Harriman Real Estate // We're a way cool real estate brokerage in Wallingford, CT. It's gonna be a wild ride, jump in and let us do the drivin'!
As wine lovers, we have been anticipating this day for many months. May 1st saw the opening of Paradise Hills Vineyards in Wallingford, but we were unable to attend. We are planning to visit the newest Connecticut winery soon, so be on the lookout for our review on our blog, Wallingford Wired!
Osama bin Laden killed in shootout, Obama says
Steve Holland and Jeff Mason ReutersMay 2, 2011
sns-rt-news-us-obama-statetre741079-20110502
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden was killed Sunday in a firefight with U.S. forces in Pakistan and his body was recovered, President Barack Obama said on Sunday."Justice has been done," Obama said in a dramatic, late-night White House speech announcing the death of the elusive mastermind of the September 11, 2001, attacks on New York and Washington that killed nearly 3,000 people.
It is was major accomplishment for Obama and his national security team and could give him a political boost as he seeks re-election in 2012.
And it was at least a huge symbolic blow to al Qaeda, the militant organization that has staged bloody attacks in many western and Arab countries cities and has been the subject of a worldwide campaign against it.Obama said U.S. forces led a targeted operation that killed bin Laden in Abbotabad north of Islamabad. No Americans were killed in the operation and they took care to avoid civilian casualties, he said.
In Washington, thousands of people gathered quickly outside the White House, waving American flags, cheering and chanting "USA, USA, USA." Car drivers blew their horns in celebration and people streamed to Lafayette Park across from the presidential mansion. Police vehicles with their lights flashing stood vigil.
"I'm down here to witness the history. My boyfriend is commissioning as a Marine next week. So I'm really proud of the troops," Laura Vogler, a junior at American University in Washington, said outside the White House.
Many Americans had given up hope of ever finding bin Laden after he vanished in the mountains of eastern Afghanistan in late 2001 as U.S. and allied forces invaded the country in response to the September 11 attacks.
Intelligence that originated last August provided the clues that eventually led to bin Laden's trail, the president said. A U.S. official said Obama gave the final order to pursue the operation last Friday morning.
"The United States has conducted an operation that killed Osama bin Laden, the leader of al Qaeda and a terrorist who is responsible for the murder of thousands of men, women and children," Obama said.
A crowd gathered in Lafayette Park outside the White House erupted in jubilation at the news. Hundreds of people waved flags, hugged and cheered.
CAPTURED DEAD
Former President George W. Bush, who famously vowed to bring bin Laden to justice "dead or alive" but never did, called the operation a "momentous achievement" after Obama called him with the news.
Martin Indyk, a former U.S. assistant secretary of state for near eastern affairs, described bin Laden's death as "a body blow" to al Qaeda at a time when its ideology was already being undercut by the popular revolutions in the Arab world.
Statements of appreciation poured in from both sides of Washington's often divided political divide. Republican Senator John McCain declared, "I am overjoyed that we finally got the world's top terrorist."
Said former President Bill Clinton: "I congratulate the president, the national security team and the members of our armed forces on bringing Osama bin Laden to justice after more than a decade of murderous al Qaeda attacks."
Having the body may help convince any doubters that bin Laden is really dead.
Bin Laden had been hunted since he eluded U.S. soldiers and Afghan militia forces in a large-scale assault on the Tora Bora mountains of Afghanistan close to the Pakistan frontier in 2001.
The trail quickly went cold after he disappeared and many intelligence officials believed he had been hiding in Pakistan.
While in hiding, bin Laden had taunted the West and advocated his militant Islamist views in videotapes spirited from his hideaway.
Besides September 11, Washington has also linked bin Laden to a string of attacks -- including the 1998 bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and the 2000 bombing of the warship USS Cole in Yemen.
(Additional reporting by Patricia Zengerle, Arshad Mohammed, Kristin Roberts and Tabassum Zakaria; Writing by Steve Holland; editing by David Storey and Philip Barbara)
Copyright © 2011, Reuters
Comments (12)
Add / View comments | Discussion FAQmarzaphigar at 12:32 AM May 02, 2011DEAR MR. TRUMP: NOW DON'T YOU FEEL LIKE A TOTAL A-HOLE? MWAHAHAHAHA!!!! DOUCHE.
williamtells at 12:27 AM May 02, 2011I hope he suffered a terrifying, painful, screaming death at the hands of our heroic American troops and that now he will rot in hell for eternity.
big man at 12:08 AM May 02, 2011Now can oil prices please go down.
Free newsletters! Sign up for Breaking News, Huskies, Weekender, Midday Business and more.
A day that will be remembered for a long, long time...
New Amber Ridge Condo Listing: The Arbors Village of Summerlin!
by Renee Burrows on October 13, 2010
Written by: Renee BurrowsScroll Down below to view IDX listing and map
- Range/Oven
- Dishwasher
- Sink Disposal
- Patio
- Swimming Pool
- Hot Tub
- Guest Parking
- Exercise Room
- Recreation Center
Beautiful Amber Ridge Condo Just Listed! First Floor, 2 Car Garage and PRISTINE Condition! Condo has a two car tandem attached garage.
You are not dealing with a bank here – this is a regular *EQUITY* listing.
This unit does not have views of other balconies, a parking lot or parked cars. This is a premium location in the community! The view is unobstructed & sweeping panoramic views of walking/jogging/biking paths in the popular “Arbors” Village of Summerlin Master Planned Community! There is also a “peek a boo view” of city lights!
This Amber Ridge Condo is not yet in the MLS nor do I have photos. This is a sneak peek of an offering that will hit the market in the next week!
Amber Ridge Condos is a Gated Community and Immediate Amenities Include: Fitness Center, BBQ Area, Resort Style Pool & Spa.
Amber Ridge is Located Close to Red Rock Station Casino, Plenty of Premium Shopping, Dining and Professional Offices!
You may check in at www.10730AmberRidge.com over the next week to see updated listing information including photos & a virtual tour!
For More Information on Las Vegas Area Real Estate Trends Visit: www.ShackDiva.com
Renee Holds Six Designations/Certifications: ABR, AHWD, RSPS, SFR, SRES, SRS.
IDX Listing and Map:
10730 Amber Ridge Dr, LASVEGAS, NV 89144 (MLS # 1087620)
(all data current as of 10/17/2010)
Price $157,000 Beds 2 Baths 2 full baths Home size 1,410 sq ft Lot Size n/a Days on Market 4
Property Type(s): Condo, Residential
Last Updated 10/16/2010 Tract Amber Ridge Condo Arbors Summe Year Built 2000 Community Smmrlin Garage Spaces 2.0 County Clark Total Parking 2 Walk Score ® 62
Schools
Elementary School Bonner, John W. Grade School Bonner, John W. High School Palo Verde HS Jr. High School Rogich, Sig Additional Details
NumberDenOther 0 NumberLoft 0 2nd Bedroom Dimensions 12x11 3/4 Baths 0 Area 404 Bedrooms 2 Bedrooms (Total Possible Number) 2 Carport 0 Converted Garage N County Name CLARK Dining Room Dimensions 10x8 Full Baths 2 Garage 2 Half Baths 0 House Faces S Living Room Dimensions 16x15 Master Bedroom Dimensions 16x14 Features
2Nd Bedroom Dnstrs, Telejk, Tvcab Assoccomm Features Desc Ccrs, Clubhse, Exercrm, Gated, Pool, Recroom, Spa, Wtrscap Bath Downstairs F Bath Downstairs Yn Y Bedroom Downstairs Yn Y Bldg Desc 1Story Built Resale Construction Frame & Stucco Cooling Fuel Electric Cooling System Central Dining Room Area, Kitdin Dishwasher Inc Y Disposal Included Y Dryer Included N Dryer Utilities Gas Energy None Equestrian None Exterior Patio Family Room None Fence None Fireplaces 0 Flooring Carpet, Vinyl Foreclosure Commenced Yn N Furnishings Nofurn Garage Attachd, Auto Door Opener, Entry To House, Tandem Great Room Yn N Ground Mounted Yn Y Heating Central Heating Fuel Gas House Views City View, Mountain View, Prkgrn Interior Alarm System-Owned, Blinds, Ceilfn Internet Yn Y Kitchen Breafast Bar/Counter, Pantry Area, Tilctp Landscape Desert Landscaping, Drip Irrigation/Bubblers, Front Sprinkler System, Mature Landscaping, Rock/Gravel Landscaping, Shrubs, Water-Scaping Living Room Entry Foyer, Formal, Front Lot 1/4Less Master Bath Desc Bthtub, Dblsnk, Shower Master Bedroom Dressing Room, Master Bedroom Downstairs, Mbr Separate From Other, Walk-In Closet Miscellaneous None Occupancy Vacant Other Appliance None Oven Stove (G) Parking Openprk Private Pool N Private Spa N Property Subtype Con Refrigerator Included N Reporeo Yn N Roof Tile Sewer Public Sewer Short Sale N Status Exclusive Right Utility Information Cable Wired, Undgrnd Washer Dryer Location 1Stflr, Room Washer Included N Water Public Year Round School N Zoning Single-Family Location
Listing information deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Read full disclaimer.
Listed with The Force Realty
(view all details for MLS # 1087620)
Helping out my friend, Renee Burrows, in her Active Rain contest!
Hosting your website on a safe and trustworthy hosting company is essential.
You need a hosting provider that offers excellent reliability, security and support.
But who can you trust with your self-hosted WordPress blog?
There's been a lot of discussion regarding recent hacker attacks and hosting providers. And many people ask me what I look for in a hosting company, so I thought I would share a few tips with you.
When searching for a safe web host, the first 10 things I look for are:
- 24/7 Technical Telephone Support - In a crisis I don't want to wait for a response from an email or wait until their open tomorrow to call. And I want them to be friendly and helpful, don't give me the ol' "We don't provide that type of support here" or "You need to go search our help section" for simple questions.
- Daily (or weekly) Backups - If my database or website gets corrupted I need a reliable backup if mine fails.
- Website Restoration - God forbid my website gets hacked, I want to know that my hosting company has my back and will restore my site.
- 24/7 Security Monitoring - Someone better be monitoring my site's server for any attacks or issues.
- Updated Applications - I want all the latest secure versions of Apache, PHP, MySQL, etc. on the server. And I want them to provide proof. Show me!
- Timely Security Updates - My host needs to keep up with application/software security updates. So I ask how often they update. Just like it's my job is to keep my WordPress site updated and my computer safe with Windows updates, virus scans, firewalls, etc.
- SFTP (SSH File Transfer Protocol) and SSH (Secure Shell) - I will not use a host that does not allow me to encrypt my file uploads.
- SUPHP Installed - If a host says no, I run the other direction. I will NOT set any server permission to CHMOD 0777.
- Positive Customer Reviews - I search the Internet, ask on Twitter and Facebook, and read customer reviews/testimonials.
- No Hidden Files - When I use my file manager in the cPanel or look via SFTP, I want to be able to see all my files, including .htaccess and php.ini.
Oh, and one last tip... Call the technical support line and see how long their "hold time" is. When the auto-attendant says, "You are caller #64 and your hold time is 32 minutes," run the other direction. (Hmmm, does that mean they estimate 30 seconds to answer everyone's question?)
Another question I get a lot is "Who do you host with?" The answer is: HostGator (my affiliate link). They cover all the tips I mentioned above.
Recommended WordPress Plugin for checking server vulnerabilities:
ServerBuddy tests the server's configuration and checks for some vulnerabilities and compatibility issues with your WordPress, WordPress themes, plugins and more.
We'd love your feedback
Who do you trust with your website content? What do you look for in a host provider? Share your tips, hosting company reviews and ideas by leaving a comment below.
Securely yours,
Regina Smola
WordPress Security Specialist
Follow on Twitter @WPSecurityLock
Become a Facebook FanRelated Posts:
-->
In light of the recent (and semmingly eternal) attacks on Godaddy hosting, these tips for secure web hosting are very timely...and a nice tip on the ServerBuddy WP plug-in, too.
Looks like a cool tool for GMail users!
Man, I wish I had this back in my corporate drone days...this is better than playing Buzzword Bingo!
You go to a real estate website.
You click “Find an agent.”
On the “Find an agent” page, you login using your Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google or Foursquare account.
You are then presented with a list of agents in the company with whom you share a connection, an interest, a shared experience, employer, hometown or other commonality.
You can see, for example, that agent Mary Jones shares your interest in antiques. She also happens to be connected to your cousin on LinkedIn.
Or that agent Mike Thomas worked for Microsoft in the 1990’s, just like you. And you’ve both been checking in at the same gym for the past few months – you just never crossed paths.
Or even that agent Angela Davis has three friends that went to college at Ohio State around the same time you were there.
These discoveries, while not necessarily conclusive in your choice of agent, do provide you with a starting point. A basis for engagement. And, hey, you may even call your cousin to see if she’s got any background on Agent Mary.
This isn’t conjecture. It’s possible right now with a new app called Peep.ly.
The social graph as catalyst for commerce
Peep.ly has been under the radar for a while. It’s now in something of a semi-private beta.
Peep.ly exposes the connections and commonalities that lie beneath the surface of the Web, deep in the social graph. It thus aids consumer decision-making, builds trust and uncovers a host of information that can serve as indicators of compatibility.
You can try it out here on the site of one of peep.ly’s beta partners. Just click on “Agent Match” in the left-hand navigation.
Rather than offering the same old marginally useful “find an agent” page, brokerage companies using peep.ly can instead match prospects to agents in a novel and meaningful way.
An individual agent can use this too. They’ll be able to create a peep.ly profile and place the app within their own site.
I like this app because it leverages the social graph to drive business connections in a way that’s both expansive and targeted. Your connections, contacts and preferences – bits of life that may spark a bite of interest – are made available to any prospect, but in a controlled one-to-one manner.
You can filter out connections, check-ins and “Likes” that may not be advantageous in a business context too.
Dispersing the “Undifferentiated Realty Mass”
Differentiation – or, for that matter, any ranking or sorting of agents – is usually anathema.
Most brokers or MLSs won’t do much more than provide keyword and alphabetical “Find and agent” functionality on their sites for fear of playing favorites or clipping some dubious area of expertise.
Media sites don’t like to categorize or rank agents too specifically for fear of limiting the ad space they can sell.
And agents themselves – too many of them – struggle to set themselves apart from what I have called the “Undifferentiated Realty Mass.”
Peep.ly cuts through all of that in a way that avoids the political crap while also being useful.
That’s remarkable.
For better or for worse, choosing a Realtor is not always a rational decision. It’s sometimes based on personal rapport. More often, it’s based on a referral from someone you know who has some sort of connection to a real estate professional.
Of course, there are tons of obvious use cases for peep.ly in other industries – and, indeed, for a general consumer audience. But the company seems intent on making peep.ly work well as a real estate app. At least for now.
I’m digging this app. What do you think?
Sign up for the 1000watt Spotlight e-newsletter
and keep up with the ideas, apps and people that are changing real estate.
Something worth watching?...
James Pethokoukis writes on Reuters today (h/t: Instapundit) that the Obama Administration may be planning to eliminate many/most/all underwater mortgages in a single swoop:
Rumors are running wild from Washington to Wall Street that the Obama administration is about to order government-controlled lenders Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac to forgive a portion of the mortgage debt of millions of Americans who owe more than what their homes are worth. An estimated 15 million U.S. mortgages – one in five – are underwater with negative equity of some $800 billion. (Emphasis mine)
If this does come to pass, the mind simply boggles at the thought.
The underwater mortgages would become Federal government debt practically overnight. It might be time to think about not paying your mortgage….
How Would This Even Work?
Presumably, the way it would work is for Fannie & Freddie to do a one-time reset of all of the mortgages in their portfolios to some sort of “appraised value” based on homeowner request, which would include some sort of appraisal conducted at the homeowner’s request. If Fannie/Freddie then approves the “reset”, there would be some sort of a purchase of the full mortgage contract from the bank who “owns” the mortgage, then a write-down by Fannie/Freddie of the value. The Fed would supply Fannie/Freddie with the money to stay solvent while taking these massive write-downs.
So let’s say you’ve got a $500K mortgage on a house whose value has dropped to $350K. The bank who wrote the mortgage may have packaged it into some MBS with various streams of payments due the bondholders. You now make an application to have your mortgage reduced; you get an appraiser to come in, look at the house, and issue an appraisal of $350K. If approved, then presumably, Fannie would reduce the stream of payments it was due from the bank to the $350K principal level, and write down the resulting loss on its books.
Then again, if there are multiple different bondholders… Fannie might have to pay those people off to buy their payment streams in discounted present value basis.
Maybe if the loan is still on the bank’s books, Fannie would simply purchase it for the face amount, then take the loss directly, and send it to whichever servicing company Fannie uses to handle collections and payment processing.
The whole thing would take some time, I think, but all underwater mortgages would become “overwater” mortgages overnight. At the cost of some $800 billion, of course.
Plus, there are a host of unanswered questions — which is inevitable given that we’re talking about a rumor here. But I wonder…. If after a homeowner receives this “mortgage reset”, house prices rise, and he ends up selling for a profit… would he have to pay that back to the Fed, or is that his to keep? Would only primary houses be eligible, or investment property as well? Would the loan have to be delinquent to be considered, or would there be relief for homeowners who have kept current, despite being underwater? Would second or third mortgages or even refis be eligible, or only the primary mortgage?
Argh, so many questions without answers….
Is This Good or Bad for Real Estate?
Many taxpayers would be understandably irate if such a thing were to come to pass. As Pethokoukis notes:
The political calculation is that the number of grateful Americans would be greater than those offended that they — and their children and their grandchildren — would be paying for someone else’s mortgage woes.
But leave the political realities for other blogs to cover in greater depth. What about for the real estate industry? Would such a “loan forgiveness” program be good or bad for real estate?
Presumably, short sales would disappear, since no house would actually be underwater anymore. Foreclosures are likely to come to a halt or a near-halt; why foreclose, when you the bank might recover the full value of the mortgage from the Feds? Would prices recover? Since the principal reduction would have to go hand-in-hand with a new appraised value of some sort, if anything, wouldn’t that create a “new normal” for the pricing for housing in a given area?
Would banks relax their lending standards, knowing that Fed would bail them out if the loan goes underwater? Even if this “reset” is sold as a once-in-a-lifetime thing, wouldn’t bankers be justified in believing that a precedent has been set? Units might go up if true, but that almost suggests that we’ll have another bubble in real estate in a few year’s time, no? Or have things changed sufficiently now?
Boy… I really haven’t a clue as to whether this sort of a bailout-for-homeowners would be a good thing or a bad thing.
As Pethkoukis says, August 17th is a key date, as that is when the Treasury will hold a hearing on the future of Fannie and Freddie. Keep an eye on Washington; these be interesting times we live in.
Your thoughts on either the mechanics of how such a thing might work, or the desirability/undesirability of the “bailout”?
-rsh
Share and Enjoy:
