Insurance companies collected more than $150 billion in premiums from California homeowners over the last 25 years and enjoyed profits at four times the national average. Now they’re demanding an unprecedented bailout from the California Legislature as the price of continuing to do business here in the wake of wildfire losses.
Industry lobbyists are reportedly negotiating with lawmakers, Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara and Gov. Gavin Newsom’s office toward a deal that would be unveiled in the last weeks before the Legislature adjourns on Sept. 14. The industry’s plan would advance its decades-long drive to undermine the protections of Proposition 103, the insurance reform measure passed by voters 35 years ago. The proposal would allow insurance companies to hike rates without full transparency or justification; force policyholders to assume the staggering costs of insurers’ backup coverage for unexpected losses; and use secret algorithms to set premiums.
These currently illegal practices are likely to raise property insurance premiums by 40% or more. Many more customers could be forced into the California FAIR (Fair Access to Insurance Requirements) Plan, a state-created, industry-controlled association that offers less generous, last-resort coverage at higher prices.
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Worse, the proposed bailout relieves insurance companies of their responsibility to cover all losses under the FAIR Plan, forcing the state’s policyholders to shoulder the burden through mandatory surcharges on their insurance bills. The proposal would incentivize insurance companies to push their riskiest customers into the FAIR Plan and make other policyholders subsidize their claims. Insurers would retain only their most profitable customers.
Some lawmakers have suggested that capitulating to the industry’s demands for deregulation, vastly higher premiums and zero risk is necessary to lure insurance companies back to California. Companies such as State Farm, Allstate and Farmers have orchestrated an insurance shortage in the state by refusing to sell new policies and improperly dumping existing customers. But the companies’ proposal does not guarantee that anyone who wants to buy insurance coverage will be able to do so.
Nor has surrendering to industry demands worked in Florida. Under Gov. Ron DeSantis, rate regulation is weak, insurers are opaque and companies are allowed to pass on the cost of reinsurance and impose surcharges on policyholders if the state’s FAIR Plan equivalent falls short. And yet homeowner premiums are two to three times higher than in California, the proportion of policyholders with last-resort insurance is five times greater, and companies are rapidly abandoning the state anyhow.
Under the California Constitution, the Legislature is barred from amending the terms of Proposition 103 except to further the initiative’s purposes. Courts have repeatedly invalidated legislation that weakens those reforms, as the industry’s latest proposal does. Whatever their personal views, lawmakers must respect the voters’ will and insist that insurance companies do the same.
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By waiting until the last days of legislative business to negotiate such a bailout, lawmakers are cynically attempting to bypass public scrutiny and debate while undermining the credibility of their institution. As the Legislature’s 1996 deregulation of utility rates showed, poorly vetted, industry-backed proposals can become costly debacles for California consumers and taxpayers.
There are many legitimate ways to address the impact of wildfires and other extreme weather events without bailing out the industry or allowing it to avoid transparency and accountability. Our leaders should take the time to look into them.
For example, money from a proposed climate bond and the state’s cap-and-trade program could be deployed to help homeowners take precautions that reduce the risk of loss from extreme events such as wildfires. Rather than allowing insurance companies to make land use policy through rates, state and local authorities ought to develop rational rules to guide construction in high-risk areas. And insurance companies should be given a deadline to stop insuring and investing in the oil and gas companies that are fueling climate change.
Finally, as a condition for the privilege of selling any kind of insurance in California, companies must be required to cover all homeowners who have taken appropriate measures to protect their property. And insurers that choose to leave the state should not be allowed to return for five years. Companies that collect our premiums for decades and then suddenly decide they don’t want to obey our laws should not be allowed to do business in the largest and most lucrative insurance market in the nation.
Harvey Rosenfield is the founder of Consumer Watchdog and the author of Proposition 103.
Ozment as well as other former employees — loan officer Ron Hankins, underwriter Natalie Boyd and loan processor Kristin Mastrorilli — followed improper mortgage lending practices and lied to Lower about doing so in order to further line their pockets, according to the suit.
The former employees agreed to fraudulently cause Lower to issue high risk loans while knowingly disregarding that at least 13 of the customers receiving these loans did not meet Lower’s loan eligibility criteria, Lower alleged.
The suit said the former employees engaged in “the gross misconduct” to earn more money from Lower than they would have otherwise been owed had they not caused Lower to issue the high-risk loans.
“As a direct and proximate result of Mr. Ozment’s, Mr. Hankins’, Ms. Boyd’s, and/or Ms. Mastrorilli’s fraud and conspiracy to commit fraud, Lower has suffered financial loss and other damages that exceed $4,000,000.00,” the suit said.
Ozment operates Oz Lending as a DBA of AmCap and the suit alleges that he has posted selected portions of customer reviews to misleadingly portray prior customer successes as a result of Ozment’s relationship with AmCap, “when in reality, those successes were a result of Mr. Ozment and Oz Lending were associated with Lower.”
To date, Ozment and AmCap have not returned Lower’s confidential information and trade secrets, Lower alleged.
“Rather, Mr. Ozment has improperly retained and used Lower’s confidential information and trade secrets to solicit Lower’s customers for his, and AmCap’s, benefit thereby breaching the agreement.”
Ozment’s employment agreement — which contained non-solicit provisions — would require Ozment not to compete with Lower and to refrain from soliciting any employees or business from any of Lower’s customers for 16 months after his termination.
Lower claimed that AmCap knew of Ozment’s employment agreement.
The suit claimed that by mid-to-late 2022, Ozment secretly entered into agreements with AmCap to leave Lower and to take Lower’s information, customers and the Plano office employees with him to AmCap.
According to the suit, AmCap and Ozment agreed that AmCap would offer jobs to Lower’s Plano office employees working with Ozment if they agreed to terminate their employment with Lower.
Lower’s employment-related claims will be resolved through arbitration while the lender will ask a court order for permanent injunctive relief from Oz Lending using Lower’s customer information, property and client testimonials, according to the suit.
Summons were issued to AmCap Mortgage and its former employees earlier this month.
Lower, attorneys for the lender, Ozment, Hankin and Mastrorilli didn’t respond to requests for comment.
AmCap declined to comment on active litigation.
Lower originated a total of $4.24 billion in production volume across 14,563 loans in 2022, according to mortgage data platform Modex. A total of 433 sponsored loan originators work in 77 active branches across the country, according to the Nationwide Multistate Licensing System (NMLS).
AmCap Mortgage posted a production volume of $3.35 billion across 11,289 last year, according to Modex. AmCap has 540 sponsored MLOs across 128 active branch locations, NMLS showed.
Lamacchia Realty recently announces two significant mergers, marking an expansion for the company. Firstly, they are joining forces with Right Choice Real Estate, a well-known legacy brokerage in Massachusetts and Rhode Island for over 25 years. Founders Ron and Dawn Rusin will remain actively involved in running the office while focusing more on growing their real estate sales businesses as Lamacchia Realty takes charge of management-related tasks.
Lamacchia Realty is also partnering with Foley Real Estate and Foley Premier Properties, a brokerage in Falmouth, Cape Cod. Founded in 1970 by Jim Foley, the company has been family-owned and operated ever since, with Kara Foley leading the way since 2010. This merger will see Lamacchia Realty handling most of the Cape Cod business, particularly in Falmouth, in-house.
Lamacchia Realty was named a RealTrends GameChanger in 2022 and 2023 for its growth. In 2023, the firm grew by 216% by five-year transaction side percentage. The firm is also ranked in the 2023 RealTrends The Thousand No. 68 in the private independent category.
The integration of these two brokerages into Lamacchia Realty’s portfolio expands their reach in both the Bristol County and Cape Cod markets.
As part of the integration, the current Right Choice Real Estate office in Fall River will now operate under the Lamacchia Realty banner. The move will also expand Lamacchia Realty’s reach into the Rhode Island market.
A new affordable housing law passed by Florida’s legislature and signed in March by Gov. Ron DeSantis is reportedly creating anxiety among local elected officials who are concerned that the new law cedes too much control over zoning and other matters to the state government.
The “Live Local Act,” passed unanimously in the State Senate and by a vote of 103-6 in the House, represents a sizable investment in housing by incentivizing developers to construct affordable housing units while restricting zoning and planning restrictions in local jurisdictions approving multifamily construction projects in order to limit bureaucratic barriers to increase supply.
But some of those local officials are now expressing concern that the provisions of the new law are restricting their ability to more actively participate in development decisions within their communities, according to reporting by WUSF Public Media.
“I think the hesitancy comes with the fact that it’s a preemption. I think whenever we’re talking about home rule or preemption, there’s always going to be local pushback,” Florida Housing Coalition Legal Director Kody Glazer told the outlet.
The new law comes with restrictions as to how much local elected officials can influence zoning and development decisions as well as density and height restrictions. Some of these concerns have been echoed in other states that have passed restrictions on zoning in other states including Massachusetts and Washington.
The Tampa metro area has experienced among the highest home price increases in the country since 2019, in large part because the counties have in place restrictive zoning policies that increase the value of land.
Following antidevelopment protests from residents ostensibly concerned about local infrastructure, in late 2019 Hillsborough County placed a moratorium on the rezoning of land for housing in some areas. Two years later, Pasco County, north of Tampa, also put a moratorium on rezoning to multifamily use in some areas.
The new Florida law applies to any residential housing projects that sit “on commercial, industrial or mixed-use land that allocates at least 40% of units to be affordable for residents earning up to 120% of the area median income,” according to WUSF. The law went into effect on July 1, and officials in cities including St. Petersburg and Tampa were reportedly briefed on their remaining rights overseeing such projects under the new law.
The process has gone more smoothly in St. Petersburg than Tampa, where officials in the former have “already heard interest from ‘ready to build’ developers in recent weeks” based on local reporting by the Tampa Bay Business Journal. In Tampa itself, however, a city council meeting on July 13 featured sometimes tense discussions between city leaders centered on compliance anxiety with the new law.
“The state is going to just gonna keep taking and taking and taking – and I’m not willing to give an inch more than I’m required to,” said Tampa city council member Lynn Hurtak, according to WUSF. She later introduced a motion to implement only what was legally required by the city to comply with the new law until the next scheduled council meeting. That motion passed.
During the meeting, another city official – Nicole Travis, Tampa’s economic development director – explained that while she understood the council’s frustrations, “the new housing rules make the approval process of eligible affordable housing projects a solely administrative function that can circumvent city council,” according to WUSF.
One of the most recognizable homes ever owned by billionaire movie mogul and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes is back on the market.
The Hancock Park estate — set on South Muirfield Road, on the 8th green of Wilshire Country Club — served as the eccentric billionaire’s home at the height of his fame.
It was while living in his Hancock Park home that he produced his most well-known films (Hell’s Angels, Scarface), set a transcontinental airspeed record, and famously romanced Katharine Hepburn.
Now, the property that once served as Howard Hughes’ house is looking for new owners, and recently landed on the market with a $23 million price tag. F. Ron Smith and David Berg of Smith & Berg Partners at Compass hold the listing.
A legendary estate with a storied history
Originally designed in 1926 by famed architect Roland E. Coate, the property initially belonged to socialite Eva K. Fudger.
When a young Howard Hughes moved to Los Angeles to pursue a career as a filmmaker, he first occupied a bungalow at the Ambassador Hotel with his wife, Ella. And while many thought his ambitions would be short-lived, by the time Hughes’ third movie — 1927’s Two Arabian Knights — was released to great critical acclaim, it became apparent that he was here to stay.
So Howard and Ella set out to find a more permanent residence, settling down in Fudger’s Muirfield Rd residence, first as renters, then outright buying the place from the socialite. And while their marriage was shortlived (Ella would soon move back to Texas, tired of Howard’s obsessions), Hughes spent a decade and a half in his hacienda-style home in Hancock Park.
Some of the visionary billionaire’s biggest achievements happened while he was still living in his Muirfield Road house. After winning Hollywood over with films like Hell’s Angels (1930), The Front Page (1931), and Scarface (1932), Hughes started devoting his full attention to flying, ultimately shattering the world record for circumnavigating the globe.
It was also while living here that he had his wirldwind romance with actress Katharine Hepburn. The two were even engaged to be married before their 18-month relationship came to an end.
Breathing new life into the century old residence
In 2011, current owners Ash Shah and his wife, Niroupa Shah, acquired the home for $6.3 million and completely transformed the 1926-built residence.
Ash, a former movie producer-turned-restaurateur (that helped co-found the Danny Trejo brands: Trejo’s Tacos, Trejo’s Coffee & Donuts, Trejo’s Spirits, and Trejo’s Cerveza) and Niroupa gave the New York Times a tour of their famous abode a few years back, talking about the extensive changes they’d made to the estate.
Starting with what they called the outdated, chopped-up floor plan which they had to reconfigure — it still had old-fashioned servants’ quarters that were removed from the main living spaces — to adding a family room off the kitchen, an outdoor kitchen equipped with a pizza oven, and a sleek new swimming pool in the backyard, the Shahs reimagined the Roland E. Coate-designed home for modern living.
They also turned a pool room into a ’70s-style plywood rec room and redid Mr. Hughes’s former wood-paneled study in striking black lacquer. “We’re fun people,” Ms. Shah told the New York Times. “That sort of old Spanish dark woods didn’t go with us.”
Now, the couple is ready to part ways with their lovely family home and are looking for a buyer who can appreciate both its many attributes and its captivating history.
Howard Hughes’ house is now on the market for $23 million
Recently listed with F. Ron Smith and David Berg of Smith & Berg Partners at Compass, the former residence of visionary billionaire, movie mogul, and aviation pioneer Howard Hughes is now on the market for $23 million.
Beyond its storied history, the 10,179-square-foot Hancock Park abode sits on a very private lot with stunning golf course views, and offers 8 bedrooms, 7 full baths, and 5 half baths.
Per the listing, every element of this home has been meticulously designed, showcasing thoughtful lighting, timeless finishes, and exquisite wall coverings.
The chef’s kitchen boasts polished brass countertops and a 24-foot kitchen island, opening to a welcoming family room adorned with floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.
A beautiful cobblestone courtyard with an outdoor fireplace serves as the home’s striking centerpiece, providing a serene oasis for both relaxation and entertainment.
The expansive backyard is a true delight for hosting gatherings, featuring multiple lounge areas, a custom-built stone pizza oven and an inviting swimming pool.
Other noteworthy features include an intimate screening room, a 2,500-bottle temperature-controlled wine vault (which was actually Howard Hughes’ old vault), and an attached guest residence with a full kitchen and bath.
The property’s landscape design with lush greenery and far-reaching views of the Hollywood Hills and iconic Hollywood sign add to its elegance and allure.
And while any future owner would be lucky to call this place home, forgive us for hoping Leonardo DiCaprio (who famously played Hughes in Martin Scorsese’s The Aviator) decides to add it to his vast real estate portfolio. It would be a match made in Hollywood heaven!
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Think an old dog can’t learn new tricks? Some say that the nearly 150-year-old title industry has a difficult time adapting and evolving. However, the title industry has proven these critics wrong over the past decade, and importantly, it has done so without leaving homeowners vulnerable to unnecessary risks.
Title companies have embraced digitization, automation and artificial intelligence to better meet their customers’ needs, reduce costs and increase efficiency. These innovations have helped — not hindered — title professionals offering the same, robust coverage and protection that homeowners have depended on for over a century.
Not all innovations are created equal.
Some vendors push alternative title insurance products that are marketed as cheaper options. In reality, these may offer far less protection and lack regulatory oversight.
Recently, Fannie Mae updated its selling guide and aligned industry policy with Freddie Mac. The updates allow the use of unregulated title insurance alternatives in lieu of title insurance policies in limited circumstances. Because of this move, various new iterations of attorney opinion letters have entered the market. They claim to offer the same or a similar level of protection as title insurance.
But in fact, these products — which claim to be a cheaper, more innovative version of title insurance — are a relic of the past. Attorney opinion letters were the status quo before title insurance hit the scene in the late 19th century. Attorneys would search property records and state their written opinion that the property records were clear of any title defects. As the realities of the risks associated with only a static examination of the title records became clear, title insurance policies replaced attorney opinion letters.
Title professionals conduct a search of public records for liens, debts and other issues that could threaten a homeowner’s property rights. It also provides coverage for undisclosed title defects like fraud or forgery that might result in a claim at a later date. In contrast, title insurance alternatives do not provide coverage for these “hidden” or “unknown” risks. Alternative products lack oversight and regulation. There are title insurance regulations in all 50 states and federally.
Innovation should be encouraged across the real estate industry. However, any new products that appear too good to be true deserve a high level of scrutiny. There are other, proven ways the industry is embracing innovation to cut costs and make homeownership more accessible.
Efficiencies and cost-cutting measures
For example, title companies are now automating their businesses to improve efficiency and reduce costs. The cost of title insurance has decreased 7% since 2004 thanks to industry investments in machine learning and artificial intelligence (AI).
Many companies are now using AI and machine learning to search traditional and non-traditional property data sources — reducing the time required for a manual title search. Some companies are also using AI to automatically route mortgage payoffs. There are platforms available that extract the necessary information from documents and route them to the correct file without manual interaction.
Strides in technology have also made closings more accessible. With remote online notarization (RON) technology, homeowners in more than 40 states can execute important documents — including closing documents — without needing to visit a notary in person. This technology is especially critical for active-duty members of the military, those with disabilities and those in underserved and underbanked communities.
The best innovations in the insurance improve the home-buying experience. They make homeownership more accessible without sacrificing the quality of coverage. Protection is — and should remain — a top priority for all participants in the housing finance system.
This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of HousingWire’s editorial department and its owners.
Diane Tomb is the CEO of the American Land and Title Association
To contact the editor responsible for this story:Sarah Wheeler at [email protected]
It’s nothing new to have a lead man with macho bravado energy ready to beat the bad guys and protect his girl or the innocents. However, having a female with a well-written character who never backs down leaves us with a lasting impression.Do you know any movies or TV shows with a well-written, strong female character? Check out this list and see if you agree!
1. Nani from Lilo & Stitch
The 2002 animated sci-fi film Lilo & Stitch also has a wonderfully written female character who’s really strong—not necessarily about physical strength, but emotionally.One person shared, “Nani from Lilo & Stitch. A (semi) realistic portrayal of an orphaned 19 year older sister trying to make ends meet and provide the best life she can for her younger sister and herself. Trying to balance her social/romantic, work, and personal life and being forced to grow up and take responsibility fighting CPS to keep her only family left, together…all the while facing alien shenanigans that occurs.” Another person added, “Awesome that a Disney movie finally showed a woman succeeding without becoming a princess.” Finally, a third person added their agreement, “A 1000% this.”
2. Mona Lisa Vito from My Cousin Vinny
The movie is about a female lawyer defending her cousin’s accused of murder, and she did it like a pro despite her past failures and self-doubts. “Mona Lisa Vito, portrayed by Marissa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny. That movie is a masterpiece, and in no small part from her contribution,” shared one person. “Stole the show so hard she won two awards for it,” replied another. “I remember watching that movie as a kid and thinking how bad a- she is. And her scene in the court where her credentials are questioned probably played a part in my choice of becoming an engineer,” the third person expressed.
3. Dana Scully from The X Files
One person shared, “Gillian Anderson sure can play strong female characters. +1 for her portrayal of Stella Gibson on “The Fall”. There’s a scene where she gets surrounded by some goons, but manages to intimidate them. Mad respect” Another person agreed, “Agree! She was a great character. I really like the name Scully for a girl too. (Like she wasn’t Dana most of the time as she was a professional so I think of her as Scully).” Finally, a third commentor also added their thoughts, “Scully was THE strong female character of the 90s. Intelligent, educated, confident, and well-spoken. Held her own in male-dominated fields (law enforcement and medicine). Able to get herself and Mulder out of scrapes time and again. And all while wearing heels and sharp suits.”
4. Samantha Carter from Stargate SG-1
If you like watching female leads work in a male-dominated field, look no further than Stargate SG-1, a military science fiction adventure television series. One person shared, “Carter was always a fully capable scientist and warrior and she didn’t brook any crap when someone wanted to make an issue out of her gender. She was put into different situations and solved problems in realistic ways, while still being very personable and having different facets of her character to explore as the seasons went on.” Another person replied with a quote from Samantha Carter’s dialogue: “Sam Carter : I’m an Air Force officer just like you are, Colonel. And just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside doesn’t mean I can’t handle whatever you can handle.”
5. Sarah Connor from The Terminator
Are you a fan of The Terminator? We all love seeing Sarah Connor knock out the bad guy and protect her son with her motherly love. “Came here to say T2 Sarah Connor. The part when she’s doing pull-ups in the mental hospital is a bad a- intro to a character. Loved that movie,” shared one person. “I really really love that her inner strength comes from something usually played as a weakness: the fact that she’s a mother. As soon as she knows Arnie is back and assumes he will be after her son, she breaks out of a high-security prison that night. Often, typically feminine traits such as caring for people are seen as a weakness rather than the inhuman protection that can come from bearing and rearing a child. It’s even more extraordinary that for Connor, saving the future kind of plays second fiddle to her protecting her son,” another person expressed, emphasizing Sarah’s role as a mother, which gives her inner strength.
6. Clarice Starling from The Silence of the Lambs
“What makes her such a good character is that despite being highly intelligent and competent she’s desperately scared and vulnerable and mostly alone. The scene where she encounters Buffalo Bill and he’s trying to bluff her, and the camera pans back and you see his revolver on top of the cooker behind him you just think ‘Oh no, how’s she going to survive this?’ Great character and a great performance from Jodie Foster,” shared one person.“Just re-watched the movie last night. Second this. She’s a very well-written and believable strong female character,” another person replied. Finally, a third person agreed and shared their thoughts, “Second this. She isn’t a ‘female version of male character’; she is distinctly feminine and has to deal with the real world problems of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and all of it is handled in a realistic, grounded way.”
7. Ellen Ripley from the Alien series
If you’ve watched the Alien series, then you know how Ellen Ripley’s character can get people to watch the whole series. She’s ready to lead at any time while remaining grounded and thinking about those around her. One person stated, “This is it. She’s the main character who happens to be a woman, not a woman who happens to be the main character. The distinction seems small, but it makes all the difference.” The second person replied, “Great point. My understanding is that few, if any, roles were not written specifically for any gender. I wish I could watch this movie for the first time again. I think Ripley is one of the last characters you see/meet. Doesn’t get any type of top billing, so it’s unexpected the weight her final role carries.”
8. Kim Wexler from Better Call Saul
One person shared, “I like Kim because she has depth. Lots of writers don’t understand that you can write a strong character who has flaws, makes mistakes, and shows vulnerability from time to time.” Another person replied, “I would go as far as to say that a strong character has to have flaws, and make mistakes, and grow, and learn from their choices, and struggle, and regret, and be vulnerable. Regardless of gender, strong impactful characters are those that portray the human condition. Kim is a very good example of that.” Finally, a third one added, “She is probably one of the most real/relatable characters I’ve seen in a drama tv show, like every single thing that she did in the show was exactly what I expected her to, but not in a predictable kind of way, just an organic way. If that makes sense?”
9. Kim Possible from Kim Possible
Kim Possible is an American animated action-comedy series in which the main character, Kim Possible, saves the world with her best friend, Ron, from harm and supervillains. “Kim Possible, because she has so many different layers! Yes, she saves the world with her best friend on the regular, but she doesn’t use that as an excuse to complain about girly things or flat-out say that they’re stupid like most strong female characters you see. She’s really into cheerleading and incorporates it into what she does; she dates Ron despite every other girl telling her that she’s stupid for liking him and doesn’t care what they think for the most part. She also has believable flaws and has to admit that she’s wrong a number of times; maybe I just really like Kim Possible,” one person said.Another person replied, “She’s the reason I became a cheerleader. She wasn’t the stereotypical mean-girl cheerleader. She was nice, funny, smart, and caring. She was the first character I saw that showed you can be both.” Finally, a third person agreed and added, “I came here to say this! What I loved about Kim is that she was the popular, successful girl, but she was extremely down to earth and normal. She didn’t follow the typical trope of the “strong woman who hates other women”, and she actually loved her parents and siblings.”
10. Avasarala from The Expanse
The Expanse will give you a glimpse of the future hundreds of years from now. It’s a brilliant sci-fi series that will keep its viewers hooked. “Excellent! Found the Expanse tribe! Excellent characters of all types, both in the books and the shows; Avasarala is so great! Shohreh Aghdashloo just nails the role! So many laugh-out-loud moments!” one person shared. “Expanse writes women pretty well is pretty close with 50/50 representation. Bobbie, Avasarala, Drummer, Naomi are strong core characters, then there’s a multitude of key women characters on top of that,” another person expressed.
11. Chihiro from Spirited Away
“Miyazaki is amazing at writing kid characters. Totoro, Spirited Away, Laputa, Kikis Delivery Service… He just gets it,” one person expressed. Spirited Away has a great plot, so it’s not surprising that its characters leave such a strong impression on us. Another person replied, “Yes!! Chihiro is amazing. Just a normal twelve-year-old girl who gets into a frankly terrifying situation, but she grits her teeth and overcomes her fear and works so hard and grows so much, even though it’s subtle.My favourite movie of all time. Miyazaki’s female characters are generally strong and well-written. Lin, Kiki, San, Lady Eboshi, Nausicaa, Mei, and Satsuki… All beautiful and memorable characters.”Do you agree with the movies listed here?
Source: Reddit.
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It’s nothing new to have a lead man with macho bravado energy ready to beat the bad guys and protect his girl or the innocents. However, having a female with a well-written character who never backs down leaves us with a lasting impression.Do you know any movies or TV shows with a well-written, strong female character? Check out this list and see if you agree!
1. Nani from Lilo & Stitch
The 2002 animated sci-fi film Lilo & Stitch also has a wonderfully written female character who’s really strong—not necessarily about physical strength, but emotionally.One person shared, “Nani from Lilo & Stitch. A (semi) realistic portrayal of an orphaned 19 year older sister trying to make ends meet and provide the best life she can for her younger sister and herself. Trying to balance her social/romantic, work, and personal life and being forced to grow up and take responsibility fighting CPS to keep her only family left, together…all the while facing alien shenanigans that occurs.” Another person added, “Awesome that a Disney movie finally showed a woman succeeding without becoming a princess.” Finally, a third person added their agreement, “A 1000% this.”
2. Mona Lisa Vito from My Cousin Vinny
The movie is about a female lawyer defending her cousin’s accused of murder, and she did it like a pro despite her past failures and self-doubts. “Mona Lisa Vito, portrayed by Marissa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny. That movie is a masterpiece, and in no small part from her contribution,” shared one person. “Stole the show so hard she won two awards for it,” replied another. “I remember watching that movie as a kid and thinking how bad a- she is. And her scene in the court where her credentials are questioned probably played a part in my choice of becoming an engineer,” the third person expressed.
3. Dana Scully from The X Files
One person shared, “Gillian Anderson sure can play strong female characters. +1 for her portrayal of Stella Gibson on “The Fall”. There’s a scene where she gets surrounded by some goons, but manages to intimidate them. Mad respect” Another person agreed, “Agree! She was a great character. I really like the name Scully for a girl too. (Like she wasn’t Dana most of the time as she was a professional so I think of her as Scully).” Finally, a third commentor also added their thoughts, “Scully was THE strong female character of the 90s. Intelligent, educated, confident, and well-spoken. Held her own in male-dominated fields (law enforcement and medicine). Able to get herself and Mulder out of scrapes time and again. And all while wearing heels and sharp suits.”
4. Samantha Carter from Stargate SG-1
If you like watching female leads work in a male-dominated field, look no further than Stargate SG-1, a military science fiction adventure television series. One person shared, “Carter was always a fully capable scientist and warrior and she didn’t brook any crap when someone wanted to make an issue out of her gender. She was put into different situations and solved problems in realistic ways, while still being very personable and having different facets of her character to explore as the seasons went on.” Another person replied with a quote from Samantha Carter’s dialogue: “Sam Carter : I’m an Air Force officer just like you are, Colonel. And just because my reproductive organs are on the inside instead of the outside doesn’t mean I can’t handle whatever you can handle.”
5. Sarah Connor from The Terminator
Are you a fan of The Terminator? We all love seeing Sarah Connor knock out the bad guy and protect her son with her motherly love. “Came here to say T2 Sarah Connor. The part when she’s doing pull-ups in the mental hospital is a bad a- intro to a character. Loved that movie,” shared one person. “I really really love that her inner strength comes from something usually played as a weakness: the fact that she’s a mother. As soon as she knows Arnie is back and assumes he will be after her son, she breaks out of a high-security prison that night. Often, typically feminine traits such as caring for people are seen as a weakness rather than the inhuman protection that can come from bearing and rearing a child. It’s even more extraordinary that for Connor, saving the future kind of plays second fiddle to her protecting her son,” another person expressed, emphasizing Sarah’s role as a mother, which gives her inner strength.
6. Clarice Starling from The Silence of the Lambs
“What makes her such a good character is that despite being highly intelligent and competent she’s desperately scared and vulnerable and mostly alone. The scene where she encounters Buffalo Bill and he’s trying to bluff her, and the camera pans back and you see his revolver on top of the cooker behind him you just think ‘Oh no, how’s she going to survive this?’ Great character and a great performance from Jodie Foster,” shared one person.“Just re-watched the movie last night. Second this. She’s a very well-written and believable strong female character,” another person replied. Finally, a third person agreed and shared their thoughts, “Second this. She isn’t a ‘female version of male character’; she is distinctly feminine and has to deal with the real world problems of being a woman in a male-dominated field, and all of it is handled in a realistic, grounded way.”
7. Ellen Ripley from the Alien series
If you’ve watched the Alien series, then you know how Ellen Ripley’s character can get people to watch the whole series. She’s ready to lead at any time while remaining grounded and thinking about those around her. One person stated, “This is it. She’s the main character who happens to be a woman, not a woman who happens to be the main character. The distinction seems small, but it makes all the difference.” The second person replied, “Great point. My understanding is that few, if any, roles were not written specifically for any gender. I wish I could watch this movie for the first time again. I think Ripley is one of the last characters you see/meet. Doesn’t get any type of top billing, so it’s unexpected the weight her final role carries.”
8. Kim Wexler from Better Call Saul
One person shared, “I like Kim because she has depth. Lots of writers don’t understand that you can write a strong character who has flaws, makes mistakes, and shows vulnerability from time to time.” Another person replied, “I would go as far as to say that a strong character has to have flaws, and make mistakes, and grow, and learn from their choices, and struggle, and regret, and be vulnerable. Regardless of gender, strong impactful characters are those that portray the human condition. Kim is a very good example of that.” Finally, a third one added, “She is probably one of the most real/relatable characters I’ve seen in a drama tv show, like every single thing that she did in the show was exactly what I expected her to, but not in a predictable kind of way, just an organic way. If that makes sense?”
9. Kim Possible from Kim Possible
Kim Possible is an American animated action-comedy series in which the main character, Kim Possible, saves the world with her best friend, Ron, from harm and supervillains. “Kim Possible, because she has so many different layers! Yes, she saves the world with her best friend on the regular, but she doesn’t use that as an excuse to complain about girly things or flat-out say that they’re stupid like most strong female characters you see. She’s really into cheerleading and incorporates it into what she does; she dates Ron despite every other girl telling her that she’s stupid for liking him and doesn’t care what they think for the most part. She also has believable flaws and has to admit that she’s wrong a number of times; maybe I just really like Kim Possible,” one person said.Another person replied, “She’s the reason I became a cheerleader. She wasn’t the stereotypical mean-girl cheerleader. She was nice, funny, smart, and caring. She was the first character I saw that showed you can be both.” Finally, a third person agreed and added, “I came here to say this! What I loved about Kim is that she was the popular, successful girl, but she was extremely down to earth and normal. She didn’t follow the typical trope of the “strong woman who hates other women”, and she actually loved her parents and siblings.”
10. Avasarala from The Expanse
The Expanse will give you a glimpse of the future hundreds of years from now. It’s a brilliant sci-fi series that will keep its viewers hooked. “Excellent! Found the Expanse tribe! Excellent characters of all types, both in the books and the shows; Avasarala is so great! Shohreh Aghdashloo just nails the role! So many laugh-out-loud moments!” one person shared. “Expanse writes women pretty well is pretty close with 50/50 representation. Bobbie, Avasarala, Drummer, Naomi are strong core characters, then there’s a multitude of key women characters on top of that,” another person expressed.
11. Chihiro from Spirited Away
“Miyazaki is amazing at writing kid characters. Totoro, Spirited Away, Laputa, Kikis Delivery Service… He just gets it,” one person expressed. Spirited Away has a great plot, so it’s not surprising that its characters leave such a strong impression on us. Another person replied, “Yes!! Chihiro is amazing. Just a normal twelve-year-old girl who gets into a frankly terrifying situation, but she grits her teeth and overcomes her fear and works so hard and grows so much, even though it’s subtle.My favourite movie of all time. Miyazaki’s female characters are generally strong and well-written. Lin, Kiki, San, Lady Eboshi, Nausicaa, Mei, and Satsuki… All beautiful and memorable characters.”Do you agree with the movies listed here?
Source: Reddit.
Who is one actress you can never stand watching, no matter their role? After polling the internet, these were the top-voted actresses that people couldn’t stand watching.
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We’ve all heard the famous adage that “no publicity is bad publicity,” and while it tends to be accurate, there are certainly exceptions. But what about those few stars who stay out of the limelight and get along without a hint of trouble?
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Have you ever known someone and thought you liked them—until you learned about their hobbies? Then you get to know them and then you’re like, “Wow, red flag.” Well, you’re not alone.
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Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.
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We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.
These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites
Who doesn’t love a bad movie? The only thing better than a self-aware terrible movie is a bad movie trying to be good.
There’s a guilty pleasure in knowing that even some of the brightest, most talented filmmakers can flop sometimes. According to an online movie forum, these are the ten biggest flops meant to be a hit.
1. The Lawnmower Man (1992)
It’s jarring to see a movie rated 5.4 on IMDb with Stephen King’s name attached, but one commenter claims the movie was so bad King sued to have his name removed from the film’s involvement.
The film was adapted from one of King’s books and was directed by Brett Leonard. This movie-watcher describes it as “bad, but it’s also strange, unpredictable, and fun.” They also cite that a scene in the movie about a monkey robocop had to be cut from the theatrical release because it was irrelevant to the rest of the film.
2. Who Killed Captain Alex? (2015)
Funnily enough, this terrible movie is rated 7.0 on IMDb because of the sheer amount of ironic 10s. One person jokes, “nothing but a true passion for cinema was poured into that movie.” Another user remarks, “They asked for terrible movies, not peak cinema.” Watching the amateur acting and terrible CGI in the trailer is a trip.
The synopsis of the film is beautifully ridiculous. The Ugandan president orders Captain Alex to defeat the Tiger Mafia but dies trying. Alex’s brother investigates and vows to avenge his brother. I give it a solid 10 out of 10 for the trailer alone.
3. Battlefield Earth (2000)
This film stars John Travolta and Forest Whitaker and is set in the year 3000, where the ruling alien race Psychlos has enslaved humanity. It’s based on the book by L. Ron Hubbard, the founder of Scientology.
A connoisseur of terrible movies insists this is the gold standard of unintentionally bad films, calling it the stuff of legends. To encapsulate just how bad they think it is, I leave you with this quote: “I simply couldn’t even fathom what perfect storm of events had to unfold to allow something so aggressively bad to exist on a multi-million dollar scale.”
Wait, they’re not done, “I honestly don’t think it could’ve been any worse if, literally, every person involved was actively trying to sabotage the film.” Quite possibly one of the lowest-rated films on IMDb, with a 2.5 rating.
4. Troll 2 (1990)
Troll 2 is a slight upgrade from the last film, at least earning a 2.9 IMDb rating. One individual thinks it gets funnier every time they watch it. The movie’s premise is a vacationing family discovers the town they’ve arrived at has been taken over by human-impersonating goblins who want to eat them.
A second user added more context, explaining the director was not a native English speaker but insisted the lines be spoken just as they were written.
5. Samurai Cop (1991)
Samurai Cop follows the lives of two police detectives who try to stop the Katana, a killer gang trying to lead the drug trade in L.A. The movie is famous for its supposedly fluent Japanese-speaking main character mispronouncing every other character’s name and uttering cringe lines.
When one character asks him what katana means, he responds, “It means Japanese sword.” The flat delivery is fantastic; I highly recommend this terrible gem, rated 4.6 on IMDb.
6. Zardoz (1958)
Rated 5.8 on IMDb, this X-rated film starring Sean Connery takes place in the late 23rd century. A savage who knows only how to kill is taken in by a bored community of immortals who are tasked with preserving man’s achievements. Someone says Zardoz fits the bill of an awful and amazing film.
Judging by the IMDb reviews, that assessment checks out. As one reviewer describes, it’s an “incredibly profound allegory disguised as a cheesy movie.” The trailer is simultaneously intriguing and disturbing.
7. The Fanatic (2019)
Poor John Travolta — this is the second terrible movie on this list that he stars in. Directed by Fred Durst, this psychological thriller is about a rabid fan who, when cheated out of the opportunity to meet his favorite action hero, resorts to stalking and increasingly sinister methods of getting the star’s attention.
Someone comments this is easily one of the worst movies that weren’t intentionally meant to be terrible because it takes itself so seriously. A commenter named Emily gives it credit purely because everything the movie could have possibly done wrong, it got wrong, which is no easy feat. The Fanatic is rated 4.1 on IMDb.
8. Cats (2019)
This film went viral online for supplying the internet with endless amounts of cringe. Despite having a star-studded cast including James Corden, Judi Dench, Taylor Swift, and Jason Derulo, the CGI was bizarre, and the tone was weird.
Cats is based on the famous musical about a tribe of cats called the Jelicles who, every year, select one among them to ascend to the Heaviside Layer — a type of heaven-like rebirth for cats. One person who saw the movie on a date comments the movie was so bad it ended the relationship.
9. Birdemic: Shock and Terror (2010)
There’s some debate over whether this film is intentionally bad, but one commenter insists it’s worse than The Room — the certifiable worst movie of all time. Another clarifies, “The director legitimately thinks he’s the next Hitchcock.”
This movie, directed by James Nguyen, is about a flock of mutated birds descending upon a quiet California town, causing casualties. Two citizens fight back against the birds. The movie is an homage to Hitchcock’s The Birds but with terrible directing and CGI. It stands at a shockingly low 1.7 on IMDb.
10. The Happening (2008)
This movie singlehandedly destroyed both M Night Shyamalan and Mark Wahlberg’s careers. It’s about a science teacher and his family trying to survive a plague that somehow causes those infected by a plant neurotoxin to commit suicide. Most of the ridiculousness of this movie can be attributed to the awful writing and delivery of the lines.
A final moviegoer recited the famous line, “What? Noooo!” which is uttered by Wahlberg’s character in response to a woman who asks if he’s going to murder her in her sleep — it’s hilarious because the line is supposed to be believable but is delivered more like an SNL skit.
Source: Reddit.
Who is one actress you can never stand watching, no matter their role? After polling the internet, these were the top-voted actresses that people couldn’t stand watching.
10 Actresses People Despise Watching Regardless of Their Role
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
We’ve all heard the famous adage that “no publicity is bad publicity,” and while it tends to be accurate, there are certainly exceptions. But what about those few stars who stay out of the limelight and get along without a hint of trouble?
These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People
Have you ever known someone and thought you liked them—until you learned about their hobbies? Then you get to know them and then you’re like, “Wow, red flag.” Well, you’re not alone.
These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag
Some celebrities definitely seem to enjoy the limelight and keep working to stay in the public eye. While others quickly move out of the spotlight. Many of these actors and actresses stepped out of the spotlight to live a more private life without constant media pressures.
10 Celebrities That Made the Big Times Then Disappeared Off The Face of the Earth
We’ve all been there – sitting through a movie that we can’t help but cringe at, but somehow it still manages to hold a special place in our hearts.
These 10 Terrible Movies Are Still People’s Favorites
In the news recently, ioTium was chosen by SPIRE Realty Group, a Dallas-based commercial real estate services company, to charge up the company’s cloud-based visibility into building performance and third-party access. A key member of the team working to better enable SPIRE’s security and building performance, Jordan Crow is the company’s VP of Information Technology (IT). We recently caught up with Jordan for the lowdown on SPIRE’s latest move into the PropTech space.
RealtyBiz: What led to you choosing ioTium to power your building automation network?
Jordan Crow: I chose ioTium due to the structure of the platform, and the ease of adding additional users. Before deploying ioTium, we essentially had to create a bastion host inside of the network with GoToMyPC installed on it. This was an okay solution, but it did not scale for my larger buildings.
RealtyBiz: Is this SPIRE’s first leap into IoT security and building automation?
Jordan Crow: This is not SPIRE’s first venture into IoT and building automation. We have been using it for some time now – ioTium was just the best answer on how to securely access all of our building resources remotely.
RealtyBiz: How important is this move for satisfying your clients and third parties?
Jordan Crow: Deploying ioTium has allowed SPIRE to react more quickly to tenant issues. Instead of a building engineer or vendor having to physically travel to a building to resolve an issue, they can log in remotely and make changes. I have peace of mind because it is done securely.
RealtyBiz: Can you briefly describe the nature of automated systems across your network for readers who might be unfamiliar?
Jordan Crow: While no building is the same, we are in the process of automating our energy management systems to react to conditions within the building with very little to no engineer involvement. We are also discussing other building automation projects that are in preliminary stages.
My take: Back in March, Ron Victor, founder and CEO, ioTium said SPIRE and other leading edge companies are leading the charge for modernizing an industry that’s been shackled to legacy infrastructures. More and more we are seeting unique cloud-managed infrastructure solutions and other IoT innovations come to the forefront to bolster efficiency, which in turn cuts costs. It will be interesting to see how quickly competitors and other segment players adapt to this new environment of change.
Phil Butler is a former engineer, contractor, and telecommunications professional who is editor of several influential online media outlets including part owner of Pamil Visions with wife Mihaela. Phil began his digital ramblings via several of the world’s most noted tech blogs, at the advent of blogging as a form of journalistic license. Phil is currently top interviewer, and journalist at Realty Biz News.