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Interior designer Sarah A. Abdallah brings a global perspective to hotels and restaurants
Even if you have never met Sarah A. Abdallah, you will feel like you know her after stepping inside one of the interiors she has designed for the hospitality industry. The 40-year-old founder of Functional Creative Design in New York City infuses lobbies, restaurants, and lounges with elements from her personal history, academic pursuits, and travels. READ MORE
Rottet Studio brings Texas tradition to the Cavalry Court Hotel
To best understand Cavalry Court, a hotel deep in the heart of Texas, it helps to acquaint oneself with the city of College Station, home of Texas A&M University. The property is on campus and the hotel name refers to the school's Parsons Mounted Cavalry, with its 55 horses and mules as well as its training program for the student Corps of Cadets. READ MORE
Caesarstone Partners with Snarkitecture at Milan Design Week
Each year Caesarstone, the pioneer of premier quartz surfaces, partners with a renowned designer to reimagine quartz application and inspire new artistic interpretation at Milan Design Week. This year, Caesarstone is proud to work with Snarkitecture, known for blending art and architecture in spaces such as Kith Brooklyn and Odin in NYC, for a unique display exploring the fluidity of water in the context of the kitchen island. Learn more about the installation and Caesarstone: READ MORE
Promoted by Caesarstone
Custom home or corporate office? Investment firm wanted both
The new home for investment management company Deer Park Road Corporation, the 26,000 square feet, four-story Deer Park Office Building in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, resembles more of a mountainside ski lodge than a corporate office building. Designed by Vertical Arts Architecture, the building features design elements found in high-end custom homes in the region, including warm, natural materials, large decks on every floor, a modern, linear fireplace, a full commercial kitchen, and a cozy lounge and entertainment room. READ MORE
Dallas retailer to make New York City debut
Forty Five Ten will open its first store on the East Coast, a 16,000 square feet location at Manhattan's Hudson Yards, in March 2019. The upscale emporium will join Forty Five Ten's five existing stores across Texas and California. The design concept for the retailer's Hudson Yards outpost was created in partnership with New York-based firm Snarkitecture. It echoes Forty Five Ten's regard for the unusual design element. READ MORE
How to design for everyone in 3 steps
Fast Company Design
Inclusive design is officially a buzzword, with companies like Airbnb releasing an inclusion toolkit and Microsoft attempting to use its principles to make better products. But the idea that designing for a wider variety of people makes more effective products for everyone is still far from mainstream. Four designers working on the front lines of the fight to make products, services, and spaces more accessible share why inclusive design should be the primary way of thinking about design — regardless of who the end user is. READ MORE
Nashville hotel takes authenticity to the extreme with dedicated recording studio, performance spaces
The recent renovation of the Hutton Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee, points to an important trend: using design to create a distinctive sense of place. Music City has experienced a hotel construction boom in recent years, making for a more competitive market. The owners of the Hutton, a downtown boutique hotel, remodeled some common areas to appeal to prominent musician clientele. READ MORE
A new material called 'superwood' is just as strong as steel
Is wood the next advanced material? Scientists at the University of Maryland reported they've discovered a way to treat wood to make it 12 times stronger than natural wood and 10 times tougher. According to Liangbing Hu, one the lead researchers in the paper published in Nature, their wood is so strong and durable that it can compete with steel, titanium alloys and even carbon fiber — but at an infinitely much lower price point. READ MORE
This children's shoe store was designed for restless kids
Getting children to sit through a shoe fitting can be a challenge. Clap, a Spanish branding and interior design studio, believes it found the answer to this parenting problem with a concept children's footwear store, Little Stories. The team used geometry, bright colors, and imaginative design to make purchasing shoes a playful occasion rather than a chore. READ MORE
Gabrielle Bullock Named One of the 25 Influential Black Women in Business
IIDA President-elect Gabrielle Bullock IIDA, FAIA, NOMA, LEED AP, director of global diversity and principal at Perkins+Will, will be honored by The Network Journal at the 25 Influential Black Women in Business Awards, presented by Morgan Stanley, this coming March in New York City. READ MORE
Two Days Left to Submit to the 2018 Interior Design Competition and Will Ching Design Competition
The deadline to enter your projects to the 45th annual Interior Design Competition and 26th annual Will Ching Design Competition is Friday, Feb. 16, 2018 at 11:59 p.m. CST. IIDA invites you to enter for your opportunity to join the exclusive list of winners, including these firms from 2017: Gensler, Giorgio Borruso Design, J.C. Architecture, Lehrer Architects LA, LSM, Rockwell Group, and Shanghai Godolphin. READ MORE
The James New York — NoMad completes renovation
The James New York — NoMad completed its renovation with the opening of Scarpetta's new location in NoMad after 10 years on 14th street, and the introduction of The Seville social cocktail lounge. The fully renovated property has 360 guestrooms (including 28 suites), two penthouses, and 5,000 square feet of meeting spaces designed by Thomas Juul-Hansen. READ MORE
Len-Tex Wallcoverings Introduces NEW item: ADOBE
Adobe's simple texture is reminiscent of southwestern architecture and pottery, with hints at textured concrete walls. With a mixed pallet that combines beautiful mattes and soft metallic sheen's, Adobe moves effortlessly from organic to industrial, and everywhere in-between. Check out Adobe's 17 available colors and full product specifications.
Restaurant brand to unveil updated concept
The Melting Pot Restaurant is giving itself a refresh to give patrons more options. The company will debut a reimagined restaurant concept and expanded menu offerings — the first in its 43-year history — in late spring, in Red Bank, New Jersey. The new format will feature an open design layout, with an expanded retail area and an open show kitchen, featuring cheese and chocolate courses. READ MORE
A look at Vipp's collection of timeless lighting
While Vipp is widely known for their iconic trash cans that have been around since 1939, they've gradually expanded their offerings over the years to include ceramics and even their modern retreat, Shelter. The Danish brand continues to produce functional products for modern living and one of their best is a series of lighting that's designed to last. READ MORE
6 ways truly effective leaders deliver feedback
Writes Glenn Leibowitz: "Several years ago, as I transitioned into a managerial role requiring me to lead others, I became the giver of leadership feedback, a skill that took me some time to develop. In the early days, I made a lot of mistakes and absorbed feedback from my mentors and managers about my own feedback delivery skills. Here are six principles of giving effective performance feedback that I've learned over the years." READ MORE
Muraflex™ Demountable Glass Partitions
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4 secrets to showing new hires they belong
Having a new hire is exciting; it's a chance to bring a fresh spark into the office. But, for that new hire, the first day is stressful. He or she is an outsider trying to fit in while processing large amounts of information. Here are four ways to make incoming employees immediately feel like part of the team. READ MORE
What working in a dark office may do to your brain (Fast Company Design)
Office Depot puts emphasis on business services in big store makeover (Chain Store Age)
The hotel of the future looks a lot like today's hotel (Hotel Management)
3 things wrong with public space design (Hotel Management)


X Games returns to Aspen, Colorado's Buttermilk Mountain for the world's best action sports, music and festival experience — on snow! The annual Winter X Games will be held between January 24th to 27th. The event will take place in Aspen, Colorado, on Buttermilk Mountain, the same place as in the past few years.
X Games Aspen will host musical performances by Lil Wayne, Louis The Child, The Chainsmokers and Kygo alongside competition among the most progressive winter athletes in Aspen Snowmass, Colorado, on January 24 – 27 all at Buttermilk Mountain. More than 75 Olympians return to the biggest stage in action sports, competing in 17 disciplines televised live across the globe on ESPN, ESPN2, ABC and international syndication partners. Fans can also follow X Games across digital and social media platforms to watch behind the scenes, athlete curated and complementary content that enhances the X Games Aspen 2019 telecasts.
All sport competitions are free and open to the public. X Games Aspen will host musical performances by Lil Wayne, Louis The Child, The Chainsmokers and Kygo as they take the stage alongside the most progressive winter athletes at Buttermilk on January 24 – 27. The X Games is an annual extreme sports event hosted, produced, and broadcast by ESPN. Coverage is also shown on ESPN's sister network, ABC.
So, don't miss a single moment of the Winter X Games live action. Don't worry, If you can't attend in Aspen, we'll discuss here how to watch X Games online real-time TV coverage.
The Winter X-Games feature extreme winter sports like skiing, snowmobiling, and of course, snowboarding. Some of the TOP athletes in the world compete for the coveted X-Games GOLD and for the pride of being the best at their sport. Extreme sports have been around for a long time, but a celebration of them all has only been taking place for a little over two decades, so if you want to make sure you can watch the 2019 Winter X Games, then we have you covered.
When Are the Winter X Games 2019?
The 2019 Winter X Games will be held between January 24th to 27th. The event will take place in Aspen, Colorado, on Buttermilk Mountain, the same place as in the past few years.
For those in attendance at the location, there are even concerts prepared, with Lil Wayne, Louis the Child, The Chainsmokers, and Kygo set to take the stage at Buttermilk. Those who you'll see on your screens cheering for the athletes will have quite the weekend. We should mention that all sports competitions are free and open to the public, but those who want to attend the concerts have to pay. With $120 a full pass for all concerts, however, the price isn't too steep.
The schedule is not yet public, but we'll make sure to update as soon as it is. Until then, you can check out the official page of the event and see what cool things they hide in there.
What Channels to Watch X Games Aspen?
The broadcasting rights to the X Games go to ESPN and ABC Networks, which are thankfully present on a wide range of online streaming platforms. The channels have a long history of broadcasting the X Games, so it's not really a surprise.
If one is unable to watch the X Games via TV, streaming could be a viable option instead. The official streaming service for the X Games are ESPN and ABC. They will stream all of the X Games 4 days performances. For those who happen to miss the broadcast in its entirety or specific portions of it, the ESPN and ABC streaming service allows for on-demand viewing option for the fan. The final events of the competition are being broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2, and ABC. If you're a cord-cutter here are the ways that you can stream the game live.
According to the United States Television regulation, all the rights to show Winter X Games 2019 are guaranteed to ESPN and ABC Network in the United States. You can just check out the every detail about the race on their official website so that you get every detail you need in order to watch the game comfortably from your home. If you don't have a cable to stream the live action trough ESPN or ABC there a number of other official channels available to watch from. The alternative ways include streaming using your mobiles, desktops, laptops, Android, tablets, androids, and IPad, iPhone and play stations.
This is the official platform that enables you to stream the live action of Winter X Games 2018 from Aspen. For you to use the services you must have paid for the subscription the relevant cable compatible provider. ESPN is an ideal option if you are watching it from a cable. However, if you are watching it from outside then it can work for you.
This essentially the official broadcaster of the X Games Aspen. On the ABC Networks, you can watch the live action of the sports, music and festival on snow online or through a cable. Additionally, you can also download the ABC app and stream the live action on a network. The availability of the channel greatly depends on your location.
Nowadays, in the digital era, people want to enjoy TV anywhere they go, they want to no longer be tied to their homes if they want to watch their favorite shows, sports games, or various other events. So, streaming services that provide live TV channels seem like the way to go. We're going to take a look and make a list of all platforms that feature the channels you need in order to watch the Winter X Games.
FuboTV is a sports-centric streaming service. It offers a 7-day free trial and costs $19.99 for the first month before jumping up to $44.99 a month. It includes a live feed of Fox in dozens of markets.
Device support Apple TV, Roku, Amazon Fire TV, Chromecast, Android TV, AirTV Player, Xiaomi, LG Smart TVs, Samsung Smart TVs, iOS, Android, Fire tablets, Chrome web browser, No PlayStation or Xbox.
Allows for the viewing of over 65 live channels at $40/month. In order to take advantage of the free possibilities, one would have to sign up and receive the free 7-day trial. If timed properly, one could watch the majority of the X Games action during the free trial period and cancel free of charge prior to the trial's expiration.
At the top of the list we have Sling TV, which is an excellent service that allows users to customize their subscriptions. There are three bundles you can get – Orange ($25/mo), Blue ($25/mo), and Orange + Blue ($40/mo) -, as well as numerous TV channel packs grouped together based on interest, and various premium networks.
You can find ESPN, ESPN 2, and ESPN 3 in the Orange and Orange + Blue bundles. There's no trace of ABC, however, so you're going to have to do without them.
YouTube TV includes ABC in addition to over 50 other channels for $35/month. You also get other major networks ABC, NBC, and CBS, plus more. You also get 5 ESPN channels. YouTube TV has everything you need to watch the X Games on its official YouTube channel.
The service that got the best score when we reviewed it is PlayStation Vue. This platform offers a great selection of channels strewn over the four bundles it offers – Access ($44.99/mo), Core ($49.99/mo), Elite ($59.99/mo), and Ultra ($79.99/mo) -, as well as a few extra channel packs and premium networks.
All four bundles from PlayStation Vue feature ABC, ESPN, and ESPN 2. So, you'll just have to decide which one to pick based on what other channels there are and the price.
Another option you have is ESPN+. The service was only launched in April 2018 and quickly grew to fame, picking up millions of subscribers.
Users get to enjoy the same ESPN app that everyone has, but they can watch all the extra content that's marked with a golden badge – original content, exclusive events, and more.
The subscription costs $5 per month or $50 per year, which is a great offer, especially if you get most of your sports from ESPN. Read our ESPN+ review for more details.
How to Watch the Winter X Games Anywhere?
The Winter X Games can be watched across the world on numerous channels, including Eurosport, for instance. Many of these networks have live streams on their sites, but the problem comes with the streaming sites we discussed. Now, while they're wonderful platforms, the licensing deals they have to prevent them from opening their sites to people outside the United States. So, if you're a subscriber and you're planning on traveling abroad, you're out of luck. If you have a VPN, however, things will get easily fixed.
So, the first thing you need to do is make sure you have your VPN installed and that you're signed in.
Then, you have to pick a server from the United States. There are dozens of such servers on all VPNs, so it shouldn't be an issue finding one.
When the connection is established, you can go ahead and load the platform you picked in the browser, or launch the dedicated app.
Find ABC or the ESPN channels and enjoy!
This another method that does exactly what VPN does. Smart DNS Proxies bypass any geographical restrictions and offers you a chance to unblock and stream channels outside the restricted area. With Smart DNS Proxies you are able to stream X Games from anywhere you want. Let's look at how to unblock channels in the United States and consequently stream Winter X games from anywhere.
Two years after the appearance of the first Summer ,X Games the Winter,X Games began in 1997 in front of an audience of 38,000 people. The big event was first broadcast live on ESPN in 2002. In addition to that the Winter ,X Games received coverage on SportsCenter. Over the years the event has grown and so have the audiences. During the 2017 Winter ,X Games an audience of 105,000 spectators flocked to Aspen, CO. At it peak the event has drawn crowds of 115,00 people.
Extreme sports isn't something that is confined to United States athletes. In 2003, the X-Games held the Global Championships, an event where competitors from The United States, Europe, Australia, Asia, and South America competed in 11 sports. Furthermore, several Winter X-Games Europe events have been held in Tignes, France. Most recently European games have taken place in Oslo, Norway.
This years big event will take place at Buttermilk Mountain in Aspen, Colorado and will continue to utilize this location until 2019.
Any looking to watch X Games live stream 2019, there are a lot of options available. All you need to do is finding out the option and to be specific the site that best works for you and stick to it as you enjoy the Winter X Games Aspen event. With the new era of technology, there are always options to stream the actions of the live event.


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MSN makes a game of searching
5:00 AM PDT 7/30/2007 by Alex Woodson , AP
Looks to narrow gap between sector leaders via club promo
MSN's Live Search saw sizable growth in June fueled in large part by Live Search Club, a gaming promotion driving users to the search engine.
According to Nielsen// NetRatings, Live Search's share of the search market shot up to nearly 13% in June, up five percentage points from May as search volume grew 63% in that period. With growth of more than 46% year-over-year, Google's search engine still dominates the category, though, and Yahoo also maintains a sizable lead over MSN. Both, however, were down in market share and search volume in June compared with May.
Live Search Club, introduced in April, gives users points, redeemable for Microsoft products, in exchange for playing games and puzzles that involve the search engine. Brad Goldberg, GM of marketing at Live Search, said the idea behind the games was to showcase aspects unique to MSN's search engine, including its image search and related search features, which consistently ranks behind Google and Yahoo.
"By bringing users into Live Search Club, we're able to highlight areas where we have differentiation," he said. "We've designed these into the club so that someone can be playing the game and using the product at the same time."
The huge spikes led some Web analysts to conclude that users were setting up automated "bots" to play the games and earn points to purchase such pricier Microsoft merchandise as Windows Office or Vista. While Goldberg acknowledged that this fraud did happen and was actually "expected" by his company, he said third parties crunching the search numbers, along with MSN's internal analysts, were able to "filter out" this type of behavior.
Goldberg, though, is taking a long-term approach to Live Search's growth and admitted that he was surprised by June's numbers. He said that the search category is especially fickle and subject to waves and troughs.
"There's always a spike when you introduce a new program," he said. "Our goal is that when we hit a point of stability about three to four months from now, we want to be at a higher point than where we started."
Nielsen//NetRatings is owned by the Nielsen Co., parent company of The Hollywood Reporter.
Alex Woodson

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


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Arrow "Unthinkable" Review (2×23)
"You helped me become a hero, Slade. Thank you."
Oliver Queen is a hero, not necessarily because he saves countless lives by destroying his enemies, but because he sticks to his principles and allows himself to grow beyond who he was back on the island. The idea of murder runs rampant in this season, and questions of morality have plagued him ever since he donned the hood and picked up the bow.
This season, though, is all about the transformation, the growth. We've come full circle; yes, Slade was the reason he survived, why he became a killer. However, Slade is also the reason he can prove he isn't a killer anymore. This point is brilliantly hammered home by the climactic fight scene at the end of the episode, wherein we see past and present juxtaposed as Oliver and Slade fight, exchanging blows and carrying the weight of years of history, of pain, of regret, that courses through their veins.
Island Oliver is consumed by rage akin to that of Slade's, allowing them to see eye to eye and allowing Oliver to kill his former friend. The Oliver of the present, though, rises above the fray, not allowing himself to make the same mistakes he used to, the mistakes that led to him sacrificing the very essence of his being. Now, he's changed, and he acknowledges that Slade's hatred for him runs deeper than the powers of the Mirakuru.
So, Slade ends up in an A.R.G.U.S. Super Max prison on the island, a fitting Purgatory for a character transformed by that very place. Oliver was also transformed by the island, but unlike Slade, he's able to grow beyond that. Take, for example, the scene in which he professes his love for Felicity (MIT, class of '09). It's a genuine, heartfelt sentiment that's able to not only trick Slade and mess with the Olicity shippers, but also portray an Oliver Queen who's able to express his true feelings. He listens to and trusts her, much like he trusts people like Diggle.
"Unthinkable" is about doing what's seemingly unthinkable in this messed up world: trusting. It's not what Sara means when she warns Oliver, but it all turns out differently; it all turns out to be the way Oliver wants it to be, the way he and Felicity and Roy and Lance and Starling City need it to be.
Saving this city? No problem.
SEASON GRADE: A-
-This episode really shows off the wide range of action sequences this show can pull off, from the thrilling set piece in the tunnel to the stylistically creative Oliver-Slade fight scene. I must've audibly cheered at least 10 times during this episode.
– "I want to be not safe, with you!" –Felicity
-So, Oliver. Hong Kong. Amanda Waller. Where are we going with this? I can't wait to find out.
-I'm really interested to see where Thea's storyline goes next year. The time we spend with her in this episode isn't particularly exciting, but her joining Malcolm should make for some interesting plot directions.
-Diggle and Deadshot! Also, Lyla's pregnant.
-One more round of applause for Manu Bennett. Absolutely brilliant work this season, and if you haven't already, please check out Spartacus.
-See ya, Sara. I'm so glad they're finding a way to sort of write her out of the show without killing her. Killing her off would've wrecked me.
-Ah, so it was an arrow to the eye that caused Slade to lose it. I expected it to be him accidentally stabbing himself with a kitchen knife while cutting vegetables or something…you know, for a lovely candlelit dinner with Oliver.
-The salmon ladder did not make an appearance, which is disappointing. You would've thought that amidst all that city-wide destruction and chaos, Oliver and Sara could still find some time to crank out a few workouts.
-RIP, Isabel Rochev. Summer Glau: under-used.
-I feel like Lance's injury/whatever it is is one twist too many. Is he dead? I hope not.
-Well, the second season really ramped up the quality, and this has become one of the best shows on television. I look forward to covering season 3 in the fall. Thanks for reading!
Photo credit: The CW, Arrow
Tags: Amanda Waller drone strike Arrow, Arrow, Arrow review recap, Arrow season 2 episode 23, Arrow season 2 finale, Arrow tunnel Starling City fight scenes, Arrow Unthinkable, Detective Lance dead Arrow, Diggle Deadshot Arrow, Hong Kong Arrow ending, Isabel Rochev death killed Arrow, Lyla pregnant Diggle's wife Arrow, Manu Bennett Slade Wilson eye patch, Nyssa al Ghul League of Assassins Arrow, Oliver I love you Felicity Olicity Arrow, Oliver Slade Deathstroke fight scenes Shado Arrow, Roy Red Arrow mask and bow Arrow, Sara Lance Laurel Canary Jacket Arrow, Slade ARGUS Super Max prison island Arrow, Slade Wilson mirakuru cure Arrow, The Flash preview trailer promo Arrow, Thea joins Malcolm leaves Starling City Arrow, Thea shoots father Malcolm Merlyn Arrow
Categories Arrow, Television
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One Response to "Arrow "Unthinkable" Review (2×23)"
Mel May 19, 2014 at 4:25 pm #
Felicity and Oliver! They totally fooled me. I think because I wanted it so much. Tricky bastards. Good episode. This season started really well but it got bogged down toward the end. I liked the island flashbacks better than the main story this year. Next years island flashbacks look promising. What will they do after five years when there are no more island flashbacks? Nice blog.


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