Florida Construction Connection February 2009 Newsletter

February 2009 | Issue 24

TWO CONTESTS - MORE CHANCES TO WIN!!!

Contests: Find it in Florida & Name the Building

www.smithaerialphotos.com | 954-980-3207 | Irma Lopez Irma@smithaerialphotos.com

If you are the first person to email us the correct answers for our questions, you will win a
$25.00 gift card to The Home Depot

Find it in Florida
Take a close look the aerial photo above answer the following questions:

This project is a place where you can embrace the arts, stop and smell the flowers, host a party or enjoy a live performance.

What is the name of the Project?

What is the square footage of the Project?

How many seats are in the theatre?

Email your answers to flcc@bellsouth.net

Name The Building Contest

BE FIRST TO ANSWER TO WIN!

Clues: Not only has this building played a role in a 1980’s movie, but it is also modeled in a simulated computer game.

Due to the building’s unique design, the stated floor count and actual number of floors in this building differ by 5 floors.

What is the name of this building and its location?

What is the most commonly stated “untrue fact” by city guides regarding the design of this building?

Email your answers to flcc@bellsouth.net

Congratulations to the January Newsletter Winners

Frank Frione with GFA International

and

John Bennett with

Baker Concrete

They tied as the first to give the correct answers:

St. Regis Resort & Residences

Bal Harbour, FL

by Coastal Construction

In This Issue

	»	Find it in Florida Contest
	»	Name the Building Contest
	»	Material Testing Tips
	»	Legal Briefs
	»	Write Love Notes
	»	Black History Month
	»	Presidents Day - 2/16/09
	»	A Note From Suzanne Breistol
	»	Computer Tips
	»	The Girl with 4 Boyfriends

Construction Material Testing Tips

Geotechnical Soil Investigations (including soil borings) are performed in order to determine the soil bearing capacity of the soil beneath a future building or roadway. The soil borings are performed by a drill rig and crews utilizing a 140 lb. hammer driving a 2” dia. Split barrel sampler. The sampler is driven 2 feet at a time and the number of blows per foot is recorded by the geotechnical engineer or technician. The soil sample is removed from the sampler and classified or described as to soil type. The geotechnical engineer will determine how many and how deep the soil borings need to be performed based upon the size and loads required by the design engineers.

Who or what agency requires it? Geotechnical soil borings are performed in accordance with ASTM D-1586 and is required pursuant to Florida Building Code section 1801.1

Who typically is responsible for testing? Soil borings are performed at the design stage of the project and are requested by either the Owner, Architect or Engineers.

Who does the test? Geotechnical soil borings are performed by Professional Engineering Companies specializing in geotechnical work. These companies are licensed by the State of Florida to practice engineering and geology. Additionally qualified firms should be licensed geology businesses and members of a professional organization such as ASFE and perform the borings in accordance the published standards.

If Geotechnical soil borings are not performed a building could settle and cause cracking or even catastrophic failure. Some examples of soil improvement techniques include:

Over excavation, Vibro-compaction, Deep Dynamic Compaction, Piles (auger cast, driven), Caisson, to name a few. Your geotechnical engineer will examine all the possibilities based upon the loads required and cost to install.

How GFA International can help?
GFA International can provide all these services and many more tests and inspections required by codes and specifications.

Visit www.teamgfa.com
or call at (561) 347-0070

Legal Briefs: Ink The Deal

By Ryan Lamchick, Esquire

There is no running away from the fact that we live in a highly litigious society, and there is no question that having to file a lawsuit to enforce your rights or being brought into a lawsuit to defend yourself is at best an expensive proposition and at worst a gut wrenching experience. Even if you are able to adequately recover your litigation costs, the process is both long and emotionally draining, sure to challenge your patience and test your will. It is believed that you have a 1 in 4 chance of having a potentially devastating lawsuit filed against you sometime in your future.

The LienZone Construction Law

Accepting the threat of litigation in your future is the first step; understanding how to best resolve a dispute heading your way is the more difficult next step. Somewhere, buried in the middle of most lawsuits lies a resolution, where each party compromises its position enough to eliminate the necessity of a costly judicial action. Finding that place where a settlement can be achieved and where the respective parties can agree to accept something less then what they hoped to achieve is what good lawyers, mediators and judges try to get to.

But finding a way to resolve a controversy without entering into a proper settlement agreement is tantamount to leading a horse to water and not letting it drink. To effectuate a proper and binding resolution, it is important to remember that settlement agreements are interpreted and governed by the law of contracts. It is therefore essential that the parties not only reach an agreement conceptually but also sign a document which is clear, concise and lists the actual terms of the settlement. This will demonstrate that the parties have mutually agreed upon the essential elements of their resolution. While uncertainty as to nonessential terms or small items will not preclude a settlement agreement from being enforced, an inability to show that the parties had a meeting of the minds on resolving their dispute could be fatal to actually making a compromise stick.

Settlement agreements are highly favored by judges as a means of conserving judicial resources, and therefore courts will enforce them when possible. Parties will do themselves a favor in making sure that any settlement they reach is one which is reduced to a written document and signed. Case after case has been unnecessarily litigated because the parties never got around to formalizing their settlement. Courts are reluctant to enforce what one party thought the other party agreed to. It is bad enough to find yourself in the middle of a dispute; it is ever so much worse to think you have settled a controversy and then be hauled into court because the deal was never actually formalized or signed.

Article Source:

Write Love Notes

Love notes are a special way to say you care on Valentines Day. Plant these notes in the most unusual of places and see your beloved glow with happiness for days to come. Make these notes when you have had a fight or you have had a wonderful time together or just like that, to remind your partner how much you love him/her. If you are searching for some ideas for writing love notes, you have found the right place. You can make use of the following lines as love notes.

I Love You!

Without you, I am lost!

If it weren't for you, I would have never known what it feels to love and be loved!

You may not be the perfect lover in the world. But, You are THE PERFECT ONE for me!

With each passing moment, my love for you

grows more and more and more!

Whenever I wanted any support, I always found you by my side. Thanks for being there all the time!

I love you from the moment I came into this life

and will continue to do so till eternity!

You are no longer only my love. In fact, you have become my life and I have started living you!

These quotes are provided just to give you an idea about "how to write love notes". Go ahead and prepare your own love notes and make your partner feel even more loved.

Black History Month

Presidents Day 2/16/09

Black History Month is a remembrance of important people and events in the history of the African Diaspora. It is celebrated annually in most countries worldwide in the month of February, while in the UK it is held in the month of October.

The remembrance was originated in 1926 by historian Carter G. Woodson as "Negro History Week". Woodson chose the second week of February because it marked the birthdays of two Americans who greatly influenced the lives and social condition of African Americans: former President Abraham Lincoln and abolitionist and former slave Frederick Douglass. Woodson also founded the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, now the Association for the Study of African American Life and History.

Purpose

When the tradition of Black History Month was started in the US, many in mainstream academia had barely begun to explore black history. At that point, most representation of blacks in history books was only in reference to the low social position they held as slaves and their descendants, with infrequent exceptions such as that of George Washington Carver. Black History Month is also referred to as African-American History Month, or African Heritage Month.

Part of the aim of Black History Month is to recognize significant contributions to society made by black slaves and how their history is integral to mainstream narratives.

Washington's Birthday is the official name designated to what many of us know as President's Day. During the month of February the birthday of two of our greatest President's takes place. Both George Washington who was born on Feb. 22nd and Abraham Lincoln born on Feb. 12th.

However, Washington's birthday has been publicly celebrated since he was in office, before Abraham Lincoln was even born. Much of the debate over the name of the holiday springs from the fact that state's can follow their own holidays how they see fit and many of them chose to also honor Lincoln, calling the celebration President's Day.

It was in 1968 that the term President's Day came up for legal consideration in the Congress but was shot down, though the holiday was moved to fall between the two President's birthdays. Again in the 1980's there was a resurgence of the term with advertisers which solidified the holiday name in American culture. Today, few Americans prefer to call the holiday Washington's Birthday in lieu of President's Day.

Currently 12 states have renamed Washington’s Birthday, President’s Day or a similar variation to honor all of the U.S. presidents. In Massachusetts the holiday focuses on honoring presidents from that state and a few other states have passed similar holidays as well.

A Note From Suzanne Breistol, FLCC

What I hope never happens again is the out of control building boom like we had the few years past. The saying goes “what goes up must eventually come down” and we learned, some worse than others, that the higher it goes up the harder it hits on the way down.

Nothing would comfort us more here at FLCC than to be able to get each and every one of you back to work. We would like to see each company again with many opportunities for business. Reality is that we may be in for a longer ride than we want through these times.

I hope each and every one of you no matter what your situation, will use this time to make a difference. If you are laid off use some of the time you did not have before to volunteer, contact someone from your past that would love to hear from you, get to know your family better or anything that will keep the glass half full instead of half empty as you seek your next job opportunity. If you are a company who is holding their own during this time please take the time to again mentor and implement new technologies, systems or programs that help you be better prepared to face the future.

The biggest thing to remember in these uncertain times is that you are not alone. Reach out to others for help, direction and encouragement.

Yes, finding a job right now is a job whether from the prospective of a paycheck or a company chasing projects. Those that are holding their own are working smarter, working harder and thinking out of the box.

The part they all have in common is they are persevering and focusing on what they do have instead of what they don’t have and thankful for the opportunities put before them.

Please don’t hesitate to call us if we can encourage you in anyway.

Computer Tips: XP & Vista Uptime

Have you ever wondered what your computer's uptime is? You know, how long your computer has been turned on. If you leave your computer running 24/7 (24 hours a day, 7 days a week), you might be interested in determining the amount of uptime that has accumulated since your last reboot. Luckily, it's very easy to find that information in both Windows XP and Vista. Let's take a look!

Tracking Uptime in Vista

To find Vista’s uptime, right click on your taskbar and select Task Manager.

Now, with the Task Manager open, click on the Performance tab and you'll see the amount of uptime listed under the System section.

Tracking Uptime in XP

To find the uptime in XP, go to Start, Run, type in "cmd" and then click OK.

That will bring up a command prompt. Type in “systeminfo” (without the quotes) and then hit Enter. It will take a few minutes for the analysis to complete and get your results, but when it's finished, you'll see your uptime listed in days, hours, minutes and seconds.

Find your uptime today!

Life Lessons: The Girl With 4 Boyfriends

Once upon a time there was this girl who had four boyfriends.

She loved the 4th boyfriend the most and adored him with rich robes and treated him to the finest of delicacies. She gave him nothing but the best.

She also loved the 3rd boyfriend very much and was always showing him off to neighboring kingdoms. However, she feared that one day he would leave her for another.

She also loved her 2nd boyfriend. He was her confidant and was always kind, considerate and patient with her. Whenever this girl faced a problem, she could confide in him, and he would help her get through the difficult times.

The girls 1st boyfriend was a very loyal partner and had made great contributions in maintaining her wealth and kingdom. However, she did not love the first boyfriend. Although he loved her deeply, she hardly took notice of him.

One day, the girl fell ill and she knew her time was short. She thought of her luxurious life and wondered, I now have four boyfriends with me, but when I die, I'll be all alone.'

Thus, she asked the 4th boyfriend, I loved you the most, endowed you with the finest clothing and showered great care over you.

Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'No way!', replied the 4th boyfriend, and he walked away without another word.

His answer cut like a sharp knife right into her heart. The sad girl then asked the 3rd boyfriend, 'I loved you all my life. Now that I'm dying, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'No!', replied the 3rd boyfriend. 'Life is too good! When you die, I'm going to marry someone else!' Her heart sank and turned cold.

She then asked the 2nd boyfriend, 'I have always turned to you for help and you've always been there for me. When I die, will you follow me and keep me company?' 'I'm sorry, I can't help you out this time!', replied the 2nd boyfriend. 'At the very most, I can only walk with you to your grave.' His answer struck her like a bolt of lightning, and the girl was devastated.

Then a voice called out: 'I'll go with you. I'll follow you no matter where you go.' The girl looked up, and there was her first boyfriend. He was very skinny as he suffered from malnutrition and neglect. Greatly grieved, the girl said, 'I should have taken much better care of you when I had the chance!'

In truth, you have 4 boyfriends in your lives:

Your 4th boyfriend is your body. No matter how much time and effort you lavish in making it look good, it will leave you when you die.

Your 3rd boyfriend is your possessions, status and wealth. When you die, it will all go to others.

Your 2nd boyfriend is your family and friends. No matter how much they have been there for you, the furthest they can stay by you is up to the grave.

And your 1st boyfriend is your Soul. Often neglected in pursuit of wealth, power and pleasures of the world. However, your Soul is the only thing that will follow you where ever you go. Cultivate, strengthen and cherish it now, for it is the only part of you that will follow you to the throne of God and continue with you throughout Eternity.

About Us

Florida Construction Connection, Inc., works with employers to not just hire, but make the right hires. We work with currently employed construction management, administrative and accounting professionals to help them make smart career decisions.
Whether you are seeking information to help you in your current situation or seeking information about the marketplace and need help, please give us a call.

Phone: (954) 725-9932 | Fax: (954) 725-9928 | Email: flcc@bellsouth.net
www.floridaconstructionconnection.com