Monthly Archives: March 2017

A remembrance of Spring Weekends past at SUNY-New Paltz – Hudson Valley One

Posted: March 21, 2017 at 11:38 am

The Youngbloods immortalized Spring Weekend at SUNY-New Paltz in 1970 by putting a shot of the crowd on the back cover of their Rock Festival album. That famous two-day concert also featured performances by Hot Tuna, Jefferson Airplane, Sonny Terry, Brownie McGhee, Stone The Crows, Eddie Kirkland, Baby Tate, Larry Johnson and Joe Cockers Mad Dogs & Englishmen (which featured Leon Russell). (Warner Brothers)

Remember the Tripping Fields, that spacious, California-shaped tract of somewhat swampy multipurpose grassland at the southern tip of the SUNY-New Paltz campus, probing into the lower Moriello Orchards? Even my mother, who moved here in 1962 well before the activism/hedonism of the counterculture redesigned her quaint little Huguenot town called them the Tripping Fields. I dont think she knows what tripping means. She probably imagined that it had something to do spring, youth, meadows, daisies and free time. She was right.

Spring Weekends were held there: two-day rock concerts featuring a panoply of surprisingly big names, afforded by the Student Associations mandatory fees and justified by an assumed homogeneity of taste that has since been rightfully redressed. I dont have the data to back this up, but I seem to recall that, at the peak of the Spring Weekend era, the crowds at these concerts were more than double the student population of the college.

In my youth, before my own college years elsewhere, I attended a bunch of Spring Weekends. I remember: mud, mostly, cities of mud; but also hippies packed like salted fish onto a tract of land that was (actually, not kidding) a single long golf hole, with a green, a bunker and a pin. As if in orchestrated cultural counterpoint, along the forested eastern fringe of the Tripping Fields hid the opposite of golf, the exemplary communal village of the long-defunct Environmental Studies Program: some A-frames circled around organic gardens, one high-tech solar house that always seemed to be in progress, a single-residence grotto like an aquarium tank embedded in the side of a hill. I looked for the grotto for years, and couldnt verify its reality until I met a man who claimed to have lived there. Its all gone now.

Just as Spring Weekend attracted thousands of non-students, the Environmental Studies Site, if I recall correctly, had some issues with casually matriculated squatters. This was a different New Paltz, well before the academic rehab that may well have spelled the end for innovative studies and, indeed, for the classic Spring Weekend itself. Perhaps, in the 70s and into the 80s, academic standards were low and the students were high; but in a timeless paradox, lax standards sometimes encourage a kind of imagination and autonomy that high standards can squeeze right out of you.

I didnt actually see a lot of great shows in the tripping fields: the Waitresses, Gary US Bonds, a Pure Prairie League side project and, in one year in the gymnasium, after the field shows had been prohibited, They Might Be Giants, Michelle Shocked and Tribe Called Quest. But the legendary student-run Jedi Productions booked excellent gymnasium and theater rock shows year-round, so there was no shortage of big-name talent passing through.

Many veterans of those days rue the passing of New Paltz as a tour destination. Even though I remain a working rock guitarist, I am no rockist True Believer. Monolithic guitar-rock did not fairly represent the diversity of the SUNY-New Paltz studentry. That SA budget should have been more fairly distributed to a variety of student-initiated programming, and ultimately it was, moving the SA beyond what my friend Mark Aldrich once called the great melting-pot rainbow of white.

So I dont rue the rock, but I do miss the idyll of Spring Weekends. As the licenses of the 60s gave way to the 80s attempt to restore the academic sobriety of the institution, the administration may have grown less comfortable with allowing students that kind of free rein and access to facilities. From the perspective of the Sudbury educational model, Spring Weekends exemplify learning at its very best: students working without adult interference or the need for external validation, initiating and organizing themselves and using real money to make real things happen. From an administrative perspective, it is not hard to understand some reluctance. Rock concerts are chaos unleashed. New Paltzs reputation as a vigorous party school was not an academic asset, and Spring Weekend had become its flagship ritual, when the loonies ran the bin.

Baby-Boomers and vets of the culture wars like to remember an era of free love, pre-HIV, before sex was all second-guessing and actualized Freudian nightmares. Me, I wax nostalgic about the pre-Lyme era of fields and long grasses, the days of hill-rolling and copse-traipsing, gone forever. Spring was long, meadows werent poisoned and everyone loved guitars.

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Where did all the rationalists go? – The Australian Financial Review

Posted: at 11:38 am

by Richard Denniss

Are there any economic rationalists left in the Australian business community? Where are the fiscal conservatives when you need them?

Hard headed budget hawks are missing in action when it comes to our governments giving a $1 billion subsidy to help build the world's largest coal mine.

Just because something is a bad for the environment doesn't mean it is a good for the economy. Environmentalists wanting to stop the Adani Carmichael mine is not a reason for business to support it.

Yet in Canberra, the silence from Australian business leaders on Adani is taken as tacit support for the subsidies needed to build its mine. Let's take a look at the reasons put forward to justify this wasteful public intervention in the coal market, all of which used outrage economic rationalists.

First up: jobs. While it is hard to imagine spending $1 billion and not stimulating some economic activity, it is even harder to imagine a project that would create fewer jobs per public dollar spent than the Adani mine. Indeed, Adani's hand-picked economic expert told a court that the project would create only 1464 direct and indirect jobs, and that estimate was based on the average capital/labour ratio of existing coal mines. Since that court case, Adani have been keen to talk up how "high tech"their mine would be now promising shareholders automation "from pit to port".

But even if we take Adani's best-case scenario, and even if all of the 1464 new jobs were drawn from the ranks of the 161,200 people who were unemployed in Queensland in February 2017, then the unemployment rate would fall from 6.4 per cent to, wait for it, 6.4 per cent. The impact of the Adani project on the Queensland economy would be so small that it wouldn't shift the unemployment rate at the first decimal place.

Then there are "all the taxes' that the subsidised mine will provide. State government tax revenues from mining come in the form of royalties paid in exchange for the resources extracted. But after nearly sevenyears of talking about the benefits to the Queensland budget of the Adani mine no one has any idea what price Adani will pay Queenslanders for their coal. We do know that former Queensland Premier Campbell Newman had offered Adani a "royalty holiday"(free coal). But the current government has never clarified what price, if any, they intend to charge. As for the federal government revenue, the mining industry already pays the lowest proportion of their profits in company tax. Beyond that, the existence of Adani subsidiaries in Mauritius and the Cayman Islands have already been revealed before the first tonne of coal has even been mined.

Finally, and most bizarrely, at a time when world demand for coal is flat and the price of renewable energy and batteries is collapsing, some coal supporters say public subsidies are justified because, wait for it, the renewable energy industry gets subsidies. It is a strange form of economic rationalism or fiscal conservatism that argues that if you can't remove the subsidies from one product you should invent a new subsidy for its competitor.

Of course as Margaret Thatcher, Angela Merkel and Arnold Schwarzenegger have shown, there is no need for economic conservatives to be climate sceptics. Indeed, historically economic "hard heads"would have been more likely to trust scientific advice than the average environmentalist. Let's not even get into the fact that the mining industry couldn't exist without science but it has bankrolled science scepticism when it comes to climate. Internationally, conservatives that do take the advice of economists and scientists prefer the introduction of a carbon price to level the energy playing field than the creation of new subsidies for the coal industry.

But in Australia, despite the stated concern of business leaders about the state of the budget, taxpayer subsidies for the construction of an enormous new coal mine is not subject to the principles of fiscal conservatism, economic efficiency or even market risk. On the contrary, the fact that environmentalists want to stop the mine is enough for some to assume it must be a good idea. Not a very rational way to make decisions.

Richard Denniss is the chief economist for The Australia Institute

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IRS Granted Tax-Exempt Status to After School Satan Club in Only … – Townhall

Posted: at 11:38 am

The IRS granted tax-exempt status to theAfter School Satan Club 10 days after it applied, records obtained byJudicial Watch show. At the same time, tea party groups were forced to wait up to seven years or were denied altogether.

The tax-exempt status is meant for charitable, religious, and educational groups that operate as nonprofits. The After School Satan Club is operated by The Satanic Temple, which says Satanism is a religion that endorses scientific rationalism as our best model for understanding the natural world.

The club seeks to counter the Evangelical Good News Club, which the group claims robschildrenof theinnocence and enjoyment of childhood, replacing them with a negative self image,preoccupation with sin, fear of Hell, and aversion to critical thinking.

In 2016 the Satanic Temple released the following video on their YouTube page announcing the launch of its after school club in schools across the nation.

Warning: Its extremely creepy.

Judicial Watch has more on the clubs background:

The principle goal of establishing the Satan clubs in public schools throughout Washington State appears to be to counter existing enterprises operated by a Christian-based group.Documentsobtained by Judicial Watch include the process of establishing an after-school Satan club at Point Defiance Elementary in Tacoma. The entity behind the club is a nonprofit called Reason Alliance, which is based in Somerville, Massachusetts, and operates in Washington State as the Satanic Temple of Seattle. Its director, Lilith X. Starr, established the Point Defiance Elementary Satanic club, the records show. In its application the club states that its purpose is character development and that adult instructors are vetted by the Satanic Temples Executive Ministry. Children ages 5-12 will develop basic critical reasoning, character qualities, problem solving and creative expression, according to the Satanic Temple filings included in the documents. The club logo is a pencil with devils horns.Recordsobtained by Judicial Watch from the Treasury Department show that the Satanic cult applied for tax-exempt status on October 21, 2014 and received it on October 31, 2014.

So while the Obama administration's IRS illegally targeted conservative groups, it evidently saw no problem whatsoever with fast tracking the application of a leftist satanic group.

Watch LIVE: Senators Question Gorsuch at Confirmation Hearing

Gorsuch: I Have No Problem Ruling Against Presidents Wishes

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Yudof: Fine line between what is free speech – Cleveland Jewish News

Posted: at 11:37 am

Mark Yudof, former president of the University of California, said he believes in the right to free speech and opposes the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement, but doesnt view the two as mutually exclusive.

He spoke with the Cleveland Jewish News March 15 about recent attempts by the BDS movement on college campuses, including a failed ballot initiative at The Ohio State University in Columbus on March 9. That night, he participated in the Sidney Z. Vincent Memorial Lecture, Free Speech on Campus: Are There Limits? at The Temple-Tifereth Israel in Beachwood.

Yudof, now chair of the advisory board at the Academic Engagement Network, said he couldnt speak specifically about the failed Ohio State issue, but his organization is there to rally students and faculty who oppose BDS and let administrations know if they handled a situation well or could have done better. Yudof said the Academic Engagement Network, which has its national office in Washington, D.C., acts on a case-by-case basis but tries to answer questions in what Yudof said are mutual learning experiences.

Jewish people are very concerned, concerned about anti-Semitism on campus and concerned with the lack of tolerance of people who disagreed with their point of view Yudof said of the BDS movement on college campuses. We reply mostly to our members on the campuses, since the field was tilted so much in favor of BDS. Well have a few faculty members on campus sign a petition or sometimes we send a letter to the president thanking them for their work on campus.

Yudof didnt think people needed to agree with Israel completely in order to see the issues with BDS.

If you dont like the settlement policy, many of our members dont like the settlement policy Yudof said. If you either like or dislike (Israel Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus) regime, thats neither here nor there in terms of our purpose.

Yudof said often the distinction between Jews and Israelis is lost in the BDS movement, but ultimately BDS is a delegitimization effort.

To me, that creates enormous problems, he said. Its one thing to say were going to negotiate with the Russian government over Ukraine and another thing to say there shouldnt be a Russian government. Its one thing to negotiate with Mexico over border rules and immigration and another to say there shouldnt be a state of Mexico. That is right in your face.

Although his organization doesnt perceive enormous problems with the movement in Cleveland, BDS organizations often frame the issue in a way that is appealing to students, which he says is opportunistic. Yudof said progressive organizations often line up on the pro-BDS side.

Its almost like a coalition, he said. You support me on my issues and Ill support you on yours. Even Jewish students often dont have a good grasp on Israel and where they came from and what its all about.

Yudof said he didnt really understand why there is a connection between many progressive movements and BDS. He said when he was president of the University of California, there was a pro-BDS, anti-fossil fuel rally.

Its born of an ignorance and sort of a knee-jerk reaction to what is progressive, he said.

Yudof, a former constitutional lawyer, isnt trying to completely silence BDS supporters, but wants to get out the correct information about what the movement represents and support faculty members and administration who stand up against it.

Basically, hate speech is constitutionally protected, but if you put a swastika on a synagogue or you burn a cross on the lawn of black familys home, we have precedent that says its not protected, he said. But by and large when someone stands up and says Jewish people are terrible, it may be reprehensible speech. In those cases, what we look for is moral leadership, we dont try to silence the speakers but what we say to the president is look, is if (former Ku Klux Klan leader) David Duke came to your campus and said racist things, youd be all over it, why arent you all over this, which involves an equal amount of hurt to Jewish people when they hear from anti-Semitic speakers?

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Unless online giants stop the abuse of free speech, democracy and … – TechCrunch

Posted: at 11:37 am


TechCrunch
Unless online giants stop the abuse of free speech, democracy and ...
TechCrunch
When thousands, perhaps millions, of people use social networks to spread hate speech, online harassment and abuse, the problem might often seem..

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study | wealthy colleges | worst free speech offenders – legal Insurrection (blog)

Posted: at 11:37 am

The pattern is clear

Campus Reform recently highlighted the findings of this study. It seems the more money a college has, the more likely they are to squelch free speech.

Take a look:

REPORT: Wealthiest colleges are worst free speech offenders

A new study has found that the colleges most prone to disinviting conservative speakers and stifling open debate also have higher tuition and wealthier students than average.

The average enrollee at a college where students have attempted to restrict free speech comes from a family with an annual income $32,000 higher than that of the average student in America, declares Brookings Institution senior fellow Richard V. Reeves in an op-ed for Real Clear Markets titled Illiberal arts colleges: Pay more, get less (free speech), which he co-authored with his research assistant, Dimitrios Halikias.

The pattern is clear: the more economically exclusive the institution, the more likely the students have attempted to hinder free speech, the report states, pointing out that a vast majority of the 90+ cases of disinvitations since 2014 have occurred at institutions with larger-than-average shares of students with household incomes in the top 20 percent.

Most recently, Charles Murray, described in the report as a distinguished if often controversial social scientist, was prevented from speaking at Middlebury College when he was repeatedly shouted down and eventually violently confronted by a mob of protesters.

Reeves told Campus Reform that the Middlebury incident inspired him to investigate the topic further, explaining that with the help of the Foundation of Individual Rights in Educations database of disinvitation attempts, he discovered that Middlebury is actually home to some of the richest and most privileged students in America, with the average enrollee coming from a household with an annual income of at least $250,000.

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Government Will Force UK Universities to Defend Free Speech – Heat Street

Posted: at 11:36 am

British universities will be forced to defend freedom of speech on campus under new plans devised by the Government.

Institutions many under fire for allowing censorship, bans and language policing to flourish in recent years will now be compelled to stand up for free speech.

Rules will also extend to students unions, which are more likely to be the source of censorious rules than administrations themselves.

The plans will effectively outlaw no-platforming movements which seek to shut down events by speakers with whom student activists disagree.

The new policy was announced in a letter to university leaders, seen byThe Timesof London.

Universities minister Jo Johnson reminded bosses that it is their legal duty to ensure free speech for members, students, employees and visiting speakers.

A specific measure which would shut down no-platforming said that access to premises must never be denied to any individual or body on any grounds connected with their beliefs or views, policy or objective.

It further added that all universities must have a code laying out how free speech will be observed in meetings, which should be vigorously enforced rather than left to gather dust.

Heat Street has extensively documented the clampdown on free speech on British campuses.

Student societies such as the anti-abortion Stratclyde Life Actionwere shut downfor contravening safe space policies, while feminist Julie Bindel and Milo Yiannopoulos were banned from debating each other by Manchester University Students Union.

An Iranian dissident was prevented from speaking by Warwick University Students Union because of her opposition to Shariah law, while the union at Queen Mary University of London sparked protests by banning tabloid newspapers.

The anti-censorship websitespikedcompiled a free speech rankings, the most recent edition of which found that 94% of campuses censor free speech in some way, with 64% given a red ranking, the lowest possible rating.

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Student Fears Crackdown on Anti-Free Speech Riots Threatens Free Speech – PJ Media

Posted: at 11:36 am

Riots at American colleges to prevent unpopular speakers are becoming more and more commonplace. Berkeley and Middlebury may well be the beginning of a new tactic with leftist students to silence their opposition.

Of course, new bills designed to prevent the riotingare being attacked on grounds that they ... infringe on students' freedom of speech:

The intent of these bills isnt to protect student speech; its actually to suppress it in favor of guest speakers who, at times, support white nationalism, LGBTQ discrimination and other hateful worldviews. By funding the Phoenix-based Goldwater Institute, wealthy conservatives are enabling the promotion of hate speech while stifling student dissent.

Whether or not Koch, for example, agrees with the hate speech he indirectly sponsors, he certainly benefits from a more friendly academic environment for far-right ideologues who often deny climate change and praise his extreme brand of tax- and regulation-free capitalism.

The Goldwater Institutes model bill allegedly ensures the fullest degree of free expression, but it explicitly states that protests and demonstrations that infringe upon the rights of others to engage in or listen to expressive activity shall not be permitted and shall be subject to sanction.

It goes on to say, Any student who has twice been found responsible for infringing the expressive rights of others will be suspended for a minimum of one year, or expelled.

Under this code, imagine that a student protests a climate change denier and gets a brief suspension. Then the College Republicans group brings in a full-on white nationalist. Will this student do what she thinks is right and protest a racist whos given a platform at a respected university, or stay home because she's risking expulsion?

This campus "free speech legislation is essentially an attack on student speech and an elevation of ultra-conservative ideas that many people in university communities think have no place in American society.

Keep in mind this billspecifically targets activities that infringe on someone else's right to free speech. A peaceful demonstrationdoes no such thing.

Setting fires, throwing rocks, and assaulting people is a whole other kettle of fish -- and that is apparently what this student fears losing the "right" to do.

If there are concerns that the proposal is too vague, I might be willing to listen. However, most of those who are taking issue with it aren't doing so because they're worried it will be misapplied to those who peacefully protest. They're taking issue with it because it's another tool that can be used against those who engage in politically motivated violence and threats in an attempt to quell disagreement with their positions.

By trying to silence their opposition, they're admitting they can't win in the market of ideas. Maybe these measures will force them to step up and at least try harder to present sound arguments.

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Politics live: Free speech in the spotlight as politicians argue about 18C – The Sydney Morning Herald

Posted: at 11:36 am

Time for me to wrap up. What happened?

My thanks to Andrew Meares and Alex Ellinghausen for their excellent work and to you for reading and commenting.

You can follow me on Facebook.

Alex, Andrew and I will be back in the morning. We hope to see you then. Enjoy your evening.

In the House of Representatives MPs are debating the changes to 18C.

Labor frontbencher Linda Burney begins her speech by reading out a text message she received today: "Why are you abos allowed to harass people outside grocery stores?"

The Special Minister ofState, Scott Ryan, has flagged the introduction of the government's electoral law changes.

Next week legislation will be introduced which, if passed, the government hopes will rule out a repeat of Labor's 'Mediscare' texts.

"These changes will better serve voters by making sure Australians know who is trying to influence them," SenatorRyan said.

"This bill will ensure all are treated fairly and equally in requiring political material to be authorised, and bring the regime into the modern era."

Liberal senator James Paterson, a leading proponent of changing the race hate laws, is speaking to Sky News.

He says there are too many cases going before the courts and it is limiting people's right to free speech.

"Offence is not a good enough reason on its own [to make a complaint]," Senator Paterson says.

"Idon't think insultseither are good enough grounds to limit free speech."

"The hard right derides it in the liberal-left as "virtue signalling" - piousflag-waving by the elites around such causes as refugees,multiculturalism, climate change, and entrenched sexism -designed to show its members exist on a higher moral plane," Mark Kenny writes.

"So what is to be made of the Turnbull government's fanatical tinkering with the nation's racial offence laws? The expression ofelectoral urgency, of public clamour?"

And that's itfor question time.

The opposition has returned to one of its favourite games - baiting Treasurer Scott Morrison.

I thought it would have stuck with free speech for a bit longer but there you go.

The chamber has settled down - a bit - since question time began.

It's always nice when ex MPs drop in.

All the government's questions have been about energy policy.

It's even managing to link the recent asthma attacks that sparked a spike in the numbers of people turning to hospital admissions departments to energy.

It does this by saying it is incredibly important that the power in hospitals doesn't go out which means it is great the Snowy Hydro scheme is being expanded.

Which is not untrue, it's just a bit of a stretch.

Mr Turnbull: "Ibelieve all Australians are absolutely opposed to racism in any form."

Dr Aly asks another question referencing her own experiences of racism: "What exactly does the Prime Minister want people to be able to say that they cannot say now?"

Mr Turnbull: "Iunderstand the point the honourable member is saying. Ican assure hermy government,and all Australians,are opposed to racism in any form."

Labor MP Anne Aly asks Mr Turnbull a question about the Racial Discrimination Act.

Her question is genuine but it doesn't hurt that it's Parliament's first female Muslim asking a very establishment man about the issue.

"Clear language provides better protection," Mr Turnbull say.

"Australian are entitled to speak freely."

Mr Turnbull: "It's a stronger law, a fairer law."

The chamber has reached Thursday-like levels in terms of cacophonies and walls of noise.

Question time begins.

No prizes for guessing what topic of the day will be.

Opposition Leader Bill Shorten asks Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull why he has chosen "today, of all days" to water down protections against racial discrimination.

Mr Turnbull says the Coalition has "more respect for the Australian people than the Australian Labor Party".

"We know that our precious freedoms, our freedom of speech, is the foundation of our nation."

Nearly question time.

The government will introduce the changes into the Senate (because that's where Senator Brandis resides).

But Mr Burke suggests it might be because the Coalition is concerned it might not have enough votes in the House of Representatives.

Labor is very anti the Coalition's proposed changes.

"As if we're meant to believe this is a strengthening of the law - no one will believe that," frontbencher Tony Burke says.

"Yesterday this government released its multicultural policy. It didn't even survive 24 hours before they walked all over it."

This is the event Mr Turnbull attended shortly before the press conference.

"A clearer law is a stronger law," Mr Turnbull says.

"The reality is if you have language which is too wide, too general, it has a chilling effect on free speech."

"What we've set out is clear language which will protect Australians from racial vilification."

And that's it for the press conference.

Mr Turnbull is asked if the Coalition isprepared to lose votes because of the issue.

Mr Turnbull says Labor will exploit any issue for votes: "Why would this be any different?"

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The Daily Fix: Coimbatore murder says that in India, atheism is a faith that dare not speak its name – Scroll.in

Posted: at 11:36 am

Mar 07, 2017.

Homes in India are evolving to become works of art as home owners look to express their taste and lifestyle through design. Its no surprise that global home design platform Houzz saw over a million visitors every month from India, even before their services were locally available. Architects and homeowners are spending enormous time and effort over structural elements as well as interior features, to create beautiful and comfortable living spaces.

Heres a look at the top trends that are altering and enhancing home spaces in India.

Cantilevers. A cantilever is a rigid structural element like a beam or slab that protrudes horizontally out of the main structure of a building. The cantilevered structure almost seems to float on air. While small balconies of such type have existed for eons, construction technology has now enabled large cantilevers, that can even become large rooms. A cantilever allows for glass facades on multiple sides, bringing in more sunlight and garden views. It works wonderfully to enhance spectacular views especially in hill or seaside homes. The space below the cantilever can be transformed to a semi-covered garden, porch or a sit-out deck. Cantilevers also help conserve ground space, for lawns or backyards, while enabling more built-up area. Cantilevers need to be designed and constructed carefully else the structure could be unstable and lead to floor vibrations.

Butterfly roofs. Roofs dont need to be flat - in fact roof design can completely alter the size and feel of the space inside. A butterfly roof is a dramatic roof arrangement shaped, as the name suggests, like a butterfly. It is an inverted version of the typical sloping roof - two roof surfaces slope downwards from opposing edges to join around the middle in the shape of a mild V. This creates more height inside the house and allows for high windows which let in more light. On the inside, the sloping ceiling can be covered in wood, aluminium or metal to make it look stylish. The butterfly roof is less common and is sure to add uniqueness to your home. Leading Indian architecture firms, Sameep Padoras sP+a and Khosla Associates, have used this style to craft some stunning homes and commercial projects. The Butterfly roof was first used by Le Corbusier, the Swiss-French architect who later designed the city of Chandigarh, in his design of the Maison Errazuriz, a vacation house in Chile in 1930.

Skylights. Designing a home to allow natural light in is always preferred. However, spaces, surrounding environment and privacy issues dont always allow for large enough windows. Skylights are essentially windows in the roof, though they can take a variety of forms. A well-positioned skylight can fill a room with natural light and make a huge difference to small rooms as well as large living areas. However, skylights must be intelligently designed to suit the climate and the room. Skylights facing north, if on a sloping roof, will bring in soft light, while a skylight on a flat roof will bring in sharp glare in the afternoons. In the Indian climate, a skylight will definitely reduce the need for artificial lighting but could also increase the need for air-conditioning during the warm months. Apart from this cleaning a skylight requires some effort. Nevertheless, a skylight is a very stylish addition to a home, and one that has huge practical value.

Staircases. Staircases are no longer just functional. In modern houses, staircases are being designed as aesthetic elements in themselves, sometimes even taking the centre-stage. While the form and material depend significantly on practical considerations, there are several trendy options. Floating staircases are hugely popular in modern, minimalist homes and add lightness to a normally heavy structure. Materials like glass, wood, metal and even coloured acrylic are being used in staircases. Additionally, spaces under staircases are being creatively used for storage or home accents.

Exposed Brick Walls. Brickwork is traditionally covered with plaster and painted. However, exposed bricks, that is un-plastered masonry, is becoming popular in homes, restaurants and cafes. It adds a rustic and earthy feel. Exposed brick surfaces can be used in home interiors, on select walls or throughout, as well as exteriors. Exposed bricks need to be treated to be moisture proof. They are also prone to gathering dust and mould, making regular cleaning a must.

Cement work. Dont underestimate cement and concrete when it comes to design potential. Exposed concrete interiors, like exposed brick, are becoming very popular. The design philosophy is Less is more - the structure is simplistic and pops of colour are added through furniture and soft furnishings.

When building your home, it is important to use strong and durable materials. A value-added premium product with high compressive strength, Birla Gold cement is used to make tough, impermeable concrete that sets quickly, lasts long and minimises cracking. Its durability will ensure that your dream home always looks new and the steel structure inside remains protected. Birla Gold offers variants that are optimised for different needs. The unique hydraulic binding properties of the Birla Gold Premium cement variant prevent seepage, making it resistant to even corrosive water, especially important for houses in coastal cities. The Birla Gold Royal cement variant provides very high strength and is perfect for the foundation. As the video below says, with the different varieties of cement that Birla Gold offers, you can build the home of your dreams.

This article was produced by the Scroll marketing team on behalf of Birla Gold Premium Cement and not by the Scroll editorial team.

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