Dealcentral.co.uk

Blog

What You Must Know – Dogster
[ad_1]
Some days, you may feel that you work like a dog at your job. But imagine getting to work with your dog in your cubicle, your office or business.

In 1999, Patti Moran, founder of Pet Sitters International, created the annual event Take Your Dog to Work Day. This year, it is being celebrated on June 23, and it has now expanded to Take Your Pet to Work Week and, yes, even Take Your Cat to Work Day.

“I wanted to find a way for PSI to give back to the pet community from which our members earn their living and find a unique way to celebrate dogs and promote their adoptions,” Patti says. “Since that time, the event has grown by leaps and bounds.”

Take your dog to work every day at these dog-friendly offices

Tito’s Handmade Vodka, headquarted in Texas, embraces Take Your Dog to Work Day every day. “Since the founding of Tito’s Handmade Vodka in 1995, stray dogs have always found their way to the distillery in rural Austin, where the Tito’s team would feed them, take care of them and sometimes adopt them,” says Beth Bellanti, manager of Tito’s Vodka for Dog People program. “By allowing humans to bring their furry companions to work, we have seen reduced stress and anxiety levels, and improved work-life balance throughout our workforce.”

Well-mannered dogs are also welcomed at dog product supplier Chewy locations. And that makes Gabrielle Miller, senior pet team operations member, break out into a smile. “I love being able to bring my dogs, Tuffy and Maddie, to work with me,” Gabrielle says. “When I take breaks, I take them for walks, and I like to see them modeling and working on the set with other pet wranglers. It is also nice to work at a company with people who are knowledgeable about dog training and behavior.”

During a tour inside the Dallas distribution center, you’ll spot dogs snoozing on comfy beds next to their person’s workstation. One enforced rule: Dogs cannot be tethered and left unsupervised, even for a few minutes for their pet parents to grab a coffee or go to the bathroom. Another co-worker must stay with the dog until the pet parent returns.

Get your office dog ready for work

Teoti Anderson, past president of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and co-owner of Pawsitive Results in South Carolina, encourages a candid assessment of your canine.

Before bringing your dog to your work, ask yourself:
- Does my dog have good manners?
- Will he jump on people?
- Does he drag me down the hallway?
- Does he like people but not other dogs?
- Is he house trained?
- Is he up to date on his vaccinations and on flea and tick preventives?
- Will he enjoy coming to work with me or become stressed?
“Having a well-behaved dog will make it easier to take him to work,” says Teoti, who is also the author of the Ultimate Guide to Dog Training. “Brush up on his training, and he could be employee of the month!”

Tips to prep your dog for a day at the office

Having your dog do a trial run can help you gauge how he likes or does not like being at work, says Cara Armour, a professional dog trainer and agility instructor from Massachusetts.

“See if you can bring him on a day off or on a quiet workday so that you can pay attention to your dog’s behavior at the office,” says Cara, who is also president of Cara Armour Consulting. “Do pet proof the area where your dog will be each time he comes to work with you. Pay attention to anything on the floor. What if a coworker dropped an Advil and your dog found it on the floor? Make sure your dog is not allowed to roam freely and rummage in trash cans of your coworkers.”

How do you stay focused with your four-legger as your work buddy?

“It’s important to teach your dog to self-soothe,” Teoti says. “Have a ready-made supply of frozen, food-stuffed, rubber toys available that you can pull out to serve as doggie pacifiers during your meetings. Make sure you take him out to eliminate in the designated potty area before you participate in office meetings.”

Beth from Tito’s shares these three strategies for a successful day at work with your dog:
- Keep your pet’s needs in mind. Bring treats, chew toys, a water bowl and a comfy pet bed where your pet can relax while you are focused on work.
- “Set ‘ex-pet-tations’ beforehand,” she says. “Make sure there are office-wide guidelines and policies in place regarding pets that address roaming, leash restrictions, the number of pets allowed per person and anything else to ensure a peaceful environment for pets and humans alike.”
- Take quick breaks throughout the day to step outside to give your pet some air and a chance to play and get out some energy. “Quick breaks not only keep your pet happy, but they are good for employee wellness and stress management, too.”
How to start Take Your Dog to Work Day at your office

Before you participate in TYDTWD or introduce a pet-friendly policy at your workplace, follow these tips by PSI’s president Beth Stultz-Hairston:
- First, pitch the request to your boss and/or human resource director. “Be prepared to address possible concerns management may have, including safety protocols,” Beth says. These issues can include building codes, liability issues and employees’ allergies or phobias.”
- Respect co-workers’ views of pets at work. “Avoid forcing coworkers to interact with your dog,” she says. “Dog lovers will make themselves known!”
- Make your dog’s wishes your priority. “Although most dogs enjoy TYDTWD, your pet may not, so have an exit strategy, like calling your professional pet sitter, should your dog become overly boisterous, agitated or withdrawn while at your office.”
PSI also offers a free and downloadable TYDTWD toolkit and ideas on ways to celebrate at your workplace.

Working from home with your dogs

Cara Armour gets a lot done in a day even with the challenge of working from home with not one, but four enthusiastic Boxers named Debbie, Walter, Phoenix and Wendy. A professional dog trainer and pet business consultant in Massachusetts, she also finds time for her dogs to compete in agility and teach the sport to others.

What’s her secret to successfully working inside a dog-filled home? “From the very beginning I trained them to view their crates as reward places, places to enjoy treats and places to relax and sleep,” Cara says. “I teach them relaxation and reward quiet with lots of treats.”

Three tips for working from home with dogs:

Tap into your dog’s need for predictability. “Do your best to keep a regular schedule while working at home with your dogs,” she says. “I crate them from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day to keep regularity. And, I take my dogs for long walks every single day before I start work.”

Use a marker or clicker to teach and reward your dog for being quiet. Resist yelling at your dog to be quiet when he is barking at the postal carrier coming up your steps as you are on a live Zoom call.

“Dogs need to take a breath during barks and time that quiet with something super yummy,” Cara says. “Your dog will learn that when he is quiet, he gets something really yummy. You can also usher your dog to a licky mat or a keep-busy food puzzle in another room to keep him quiet and busy while you field that Zoom call.”

Read our article about 6 great food puzzles.
What is Take Your Dog to Work Day? A Quick Recap

1999: The First TYDTWD event sponsored by Pet Sitters International is held on the Friday following Father’s Day — a tradition still maintained today.

Spinoff pet celebrations: Take Your Pet to Work Week is June 19-23 and Take Your Cat to Work Day is set for June 19.

About 300 businesses participated in the first TYDTWD. Now, the number of companies steadily grows each year.

PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator is a tool to find a local professional pet sitter or dog walker services for any day pets cannot be at work or if dogs need midday walks on TYDTWD.

Follow the TYDTWD events and post your company’s participation by using the hashtag: #takeyourdogtoworkday.
[ad_2]

Source link
March 13, 2023
Superkül renovates reading room at Toronto’s brutalist Robarts Library

[ad_1]

Canadian studio Superkül has updated the reading room at the University of Toronto’s Robarts Library, a notable example of brutalist architecture.

The project involved renovating the cavernous concrete space on the building’s fourth floor, as part of the university’s larger initiative to revitalise the Robarts Library, which Superkül described as “one of North America’s most significant examples of brutalist architecture”.

The Brutalist concrete Robarts Library was built in 1973

Completed in 1973, the John P Robarts Research Library was designed by local architecture studio Mathers & Haldenby.

It is both the largest individual library at the University of Toronto and the largest academic library building in Canada.

Superkül updated the spaces to better serve contemporary learning needs

As an important facility for students and faculty, the reading and study spaces required upgrades to meet contemporary learning styles and equipment, while remaining respectful to the heritage-listed architecture.

The project also needed to connect the original brutalist structure with the adjacent Robarts Common extension, completed by Diamond Schmitt Architects in September 2022.

A variety of individual study stations were added to the double-height space

“We were tasked with an ambitious goal: to convert the space into a superior contemporary environment for quiet study, collaboration, and digital scholarship in a manner that complements the building’s exalted architectural language and supports accessibility, diversity, and wellness,” said Superkül.

Spread throughout the 20,300-square-foot (1,886-square-metre), double-height space are individual study areas, new digital stations, consultation rooms and two light therapy zones.

Natural materials were chosen to bring warmth to the concrete building

Particular attention was paid to accessibility, through the addition of inclusive study spots that allow users to adjust desk heights, seating configurations and lighting for their needs.

“We also emphasised clear sightlines and intuitive wayfinding in a symmetrical layout to promote easy navigation,” said Superkül.

Upgrades to historic Toronto university building include an elevator clad in copper scales

The studio worked with a team of acoustic specialists to create a sound-dampening system using perforated wood and metal panelling, designed to blend in with the interior architecture.

This scheme allows communal study groups to converse without disturbing other students.

Particular attention was paid to accessibility, through the addition of inclusive study spots

For the new elements, a variety of natural materials were chosen to add warmth to the concrete building, including custom-designed bronze screens and details that play on existing motifs.

“To honour the distinctive geometry and materiality that make Robarts Library such a prodigious icon, we hewed closely to an overarching objective: create a robust and respectful design that honours the existing architecture and complements the library’s other spaces,” the studio said.

An acoustic-dampening system was created to prevent communal study sessions distracting from quiet work

Also at the University of Toronto, studios Kohn Shnier and ERA Architects recently renovated the historic University College building to make it more accessible.

Superkül’s previous projects have included an all-white vacation home in the Ontario countryside.

The photography is by Doublespace.

Project credits:

Architect: Superkül
Structural engineer: Entuitive
Mechanical and electrical engineer: HH Angus
Acoustics: Aercoustics
Cost: Marshall & Murray
Code and safety: LRI

[ad_2]

Source link

March 13, 2023
SVB and Signature Bank Crisis Is What Happens When Easy Money Runs Out

[ad_1]

Phew. Hey there. Senior reporter Phil Rosen here. Before we jump into the newsletter, the Silicon Valley Bank saga is continuing to unfold, so let’s quickly break down the latest.

The big story this morning: HSBC has bought the UK arm of collapsed SVB in a last-minute deal for 1 British pound, or $1.21. The UK government and the Bank of England facilitated the private sale, British Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said on Twitter: “Deposits will be protected, with no taxpayer support”.

Also, if you haven’t heard, Signature Bank yesterday became the third bank to fail in the past week, after Silvergate shut down its bank voluntarily.

The Treasury, Federal Reserve, and FDIC made a joint statement Sunday evening, effectively saying that all depositors for SVB and Signature Bank would be made whole, and that a new facility, the Bank Term Funding Program, would be created to provide liquidity for firms under stress.

“No losses associated with the resolution of Silicon Valley Bank will be borne by the taxpayer,” policymakers added.

Meanwhile, as the two banks fell under regulatory control, First Republic issued a message to clients aimed at calming nerves, saying it still had strong liquidity.

In any case, some folks on Wall Street have been telling me that we can chalk up much of the turmoil to our departure from the easy-money era.

More than a decade of near-zero interest rates allowed companies to borrow money freely, and as far as repercussions go, what we’ve seen so far could mark only the tip of the iceberg.

If this was forwarded to you, sign up here. Download Insider’s app here.

AP Images

1. The fall of SVB and Signature bank means the Fed’s aggressive interest-rate hiking regime has now taken sizable casualties.

The tumult is a byproduct of the central bank’s 1,700% increase in rates that took place in less than a year, and it could mean more once-stable institutions could be turned inside out in the coming months.

“When you raise interest rates quickly, after 15 years of overstimulating the economy with near-zero rates, to not imagine that there’s not leverage in every pocket of society that will be stressed is a naive imagining,” Lundy Wright of Weiss Multi-Strategy Advisors told me.

This new rate cycle delivers a “perfect storm,” according to Deutsche Bank analysts, who told clients last week that SVB epitomizes all the risks worth fretting over in the shifting policy era.

In a Sunday note to clients, Goldman Sachs’ research team pulled back their Fed policy forecast in response to this weekend’s bank failures.

“In light of recent stress in the banking system,” the analysts wrote, “we no longer expect the FOMC to deliver a rate hike at its March 22 meeting with considerable uncertainty about the path beyond March.”

In any case, the risk of contagion may not be all that high, as my colleague Matthew Fox writes, given that banks have become extremely well-capitalized since the Great Financial Crisis.

And according to Tut Fuller, chief executive and founder of Capra Bank, if policymakers stick to their word and protect depositors like they said they would, people will have their faith restored.

“I’m hopeful that the government’s approach of stepping in and protecting depositors, but not bailing out failed executives and boards of directors, actually builds confidence,” Fuller told me close to midnight last night. “We need to protect the consumers and businesses who thought their money was safe and hold poor leadership accountable.”

Here’s Deutsche Bank again:

“What do you get when you see one of the biggest hiking cycles on record, alongside one of the most inverted yield curves in history, at the same time as seeing one of the biggest tech bubbles bursting in history, coupled with runaway growth in private markets?”

The answer looks something like what transpired this weekend.

What’s been the most surprising thing to you about the collapse of two banks in three days? Tweet me (@philrosenn) or email me (prosen@insider.com) to let me know.

In other news:

Lucky-photographer/Shutterstock

2. Stocks on Wall Street battle for direction as SVB’s failure ignites fears for banks. Shares in First Republic Bank fell as much as 60% premarket after the US lender tapped the backstop for a $70 billion to shore up liquidity. Here are the latest market moves.

3. Earnings on deck: Carlsberg, Getty Images Holdings, and more, all reporting.

4. Morgan Stanley recommended this batch of stocks to profit on an investing strategy that produces positive returns 100% of the time. Here’s the approach the strategists laid out — including the 19 names they like now.

5. A $15 billion venture capital firm had warned its startups of Silicon Valley Bank’s red flags months ago. Greenoaks Capital Partners told clients in an email back in November that SVB, as well as other firms, could see problems in a high-interest-rate environment, Bloomberg reported. Those clients pulled over $1 billion in funds out of the bank ahead of the turmoil.

6. Investing veteran Jeremy Grantham said the stock market bubble is still deflating. The market won’t bottom until 2024, and investors shouldn’t be fooled by any rallies that materialize, the GMO co-founder said. He blasted the Fed’s monetary policy as a 36-year-long “horror show.”

7. The bank crisis will force the Fed to slash rates by 100 basis points to prevent contagion. That’s according to market guru Larry McDonald. He said it was the Fed that effectively caused the dramatic bank run last week.

8. This real estate investor owns over 1,250 units. He was able to retire at age 36 through leveraging the cash flow from his properties. Here are the five pillars that he says drive wealth — and how investors can combine them to compound their income and reach financial freedom.

9. An investing expert who says “cash is king” doesn’t think it’s time to get into the stock market right now. Lauren Simmons recommends instead putting your money into Treasuries, CDs, and high-yield savings accounts because that’s how you can be best prepared to jump on new opportunities after a recession.

Markets Insider

10. Bitcoin and other risk-assets stumbled amid bank fears. The crypto industry is navigating fresh pain as Silvergate prepares to wind down and other financial firms face snags. Bitcoin dropped below $20,000 last week, but is now back above $22,000. Here’s what caused Friday’s drop.

Curated by Phil Rosen in New York. Feedback or tips? Tweet @philrosenn or email prosen@insider.com.

Edited by Max Adams (@maxradams) in New York and Hallam Bullock (@hallam_bullock) in London.

[ad_2]

Source link

March 13, 2023
You’ll Love Doggy Parton, Dolly Parton’s New Dog Product Line – Dogster

[ad_1]

Annie Butler Shirreffs

Annie Butler Shirreffs has worked in the pet industry for 20 years and is currently the senior editor of Catster and Dogster magazines. A cat lover since she was a little girl, she has always had feline friends in her life. She and her husband share their Southern California home with their four cats, Agatha, Alastair, Jack and Mathilda, and an ever-changing clowder of foster kittens, all of whom enjoy being testers for cool, new products.

[ad_2]

Source link

March 12, 2023
A Quick Glimpse Into the Future of Kitchens

[ad_1]

Kitchens? Who needs kitchens in the future? Won’t we just take flavored food pills that deliver all the nutrients we need? Well, we suppose even if we do wind up in an Aldous Huxley-type world, we’ll still need an attractive space to take our meal pills, right?

(more…)

March 12, 2023
Nicole Bilderback Said Being Asian Helped Her Land Roles
[ad_1]
- Nicole Bilderback was the ‘friend’ role staple of ’90s teen dramedy.
- Bilderback appeared in classic ’90s films and TV shows like “Clueless” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.”
- Being Asian didn’t hold her back; it helped her stand out, she says. But she never could book a lead role.
Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go.

Nicole Bilderback is the ’90s face audiences certainly recognize but almost just as certainly can’t put a name to.

She’s played the “friend” role in a slew of popular teen films and TV shows, like “Clueless,” and “Bring It On,” or “Dawson’s Creek,” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” She was a familiar face at a time where Asian representation on screen was neither practiced or discussed in the media.

In an interview with HuffPost, Bilderback said it would’ve been great if the emergence of young Asian female actresses — like Lana Condor or “Everything Everywhere All At Once” breakout Stephanie Hsu — was happening when she first started out, but she’s also glad she didn’t think about her race much at the time.

“I think being raised as an all-American girl from Dallas, Texas, I just saw myself as an all-American girl who just happened to look Asian. So in other words, I didn’t pigeonhole myself as, ‘Oh, well, I’m probably only going to read for Asian roles,‘” she said.

That self-perception was reflected in the roles she was cast in, some of which she said were originally written for white actresses.

“The majority of the roles that I’ve portrayed have been roles that were either intended for Caucasian actresses or the ethnicity wasn’t specified. So for me, I got lucky in the sense of I wasn’t really typecast as just an Asian actress. And I think a lot of that had to do with the timing,” she told HuffPo in 2018.

“My story, I think, is slightly different than probably the majority of the other Asian-American actors that have been out here doing this for a long time,” she said.

Bilderback said she saw her ethnicity as a help to her career when she started out as a teen, because she felt she was able to bring something different to the table.

“I was just so free-flowing and young and fresh. I think because of that, because I didn’t limit myself, the industry saw me with very open eyes as well,” she said, adding that the ’90s felt like a “great time” to enter the industry for her even though there were only “maybe, a handful of Asian-American actresses out here in LA.”

Back then, she said being Asian “worked to my benefit because I stood out. I was something new and something different, rather than the standard blond hair, blue eyed that they’d already seen hundreds of.

Bilderback recalled moving to LA to pursue acting in the fall of 1993, and auditioning for her first movie — “Clueless.”

She said, “I was auditioning for Summer, the character I ended up playing, and I also auditioned for the role of Amber. When I went in for the callback, which was with the director, Amy Heckerling, and all the producers, I remember they actually added another role for me, so I read also for the role of Heather, Josh’s girlfriend in the movie. So I was being considered for all three of those roles.”

As great it was to be cast in big projects, Bilderback said she still struggled to get lead roles, which she feels being Asian played a major part in. “I did read for a lot of bigger parts, but there was usually either already a star name attached, or maybe at the time they weren’t necessarily as open to an ethnic actress as the lead. Not as much as they are now.”

“The industry is funny, and the casting process is funny. A lot of it is very political,” she said.

Since then, Bilderback has continued acting, mostly in television, and also has taken to writing. She had a career realization: “There’s more than one way of becoming a successful actress and reaching the success that I’ve always known I was meant to reach, other than just through auditioning.”
[ad_2]

Source link
March 12, 2023
What You Must Know – Dogster
[ad_1]
Some days, you may feel that you work like a dog at your job. But imagine getting to work with your dog in your cubicle, your office or business.

In 1999, Patti Moran, founder of Pet Sitters International, created the annual event Take Your Dog to Work Day. This year, it is being celebrated on June 23, and it has now expanded to Take Your Pet to Work Week and, yes, even Take Your Cat to Work Day.

“I wanted to find a way for PSI to give back to the pet community from which our members earn their living and find a unique way to celebrate dogs and promote their adoptions,” Patti says. “Since that time, the event has grown by leaps and bounds.”

Take your dog to work every day at these dog-friendly offices

Tito’s Handmade Vodka, headquarted in Texas, embraces Take Your Dog to Work Day every day. “Since the founding of Tito’s Handmade Vodka in 1995, stray dogs have always found their way to the distillery in rural Austin, where the Tito’s team would feed them, take care of them and sometimes adopt them,” says Beth Bellanti, manager of Tito’s Vodka for Dog People program. “By allowing humans to bring their furry companions to work, we have seen reduced stress and anxiety levels, and improved work-life balance throughout our workforce.”

Well-mannered dogs are also welcomed at dog product supplier Chewy locations. And that makes Gabrielle Miller, senior pet team operations member, break out into a smile. “I love being able to bring my dogs, Tuffy and Maddie, to work with me,” Gabrielle says. “When I take breaks, I take them for walks, and I like to see them modeling and working on the set with other pet wranglers. It is also nice to work at a company with people who are knowledgeable about dog training and behavior.”

During a tour inside the Dallas distribution center, you’ll spot dogs snoozing on comfy beds next to their person’s workstation. One enforced rule: Dogs cannot be tethered and left unsupervised, even for a few minutes for their pet parents to grab a coffee or go to the bathroom. Another co-worker must stay with the dog until the pet parent returns.

Get your office dog ready for work

Teoti Anderson, past president of the Association of Professional Dog Trainers and co-owner of Pawsitive Results in South Carolina, encourages a candid assessment of your canine.

Before bringing your dog to your work, ask yourself:
- Does my dog have good manners?
- Will he jump on people?
- Does he drag me down the hallway?
- Does he like people but not other dogs?
- Is he house trained?
- Is he up to date on his vaccinations and on flea and tick preventives?
- Will he enjoy coming to work with me or become stressed?
“Having a well-behaved dog will make it easier to take him to work,” says Teoti, who is also the author of the Ultimate Guide to Dog Training. “Brush up on his training, and he could be employee of the month!”

Tips to prep your dog for a day at the office

Having your dog do a trial run can help you gauge how he likes or does not like being at work, says Cara Armour, a professional dog trainer and agility instructor from Massachusetts.

“See if you can bring him on a day off or on a quiet workday so that you can pay attention to your dog’s behavior at the office,” says Cara, who is also president of Cara Armour Consulting. “Do pet proof the area where your dog will be each time he comes to work with you. Pay attention to anything on the floor. What if a coworker dropped an Advil and your dog found it on the floor? Make sure your dog is not allowed to roam freely and rummage in trash cans of your coworkers.”

How do you stay focused with your four-legger as your work buddy?

“It’s important to teach your dog to self-soothe,” Teoti says. “Have a ready-made supply of frozen, food-stuffed, rubber toys available that you can pull out to serve as doggie pacifiers during your meetings. Make sure you take him out to eliminate in the designated potty area before you participate in office meetings.”

Beth from Tito’s shares these three strategies for a successful day at work with your dog:
- Keep your pet’s needs in mind. Bring treats, chew toys, a water bowl and a comfy pet bed where your pet can relax while you are focused on work.
- “Set ‘ex-pet-tations’ beforehand,” she says. “Make sure there are office-wide guidelines and policies in place regarding pets that address roaming, leash restrictions, the number of pets allowed per person and anything else to ensure a peaceful environment for pets and humans alike.”
- Take quick breaks throughout the day to step outside to give your pet some air and a chance to play and get out some energy. “Quick breaks not only keep your pet happy, but they are good for employee wellness and stress management, too.”
How to start Take Your Dog to Work Day at your office

Before you participate in TYDTWD or introduce a pet-friendly policy at your workplace, follow these tips by PSI’s president Beth Stultz-Hairston:
- First, pitch the request to your boss and/or human resource director. “Be prepared to address possible concerns management may have, including safety protocols,” Beth says. These issues can include building codes, liability issues and employees’ allergies or phobias.”
- Respect co-workers’ views of pets at work. “Avoid forcing coworkers to interact with your dog,” she says. “Dog lovers will make themselves known!”
- Make your dog’s wishes your priority. “Although most dogs enjoy TYDTWD, your pet may not, so have an exit strategy, like calling your professional pet sitter, should your dog become overly boisterous, agitated or withdrawn while at your office.”
PSI also offers a free and downloadable TYDTWD toolkit and ideas on ways to celebrate at your workplace.

Working from home with your dogs

Cara Armour gets a lot done in a day even with the challenge of working from home with not one, but four enthusiastic Boxers named Debbie, Walter, Phoenix and Wendy. A professional dog trainer and pet business consultant in Massachusetts, she also finds time for her dogs to compete in agility and teach the sport to others.

What’s her secret to successfully working inside a dog-filled home? “From the very beginning I trained them to view their crates as reward places, places to enjoy treats and places to relax and sleep,” Cara says. “I teach them relaxation and reward quiet with lots of treats.”

Three tips for working from home with dogs:

Tap into your dog’s need for predictability. “Do your best to keep a regular schedule while working at home with your dogs,” she says. “I crate them from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every day to keep regularity. And, I take my dogs for long walks every single day before I start work.”

Use a marker or clicker to teach and reward your dog for being quiet. Resist yelling at your dog to be quiet when he is barking at the postal carrier coming up your steps as you are on a live Zoom call.

“Dogs need to take a breath during barks and time that quiet with something super yummy,” Cara says. “Your dog will learn that when he is quiet, he gets something really yummy. You can also usher your dog to a licky mat or a keep-busy food puzzle in another room to keep him quiet and busy while you field that Zoom call.”

Read our article about 6 great food puzzles.
What is Take Your Dog to Work Day? A Quick Recap

1999: The First TYDTWD event sponsored by Pet Sitters International is held on the Friday following Father’s Day — a tradition still maintained today.

Spinoff pet celebrations: Take Your Pet to Work Week is June 19-23 and Take Your Cat to Work Day is set for June 19.

About 300 businesses participated in the first TYDTWD. Now, the number of companies steadily grows each year.

PSI’s Pet Sitter Locator is a tool to find a local professional pet sitter or dog walker services for any day pets cannot be at work or if dogs need midday walks on TYDTWD.

Follow the TYDTWD events and post your company’s participation by using the hashtag: #takeyourdogtoworkday.
[ad_2]

Source link
March 11, 2023
Ten Tokyo apartments with minimalist interior designs

[ad_1]

Cleverly concealed kitchens and subtle wooden accents feature in our latest lookbook, which collects Tokyo apartments characterised by minimalist and serene interiors.

These apartments in Japan’s capital are united by their muted colours and an abundance of wood – elements often associated with traditional Japanese interior design.

As one of the world’s most densely populated cities, Tokyo homes often feature smaller floor plans or less natural light than those located in more spacious cities.

Architects and designers have created plenty of understated solutions to these restrictions, such as inserting space-saving storage into open-plan living areas.

From a flat informed by traditional Kyoto townhouses to an Airbnb dressed in subtle geometric furniture, here are 10 Tokyo apartments with minimalist interior designs.

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring concrete bathrooms, cosy cabins and homes with elevators.

Kinuta Terrace by Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design

Two apartments within Tokyo’s 1980s-designed Kinuta Terrace apartment block were renovated by Norm Architects and Keiji Ashizawa Design to include more natural light.

The studios reconfigured the floor plans to form fewer but larger living spaces, which are characterised by smooth concrete, timber fixtures and sheer sandy-hued curtains.

“Nature feels integrated into the apartment from most rooms so that, when looking out into the courtyard, you can’t quite tell you’re in a city as immense as Tokyo,” said Norm Architects designer Frederik Werner.

Find out more about these Kinuta Terrace apartments ›

Photo is by Satoshi Shigeta

Apartment in Kitasando by Minorpoet

This 1960s apartment contains a sleek kitchen counter and storage space concealed behind folding doors informed by traditional Japanese screens known as Byōbu.

Design studio Minorpoet took cues from traditional Kyoto townhouses for the project, which features a hidden kitchen that cannot be seen from the living room.

Minimalist furniture and finishes match the pared-back theme, including iconic Finnish architect Alvar Aalto’s stackable wooden 60 stool.

Find out more about Apartment in Kitasando ›

Photo is by Kaku Ohtaki

Airbnb apartments by Hiroyuki Ogawa Architects

Local studio Hiroyuki Ogawa Architects renovated two Airbnb apartments in Tokyo’s Shibuya ward with completely contrasting designs. One has floors and walls clad in light wood (main image), while the other pairs a plush grey carpet with dark plasterwork.

Neon lighting in the latter apartment was chosen to remind guests of the bustling city while cork stools, metallic kitchen cabinetry and charcoal-toned accents create a moody atmosphere.

Find out more about these Airbnb apartments ›

Photo is by Tomooki Kengaku

The Life concept apartment by I IN

The Life concept apartment is an understated residence set within a 1980s building by Tokyo design firm I IN. According to the studio, the project was created to encourage people to rethink renovated apartments in Japan, rather than favour newbuilds.

An open-plan living space contains a kitchen, living room and bedroom characterised by reeded glass partitions, stucco walls and luxurious red walnut joinery.

Find out more about The Life concept apartment ›

Photo is by Toshiyuki Yano

Akasaka apartment by FrontOfficeTokyo

Almost all of the walls within this 50-square-metre flat were replaced with multi-functional box units and sliding partitions to make the space feel bigger and brighter.

Local studio FrontOfficeTokyo stripped the apartment down to a single room, which features designated zones to lounge, cook, eat and sleep.

Raw and simple materials emphasise the utilitarian interior design, including exposed ceilings, pale timber floors and a corner bathroom contained in a concrete box.

Find out more about this apartment ›

Image is courtesy of Snark Architectures

House in Chofu by Snark Architectures

Snark Architectures renovated an apartment in Chofu – a city to the west of downtown Tokyo. Located at the base of Mount Takao, the dwelling intends to mirror traditional cabins.

With an open-plan layout that references mountain huts, House in Chofu is characterised by lauan plywood cabinetry and floor-to-ceiling glazing that offers views of the surrounding scenery.

“The house is the base camp connecting mountains and cities,” Snark Architectures director Yu Yamada told Dezeen.

Find out more about House in Chofu ›

Image is courtesy of G Studio

Tokyo Loft by G Studio Architects

Located on one of the top floors of a 1980s housing block, Tokyo Loft is short-term accommodation that intends to balance home comforts with industrial finishes.

G Studio worked with architects Teruya Kido and Suma-Saga-Fudosan to complete the interior look, which includes original sloping concrete walls that were illustrated with splashes of white paint in a nod to traditional Japanese washi paper.

Rows of skylights were added to the walls to flood the apartment with natural light, while bright orange electrical wires and plumbing features were left exposed. A freestanding bathtub adds a playful touch to the main living space.

Find out more about Tokyo Loft ›

Photo is by Domino Architects

J House by Domino Architects

Wooden panelling creates “corners, blind spots and niches” in J House – a pared-back apartment renovated to maximise restricted floor space for a growing family.

Japanese studio Domino Architects used low-cost exposed plywood for its simplicity, while rough concrete in the kitchen adds to the dwelling’s minimalist interior design.

Find out more about J House ›

Photo is by Shigeo Ogawa

Motoazabu Apartment sYms by Kiyonobu Nakagame Architect & Associates

Diagonally stepped floors and ceilings create a dynamic layout of triangular zones within a pair of apartments in Tokyo’s Motoazabu neighbourhood.

Smooth, understated concrete defines the central interior spaces, which are surrounded by kitchen worktops and glazed bathrooms.

“What we aimed to do with this structure was to create something that would blend with its surroundings and maintain absolute simplicity,” explained architect Kiyonubu Nakagame.

Find out more about Motoazabu Apartment sYms ›

Image is courtesy of Taka Shinomoto and Voar Design Haus

Opera Apartment by Taka Shinomoto and Voar Design Haus

A material and colour palette influenced by the different shades of an Opera cake – a famed French dessert – informed the “layered” coffee-hued interiors in this apartment.

The hallway features sliding geometric cupboard doors stained in various shades of brown while a mixture of glossy, matte and textured coatings cover the white walls.

Find out more about Opera Apartment ›

This is the latest in our lookbooks series, which provides visual inspiration from Dezeen’s archive. For more inspiration see previous lookbooks featuring concrete bathrooms, cosy cabins and homes with cleverly designed lifts.

[ad_2]

Source link

March 11, 2023
ChatGPT Creates New Sudoku-Inspired Game ‘Sumplete’
[ad_1]
- A self-described “puzzler” prompted ChatGPT to generate a unique game tailored to Sudoku fans.
- The popular AI chatbot created ‘Sumplete,’ a game its human creator described as a “reverse Sudoku.”
- Since the game launched last week, it has already attracted thousands of players.
Thanks for signing up!

Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you’re on the go.

ChatGPT came up with its own game.

Daniel Tait, a 28-year-old software developer from Dundee, Scotland, and self-described “puzzler,” recently prompted ChatGPT to generate a unique game tailored to Sudoku fans. The AI chatbot then created ‘Sumplete,’ which Tait described as a “reverse Sudoku.” We first learned about the game via Gizmodo.

After ChatGPT spit out a list of five games he was already familiar with, Tait prompted ChatGPT to create a puzzle game entirely from scratch.

“I was surprised every step of the way when I asked if it could make a puzzle,” Tait told Insider. “It instantly came up with an idea.”

Tait, who’s been experimenting with the chatbot since its launch in November, had grown accustomed to the chatbot’s limitations — often encountering messages saying the chatbot was unable to perform certain tasks. But this time, ChatGPT delivered. Within 45 seconds, the chatbot created iterations of the game that, after additional toggling and design prompts, would become Sumplete.

Tait described the game as a “reverse Sudoku”: Instead of adding numbers to a grid, the player crosses out numbers from a filled-in grid to add up columns and rows.

Since he publicly launched the game on March 3, Tait said 50,000 people have played Sumplete. While Tait spoke with Insider, 2,500 people were currently playing the game, he said.

To Tait’s knowledge, there is no other existing iteration of this “reverse Sudoku” game. According to the chatbot, an existing game that is most similar to Sumplete is Magic Square, a game where the player is given a square grid of numbers and is tasked with arranging them to get to an equal sum for each row, column, and diagonal.

Sumplete, a Sudoku-inspired game created by ChatGPT

Daniel Tait / Sumplete

Tait, who said he comes from a “puzzler” family, has designed games previously, including a math-equation version of Wordle called Mathler, which he launched in February 2022. After sharing it on Reddit, the game was attracting over 10,000 players a day, Tait said.

Even without his background in software development and toying with game design, Tait said the Sumplete game is an “amazing” example of how anyone can utilize the AI platforms.

Tait said he plans on keeping the game entirely coded by ChatGPT “to see what it’s capable of,” and has received emails with feedback from some users. He said he plans to paste that feedback into ChatGPT this weekend to see how it improves the game.

Since ChatGPT launched in November, people have been turning to it for practical and creative purposes to test its limits, from writing a new “M*A*S*H” television scene to poems. Just two months after its launch, the chatbot designed by OpenAI was estimated to have reached 100 million monthly active users in January, the fastest-growing consumer application in history, Reuters reported.

Now, you can add creating puzzles to ChatGPT’s list of possibilities.

As for what creating this game could mean for the future of ChatGPT, Tait said his experiment designing Sumplete with ChatGPT has made him wonder about the capacities for creating with AI. “Could a Playstation style-game be developed from ChatGPT in the coming year?” he wondered.

“I’m still trying to get my head around it,” Tait said. “Definitely, AI is going to change a lot of things. The fact it created a puzzle from scratch is another step in a crazy direction.”

Have you used ChatGPT or other AI chatbots in an interesting way? Email the reporter at gmayer@insider.com
[ad_2]

Source link
March 11, 2023
4 Stages of Grief After Losing a Pet – Dogster
[ad_1]
Saying goodbye to our sweet pets is truly one of the most heartbreaking experiences we ever endure and should not face alone. Animals carry such unconditional love, no judgment and powerful lessons of forgiveness and resilience. Recognizing common stages of grief after pet loss is a part of the healing journey.

Stages of grief after losing a pet:
1. Emotional and physical pain after pet loss
Grief affects everyone differently through both emotional turmoil and physical exhaustion. It is normal to feel frequent waves of shock, agony, anger, sadness and loneliness, along with encountering panic attacks, nausea and loss of sleep/appetite. Although it may seem impossible during this grief stage, one should maintain general physical care and avoid making big decisions.
1. Guilt and reflection after pet loss
People also experience guilt and regret concerning their pet’s quality of life, treatment and death. They think, “What if?” on a daily basis.

Over time, we can eventually reflect on our friendship together with understanding and reconciliation about our pet’s life.
1. Self-restoration and finding peace after pet loss
Focusing on self-care and time with loved ones helps us re-establish our personal identity and acknowledge our pet’s presence in our hearts, while honoring her memory through words and actions.
1. Pet-loss grief support and guidance
There is absolutely no easy way to experience pet loss, especially with limited support. Grief counseling for pet loss is helpful for expressing personal feelings in a confidential environment and establishing self-care techniques. Pet loss support groups involve people sharing stories about their pets in a comforting setting, both in-person and virtually.

Honoring sweet Alfie: a personal story about pet loss and grieving

I can personally attest to this deep pain and need for pet grief support after losing Alfie, our precious Toy Poodle and best friend, in 2016. I still miss Alfie very much every day and treasure our special memories in my heart forever. When Alfie passed away unexpectedly through surgery from liver disease, I was just devastated and looked to numerous pet-loss books, articles, and videos for guidance, along with attending a pet-loss support group to better understand pet loss and grief. Though I was thankful to have support and care from loved ones, it was also the pet-loss support group that had brought me additional peace and comfort, especially through listening to other’s personal stories of pure love and painful loss.

Nearly seven years later, I still miss Alfie very much every day and always cherish our special memories together, but do experience unexpected moments of heavy pain and heartache too (which is normal). Alfie will always be my best friend, forever in my heart, and I am so thankful for our treasured bond together

Seeking pet-loss grief support brings guidance and reminds us that we are never alone. While our beloved pets stay with us through our hearts and memories, grief support soothes our pain and suffering.
[ad_2]

Source link
March 10, 2023