Category: feature

Your home is an investment, for some the largest investment in their portfolio, and unlike other investments, it requires maintenance, particularly necessary when seasons change. And while Southern California does not have the most extreme fall and wintertime conditions, preparing your home for colder weather will protect your investment and provide peace of mind. Here are seven tips for Southern California homeowners to consider.

Inspect And Trim Trees During Cold Weather Months

As temperatures drop and rain season arrives, inspecting and trimming trees is essential during cold weather months. A leading cause of home roof damage comes from trees weakened by wind and rain. Inspect and trim trees when necessary, and clear the yard from anything that could become a flying projectile as well.

Check The Furnace During Cold Weather Months

While Southern California furnaces do not get the use of those in homes elsewhere, it’s still important to have heating units checked every year before they are engaged. Especially during cold weather months! Poorly maintained furnaces can generate carbon monoxide. Clean the area around the furnace, store nothing close by that may interfere with airflow, and call a licensed heating contractor.

Check The Smoke and Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Cooler temperatures in the fall and winter months result in more fires and carbon monoxide poisoning than at any other time of the year. It’s important to check your detectors monthly and to replace batteries when required, but particularly so when colder weather visits So Cal.

Check The Roof And Remove Debris During Cold Weather Months

It stands to reason the best time to inspect, clean, and fix any issues with your roof is right before or at the start of the rain season. It is best to have your roof inspected before or at the start of cold weather months. Summer and adverse weather can affect shingles, flashings, and waterproofing materials, creating expensive problems down the road if not timely addressed. If you are not handy, hire a professional.

Inspect and Clean Gutters and Downspouts

Depending on the gutter system you use, this is a chore that requires frequent attention. Clogged gutters and downspouts damage siding, roofs, and windows. This is an area where a little attention goes a long way toward heading off unnecessary expense and aggravation.

Locate and Seal Cracks and Gaps

All homes settle all the time, even newer homes, and when they do, cracks and gaps form, allowing in water, pests, and cold air. Before the colder weather arrives, a careful walkthrough of your home is always a good idea. Use caulk to seal smaller cracks and plastic foam filler to seal larger.

Touch-up Paint Your Home and Deck Where Needed

Paint does more than just enhance your home’s appearance, it helps protect wood siding against the elements. Touching up the exterior paint is a great way to seal and insulate your home against colder weather.

Preparing your home for fall and winter will save you time and money. Get started today and enjoy the change of season.

It’s time to dive into this week’s leading tech headlines. From Netflix Games to Pinterest TV and more! Read on and stay connected with all things that are happening currently in the world of technology!

Boeing Receives Approval for Satellite Internat Project

This week, Boeing received the go-ahead from the FCA for an authorized satellite internet project. The project was first proposed in 2017 and will allow them to build, launch and operate their own broadband network from space. Boeing will join its main aerospace competitor SpaceX. The companies plan involves placing 132 satellites into the low orbit of Earth. Additionally, another 15 satellites will be launched to “non-geostationary orbit”. Boeing would like to use the satellites to offer “broadband internet and communications services to residential consumers, government and business users.” The proposed plan would encompass the United States, Puerto Rico, and the US Virgin Islands to begin with, then on a global basis once complete.

Netflix Games begins Rollout on Android Devices

Gaming fans can rejoice now that a new feature has landed on everyone’s go-to streaming platform. Netflix has officially launched Netflix Games on Android devices. The app can be downloaded from the Google Play store and users must have a Netflix subscription to use the platform. Currently, there are five games to choose from which include Stranger Things:1984, Stranger Things 3: The Game, and Shooting Hoops among others. The rollout on iOS devices is likely soon to follow. While game options are presently limited, users can expect more to become available soon. Netflix has acquired Oxenfree developer Night School which will likely produce more riveting gaming options in the coming year.

Snapchat Deal with NBCUniversal Brings Audio to the App from Hits like SNL and The Office

For Snapchat users, a new feature will allow you to use audio clips from favorites like The Office when sending snaps to friends. The social media app has launched a deal with NBCUniversal that will bring popular show and film audio clips to the platform. The news was first announced via The Hollywood Reporter and puts the app in the same playing field as TikTok. When a user receives a clip with audio from an NBC title they will be able to swipe over for more information about the content. Ben Schwerin, Snapchat’s senior vice president of content and partnerships, said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter: “NBCUniversal has an iconic catalog and we know Snapchatters will love adding quotes from their favorite movies and series to their Snaps to help perfectly express the moment.”

Pinterest Joins Live Shopping Trend with New Video Feature

Pinterest is continuing to expand its e-commerce reach with this week’s announcement of a new feature. The platform will be adding shoppable live series, labeled as Pinterest TV. Episodes of the series will star some of Pinterest’s most popular creators. The series will air Monday through Friday at 6PM ET on iOS and Android. Episodes of the series will cover different topics each day which will range from fashion, beauty, home, food, and more. Users will be able to watch the upcoming episodes via the TV icon which will be visible on the latest version of the app. Pinterest uses can also ask creators questions in the chat and interact with the host.

Fitness app Supernatural Joins Meta-Facebook As Part of VR Fitness Initiative

Meta formerly known as Facebook is expanding upon the plans announced during last month’s name change reveal. The social media company announced that the studio behind the VR workout game Supernatural will be joining the company. This merger joins a roster of studios now owned by what was previously Facebook’s Oculus division. Within, the company behind Supernatural will continue to work on the popular fitness app. The company will also help Meta’s Reality Labs “enhance future hardware to support VR fitness apps.”

Microsoft Teams will Launch Next Year in AR and VR with Avatars

More metaverse news! This week Microsoft announced their push to have Teams go virtual by 2022. The beta form of the VR/AR tool will  Teams’ 2D modes as an alternative to showing your real face on camera. This seems to be Microsoft’s first real push at competing against Facebook’s Horizon Workrooms. The change in Microsoft Teams will allow for more expressions and reactions of a user’s avatar. The app will also work in 3D immersive spaces that will cross between VR, AR, and 2D screens.

Few additions make your home more inviting, both to family and visitors than home decor that embraces the season. It seems this is particularly the case during fall when magnificent colors and returning family members warm the soul and delight the heart. Here are a few fall home decor ideas to get you started.

Front Porch Decor

Bring a smile to the faces of friends and family alike with fall front porch decor. Try arranging pumpkins, both regular-sized and mini, orange and white, with various gourds around your porch chairs and tables. Intersperse them with orange mums for an especially seasonal look.

Autumn Indian Corn Wreath

Many people display evergreen wreaths during the holidays but consider an autumn wreath as well. Autumn wreaths that are beautiful and reflective of the season include Indian corn wreaths of varying colors and wreaths made of wheat or dried flowers.

Fall Tea Light Display

Are you crafty? Then maybe a fall tea light display may interest you. Carve out the center of a small half-log. then place pine cones and tea lights in an alternating pattern in the log. It’s perfect for an entranceway or coffee table.

A Cornucopia Centerpiece

The cornucopia, the symbol of plenty and of a bountiful harvest, serves as a perfect fall home decor centerpiece. Consider stuffing it with wheat stalk, small gourds of varying types, and apples and pears for a colorful and attractive presentation.

A Wheat Stalk End Table Display

The wheat stalk is an enduring symbol of fall. Gather an arm full of the golden stalk, crop the ends, feather the tops, and place them into a long vase. It will make a simple but elegant display for any hallway end table.

Framed Leaves

As summer becomes fall, green leaves explode into reds and oranges and yellows, hinting at endings and new beginnings. For a fall wall decoration, consider framing leaves of different sizes and colors in mismatched frames for an exquisite gallery of fall leaves.

A Seasonal Bar Cart

Keep the fall theme going throughout your home with rolling bar carts. Arrange wheat stalk, pine cones, pumpkins, and gourds around your normal bar cart fare for an autumn mantel on wheels feel. A great and simple way to bring fall home decor to any room.

This year consider showcasing the earth’s light and bounty inside and outside your home with these fall home decor ideas. Enjoy the seasonn.

Stay connected with the latest in technology news with our weekly blog.  This week we’re talking Instagram swipe-ups for all, digital replicas in the metaverse, and more!

Uber Aims to Increase Tesla Availability on Platform by 2023

This week the ride-share giant Uber announced plans to expand its availability of Tesla vehicles to rent to drivers. The company will be acquiring 50,000 Teslas to increase its electric vehicle fleet in the US by 2030. Uber will work with rental car company Hertz with 100,000 Tesla’s ordered as of this week. This shift in gears comes as many car companies and transportation providers have received pressure to phase out gas-powered vehicles. Our state of California recently enacted a rule that rideshare companies like Lyft and Uber must have 90% of their fleet electric by 2030. The partnership with Hertz however is not new for Uber which has worked with the company to provide rental vehicles to gig workers since 2016.

General Motors Seeks to Add 40,000 Electric Vehicle Charging Stations Across U.S.

In the electric vehicle frontier, General Motors has announced new plans to increase the availability of charging stations across the U.S. The motor vehicle giant will work with a network of dealers to get 40,000 electric vehicle charging stations installed. The company announced they will also begin selling their own “Ultium” branded Level 2 chargers for business and home charging uses. In addition, General Motors stated they are hopeful the project will help to create EV charging stations in urban and rural underserved areas. 

Youtube May Be Entering the Podcast Arena

Some might say a little late, some might say right on time. According to recent reporting by Bloomberg, Youtube is in the market for a podcast executive. Google recently hired Podcast Lead to push forward the company’s efforts to join the vast podcast arena. A company spokesperson with Google confirmed the recent hire but did not provide more information. With Youtube already being a top destination for podcast listeners, the move seems like a suitable choice to many in the industry. The executive would be in charge of organizing and managing the millions of podcasts that already exist on the website, according to a spokesperson.

The Facts on Whether Another Planet Was Discovered Outside our Galaxy

A group of astronomers made an announcement this week that has the science community in disbelief. According to a research team led by astronomer Rosanne Di Stefano, of the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, the group believes they found the existence of an extroplanet outside our galaxy. This would be the first discovery of its kind. All other planetary discoveries thus far have remained within the confines of our Milky Way galaxy. The study suggests that a recent X-ray “wink” detected by NASA’s Chandra Observatory was potentially caused by a planet passing in front of the star M51-ULS-1. Although many have heralded the discovery, scientists will not be able to confirm its existence for another 40 years. This timeframe is when the proposed planet will make its next transit. 

Instagram Changes Course and Allows Story Links for All

According to Instagram’s recent announcement we are all getting a swipe-up link! As all IG users know. the feature has been limited to verified accounts or people with 10,000 or more followers. Now the swipe-up link feature will officially expand to everyone else. Instagram announced the news this week in a blog post along with additional changes like uploading from your desktop. According to the blog post, Instagram shared the following:

“We’ve heard from the rest of our community that they also want to share things that matter with their friends and family,” Instagram wrote in a blog post. “Whatever you’re into, from cooking to volunteering or shopping, you now have a space to share in Stories — regardless of your account size.”

AI Company Aims at Creating Digital Humans for the Metaverse

The Metaverse may be coming sooner than you think (sci-fi fans rejoice). An Auckland-based tech company by the name of Soul Machines has recently launched their Humans OS 2.0. The autonomous animation can respond to every moment like a natural interaction. Likewise, co-founder Greg Cross hopes the technology will become a future ”digital workforce”. Soul Machine has already created digital people for customer service use and celebrities like will.i.am. The company has completed extensive research to bring hard neuroscience to the art of creating digital humans. Currently, a digital person still requires human guidance from a “trainer”. Cross hopes that one day their digital people can make goal-based decisions on behalf of their replica (i.e. YOU).