Phoenix readers react to impending demolition of Metrocenter mall

 Phoenix readers react to impending demolition of Metrocenter mall

The iconic Metrocenter mall in Phoenix will soon be rubble and you had a lot to say about it.

Metrocenter’s days are numbered. The iconic local mall, which closed in 2020, is set to be torn down in late August or early September to make way for a $850 million redevelopment project.

According to city of Phoenix officials, the 64.2-acre property will be transformed into a walkable urban village featuring residential units, retail spaces, bars and restaurants.

The mall’s demolition, originally scheduled for summer 2023, was delayed for more than a year due to real estate developer Concord Wilshire Capital having issues with financing.

Todays Thought

A certain amount of opposition is a great help to a man. Kites rise against, not with, the wind. 

-John Neal, author and critic (25 Aug 1793-1876)

Todays Thought

There is no such thing as a "self-made" man. We are made up of thousands of others. Everyone who has ever done a kind deed for us, or spoken one word of encouragement to us, has entered into the make-up of our character and of our thoughts. 

-George Matthew Adams, newspaper columnist (23 Aug 1878-1962)

The $15,000 A.I. From 1983

Todays Gadget

 Circula

AquaSport II

899,00 €

 

incl. VATincl. Shipping costs

The AquaSport II combines a refreshing design with high-quality equipment and finishing. The fascinating dial with sophisticated details and the precise Swiss movement are surrounded by a carefully hand-brushed stainless-steel case and scratch-resistant sapphire crystal. This unique diver’s watch fits perfectly on the wrist and was developed together with over 600 suggestions from the global watch community.

• Traditional brand from Pforzheim, quality Made in Germany
• Swiss automatic precision movement, Caliber Sellita SW 200-1 Elaboré Grade
• Scratch-resistant, slightly curved sapphire crystal with double anti-reflective coating on the inside
• 120-click unidirectional sapphire bezel with indices from Swiss Super-LumiNova ® BGW9
• Hands and indices filled with Swiss Super-LumiNova® C3 X1
• 20 ATM water-resistant, lumed screw down crown
• 40 mm in diameter, 46 mm lug to lug and 12.6 mm in height

Todays Thought

Read to children. Vote. And never buy anything from a man who's selling fear. 

-Mary Doria Russell, science-fiction writer (b. 19 Aug 1950)

Todays Thought

There is no human being who, as a result of desiring to build a better life, should be named or declared illegal. 

-Alejandro G. Inarritu, film director, producer, screenwriter, and composer (b. 15 Aug 1963)

5 ‘simple yet powerful’ steps each day to feel happier

 Psychology and Relationships I’ve studied the science of happiness for 10 years—take 5 ‘simple yet powerful’ steps each day to feel happier

1. Share your feelings with others 

Stephanie Harrison of The New Happy

It’s far better to share your emotions with someone you trust than to keep your feelings to yourself, research shows. 

For example, sharing positive news with someone in your life can increase your own joy and give them a chance to experience it, too. If someone is there to hold your hand when you’re in pain, it reduces the intensity of your suffering. 

2. Focus on the next step more than the end goal

Stephanie Harrison of The New Happy

Pursuing meaningful goals is an integral part of living a happy life. But goals that feel overwhelming can lead people to procrastinate. 

Remind yourself that you don’t have to achieve your objective today; you can just move a little bit closer. Every action you take and every forward movement you notice can enhance the hope and motivation you feel.

Start small. Set a timer and say to yourself, “For the next 10 minutes, I’m going to do something that moves me toward my goals.” For example, if your goal is to start your own business, brainstorm potential names or products until the timer goes off. 

3. Perform an act of kindness 

Stephanie Harrison of The New Happy

Helping other people is one of the most reliable and powerful ways to feel better. Kindness can positively affect your emotional and even physical well-being — lowering blood pressure and cortisol, a stress hormone. 

Take a moment to think about who in your life is having a hard time and what you might do to support them. It can be as simple as sending a text message, sharing a funny video, dropping off a meal, or inviting them to spend time together. 

4. Ask for help when you need it

Stephanie Harrison of The New Happy

The culture we live in, which I call Old Happy, teaches us that we need to do everything by ourselves. As a result, you might start to believe that asking for help means you’re “giving up” or “failing.” 

But it actually shows you’re committed to persevering, improving, and growing. When you’re struggling, consider who in your life has done what you’re trying to do and what type of support you need. Then reach out and ask for it. 

We wildly underestimate how much other people want to help us. Since performing acts of kindness makes people happier, you’re giving someone a chance to experience happiness, too. 

5. Notice the good that’s around you  

Stephanie Harrison of The New Happy

Thanks to our brain’s negativity bias and Old Happy’s cultural conditioning, it’s all too easy to focus on what we don’t have: the promotion we haven’t gotten, the item we want to buy, or the ways in which we don’t feel good enough. 

But studies show that the more you refocus your attention on what you do have, the more content you’ll be. So ask yourself: “What’s going right, right now?” 

There’s a lot to be thankful for: a helpful colleague, a chat with a good friend, a delicious meal, or a beautiful sunset. You just have to pause and notice it. 

Todays Thought

The Supreme Ethical Rule: Act so as to elicit the best in others and thereby in thyself. 

-Felix Adler, professor, lecturer, and reformer (13 Aug 1851-1933)

Todays Word

 

grawlix

PRONUNCIATION:

(GRAW-liks) 

MEANING:

noun: The characters, such as @#%$*!, used to convey profanity in a comic.

ETYMOLOGY:

Coined by the cartoonist Mort Walker (1923-2018). Earliest documented use: 1964.

USAGE:

“This title contains ... negligible cursing (sometimes represented as a grawlix).”
Adult Books 4 Teens; School Library Journal (New York); Mar 2019.

Todays Gadget

 

Hydrium X Be Steel my (Blue) Heart

jamais vu

 The opposite of déjà vu is "jamais vu", when something you know to be familiar feels unreal or novel in some way.

Jamais vu may involve looking at a familiar face and finding it suddenly unusual or unknown. Musicians have it momentarily – losing their way in a very familiar passage of music. You may have had it going to a familiar place and becoming disorientated or seeing it with "new eyes".

The Opposite of Déjà Vu Is Even More Uncanny

Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life

 Jung’s Five Pillars of a Good Life

1. Good physical and mental health

2. Good personal and intimate relations, such as those of marriage, family, and friendships

3. Seeing beauty in art and in nature

4. A reasonable standard of living and satisfactory work

5. A philosophical or religious outlook that fosters resilience

Taken together, Jung’s ideas about happiness and his five pillars of well-being stand up solidly to modern research findings. I propose this practical seven-point summary:

1. Do not fall prey to seeking pure happiness. Instead, seek lifelong progress toward happierness.
2. Manage as best you can the main sources of misery in your life by attending to your physical and mental health, maintaining employment, and ensuring an adequate income.
3. If you’re earning enough to take care of your principal needs, remember that happiness at work comes not from chasing higher income but from pursuing a sense of accomplishment and service to others.
4. Cultivate deep relationships through marriage, family, and real friendships. Remember that happiness is love.
5. If you have discretionary income left over, use it to invest in your relationships with family and friends.
6. Spend time in nature, surround yourself with beauty that uplifts you, and consume the art and music that nourish your spirit.
7. Find a path of transcendence—one that explains the big picture in life and helps you comprehend suffering and the purpose of your existence.

Todays Thought

People share a common nature but are trained in gender roles. 

-Lillie Devereux Blake, novelist, essayist, and reformer (12 Aug 1833-1913)

Rose Dugdale

Rose Dugdale

Bridget Rose Dugdale (25 March 1941 – 18 March 2024) was an English debutante who rebelled against her wealthy upbringing, becoming a volunteer in the militant Irish republican organisation, the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA).^[1] As an IRA member, she took part in the theft of paintings worth IR£8 million, a bomb attack on a Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) station using a hijacked helicopter,^[2] and developed a rocket launcher and an explosive.

Check out Rose's War on Hulu! 

 https://www.hulu.com/movie/0bfd2b06-60ca-4f19-9f7b-0bacd23a8589?utm_source=shared_link

The enigma of Rose Dugdale: what drove a former debutante to become Britain and Ireland’s most wanted terrorist?

There is the distinct sense, in all of this, that Rose Dugdale saw her renegade life as a series of reckless, revolutionary episodes, all of which were designed to prove her credibility and commitment to a cause she embraced with a kind of born-again fanaticism. She had, in short, to become even more fanatical than the most hardened Irish paramilitary foot soldiers that she so admired, but who often viewed her Englishness and privileged upbringing with deep suspicion.

“If you come from England, you are always a Brit,” she said in an interview for Irish TV in 2012, “and if you come from my background, it wasn’t surprising that they had difficulty taking me as a part of the republican movement.”

To be accepted, she had to wage a long war on her own country, her class and her lineage. “I had to wrestle with the idea of killing people but, at the end of the day, it’s the only way to deal with them,” she later said of the decision that would dramatically redefine her. “Essentially, it was military action that had a chance to succeed. In my mind, there was no doubt about that.”

How a young boy's shout of "wow" still resonates in the classical music ...

The $1BN Race to Save Notre Dame From Collapse

Todays Gadget

 HAIM

Viajero, which translates to "Traveler" in Spanish, represents our inaugural Worldtimer design in our catalog. This stunning timepiece boasts a wealth of features and craftsmanship, made approachable by all.

Viajero showcases a redesigned, hand-finished stainless steel case characterized by a polished heavy finish, complemented by brushed detailing on the bezel to achieve a minimalist aesthetic that directs attention to the dial - the true focal point of the timepiece, created from a 3D relief. Boasting an exhibition caseback with a distinctive Atlas-shaped rotor, the Viajero is a testament to meticulous craftsmanship and attention to detail.

Available in three dial variants inspired by different modes of travel – "Air," "Land," and "Water" – each design pays homage to various aspects of exploration and adventure. With a case diameter of 38.5mm and a lug width of 20mm, the Viajero strikes a balance between presence and wearability, standing at 12mm tall to offer visual depth without excessive bulk.

Crafted for travelers, geography enthusiasts, or those seeking a captivating conversation piece, the Viajero introduces the coveted "Worldtimer" complication to all audiences, making global timekeeping accessible and stylish for all.

Todays Thought

Those who believe without reason cannot be convinced by reason. 

-James Randi, magician and scientific skeptic (7 Aug 1928-2020)

Todays Gadget

 Nivada Grenchen

Antarctic Spider Black 35mm

35011M17

 Beneath a double-domed sapphire crystal, discover a superb gray or black dial with 8 spider legs in full weave. Eight indexes are applied vertically on a sunray silver or black dial, connected (literally) by 8 lines –that look like spider legs, hence the watch’s sobriquet – converging at the center of the dial. 

The Antarctic Spider features a 35mm diameter polished and brushed silver stainless steel case and is 11.1mm thick. Its dial is topped with a sapphire crystal nearly as hard as diamond, protecting it from everyday bumps and scratches. Water-resistant up to 50 meters, or 5 atmospheres. At the 3 o’clock index, there is a date window and the brand’s signature at 9 o’clock. 

Developer plans to demolish Metrocenter Mall soon

 Developer plans to demolish Metrocenter Mall soon

It will need to be done in steps, he said, because the mall was built when asbestos was common in building materials. Crews will remove asbestos first and demolish “as we go,” Betts said. Including demolition, the redevelopment is expected to cost about $850 million.

The site will then be graded to make way for the new development. Betts estimates demolition and grading will take about 10 months.

Betts said the team has also begun negotiations with potential users for some of the sites, such as apartment developers or other businesses interested in having a location in the development. Those conversations couldn’t begin until the development team knew they were moving ahead with demolition.

Metrocenter Demo

 How a new Arizona law has slowed Metrocenter Mall redevelopment in Phoenix

Betts said construction financing should close by mid-August with demolition to begin by the end of the month. It could take 10 months because of asbestos removal.

He said the Metrocenter Mall’s two-story design provides an opportunity to have levels within their walkable urban village concept. After demolition and grading, water and sewer lines will be installed, and a public park should be built before construction begins.

“So this will be a two-year endeavor before you're able to see the village come out of the ground,” Betts said.

Todays Thought

Appealing to tribe, appealing to fear, pitting one group against another, telling people that order and security will be restored if it weren’t for those who don’t look like us or don’t sound like us or don’t pray like we do, that’s an old playbook. It’s as old as time. And in a healthy democracy it doesn’t work. Our antibodies kick in, and people of goodwill from across the political spectrum call out the bigots and the fearmongers, and work to compromise and get things done and promote the better angels of our nature. 

-Barack Obama, 44th US President (b. 4 Aug 1961)

Todays Thought

I asked a man in prison once how he happened to be there and he said he had stolen a pair of shoes. I told him if he had stolen a railroad he would be a United States Senator. 

-Mother Jones (Mary Harris Jones), schoolteacher, dressmaker, organizer, and activist (1 Aug 1837-1930)