#American Dream Group Realtors

[russian-dallas]

Продажа дома во время праздников — хорошая ли это идея или нет?.. Риэлтор Ирина Норкросс считает, что хорошая

Продажа дома во время праздников — хорошая ли это идея или нет?.. Риэлтор Ирина Норкросс считает, что хорошая

Нет лучшего времени в году, чтобы заключить выгодную сделку, чем период праздников …Давайте об этом поговорим. По мере нарастания праздничного волнения, многие продавцы откладывают продажу своей недвижимости до лучших времен, считая, что во время праздников никто не занимается покупкой дома. Однако правда состоит в том, что независимо от времени года, люди ВСЕГДА хотят приобрести дом. Приведу…

[gacmediadaily]

The most wonderful time of the year — holiday movie season, of course — is almost here, and it's looking to be just as jam-packed as ever.

PEOPLE can exclusively reveal that Great American Family will be releasing 20 new original Christmas movies in the 2023 season, up two from last year. And they'll filled with all the merriment, twinkle lights, and stars fans have come to enjoy.

Danica McKellar, Chad Michael Murray, Candace Cameron Bure, Trevor Donovan, and Jen Lilley are among the favorites returning for the festivities, which includes round-the-clock holiday-themed entertainment and will kick off on the network on Oct. 20, The first new movie debuting on Oct. 21.

See the full lineup — along with the network's descriptions — below.

12 Games of Christmas, starring Johnny Ramey and Felisha Cooper: A group of old friends and neighbors are transported into a Christmas-themed board game during a Christmas party.

A Christmas Blessing, starring Lori Loughlin, James Tupper, and Jesse Hutch: A TV chef (Loughlin) is divinely inspired to take over her late aunt’s charity with help from a new friend (Hutch) and handsome business associate next door (Tupper).

A Christmas Commission, starring Sarah Fisher and Simon Arblaster: Two rival realtors (Fisher and Arblaster) are forced to work together to sell one special house before Christmas.

A Christmas for the Ages, starring Natasha Bure and Cheryl Ladd: Prompted by their youngest granddaughter (Bure), four generations celebrate family and what Christmas was like in the '40s, '60s, '90s, and present day.

A Dash of Christmas, starring Broadway’s Laura Osnes and Christopher Russell: A marketing exec (Osnes) must learn a recipe to get her dream job and ends up entering a holiday bakeoff with a dream baker (Russell).

A Model Christmas (working title), starring Ash Tsai and Joey Heyworth: While on a charity press tour, a model (Tsai) ends up stranded by the weather at the family home of the driver (Heyworth) she hired to assist her for the week.

A Paris Christmas Waltz, starring Jen Lilley and Matthew Morrison: A novice dancer (Lilley) pairs with a professional (Morrison) to enter a renowned dance competition��in Paris! The next story in The Christmas Waltz universe, the highest-rated Christmas rom-com of 2020 (which starred Lacey Chabert and Will Kemp).

A Royal Christmas Holiday, starring Brittany Underwood and Jonathan Stoddard: In search of her big break, a reporter (Underwood) arranges a Christmas interview with a European Prince (Stoddard) visiting the States. Will the reporter’s big story become her love story?

A Royal Christmas Romance (working title), starring Danica McKellar and Damon Runyan: When a European Duke (Runyon) arrives in the U.S., he realizes that his bags have been lost in transit. He has no choice but to be styled, and ultimately inspired, by Bella (McKellar), the owner of a local boutique.

A Time Capsule Christmas (working title), starring Jillian Murray and Daniel Lissing: A father (Lissing) bonds with his daughter and stumbles upon an unexpected romance (Murray) while tracking down the original owner of a Christmas time capsule.

Bringing Christmas Home (working title), starring Jill Wagner and Paul Greene: A professor of military history (Wagner) teams with an antique store owner (Greene) to track down the original owner of a historic WWII uniform and the love letters left in its pockets.

Christmas on Windmill Way, starring Christa Taylor Brown and Chad Michael Murray: To save her family's legacy windmill, a woman (Taylor Brown) must remind her ex-boyfriend (Michael Murray) of the best of their hometown.

Destined 2: Christmas Once More, starring Shae Robbins and Casey Elliott: In this sequel, Theo (Elliott) continues to miss connecting with his girlfriend, Kim (Robbins) as he attempts to propose at Christmas.

Mistletoe Moments, starring Susie Abromeit and Liam McIntyre: With her career on the line, a decorator (Abromeit) must work with an unexpected partner (McIntyre) to showcase a house for an upcoming Christmas gala.

My Christmas Hero, starring Candace Cameron Bure and Gabriel Hogan: An army reserve doctor (Bure) tracks down her family's military history with the help of a new romance (Hogan).

Our Christmas Wedding, starring Holly Deveaux and Drew Seeley: In the sequel, roles reverse as Nicole’s boss plans newly engaged Nicole (Deveaux) and Michael’s (Seeley) wedding in two weeks at Christmas.

Peppermint & Postcards, starring Ella Cannon and Christopher Russell: When a Christmas letter concerning her love life goes viral, one mom discovers that romance might be right at her door.

Santa, Maybe (working title), starring Aubrey Reynolds: Can theater director Lila (Reynolds) rise to the challenge of putting on the perfect Christmas ballet, while also discovering her office Secret Santa in the process?

The Christmas Regift (working title), starring Erin Agostino and Marshall Williams: A city manager (Williams) recruits the help of a childhood friend (Agostino) in setting right his town's Christmas Charity event, while she sets to work setting him up with her close friend.

‘Twas the Text Before Christmas, starring Merritt Patterson and Trevor Donovan: An unexpected text message sent to the wrong number (Patterson) sets into motion a Christmas tradition with a new family (Donovan) over three separate years.

Great American Christmas begins Oct. 20 on Great American Family. Fans can track the movies they want to see using the Christmas Movie Checklist App

[kmrealtygroup]

Is Affordability Starting To Improve?

Blog by KM Realty Group LLC, Chicago, Illinois

Over the past couple of years, a lot of people have had a hard time buying a home. And while affordability is still tight, there are signs it’s getting a little better and might keep improving throughout the rest of the year.

Lawrence Yun, Chief Economist at the National Association of Realtors (NAR), says:

“Housing affordability is improving ever so modestly, but it is moving in the right direction.”

Here’s a look at the latest data on the three biggest factors affecting home affordability: mortgage rates, home prices, and wages.

1. Mortgage Rates

Mortgage rates have been volatile this year, bouncing around from the mid-6% to low 7% range. But there’s some good news.

Data from Freddie Mac shows rates have been trending down overall since May (see graph below):

Mortgage rates have improved lately in part because of recent economic, employment, and inflation data. Moving forward, some rate volatility is to be expected.

But if future economic data continues to show signs of cooling, experts say mortgage rates could keep going down.

Even a small drop can help you out.

When rates decline, it’s easier to afford the home you want because your monthly payment will be lower.

Just don’t expect them to go back down to 3%.

2. Home Prices

The second big thing to think about is home prices. Nationally, they’re still going up this year, but not as fast as they did a couple of years ago.

The graph below uses home price data from Case-Shiller to illustrate that point:

If you’re thinking about buying a home, slower price growth is good news. Home prices went up a lot during the pandemic, making it hard for many people to buy.

Now, with prices rising more slowly, buying a home may feel less out of reach.

As Odeta Kushi, Deputy Chief Economist at First American, says:

“While housing affordability is low for potential first-time home buyers, slowing price appreciation and lower mortgage rates could help — so the dream of homeownership isn’t boarded up just yet.”

3. Wages

Another factor helping with affordability is rising wages.

The graph below uses data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) to show how wages have increased over time:

Look at the blue dotted line. It shows how wages usually go up in a typical year.

On the right side of the graph, you’ll see wages are rising even faster than normal right now — that’s the green line.

This helps you because if your income increases, it’s easier to afford a home. That’s because you won’t have to spend as much of your paycheck on your monthly mortgage payment.

Bottom Line

When you put all these factors together, you see mortgage rates are trending down, home prices are rising more slowly, and wages are going up faster than usual. Though affordability is still a challenge, these trends are early signs things might be starting to improve.

[nsrealestate]

Homeownership is a major part of the American Dream. But, the path to achieving this dream can be quite difficult. While progress has been made to improve fair housing access, households of color still face unique challenges on the road to owning a home. Working with the right real estate experts can make all the difference for diverse buyers. It's clear that achieving homeownership is more challenging for certain groups because there’s still a measurable gap between the overall average U.S. homeownership rate and that of non-white groups. According to a report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), almost half of Black homebuyers in 2023 were first-time buyers. That means many didn’t have home equity they could use toward their home purchase. That financial hurdle alone makes buying a home more challenging, especially at a time when affordability is a major concern for first-time buyers. Because of these challenges, there are several down payment assistance programs specifically aimed at helping minority buyers fulfill their homeownership dreams. Even if you don’t qualify for these programs, there are many other federal, state, and local options available to look into. And a real estate professional can help you find the ones that best meet your needs. For minority homebuyers, the challenges that remain can be a point of pain and frustration. That’s why it’s so important for members of diverse groups to have the right team of experts on their sides throughout the home buying process. DM me to make sure you have the information and support you need as you walk the path to homeownership.

[thelistingteammiami]

Bridging the Gaps on the Road to Homeownership

Bridging the Gaps on the Road to Homeownership

Homeownership is a major part of the American Dream. But, the path to achieving this dream can be quite difficult. While progress has been made to improve fair housing access, households of color still face unique challenges on the road to owning a home. Working with the right real estate experts can make all the difference for diverse buyers.

It's clear that achieving homeownership is more challenging for certain groups because there’s still a measurable gap between the overall average U.S. homeownership rate and that of non-white groups. Today, Black households continue to have the lowest homeownership rate nationally (see graph below):

Homeownership is an important part of building household wealth that can be passed down to future generations. According to a report by the National Association of Realtors (NAR), almost half of Black homebuyers in 2023 were first-time buyers. That means many didn’t have home equity they could use toward their home purchase.

That financial hurdle alone makes buying a home more challenging, especially at a time when affordability is a major concern for first-time buyers. Jessica Lautz, Deputy Chief Economist at NAR says:

“It’s an incredibly difficult market for all home buyers right now, especially first-time home buyers and especially first-time home buyers of color.”

Because of these challenges, there are several down payment assistance programs specifically aimed at helping minority buyers fulfill their homeownership dreams:

The 3By30 program offers valuable resources for Black buyers, making it easier for them to secure a down payment and buy a home.

For Native Americans, Down Payment Resource highlights 42 U.S. homebuyer assistance programs across 14 states that make homeownership more attainable by providing support with down payments and other costs.

Fannie Mae provides down payment assistance to eligible first-time homebuyers living in Latino communities.

Even if you don’t qualify for these programs, there are many other federal, state, and local options available to look into. And a real estate professional can help you find the ones that best meet your needs.

For minority homebuyers, the challenges that remain can be a point of pain and frustration. That’s why it’s so important for members of diverse groups to have the right team of experts on their sides throughout the homebuying process. These professionals aren’t only experienced advisors who understand the market and give the best advice, they’re also compassionate educators who will advocate for your best interests every step of the way.

Bottom Line

Let’s connect to make sure you have the information and support you need as you walk the path to homeownership.

[my-state-mls]

Engineering Segregation Through Real Estate

The court ruled in March that a judge within the Northern District of Illinois allowed an action for class arbitration to move towards the National Association of Realtors, the trade association that is the most significant lobbying expenditure within the US.

The group, together with seven sizeable real estate corporations that are the partners of Moehrl and Co., could receive between $13 billion and 40 billion dollars in damage. (The suit is one of two similar class-action suits pending before the legal system.) This case is about how NAR makes use of local board members in control of 97 percent of the multiple listing system to enforce guidelines regarding the set commissions in the manner that, as the suit mentions, US homebuyers and sellers have commission rates that are near twice the rates of peers in other countries.

The legal hazard that the NAR has to face could transform the way US real estate is purchased and sold. Numerous believe this group's chances of winning on the court are meager. What is truly ironic about this suit is that possible beneficiaries will not be the group most affected by the actions of the NAR; however, homeowners of white ethnicity who are a segment who have historically enjoyed the benefits of the discriminated and unjust housing market that the group of trade associations helped to establish.

The NAR was, at the time, The National Association of Real Estate Boards has helped to encourage homeownership as the cornerstone in living the American Dream through its lobbying activities and the establishment of housing experts with the Federal government in the 1920s until the 40s. It also actively undermined Black homeownership. From its role in the dissemination of exclusionary zoning laws as a result of covenants on racial discrimination in zoning and its involvement in the promotion of the redlining process and steering race as essential elements of the emerging real estate industry in the first half of 20th century until its lobbying efforts later against the 1967 Fair Housing Act, organized real estate may be the most accountable party in the ongoing racial discrimination and housing gaps that mark the American residential environment.

It's one of the conclusions we came to from our experience with the Redress Movement. This nonprofit was founded on the interest generated by the 2017 publication The Color of Law. We support multiracial organizing and immediate action from the bottom upward to end racial inequality. One of these initiatives is the study: Through our research, we've discovered the vast impact of the NAR and its affiliates on the local history of segregation, in addition to the national methods of segregation that the federal government endorses.

In Milwaukee, for example, we found realty board members advocating for the creation of an entirely Black district in the 1920s, well after the Supreme Court outlawed the practice of racial zoning back at the time of 1917. (Cities such as Atlanta, New Orleans and Winston-Salem attempted to adopt laws on racial discrimination in the 1930s.)

In Charlotte, North Carolina, the real estate board found several ways to earn money from the city's urban renewal plan, which wiped out the city's most significant Black area, Brooklyn, in the early 1960s. Certain received federal aid to help create privately owned affordable housing specifically for Black residents in place of housing in public, and some agents earned "finder's fees" for relocating residents into these and other privately owned properties and commissions that were from the authorities to dispose of the land that was recently rejuvenated.

In Denver, Our colleague Addison Quin Petti from the Denver Public Library observed that the majority of the restrictive racial covenants that were registered in 1931 came from an official on the real estate board of the city, which was also responsible for encouraging homeownership in the city in the 1920s and 1910s in which both Bombings and zoning for racial reasons of Black houses were used to encircle the city's Black inhabitants to the Five Points neighborhood. One of the factors that created Five Points, the new center of Denver's Black community, as we observed, was the eradication of a Black neighborhood located in Lower Downtown during the 1910s, which was a scheme formulated by a group comprised of real estate agents who refer their group in the 1910s as "The Cronies" and advanced by Mayor Robert Speer (who worked in real estate before entering politics).

The list continues. If you research the background of why your community is like it does, odds are that your local real estate board played some involvement in the process. The segregation didn't just flow downwards from federal policies such as redlining. It resulted from the work of real estate experts in the local area who created segregation from the bottom. The industry's members assisted in creating maps of neighborhood-level mortgage risks that federal officials utilized for redlining and disseminating restrictions on covenants, which were crucial to the underwriting requirements that the Federal Housing Administration set. Additionally, they were on city-level zoning and urban renewal commissions, which facilitated modern-day segregation.

In 2020, for the first time in the NAR's long history, the NAR publicly apologized for this part of its past. "Because of our past mistakes, the real estate industry has a special role to play in the fight for fair housing," stated the former president of the NAR, Charlie Oppler. The NAR also introduced an initiative to promote fair housing in the year 2000 and is now required to complete two or three hours of training in fair housing each year in its member. (As an observer has humorously stated, it takes nearly nine years more education to become a barber or hairdresser in Colorado than it takes to sell houses through a realtor.)

Despite these efforts to compensate some compensation, the NAR persists in perpetuating inequality through its member's ways of life apology and declarations of solidarity are not the same as a change in the system in the face of clearly systemic issues. It is time to shift into the process of redress.

Redress, like segregation, can shift from the base upwards. In Washington, real estate professionals from local communities have testified in support of a recently approved law that will make use of the new fees for documents to offer an annual amount of $100 million for down payment aid for those who are denied homeownership due to racially restrictive covenants that were previously present within the state. For instance, in Los Angeles, an extensive range of citizens supported a referendum to introduce an additional tax on affordable housing and assistance with housing and tenants sold at or above five million dollars. Just by dropping any existing arguments against the statute and protesting against individuals who attempt to evade the law, the organized real estate industry in California may play a significant role in the securing of the 600 million to $1.1 billion that this measure is expected to bring in annually -- money that will significantly benefit families of people of color who are disproportionately affected through previous discrimination.

On a national scale, Imagine if the NAR only devoted half the greater than $80 million they spent on the federal lobbying effort from 2022 onwards to promoting universal housing vouchers, extending the availability of affordable housing as well as offering the federal government down payment assistance to first-time buyers and the people that are impacted by segregation.

Based on our research our calculations, real estate professionals were able to reap at most 10 billion dollars over last year due to commissions on the exaggerated valuations of houses that were bought in white areas, and the top bound of this figure surpassed the total annual budget for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.

No matter if the plaintiffs succeed in these significant pending cases before the courts, it is not enough to let the NAR free of responsibility for what has been and will continue to be the most prevalent and fatal forms of misconduct. It is a matter that deserves a unique type of group action, namely racial reparation and the right to redress.

[kayla1993-world]

A row has broken out in Florida over proposed legislation that would ban Chinese citizens from owning land or property in the state. This is unless they are also U.S. citizens or permanent residents. The priority bill has the backing of Republican and some Democratic legislators. These legislators argue it is needed to ensure national security. However, critics argue it is discriminatory, and violates the Fair Housing Act of 1968. Polling indicates DeSantis is Republican voters' second most popular choice to be the party's 2024 presidential nominee, following former President Donald Trump. However, he has yet to officially enter the race. Thus any dispute involving DeSantis could have national political implications, either undermining the Florida Republican or strengthening his "anti-woke" credentials. The legislation, titled "SB 264: Interests of Foreign Countries," was approved by the Florida House this week 95-17 and will now head back to the Senate, which voted for a previous version unanimously. It also prohibits citizens of Russia, North Korea, Iran, Cuba, Venezuela, and Syria from buying land within a mile of a military base or piece of critical infrastructure. However, only Chinese nationals face a statewide ban. Congress is concerned about the increase in Chinese ownership of U.S. agricultural land. This includes farmland by an air base in North Dakota purchased in 2022. In response, legislation has been introduced at both the national and state level. This legislation would restrict farmland purchases by countries deemed hostile to the United States. However, the proposed bill in Florida has sparked a backlash, with opponents arguing it could violate the 1968 Fair Housing Act. This key piece of civil rights-era legislation banned discrimination based on race, national origin, religion, or sex in housing sales. On Saturday, dozens of Chinese Americans protested against the bill outside the Florida Capitol. They held signs reading "Equality For All" and "No anti-Asian Bill." Speaking on Wednesday, Democratic state Representative Fentrice Driskell argued the bill appears unconstitutional. She added: "Who will enforce this?" Realtors? Come on. We are better than this." However, some Democrats support the legislation including state Representative Katherine Waldron, one of its co-sponsors. Newsweek contacted DeSantis asking what legal advice his office received about SB 264. It also asked whether they thought it could be ruled unconstitutional if passed into law. DeSantis is also locked in a legal battle with Disney, Florida's largest employer, which alleges the governor violated its First Amendment rights after the company spoke out in opposition to the Parental Rights in Education bill, branded the 'Don't Say Gay' law by critics. On Wednesday, DeSantis' Tallahassee office was occupied by protesters from the Dream Defenders campaign group. They demanded a meeting with the governor.

[hakesbros]

El Paso Actual Estate Discover Houses & Homes For Sale In El Paso, Tx

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CareFree has been great with communication, as a 1st time home purchaser I can honestly say that the method has been easy and I really feel nice to have my home built by CareFree. Or why not take a private tour of certainly one of our beautiful mannequin homes to see first-hand all the benefits of a CareFree Homes move-in prepared home. Saratogahomestexas.com must new homes el paso tx evaluate the safety of your connection before proceeding. Featuring 4 bedrooms, 2 loos, and a couple of automotive storage. Enjoy hosting family and friends in fantastic living areas with 9-12 foot ceiling...

Just ask an area realtor and they’ll tell you. Come go to considered one of our nice El Paso communitieswhere we're "Building the American Dream." What you discover will please you. El Paso County is in western Texas, bordering each home builders in el paso Mexico and the state of New Mexico. The common home-owner in the county pays $3,268 yearly in property taxes, virtually $500 more than the us median.

Lofts, apartments, townhouses, small, medium and large houses, 55+ communities. It can get sizzling and humid, however each place has cold A/C. Niche.com offers Lubbock an total grade of A- (not bad!), and applies the identical ranking to its public colleges and the native nightlife. There are additionally homes for sale el paso tx tons of tasty food spots, out of doors actions, and group occasions. Oh, it’s additionally simply 15 minutes to DFW International Airport. According to Zillow, the everyday home value in Irving is almost $345,000, as of September 2022.

It’s what dictates every decision we make. To study our warranty, connect with us right now. Sylvia my Real State Agent was very attentive to every request our household had and super exceeded our expectation. Great customer service, strongly suggest Tropicana. Jesus has been exceptional, proficient, and all around awesome. He has helped me with the problems regarding my house and when ever I want something he always resolves it in a quick method.

We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the historical past behind an article. And it is not going to make the builder mad if an agent represents you. With a temporary rate buydown, the builder pays some of el paso homes for sale the purchaser's interest for the first one to three years. The buyer has a discounted month-to-month payment throughout that interval.

Led by three generations of the Bowling family, it has been our privilege to build over 10,000 homes on this city. Save searches and favorites, ask questions, and connect with agents by way of seamless mobile and web experience, by creating an HAR account. As part of the Mission Ridge master-planned neighborhood, residents will enjoy shut access to parks, strolling trails, open house preserves, and a town heart. Conveniently located off I-10 and Eastlake Blvd., Garden Park offers quick access to I-10, employment facilities, recreation, shopping, and entertainment.

[ranchrealty]

Reasons To Select Unfurnished Rental Homes in Scottsdale And Phoenix, AZ

Many Americans hope to rent their first home after securing a job. Finalizing the first property that is shown is not recommended. On the contrary, it makes sense to contact a realtor operating in the right area and provide a list of must-have features. It becomes essential to have assistance while looking for rental homes in Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ as such properties are in demand at the moment. Indeed many real estate advisors term Arizona as a renters market. This can increase the number of eager renters desiring unfurnished homes instead of fully furnished ones.

It is essential to understand the term's meaning well before inspecting it. An unfurnished home or a set of rooms implies that the landlord will not provide furniture to help the tenant move in with minimal possessions. Instead, the house itself will be empty. Some of the necessary white goods are sure to be installed along with the fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen. The bed, chairs, dresser, wardrobe, and other furniture must be bought or rented by the tenant to settle in perfectly.

Sure, both furnished and unfurnished homes come with their share of pros and cons. Families and people aspiring to relocate to another locality within the same city often find the unfurnished homes most beneficial and attuned to their needs. The gains that one can expect by renting an unfurnished home include the following:

· The Cost- An unfurnished home is available at a lower rent. This is an all-important aspect that serves students and first-time job holders admirably. Many students choose to live together as a group and are willing to split the rent. Such a move proves to be affordable and suited to their purpose as well.

· Interiors- People who happen to be house-proud are unwilling to let anyone else handle the interior decoration. A renter who moves into a vacant home can source furniture as needed and place it in the right positions, thus creating a coherent effect. The landlord may be willing to permit the tenant to paint the inner walls as well. The home can therefore reflect the taste and style of the tenant, making an impersonal house into a dream home despite being a rented property.

· No Insurance- Sure, the landlord would pay the home insurance premiums, but a person with few possessions may not be inclined to buy the renter's insurance policy either. Even when the tenant chooses to invest in a few items of furniture, renters insurance premium is low and easily afforded.

· Hassle-Free – Just as moving into a vacant home is easy, moving out is simple too. Furthermore, the tenant can take all furniture items to the next rented home and settle in as before. There will be no hassles involved and no damages to pay when the furniture and interior decor items do not belong to the landlord.

It is advisable to connect with an experienced realtor or check the property listings to find the best possible rental homes in Scottsdale and Phoenix, AZ.

[jimintomystery]

The Search for Noah's Ark

Many ancient cultures had accounts of a hero surviving a divine flood by building a giant boat, but the story of Noah (Genesis 6-9) stands out, since it is included in the canon of the Abrahamic religions. For centuries, it was not unusual for Jewish, Christian, and Muslim writers to report that Noah's Ark was still sitting on the mountain where it came to rest at the end of the story. But it wasn't until the 20th century that a documented expedition went to look for it.

[Above: A man stands between Mount Ararat, where explorers typically look for Noah's Ark, and a sign for Noah's Ark National Park, the official location of the ship according to the Turkish government.]

The Bible says Noah's Ark landed in "the mountains of Ararat," without any clear indication where that would be. A 4th century Latin edition translated "Ararat" as "Armenia," popularizing that association in Western Christianity. The Armenians themselves used Greek or Syriac bibles, so they only learned of the Ararat-Armenia connection centuries later, from visiting crusaders. Thereafter, the sacred Armenian mountain Masis has been known as "Mount Ararat." Since the 1920s, the mountain has been a part of Turkey, which calls it Ağrı Dağı ("mountain of pain").

After the first confirmed ascent of Mount Ararat in 1829, it became more plausible that someone might go up there and look for Noah's Ark. But the idea wasn't taken seriously until the 1940s, when an article circulated about a Russian pilot spotting a giant wooden boat on Ararat during World War I. Supposedly, the czar ordered a thorough exploration of the structure, but then those no-good godless commies took over and suppressed the findings. The story was ultimately discredited, but not before it stoked the imaginations of American Christians that were eager to prove that the Bible was literally true.

Fascinated by the Russia story, realtor Eryl Cummings and his wife Violet devoted the rest of their lives to tracking down stories about Ark sightings. These tales typically involved American soldiers who said someone showed them a photo of the Ark during World War II, or old Armenian immigrants who supposedly visited the Ark as children. "Ark fever" heated up, though, when a sighting was reported from Turkey. In 1948, Eryl was invited to lead an Ararat expedition planned by retired missionary Aaron J. Smith. Cummings declined, however, and Smith ultimately led the trip himself the following year.

The 1949 expedition is instructive, because it sets the tone for all subsequent attempts to visit Ararat in search of the Ark. Upon arrival, Smith was beset with bureaucratic delays. Permits needed to be paid for, and local authorities rejected clearances that had been granted at the federal level. Reading between the lines, its clear to me that Ark-seekers would pay anything to achieve their dreams, and corrupt Turkish officials took full advantage of that. The team quickly depleted their funds, and didn't get to the mountain until the end of the climbing season.

It's also telling that there hasn't been a lot written about Smith's mission, not even by the Ark hunters who followed in his footsteps. It's much easier to find stories about the Fernand Navarra controversy in the '50s and '60s, or people who couldn't even prove they'd been to the mountain. And it's Eryl Cummings, not Aaron J. Smith, who came to be seen as the father of the movement. There's a simple reason for that: Smith put in the work, but he didn't find anything. Cummings, on the other hand, accumulated all of the tantalizing stories of people who might have found something, which could become a useful lead for the next expedition.

[Above: Reconciling descriptions from two purported eyewitnesses, Elfred Lee illustrates the collapse of Noah's Ark into Ahora Gorge. The gorge was formed in 1840 by a powerful earthquake, which happens to precede the earliest alleged sightings in modern times. Violet Cummings suggested that the quake was divinely ordained to reveal the Ark and usher in the Apocalypse.]

The 1970s saw a wave of books about the search, most of which derived their information from the work of Mr. and Mrs. Cummings. Violet and other writers cast the quest in an apocalyptic light, suggesting that God had hidden the Ark all this time only to reveal it as a sign that the End Times were imminent. The implication was that Noah's Ark could not be discovered until the appointed hour but, paradoxically, Judgement Day will be stalled unless believers find the ship as soon as possible.

"Arkeology" arguably peaked in the 1980s, when astronaut Jim Irwin took up the search. By that point Turkey was wary of letting amateur climbers wander around so close to their border with Iran and the Soviet Union. But the eighth person to walk on the Moon was able to open some doors and, more crucially, cut through some red tape. However, Irwin still had to deal with the punishing conditions of Mount Ararat itself. His adventures there are best remembered for the injuries he sustained, and the heart issues that made it increasingly unwise for him to return year after year.

Jim Irwin no doubt inspired a new generation of Ark-seekers, but by the late 1990s the community was bitterly divided about where to look. For thousands of years, legends suggested that the ship was in plain sight for anyone who dared to climb up and find it. But fifty years of aerial reconnaissance, satellite photography, and boots on the ground had proven otherwise. Debate intensified about whether Ararat was even the right mountain, and about the validity of other possible sites, forcing people to re-evaluate the established lore surrounding the quest. So you end up with one "arkeologist" attacking the reasoning of another, often with logic that could be extended to dismiss the entire search.

[Above: In 2010 Noah's Ark Ministries International released photos like this one, purportedly taken inside a massive wooden structure on Mount Ararat. NAMI refused to reveal the location for independent verification, citing security concerns. Within days of the announcement, former associates of NAMI came forward accusing them of staging the whole thing.]

That background of in-fighting put a damper on a 2010 press event claiming that a Hong Kong evangelical group had found the Ark on Ararat. You'd think video footage of this discovery would delight Ark hunters. On the contrary, many were as skeptical as mainstream scientists. The feuding over which Ark theories were right or wrong had left them wary, because if some flaky story captured the public imagination, it might discredit the entire movement. Which is ironic, considering that the movement wouldn't exist at all if not for an urban legend about a Russian cover-up.

At a glance, it may seem like "Ark fever" is part and parcel with religious fundamentalism, or maybe just a specific flavor of Christian anti-intellectualism. However, even some influential creationists have debunked the search for Noah's Ark. There's no scriptural basis for assuming that God arranged for the Ark to remain intact until modern times, or that it was meant to be rediscovered, or that locating it would have any bearing on the end of the world. The entire rationale for the search is that dozens of unconfirmed reports can't all be wrong, which isn't a solid foundation for an archaeology project.

[gowithgabby]

Remember the Daze.

Character BIO(s):

Kylie Julien McCarthy

17 years old

Born on September 2nd

Nickname: Ky pronounced like “Kai” (by everyone) Kay-Jay (only by Sav and Jessa), Jewels (by Noah)

Goals: Yale, aspiring to be a Doctor

Interests: Reading, Baking, Beach Days, Mathematics, Literature, Pizza

Crushing on Noah Collins, her best friend since Kindergarten

Summary: One of the best students at Laguna Beach High School, Kylie is articulate, well spoken, mannered, good at multitasking, fairly great at planning, and organized. The kid has a good heart and a good head on her shoulders. A straight A student, member of the school decathlon team, the senior class VP. Kylie is very sweet, honorable, and level headed often acting as the voice of reason in the female portion of her friends. Kylie was born to a successful lawyer, George McCarthy and his partner, Christopher Julien, a ambitious magazine editor. They used a surrogate to have their children, Kylie does know of her birth mother and maintains a relationship with her but she loves her fathers very much. She has a little sister named Violet, who is starting her freshman year at Laguna Beach HS. In all of her 17 years, Kylie has been very complacent in her actions. This year, she is hoping to take the big step in really getting what she wants. She just hopes that it doesn’t blow up in her face. 

Noah Joseph Collins

18 years old

Born on June 27th

Nickname: Joey, Jojo (Only by Kylie and his mom)

Goals: Yale, aspiring to be a Lawyer

Interests: Listening to music before his time, Pizza, Video Games, Reading, Writing, Debating, and Traveling.

Crushing on Kylie McCarthy, his best friend since Kindergarten

Summary: You might think Kylie is the best student at Laguna, but Noah is her academic rival. While he is on the basketball team, he doesn’t care much for the glory that sports brings, not neglecting his athletic skills. He prefers to bury himself with books, educating himself and enriching his mind. You would think him and Kylie would be trying to tear each other down to be the best but it’s actually the exact opposite, they work off each other and build together. This is mainly due to being each other’s best friends since kindergarten, having fond memories of each other. Noah split his lunch with Kylie when she forgot hers on their first day and they’ve been tight ever since. He has dreams of Yale, his father’s alma mater. He is gifted, the editor of the school’s newspaper and he is the senior class President. He is the son of New York Times best selling author, Layla Shaw-Collins and her equally successful husband, Duane Collins, who made his wealth being the most sought out talent agent in LA. He has an older brother named Aaron whom is starting his junior year at Cornell and an older sister named Luna who is a sophomore at Spelman college, a historic black college.

Savanna Wyatt Birkhart

17 years old

Born on October 31st

Nickname: Sav, Savvy, Wyatt (by Ethan)  

Goal: UCLA, aspiring to be a Model

Interests: Modeling, Singing, Cheerleading, Bonfires, Volunteering, Traveling, Shopping, Horror Movies, Yoga, Romance Movies, Makeup, Sage, Hot Wings, Indian Food.

Dating Levi James, boyfriend of 4 years. Crushing on her best friend, Ethan Mahoney (possibly)

Summary: What’s to say about Savanna Birkhart that hasn’t been said already?, dubbed the golden girl of her senior class due to her being head cheerleader and girlfriend of arrogant, Levi, the football star. She makes good grades to keep her GPA somewhat untouchable, she dreams of UCLA. Daughter of Carter Birkhart, a successful property realtor and his award winning actress wife, Farrah Sayers-Birkhart. From the time that the biracial girl was placed in her mother’s arms as a baby, she was genetically “blessed”, taking the best of both parents. Doomed to be popular of her face and wealth, don’t think she feeds into the stereotype of high school. Far from entitled and spoiled, she’s openly friendly, down to earth, charitable, honest, warm, caring, and very naive…especially when it comes to her boyfriend, Levi. Everyone is friends with Sav, she’s a good person to be around. She has an older brother named Silas, who is climbing the ladder to be a PR agent in LA, alma mater of USC and she has a 10 year old younger brother named Six, who was born on Christmas Day. Lately, she’s been finding herself in a somewhat love triangle, between her boyfriend whom she loves and her best friend, Ethan, who she also loves but she’s not sure if it’s friendly love or something more. She’s best friends with Ethan, Cali, Kylie, Noah, and Jessa but gets along with everyone fairly well.

Levi Nathaniel James

18 years old

Born on May 15th

Nickname: LJ

Goal(s): winning the state championship, Stanford, aspires to be CEO of his father’s company

Interests: Partying, Drinking, Working out, Having Sex, Traveling, Sushi, Indian Food, Sports

Dating Savanna Birkhart, girlfriend of 4 years. Unbeknownst to his naive girlfriend, he tends to cheat on her when he goes on family trips or with his dad out of town. He does love her but sometimes he cheats.

Summary: Born to a pair of sun-kissed blonde power couple, Levi is the son of Fortune 500 - Forbes listed CEO of JamesCo, William James and his former model turned socialite wife, Uma Peterson-James. From the day that he was born, Levi has been told that he is powerful, he has money and a lot of it. There hasn’t been anything he wasn’t given, awarded, provided. Textbook jock, Levi excelled in football (mainly), basketball, lacrosse, soccer, and surfs in his free time. He’s QB of the football team and he relishes in the fact that he has Sav on his arm, he’s perfect and he only wants the best for his ego. He mainly focuses on his girlfriend, sex, parties (lots of them), drinking, and sports. He is not the best friend you would want however, very few outside of their friend group knows how he got Sav, by betraying his former best friend from childhood, Ethan, who still harbors a love for Savanna. Recently, he’s been noticing Ethan’s less than quiet advances on Sav. He doesn’t like it, but he has also been holding in secrets from his girlfriend, his cheating and a deeper one that might not only fuck up his relationship with Savanna but destroy the bonds that are deep rooted with their friend group. Levi does have a softer side that only his parents, Savanna, and his sister get to see. He has a little sister named Chelsie, who is a gymnastics prodigy in the making at only 12 years old. He’s best friends with Talan, he’s friends with everyone but he doesn’t care too much for Ethan still being accepted in their group of friends.

Maia Genevieve Langley

18 years old

Born on July 5th

Nickname: Mai, Langley

Goal: Juilliard, aspiring to be an Actress

Interests: Flowers, Hot Girls, Cute Boys, Designing, Makeup, Sneakers, Cupcakes, Acting, Slumber Parties, and experimenting with different hair colors

Crushing on Bodhi Desai and her female classmate, Hanna Richardson

Summary: Everything about Maia screams sensitive, mainly Kylie’s best friends but she does hold close friendships with everyone in the group, Maia is overly sensitive, fiercely loyal, a ride or die friend, and occasionally shy. A little bit on the hyperactive side, openly bisexual and her parents are okay with it, modern day hippies…what can you say?! She had her first same sex experience with a girl at summer camp when she was in the 7th grade. Her friends do tend to walk on eggshells with her due to her over-sensitivity to avoid triggering her. A flair for the dramatics, Maia knows her name will be in lights one day. She wanted to just move to LA and not go to college but her parents are still a little old-fashioned and want her to be educated and perfect her craft before she attempts the struggling actress thing. She was born to a Japanese-American Self help guru named Mina Sato-Langley and a English father named Jeremiah Langley, he was a footballer in England before transitioning to the states and settling into ESPN anchor fame. Maia is the eldest of four children, having two younger identical twin brothers named Hunter and Finn Langley, who are freshmen at Laguna Beach high school. She has a younger sister named Bay Langley who is 6 years old, Maia was 12 years old when her sister was born, she was a what you call a “surprise” baby. Maia has spent the last four years in awe of Bodhi but he doesn’t pick up on her flirtatious banter or he ignores it to avoid hurting her feelings.

Bodhi Abraham Desai

18 years old

Born on March 19th

Nickname: Bo

Goal: Cornell, this school is said to have the best culinary arts program; aspiring to be a Chef with his own restaurant

Interests: Mixology, Baking, Cooking, Soul Music, R&B, Comic Books, Alternative music, Old movies, joking

Crushing on Cali Hernandez

Summary: Known as the Lovable Goofball, Bodhi is down to earth, laidback, friendly, and most of all, silly. He is the son of British Indian award winning Bollywood turned Hollywood actor named Deepak Desai and his acclaimed Screenwriter wife, welsh-Irish wife, Alys Davies-Desai. He has a younger sister named Billie, named after his parents love for Billie Holiday, who is 11 years old. Bodhi dreams of being a chef one day with a restaurant similar to Wolfgang or Gordon, his culinary idols. He would love to take his culinary skills abroad and studying in France, India, Italy, and many other countries. He is quite skilled in mixology, teaching himself the art of mixing drinks from YouTube and picking up tricks from hired bartenders at his parents parties and events. He makes decent grades enough to make his parents proud, he excels in chemistry having a love for science since he was in elementary school. He surfs in his alone time and is a beast on the beach when it comes to frisbee and volleyball. He’s best friends with Noah and Ethan. Close friend with everyone else in the group.

Calista Pilar Hernandez

17 years old

Born on December 31st, a New Year’s Eve baby

Nickname: Cali

Goal: UCLA or USC, aspiring to be a Decorator

Interests: Shopping, Makeup, Vlogging, Chinese Food, Boba Tea, Cheerleading, Beach Nights, Partying.

Dating Talan Everett, boyfriend of 4 years. Crushing on someone in the group but refusing to say it

Summary: Calista is the hot-headed BFF to Savanna Birkhart, while they’re both cheerleaders and share some interests, but ultimately are opposite, where Savanna is down to earth and warm, Cali tends to come off as spoiled and cold. Outspoken, brash, a slick mouth and sarcasm stewed to perfection. Do not call her a spicy Latina, she hates the way Hollywood has stereotyped women with attitude. She’s fiery and will let you know about your wrongs, proud of her heritage. She’s of Mexican-Cuban descent and Swedish through her mother. Cali has a younger brother named Javi, who is a sophomore at Laguna Beach High. Raised by her single father, Javier Hernandez Sr, a famous architect that made his wealth building homes and iconic businesses for the elite. Her mother, Enya Nilsson was a influential fashion designer with several collections, one even named after her daughter, Calista. She lost her mom at 8 years old, making her father a widow. He buried himself into his work and left his cards accessibly to his kids, Cali stepped up and helped her various nannies with her younger brother who was only 6 when their mom died. Like her best friend, she’s sexually active with her boyfriend, Talan. She and Savanna were already going to be best friends, due to their mothers. Enya and Farrah being friends. Farrah even walked on the runway for her designer friend a few times, somehow falling pregnant with their daughters weirdly around the same time. She’s been having issues with her boyfriend, Talan lately.

Talan Gray Everett

18 years old

Born on April 10th

Nickname: Tal

Goal: Wharton Business School, aspires to be Advertising Executive

Interests: Drawing, Gardening, Growing his own Weed strains, Smoking pot, Surfing, Painting, Working out

Dating Cali Hernandez, girlfriend of 4 years. Crushing on Jessa Filipov, his best friend of 6 years.

Summary: Talan is by far the most reliable guy next to Noah in his group of his friends. Son of A-List Party Planner, Britney Westin-Everett and successful Nightclub-Exotic Strip owning Mogul, Alan Everett. Talan has a younger sister named, Serena who is 15 years old and a sophomore at Laguna Beach HS and a older half brother on his father’s side, Gilliam, nicknamed Gill, who’s a senior at NYU. Talan spends his days smoking weed, drawing, surfing, skate-boarding, playing volleyball, and mainly keeping his GF, Cali and his best friend, Jessa from ripping each other’s hair out. While he knows Cali is not always a BITCH on wheels and Jessa is not only known for her body count, he doesn’t understand why the young women don’t care to much for him having the other in his life. He often wonders had his life would have been different if he chose Jessa over Cali back in the summer of 9th grade. Would Cali even still be his friend?. He knows they’re both different outside of school and when they’re alone with him. Don’t let his pot smoking ways fool you, Talan is very articulate, calculated, wise…even honorable. He has a green-thumb and he frequently grows his own cannabis in grow houses on the shores of Laguna. He does plan on going to study business. He’s a skilled artist and creative with everything. He’s sexually active and you would think with how close he is with Jessa, he cheated on Cali. But he has not, he’s been extremely faithful to his girlfriend, he does love her. Even though lately they have been on murky waters.

Jessa Beatrix Filipov

17 years old

Born on September 23rd

Nickname: J, JJ, Jess, Bea

Goal: NYU or FIT, aspires to be a Stylist

Interests: Dancing, Twerking, Parties, Salads, Gyros, Burgers, Cheerleading, Beach Days, Themed parties, Hip Hop, Pop music

Crushing on Talan Everett, her best friend of 6 years. Despite him having a GF, Cali

Summary: Jessa was not born in Laguna Beach, Cali will let you and everyone know this information. But she was born in the Nation’s capital to a pair of Bulgarian-American parents, her mother was a high society debutante, Petia Alferov-Filipov and her father, Darian Filipov, was the son of a Oil tycoon who was working his way to senator in his state of DC. However her high society days were cut short when her parents were killed in a car crash when she was 12 years old. Not having any family that was willingly to take her in on the east coast, Jessa was placed in care with her paternal aunt, Yoana Filipov, who was 23 years old at the time. Her aunt is old enough to be her older sister and is not much of a guardian. Her aunt is an heiress who doesn’t need to work, naturally she let her niece do whatever she wants. Only showing up to parent-guardian type things if it’s really needed, signing permission slips and sending her niece money. Jessa quickly made friends in the first few weeks of moving to LB, quickly making her debut as the 10th friend in their group of 9. Jessa “grew up and out” developing physically before the other girls in the group, making her unwisely the first one to adhere to her sexual exploration and interests. She briefly dated Noah, even took his virginity in 9th grade before letting him go as he continued to love Kylie from afar. She does not believe in labels or dating unless she’s really in love and she’s only been in love with one person, Talan for as long as she can remember. A cheerleader, a party girl, and sexually liberated (her words), Jessa is not everyone’s cup of tea…mainly Cali’s. She and Cali actually share a lot in common, both being confident in their looks on the outside but insecure on the inside, sexually active, slick mouthed and sharp tongued, you would think they’d be the best of friends…but they aren’t and Talan is the reason. Plus she also never really like Cali due to her attitude and spoiled demeanor and ability to keep secrets and lie, she is however best friends with Sav and Maia and occasionally Kylie, as she respects the girl’s morals and values to wait. She’s got a good heart and she does believe in love, having seen it firsthand with her parents. She doesn’t want to rush into something that will bite her in the ass. Until it’s something real, mainly with Talan, she doesn’t want a relationship, keeping it casual.

Ethan Lewis Mahoney

18 years old

Born on April 22nd

Nickname: E, Ma-Honey (by Sav…a childhood nickname because she mispronounced his surname in pre-K) and Mahone (by Sav and Noah)

Goal: NYFA or USA, aspires to be a director

Interests: Photography, Smoking Weed, Directing, Writing, Making Films, Comic Books, Hot Wings, Tacos, Horror Movies, and Spicy Foods

Crushing on Savanna Birkhart, his best friend since Pre-K.

Summary: Ethan prefers to spend his time, directing school plays, photographing things, his muse is often Savanna, often taking a lot of her photos for her portfolio. But he’s not a creep about it, she asks him and he obliges because he loves her and knows that she will be a phenomenal model one day. He works for the school newspaper as the head photographer after Noah asked him to when his OG photographer graduated two years ago. While no desires to be a sports guy, Ethan does enjoy watching them. He’s more on the artistic side, preferring to be on the opposing side like behind his lenses or making the productions. He’s the son of Celebrity Chef, Eleanor White (formerly Mahoney) and her philandering Award winning Actor ex husband, Lyle Mahoney. Ethan is the middle of three children that the couple bore before divorcing, he has an older sister named Isla Mahoney who’s currently working at Vogue as a social media advisor, and he has a younger brother named Noel Mahoney who’s the same as age as Sav’s younger brother, Six. He has dated in the past and even had sex a few times, but none of them compared…compared to Savanna. She’s been the object of his affection since he was in preschool, he loved her even before he knew what love was. They even shared their first kiss together. Ethan was right on track with own planning tactics to telling Savanna how he felt until Levi happened. Levi was at one point his best friend, he swooped in and asserted his claim on Savanna, buying her off with lavish gifts and court side seats. He didn’t blame Sav, Levi gave her a story of lies that he always been in love with her and he was too scared to make a move, the gifts didn’t get her…the lies of Levi did. From then on, Ethan had to watch the girl of his dreams be paraded around like a trophy by his former best friend. Things have been rocky ever since, with both guys only getting along for the sake of Savanna. But he wants it’s to be different especially after he hears some interesting news about Levi’s infidelity…he’s just hoping Savanna will believe him and not Levi.

[dashmendoza]

DASH MENDOZA ( EVAN MOCK ) is an EIGHTEEN year old from TAMPA, FLORIDA. HE is known around the island as THE HEDONIST because he is PASSIONATE and CREATIVE but can also be SARCASTIC and JEALOUS. HE reminds of chipped painted fingernails, ear-bleedingly loud EDM, empty beer cans stacked into a pyramid. 

BASIC INFORMATION

NAME: Adam Mendoza

NICKNAMES: Dash

BIRTHDAY: October 19

AGE: 18

HOMETOWN: Tampa, FL

BIRTHPLACE: Tampa, FL

RELIGION: Lapsed Catholic vibes

ETHNICITY: Half Bisaya/half random mix of European

LANGUAGES: Tiiiiiiiny bits of Tagalog, a lil’ more Cebuano, and high school level Spanish

NATIONALITY: American

EDUCATION: High School

RELATIONSHIP STATUS: Single and always ready to mingle

SOCIAL CLASS: Upper middle class (dad’s an uber-successful smarmy realtor for multimillion dollar real estate on the bay and etc.)

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS

HEIGHT: 5′10″ (listed as 6′ on all dating apps lmao)

EYES: Dark brown

HAIR: Naturally black, dyed pink

BUILD: Slim, kinda toned

DISTINGUISHING MARKS: Smiley face tattoo on his pinky finger that was a stick-and-poke moment when he was 16 and an unfinished tiger on his calf (his second appointment was scheduled for post-Hawaii weekend). Also, an alligator dressed in a sort of Moulin Rouge outfit on the inside of his bicep.

NOTABLE FEATURES: Cheekbones™, pink hair and the smattering of small birthmarks on his face, including one on the white of his eye

PHYSICAL DISABILITIES: N/A

ALLERGIES: Cats

PERSONALITY & BEHAVIOR

HOBBIES: Sewing, digital art, photography, shopping, swimming, surfing, being a simp

LIKES: Fashion, mysteries/conspiracy theories, teasing, dancing, jewelry, shitty movies, loud music, being the loudest person in the room (sound-wise and fashion-wise), making shit up

DISLIKES: Violence, conformity, other loudmouths, passive people, boring people who just wanna sit around and not do shitttt (doesn’t necessarily mean that the “shit” has to be beneficial to the group)

QUIRKS: Will take whatever pill you hand him (is that quirky or a red flag), arachnophobia (hehe), takes huge bites of food (and always gets hiccups), cracks his knuckles constantly, will assume the Lounging position whenever he pops a squat (hands behind head, ankles crossed), dresses like.... That (see below)

STRENGTHS: Collaborative, open-minded, seeks fairness/harmony, easy-going

WEAKNESSES: Indecisive, hypocritical, passive aggressive, can be v consumed by neg emotions in the moment

POSITIVE TRAITS: Resourceful, social, clever, fun-loving, good-ish listener

NEGATIVE TRAITS:  Unreliable, vain, manipulative, and again he’s a simp

MENTAL DISABILITIES: General disordered eating and body dysmorphia

SHARE 5 FUN FACTS ABOUT YOUR CHARACTER

Get ready for an ultra-fun fact: Dash’s mom died a year ago. He’s sort of been spiraling ever since, but he’d tell that actually he’s having like, a really good time and he’s totally fine, guys!!!!

Dash’s dream job? Fashion, baby. <3 He designs and creates a lot of his own clothes.

Dash is an all-around passionate, outgoing, sometimes-intense guy. He is very in tune with emotions and enjoys experiencing the world around him, whether that be nature walks on shrooms or deafening dance music. He wants to feel, and to feel those things with other people, but that also goes for the less-than-rosy emotions as well. He gets very caught up in the negative ones, too. He can be very abrasive when annoyed, angry, or offended, and can’t quite mask when he’s upset.

TBH his nickname comes from his mom’s dog that she got a couple years before he was born sdkagsad. it started as a joke but Sorry man it stuck :/ But he does prefer to be called Dash. If you call him ‘Adam’ he’s just gonna assume he’s in trouble for something and you’re pulling a His Grandma and threatening to throw a slipper at his head. Plus, “Twilight of Adam”? He’s gonna avoid telling people his name’s Adam to at least spare himself the jokes.

While not all-in w conspiracy theories, he finds them to be both a fun topic of research and conversation. Aliens hacked into the plane’s hardware and took control of it and the island is a simulation and now all the boys are living a Truman Show-esque life for the people of Mars, tbh.

WHAT WAS YOUR CHARACTER WEARING ON THE FLIGHT?

His dad made him change twice before he allowed Dash to get away with this. And yes, that’s a waist bag/fanny pack that matches his pants (there’s a Juul and chapstick inside and that’s it).

PLEASE LIST 3 PERSONAL ITEMS OF YOUR CHARACTER THAT WASHED UP ON SHORE

Faded, old ass Tampa Bay Rays hat that his dad gave him when he dropped him off at the airport. Dash put it in his backpack because it didn’t go with his outfit, tbh.

Sewing kit (a man’s gotta be prepared in case something happens to his precious Neil Barrett sweater)

Bag of cool ranch Doritos procured at the Tampa International Airport

EXTRA

PINTEREST

MUSE TAG

[thelistingteammiami]

How Experts Can Help Close the Gap in Today’s Homeownership Rate

As we celebrate Black History Month, we reflect on the past and present experiences of Black Americans. This includes the path toward investing in a home of their own. And while equitable access to housing has come a long way, homeownership can be a steeper climb for households of color. It’s an important experience to talk about, along with how it can make all the difference for diverse homebuyers to work with the right real estate experts.

We know it’s more challenging for some to buy a home because there’s still a measurable gap between the overall average U.S. homeownership rate and that of non-white groups. Today, the lowest homeownership rate persists in the Black community (see graph below):

Homeownership is an essential piece for building household wealth that can be passed down to future generations. However, there are obstacles in the homebuying process that can negatively impact certain groups. This can delay or prevent many from achieving homeownership, challenging their ability to benefit from everything owning a home offers. A recent report from the National Association of Realtors (NAR) explains:

“. . . not all [households] have the same opportunities to homeownership, with many of them facing more constraints in their effort to achieve the American Dream. . . . Given that homeownership contributes to wealth accumulation and the homeownership rate is lower in minority groups, data shows that the net worth for these groups is also lower.”

However, with the right support and resources, there are solutions if you’re part of this community and planning to buy a home. Jacob Channel, Senior Economist at LendingTree, shares:

“The problem does exist. We have data that back that up. But there are solutions, and Black homebuyers shouldn’t lose faith that they’ll never be able to become homeowners.”

That’s why it’s so important for members of diverse groups to have the right team of experts on their sides throughout the homebuying process. These professionals aren’t only experienced advisors who understand the local market and give the best advice. They’re also compassionate allies who will advocate for your best interests every step of the way.

Bottom Line

Access to housing improves every day, but there are still equity challenges that some buyers face. Let’s connect to make sure you have an advocate on your side as you walk the path to homeownership.

[wocfics]

Merry Go Round

Kim Seokjin Series

Arranged Marriage Series

Masterlist 

KSJ x Poc Reader

Warnings: None 

Word Count: 2,018

Summary: Namjoon’s mistakes put the group in a hole, because of his one night stand ending in a pregnancy and the image of the group on the line, the company makes a rash decision in setting up arranged marriages with all of the members so suspicion doesn’t raise. Kim Seokjin, is the first to be married after Namjoon, but there’s only one thing, his new wife is a total princess, and not the good kind. 

Oh how awkward it is to be getting married, to a stranger, at a table meeting. The only plus side to this was that it was Kim Seokjin of K-pop group BTS. Yeah, Y/N knew who he was but...he was still a stranger. What if they didn’t get along? What if he was actually really rude compared to how he was seen in interviews and other things? Dressed in a cream colored sweater dress that hugged her figure and stopped at the knee, paired with white pumps and her light brown loose curls hanging down to her shoulders, Y/N tapped her perfectly manicured fingers on the table while her lawyer sat beside her and Mr. Bang sat on the other side of the table. They were waiting for Jin and his lawyer to come so that they can start the process of this arranged marriage that was set in stone a few months ago. Amongst the applicants was Y/N and since her credentials were in order and her being bilingual in both English and Korean, due to her mother being Korean of course, she was the top pick. Lucky her. 

Y/N was a model for numerous magazines, due to her being Korean and African American, a lot of companies loved her look and how soft her facial expressions were, they just had to have her. 

Hearing the door open, her eyes panned over to where Seokjin walked in first, wearing a simple pink dress shirt and black slacks, with shoes to match. His black hair was slightly slicked back and he kept a straight face as he watched Y/N while making his way to his seat. His lawyer right behind him, they both took a seat after everyone stood up and bowed to each other. With her legs crossed under the table, Y/N’s lawyer handed her a pen while Mr. Bang spoke amongst the lawyers. She kept her eyes on Seokjin while he stared back at her, he was definitely nervous and scared at that. Who wouldn’t be right?

 Y/N came from a wealthy family, a bit of a princess complex but with a few things she loved to do. She was in pageants and was even prom queen in high school. The only thing she lacked in the most was finding a husband, especially with being 27. Her mother always asked when she would find a husband and Y/N’s reply was always. “He needs to find me.” Her mother had gotten wind about BTS and their arrangement through a friend of the company and quickly signed her up under Seokjin’s name. It was between her and 4 other women and since her status was higher than the others, she made the cut. 

“Y/N, Seokjin, please sign on the lines at the bottom. Y/N, you will now sign with Kim Y/N under your original signature.” Mr. Bang spoke, sliding the paper to your lawyer for her to read over it before letting you sign it. “I’d also like to make a suggestion about something as well. This prenup agreement, that just won’t do. I think that decision should be left up to them to decide as adults. Since they aren’t to file for divorce for the first five years, in that five years something could change and I believe that option should be open just in case he slips up.” She spoke with confidence in her voice. Seokjin’s lawyer pressed his lips together in a line before closing his eyes and nodding. “I agree to that.” He replied quietly. Mr. Bang nodded and removed the extra paperwork while you two signed various forms about commitment and such. 

You remember when you were a child, wanting to find the perfect rich husband, he had to be tall, the best looking and most of all extremely kind to you. There were so many dates you go on as you got older and your vision started to change from wanting everything you dreamed of in a man to not caring at all. As long as he was successful and showered you with gifts was all that mattered to you, because that was all that was important in the end right? Especially for your lifestyle, he had to keep up. You weren’t getting any younger and it was almost the end of the road for you in the dating world, so you got the next best thing. An arranged marriage with an Idol and not just any. You got Kim Seokjin. 

After signing the last of the documents, you placed the pen down and stood up with your lawyer, everyone else doing the same. The lawyers shook hands, saying how they’ll be in touch and you straightened out your dress before grabbing your bag and looking at your now future husband across the table. “Y/N, your things are already moved into the apartment we have for the two fo you.” You blinked a few times before clearing your throat. “A-Apartment?” You repeated, not knowing if you heard right. Were they insane? How was your wardrobe going to fit in the closet of an...apartment. Laughing lightly, you shook your head. “No, no. I’ll have a realtor look for a decent home, not too far from this building. I’m not living in an apartment.” Y/N took out her phone and sent a quick text before moving her dark brown eyes towards Jin with a small smile. “If we’re married, which we are now, we’re not living in an apartment. A house is much better, and much bigger.” 

____________________________________________________________________________

It only took a few hours to find a house that was suitable for the both of you, it was simple but elegant enough. Only 20 minutes away from the Big Hit building. A dusty rose colored house with a paved driveway, a big front and back yard, 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms. The inside was a light tan color, with plus carpeting. The kitchen was big enough since you knew that Seokjin was a cook, thank goodness for that because you were not one to cook anything. It had an island as well and there was a balcony in the master bedroom. The furniture wasn’t purchased yet so you did have your bed brought in for the time being. 

With your heels by the front door and your bag on the kitchen counter, you and Jin were now in the master bedroom, putting away your clothes in the closets. There were two walk ins across from each other so it was perfect for your things to go in. Setting up your shoes and then your coats on each rack, colored coordinated. It took about 2 hours before everything was out of the way and you walked out of the closet, sighing and glancing at Jin. “Well, I’m starving...you should cook something. I’m curious about your skills.” Walking out of the room, Jin stood in the middle of the room and rubbed his face, sighing heavily before taking his phone out of his pocket and sending a quick text to the group chat he had with the boys. “She’s so bossy, a royal pain. Send help. The house is nice though.”

Since the only thing you two managed to get groceries to stock the fridge, he figured he’d start with something simple, cooking a big meal for the both of you wasn’t in the cards just yet and plus, he had to stop cooking so much food now, since it was two instead of seven. Whipping up some beef bulgogi and placing the kimchi next to it, you stood at the island and began eating, sighing and humming as you ate, which was a habit of yours when something was extremely good. 

You took some of the kimchi and ate while you finished your meal halfway through before stopping and digging into your purse, pulling out a bottle of wine and setting it on the table. Grabbing two plastic cups, since there were no glasses yet, you poured a cup for him and handed it to him and then one for you and looked at him. “I know this is as weird for you as it is for me, but I’m not going to be walking on eggshells around you. You’re busy with BTS and I’m busy with modeling so…” You lifted up your cup. “No awkwardness, we’re a married couple, not under the best circumstances I’m sure but let’s make the best of it. Husband.” You tapped his cup and took a sip before going back to eating.

Demanding for sure. Jin didn’t know how to take you at all. The first couple of weeks were chaotic with the furniture coming in and his schedule starting up again. You hired a cleaning service to clean every week and a lawn service to keep the grass and weeds in check. Since winter was approaching, it wasn’t needed as much but you did make a list in the back of your head to get some flowers once the cold days were over.

Although you and Jin slept in the same room, he always stayed close to the edge while you sprawled out in the middle of the bed, occasionally elbowing him in his back and apologizing afterwards. For a woman with a princess complex, you were a wild sleeper for sure and it was almost comical because he would wake up and often see you with your mouth open, hair out of the bun you left in and curls across your forehead. 

Eventually, you two would have to sit down and figure out each other’s upcoming schedules, with you having a few gigs that were offered and his touring schedule. You did have to make time for each other at some point, as a married couple now. He would be gone for a couple of months and although you did model, it was only a few days or so out of the week, so you’d have to find something to do during your spare time. Things were definitely going to get rocky over the course of these first five years and who knew, maybe you and Jin would hit it off.

One thing that was also in your contract was to see a marriage counselor after the first year, which was going to be difficult in itself, since the following year would be him enlisting. 

Waking up one morning, you went for a morning jog and showered before his alarm went off. Your hair up in a ponytail with a few loose curls falling out and you stood in the kitchen at the island, dressed in a black velour jacket and matching pants with a white camisole underneath. You made a pot of tea and poured it into two mugs and set them on the counter. Grabbing your notepad and a bedazzled pen that you started clicking while adding some honey to your tea, you waited for him to get ready and leaned against the counter as he walked out in a pair of sweats and a white shirt, dressed for rehearsals. He paused and looked at the mug and then at you. “Is there something you wanted to talk about?” He asked, raising an eyebrow and grabbing the mug from the counter. You grinned and nodded, clearing your throat. 

“So, since we’ve been married for almost a month, I think it’s time we figure out our schedules, don’t you think? It’ll be easier to maneuver that way, I guess. It’ll at least be easier for me anyways. We have to spend ‘quality time’ to get to know each other so I need to know what you’re doing at all times.” He raised both brows, taking a sip from the tea and glancing at the clock. He had to be at rehearsals in an hour so he had some time to spare before, especially with living only a couple of minutes away. You clicked the pen and looked up at him. “So, just tell me your basic week of what you do.”

[mostlysignssomeportents]

How the "Varsity Blues" admissions scam punished deserving, hard working kids so that mediocre kids of the super-rich could prosper

Propublica's latest longread is ostensibly a profile of two kids who attended Orange County's Sage Hill School, where tuition runs $40,000/year and where an estimated 25% of students get into elite colleges thanks to their parents shelling out for "independent counsellors" who run the gamut from people who help with admissions essays and strategic donations to the schools of their choice all the way up to William "Rick" Singer, who pleaded guilty to collecting millions to grease the path for mediocre rich kids to attend elite colleges by bribing coaches.

One of the kids profiled is Grant Janavs, a middling tennis player who is also the scion of the ultra rich Merage/Janavs family, inheritors of a fortune from Hot Pockets and other products from Chef America, Inc. The other is Adam Langevin, a superb and dedicated tennis player who "suicided" tennis (in the words of his high school coach), devoting his life to it while simultaneously succeeding academically. Langevin played on the school team despite the fact that it took away from his ability to play in the tournaments that would have helped him get into a college athletics program, because he felt a sense of duty to the school -- even playing through serious injuries.

But it wasn't Adam who got into a top athletics program, it was Grant, who was admitted to Georgetown. Grant's mother hired Rick Singer to "consult" on that admissions, and once the admission was secured, a foundation controlled by Grant's grandfather "donated" $400,000 to a "charity" run by Singer. That wasn't where the generosity ended, though: Singer also funneled a total of $2.7 million to Georgetown's tennis coach, Gordon Ernst, through his charity, acting on behalf of at least a dozen "tennis players," including Grant.

No one alleges that Grant knew about the payments, and his mother denies any wrongdoing. Grant -- whom multiple sources characterize as largely indifferent to tennis -- is not playing tennis for Georgetown, despite having been admitted on the basis of his alleged tennis skills.

Nor is Grant the only Janavs child whose college admissions involved alleged bribes mediated by Rick Singer. Grant's younger sister secured a USC admission on the basis of her alleged beach volleyball prowess, though federal prosecutors say that what really clinched the deal was a $200,000 bribe funded by her mother and finessed by Singer, as well as another alleged bribe: $100,000 to rig her daughter's standardized test scores.

Michelle Janavs's financial involvement in her children's education began well before their college admissions: the Sage Hill athletics center bears a large plaque thanking her for her generosity, which included a $82,000 donation the year after Grant enrolled, and another $190,000 before her two daughters were enrolled.

Meanwhile, Adam -- whom multiple sources identify as of professional caliber -- did not get into a tennis program. He's enrolled at Cal Poly as a chem student, playing club tennis, and hoping to make the Varsity team. His parents are well off -- his father is a realtor, his mother, a homemaker -- but they lack the inherited ultra-wealth of Grant's family, or many of the others at Sage Hill, which boasts enrollment from the families of most of Orange County's billionaires.

It's a striking story, but what's really interesting about it is how it opens up the wider tale of Varsity Blues and what it says about inequality and corruption in America's decadent, crumbling world of late-stage capitalism.

I mean, it's tragic that a genuinely gifted, driven athlete doesn't get to follow his dream, while a middling, mediocre scion of a one-percenter can steal a place from a real athlete at a top university.

But as Propublica points out, the process by which Grant was admitted to Georgetown is relatively benign compared to many of the other schemes engineered by Singer, whose top trick was putting forward the white, wealthy children of the families he worked for as poor, Latinx students, in order to steal places set aside for members of visible minorities and students whose families lacked money.

What's more, Varsity Blues's scandal isn't that rich people can bribe their way into top colleges: it's that they cheated by bribing coaches, instead of admissions departments. Universities make no secret of the fact that giving them a couple million dollars for a new building or what-have-you prior to your mediocre kid's application process will guarantee Dunderhead, Jr a place in the program of their choice. Singer figured out how to get the ultra-wealthy a steep discount on their bribery, because college coaches are much cheaper than admissions departments.

It's a fine parable about corruption's slippery slope. Universities are dependent on rich alumni for donations, so they relax their academic standards in order to lure in gifted athletes who will bring home the trophies that inspire rich alums to make big donations.

That little ethical gimme becomes the exception that swallows the rule: if you want to get your not-very-bright kid into a top school, you can get them there by honing their athletic activity. But if you want to get your not-very-bright kid who's also not very athletic into that school, you can bribe the coach to slide them through the athletes' back door. The coaches rationalize their own participation in the system by observing that the admissions department openly solicits bribes from the parents of mediocre rich kids, so why shouldn't the coaches dip their beaks?

Singer wasn't particularly subtle, after all. He had a board stuffed with former presidents of Princeton, Stanford, and Occidental College, as well as the former Chancellor of UCLA and the former Princeton Dean of Admissions (William Bowen, Donald Kennedy, Ted Mitchell, Charles Young and Fred Hargadon). These board members received urgent letters a decade before the scandal from San Francisco University High School's director of college counseling about the corrupt behavior that he'd experienced firsthand in his dealings with Singer. Reider wasn't a rando: he'd been a senior admissions officer at Stanford. The board members insisted that Singer was "a decent guy" and offered to set Reider up for a face-to-face with Singer.

Nor have Singer's board faced any real consequences for presiding over a decades-long, multi-million-dollar scam that involved bribery, money laundering and the corruption of the elite institutions they once served. Indeed, Ted Mitchell was Obama's undersecretary of education and now helms a big lobbying group called the American Council on Education.

The super-rich wrote the checks that let Singer suborn America's top educational institutions, and but they are only part of the problem. The rot goes all the way through the institutions, including their admissions departments, top administrators, and lobbying groups.

What's more, the financial crisis -- which shifted trillions from the pockets of poor and middle-class Americans into the pockets of grifty billionaires -- has only worsened the problem, by concentrating America's wealth and thus its political power. Sage Hill once prohibited its wealthy donors from directing how their donations could be spent, but now, they're happy to have strings attached, a policy that began after the 2008 crisis wiped out donations from mid-sized donors and put the super-rich in the drivers' seat. What happened at Sage Hill is a microcosm for the increasing reliance of all American educational institutions, especially colleges, on the whims of the super-wealthy.

https://boingboing.net/2019/10/08/michelle-janavs.html

[hakesbros]

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