The Shard of Glass London Skyscraper

Shard of Glass

First Published Date: Feb 3, 2011

It may not be the tallest building in the world, in fact it is less than half the height of the tallest building in the world, but the Shard of Glass, also known as Shard London Bridge, is a truly beautiful building.

Currently under construction in London, England, this skyscraper is scheduled to be finished in 2012 for the Summer Olympics in London. Upon its completion, it will become the 45th tallest building in the world, the second-tallest freestanding structure in the United Kingdom after the Emley Moor Transmitting Station and the tallest building in the European Union.

The tower will stand 1,017 feet, or 310 meters and have 72 floors. In addition, there will be an additional 15 radiator floors that sit on the roof.

One of the more interesting factors about this building, and its defining characteristic, is the fact that it has an irregular triangular shape. As well, the building is completely covered in glass, which is where the name Shard of Glass comes from.

The skyscraper, which will have an open-air observation deck on the top of the 72nd floor, was designed by noted architect Renzo Piano who considers the slender form of the skyscraper a positive addition ot the skyline of London.

Piano created the unique angles of the Shard of Glass so that it will reflect light and the changing patterns in the sky, depending on the time of day, year and season.

The public viewing gallery on the top is expected to draw over two million people per year. The skyscraper, along with its smaller companion building known as London Bridge Place, are part of a revitalization project for the surrounding area, which also includes a museum, a concours and a public piazza.

Upon its completion, it will surpass the Frankfurt Commerzbank Tower, which is currently the tallest building in the European Union, and has been since 1997. It was hoped that the Shard of Glass would also be the tallest building in Europe, taking into account cities in Russia including Moscow, but this may not be the case. The Triumph-Palace and Naberezhnaya Tower have both been completed and both are taller than the Shard of Glass. Another building in Moscow, the Mercury City Tower, will also be taller than the Shard of Glass when it is completed.

Needless to say, the Shard of Glass will be the tallest building in the European Union but not for long. It is expected that the Hermitage Plaza, which will rise to 323 metres, will become the tallest building in the European Union when it is completed in France in 2016.

Due to the collapse of the World Trade Center in 2001, a complete re-evaluation was done on tall structures across the planet and the Shard of Glass is among the first in the United Kingdom to be built using the US National Institute of Standards and Technology report on the WTC collapse, meaning it will withstand the most difficult conditions nature and man can put up against it.

Myrtle Beach Vacations, Retirement and Real Estate

Just Completed Myrtle Beach Trip

First Published Date : May 21, 2016

Just returned from Myrtle Beach about two weeks ago. Today, I am posting my Myrtle Beach short video film and will talk about a few things based on my experience.

Lots of Canadian snowbirds go to Florida every year to spend the winter and they own properties in Florida as well. However, I never hear that much about Myrtle Beach. After visiting Myrtle Beach, I am convinced that Myrtle Beach maybe a better place than Florida to go on vacation, escape the harsh Canadian winter, and buy properties.

For those who want to go for vacations, the reason I like it better than Florida is because of its shorter distance (only one and a half hour flight from Toronto) and the sort of people I have seen are mainly family-oriented beach/ocean loving people. Florida is nice; though you possibly will come across lots of party lovers and it can be overcrowded as well. Of course, it depends on where you go and different places may have different appeal.

For the same reasons I mentioned above, snowbirds will find more peaceful neighbourhoods in Myrtle Beach and can spend quality retirement time in isolation if you live little bit off the main city core. The main beaches surrounding the city centre can be crowded in the summer, but it’s still a lot less crowded than big beach attractions in Florida.

Another thing that astonished me was the low value of real estate properties. I have seen many one bedroom ocean front condos, literally in front of the ocean and with a 30-second walk to the beach, going for $60,000 to $100,000. This is hard for someone like me who lives in downtown Toronto to believe, as in my area a tiny one bedroom lake-view condo would start at $400,000.

If I plan to spend my winter in retirement in a warm location, Myrtle Beach will definitely be on my list to consider. And for going on a vacation again? I will consider that again as I really liked Myrtle Beach and wouldn’t mind going back again.

What To Expect From Your Lawyer When Buying A Condo?

What Does A Condo Lawyer Do?

First Published Date: Nov 14, 2010

When you are buying a condo, you need to have a lawyer because they will help you get through all the complicated parts of the condo purchasing process, helping you make sure you get exactly what you want when you buy a home.

The lawyer is going to talk to you about several things that will be of interest to you, many of which you may not know about. Knowing these things will help ensure you get what you want out of your purchase.

HST is something that many people do not understand, nor like. It is also something to consider when you are buying a condo. There is an HST Rebate that is meant to give you money back on large purchases like a house, but if you don’t know how to file for this rebate, you could lose out big time. A condo lawyer can help you get the rebate, which will help you pay for that new condo of yours.

The contract can be very complicated and you may feel as though it is written in a different language. A condo lawyer is going to be able to go over that contract with you and give you help in understanding what is being said in the contract. One of the biggest mistakes that people make when they are buying a house or a condo is they just buy the condo and sign the contract without reading it. However, did you know about things like caps? Just like a salary cap in the NHL, a cap on fees keeps you from paying too much. Cap costs have gone up by nine times in ten years, but if you just sign a condo contract without having a lawyer look at it first, you could end up paying as much as $10,000 more than what you needed to, just in closing cap costs like gas hook ups.

There are going to be several fees associated with your purchase and developers love these fees because it is essentially free money for them. As a result, if you don’t read the condo contract properly, you could end up paying thousands in useless and unwanted fees. A condo lawyer knows what developers try to do and they know how to keep you from paying for fees. Everything from purchase fees to fees on utility hookups are going to be charged, and you don’t want that to happen. Have the lawyer look over the contract carefully because the savings you get from not paying too much for your condo will offset the amount you pay for a lawyer immensely.

Here are a few things you can expect from a lawyer:

– Explain, prepare and register all related legal documents, such as purchase contract, title, HST rebate etc.
– Scrutinize that there are no liens, easements, covenants, unpaid taxes, unpaid utilities etc against the condo.
– Arrange title insurance protection, review all the closing papers you need to sign, and ensure your registered
ownership does not make you liable for more than what you have accepted.
-  Explain and advice you on your rights, obligations and protect your interests in case of a dispute.
– Assist you to close the transaction through province’s electronic registration system.

Before you hire a condo lawyer, you should talk with friends and families to find out any lawyers they have used and whether or not you should need one. You can also talk to your realtor but it is better to get a lawyer who is not affiliated with a realty agency. Finding a good condo lawyer will ensure you do not pay too much and you get exactly what you paid for.

Is The American Express Gold Rewards Credit Card A Good Hybrid Card? .

How Good Are Hybrid Cards?

First Published Date: May 28, 2016

A common question everyone asks is how the American Express Gold Rewards Card holds up when compared to other hybrid credit cards. Today, I will look at a few points you should consider before pledging your allegiance to any hybrid credit cards.

Because of many big rewards sites and TV ads promoting the Amex Gold Rewards Card (I wrote more on this here: What Rewards Canada Is Not Telling You About Its Top Travel Rewards Credit Cards), many of us think that it’s the best hybrid credit card out there because it offers 2 points on maximum categories, such as gas stations, grocery stores and drugstores, flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more. However, the problem with this is that you should not purchase big-ticket travel items such as flights, hotels, cruises, etc. with your Amex Gold Rewards Card because it does not offer Trip Cancellation Insurance. Keep in mind it charges a hefty $150 annual fee.

Also, Amex rewards transfer partners are very limited. For example, 6 frequent flyer programs (British Airways Executive Club, Aeroplan, Asia Miles, Delta SkyMiles, Alitalia, Etihad Airways) and 2 hotel programs (Hilton HHonors and Starwood Preferred Guest).

A better option can be the Amex Starwood Preferred Guest Credit Card, which lets you transfer Starpoints to frequent flyer miles with more than 30 airlines or redeem Starpoints for free nights at over 1200 Starwood Hotels & Resorts in 100 countries. However, keep in mind that this card does not offer Trip Cancellation Insurance either.

Another hybrid card, the RBC Visa Infinite Avion ($120 annual fee), offers full suite insurance coverage and offers transfer partners such as WestJet, Asia Miles, Avios points, AMERICAN AIRLINES AADVANTAGE miles, Esso Extra points or Shoppers Optimum points, etc. So for many, the appeal of this card may be higher due to its insurance coverage.

So picking the best hybrid card depends on what you are looking for from your credit cards, whether it’s the most points, the most transfer partners, or the most insurance coverage.

Get More by Asking

Ask to Save Money

First Published Date: January 20, 2016

Whether you are buying something or renewing a service, credit card, or anything for that matter, it does not hurt to explore opportunities to save money simply by asking. Yes, it may not work all the time, but you will never know the outcome if you don’t ask.

I will discuss two examples that I went through in the last few weeks in which I was able to save more and get more just by asking. The first incident was related to renewal of my hosting package that occurs every three years. I received an automated bill from my hosting company stating my credit card will be charged $360 in two weeks to renew my hosting for the next few years. Instead of just letting it happen, I called my web hosting company to see if they can provide me any discounts. After being on the phone with them for an hour and getting transferred from one department to another three times, the final rep was able to gave me deal with a 45% discount. So I saved $162 and ended up paying $198 – not bad for being on the phone for an hour.

The other example is related to renewing one of my annual fee credit cards. Just before the anniversary date, I called my credit card company and asked them if they could provide me a deal, stating that if not I would cancel my credit card. Sure enough, the rep came up with an offer that rewards me 15,000 points just for keeping the card. Yes, I have to pay a $120 annual fee, but the rewards points are worth more than $500 if I transfer them to airline points on promotion and use them for a flight.

It can definitely pay off to ask for more or discounts whenever opportunities exist.