Making Money on a Rainy Day

Today, on my weekly radio show, we explore ways to save water while finding ways to cash in on tax rebates and protecting your property from a flood. Flooding can be prevented with proper drainage.

There are ways to control water damage. We need to work around the natural water cycle while collecting pond water, storm water, and ground water that can easily be lost through the sewer if not collected and redistributed intellegently. This show shares some great ideas to be proactive about rain water retention while being a conservative as possible.

If you miss the show live at 5:30 pm EST on Monday, March 15, 2010, no problem. You can always download it on your ipod as a podcast from

"Click Here to Make Money on Rainy Days"


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Will Haiti or Chile Type of Earthquakes Happen in US?

What is the probability that one of the four corners of USA lower 48 falling off into the ocean?

“Devastating” is a word that is pale to the reality of the horror that Haiti and Chile continues to suffer after their recent major earthquakes.

We have seen families torn apart, local businesses and government coming to a standstill, and charitable groups and church missionaries beating even our own government at being the first at the scene of the calamities - especially in Haiti. We have also found evidences in both Haiti and Chile of how buildings should not be built in areas that are prone to have major earthquakes.

Go to my Vlog to see a very good demonstration about how we can build building to withstand earthquakes at Video of Earthquake Proof Buildings

It is not a surprise to find that the west coast of USA is more prone to have earthquakes than the other states in the continuous 48 states. Here is a map that shows how the Tectonic plate in the Pacific Ocean has a large encompassing rim of earthquakes that have happened in just the last day or week. Notice the red dot in Chile. That is the one that just happened this week.



Here is the map that shows the probability of NYC having a 5.0 scale earthquake or higher in the next 50 years. It shows that we have a slim chance, but it is not very likely. So, corporations may continue to move out of NJ and NY because of the high cost of living and the unfriendly tax burden, but the threat of earthquakes will not be much of a consideration for people who might otherwise choose to move out of the state.



Fort Myers, Florida is also does not need to worry about earthquakes affecting their security.



On the other hand, Seattle, Washington seems to be in a high risk area for earthquakes expected to occur in the next 50 years. The colorful map is showing the highly increased probablity of earthquake activity.



And, it is no surprise that Los Angeles, California is also in a high risk area. Here is the map of the City of Angles area that shows a high probability of 5.0 scale or higher earthquakes in the next 50 years. Here, the map has a lot more colors. Hence, more earthquakes.




What is the likelihood that Hawaii and Alaska to suffer an earthquake? Well, it looks like they already had several in the last week. Perhaps, these were not as big a scale 5, but they are in the path of the shifting Pacific plates.

So, for me, I think that I might keep vacationing in Ft. Myers, Florida to keep my feet more firmly on the ground. (Yea, I know, I will need to look out for hurricanes in that area, but all places of paradises on earth have some challenges.

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I Need Your Opinion

"I always wanted to become an architect, but...."

I can't tell you how many times I have heard people tell me this throughout the years.

There is now a way you can live your dream and design anything that you want, wherever you want, and see your dream drawn up into reality. You might even want to take it the next step and get it built. It is all up to you. In order for me to design an experience of a lifetime for you, I need your input on some things.

Please give me your opinions by clicking on these words...
Design an Experience of a Lifetime

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Ten Money Making Advantages of Sustainable Design

At the request of the Environment and Public Works Committee of the U.S. Senate, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) came up with 10 Advantages of Sustainable Design. Their publication was titled, “Making the Business Case for High Performance Buildings.” Here are the 10 things that they listed:

1. Higher up-front costs (if any) for high performance green buildings can be recovered.
2. Integrated design lowers ongoing operating costs.
3. Better buildings equate to higher employee productivity.
4. New technologies enhance occupant health and well-being.
5. Healthier buildings can reduce liability.
6. Tenants’ costs can be significantly reduced.
7. Property value will increase.
8. Many financial incentive programs are available.
9. Communities will notice a developer’s efforts.
10. Using best practices yields more predictable results.

There have been studies that indicate and measured an increased worker productivity of up to 26 percent in buildings with high indoor environmental quality. In fact, retail sales have been shown to increase by up to 40 percent when natural daylight is brought into the sales areas.

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Top Places to See Great Architecture

Whether you are planning to have a "Stay-Cation" in your own neck of the woods or maybe you are a more adventurous person that wants to tour distant lands, I found a web site that lists some really great spots to see.

Use this list to plan your next time off and enjoy the "Experience" of being in the midst of great architecture.

Here is the link:
http://www.latimes.com/travel/la-tr-sf31-2010jan31-pg,0,6364853.photogallery

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How Haiti Earthquakes Destroyed Buildings

Check out the video above to see the reason why the earthquakes in Haiti caused so much devistation. You can also view this video at my new vlog at

http://www.YouTube.com/LarryLaneTV

Listen to the podcast at http://www.blogtalkradio.com/LaneArchitecture to hear more reasons why this tragedy happened and how we can help prevent it from happening again in the future - anywhere!

I also share a story about how a man in the USA made a special trip to Haiti to personally save the life of one Haitian man that once saved this American only 5 years earlier.

See you there at

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/lanearchitecture/2010/01/25/tragedy-in-haiti-also-shares-blessings

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How is NYC Overcoming the Recession?

Mike Bloomberg gave his State of the City (NYC) Address today. He is doing a good job at bringing the City into the new technologically savvy world. In his address, he covered four very key points. They were:

1. How can we help those who’ve been hit hardest by these tough times?
o To help those about to lose their homes to foreclosure, his administration is implementing some things that no other city in the nation has done. He is creating credit unions for home owners to get more favorable loans, creating checking accounts that have no minimum balance penalties or hidden fees, and giving grants to home owners so they can qualify to refinance their mortgages.
o The City will also be giving out bracelets with GPS devices to families with disabled family members. This is to protect them from getting lost and hurt.

2. How can we make it easier to open and grow small businesses?
o To help open and grow small businesses, his administration is making it easier for businesses to start up with less red tape. This can save entrepreneurs three months of waiting, allow hiring to begin 3 months earlier, and put 3 extra months of income into their businesses.

3. How can we connect Black and Hispanic young people to the opportunities and support that can lead them to success?
o To help minorities, they are supporting youth risk centers that help young teens learn new trades and learn how to be better parents of their newborns.

4. How do we find new ways to stretch every dollar to the limit?
o To stretch every dollar to the limit, he already has put into place a 311 call center where New Yorkers can call in to find out information about where they can receive certain services. Now, he is expanding this by creating on point of contact where people can register, fill out, and file certain forms that would normally require people to go to many different locations and stand in many different lines to get the same things accomplished. It would be really great if he could allow architects to file on-line their drawings and filing documents instead of needing to hire expediters to stand in lines at the New York City Department of Buildings to meet with plan examiners and other municipal officials.

Mayor Bloomberg referred the citizens of NYC as customers of the City. He said that in this global high tech world, it is getting more challenging for cities to keep their citizens “customers” from moving out. He wants to improve customer services so people will not want to leave NYC.

In a nut shell, here is a concluding quote from his address:
"The spirit of innovation and enterprise that fuels the Big Apps competition is encoded in the very DNA of this City. And it's that spirit that gives me confidence we can meet all the challenges we face, including those highlighted by our four questions: helping struggling New Yorkers find jobs and financial security, helping small business owners open their doors, helping our most troubled, at-risk young people build their futures, and the future of our City. And helping City government provide better service - at lower costs.”

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