Ad-Blockers (browser-embedded)

WRT ad-Blockers a.k.a. content-filtering extensions, most sites do not tolerate “any tools or methods to prevent the proper and full display of advertisements.” Granted, these sites rely are based on an ad-revenue business model but this wanton and full display of advertisements clutters up the screen and degrades the web experience. Browser-embedded add-ons provide instant relief to sore eyes.  My MacBook Pro is Geekbench-blazing adequate for the time being despite its heat build-up and whining. Yet MacKeeper has been stalking me to make it faster by nonexistent “fixing system issues.” 

BEFORE ADBLOCK

Michael Gundlach developed Adblock for Safari and Chrome are just what the doctor ordered.

AFTER ADBLOCK

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY FEMA EMI

Jacob and Bose gang, thanks for the heads up on the nuclear certification. Passed the three.

McCarran International Airport D Gates NW Wing Addition

My last project in Nevada as Superintendent with Vomar was at the Las Vegas McCarran International Airport. The public works project, with multiple unions and project labor agreements in place was called for the 150,000 square feet, two-story addition to the existing Satellite D Concourse.

"Demolition of existing apron paving, installation of new foundations, structural steel frame, curtain wall and pre-fabricated metal panel exterior skin membrane and metal roofing systems, metal panel ceilings on second floor with engineered stone wall panels on the walls.  Site work involves new apron paving, a 430’ utilidor below grade which connects the existing underground tram stations."

Interesting taggers at work in the interior of the plethora of Porta-potties on that jobsite. Why the effin' words against McCarthy? It's not their fault. Bechtel was the Big Brother there.

I was in the clan of "chinks" I guess. I fired a few non-performing...

You'll be missed Ms. Rebecca C

Cutest, bravest, silliest, most memorable young lady I've met. Her arm silently suggested that perhaps I need to get a tattoo (in a foreign language) as a daily visible reminder of someone I love. RRS (aka Diya). Alas, I don't know Bengali.

State of US Recession

The construction sector is one of the most cyclical of industries. It is the most visible indicator of the health of an economy. Wanna bet the individuals below once worked in construction?

Recovery & Off-Site Reuse of SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA &c

The construction sector in developed countries generates the most waste. Construction waste and demolition debris (C&D)  is the single largest contributor to landfills in the United States. The US Environmental Protection Agency estimates that 150 million tons of building-related waste is generated annually, which is 25% to 40% of the national solid waste stream (of which 9% is construction waste, 38% is renovation waste, and 53% is demolition debris). EPA also estimates that only 20% of this C&D waste is being recycled.

Just one of over 100 crates and pallets delivered to my job site and then consigned to landfill

The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) course I'm taking actively seeks to address this issue through green building practices. Minimize environmental impact by dramatically reducing waste to landfill, by encouraging and facilitating sustainable purchasing.

Construction Wastes Hierarchy

As the chart above shows, while off-site reuse of construction waste is low on the totem pole, it is not the worst. At the project closeout phase of a superior court I'd worked on up in NorCal, I noticed cases of cast steel alphabets that were destined for the nearest landfill. These letters were the smaller siblings of the "SUPERIOR COURT OF CALIFORNIA" my team was installing.

Inspecting my crew's work-in-progress

The completed facade.

I had one of the laborers put two cases of the discarded letters in my truck. The cases remained in storage for a couple of years, forgotten.

Contemporary art now has subdivisions such as found art or  found object (objet trouvé); commodity sculpture; trash art or junk art. The illustration below of an art installation shows how a collection of discarded industrial and plumbing valve handles (probably from a building's demolition) may be magically transformed into art.

Objet Trouvé of valve handles

The idea is pretty much the same for this piece of functional art, if one can call it that, composed of discarded heavy gauge steel.

Functional montage of distressed heavy gauge steel

In his book Cradle to Cradle: Remaking the Way We Make Things, William McDonough suggests technical waste should become industrial food. Why not food for art? Needless I'm motivated to make a work of art with all the materials I've collected over the years from past projects. Transforming "Superior Court of California" into a 'work of art' through anagrams is my latest work-in-progress. Though motivated, I doubt it will be anywhere near the league of my paternal uncle, foremost contemporary Indian sculptor Ravinder Reddy.

An inventory count of the letters I have at my disposal for an exercise or two in anagrams: S-U-P-E-R-I-O-R-C-O-U-R-T-O-F-C-A-L-I-F-O-R-N-I-A-O-F-O-A-A-O-O-T-S-U-C-L-N-O-F-I-P-U-I-R-I-R-R. Feel free to send me your anagrams, suggestions.

Signage & Wayfinding to the Milk Express

You gotta love California, if for anything, then for the lactation laws in place that give the nursing mummy the right to breastfeed in public. YAY, yummy mummies galore!

The Minimum Requirements of the California Lactation Accommodation Law effective since January 1, 2002 provides for, among other things.

Breastfeeding at Work: "Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate thereof concurring, That the Legislature respectfully memorializes the Governor to declare by executive order that all State of California employees shall be provided with adequate facilities for breastfeeding, or the expressing of milk."

Jury Duty- Breastfeeding Mothers: "The Judicial Council shall adopt a standardized jury summons... [that] shall include a specific reference to the rules for breast-feeding mothers."

Not yet a US citizen and I've already been summoned for jury duty

Lactation Accommodation: "Every employer, including the state and any political subdivision, shall... make reasonable efforts to provide the employee with the use of a room or other location, other than a toilet stall, in close proximity to the employee's work area, for the employee to express milk in private."

So you've seen one of my previous posts on the old blog regarding a type of project I seldom get to work on: a brand new Superior Court of California. The illustrations that accompanied them are of the exterior. The one below is of the interior, specifically, the Lactation Room. On my last day at the project - I was assigned elsewhere and ordered to head to the nearest airport to catch the last flight to Las Vegas - I accompanied Mutzilla Matt, my head foreman, while he was conducting a preliminary punch-list. Guess where this architectural sign was installed? Guess again? Yup, outside the restroom/lavatory/toilet meant solely for judges.

LACTATION sign has since been relocated to it's correct place

Here's another illustration for a restroom for women designated together with staff locker rooms accessible to disabled (blind given the tactile Braille surface) men.

Lockers in the women's restroom are available to blind and wheelchair-bound men?

The construction industry is computed to be the most dangerous sector after the fishing industry. In the US, the construction sector employs about 6% of the workforce, but suffers 20% of the fatalities. Given the high general liability and workers compensation insurance premiums commanded of the construction sector, a typical project will have a majority of Cal/OSHA's 90 signs. After a couple of reported airborne attacks, the following sign was jury-rigged at one of my projects. Better safe than sorry when the ambulance-chasers come calling.

Another occupational hazard requiring hard hat and eye protection at all times.

Then there's my favorite: CUNT EXAMINATION