you're pretty racist, bro. thats just about the definition of a broad, sweeping generalization. say what you will about the guy and his decision to spend this money, but to make judgements on a race of people based on what? have you been to india? have you seen charity in action (or lack of it)? im guessing your perception comes from either the nightly news or possibly national geographic. and even if you have by some miracle been outside of texas and made it to india, then im sure you probably didnt leave a holiday inn while you were there. go back to d&d where you belong, and don't bring that mess in the hangout.
I've edited my initial post, because I do not want to bring this kind of discussion into the hangout. I didn't realize my comments would draw such a reaction. sorry
If I had 43 billion, and was going to spend 1 billion on a home, I would try and find a way to do it so that it wasn't ugly. That ballroom is just disgusting, ostentatious, and incredibly tacky. The outside is similar but not as bad. I would find a way to have a billion dollar home that wasn't so tasteless.
I don't mind him spending a billion dollars but why's the outside so freakin ugly? Damn dude, you would think it would be a beautiful tower... something like that hotel in Dubai.
I find it funny when people b**** and b**** about how people spend money. He just circulated $1Billion in to the local economy. You guys need to stop b****ing because circulating that $1Billion in to the economy is going to help the people there a lot more and immediately than if he created say a $1 Billion endowment for charity. How dare any of you guys go and spend a ridiculous $2000 on a TV. Get a $1000 TV and donate the rest to charity.
count me in for the "wasteful" side. sure, you can argue that the local artisans got to do the work, so jobs/money stayed in the local economy, but what could have been better besides a direct contribution to the less fortunate? how about funding a $100 million affordable housing plan? dunno. a big, ugly waste. how much of that house will they ever use? there's a point where a home stops being "a home", and starts being "a place to keep crap i don't need, use, or look at away from other people" as they say, when you die, you can't take it with you.
I see nothing wrong with building a 1B or a 10B dollar house. If he earned it, he has the right to do whatever he wants. Its not like the money is from illicit means. I don't know about his charitable donations, but I'm pretty sure he donates alot to charity. If you had 43B dollars, spending 1B is almost like nothing. Just because other people are poor around you doesn't mean you should also live like them.
bigtexxx, i agree with you, but only to a certain point. i would probably put "some" in front of Indians, because your post makes it seem that you think that about ALL Indians. I hope you dont. I certainly give you the benefit of the doubt and only mean "some" Indians. My parents have donated hundreds of dollars towards charities and my old man even wrote a $1,000 check to the red cross after the WTC attacks and also when the Tsunami hit. And it's not even about money. I was out there at the Astrodome when it was filled with all the people from Louisiana. On the other hand, I certainly see where you would get that idea. If you visited India, you could see how SOME of the people there treat the homeless. I honestly believe that you didnt meant ALL Indians are not very generous people. I dont know how many Indian people you have met or that you know, but I dont think it's fair to base a judgement upon an entire race off the 10 to 20 or 100 to 200 Indian people that you've come across in your life. I'm sure it just came out the wrong way. edit: And i know you edited your post....but i guess i just had to comment on it. and to me thats a great point. good edit. good post
think about the resources that house is gonna use. Yeah, he has the money but he's using up MY resources....Same goes for the one guy driving that chevy suburban....or the single guy who buys the big trunk just because he has the money. Yeah you have the money to buy that truck, but you're using my gas. the demand for energy is way to high and we're running out of supply unless we make some changes. If you dont care about the rest of the world, at least care about the U.S. and when i say "you"....im not directly talkin to you....
I agree with Texx. One billion justs smacks of new rich/third world inferiority complex. As far as astetics go, that building looks lika a giant monstrosity. It also seems like a cheap derivative/knock off (insert asian stereotype joke) of the Santiago Calatrava residentail 80th South Street, New York project. At a $30 million starting starting price tag plus the honor of living inside a work of art by an inovative architect... I would much rather blow my $$$$ on this.
To be honest, if I had that kind of money and really wants to feel like wasting it, I'd build myself a little theme-park type of a home where everything is more spaced out, and get a chauffeur to take me to different areas, like basketball court, movie theater, etc. Why would some guy with $40 billion even want to look out the window and see a crappy city?
I'm guessing this modest home has a militia and 20 ft high walls with barb wires to keep the riff raffs out. People are rioting in their underwear because it's so hot and there's no electricity, but this building will be no doubt be fully powered at all times for the comfort of the 3 residents. http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article3863240.ece
Crappy city? I'm guessing you have never set foot in Mumbai? The restaurants, clubs, proximity to other cool cities, are world class. Is their alot of poverty in the city? Hell yes! But its still one of the more amazing fun cities of the world. I read somewhere that the real estate in Mumbai is now more expensive then London, NY, and Tokyo.
