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Weekly Issue: Thematic M&A and Adding Back a Digital Infrastructure Position

Weekly Issue: Thematic M&A and Adding Back a Digital Infrastructure Position

Key points inside this issue

  • Despite the stock market’s year to date gains, concerns remain for December quarter earnings season
  • Thematic M&A was rampant in 2018
  • Our price targets on AMN Healthcare (AMN), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and Netflix (NFLX) remain $75, $550 and $500, respectively.
  • Putting shares of Guilty Pleasure thematic leader Altria (MO) on watch
  • We are issuing a Buy on and adding back shares of Digital Infrastructure company, USA Technologies (USAT), to the Tematica Select List with a price target of $10.

Despite the stock market’s year to date gains, concerns remain for December quarter earnings season

Over the last week, stocks continued to move higher placing all the major domestic stock market averages higher. Quite the turn from what we saw in much of the December quarter that evaporated all of 2018’s gains. Part of the rebound reflects the harsh beating that many stocks received as investors came to grips with the various factors that I’ve been discussing here over the last two months. The down and dirty summation of those factors is this: the global economy continues to slow and it is raising questions over not only GDP prospects for the coming year but also earnings.

Stoking those earnings growth concerns were negative pre-announcements from Apple (AAPL), Samsung, LG, Macy’s (M), Target (TGT) and Kohl’s (KSS) over the last two weeks. That combination points to slower smartphone demand, but I continue to see it picking up in the coming quarters as the Disruptive Innovation that is 5G ripples its way across our Digital Infrastructure and Digital Lifestyle investing themes.  This week we can add Delta Airlines (DAL), Dialog Semiconductor (DLGNF), Nordstrom (JWN), Electronics for Imaging (EFII), Sherwin Williams (SHW) and Ford Motor Company (F) to that list as well as earnings misses from Wells Fargo (WFC), BlackRock (BLK) and others. Not exactly a vote of confidence for the December quarter earnings season.

Adding fuel to the uncertainty, this morning rail company Genesee & Wyoming (GWR) reported traffic volumes for December fell 4.8% year over year. That piles on the limited data we are getting, which included the January reading for the Empire State Manufacturing Survey General Business Conditions Index that fell to 3.9 from 11.5 in December. That drop was led by a deceleration in new orders, inventories, and the number of employees. The survey’s six-month outlook also dropped, falling to 17.8 from 30.6 last month. These data points fit the view that there is a slowdown in manufacturing activity, which has piqued concerns about a broader slowdown in economic activity unfolding in 2019.

On top of that, yesterday Sen. Chuck Grassley said U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer saw little progress on “structural issues” in last week’s talks with China. These issues include intellectual property, stealing trade secrets, and putting pressure on corporations to share information with the Chinese government and industries. These issues are the very ones I was concerned about in terms of the trade negotiations. With China cutting its growth forecast some days ago to 6% from 6.5% and more data pointing to that economy cooling, there is likely room for the trade talks to include those issues, but my concern remains the ticking timeline until tariffs jump further. If that comes to pass, it would be another headwind to the global economy and corporate earnings for the coming quarters.

Given all of that, I remain concerned with the December quarter earnings season that will kick into gear next week and what it could do for the stock market’s recent rebound. We’ll continue to keep the long position in ProShares Short S&P 500 (SH) in play as we watch and listen to the thematic signals we see. One great thematic signal this week for our Guilty Pleasures investing theme is that Pizza Hut, owned by Yum Brands (YUM) is expanding beer delivery to 300 restaurants across seven states later this month. Amazing to think that only now Pizza Hut is realizing one of the great culinary pairings of Pizza and beer as it looks to offer customer one-stop shopping as well as capture that incremental revenue and profits. Odds are there will be some element of our Digital Lifestyle theme at play, given the push toward mobile orders we are seeing across the restaurant industry. Now to see what beer they offer… hopefully, it will be more than just the big brand beers like Budweiser.

Another signal that points to the bleeding over of our Digital Lifestyle, Disruptive Innovators and Aging of the Population themes is the partnering between Walgreens Boots Alliance (WBA) and Microsoft (MSFT). Over the next several years, the two will research and develop new methods of delivering healthcare services through digital devices, including virtually connecting people with Walgreens stores.

We at Tematica see thematic signals for our 10 investing themes practically everywhere… and that means we will continue using them to build and refine our investing mosaic in the days, weeks and months ahead. As we navigate the next few weeks, we may have a change or two on the Thematic Leaders and a few companies that make it onto the Contender List for when the stock market finds its footing.

Thematic M&A was rampant in 2018

Over the last two weeks, we here at Tematica have been reviewing the thematic database of more than 2,400 stocks that we’ve ranked based on their exposure to our 10 investment themes. That was no small project let me tell you, and it was a key initiative for 2018. In looking back over that body of work, I noticed more than a dozen companies that were in the database at the start of last year had been acquired during the second half of 2018. Here’s a short list of what I’m talking about:

As you can see, the acquisition activity was spread across a number of our themes and included both strategic and financial buyers. In each case, the buyer looked to fill a competitive hole be it a product, market or technology. That’s the classic finance take on it, but we know those buyers were looking to solidify their exposure to the thematic tailwinds that are powering their businesses or in some cases expose themselves to another one.

Are we likely to see more thematically based M&A in the coming months?

My view is yes, particularly as the global economy slows and companies look to deliver top and bottom line growth be it on an organic or acquired basis.

Adding back shares of Digital Infrastructure company USA Technologies

Today I am calling shares of mobile payments company, USA Technologies (USAT),  back onto the Tematica Select List following news earlier this week about the results of an internal investigation into its accounting practices. You may recall that last year, USAT shares were a high flyer for the Select List. However, upon learning that the USAT board would conduct an internal investigation into the accounting of certain of its present and past contractual arrangements and its financial reporting controls and would miss filing the company’s 10-K, we smartly jettisoned the shares near $10.25 last September.

We had been trimming the position at higher levels near $14 in the preceding months, but in light of those developments we “got out of Dodge”, so to speak, and did not stick around for the free fall to $3.44 by early December. While we continued to see growing adoption of mobile payments, especially at USAT’s core market of vending machines and unattended retail, we also saw the stock price pain associated with these investigations and potential financial restatements. “No thanks” was my thinking.

The company on Monday announced both the findings of its internal investigation and remedial actions to be implemented by the board. It also shared that it is working to file its 10-K as soon as possible and disclosed the departures of both its chief financial officer (CFO) and chief services officer (CSO). In tandem with those announcements, USAT also shared it is in negotiations for a new CFO.

In terms of the investigation and the planned responses, the company’s Audit Committee found that, for certain transactions, USAT had prematurely recognized revenue and, in some cases, the reported number of connections associated with the transactions under review. The committee went on to recommend the company enhance its internal controls and its compliance and legal functions; expand its public disclosures; and consider appropriate employment actions related to certain employees as well as splitting the roles of chairman and CEO.

These measures, along with the departure of the CFO and CSO, are not surprising, but they do put USAT on the path to restoring investor confidence in its reporting. While this investigation was happening the market for mobile payments continued to be on a tear as companies such as PepsiCo (PEP) inked a new five-year agreement with USAT.

Clearly, there is more work to be completed, and there is the risk that we are re-entering these shares on the early side. However, as we have seen in the past, as these clouds lift investors will focus on the tailwinds of the business, which in this case are centered on mobile payments and are improving. Therefore, we will resume ownership of USAT shares and look to scale on potential stock price weakness when the company formally restates its revenue and other key metrics. Better a bit early than too late is my thinking on this one.

Our previous price target on USAT shares was $16. However, we should prudently assume that several of the underlying financial metrics will be restated lower. Consequently, I’m taking a haircut relative to our prior target and putting out a new price target of $10. As the company releases its updated financials, I’ll look to fine-tune that price target as needed

  • We are issuing a Buy on and adding back shares of Digital Infrastructure company, USA Technologies (USAT), to the Tematica Select List with a price target of $10.

The Thematic Leaders

As the stock market moved higher week over week as of last night’s close, we saw several Thematic Leaders move higher. These included Aging of the Population leader AMN Healthcare (AMN), and Clean Living leader Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) as well as Thematic King Amazon (AMZN). The big winner, however, was Digital Lifestyle leader Netflix (NFLX), which yesterday announced it would boost prices for its monthly memberships by 13% to 18%. This marks the company’s biggest price increase and I suspect was well thought out by the management team, given the increasingly competitive playing field. That price increase should drive Wall Street’s revenue expectations higher and improve its ability to not only spend on proprietary content but also its ability to service its quarterly debt costs.

  • Our price targets on AMN Healthcare (AMN), Chipotle Mexican Grill (CMG) and Netflix (NFLX) remain $75, $550 and $500, respectively.

Putting Altria shares on watch

Even though we’re just a few weeks into 2019, shares of Guilty Pleasure leader Altria have been underperforming on both an absolute basis and a relative one compared to the S&P 500. Weighing the shares down are questions over its ability to recoup the $12.8 billion investment for a 35% stake, in e-vapor market leader Juul Labs (JUUL). While this is part of the company’s efforts to reposition itself, given prospects for continued declines in its core tobacco market, complicating things is the FDA’s move to stub out youth access to e-vapor and flavored cigarettes.

Odds are this will take several years to come about but it raises questions as to whether Altria is trading one shrinking market for another. Candidly, I would have preferred Altria take that $12.5 billion and spread it across several cannabis investments. I’ll continue to be patient for now with this thematic leader, however, I’ll be looking at several in the coming days that could offer a far better risk to return tradeoff.

About the Author

Chris Versace, Chief Investment Officer
I'm the Chief Investment Officer of Tematica Research and editor of Tematica Investing newsletter. All of that capitalizes on my near 20 years in the investment industry, nearly all of it breaking down industries and recommending stocks. In that time, I've been ranked an All Star Analyst by Zacks Investment Research and my efforts in analyzing industries, companies and equities have been recognized by both Institutional Investor and Thomson Reuters’ StarMine Monitor. In my travels, I've covered cyclicals, tech and more, which gives me a different vantage point, one that uses not only an ecosystem or food chain perspective, but one that also examines demographics, economics, psychographics and more when formulating my investment views. The question I most often get is "Are you related to…."

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10+ Best Medical PowerPoint Templates

PowerPoint presentations are a powerful tool to put forward your views, ideas, and proposals. Especially in the medical field, it is of utmost importance to have a professional looking presentation which creates an impact and drives home your point. You may need presentations to describe your medical products, or promote your brand or institute, to give a medical project presentation, etc. Medical PowerPoint templates are easy to use and are one of the most preferred presentation formats in the medical field.

75+ FREE MEDICAL Templates - Download Now Adobe PDF, Microsoft Word (DOC), Microsoft Excel (XLS), Adobe Photoshop (PSD), Google Docs, Adobe InDesign (INDD & IDML), Apple (MAC) Pages, Google Sheets (SPREADSHEETS), Microsoft Publisher, Apple Numbers, Adobe Illustrator (AI)

5 Steps to Write a Medical PowerPoint Template

Step 1: It Should Not Be Cramped

Make sure your slides are not cramped with text and images. They should look spacious and should be easily readable. Too much text gives it a look of a fancy report or a text document. The font size should be big enough to read without straining the eye but not too big to eat up too much space. Keep the language simple.

Step 2: Use Infographics and Images

Infographics are the latest trend in presenting the information. It can be used to display not only statistics but also general textual information. They help make your presentation different from others. The visual impact of information stays longer with the reader than mere text. Real life images, if used in the presentation, helps instill confidence and trust amongst the readers.

Step 3: Check Grammar and Present Data Creatively

Grammatical and spelling errors are the worst when it comes to presentation. They create a very bad impression of the institute itself. So review your grammar, punctuation, spellings, etc. again and again. Don’t use boring tables and plain numbers. Present your statistics creatively with pie charts, growth graphs, etc. Express achievements in terms of numbers to aggrandize the feeling of achievement.

Step 4: Use Decent Color Combinations

The color theme is one of the most important factors in a presentation. For the medical field, having different color themes for every slide does not exude professionalism. Have a common color theme for the entire presentation. Preferably use the colors which are associated with your brand. Use attractive yet decent colors. Too many and too bright colors can cause difficulty in viewing the presentation for a long time. Use soothing colors.

Step 5: Contact Details

Have a dedicated slide that tells the reader/viewer about your institute/company. Give contact details at the end of the presentation like your company’s phone number, helpline number, email id, social media links, website link, etc. Giving the detailed address of your company/institute, its various branches, along with a map of the company location, help prospective customers to better connect with you.

10+ Best Medical PowerPoint Templates

1. Free Nursing PowerPoint Presentation Template

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An artistic and best medical powerpoint presentation template like this one is ideally suited for highlighting duties of medical personnel like the nurses. It is very easily editable in Mac Keynotes and MS PowerPoint. The 16:9 HD sized 20 unique slides make this landscape nursing PowerPoint template a very good choice. Every slide is animated, has free artworks and you can change the color scheme as per your choice.

2. Free Healthcare PowerPoint Presentation Template

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File Format
  • Keynotes MS
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21 slides of this medical powerpoint template feature captivating headings, rich infographics, and a minimalist presentation style. The healthcare PowerPoint template assists you in presenting information about healthcare providers and caretakers. Free icons, images, and quality artworks add a unique charm to this template. The HD resolution makes it compatible with most of the modern displays.

3. Basic Medical and Health Powerpoint Template

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A humongous package of 220+ slides make this paid medical PowerPoint template a worthy buy. The template features medical layouts, diagrams and premium infographics to assist in making your point. The sample medical PowerPoint template is fully animated and features a clean style with 8 color themes. You can simply drag and drop images to edit this highly professional template as per your convenience.

4. Standard Medical PowerPoint Template

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Available in three aspect ratios – 16:9, 4:3, and A4 printing ready size, there are 24 unique slides that have been specifically designed to use in the medical world’s presentations. This medical powerpoint template strikes a perfect harmony between images and text. This simple Powerpoint template is for text-rich presentations, where the text is overlaid over semi-transparent medical images. This style though seems simple gives a completely different feel from other templates out there. This is a paid and fully editable template.

5. Minimalist Medical and Health Powerpoint Template

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Simple, clean, aesthetic, and minimalist design are a few features of this best sample healthcare PowerPoint template. The 16:9 resolution enhances full-screen viewing giving a grand effect. A large number of slides provide ample space to write all the necessary information. You have options of using diagrams too. Different color schemes help you completely customize the template.

6. Best Medical PowerPoint Example

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This elegant and polished PowerPoint template is designed to serve almost all your needs related to medical industry templates. You can introduce your team through this paid best medical PowerPoint template. Professionally created 210 slides give you a wide variety to choose from. You get two resolutions for your presentation – Standard (4:3) and Wide (16:9). Three color variations of all the diagrams and infographics give you a lot of customization options.

7. Multipurpose Medical PowerPoint Template Bundle

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Get your presentation ready within minutes with this 140 slide medical PowerPoint template. The bundle features 90 color themes (20 pre-made templates to save time) which help you choose the color scheme to match your brand color. On purchasing this bundle you get not one, but two medical templates. It also features handmade infographics and completely editable 4000+ vector icons.

8. Vertical Medical PowerPoint Template

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Tired of the horizontal-landscape orientation of all the powerpoint presentations? Then this out of the box, splendid medical sample PowerPoint template is just the thing you need. This vertical template is made possible by portrait-style orientation and is available in A4 size. The template’s fully customizable 35 slides have a white backdrop that makes them easy to print. This template creates an immediate impact on the viewer and gives them a hint of your innovative nature.

9. Sample Medical PowerPoint Template

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The dark and clean (light) versions of this elegant and best PowerPoint template are a treat for viewers’ eyes. The 60 unique slides can be converted to 1200+ total slides by various combinations to suit your needs. The custom animation and transitions for each slide reduce your work drastically. This is not a free template.

10. Professional Medical PowerPoint Template

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The grey background of the template gives an ethereal feel to a professional medical professional PowerPoint template. The uniqueness lies in the choice of color combinations. Grey background with blue overall is as alluring as grey with green or grey with red. These numerous slides include appealing and quickly modifiable charts, graphs, diagrams, vectors, etc. to represent information. It has two resolutions, one of which is compatible with the latest wide screen displays.

11. Clean PowerPoint Medical Template

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This is truly an infographic rich medical powerpoint template. The 110+ pre-made color themes for 50 unique and stylish slides, will surely impress you as well as the viewer. The icon library features icons for areas like medical, human organs, hospital, medical situations, etc. taking the fully customizable vector icon count to 5000+. The focus of disseminating information through infographics makes this infographic template one of the unique ones out there.

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As an honorary member of the Tennis Serves Others organization, you support our mission and projects to help those in need in our community and throughout the world. Your level of participation is up to you participating in fundraising events, service projects, and in attending local chapter meetings. Your annual membership supports our mission to serve others and supports the following programs:  Tennis SOLES for Others, Tennis SUPPLIES Others and our TSO GiveBack.  In addition, your membership annual dues supports our organization and covers operational costs. We value and thank all of our honorary members for their support.

What does my TSO membership annual fee cover?2017-07-19T19:54:09-07:00

Your TSO annual membership fee supports the overall organization’s mission to serve others and covers some of our operational costs including but not limited to our Tennis Soles for Others program.

Why should I join TSO?2017-07-19T19:56:40-07:00

As a TSO member, you become a part of a team of ladies who use their tennis passion to serve others. You become a part of something greater than what you can achieve alone. Collectively we can do so much more to help others by combining many hands and hearts to serve others.

What are TSO member benefits?2017-07-19T19:56:48-07:00

As a TSO member, you will receive first opportunity to participate in our service projects or round robins before we open it to the public. In addition, we coordinate two special general membership meetings per year just for our members. These are fun meetings, typically with a guest speaker. You will always stay informed with our quarterly newsletter. And as a member, you have a voice in choosing our beneficiaries and most of our beneficiaries have come from member suggestions.

As a member, how much time do I need to commit to TSO?2017-07-19T19:56:57-07:00

How much you participate is truly up to you. TSO has no minimum requirements for volunteer hours. We know you are busy tennis ladies and we want you to give when you can.

Purchase or Renew a Membership

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IPHONE/IPOD USB Data/Charger Cable

In stock

SKU: 758022388933

Universal USB to Micro USB Data Cable

Synchronize your data while staying charged. This USB to Micro USB data cable is your ultimate bet when you’re in a hurry to upload those last minute photos or notes onto your PC. This cable comes in a brilliant color so you don’t have to settle with the boring black ones everyone else is using!

Universal USB to Micro USB Data Cable – Pleasant Purple Features:

Connect and synchronize with the data cable between your phone and your pc

USB 2.0 head, and micro USB head

Replace your lost cable or keep as an extra for your office or home

Compatible with multiple phone models & perfect for Samsung phones w/ micro usb connection

Vibrantly colored data cable is a welcomed changed to the boring black ones

Available in White, Purple, Orange, Red, Yellow, Pink, Skyblue, Black, Blue, and Green

Please specify top two choices of color wanted, if color not available at time of purchase, we will substitute next closest.

Additional information

Weight 0.5 lbs
Dimensions 3 × 2 × 1 in

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  Home > Botanicals ( Herbs ) > All Botanicals >

Hydrangea Root Powder
Hydrangea Root Powder

16 oz Net Wt.

Product Code: HDRP-HB

Details Ingredients & Additional Information

Hydrangea (Hydrangea arborescens), commonly known as Smooth Hydrangea, Wild Hydrangea, or Sevenbark, is a small to medium sized, deciduous shrub up to 3 m tall that is native to the eastern United States. Smooth hydrangea is widely distributed across the eastern United States—from southern New York to the panhandle of Florida, west to eastern Oklahoma and southeastern Kansas. It is mainly found in moist soils under a hardwood forest canopy and is often common along woodland road banks and streams. It is common in the Delaware River Valley and in the Appalachian Mountains.

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The Name of the Rose, My Brilliant Friend acquired; BBC’s Dracula; + more

The Name of the Rose

Every weekday, TMINE brings you the latest TV news from around the world

Internet TV

  • Netflix green lights: series adaptation of Kirsten “Kiwi” Smith’s Trinkets, with Brianna Hildebrand, Kiana Madeir, Quintessa Swindelal et al

International TV

Australian TV

French TV

  • Cineteve developing: political comedy Parlement, border crime thriller Nine, French revolution western Cagliostro and spy thriller Gaston

  • Syco developing: Julian Fellowes royal art collection drama
  • ITV green lights: missing girl detective drama A Confession, starring Martin Freeman, Charlie Cooper and Siobhan Finnerman
  • BBC acquires: Rai (Italy)’s The Name of the Rose
  • Sky Atlantic acquires: HBO (US)’s My Brilliant Friend
  • Atrium developing: adaptations of Edmond Rostand’s Cyrano de Bergerac as Cyrano, with Joseph Fiennes; Hanif Kureishi’s The Body; Jane Thynne’s Clara Vine novels as Clara Vine; and supernatural thriller The Mexican Witch Hunt
  • BBC One green lights: Dracula

  • Trailer for season 2 of Starz’s Counterpart

New US TV shows

  • CBS developing: sibling co-parenting comedy Siblings…
  • …and adaptation of James Patterson’s Texas Ranger as Ranger
  • Fox developing: modern Wild West procedural Deputy
  • FX developing: adaptation of Carmen Maria Machado’s Her Body and Other Parties
  • NBC developing: adaptations of Bruce Feiler’s Council of Dads and RTS (Switzerland)’s Quartier des Banques (Banking District)

New US TV show casting


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Special Report: The Japanese Audio Industry

Solid-state power amplifiers,
Tubed power amplifiers,
Solid-state preamplifiers,
Tubed preamplifiers,
Digital-to-analog converters,
Music servers and computer audio,
USB interfaces, clocks, and soundcards,
Loudspeaker cables,
Digital cables
Special Report: The Japanese Audio Industry

Drivers of Innovation
Panasonic is nearly one hundred years old. The company’s epic history is told at the Konosuke Matsushita Museum outside Tokyo. I’ve been to many company HQs that have a wall or a room devoted to product evolution, but I’d never before toured an entire museum devoted to the subject. In walking through the exhibits, I could trace Panasonic’s evolution from a maker of humble electrical plugs, sockets, and fittings to the global consumer-electronics colossus it is now.

Much to my surprise, I also discovered that many of today’s most advanced management practices—social consciousness, employee profit sharing, an emphasis on customer service, succession planning, MBWA (Management by Walking Around), and separate P&L centers to better manage growth—were pioneered long ago by Panasonic’s founder, Konosuke Matsushita.

The museum doesn’t neglect the 1965 launch of the original Technics. The brand was introduced as part of a then-new corporate focus on “pure sound.” Thus, from its very inception, Technics reflected the Japanese audio industry’s philosophy of music without adulteration.

After my museum visit, I traveled to Osaka to meet Michiko Ogawa, who is Director of the Technics business unit. Interestingly, she is also a popular pianist and singer in Japan. Ogawa-san gave me her perspective on why big companies are taking new—in the case of Sony—or renewed—in the case of Panasonic—interest in the high end. She told me that during Japan’s long depression consumer electronics sales went flat. In response, both Sony and Panasonic, like Gibson, began seeking new markets with growth potential.

Yet it’s no secret that high-end audio has always been a cottage industry. So why invest there? The impetus, according to Ogawa-san and echoed by Sony executives I’ve met, can be summed up in two words: high resolution. To elaborate, the Japanese view is that the recent widespread availability of hi-res source material can serve as a promising catalyst for high-end audio growth. Hi-res audio also fits into Panasonic’s (and Sony’s) involvement in the ongoing development of Blu-ray and other hi-res video technologies. As Technics’ CTO Tetsuya Itani put it: “It makes sense for Panasonic to offer audio that can deliver a level of resolution and involvement similar to high-end video.”

Like Esoteric, Technics is deliberately independent of its parent. The management team is completely separate from Panasonic’s, as is R&D. Yet the parent company is investing generously, giving Technics the wherewithal to push technological advancement. Technics also gets to piggyback on Panasonic’s expansive manufacturing and training facilities. What does Panasonic get out of the deal? Technology that may prove useful elsewhere, “halo” audio products, and a new revenue stream.

Because the Technics R1 References Series is so chock-full of technical advances, I asked Ogawa-san if she has seen a change in that regard. She told me that Technics views innovation as a means of competing against boutique brands that can’t afford a similar level of R&D. Culturally, this innovation is made possible because, as Sheen had noted in our meeting, lifetime employment is fading—and with it the cultural proscriptions against independence and individuality. Indeed, Ogawa-san encourages her engineers to pursue any ideas that will allow Technics to blaze technology trails.


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Denis Balibouse / Reuters

The World’s Failure in Rwanda Changed Kofi Annan’s Worldview

After Annan’s death, Krishnadev Calamur wrote about how the former United Nations secretary-general became a proponent of diplomatic interventions to alleviate human suffering.

Krishnadev Calamur’s article reviewing the late Kofi Annan’s achievements is the best I’ve seen, though its focus on United Nations “failures” shares something with other pieces I’ve read.

That is, it doesn’t seem to me that it can properly be said that the UN failed in, say, Rwanda, any more than it can be said that my hammock failed once again this morning to make my coffee. The reason for this takes some telling.

In 1878, the Congress of Berlin was held, nominally to clarify a single regional dispute, but actually to regulate the relationships between the great powers, and between them and weaker states. At the time, departing attendees said they had left some work unfinished and expected the settlement to forestall further conflict for only about five years. (Misha Glenny’s The Balkans comes at the matter with more sympathy toward countries affected by the negotiations than toward the leading negotiators, and is thus a useful source.)

The Congress was called by the Prussian statesman Otto von Bismarck; he was soon enough out of power, and no one in the following generation of statesmen could command the same degree of international cooperation. A series of regional crises took place against a backdrop of shifting capacity among the great powers. There was no sit-down of the scale of the Congress of Berlin to work problems out, and eventually Archduke Franz Ferdinand’s assassination in Sarajevo in 1914 triggered the shakeout that became the First World War.

After that war ended, there was general agreement that crises should have an international diplomatic clearinghouse, the League of Nations, though protectionist and isolationist pooh-bahs in the U.S. Senate effectively scuttled the United States’ involvement (the brutalist diplomatic amateurism of the new Leninist government in Moscow didn’t help either). A Second World War highlighted the risk of continued non-peaceful coordination, while the Republican electoral debacle triggered by the Great Depression meant that by the time of the San Francisco Conference, in 1945, there was no official American constituency against such a clearinghouse, and the UN was born.

The purpose of the UN is to be that great-power-led clearinghouse, preventing world war. If you wanted to end pointlessly bloody and often one-sided regional or civil conflicts, you wouldn’t build an organization that looks like the UN does.

Perhaps now that we have telephones that are simultaneously also supercomputers, mailboxes, cameras, fitness coaches, paperboys, and worry beads, we’re comfortable saying that a thing that can’t do what it wasn’t originally designed to do is a failure, but I’m not about to fault my hammock for not making my coffee, or the UN for not preventing genocide.

Nor should Samantha Power, who, in A Problem From Hell, nearly singlehandedly came up with a rubric for intervention in civil conflicts, to be cleared through the UN, thereby providing the biggest update to the post-Westphalian state system since the UN itself was founded. All she crafted was a rubric—not a new, clear diplomatic organization. And so, when it all came down to the wire in Syria, Power was the American UN ambassador who behaved just like you’d expect a pre–“Problem From Hell” great-power UN ambassador to behave: She hemmed and hawed and pontificated, and didn’t let this turn into too much of a precedent or a building block for the Russians.

Power also illustrates why this disjunct is so confusing: The UN, which counts almost every sovereign state in the world as a member, couldn’t succeed at keeping conflicts regional unless it appeared earnest in its hand-wringing and insufficient efforts to bring so many regional conflicts to a close. So Annan, Power, and other pro-UN types talk as if this hammock could totally filter that coffee, if we only changed some particular habit of interaction in the old halls of power.

Liberal internationalists want international cooperation to put an end to genocide, and they seem right to want this. But they haven’t figured out how to do it, and many have not realized that tasking our hammock with making our coffee is bound to fail unless we radically redesign our hammock. Still, the un-redesigned UN didn’t fail in Syria any more than it failed in Myanmar, Ukraine, Libya, Iraq, Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia, South Africa, Colombia, Chile, Haiti (several times), Angola, Vietnam, Hungary, Israel and its neighbors (also several times), Korea, or a host of other locations. Indeed, the UN succeeded in all those crises because it let none of them become Sarajevo 1914. It did precisely what it was designed to do.

Indeed, claims that Rwanda or Syria or some other country is host to a UN failure contain within themselves the germ of their own limitations. There have been a lot of regional conflicts whose long duration could be seen as blots on the UN’s reputation, and it can’t be expected that a UN critic name them all. But the bloodiest war since World War II peaked during Annan’s secretary-generalship; it was a war before which the Syrian conflict and the Rwandan genocide combined pale in comparison, and I have yet to see a review of Annan’s career and its failures that even mentions it.

The post-Mobutu Congolese civil war was the bloodiest conflict in decades, spilling across the country’s nearly 1 million square miles, but even most liberal internationalists don’t give two shakes of a rat’s tail to any war that was not a priority (and remained off the radar screens) in international hubs such as New York, Washington, D.C., London, Geneva, Moscow, and Beijing. The war confounds many assumptions about why conflict happens and how it can be stopped, but it never really became a bargaining chip between great powers. It would be wrong to say that the conflict was allowed to simmer or fester: These are small-scale verbs that don’t do justice to the scale of violence that went on. And even now, looking back from what is a comparatively quieter time in intra-Congo conflict, it’s hard to imagine a solution as rhetorically elegant as Power’s that might have forestalled it. You might need a whole new San Francisco Conference, less interested in regulating the interactions between Washington, D.C., Paris, and Moscow, and more interested in what sovereignty, power, subjectivity, and citizenship mean to the wretched of the Earth.

Annan didn’t fail as UN secretary-general, except insofar as he encouraged the illusion that the UN, the great-power clearinghouse conceived in 1917 and born nearly three decades later, could do something it was never designed to do, like a hammock forced into coffee filtration. The tragedy of his lifetime, and of ours, is that this failure is of a monumental scale that renders the ridiculousness of the hammock comparison bitter. The tragedy is that we may be years away from any crisis that will open our eyes to the necessity of a more effective and life-preserving way of doing things.

D. S. Battistoli
Abenasitonu, Suriname

Krishnadev Calamur replies:

D. S. Battistoli makes an excellent point. Although my piece was on what Kofi Annan learned from Rwanda, any lessons the former secretary-general took from the genocide were, ultimately, Sisyphean. As Battistoli correctly points out, the United Nations was created in a different age, but it has, for the most part, successfully done what it was designed to do: prevent war between states. Of course, conflicts have taken on different guises since that time. There are proxy wars, such as the one being waged in Yemen; civil wars, as in Syria; terrorist groups, such as ISIS—all of which have brought untold human suffering. Absent reform, the UN is simply structurally ill-equipped to deal with such crises—even though it tries. The point of my story wasn’t to highlight these deficiencies, but in retrospect I should have included it as part of a larger narrative of the challenges Annan faced in running the UN.

We want to hear what you think about this article. Submit a letter to the editor or write to


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Air Force Basic Training and Recommended Fitness

Running in Formation at Air Force BMT Graduation
••• RonBailey / Getty Images

The final fitness test in Air Force Basic Military Training (AFBMT) is done at the end of the seventh week of training. That's not a lot of time to get into shape, even though you'll be working out six days per week during your time at basic.

Required Fitness Standards Upon Arrival at Basic Training

The following physical standards are required for enlistees upon arrival at basic training. Those who fail to meet any of these will be deemed medically unable to safely complete BMT. In this case, an enlistee may be processed for entry-level separation.

Aerobic Fitness Males Females
1.5 mile run 18:30 21:35
Body Composition Males Females
Maximum abdominal circumference 39.0" 35.5"
Maximum body fat 20% 28%

Body Mass Index Requirements

After arriving at Air Force basic training, each enlistee will be measured for body mass index (BMI). Those who are at or below a BMI of 18.5 are required to undergo a medical evaluation before they take part in physical training (PT).

Recommended Fitness Upon Arrival at Basic Training

Air Force officials highly recommend you be able to meet the below minimum fitness standards when you arrive at basic. This isn't mandatory, but it'll make your life much easier:

Fitness Test Males Females
1.5 mile run Under 13:45 Under 16:00
Push-ups At least 25 At least 15
Sit-ups At least 35 At least 30

Remember, the above standards are the minimum recommended before you arrive at basic training. These are not the graduation standards (which are much more restrictive).

On Saturday or Sunday after your arrival, you'll undergo an initial fitness evaluation. If you fail to meet the above standards, you can expect some additional attention from your training instructor (TI) and extra time dedicated to physical training each day.

Proper Push-Ups, Sit-Ups and Running Tips

Push-ups and sit-ups must be performed with proper form. Those performed improperly will not count.

To complete a push-up, assume the front leaning rest position with your arms shoulder-width apart, feet together or up to 12 inches apart and body forming a generally straight line from your shoulders to your ankles. Keeping your head up, lower your body. Variation push-ups done on the knees are not permitted.

When practicing sit-ups, lie on your back with your feet together or up to 12 inches apart, knees bent at a 90-degree angle with a spotter holding your feet at the ankles. Place your arms crossed over the chest with your hands at the shoulders or resting at the upper chest. Bring your upper body forward until your elbows touch your knees or upper thigh. Lower your back until your shoulder blades touch the ground.

You can build up your running ability by starting out at a slow pace for 15 to 20 minutes. To ensure a smooth transition into the BMT fitness program, your goal should be a continuous 30 to 40 minute run 3-5 times a week. Consistency is the key. Make a schedule and stick to it.

To help get into shape, you may want to try the recommended 14-week Basic Training Physical Preparation Program.


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Safe Spring Sprays

Music 27/11/2009

Gardening organically is a real challenge when it comes to preventing bugs from eating the fruits of your hard earned labour. Being a young urbanite self- learning the skill of gardening, I have certainly found pest control to be a challenge, especially over the spring season when it seems insects run rampant through my foliage.

The difference with organic gardening is that pests should not necessarily be seen as pests! Hard not to, when they are nibbling at my vegetable plants! Rather, insects are a natural part of a healthy habitat, so should be nurtured in the sense that many insects are beneficial for gardens, but should eat other parts of the garden which you don’t need to eat!.... cutting your grass right back looks nice, but will probably lead to insects crawling their way to your garden for a more substantial feast.

In terms of using natural sprays which are non-toxic and won’t poison your interior, a few suggestions have been given to me, which have tried and true for years and years by my nana and other older and successful gardeners.

Garlic Spray

This gem of a spray is cheap to make, and great at keeping away white butterfly, ants (which have been nibbling on my strawberries!), caterpillars, and aphids.    Simply crush 4-5 cloves of garlic, and boil the crushed garlic with water. When it is cool, drain out the chunks, and pour 10 mls of the garlic water into a spray bottle, adding another 90 mls of water, and spray the affected plants.

Detergent Water

To keep away aphids, spray affected plants with this soapy mixture, but ensure to rinse off with water. Mix 100g of eco-soap/dishwashing liquid/washing powder, with 4 litres of hot water. Mix to dissolve and use when cool. Eco friendly soaps and detergents are preferable, as they are toxin free.

Baking Soda Spray

To keep mildew away, mix 3 drops of eco detergent, with 1 teaspoon of baking soda and a litre of water. Spray onto plants. Rinse detergent off lightly, with cold water the next day.

Remember, not all insects are pests. Give insects a place to nibble in your garden, and you will find less nibbling on your veges and fruit. Happy Gardening!

By Holly Jean Brooker

For excellent gift ideas, check out our new urban garden giftsets, with proceeds supporting Save the Children. Go to


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Tyler Storage Bench - Fog | The Brick

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Tyler Storage Bench - Fog

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Product Description

Make this Tyler storage bench the newest addition to your home and be amazed at how handy it can be. Keep this bench in the living room as an ottoman or place it by the entrance way as a useful platform. When company comes to visit, you can bring it out as another convenient seating option. The top lifts up to provide storage space for gloves, blankets or other home essentials while the slatted bottom shelf gives a spot to put things like shoes or toys. The durable fabric works well with most colour schemes and is stuffed with high-density foam for comfort to last a long time. Hello, Tyler storage bench. Goodbye, clutter.

Width: 43.5" (110.5 cm)Height: 18" (45.7 cm)Depth: 17" (43.2 cm)

Unique Features

  • Attractive grey fabric coordinates easily with most spaces.
  • Button tufted design suits both vintage and modern tastes.
  • Thick foam cushioning offers an inviting place to sit.
  • The top lifts up to reveal a convenient place to hide scarves, blankets or other household clutter.
  • Keep things tidy with the slatted bottom shelf.

General Details

Finish Colour

Construction Details

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The button tufted top adds a comfy look that works great with most home decor styles.

Storage Details

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Lift up the top to reveal a handy place to keep belongings out of the way.

Additional Details

Tyler Storage Bench - Fog

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Wednesday, April 12, 2006

Hooray! Sent off the demand draft to Hong Kong earlier this morning. Decided to use EMS just to make sure the cheque arrives on time. Can't afford another delay if registered mail method was used. I'd probably risk getting my orders cancelled before YesAsia receives my payment. But that EMS was sooo costly! T.T Almost burned a hole in my wallet. Lol. Not really but I thought the price was just too hefty. And YesAsia is expecting payment within two weeks after orders are placed. Well at least CD Japan allows six weeks before orders are cancelled.

Mum agreed to buy that mp3 player by signing up this new credit card. I was pretty surprised that she actually asked whether I want it or not. If I didn't want it, she wouldn't sign up for it. Previously, she thought that mp3 player is a waste of money because I'm very likely to get bored of it when I grow older. Anyhow, since she asked...I jumped at this opportunity. Although I'm not getting my dream mp3 player, it's better than nothing. Besides, that Samsung YP-F1X looks pretty trendy. Love it when I first saw it. Other than stodgy buttons & other weird features, it should be good. Mum has to pay RM369 only on an instalment basis so it's affordable. I told her that if there wasn't an offer, rather not buy it because at RM599...I could've gotten a Zen Micro by just adding a little cash.

That's all for today. Got my uni offer letter yesterday. Time really flies ne~ I'm off to uni soon. I guess it's better that way cuz I'm already slacking. All I have to do now is sit down & wait patiently for my package to arrive. *squeals*


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Painted bathtub next to a sink in a bathroom

The bathroom is one of the most important rooms in our homes. Given that it’s the one room that sees the most amount of action in a day, there’s more emphasis on taking care of it.

Repainting the bathroom is a great solution for protecting the room and making sure it remains appealing to the eyes of its many users, but the process isn’t as simple as throwing on a coat of paint and leaving it to dry.

The cost to paint your bathroom comes down to various factors, including whether you turn it into your next D.I.Y. project or you go ahead and hire a contractor. This article will help you get started by discussing the following topics:

Before we get into choosing between the D.I.Y. route or hiring someone to paint your bathroom, let’s review what it costs to paint a bathroom!

8 factors in the cost of painting a bathroom

There is a lot to consider before getting started on your painting project. Here’s the factors that will have an impact on your wallet.

1. Size & measurements

One of the biggest factors that affect the cost of painting an interior room is the size of the room itself and the measurements of all the surfaces needing to be painted. This can be determined by figuring out your bathroom’s square footage. To answer this you’ll need to follow these steps:

  1. Calculate the perimeter of the room by multiplying its length and width (i.e. 5’ x 8’ = 40’).
  2. Multiply the perimeter with the height of the ceiling (i.e. 40’ x 8’ = 320 square feet).
  3. Subtract the square footage of any doors and windows the bathroom has

(i.e. 320 – 42 – 30 = 248 square feet). This is your answer.

The average cost to paint the interior of a house is $1.50 per square foot. Multiplying your answer from above by this cost will give you a rough estimate to start planning your painting project (i.e. 248 x 1.50 = $360).

2. Paint type

So now you know how much you’re painting, but now comes the question of what type of paint you’ll be using. There are two things to consider when deciding on a paint.

  1. Paint sheen. A paint’s sheen is how glossy your paint will appear. There are five different types of sheen: Flat, Eggshell, Satin, Semi-gloss, and Glossy. Each type has its pros and cons, including cost. Here’s a breakdown of each sheen, detailing how well you can scrub the paint, how reflective it will be, how it will appear, where it is best used, and how much it will cost:
Type Flat Eggshell Satin Semi-gloss High gloss
Scrubbability Lower Low Neutral High Higher
Light Reflection Lower Low Neutral High Higher
Appearance Low gloss Soft, velvet look Pearl-like shine Sleek and radiant Bright shine, glass-like
Best Uses Low traffic areas (i.e. walls, ceilings) Moderate traffic areas (i.e. living room) Moderately high traffic areas with exposure to moisture (i.e. kitchen) High traffic areas with high exposure to moisture (i.e. bathrooms) High traffic areas
Cost (across 5 major paint brands) $9-$77 per gallon $14-$100 per gallon $21-$95 per gallon $15-$95 per gallon $20-$95 per gallon
  1. Oil-based vs latex-based paint. Another thing to consider is what type of base you’d like in your paint. Here are some things to consider when deciding between an oil base and a latex base.
Paint Type Pros Cons
Oil-based paint ($30-$50 per gallon)
  • Applies well to most surfaces
  • High durability
  • Stain resistant
  • Good coverage in one coat
  • Lots of fumes present
  • Costs more
  • Can fade when exposed to the sun
  • Dries slowly
Latex-based paint ($30-$80 per gallon)
  • Safer than oil-based paint
  • Easy to use
  • Dries fast
  • Less fumes and odours
  • Can be easily cleaned
  • Long-lasting finish
  • Resistant to fading
  • Causes wood grains to swell, would need to spend time sanding between coats
  • Difficult to apply to surfaces that have already been covered with an oil-based paint

3. Paint quality

After deciding what type of paint you’d like to use, it’s important to make sure you use a paint that is the best quality. When it comes to identifying paints that are high quality, it’s a lot easier than you’d think. That’s because the quality of the paint can be found right in the name or grade.

If you want the highest quality possible, then you should seek out a paint with a premium grade. Premium paints will be more costly, but they will have more pigment to them, stronger hiding properties, and more durability.

A roller being used to coat white wall in grey paint

Other options include professional grade and architectural grade. These paints will cost less and get the job done, but due to their makeup of lesser pigments and differing hiding properties, they will most likely become less adhesive over time.This means you will likely have to spend more money to repaint your bathroom over time.

4. To prime or not to prime?

A really important decision to make is whether or not you’d also like to use a primer. While it’s true that this will add another $8-$10 per gallon to your costs (and you might not even believe you actually need it), different types of primers provide great benefits to your painting project. Here are some different types of primers you might want to consider.

Type Best surface use Interior vs Exterior Stains/Durability Drying speed Versatility Fumes
Oil-based Many surfaces, unfinished/bare wood Both Kills stains Slow Very versatile Harmful
Latex Drywall Interior Seals minor stains Fast Fairly versatile Some smell
Multi-purpose & Specialty Primers All Both Protects from stains and moisture, durable Fast Fairly versatile Some smell

5. Specialty painting

If you’ve got the cash, you might be thinking about getting creative while painting your bathroom. Modern additions will increase the painting cost. Here are some options to consider when planning how much to spend on your project.

  • Accent walls –  Having an accent wall (one wall that is a different colour than the rest) continues to be a popular trend, so having one in the bathroom isn’t unheard of. Just remember that the cost to paint the wall will be 20-30% higher than the other walls in order to accommodate the colour change.

A close-up of a white textured wall

  • Textured walls – Adding texture to one or more of your bathroom walls can give it a cool look. However, this can increase the cost to paint by up to 50%. This is because it will add more surface area to be covered, despite the square footage remaining the same, so you will need more paint to complete the job.

6. Beyond walls

When starting a paint project, we mostly think about the walls. However, a bathroom has other surfaces that you might consider painting. If you’re looking to paint more than just the bathroom walls, here are some other things to consider.

  • Doors – Every bathroom has at least one door leading into it, so this shouldn’t come as much of a surprise. Often times, doors will be painted with a different paint than the walls. In order to coat your door and its trim, you’re looking at spending an additional $70-$200 depending on the type of door.
  • Ceiling – Does your ceiling need a touch-up as well? This can cost an additional $150-$300. Expect to pay a little more if you’d like a textured or popcorn ceiling.
  • Baseboards – If your bathroom is lined with baseboards, expect to pay more to have them properly painted. This will typically cost $1-$2 per foot to paint.
  • Cabinets – When painting the bathroom, it makes sense to paint any cabinets you have to finish off the look. This can cost around $5-$11 per square foot extra.
  • Tiles – The floor of your bathroom might need some touching up too. If that’s the case, it could cost an extra $4-$10 per square foot to paint the bathroom tiles.
  • Bathtub – One of the main focus points of the bathroom is the bathtub. If you’re wanting a new tub colour to go with your paint job, this can cost you around $300-$1000 extra.
  • Vanity – Like cabinets, painting the bathroom’s vanity is essential to the look, but will cost you extra. Extra costs for this will also be around $5-$11 per square foot.

7. Prep work

Before you get started painting the bathroom, you have to make sure all possible prep work has been completed. These are the things you will have to consider.

  • Wall cleaning – Bathroom walls can become covered in debris over time. It’s important to make sure they’re clean in order for your selected paint to look much brighter and more beautiful. You can hire a cleaning company to do this for $50-$70 per hour. Expect extra costs if the walls need sanding as well.
  • Taping – This is the best way to ensure that your paint doesn’t end up on surfaces it’s not supposed to. Expect to pay $5-$7 per 60 yard roll.
  • Bathroom accessories – To make sure a paint job is done as well as possible, you’ll need to have your accessories removed. If you have any accessories that will require re-installation, this can cost you $150 or up to $750 for labour.

8. Labour

If you’re choosing to hire professional painters, you’ll need to account for an extra cost here too. The cost of labour for an average sized bathroom is between $100 and $150 total or $35 to $45 per hour. The more work needing done, the higher the price.

Should I D.I.Y. paint my bathroom?

Whether or not you should paint your bathroom yourself depends on how much time and effort you are willing to put in, as well as the purpose of painting your bathroom. Some things you should consider are how long it will take, how stressful it will be, how much preparation is needed, and how perfect you want it to be.

Work involved in D.I.Y. bathroom painting

Painting your bathroom sounds easy enough, but there’s more than just picking up a brush to think about. Here’s what else you will have to do.

  • Removal of bathroom accessories – As many items as possible will have to be removed from the bathroom in order to get a proper paint job, including the mirror and possibly the sink.
  • Wall cleaning – Having a clean wall will help your paint look its best, meaning you’ll have to invest in proper cleaning supplies in order to prep your walls for painting.
  • Taping – Nothing is worse than getting paint on a surface where it doesn’t belong, so you’ll have to take the time to place painter’s tape on at-risk surfaces.
  • Choosing paint – Before you begin, it will be entirely up to you to determine the best paint to use, including looking into different sheens, qualities, and primers.
  • Stress – Any D.I.Y. project can be hard for a first-timer, which is why you need to be kind to yourself when you mess up and try again.
  • Family living – Remember that you’re not the only one using this bathroom, so it’s likely your spouse or other family members might cause some tension along the way.

Funny meme of woman yelling at cat

Key things to think about when deciding to D.I.Y. paint your bathroom

There is a lot to consider to determine whether you’re able to take on this type of D.I.Y. project. Here are some questions you should ask yourself before beginning.

Do you really have the time?

Like most D.I.Y. paint projects, painting your bathroom won’t be quick and easy. The process can get overwhelming and will potentially result in some mistakes that require additional time to fix. It’s important to remember that these things happen but will cause you to work a longer amount of time before the project is complete.

With everything that happens in our lives, it’s also likely that painting your bathroom yourself will be difficult to complete in one day. Ask yourself if you and your family will be okay with having an unfinished bathroom for a couple of days (or however long it takes you).

Have you painted before and what level of quality are you looking for?

A bright, white bathroom with chips in the door

If you have experience with D.I.Y. projects around your home or aren’t necessarily looking for perfection, you’ll likely be fine to paint it yourself. On the other hand, if you want a great outcome to come from this project, you might be better off speaking to the professionals. Your ultimate goal for your bathroom will be a great contributor to this decision.

Can you make the necessary investment in equipment?

In order to complete the job, you’ll need the proper equipment to do so. Unlike hiring contractors who work the supplies into their costs, you’ll be responsible for purchasing all the materials yourself, which includes the following:

  • Paint and primer – You’ll need enough paint and/or primer to complete the job. The types you choose will have a big impact on your final costs.
  • Equipment – A lot of tools will need to be purchased in order to complete the project accurately. You’ll likely need a brush, bucket, tape, sandpaper, and more depending on the complexity of your project.
  • Gas and time driving – If you don’t live near a hardware store, you’ll have to account for the cost of travelling to get the proper items needed.

Do you need professional advice when it comes to colours and other things?

Changing part of your home can be very intimidating. If you find yourself confused and unsure of what to do, or dread making mistakes, you’ll need to account for time spent consulting with the professionals.

What about improvements and enhancements?

Is your bathroom in good condition? If there’s some things needing fixed, you’ll have to account for those as well. Repairing any damages to the walls before you begin painting could cost $40-$45 per hour, while refinishing a bathtub can cost $300-$1000, and mold removal can be over $500. Determine everything that needs to be improved before you dig yourself into a hole you can’t get out of.

Should I hire professional bathroom painters?

If you’re going to hire a professional to paint your bathroom for you, you’ll need to hunt for a reliable contractor. Here are some things to consider when deciding who to hire.

  • They have a great portfolio
  • They offer a warranty on labour and materials
  • They are bonded and insured (see our homepage for an example)
  • They have excellent ratings on HomeGuide & Google
  • They don’t ask for a large down payment
  • They include setup and complete cleanup costs in the quote
  • They provide excellent communication from your first phone call or email

Steps to getting an accurate painting quote

Once you’ve found a contractor that interests you, you’ll need to determine the following in order to get accurate pricing.

1. Make a list of everything you’re painting

Whether it’s all four walls or every surface in your bathroom, make sure you provide a complete list of all the things you wish to have painted.

2. Measure everything

To help make your quote as accurate as possible, you’ll need to know the size of all the surfaces needing to be painted. Most surfaces should be measured by square footage.

3. Decide what primer and paint you’ll be using

You’ll need to have an idea of what types of primer and paint you want to use. The costs for your chosen types and brands will be compared to the square footage to determine how much will be spent on paint.

4. Call a professional painter

Professional contractors will be happy to help you sort out your costs. You can call City Painters for help, or one of many local businesses in the area.

FAQs about bathroom painter quotes

Once you’ve received various quotes, it can be difficult to decide which contractor you should go with. Here are some questions and answers that might help you make your decision.

1. Why is there such a big difference between estimates?

You might notice differing costs between contractors. This because each one makes their own estimates based on various factors, including their predicted amount of labour and the cost of their materials.

2. Do some contractors make way more money than others?

Yes. How much money a contractor makes comes down to what they charge for their services. Contractors who have been in the business longer and provide reputable service will likely charge more than those just starting out.

A contractor making notes on his project

3. Is there a right price and a wrong price?

No. The price is determined based on the time, effort, and supplies put into the project. The total cost will come down to your desired outcome. If you’re not after perfection, you’ll be able to spend less.

4. Why do painters price by the square footage of the floor?

This is occasionally seen with new contractors attempting to get their business up and running. If they advertise offers based on the square footage of the floor, chances are that they’re inexperienced. Steer clear of all quotes like this.

5. How much of the estimate is the cost of paint?

Paint will likely account for 15-25% of the cost. Contractors tend to establish their own pricing for the chosen paint as a perk for using their service. For example, they might price a Satin paint at $40 per gallon.

6. What’s the average cost of labour?

On average, a painter might charge $20-$50 per hour.

The bottom line: ranges of bathroom painting costs

There’s lots to consider when deciding the best way to go about painting your bathroom. The answer to whether you should D.I.Y. or hire a professional is dependent on what you’re willing to spend in terms of money and time.

The D.I.Y. route

Making the decision to do it yourself means it’s up to you to figure out the cost of paint yourself. For a 5’ x 8’ room with a square footage of 320 feet, you’re likely to spend $100-$300 dollars on the paint job. However, what you don’t spend in cash will be spent on time, as you’ll be doing all the steps by yourself, around your pre-existing schedule, while potentially making mistakes and figuring things out as you go.

The professional route

For a professional painter, you’ll have to account for multiple costs, including the size of the room and the cost per hour. The cost of labour can average anywhere between $175 and $495. Add an additional $150 to $350 for the paint used, and you could spend between $325 and $845. On the bright side, the job will be completed much quicker and with less stress.

Have you made your decision?

Now that you have the facts, it’s time to decide how much you’re willing to spend on painting your bathroom. If you decide on the professional route, the City Painters is here for you. Contact us here or give us a call to get a quote for your project!

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Do you live in Westchester, Fairfield or Rockland County? And does your child LOVE the computer?

Here are some things for kids to do over Winter Break in Westchester…

but you’re worried they’ll just sit around playing games all break? Sign them up for hands-on, project-focused Winter Break workshops at the DAE December 12/27, Thursday 12/28 and Friday 12/29. Choose 9:30am-12:00pm, 1:00pm to 3:30pm or combine both for a full day (lunch break 12-1pm).

Workshops include:

Scratch Coding, 3D Printing, Python Programming, Robotics with Edison Robots! We have both AM and PM slots available or combine both for a full day.

REGISTER HERE! *Give us a call at 914-644-8100 between the hours of 12pm-6pm today and we are happy to help or answer any questions!

Class Descriptions

Scratch is a code-free way to introduce kids to computer programming. Instead of typing, students drag & drop blocks together to form lines of code. Projects include games, interactive art, animations and more!

In 3D Printing, students will use either creative mode of Minecraft or a free-web based 3D program called TinkerCAD to model their designs. Then, we’ll show them how to export their projects and 3D print them! Depending on the size and length of the print, it may have to be picked up at a later date.

Python is a great introduction to computer programming because the syntax, or code that your kid types, is very simple and easy to read. Despite that, Python is a very powerful computer programming language that has a multitude of real-world applications.

Edison is an educational robot to teach kids computational thinking and computer programming in a fun, interactive way. Students will code their robots to respond to light, follow paths, communicate with other robots and more!

REGISTER or LEARN MORE HERE — Call us between the hours of 12pm-6pm or email with questions!

Additional info about the DAE:


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Friday, 8 July 2016

A Makeover For The Sphinx – And the Dinosaurs Are Next! @CrystalPalacePK @cpdinosaurs

Adam writes…

Crystal Palace Park is my favourite green space in all of London.

So I was delighted to see the report on the BBC that the famous Sphinxes, those wonderful relics from the old Crystal Palace itself, are being restored.

Here's the story via BBC London on Twitter…

I rather liked the Sphinxes when they were decaying, too. They always made me think of the closing scene of Planet of the Apes with Charlton Heston!

The news report adds that the dinosaurs are next in line for a makeover.

The dinosaur statues are one of London's great eccentricities and are also a relic of the Great Exhibition when it was transferred to South London in 1854. They form what can genuinely be called the world's first theme park…

Here's my favourite sign in all of London…

And here's what a four-year-old (my daughter) looks like when she claps eyes on the dinosaurs for the very first time…

… I'd go so far as to say that's what EVERYONE looks like when they first see the dinosaurs.

There are always events going on in Crystal Palace Park including tours – keep up with the news here:

If you'd like a private London Walks tour of Crystal Palace Park with me as your guide, email the office at

You can visit The Friends of Crystal Palace Park Dinosaurs website and help with their ongoing fundraising campaign here:

A London Walk costs £10 – £8 concession. To join a London Walk, simply meet your guide at the designated tube station at the appointed time. Details of all London Walks can be found at

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How To Feel Productive Without The Pressure

Notebook on table

I was pretty academic at school. Did well at tests. Studied studiously. I don’t think I ever thought to ask any questions – is this the only way it’s done? I just kept going, head down bum up as they say.

Part of it was enthralling to me, I will admit. I liked being good at something. I have three big sisters and always wanted to ‘be like them’, which I saw as being all grown up and high-achieving. And the only way that translated to me at the time was, be good, do good, and study hard.

Yet even though I was a good student, and loved learning, there was still this inevitable pattern that showed up for me. I’d study, study, study. Think I was ahead. Would finish all my homework. And then, there was assignments.

For some reason there was always this feeling of last minute. I’d be up late the night before crying. Panicked. Having no idea how I was going to pull it together. (My poor mother would always ask why I’d left it to the last minute, again. And to her credit while she was supportive she’d also make me take responsibility for finishing it off.)

But I did.

I don’t know what it was. Maybe it was already part done and it was my perfectionism kicking in. Or maybe I just shuffled a whole bunch of thoughts onto the page and was done with it.

The point is, I got it done.

But it didn’t feel great.

As I grew up I carried that tension with me, that panic and stress and extra over-doing it study around exam time. I held it well. It became ‘part of the trade’ of being at university, or finishing my thesis, or applying for jobs. I just thought ‘this is how it’s meant to be’.

It’s probably only in the last five to ten years that I’ve really challenged some of that thinking. That story I’d created in my own head. Having burnt myself out from doing it the other way, I started asking myself ‘How could this be different?’.

When I started asking how could this be different, the story changed. The story became:

I can feel great when finishing things off

I’m a great starter and finisher

I can feel excited about a project deadline

I can choose how I want to feel under pressure

That last one’s a big one. Knowing I could choose how I wanted to feel under pressure has changed how I interact. I know now when that pressure is ‘too much’ and how to back down a bit (or where to insert more walks and meditation!). I know when others are stressed around me, that I don’t have to own that too. I’m also way calmer and grounded in the process – even if it’s full of challenge and pressure. Meaning the decisions I make from that place are far more effective too. Where in your life is your ‘story’ holding you back from feeling more calm? I’d love to know. Try on that question and see how it feels for you: how could this be different?

Help someone else in your life tell a whole new story from today. Share this post with them by clicking one of the icons below!


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NewsLocal News

Colorado baby given 1 percent chance of survival beats the odds

Posted at 10:57 PM, Aug 22, 2019
and last updated 2019-08-23 01:09:29-04

AURORA, Colo. -- It's not often you hear a doctor say that miracles really do happen, but a Colorado baby who was given a 1% chance of survival is making everyone she meets a believer.

"The doctor, I'll never forget, she sits down and says, 'I'm so sorry, but your baby is very sick,'" said Lexie Emory and her husband Brock learned something was wrong with their unborn baby, Dr. Terry Harper was delivering the news.

"I just remembered the pain that I knew I was going to be causing them when I shared this information with them," said Harper, who told them their baby had Turner Syndrome, one X chromosome instead of two, and while the baby had a one to two percent chance of survival, Dr. Harper had some hope. "Long term, the prognosis neuro-developmentally for kids with Turner syndrome is quite good."

Emory said she knew then what she had to do.

"My husband and I both looked at each other and knew that we were going to let her fight," she said. "And we would love her every minute that we had her."

In the weeks that followed, doctors still can't explain why the fluid threatening the baby's life dramatically decreased.

When Emory was admitted to the NICU at Children's Hospital Colorado at 28 weeks pregnant, she felt certain her baby would be in good hands.

"For most parents, the NICU is the worst case scenario and for us it was the best," she said.

After the baby was born, she spent 95 days in the NICU proving everyone wrong, and she was named after the doctor who gave her parents hope.

"This is our daughter, Harper Lynn," said Emory with a smile. "Of we can name our baby after someone who was so kind and empathetic, if she has any of those characteristics, we made the right choice."

Now, Harper is six months old, and her prognosis is good. She still is in therapy and faces several surgeries, but her mother says she is thriving, and she knows she made the right choice.

"Give your baby every chance they have because they might surprise you," said Emory.