PaySmart's Software as a Service (SaaS) approach to EMV uses cloud computing technology and MULTOS to dramatically reduce the complexity and time required to conduct an EMV migration project, especially for independent EMV issuers.
"Everything is executed under a class 5 datacenter with disaster recovery and redundancy in two separate cities, a mission-critical environment supporting high-volume transactions and the same infrastructure used by major banks, insurance companies and credit cards companies worldwide. With paySmart, an issuer can start issuing chip cards in 30 days, with almost zero investments and paying a flat, monthly fee, only for cards which are actually generating revenues. Depending on the requirements, low cost MULTOS Step/One cards can be issued, which helps to reduce the total cost of ownership of the solution", explains Daniel Nunes de Oliveira, Business Development Director of paySmart.
Oliveira reveals why MULTOS simplifies the issuance model for paySmart: "the beauty of MULTOS for us is that we can perform data preparation in the cloud and send enciphered files directly to the cards, using card personalization bureaus or instant issuance printers. What was once risky, complex and used to take a long time to deploy, has now become low risk, simple and very fast. It is not necessary to invest in infrastructure and in human resources - all software and hardware is already plugged in,Ceramic tile, in a secure, private cloud."
Julio Rost, paySmart's Marketing Coordinator says, "The idea of the new brand is to help us to communicate to customers and partners that in addition to the Smartcon products and services that have made us leaders in this industry, we are now providing EMV technology as a service, a complete offer for independent issuers who want to migrate from magstripe to chip, quickly and efficiently".
So, earlier this month I went with my lil bro to my first significant live poker event. In Troia near Lisbon in Portugal. Free hotel, Dad offering to pay for the flights – free holiday! With the chance to turn a profit playing poker…who could say no!? I tried to qualify online a few times and reached the third and final tier three times. Close but no cigar. Ah, but there are satellites when we are there….
I’m moved tables four times and I take advantage of both my chip stack and the players lack of knowledge of me to make some more moves and I’m looking pretty damn good. We’re getting down to the bubble and I’m thinking take it easy. No rash moves. Give me the rubbish I had day 1. But 77 in first position…I make a min raise. I get an all in for another min raise and call it down. His AK hits but I’m still looking fine….then an all in ahead of me and I’m looking down at 10,10. I want to slow down and let someone bust out, but I’ve got the 5th best starting hand and it would only be 2/5 of my stack to call. Too tempting. He has Jacks. Sigh. They hold up. Sigh again. Then someone busts and it’s the final ten.
Final Table – there’s me on around 30K, same-ish as three other players. The blinds are 4k and 8k, owch. I get dealt the button so the other three shorties have to go through the blinds before me. Just don’t be tenth I think, just don’t. The other short stacks make moves all in, don’t get called. Survive a round. I look down at KQs in first position. AHHHHHH! First position! The blinds have to go through the short stacks again so I let it go. And agonise about it since. I’ve then got nowt when I face all ins on my blinds. Its ok I’m thinking, I can take one blinds hit since they have to take the blinds again before me. I steal some blinds on the button against my new best friend for the day Diogo. He doesn’t look happy but neither am I. The short stacks move all in again…and survive. The blinds hits me again with nowt, nowt again, nowt again. Guy to my right goes all in. By now I’m starting to worry, expecting to look down at a 7 and “the rules for playing poker card” that comes with the deck, but low and behold KK! My meagre stack goes in, and the big blind moves all in too.
The first all in guy shows AK. Perfect. He has three aces against my kings. Couldn’t ask for better. The second caller shows Q7. Q7!?!? He’s thinking there are more cards to bust me, but the AK has him covered chipwise so if he’s third he’s out and if he’s second he’s crippled. These are the two most likely outcomes, even not knowing the cards. Stupid move. But hey, I’ll take em all day. I’m 60%ish percent with double the chips on offer. Can’t ask for better. Flop is;
So I’m out at the same time as AK but my stack is shortest so I’m tenth. With nowt. I stare disbelievingly, try to weasel a joint ninth place finish, then rap the table, say good game, and walk away to swear and drink. Poker can be so cruel at times. But overall the experience was good. Statistically I was better than one in seven players in that sat, and since Mr. Q7 had already sucked out on me one earlier on when he was underdog I definitely had the better of him too.
Mint holiday, nearly free…and as lil bro already said, I won the 20 Euros bet offering him 10/1 odds that he couldn’t catch a fish in the marina with his bare hands. I’m watching him, howling with laughter, and one of the Portuguese poker lads walks over and see’s the Golem impression going on. ‘What are you doing?’ he says.
However, the school district is not willing to fund the project alone. It will cost $30,000 to employ a coordinator. SD71 committed $10,000 and is hoping other stakeholders will also chip in.
"It's not just a school project," said Taylor. "It's bigger and more sophisticated than that. It involves municipalities, schools and other stakeholders as well. So because so many components of the community are involved it needs to be championed of some kind. And because we've already been doing a lot of work in schools like bike rodeos, we're part of the push behind this."
"We need to have every one aligned. We need adequate funding for a coordinator because from our experienced, the coordinator is key to making all of these happen. We're just a volunteer group and already have our hands full with our own activities. We're willing to help out with this but we don't have anyone that's going to take this on. It needs to be a part-time paid position for someone to do all the coordination involved."
2012年3月15日星期四
Last townhouses complete Milton project
Builder Heathwood Homes has gone to great pains to provide lush parkland, meandering walking trails, stone gates, a cobbled entrance and grand boulevards at its Traditions development in Milton.
But apart from those structural elements, Heathwood has made an added effort to create a true community feeling by organizing numerous family-friendly activities.
“We don’t often get the opportunity to create this sense of community that we have at Traditions,” says president Hugh Heron. “We’ve had a total of 26 classes here that we’ve carried out over the last five years, such as babysitting courses, book clubs and a two-week summer camp.”
Adults are encouraged to attend dog grooming seminars and tai chi and belly-dancing classes or make it a family affair at barbecues, movie nights and Christmas house tours.
“It’s for the whole community,” adds Mr. Heron. “I can’t stress enough the sense of community out there at Traditions. It’s really exciting and wonderful.”
The latest collection of 25 townhouses, called the Village at Traditions, will mark the final phase of the master-planned community of 600 upscale townhouses, semi-detached and detached houses. “This is the last piece of land available for development within the Traditions land-owned by Heathwood,” says Mr. Heron. “We’ve got a whole mix of people moving into their first home and people buying down. We also have some people buying in there whose parents or family had bought in previous phases.”
These freehold townhouses will be situated at the northeast corner of the site, just south of Main Street and west of Bronte Street.
“These townhouses are a two-minute walk to the sidewalk that will take you right to Main Street,” says Mr. Heron. “So it’s very close to downtown Milton.”
With the town nestled at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, the site is also within a short distance from hiking and biking trails, golf courses, conservation areas and the Glen Eden ski area.
“It’s a super place to live, right by the Escarpment and downtown,” says Mr. Heron, who also cites the proximity of hospitals and highways. “Everything you need it right there, right now.”
To represent the two-storey designs available, there are two model homes on site designed by Bryon Patton and Associates.
There is more than 1,600 square feet of space in the larger Robindale model, which features a traditional look with French Country-inspired appointments.
To the side of the garage, a front porch welcomes guests into a two-storey foyer leading into an open eat-in kitchen with an island and a breakfast bar overlooking a wide room with large windows and a rear walkout.
Up one floor, there is a computer niche and three bedrooms, including a master suite with a walk-in closet and spa-inspired bathroom. Meanwhile, the 563-square-foot basement offers extra finished living space.
Nine-foot ceilings, oak hardwood floors, granite counters and ceramic tile backsplashes will appear in each house, which will also be built to Energy Star standards. That means, these townhouses will be 30 to 40 per cent more energy-efficient than homes built to minimum code.
“In the future when people are looking at resale homes, they’ll be asking not only about the square footage and taxes and so forth, but they’ll be asking about the heating costs in their homes,” says Mr. Heron. “And it complements the attention to detail we’ve put into the interiors of these units as well.”
But apart from those structural elements, Heathwood has made an added effort to create a true community feeling by organizing numerous family-friendly activities.
“We don’t often get the opportunity to create this sense of community that we have at Traditions,” says president Hugh Heron. “We’ve had a total of 26 classes here that we’ve carried out over the last five years, such as babysitting courses, book clubs and a two-week summer camp.”
Adults are encouraged to attend dog grooming seminars and tai chi and belly-dancing classes or make it a family affair at barbecues, movie nights and Christmas house tours.
“It’s for the whole community,” adds Mr. Heron. “I can’t stress enough the sense of community out there at Traditions. It’s really exciting and wonderful.”
The latest collection of 25 townhouses, called the Village at Traditions, will mark the final phase of the master-planned community of 600 upscale townhouses, semi-detached and detached houses. “This is the last piece of land available for development within the Traditions land-owned by Heathwood,” says Mr. Heron. “We’ve got a whole mix of people moving into their first home and people buying down. We also have some people buying in there whose parents or family had bought in previous phases.”
These freehold townhouses will be situated at the northeast corner of the site, just south of Main Street and west of Bronte Street.
“These townhouses are a two-minute walk to the sidewalk that will take you right to Main Street,” says Mr. Heron. “So it’s very close to downtown Milton.”
With the town nestled at the base of the Niagara Escarpment, the site is also within a short distance from hiking and biking trails, golf courses, conservation areas and the Glen Eden ski area.
“It’s a super place to live, right by the Escarpment and downtown,” says Mr. Heron, who also cites the proximity of hospitals and highways. “Everything you need it right there, right now.”
To represent the two-storey designs available, there are two model homes on site designed by Bryon Patton and Associates.
There is more than 1,600 square feet of space in the larger Robindale model, which features a traditional look with French Country-inspired appointments.
To the side of the garage, a front porch welcomes guests into a two-storey foyer leading into an open eat-in kitchen with an island and a breakfast bar overlooking a wide room with large windows and a rear walkout.
Up one floor, there is a computer niche and three bedrooms, including a master suite with a walk-in closet and spa-inspired bathroom. Meanwhile, the 563-square-foot basement offers extra finished living space.
Nine-foot ceilings, oak hardwood floors, granite counters and ceramic tile backsplashes will appear in each house, which will also be built to Energy Star standards. That means, these townhouses will be 30 to 40 per cent more energy-efficient than homes built to minimum code.
“In the future when people are looking at resale homes, they’ll be asking not only about the square footage and taxes and so forth, but they’ll be asking about the heating costs in their homes,” says Mr. Heron. “And it complements the attention to detail we’ve put into the interiors of these units as well.”
2012年3月13日星期二
Is the Home Improvement Programme really necessary?
My precinct recently polled to have the Home Improvement Programme .
The free package includes the repair of cracked ceilings and a change of pipes, sink, etc. The toilet floor must pass the leak test or it will be hacked together with the wall tiling.
I feel that government monies could be spent more prudently, as some households have already had their homes renovated, possibly in a certain decor, with their sinks and tiles still in good condition.
These must be replaced by standard decor if at least 75 per cent votes in favour of the HIP for a block. What a waste of resources.
The toilet leak test is redundant. The neighbour below would make a report if a toilet above is leaking and the Housing and Development Board does co-share part of these repair costs where appropriate, with both neighbours splitting the cost.
Toilet floors should not be hacked unless there is a leak or the owner wants the renovation. If the main pipes leak, the town council already takes responsibility.
The HIP also causes inconvenience. Residents would need to take leave for the renovation and clean up the dust each day for two weeks. Asthmatics would still suffer.
We would also need to go downstairs to use a toilet, a real stress for those with renal problems. A temporary toilet could be installed in the flat, but this depends on feasibility.
Moreover, some of the HIP works may not be done properly due to mass production in a short span of time. If an owner sells his flat in time and the buyer does not like the HIP decor, renovations are done again.
Finally, some poll officers are not impartial and would like us to vote "yes". Some illiterate residents do so, when they had wanted to vote "no".
Given the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme, if the HDB feels that some blocks are too old, it could relocate the residents and, thereafter, fully renovate the old blocks and resell them in the market.
Surely the public would buy flats in mature estates and which they could move into without doing much renovation.
Alternatively, HIP works could be offered without polling. Residents could approach the HDB or their town council when repair needs arise. We should not choose to renovate just because it is free.
The free package includes the repair of cracked ceilings and a change of pipes, sink, etc. The toilet floor must pass the leak test or it will be hacked together with the wall tiling.
I feel that government monies could be spent more prudently, as some households have already had their homes renovated, possibly in a certain decor, with their sinks and tiles still in good condition.
These must be replaced by standard decor if at least 75 per cent votes in favour of the HIP for a block. What a waste of resources.
The toilet leak test is redundant. The neighbour below would make a report if a toilet above is leaking and the Housing and Development Board does co-share part of these repair costs where appropriate, with both neighbours splitting the cost.
Toilet floors should not be hacked unless there is a leak or the owner wants the renovation. If the main pipes leak, the town council already takes responsibility.
The HIP also causes inconvenience. Residents would need to take leave for the renovation and clean up the dust each day for two weeks. Asthmatics would still suffer.
We would also need to go downstairs to use a toilet, a real stress for those with renal problems. A temporary toilet could be installed in the flat, but this depends on feasibility.
Moreover, some of the HIP works may not be done properly due to mass production in a short span of time. If an owner sells his flat in time and the buyer does not like the HIP decor, renovations are done again.
Finally, some poll officers are not impartial and would like us to vote "yes". Some illiterate residents do so, when they had wanted to vote "no".
Given the Selective En-bloc Redevelopment Scheme, if the HDB feels that some blocks are too old, it could relocate the residents and, thereafter, fully renovate the old blocks and resell them in the market.
Surely the public would buy flats in mature estates and which they could move into without doing much renovation.
Alternatively, HIP works could be offered without polling. Residents could approach the HDB or their town council when repair needs arise. We should not choose to renovate just because it is free.
2012年2月21日星期二
2012 Monaco Diplomat 43DFT Walk Through
The mating of Navistar’s more than 100 years of heavy transportation experience with Monaco’s 40-plus years of luxury RV design has resulted in an exciting lineup of innovative motorhomes. At first glance, you might not recognize the elegant new Diplomat because of its significant facelift inside and out, but rest assured that the luxury and high-end appointments in this bath-and-a-half tag axle have only been enhanced.
The exterior’s all-new front and rear chevron grilles in fiberglass wraparound caps (now equipped with LED lighting), improve body seam weather resistance — it also suggests a growing familial likeness to Monaco’s sporty Vesta.
The entry door has been moved forward, closer to the A-pillar, creating improved access past the redesigned cockpit. Here the Navistar influence is prominent with an updated automotive-style dash with hooded instrument cluster capped with a glare-reducing dark dash pad. The multifunction steering wheel not only controls the expected cruise and music functions but includes a three-stage engine brake at your fingertips. Maybe more importantly, the wheel is now connected to a redesigned steering column, no longer straddled by the driver’s legs.
Full-power Ultraleather seats afford a clear view of the Driver Information Screen that provides continuous status of the Diplomat’s torquey MaxxForce 10 turbodiesel engine, the Allison 3000MH six-speed push-button transmission, trip and distance features, and a host of monitored operating parameters.
Atop the handsome Oxford Burl instrument panel is the dock for the optional ($614) 7-inch GPS/Bluetooth unit for full-featured navigation and hands-free connectivity.
Polished 12-by-24-inch porcelain tile leads you from the cockpit into the most unexpected and surprising feature in the Diplomat’s lineup. This plan places the free-standing dinette and sofa bed, or the optional ($3,671) sectional sofa bed/dinette ensemble, in the curbside slide offering the rare opportunity to dine while overlooking your own campsite and not your neighbor’s. The entire galley, including the 12-cubic-foot two-way refrigerator, optional ($2,352) washer and dryer combo, the 68-inch sofa and the bedroom dresser and overhead cabinet module are all contained within the 28-foot-long, full-wall, streetside slide creating a wonderfully open floorplan well suited for entertaining.
Handsome Italian Sienna mid-tone hardwood cabinets surround the cabin and galley. The intricate and striking basketweave trim on the cabinets is accented by the galley’s Corian backsplash and countertops. A useful pullout countertop extension next to the dual-basin sink adds to the galley’s utility when deployed and helps define the cabin’s seating area.
The wall-mounted 40-inch LCD TV with surround sound and media storage above and below can be comfortably viewed from anywhere in the elegant cabin. The TV shares a common wall with the half bath, which separates the cabin from the master suite. A countertop integrated sink, storage vanity and porcelain commode complete the half bath eliminating family or guest’s late-night trips through the occupied bedroom to reach the rear master bath.
The Diplomat comes standard with a queen-size platform bed in the curbside slide, but was wisely designed to accommodate the preferable and optional ($1,470) Select Comfort platform king. Yet, there’s still room for the matching eyeglass nightstands, hidden book storage and 120-volt AC outlets. Add a 26-inch LCD TV mounted between the dresser and overhead cabinet module, which is part of the full-wall streetside slide, and the suite is complete.
Above the bed is a ceiling fan that will come in handy when the ducted, triple 15,000-Btu roof air-conditioning units or the silent Aqua-Hot heating systems aren’t needed. Leaving the family pet behind is no problem using the coach’s auto-start feature on the 10-kW AC generator to accommodate the owner-set climate controls.
For boondockers, the Diplomat comes prewired for solar panels and a controller.
The step-up rear bath has become a popular feature in full-time coaches and the Diplomat doesn’t disappoint. Highlights here include his-and-hers countertop-integrated sinks with brushed-nickel fixtures, matched medicine cabinets and additional drawer storage. A full-width, rear-wall mirrored wardrobe offers nearly 6 feet of clothes rod with 20 inches of additional adjustable or removable shelving at one end of the closet if more hanging space is needed.
The exterior’s all-new front and rear chevron grilles in fiberglass wraparound caps (now equipped with LED lighting), improve body seam weather resistance — it also suggests a growing familial likeness to Monaco’s sporty Vesta.
The entry door has been moved forward, closer to the A-pillar, creating improved access past the redesigned cockpit. Here the Navistar influence is prominent with an updated automotive-style dash with hooded instrument cluster capped with a glare-reducing dark dash pad. The multifunction steering wheel not only controls the expected cruise and music functions but includes a three-stage engine brake at your fingertips. Maybe more importantly, the wheel is now connected to a redesigned steering column, no longer straddled by the driver’s legs.
Full-power Ultraleather seats afford a clear view of the Driver Information Screen that provides continuous status of the Diplomat’s torquey MaxxForce 10 turbodiesel engine, the Allison 3000MH six-speed push-button transmission, trip and distance features, and a host of monitored operating parameters.
Atop the handsome Oxford Burl instrument panel is the dock for the optional ($614) 7-inch GPS/Bluetooth unit for full-featured navigation and hands-free connectivity.
Polished 12-by-24-inch porcelain tile leads you from the cockpit into the most unexpected and surprising feature in the Diplomat’s lineup. This plan places the free-standing dinette and sofa bed, or the optional ($3,671) sectional sofa bed/dinette ensemble, in the curbside slide offering the rare opportunity to dine while overlooking your own campsite and not your neighbor’s. The entire galley, including the 12-cubic-foot two-way refrigerator, optional ($2,352) washer and dryer combo, the 68-inch sofa and the bedroom dresser and overhead cabinet module are all contained within the 28-foot-long, full-wall, streetside slide creating a wonderfully open floorplan well suited for entertaining.
Handsome Italian Sienna mid-tone hardwood cabinets surround the cabin and galley. The intricate and striking basketweave trim on the cabinets is accented by the galley’s Corian backsplash and countertops. A useful pullout countertop extension next to the dual-basin sink adds to the galley’s utility when deployed and helps define the cabin’s seating area.
The wall-mounted 40-inch LCD TV with surround sound and media storage above and below can be comfortably viewed from anywhere in the elegant cabin. The TV shares a common wall with the half bath, which separates the cabin from the master suite. A countertop integrated sink, storage vanity and porcelain commode complete the half bath eliminating family or guest’s late-night trips through the occupied bedroom to reach the rear master bath.
The Diplomat comes standard with a queen-size platform bed in the curbside slide, but was wisely designed to accommodate the preferable and optional ($1,470) Select Comfort platform king. Yet, there’s still room for the matching eyeglass nightstands, hidden book storage and 120-volt AC outlets. Add a 26-inch LCD TV mounted between the dresser and overhead cabinet module, which is part of the full-wall streetside slide, and the suite is complete.
Above the bed is a ceiling fan that will come in handy when the ducted, triple 15,000-Btu roof air-conditioning units or the silent Aqua-Hot heating systems aren’t needed. Leaving the family pet behind is no problem using the coach’s auto-start feature on the 10-kW AC generator to accommodate the owner-set climate controls.
For boondockers, the Diplomat comes prewired for solar panels and a controller.
The step-up rear bath has become a popular feature in full-time coaches and the Diplomat doesn’t disappoint. Highlights here include his-and-hers countertop-integrated sinks with brushed-nickel fixtures, matched medicine cabinets and additional drawer storage. A full-width, rear-wall mirrored wardrobe offers nearly 6 feet of clothes rod with 20 inches of additional adjustable or removable shelving at one end of the closet if more hanging space is needed.
2012年2月20日星期一
Quadra Shareholders to Decide on Bid Giving KGHM Global Reach
Quadra FNX Mining Ltd. shareholders will meet to decide on a C$2.87 billion offer by KGHM Polska Miedz SA, in the nation’s biggest bid abroad designed to deepen the Polish copper producer’s global reach.
The proposal by the Lubin, Poland-based company, with Europe’s largest mine output, is “attractive,” Quadra Chief Executive Officer Paul Blythe told Polish daily Rzeczpospolita on Feb. 16. Institutional Shareholder Services, which advises pension and mutual funds on proposals in shareholder meetings, backed the bid, Quadra said on Feb. 6. The shareholders meet today in Vancouver after Warsaw markets close.
“This is the first spectacular takeover deal by a Polish company and it’s being noticed,” said Leszek Iwaszko, a Warsaw- based analyst at Societe Generale SA. “KGHM still has a long way to go to join the world’s premier league, but this purchase will help it become a global player.”
Companies from Poland, the biggest post-communist country in the European Union, have stepped up expansion plans in the last decade, fighting for supremacy in central Europe. PKN Orlen SA bought Czech and Lithuanian refiners, Asseco Poland SA acquired software developers in most countries in the region, while Rovese SA, Poland’s largest ceramic tile producer, expanded into Romania, Ukraine and Russia.
Quadra is KGHM’s second Canadian transaction since 2010 after the company bought a stake in a joint venture with Abacus Mining & Exploration Corp. for $37 million. KGHM, which is buying miners outside Poland to cut production costs and raise output, will pay for Quadra with its own cash as it is set to report a record 11.2 billion zloty in net income for 2011.
KGHM shares climbed 1.7 percent at 1:11 p.m. in Warsaw, extending their advance to 5.4 percent since Quadra’s deal was announced on Dec. 6 and valuing the Polish company at 28 billion zloty.
“It’s a huge deal for KGHM,” Tomasz Krukowski, a Warsaw- based analyst at Deutsche Bank AG said by phone. “We won’t probably see more transactions of this size as KGHM now needs to focus on efficient management of its purchased assets.”
KGHM may seek further purchases outside Poland, Chief Executive Officer Herbert Wirth told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna on Dec. 27. It is looking for companies in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana and does not rule out the purchase of copper reserves in Canada, the newspaper reported.
Quadra was created in 2010 when Quadra Mining Ltd. acquired FNX Mining Co. for about C$1 billion. The company owns the Robinson mine in Nevada, Carlota in Arizona, Franke in Chile and the Morrison and Podolsky operations in Canada’s Sudbury basin.
Its purchase will help KGHM raise annual copper output from its own deposits by 50 percent to 635,000 tons by 2018. KGHM estimates it will have 37.4 million tons of copper in deposits, more than BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest mining company, or Anglo American Plc after the acquisition, according to a presentation on its website.
The proposal by the Lubin, Poland-based company, with Europe’s largest mine output, is “attractive,” Quadra Chief Executive Officer Paul Blythe told Polish daily Rzeczpospolita on Feb. 16. Institutional Shareholder Services, which advises pension and mutual funds on proposals in shareholder meetings, backed the bid, Quadra said on Feb. 6. The shareholders meet today in Vancouver after Warsaw markets close.
“This is the first spectacular takeover deal by a Polish company and it’s being noticed,” said Leszek Iwaszko, a Warsaw- based analyst at Societe Generale SA. “KGHM still has a long way to go to join the world’s premier league, but this purchase will help it become a global player.”
Companies from Poland, the biggest post-communist country in the European Union, have stepped up expansion plans in the last decade, fighting for supremacy in central Europe. PKN Orlen SA bought Czech and Lithuanian refiners, Asseco Poland SA acquired software developers in most countries in the region, while Rovese SA, Poland’s largest ceramic tile producer, expanded into Romania, Ukraine and Russia.
Quadra is KGHM’s second Canadian transaction since 2010 after the company bought a stake in a joint venture with Abacus Mining & Exploration Corp. for $37 million. KGHM, which is buying miners outside Poland to cut production costs and raise output, will pay for Quadra with its own cash as it is set to report a record 11.2 billion zloty in net income for 2011.
KGHM shares climbed 1.7 percent at 1:11 p.m. in Warsaw, extending their advance to 5.4 percent since Quadra’s deal was announced on Dec. 6 and valuing the Polish company at 28 billion zloty.
“It’s a huge deal for KGHM,” Tomasz Krukowski, a Warsaw- based analyst at Deutsche Bank AG said by phone. “We won’t probably see more transactions of this size as KGHM now needs to focus on efficient management of its purchased assets.”
KGHM may seek further purchases outside Poland, Chief Executive Officer Herbert Wirth told Dziennik Gazeta Prawna on Dec. 27. It is looking for companies in South Africa, Namibia and Botswana and does not rule out the purchase of copper reserves in Canada, the newspaper reported.
Quadra was created in 2010 when Quadra Mining Ltd. acquired FNX Mining Co. for about C$1 billion. The company owns the Robinson mine in Nevada, Carlota in Arizona, Franke in Chile and the Morrison and Podolsky operations in Canada’s Sudbury basin.
Its purchase will help KGHM raise annual copper output from its own deposits by 50 percent to 635,000 tons by 2018. KGHM estimates it will have 37.4 million tons of copper in deposits, more than BHP Billiton Ltd., the world’s biggest mining company, or Anglo American Plc after the acquisition, according to a presentation on its website.
2012年1月19日星期四
Loo Trilogy
Sometimes the thrill of the hunt is the best part about doing a home renovation.
Take one homeowner whose 1,700-square-foot house in northwest Calgary recently underwent a major renovation that saw its three bathrooms refurbished.
Laura (who asked her last name not be published) bought the home seven years ago, but immediately realized it needed improvements.
“This house is about 60 years old, and there was an expansion done in the 1980s,” says the mother of two teens. “The only completely usable bathroom we had was the main bathroom in the (original) portion of the house.”
In fact, downstairs bathroom wasn’t used once in the time the family has lived in the home. “It was a tiny 30-by-30-(foot) shower and when you stepped on the shower floor, it moved,” Laura explained.
Coupled with that, the bathroom in the back 1980s section “was so ugly and awful, we never used it either.”
Laura says she enjoys DIY projects and renovated her kitchen herself. But when it came to redoing her bathrooms, she went shopping for a contractor who shared her vision. She soon discovered bathroom renovations can get awfully pricey, depending on whom you call.
“There were people I called, I’d have had to have taken another mortgage on my house (to pay for the reno),” she exclaimed. “They had their own view what a bathroom reno would look like.”
The homeowner eventually chose Lozier Contracting, based on the experience of her significant other, who had had the company owner Wayne Lozier do some work on his house.
“And he’s an engineer, so he tends to be very particular how people do the work,” says Laura. “The estimate wasn’t the lowest, but I thought it was fair for the work I needed to get done.”
Laura’s renovation was unusual, as she supplied the vanities, floor tiling and other items herself, says Lozier.
“When it comes to plumbing fixtures we usually prefer to purchase them from the wholesalers,” he says. “That way we can put in a warranty so, if a fixture fails, we can swap it out.”
Lozier provided the bathtub and shower fixtures, and installed Toto Drake low-flow toilets in two of the three bathrooms on Laura’s recommendation and previous experience with the product — she had installed one such toilet in the main bathroom a few years ago.
Laura, meanwhile, went shopping for vanities, mirrors and even tiling, hitting major retailers such as Home Depot, Rona and Totem, as well as picking up accessories like mirrors from shops such as HomeSense that she found for as little as $35.
Each bathroom presented its own challenges, and Laura arranged for the work to be done in stages so there would always be one functioning bathroom at all times.
The home’s large downstairs bathroom is the size of a small utility room and had been used to store the ironing board, with one wall covered in mirrors.
“The previous owner must have had a couple of teenagers,” Laura jokes.
The renovation duo had a surprise in store when the room’s tiny shower was ripped out, though.
“They found a false wall,” recalls Laura. “Nobody knew about it. It cost me more to get the custom shower done as a result, but that was fine — they were able to expand it quite a bit.”
Lozier says it was the first time he’d encountered a false wall, “but it allowed us to make the shower a lot bigger. We also had to replace some of the plumbing in the floor drains.”
A long vanity was cut in half and a utility closet installed. Laura considered in-floor heating, but decided it was an unnecessary expense.
Laura had purchased black-brown ceramic tile for a previous upstairs reno, but when she decided to use hardwood for that job, she held on to the tile and used it in the basement bathroom.
This presented some challenges as she wanted the same colour scheme for her other two bathrooms, but dark tile was hard to come by. She eventually got tile from several different retailers, giving each bathroom similar colour scheme, but a unique pattern and style.
She also favoured dark wood in the cabinets she purchased for each bathroom – the downstairs from Totem, the back bathroom from Rona, and the main bathroom from a cabinet store.
For the ceramic countertop in the downstairs bath, “they asked me to pick out an arborite I liked,” says Laura. “I bought a mirror for $50 at HomeSense and picked up some lights at Home Depot.”
Laura didn’t need in-floor heating for the main upstairs bathroom, either – Lozier installed a floor-level wall radiator with a lever that allows her to direct heat towards the floor or upwards.
The dark tile for the main bathroom came from Totem. “They didn’t have the longer tile like I used downstairs in the dark colour, but it was really inexpensive,” says Laura. “The mirror, the lights — all come from different home stores.”
Although Lozier was in charge of installing the Fiberglas acrylic Hytec bathtub, one innovation Laura insisted on was curved shower rods, giving more space in the tub and also in the shower in the back bath where this was also used.
“The shower tiles were bought at Totem, and were a happy surprise,” says Laura, noting that under the shower head the tiles don’t lie flat, creating a 3-D weaving pattern.
Laura describes the back bathroom as her “bling” bathroom, with a few esthetic touches giving it extra pizzazz, such as gemstone-patterned shower wall tiles from Totem, and crystal-accented paper-roll holder and towel rack from HomeSense.
“I really enjoy home renovations — it’s fun to see the effect at the end,” she says. “I wish I’d taken before-and-after pictures — you wouldn’t believe they were the same bathrooms.”
Lozier advises homeowners get at least three estimates before choosing a contractor, and do homework to check Better Business Bureau ratings and whether they’re licensed.
Laura’s main advice: “Know and understand your budget. I estimated I could get the work done for between $7,500 and $10,000 per bathroom. I had a total budget of $30,000, and I stuck to it.
“Think about where you want to spend your money. Getting a custom shower built was important for me. I also wanted higher-quality, low-flush toilets. If you’re looking for places to save money, focus on the cosmetic things and don’t scrimp on fundamentals like plumbing and electrical.”
Take one homeowner whose 1,700-square-foot house in northwest Calgary recently underwent a major renovation that saw its three bathrooms refurbished.
Laura (who asked her last name not be published) bought the home seven years ago, but immediately realized it needed improvements.
“This house is about 60 years old, and there was an expansion done in the 1980s,” says the mother of two teens. “The only completely usable bathroom we had was the main bathroom in the (original) portion of the house.”
In fact, downstairs bathroom wasn’t used once in the time the family has lived in the home. “It was a tiny 30-by-30-(foot) shower and when you stepped on the shower floor, it moved,” Laura explained.
Coupled with that, the bathroom in the back 1980s section “was so ugly and awful, we never used it either.”
Laura says she enjoys DIY projects and renovated her kitchen herself. But when it came to redoing her bathrooms, she went shopping for a contractor who shared her vision. She soon discovered bathroom renovations can get awfully pricey, depending on whom you call.
“There were people I called, I’d have had to have taken another mortgage on my house (to pay for the reno),” she exclaimed. “They had their own view what a bathroom reno would look like.”
The homeowner eventually chose Lozier Contracting, based on the experience of her significant other, who had had the company owner Wayne Lozier do some work on his house.
“And he’s an engineer, so he tends to be very particular how people do the work,” says Laura. “The estimate wasn’t the lowest, but I thought it was fair for the work I needed to get done.”
Laura’s renovation was unusual, as she supplied the vanities, floor tiling and other items herself, says Lozier.
“When it comes to plumbing fixtures we usually prefer to purchase them from the wholesalers,” he says. “That way we can put in a warranty so, if a fixture fails, we can swap it out.”
Lozier provided the bathtub and shower fixtures, and installed Toto Drake low-flow toilets in two of the three bathrooms on Laura’s recommendation and previous experience with the product — she had installed one such toilet in the main bathroom a few years ago.
Laura, meanwhile, went shopping for vanities, mirrors and even tiling, hitting major retailers such as Home Depot, Rona and Totem, as well as picking up accessories like mirrors from shops such as HomeSense that she found for as little as $35.
Each bathroom presented its own challenges, and Laura arranged for the work to be done in stages so there would always be one functioning bathroom at all times.
The home’s large downstairs bathroom is the size of a small utility room and had been used to store the ironing board, with one wall covered in mirrors.
“The previous owner must have had a couple of teenagers,” Laura jokes.
The renovation duo had a surprise in store when the room’s tiny shower was ripped out, though.
“They found a false wall,” recalls Laura. “Nobody knew about it. It cost me more to get the custom shower done as a result, but that was fine — they were able to expand it quite a bit.”
Lozier says it was the first time he’d encountered a false wall, “but it allowed us to make the shower a lot bigger. We also had to replace some of the plumbing in the floor drains.”
A long vanity was cut in half and a utility closet installed. Laura considered in-floor heating, but decided it was an unnecessary expense.
Laura had purchased black-brown ceramic tile for a previous upstairs reno, but when she decided to use hardwood for that job, she held on to the tile and used it in the basement bathroom.
This presented some challenges as she wanted the same colour scheme for her other two bathrooms, but dark tile was hard to come by. She eventually got tile from several different retailers, giving each bathroom similar colour scheme, but a unique pattern and style.
She also favoured dark wood in the cabinets she purchased for each bathroom – the downstairs from Totem, the back bathroom from Rona, and the main bathroom from a cabinet store.
For the ceramic countertop in the downstairs bath, “they asked me to pick out an arborite I liked,” says Laura. “I bought a mirror for $50 at HomeSense and picked up some lights at Home Depot.”
Laura didn’t need in-floor heating for the main upstairs bathroom, either – Lozier installed a floor-level wall radiator with a lever that allows her to direct heat towards the floor or upwards.
The dark tile for the main bathroom came from Totem. “They didn’t have the longer tile like I used downstairs in the dark colour, but it was really inexpensive,” says Laura. “The mirror, the lights — all come from different home stores.”
Although Lozier was in charge of installing the Fiberglas acrylic Hytec bathtub, one innovation Laura insisted on was curved shower rods, giving more space in the tub and also in the shower in the back bath where this was also used.
“The shower tiles were bought at Totem, and were a happy surprise,” says Laura, noting that under the shower head the tiles don’t lie flat, creating a 3-D weaving pattern.
Laura describes the back bathroom as her “bling” bathroom, with a few esthetic touches giving it extra pizzazz, such as gemstone-patterned shower wall tiles from Totem, and crystal-accented paper-roll holder and towel rack from HomeSense.
“I really enjoy home renovations — it’s fun to see the effect at the end,” she says. “I wish I’d taken before-and-after pictures — you wouldn’t believe they were the same bathrooms.”
Lozier advises homeowners get at least three estimates before choosing a contractor, and do homework to check Better Business Bureau ratings and whether they’re licensed.
Laura’s main advice: “Know and understand your budget. I estimated I could get the work done for between $7,500 and $10,000 per bathroom. I had a total budget of $30,000, and I stuck to it.
“Think about where you want to spend your money. Getting a custom shower built was important for me. I also wanted higher-quality, low-flush toilets. If you’re looking for places to save money, focus on the cosmetic things and don’t scrimp on fundamentals like plumbing and electrical.”
2012年1月3日星期二
Antique inn
In the olden days, an inn was a gathering place for all types of martial art masters. It was not only a place to put up a night, a place to dine, but also a place for kungfu contests. The inn was meant for the knights to eat and stay, to get to know friends, to spy and snoop, to obtain contact signals or even develop a relationship.
The remarkable legend of the Dragon Inn remains very much cherished by people up to this day.
In Malaysia, there indeed is an inn that is reminiscent of the Dragon Inn. The 1881 Chong Tian Hotel in Ropewalk, Penang is the oldest inn in the country. The emergence of the new 1881 spreading over three shoplots in town could have spelled the resurgence of the inn culture in this part of the world. The inn offers 11 rooms, plus a relic hall, a meeting room, activity room, library and mezzanine bar.
Owner of the inn, Xie Guo Xing has intended to revive the styles of the Dragon Inn with a great deal of antiques on display throughout the inn. To Xie, 1881 is more than an inn, but also a chic Chinese boutique hotel.
Modern people who enjoy good food will see the inn as a fine hotel serving the best of Chinese and Western fares while backpackers willing to spend to enjoy the fine culture will most definitely not miss this opportunity to put up for a night at the inn.
There is a refined antique wooden bed at the rear hall with a pillow and teapot on top of it. It might look like a set up in a wealthy local family during the olden days, but was in actual fact an opium bed that allowed people to indulge in the process of inhaling and exhaling the drugs and slowly drift into sleep.
There are also a few chairs placed in front of the wooden bed for the people to indulge in their addiction in the company of some friends.
There is a pair of golden dragon and phoenix hung on the wall of the dining hall. These two auspicious creatures symbolise eternity and happiness apart from being an accessory used during traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies.
During the mid-autumn festival, another set of the golden shimmering accessories will be hung opposite the dragon and phoenix to ring in the festive season while announcing to the public that moon cakes are now available for sale at the hotel.
Looking around the furnishings and decorations, there are wooden ladders, bamboos at the patio and water tank with duckweeds that really arouse the nostalgic feelings of the guests. Above the patio are windows of the rooms with elaborate ceramic tile paintings adorning the walls below.
The remarkable legend of the Dragon Inn remains very much cherished by people up to this day.
In Malaysia, there indeed is an inn that is reminiscent of the Dragon Inn. The 1881 Chong Tian Hotel in Ropewalk, Penang is the oldest inn in the country. The emergence of the new 1881 spreading over three shoplots in town could have spelled the resurgence of the inn culture in this part of the world. The inn offers 11 rooms, plus a relic hall, a meeting room, activity room, library and mezzanine bar.
Owner of the inn, Xie Guo Xing has intended to revive the styles of the Dragon Inn with a great deal of antiques on display throughout the inn. To Xie, 1881 is more than an inn, but also a chic Chinese boutique hotel.
Modern people who enjoy good food will see the inn as a fine hotel serving the best of Chinese and Western fares while backpackers willing to spend to enjoy the fine culture will most definitely not miss this opportunity to put up for a night at the inn.
There is a refined antique wooden bed at the rear hall with a pillow and teapot on top of it. It might look like a set up in a wealthy local family during the olden days, but was in actual fact an opium bed that allowed people to indulge in the process of inhaling and exhaling the drugs and slowly drift into sleep.
There are also a few chairs placed in front of the wooden bed for the people to indulge in their addiction in the company of some friends.
There is a pair of golden dragon and phoenix hung on the wall of the dining hall. These two auspicious creatures symbolise eternity and happiness apart from being an accessory used during traditional Chinese wedding ceremonies.
During the mid-autumn festival, another set of the golden shimmering accessories will be hung opposite the dragon and phoenix to ring in the festive season while announcing to the public that moon cakes are now available for sale at the hotel.
Looking around the furnishings and decorations, there are wooden ladders, bamboos at the patio and water tank with duckweeds that really arouse the nostalgic feelings of the guests. Above the patio are windows of the rooms with elaborate ceramic tile paintings adorning the walls below.
2011年12月26日星期一
A view of Italy
Today we wrap up our discussion on balconies with a little construction strategy.
First, your balcony will consist of a cantilever-style structure, which, like the nose on your face, will simply protrude from the exterior wall.
Supporting a balcony via pillars or fibreglass columns from below would certainly be an easier strategy to follow, construction wise, and would certainly suit a home where the balcony was placed over the front entrance, however, pillar support is not quite the style we're shooting for.
Will our balcony not need some type of support system? Of course, if you're in the blueprint stage of your future new home, your architect will be able to modify the floor system so that the engineered joists extend past the exterior wall the desired number of feet, or that the joists be designed to accept some form of steel framework.
When adding a balcony to an existing home, whereby the use of columns underneath is not possible, or just not desired, then the manner of installation will have to be examined by a contractor and further okayed by an engineer, in order for you to get a permit.
A cantilever-style balcony isn't like any other deck, since the outer perimeter will seemingly be defying gravity. Realizing that nothing defies gravity, at least not for long, a support structure (as unintrusive as possible) will need to be installed underneath the balcony platform. This support structure should, no doubt, be made of steel, to ensure a long lasting, maintenance free quality.
If the steel's angled support structure isn't in line with the style or decor of the home, the beams could be easily covered with foam mouldings. These mouldings would, in turn, be coated with a stucco-type product that would duplicate the texture of stone or concrete.
Or, you could conceal the supports in true Italian fashion with the always classic statue of Zeus or Atlas, whereby the statue's form, usually starting at the waistline, protrudes from the wall.
The stylish effect of your platform resting on Atlas' shoulder, with arms raised in support, would be impressive indeed.
Now, if the likes of Zeus, Atlas, or any of the Greek or Roman gods, don't hold any great historical or ancestral significance to you, but you still like the statue idea, perhaps the likes of Big Joe Mufferaw, or Canadian strongman Louis Cyr, or Cornwall's legendary football great Moe Racine, would provide that statuesque, yet closer to home, desired effect.
The challenge, of course, would lie in finding a sculptor, a profession that really lost its market about 500 years ago.
Balcony framework?
I like the steel frame, poured concrete floor best.
Steel is forever, and so is the concrete, especially if it's coated with a porcelain or slate tile.
Railing systems?
Again, consider the maintenance free, everlasting quality of steel, aluminum or cast iron spindles.
What about glass?
Glass looks great, but may not suit your traditional or formal stone type home, and would definitely clash with your Moe Racine, dueling statue support system. However, for a contemporary home, glass panels are perfect.
First step to balcony success?
Contact your contractor and explain your vision. If this initial visit is positive, meet with your engineer, since the project will require some structural expertise.
If all goes as planned, you're well on your way to a very special home feature indeed.
First, your balcony will consist of a cantilever-style structure, which, like the nose on your face, will simply protrude from the exterior wall.
Supporting a balcony via pillars or fibreglass columns from below would certainly be an easier strategy to follow, construction wise, and would certainly suit a home where the balcony was placed over the front entrance, however, pillar support is not quite the style we're shooting for.
Will our balcony not need some type of support system? Of course, if you're in the blueprint stage of your future new home, your architect will be able to modify the floor system so that the engineered joists extend past the exterior wall the desired number of feet, or that the joists be designed to accept some form of steel framework.
When adding a balcony to an existing home, whereby the use of columns underneath is not possible, or just not desired, then the manner of installation will have to be examined by a contractor and further okayed by an engineer, in order for you to get a permit.
A cantilever-style balcony isn't like any other deck, since the outer perimeter will seemingly be defying gravity. Realizing that nothing defies gravity, at least not for long, a support structure (as unintrusive as possible) will need to be installed underneath the balcony platform. This support structure should, no doubt, be made of steel, to ensure a long lasting, maintenance free quality.
If the steel's angled support structure isn't in line with the style or decor of the home, the beams could be easily covered with foam mouldings. These mouldings would, in turn, be coated with a stucco-type product that would duplicate the texture of stone or concrete.
Or, you could conceal the supports in true Italian fashion with the always classic statue of Zeus or Atlas, whereby the statue's form, usually starting at the waistline, protrudes from the wall.
The stylish effect of your platform resting on Atlas' shoulder, with arms raised in support, would be impressive indeed.
Now, if the likes of Zeus, Atlas, or any of the Greek or Roman gods, don't hold any great historical or ancestral significance to you, but you still like the statue idea, perhaps the likes of Big Joe Mufferaw, or Canadian strongman Louis Cyr, or Cornwall's legendary football great Moe Racine, would provide that statuesque, yet closer to home, desired effect.
The challenge, of course, would lie in finding a sculptor, a profession that really lost its market about 500 years ago.
Balcony framework?
I like the steel frame, poured concrete floor best.
Steel is forever, and so is the concrete, especially if it's coated with a porcelain or slate tile.
Railing systems?
Again, consider the maintenance free, everlasting quality of steel, aluminum or cast iron spindles.
What about glass?
Glass looks great, but may not suit your traditional or formal stone type home, and would definitely clash with your Moe Racine, dueling statue support system. However, for a contemporary home, glass panels are perfect.
First step to balcony success?
Contact your contractor and explain your vision. If this initial visit is positive, meet with your engineer, since the project will require some structural expertise.
If all goes as planned, you're well on your way to a very special home feature indeed.
2011年11月1日星期二
Cheap kitchen tiles and incorporating kitchen tiles in kitchen design
Marble tiles have an air of sophistication whether your kitchen area is small or large and the range of styles available is huge, there are many variations of marble tiles in the form of marble mosaic tiles, larger marble slabs and standard sized tiles. The choice is largely yours and the size of your budget will play a part in the wall tiles you choose.
Marble tiles are not really the cheapest of tile options but this doesn’t mean that they cannot be used in some way or another within the kitchen area. Marble tiles can be used in small areas, as border tiles and in dark insignificant areas that need brightening up.
Marble tiles work well with other cheap wall tile options and ceramic tiles are a great wall tile material to incorporate with marble tiles. Ceramic wall tiles are considered one of the cheap tile solutions but they are not compromised at all in the way of style, design and choice and they are the most versatile and durable tile you can have in the kitchen area. They are also ideal as floor tiles and if the area you are tiling is particularly large, ceramic floor tiles are a great solution for home owners.
Marble tiles come in many variations and colour styles and home owners need to give some thought to the style they are trying to create. The kitchen may have a contemporary style that reflects the trend of today and there are some real sophisticated marble tiles on the market that work well for contemporary styles. Marble tiles can be used as border tiles around other wall tiles and they make great solutions for countertop tiles again as a border tile. Marble tiles can also be used and incorporated in the backsplash design in the form of marble mosaic tiles in various colours. Glass tiles can also be used together with glass tiles to create a really fantastic contemporary design style.
If the kitchen area is traditional, marble tiles are also great and they come in some really great earthy tones that will suit a traditional design beautifully. Marble mosaic tiles can also be used across a wall space to really create a focal point and there are some really earthy tones out there in soft beiges and crèmes which will really bring the natural into the home.
Marble tiles are not really the cheapest of tile options but this doesn’t mean that they cannot be used in some way or another within the kitchen area. Marble tiles can be used in small areas, as border tiles and in dark insignificant areas that need brightening up.
Marble tiles work well with other cheap wall tile options and ceramic tiles are a great wall tile material to incorporate with marble tiles. Ceramic wall tiles are considered one of the cheap tile solutions but they are not compromised at all in the way of style, design and choice and they are the most versatile and durable tile you can have in the kitchen area. They are also ideal as floor tiles and if the area you are tiling is particularly large, ceramic floor tiles are a great solution for home owners.
Marble tiles come in many variations and colour styles and home owners need to give some thought to the style they are trying to create. The kitchen may have a contemporary style that reflects the trend of today and there are some real sophisticated marble tiles on the market that work well for contemporary styles. Marble tiles can be used as border tiles around other wall tiles and they make great solutions for countertop tiles again as a border tile. Marble tiles can also be used and incorporated in the backsplash design in the form of marble mosaic tiles in various colours. Glass tiles can also be used together with glass tiles to create a really fantastic contemporary design style.
If the kitchen area is traditional, marble tiles are also great and they come in some really great earthy tones that will suit a traditional design beautifully. Marble mosaic tiles can also be used across a wall space to really create a focal point and there are some really earthy tones out there in soft beiges and crèmes which will really bring the natural into the home.
2011年10月8日星期六
Warming to idea of in-floor heating
The London Home Builders' Association hosted the annual Parade of Renovations last weekend in London.
The event was an opportunity for the public to view some of the amazing work done during the last year by RenoMark Certified renovators who showcased the innovative products and technologies available for homes.
Of particular interest to me were the number of homes that utilized in-floor heating systems to complement or replace the conventional forced-air heating system.
Once considered exclusive, expensive and overly complicated, this technology has become commonplace in the residential housing market for good reason. It's relatively easy to install for professionals, it's extremely economical to operate, and it can be used in the smallest of areas, or throughout the entire house, making it one of the most flexible and versatile home heating choices available.
In-floor heating also has many attractive features not available with any other type of forced-air system. It does not require ductwork, and therefore will not require bulkheads in a finished basement ceiling. Because there is no air being forced through a duct and register, there is no noise from moving air, and it's less dusty, making it perfect for allergy sufferers.
There are two main types of in-floor heating: electric, typically used in a small area such as a bathroom and to complement a forced-air heating system; and liquid systems that pump warmed liquid through a closed loop.
Most hydronic in-floor heat systems work on the thermal mass principle, where a dense material such as concrete or gypsum is heated by pipes passing through or under it. Hydronic systems also work well with geothermal and solar, making in-floor heating an environmentally conscious choice. The dense material can be finished on its own but is usually covered with other dense materials such as ceramic tile.
Although in-floor heating is often referred to as radiant heat, it actually uses radiation, convection and conduction in harmony to warm the floor, the air and your body.
In a nutshell, heat radiates from the floor to the air, or from an area of higher heat to lower heat. That's the radiant part.
The warmed air rises, warming the whole room from the bottom up. That's the convection part.
Last, the floor surface is as warm or warmer than our body temperature, and therefore prevents us from losing body heat through conduction, or "touching" a cold surface. This is what makes the floors so comfortable to walk on.
In-floor heating also provides a consistent and controlled temperature, unlike a conventional forced-air system where air temperature is measured by a thermostat at a single location. The thermostat doesn't consider that bedrooms or living areas can feel warmer or cooler depending on our activity level.
Furthermore, thermostats are designed to detect when the temperature has cooled off enough for the furnace to come on, but this can sometimes be up to three degrees cooler than the preferred temperature. This cycle of heating up and cooling off combined with cool and overly warm areas may result in occupant discomfort.
In-floor heat is set to a consistent monitored temperature that never varies. Even in the event of a power blackout, the thermal mass of the floor would hold the heat for a long time before it would cool off.
In-floor heat is ideal for garages, workshops and even patios, making it perfect for hobbyists and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It's also ideal for foyers, mudrooms and bathrooms because wet floors dry on their own almost instantly.
The event was an opportunity for the public to view some of the amazing work done during the last year by RenoMark Certified renovators who showcased the innovative products and technologies available for homes.
Of particular interest to me were the number of homes that utilized in-floor heating systems to complement or replace the conventional forced-air heating system.
Once considered exclusive, expensive and overly complicated, this technology has become commonplace in the residential housing market for good reason. It's relatively easy to install for professionals, it's extremely economical to operate, and it can be used in the smallest of areas, or throughout the entire house, making it one of the most flexible and versatile home heating choices available.
In-floor heating also has many attractive features not available with any other type of forced-air system. It does not require ductwork, and therefore will not require bulkheads in a finished basement ceiling. Because there is no air being forced through a duct and register, there is no noise from moving air, and it's less dusty, making it perfect for allergy sufferers.
There are two main types of in-floor heating: electric, typically used in a small area such as a bathroom and to complement a forced-air heating system; and liquid systems that pump warmed liquid through a closed loop.
Most hydronic in-floor heat systems work on the thermal mass principle, where a dense material such as concrete or gypsum is heated by pipes passing through or under it. Hydronic systems also work well with geothermal and solar, making in-floor heating an environmentally conscious choice. The dense material can be finished on its own but is usually covered with other dense materials such as ceramic tile.
Although in-floor heating is often referred to as radiant heat, it actually uses radiation, convection and conduction in harmony to warm the floor, the air and your body.
In a nutshell, heat radiates from the floor to the air, or from an area of higher heat to lower heat. That's the radiant part.
The warmed air rises, warming the whole room from the bottom up. That's the convection part.
Last, the floor surface is as warm or warmer than our body temperature, and therefore prevents us from losing body heat through conduction, or "touching" a cold surface. This is what makes the floors so comfortable to walk on.
In-floor heating also provides a consistent and controlled temperature, unlike a conventional forced-air system where air temperature is measured by a thermostat at a single location. The thermostat doesn't consider that bedrooms or living areas can feel warmer or cooler depending on our activity level.
Furthermore, thermostats are designed to detect when the temperature has cooled off enough for the furnace to come on, but this can sometimes be up to three degrees cooler than the preferred temperature. This cycle of heating up and cooling off combined with cool and overly warm areas may result in occupant discomfort.
In-floor heat is set to a consistent monitored temperature that never varies. Even in the event of a power blackout, the thermal mass of the floor would hold the heat for a long time before it would cool off.
In-floor heat is ideal for garages, workshops and even patios, making it perfect for hobbyists and outdoor enthusiasts alike. It's also ideal for foyers, mudrooms and bathrooms because wet floors dry on their own almost instantly.
2011年8月7日星期日
Police: Driver Stabbed with Syringe in Robbery
A driver told Tampa Police that he was robbed Thursday afternoon by two female pedestrians after they approached his vehicle at a red light.
The man was eastbound on Fowler Avenue at 2:25 p.m. and stopped for a red light at 22nd Avenue, according to an incident report. Two women approached on foot asking for cigarettes and change.
The first woman reached into the driver's side window with a knife, stabbing the victim's chin and cutting his cheek, police said. The second woman entered the vehicle, grabbed the man's wallet from the center console and stabbed him in the right side of his torso with a syringe.
The women then ran south on 22nd Street. Police responded to the scene and searched for the suspects but were unable to find them, the report said.
The victim was treated at University Community Hospital and released.
The suspects were described as white women between 30 and 40 years old. The first woman was 5-feet-7-inches tall, weighed 100 pounds and had shoulder-length and wavy, dirty-blonde hair. She had a weathered face and was missing teeth. She also had a tattoo on her right arm and wore a dark shirt and dirty denim shorts. Polic
e did not provide a description of the second woman beyond her age and race.
The man was eastbound on Fowler Avenue at 2:25 p.m. and stopped for a red light at 22nd Avenue, according to an incident report. Two women approached on foot asking for cigarettes and change.
The first woman reached into the driver's side window with a knife, stabbing the victim's chin and cutting his cheek, police said. The second woman entered the vehicle, grabbed the man's wallet from the center console and stabbed him in the right side of his torso with a syringe.
The women then ran south on 22nd Street. Police responded to the scene and searched for the suspects but were unable to find them, the report said.
The victim was treated at University Community Hospital and released.
The suspects were described as white women between 30 and 40 years old. The first woman was 5-feet-7-inches tall, weighed 100 pounds and had shoulder-length and wavy, dirty-blonde hair. She had a weathered face and was missing teeth. She also had a tattoo on her right arm and wore a dark shirt and dirty denim shorts. Polic
e did not provide a description of the second woman beyond her age and race.
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