S P A C E S T A T I O N by dennisoswald by dennisoswald

This HP Supercell appeared just north west of Stratford,TX on May 16th. Fortunately we escaped safe through the town an got a few more great shots of this beast.
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Top 5 Online Relationship Resources for 2016

You’re reading Top 5 Online Relationship Resources for 2016, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’re enjoying this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

Happy Couple sitting on beach during sunset

Relationships demand a great deal of commitment at every stage – beginning it, strengthening it and maintaining it over the course of months and years is not an easy task. In 2016, with work and other commitments often limiting the time we have in our personal lives, it is more difficult than ever.

Fortunately, this is the digital age and the amount of online resources designed to help you navigate the tricky waters of relationships, both romantic and platonic. Here are five of the best resources for website and mobile.

27 Ways To Be Closer To Your Spouse

There are always ways in which you can become closer to your other half – it’s easy to take them for granted when you have other things going on, and this can slowly cause the relationship to deteriorate. The Quality Solicitors guide to maintaining a close, strong bond with your spouse is a fantastic, varied resource for couples of all ages – from promoting empathy to encouraging couples to pursue separate interests, this guide is an invaluable resource.

36 Questions That Lead To Love

When the New York Times published an article that suggested that asking and answering 36 questions could be the key to two people falling in love, it caused a sensation as people questioned whether such a simple thing could help achieve something so complicated. While it’s perhaps a bit far-fetched to say that the questions really could help people fall in love, they can certainly help people become better connected. You can download the questions (from “Out of anyone in the world, who would you want as a dinner guest?” to “Share a personal problem and ask your partner’s advice on how they would have handled it”) via an app or view them online.

Wiith

Tinder is infamous for facilitating hook-ups, but what about those who want to meet new people and form new relationships with them without necessarily getting into anything romantic? Mobile application Wiith takes the same formula and allows the user to find people nearby who share their interests, so it’s a great tool for making new friends and hitting it off with someone immediately. And if it leads to something more, that’s just an added bonus…

Niche dating websites

A lot of people who use dating websites like OKCupid and PlentyOfFish may become disillusioned because they can’t find anyone they like or who shares their interests. However, there is a growing market for niche dating websites and apps where those who like beards (for example) can connect with people who have beards. These sites have helped connect people based on music taste, favourite foods (or necessary diets) and even preferred sci-fi shows. If there’s a niche for it, there’s probably an app that people are using.

Fix A Fight

Every couple fights – it’s part of a healthy relationship to get your feelings about a situation out in the open, but the hard part is making up so that both parties are satisfied and are able to move on. Fix A Fight is an app that allows you to do so by guiding you through the actions needed to make up after a fight. In terms of effectiveness, it may not work for everyone, but it should allow you to get to the making up part as quickly as possible…

This is just the tip of the iceberg as far as online resources for relationships are concerned. Whatever you might need help with when it comes to your friends, family or significant other, there is probably an app or a website that has you covered – and if there isn’t, there almost certainly will be soon.

You’ve read Top 5 Online Relationship Resources for 2016, originally posted on Pick the Brain | Motivation and Self Improvement. If you’ve enjoyed this, please visit our site for more inspirational articles.

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The morning wind by pkarwski by pkarwski

mornings are beautiful

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UDG: Kindergarten in Xieli Garden / UDG + SEU


© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang


© Yao Li, Qian Qiang


© Yao Li, Qian Qiang


© Yao Li, Qian Qiang


© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

  • Architects: UDG + SEU
  • Location: Huishan, Wuxi, Jiangsu, China
  • Architect In Charge: Qian Qiang
  • Area: 7891.1 sqm
  • Project Year: 2014
  • Photographs: Yao Li, Qian Qiang
  • Architects: Qian Qiang, Chi Xiaoyu, Feng Haihua, Hu Qiqi
  • Landscape Architects: Lu Ge, Wu Yawei, Ma Qida, Shen Bo
  • Site Area: 11002.87 sqm

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

This is a UDG-designed kindergarten located in Xieli Garden residential quarter, Huishan District, Wuxi. This building is a three-storey elliptical, spiral ring-shaped building which is intended to create an ideal learning environment directly connected to outdoor space and abundant in sunshine.


© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

South Elevation

South Elevation

The building takes a streamline shape and has a dynamic relation with the existing straight road system. The architectural modeling exerts a direct influence on the landscaping control line, so that the kindergarten, together with the shopping center to the west and the community center to the south, encloses a high-quality, comfortable square space suitable for walking and lingering.


Plan 1

Plan 1

 At the same time, as for the side facing the road, we need to consider shielding traffic noise, and in the design we use a slightly rolling terrain with green plant landscape to tactfully separate the kindergarten from the roads to effective reduce the effect of the traffic noise on the interior environment of the kindergarten. 


© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

West  Elevation

West Elevation

The main building gives comprehensive consideration to the building effect and cost control by using the northwestern and southeast facades as the main building facades, which use U-shaped glass, PC sun boards and perforated plates.


© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

© Yao Li, Qian Qiang

Section

Section

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Prospect North: Inside Scotland’s Pavilion at the 2016 Venice Biennale


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

As part of ArchDaily’s coverage of the 2016 Venice Biennale, we are presenting a series of articles written by the curators of the exhibitions and installations on show.

People wearing the huge sculptural head of a unicorn has become one of the most surreal images to be seen at this year’s  15th Venice Architectural Biennale.

Part of the Prospect North exhibition at the Scottish Pavilion, which is jointly produced by Lateral North, Dualchas Architects and Soluis, a design-visualization studio from Glasgow, the heads of the unicorn, moose and polar bear allows you to enter an immersive virtual reality world of the Highlands past, present and future.


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

The heads bring to life 3 scenes through new technologies but also look at the future of Scotland’s relationship with the north, and in particular the emerging Arctic region. Tom Smith of Lateral North said, “Prospect North explores projects at a micro level throughout Scotland but also what Scotland will look like in the future from a macro point of view. With climate change causing changes throughout the world, but in particular the north, we are asking how Scotland can contribute to this in a positive and sustainable manner, and how architecture can play a key role in this. The heads provide a chance to look at our Scottish Past, Nordic Present and Arctic Future in 360 degree space.”


Courtesy of Lateral North

Courtesy of Lateral North

But apart from a bit of fun, Neil Stephen of Dualchas Architects says there is a serious side to it too.

“In this element we look at how the communities in the Highlands were destroyed, along with much of its Gaelic culture. We then look at how contemporary architecture is trying to connect with the past, but finding that it is largely a privilege of the wealthy as the young still leave, pushed out by high land values. We then imagine a different future where economic opportunities to the north can repopulate the Highlands.”


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

The display also includes the craftsmanship of a 3 dimensional timber map of Scotland and the arctic with spectacular 3-D visualizations and films which are triggered when viewing the map through mobile phones and tablets. But as Graham Hogg of Lateral North explained, the technology was there to help viewers engage with the issues.

“The exhibition looks at how communities in Scotland are working with architects to try and create a secure future, but that often they are battling against the odds. They are struggling against the gravitational pull of the south and the cities, which draws away the young and their energy. It then requires the heroic efforts of individuals to try and keep these communities alive.


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

“We are asking why should this be and how do we change it? We have therefore turned the map 180 degrees and looked to the north, to the Nordic countries and to the arctic, where there are potentially great opportunities for Scotland. We are then “the south” to our northern neighbors, and are in a great strategic position, particularly if new shipping routes open up through the North West Passage.”

The exhibition highlights that much of Scotland is under-populated but how an industrialization of the north through bold renewable initiatives, high-speed connectivity and rethinking trade routes could transform outcomes. It suggests that the depopulation of the Highlands was not inevitable, but continued cultural and economic decline is the future unless we decide to effect a change.


Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

Courtesy of Dualchas Architects

This idea is complemented by a book which accompanies the exhibition. The book commissioned writers from across the country to tell stories and poems about Scotland when the map is turned and the compass realigned.

And according to Fergus Bruce of Soluis, this contrast of traditional craft and high-end technology was important for the curators.

“The mixture of technology and sculpture has not previously seen at the Biennale, and offered Soluis the chance to push boundaries in using a complex, unique piece of art as a trigger for augmented reality. These technologies are currently disrupting and invading architecture and design, so the timing couldn’t be more appropriate.

“But there will always be a place for the hand crafted and the beautiful – and we hope that both the sculpture and the beautiful writing reminds us that there are many ways of being creative, and making the world a better place.”

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Four Ways to Cut Down on Endless Back-and-Forth Emails

Email. Can’t live with it. Can’t get your job done without it. Am I right? Last year we sent over 2.5 billion emails. And here’s the bad news. In spite of a good amount of loathing, that number is only expected to grow. The volume is an issue, as is the time you spend on it. In fact, reports say you check it about 36 times per hour. 36 times. In a single hour.

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Microsoft Launches Planner, a Trello-Like Project Management Tool

Microsoft Planner, a new tool that helps teams track and collaborate on projects, launched today for the Office 365 suite.

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Old Town Evening by igster999 by igster999

Late afternoon with some lovely soft light in the old town area of Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina, May 2016.

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such ivory giants by nadia_lndn by nadia_lndn

Crouching in the shadows of such virtuous, vibrant and valerous ivory towers, I wondered at their scale and marvelled in their construction. The Duomo of Florence never fails to strip me of my breath, and humble me in my stature. It merits every effort to see, not least if in the company of those dear to me.

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