Podcasts about Exchange

Donald Trump claims Iran is responsible for the bombing of an elementary school that killed scores of children, even though the evidence continues to mount that the United States is responsible. In a striking exchange with a reporter, Trump was asked point blank why no other government official will confirm what he's saying. He said straight out: “Because I don't know enough about it.” But in saying this, Trump admitted that he'd made an incendiary factual claim about an extraordinarily serious matter without having the foggiest idea what the facts actually are. Trump's assertions about the school bombing also forced White House Karoline Leavitt to undertake a clumsy clean-up effort. We talked to Paul Waldman, author of a piece at his Substack, The Cross Section, discussing a new analysis showing that Trump's war is the most unpopular U.S. war in modern history. We discuss why that exchange was so humiliating to Trump, what it revealed about the White House's indefensible war and his inability to sell it, and the deeper reasons why Americans are not reflexively rallying behind the “commander in chief.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Torkil Lauesen joins us to discuss his book Unequal Exchange: Past, Present, and Future and the hidden mechanics of modern imperialism. Lauesen returns to the tradition of Arghiri Emmanuel to argue that while the world market tends to equalize prices, wages remain radically unequal across borders -- driving a structural transfer of value from low-wage production zones to high-wage consumer economies. We walk through Lauesen's reconstruction of unequal exchange through Marx's value theory, the leading approaches to measuring global value transfer, and what contemporary estimates imply about the scale of the drain. From there, we explore the political consequences inside the Global North: why reformism and social democracy have often been stabilized by imperial arrangements, what that means for internationalism, and why the "imperial mode of living" is increasingly unstable. Finally, we turn to the shifting world order -- especially Lauesen's argument that a new mode of production may be emerging, best exemplified by China -- and what that implies for the future of capitalism, multipolarity, and socialist transition. We also discuss the ongoing war/conflict involving Iran and what it reveals about crisis, hegemony, and the changing methods of imperial power. Check out our other episodes with Torkil HERE outro Music: 'Antithesnails' by spinitch and Chaz Matador --------------------------------- Support Rev Left and get bonus episodes on Patreon Make a one-time donation to Rev Left at BuyMeACoffee.com/revleftradio Follow RLR on IG HERE Learn more about Rev Left HERE

Week three of the Kouri Richins trial began with some fireworks in the courtroom. While the jury was dismissed, Kouri Richins defense attorney tried to convince the judge Eric Richins’ business partner impeached himself regarding Eric’s alleged drug use in high school. After a testy back and forth about “red devil” pills, the judge made his ruling, frustrating the defense, which claimed Eric’s alleged “illicit drug” issue proves Kouri is innocent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Week three of the Kouri Richins trial began with some fireworks in the courtroom. While the jury was dismissed, Kouri Richins defense attorney tried to convince the judge Eric Richins’ business partner impeached himself regarding Eric’s alleged drug use in high school. After a testy back and forth about “red devil” pills, the judge made his ruling, frustrating the defense, which claimed Eric’s alleged “illicit drug” issue proves Kouri is innocent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Week three of the Kouri Richins trial began with some fireworks in the courtroom. While the jury was dismissed, Kouri Richins defense attorney tried to convince the judge Eric Richins’ business partner impeached himself regarding Eric’s alleged drug use in high school. After a testy back and forth about “red devil” pills, the judge made his ruling, frustrating the defense, which claimed Eric’s alleged “illicit drug” issue proves Kouri is innocent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Keith is joined by housing market intelligence authority Rick Sharga—a frequent guest on outlets like CNBC and Bloomberg who "quietly gets it right" rather than chasing clickbait crashes. Together, they dig into whether America really has a housing shortage and how that lines up with what you're seeing in prices and inventory.  They explore why entry-level homes are so constrained and what that means for both investors and homebuyers.  They also examine how mortgage rates, builder behavior, and demographic shifts could shape housing demand and investment opportunities over the next several years. Episode Page: GetRichEducation.com/596 For access to properties or free help with a GRE Investment Coach, start here: GREmarketplace.com GRE Free Investment Coaching: GREinvestmentcoach.com Get mortgage loans for investment property: RidgeLendingGroup.com or call 855-74-RIDGE  or e-mail: info@RidgeLendingGroup.com Invest with Freedom Family Investments.  For predictable 10-12% quarterly returns, visit FreedomFamilyInvestments.com/GRE or text  1-937-795-8989 to speak with a freedom coach Will you please leave a review for the show? I'd be grateful. Search "how to leave an Apple Podcasts review"  For advertising inquiries, visit: GetRichEducation.com/ad Best Financial Education: GetRichEducation.com Get our wealth-building newsletter free— GREletter.com  Our YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/c/GetRichEducation Follow us on Instagram: @getricheducation Complete episode transcript:   Keith Weinhold  0:01   Keith, welcome to GRE I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, does America really have a housing shortage? And if so, how long will it last? Those answers and more, with an expert guest and I today on get rich education.   Speaker 1  0:19   Since 2014 the powerful get rich education podcast has created more passive income for people than nearly any other show in the world. This show teaches you how to earn strong returns from passive real estate investing in the best markets without losing your time being a flipper or landlord. Show Host Keith Weinhold writes for both Forbes and Rich Dad advisors and delivers a new show every week since 2014 there's been millions of listener downloads of 188 world nations. He has a list show guests include top selling personal finance author Robert Kiyosaki. Get rich education can be heard on every podcast platform, plus it has its own dedicated Apple and Android listener phone apps build wealth on the go with the get rich education podcast. Sign up now for the get rich education podcast, or visit get rich education.com   Keith Weinhold  1:03   the same place where I get my own mortgage loans is where you can get yours. Ridge lending group and MLS, 42056, they provided our listeners with more loans than anyone because they specialize in income properties. They help you build a long term plan for growing your real estate empire with leverage. Start your prequel and even chat with President chailey Ridge personally while it's on your mind, start at Ridge lending group.com that's Ridge lending group.com   Speaker 2  1:36   You're listening to the show that has created more financial freedom than nearly any show in the world. This is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  1:46   Welcome to GRE from Nantucket, Massachusetts to Pawtucket, Rhode Island and across 188 nations worldwide. America's favorite shaved mammal on a microphone has got his slack jawed act back on track for another wealth building week with you. I'm Keith Weinhold. This is get rich education. I'm still not wearing a pair of knockers, and I've returned here to bring you more value than your HOA dues. It's kind of crazy that America First put a man on the moon, and we're the first nation to put a man on the moon in 1969 and yet today, we have trouble housing our own people here on Earth. Shortly, we're going deep on does America really have a housing shortage first? Sometimes real estate investors can learn lessons from the stock market about the future direction of housing prices and demand and just simply what assets people have demand for, how AI is disrupting some stock sectors. Has been rather germane lately. One CEO made this perfect example. It's about how two different stocks travel search engine Expedia and Delta Airlines, those two stocks were once closely tied together. Their share prices used to be correlated, but they've gone in separate directions. See, Expedia offers you a service that can be replicated by bots, but delta has actual planes that take you somewhere, and it's hard for AI to replace that. This is why there's been a recent push toward more tangible stocks and tangible assets, a divergence, an attraction to assets that give you a share of either a tangible good, or, in the case of something like an airline, a service that's directly tied to something tangible. And similarly, commodities like gold, silver and copper cannot be replaced by AI. Neither can real estate. There is a growing sense to own things that can't be disrupted, dematerialized and demonetized by AI, like so much software can. In fact, as overall stock market valuations are lofty. You know, some people have become rather wary of an AI speculative bubble that perceptive to this demand. Just a few weeks ago, Goldman Sachs introduced an everything but AI index, yeah, where you can invest in a basket of companies that are sheltered from Ai disruption, this everything but AI index that's attracting investors. In fact, there's another trend that interfaces with real estate that just launched recently too today, you can wager on future homes. Prices through the platform, poly market, yes, place bets for profit or loss on the future direction of the median home price. In fact, one recent college graduate joked, I was born too late to afford a house, and born just in time to gamble on people who can buy a house? Yeah, you're probably familiar with poly market by now. It's the prediction market that lets you speculate on things like elections and Fed rate decisions and various geopolitical events and other real world outcomes. Well, they have launched a set of real estate markets that allow users to bet on future home values. The way it works is that you can wager on future home values in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, San Francisco and Austin, Texas, as well as US national home values. So that's six different markets. Now I haven't gambled on Poly market, I had checked it at times to get an idea of where people really think markets are headed or what's going to happen next. Because, rather than major media, where sometimes as a hype machine, they create headlines that scare you in order to try to get clicks, well, instead of all that, regular people are placing their money on polymarket, and you can look at what that action is like, because that can be a more reliable harbinger of future price direction at last check with a national median home price of about 420k with the numbers, poly market is using one month from now, 66% of people think that home prices will rise. And it's more nuanced than that. You can bet on just what price range you believe home prices will fall into one month from now. And this is nothing that I recommend wagering on, but besides an interesting trend, yeah, you can get that idea of where real people actually believe markets are headed. As we're about to talk to national housing expert Rick sharga on whether or not we really have a housing shortage, we've got new data about the level of housing permits. Of course, housing permits are a gage of the level of future housing inventory, because after a permit is issued, it's typically six to 12 months until a single family home is built. But I'll share that with you near the end of the show, because it makes sense to cover this with you in chronological order. We'll discuss housing supply first, and then I'll tell you about the future supply direction based on housing permits. Now, you know from the inception of this show in 2014 I talked about the why of real estate investing before the how with anything in life, it's only when you truly know why you're doing something that you'll profoundly care about the how and you'll want to do it well. In fact, when I do an in person real estate presentation, one of the modules that I teach most often is simply called Why real estate. The biggest Why is not altruistic, although that matters, and that's part of it. But instead it's that real estate pays five ways. That's the biggest why any GRE devotee knows that the five ways are simultaneously paid, are appreciation, cash flow, ROA tax benefits, and not inflation hedging. But specifically inflation profiting. Yet I have found multi decade real estate investors that don't understand this, the most valuable hour that you can spend is knowing all the ways that you're paid and seeing and believing how your total rate of return of 20% 30% or even 40% is not far fetched or risky, but it's actually common and even estimated conservatively. If you're initiated on this, you already know, but if you aren't, it can sound a little hard to believe what I just said right there, I recently reshot the entire real estate pays five ways video course, and it's the most valuable hour of investing video content that you're likely ever to see. It's premium, masterclass level content. I'm just giving it away for free because people need to know this. And actually, on the newest shoot, I've condensed it down into just 40 minutes of content across the five videos, one instructional video for each of the five ways you're paid. The videos average eight minutes. So that's about 40 minutes total, and they build on. Each other. So at the end of each one, you get to see your cumulative rate of return. It just keeps adding up, and you know exactly where all of the numbers come from. That's why it's more conducive to video form than audio form. I know that many of you have seen it, but if not, it is foundational, and I cannot recommend it enough. It's free and available to you now. At get richeducation.com/course, get that now, while it's on your mind. At get rich education.com/course, more next, I'm Keith Weinhold, this is get rich education.   Keith Weinhold  10:39   Flock homes helps you retire from real estate and landlording, whether it's one problem property or your whole portfolio, through a 721 exchange, deferring your capital gains tax and depreciation recapture, it's a strategy long used by the ultra wealthy now Mom and Pop landlords can 721, the residential real estate request your initial valuation, see if your properties qualify@flockhomes.com slash GRE, that's F, l, O, C, K, homes.com/gre.   Keith Weinhold  11:16   You know, most people think they're playing it safe with their liquid money, but they're actually losing savings accounts and bonds don't keep up when true inflation eats six or 7% of your wealth. Every single year, I invest my liquidity with FFI freedom family investments in their flagship program. Why fixed 10 to 12% returns have been predictable and paid quarterly. There's real world security backed by needs based real estate like affordable housing, Senior Living and health care. Ask about the freedom flagship program. When you speak to a freedom coach there, and that's just one part of their family of products, they've got workshops, webinars and seminars designed to educate you before you invest. Start with as little as 25k and finally, get your money working as hard as you do. Get started at Freedom, family investments.com/gre, or send a text. Now it's 1-937-795-8989 Yep. Text their freedom coach directly. Again, 1-937-795-8989,   Kathy Fettke  12:27   this is the real wealth network's Kathy betke, and you are listening to the always valuable get rich education with Keith Weinhold. You   Keith Weinhold  12:46   Is America really short millions of homes? If so, that doesn't mean every market is undersupplied, and prices can only go up because of it. If there's a housing shortage, why are prices falling in some cities? So the shortage? Is that something that's real, or is it just misunderstood, and you're gonna learn what it means to you? I'm get rich education's Keith Weinhold along with an intelligence authority today that usually gets it right. In fact, I found an old clip of him on Bloomberg where he suggested home prices bottoming in 2011 and as it turns out, they sure did today, together, we're answering the question, does America really have a housing shortage? And my guest has often appeared in major media, CNBC, Fox NPR. He's the founder of the CJ Patrick company. Hey, welcome back to the show. Rick sharga,   Rick Sharga  13:39   good to see you again. Keith, thanks for inviting me.   Keith Weinhold  13:41   You know, it's funny. Four years ago, Rick and I found each other, and we sort of checked each other out. I found him to be an authority that just doesn't go on saying this bombastic and absurd stuff just to get attention. Instead, he quietly gets it right, and when he knew I had a real estate YouTube channel, similarly, I resonated, because I'm not one of these people that's constantly saying that housing prices are going to crash just to get views and then those crash. People never follow up when they're wrong, and they've been wrong for about 14 years now. But Rick, rather than prices, we're here to understand if there's really a housing shortage today, most agencies believe we have a shortage. Moody's will tell you 2 million. Zillow, four to 5 million. Congressional Republicans have gone on to say 20 million. I sure don't know about that. And then yet, Rick sometimes at the same time, you do see these conflicting stats, where it says that sellers outnumber buyers today, which sort of flies in the face of a housing shortage. So what is your take amidst all this?   Rick Sharga  14:46   Well, Keith, I think what we're seeing is a fairly obvious example that if you torture data enough, you can make it say anything in the right you wanted to say. And there is a lot of confusion about how much. A housing shortage we really do have. It's not like we have 20% of the population unable to find anywhere to live. Most people still prefer to live indoors, and they've been able to do so, but the fact of the matter is that all of the math suggests that we are underserved in terms of the number of housing units available across the country, and we can go through some of the math. The big question, of course, is, how many houses are we short? How many housing units are we short? And the reason the numbers are all over the place, and as you suggested, let's set aside the Republican estimate of 20 million, because there's, there's certainly something political going on there, but the estimates range from around a million to as high as five or 6 million. And the reality is all of those estimates are counting something different. Some are counting housing growth versus population growth. Some are counting vacancy rates compared to historic levels, some are counting inventory available for sale today versus inventory available to sale in prior years. So each of these organizations, and they're all pretty reliable organizations, Moody's is certainly good. Zillow's research team is top notch. Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac the National Association of Realtors. None of these people are hiring dime store economists. They're all good folks, but they're all measuring something slightly different, which is why these numbers come out all over the place, and the one of the fundamental challenges is trying to figure out housing shortages compared to what, or compared to when. All of these estimates assume that there was some point in history when we had exactly the right number of housing units to suit the needs of the population. So they start with some point in time, and I think if you did enough research, you find they all start at slightly different points in time, and then kind of work their way forward from that and come to very different conclusions, again, based on where they started and where they ended up, and what they count. The one thing I would push back on a little bit from some of your comments in the intro is that I am highly, highly skeptical, extraordinarily skeptical of the reports that talk about how many more sellers we have than buyers, because that makes some wild assumptions about the number of people that are actually interested in buying a house. And I've never seen any research methodology that's really nailed that number accurately. Because nobody knows if you're thinking about buying a house right now, until you go to an open house until you do a search on on Zillow, or realtor.com or homes.com until you actually are applying for a loan or making a deposit. So the notion of being able to mind read three 40 million Americans to figure out how many of them are interested in buying, I think, is a neat trick, but I do think it's at least in part one of those methods that people use to get a lot of clicks to their website   Keith Weinhold  18:05   right? This whole thing of and I think when we talk about sellers versus buyers, that's shorthand. What we really mean are, there are some stats out there that show that prospective sellers outnumber prospective buyers, in some cases, which, yeah, I think I agree with you there. I doubt that as well. And yeah, of course, I think you're getting on some of the nuance here. We're trying to predict how some people would behave. For example, how much pent up demand is there when we're talking about sellers versus buyers, and we're talking about a shortage, for example, say, the 28 year old living with their parents that could move out and afford to buy a home if mortgage rates hit 5% like for example, how do you count that? Or, how would you even know to   Rick Sharga  18:53   it's a valid point. Keith, and I think that fundamentally, is my question. With that particular report, you really can't count that person. We do have some metrics that we follow, and it's funny, you mentioned that 5% mortgage, because as we record this, mortgages have broken that 6% threshold for the first time in a number of years. And just about every kind of mortgage you could buy right now is below 6% so that's a good thing. And every time we've gotten close to that 6% mark. In recent years, since mortgage rates doubled back in 2022 we've seen a huge influx of people applying for purchase loans, for those mortgage loans to buy a house, those numbers are up somewhere between 13 and 15% year over year right now, and that's before we've really had these mortgage rates dip below 6% so to me, that suggests there really is pent up demand out there, and I judge that just based on what I see in terms of a number of people actively applying for a loan.   Keith Weinhold  19:54   Yeah, there's a lot of nuance here. HUD tells us that we have more. Homeless people than we've ever had in this nation. So that's sort of an extreme affordability problem. To your point earlier about how most people want to live indoors, and I'm sure not making light of homelessness. It's a sad situation, but we're always going to have homeless people regardless of whether we have excess housing or a housing shortage. We have about 146 million housing units in the United States. The census shows and suggests that 8 million of those 146 million are housing units where people have doubled up and are sharing space with non relatives. That's one way to think about the level of pent up demand within the shortage,   Rick Sharga  20:44   I don't know if that's a result of shortage necessarily, or if that's a result of having the weakest affordability for people looking to buy homes that we've had in over 40 years. The last time affordability was as bad was the 1980s and the reason affordability was bad back then was because mortgage rates were at 1819, 20% and it made it very difficult for people to afford homes. But we're coming out of a very unusual cycle, and this is a little bit off topic from our inventory question, but it's the only time in US history when two conditions have hit the housing market back to back, if you go back to covid, coming out of covid, we saw home prices go up nationally by over 50% in about 18 months. It was a huge, huge, unprecedented increase. Yeah, and right on the heels of that, as inflation started to get out of control, the Federal Reserve had to take pretty extreme measures to get that back down. So they started playing with the Fed funds rate, and we saw mortgage rates double in 2022 in the history of the country, according to Freddie Mac we've never seen mortgage rates double in a calendar year. And in 2022 They not only doubled in a calendar year, they doubled in the space of a few weeks. So we're coming out of a period where home prices went up by over 50% and then mortgage rates doubled, and it just crushed affordability. So the people that have been looking to buy a $400,000 house suddenly realized they could only afford a $200,000 house, and there were none of those around. It's really why home sales have gone down as rapidly as they had volume of sales. In 2021 we sold 6 million existing homes. In 2022 it dropped to 5 million. And for the last three years, we've been sitting at around about 4 million annual sales of existing homes. And again, that doesn't suggest a lack of inventory, a lack of homes, because there are fewer people buying, and there's more properties staying on the market longer. But the underlying numbers, the underlying metrics we would look at, are where we can start to kind of deduce that there aren't enough homes. For example, you mentioned that there are about 146 million housing units across the country. Most recent census data I have from the end of 2024 says it's about 140 748, 40 748 million. So it's up just slightly from your number. That represents a growth of about 6.7% in housing units between 2010 and 2024 during the same period of time, the population went from about 309 million to about 340 1 million, and that represents a growth rate of about 7.4% so if everything else stayed equal, your population grew at a faster rate than your housing units did. And that suggests that even if the number of housing units was ideal back in 2000 it's somewhere less than ideal by the time we got to the end of last year,    Keith Weinhold  23:42   we're talking with Rick sharga. He's the founder and owner of the housing market intelligence firm, the CJ Patrick company. We're answering the question, does America really have a housing shortage? We're getting a yes there. And before we're done, we're going to talk about, how long could the shortage persist? But Rick, you spoke to affordability, and I think that has a lot to do with the nuances within the shortage, and that brings up shortages within the luxury tier versus shortages in the entry tier. And the entry tier is really what a lot of our listeners and viewers are interested in, because we're used to buying those as rental properties. So can you tell us about that?   Rick Sharga  24:23   It's a great point, Keith. And what we've been talking about so far is kind of a structural shortage in the overall number of housing units that could be purchased, could be owner occupied, could be rented. And one of the culprits there, and I will answer your question, I promise, one of the culprits there is that builders simply haven't built that much. If you look at the long term average, like 2025 years, the average number of housing starts was somewhere between 1.3 and 1.4 million a year coming out of the Great Recession in 2010 so you look at that last 15 year period or so, 12. Of those years, they've started less homes than that long term average. So builders simply haven't been keeping pace, not only with population growth, but also with just the ability to create enough homes in general, to offset the number of homes that are obsoleted every year, that get bulldozed every year. So there is a structural shortage. To your point, if you look at inventory available for sale, we are up about 9% year over year, but we're still down about 15% from where we were prior to the pandemic. So there are fewer homes for sale than there were back when the market was functioning more efficiently. The most drastic shortage is at the entry level builders simply have not been making a lot of entry level properties. There's a reason for that. There's some independent research out there, including some research from Fannie Mae that suggests that the pre construction cost a builder has to absorb before they break ground is over $100,000 across the country, on average, higher than that, where I'm calling you from today, in California, it's about 120,000 there. If your table stakes are 100,000 $120,000 it's really difficult to make a profit on an entry level property. So the builders, I think understandably, have been focusing on higher dollar, higher value properties and not replenishing that supply that we need for first time buyers and the kind of properties that real estate investors tend to like. The other problem we've had, Keith, is that when those mortgage rates doubled, the people who had purchased those entry level homes refinanced into a two and a half 3% mortgage and are now sitting on a $300,000 property, let's say or $250,000 property with a two and a half percent mortgage. And if they wanted to trade up, they'd be trading up to a four or $500,000 house with a 6% mortgage. And they simply can't afford to do that. So the combination of entry level owners staying put at much larger numbers and builders creating new entry level homes at much smaller numbers has really created kind of a crisis of inventory at the entry level segment of the housing market.    Keith Weinhold  27:18   Yeah, when we talk about that crisis of inventory in what's available. I'm not talking about shortage numbers now. I'm talking about the active listing count. This means more or less available homes to buy. This includes single family homes and condos. We have an active listing count of around 1 million today. The historic average is around 2.2 million, and that peaked near 4 million during the global financial crisis. So today, only about one quarter as many active listings, available homes as at the peak,    Rick Sharga  27:54   yeah, only about half as many as, let's call it a normal market, and that's one of the reasons. I think the first time you and I spoke on your podcast, we were talking about all the online snake oil salesmen who were predicting a home price crash. But that's one of the reasons why home prices haven't crashed, and why they've kind of continued to grow, at least at a modest pace, and in some cases now are starting to decline a little bit. But that lack of inventory on the market. When you don't have enough inventory to meet demand, or just barely enough to meet demand, that means that seller doesn't really have to negotiate all that much. That means that buyers are kind of at a disadvantage, and so as long as that's the case, you'll see home price stability. That doesn't mean that every market is going to see prices go up. But if you look across the country right now, if you look at markets where home prices are down even marginally year over year, you're looking at the Gulf Coast states, you're looking at some other southern markets, Las Vegas, Phoenix, you're looking at some outlying markets like Boise, Florida, certainly, and Texas. And those are markets where inventory is actually considerably higher than it was a year ago, and in some cases, considerably higher than it was back in 2019, if you look at markets where prices are still going up a lot, Midwest, Northeast, those are still markets where there's not enough inventory to meet demand. So that relationship between available inventory for sale and demand is really what drives pricing    Keith Weinhold  29:23   this whole discussion, which is really about the supply, just in the economics one on one. Adam Smith of supply versus demand. A lot of people, just like including my dad, when I was telling him about housing, something he doesn't follow. And I told him that prices are up the most in the Northeast and Midwest. That surprised him. He was like, No, well, population growth is lower here and lower than Pennsylvania, where he lives. And that's when I brought up, well, they're under building there. So in parsing this by geography, Rick, I think another way that we can do it is parsing the housing shortage by the single family homes versus apartments, because it's. Pretty well documented that nationally, apartments could be seen as overbuilt, and single family is under built. Do you have any details with respect to that?    Rick Sharga  30:08   We talk a little bit about that, and quick shout out to both of our home state, Pennsylvania, yeah, Phil, Philadelphia actually had some of the highest annual price increases right in their home sales last year. But part of that isn't just because they haven't been building a lot in Philadelphia or the suburbs. It's because we see people moving from higher priced markets into lower priced markets. So we have people actually commuting to New York who have bought homes in Philadelphia or the Philadelphia area. They can get much more house for their money there. They're not subject to some of the wage taxes that happen in New York State. They just get on that Amtrak and train into the city every day. So there is some of that going on across the country too, as we still see net migration of people moving out of states like California, New York and Illinois into nearby states where the cost of living is much lower. That slowed down since covid, since a lot of companies have been requiring people to come work back at the office. But it is still happening. It is still happening in generally the same direction you raise the issue of inventory for rental units versus inventory for, let's say, owner occupied properties, we have seen a plateau in the number of single family rental homes. So the stuff you're hearing out of DC, that you're seeing the media about the really important ban on institutional investor buying is really much more sizzle than substance. Oh, right. Institutional investors are owned and are buying a fraction, but we've seen over a million apartment units come online in the last 18 months. It's about the largest number of apartments that have that have sprung up and in that shorter period of time on record. And we've gotten to a point where in some markets, there's actually a little bit of an oversupply of those apartment units now that will balance itself out over the next couple of years, because multifamily building starts are way down too so we're not seeing a lot of activity there as builders hold off, waiting for this new inventory to get absorbed. But to put it in perspective, vacancy rates went from near zero back during covid in those apartments to over 6% last year. Rental rates have gone down from 15% year over year, increases back in 2020, 2021, to negative numbers nationally in the last year, just talking apartments, just apartments. So we have a short term mini glut, if you will, of apartments. It will be absorbed rapidly. We have 92 million people between the ages of 26 and 54 who are have either formed households or are about to a lot of them would like to be homebuyers can't afford today's prices, so they're renting instead. And about 5 million people a year are turning 35 which is when, you know, we parents start literally kicking them out of the house. So I think that rental overage will resolve itself, really, in the next 12 to 18 months. And if the builders don't start building new inventory by that point, we'll wind up with another shortage on the housing front, I'm of the opinion that we're at least a million homes short compared to what demand should be. I think the number is probably somewhere between one and 2 million. And again, I'm doing that simply based on a slight decrease in vacancy rates, population growth and the aging of the population. What could throw all of our numbers off? Keith is one of the X factors in demographics and population, which is immigration. Population growth, if it's organic, if it's by birth, does have an effect on housing, to an extent, but it's it's more nuanced, and it takes longer to really show itself if you're dealing with adult immigrants coming into the country, particularly immigrants who are coming in for jobs and have income that they can spend on housing, your housing demand goes up quickly, and that can have some local market repercussions depending on where the immigrants are going.   Keith Weinhold  34:18   In Philadelphia is not a coastal city. Its cost of housing is surprisingly low to a lot of people, but it's not on a coast. Just look at a map. Well, Rick, as we're winding down here, how long could the housing shortage persist overall?   Rick Sharga  34:33   I think we're in a period of time right now where builders are reluctant to overbuild. They got caught in the great recession with about a 13 month supply of homes available for sale, and then as home prices crashed, they were competing with their own inventory from the prior year, and many of them took a real beating financially during that period of time. So I don't expect we'll see builders overbuild anytime soon. And that tells me that we're probably looking at at least another three to five years before we can have a rational conversation about housing numbers kind of leveling off to be where they should be. We mentioned immigration. That is an X factor that could extend the housing shortage. If we start to see more immigration coming into the country, it could mean that we don't need as many houses as I suspect, if we have fewer people coming into the country. And the other x factor here is the boomers, the baby boomers of any generational cohort, probably have the highest home ownership rates right now and ultimately will age out of their properties. They've stayed there longer than any prior generation has, and that's also contributed to the inventory shortage, as opposed to the housing shortage. But as a friend of mine said, and it's a little macabre, but as he says, boomers will eventually leave their homes, either vertically or horizontally, so that will bring some inventory back to the market as well   Keith Weinhold  35:58   housing supply. It is rather inelastic, and we're probably going to be in this shortage for a number of years. Well, Rick, tell us how and why people consult with you and then just how they can do that.   Rick Sharga  36:12   Yeah, I work with mostly companies that are in the real estate or mortgage industries. Keith, I typically prepare a lot of market intelligence reports to them. It's real estate data, economic data, mortgage data. For some clients, I do foreclosure reports. They know what's going on in terms of delinquencies and defaults. For others, I do research on investor purchase activity, what they're buying, what they're selling, what they're paying, where they're doing all this. So anything that's data related to real estate data, mortgage data, economic data, I'm kind of neck deep in and I'm very easy to find on either LinkedIn or x. So if anybody's listening today and wants to connect on those platforms, just reach out and tell me you saw me on the GRE podcast, and I'll know you're legit.   Keith Weinhold  36:56   Housing supply is coming up short, but Rick never does. It's been great having you back on the show.   Rick Sharga  37:02   We'll do it again soon, Keith, It's great talking to you.   Keith Weinhold  37:10   Do we really have a housing shortage? The answer is yes, and the number of units short is one to 2 million. The shortage is worst in the entry level home segment, which matters so much to us as investors, we are owning an asset that's going to have sustainable demand for quite a while into the future. Rick indicated that it could take perhaps three to five years just to get back into balance. Now, we recently learned that there were fewer housing permits issued last year than there were in any year since 2019 and housing permits are an indicator of the future home supply. They had their recent peak five years ago with 1.7 5 million, and last year, there were just about 1.4 million. So home permits issued are 19% lower today than they were back in 2021 this is a harbinger of supply, because from the time that a permit is issued, it takes six to 12 months to complete a single family home. It's about six months to build a tract home, and closer to 12 months for a custom home. For apartments, it can take in excess of 24 months to deliver that period of time from permitting to completion. So nationally, we should continue to see scarce supply in the one to four unit space, keeping upward pressure on prices again for the most valuable 40 minutes of educational real estate investing material around you can access my premium real estate pays five ways, master class of five videos, totally free. And you know how I operate. I don't try to upsell you to some paid course. Either. It's just truly free. I'll send it to you. You can access it at get rich education.com/course coming up on future episodes here on the get rich education podcast, we're about to go on a run. The next stretch of GRE is loaded. We've got fresh topics with some game changing monolog content that I'm going to share with you new guests, distinguished guests. Next week, the youngest guest to ever appear on the show is going to be with us. He's a 19 year old college student with a real estate investing related major. How does he see Gen Z's financial world? Is there any hope at all? The following week, we're going to break down an innovative way to sell properties that could completely change how you think about your exit strategy when it's all done, when it's time for you to retire from real estate, rather than a 1031, Exchange, which would just keep you in the real estate game and with more of it, do a seven. 21 exchange into a real estate fund. Have no more assets to manage, no more property managers to manage total capital gains tax deferral and still get financial upside. And then just four weeks from now, it's get rich education podcast episode number 600 debt is the American dream. So if you're serious about building wealth, be sure to follow or subscribe to the show. If you've already done that, I would really appreciate it if you told a friend about this show until next week. I'm your host. Keith Weinhold, don't quit your Daydream.   Speaker 3  40:39   Nothing on this show should be considered specific personal or professional advice. Please consult an appropriate tax, legal, real estate, financial or business professional for individualized advice. Opinions of guests are their own. Information is not guaranteed. All investment strategies have the potential for profit or loss. The host is operating on behalf of get rich Education LLC, exclusively.    Keith Weinhold  40:58   The preceding program was brought to you by your home for wealth, building, get richeducation.com

Week three of the Kouri Richins trial began with some fireworks in the courtroom. While the jury was dismissed, Kouri Richins defense attorney tried to convince the judge Eric Richins’ business partner impeached himself regarding Eric’s alleged drug use in high school. After a testy back and forth about “red devil” pills, the judge made his ruling, frustrating the defense, which claimed Eric’s alleged “illicit drug” issue proves Kouri is innocent. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week on Sustainability Now!, your host, Justin Mog, plows the fertile soil of sustainable food systems with Joe Trigg, co-founder of My Farm Exchange (https://www.myfarmexchange.com/), a farm management platform designed to help farmers and gardeners reduce waste and operate more efficiently. The platform includes integrated management tools as well as a built-in virtual farmers market. Joe has extensive experience in urban agriculture and small-farm sustainability, and ran the Farmers2City Connection (F2CC) CSA from a farm in Glasgow, KY (Barren Co.). He is also a former candidate for Kentucky Agriculture Commissioner. Tune in for a rich conversation about the current state of farming and the agricultural landscape, particularly in light of the potential ripple effects of tariffs on our food supply. Then we dive into sustainable urban farming and the silver-lining possibilities of the urban heat island effect and microclimates in the city. You'll be inspired by the tremendous potential we have to meet both household food needs, and to generate much-needed income for urban growers. Learn about local street market days, and the importance of local commercial kitchens and packaging facilities to add value and ensure year-round access to local food. As always, our feature is followed by your community action calendar for the week, so get your calendars out and get ready to take action for sustainability NOW! Sustainability Now! is hosted by Dr. Justin Mog and airs on Forward Radio, 106.5fm, WFMP-LP Louisville, every Monday at 6pm and repeats Tuesdays at 12am and 10am. Find us at https://forwardradio.org The music in this podcast is courtesy of the local band Appalatin and is used by permission. Explore their delightful music at https://appalatin.com

Iran has launched its first wave of missiles under its new supreme leader Moshtaba Khamenei.Iran has been launching drones and missiles against Israel and Arab Gulf states.  Moshtaba is the son of Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, who was killed in US and Israeli strikes at the beginning of the Iran war.The US and Israel are meanwhile continuing their bombardment of Iran.The federal government says Australia's emergency fuel stockpiles have not yet been accessed, as the war in the Middle East disrupts global supply.Some Australian wholesalers, including United Petroleum, have begun rationing - halting supply to regional fuel distributors.Brent crude has surged more than 25 per cent, past US$115 a barrel.that's triggered a sharp sell off on the ASX. It's now down more than 4 per centThe Northern Territory government says trucks carrying food will be able to get to Katherine today.The Stuart Highway has been closed on both sides of the town since major flooding hit the region on Friday, causing supply chain issues and food shortages across the NT.Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro says only vehicles carrying essential supplies will be able to access the town.

A major factor that could limit hostilities in Iran and the Middle East is munitions — what weapons each side is using, and how quickly they might run out. On today’s Big Take podcast, Sarah Holder talks to Bloomberg global defense editor Gerry Doyle and Bloomberg Economics defense lead Becca Wasser about how long the US and Iran can carry on missile and drone strikes, what happens next in the region and what opportunity cost the US could pay for picking this battle now. Read more: Iran’s Missile Math: $20,000 Drones Take on $4 Million Patriots Ukraine Offers Help Downing Iran Drones in Exchange for Patriot Missiles Hosted by Sarah Holder; Produced by Julia Press; Reported by Gerry Doyle and Becca Wasser (Bloomberg Economics); Edited by Jeffrey Grocott. Fact-checking by David Fox and Rachael Lewis-Krisky; Engineering by Katie McMurran. Senior Producer: Naomi Shavin; Deputy Executive Producer: Julia Weaver; Executive Producer: Nicole Beemsterboer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his sermon, “Small Things, Big Difference,” Pastor Phil Hopper studies the example of the ant and the sluggard in Proverbs 6:6-11. This practical sermon examines biblical principles about hard work, wisdom, and financial freedom.  God calls us not just to be dreamers, but doers who work diligently, prepare for the future, and wake up spiritually before it's too late. You'll see how every spending decision is a spiritual decision and how wise stewardship leads to true financial freedom. If you've struggled with laziness, procrastination, or money stress, this sermon will encourage you to trust God, take action, and live purposefully.  Join Pastor Phil Hopper to discover how small decisions can make a big difference for your financial future.    Connect with us on Social Media↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc Books & Resources: https://abundant-life.com/resources/books/   Listen to The Well Podcast⤵ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wadnywAMEK7c0E1qatMoY?si=SjH6Ko7VR3OoHrRy1yYLlQ&nd=1&dlsi=395ae55d95ac4b11 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-well/id1233267223 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR50sV854C2hogfBmv7YogvCjiNYLz9a2   Find Your Next Step:https://alife.livingproof.co/ Watch More Sermons:https://abundant-life.com/sermons/   Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://abundant-life.com/ Listen to The Well Podcast ⤵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wadnywAMEK7c0E1qatMoY?si=SjH6Ko7VR3OoHrRy1yYLlQ&nd=1&dlsi=395ae55d95ac4b11Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-well/id1233267223YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR50sV854C2hogfBmv7YogvCjiNYLz9a2Find Your Next Step: http://alife.livingproof.co/ Watch more sermons: https://abundant-life.com/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://abundant-life.com/ Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://abundant-life.com/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://abundant-life.com/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://abundant-life.com/

Iran and Israel exchange fresh attacks as the war enters a second week; Residents in the Northern Territory are warned of crocodiles following record-breaking floods; and in football, the Matildas miss-out on top spot in their Asian Cup group, after a draw against South Korea.

Christ's Sacrifice: The Blessed Exchange Isaiah 53: 4, 5 1. The two-fold reason for this exchange 2. The two-fold purpose of this exchange

Charles Barkley And Shaq Nearly Come To Blows During A Heated Exchange About Their NBA Careers Visit ⁠https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/CLNS⁠ and use code CLNS and get $50 in lineups when you play your first $5 lineup! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How to Move to Mexico: Visas, Costs, Taxes, and the Best Places to Live Mexico is one of the most popular countries in the world for Americans who want a lower cost of living, a warmer climate, and a richer day to day culture without moving halfway across the planet. Many expats are retirees, remote workers, or entrepreneurs who find that their money goes further while they gain a more relaxed lifestyle. For someone in the southwestern U.S. (like Arizona), Mexico is especially appealing because you can often drive instead of fly, keep close ties with friends and family, and still feel like you've made a big lifestyle upgrade. This guide walks through why and where to move, what it really costs, how visas work, how Mexican taxes function, when you might owe them, and other real world considerations that don't always show up in glossy travel articles. ________________________________________ Why move to Mexico? People move to Mexico for a mix of financial, personal, and lifestyle reasons. You can open this section with a simple story: for example, a couple selling a house in the U.S., paying cash for a home or condo in Mexico, and cutting their monthly expenses nearly in half while eating better and traveling more. Key motivations to highlight: Lower cost of living Mexico's overall cost of living is significantly lower than in the U.S. Rents in many Mexican cities are substantially cheaper than comparable U.S. cities, groceries and fresh produce are affordable, and services like cleaning, childcare, and home repairs cost far less. A couple who spends 5,000 USD per month in the U.S. can often live comfortably in Mexico on 2,000–3,500 USD per month, depending on city and lifestyle. Proximity and connectivity Unlike moving to Europe or Asia, living in Mexico means you're usually one flight away from your U.S. hometown. Major cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, Monterrey, Cancún, and Mérida have robust air connections. Internet infrastructure has improved a lot; mid size cities now often have fiber optic service, making remote work highly feasible. Lifestyle and climate variety Mexico is huge and geographically diverse. You can choose from: • Coastal beach towns with surf culture and sunsets • High altitude colonial cities with spring like weather • Mega cities with world class dining, museums, and nightlife • Smaller, artsy towns with vibrant local traditions You get to decide whether you want small town community, cosmopolitan buzz, or something in between. Culture, food, and community You'll never run out of festivals, markets, and regional dishes. For many expats, the biggest upgrade isn't just cheaper rent, but living in a place where there's always music in the plazas, food in the streets, and a sense of community. In many popular locations, there is also an established expat network to help you orient. Healthcare Private healthcare in Mexico is dramatically more affordable than in the U.S. Many expats pay out of pocket for routine care and buy local or international health insurance for major events. In larger cities you'll find modern hospitals and specialists, and in some cases doctors who trained abroad. ________________________________________ Where to move in Mexico Mexico isn't a single experience. Moving to Oaxaca is very different from moving to Mazatlán or Guadalajara. This section should help you “try on” a few places in your imagination. Mexico City Vibe: Big city, cosmopolitan, urban energy. Pros: World class restaurants, museums, art, music, and nightlife; excellent air connections; plenty of coworking spaces and job opportunities with international companies. Cons: Higher rents than many other Mexican cities, traffic and air pollution, security can vary by neighborhood. Mexico City suits people who want an urban life and don't mind density. It works well for younger professionals or creatives, and for remote workers who want big city culture at a lower price than New York, LA, or San Francisco. Guadalajara Vibe: Large city with a strong tech scene and traditional Jalisco culture (mariachi, tequila). Pros: Big city services without quite the chaos of Mexico City, growing startup and tech ecosystem, nearby towns and lakes for weekend escapes. Cons: Some neighborhoods can feel sprawling; traffic is very real; summers can be hot. Guadalajara is a good fit for remote workers and entrepreneurs who want a mix of modern infrastructure and traditional Mexican character. Lake Chapala (Ajijic/Chapala) Vibe: Classic retiree and snowbird destination near a large lake. Pros: Mild climate, large English speaking expat community, social clubs and activities, walkable village feel in places like Ajijic. Cons: Heavy expat presence can make it feel less “Mexican” to some; limited big city amenities compared to Guadalajara. This area is ideal for retirees who want community, comfort, and a gentle pace of life within reach of a major city. San Miguel de Allende Vibe: Picturesque colonial city, artsy, charming, and heavily international. Pros: Beautiful historic center, strong arts and cultural scene, plenty of restaurants and galleries. Cons: One of the more expensive inland cities; tourism and expat presence drive up housing costs. San Miguel appeals to people who prioritize aesthetics, architecture, and culture and are willing to pay a premium. Querétaro Vibe: Clean, orderly, fast growing city with industry and a large middle class. Pros: Safe reputation, good infrastructure, beautiful colonial center, strong job market in manufacturing and services. Cons: Less “touristy charm” in some newer suburbs; housing prices have been rising with growth. Querétaro works well for families and professionals who want a modern, organized city with good schools and services. Puebla Vibe: Historic, livable city with serious food culture and nearby nature. Pros: Gorgeous colonial architecture, famous cuisine (like mole poblano), access to mountains and smaller towns, a mix of traditional markets and modern malls. Cons: Higher altitude and cooler winters than coastal areas; still under the radar for many expats, so less English support than in Lake Chapala or San Miguel. Puebla suits people who love culture, gastronomy, and city life but don't need a huge expat bubble. Oaxaca City Vibe: Cultural and culinary capital with strong Indigenous traditions and arts. Pros: Outstanding food, vibrant markets, year round festivals, access to mountains and rural communities, often lower rents than more famous expat hubs. Cons: Smaller airport and fewer direct international flights; infrastructure can be a bit more rustic compared to megacities. Oaxaca is great for people who want deep culture, don't mind a bit of grit, and prefer authenticity over polish. Mérida and the Yucatán Vibe: Colonial city, family friendly, often cited for safety. Pros: Strong sense of community, rich history, cenotes and beaches nearby, growing expat scene. Cons: Hot and humid much of the year; air conditioning can be essential. Mérida appeals to families, retirees, and anyone who wants a mix of culture and relative safety in a warm climate. Puerto Vallarta / Riviera Nayarit Vibe: Beach town/medium city with a strong expat and LGBTQ+ community. Pros: Ocean, sunsets, whale watching, strong tourism economy, many English speaking services, international airport. Cons: Housing and dining in tourist zones are more expensive; high season crowds; summer humidity. This is an easy landing spot if you want a beach lifestyle and community support from day one. Mazatlán Vibe: Working port city with long beaches and a growing expat presence. Pros: Ocean side living, more “local” feel than some resort towns, improving infrastructure, cost of living that can be lower than in ultra commercial tourist areas. Cons: Humid climate; parts of the city feel industrial; some areas are still rough around the edges. Mazatlán is appealing if you want the Pacific coast without the heavy commercialization and highest prices of places like Los Cabos or Cancún. Place Vibe Big Pros Main Tradeoffs Mexico City Mega‑city Culture, jobs, flights Cost, traffic, pollution Guadalajara Big, traditional Tech scene, culture Sprawl, traffic Lake Chapala Retiree village Mild climate, expat community Fewer urban amenities San Miguel Artsy colonial Beauty, culture Higher housing costs Querétaro Modern, orderly Safety, infrastructure Rising prices Puebla Historic, foodie Cuisine, architecture, nature nearby Less expat support Oaxaca City Cultural hub Food, festivals, affordability Smaller airport, rustic edges Mérida Warm, family‑oriented Safety, history Heat and humidity Puerto Vallarta Beach city Ocean, expat support Tourist prices in key areas Mazatlán Port/beach city More local feel, coast Humidity, some gritty areas ________________________________________ Cost of living in Mexico Readers want numbers, but it's better to provide realistic ranges and examples than a single “magic” figure. Basic cost structure Housing Rents vary wildly by location. A modest one bedroom in a non touristy city might rent for the equivalent of a few hundred dollars per month. In upscale neighborhoods of Mexico City or popular beach towns, modern apartments can cost as much or more than many mid tier U.S. cities. Utilities and internet Electricity is affordable unless you run heavy air conditioning all year, which you might need on the coasts and in the lowlands. Internet and mobile service are reasonably priced, with fiber available in many urban areas. Food and groceries Fresh fruits, vegetables, and staples are cheap, especially if you shop in local markets. Imported items (certain cheeses, specialty products) are more expensive. Eating at local restaurants and street food stalls is inexpensive; high end dining in major cities is still far cheaper than equivalent places in the U.S. Transportation Public transit, taxis, and app based rides are affordable. Owning a car involves fuel, insurance, and maintenance costs, but these are usually lower than in the U.S. You can often live car free in dense cities like Mexico City, Guadalajara, or Puebla. Example monthly budgets (rough, per household) Frugal single in a non touristy city • Rent (studio/1 bed): 400–600 USD equivalent • Utilities and internet: 70–120 • Groceries and local dining: 250–350 • Local transport and misc.: 100–150 • Total: roughly 800–1,200 USD per month Comfortable couple in a mid range city • Rent (nice 2 bed apartment): 700–1,200 USD • Utilities, internet, mobile: 120–200 • Groceries and eating out several times a week: 400–600 • Health insurance (local or international): 200–400 • Transport, entertainment, gyms, etc.: 200–400 • Total: roughly 1,600–2,800 USD per month Beach town or premium neighborhood living In high demand areas (like parts of Puerto Vallarta, San Miguel de Allende, or prime zones in Mexico City), you can easily spend 2,500–4,000 USD per month or more for a couple if you choose modern housing, eat out frequently, and live a more upscale lifestyle. Startup costs Don't forget one time or irregular costs: • Visa fees for temporary or permanent residency • International flights or moving your belongings • First month's rent plus deposit (sometimes more for furnished places) • Basic furniture and household goods if you're not renting furnished • Car purchase or import (if you choose to have one) Encourage readers to arrive with a cash cushion: at least 3–6 months of living expenses plus relocation costs. ________________________________________ Visa options and residency paths Mexico's visa system offers several ways to stay, depending on your plans and finances. Tourist stay Many foreigners enter Mexico as tourists without a visa and receive permission to stay up to a certain number of days (often up to 180 days, but it is not guaranteed). A tourist stay: • Does not allow you to work for Mexican employers • Does not let you access local residency benefits • Is not meant as a long term “back to back” solution Tourist entries are good for exploration trips but not for a full time move. Temporary resident (Residente Temporal) Temporary residency is the most common path for people who want to live in Mexico for more than six months without immediately going permanent. General characteristics: • Usually granted initially for 1 year, with the possibility to renew up to 4 years • Allows you to live in Mexico full time, open local bank accounts, and sometimes get local health coverage • Does not automatically grant permission to work; if you plan to work in Mexico you need work authorization attached to your residency Most temporary residents qualify via financial solvency (proof of income or savings). Typical recent numbers: • Monthly income requirement: roughly in the low to mid 4,000 USD range for the last 6–12 months, depending on the consulate • Savings/investment requirement: often in the high five figures to low six figures in USD equivalent, again varying by consulate Each Mexican consulate sets its own exact thresholds and evidence rules, so readers must always check with the specific consulate where they'll apply. Permanent resident (Residente Permanente) Permanent residency is ideal if you plan to live in Mexico indefinitely. Characteristics: • No need for frequent renewals • Lets you live in Mexico as long as you like • Often used by retirees or those with strong ties to Mexico (like family connections) You can qualify either: • Directly from abroad if you meet higher income or savings requirements, often thousands of dollars more per month than temporary residency; or • By first holding temporary residency for several years (for many, 4 years), then converting to permanent status inside Mexico. Again, the exact thresholds and documentation depend on the consulate and can change year to year. Work visas and business If you plan to work for a Mexican employer or run a Mexican company that needs your presence, you need proper work authorization. Basic ideas: • A Mexican employer can sponsor you for a temporary resident visa with permission to work if they are registered with the immigration authorities. • You cannot legally work in Mexico for a Mexican entity on a tourist visa. • If you intend to start a business (for example, a hotel, restaurant, or tourism operation), you'll need legal and tax advice to structure it correctly and secure the right visa. ________________________________________ Visa process: step by step overview You can treat this as a checklist. 1. Clarify your plan Decide how long you want to stay and whether you'll work, retire, or just live on savings or remote income. That determines whether you need temporary or permanent residency, and whether you need work authorization. 2. Choose a consulate and check requirements Review the website of the Mexican consulate you'll use (near your U.S. residence, for example). Requirements vary: one might emphasize income, another savings; some want 12 months of bank statements, others 6. 3. Gather documents Typical documents include: passport, completed application form, passport photos, bank and/or investment statements, pension or Social Security award letters, marriage or birth certificates if applying with family members. 4. Book and attend the consulate appointment You'll have a short interview, submit your documents, and pay a fee. If approved, the consulate places a visa sticker in your passport, usually valid for a limited period to enter Mexico and “activate” your residency. 5. Enter Mexico and finalize at immigration (INM) Within a set number of days after entering Mexico on your new visa (often 30 days), you must go to your local immigration office, complete forms, pay fees, and provide biometrics to receive your residency card. 6. Renew or convert (for temporary residents) Temporary residents must renew before their card expires, often annually at first. After the allowed number of years, many can convert to permanent residency. Many applicants use a local immigration facilitator or attorney, especially if their Spanish is limited or if they have a more complex case. ________________________________________ How Mexican taxes work This is where readers start wondering, “How much are Mexican taxes, and what do they tax?” Income tax (ISR) Mexico has a progressive income tax called ISR (Impuesto Sobre la Renta) that applies to individuals. For tax residents (people who are considered resident in Mexico for tax purposes): • The system uses progressive tax brackets. • Rates start at low single digits on small incomes (around 1.9%) and rise stepwise. • The top marginal rate is around 35% on high incomes (at several million pesos per year). • Most employment income is taxed through withholding by the employer, with an annual true up in a tax return. For non residents (people who are not tax resident in Mexico but have Mexican source income): • There is usually an exemption for a small initial amount of income. • Above that, one common pattern is 15% tax on mid range income and 30% on higher income, depending on the type and level of income. You don't need to quote exact peso thresholds to readers; it's enough to say that most ordinary incomes are taxed at moderate rates, while high incomes pay up to about 35%. What income do they tax? For Mexican tax residents, Mexico generally taxes worldwide income: • Wages and salaries from Mexican or foreign employers • Self employment and business income • Rental income from property in Mexico or abroad • Interest, dividends, and capital gains • Some pensions and retirement income, depending on the source and treaties For non residents, Mexico usually taxes only Mexican source income: • Income from work physically performed in Mexico • Rental income from Mexican real estate • Business profits from a Mexican business or permanent establishment • Some Mexican source interest and dividends If your readers are U.S. citizens, remind them: they must still file a U.S. tax return even if they also become Mexican tax residents, and they may be able to offset Mexican taxes through tax credits or exclusions. Value added tax (IVA) Mexico's sales tax is a value added tax called IVA. • The standard IVA rate is 16%, applied to most goods and services, including many consumer purchases and professional services. • There is a reduced rate (often around 8%) in certain border regions to promote competitiveness. • Some items are zero rated or exempt: many basic foods, some medicines, exports, certain types of housing, and some education and health services. As a consumer, you see IVA embedded in most prices, much like sales tax in the U.S. For businesses (like a hotel or restaurant), you collect IVA on sales and remit it to the government. Other common taxes and contributions Depending on what you do in Mexico, you might also encounter: • Social security contributions for employees (if you work for a Mexican employer) • Property taxes (predial), which are generally much lower than typical U.S. property taxes on a comparable property • Vehicle registration fees if you own a car You don't need to go into detail here, but it's worth flagging that these exist and are part of the overall tax picture. ________________________________________ Tax examples: retiree, remote worker, and Mexican employed American These simplified examples assume the person has become a Mexican tax resident (over 183 days per year in Mexico and/or center of vital interests in Mexico). Real world outcomes depend on exact numbers, deductions, the current year's brackets, and treaty interpretation, so they are for illustration only and not tax advice. Example 1: Retiree getting 30,000 USD/year in U.S. Social Security Assumptions: • 30,000 USD/year in U.S. Social Security, no other income. • Exchange rate of 18 MXN per USD → 540,000 MXN/year. • Lives in Mexico full time and is treated as a tax resident. Key points: • Foreign pensions, including U.S. Social Security, may need to be reported to the Mexican tax authority (SAT) once you are a Mexican tax resident. • In practice, some advisors and expats find that U.S. Social Security and U.S. retirement distributions are primarily taxed in the U.S., with Mexico focusing more on Mexican source income, but the safest assumption is that Mexico can tax worldwide income and may expect you to declare it. How you might explain it to readers: • If you are a retiree with 30,000 USD/year in Social Security and no other income, you will still deal with U.S. tax rules on that income. • Once you become a Mexican tax resident, Mexico may require you to report that income, but whether they actually tax it depends on treaty rules and how your situation is interpreted. • A cross border tax professional can tell you whether you'll see any Mexican tax on that Social Security or whether your liabilities remain mostly on the U.S. side. Plain English takeaway: retirees living on moderate U.S. Social Security often don't get hammered by Mexican income tax, but they should plan on at least reporting their income and coordinating U.S. and Mexican filings. Example 2: Remote American worker living in Mexico, making 80,000 USD/year from a U.S. employer Assumptions: • 80,000 USD/year salary from a U.S. company, work performed remotely while living in Mexico. • Exchange rate 18 MXN/USD → 1,440,000 MXN per year. • Spends more than 183 days/year in Mexico, so is a Mexican tax resident. Key points: • Mexico taxes its residents on worldwide income, which includes your U.S. salary. • If you are effectively working from Mexico, Mexico views that as Mexican taxable employment or self employment income, even if your employer is in the U.S. Approximate effect: • At around 1.44 million MXN/year, you'll be in higher ISR brackets, facing a top marginal rate of 35% on the upper slice of your income and a blended effective rate likely in the low to mid 20% range, after standard calculations. • You still file a U.S. return every year. • You may use the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion and/or foreign tax credits to prevent being fully taxed twice. If you're a U.S. citizen working remotely from Mexico and earning 80,000 USD/year from a U.S. employer, expect to owe Mexican income tax as a resident and still file a U.S. return. The good news is that, with proper planning, Mexican tax you pay can usually be credited against your U.S. tax so you're not double taxed on the same income. Example 3: American earning 60,000 USD/year from a Mexican employer Assumptions: • American citizen employed by a Mexican company, working in Mexico. • 60,000 USD/year salary → 1,080,000 MXN/year at 18 MXN/USD. • Treated as a Mexican tax resident. Key points: • This is clearly Mexican source employment income. • Your Mexican employer will withhold ISR from your paycheck based on the progressive tables, plus social security and other payroll contributions. • At roughly 1.08 million MXN/year, you're again in higher brackets, with an effective tax rate that can land roughly in the low to mid 20% range, depending on deductions and credits. • As a U.S. citizen, you still file a U.S. tax return but can typically use foreign tax credits and, possibly, the Foreign Earned Income Exclusion to avoid paying full tax twice. If you're an American making about 60,000 USD/year working for a Mexican employer, you'll see Mexican taxes withheld from every paycheck and you'll still file in the U.S., but in many cases the Mexican tax you pay will substantially offset what you owe the IRS. ________________________________________ When do you have to file Mexican taxes? Taxes depend on tax residency, not just on immigration status (visa type). When do you become a Mexican tax resident? Mexico may treat you as a tax resident when: • You spend more than 183 days in Mexico in a calendar year; or • Mexico is the “center of your vital interests,” meaning your main economic or family ties are there (for example, your spouse and minor children live in Mexico and you earn most of your income from Mexican sources). Residency for tax purposes is a legal determination, not just a personal choice, so it's wise to consult a tax professional if you're unsure. Filing and paying For Mexican tax residents: • Individuals generally file an annual income tax return, often in the spring of the following year (recent years use April 30 as a common deadline). • Some types of income require monthly provisional payments. • Employers withhold tax on salary, and banks or brokers may withhold on interest and other income. For non residents: • Mexican tax is often withheld at source by the payer (for example, a Mexican employer or tenant), at the applicable non resident rates. A simple rule of thumb for your readers: • If you spend less than 183 days in Mexico per year and don't earn Mexican source income, you usually don't file a Mexican tax return (but you still file in your home country). • If you live in Mexico most of the year, own a business there, or earn income from Mexican property or employment, expect to deal with Mexican tax returns and possibly to be treated as a tax resident. Always encourage readers to get cross border tax advice, especially U.S. citizens who may need to coordinate U.S. and Mexican returns. ________________________________________ Other important considerations Rounding out the blog with practical and cultural issues makes it feel grounded. Healthcare and insurance • Many expats use a combination of local private healthcare and insurance (either Mexican private plans or international expat policies). • Some long term residents enroll in Mexico's public healthcare system, but quality and access can vary by region. • Before moving, review how your current health insurance will work abroad and plan for major emergencies. Banking and money • Most people keep at least one bank account in their home country and open a Mexican account after they get residency, making it easier to pay rent and utilities. • Money transfer services and online banks can offer better exchange rates and lower fees than traditional bank wires. • U.S. citizens must also be mindful of foreign account reporting requirements (like FBAR and FATCA). Renting vs buying property • Renting first is usually smart. It gives you time to test neighborhoods, understand noise patterns, get a feel for the climate, and decide if you really like the city. • Buying property in Mexico can be attractive, especially in less expensive markets, but there are legal nuances, including special structures (like fideicomisos) for coastal and border properties. • Using a reputable notario (a specialized legal official) and real estate professionals is critical. Safety • Safety in Mexico is highly regional and neighborhood specific. Some places are very comfortable for day to day life, while others have serious security issues. • Research specific cities and neighborhoods, use recent data, and talk to locals and expats on the ground, not just headline news. • As in any country, common sense precautions (knowing where not to go at night, avoiding displays of wealth, learning local norms) go a long way. Language and integration • Learning Spanish is one of the best investments an expat can make. Even basic Spanish opens doors: cheaper local services, smoother dealings with bureaucracy, better relationships with neighbors. • Integration means respecting local customs, supporting local businesses, and avoiding “little bubble” lifestyles where expats only interact with each other. Working or running a business • Anyone planning to run a hotel, restaurant, tour company, or other business in Mexico needs clarity on immigration status, work authorization, and tax obligations. • A business that employs locals (for example, a hotel/restaurant concept in Puebla or a tourism operation in Oaxaca or Mazatlán) can be both profitable and socially impactful, but it requires upfront planning with local lawyers, accountants, and immigration professionals. • Operating “informally” or on a tourist visa can create serious immigration and tax problems.

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Our 79th episode brings you our 2026 March Madness brackets for our favorite artists, with first time guest Josh from Nirvava! We also discuss the closing of McKay's, and Bill gets a special birthday story involving a rampaging gorilla at Josh's childhood home! All this and more on your friendly neighborhood podcast!

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VettaFi's Head of Research Todd Rosenbluth discussed the State Street SPDR SSGA US Lg Cap Low Vol Index ETF (LGLV) on this week's “ETF of the Week” podcast with Chuck Jaffe of “Money Life.”  Why should you attend Exchange? Exchange gives advisors access to subject matter experts and developmental opportunities across all of the dimensions of their professional portfolio. Invest in your greatest asset – yourself. To learn more visit https://www.exchangeetf.com/registration

A Ghostly Plea For Appreciation.Based on a post by SandyMarl, in 4 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.A Christmas Ghost Story For ScroogeDana got ready to roll the movie as The Chix settled in. “What’s the movie?” asked McNally.“A Christmas Carol, it’s the classic tale by Charles Dickens.”“Damn. Not a Christmas movie? Did I ever mention that I am so over Christmas right now? Bah Humbug!”Annie snorted, “McNally, you make a better Scrooge than Patrick Stewart.”“I’ll drink to that,” McNally said as she tipped her stemware to wash down a handful of popcorn. “Let me say it again, Merry Fucking Christmas, because I am so done with Christmas.”“Merry Fucking Christmas” was echoed around the room, followed by giggles among gathered good friends as the opening scene played.Annie was dabbing at her eyes as Tiny Tim cried out in the movie’s final scene, “God bless us, everyone!”As the credits rolled, Annie turned to McNally, “Well, Ebenezer Scrooge, do you still hate Christmas? Or did the ghost of Christmas Future shake you from your Bah Humbug! ways?”“I don’t hate Christmas; I just get worn out by this time of year. Christmas has been going on since before Halloween and that’s way too long, even for a vibrant spirit like me,” replied McNally.“Are you still so entrenched in your ‘Bah Humbug’ world-weary ways Ebenezer McNally or is it possible that visitations of the cinematic Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future have softened your hardened holiday heart?” pried Patricia.“Don’t be picking on McNally, she’s just been more emotionally honest. I have heard Scrooge speaking through all of you. Chix, take a look inside and tell me if Christmas hasn’t lost its magic for all of us this year, or for that matter, several years running.” Dana’s call for introspection brought the room to silence.Dana continued, “Let me play Ghost of Christmas Past; let me take us back to time when we were young, and Sander and I stretched our budget and bought this cabin and had The Chix and their boys up here around Christmas time? Remember those times?”“Those were the good days,” recalled McNally. “I remember Orlando mixing exotic cocktails for everyone to try. The guys kept making sweet drinks and urging us girls to taste one new one after another. I’m sure they were in cahoots, working on the theory that 'Christmas candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.’”Patricia chimed in, “Yeah, I remember that year, I remember laughing a lot of silly laughs and being chased around the cabin and out into the snow by three horny abominable snowmen until I finally let one catch me and haul me off to his lair where he threw me on the bed and ravaged me.”“I sort of remember that too - only I think I enjoyed Orlando’s cocktails too much too soon to fully remember every detail. But I have a vague memory of laughing on my way to a strange bed as I hung over Nelson’s shoulder as I pounded on his back as a captured maiden, but not really feeling much distress. I remember trying to help Nelson undress me, but I was too giggly, so he just ripped my clothes off.”Dana reminisced, “Anybody remember the year we all wore those sexy Santa’s Naughty Elf costumes?”“I still have mine in a closet somewhere I think,” snickered McNally. “We put on a pretty good show for the guys that one year when we performed in those outfits. Thanks to Annie for sewing them,” McNally tipped her glass toward Annie.“It was your choreography McNally, and your audacious moves that gave me the confidence to bump and grind along with the rest of the Chix. I’d never have been able to even think of doing something so feminine and sexy if it weren’t for you McNally,” complimented Patricia.“I still get wet every time I hear Eartha Kitt sing 'Santa Baby’ and I think of how hot we Chix looked and how mercilessly we teased those boys,” chuckled McNally.“Speaking for me,” said Patricia, “I’d say all of that dance practice and the sexy dance tips from everyone else showing me how to strut my wares. Our sexy little routine was well worth it a little later that night.” All The Chix giggled and nodded with Patricia, each recalling the thrill of having their men rush the stage and cart off the four costumed naughty little helper elves for a roll in the sheets.“Dana are you sure you’re alright with us bringing up these memories?” asked Annie in a cautious tone.“Annie, I’ve already told you that good memories and present friends are what are important to me tonight.”“Allow me to play the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said Dana in a soft voice. “If the Ghost of Christmas Past has drawn for you scenes of past holiday lovers, good times and Christmas cheer; what do you see when the Ghost of Christmas Present hovers above your lives tonight and points to your actions and attitudes of this present Christmas?”The Chix again sat thinking in silence.McNally answered Dana’s challenge first, “Well, I’ve already told everyone my grim view of this present Christmas. There is a poverty of spirit where I operate; Christmas has become nothing but joyless deadlines for me. I’ll confess, 'Bah Humbug!’ is truly what the Ghost of Christmas Present is pointing at in my life.”“Or would Scrooge use a more contemporary phrase, maybe something like 'Merry Fucking Christmas?” needled Patricia.“Yeah but…” Annie joined in, “…Those really were Merry Fucking Christmases in the past - literally. Those years when we all used to come up here with our hubbies and enjoy playing games and cooking together, remember? And it seems like every night ended in a night of passionate love making,” she added wistfully. “Why did we let that slip away? Where did the holiday love magic go?"I have a confession too, McNally has nothing on me, I’m just as much of a Bah Humbug personality as McNally - if not more so. Only I’m just a Scrooge still in the closet. I guess it’s time I came out to my friends. It was me who first suggested that I’d be ready to exchange Nelson for someone to clean my house. Honestly, how Scrooge-like is that?"The Ghost of Christmas Past showed that Scrooge rejected his old flame, Belle, to pursue a respectable wealthy status above love. Like Scrooge, I’ve let the passion for my old flame, Nelson dim, and for what? A respectable status of a well cleaned house? I’ve been saying 'Bah Humbug!’ from inside my Scrooge closet."I chided McNally for her poor attitude when we first drove up this afternoon,” recalled Patricia. “But then I fell right in with her complaining about my grueling holiday schedule and all I had endured. So, I guess that makes me not only a Scrooge, but a hypocrite as well. How’s that for a bare-bones confession to the Ghost of Christmas Present?" Dana’s Christmas Ghost"Excuse me,” declared a mildly irritated McNally, “enough indulging in this group psychotherapy playing with literary ghosts. I can’t stand it any longer, I’ve gotta find out from Dana if Sander’s ghost is really visiting us here.”McNally’s abrupt demand brought a heavy hush to the room.All eyes were locked on Dana. “All I can say is that I came up to our cabin for the first time since the accident. I hoped I was ready, but I wasn’t sure. The real reason that I invited everyone to join me was so I couldn’t back out, even if I wanted to, since I had extended an invitation to The Chix. Patricia, Annie, McNally; you’re my insurance as I forced myself to be a brave widow."I came two days ago for solitude. I thought I would be alone up here. I hoped I’d be brave enough to finally be alone with my thoughts. I was going to force myself to stay here until reinforcements arrived in the form of a carload of wild, raucous and fun-loving Chix."To my surprise, I had it all wrong. I was not alone here. Sander was waiting for me. It was good to find him here; he has been a comfort for me. I told him I was sorry for making him wait. He let me know that he understood why I waited. He assured me that it was alright for me to wait, coming only after I was ready."When Sander came to me the first night, he comforted me, bringing good memories of us in this place, like the Ghost of Christmas Past. He reacquainted me with faded memories of Patricia and Will, Annie and Nelson and McNally and Orlando all gathered in this place with me and Sander back in those days at the beginning. The images he brought to me made me feel grateful for all of you."I told Sander that those were lovely, warm memories, some of the best; but that they were far in the dim past. When Sander wrapped those memories around me; I felt warmth and saw a radiating brightness, happy for what we had once shared together. He said that that is why he had to brighten them for me; otherwise, neither I nor anyone else in those images would be able to clearly see them as they once were."I began to cry as those bright images of our past passions and fellowship with our friends began to fade before my eyes. I cried even more at the fear of losing him and everything good once again."He warned me that squandered time, tyranny of the mundane and careless love will steal from the human soul, draining the treasures of passion and good memories, leaving murky, pathetic sketches in place of those forgotten treasures. Sander let me know that I still had all of you wrapped around me to shield me with love. He was pleased that The Chix had taken such good care of me after he was taken from me."Sander told me he could not keep the past images bright, the power to do so was only given to the realm of the living."I cried in my grief and in my fresh fear of loss. I tried to hold him, but of course, I could not. I pleaded, 'How can I keep those memories of you and warm feelings bright?’ I didn’t know how to find the power to keep from losing all that was meaningful to me. I cried, 'Please Sander, show me, show me how not to lose you and everything again. Don’t let me drain away into the murky darkness where all warmth and love have been stolen from the human soul.’"I cried, kneeling on the floor. Sander said nothing as he stood close to me as a kind and gentle spirit with a comforting patience waiting for me to finish my hot tears. When I wiped away my tears and looked into his face, he pointed and guided me to look for my answer. I saw The Chix checking their messages, returning calls, checking their calendars trying to squeeze in a meeting, an appointment and a Christmas cookie exchange. I saw that we were rushing to the shopping mall, ordering online, checking our phones and returning home exhausted, drained of warmth and love, leaving nothing for those around us."I was shown Will, Nelson and Orlando taking the cars in for servicing because it was time. I saw these men checking their messages and making out-of-the way runs to pick up store items and a few groceries because their wives had sent them a text message. I witnessed The Dix on their own initiative coming home with a takeout meal that they served to their exhausted wives and then taking out the trash the night before pickup without a reminder. The guys were up late at night, opening the bills and writing the household checks and balancing the accounts, toiling like the loyal Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s unappreciated clerk. I had been shown Christmas Present. I was sad to have seen that exhausted misery spread to all of our present lives."I cried, 'Oh Sander, where is the joy and the love for our friends? Everyone looks so exhausted and joyless and without hope or purpose. Tell me Sander, what is going to happen to them?’ Sander looked sad and did not answer me."He began to fade into the darkness, and I begged with renewed tears, 'Sander please don’t go, please don’t leave me alone again.’ But he was gone.I crawled off the floor, lifting myself into bed and cried myself to sleep. I remembered his words, 'Squandered time, tyranny of the mundane and careless love will steal from the human soul, draining the treasures of passion and good memories and leaving murky, pathetic sketches in place of those forgotten treasures.’"When Sander slipped away from me that night, I understood that he had shown me that the same was happening to Orlando and McNally, Will and Patricia and also to Nelson and Annie. His visit was a warning. Just as I lost Sander, everyone here is facing a Christmas Future where you will discover that you’ve lost all that really matters in life."Sander came again the next night. I was glad to see him. I wanted to know if it was too late for our friends to rekindle the love that had somehow drained away. 'Please, Sander, tell me that there is yet hope for them this Christmas Season,’ I begged."He showed me some bright and warm memories from long ago, some personal and some with The Chix. He showed me those visions to let me know that I still had love and support from you guys. But I was haunted by those visions of Christmas Present that I’d been shown the night before. He was happy that I was so well cared for now. And yes, he was happy to know that I got surprised by some needed loving attention from a partridge, a turtle dove hunter and an old barnyard rooster who had a few tricks to make a French hen cackle. Yet, the peril of the bleak Christmas Present remains, unless friendship and love is cherished and attended, it too will soon perish, and I’ll see my friends fade away into murky darkness as Sander had."Again, I looked into his gentle eyes and asked, 'There is still time isn’t there? We haven’t squandered our time, it’s not too late, tell me sweetheart, there are warm and bright memories of love and affection still to be made, nourished and cherished.’ Sander smiled his warm smile of assurance that I had missed so much, and I was happy."I woke, realizing that the sun was shining off a fresh morning snowfall and I threw off my heavy quilt. I sat up in bed, remembering that on our last morning together; Sander had been working on something secret that morning before the accident. I remembered asking him, 'Sweetie buns, what are you working on the hill behind the cabin?’"He smiled that warm, smug smile of mischief on that last morning that we were together and told me, 'I’ve got a Christmas surprise to show you tonight, it has to be revealed once it is dark. So, you’ll have to wait until we finish a few runs on the slopes this afternoon.’"Of course, we never came back here together. I had forgotten about Sander’s promised secret Christmas surprise until yesterday morning. When Sander told me he had a Christmas gift waiting for me after dark, he was holding an electrical extension cord behind his back with his mischievous smile stretched across his ski slope tanned face. 'I’ll plug this in to brighten your night tonight, as a token of how you have brightened my life,’ he said. Recalling some of his last words, I jumped out of bed and checked this morning; that cord is still lying on the deck where Sander left it last year.Annie was crying, as usual, but so were Patricia and McNally.Dana reached for her purse and pulled out her phone and looked at her messages and began to text, as The Chix took a few moments to rein in their emotions and check their composure before speaking or asking Dana any questions.Annie brushed her cheeks, "Oh Dana, that is the sweetest, saddest story I’ve ever heard… Excuse me, I can’t stop weeping… I don’t even know if these are tears of joy or grief… excuse me, I don’t know what to feel or say,” she said as the flood gates reopened.Patricia felt it was her role to wade in and tidy things up and drain the emotional swamp in which they all found themselves wallowing in. “Dana, it sounds like you’ve started to find some peace after last year’s events. I am glad that you shared with us how you are coping with Sander’s passing…”“Patricia, Jesus Christ on a bicycle! Don’t be such a cold and analytical mother hen all the time for us Chix. Dana’s story is not about coping, it’s about us - all of us and all that we once had and what we might lose, including Will, Nelson and yes, Orlando too. Dana, your conversation with Sander really got to me there…” McNally paused, looking emotionally rattled.“I guess everyone can tell, your story about Sander got to me also,” said Annie after managing to dry out enough. “I feel like McNally. Dana, what you said really touched me; I don’t know what to say… Yes, I actually do, I want to say that what Sander said is right; my joy has been stolen from my soul, I feel drained inside, I have let the things I hold most dear fade away. I am Scrooge - and I’m sorry, but so are all of you.”Turning to Patricia, Annie asked, “Don’t you feel what McNally and I feel? Don’t you feel that you and I and McNally, and certainly Dana, have lost something precious? Together as The Chix, we are a sum greater the whole - and that has, or should, include our husbands. I believe Sander told Dana to warn us all before it is too late. Patricia, don’t you feel like me that we should do something before the Ghost of Christmas Future makes the vision of an estranged and murky end to all that we enjoy a grim reality?”Patricia teared up and nodded silently. Then lifting her head, she asked Dana, “Is there hope? Did Sander give you hope for us?”“There is hope. There is still love here, and where there is love, there is hope. Sander showed me that the future can be changed by what we do now. Sander showed me that there is hope for us, hope for The Chix.”“And… And… What is that hope?” asked McNally. “And… And… And I got lots of questions about you and Sander up here in this cabin, but first - that was a gripping Christmas ghost story with Sander, but it seemed kind of weird that as soon as you finished driving your emotional steamroller full speed over our sympathies that you then broke character, ignoring us to check your phone. Isn’t checking your messages part of that tyranny of the mundane that Sander warned you about? Who is so important that you were texting them rather than dealing with us in this room and our emotions?”“The Ghost or the Ghosts of Christmas Future,” was Dana’s curt, cryptic reply.“You asked about our future, you asked about hope; I don’t know exactly how to answer those questions,” said a thoughtful Dana. “But I know where I want to look for starters. There is Sander’s unrevealed Christmas surprise waiting for me - or us, on top of the hill behind the cabin. It was Sander&rsq

A Ghostly Plea For Appreciation.Based on a post by SandyMarl, in 4 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.A Christmas Ghost Story For ScroogeDana got ready to roll the movie as The Chix settled in. “What’s the movie?” asked McNally.“A Christmas Carol, it’s the classic tale by Charles Dickens.”“Damn. Not a Christmas movie? Did I ever mention that I am so over Christmas right now? Bah Humbug!”Annie snorted, “McNally, you make a better Scrooge than Patrick Stewart.”“I’ll drink to that,” McNally said as she tipped her stemware to wash down a handful of popcorn. “Let me say it again, Merry Fucking Christmas, because I am so done with Christmas.”“Merry Fucking Christmas” was echoed around the room, followed by giggles among gathered good friends as the opening scene played.Annie was dabbing at her eyes as Tiny Tim cried out in the movie’s final scene, “God bless us, everyone!”As the credits rolled, Annie turned to McNally, “Well, Ebenezer Scrooge, do you still hate Christmas? Or did the ghost of Christmas Future shake you from your Bah Humbug! ways?”“I don’t hate Christmas; I just get worn out by this time of year. Christmas has been going on since before Halloween and that’s way too long, even for a vibrant spirit like me,” replied McNally.“Are you still so entrenched in your ‘Bah Humbug’ world-weary ways Ebenezer McNally or is it possible that visitations of the cinematic Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future have softened your hardened holiday heart?” pried Patricia.“Don’t be picking on McNally, she’s just been more emotionally honest. I have heard Scrooge speaking through all of you. Chix, take a look inside and tell me if Christmas hasn’t lost its magic for all of us this year, or for that matter, several years running.” Dana’s call for introspection brought the room to silence.Dana continued, “Let me play Ghost of Christmas Past; let me take us back to time when we were young, and Sander and I stretched our budget and bought this cabin and had The Chix and their boys up here around Christmas time? Remember those times?”“Those were the good days,” recalled McNally. “I remember Orlando mixing exotic cocktails for everyone to try. The guys kept making sweet drinks and urging us girls to taste one new one after another. I’m sure they were in cahoots, working on the theory that 'Christmas candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.’”Patricia chimed in, “Yeah, I remember that year, I remember laughing a lot of silly laughs and being chased around the cabin and out into the snow by three horny abominable snowmen until I finally let one catch me and haul me off to his lair where he threw me on the bed and ravaged me.”“I sort of remember that too - only I think I enjoyed Orlando’s cocktails too much too soon to fully remember every detail. But I have a vague memory of laughing on my way to a strange bed as I hung over Nelson’s shoulder as I pounded on his back as a captured maiden, but not really feeling much distress. I remember trying to help Nelson undress me, but I was too giggly, so he just ripped my clothes off.”Dana reminisced, “Anybody remember the year we all wore those sexy Santa’s Naughty Elf costumes?”“I still have mine in a closet somewhere I think,” snickered McNally. “We put on a pretty good show for the guys that one year when we performed in those outfits. Thanks to Annie for sewing them,” McNally tipped her glass toward Annie.“It was your choreography McNally, and your audacious moves that gave me the confidence to bump and grind along with the rest of the Chix. I’d never have been able to even think of doing something so feminine and sexy if it weren’t for you McNally,” complimented Patricia.“I still get wet every time I hear Eartha Kitt sing 'Santa Baby’ and I think of how hot we Chix looked and how mercilessly we teased those boys,” chuckled McNally.“Speaking for me,” said Patricia, “I’d say all of that dance practice and the sexy dance tips from everyone else showing me how to strut my wares. Our sexy little routine was well worth it a little later that night.” All The Chix giggled and nodded with Patricia, each recalling the thrill of having their men rush the stage and cart off the four costumed naughty little helper elves for a roll in the sheets.“Dana are you sure you’re alright with us bringing up these memories?” asked Annie in a cautious tone.“Annie, I’ve already told you that good memories and present friends are what are important to me tonight.”“Allow me to play the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said Dana in a soft voice. “If the Ghost of Christmas Past has drawn for you scenes of past holiday lovers, good times and Christmas cheer; what do you see when the Ghost of Christmas Present hovers above your lives tonight and points to your actions and attitudes of this present Christmas?”The Chix again sat thinking in silence.McNally answered Dana’s challenge first, “Well, I’ve already told everyone my grim view of this present Christmas. There is a poverty of spirit where I operate; Christmas has become nothing but joyless deadlines for me. I’ll confess, 'Bah Humbug!’ is truly what the Ghost of Christmas Present is pointing at in my life.”“Or would Scrooge use a more contemporary phrase, maybe something like 'Merry Fucking Christmas?” needled Patricia.“Yeah but…” Annie joined in, “…Those really were Merry Fucking Christmases in the past - literally. Those years when we all used to come up here with our hubbies and enjoy playing games and cooking together, remember? And it seems like every night ended in a night of passionate love making,” she added wistfully. “Why did we let that slip away? Where did the holiday love magic go?"I have a confession too, McNally has nothing on me, I’m just as much of a Bah Humbug personality as McNally - if not more so. Only I’m just a Scrooge still in the closet. I guess it’s time I came out to my friends. It was me who first suggested that I’d be ready to exchange Nelson for someone to clean my house. Honestly, how Scrooge-like is that?"The Ghost of Christmas Past showed that Scrooge rejected his old flame, Belle, to pursue a respectable wealthy status above love. Like Scrooge, I’ve let the passion for my old flame, Nelson dim, and for what? A respectable status of a well cleaned house? I’ve been saying 'Bah Humbug!’ from inside my Scrooge closet."I chided McNally for her poor attitude when we first drove up this afternoon,” recalled Patricia. “But then I fell right in with her complaining about my grueling holiday schedule and all I had endured. So, I guess that makes me not only a Scrooge, but a hypocrite as well. How’s that for a bare-bones confession to the Ghost of Christmas Present?" Dana’s Christmas Ghost"Excuse me,” declared a mildly irritated McNally, “enough indulging in this group psychotherapy playing with literary ghosts. I can’t stand it any longer, I’ve gotta find out from Dana if Sander’s ghost is really visiting us here.”McNally’s abrupt demand brought a heavy hush to the room.All eyes were locked on Dana. “All I can say is that I came up to our cabin for the first time since the accident. I hoped I was ready, but I wasn’t sure. The real reason that I invited everyone to join me was so I couldn’t back out, even if I wanted to, since I had extended an invitation to The Chix. Patricia, Annie, McNally; you’re my insurance as I forced myself to be a brave widow."I came two days ago for solitude. I thought I would be alone up here. I hoped I’d be brave enough to finally be alone with my thoughts. I was going to force myself to stay here until reinforcements arrived in the form of a carload of wild, raucous and fun-loving Chix."To my surprise, I had it all wrong. I was not alone here. Sander was waiting for me. It was good to find him here; he has been a comfort for me. I told him I was sorry for making him wait. He let me know that he understood why I waited. He assured me that it was alright for me to wait, coming only after I was ready."When Sander came to me the first night, he comforted me, bringing good memories of us in this place, like the Ghost of Christmas Past. He reacquainted me with faded memories of Patricia and Will, Annie and Nelson and McNally and Orlando all gathered in this place with me and Sander back in those days at the beginning. The images he brought to me made me feel grateful for all of you."I told Sander that those were lovely, warm memories, some of the best; but that they were far in the dim past. When Sander wrapped those memories around me; I felt warmth and saw a radiating brightness, happy for what we had once shared together. He said that that is why he had to brighten them for me; otherwise, neither I nor anyone else in those images would be able to clearly see them as they once were."I began to cry as those bright images of our past passions and fellowship with our friends began to fade before my eyes. I cried even more at the fear of losing him and everything good once again."He warned me that squandered time, tyranny of the mundane and careless love will steal from the human soul, draining the treasures of passion and good memories, leaving murky, pathetic sketches in place of those forgotten treasures. Sander let me know that I still had all of you wrapped around me to shield me with love. He was pleased that The Chix had taken such good care of me after he was taken from me."Sander told me he could not keep the past images bright, the power to do so was only given to the realm of the living."I cried in my grief and in my fresh fear of loss. I tried to hold him, but of course, I could not. I pleaded, 'How can I keep those memories of you and warm feelings bright?’ I didn’t know how to find the power to keep from losing all that was meaningful to me. I cried, 'Please Sander, show me, show me how not to lose you and everything again. Don’t let me drain away into the murky darkness where all warmth and love have been stolen from the human soul.’"I cried, kneeling on the floor. Sander said nothing as he stood close to me as a kind and gentle spirit with a comforting patience waiting for me to finish my hot tears. When I wiped away my tears and looked into his face, he pointed and guided me to look for my answer. I saw The Chix checking their messages, returning calls, checking their calendars trying to squeeze in a meeting, an appointment and a Christmas cookie exchange. I saw that we were rushing to the shopping mall, ordering online, checking our phones and returning home exhausted, drained of warmth and love, leaving nothing for those around us."I was shown Will, Nelson and Orlando taking the cars in for servicing because it was time. I saw these men checking their messages and making out-of-the way runs to pick up store items and a few groceries because their wives had sent them a text message. I witnessed The Dix on their own initiative coming home with a takeout meal that they served to their exhausted wives and then taking out the trash the night before pickup without a reminder. The guys were up late at night, opening the bills and writing the household checks and balancing the accounts, toiling like the loyal Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s unappreciated clerk. I had been shown Christmas Present. I was sad to have seen that exhausted misery spread to all of our present lives."I cried, 'Oh Sander, where is the joy and the love for our friends? Everyone looks so exhausted and joyless and without hope or purpose. Tell me Sander, what is going to happen to them?’ Sander looked sad and did not answer me."He began to fade into the darkness, and I begged with renewed tears, 'Sander please don’t go, please don’t leave me alone again.’ But he was gone.I crawled off the floor, lifting myself into bed and cried myself to sleep. I remembered his words, 'Squandered time, tyranny of the mundane and careless love will steal from the human soul, draining the treasures of passion and good memories and leaving murky, pathetic sketches in place of those forgotten treasures.’"When Sander slipped away from me that night, I understood that he had shown me that the same was happening to Orlando and McNally, Will and Patricia and also to Nelson and Annie. His visit was a warning. Just as I lost Sander, everyone here is facing a Christmas Future where you will discover that you’ve lost all that really matters in life."Sander came again the next night. I was glad to see him. I wanted to know if it was too late for our friends to rekindle the love that had somehow drained away. 'Please, Sander, tell me that there is yet hope for them this Christmas Season,’ I begged."He showed me some bright and warm memories from long ago, some personal and some with The Chix. He showed me those visions to let me know that I still had love and support from you guys. But I was haunted by those visions of Christmas Present that I’d been shown the night before. He was happy that I was so well cared for now. And yes, he was happy to know that I got surprised by some needed loving attention from a partridge, a turtle dove hunter and an old barnyard rooster who had a few tricks to make a French hen cackle. Yet, the peril of the bleak Christmas Present remains, unless friendship and love is cherished and attended, it too will soon perish, and I’ll see my friends fade away into murky darkness as Sander had."Again, I looked into his gentle eyes and asked, 'There is still time isn’t there? We haven’t squandered our time, it’s not too late, tell me sweetheart, there are warm and bright memories of love and affection still to be made, nourished and cherished.’ Sander smiled his warm smile of assurance that I had missed so much, and I was happy."I woke, realizing that the sun was shining off a fresh morning snowfall and I threw off my heavy quilt. I sat up in bed, remembering that on our last morning together; Sander had been working on something secret that morning before the accident. I remembered asking him, 'Sweetie buns, what are you working on the hill behind the cabin?’"He smiled that warm, smug smile of mischief on that last morning that we were together and told me, 'I’ve got a Christmas surprise to show you tonight, it has to be revealed once it is dark. So, you’ll have to wait until we finish a few runs on the slopes this afternoon.’"Of course, we never came back here together. I had forgotten about Sander’s promised secret Christmas surprise until yesterday morning. When Sander told me he had a Christmas gift waiting for me after dark, he was holding an electrical extension cord behind his back with his mischievous smile stretched across his ski slope tanned face. 'I’ll plug this in to brighten your night tonight, as a token of how you have brightened my life,’ he said. Recalling some of his last words, I jumped out of bed and checked this morning; that cord is still lying on the deck where Sander left it last year.Annie was crying, as usual, but so were Patricia and McNally.Dana reached for her purse and pulled out her phone and looked at her messages and began to text, as The Chix took a few moments to rein in their emotions and check their composure before speaking or asking Dana any questions.Annie brushed her cheeks, "Oh Dana, that is the sweetest, saddest story I’ve ever heard… Excuse me, I can’t stop weeping… I don’t even know if these are tears of joy or grief… excuse me, I don’t know what to feel or say,” she said as the flood gates reopened.Patricia felt it was her role to wade in and tidy things up and drain the emotional swamp in which they all found themselves wallowing in. “Dana, it sounds like you’ve started to find some peace after last year’s events. I am glad that you shared with us how you are coping with Sander’s passing…”“Patricia, Jesus Christ on a bicycle! Don’t be such a cold and analytical mother hen all the time for us Chix. Dana’s story is not about coping, it’s about us - all of us and all that we once had and what we might lose, including Will, Nelson and yes, Orlando too. Dana, your conversation with Sander really got to me there…” McNally paused, looking emotionally rattled.“I guess everyone can tell, your story about Sander got to me also,” said Annie after managing to dry out enough. “I feel like McNally. Dana, what you said really touched me; I don’t know what to say… Yes, I actually do, I want to say that what Sander said is right; my joy has been stolen from my soul, I feel drained inside, I have let the things I hold most dear fade away. I am Scrooge - and I’m sorry, but so are all of you.”Turning to Patricia, Annie asked, “Don’t you feel what McNally and I feel? Don’t you feel that you and I and McNally, and certainly Dana, have lost something precious? Together as The Chix, we are a sum greater the whole - and that has, or should, include our husbands. I believe Sander told Dana to warn us all before it is too late. Patricia, don’t you feel like me that we should do something before the Ghost of Christmas Future makes the vision of an estranged and murky end to all that we enjoy a grim reality?”Patricia teared up and nodded silently. Then lifting her head, she asked Dana, “Is there hope? Did Sander give you hope for us?”“There is hope. There is still love here, and where there is love, there is hope. Sander showed me that the future can be changed by what we do now. Sander showed me that there is hope for us, hope for The Chix.”“And… And… What is that hope?” asked McNally. “And… And… And I got lots of questions about you and Sander up here in this cabin, but first - that was a gripping Christmas ghost story with Sander, but it seemed kind of weird that as soon as you finished driving your emotional steamroller full speed over our sympathies that you then broke character, ignoring us to check your phone. Isn’t checking your messages part of that tyranny of the mundane that Sander warned you about? Who is so important that you were texting them rather than dealing with us in this room and our emotions?”“The Ghost or the Ghosts of Christmas Future,” was Dana’s curt, cryptic reply.“You asked about our future, you asked about hope; I don’t know exactly how to answer those questions,” said a thoughtful Dana. “But I know where I want to look for starters. There is Sander’s unrevealed Christmas surprise waiting for me - or us, on top of the hill behind the cabin. It was Sander&rsq

A Ghostly Plea For Appreciation.Based on a post by SandyMarl, in 4 parts. Listen to the ► Podcast at Steamy Stories.A Christmas Ghost Story For ScroogeDana got ready to roll the movie as The Chix settled in. “What’s the movie?” asked McNally.“A Christmas Carol, it’s the classic tale by Charles Dickens.”“Damn. Not a Christmas movie? Did I ever mention that I am so over Christmas right now? Bah Humbug!”Annie snorted, “McNally, you make a better Scrooge than Patrick Stewart.”“I’ll drink to that,” McNally said as she tipped her stemware to wash down a handful of popcorn. “Let me say it again, Merry Fucking Christmas, because I am so done with Christmas.”“Merry Fucking Christmas” was echoed around the room, followed by giggles among gathered good friends as the opening scene played.Annie was dabbing at her eyes as Tiny Tim cried out in the movie’s final scene, “God bless us, everyone!”As the credits rolled, Annie turned to McNally, “Well, Ebenezer Scrooge, do you still hate Christmas? Or did the ghost of Christmas Future shake you from your Bah Humbug! ways?”“I don’t hate Christmas; I just get worn out by this time of year. Christmas has been going on since before Halloween and that’s way too long, even for a vibrant spirit like me,” replied McNally.“Are you still so entrenched in your ‘Bah Humbug’ world-weary ways Ebenezer McNally or is it possible that visitations of the cinematic Ghost of Christmas Past, Present and Future have softened your hardened holiday heart?” pried Patricia.“Don’t be picking on McNally, she’s just been more emotionally honest. I have heard Scrooge speaking through all of you. Chix, take a look inside and tell me if Christmas hasn’t lost its magic for all of us this year, or for that matter, several years running.” Dana’s call for introspection brought the room to silence.Dana continued, “Let me play Ghost of Christmas Past; let me take us back to time when we were young, and Sander and I stretched our budget and bought this cabin and had The Chix and their boys up here around Christmas time? Remember those times?”“Those were the good days,” recalled McNally. “I remember Orlando mixing exotic cocktails for everyone to try. The guys kept making sweet drinks and urging us girls to taste one new one after another. I’m sure they were in cahoots, working on the theory that 'Christmas candy is dandy, but liquor is quicker.’”Patricia chimed in, “Yeah, I remember that year, I remember laughing a lot of silly laughs and being chased around the cabin and out into the snow by three horny abominable snowmen until I finally let one catch me and haul me off to his lair where he threw me on the bed and ravaged me.”“I sort of remember that too - only I think I enjoyed Orlando’s cocktails too much too soon to fully remember every detail. But I have a vague memory of laughing on my way to a strange bed as I hung over Nelson’s shoulder as I pounded on his back as a captured maiden, but not really feeling much distress. I remember trying to help Nelson undress me, but I was too giggly, so he just ripped my clothes off.”Dana reminisced, “Anybody remember the year we all wore those sexy Santa’s Naughty Elf costumes?”“I still have mine in a closet somewhere I think,” snickered McNally. “We put on a pretty good show for the guys that one year when we performed in those outfits. Thanks to Annie for sewing them,” McNally tipped her glass toward Annie.“It was your choreography McNally, and your audacious moves that gave me the confidence to bump and grind along with the rest of the Chix. I’d never have been able to even think of doing something so feminine and sexy if it weren’t for you McNally,” complimented Patricia.“I still get wet every time I hear Eartha Kitt sing 'Santa Baby’ and I think of how hot we Chix looked and how mercilessly we teased those boys,” chuckled McNally.“Speaking for me,” said Patricia, “I’d say all of that dance practice and the sexy dance tips from everyone else showing me how to strut my wares. Our sexy little routine was well worth it a little later that night.” All The Chix giggled and nodded with Patricia, each recalling the thrill of having their men rush the stage and cart off the four costumed naughty little helper elves for a roll in the sheets.“Dana are you sure you’re alright with us bringing up these memories?” asked Annie in a cautious tone.“Annie, I’ve already told you that good memories and present friends are what are important to me tonight.”“Allow me to play the Ghost of Christmas Present,” said Dana in a soft voice. “If the Ghost of Christmas Past has drawn for you scenes of past holiday lovers, good times and Christmas cheer; what do you see when the Ghost of Christmas Present hovers above your lives tonight and points to your actions and attitudes of this present Christmas?”The Chix again sat thinking in silence.McNally answered Dana’s challenge first, “Well, I’ve already told everyone my grim view of this present Christmas. There is a poverty of spirit where I operate; Christmas has become nothing but joyless deadlines for me. I’ll confess, 'Bah Humbug!’ is truly what the Ghost of Christmas Present is pointing at in my life.”“Or would Scrooge use a more contemporary phrase, maybe something like 'Merry Fucking Christmas?” needled Patricia.“Yeah but…” Annie joined in, “…Those really were Merry Fucking Christmases in the past - literally. Those years when we all used to come up here with our hubbies and enjoy playing games and cooking together, remember? And it seems like every night ended in a night of passionate love making,” she added wistfully. “Why did we let that slip away? Where did the holiday love magic go?"I have a confession too, McNally has nothing on me, I’m just as much of a Bah Humbug personality as McNally - if not more so. Only I’m just a Scrooge still in the closet. I guess it’s time I came out to my friends. It was me who first suggested that I’d be ready to exchange Nelson for someone to clean my house. Honestly, how Scrooge-like is that?"The Ghost of Christmas Past showed that Scrooge rejected his old flame, Belle, to pursue a respectable wealthy status above love. Like Scrooge, I’ve let the passion for my old flame, Nelson dim, and for what? A respectable status of a well cleaned house? I’ve been saying 'Bah Humbug!’ from inside my Scrooge closet."I chided McNally for her poor attitude when we first drove up this afternoon,” recalled Patricia. “But then I fell right in with her complaining about my grueling holiday schedule and all I had endured. So, I guess that makes me not only a Scrooge, but a hypocrite as well. How’s that for a bare-bones confession to the Ghost of Christmas Present?" Dana’s Christmas Ghost"Excuse me,” declared a mildly irritated McNally, “enough indulging in this group psychotherapy playing with literary ghosts. I can’t stand it any longer, I’ve gotta find out from Dana if Sander’s ghost is really visiting us here.”McNally’s abrupt demand brought a heavy hush to the room.All eyes were locked on Dana. “All I can say is that I came up to our cabin for the first time since the accident. I hoped I was ready, but I wasn’t sure. The real reason that I invited everyone to join me was so I couldn’t back out, even if I wanted to, since I had extended an invitation to The Chix. Patricia, Annie, McNally; you’re my insurance as I forced myself to be a brave widow."I came two days ago for solitude. I thought I would be alone up here. I hoped I’d be brave enough to finally be alone with my thoughts. I was going to force myself to stay here until reinforcements arrived in the form of a carload of wild, raucous and fun-loving Chix."To my surprise, I had it all wrong. I was not alone here. Sander was waiting for me. It was good to find him here; he has been a comfort for me. I told him I was sorry for making him wait. He let me know that he understood why I waited. He assured me that it was alright for me to wait, coming only after I was ready."When Sander came to me the first night, he comforted me, bringing good memories of us in this place, like the Ghost of Christmas Past. He reacquainted me with faded memories of Patricia and Will, Annie and Nelson and McNally and Orlando all gathered in this place with me and Sander back in those days at the beginning. The images he brought to me made me feel grateful for all of you."I told Sander that those were lovely, warm memories, some of the best; but that they were far in the dim past. When Sander wrapped those memories around me; I felt warmth and saw a radiating brightness, happy for what we had once shared together. He said that that is why he had to brighten them for me; otherwise, neither I nor anyone else in those images would be able to clearly see them as they once were."I began to cry as those bright images of our past passions and fellowship with our friends began to fade before my eyes. I cried even more at the fear of losing him and everything good once again."He warned me that squandered time, tyranny of the mundane and careless love will steal from the human soul, draining the treasures of passion and good memories, leaving murky, pathetic sketches in place of those forgotten treasures. Sander let me know that I still had all of you wrapped around me to shield me with love. He was pleased that The Chix had taken such good care of me after he was taken from me."Sander told me he could not keep the past images bright, the power to do so was only given to the realm of the living."I cried in my grief and in my fresh fear of loss. I tried to hold him, but of course, I could not. I pleaded, 'How can I keep those memories of you and warm feelings bright?’ I didn’t know how to find the power to keep from losing all that was meaningful to me. I cried, 'Please Sander, show me, show me how not to lose you and everything again. Don’t let me drain away into the murky darkness where all warmth and love have been stolen from the human soul.’"I cried, kneeling on the floor. Sander said nothing as he stood close to me as a kind and gentle spirit with a comforting patience waiting for me to finish my hot tears. When I wiped away my tears and looked into his face, he pointed and guided me to look for my answer. I saw The Chix checking their messages, returning calls, checking their calendars trying to squeeze in a meeting, an appointment and a Christmas cookie exchange. I saw that we were rushing to the shopping mall, ordering online, checking our phones and returning home exhausted, drained of warmth and love, leaving nothing for those around us."I was shown Will, Nelson and Orlando taking the cars in for servicing because it was time. I saw these men checking their messages and making out-of-the way runs to pick up store items and a few groceries because their wives had sent them a text message. I witnessed The Dix on their own initiative coming home with a takeout meal that they served to their exhausted wives and then taking out the trash the night before pickup without a reminder. The guys were up late at night, opening the bills and writing the household checks and balancing the accounts, toiling like the loyal Bob Cratchit, Scrooge’s unappreciated clerk. I had been shown Christmas Present. I was sad to have seen that exhausted misery spread to all of our present lives."I cried, 'Oh Sander, where is the joy and the love for our friends? Everyone looks so exhausted and joyless and without hope or purpose. Tell me Sander, what is going to happen to them?’ Sander looked sad and did not answer me."He began to fade into the darkness, and I begged with renewed tears, 'Sander please don’t go, please don’t leave me alone again.’ But he was gone.I crawled off the floor, lifting myself into bed and cried myself to sleep. I remembered his words, 'Squandered time, tyranny of the mundane and careless love will steal from the human soul, draining the treasures of passion and good memories and leaving murky, pathetic sketches in place of those forgotten treasures.’"When Sander slipped away from me that night, I understood that he had shown me that the same was happening to Orlando and McNally, Will and Patricia and also to Nelson and Annie. His visit was a warning. Just as I lost Sander, everyone here is facing a Christmas Future where you will discover that you’ve lost all that really matters in life."Sander came again the next night. I was glad to see him. I wanted to know if it was too late for our friends to rekindle the love that had somehow drained away. 'Please, Sander, tell me that there is yet hope for them this Christmas Season,’ I begged."He showed me some bright and warm memories from long ago, some personal and some with The Chix. He showed me those visions to let me know that I still had love and support from you guys. But I was haunted by those visions of Christmas Present that I’d been shown the night before. He was happy that I was so well cared for now. And yes, he was happy to know that I got surprised by some needed loving attention from a partridge, a turtle dove hunter and an old barnyard rooster who had a few tricks to make a French hen cackle. Yet, the peril of the bleak Christmas Present remains, unless friendship and love is cherished and attended, it too will soon perish, and I’ll see my friends fade away into murky darkness as Sander had."Again, I looked into his gentle eyes and asked, 'There is still time isn’t there? We haven’t squandered our time, it’s not too late, tell me sweetheart, there are warm and bright memories of love and affection still to be made, nourished and cherished.’ Sander smiled his warm smile of assurance that I had missed so much, and I was happy."I woke, realizing that the sun was shining off a fresh morning snowfall and I threw off my heavy quilt. I sat up in bed, remembering that on our last morning together; Sander had been working on something secret that morning before the accident. I remembered asking him, 'Sweetie buns, what are you working on the hill behind the cabin?’"He smiled that warm, smug smile of mischief on that last morning that we were together and told me, 'I’ve got a Christmas surprise to show you tonight, it has to be revealed once it is dark. So, you’ll have to wait until we finish a few runs on the slopes this afternoon.’"Of course, we never came back here together. I had forgotten about Sander’s promised secret Christmas surprise until yesterday morning. When Sander told me he had a Christmas gift waiting for me after dark, he was holding an electrical extension cord behind his back with his mischievous smile stretched across his ski slope tanned face. 'I’ll plug this in to brighten your night tonight, as a token of how you have brightened my life,’ he said. Recalling some of his last words, I jumped out of bed and checked this morning; that cord is still lying on the deck where Sander left it last year.Annie was crying, as usual, but so were Patricia and McNally.Dana reached for her purse and pulled out her phone and looked at her messages and began to text, as The Chix took a few moments to rein in their emotions and check their composure before speaking or asking Dana any questions.Annie brushed her cheeks, "Oh Dana, that is the sweetest, saddest story I’ve ever heard… Excuse me, I can’t stop weeping… I don’t even know if these are tears of joy or grief… excuse me, I don’t know what to feel or say,” she said as the flood gates reopened.Patricia felt it was her role to wade in and tidy things up and drain the emotional swamp in which they all found themselves wallowing in. “Dana, it sounds like you’ve started to find some peace after last year’s events. I am glad that you shared with us how you are coping with Sander’s passing…”“Patricia, Jesus Christ on a bicycle! Don’t be such a cold and analytical mother hen all the time for us Chix. Dana’s story is not about coping, it’s about us - all of us and all that we once had and what we might lose, including Will, Nelson and yes, Orlando too. Dana, your conversation with Sander really got to me there…” McNally paused, looking emotionally rattled.“I guess everyone can tell, your story about Sander got to me also,” said Annie after managing to dry out enough. “I feel like McNally. Dana, what you said really touched me; I don’t know what to say… Yes, I actually do, I want to say that what Sander said is right; my joy has been stolen from my soul, I feel drained inside, I have let the things I hold most dear fade away. I am Scrooge - and I’m sorry, but so are all of you.”Turning to Patricia, Annie asked, “Don’t you feel what McNally and I feel? Don’t you feel that you and I and McNally, and certainly Dana, have lost something precious? Together as The Chix, we are a sum greater the whole - and that has, or should, include our husbands. I believe Sander told Dana to warn us all before it is too late. Patricia, don’t you feel like me that we should do something before the Ghost of Christmas Future makes the vision of an estranged and murky end to all that we enjoy a grim reality?”Patricia teared up and nodded silently. Then lifting her head, she asked Dana, “Is there hope? Did Sander give you hope for us?”“There is hope. There is still love here, and where there is love, there is hope. Sander showed me that the future can be changed by what we do now. Sander showed me that there is hope for us, hope for The Chix.”“And… And… What is that hope?” asked McNally. “And… And… And I got lots of questions about you and Sander up here in this cabin, but first - that was a gripping Christmas ghost story with Sander, but it seemed kind of weird that as soon as you finished driving your emotional steamroller full speed over our sympathies that you then broke character, ignoring us to check your phone. Isn’t checking your messages part of that tyranny of the mundane that Sander warned you about? Who is so important that you were texting them rather than dealing with us in this room and our emotions?”“The Ghost or the Ghosts of Christmas Future,” was Dana’s curt, cryptic reply.“You asked about our future, you asked about hope; I don’t know exactly how to answer those questions,” said a thoughtful Dana. “But I know where I want to look for starters. There is Sander’s unrevealed Christmas surprise waiting for me - or us, on top of the hill behind the cabin. It was Sander&rsq

The Lumber Exchange building in Minneapolis is set to change hands for a dollar this week, going to Kristi Oman—the same person who two years ago bought the Kickernick Building, another old downtown property, and transformed it into a hub for artists.That, or something like it, is likely to be the fate of the 12-story Lumber Exchange building. In chats with Twin Cities Business, Oman mentioned she wants to keep the roughly 140-year-old, 225,569-square-foot space commercial (rather than making residencies out of it), converting it for artists and folks in the fashion industry.The official sale price will be $20,001, Oman says. In addition to the $1 price tag, she must pay a $20,000 fee for taking the property off auction. Oman owns Space Unlimited, a Minneapolis real estate company specializing in restoration of historic buildings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

This was originally going to be our Valentine's episode, where we watched Asian movies with a love story in them. Well, as things go, I kept having to push this episode back, but here it is in March, a few weeks late! I was so happy to bejoined by Jess, Caitlin, and Liliana, who are collectively known as the Drama Trio!  We each recommended a movie to watch, and came back to discuss on the air. We have a great variety of films to watch, and we're happy to share our thoughts on them with you. The four films are: Adorning (China, 2019), Lost in Starlight (Korea, 2025), Tune In For Love (Korea, 2019), and Better Days (China, 2019).  Special thanks to my 3 wonderful cohosts, Liliana @teaandsojupod, Caitlin @nosleep4dramas, and our pal Jessica @daebakpod. Go give them a listen wherever you get your podcasts!  As I always mention, you can write to us at: ⁠infatuasianpodcast@gmail.com⁠, and please follow us on Instagram and Facebook @infatuasianpodcast  Our Theme: “Super Happy J-Pop Fun-Time” by Prismic Studios was arranged and performed by All Arms Around. This week's outro is "Soju Over Ice," written and performed by Son of Paper Cover Art and Logo designed by Justin Chuan @w.a.h.w (We Are Half the World) #asianpodcast #asian #asianamerican #infatuasian #infatuasianpodcast #aapi #veryasian  #asianamericanpodcaster #representationmatters

Questions or comments about the show? Click here!Welcome! Today's episode is all about a new benefit exclusively for Exchange Club members! It's provided through a company called AMBA, and the company's Assistant Vice President and Relationship Manager Erin Reese is here to explain everything to us.  They offer several types of insurance, discounts, a passport program and more. And best of all, it's free to Exchange and Exchange Club members!A couple key pieces of information:Toll Free Phone #: 833.605.0728Website: https://www.necinsurance.comAnd as always, you can enjoy today's episode visually via our YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/TmNbTV1IoQwThanks for listening! See you next time!

In this WWE RAW review they cover all of the top highlights of RAW and all of the latest WWE news as they head into the biggest event of the year, WRESTLEMANIA 42! Highlights of WWE RAW tonight included a heated promo war between CM Punk and Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins attacking Paul Heyman, Penta defeating Dominik Mysterio after he was cursed by Danhausen, plus more! They also discuss the social media drama unfolding between Rhea Ripley and Jade Cargill, Denise shares her conspiracy theory on Drew McIntyre and Cody Rhodes, whether or not The Rock will be involved at Wrestlemania, who Brock Lesnar will face at Wrestlemania and more! #wwe #wwenews #wweraw #wwehighlights #wrestlemania #wrestlemania42 #cmpunk #romanreigns #wrestling   GET TICKETS TO DENISE'S LIVE SHOW IN HOLLYWOOD: https://www.ticketweb.com/event/denise-salcedo-live-hollywood-improv-the-lab-tickets/14115024?pl=hollyimprov  GET TICKETS TO DENISE'S LIVE SHOW IN LAS VEGAS: https://www.deniseliveshow.com/    CONNECT WITH DENISE SALCEDO ON SOCIAL MEDIA! Tik Tok: https://www.youtube.com/denisesalcedo Twitter: https://twitter.com/_denisesalcedo Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_denisesalcedo/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/denisesalcedovideos Patreon: https://www.patreon.com/c/denisesalcedo Twitch: https://www.twitch.tv/hollywooddenisesalcedo Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How can business be used as an economic engine for God's kingdom? In this episode, Bill Hendricks sits down with Raymond Harris, a highly successful architect turned “venture capitalist in God's kingdom,” to discuss the biblical theology of wealth and stewardship.   Time codes: 1:14 Raymond's Background 6:53 Raymond's Theology of Money and Stewardship 11:57 The Purpose of Business 16:05 What Does it Mean to Take Care of the Poor? 19:57 Investing in the Kingdom 28:19 Helping Others Develop an Economic Engine 36:00 Exchange your Earthly Wealth for Heavenly Wealth 38:18 The Role of an Entrepreneur 41:04 Satisfaction from Investing in People 43:09 Who is The Most Generous Person? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The Lumber Exchange building in Minneapolis is set to change hands for a dollar this week, going to Kristi Oman—the same person who two years ago bought the Kickernick Building, another old downtown property, and transformed it into a hub for artists.That, or something like it, is likely to be the fate of the 12-story Lumber Exchange building. In chats with Twin Cities Business, Oman mentioned she wants to keep the roughly 140-year-old, 225,569-square-foot space commercial (rather than making residencies out of it), converting it for artists and folks in the fashion industry.The official sale price will be $20,001, Oman says. In addition to the $1 price tag, she must pay a $20,000 fee for taking the property off auction. Oman owns Space Unlimited, a Minneapolis real estate company specializing in restoration of historic buildings.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Just a quick update about the postcard exchange- if you're not interested in that, feel free to ignore. If you are interested... Lucas PO BOX 8198 Rochester, MN 55903 Dark Dreams Episode Tomorrow (March 4th), then a new Scary Stories Episode on the 7th! See you then! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The U.S. House of Representatives considers H.R.3903, the Chugach Alaska Land Exchange Oil Spill Recovery Act of 2025, on March 3, 3026. The bill authorizes a land exchange between the federal government and Chugach Alaska Corporation, a Alaska Native corporation whose communities were impacted by the Exxon Valdez oil spill on March 24, 1989. A hearing took place before the House Subcommittee on Indian and Insular Affairs on September 9, 2025, and the bill was approved by the House Committee on Natural Resources on November 20, 2025. Following consideration, the House approved H.R.3903 by a voice vote. Further action is needed in the U.S. Senate before the bill can become law in the 119th Congress.

with Damion Chaplin. Monday at 9:30pm ET

Click here to register for my FREE Masterclass: https://autc.pro/TSSeng-pod?utm_source=spreaker&utm_medium=poden&utm_content=488&sl=spreaker-poden-488

On this latest episode of Innovator's Exchange, our host Hiten Patel interviews Blythe Masters, tracing her circuitous career from photocopying swap documentation in London to leading FNZ Group, a global wealth-technology platform that processes about $2.3 trillion and serves over 30 million end customers. Blythe reflects on her formative experiences at JP Morgan — including helping institutionalize credit derivatives — her career transitions, leadership lessons, and the importance of curiosity and resilience. She outlines FNZ's mission to remove inefficiency in wealth delivery, explains how AI and platform-level data will superpower human advisors (not replace them), and emphasizes the combined importance of software, data, people, and ecosystem strength in building competitive advantage. Blythe also discusses the UK's opportunities for innovation, particularly in light of the flexibility created by certain post-Brexit regulatory changes. Key topics include:  Early career: Blythe shares how her immersion in derivatives began during a gap-year temporary role at Morgan Guaranty, where she spent hours photocopying contracts and documents before eventually reading them. Derivatives and credit innovation: Since the early 1990s, Blythe was scrutinizing nascent credit-linked concepts, eventually leading multi-year efforts at JP Morgan to translate those ideas into institutional products — working with ISDA, rating agencies, regulators, internal risk teams, and clients — to create standardized documentation, risk frameworks, and operational processes. She then helped drive broader adoption, demonstrating how cross‑functional execution is essential to move financial innovation from concept to scale. Current state of wealth infrastructure: Blythe shares her thoughts on how face-value UX improvements hide deep operational inefficiencies, leading to higher costs and reduced end-investor outcomes. AI's realistic role in wealth: She explains that AI can enhance wealth management by augmenting advisors — automating administrative tasks, accelerating onboarding, strengthening compliance, and improving advice quality. FNZ is well-positioned to leverage these gains because its extensive operational data across the wealth lifecycle can be used to train effective AI models. UK's Innovation and regulation: The conversation explores whether the UK can move faster post-EU to pursue tailored regulatory approaches — for example, digital identity, shared KYC/AML solutions. Political will is needed to prioritize these high-impact initiatives.    This episode is part of Innovators' Exchange, a series that explores the financial infrastructure and technology landscape. Tune in for a captivating exploration of key themes and opportunities for both professionals and retail investors, touching on AI's transformative potential in financial markets.  Subscribe for more on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Youtube | Podscribe 

Are you ready for the 2026 tax season?If you own investment property, you've likely been hearing whispers about new tax rules and legislative shifts. With tax season in full swing, confusion is at an all-time high—but there is good news.This week Krista DeBrine, a Business Development Specialist at Banker Exchange isn't  just talking theory; she's breaking down exactly how the 1031 Exchange is performing in the 2026 tax landscape. If you've been wondering how recent legislative changes impact your ability to defer taxes, this episode is a must-watch to ensure you don't leave money on the table.Krista explains 1031 exchanges in plain language, why they still matter, and how smart investors use strategy — not stress — to build long-term wealth and legacy.Key Takeaways:3:21 - The 2026 Outlook: Krista cuts through the noise to explain how recent tax bills have actually solidified the 1031 Exchange's value in our economy.7:04 - Why 1031s are Still King: Learn why, despite persistent legislative debates, the 1031 Exchange remains one of the most protected and effective tools for real estate investors in the new year.10:18 - Avoiding the "Chopping Block": Understanding why lawmakers consistently choose to preserve the 1031 Exchange and what that means for your long-term security.12:11 - Regional Threats: Krista discusses localized legislative risks (like those appearing in California) that could impact exchange limits, and how to stay ahead of the curve.13:16 - The Costly "Sold" Mistake: The #1 mistake investors make in 2026 is selling first and asking questions later. Don't let this be you.20:51 - The 14-Day Vacation Home Hack: How to convert a second home into a qualified tax-deferred asset under current guidelines.23:34  - Passive Wealth with DSTs: Tired of "tenants, toilets, and trash"? Learn how to use Delaware Statutory Trusts as a tax-deferred solution.Legacy Building Takeaway:“Think about how you're gonna exit. Don't go into anything unless you know how to exit properly. Real estate doesn't do anything for you unless you exit properly.”Connect with Krista:Website: www.BankerExchange.comLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/krista-debrine-8295b225aConnect with Corwyn:Contact Number: 843-619-3005Instagram:⁠ https://www.instagram.com/exitstrategiesradioshow/⁠FB Page:⁠ https://www.facebook.com/exitstrategiessc/⁠Youtube:⁠ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxoSuynJd5c4qQ_eDXLJaZA⁠Website:⁠ https://www.exitstrategiesradioshow.com⁠Linkedin:⁠ https://www.linkedin.com/in/cmelette/⁠Shoutout to our Sponsor: Country Boy HomesYou served your country with pride. Now it's time someone serves you. At Country Boy Homes, we believe every veteran deserves a safe, beautiful and affordable place to call home.We proudly offer VA loan friendly, manufactured and modular homes built with integrity, quality and your family and mine. Whether you're retiring to the peaceful low country or starting fresh with your family, we're here to build the future you've earned. Give us a call today, 843-574-8979.Country Boy Homes, Built to Honor, Built to Last.

“Worldwide Exchange” delivers essential, actionable information and analysis for anyone who wants to be part of the global business conversation. Morgan Brennan takes listeners through top business stories with global significance. Features conversations with key leaders, analysis of business and investor trends, and impact across international markets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

Welcome to Resiliency Radio with Dr. Jill Carnahan, where today's episode explores one of the most debated and rapidly evolving topics in environmental medicine: Therapeutic Plasma Exchange (TPE) for toxic mold illness and chronic inflammatory syndromes. Dr. Jill is joined by Dr. Paul Savage, founder of MDLifespan, to break down the science, safety, and real-world application of TPE and the patent-pending PlasmaXchange™ protocol. For many patients struggling with persistent mold toxicity, autoimmune flares, chronic inflammation, and toxic burden, traditional detox strategies—binders, sauna, fasting, chelation—may not be enough. This episode provides an evidence-informed, transparent Q&A exploring whether Therapeutic Plasma Exchange could be a missing link in complex recovery cases. Together, they examine what TPE actually removes from the bloodstream, who may benefit most, potential risks and contraindications, and how clinicians measure outcomes before and after treatment. ✨ Like, subscribe, and share to help more patients and practitioners understand advanced options for toxic mold and environmental illness recovery.

Jeff and Andy talk about the recent news of the Browns trading a 5th round pick to the Texans in exchange for OL Tytus Howard, whether or not that means Joel Bitonio will return, and what that means for the upcoming draft.

In this episode of The Tactics Meeting, Dan sits down with Patrick Gallagher, Executive Director of the Marine Exchange of Puget Sound, for a practical conversation about what “response readiness” actually looks like in the Pacific Northwest—when the weather's bad, systems fail, and you still have to keep the region moving. They dig into the Marine Exchange's behind-the-scenes role supporting WSMC's 24/7 watch, the value of resilient AIS coverage, and how the Marine Exchange has even backed up the Coast Guard's Vessel Traffic Service (VTS) when federal systems stumble. Along the way, they talk continuity planning (generators, fuel, cloud redundancy), the reality that help may not arrive quickly in a Cascadia-scale event, and what preparedness looks like when you're building it with limited resources. Topics include: Continuity of operations for maritime response and vessel traffic oversight AIS as an operational backbone (and why redundancy matters) Coordinating notifications, early incident intelligence, and on-call incident command Shipboard fire readiness, Unified Command, and hard lessons learned Communications resilience (including radio) and emerging hazards like lithium-ion battery fires  

Our regularly scheduled crop updates from around the state are in today's episode! Hear from the Midlands, PeeDee, and Coastal regions of the state about what's happening in the fields right now. It may not seem like much, but behind the scenes, things are getting busy! Justin tries to stump agents with his trivia question, and it appears we have some readers (and non-readers) amongst us. For our timely topic, we discuss tissue sampling for fertility and fungicide resistance sampling in strawberries. Set yourself up with the right tools in your toolbox before heading into the season!

When you realize that everything you have belongs to God, it changes the way you live, give, and trust Him. In Pastor Phil Hopper's message, “Exchange Self for Sacrifice” from 1 Chronicles 29, we look at how King David led God's people to give willingly and joyfully because they understood the temple was for the Lord, not for man. Just like Israel was called to build a house for God's presence, the New Testament reminds us that we are now the temple of the Holy Spirit, called to be a light to our neighbors and the nations. You'll discover why God is the owner of all your abilities, opportunities, and resources, and how seeing yourself as a steward—not an owner—frees you to live generously. Because when you let Jesus change your heart, you always get to “keep the change.”  Connect with us on Social Media↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels   Connect with Pastor Phil↴ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKC Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc Books & Resources: https://abundant-life.com/resources/books/   Listen to The Well Podcast⤵ Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wadnywAMEK7c0E1qatMoY?si=SjH6Ko7VR3OoHrRy1yYLlQ&nd=1&dlsi=395ae55d95ac4b11 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-well/id1233267223 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR50sV854C2hogfBmv7YogvCjiNYLz9a2   Find Your Next Step:https://alife.livingproof.co/ Watch More Sermons:https://abundant-life.com/sermons/   Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://abundant-life.com/ Listen to The Well Podcast ⤵Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5wadnywAMEK7c0E1qatMoY?si=SjH6Ko7VR3OoHrRy1yYLlQ&nd=1&dlsi=395ae55d95ac4b11Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-well/id1233267223YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLR50sV854C2hogfBmv7YogvCjiNYLz9a2Find Your Next Step: http://alife.livingproof.co/ Watch more sermons: https://abundant-life.com/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://abundant-life.com/ Connect with us on Social Media ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abundantlifels/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abundantlifels Connect with Pastor Phil ↴Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PhilHopperKCInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/philhopper_kc/Web: https://abundant-life.com/resources/books/Learn more about the A-Life Discipleship Journey: https://alife.livingproof.co/ More information on our sermons: https://abundant-life.com/sermons/Do you want to see your life changed by Jesus? Visit our website: https://abundant-life.com/

This Sunday we'll be reading Matthew 19:27-20:16 – which includes a parable that is unique to Matthew's gospel. It is the parable of the laborers in the vineyard.In chapter 19, after witnessing what happened with the rich young ruler, Pete asks the question that is basically “after sacrificing all we had to follow you, what's in it for us?”. Jesus does promise a reward to him, but where is it centered, according to the first part of v28? Given that context, what do you think the first/last dynamic is intended to teach us?In chapter 20 Jesus tells a story about a rich landowner who hires day laborers to pick grapes during the vineyard's harvest. The story is unsettling in it's economic implications – but what about it's spiritual ones? What reason does the landowner give for paying everyone the same amount? What do you believe that is teaching us about our pursuit of spiritual and eternal rewards and the actual source of it?In v12, what is the chief complaint about the identical pay-stubs everyone had? What does this tell us about the self-perception of the complainers? In v 15 when it says “Or do you begrudge my generosity?”, it literally is asking “why do you give my generosity the evil eye?” Many, if not most, translations read a variation on “Should you be jealous because I am kind to others”. What are the complainers be envious of? They received what they agreed on as a wage. Justice was done…but something else was added – what? It's interesting that they aren't jealous of the money the short-timers received, they're jealous of the landowners right to judge by his own standards. This really makes me think of something we'll expound on in the teaching.I find this whole story to be fascinating…hope you can join us on Sunday!Click here for a pdf of the teaching slideshow.

Show notes at pharmacyjoe.com/episode1108 In this episode, I’ll discuss the effects of therapeutic plasma exchange on enoxaparin half-life.

In a recent episode of the award-winning Consumer Finance Monitor podcast, Alan Kaplinsky was joined by Nick Bourke, Kate Griffin, and Ballard Spahr partner Joseph Schuster to discuss a groundbreaking new report from the Aspen Institute Financial Security Program: United We Stand: A National Strategy to Prevent Scams. The episode builds on Nick and Kate's prior appearance on the podcast last July, when the report was still in development. Now finalized, the report offers one of the most comprehensive frameworks to date for addressing what has become a systemic threat to American households and the broader financial system. The Scope of the Problem: A Systemic Threat Frauds and scams are no longer isolated consumer protection issues. According to the report, U.S. households are losing an estimated $196 billion annually to scams — roughly $1 billion every couple of days. One in five American adults reports having lost money to an online scam. As Nick Bourke explained, today's scams are: ·                 Technology-enabled ·                 Highly organized and industrialized ·                 Often operated by transnational criminal organizations ·                 Accelerating due to AI and faster payment systems The so-called scam "lifecycle" includes four stages: 1.     Lead – Hooking the victim 2.     Deceive – Building trust (often through impersonation or relationship-building) 3.     Bleed – Extracting funds 4.     Clean – Laundering proceeds, often through cryptocurrency or offshore channels Different sectors see only fragments of this lifecycle; social media platforms may see the "lead," financial institutions the "bleed," and law enforcement the "clean." That fragmentation allows criminals to scale operations while defenders remain siloed. Why Scams Are Rising Despite Heavy Investment As Kate Griffin noted, industry and government are investing heavily in prevention. Yet scams continue to grow. Why? ·                 Fragmentation across sectors: No single actor sees the entire attack sequence. ·                 Outdated reporting infrastructure: Federal systems at agencies like the FBI and FTC remain manual and technologically antiquated. ·                 Regulatory uncertainty: Financial institutions and technology platforms face unclear expectations about what data they can use and share. ·                 Speed of modern payments: Faster money movement means faster losses. Joseph Schuster emphasized that many financial institutions are strongly incentivized to prevent fraud as they often bear reputational and financial risk when scams succeed. But legal ambiguity, especially under statutes like the Fair Credit Reporting Act, can chill data-sharing and innovation. Core Recommendations from the Aspen Report The report outlines both high-level national reforms and granular operational improvements with more than 180 specific ideas. 1. Elevate Scam Prevention to a National Priority The report calls for: ·                 A designated federal lead (or "czar") to coordinate strategy ·                 A whole-of-government approach ·                 Clear national goals and metrics Without centralized leadership, enforcement and regulatory actions remain fragmented.  2. Modernize Law Enforcement Reporting Systems Federal reporting portals, including Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs), the FBI's complaint systems, and the FTC's databases, require modernization. The report recommends: ·                 Streamlined, automated reporting ·                 Backend data interoperability across agencies ·                 Advanced analytics and AI tools for enforcement 3. Establish Clear Duties to Act Paired with Safe Harbors One of the most important themes discussed was the need for: ·                 Clear expectations for banks, telecom companies, and digital platforms ·                 Safe harbors that protect companies when sharing scam intelligence in good faith Countries like Australia have already codified such frameworks. The U.S. has yet to establish similarly coordinated standards. 4. Build a Cross-Sector Information-Sharing Ecosystem Effective scam prevention requires: ·                 Exchange of scam indicators (malicious URLs, compromised phone numbers, device patterns) ·                 Interoperable information-sharing platforms ·                 Privacy-preserving architecture ·                 Legal clarity to mitigate antitrust and consumer reporting concerns Joseph noted that industry appetite for collaboration is strong but clarity and guardrails are essential. 5. Consider a U.S. National Anti-Scam Center The report explores the idea of a centralized "front door", potentially something like stopscams.gov, that would: ·                 Serve as a national reporting hub ·                 Provide victim resources ·                 Facilitate coordination among law enforcement ·                 Support public education campaigns Social Media and Platform Responsibility The discussion also addressed the evolving role of digital platforms. Scam activity frequently originates through: ·                 Paid advertisements ·                 Dating applications ·                 Direct messaging ·                 Fake investment websites Compared to banks, social media companies operate within a less clearly defined regulatory structure. Courts are increasingly developing theories of "platform liability," but statutory clarity is lacking. The report urges policymakers to define reasonable expectations for platforms — paired with safe harbors and practical tools that empower prevention rather than merely assign blame. What Happens Next? The key question: who implements this strategy? Kate Griffin emphasized that this is a whole-of-society problem requiring coordinated action by: ·                 Federal leadership ·                 Congress ·                 Financial institutions ·                 Telecom and digital platforms ·                 Law enforcement ·                 Civil society There have been encouraging developments, including: ·                 Treasury and State Department sanctions targeting transnational scam networks ·                 A joint DOJ–FBI–Secret Service initiative targeting Southeast Asian scam operations o   But much more remains to be done. Nick Bourke suggested that, one year from now, real success would include: ·                 A designated federal anti-scam lead ·                 A congressional commission ·                 Measurable national prevention goals ·                 Corporate adoption of formalized anti-scam strategies Joseph Schuster added that industry innovation is ongoing, particularly in artificial intelligence, biometrics, and authentication, but warned that fragmented state-level regulation could complicate progress. Key Takeaways Alan Kaplinsky closed the episode with several important observations: ·                 Fraud and scams are now a systemic threat, not a niche compliance issue. ·                 Prevention, not just reimbursement, must be the organizing principle. ·                 Coordination matters as much as authority. ·                 Good-faith companies need regulatory clarity, not just enforcement pressure. ·                 Reducing scams strengthens trust in the U.S. financial system and digital economy. The Aspen report reframes the debate. Rather than assigning blame, it calls for aligned incentives, shared responsibility, and coordinated national action. If the title of the report, United We Stand, becomes reality, the United States may finally begin to bend the curve on one of the most costly and fast-growing threats facing consumers today. For more insights on consumer financial services developments, visit Ballard Spahr's Consumer Finance Monitor blog and explore the full Aspen Institute report here. Consumer Finance Monitor is hosted by Alan Kaplinsky, Senior Counsel at Ballard Spahr, and the founder and former chair of the firm's Consumer Financial Services Group. We encourage listeners to subscribe to the podcast on their preferred platform for weekly insights into developments in the consumer finance industry.

“Worldwide Exchange” delivers essential, actionable information and analysis for anyone who wants to be part of the global business conversation. Morgan Brennan takes listeners through top business stories with global significance. Features conversations with key leaders, analysis of business and investor trends, and impact across international markets. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.

How to Master 1031 Exchanges for Hunting Land | 100% Wild Podcast Ep. 463 In the fourth and final podcast of our Cultivating Value series, Matt Drury and Tim Kjellsvik sit down with Joe Dierker, owner of First Harvest Land Exchange, to demystify the most powerful financial tool for landowners: the 1031 Exchange. While Episode One touched on financing, this episode dives deep into the high-stakes world of tax deferral strategies and building long-term wealth through real estate. Joe explains the "make or break" mechanics of using a Qualified Intermediary (QI) to avoid the "constructive receipt" of funds, which can instantly blow up your exchange and trigger a massive tax bill. Whether you are a first-time flipper or looking to secure a "forever farm" legacy, you will learn the critical differences between long-term capital gains, short-term marginal rates, and how the step-up in basis can benefit your heirs. The conversation pulls back the curtain on the rigid timelines that govern these deals, including the 45-day identification window and the 180-day completion deadline. Joe reveals expert tips on the Three-Property Rule, why you must exchange for equal or greater value and equity, and how "mortgage boot" can lead to unexpected tax liabilities. We also tackle complex scenarios like reverse 1031 exchanges, carving out primary residences under Section 121, and navigating the "Ozarks Condo" trap. This series finale provides the ultimate masterclass in financial literacy for the modern hunter and land investor. 00:00:00 – Intro to the podcast 00:04:00 – What is a 1031 Exchange? Tax deferral vs. tax-free  00:07:15 – Long-Term vs. Short-Term: Understanding capital gains brackets  00:13:30 – The 12-Month Rule: Staying eligible for long-term treatment  00:15:30 – Value vs. Equity: The "Pickup Truck" debt analogy  00:18:55 – Mixed-Use Property: Carving out cabins and primary residences  00:25:20 – Don't Blow It! The danger of constructive receipt of proceeds  00:28:15 – The 45-Day Identification Window: Hard deadlines explained 00:30:50 – Identification Strategies: The Three-Property Rule vs. 200% Rule  00:36:10 – The Legacy Play: Automatic step-up in basis for heirs  00:52:15 – Reverse 1031 Exchanges: Buying before you sell 01:01:10 – Identifying without a contract: Risks and technicalities  01:04:10 – Understanding "Mortgage Boot" and taxable cash-out 01:10:45 – Pop Quiz: Key tax distinctions in land purchasing For more information on Buck Land Funding. Please contact Shawn Ryan (610) 909-9073  https://www.firstbankers.com/bucklandfunding Join the Rack Pack Facebook Group :   / n73gskjt7bfb2ngc   Get ahead of your Game with DeerCast available on iOS and Android devices App Store: https://itunes.apple.com/us/app/deerc... Play Store: https://play.google.com/store/apps/de... Don't forget to stock up for your next hunt! 1st Phorm has you covered! Protein Sticks: https://1stphorm.com/products/protein... Level-1 Bars: https://1stphorm.com/products/level-1... Energy Drinks: https://1stphorm.com/products/1st-pho... Hydration Sticks: https://1stphorm.com/products/hydrati... Send us a voice message on Speakpipe! https://www.speakpipe.com/100PercentW... For exciting updates on what's happening on the field and off, follow us on social Facebook:   / officialdruryoutdoors   Instagram: @DruryOutdoors X:  @DruryOutdoors  Be sure to check out http://www.druryoutdoors.com for more information, hunts, and more! Music provided by Epidemic Sound http://player.epidemicsound.com/ #dodtv

Writing for a grade is one thing. Writing to contribute to a scientific conversation is something entirely different. In this episode of Airway Exchange, Dr. Edwin Aroke, an internationally recognized CRNA pain scientist and Editor-in-Chief of the AANA Journal, joins hosts Erin and Nickie to talk with us about scholarly writing and peer review. His ​scholarship ​has ​resulted ​in ​over ​60 ​peer-reviewed ​publications and ​many ​nationally ​and ​internationally ​presentations ​on ​pharmacogenomics, ​pain ​disparities ​and ​anesthesia ​outcomes. This conversation is a practical guide for nurse anesthesia educators who want to elevate their scholarship, as we'll discuss developing a focused research niche to navigating peer review, grant funding, and common reasons for desk rejection. Here's some of what you'll hear in this episode: ✍️ From Classroom Writing to Publication 

In this Episode of the Secure Your Retirement Podcast, Radon and Murs discuss the evolution of investing—from individual stocks to mutual funds to Exchange Traded Funds—and why technology is changing how portfolios are built today. If you've ever wondered about Stocks vs ETFs, Stocks vs mutual funds, or ETFs vs mutual funds, this episode breaks down the differences in a way that connects directly to your long-term Retirement Planning goals and overall Investment portfolio strategy.Listen in to learn about how reducing internal costs, understanding expense ratios explained, and improving portfolio efficiency can make a significant impact on your long-term results. Whether you're focused on Stock market investing, building an Index investing strategy, or refining your Retirement investing strategy, this episode will help you better understand how the right structure can help you plan for retirement, follow a smart retirement checklist, and ultimately secure your retirement.In this episode, find out:The real differences in Stocks vs ETFs, Stocks vs mutual funds, and ETFs vs mutual fundsHow technology now allows for efficient Stock indexing without high internal fund costsWhy lowering expense ratios and reducing hidden fees leads to Lower investment fees and better long-term outcomesHow Portfolio rebalancing and index tracking improve your overall Investment portfolio strategyWhen to use individual stocks, Exchange traded funds, or mutual funds inside a complete Retirement financial planTweetable Quotes:“Technology has now allowed us to replicate an index using individual stocks and eliminate layers of internal fund costs.” — Radon Stancil“Our investment philosophy hasn't changed — but the tools we use to make portfolios more efficient absolutely have.” — Murs TariqResources:If you are in or nearing retirement and you want to gain clarity on what questions you should be asking, learn what the biggest retirement myths are, and identify what you can do to achieve peace of mind for your retirement, get started today by requesting our complimentary video course, Four Steps to Secure Your Retirement!To access the course, simply visit POMWealth.net/podcast.