Canadians will have to adjust their expectation of what a normal mortgage rate level looks like going forward, one economist says.
Speaking with BNN Bloomberg on Friday, BMO Capital Markets’ senior economist Robert Kavcic said the rates Canadians have gotten used to since the 2008 financial crisis are much less than what they will be moving forward.
“This is an adjustment we’re going to have to make as homebuyers and investors. A lot of people were lulled into the belief that what we saw over the last decade was normal, I would argue that the interest rate levels we saw post-financial crisis through the early days of the pandemic were the exception, not the norm,” said Kavcic.
The Bank of Canada resumed its rate hiking cycle earlier this month, boosting the main lending rate in Canada to 4.75 per cent. Kavcic acknowledges this is a high level, but stands firm in his belief that rates will stay above two per cent.
“Five to six per cent lending rates are very restrictive and high, but don’t sit on the edge of your seat and hope we’re going to go back to two per cent or below mortgage rates in the next couple of years,” Kavcic said. “Maybe neutral mortgage rates now are even 100 basis points higher than what we were used to last cycle.”
MOMENTUM COULD SLOW THIS SUMMER
For those looking to buy a house, Kavcic believes demand levels seen over the past couple of months could start to moderate.
“Momentum is going to be tested in the housing market as the Bank of Canada came off the side lines and raised rates in June,” Kavcic said.
He is weighing consumer psychology against demand levels to predict the market’s next move.
“There’s a big psychological component to this market because it started to accelerate almost the minute the Bank of Canada said they’re done raising rates,” Kavcic said. “Who wants to jump into the housing market and pay a million dollars for an average priced home when it’s falling at a 20 per cent rate?”
“Now that the Bank of Canada is tightening again, I think you’ll be seeing that psychology cool off and you’re probably going to see some listings linger on the market a little longer throughout the summer and take some momentum out of the price gains we’ve seen.”
However, Kavcic is worried high population growth is boosting demand and will challenge the psychology of homebuyers looking to stay away from a higher rate market.
“End of the day we still have the strongest population growth we’ve seen since at least [since] the early 1970s. Those new families and Canadians need a place to live and we just physically cannot meet that demand with supply,” said Kavcic. “Fundamental demand will come to a bit of a stalemate with consumer psychology in the second half of this year.”
THE ROAD AHEAD FOR HOUSING SUPPLY
When it comes to boosting housing supply, Kavcic doesn’t think accelerating new build projects is the answer.
“It’s just not the solution, it’s a noble and commendable goal but it’s just not something we can come to,” said Kavcic. “The industry is already operating at 100 per cent capacity with employment rates at a record low in construction. To think that we can double output from a level that is already fully stretched seems like an ambitious goal and I don’t think we’re going to get it.”
Still in the dark about how to make money online? Side hustles are all the rage, but not everyone has tried one. You’re a beginner, and that can be the case at any age.
The internet has opened up a lot of ways to make side money, but so many options can be overwhelming. That’s why we say to do a little personal discovery first to decide what you like. Then dive in with a positive attitude and flexible mindset. Because the money is out there, but it isn’t guaranteed.
Here are four steps to get you started.
Step 1: Take inventory of your skills
The term “side hustle” assumes you already have a full-time obligation, like a job, school or family responsibilities. If you’re going to spend your precious few hours of free time on another form of work, you ought to do something you enjoy. Start with a personal assessment of your interests and emphasize the ones with online earning potential. Grab a piece of paper and jot down your answers to these questions:
What do I like to do the most? Consider the hobbies, interests and activities that bring you joy, but add a work slant because you probably won’t get paid to watch videos.
Of the interests listed, which ones do I do well? Narrow down your initial list to the areas where you have the most skill. Do you write well? Do you know the ins and outs of a certain category of collectible merchandise?
What kind of work would I be happy doing for hours on end? Make sure going all in on a potentially paying hobby won’t make you hate it.
Step 2: Focus on monetizable skills and ideas
Did you identify any skills with earning potential? You can probably answer this with common sense. You’re more likely to be paid to design a logo than make a meme.
Do you know how to code and do you like it? How about writing website copy, articles or marketing emails? You might have a future in freelancing, and that’s a side hustle tailor-made for making money online.
Maybe you listed vintage fashion as a top interest, and you know more than most about clothes. Do you like selling stuff and communicating with potential customers, too? Because reselling clothes is a way to monetize a hobby (and support a habit) from your laptop. If you have crafts or bespoke products to sell, you could open an Etsy shop online.
Once you match a passion, skill or idea with a monetizable opportunity, you can find the right online service or platform to facilitate your business.
Track all the money you make
See the ins and outs of your cash, cards, and bank accounts at a glance.
Step 3: Research the top places to make money online
There are plenty of online platforms that can connect you with customers, gigs and tasks. The hard part is narrowing the list down to the ones that are worth your time. We can help you focus on real ways to make money online (and offline, for that matter) and explore home business ideas. The work you did in the skills inventory step should help you quickly eliminate the noncontenders.
Be realistic about how much you can make
Once you pick a skill and a platform, you can give your online side hustle a try. How much money you’ll make (and when it comes) will vary.
Online freelance work may take time to gain traction, but you can pick a site like Upwork or Fiverr that connects you with paying clients and post your pitch today.
Places to sell stuff online typically have few barriers to entry, which is great for beginners. But make sure profit margins are worth your time. Selling a used book on eBay for $7.50 won’t amount to much side money when you factor in fees and shipping.
Using an online service to get task-based work can be a way for a beginner to make real money with less wait time. Depending on where you live, quick gigs like driving people or delivering packages and groceries can be in high demand. And signing up for gigs through a service like Uber or Instacart can connect you with customers and have you driving in no time.
Walking dogs is one of the highest paid side hustles by average hourly wage, according to an analysis from online tutoring platform Preply. Rover and Wag are two sites that match dog walkers with paying customers.
Other ways may require more patience
Some popular ways to make money online, like starting a blog, making YouTube videos or sharing influential advice on social media can require a lot of effort and time before you’ll see a dime. Don’t let us discourage you from your dreams of content creator stardom, but influencers typically need a sizable following to see big money.
Step 4: Evaluate and pivot
Flexibility is key when it comes to making money online. Give it a couple of weeks (or months) and evaluate your progress. If the dough is low, you might need to adjust your approach or switch to another platform. Maybe it’s time to pivot to a different monetizable hobby. Go back to your skills inventory and give something else a try. Enjoy the experience, and don’t quit your day job.
We do not write a lot of business with AXA, but the company has always performed well when we have worked with them.
This AXA life insurance company review was one of our more interesting because, though they were an honorable mention for our best life insurance company ratings, I really had not learned that much about them until now.
When people go to purchase a life insurance policy, there could be any number of different reasons why. For example, it could be for either personal or business purposes, meaning that the beneficiary of the policy may be a family member, a loved one, or even a charitable organization.
But regardless of what the coverage is for, there are still certain factors that you will need to keep in mind as you go through the life insurance purchasing process.
One of these criteria is the amount of protection that you are obtaining. This is because you will want to ensure that those who receive the life insurance proceeds will have enough funds to do what the coverage was intended for.
Yet another key item that people may not be aware of when buying a life insurance policy – but should be – is the importance of the insurance company that they are obtaining the coverage through.
This is because the insurer should ideally be stable and strong financially, and it should also have a good and positive reputation for paying out claims to its policyholders. That way, you will have more assurance that if and when a claim may need to be filed, your policy beneficiary (or beneficiaries) will be receiving their promised funds.
One company that has great respect in this area is AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company.
The History of AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company
AXA Equitable has been in the business of insuring its customers ever since the year 1859. This is when its founder, Henry Hyde – who was already in the insurance industry – left his current position at the Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York in order to begin his company. He initially named the firm Equitable Life Assurance Society of America. By the tenth year of its operation, Equitable Life Assurance Society of America had more new business than any other company worldwide.
As Equitable continued to grow, it built a new headquarters in 1870 – a skyscraper that included steam elevators. And, after an expansion just nine years later, the company’s building became the tallest building in the world at that time.
In the late 1800’s, Equitable marketed the very first joint and survivor annuity. The company also began the practice of paying out life insurance death claims immediately. In addition, the insurer appointed its very first female agency manager.
Throughout the years, the company continued to grow substantially. In 1992, it converted over from a mutual to a stock company. It also became a member of the Global AXA Group – and, by 2015, it had celebrated its 7th consecutive year as the best insurance name around the globe (as measured by the Interbrand annual report).
AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company Review
AXA Equitable offers a wide range of products and services to its customers. These include insurance and investments to help with both growing and protecting wealth. The company also offers employee benefit plans and other financial services for businesses.
Overall, AXA employees approximately 166,000 people in 64 countries, and worldwide the company has 103 million total customers. This large institution is extremely active in the communities through which it works, as well as in providing scholarships for college students.
For example, via the AXA Achievement program, the company assists both students and parents to take the next step towards college, as well as helps educators to take steps towards success.
Also, through the AXA Foundation, the company directs philanthropic and volunteer activities. The company also has a strong commitment to Corporate Responsibility. AXA Equitable is also known for being one of the world’s Top 10 insurers, according to the Insurance Journal. This ranking is based on the company’s non-banking assets.
Financial Strength and Ratings
AXA Equitable is considered to be an extremely strong company from a financial standpoint. It also pays out its insurance claims quickly and consistently to its policyholders. For these reasons and more, the insurer has been provided with high ratings from different agencies. These include the following (as of mid- and late 2015):
A+ from A.M. Best Company (Superior). This is the second highest out of a total of 16 possible ratings.
AA- from Fitch. (Very Strong). This is the fourth highest out of a total of 21 possible ratings.
Aa3 from Moody’s. (Excellent). This is the fourth highest out of a total of 21 possible ratings.
A+ from Standard & Poor’s. (Strong). this is the fifth highest out of a total of 21 possible ratings.
Also, AXA Financial has been an approved business of the Better Business Bureau (BBB) since 1937. The company has been provided with a grade of A+ from the BBB (on a grade scale of A+ to F).
Throughout the previous 3 years, AXA has closed a total of 37 objections through the Better Business Bureau (13 of these were closed during the preceding twelve months). Of these 37 complaints, 20 had to do with the company’s products/services, four had to do with the company’s advertising/sales, and 3 had to do with the company’s billing/collection issues.
Life Insurance Products Offered By AXA Equitable
AXA Equitable offers a wide variety of different life insurance coverage products to choose from. This can allow its customers to better “customize” their policies to more closely fit their coverage needs. Life insurance products that are offered include both term and permanent options.
With a term life insurance policy, a death benefit is offered for a specific period of time. In most cases, the premium will be level for that time frame, and after the time has expired, the insured will need to re-apply for coverage if he or she still requires protection – unless the policy provides the ability to convert over to a permanent policy.
Because term life is considered to be the most basic form of life insurance – and it does not provide cash value build up – it can often be purchased very affordably. This is especially the case if the applicant is younger and in relatively good health at the time of application.
AXA Equitable offers the BrightLife Term product. This offers affordable premiums, which are guaranteed to stay level for time periods of 1, 10, 15, or 20 years, depending on which policy is chosen. Once the time frame has elapsed, the premium amount will increase each year. In order to qualify for a BrightLife term insurance policy, an applicant will only need to answer just eight simply questions on the application for coverage.
The policies can be very large and are available for more than $1 million of life insurance.
Permanent Life Insurance Coverage
With a permanent life insurance policy, there will be both death benefit protection, and also cash value. As long as the premium is paid, a permanent life insurance policy will typically remain in force for the remainder of the insured’s lifetime. This is the case regardless of his or her increasing age, and whether he or she contracts an adverse health condition.
Permanent life insurance also includes a cash value or investment component in the policy. Here, the policyholder is permitted to accumulate a savings or investment fund on the side on a tax-deferred basis. This means that there is no tax due on the gain in the account unless or until the funds are withdrawn.
The funds in this account can be withdrawn for any reason. Likewise, they may be borrowed, usually at a very favorable interest rate. This can be done for any reason that the policyholder sees fit.
There are several types of permanent life insurance that are offered through AXA Equitable. These include:
Whole life insurance is considered to be the simplest of all of the permanent life insurance options. This is because the death benefit is guaranteed, and the cash value will grow at a set rate of interest over time. The premium amount is also locked in, never to increase.
AXA offers Interest Sensitive Whole Life. This is a permanent policy with a guaranteed minimum cash value that increases every year and equals the policy’s face amount when the insured reaches age 100. (Although the policy account value may be enhanced by additional interest).
Universal Life Insurance
Another type of permanent life insurance policy is universal life. Here, too, the policy has both a death benefit and a cash value component. However, these policies are more flexible because the policyholder can – within various guidelines – choose how much of the premium will go towards the death benefit, and how much will go towards the cash value.
AXA Equitable offers the Bright Life Protect universal life insurance policy. This is a flexible premium policy that offers the opportunity for lifetime insurance protection, as well as the potential accumulation of cash value via the allocation to a select account and / or a fixed account within the policy.
Variable Universal Life Insurance
A variable universal life insurance policy is type of permanent life insurance that combines death benefit protection with an investment opportunity. Here, the policyholder will obtain the protection of a death benefit, and via the cash value component, they can choose various equity investments such as mutual funds. This can allow the funds to grow much more than those that are in a whole life insurance policy. There can, however, also be more risk due to the market exposure.
AXA Equitable offers the Incentive Life Optimizer lll variable universal life insurance policy. This offers death benefit protection, along with the potential for cash value accumulation via a customized and professionally managed investment portfolio.
There is also the Incentive Life Legacy lll variable universal life insurance policy. This policy was created more for those who are seeking affordable permanent life insurance, but who would also like to put their premium to work through market sensitive investment options.
Other Coverage Products Available
In addition to life insurance, AXA Equitable also provides a number of other coverage products, as well as investments and advisory services.
Just some of the other offerings provided by AXA include the following:
How to Find the Best Life Insurance Premium Quotes on Coverage
When searching for the top life insurance premium quotes for coverage – whether it is on a policy via AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company, Banner Life, or through any other life insurer – it is typically the best course of action to work with an agency or brokerage that has access to multiple insurance carriers.
This is so that you can directly compare several different policies, benefits, and premium prices, and then you can determine which one will work the perfectly for you and your specific coverage needs.
This is not only true for your purchase of life insurance but for other forms of coverage as well, such as auto insurance and health insurance, make sure to obtain more than one or two quotes so that you are getting the best rate for your needs.
We know that the buying of insurance coverage can be an important decision. With all of the various things to be conscious of – as well as the many carriers – it can be difficult to choose. That is why it is important to have someone to walk you through the process of determining which will be the greatest for you. Reach out to us today.
Designers often talk about having their eyes bounce around the room. However, a room stuffed with tons of details will have the eyes bouncing around too much. While you want to create visual interest that makes the eyes dance, you don’t want so much interest that you can’t register individual features. This is where negative space comes in. The absence of a décor detail allows for a main feature to be at the forefront, whether that’s a piece of artwork or a unique architectural component.
Negative space can also be functional, as it can direct the flow of traffic through a room or to other rooms in the house. Use your furniture placement not only to guide traffic through the space but also to feature statement pieces. The layout can draw attention to a colored sofa or vintage side chairs. Or you can place the furniture to feature other aspects of the room, such as a wall of windows or a fireplace.
True to its brand, Virgin Voyages does things a little differently than other cruise lines, and this ethos extends to its accommodations. Virgin Voyages’ cabins sport a minimalist look with futuristic touches, and its suites exude a rock-n-roll vibe with in-room turntables and peekaboo showers.
While these cruise rooms may be unique in the cruise industry, you won’t have trouble choosing your cabin or suite. Virgin offers a reasonable three styles of standard cabin and eight categories of suites, so your choice will be guided by your requirements around space, price and light.
Virgin also does not use standard cruise industry lingo to refer to its rooms. Inside cabins are Insider rooms, ocean views are Sea Views, and balconies are Sea Terrace cabins. Suites are RockStar Quarters. Many rooms can accommodate one to four guests, often in slightly unusual bed layouts, so pay attention if you’re traveling in a pack and looking to save a few bucks on your cruise fare.
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Whether this is your first cruise ever or your first with this cruise line, you’ll want to familiarize yourself with Virgin Voyages’ cabins and suites before you make that booking. Here’s everything you need to know.
A Virgin Voyages cabin primer
Virgin Voyages sails three identical ships, with one more on the way by the end of 2023. Cabin categories and design are standard across the fleet, so if you’re familiar with one ship, you’re familiar with them all.
Here is a breakdown of the cabin types on Scarlet Lady, which should be the same across all the sister ships:
Insider inside cabins: 105 (8%)
Sea view outside cabins: 96 (7%)
Sea Terrace balcony cabins: 1,051 (79%)
RockStar Quarters suites: 78 (6%)
The cruise line caters to adults only; all passengers must be 18 years old. That means you won’t find any family-focused accommodations. However, you will find Insider and Sea View cabins designed for solo passengers, with a 3/4 size bed (larger than a twin but smaller than a full.)
Other cabins and suites in all categories can sleep three or four guests. Groups who don’t want to squeeze four into a room (and we wouldn’t recommend it, given Virgin’s tiny bathrooms and limited storage) can take advantage of connecting rooms.
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Balcony cabins are designated either regular, extra-large, centrally located or limited-view, and your cruise fare will change depending on which you choose. Cheeky Corner and Suite Aft Suites are also divided into Pretty Big Terrace, Even Bigger Terrace and Biggest Terrace classes.
Related: The 5 most desirable cabin locations on any cruise ship
Accessible cabins are available in Insider, Sea View, Central Sea Terrace, Extra-Large Sea Terrace and Seriously Suite categories.
All Virgin Voyages cabins mix a hip yet minimalist design (think IKEA or micro hotel) with tech-forward accessories (such as an iPad that controls the A/C, curtains and mood lighting). The look is more spare than you’ll find on other cruise lines that feature thick mattresses, fluffy duvets and faux-wood cabinetry in their cabins.
In standard cabins, the bed is modular – not only transforming from a queen bed to twins but also turning from a bed into an L-shaped lounging couch. In some quad layouts, a queen bed and an extra twin share the same headboard with a bunk overhead. The mattresses are rearranged on a long platform to form various arrangements; any uncovered portion of the platform serves as a nightstand or low table.
A triangular-with-rounded-edges odd-shaped white table serves as a desk and vanity in most standard cabins, with a round vegan leather stool beneath. It partially overlaps the shelving unit beneath that houses a mini-fridge and small shelves. Above is a round mirror and a shelf holding the room-controlling tablet.
Sea View and Sea Terrace cabins trade out the typical cruise ship cabin couch or love seat for a spare director’s style chair with a faux leather partial back and a padded seat.
Virgin also skips a full wardrobe for a more minimalist closet area where a hanging rod and a two-shelf luggage rack with storage baskets are hidden behind a curtain. A narrow floor-to-ceiling wardrobe contains four slim drawers, shelves housing the safe, life jackets and extra linens and a full-length mirror.
It’s not a lot of storage space — perfect for one, manageable for two and likely impossible for three or four.
Standard bathrooms are also tiny and lacking in storage space. The shower has one measly shelf and pump bottles of Red Flower shampoo, conditioner and body wash. It offers both a rain shower head and a wand. The rest of the tiny bathroom features a bowl sink and a small vanity where you can store toiletries if you move the hand towels somewhere else (possibly the shelf below with the garbage can).
The entire space is tight, even for average-sized people. If you need spacious loos, you will need to book a suite.
Virgin Voyages ships have eight types of suites, ranging from 352-square-foot Seriously Suites (which are essentially extra-spacious regular cabins with slightly nicer furnishings and a much larger bathroom) to the 2,147-square-foot Massive Suite with separate living and sleeping areas, a music room, and a gigantic terrace with a dining table (with steps up in case you want to pull a Richard Branson and dance on it) and hot tub.
Related: Why you should splurge for a suite on your next cruise
Suites are split into two categories — RockStar Quarters and Mega RockStar Quarters — which determine which additional perks come with your booking.
Virgin claims that 86% of its cabins feature private balconies, and if you can, you want to book one of these. Why? Because each Sea Terrace comes with a sustainably sourced hammock that is extremely comfortable and unusual in the cruise industry — and for us, was the best part of the entire Virgin accommodation experience.
Inside cabins on Virgin Voyages cruise ships
Insider cabins are Virgin’s name for windowless interior rooms. They measure 105 to 177 square feet and can sleep one (Solo Insiders) to four people (Social Insiders). As we mentioned above, the Solo Insiders have a 3/4-sized bed. The four-person arrangement is two twin beds arranged in an L shape head to head, with two bunkbeds also in L shape right above. The intent is for the lower beds to be made up as couches during the day and transformed into beds at night.
The room is laid out like a standard Scarlet Lady cabin, but on the far wall, where a window would be, there’s a red, round art piece evocative of a porthole.
Ocean-view cabins on Virgin Voyages cruise ships
Sea View cabins are slightly bigger at 130 to 190 square feet and can sleep one to three people, with one pull-down bunk and beds that convert from a queen to two twins. They are arranged identically to the Insider cabins, except they have a large round porthole window with a window seat on the exterior wall.
Some Sea View cabins come in slightly different configurations, especially the rooms located where the ship’s superstructure juts out at an angle. We toured one of these practically V-shaped rooms, which had one rectangular window rather than a full porthole. The window was on the same wall as the bed and chair, and the opposite wall had the desk, mini-fridge and mirror. The converging angle of the two walls made it a tight squeeze between the bed and the desk.
Related: Inside vs. outside cabin: Which affordable cruise room is best for you?
The bottom of the V, if you will, had a tall wardrobe and full-length mirror. The top of the V was the wall with the entry door, the bathroom and the closet hidden away in a tight corner by the window.
Balcony cabins on Virgin Voyages cruise ships
Virgin calls its balcony cabins Sea Terraces. They measure 185 to 225 square feet, including the 45-square-foot terrace. They can sleep two to four people, but there’s only one bunkbed. To sleep four, two people will need to share a bed, the third bed will be perpendicular in an L shape (so three heads in close proximity) and the fourth is a bunk flush with the cabin wall above.
Sea Terraces share the layout of the other standard cabins. Note that cabins numbers on the port or A side of the ship have the beds by the bathroom and the desk by the balcony, and cabin numbers on the starboard or Z side of the ship have the reverse layout, with beds by the balcony and desks by the bathroom.
Balconies are outfitted with two upright not-that-comfortable metal chairs and a circular drinks table just big enough for two glasses. The real attraction here is the full-size red hammock hung from the ceiling. A grown adult can easily lay out or simply sit and swing in the hammock. Be prepared to come to blows with your cabinmate over who gets the hammock first and for how long.
Related: Why it pays to upgrade your cruise ship cabin
If you love your hammock so much you can’t live without it, you can buy one on board. The custom-designed hammocks are handwoven by women in rural Thailand and sold by Yellow Leaf, an organization focused on community transformation and female empowerment.
Suites on Virgin Voyages cruise ships
Virgin Voyages’ 78 RockStar Quarters are broken down as follows (based on Scarlet Lady’s deck plans):
Two Massive Suites
Two Fab Suites
Two Posh Suites
nine Gorgeous Suites
18 Brilliant Suites
14 Cheeky Corner Suites (six Biggest Terrace, four Even Bigger Terrace and four Pretty Big Terrace suites)
24 Seriously Suites
Seven Sweet Aft Suites (three Biggest Terrace, two Even Bigger Terrace and two Pretty Big Terrace suites)
The Sweet Aft, Seriously, Cheeky Corner and Brilliant suites are considered RockStar Quarters. They come with the following perks:
Access to Richard’s Rooftop sun deck with hot tubs and a bar
Complimentary in-room bar setup (no refills)
Priority access to dinner and event reservations, plus shore excursion signups
RockStar agents (i.e. concierges) who can help you 24/7
Priority embarkation
Gorgeous, Posh, Fab and Massive Suites are considered Mega RockStar Quarters. They come with all the RockStar perks plus additional benefits:
A daily bar tab for complimentary drinks and bottles of wine throughout the ship
Complimentary Thermal Suite access at the Redemption Spa
Private transfers to the ship or free parking (depending on the departure port)
A personal RockStar Agent
Limitless in-room bar
Premium Wi-Fi on Caribbean cruises, allowing streaming on up to two devices
The suite that’s right for you will depend on your budget, the perks you value and where on the ship you wish to stay.
Related: How to snag cruise ship suites for less
Among the RockStar Quarters, the Seriously Suite is the most common suite type on board. It measures 352 square feet, including the balcony. It features a European king bed facing the floor-to-ceiling glass balcony doors, tall closet wardrobes, a brass vanity, a shelving unit with a turntable and bar setup and a window behind the bed looking into the extra-large shower. The bathroom is spacious with a marble tile look, and the terrace is only slightly larger than a standard one, with the same furnishings.
The Sweet Aft Suite ranges in size from 416 to 661 square feet, depending on the deck and the size of the balcony. The higher the deck, the bigger the suite and terrace. There’s one Sweet Aft Suite on each deck between decks 8 and 14, and each is located smack in the center of the back of each deck.
These suites also have a bed facing the windows, but the bathroom is to the side with a shower porthole looking onto the oversized balcony. In addition to the standard hammock, the terrace features two padded lounge chairs, a couch and a round metal table (meant for Champagne) and chairs.
The Brilliant Suite measures 482 square feet and looks like an expanded version of the Seriously Suite. The extra space allows for a modular couch that can double as a bed; this suite can sleep up to four. Its balcony is slightly longer than the Seriously Suite’s, meaning it can offer the larger Champagne table of the Brilliant Suite.
The Cheeky Corner Suite also comes in a range of sizes, 615 to 857 square feet, based on deck and balcony size. The 14 suites are at the back corners of the ship on decks 8 – 14, on either side of the Sweet Aft Suites.
Balconies wrap around the back and sides of the ships, and offer the same furnishings as the Sweet Afts but with the hammock tucked away in the side corner. Inside, the room has a corner sofa area and a large wardrobe.
Related: What not to do on a cruise balcony
All of the Mega RockStar Quarters are on Deck 15, directly beneath Richard’s Rooftop, for easy access.
The Gorgeous Suite is the smallest at 570 square feet, and can sleep up to four. Its interior is similar to the Brilliant Suite, but the difference is in the balcony. The suite has a double-depth balcony with an outdoor shower and lounge chairs.
The Posh Suite measures 833 square feet, with living and sleeping areas divided by a wall. It can sleep four (the living room sofa can convert to a bed) and has a bath and a half (the master with a peekaboo shower looking into the bedroom and out the balcony doors beyond). The balcony is similar to the other suite terraces with lounge chairs, a hammock, Champagne table and chairs and a small couch.
The Fab Suite, at 950 square feet, is essentially an oversized version of the Posh Suite. The extra space allows for additional seating areas in both the living room and bedroom. It can also sleep four.
All the way forward on Deck 15, each of the two Massive Suites lives up to its name, coming in at a whopping 2,147 square feet. You enter the main living area with a circular couch seating area and a full bar. To one side is the music room, which can double as an extra bedroom; the suite sleeps up to four — that is if you don’t stay up rocking out on the provided guitars all night. An adjacent guest bathroom is ideal for hosting parties.
On the other side, the master bedroom has privacy behind sliding doors and floor-to-ceiling windows. Just behind, the marble-tiled dressing area features two closets and a soaking tub; turn the corner to find the rest of the bathroom, complete with the signature windowed shower.
The also-massive terrace is your own private backyard with a hot tub, outdoor shower, dining table for six, two hammocks, circular couch seating and padded lounge chairs.
Bottom line
Virgin Voyages’ cabins get the job done. However, its standard rooms won’t keep you inside when the real fun is found in the ships’ public areas. Their best feature is the hammock on every balcony.
For more spacious bathrooms, tricked-out terraces, lounge and seating spaces, and extra perks, upgrade to the RockStar Quarters. While you might want to bring the after-party back to your social living quarters, you miss out if you hide out in your upper-deck digs rather than immerse yourself in the entertainment and cozy hangouts found around Virgin Voyages’ ships.
(Bloomberg) –Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reiterated her optimism about the U.S. economy, saying inflation can slow down without a slump in employment, even if growth cools.
“Our economy has proven more resilient than many had thought,” amid forecasts of recession, Yellen said in excerpts of remarks due to be delivered later Friday in New Orleans. “I continue to believe that there is a path to reducing inflation while maintaining a healthy labor market. Without downplaying the significant risks ahead, the evidence that we’ve seen so far suggests that we are on that path.”
Yellen said in an interview last week that she sees diminishing risk for the U.S. to fall into recession, and suggested that a slowdown in consumer spending may be the price to pay for finishing the campaign to contain inflation.
“While there are parts of our economy that are slowing down, households are spending at a robust pace and businesses continue to invest,” Yellen said in the excerpts, released by the Treasury Department. “Going forward, I expect the current strength of the labor market and robust household and business balance sheets to serve as a source of economic strength, even if our economy does cool a bit more as inflation falls.”
Federal Reserve officials have raised interest rates by 500 basis points in little more than a year and have signaled more tightening will be needed to rein in an inflation rate that’s running higher than the Fed’s 2% target.
They’ve warned that returning inflation to the goal will likely require a period of below-trend growth and some softening of labor-market conditions.
Yellen touted President Joe Biden’s legislative achievements that stepped up investment in infrastructure, semiconductors and the green-energy transition.
She is the latest administration official to do so, two days after the president delivered what the White House called a “cornerstone” address on his economic policy, “Bidenomics,” with his office seeking to improve perceptions about his job performance before the 2024 election campaign gets into full swing.
Yellen said the policies of Bidenomics are rooted in what she laid out early last year as “modern supply-side economics.”
The idea is to “prioritize investments in our workforce and its productivity – in order to raise the ceiling for what our economy can produce,” Yellen said, highlighting how the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, CHIPS and Science Act, and Inflation Reduction Act constitute “one of the most important economic investments” the U.S. has made to date.
The purchase of life insurance is an important piece of nearly anyone’s overall financial portfolio. Even though it’s important, doesn’t mean everyone has a plan.
Why is life insurance so important?
One reason is because this essential financial tool can help to protect the ones you love from having to spend other assets on things such as final expenses, paying off debt, and / or living expenses in the case of the unexpected. The proceeds from a life insurance policy can also help to keep those you care about from falling into drastic financial hardship and changing their lives at a time that is already emotionally difficult for them.
At the time you are buying a policy, there are several key factors to keep in mind. One, certainly, is to ensure that you obtain proper protection so that your survivors will have plenty of cash to go on. Another is to be mindful of purchasing coverage through one of the most financially stable life insurance companies.
This is because you will want to know that the underlying insurer is strong and stable financially and that it will be there in the future, if and when a claim needs to be made. With that in mind, it is important to do some research on the insurer that you are considering before moving forward.
One insurance carrier that is somewhat newer in the industry is Accordia Life and Annuity Company. This company, a subsidiary of Global Atlantic, provides security and income products to its customers.
Unlike some other companies, like Allstate or Progressive, Accordia isn’t a household name, but that doesn’t mean they are any less valuable.
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History of Accordia Life Insurance Company
Accordia Life and Annuity Company is located in Des Moines, Iowa.
It began with more than 200 agents who were already well-versed in the life insurance business.
In just the past decade, Global Atlantic has become known in the insurance and financial industry as a provider of insurance commodities, as it has grown to more than thirty billion dollars in assets. One reason for this company’s success is due to its long-term focus on its policyholders, as well as its emphasis on teamwork that is driven by its experienced leadership from the top.
Accordia Life Insurance Company Ratings and Better Business Bureau Grade
Thought to be a solid and steady company from an economic standpoint, Accordia is rated as an A- from A.M. Best. This is rated as “Excellent” and is 4th out of a possible total 16 overall ratings.
Accordia Life Insurance Company is not an accredited company by the Better Business Bureau, nor has it been given a grade by the BBB. There have, however, been forty objections filed given to the BBB about Accordia over the past three years, and all forty have been closed.
Of these 40 complaints that were filed, 18 centered on the company’s billing/collection issues, 17 centered on problems with the company’s product and/or services, four had to do with advertising and/or sales issues, and one focused on other issues. There are also three negative reviews posted by customers about Accordia Life Insurance Company on the Better Business Bureau’s website.
Life Insurance Products Offered By Accordia
The products that are offered by Accordia Life and Annuity Company are well designed, and they are focused on meeting the protection, wealth transfer, and small business needs of customers across the country.
The primary products that are provided by Accordia include term insurance, as well as universal life and indexed universal life insurance coverage. These offerings can help its policyholders to prepare for both short and longer needs.
Accordia Life offers various kinds of life insurance protection to its customers. Doing so allows for its policyholders to create the protection that works the best for them, as well as to revise support as their requirements evolve over time.
Coverage that is provided via Accordia includes:
Term Life Insurance
One of the primary products that is offered through Accordia is term life insurance coverage. This product gives pure death benefit protection only, without any cash value or savings component. Due to this, term can be pretty decently priced – and a good way for those who need a large quantity of protection such as a $1 million dollar life insurance policy to obtain it at a lower rate. This is especially the case for people who might be young and in great health at the time of application.
Term life insurance is often thought of as being temporary coverage because it is purchased for a certain length of time such as for ten, twenty, or thirty years. There is also a 1-year annual renewable term life option. Typically, the premium rate for this will remain level within the policy’s “term” and then the policyholder will either need to re-qualify for coverage or the policy will naturally expire.
In some cases, a term life insurance policy will provide the option to convert over into a permanent form of coverage such as a universal life insurance policy. This way, the insured will not need to worry about the policy expiring at any certain time in the future (unless they stop paying the policy’s premium).
Universal Life Insurance
Accordia Life also offers universal life insurance coverage. This is a form of permanent life insurance protection, so in addition to death benefit coverage, there is also a cash value component in these policies.
The cash in the policy is allowed to grow on a tax-deferred basis. This means that the policyholder will not need to pay taxes on the gain or growth of the funds in this account unless or until the time of withdrawal. This can allow these funds to build and increase exponentially over time.
Universal life insurance coverage is thought to be a more flexible form of permanent life insurance than whole life insurance. This is because the policyholder may choose (within certain parameters) how much of their premium dollars will go into the cash value, and how much will go towards the death benefit of the policy. They may also be able to change their premium due date, based on their needs.
Accordia Life Insurance Company offers some different additional riders to their universal life insurance policies. These include the following:
Accelerated Access Rider
Wellness for Life Rider
Return of Premium Rider
Terminal Illness Accelerated Death Benefit Rider
Accidental Death Benefit Rider
Children’s Insurance Rider
Primary Insured Rider
Overloan Protection Rider
Waiver of Premium Rider
Waiver of Monthly Deductions Rider
Indexed Universal Life (IUL) Insurance
Another form of permanent life insurance coverage that is offered by Accordia is indexed universal life. With this type of universal life, the growth in the cash value component is based on the production of an underlying market index such as the S&P 500.
While the policyholder has the chance to increase his or her funds significantly based upon market performance if the market should decline, the principal in the account is preserved.
There are numerous choices for indexed universal life insurance that can be chosen through Accordia Life Insurance Company. These incorporate the:
Lifetime Builder IUL
Survivorship Builder IUL
Accordia Life Provider IUL
Get Best Life Insurance rates from Accordia
When looking for top quotes, work with multiple insurers. This is true not only for life insurance but for auto insurance and health insurance as well. That way, you will be able to compare benefits and from there you can determine which will work the best for you.
When seeking life insurance protection – along with policy quotes – we can help. We work with many of the best life insurance companies in the market today, and we can assist you with obtaining all of the important details that you require.
We understand that finding the best life insurance plan for your needs can sometimes feel overwhelming. There are many things to contend with – and you want to ensure that you are getting the right coverage for your specific requirements. But now you have an ally on your side. So, contact us today – we are here to help.
It’s not all about the beach in Miami. Sometimes you need a hot outdoor spot right at home.
Miami is one of those cities that almost has too much to offer. From apartments with amazing views, compliments of amenity-filled rooftops, to luxury features like high-class fitness centers, it’s not always easy to narrow down your options in this abundance.
One must-have amenity in any Miami apartment is a killer outdoor space. You need some greenery and a perfect gathering spot, to enjoy the wonderful weather with friends. That’s why finding places with solid courtyards or gardens in Miami is essential, and these 10 apartments will totally fit the bill.
Source: Rent. / Alea
There are a couple of cool courtyard-like spaces up and down Alea, which uses its vertical space very well, The actual courtyard hosts the community’s dog run, but this colorful spot gives you a great view and a patch of greenery. The bright mural on the wall, ceiling and pillars of this outdoor space provides character that’s totally Miami, offering up a unique space for a moment of relaxation, shaded from the Florida sun.
Known as the historic center of the city, living in the Miami Central Business District puts you in the hub of so much activity. You’re close to work and fun within the six city blocks that make up this downtown neighborhood. Public transportation makes it easy to get around this dynamic area as well, whether you’re heading out to eat, checking out an art gallery or simply heading off to work.
Source: Rent. / Opera Tower
Planting up rather than out, the front of Opera Tower gives you a vertical garden of greenery to enjoy. Set higher than the palm trees lining the entrance, lush bushes seem to grow straight from the building itself. This funky garden not only adds a great pop of color to the pristine building but really makes the space stand out.
Sitting along the shores of Biscayne Bay, the Edgewater neighborhood isn’t far from the center of everything happening in Miami. It offers a perfect mix of parks, shops, restaurants and waterfront recreation. Margaret Pace Park, also nearby, gives you easy access to trails, tennis and superb picnic spots, while Biscayne Boulevard is where you’ll find posh shops and great places to eat. It’s all right outside your door waiting for you.
Source: Rent. / Gables Ponce
A sleek courtyard surrounded by tall palms and shapely landscaping highlights a great hangout space at Gables Ponce. Curved couches face into a small fountain with cabana-style seating off to the side. There are even outdoor cabanas, a must in this Central Gables neighborhood.
About seven miles from Miami’s center, you’ll hit the beautiful suburb of Coral Gables. Known for its tree-lined streets and historic landmarks, this area is also home to the University of Miami, so you’ll find a nice dose of college students. There’s also amazing shopping and dining along the city’s Miracle Mile and a beautiful dose of nature at the Fairchild Tropical Botanic Garden.
Source: Rent. / Brickell 1st Apartments
You’ll find the soothing rock garden at the very front of Brickell 1st Apartments. Every time you enter, this pool is here to greet you as the small fountains agitate the water so it trickles over the smooth stones. It’s like having a tiny zen garden to help you transition into being back at home, hopefully helping your daily stressors fall away before you reach your front door.
The true urban jungle of Miami, Brickell is the financial center of the city, so living here puts you in proximity to plenty of tall buildings. It’s also where you’ll find great rooftop bars, art galleries and fashionable shops. It’s the downtown you’d expect to find in Miami.
Source: Rent. / WYND 27 & 28
A good courtyard is a functional courtyard, and thanks to the ample seating at WYND 27 & 28, you get just that. Funky flooring defines the space, while a planter with a tall and lanky tree sits front and center. Long rows of cushioned benches surround the space, providing a woodsy feel to this great hangout spot.
Giving you a dense concentration of the arts, the Wynwood Arts District combines art galleries, museums and amazing pieces of street art to create a truly unique and eclectic neighborhood. Among all this unfettered creativity, you’ll find cool antique shops, fun bars and quirky places to eat, so the vibe stays true no matter what you’re doing.
Source: Rent. / Cordoba Luxury Rentals
The best way to take in the courtyard at Cordoba Luxury Rentals is through a wide angle. The mass of tall palm trees makes it hard to get a view of the whole space at once, although they create a great park-like atmosphere. A little hardscape and some clusters of bushes add to the easily navigable area thanks to paved pathways.
For those who love to travel, or find themselves on frequent work trips, Cordoba may be the perfect neighborhood for you. It’s only six miles from Miami International Airport. College students may also eye this area since it’s also near Florida International University. Aside from its ideal location, the area boasts fantastic parks, shopping and a few golf courses.
Source: Rent. / Villa Majorca
A sweet courtyard with a stately fountain provides a stellar first impression of Villa Majorca. Two tall palm trees frame the entrance with tropical plant life filling in the rest of the landscaping. Another Coral Gables gem, this tranquil space is a truly unique amenity.
This smaller community provides residents with luxury living in the heart of Coral Gables Apartments are very spacious, and community amenities include a fitness center and hot tub. You also get the perk of enjoying the surrounding simplistic and clean Mediterranean-style architecture.
Source: Rent. / Blue Lagoon 7
Every courtyard needs a decent seating area, and at Blue Lagoon 7 the combination of white furniture with green grass gives everything a pristine look. Snag a seat on the circular lawn and hang out with friends, or settle into the couch under the cabana. This is just one piece of the expansive courtyard that includes other pods of seats, along with nice landscaping.
Big on luxury and outdoor space, Blue Lagoon 7 provides an array of green and blue retreats to absorb that fresh Miami air. Sitting right on the waterfront, there’s no shortage of crystalline views. A great pool, outdoor gaming area and multiple gas grills add even more to the outdoor space here. You can take a dip, play a game of ping pong or lawn chess and grill up some goodness all in one swoop.
Source: Rent. / Platform 3750
The garden at Platform 3750 is very interesting. Rather than on the ground, it fills an entire wall above the parking garage. Flowers bloom vertically and plants hang down on this special spot that takes gardening to the next level, literally. A beautiful palm tree stands out from a bricked planter as well to draw the eye to one of the most interesting gardens in Miami.
Known as Miami’s oldest, continually inhabited neighborhood, Southwest Coconut Grove is another great spot to call home. Living here puts you close to dining, shopping, entertainment and pristine beaches. There’s a lot of charm and history here as well, which manifests in the funky shops and delicious restaurants.
Source: Rent. / Avalon Doral
An outdoor lounge sits within a tropical garden at Avalon Doral. Find tranquility in this space just off the pool thanks to the rounded chairs and four-top tables surrounded by leafy greenery and palm fronds. Funky lighting makes this space usable even after dark, and the overall tropical ambiance really puts you in the Florida state of mind.
Downtown Doral may be a few miles away from Miami’s city center, but it’s a happening spot all the same. Walk along the main street for shopping, food and fun things to do, or explore Downtown Doral Park. This park covers three acres right in the heart of this suburb and includes a playground, picnic tables and a great jogging path.
Grab an apartment with one of the best gardens in Miami
Finding that perfect Miami apartment is never easy, so make sure you know what’s really important before you really start your search. From the location to the pool to plenty of other amenities, don’t forget about that stellar outdoor space as well. You can get a great place to chill outside even at home, with the sun and amazing weather of Miami at your fingertips.
Featured Image Source: Rent. / Avalon Doral
Lesly Gregory has over 15 years of marketing experience, ranging from community management to blogging to creating marketing collateral for a variety of industries. A graduate of Boston University, Lesly holds a B.S. in Journalism. She currently lives in Atlanta with her husband, two young children, three cats and assorted fish.
Would readers take a gondola to Dodger Stadium from Union Station?
Several hundred people weighed in on a potential new way to reach Dodgers games, first proposed by then-owner Frank McCourt in 2018 and still alive, now shepherded by an environmental organization that hopes to take cars off the streets and keep pollutants out of the air. We asked readers if they would or would not use the gondola, or if they were not sure.
By just a few votes, “yes” received the most responses. Here are the areas that readers cited the most as factors in their decisions:
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Is Union Station easier than Dodger Stadium lots?
A common theme among respondents: Is the Union Station-to-Dodger Stadium route more convenient? Does it save time? For many, the answer was a resounding no. But many people said they’d use it for a variety of reasons.
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If I arrive at the boarding station at a reasonable time before first pitch, what guarantee do I have that I will not be stuck in line rather than in the stadium 30 minutes later? And, after the game, the last of those fans won’t be boarding their ride back until 60-plus minutes postgame … standing in line. And that’s just to get back to the station.
The Stadium needs better access — I can afford to go to games, in decent seats, but I choose not to because the traffic is ludicrous. The stadium desperately needs multiple accesses.
And … today’s environment also demands better security. Good luck to them in resolving their dilemma.
Answer: No
Chip Ossman, Altadena
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If improvements in total commute time and total price were a net positive I would definitely take it. If I have to Uber to the Expo Line to take it to Union Station and then get on the gondola, that sounds like a lot of work and the costs add up. Especially if we have a group.
Answer: Not sure
Patrick Pennel, Los Angeles
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I already park blocks away from the stadium and walk there because I detest the lot so much. It’s easy to get into but a nightmare after the games are over. A gondola would make going and leaving much easier and take less time.
Answer: Yes
Joe Kornbrodt, Los Angeles
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How long is the line going to be? The line for the current Union Station buses makes them impractical.
By my math and the numbers in the article (24 people every 23 seconds), it would take almost three hours to move the 10,000 fans the article talks about. Something doesn’t add up.
Fwiw, I’ve shared season tickets with others since 1992 and go to about 15 games a year.
Answer: Not sure
Wesley Monroe, Pasadena
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We need more public transportation in Los Angeles. How fun and easy. Train to gondola to stadium. I would go see a concert there if it were that easy.
Answer: Yes
Tamra Davis, Malibu
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I could take the train to L.A. from Ventura and not worry about traffic. I would definitely come to more games.
Answer: Yes
Anita Guerrini, Ventura
More Frank McCourt?
Frank McCourt did not sell the Dodger Stadium parking lots when he sold the Dodgers for a billion-dollar profit in 2012. Instead, winning bidder Guggenheim Baseball Management formed a joint venture with a McCourt entity to control the parking lots. Though Mark Walter, the Dodgers’ chairman and controlling owner, said McCourt can’t develop anything on the property without Guggenheim’s consent, McCourt’s name was a cause for concern for readers who offered their thoughts.
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I drink beer before getting into the stadium, my bladder couldn’t hold it in for the seven minute (estimated ride time) and that’s including the wait times lol ….besides, I hate that McCourt would somehow be involved with this …can’t stand the dude, for the way he treated our Dodgers….anyway just my opinion ✌️
Answer: Not sure
Tony Perez, Los Angeles
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It would be an adventure and add to the excitement of game day, like going to Philippe’s before the game. I’m not thrilled about a ton of development there. I also can’t think of a single person who likes the idea of giving so much as a penny to Frank McCourt.
Answer: Yes
Dan McCarrel, Diamond Bar
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Parking is not a pleasant experience at Dodger Stadium. I go to 20-plus games a year and park in Chinatown to avoid the hassle. It’s a walk of slightly more than a mile each way and after the game it’s downhill! A side bonus is not paying McCourt any money for parking. I would hate to support anything that benefits the guy who tried to destroy the home team.
Answer: Not sure
Deborah Vogel, South Pasadena
Is it really better for the area?
It is repulsive to me to have a gondola rising above the people and houses of the community who are near Dodger Stadium. That community has had to endure traffic through the streets and now a gondola above them is horrible. The cons outweighs the pros. This is another example of the rich exploiting the poor.
Answer: No
Susie Chow, Monterey Park
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I’m a resident in the community and NO, I would not set foot on the gondola. Residents like me would boycott and protest the gondola if it were built. This is not an iconic tourist attraction or innovative green transit solution. This is an ill-conceived boondoggle that is being pushed on us with a bunch of lies. If built, this gondola would be a monument to the exploitation and marginalization of our communities.
Besides, what good is a seven-minute ride if you have to stand in line for an hour to board the gondola? And where would everyone who drives to the gondola park? What good is it if the traffic is just redirected into our neighborhoods instead of into Dodger Stadium? This gondola will be a toy for a select few. Does anyone really believe that the tickets will remain free, that they won’t eventually jack up prices or charge an exorbitant membership fee for people to jump the long lines at the gondola stations? Nothing about this project adds up.
Answer: No
Phyllis Ling, Los Angeles
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People will either keep driving to the Dodger Stadium parking lots, or they will drive to Chinatown in order to hop on the gondola. This will turn the neighborhood of Chinatown into the Dodger Stadium parking lot, which means Chinatown will take on even more of the automobile traffic, noise, trash and public urination from beer-imbibing Dodger fans, and its residents will find all of their street parking disappear on game days. Meanwhile, these gondola cabins are proposed to be flying overhead (and not very high overhead either) every 30 seconds or so all year long? In service fewer than 100 game days and concert days? At a ticket price which remains unknown?
The stakeholders of Chinatown/Olvera Street were never asked if we wanted this — instead, we were told that this was already in the works and then asked if we thought the renderings were pretty. People assume that the gondola cabins will soar high in the sky over Los Angeles, but they will mostly be barely 30-40 feet above the pavement and above homes in some instances. They will cut down a swath of mature trees at the L.A. State Historic Park in order to make room for the new station and the flight path. This is information you can only access if you read through the thousands of pages of the DEIR (Draft Environmental Impact Report).
Answer: No
Tany Ling, Los Angeles
A matter of trust
Would need to park and ride, easier and faster to just drive to Dodger Stadium.
Also, many leave the stadium drunk or amped up, I would not like to share a small gondola, especially when with family.
Answer: No
Russ Randall, Santa Clarita
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My concerns about the gondola include earthquakes and power outages. What would happen to passengers in either case? Also how many homes or businesses would displaced? Dodger Stadium already has a tainted history in that regard.
Answer: Not sure
Lisa Babilonia, Nev.
More development?
I could take Metro and skip the traffic completely. It’s the only way I’d consider going to see a game — especially if there are bars and restaurants making it more of an entertainment destination all year. It’s well past time for residents and visitors to the area to be able to visit major destinations without needing to drive in the (world famous!) bad traffic.
Answer: Yes
David Swift, Pasadena
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The gondola would be a world-class attraction for L.A.!! Quit worrying about who may profit. I don’t like Frank any more than you do, but having shopping, dining, and apartments near the ballpark makes sense. Look at how Anaheim has created an entire apartment village around their ballpark. It’s attracted thousands of young people who never would have considered Anaheim. We need more housing. Everyone opposes urban sprawl and building in fire-prone areas outside the city … everyone opposes building inside the city … that’s why there is so much corruption for getting buildings approved through city hall. Is it any surprise we have a housing shortage?!!! Include some affordable housing so some of the stadium workers live nearby.
Answer: Yes
Dave Schafer, Torrance ::
Parking is expensive and difficult. Plus, the gondola also serves Cornfields Park and the restaurants in that neighborhood for before/after game fun.
I also support redeveloping these parking lots into something far more useful than black asphalt. It’s a disgraceful waste of land when there’s an opportunity for the city to broker a win-win-win scenario (more parkland, less surface parking, centrally located housing, and more attractive shops/businesses/restaurants). There’s also a chance to build an entire community from a clean slate that incorporates today’s best practices for sustainability, walkability, etc.
You’ve pulled yourself out of debt, are saving a reasonable amount of income for your retirement, have built an emergency fund, and your daily needs are easily met with your income. Congratulations! Now what?
That’s exactly where I was in 2007. I sold my business and generated a huge windfall — over a million dollars. I paid off all my debt. And then I looked around and said, “Oh, crap.”
I had absolutely no idea what to do with my money. Previously, any extra money I’d earned was immediately stuffed back into my business, and I had been running deficits nearly everywhere. This was the first time in my adult life I’d ever had my head above water, financially speaking.
Over the next three months, I proceeded to blow over $50,000. Oh, don’t get me wrong — it was fun! I bought a new car (that I still drive), some really beautiful artwork from artists I loved (that looks great on my walls), and thousands of dollars in clothes, new furniture, and other indulgences, such as $4,000 custom hand-made stereo speakers (that I’m listening to right now.)
It was fun…for a couple months. Then it got boring.
My Spiral Into Depression
Like many lottery winners, I spiraled into depression. The business I had spent six years of my life building was gone. I felt adrift — like I had no purpose. Despite having been “successful”, no one knew who I was. I had marginalized most of my personal relationships in favor of growing my business and working myself to death. And money wasn’t going to buy me out of the situation.
Slowly, I pulled myself out of my depression. I realized I had the opportunity to make myself into anyone I wanted to be. I could do anything I wanted. I had complete freedom. The thought was both exhilarating and terrifying.
I bought a shelf full of self-help books and read them all, relentlessly seeking to answer the many questions I had. Some of them were philosophical, like “What made me successful when so many others have failed?” Some were practical, like “How do I invest my money?” But all of them led back to one deeper question: “What should I do to be happy?” I soon realized the latter question was incorrect. The better question was, “Who should I be to be happy?”
In December 2007, I started blogging. I exposed a significant amount of my business life and thoughts. I wrote about my successes and my mistakes and failures. I enjoyed writing, doing videos, and interacting with my readers. Helping others figure out their purpose, their businesses, and their websites and blogs was a fantastic experience.
Spending With a Purpose
I made a point of trying to achieve greater states of happiness on a daily basis. Instead of being merely content — or even apathetic — with my current state of being, I realized I could be happier daily. And suddenly it hit me: I understood what I wanted to do with my money. I wanted to outsource pretty much everything I hated doing.
In order to live a simpler, calmer, but more effective life, I had to drop the shackles of wanting to do everything myself. To allow time to meditate, think, write, and create, I had to get rid of the drudgery of daily tasks. I realized my money could serve a fantastic dual purpose: To allow others, whose passion is cooking, cleaning, or assisting in various ways to help me — while I supported them by giving them income to do what they loved.
My life fundamentally changed that day. I started hiring people to do everything I didn’t want to do. The first step was to hire a cleaning service. Then I hired a personal assistant to work out of my house, filing papers, doing laundry, and organizing. I hired virtual assistants to do all the menial tasks I hated doing: bookkeeping; video editing; audio editing; even setting up my Facebook fan page. (Lisa, my VA who set up the Facebook page for me, said happily: “I can’t believe I get paid to do this!” And I realized…we’re both lucky.)
My Daily Routine
I wake up in the morning and my VAs have sent me their updates. I am building a business where I create how-to videos for small business owners and bloggers who want to drive more traffic to their sites and get more customers.
I learned meditation, and currently spend about 40 minutes a day relaxing. I also spend a few hours a day doing the parts of my business I love, from creating videos to writing to programming. When I walk down to the kitchen, it’s clean; Elia, my housekeeper, comes in every week to make sure it’s spotless. She spends 2 hours cleaning our kitchen; total cost to me: $30.
My VA in the Philippines edits my videos and does a fantastic job for $3.33/hour.
Whenever I do an interview with another entrepreneur, I send it to another VA in the Philippines, who, for $9/hour, edits it perfectly, getting rid of all the strange pauses and “um”s. I send the edited interview off to a transcriptionist. For less than $30, I get back an excellent transcription, often 12-16 pages long.
Lisa, my VA here in the U.S., has set up an entire website and integrated it with a shopping cart for my customers to order products and access them once they have ordered. She charges $30/hour (my most expensive staff member) and she’s worth every penny.
I treat my staff members well, and they love the fact that they can work from home and get paid great wages ($3/hour in in the Philippines is equal to about a $65,000/year wage here in the U.S.) They are happy — I can see it in their emails and text chat messages.
My partner Richard and I fight less. There’s no scrapping over who will do a certain task. If no one wants to do it, we work together to figure out how to hire someone.
A Disease Opens My Eyes
I was recently diagnosed with Celiac disease. The management of the disease may sound simple, but it’s not: eliminate wheat, oats, barley and rye from your diet. Most restaurants have very few gluten-free items; I’m lucky if I can order one non-salad item from a typical menu. Some restaurants are impossible to eat at; soy sauce, for instance, has wheat in it. I’ve gotten sick from things as odd as bacon, cake frosting, and ranch dressing.
After a few weeks of eating mostly hot dogs and tuna fish, I grew tired of my limited options. I thought about learning to cook, but it wasn’t something that excited me. So we hired a personal chef to cook our meals — one who understands the challenge of cooking gluten-free. We pay her $10/hour, including travel time to deliver the food to us, and she gets a fun side job.
In a randomly-chosen week before I hired a personal chef, I ate out four times and went to the grocery store twice. I spent a total of $179.91 on restaurants and groceries. Last week, I spent $215.49, including groceries, for eating out and paying my personal chef. My “eating out” expenses dropped from $86.14 to just $32.28 — over 60% less! My total spent was $35.58 more, but to me, that’s a small price to pay for gourmet food of my choice delivered to my door. Another remarkable and unexpected side effect was that I no longer have an urge to go out and spend money at fancy restaurants — I simply ask my chef to make what I want and deliver it to me.
It has been more than two years since I sold my business, and I am happier than I have ever been. I made different choices than most: We rent a house instead of owning (a savings of nearly $4,000/month in our neighborhood — more than our monthly rent payment!); we only have basic cable; we don’t have a landline, credit card debt, car payments, or student loans.
I chose, instead of buying more Stuff, to live a more fulfilled life. For me, even more important than holding onto my money tightly was to learn to let it go — to give it to others in exchange for work well done, and to trust that they could do tasks well. It’s one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.