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AUSTIN, Texas — A Texas version of a North Carolina -style "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people again sputtered out. Chances of any last- minute deals extinguished when the House adjourned for good late Tuesday in a special legislative session , and although Republican Gov . Greg Abbott could order lawmakers to stay in Austin and try again, he would politically risk a third failed attempt with the rest of the country watching. Fortune 500 companies, police and sports leagues, including the NFL and NBA, have spent the year putting considerable public pressure on Texas to abandon the effort. But Abbott and other powerful Republicans have continued pushing to make Texas the first state to follow North Carolina and impose bathroom restrictions on transgender people in schools and public spaces. They've now failed twice, and in doing so, are dealing a rare loss to social conservatives who are used to getting their way in Texas. Here's how the bill came un...

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — A Texas version of a North Carolina -style "bathroom bill" targeting transgender people again sputtered out Tuesday, leaving Republican Gov . Greg Abbott with little path forward this year over what became one of the most divisive measures in any U.S. legislature. Chances of any last- minute deals extinguished when the House adjourned for good in a special legislative session , and although Abbott could order lawmakers to stay in Austin and try again, he would politically risk a third failed attempt with the rest of the country watching. Fortune 500 companies, police and sports leagues, including the NFL and NBA, have spent the year putting considerable public pressure on Texas to abandon the effort. But Abbott and other powerful Republicans have continued pushing to make Texas the first state to follow North Carolina and impose bathroom restrictions on transgender people in schools and public spaces. They're now set to fail twice, and in do...

The key to successfully redesigning the bathroom lies primarily in the planning stages and in the correct assessment of your particular problems. Redesigning a bathroom is not something that should be undertaken lightly, not because it is likely to lead to considerable expense, but also because once the work has been done there is little you can easily do should you be unhappy with the results. There are four main categories with regards to bathroom problems: congestion, layout and fittings. All too often, a single room combines all four, but if you consider each of these problem areas carefully , you may find that solving one may make the others far easier to deal with. Congestion Too many people wanting to use the bathroom at the same time can be a major source of family friction. The best solution here is to see whether it is possible to provide extra facilities elsewhere in the house so that the whole family does not have to rely on access to a single bathroom. A small guest toi...

December 7, 2016 BOOKMARK THIS STORY Designing your private sanctuary can be mind-boggling when faced with a myriad of choices in the market. Unlike furniture that have distinct styles and characteristics, bathroom fittings and wares often comes in similar designs and functions and more often than not, we leave it up to the price to decide. So before you start shopping around for your sanitary items, here's a quick guide on the factors you should take into consideration, so that you will not end up with an incompatible item for your bathroom. Basin There are a few types of basins in general (see image below). Homeowners today prefer the countertop as they fit in with the modern décor. Due to space constraints however, many opted for wall mounted ones instead. Images credit: lavabostore.com, ferrara.com, de-lune.com, bathshop321.com The choice is pretty much a personal decision and preference for the general design and outlook and well, budget. Some things to take note of are: The ...

The gentleman on the other end of the line was sobbing. A moment ago, he had been yelling at me, but when that didn’t work, he turned to an emotional plea. He told me about his wife and children that he needed to support, his mortgage, his car payment, his utilities. He probably would have tried bargaining, but we both knew that would go nowhere. This conversation was about one thing: ending his unemployment benefits. I wish I could say I was moved. But I was two hours into my shift, and he was already the second sobbing person I had talked to. I knew there would be many more before my day ended. It was December 2010 and I was working as an operator at the Pennsylvania Office of Unemployment Compensation. It was a rough month. Many people were ending their run on unemployment compensation after collecting for nearly two years. It wasn’t because they had jobs. It was because the special period of extended benefits that allowed people to stay on the program ended every December. None of...

Setting out on a FunShip Voyage to Cuba! The Carnival Paradise passes the historic El Morro Castle in Havana, Cuba, on its first voyage to the city on Friday, June 30, 2017. Photo courtesy of Sven Creutzmann/Carnival Cruise Line. August 14, 2017 Today, I embarked Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Paradise in her homeport of Tampa, Florida to set sail on one of Carnival’s newest and most unique itineraries: a five-night voyage to Havana, Cuba . Carnival Paradise arrived in Havana for the first time on June 30 of this year, becoming the first Carnival ship in the company’s 45-year history to ever visit Cuba. All of this was made possible by the easing of travel restrictions against the island nation by the U.S. Government – though how long this will all last is anyone’s guess. Cuban and American flags…Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders …adorn Carnival Paradise ’s soaring atrium. Photo © 2017 Aaron Saunders This isn’t my first visit to Cuba. As a Canadian, I’ve traveled here in the past as ...

Whatever people say, sometimes looks do matter – especially on your home’s front door. Julia Gray looks at how to make the right first impression POINTING out that the front door is one of the first things visitors see of your home sounds like a very obvious statement – but it’s a statement that can often be overlooked. Because people become so focused on bigger DIY projects – be it converting lofts or installing fancy new kitchens – that one humble, simple door can easily be forgotten. Think what a difference a simple door, when it is smart, bright and stylish, can make to your home – and what you can do if, on closer inspection, your front door is not smart or bright or stylish. The easiest thing to do is change the door furniture – chrome or satin nickel is more fashionable than brass and gives a smart, contemporary look, suited to period and modern doors. Get metal door numbers to match, or consider frosted-film numbers if you have a glazed or partially glazed door or porch...

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