We live in the IT era - the time, when people cannot imagine their lives without the global network. If you don't believe that, just recollect the things you did yesterday! How many of them were somehow connected with the Internet? Did you buy something online? Did you chat with your friends in the social networks? Or, maybe, you downloaded and watched your favorite movies? Having answered these questions, you will realize the role the Internet plays in our life today.
When browsing the web either for personal or business purposes, we don't even think about the importance of the IP address. And we don't have to, because this info is not generally needed every day. This, however, does not mean that you should not know anything about the term. And this is where the information provided below will come in handy to you.
The IP Address Basics
The "IP" is the abbreviation, which is deciphered as the "Internet Protocol". This term reflects the essence of the notion, because the IP address comes with each computer launched to the network to ensure high quality connection. If you have ever seen any IP address, you have, probably, noticed that it consists of a set of numbers. These numbers change from time to time, so the IP address of your computer is never the same. This depends upon the activity you demonstrate when surfing the web, the steps you undertake to find the information you need, the device you use for this purpose, the location you are in and other nuances. Regardless of these nuances, it is an IP address of your computer that is responsible for the data access and the availability of the Internet in general.
As you, probably, know, this address is assigned to any laptop or personal computer launched to the global network by the home Internet provider. This is true when it concerns the home-based online access, but what if you decide to travel somewhere or just need to have a coffee break and take your laptop along to use it in a café? Will the IP address remain the same or not? As mentioned above, Internet Protocol addresses occasionally change even if you use the web at home and don't go anywhere. As soon as you leave your house, the IP address is not assigned to your laptop or PC anymore. When you connect to another network, your computer will automatically get another Internet Protocol address. This will repeat over and over again unless you disconnect from the network.
Where to Look for Your IP Address
Do you have to find out your Internet Protocol address? Then you can use several options depending upon the amount of time you have and the objectives you pursue. Thus, you can get access to the settings of your router and check this info there. This is a nice option, if you browse the web at home, although, it may take some time for you to login and find the required info. A better and simpler choice is to go online and look for the info in the search engine. Just type in the search request and watch the results that will be provided in a few seconds.
If you are right about to look for your IP address or just need to make a thorough and reliable vpn test, then you are welcome to use the services offered by 2ip. The website will provide you with the required IP address info in the shortest time possible, which is very convenient and time saving.
Showing posts with label Pure Opinion. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pure Opinion. Show all posts
A Reflection Of The Future Republican Political Party Under Donald Trump
A Now Revamped Republican Party Is On The Horizon That Is Pushing Out Its Past Failures And Putting U.S. Citizens Over Business, Government And Immigrants.
As the new Republican Party forms under the leadership of Donald Trump we must make certain all of our efforts do not go to waste and build a never ending effort that cannot be broken. Taking back our political party that was taken from us is underway. Spokespersons that speak for our efforts must be vetted and maintained in the near Donald Trump voice so when we are ready to step down the next generations of us can keep up the effort that our generation created and put into play.
The purpose of the U.S. Constitution is to maintain a set of rules that allow for citizens within its defined borders to conduct their lives as they see fit freely without hurting others. Over the decades movements within defined groups of citizens have been making strides to alter the meaning of what the U.S. Constitution was set forth to really mean as their group thought has been pushed forward as superior to the creators of the U.S. Constitution. The reality of what the creators of the U.S. Constitution created it to reflect is that all gains in life have to be due to, "Luck".
The only way to govern peoples lives is through "Luck". There's no other way to maintain a persons freedoms. Any passages in law that define what people can have and can't have "Dictates" through a single dictator or a group of communist dictators. The founders of the U.S. Constitution were extremely intelligent individuals and except for technology advances they saw in their time the same issues we see in the presence day and into the future. Any gains in life through acquired skills or social status can only come though "Luck".
One political party winning over the other isn't a win for the prevailing political party unless the prevailing political parties rule is to govern in a way that lets U.S. Citizens decide their own way in life through the luck provided for them by the architects of the U.S. Constitution. Freedom is, "Finding Your Own Luck" and U.S. Citizens can only find luck if they are allowed to build their skills and have the freedom to go out and find their luck.
What is luck you ask? Luck is an endeavor that leads to good fortune that comes your way. There are odds of anyone getting lucky in their endeavors of wanting good fortune or as it's commonly called, "The American Dream". So you have to built your skills in a trade of your choosing. What are the odds of luck coming your way that leads to good fortune if you allow 12 million illegal immigrants into the U.S. overall and an additional 1 million legal immigrants to gain citizenship each year that want some luck and good fortune too? Your odds as a U.S. citizen finding your luck that leads to good fortune goes way down because the illegal immigrants want a chance at your luck also. If you remove all the illegal immigrants and cut back on immigrants gaining citizenship each year the odds of you finding your luck that leads to good fortune improves drastically because the competition to find the luck goes down.
The non libertarian base of the Republican Party fought really hard to get one good candidate out of a flock of 17 candidates, 14 that were extremely bad and 2 that would have been alright. The one candidate that was decided on was in fact in tune with the non libertarian Republican Party base. The non libertarian Republican Party base was in fact leaderless with only very few media outlets to broadcast their voice and having a hard time finding their way without a great media presence to broadcast their voice.
The new Republican Party rising under the leadership of Donald Trump must build their media presence and reject the failed ideology of the libertarian republican leadership that has consumed the Republican Party and came close to destroying it with their constant push to a business run United States. The near death of the Republican Party came from within with the never ending cycle of electing the same old congressional leadership that promotes businesses and their personal wealth over U.S. Citizens financial stability.
A formidable foe that believes persons who live in reality should stand down to the less educated that get themselves elected to live in their non reality was at hand that needed to be put down. They want to create a country based on a communist type government that takes away the large financial gains of persons that have the natural ability for large financial gains to pay for those with less natural mental abilities and very little "Luck" with financial gain. This foe of reality will always go to no ends to achieve and promote their goals as reality that are in fact non reality. The opposition political party imposing their non reality on the population of the U.S. isn't an option. Even though with the heavy losses the opposition political party sustained they march on in the same direction of their non reality agenda. The New Republican Party must grow itself to be the wall against the opposition party's march.
A Republican Party that puts U.S. Citizen personal wealth over business, government and immigrants is the new focus of the Republican Party base to lessen financial hardships that lead to a problematic society that's constantly at odds with each other with the electing of leadership to government that rarely has the answer. The only answer is to get rid of the politicians that are leading us to a failed libertarian business or democrat communist run society and elect representatives that make it easier to find our "Luck" in the economy through acquired skills, knowledge and reduced competition for jobs from outside foreign poverty.
Managed immigration is good in a vibrant economy but U.S. Citizens must always be given the first chance to make and maintain their financial gains in their own economy so financial and social "Luck" within the borders of the United States will increase as poverty decreases.
A new energy exists within the Republican Party at this time with only some that are in rejection of this energy for the reasons of their established ideology being torn away from them. This new energy is rejecting the old failed ways that has created decades of failure and hatred towards the Republican Party of then, that was a political party of self and not for the people.
The Republican Party base propped the established leaders of the Republican Party up under the falsehoods fed to them for the purpose of the old established Republican Party keeping their self gains in constant movement. With the constant failure's of the other political party the old propped up leadership of the Republican Party is being taken down with the opposition political party. A new Republican Party is emerging that is set in the reality of U.S. Citizens first over business, government and immigrants.
Jim Allan's Sea Dogs Beach
As the new Republican Party forms under the leadership of Donald Trump we must make certain all of our efforts do not go to waste and build a never ending effort that cannot be broken. Taking back our political party that was taken from us is underway. Spokespersons that speak for our efforts must be vetted and maintained in the near Donald Trump voice so when we are ready to step down the next generations of us can keep up the effort that our generation created and put into play.
The purpose of the U.S. Constitution is to maintain a set of rules that allow for citizens within its defined borders to conduct their lives as they see fit freely without hurting others. Over the decades movements within defined groups of citizens have been making strides to alter the meaning of what the U.S. Constitution was set forth to really mean as their group thought has been pushed forward as superior to the creators of the U.S. Constitution. The reality of what the creators of the U.S. Constitution created it to reflect is that all gains in life have to be due to, "Luck".
The only way to govern peoples lives is through "Luck". There's no other way to maintain a persons freedoms. Any passages in law that define what people can have and can't have "Dictates" through a single dictator or a group of communist dictators. The founders of the U.S. Constitution were extremely intelligent individuals and except for technology advances they saw in their time the same issues we see in the presence day and into the future. Any gains in life through acquired skills or social status can only come though "Luck".
One political party winning over the other isn't a win for the prevailing political party unless the prevailing political parties rule is to govern in a way that lets U.S. Citizens decide their own way in life through the luck provided for them by the architects of the U.S. Constitution. Freedom is, "Finding Your Own Luck" and U.S. Citizens can only find luck if they are allowed to build their skills and have the freedom to go out and find their luck.
What is luck you ask? Luck is an endeavor that leads to good fortune that comes your way. There are odds of anyone getting lucky in their endeavors of wanting good fortune or as it's commonly called, "The American Dream". So you have to built your skills in a trade of your choosing. What are the odds of luck coming your way that leads to good fortune if you allow 12 million illegal immigrants into the U.S. overall and an additional 1 million legal immigrants to gain citizenship each year that want some luck and good fortune too? Your odds as a U.S. citizen finding your luck that leads to good fortune goes way down because the illegal immigrants want a chance at your luck also. If you remove all the illegal immigrants and cut back on immigrants gaining citizenship each year the odds of you finding your luck that leads to good fortune improves drastically because the competition to find the luck goes down.
The non libertarian base of the Republican Party fought really hard to get one good candidate out of a flock of 17 candidates, 14 that were extremely bad and 2 that would have been alright. The one candidate that was decided on was in fact in tune with the non libertarian Republican Party base. The non libertarian Republican Party base was in fact leaderless with only very few media outlets to broadcast their voice and having a hard time finding their way without a great media presence to broadcast their voice.
The new Republican Party rising under the leadership of Donald Trump must build their media presence and reject the failed ideology of the libertarian republican leadership that has consumed the Republican Party and came close to destroying it with their constant push to a business run United States. The near death of the Republican Party came from within with the never ending cycle of electing the same old congressional leadership that promotes businesses and their personal wealth over U.S. Citizens financial stability.
A formidable foe that believes persons who live in reality should stand down to the less educated that get themselves elected to live in their non reality was at hand that needed to be put down. They want to create a country based on a communist type government that takes away the large financial gains of persons that have the natural ability for large financial gains to pay for those with less natural mental abilities and very little "Luck" with financial gain. This foe of reality will always go to no ends to achieve and promote their goals as reality that are in fact non reality. The opposition political party imposing their non reality on the population of the U.S. isn't an option. Even though with the heavy losses the opposition political party sustained they march on in the same direction of their non reality agenda. The New Republican Party must grow itself to be the wall against the opposition party's march.
A Republican Party that puts U.S. Citizen personal wealth over business, government and immigrants is the new focus of the Republican Party base to lessen financial hardships that lead to a problematic society that's constantly at odds with each other with the electing of leadership to government that rarely has the answer. The only answer is to get rid of the politicians that are leading us to a failed libertarian business or democrat communist run society and elect representatives that make it easier to find our "Luck" in the economy through acquired skills, knowledge and reduced competition for jobs from outside foreign poverty.
Managed immigration is good in a vibrant economy but U.S. Citizens must always be given the first chance to make and maintain their financial gains in their own economy so financial and social "Luck" within the borders of the United States will increase as poverty decreases.
A new energy exists within the Republican Party at this time with only some that are in rejection of this energy for the reasons of their established ideology being torn away from them. This new energy is rejecting the old failed ways that has created decades of failure and hatred towards the Republican Party of then, that was a political party of self and not for the people.
The Republican Party base propped the established leaders of the Republican Party up under the falsehoods fed to them for the purpose of the old established Republican Party keeping their self gains in constant movement. With the constant failure's of the other political party the old propped up leadership of the Republican Party is being taken down with the opposition political party. A new Republican Party is emerging that is set in the reality of U.S. Citizens first over business, government and immigrants.
Jim Allan's Sea Dogs Beach
I Believe Large Retailers Fear Their Employees!
It would seem we've become more of a socialist society than capitalist one, which I think is hurting many businesses' profitability. Today companies in general are rightfully worried about their image as good corporate citizens. A larger part of that has to do with how employees perceive them, not the actual reality of situations that happen. I'm going to share one situation how and why retailers fear their employees.
Most candidates desperate for a job are not totally transparent with their interviewers. Many retailers I know go over with each candidate the needs of the business pertaining to the position. Maybe saying we are looking for those with open availability, we need you to show-up 10 minutes before, and these are the duties and expectations we require daily. Are you able to do these things? If the candidate meets the criteria and agrees a job offer with those expectations is presented for the person to sign. Many have what I call a hidden agenda, wait out their 3 month probation period, and then out of nowhere bring-out their issues. Something along these lines, I'm not sure if I mentioned this to you but I have these health issues. I went to my physician yesterday who has provided me with a doctor's note. I no longer am able to do all my duties, need Tuesday's off for treatment, and because of these health issues require a revised schedule. Now the dilemma begins...
The company hired that employee to work certain hours, explained it in the interview piece, and had them sign the job offer stating all. If they fire the employee because of no longer being able to meet the needs of business could be a huge problem. Maybe be considered possible discrimination, labor board issues because of the doctor's note. The worst part if the employee writes on social media how the company was not compassionate to their issues could be devastating. If you remember at the beginning of this I mentioned we've become more socialist than capitalist, who knows if some group with the same health issues doesn't start rallying against the company. It doesn't matter the company was transparent with that employee, today it is all about perception not reality.
It really is terrible that so many people are having all kinds of health and mental issues today, companies didn't go into business to be non-profit organizations, but to provide jobs and opportunities to those who will help them grow. It's not right that any company should fear the people they pay to work for them, make employee accommodations that effect their bottom lines, and that the public has become so judgemental not looking at both sides before reacting. The problem is also with those employees who do not have those issues now have to pick-up the slack, feeling favoritism, and becoming disengaged, maybe even stress-out work related costing the company even more money. I understand that people need to make a living, but there are too many exceptions simply because employers fearing their employees! By Arnold Nadler
Most candidates desperate for a job are not totally transparent with their interviewers. Many retailers I know go over with each candidate the needs of the business pertaining to the position. Maybe saying we are looking for those with open availability, we need you to show-up 10 minutes before, and these are the duties and expectations we require daily. Are you able to do these things? If the candidate meets the criteria and agrees a job offer with those expectations is presented for the person to sign. Many have what I call a hidden agenda, wait out their 3 month probation period, and then out of nowhere bring-out their issues. Something along these lines, I'm not sure if I mentioned this to you but I have these health issues. I went to my physician yesterday who has provided me with a doctor's note. I no longer am able to do all my duties, need Tuesday's off for treatment, and because of these health issues require a revised schedule. Now the dilemma begins...
The company hired that employee to work certain hours, explained it in the interview piece, and had them sign the job offer stating all. If they fire the employee because of no longer being able to meet the needs of business could be a huge problem. Maybe be considered possible discrimination, labor board issues because of the doctor's note. The worst part if the employee writes on social media how the company was not compassionate to their issues could be devastating. If you remember at the beginning of this I mentioned we've become more socialist than capitalist, who knows if some group with the same health issues doesn't start rallying against the company. It doesn't matter the company was transparent with that employee, today it is all about perception not reality.
It really is terrible that so many people are having all kinds of health and mental issues today, companies didn't go into business to be non-profit organizations, but to provide jobs and opportunities to those who will help them grow. It's not right that any company should fear the people they pay to work for them, make employee accommodations that effect their bottom lines, and that the public has become so judgemental not looking at both sides before reacting. The problem is also with those employees who do not have those issues now have to pick-up the slack, feeling favoritism, and becoming disengaged, maybe even stress-out work related costing the company even more money. I understand that people need to make a living, but there are too many exceptions simply because employers fearing their employees! By Arnold Nadler
I Hate Packing!
I'm a lousy packer.
I love to travel but I have failed to master the intricacies of packing a suitcase. Actually, packing is not the problem; deciding what to take is the real problem. My husband and I went to visit our daughter in New York for three days and I ended up taking the large suitcase better suited for a month's visit.
In retrospect, the real problem is the weather. When we visited our daughter, it was October. That's Autumn, the time of the year when it could be 90 degrees one day and 40 degrees the next. It could be raining; it's even possible to have an early snow storm. So what should one take? Shorts and a t-shirt or long pants and a sweater? Sandals or boots and a winter coat?
There's still another issue: activities. Are we going to stay home most of the time or go out for dinner and the theatre? Will we end up working together in the yard or will we visit relatives? Do I need "at home" clothes or should I bring a nice outfit? Maybe I need more than one nice outfit in case we go out several times; the fashion police frown on wearing the same thing two nights in a row. And, of course, I need shoes to go with each outfit. With all these questions unanswered, there's only one solution: bring everything.
However, we still haven't touched on the other essentials such as make-up and medications. There's dry skin lotion, deodorant, face cleanser, electric toothbrush, regular toothbrush (in case the electric brush runs out of power) and toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, style gel, hairspray and sunscreen. Of course we can't forget daily medications (which seem to have doubled and tripled as we age). I also bring a large bag of "in case I need them" medications. These include Tylenol, an antihistamine, left-over antibiotics (please don't tell my doctor), pain medicine in case someone (God forbid) is injured and in pain, (a prescription I filled but didn't need after a dental procedure), bandages and an antiseptic. I was a Girl Scout at one time and I've always believed in that motto, "Be Prepared"!
I imagine at this point you are probably feeling very sorry for my husband who has to lift my heavy suitcase into the car, out of the car, onto the airline baggage check, etc. Not to worry- I consider this his weight lifting training and believe ardently that my suitcases are keeping him in good shape. But I am also aware that not everyone packs like I do.
For instance, I have a friend who travels a lot and she is masterful at packing. She takes one medium suitcase wherever she goes and has certain clothes that she knows, through trial and error, travel well and can be washed and will dry overnight. I did manage to pack like this once, when we went to Africa on an animal sight-seeing safari. We were limited to one medium bag each, a condition that truly tried my abilities. I started packing three weeks ahead, taking clothes out and putting new ones in; then replacing them again. I do have to admit that having a smaller suitcase and fewer clothes definitely made traveling easier but by the next trip, I fell back into my old habits.
My seven-year old granddaughter was here for a visit and she has a very unique method of packing. She traveled with a small child-size suitcase and my husband and I watched while she unpacked two rather heavy containers of children's hand lotion, two stuffed animals, three small dolls, four bottles of children's nail polish, an iPad, a comb, three DVD's of children's movies, one book, and a folder of math problems to be solved before she returned to school. Our concerns about clothes were quickly solved when her mother entered the room with an armful of t-shirts, skirts and shorts. I was left to wonder what kind of packer she would be as she grew older.
Of course there is always the "I don't need anything but the clothes on my back" kind of packers. They tend to be in their early twenties and in seeing the world mode. A backpack with essentials (bottle of water, one change of underwear, small package of soap and a little money) seems to suffice. When their clothes disintegrate after too much wear, they simply wire home for enough money to replace them. Ah, to be young again - although I must admit I don't remember ever being able to travel this way.
On one trip I was forced to exist with the clothes on my back for three days when the airlines lost my suitcase. Except for a few essentials I purchased at the drugstore, I slept in my underwear and wore the same clothes every day. In some ways, it was liberating. I never had to think about what to wear or what was appropriate. And everyone we were traveling with knew the situation so I received a lot of sympathy. However, I was awfully glad to see my suitcase when it reappeared.
Someone once told me that packing is a metaphor for life. If you take too much, you may be carrying around too much baggage in your head. If you pack light, you've let go of all that old baggage. I don't agree; I think the only baggage I'm carrying around is literally in my suitcase and my problem is simply that I I'm afraid whatever I leave home is exactly what I'm going to need while I'm away!.
But in the end, it's not the things you take with you but the journey itself (I think that's a quote from somebody). Please do not emulate me; take only what you absolutely need and enjoy your family, your travels, and the rest of your life. Travel light, my friends.
Please visit my blog: http://www.stayingyounginflorida.com Email: jean@steigers.us
Watch for my book: Moving Into Murder
I love to travel but I have failed to master the intricacies of packing a suitcase. Actually, packing is not the problem; deciding what to take is the real problem. My husband and I went to visit our daughter in New York for three days and I ended up taking the large suitcase better suited for a month's visit.
In retrospect, the real problem is the weather. When we visited our daughter, it was October. That's Autumn, the time of the year when it could be 90 degrees one day and 40 degrees the next. It could be raining; it's even possible to have an early snow storm. So what should one take? Shorts and a t-shirt or long pants and a sweater? Sandals or boots and a winter coat?
There's still another issue: activities. Are we going to stay home most of the time or go out for dinner and the theatre? Will we end up working together in the yard or will we visit relatives? Do I need "at home" clothes or should I bring a nice outfit? Maybe I need more than one nice outfit in case we go out several times; the fashion police frown on wearing the same thing two nights in a row. And, of course, I need shoes to go with each outfit. With all these questions unanswered, there's only one solution: bring everything.
However, we still haven't touched on the other essentials such as make-up and medications. There's dry skin lotion, deodorant, face cleanser, electric toothbrush, regular toothbrush (in case the electric brush runs out of power) and toothpaste, shampoo, conditioner, style gel, hairspray and sunscreen. Of course we can't forget daily medications (which seem to have doubled and tripled as we age). I also bring a large bag of "in case I need them" medications. These include Tylenol, an antihistamine, left-over antibiotics (please don't tell my doctor), pain medicine in case someone (God forbid) is injured and in pain, (a prescription I filled but didn't need after a dental procedure), bandages and an antiseptic. I was a Girl Scout at one time and I've always believed in that motto, "Be Prepared"!
I imagine at this point you are probably feeling very sorry for my husband who has to lift my heavy suitcase into the car, out of the car, onto the airline baggage check, etc. Not to worry- I consider this his weight lifting training and believe ardently that my suitcases are keeping him in good shape. But I am also aware that not everyone packs like I do.
For instance, I have a friend who travels a lot and she is masterful at packing. She takes one medium suitcase wherever she goes and has certain clothes that she knows, through trial and error, travel well and can be washed and will dry overnight. I did manage to pack like this once, when we went to Africa on an animal sight-seeing safari. We were limited to one medium bag each, a condition that truly tried my abilities. I started packing three weeks ahead, taking clothes out and putting new ones in; then replacing them again. I do have to admit that having a smaller suitcase and fewer clothes definitely made traveling easier but by the next trip, I fell back into my old habits.
My seven-year old granddaughter was here for a visit and she has a very unique method of packing. She traveled with a small child-size suitcase and my husband and I watched while she unpacked two rather heavy containers of children's hand lotion, two stuffed animals, three small dolls, four bottles of children's nail polish, an iPad, a comb, three DVD's of children's movies, one book, and a folder of math problems to be solved before she returned to school. Our concerns about clothes were quickly solved when her mother entered the room with an armful of t-shirts, skirts and shorts. I was left to wonder what kind of packer she would be as she grew older.
Of course there is always the "I don't need anything but the clothes on my back" kind of packers. They tend to be in their early twenties and in seeing the world mode. A backpack with essentials (bottle of water, one change of underwear, small package of soap and a little money) seems to suffice. When their clothes disintegrate after too much wear, they simply wire home for enough money to replace them. Ah, to be young again - although I must admit I don't remember ever being able to travel this way.
On one trip I was forced to exist with the clothes on my back for three days when the airlines lost my suitcase. Except for a few essentials I purchased at the drugstore, I slept in my underwear and wore the same clothes every day. In some ways, it was liberating. I never had to think about what to wear or what was appropriate. And everyone we were traveling with knew the situation so I received a lot of sympathy. However, I was awfully glad to see my suitcase when it reappeared.
Someone once told me that packing is a metaphor for life. If you take too much, you may be carrying around too much baggage in your head. If you pack light, you've let go of all that old baggage. I don't agree; I think the only baggage I'm carrying around is literally in my suitcase and my problem is simply that I I'm afraid whatever I leave home is exactly what I'm going to need while I'm away!.
But in the end, it's not the things you take with you but the journey itself (I think that's a quote from somebody). Please do not emulate me; take only what you absolutely need and enjoy your family, your travels, and the rest of your life. Travel light, my friends.
Please visit my blog: http://www.stayingyounginflorida.com Email: jean@steigers.us
Watch for my book: Moving Into Murder
Rent or Buy - Winners and Losers
Marital break-up and business-related challenges brought me to homelessness in the sense that I no longer own property. Do I feel deprived? Far from it. 'With one leap Jack was free.'
During Spain's property boom, in which house values could double annually, I put a deposit on an apartment in Murcia. However, due to my then relationship breaking down I opted out and licked my wounds. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Had I gone ahead with the purchase I would have been more or less isolated in a back o' beyond concrete urbanization near Vera in coastal Spain.
Obliged to meet mortgage repayments on a loan twice that of the apartment's today value I would have been the unfortunate owner of a property I could neither let nor sell. I have since pondered our obsession with home ownership. Renting is common in mainland Europe. In Berlin 90% of properties are rented, in Munich 80%. Only in Saar-land and Rhineland is home purchase more popular. However, at 60% it is more or less level pegging.
The Spanish are the keenest to buy rather than rent. At the last count 83% were home owners. Perhaps this explains why each week 500 are evicted from homes they thought they owned. The figure for Britain is 70%. This could be less today due to the near impossibility of getting a mortgage. In France 45% rent and Germany and Switzerland respectively only 44% and 38% purchase.
Obliged to rent since 1999 I consider myself fortunately mobile and financially better off. For wonderful years I rented a palatial wow-factor annex in a parkland manor the mortgage of which I could never hope to meet. Retiring to Spain I rented at less than the owner's mortgage. When circumstances left her little choice but to sell she pocketed half of what she had paid for her property. Lawyers and notaries, the tax system partied.
When later I had opportunity to spend a long summer in Latvia, the Canada of Europe, I simply gave a month's notice and caught the plane. On my return I rented an apartment in Mijas Pueblo. The views were out of this world. Sunsets to die for. I drooled over the Straits of Gibraltar and beyond the African coasts and mountain ranges.
Due to her mother's death my wife is frustratingly ensnared in the entrails of bureaucracy. She negotiates rightful ownership through a maze of expensive legal and local government departments. Had I fallen off the perch and left my Spanish property to my sons they would have had good reason to curse the transfer of my 'assets'. I no longer need to bother myself with home maintenance, purchase furniture or mess with bureaucratic paraphernalia. If tomorrow, my editor in his wisdom calls and says: "Come here, boy: I am going to make you a star," I go tomorrow. Rent or buy? To me it's a no-brainer.
Michael Walsh was voted 'Writer of the Year' by the editorial board of Euro Weekly News. This English language weekly is read by 550,000 readers each week. A broadcaster and author of over thirty titles, he is a journalist / columnist providing hundreds of media published articles to mainstream international media.
During Spain's property boom, in which house values could double annually, I put a deposit on an apartment in Murcia. However, due to my then relationship breaking down I opted out and licked my wounds. As the saying goes, be careful what you wish for. Had I gone ahead with the purchase I would have been more or less isolated in a back o' beyond concrete urbanization near Vera in coastal Spain.
Obliged to meet mortgage repayments on a loan twice that of the apartment's today value I would have been the unfortunate owner of a property I could neither let nor sell. I have since pondered our obsession with home ownership. Renting is common in mainland Europe. In Berlin 90% of properties are rented, in Munich 80%. Only in Saar-land and Rhineland is home purchase more popular. However, at 60% it is more or less level pegging.
The Spanish are the keenest to buy rather than rent. At the last count 83% were home owners. Perhaps this explains why each week 500 are evicted from homes they thought they owned. The figure for Britain is 70%. This could be less today due to the near impossibility of getting a mortgage. In France 45% rent and Germany and Switzerland respectively only 44% and 38% purchase.
Obliged to rent since 1999 I consider myself fortunately mobile and financially better off. For wonderful years I rented a palatial wow-factor annex in a parkland manor the mortgage of which I could never hope to meet. Retiring to Spain I rented at less than the owner's mortgage. When circumstances left her little choice but to sell she pocketed half of what she had paid for her property. Lawyers and notaries, the tax system partied.
When later I had opportunity to spend a long summer in Latvia, the Canada of Europe, I simply gave a month's notice and caught the plane. On my return I rented an apartment in Mijas Pueblo. The views were out of this world. Sunsets to die for. I drooled over the Straits of Gibraltar and beyond the African coasts and mountain ranges.
Due to her mother's death my wife is frustratingly ensnared in the entrails of bureaucracy. She negotiates rightful ownership through a maze of expensive legal and local government departments. Had I fallen off the perch and left my Spanish property to my sons they would have had good reason to curse the transfer of my 'assets'. I no longer need to bother myself with home maintenance, purchase furniture or mess with bureaucratic paraphernalia. If tomorrow, my editor in his wisdom calls and says: "Come here, boy: I am going to make you a star," I go tomorrow. Rent or buy? To me it's a no-brainer.
Michael Walsh was voted 'Writer of the Year' by the editorial board of Euro Weekly News. This English language weekly is read by 550,000 readers each week. A broadcaster and author of over thirty titles, he is a journalist / columnist providing hundreds of media published articles to mainstream international media.
Who's Afraid of Donald Trump?
 |
| Donald Trump speaking at CPAC 2015 in Washington, DC. |
"If it doesn't hurt you or change your life in any way, why is it wrong?" I asked.
"I'm too old to change now," she said, and turned her attention to the magazine in her lap, cutting off the conversation.
For a moment, I studied her thinning grey hair, her face which had a few more wrinkles than mine. There weren't that many years between us and yet, I felt decades younger than her. At home, I told my husband about the encounter and asked, "Why do we accept change so easily? Why are we so different from this woman?"
He didn't have an answer either. Then, I saw Gloria Steinem interviewed on TV and she was asked what she felt her most important contribution was. She responded that she couldn't possibly know that since she was still active. "I am always future oriented," she said.
And that is the difference. My husband and I are still future oriented. Although we remember past events fondly and even recount them, our lives are not rooted there; we are still making new memories. We not only embrace change; we encourage it. The right of gay people to marry, adopt children, live and work without discrimination should have been a reality ages ago. Unlike Supreme Court Justice Scalia, I believe in Affirmative Action and feel African-Americans should have the right to an education at any college they chose.
I am not afraid of the Muslim people. I welcome Muslim settlement in our country and invite them to make their home here just like the Jewish immigrants, the Irish, the Italians, the Japanese, the Chinese. They want the same things that my grandparents wanted when they traveled across the ocean to a better life in this country.
I AM afraid of mentally ill white men who have access to as many guns as they want. And I must admit that I am afraid of the people who attend rallies for Donald Trump, who cheer him on, who believe the outrageous things he says. They are the woman in the waiting room, the people who stopped the buses filled with Mexican children last summer, the individuals who attempt to burn down mosques. They are living in the past, afraid of change and afraid of anything or anybody that encourages them to accept an inclusive future.
Now, instead of wondering why I am future oriented, why I can accept new ideas, I wonder why some people can't. I wonder if there is a way to help these people conquer their fear of change, to help them understand that change is how we grow, both as a person and as a nation. I want to tell them that we all benefit from accepting new ideas, new ways of doing things and, above all, new people.
We are enriched by each group of immigrants that enter our country. They are our future doctors, lawyers, writers, teachers, philosophers. In one or two generations, we won't even remember that they were once the new immigrants because, by that time there will be another group to take their place.
And now, I am wondering what I can do, what all of us can do to help people who can't accept a changing world, to embrace a new wave of immigrants to our country, to allow them to make us richer by introducing us to their culture and religion. Perhaps all we can do is speak up when we hear anti-gay slurs or hate speech against any race or religion. But we need to respond in some way; we cannot allow those people who are afraid of change or afraid of immigrants to shape the message of this country. We need to speak up, all of us who know how to look forward.
Please visit my blog: http://www.stayingyounginflorida.com E-Mail: jean@steigers.us
Watch for my book: "Moving Into Murder"
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