Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

When he got the text, Jordan Harlow was building a retaining wall in the backyard of his new house. Harlow had watched the first round of the MLB draft the night before, but he wasnt thinking about it now. The 2020 draft was cut to five rounds as a result of the coronavirus pandemic, leaving many players suddenly unsure of their future.

So the former McMinnville High School coach wasnt thinking about the lanky pitcher he met when he took the head coaching job.

But when the text from Linfield College head coach Dan Spencer where Harlow now works as an assistant came through Thursday, Harlow had to read it a couple times, just to make sure it was real.

Hey, Kade Mechals just went in the fourth round, the text from Spencer said.

Harlow chucked and smiled. The player he had helped develop had been drafted by the Chicago White Sox.

I just couldnt have been happier," Harlow said. "I was ecstatic for him and his parents and his family. It just couldnt have happened to a better kid and I just had a moment of just gratefulness for being able to coach him.

Current McMinnville head coach Todd Peterson remembers Mechals coming to baseball camps as an elementary school kid. Peterson worked those camps when he was a high school player at McMinnville, graduating in 2005, and remembers Mechals always being passionate for baseball, and always wanting to learn more.

He remembers Mechals staying after McMinnville games wanting autographs from the players. Mechals mom, Jody, was one of Petersons high school teachers, and said her son loved watching Peterson play. In those days, those were the stars Mechals always wanted to be.

And when Harlow got the McMinnville job the summer before Mechals sophomore year, that little kid was wearing the uniform hed always looked up to, even if he didnt seem that much more grown up.

Even as a sophomore in high school, he looked like he was about 12 years old, Harlow said. Amongst his friends and the other coaches, he just always had this kind of boyish look to him and that was his personality, too. He was just like a 12-year-old kid all the time.

Harlow said Mechals was under-sized, under-developed and slow-footed his sophomore year. But he was on the varsity team anyway. For Harlow, it was Mechals intelligent play on the field, and love for the game that earned him a spot despite his physical stature.

His body just had to catch up to his ability.

So Mechals spent extra time in the weight room. He spent extra time doing drills after practice. When most slept in on New Years Day, Mechals sent a text to Harlow asking to go practice. He fit into all the clichs of a hardworking athlete.

But Harlow didnt see Mechals as a future pro just yet.

It took two years and two transfers for Mechals to finally settle into his college career.

Mechals committed to Western Oregon University, where he pitched as the closer. He had nine saves and a 1.59 ERA. He stuck out 37 batters in 22.2 innings of work.

As a sophomore, he transferred to Skagit Valley College, a community college in Mount Vernon, Washington. Ultimately, he dreamed of playing Division I baseball. With a year of community college, he could make the jump to join a Division I team as a junior.

At Skagit Valley in 2018 he made eight starts and pitched to a 1.72 ERA. He stuck out 77 batters in 47 innings and led the Northwest Athletic Conference in batting average against. That summer, he went to the Cape Cod League, college baseballs top summer league, to pitch for the Orleans Firebirds.

That got him ready to pitch at the Division I level, and Mechals transferred to Grand Canyon University.

At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Mechals was still slightly undersized at Grand Canyon. But the numbers he had produced at lower levels continued.

As a junior, Mechals had an 11-1 record and a 2.16 ERA. In 91.2 innings, he struck out 100 batters against 35 walks.

Those numbers resulted in Mechals being selected by the Miami Marlins in the 40th round of the 2019 MLB draft. Just like many other juniors selected in the late rounds, Mechals chose to return to school, looking for a chance to improve his draft stock and make a larger signing bonus as a result.

Even in the shortened 2020 season, Mechals managed three starts and pitched to a 2.35 ERA. His .164 batting average against was the best on the team.

Now having produced strong numbers at the Division I level for two years, Harlow believes scouts had seen enough to look past Mechals size and instead at his numbers and his ability. In college, Mechals developed a swing-and-miss slider along with a changeup that vastly improved over his college career.

It was good enough to look past his Tommy John surgery this spring.

In a normal year, Harlow would have been very confident Mechals would be drafted.

But with the injury set to keep Mechals out for at least the next year, Harlow wasnt sure if a team would take a risk with one of its few draft picks.

The White Sox took that risk, selecting Mechals in the fourth round with the 112th overall pick.

Harlow stopped working on the retaining wall when he heard the news. He ran inside to find his wife and tell her, too.

I think I heard her jaw hit the floor probably as quickly or quicker than mine, Harlow said.

Harlow called Mechals soon after he was selected. It was the first time they had talked since March. They only talked for around five minutes. He knew Mechals was celebrating, but he had to say how proud he was.

I had Kade in class, as a teacher at the high school, Harlow said. All those memories come flooding back and you remember how hard he worked, and the things that he did on the field. So then when you get to see that come together for him, it's just an amazing feeling.

That elementary school kid, wide eyed and dreaming of the future as he looked on at McMinnville games, had made it to the MLB draft. Years later, the roles are flipped. Now young kids want to be like Mechals.

"Its incredible what he has accomplished in his baseball career, Peterson wrote in an email. Looks like there will be a lot of young Grizzly ball players seeking Kades autograph now!

-- Matt Cohen, mcohen@oregonian.com

Read the rest here:
From McMinnville to the MLB: Coaches reflect on Kade Mechals journey - OregonLive

Khami is an archaeological site and former capital of the Kalanga Kingdom of Butua near Bulawayo, Zimbabwe.

The Kingdom of Butua emerged after the collapse of Great Zimbabwe in the mid-16th century into a Tolwa state around AD 1640. The Kingdom was ruled by the Tolwa dynasty, whos prosperity came from trading gold and cattle with Arab and Portuguese traders.

Khami was built on a granite hilltop, west of the Khami River on a complex series of circular and terraced platforms rising to a height between 2-7 metres. The overall complex features seven built-up areas that were occupied by the Tolwa rulers, with open areas in the valley beneath for their subjects who lived in dhaka (clay) structures surrounded by a series of granite walls. The overall site covered an area of 266 acres, making Khami one of the largest urban cities in all of Africa at the time.

Image Credit : Amanda

The development of Khami architecture was based on a modified style of drystone walls, most distinctly seen in a check and cord style retaining wall that is 6m in height and runs in length for 68 metres. Archaeologists have suggested this style was inherited from construction techniques used at Great Zimbabwe and adapted.

The archaeological remains show a trading connection that spanned all of Eurasia, with artefacts such as 15th and 17th-century Spanish porcelain, Ming porcelain and Rhineland stoneware. Local artefacts also found includes ritual drinking pots, iron and bronze weapons, copper objects and ivory divining pieces.

Subscribe to more articles like this by following our Google Discovery feed - Click the follow button on your desktop or the star button on mobile. Subscribe

Image Credit : Amanda

The wealth of the Torwa state was envied by the Rozwi, a powerful collection of Shona states that was led by Changamire Dombo, and his son Kambgun Dombo. They invaded Khami around AD 1683 AD and established their own Rozvi Empire bringing most of present-day Zimbabwe under their control, centred on Dhlodhlo (Dananombe).

In 1937, Khami was proclaimed a National Monument in recognition of its importance in the prehistory of the country. Since then, the site was acknowledged as universally outstanding, leading to its proclamation as a World Heritage Site in 1986.

Header Image Credit : Avi Alpert

- Advertisement -

More:
Khami Capital of the Kingdom of Butua - HeritageDaily

As homeowners anticipate more use of their outdoor spaces during "staycation summer," they should expect higher wear and tear for surfaces like patios, driveways and pool decks. That includes more potential for stains to mar the look of those surfaces especially for families with kids and pets, and those who enjoy outdoor dining.

WOODBURY, N.J. (PRWEB) June 17, 2020

As homeowners anticipate more use of their outdoor spaces during "staycation summer," they should expect higher wear and tear for surfaces like patios, driveways and pool decks. That includes more potential for stains to mar the look of those surfaces especially for families with kids and pets, and those who enjoy outdoor dining.

Nature's bold colors are beautiful, but they can also stain patios. Cherry and other tree fruits, dark bird droppings, pet accidents and wet leaves left too long in the hot sun are typical offenders. Common manmade spills include wine and other colored beverages, motor oil and acidic foods such as barbecue sauce. And pavers can lose their color and vibrancy over time due to acid rain erosion and UV ray fading.

For those with existing paved surfaces, experts recommend a regular regimen of sweeping or leaf blowing, hosing down, and washing with a mild soap like Simple Green. Power washing on the fan spray setting held waist-high is usually an acceptable option, but never on the stream setting. Pavers should be checked from time to time for mold or mildew stains.

But for homeowners looking to replace or build a new patio, the good news is that today's technology makes it easier to prevent some stains from the start. EP Henry's line of ColorTech pavers features a factory-applied integral sealer that enriches and locks in the paver's natural beauty without needing to apply a separate sealant. That adds a layer of protection for resisting the most common stains along with acid rain erosion and fading from the sun's UV rays.

"ColorTech pavers come right off the pallet with super-rich color and are a great solution for families looking for ways to prevent or minimize staining and fading," says Brad Schwark, owner of All Green Lawn and Landscaping based in Freehold, NJ. "Usually you have to wait for a year before applying sealer to let the pavers go through the efflorescence stage but of course, that leaves a year of risk for families with kids. I do recommend ColorTech pavers because we've had great results with them."

With ColorTech, most accidental spills bead off like a waxed car for easy clean-up instead of bleeding into the paver material. And the integral sealer's UV protection stabilizes the color to make it more fade-resistant. The technology is now incorporated as a standard feature in the company's Premiere Collection of Bristol Stone, Chiseled Stone and Belmont pavers as well as in their new Cast Stone Paving and Wall Cap options.

About EP Henry

EP Henry is the oldest American family-owned and operated manufacturer of unit concrete products in North America. Based in Woodbury, New Jersey, EP Henry manufactures a wide range of Hardscaping paving stone and retaining wall products, including ECO pavers and their new line of ColorTech integrally sealed paving stones offering advanced protection and enhanced color. EP Henry also offers outdoor kitchen kits, garden wall solutions, design ideas and more to homeowners throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. For more information, visit EPHenry.com or call 800-44-HENRY (800-444-3679).

For the original version on PRWeb visit: https://www.prweb.com/releases/keeping_stains_off_the_patio_this_summer_tips_from_ep_henry/prweb17195240.htm

See original here:
Keeping stains off the patio this summer: Tips from EP Henry - Benzinga

James Juanillo was confronted by two white people on the street for stamping "Black Lives Matter" with chalk in front of his San Francisco home, an incident Juanillo recorded in a now viral video.

The couple questioned Juanillo and then called the police.

Speaking to CNN's Don Lemon, Juanillo said he believes he was arrested "because of the color of my skin."

Juanillo said the Black Lives Matter "should resonate with all Americans because Black Lives Matter is about equality."

"As a first-generation Filipino-American, you have to fight for that," he said. "And as a gay man, we fight every day for recognition, visibility, equality. So the reason BLM resonates with me is because I've been fighting for equality all my life."

The woman in the video who confronted Juanillo, Lisa Alexander, issued a statement apologizing for the incident.

"I want to apologize directly to Mr. Juanillo. There are not enough words to describe how sorry I am that I was disrespectful to him last Tuesday when I made the decision I should have taken care of my own business," the statement said. ."I did not realize at the time that my actions were racist and I have learned a painful lesson. I am carefully analyzing the meaning behind white privilege and I am committed to growing from this experience."

Juanillo said that "this can be a really teachable moment for all of us."

"I hope that if she offers an apology backed by action, backed by fighting on the right side versus fighting on the wrong side. If she uses her platform to acknowledge that she is racist and wrong, that will be powerful." "

Visit link:
Black Lives Matter and George Floyd protest across the United States and the world - live updates - NewsDio

The results of the 2020 annual count of homeless people in Los Angeles are grim and, perhaps, not surprising to any of us who witness daily the tragedy of people living on sidewalks. Homelessness increased by 12.7% in the county, to 66,433, and by 14.2% in the city of Los Angeles, where the number stands at 41,290. The homeless population has now increased by a double-digit percentage for two years in a row.

And thats despite a record 22,769 homeless people getting off the streets and into housing last year. The maddening reality highlighted by the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authoritys survey is that, despite billions of dollars of investment in housing, shelter and services, we still cant house people as fast as they fall into homelessness.

In short, this problem will just keep getting worse until local officials stop people from falling into homelessness in the first place. But the task is complicated by a stultifying mix of problems: Institutional racism propels Black people into homelessness at a grossly disproportionate rate. There is a gaping mismatch between incomes and rental prices across the county. Rent is simply unaffordable.

The percentage of homeless people with a serious mental illness remained at 25%. What most newly homeless people suffer from is a severe economic hardship.

And as staggering as the latest numbers are, they could get worse in the wake of the economic devastation wrought by the COVID-19 pandemic unless the city and county aggressively and unflinchingly protect renters. In a just released study, retired UCLA law professor Gary Blasi predicts an avalanche of evictions that could result in 36,000 homeless households if protections are not put in place.

The county cant rely on the patchwork of eviction moratoriums imposed during the state of emergency; many renters will continue to face financial hardships long after the emergency is lifted. A state bill would extend the moratoriums while allowing payment plans for renters; the Legislature should approve it. There should also be federal assistance for renters and landlords hurt by the pandemic-induced recession.

The city and the county need to increase the amount of rental subsidies available to keep people from becoming homeless and to help newly homeless return to housing. Sometimes, people need only rental assistance to climb out of homelessness when its a ditch they stumbled into and not a sinkhole they are trapped in for years. The city is moving in that direction; Mayor Eric Garcetti said Thursday that he and City Council President Nury Martinez had agreed to set aside $100 million in rental assistance for city residents.

Nothing has so thwarted the effort to get homeless people off the streets of Los Angeles like the lack of permanent housing for homeless people. The $1.2-billion homeless housing program that city voters agreed to nearly four years ago has yielded less than 100 rental units though thousands are expected to open in the coming years. All told, the city has opened fewer than 750 units of homeless housing in the past fiscal year.

Thats obviously a sliver of what we need now. Its imperative that the city and county produce innovative, faster-to-build housing such as modular housing and so-called tiny houses as well as more temporary housing and shelter for homeless people. Existing buildings that the city, county or state own should be scouted to see if they can be converted into housing.

The real progress that the city and county have made in sheltering homeless people is what they accomplished, remarkably, in just the past three months. About 6,000 particularly vulnerable homeless people have been housed mostly in hotels and motels throughout the county (subsidized heavily by federal emergency aid through a program called Project Roomkey), but also in city recreation centers converted into shelters. That was done to protect homeless people from getting COVID-19. But when the emergency is over and most of those hotels and motels want their rooms back, the city and county must make sure the people now in them arent tossed right back onto the streets.

It will be a challenge. The city and the county need to pursue either buying or leasing for the long term some of those motels. That will take some effort and an enormous amount of funding. Philanthropic foundations should be enlisted to help invest in housing of all kind.

No one should give up on permanent housing for homeless people. But as the latest homeless count shows, we also have to do a far better job of keeping people in the homes they have.

Read the original:
L.A. homeless numbers will keep skyrocketing without action - Los Angeles Times

When their 37-year-old son Tony died June 5 in a car crash on Highway 160, Tecumseh residents Manuel and Donna Aguilar were already dealing with more heartache and challenges than many families face in a lifetime.

Longtime residents of Kansas City, Kansas, where they had raised their seven children to adulthood, in 2000 they had bought a home and 7 acres on James Lane northeast of Dawt alongside the North Fork of the White River, planning to retire there. For the next few years the riverside home was their cherished summer getaway, and in 2015, they moved to Ozark County permanently, bringing with them their grandson Brent, whom they were raising. Their son Anthony, nicknamed Tony, came too. Tony was Brents dad.

They enjoyed their life on the river. But on the night of April 29, 2017, their modular home and everything in it washed away in the historic flood that ravaged much of Ozark County, destroying several other homes along the river and washing away two major highway bridges. With their grandson Brent, son Tony and their visiting daughter Bree and her family, the Aguilars fled to their nearby barn that stood on ground a little higher than the house. From there they watched as the raging floodwaters destroyed their home.

Like other riverside residents, they had no flood insurance, because Ozark County does not participate in the federal flood insurance program. And, like other riverside residents, they lost almost everything. You just dont realize the things you lose when something like that happens, their daughter, Vera Stecher, told the Times last week. Drivers licenses, all the documents, baby albums, pictures everything.

The Aguilars returned to Kansas City and lived there with Bree and Krysie, her significant other, and the couples three adopted children while they tried to pull their lives together and plan their return to Ozark County.

Eight months later, at Christmastime, Donna slipped on the kitchen floor and broke her arm. Two months after that, in February 2018, Bree was diagnosed with cervical cancer. Manuel and Donna traveled back and forth between a borrowed fifth-wheel RV parked on their land in Ozark County and Kansas City, where they helped care for Bree and her three little children, then age 9, 7 and 4.

They were back here in Ozark County on Donnas 60th birthday in June 2018, working on rebuilding their home, when Manuel suffered a stroke. The Aguilars daughter Vera said her dad was rushed to an area hospital, where medical personnel didnt seem to take Manuels condition seriously enough to suit his worried loved ones. We have six nurses in our family, Vera said, so they werent going to fool around.

The family hurriedly drove Manuel to St. Lukes Hospital in Kansas City, where he was diagnosed with a 95 percent carotid blockage and underwent surgery. He recovered quickly, intent on getting their Ozark County house rebuilt, and in the fall of 2018, they moved back into their home on James Lane.

For a while, things went relatively well for the Aguilars, but then Brees condition worsened in September 2019, and they temporarily moved back to Kansas City to help her. While they were there, Brent, who was then 12 and has special needs, had appendicitis and had surgery. And the next month, while Bree was hospitalized for treatment of her cancer in October, Donna was diagnosed with rectal cancer. She delayed chemo treatments so she could continue to help Bree and her children.

Then, on Nov. 6, the unimaginable happened. Their beloved daughter Bree died at age 39.

The brokenhearted family gathered to mourn their daughter, sister, mother, wife and aunt while also worriedly contemplating what lay ahead for Donna. The next month, in December, Manuels sister-in-law died, and the family gathered again to mourn the passing of Aunt Kim.

The death came just as Donna was having to get nine teeth pulled because an infection around the teeth meant she wouldnt be able to get a port so her chemotherapy treatments could be administered.

Finally, in late February, after six weeks of chemo, the couple, with Brent, returned to their newly rebuilt home on the river, where they were grateful for a peaceful respite from all they had been through in the past three years.

In May, the family celebrated some long-overdue good news. Donna was deemed to be cancer free. It looked like maybe their luck had finally turned. They continued to homeschool their grandson Brent while his dad, Antonio, nicknamed Tony, worked in Kansas City but came to Ozark County often to spend time with Brent and enjoy the outdoors here.

Then, on Friday evening, June 5, Tony wanted to have a campfire, Vera said. He told his parents he was going to drive into Gainesville to get some things, even though they assured him they already had everything needed. He wanted to take Brent with him, but thank God my mother said no, Vera said.

Awhile later, the Aguilars got a call from Ozarks Medical Center in West Plains saying Tony had been brought there after a car crash.

The Missouri State Highway Patrols online crash report says the single-vehicle accident occurred at 8:25 p.m., when Tonys Chevrolet Blazer, westbound on Highway 160 near Hardenville, ran off the right side of the road, returned to the roadway and ran off the left side, where it struck a driveway, became airborne and overturned.

Tony had only owned the used vehicle a couple of days, Vera said. Driving unbelted, with the windows down, he was ejected in the crash, she said.

Manuel and Donna were outside when the Air Evac helicopter flew over their home. As most Ozark Countians do, they wondered where the medivac chopper was going and who it was picking up.

Tony was alive when the paramedics arrived, Vera said. He had a pulse and was breathing. But before [Air Evac] arrived, he coded, and they started CPR. Because its nearly impossible to continue CPR while airborne in the helicopter, Tony was transported to OMC by Ozark County Ambulance, where he was pronounced dead by an ER doctor at 9:37 p.m.

The Aguilars daughter Holly Jacobs, a nurse practitioner, was with her parents at their home that evening. She accompanied them to OMC and went in first to ID Tonys body, wanting to shield Manuel and Donna from that grim task. When she saw that he wasnt badly disfigured, she brought them in. The family also brought Brent in a little later, so he could understand what had happened, Vera said.

Now, once again, this family finds itself grieving another tragic loss.

Hoping to help her parents with some of the expenses related to Tonys final arrangements and also to help with bills from Brees final arrangements and Donnas medical treatments Vera has started a fundraiser with a $3,500 goal.

We are not ones to ask for help, she told theTimes.With all theyve been through, my parents never asked for help. But its been so much to deal with, all of it. And people have asked how they can help.

She hopes to use the money to buy small memorial headstones for Tony and Bree to place on their parents property and to help pay for the celebration of his life the family plans to host in July in Kansas City. And also, Moms still trying to get her teeth fixed after having nine of them pulled in February, so Id like for her to able to save her money for that purpose, rather than having to pay for all of these other unexpected expenses, she said.

She launched Veras Family Fundraiser on Facebook last Wednesday, and at press time Tuesday, a little more than $1,500 had been donated by about 30 friends, relatives and neighbors. Donations, Vera said, are greatly appreciated but prayers are also as greatly appreciated as money! Find the link to fundraiser on the Ozark County Times Facebook page.

See Antonio Angelo Aguilar Jr.s obituary on page 8.

Read more here:
Tecumseh family carries on with grit and fortitude after a hard run of tragedy - Ozark County Times

With a sizeable number of companies asking their employees to work from home till the end of the year, the concept of home office is coming into sharper focus. The accent is largely on ergonomic comfort, and to make sure that employees invest in this essential, some companies offer them an allowance.

There is an unmistakable trace of pride in her voice, as Anika Tanwar discusses a corner of her home, where she has raised an office with the 10,000 allowance her company extended to her.

Bobble AI, a tech start-up based in Gurugram, offered its employees the option of either renting out furniture or buying them, and Anika chose the latter option.

She bought a foldable and compact work desk along with a swivel chair that came with a backrest, armrest and height adjustment feature.

Anika wanted the the work desk to fit neatly into a corner of her bedroom, and add to rooms aesthetics.

She points out that her work table that can hold a small plant and has a diary and water bottle holder, along with the laptop. I now feel like I have created a physical and mental space where I can work more productively, she exults.

Some companies have either engineered a tie-up with rental furniture providers or have increased the scope of existing allowances to include WFH furniture.

Razorpay started offering a monthly remote working allowance of 1500 to every employee so that they can rent office furniture, upgrade the broadband connection, or spend on any other essential. It has also partnered with Rentlite to help its employees find furniture on rent.

Microsoft has extended its policies to enable employees to procure the right equipment, including ergonomic furniture.

Standard Chartered bank has come up with an arrangement with Featherlite where 100 ergonomic chairs had to be delivered to its employees homes in Chennai.

Furniture sellers underline a spurt in demand for ergonomic chairs since the lockdown began, and point out that some employers placed bulk orders to help their employees. With delivery channels opening up now, many individuals have started placing orders.

At Godrej Interio, one of the most searched products is a work chair, more specifically a motion chair. This chair is unique as it is designed on the principle of active seating, says Sameer Joshi, associate vice president, marketing (B2B), Godrej Interio. The seating is said to promote movement and improve posture.

Furniture makers are offering furniture adapted to a particular metier.

For someone who would be desk-bound for long hours, we offer a desk that can hold many things. For those in creative pursuits, a desk that can be moved easily, says Sidhant Lamba, founder, Fabrento, an online furniture renting service, which is launching a new range of desks.

Co-living spaces is another segment that is introducing changes since WFH became so widespread.

In a majority of co-living spaces, the room would have a wardrobe and bed and not necessarily a desk. Home owners are in talks with us about incorporating a WFH set-up into their rooms, says Lamba.

Similarly, Godrej Interio is promoting furniture solutions that are aligned with the rest of the home furniture.

There is high demand for this range, which include interactive poufs, easy seat a foldable chair, flip a foldable desk, computer tables and study tables, says Joshi.

Multifunctional modular products are also in demand. Finding multiple uses for a space, they are ideal for smart homes and studio apartments where space is a constraint, says Joshi.

There is also a market for services to establish elaborate home-offices.

Coworking space provider Awfis has launched Awfis@Home that attends to the A-to-Z of establishing a home office starting with assessing the home, enhancing physical infrastructure with smart furniture and offering technology support like broadband connection and collaboration tools. This service works on a monthly subscription model starting at 2500.

You have reached your limit for free articles this month.

Find mobile-friendly version of articles from the day's newspaper in one easy-to-read list.

Enjoy reading as many articles as you wish without any limitations.

A select list of articles that match your interests and tastes.

Move smoothly between articles as our pages load instantly.

A one-stop-shop for seeing the latest updates, and managing your preferences.

We brief you on the latest and most important developments, three times a day.

Not convinced? Know why you should pay for news.

*Our Digital Subscription plans do not currently include the e-paper ,crossword, iPhone, iPad mobile applications and print. Our plans enhance your reading experience.

See original here:
Services that establish home offices growing in numbers - The Hindu

For the average person, a government order to shelter in place or stay at home comes with some adjustments. Many changes are cerebral: we navigate vast expanses of togetherness with our families while figuring out how to balance work, life, and newfound teaching roles. Other changes are physical, like giving each other enough space to be successful. A lucky few can say that not much has changed for them personally. No matter what your position is in this thing, if you have a place to shelter, youre doing better than 20% of the worlds population.

An estimated 1.6 billion people, including those who are homeless and those who are refugees, are living without adequate shelter. The need for shelter is a cornerstone of human well-being, and yet building a home for oneself can seem totally out of reach. After all, most people arent qualified to build a habitable structure without an architect, an engineer or two, and a team of construction workers with heavy equipment. Or are they?

It all depends on the design and materials. Dome structures have been around for centuries, and the idea of using packed earth to build walls is a tried and true concept. Architect Nader Khalili perfected a blend of the two concepts with his SuperAdobe construction system, which employs long sandbags filled with moistened earth. Khalili opened the California Institute of Earth Architecture (CalEarth) in 1991 to explore the possibilities of SuperAdobe and to educate others in the building process.

I grew up among the poor. I am one of nine children, and constantly knew need. I never forgot, so now Im responding. Nader Khalili

This year, the Hackaday Prize is teaming up with CalEarth to push their widely accessible concept of sustainable living into the future. As with our other three non-profits, this effort is twofold. The open call challenge invites you to design sustainable add-ons for SuperAdobe homes that expand their livability and are simple to build and use. Throughout June and July, our CalEarth Dream Team members are working to find ways to automate the process so that these homes can be built much faster, and in turn help more people.

The SuperAdobe system is simple enough that people of all ages and backgrounds can start building as soon as they learn the methods and observe them in action.

Essentially, long sandbags are filled in place, by hand, with moistened soil from the site. The soil is stabilized with lime, cement, or whatever is available. Then the bags are tamped down and spiraled into layers, with a course of barbed wire laid in between each one for stability.

Its a laborious process for certain, but the result is a sustainable home thats easy to heat and cool even in weather extremes, and can withstand natural disasters including seismic shocks. SuperAdobe structures are designed with the elements in mind, and are positioned to leverage natural light and guard from wind.

CalEarths main focus is on providing a system to build affordable, sustainable homes for refugees, homeless, and other displaced persons. They have directly helped those affected by the 2010 earthquake in Haiti and other disasters by building shelters in a matter of days.

Many of CalEarths students take the idea and use it to start or further their own relief initiatives. In 2005, the Small Earth charity in the UK built 40+ domes in Kathmandu, Nepal, creating a hostel for children and their caretakers. Happily, all the domes survived a 7.6 magnitude earthquake in 2015.

The CalEarth Institute in Hesperia, California offers workshops and classes both in person and online for anyone who wants to go forth and build Earth-friendly homes for others or even for themselves. While the Institute itself is a wonderland of resources, the idea is to be able to build SuperAdobe structures anywhere theyre needed, using whatever materials are available.

Therefore, the ability to substitute and improvise is an important part of the plan. CalEarth have recently developed a duffel bag shelter system. Essentially, they wanted to be able to put someone on a plane with two duffel bags packed with enough tools and materials to build a six-foot emergency shelter anywhere in the world (PDF).

One of CalEarths goals is to make these emergency shelters more livable in the long-term by integrating modern comforts that use sustainable technology. These would come in the form of modular add-ons that can be customized as needed.

Their main focus for these add-ons is on heating and cooling methods like the rocket mass heater and passive cooling system in the eco-dome shown above. They are also focused on finding thermal flooring solutions, new uses for solar panels, and ways of harvesting water. If you can think of a way to collect rainwater, filter it, and pump it through a solar-heated shower, youre definitely on the right track.

Ideally, these add-ons would be modular and highly mobile to compliment the emergency shelter duffel bag system. Flat-pack design would be perfect. They should be easy to deliver around the world, and then to set up and use once they arrive. These problems need fresh eyes and creative thinkers who value simplicity and using natural resources wherever possible.

For the Dream Team challenge, the focus is on automation. The single most expensive aspect of building SuperAdobe structures is the time investment. Right now, its all manual labor, and the bags are filled by hand, one bucket or coffee can at a time.

The CalEarth Dream Team will be working to develop modular solutions to automate the process every step of the way. For example, finding a way to mechanically open the bags and keep them open as theyre filled so that the humans can focus on other things. Or how about a crank-powered machine that can fill the bags faster, or a collapsible tool that can tamp the bags in larger footprints? Maybe theres a way to lay barbed wire automatically so no one has to worry about getting hurt.

Whatever you come up with, we want to see it. Watch the Q&A video with CalEarth directors Sheefteh and Dastan Khalili below to better understand the challenges of building and modernizing sustainable housing, and start your entry today!

All images courtesy of CalEarth.

Excerpt from:
Prize: Cal-Earth Is Digging Deep To Shelter Those In Need | Hackaday - Hackaday

What exactly is Hogans Alley in Vancouver, and what are the proposed plans for its future?

It was Vancouvers first enclave for some of the citys early Black Canadian immigrants, located within a T-shaped intersection at what is now the easternmost end of the Dunsmuir and Georgia viaducts immediately south of Chinatown.

The footprint of the former Hogans Alley is framed today by Main Street to the west, Union Street to the north, Jackson Avenue to the east, and Prior Street to the south.

Footprint of the historic Hogans Alley in the present day urban context. (Vancouver Heritage Foundation)

According to the Vancouver Heritage Foundation, BCs first Black immigrants arrived from California in the middle of the 1800s, and by the early 1900s they created a community in and around the Strathcona neighbourhood, with Hogans Alley eventually becoming the cultural hub of the community.

They were joined by Black homesteaders from Alberta, who originally came from Oklahoma, and by Black railroadportersworked at the Great Northern Railway nearby. Housing discrimination in other parts of Vancouver also concentrated the citys Black population in this area, reads the foundations historical account.

Hogans Alley in 1958. (City of Vancouver Archives)

2014 Canada Post stamp commemorating Vancouvers Hogans Alley. (Canada Post)

The former neighbourhood was known for being home to Nora Hendrix, the grandmother of rock legend Jimi Hendrix, and a cook at Vies Chicken and Steak House, considered one of Hogans Alleys culinary institutions.

But the latter half of the 1960s marked the neighbourhoods demise, when city blocks of homes and businesses that form Hogans Alley were demolished for the new replacement Georgia Viaduct.

The original viaduct, built in 1915 and named the Hart McHarg Bridge, was located towards the north of the existing viaduct, with its easternmost end located in the area of the intersection of East Georgia Street and Main Street.

When the bridge was first built, it spanned over a portion of the False Creek waterway that had yet to be filled in, andover Canadian Pacifics vast railyards in Northeast False Creek.

The original Georgia Street Viaduct (Hart McHarg Bridge) in 1915. (City of Vancouver Archives)

The original Georgia Street Viaduct (Hart McHarg Bridge) over a waterway in the area that is currently Andy Livingstone Field. (City of Vancouver Archives)

Half a century later, it became apparent a new replacement viaduct was needed due to the original viaducts age and its poor construction. There were plans early on to run the streetcar on the viaduct, but this was never realized, as there were concerns over the structures ability to hold the weight.

Even some of the lamp posts on the structure had to be removed to reduce its weight load, never mind running frequent streetcars and the vibrations it would create.

It was poorly built and plagued by difficulties from the beginning; it was not uncommon to see sagging sections, timber propping it up, and concrete falling to the ground below, reads the foundations description.

Remnants of the original Georgia Street Viaduct (Hart McHarg Bridge) near the intersection of Main Street and East Georgia Street, immediately north of BC Hydros Murrin Substation. (Google Maps)

However, it was eventually made known that this would become much more than just a viaduct replacement project. The new replacement viaduct was envisioned to become a small segment of a new citywide freeway network, crossing through much of the downtown peninsula, including other areas of Strathcona, as well as Chinatown and Gastown.

Historic Chinatown was ultimately saved from the plans, but not Hogans Alley, with its residents subjected to discriminative practices by both the city and media.

Over the years, the Black population endured efforts by the city to rezone Strathcona making it difficult to obtain mortgages or make home improvements, and by newspaper articles portraying Hogans Alley as a centre of squalor, immorality and crime, continued the foundation.

The modernized Georgia and Dunsmuir viaducts reached completion in 1971, but this would become the only span of the envisioned freeway network, as the plans were withdrawn the subsequent year in response to widespread public opposition.

Construction of the new replacement Georgia Viaduct over Main Street in 1971, looking east towards the former site of Hogans Alley. (City of Vancouver Archives)

Old Georgia Viaduct (Hart McHarg Bridge) over Canadian Pacifics Beatty Street railyard in Northeast False Creek in 1970, before the demolition of the structure and completion of the replacement. (City of Vancouver Archives)

But the expropriation and demolition of Vancouvers original Black community for the new roadways was not uniquely a Vancouver phenomenon.

The same upheaval was experienced in the post-war era in cities across the United States, when governments set their sights on using African American neighbourhoods for the construction of their Interstate highways.

Today, the footprint of Hogans Alley is used as a green space and the site of a recently built temporary modular housing building for the homeless.

As an integral part of the citys Northeast False Creek Plan, there are plans to demolish the viaducts and redevelop the area with forms and uses that acknowledge the areas history and reestablish a cultural hub for the Black community in Vancouver.

A preliminary proposed concept created in 2017 by the municipal government and architectural firm Perkins & Will for the Hogans Alley portion of the redevelopment a 3.5-acre site between Main Street and Gore Avenue calls for six buildings reaching up to 14 storeys.

Architectural concepts for the Main Street Blocks, with the west block and Hogans Alley to the east. (Perkins + Will / City of Vancouver)

Architectural concepts for the Main Street Blocks, with the west block and Hogans Alley to the east. (Perkins + Will / City of Vancouver)

The buildings are oriented around the recreation of Hogans Alley a unique public plaza and pedestrianized laneway that spans thewest-north length of the development, with retail and restaurants within the ground level of the buildings activating the public spaces.

These businesses will also be supported by the economic activity that can be expected from the foot traffic of the new St. Pauls Hospital campus, located just across the new Pacific Boulevard immediately to the south.

Artistic rendering of the new St. Pauls Hospital and health campus at the False Creek Flats (right), the new Pacific Boulevard (left), and the towering forms of the Hogans Alley redevelopment (bottom left). (IBI Group Architects / Providence Healthcare)

There will be approximately 300 units of social housing within the upper floors of these buildings.Green terraces, porches, and rooftop gardens are defining features of the architectural concept.

The proposed massing will be a departure from the conventional tower and podium model that characterizes much of Vancouvers recent mid-rise and high-rise development, reads the architects vision.

The stepped massing is specifically tailored to respect view cones and adjacent contexts and the overall form is expressive of a unified architectural expression. This will render a clear sense of place necessary for its identity as a cultural precinct.

Artistic rendering of the new Hogans Alley. (Perkins + Will / City of Vancouver)

Artistic rendering of the new Hogans Alley. (Perkins + Will / City of Vancouver)

The key cultural component of the Hogans Alley redevelopment is at the western end of the development site, fronting Main Street, where the Black Cultural Centre of Vancouver is planned. There will be social and community gathering facilities, as well as a rooftop basketball court, daycare, and non-profit office space.

Hogans Alley Society is envisioning this cultural centre to become a programming hub for food, gathering and celebration, education and empowerment, art music and dance, and research and knowledge of Black Canadian history.

But all of this hinges on the citys ability to raise much of the $1.7 billion in public benefits costs from the market residential redevelopments set for Northeast False Creek (NEFC), particularly Canadian Metropolitan Properties Plaza of Nations redevelopment and the larger Concord Pacific redevelopment.

Area developers will cover a majority of the expected costs of the NEFC public benefits, which consists of 32 acres of new and renewed parks, 1,800 units of social housing, a community centre with an ice rink and other facilities, and Hogans Alley.

The remaining costs will be covered by the citys budget, which has been shaken up by the plummet in revenues as a result of COVID-19. Sources previously told Daily Hive Urbanized as much as $400 million and $500 million could be required from the city, and this was before the pre-pandemic downturn of the housing market.

Artistic rendering of the Creekside Park expansion and the Concord Pacific portion of the Northeast False Creek redevelopment. (Concord Pacific)

As a result, there is some uncertainty with the precise timeline of NEFC, specifically a target date for the demolition of the viaducts to kickstart the new developments. Before the viaducts can be demolished, the new replacement roadway must be built.

The existing viaducts are a major thoroughfare into downtown, with approximately 45,000 vehicles per day during normalcy.

Without the viaducts, the plan with the new and reconfigured road system is to redirect vehicle traffic onto a new bi-directional Pacific Boulevard, and onto Hastings Street, Pender Street, Cordova Street, Cambie Bridge (via 2nd Avenue), and to a lower degree Water Street.

Vancouver Skate Plaza underneath the Georgia and Dunsmuir Viaducts. (Northeast False Creek / Flickr)

Rezoning applications have been approved for the Plaza of Nations and BC Place residential tower developments, with the Plaza of Nations project now in the development application stage. The rezoning application for the Concord Pacific project was scheduled to be deliberated over the last few weeks of the previous city councils term in office in 2018, but it was abruptly withdrawn before the election.

Despite the fiscal hurdles, planning for NEFCs public benefits continues, including the Creekside Park expansion and the Dunsmuir Connection an elevated walking and cycling route between the existing western end of the Dunsmuir Viaduct to Quebec Street, ending within the park near Science World.

The city says it is also working on establishing a long-term partnership with theHogans Alley Society for the cultural hub aspects of the Hogans Alley development, but the current health crisis has delayed their planned progress this year.

The Northeast False Creek Plan is a 20-year plan that relies on development funding and timing to deliver public benefits. This includes the removal of the Georgia viaducts and the recreation of the Hogans Alley Blocks. One of the key concepts outlined within the plan is the commitment to working with Hogans Alley Working Group to establish the long term involvement and investment of the Black Community in the future life of this block, including consideration of a land trust, reads an email from the City of Vancouver staff last week to Daily Hive Urbanized.

Prior to COVID-19 related disruptions, City staff were in the process of working with the Hogans Alley Society to finalize a meeting time and agenda, including senior City staff. The meeting was intended to continue advancing foundational work on the implementation of the Hogans Alley block, as well as to work collectively to address systemic anti-black racism. Staff recognize that the COVID response has delayed progress and are likewise eager to continue these discussions.

Black Lives Matter solidarity protest blockading the Georgia Viaduct on June 15, 2020. (Kenneth Chan / Daily Hive)

In the meantime, in light of recent events, city staff say they are proposing to city council an interim memorandum of understanding (MOU) that will guide the partnership with the Hogans Alley Society. The MOU will formally recognize the society and address anti-Black racism and cultural redress with the Black Community and other local communities as a whole, create a safe space for the celebration of Black cultures within NEFC, and examine interim projects.

The City recognizes that this is only the initial stage in building a relationship with the Hogans Alley Society and the larger Black Community, and see this work as crucial to the long-term success of the Hogans Alley Block and any future agreement for their development, continued city staff.

Hogans Alley Society could not be reached for comment.

Read more here:
This is the plan to rebuild Vancouver's Hogan's Alley for the Black community | Urbanized - Daily Hive

Is it just us, or does the idea of saving 20% at Ikea make your heart beat a little faster? You're right, we've probably spent too much time at home over recent months... although once you've checked out some of the items in the sale, you'll probably (maybe) understand what we're talking about.

Whether you're on a mission to maximise the potential of your teeny tiny back garden or perhaps even your balcony want to create the perfect space to unwind in a larger outside space, or foresee a summer of al fresco dinner parties and want to make sure you're prepare, Ikea's 20% sale is the place to start.

But, there's a catch. You need to have one of Ikea's Family Cards to benefit from some of the amazing offers we'll be talking about below. Good news is it's free and easy to sign up, so you'll be able to start making savings straight away. Rejoice.

Discover everything you need to know below, along with some of our favourite Ikea garden furniture that's currently available with an impressive 20% off for Ikea Family members. And if you're desperate to make a saving now, check out our deals hub.

As we mentioned above, by becoming an Ikea Family member you'll have the opportunity to make savings across the store straightaway. Some of our favourite perks include:

Member discounts

Ikea offer store-wide discounts to Ikea Family members, with the opportunity to make savings on everything from garden furniture (which we'll talk about more below) to everyday essentials. Items available with a discount vary from month to month, so you'll get the opportunity to pick up many new and exciting items with a tasty discount throughout the year.

Specialist workshops

Members also have the opportunity to benefit from the expertise of Ikea employees, with regular workshops providing everything from design inspiration to practical renovation advice and much more.

Free tea and coffee

Ikea Family members can also claim a free tea or coffee from Monday to Friday on presentation of their Ikea card.

Signed up or thinking about it? Here are our favourite Ikea garden furniture savings.

(Image credit: Ikea)

TRN Dining Set | Was 35, Now 28 for Ikea Family membersPerfect for even the smallest of outdoor spaces, this modern take on the traditional bistro set is the perfect spot to enjoy your morning coffee or unwind at the end of the day. And for under 30, we really don't think you can go far wrong.

The Garden Furniture Centre...

The Garden Furniture Centre...

(Image credit: Ikea)

PPLAR Modular Sofa Section | Was 60, now 48 for Ikea Family membersThe beauty of modular garden furniture is that it can be completely customised depending on your preferences and the space that you're working with. Styled with plenty of cushions, blankets and other soft furnishings, it's the perfect spot to unwind after a long day.

(Image credit: Ikea )

PPLAR Garden Table | Was 70, Now 56 for Ikea Family MembersIf you're trying to make the most of a super small garden, this might be the answer for you. Not only does this stylish set-up offer a spot to enjoy your morning coffee, it also boasts plenty of storage potential (see below). We love the idea of hanging small pots from the wall panel to create a stylish living wall.

(Image credit: Ikea)

(Image credit: Ikea)

PPLAR / HGSTEN Dining Set | Was 490, now 470 for Ikea Family membersThis six seater dining set is perfect for those looking to set up a spot for al fresco dining with all the family and once lockdown is lifted with friends too. Stunning white wire chairs make a subtle statement and are sure to work in almost any garden scheme.

Forest Garden Rosedene Bench...

Rowlinson Hardwood Companion...

Forest Garden Harvington...

Willington Companion Seat for...

(Image credit: Ikea)

SOLLERN Outdoor Stool | Was 60, now 48 for Ikea Family membersNeed somewhere to store all the cushions you'll be styling your garden furniture with? This handy stool not only provides plenty of space to do so, it also doubles up as a foot rest for ultimate relaxation.

Today's best garden storage bench deals

Plastic Brown Garden storage...

Zest4Leisure Caroline Garden...

(Image credit: Ikea)

PPLAR Extendable dining table and chairs | Was 360, Now 296 for Ikea Family MembersRight now we can still only meet with groups of up to six people outdoors, but there's some suggestion that the number could increase as the summer progresses. Prepare for a summer of al fresco dinner parties with the help of this super stylish extendable dining set.

More affordable outdoor dining sets...

Marks and Spencer UK (Paused)

See the original post:
Ikea news: the 20% off sale is on but there's a catch - Real Homes