Daily Archives: June 1, 2020

THURSDAY PUZZLE Man, did this one ever take me down. Congratulations to the constructor, Tracy Bennett. You win. And its only Thursday.

Maybe I just wasnt on the same wavelength with her today, because this is a great puzzle. Its clean and filled with a lot of exciting entries, AS NEAT notwithstanding. The theme is excellent. And yet it gave me more trouble than the average Saturday puzzle.

At first I thought it might contain a rebus element, because that is often the culprit when I am struggling to make progress in a crossword. Its not a rebus puzzle.

There was a lot of general knowledge in Ms. Bennetts puzzle, and the clues seemed a bit tougher than usual, but in general I think I just wasnt braining well today. These things happen.

5A. I totally missed this one. Hunk did not inspire me to think of GOB, but I guess they are synonyms: You can have a hunk of something and a whole GOB of it as well.

36A. Dont panic. We are not thinking of that kind of flasher. A Flasher at a rock concert is a STROBE light.

40A. My brain which totally betrayed me today, in case I havent mentioned it got stuck on the word unto for the clue Golden rule word. That doesnt fit, however. We are supposed to do unto OTHERS.

41A. Shout-out to Sam Ezersky, our associate puzzles editor and an alumnus of the University of Virginia. I didnt not know about the famed serpentine garden walls.

46A. I missed this one, too. The Confucian scholar in the clue is Chu HSI.

52A. Just stopping here to mention that this theme clue was initially my least favorite until I thought about it some more and then it cracked me up. The singer Barry White was known for his low baritone and would definitely be beyond the range of THE SOPRANOS in a singing contest.

59A. I had HALITE for the longest time and when the T was marked wrong, I ran through the alphabet to find the missing letter. Fortunately, I didnt have to go too far. The answer is HALIDE.

60A. The use of Just deserts versus Just desserts comes up a lot, so I will just leave this here for those who want to argue. The Cause of just deserts not desserts is BAD KARMA.

2D/3D. I liked the side-by-side clues Snorty ride (STEED) and Sporty ride, informally (VETTE).

25D. The DAW is a cousin to the black crow. Its been in the New York Times Crossword 75 times. You would think I would know it by now.

30D. Not up on your European rivers? Read Mr. Ezerskys 12 European Rivers That Will Help You Raise Your Crossword Game. The River through Spain in this puzzle is the EBRO.

31D. I will freely admit that I asked my kids about this one. The Playable kid in the Super Smash Bros. games is NESS. By the way, if you ever run into my children and they challenge you to a game, do not play them for money.

45D. Like many of the clues in this puzzle, I went in the wrong direction for this one. Things many people work on all day long sounds like projects to me, but no, its DESKS.

This theme hit me in two parts, which for my money was part of the fun. Two television shows are mashed together to make a wacky phrase.

At first I thought only the first part of each theme phrase was a TV show, but no, the theme was a two-word show plus a one-word show. For example, at 19A, the answer to the clue What to do if you want to win bar trivia? is GET SMART FRIENDS. That is the sitcom GET SMART plus the sitcom FRIENDS.

And look at some of this fill: VISIGOTHS! SMARM! FREE AT LAST! BAD KARMA! What a fun puzzle. I wish I could have solved it.

These days, most puzzle themes come to me in the liminal space between dreaming and waking. Other times Ill stumble on an idea while Im in a rabbit hole, researching a clue in editorial or fact-checking mode.

I dont remember how this theme idea began, but I do recall that the R&D phase was absorbing, because it involved sorting, combining and regrouping, tasks that I find soothing whether Im manipulating words, colored pencils or socks. I wanted to achieve formal as well as syntactic integrity in the theme, so I ultimately focused on television shows that would fit a two-word plus one-word pattern, though I considered other permutations along the way.

The first version I submitted had four entries, two of which were deemed stronger than two others. (Alas, my Kung Fu Entourage will have to kick ass in another theme.) I did a second round of brainstorming, and we settled on three solid 15s in a 72-word grid.

Its great to be back in The New York Times. I miss seeing my tribe at the A.C.P.T.!

Almost finished solving but need a bit more help? Weve got you covered.

Warning: There be spoilers ahead, but subscribers can take a peek at the answer key.

Trying to get back to the puzzle page? Right here.

Your thoughts?

More here:

I Have a Dream - The New York Times

I referred a few days ago to the golden rule of spotting scam emails. If it begins Dear Customer or similar, be wary. As a rule, genuine emails will contain your name. A reader tells me he has received a long email from EasyJet, described as personal, explaining and apologising for the highly sophisticated computer hack which compromised the personal data of nine million passengers. It begins: Dear Customer.

Lockdown-reading corner. I've just finished H E Bates's novel, Love for Lydia. Not many laughs in that. The image of poor Lydia wasting away is a useful reminder that while a pandemic may be something new, well within living memory British people lived in mortal dread of tuberculosis, with thousands packed off, coughing blood, to isolation hospitals. If it didn't kill you, TB could weaken you for life.

Once virtually eliminated, TB still affects about 5,000 Brits a year. Like coronavirus, TB preys on males, the elderly and the poor living in sub-standard housing. We can only hope that in focusing so many resources on Covid-19, the NHS doesn't take its eye off this older and deadly contagion.

I have watched dozens of juries at work, served on a jury, been the foreman of a jury. Those experiences have not made me a great fan of trial by jury. In normal times the judgment of Twelve good men and true is probably the best solution a democracy will accept, but these are not normal times and a backlog of 40,000 criminal cases has built up.

So here's a plan. Until the backlog is cleared, instead of trying to make courtrooms safe and socially-spaced for the jury, why not scrap juries for a while and have trial by judges sitting alone? I can foresee some resistance from defence lawyers who specialise in persuading gullible juries that hardened criminals are as pure as the driven snow. As a rule, juries do not recognise the faces of defendants and can be easily swayed. But a judge may well remember the bloke in the dock as the rapist he jailed for life ten years ago and I dare say that may influence his views. This may result in more convictions. Oh dear, how sad, what a shame.

I don't want to spread alarm but the ground is parched and there's no rain forecast for at least the next week. Remember all that water, millions of tons of the stuff, that fell on us six months ago? I hope they've put it somewhere safe.

Meanwhile, buried under the avalanche of coronavirus reports, scientists may have found the answer to a puzzle that has bewildered us ever since humans first encountered otters. Why do they (the otters, not the humans) juggle pebbles on their tummies? Having studied these creatures at length, researchers at the University of Exeter have concluded that otters juggle pebbles when they are hungry. We can all sleep soundly tonight.

Read more:

Peter Rhodes on otters, trials without juries and the lurking menace of TB - expressandstar.com

Dad, did you see that another black man got killed by the police?

Yes, I did. What do you think about that?

Its crazy, clearly he was down. People were standing there watching them telling them to stop. The other police was just standing there. It was crazy!

And so began another conversation about the realities of life with my fourteen-year-old daughter.

Hate is a strong word. I dont use it flippantly. But, I hate the abuse of power! Thats what we witnessed: bad police officers abusing their power. I like the police. I appreciate their service to our community. I dont like that there are bad police who abuse their authority. I know good police officers, and I know that they dont like bad police officers either. I know one good police officer who exposed the abuse of other bad officers on the police force and it cost him his job. That might be part of the reason why bad police officers stay in their positions. They seem to leave a wake of victims.

Abuse of power isnt unique to the police. If you give a person power, or authority, they might abuse it. Ive seen ministers abuse their power. Ive also seen congregations abuse their ministers. At some point, weve all been aware of a boss who was abusing power. Im in the middle of a political campaign. Good thing politicians dont abuse their power!

Edmund Burke once said, The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing. As a black person this gets complicated, frustrating, infuriating. When a video like the George Floyd video emerges, black people get upset. When the response to our anger is excuses, deflections, and outright silence from our white brothers and sisters complication, frustration, infuriation. Sometimes I am asked if I would feel the same way if this kind of thing happened to a white person. My answer is, YES! Injustice is injustice. I have profound sadness that injustice happens more often to people of color. I dont want it to happen to anyone. I also dont understand how videos of abuse that seem to surface on a regular basis do not motivate people to do right, seek justice, work to weed out the bad apples, and call upon our authorities to police themselves.

Let me be clear, rioting is not the solution. Neither is blaming victims by pointing out their personal flaws, or the problems plaguing their community. I can attest that black community leaders speak out about the issues in their communities. Ministers, teachers, politicians, and community elders preach and teach the importance of education, self-respect, faith, and the Golden Rule. They do this when no camera is around. When a camera is thrust in their face, they cry injustice. The response they often receive is that they are shouting at the wrong people, and that they need to speak to their own people. They already have spoken to their own people and they will continue to speak to their own people when the camera goes away.

The argument becomes us vs. them, black vs. white, liberal vs. conservative. It is no longer about resolving an injustice, its about winning a debate. Edmund Burkes words become a prophecy fulfilled in front of our eyes: Good men do nothing.

If I was not running for political office, I would have thought these ideas and may have even put them pen to paper, but I would not have had a forum to share them. So while I have this forum, I will share. And I will conclude by asking a personal favor of you.

Never be afraid to approach me if you see me acting in an unjust manner. I understand that if I win this election, I will receive authority. I dont want to be corrupt. I want to help people, not hurt them. Sometimes even folks like me can be tempted to stray off track. So pray for me, and feel free to hold me accountable. I need it and you deserve it!

Brendan Saunders

Saunders is the Republican candidate for the 33rd District state senate seat for Chester, Clinton, Colchester, Deep River, East Haddam, East Hampton, Essex, Haddam, Lyme, Portland, Westbrook and Old Saybrook

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Opinion: "The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing" - CT Examiner

Susan Bond has successfully challenged her mother Jean Clitheroes Will, invalidating it and enabling her to inherit part of the 325,000 estate, which was solely left to her brother John.

Prior to her death in 2017, Mrs Clitheroe drafted several versions of her Will. The first in 2010 and the latter in 2013. Whilst drafting these, she also left a letter of wishes, in which she stated that she didnt want Susan to inherit anything.

In the letter of wishes, Mrs Clitheroe stated that Susan was a shopaholic and would just fritter it away.

In addition to that, the note to her lawyers also claimed that Susan hasnt done anything for me, as far as she is concerned I could have starved to death.

Due to the Wills being drafted in a solicitors office, an attendance note from the solicitor recorded Mrs Clitheroe calling her daughter a spendthrift and will just spend her inheritance.

After her death, John fulfilled his role and executor and trustee and dealt with the final wishes of his mother. Once any debts, legacies, gifts and chattels were distributed, John then kept the residuary as his inheritance.

It was then that his sister opposed his application of probate, arguing a number of points that could invalidate their mothers Will.

Susans first argument, was that their mother didnt have testamentary capacity due to suffering from a complex grief reaction following the death of another child. She then further claimed that her mothers insane delusions regarding her spending habits were due to John poisoning their mothers mind.

Judge John Linwood heard the case at the High Court in London. He ruled that that Mrs Clitheroe had died intestate, voiding both versions of the Will. Resulting in the estate being split equally between both siblings.

He ruled that Mrs Clitheroe did indeed suffer from insane delusional beliefs. But didnt believe that her son had poisoned her mind against her daughter.

Nicola Bushby, a Will, Trust and Estate Disputes partner at Irwin Mitchell said:

After years of irrational and upsetting behaviour from her mother, Susan must feel relieved to have her side of the story recognised with this judgment. However, all of this couldve been avoided if the Golden Rule had been applied.

The Golden Rule is to get a capacity assessment, ideally from an experienced psychiatrist, to confirm the position either way. These are useful if the person making the will is elderly, has a poor mental health record, or takes medication that could affect their reasoning, among other examples.

If theres a report in place confirming the persons capacity to make a will, this can be a huge help in making sure the will is admitted to probate and prevent a huge amount of heartache later on.

Read more here:

Daughter Successfully Invalidates Mother's Will | Today's Wills and Probate - Today's Wills & Probate

With the COVID-19 pandemic, personal lives have changed. For those who own or manage a local business, the impact is doubled.

Five Ripley businesses were asked what their experience has been during this unique time.

Determined to Grow - Charessa Wilkinson faced the pandemic by looking to the future and finding a way. Co-owner of Sold Sisters Realty, with her sister Amber Mouser, she also owns the distinctive I Scream Sundae. While Sold Sisters remained open, the other venture had to close.

I knew The Scream would come back, Wilkinson said. It might be different, but I was determined when we were allowed to open, wed be ready.

When outside dining was allowed by Governor Justice, the unique ice cream shop was indeed ready.

We added five extra tables outside which almost doubled our capacity, Wilkinson stated. Weve placed the tables, along with our three inside, so that the social distancing rules were followed.

Some other changes have been made as well.

Id never really thought of putting our full menu on Facebook, Wilkinson said. But this will allow people to have their order ready when they come. Weve got a lot of ice cream creations, but we have decided for now to offer hotdogs as the only food item.

Safety of the humans, as I Scream Sundae calls its customers, is paramount. Only one laminated menu is given per table, wait staff are masked and constant sanitizing takes place.

We actually pulled out the chairs so we could measure the distance between tables if people are sitting, Wilkinson explained. I spent a lot of time with Jonathan from the health department to make sure were doing everything right.

Soon, another business will be added to the Wilkinson-Mouser team. The sisters hope to open Hollow Beans, which will offer coffees, smoothies, and teas.

We always want to grow and add to the community, Wilkinson said. I think people appreciate it. We had our best weekend ever when we opened back up. Lots of families are coming for the first time. Theyre making memories and thats what its all about.

Going Above and Beyond - His & Her Day Spas owner Sharon Chandler and salon manager Stephanie Batton spent countless hours sanitizing every area of the salon to open May 4.

The West Virginia Board of Barbers and Cosmetologists gave a three-page checklist and we have done everything on that list, Chandler said.

Batton said even more than required was done.

Weve made sure everything is protected, she said. We keep all our supplies and products behind plastic covering just as an extra precaution.

To make sure that all clients take safety measures seriously, a professionally produced sign outside the door outlines all the requirements.

All clients and service providers must wear masks and a waiver form must be signed. Clients can only bring in keys, cell phone and payment method. Once service is done, the client must leave the salon to allow another to come in after sanitization is completed.

I thought I worked hard before this, Batton said. But there hasnt been one day since weve opened that I havent worked 12 hours. We were very clean before but weve stepped it up a notch.

The good news is that clients are more than happy to be back. When asked if business has been steady, Batton said way more than steady.

The full day spa will open on June 1. All skin care services, along with massage therapy, will be offered.

We will have stringent sanitary practices, Chandler said. All service providers will wear masks. For massage, weve taken all the extra padding off the tables to make it easier to sanitize.

There is particular relief that the day spa will be opening soon.

For some of our people, this is their only source of income, Batton said. Its been a hard two months.

Ultimately at His & Her Day Spa, its all about the customers.

We are glad to be back to work, Chandler said. Its an honor and privilege and the loyalty of our clients has meant the world to us.

Leap of Faith - When Belinda Cochran opened Just for You Primitives in 2010, it took a lot of faith and hard work. Surviving the challenges of the pandemic has taken even more.

This business is my livelihood, Cochran said. To have to close on March 21 was a huge blow.

With a lot of prayer and a bit of ingenuity, Cochrans business has survived. She decided to do online auctions to keep moving her inventory.

Thats what got us through, she said. I wasnt able to get the payroll loan or other assistance. But God provided.

The biggest loss that Just for You saw was the traditional Easter weekend sale.

That has become such a big event for us, Cochran said. We would have hundreds of sales, huge giveaways, and lots of customers. That didnt happen this year and we took a big hit.

The store reopened on May 4. Business is beginning to pick up and Cochran hopes the additional tanning business now available will bring in new customers. Tanning will be offered beginning June 1.

We have both regular bed tanning and spray tanning, she said. My daughter, Elizabeth Godbey, handles a large portion of that business. We offer some special pricing that will make it easy for people to afford.

Sanitation is extremely important to both aspects of the business, but especially with tanning.

We double clean the beds, Cochran said. The client is required to clean and then we come in and re-clean, using disposable paper towels. And well be masked and gloved.

For the primitive shop, Cochran spends two hours at the end of each day deep cleaning, along with regular cleaning throughout business hours.

But for Cochran, its not a business, its customer service.

I try to follow the Golden Rule times 100, she said with a smile. We will do everything we can to serve our customers and make them know theyre safe to be here.

Clients Have Become Friends - Mia Bella Hair Salon is an elegant fixture on Main Street. Owner Jordan Tennant has worked hard to make it that way.

To have to close for almost three months has been difficult because of the bond she has with her clientele.

Ive missed my customers so much, she said. You really build a relationship with them.

During this time away from her salon, Tennant has enjoyed being with her two young sons, Kirkland and Briggs. But her business was not far from her mind.

I was so anxious to get opened back up, she said. We spent a lot of time and effort getting everything ready for the clients to feel safe.

Many guidelines are in place including one person per service allowed in the shop at one time, masks required for stylists and customers and requirement to stay outside the shop until notified to enter.

We are constantly sanitizing everything, Tennant said. We were always careful but even more so now. And our customers have been very understanding and cooperative.

While some clients want to wait just a little longer to come in, business has been brisk.

Weve gotten several new customers, Tennant said. We still cant take walk-ins though.

While all hair services are available, facials will not begin till spa services resume on June 1.

Toughing It Out - The Downtowner Restaurant on Court Street has long been a fixture in Ripley. Owners Dave and Melissa Adkins were determined that the pandemic was not going to change that.

It was almost like a war that we were determined to win, Dave said. Or at least not go down without a fight.

The Adkins duo decided to offer their full menu of traditional home cooked meals. With the restrictions for restaurants, they were limited to curbside and carryout orders.

We havent been anywhere near our usual sales, Dave said. But weve had a lot of people support us.

Dave gives complete credit for the eaterys survival to his wife Melissa.

Shes my rock and without her great cooking, we sure wouldnt have survived, he said. Our quality never went down.

While inside dining is allowed beginning May 21, The Downtowner is waiting until May 26.

We wanted to make sure we had a good plan and had all our questions answered by Jonathan at the health department, Dave said. I keep thinking of questions to ask him. We will scrub everything down to make sure were totally ready and our employees will be back.

Melissa says the plan is to have five booths available, along with two seats at the counter.

Well be able to seat 24 people, she said. Thats taking care of the social distancing and not going over the 50 percent capacity were allowed.

Adhering to all the guidelines has not been easy.

Every rule has been followed, Dave said. Were pretty proud that we didnt have to close like a lot of restaurants did. We owe that to our customers and we really appreciate them.

Along with inside dining, curbside, and takeout will continue to be available.

See the rest here:

Local businesses are ready to move forward - Jackson County Newspapers

Industry titan Glenn Stromberg talks success, faith, and what really makes him chuckle

In nearly four decades working in the real estate market, Glenn Stromberg has realized that the misconceptions surrounding mobile homes has kept most investors and hedge funds out of that niche market. These misconceptions and his decision not to believe them have worked well for Stromberg.

According to Stromberg, his company operates using an open secret the most overlooked and undervalued class of real estate: mobile homes. But it is Strombergs strategy and his ability to pivot in perilous times that propelled him to titan status.

Although he has completed thousands of mobile home deals, Strombergs passion is to share his knowledge to help others. His company, Stromberg Investment Group, has been providing passive investing opportunities since 2006, although his real estate career started decades earlier.

Stromberg began his real estate career in 1982, quickly becoming a top sales manager for a mobile home dealership. Over his 38 years in the mobile home industry, he has developed mobile home subdivisions, owned a mobile home park, owned and operated mobile home sales centers, and bought, sold, and leased single-family homes.

After college, he took a job in corporate America and realized his vision was to be an entrepreneur. It must have been fate when he answered a newspaper ad about selling mobile homes because in just two years selling at a dealership, he was promoted to sales manager. His entrepreneurial journey continued when he started a business with a friend, growing it to 13 locations in Texas then selling his portion. Stromberg has owned a mobile home park, developed a mobile home subdivision, and for 15 years had a Clayton franchise, which was one of Warren Buffets companies. Stromberg jokes he was partners with Warren Buffett even though he has never met him! After selling the Clayton franchise, Stromberg started buying manufactured homes, but this time they were on land.

Stromberg started with the fix-and-flip method and still does some of that, but in 2008 the recession forced him to change his model, and it turned out to be a business blessing.

In our current business model, we keep some mobile home properties and turnkey others to investors. We dont use banks; we use all private money, Stromberg said. Our investors love us because their returns are better than (sometimes double) what they can get with single-family homes.

With more than a dozen employees in four states, Stromberg Investment Group continues to thrive.

While millions may play in the real estate arena, very few actually understand it to the level Glenn does and few investors create opportunities that are a win-win for both parties. Since Stromberg Investment Groups inception, Glenn has had a strong and well-articulated vision for this company, and I am honored to be the one to execute that vision. There is no titan in the industry more humble than Glenn, and he will continue to prosper for years to come, said Melissa Hamaker, COO of Stromberg Investment Group.

If youve met Glenn Stromberg, you know hes a fast talker. And if youve talked with him, you know he exudes joy and a willingness to help others. Not only a master in his niche of REI, Stromberg is at the top when it comes to character. In a fast-paced conversation with the titan of mobile home investing, Stromberg shared the importance of not only strategic investing, but of the things beyond business that bring true success. Keep up with Stromberg in this fun Q&A:

TR: Success means many different things to different people. What does success mean to you?GS: Simple. Its being in Gods will. Ten years ago, I heard the phrase, is GOD the CEO of your life? That was a game changer. I get up every morning with a set of God goals: love life, love people. When I asked God to guide me each day, everything did change.Also, having time to do what you want when you want. Thats a great luxury. To me thats success. I tell our team, if we take care of our investors and tenants, the rest will come and the company will be profitable.

TR: If you could give your younger self advice, what would it be?GS: I would have gotten in mastermind groups a lot earlier. Ive learned your network truly becomes your net worth. The connections you make puts you on the fast track to success.I would have read The Purpose Driven Life earlier in my life. Outside of the Bible, thats the book that helped me understand my calling.Also, Traction and E-Myth were the best business books Ive ever read. They taught me business skills and how to delegate properly. I would have read them sooner.

TR: What is your greatest virtue? Your weakest?GS: I have a desire to help and mentor people. I care about others and want to create win-wins in everything we do. I enjoy mentoring young people and helping them.My weakness is patience. Im not the most patient man in the world. I want things done and want them done now, but Im better now than when I was younger! I had a temper, I dont have that anymore, but I could still be more patient. But I work on that every day. I am concentrating these days on becoming a better listener and thinking before I talk. I am trying to improve on both those areas. I want to be remembered as an honest man who loved God and loved people and made a difference in peoples lives.

TR: They say success comes after failure. Can you describe a time you failed and how you persevered or what you learned?GS: In 2008, before the crash, I was buying, fixing and flipping the same type of properties as I do now: doublewides on land. No overhead. I was selling three properties at a time, bringing in $30,000 each. Life was good. When the banks quit lending, I had 18 properties on the field, and I couldnt give them away. I had to rethink my model. I didnt want to rent and deal with tenants and toilets, but I learned what others were doing right and came up with a property management system and discovered passive income. It became a blessing in disguise and the beauty of it is our current model is recession proof. The fix-and-flip method is good, but you have to keep repeating it. If you want to make money while youre sleeping, this is the way to go. Our current model is recession proof because people need affordable housing.

TR: Who have been titans in real estate or otherwise that you have admired, and why?GS: Obviously, Jesus and the lessons he taught. The golden rule and so forth. My dad taught me about being an entrepreneur and encouraged me to do anything I wanted to do. Also, President Reagan. I admired his character, positive attitude, and the way he conducted himself. He was a hero of mine. I also have two spiritual mentors as well pastors Ron Lyles and Don Gentry who helped me when I first started going to church. These titans have all made a difference in my life.

TR: What growing pains has your company endured?GS: Weve gone from just me to 15 employees and a lot of 1099 contractors. Learning and growing through masterminds gave me guidance to turn around cashflow issues and grow smart. I read Jim Collins book Good to Great, which says no more than 20 percent growth per year. I believe that. Companies get in trouble when they grow too fast. But I love growing a business. Its fun for me. I heard when I was young, that most millionaires own their own business or get into real estate, so I wanted to do both! Its a great way to build wealth. With passive income, you get cashflow every month and tax-deferred appreciation over time. Plus, it is fun to employ people see them prosper and be a part of a winning team. I feel blessed to go to work each day.

TR: You have said one reason you began investing in mobile homes is because there is little competition and lots of inventory. Has this changed?GS: That hasnt changed. There is still lots of inventory. It is hard to finance with conventional lending, so there is a competitive advantage with private lending. The Coronavirus will take competition away and provide even more inventory.

TR: How do you feel you have influenced the industry?GS: I have been lucky because I got in so long ago. But it all came together in 2008 when I was forced to form a new business model. I am always known as The Mobile Home Guy and helped make these property types mainstream. That will be my legacy. I believe I have the best-kept secret in real estate investing, and I want to get the word out and change peoples lives.

TR: What qualities do you admire in other industry influencers?GS: I am attracted to people with character. I dont like boasters. Its the quiet one, the humble one that I admire. And honesty is huge.

TR: Can you explain to newer investors how strategy is different from niche?GS: Yes, they are absolutely two totally different things. Mobile home investing is the niche, but there are many different strategies to invest in them. We are the only company that buys a mobile home, fixes it up like new, rents it, and offers full-time property management. We keep 30 percent and we turnkey 70 percent to our investors.

TR: What makes you laugh no matter your mood?GS: Three movies from back in the 80s that crack me up every time I watch them: The Blues Brothers, Caddy Shack, and Animal House. Animal House was an on-screen replica of my own fraternity house! That was back before my Christian days!

Stay tuned for more as this titan dialogue continues when Think Realty owner Eddie Wilson visits Glenn Strombergs company and asks some questions of his own. Like, was there ever a time Stromberg felt he would fail? Look for the Titan Talk video featuring Eddie and Glenn to appear later this month!

Read this article:

Titan Talk: The Master of Mobile Home Investing - Think Realty

So much has been written about the Covid-19 epidemic that its hard to imagine what else can be said. And yet as the virus stubbornly persists, we are driven to talk and write even more. As much as we would like to generalize, the impact of this pandemic is personal and subject to personal interpretation.

The whole mask phenomenon is a conundrum. To wear or not to wear is the big question. Ive been in businesses where every employee wore a mask, in others where no one wore a mask, and in others where some employees wore masks and some did not. Customers wearing masks tend to be older on average, but way fewer than half are masked.

While government can require or strongly encourage mask-wearing, it comes down to a personal decision. While older people are at greater risk, its not simply generational, gender-based, or racial either. People of all ages, sexes, and races individually choose to don a mask or not.

Those who accept the reality that their behavior may impact another persons health wear masks. Those who view mask-wearing as wimpy or giving up constitutional rights - dont. Is it political? The President doesnt wear a mask in public view, while former VP Biden does. Im surprised I havent seen a Make America Great Again mask.

As has been said many times, your mask protects those around you, not you. Wearing a mask is a public profession of a private decision that you care for the other person enough to be inconvenienced by wearing a mask. Safe to say, as time goes by, fewer and fewer are wearing masks.

This crisis has triggered some other issues along with the obvious medical ones. The question of individual rights versus public safety looms large. Should the government be able to tell you to wear a mask, social distance, stay home from work, or even decide for you whether your business can open or not? The answer seems to be yes, for a few weeks, and then no, as the crisis persists and self-discipline lags. We now see too-large groups congregate tightly in parties, at the beach, and in some churches, all oblivious to the potential harm to others. With no vaccine, disregarding masks and ignoring social distancing can predictably lead to prolonging the Covid-19 problem in those places.

Churches are a special category. Initially compliant, some are increasingly asserting their right to assembly and their freedom to worship. Anecdotal evidence suggests clustering encourages contagion in houses of faith. Still, some are pursuing court challenges to limits on their free expression of worship. Others consider themselves like businesses, and follow applicable guidelines to protect their members. Within places of worship, one finds those who wear a mask, and those who wont. It seems that the Golden Rule isnt always the final arbiter even in sacred spaces.

If you work in a business, or perhaps are even a business owner, how has it felt to learn whether your business is essential or non-essential? Usually the marketplace determines which business is essential, even if its product seems frivolous. Interestingly, all government jobs seem to be essential. Wonder if taxpayers (including some closed down), agree?

What you really dont want to hear is that the essential/nonessential determination is being made by the government, which may or may not know much about your particular business. Then you find out that the essential/nonessential definition differs from one jurisdiction to the next. The question of fairness naturally arises. Its something for people to contemplate when big government is advocated as being the solution to the marketplace and most of lifes inequities.

Whats missing in the Covid-19 picture? Could it be the concept of individual accountability and personal responsibility for ones actions? Personal sacrifice is something we applaud in key professions but often fail to practice in our own lives. Putting anothers welfare ahead of your own is earnestly endorsed in theory but fast-disappearing in practice. The herd mentality is strong, and manifests at beaches, bars, and swimming pools, where social distance is measured in inches, not feet.

There was no crystal ball when China exported Covid-19 to the world. Washington and Austin have exhibited diligence in formulating and implementing policy on the fly. It had to be trial and error, to some extent. Did we overdo it by shutting down the whole country? Time will tell, but it looks like the answer is yes, judging from the ensuing economic carnage. Huntsville is not Hoboken; New Mexico is not New Jersey. Perhaps a partial geographic shutdown? Who really knows yet?

Hindsight is 20/20. My guess is that the effort and outcome would have been about the same if the other party had been in power. There is no magic bullet, no proven protocol.

Much is still unknown because of the power of individual citizens to alter the results of any bureaucratic plan. How Americans choose to comply with or flout social policies to defeat the outbreak will go a long way to determining whether we put this storm behind us or continue to feel its wrath because of blatant selfish disregard for the health and welfare of our neighbors.

Think about that the next time you see someone enter a business or common space unmasked, or run up somebodys back in the grocery checkout line. And hope that the person before you and behind you is considerate of the less robust. Old and frail lives matter too.

Gene G. Blair has been a resident of Huntsville for 40 years. He is retired from the Criminal Justice Center at SHSU, and is also retired from the U.S. Army. He is a director on the executive board of CASA of Walker, San Jacinto, and Trinity counties.

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Reflections on the pandemic - Huntsville Item

Below youll find a comprehensive list of all of the key measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19 being implemented at airports, hotels, shops, restaurants, beaches and more in Greece during the summer tourism period.

Please note that all of the measures are subject to change. We will be regularly updating this article as necessary, however measures not listed here may be implemented if this is deemed necessary.

ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES

Archaeological sites now operate on extended summer hours (8 a.m.-8 p.m.) to avoid large crowds from forming. In order to maintain the minimum 1.5m safety distance between people, the number of visitors allowed in at every archaeological site is limited, as is the number of visitors allowed to enter every hour.

Specific routes have been demarcated, the entrance and exit separated and plexiglass screens installed wherever needed and possible for example, at the Propylaea on the Acropolis. The use of protective masks and alcohol-based sanitizers on site is strongly advised.

ARRIVALS

The tourism period in Greece will officially begin on June 15, with international visitors able to arrive (without being quarantined) at Athens and Thessaloniki airports. From July 1 direct international flights will be permitted at all other remaining airports around the country, allowing tourists to fly directly to tourist destinations. Spot Covid-19 tests for visitors arriving to Greece will be conducted using swab tests and will be mandatory for those selected for tests; visitors will not, however, be quarantined on arrival, as was the case during the lockdown phase.

AHENS INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

The use of face masks is mandatory after entering the airport terminal; a mask must be kept on throughout a passengers stay in the airport areas, during boarding, and during the flight (domestic or international). Passengers should also be aware that they may be asked to temporarily remove their mask during security processes and identity checks. Hand sanitizer dispensers are available in over 300 spots at the airport, including the bathrooms.

Plexiglass panels have been installed for additional protection in areas where contact with employees is necessary such as ticket desks and information counters. To minimize waiting times, passengers are encouraged to select e-service options (web check-in) prior to their departure for the airport, as well as within the airport areas (self check-in, baggage-tag printing, drop-off baggage, e-parking). Seating in all waiting areas has been re-arranged to allow for safe minimum distances. The current recommendation is that every other seat be left vacant. However, families or couples traveling together do not have to keep this distance.

BEACHES ORGANIZED WITH BEACH CLUBS

At organized beach clubs, a maximum of 40 people will be allowed per 1,000m2; an entrance/exit count will be carried out to make sure this measure is respected. A minimum distance of 4 meters must be maintained between individual umbrellas, each of which will provide shade for two sun loungers at most this does not apply to families with children. Two sunbeds that are under different umbrellas cannot be placed closer to each other than 1.5m.

Placing a towel on top of sun loungers is mandatory and considered the responsibility of the user. The staff at organized beaches and beach clubs are required to disinfect sun loungers/chairs after every use. Additionally, they must regularly disinfect sanitary facilities and post a schedule of that cleaning for official review.

Cantinas and beach bars will operate on a take-away basis; seating will not be allowed. Customers waiting in line to be served will have to remain at least 1.5m apart. The sale of alcohol is currently forbidden on beaches, but a review of that policy is expected.

BOATS (FERRIES)

Boats (ferries) will travel at 50% capacity or 55% for boats with cabins on board. Passengers will be required to answer a series of questions and have their temperatures taken before boarding. Passengers who present symptoms or are deemed at risk of infection (e.g. due to exposure to a Covid-19 patient in the 14 previous days) will be refused permission to board the boat.

Passengers inside the boat will have to remain at a 1.5m distance from each other, and the number of aircraft-type seats will be reduced. One person maximum will be allowed in each cabin, except for families of up to 4 people, and people with disabilities traveling with companions.

The use of a mask on board vessels is mandatory. Crews have been trained to respond to potential coronavirus cases, and boats will be disinfected after completing each sea route. Further policy updates are expected as of June 15.

CAMPING

The golden rule of maintain a distance of at least 1.5m between people who dont belong to the same family or friend circle and do not live under the same roof applies here, too.

Tents and camper vans must be at least 5 meters apart on the entrance/exit side, and 3 meters apart on every other side. Upon arrival, customers must agree to and comply with the instructions and safety measures establishments reserve the right to refuse entrance to anyone refusing to cooperate.

The use of masks is advised in interior covered spaces. Entrance to the site, as well as passage through it and the use of the campground facilities will be restricted to customers only. All common-use areas and facilities, as well as rental equipment, will be thoroughly disinfected on a regular basis.

CHECK-IN/CHECK-OUT AT HOTELS

Check-in and check-out times have been changed check-out to 11 a.m. and check-in to 3 p.m.. The added time between each check-out and check-in is necessary to ensure that each room is thoroughly disinfected between stays, and that the space is adequately ventilated.

You may see a plexiglass screen at the reception desk their presence is at the discretion of hotel management. Hand sanitizers, on the other hand, are mandatory.

Other measures the hotel must perform include disinfecting all card keys after each stay. Wherever possible, you are encouraged to check in at an outdoor reception station. The use of electronic alternatives to check-in and check-out, such as Mobile Concierge apps, is preferable, as are electronic payments upon check-out. It is likely that any accounts, invoices or receipts will be sent to you via email. Cash will only be accepted under exceptional circumstances.

DRINK & EAT

At present, all seating at restaurants and caf-bars is outdoors only; indoor spaces might reopen on June 15. The minimum distance allowed between tables ranges from 70cm to 170cm, and no more than six people are allowed at one table, although these restrictions do not apply to families with children.

Information signs will remind people of individual hygiene rules and of safety measures applying to all spaces. Customers will be encouraged to make electronic transactions. Sanitizer gel will be available at cash registers; if the owner deems it necessary, a protective plexiglass screen will be installed, as well as markings on the floor to delimit safe distances for queuing.

EMERGENCY NUMBERS

The European Emergency Number is 112. For any Covid-19-related inquiries, dial 1135.

FINES

The fine for not using a mask where required is 150.

FLIGHTS

All of the countrys airports are expected to open for international flights on July 1. Until then, all international flights to and from Greece will fly in and out of Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport or Thessaloniki Airport (the latter from June 15).

GARDENS/ PARKS

The 1.5m safety distance applies for parks and public gardens, too; the use of masks is advised.

HAIRDRESSERS/BEAUTY SALONS

Hair and beauty salons operate by appointment only, with a minimum 2m distance between stations/chairs. The use of masks is mandatory for everyone, and employees a must wear disposable gloves as well. Working hours have been extended from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on weekdays and 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays.

HOUSEKEEPING AT HOTELS

Housekeeping will be less frequent during stays, and turndown services have been abolished. Towels and sheets will be changed upon customer request only. As you enter your room for the first time, look for the sign that will tell you when and how your room was last cleaned.

Hotel owners have the choice between two cleaning options: they can either clean it in the usual way after a customer leaves and keep it closed for 24 hours until the next one comes, or perform a thorough cleansing and disinfection using a steam cleaner, UV rays or other such equipment on all room and bathroom surfaces.

Hotel owners have been advised to get rid of decorative objects such as throw pillows. Getting rid of reusable items likely to be shared, such as menus and magazines, is recommended as well. Disposable covers will be placed on TV and air conditioner remote controls. Upholstery fabric must be cleaned with a vapor steam cleaner at temperatures exceeding 70C.

NFORMATION (HEALTH-RELATED) @ HOTELS

Upon arrival, youre advised to ask about the establishments policy in case of health incidents and about the medical facilities in the general area, including the public and private hospitals, Covid-19 referral hospitals, and the pharmacies. Hotels are advised to provide printed brochures with basic health instructions translated into English, French and German, as no such electronic app currently exists.

LIVE PERFORMANCES

Live performances will begin after July 15 and will take place exclusively at outdoor venues. Artists and crew must wear face masks on stage and maintain a distance of at least 1.5 meters between each other. Venues will operate at 40% capacity to allow distances to be kept. The stage will be set at least 3 meters away from the first row of seats; for concerts where the audience is standing, a distance of 1.5 meters must be maintained between members of the audience.

MASKS

The use of disposable or reusable fabric masks is mandatory on the Metro (subway) and all other forms of public transportation, including taxis, shuttle buses, and other tourist vehicles. Face masks must also be worn in shops.

MUSEUMS

Museums are expected to open on June 15. More information will follow on their mode of operation naturally, visitors will have to keep a distance of 2 meters between each other. Museums can only use air conditioning where these are open-circuit (i.e. allow fresh air to enter the building). A limited number of people will be allowed entry every hour. The use protective masks and alcohol-based antiseptic hand sanitizer is recommended.

PEN-AIR CINEMAS

This summer delight comes back to us on June 1, but will operate with new safety rules the most important one being the reduction of the number of seats to 40% of the theaters capacity. It is likely that ticket offices will open two hours prior to movies start times, and stop ticket sales 15 minutes before so that people have time to properly take their seats while maintaining social distancing. Here too, the use of masks and alcohol-based hand sanitizer will be recommended on entry.

PRIVATE BEACHES @ HOTELS & RESORTS

Seats of any kind must be placed in such a way that the distance between two people sitting under two different umbrellas is no less than 3 meters in any direction. People will be discouraged from placing their towels or beach mats within the safe distance areas. Towels large enough to cover all of a seats surfaces will be provided and disinfected after every use.

QUEUES

Greeks have recently shown remarkable discipline in complying with the queuing regulations now in place (okay, with a few exceptions). The main rule to observe is to remain at least 1.5 2 meters from others in the queue. In many shops and other areas floor markings have been placed to aid with physical distancing.

RENT A CAR

Rental cars will be disinfected between uses by different clients. Additionally, the number of passengers allowed will be restricted: For cars with up to five seats, only the driver plus one passenger will be allowed in the vehicle. For those with 6-7 seats, the driver plus two passengers. For eight or nine-seat vehicles, the driver will be allowed to carry up to 3 passengers. These restrictions do not apply for families with children.

SHOPPING

You may need to wait for a few minutes before entering many shops. Smaller ones up to 20 m2 will be able to host a maximum of 4 people at the same time (including employees). Stores from 20 to 100 m2 can have a maximum of 4 people inside plus one person for every additional 10 m2. Stores 100 m2 and above will be able to welcome a maximum of 12 people, plus one more person for every additional 15 m2. Distances of at least 1.5 meters must be maintained by customers and employees and the use of masks is mandatory.

SWIMMING POOLS

Sunbeds must be placed so that two people sitting under two different umbrellas, or two people staying in two different rooms maintain a distance of at least 2 meters in every direction. Every time a customer leaves, seats, tables, security boxes, menus and any other item the next customer may use must be disinfected. Pools are advised to provide towels covering beds surfaces as well as to clean every sunbed / chair between uses. It is recommended that cushions and fabric coverings be removed from sunbeds.

The use of indoor swimming pools is forbidden until further notice. Opaque dividers are recommended for swimming pool showers, to allow people to thoroughly wash before entering and after exiting the water. Swimming pools are advised to provide all necessary amenities (soap, shower gel, etc.) as well as antiseptic gel by the shower entrance

TOUR BUSES

All tourist buses are allowed to operate at up to 50% capacity. All passengers must wear protective masks on board. All tour buses must provide hand sanitizer by the entrance. Companies are advised to install transparent protective dividers in buses between the driver and the passengers. On special open-air tourist buses, at stops passengers will only be allowed to embark after all those getting off have done so. After each route, the cleaning of surfaces and high contact spots (e.g. handles) is advised.

TRANSFER CARS

Customer transport will be allowed via private transfers only. Vehicles with up to 5 seats can carry no more than one passenger plus the driver. Companions of people with disabilities are exempt from this rule. 6-7 seat cars can carry the driver plus two passengers, while 8-9 seat cars can carry up to 3 passengers. The passenger limit will not apply if the passengers are parents with their children. The driver and passengers must all wear masks.

VISITORS @ HOTEL ROOMS

Rooms in hotels and resorts, as well as tents and campers at campsites, are for customer-use only. No visitors will be permitted.

WATERSPORTS

Anything that comes in contact with customers every surface, life jacket, wetsuit etc must be cleaned and disinfected between each use. Only members of the same family, or individuals able to maintain a 2m distance between them, will be allowed on any single piece of equipment (such as a canoe or inflatable ride).

YACHTS

Faraway destinations where medical help is scant are to be avoided. The maximum number of passengers allowed on board will depend on a boats size and the number of passengers allowed by its license. On every boat there will be a book with all passenger details and their hours of embarking and disembarking, which must be available in written or electronic form for inspection by port and health authorities. The only people allowed on board will be the people who have boarded from the start of the journey. No other passengers or visitors will be allowed on board at intermediate stops.

Additionally, a log must be kept to monitor everyones health on board: all crew and passengers will have their temperatures taken once daily and logged. If somebody starts developing Covid-19 symptoms on board a cough, fever, shortness of breath this must be logged in the book and a prearranged plan for dealing with a suspected coronavirus case must be activated. There must be sufficient quantities of antiseptic, disinfectant, cleaning supplies and personal protection equipment for all on board.

ZEUS

The God of philoxenia (hospitality) wishes you a great, safe holiday in Greece!

This article first appeared in Greece-Is.com, an English-language publishing initiative by Kathimerini.

See the rest here:

Know the rules: The A-Z for tourism in Greece in the Covid-19 era | Kathimerini - http://www.ekathimerini.com