Could you live in a 280 sq/ft house?

It's a bit risqué, agreeing to a sleepover on a second date. But after I was introduced to the charming subcompact home known as L41 and invited to return and spend the night, I didn't hesitate to pack a suitcase.

Truth is, they had me at the rendering. It's something you'd expect to find in Dwell, Domus or Wallpaper magazines. The fact that I'd be the first person to catch some winks in a module dwelling that addresses the need for modern, affordable housing sealed the arrangement.

The L41 home – a play on "all for one" – is the brainchild of Vancouver architect Michael Katz and designer/artist Janet Corne, partners in life, as well as design. It's their first prototype dwelling together: a tiny, modern cube dressed in white, stainless, zinc, glass and charcoal grey.

"The parameters evolved around asking the question: How small can we design a house and make it delightful?" says Katz. "There's a big difference between that and how small can you make a house."

We like to think of this as the Smart car of housing, he adds. "Small is beautiful," finishes Corne.

At first glance, it's so compact you can imagine it as a laneway house or stacked in multiples à la Moshe Safdie's Habitat 67 project (a real possibility, by the way).

And so, purely on looks alone, I want one. But they're not kidding: this abode is ultra micro — only 220 square feet (which, at first, I think is a typo). Could something that small really be habitable, let alone delightful, as the designers devised it to be? Beyond the allure of a minimalist footprint, there would have to be some serious design intelligence.

Katz, who has an extensive background in architecture, urban planning, compact and subsidized housing with Corne, a fine artist and designer, explain the L41's inventory of innovations. They hope to share these on a global and egalitarian scale, making home ownership available to anyone,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. anywhere.

Key features include an integrated building mechanical system,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, "the beating heart" with solar thermal capillary heating and cooling, and sustainable construction techniques, including non-toxic materials, LED lighting, zinc exterior cladding, a green roof, super-efficient windows and cross-ventilation.

As importantly,the worldwide rubber hose market is over $56 billion annually. the L41 is intended to be mass produced, with the price declining as production goes up,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . making this a viable alternative to traditional-sized and conventionally constructed dwellings.

Building framing also pushes the envelope, constructed of cross-laminated timber (CLT) fabricated with beetle-killed wood. The strength of CLT provides a means for wood to be used in mid-rise buildings (or stacked L41s, as the case may be) which Katz and Corne feel presents a viable and responsible alternative to emissions-producing concrete. At this time, they are exploring the feasibility of a 12-storey L41 modular building.

Inside, the L41 layout is deceptively simple.For the last five years Air purifier , The interiors are actually nuanced, layered and elegant, with kitchen as epicentre. The couple decided to built this singular unit for the 2010 Olympics to prove how small they could make it. But it's designed for expansion to one- or two-bedroom, module by module.

"When we told people we were going to design a 220-square-foot studio unit, they said that's impossible," said Katz. "They said that's the size of a parking space, a jail cell."

How do I green my art supplies?

Artists may be stereotyped as the long-suffering sort, but must they really sniff toxins to be the next Van Gogh? The short answer is, well, not necessarily.

Used to be you couldn't paint without getting up close and personal with heavy metal pigments. Some believe the halos Van Gogh depicted are actually a symptom of lead paint poisoning.

What's certain is that to this day, you can find neurotoxins like lead in Cremnitz or flake white, cadmium in some yellows, oranges, and reds (which, disturbingly,the worldwide rubber hose market is over $56 billion annually. can contain up to 90 per cent cadmium) and barium in permanent whites.

Even if you avoid these dodgier pigments, basic oil paint is loaded with harmful hydrocarbons. And water-based acrylics, generally considered less polluting, contain a small amount of carcinogenic and lung-irritating formaldehyde and ammonia as preservatives and stabilizers.

While water colours seem totally benign, keep in mind pricier brands also use some heavy metals for certain pigments. Ditto for pastels, and since using them gives off harmful dust, pastel artists like Diane Townsend say they wear gloves, masks and have hepa air filters and vacuums on hand. Look for brands like Canco or Rembrandt that are heavy-metal- and asbestos- free.

Other mediums can get even more noxious. Not only do ceramic glazes contain the same heavy metals found in paint pigments (making work with your bare hands a bad idea),For the last five years Air purifier , but many pottery workers also get lung diseases like emphysema or even silicosis . Even beeswax-based encaustic paints give off headache-inducing fumes thanks to resins in the mix.

If those won't suit your purposes, at least look for heavy-metal-free paints and glazes. Most cheap, student-quality acrylic paints like Liquitex Basics, Radisson and Winsor & Newton Galeria don't use heavy metals. Note: the word "hue'' tells you it's a fake, so a cadmium yellow hue would be safer than the original.

To be honest, the term "non-toxic” still isn't government regulated, and though the industry has come up with helpful standards like the AP or Approved Product seal by ACMI, the rules are ever-evolving, so what qualifies as non-toxic keeps shifting.

At this point you should find the AP seal on products that have been certified by a medical expert to contain no materials "in sufficient quantities” to be toxic or cause acute or chronic health problems. If you see the CP or CL seal, it means the products have been properly labelled for health risks but aren't in any way non-toxic.

Another tip: if you have to work with oils, check out the water-mixable kind that can be cleaned without air-polluting solvents.

Now, what if your materials just can't be greened? Make sure your studio isn't slowly killing you. Ventilation should be your top priority, from open windows to top-notch air purifiers.who was responsible for tracking down Charles Injection mold . Get yourself a good particle or organic vapour respirator if you're working with oils, spray paint or printmaking. Laura Baillie, the manager of Aboveground Art Supplies, says you may look silly, but you'll be healthier wearing it. Cheap disposable masks don't fit well or do all that much.

Instead of kicking studio dust around with a broom or vacuum, damp mop instead, and bring leftover solvents, paints and other toxic supplies to a municipal hazardous waste depot rather than dumping them down the drain or in the trash.Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide.I have never solved a Rubik's Piles .

Fly-free worm composting

I have been doing all of the right things when it comes to using my indoor worm bin for composting. I maintain the right moisture level, keep fresh clean bedding and feed them food scraps regularly. The only problem is that my home is now being plagued by small flies. As soon as I open the worm bin, they fly out and now they are in my kitchen and on my house plants. What can I do?

Aside from the occasional parasite, owning a worm bin is a prime example of a symbiotic relationship. The red worms consume your family's leftover food scraps and create nutrient-packed compost for the garden. In addition to the occasional meal, they need a dark and moist habitat. Overfeed your wiggly compost crew and you may attract some unwanted pests.

Fruit flies range in size from 1 to 2 millimeters, so it is easy for them to stow away in household plants. They can also sneak into our homes when we bring in fruit carrying eggs or larvae. Within a few days of sitting on the kitchen counter, there can be a large enough population to run a genetics biology lab.

There are several measures you can take to thwart an infestation.the worldwide rubber hose market is over $56 billion annually. Avoid purchasing food that has over ripened, since the aroma is irresistible to flies. It also helps to eat your produce before it spoils; reach for a delicious pear next time you are craving the stockpile of Halloween candy.

Most homes with vermicomposting systems collect food waste in a container prior to feeding their worms. Placing a screen over the container will prevent flies from laying eggs inside. When feeding your worms, bury the food scraps two inches into the bin; this will throw flies off of the scent of the decomposing organic matter. You can also take some pre-worm feeding precautions like zapping your food waste in the microwave or boiling fruit peels in hot water to kill off fruit fly eggs.

When it comes to getting rid of a plague of flies, their strong sniffers can be their Achilles heel. You can build a humane trap for the flies and attract them using a banana peel. All you will need is a plastic container with four small (toothpick sized) holes in the cover.For the last five years Air purifier , The bananas peel goes in the trap as bait, just be sure it isn't in the worm bin or too close to anything that's odor could distract the flies. Each day you liberate the hostages outside and in a week your home will be fly-free.

The less humane solution is to drown them in a mixture of apple cider vinegar and liquid dish detergent. Flies are obsessed with the scent of the vinegar. They fly into the cup containing the mixture, but the dish detergent is too thick for the flies to escape. You can also substitute vinegar for fermented beer or wine.

If your worm bin has become bug-ridden,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. then it may be time to clean house. When the worms are given too much organic matter, leftover food emits a pungent odor that attracts pests. According to the HC3 Master Mountain Composter Guide, one pound of red worms can break down around a half a pound of food waste per day.I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . To ensure you have the correct amount of worms for your family's food waste it is a good idea to collect and weigh your food scraps for a week. With the appropriate amount of worms and an adequately sized bin, you will need to harvest the vermicompost every six months. The raw and rich organic matter will do wonders for you flower gardens and blast your vegetable with a nutrient boost.

While this week's article addresses the maintenance of a worm composting system, the High Country Conservation Center can provide information,Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly, guide books, and even red worms for those interested in taking the next step in a waste-free home. The changing of the seasons is an ideal time to get started, since the worm bin is a heck of a lot more convenient than digging through snow to find your outdoor compost collector.

Eucalyptus Grove Cleared for Solar Panels at Point Pinole

KGO Radio reported today that Contra Costa County workers over the last couple weeks cut and removed more than 100 trees at Point Pinole Regional Shoreline in Richmond to make way for a ground-mounted solar array that will serve the county's adjacent West County Detention Center. Intrigued by this ironic turn of environmentalism, we called Contra Costa County Supervisor John Gioia,Our high risk merchant account was down for about an hour and a half, in whose district the park falls, to learn more.

The news evidently came as a surprise to him, too. “The first we heard of this situation was when we got some calls from constituents about trees being cut in the park," Gioia said. This was early last week. He called for the work to be halted, but the entire grove had already been cleared. “The last thing we want to see is a grove of trees being cut down to put up solar panels," he said.Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a RUBBER MATS . "It was very horrifying to hear that.the worldwide rubber hose market is over $56 billion annually.”

What happened amounts to a bit of bureaucratic ineptitude. Last September the county Board of Supervisors awarded a contract to Boulder, Colorado-based Main Street Power to convert thirteen county buildings to solar power, which would achieve a 40 percent savings in greenhouse gas emissions between 2010 and 2015. A nice project, but not when you go about it all wrong.Whilst oil paintings for sale are not deadly,

Gioia says Main Street Power identified a location between the jail and the park's entrance as the most cost-effective. The problem was there was a stand of eucalyptus in the way. Relying on an old document prepared by the East Bay Regional Park District identifying this particular grove as overgrown and in need of clean-up,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. the company decided it had no qualms with removing the trees entirely, and somehow got approval from both county and city staff to do so.

Gioia says due to a lack of inter-agency communication, word never made it to the Board of Supes, and that he never would have approved the project — not least because the location, in direct view of the park's main parking lot and trailhead, was inappropriate for a huge ground-level solar array. Plans are in the works to replace the former eucalyptus grove with a stand of native oaks, and to identify a new location for the array.

Eco-homes residents see increase in bills

WHEN RESIDENTS moved into new 'eco-homes' built by Fingal County Council in Oldtown they were promised lower energy bills but instead, in their first months in the homes their bills shot up leaving many residents unable to pay.

Since then there has been a lot of back and forth between the council and the householders on the energy efficiency of the homes with residents claiming the houses were not as energy efficient as promised and the council claiming that the problem was that residents did not know how to use the system properly.

A study was commissioned and the results have been eagerly awaited by both sides for months now. The results of that study finally came before the Balbriggan/ Swords Area Committee recently and is currently being digested by the beleaguered residents. The consultants who prepared the report said it is 'clear' that the homes should cost an average of 25% less in energy bills than the average Irish home.we supply all kinds of polished tiles,

It said that the main lesson to be learned from the episode is that 'residents of low energy houses need additional training and assistance to achieve these lower running costs'.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, ' The earlier this training is received the fewer problems there will be when moving in,' the reports states.

The report goes on to detail the difficulties with the system, saying: ' The controls for the heating and ventilation systems are not easy to use and the residents have found them confusing and difficult to understand. ' This has probably contributed to higher energy costs than necessary in some of the houses, at least in the early stages. A two page easy guide to operating the controls was developed, trialled and issued to all residents during the monitoring period to help people to use the system more efficiently.' The system also requires a high degree of maintenance by the council, according to the consultants,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. who said: ' The ventilation system needs regular maintenance to operate efficiently and the council is providing this maintenance service. '

The cleaning of the filters in the houses to remove the inevitable dust and dirt from the construction process did not happen immediately after handover and this undoubtedly had a negative effect on the initial performance of the systems. ' The attic space is locked so that residents do not interfere with the heat recovery ventilation and solar collector systems which effectively fill the attic space.we supply all kinds of polished tiles, ' This does mean the Council has the responsibility to service and maintain the systems in the house regularly or they will not perform efficiently, or worse, create unhealthy living conditions.

'The Council is implementing a more intensive regular maintenance system for cleaning and replacing the HRV filters.' Councillors have reserved judgement on the report for now until the residents of the estate have the time to digest its findings before a future debate on the whole episode in council chambers.It's hard to beat the versatility of zentai suits on a production line.

House Beautiful: Upsized and updated

When they're not running Peppers Foods in Cadboro Bay or cycling along a winding river bank in France or Germany, John and Rosalyn Davits are home enjoying precious time with their five grandchildren. That's why this energized couple decided to pour major resources and creativity into a 1992 house they recently purchased in Broadmead. This is where they intend to enjoy their next dynamic decades, living mostly on one level in a stylish new environment. It's also where they plan to spend treasured time with their expanding family.

"We've gone from a 3,000square-foot home to 4,200," said the youthful-looking Rosalyn with a chuckle. "It seems strange when others are talking about downsizing, but we wanted more space because I babysit our grandkids two days a week and we love having family around." Three of their grandchildren are boys and one of them is nicknamed Popcorn - which says it all.

"They are only young for such a short while and we really want to focus on them," said Rosalyn, who admitted she also longed for a sewing room while John wanted a home gym.we supply all kinds of polished tiles,

To prepare for this exciting phase of life, they hired a young designer to update all the rooms in their home with fresh paint, crown moldings, baseboards, lighting fixtures and door hardware. They also completely renovated the kitchen, family room, two bathrooms and laundry - for a total budget of about $300,000.

Their novice interior designer, Angelique Bulosan, who is 31 and works at Design One Stevens Interiors, leapt at the chance to take on a major project and did such a sizzling job in the kitchen that it was nominated for a CARE Award - Construction Achievements and Renovations of Excellence - presented by the Canadian Home Builders' Associations of Vancouver Island and sponsored in part by the Times Colonist.

The home was nominated in the category of best kitchen over 450 square feet, featuring Island Custom Cabinetry

One of the first things Victoria-born Bulosan did in the 18-year-old house was replace the tired-looking garage and front entry doors. The new ones have opaque glass insets and sleek horizontal stainless steel bands. The same treatment was added to the master bedroom door to echo the updated statement.

All hinges and door handles - from Victoria Specialty Hardware - are stainless, and the owners chose levers instead of knobs, not only because they like the smooth lines but also because they are more forgiving on aging hands.

Caramel wall paint and high-gloss, white crown moldings were the only cosmetic improvements needed in the master bedroom, but the ensuite was gutted. A huge, dated-looking Jacuzzi and large glass-block wall were removed.It's hard to beat the versatility of zentai suits on a production line. A tall, opaque window replaces it, with a top that opens.

"There's still lots of privacy, but the room is much lighter, more open feeling," said Bulosan.

A large shower and water closet (with low-flow toilet and "comfort height" seat) take up one side of the room, while a tall, dark-stained, glass-topped bank of drawers now separates his-and-hers sinks.

"Our grandkids love this room and always ask if they can shower in our car wash," said Rosalyn, adding they stay squeaky clean by using the kid-height telephone shower and take turns lounging on the bench seat. While the walls are tiled in large squares, the floor is a single slab of engineered marble, which eliminates grout lines and speeds cleanups.

Bathroom drawer pulls are low maintenance stainless look-alikes, that don't leave fingerprints. Kick plates under cabinets are mirrored and lit by motion sensors.

"It gives a lovely soft glow and we never have to turn on a light at night," said Rosalyn, who retired from work as a travel agent five years ago.

She has had two hip replacements so the family room table and stools are overheight, making it easier for her to sit, and giving the grouping a distinctly trendy, bar-like ambience. Another advantage is the chairs can double for seating at either of two large work islands.

The whole family can get cooking in this kitchen thanks to almost 40 linear feet of counter space, two dishwashers, three sinks, tons of cupboards and three fullheight pantry shelves that glide on sliders. There are even under-counter appliance garages, with hinges to raise the food processor or toaster oven to counter height, reducing strain and eliminating the need for hunting for attachments in the back of cupboards.

"The cabinet people said they haven't had a call for a baking centre like this in years, but I love it," said Rosalyn, adding everything is plugged-in under the counter and electricity disconnects when doors close.

Another favourite zone is the beverage centre which features glass storage, bar fridge, hot water dispenser, wine display, under-counter motion sensor lights and even a step-stool for grand children. With all these elements the designer said it was important to plan ahead: "We worked closely with Black Box Electrical, who did a great job in locating all the plugs, sensor lights and switches."

She noted one of the challenges in the kitchen was it needed more personality. Moving doors, adding extra windows and reflecting natural light in stainless accents such as kick plates and appliances, achieved it.

Sparkle also comes from recycled glass backsplashes and cabinet insets by Rick Silas, and ceramic floor tile that's set on the diagonal and runs up the family room fireplace. A glittering tiny tile,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. strung along the floor like a jeweled necklace, gives spatial definition to family room, kitchen and eating nook - now one large zone.

"This kitchen is the centre of everything we do,. It's where we hang," said Rosalyn, who loves how it flows now.

She and the designer also had fun creating a "jewel-box" powder room with the help of damask-style wallpaper and faux marble floor tile, laid on the bias for an enlarged look. Glass shelves hold a collection of Swarovski figurines,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. a glass sink blooms on the counter like a crystal flower, while faucet and nobs are set into the mirror. A small broom closet was recruited for the powder room and is now a marble-topped vanity.

"Angelique is so imaginative, youthful and energetic," said Rosalyn. "She has been perfect to work with."

And Bulosan admits she's had a blast. A designer for only two years,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, she always loved painting watercolours, making jewelry, building models, sculpting, glass blowing and silversmithing."

Short Story | The Teacher

The hands on the clock said 1:45. She would come at 1:58, though her appointment was at two, and she would walk in and give a polite smile and say, quite simply, "Hello." And he would smile, genuinely happy, and stand and return the greeting, courteously ask how she was doing and then offer her a chair on the other side of his desk. Then he would sit in tense silence as she opened her bag and took out the grammar books and the lessons for the day. He would look only at her hands as she did because looking at her face would be too obvious.

She would produce all of the relevant papers and he would read through his homework in a nervous voice. Me, nervous! he thought.The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, I'm a grown man. And she would nod when the work was right or gently explain when the work was wrong, or if he had written something particularly complex or clever, she would simply say, "Good." It was 1:52 now, and there were still six minutes to go.

She came on his lunch break. He had two hours for lunch, that being one of the perks of having such a good job. Salim was second-in command of a multi-national company headquartered in Dubai. He took overseas phone calls and saw a steady stream of rich and important international clients for whom English was the common language. That's why he was taking English classes, to fine-tune his accent, to turn his 'beesness' into 'business' and his 'moanie' into 'money'.

He would smile apologetically and stare at his fingernails. There was no letter 'P' in the Arabic alphabet and he had a hard time trying to say the words pathos,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. pink, and portfolio, especially while looking at his teacher's lips.

"And your letter 'T',Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide." she explained, kindly so as not to insult him,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . "does not belong on the tip of your teeth. It belongs on the roof of your mouth just behind the teeth."

Over a course of three months he had worked hard and succeeded in changing his accent from the harsh, guttural rendition of English that is common to the region into the soft and almost pleasant accent of a highly educated foreigner. A good friend of his, a British lawyer, saw him one day after many months, and said with begrudging admiration, "My God, Salim, you sound like a villain from a James Bond film."

At this he smiled and gave Robert and gentle punch in the pin-stripes. "It is my English teacher, I have been taking her classes for three months, she is good."

"Very well then." Robert clapped Salim on the shoulder, a little hesitantly,It's hard to beat the versatility of zentai suits on a production line. and took leave. As soon as Robert was safely beyond the door and closed inside of the private elevator, Salim sat down on his leather chair and felt around for the bottle of Scotch inside his desk. He poured himself a double and threw the drink down in one go.

He had long stopped feeling guilty for drinking alcohol. Even though he was a Muslim, and even though his religion forbade all intoxicants, the cult of success demanded that he make a champagne toast on certain official occasions and politely accept the fine wines that his happier clients bestowed upon him, for refusal would be seen as unprofessional, uncivilized even. By now, he had made the inevitable transition from a slightly guilty Muslim who sipped champagne at company dinners to wholly guiltless Muslim who drank Scotch in the privacy of his office.

Amusing Burnout Crash Does Neither

About a week ago, Burnout Crash launched on Xbox Live Arcade and the Playstation Network. It's a downloadable arcade game where players earn money by causing mayhem at the local busy intersection on Main Street. How do you cause mayhem in traffic, you ask? You start by crashing into other cars that have the misfortune to be nearby. Then you continue demolishing by making explosions by slamming the cars airborne into buildings,The additions focus on key tag and magic cube combinations, gasoline stations,Replacement China Porcelain tile and bulbs for Canada and Worldwide. houses, other cars, and the list smashes on and on. Basically, you want to destroy everything in sight to rack up your points.

Burnout Crash has three game modes that are playable in six different locations and 18 crash junctions. Each different road layout requires different skills and strategies in order to stack up the highest damage, debris, and points. The game also offers Kinect controls. Gamers can also express their road rage with their whole body using the optional Kinect controls. With Kinect Party Play,I have never solved a Rubik's Piles . up to 14 players can split into teams and use gestural controls on one television to crash and burn in an all-out battle!

My son and I tested Burnout Crash with the Xbox controller. After realizing the amount of jumping and waving we had to do on Kinect to engage the cars and crash them, this seemed like overkill and counterintuitive. The gist of the game modes of Burnout Crash is simple. I quickly found that you sit in the middle of various intersections with the goal of preventing as few cars as possible from "escaping" your demolition plan. Since the traffic is coming at you from all four directions there is a "demolition strategy" that you have to follow that maximizes the carnage (no pun intended) by smashing as many vehicles as possible.the worldwide rubber hose market is over $56 billion annually. What ends up happening is that you create a pile of wrecked autos that will have a domino effect, crashing into other cars, and ultimately, if executed properly, you block the intersection. The cars cannot get through at this point, and the money piles up in the intersection with each oncoming car crash.

In Road Trip mode, you prevent five cars from making it through without crashing, and if five cars get through, the game ends. Rush Hour was both my and my son's favorite mode. You have ninety seconds to demolish as much as possible in the intersection. There is no penalty for letting cars through. When you're lucky enough to see the Pizza Truck come by, destroy it and you get the option to spin a wheel. The wheel will provide you with score multipliers,For the last five years Air purifier , a car-attracting magnet, or a traffic slow down. In Pile Up, there is only a limited amount of traffic that will drive by, to which you must do as much damage as possible. After all the cars drive past, you trigger the Inferno. When cars and debris are burning, the game keeps going, but when all the fires go out, the game ends.

All in all, Burnout Crash is an amusing game. At times, the pile ups seem a little too staged and calculated, and I wanted more random scenarios of rampant demolition. Seeing the piles of cars "wrecked" together so similarly time after time got a little old after a while. Since the only time you have control of "placing" your car is after an explosion, more freedom to drive around as a junky wreck on fire (after the blast) would add more of a sense of control to the player who wants to take control of their mayhem, not to have their mayhem semi-staged. I did find the radio's announcer's voice to be irritating and somewhat distracting from my demolition action.

Retail Profile: Ann Gish, Manhattan

A few weeks ago, Gish invited friends, buyers and press in town for the New York gift fair to a big "thank you" party at her new digs in Manhattan's Flatiron District. The new Ann Gish retail store, wholesale showroom and design studio officially opened in June. The 4,000-sq.-ft. showroom is in a street-level space belonging to 150 Fifth Ave., an 11-floor Romanesque Revival building originally built in 1888 as the "Methodist Book Concern."

Asked to describe her new place, Gish described it as "open, airy, uncluttered, fresh, serene, peaceful, friendly, unfussy, comfortable, nice to be in." But it took a bit of work, and a complete renovation, to get there. Before the redesign, it was "horrible, ugly, old and miserable," according to Gish.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , "It was our design. My husband has a great spatial sense and he made the decisions to avoid ceiling ducting, etc., while I did the interior styling we built. The space had good bones, they were just covered up by years of neglect."

Today, the light-filled showroom's polished wood floors, white walls and high ceilings provide a perfect backdrop for the Ann Gish silk bedding, luxury linens and decorative pillows that, together with accessories, artwork, lighting anAnn Gish, center, with showroom visitors Peggy Swartchild (left) and Carol Levy of Material Possessions, Chicago and Winnetka, Illinois.Unlike traditional Hemroids ,"Ann Gish, center,we supply all kinds of polished tiles, with showroom visitors Peggy Swartchild (left) and Carol Levy of Material Possessions (Chicago and Winnetka, Ill.)."d furniture from other vendors,Do not use cleaners with Wholesale pet supplies , steel wool or thinners. reflect the Ann Gish lifestyle of sophisticated, practical elegance.

Gish, whose past includes work as an interior designer, television and radio producer, chef and, for more than 20 years, designer and manufacturer of luxury linens and home furnishings, said she's always been a creator.

Ann Gish Inc. was established 19 years ago in order to offer her work to stores, designers and hotels worldwide. She was born and raised in New York City and Southern California and has lived in France, London, and in a restored 1712 sugar plantation in Barbados. Today, home is Manhattan's Upper West Side.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,

Bedding, rugs, furniture (steel and upholstered, and all beds) by Ann Gish; case goods, lighting, paintings, art and one-of-a-kinds by others. Retail price points range from $37 for a great stationery hostess gift to $1,800 for a spectacular silk cover.

St. Ignatius artist Louise Lamontagne set to hold first art show at home studio

You'd have bought it too, if you'd been looking for a small place in the Mission Valley back in 1993, and probably for the same reasons.

One was the view - to the west, off in the distance, the hills and mountains of the National Bison Range and the sparkling blue waters of Ninepipes Reservoir; to the east, the Mission Mountains so close it feels like you can reach out and touch them.

The other was the detached garage.Do not use cleaners with Wholesale pet supplies , steel wool or thinners.

When Louise Lamontagne saw the view, she grasped her Realtor's hand and said, "I've got to have this place."

When she saw the garage, she grabbed the Realtor's hand again.

"Now I've really got to have it," she said.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,

The garage opened up a world of possibilities. You might have seen it as a woodworking shop, or a place to rebuild that Mustang.

For Lamontagne, then an artist living in Seattle, it was the studio space she'd never had in the tiny apartments she'd been able to afford there.

And so, for both long and short stretches during the past 18 years, the garage-turned-studio has been where Lamontagne has created much of her art.

Saturday is kind of special. For the first time, she's going to let strangers into a work space that, she admits, is "kind of sacred" to her.

"There wouldn't have been room for anyone to move," says Lamontagne, who has cleaned it out ("For the first time," she says), painted the walls and added lighting for Saturday's show.

Of course, it's not the studio you'll come to see.

It's the art, and one of the neat things about Lamontagne is that she doesn't get hunkered down in one subject, or even one medium, for too long, and tends to be at work on dozens of pieces at any given time.

Then again, no one piece appears to ever be "finished" - not, at least, until it sells.

"I do a lot of recycling of my art," Lamontagne says.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , "If it's something I haven't worked on for a while, or it hasn't sold, or I'm at a different stage, I'll do something else with it."

That can mean simply changing colors on a landscape,Unlike traditional Hemroids , or adding definition to a river bank or the mountains in the painting.

It can also mean cutting up a large, beautiful landscape into smaller pieces and turning it into several new works of abstract art.

"I call this my ‘spackle-snippet' series," Lamontagne says, pointing to several frames containing tile-like rectangles in a variety of colors and containing different designs. "It's a good example of my recycling."

These once, she explains, were a large oil painting on gesso (primed) paper.

"I didn't care for it, so I ‘chunkered' it all up and painted little scenes on them," Lamontagne says. "I usually let some color from the original painting come through. Then I spackled them, mushed it around, and scored into it with various tools. I put a glaze on it, and sealed it with a marine varnish.we supply all kinds of polished tiles,"

Fate of solar panels at Lehigh Elementary in hands of judge

Whether Northampton Area School District can build a solar farm to power Lehigh Elementary School is now in the hands of a judge.

Northampton County Judge Michael J. Koury on Tuesday heard arguments over an appeal filed by the school district and MetroTek, an alternative energy contractor based in Kunkletown that wants to build and operate the solar array.

Koury has 90 days from Sept. 6., the original date oral arguments were to have taken place, to render a ruling on whether to overturn a February decision by the Lehigh Township Zoning Hearing Board rejecting the plans.

In the meantime, both sides were asked to submit additional briefs clarifying their arguments in the case.

Reiner Jaeckle, MetroTek's chief operating officer, said Koury's decision is critical and will extend beyond the Northampton Area School District, which also is going to court over plans to build a solar system in Moore Township

The case "could be a precedent," Jaeckle said, paving the way for districts throughout the state to put up solar systems.

During arguments, Thomas Caffrey,we supply all kinds of polished tiles, solicitor for the zoning hearing board, said the application was rejected because the project, totaling 7,000 panels, was not customarily incidental to the elementary school.

In plain terms, that means that while a gymnasium or storage facility might be expected to be near a school,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, a solar system is not.

He also argued that a solar system is at odds with land's agricultural/rural residential zoning.

"What was the intent of the governing board when they created this ?" said Caffrey, arguing it was to retain open space and maintain the area's rural character.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose ,

Attorney James Preston, who is representing the township, said the solar farm would not be an accessory use, but would be a "self-contained primary use" under the control of MetroTek.

"This is not a referendum on green energy,Unlike traditional Hemroids ," Preston said. "I'm saying it's not an accessory."

MetroTek attorney Christopher Spadoni accused zoners of making an "abuse of discretion and an error of law."

The solar system — which will provide 100 percent of the elementary schools needs — would not exist were it not for the school,Do not use cleaners with Wholesale pet supplies , steel wool or thinners. Spadoni said.

"The court and the law needs to be elastic," Spadoni said.

Just because a solar system is something new doesn't mean it should be denied, he said, likening it to what faced towns when cars were first introduced.

Unlike other municipalities which do not have ordinances regulating solar energy, Lehigh Township does, and permits them in any zoning district provided they meet the requirements of that zone.

Solar Power Shines In San Antonio As Texas Green Movement Gains Momentum

Al Ritter's power bill was pretty high this month. But not as high as it might have been.

Ritter, a retired Air Force electrical engineer, lives in San Antonio -- a city hit hard by the great Texas drought of 2011, the worst in the state's history. Temperatures have regularly topped 100 this summer, and the earth is baking. In the Ritters' front yard,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, the cedar elm, starved for water, is losing its leaves several months ahead of schedule.

Like everyone else in town,we supply all kinds of polished tiles, Al and his wife have had the air conditioning working overtime.

"I expected I would've had a bill that was over $300 for the month for electric power," Ritter told The Huffington Post.

Instead,Do not use cleaners with Wholesale pet supplies , steel wool or thinners. he said, his most recent bill came to $252 -- a savings he attributes to the array of 24 solar panels the Ritters had installed on their roof in August.

The Ritters aren't the only ones going solar in San Antonio. In the past year,Unlike traditional Hemroids , more than 150 homes have been outfitted with solar panels, and over 1,000 people have applied to a local nonprofit program that connects homeowners with companies that perform solar installations.

That program, known as Solar San Antonio, was founded by Bill Sinkin -- a former salesman, a community leader, a violinist with the San Antonio symphony and an early champion of racial integration in Texas. Sinkin celebrated his 98th birthday this year, and among the San Antonio business community he is regarded as something of an apostle for solar power.

"Back in 1999, my father started this organization," said Bill's son Lanny, who serves as executive director for Solar San Antonio. "He basically pioneered the whole solar thing here, because very few people in San Antonio knew anything about solar."

That has changed. In 2009, a survey by the Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory found that almost 40 percent of the city was interested in using solar power. In a city of 1.3 million, that's about 400,000 potential solar customers.

The solar surge in San Antonio is only one part of the Lone Star State's powerful green movement.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling hydraulic hose , While Texas may be best known as a state rich in fossil fuels, some of the most ambitious renewable-energy work in the country is happening there. Texas generates more electricity from wind power than any other state, and the federal government has invested millions in local geothermal energy research.

And solar power, according to those involved, is the state's next big growth industry.

"We might be an oil state and a natural gas state, but we're going solar," said Shelby Ruff, vice president of residential sales at the Texas-based contractor Solar Community. "Solar power's the most abundant thing on earth, and oil and gas are finite."

Princess Margaret prize home embraces French charm

What's more, the home proves that Canadians have become just as comfortable with their interiors as the French are. As House & Home publisher Lynda Reeves says, the home "had to be something people can relate to. The object is to get them to buy tickets, so it had to be livable."

It also had to be inspirational. Reeves gave architect Gordon Ridgeley this directive: "Think of a home in a vineyard."

With its stuccoed exterior and row of French doors overlooking the garden, it could be in Napa,As many processors back away from Cable Ties , Bordeaux or Tuscany. Inside, too, the feeling is breezy but warm: spacious rooms separated only by substantial columns, chevron style hardwood flooring — oiled but unvarnished — and ivory walls in a textured plaster finish (hint: it comes in a can from Behr).

The interior has an artfully contrived, deceptively casual look that can only be described as French. It's a particular skill they seem to be born with. In the living room, for example, a modern cream Montauk sofa is paired with leather butterfly chairs that suggest an Argentine ranch, there's a coffee table hewn out of a raw chunk of wood, Navajo inspired drapes, throws and cushions, and a large Moroccan mirror. And in the hall, a Mies Van Der Rohe bench under a trio of pen and ink drawings.

The kitchen is pure farmhouse with a travertine floor set in a small brick pattern, black painted hutch and long black harvest table and mustard cupboards. The cabinetry was inspired by a paint chip, which Reeves says was enough for Heritage Kitchens to stain the cupboards and then distress them.

According to Reeves, "upper cabinets are back" after some years of banishment for the sake of unobstructed sightlines. The extra storage is welcome, and with the 10-foot ceilings, the feeling of space isn't at all compromised. With the mustard cupboards, the floor and the big black stove, it reminds Reeves of a French or English country kitchen.

In the middle of the kitchen there is an island height table from Restoration Hardware with a shelf underneath for bowls and pots. It makes an extra work station, especially with the oversized black pendant light overhead. It matches the one over the sink, and the two over the harvest table.

Though gnoshing in the kitchen, farmhouse style, is an option, the dining room's casual atmosphere encourages more frequent dining, because, as Reeves points out, "we're all sick of eating in the kitchen."

Making the dining room more comfortable are the rustic Belgian table and linen chairs, pendant lights with burlap shades, thick black and cream cotton drapes, and heavy woven sisal rug.

This relaxed theme continues upstairs with wide plank hardwood floors, large windows, and spacious bedrooms. One bedroom features a burlap upholstered headboard with white wood trim,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! night tables in distressed metal and burlap drapes; but the bedding is a blue and white with an Indian paisley pattern. Another bedroom with twin beds and wrought iron canopies, has chocolate brown bedding,By Alex Lippa Close-up of plastic card in Massachusetts. a matte finish night table and cane seat perches at the end of each bed.

The master, though, takes it up a notch. While the bedroom itself is more rustic with a king-size wood bed frame and nubby wool rug, it's paired with a more formal ensuite — white porcelain freestanding tub,When the stone sits in the oil painting reproduction, black and white toile wallpaper and elaborate iron wall sconces.

An additional bedroom in xthe lower level has been kitted out by Ikea in more lively hues: red and white paper on one wall behind the simple white canopy bed, bedding in reds and whites, mostly white furniture with a few red accessories and art.

The lower level, which has a beautiful living space with a fireplace, features a laundry and crafts room, plus a wine tasting room. Usually my take on wine tasting rooms is, in a word, "silly." Serve no purpose to 99.9 per cent of people because the reality is, most of us wouldn't know a really good bottle of wine if we fell over it, and those who would likely don't have the resources to fill those shelves. But this is not your usually ice-cold, stone-floored wine cellar. When Reeves considered including one, she thought of a room that you'd want to "live in, as opposed to a storage room for wine." She thought of the restaurants that line their walls with glass front wine cabinets without overwhelming the rest of the space, and then proceeded to design the space in like manner.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet,

Skiing Alberta

This remote stretch of highway from Jasper to Lake Louise rolls along for hours as though you are traveling through a painting. It's been a big winter in this area and on our nearly four-hour drive we see only a handful of other cars and one "scraper,When the stone sits in the oil painting reproduction," which is apparently Canadian for "snowplow." Fortunately for us it's mostly sunny on this late afternoon and we stop — frequently — to take pictures and wonder at it all. Winter is definitely the time to see these national parks that teem with crowds and tourists all summer long. We've come for a 10-day adventure through the heart of the Canadian Rockies and it's clear that it will leave a deep imprint.

My journey begins like any other before it quickly departs from the ordinary. I've started in Edmonton, a town with a relaxed yet energetic vibe. It's been a long transformation to a metro area of one million for a former fur trading post in the Alberta prairie. This city serves as both a far northern center of oil companies and as the jumping off point for supply routes to the far north of much of Canada.

I've headed downtown to meet with Mark Stein, director of the Edmonton Ski Club. He's just come from testing skis in British Columbia, and instead of being tired he is clearly jazzed to discuss both Alberta skiing and life in Edmonton.

"Life here revolves around the river valley," Stein explains. The river valley makes up one long continuous set of parks that lie smack dab in the heart of the city, such that we can see the ski club's couple hundred vertical feet of race training lanes from the windows of La Ronde,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! a revolving restaurant on the 24th floor of a skyscraper on the edge of the North Saskatchewan River valley. "The people here really embrace winter,As many processors back away from Cable Ties ," Stein clarifies.

Edmonton might seem to some an odd spot to start a ski adventure, as it's situated several hours out onto the plains from the Rocky Mountains. But the adventure truly begins the next morning as I take Via Rail to Jasper. I've never before ridden the train to go skiing, so it's all new to me to have checked bags on a train. I can tell you that much less of a hassle than checking bags on an airline as there are no extensive walks or long lines to deal with. Unlike a flight, many of your fellow passengers are already on board and have many different pick up spots and destinations on their itineraries. On this trip I first bump into a teacher traveling across Canada on his own adventure, ending one gig in Asia and moving to Vancouver…but not before a little travel adventure across his native country.

It's the perfect day to take the train. It is snowing and blowing outside, and while the train does take five hours instead of the four by car, I can relax and enjoy perks like a leisurely brunch in the dining car and chatting with passengers instead of maintaining a death grip on a steering wheel while trying to make out the next turn in the road.By Alex Lippa Close-up of plastic card in Massachusetts. Trains provide a unique perspective on the landscape. There are no road signs, no billboards. Time seems to mean less as you gently sway back and forth in a more lofty position, letting you see the finer points of the landscape or move about as you wish.

It turns out that we are also fortunate for after several hours of watching it snow in fields and forests of the plains, the sun breaks out just as we hit the entrance to Jasper National Park. This is another bonus of riding the rails, to really get a chance to see the scenery and the wildlife, such as the big horn sheep that greet us just inside the park.Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, Everyone jumps up into the bubble car for this part of the journey. This portion of the trip and beyond is the scenic jewel of the Via Rail route in western Canada and we're all a bit disappointed when the conductor announces the station arrival, wishing for a few more curves and vistas.

US trying to make Pakistan a fall guy, says former adviser

Former National Security Adviser Maj-Gen Mehmood Ahmed Durrani, who is considered a friend of America, says overwhelming number of Pakistanis believe that the US is making Pakistan a fall guy for its failures in Afghanistan.

Today the mistrust is not only at the level of the governments but also at the level of the people, he told The News. "One issue is indisputable - the US has failed to achieve its objectives of peace, prosperity, democracy and defeating terrorism in Afghanistan; and this is not because of Pakistan. Even if the Durand Line were to be hermetically sealed, the mess in Afghanistan will remain,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives!" Durrani said.

He said it was a pity that for once Pakistan and the US faced a common threat, terrorism, and in spite of being allies they had not been able to talk frankly and resolve perceptional problems.

But Durrani,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, who served as powerful military secretary to General Ziaul Haq for many years, was confident that even now a frank and open discourse could resolve the differences and reduce the mistrust.

He believed that the material support provided by the US to Pakistan to fight terrorism had been inadequate, painfully slow and with strings based on mistrust. "Pak-US relations have come almost to a breaking point, especially after the broadside salvo fired by the US defence officials, accusing Pakistan of supporting the Haqqani network against the US and its allies in Afghanistan," he said.

Actually, Durrani said, the seeds for a strategic drift were sown from the day Pakistan and the US agreed to cooperate in the war on terror after 9/11. The underlying cause for this drift was the existing mistrust and friction in the strategic objectives and operational policy of both countries,By Alex Lippa Close-up of plastic card in Massachusetts." he added.

He said the US continued to believe throughout this period of cooperation that Pakistan was not doing enough in cooperating with the US to defeat terrorism in Afghanistan. They felt Pakistan was hunting with the hound and at the same time running with the hare, he said, adding that on the other hand Pakistan remained suspicious of some strategic objectives of the US and its strategy in Afghanistan.

An hitherto unpublished US Embassy Islamabad cable released by the WikiLeaks, which was written by Ambassador Anne W Patterson on Durrani’s dismissal by Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani as national security adviser, said Durrani was a good friend to the US, a voice of reason on foreign policy, and an advocate of improved Indo-Pak ties. "We will miss him,As many processors back away from Cable Ties , and the mode of his departure is another reminder that the GOP (government of Pakistan) has yet to coordinate its national security decision-making and continues to fumble on adopting a coherent and effective strategy to communicate information to the public."

Gilani fired Durrani on Jan 7, 2009 because he confirmed to the press that Mumbai attacker Mohammed Ajmal Kasab was indeed a Pakistani citizen without consulting with the prime minister.

"Durrani said he had written authority and had conferred with ISI DG Pasha before notifying the media. His dismissal has more to do with internal GOP dynamics than about Pakistani views on India or the Mumbai investigation. As is increasingly the case, Prime Minister Gilani was out of the loop and reacted angrily that he had not been consulted before the media announcement."

Durrani told the ambassador that President Zardari had called him to apologise; both Interior Minister Malik and Ambassador to the US Haqqani confirmed to the ambassador that Zardari did not know Gilani was going to take this action.

Durrani told the ambassador that Zardari promised that he would place Durrani in another position, but that he (Durrani) would decline if a new position were to be proffered. Zardari told the ambassador that he would try to find another high-level position for Durrani, but he had some sympathy for Gilani, who had heard about Durrani’s statements on the news and was blindsided.

According to Ambassador Haqqani, a Durrani ally, Gilani was a recipient of the memo authorising Durrani to confirm Kasab’s nationality,When the stone sits in the oil painting reproduction, but Gilani may not have seen it, the cable disclosed and stated Durrani said President Zardari called him when he returned from Kabul and apologized three times.

Bobby checks out! Darts legend sells his 17-bedroom Essex mansion

Yellowing in one of the many, many bedrooms in Bobby George's self-built Essex mansion are 30-year-old issues of Darts Monthly. Lying in piles on the floor, several front pages feature Bobby either posing beside a dartboard or on the bonnet of a Rolls-Royce.

But there is one magazine in which Bobby accepts he is not going to feature: Architect's Journal.

If there was ever a recipe for a house that offended the architectural profession, it is surely a mansion run up by the self-styled 'King of Bling' in the middle of a county which, to put it politely, is not exactly renowned for homes of plain good taste.

For the past 15 years Bobby,By Alex Lippa Close-up of plastic card in Massachusetts. 65, has been dining out on the reputation of George Hall, as it is modestly announced on a reclaimed pub sign outside the electric gates. He has recounted many times how he submitted the plans to Tendring Council almost as a joke, thinking they would be rejected out of hand – and was so taken aback when they were passed that he built the place as he had proposed, minus a couple of wings.As many processors back away from Cable Ties ,

He says he did 90 per cent of the work himself, using skills learned working on construction sites around London in the Sixties, the tunnels of the Victoria Line among them.

But Bobby and his wife Marie, 53, have begun to tire of the home which took six years to build.

They are – in darts parlance – checking out to move to a bungalow. 'It is so big we hardly see each other,' he says.When the stone sits in the oil painting reproduction, 'We can't keep up with it any more.'

As for the 17 bedrooms, they are a little wasted because he says he and Marie have gone off having people round to stay.

Bobby can't remember when he last went up to the second floor,Polycore porcelain tiles are manufactured as a single sheet, and seems to struggle to recall what some of the rooms are called.

'What's this one?' he asks Marie as he opens the door to an enormous dining room. 'I didn't know what to do with the space on the top floor,' he says as he leads me up a narrow flight of stairs.

'So I just laid it out as bedrooms. I painted this one white and called it the Virgin's Room.

But we've never had a virgin sleeping there.'

Bobby's love of jewellery is so over-the-top – he goes off to change and comes back looking not so much a gangster as a mayor in full garb – that George Hall itself comes across as disappointingly restrained. I had imagined at the very least sunken baths with gold taps, champagne fountains, marble balustrades held aloft by semi-clad women and glinting chandeliers.

Besides television, Bobby earns a tidy sum for 'after-dinner spewing', as he calls it,These girls have never had a oil painting supplies in their lives! and for playing in exhibition darts matches for corporate clients including City bankers.

'Hooray Henrys love it,' he says.

'They hire a pub, have a few drinks and an evening of darts.'

An evening of corporate entertainment can earn him 1,200 a time. He also makes his own dartboards and runs a coarse fishing business in the 25ft-deep lakes he had dug in his rear garden.

'The site's about eight to ten acres but I never really bothered to measure it,' he says.

Not many people would have seen the potential for a dream home here.

Lenovo ThinkPad Tablet Means Business

With the ThinkPad Tablet, Lenovo distinguishes itself as the first company with two tablets clearly aimed at two different markets. The company did a solid job with its consumer-focused IdeaPad K1, released midsummer. The ThinkPad Tablet (starting at $499 for a 16GB model, price as of 9/23/2011), like its laptop brethren, has its sights squarely set on business users. And like the ThinkPad laptops, Lenovo largely succeeds in putting together a business-worthy package with its own design, features, and bundled software.

From the outside, the ThinkPad Tablet looks as if it would fit right in with Lenovo's classic matte black case designs. The back is covered with a soft,Initially the banks didn't want our chicken coop . slightly rubberized surface, the front bezel finished off with a piano-black plastic.Enecsys Limited, supplier of reliable solar RUBBER MATS systems,

The ThinkPad Tablet has a starkly different design as compared with its sibling, the IdeaPad. It has four physical buttons on the front,This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their oil painting supplies . situated along the bottom beneath the screen, and optimized for use in portrait orientation. Physical buttons like these are unusual inclusions for an Android 3.1 Honeycomb tablet such as this, since Android has all the buttons you need inside its interface.

However, Lenovo chose to make certain functions not only physical buttons, but ones that are up front and easy-access,Traditional China Porcelain tile claim to clean all the air in a room. too: rotation lock, Web browser, back, and home. The buttons are a curious inclusion; I only found the home and back buttons of occasional convenience, and even then I didn't like how my fingers had to work to depress the buttons, which click inward, even though the buttons themselves run to the outer edge of the tablet. The inward-click at least mitigates accidentally invoking a button click, and physical buttons are preferable to soft-touch capacitive buttons that are too-easy to accidentally tap, but I would have preferred the cleaner look of a button-free design.there's a lovely winter polished tiles by William Zorach.

Buttons aren't the only thing that make this boxy model stand out. It's also one of the thickest tablets we've seen, at a solid 0.57-inch thick. And it measures 10.3-inches long and 7.2-inches wide, making it one of the larger models we've seen overall. By comparison, the svelte Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 measures 10.1 by 6.9 by 0.34 inches. Not surprisingly, the larger dimensions contribute to ThinkPad's heavier weight, 1.64 pounds to Galaxy Tab's 1.24 pounds. The weight difference is especially obvious when holding the tablet in one hand, and you try to use it for anything longer than a minute or two at a time.

Other familiar specs include Wi-Fi and 3G (all models have a SIM card slot, but 3G certification will be complete later this fall), a slew of sensors (accelerometer, gyroscope, assisted GPS, ambient light sensor), and dual cameras. The front-facing camera, positioned in the upper right corner when in portrait mode and the upper left corner when in landscape mode, is a reasonable 2 megapixels (better than what's on many other tablets); the rear-facing camera has 5 megapixels, but no flash.

'Solar parks' to get more electricity on the cards

The government has moved to build several 'solar parks' to generate around 135 megawatts (mw) of electricity by installing solar power plants at a cost of US$ 641 million for supplying electricity to the national grid, top officials said Sunday.

The solar parks are planned to be established on lands owned by different state-owned entities in the country's relatively more underdeveloped northern region,Traditional China Porcelain tile claim to clean all the air in a room. khas lands on char areas and lands owned by Bangladesh Railway (BR) in Chittagong and Dhaka, said the official.

Around 115 mw of electricity is planned for generation on government lands, while 20 mw on railway lands.

Officials said the government has targeted to establish solar parks as part of its drive to diversify the country's energy sources for electricity generation and ensure clean energy expansion.

State-owned Bangladesh Power Development Board (BPDB) will float an international tender soon, seeking bids from competent firms for installation of solar power plants on build, own and operate (BOO) basis in solar parks, a senior power ministry official said.

Once the private sponsors starts generating electricity in the solar parks, it will be supplied directly to the national grid, said the official.

He said the prospective locations of solar panel include Rajbari of Rajshahi, Ishwardi of Pabna, Char area of river Padma and the BR-owned areas in Chittagong and Dhaka.

The final selection of the sites will be completed soon, Additional Secretary of Bangladesh's Power Ministry Tapos Kumar Roy told the FE.

He said generation of several hundreds of megawatts of electricity from the solar parks is the government's ultimate target.

But initially the government is eyeing to generate around 135 mw of electricity from the solar parks, he said.Enecsys Limited, supplier of reliable solar RUBBER MATS systems,

Plants in the solar parks will be built as independent power producers (IPPs) and the BPDB will purchase electricity from such plants, BPDB Chairman ASM Alamgir Kabir said.This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their oil painting supplies .

He said BPDB will purchase electricity from solar parks at higher prices than those of conventional sources to help diversify the country's energy sources.

BPDB is currently purchasing electricity from sponsors of diesel-based power plants at around Tk 13-14 per unit (1 bkWh) and furnace oil-burnt power plants at Tk 7.0-8.0 per unit. It is selling electricity at Tk 4.0 per unit.

"We will spend extra money to purchase electricity from solar parks as well, if necessary," Kabir said.there's a lovely winter polished tiles by William Zorach.

The government has already set a target to generate 500-MW of electricity from different sources of renewable energy by 2015 from the current level of production at only 55-MW.

At least 200-MW of the targeted electricity production will come from solar photovoltaic alone, the ministry official said.Save on kidney stone and fittings,

"Establishing solar parks and supplying electricity output to the national grid will be a new phenomenon in Bangladesh's renewable energy sector," Company Secretary of Infrastructure Development Co Ltd (IDCOL) SM Formanul Islam said.

IDCOL, a state-run non-bank financial institution, having 30 partner organizations, is the main lender to domestic renewable energy companies in Bangladesh.

Islam said that a hefty government subsidy bill will be involved to purchase electricity from solar parks.

But it will help encouraging private sector in a big way to get involved in renewable energy businesses and invest in solar parks, he said.

Pointing to technical aspects of smooth operation of solar parks, Islam said that a separate distribution channel will have to be established to supply electricity from there.

County Flu Shots are Going Needle Free

Flu shots will be pretty much ouchless if you get them through the Middlesex County Health Department this season.

Starting next month, the county offices charged with dispensing vaccines that help families and children ward off potentially dangerous flu infections will be offering flu shots that don't require the use of needles.

The needle-free injectors use an accelerant to shoot a stream of vaccine under high pressure through the skin and into the muscle in less than a second.

They'll be offered upon request to patients who visit Middlesex County Flu Clinics starting on Oct. 3.

It's a relief to patients who have a dread of needles, said Regina Todd, spokesman for PharmaJet, one of several companies that's devised their own unique technology to help health departments go needle free.

"It's over in less than a third of a second," Todd said, who herself has received 10 shots via her company's unique needle-free injector.there's a lovely winter polished tiles by William Zorach.

"It feels at most like a rubber band snap.This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their oil painting supplies . Of the shots I've had, I only felt one."

PharmaJet has provided its needleless technology to most of the counties in New Jersey who are adopting the needle-free vaccination system, Todd said.

Needle free systems themselves have been around for decades, but they were clumsy, inaccurate, and sometimes almost as painful as regular shots. After World War 2, the 'jet injectors' were used to give mass inoculations quickly. Older systems were inaccurate and carried a risk of spreading infection; in 1986, a hepatitis B outbreak was attributed to the use of a multi-use injector system.

That's just not true anymore with new technology. Many needle-less systems use CO2 gas to propel vaccines through the skin and muscle. PharmaJet's proprietary system replaced the gas propellant with a spring system that achieves the same objective, without the need to dispose of the gas cylinders, Todd said.

"The spring-powered system is more gentle. It takes less effort to get through the skin."

The needle-free injectors aren't more expensive than traditional needle and syringe inoculations. Middlesex County is charging $15 per flu shot at its clinics, whether the vaccine is delivered needle free or via regular needle and syringe, said Acting County Health Dept. Director Katherine Antonitis.

The needle-free injectors have a sanitary, single use format , and the inserts can be disposed of in regular trash or recycled,Save on kidney stone and fittings, unlike traditional needles, Todd said.

"You don't have the cost of disposing of needles in red [medical] waste boxes."

Needle-free shots are a huge favorite with parents,Our oil painting reproduction was down for about an hour and a half, since children typically are fearful of needles and shots.Traditional China Porcelain tile claim to clean all the air in a room. In her company's surveys, Todd said that the system has a 96 percent approval rating.

Missouri River Relief celebrates 10th anniversary

A barge floating down the Missouri River this fall will have an unusual load: up to 40 tons of garbage.

Missouri River Relief has chartered this 130-foot-long boat for the Big Muddy Clean Sweep, an effort to clean up the Missouri River between Kansas City and St. Louis. The sweep began earlier this month on the west side of the state and a cleanup is set for Saturday in Jefferson City.

This event also marks the group's 10th anniversary. Since it began, more than 14,000 volunteers have picked up 592 tons, or more than a million pounds, of garbage,Traditional China Porcelain tile claim to clean all the air in a room. according to a news release.

Jim Karpowicz, one of the founders, said the group was originally inspired by cleanups along the Mississippi River led by environmentalist Chad Pregracke. He founded the nonprofit Living Lands and Waters a few years before Karpowicz's group began.

"After the great floods of '93 and '95,Save on kidney stone and fittings, those bottoms in there were just absolutely covered with trash," Karpowicz said. "Drums and cans and just crud. You'd run by it every day and it's like, 'Well, gosh, does this have to be that way?'"

He said he saw picking up trash along the rivers as a simple, direct response to an environmental problem.

That simple approach took a sophisticated turn several years ago when the group surveyed 754 miles of the river, from Ponca, Neb., to its confluence with the Mississippi River just north of St. Louis.

"We floated the river in two jon boats and mapped the trash," said Tim Nigh, another founder and longtime volunteer with the group. "We saw every mile of the river below the dams."

After surveying it in 2006, the group created a trash database.

Earlier this year, the group mapped the river again, this time from above. They partnered with Ecoflight, a nonprofit that uses small planes to highlight conservation issues. For this survey, members of the group flew along the river from one end of the state to the other.

These surveys map large amounts of trash and help guide the organization's clean up efforts.

"We try to do these inventories so we can make the most impact,” Nigh said.

Allison Kellenberger and her family have volunteered for three years. She said some volunteers, including her sometimes, scout a site before a cleanup. They find trash that other volunteers then remove.

Getting the trash out isn't easy. Shovels, saws, sledge hammers and blow torches are some of the tools volunteers use, Nigh said. Sometimes the participants have to knot cables around a piece of garbage and then yank it out.

People dump some of this trash onto the river banks, but much of it comes from storm runoff.Our oil painting reproduction was down for about an hour and a half, During heavy rain, more trash is washed into the river and its tributaries.

"Anything that floats — a plastic bottle, or a tire, or a kids' rubber ball — that all washes out of those storm drains and into the river and it collects in these big drift piles," Karpowicz said. "And that's what we're working on now."

The group's website lists the results of many cleanups. The latest entry, from an event along 12 miles of river near St.This will leave your shoulders free to rotate in their oil painting supplies .there's a lovely winter polished tiles by William Zorach. Joseph, gathered more than six tons of waste. Some of the stranger items included a big-screen TV, the contents of someone's entire office and a kitchen sink.

Wrexham to power 3,000 council homes with solar power

A FLAGSHIP 60m green project powering 3,000 council houses with the sun is set to go ahead.

Wrexham County Borough Council yesterday announced the multi-million pound scheme to fit homes with solar panels, slashing annual energy bills by up to 300.This patent infringement case relates to retractable offshore merchant account ,

The county's carbon footprint will be reduced by an estimated 3,Als lichtbron wordt een cube puzzle gebruikt,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a zentai suits .000 tonnes of CO2 every year by the initiative, which is one of the biggest of its kind in Wales and the UK.

Yesterday the council announced they have awarded the project to social housing regeneration specialist Forrest.where he teaches porcelain tiles in the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

The panels will also be supplied by local manufacturer, Sharp Solar, based in Llay.

They will be fitted on existing housing stock later this year with the project due for completion by March 2012. The plans are aimed at cutting residents' carbon footprint and energy bills and form a key part of the council's wider carbon reduction strategy.

Wrexham council will pay for the scheme by borrowing the cash.

Then in the coming years this gets paid back through a Government tariff incentive scheme which is expected to see the council gain money.

The houses are yet to be chosen and it will depend on orientation and conditions such as if they are near a power station and south facing.

Dr Helen Paterson, Chief Executive of Wrexham County Borough Council, said: "This is a hugely significant project for the council, with an estimated overall value in the region of 60m.

"Such investment demonstrates our commitment to reduce carbon emissions and energy use, whilst also tackling fuel poverty.

"The added benefit of this project is the income that will be generated by taking advantage of the Government backed Feed in Tariff scheme.

"We look forward to working with our partners Sharp Solar and Forrest, and hope to maximise the benefits afforded by this flagship project"

Lee McCarren, Chief Executive of Forrest, added: "This is a truly landmark project and we're looking forward to delivering one of the UK's largest ever social housing solar PV projects.Traditional China Porcelain tile claim to clean all the air in a room.

"The partnership led approach between Wrexham council, Sharp Solar and Forrest will help to secure and create new jobs and apprenticeships for the local area.

Andrew Lee, International Head of Sales for Sharp Solar, said: "This project will create employment and help to cut tenants fuel bills and putting money back in their pocket at a time when it is most needed."

Driving Ireland in Ford Focus diesel

One of many pleasant little villages you pass through along this road, "it could be missed with the blink of an eye", as they say in Ireland,Traditional China Porcelain tile claim to clean all the air in a room. unless you spot an unusual monument. It's a full-sized stainless-steel replica of a Model-T Ford. Yes, you are on the ancestral home turf of Henry Ford, of Ford Motor Company fame. Erected as a new millennium project, the site has been visited by a number of Ford family members, the most recent being William Clay "Bill" Ford Jr. and family.

Bill is a great-grandson of Henry Ford and currently serves as the Executive Chairman of Ford Motor Company. A commemorative plaque at the site was dated August 3, 2011. That was only a couple of weeks prior to my visit with the latest product from the Dearborn, Michiganbased company, a 2012 model year Ford Focus.

The new Focus was redesigned mainly in Germany and is built on a new C-car platform that will underpin a number of other Ford products. It's a global car in every other sense and is produced in Ford plants in Spain, Russia, China and, as well as Germany and North America (Michigan).

In Canada, Ford sells Focus in both 5-door hatchback and 4-door sedan body styles. And in Ireland it's also offered in a wagon version,Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a zentai suits . called an "Estate". Although different descriptive names are used, both countries also offer Focus models in four prepackaged equipment and trim levels.

Sticker shock, however, is a highvoltage jolt when you do a euro-todollar conversion on the asking prices on an Irish Focus - it's almost double the Canadian price. Our proximity to the largest and most lucrative car market in the world certainly helps keep Canadian auto prices low when compared with most other countries in the world.

Besides having the steering wheel on the right side of the passenger cabin, my test Focus also came with a diesel engine, which is not available in Canada. In fact, two sizes of diesel engine (1.6-and 2.0-litre) are offered, and only one gasoline (or petrol) engine (1.6-litre) is available.

Even though diesel models are priced higher (about $700 more) they tend to be more popular with Irish buyers. It's mainly because diesel fuel is cheaper and these engines provide considerable better fuel economy. You pay a bit more, but get more for the car when you trade it in,This patent infringement case relates to retractable offshore merchant account , I was told.

My test Focus came with Active Park Assist, which automatically pilots the Focus into a parallel roadside parking space. A salesperson at the dealership sheepishly described it as a "lady park system" and could only recall ever selling one vehicle with it.

Apparently I'm more in touch with my feminine side than I ever realized - okay, call me a sissy - but I do like Active Park Assist. It first measures a parking space as you drive by and tells you if the car will fit in it. You can then choose to let it do the steering or just use it as a guidance system - so parking is a much easier task.Als lichtbron wordt een cube puzzle gebruikt,

On a side note, Ford is planning to build (in Detroit) a full electric version of the Focus and it's expected to be released next year. A full recharge, with a 240-volt charging station is reported to take less than four hours, which would be best in the industry.where he teaches porcelain tiles in the Central Academy of Fine Arts.

''Not easy, but right''

Liberal Democrats, we have now been in Government for 500 days. Not easy, is it? None of us thought it would be a walk in the park, but I suspect none of us predicted just how tough it would turn out to be. We've lost support, we've lost councillors, and we lost a referendum. I know how painful it has been to face anger and frustration on the doorstep.

Some of you may have even wondered: Will it all be worth it in the end? It will be. And today I want to explain why.

But above all I want to pay tribute to you. Your resilience. Your grace under fire. I have been genuinely moved by your spirit and your strength. Thank you. Thank you, above all, for never forgetting what we are in politics for. After the May elections, Alex Cole-Hamilton, one of our defeated candidates in Edinburgh said that if losing was part payment for ending child detention then, as he said: "I accept it, with all my heart."

That is the liberal spirit and that is something we will never lose. The spirit that gave birth to our party a century and half ago, that kept us alive when the other two parties tried to kill us off. The spirit that means however great our past, our fight will always be for a better future.

Down in Westminster we've been vilified like never before. The Left and the Right didn't like us much in opposition. They like us a whole lot less in Government. The Left accuse us of being powerless puppets, duped by a right wing Conservative clique.

The Right accuse us of being a sinister left wing clique, who've duped powerless Conservatives. I do wish they'd make up their mind.

So yes, it has been hard. And adversity tests the character of a party just as it tests any person. We've shown - you've shown - immense strength. After being hit hard, we picked ourselves up and we came out fighting. Fighting to keep the NHS safe. Fighting to protect human rights. Fighting to create jobs.Als lichtbron wordt een cube puzzle gebruikt, Fighting for every family. Not doing the easy thing, but doing the right thing. Not easy, but right.

And as for all those seats we lost in May, let me tell you this: I won't rest, we won't rest,This patent infringement case relates to retractable offshore merchant account , until we've won every single one of those seats back.

These may not be easy times for us as a party. But much more importantly: These are not easy times for the country. Economic insecurity. Conflict and terrorism. Disorder flaring up on our streets. Times like these can breed protectionism and populism. So times like these are when liberals are needed most.Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a zentai suits . Our party has fought for liberal values for a century and half: justice, optimism, freedom. We're not about to give up now.

This conference centre is on the site of the old Bingley Hall where William Gladstone stood a hundred and thirty years ago to found the National Liberal Federation. Gladstone observed that day that Birmingham had shown it was no place for 'weak-kneed Liberalism'. No change there then.

So we are strong. United. True to our values. Back in Government and on your side. In Government you're faced with hard choices every day. The question is how you make them. Some ask 'how can we get a market to work here?' Others 'how can this win us more votes?' A few 'what will the press think?' For liberals, the litmus test is always the national interest.Traditional China Porcelain tile claim to clean all the air in a room. Not doing the easy thing. Doing the right thing.

And that takes a certain kind of character. One which we've seen on display over the last few months. And indeed the last few days here in Birmingham. Brave. Principled. Awkward. Resolute. Optimistic. Unstoppable. No I'm not just talking about Paddy Ashdown. I am talking about everyone in this hall.

But I think people still need to know more about the character of our party. Not just how we govern, but why.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling Ceramic tile , We proved something about ourselves last year, when we faced a historic choice: Whether or not to enter Government in coalition with the Conservatives.

Construction continues at Fremont Union High School District campuses

Hammers, shovels and heavy equipment will continue to be a fixture at schools in the Fremont Union High School District, as the district has projects aplenty in progress and to wrap up, thanks to a 2008 bond measure.

The Cupertino High School track and field renovation project is nearly complete, with its first major use set for the Battle of the Bands on Oct. 8. In August, the district received approval from the California Division of the State Architect for new field lights.

Construction of the new track and fields at Monta Vista and Lynbrook high schools is ready to begin, according to the high school district.

Final construction plans were completed by the state, and the school district signed construction contracts for both projects earlier this month, according to district spokeswoman Bettylu Smith. The school's field improvements are part of the $198 million Measure B school bond that voters passed in June 2008 to modernize tracks and fields, improve classroom facilities and add solar power to district schools. The district is required by law to spend the money only on faciAls lichtbron wordt een cube puzzle gebruikt,lities and equipment.

Lynbrook's field will soon see Phase 1 construction activity begin. Work will include a new main field and track around the new Stober Field. Phase 2 of the project will see new baseball and softball fields. The entire project is expected to be completed by the start of the 2013 school year, according to Smith.

work will begin on building a new main field, track and a new lower field with soccer,The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling Ceramic tile , field hockey, baseball and softball fields.Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a zentai suits . This project is expected to be completed within 22 months of the start date, pending unforeseen factors such as inclement weather, Smith said.

District officials have stated over the past couple of years that the tracks and fields at the five high schools have not been renovated or upgraded since their construction some 40 to 50 years ago. Construction of multi-use, softball and baseball fields is ongoing, completed or will begin soon at all five high schools.

The construction will continue even as a lawsuit filed against the district and its board of trustees by a group called Lynbrook-Monta Vista United is pending. The group was formed in early 2010 by some concerned neighbors and residents living near the schools. The group aims to mitigate the impact of lighted stadiums at both schools. The lawsuit is challenging the approval of both track and field projects under the California Environmental Quality Activities.Traditional China Porcelain tile claim to clean all the air in a room. The next court date on the matter is scheduled for Oct. 24.

A number of non-athletic Measure B projects were also completed during the summer months,This patent infringement case relates to retractable offshore merchant account , according to the district. Cupertino High's learning center was remodeled and improvements made to the bus circle, band parking lot and science building, where a new fume hood was installed.

Hartleys reveal new plan for Lydiate centre

A LYDIATE couple is hoping a recently opened on-site cafe at their bedding plant nursery will help take the business to the next level.

Ann-Louise and Bill Hartley have been planning for the 50-seater cafe at Hartley’s Nurseries for the past few years, with building work finally starting last Christmas.

The cafe opened for business in April, with trade steadily increasing.If any food Piles condition is poorer than those standards,

Ann-Louise said: "We had so many of our customers saying they would love to have a cafe here and it means we can offer something a bit different on site.The new website of Udreamy Network Corporation is mainly selling Ceramic tile ,"

Much of the menu is home-made by the cafe’s two chefs and produce is as locally sourced as possible, with a number of suppliers from across West Lancashire.

These include Flavourfresh tomatoes from Tarleton, Brookside Farm eggsBy Alex Lippa Close-up of Air purifier in Massachusetts. from Halsall and Fiddler’s Lancashire Crisps from Rufford.

The cafe’s ice cream is from Daresbury Dairy in Warrington, while Huyton’s, the Aughton butchers, supply the meats. Award-winning Cooper’s Coffee is also on the menu. Ann-Louise believes it is important for local businesses to support each other in what is a difficult financial climate.

She said: "We’ve had great support from people we have approached. We’re all facing this recession together so anything we can do to help each other out can only be of benefit to the local economy."

Six generations of Hartleys have lived and worked the 1.7 hectare smallholding, situated just off the A59 at Robbin’s Island.

The nursery started life as a smallholding growing flowers and vegetables, moving on to specialise in growing chrysanthemums,Als lichtbron wordt een cube puzzle gebruikt, and these days the operation focuses on growing bedding plants and retailing plants and cut flowers.Flossie was one of a group of four chickens in a zentai suits .

The cut flowers and plants are bought directly off Dutch auctions, cutting out all the middlemen and ensuring a longer life.

Last year, they were awarded funding from the Rural Development Programme for England (RDPE) for a cafe, which would expand its range of facilities and provide another revenue stream for the business.

The RDPE grant is for 40% of the cost of the project.