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Reading is an adventure that doesn’t require you to buy a ticket, and Tilly Bagshawe is an author who understands all of these facets of the world of reading too well to pass up the opportunity to be entertained. Her work entertains and inspires you at the same time, and some of her titles may also require a second reading. Others give you company when you need it most, whatever your case, we won’t blame you if you look forward to the author’s next release. Whenever you’re ready to be transported to another setting with Tilly, be sure to take your imagination with you.

She steps out of the shadow of Sidney Sheldon

Tilly Bagshawe is already well known for having written her own continuation of Sidney Sheldon’s storytelling style, and for those who don’t know, she is the freelance author of the series now published under Sidney Sheldon’s name. The plots she comes up with are perfect for the cutthroat world we live in, and the stories conjured up by her are the ones we all want to read.

He began his career as a headhunter

Tilly Bagshawe grew up in England, attended a Catholic boarding school, and then went to Cambridge University to study History and English. She began her first career as a headhunter in London and later became a partner in the number one headhunting firm. She then moved to Los Angeles to begin her second career as a writer. She started out as a journalist for The Sunday Times and after about a year she came up with her first novel, Adored.

I discovered the inner writer gradually

Like scientists, she didn’t have an ‘Aha’ moment when she suddenly discovered the writer in her. She gradually realized that writing was what she had always wanted to do after feeling exhausted in the conventional high-stress headhunting job. From a very young age, she had been a single mother, and initially all she could think about was surviving and earning money. The fact that her sister was also a novelist helped a lot, and one of her friends was also a literary agent. All of these converged together to her logical conclusion and Tilly Bagshawe came up with her first book.

Novels set in glamorous settings

The first book, Adored, written by Tilly Bagshawe was set in the glamorous setting of Hollywood and was a family saga. Later titles by her also had glamorous settings which were very popular due to her escapist fantasy writing style. Tilly Bagshawe says that the second book of her Showdown was the most difficult to write because she had self-doubt after the success of the first book of hers. She doubted if a book was all she could write.

Home Kitchen

Dollars & Sense – How to increase the value of your home

It’s no secret that a complete remodeling job, even if it’s just for one room, can cost thousands of dollars. While the cost may be justifiable if you plan to stay in the home for a long time, most remodeling projects increase the value of your home by as much as 80 to 90 cents for every dollar you invest. So if you’re looking to sell your home soon, or if you’re buying and selling a home for a profit, you want your improvements to be simple and inexpensive.

Perhaps the place to start is to improve the things that people can see. The first thing homebuyers see is the exterior of your home. In rural or suburban areas, home sellers need to make sure the bushes are trimmed, the grass is cut, and the landscaping is well-kept. Improving these areas and eliminating those visible nuisances will add the most value per dollar to your home. Consider these ideas:

Clean the patio. Remove trash and yard waste. Mow the lawn and keep it in good condition with proper watering and application of fertilizers appropriate to the season. Use a weed beater to get into tight corners and along the edges of sidewalks

and house Trim hedges, remove weeds and mulch lower beds.

Eliminate clutter and clutter inside the house. You will most likely be showing the house to potential buyers, so you will want to organize the house and get rid of clutter or store it. The idea is to make the house as less emotional or impersonal as possible so potential buyers can imagine living there. Your house is much more salable when there is less stuff in it, plus a nice and tidy house will appear bigger and more elegant.

Clean, clean, and clean some more. Nothing improves the value of your home more, and for such a small investment, than a good cleaning. Mold, mildew, leaks, stains, or any evidence of dirt are unattractive and will do little to whet a homebuyer’s appetite. Homes that look and smell clean have great market appeal. Even an older house with old appliances will do just fine if everything is spotlessly clean.

It’s much cheaper to wash your walls or siding than it is to repaint or replace siding, and often a good cleaning will make your home’s finishes look like new. Pressure wash the exterior of your home and wash the interior walls. Clean your windows so it’s hard to tell if they’re there.

And the smells and the pets? You may adore your dog, but that doesn’t mean prospective owners should remember your presence. Keep in mind that pet, cigarette, and food odors tend to linger, so clean your carpets, floors, and furniture, and do what you can to remove those odors.

Add a new coat of interior paint. Sometimes you really need to repaint, but you can do it yourself relatively cheaply on interior walls.

First, plug any holes, no matter how small. For a silky smooth finish, apply a coat of primer. After the primer dries, lightly sand it with fine-grit (220-grit) sandpaper. Apply the first coat of latex paint, then lightly sand that coat as well. Wipe down the walls with a damp cloth after each sanding session. Then apply the last coat of latex paint.

Don’t be afraid to spend a couple extra bucks on good paint rollers. Those five for $10 rollers will make your walls look stained. Also, paint with a neutral color like beige. It will make the house look bigger and be harmless to buyers. Also, semi-gloss paint will make your walls appear brighter. If your walls have blemishes, such as dents in the drywall or cracks in the plaster, consider using matte paint to hide those blemishes. Keep in mind that flat paint is easily soiled and difficult to clean, so leave it until just before the open house.

Consider the kitchen and bathrooms. Realtors say that kitchens and bathrooms often sell the house. As for the kitchen, the most important thing for buyers is that it appears spacious. If, for example, your kitchen counter is littered with appliances, you may choose to leave one or two appliances there, but the rest must go.

Outdated or worn cabinets can ruin your entire kitchen, but refinishing them is relatively cheap and easy to do. If you have a dark or small kitchen, make it look bigger and brighter by using a lighter finish on the cabinets.

When it comes to bathrooms, studies show that homeowners who did major bathroom remodeling jobs recouped 88-91% of their costs. Beyond major renovations, realtors say that simply replacing your towel rails, toilet seats, light fixtures, drawer/cabinet handles, or sink can make a world of difference to potential buyers. Just seal and redo grout countertops, sinks, tubs, and showers.

What about the roof? The biggest concern for most homebuyers is the roof, according to brokers. Typically, if your roof is 5-10 years old, it’s probably fine. But a roof that is 17-20 years old or older can be a problem. Buyers tend to shy away from unresolved maintenance issues, and the more problems they find, the more they want to negotiate the price.

Carpet and floor cleaning options. You can shampoo or steam your rugs, or you can use a dry cleaning system, which requires no water or steam rental, and dries instantly and eliminates virtually all mold and bacteria. Apply according to manufacturer’s instructions, then vacuum. If all else fails, hire a professional to do the rugs for you. You’ll be surprised how much better your carpet will look after a good cleaning.

If your carpet is in poor condition, you can replace it or you can restore the original hardwood floor. Hardwood floors are very popular right now, and in many cases, older homes have a nice hardwood floor under the rug. Rip up some carpet in a closet or other inconspicuous area to check the condition of the floor, and compare the price of refinishing hardwood to installing new carpet.

Lights, modern light switches and sockets. Some of the new style switches can be easily installed using the wires that already go to the old switches. Just be sure to turn off power to the room or the entire house before doing any work. The new outlets look nice and give the impression that the electrical wiring in the house is newer than it actually is.

In general, older people are more sensitive to glare than younger people, and many people prefer indirect lighting to direct lighting. “People often prefer lights to be hidden, so the light source is masked. Nice warm colors are also appealing,” she says. Also recommended: On darker days, leave the lights on and the curtains open.

Lay trim and wood trim. Simple crown molding or molding and chair rail are the easiest and most typical DIY updates found in newer homes and go a long way in improving the appearance of rooms. For an even bolder statement, paint the walls a neutral flat color and paint the trim a bright white.

Hang cool curtains and blinds. Blinds don’t cost much and curtains can be cheap too. Over time, the sun fades the colors of your blinds and shades, so the new ones will make a better impression than the old ones.

Five quick facts for home improvement

When it comes to home renovations, it’s amazing how quickly things can grow. Take a bathroom, for example. Maybe all you want to do is remove the old, peeling wallpaper and add a fresh coat of paint. Then you start thinking about replacing the old linoleum floor with tile to complement the new paint job, replacing the toilet, and maybe adding a new countertop.

Just like creating a budget to manage your income and expenses and live within your means, it’s smart to plan your home improvements and distinguish between what really needs to be done and what you want done. Consider these tips:

First things first: take it one room at a time.

Remember, it’s easy to bite off more than you can chew when it comes to home improvement. Keep your remodel manageable and affordable by tackling one room at a time. You’ll feel a greater sense of accomplishment when completing a project, plus you’ll discover key lessons to apply to the next room.

Curb appeal counts. Take a critical look at the appearance of your home from the street.

Small, inexpensive changes will go a long way in improving your home’s curb appeal. Store personal effects away from the front yard. Cut back excess growth, maintain the landscape, and make sure your lawn looks green and healthy.

Clean now to profit later.

Keep your home clean and clutter-free for your own enjoyment now and for faster, higher returns when you decide to sell.

Focus on the kitchen and bathrooms.

You will hear it over and over again because it makes sense. An updated kitchen is cash in the bank when selling your house. The good news is that to add value, you don’t need to spend a lot of money on a total remodel. And remember, bathroom upgrades are second only to kitchens when it comes to maximizing a homeowner’s return on investment.

Pay the principal.

When you sell your home, the profit you make will be the amount you have left over after paying off any outstanding loans. You can build more equity and put more money in your pocket at closing by paying down principal whenever possible.

Beware of over-enhancement

There are many factors involved in deciding which improvements will actually add value to your property instead of being a big expense for you. For example, adding a garage instead of a carport would definitely make your property more attractive to buyers in almost any neighborhood. However, adding a pool to the backyard would probably only be an effective improvement in a warmer area, not a neighborhood that experiences 7 months of cold weather out of the year!

In terms of your home’s resale value, the best home improvements are largely cosmetic: a new roof, paint, carpeting, minor kitchen and bathroom renovations, and only those alterations and additions that align your home with others in the neighborhood. These improvements increase the value of your home virtually dollar for dollar. To find out what might be typical in your neighborhood, do your research. Drive around and see what the houses look like. Visit open houses. Monitor sales prices and ranges. Improvements are generally wise if they do not raise the value of your home more than 20 to 25 percent above the current value of similar homes in the community.

Typical improvement and its approximate value:

Minor kitchen remodel, 94%
additional bathroom 89%
Major kitchen remodel, 87%
Family room addition, 84%
Two-story addition, 84%
Attic bedroom, 83%
Master suite, 82%
Bathroom renovation, 73%
Lining replacement, 71%
Cover addition, 70%
Window replacement, 68%
Home office, 64%

Auto

Baja 1000 – Explore the legendary race and the series it spawned all year!

The Baja Races have made everything in the culture of Baja California seem so fascinating and exciting. After all, the beach-oriented Mexican peninsula is rugged, adventurous, and romantic, but the Baja Races make a visit there much more than just a vacation destination. It is the location of the Championship Desert Racing Series.

You may be familiar with these races, but this is general information that avid enthusiasts or casual tourists will find really interesting. For me, it took a Santa Barbara antiques dealer, a family friend, to introduce me to this exciting place. You see, Diane Norman, popular owner of Summerland antique shop The French Market, is the mother of a young, six-time Baja Races motorcycle winner, Kendall Norman, who started racing when she was just 11 years old. Through Kendall I learned that the Baja Races are not just motorcycle races but include various types of vehicles. Bikers join racers on “quad bikes,” which are stock or modified 4-wheel vehicles, including cars, trophy trucks, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), and dune buggies. These racers compete in one of the series, such as the Baja 1000 and Baja 500, racing “Off-road” on desert trails. While there are patches of road segments, the course is generally natural terrain with loose approximations of 500 or 1000 miles.

The best-known race is the Baja 1000, also known as the Peninsula Run, a point-to-point race that starts and ends at two different locations, traditionally between Ensenada and La Paz, following Federal Highway 1. There are shorter-loop races than they start and finish from the same place, which has traditionally been Ensenada, although circular races have also been held from Mexicali and San Felipe.

Brief history

Now an iconic series, Baja Races began in 1962 when American Honda wanted to test the reliability of its CL72 Scrambler in a long-distance test at Peninsula Run. the publications Earth Globe, Argosy and cycle world praised Honda and the company. In fact, several stories included close encounters with death and danger. Having heard stories of mobsters on the barely paved roads of Baja California between the 1950s and 1980s, and then having my own late-night incident with a wandering cow on Highway 1, don’t fence me, I can attest to the dangers of Peninsula Run.

In 1967, the builder of the Meyers Manx buggy wanted to boost sales and break the 1962 Honda record. road track following the journalist, the Manx broke the record by more than 5 hours. Word got out in the media and from then on it was Buggy vs. Bike, and the competition between four wheels and two grew.

More record-breaking attempts were made during the year and a competitor, Ed Pearlman, organized the National Off-Road Racing Association (NORRA) to officially recognize previous record-setters, establish class designations for the vehicles, and produce an annual Peninsula Run. Naming the event the “Mexican Rally 1000”, the race ran from the fall of 1967 to 1972. Popularity grew with the ABC network wide world of sports televising the 1968 event. Top racers such as Mickey Thompson, Indy 500 winner Parnelli Jones, and movie actor and racer James Garner participated.

The races had a major change in 1973 when NORRA withdrew due to the US recession and oil embargo affecting participating racers. In response, the determined governor of Baja California turned the event over to a Mexican non-profit group who renamed it “Baja Mil” and, in English, the label “Baja 1000” was born! For future racing, racing promoter Mickey Thompson was hired. His Short Course Off-Road Enterprises, known as SCORE, was born, and over 39 years the Baja 1000 SCORE organization expanded into numerous off-road events, all known as the SCORE Championship Desert Racing Series.

The Baja Races have continued to attract top celebrities, including Paul Newman who participated in 2004 at age 80! Racing has evolved into a sophisticated enterprise featuring champion racers, funded by major sponsors, followed by avid enthusiasts, and covered by major sports news outlets. Events still make and break the careers and reputations of motorcycles and vehicles, as well as racers.

All in all, it was worth meeting Baja 1000 champion and Baja 500 racer Kendall Norman as his achievement opened my eyes to the incredible racing that adds so much to the unique character and rugged landscape of Baja California, outside and inside the track. To see one of these races for yourself, target your Baja vacation to the events by checking out SCORE’s year-round online calendar. Generally, the Baja 1000 is in November, the Baja 500 is in early June, the San Felipe 250 is in late February, and the San Felipe Challenge of Champions is in early September. Experience SCORE’s Championship Desert Racing Series and the culture of the phenomenal Baja California peninsula. Go and enjoy the Mexican food, atmosphere and a Baja Race adventure!

Digital Marketing

How to Schedule Your Instagram Posts for Best Results

The first thing to keep in mind when using Instagram for business and being able to schedule Instagram posts is that you need to upgrade your account to a business account.

When you have an Instagram business account, you unlock many features that aren’t on the personal platform. So do it right away, then follow the rest of the steps.

Tools you can use

There are numerous tools that you can use to schedule Instagram posts. Hootsuite.com, Later.com, and HopperHq.com are all great platforms to use. You can upload the information using your laptop or PC, or you can hire a virtual assistant to do it for you. You no longer have to send individual posts through your phone. If you have a business account, you can use the scheduling software to schedule each post. But you’ll still need to use your phone to finish the process if you’re posting photo albums or videos.

Interact with your followers

Although you can now use tools to schedule posts on Instagram without your phone, you still have to force yourself to interact with your followers. You don’t want to forget about looking at Instagram and commenting on people who say things to you and commenting on other people’s posts, although you can schedule using your PC. Remember, social media is all about engagement. commits.

Instagram Automation

There are some services that will say they will automate getting more followers and shares for you. But the truth is, this is a bad idea. While it might seem like fun to automatically follow and like people who comment on or use a hashtag you set up, the best way to do it is in person. If you really want active and legitimate monitoring, do it yourself or ask your VA to do it for you. Otherwise, you might even end up with a locked account.

Don’t spam your audience

Instagram is very adept at getting rid of spammers. Therefore, you should be careful not to look like spam. If you have many images that are from the same event, post them as a photo album. Also, try to offer free content more than what you promote. They say you should promote only once after three posts. So, post useful content three times, then on the fourth time, promote. It’s a good rule of thumb.

Avoid scheduling content too far

If you schedule your posts too far out, you may end up accidentally offending people. But, if you pay attention to the news and can stop your schedule, you may be able to save yourself if something happens. Be very careful about any type of scheduled post that could be taken incorrectly on a bad day.

Always check your post before scheduling or posting. Check for typos and make sure there isn’t anything wrong with your image that could be taken the wrong way, or something you don’t want available. Post regularly, use appropriate hashtags, and follow your fans.

Relationship

Homeopathy and muscle testing for babies

As moms, we’re always looking for safe, drug-free ways to keep our babies comfortable when they’re sick. For our family, homeopathic remedies have been an effective answer. When I started studying unique homeopathic remedies, I was amazed at how many factors go into deciding which remedy to choose. Although babies communicate in their own way, it’s really hard to know exactly what they’re feeling. You know they have a fever, but do they have an earache, sore throat, or stomach ache?

I decided to ask the doctor who introduced me to homeopathy. She taught me about muscle testing or applied kinesiology for my children. Studies have shown that this method is 98% accurate. Testing in this way shows people’s “tolerance” of a substance. If the muscle is weak, there is no tolerance, so it would not be the remedy to use. If the muscle is strong, it’s like your body says yes, this is good for me and makes me stronger. Because mom and baby are so energetically connected, mom’s muscles will respond when baby is tested. It takes practice, but once she gets it, it saves a lot of time and takes a lot of guesswork out of which remedy is best for the baby.

This is a good way to practice and get a feel for what is strong and weak for your body. One of the easiest muscles to test is your arm strength. You will need another person to help you. Extend one of your arms in front of you and ask your body how it would respond if something is good for you. You can just say something like “strong is yes” and see how strong your arm is when it resists someone trying to push it down. Then say “weak is no,” then see if you can resist when someone pushes you down. Now you know how weak and strong feel.

Now try it with a real substance. Hold a pound of refined white sugar or flour in one hand and see how your muscle responds. Now try it with a carrot or an apple, notice the difference. Just keep trying different things and notice other feelings coming into your body. You can immediately feel energy entering or leaving your body. This is a great way to become more aware of how your body speaks to you. You can use this technique for vitamins, foods and remedies. Your body will also respond to positive or negative thoughts. Once you’ve practiced and become more confident with your body’s response, you can use the same technique while holding your baby. The only thing added when testing for the baby is that you must intend to test for your baby, not yourself. So you could try thinking or saying something like “Is this good for the baby?” before testing the strength of your muscle.

Here is a simplified list of remedies that I always keep on hand. You can buy yourself a home kit and build from there. There are many different materia medica books to choose from that break down each remedy into symptoms the person might be feeling.

Constipation – Nux Vomica

Fever and inflammation – Belladonna

Teething and irritability – Chamomile

Ear pain and inflammation – Pulsatilla

Vomiting – Ipecacuanha, arsenicum album (especially good for food poisoning)

Bumps and bruises – Arnica. Arnica ointment is ideal for external use.

Diarrhea – Podophilia

Because there are so many different cold symptoms, there are also many different remedies for those symptoms and this is where muscle testing comes into play. It will help you determine what is best for the baby. One sign that I have noticed that you have the right remedy is that your baby will fall asleep and her mood will change. It’s like she’s taken the edge off the symptom and is supporting her little body to fight the symptom. My doctor recommended that I give one dose, then another dose 15 minutes later, and another dose 15 minutes later. This seems to get the remedy into the body more quickly and is usually enough for the day. For more information consult a homeopath.

Health Fitness

4 protein-rich meal ideas

Protein meals don’t mean just meat! Many vegetables are very high in protein. You’ll also get carbs in vegetables, but unrefined carbs are good for you.

That is a great source of energy. Carbohydrates to avoid are refined starches and sugars.

A good protein-based meal will include some meat, fish, or poultry. You will also have beans and their relatives; frijoles caritas and garbanzos (chickpeas).

Also included will be some nice green vegetables, veggies, and a nice banana split for dessert (ha ha, I lied about dessert).

Here is a good breakfast menu:

Sirloin steak, 4 oz, grilled (medium rare on mine).
Eggs, 2 poached.
Sprouted cereal bread toasts with natural peanut butter.
Fresh fruit compote (without refined sugar).
A protein-rich powdered shake with raw milk and some locally produced honey.

Lots of protein and “good” carbs. Probably fewer calories than a Big Mac and much better for you. A great start to the day.

How about this for a lunch menu:

Grilled Tuna Steak, 4 oz.
steamed broccoli
Cheese sauce (for the broccoli)
Green salad with tomatoes
High protein shake powder with raw milk and a little honey.

How about this for dinner:

Chili; Lean ground beef (90%), kidney beans, tomatoes, cumin, chili powder, salt and pepper, chopped jalapeños, water
Coleslaw (with sour cream, no mayonnaise, and a few raisins)
High protein shake powder with raw milk and a little honey.
Dessert – a plate of fresh fruit.

These are just examples of how you can prepare a protein-rich meal. Here’s another one:

Grilled Tuna Steak – 4 ounces
Steamed broccoli – 1/2 cup Steamed carrots – 1/2 cup
Garden Salad – Oil and Vinegar Dressing
High Protein Shake – protein powder with raw milk and a little honey

There are many delicious high-protein meals you can make or order from the menu at your favorite restaurant.

As more and more people become aware of healthy eating, restaurants offer a wider selection of healthy foods.

And moms, I know macaroni and cheese is easy to make and your kids seem to love it, but do you know what it’s doing to their bodies?

How about choosing some healthy bread instead of tasteless, unhealthy and non-nutritious white bread? Try some sprouted grain breads, they are moderately healthy and nutritious.

Here are some other healthy options for your protein-rich meals:

Salmon – either fresh or canned. Try making salmon pancakes with some chopped onion, (very) breadcrumbs, and an egg. Bake these and serve with sour cream and dill sauce.
you do not have – Canned made into a tuna and egg salad with chopped onion, chopped celery, a touch of sweet pickle seasoning, and sour cream.
Chicken – Skinless breasts or thighs, sautéed in olive oil with onion and garlic. Brown on both sides and top with crushed tomatoes, oregano and basil, cover and cook for 45 minutes. Add 1/2 cup of red wine for more flavor.
Turkey breast – Season lightly and roast in oven or grill with indirect heat.
cajun ten bean soup – Use prepackaged dry beans and boil them in water with chopped onion and garlic. Add chopped chicken; at the beginning of cooking if raw or near the end if cooked.
eggs – prepare an omelette or frittata with onion, mushrooms and a little cheese. Be sure to incorporate plenty of air for a fluffy tortilla.

It is not difficult to find protein-rich, delicious and nutritious meals. Pair a protein-rich main course with healthy sides like fresh greens, a garden salad, and a protein shake.

Legal Law

Alibaba IPO: Approach Cautiously

International exposure is key to building a well-diversified portfolio, but foreign companies can pose problems you wouldn’t find in the United States. Take, for example, a common solution to foreign ownership bans on China-based companies: the variable interest entity (VIE).

Chinese e-commerce company Alibaba is preparing for an initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange. Alibaba’s sheer size (a total value estimated at more than $200 billion) has drawn a lot of investor attention, but some of that attention comes in the form of concern. Alibaba uses the VIE structure, and a recent article in The Wall Street Journal reported that a US government commission found that US investors face “great risks” if they buy shares of companies structured this way. (1)

Lives are not new. Chinese Internet companies began using this structure in 2000 as a solution to Chinese restrictions that prohibit foreigners from investing in certain sectors, including telecommunications. To avoid breaking the rules, non-Chinese investors own an overseas listed business entity, which owns a subsidiary located in China. The Chinese subsidiary then owns one or more nationally licensed companies, which are VIEs. In Alibaba’s case, US investors will buy shares in a Cayman Islands entity called Alibaba Group Holding Limited. This entity will have a contractual right to the profits of the Chinese company, but will not own the assets of the company.

While this structure has been maintained up to now, the risks identified by the commission are not negligible. Because the company’s ownership is indirect, foreign investors must rely solely on contractual agreements to ensure they retain the economic benefits of ownership in the China-based company. These contracts would have to be enforced through the Chinese legal system in cases where shareholders believed their rights had been violated, a process that has historically been difficult for outsiders.

Even with these contracts in place, foreign investors have relatively little control. For example, in 2011, the Chinese entity Alibaba overruled the objections of Yahoo Inc., a large shareholder in the offshore entity, and divided up the assets of a payments unit to bring them under the control of the company’s founder, Jack Ma. Alibaba said the transaction was necessary to ensure China’s central bank would allow the payment unit to continue operating and ultimately reached an agreement with its shareholders, The Wall Street Journal reported. (2) While some investors view the VIE structure as the cost of doing business in China, the lack of control it implies calls for caution.

Still, investors run a similar risk with shares of US companies that have a majority shareholder, whether or not they are the founding shareholder. Investors sometimes decide that being at the mercy of the majority shareholder is a price they are willing to pay to invest in a certain company. Some private equity firms, including The Carlyle Group, KKR, and The Blackstone Group, have also gone public through a limited partnership structure, where investors receive a portion of the proceeds but remain at the mercy of the general partner as to business decisions. That being said, choosing to buy a company with limited control in the United States comes with a number of rules and regulations designed to protect minority investors. While these are not bulletproof, they do offer some reassurance. Investing in Alibaba or another VIE-structured Chinese company means relinquishing not only control, but also transparency.

Perhaps most worryingly, the Chinese authorities have never formally confirmed that the VIEs are legally valid. If the Chinese government sees fit to challenge the legitimacy of companies using VIEs, there is little a foreign investor could do. While China has a vested economic interest in preserving companies as big as Alibaba, investors are relying on the Chinese government’s self-interest without a legal safety net. Some observers have warned that Chinese legal precedent suggests that VIEs may fall if challenged.

This is not to say that investors should always avoid companies structured as VIEs at all times and in all circumstances. Asia-focused equity mutual funds, as part of a well-diversified equity portfolio, can provide diversified exposure to thousands of different companies, we can live with less exposure to investments in VIE structured companies like Alibaba.

But watch your exposure to shares of Chinese companies, regardless of how they are structured. There are reasons to be wary of the risks of investing in a place that doesn’t always uphold the rule of law or corporate governance principles we take for granted in the United States. The investor-hostile structure of the VIE is yet another reason to proceed with caution.

Sources:

1) The Wall Street Journal, “US Report Casts Doubt on Legal Structure of Alibaba and Other Chinese Firms”

2) The Wall Street Journal, “Alibaba founder’s recent deals raise flags”

Lifestyle Fashion

Eating Disorders Awareness – February 2011 – What the Numbers Mean

Okay, usually when you read an article about anorexia and bulimia it’s pretty depressing. There are statistics on how many people have the disease, how many people don’t report it, how many new cases there are, how many girls (and boys too) worry about their weight, how much power the media has over body image. ..Phew!

This article is going to be a little different.

The image above covers most of the prevailing numbers in the field of eating disorders. Not many people are completely in the dark about erectile dysfunction anymore. In the last 20 years, the amount of information and awareness about erectile dysfunction has improved to the point where almost everyone in the Western world has heard of anorexia and bulimia (and their lesser-recognized cousins, binge eating and excessive exercise).

Most articles on erectile dysfunction focus on these numbers. The ones in the photo. The devastating scope of the disease.

We believe that there are very few articles, movies and Facebook pages that focus on recovery and optimism.

The reality of an ED is that the people who have it are the most ardent supporters in society. They see what Western civilization considers “perfect” and strive to meet that requirement. Sometimes they are so successful that they are actually killing themselves to satisfy the demand for perfection.

The film, No Numbers – Identity Beyond Measure, acknowledges these people in a way that no other film has. It examines the reasons why so many young people find themselves struggling with an eating disorder, but goes much further by examining the pathways to recovery.

As much as we would love for this film to help people learn to love themselves just the way they are, we are addressing those who are hurting right now. Some are doing it alone, without support and without treatment. Some may believe that they succeed in living up to society’s expectations.

We want them to see that they don’t have to live up to some random, media-driven model of perfection. We want to show you how “perfect” comes in a million packages and that finding your way starts with that first step, the step towards self-acceptance.

February is Eating Disorders Awareness Month throughout North America and the UK. Throughout the month, our goal is to have the film No Numbers – Identity Beyond Measure screened in as many places as possible.

Any organization, school, or group that wishes to purchase a copy of the film can screen it and keep the proceeds from the admission to help people in their own community. All we ask is that you let us know so we can connect with you, promote your organization, and help spread the word to people in your community that there is a screening near them.

Please contact me through the author contact for more information.

Real Estate

How to get a cash offer on your house

In many cases, a person will need to sell a house quickly. This can occur due to a variety of situations, such as illness, job relocation, divorce, inheritance, or other factors. However, if they choose the conventional route and list their home with a real estate agent, the process can often take several months. Rather than sit and wait for an agent to sell your home, it is often advantageous to market your home to real estate investors. Since they’re eager to buy homes that they can convert to rental properties, fix up and remodel, or add to their investment portfolio, there are numerous advantages to choosing this route. For more information, here are some reasons why choosing to sell your home quickly to an investor can pay off in many ways.

When you sell a home through a real estate agent, there are many steps along the way that can slow the process down. Some of the most frustrating are having to wait for buyers to get financing, which can turn a potential deal into one full of chaos, especially if the lender turns down the buyer’s financing. However, investors are generally ready to pay cash for their purchase and also have the ability to close the deal much faster than traditional buyers.

When you choose to focus on an investor buying your home, you will generally have much more flexibility when reaching a deal. This can be particularly important if you still have a mortgage on your home, as it can sometimes be a sticking point in negotiating a deal with a buyer. However, since investors are more willing to accept an existing mortgage, it may be possible to sell your home faster than you expected.

When you’re anxious to sell your home fast due to illness, job change, divorce, or inheritance, you may not have the time or money to do one repair after another. While this can make it difficult for you to sell your home through a real estate agent, it often works in your favor if you’re willing to sell to investors. Since they are likely to buy properties to rent out or to fix up and remodel, they are used to buying properties that need repairs.

While selling a home can be a complex process, choosing a different route, such as marketing your home to investors, can make a world of difference. Instead of sitting around and waiting month after month for a real estate agent to find a buyer for your home, be willing to look for investors. By doing so, he will get the results he wants much faster.

Sports

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