The Best Wineries in California
The Pasadena Wine Festival returns to the LA County Arboretum and Botanic Gardens on Saturday providing the perfect opportunity and ambience to remind us that we do live in paradise (not London, as the weather may suggest).
The festival is not just about wine, taking full advantage of the Arboretum’s acreage and natural beauty. Bocce ball, ultimate frisbee and horseshoes are among the activities to keep you buzzing through the afternoon with live jazz and salsa into the evening and under the stars. Top Napa, Sonoma, Paso Robles, and Santa Barbara wineries will be complemented by a Old World selections as well as tastings from Down Under.
There will be food and we’re talking trucks, not just cheese and crackers. World Fare, Crepe’n Around, Grilled Cheese, Border Grill and Sprinkles are among the trucks expected on site.
The Puck family of restaurants was represented in full force in the events central plaza, where a live band entertained the swirling masses who were lined up for bottomless glasses of premium spirits mixed into cocktails, generous pours of wine from over 80 wineries–many of which hail from California–and plates of food from the many Puck eateries. On behalf of the local Puck spots were Ari Rosenson and Matt Hurley of CUT (Beverly Hills & Las Vegas); Rene Mata of Chinois on Main; and Lee Hefter & Tetsu Yahagi of Spago Beverly Hills.
Engaging the kid in all of us were Nancy Silverton and Dahlia Narvaez of Pizzeria Mozza and Osteria Mozza, with their sausage dog, miniature Reuben, and what can be described as none other than the world’s best corndog, thanks to the snap of the meat’s casing, the texture of the batter, and the perfect exterior salty-crisp fry of the entire treat. More delight on a stick came via Narvaez, who dipped small bananas in a velvety dark chocolate coating–not too sweet–and then rolled it in your wish of either toasted coconut or roasted peanuts.
Showcasing beautiful local produce–plump, colorful heirloom tomatoes from farms in Oxnard and Riverside–was Joe Miller of Joe’s, whose simple tomato salad with an iced gazpacho help take the sting out of the evening’s intense, 90+ degree heat. Down the way Gino Angelini of Angelini Osteria was wowing the eaters with his lamb dish, and in another nook was Octavio Becerra of Palate Food + Wine.
Deeper into the venue, Charlie Palmer (of, among others, Bloomingdale’s at South Coast Plaza) was in a courtyard alongside a fire-eating woman, and at an illuminated stand serving up soup, a summery Patron cocktail, and, quite possibly one of the most coveted finds of the night throughout the massive event, bottles of Fiji Water.
To showcase the impressive range of food offerings to debut in the coming months at the new Cosmopolitan Hotel in Las Vegas (opens in December), chefs from the resort’s restaurants were on hand at a set of tables lined up towards the top corner of the Festival, as it reached out like branches on Universal’s “Little Europe” cobble stoned streets. Among the Vegas-bound is David Myers of Comme Ca; for AWFF he had a plump, handmade ravioli.
For the seafood lovers, Bouchon‘s main man, Thomas Keller, and the Beverly Hills main man, Rory Hermann, were on hand with a raw bar (scaled back considerably from last year’s epic feast) and the ubiquitous Bouchon beach ball, which they lobbed over the heads of those lined up for plates of fresh oysters, crab legs, and mussels. More fresh seafood, but in sushi form, came thanks to Nobu Matsuhisa of Matsuhisa Beverly Hills & NOBU West Hollywood.
At about half-way through the festivities a crew of energetic people decked out in black t-shirts and light-up jewelry opened the doors to the Sweet Sanctuary Champagne and Port lounge, where another live band was set up with a dance floor, and the crowd pushed in to get desserts and their dance on. A great idea, always awkwardly executed, the dessert area is in a dead-end spot, and in high demand, which means the crowds here are more intense, more apt to cut you off, and would send a claustrophobe running for the open air in the blink of an eye. Curated by Puck’s Pastry guru, Sherry Yard, the dessert area included a table piled with Payard chocolates, and seven other dessert-makers, including Yard herself on behalf of Spago Beverly Hills, and Sally Camacho of WP24.
Dark, sweaty, loud, and crowded, I’ll confess that the dessert area was the most frustrating, if only because my memory of getting a hold of something creamy and in a cup is tainted by the experience of having a man behind me thrust himself so far into me from behind to get to the table that I thought I might need to make an appointment at a free clinic first thing the next morning. Sorry, but it’s true. The lines at the dessert tables, especially those right at the front, ruined the dessert experience.
The desserts were imaginative and whimsical, however, and with bellies full from all the incredible eating done in the main Festival, just a few select bites could be squeezed in, once we got plates in our hand. Who goes to food festivals to dance? Turns out I do… hitting the dance floor in this area was a great release from the intensity of the evening, and the fastest way to start burning off all those calories, not to mention a reprieve from the unpleasant body contact where the food tables were.
While AWFF offers more than the average–or even super–human can consume in one evening, it is tremendously fun, decadent, and satisfying. It is expensive (tickets are $300 each) so it is not for everyone. However, it only comes once a year, and it benefits Meals on Wheels. Since 1982, the AWFF has raised over $15 million for the cause, and with Saturday’s event, that number has risen.
Cheers to Puck and Lazaroff, the nearly 200 food and drink folks who were present, and, in particular, to the fine food of Los Angeles well-represented.
Best Places to travel in the United States
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Airlines Are Beginning To Encourage Cuddling During Long Flights
Air New Zealand is beginning to offer what has been dubbed “cuddle class” seating. Basically it means that you and your snuggle-bunny will be able to snooze very comfortably after purchasing a row of seats that convert into a bed.
Naturally such seating will be only available on select flights and will come with an extra charge:
The upgraded seating configuration, to be fitted in the carrier’s new fleet of Boeing 777-300 aircraft, will cost the price of two standard economy seats plus half-price for the third seat in the row.
Additionally, the airline requests that you do keep your clothes on while snuggling. [AOL News]
Send an email to Rosa Golijan, the author of this post, at rgolijan@gizmodo.com.
Buying real estate in South Carolina
In one trial I’m familiar with, but not one of these 23 states listed, the GMAC guy was on the stand twice, and the second time, it was pretty clearly established that he had perjured himself in his initial testimony. But I doubt the mother ship took note of that trial (no verdict rendered yet). However, to put it politely, there was pretty clear evidence of document forgeries; the only question which party (GMAC or its law firm) was responsible.
From Bloomberg (hat tip reader Scott):
Ally Financial Inc.’s GMAC Mortgage unit told brokers and agents to halt evictions tied to foreclosures on homeowners in 23 states including Florida, Connecticut and New York.
GMAC Mortgage may “need to take corrective action in connection with some foreclosures” in the affected states, according to a two-page memo dated Sept. 17 marked “urgent.”….Brokers were told to immediately stop evictions, cash- for-key transactions and lockouts, according to the document, addressed to GMAC preferred agents.
Following is a table of the affected states.
Connecticut
Florida
Hawaii
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Nebraska
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
South Dakota
Vermont
Wisconsin
· Lenders
should extend moratoriums on home foreclosures to all states, including
Michigan, rather than just those states with judicially supervised
foreclosures.
· Lenders that have initiated moratoriums
should insure that they actually prevent foreclosures rather than just
evictions subsequent to foreclosures.
· The Federal
Housing Finance Agency, which oversees Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac,
thereby controlling a major portion of mortgages subject to foreclosure
in the U.S., should review its procedures for proper compliance and
also consider initiating a foreclosure moratorium
At the
same time, Conyers announced plans to investigate mortgage lenders to
learn more about their foreclosure practices, including paperwork
violations and false affidavits, and ascertain what can be done to
protect homeowners from possible abuses. As part of this effort,
Conyers is asking the Federal Housing Finance Agency – the federal
agency charged with overseeing Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – to ensure
that they abide by the law, to consider initiating a moratorium, and to
conduct an audit of their actions. In addition, Conyers will be calling
upon the DOJ’s Executive Office for U.S. Trustees to investigate the
extent to which false affidavits have been filed in bankruptcy cases by
lenders seeking to foreclose on debtor’s homes.
Thus far, only
three lenders – Ally Financial (parent of GMAC Mortgage), Bank of
America, and JP Morgan Chase – have ceased post-foreclosure enforcement
actions in 23 states that have court- controlled foreclosure
proceedings: Connecticut, Florida, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa,
Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico,
New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania,
South Carolina, South Dakota, Vermont, and Wisconsin. Even those
lenders appear to have only ceased evictions, while they continue to
engage in foreclosures, which take title from homeowners.
At this
point Michigan and 26 other states are not on the moratorium list for
these lenders, purportedly because they have a non-judicial foreclosure
process. However, without judicial oversight, the possibility of abuse
can be even greater in these states. As a result, elected state
officials in non-judicial foreclosure states such as California,
Colorado, Texas, Massachusetts, and Maryland have recently asked lenders
to suspend their foreclosures.
Widespread concern about
documentation abuses in the mortgage industry is not limited to state
officials. Yesterday, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other members of
the California congressional delegation called on the Justice
Department, the Treasury Department, and the Federal Reserve to
investigate large mortgage lenders’ handling of delinquent mortgages,
mortgage modifications, and foreclosures. Additionally, Senators Robert
Menendez (NJ) and Al Franken (MN) called on the Government
Accountability Office to investigate the role of federal government
entities charged with overseeing the mortgage lending industry to
determine how they allowed lenders’ misconduct to occur without
detection for so long. Also, Members of Congress from Maryland and
Arizona – two non-judicial foreclosure states – called on large lenders
to halt foreclosures in their states.
“It makes little sense to
limit the moratoriums to judicial foreclosure states when many of the
same errors and paperwork flaws likely plague non-foreclosure states,”
said Conyers. “When the very same lenders that ignored the rules which
helped get us into the real estate bubble are placed in charge of the
foreclosures that are exacerbating the problem, locking millions of
Americans in a financial trap they cannot escape from, we have a
situation that is spiraling out of control and cries out for
intervention.”
“Given the depth of the financial calamity in
Michigan and other states, the huge number of foreclosures, and the
chain reaction of problems involving foreclosures that has impacted
communities and individuals, I would urge home mortgage lenders to cease
their foreclosure activities,” said Conyers. “Rather than spending
their time running mass production foreclosure mills, the lenders should
be working with individuals to keep families in their homes and
restructure their loans.”
“Home foreclosures affect individual
families and devastate entire communities,” said Congresswoman
Kilpatrick. “For home foreclosures to proceed under false pretenses is
patently unwarranted and unfair. I am proud to join one of the founders
of the CBC and Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee in this
clarion call for justice, fairness, and equality to Michiganders and all
Americans.”
###
The Best Travel Place in South Carolina
Bay View Resort Condos for Sale
Why you should always do a test run before a presentation, what America’s war dead say about the class divide, and how air travel in coach could get a whole lot worse.
On a regular basis, Truthdig brings you the news items and odds and ends that found their way to Larry Gross, director of the USC Annenberg School for Communication. A specialist in media and culture, art and communication, visual communication and media portrayals of minorities, Gross helped found the field of gay and lesbian studies.
The links below open in a new window. Newer ones are on top.
Digital Natives Decoded
Class casualty gap
We all know that many more Afghans and Iraqis have been injured and died in the wars than Americans or other allied forces. But we tend to forget about the casualty gap of the U.S. armed forces themselves: poorer and less-educated citizens (and yet-to-be citizens) are much more likely to serve and die than richer, better-educated Americans.
A Measure of Education Is Put to the Test
Results of national exam will go public in 2012
Poverty—uneven demographics
The demographics of the United States of poverty show both that poverty is much worse than the numbers indicate and that poverty can be eliminated.
Why You Should Always Do a Tech Test-Run Before Your Presentation
More than 400 Norwin High School seniors got an eyeful Friday morning when pornographic photos appeared on a giant screen during a presentation on the importance of donating blood, triggering awkward laughter, a police investigation and an apology from school officials.
The Disappearing Line Between Politics and the Media
“Don’t they fact-check this stuff?” This is the perennial cry of the outraged reader and the wronged article subject. The latest party to raise the fact-checking howl is the White House, which yesterday went public with its discontent over Forbes’ ludicrously poisonous new cover story.
Flying Economy Class Could Soon Get a Whole Lot Worse
A new airplane passenger seat called SkyRider could revolutionize the way airlines rip travelers off, by installing “saddle” seats that offer just 27 inches of legroom, or seven inches less than the average airplane seat. That sounds awful.
South Carolina Republicans Have Fun Slavery Dress-Up Party
The National Federation of Republican Women had a board-of-directors meeting in South Carolina over the weekend. Which means that it was the perfect opportunity to have a cocktail party called “A Southern Experience” at the Charleston Country Club, complete with two black people hired to play slaves or something and pose with guests.
NYPD Arrests Watercolor Artist for Painting Outdoors
A few days ago Brooklyn artist Julie Torres contacted Hyperallergic to let us know about a serious legal issue she was facing as a result of painting outdoors. She explained that on July 17, she was enjoying a summer afternoon in Williamsburg as she worked on a large watercolor painting that was taped to a construction wall at the corner of North 11th Street and Bedford Avenue, near Hyperallergic HQ.
The United States of Inequality, Complete 10-Part Series
This Country Just Can’t Deal with Reality Any More
As Election Day 2010 approaches, the consequences of the nation’s three-decade-old decoupling from reality are becoming painfully obvious.
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Ronald Martinez/Getty Images
Two weeks into the NFL season, two contenders from a season ago are already in some trouble. Both the Cowboys and Vikings have gotten off to a rough start. Can they recover?
1. New Orleans Saints (1): 2-0. That was a good win in San Francisco, it wasn’t easy, but the defending champs kept on rolling.
2. Indianapolis Colts (2): 1-1. The Colts responded to their week one loss in a big way, dominating the Giants in The Manning Bowl. Next they turn their attention to the Broncos in Denver.
3. Green Bay Packers (5): 2-0. They dominated the Bills as expected, and Aaron Rodgers was spot on. They now must travel to Chicago on Monday night to play a Bears team coming off a big win in Dallas.
4. Houston Texans (7): 2-0. This Texans team is different than years past. That comeback win in Washington tells a lot. Matt Schaub had 497 yards passing. Wow.
5. Pittsburgh Steelers (10): 2-0. The scary thing about the Steelers is that they could be 4-0 by the time Ben Roethlisberger comes back.
6. Baltimore Ravens (3): 1-1. New season, same result versus the Bengals. Joe Flacco was terrible, throwing four interceptions. They’ll rebound at home against the Browns.
7. New York Jets (9): 1-1. If Mark Sanchez can play like that, then the Jets have a chance to compete for a super bowl title. That was a big win for this team.
8. New England Patriots (4): 1-1. As Tom Brady so clearly pointed out in his interview, the Patriots were terrible in the second half, and could not get anything going. I feel sorry for the Bills this week.
9. Miami Dolphins (17): 2-0. The Dolphins defense has played tremendous the first two weeks of the season. This is a team that wants to be taken seriously in the AFC East. A win against the Jets on Sunday night would accomplish that task.
10. Cincinnati Bengals (12): 1-1. The Bengals rebounded nicely to their blow out loss in week one. Until someone beats them in the AFC North, it’s their division to lose.
11. Washington Redskins (11): 1-1. The Redskins let the game slip away in a game they had no business losing. The defense struggled late.
12. Atlanta Falcons (15): 1-1. The Falcons dominated the Cardinals all game long and now must travel to New Orleans in an NFC South battle.
13. San Diego Chargers (16): 1-1. The defense harassed David Garrard, causing four interceptions. Antonio Gates is on pace for a huge year.
14. Chicago Bears (25): 2-0. Mike Martz and Jay Cutler look like they are making a great team in Chicago. A win against the Packers monday night will let the NFC North know they are in it to win it.
Get the Beach deal on condos in Fort Lauderdale
Accommodations can be extremely handy locations to stay for homesick travelers. They present convenience and convenience to vacationers who come across themselves keen for house. It really is straightforward to discover a lodge close for your vacation spot regardless of your respective preferences. However it make consider just some extra preparation to come across resort deals on Fort Lauderdale Condos
Giving your self plenty of time to prepare your journey is a extremely easy technique to make sure you get a fantastic resort deal. Prepare your holiday or company trip upfront and you will be certain to score a fantastic deal. It is much cheaper to remain at a hotel in the course of their off season so attempt to come across out when it begins. Staying during these occasions indicates motel rooms at lowered costs.
Another useful tip is to make contact with the motel and inquire about package deal specials as well as other promotions. Most from the larger chains offer you discounts to seniors, college students, and energetic members with the military. Request about these and other groups that are qualified. Often request about much less high priced rooms when you will be offered a quote, chances are the employee that you are speaking too can support out.
Charlotte Real Estate
Making use of the internet is another fantastic concept with regards to in search of more affordable motel rooms. Bargain resort rooms can quickly be discovered with all the assist of skilled internet websites out there. In a lot of cases, the travel sites and lodges are operating together to fill empty motel rooms and it’s the customers who gain. In the event you prepare on receiving a rental car or plane ticket, these web sites can get you even more reductions.
If your holiday is likely to final extra than a 7 days, inquire about special promotions. Most resorts in Lauderdale offer vacationers totally free nights if they buy their hotel room for a specified amount of time. Make sure and request about these offers when you speak to an affiliate.
Journey agents are also a excellent useful resource to employ when preparing trips. With their knowledge and typical hotel contacts, numerous can get their clientele offers and upgrades just as great as journey sites. Do your research prior to selecting a travel agent in the event you decide to go that route.
The value of a motel space you’re renting, as with purchasing aircraft tickets, can differ relying on the nights you reserve. On the weekends, rates are clearly higher and it is cheaper to stay within the middle of your week so plan accordingly if possible. You must also be conscious that rooms will probably be extra high priced in the course of getaway seasons as well.
If you will be inept at receiving a offer there are still a couple of methods to save your money on journeys. Residing in a very lodge with its personal kitchenette will preserve you a fortune on food costs. Splitting rooms is another simple technique to preserve on prices. As opposed to finding your kids their personal resort area, choose to possess them bunk with you instead. The extra cash you’ll preserve will make it worth it. At numerous motels young children remain cost-free, so make positive and take complete advantage of those specials.
for more information visit this FLorida Information Wiki
Apartment rental information
Short-term apartment and house rentals are getting more popular with travelers. These websites offer a convenient way to find them, and a measure of protection.
ROOMORAMA.COM
This site, which has about 8,000 listings in 58 cities worldwide, certifies hosts with good records and offers discounts from partners like Crunch gym. Guests book rooms and pay on the site, which charges an 8 percent to 12 percent fee and holds payments until check-in. Recent Listing: A one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco’s North Beach neighborhood for $175 a night
AIRBNB.COM
Airbnb has a social vibe, with guest reviews and profile pages for hosts and travelers. It has some 30,000 listings in 157 countries. Customers book and pay for trips on the site, which charges a 5 percent to 12 percent fee and holds payments until 24 hours after check-in. Recent Listing: A private bedroom and bathroom in an apartment shared with a host in New York City’s East Village for $90 a night
HOMEAWAY.COM
HomeAway, which has a free iPhone app, features 230,000 listings in 120 countries. Like Roomorama, the free service lets you search for specific amenities and policies, such as pet friendliness. Guests pay hosts directly; the site insures rentals up to $1,000 at no charge. Recent Listing: A two-bedroom condo in Chicago’s Wrigleyville neighborhood for $249 a night.
I’ve just spend a good part of my evening playing around with yogoguide – one of the coolest new online city explorer tools I’ve seen in a long time. At the moment, their service only covers Paris, but since that is my all-time favorite city I’ve got nothing to complain about.
Using the site is a treat – the center of the interface is a very clear map of Paris, to the left are categories, and on the right is where you’ll save your favorites. you can browse the map on your own, or let yogoguide point out the various categories. Once you’ve selected a category, you can narrow things down even more. For example – the hotels category sorts properties into luxury, charming, under 90 Euros, B&B, short term apartment rentals and hostels/camping sites.
Once you pick a sub-section, they’ll all be presented on the map ,and when you select a specific location, you get a handy little window showing reviews, the website, photos and more.
One of the smarter options on the map is the ability to overlay the metro map, the arrondissements and more – making it extremely simple to combine locations with reviews and ease of access. End result is that you can pick shops, entertainment, food and other activities and see on the map how to actually get there. Once you’ve explored the map and added favorites, you can even access the site using your mobile phone, which is perfect when you are abroad, just be sure you add an international data plan!
All in all, this is one extremely well designed city guide, but it is also just plain fun to use. The best part is that all your browsing can result in a perfect plan for your visit to this amazing city. All sections can be printed and you can save favorites to your yogoguide account. The site is free, as is the creation of an account, so head on over to yoyoguide and take it for a spin.
Myrtle Beach Property Management
Myrtle Beach Annual Rentals
Pawleys Island Annual Rentals
Former Congressman Robert Wexler, the self-styled fire-breathing liberal, will endorse and campaign with Charlie Crist tomorrow. If endorsements matter, this one is big for Crist, who needs as much Democratic support as he can muster in his quest for U.S. Senate as an independent.
"Congressman Wexler is a strong and respected leader who has worked with the governor on an array of issues that have improved the lives of Florida's working families," Crist spokesman Danny Kanner said. "The governor looks forward to campaigning with the congressman in South Florida tomorrow."
Crist and Wexler, longtime friends, begin the day at Boca Century Village synagogue and then head to Kings Point condos in Tamarac.
A reader writes:
Now we're talking. This one is challenging, I suppose to balance out last week's easy one. At first glance, from the blue sky and waterfront background, I'd lean Mediterranean, perhaps a Lebanon location or Cyprus. But after careful inspection, the tractor and buildings have a Soviet feel to them. A water location that is Soviet and arid … well, I can only make one educated guess. I'll have to say the city of Baku in Azerbaijan, along the coast of the Caspian Sea. (Alternatively it could be the first buildings conceived of in the deepest dream state of Inception, but I'll stick with Baku).
Another writes:
Tough one! Obviously we're at a beach. The SUVs and the overall look of the buildings say we're in the US. This is a tourist-type area, but not crowded, and there's new construction. The avenue fronts the beach, with no hotels on the beach side. It's a bit odd that the hotels don't have balconies, as most beach-front hotels and condos I've ever seen do, but I don't know the significance of that. This could be Galveston, where they're still rebuilding after Hurricane Ike, but there's no seawall (and again, most hotels have balconies). Likewise, it could be Mississippi, where places around Biloxi are being re-built after Katrina, but that area has a lot more trees than are apparent in this photo. I really have no idea where this is, so I'm going to guess Dania Beach, Florida.
Another:
No one begrudges a harder one this week – I can convince myself there are places on four continents that might just work. [300 words later] Ultimately, I decided it must be in Australia – the flattest and sandiest continent – and the logical choice seemed like the western coast near Perth. A few Google satellite maps and street views don’t dissuade me; I have found red jersey barriers, stacks of red and yellow bricks, and designer street light posts that are similar to the picture. And there are many areas on the coast that look like they are being developed (with new harbors being built behind man-made breakwaters). Plus, the Aussies love to sail. But I don’t have time to scour the maps to find a likely location. Just going by nice names, how about Sorrento, just north of Perth?
Another:
I may be terribly terribly wrong on this one, but that Dutch flag on the sailboat (celebrating Laura Dekker maybe?) and the rather Spanish-looking architecture make me think of Gibraltar. Could this picture be taken along Queensway?
Another:
My guess is Suez, Egypt. I can't really make out the writing on the white sign next to, what I think, is the Egyptian flag. It would have been a huge help if it was in Arabic. I lived in Egypt for a year and became friends with lots of Egyptians. I spoke with a friend of mine that lives in Cairo and he also thinks it's in the same area. I tried Google Earth to identify the exact location but after an hour, I gave up. I figure based on the road, it has to be the 23 of July Highway. How off am i?
Another:
Clues: Highway near water with visible coastline in distance,
right-hand driving, dry-climate with some flora, windows structured to
defend against some inclement weather patterns, flag in centre with
insignia in white-flag. This is a bit of a guess, but I'm going with
just south of Qantara el Gharbiya, Egypt, near the El Ferdan Bridge
over the Suez Canal. I have attached two Google map screen captures of
approximately where I think it is.
Another:
I thought I'd be one of the few to get Tallinn, but I was wrong; I guess I'm not as smart as I thought. This one has me totally stumped even for clues, but I'm going to hazard a guess at somewhere alone the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea. I know the sea is dying rapidly, which would account for new buildings far from the shore. And Jordan is pushing new construction along the Dead Sea. Finally, the street lights look like those I've seen in the Middle East, and the location might also account for the road barriers. Just a guess, no Google this time.
Another:
I actually won this contest at week #2 (Ft. Lauderdale), but since that time it has become SO difficult and SO high-tech (when do people have all of this time to go through street after street on Google maps?) I have felt intimidated to even send in a guess. However, like in week #2, I just got an instant impression when I looked at the photo, which reminds me of the coastline in Tel Aviv, Israel. I was there a few years ago and the apartment building/hotels on the Mediterranean shore with little vegetation and those lampposts along a walkway at the sea remind me of that trip. I have to admit I spent NO time scanning through Google maps and I may be way off base, but it does remind me of a wonderful trip I had a few years back.
By the way, we have a little group in our office who also love to play this game weekly. Our "View from your Window" guesses are always a fun topic on a frequently depressing Monday!
Another:
What a bear!
This is going to have to be solved by someone who’s been there. Looks like the beach or dock road of an industrial port in desert terrain. If that’s a dhow in the background, we’re in the Middle East or East Africa. The buildings look pretty utilitarian – not luxe enough for Dubai or one of the Gulf coastal cities, but more developed than what I imagine would be Aden or Africa. Could it be military housing? I’m going with the Khobar Towers complex in Al Khobar, Saudi Arabia, but that’s a wild-ass guess.
Another:
This looks very much like Saudi Arabia, where I was stationed during the first Gulf War. Those street lights near the water look like the street lights along the way to a seaside resort (Half Moon Bay) we used to go to for R&R. In fact I see some type of sculpture shaped like an Arab dhow. So I am guessing Ad Damman or Al Khobar on the Persian Gulf.
Another:
My guess is the Green Zone, Baghdad, Iraq. Chiefly because of the creepy orange-and-white Jersey barrier and the odd sailboat-looking item which has to be a military memorial to … something.
Another:
Part of our trillions wasted in Iraq.
Another:
I'm gonna guess Dubai, United Arab Emirates. There's gotta be a few Dish readers there. Having spent a year in Baghdad with Army, several things in that picture suggest the Middle East and particularly the Persian Gulf. Even though Baghdad and Dubai are very different places, Baghdad and everywhere else in Iraq imports a ton of stuff from Dubai. The earth-mover, the pallets of bricks, the gated windows, the wide window ledge, the road barriers with a familiar orange, and white pattern are all little clues. I can't quite make out the text on the billboard sign with the red pole, but it looks as if the text on the sign reads from right to left, which suggests Arabic. The sweeping sand that runs up to the road also leads me to believe this is a Persian Gulf city. I think that red, white, and blue shape is a sail fixed to a boat that looks like boats I've seen in photos of the port of Dubai, but I have no idea why a boat would be on the side of a highway. Another clue is what appears to be a canal or some body of water and a bridge or causeway that was built up over it.
A quick Google Map check of Dubai shows there are a couple bodies of water within the city, but I have no idea which one. I've already spent too much time thinking about this. Lastly, the sunlight and the sky captured in the picture give off a hot and bright Middle Eastern locale. Before we flew north to Baghdad, we trained for a couple weeks in the Kuwaiti desert and I've never been experienced sunlight and heat as intense as I did there. I don't think this is Kuwait City, though, so Dubai is my guess.
Close. Another:
This is exactly what it looked like when I was in Abu
Dhabi! But that was 2003 and it is probably all developed by now. It
must be some place in UAE. But I am leaving for the airport and I
don’t have time to try to find a bridge like the one in the background,
so I’m just going to guess +24.56, +54.60,
assuming coordinates are OK to submit. Maybe I’ll be on the right
continent. (Someone will probably know the name of the construction
company that owns that front-end loader in the photo.)
Getting closer. Another:
This one is tough. The catamaran had me thinking of the Burj Al Arab
in Dubai. Clearly it's notin Dubai proper, if it's Dubai at all; it's
somewhere on the outskirts or elsewhere in the United Arab Emirates. The pattern on the median had me thinking UAE as well, as in this picture. The buildings also look similar to ones in the city of Ruwais, especially the windows, like on this building. So I'm going with Ruwais in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Final answer.
Closer. Another:
The scenery seems to indicate a rather hot and sandy place with
reasonable money but not over-the-top
development. There's also water and what looks like a bridge in the
distance. So I'm guessing this is in Saudi Arabia, Al Aziziyah, with the King Fahd Causeway to Bahrain in the background. The buildings
in the picture (and the window used) seem to be such a novel development, that google maps hasn't caught up with it yet. Given that
a) the buildings in the picture clearly are fairly new (given the shovel and the bricks) and b) that the area west of the King Abdul Aziz
Street and south of the bridge indeed seems in development (by
comparing satellite imagery of Google against yahoo maps, worldstreetmapfinder is even further behind with its roads), this is
perhaps not entirely unlikely. The street lanterns in the picture also
vaguely match those on pics from the bridge (King Fahd Causeway), but
then again, most large street lanterns look alike and probably I'm off
by a few peninsulae.
Just over the bridge. Another:
Durrat al Bahrain, Bahrain? First I started with the shape of the sign, being not just a sailboat, but apparently a dhow. So next I focused on the colors – red, white, and blue. None of the Gulf states (or individual emirates) have that color scheme, but Bahrain does have red and white. Though the Palms in Dubai are the most famous artificial islands in the Gulf, I know that they are not the only ones. My searching led me to the official site of Durrat al Bahrain, on the southeast coast of the island. Various photos on the website seemed to confirm that this might be the location, but especially one of construction equipment that matches the model and color of that in the contest photo (see attached). So I am guessing that this photo was taken from a condo either inside or immediately adjacent to the development, looking at a causeway or artificial island in the distance. Most of the buildings constructed thus far are low-rise and built close together, so they might also be a part of what is seen, although blurred by dust and/or sand in the air.
Correct country. Another:
While I was traveling through the Middle East I passed through this area, Al Manama, Bahrain. The bridge in the background, the vehicles and the development put me at this spot. (I love this contest; it's the first time I've participated in responding and am a big follower of these postings.)
Correct city, but several readers got more specific. Another:
The view is from Al Manama, Bahrain, Umm Al Hassam neighborhood, looking southeast along the Sh Isa Bin Salman Highway. The dhow is located at the junction of the highway and Road No. 3321. There is a helpful photo on Google Earth that shows the dhow. Here is the aerial view:
The view is conveniently close to the Bahrain Naval Support Activity and pier. I would wager that a member of the US military took the shot of the view from their apartment, and I would be especially pleased if it was a sailor.
That's because the reader is a sailor – the same one who won contest #11, in Sardinia. Another reader sent a similar map:
The dry desert-like conditions, the dhow shaped object and the general quality of the cars all suggest an
Emirates-type country.I got a bit lucky figuring the photographer was an expat and s/he was likely to be staying in a popular expat apartment (I've spent time in the Middle East). The building across from the vantage point is Building No. 983, Road No. 3320, Manama, Bahrain 333 (see photo – plus it is the blue "i" on the Google Earth photo). My crude arrow points to my best guess for the window. The other black marks locate the dhow shaped object and the traffic barriers.
Oh so close; the correct building is actually #989. And the winner is:
The pic is taken from the Elite 2 Hotel Apartments in Mahooz, Manama, Bahrain. The sister property (the Elite 4) is pictured. The Sh Isa Bin Salman Hwy is on the right. This area is called Umm Al Hassam. The Sitra Bridge or causeway is pictured in the distance.
I am the Georgia man who rode the green line via YouTube last week. This time I was convinced it had to a rich city on the Persian gulf based on the sand and nice American cars. I just studied Google Earth until I found the right perspective. Looking back, if I had only searched for hotels I could have saved some time. The Elite 4 hotel pops up quick in a search for Bahrain hotels.
Congrats! We will get a window book out to you shortly. Eight people correctly guessed Manama (out of about 100 entries), and most guessed Dubai. Here's a full breakdown:
Real Estate Mortgage News
Note: Here is the weekly schedule for Oct 3rd, and the summary for last week.
QE2 will probably arrive on November 3rd. By request here is a look back at the QE1 announcements (phased in over a few months):
S&P 500: 851.81
The Federal Reserve announced
the purchase of the direct obligations of housing-related government-sponsored enterprises (GSEs)–Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and the Federal Home Loan Banks–and mortgage-backed securities (MBS) backed by Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac, and Ginnie Mae.
…
Purchases of up to $100 billion in GSE direct obligations under the program will be conducted with the Federal Reserve’s primary dealers through a series of competitive auctions and will begin next week. Purchases of up to $500 billion in MBS will be conducted by asset managers selected via a competitive process with a goal of beginning these purchases before year-end. Purchases of both direct obligations and MBS are expected to take place over several quarters.
S&P 500: 913.18
As previously announced, over the next few quarters the Federal Reserve will purchase large quantities of agency debt and mortgage-backed securities to provide support to the mortgage and housing markets, and it stands ready to expand its purchases of agency debt and mortgage-backed securities as conditions warrant. The Committee is also evaluating the potential benefits of purchasing longer-term Treasury securities.
S&P 500: 874.09
The Federal Reserve continues to purchase large quantities of agency debt and mortgage-backed securities to provide support to the mortgage and housing markets, and it stands ready to expand the quantity of such purchases and the duration of the purchase program as conditions warrant. The Committee also is prepared to purchase longer-term Treasury securities if evolving circumstances indicate that such transactions would be particularly effective in improving conditions in private credit markets.
S&P 500: 794.35
To provide greater support to mortgage lending and housing markets, the Committee decided today to increase the size of the Federal Reserve’s balance sheet further by purchasing up to an additional $750 billion of agency mortgage-backed securities, bringing its total purchases of these securities to up to $1.25 trillion this year, and to increase its purchases of agency debt this year by up to $100 billion to a total of up to $200 billion. Moreover, to help improve conditions in private credit markets, the Committee decided to purchase up to $300 billion of longer-term Treasury securities over the next six months.
Click on graph for larger image in new window.
S&P 500: 1064.79
This is not investment advice!
As more people realize that the fake title transfer aspect of foreclosure fraud is just the tip of the iceberg which runs, via MERS (Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems) conduits all the way to the core of the securitization system, and thus $10 trillion in first level debt (and who knows how much in 3rd and 4th level layering of debt on top of this: think CDO-squared and cubed), we expect an increasing number of denials from the enablers in the explosion of securitization over the past ten years. Such as MERS. Which is why it is not surprising that late last night, it was precisely MERS who not only acknowledged for the first time its involvement in this whole fiasco (by a press release and a “fact and rebuttal” session), but has made it all too clear just how deep the problem truly runs. We would like to highlight just how very alike is the defense prepared by the High Frequency Signing Lobby to that by the High Frequency Traders out there: it is all just technological advancement, and if you want to blame it on someone, blame it on Intel and their fast fast chips: “What we’re seeing now is that the
foreclosure process itself was not designed to withstand the extraordinary
volume of foreclosures that the mortgage industry and local governments must now
handle.” Obviously the volume only exploded once failed systems such as MERS appeared on the scene: it is precisely in this aspect that MERS served as an enabling catalyst to let loose the wave of exponential re-re-securitization. It continues: “The MERS process of
tracking mortgages and holding title provides clarity, transparency and
efficiency to the housing finance system.” And here is where MERS basically puts the ball back in the corrupt legal system’s court: “We are committed to continually
ensuring that everyone who has responsibilities in the mortgage and foreclosure
process follows local and state laws, as well as our own training and rules.” Because why not blame the entire judicial system, when one could just acknowledge the burden of having failed at doing their own job properly… One thing is certain: someone is going down for this biggest snafu in the history of mortgages/securitization.
Follows the full MERS press release:
Statement by CEO of Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS)
RESTON, Va.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–
October 09, 2010
Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS) Chief Executive Officer R.K.
Arnold today issued the following statement regarding the organization and
clarifying certain aspects of its operations:
“MERS is one important component of the complex infrastructure of America’s
housing finance system. Billions of dollars of mortgage money flow through the
financial system every year. It takes many, often-unseen mechanical processes to
properly get those funds into the hands of qualified homebuyers.
Technology designed to reduce paperwork has a very positive effect on families
and communities. They may not see it, but these things save money and time,
creating reliability and stability in the system. That’s important to keep the
mortgage funds flowing to the consumers who need it. [ZH: odd how almost identical this defense is to the one prepared by the HFT lobby. Perhaps, it should now be called High Frequency Signing and Trading?]
With millions of Americans facing foreclosure, every element of the housing
finance system is under tremendous strain. What we’re seeing now is that the
foreclosure process itself was not designed to withstand the extraordinary
volume of foreclosures that the mortgage industry and local governments must now
handle.
MERS helps the mortgage finance process work better. The MERS process of
tracking mortgages and holding title provides clarity, transparency and
efficiency to the housing finance system. We are committed to continually
ensuring that everyone who has responsibilities in the mortgage and foreclosure
process follows local and state laws, as well as our own training and rules.”
Facts about MERS
FACT: Courts have ruled in favor of MERS in many lawsuits, upholding MERS
legal interest as the mortgagee and the right to foreclose.
This legal right springs from two important facts:
1) MERS holds legal title to a mortgage as an agent for the owner of the loan
2) MERS can become the holder of the promissory note when the owner of the loan
chooses to make MERS the holder of the note with the right to enforce if the
mortgage loan goes into default.
MERS does not authorize anyone to represent it in a foreclosure unless both
the mortgage and the note are in MERS possession. In some cases where courts
have found against MERS, those cases have hinged on other procedural defects or
improper presentation of MERS’s legal interests and rights. Citations can be
found at the end of this document.*
FACT: MERS does not create a defect in the mortgage or deed of trust
Claims that MERS disrupts or creates a defect in the mortgage or deed of trust
are not supported by fact or legal precedents. This is often used as a tactic by
lawyers to delay or prevent the foreclosure. The mortgage lien is granted to
MERS by the borrower and the seller and that is what makes MERS the mortgagee.
The role of mortgagee is legal and binding and confers to MERS certain legal
rights and responsibilities.
FACT: The trail of ownership does not change because of MERS
MERS does not remove, omit, or otherwise fail to report land ownership
information from public records. Parties are put on notice that MERS is the
mortgagee and notifications by third parties can be sent to MERS. Mortgages and
deeds of trust still get recorded in the land records.
The MERS System tracks the changes in servicing rights and beneficial
ownership. No legal interests are transferred on the MERS System, including
servicing and ownership. In fact, MERS is the only publicly available
comprehensive source for note ownership.
While this information is tracked through the MERS System, the paperwork still
exists to prove actual legal transfers still occurred. No mortgage ownership
documents have disappeared because loans were registered on the MERS System.
These documents exist now as they have before MERS was created. The only pieces
of paper that have been eliminated are assignments between servicing companies
because such assignments become unnecessary when MERS holds the mortgage lien
for the owner of the note.
FACT: MERS did not cause mortgage securitization
MERS was created as a means to keep better track of the mortgage servicing and
beneficial rights as loans were getting bought and sold at a high rate during
the late 1990s.
At the height of the housing market, low interest rates prompted some
homeowners to refinance once, twice, even three times in the space of months.
Banks were originating loans at more than double their usual rate. Assignments -
- the document that names the holder of the legal title to the lien — primarily
between servicing companies, were piling up in county land record offices,
awaiting recording. Many times the loans were getting refinanced before the
assignments could get recorded on the old loan. The delay prevented lien
releases from getting recorded in a timely manner, leaving clouds on title.
MERS was created to provide clarity, transparency and efficiency by tracking
the changes in servicing rights and beneficial ownership interests. It was not
created to enable faster securitization. MERS is the only publicly available
source of comprehensive information for the servicing and ownership of the more
than 64 million loans registered on the system. The Mortgage Identification
Number (MIN), created by MERS, is similar in function to a motor vehicle VIN,
which keeps track of these loans. Without MERS the current mortgage crisis would
be even worse.
FACT: Lenders cannot “hide” behind MERS
MERS is the only comprehensive, publicly available source of the servicing and
ownership of more than 64 million loans in the United States. If a homeowner
needs to identify the servicer or investor of their loan, and it is registered
in MERS, they can be helped through the MERS website or via toll-free number at
888-679-6377.
FACT: MERS fully complies with recording statutes
The purpose of recording laws is to show that a lien exists, which protects
the mortgagee and any bona fide purchasers. When MERS is the mortgagee, the
mortgage or deed of trust is recorded, and all recording fees are paid.
*NOTABLE LEGAL VICTORIES:
a. IN RE Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems (MERS) Litigation, a multi-
district litigation case in federal court in Arizona who issued a favorable
opinion, stating that “The MERS System is not fraudulent, and MERS has not
committed any fraud.”
b. IN RE Tucker (9/20/2010) where a Missouri bankruptcy judge found that the
language of the deed of trust clearly authorizes MERS to act on behalf of the
lender in serving as the legal title holder.
c. Mortgage Electronic Registration Systems, Inc. v. Bellistri, 2010 WL
2720802 (E.D. Mo. 2010), where the court held that Bellistri’s failure to
provide notice to MERS violated MERS’ constitutional due process rights.
And after that gratuitous and irrelevant listing of notable legal victories, we now are certain a a far more notable legal loss is just around the corner.
h/t Pam
Myrtle Beach Property Management
Myrtle Beach Property Management
ways to Sell Your Home Without a Realtor
To All For sale By Proprietors: You can find times when property house owners want to promote their home on their individual and they have to entice as many customers as feasible. You will discover some promotion ideas which you ought to keep in thoughts to be able to save you time, funds and peace of thoughts.
One of probably the most effective implies to appeal to purchasers is to advertise to the internet as these days most consumers initially search on the internet prior to they check with a broker or agent. These days there are many labeled web-sites that permit you to promote for totally free. Basically sort “for sale by owner” into your Google or Yahoo! investigation bar and you’ll uncover numerous options right to the first web page. To obtain better presentation and wider publicity some sites may ask for premium upgrades and these may perhaps be a good thought depending within the urgency of your particular scenario. If there is no rush you’ll be able to avoid these and only promote within the totally free internet sites with out spending any funds.
The goals of most sellers would be the very same no matter regardless of whether or not they list that has a real estate expert. They want a quick sale with all the top doable price tag and the least trouble. For all houses on the market by owner it’s crucial to have the right things inside advertising to ensure that they’re ready to appeal to the proper type along with the highest quantity of purchasers.
In any ad the headline is by considerably one of the most vital component. Some specialists say it accounts for 80% of the effectiveness of the advert. I constantly like to make use of the stand alone check. In case you area only the headline and also a phone quantity inside a newspaper, will the cellphone ring? Seem on the advertisements that are already inside newspaper or wherever you will be contemplating of promotion. Which ones catch your eye? Do not really feel poor about copying what they do. It’s simpler than starting from scratch.
Keep in mind to also add photographs when probable. Take a bunch of photographs and use as quite a few from the best types as permitted. You do not should hear too much about how you can take pictures so I will not belabor the point. Just realize that when seeking houses it tends to make typical sense that the ones with photographs get looked at first.
One particular should also guarantee that the selling price they ask for the house is a fair a single and go away, at the extremely most, ten % area for negotiation. Brokers/agents and a few sites can aid you ascertain the asking price tag from the home. Zillow.com involves thoughts appropriate away. Together with advertising and exposure, pricing is one of the most important elements of promoting a property so don’t just go to 1 website that tells you the “value” of your own home and use that price. Do your investigation. What have comparable houses in the identical school district offered for inside the previous three months?
Look, I realize that selling a house can be a daunting, aggravating undertaking. Please, please, heed my Myrtle Beach Homes
assistance and only place your home on the industry when you’re ready and ready to achieve this. The vast majority of potential buyers will appear to appear at your property in the very first 30 nights. Should you place your house on the market and get off to a shaky begin, it won’t be long before your listing turns into “stale” and customers basically pass it more than even when you determine to reduce the cost later on.
Myrtle Beach Annual Rentals
Myrtle Beach Property Management
What you need to be successful in real estate
![Ave G, Austin, Real Estate by bahia [William Bay]](http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2346/2416968723_c4166d511f.jpg)
Myrtle Beach Property Management
A single may possibly say there cannot be a lot success in real estate or it’s extremely challenging. But there is this kind of a matter as success in real estate, as long as you do everything suitable. So go through on if you are a newbie. And if you have previously began in real estate, take a search and see if you have taken the proper steps.
Very first you need to inform people your name and ask them for theirs. The a lot more folks you recognize the much better chance for purchasing good home. You have to obtain to understand the best folks too. You must begin with a real estate agent that will get a lot of investment provides in what you are interested in. That way he may call you very first when a house is listed
.
You need to believe about earnings, expenses as well as the cap rate, when you are looking at a rental residence. Just getting a “feeling” about a specific home will only get you in difficulty.
Carry supplies. Always have at least company cards, pen and a few paper on you. You by no means know when you may possibly see a property for sale, or hear about one. Point out that you simply invest in real estate, and sellers, buyers as well as other traders may well have data, opinions and perhaps even deals, so be prepared. You never know when something wonderful will pop up.
Charlotte Real Estate
Scott Mckay