I think it is pretty simple. If Comcast was great for customers, gave them the fastest internet possible, for a reasonable price, no one would have an objection to this. The problem is Comcast is horrible and is run by people who seek to maximize profit over delivering a superior product.

In all honesty I'm not sure that I can agree with 'investing in education.' I already know too many people with college degrees saddled with huge amounts of debt working part-time at starbucks. I strongly believe there is an education bubble as it exists currently. If we did have extra money (which we don't) I would…

I don't know how giving the money to the government would help us at all. It isn't like it is smart with money either. It would make a marginal difference in revenue, as most of the tax revenue is collected on the much broader back of the middle class.

Napkin math, but taking a pretty typical 3' horizontal shift over a rough height of 1500' (225 West 57th street). you are looking at max 1/16" of delta y. So your slope would be less than perceptible, about 1/48"/12", much < 1%.

Oscillation is not as much of a factor, as horizontal movement is usually a factor of sustained wind loads, with occasional gusts. Keep in mind also that although there are literally tons of horizontal force acting on the side of a building, it is still quite heavy and difficult to move horizontally. You also have a…

a time when the department store was a pinnacle of high style and technology.

cotd

Also no Revit component! only sketchup! boooooo!

I'm crying foul until I see some STC ratings and a product spec sheet. We do acoustical panels all the time, and they are made of very similar materials to these, but are a great deal thicker. They also only tend to absorb sound to prevent reflectance, not transmission on one side.

If you really want cheaper, I'd say buy 5/8" gyp board and fur out your wall. (The entire thing.) Stick batts in it anything. If you own the building hire an architect, they can help you find ways to retrofit it.

I don't understand your first point.

At a standard 4 corner intersection you would need at least 3 of these, unless they span diagonally.

worst part is, this is probably one of the better pomo buildings....

Well let's start here:

Accessibility standards are not building codes, in the US. They are part of the Justice Department, and in some states, like Texas, are administered as a separate code from the IBC, International Building Code. The JD history is really due to preventing civil rights violations for the disabled, such as giving them…

really? That might actually be some what close to conforming. What is the wall between the garage and bedrooms made of? I assume 2x4 @ 16" o.c. w/ 1/2" gyp. bd. on both sides?

Fire / CO poisoning while asleep are the biggest concerns. I would recommend at the least an interconnected alarm system. (There are pretty cheap wireless ones from kiddie now) plus CO detectors in the bedrooms. Is it sprinklered? Also, cut a second egress from the bedrooms, e.g. a window or some sort.

I hate to be that guy, but you being proud of this is like being proud that you drink and drive. You are creating a dangerous situation, one for which you are liable. The majority of building and fire codes have been crafted over time due to ACUTAL DEATHS not perceived ones. And I think you'll be facing more than a…

Let's list them together shall we?

Kelsey, I think you should differentiate between Building Codes (Laws) and Zoning Codes. Building codes, almost exclusively deal with building a building safely, e.g. required fire separation, structural stability, etc. and SHOULD NEVER be violated. Zoning codes however are almost always used to protect property…