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Apache is functioning normally

Apache is functioning normally

This article originally appeared on RickOrford.com and has been republished here with permission.

Car owners throughout the U.S. almost always need to have a car insurance policy. With the financial considerations involved and the risks drivers face on the road, it’s important to weigh the cost of car insurance carefully. Do you think your car insurance is too high? If so, you can find cheap car insurance by shopping around. 

In certain ways, your car insurance costs may be a reflection of you and your driving habits. Auto insurance providers often base the rates they charge on important factors. Some of these include your credit score, where you live, your driving record, and the type of car you drive. Therefore, if your premiums recently shot up or seem too high, you need to determine the possible reasons for it. 

Reason #1: You Have Bad Credit

In most states, auto insurance companies use your credit score when calculating your car insurance premiums. Therefore, if you have a poor credit score, you may end up having to pay higher insurance premiums. However, the cost increase may depend on the auto insurance provider you choose and where you live. 

According to the Insurance Information Institute, credit-based insurance scores are confidential ratings based on the insured individual’s credit information. Many insurance providers use credit scores in combination with other factors to help determine premiums. This is typically the case for insurance lines such as personal car insurance. 

Reason #2: Poor Driving Record

Before giving you a car insurance policy, all insurance providers will want to know your complete driving record. This includes your traffic violations and accidents you had in the past. Even if the handful of accidents you had did not happen recently, you might still have to pay higher insurance premiums. The same applies to traffic violations. 

However, if you have a clean driving record, you should enjoy lower insurance premiums. When it comes time to renew your policy, your insurance provider will check your driving record for DUIs, accidents, speeding tickets, and other traffic violations. 

Your premiums may increase by as much as 20% after a speeding ticket. A DWI or DUI will cost you significantly more. You will also have to pay steep fines and attorney fees, in addition to an average premium increase of up to $800. 

The reason for this difference in rates is that drivers with poor records are more likely to make more claims in the future. 

Reason #3: Coverage Levels and Types

The type of coverage you choose and the level of insurance you have can greatly influence your insurance rates. Every state decides its own rules and requirements for minimum coverage requirements on any type of policy. 

For example, some states have basic minimum requirements for property damage and bodily injury coverage. Others require additional coverages such as underinsured and/or uninsured motorists and personal injury protection or medical payments coverage. 

A state like South Carolina, for instance, requires drivers to carry the following:

  • A minimum coverage of $25,000 per person for bodily injury
  • $50,000 per accident
  • $25,000 in uninsured motorists’ coverage and property damage coverage within the same limits

Since the minimum requirements for drivers differ by state, you may start with different rates and coverages just on a basic liability insurance policy alone. Furthermore, if your car has a lien, you may need to have additional coverage or higher limits, which would affect your annual rates. 

The answer to the question “Why is my car insurance so high?” may lie in the type of coverage you have. Generally, the more coverage your car has, the more you should expect to pay.

For example, do you have a full coverage insurance policy, which includes collision and comprehensive coverage? If so, it may cost you about 170%  more in premiums than a policy with liability coverage only. 

Reason #4: Your Claim History

Even if you only have a couple of accidents on your driving record, the resulting payouts will impact your insurance premiums. Of course, a driver with a couple of minor fender benders is a significantly lower risk than one who previously totaled several cars. 

Whether the accidents were your fault or not, the number of claims you file will have an impact on your insurance rates. A no-fault accident can lead to a 10% increase in your premium and remain on your record for up to three years. 

However, some states do not allow insurance providers to increase premiums after a no-fault accident. However, filing a claim for such an accident will still count towards your total number of claims. 

Related read: How an Accident Can Affect Your Credit Score

Reason #5: Your Car

When setting premium rates, car insurance providers consider the type of car to be insured. Some types of cars are more likely than others to keep occupants protected in the case of an accident. This results in lower insurance rates.

However, drivers of high-powered cars such as sports cars are statistically more likely to drive recklessly. This makes these drivers more likely to cause accidents, resulting in higher insurance rates. 

According to some studies, safer and bigger cars, such as small SUVs and minivans, tend to have the most reasonable rates of insurance. Smaller cars, on the other hand, have surprisingly high rates. One reason for this could be because they tend to sustain more extensive damage in a crash. 

Reason 6: Where You Live

Car insurance costs vary widely across the United States. If you reside in Michigan, one of the most expensive states for auto insurance, you can expect to pay several times more than people living in Maine, for example. 

Various factors affect insurance rates in each state. These include the number of uninsured drivers, condition of the road network, minimum coverage amounts, and more. That said, you need to understand that insurance rates can vary within a state or city as well. 

For example, if you live in an area with narrow roads that frequently lead to accidents, you may have to pay more for insurance than you would if you lived elsewhere. Those who live in areas with high rates of auto thefts tend to pay more for car insurance as well. 

Reason #7: Your Age or Gender

“Why is my car insurance so high?” This is a question many younger drivers tend to ask. According to the Insurance Information Institute, mature drivers tend to have fewer accidents than less experienced drivers, especially teenagers. This is the reason less experienced drivers pay more for car insurance. 

Also, your insurer will charge you more if you let teenagers and young adults below 25 drive your car. If you have young drivers on your insurance policy, you may end up paying higher premiums.

Your gender may also affect how much you pay for car insurance. Statistically, men tend to get into more accidents and have more DUI-related accidents. Furthermore, they tend to have more serious accidents than women. These are the reasons why women tend to pay less for car insurance than men. 

Young men are likely to pay a lot more for auto insurance. A 20-year-old man, for example, may have to pay about 16% more on his insurance premium than a woman of the same age.

However, as drivers age, the difference in rates tends to even out. Often, older women pay slightly more for car insurance than men of the same age. However, in this case, the difference in rates is quite small. 

Reason #8: Your Insurance Company

Your car insurance may be expensive because your insurance provider charges higher rates. Rates vary dramatically among different insurance providers. Therefore, you could be paying significantly more than necessary. 

According to one study, among the top ten auto insurance providers nationwide, the average price of basic coverage for a good driver is about $440 for six months. However, that same driver could be paying just $309 from one company or as much as $625 from another of the top companies.

Therefore, if you have a good driving record, you could save up to 51% in insurance savings by switching companies. 

Reason #9: Your Driving Patterns

Simply put, you and your insurance provider are at higher risk the more often you’re on the road and the further you drive. If you travel great distances to and from work, driving your car may eliminate some of the inconvenience. You just listen to your favorite music or podcasts to pass the time as you drive to work every day. 

However, you may be paying a higher insurance premium for that convenience. When you apply for insurance coverage, your insurance provider will want to know where you work and where you live. This will help them have a better idea of how far you drive regularly. 

Reason #10: You Have Low Deductibles

When buying car insurance, car owners typically choose a deductible. This is the amount they would need to pay before the insurance provider picks up the tab in the event of theft, an accident, or any other type of vehicle damage. 

Depending on the type of policy you choose, your deductibles may range from $250 to $1,000. However, there’s a catch. Generally, the lower your deductibles are, the higher your annual insurance premium is. 

Reason 11: You Pay for Coverage You Don’t Need

If you think your car insurance is too costly, you need to take a closer look at your policy. Do you need to pay for things such as car rental coverage and roadside assistance? Although such coverage can provide some convenience, they are not the most important things to pay for. 

Reason #12: You Have Gaps in Your Car Insurance

Many auto insurance companies consider the continuity of a car owner’s auto insurance. If you’ve had lapses or gaps in your car insurance history, you may be pegged as a high-risk car owner. As a result, your premium rates may increase by as much as 8% per year. The rate increase goes up to 35% if the coverage lapse extends beyond 30 days.

These penalties may also vary depending on your auto insurance provider. Make sure you ask your provider about how an insurance lapse would affect your premium rates.

The Bottom Line

To find out why your insurance rates seem to be expensive, you must first understand how auto insurance companies determine your rates. Fortunately, in most cases, you can do something about your unnecessarily high car insurance premiums. This may involve adjusting your driving habits or filing fewer claims, if possible.

In addition to shopping around for the best auto insurance rates and the right policy, you should look for discounts as well. These discounts may be applicable to drivers with good records, student drivers, and members of the military. Check your provider’s website to determine the types of discounts they offer. 

The more information you have, the easier you can identify the factors contributing to your car’s high insurance rates. 

Source: credit.com

Apache is functioning normally

Apache is functioning normally

GMAC’s Residential Capital announced today that it will close all 200 GMAC Mortgage retail locations and cease lending at its wholesale lending subsidiary Homecomings Financial.

As a result of the closures, roughly 5,000 employees will lose their jobs, including 3,000 as soon as this month and another 2,000 by the end of the year.

The loss represents about 60 percent of the remaining workforce at ResCap, which was rocked by layoffs last October when about a quarter of the staff was sent packing.

Homecomings sent a memo to mortgage brokers, notifying them that all loans must be submitted no later than 5pm eastern on Thursday, and all loans must fund by October 24.

GMAC’s ResCap unit expects a related charge in the range of $90 to $120 million, much of which will be reflected in the third quarter.

However, ResCap will continue to originate loans both domestically and internationally, so long as there is a secondary market to dump off the loans.

The plan is to originate home loans via its direct (probably Ditech) and correspondent channels and expand its servicing platform to “preserve homeownership.”

Last year, ResCap lost a whopping $4.35 billion, driving once-profitable GMAC to a $2.33 billion loss.

It had been one of the top ten largest home loan lenders until the mortgage crisis took flight in mid-2007.

Check out the latest list of layoffs, mergers, and mortgage lender closures.

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

Apache is functioning normally

Through legitimate or illegitimate means, the main character doesn’t always end the film as a good person. Whether through deception or a mistake, it does not change the result. Several of the most thrilling and astonishing events reveal that the protagonist is mistaken or definitely a villain. Here are some of the best films that demonstrate that.

1. Falling Down (1993)

Photo Credit: Warner Bros. Entertainment.

Numerous cinema enthusiasts cite “Falling Down” as a prime example of an individual thinking they’re virtuous, only to realize that they are not. In the lead role, Michael Douglas portrays William, a man who experiences a sudden and intense breakdown, leading him to embark on a violent rampage. While his job loss and marital separation fuel his growing bitterness and resentment, both he and the audience come to the realization that he is far from the virtuous person he perceives himself to be.

2. Shutter Island (2010)

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Shutter Island ends with a wild twist by the end. U.S. Marshal Teddy, portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, and his recently teamed partner, Chuck, played by Mark Ruffalo, disembark from a ferry at a mental institution. Their objective is to locate a fugitive murderer who has managed to escape. As reality blurs and Teddy’s psyche unravels, the end reveals how far Teddy’s delusion stretched rather than face the truth of his past.

3. Primal Fear (1996)

Photo Credit: Paramount Pictures.

Several people included this 90s flick on their lists. Primal Fear’s plot revolves around Martin (Richard Gere), a defense lawyer who represents Aaron (Edward Norton), an altar boy accused of killing his archbishop. Through windy twists, Martin believes he’s the story’s hero but soon learns he’s otherwise. This was shocking the first time I saw it.

4. Fight Club (1999)

Photo Credit: Twentieth Century Fox.

Even if you’ve never seen this movie, you know the phrase “first rule of fight club.” While the first film had a young Edward Norton, Fight Club stars adult Norton narrating a story about him and his off-kilter friend Tyler Durden (Brad Pitt). After forming an underground fight club, more people join their ranks, and chaos ensues as their club becomes much more. If you haven’t seen the film, check it out for the surprise twist.

5. Memento (2000)

Photo Credit: Newmarket Capital Group.

Memento is a film where people debate whether the lead is good or bad. It all depends on how you cla-ify good. If it’s by a person’s actions, even if accidental, can they be called “good?” Also, because of the order, the end is the beginning, as Leonard (Guy Pearce) has short-term memory loss. His goal is to discover who killed his wife; however, he forgets info which lays the groundwork for monumental mistakes.

6. The Others (2001)

Photo Credit: Cruise/Wagner Productions.

It’s no surprise The Others is on most folks’ lists. The twist was so shocking that I was angry because I did not expect that ending. Grace has it rough living in shadows in her dark home because her two children have severe skin reactions to sunlight. Soon she suspects ghosts haunt her home and fights to protect her children while not unraveling herself. This film reminds me of how upset I felt playing Silent Hill 2.

7. Pumpkinhead (1988)

Photo Credit: Twentieth Century Fox.

Justice for a loss is understandable. But there is a fine line between justice and vengeance which Pumpkinhead crosses. Following the tragic loss of his young son in a motorcycle crash, Ed (Lance Henriksen) searches for an eerie elderly woman to invoke Pumpkinhead. Naturally, fewer individuals would pursue revenge if they were required to endure the same terror and agony that their victims went through. The final twist is the icing on the cake.

8. Identity (2003)

Photo Credit: Columbia Pictures.

Identity delivers a lot of surprises, but it’s only near the very end that you realize what’s happening. Ian (John Cusack) and nine other strangers wind up stranded at a motel during a storm when people die one by one. A poem’s opening, “as I was going up the stair, I met a man who wasn’t there,” never sounded more chilling.

9. Us (2019)

Photo Credit: Universal Pictures.

Jordan Peele’s Us is another one where the “good person” turns out to be anything but. When Adelaide (Lupita Nyong’o) returns to the home she grew up in as a child with her husband and two kids, masked strangers arrive who resemble them. Whether you agree with the twist, “good” does not factor in. You can understand, but that’s it.

10. Frailty (2001)

Photo Credit: David Kirschner Productions.

Frailty, which a few people name, is about people thinking they’re good when they’re not. An unknown man (Matthew McConaughey) visits an FBI agent, Wesley (Powers Boothe), and recounts his childhood when his father believed he got a vision from God to kill people who were demons. This is still one of my favorite films because of the reveal at the end. I won’t spoil it here, but give this a view!

Source: Reddit.

25 Extraordinary Sequels and Remakes That Outshine the Originals

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Every once in a while, a movie sequel or remake surpa-es the original film. After polling the internet, “Name a single movie where the sequel or remake was better than the original?” Here are the top-voted responses.

25 Extraordinary Sequels and Remakes That Outshine the Originals

10 Crazy Good Movies Where Women Are the Bad Guys

Image Credit: Lionsgate

Are you looking for a movie night with a twist? Look no further than these Reddit-voted top ten films where women take on the destructive bad guy role.

10 Crazy Good Movies Where Women Are the Bad Guys

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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.

These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag

15 Cover Songs that are Better than the Original

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Sometimes, a cover of a song ends up doing far better than the original. Some covers are so good that we didn’t even realize the cover version wasn’t actually the original.

15 Cover Songs that are Better than the Original

These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People

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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? 

These 7 Celebrities are Genuinely Good People



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Source: financequickfix.com

Apache is functioning normally

There is a significant difference between being an adult and behaving like one. Legally, teens become adults when they turn 18. It’s pretty common for teenagers to ponder the moment of their transition into adulthood and the distinguishing factors between being an adult and a child. Here’s a list of life skills we think every adult needs to know in order to really act like an adult. 

1. Financial Management

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Acquiring the ability to handle your financial matters is an essential life skill that every individual should grasp before reaching 18 years of age. Financial management encompa-es skills such as devising and adhering to a budget, saving funds, comprehending credit, and preparing for future expenditures.  Acquiring strong financial management abilities in your youth can establish a foundation for long-term financial stability in the future. Learning how to prioritize critical expenses (like rent), avoid overspending, and save for emergencies and future goals is important. It’s never too early to start learning; kids as young as 7 or 8 can begin practicing with their allowance.

One Redditor said, “Developing skills of positive financial management is a process many overlook.”

Another also added, “So much this. Or even just understanding how to budget and a basic understanding of household bills.”

2. Good Hygiene 

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Proper hygiene is crucial for averting illnesses and diseases and enhancing personal appearance and contentment. Cultivate healthy routines like consistently washing your hands, caring for your oral hygiene, taking showers, and donning fresh clothing. Practicing good hygiene in public places and when you’re sick is also essential. By learning good hygiene at a young age, you can develop habits that benefit your own health and make it easier to keep a strong group of friends—giving you a healthier community overall.

3. Cooking

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Cooking is important not only for saving money but also because it can teach you time management, budgeting, nutrition, and many other things. Cooking at home gives you greater control over the ingredients they use, which is especially helpful if you have allergies. Overall, learning how to cook is a valuable skill that provides numerous benefits, including increased self-sufficiency. It is never too early to start learning and developing cooking skills at a young age can set individuals up for a lifetime of healthy and enjoyable eating habits.

One user said, “Oh, and cooking some basic meals is a lifesaver. I don’t know why schools don’t have home economics cla-es. It’s such a shame.”

4. Simple First Aid

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Acquiring a basic understanding of first aid holds significance, as it enables you to navigate emergencies without succumbing to the fight-or-flight instinct and instead provide practical a-istance. Basic first aid skills can help prevent injuries from worsening and sometimes even save lives. It’s good to know how to treat minor cuts, burns, and bruises and respond to choking, allergic reactions, and other medical emergencies. Knowing how to perform CPR and use an automated external defibrillator (AED) usually requires certification, but it can be life-saving in some situations.

Understanding how to see the big picture in an emergency is important, such as a-essing the situation, calling paramedics, and staying calm and focused.

5. Critical Thinking 

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Critical thinking is how we carefully analyze information, evaluate evidence, and make logical decisions. The foundation of critical thinking is really just asking good questions, trying to find out all the relevant information before you make a decision, and developing your problem-solving abilities. The world is full of information, misinformation, and confusing situations (like finding an honest mechanic or negotiating with a landlord). The ability to think critically and ask good questions will take you a long way.

One Redditor said, “Don’t take things at face value; really consider what is being told to you, why, and by who. There are good people in the world of course, but there are many who do NOT have your best interest at heart and will attempt to take advantage of your ignorance. Go slow, listen, learn, and Think.”

6. Time Management

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

Time management is an essential life skill; it can benefit anyone at any age, but it’s particularly important to learn it as you move away from home and encounter the world on your own. Managing your time is important for everything from the obvious (working, school, making plans with friends), to cooking a meal or cleaning your house. As you become an adult, practice managing your time and creating a schedule or using a calendar or planner. Time management can help you be more productive, achieve your goals, and reduce stress.

7. Emotional Intelligence

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Take some time as you become an adult to learn or brush up on emotional intelligence. You don’t have to read thoughts, but staying attentive to the emotions, reactions, and expressions of the people around you can teach you so much and help a lot with all kinds of relationships. Everything from working to dating relationships relies a lot on working with other people’s moods and emotions, even if they’re unfair. Developing these skills will help navigate social relationships and communicate clearly and effectively.

One Redditor added, “Emotional intelligence. I didn’t start developing this at all until I was in my late 20s. I feel like men especially struggle with this.”

8. Self Control

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Delayed gratification is one of the hardest skills to learn: almost everybody is tempted by the instant payoff. Learning self-control is essential to make better decisions, regulate emotions, and achieve goals. Self-control skills include delayed gratification, but also impulse control, self-motivation, and stress management. The ability to manage your stress, keep yourself motivated, and keep control over your impulses will take you a long way in life.

One Redditor stated, “Self-control, you are now an adult, and whatever protections you had for your actions as a minor are largely gone, and the consequences are now higher.”

9. Communication Skills

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Learning to communicate well can provide significant benefits, such as improved relationships, better academic performance, increased employability, improved mental health, and enhanced problem-solving abilities. Some ways to develop communication skills include practicing speaking, reading, and writing, joining clubs or organizations, active listening, and seeking feedback. Whatever way you find to practice, do it with mindfulness and intention, not just to get it done.

10. Developing Your Own Opinions

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Developing your opinions is an important skill to develop before age 18 because it helps you become a critical thinker and an independent individual. It is essential to form your own opinions based on evidence, logic, and reasoning rather than simply adopting the beliefs of others.

11. Learn a New Skill

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As you age and become more independent, don’t stop studying and learning new things. New skills are not only just interesting (and make you a more interesting person), but they can increase your overall joy, inspire you in your school or career, and keep your mind sharp. Some really valuable skills to consider brushing up on include a foreign language, coding or computer programming, public speaking, writing, critical thinking, and problem-solving.

As a user added, “There are a lot of skills one should possess before turning 18; they include social skills, communication networking, tech skills, video editing, graphics designing, and coding…”

While you might not try to learn those exact skills for your personal career path, keep studying and learning whatever direction you decide to take.

Source: Reddit.

10 Crazy Good Movies Where Women Are the Bad Guys

Image Credit: Lionsgate

Are you looking for a movie night with a twist? Look no further than these Reddit-voted top ten films where women take on the destructive bad guy role.

10 Crazy Good Movies Where Women Are the Bad Guys

10 of the Worst TV Series Ever According to the Internet

There’s Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Office, and other legendary shows. But have you considered that for each show that garners universal critical acclaim, there is an inverse show lurking on the other end of the IMDb rating scale?

10 of the Worst TV Series Ever According to the Internet

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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.

These 10 Activities Are an Immediate Red Flag

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

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

Image Credit: Troma Entertainment

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



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Source: financequickfix.com

Apache is functioning normally

Perhaps not surprisingly, eight of the 10 most expensive housing markets in the nation can be found in California, at least according to the latest Home Price Comparison Index from Coldwell Banker.

The real estate company evaluated average home values for select 2,200 square foot single-family homes with four bedrooms and two-and-a-half baths in 315 markets in the U.S., finding that La Jolla, CA was the most expensive at $1,841,667.

On the other end of the affordability spectrum was Sioux City, Iowa, where a comparable home would cost just $133,459, despite its waterfront status on the Mississippi River.

The California vs. Midwest trend runs deep, with eight of the most affordable homes found in the heartland of the United States.

Notables include Akron, Ohio, Arlington, TX, and Eau Claire, WI, where all the homes average a sales price below $150,000.

In California, places like San Francisco, Beverly Hills, and Newport Beach topped the list, all with prices above $1.5 million.

Aside from California cities dominating the least affordable list, Greenwich, CT and Boston, MA also made the top ten, with sales prices of $1,787,000 and $1,493,750, respectively.

Of course, you needn’t be a multi-millionaire to live in California, that is, if you choose to live in the most affordable city, Bakersfield, where the average sales price runs at a more reasonable $273,457.

But if you want more freedom to choose, consider Idaho, where the home price variance between the most affordable and least affordable market is just $217.

Coldwell said the cumulative average sales price for the four-bedroom homes tracked in the index was $403,738, a 4.4 percent discount to the $422,343 price in the 2007 study.

(photo: amagill)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

Apache is functioning normally

At Promenade Towers, a Bunker Hill apartment complex with 611 units that bills itself as “an urban oasis in the heart of downtown,” tenants received 371 eviction notices from late January through July.

At 1600 Vine, a Hollywood building with 375 units that’s been known for attracting social media influencers who have posted from its balconies and manicured courtyard, 313 notices were issued in that period.

Across Los Angeles, more than 40,000 eviction notices, the vast majority of which were three-day notices to pay or move out, have been sent to tenants since late January. They were issued at buildings across the city, for amounts ranging from $0 to $561,700. The 10 buildings sending the most notices to their tenants — more than 150 each — were upscale apartments in places such as downtown, Hollywood and Woodland Hills.

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Details about the notices, which are a precursor to an eviction lawsuit, were collected by the city for the first time this year and made public by the city controller’s office. They shed light on a key step in the eviction process that until now has been shrouded in secrecy, offering a glimpse at how often tenants across the city are met with the threat of eviction.

While public perception is that tenants in low-income and gentrifying communities are most threatened with eviction, the data are in line with research showing that large property management firms tend to automate their processes and initiate eviction proceedings at higher rates, said Kyle Nelson, a senior policy and research analyst at the nonprofit advocacy group Strategic Actions for a Just Economy.

“You have extremely high-rent tenancies with extremely inflexible landlords,” said Nelson, who has been studying evictions in L.A. County for a decade.

The 40,000 notices were sent to residents of about 8,400 buildings. Roughly 94% of them were notices that give tenants three days, not including weekends or court holidays, to pay any outstanding rent, fix other issues or move out, according to an analysis by the controller’s office; 96% were issued for nonpayment of rent.

The data do not capture all the eviction notices issued by landlords through the end of July. The housing department has an estimated backlog of 5,000 paper copies received in the mail it needs to enter into its database, said spokesperson Sharon Sandow. The city plans to catch up no later than October.

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Some landlords said they automatically issue the notices when rent is late.

“Rent is due on the 1st and considered late on the 4th with ‘3-day pay or quit notices’ sent after the 4th as a reminder that rent is due and unpaid,” said Thomas Meredith, senior business manager for 1600 Vine. “These were only notifications that the tenant’s rent was past due.”

But by law the notices are more than reminders. They are the legal demands that come before a court case that could ultimately force a tenant from their home.

Landlords who serve notices don’t necessarily follow up with a lawsuit, however, and it’s unknown how many of the notices have translated to court action.

Representatives of Symmetry Apartments, a 431-unit complex in Northridge that issued 152 eviction notices, said it’s had 28 actual evictions this year, and not all were for nonpayment of rent. The complex had $2.2 million unpaid rent from the pandemic and began issuing eviction notices again in February when local emergency tenant protections ended, the landlord’s representatives said.

When those protections expired, the city adopted new rules meant to shield at-risk renters from a wave of evictions.

Among those rules is one that bars tenants from being evicted for less than one month’s fair market rent, which is determined by the number of bedrooms in an apartment and based on figures from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for Los Angeles.

According to the data, landlords issued 4,300 eviction notices for amounts below that cutoff since March 27 when the ordinance went into effect.

The rule only applies to rent debt incurred after that date and the data do not specify when the debt was incurred, so it is difficult to say whether landlords are complying with the rules.

Symmetry Apartments issued seven notices for amounts lower than the fair market value threshold. Representatives said they were all “sent erroneously” and they did not file lawsuits in those cases.

At 1600 Vine, about 35 three-day notices were mistakenly issued for amounts below the threshold because of a clerical error and none resulted in an eviction, Meredith said.

Citywide there were about 1,300 cases in which nonpayment of rent was cited as the reason for an eviction notice even though the rent owed was listed as $0. More than 400 were issued for amounts less than $500.

There were also a sizable number of notices sent for very large amounts. Seventeen properties saw notices issued for more than $100,000 in back rent.

Since eviction notices were not previously collected in Los Angeles, it’s not known how the number of notices compares with the past.

But court filings show that eviction lawsuits are rapidly increasing across the region.

Before plummeting during the pandemic, eviction numbers in Los Angeles had been on a gradual downward trend since the Great Recession. That direction appears to be reversing as pandemic restrictions end and landlords move to file a backlog of cases.

From January through June 2023, there were more than 23,000 eviction lawsuits filed in L.A. County, a 74% increase over the first half of 2022 and the highest first half total since 2016, according to court data collected by Nelson, the research analyst.

The building that issued the most eviction notices in the period reflected in the data was Promenade Towers, where the least expensive one-bedroom was advertised for $2,487 a month as of Wednesday, 50% higher than the median comparable listing citywide, according to the real estate website Apartment List.

The building issued 371 notices to 170 units, more than a quarter of the total in the complex, according to the city housing department. Since July, the landlord, Goldrich Kest, which owns more than 100 apartment complexes across the country, has given out an additional 16 notices at the property, city records show.

Normally, eviction lawsuits are sealed for privacy purposes unless a landlord wins a judgment. But The Times reviewed nine eviction cases filed by Promenade Towers in August.

One was served to a 49-year-old woman living in one of the units reserved for low-income tenants. The woman, who requested anonymity out of concern for her future housing prospects, said her temporary job in property management ended soon after she moved in in early 2022. Since then, she has struggled to find consistent employment and has never paid rent.

“I haven’t been able to afford to move out,” the woman said. “Otherwise, I would have been long, long, long gone.”

All nine eviction lawsuits are for rent allegedly owed in 2022.

The City Council passed renter protections that now discourage landlords from filing eviction claims against tenants for 2022 rent not paid because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The protections are intended to shield such tenants from eviction until February 2024 provided that COVID affected their ability to pay. It’s unclear whether that’s the case for the Promenade Towers residents.

Goldrich Kest officials did not answer a written list of questions from The Times, but maintain that the eviction cases it filed are valid.

“Without getting into the particulars, Promenade Towers is in full compliance with city and county ordinances,” said Love Zepeda, a company regional director.

Niv Davidovich, an attorney representing Goldrich Kest, said that his firm has won cases despite the pandemic restrictions even when the housing department objected.

“Such evictions were entirely legal and well within landlords’ rights to file and pursue, and these judgments prove this to be the case,” Davidovich said.

Park La Brea, a rent-stabilized community that is the largest apartment complex west of the Mississippi with 4,245 units, is another hot spot for eviction notices, according to the city data.

The Times analysis counted notices given at individual addresses. While none of Park La Brea’s addresses were in the top ten for most eviction notices, collectively the complex saw hundreds.

The 10 addresses with the most eviction notices spanned several neighborhoods, with four in the San Fernando Valley and six in the Los Angeles Basin.

In many cases, the buildings had several things in common: relatively high rents and residents who said management used eviction notices as a warning after late payments.

At Motif in Woodland Hills, where at least 183 eviction notices went out this year, resident Tracey was in the process of moving out.

When paying rent in Motif’s online portal, she said, tenants are given a five-day grace period. “The second you don’t pay there’s an eviction letter on your door,” Tracey said. Prior to moving out, Tracey racked up five eviction notices for being, she said, “like a second late” on payment, often while traveling.

“They’re really big on eviction letters,” she said, declining to give her last name for fear of retaliation by the property management company she will rely on in her new complex.

Stephanie, who declined to give her last name, was walking her dog at Reveal in Woodland Hills, where at least 233 eviction notices went out this year.

The building’s lease says the landlord can serve a three-day notice any day after the first of the month.

A seven-year resident of the complex, Stephanie said she understands why people get behind on rent.

“It’s really expensive and prices go up every year in this market,” she said.

Times assistant data and graphics editor Iris Lee contributed to this report.

Source: latimes.com

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Lots of movies can be recognizable by some of their most quotable lines, whether they’re spoken by antagonists or protagonists. So with this, we have listed the top 11 movie one-liners that are too good not to remember: 

Photo Credit:Shutterstock.

1. Terminator 2

A Redditor shared this line from one of the most famous movies of all time, Terminator, “Hasta la vista, Baby.” One also commented with another line from the movie, “I’ll be back….” Another added, [That’s] literally the first thing I thought about when reading the post.”

2. Toy Story 

One user said, “To infinity and beyond!” Another Redditor added, “HE’S NOT FLYING! He’s just falling…with style.” “There’s a snake in my boots!” replied one. Another shared, “So long… Partner.”

3. The Sixth Sense 

One commenter posted, “I see dead people.” Another commenter identified the movie just from that line, “Sixth sense, if I’m not mistaken. Extremely good, I just saw it a few weeks ago.” One user also said, “It was before I was informed of it as well. It caught me by complete surprise.”

4. Truman

“Good morning, and in case I don’t see ya, good afternoon, good evening, and goodnight!” one Reddit user posted. Another one replied, “That movie is such a gem.” One also commented, “And it’s timeless; you could see it at the premiere, and you could see it now for the first time, and it would still make total sense.”

5. The Shining

A Redditor posted, “Here’s Johnny!”. One unknowingly replied, “All I need is a title…” Another commented, “Can’t murder now, eating.”

Photo Credit: Shutterstock.

6. Harry Potter

Another user commented, “Yer a wizard, Harry.” and one replied,”  I’m a wot?” Another user also shared,” A WIZAHD.” 

Someone replied,” But I’m jus’ ‘Arry!” 

A Reddit user then ended with,” Well “jus’ ‘Arry,” yer a wizahd!”

7. Taken

Almost every user expects this one-liner from this movie, as one of the Reddit users posted, “I will find you… And I will kill you….” 

A user replied, “I feel like the “very particular set of skills” part is the more iconic part.” Another one added, “Good luck…” while a user shared, “The most satisfying scene is when Mr. “Good Luck,” was the one Bryan strapped into the electric chair to interrogate him, and then keeping his word, once he had his intel he left the room with the switch thrown, leaving the scumbag to fry!”

8. Sparta

One user commented,” “THIS… IS… SPARTA!!!” Another replied, “Loved that episode of Frasier.”

9. The Lord of the Rings

One Redditor exclaimed online, “YOU. SHALL. NOT. PASS!!!!” Another user then replied, “GANDAAALFFF!!!”

10. Snakes on a Plane

A sharer commented, “I HAVE HAD IT WITH THESE MOTHERF***G SNAKES ON THIS MOTHERF***G PLANE!” Another user commented, “I have had it with these monkey fighting snakes on this Monday to Friday plane!”

11. Home Alone 2

One Reddit user posted, “Keep the change, ya filthy animal.” Another one then responded, “That’s a tricky one, though. Could be a quote from a movie within a movie.” 

One user also shared, “I think we’re getting scammed by a kindy-gartner.”

Source: Reddit.

Image Credit: Troma Entertainment

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.

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Have you had a bad experience visiting a city and sworn never to return? Not every trip is a great experience.

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When it comes to music, the mantra “beauty lies in the eye of the beholder” holds truer than ever. Nevertheless, we’ve worked hard to pinpoint the best American bands ever.

10 of the Greatest American Bands of All Time

10 Crazy Good Movies Where Women Are the Bad Guys

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Are you looking for a movie night with a twist? Look no further than these Reddit-voted top ten films where women take on the destructive bad guy role.

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10 of the Worst TV Series Ever According to the Internet

There’s Seinfeld, The Sopranos, Game of Thrones, The Office, and other legendary shows. But have you considered that for each show that garners universal critical acclaim, there is an inverse show lurking on the other end of the IMDb rating scale?

10 of the Worst TV Series Ever According to the Internet



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Source: financequickfix.com

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Another year, another word of the year tied to the ongoing mortgage crisis.

Merriam-Webster unveiled its word of the year for 2008, selecting the term “bailout” because it received the highest intensity of lookups over the shortest period of time.

The online dictionary defines it as “a rescue from financial distress,” though more opinionated readers could perhaps express it more strongly.

Regardless, the word bailout has been used frequently in the media, from discussing the fate of Fannie, Freddie, and the big three automakers, to speaking of foreclosure moratoriums and loan modifications for individual borrowers.

The term bailout was also a large aspect of the rhetoric spewed by both presidential candidates as they tried to get a handle on the ongoing housing crisis, a top issue during the storied campaign.

A number of other words in the top ten related to the presidential election, including words like vet, socialism, maverick, bipartisan, and rogue.

Words in the top ten that potentially related to the financial crisis included trepidation, precipice, and turmoil.

Of course it’s not surprising that this year’s word of the year has a lot to do with the mortgage crisis, considering last year’s winner was “subprime.”

(photo: gaetanlee)

Source: thetruthaboutmortgage.com

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Across the expanse of human history, societies have arisen, flourished, and faced decline. Historians have chronicled the rise and fall of many civilizations, providing valuable insights for subsequent generations. However, some of these societies have vanished suddenly and without explanation. We’re exploring some of these civilizations that were lost without a trace.

1. Roanoke

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The mystery of Roanoke is to the disappearance of the English colony established on Roanoke Island off the coast of North Carolina, in the late 16th century. Sir Walter Raleigh founded the colony in 1587, but when a supply ship arrived in 1590, all of the colonists had vanished without a trace. Theories about what happened to them include being killed by hostile Native Americans, joining a nearby tribe or local community, or attempting to sail back to England and perishing at sea.

Clues Without Answers

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The word “Croatoan” carved into a tree near the abandoned settlement has led some to speculate that the colonists may have relocated to the nearby Croatoan Island, but no concrete evidence of this has ever been found. Despite numerous attempts to solve the mystery, the fate of the Roanoke colonists remains a mystery.

2. Angkor

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Angkor is an ancient city located in northwest Cambodia that was once the capital of the Khmer Empire from the 9th to the 15th centuries. At its height, it was one of the largest and most advanced cities in the world, known for its impressive architecture and sophisticated irrigation systems. Despite being abandoned in the 15th century after a series of wars and natural disasters, it remained largely hidden until the late 19th century. Today, it is a popular tourist destination, with visitors exploring the temples and ruins of the ancient city, including the famous Angkor Wat, the Bayon temple, and the Ta Prohm temple.

3. Teotihuacan

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Teotihuacan is an ancient Mesoamerican city located in the Basin of Mexico, near modern-day Mexico City. It was founded around 200 BCE and was one of the largest cities in the world during the first half of the 1st millennium CE. It is known for its impressive pyramids, sophisticated urban planning, and thriving economy. The city was mysteriously abandoned in the 7th or 8th century CE, and scholars still debate the reasons for its decline. Today, it is a UNESCO World Heritage site and a popular tourist destination.

4. The Spiro Nation Mounds

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The Spiro Nation Mounds was a pre-Columbian Native American culture in Oklahoma, USA that belonged to the Spiro people culture. They built earthen mounds for various purposes and were skilled artisans and traders. They produced intricate pottery, copper ornaments, and shell-tempered effigy vessels for ritual use. The Spiro culture declined and disappeared around the 15th century. Today, the Spiro Mounds Archaeological Center preserves and interprets their legacy.

5. City of Great Zimbabwe

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The City of Great Zimbabwe is an ancient stone city in Zimbabwe that was the capital of the Kingdom of Zimbabwe from the 11th to 15th century. It was a major trade center known for trading ivory, gold, and copper. The city had massive stone walls, was home to up to 20,000 people at its peak, and is now a UNESCO World Heritage site. Its decline in the 15th century was likely due to environmental degradation and political instability. Today, the ruins of the city serve as a testament to the region’s rich history and attract visitors from around the world.

6. The City of Tanis

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The City of Tanis, also known as San El-Hagar, is an ancient city located in the Nile Delta region of Egypt. It served as the capital of Egypt during the 21st and 22nd dynasties and was a significant center of worship for the god Amun, with many temples and religious monuments. Tanis is also mentioned in the biblical story of Exodus. Rediscovered in the 1930s by archaeologist Pierre Montet, the site has revealed many ancient artifacts and structures, including tombs and temples.

7. The Indus Valley

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The Indus Valley civilization thrived in the northwestern region of the Indian subcontinent from approximately 2600 BCE to 1900 BCE. It was one of the world’s earliest urban civilizations, characterized by well-planned cities with advanced sanitation systems and a complex social structure. The people were skilled in agriculture, metallurgy, and handicrafts and traded with other civilizations. Although civilization’s script has yet to be fully deciphered, its decline was attributed to factors such as climate change, environmental degradation, and invasion by foreign groups. The civilization’s legacy can still be seen in the cultural practices of modern-day Pakistan and India.

8. Çatalhöyük

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Çatalhöyük is an ancient city in Turkey, inhabited from approximately 7500 BCE to 5700 BCE, known for its distinctive architecture with no streets or public spaces. Archaeological excavations have revealed many insights into the daily lives, diet, economy, and social organization of its inhabitants. The people were skilled in agriculture, animal husbandry, and trade and had a complex religious and spiritual life. The city’s decline and abandonment are still debated but are thought to have been caused by environmental degradation, resource depletion, and social conflict. Çatalhöyük remains an important archaeological site and UNESCO World Heritage Site.

9. The Maya Empire

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The Maya Empire was an ancient civilization that existed in parts of Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras, and El Salvador. The Maya were known for their advanced culture, including impressive achievements in mathematics, astronomy, art, and architecture. The empire was made up of numerous city-states, each with its own ruler and government, and the economy was based on agriculture and trade.

Still a Well-Known Site

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The civilization declined around 900 CE due to environmental factors, warfare, and internal political instability. The Maya have had a lasting impact on the culture and identity of modern-day Mexico and Central America.

This article explores civilizations that disappeared without a trace, leaving behind only questions and theories about their disappearance. These civilizations were once thriving, but for various reasons, they all vanished, leaving behind only ruins and unanswered questions. Despite many attempts to solve the questions, the fate of these civilizations remains a mystery.

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15 Cover Songs that are Better than the Original

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Sometimes, a cover of a song ends up doing far better than the original. Some covers are so good that we didn’t even realize the cover version wasn’t actually the original.

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These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

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The movies we love best are a combination of excellent characters, plots, stories and cinematography. But if these factors can make great movies, they can also make terrible movies—the ones that make people cringe, the ones we swear they’ll never watch again.

These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked

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People will always have preferences and something to say about celebrities. What you might love may not be the same for others. Whether it’s about their past behaviors, legal issues, or feuds with other celebrities, here is a list of celebrities people just cannot stand.

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked

Image Credit: Troma Entertainment

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



About the Author



Dan Williams



Source: financequickfix.com

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Sometimes the small, unseemly, unimportant tasks we do every day can have a massive impact on our lives for the better. We call these “life hacks”. In this article, we’re walking through the top ten most powerful life hacks that can change your life. If you’re looking to bring your life together and don’t know where to start, take the time to read this article. It’s crazy where these small steps can lead you in three to five years.

1. 15 Minutes of Sun Every Morning

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Get sunlight in your eyes every morning. Sunlight offers many benefits, including but not limited to setting your circadian rhythm, priming your brain to be alert and focused, and giving your body Vitamin D. It also enhances metabolism and immune functionality. After doing it regularly, watch this transform your overall mood, well-being, and even your ability to sleep.

2. Daily Meditation

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So many of our problems come because we cannot sit by ourselves, alone with our thoughts, for even thirty minutes. Our society is filled with cheap dopamine, constant notifications, and screens everywhere we look. Take time to slow down and be present.

Meditation has already been demonstrated to reduce stress and enhance mental clarity. Meditation might be what you require if you’re grappling with burnout and finding that your performance has declined.

3. Surround yourself with optimists

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Optimists are like the light in your life that you look for when you’re currently in the dark part of your life. Surround yourself with people who bring positive influence. You are the average of the five individuals you invest the most time with. Ensure that each of these five individuals can drive you toward your goals. Ultimately, exercise careful discretion in selecting those you allocate your time to. It’s effortless to draw in negative companions during personal struggle and despondency. However, true allies will aid you in rediscovering a positive trajectory once more.

4. Practice Gratitude

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Gratitude is a key ingredient for living a fulfilling life. Gratitude helps people feel more positive emotions, build strong relationships, and improve their health. Take five minutes per day to write down five things you’re grateful for. Practicing gratitude also reminds you of all that you have: your friends, positive relationships, and good moments throughout the day.

5. Ask for Advice

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Don’t underestimate the power of a mentor. Epictetus mentored Marcus Aurelius. Jobs mentored Zuckerberg. Buffet mentored Gates. Seek advice from people two to three steps ahead of you. You can access their lifetime of wisdom in two to three years. While reading self-help books helps, having access to a mentor is on another level.

6. Journal Every Day

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Writing is essential to unleashing your creative potential. Writing or journaling daily builds discipline and allows you to organize your thinking. It also improves your vocabulary and communication skills. Mastering this skill will lead to success in the modern economy.

7. Invest in Yourself

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We spend eight hours a day working for someone else, but many of us won’t take 30 minutes to work on ourselves. Invest in yourself through reading, exercising, and learning a new skill. Just 30 minutes a day can change your life.

8. Read Good Books

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The most successful people in the world have one thing in common: they love to read. Read about things that interest you. Re-read your favorite books. Read every day. An hour a day of reading puts you at the top .01% of people.

9. Take a Cold Shower

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A three-minute cold shower will provide benefits that last the rest of the day, like raising your ability to handle stress. Taking a cold shower increases dopamine, boosts metabolism, and burns brown fat, so anything else you have to do afterward will seem easy.

10. Set a Bedtime Alarm

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After this alarm goes off, allow your mind to relax. Turn off all your devices. Take a warm shower or bath. Read your favorite fiction book. Setting yourself up for success the next day starts the night before.

Source: Reddit. 

These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

Photo Credit: Lightstorm Entertainment / TSG Entertainment II

The movies we love best are a combination of excellent characters, plots, stories and cinematography. But if these factors can make great movies, they can also make terrible movies—the ones that make people cringe, the ones we swear they’ll never watch again.

These 11 Movies Are So Bad You’ll Wish You Could Unsee Them

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked

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People will always have preferences and something to say about celebrities. What you might love may not be the same for others. Whether it’s about their past behaviors, legal issues, or feuds with other celebrities, here is a list of celebrities people just cannot stand.

10 Celebrities Who Are Universally Disliked

11 Vampire Movies That Will Leave You Yearning for More

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Sometimes, we just love to watch a favorite vampire movie, one of the ones that never gets old. It piques our imagination with the unknown story of two teenagers fighting for their love, the incredible and creepy scenes, and the bloodsucking classics.

11 Vampire Movies That Will Leave You Yearning for More

25 Extraordinary Sequels and Remakes That Outshine the Originals

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Every once in a while, a movie sequel or remake surpasses the original film. After polling the internet, “Name a single movie where the sequel or remake was better than the original?” Here are the top-voted responses.

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25 Blockbuster Films With Behind-The-Scenes Turmoil Unknown to the Public

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Several big movies with significant nightmare productions have some seriously delicious tea. After a recent poll on the internet, here are twenty-five films with disasters that made filming difficult.

25 Blockbuster Films With Behind-The-Scenes Turmoil Unknown to the Public



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Source: financequickfix.com