US New Home Sales Drop 12.8% in July

Sales of new U.S. homes fell a steep 12.8% in July, but the drop came after revisions to June sales showed the sales highest growth in 12 years.

The Commerce Department said Friday that new homes sold at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 635,000 units. That’s down from a sharply revised upward rate of 728,000 in June. So far this year, sales have risen 4.1%, a sign that buyers are beginning to respond to lower mortgage rates.

The volatility in home sales reflects broader uncertainty in the housing market. Buyers have been eager to take advantage of wage growth and historically-low mortgage rates. The average rate on a 30-year loan declined to 3.55% this week, according to mortgage buyer Freddie Mac. The revisions to the June figure, coupled with a rebound in existing home sales in July according to data released by the National Association of Realtors, show sales reacting largely well to lower borrowing costs.

However, the rush has further constrained inventories at a time when new construction is limited. Robert Frick, a corporate economist at Navy Federal Credit Union, said that while the revised June figures were a positive sign for the market, low inventory remained the core problem dragging home sales growth.

“The average sales price for a new home was $388,000, and half of the home buyers are looking for a sub $300,000 home. Until more, less expensive homes and condos come to market, millions of Americans will be shut out of homeownership,” Frick said.

A big 50% jump in sales in the Northeast was offset by declines in the West, Midwest, and South this month.

The median sales price fell to $312,800. That is down 4.5% from a year ago but marks the highest level since April.

source: usa.inquirer.net

The Cause of Mesothelioma is Asbestos

Mesothelioma is an aggressive and deadly form of cancer that attacks the thin lining of cells inside your chest and abdomen, and in the spaces around your heart. This layer of mesothelial cells, known as “mesothelium,” also surrounds the majority of your internal organs.


The mesothelium protects you internally by creating a special lubricating fluid that allows organs to move against each other. For example, this fluid makes it easier for your lungs to expand and contract inside the chest when you breathe.

Malignant mesothelioma tumors are most often found in the outer lining of the lungs and internal chest wall (the pleura), but can also appear in the linings of the abdominal cavity (peritoneum), heart (pericardium), or testis (tunica vaginalis).


Cause of Mesothelioma 

Asbestos exposure is the only known cause of mesothelioma in the United States.  In fact, 70 to 80% of all reported mesothelioma cases are directly linked with a history of asbestos exposure in the workplace.

According to the World Health Organization, every year over 107,000 people around the world die due to mesothelioma and asbestos-related diseases.  Many of these people have worked in careers such as mining, where they inhaled or ingested asbestos fibers, or were exposed to airborne asbestos dust and fibers in other ways. Many others have been exposed through their service to our country in the military-especially the Navy.

What is Asbestos?  

Asbestos fibers are thin, natural minerals that are durable, resistant to heat, fire, acids and electrical friction. They are virtually indestructible.

For this reason, asbestos became the insulation material of choice by the late 19th century.  Large-scale asbestos mining began when manufacturers found that asbestos properties, combined with other materials, could be used in thousands of industrial, maritime, automotive, scientific and building products.

Also, asbestos fibers are long, thin and flexible, so that they can be woven into cloth and other textile products.

The use of asbestos continued to grow throughout the 20th century, long after medical research gradually revealed that breathing in minuscule asbestos fibers starts a chain of physical and metabolic events that ultimately leads to serious health problems, including mesothelioma, lung cancer, or an incurable breathing disorder called asbestosis.

Today, asbestos is classified as a known human carcinogen, and by far the major cause of mesothelioma.

Asbestos Products

Asbestos mineral fiber established a long history of heavy usage within the manufacturing and construction industries due, in large part, to profound strength, insulating features, affordability, and fire resistant properties.

The following list shows the wide range of materials and products that could contain asbestos:

    Insulation products (eg., pipe and block insulation, sprayed on insulation)
    Gaskets and packings
    Fireproofing/acoustical textu-*re products (includes decorative plaster, fire curtains, fire doors)
    Textile and cloth products (eg., blankets and asbestos gloves)
    Spackling, patching and taping compounds (eg., caulking, joint compounds, adhesives)
    Asbestos-cement pipe and sheet material
    Tiles, wallboard, siding and roofing (eg., shingles, vinyl sheet flooring)
    Friction materials (eg., car brakes and clutches)
    Vermiculite (found in potting mixes, brake pads, acoustic tiles)
    Laboratory hoods and table tops

Asbestos may also be found in automobile and elevator brake shoes, elevator equipment panels, ductwork, electrical panel partitions, electrical cloth, cooling towers, and chalkboards.

In 1973, under the EPA’s Clean Air Act, most spray-applied asbestos products were banned for fireproofing and insulating purposes. Mining for asbestos ceased in 1983 in the United States. In 1989, the EPA tried to enact a full ban that included most but not all asbestos containing products. Two years later, in 1991, that asbestos ban was overturned by an appellate court ruling. The decision to overturn the ban did not include these six asbestos-containing products which remain banned: Corrugated paper, rollboard, commercial paper, specialty paper, flooring felt, and perhaps most notably, any new asbestos products

Asbestos Exposure

Occupational Exposure: More than 75 different types of jobs in America have been known to expose workers to asbestos.  Occupations in the construction industry have been hit the hardest. Plumbers, pipefitters and electricians have been the most vulnerable to mesothelioma and other asbestos-related diseases. The occurrence of mesothelioma, in both the shipbuilding and the electrical power industries,  has also been abnormally high.

Mesothelioma Diagnosis

If you are experiencing what you believe to be mesothelioma symptoms you should consult a physician immediately. Inquire about medical tests for asbestos related diseases and a pulmonary function test. Imaging tests, biopsy tests, and blood tests may be part of the process to determine whether you have mesothelioma.  Consequently, the process for your doctor to determine a mesothelioma diagnosis is based on your past exposure to asbestos (where-when-how), your symptoms, a physical examination, and test results.

Mesothelioma Specialists

Beyond your primary care doctor or internist, the following is a partial list of the types of medical professionals you may need to consult during the diagnosis process:

    Pulmonologist: A lung disease diagnosis and treatment specialist
    Radiologist. A specialist who understands and interprets x-ray testing
    Oncologist: A doctor who specializes in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer
    Pathologist: A doctor who identifies cancerous diseases through tissue and cell examination

 source: mesotheliomacircle.org

Wacker Neuson Radiant Heater

The new Wacker Neuson HDR 155 Direct-Fired Radiant Heater, introduced at World of Concrete in Las Vegas, NV, features a heating design unaffected by the elements, so the heat is easily directed exactly to where it's needed. Delivering best-in-class, 155,000 BTU/hour (45 kW) heat input, the HDR 155 easily heats workspaces, workers and objects such as equipment, concrete form work and other structures from approximately 15 feet (5 m) away. Since infrared heat radiates directly from the heater’s disc, the HDR 155 does not rely on warming the surrounding air like convection heating, so it produces quick, intense heat.

The direct-fired HDR 155 heater uses an oil flame to heat its stainless steel disc to approximately 1700°F (926.7°C). The shield emits electromagnetic (infrared) waves that travel in straight lines away from the heater, unaffected by wind or weather, to warm objects they hit. Exhaust gases are directed upward, so the heat is clean, dry and healthy. The heater’s 300-series stainless steel front panel delivers exceptional performance and extreme reliability and longevity.

The unique design of the HDR 155 boasts three concentric cones: the inner cone containing the flame; center cone that protects the outermost surface from heat; and external cone constructed of high-temperature-painted carbon steel. The air stream is split between the inner cone to support the flame and center core to provide cooling air for the heater’s surface. This "refractory free" cooling system results in a significantly cooler heater surface that does not require the expense or maintenance of molded heat refractory panels.

"Molded refractory is used to slow the movement of heat, but the rear surface of a heater using molded refractory still gets extremely hot after less than one hour of operation," says David Mencel, Climate Technology product manager for Wacker Neuson. "Conversely, the Wacker Neuson air-cooled design keeps the rear of the HDR 155 significantly cooler than other radiant heaters on the market. In addition, ours is a low-maintenance cooling system, whereas molded refractory eventually cracks and must be replaced, which costs the owner hundreds of dollars in maintenance."

The new construction-grade Wacker Neuson HDR 155 Direct-Fired Radiant Heater boasts many rental- and user-friendly features that lower operating costs and provide many years of reliable service. Large pneumatic tires, single point lift bail and tie-downs provide easy loading and transport. Its retractable floor guard eliminates the need for floor mats or other protection, while a two-position, 10-degree adjustable housing offers precise control over heat direction. The heater’s rugged, roto-moldedplastic fuel tank provides enough capacity for a 15-hour continuous run time, and an optional remote thermostat gives operators control over the temperature at the jobsite.

The HDR 155 provides the best solution for outdoor heating applications or heating equipment or personnel in open areas. Because of its rugged design, the versatile HDR 155 can be used in a variety of heating applications, including construction sites, warehouses, dairy, sports arenas, aircraft/hangar heating and thawing, mining and oil services, highway maintenance, and concrete curing.

source: forconstructionpros.com

Construction of world's tallest statue begins in India

AHMEDABAD - Indian farmers were urged Thursday to hand over scraps of metal and tools for the world's tallest statue, as construction began on what promoters hope will be a wonder of the world.

The tribute to Sardar Patel, the first home minister of independent India, is set to be twice the size of the Statue of Liberty and four times higher than Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro.

The metal structure, a pet project of opposition leader Narendra Modi in his home state of Gujarat, will rise 182 meters (600 feet) from an island in the Narmada river when completed in four years' time.

Modi laid the foundation stone on Thursday and urged farmers to donate tools which will be melted down and used in the memorial to a politician nicknamed the "Iron Man of India."

"People come to see the Taj Mahal, flock to America for the Statue of Liberty and France for the Eiffel Tower. Now people from all over the world will come here to see this wonder," Modi said.

"We have asked farmers from every village in India to give old pieces of their agricultural tools, just 200 grams or 400 grams would do," he added from the site at Kevadia, 170 kilometers (105 miles) from Gujarat's biggest city Ahmedabad.

A metal collection effort covering nearly 700,000 villages across the country will begin Thursday and last until January 26 next year, state officials said.

The total cost of the statue is estimated at 25 billion rupees ($300 million) and will be funded with public funds and private donations.

When finished, it will tower by 54 meters over the 128-meter Spring Temple Buddha in China's Henan province which is currently the world's tallest statue.

The memorial has strong political undertones as it honors an independence hero who spent his life in the Congress party, the main rival of Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in national elections next year.

Modi, the BJP's prime ministerial candidate, suggested earlier this week that Patel, who is from Gujarat, would have made a better leader than India's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

This was a provocative dig at India's modern-day Gandhi political dynasty, led by Congress chief Sonia and her son Rahul, who are descended from Nehru.

The family has ruled for most of India's post-independence history.

The theme of national unity represented by Patel is also attractive to Modi as he tries to paint himself as a secular, centrist candidate in the diverse country of 1.2 billion people.

The Hindu nationalist was chief minister of Gujarat in 2002 when religious riots targeting Muslims left at least 1,000 dead and led to accusations he did too little to stop the violence.

One of his ministers was convicted of instigating the carnage, but he has been cleared of wrongdoing in various official investigations.

Patel was a close friend and ally of Mahatma Gandhi, with whom he shared a prison cell, and became the leader of the Congress Party in 1934.

His lasting legacy was forged in his role as India's first home minister, when he was tasked with moulding a united country from hundreds of semi-autonomous princely states and British-era colonial provinces.

Work on the statue will be undertaken by Turner Construction, the company behind the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa in Dubai. — Agence France-Presse

source: gmanetwork.com