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(480) 719-3173 www.airconditioningarizona.com »
942 West 1st Avenue, Mesa, AZ 85210 map »
Magic Touch is proud to be THE HIGHEST RATED A/C - HEATING & ENERGY TESTING COMPANY in Arizona on Kudzu.com!
2013 NATIONAL RESIDENTIAL CONTRACTOR OF THE YEAR ~ Air Conditioning Contractors of America (#1 in the USA out of 60,000 members!)
Now accepting new happy clients!
A+ Rated by Better Business Bureau
BBB Business Ethics Award Winner
Lifetime Workmanship Guarantee in writing!
Still!...Family Owned & Operated (We may be a large company now but we are still a.. family run business who cares about our customers)
Fully Bonded and Insured
MORE!...NATE Certified Technicians & Installers - than the other guys
MORE!...Heat Pump Council Certified Master Technicians & Installers - than the other guys
MORE!...E.P.A. And M.A.C.S. Certified Technicians & Installers - than the other guys
One of the few BPI Certified, Energy Star Partner HVAC Companies in Arizona
Trane Comfort Specialists - 99% Customer Satisfaction Rating
Trane Distinguished Dealer Of The Year Award Winners
Lennox Premier Contractors - 99% Customer Satisfaction Rating
Rheem Top Contractor
SRP, Southwest Gas, APS & Honeywell Preferred Contractor
Proud members of the Arizona Heat Pump Council, Arizona Electric League, ACCA and Blue Energy Institute
All of our technicians are trade school graduates and receive more than 100 hours of ongoing factory training
We don't list these credentials and guarantees to brag. We list them so you'll know why we are the clear choice for you to trust with your home and workplace comfort. We take great pride in exceeding your expectations, and although we are one of the largest HVAC contractors in the Phoenix-Metro area, we still care because it's our family name on the line.
At Magic Touch Air Conditioning and Heating, we offer a wide array of services and products to both residential and commercial clients. Our service department has a combined experience level of over 150 years. We provide service to all brands, makes, and models. We service residential, commercial, and industrial equipment including; heat pumps, gas and electric furnaces, room air conditioners, ice machines, walk-ins, Evap coolers, fridges, etc.
We are truly a GREEN Company and offer complete building & home energy audits, blower door (air infiltration) testing, duct blaster (duct leakage) testing, EPA Benchmark testing, and can not only show you how to reduce your energy usage but can help get you rebate money for doing it from APS, SRP, Energy Star and state and federal tax credits.
We take pride in exceeding your expectations!
2012, 2013, 2014
THE MOST NATE (North American Technician Excellence) Certified Technicians in AZ!
Heat Pump Council Certified Master Technicians
BPI, EPA, MACS, & BLOCK Certified Technicians
Trane Comfort Specialists (Trane Distinguished Dealer Of The Year Award Winners) Lennox "Premier" Dealer, Rheem "Top Contractor" Dealer
SRP, SW Gas, APS, and Honeywell Preferred Contractor
Members of the BBB, Arizona Heat Pump Council, Arizona Electric League, ACCA, and Blue Energy Institute
* 24-Hour Service Available
[PDF] Home Depot 100% Customer Satisfaction Letter of Congratulations
[JPG] Owners of The Refrigeration School, Inc. use Magic Touch for their own home!
[PDF] Letter of praise form Trane Company for excellent customer satisfaction surveys!
[PDF] Robert Stinger, Owner of JBS Mechanical, Inc letter of recommendation
[JPG] Trane Distiguished Dealer Award for Excellent Customer Service
We get our clients money back from utility company rebates & tax credits for reducing their energy usage. We are ?Certified Building Analyst?s? by B.P.I. (Building Performance Institute), Home Performance with Energy Star Partners, & A.P.S. Qualified Contractor's so we can qualify you for money that pays YOU to make repairs to YOUR home! We are certified in all types of ?energy audit? equipment and offer a variety of testing and repair solutions for your home or office building.
They did a check up of our fire place and were very thorough. My husband was reluctant thinking it wouldn't be worth the money but couldn't believe how clean it was when he got home from work. It was... a good deal.
VIEW MORE »VIEW LESS »I gave it a few months to make sure there weren't problems with our new ac unit before writing a review. found this business here on kudzu along with 3 others when our 20 year old ac decided to... breathe its last breath. we chose this business because they were the most informative and gave us a bunch of different options from low end to high end. we also liked that they had a few brands to choose from unlike 2 of the other companies who only had traine which we would never buy again. we went with their brand because of the price and warranty which were both better then the other options. the unit cools the house better then the old traine ever did and our power bill is down $90 a month less thenm it was last year. the only problem was the thermostat stopped working about a week after they put it in but they came out right away probably within an hour after I called. they said the thermostat was bad and replaced it for free under the warranty. we are going to have them replace the other traine unit this winter when it cools down and will get the same unit. we recomend magic touch.
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They did a check up of our fire place and were very thorough. My husband was reluctant thinking it wouldn't be worth the money but couldn't believe how clean it was when he got home from work. It was a good deal.
We're so pleased you are happy with the service we provided and that we were able to take your husband from reluctant to impressed! We look forward to continuing to exceed your expectations. Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.
I gave it a few months to make sure there weren't problems with our new ac unit before writing a review. found this business here on kudzu along with 3 others when our 20 year old ac decided to breathe its last breath. we chose this business because they were the most informative and gave us a bunch of different options from low end to high end. we also liked that they had a few brands to choose from unlike 2 of the other companies who only had traine which we would never buy again. we went with their brand because of the price and warranty which were both better then the other options. the unit cools the house better then the old traine ever did and our power bill is down $90 a month less thenm it was last year. the only problem was the thermostat stopped working about a week after they put it in but they came out right away probably within an hour after I called. they said the thermostat was bad and replaced it for free under the warranty. we are going to have them replace the other traine unit this winter when it cools down and will get the same unit. we recomend magic touch.
VFW2250, Thank you so much for your patronage and for taking the time out of your day to share your experience with the Magic Touch Mechanical team with the rest of the world! We are delighted you are so pleased with your new equipment and our follow through! We can't wait to complete the other half of your HVAC project this winter and make your home 100% efficient, comfortable and quiet! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.
It has been slightly over a year that we spent over $20k on a new system with Magic Touch based on their reputation. In that time they have come to work on the upstairs system over 10times. Each time saying there is not a problem, but obviously a properly working system should not require such continued maintenance. After the last episode I asked for the system to be replaced as there is obviously a systemic issue, I was told the system is working fine. Now here I sit again less than a month later with the same system down. Rich Morgan and team seem to think the mark of quality service is coming out to get your system back up on average every two months (Usually after a week of waiting), instead of a fix it once mentality. Rich likes to talk how he is all about customer service, but he has never return my direct calls to him to address this ongoing issue. Rather he tolls the internet managing his reputation through rebuttal rather than doing the right thing. Here we sit again in record breaking heat waiting to hear how long we have to wait to get our service back up while my wife and three toddlers swelter. I would avoid Magic Touch at all cost, Rich is all talk, no action, and his intentions are not honorable.
As I explained yesterday on the phone to you, the reason my wife and equal partner in the business returned your call and not myself, I was attending my Father's wake. In fact she excused herself to respond to you immediately...and you were yelling at her! She then excused herself AGAIN to speak with your wife. Per our conversation, we have scheduled for the Lennox Factory Technical Adviser to inspect your upstairs unit as it appears to be an intermittent electrical issue and during our last two courtesy follow up visits the equipment was running per manufacturer specifications.I've already expressed to you that I feel your review is terribly unfair as Magic Touch has been EXTREMELY responsive. While I expressed how much I understand your frustration that this unit has intermittently failed, it is unfair to single out myself and publicly make the comments you have regarding my honor! Mechanical and electrical equipment can fail and while it makes us no less unhappy than you when it does, a Magic Touch representative has responded quickly throughout. Even now when contractually, Magic Touch's warranty has expired, we are still sticking with you our client...I believe that is the very definition of honor! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch
It could've been easier to get an appointment, they were almost a week out booking a cleaning and check of my ac unit. Very responsive and good service as a whole though. Will use again. Would give five stars if they would have given me a same day or next day appointment.
4thStooge, Thank you so much for choosing Magic Touch and for taking the time to post a review of your experience with our team on Kudzu...both are greatly appreciated! Just so you know for next time: We always reserve spots this time of year for emergency service for people who have no cooling so we can get to them same day. We are able to do this by booking out non-emergency maintenance and cleanings out a few days to a week or so. Should you ever call us in an emergency with no air we can usually respond the same day to get you up and running right away. We are looking forward to earning that 5th star the next time you call on us! Thanks Again! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical
After a horrific experience with another company, I called two more companies to make sure I didn't get burned again. The man from Magic Touch was polite, patient, and professional. He laid out all my options from a cheap fix which he called a "bandaid" to showing me how much a new heating and cooling system would cost. I really appreciated his time and concern as I'm on a fixed income and he didn't try to sell me items I didn't need but he didn't judge me and assume I couldn't pay for the "premium package". Ultimately I chose to go with the bandaid option for now because I want to plan to upgrade my home. I will certainly us this company when I do to because I can just tell they are a company that I can trust to treat me fairly. I can tell this is a wonderful company by the fact that they have people that really do care working for them.
GreenThumbGal, Thank you so much for the kind words and for taking the time out of your day to share your review online! Thank you also for allowing us the opportunity to earn your business and trust...we sincerely appreciate it. We are all delighted that you are so pleased with our service and that we are now your HVAC provider of choice! Warm Regards, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.
We chose this company because they are listed on the APS list of contractors. The technicians spent a good amount of time looking through our system and then gave us a sales talk. They have priced everything in packages instead of giving you a list of every item and it's cost. For example, you can get the Deluxe package with all the repairs all the way to the Bare Minimum package to "get by". The Salesman was quite rude and condescending. When I complained about the pricing and it's structure, he let me know that his company wasn't for everyone and that they were for people who had more money. We paid the $75 for the so-called "tune-up" when they did absolutely NOTHING for that money, other than tell us we needed to spend more money. Very much a waste and a scam if you ask me.
StonyCreek, we are very sorry you don't approve of the way our pricing structure is set. As can be seen by several hundred reviews from other clients, the majority like the options we give them and feel our pricing is fair. Per your own admission the technicians "spent a good amount of time looking through your system" and then presented you with options from the bare minimum to a complete overhaul...which you define as a "waste and scam". I'm unsure how "spending a good amount of time" checking out your HVAC equipment and then giving you multiple options to just "get by" or completely make sure it didn't give you any troubles is a waste or a scam...that's exactly what most consumers expect from an A+ rated HVAC Contractor. We do wish you the best of luck! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical
It's a very rare occasion that I sit down to write a review for a service or product and am more likely to write one when a product stinks or a business treats me poorly then when the product or business is good but I have to share my encounters about this business. To say the people at this business provide great value and service is the understatement of the year. My first experience with them was for a repair years ago and I have been calling them ever since. They have installed two of my three heat pumps and most recently leak sealed my home and installed attic insulation. As usual the results are nothing shy of excellent but the icing on the cake is I just had a problem with my third furnace that they did not install related to a thermostat setting issue after my nephew decided to play know-it-all. The response time was excellent and they not only found the problem right away, they took the time and steps to show me how to avoid it happening again. Since they were already here I asked them to go ahead and do the checkups on the units. When I got the bill it was "No charge" and he said "we appreciate your business". I never expected that and I can tell you they will always be able to count on my referrals. Thank you Magic Touch Air Conditioning!!!!!!!
BeeSting, your review is greatly appreciated and amusing too :) Thank you for taking the time out of your day to share your experience with our team with other Kudzuer's. We really appreciate your continued loyalty and it is our pleasure to call you a client! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical
Lots of valuable information and well presented. This is a pretty long process (2 guys were here for about 4 hours) but it was worth the time and price for what they found and showed me. I appreciate that they weren't hard pressure sales and do genuinely seem to care. I haven't made a decision on which work to do but will definitely use them for the work.
Hi FranklinB12! First thank you for the opportunity to earn your business and second thank you so much for the kind words and taking the time out of your day to share them on Kudzu! We look forward to earning our next five star review when you decide which efficiency and comfort improvements you want to make to your home. Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.
The level of detail Magic Touch Mechanical puts into what they do is obvious at every turn. They were the only company to look at all the details of our house, even looking through the house with an infra-red camera tool, show me pictures of my air-ducts, and even look at the wires going into the circuit box. No other company did any of that. The unit installers had their system down to a science and asked along the way if I was happy where this was located and that was screwed, etc. very eager to please. I walked through my yard and went up into the attic to check on everything they had done and noticed they even cleaned up bits of trash that were left up there from the builder or someone else along the way. I only give 4 stars for value as the new unit did cost me more than I anticipated but I definitely think I got what I paid for. Most importantly, the new unit is cooling my house excellently and my neighbor whose kitchen window is close to the outdoor conditioning unit already said he cant even hear it anymore. Now I need to get my other neighbor to do the same thing so I cant here his anymore :) I'm not easily impressed and have never written any business a review or letter before ever but I have to say Magic Touch Mechanical you deserve this one :)
1ProudPapa, Thank you so much for your business and for taking the time to share your review of Magic Touch with other Kudzuer's, we deeply appreciate both! We're delighted you mentioned the "level of detail we put into what we do", our motto is "Do It Better Than It Has To Be" and it's fantastic when our clients recognize what separates us from the rest! We would be happy to deliver the same level of service to your neighbor with the noisy unit and install a quiet model in their home as well...just give them our number and we'll take care of the rest! Thanks again, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.
fast response, decent price, no bs or pushy sales stuff. would call this company again & trust to refer
Goldman553, Thank you for your business and for taking the time to share a review on your experience with the Magic Touch team on Kudzu. We greatly appreciate both and look forward to continuing to exceed your expectations each and every time you call on us! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical - Air Conditioning - Heating - Energy Testing
I had this company do a check up on my furnace and test the air ducks for air leaks. I got more than I expected for the price. Very smart of them to do all they did for a little over a hundred dollars because I will use them from now on. I did buy the duck sealing and the difference is noticeable and worth the $400 I spent. The people were very neat and professional. I voted for them in the best on kudzu.
Post522, Thank you so much for your wonderful endorsement of our company! We greatly appreciate the opportunity to show you what we are made of and are ecstatic you were so pleased with the results! Thank you also for your vote for the Best of Kudzu, that was very nice of you. We look forward to continuing to exceed your expectations each and every time you call on us. Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.
I've been a Magic Touch customer for a little over a year and a half and being a demanding customer I rated them just above average from my initial experience. That's changed with my interaction with them in the last week. As a customer, I'm a piece of work but they have a gem of an employee named Candice that knows how to serve their customers. From my experience that kind of customer service is cultivated by the company. Candice and Magic Touch have taken that extra step in solving a part delay problem that was mostly beyond their control. That puts them a step above in my book.
Thank you so much for your business and for taking the time to post such a detailed review of your recent installation. We very much appreciate both and the kind words regarding our honesty and professionalism. With regards to the salesperson not calling you back, please know that he did contact both myself and our Installation Manager right away to let us know about your message. I just spoke with him and he apologizes that you thought he ignored your call, he knew we were already in contact with you and had scheduled a return visit to check on the noise problem. As for the noise itself...sorry we didn't get you the answer you were hoping for. Bar style return grills are much quieter than stamped face grills and when we install them we caulk the areas between the grill and the ceiling, we were confident that would have reduced the noise and taken care of the whistle. We typically do not caulk around existing grills and registers unless that duct sealing package is purchased at the time of installation. As for the filter; the unit ships with the size that fits in the air handler rack, which is a different size than your existing filter rack...BUT we should have had one for you for that size and I apologize we did not. We will certainly take all of your comments and use them to improve on our systems and processes...we are aiming for a five star client experience every time, and again I'm sorry we fell short of that for you. Hopefully our service department will WOW you when it comes time for your first maintenance visit and we can earn a five star report! Thanks again for your business and kind words! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.
I wanted to share my recent experience with Magic Touch. This week we have experienced record breaking highs. On Thursday I was working from home and noticed that it seemed to be getting warmer and warmer. I called Magic Touch at 1:55 p.m. and was told they could have a tech out between 3 and 6 the SAME DAY! I was beyond relieved. Then the tech called in less than 5 minutes and arrived by 2:30. Not long after Troy arrived, the fan began working. He stayed just to make sure nothing was truly wrong, and then detected a problem with the fan motor. Luckily we had purchased the extended warranty when Magic Touch installed the unit 5 years earlier. By 4:00 that afternoon and only $75 later, we had a new fan installed and the air was once again cooling down. Thank you Troy and Magic Touch! We got to sleep in our own beds and didn't have to resort to a hotel for the night. Great work!!
dkh0000, Thank you so much for your kind words and for your business, both are greatly appreciated! I'm so happy that we have continued to exceed your expectations over the years and am appreciative of your continued loyalty to us...you can continue to expect the same from us! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.
Dear Mr. Morgan, I just wanted to send this note to you regarding your company and the people you have supporting you and your endeavor. There is such a tremendous amount of companies to chose from on the web and in the paper. I am so glad that I found your company and had the opportunity to meet with all the people that support the company. As you know the industry is very competitive but after meeting with your sales rep Challen, who provided a very comprehensive evaluation of our needs I knew which one I was going with , even though your price was not the most competitive. The installers worked under miserable conditions and finished the install in one day and maintained a high degree of professionalism. Then there were some issues and I dealt with Candice who helped assure me that my issues would be looked and promplty scheduled a meeting, met again with the installers and Rick your install manager. Again I was impressed with the level of professionalism and handling the issues I had to my satisfaction. Another follow up call out where I met your tech Dan, who resolved an issue and provided me with an education on the system I purchased in addition to what Rick had provided. All I can say is the staff you have is a tremendous asset and completely skilled in customer service. I must tell you this is only the 2nd letter I have ever written to a company regarding their service in my 65 years of life so you must be doing something right
beprepared, As I said via E-mail when you sent me this note, this is one of my favorite client reviews we have ever received...and we have many! The fact that this is only the second time in 65 years that you have written a letter to a company owner of this nature means so much! I share with my team that it is easy to get a raving review when everything goes as planned, but it is much harder when everything doesn't. In my book, the true measure of excellent service is how a company reacts when there are problems with equipment, or an installation, etc. Once again I want to thank you for your business and for taking the time to share your experience with our team with the rest of the online world, both are greatly appreciated! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc. - Air Conditioning, Heating, and Energy Audits
Bought a home with a bad ac. The seller used a company called AC Smart to install a refurbished unit. It had a condensate leak, exposed wires and broke down soon after installation. They gave me a bid on another unit based upon the size I currently had. I called Magic Touch and they pointed out all the problems mentioned above. Challen used a heat gun to measure all the "hot spots" and recommended a vent be installed in our walk in closet which was extremely warm and making the bedroom hard to cool. He informed me of all the available rebates and gave me bids on several units. A complete explanation of the different units and reviews.3 days later I had a quiet, reliable, top of the line AC. I would never use another company but Magic touch. And I would never use AC Smart. Their service was horrible.
Thank you so much for your business and for your kind words! We sincerely appreciate you taking the time to share your experience with the Magic Team on Kudzu. I'm not sure what is less ethical, the home seller buying a refurbished unit before they sell a home, or a company that's out there selling refurbished equipment! I'm leaning towards the latter as I find that practice deplorable...and thinking it should be illegal! I'm glad to see that you are now worry free and will be cool and comfortable for years to come! Sincerely, Rich Morgan, President - Magic Touch Mechanical, Inc.


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How would YOU balance the budget?
There's a great site here: http://www.balancethebudget.com/showBudget.php?mode=0 that lets YOU balance the federal budget.
Try it and see if you can balance the budget!
We did this exercise a few years back and the results are the same. We can just afford the mandatory spending as required by law: $2.184 trillion - interest on the debt, medicare, medicaid, other, and social security.
What we can't afford is discretionary spending: $1.368 trillion - Departments like DOD, DOJ, DOVA, DOE, DOL, DOT, Treasury, etc.
Those legacy social expenditures are putting the squeeze on the nation. Raising taxes to cover the budget gap only diverts money from consumers. It's sort of like painting yourself into a corner.
Easy just takes some basic principles and guts.
principles and Congress?
politicians and guts?
Guess we won't see a balanced budget anytime soon.
After 2012?
Doubt it.
and this is how the government wanted to spend it.
Upkeep for Unused Monkey House and Other Buildings -
(Department of Veterans Affairs) $175 Million
Sprucing Up Apartments Before They Are Torn Down - (Shreveport,
LA) $1.5 Million
Museum Where Neon Signs Go to Die… - (Las Vegas, NV) $1.8
Free" Grateful Dead Archive - (Santa Cruz, CA) $615,000
Agencies Pile Up Unnecessary Printing Costs - $930 Million
Studying World of Warcraft and Other Virtual Games - (Irvine, CA)
$2.9 Million
Dept. of Energy Still Fails to Turn Off the Lights - (Department of
Energy) $2.2 Million
Fraudulent Medical Testing by Criminal Gangs - (U.S. Center for
Medicare and Medicaid Services) $35 Million
Poems in Zoos - (AR, IL, LA, WI, & FL) $997,766
Shooting Range Armed with Taxpayer Dollars - (Las Vegas, NV)
$15.68 Million
Bogus Tax Refunds for Prisoners - $112 million
Comic Superhero Mouse Teaches History of Printing -
(Government Printing Office) $31,350
Big Subsidies, Little Airports - (Atlanta, GA) $2.4 Million
European Junket - (Vienna, Austria) $465,000
"Critter Crossing" - (Monkton, VT) $150,000
Internet Dating Study - (Stanford, CA) $239,100
City Builds Streetcar System on Same Route as Subway System -
(Atlanta, GA) $47.6 Million
Closed Park Receives "Green Improvement" Funds for Unused
Building - (Elverta, CA) $440,000
Money for a Mummy- (Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms
and Explosives) $20,588
Census Super Bowl Commercial Too Ironic to be Understood -
(U.S. Census Bureau) $2.5 Million
Studying Male Prostitutes in Vietnam - (San Juan, Puerto Rico)
Shrek-Themed Onion Promotion Campaign - (GA) $90,000
Zoo Receives Federal Funding to Develop Online Video Game
"Wolfquest" - (Apple Valley, MN) $609,160
Demolishing Abandoned Facilities at Non-Existent Lake - (Lake
Optima, Hooker, OK) $172, 110
Federal Database to Plan Your Next "Haycation" - (Alsea, OR)
Another Bridge to Nowhere - (Hillsborough, NH) $150,045
Party Time at the FAA - (Atlanta, GA) $5 Million
Budget Oversight Training for Legislators in
Eastern Europe? - (NY) $2.6 Million
Bus Statue in America"s Biggest Little City - (Reno, NV)
Unneeded Courthouse Space Costing Taxpayers Millions -
$51 Million
And finally.....
Teaching South African Men How to Wash Their Genitalia -
(Los Angeles, CA) $823,200
Oh and happy new year to everyone. Maybe next year things will be better....but only if we say NO to this sort of lunacy!!
and this is how the government wanted to spend it.
A question: Wanted to spend it or spent it? Happy New Year!
It's hard to say. That's why I noted it the way I did. The report -hyperlinked below - noted "spent" for one project but not all.
My intention here is not to point fingers at any one political party as I think we all can agree that these funding misadventures come from both sides. But the very fact that this kind of "stuff" is even considered shows a very strong disrespect to us the taxpayers.
Maybe you won't but I will. Rep John Lewis made a big point of saying he arranged that 47.6 mil for Atlanta to waste on the Streetcar folly. Well,it was clear that HE believed that all those letters & meetings with Trans. Sec LaHood made it happen. Now that's real service to his constituents!
Staying warm???
Anyways, on that one you're right; and the funding was given to the city. This just so typical. MARTA operated a "trolley bus" on that route and there wasn't enough ridership to justify that trolley so MARTA discontinued it. Now we are going to fund something that didn't work. Go figure.
I'm staying as warm as I can in Fayette County! Came home Tuesday, leaving WX predictions of sub-zero temps & 8 inches of snow for Thur/Fri! Once again, Delta took us & brung us on non-stops. Will return to Bozeman in May for birth of Grandchild Nr 2! That first one (now 2) is a real live wire with an amazing vocabulary and happy-go-lucky attitude. Some observations from the week-long visit:
. Took insulated winter underwear and never used it.
. Montanans remain friendly & exihibit patriotic tendencies
. The "Merry Christmas" greetings & farewells far exceeded the "Happy Holidays" thingy.
. Some business closings but I think generally, things are not too bad locally. My son's company (Compass Engineering Consultants, LLC), in which he is the nr 2 man in a 2 man company) has plenty of business with prospects of picking up design & engineering of 3 new hotels in Wyoming early next year.
. In 2004, Montanans voted to legalize medical marijuana. There are now licensed "pot shops" and "legal growers" around. Local press reflects that most are of the opinion that it is rapidly escalating out of control and next yr's Legislature is expected to enact some restrictive laws. Hell, they even had "Traveling Caravans" of Docs, that would arrive in a town, write a passel of med mj prescriptions and fire up and drive on to the next town!
Still, all things considered, it's a pretty darn good place to live. And you can buy anything on Sunday that you can on Saturday!
And you can buy anything on Sunday that you can on Saturday!
And I wonder if that looser that was just elected will do anything to change that. We'll see.
After reading the "details" it appears the money was distributed. Most sickening. Honestly, I would rather provide unemployment aid to those truly in need than to fund these boondoggles. What a @#^$%!*$^!! waste.
But hey, don't you feel better knowing that someone is studying male prostitutes in Vietnam or teaching South African men how to wash their thingamajigs? This is your money that the "Guv" forced from you. What a ........ joke.
Funny, in the 2 1/2 yrs I spent there, don't recall ever encountering a male prostitute!
I guess it's now a problem that requires your tax money to study. But hey it can't be no worse than teaching South African men to wash their....well you know.
Wow - as bad as the bridge to nowhere. Are there organizations in operation now that 'read' these bills and inform us of what our 'leaders' are planning for our money BEFORE they spend it? I'm not that familiar with the actual process - and honest transparency would certainly help with this problem. Regarding the 'thingamajiggy' - I was aware of programs to help eliminate the spread of aides due to the 'rape' of women by unclean thugs. I, of course, prefer 'getting rid of the thingamajiggy' rather than bothering to clean it. Oh well.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is Boo Bear!
Facts about Boo Bear
- Breed: Siamese
- Color: Cream Or Ivory (Mostly)
- Age: Senior
- Sex: Male
- Hair: Short
Boo Bear's Info...
I am already neutered, a special needs pet, in need of an experienced adopter, up to date with shots, not good with kids, and not good with cats.
You can visit with Boo Bear at the Petsmart in Lake Forest, CA (on El Toro Road). We hold adoptions every Sat/Sun from 12 noon-3pm or for an appointment to visit Boo Bear please call 949-829-0036.
Boo Bear is 7 years old and oh what a love he is! He should be relaxing in a quiet, safe home and instead he has been shuffled back and forth to the rescue. Boo Bear was adopted from us earlier in the year and returned because his owner lost her home and the friend his owner moved in with would not let her keep Boo Bear. It's just so sad that such a sweet guy has been thru so much. Sweet, mellow and affectionate are a few of the words that describe Boo Bear. He likes hanging out with you and sleeping with you at night. Although he's a senior, Boo Bear still likes to play with toys and roll in catnip. He just wants someone to love him, FOREVER. He prefers a home where he can be the only cat. Boo Bear is patiently waiting for that special person with a big heart to come and take him home. Boo Bear has a sensitive stomach and requires a regimented feeding schedule.
Other Pets at Forever Home Cat Rescue
Why Adoption is a Great Option
Boo Bear, a Foothill Ranch Siamese cat was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a Siamese for sale in Foothill Ranch, or seeking a Siamese cat from a breeder in Foothill Ranch.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Foothill Ranch already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Foothill Ranch breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even Siamese breeders who help with Siamese rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Foothill Ranch paves the way for another one to be saved.


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Events Calendar
marketing to women Archive
Who's Spending Now?
Posted on November 1, 2014 | No CommentsFrom Millennials to Baby Boomers and singles to moms, TCW's experts explore who's spending, what they're buying and how much they're willing to pay. Diane Swonk, chief economist... -
Fifty Shades of Silver
Posted on November 1, 2014 | No CommentsThe Baby Boomer generation is 76 million strong and spends more money than any other age group. But to marketers, they're invisible. Baby Boomers are all grown up. But as... -
The Diamond Collective
Posted on November 1, 2014 | No CommentsThey're single, affluent, ambitious…and these women – age 25 to 40 – are spending big bucks. I've spent nearly two decades researching, detecting and monitoring trends impacting female consumer behavior.... -
The Mini Me Effect
Posted on November 1, 2014 | No CommentsA new trend in marketing, kids are now engaged in adult brands and activities more than ever before. As a long-time Chicago commuter, there's not much that stops me in... -
Pink is not a Strategy
Posted on November 1, 2013 | No CommentsWhy marketing to women requires more than simply 'making it pink.' With women controlling more than half of the country's percentage of wealth, we're arguably the most powerful consumers. Why,... -
Marketing to Women 2013
Posted on May 1, 2013 | No CommentsThe 9th Annual M2W: Marketing to Women Conference was held at the Chicago Cultural Center April 16-17, featuring a bevy of experts and keynoters who know a little – okay,... -
7 Secrets of Successful Marketing to Women
Posted on April 30, 2013 | No CommentsYou've read Marti Barletta's Top 10 Surprises when it comes to marketing to women in TCW's May issue. Here, she offers 7 Secrets to marketing to the biggest decision makers... -
Man of the Month Feb 2013: Mike McGrath
Posted on February 1, 2013 | No CommentsPresident, McGrath Lexus, Acura, Honda & Hyundai Following in the footsteps of his grandfather and father, Mike McGrath has carried on the family auto business for 42 years. "My dad... -
Women. The Alpha Consumers
Posted on January 2, 2013 | No CommentsHow many marketing campaigns can you recall from 2012? You know, the ones that really resonated with you and made you go out and buy something? Are you still thinking?...


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Tipoff: A Republican candidate make her case against Reps. Howard Berman and Brad Sherman.
Monthly Archives: October 2011
Occupy L.A. comes to Valley
VAN NUYS – Police nearly outnumbered a small group of protesters who marched down Van Nuys Boulevard on Saturday, railing against banks and corporate greed as part of the new Occupy San Fernando Valley movement. CJ Lin in the Daily News,
About 30 protesters made stops at branches of Chase Bank, CitiBank, Wells Fargo and Bank of America along the main throughway. Police positioned themselves between the bank entrances and the demonstrators as the group shouted, "Stop the banksters," and "Banks got bailed out, we got sold out."
"It's the banks that have their hands in politics and government," said Chris Palomino, a 24-year-old student from North Hollywood. "I just want to get as much information out to the population, try to get everyone educated out of the illusion that the corporations, that the banks are trying to put them in. We need to awaken the people."
LAUSD's $30 million error
At Columbus Avenue Elementary School in Van Nuys, the grab bars in the boys' restroom are slightly off, the stair handrails are half an inch too high, and the signs leading from the playground to the library aren't hung at the correct eye level.Susan Abram in the Daily News.
For most people, the fixtures pose no problem. But for students in wheelchairs or parents who need help walking, a steep ramp or a high handrail can make the difference between moving around campus and getting stuck.
Yet, despite Los Angeles Unified School District spending some $20 billion on its new construction program, hundreds of repairs are needed at the 80 new schools built over the past decade – at an additional cost of $30 million – because of failure to meet federal
Mayor calls for tax reform
oping to sharpen the city's competitive edge, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called Tuesday for giving a three-year tax break to all companies opening or relocating to Los Angeles and phasing out business taxes for existing firms. Gregory J. Wilcox in the Daily News.
Speaking during the annual United Chambers of Commerce Mayor's Luncheon, Villaraigosa said he would ask the City Council to make permanent the business-tax "holiday" set to expire in 2012. It gives businesses a reprieve from paying taxes on gross receipts during their first three years in Los Angeles.
"There should be no expiration date on this common-sense, job-creating policy," the mayor told a crowd of about 400 business owners and civic leaders gathered at the Warner Center Marriott.
Debate over Sherman Oaks' Great Wall
Everyone who lives on Deervale Drive in Sherman Oaks agrees the 7-foot cream-colored wall built in front of a residence in the 3900 block is illegal. Even the homeowners who put up the structure – now coined the "Great Wall" by frustrated neighbors – admit they never got permits.Dakota Smith in the Daily News,
But in a controversy that's highlighting the widespread problem of illegally erected walls and fences in the city, homeowners Joe and Orit Picker argue their illegally built wall should be allowed to stay so they can have privacy from paparazzi that target their celebrity neighbor, actor Shia LaBeouf.
Moreover, they say they should be able to keep the barrier for a simpler reason: Many other residences in the neighborhood have illegally built
One of the complaints about the wall in the 3900 block of Deervale Drive in Sherman Oaks is that it was built on the easement in front of the home, as seen here on Tuesday, Oct. 25, 2011. Here the wall was built around the meter by the street.
walls, too.
Pension board to phase in rates
Bowing to pressure from Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Los Angeles' budget director, the city's civilian pension board agreed Tuesday to phase in lower expectations of how much the retirement fund will earn from its investments.Daily News,
Acknowledging that the fund's long-term expected 8 percent return on its investments may be too rosy, the Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System voted to lower the projected return to 7.75 percent.
If the board had stuck to the original plan to lower the expected return in a single year, it would've cost the city between $26 million and $50 million.
Galanter endorses Perry for mayor
Former Councilwomah Ruth Galanter on Monday announced her support of Councilwoman Jan Perry for mayor in 2013.
Galanter, who was termed out of office, said Perry had worked hard for her district adn the entire city.
"I've worked with Jan Perry and I know she works hard and gets results," Galanter said.
. "She has transformed blighted and vacant industrial lots into parks and gardens. By creating a wetland in a city park, she has simultaneously reduced wastewater pollution and restored natural habitat. Her campaign to make healthy food available throughout the city is an inspiration to us all."
Perry said she was proud of the endorsement.
A more 'citified' Westfield Village?
Big developments in the San Fernando Valley almost always raise concern that the suburbs are becoming too dense, too urban. But the debate over the planned Village at Westfield Topanga has a new twist: Whether the proposed outdoor mall is urban enough. Dakota Smith in the Daily News,
A small but vocal group of neighbors have banded together to advocate for a more city-
like Village. Unlike most neighborhood councils and homeowners groups that fight to scale back development, these two West Valley neighborhood groups are saying: Build an urban-looking project. And build it bigger.
BYD to open L.A. headquarters
When Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and officials from Chinese electric-car company BYD America meet today to open its North American headquarters, it will mark the end of a lengthy courting period and the start of what both sides hope is a long marriage. Daily News,
The effort began with former First Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner who convinced the Chinese manufacturer to come to Los Angeles.
But the details to be worked out over the past year have involved talks on everything from possible locations for a factory to drawing on L.A.'s star power and the Academy Awards.
Show me the money….
Tipoff: Mayor plannong trip to Asia.


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Complete Rules for 2013 Harley Davidson "Road King" Raffle
The proceeds from this raffle will benefit the Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF/Fund) programs. Tickets will be sold at various locations, on-line and other MLCF, or Eventz for Charity, Inc. (EFC) events. Tickets are $10 each when purchased in person, and discounts will be offered in various packages online.
Raffle Rules
1. Employees (and their immediate family members) of the Marvin Lewis Community Fund (MLCF), Events For Charity (EFC) and Harley Davidson (HD) are not eligible to win.
2. The raffle is open to legal residents of the United States who are age 18 and over and licensed drivers.
3. There is no limit to the number of tickets an individual may purchase.
4. Tickets must be filled out in the name of a single individual.
5. Tickets are non-refundable.
6. Physical ticket sales will cease at midnight on January 29, 2014.
7. Online ticket sales will cease at midnight on January 30, 2014.
8. The winner will be selected at a random drawing on January 31, 2014. Entrants do not need to be present to win. The winner will be notified by phone according to the contact information provided to the Marvin Lewis Community Fund at the time of entry. In the event a winner cannot be contacted, fails to respond within 48 hours, fails to otherwise qualify for the prize and /or declines the prize, an alternate winner will be selected. If not claimed within 48 hours of notification, the winner designee will forfeit any rights to the vehicle and the same will be awarded to an alternate winner. The right to take possession of the vehicle through the winning entry is neither assignable nor transferable.
9. If the winner elects to take the motorcycle as the prize, that winner assumes and must pay all fees and charges (including, but not limited to, tags and license), local, state , federal taxes, and shipping and handling when the motorcycle is transferred to the winner. Winnings are subject to regular gambling withholding as stipulated by the IRS and must be paid by the winner. The winner must provide the MLCF, or EFC, with a W9 before he or she takes receipt of the vehicle. The winner will be issued 1099 in February 2014. The MLCF, and EFC, assume no responsibility for the winner's tax obligations and suggest you consult your tax advisor. This offer is void where prohibited by law and all federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. The prize cannot be exchanged for cash. The vehicle will not be delivered until after all of the applied taxes, license and any applicable registration fees are paid by the winner.
The winner must have proper identification when claiming the vehicle (a valid state driver's license) and appropriate insurance. If the winner elects not to accept the vehicle, no substitution or exchange for cash or other goods will be provided.
10. By receipt of any prize, winner agrees to release and hold harmless the MLCF and EFC, their respective subsidiaries, advertising/promotion agencies, and prize suppliers, and each such company's officers, directors, employees and agents (collectively, the "Released Parties") from and against any claim or cause of action, including, but not limited to, personal injury, death, or damage to or loss of property, arising out of participation in the raffle or receipt or use or misuse of any prize.
11. Except where prohibited, participation in the raffle constitutes winner's consent to the MLCF and EFC, their sponsors and their agents use of winner's name, likeness, photograph, voice, opinions and/or hometown and state for promotional purposes in any media, worldwide, without further payment or consideration.
12. The MLCF, or EFC, reserves the right to cancel, suspend and/or modify the raffle, or any part of it, if any fraud, technical failures or any other factor beyond the MLCF, or EFC's, reasonable control impairs the integrity or proper functioning of the raffle, as determined by the MLCF, or EFC, in their sole discretion. The MLCF, or EFC, reserve the right in their sole discretion to disqualify any individual it finds to be tampering with the raffle process or to be acting in violation of these Official Rules or any other Promotion or in an unsportsmanlike or disruptive manner. Any attempt by any person to deliberately undermine the legitimate operation of the raffle may be a violation of criminal and civil law, and, should such an attempt be made, the MLCF, or EFC, reserve the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law. The MLCF, or EFC's, failure to enforce any term of these Official Rules shall not constitute a waiver of that provision.
13. The Released Parties are not responsible for: (1) any incorrect or inaccurate information, whether caused by raffle purchasers, printing errors or by any of the programming associated with or utilized in the raffle; (2) technical failures of any kind, including, but not limited to malfunctions, interruptions, or disconnections in phone lines or hard/software; (3) unauthorized human intervention in any part of the raffle process; (4) technical or human error which may occur in the administration of the raffle or the processing of raffle ticket purchases; or (5) any injury or damage to persons or property which may be caused, directly or indirectly, in whole or in part, from raffle purchaser's participation in the raffle or receipt or use or misuse of any prize. If for any reason a raffle ticket is confirmed to have been erroneously deleted, lost, or otherwise destroyed or corrupted, a ticket purchaser's sole remedy is another ticket in the raffle, provided that if it is not possible to award another ticket due to discontinuance of the raffle, or any part of it, for any reason, the Fund, at its discretion, may elect to hold a random drawing from among all eligible raffle ticket numbers up to the date of discontinuance for any or all of the prizes offered herein. No more than the stated number of prizes will be awarded. In event that production, technical, seeding, programming or any other reasons cause more than stated
number of prizes as set forth in these Official Rules to be available and/or claimed the Fund reserves the right to award only the stated number of prizes by a random drawing among all legitimate,
un-awarded, eligible prize claims.
14. Except where prohibited, raffle purchasers agree that: (1) any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this raffle any prize awarded shall be resolved individually, without resort to any form of class action, and exclusively by the appropriate Ohio State Court located in Cincinnati, Ohio, U.S.A.; (2) any and all claims, judgments and awards shall be limited to actual out-of-pocket costs incurred, including costs associated with entering this raffle, but in no event attorneys' fees; (3) under no circumstances will raffle ticket purchasers be permitted to obtain awards for, and hereby waives all rights to claim, indirect, punitive, incidental and consequential damages and any other damages, other than for actual out-of-pocket expenses, and any and all rights to have damages multiplied or otherwise increased. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of the entrant and MLCF, or EFC, in connection with the raffle, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of Ohio, U.S.A. without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules (whether of the State of Ohio or any other jurisdiction), which would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of Oho; and (4)by registering, raffle purchaser consents to having their personal information collected by MLCF, and EFC, such as name, address, telephone number and email address. Further, raffle purchaser consents to MLCF, or EFC, occasionally contacting them via email with information regarding this raffle; and they consent to MLCF, or EFC, making their personal contact information (email, phone and address as appropriate) available to Harley-Davidson.


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Young's Literal Translation (YLT) | New International Version (NIV) |
19 Then Thou desirest sacrifices of righteousness, Burnt-offering, and whole burnt-offering, Then they offer bullocks on thine altar! | 19 Then there will be righteous sacrifices, whole burnt offerings to delight you; then bulls will be offered on your altar. |
Young's Literal Translation is in the public domain. (Young's Literal Translation - The Bible Online) | Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NIV) are from THE HOLY BIBLE: NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by Biblica. All rights reserved worldwide. (New International Version Bible Online) |


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Posted on August 15, 2012 at 4:25 PM |
Attorney Laura Mascaro Rotger succeeds Attorney Hon. Geraldine Ferraro
Read Full Post »Posted on August 15, 2012 at 3:40 PM |
LIO head MG says join him in world & local dialogue to end taxes--to put in a negative tax rate.
OPINION, By MG
If you don't share this article with all your e-circle and more ...
Read Full Post »Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:45 AM |
What do Libertarians and those using SMILE/voluntary tools actually do? Volunteers are changing the world: e.g. the gallant Hope & Service to Mankind Foundation in Africa ( http://www.servicetomankindfoundation.org/ ) empowers rural dw...
Read Full Post »Posted on July 25, 2012 at 2:00 AM |
Libertarian-supportive youth such as this election fairness team in Latin America influence attitudes, say peers.
A survey conducted by volunteers of LIO has determined that over 60% of high schoolers in the US, Mexico and Costa Rica believe that a Libertarian President and members of the Supreme Court is inevitable and ...
Read Full Post »Posted on June 27, 2012 at 10:40 AM |
Over 1000 core/10,000 co-activists are being inspired by www.Libertarian-Institute.Info to move policy by targeted dialogue with legislators and officials, and direct democracy to uphold rights says Dr. Swanson. The new 'action think tank' for empowering average citizens working in every country works by inspi...
Read Full Post »Posted on September 6, 2011 at 5:05 PM |
Comedian CK highlights things LIO Libertarians and Fellows helped bring about in the first generation of agressive change. The world is better and enjoys more freedom than ever, but much remains.
EDITORIAL with Ralph Swanson, LIO past Fellows ...
Read Full Post »Posted on April 7, 2011 at 2:27 PM |
Teen Libertarian in public office LIO Activist Charles Peralo meets US New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, who is studying Libertarian ideas.
(This is the first of a series of micro-articles on the Libertarian future by David Nolan-key found...
Read Full Post »Posted on February 22, 2010 at 9:57 AM |
Left: Activists meet local Afghan farmers on mini-banks.
February 22, 2010 --Libertarian Parties have been normalizing operations in promoting Libertarian and Liberal ideas and have begun to define the center. In addition, once controversial concepts, including LIO SMILE agenda concepts, are redefining the mainstream more than ever i...
Read Full Post »Posted on August 18, 2009 at 11:03 AM |
Left: Liberal-Libertarian Carlos Lemos Simmonds, former President of Colombia and author of "The Thief State," held early high-level colloquia on drug and personal rights policy, as LIO advisor and former LIO Advisory Chair, with many Latin and EC leaders. Calling for "common sense for harmless users" he was also famed for risking his life and leading the fight that put major v...
Read Full Post »Posted on July 28, 2007 at 11:20 AM |
Left: Laid-back but determined Spanish Libertarians have revived the Red Liberal-Libertaria, founded by LIO in 1970, as part of the effort. They publish numerous columns and articles, and are working to expand that country's relative drug liberalization, to lower taxes, and raise awareness of things like Libertarian-oriented Austrian Economi...
Read Full Post »Posted on July 20, 2006 at 4:32 PM |
(Photo) Liberals and Libertarians meet in the Phillippines to start new civic think tank in this later 2008 photo, advised by Libertarians from India.
Prague, Czech Republic, July 2006--The myth is that Libertarian-oriented think tanks aren't spreading. Change your paradigm.
Read Full Post »Posted on December 28, 2005 at 11:43 PM |
Austin, Texas, USA--The paradigm is that Libertarianism is about just politics. Think again.
"As a result of the LIO communities project, over 2000 Libertarian and Libertarian-oriented or using communities have been developed and registered since effectively zero in 1976, when the project began."
So says LIO advisor and project co-ordinator Terry Parker, who is preparing a short overview and manual on the subject and himself created a cl...
Read Full Post »Posted on January 17, 2004 at 12:33 PM |
Costa Rican Libertarian Congressman Otto Guevara talks about Libertarianism at local High School. "The first job of a Libertarian Party is to educate, especially on where we're suceeding, and local problem solving activism is also critical," he says. Costa Rica LP, in a country of 4 MM, has 5 people in Congress.
Read Full Post »Posted on August 24, 2003 at 10:10 PM |
LIO Fellow Ronald Reagan appoints Libertarian John McClaughry to public office as a Federal Commissioner. Libertarians are now regularly appointed by Presidents and officials of other parties.
Read Full Post »
Posted on June 16, 2000 at 6:14 PM |
H. Suzman, LIO Advisor, addresses UN. Besides Apartheid, Liberals and Libertarians in South Africa were working on many other issues as well, emblematic of Libertarian initiatives everywhere "A-Z."
The paradigm: Libertarians have a narrow focus and don't work well in issues such as Apartheid or broad bundles ...
Read Full Post »


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Burj Dubai Breaks Record... and Keeps Going
The Burj Dubai realized its "tallest high-rise building in the world" claim on July 21, according to developer Emaar Properties, when the concrete floors were poured and set on the skyscraper's 141st story. At 1,680 feet tall, the still-incomplete tower surpassed the previous height record of 1671 feet, established by Taiwan's Taipei 101, and surges toward an undisclosed height rumored to be 2,300 feet, some 160 stories, when the tower is finished in 2008.
Based on what you have seen and read about this project, how would you grade it? Use the stars below to indicate your assessment, five stars being the highest rating.
Designed by a team of 90 architects at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, and erected by a small army of 6,800 laborers in grueling desert temperatures reaching 120 degrees Fahrenheit, the Burj Dubai achieved its height record just 1,276 days after construction began. Its composite concrete and rebar floors are rising at an average rate of three days per level. But aside from the speed of construction and the building's sheer size, the Burj is "epoch defining" for typifying the "supertall" typology, says Carol Willis, director of The Skyscraper Museum in New York City. Supertall is a category of buildings that soar past 1,250 feet or 80 stories tall.
"What we're seeing in these supertall buildings is a shift in construction type," says Willis, whose museum is featuring a show about the Burj through September. "In the 20th century, the paradigm was an office building built of steel in North America. Now it's mixed-use, and principally residential, built of concrete or composite, and primarily in the Middle East or Asia. It's become essentially the opposite."
The Burj's highest 50 floors will contain office space, while the remaining interior program is devoted to a luxury hotel, on floors one through 20, and penthouse apartments, on floors 20 through 110. Its floor plates will taper from 33,607 square feet, at the base, to 10,788 square feet at the top—half the size of floor plates in the 108-story Sears Tower, which contains nearly the same cubic volume as the Burj. Residential towers require less floor plate area, Willis explains, because they contain fewer elevators than office skyscrapers.
The $1.4 billion Burj tower is the focal point of Emaar's Downtown Burj Dubai, a 500-acre, $20 billion development where the operative word appears to be "big." The complex will feature the world's largest entertainment center and shopping mall—totaling 12 million square feet—an artificial lagoon, and additional residential high-rises. Apartments with Burj tower views, Willis says, are already commanding higher prices than those featuring only desert views.
"When these buildings are really built in the real world they certainly stand for a kind of visionary ambition, but that doesn't exclude a rational blueprint for their economic viability," she says. "As long as there are people that want to live or work with that elevated status or perspective, these buildings will continue to rise into the sky."
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found a new home!
Plenty of my friends are looking
for one too. Find a pet to adopt.
Find a pet to adopt |
My name is sasha!
Facts about sasha
- Breed: German Shepherd Dog
- Color: Black - With Tan, Yellow Or Fawn
- Age: Puppy
- Size: Med. 26-60 lbs (12-27 kg)
- Sex: Female
sasha's Info...
I am already spayed, purebred, up to date with shots, good with kids, good with dogs, and good with cats.
Sasha was born in Jan of 2013. She is so gorgeous and smart. She gets along great with other dogs. Her adoption fee is 400.For more info or an application please email firstname.lastname@example.com or call 828 433 1115 and ask for Teddi. Please be sure to read our shelters info page to better understand our adoption process
Other Pets at Friends for Animals
Why Adoption is a Great Option
sasha, a Hagerstown German Shepherd Dog puppy was adopted! Here's how you can benefit by looking at adoption as an option to buying a German Shepherd Dog for sale in Hagerstown, or seeking a German Shepherd Dog puppy from a breeder in Hagerstown.
- Rescues and shelter volunteers in Hagerstown already know the personality and tendencies of their pets. This means they can match you with the right pet. That will makes it much easier transition to owning a pet for yourself and your new pet.
- On average adoption fees are much less than you'd pay a Hagerstown breeder, or pet store. Plus most often rescue pets have already been to the veterinarian for a check-up, had a round of vaccinations, and are spayed or neutered. That is a lot of savings!
- You will become a hero, and give a needy dog or cat a loving home. In fact, there are even German Shepherd Dog breeders who help with German Shepherd Dog rescue. One puppy or kitten adopted in Hagerstown paves the way for another one to be saved.


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| Home | Advertise with Us | Circulation | Contact Us | About Us | Send a Letter to the Editor |
Let's understand from the beginning that few politicians understand basic economics. Just because they work in Washington does not make them experts about the laws that have been passed or those they vote upon. Politicians do not create jobs or wealth. Don't feel you are the only one who can't make head or tail out of government statistics.
The most misunderstood debate today is about OUTSOURCING. - sending our jobs overseas. From March of 2001 to January of 2004 manufacturing jobs declined by 2.6 million - a loss of 17%. BUT during that same period there was an increase of 17% in worker productivity and only a loss of 3% in jobs. More goods produced with fewer workers. Those jobs did not go overseas - only 300,000 did. The majority were lost to better machines and will never reappear. If employment efficiency had not increased we would have even higher unemployment today.
That is why unions hate new machines. Loss of jobs. If a company wants to remain competitive they must be able to produce at the least cost or you won't have a job. Do you think you would have your job today if your company continued to operate they way they did 5 years ago? Employment continues to increase every quarter even though we lose about 7% or 8% of U.S. jobs every quarter.
Has anyone told you that thousands of foreign companies have opened plants in the U.S? We don't hear about the small ones only the BMWs, Toyotas and Hondas. According to Peter Drucker, management consultant, we import more jobs than we export. Jobs increased by millions after NAFTA and because of NAFTA.
Will these layoffs continue? It depends upon your industry sector. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics there were more mass layoffs (50 or more) during this January than any previous January in history - 239,454 - 1/3rd of those are in manufacturing.
The U.S. is still not producing enough new jobs to keep us even; that requires more than 150,000 new hires each month.
Political demagoguery blames everyone and anyone who is in office. Whoever the president is is the one to blame - rightly or wrongly. Every industrialized country today has a problem with excess production capacity and is doing weird things to keep their workers on the production line. We are not the only ones with job losses. That does not make the guy in the unemployment line feel any better.
It is our productivity edge that has kept as many jobs as we have now or it would be a lot worse. Free trade is the answer and not tariffs on other country's goods. As I have written before tariffs are hidden taxes on the consumer and benefit no one. They have NEVER worked in all of history and make more problems than they solve.
Don't listen to the political rhetoric. You may not like what I have said, but maybe it will start you thinking.


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Ozone, Bielefeld
- Address:
- Bahnhofstr. 22
- Zip code:
- 33602
- City:
- Bielefeld
- Country:
- Germany
- Phone:
- 0521 5573445
- Website:
- http://ozone-sports.com
From tight to regular. Here are the Nudie Jeans fits. Spin them around and compare look and measurements. Visit Fit Guide
We take a great interest in where and how the Nudie Jeans collection is produced. See for yourself in the Production Guide
Your jeans go
where you go.
They live your lifestyle.
They get abrasions
and scars.
And they bleed.
Just like you.


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Run over by the Succubus II
It's still funny (he's now learned how to pronounce Succubus, though his mother is a little freaked out that she "seduces" people, and we learned the real reason why his parents want him out of WoW: because child predators play "mmogrpos"), but I'm more inclined to call "shenanigans" on this one-- the insight on how kids work seems too mature to me somehow.
Then again, as any parent will tell you, kids are insidious at convincing you to give them their way. Fortunately, he closes the epic story with an acknowledgment that school is just around the corner, and that WoW is going to take a back seat to that for a little while. Sounds like the best thing for everyone, buddy.
Filed under: Warlock, Analysis / Opinion, Virtual selves, Blizzard, Humor


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Janice's Picks
(71 Recipes) Created by 2WHEELER
Recipes in this Collection
You'll love these lean turkey burgers packed with spinach and feta. Submitted by LITERB93 Carbs: 7.5g | Fat: 20g | Fiber: 2.9g | Protein: 29.9g | Calories: 320.9
A yummy way to start the day with very little fat and lots of flavor! Submitted by JOJOMKE Carbs: 23.6g | Fat: 0.5g | Fiber: 1.7g | Protein: 3g | Calories: 93.2
Very Good 4.7/5
(6 ratings)
US Marines love these,they are great as below for shipping overseas. You can also add raisins,nuts,or other dried fruit to these but best not to during summer months as it shortens shelf life.Toffee chips are good,can also use chocolate or other flavored chips. Submitted by MOOSIEHE Carbs: 68.4g | Fat: 1.1g | Fiber: 0.4g | Protein: 9g | Calories: 305
Very Good 4.6/5
(5 ratings)
Submitted by BEARZZZZ Carbs: 41.5g | Fat: 10g | Fiber: 5.5g | Protein: 31.4g | Calories: 371.8
Spinach, chicken, and cheese combine for a one-dish dinner. Submitted by SILLY_ME Carbs: 7.5g | Fat: 12.7g | Fiber: 1.1g | Protein: 27.8g | Calories: 256.9
Very Good 4.0/5
(82 ratings)
This is a great tasting spinach and artichoke side dish. Make it even more healthy with fat free mayo and sour cream and a butter substitute. Submitted by TAHLON Carbs: 7g | Fat: 8.3g | Fiber: 1.3g | Protein: 3.3g | Calories: 109.6
Boneless pork chops are drenched in a tasty peanut sauce in one of our favorite easy recipes. Submitted by ONCEMORE2006 Carbs: 7.6g | Fat: 16.2g | Fiber: 1.7g | Protein: 24.3g | Calories: 268.6
Very Good 4.0/5
(64 ratings)
A tempting dish that will delight all who consume it. Carbs: 57.6g | Fat: 7.3g | Fiber: 7.4g | Protein: 6.1g | Calories: 304.1
Very Good 4.1/5
(62 ratings)
Perfect for cold winter nights, this savory soup also boasts an unexpected hint of spice. Submitted by DACQUISTO Carbs: 13g | Fat: 3g | Fiber: 2.2g | Protein: 7.6g | Calories: 102.5
Very Good 4.5/5
(81 ratings)
Tasty Low fat/Low calorie version of the bar room favorite Submitted by ANGIERSJ Carbs: 10g | Fat: 2.4g | Fiber: 1.3g | Protein: 31.6g | Calories: 194.1
Very Good 4.4/5
(72 ratings)
A healthy and delicious alternative to the traditional recipe. Submitted by BARBSHAKESPEARE Carbs: 33.8g | Fat: 7.9g | Fiber: 9.4g | Protein: 17.3g | Calories: 262
(no ratings)
Submitted by 2WHEELER Carbs: 12.9g | Fat: 34.2g | Fiber: 2.8g | Protein: 43.9g | Calories: 566.1
This recipe has been marked private.
These sautéed boneless pork chops with a curried pan sauce make a quick weeknight dinner. Save this recipe! Carbs: 19.9g | Fat: 11.1g | Fiber: 2.2g | Protein: 24.6g | Calories: 274.6
Rich and full of flavor, this dish is at its best when served over rice. Carbs: 37.7g | Fat: 19.9g | Fiber: 9.1g | Protein: 8.8g | Calories: 342.1
Sweet and sour pork takes a trip to the islands! Printed with permission from the American Institute for Cancer Research. Carbs: 22.8g | Fat: 10g | Fiber: 2.4g | Protein: 18.2g | Calories: 246.2
Sauteed sweet peppers dress up plain chicken. Serve on top of a bed of brown rice. Carbs: 14.6g | Fat: 5.2g | Fiber: 4.1g | Protein: 40.9g | Calories: 279.8
Yum! You've probably never had soup like this before, but we bet you'll be coming back for more. Carbs: 22.7g | Fat: 4.3g | Fiber: 4.1g | Protein: 10.1g | Calories: 164.8
Very Good 4.2/5
(75 ratings)
Orange and grapefruit add flavor and vitamin-C to this fiber rich bean salad. Carbs: 33.1g | Fat: 4.5g | Fiber: 10.5g | Protein: 9.1g | Calories: 197.9