In Edge of Irony: Modernism in the Shadow of the Habsburg Empire, Marjorie Perloff returns to the world of her birth. She engages in a close reading of six major post-imperial Austrian writers, making the case for the existence of a distinctive and valuable tradition of “Austro-Modernism.” There is a whole academic industry devoted to the writers, thinkers, and artists who flourished in Weimar Germany—figures like Thomas Mann, Walter Benjamin, Bertolt Brecht, and Kurt Schwitters. But Perloff believes that this focus on Germany has cast a shadow over the distinctively different work done by twentieth-century German writers who lived in the territories once belonging to the Habsburg Empire.
Author: signordal
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Emblematic Building in the City of Barcelona, Spain Designed by Antoni Bonet i Castellana
This building, a former groundhog track, which for obvious reasons stopped serving this function a few years ago, and which is now in complete disuse, was in its time one of the most emblematic buildings in the city of Barcelona, Spain. After being renovated in 2016, Dear Design was charged with the task of updating its interior design, and so transforming it into a flexible and dynamic space for entrepreneurs..
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The Bruneau River in Idaho flows through a deep, wild and remote…
The Bruneau River in Idaho flows through a deep, wild and remote desert canyon and abuts several Bureau of Land Management wilderness areas. Forty miles of the Bruneau are designated as a wild and scenic river, offering challenging whitewater, evidence of thousands of years of Native American habitation and amazing geologic history. It also looks really cool. Photo by Bureau of Land Management – Idaho (@mypubliclands).
9 Smart Investments to Improve Your Rental Properties
Owning a rental property can be a lot of work but wise management can keep it profitable for years to come. Whether you’re new to the game or an old veteran, these 6 modern features can increase property value as well as make it more comfortable for residents.
1. Wi-Fi
If your rental property doesn’t have Wi-Fi yet, better install it quick. Wi-Fi has become the standard for homes and businesses and if you want to stay marketable, a strong Wi-Fi signal is a must.
However, partnering with a low-quality Internet service can actually hurt, rather than help, your marketability.
Here are the top 10 service providers of 2017, according to Top Ten Reviews:Top Ten Reviews:
1. Comcast
2. Time Warner Cable
3. Verizon
4. AT&T
5. Cox
6. Charter
7. Suddenlink
8. Cable One
9. CenturyLink
10. Frontier
2. Solar-Powered Water Heater
Conventional natural gas or electric water heaters can be a substantial monthly expense. More importantly, they can make up a big part of your carbon footprint, too. Investing in a solar-powered heater is a one-time outlay that saves on both money and pollutant emissions.
3. Home Automation
If you’re installing a solar-powered water heater, why not go one step further with home automation? Home automation devices like smart thermostats, smart lighting and smart HVAC can save energy, reduce a home’s carbon footprint and boost property value.
4. Home Surveillance
Home security systems, like those offered by ADT, Frontpoint and Armorax, should be next on your list of value-boosting property enhancements. With features like cameras, motion sensors, alarms, 24-hour surveillance and easy-to-use controls, they can protect your buyer and your reputation.
As you compare companies, keep in mind that although quality comes with a price, it pays in the long run.
See Also: 8 Sharp-witted Ways To Protect Your Rental Homes
5. Smart Doorbell
A doorbell may not be the first investment that comes to your mind, but have you heard of smart doorbells?
They’re the new peephole, allowing residents to discreetly view visitors while remaining hidden. Some smart doorbells also offer a monitoring feature so you can see a visitor before they even reach the door. Although small, these nifty devices can also boost property value.
6. Central Air Conditioning
If your property does not already have central air, it’s time to get that installed. This will not only make your tenants’ lives more comfortable but it can also save energy costs in the long run.
Central air systems cost roughly $0.30 to $0.50 per hour at $0.10 kWh. For comparison, one window unit costs $0.11 to $0.75 per hour, depending on the size of the room being cooled. Keep in mind that most properties need more than one window unit to stay cool.
7. Water Softener
If your property is in an area with hard water, invest in a water softener. Hard water can create mineral buildups in pipes and appliances, like washing machines, dishwashers, and hot water heaters. Eventually, this can substantially reduce performance and lifespan in these appliances, forcing you to pay for repairs or even replacement sooner than necessary.
Having a water softener improves your property’s appraisal value and, as an added benefit, can prevent unsightly deposits on faucets, shower doors, etc.
8. Landscaping
If yard maintenance is not part of your tenant’s rental contract, then the responsibility of keeping the place looking nice falls to you as the landlord. Rental properties with curb appeal are worth more as well as they are better able to attract tenants when you have a vacancy.
Key areas to pay attention include:
- Weeding flower beds/around shrubs
- Mowing and watering the lawn
- Trimming trees and shrubs
- Raking fallen leaves in fall
- Clearing snow from driveway/sidewalks
Landscaping is one area that can trap you into wasting money. Take care not to go overboard. Additions like ponds, fountains, and even swimming pools cost more than they are worth.
9. Renovations
Are your rental’s appliances getting old? Are the carpets looking shabby? Has the paint lost its pristine glow?
A renovation is an old trick of the trade, but not one to be forgotten. Updating the kitchens and bathrooms is a big one and it can provide about 80% ROI. The right changes can’t only improve property value but also attract higher-income tenants.
Conclusion
As you manage your rental properties, don’t forget that your renters always come first. Take care of them and you will have stable profits for years to come.
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Stunning Luxury Hotel Located in the Natural Park of Levant in the East of Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain
Cases de Son Barbassa is a stunning luxury Hotel located in the Natural Park of Levant in the east of Mallorca, Balearic Islands, Spain. The complex consists of 16 rooms, a Mediterranean restaurant, and a hilltop pool with stunning panoramic views over the sea and the coasts of Cala Mesquida, Cala Agulla, and ala Ratjada and the village Capdepera. On clear days, we can even see the sister island Minorca…
Imposing Residence in a Quiet Street by Steimle Arhitekten
This imposing residence is located on a quiet street, unfrequently transited, in a town some 30 kilometers south of Stuttgart, capital of Baden-Württemberg, a state to the southwest of Germany. It was designed by the architectural firm Steimle Arhitekten, and its construction was completed between 2014-2016. The openings of the windows, designed horizontally upon the façade, create a view marked by the landscape, allowing us in this way to enjoy..
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HCG For Weight Loss: Evaluating Its Effectiveness
The combination of the HCG hormone and a calorie-restrictive diet is an incredibly popular weight-loss solution which people around the world are eager to have a go at.
There are numerous reviews online touting the success of the diet, but that does not mean that introducing a hormone into your system to trigger weight loss is any less of a controversial topic. It’s up to us to have a closer look at the use of HCG for weight loss and decide on its effectiveness for ourselves.
In order to evaluate the effectiveness of the diet, we need to have a look at the science behind it and how this diet came to be.
What Is HCG Hormone?
The HCG hormone is produced by women who are pregnant. While overeating and constant cravings are the most popular symptoms associated with pregnancy, nausea and loss of appetite are also suffered by expecting mothers. And it’s the HCG hormone that’s responsible for the appetite suppressing attributes of pregnancy.
The HCG hormone is also responsible for the baby receiving all of the nutrients it needs to grow, even when the mother is not eating much food herself. The HCG hormone forces the body to turn to stubborn fat stores in order to meet the nutritional demands of the growing fetus. The fat deposits around the abdomen, hips, and thighs are used to create energy for the unborn child.
But, how has this idea been adopted as a weight loss solution?
The Use Of HCG For Weight Loss
The HCG hormone is now being administered in the form of injections, pills and HCG drops in order to stimulate the same effects it has in pregnant women.
Everyone complains about how incredibly difficult it is to get rid of the stubborn fat, even with the help of a good diet and exercise. This is one of the reasons why HCG drops and injections are gaining popularity.
The creator of the diet, Simeons, did note that expecting mothers would have a lot of their calories used up by the growing fetus. This, as a result, creates a calorie deficit which would force the body to turn to fat stores for energy.
Since people using HCG for weight loss aren’t pregnant, they need to follow a strict calorie-restrictive diet. This diet contains just around 500 calories, which is far lower than the calorie requirements of the average person.
What does this mean?
As with many diets, the body turns to fat stores and muscle stores for energy when it is in an extreme calorie deficit.
See Also: Shifting Your Family To The “Real Food” Diet
How Do People Take The HCG Hormone?
Initially, the HCG hormone was only available in the form of injections. They had to be administered by a doctor back then. Now, this is considered to be the most invasive method.
Today, anyone can buy HCG pills and HCG drops online and use them in the comfort of their own home. This allows for individuals to try the diet without the use and expense of doctors and injections.
The most successful method is the HCG drops. This is because it allows the hormone to go directly into the bloodstream via the glands under the tongue.
Why Is There So Much Controversy Surrounding The HCG Diet?
The HCG diet has helped a lot of people lose weight, lower blood pressure and lower cholesterol. With all of these amazing benefits, why is it that many healthcare professionals do not agree with Simeon’s revolutionary diet?
Healthcare professionals claim that it is the calorie-restrictive diet alone- not the HCG hormone- that makes all of those things possible.
Tests have been performed in which test subjects ate a calorie-restrictive diet to find out the effects. For the results, the subjects managed to lose unwanted fat and have lower cholesterol and blood pressure levels.
There is no scientific evidence that can establish the unique link between HCG hormone and weight loss. Despite this, a lot of people are still giving it a try.
Conclusion
A calorie restrictive diet, especially one which is as low as 500 calories, can be incredibly difficult to stick to. Apart from that, the 500-calorie diet is also not sustainable due to the calorie consumption being too low. This is the reason so many people quit their diet and resume their regular unhealthy eating patterns.
There have been reports that the HCG hormone does help to suppress the appetite. This enables the dieter to stay in a calorie deficit long enough to benefit from weight loss.
Whether the HCG hormone has these effects or it’s simply a placebo, it is still a topic up for debate.
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June 7th
When we are young, the words are scattered all around us. As they are assembled by experience, so also are we, sentence by sentence, until the story takes shape.
Sig Nordal 