Glass at https://www.americanwarriorautoglass.com/windshield-replacement/ to explore their windshield replacement services.

About American Warrior Auto GlassAmerican Warrior Auto Glass is a veteran-owned-and-operated company located in Mesa, Arizona, serving Chandler, East Phoenix, Phoenix proper, Mesa, Scottsdale, and Tempe. The team specializes in an array of repair and replacement services for vehicles of all makes and models. In addition to the more traditional auto glass services they offer, they are experts in specialized services ranging from lane departure calibration and power window repair to power defrost repair, tint shade bands, and more. They strive to provide top-quality auto glass services and prompt 24-hour repair turnarounds. Not only that, but they also offer special discounts for military and first-responders. For more information about American Warrior Auto Glass, please visit: https://www.americanwarriorautoglass.com/

ContactRyan Koepp950 West Birchwood AvenueMesa, AZ 85210(480) 719-2099[emailprotected]

SOURCE American Warrior Auto Glass

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American Warrior Auto Glass is Now Offering Free Full-Vehicle Tint on All Insurance-Covered Windshield Replacements - PRNewswire

Residents in Uptown Charlotte and South End say they continue to see issues with groups of people driving recklessly on bikes, ATVs, and dirt bikes.

CHARLOTTE, N.C. A drive into Charlotte's South End neighborhood Tuesday evening turned dangerous for one driver when she said she found her car and others surrounded by a group of teens on bikes.

As she tried to drive away, she said one teen got physical, causing damage to her car window -- and she managed to catch it all on camera.

The confrontation happened near the corner of S. Tryon and W. Carson streets.

As a line of cars waited for the stoplight to turn green, one driver decided to pull out her cell phone to record the group of teens on bikes moving in and out of traffic.

They were messing around in the street a little bit doing wheelies in front of cars, the driver told WCNC Charlotte.

As she prepared to drive off, thats when she noticed one of the teens pick up something from the road and throw it at her passenger window -- smashing it.

Luckily a window can be replaced, but my life and wellbeing can not, she said. Im just glad no one got hurt, including the teenagers.

She added her biggest concern is safety and wants to make sure dangerous situations involving bikers, ATVs, and dirt bikes driving recklessly across town do not continue.

They often drive down the road going the wrong way, playing chicken," she said. "There needs to be some accountability.

The victim said thanks to her video recording, police were able to identify and arrest the teen accused of smashing her window. The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department said if you ever do encounter these biker groups, call 911.

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There needs to be some accountability | Charlotte woman concerned after car window smashed by group of teens on bikes - WCNC.com

This story is part of our week-long series on the strategic trends among fashion and beauty brands for holiday 2020.

For holiday 2020, department stores ensured their NYC window displays spoke to the unprecedented year that was, while also appropriately sparking some much-needed happiness.

While some retailers lucked out and were able to stick with original window plans, established as far out as a year in advance, others deemed it necessary to overhaul imperfect plans. Social distancing guidelines proved obstacles for construction crews, which can be up to 100-people strong. And, as opposed to the usual, foot traffic-driving IRL events, reveals of displays had to be carried out virtually.

But executives from every store interviewed for this story agreed that skipping the tradition this year was not an option. Along with delivering joy to passersby, they said, their holiday windows also provide a sense of normalcy.

Bergdorf GoodmanLinda Fargo, Bergdorf Goodmans svp of fashion and director of store presentation, said the retailers holiday windows for 2020 reflect the circumstances we find ourselves in. Thats despite that the companys overarching holiday theme of Bergdorf Goodness, centered on a season of giving back, was established back in January.

What did change were the charities the company planned to support, which evolved to reflect the dire crisis of diversity and equality, as well as food insecurity, said Fargo. Partners include City Harvest and the National CARES Mentoring Movement. And the windows presentation shifted away from the complex scenes for which the retailer is known, in favor of providing a more streamlined focus on Bergdorf Goodmans core values, including love, hope, harmony, joy and equality.

How the windows were executed also required new considerations. In most years, we have a beehive of artisans sewing, gluing and building all the complex elements that go into our elaborate windows, said Fargo. But, in the name of prioritizing the teams safety, sets were pre-built, and window director David Hoey oversaw designs and operations remotely.

What was non-negotiable was that we would continue the great tradition of our windows, even if there were less people on the sidewalks, said Fargo. We felt it was imperative to bring some light and joy to the city, and the world.

BloomingdalesFor this year, the holiday windows of Bloomingdales 59th Street flagship were inspired by its Give Happy campaign, meant to highlight positivity and togetherness at the close of a challenging year, said John Klimkowski, Bloomingdales senior director of central visual merchandising in New York City. As such, one color from the campaign is featured in each of the retailers windows along Lexington Avenue. Featured objects include marquee hearts, larger than life dogs and giant snowflakes, to communicate a simple message of cheer, he said.

Necessary adjustments to the usual plan included eliminating the interactive, touch components that have become standard features of the stores windows. Instead, two of the windows emanate holiday scents of evergreen and peppermint. To further their sensorial impact, the windows also feature mirrored edges for an infinity glow effect, said Klimkowski.

In addition, the retailers traditional window unveiling event in NYC was replaced with a virtual holiday benefit supporting the Child Mind Institute, on November 23.

People are looking for a little escape or lift, and our windows can give them that, said Klimkowski. They also provide a sense of normalcy, as theyre a tradition that people look forward to every year.

Saks Fifth AvenueSaks Fifth Avenue set its holiday theme of This is How We Celebrate nearly a year before launching the corresponding windows of its NYC flagship, said Emily Essner, Saks CMO. The intention was to shine a light on the importance of spending time with loved ones and the way different people and places around the country celebrate the holidays. We knew it would resonate even more, after several challenging months for New Yorkers and those around the world, she said.

The resulting six windows were designed to bring different, quintessential NYC moments to life, from a musical celebration playing out in Times Square to a young dancer getting an autograph from a ballerina. Both in-store and window displays feature designs by brands including Dries van Noten and Alexander McQueen, along with elements like Mylar-wrapped trees and scattered musical instruments.

In place of holding a large in-person event for the windows unveiling, the company is hosting multiple livestreams of the displays, hosted by celebrities like Alex Rodriguez. Each benefits a charitable cause, such as Madison Square Boys & Girls Club. Saks is set to donate $100,000 throughout the holiday season to non-profit organizations serving NYC and beyond.

We like to think of our holiday windows as our annual gift to [the city], said Essner. This year, we felt it was more important than ever to uphold this tradition. We hope our windows will deliver fun and escapism this season.

MacysMacys holiday window displays have been a tradition at its 34th Street flagship since 1874. This year, theyre meant to read like a thank-you letter to first responders, essential workers, marchers for equality, and New Yorkers who showed their grit, good humor and hopeful spirit during a tumultuous year, said Manuel Urquizo, Macys national windows director. The windows official theme is Give. Love. Believe.

Typically, Macys holiday window displays take nearly nine months to complete, from concept to execution. In their pivot to honor New Yorkers, Urquizo and his team produced the windows in half the time. That team included Macys display , graphic and sculptural artists, as well as animators, carpenters, electricians and lighting experts.

Indeed, seasonal fashion trends made their way into the design; polished-plaid and high-shine metallic styles are featured.

NordstromNordstroms NYC flagship store doesnt have the boxed-in display windows that are common among department stores; instead, its entire facade is one large window in the seven-floor store, which opened in October 2019. Since Black Friday, red and white lights have illuminated the glass facade and provided a blinking light show for locals still in town.

Nordstrom has a 119-year tradition of celebrating one holiday at a time, said a company spokesperson, explaining the post-Thanksgiving decorations debut.

A crew of nearly 100 Nordstrom team members worked overnight starting on Wednesday, November 25 to transform the 320,000-square-foot interior, much of which is visible from the outside. Added seasonal decorations included 253,000 feet of twinkling lights, over 700 Scandinavian-inspired ornaments, 150 trees, 150 hanging chandeliers, seven 11-foot nutcrackers and a vintage sleigh, among others.

To invite customers into the store to shop, we want to connect the shopping experience in-store to the energy of the city, the spokesperson said.

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How 5 department stores updated their holiday window displays for 2020 - Glossy

A Perth woman has criticised Perth and Kinross Council over the length of time she has had to wait for two smashed windows to be replaced.

Kathryn Garry, who stays in a rented property in the citys May Place, told the PA last week she reported one of her living room windows being smashed by a person or persons unknown way back in March but was still waiting for it to be replaced.

The mother-of-two said she then reported a second living room window being smashed under similar circumstances in July but again was still waiting to be told when it will be replaced.

Ms Garry approached the PA with her complaint over her wait as she is concerned she and her young family might have to wait until after Christmas to see her living room windows fixed.

Staff at hotel will be made redundant just two weeks before Christmas

She believes the breakages are letting the cold in and making it harder to heat her property, and says she and her nine-year-old son are now having to spend the majority of their time in the house in their bedrooms to keep warm and comfortable.

Ms Garry complained: Ive been phoning the council to find out when my windows are going to be sorted and I got told they would only be putting in one of my windows just now because theyve only got one of a particular part they need to replace it.

Im still waiting on a phone call from the glaziers about that but Ive been told Im going to have to wait for the other one to be fixed.

Its just me and my boy in the house but its freezing. I cant have Christmas in my house this year if this is the way its going to be.

Over 150 businesses back 'shop local' campaign ahead of "challenging" Christmas

A Perth and Kinross Council spokesperson said yesterday: We have contacted the tenant in question to apologise for the delay in carrying out this repair.

Our repairs service is extremely busy working on a backlog of repairs that built up over the lockdown period, and the failure to carry out this repair was an oversight on our part.

The repair will now be carried out as a priority.

Our tenants consistently report to us very high levels of satisfaction with our repairs service our latest figures show that 98.5 per cent of tenants said they were satisfied with the service provided to them.

However, we accept that sometimes things can go wrong and when this happens we review the situation so that similar errors can be prevented in future.

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Perth woman waits months for broken windows to be replaced - Daily Record

Jim Thompson|Northwest Florida Daily News

VIDEO: Rare Carpenter Gothic churches in Northwest Florida

Three Carpenter Gothic churches still exist in Northwest Florida

DeFUNIAK SPRINGS Three Northwest Florida churches St. Agatha's Episcopal in DeFuniak Springs, St. Mary's Episcopal in Miltonand First Presbyterian in Lynn Haven are the area's only remaining examples of an architectural style that, while integral to a spiritual sense of place, also presentschallenges for preservation.

The Carpenter Gothic style in church construction traces its roots to the late 1700s and early 1800sas the Anglican Church moved from what had been an austereworship style altarshad been eliminated from churches, and communion was not celebrated back to a more ritualized form of worship.

More: Meet the Female Pastors of the Panhandle

That movement coincided with a revivalof Gothic architecture, a masonry-oriented approach which featured high walls, vaulted ceilings and delicate stonework as seen in grand cathedrals. Eventually, though, the style made its way to much smaller parish churches.

And in places like Florida, where timber was a more readily available material than stoneand where craftsmen and laborers were more familiar with working in wood than stone, that style was replicated in wood. Over the years,though, those churches present significant challenges to theircongregations rotting or termite-infested wood have to be replaced, plaster cracks and falls, and worship spaces have to be modified as technology advances.

Across Florida, the proliferation of Carpenter Gothic churches can be traced to the Rev. John Freeman Young, who served as the state's Episcopal bishop from 1867 until his death in 1885.

Photos: First female chaplain at Air Force Enlisted Village

(On a seasonal note, Young is better remembered as the personwho, in 1859, translated the German Christmas carol "Silent Night" into English.)

While serving in New York, Young became acquainted with noted Gothic Revival architect Richard Upjohn, and by 1853, buoyed by his own knowledge of Gothic Revival architecture, he planned and coordinated construction of a Mississippi church designed by New York architect Frank Wills.

Church architecture was exceedingly important to Young, earning a place in his 1882 message on the consecration of St. John's Church in Jacksonville.

According to areport from the state Bureau of Historic Preservation, Young said at the time, "Wood and stone, and silver and gold, and silk and linen, and diverse colors, are but dead, mute things, which have neither speech nor language inherent in themselves, but under the hand of the cunning craftsman and skillful artificer their voices are heard among them, each one entering into the grand harmony of their utterance, being but a louder or a softer echo of the utterances of the voice of God."

More: Amid the coronavirus, churches are trying different ways to serve their members

Here is how the three Northwest Florida churches are keeping those echoes of Carpenter Gothic sounding today.

'The place where God is'

The aged timber, stained glass and plaster of St. Mary's EpiscopalChurch are so much a part of Mark Starr's life that he dreams about them, although not in the way that you might think.

"I have nightmares about a tree falling on this little church," Starr said on a recent morning inside the 145-year-old structure.

Sunshine coming through stained-glass windows, some of it through the shadows of two large trees flanking the front of the church, lit its varnished wood ceiling, floors and altaras Starr steered his thoughts in a happier direction.

"It's a beautiful place, and more important, the Holy Spirit's in it," said Starr, the church's senior warden.

Erected in 1875, for its first year or so the church had no windows, as finances were strained to secure leaded glass. In the interim, according to church lore, the ladies of St. Mary's covered the window openings with muslin fabric.

A still later addition to the church, a stained-glass altar window featuring Mary surrounded by a host of Christian religious symbols, was installed in 1880. Imported from Czechoslovakia, the window was paid for by the children of the church, who hired themselves out to neighbors to earn money. The window, irreplaceable today, cost $600, at the time "twice the yearly income for a working man in Santa Rosa County in 1880," according to a brief history of the church.

While the Holy Spirit is resident in St. Mary's, its congregation until recently has not been. The coronavirus pandemic forced the church to discontinue services in the tiny building, but earlier this monthit reopened. With social distancing protocols in place, the church can accommodate 35 worshipers.

That's been particularly important for many of the church's older members, according to Starr.

"There are some of our congregationthat feel like this is the place where God is," Starr said.

In the eyes of Ann Odom, who has been attending St. Mary's since 1972, the church's age is an integral part of its specialness as a place of worship. Among the things that make the church special for worshipers, she said, is its "gingerbread" trim elaborately carved wooden features, both inside and out, not found in more modernconstruction.

"They walk in the doorand they feel the spirit," she said.

The church, though, has changed during the decades. The coal-burning pot-bellied stove located in one corner of the sanctuary to keep members warm in winter is long gone, as is its chimney. The old coal storage room attached to the rear of the church remains, but is now used as a nursery.

A bell tower, an elaborate picket fence and a burial yard for cremated remains, complete with a sculpture of an angel, have been added to the church and its grounds, but alwayswith an eye toward remaining faithful to the Carpenter Gothic style.

And while maintenance is an ongoing issue at St. Mary's the sandy soil on which it is built means that it is slowly sinking,a termite infestation required the replacement of some of the wooden sill plates in its foundation, the roof needs work and the church "is in dire need of a paint job," according to Starr the congregation is determined to keep ittrue to its architectural style.

"We're committed to it," Starr said.

St. Mary's EpiscopalChurch is currently pastored by the Rev. Dr. Margaret Shepard, who is serving there as the church awaits a permanent rector.

Preaching in the historic church is a special experience, she said, as its relatively unchanged nature provides "a sense of presence of people past" and of "thankfulness for the church founders."

"There's a real sense of historicity," she said.

Even as the church has been challenged in keeping its building true to its Carpenter Gothic roots, it also has been challenged in remaining openbecause ofits small congregation.

But according to Odom, at least one of the "supply priests" that has served the church in recent years isn't worried about the future of St. Mary'sbecause of its namesake saint.

"He said, 'Ain't nobody gonna mess with Jesus' mama,'" Odom smiled.

'People like the quaintness'

As Carpenter Gothic churches go, 105-year-old First Presbyterian Church in Lynn Haven has succeeded in maintaining its clear architectural identity throughout a series of accommodationsfor the worship experience.

In fact, First Presbyterian is the only church in Lynn Haven still operating out of its original building. And even Hurricane Michael, which laid waste to the city two years ago and caused extensive damage to First Presbyterian, couldn't touch its Carpenter Gothic character. The signature arch over the church's front door, while damaged, was not destroyed in the hurricane, marvels the Rev. Lisa Martin, First Presbyterian's pastor.

"The outside arch was fine, and that was just amazing," Martin said.

Renovations to the interior of the church began a little more than a decade after it was first occupied, as wings were added to either side of the original 42-foot by 34-foot worship space.

Those renovations also included reversing the sanctuaryspace, moving the altar to the western end of the church. The change no doubt came as a relief to some churchgoers, as the original plan had the entrance door immediately adjacentto the altar. That arrangement, Martin said, meant that "if you were late, you came into church in front of the pulpit." And, of course, in front of the congregation.

In addition, the early renovations included the construction of a brick fireplace in a northwest corner of the church, which remained in place for years. Itsremoval in the relatively recent past disappointed some church members.

Locks weren't placed on the church's exterior doors until 1944. It was air-conditioned in 1965. Stained-glass windows depicting scenes from the life of Christ were installed in 1973after some of the old windows, comprising simple panes of colored glass, fell victim to the occasional gunshot, according to longtime church member MartiWillis. The original metal ceilings were covered with a suspended ceiling, and the church's original globe lights were replaced with chandeliers.

But through it all, the church has maintained the essential Carpenter Gothicethos, according to Martin.

"It tends to allow for a more congregational feel," she said."It is unique people walk in and immediately feel at home.

"There's an intimate feel," Martin continued. From the pulpit, "I can see everybody, and that's what I love."

"I think most people who come here like the quaintness," Willis said.

And just as at St. Mary's Episcopal, the ongoing coronavirus has kept the congregation from gathering at the church until a couple of weeks ago. That'swhen a socially distanced worship service began the liturgical season of Advent, the beginning of the Christian church year.

"There was a levelof pressure" from the congregation to get back into the church, Martin said, just one more indication of "the love for this building."

'Into their own hands'

The history of St. Agatha's Episcopal Church begins in the mid-1880s, as the Rt. Rev. Edwin G. Weed, then the Episcopal bishop of Florida, was traveling by railroad to establish churches across Northwest Florida. At the time, there were a handful of Episcopal families in DeFuniak Springs, meeting in private homes andlaterin the county courthouse.

By the end of the decade, a priesthad been assigned to the community, and in 1895construction of the church began.The name "St. Agatha" was chosen because it was the name of a beloved grandmother of the Landrum family, one of the families thatfounded the church.

As the only Episcopal church in North America dedicated to St. Agatha, patron saint of nursing mothers, professional nurses and sexual abuse victims, it is perhaps fitting that women played a pivotal role in the beginnings of the DeFuniak Springs landmark.

By Easter of 1896, the church stood only partially completed, but the women of St. Agatha's wanted to hold Easter services in the structure.

Here's how things unfolded from there, as briefly related in a history of the church:

"The men refused, protesting that Bishop Weed had not consecrated the building nor licensed lay readers. The women took matters into their own hands and decorated the lath (installed and ready for plaster) with magnolia, dogwood and azalea blooms. They read Morning Prayer on Easter morning."

When Weed, whose duties included visiting Episcopal parishes in the state, heard about the persistence of the women of St. Agatha's, he wrote a letter asking that they "cease and desist," according to the history.

"They politely responded that he need not bother to return if he felt that way," the history continues.

And with a bit of editorial license, the history offers the conjecture that "perhaps this was the first effort of women to assert their rights in what was then a male-dominated church."

And indeed, while it apparently took a few years, Weed eventually made peace with the women of St. Agatha's. Sometime around 1900, according to the best guesses from photographic evidence, Weed sent the church the "Passion Flower" stained glass window that still filters sunlight above the altar.

To this day, that window imparts the spiritual nature of the structure to at least one of its members. Melinda Henderson, who has been closely involved with efforts to restore and maintain the 125-year-old church, said that at certain times of the yearduring evening services, "sunlight comes right through the top jewel (of a crown depicted in the window), and you just feel this is a holy place," she said.

As with other Carpenter Gothic churches, upgrades and ongoing maintenance needs have been a part of the life of St. Agatha's for years. In the 1950sit was re-roofed, and the stained wood ceiling, wainscoting and other woodwork was painted. In subsequent years, a pot-bellied stove was replaced by gas stoves for heating, and Plexiglas covers were placed over the stained-glass windows to protect them from hurricane winds and, as with First Presbyterian in Lynn Haven, the occasional bullet.

In more recent years, as the foundations of the sanctuary and other buildings on the St. Agatha's campus required leveling, some of the interior plaster, already cracked and showing signs of leakage, began to fall to the floor. Subsequently, rotted and termite-ridden exterior boards had to be replaced.

Some of the work has been funded with grants from the state, which in many cases have required matching funds. That's something of a reach for a congregation that, at best, numbers just a few dozen, but the larger community has been stepping up to help, according to Henderson.

From overpaying for items offered at church-sponsored garage salesto leaving generoustips at church pancake breakfasts, the community beyond the church has consistently shown its interest in preserving St. Agatha's, shenoted gratefully.

Henderson's involvement in restoration efforts, from doing actual work on the buildings to seeking grants for needed repairs, has made her keenly aware of the physicalaspects of the sanctuary and the two other buildings. It's something she has to watch, she said, lest she forget about deeper connections with the structure.

"You sit in the sanctuaryand you can feel the presence of the saints," she explained, noting that she meant not only actual saints venerated by the church, but members who have passed away in the faith.

"I have to caution myself about thinking about St. Agatha as a place," she said.

Continued here:
'Echoes of the voice of God': Carpenter Gothic churches rare in Northwest Florida - The Northwest Florida Daily News

Council President Tom Hucker (D-District 5) yesterday introduced two bills intended to improve safety in residential buildings, primarily multi-family and multi-story units.

Expedited Bill 50-20 Landlord-Tenant Relations Fire Safety Removal of Mercury Service Regulators would require landlords to schedule the immediate replacement of indoor mercury service gas regulators with safer, more modern regulators, according to the council staff report.

The National Transportation Safety Board determined that an August 2016 explosion and fire that killed seven people at the Flower Branch Apartments in Silver Spring was caused when a failing mercury service regulator, which was not connected to a vent line, allowed natural gas to build up and ignite.

We have to do everything in our power to ensure that we never have another tragedy like the fatal Flower Branch explosion, Hucker said in a press release. Now that the federal government has told us that many other properties have the type of outdated, dangerous equipment that caused the Flower Branch explosion, we have to make sure that landlords work with the gas utility to replace them.

Bill 51-20 Housing and Building Maintenance Standards Window Guards would require landlords to install and maintain window guards in certain rental housing, and provide for the enforcement of window guard requirements, among other provisions.

As recently as October, a two-year-old boy died after he fell from a third-floor apartment in Takoma Park, according to a press release. In 2019, a two-year-old boy fell from an 11th-floor window and was seriously hurt in Takoma Park.

Public hearings on both bills are scheduled for Jan. 12 at 1:30 p.m.

Photo by Farragutful published theCreative CommonsAttribution-Share Alike 4.0 Internationallicense.

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Hucker Introduces Bills to Enhance Safety in Residential Buildings - Source of the Spring

The Health Service Executive's information technology system is relying on thousands of out-of-date computers because a plan to replace them has not been completed.

The out-of-date computers, which run on Windows 7, need special security support, which cost the taxpayer over 1mthis year.

Last year, the HSEsaidit had "aprogrammeto migrate"Windows 7 computers to Windows 10 by the end of 2020.

At that time 46,000 of its 58,000 computers remained on Windows 7.

The HSE hassincereplaced 9,000 of the 46,000 computers leaving 37,000 depending on the old software-12,000 of those cannotbe replaced because they are needed to run radiology and other systems that cannotrun on newer software.

In response to a parliamentary question byLabourleader Alan Kelly, the HSE saidits Windows 7 migrationprogrammewas "impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic resulting in a lower number of upgraded/replaced Windows 7 devices".

In January, Microsoft stopped protecting Windows 7 computers from viruses and malware,unlessit waspaid extra money to do it.

The HSE needed that protection and paid1.1m for it in 2020. Next year, it faces paying more to Microsoft because the pricing structure per computer doubles.

The HSE confirmed negotiations are "still ongoing" between itself and Microsoft and a "figure is yet to befinalised" on how much Windows 7 protection will cost for 2021.

Read More:Windows 7 users warned of cyber attacks as software support endsHSE spent 300k on software patches

The scaling down of Windows 7 was known widely from 2014 and the HSE started its migrationprogrammein 2017.

Speaking on RT's Morning Ireland,MrKelly saidthe failure to address the issue showed a lack of preparedness which led to a cost to the taxpayer.

"I cant believe that the HSE still hasnt dealt with this issue. It is costing the taxpayer a huge amount of money.

"One year on, they still havent been able to ensure that they brought their software and security settings up to date. It leaves them open to a serious amount of security issues and problems potentially.

"That doesnt excuse the fact that they were a year behind anyway. That doesnt excuse the fact that these costs were building up. I accept the fact that it would have been much more difficult this year. But,that isnt the full story, this could all have been prepared for in advance,"hesaid.

The HSE said in a statement it has a "layered system of security to mitigate cyber security risk".

"This includes perimeter security, software updating, real time monitoring of assets, mobile device security and endpoint encryption. We alsoutilisecybersecurity expert partners and Microsoft to provide additional support to the HSE.

"No single element on its own is sufficient to provide adequate cybersecurity. It is the combination of all elements working together that provides the best cybersecurity. Given the continued threat of cybersecurity, the HSE will continue to invest in cybersecurity tools and education of staff to helpminimisethis ever-changing threat," the HSE statement read.

Dr Simon Woodworth, director of the health information researchcentreat University College Cork, saidthe HSEs pace of Windows migration is pathetically slow and creates a single point of failure that could have massive consequences.

"I am sympathetic with the HSE because Covid-19 is going to put a12monthdelay on everything.

"It is not just a financial issue. It is an issue of increasing risk. The longer they leave this and the slower they are at remedying the situation the more they are exposing themselves to risk of a vulnerability or a cyberattack.

"The HSEs multi-layered system is actually very, very good. They areabsolutely diligent, and they try very, very hard to make sure there are several layers of security, so if there is a failure on one point it should not affect everything else.

"If you have a single point of failure, while the probability might look very low, the consequences could be quite serious because an enemy agent or a threat to the system-for whatever their motivation is-if they establish a toehold inside anybodys networks, all they need to do is compromise one machine and then the damage they do spreads outwards from that machine"

Other institutions andorganisationare also dealing with similar Windows 7 issues.

Last year, Government departments had 22,312 computers on Windows 7.Today, it has reduced that by almost half to 11,850.

View post:
Thousands of HSE computers rely on out-of-date software - RTE.ie

MADRID--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Please replace the release with the following corrected version due to multiple revisions.

The updated release reads:

NEXSTREAMING ANNOUNCES NEXPLAYER BECOMES A UNITY VERIFIED SOLUTIONS PARTNER

NexStreaming announced today that it is now a Unity Verified Solutions Partner. Being a Verified Solutions Partner means NexStreamings SDK, NexPlayer, the leading player SDK for premium video apps, has been verified by Unity to ensure its SDK is optimized for the latest version of the Unity editor, providing a seamless experience for Unity developers.

NexPlayer offers many functionalities such as high-quality HLS and DASH streaming across all Android and iOS devices, subtitles, ad insertion, and content protection using Widevine Digital Rights Management (DRM).

As a Unity Verified Solutions Partner, NexPlayer enables its users to easily update and deliver video content to players by simply changing the source URL. NexPlayer supports Windows, Mac, Android, as well as iOS and will be available on WebGL in Q1 2021.

Carlos Lucas, CEO of NexStreaming said: From the beginning, NexPlayer has been a multiscreen player, supporting platforms like Android, iOS, Tizen, WebOS, Xbox, PlayStation, and HTML5. Becoming a Unity Verified Solutions Partner allows us to be integrated into the most popular gaming apps. We are very excited to support the Unity community.

See more technical details in the Nexplayer GitHub: https://github.com/NexPlayer/NexPlayer_Unity_Plugin

About NexPlayer

NexPlayer is the leading multiscreen player SDK for premium video services, integrated inside the apps of ATT, Sky, Turner, BT or TVB. It is fully customizable and available for Sony PlayStation, Microsoft Xbox, Samsung Tizen, LG WebOS Smart TVs, Android & iOS apps as well as HTML5 browsers. For more information: http://www.nexplayersdk.com

Originally posted here:
CORRECTING and REPLACING, NexStreaming announces NexPlayer Becomes a Unity Verified Solutions Partner - Business Wire