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Topic: A timely gesture following Hurricane Charley
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Jingles
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 3322
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posted 15 August 2004 06:04 PM
That's right. There is no alternative to wood frame construction. None whatsoever. Don't even try to think of something stronger, less wastefull, and safer than rot-prone, insect-infested firewood. 2 x 4s may be the mainstay, but that is only because of their cheapness, and because of the gutlessness of municiple governments to change building codes lest they infuriate the developers. In earthquake-prone areas, builders must use certain materials and certain structural adaptations in order to meet code and be earthquake-proof. But not in areas prone to hurricane or tornadoes? I guess you think concrete can't withstand the wind.
From: At the Delta of the Alpha and the Omega | Registered: Nov 2002
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Jughead
rabble-rouser
Babbler # 5547
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posted 15 August 2004 11:47 PM
quote: Originally posted by JamesR: As for the truckloads of donated lumber, they would never get across the border. Most of the reconstruction will be insurance funded, and you ca bet that the U.S. building material giants are already licking their chops at the inflated prices and increased profits attributable to "unforeseen demand". As for the poor uninsured and destitute, you don't think Dubya's gonna let anyone dilute this golden opportunity to influence a key battleground state with very generous federal disaster relief, do you ?
Actually, this is the main reason I characterized the idea as "crass". It's pretty clear that some people who would stand to profit from the disaster would get uppity about freebies from soviet canuckistan. And as for home-builders tagging along, US border guards have been known to refuse entry to, as one example, a guy who was taking his tools down to the states to fix his mom's plumbing. (He woulda been stealing work from a yank.) Then again, sometimes "gestures" like this really do help people out and really do create lasting ties. Didn't Boston pretty much rebuild Halifax after the Halifax explosion?
From: uhuh | Registered: Apr 2004
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