A new monthly subscription service run by a pair of San Francisco Bay Area brothers aims to ease suffering for those with a serious case of Pac-Man fever.
With their rental service, All You Can Arcade, Seth and Timothy Peterson drop off hulking arcade machines to homes and offices around the state. Among the titles available are '80s classics, including "Ms. Pac Man," ''Donkey Kong" and "Tron." And the machines are always set to "free play," so there's no need for quarters, the company's website states.
The Petersons launched their enterprise last month and say their plan is based on old-school economics. They rent the games out for $75 a month after purchasing the machines on the cheap and refurbishing them to their former glory.
"It's a lot of fun looking for the bargains, scoring them off Craigslist or eBay or through the Internet forums. Anywhere we can find them," said Seth Peterson.
He said he and his brother Timothy have been collecting the vintage cabinet games and fixing them up for years. He said they pay about $150 to $200 for the games and have developed a knack for "getting them real quick, taking them home and then doing what we need to do to get them ready for our customers."
All You Can Arcade operates across California. Customers can find out which games are available in their zip code through the company website. The Petersons hope to expand to the East Coast later this year.
With traffic buzzing by them on a busy downtown San Francisco street recently, the Petersons loaded a 250-pound "Galaga" machine into a seventh-floor office.
Seeing the game being wheeled in on a dolly, employees at the advertising firm 11 Inc. clapped and hooted with excitement, ready to zap pixelated bugs from outer space.
At a time when gamers focus on elaborate home video systems that feature cinematic graphics and realistic experiences, these low-tech games featuring simply designed cartoon characters level the playing field between generations, said Rob Kabus, president of 11 Inc.
"I feel relatively fearless challenging anybody here no matter what age," Kabus said of his company's new toy. "But when I go home, there's no way I can engage my son on Xbox. It's over in about 15 seconds on a good day."
If you remember the heyday of giant arcade halls filled with stand-up coin-op machines, then you’ll also remember that one day they seemingly all disappeared. What was it like to live through that bygone era? The Final Day at Westfield Arcade—a new novel by Andy Hunt—explores what it felt like to have a digital childhood evaporate as its main character tries to jump to adulthood.
Many of the strong memories we have about certain games has to do with what we were doing in our lives when we encountered them. If you first played Pac-Man when your parents divorced, all that ghost-gobbling might mean something a little different. Here’s a synopsis and you can read the opening pages from The Final Day at Westfield Arcade in the preview below:
It’s the final day of business at Westfield Arcade, the video game arcade where middle-aged Mike Mayberry has worked since he was a teenager. Mike spends his final day at Westfield Arcade taking a nostalgia-fueled journey back through the arcade’s glory years of the 1980s, the era when Pac Man ruled the world and every night at the arcade was an adventure. He reflects on the endless memories and friends he’s made during the decades he’s spent at the arcade, and chronicles the ups and downs in his relationship with an unforgettable girl over those years. As the final day of business at his beloved video game arcade comes to an emotional end, Mike contemplates a major decision for his post-arcade life, a decision that he hopes will once and for all answer the question of whether the girl who got away so many years ago truly did get away for good.
Read the full story at aulaundry.com web! Shanghai Xunduo Electric &
Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment
manufacturers of washer extractor, tumble dryer,flat work ironer, washer
extractor, industrial washing machine,
dry cleaning machine ect., which is integrating designing,researching,
manufacturing, sales and service all within the company to ensure the highest
level of quality and service.
2013年8月14日 星期三
Retro wins out in high-tech housing
Space-age gadgetry is out and 1960s simplicity appears to be back in favour when it comes to low-emissions living.
A team of Australian university students has won first prize in an international “energy Olympics”, basing their housing design on a standard “fibro” home once common across the country.
The students, from the University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra, deliberately chose an existing design for the Solar Decathlon in China because retrofitting many of Australia’s 8 million-plus homes can cut carbon emissions much faster than rolling out newly built ones.
“We were the only team in any decathlon to date to try to demonstrate a retrofit,” said Jack Breen, a member and spokesman of Team UoW. “The jury saw the need for this. We see the need for this.”
More than 50 students worked for two years on the design, construction and disassembly of the winning Illawarra Flame House, and beat strong competition from 19 other finalists including Chinese, Swedish and Iranian entries. It was also the first time an Australian team had made it to the finals of the event, which started in 2002.
The original home’s energy rating was lifted from 2.2 stars to 7.4 stars, while total energy use dropped about 80 per cent after the retrofit, according to modelling.
‘On the map’
As many as half a million people are expected to tour the display site in Datong, a former capital and now grimy industrial city 300 kilometres west of Beijing.
“This is going to put [the university] on the map a bit,” Mr Breen said, adding the long queues over the weekend may even lengthen in the remaining days of the exhibition as interest builds. “We expect that it will be absolutely crazy.”
While the entry won first place for engineering and application, the house also ranked highly for targeting couples about to retire, a market often overlooked by those developing highly energy-efficient houses.
“With baby boomers reaching retirement age, there’s potentially a big market out there,” Mr Breen said.
Design tweaks to meet that market included reducing the number of bedrooms in a typical 80-square-metre home of that era to just one, with a second bedroom doubling as a study. The students also widened doors, lowered the level of light fittings and removed all steps to ease access for the occupants.
The students installed enough solar panels to generate more power than the household would use, and added reed gardens and sand beds to enable all grey water produced by the washing machine and sinks to be recycled. Waste from a fish pond can also be used as a fertiliser for plants.
“Plants can grow up to four times as fast because of that fertiliser,” Mr Breen said.
History preserved
Part of the house’s appeal for the judges was the use of recycled materials and refurbishing of 1960s furniture.
“We wanted to preserve the history,” he said. “It’s a house that celebrates human life rather than the house itself.”
The redesign and retrofit cost about $300,000, a figure that is likely to shrink as design components are commercialised.
“That’s a conversation we’ll all be having when we get back to Australia,” Mr Breen said.
Once disassembled, the house will be rebuilt at the University of Wollongong, where students – and possibly retired couples – will get a chance to reside in it and study how it performs.
Read the full story at aulaundry.com web! Shanghai Xunduo Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of washer extractor, tumble dryer,flat work ironer, laundry dryer, folding machine, dry cleaning machine ect., which is integrating designing,researching, manufacturing, sales and service all within the company to ensure the highest level of quality and service.
A team of Australian university students has won first prize in an international “energy Olympics”, basing their housing design on a standard “fibro” home once common across the country.
The students, from the University of Wollongong and TAFE Illawarra, deliberately chose an existing design for the Solar Decathlon in China because retrofitting many of Australia’s 8 million-plus homes can cut carbon emissions much faster than rolling out newly built ones.
“We were the only team in any decathlon to date to try to demonstrate a retrofit,” said Jack Breen, a member and spokesman of Team UoW. “The jury saw the need for this. We see the need for this.”
More than 50 students worked for two years on the design, construction and disassembly of the winning Illawarra Flame House, and beat strong competition from 19 other finalists including Chinese, Swedish and Iranian entries. It was also the first time an Australian team had made it to the finals of the event, which started in 2002.
The original home’s energy rating was lifted from 2.2 stars to 7.4 stars, while total energy use dropped about 80 per cent after the retrofit, according to modelling.
‘On the map’
As many as half a million people are expected to tour the display site in Datong, a former capital and now grimy industrial city 300 kilometres west of Beijing.
“This is going to put [the university] on the map a bit,” Mr Breen said, adding the long queues over the weekend may even lengthen in the remaining days of the exhibition as interest builds. “We expect that it will be absolutely crazy.”
While the entry won first place for engineering and application, the house also ranked highly for targeting couples about to retire, a market often overlooked by those developing highly energy-efficient houses.
“With baby boomers reaching retirement age, there’s potentially a big market out there,” Mr Breen said.
Design tweaks to meet that market included reducing the number of bedrooms in a typical 80-square-metre home of that era to just one, with a second bedroom doubling as a study. The students also widened doors, lowered the level of light fittings and removed all steps to ease access for the occupants.
The students installed enough solar panels to generate more power than the household would use, and added reed gardens and sand beds to enable all grey water produced by the washing machine and sinks to be recycled. Waste from a fish pond can also be used as a fertiliser for plants.
“Plants can grow up to four times as fast because of that fertiliser,” Mr Breen said.
History preserved
Part of the house’s appeal for the judges was the use of recycled materials and refurbishing of 1960s furniture.
“We wanted to preserve the history,” he said. “It’s a house that celebrates human life rather than the house itself.”
The redesign and retrofit cost about $300,000, a figure that is likely to shrink as design components are commercialised.
“That’s a conversation we’ll all be having when we get back to Australia,” Mr Breen said.
Once disassembled, the house will be rebuilt at the University of Wollongong, where students – and possibly retired couples – will get a chance to reside in it and study how it performs.
Read the full story at aulaundry.com web! Shanghai Xunduo Electric & Machinery Co., Ltd. is one of the leading industrial laundry equipment manufacturers of washer extractor, tumble dryer,flat work ironer, laundry dryer, folding machine, dry cleaning machine ect., which is integrating designing,researching, manufacturing, sales and service all within the company to ensure the highest level of quality and service.
2013年6月26日 星期三
What to pack
One of cruising's biggest advantages is that you only have to unpack once, even if you are visiting several countries. No need to live out of your suitcase. But storage space is somewhat limited in ship cabins and most airlines now charge for checked baggage — and hit you with overcharges if your bags are heavy.
The golden rule: pack light
That's not as difficult as you might think. People often freak out about what to pack for a cruise, but the reality is you probably already have everything you need. If for some reason you forget something it's likely to be easily at hand in the ship's store — or at shops in the ports.
The two biggest considerations when packing for your cruise? Where you're cruising and on what ship you're sailing.
Shipboard Dress Codes:
The good news is that most cruise line dress codes have gotten decisively more casual in recent years. During the day anything goes — T-shirts, shorts, jeans, bathing suits (with cover-ups) — pretty much anywhere on the ship (except if you decide to do a sit-down lunch in the main dining room, where there may be restrictions). On the luxury lines this relaxed ambience may translate to polos and khakis, sundresses and designer-wear, but the casual concept is the same.
What you wear at night varies by ship and where you want to dine — the rules apply to the main dining room and dress-?up alternative restaurants, but not more casual eateries. Formal nights, held twice on many but not all weeklong itineraries, are not strictly formal — more like semiformal. Men can get away with a dark suit and women a cocktail dress, but check your cruise brochure for advice. Some of the ultraluxury lines still stick to the formal tradition, men in tuxes and women in either long or short finery. For those who want to dress to the hilt (you won't be alone), say to pose for a family photo, many of the bigger cruise lines still offer tuxedo rental (and there's nothing wrong with being overdressed), which you can arrange through your travel agent or once you get onboard. Conversely, even on formal nights you can choose the option of dining more casually at the ship's buffet, where a Hawaiian shirt is suitable day and night.
Sundries:
Most ships offer laundry service and some also have dry cleaning, with about a 24-hour turnaround. There will be a price list in your cabin. Expect to pay about $1.50 per pair of socks, $3 per T-shirt (it's not cheap), and $7 to dry clean a shirt. Many big ship lines also offer self-service industrial washing machine and dryers.
Your cabin will have soap, shampoo, and often conditioner and lotion but quality varies (you may, for instance, only have liquid soap). If you're fussy about products, bring your own. Most ships will sell you anything you forget — toothbrushes, razors, sunscreen, etcand so on. If you like a powerful hairdryer you may want to pack your own, as those in cabins tend to be weak.
All American-operated ships are equipped with 110 AC current (both 110 and 220 on many). But if you are traveling internationally, on a non-American cruise line, you may want to check if you need an adapter for your electronic devices (cell phone, laptop, et al). Note that most cruise cabins have only a couple of outlets, so if you're bringing numerous electronic devices, you might want to bring along a small power strip.
The golden rule: pack light
That's not as difficult as you might think. People often freak out about what to pack for a cruise, but the reality is you probably already have everything you need. If for some reason you forget something it's likely to be easily at hand in the ship's store — or at shops in the ports.
The two biggest considerations when packing for your cruise? Where you're cruising and on what ship you're sailing.
Shipboard Dress Codes:
The good news is that most cruise line dress codes have gotten decisively more casual in recent years. During the day anything goes — T-shirts, shorts, jeans, bathing suits (with cover-ups) — pretty much anywhere on the ship (except if you decide to do a sit-down lunch in the main dining room, where there may be restrictions). On the luxury lines this relaxed ambience may translate to polos and khakis, sundresses and designer-wear, but the casual concept is the same.
What you wear at night varies by ship and where you want to dine — the rules apply to the main dining room and dress-?up alternative restaurants, but not more casual eateries. Formal nights, held twice on many but not all weeklong itineraries, are not strictly formal — more like semiformal. Men can get away with a dark suit and women a cocktail dress, but check your cruise brochure for advice. Some of the ultraluxury lines still stick to the formal tradition, men in tuxes and women in either long or short finery. For those who want to dress to the hilt (you won't be alone), say to pose for a family photo, many of the bigger cruise lines still offer tuxedo rental (and there's nothing wrong with being overdressed), which you can arrange through your travel agent or once you get onboard. Conversely, even on formal nights you can choose the option of dining more casually at the ship's buffet, where a Hawaiian shirt is suitable day and night.
Sundries:
Most ships offer laundry service and some also have dry cleaning, with about a 24-hour turnaround. There will be a price list in your cabin. Expect to pay about $1.50 per pair of socks, $3 per T-shirt (it's not cheap), and $7 to dry clean a shirt. Many big ship lines also offer self-service industrial washing machine and dryers.
Your cabin will have soap, shampoo, and often conditioner and lotion but quality varies (you may, for instance, only have liquid soap). If you're fussy about products, bring your own. Most ships will sell you anything you forget — toothbrushes, razors, sunscreen, etcand so on. If you like a powerful hairdryer you may want to pack your own, as those in cabins tend to be weak.
All American-operated ships are equipped with 110 AC current (both 110 and 220 on many). But if you are traveling internationally, on a non-American cruise line, you may want to check if you need an adapter for your electronic devices (cell phone, laptop, et al). Note that most cruise cabins have only a couple of outlets, so if you're bringing numerous electronic devices, you might want to bring along a small power strip.
2013年6月6日 星期四
Washing one’s dirty linen in public
In India, the dhobi or laundryman was the go-to guy who kept us immaculately dressed. Whites remained white and cotton clothes were starched so stiff that you could almost hear them creak as you moved.
This was especially true living in army residential areas where every element of one’s uniform had to be in perfect order. Seeing our fathers splendidly turned out day after day helped inculcate in us a sense of pride in how we dressed. And to help us in our turn-out was the laundryman who was often the most awaited man in the household. Every item of clothing and linen was entrusted to his care and they usually returned in immaculate condition, stains mysteriously vanished, creases dealt with a firm hand and the art of folding as intricate as origami.
Their prices were reasonable and they came home every day sometimes, or at least twice or thrice a week. So, one could toss clothes around with gay abandon and know that there was someone who would put things right.
Then something strange happened. All of a sudden, these laundry dryer workers started becoming difficult to find. The reason was simple. Their children didn’t want to follow in their parents’ footsteps. And the few who did stick to the business did so reluctantly for want of opportunity. This showed in their work. The clothes that we received were no longer works of art. They were limp apologies and, although the dhobi swore that he had starched the cotton sari or the uniform, you knew that you were fighting a losing battle. Suddenly, more and more items of clothing went missing as the service deteriorated.
I’ve devoted a significant portion of my life to my family’s dry-cleaning business, so it pleased me to see the underdogs from less politically flashy industries get credit on the editorial page. “Here’s to the Dry Cleaner” (Editorial, May 30) hit Tax-Free NY right on the head.
With Tax-Free NY, Gov. Cuomo establishes in-state tax shelters for his preferred businesses to set up shop at state and private colleges across New York. The problem with this plan is that mom-and-pop stores don’t have lobbyists in thousand-dollar suits pitching ideas to the governor. We do have grit, determination and a desire to live the American dream.
Instead of creating a two-tier business society where those who can afford lobbyists swoop in and take advantage of our laws, why not help the people who really need it? The answer isn’t in focus-group-tested names, ribbon-cutting ceremonies and campaign donations. The answer is simple: Embrace free-market ideology in its entirety and give everyone with a dream a shot to succeed. Let’s make the American dream a reality for everyone.
This was especially true living in army residential areas where every element of one’s uniform had to be in perfect order. Seeing our fathers splendidly turned out day after day helped inculcate in us a sense of pride in how we dressed. And to help us in our turn-out was the laundryman who was often the most awaited man in the household. Every item of clothing and linen was entrusted to his care and they usually returned in immaculate condition, stains mysteriously vanished, creases dealt with a firm hand and the art of folding as intricate as origami.
Their prices were reasonable and they came home every day sometimes, or at least twice or thrice a week. So, one could toss clothes around with gay abandon and know that there was someone who would put things right.
Then something strange happened. All of a sudden, these laundry dryer workers started becoming difficult to find. The reason was simple. Their children didn’t want to follow in their parents’ footsteps. And the few who did stick to the business did so reluctantly for want of opportunity. This showed in their work. The clothes that we received were no longer works of art. They were limp apologies and, although the dhobi swore that he had starched the cotton sari or the uniform, you knew that you were fighting a losing battle. Suddenly, more and more items of clothing went missing as the service deteriorated.
I’ve devoted a significant portion of my life to my family’s dry-cleaning business, so it pleased me to see the underdogs from less politically flashy industries get credit on the editorial page. “Here’s to the Dry Cleaner” (Editorial, May 30) hit Tax-Free NY right on the head.
With Tax-Free NY, Gov. Cuomo establishes in-state tax shelters for his preferred businesses to set up shop at state and private colleges across New York. The problem with this plan is that mom-and-pop stores don’t have lobbyists in thousand-dollar suits pitching ideas to the governor. We do have grit, determination and a desire to live the American dream.
Instead of creating a two-tier business society where those who can afford lobbyists swoop in and take advantage of our laws, why not help the people who really need it? The answer isn’t in focus-group-tested names, ribbon-cutting ceremonies and campaign donations. The answer is simple: Embrace free-market ideology in its entirety and give everyone with a dream a shot to succeed. Let’s make the American dream a reality for everyone.
2013年6月4日 星期二
Clarendon Hills cleaner presses on
“I can just look at something and tell if it can be cleaned,” she said. “Ninety percent of wedding dresses are dry clean only. They’re just like any other fancy dress. You put them in the delicate cycle and they come out beautiful.”
As owner of Clare-Hills Cleaners and Shirt Laundry, Foreman has found even ornately beaded wedding dresses are no problem.
She also knows her customers, and their garments.
“Eighty-five percent of my customers are regulars or repeat customers,” Foreman said.
Foreman inherited the company from her father-in-law, who originally founded the business in 1955. It started out as a coin laundry, taking in commercial laundry for supplemental income. The laundry obtained its first dry cleaning machine in the 1980s. Kathy Foreman started working there in 1989.
“I just happened to marry into the business. It was a beautiful part-time job,” she said.
It’s no longer a part time job. Foreman’s day generally starts when the shop opens at 6:30 a.m., although she likes to leave by about 2 p.m. She averages about 70 to 80 hours per week operating the shop with the assistance of her sister-in-law and her niece. Her son also helps out whenever he’s home on a break from school, and her husband does repair and maintenance work.
“I am the company. I am the business,” said Foreman.
Being located across from the Clarendon Hills Metra station guarantees a lot of business from commuters.
“I get a lot of traffic in the morning,” she said.
Foreman is careful about following the cleaning instructions on a garment’s label. However, if something goes wrong and a garment is ruined, Foreman’s reputation makes it easier for customers to obtain compensation if and when it is needed.
“Any good store will give you a store credit or be nice about it,” she said. “They have the receipt and they know me so it’s no problem getting an exchange.”
Foreman also takes aim at a complaint at many cleaning establishments: that women are routinely charged more. At Clare-Hill Cleaners and Shirt Laundry, fees are dictated by whether the shirt fits on the press or whether Foreman has to press the shirt by hand.
“If a woman’s shirt fits on the press, I charge the same price as a man’s shirt,” she said. “On the other hand, I get a lot of boys’ shirts this time of year because of graduation, and those shirts don’t fit on the press.”
Foreman has invested in top of the line equipment, including her present dry cleaning machine, which is a high end model and only two years old. The fact that she owns the building makes it easier to run the business as she chooses.
“There’s no rent and there’s no hassle. You can walk into my shop and see my press,” she said.
As owner of Clare-Hills Cleaners and Shirt Laundry, Foreman has found even ornately beaded wedding dresses are no problem.
She also knows her customers, and their garments.
“Eighty-five percent of my customers are regulars or repeat customers,” Foreman said.
Foreman inherited the company from her father-in-law, who originally founded the business in 1955. It started out as a coin laundry, taking in commercial laundry for supplemental income. The laundry obtained its first dry cleaning machine in the 1980s. Kathy Foreman started working there in 1989.
“I just happened to marry into the business. It was a beautiful part-time job,” she said.
It’s no longer a part time job. Foreman’s day generally starts when the shop opens at 6:30 a.m., although she likes to leave by about 2 p.m. She averages about 70 to 80 hours per week operating the shop with the assistance of her sister-in-law and her niece. Her son also helps out whenever he’s home on a break from school, and her husband does repair and maintenance work.
“I am the company. I am the business,” said Foreman.
Being located across from the Clarendon Hills Metra station guarantees a lot of business from commuters.
“I get a lot of traffic in the morning,” she said.
Foreman is careful about following the cleaning instructions on a garment’s label. However, if something goes wrong and a garment is ruined, Foreman’s reputation makes it easier for customers to obtain compensation if and when it is needed.
“Any good store will give you a store credit or be nice about it,” she said. “They have the receipt and they know me so it’s no problem getting an exchange.”
Foreman also takes aim at a complaint at many cleaning establishments: that women are routinely charged more. At Clare-Hill Cleaners and Shirt Laundry, fees are dictated by whether the shirt fits on the press or whether Foreman has to press the shirt by hand.
“If a woman’s shirt fits on the press, I charge the same price as a man’s shirt,” she said. “On the other hand, I get a lot of boys’ shirts this time of year because of graduation, and those shirts don’t fit on the press.”
Foreman has invested in top of the line equipment, including her present dry cleaning machine, which is a high end model and only two years old. The fact that she owns the building makes it easier to run the business as she chooses.
“There’s no rent and there’s no hassle. You can walk into my shop and see my press,” she said.
2013年5月28日 星期二
Custom-built home is perfect for families
The exceptional custom-built home located at 4 Audley Divide in Bow offers fine construction and attention to detail. Perfect for families searching for charm, character and plenty of space, it features three bedrooms, two full bathrooms, and two half bathrooms.
Tucked away in one of Bow’s most desirable neighborhoods, the home is surrounded by the peace and quiet of natural beauty. It was designed with entertaining in mind, so there are lots of great places for friends and family to enjoy a visit, and there’s plenty of outdoor space to relax and unwind.
Wooded landscaping, a spacious three-car garage and an elegant portico greet residents and guests and signal that this home is one-of-a-kind.
The large, sunny living room features a striking masonry fireplace with a handcrafted mantle and beautiful built-in bookcases, while the family room fireplace features a custom granite mantle and hearth. The family room also opens to both the oversized patio and formal dining room, providing an ideal spot for summer parties or holiday gatherings.
The eat-in kitchen features gorgeous stainless steel appliances, including double Viking wall ovens, an LG refrigerator, Fisher-Paekel two-drawer dishwasher, a Jenn-Air electric countertop range and an abundance of storage space.
A stunning first floor master bedroom suite boasts cathedral ceilings, French doors that lead to the terrace, a massive walk-in closet and a glorious master bathroom with a jetted tub and steam shower.
There are two additional bedrooms that share a bathroom, a fantastic second-floor bonus room and a first-floor laundry room complete with a brand new LG washer and dryer.
The home also has a spectacular finished basement that gives a new meaning to the phrase man cave. There is an impressive 22-foot wet bar with fridge, space for an entertainment center, a 26-by-18-foot billiard room, and even a spot for table tennis or a foosball table. There is also a walk-in cedar closet, great for storing those winter clothes and blankets.
Additionally, the home has underground utilities, a nine-zone heating system, a built-in security system and has been hard-wired for smoke detectors, an intercom and two generators.
Just a short walk to the end of the street offers the most breathtaking 180-
degree views found in Bow. With the luxury of country living and the convenience of being a quick drive to Interstate 93 and the shops and dining of Concord and Manchester, 4 Audley Divide has it all. It’s definitely a must see!
Tucked away in one of Bow’s most desirable neighborhoods, the home is surrounded by the peace and quiet of natural beauty. It was designed with entertaining in mind, so there are lots of great places for friends and family to enjoy a visit, and there’s plenty of outdoor space to relax and unwind.
Wooded landscaping, a spacious three-car garage and an elegant portico greet residents and guests and signal that this home is one-of-a-kind.
The large, sunny living room features a striking masonry fireplace with a handcrafted mantle and beautiful built-in bookcases, while the family room fireplace features a custom granite mantle and hearth. The family room also opens to both the oversized patio and formal dining room, providing an ideal spot for summer parties or holiday gatherings.
The eat-in kitchen features gorgeous stainless steel appliances, including double Viking wall ovens, an LG refrigerator, Fisher-Paekel two-drawer dishwasher, a Jenn-Air electric countertop range and an abundance of storage space.
A stunning first floor master bedroom suite boasts cathedral ceilings, French doors that lead to the terrace, a massive walk-in closet and a glorious master bathroom with a jetted tub and steam shower.
There are two additional bedrooms that share a bathroom, a fantastic second-floor bonus room and a first-floor laundry room complete with a brand new LG washer and dryer.
The home also has a spectacular finished basement that gives a new meaning to the phrase man cave. There is an impressive 22-foot wet bar with fridge, space for an entertainment center, a 26-by-18-foot billiard room, and even a spot for table tennis or a foosball table. There is also a walk-in cedar closet, great for storing those winter clothes and blankets.
Additionally, the home has underground utilities, a nine-zone heating system, a built-in security system and has been hard-wired for smoke detectors, an intercom and two generators.
Just a short walk to the end of the street offers the most breathtaking 180-
degree views found in Bow. With the luxury of country living and the convenience of being a quick drive to Interstate 93 and the shops and dining of Concord and Manchester, 4 Audley Divide has it all. It’s definitely a must see!
2013年5月27日 星期一
Nathan Adelson Hospice
You’ve received the job offer and are reviewing the benefits package. You find that all of the things that you were expecting are there.
But what about the benefits and perks that may tip you in favor of accepting the position? That can often be the deal-maker or deal-breaker for companies when they are recruiting prospective employees.
“Our overall philosophy is that we know our employees are looking for more than just a paycheck,” said Rosamari McNulty, senior director of human resources and volunteer services at Nathan Adelson Hospice. “We want to offer so much more to them for being great employees.”
In a small sampling of Las Vegas companies, some extraordinary benefits quickly become apparent. Those range from pet insurance, the ability to purchase major household appliances interest-free through payroll deduction, Weight Watchers and smoking cessation programs, and even an on-site lactation room for new mothers who are breastfeeding.
The hospice care facility was recognized as a Top 100 Best Places to Work by Modern Health Care magazine in 2010 and 2011. McNulty believes that’s because the company listens to its employees.
“We do a lot of internal employee surveys,” she said. “We truly want to know and care what the employees are thinking.”
Some of its perks include on-site car washes for employees, an option for pet insurance, dry cleaning pickup and drop-off twice per week, an employee purchasing program, discounts on work shoes and free flu shots, plus occasional seminars on financial planning and nutrition.
McNulty said the purchasing program has been a big hit. Employees can purchase things online from a website such as household furniture, computers, washers and dryers, and then pay for them interest-free through payroll deduction.
The company pays 100 percent of coverage for medical, pharmaceutical and dental premiums, plus it subsidizes 25 percent of dependent and domestic partner care. It also provides life insurance and long-term disability coverage at no cost to the employee.
The company pays for all certification classes and renewals that employees need.“Anything that is required for them to do their job, we pay for,” McNulty said.
Weight Watchers classes also are offered, and employees who lose 5 percent of their body weight and maintain it are reimbursed, McNulty said.
Another area where Nathan Adelson Hospice is particularly diligent is counseling for its employees.
“Our staff deals with a lot of emotions on an everyday basis,” McNulty said. “We have a compassion fatigue support group and counselors are always available. We also have a program where an employee can go off site to talk to someone, as well.
“Our employees can get attached to their patients,” she said. “Some even attend funerals sometimes of the patients they cared for.”
But what about the benefits and perks that may tip you in favor of accepting the position? That can often be the deal-maker or deal-breaker for companies when they are recruiting prospective employees.
“Our overall philosophy is that we know our employees are looking for more than just a paycheck,” said Rosamari McNulty, senior director of human resources and volunteer services at Nathan Adelson Hospice. “We want to offer so much more to them for being great employees.”
In a small sampling of Las Vegas companies, some extraordinary benefits quickly become apparent. Those range from pet insurance, the ability to purchase major household appliances interest-free through payroll deduction, Weight Watchers and smoking cessation programs, and even an on-site lactation room for new mothers who are breastfeeding.
The hospice care facility was recognized as a Top 100 Best Places to Work by Modern Health Care magazine in 2010 and 2011. McNulty believes that’s because the company listens to its employees.
“We do a lot of internal employee surveys,” she said. “We truly want to know and care what the employees are thinking.”
Some of its perks include on-site car washes for employees, an option for pet insurance, dry cleaning pickup and drop-off twice per week, an employee purchasing program, discounts on work shoes and free flu shots, plus occasional seminars on financial planning and nutrition.
McNulty said the purchasing program has been a big hit. Employees can purchase things online from a website such as household furniture, computers, washers and dryers, and then pay for them interest-free through payroll deduction.
The company pays 100 percent of coverage for medical, pharmaceutical and dental premiums, plus it subsidizes 25 percent of dependent and domestic partner care. It also provides life insurance and long-term disability coverage at no cost to the employee.
The company pays for all certification classes and renewals that employees need.“Anything that is required for them to do their job, we pay for,” McNulty said.
Weight Watchers classes also are offered, and employees who lose 5 percent of their body weight and maintain it are reimbursed, McNulty said.
Another area where Nathan Adelson Hospice is particularly diligent is counseling for its employees.
“Our staff deals with a lot of emotions on an everyday basis,” McNulty said. “We have a compassion fatigue support group and counselors are always available. We also have a program where an employee can go off site to talk to someone, as well.
“Our employees can get attached to their patients,” she said. “Some even attend funerals sometimes of the patients they cared for.”
2013年3月28日 星期四
'American Dream' comes to fruition for basketball coach Andy Enfield
All of those hours accruing knowledge about money management did not go to waste. A company he founded produced videos on shooting and sold them worldwide. Venturing outside of sports, he served as vice-president and part-owner of a high-tech firm in health services, launched by a pal, that is now valued at well north of US$100 million (Dh367.3m).
Meantime, a friend introduced Enfield to a green-eyed lass named Amanda Marcum. This was hardly an attempt at matchmaking; Marcum simply needed a ride to a game he was attending.
No typical basketball fan was she, but a gorgeous magazine cover girl (Vogue, Maxim) and runway model (Victoria's Secret) who would become the most prized recruit Enfield hooks no matter how long he coaches.
A week later, their initial date unfolded at another game. (Jealous yet, guys?) Dinner that night was at a fast-food taco joint. Not exactly from the "How To Impress a Super Model Handbook," but something clicked.
A half-year later, they got engaged when Enfield, maintaining the fast-food theme, tucked the engagement ring in a box of chain-store doughnuts.
Still a young man, Enfield sold his share of the health-services outfit, which offered enough financial freedom to follow his muse and coach basketball.
He procured a job as assistant at a university with a prominent team. Marcum swapped out the skimpy outfits in which she posed for maternity clothes, eventually bearing three children.
Another university – this one obscure, a virtual start-up like Enfield's former company – hired him as head coach two years ago with nothing to lose, except lots of games. Salary was no issue at Florida Gulf Coast, and the self-made millionaire was content to take less than many assistants at major schools.
By now, you might have noticed Enfield's bold streak, reflected in the Wayne Gretzky quote that shouts from a sign in his office: "You miss 100 per cent of the shots you don't take."
So it should come as no surprise that he does not operate from the standard coaching bible.
Whereas others exercise their control-freakiness by holding the reins tight on players, he loosens them almost to the point of dropping them altogether. FGC runs and guns, while having loads of fun, within a hazily defined framework.
The lay-up line during warm-ups is revealing: Every player dunks, or at least tries to. This carefree attitude spills over into games, with Enfield hardly ever seeing fit to scream at players.
He cares not that premier scorer Sherwood Brown sticks out his tongue at nobody in particular after scoring a basket. Or that bench players strut and flap their arms in apparent mimicry of a bird, if not quite the eagle that is the team mascot.
FGC not only won their opening two games in the NCAA Tournament known as March Madness, the most unlikely entrant ever to pull off the double, but did so with a splash of alley-oop slams and fancy passes that knocked the NBA off of the nightly basketball highlight reels. Afterward, in the locker room, players raised a toast of water and soda to Enfield - then poured it all over him. No worries; he can afford the dry-cleaning bill.
Amanda – still a knockout blonde, even far removed from her pin-ups days – entered and exchanged a long embrace with Andy, nine years her senior. For FGC, the idyllic season likely ends in defeat this weekend.
For their coach, who set his own professional and personal course and then tilled it, no alarm clock seems about to awaken him from the American Dream.
Meantime, a friend introduced Enfield to a green-eyed lass named Amanda Marcum. This was hardly an attempt at matchmaking; Marcum simply needed a ride to a game he was attending.
No typical basketball fan was she, but a gorgeous magazine cover girl (Vogue, Maxim) and runway model (Victoria's Secret) who would become the most prized recruit Enfield hooks no matter how long he coaches.
A week later, their initial date unfolded at another game. (Jealous yet, guys?) Dinner that night was at a fast-food taco joint. Not exactly from the "How To Impress a Super Model Handbook," but something clicked.
A half-year later, they got engaged when Enfield, maintaining the fast-food theme, tucked the engagement ring in a box of chain-store doughnuts.
Still a young man, Enfield sold his share of the health-services outfit, which offered enough financial freedom to follow his muse and coach basketball.
He procured a job as assistant at a university with a prominent team. Marcum swapped out the skimpy outfits in which she posed for maternity clothes, eventually bearing three children.
Another university – this one obscure, a virtual start-up like Enfield's former company – hired him as head coach two years ago with nothing to lose, except lots of games. Salary was no issue at Florida Gulf Coast, and the self-made millionaire was content to take less than many assistants at major schools.
By now, you might have noticed Enfield's bold streak, reflected in the Wayne Gretzky quote that shouts from a sign in his office: "You miss 100 per cent of the shots you don't take."
So it should come as no surprise that he does not operate from the standard coaching bible.
Whereas others exercise their control-freakiness by holding the reins tight on players, he loosens them almost to the point of dropping them altogether. FGC runs and guns, while having loads of fun, within a hazily defined framework.
The lay-up line during warm-ups is revealing: Every player dunks, or at least tries to. This carefree attitude spills over into games, with Enfield hardly ever seeing fit to scream at players.
He cares not that premier scorer Sherwood Brown sticks out his tongue at nobody in particular after scoring a basket. Or that bench players strut and flap their arms in apparent mimicry of a bird, if not quite the eagle that is the team mascot.
FGC not only won their opening two games in the NCAA Tournament known as March Madness, the most unlikely entrant ever to pull off the double, but did so with a splash of alley-oop slams and fancy passes that knocked the NBA off of the nightly basketball highlight reels. Afterward, in the locker room, players raised a toast of water and soda to Enfield - then poured it all over him. No worries; he can afford the dry-cleaning bill.
Amanda – still a knockout blonde, even far removed from her pin-ups days – entered and exchanged a long embrace with Andy, nine years her senior. For FGC, the idyllic season likely ends in defeat this weekend.
For their coach, who set his own professional and personal course and then tilled it, no alarm clock seems about to awaken him from the American Dream.
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