Metro fare signs confuse the riders who need help most

Most people riding Metro use SmarTrip, and that's great. But the ones that are more likely to need extra help with a fare table are the infrequent customers that use a paper farecard.

It makes no sense to list SmarTrip prices on the fare table and then ask people to add $1. Riders shouldn't need to do math to figure out how much to put on their farecards. We want to make purchasing a farecard as easy as possible, while not necessarily offering them the best deal possible.

The simplest solution would be to list the paper farecard prices on the tables, and then have notes that SmarTrip riders get a discount. Even if these riders don't notice, they'll just end up with extra money on their cards, which they can use later.

An even better approach would be to eliminate the $1 surcharge, and instead always charge peak fares for people using paper farecards. The fare machines would simply list the peak fare for each destination, with a note that SmarTrip customers get discounts during off-peak, discounted transfers to and from trips on buses, protected fare balances (with registration) and a guarantee that they won't be trapped in the system if their balance goes too low.

All paper farecard customers would have to do is look up their destination, and make sure their farecard had the corresponding amount. No math, no timetables, no figuring out whether it's currently peak or off-peak.

WMATA spokesperson Dan Stessel said the agency is aware of the confusion and complaints about these signs, and is "considering" making changes to the posted fare tables and signs.

As with many previous innovations, Apple wasn't the first to market. There were many digital music players before the iPod, tablet PCs have been around decades before the iPad was launched, and other companies produced smart phones before Apple launched the iPhone. What Apple seems to be getting right is the timing (the point in time when certain innovations are ready to take off) and the marketing power to create a real buzz and demand for the next must-have gadget. I feel that it will be the same with the iWatch.

There is a real buzz around wearable intelligent devices in the tech world because they generate so much new data that can be analysed. Devices like Nike's Fuelband and the Fitbrit Ultra are already available and provide users with fantastic insights, data and analysis. But my prediction is that Apple will get the lion's share of a potentially massive market. And I don't think the iWatch (or whatever Apple will call it) is far away from being launched, especially as Samsung and Sony have already announced they are working on a smart watch. Pebble is another smart watch that is already available and offers compatibility with iPhone and Android - you can customise the watch with apps to control your music, go running or cycling, measure your golfing performance, and you get alerts for incoming calls or emails.

The reason I believe the iWatch (or the smart watch idea in general) will change the world of big data analytics is because it will allow all of us to collect and analyse data on both a personal and global level. Take health as an example. These intelligent wrist watches will permit monitoring of an individual's heart rate, calorie intake, activity levels, quality of sleep and more. Now imagine collecting that data on a much bigger scale. Potentially, governments, medical agencies, etc. will be able to use such collective data to gain a better insight into a nation's physical output, eating habits, risk indicators, and worrying trends. The buzz word surrounding this type of data analysis is 'big data' and I predict that it will have a huge impact in the business world. A recent global survey by The Advanced Performance Institute found that seven percent of companies have already started to use this type of mass analysis or 'big data'.

Now, as a second wave of the internet age -- underpinned by mobile internet and the hunger for ubiquitous, high-capacity networks -- slowly sweeps the globe with promises to boost productivity and create new growth sectors, Dr Bradlow has warned Australia is at risk of missing out if it underinvests in broadband infrastructure or fails to start thinking today about how to make use of the blossoming world of connected devices.

"We will become a marginalised, agrarian economy that has some mining, nice beaches and agriculture. But that's not the same as being a developed, hi-tech digital economy," he said.

The second coming of the internet age has been spurred by the confluence of ubiquitous internet access, the explosive adoption of mobility and smartphones, and the nascent growth of machine-to-machine (M2M). It's this third area, also known as "the internet of things", that Dr Bradlow believes has the potential to drive productivity improvements and vastly improve business efficiency and spawn growth sectors in coming decades.

"It's combinations of technology that really create change and the combination that fascinates me at the moment is sensor technology," Dr Bradlow said. "It's the ability to put a sensor in just about anything and have that sensor communicate to a wide area network, often via your mobile phone."

Such is the growth of M2M that the world's leading internet equipment-maker, Cisco, has forecast that Australia will have 142 million connected devices by 2016, about six for every Australian.

Dr Bradlow warns that, to tap into the potential that these smart things can yield, Australia must start planning now. He points to the example of busy urban centres where councils and infrastructure planners are building roads to lessen traffic congestion in overpopulated cities.

Instead of building more "dumb" infrastructure today, Dr Bradlow said, councils should look to implement technological solutions that made use of internet-connected devices that could talk to each other and analyse traffic flows to ease congestion points.

Create your own kitchen chalkboard with a floor tile

Decorating with chalkboards is all the rage. You can find them featured in everything from interior-design magazines to top design blogs. Many retailers have decorator-style chalkboards for sale at pretty steep prices.

You can make your own chalkboard for a fraction of the retail price. Paints such as Plaid brand FolkArt Chalkboard paints come in a variety of colors, can be found at craft stores and are easy on the wallet. Doing it yourself is easy and fun and the results can be outstanding.

The paints work on a variety of surfaces, so the sky is the limit when it comes to design ideas. You can make a chalkboard with an ornate frame, paint over an old globe to make a chalkboard globe, paint directly onto the wall to create a chalkboard surface or make a kitchen chalkboard from an old tile.

To make the kitchen design, you will need to gather a few materials. First is chalkboard paint. This design uses the FolkArt slate-gray color. Next you will need a surface. For this design, a ceramic 16- by 16-inch floor tile was used. You will also need a foam paintbrush, a piece of chalk and a hanger.

The design can be embellish using painted wood letters. For this look, I chose the word "EAT." The materials needed are wood letters, acrylic craft paint, paintbrush, sandpaper, small nails, thumbtacks and heavy-duty glue.

To get started, paint the tile with one coat of slate-gray Chalkboard paint. Be sure to paint only in one direction. Allow to dry for about 1 hour. Working in the opposite direction of the first coat, paint a second coat. Allow to dry. Paint a third coat in the direction of the first coat. Allow to dry.

Next you will need to season the chalkboard. To do this, rub a piece of chalk over the entire surface and wipe clean, and your board is ready for chalking.

To make the word "EAT," paint each letter a different color using acrylic paints. The colors used in the design are tomato red, moon yellow and medium blue. To create an antiqued look, dry-brush over the colors with medium-gray paint. To do this, dip a loose bristle paintbrush into the gray paint, tap off the excess paint and dry brush over the letters. Allow to dry.

Using sandpaper, sand the edges of the letters to create a rustic look. Push thumbtacks and small nails into the letters. Attach the letters to the chalkboard with E6000 glue. Using the same glue, attach a hanger to the back of the tile.

It is that simple and the results are so fun. Hang in a kitchen and jot down what's on the menu or who called or make a shopping list. When friends ask where you got your new chalkboard, be sure to tell them you made it.

Clydesdale pupils design International Children’s Games murals

Pupils from Clydesdale primary schools have produced a lasting legacy of the 2011 International Children’s Games – designing four large tile murals which will be placed in four different Clydesdale locations.

Biggar, Blackwood, Lanark and Woodpark Primary Schools won a competition, run by South Lanarkshire Council, to design the mural, which would encapsulate the feelings that hosting the Games evoked for the children.

The lucky winners then worked with Biggar ceramic artist Stacey Roberts, who transformed the winning designs from A4 paper to a full scale mural.

The murals have now been installed in Biggar High School community wing, Lesmahagow High community wing and the Lifestyles Centres in both Carluke and Lanark for everyone to enjoy.

For more on this story pick up a copy of the Carluke and Lanark Gazette, which is in the shops now.

Versatile spaces in McLean

It may seem necessary to drive dozens of miles outside the District’s city limits to find a hidden oasis of privacy and

quiet - but sometimes, the most serene places can be found within minutes of the city’s borders.

The home at 1707 James Payne Circle in McLean, on the market for $1,197,500, offers a peaceful retreat from daily life

hidden beneath a canopy of trees. Built in 1968 and meticulously maintained and modernized, this home provides seemingly

endless places to enjoy outdoor living along with flexible rooms indoors for myriad activities. The owners have

landscaped the property for low-maintenance living as well as maximum privacy.

Just minutes from downtown Washington and the shops and amenities of McLean, this all-brick home in the Chesterbrook

Hills area easily blends traditional style and contemporary flair. Sited on .35 acre, the home has a landscaped front

yard with mature trees and a meandering stone path that leads to the two-car garage and the brick front courtyard, which

sits low enough below the street for privacy and is semienclosed by brick walls. The courtyard has a brick patio and an

Italian-style water fountain.

A wood deck wraps around the back and two sides of the main level, while a wood balcony off the master suite provides a

private outdoor space for the owners. Another brick patio is located off the back of the lower level.

Double front doors open from the courtyard into the home, which has hardwood flooring throughout most of the main level.

To the right of the foyer is a library with built-in bookcases and cabinets on two walls. The windows in the library and

the rest of the main level have custom-built plantation shutters.

In front of the foyer, a double door opens into the formal living room, which has a wood-stove insert in the fireplace

and French doors to the deck. Double doors open from the living room into the formal dining room, which has dentil crown

molding, wainscoting and a stained-glass chandelier. French doors link the dining room with the deck, a swing door links

the room to the kitchen, and a second set of French doors opens from the dining room into the family room. The family

room has a beamed ceiling, an oversized gas fireplace and French doors opening onto the deck.

At the front of the home is the renovated gourmet kitchen, accessible from the foyer, dining room and family room.

Remodeled in 2010, the kitchen includes sleek black-painted wood cabinets, open shelving, granite counters, ceramic tile

flooring, upgraded stainless steel appliances and an oversized skylight. The kitchen includes a breakfast bar and opens

to a breakfast area with windows facing the front courtyard. Adjacent to the kitchen is a powder room with crown molding

and ceramic tile flooring.

Past the kitchen is almost a separate wing of the main level that includes three large rooms with flexible uses. The

first room is being used as a home office and includes a double-door closet plus French doors that open into the sunroom.

The sunroom has ceramic tile flooring, a wall of windows, a free-standing wood stove and a second set of French doors

that open into a card room or sitting room. The sunroom has transoms above all the windows and doors and is currently

used as an exercise room.

An exit to the front of the home allows this space to function well as a home office for people who have visitors to

their office. Alternatively, the area can be used as a playroom or children’s study, an art studio or simply for

additional rooms for entertaining friends and family.

The upper level originally had four bedrooms and easily could be reconfigured to that floor plan. For now, the master

suite includes a separate sitting room with a ceiling fan and a double-door closet, along with a window overlooking the

backyard. The owners will replace the wall between the master bedroom and master sitting room to re-create the fourth

bedroom if the buyers prefer.

The master bedroom has a glass door to a private balcony overlooking the front courtyard. The suite includes a dressing

room with a door to an oversized walk-in closet with built-ins. The luxurious master bath has ceramic tile flooring, a

glass-enclosed shower with a seat and a granite counter on the vanity.

The upper level has two more bedrooms, each with a double-door closet. These bedrooms share a renovated full bath with

ceramic tile flooring. The hall includes a linen closet and a storage closet.

The finished lower level includes a spacious bedroom with two double-door closets and a walk-in closet. This level also

has a recreation room with French doors to the patio, a gas fireplace and plenty of space for a seating area and two

separate game areas. Adjacent to the recreation room is a kitchenette with granite counters, a dishwasher, a wine cooler,

a refrigerator, a microwave and multiple cabinets.

The lower level also has a sauna, a full bath with a deep soaking tub, a cedar closet and an oversized laundry room with

ceramic tile flooring, a sink and cabinets. At the opposite end of this level is a workshop and storage room with French

doors to the patio.

Small home renovations will buy you time until you get the entire budget

It’s a reality of our fragile economy: Many homeowners who dream of the perfect kitchen or master bath are putting full-scale renovation on hold in favor of more limited changes.

“What’s on everyone’s minds is making the space feel and function a little better until you can reach the ultimate kitchen or bath that you want,” says Danny Lipford, host of the nationally syndicated home-improvement radio show “Homefront with Danny Lipford.” He says he often hears from listeners planning smaller redecorating projects to tide them over until real renovation fits in their budgets.

But which small projects are worth it if you’re going to remodel the space within just a few years?

Choose projects that offer big change at little cost, or that serve as first steps toward eventual full-scale renovation, says Sabrina Soto, designer and host of HGTV’s new series “The High Low Project.”

Look to the largest surfaces: Lipford suggests making changes to the biggest surfaces in a room, such as countertops or floors. Old laminate countertops can now be painted for less than $50, he says, and the results look surprisingly good. Using a type of paint sold in a kit (Lipford recommends one found at Gianigranite.com), homeowners can paint over the old countertop and then seal it with a coating that mimics the look and solid feel of laminate.

Tanya Memme, host of A&E’s “Sell This House,” agrees that big surfaces are a good place to start. “Any room will look bad if the floors aren’t in decent shape,” she says.

Cover a soon-to-be-replaced wood or tile floor with a colorful new rug, or put down peel-and-stick vinyl tiles. Good quality vinyl tiles resembling granite can cost several hundred dollars if you’re covering a full kitchen floor. But the change is dramatic, so it may be worthwhile even for just a few years of use.

Old China ceramic tile floors and tile walls can get a facelift for just a few dollars if you use grout stain, Lipford says. You can make dingy grout a pristine white again or change it to a new color that contrasts with your old tile.

Memme suggests adding a tile backsplash to a kitchen wall for a burst of new style. Do it yourself to save money. “It might seem difficult to put up tile,” she says, “but actually it’s very easy to do.” Small tiles come on a mesh sheet, so you’re not placing each one.

Another way to bring big change to walls: Michael Hydeck, president of the National Association of the Remodeling Industry, suggests painting with different textures. Try a faux finish like granite or marble, or buy the same shade of paint in two different finishes – one shiny and one matte – and paint alternating stripes in each.

Shed some light: Installing under-cabinet or over-cabinet lighting probably isn’t wise if you’ll be removing the cabinets in a year or two, Hydeck notes. But a new ceiling light can be installed now and still be used when kitchens or bathrooms are renovated.

Changing window treatments also can change a room’s lighting and bring in fresh color. “Everybody gets used to what’s up on their windows,” Memme says, “because they’ve been living with it. They don’t see the wear and tear.” Remove old blinds or shades and replace them with inexpensive curtains.

Upgrade appliances: Soto suggests phasing in new major appliances ahead of a full kitchen renovation. If need be, they can be relocated elsewhere in the room once the remodeling is done. She also suggests buying new countertop appliances, such as microwaves or toaster ovens, now, with the anticipated redesign of the kitchen in mind.

If you can’t replace appliances now but are craving change, Lipford says appliance paint is available from Rustoleum and other companies. It can give new life to an old refrigerator or dishwasher, and is easy to apply yourself.

Think hard about hardware: Small items such as drawer pulls, electrical switch plates and doorknobs can easily be changed. Swap out old knobs for new door handles, switch from brass to nickel, or bring in jeweled or glass or ceramic pieces for added style.

Faucets also can be changed now and then re-used when you eventually replace the entire sink.

Out with the old: Old glass shower doors can be removed relatively easily and replaced by a stylish fabric shower curtain. Swap out old kitchen chairs with cool, flea-market finds, or recover chair cushions yourself with a few yards of new fabric.

Replace a dated bathroom mirror with an inexpensive framed one, or simply build your own frame with strips of molding.

These projects can give an outdated kitchen or bath enough new life to keep a homeowner happy until true renovation is possible.