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44118太阳成城集团:Observer: China is changing the very nature of modernization
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日期:2021/10/19|点击:10
Editor's note: The author is the former President of Serbia. The following text is his full address at the opening ceremony of the 9th World Forum on China Studies.
When Deng Xiaoping set the goal of The Four Modernizations in the 1970s, the world could not dream that China will change the very meaning of the word "modernization" in the 21st century. Today when we talk about China's modernization, we do not talk just about rapid and multilevel success of China - we talk about setting the new global criteria of the modernization as a phenomenon.
When last year at the Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, the Fourteenth Five-Year Plan for Socialist Modernisation until 2035 was proposed, that was at the same time setting of the new not just meaning, but also the significance of the term "modernization". The plan envisages a rapid growth of economic, scientific and technological strength and a new level of income per capita in urban and rural areas, but also a vision of a great modern socialist country that might be the historical transformation of socialism itself.
When we talk about China's success, we can line up and enumerate fascinating numbers and illustrations of Chinese achievements, but in my opinion, above all these figures, it is important to point at the wider picture in which China is changing the whole world.
Giving a new meaning of the term modernization, China is offering a role model to the whole world that has been stuck for a long time in the trap where the traditional Western meaning of modernization does not respond to contemporary challenges anymore. In other words, regardless of the fact that modernization as a theory, vision and practice has its origins in the West, I believe we are facing a revolution where it will be reborn and transformed in Chinese ideological and practical implementation.
Actually, it would not be an exaggeration even to propose a completely new term based on China's model of modernization. Compared to what China is doing today, the term modernization sounds outdated. In that context, more than just implementing modernization, China today is actually delivering the original and innovative overcoming of the mistakes and consequences of the Western type of modernization. That means that China is, by its example, giving a lecture to the whole world that is struggling with the consequences of what once was set as modern and prosperous.
One of the great misunderstandings is the Western perception that China for its own sake needs to adjust its communication with the West in order to reach their perception of modernization. No. China should adjust it for the sake of the Western world, as misunderstood lessons from China will be paid by the West and not China.
The world also has to adjust its communication with China in the best hope that meeting the halfway will bring mutual benefits. The challenges the West is facing in the 21st century convinced the world that the modernization is not equal to westernisation. So, China is not on the task to adjust to the Western world, but on the historical mission to make adjustments in order to be in better position to help the whole world.
There is no end of the history. Although it sounded adequate to the world of the 21st century and often as a logical and even comforting slogan to be put in the front of contemporary global challenges, while shrugging over the questions that Western modernization could not answer. But history continues on its inevitable way, whether or not we stand in front of it in silence. China is not silent. The pandemic is the best example of how loud China was when the rest of the world was silent.
The West had missed the opportunity to transform its dominant ideology and that opportunity was passed over when Western success had reached its peak. That peak unfortunately was not the platform for making world a better place, but it produced social injustice and further unsustainable development.
On the other hand, China did quite the opposite and today we are witnessing in China's path of modernisation the correction of all these Western mistakes. And this is not the first time China is helping out, or I would even dare to say - saving the world.
Wasn't, for example, the continued high growth of the Chinese economy the main driver of the global economic recovery during the global economic crisis of 2008-2012?
Or imagine modern humanity for a moment, without China's implementation of Deng's reforms simply pulling almost 800 million people out of the deepest poverty, who, with their newly created economic potential, changed the parameters of economic development, not only for China but for the overall world market.
Finally, let's imagine how the Western world would cope today with the unbearable challenge of a much larger influx of migrants than the current one, which would have happened if Deng's reforms and China's incredible success in eradicating poverty had been lacking.
Today, understanding China is inseparable of understanding the Chinese philosophy of modernization. It is a huge mistake of the West to perceive arrogantly that China is competing with it trying to reach its levels. No. China is changing the very nature of modernization, creating its own original way for thriving in the contemporary world. The way has been creating, not competing.
The ideology that once won came to a dead end where capitalism has more victims than winners, where nature fights back exploitation and where human being as individual is left alone. With the progress forward, people were left behind. With material wealth that celebrated the exploitation of resources, nature was left behind. With celebrating populism, democracy was winning.
And in those circumstances, China did not respond with an old ideology, but with revolutionary transformation of it. China reminded us that we need new Marxism.
That is why I feel free to propose the new word- harmonization. Because, the nature of the word modernization can be interpreted differently in various cultures, which might easily lead to new misunderstandings. China should use its success to propose new ideology to the world. The ideology of harmonization.
Humanity today does not have an adequate response to the challenges it faces.
I will shed light on just one example, which testifies to the absurdity of today's civilization.
The corona pandemic has so far affected nearly 240 million people, of whom 4.8 million have lost their lives. And no one can predict with certainty its further course. The most painful fact is that there is again a lack of global solidarity and cooperation in the research, production and distribution of vaccines and necessary medical equipment. At the same time, COVID-19 hit the world economy hard, causing crises and mass layoffs in both poor and rich countries. However, this crisis has not affected individuals- the possessors of the world's greatest wealth. The wealth of the ten people who were the richest in the world in December 2020, despite the pandemic according to the Oxfam analysis, increased by half a trillion dollars, to 1.12 trillion dollars. That is enough money to vaccinate the entire world population against COVID-19 and to ensure that no country becomes impoverished due to the pandemic, the analysis states. This fact only clearly testifies to the unsustainability of the existing global economic order, its absurdity and deep inhumanity.
Let us recall at this point the thoughts of Confucius, who said that only the great inequality is worse than the poverty. And that is exactly why the time has come for a New Global doctrine of Harmonization, which is a precondition for sustainability and global peace, not just development.
The path of Chinese modernization is a fascinating juncture of its tradition and philosophy reflected in its development and social reality. I would say that the philosophy of Confucianism is a milestone of Chinese perception of development today and in the very heart of it lies the harmonization.
Social harmonization that China is offering today is the solution to global challenges that came out as a result of unbalanced development that caused estrangement and conflict. On the contrary, China is offering accelerated development, but with the attention on avoiding these negative outcomes.
In regard to development, what China has achieved within decades- it took the West centuries. But China's development implies that economic, cultural, political, social and ecological sectors are to be developed simultaneously. And I would say that one of the most important innovations that China is offering is the fact that the development is perceived through the lenses of civilization.
In China's modernization drive, new models of industrialization, informatization, urbanization and agricultural modernization will develop simultaneously. The scale and speed of modernization in the world's most populous country are unprecedented and will inevitably have a profound impact on the world.
According to the blueprint for its development in the next 5 to 15 years, which is under review at the "two sessions," China will accelerate forging a new development paradigm of "dual circulation" in which domestic and overseas markets reinforce each other with the domestic market as the mainstay.
China is seeking a modernization in which the construction of economic, political, cultural, social and ecological civilization is jointly promoted.
The unbalanced advancement of modernization can cause estrangement and conflict. Economic growth does not necessarily do away with social difficulties. On the contrary, certain types of growth actually cause these problems.
China rejects such types of modernization path. With its GDP exceeding the 100-trillion-yuan (about 15.42 trillion U.S. dollars) mark in 2020, China has explicitly stated that it will strive to keep its economy running within an appropriate range during the 2021-2025 period rather than just getting a numerical success.
Although the modernization of the West has created unprecedented material wealth, it has also led to the waste of resources and environmental damage.
In the modernization China is striving for people and nature to exist in harmony.
China's modernization involves not only a drastic increase in economic production capacity, but also comprehensive social progress. China seeks a people-centered modernization that is different from the Western model in which capital is the primary driver and dominant logic.
It is worth mentioning that people-centered modernization is in line with the highest ideals and value pursuits of Marxism, whose goal is to benefit the people and ultimately achieve the full development of each individual.
However, the explosive growth of the Chinese economy is no longer a surprise and news to the world, but a growing and ubiquitous patriotism and pronounced pride of Chinese citizens - a natural consequence of such accelerated social, technological and economic development unparalleled in recent world history.
This new sense of universal pride in belonging to such a prosperous nation is an additional factor of accelerated development and it functions flawlessly internally. However, in a world of Western domination, it arouses suspicion. It, in turn, often grows into a fear of a new phenomenon of Chinese nationalism, which the West sees as a potential factor in China's aspiration to take over global domination.
The absurdity of this moment of our common political reality lies in the very fact that, above all, the Western superpowers, which have been taking over the role of global leader for centuries, are denying such right to others. Such a position on the podium of global arrogance only leads to a conclusion that the Western world considers that such role naturally belongs to them.
While not denying the enormous contribution of Western civilization to the overall development of the world, such an attitude is even more absurd if we bear in mind the terrible sufferings and problems that same world faced during global and regional wars and the huge socio-economic differences resulting from neoliberal political philosophy and global order in which humanity still functions today.
Every country has the right to choose its own modernization path. The Chinese model of modernization offers a new option to other countries and nations who want to speed up their development while preserving their independence. It also offers Chinese wisdom and Chinese approach to solving the problems facing humanity.
(The opinions expressed in this article reflect those of the author, not neccesarily those of the People's Daily.)
By Boris Tadi? | People's Daily app 19:49, October 18, 2021
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The word 'Networking' is thrown around quite a bit, but doing it right truly is a craft. It's a craft that Holly McKhann is very focused on perfecting, and today she shares some amazing tips with us in that regard…all in the name of doing more real estate deals. In this episode, Holly shares a bunch of great networking tips, from the importance of face to face networking, how to find people that may help you in non-typical places, how to network via social media and much more. It's a do-not-miss episode of the FlipNerd.com Flip Show. Don't miss it!
Meet Holly McKhann, professional investor and networking pro!
Learn from Holly's tips on how to buy more houses through consistent networking.
Join the conversation on how to become memorable and stand out from the crowd.
Mike: Welcome to the FlipNerd.com podcast. This is your host, Mike Hambright. And on this show I introduce you to expert real estate investors, awesome entrepreneurs and super cool vendors that serve our industry. We publish new shows each week and have hundreds of previous shows and tip videos available to you, all of which you can access by visiting us at FlipNerd.com or visiting us in the iTunes store.
By the way, FlipNerd.com is the most robust social platform in existence for real estate investors where you can find off market wholesale deals in your market, find great local vendors to help you in your business in your market, and socialize, learn and grow with others in our industry. There's truly nothing like it. If you're not already a member, please visit us at FlipNerd.com today, where you can set up a free account in about 30 seconds. Everybody's doing it, the cool kids and even the nerdy ones, so get on over to FlipNerd.com. And now let's get started with today's show.
Hey, it's Mike Hambright with FlipNerd.com. Welcome back for another exciting VIP interview, where I interview some of the most successful real estate investing experts and entrepreneurs in our industry to help you learn and grow. Today I'm joined by Holly McCann. She's a Southern California-based real estate investor that has flipped hundreds of houses and learn through really evolution the importance of networking. So Holly has really become an expert at networking to find deals and today she's going to share her knowledge with us via several great ways that you can use networking to find deals.
We really can't talk about the stuff enough so it can be a great show. Before we get started, though, let's take a moment to recognize our featured sponsors.
Mike: Hey, Holly, welcome to the show.
Holly: Hey, thanks for having me. I'm so excited to be here.
Mike: Yeah, yeah. This is a great topic too. I'll tell you a couple of stories along the way as you kind of share your experiences but so many people either don't network or they go about networking really all the wrong ways, if they do anything. so it is going to be interesting to kind of hear some of your lessons today.
Holly: I'm excited to share them.
Mike: Yeah, great, great. Well, hey, before we get started into that topic, talk a little bit about how you got started. I know, like my wife and I, you and your husband work together and you're corporate refugees and all those things, so kind of share your story with us.
Holly: Sure, I'd be happy to. Well, my background is, which I didn't even tell you this before, but I used to be a CPA. So fresh out of college I went to work for a CPA firm, Ernst & Young, worked full-time as a CPA five years, got married, took a break and had four babies, stayed home, not all at once but you know . . .
Holly: Had four kids, stayed home with them and was not really working too much, doing things like teaching aerobics. Anyway, my husband has been in engineering and home building his whole career.
Holly: The last part of his corporate life was working for various home builders for eight years. During that time, separately on the side he had found a piece of land to auction and title – that was his specialty, still is – and got this land ready to flip, flipped it, was able to quit his job and we started investing after that.
Holly: We originally did kind of a large project right after that thinking we were going to do something big, did this condo conversion that didn't do so well, so we decided to start flipping houses one at a time and that's worked out really well for us. We've done over 200 here in Southern California and it's been really good fun. I won't say easy but it's definitely fun.
Mike: This is not an easy business. A lot of people who don't have the experience like you do think it's easier than it is, but it's a hustle business, no doubt about it, right?
Holly: Definitely, and every single deal you know something comes up, like weird things and requests for repairs from the sellers or just last week I had a house that didn't appraise for the purchase price because it was such a hot deal and it just got bid up and then it didn't appraise for what it got bid up. I mean, there's just something different on every deal that we learn.
Mike: I agree with that. Awesome. Well, so talk a little about kind of how you evolved to realize how important networking is. It's something that I actually talk about quite a bit so I'm excited to swap stories a little bit, but just talk about kind of how you got to that point and just why it is important.
Holly: Well, at the beginning of our house flipping career we would go to the courthouse steps here in Southern California, Riverside, Corona. We had a team and it was really easy. Whenever we had cash, we could buy a house within 24 to 48 hours, sometimes 1 hour. My husband was like this deal junkie so we would get the cash in the bank from a deal that closed and he'd be like, "Holly, has the wire hit? Has the wire hit?" As soon as that money came in, we'd run to the courthouse steps with the cash in hand, we're ready to buy another house and the banks were just offloading their inventory when they see a good deal.
Mike: So also, the auctions in California, are those every day?
Mike: So, what do you offer them that some people refer to as kind of double-ended? So they made a commission when they bought it, they made a commission again when they . . . you allowed them to sell it for you and presumably make their full commission on it.
Holly: Yeah, and we were so perfect and loyal in that. On one of these deals, we had someone come to us during the rehab and say – it was a realtor that lived nearby the house, and he said, "We have a buyer for your house, but of course I want to represent the buyer and then we want to sell it too." It was this weird thing where they wanted to buy and to sell. So we let him do it and we paid the realtor that got us the deal, so we paid three commissions. Now, it was a fat enough deal that we could do that.
Our realtor was so shocked. His name's Pete, and Pete was like, "Wow! Really?" and then we did another seven deals with him after that, so it was well worth it to not only have integrity, but take care of people, assuming you can. If you can't and the deal doesn't work and you explain it, it's different.
Mike: Right. So talk a little about kind of that phenomenon of how you kind of appeal to realtors to find you deals because they've got the chance to make more money but talk a little bit about why that made sense for them, other than the obvious.
Holly: Well, I'm an easy client. I'm a lot easier buyer for them to work with than someone who's like, "I don't like that yellow wall." They know that we're just looking at big picture.
I'm just really nice and warm and friendly. I'm like, "Hey, Mike, I'm always looking for people to work with and to join my team, and if you could help me find houses to flip, I'll buy it and resell it with you, 100% loyal guaranteed. Is that something that would be of interest to you?" "Yes, of course!" I'll say, "Okay, so when you come across a house, I'm looking to buy something in about 70-80% of after repaired value, and sometimes I'll throw out the term ARV. That means what it would sell for fixed up, all beautiful, it's going to get the top dollar.
Their wheels start spinning like and I even go through the math because not every realtor is a math whiz and that's okay, I love them anyway. So I'll say, "For instance, if the house would sell for $500,000 fixed up, you multiply that times 70%, I would need to buy it at about $350,000. So $500,000 times 70% is $350,000." I make it really basic and easy. I know you can whip through numbers super fast and easy but make it make it doable for them.
I'll tell them, "I don't expect you to know rehab costs, construction costs, anything like that. Just if it's in that ballpark, send it over to me." I just look for three things in e-mail. Number one, purchase price, like what you think I can get it for because sometimes they'll have the inside track from their friend in the office of what it would sell for." Number two, the after repaired value with comps to support it, like at least three comps that say, "This is what it's going to resell for." Comps is comparables.
Number three, I ask for a list of repairs. What do you think it needs? What kind of construction does it need to make it fetch that price that you suggested? I say, "Please don't put me on your automatic MLS email thing.
Holly: Right, right. I talked to probably 100 realtors for every 1 that embraces that and tries to send me stuff. Maybe 50 to 1 because a lot of them are like, "Oh, yeah, that sounds awesome," and they never do anything with it. It's kind of frustrating because I say, "Hey, I've done this 200 times. I'm going to keep doing it. I need deals. I'm a sure thing. I'm going to buy houses," and still we can only do so much with them.
Mike: What do you think it is that so few embrace that? I'm not saying anything bad about realtors. My wife is as an agent as well. But why do is there such a divide between kind of the retail side of the business and the investor side of the business, in the realtor mindset?
Holly: I think it's too hard for them. It's just too overwhelming. I know some investors will throw out an Excel spreadsheet at them and say, "Do the spreadsheet and calculate this and what's my ROI?" and they throw out terms or the poor realtor's just like, "Oh my gosh. I have no idea what this person's talking about. That way too hard. Investors are too hard to work with." So you have to be friendly and warm and not putting them down and not be condescending and just be like, "Hey, this is what I need. I'd love to work with you." Make it easy for them.
Mike: Yeah. So talk about the importance of . . . I know you're big on talking to people face to face. So many people want to sit behind a computer or behind a email or call people on the phone because you can obviously cast a wider net that way but just talk about the importance of doing this stuff face to face versus kind of over the phone or through the Internet.
Holly: Sure. Yeah, and I'll share a quick story of going to a networking group too. Well, and I just love to preface this by saying, especially if I'm speaking in front of a group, I like to say, "How many of you got in trouble in school, especially elementary school, for talking to your neighbor and getting in trouble for talking? That was me! Now, it can help make you tons of money." I'd love to go back to my teachers and say, "Ha! Helped me make millions so who's the one in trouble now?" So having the gift of talking to people and getting better at that can make you millions of dollars. No question.
I love to go to formal and informal networking groups. There's an organization called BNI. We have one out in Southern California called Team. There's Chamber of Commerce, a few on meetup.com – those are networking groups. So if you go these, you can join them, you can just visit them.
So this kid, Joel, had eight realtors call me within 24 hours. I couldn't believe it because he's a big networker. You've got to leverage the good people to leverage and one of those agents I bought and sold two houses with and he got his check for $500. That's another thing I teach is not only have integrity and do what you say you're going to do, but what gets rewarded gets repeated. It's like kids or dogs, you give them a reward for something and they're going to do more. Joel saw me on Facebook a couple months ago and started having realtors call me again because he remembered he got $500 for doing that so.
Mike: One of the really interesting things about networking is you never know who you're going to meet.
Mike: You never know who knows who, and I think what you end up finding out if you're kind of a master networker if you start to do this, just how small the world is, about how you meet somebody that you had no idea knows some of the same people you know or knows somebody that you want to know that you never have guessed, it's really amazing.
Mike: Absolutely, absolutely. So what are some other tips that you use for networking? You talked a little bit about this guy, Joel, saw you on Facebook. How important is social media terms of networking?
Holly: I don't access social media as much as I should but it has worked for me. So one time a few years ago I put out just a post on my Facebook wall saying, "Hey, friends, if any of you know of any realtors, I'm always looking for realtors to buy houses from." I really focus on realtors because I think more people know realtors then they do of a problem house, but I'll ask about houses too.
Holly: Say, "Hey, if anyone leads me to a realtor, I'll pay you $250 again." So my girlfriend from junior high that had Facebook friended me, and we don't even really talk a lot, every few years or something, she said, "Hey, you should talk to my brother who is a realtor up in Apple Valley." "Okay." Sure enough, that led me to buy and flip a couple houses with him and she got her check for $500 once again. I don't just say, "Hey, who do you know?" But I always tell them that I'm going to reward them with money. You can do whatever and if you can't afford $250, and depending on your market maybe it's a restaurant gift card, but people just love to be appreciated and rewarded.
Mike: There's no doubt about it.
Mike: Yeah, that's one of the things that I teach people on is the importance of a lot of people – and eventually I'm going to get your thoughts on this – some people have heard me say this before, so for those that are listening that have heard this before, I'm sorry. I say, "How people think they're good at going to networking events, REIA clubs, things like that and meeting people? Just keep your hand up until I say something that doesn't apply to you." So everybody kind of raises their hand, most people.
Then I say, "You gather a lot of business cards while you're there and meet a lot of people and stick them in your pocket, get home, put a rubber band around it and throw it in a drawer, never to be seen again," and very few hands go down because a lot of us have associated networking with just the initial meeting where you and I both know the magic that happens is the ongoing relationship. So talk a little bit about how you kind of maintain those relationships once you've made them.
Holly: Well, one thing I will do – I learned this from a master network – is I'll take a business card and, here's one for Maui Mastermind, if you meet someone in a meeting that you think is someone you really want to talk to, especially you meet a lot of people it's hard to remember who's which, fold the little corner of the card down like that and then that's like, "Oh that's a hot person that I need to follow up with like." And I shouldn't say "hot person"; I should say "hot lead".
Mike: Yeah, they may or may not be hot. Yeah.
Holly: So that's great and what I will do is I'll stick those cards in my car in the little center console, and when I'm on the road, because I'm on the road a little bit checking out houses and going to network meetings, I pull over and will go, "Hey, Ralph, I met you at the such and such meeting. I just wanted to talk to you a little bit more. What are you looking for? How can I help you?" and I'm always looking for ways to work together whether they're a source for private money, source for deals, source for a realtor, source for contractors. You never know and I just like to get that conversation open and going to see how it goes.
In my e-mail I have a, I guess it's called a list, where I categorize realtors and I will shoot out an e-mail to realtors every so often with a reminder – not with all each other's contact, in a Bcc. I don't have anything official like constant contact or anything going yet, but I know investors that do that. Just put in that title "Cash buyer needs house. I need to buy houses for cash now," and just remind them the three things I want – a purchase price, ARV, requests for repairs. "I have cash. I'm ready to buy a resell with you." So I'll follow up with realtors with e-mail.
Another thing I've done is I use a service called "SendOutCards", which is a network marketing company and I use their photo cards, especially if I get a photo at a club or a face to face meeting and I'll shoot them an actual physical card. I wish I had one out, but it's a five by seven greeting card with a picture on it. It looks really nice and people will save pictures of themselves. If it's a picture of them, they're not going to throw it away. If it's just a marketing brochure they might not keep it.
Mike: So what do you send them? You send them a picture of what?
Holly: If I'm at a club and I get pictures, which some of clubs I go to, we take some pictures, especially InvestCLUB for Women, even though men are there too. We take lots of pictures.
Mike: Especially if they are hot, right? If they're hot, you take a picture?
Mike: Especially if they're hot, you'll take a picture?
Holly: Yeah, they're hot. So I'll send them a card, or especially with a realtor I'll say, "Hey, it was really nice to meet you," with a realtor. "Thanks for taking the time to listen to what I'm looking for. I'm looking forward to doing business with you." Sometimes I won't have a picture of them but I'll send a picture of me and my family or my kids or something, and it's just a great way to follow up and stay at the top of their mind.
I can't tell you how many times a realtor will see me at a meeting or something like, "Oh, Holly, you would have been good for that deal last week. I forgot about you." I'm like, "Dang! How are you forgetting about me?" I'm not doing my job of staying at the forefront of their mind.
Mike: Yeah. Back to that kind of that comment of throwing those cards in a drawer somewhere, it's important to follow up with those people because very rarely are you going to meet somebody that says, "Oh, you're looking for distressed houses at a deep discount? I've got five of them right now." It's going to be like six months or two years later when they come across that and they think of you and they're not going to think of you unless you're top of mind, right?
Holly: Right, exactly. Yeah, that's definitely one way or I'll even text some realtors. It just kind of depends on your relationship with the person how you think the best way to contact them, or Facebook message. Post on their Facebook wall or one of their comments, comment on something that they've done. That's a great way to compliment them on something going on in their life on a Facebook post.
People love to be appreciated and complimented. Then they're like, "Oh yeah, Holly, what does she do? Oh yeah, she's that house flipper." Yeah, just a nice way to stay in the front of their mind.
Mike: That's great. Any other kind of tips that you can share with us today, secret sauce that you want to share a little more of?
Holly: Yeah, I would just say don't be afraid to tell people what you're doing and what you're looking for. Just like I mentioned at the networking groups and on Facebook, another what I would call lifestyle networking moment I had was I had called my daughter's club volleyball owner. She was in this club volleyball team and I called him to say, "Hey, how do I sponsor the team because I'm looking for a way to cover her fees but have it be a tax write off," you know the CPA in me.
This is like nine in the morning, on my way to the gym, I was talking to him. I got home, my husband I immediately checked it out online, ran comps, we were down there within a few hours. He was in charge of this lady's estate that had passed away. It was his neighbor. She had no family so he was the listing agent and he negotiated this great deal for us and we fixed and flipped this house because I wasn't afraid to pounce on that word of his "real estate sign company".
My radar is up. I'm always listening to those words and if I had just been like, "Oh, that's nice you're a realtor," in the past I would have missed out on that great opportunity on that fun little house in Laguna Beach we flipped.
Mike: Yeah, I want to kind of reiterate something that you've you said not necessarily explicitly, but I think it would be good to restate it for people to listen again is that a lot of the networking opportunities that you have to find people are not necessarily real estate focused events, just kind of general networking, and part of that is the reality if you go where everybody else is trying to meet the same people you are, there's just more clutter and noise, right?
Holly: Absolutely. Yeah. I'll share, as I see this in the background, the way that I stood out. So here is my little networking hat. I was invited from my escrow company to a Women's Council of Realtors Tea Party. Two hundred ladies dressed up in nice dresses, it was the afternoon, fancy tea, and they requested you wear a nice dress and a hat – not this kind of hat, that's not what they meant but I showed up in this. All the other ladies had their fancy hats and dresses and I definitely got noticed in this.
All the realtors are like, "Why are wearing a hard hat? What's that about?" Open the door of conversation, I'm like, "Well, I'm a house flipper. May I have your card? I'm always looking for realtors to work with." So don't be afraid to stand out. I wore this a few times and people call me now the pink hard hat lady.
Mike: There you go. There's so much truth in standing out in a crowd because especially when you go to specific networking events, there's so much noise and so much clutter, how do you get kind of that share of mind.
Mike: Any advice on what to write on sandwich boards that you might wear at an event?
Holly: "Make money with me!" I don't know. You don't want people to think they have to be a realtor to find house deals for you either. Sometimes it's just them accessing their mind with that particular activating system, like when they say, oh, as soon as you get a red Ferrari, you notice everyone has red Ferraris. Maybe not in your town but I guess there's a few of them down here.
Anyway, if you are trying to get people to think of and notice the ugly rundown problem houses or when their buddy says, "Oh, I've got this horrible rental and these tenants keep trashing it," for them to tell you about it, that's what you want you want and I think you know when they hear that.
Mike: Yeah. Can you share any tips on, from a networking perspective, what your marketing pieces are, like business cards and things like that, or kind of advice that you give people on how to not get the cheapo Vistaprint card that says "Vistaprint" on the back? I don't know if you have anything physically to share there but just some advice you could give on how people can kind of stand out through their collateral? I know some people give larger business cards or, yeah.
I just have the word "real estate investments" on my card because I used the same card to talk to people about private money as I do all kinds of things, so I probably could step that up. I have a little half sheet flyer that I print in usually a neon color that I try and have with me to give to realtors that says, "Hey, find houses for me. I'll buy it with you and resell it with you guaranteed. Contact me for more information." So just a half sheet, it's not that fancy. I could definitely do better but it's really nice to have that.
If I see a realtor I can whip that out and hand it to them and say, "Hey, here's my program. I'm always looking for realtors. You can make double or triple or quadruple commissions with me and I want you to make money. I want this to be a win-win," and they love that. So that's something I do. That's about it. I have my business cards on that slide.
Mike: One thing about business cards and flyers or any marketing collateral you have that I kind of advise people is make sure you get like a Rubbermaid container, like a small one or something and just keep it in your trunk because there's nothing worse than going to an event and realizing you forgot your business cards or you ask people like something that you can help or that you want to work with, "Do you have a business card?" you're like, "Oh, no, I'm sorry. I didn't bring any today." That's so unprofessional, right?
Holly: Yes, yes, 100%. You've always got to have something with you. If you don't get their card and e-mail them and say, "Oh, I'd love to send you my contact info," it's a great excuse to call them later and have a little couple minute conversation about what's in it for them, that radio station WIIFM, What's In It For Me. Think about why does this person want to help you, well you're going to give them a referral fee or they're going to get a real estate commission or something. Just make it about them.
Mike: Yeah, absolutely. One other thing I'd say that I kind of tell people about networking is kind of back to the getting the business cards and throwing them in a drawer, is for people that there's something there, the ones that you dog-eared that we're hot, the hot people, and even if they're not that hot, just send a simple email, "Hey, it was great to meet you tonight or last night or whatever it was and if I can ever help you with this or if you ever come across that," whatever it is because I think you could probably agree that most people at networking events, you can probably remember how many times that's happened to you. You've probably collected hundreds or thousands of business cards, but when somebody takes a step above and kind of acknowledges that we met and there might be something here for us to work with, it's so rare it's kind of a shame isn't it.
Holly: Oh absolutely, yeah. For sure, follow up emails and right going along with that, put the same picture that's on your business card in your email because that's your branding they're going to recognize because maybe they met 20 people that night at the meeting too with your photo or whatever and they're like, "Oh, yeah, Holly, the pink hard hat lady," or whatever it is. "Mike, the ugly house guy, oh yeah." Definitely do as much as you can to stay at the top of their mind.
Then maybe ask them, "Hey, would you mind if I checked in with you once a month or every couple of weeks and let me know what you're looking for." If you're an insurance guy, "Hey, what kind of leads are you looking for? I'm going to be on the lookout. Tell me more about your business." They're going to be a lot more excited take your call or open your email than if you're just like, "Buy a house, buy me a house," and you're, "Give, give," I mean, push, push, your thing. But if you're giving to them, they're going to look for ways to help you.
Mike: Absolutely. That's great advice. Holly, just kind of one last thing. If people want to learn more about some of what you're doing or maybe how they could work with you, I know you have a woman's group and you teach networking things, where should they go?
Holly: Well I have a new website that will be up in just a couple of weeks with a lot of these great networking secrets it's called houseflipmasters.com, so houseflipmasters.com.
Mike: Okay. Awesome. Well, we'll add that down below. Holly, thanks so much for sharing your insights today. That's very good stuff.
Holly: Such a pleasure. Thanks, Mike.
Thanks for joining us for today's Flipnerd.com podcast. To watch or listen to more great shows, please visit Flipnerd.com or visit us in the iTunes store. To access the most robust social platform in existence for real estate investors, where you can find off-market wholesale deals, great vendors literally in your market and to socialize with other like-minded individuals, please visit the one, the only, flipnerd.com. If you're not yet a member, you can set up a free account in about 30 seconds. It's pretty much the coolest site that's ever existed in the real estate investing industry, so get on over to flipnerd.com.


text:
EU-UK Draft Agreement-1
Posted on January 2, 2021 January 6, 2021 by Nandeu
It will take several posts, of which this is the first, to go through this Agreement, even superficially. It is officially a draft, presumably because it still has to be approved by the EU Parliament (the House of Commons has approved). The general view, as we write, is that the Agreement is satisfactory. We will point out where we think otherwise.
This is not a lawyerly dissection of the Agreement but we hope it gives a fair impression of its content.
Having studied the Agreement further we have decided to limit our commentary to three (or possibly four) posts. In the main, public debate has been concerned with the trade in goods rather than services, other than financial, and the Single Market has not developed far for services either. Therefore our second post will focus on goods only while this post deals with the Preamble and Part One: Common and Institutional Provisions. The document takes up 1,246 pages of which the main clauses take about 400 pages and the rest are detailed annexes.
Although it is also a legal document, supposedly binding both parties to particular requirements, it is also a political document, as is witnessed by the opening paragraph:
REAFFIRMING their commitment to democratic principles, to the rule of law…
We have argued consistently and often that the EU is not democratic [1], though it professes its commitment to "democratic principles"–which is not the same thing. The UK's commitment to democracy at least specifies that its government is accountable to voters, who can dismiss the government.
We have also pointed out that the EU does not consistently adhere to its own rules of law [2].
But we need not take these "principles" too seriously, nor the rest of the Preamble, as these are not presented as legal requirements. The scene is set more simply by:
SEEKING to establish clear and mutually advantageous rules governing trade and investment between the Parties,
We hope that the rest of the Agreement is both "clear and mutually advantageous" but we expect to find some examples, in 1,246 pages, that are not so.
"RECOGNISING the Parties' respective autonomy…", is clearer and—if they mean it—sets up a firm commitment (we wonder what 'recognising' means to lawyers).
The next paragraph is less clear but perhaps can be dismissed as political propaganda: "BELIEVING in the benefits of a predictable commercial environment…in a manner conducive to sustainable development…". Commercial environments are rarely predictable and the EU has not so far kept its treaty promise to deliver much in the way of "economic, social and environmental" outcomes. (For example, a clearly bankrupt Italy (and others); high unemployment (especially for youth); Germany's use of lignite.)
One contentious area is smoothed away by their recognition that there is a need for the "partnership to be underpinned by a level playing field for open and fair competition and sustainable development".
Much else that the parties desire, consider, recognise, note, acknowledge and affirm we expect to find spelled out in more detail in the main text.
One final thing worth noting from the Preamble is "that the Parties may supplement this Agreement with other agreements forming an integral part of their overall bilateral relations as governed by this Agreement…", which leaves room for plenty of further argument.
We then move into the main text where they open with more sugary propaganda in Article COMPROV.1: Purpose:
This Agreement establishes the basis for a broad relationship between the Parties, within an area of prosperity and good neighbourliness characterised by close and peaceful relations based on cooperation, respectful of the Parties' autonomy and sovereignty.
(We assume that COMPROV refers to the title of this Part 1: Common and Institutional Provisions.)
The next article tells us a little more about "Supplementing agreements" and Article COMPROV.3 tell us that the parties shall assist each other "in full mutual respect and good faith", which we are told carries more weight in legal terms than in everyday use.
For reasons that are not explained the document then jumps to Article COMPROV.13, which states how this Agreement and any supplementing agreement are to be interpreted, including in the light of the Vienna Convention on the Law of Treaties, and that the courts and domestic law of each party will not bind the other party. This is reinforced, after the next jump, by Article COMPROV.16, which appears to completely remove the superposition of EU law—and the need to bend the knee to the CJEU—over domestic UK courts and law:
2. A Party shall not provide for a right of action under its law against the other Party on the ground that the other Party has acted in breach of this Agreement or any supplementing agreement.
Then we move to TITLE III: INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK, Article INST.1, which introduces the Partnership Council, the purpose of which is to "oversee the attainment of the objectives of this Agreement and any supplementing agreement."
The rest of this section (pages 11 to 17) details the powers and structure of the Council, and provokes few comments from us. It may, under some circumstances, amend the Agreement or any supplemental agreement, which may raise questions about the substance of the Agreement if it can easily be amended out of sight of its Parliaments.
Many specialised committees are set up by Article INST.2, some of which may turn out to be quite powerful themselves, for example: "explore the most appropriate way to prevent or solve any difficulty that may arise in relation to the interpretation and application of this Agreement or any supplementing agreement…" and "monitor and review the implementation and ensure the proper functioning of this Agreement…".
(References to "this Agreement" are invariably followed by "or any supplementing agreement".)
Article INST.3 sets up specialised Working Groups, under the supervision of Committees. Article INST.4: Decisions and Recommendations has this:
"1. The decisions adopted by the Partnership Council, or, as the case may be, by a Committee, shall be binding on the Parties and on all the bodies set up under this Agreement…" However, "Recommendations shall have no binding force."
Under Article INST.5: Parliamentary cooperation: "1. The European Parliament and the Parliament of the United Kingdom may establish a Parliamentary Partnership Assembly" which "shall be informed of the decisions and recommendations of the Partnership Council; and…may make recommendations to the Partnership Council." So, in practice, both parliaments will be sidelined.
Under Articles INST.6, .7 and .8 domestic advisory groups and a Civil Society Forum will have no powers and little to do but "promote public awareness" and "conduct a dialogue". So much for participative democracy.
[1] EU Treaties-2: Values & Democracy and Themes-15: Democracy
[2] Themes-10: Breaking EU Rules
A Fool and Our Money
"Imagine there's no countries"

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaCommonCrawl


text:
10 Types of Turtles Around the World
What types of turtles are there in the world? Let's take this exploratory journey together if you want to know about this and more about turtles.
Turtles are unique animals and cousins to the tortoise. While tortoises live on the land, the turtles' habitat is in the water. These reptiles evolved millions of years ago. They are among the oldest reptiles in the world existing before snakes and crocodiles.
Like other reptiles, you will come across different types of turtles on every continent except in Antarctica. In fact, scientific records show that there are over 300 species of turtles. Each of these species has its unique traits and characteristics.
However, some of them have since faced extinction due to poaching, harvesting of their eggs, and climate change. For this reason, many countries classify them under the endangered species category. This aspect gives them legal protection.
Currently, there are around 6.5 million turtles on the planet. Most are wild, while some are kept as pets, and at government conservancies.
While you will find many species of turtles as noted above, which are the main types?
Here is a list of types of turtles that you will find around the world.
What is a Turtle?
10 Main Types of Turtles
Types of Small Turtles
Can You Take a Turtle as a Pet?
Types of Pet Turtles
Before we even dive deeper into the different types of turtles, it is important first to understand this animal. A turtle is a type of reptile belonging to kingdom Animalia, class Reptilia, and order Testudines.
A turtle has over 13 families with different genus and species names.
This animal came to existence over 200 million years ago and evolved before other reptiles such as crocodiles and snakes. And, although the name turtle can include tortoise, the two animals differ significantly.
Turtles are water dwellers while tortoises live on land. Also, while both animals have their body encased in a bony shell, these shells differ in texture and design.
Each of the shells has a unique architecture that enables it to adapt to its habitat. For instance, when you look at their legs, you find that the tortoise has elephant-like feet.
Turtles on their part have flipper-like feet that enable them to swim.
When you visit different places in the world, you are likely to see different types of turtles. These turtles differ in their body characteristics. Some are good to keep as pets, while others reside in freshwater or salty water lakes and seas.
Here are the 10 main types of turtles around the world:
1. Leatherback Turtle
The leatherback turtle is the giant of all turtles. This turtle has a length of up to 6 feet, making it the largest turtle on the planet. Also, it travels the farthest and swims deepest, reaching up to a depth of over 3000 feet.
An adult Leatherback turtle weighs between 300 and 640 kgs. This turtle differs from other types of turtles mainly by its looks. Just a look at its shell is enough to help you identify this animal.
A leatherback has leathery unique shells with a thin layer with tough and rubber-like skin. The shell has thousands of bony plates, which make it pretty strong. Also, it is the only turtle in the sea that does not have a hard shell.
The Leatherback turtle carapace has seven distinct ridges spread across its body length. This carapace is flexible and does not have scales.
While most leatherback turtles will have a grey carapace, others will have a black carapace with white or pale spots. Also, there are turtles from this group that are pure black or whitish.
This makes it easier to differentiate them from other types of turtles in the sea.
Considering their feeding aspect, the Leatherback turtles feed on jellyfish and other jelly-like organisms. They cannot feed on hard-bodied organisms due to their delicate jaws.
And when it comes to reproduction, Leatherback reproduces through laying eggs. The turtle can lay up to 80 fertilized eggs. The female turtle has a specific nesting beach but can change from time to time.
You will find them in Alaska all the way in South Africa.
2. Loggerhead Turtle
source: en.wikipedia.com
Next on our list of turtles is the loggerhead. These types of turtles get their name from having a large or log-like head. Unlike the Leatherbacks, these turtles are known to have pretty strong jaws, and also lack ridges on their carapace.
Instead, they have scales or scutes, which are large and non-overlapping. The carapace is bony and with a heart-like shape, and adult turtles have a reddish-brown carapace with yellowish-brown plastron.
The loggerheads can grow up to a length of up to 3.5 feet and weigh between 70 and 170 kgs. Unlike leatherbacks, they feed on shellfish, crabs, and other small sea invertebrates. The strong jaws are effective in crushing hard shells.
Loggerheads lay eggs in 3 to 6 nests per season. Each nest can consist of between 100 and 126 eggs that incubate for 60 days.
Considering their habitat, loggerheads live in the coastal bay and shallow waters. You will find them mostly in the Atlantic, Pacific, and Indian oceans. They prefer tropical temperatures and waters and can find them in any ocean around the tropical region.
3. Green Turtle
This turtle gets its name from the color of the green fats found under its shell. Green turtles feature a carapace with zero ridges. This part has four lateral scales that are large and non-overlapping.
Its prefrontal single pair of scales is what makes it distinctive from other turtles.
The turtle has an oval-like body which is flatter than other turtles in this family. This turtle has two sub-groups; the black sea turtles and the Pacific green turtles.
The green turtles' carapace color ranges from pale grey to green. You will come along turtles in this group with brown, brilliant yellow, and green tones featuring radiating stripes. Their plastron also varies depending on the turtles' habitat.
Green turtles are ocean dwellers. The Pacific green turtle features bluish, green, and dark grey plastron, while the Atlantic has dirty white, white, or yellowish ones. Their hatchlings are black or dark brown with a white bottom.
In terms of diet, adult green turtles feed on plants. While young, these turtles feed on insects, worms, algae, and grass. They can grow up to a length of 4 feet and weigh between 110 and 190 kgs.
Green turtles nest after every 2 years. They can nest 3 to 5 times per season and lay up to 115 eggs per nest. Since they feed on plants, they love to stay on the bays and unlikely to live in the open seas.
Notably, green fat under this species shell is a high sort for the element. People use it to make a delicious green turtle soup, which makes them an endangered species.
See related: Malayan Tiger
4. Kemp's Ridley Sea Turtle
source: fisheries.noaa.gov
Kemp's Ridley is one of the famous types of small turtles. These turtles have a length of 2 feet and weigh between 32 and 50 kgs. They have a moderate head and triangular.
Like the green turtle, their carapace has no ridges. Instead, it is large with non-overlapping scales divided into 5 rounded laterals. The adult carapace color is dark grey-green, featuring white or yellowish plastron, while their hatchlings have a jet black one.
These turtles have a strong and powerful jaw which enables them to feed on clams, crabs, mussels, jellyfish, fish, sea urchins, and squid. The common habitat of the Kemp's Ridley turtle is on the Caribbean shores in Northern Mexico.
Also, you will find a large number of these turtles in Texas, USA. These bay areas have sand or are muddy, offering the best habitat for this species.
Kemp's Ridley turtles have the most often nesting intervals. The nesting varies from one to three years. Unlike other turtles, these small turtles have a mass nesting approach called arribadas (meaning arrivals in English).
The turtle can lay up to 110 eggs per nest. Their eggs have an incubation of 55 days.
5. Hawksbill Turtle
source: britannica.com
Hawksbill is another turtle that fits in the small turtle group. Named after their head and hawk-like pointed beak, these painted turtles have a beautiful shell that attracts traffickers. Their head features two pairs of scales.
The Hawksbill turtles feature an elliptical-shaped carapace with four overlapping lateral scales. You will notice them by the color of their bright carapaces, which is yellow, orange, or brown.
These turtles have a small length of between 2.5 and 3 feet. They weigh between 46 and 70 kgs.
With sharp beaks, these turtles feed on carol reefs, sponges, shrimp, and squid. They also eat jellyfish and other small fishes.
On reproduction, the Hawksbill turtles have a nesting interval of 2 to 4 years. They can lay eggs 3 to 6 times during the nesting season, with each nest having an average of 160 eggs. The eggs take 60 days to hatch.
Hawksbills are rocky sea residents. As they feed on animals that reside on the rocks, their habitat is on the rocky areas, coast reefs, and lagoons. So, you can come across these turtles on all tropical waters be it the Pacific, Atlantic, or Indian oceans.
Like many sea turtles, the Hawksbills face the threat of harvesting due to their expensive shell. Their shell is popular for making jewelry, decorative items, and hair ornaments.
See related: West African Manatee
6. Flatback Turtle
seeturtles.org
Flatback turtles are also among turtles that don't grow too big. They have a length of up to 3.25 feet and weighs around 90kgs. As the name suggests, they have a flat body.
Their carapace is oval or sometimes round with non-overlapping scales. The carapace color is olive-grey with yellowish or pale brown tones on the margins. Their heads have prefrontal single pair scales.
Like most turtles, Flatbacks feed on invertebrates such as jellyfish, mollusks, sea cucumbers prawns, bryozoans, and weeds. These species score high when it comes to hatching. The turtles nest 4 times per season, laying up to 50 eggs per nest.
These eggs take up to 55 days to hatch. Also, they are not widespread like other species. You can only find them in Australia and the New Papua Guinea region of the Pacific Ocean.
7. Olive Ridley Turtle
source: worldwildlife.org
These small turtles get their name from their olive-colored carapace. They have a small head and 6 lateral scales on their carapace. Their length range between 2 and 2.5 feet with a weight of up to 45 kgs. Unlike their counterparts, these turtles are omnivores meaning they feed on both sea insects or invertebrates and plants.
When the nesting season kicks in, a mass of thousands of female turtles goes to the beaches to lay eggs. So, they follow the behavior of the Kemp's Ridley turtles. The Olive Ridley turtles have annual nesting with two seasons.
They lay up to 110 eggs per nest, and these eggs take between 52 and 58 days to incubate and hatch. Their nesting grounds are along the coasts of Central America and India.
Turtles are superb animals and amazing to watch. For this reason, you might think of creating a local habitat and raise some turtles. But, which are the best types of turtles to take as pets?
8. Red Eared Sliders
If you are looking for a pet turtle, the red-eared slider tops the list of the most popular species. They are more sociable and easier to bond with, compared to most of their relatives. Also, they are quite active and easy to find.
Red-eared sliders are among the turtles that stay small forever, and best suited for indoor aquariums – although you can still rear them outdoors. However, you must ensure you get them the right shelter, cleaned, and with warm temperatures.
This semiaquatic turtle is among the most popular types of turtles in the US and the rest of the world. Red-eared sliders can grow up to 16 inches, although the average size is around 8 inches.
The turtle can live up to 40 years with the right conditions, although this tends to be shorter when the turtle is domesticated.
See related: Great Hammerhead Shark
9. African Sideneck Turtles
source: africafreak.com
These are small freshwater turtles that have their roots in sub-Saharan Africa. This turtle species gets its name from its distinct long neck, which usually can't retract fully from the shell. For this reason, they try to draw the neck to the side, folding it under the upper edge of the shell, and hence the name.
They are rounded in shape and can grow up to 17.7 inches. This makes them an incredible choice for a pet turtle. However, you should note that they are a bit complex to care for than many other turtle types.
For instance, you need to always keep the water clean. This can be achieved by getting the right filtration system, which will prevent frequent water changes.
They also require a large tank, as they are adept swimmers. Enough UV lights will also help to give them the right temperatures to busk under (always over 70 degrees)
10. Western Painted Turtles
source: animals.net
When it comes to looks, the western painted turtle certainly carries the day. They have a distinctive look, with detailed shell patterns and markings.
They are small, beautiful, and can fit either as indoors or outdoors pets. However, since they also like to swim, they will also require a large tank. Their home should also be warm and clean.
These types of turtles are native to North America, but you'll also find them in Canada and Northern Mexico. Female western painted turtles grow up to 10 inches, while the males only grow up to 6 inches.
These turtles are shy, love cuddling, and eat while swimming.
11 Horse Breeds: Different Types of Horses
20 Types of Sharks Around the World
12 Types of Monkeys from Around the World


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The following remarks by the Acting Chair were made at the conclusion of the Executive Board's discussion of the Global Financial Stability Report on March 14, 2003.
Executive Directors welcomed the first in the new series of semiannual Global Financial Stability Reports (GFSRs). They appreciated the strengthened analytical content of the GFSR, including the analysis of financial soundness indicators and the increasing focus on policy implications, and looked forward to its further development as a key instrument of multilateral surveillance.
Directors observed that the global financial system has remained resilient, despite significant geopolitical uncertainties and a hesitant and uneven global economic recovery. Markets continue to work off the excesses of the equity asset price bubble. Directors noted that the bursting of the bubble has revealed underlying structural weaknesses, which require carefully crafted policy responses.
Directors noted that, in the current unsettled international environment, consumers, businesses, and investors remain on the sidelines. They felt that this uncertainty could well persist for some time, going beyond immediate geopolitical concerns. Directors stressed that, in this difficult environment, policies to improve market confidence on a sustained basis remain of critical importance. They underlined their endorsement of continued supportive macroeconomic policies and wideranging measures in the structural area to address underlying market vulnerabilities.
Directors noted that a gradual improvement of financial conditions in mature markets has recently begun to take hold and, in particular, U.S. household and corporate sector'' balance sheets have strengthened somewhat. They cautioned, however, that this progress is still fragile, and that underlying vulnerabilities will require continued vigilance and policy attention. The corporate sector in a number of countries faces growing funding gaps in defined-benefit pension plans, as a result of lower equity prices and higher present values of pension liabilities due to lower interest rates. The improvement in the U.S. household sector's balance sheet rests crucially on continued strength in the housing market.
Directors noted that the financial sector in the mature economies presents a mixed picture. While banks with a strong retail franchise have performed reasonably well, wholesale and investment banks have been hard hit. Despite the authoritie'' renewed initiative to tackle the situation, the persistent weaknesses of Japanese banks remain a matter of concern. A number of Directors also highlighted the difficult situation facing the German banks in a context of low earnings, high costs, a deterioration in loan quality, and an erosion of hidden reserves as a result of the decline in the German equity market. Directors called for close monitoring of the deteriorating financial condition in the insurance sector in several European countries. The protracted weakness of equity markets has resulted in lower returns on assets and prompted sales of equity holdings, in some cases, to comply with solvency regulations.
Directors noted that the tendency of investors to remain on the sidelines has resulted in a significant accumulation of high-quality, short-term cash balances by retail and institutional investors. They saw the potential for deployment of these balances into more productive assets once investor sentiment recovers as a generally positive factor in the outlook. At the same time, a number of Directors cautioned that a sudden shift in asset preferences and prices could expose the unhedged positions of commercial banks and broker-dealers to considerable interest rate risk. A number of Directors expressed concern about the capital strength of the government- sponsored mortgage agencies in the United States. A number of Directors also pointed to the increased sensitivity to interest rate differentials resulting from the sizable reallocation of net capital flows to the United States away from equities and direct investment toward fixed-income securities.
Directors noted that an unsupportive external environment, together with investor concerns over the risk of policy discontinuity in key emerging market borrowers, had limited the availability and raised the cost of capital for most emerging market borrowers throughout most of last year. They were encouraged that the easing of global financial market conditions in the fourth quarter had led to a reopening of capital markets to many issuers, and that investor concerns about the direction of future polices in some major emerging market economies had abated. It was noted, however, that this recent development should be seen against the backdrop of the longer-term decline in capital flows to emerging market borrowers, which deserves further attention. Directors considered that the continued "feast or famine" dynamic in the primary market for emerging market bonds highlights the importance of self-insurance to mitigate—through sound economic frameworks and institutions—externally induced market volatility.
Many Directors saw the recent market developments as providing evidence of increased investor discrimination responding positively to the sustained pursuit of sound policies. Going forward, it will, nevertheless, remain important to consolidate this encouraging development and further reduce risks of contagion. Directors highlighted, in particular, the importance of further efforts, including by the IMF, to help investors distinguish among borrowers, and of policies aimed at promoting financial stability. They welcomed the improvements in banking sector regulation and capitalization in many emerging markets. They noted, however, that progress has varied by region, and that further measures are needed to bolster domestic banking systems. Directors also welcomed the recent issuance by Mexico of a bond that includes Collective Action Clauses (CACs) and encouraged other issuers to include CACs in future bond placements. They encouraged the staff to provide members with necessary advice to further this aim.
Against the backdrop of these adjustments in global financial markets in a difficult international environment, Directors saw a continued need for strong confidence-building measures. Macroeconomic policies in the major economies need to continue to respond flexibly to signs of an economic downturn. In particular, a continued supportive monetary stance would facilitate the process of balance sheet strengthening in the financial sector. In the structural area, Directors highlighted the need for legal and regulatory frameworks to support corporate and financial sector restructuring. In the case of Japan, the low profitability of Japanese financial institutions and the problem of nonperforming loans need urgent corrective action. German banks will need to address their low earnings through cost reduction measures, including consolidation.
Directors underscored the need for timely and sustained action to address the challenges facing insurance companies and the sponsors of defined-benefit pension funds. In the insurance sector, this will require intensified regulatory efforts to encourage sounder asset risk management practices, and, possibly, judicious adjustments to solvency standards to reduce the need to sell equities into a declining market. In the case of defined-benefit pension schemes, Directors highlighted the need to address the long-standing mismatch between pension fund assets and liabilities. It will also be important to adopt realistic actuarial assumptions for portfolio returns, while avoiding precipitous regulatory changes that could trigger a self-reinforcing decline in equity markets. Directors considered it especially important in the current environment to reassure investors that they face a level playing field in the financial markets and that they have access to full and accurate information on the health of publicly traded firms. The continuation of ongoing efforts to improve corporate governance, accounting, auditing, and investment banking practices therefore remains a high priority.
Directors observed that the "feast or famine" dynamic in emerging market financing and persistent credit tiering underscore the need for the consistent implementation of sound macroeconomic policies. In addition, they encouraged continued measures to deepen local securities markets, which can help provide a buffer against changing global financial conditions.
Directors welcomed the discussion in the GFSR of key policy issues related to the role that local securities and derivatives markets can play in strengthening the emerging market'' capacity to better weather global financial volatility. They noted that these markets can provide an additional and possibly more stable source of funding for domestic corporations and the public sector, and stimulate domestic savings by broadening the set of investment opportunities. Among the core policies to promote the development and ensure the smooth functioning of local securities markets, Directors highlighted measures to improve market infrastructure and transparency, strengthen corporate governance, develop liquid benchmarks, and promote a domestic institutional investor base. A few Directors noted the supportive role that foreign direct investment in the financial sector can play in this regard. Directors stressed that steps to develop local securities markets need careful sequencing, with the development of money markets typically being a crucial first step in developing bond and derivatives markets. In this connection, a suggestion was also made that country case studies could help guide the development of local securities markets.
Directors cautioned against heavy resort to bonds indexed to foreign currencies, which could increase vulnerability to external shocks and contribute to unstable debt structures. However, inflation-indexed bonds can be a useful instrument to deepen local bond markets. While local derivatives markets can facilitate the management of financial risk, Directors stressed that the development of such markets needs to be based on a strong supervisory and regulatory foundation.
Although local securities and derivatives markets have grown substantially over the last years, Directors observed that they have not yet developed enough to provide full insurance against the closure of banking or international markets, which in many cases may remain a remote prospect. Directors supported continued efforts to develop these markets given their potential to improve emerging market'' resilience.


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The Allman Brothers played their last show ever at the Beacon Theater on Tues., Oct. 28 and marked this momentous occasion with a good deed. The band generously donated a signed Remo drumhead to WhyHunger's Hungerthon, with all proceeds from the auction going to the fight against hunger and poverty.
Hungerthon is the nonprofit's largest fundraiser of the year, and the fuel that keeps the organization fighting hunger and poverty all-year long. Now in it's 29th year, the group has worked with hundreds of charitable celebs to supply exclusive gear, meet and greet packages and more, all in the name of lending a hand around the holidays.


I just moved to thompsons station so I am definitely interested in this trail. Any updates?
Speaking of Williamson - anyone heard about these trails they are building in Brentwood? They are building a park at the end of Split Log on Wilson. Someone told me 50 miles of trails and some of the for MTB? Anyone know what is up?
The City of Brentwood recently completed a master plan to guide the future development of Smith Park. The plan calls for the park to be accessed from a new road that would connect to Wilson Pike opposite Split Log Road to create a four-way intersection. This new access road will include a bridge over the CSX railroad and elimination of the existing at-grade driveway railroad crossing. Planned internal park improvements include renovation of the Ravenswood home and surrounding historic facilities for use by the public for special events (i.e. weddings, corporate events, etc.), development of hiking trails and associated trail heads within the wooded areas of the property, construction of four unlit multipurpose athletic fields used primarily for practice purposes, and a paved multi-use trail that will connect to the City's existing trail network. The plan also includes an area reserved for possible development of segregated mountain bike trails.
Engineering and architectural design work is currently underway on the first phase of park improvements, to include the new access road, limited hiking trail development and associated parking area, renovation of the Ravenswood home and parking areas to support public use of the historic home. This first phase of improvements is scheduled to be complete and the park open to the public in spring of 2014.
road will include a bridge over the CSX railroad and elimination of the existing at-grade driveway railroad crossing. Planned internal park improvements include renovation of the Ravenswood home and surrounding historic facilities for use by the public for special events (i.e. weddings, corporate events, etc.), development of hiking trails and associated trail heads within the wooded areas of the property, construction of four unlit multipurpose athletic fields used primarily for practice purposes, and a paved multi-use trail that will connect to the City's existing trail network. The plan also includes an area reserved for possible development of segregated mountain bike trails.
Wow. That is interesting. This does look good but will SORBA be with it? What will it be like? This sounds cool, but im curious.
I have no clue what my signature should be….
Sorba has not been involved in this trail. I emailed the Parks Board president asking for more information. I'll see what he comes back with.
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this post do not reflect those of NMB, Bill Gates, or the Internet. Void where prohibited. Paddlechris contains enough preservatives to theoretically live forever. Use of Paddlechris may be habit forming. If reading this post results in anything that lasts longer than 4 hours, seek medical help immediately.
In Williamson County. Within walking distance of the site mentioned on the 2nd page (Leipers Fork).


text:
<?php

namespace Mage\Weee\Test\Block\Product\ProductList;

use Magento\Mtf\Block\Block;
use Mage\Weee\Test\Block\Product\Price;

/**
 * Product item block on frontend category view.
 */
class ProductItem extends Block
{
    /**
     * Selector for price block class.
     *
     * @var string
     */
    protected $priceBlockClass = '.price-box';

    /**
     * Return price block.
     *
     * @return Price
     */
    public function getPriceBlock()
    {
        return $this->blockFactory->create(
            'Mage\Weee\Test\Block\Product\Price',
            ['element' => $this->_rootElement->find($this->priceBlockClass)]
        );
    }
}

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaGithub


In this blog I am going to explain how you can add events like video start, video complete ,ad cue point reached, ad start , ad complete etc.
Step 1: First setup kaltura in your application.
//kBind method is used to add listener to the player to listen to specific events happened in the player, such as the video is playing or is paused. The opposite of it is kUnbind method.
// This event triggeres once per video when first played.
// This event triggeres when video has reached the end of content playback.
//This event triggeres when the ad starts to play.
//This event triggeres when video has reached the end of content playback.


Many have said that how we react to the challenge of accommodating and integrating refugees and other displaced people will define our generation. It's our time now to stand up and be counted.
Last week we brought together a number of key players in the field of sport and refugees with the objective to share good practices, discuss challenges and define future cooperation in the area of sport and refugees.
This article represents an effort to share with you a slice of the information that was conveyed at last week's RESPONSIBALL Forum on Sport and Refugees in Lausanne.
A big thank you to the hosts, the University of Lausanne and AISTS, and the partners, including the City of Lausanne, the Football Unites Us project, UEFA, sportfordevelopment.org, and Wiz Team for helping SchweryCade to realise this event.
Equally as important, thanks also to those who made the day so enjoyable and productive: the participants. They came from all four corners of the sports world, local and international humanitarian organsiations, private organisations, media, academic institutions, as well as those with a refugee background who so bravely brought the topic to life by sharing their stories with us.
Welcome speeches by Oscar Tosato, Director of Sport and Social Cohesion at the City of Lausanne and François Bussy, Vice Rector of University of Lausanne served to demonstrate the importance of support from society actors for initiatives such as the Forum to further the work of all in the sector.
To set the context for the Forum, Rolf Schwery of SchweryCade reminded us that, in 2017, 52% of the world's 25.4 million refugees were children – under 18 years of age.
It was also underlined by a few of our speakers that the rhetoric around a "refugee crisis" in Europe was unfounded, considering that only 15% of that total number of refugees move to 'developed countries'. And especially when you consider that, from January to August 2015 one million refugees made their way across the Mediterranean to Europe, whereas during the same time in 2018 that number was down significantly to 60,000.
The question was posed a few times during the day as to whether there is a "crisis of leadership" in this field. Currently there appears to be 'ownership' of the topic of sport and refugees but a lack of organisations leading by example and being ready to commit to moving the issue forward.
Three Forum Ambassadors gave detailed and emotional accounts of their journeys to their adopted countries. Despite the tragic journey that lay behind him, Mamadi Camara recalled that he just wanted to play sport. And through the connections he made through football he was able to build a life here in Switzerland. Mamadi's focus now is to develop a football programme back in Guinea, his country of origin, to educate youth and encourage them not to leave, due to the dangers involved in making the journey to Europe.
Edmar Abdoelaev told of his journey from Chechnya to the Netherlands, via Germany, and explained how crucial it was to his own personal development that there were a number of sport options available at the reception centres he stayed in in Germany and the Netherlands, and how playing sport helped to rid him of the "negative energy" that had built up inside of him.
Finally, Emran Naderi, a 16 year old who left Pakistan at the age of 13, stood in front of the 100-strong audience speaking English – one of the seven languages he has mastered – explaining how difficult it has been to come to terms with the fact that had to grow up so quickly after having to leave his parents behind. His involvement in volleyball has given him some refuge from these responsibilities that have been forced upon him.
Nick Sore from the UNHCR presented 'Ten Challenges for Refugee Young People', a summary of the most important ten challenges to surface from the experiences of young refugees. Alongside this are seven solutions or 'core actions', suggested by the same survey group suggested. Among them was 'Recognise, utilise, and develop refugee youth capacities and skills' – a common recommendation that arose during the day.
Patrice Cholley from the IOC spoke about the importance of using sport as a "refuge" in sport, and therefore the consequent use of sport as a tool for the protection of refugees – minimising harm and maximising social impact.
The Sport for Protection toolkit was presented by Fleure Maricaux and is a product of the combined efforts of her organisation, Terre des hommes, together with UNHCR and the IOC.
During the presentation of UEFA's Good Practice Collection – Football and Refugees – Addressing key challenges, Piara Power of Fare network described the huge potential that national football associations have to play in this field, and remarked that involvement in social inclusion activities from FAs has grown exponentially in the past few years.
The question of continuity was raised in Workshop 2, in reference to funding and coordination by one main stakeholder. Des Tomlinson, from the Football Association of Ireland, said that a pertinent question to consider is, "If this all ends, can it continue?" And if it can't, then certain elements of the project need to be rethought. That is why the FAI's focus in on partnership and capacity building among NGOs.
This debate continued, with the question as to whether projects are too heavily reliant upon specific people. Julie Berg from the Norwegian FA explained that their strategy looks at people as part of a system within a structure. As long as the system functions there should be people to fill the various positions.
One audience member gave information about a research study that makes conclusions about the increased drop-out rate from mainstream football structures among adolescents, and especially female, refugees. She raised the point about the importance of considering informal or recreational participation structures as well.
The fact that key organisations and individuals working in this field were "living in silos" was one of the main issues that Amir Khosravi, from the FIFA Master programme highlighted as standing in the way to progress in this field.
Cristina Joss, of the University of Bern, recommended that organisations ensure that they "complement other initiatives" when they enter this field with a new programme.
He also outlined several perceived gaps which would need addressing, among them a "good overview or mapping of the sport and refugee field" and a lack of "policy-level guidance".
One message which came across in two or three of the scientific presentations was that refugees are not a homogenous group, and people often fall into the trap of prescribing projects with just that in mind.
The "complexity of inclusive programmes" – an expression introduced to us by Katrin Koenen of ICSSPE – reminds us that development programmes should be constructed in consideration of the individual needs of participants, or at least groups of participants, who may be male or female, originate from different countries, will certainly have had different experiences on their way to their adopted countries, and have different faiths and value systems.
Katrin focused on the use of sport as a tool to alleviate psychosocial trauma. She is a strong advocate of the "cautious approach", meaning no one can be fully informed on the extent of trauma someone has experienced. It therefore pays to approach different situations with due consideration of various possible reactions.
In another example of the complexity of inclusion programmes, Marianne Meier's extensive research informed us of various social-cultural ideals that often don't bode well for the use of sport as a tool for development. For instance, a survey revealed that one of the ideals of femininity at a refugee camp in Kenya was 'submissive'. Clearly, as Marianne, from the University of Bern, told us, "'submissive and 'sport' don't mix"!
Later in the day, we learned more about the CRRF, a portal developed with facilitation by the UNHCR, which "merges a humanitarian and development nexus to working with refugees" and serves to feed into the Global Compact on Refugees, and to inform those involved – or wanting to get involved in – 'comprehensive responses'.
An initial roll-out over two years, within 15 countries, focussed on an engagement across the areas of 'reception and admission', 'support for immediate and on-going needs', 'support for host countries and communities' and 'durable solutions', which include voluntary return and local integration.
Nick Sore, from UNHCR, explained that the Framework enables us to be more informed on various situations affecting refugees, as well as allowing us to identify where we can use sport to achieve the Global Compact on Refugees.
To define future cooperation, and thereby meet the final part of the Forum's objective, a Call to Action was created, in collaboration with our Forum partners. The Call to Action was presented alongside an impassioned plea for leading by example, and those in the room at the end of a long, intensive and hugely rewarding day were invited to sign it.
For those not present on the day, but still wanting to contribute to the movement, you can provide your individual and/or organisation's support in the Call to Action at www.sport4refugees.net.


What are composite fillings? Composite fillings are a tooth-colored restorative material that restores decayed teeth. They are usually chosen as a cosmetic improvement because they look more natural than the traditional silver alternative.
How are composite fillings placed? We will place the composite on the teeth in layers, and then shape the composite to fit the tooth. A clean polish to prevent early wear and potential staining follows this.
What are the benefits of composite fillings? There is the appearance benefit, where the composite seamlessly blends in with your other teeth. They also support the tooth structure, preventing breaking and insulating the tooth.


More than 1.4 million people watched the Emmy Awards Sunday night on WNYW/Channel 5 for the top spot of the week, according to Nielsen. The event, hosted by Glee's Jane Lynch, pulled in a 7.1 rating.
But right below the Emmys telecast was NBC's Sunday Night Football pitting the Eagles against the Falcons. The game finished second with an estimated 1.2 million WNBC viewers and a 6.3 rating. The final half-hour of the pre-game show Football Night in America was sixth (775,000/3.8).
There was other NFL action ranking high. At number three was CBS' late afternoon game (950,000/4.7).
ESPN's Monday Night Football season opening doubleheader scored big numbers, landing in a seventh-place tie (754,000/3.7).
MTV's Jersey Shore notched a 13th-place finish (625,000/3.1), while the Miss Universe Pageant was 20th on WNBC (500,000/2.5).


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text:
Q: What is the Ruby 1.8.7 way of serializing Time without losing precision? In Ruby 2.0 / 1.9.3
t = Time.now
t == Time.at(t.to_r)
# => true

Clearly:
t = Time.now
t == Time.at(t.to_i)
# => false

is not going to cut it.
What is the Ruby 1.8.7 way of serializing Time short of using Marshal, without losing precision?

A: While Time.to_r wasn't available in 1.8.7, Time.to_f was:
t = Time.now
t == Time.at(t.to_f)
# => true

Update: Since it turns out you want to do it the same way in 1.8.7 and 2.0 / 1.9.3, I'll point out that to_f is still almost certainly the best choice.  While
t == Time.at(t.to_f)

now returns false, that's only because your Time object in 1.9.3 / 2.0 has even higher precision than a float.
t.to_f == Time.at(t.to_f).to_f
# => true

t - Time.at(t.to_f)
# => 8.09310302734375e-08

Those are small fractions of a microsecond being lost in conversion to float.

redpajama_set_name: RedPajamaStackExchange


text:
One of Max Payne's greatest moments is its own weird version of Twin Peaks. Did you watch Address Unknown?
By Phil Iwaniuk 11 October 2017
In 2002 Max Payne provided an answer to that most burning of video game questions: what do the goons do with their free time when you're not around? Turns out, they're not so different than you or I: they sit around in their flats and watch TV. Worse still for your killer conscience, they have pretty good taste in original programming.
This is what Xbox One X Enhanced means - it's not just 4K/HDR
What do you need to be Xbox One X ready?
That moment of revelation comes during one of the absolute highlights in 2001's Max Payne. He bursts into a modest New York living space, shooting everyone inside while diving awkwardly into the furniture, as is his wont. With the occupants silenced, the only sound in the apartment comes from an old cathode ray tube TV propped up on a dirty mattress. The show it's playing is called Address Unknown, and to gaze upon it is to go mad.
A man walks between red curtains. There's a flamingo on the screen, announcing that "mirrors are much more fun than television" in that reversed dialogue effect that's instantly reminiscent of Twin Peaks. The curtains are an even more obvious nod, as is the idea of a doppelganger: "It's not me talking to the Pink Flamingo," says the voiceover, "but someone who looks the part down to the finest detail, except that he's evil." Laura Palmer's double in the Red Room would be nodding approvingly. In reverse.
8 ways Xbox One X will make your gaming life better.
Admittedly, Address Unknown's production values can't hold a candle to David Lynch. It's presented in still images, accompanied by an American-ish voiceover provided by Remedy's Finnish studio manager, Matias Myllyrinne. It lasts no more than a minute. It can only be watched on a tiny screen from a third-person perspective, which means it's depicted by roughly four pixels onscreen. But forget all that: when you first stumble into that room and stand, stock-still, listening to a flamingo talk about "the flesh of fallen angels", everything changes. Suddenly you have no idea what might be in the next room, or the one after that.
As the player, you're – deep breath – watching a man framed for the murder of his family watching a TV show about a man who looks like him, framed for the murder of his family by his double.
Anyone looking for a resolution to that debut episode would have to wait until 2003 when Max Payne 2: The Fall Of Max Payne arrived, six new episodes nestled within it. This is where the snake started to eat its own tail: the narrator of the show was depicted onscreen by Remedy's Sam Lake, who wrote both games and, famously, provided his own likeness for Max. So as the player, you're – deep breath – watching a man who's been framed for the murder of his family watching a TV show about a man who looks exactly like him who's been framed for the murder of his family by his exact double. All of a sudden, you long for the familiarity and certainty of that flamingo. Side note: said double is named John Mirra, which neatly encapsulates Address Unknown's camp but nonetheless unsettling tone.
For the most part Max catches episodes by chance as they play in hospital waiting rooms and mobsters' abodes, but the lines start to blur when he visits Mona Sax's hideout in Coney Island. It seems Mona has inexplicably settled down in an abandoned funhouse based on the show, and in order to find her Max must navigate an obstacle course filled with cardboard cutouts, all while lines from the series bleat out over the PA system. Anyone who played that level surely remembers it vividly in 2017, in the same way you remember a particularly unpleasant cheese dream.
I love Address Unknown not because its narrative through line is especially clever or involving – it's intended primarily as parody – but because it's emblematic of a time when developers just... did this stuff. Someone had an offbeat idea one evening in the studio, and the next thing you know there's a seven-part TV show spanning two games in there, messing with every player's head and adding both humour and genuine unease in a throwaway few seconds. In its own way, it speaks of Remedy's particular strand of genius.
These serialised shows within games, and in fact shows within games within shows, in Quantum Break's case, have become a Remedy calling card. Its Twilight Zone parody, Night Springs, appears in both Alan Wake and Quantum Break, and I'll be heartbroken if neither of these shows is at least referenced in the next Remedy game because it seems to be one of the only studios capable of self- referencing without tipping over into self-indulgence. Many components of the original Max Payne have rusted up and lost their impressive qualities since 2002, but Address Unknown has aged like an oak-smoked Kyle MacLachlan. With Twin Peaks back on the air and new audiences enjoying its surreal charm, maybe it's time to put Max back on the small screen too.
This article originally appeared in Xbox: The Official Magazine. For more great Xbox coverage, you can subscribe here.
Phil Iwaniuk
Writer for Edge Magazine.