Babeled

Over the past week or so, I recently learned that there are plans in place to build an architectural masterpiece in Dubai. Apparently there has been talk surrounding this building for over a year and now after recently presenting the estimated construction cost to the United Arab Emirates. It is looking more and more like these wind powered rotating apartment skyscrapers will be built in Dubai and Moscow. David Fisher, Architect of Dynamic Architecture, estimates that construction of the Dynamic Tower in Dubai will be completed by 2010. There are also talks to eventually construct these buildings in New York and London. Nevertheless, the Dubai project is slated to be the first one of its kind. Already they are advertising that you can reserve an apartment in this rotating tower.

It will also be a stunning landmark for the city, catching the sun as it quietly twists like a monolithic Rubik’s cube.

How It Works?

Construction begins with a concrete central core, containing the plumbing, the elevators, and other utilities. Then each apartment unit, which was pre-fabricated in various locations around the world, is shipped to Dubai and added to the concrete tower. Architect Fisher does this to cut down on construction costs and to make the actual construction more efficient. The Dubai Tower is planned to be 80-stories tall (1,380 feet) and house 200 apartments that are in a constant rotating motion around the central core. In between each floor unit there will be a horizontal wind turbine. There are slated to be at least 79 wind turbines in between the units, each producing an abundance of energy; enough to supply the entire tower and help out the surrounding neighborhood. Also, Dynamic Architecture has plans to place photovoltaic cells on each apartments roof, which will assist in powering the building through solar power. Due to the dynamic motion of each unit, every roof will ultimately see sunlight and this will only add to the self-sufficiency of the skyscraper. You might ask yourself, “Self, is this innovative building safe from natural disasters, like earthquakes?” Well, apparently it is.

Dynamic Architecture, the company building these structures, says that they’re actually safer from earthquakes than normal skyscrapers because each unit is independent and flexibly moves with the wind.

There is one downside though. While the few owners of an entire floor will be able to control the floors movement and pick their view, those that own individual units will be moved through the architects laptop. Thus most of the rotating floors will be controlled by the architect. Somehow this makes me uncomfortable.

What Are the Apartments Like?

As I said before there will be 200 total units attached to the Dynamic Tower. According to Dynamic Architecture, the first 20 floors will be offices, floors 21-35 will be a luxury hotel, and floors 36-70 will be residential villas. The last 10 floors will be luxury villas, which will no doubt host the wealthiest kings and lords.

Apartments will range in size from 124 square meters (1,330 square feet), to Villas of 1,200 square meters (12,900 square feet) complete with a parking space inside the apartment.

You read right, apartments will also be able to house a parking spot. This means that residents will be able to drive their vehicles into the elevator running up and down the central core.

Cost, Finance, & Science

While I am by no means a financial analyst nor an engineer, I thought it would only be proper for me to at least introduce the figures that have been thrown around in regards to the construction and the energy production of the Dynamic Tower. The initial cost is estimated at $700 million. Fisher’s plan to have the apartments pre-fabricated off-site and then shipped to Dubai to be added to the tower is estimated to save at least 10% of normal construction costs. Additionally, each apartment’s cost will range from about $3.7 million to $36 million (about $3000 per square foot).

On the other side of the coin, the tower is expected to produce $7 million of surplus energy per year marking its long-term profitability. According to inventorspot.com and gizmag.com, the wind turbines in between each floor are expected to collectively produce 1,200,000 kilowatts per year. With each turbine producing 300 kWh over the year and with the average family consuming 24,000 kWh annually, there should be a giant amount of surplus energy that can be pumped back into the city’s grid.

My Thoughts

Without a doubt, the undertaking to construct this rotating tower is an architectural marvel. Upon its completion it will most likely become the 10th Wonder of the World. It will definitely be an architectural feat that rivals the building of the Great Pyramids, relatively speaking of course. The future is here and it seems as though Dubai is playing host to all creative innovation and technology.

. . . each floor rotates independently at different speeds, resulting in a unique and ever evolving structure that introduces a fourth dimension to architecture, Time.

While I am by no means an avid supporter of wind power or solar power, as I think nuclear is the best way to produce energy, I can’t help but think that this tower is a really cool technological achievement. I mean this is the stuff that Sci-Fi books and movies is all about. Perhaps Dubai will be the first futuristic city in the world, kind of like machine city, Zero-One, from the Matrix. Maybe one day, Dubai will serve as the capital to the world. Maybe it will be the home of the future space federation. Regardless of political or financial motives, Dubai is quickly bringing the future to the present.

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That’s right all you change mongers, unificators, and yes-we-canadians.  Barack Obama will divide our country even further.  He will do it right under your liberal noses.

How?

His campaign claims he will erase hatred and bigotry yet most of his supporters call John McCain “Politics as Usual” simply because he is a wealthy, elderly, white male.  Well to me that sounds like racism, ageism, sexism, and class warefare all bundled up in one convenient package with big ears and a slick tounge.

His biggest proponents claim he will unify the country.  I cannot imagine a more idiotic statement.  Obama is the most Liberal candidate to win the Democratic nomination in my lifetime.  How is a man who makes Hillary Clinton and Ted Kennedy look like conservatives supposed to unite the country?  In fact, if you look closely at his policy, he is even further to the left than everyone’s favorite villain, Bush, is to the right.  So how will this mend the tear between the parties?  It will serve just the opposite effect of increasing the divide between left and right.  If one candidate actually has a chance at unifying the country it is the extremely moderate McCain who is only a stone’s throw away from a Democrat in terms of policy and has been the single most outspoken critic of the Bush Administration on that side of the aisle since the 2000 primaries.

I’m sorry Obamacons, but your boy is only another Bush riding a Donkey instead of an Elephant and you can’t even see it coming - No you can’t.

~Man Overboard

Popularity: 7% [?]

There was an excellent comment left by Ken Bouley a while back when I babeled on the difference between U.S. and European gas prices that got me thinking: How much money are the various governmental agencies in the U.S. collecting in tax revenues from petroleum-related activities?  While there are still angles and pieces to this equation that I have not yet drawn conclusions, there is certainly enough enlightening information to share.  Let us begin with the tax receipts that are gleaned directly from income taxes on American oil companies and the per gallon Excise tax levied at the pump.

Dollars in thousands

The Big Three U.S. Oil Companies (ExxonMobil, Chevron, ConocoPhillips) account for a combined $54.7 billion in income taxes paid to the government.  There were nine other U.S. oil companies for which I was able to find financial information, and those account for the Income Tax - Other Oil Companies category at $11.1 billion.  The Gasoline Taxes at $4 per gallon is calculated using the same estimate from the U.S. versus European Gas Prices blog.  The per gallon average tax rate of $0.44 cents is multiplied by the estimated annual comsumption of gasoline in the U.S.  Ultimately, there are $130.1 billion in income taxes and excise taxes collected directly from petroleum and gasoline operations.  Note: this excludes the taxes levied on your natural gas bills, electricity, and the portion of Individual Income taxes that go to providing government vehicles with gasoline and buildings with natural gas.  It also excludes payroll taxes collected from U.S. citizens who work for oil companies.  Either way, $130.1 billion collected in gasoline and other petroleum taxes is a daunting number, but what does it mean in the context of the U.S. government’s total tax receipts picture?

Dollars in thousands

The taxes collected by the oil companies ($65.9 billion) accounts for 17.8% of all Corporate Income Tax collected by the U.S. government in 2007.  Twelve companies out of the countless thousands in the U.S. account for almost one-fifth (1/5) of the total income taxes paid by all Corporations.  The estimated amount of excise taxes collected ($0.44 per gallon in your pump price) at $64.2 billion accounts for approximately 98% of all excise taxes collected.  Examples of other excise taxes are: taxes levied on alcohol, tobacco, and firearms.  In the big picture of total tax receipts, the $130.1 billion described above accounts for 5.1% of all taxes collected by the U.S. government.  Now, how are these funds being appropriated by the government?

Dollars in thousands

The U.S. Federal Government is operating at a deficit, as shown above, but the deficit figure displayed may not be the official figure because of adjustments the IRS includes such as uncollected taxes which are not accounted for in this analysis as that is an immaterial issue for this discussion.  The total funding dispersed to Transportation and Energy equals $100.4 billion in 2007.  The direct taxes received from petroleum activities in 2007 were $130.1 billion.  This leaves a gap of over $29 billion between taxes collected and what is appropriated to government activities directly related those taxes.  The $29 billion is going to cover losses on other government budget items.  This is, of course, how most corporations work as well: you cover your budget overages in some areas with budget surpluses in other areas.

However, this does not account for the quality of the decision to have a surplus in any one area.  The reason that there is a surplus in the transportation spending versus the taxes collected relating to it, is because there are a series of decisions made to not repair or upgrade certain sections of the infrastructure.  So, the surplus is being created from a lack of funding for construction that keeps roadways structurally safe.

There will be more analysis to come, this was an intial look at the tax-picture of gasoline and oil in the U.S.  It is very interesting that the government has been complaining about big oil’s profits recently, especially since they are getting over $65 billion in income tax revenue from their operations.  The Excise tax is being bolstered significantly as well because it is a percentage of the price at the pump.  That means the bigger the price tag at the pump, the higher the per gallon excise tax as well.  Somehow I doubt the government is really concerned about the increased petroleum prices because they are profiting on a scale even larger than the oil companies.

Popularity: 7% [?]

“They were fighting for the last 2000 years, they can’t go on for more long” Adam Sandler’s mom, in the Zohan (www.dontmesswiththezohan.com) while the movie producer presents a happy-ending, the reality of current events does not. It seems like somebody, somewhere (actually, here) saw the danger of peace, and took some actions to destroy it. Here are only few examples from this week in Middle-East politics:

On Friday, 20 June, the New York Times reported that the Israeli Air Force exercised a drill which demonstrated a large attack on Iran. Citing unidentified American officials, it has approved that more than 100 Israeli F-16 and F-15 fighters took part in the maneuvers over the eastern Mediterranean and Greece in the first week of June. A Pentagon official who the Times said was briefed on the exercise said one goal was to practice flight tactics, aerial refueling and other details of a possible strike against Iran’s nuclear installations and long-range conventional missiles. The second goal was to let everybody know; Israel is ready.

However, according to www.Haaretz.com Israel is actually far from attacking Iran.

The decision to attack Iran to foil its nuclear program is from Israel’s point of view a last resort, and the chances of it happening depend on many variables,

claims Yossi Melman, a defense correspondent. Economists at the UN and other US officials were also to blame Israel for the current oil increase $134.7 a barrel, as per Friday.

In the meantime, inside Israel and Gaza territories, several non-direct talks with the Hamas militant group, almost struck a deal for ceasefire between the two parties. In fact, there is an Egyptian-mediated truce in Gaza that took effect Thursday, June 19^th. The deal aims to halt daily Palestinian rocket attacks against southern Israeli towns and communities and Israeli counter-raids and airstrikes against Hamas militants in Gaza. However, Hamas leader Halad Mishael said from Lebanon, that this truce still gives the right for his ‘soldiers’ to smuggle weapon to Gaza from Egypt and plan attack on Israeli target abroad.

This week there was also further development in negotiation the Prisoner-of-War issue (both with the Hamas and with Hezbollah). Both sides used European and Egyptian officials to exchange messages and demands. At this point there seems to be no significant change in the positions of Israel and Hamas. The radical Islamic group is demanding the release of at least 450 prisoners, most believed to be responsible for the murder of Israelis. Israel agreed to release only 70 on this list.

In Lebanon, Mr. Fouad Seniora, the head of the government who messed up last month with Hezbollah, has succeeded in disturbing the head of this brutal terrorist group by refusing to resign. Mr. Seniroa rejected any attempt to give up the majority of governmental seats to the Hezbollah delegates and currently faces ultimatum from the Hezbollah leader, Shiek Nassrallah.

Need some more? Iranian officials said this weekend that if Syria would hold direct talks with Israel, they, (the Iranian) will consider attacking Israel embassies abroad. While celebrating the “end of the Bush era” Iran’s defense minister also has warned of a “painful response” if Israel attacks it.

For some people it might be daily news from other parts of the globe. But for others, who have strong ties to these places and dare to dream of better future, it’s a long nightmare. I know that it might dangerous, but I am not so pessimistic (I also know that being too optimistic could invite hospitalization). So I read the paper and try to criticize myself with other pieces of the news. Above all, I want to believe that in those nations, a quite, educated youth is growing up with different plans for the future. Why think about the bad staff all time. It’s time to consider the risk of peace…

Popularity: 4% [?]

Let me start by saying it is inevitable.  Look at any web based news site right this very moment and you will undoubtedly see 5 headlines featuring the name Obama and if you are lucky a single headline featuring John McCain.  With so much painfully biased media coverage and the average Americans propensity for stupidity and Sheep-like tendencies it is no surprise to me that the political equivalent of the Backstreet Boys is a lock to become Commander in Chief of their largest arsenal in the history of mankind and the leader of the free world.

What will be the result?

As spoken in context of the introduction to an episode of The Twilight Zone - Picture if you will….

A man elected President of the United States despite a political record that is completely unknown to the majority of those who cast their vote in his favor.

American troops are instantly withdrawn from Iraq.  American military morale reaches its lowest point since the fall of Saigon - at best.  Radical Islam rejoices.

Those Iraqi’s who stood by American troops are slaughtered by the radical Islamists who now control the country.  Radical Islam rejoices.

Iranian troops, undeterred by the American president who has already promised to not use his military might against them, pour across the border and immediately subjugate the Sunni minority and massacre the Kurds in the North of the country who are denied refuge in their only option for escape, Turkey.  Radical Islam rejoices.

Extremists in Saudi Arabia, emboldened by the Iranian action, riot and overthrow the Saudi monarchy and adopt a Theocratic Muslim government friendly to the newly revitalized Persian Muslim Empire.  Radical Islam rejoices.

What little progress made in Israel is now gone as the Iranian Iatolas now control over 50% of the world’s oil and thus increase funding to Hezbollah and Hamas by orders of magnitude thus increasing their ability to wage war against Israel.  Radical Islam rejoices.

Moderate Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas is assassinated and his Fatah government is overthrown by Hammas militants who are hell bent on Israel’s destruction and not at all interested in peace with the Jewish nation.  Radical Islam rejoices.

Now for the Economy

National, government run healthcare is enacted. Taxes are raised.

If you borrowed more money than you could pay in a mortgage payment the government hands you a check and rewards you for your idiotic investment.  Taxes are raised.

The flow of illegal immigrants across the US border swells as Obama immediately halts construction of the border wall and refuses to take any action against illegal immigrants.  This new influx is also given access to free healthcare and continues to pay no taxes in America.  Taxes are raised.

Oil Companies are penalized for making profits.  This cost is not placed on the shoulders of the corporations but instead is passed on to the consumers in the form of price increases to a gallon of gas that now costs well over $10.00 per gallon thanks to the conditions in the Middle East.

Obama refuses to drill in ANWAR, and refuse to drill off the coast of Florida even though China and even Vietnam now do.  Gasoline now costs $12.00 per gallon.

Obama grants his campaign promise of making a college education every American’s “birth right.”  Taxes are raised.

If you make over $250,000 you are penalized for your success.  Taxes are raised.

Nothing what so ever is done about Social Security for another four years.  Taxes are raised.

Companies begin layoffs as they are unable to meet the out of control payroll taxes and maintain a successful business in light of price increases.  Unemployment reaches its highest level since the great depression. These unemployed people are now a burden on the welfare system.  Taxes are raised.

End result:

Radical Islam declares victory in the war against America.  AK-47s around the world are fired into the air.

Americans now pay $20.00 for a gallon of gas and 60% of their salaries to income taxes.

Bush is blamed.

And now I batten down the hatches and brace for the inevitable storm of comments brewing on the horizon at the hands of the Liberal Hoard that runs a racket on the internet in a manner reminiscent of La Cosa Nostra.  “Bring ‘em on” - George W. Bush

~Man Overboard

Popularity: 21% [?]

The Celtic’s won tonight in an outstanding game and an exclusive sport performance, here in the Garden Park, Boston. I don’t like to say it too often but I told you; It’s the Boston time!

Great game, great being in Boston and great job holding the lead all during the game. With 131 points for the Celtics vs. the 93 scored by the Lakers, I thought its couldn’t get better. The T-Shirt booth in Coply Mall was sold out earlier tonight of the Beat LA T-shirts, and conference attendees in the Hynes Convention Center couldn’t get enough of them. People wore a green tie, regardless of their entire appearance.

Go Green, I am heading to the bar…

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It is time. Frankly it is long overdue. We are branching out and spreading like some kind of unwanted disease you might have acquired on a night you’d rather forget. Babeled now has a group on Facebook. Aptly named, Babelers, this group is open to anyone and we encourage anyway who suffers from the misfortune of coming to this blog to join.

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Long gone are the days of the vision quest.

No more do we mark the transitions of life by sending our loved ones unprepared into the wilderness. No more do we get the opportunity to take on a wolf, mano a mano. I’d be down. I’d put that wolf in a headlock till it called me daddy.

But even if I have the opportunity to go on a vision quest, it sadly would be of my own accord. No more are these awesome experiences built in to the fabric of our society. What then is an American left to do when they need to mark a significant moment in their life?

GET F*CKED UP!!!

That’s just the way it is around these parts. When we want to mark stages of our life we drink alcohol. Managing to make it to the bathroom without puking in public is the new quest. And the visions will come if you keep drinking for enough years - its called Delirium Tremens.

Image courtesy of Youthink.

Popularity: 7% [?]

This past Tuesday night Barack Obama received the Democratic party’s nomination for President and when he walked up onto the stage he gave his wife, Michelle, a “fist bump”. Already there is a ton of buzz in the air from media outlets and various blogsites. In what was an unorthodox move, for any political figure, Obama showed the public how he doesn’t put on an act to be too prim and proper. He showed that at the end of the day, he likes to be silly with his wife and be hip at the same time.

There is no doubt that the “fist bump” was intentional and planned as they both looked directly into each other’s eyes, after the ‘usual’ hug routine, and gave each other a “pound”. Obama also apparently gave her a little pat on the butt, something that Clinton can at least respect. Nevertheless, the “pound” was the image that was taken away from the night. By giving his wife the “pound” Obama sent a message to all that he is young, fresh, and ready to take on the world. In what could have been a negative media frenzy over the “fist bump”, Obama has gained more positive feedback from the people and the media. He did something that could have been perceived poorly and now he is just reminding the voters of his humility and his sincere desire to do things differently.

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This year Major League Baseball is witnessing a surge of young talented ball players that remind fans of the mid-90’s when greats like Jeter and A-Rod were phenomenal rookies. Baseball has been in one of its darkest hours the past couple of years due to the “steroid whirlwind” that unfolded resulting in government prodding and indictments. Nevertheless, “The Show Must Go On” and baseball adjusted to steroid-less homers and gave way to young talented players with speed and power.

Slowly as the steroid era is disappearing, baseball has seen the likes of young All-Stars like Hanley Ramirez, B.J. Upton, Jacoby Ellsbury, and Josh Hamilton excel on the Major League level.

Hanley Ramirez - In 2007, he stole 51 bases (for the second year in a row!) and hit 29 home runs. He scored 125 runs and had over 200 hits! He will turn 25 this December.

B.J. Upton - In 129 games in 2007, Upton smashed 24 homers, hit 25 doubles, stole 22 bases (he has 18 already this year), had 82 RBI, scored 86 runs . . . and he did all of this on the Tampa Bay Rays. He is having a better season than last year already and he will turn 24 this August.

Jacoby Ellsbury - In what is his first full year as the starting center fielder for the Boston Red Sox, Ellsbury has rekindled the Johnny Damon days with his speed and contact hitting. Ellsbury is on pace to steal over 70 bases (he has 28 already) and snag over 200 hits (he has 51 so far). He is 24 years old.

Josh Hamilton - As the everyday center fielder for the hot hitting Texas Rangers this year, Josh has excelled in the hitting department with his robust 67 RBI and 80 hits thus far. At the “ripe old age” of 27, he is not as young as others, but in his first full year in center Josh is making waves.

There are other young offensive talented players out there, such as Adrian Gonzalez and Ryan Braun. The newest addition to this list is none other than the highly anticipated and touted Jay Bruce, CF for the Cincinnati Reds. As a top prospect in the minors, Bruce quickly moved into Triple-A and was called up on May 27th. In his eight games as a starter, Bruce has had 16 hits, 3 homers, 12 runs scored, 7 RBI, 7 walks, and 2 stolen bases. I know I could be ‘jumping the gun’, but I am fairly confident that Bruce will be a baseball star far a long time. Oh yeah, he is 21 years old.

With players like these entering the MLB, the fans get a nice break from the hoopla, that is the “steroid whirlwind”, and can watch the games in peace. That is, at least, until Roger Clemens gets found guilty of perjury.

Popularity: 7% [?]