Purlins for roof

advertisement advertisement advertisement My mother enjoys a codependent relationship with Umbrella, the company that connects senior citizens with $20-hour “neighbors” who do all the tasks that people like my mom need: minor home repairs, tech help, furniture assembly, moving large items. advertisement advertisement IAC has taken note. Its ANGI Homeservices arm (in which IAC is majority shareholder, with over 80% ownership) recently acquired Umbrella for an undisclosed sum, the companies announced today, adding to its extensive portfolio of internet brands. As is fitting for these rainy times, the deal was negotiated via Zoom. Umbrella stormed onto the scene in 2017 as the brainchild of Harvard Business School grad and co-founder Lindsay Ullman, who previously spent a decade investing in and incubating other companies through Google Ventures and other firms. Members pay an annual $199 membership, and 75% renew. My mom likes Umbrella because the … [Read more...] about Exclusive: IAC’s ANGI Homeservices acquires Umbrella, the popular household-help service for senior citizens

advertisement advertisement advertisement After an earthquake or flood, the emergency relief tents that are often sent by aid organizations to people who lost their homes don’t last long—after six months or a year, the tents will probably become trash or, at best, be used for scraps. But nonprofits are now testing a new type of emergency shelter: a simple structure that could be built within hours, but that could later be adapted with local materials to become a more permanent house. advertisement advertisement Structure . The Ikea Foundation-backed nonprofit first launched flat-packed shelters in 2015 as Syrian refugees were fleeing to Europe. The original shelters, with sturdy panels to make up the walls and roof, a door, and the option of solar panels, are more expensive. The new shelter, with a simple frame that can be covered with a tarp and eventually recovered with other materials, is nearly four times less costly, at … [Read more...] about These quick-build disaster shelters can later become permanent houses

advertisement advertisement advertisement When you think of Orlando, Florida, you may think of sun, lakes, orange trees, and Mickey Mouse. You may associate Charleston, South Carolina, with a pretty port, palmettos, cobblestone streets, and white-sand beaches. advertisement advertisement That’s how those cities are reflected on the commonly found “Greetings From” postcards , which represent the locations and landmarks that vacation destinations strive to be known for. Those iconic postcards have been popular since they were first produced in the U.S. by German immigrant and publisher Curt Teich in 1931, and they continue to be known for their big-block text, inside which colorful drawings depict distinctive monuments and sites of interest. That hard truth has inspired a warped reimagining of the iconic postcards. A twisted parody, Shamecards is a new art activism project led by Manuel and Patricia Oliver, the parents of … [Read more...] about These ‘Shamecards’ are frightening reminders of the legacies of mass shootings

advertisement advertisement advertisement This year, a favorite Michael Jordan quote of mine, “Don’t aspire to be the best on the team—aspire to be the best for the team,” fueled my journey of using simple, practical leadership and team-building tactics to connect our remote and on-site culture at Mercury Mosaics. advertisement advertisement When I looked for the gaps, my goal was to understand what systems we needed in place so more people could shine. We place a lot of focus on building a place that creates careers. And last year, we had zero layoffs and actually created jobs. A team approach was driving my focus to sharing leadership responsibilities. I’m always saying many hands make light work. Digital connections Forty percent of our team has been working remotely since March 2020. Sixty percent of our team has been in-studio. Most of them had no access to technology, because our existing methodology was mostly analog. … [Read more...] about This is how I encourage teamwork in our hybrid workforce

advertisement advertisement advertisement When Toronto’s CityPlace development was planned in the 1980s, the 30-building condo project near the city’s downtown had a specific kind of tenant in mind: young professionals willing to forgo space for proximity to the jobs and action in the center of the city. But as the last of the project’s high-rises and condos near completion, the roughly 18,000 people living in them are defying expectations. CityPlace has unexpectedly become home to hundreds of families. advertisement advertisement “What happened is young people have embraced living in the downtown core and also raising families in the downtown core,” says Gary Pieters, a resident and former president of the CityPlace Residents Association. But the buildings themselves weren’t really designed to accommodate families, he says. People have resorted to what Pieters calls “hacks” to make tower life more conducive to the needs of … [Read more...] about This Toronto development replicates suburban living in a high-rise