Into Antiques?

On ebay you'll find over 100 categories covering the Medieval and Renaissance periods, through Georgian, Regency and Victorian, to Edwardian, Art Nouveau and Art Deco.

Antique Dealers in California

Linda Stamberger

Linda Stamberger, author of "Antiquing In Florida", is a Florida expert and freelance writer of many genres. Visit this site to read her articles - some of which are available for purchase - as is her book.


Brooks Novelty Antiques and Records

Brooks Novelty is an all-vinyl record store. We specialize in: jukeboxes, vintage soda machines, antique slot machines, pin balls, arcade games, neon clocks and signs, rare concert posters, old advertising signs and much more!


The Antique Company

Established in the late 1900's, we occupy a huge corner building with a small garden area that leads to another 1000 sq foot store (called TAC) that contains our Mid Century collection.


Vintage Westclox

Westclox photo identification gallery and history and information of clocks, watches and other timepieces. This site primarily displays American clocks made by Westclox that were made from the early 1900's up to about the 1960's.


Antique Appraisals On-Line

We are one of the country's largest, oldest, most qualified and respected appraisal services. The majority of our appraisals are estate and personal property evaluations for valuation documentation purposes. However, we have evaluated goods and personal property for natural disaster losses (hurricanes), theft, fire, freight and shipping damage after the loss has occurred.


Connoisseur Antiques

Featuring fine antique furniture, Connoisseur Antiques is a Los Angeles Antique Furniture Showroom specializing in antique clocks and mirrors, European and French antiques, Antique Lighting, Chandeliers, Sconces, Armoires and much more.


Liz's Antique Hardware

Antique Hardware is the backbone of our business. We offer a complete selection of door, window and furniture hardware, lighting and accessories circa 1890 to 1970.


San Francisco Antique and Design Mall

San Francisco Antique and Design Mall is the largest antique mall in northern California. We opened our doors in October 1997 with 75 dealers and today we have over 200 of San Francisco's most professional antique specialists.


Ambiance Antiques

Importer of 18th and 19th Century French Antiques


C'est La Vie Antiques

European Antique and Accessories in San Diego, CA.


Lang Antiques

We carry a large selection of fine antique jewelry, antique rings & antique engagement rings. We also have vintage estate jewelry, vintage estate rings & vintage estate engagement rings from the Victorian, Art Nouveau, Edwardian & Art Deco style periods.


Once in a Blue Moon Online Thrift Store

We are an online thrift store featuring new, used, and unusual items.


Friday, June 1, 2012

California passes tougher energy code for new construction - Sacramento Bee

California passes tougher energy code for new construction - Sacramento Bee

The California Energy Commission on Thursday approved what it called nation-leading efficiency standards for new homes and commercial buildings.

Approved by a 4-0 vote, the upgraded standards include improved windows, insulation, lighting, air-conditioning systems and other features to reduce energy consumption in California homes and businesses by a projected 25 percent or more, compared with previous standards approved in 2008.

The amended standards are due to take effect on Jan. 1, 2014, applying to new construction of houses and buildings. The standards also will apply to major building additions and retrofits.

"These standards are the strongest in the nation … giving us the most efficient buildings in the nation," said Commissioner Karen Douglas. "The package that the commission approved is the greatest savings increment that the commission has ever achieved in a standards update in over 30 years."

The CEC said energy efficiency standards it has approved have saved Californians more than $66 billion in electricity and natural gas costs since 1978.

The new standards come as California's residential and commercial real estate markets are staggering to regain their footing after being steamrolled by the recession.

The commission stressed that while the new standards will make houses and buildings more expensive to build, that will be overridden by numerous benefits.

The commission said the standards will increase the cost of building a new house by $2,290, on average, but will return more than $6,200 in energy savings over 30 years.

Based on a 30-year mortgage, the CEC said, the new standards will add about $11 per month to the payment for the average home, but save consumers $27 on monthly heating, cooling and lighting bills.

"Improving the energy efficiency of buildings in which we will live and work will save Californians energy for decades," Douglas said. "These standards will help save consumers money on their utility bills, keep them comfortable in their homes, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions through better, more-efficient buildings."

The CEC also projected that, within the first year of implementation, the standards will add up to 3,500 new building industry jobs.

Unlike other hot-button energy issues, the standards voted on Thursday had a relatively smooth ride to approval.

CEC commissioners attributed that to many months of meetings with builders, installers, contractors, energy experts, environmental groups, utilities and others. Over time, various parties came to a consensus on what the standards should be, and that was reflected in some of the post-approval comments.

"With the residential construction industry still struggling to emerge from the worst economic downturn in 60 years, the California Building Industry Association supports the … standards to balance the state's objectives of achieving greater levels of energy efficiency with the need for housing affordability," said Layne Marceau, Northern California division president for Shea Homes and chairman of the CBIA Governmental Affairs Committee.

Noah Horowitz, senior scientist at the Natural Resources Defense Council, said the new standards are "wildly cost-effective and will ensure every new building constructed in the state is an energy-efficient one."

Steve Malnight, vice president of Customer Energy Solutions for Pacific Gas and Electric Co., said, "PG&E is a strong supporter of codes and standards as a vital tool in helping California achieve its clean energy goals."

The standards did not sail through unopposed, however.

Critics included the Asphalt Roofing Manufacturers Association and the American Air Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute. Both expressed concern that the standards would raise construction costs.

Even with approval, builders and contractors have extensive work to do to gear up for the Jan. 1, 2014, deadline.

Ken Nittler, a licensed mechanical engineer and an expert on building energy codes, recently told a regional gathering of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association that the CEC standards are "very serious and ambitious goals and will require substantial improvements in efficiency."

© Copyright The Sacramento Bee. All rights reserved.


Call The Bee's Mark Glover, (916) 321-1184.

Read more articles by Mark Glover



Source: www.sacbee.com

California Ban on Foie Gras: No More Fatty Duck Livers Allowed (Floridians, However, Feel Free to Eat Up) - Broward New Times (blog)
Foie gras-loving Californians better eat up over the next month. Starting July 1, the state ban on foie gras (fattened liver from a duck or goose) will officially take effect. The law was passed in 2004 but included time for restaurants and the state's lone foie gras producer to adjust.

Animal rights activists object to the method with which the ducks and geese are reared in order to make foie gras. According to the Humane Society's website, "Foie gras producers shove pipes down ducks' throats to force feed them far more than they would ever eat. The force feeding can  cause bruising, lacerations, and sores." In the last few weeks of their lives, the ducks' livers expand from three ounces to over a pound.

Cruel? Absolutely. But many foodies say it's freaking delicious -- richer and butterier than your regular duck liver.


In these last waning days of legal foie gras, California restaurants have been hosting high-end fois gras dinners, and residents have reportedly been stockpiling it at jacked-up costs of $60 a pound.

But don't expect the added attention to the cruelty of foie gras to prompt South Florida chefs to voluntarily ban it from their menus. Truth is, chefs who feature it say it's often a top seller, so if the South Florida customers are buying it, they're going to continue to serve it. 

many years. It is a little rough, but so is everything else. What's the difference between the treatment of ducks and geese for foie gras and separating young calves from their mothers to get them to produce more milk? Most people have dairy and don't even think about it." 

Location Info

The Grateful Palate

817 Southeast 17th St., Fort Lauderdale, FL

Category: Restaurant

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Source: blogs.browardpalmbeach.com

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