Home Builder Developer - Interior Renovation and Design

Part III

William quickly became prominent in the social and political fabric of Old Middle Florida. Among his contemporaries were John and Robert Gamble, James Gadsden, Richard Keith Call, Achille Murat, Thomas Randall, Joseph White and others who heavily influenced Floridas early affairs. A number of these men were neighboring plantation owners in the vicinity of Waukeenah. In particular, he bonded with R. Keith Call and Achille Murat. Call, with close ties to Andrew Jackson, was at one point Floridas territorial delegate in Washington and would later become its territorial governor.

Of all the characters marching through this period, none were more colorful or popular than Achille Murat, nephew of Napolean, Prince of Naples and husband of Catharine Willis, great grand-niece of George Washington.

It is not surprising that William Nuttall moved with ease into the elite political and social circle of his realm. He was obviously intelligent, well educated, charming, energetic and highly ambitious, although imbued with a tendency for this latter trait to outpace his judgement. He is variously described by those he encountered as amiable, affable and uncommonly handsome. Call pulled him into his political organization known as the Nucleus and Nuttall was seriously considered a future candidate for territorial delegate.

The areas growth engendered heavy demand for legal services such that William joined Achille Murat in the practice of law, a partnership which appears to have endured from circa 1829 to 1834. Both partners shared impulsive drives toward risky investments including land and banking ventures. Their involvement in the Union Bank ruptured their association when Murat was removed as a director and later replaced by Nuttall whom he accused of surreptitiously undermining him.Shortly thereafter, Murat migrated to New Orleans, and, after unsuccessful endeavors there, particularly speculative land investments, he returned insolvent to Lipona, his Florida plantation.

Also worthy of mention is another scheme Murat and Nuttall promoted prior to their breakup. In 1831 they, along with other substantial planters formed the Wacissa and Aucilla Navigation Company to make navigable the Wacissa and Aucilla Rivers for transport of agricultural commodities, primarily cotton, out to the Gulf and the port at St. Marks. This route would improve their existing logistics which entailed difficult overland travel. The key feature of this project was the clearing and deepening of a tributary of the Wacissa to form a canal joining it to the Aucilla. Much effort would finally be expended on its construction, mainly after 1850, by slave labor contracted with Kidder Moore and Captain D.F.P. Newsome. Contrary to local legend, there is no evidence that William Nuttall employed any of his slaves on this ill-fated venture.

Part IVGiven his law practice, plantation administration, political involvement, land and banking speculations, Nuttall was indeed a busy man, but he found time to enjoy the plentiful social activity afforded by friends and local events. Obviously missing was a wife. 1832 would prove to be a momentous year in his life. On June 6, John Nuttall, his father, died and was buried in the Nuttall Cemetery in Franklinton, North Carolina.

By this time, William had fallen in love with Mary Wallace Savage, a Savannah, Georgia heiress. How they became acquainted is unknown but William undoubtedly traveled at times and could have visited in Savannah on his initial journey from North Carolina to Florida or later.

Mary Savage also traveled and could have visited the Tallahassee area or Newport, R.I., a popular resort for the wealthy which played a major role in her life.

Nuttall might have sojourned there as well. It is a tribute to Williams charm, attractive persona and social station that he was able to entice Mary into marriage, given the fact that El Destino was still a somewhat primitive frontier venue, and the area remained very much subject to raids from the Seminole Indians.

On June 30, 1832 they were married in Savannah, followed by a honeymoon spent largely in Newport, R.I. and accompanied by Marys mother. Their return to El Destino opened a new and very different chapter in Marys life but it is clear she adapted well and was soon widely respected and admired.

The end of 1832 marked another milestone for William when he became the sole owner of El Destino by purchasing the entire plantation from his fathers estate for the sum of seventeen thousand dollars via a note to James Patton, executor.Though rustic and without amenities typical of a frontier setting, the social life of the region was quite vibrant. There were horse races, elaborate dinner parties, balls, receptions, weddings and frequent visits among local residents, often with overnight stays. Ellen Call Long, in reminiscences entitled Florida Breezes, gives a vivid description of one such event at El Destino in the early 1830; a costume ball was held whose characters included Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette, Bluebeard, Falstaff and others, drinking champagne and waltzing in great revelry. Adding to the excitement and beauty of the evening was a ring of bonfires built by the slaves in a perimeter around the home, whose more mundane purpose was to prevent a surprise from the Indians, albeit a marked lack of anxiety by both hosts and guests. Florida Breezes also holds some of the best depictions of Mary. Passages describe her as grand looking with a countenance more expressive of all that is beautiful in womanly character. Also a male admirer states, there is nothing provincial about her; she would grace a queens drawing room. Other narratives personify her as tall, pretty and, perhaps, stately in bearing. As events would soon confirm, Mary Nuttall was not only attractive but equally resilient, poised and smart.

More here:
The Rise and Fall of William B. Nuttall A seven-part series - Part 3 & 4 of 7 - ECB Publishing

If youre buying a Greenworks chainsaw, youre already starting off on the right foot. They make excellent electric and battery-powered chainsaws, including some of the most powerful in the industry.

They also make a range of voltages to choose from. If you already have other Greenworks tools, chances are you can stick to the same platform and use batteries you already have. If not, well help you sort through and find the best one for your needs.

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Kicking the gas can to the curb in favor of electric power has several benefits. Theres no gas and oil to mix (or spill!), no gas engine emissions, far less maintenance, and theres much less noise. In some cases, they can rival the power of gas saws.

In general, we prioritize power and youll see that in our selections. Price and features come into play as well, but we believe youll have the best experience with the highest performing chainsaws. In our opinion, its worth paying a little more to get it.

Corded electric chainsaws arent as convenient as cordless, but theyre absolutely the way to go when you want to avoid gas on a smaller budget. Of the choices Greenworks has, we like their 14.5-amp saw as our top choice.

It has much higher power than the 10-amp saws and sports an 18-inch bar, matching the size of the best battery-powered chainsaws out there and giving you the most cutting versatility. Best of all, its less than $100!

Greenworks only makes one 24V chainsaw currently (theres a pole saw available, too) and its worth considering. Weighing less than 8 pounds and using a 10-inch bar, its a very manageable saw to use while sticking with a typical rear-handle design.

This model is an excellent choice for limbing trees and cutting larger hedge branches that are too thick for your hedge trimmer or loppers. Its also pretty affordable, coming in at $79.99 as a bare tool and $129.99 with a 2.0Ah battery and charger.

If you still need another reason, the battery is compatible with other lawn care equipment and is the only one that works with Greenworks cordless power tools.

The Greenworks 40V line in one of their broadest and there are several chainsaw options, including an 8-inch pole saws attachment and 12- to 16-inch traditional chainsaws. The 14- and 16-inch saws use brushless motors.

Wed go for the 16-inch model to get the best power and capacity. A 16-inch saw is really in the sweet spot for homeowner needs, tackling limbing with ease and giving you the bar length to fell smaller trees.

Its $199.99 as a bare tool and theres a kit that comes with a 4.0Ah, 2.5Ah battery, and charger for $289.99 that gives you the best value. The batteries also work across the entire 40V line.

Greenworks is on its second generation for their 60V chainsaw. The original was solid, but this updated model takes it to the next level. Sporting a brushless motor, its capable of producing more torque and faster cutting than a 42cc gas saw.

If youre looking for our top recommendation while youre buying a Greenworks chainsaw, this is it. Its the best balance of size, weight, and performance among the different voltages. While the 40V saw may score higher in value, the 60V Pro is a better bet if you have consistent chainsaw work throughout the year.

Available with a 16-inch bar for $199.99 bare and $249.99 with a 2.0Ah battery and charger, its a solid value as its performance level. Theres also a kit with an 18-inch bar and 4.0Ah battery for $299.99 ($199 as a bare with the 18-inch bar). Both sizes are a solid betjust go with the one that fits the type of cutting you do most.

The battery is compatible with the entire line of 60V Pro lawn care equipment and Greenworks battery-powered pressure washer.

Moving into the 80V Pro line, you have the choice of 16-inch or 18-inch Greenworks chainsaws and a 10-inch pole saw. Wed go with the 18-inch option.

The performance level matches up with a 45cc gas engine and it has a very professional feel with legitimate steel bucking spikes and a chain brake. If youre looking for the most powerful battery-powered Greenworks chainsaw on the residential side, this is the way to go.

As a bare tool, its $199.99 and $349.99 with a 2.0Ah battery and charger. Like the 40V and 60V Pro systems, theres a full line of compatible tools and these will all be at the highest performance levels without moving into the Commercial series.

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Greenworks Commercials 48V system actually has a dual-voltage 24V/48V battery design that runs both lawn care equipment and power tools. Theres a 16-inch chainsaw in the line, but we suggest you take a look at the arborist-specific 48V 12-inch top-handle chainsaw.

Also compatible with 10-inch and 14-inch bars, this lightweight saw comes in at just 7.5 pounds without the battery. Its brushless motor runs the chain at 64 fps, making quick work of the branches youre trimming at height.

Its a professional tool with a solid build that runs $499.99 with a 4.0Ah battery and charger. Theres also a less expensive 40V arborists saw withing the Greenworks Commercial family, but we prefer the 48V.

There are a couple of Greenworks Commercial 82V chainsaws to choose from and the GS181 is the one wed go with. This beefy saw improves the power, boasting 50cc gas engine power and putting it in a class all its own.

Its the most capable saw across the entire Greenworks line and is appropriate for trimming and felling, land clearing, and general forestry. If youre looking for something that can be a primary replacement for gas power in the farm and ranch class, this is the best there is.

It runs $349.99 as a bare tool and youll need to grab your batteries and charger separately. Theres a full range of compatible lawn care tools designed to meet commercial needs.

The rest is here:
Greenworks Chainsaw Reviews 2020 | What to Know Before You Buy! - Pro Tool Reviews

Hang on: Berejiklian is widely regarded as a competent manager? How can we overlook land clearing under this government? The Crown casino construction; the stadium and Powerhouse debacles; the sale of the Lands and Titles office; mining under dams; plans to raise the Warragamba Dam wall; people living through winter in caravans after losing everything in bushfires; the proliferation of brumbies in the Snowy Mountains; the decimation of native fauna and particularly the koala population; the neglect of staffing in national parks, which exacerbated the bushfire disaster; the cracking in houses near motorway constructions; hundreds of demountable classrooms and the understaffing in schools; and the freezing of emergency workers pay. These are all failures of this government. Im just warming up with this list. We are so complacent. Why do we accept these failures by this government? No compromise Gladys would be a more appropriate description. Kate Broadfoot, Bulli

I wonder if its possible for our leaders to learn from Jacinda Ardern. Pam Corkery (I want a hug from Jacinda too, October 19) sums up Ms Arderns leadership style this way: She counters false claims with facts and logic and often a devastating smile, but she never humiliates opponents. When asked what the key requirement for leadership is, she says kindness. With positivity a close second. I think that is worth quoting and repeating. We want and need this style of leadership. And, despite those who believe you need to get stuck into your opponents, it wins elections. Philip Fitzgerald, Lapstone

I want what shes having. Kindness for others, a sense of obligation to uplift the standing of others through respect and empathy, co-operation and the need to think ahead should be imprinted on every leader when reaching office. It is time to emulate a new order. It is not only sport where New Zealand shines. Janice Creenaune, Austinmer

How good is Jacinda Ardern! Words like kindness, positivity, respect and empathy are not those usually used to describe the qualities of our politicians or those in the US, who instead choose rudeness, obstinacy, inequality, secrecy and division. New Zealand people have watched her daily COVID briefings, rather than commercial news, to gain information. Here we get political spin. Her wellbeing budget, introduced last year, emphasises happiness over capitalist gain, and their economy is not judged by how well rich people are doing, or the size of their deficit. Her core objectives that everyone deserves a job, somewhere to live, someone to love and something to hope for would be branded as radical left policy here and in the US, but encapsulates the recipe for a unified and harmonious country. Alan Marel, North Curl Curl

The criticisms of Ardern having not delivered are invalid because she consciously aimed at the most difficult, unachievable and beneficial goals. To fail in fully achieving the noblest target is superior to succeeding in achieving anything lower. Failure like that, persisted in, will reach the stars. Bev Atkinson, Scone

Jacinda Ardern has shown that politicians do not necessarily have to make popular decisions to win support. Actions and positive outcomes speak louder than words. Brian Jeffrey, Gunnedah

Reading NZ politics is more interesting than reading US politics. I am fatigued with Trumps stunts every day. Jacinda is providing some solace to people, not just in NZ but around the world. Mukul Desai, Hunters Hill

Your editorial (Victorias missteps created a harder, longer lockdown, October 19) primarily lays the blame for our comparatively larger number of deaths from COVID-19 than New Zealand in the hands of Daniel Andrews, despite the fact that 80per cent of the deaths in Victoria were in aged care homes, for which the federal government is responsible.While quarantine failures in Victoria were part of the problem, the NSW Ruby Princess issue was an equally egregious failure. Despite these transgressions, if one looks at the cases of COVID-19 around the world, there are few countries that have been more successful than Australia and for this we owe a debt of gratitude to all of our governments and health employees. Peter Nash, Fairlight

Congratulations to Daniel Andrews and Victorians for valuing lives over money. Yes, it has been tough, but through grit and determination, they are getting through this outbreak.Shame on federal ministers who criticise this plan because it has an effect on the economy. These ministers should instead support the Victorian economy through direct grants to certain businesses instead of wasting money on such things as $30 million overpayment for land at Badgerys Creek, or at least by re-directing sports grants and other unnecessary grants at this time. Ken Pares, Forster

Over the past 10 days, two national parks have been seriously damaged by failed so-called hazard reduction burning (Rain helps extinguish bushfire, October 19). Why arent those in charge consulting Indigenous experts in the management of small fires? All the wildlife can escape the fires with gentle starts and the land is cleared with trees saved and views protected. Lets stop this careless approach to clearing scrub and weeds and start using an intelligent and age-old approach that we understand works. Molly King, Mosman

North Head scorched, plants and animals damaged, a wedding reception ruined by back-burning getting out of control on a second weekend near Sydney.What, if anything, have the fire services learnt from Aboriginal peoples bush management knowledge and skills? After the last disastrous summer, it is way past time. Four years ago, the Herald published an important article Prevent bushfires the Aboriginal way: Indigenous peoples deep knowledge of the bush and their use of fire to manage the land is the key to modern bushfire management (February 15, 2016). Same again this year. Weve had more than enough time to respect, learn and apply Aboriginal knowledge. Judy Cashmore, Glebe

Bushfire smoke is poisonous. The royal commission into last summers bushfires made that clear. Lets not forget, either, that Sydney had already been cloaked in smoke twice from hazard reduction burns before those genuine bushfires happened.Sydney is a big city with inherent air pollution. Quite apart from the actual dangers of the fire escaping, as has occurred twice in the past 10 days, why are these burns allowed to happen in metropolitan Sydney at all?Surely having mechanically created, compulsory firebreaks around all structures is more sensible, or the closely monitored, Indigenous-style so-called cool burns, leaving the main bush be, except at its perimeter. It seems to me the mega burns the authorities are so fond of are not sustainable, in metro Sydney at least. Tim Egan, Mosman

The Prime Minister doesnt think his government needs to take responsibility for the bursting of the travel bubble when travellers fly on to another state (More New Zealanders could go to Victoria despite objection, October 19). The question here, as with the Ruby Princess, is what does Border Force do? Judy Sherrington, Kensington

Illustration: John ShakespeareCredit:

An approximate haiku for Scott Morrison: PM, you can be sure/travel bubbles will burst/when they hit the ground. Jenifer Nicholls, Armadale (Vic)

If Peter Duttons Border Force cant stop planeloads of Kiwis invading Victoria and Western Australia when it already has their names, addresses and forward travel details, how is it going to stop more boatpeople? Jeremy Cornford, Kingscliff

The Liberal Party has eased up on its koala protection bill (Liberals back down on koala bill, October 17-18), giving their National Party coalition partners what they wanted. The timing is interesting as this has happened when the Liberals would have needed the Nationals support to stave off a vote of no confidence in the Premier from the opposition. It seems keeping the Premier in her political habitat far outways the importance of protecting our native animals in theirs. Tina Butler, Bilgola Plateau

Its terrific that Australia Posts departing executives receive large payouts (Top dollar, CBD, October 19) while an eight-year-old Birchgrove girl waits two and a half weeks for a now-past-the-date birthday card from her grandmother in Lane Cove. Sally Spurr, Lane Cove

There are surely Sydneysiders paying more in road tolls than income tax (Where it hurts: tolls drive wedge though city, October 19). High private tolls are trickle-up economics. The toll distribution is quite striking: the better public transport services are, the lower the average toll paid. The figures show that a radial rail structure helps a small proportion of the metropolitan area: well-off Sydney city residents pay the least tolls.The state governments plan foresees decades of expenditure on radial railways, to achieve the same effect for Parramatta. Our transport priority should be a rail grid that allows people to commute east-west and north-south. Peter Egan, Artarmon

Kate McClymont details the convoluted processes undertaken by witnesses to destroy incriminating evidence: a computer program called Evidence Eliminator, plus hammers, shredders and other means (Ex-Newtown cop tangled in USs largest tax evasion case, October 19). So much easier in NSW; just take the tractor for a spin around the paddock. Rob Venables, Bermagui

Its not about direction (Letters, October 19). Its just that one has to be energetic around prepositions in case one is called on, passed over, shut down, railed against or snowed under while roaming around, having pushed through and got over coronavirus restrictions. Megan Brock, Summer Hill

Closed up. Opened up. Tucked up. Should we add signed up? Even signed off on. A document can be approved or signed, but physically, literally and metaphorically it cannot be signed off on. Richard Barraclough, Chisholm (ACT)

English uses lots of phrases that end in prepositions for various reasons. UP is often used to indicate the completion of an action, as in he locked UP the store. Of course we can also lock DOWN, lock IN and lock OUT. These constructions can really confuse people learning English as a second language. Keith Russell, Mayfield West

Not everything ends bottom-side up. Some go out with the bath water, thrown out, put out, shut out, tired out, shout out, sing out, called out, flew out, sent out, etc. And then there are the ins and outs of all the other prepositions. Joy Cooksey, Harrington

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Daryl and the pork barrel are an insult to taxpayers - Sydney Morning Herald

For much of the past few decades, an outsiders image of an explosive ordnance disposal sailor would likely evoke a brave soul conducting the dangerous but vital task of disabling an improvised explosive device, be it a crude fertilizer jug array in Afghanistan or something more complex on a road in Iraq.

But within the ranks, the 1,800-strong community has always been sea-based, and every EOD tech is also a certified diver tasked with clearing the way forward, no matter the domain.

Now, as the rest of the military continues to pivot toward preparing for a conventional war as part of the so-called great power competition, the EOD force has released a new strategic vision for the coming decade, and how it will contribute to that fight.

With the huge demand across the military for their kind of expertise in recent decades, the Navys EOD sailors were called upon to serve the vital role of clearing roads in Iraq and Afghanistan from IED threats, Capt. Richard Hayes, the commodore for Explosive Ordnance Disposal Group 2, told reporters Thursday.

Now that we have less capacity dedicated to those land missions, we are spending a bit more time in the maritime domain, Hayes said. The water is our primary domain.

At the same time, the mission of clearing the way for other parts of the joint force in Iraq and Afghanistan is informing the EOD community as it again refocuses on the water, and the undersea domain in particular, Capt. Oscar Rojas, the commodore of EOD Group 1, added.

We make sure there is not a single waterway that we are not able to gain access to, Rojas said.

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While new efforts laid out in the strategic plan touch on everything from advancing the communitys cyber capabilities to fast-tracking the acquisition and development of new systems and a bevy of goals aimed at looking after the physical, social and mental well-being of EOD sailors, the pivot largely focuses on the Expeditionary Mine Countermeasures program, where EOD sailors deploy Mark 18 underwater drones from ships in order to clear areas of water.

The EOD force has had unmanned undersea vehicles, or UUVs, dating back to 2001, but the use of such vehicles really took off with the establishment of the ExMCM effort in 2012.

I think its pretty safe to say that no one is operating UUVs to the volume we are, Hayes said. Im talking globally we have elements of our commands putting UUVs in the water every day.

That program is also a big driver behind the EOD forces aim to expand its ranks and bring in new ratings not traditionally associated with the community.

To help beef up those ranks, the Navy announced earlier this month new rating conversion opportunities for sailors ranked E-1 to E-5 who are interested in joining the Navys diver and EOD programs.

The new strategic plan also acknowledges that, like the rest of the U.S. military, the EOD is entering an age of rapidly evolving technology and unknowns.

We can expect to encounter weapons that are more difficult to detect and locate, more dangerous to render safe and recover, more complicated to exploit, and for which we have no EOD technical manuals, the plan states. Meeting the challenge of networked munitions, interconnected sensors, and programmable electronics that can be controlled from anywhere in the world via the internet will require new EOD skills, equipment and procedures.

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After decades of ground war, Navy EODs are getting back to the sea - NavyTimes.com

ROSLYN With a wildfire burning out of control just five-and-a-half miles north of this Central Washington mountain town, Chris Martins neighbor came to him with a seemingly unorthodox proposition: Lets burn your woods. On purpose. Itll be a good thing.

Reese Lolley, whose employer, The Nature Conservancy, owned the parcel next to Martins property, was not proposing the awesome, awful sort of fire then sweeping over 36,000 acres on and around Jolly Mountain and threatening to torch Roslyn in the summer of 2017.

Lolleys fire would be small. It would creep across the dry brush and downed branches packing the understory of Martins woods on a ridge above Roslyn, the 959-person town just over the Cascade crest from Seattle that is best known for standing in for a fictional Alaskan town in the 1990s hit television show Northern Exposure.

Fire gentle, controlled fire is exactly what experts say is needed to address the huge wildfires tearing through parched forests east of the Cascade crest. Filled with dead wood and brush, many forests are growing more combustible by the year because of climate change and a century of misguided fire suppression. Those conditions now put communities at risk of annihilation by fire. This year saw half a dozen towns destroyed in Washington, Oregon and northern California.

In Washington, about 951,000 homes sit near forests threatened by wildfire. The most endangered communities lie in a swath extending from Spokane southwest to the Columbia River, and then running north past Wenatchee into the Methow Valley. Much of Central and Eastern Washington, in other words.

The state says the number of threatened homes is only set to grow.

Washington State Department of Natural Resources

Top 25 places most likely to be exposed to wildland fire in Washington.

Intentional burning of underbrush and dead trees prescribed fire to those who practice it is increasingly regarded as the key tool in making combustible forests fire-resistant and heading off megafires. But the technique is rarely used in the West, and prescribed fire rates actually decreased in the Northwest over the past two decades, one study showed.

Bucking the trend, Martin said yes to Lolley and, as the Jolly Mountain fire smoldered, foresters burned 12 acres of his land. In the years since, Martin has increased that amount ninefold and prompted the city of Roslyn to use fire to clear the underbrush in its municipal forest.

Honestly, that Jolly Mountain fire, to use a technical phrase, it was a change of underwear moment here in Roslyn, said Martin, who serves as Roslyns emergency management coordinator. I think our community had not really thought about fire. It was a big wake-up call.

Dan DeLong/InvestigateWest

Chris Martin sits among charred trees caused by a prescribed burn on his Roslyn property.

Planned burning down as wildfires rage

Aggressive firefighting has left forests across the western United States primed for megafires like those that devoured 1,600 square miles of Washington timberland in 2015, leaving an ashy gray moonscape where they flourished. Prescribed fire starves those apocalyptic burns while returning combustion to a biome built for it.

Following the U.S. Forest Services lead, land managers spent most of the 20th century extinguishing as many wildfires as they could, as fast as they could. On the dry slopes east of the Cascades, brush, branches and snags that wouldve burned then are burning now in forests packed too tightly for trees to stay healthy.

Dry forests like those surrounding Roslyn used to be seared every five to 10 years. Low-intensity fires, those that dont reach the crowns of trees, found ample tinder in the underbrush, saplings and fallen trees littering the forest floor. An ecosystem grew up around fires set by lightning and Native people, who used fire to cultivate staples like camas and to clear hunting ground for elk and deer.

Bold plans put forward by state leaders in late 2017 call for the intervention in 1,950 square miles of Washington forest. Prescribed fires would be set on hundreds of thousands of acres annually. The state governments leading evangelist for prescribed fire, Public Lands Commissioner Hilary Franz, has been pushing state lawmakers for years to create a dedicated tax to fund the plan.

Dan DeLong/InvestigateWest

A firefighter watches a prescribed burn as it approaches a forest road that will be used to contain the fire in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Liberty in May 2019.

But Washington, like the rest of the West, has been slow to invest in prescribed burning. Trained fire workers are in short supply in the region, which has seen the acreage intentionally burned shrink even as a consensus for prescribed fire has formed. Ardent proponents note that, while burning could immediately protect towns and homes, decades will pass before prescribed fire has a meaningful impact on the growth of large fires.Returning to something approximating a natural fire cycle where less destructive blazes prune fire-prone forests would be the work of generations.

Prescribed fires burn low to the ground, removing combustible debris. It is a matter of physics: if flames can be kept short enough, fire on the forest floor doesnt climb the branches to the top of the trees and destroy them. Thinning treatments, which see people cut down, carry away or chop up detritus to clear the forest floor, have a similar impact at a significantly higher cost.

Dan DeLong/InvestigateWest

Savannah Herrera of the Roslyn Fire Departments Fuels Crew cuts the lower branches of a tree in the Roslyn Community Forest in August 2020. Herrera was part of a crew thinning the forest for wildfire management.

Whether that current political will and shift in public sentiment will succeed in returning fire to the forest, though, remains an open question.

Support for prescribed fire is climbing, but the actual practice is not, said Crystal Kolden, an assistant professor at University of CaliforniaMerced specializing in fire science. Reviewing fire records for a study published in April 2019, Kolden found the use of prescribed burning in the West hadnt increased from 1998 to 2018 and actually fell in Washington and Oregon.

Trends aside, the total number of treated acres remains tiny compared to the apparent need and proffered goals. According to the National Interagency Coordination Center, the federal governments fire hub, only 191 square miles in Washington and Oregon were treated with prescribed fire in 2019. While state-specific tallies were not available, experts agreed most of that fire burned in Oregon, where the state leaders recently relaxed restrictions on smoke created by prescribed fires.

When were talking about the forest that needs treatment and the amount of forest that weve treated, theres an order of magnitude difference between those numbers, Kolden said. Land managers, she continued, are struggling to keep up, and every year they fall farther behind.

At present, Washington lacks the capacity to return fire to the forest in force.

The state, like its West Coast neighbors, is short on trained fire practitioners and burdened with regulations formed decades ago when forest management almost always meant fire suppression. Regulators can deny a burn permit even after the crew has gathered on a remote site, making prescribed burns a chancy, expensive proposition.

Dan DeLong/InvestigateWest

A downed tree is engulfed in flames during a prescribed burn in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Liberty in May 2019.

Extreme fire seasons becoming the norm

Climate change is expected to intensify the frequency and severity of megafires across the United States, particularly in the dry western interior. Widely relied upon estimates predict the average summer will resemble extreme fire seasons like 2015, 2017 and 2020, when Seattles smoke-soaked air was at least briefly among the worst on the planet. By the 2080s, the acreage of Washington forest burned annually is expected to quadruple from the 20th century average as temperatures rise and snowpack shrinks.

The climactic shift will find Washingtons forests filled with debris left to pile during a century that saw naturally occurring fire heavily suppressed on most lands. With fire gone, a fire deficit deepens each year in the dry pine woods east of the Cascades.

In a recent study, Nature Conservancy researchers found that in Washington and Oregon just one-tenth of the forestland that should see fire each year does. Forest Service researchers estimate that the debt in unburned acres grows 140 square miles annually in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, which blankets 2,711 square miles on the eastern slopes of the Cascades. At current restoration rates, it would take 53 years to revive Washingtons federal lands, which comprise about 44% of Washington forestland.

Were trying to fix issues that took 100 years to get there, said Steve Hawkins, a fuel program manager now in his 40th fire season with the Forest Service. Its going to take a while to get that rectified.

Prescribed burning coupled with thinning createsconditions that can better accept fire, which is inevitable, said Paul Hessburg, aresearchlandscape ecologist with the Forest Services Pacific Northwest Research Station.

For five years, Hessburg has been traveling the Northwest giving talks onwildfirescience. He describes the effort as an experiment, a successful one, to determine whether a better understanding might encourage people to address the problem.

Hessburgs takeaway was that public perceptions around fire are changing for the better but tragically not fast enough to get ahead of the changing climate. His hope is that targeted interventions may prevent the worstoutcomes.

As Hessburg explains it, the question isnt can we regulate the size of the fires? Any influence will be modest the climate and weather mostly determine how much land is burned.

The question is, he said, Can we moderate the severity so that we can maintain more forest or habitats for the future? I think the answer is prettysolidthat we can.

Washington beginning to burn

Washingtons advocates for prescribed fire see the megafires that swept Washington in 2014 and 2015 as catalysts for the shift in public opinion they hope will enable them to do their work. Taken together, the fires burned 2,330 square miles of forest and rangeland and, along with fires in British Columbia, blanketed the Puget Sound in smoke for weeks. The cost in firefighting expenses alone topped $527 million.

The fires drew a vigorous, if standard, response from policy makers and shapers in the state. Committees coalesced, studies aimed at driving future legislation and funding launched. Training for so-called burners who conduct the prescribed fires, as well as community engagement initiatives, were created or expanded.

And, in a limited way, prescribed fires started being set.

Kara Karboski caught what she calls the fire bug setting fires for the Defense Department at Joint Base Lewis-McChord. Karboski, now a coordinator with the Washington Resource Conservation & Development Council and a leading booster for prescribed fire, learned how burners go about their work while clearing brush on the military installations ample open spaces.

Before a fire, burners draw up a prescription a set of judgments on what weather and forest moistness is required for the burn to be safe and effective, as well as a staffing and equipment list, and detailed emergency plans. Hose lines are set and test fires lit before a crew of 10 or 20 workers set the fire in earnest.

Ive seen burns called off because its just not burning well enough, maybe theres too much moisture, Karboski said. Ive also been there where fire behavior has been too high, too much, too hot, and theyve said, Wow, this is too much for us to handle.

Weather conditions are assessed to attempt to ensure the fires smoke clears. Practitioners point out that prescribed fires rarely smolder for weeks or months like wildfires, and that the smoke is lighter and less hazardous. Research has shown prescribed fire also helps tamp down climate change. Thats because thinned forests with fewer, larger trees sequester more carbon dioxide, and are less likely to burn to ash if a wildfire reaches them, releasing all that CO2.

On the prescribed fire line, workers building black with drip torches char a box of burned ground around the area slated for fire, Karboski said. Once the fire is set inside, they keep watch for any embers that cross that line.

Dan DeLong/InvestigateWest

A firefighter uses an ignition tank to set underbrush on fire during a prescribed burn in Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest near Liberty in May 2019.

Afterward, its not like its a blackened wasteland, Karboski said. The intention is to leave most of the trees still standing, so those are still there. And youll have spaces where the fire can get into, so you get more of a mosaic.

To Karboskis eye, prescribed burns in Washington have been kept too small.

Hundred-acre burns, she said, arent really getting us where you want to be.

Smoke regulations barriers to controlled burning

One of the few tangible actions taken following the 2015 firestorm, the worst fire year in state history, was a $1.7 million pilot project meant to assess Washingtons ability to use prescribed fire.

While proponents describe the project as a learning exercise crucial to expanding the use of fire in Washington, those lessons were hard won.

In the fall of 2016 and spring of 2017, fires were planned for 15 sites, 13 of which were in national forests. Tellingly, no privately held lands could be found to include in the pilot; private landowners have been put off prescribed fire by the bureaucratic hurdles, cost and liability concerns. Bringing fire to private lands is seen as a significant challenge to reviving Washingtons forests.

Although land managers selected the easiest spots, just one-third of the 13 square miles slated to burn during the project actually saw fire. One that did demonstrated a key argument against prescribed fire smoke.

For a week in the fall of 2016, smoke from prescribed fires hung in the semiarid, V-shaped valleys north of Leavenworth, the faux Bavarian tourist town west of Wenatchee that has moved into the forest, where glassy, loudly rectangular second homes increasingly share sight lines with the squat chalets built a generation before. Air quality fell to levels hazardous to people who are particularly susceptible to smoke.

Controlling smoke rivals containing the fire itself for the top spot on the to-do list of any prescribed fire manager, known as the burn boss. Washington law requires that a state meteorologist sign off on any burn the morning it is set to begin; crews gathered for the burns are sent home if that permission doesnt arrive.

The aging regulatory scheme governing smoke was drawn up at a time when industrial forestry filled Western Washington with smoke. The Department of Natural Resources, the Department of Ecology and the federal Environmental Protection Agency have been working on more permissive framework for years, but it is unlikely to receive a federal review until 2022 at the earliest.

Drawn up in the 1970s to satisfy requirements of the federal Clean Air Act, the smoke regulations last revised in the 1990s did not weigh the benefits of prescribed fire against its costs, said Lolley of The Nature Conservancy.

It really was focused on the reduction in emissions, but didnt really consider forest health, Lolley said.

Washington smoke regulations limit even the Forest Services prescribed burning. Though Oregons forests draw federal attention because they are more primed for intense, destructive fire, its also simply easier to burn in Oregon.

In the final report drawn from the pilot project, Department of Natural Resources researchers concluded that the regulatory framework keeps prescribed fire small and expensive by making larger burns impractical. Its a view shared by Karboski.

The system itself, she said, is set up to disincentive using fire.

Adam Bacher

Close-up image of Ponderosa pine bark burned in a 2015 megafire south of John Day, Oregon.

Incremental progress as concerns mount

Karboskis tempered frustration, one shared by many concerned for the forests and their neighbors, stems in part from fear.

While the intersection of urban areas and wildlands has long been a concern for those who worry about fire full time, the 2018 fire that destroyed Paradise, California, a town of 26,200 before it burned, laid bare the danger. Embers thrown miles by an intense fire in the neighboring forest set the town ablaze.

That the same could happen to Leavenworth, Roslyn or a host of other Washington mountain towns is beyond question. In Washington, homes and wildlands mix across more than 4,500 square miles, an area almost the size of Connecticut. Millions of acres of privately held timberland could be converted into subdivisions.

In Olympia, state land managers are drawing up watershed-centered plans to prioritize forest restoration in areas where fire is most likely, and most likely to be destructive. The idea is to shape the landscape and secure better options for firefighters when fire does break out.

State Forester George Geissler, of the Department of Natural Resources, describes the forthcoming plans as a granular examination of each watershed, looking at land ownership to find areas where intervention would be most successful.

The Forest Service, too, is considering a new targeted approach to prescribed fire. Prescribed burning would be used to create spaces that would slow large wildfires, increasing the likelihood that some could be allowed to burn while providing firefighters a safer space to work from when they intervene.

In an interview, Geissler ticked through the efforts underway. Assistance programs for landowners. Training initiatives to build a workforce. Changes in law to reduce restrictions on prescribed fire. The dialogue with the EPA to revise the smoke rules. His own appointment; Geissler, who had been serving as Oklahomas state forester, said he was hired two years ago specifically for his background in burning.

With each incremental change, we are making the opportunity to utilize prescribed fire greater, Geissler said.

Acknowledging that prescribed fire has been underused in Washington, Geissler cautioned that it is not a magic Band-Aid that can immediately fix what generations of fire suppression broke. He said he believes the public supports the work, and hopes Washingtonians including those in the Legislature will stay engaged.

We live in a society that if you cant get [something] done in two years you probably failed at it, and yet in forestry I was taught that 30 years is a short time, Geissler said.

The Nature Conservancys Lolley offered a similar view.

Were moving in the right direction, said Lolley, whose organization has been instrumental in training fire practitioners and bringing fire to privately owned lands. And I think we are getting smarter about how to prioritize the investments of money to have bigger gains.

But, Lolley allowed, at our current rate of treatment, it will make a difference, but its not near what we need.

The costs are substantial, and the benefits distant.

Advances in plywood manufacturing and heaters that burn pelletized scrap wood could conceivably make thinning less costly in some forests, but the forest restoration wont pay for itself. And while proponents contend restoration will save millions over the long run, firefighting costs will continue to rise even as the restoration work takes shape.

Behind the curve

Fire gently burns in the hills above Roslyn again, this time on the city-owned land bordering Martins property. The fire makes the town an exception, frustratingly so in Martins view.

Martin is enthusiastic about fires effect on his forest, which he bought to visit and protect from development. Since the fire, elk have returned to the newly open forest, as have turkey and bear. Hes proud that it may protect Roslyn the next time fire rises in the forests that surround it.

And yet he stops short of encouraging others to burn. The bureaucratic roadblocks, he said, are still too large for landowners without an abundance of money and energy to overcome.

In Washington state, we are far behind the curve on this stuff, Martin said.

See the original post here:
With nearly 1 million homes at risk, Washington is losing the wildfire fight - InvestigateWest

By Thompson Smith

In my recent tenure as Chair of the Flathead Basin Commission, I wrote several opinion pieces raising concerns about Steve Bullocks administration. Yet Im urging you to vote for the Governor and send Senator Daines packing. Heres why.

Daines has long portrayed himself as what most Montanans want: reasonable, fair, a problem solver. But his actions and words, now illuminated by the rush to confirm Amy Barrett to the Supreme Court, have shattered that illusion.

Daines did recently join Sen. Tester in supporting the Great Outdoors Act. Unfortunately, thats far outweighed by Dainess support for more than 100 policy and regulatory changes that will leave future generations with dirtier air, dirtier water, and a poorer environment, including gutting the Clear Water Act, weakening restrictions on toxic air pollutants including mercury, hamstringing the National Environmental Policy Act and the Endangered Species Act, allowing coal corporations to dump waste into streams, and dismantling the international effort to address the climate crisis.

Daines has been similarly supportive or silent on a many of Trumps worst actions and statements on matters of civil rights and social justice, the rule of law, and national security. That includes Trumps legitimization of white supremacism and racist hatred, the 26 public accusations of Trumps sexual misconduct, separating immigrant toddlers and infants from their parents and putting them in cages, firing Inspectors General and US attorneys who were investigating him, siding with Putin against US intelligence, and referring to soldiers whove given their lives as suckers and losers. Trump seeks power by dividing our country rather than uniting it; Daines has nothing to say.

On health care, the record is even worse. Daines blames COVID-19 solely on China, omitting the epic incompetence and deceit in the White House that has led to the greatest loss of American life since World War II. More than 215,000 of our fellow citizens have now perished, with 389,000 deaths projected by February 1. We have 4 percent of the worlds population, but 19 percent of the deaths.

Daines voted three times to repeal the Affordable Care Act, when there was no replacement healthcare plan and therefore no way to deliver affordable insurance or continue protecting those of us with preexisting conditions. Eleven years after the ACAs passage, theres still no Republican plan.

Which returns us to the matter of the Supreme Court, since a Justice Barrett might well rule against the ACA. Daines has already helped Mitch McConnell pack the courts with lifetime appointments for more than two hundred judges aligned with the Federalist Society, a special interest group funded by some $250 million in untraceable dark money thats created a pipeline of extremist judges, hostile to restrictions on corporate power, civil rights for common citizens, and environmental protection.

In February 2016, Antonin Scalia died, nearly nine months before the election. President Obama nominated Judge Merrick Garland. The Constitution obligates the Senate to consider a Presidents nominee, but Daines followed Mitch McConnells orders by refusing to even meet with the universally respected judge. Daines presented his brazen inaction as based not on the brutal fact that Republicans held power as the majority, but rather on a supposed ethical commitment to democracy, saying the Senate should not act until the American people elect a new President and have their voices heard.

We are now less than three weeks from the next election. Thousands of Montanans and millions of Americans have already cast their ballots. But Daines now says Republicans should proceed, simply because they can. Daines trumpeted principles when they served his political ends, and shamelessly abandoned them when they became inconvenient.

Perhaps the Senate should adopt a simple rule for when a nomination is too close to an election: if its before party conventions in July-August, the Senate can proceed; if its after the conventions, the Senate should hold off until the following February. Lets call it the Abraham Lincoln rule. When Chief Justice Roger Taney died on October 12, 1864, Lincoln deferred nominating a replacement until after the election so that the next President, with a new mandate, could do it.

156 years later to the day on October 12, 2020 Senate Judiciary Committee chair Lindsay Graham bulldozed ahead with the first day of hearings for a nominee from the far-right wing of the American legal spectrum. Like Daines, Graham hopes well forget his previous words: If theres a Republican president in 2016 and a vacancy occurs in the last year of the first term, you can say Lindsey Graham said, Lets let the next president, whoever it might be, make that nomination. And you could use my words against me, and youd be absolutely right.

Well, Lindsay and Steve, we do remember your words, and we are holding them against you, and we are absolutely right to do so. Thats why were voting instead for Governor Bullock.

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Opinion: Will we hold Steve Daines to account? - Char-Koosta News

GRAND FALLS-WINDSOR, NL , Oct. 22, 2020 /CNW/ - The health and well-being of Canadians are the top priorities of the governments of Canada , and Newfoundland and Labrador . But the COVID-19 pandemic has affected more than our personal health. It is having a profound effect on the economy.

That is why governments have been taking decisive action to support families, businesses and communities, and continue to look ahead to see what more can be done.

Strategic investments in creating inclusive recreation spaces will play a key role in ensuring Newfoundland and Labrador residents have modern facilities to support a healthy community.

Today, Scott Simms, Member of Parliament for Coast of BaysCentralNotre Dame, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities, and the Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure for Newfoundland and Labrador , announced over $1.6 million in funding for the improvement and renovation of recreation and cultural facilities in five communities across Newfoundland and Labrador .

In the Town of Grand Falls-Windsor , the Goodyear Avenue Ball Field will benefit from re-paving the existing parking areas, improving the walking track surface, and installing new backstops and new scoreboards in two baseball fields. This project, and others in Stephenville , King's Point, Twillingate , and Change Islands , will improve recreation infrastructure across the province, allowing residents and visitors alike to play sports and become physically fit in modern and accessible playgrounds, cultural centres, and arenas.

The Government of Canada is investing more than $509,000 toward these projects through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream (CCRIS) of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing over $508,000 , with the municipalities providing the remainder of project funding.

Quotes

"Investing in cultural and recreational infrastructure is important to growing strong and healthy communities. The improvements being made to these facilities means that Newfoundland and Labrador residents can spend more time connecting, staying active, and having fun in modern and accessible facilities. We are proud to work with our partners to deliver these important projects. They are an example of how Canada's infrastructure plan invests in thousands of projects, creates jobs across the country and builds stronger communities. "

Scott Simms , Member of Parliament for Coast of BaysCentralNotre Dame, on behalf of the Honourable Catherine McKenna, Minister of Infrastructure and Communities

"Renovating recreational facilities so that they are modern and accessible is a priority for this government. These facilities allow people of all ages and abilities to take part in activities to promote healthy and active lifestyles."

The Honourable Derrick Bragg, Minister of Transportation and Infrastructure for Newfoundland and Labrador

Quick facts

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Backgrounder

Five Newfoundland and Labrador communities to benefit from improved recreational infrastructure

Joint federal, provincial and municipal funding through the Community, Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream of the Investing in Canada infrastructure plan will support five recreation projects in communities across Newfoundland and Labrador , including renovating cultural centres and improving playgrounds and sport facilities.

The Government of Canada is investing $509,114 towards these projects through the Community Culture and Recreation Infrastructure Stream (CCRIS) of the Investing in Canada plan. The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is contributing $508,961 , while municipalities are contributing $664,424 in total eligible costs to these projects.

Project Information:

Project Name

Location

Project Details

Federal Funding

Provincial Funding

Municipal Funding

Goodyear Avenue Parking and Ball Field Recreation Upgrades

Grand Falls-Windsor

Upgrades to the Goodyear Avenue ball field and recreation facility, including grading; paving the existing parking lot; improving drainage; paving the walking track around the playground and splashpad; installation of new backstops for two baseball fields; upgrades to existing dugouts and installation of new scoreboards in two fields. The project will support improved access to quality community, culture and recreation infrastructure.

$266,058

$265,978

$347,964

Playground Blanch Brook Park

Stephenville

Construction of a new playground to replace the current structure, creating a modern, inclusive playground which will be centrally located and easily accessible to all residents.

$152,580

$152,534

$199,551

New Steel Dome

King's Point

Installation of a new, pre-fabricated steel roof over the outdoor ice rink, allowing a greater number of residents to participate in more activities and events taking place at the rink.

$50,725

$50,710

$66,341

New Chiller for Twillingate Stadium 1

Twillingate

Replacement of the chiller system in the stadium, ensuring the stadium can continue to provide recreation, entertainment and cultural opportunities for people in the region.

$24,353

$24,345

$30,430

Recreation and Cultural Centre Upgrades

Change Islands

Renovation of the Recreation and Culture Centre, including new windows, doors and siding; repairs to the skirt of the building, improving the current state of the building and ensuring its operations for the coming years.

$15,398

$15,394

$20,138

____________________________________ 1 $4,872.00 will also be provided through the Federal Gas Tax Fund.

Associated links

Investing in Canada : Canada's Long-Term Infrastructure Plan: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/icp-publication-pic-eng.html

Investing in Canada Plan Project Map: http://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/map

Investing in COVID-19 Community Resilience: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/covid-19-resilience-eng.html

Canada Healthy Communities Initiative: https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/chci-iccs/index-eng.html

Federal infrastructure investments in Newfoundland and Labrador : https://www.infrastructure.gc.ca/plan/prog-proj-nl-eng.html

Follow us on Twitter , Facebook and Instagram

Web: Infrastructure Canada

SOURCE Infrastructure Canada

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Five Newfoundland and Labrador communities to benefit from improved recreational infrastructure - Stockhouse

Many people dont really pay attention to the bedroom furniture, except the bed, because they think the most important thing is to have a comfortable bed and a few pillows and blankets, in order to get a good nights sleep. But, that doesnt mean you dont need to fit the other furniture to your style, or the home decor theme you prefer. Probably you and your partner and/or kids will be those who will use the bedroom regularly, and usually, we dont let the guests in. Thats one of the main reasons why people dont put much effort when buying new things for this space.

One of the most common mistakes is buying the cheapest furniture, just to fill the room up, without paying too much attention to the color scheme, patterns, and personal preferences when it comes to renovating and remodeling. According to deutschfurniturehaus.com, you deserve to sleep in a beautiful and stylish room, that will energize you every morning you wake up, instead of frustrating you because of the un-matching styles and colors.

The renovation experts are sure you need to put equal effort into the sleeping area, just like the living or dining room, so you can have your dream bedroom. Also, you can afford to buy more quality pieces, because only a few people will use it, and they will last for years.

And when it comes to your home decor style and preferences, you can follow these tips and tricks:

As we already said, many of us will choose to spend more money in the living room, the kitchen, or bathroom, letting the bedroom be the last in the row. But thats wrong on so many levels because we all know how important is night sleep for all of us. The atmosphere in the room where you sleep should be calm, warm, and comfortable, even if that means you will need to improvise a little and put some pieces that usually cant be found there. But, if you prefer red blankets or other vibrant colored accessories, just do it, even though most of people believe these colors will wake you up, and wont let you get sleepy again. We are all different, and that applies to our renovation ideas and taste too.

Just because you sleep there, it doesnt need to look boring and sterile. In the end, everything is about the perception, and things that are bad for the others can be good for you, including the sleeping patterns and the general resting routines.

Its understandable that most of us have a very special taste in furniture, that can be pretty expensive, and we cant really afford everything we want. Thats why its important to set a budget and try to stick to it, without letting yourself go a lot over it. Another one thing you need to consider is if that piece of furniture can be useful and practical? No one wants to spend a lot of money on decorations that arent much needed in the space, no matter how beautiful they look. In the end, if you really like solid woods or something like that, you can buy them used, or repurpose something you already have.

One of our top priorities is to find nice-looking things we can put in the rooms, so we can get that catalog or magazine look, without even thinking are those things quality enough to be in our home? When youre buying a wardrobe, it should fit a lot of clothes. Chairs should be comfortable and support the body properly, and thats also crucial for the bed. So, invest smartly, because no one can afford to renovate the whole bedroom every few years.

You cant put huge pieces of furniture if the room is small. Also, if you bring too small pieces, you will need more of them, so you can avoid the empty-looking redecoration. Sometimes, you need to go over your taste and be smart and practical, because not everything you love can fit the space you have. Its nice to always have some estimation or calculation of how big is the room, and how big furniture you will need, so it can look stylish, and not empty or overwhelmed.

Probably, there are plenty of companies around you that can manufacture custom furniture for you, by taking the right measures and using the materials you prefer. But, very often, this choice is much expensive than buying furniture from a store. The good thing is that you can order exactly what do you want to put in the room and be unique, even though you are using that room just for sleeping. Customizing lets you get everything you have on your mind, and its one of the ways to fit the bedroom furniture to your style and preferences.

If you follow the very same style for every room in your house or apartment, just adapt it to the sleeping conditions. But first, make a list of all the things you really need, and then start your shopping. It can be an exciting experience for you, especially if you are decorating the room by yourself. To make the whole task easier for you, just match the styles, and save a lot of nerves and money by doing that.

When it comes to home remodeling, most of the people leave the bedroom for the last, and it may happen that they dont have enough money, so they are buying the cheapest furniture, without taking care of how it fits the whole house, or if it suits the personal style. But, we hope that after this article, you will realize how good for you is to have a stylish and nice-looking room, in order to be comfortable at night and always sleep well.

Originally posted here:
6 Tips For Choosing The Right Bedroom Furniture To Suit Your Style - EDM Chicago

It's hard to imagine Jennifer Aniston doing anything other than acting because she rivets you to the screen with her talent and likeability but the Greek-American staple of movies and TV shows said she also switched to interior decorating.

Speaking to Cosmopolitan, she wouldn't reveal which role it was she hinted was so exhausting that it made her think of not wanting to go on and to switch to wanting to fix up houses.

During a SmartLess podcast, the Aveeno legend told Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, and Will Arnett, "I would have to say the last two years that [quitting] has crossed my mind, which it never did before." She added that it "sucked the life out of me" and she thought, "I don't know if this is what interests me."

The only other hint she gave about what made her rethink her life was that it was an unprepared project she completed before The Morning Show.

She said she'd love to try her hand as a professional interior decorator but didn't say what style she prefers. "I love it. It's my happy place. It's really a happy place for me," she said.

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Interior Decorator? Worn-Out Aniston Almost Gave Up Acting - The National Herald

Theyre probably not who you think they are.

We all have our own presumptions about politicians, and you know that most of those cliches are far from positive.

In the heat of the hottest, nastiest election, probably ever, its easy to overlook especially on a more local level that the herd of people vying for your votes so they can rule our world, are people.

Each year, Sentinel Colorado reporters dutifully ask all the apposite questions about taxes, crime and homelessness. But we also ask personal questions to give readers some insight as to who these candidates are when theyre not candidates, and to marvel at a few surprises and eccentricities.

Here are some highlights weve gleaned from this years survey of 2020 Election candidates.

Congressman Jason Crow, the affable Democrat running for re-election, can actually give himself a hand. His hidden talent?

I am able to clap with one hand, he said in his Sentinel survey. This not only answers a philosophical question but is helpful when eating hot dogs at sporting events.

He doesnt say which hand, but all signs point to a left-hand talent for the guy that got appointed to help impeach the president.

His Republican challenger, the equally affable Steve House?

Im a good ping pong player.

No doubt a consistent right-hand server.

As far as prospective careers, few of these politicians grew up wanting to be politicians. There are a lot of wannabe astronauts in the group who, as their critics would probably point out, ended up as space cadets.

Incumbent State Sen. Jeff Bridges, no, not that Jeff Bridges, is a talented accent imitator. Hard to tell when that could come in handy, but he has fooled many on the Senate floor by actually sounding like a moderate Republican from time to time.

If he wrote a memoir? Hed call it The Other Jeff Bridges. Yeah, that one.

Libertarian Michele Poague actually is a writer. Shes running to unseat Democrat Rhonda Fields in Senate District 29.

Im the author of several novels and there is a little bit of me in each one. Maybe if I write a memoir it would be, The Road to Love: How I learned to forgive.

At least one of her novels hints at her biography.

A reviewer painting a picture of Poagues latest sci-fi fantasy work, The Broken Shade said this:

When she became a cocktail waitress at a mens club in order to earn a few extra dollars to help in her home renovation, Freja OConnell didnt suspect this innocuous job would open the door to new realms. But strange encounters can evolve under the oddest of conditions, and The Broken Shade reflects this experience as Freja explores a strange new world and considers her revised place.

Dystopian future table-dancing resulting in wallpaper inspirations?

Poague said in her Sentinel survey that growing up, she wanted to be an interior decorator.

Disappointingly, the one song she could listen to for all eternity is Amazing Grace by anyone.

Im old and have been to a lot of funerals. Few can sing it.

Fields? She fancies herself a chef these days, whiling away the pandemic looking for just the right kitchen accoutrement. If she were thrust into a reality show that wouldnt shame her family while they watched? Beat Bobby Flay.

Better hope that sauce doesnt break.

While most candidates appear to have had it with metro area traffic, wishing their superpower was flying over traffic or that Verizon or someone would finally roll out the Star Trek transporter, Republican Suzanne Staiert, candidate for the open Senate District 27 seat, wishes she had a superpower few aspiring politicians would think about.

To disappear.

Hmmm. Unclear if thats because of how tacky its become to be a fly on another politicians hair instead of the wall and get a front-row seat to history, or anything. It could be shes realized that, in a pandemic, there is no hiding from anyone or anything. Just as telling is that her all-time favorite song is I Will Survive, and the last book she read was, Why We Cant Sleep.

Between bouts of insomnia and other life stresses, it turns out Staiert is a ringer.

Ive won a lot of hula hoop contests, she said in her response. Gauging from the past few years, any kind of circus-like experience is certain to come in handy if she wins a seat in the next Legislature.

Her competitor, Chris Kolker, gives every sign he would read every word of every bill and listen to every hearing every day. Wild and crazy Kolker tells the Sentinel that his guilty pleasure during the pandemic is a fountain Diet Coke.

You rebel.

A former teacher and pilot, he always wanted to be a teacher and a pilot.

His favorite family fun?

Playing bid euchre at family get-togethers, he says.

For the 99% of the nation who has no idea what that is, you probably dont want to. Think having to play bridge with rules made up by the Colorado Legislature.

The guy is a natural for the General Assembly. So sad.

Like me, you might have had your suspicions about Democrat State Senator candidate Janet Buckner.

Shes not just the overtly kind and gracious teachers wife shes let on to be all these years. Yup, total showboat.

Her secret talent?

I sing really well.

And that ear-worm song she just loves, probably playing every time she gets in the car and definitely right before she gets out?

We Are Family, by Sister Sledge.

Uh, huh. The quintessential club song from the 80s that got everyone on their feet, back when clubs were clubs and Sister Sledge owned the world.

No guessing at what reality TV show she thinks shed walk away from victorious.

Dancing with the Stars.

Of course not everyone can be as flamboyant as Buckner.

If you had to pick one local politician to get stuck with for months at the Capitol during the pandemic, it would almost certainly be Democrat Dafna Michaelson Jenet, running for re-election to her House District 30 seat.

Her coveted superpower?

Eat as much ice cream as I want and not gain weight, Jenet said.

Now that would be a super power. And not that lame DQ stuff, that she says is her guilty pleasure, which you know melts under some serious hot fudge or caramel, otherwise, theres little guilt or pleasure. No, it has to be Ben and Jerrys or Haagen Dazs. Salted caramel truffle in a 5-gallon scuttle.

The fun ends there. Her secret talent?

I crochet.

Another maverick lawmaker.

On the opposite side of that spectrum is Republican 18th Judicial District Attorney candidate John Kellner.

Total Star Wars geek. He grew up wanting to be Indiana Jones.

Hes that guy, too.

The upside of wearing a mask all the time during the pandemic?

I can quietly sing along to music in the grocery store and no one knows its me.

My King Soopers loves Brittany Spears and the BeeGees. We no longer have to ask in the cereal aisle, who was that masked man, singing falsetto?

Hes a total glutton for the stuff most of us dread each year. For most people, the favorite part of family holiday is when the kids go back to school and the inlaws go home. These are a few of his favorite things: Hot chocolate, the merry go-round, with my wife and kids at Zoo Lights in December.

Who is this guy? It gets worse. If he had a superpower?

Unlimited access to Disneyland with my kids, says Kellner, and no one else, ever.

Just as interesting, as a euphemism, is Kellners Democratic opponent, Amy Padden. The 18th District seat is open.

Her guilty pleasure?

It would be from the Athenian on Iliff in Aurora. Love their Saganaki (flaming cheese), although not quite the same when you get it to go. That was the last place I ate before the stay at home order.

I consider Greek food health food. Dont they live forever there?

The most amazing thing about wearing a mask all the time for Padden is not having to put lipstick on every time I leave the house.

At least she doesnt sing about it in the grocery store.

And her secret talent?

I can run long distances (though not very fast). Ive completed many marathons (New York, Marine Corp, Chicago, and others).

These are district attorney candidates, people. No whiskey? No secretly building mud prisons for crickets in the backyard?

Instead we get Disneyland fans and marathon runners.

So disappointed, and yet Im mildly amused.

You can be, too. Discover your own pet peeves about the people who are going to run our world in a few months at SentinelColorado.com. Click on 2020 Voter Guide on top and amaze or disappoint yourself thumbing through the catalogue of candidates who will probably surprise you.

Follow @EditorDavePerry on Facebook and Twitter or reach him at 303-750-7555 or [emailprotected]

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GETTING PERSONAL: True confessions of the Colorado candidates wanting to rule our lives - Sentinel Colorado