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jimintomystery · 3 years

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The Search for Noah's Ark

Many ancient cultures had accounts of a hero surviving a divine flood by building a giant boat, but the story of Noah (Genesis 6-9) stands out, since it is included in the canon of the Abrahamic religions. For centuries, it was not unusual for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim writers to report that Noah's Ark was still sitting on the mountain where it came to rest at the end of the story. But it wasn't until the 20th century that a documented expedition went to look for it.

[Above: A man stands between Mount Ararat, where explorers typically look for Noah's Ark, and a sign for Noah's Ark National Park, the official location of the ship according to the Turkish government.]

The Bible says Noah's Ark landed in "the mountains of Ararat," without any clear indication where that would be. A 4th century Latin edition translated "Ararat" as "Armenia," popularizing that association in Western Christianity. The Armenians themselves used Greek or Syriac bibles, so they only learned of the Ararat-Armenia connection centuries later, from visiting crusaders. Thereafter, the sacred Armenian mountain Masis has been known as "Mount Ararat." Since the 1920s, the mountain has been a part of Turkey, which calls it Ağrı Dağı ("mountain of pain").

After the first confirmed ascent of Mount Ararat in 1829, it became more plausible that someone might go up there and look for Noah's Ark. But the idea wasn't taken seriously until the 1940s, when an article circulated about a Russian pilot spotting a giant wooden boat on Ararat during World War I. Supposedly, the czar ordered a thorough exploration of the structure, but then those no-good godless commies took over and suppressed the findings. The story was ultimately discredited, but not before it stoked the imaginations of American Christians that were eager to prove that the Bible was literally true.

Fascinated by the Russia story, realtor Eryl Cummings and his wife Violet devoted the rest of their lives to tracking down stories about Ark sightings. These tales typically involved American soldiers who said someone showed them a photo of the Ark during World War II, or old Armenian immigrants who supposedly visited the Ark as children. "Ark fever" heated up, though, when a sighting was reported from Turkey. In 1948, Eryl was invited to lead an Ararat expedition planned by retired missionary Aaron J. Smith. Cummings declined, however, and Smith ultimately led the trip himself the following year.

The 1949 expedition is instructive, because it sets the tone for all subsequent attempts to visit Ararat in search of the Ark. Upon arrival, Smith was beset with bureaucratic delays. Permits needed to be paid for, and local authorities rejected clearances that had been granted at the federal level. Reading between the lines, its clear to me that Ark-seekers would pay anything to achieve their dreams, and corrupt Turkish officials took full advantage of that. The team quickly depleted their funds, and didn't get to the mountain until the end of the climbing season.

It's also telling that there hasn't been a lot written about Smith's mission, not even by the Ark hunters who followed in his footsteps. It's much easier to find stories about the Fernand Navarra controversy in the '50s and '60s, or people who couldn't even prove they'd been to the mountain. And it's Eryl Cummings, not Aaron J. Smith, who came to be seen as the father of the movement. There's a simple reason for that: Smith put in the work, but he didn't find anything. Cummings, on the other hand, accumulated all of the tantalizing stories of people who might have found something, which could become a useful lead for the next expedition.

[Above: Reconciling descriptions from two purported eyewitnesses, Elfred Lee illustrates the collapse of Noah's Ark into Ahora Gorge. The gorge was formed in 1840 by a powerful earthquake, which happens to precede the earliest alleged sightings in modern times. Violet Cummings suggested that the quake was divinely ordained to reveal the Ark and usher in the Apocalypse.]

The 1970s saw a wave of books about the search, most of which derived their information from the work of Mr. and Mrs. Cummings. Violet and other writers cast the quest in an apocalyptic light, suggesting that God had hidden the Ark all this time only to reveal it as a sign that the End Times were imminent. The implication was that Noah's Ark could not be discovered until the appointed hour but, paradoxically, Judgement Day will be stalled unless believers find the ship as soon as possible.

"Arkeology" arguably peaked in the 1980s, when astronaut Jim Irwin took up the search. By that point Turkey was wary of letting amateur climbers wander around so close to their border with Iran and the Soviet Union. But the eighth person to walk on the Moon was able to open some doors and, more crucially, cut through some red tape. However, Irwin still had to deal with the punishing conditions of Mount Ararat itself. His adventures there are best remembered for the injuries he sustained, and the heart issues that made it increasingly unwise for him to return year after year.

Jim Irwin no doubt inspired a new generation of Ark-seekers, but by the late 1990s the community was bitterly divided about where to look. For thousands of years, legends suggested that the ship was in plain sight for anyone who dared to climb up and find it. But fifty years of aerial reconnaissance, satellite photography, and boots on the ground had proven otherwise. Debate intensified about whether Ararat was even the right mountain, and about the validity of other possible sites, forcing people to re-evaluate the established lore surrounding the quest. So you end up with one "arkeologist" attacking the reasoning of another, often with logic that could be extended to dismiss the entire search.

[Above: In 2010 Noah's Ark Ministries International released photos like this one, purportedly taken inside a massive wooden structure on Mount Ararat. NAMI refused to reveal the location for independent verification, citing security concerns. Within days of the announcement, former associates of NAMI came forward accusing them of staging the whole thing.]

That background of in-fighting put a damper on a 2010 press event claiming that a Hong Kong evangelical group had found the Ark on Ararat. You'd think video footage of this discovery would delight Ark hunters. On the contrary, many were as skeptical as mainstream scientists. The feuding over which Ark theories were right or wrong had left them wary, because if some flaky story captured the public imagination, it might discredit the entire movement. Which is ironic, considering that the movement wouldn't exist at all if not for an urban legend about a Russian cover-up.

At a glance, it may seem like "Ark fever" is part and parcel with religious fundamentalism, or maybe just a specific flavor of Christian anti-intellectualism. However, even some influential creationists have debunked the search for Noah's Ark. There's no scriptural basis for assuming that God arranged for the Ark to remain intact until modern times, or that it was meant to be rediscovered, or that locating it would have any bearing on the end of the world. The entire rationale for the search is that dozens of unconfirmed reports can't all be wrong, which isn't a solid foundation for an archaeology project.

#noah's ark #arkeology #pseudoscience #pseudoarchaeology #creationism #mount ararat #into mystery

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mittensmorgul · 8 years

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Ok, so I'm not sure if this is significant but I wanted to point out a couple of other times the name Larry was mentioned prior to SPN 12x11. In episode 9x13 Dean was roofied at the Cannon Valley Wellness Spa an establishment which is co-owned by a guy named LARRY! (Sam:"Supplements to boost metabolism, per Larry and Martiza" Dean: "These are roofies") Also in 1x08, LARRY is the realtor who first mistakes Sam and Dean for a gay couple. What are your thoughts on these #LarryParallels?

Oh my god, Larrallels? It’s like the third thing you say. :P

There have been other Larry characters on the show, though:

There was Larry Ganem in 8.12, the only surviving Man of Letters from Abaddon’s attack. She blinded him, and then he gave Henry the key to the bunker and told him to run, to protect that key at all costs. He was also the man Sam had gone to meet with who told him about the Bunker before Abaddon killed him and kidnapped Sam.

Larry is also the nickname of people named Lawrence. As in Lawrence, Kansas.

It was the name of the realtor who’d been trying to sell the old hotel in 2.11 (and who ended up dead of a broken neck).

Also in 11.15, Larry “The Hangman” Lee, John Winchester’s favorite wrestler when Sam and Dean were kids, was hanged with his own noose, and was the man whose funeral brought Sam and Dean in touch with Gunner Lawless (who was always Dean’s favorite wrestler), and learned of his demon deal.

But...

But... it’s also a relatively common name. After 12 seasons, a lot of common names have been used multiple times... Jenny, Bill (and William), Mary. Heck, there’s been NINE characters named Maggie, Margo, or Margaret. There’s been EIGHT named Jacob/Jake. EIGHT named Rick/Richard/Ritchie/Dick. And FOUR named Max (which isn’t so much a common name as Larry, and yet there’s been four of them...). There’s been ELEVEN named Jim/Jimmy/james.

So... I don’t know how much there really is to read into repeated character names, you know? Yeah, when writing you want characters to be memorable and unique, but it would just be implausible for every single character to have a unique name, and for Sam and Dean to travel around the country all these years and NOT meet multiple people with the same common names.

I’m not sure how much to read into parallels with similar common first names, you know?

#YOU RODE LARRY!#sometimes a name is just a name? I don't know #maybe they all used Bouncing Baby Names Dot Com?#Anonymous

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cathrynstreich · 5 years

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ERA ‘Owns the Driveway’ With TextERA

Libby Gatewood began working as a real estate agent in 1979. She’s been working at Napier REALTORS®, ERA in Central Virginia for nine years, as both an agent and the company’s managing broker at the Colonial Heights branch.

“The only thing constant in this business is change. You have to keep up with the changes so that you can be successful,” Gatewood says.

With 40 years of experience, she’s seen a lot of changes in the industry. Gatewood, who started her career before there were cellphones, iPads and laptops, has noticed a drastically different relationship between consumers and their phones.

“There are so many robocalls these days, and people are reluctant to answer a call from a number they don’t know,” says Gatewood. “As an agent, we know that the No. 1 thing people do with their smartphones is text, and 97 percent of text messages are opened and read.”

TextERA allows potential clients to immediately access the listing agent, pricing, video and details about the property by texting a number listed on the yard sign.

“Now we have a way for people to get information they want instantly,” explains Gatewood. “But it’s more than that. Through texting, you’re opening the door to a long-term relationship in a way that feels less invasive to the consumer.”

Many times, Gatewood says, the texts that come in from the TextERA platform turn into leads that end up being longer, more strategic relationships. “People get in touch via TextERA when seeing a specific house for sale. Once the texted information is provided, they can decide if they want to make an appointment to get a closer look or additional information. They may decide they aren’t interested in that particular house, but many times, they’re still interested in pursuing other properties, so you’ve just started a new relationship from that initial text.”

For consumers who want to speak on the phone immediately, TextERA now has a new IVR (integrated voice response) system, which ensures that even when an agent is too busy to answer the phone, the call gets rerouted via criteria set by the agent, allowing them to send the call to another team member or the main office. The client automatically receives a text with listing information, and the agent receives a text that alerts them of the missed call, eliminating any missed opportunity.

“Agents using the IVR feature saw three times as many leads, propelling TextERA to the No. 1 lead-generating system within our network, surpassing all industry portals,” says Simon Chen, CEO and president of ERA Real Estate. “We believe that the leads that come through TextERA, when people are actively driving through neighborhoods in search of a home, are more qualified than the leads that come from online browsing. Sixty percent of TextERA leads convert into actual showings, proving that the online portals may own the couch, but ERA owns the driveway.”

Lee Williams, who has been working at Napier ERA for two-and-a-half years, has seen this work firsthand. “TextERA generates leads for you, plain and simple. And as a new agent just entering the business, that’s crucial. In the beginning, you need a volume of leads in order to compete.”

Jim Napier, president and owner of Napier ERA, explains that TextERA has been instrumental in helping agents secure buyer leads, as well as seller leads. “We’re experiencing a tight inventory market, and TextERA is proving to be a key differentiator in the eyes of people who are trying to sell their home. When we sit with prospective sellers and our agents demonstrate TextERA—showing them that we can connect with prospects in real-time—it really sets us apart.”

For more information, please visit www.era.com.

Zoe Eisenberg is RISMedia’s senior content editor. Email her your real estate news ideas at [email protected].

The post ERA ‘Owns the Driveway’ With TextERA appeared first on RISMedia.

ERA ‘Owns the Driveway’ With TextERA published first on https://thegardenresidences.tumblr.com/

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charlesccastill · 6 years

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AIA elevates 115 members and nine international architects to the College of Fellows

WASHINGTON– The American Institute of Architects (AIA) is elevating 115 member-architects to its prestigious College of Fellows, an honor awarded to members who have made significant contributions to the architecture profession.

The fellowship program was developed to elevate those architects who have achieved a standard of excellence in the profession and made a significant contribution to architecture and society on a national level. Prospective candidates must have at least 10 years of AIA membership and demonstrated influence in at least one of the following areas:

· Promoted the aesthetic, scientific, and practical efficiency of the profession;

· Promoted the science and art of planning and building by advancing the standards of architectural education, training or practice;

· Coordinated the building industry and the profession of architecture through leadership in the AIA or other related professional organizations; or

· Advanced the living standards of people through an improved environment.

Fellows are selected by a seven-member Jury of Fellows. This year’s jury included Chair Mary P. Cox, FAIA, Virginia Commonwealth University; Peter Bardwell, FAIA, Bardwell + Associates, LLC; Mary A. Burke, FAIA, Burke Design & Architecture PLLC; Philip Castillo, FAIA, Jahn; Mary Johnston, FAIA, Johnston Architects, LLC; Paul Mankins, FAIA, Substancearchitecture; and Nancy Rogo Trainer, FAIA, Drexel University.

The newly elevated members and their AIA component affiliations are listed below. For complete details and images, visit the fellows directory.

Terry Lee Allers, FAIA (AIA Iowa)

Norman R. Alston, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Raya Ani, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Ruth Baleiko, FAIA (AIA Washington Council)

Mara Baum, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Bruce Redman Becker, FAIA (AIA Connecticut)

Raymond Beeler, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Kai-Uwe Bergmann, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Janette S. Blackburn, FAIA (AIA Massachusetts)

Joseph Brancato, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Kim D Bretheim, FAIA (AIA Minnesota)

John H Britton, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Peter Brown, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Robert Bullis, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Michael Burch, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Joseph P. Caprile, FAIA (AIA Illinois)

Stephen Cassell, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Yung Ho Chang, FAIA (AIA Massachusetts)

Jeanne Chen, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Leo Chow, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Lisa M. Chronister, FAIA (AIA Oklahoma)

Robert Condia, FAIA (AIA Kansas)

Robert Cozzarelli, FAIA (AIA New Jersey)

Brandon Dake, FAIA (AIA Missouri)

Manoj Dalaya, FAIA (AIA Virginia)

John R. DaSilva, FAIA (AIA Massachusetts)

Jeffrey L. Day, FAIA (AIA Nebraska)

Timothy E. de Noble, FAIA (AIA Kansas)

Roy T. Decker, FAIA (AIA Mississippi)

Jared Della Valle, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Melissa DelVecchio, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Bruce D. Eisenberg, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Thomas Fowler, IV, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Wyatt J Frantom, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Craig S. Galati, FAIA (AIA Nevada)

Mark Gangi, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Pete Ed Garrett, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Nicholas Garrison, FAIA (AIA New York State)

John P Gering, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Anzilla R. Gilmore, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Martin A. Gold, FAIA (AIA Florida)

Jordan Goldstein, FAIA (AIA Washington, DC)

Jeffrey Gunning, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Tushar Gupta, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Sharon Helene Haar, FAIA (AIA Michigan)

Todd R. Hanson, FAIA (AIA New Hampshire)

John Harrison, FAIA (AIA Washington Council)

Dominique M. Hawkins, FAIA (AIA Pennsylvania)

David B. Hill, FAIA (AIA North Carolina)

Kevin M. Holland, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Thomas L. Hoskens, FAIA (AIA Minnesota)

Aaron Jon Hyland, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Thomas Lee Hysell, FAIA (AIA Minnesota)

Darren L. James, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Thomas C. Jester, FAIA (AIA Maryland)

Michael W. Johns, FAIA (AIA Pennsylvania)

Bill Johnson, FAIA (AIA Missouri)

James Kalvelage, FAIA (AIA Oregon)

Mitra Kanaani, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Brian Kowalchuk, FAIA (AIA New Jersey)

Alison G. Kwok, FAIA (AIA Oregon)

Joseph Dye Lahendro, FAIA (AIA Virginia)

Samuel M. Lasky, FAIA (AIA Massachusetts)

Tracy Lea, AIA, FAIA (AIA Louisiana)

Michael N. Lykoudis, FAIA (AIA Indiana)

William T Mahan, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Michael S. Martin, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Michael McCulloch, FAIA (AIA Oregon)

Debi McDonald, FAIA (AIA Massachusetts)

Sandra McKee, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Louis A. Meilink, Jr., FAIA (AIA Pennsylvania)

Christine Mondor, FAIA (AIA Pennsylvania)

Julia Monk, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Nick Noyes, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Brandon Pace, FAIA (AIA Tennessee)

Jeffrey Paine, FAIA (AIA North Carolina)

Patrick Panetta, FAIA (AIA Arizona)

Richard I. Pigford, FAIA (AIA Alabama)

Burchell Pinnock, FAIA (AIA Virginia)

Jack Poling, FAIA (AIA Minnesota)

Bradford J. Prestbo, FAIA (AIA Massachusetts)

Tina Marie Reames, FAIA (AIA New Mexico)

Richard Renner, FAIA (AIA Maine)

Patricia Rhee, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Lyn Rice, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Francisco Javier Rodrígue, FAIA (AIA International Chapters)

William T Ruhl, FAIA (AIA Massachusetts)

Mary Elizabeth Rusz, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Constantine Nicholas Sak, FAIA (AIA Arizona)

Lee Salin, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Joel Sanders, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Mark Schatz, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Thomas J Schoeman, FAIA (AIA Nevada)

Bart Shaw, FAIA (AIA Texas Society of Architects)

Steven Shinn, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Daniel Simons, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Murat Soygenis, FAIA (AIA International Chapters)

Marc B. Spector, FAIA (AIA New York State)

James G. Spencer, FAIA (AIA California Council)

Karl W. Stumpf, FAIA (AIA Washington, DC)

Janet Tam, FAIA (AIA California Council)

David Thaddeus, FAIA (AIA North Carolina)

Jimmie E. Tucker, FAIA (AIA Tennessee)

Ursula Twombly, FAIA (AIA Wisconsin)

Nicholas E. Vlattas, FAIA (AIA Virginia)

Dennis Wedlick, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Andrew Whalley, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Jim Whitaker, FAIA (AIA North Carolina)

Jan Willemse, FAIA (AIA Oregon)

William K. Wilson, FAIA (AIA Oregon)

Dan Worth, FAIA (AIA Nebraska)

Brian T. Wurst, FAIA (AIA South Carolina)

Gregory A Yager, FAIA (AIA International Chapters)

RIchard C. Yancey, FAIA (AIA New York State)

Robert E. Yohe, FAIA (AIA Florida)

The AIA Honorary Fellowship program honors international architects for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society on an international level. Nine honorary fellows are being elevated this year by the 2019 Jury of Honorary Fellows. This year’s honorary fellows are:

Emre Arolat, Hon. FAIA (Istanbul, Turkey)

Sandra Barclay, Hon. FAIA (Lima, Peru)

Alberto Campo Baeza, Hon. FAIA (Madrid, Spain)

Nathalie de Vries, Hon. FAIA (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

Jane Duncan, Hon. FAIA (Little Chalfont, United Kingdom)

Amanda Levete, Hon. FAIA (London, United Kingdom)

Esa Mohamed, Hon. FAIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Pei Ing Tan, Hon. FAIA (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia)

Jacob van Rijs, Hon. FAIA (Rotterdam, Netherlands)

AIA Honorary Fellows are selected by a nine-member Jury of Honorary Fellows. This year’s jury included Chair Lester Korzilius, FAIA, EllisWilliams Architects; Mary P. Cox, FAIA, Virginia Commonwealth University; Peter Bardwell, FAIA, Bardwell + Associates, LLC; Mary A. Burke, FAIA, Burke Design & Architecture PLLC; Philip Castillo, FAIA, Jahn; Robert Forest, FAIA, Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture; Mary Johnston, FAIA, Johnston Architects, LLC; Paul Mankins, FAIA, Substancearchitecture; and Nancy Rogo Trainer, FAIA, Drexel University.

New fellows will be honored at a ceremony on June 7 at the AIA Conference on Architecture 2019 in Las Vegas.

from boston condos ford realtor https://bostonrealestatetimes.com/aia-elevates-115-members-and-nine-international-architects-to-the-college-of-fellows/

#boston #condos #boston condos #boston luxury condo #boston condominium #boston rentals #boston condo

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nicholerestrada · 6 years

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Trump looks for a way out

Editor’s Note: This edition of Morning Money is published weekdays at 8 a.m. POLITICO Pro Financial Services subscribers hold exclusive early access to the newsletter each morning at 5:15 a.m. To learn more about POLITICO Pro’s comprehensive policy intelligence coverage, policy tools and services, click here.

Trump looks for a way out — It’s been evident for weeks in polling data that President Donald Trump is losing the shutdown fight. Badly. His approval has been dropping, including with key demographics like non-college whites. Voters clearly blame him because it was Trump who at the last minute issued a veto threat of a clean spending bill that cleared the Senate with no objection. Voters aren’t stupid.

Story Continued Below

So on Thursday after his Senate proposal got two less votes than a Democratic alternative, Trump was casting about for an exit ramp, once again reportedly flirting with an emergency declaration and otherwise trying to end a horrible start to his 2019.

He needs to get out now before the economic damage — already significant — becomes a drag on the entire year. House Democrats will hold a presser Friday morning on the shutdown and volley the ball back to the White House, which wants out by the weekend.

The Democratic primary goes left — It’s also clear that the policy fight in the Democratic primary will be to get as progressive as possible on tax policy. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) staked out the latest ground with her proposal to put a 2 percent “wealth tax” on those with a net worth over $50 million and 3 percent on net worth above $1 billion. The move follows (non-presidential candidate but influencer) Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s proposal for a marginal rate of 70% on income over $10 million.

The numbers — Cal-Berkley economists Emmanuel Saez and Gabriel Zucman estimate the proposal would hit 0.1 of households and raise $2.75 trillion over ten years. Expect other Democratic hopefuls to embrace this idea or come up with their own. It may open them to attacks from the GOP that they are punishing success.

But addressing economic inequality and soaking the rich actually has fairly wide political appeal. Such a proposal would not necessarily become law, given legal and political challenges to the idea of the wealth tax. But it’s a clear indicator of the political direction of the party.

GOOD FRIDAY MORNING — Welcome to Shutdown Day 35, could it be the last? Email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @morningmoneyben. Email Aubree Eliza Weaver at [email protected] and follow her on Twitter @AubreeEWeaver.

The Davos World Economic Forum Annual Summit is upon us. Follow what’s happening at one of the most exclusive global forums through our Davos Playbook newsletter. Sign up here — it’s free.

Get “Freezin’ for a Reason” on Saturday, Feb. 2 with Special Olympics DC. POLITICO is proud to support the “Polar Plunge,” an annual benefit to raise funds for more than 1,600 Special Olympics DC athletes. Proceeds provide sports, health, and inclusion programs that benefit both children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the District. Visit http://www.dcpolarplunge.org to register as an individual, a team, or to join an existing team.

House Democrats will hold a presser this morning. The question is whether they show willingness to add any border security money or decide that they can’t negotiate or this situation will just repeat … Durable goods order due at 8:30 a.m. and new home sales at 10:00 a.m. … will not come out because of the shutdown. … Trump at 1:45 p.m. talks economic growth with mayors.

TOP TWEET — Via @SALTconference: “We look forward to welcoming former WH Chief of Staff and Secretary of Homeland Security General John Kelly to #SALT2019, where he’ll be interviewed by Anthony @Scaramucci. ‘I want to bury the hatchet… We need to send a message of unity to the country.’

TOP TWEET II via @paulkrugman: “Wilbur Ross, who has been leading us into a trade war on behalf of the steel industry, says that the number of workers affected by the shutdown is small, so it’s no big deal. A useful chart.” (There are a lot more unpaid federal workers and contractors than steel workers.)

WORTH A WATCH — Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), deeply over the shutdown and GOP messaging on immigration, absolutely let loose on the Senate floor.

WARREN REACT — Via Tax Foundation economists Nicole Kaeding and Kyle Pomerleau: “As seen with the estate tax, calculating a taxpayers wealth is extremely complex. Unlike the estate tax, this would also require the IRS to process numerous complex returns on an annual basis.” Read more.

Roosevelt Institute CEO Felicia Wong emails: “The proposal here is consistent with a basic but critically important idea about how we think about tax policy: Revenue generation is critical BUT it is not the only point of tax policy.”

AEI’s Jim Pethokoukis emails MM: “At time when the growth potential of the US economy has downshifted, it’s seem odd to propose a difficult-to-administer tax — one that has fallen out favor in Europe — that could reduce investment, productivity, and risk-taking.

DAVOS DIARY — Via our John Harris: “These alleged masters of the universe came off nearly as perplexed and anxious about the future as the populist forces inveighing against them. They have money. They have entourages. They have commanding views, both literal (from mountain chalets here) and metaphorical (from government offices and CEO suites back home). That doesn’t mean they have a clue.” Read more.

WATERS TO SUMMON BIG BANK CEOs — Our Zachary Warmbrodt: “Big banks are bracing for their CEOs to be called to testify soon at what could be an intense House hearing led by new Financial Services Chairwoman Maxine Waters, sources familiar with the matter said.

“The details of the hearing, anticipated to happen by this spring, have not been finalized, but lawmakers and bank representatives are expecting it. The banks that are seen as likely to be invited to participate include JPMorgan Chase, Bank of America, Citigroup, Wells Fargo, Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley.” Read more.

WHITE HOUSE TO ROLL OUT HOUSING PLAN — Our Victoria Guida and Katy O’Donnell: “The White House will announce a plan by next month to end government control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac in a bid to resolve a long debate over the fate of the two companies that dominate the mortgage market, a top regulator said.

“Joseph Otting, acting director of the [FHFA], told employees last week that the administration would not wait on Congress, where attempts to overhaul the housing finance system have repeatedly faltered in the years since Fannie and Freddie were rescued during the financial crisis” Read more.

NEAL DEFENDS SLOW APPROACH TO TRUMP TAXES — Our Brian Faler: “House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal … defended his go-slow approach to demanding … Trump’s tax returns. Under pressure from some liberal groups unhappy he hasn’t acted more quickly, Neal (D-Mass.) said: ‘You’re going to have to, I think, resist the emotion of the moment and make sure your case is carefully documented.’

“‘This is likely to become the basis of a long and arduous court case,’ he told reporters. ‘You can’t step on your tongue.’ Neal declined to say when he might request the returns. Tax March and other organizations released a letter to Neal … complaining he is not moving fast enough” Read more.

DIMON/SOLOMON MET WITH WATERS — CNBC’s Brian Schwartz: “J.P. Morgan CEO Jamie Dimon and Goldman Sachs CEO David Solomon have recently met in private with leading Wall Street critic Rep. Maxine Waters, who leads the powerful House banking panel … Dimon and Solomon gave Waters their perspectives on a wide range of topics, including where they stand on the economy, and left the door open to a continued dialogue” Read more.

HOT READ: WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU SUE YOUR BOSS — Bloomberg’s Max Abelson: “If you have a job in the U.S., chances are good you’ve signed an arbitration agreement that will stop you from suing your bosses in court for pretty much any reason.” Read more.

TRUMP WANTS FED NOMINEES LIKE HIM, KUDLOW SAYS — Bloomberg’s Jennifer Jacobs: “Trump wants nominees for two open Federal Reserve Board seats who are sympathetic to his view that strong economic growth doesn’t risk inflation, the president’s top economic adviser said.” Read more.

TOP TWEET — @reddy: “Perhaps he should consider Janet Yellen.”

KOCH NETWORK STAYING OUT OF 2020 — The Washington Post’s Josh Dawsey and Michelle Ye Hee Lee: “The conservative Koch political network has told donors that it plans to once again stay out of the presidential race and will not work to help reelect … Trump in 2020, a move that sidelines a major player that has been pivotal in mobilizing voters on the right for more than a decade. Read more.

WARREN PLAN WOULD COST BEZOS $4.1B — Bloomberg’s Devon Pendleton: “Jeff Bezos, the world’s richest person, would have to pay $4.1 billion in the first year under … Warren’s soon-to-be proposed wealth tax, based on his current net worth of $137.1 billion.” Read more.

WEEKEND WEDDING — Via Playbook: OBAMA ALUMNI: Jen Friedman, SVP for public affairs at Blackstone, this weekend married Chris Weideman, head of litigation at Apollo Global Management. The couple, who worked together at Treasury in 2013, married at New York City Hall and then celebrated with family and friends at the Foundry in Long Island City.

WELCOME TO THE WORLD — Emily Schillinger, vice president of public affairs at the American Investment Council, and Ian Schillinger, a partner at McKinsey and Company, welcomed Audrey Anne Schillinger on Jan. 18.

** A message from the National Association of REALTORS®: Talks on GSE reform are gaining momentum in Washington, as federal control of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac is now in its 11th year. Join NAR for a comprehensive Housing Finance Reform policy forum on Thursday, February 7, at the Grand Hyatt. The event will be held from 9AM-2PM. No-cost attendance includes lunch and a cocktail hour following the event. Register today at nar.realtor/events/nar-policy-forum.

The Forum brings together hundreds of industry stakeholders, policymakers, academic experts and financial regulators to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing the future of the housing finance system. With a vested interest in protecting the nation’s housing market, NAR continues to examine and advocate for potential approaches to housing finance reform efforts that would be most beneficial for consumers and promote broader credit access.

Featured panels will focus on lessons learned from the housing crisis and innovative solutions for the future role of the GSEs. Participants will include former Chairmen Jeb Hensarling and Barney Frank. **

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michaeljtraylor · 6 years

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Trump looks for a way out

Story Continued Below

The Davos World Economic Forum Annual Summit is upon us. Follow what’s happening at one of the most exclusive global forums through our Davos Playbook newsletter. Sign up here — it’s free.

Get “Freezin’ for a Reason” on Saturday, Feb. 2 with Special Olympics DC. POLITICO is proud to support the “Polar Plunge,” an annual benefit to raise funds for more than 1,600 Special Olympics DC athletes. Proceeds provide sports, health, and inclusion programs that benefit both children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the District. Visit www.dcpolarplunge.org to register as an individual, a team, or to join an existing team.

WORTH A WATCH — Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), deeply over the shutdown and GOP messaging on immigration, absolutely let loose on the Senate floor.

TOP TWEET — @reddy: “Perhaps he should consider Janet Yellen.”

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garkomedia1 · 6 years

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Trump looks for a way out

Story Continued Below

The Davos World Economic Forum Annual Summit is upon us. Follow what’s happening at one of the most exclusive global forums through our Davos Playbook newsletter. Sign up here — it’s free.

Get “Freezin’ for a Reason” on Saturday, Feb. 2 with Special Olympics DC. POLITICO is proud to support the “Polar Plunge,” an annual benefit to raise funds for more than 1,600 Special Olympics DC athletes. Proceeds provide sports, health, and inclusion programs that benefit both children and adults with intellectual disabilities in the District. Visit www.dcpolarplunge.org to register as an individual, a team, or to join an existing team.

WORTH A WATCH — Sen. Michael Bennet (D-Colo.), deeply over the shutdown and GOP messaging on immigration, absolutely let loose on the Senate floor.

TOP TWEET — @reddy: “Perhaps he should consider Janet Yellen.”

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from RSSUnify feed https://hashtaghighways.com/2019/01/28/trump-looks-for-a-way-out/

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acdbengal · 6 years

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Three ballot amendments take aim at taxes

By Jim Turner The News Service of Florida

Oct 8, 2018 at 12:29 PM

TALLAHASSEE — Three proposals on the November ballot that would make tax-related changes to the state constitution have drawn conflicting views from the real-estate industry, local governments and other groups about the measures’ potential economic impacts.

Amendment 1 seeks to create a bigger property-tax break for many homeowners by increasing the homestead exemption by $25,000.

Amendment 2 would make permanent a 10 percent cap on annual property-tax assessment increases for commercial property, apartments and vacation homes.

Amendment 5 would make it tougher for future lawmakers to raise taxes by requiring two-thirds votes in the state House and Senate to increase taxes or fees, up from the usual majority.

To be added to the state constitution, each proposal requires 60 percent support from voters in the Nov. 6 election.

Amendments 1, 2 and 5 were crafted the past two legislative sessions, with the most debate surrounding the proposals to increase the homestead exemption and to require two-thirds legislative votes to hike taxes or fees. The tax-related proposals are among 12 constitutional amendments slated for the November ballot.

University of Central Florida political science professor Aubrey Jewett said voters aren’t getting enough information on any of the amendments.

“When it comes to these proposed amendments on the 2018 ballot, we are basically asking Florida voters to find their way through the political Everglades at night without giving them a map or a flashlight,” Jewett said.

That could, however, help proposed amendments that offer tax cuts and limit future taxes, Jewett indicated.

“Unless a compelling reason is presented on why they should not cut (or) limit taxes, the majority of voters will want to pay less,” Jewett said. “It is a perfectly predictable American idea that literally goes back to the founding of country.”

But Susan MacManus, a distinguished professor of government and international affairs at the University of South Florida, said a lack of information could actually hinder the proposals.

MacManus, who has been traveling the state talking to groups about the amendments, said she could see many people skipping the proposed constitutional amendments, which appear at the end of a long ballot and offer summaries that provide little information and might be confusing.

She said human nature is to “just read the summary and do an on-the-spot analysis.”

“I had to have one of my econ students, and I had to read (Amendment) 1 20 times, to figure out what it was because you’ve got countervailing things,” MacManus said. “You’ve got one group arguing this is really a great tax break for everybody and you’ve got another group saying. ‘This isn’t going to benefit anybody but the rich.’ ”

Amendment 1

One of the critics of Amendment 1 is the Tallahassee-based Florida TaxWatch, which recently released a study that said the proposal will “likely increase, not lower, taxes for all Floridians.”

TaxWatch estimates that 43 percent of homesteaded property, 76 percent of all properties and 71 percent of Florida families will not benefit from the exemption. Also, that is before local governments would have to find ways to make up for lost revenue through increasing taxes or cutting services.

“This isn’t the first time we’ve seen a proposed tax shift masquerading as a tax cut,” said Florida TaxWatch President & CEO Dominic Calabro. “Florida has an inequitable property-tax system, and this exemption will make the system even more unbalanced.”

The proposal asks voters to approve an additional non-school homestead exemption to the portion of property values between $100,000 and $125,000.

Currently, homeowners receive a tax exemption on the first $25,000 in value of their properties. They pay taxes on the value between $25,000 and $50,000 and then receive an additional exemption on the portion from $50,000 to $75,000.

Backers say it will benefit homeowners across the state.

“Simply put, a yes vote on Amendment 1 lowers taxes and puts more money back in the pockets of Floridians,” said the James Madison Institute, a free-market think tank. “The average homeowner would see $230 in annual property tax savings.”

When the measure moved through the legislature in 2016, House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, said the exemption “will be one of, if not the largest, tax cut in the history of Florida at $645 million.”

Sen. Tom Lee, a Republican home builder from Thonotosassa who sponsored the proposal when it was approved by the Legislature in 2017, said expanding the exemption could help people afford homes. Also, he said it could boost such things as documentary-stamp taxes, which stem from real-estate transactions.

“Making homes more affordable, we’re going to allow people to move from rental units back into homes,” Lee said. “And in doing so, it’s going to give us the ability to generate revenue for doc stamps, the tangible tax and a whole host of other things that go along with home ownership.”

The proposal would be estimated to cut local government revenue statewide by about $645 million a year. It would require the state to offset revenue losses for “fiscally constrained” counties in rural areas.

The Florida Association of Counties, the Florida Education Association, the Florida League of Cities and the League of Women Voters of Florida are among the opponents of Amendment 1.

The League of Cities said approval of Amendment 1 would make an already-complicated property tax system “worse” and “less fair.”

“We are hopeful that Florida voters see that Amendment 1 isn’t what it seems,” said Amber Hughes, the senior legislative advocate for the Florida League of Cities. “The politicians call it a tax break, but it’s really a tax shift that will leave millions of hard-working homeowners with a bigger share of the property tax burden.”

Amendment 2

The real-estate industry group Florida Realtors has poured millions of dollars into an “Amendment 2 is for Everybody” campaign, which says the measure “prevents taxes from skyrocketing, hurting the economy and making rents too expensive.”

Voters in 2008 approved a constitutional change that placed a 10 percent cap on annual increases in assessed values of non-homestead properties. The limit will expire Jan. 1 unless it is extended by voters in November through passage of Amendment 2.

The state Revenue Estimating Conference projected local governments would see about $700 million in additional revenue if voters reject Amendment 2.

The League of Women Voters opposes the measure, contending that “no tax sources or revenue should be specified, limited, exempted, or prohibited in the Constitution.”

Amendment 5

The League of Women Voters and the Florida Education Association teachers union oppose Amendment 5, arguing that during an economic crisis, the proposal would tie the hands of lawmakers.

“By requiring a supermajority vote of the Legislature for approval of any future tax or fee increase, what they’re doing is empowering a super-minority of politicians who will be able to block any attempts to eliminate any loopholes, tax breaks or credits,” said Joe Pennisi, chairman of the group Floridians for Tax Fairness.

Oklahoma voters approved a similar supermajority amendment in 1992, which David Blatt, executive director of the Oklahoma Policy Institute, said exacerbated funding problems.

“Even with one party having a supermajority of seats, as the majority were seeking to solve the problem, a minority of legislators were able to hold out and keep anything from happening,” Blatt said during a conference call with Florida reporters arranged by the League of Women Voters.

But supporters of the amendment maintain that if an economic emergency arises, lawmakers would “easily” muster the two-thirds support.

When the proposal was approved by the Legislature this year, Corcoran said the state “should always make it much more difficult to raise taxes than it is to cut them.”

“With the governor (Gov. Rick Scott), we’ve cut $10 billion in taxes over seven years and are ranked number one for fiscal health in the entire country,” said Corcoran said in a January statement. “This amendment will secure and protect that legacy from future legislatures bent on raising taxes.”

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portsmouthnhrealestate · 13 days

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2025 Housing Market Projections for Portsmouth, NH: What Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

As we look ahead to 2025, understanding real estate trends is key—especially for homeowners and potential buyers in Portsmouth, NH, and the New Hampshire Seacoast. Whether you’re considering buying or selling, staying informed can help you make confident decisions about your next move. Local real estate experts, Jim Lee and Ann Cummings of RE/MAX Shoreline, are here to share their latest market…

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#ann cummings realtor #condos in portsmouth nh #Home Sellers #jim lee realtor #portsmouth NH Homes for sale #Portsmouth NH market report

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joefnolan80 · 7 years

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Nation’s Top-Producing Land Agents Recognized by Realtors® Land Institute APEX Awards Program

March 21, 2018 (Chicago) – The Realtors® Land Institute, an affiliate of the National Association of Realtors®, is proud to announce the winners of its 2017 APEX Awards Program, sponsored by The Land Report, as the top-producing land agents in the nation. The APEX Awards Program is designed to recognize the excellence and performance of the best in the business by distinguishing agents with these prestigious production-based awards. All APEX Award Winners were announced by RLI CEO Aubrie Kobernus as well as The Land Report’s Co-founders Eddie Lee Rider Jr. and Eric O’Keefe at a special awards ceremony on Tuesday, March 13, during RLI’s 2018 National Land Conference (NLC18) in Nashville, TN.

RLI recognized a two-way tie between Michael and Dan Murphy with the M4 Ranch Group a division of Team Murphy Realty, LLC in Colorado for the program’s most coveted and prestigious award, the APEX 2017 Top National Producer.

RLI is also proud to recognize the accomplishments of the APEX 2017 National Broker of The Year recipients in each of the following seven distinct land categories:

Ag Land Sales – Crops: Troy Louwagie, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services Ag Land Sales – Ranches: Dax Hayden, Hayden Outdoors, LLC Recreational Land Sales: Dan and Michael Murphy, M4 Ranch Group Timber Land Sales: Clint Flowers, ALC, National Land Realty Commercial Land Sales: Ryan Sampson, ALC, Eshenbaugh Land Company Residential Land Sales: Danny Smith, ALC, Smith & Smith Realty Auction Land Sales: Troy Louwagie, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services

In addition to being named Broker of the Year in two categories, RLI also awarded Troy Louwagie, ALC, of Hertz Real Estate Services in Iowa with the APEX 2017 Wrangler Award for largest number of transactions closed in 2017.

All applicants are members of RLI and have at least four million dollars of qualifying dollar volume in closed land sales in 2017, making them among the top-producing land agents in the country. Each applicant was also recognized as part of the RLI APEX 2017 Producers Club with the twenty highest producing applicants awarded as an APEX 2017 Top Twenty National Producer.

The Top Twenty Producers included:

Rick Bourne, Southeastern Land Group, AL Ray Brownfield, ALC, Land Pro LLC, IL Steve Bruere, Peoples Company Of Indianola, IA Jason DurJava, ALC, Century 21 M&M and Associates Ag and Ranch, CA Bill Eshenbaugh, ALC, Eshenbaugh Land Company, FL Clint Flowers, ALC, National Land Realty, AL Kyle Hansen, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services, IA Dax Hayden, Hayden Outdoors LLC, CO Ryan Hostetler, ALC, Agprofessionals LLC, CO John Knipe, ALC, Knipe Land Company, ID Troy Louwagie, ALC, Hertz Real Estate Services, IA Kasey Mock, KW LAND, Mock Ranches, TX Dan Murphy, M4 Ranch Group a division of Team Murphy Realty, LLC, CO Michael Murphy, M4 Ranch Group a division of Team Murphy Realty, LLC, CO Billy Rollins, ALC, Land Solutions, Inc., FL Ryan Sampson, ALC, Eshenbaugh Land Company, FL Dean Saunders, ALC, Coldwell Banker Commercial Saunders Real Estate, FL Danny Smith, ALC, Smith & Smith Realty, FL Bob Stalberger, ALC, Whitetail Properties Real Estate, LLC, MN Minor Taylor, ALC, Taylor Land Investments, TX

The 2017 APEX Producers Club included: Matt Adams; Daran Becker; Rick Bourne; Sam Bowers, ALC; Ray Brownfield, ALC; Steve Bruere; Jared Chambers; Brad Chandler; Bill Davis; Mike Downey, ALC; Jason DurJava, ALC; Devin Dye; Brenda England; Bill Eshenbaugh, ALC; Clint Flowers, ALC; Wendy Forthun, ALC; Jonathan Goode, ALC; Kyle Hansen, ALC; Dax Hayden; Kenny Herring; Ryan Hostetler, ALC; Marv Huntrod, ALC; John Knipe, ALC; Stan Lierz, ALC; Troy Louwagie, ALC; Rusty Lowe, ALC; Kasey Mock; Dan Murphy; Michael Murphy; Justin Osborn; Calvin Perryman, ALC; Clayton Pilgrim; Billy Rollins, ALC; Ryan Sampson, ALC; Dean Saunders, ALC; Chris Smith, ALC; Danny Smith, ALC; Travis Smock; Bob Stalberger, ALC; Jeramy Stephens, ALC; Winnie Stortzum, ALC; Tommy Stroud, ALC; Kirk Swenson; Minor Taylor, ALC; Derrick Volchoff, ALC; Kirk Weih, ALC; Jim Wirth; Luke Worrell, ALC; Jason Zeigler; and Andrew Zellmer.

“The APEX 2017 Award Winners are the crème of the crop when it comes to conducting land transactions. RLI is proud to be partnered with The Land Report to give these land agents the national, industry recognition as a top-producer that they deserve,” said RLI’s CEO Aubrie Kobernus, MBA, RCE, about the new program.

The APEX Awards Program celebrated its inaugural year with fifty applicants totaling a combined $1B+ in qualifying transaction volume. For more information on the award winners, make sure to get a copy of The Land Report, one of the industry’s leading magazines for landowners and land professionals, which will be publicizing winners in their upcoming Spring 2018 issue. All land real estate professionals are invited to join RLI and apply to the prestigious APEX Awards Program next year. Learn more at https://www.rliland.com/national-land-conference/rli-apex-awards-program

About the Realtors® Land Institute

The Realtors® Land Institute, “The Voice of Land,” continually strives to maintain its status as the acknowledged leader for all matters pertaining to the land real estate profession. RLI endeavors to remain the essential membership organization for the extraordinary real estate professionals who broker, lease, sell, develop, and manage our most precious resource: the land. The Realtors Land Institute, provides the expertise, camaraderie, and valuable resources that are the foundation for all land real estate professionals to become the best in the business. For more information, visit rliland.com or call 800.441.5263. It’s the best time to join the best!

The post Nation’s Top-Producing Land Agents Recognized by Realtors® Land Institute APEX Awards Program appeared first on REALTORS® Land Institute.

from News About Real Estate https://www.rliland.com/nations-top-producing-land-agents-recognized-by-realtors-land-institute-apex-awards-program

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