“It’s the economy, stupid.”
It’s possible that nothing former President Bill Clinton ever said is more famous, not even “I did not have sex with that woman.” To the extent that the 2012 Republican primary contenders are making the race about the culture wars, they are failing to understand some of the deepest, yet simplest, political wisdom of the past fifty years.
The problem, from the Republican point of view, is that the economy is improving. Not merely improving, but doing so under policies that every single Republican running for office virulently refutes.
Source: Mitt Romney Media
Meanwhile, Willard “Mitt” Romney has been unable to gain a foothold among the Republican base. Every single alternative candidate, even those laughably unqualified for higher office, has had a moment in the spotlight as a frontrunner, because the base simply cannot warm up to the man. So, following the shining moment and subsequent breakdown in the polls of Michelle Bachman, Herman Cain, Ron Paul, Newt Gingrich, and Rick Perry, by February of 2012 it was Rick Santorum’s time to shine. Romney outspent Santorum in Michigan—Romney’s home state—and won by 3%. Let’s repeat that: With twice the money and a home court advantage, all Mitt could squeeze out of Michiganders was 3 points, and he declared that a stunning victory. On Super Tuesday, he seemed to feel his 1% win in Ohio was a mandate.
Romney runs primarily on the economy, and no one falls in love, while Santorum is a culture warrior, and is rising in the opinions of the most conservative voters, particularly in the South.
The problem is, President Clinton was right, it’s the economy, and the economy is improving. Unemployment is going down, people are starting to get raises again, the auto bailout was a genuine success and car sales are up. This encourages culture warriors like Santorum to double down on the rhetoric, alienating more and more of the centrist voters (who are the majority).
You’ll often see advertisements promoting a career in massage therapy. These advertisements focus on the career’s high earning potential and excellent job benefits but gloss over the tremendous amount of hard work needed to reap these benefits. Before you start looking for massage therapy schools, here’s a reality check.
You’ll often hear advertisements for massage schools boast that the average massage therapist earns $60 to $90 an hour. That’s true, but the advertisement doesn’t tell you about the amount of work you’ll need to put in before you can justifiably charge that kind of fee. You’ll need a massage therapy diploma from a reputable massage therapy school. You’ll also have to pass an exam to get a license that lets you practice massage therapy professionally. Most importantly, you’ll need to have hours upon hours of real-life work experience. No one comes out of massage therapy school earning those astronomical hourly sums. They have to spend time working under more experienced masseurs to pick up all the tricks of the trade. They’ll also have to exercise their networking skills in order to build up a base of loyal clientele.
If you’re willing to put in the hard work, however, the profits will surely come. The thing people don’t tell you is that money isn’t always enough to make you stick with the career. The turnover rate for massage therapists is incredibly high because many junior therapists aren’t prepared for the rigors of the job. Massage therapy is physically and mentally tiring. You’ll be taxing every muscle in your body on a daily basis and deal with pitiful patients with severe, bloodcurdling injuries. You’ll never make it if you don’t have your heart in the right place. Massage therapists are an indispensable part of the healthcare industry. Your work will help alleviate the suffering of thousands of patients. If helping patients isn’t your primary objective, a career as a massage therapist is probably not for you.
Being a massage therapist is one of the most financially and spiritually rewarding career opportunities around. If you’re in the industry for the right reasons and apply a conscientious work ethic, you will surely find tremendous success.
The world of retail has changed dramatically over the last several decades. Where brick and mortar storefronts were once the only way that consumers were able to shop and obtain their goods, and all inventory was kept either in the backroom of the store or in some cases at a warehouse, fulfillment began to change as first catalog shopping and then e-commerce became available. As e-commerce volume continues to grow year over year, its impact on how retail operation is conducted continue to be felt, perhaps nowhere more than in the area of global order fulfillment. Where once the only shipping that a retail business had to worry about was the process of shipping large quantities to and from a manufacturer or distributor, orders are now placed on a constant basis for small quantities of items, and know-how is required for how to send items both domestically and internationally as orders are placed as easily from across the world as from the business’ local area.
As a result of the complexities of shipping both domestically and overseas, many companies are now placing their supply chain and logical demands in the hands of outsourcing companies that specialize in pick and pack operations. The ability to set up a comprehensive system that includes inventory control, returns processing and global order fulfillment allows the retail trade to provide their customers with a good shopping experience and quick delivery time, while also allowing staff to concentrate on their front of house operations and marketing. This provides a much higher return on investment and eliminates a great deal of the frustration that retail managers face. As volumes continue to rise in e-commerce, it is anticipated that more and more businesses are going to need to develop in-house expertise in logistics and fulfillment, or else turn to companies that specialize in these services.
There are certain things that you expect as a consumer when you are buying anything at all, but when you are making a big financial purchase, the stakes are obviously much higher. When you are purchasing a heat recovery steam generator for example, there are a couple of things that you ought to bear in mind.
When you are spending so much money and especially on an item that is so important, you should expect and receive the very best service. The supplier should be able to listen attentively to your needs and seek to meet those needs as best as possible. They should also be able to quickly and effectively address any questions or concerns that you may have. Good customer service also means that you will be able to be kept informed throughout the process. You should also be made aware of the best products to meet your needs.
You will also want to choose a supplier that will offer first class follow up service. They should be able to follow up with you to ensure that the system is functioning properly and if there is anything else they can do for you. The supplier should also be able to provide technological auditing, maintenance and repair services in order to provide you with the best value for your dollar.
One of the best ways to know if the supplier provides stellar customer service and follow up service is through feedback. Research their previous customers’ comments about their products and services. If they have received overwhelmingly positive reviews, they are more likely to provide you with superior service.
You will also want to choose a supplier that carries the best line of equipment with the specific features that you are interested. It doesn’t matter too much if they offer the best service if they have inferior products or not the right products to meet your specific needs.
Of course you also need to consider cost. You should make it a point to look for a supplier that will provide you with the very best value for your money.
In not so many years I will be thinking about downsizing to a smaller home. With children grown where should I build? Having that freedom to choose is almost mind boggling after years of my living choice being dictated by school districts and kid friendly neighborhoods. I have often joked with my kids that someday I would come to their house and make a mess and eat all the food in their refrigerator. I would also complain about their dinner selections. They laugh and pick up their sweater, or clean the mess. That threat may come true though if I don’t start planning. I have thought of a great joke on my son, he has a pretty fancy home now, with just enough space to fit a nc modular home right in his back yard!
I don’t really think I could live IN their homes; I have sons and they have wives!!! But I could live in their back house if they would let me put one there. He bought at the top of the market so I don’t expect he will be moving anytime soon. His backyard would be my first pick. Forget putting in a pool, I come with income to help pay that ridiculous mortgage he has.
They are expecting their first child in the fall. Lovely couple that they are but they have careers that would kill a normal person. So just think about all of that free babysitting. They can still fly to Thailand, or take an impromptu vaca to Vegas with me parked in the back yard!
The next time I’m over, I will be sure to wear my sunglasses to conceal my thoughts. I think I will pace out the property, and pay a little more attention to his backyard kitchen for my BBQ’s. Meanwhile I’m off to get some blue play dough for his dining room carpet… I mean my new grandchild!
Central Florida’s largest mixed tennant office building, the Sun Trust Center, has been acquired by a new owner just two years after the most recent instance of it being sold. The Sun Trust Center is the pinnacle of orlando commercial real estate. The almost twenty five year old building features 600,000 square feet of office space for lease and is currently at about seventy five percent occupancy. The selling price was just $131.5 million dollars.
The Sun Trust Center is a thirty five story beauty of a building with thirty stories of usable space, and it’s the tallest building in the city, located in the heart of downtown Orlando. It last changed hands back in 2010 when it was purchased as part of a multi- building deal along with Tampa’s Sun Trust Financial Center by a joint venture group composed of Stiles Inc. and Charter Hall Real Estate. The building’s new owner owns a great deal of Orlando commercial real estate as well as properties in Atlanta, Tampa, and other central Florida locations.
The building’s selling price equated to $219.17 per square foot, with office space in the building reported as currently leasing at a rate of approximately $26.50 per square foot. All leasing will continue to be handled by the current property management company, CBRE, Inc.
The building includes six parking decks and an eight story atrium. It is topped by decorative pyramids framing a five story pethouse level that is not open to the public. One of the things that the Sun Trust Center is best known for is that it’s the location of the annual charity event, “Fight For Air, Climb Orlando” held by the local branch of the American Lung Association. Contestants are timed as they race up twenty five flights of stairs for bragging rights; it is one of the city’s most heralded fund-raising events, raising over $100,000 in recent years.
If a tree falls in the forest and no one is there to hear does it make a sound? Certainly the same vibrations are sent out, but in essence with no ear drums to vibrate against they are just vibrations. I have often wondered this about the news. The news affects us in so many ways. Listening to our nightly broadcast can affect whether we refinance our home, buy a car, or even smaller purchases like our Christmas budget.
Would it also be true then, that with reporting “good news” we would recover from our economic woes? I wonder. I am not saying that reporters should start flat out lying, I am only making a suggestion that with all of the millions and millions of people in the world, it seems that the percentage of actual bad news has to be pretty small, yet that is what we are drilled on each night. It puts a new perspective on “fair and balanced” doesn’t it? By those odds shouldn’t we get a larger percentage of good news?
With the twenty four hour news broadcast of all this bad news, there would have to be an effect created. Should I buy that sweater? No, the market in Greece is falling I just heard it on the news last night. I better hold on to my cash. Has the market in Greece fallen ten times in the past and I just didn’t know about it? Probably, but this story carried over weeks and weeks has kept the attention of many investors.
How our news is reported leaves open the possibility that markets and our money can be influenced by corporations. Why would anyone do that? Pretty simple stuff, if you can get people to stop buying sweaters for a bit, the price will fall. You can then go in and pick up a few million of them and sell them for a profit. If you are really good you can get the people who make them to work for less, because after all sweaters aren’t selling for what they used to.
Always question and put the information you receive in context. Before you react, the next time you hear that proverbial tree falling in the forest; determine how many are still standing, and how many times in the past trees have fallen without a sound.
Are you looking for an exotic Kenya safari packages that are out of the ordinary? ET African Journeys could be just what you’re looking for.
A joint venture by Ethiopian Airlines and Group IST, ET African Journeys has a wide selection of excursions in Kenya, Ethiopia, Tanzania, and South Africa, as well as other parts of Africa. ET African Journeys utilizes Ethiopian Airlines, a Star Alliance member, for all travel accommodations. Whether it be a safari, marveling at ancient architecture or a journey to Cape Town, our guides will provide the perfect tour for your group, large or small. Not to mention, we have something available for every budget, as well.
Group IST has been around since 1982, providing tours for organizations, churches, universities and museums. Ethiopian Airlines offers non-stop flights from the East Coast of the United States to the East Coast of Africa.
No matter what you’re looking for, ET African Journeys has the perfect safari vacation package for everyone.
Have we reached the bottom of the real estate market? Many people think it has. As the unemployment rate drops people have a revitalized confidence in their financial future. The economic upturn goes hand in hand with interest in buying a home. AP reports that sales of homes between 100,000 and 250,000 are up 19% over the first quarter of last year. Home prices are down 34% over their record highs, and interest rates are at or below levels of the 1960’s. Information on current interest rates can be found at va home loan.
Uncertainty in the stock market also has driven investors to return to real estate. With foreclosures and near foreclosures accounting for almost half the properties on the market, those who can afford to invest are taking advantage of the depressed market. Homes are being purchased and converted into rentals or resold. Savvy investors are willing to purchase these underpriced homes sometimes in lots of 25 to 50!
Another indicator of the market is the number of days it takes to sell a home. This number is dropping in various markets across the country.
Real estate websites offer market information along with their listing so it is easy to check your local market conditions. Whether you are looking to invest or taking advantage of the market to upgrade, there may not be a better time to invest in real estate than right now. That is something that we haven’t been able to say for that last 4 years!
Maybe we haven’t reached the absolute bottom, only hindsight will tell us that. We have however seen lowered interest rates, and drastic home price reduction. We have seen unemployment numbers fall and purchases of homes up almost 20%. All of these are vital good indicators of a market on the rise.
Veteran’s affairs budgets have been cut like everything else. The current crop of candidates need to show that “Support Our Troops” is more than a fancy catchphrase by providing excellent VA home loan funding.
If you are applying for a VA home loan but don’t have any idea about the loan, its requirements, eligibility and details, you need to consult a lender in your area. Those who don’t know where to start for getting their VA home loan approved must submit their application through a lender. There are many lenders out there who will happily serve you for a small fee or commission. Most of the lenders provide you with guaranteed approval and will only charge the fees once your loan will get approve. So it’s pretty safe to deal with lenders when applying for VA loans.
Healthcare is a major issue in the current political scene, and every presidential candidate has to discuss it. Here’s some factual information.
There are three stages in the provision of healthcare. First is the accurate diagnosis of diseases. Initially, physicians will conduct interview, physical checkup, laboratory tests. Through the data they gathered from these tests, they would be able to determine and classify the type of ailment a patient has. The second part is the treatment wherein medicines and medical equipment are used to eliminate the ailment. Prevention is also part of a complete healthcare system but people usually neglect this idea. Form the first to the last stages, medical treatment can be costly. However, healthcare providers that utilize used medical equipment are able to lower the cost of their medical services.
In the diagnostic stage, it is not really a big deal to use refurbished X-ray machines, CT scanners, and ultrasound machines. There equipment repair and maintenance centers that are capable of restoring medical equipment back to functional condition. There are also restored equipment for the therapeutic stage like pumps and surgical machines. Because of the sensitivity of their applications, a lot of trouble shooting, checkup, and testing goes into the refurbishing of second hand medical equipment. Medical equipment like this must be accompanied by regular maintenance schedule. This is to ensure that the new parts that were installed are functioning well. Moreover, constant maintenance prevents serious malfunctions in the equipment. In machines as in the human body, prevention is better than major repair.
There are other procedures in medical treatment that benefit from the utilization of second hand equipment. Aside from purchasing refurbished ones that they greatly need, hospitals must also ensure that their old medical equipment is properly maintained. Because of deterioration, most of them need frequent checkup and repair. In comparison, investing in the refurbishing of medical equipment is more economical that buying new ones after a few years. Because most of this sophisticated equipment are electronically operated, there are already spare parts that are available in the market. For the computerized ones, an IT expert can more or less figure out the structure of the software. In the field of medical technology, experts with various specializations can easily be tapped.
The American dream has produced affluent individuals who earned substantial fortune by working hard and taking advantage of opportunities. Their fortunes enabled them to buy the things they need and want. This includes their dream houses and it is one of the reasons why Americans have one of the finest houses in the world. These houses have top-of-the-line materials used from the flooring to the roofing. For the servicing of American houses, window replacement Maryland is an enterprise that is up for the job. People in Washington D.C. and Maryland who spent millions in their homes should not be negligent in choosing the proper house repair contractor.
Although there are house repair contractors who have excellent skills in house repairs and improvements, they might not have access to information and supply of the best housing materials. They might not be privy to the fact that there are latest window and door designs. They might not also know the new materials that are being used for various parts of houses and other structures. On the other hand, there are enterprises on the same line of business which are always updated about the most efficient and popular designs. Moreover, they also know the items that are affordable as well as the ones for high-end market. These are the professionals who spend time and effort in research by talking to industry leaders and attending various conventions related to their trade.
Contractors must understand that homeowners are more convinced with service providers and suppliers who can provide them the necessary information on the things they are looking for. They want their questions to be answered to eliminate their doubts. If a contracting business can serve its clients this way, it has a better chance of getting plenty of construction deals. In many areas in the United States, many homeowners are well-informed when it comes to the latest information about home improvement. For this reason, contractors must prove to their clients that are more updated in terms of fresh information and new technologies. This is the only way to get the attention of different types of customers. Ultimately, they have better chances of closing any deal they are working on.