Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Have you ever dreamed of working for the Queen at one of her many plush residences?

The Royal Household is currently advertising a number of roles, with jobs available including security officer and senior Gardner.

These roles are dotted around the Queens official estates meaning some are based at Buckingham Palace while others are up in Scotland at the Palace of Holyroodhouse or out of London at Windsor Castle.

READ MORE: The Queen's cheeky after dinner treat which is probably surprisingly similar to yours

Most of the 22 jobs advertised on the Royal Households website are for temporary summer roles some of which coincide with the Queens Platinum Jubilee.

However, there are more specialised roles that are offering pretty hefty salaries for people with the right skills.

The Senior Gardener role is based at Windsor Castle and is responsible for maintaining the royal gardens.

The full-time, permanent role has a starting salary of 25,000.

As Senior Gardener you will be responsible for the maintenance, conservation and development of the Royal gardens.

You will lead a small team, organising and allocating, and performing daily tasks, with a hands-on approach. This will include lawn maintenance and caring for shrub, herbaceous and rose borders.

You need to have experience including: a passion for horticulture" and relevant qualifications (such as HND, ND/NVQ 3 or RHS Level 2/3, Chain Saw use, PA1 and PA6A).

The Holyrood-based role as Security Officer is described on the website as maintaining a safe and secure environment throughout the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

The salary isn't specified, however, according to the website, it is "Competitive" and comes with a 15% employer contribution pension scheme and benefits.

Like many security jobs, the hours are pretty unforgiving and are listed as: 12 hour shift patterns averaging 42 hours per week (based on a pattern of 2 days, 2 nights and 4 days off)."

Other aspects of the role include: "Security patrols, fire safety inspections" and welcoming visitors.

Windsor Castle is looking for someone to help assist its Admissions Manager.

Whoever gets the role will be paid 23,500 - 24,000 per annum, dependent on experience.

The job description on the Royal Household website describes the role as: "Supporting the Admissions Manager with day-to-day operational management, you'll also motivate and guide the team, monitor progress and support ongoing personal development, inspiring them to deliver their very best and achieve challenging sales targets.

"Every day, you'll engage with the team, make sure they have the information they need to meet the day's demands, co-ordinate roles and be the first port of call for any queries."

This fixed-term role is based at Buckingham Palace and offers a wage of 10.85 an hour, which includes lunch.

The Palace is looking for someone who can "enrich customers experience, engaging with and informing them, and taking every opportunity to maximise sales and customer satisfaction."

Working hours are roughly 40 hours, over 5 days, Monday to Sunday for full-time workers with part-time roles also available.

This is a temporary position, with the candidate being expected to work around 300 hours over the duration of their contract.

The pay is 11.66 an hour and the listing says that the role includes: "Supporting the Visitor Services management team, you'll make sure our Wardens are ready to meet the day's demands, offering a warm welcome to every visitor who comes through the door."

So if you are friendly, confident, and a great communicator, why not apply before January 28?

Unlike the other roles on this list, this position is not based at one of the Queen's royal residences.

Instead, it is located at Bagshot Park, the residence of the Earl and Countess of Wessex.

The role is summarised on the website: "As a Programme Co-ordinator based at Bagshot Park, Surrey, you'll be part of the small team responsible for the planning, coordination, and circulation of TRH's official programmes, and briefing materials."

You will " be a skilled administrator" with experience in a similar role.

The highest-paid job currently going, this project managers position is intended to oversee Buckingham Palaces ten-year programme to overhaul the building's infrastructure, including electrical cabling, plumbing and heating for the first time since the 1950s.

It comes with a healthy salary of 55,000.

As the project manager "youll be responsible for the programme-wide management of mechanical, electrical and public health systems, as well as low voltage, critical systems within the Reservicing Programme, from design and procurement to installation/construction, commissioning and hand back. "

This Buckingham Palace-based role comes with a salary of 27,000 to 29,000.

You will be: "working as part of our centralised People Services Team with a broad generalist workload, you'll deliver HR activities across the employee life-cycle, including recruitment, onboarding and routine employee relations."

If you have experience in HR and want to see what it would be like to do it in a palace you have until January 30 to apply.

This role would see you work inside the Private Secretary's Office at Buckingham Palace.

The description certainly makes the role sound exciting: "As Operations Manager, you will lead and develop a dedicated team of professionals who support the diverse strategic and operational priorities of The Royal Household.

"This will include responsibility for correspondence with the public, anniversary messages, and record keeping for the department."

This seems like the perfect role for a Civil Servant who wants to try something new and possibly a little more exciting.

If you are attracted by the roles description or its 40,000 salary, you can apply until January 30.

Holyroodhouse in Scotland is looking for people to help man the ship, as they expect thousands of visitors between March and October this year.

Workers are offered 9.50 an hour plus lunch.

So if you are "an outstanding team player who is able to work effectively even when things get busy and remain calm under pressure," why not apply before January 30?

Starting in June and ending in September, this role is perfect for anyone looking for a summer job in scenic surroundings.

It is based at Windsor Castle, and workers are offered 9.50 an hour plus lunch.

The job revolves around admissions and ticket sales.

Similar to the role at Holyrood, services assistants and wardens at Windsor are expected to help visitors with information, directions and maintain a basic level of security.

It pays 9.50 per hour, plus free lunch and you are expected to work a minimum number of 425 hours for the duration of the contract.

This is exactly the same role as the one at Windsor Castle, but in Scotland.

Workers are offered 9.50 an hour plus lunch.

The job revolves around admissions and ticket sales.

There are also part-time positions available for this role where you work 16 hours a week.

If you are looking for summer work and have previous roles in retail this might the job for you.

It pays better than an assistant role, with the team leader receiving 11.66 per hour.

If you live in London, and have always dreamed of working at Buckingham Palace, apply before January 31 to make that dream a reality.

Another Buckingham Palace team leader role that includes: " Supporting the Ticketing and Sales managers, you'll make sure our team are ready to meet the day's demands and promote the experiences we offer.

"Every day, you'll engage the team in briefings, answer questions, and inspire them to maximise ticket sales. And in all that you do, youll aim to deliver a truly memorable level of service.

"Youll gain an understanding of the technologies and processes that influence visitor experience at one of the most iconic sites in the world."

The hourly wage is 11.66 an hour.

One of the many jobs available at Buckingham Palace this summer, this retail assistant's role requires someone to be passionate about products sold at the palace.

It pays 10.85 per hour and revolves around the various shops and retail areas the palace has for visitors.

If you are interested, apply before January 31.

The online listing states that the summer contract starts in June and ends in October, perfect for those looking to make a little extra cash on their summer holidays.

The role sees you in the ticket booth, making sure people enter Buckingham Palace smoothly, and is offering 10.85 per hour.

Similar to Windsor and Holyroodhouse Palace, Buckingham Palace is also looking for people to help guide visitors around the sometimes labyrinthine hallways of the Queen's stately homes.

You will be expected to help visitors, impart information, and ensure good customer service.

The role is 10.85 per hour and starts in June and ends in October.

One of the highest paying jobs on the list is a building surveyor role based at Buckingham Palace.

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It sounds dry on its face, but the description gives makes it seems pretty exciting: The size, complexity, and heritage of the Royal residences will present you with some truly fascinating, and often unique, challenges.

Joining the London team, you'll be responsible for operational activities, managing a combination of planned and reactive maintenance.

It also describes how the surveyor role also means the person will get to advise on refurbishment efforts of the historic palace.

The role comes with a salary of 40,000-50,000 depending on experience.

This role, based at Windsor Castle is very similar to the temporary summer position.

It has the same pay of 9.50 per hour, plus lunch but a longer contract and slightly fewer hours at around 30 a week.

Applications are being accepted until February 4 for this role.

This is a more senior salaried position based at Windsor Castle.

The Assistant Visitor Services Manager is expected to lead the front line team and make sure they are ready to meet the day's demands, offering a warm welcome to every visitor who comes through the door.

It also involves being able to train, motivate and guide a team while monitoring their progress.

The salary is 26,000 per annum, plus benefits.

If you have experience in restoring furniture, you might have just found your dream job.

The Queen's Craft Technician is expected to look after Buckingham Palace's historic furniture.

You will receive 25,000 - 27,000 per annum, to help conserve the many ornate furnishings and items in the Royal Household.

The website says the craft technician's role spans "from undertaking basic remedial conservation treatments in the workshops, to assisting works of art movements and furnishing installations across the Royal Residences."

If you are interested in any of the jobs you can find them listed here.

Do you want stories sent straight to your inbox? Customise your notifications here.

Have a story you think we should be covering? Email rory.bennett@reachplc.com.

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Royal Family: The 22 job vacancies the Queen is looking to fill right now - My London

Many people think that since lead was removed from paint and gasoline, it is no longer a threat. But nearly a third of American children have dangerously elevated blood lead levels. While consumer products are probably the biggest source of lead exposure, lead is lurking in many perhaps most homes.

Lead is a toxic heavy metal that occurs naturally in small amounts. Natural levels of lead in soil range between 50 and 400 parts per million (ppm), but human industrial activities have led to much higher levels of lead exposure. Lead can build up in the body and can be fatal at high levels.

Lead exposure damages every organ and system in the human body, especially the brain and central nervous system. Although everyone is harmed by exposure to lead, the impacts are most profound for infants and children. No safe blood lead level in children has been identified. Even low levels of lead in blood have been shown to negatively affect a childs intelligence, ability to pay attention, and academic achievement. The effects of lead poisoning are permanent.

Lead was added to both interior and exterior paint until 1978. If your house was built before 1978, it could still contain layers of lead paint. The older your house is, the more likely it is that lead paint is still present in or on it. Homes built before 1986 are more likely to have lead pipes, fixtures, and solder, which can corrode, allowing lead to enter drinking water. About one-third of the countrys water districts still use lead supply pipes.

In 2011, changes to the Safe Drinking Water Act reduced the maximum allowable lead content in plumbing as well as solder and flux. Problems with lead leaching into water occur more often in homes with brass faucets (even when they are chrome-plated) and with fixtures that use lead solder.

The best way to find out if your home contains lead is to test for it. You can use a 3M LeadCheck Swab from the hardware store to test surfaces and have your homes water tested to find out if any lead is leaching into it. If there is lead in your water, or if you want to prevent leaching in the first place, contact your utility to find out about your supply pipes. You can check for lead pipes inside your home yourself. If you are planning a remodeling project, have a certified inspector conduct a lead risk assessment before you start. You might also consider testing the soil in your yard, especially in areas where you grow vegetables or where children play.

As with asbestos, lead paint that is not damaged is best sealed and left alone. Simply add a new coat of low-VOC paint over any surfaces that have been painted with lead paint, being careful not to disturb the underlying layers. However, if the lead paint is peeling, chipping, chalking, cracking, damaged, or damp, as occurs in high wear areas like windowsills, it is a hazard and must be removed. This is not a DIY project: Find an EPA or state lead-safe certified renovation contractor.

If your water supply pipes contain lead, consider purchasing an NSF/ANSI Standard 53 certified water filter that is certified for lead removal. In some communities with lead supply pipes, such as Newark, New Jersey, these filters may be available directly from your water utility. If you have lead pipes inside your home, consider replacing them. Replacing your plumbing is expensive, but it is the safest course of action. There are some federal grants to help replace residential pipes. Check with your local utility to find out if additional incentives or local grants are available.

If the lead level in your soil is elevated above 5,000 ppm, you may need to find a certified contractor to replace the surface soil. At lower levels, you may be able to safely grow crops with good soil management. Frequent handwashing, keeping shoes outside of the house, and wet dusting will all help keep lead dust from building up indoors.

Once you have taken abatement steps to seal or replace old lead paint and plumbing, youll want to avoid reintroducing lead into your home. Lead is still used in some applications today, as in solder and roof flashings. These lead sources are unlikely to result in lead exposure during daily life. But be careful when bringing second-hand building materials and household items (whether for aesthetic or sustainability reasons) into the house. Building reuse stores sometimes accept older materials, like doors and stair railings, which could contain lead. Similarly, many imported ceramics and vintage housewares also contain lead. Its best to assume that the paint on vintage items contains lead until testing proves otherwise.

Despite regulations, it is not safe to assume that new consumer items are lead-free. Many toys and crafts (like stained glass) and even some cosmetics still contain lead. Even more dangerously, some folk remedies for stomach upset and morning sickness contain lead.

See more here:
Get the Lead Out (of Your Home) - Earth911.com

The Global Plumbing Supplies & Parts Market report by MarketandResearch.biz analyses previous and current growth prospects and trends in order to acquire relevant insights into these market indicators during the forecast period of 2021 to 2027. The research also includes the markets compound annual growth rate (CAGR) throughout the projection period.

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Global Plumbing Supplies & Parts Market 2021 Growth, Trends, Leading Players and Business Insights Forecast to 2027 The Oxford Spokesman - The...

Last updated on January 23, 2022

Looking for different types of modular additions for your home? Look no further as weve got the best ideas here. Read on!

Prefab or prefabricated home is a type of dwelling thats manufactured in advance from factories instead of on-site. Its shipped pre-made and ready to assemble, they typically cost less than conventional homes.

And its not limited to houses. In fact, you can have a prefab addition added to your home, be it a bump-out or a small structure in your backyard. Were talking about extra rooms, a garage, an office, or even a guest house.

They cant be fully customized (thats the nature of prefabrication) but theyre quick to build yet provide the same (often higher) durability and quality of a traditional house thanks to modern technology.

And thats the reason why weve made a list of these ideas for modular home additions, to help you make the right choice as it can be a make-or-break decision.

Table of Contents

1of 21

Modular home construction is an effective way to build additions for your house when you want to get something for high quality and yet fast building time. The speed is very important as building additions will temporarily disrupt your lifestyle. There are 2 basic types of addition, an attached to the side and the other one is on top of a one-story home.

2of 21

A prefab shed can be a great addition to your lot especially if you need something quickly for storage. It has become popular over the years because it doesnt take a lot of effort to build them. They come in multiple sizes and shape and some can be bought pre-engineered if you want to build one.

3of 21

If youre gonna have family or friends to come over but dont have a guest house, then a prefab one is the perfect option. It can be build quickly and comes in different materials, shapes and sizes for any type of budget.

4of 21

Prefab garages can be considered if you have a free space in your lot but dont have a garage yet. It has plenty of varieties, inexpensive, and faster to build. It is not as durable compared to a traditional one but modern technology improved their quality.

5of 21

When you want a quick workspace in your backyard, a prefab studio is a viable option. You dont have to be confused looking at dozens of screws, bolts, or wood which usually eats up a lot of time. A prefab studio is ready for you to use once delivered.

6of 21

Modular home additions are assembled in sections and they can be customized but not to the full extent. Theyre much faster to build just like prefabs and depending on the budget can be really durable.

7of 21

As it is in the name, a granny pod allows the elderly or someone to look after to live in a backyard cottage. A prefab one is much quicker to build in the backyard which is important if youre in a hurry for grandma and grandpa.

8of 21

Also known as a mother in law apartment or sometimes guest house, its usually built attached or located in the same place as a single-family home. Building one from scratch costs a lot so a prefab can be considered for a quicker, affordable price.

9of 21

When most of your work involves being at home, why not have a prefab office if you have space in your backyard? Its quick, affordable and can give you the privacy you need when doing your job, away from disturbance.

10of 21

Known as secondary suites, an accessory dwelling is like your second modular home attached near the main home. Its used mainly to gain extra income via rent from family members but it can be a relaxing area too.

11of 21

Installing a second-story addition might cost a lot but its one way to enlarge an already existing house especially for smaller ones. It was one size fits all before but now it can be fully customized to suit your needs.

12of 21

Adding a master bedroom to an already pre-existing home is possible if you have the funds. It can improve the homes value significantly and buying a prefab one can lower the cost by a great margin.

13of 21

Every woman of the house needs a she shed, just like a man needs his man cave. Its made for relaxing and built with soft colors and comfortable furniture. You can build one on your own or get a prefab for a less expensive and quicker route.

14of 21

A sunroom is an ideal place to unwind and relax as it lets you embrace the outdoors while protecting you from the elements or bugs. It improves home value by up to 47% and getting a prefab one is a great option for a quicker, cheaper sunroom.

15of 21

If youre living in a limited space, then consider adding an outdoor office shed. It can be custom designed to suit your needs. It can be a home office, an extra kitchen, craft space or even playing the instruments. Its smaller, quicker to build, and much cheaper.

16of 21

Making a lean-to to an existing building is actually pretty easy and can be done by yourself even without prior experience. Its cost effective and easier compared to other buildings. Its typically used as a small shelter or storage area.

17of 21

If you want to increase the value of your home but want to do it the cheapest way and stay creative then why not make a do it yourself room. You can use an existing space like an unfinished basement. It can be any type of room like a lounge, gym, or even home office.

18of 21

When youre running out of space for your home, getting the best room addition floor plans is something you must do. It will give you lots of ideas on what you can do, like the number of rooms you can add.

19of 21

Modular homes arent just the big, full family house but theres also what you call modular cabins which are smaller and have a more vintage, rustic structure. They also come cheaper compared to conventional modular homes that you can do on your own if you have the right skills.

20of 21

Double wide mobile homes suits well in an open and spacious floor plan and it adds appeal to the exterior style of a property. Even though its made this way, an addition, even to a mobile home must be close but never attached.

21of 21

Prefab houses are usually more affordable than traditional houses by 10% to 20%. It is also 1 to 4 months faster to build than conventional homes and theyre mostly built in factories and then the company will just deliver it to you. According to HomeAdvisor, the cost of a prefab addition starts at $3,000 and can run up the balance to $30,000.

Related reading:

How to Build a Guest House Cheap [8 Ideas]

Read more

How to Make a Manufactured Home Look Like a House (Site-built Home)

Read more

26 Types of Prefab Homes (Full List)

Read more

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21 Prefab Additions You Need to Know About If You're Short ...

Hello, everyone, I hope you are having a wonderful Christmas and joyous holiday season. The festive period has gotten some of us here at PSA in the mood. Yesterday, Jesse compiled his Christmas wishlist of the four things hes hoping to see from the Yankees once the new CBA is ratified, and earlier today, Matt remembered some great Yankees stocking stuffers. Sticking with the theme, I thought Id look back on the best Christmas presents the Yankees have received and rank them by fWAR.

Granted, the Yankees have never signed nor traded for a player on Christmas Day itself, so Ive expanded the window of consideration by a week on either end. Ive also decided only to tally the WAR accrued in the uninterrupted Yankees tenure following their signing/trade, which is why Roger Clemens signed to his penultimate Yankees contract December 30, 2002 Dave Righetti extended December 23, 1987 and Tommy John brought back for second Yankees stint December 21, 1987 all miss out on inclusion in this list. With those qualifications covered, lets look under the Christmas tree.

Prior to the 2003 season, the Yankees signed Gary Sheffield to a three-year, $39 million contract. Even in his age-35 and age-36 seasons, Sheffield was still one of the best sluggers in the game, topping 30 home runs and 120 RBIs en route to a pair of All-Star appearances.

However, a collision with Torontos Shea Hillenbrand in May 2006 led to wrist surgery. That all but ended Sheffields Yankee career, as he didnt return until September and was traded the following offseason with Bobby Abreu now entrenched in right field.

After a masterful two seasons in Houston, during which he transformed into one of the best pitchers in the game, the Yankees signed Gerrit Cole to a record-setting, nine-year, $324 million contract in the 2019-20 offseason. And while he has been far and away the best Yankees pitcher and a top starter in the league since joining, its fair to say Cole so far has not fully delivered on the promise of his arrival, with the Yankees crashing out of the 2021 Wild Card game while their ace tried to pitch on an injured hamstring.

In the winter of 1921, the Yankees acquired Bullet Joe Bush as part of a three-player return in a trade that sent Rip Collins, Roger Peckinpaugh, Bill Piercy, Jack Quinn, and $100,000 to the Red Sox. He finished fourth in 1922 AL MVP balloting and was part of the 1923 that won the Yankees inaugural World Series title. In three seasons in the Bronx, Bush went 62-38 with a 3.44 ERA and 297 strikeouts, pitching at least 250 innings in each campaign.

David Wells signed on for his first Yankees stint prior to the 1997 season and chose number 33 in homage to Babe Ruth. Boomer memorably pitched the 15th perfect game in MLB history and second in Yankees history on May 17, 1998, reportedly while severely hungover.

Wells would go on to win his second World Series ring that year before being traded to the Blue Jays in the offseason as part of the package that brought Roger Clemens to the Bronx.

Sad Sam Jones was the second of three players included in the aforementioned 1921 trade between New York and Boston. He pitched a no-hitter September 4, 1923, becoming only the third player in MLB history to toss a no-hitter without recording a strikeout. He also clinched the 1923 World Series over the Giants, converting the save in the deciding Game 6. Across five seasons with the Yankees, Jones went 67-56 with a 4.06 ERA and 363 strikeouts.

Following a breach-of-contract dispute with the As in 1974 when Oakland owner Charlie Finley refused to pay an agreed $50,000 to a life insurance annuity, an arbitrator granted Hunter free agency. Soon after, he became the most expensive player in baseball, signing a groundbreaking five-year, $3.35 million contract with the Yankees. He was a part of the World Series winning squads of 1977 and 1978, but struggled with arm injuries in the final years of his career following back-to-back 300-plus inning seasons in 1974 and 1975. Hunter was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1987 but sadly passed away from Lou Gehrigs disease in 1999.

After playing the first 10 years of his career with the Yomiuri Giants, Matsui signed a three-year, $21 million contract with the Yankees in December of 2002. Godzilla terrorized opposing pitchers from his first season in the bigs, narrowly missing out on the Rookie of the Year award after two writers took issue with his age.

Matsui capped of his Yankees tenure in style, winning the 2009 World Series MVP after going 8-for-13 with three home runs and eight RBIs, including his six-RBI smackdown in the decisive Game 6 over the Phillies.

The Yankees signed Luis Severino as a 17-year-old international free agent in 2011. Despite some early growing pains after debuting in 2015, Severino vaulted himself onto the national stage with a pair of five-plus-win seasons in 2017 and 2018, looking like one of the new aces in the league. Unfortunately, injuries have limited him to just 18 innings since the start of the 2019 season, and the Yankees are hoping he can rediscover some of his dominant form three years and two major injuries removed from sustained success.

The Yankees acquired David Cone from the Blue Jays right before the trade deadline in 1995 and extended him for three years, $19.5 million that winter. He was an integral member of the most recent Yankees dynasty that won four titles in five years. He also pitched the 16th perfect game in MLB history just a year after his teammate Wells feat.

In an amazing twist, that day was Yogi Berras first return to Yankee Stadium after a long feud with George Steinbrenner, and the Hall of Fame catcher caught the ceremonial first pitch that day from Don Larsen, whose perfect game he caught in Game 5 of the 1956 World Series.

After a two-year stretch in which he won the 2000 AL MVP and was worth almost 17 wins, Jason Giambi signed a seven-year, $120 million contract with the Yankees. Although he never quite hit the heights of his final years in Oakland, Giambi was arguably one of the most underrated players on his Yankees teams, routinely leading the league in walks while still hitting for power.

In seven years in the Bronx, Giambi batted .260/.404/.521 with 209 home runs, 604 RBIs, and a 145 wRC+, narrowly missing out on a ring with the team when his 2009 option was declined.

Following his heroics in his half-season with the Brewers, Sabathia signed a then-record seven-year, $161 million contract for a pitcher as part of the inaugural season for the new Yankee Stadium. He helped deliver a title that year and was dominant in his first three seasons in the Bronx, putting up a trio of five-plus-win seasons.

However, chronic issues stemming from a 2011 torn meniscus in his right knee sapped the southpaw of velocity and effectiveness in the latter years of his Yankees tenure, though a change in form did lead to a mini-resurgence from 2016-18 until his retirement in 2019.

And finally, who more appropriate to top the list of most valuable Yankees Christmas presents than the WAR king himself, Babe Ruth. On December 26, 1919, Red Sox owner Harry Frazee sold the rights to Ruth to the Yankees for $100,000 and a $350,000 loan from Yankees owner Jacob Ruppert, secured by a mortgage on Fenway park. The rest is history, as Ruth would go on to win four World Series with the Yankees, setting the single-season home run record at 60 in 1927 broken by Roger Maris in 1961 the career home run record at 714 broken by Henry Aaron in 1974 and the single-season WAR record of 15 wins in 1923, in the process becoming the most iconic legend in the history of the game.

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How have past Yankees holiday additions performed after ...

When Gagan and Jasmin Arneja bought a Bay Area hillside home designed in 1975, they knew it would need some work. But with big windows offering expansive views over San Francisco and an interior lined with distinctive redwood-plywood paneling, there was already a lot about the house they liked.

So after closing on it in 2011 for about $1.5 million, they moved in without changing a thing. We believe it takes at least three to four years before you understand the quirks, and the pros and cons, of a house, said Ms. Arneja, a photographer. We didnt want to tear it up or remodel it before we even had a chance to get to know the house.

The house changes through the seasons, added Mr. Arneja, a software engineer at Arista Networks, noting that the home, designed by the architect Albert Lanier, has overhangs that allow the interior to be flooded with sunlight in the winter, while shading it in the summer something they wouldnt have understood without living there.

The couple, who are in their late 40s, also couldnt help but notice the shortcomings. The three-story house is nestled into a hillside, with the main entrance and primary living space on top. But the bedrooms, one level down, seemed shoddily finished, and the level below that wasnt finished at all. The home also had inefficient single-pane windows, and its original kitchen and bathrooms were in desperate need of updating.

By 2016, the Arnejas were finally ready to make some changes, but they werent looking to do a gut renovation. They wanted to retain the redwood paneling they loved, while expanding the house to make it more comfortable for family visits (Mr. Arnejas parents sometimes stay for months when visiting from India), improve its energy efficiency, replace its 1970s fixtures and appliances, and add a few stylistic touches to make it their own.

Finding the right architect for such a job wasnt easy. They engaged one, but soon realized they had very different ideas about how the house should be updated. They switched to another, but found his proposed design too heavy handed as well.

Its like going through bad relationships, Ms. Arneja said. The house needed an architect who wasnt so driven by ego, and who was mature and confident enough in their ability to take on the renovation of a house with a strong architectural identity and not feel like they had to put their imprint over it.

Fortunately, Monica Viarengo, a landscape designer who had been consulting with the couples second architect, believed she knew just the right person for the job: her husband, Brett Terpeluk, the principal of Studio Terpeluk. When the Arnejas met him, it felt like a perfect match.

I think Bretts sensibility veers toward the Italian sensibility, Mr. Arneja said. Its not about creating these blank, clean, modern lines; its really about, in totality, how everything feels warm.

Mr. Terpeluk saw why the couple wanted to preserve so much. When I walked into the house, the architecture just really resonated with me, he said. It has such a beautiful, almost mystical quality, in the way the space embraces you. Taking a curatorial approach to maintaining that, while upgrading the house, was the right approach.

His plan called for expanding and finishing the bottom level, to make space for an office and a media room with a kitchenette that looks out to a new garden designed by Ms. Viarengo; updating the bedrooms and bathrooms on the second level; and making surgical additions to the main living spaces on the top floor.

Throughout, Mr. Terpeluk worked with Beatrice Santiccioli, a color consultant, to coat new architectural elements in unexpected hues. The cabinetry in the renovated kitchen is finished in minty green and soft pink lacquer, and a nearby console is coated in sunny yellow. The primary bedroom has built-in cabinetry with aubergine hues, and the connected bathroom has similarly colored mosaic tile.

Every level has access to outdoor spaces, including the garden, an internal courtyard and balconies, mostly through floor-to-ceiling sliding-glass doors.

Underfoot, Mr. Terpeluk installed whitewashed Douglas fir flooring with deep brown knots, reclaimed from old pier pilings, where the house previously had dark-stained oak. Then he tied all three levels together with a sculptural folding-steel staircase featuring a handrail resembling a shepherds crook. Descending the stairs is now kind of a cinematic experience, Mr. Terpeluk said, as it snakes past the various colors of the different levels.

The Arnejas moved out when construction began in the fall of 2017 and returned to their completed home in the summer of 2020, after spending about $500,000 on the renovation. It took nearly a decade of dreaming, designing and building, but now that their 3,200-square-foot home is complete, they know their patience paid off.

We use every single part of the house every day, Ms. Arneja said, as they move between spaces for sleeping, working, eating and relaxing. And when no one is staying with them, she added, the guest room doubles as a workout room.

The end result is a house thats different than what we started with, but doesnt destroy what was already here, Mr. Arneja said. It enhances it.

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LAWRENCE As Ochai Agbaji reflected on Kansas mens basketballs double overtime win Monday against Texas Tech, he recalled a conversation he had with Christian Braun postgame in the locker room.

Agbaji said he was telling Braun that whether theyre down one possession or a couple, no one should count them out. The senior guard was telling his junior guard teammate that they have the offense that can hit the shots, and a defense that can embody the right mentality. And after the Jayhawks 94-91 victory against the Red Raiders, after how Kansas has won some of its recent games, its hard to argue with Agbaji.

Kansas is now 17-2 overall with a 6-1 mark in Big 12 Conference play. Head coach Bill Selfs squad is riding a five-game winning streak, with four of those five wins coming by three points or less. Thanks to Agbaji hitting a 3-pointer late in the first overtime the Jayhawks were able to force a second, and a couple free throws from Braun late in the latterhelped seal the win.

RELATED: In the wake of his dad's death, Bill Self coaches Kansas to come-from-behind win at Kansas State

RELATED: Recap: Kansas men's basketball survives double-overtime thriller against Texas Tech

All I can say is the game was unbelievable, freshman forward KJ Adams Jr. said. I couldnt have dreamed a better finish for this game, and this is why I came here, for big games like that, and have incredible moments like that I can tell people down the road.

Braun, who had 15 points, seven rebounds and six assists, said: You dont really get tired in those games, to be real honest. You do, but you know the crowd and just the game in general are so fun. The atmosphere is so fun to play in that dont really get tired … If youre out there youve got to produce.

Here are some takeaways from Kansas win against Texas Tech (15-5, 5-3 in Big 12). The Jayhawks entered the game fifth in the latest coaches poll, and the Red Raiders 14th.

If that 3-pointer in overtime wasnt enough to prove how valuable Agbaji was for Kansas, take a look instead at the career-high 37 points he scored against one of the nations top defenses. Take a look at how he shot 7-for-12 from behind the arc, which was better than his 6-for-11 mark on 2s. Take a look at his seven rebounds and two assists to go along with that, with only a few turnovers despite how much the ball was in his hands for the more than 46 minutes he played.

Self understands that its too early to determine any postseason awards, but its hard to disagree with him when he says Agbaji has to be among the top two or three players in the discussion for national player of the year. Agbaji has been an instrumental piece in so many recent wins for the Jayhawks. And even if more come, hell continue to remain as even-keel as he has been.

Thats the way I am, said Agbaji, who added this would have to be the best game hes ever played. Thats the way Im just going to stay. Im not going to be, like, over here gloating about it. I mean, its always Im always going to give the credit to my teammates because I wouldnt have gotten any of those points without them. So, its always going to be on them. Its just the person I am.

Kansas is now through seven games in conference play, and there isnt a significant separation between teams in the standings. Theres no telling if one game will be the difference between the Jayhawks and a team like Baylor at seasons end. Theres no telling if winning a game like this at home, will mean theres less pressure on Kansas to have to win a game on the road later on.

Of course, theres still No. 13 Kentucky coming up on Saturday. Self understands thats a significant game, for the team and maybe even more so for the fans. But both Braun and Agbaji spoke postgame about how there isnt a break coming up for the Jayhawks when it comes to their conference opponents, and beating Kentucky wont directly help Kansas win the conference.

That means surviving against Texas Tech matters.

The next three games after Kentucky are on the road at No. 24 Iowa State, at home against No. 4 Baylor and on the road at No. 25 Texas. Then come two games at home against Oklahoma and Oklahoma State, teams that gave Kansas tough games away from home earlier this season.

Super-senior guard Remy Martin played 22 minutes off the bench for Kansas, the most of any non-starter for Self. He finished with four points on 2-for-7 shooting from the field, four rebounds and five assists with one turnover. But once he was subbed out of the game with about five minutes left in regulation, he never returned.

Martin watched from the bench as Kansas lost an eight-point lead and went to overtime. He watched as the Jayhawks looked as if they were on the brink of defeat, before Agbajis heroics. He watched as they sealed the victory in the second overtime.

Self was clear postgame as to why.

I dont want to be negative, but who would (Martin) go in for? Self said. So, I mean, we need to rebound the ball. So, I didnt think it was a time that you play two little guards.

Self kept Agbaji, Braun, redshirt sophomore guard Dajuan Harris Jr. and redshirt sophomore forward Jalen Wilson in the game through both overtimes. Senior forward David McCormack and Adams split most of the rest of the time, with super-senior guard Jalen Coleman-Lands appearing late in the first overtime for a quick stretch in a 3-point shooting situation.

Agbaji can still remember how well Bryson Williams, Texas Techs super-senior forward, played against Kansas last season when Williams played for UTEP. Agbaji, understandably, still remembershow well Williams played against the Jayhawks when the Red Raiders hosted them earlier this season. And in Allen Fieldhouse, Williams play offensively didnt decline.

Williams found success against a number of Kansas defenders, and finished 14-for-19 from the field, 4-for-4 from behind the arc and 1-for-1 from the free-throw line. That amounted to 33 points, leading Texas Tech in that category by far.

Hes a great player, Agbaji said about Williams. Hes a really good post-man, like really good around the basket, really good touch, and he can shoot the 3. So, hes just a dangerous, complete player.

Williams ability to hit shots helped make up for junior guard Terrence Shannon, Jr. and redshirt junior guard Kevin McCullar both struggling to do so. Neither of the latter played the last time these two teams met, but their additions to the lineup this time around didnt come with significant point totals that Red Raiders fans might have anticipated.

Since the death of Selfs father last week, there has been an outpouring of support on social media and elsewhere. On Monday, that continued. Not only was there a moment of silence to honor Selfs dad, but there was a sign in front of the student section on one end that read, Just load the wagon.

Its part of a quote that Self has recalled his father telling him before. Self said he did not see the sign, but expressed appreciation for that and more.

Everybodys been so nice to us, and I know everybody goes through similar things and so many people have been through so much more that what I have or what my family has, Self said. But everybody's been so nice and we are very appreciative to all the well-wishes and the thoughts and prayers and I know my mom is overwhelmed by it. So, thats very nice of everybody.

Jordan Guskey coversUniversity of Kansas Athletics at The Topeka Capital-Journal. Contact him at jmguskey@gannett.com or on Twitter at @JordanGuskey.

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5 takeaways from Kansas mens basketballs double overtime win against Texas Tech - The Topeka Capital-Journal

Jan 20, 2022

Tim BontempsESPN

MADISON SQUARE GARDEN had just played host to one of the season's most thrilling comebacks. It was Jan. 6, and New York Knicks fans had witnessed a ridiculous buzzer-beating bank shot 3-pointer by RJ Barrett that capped a 24-point rally and win against the Boston Celtics.

It was the Knicks' fifth victory in their last seven games and a reason for excitement in the home locker room. But for Julius Randle, whose 22 points and eight rebounds aided New York's great escape, something seemed off when he sat down at the podium.

Randle's answers were clipped, and terse. After a couple minutes of awkward silences and short replies, he was asked what message he was trying to send by giving a thumbs down to the hometown fans following a bucket midway through the fourth quarter.

"Shut the f--- up," he said, responding to the MSG fans who had rained down boos early in the game with the Knicks trailing by double figures.

It was a sudden release of frustration -- emblematic of a season that hasn't gone how Randle or the Knicks had hoped. The feel-good story he and the Knicks authored during a spirited run to the 2021 Eastern Conference's No. 4 seed had dissipated with mounting losses through the first half of the 2021-22 season.

Friday, Jan. 21Bulls at Bucks, 8 p.m.

Wednesday, Jan. 26Knicks at Heat, 7:30 p.m.Suns at Jazz, 10 p.m.

Friday, Jan. 28Lakers at Hornets, 7:30 p.m.Knicks at Bucks, 10 p.m.

All times Eastern

After breaking a seven-year playoff drought, the pillars of New York's run -- combined with the franchise's offseason roster additions -- have yielded mediocre results as the Knicks find themselves fighting for a spot in the play-in.

It all leads to one question: Which ending -- last season's frantic finish for home-court advantage or another seat at the lottery dais -- is ahead for the Knicks?

"[The Knicks] are a classic example," an Eastern Conference executive said, "of what happens when you go from the hunter to the hunted."

FOUR KEYS POWERED the Knicks' breakout season in 2020-21: Randle's rise into an All-NBA player, New York finishing with the league's No. 4 defense, midseason acquisition Derrick Rose's resurgence as a Sixth Man finalist and Barrett's sophomore leap.

Those pillars of last season's surprise run have teetered on the edge of collapse.

Randle, last season's Most Improved Player, has seen his shooting numbers decline: from 41% on 3s last season to 31% in 2021-22.

Some of that could be expected; even this year's 31% clip from behind the arc is the third highest of Randle's career. But Randle also ranks among the top five in difficulty of shots created off the dribble, per Second Spectrum's tracking. He has also run a league-leading 651 isolation and post-up plays this season; among the 31 players who have run at least 225 such plays, Randle ranks 27th in efficiency.

Randle has seen his points per drive drop from 1.12 last season -- which was just outside the league's top 10 -- to 1.03, which ranks 32nd out of 63 players with at least 100 direct drives this season, per Second Spectrum.

"They thought they had a guy they were going to be able to build around, and acted that way," a Western Conference scout said. "It may not be the case."

Said a second Eastern Conference executive: "He is still good, but he's not an All-NBA player like he was last year. That's a big difference."

The Knicks have stood behind Randle. Coach Tom Thibodeau has pointed out the ways his struggling star is impacting the game beyond making shots, while teammates have preached the importance of his energy on the court.

But while the offense -- Randle's in particular -- has been troublesome, the team's defense has been a larger issue. Thibodeau, a defensive guru, is overseeing a team that slipped to 16th from its fourth-ranked unit last season.

Two of the main reasons: poor transition defense and a sharp decline in 3-point defense. The transition numbers are ugly, as New York went from ranking 11th last season to 27th this season, allowing 1.33 points per possession.

And the Knicks were the NBA's best team at defending opposing 3-pointers last season. They were also the luckiest. The 2.3% gap between what their opponents shot (33.7%) and what they were expected to shoot (36.0) was easily the biggest difference in the league, per Second Spectrum tracking, nearly twice as big as the second-place Utah Jazz.

This year, that gap has dropped to 1.3%. As a team, the Knicks have dropped to 15th overall in opponent 3-point percentage allowed.

Rose, meanwhile, has been sidelined since Dec. 16 with a right ankle injury that will keep him off the court until near the All-Star break in mid-February.

The 33-year-old guard, who reunited with Thibodeau at last season's trade deadline, has been the leader of a bench unit that routinely outperformed the starting unit; the Knicks are 9.8 points per 100 possessions better with Rose on the court.

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The team's best and most consistent offensive threat during its first-round loss to the Atlanta Hawks in last year's playoffs, Rose averaged 19.4 points per game and hit over 47% of his 3s in the series as the Hawks successfully limited Randle's impact.

"Just having his leadership out there, just making the game a lot easier," Knicks forward Taj Gibson said about Rose's impact on the Knicks. "He makes it a lot easier for the young guys, too. But then, at the same time, just having him not here, a lot of guys had to step up."

Enter Barrett, who through the first half of the season failed to build on the career-best numbers he flashed in his sophomore campaign.

But after averaging 15 points on 40% shooting through the end of December, Barrett has started to turn things around in 2022. He's averaging 23 points in January on 45% shooting from the floor and 44% from 3-point range, including three 30-point performances -- matching the number he'd had in his first two-plus seasons.

After missing six games in mid-December due to COVID-19, Barrett said last week he's feeling good physically again. His play has backed up that belief.

Barrett spent three games hovering in the mid-20s in minutes while he improved his conditioning, then scored 26 points against the Oklahoma City Thunder on New Year's Eve. Since then, his play has taken off -- the 21-year-old wing has averaged 23 points, 6 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game since, and hit over 44% of his shots from 3.

"There's no ceiling really on what he can do," Knicks guard Evan Fournier said recently of Barrett. "When he scores on all three levels, he becomes less predictable. So that allows him to do what he does best, which is be aggressive and drive.

"When he plays like that, it makes the job easy for everyone because he draws a lot of attention and he's a willing passer. So hopefully he [keeps] it going."

THE KNICKS CONTINUED the process of remaking their roster last week, when they moved Kevin Knox and a protected 2022 first-round pick to the Atlanta Hawks for forward Cam Reddish, a former lottery pick and Duke teammate of Barrett's whom they hope can improve with a change of scenery.

New York's offseason splashes -- signing Kemba Walker off waivers and adding Fournier via sign and trade with the Celtics -- haven't had the impact the Knicks hoped, particularly in boosting New York's offense, which continues to rank among the league's bottom third.

1:43

Alan Hahn speculates that the Knicks might make another move to complete the team after trading for Cam Reddish.

Walker was benched early in the season after New York's starting lineup was getting outscored by more than 15 points per 100 possessions while playing more minutes than any five-man unit in the NBA at that time. Walker only returned to the court when Thibodeau had no choice but to play him after the team's COVID-19 outbreak.

Walker was brilliant in late December, but, after playing nearly 36 minutes per game over a six-game stretch, he missed three weeks with knee soreness before returning Tuesday.

Some of the Knicks' issues this season are out of their control. The most prominent is something they haven't experienced in almost a decade: the burden of expectations.

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Last season, the Knicks were predicted to finish with one of the league's worst records. So hovering around .500 halfway through the season was deemed a success -- and stampeding home with 14 wins in their final 18 games was hailed as a remarkable achievement. Following up with a nearly identical record at this same point was never going to be celebrated the same way.

"It's a long season," Thibodeau said. "We started last season like this as well."

One problem: This isn't last season's East. The Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers -- two of the East's bottom five teams last season -- are currently among the group battling for the conference's best record. The Toronto Raptors, following a 12th-place finish while playing home games in Tampa, Florida, in 2020-21, are back in the mix as a play-in contender.

Add in the fact that ESPN's Basketball Power Index says New York owns the second-hardest remaining schedule in the league, and an attempt to make a repeat trip to the playoffs won't be easy -- let alone matching last season's No. 4 seed.

"It's hard to argue [the Knicks] should be anything other than what they are right now," a Western Conference executive said. "I don't think Julius is going to suddenly be more efficient, and I don't think Kemba, Fournier or even Rose -- when he's healthy -- are going to get better defensively."

Added an Eastern Conference scout: "Everything fell into place for them last year, and they haven't been able to repeat it."

And while the Knicks have won five of their last eight games, they still have a ways to go to replicate last season's formula -- a stout defense paired with just enough offense led by Randle, Barrett and Rose -- and prove its 2021 playoff run wasn't fool's gold.

"Each day you can't look backwards [and] you can't look too far down the road," Thibodeau said. "You just have to look at today. Put everything into today."

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Washington The Supreme Court will consider a pair of cases involving the use of race in admissions processes at Harvard College and the University of North Carolina, it said Monday.

With the decision to take up the bids brought by students who applied to the schools, members of the organization Students for Fair Admissions, a Supreme Court that now boasts an expanded conservative majority will reconsider the issue of affirmative actionat both private and public institutions.

It's unclear when the court will hear arguments in the legal fights, but the cases join other politically charged court battles over abortion and the Second Amendmentthat are currently under consideration by the justices.

The challenges targeting university admissions policies at the public and private institutions are the latest that seek to end affirmative action in college admissions, which has been used at universities to foster diversity among student bodies. Nine states have banned affirmative action at public universities.

The composition of the Supreme Court has changed considerably since it last weighed in on the use of race in university admissions, in a 2016 decision involving the University of Texas. The majority opinion in that dispute was written by Justice Anthony Kennedy, and the high court found the school's race-conscious admissions program to be lawful.

But Kennedy retired in 2018 and Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, who joined Kennedy in the majority, died in 2020. The Supreme Court's conservative majority has now grown to 6-3 with the additions of Justice Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett.

The first dispute stems from a lawsuit a group of students filed against Harvard in 2014 alleging its admissions process violates Title VI of the Civil Rights Act by penalizing Asian American applicants. Students for Fair Admissions claimed the Ivy League school intentionally discriminates against Asian American students during the admissions process by assigning them lower ratings than other races and limiting the number of Asian Americans it admits.

Students for Fair Admissions was founded by Edward Blum, who has mounted numerous challenges to race-conscious admissions policies and opposes affirmative action.

Harvard has rejected the claim of intentional discrimination from the students and argued it considers race in its admissions process "only in a flexible and nonmechanical way."

In 2019, a federal district court in Massachusetts sided with Harvard in the suit and said the elite school did not intentionally discriminate against Asian American applicants. The 1st U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld the district court's ruling in late 2020.

Students for Fair Admissions appealed the 1st Circuit's decision to the Supreme Court in February 2021 and asked the justices to overrule the court's 2003 decision known as Grutter v. Bollinger that allowed higher-education institutions to use race as a factor in admissions. That case, which involved the University of Michigan Law School's use of racial preferences in admissions, "is wrong in every way historically, legally, factually, practically, and morally," the group told the Supreme Court in a filing in May.

Students for Fair Admissions had the backing of the Trump administration in lower court proceedings. But the Biden administration is supporting Harvard in the case and, in response to a request by the Supreme Court in June to weigh in on the dispute, argued the case is a flawed vehicle for reconsidering its past decisions on affirmative action.

The student group identified "no sound reason" for the court to take up its case, Solicitor General Elizabeth Prelogar told the justices. She also said overturning its precedent on affirmative action would "profoundly unsettle expectations" of colleges and universities that have relied on those decisions.

In urging the Supreme Court to reject the appeal from Student for Fair Admissions, lawyers for Harvard also warned the court of the consequences of reconsidering its decisions on affirmative action.

"Individualized admissions systems that take some account of race as one factor among many have become part of the fabric of our society. Most Americans value racial and ethnic diversity and support programs that promote diversity on college campuses," they told the court in December. "Reconsideration of the court's precedents is unwarranted and would have profound negative repercussions."

In the second challenge to the University of North Carolina's use of race in admissions, Asian American students argue the public school "awards racial preferences to African Americans, Hispanics, and Native Americans," but not White or Asian American applicants.

Students for Fair Admissions brought its case against the University of North Carolina in 2014, claiming the school violated the 14th Amendment and federal law through its admissions policies. A federal district court sided with the university last year, finding its use of race is consistent with Supreme Court precedent.

A federal appeals court had not reviewed the district court's decision, though Students for Fair Admissions urged the high court to hear both the Harvard and University of North Carolina cases together, which the justices will do.

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Tessa Thompsons portrayal of Valkyrie has already courted a legion of fans, with a scene-stealing performance in Thor: Ragnarok and Avengers: Endgame. The character is expected to return into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in this years Thor: Love and Thunder, and one of the first details revealed about the film was that Valkyrie would be looking for a queen to rule alongside her in New Asgard. Given the ways Ragnarok made headlines for not showing Valkyries comic-accurate bisexuality, that news definitely resonated with LGBTQ+ fans and according to Thompson, her storyline in Love and Thunder will be paving new ground.

Its totally exciting, Thompson recently explained to The Wrap. We talk so much about representation and obviously, in terms of the LGBTQIA community, theres still so much work to be done. But if you look at the comics in the canon, there are so many queer characters! Its hard because Taika [Waititi] and I wouldve even liked to go further, but in the context of the movies, theres only so much we can do. Unfortunately, theres not a lot of time invested in love stories in Marvel movies in general. I think that will be a little different on the new Thor, which is exciting. And getting to play a character that historically is not written for somebody that looks like me, all of that felt exciting.

Thompson previously spoke about the ability to bring more positive LGBTQ+ representation to the MCU, something that the franchise has begun to add in recent years.

The truth is these movies travel globally in such huge ways, and if you can represent people that are of color, if you can represent people with disabilities, if you can represent the LGBTQIA community inside of these films, its a pretty big deal, Thompson told Variety in 2020. I think its really important for everybody, but for young people especially, to be able to show up to those movies and see projections of themselves. So Im really excited that were able to continue to push the bounds of that and that Im able to do that with Valkyrie. Because theres so many cool queer characters in the comic books, and they should have a place on screen.

Thor: Love and Thunder is set to be released on July 8th exclusively in theaters.

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Love and Thunder Star Tessa Thompson Says Films Love Story Will Be Different Than Other Marvel Movies - newsconcerns