Business

Research Penny Stockbrokers

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Here I will tell you the basics of how to start researching penny stock brokers. You must have some basic information about each penny stock broker before making a decision. Everyone’s situation can be different, so I can’t just tell you a simple place to go for your stock brokerage needs.

A penny stock broker is basically like any other broker with one caveat: they allow or are willing to execute penny stock trades. Some brokers just don’t want to participate in penny stocks. Some will execute penny stock trades for you, but at a higher cost than standard trades. Some will help you trade penny stocks, but only if you trade in high volumes. Some offer discounts for larger volume transactions and those discounts are almost necessary as otherwise the transactions are prohibitive.

There are a few basics to keep in mind when considering penny stock brokers. What minimum balance do they require and can you comfortably maintain that balance? Does the broker have an annual fee? Are there conditions that could lead to annual fees (such as being an inactive merchant for a period of time, such as a month)?

How much do you charge per order and specifically how much do you charge for penny stock related orders? How do charges change based on order volume (either stock volume per order or stock volume ordered over a period of time)? Of course, the most important question to ask is how they handle orders or securities listed on OTC quoting services like Pink Sheets and OTCBB.

What kind of research tools and resources are provided? You will pay more per order and generally for services with strong research tools and investment services, but sometimes they are worth it. Some reputable small cap brokers to start with include: MB Trading, E*Trade, Zecco, Sharebuilder. However, these are just a small sample. Please note that these are all established and well-known brokers.

You don’t want to choose someone who is trying to independently sell you their services. There are many sharks in the online stock trading business; Stick with well-known brokers when entering the precarious micro-cap trading market.

I hope this helps you start your search for penny stock brokers.

Home Kitchen

Pull Out Kitchen Organizers – The Answer To Your Storage Needs

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Storage is a problem in almost every kitchen. You have to rummage through the pantry and cabinets to find the things you’re looking for long before you start cooking, and then you have a mess on the countertops to deal with once you’re done. What bread!

The answer? Pull-out kitchen organizers. These headache-saving gadgets, also known as pull-out kitchen shelves, really do make a difference. Before I installed sliding shelves, I used to spend about ten minutes searching through my pantry and cabinets before I found everything I needed. My countertops were read with unnecessary items, which got in the way while I was cooking. Sure, I could have taken the time at that point to put everything back in order, but I had a hungry family to feed! So I inevitably took care of the garbage at the counter, cooked and served the food; and then looking at not just a stack of plates, but a bunch of stuff on the counters that had to be put back into some semblance of order. After dinner, I wanted to relax in front of the TV, not continue doing kitchen chores! Once we installed our pull out shelves things got better overnight. Instead of having things behind other things and inaccessible without a dig, I placed all of my kitchen linens, spices, implements, and ingredients on individual, stacked, slide-out shelves. Now I can pull out individual shelves and if they don’t contain what I’m looking for, I just slide them in and pull out the next one. What a difference!

You can find slide-out kitchen shelves at hardware stores, retail stores, and any number of online sources. I ordered mine online, and couldn’t be happier with my purchase! There is a huge inventory online to choose from, and you can find pull-out pantry shelves, drawer inserts, pull-out spice racks, and more. They offer shelving in birch wood, but I decided to go with chrome. Now, when dinner is over, I still have to load the dishes into the dishwasher, but I no longer have to deal with a small mountain of unused scraps and scraps on my kitchen counters. I get help with the dishes (yes, if you don’t cook at my house, you’re expected to help clean!), and I end up relaxing in my favorite chair in front of the TV much sooner than I used to.

Auto

Torque converter compared to centrifugal clutch

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Especially when you want to build a wakeboard winch on your own, understanding what equipment you have to use and how it works is mandatory. That said, there are always different ways of looking at things. Depending on what you want to get out of your winch, you need to think about what type of clutch to use.

Buying the correct docking device is one of the biggest concerns for most people. Torque Converter gives you more possibilities, that’s for sure. But the centrifugal clutch is comparatively cheaper. I bring light to the darkness by explaining how those components work and how they will improve your winch. If you want to make a final decision keep reading.

What is a centrifugal clutch (CC)?

Centrifugal clutches are 10-12 tooth gears that have a key hole for their motor.

Is that how it works

The centrifugal clutch works like a transposed drum brake, considering the engine is idling at a certain RPM, the clutch disengages and the sprocket does not rotate. As the transmission system increases RPM, the clutch throws out its heavy arms, causing the internals to grab and therefore start to spin and drive the winch.

What is the immense importance in the search for the correct centrifugal clutch?

At the end of the day, this is a matter of personal choice. You certainly need one that fits your motor shaft and has the proper toothed gear. If you are using #40 / #41 / #42 chains, you only have a 10 tooth clutch. When using 11 or 12 tooth clutches, use a #35 chain only.

What is a torque converter?

A torque converter is a two-part unit with an odd clutch and pulley designed to act as an automatic transmission for your engine. The clutch resembles the centrifugal clutch where it engages and disengages at numerous RPMs. But as it engages, the clutch pulls on the belt creating a “low gear” like a car. As RPMs increase, the belt begins to move outward, maintaining torque.

What different types of clutches are most used for winches?

Depending on your wakeboard winch needs, you need to decide which clutch you want to use. For lower force applications, like snowboarding, a centrifugal clutch will be fine. That is the cheapest solution. For more power, like water starts and obstacles, you’ll most likely go for the torque converter.

What type should be bought?

To start having the most fun with your wakeboard winch, opt for the Torque converter. The actual comfort and items are worth the extra money spent. Deep water starts are no problem. By using a centrifugal clutch you are mostly just for honest pull driving and you won’t be able to make a water starting point without sacrificing the component.

Digital Marketing

Actors: Can Social Media Help You Get a Cast?

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Social networks are literally changing the way projects are projected. All things being equal, if three actors are up for a role in a big project, the actor with the largest following is likely to get it. This means that if you’re a smart actor, you’ll start building your social media empire BEFORE you’re ready for a series regular.

If you’re like some of my clients, the thought of using social media for your acting career can be completely overwhelming. I’m here to tell you: don’t panic! Here are four simple steps you can use to start your social media mojo, giving you an edge over the competition!

1. Start small

There are many social media platforms to choose from, but my advice is to start with one and get really good at it. If you’re already using Facebook anyway, why not start there? Do you love taking photos? Try Instagram! Maybe Twitter is more your speed. There is no need to overload yourself right away. You can always add another one once you’ve mastered the first one.

2. Create a plan

This is where you can get creative! With your actor’s brand in mind, think of a few topics you’d like to post about regularly. For example, do you have a charity that you work with? Do you like to make people laugh? Are you a foodie? You can also repost or retweet other people’s content and say hi. Of course, don’t forget to post your acting successes too!

3. Make a schedule

Once you have a few daily topics in mind, it’s time to schedule your posts for the week. I recommend using a free app like Bufferapp.com or Hootsuite.com. I’ve found that scheduling daily posts in advance (for the week or month) is much more efficient than trying to post every day.

4. Be social!

It’s called social media for a reason, so make sure you spend a little time every day responding to other people’s likes, retweets, mentions, and posts. Reciprocity is very helpful, so keep up the dialogue with your friends!

5.Look at the clock

Be careful not to fall down the rabbit hole. Social networking sites are made for you to kill time, so be mindful of how you’re spending yours. Fifteen minutes a day is all it takes to stay social.

Relationship

And you always will

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I opened the dish towel drawer for the sixth time, hoping the dish towels had somehow magically appeared.

The new towels weren’t there yet, of course.

“What did mom do with them?” I wondered out loud.

I knew they had to be somewhere because I had given them to her for Christmas only a few months ago. Not that towels were that terribly important. It’s just that when you’re expecting guests, you’d like everything to look nice.

Well, maybe he wasn’t going to find them. On the other hand, the guests would not arrive until tomorrow. Plenty of time to worry about dish towels later.

On second thought, maybe I should ditch the towels altogether. My father’s niece and her husband didn’t seem like the kind of people who would walk away angry that her host hadn’t brought out new tea towels.

Whats Next?

Maybe I’d better see if I can get my hands on Mom’s best tablecloth. A tablecloth had always been one of the things my mother insisted on when we had visitors.

I went to the drawer where Mom kept the tablecloths and, sure enough, there it was.

But when I pulled out the hand-embroidered tablecloth, the one that had taken her months to complete, I gasped in dismay. Right in the middle was a large stain. Now how the hell did mom’s best tablecloth end up with a stain?

Oh yes, that’s right. We’d all been here for Christmas, and one of the kids had accidentally knocked over a glass of soda. Seeing her granddaughter crying with remorse had been more important than her tablecloth, and her mom had said that she was sure the pop would come out of it when she washed it.

Okay, so it seemed like I’d have to forget about the tablecloth, too. Maybe I’d be better off taking care of the important stuff right now, like vacuuming.

Satisfied that I was finally going to make some progress, I pulled out the vacuum cleaner.

Except. . .Why did he sound so funny? And why wasn’t he picking up those papers from the living room rug?

I pulled out the accessory hose and flipped the switch again. Ah ha. That’s why. No suction. The hose was clogged.

Well, OF COURSE the hose was clogged. I couldn’t find the new dish towels. Mom’s best tablecloth had a big stain on it. Why wouldn’t the vacuum hose be clogged?

And right at that moment, I started crying. Now what was I going to do? Would a wire hanger work? Thirty minutes later, however, the vacuum cleaner was still covered.

Where was dad? He knew he was out and was probably lounging in his garden, since it was the middle of April, but why wasn’t he here when I needed him? After being a farmer for 50 years, he could fix absolutely anything.

Just at that moment, my father entered the house.

“What happen?” she asked her, noticing that she had been crying.

Even though it had been years since I called him “Dad”, it just slipped out and along with it came more tears.

“Oh, Dad, I can’t find the new dish towels. The tablecloth has a big stain on it. The vacuum is clogged. And–“

I stopped and swallowed hard.

“I miss my mother”.

There. I had said it

And in that instant, the whole world seemed to stop as Dad took a deep breath and let it out slowly.

“I know you do,” he said. “I also.”

You see, just three weeks earlier, my mother had been diagnosed with advanced gallbladder cancer. Mom died Saturday night, and this was Monday. My father’s niece and her husband were driving 275 miles to attend the funeral and would be staying at the house.

As Dad watched me, I noticed how much he seemed to have aged in the last few weeks. And her face was covered with a silver beard. It was a rare morning when my father didn’t shave, but the last couple of days had been far from normal.

“And you know what?” Dad continued. “You will always MISS your mother. In fact, she will never completely go away. Not even when you are as old as I am.”

Dad was 70 years old. I was 26. I never met daddy’s mother. She had died before I was born.

Mom had contracted polio in 1942 when she was 26 years old and was paralyzed in both legs. At that time, the doctors had told her that she would never have any more children. I was born 16 years later.

After the funeral was over and my father’s relatives went home, I found the kitchen towels. Mom had put them in her dresser drawer. And with several washes, the stain on the tablecloth finally came out. Dad had also been able to fix the vacuum cleaner.

But nothing could fix the fact that my mother was gone.

Mom died in 1985, and all these years later, I realize Dad was right: I will always miss her.

But I also discovered what else he was trying to tell me that April day so long ago: that missing my mother keeps her alive in my heart.

********************

Health Fitness

How to bulk up and gain weight even if you work full time and have a family!

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If you work full time and/or have family obligations, chances are you don’t have the time or energy to put on muscle mass. You may have the muscle mass routines that tell you how to bulk up or gain weight, but they are written by (and probably for) those who can make lifting weights the number one priority in their lives. Many bodybuilders simply eat, exercise, sleep and relax most days; And that doesn’t even take into account all the supplements they take!

So how can you bulk up and gain weight if you have work and family commitments?

First, decide your goals. If you are skinny or frail, then your first goal is to get bigger and stronger. You will do this by lifting weights, eating properly, and learning how to recover properly. Working 40 hours a week (or more), going to work, going to family events, and taking care of your family will add about 80 hours a week of “stress” that most bodybuilders can’t stand.

Second, find out where you’re already exercising. Do you walk or bike to work? Do you work several hours in the garden every weekend? Do you shovel your driveway and those of elderly neighbors during the winter? Do you play sports with your children? Count the hours you spend exercising and remember that you are exercising your muscles during those times.

Third, assuming you’re doing any type of exercise during the week, keep in mind that in order to bulk up and gain weight, you need to add the right type and amount of weight training. This means that you should choose muscle mass routines that stimulate growth, but allow you enough time to recover and eventually build new muscle.

Fourth, you must eat properly. Assuming you have your doctor’s permission to bulk up, add healthy foods that are “calorie dense.” High-calorie foods include nuts, seeds, healthy fats like fish oil and olive oil, meat, and other similar foods. Of course, drink plenty of clean water and stay away from sweets and treats for a while. Yes, you can bulk up with candy… but that’s not how you want to get fat!

A good place to start your bulking nutrition plan is to eat at least 15-16 times your body weight in calories. For example, if you weigh 150 pounds, 15 times your body weight would be 2,250 calories. Talk to your doctor about this estimate, and be sure to make any necessary nutritional adjustments for allergies, diabetes, or any other medical issues.

Once you have everything in place, you’ll want to focus on one thing: consistency. It’s easy to get excited once you know how to turn up the volume; but after the tenth day your enthusiasm may wane. Get supportive friends, join online forums, get a coach or personal trainer, or find some other way to keep your motivation high and keep you on track. Do what you can to turn these steps into clothes.

Finally, have an “exit strategy.” For example, if you’re 5′ 6″ and weigh 150 pounds, you probably want your realistic muscle goal to be no more than 10% of your current body weight. If you gain too much weight, it’s probably not muscle. Your metabolism can change dramatically and can introduce new health problems. Always talk to your doctor about your ultimate goals for staying healthy, which should be your number one priority.

Have fun and remember to lift smart now that you’ve learned how to bulk up and gain weight.

Legal Law

10 Ways to Improve Family Law Courts

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The current model responsible for governing family law courts is extremely outdated and archaic. It abides by a 1950s chauvinistic view of marriage and parenthood. Men are expected to be robotic and emotional, while women are expected to take care of the home and children. The women now work. The economy is in shambles, while even those without the burden of child support or alimony are forced to work two jobs to stay afloat. Below, I have proposed 10 ways to dramatically improve fairness in family law courts that are more reflective of our modern culture and current realities in our economy.

1. Eliminate the assumptions: When a man and a woman walk into a courtroom, the assumption is that the women are already the custodial parents who deserve child support. The courts must assume that both parents share their rights equally. There should be a presumption of 50/50 joint custody with no mandate for child support payments.

2. Repeal Title IV-D of the Social Security Act: This law establishes that the Federal Government will deliver $2 to the State government for every $1 it collects in Child Support payments. This creates an automatic incentive for the courts to set high child support measures. The additional money given to states does not benefit children either, but goes into “kickback” funds. There is no basis for the state to receive profit in these cases. Creates a conflict of interest.

3. Limit the power of the Child Support Enforcement Agency: CSEA administrators should NOT act as judges. They should NOT issue or calculate child support orders. They have no authority to listen to special circumstances, forgive debts, or deviate from normal guidelines. It’s costing taxpayers more than $3 billion a year to staff and maintain these agencies that probably shouldn’t exist in the first place or at least be drastically reduced.

4. Provide equal representation: Under the constitution, in criminal law, defendants have a right to representation even if they cannot afford an attorney. In child support cases, the state is a for-profit party with vested interests. Petitioners are supported by the Child Support Enforcement Agency with incentives that are paid to the state through Title IV, Section D award payments. While child support cases are technically considered “civil cases,” the repercussions and the complexity of family law are very serious; not to mention that a child is involved. If the courts truly believe in the best interests of the child, they will seek to adequately represent and protect both parents. Parents who feel protected and considerate are much more likely to accept their duties if they don’t feel so scared and alienated from the process. That’s why I think both parents should have court-appointed attorneys to give everyone the best deal. Happy parents = happy children.

5. Develop Noncustodial Parenting: Based on my research, parents who earn less than the national average ($42K) per year, are considered to be at “high risk” of falling behind. Parents or (NCP) earning less than $42,000 per year should have the option to complete work programs in lieu of sanctions. If the courts can offer programs that will help the paying parent reach that $42K per year benchmark, they will become “low risk” of defaulting.

6. Eliminate Crippling Penalties: Courts can garnish your wages, garnish your bank accounts, liquidate your property, do whatever they want to recover owed child support payments. However, do not suspend a person’s driver’s license or put them in jail. By doing either, you severely limit that person’s ability to earn an income. They get trapped in a cycle of jail, debt accumulation and a destroyed resume. No one wants to hire someone who has a record. And if you live in a city that has poor public transportation, getting to and from work can become extremely onerous, limiting job opportunities. Debtors’ prisons were banned for a reason. Turning someone’s child into a source of someone’s imprisonment is a crime in itself. The government leaves alone a married man who does not support his child; however, a single man is subject to discrimination. Find out why the parent cannot comply with the order and, in the “best interest of the child,” make it easier for the parent to comply with the order!

7. Let Both Parents Opt Out: Women can legally murder their children through abortion, and thanks to “Safe Haven Laws,” they can also leave their children at fire stations or police departments without asking questions. A woman who makes the decision that she is not emotionally or financially ready to be a mother has the option of choosing parenthood. Men are told to suck it up or face jail. The parameters found in states that allow abortion should also apply to men. To a certain extent, determined by law, a man should be able to dissolve his desire to be a father just like a woman. Many will argue that it will create more welfare dependent mothers, however there are many things we need to consider. The federal government can spend $1 trillion on unconstitutional wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but complain about welfare spending that takes up less than 5% of the federal budget? Also, who says the government has to distribute food stamps in the first place? If the federal government can afford to give states $2 for every $1 they collect in child support, then they can afford to feed and house poor people. The Federal Reserve printed billions to bail out corporations, why not bail out people?

8. Maximum Amounts and Expenses – It is outrageous that a custodial parent can claim $10,000 per month just for getting pregnant FROM a rich person, maybe even getting YOUR house too! With the magic of “no-fault divorces,” someone can literally get pregnant by a rich man, divorce him for no reason, and keep half of his estate for the next 18 years. The limits should be developed based on the cost of living in the state, so that divorces are not incentives for those looking for a quick lottery ticket. In addition, the paying parent needs to have tools available to hold the custodial parent accountable for how their money is spent. Custodial parents should be given prepaid cards that are traceable. Housing, food, child care, school supplies, medical expenses, clothing,… these things would be acceptable charges. However, if the custodial parent used the card to purchase alcohol, vacations, televisions and other non-essential items, those charges would be disputed. This card system could create an argument that the custodial parent needs more and/or less money. Another option might be to use the money left over at the end of each month and have it automatically go into a trust fund for the child and/or be applied to arrears.

9. Create a child visitation enforcement agency: Parental alienation is a HUGE epidemic. Parents have to spend thousands of dollars in legal fees to get basic access to their children without help from the state. If there is going to be a child support enforcement agency, there should be an agency or hotline for non-custodial parents to call if they are actively denied access. In many cases, parents go years without being able to see their children due to expensive legal fees, bogus restraining orders, and cooperative mothers.

10. Mediation First – Court Second: Before a mother and father see a judge, both parties must first attend mediation. Have a worker use the child support model as a starting point, then allow each parent to discuss and negotiate with each other and come up with an acceptable plan. If the parents cannot communicate properly or if the order is deemed insufficient, then the judge can step in and make their own calculated orders. My point is, give parents one last chance to figure things out without government intrusion!

These are just a few ideas I have. This idea that we should punish and send people to jail only works on those rare people who CAN pay child support but choose to hide their assets or use deceit. However, most of these laws, while well-intentioned, end up turning the middle class and the poor into criminalized debt slaves.

Lifestyle Fashion

What if I have cravings for salty foods on Medifast?

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Sometimes I hear from people who crave a specific type of food and are worried that they won’t be able to have that food when on the Medifast diet. An example of this is salty foods. You may hear a comment like, “My perception is that most of the food offered at Medifast is sweet. The shakes and bars come in flavors that make them dessert-like. But what is offered to people who like salty foods like chips and pretzels? Because I don’t really have a craving for sweets. I have a craving for salt. What’s in it for someone like me?”

When on Medifast, he eats five of the diet meals and one lean, green meal. In addition to this, you are allowed two snacks on the approved list each day. One of these snack options is dill pickles. You can have two pickle spears in addition to your five diet meals. That’s a pretty salty option.

Plus, Medifast offers its own meal and snack options for those who want something salty. They have several types of crackers (Garden Vegetable, Multigrain, White Cheddar and Apple Cinnamon Crackers). There are also several types of pretzels (honey mustard, cheese pizza, cinnamon and barbecue). Also, there are puff pastries that are kind of like chips in the chili cheese nacho and parmesan flavors. These are all really decent options based on savory snacks, but have been modified to be very diet friendly. For example, Chili Nacho Cheese Balls only have 110 calories, but they also have four grams of fiber and 11 grams of protein.

Also, you are allowed to salt and pepper your food within reason. You can have three servings of salt and pepper per day. Those serving sizes are 1/4 teaspoon of salt three times a day and 1/2 teaspoon of pepper three times a day. So you can salt your eggs for breakfast, your chili for lunch, and whatever lean, green meal you choose to have.

But to answer the question posed, the diet offers some good salty-type snacks. Also, you can have two pickle spears per day and you can salt and pepper your food within reason. I hope this helps. I think this diet does a good job of covering both the salty and sweet bases so that you at least have some “safe” foods to eat as alternatives to their full calorie counterparts.

Pets

Operant Conditioning Vs Fixed Action Patterns

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Skinner’s construction of instrumental learning is contrasted with what the Nobel Prize-winning biologist Konrad Lorenz called “fixed action patterns” or reflexive, impulsive, or instinctive behaviors. Skinner and others said that these behaviors existed outside the parameters of operant conditioning, but were considered essential for a comprehensive analysis of behavior.

In dog training, the use of prey drive, particularly in the training of working dogs, detection dogs, etc., the stimulation of these fixed action patterns, relative to the dog’s predatory instincts, is the key to producing very difficult but consistent behaviors, and in most cases, do not involve operant conditioning, classical or otherwise. While evolutionary processes shaped these fixed action patterns, the patterns themselves remained stable enough to be shaped over the long period of time necessary for evolution due to their survival function (i.e., operant conditioning). .

According to the laws of operant conditioning, any behavior that is consistently rewarded, each time, will be extinguished at a faster rate, whereas intermittent reinforcement of behavior leads to more stable rates of behavior that are relatively more resistant to extinction. Therefore, in detection dogs, any correct behavior of indicating a “find” should always be rewarded with a tug toy or ball toss early on for initial acquisition of the behavior. Thereafter, fading procedures are introduced, in which the rate of reinforcement is “reduced” (not all responses are reinforced), switching the dog to an intermittent schedule of reinforcement, which is more resistant to non-reinforcement events. reinforcement.

However, some trainers are now using prey drive to train dogs and are finding that they get better results in dogs’ responses to training than when using operant conditioning principles alone, according to Skinner and his students Keller and Marian. Breland (who invented clicker training), break down when strong instincts come into play.

Real Estate

In praise of the developers

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Did I mention that I love real estate developers? Not that I love my wife or my kids, or even my dog, but real estate developers are definitely among my favorite people.

Think about it.

Real estate developers are like gods. [Well, miniature gods, at least.] They create much of the physical world we inhabit. The houses and condominiums in which we live. The grocery store and pharmacy across the street. The resorts, casinos and golf courses that we enjoy for leisure. Restaurants. Malls. Office buildings. Cinemas. truck terminals. Medical and surgical centers. Spas. Factories. Warehouses. Auditoriums. Parking garages. Hotels.

You say it; if it’s “man-made”, attached to the ground, and we can get in, a real estate developer was probably involved.

Real estate developers are visionaries. They have the vision to recognize trends and the need for change. They recognize imbalances between what exists and what is needed. They see changing neighbourhoods, towns and regions as opportunities for renewal and improvement. Real estate developers don’t just see the opportunity, they seize it. They visualize change and commit to it. So work with that; massage it; shape it; squeeze it; stir it up; shake it; mix it up; juggle; and make it happen.

How could anyone not love that?

Real estate developers are visionaries with a purpose. Visionaries who know how to transform their vision into reality. They are optimists. They are dreamers and doers rolled into one. And to me, they’re fun. Not fun, necessarily, but fun to be around. Fun to work. Fun to dream.

I remember in 1992 when John L. Marks of Mark IV Realty Group walked into my office and said he wanted to buy and redevelop the Marina City Shopping Complex in downtown Chicago. At that time, the Marina City Shopping Complex was a rat hole. Largely vacant. In foreclosure. Languishing in bankruptcy. Saddled with almost $10,000,000 in unpaid and delinquent real estate taxes. Physically decaying and in need of tens of millions of dollars in repairs. Residential condo owners occupying the top 40 floors of the two iconic corn-cob towers were understandably hostile and uncooperative, having been burned in the past for broken promises by previous owners.

However, in all this mess, John saw an opportunity. He had a vision that this dilapidated and decaying behemoth of an eyesore could be transformed into an economically viable and prosperous jewel.

We spent most of the next four years working on that project. The transformation was remarkable. We had a blast making it happen.

Today, the Marina City shopping complex is home to the House of Blues, House of Blues Hotel, Smith and Wollensky Steak House, Bin 36 Wine Café, Crunch Fitness, 10 Pin Bowling Lounge, Marina Management, Skipper Bud’s Marina and many more. others driving business. The pie-shaped condominiums that begin above the 20-story parking lot in each of the residential towers have risen substantially in value and offer some of the most impressive views of the Chicago skyline. The entire Marina City complex has been re-established as a mixed-use driving and entertainment mecca in the heart of Chicago.

Why? Because Chicago real estate developer John L. Marks had the vision and commitment to make it happen.

Did I mention that I love real estate developers?

Most recently, in the spring of 2005, I received the call to join the development team at Madkatstep Entertainment LLC.

Madkatstep Entertainment is a combined company of Sears, Roebuck and Co., the retail giant, and Ryan Companies US, Inc., a remarkably creative and entrepreneurial real estate developer based in Minneapolis, Minnesota. [Yes, I love Ryan Companies too.]

It started with an idea.

Ryan Companies had the idea to build and own a sports and entertainment venue in a thriving community in need of unique and convenient entertainment options.

Sears had moved its corporate headquarters to Hoffman Estates, Illinois, in the early 1990s. As part of that move, Sears had acquired a large tract of adjacent land that was ready and available for development.

Hoffman Estates is a forward thinking community in a thriving and growing region northwest of Chicago in search of quality of life amenities for its residents.

It was a match made in heaven.

When I was called in as lead development consultant, Sears and Ryan had already negotiated a Memorandum of Understanding with the Village of Hoffman Estates that established a basic framework for the new Sears Center Arena, including general terms for municipal financing.

A major tenant for the new Sears Center Arena is a professional hockey team. A key development goal was to have the 11,000-capacity, 240,000-square-foot arena built and ready for occupancy in time for the fall 2006 hockey season. It was already April 2005, only 18 months from the projected date of opening. Even the most accelerated construction schedule required a minimum of 14 months from construction to opening. Time was running out.

In the 100-day rush that followed, the entire development team entered one zone and worked most of the day with the Village of Hoffman Estates.

The real estate developer, Ryan Companies US, Inc., working closely with the real estate department of Sears, Roebuck and Co., negotiated deals, faced issues and overcame obstacles to obtain formal development approval, finalized municipal financing , formalized naming rights agreement and property agreements, and accommodated project dissenters who threatened litigation to delay or stop construction of the arena.

In the end, it was creativity, perseverance and intense focus that led to the official opening of the Sears Center Arena on July 21, 2005. It is a unique sports and entertainment facility that will serve the Village of Hoffman Estates and the neighboring cities for decades to like. It is already serving as an economic engine for complementary development that will create new jobs, new opportunities, and a broader tax base.

These two examples of creative development by visionary real estate developers are not unique. Between these two notable examples, and beyond, the stage plays out again and again in development projects large and small every day.

Renovation of functionally obsolete or declining shopping malls, warehouses and other structures into modern and prosperous businesses.

Resurrection of blighted and decaying areas in cities and towns into homes and condominiums with retail and service businesses to support new neighborhoods.

Recycling contaminated brownfields into safe and productive environments for consumers and businesses.

Greenfield developments to provide new opportunities, new jobs and new services for emerging communities and families.

Real estate developers are seeing a need, rising to the challenge, and improving the world we live in.

I have been fortunate to work with some incredibly creative and dedicated real estate developers, both large and small, who make a difference, and make a profit, while having fun in the process.

Did I say fun? Maybe not every moment as you face every challenge, but in general, Real Estate Developers are people who really enjoy what they are doing. As a commercial real estate attorney, working with real estate developers has always been challenging for me.

Why do I love real estate developers? Ask yourself: How many times do you have the opportunity to work with people who make your job “exciting”? What’s not to love about it?

So, the next time you meet a real estate developer, take the developer’s hand, look him straight in the eye, and tell him with the deepest gratitude and sincerity:

“Thank you! My friend Kymn Harp thinks you are the most wonderful person in the world. He loves you and thinks you are brilliant.” [Then slip him my business card and ask him to call me.]

Thanks for your attention.

R. Kymn Harp

PS: For those of you with “normal” names, or at least names with conventional spellings, you might appreciate this help:

My name “Kymn” is a surname and is pronounced “Kim”. Think of “Kymn” as a “church hymn”, with a “K” instead of an “H”. To remember this, I associated my last name “Arpa” with “Ángeles”. So if it helps, think of me as “Kymn Harp, the real estate developer’s filth angel” (with a law degree).

Thanks again,

kymn