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All posts for the month December, 2015
What is a commercial use of UAS?: Any commercial use in connection with a business, including:
Selling photos or videos taken from a UAS
Using UAS to provide contract services, such as industrial equipment or factory inspection
Using UAS to provide professional services, such as security or telecommunications
What are some examples of commercial uses of UAS?
Professional real estate or wedding photography
Professional cinema photography for a film or television production
Providing contract services for mapping or land surveys
You finally bought that shiny new camera-equipped drone this holiday season.Drones offer significant competitive advantages in aerial real estate photography & advertising that bring your customer’s home search to new heights; but, did you know that you’re about to become a pilot and part of the United States aviation system? By law, your drone is an aircraft and subject to strict federal registration, operation and safety requirements. Below is information to ensure you are flying safely in 2016.
What Is A Drone?
A drone, or “unmanned aircraft system” (“UAS”) as referred to by the Federal Aviation Administration (“FAA”), is an unmanned aircraft and all associated elements that are required for the pilot to operate safely and efficiently in the national airspace system. [1] Drones come in a variety of shapes and sizes and serve diverse purposes. Drone flights are generally short in duration and flown at low altitudes to gather information related to a specific property or location.
May I use a drone in my real estate business?
The FAA considers using drones to take photos for your listing to be more than just a hobby. In fact, using drones for professional real estate purposes is classified as a commercial or business use by the FAA and the FAA currently regulates drone operations for commercial purposes. This means that REALTORS® using drones in their real estate business are subject to regulation by the FAA and may not fly a drone for commercial purposes without express permission from the FAA. The FAA issues Certificates of Waiver or Authorization (“COA”) to select commercial or business drone operators, allowing them to legally operate on a case-by-case basis under Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. All exemptions granted under Section 333 are issued with strict conditions and specific limitations with which the drone operator must comply.
RESOURCE: http://knowbeforeyoufly.org/for-business-users/
http://www.realtor.org/law-and-ethics/drones-frequently-asked-questions
REMEMBERING MEADWLARK LEMON ( April 25, 1932 – December 27, 2015)Meadow “Meadowlark” Lemon III is a retired American basketball player, actor, and minister. Meadowlark Lemon played with the Globetrotters for 24 years. Affectionately known to many as the “Clown Prince of Basketball,” Lemon was as famous for his comedic skill on the basketball court as he was for his athletic talent. He later became an ordained minister and served as a preacher in Scottsdale, Arizona, where he divided his time between his work with youth and with his own basketball team, the Harlem All-Stars. His name and patented hook shot are ingrained in the memories of more than one generation. Meadowlark was the most popular member of the most beloved sports team in history – the Harlem Globetrotters. In 2000, Lemon received the John Bunn Award, the highest honor given by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame outside of induction. He was inducted into the Hall three years later as a contributor to the game. On May 18, 2009, Lemon became a partial owner of the Smoky Mountain Jam of the American Basketball Association.
Meadow “Meadowlark” Lemon III, was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, on April 25, 1932. He passed in Scottsdale, Arizona on December 27, 2015. He was 83.
…And, even if he doesn’t, the whole Republican field just keeps getting crazier. Threatening to commit war crimes by intentionally bombing women and children.1 “Closing” sections of the Internet.2 Keeping Sharia law out of a city near you.3
These are the policies Republicans support. And in poll after poll, the candidates who take the most extreme, racist, right-wing positions go up.
If any of these candidates end up in the White House in 2016, America is in deep, deep trouble. Just by commanding the national stage, Republicans are already pushing dangerous ideas into public discourse and fueling a climate of violence and vitriol.
Your gift won’t just help defeat Republicans in 2016—you’ll also help fight against the pernicious ideas that their campaigns are propagating and help elect progressives who will stand up for our values.Maybe you’re one of the people out there who thinks that the 2016 election will be an easy win for Democrats. You might think that because Republicans are so crazy, they can’t possibly win the general election. If so, think again.
In 2014, Republicans won their biggest House majority in Congress in almost 100 years—most of them every bit as conservative as the current candidates for president.4 Republicans control 32 governorships, including in deep-blue states like Maryland, Illinois, and Massachusetts.5 And, under President Obama, Democrats have lost more than 900 state legislative seats. That’s why anyone who thinks the next election is going to be easy is kidding themselves. Even if Donald Trump wins the nomination.
hat’s why I’m asking you to make a year-end gift to one of the most powerful—and effective—progressive groups in the nation: MoveOn. Will you chip in $3 and make sure MoveOn goes into 2016 prepared for a presidential election year?
‘Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouseMy signs were all out and brochure boxes loaded
The ad copy in and the lock boxes coded
I just wrote an offer with that one perfect buyer
Ughhh, its so low…they say they won’t go any higher
So I call up my seller with the not so good news
And they agree to meet with me…what have they got to lose?
So we sit at the table and I do what I do best
Crunch numbers, talk deadlines and give it a rest
So the sellers agree and get ready to sign
And then they exclaim… “We’ve got an equity line!”
More crunching and digging to find extra money
The sellers are smiling…but this really isn’t funny
Three months on the market with nary a showing
Now I have an offer and not sure how it’s going
And that’s when they ask what I don’t want to hear
“Can you cut your commission?”, and they crack open a beer
What I need is a Martini while relaxing by a pool
I reply that, “I can’t…it’s a company rule”
So I ring up the buyer right there on the spot
I need to know if they’ll consider a counter or not
To my surprise they speak up, “We’ve got $5000 more”
If its signed tonight we’ll accept it, but absolutely no more
So back to sellers for signatures on the line
They hem and they haw and then finally sign
I email the buyer and get their reply
Accepted as countered, now I’m flying high
The sellers are happy as I walk out the door
It’s just 9pm, I can stop at the store
I pick up some goodies for my own Christmas treat
Head home to chill out and put up my feet
When I drive up to my house it’s such a great sight
All lit up for the holidays with lights oh so bright
A smile crosses my face as I thought it just might
“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night”!
By Shelly Brunette
The end of 2015 is fast approaching and, though we had many notable progressive victories in 2015, it is time to start looking ahead to the big challenges for progress in 2016. We know 2016 is going to be a big year for politics and policy, and we hope the following 5 challenges can be addressed in the next year:
1) Combat the threat posed by ISIS: In the upcoming year, the United States must continue to strengthen and lead the coalition of over 60 countries dedicated to fighting ISIS in the Middle East. The Center for American Progress outlined a series of additional steps that the U.S. should take to defeat terrorism in the region. These include intensifying the military campaign against ISIS through increased air strikes and support to effective partners on the ground, securing a diplomatic solution to the Syrian civil war, and authorizing the use of military force in Congress. But what will not help our fight against terrorism is the escalation of hateful Islamophobic rhetoric, which only further puts our security at risk by playing into the strategy of ISIS. In fact, contrary to anti-Muslim rhetoric, Muslim Americans play a key role in the U.S. fight against ISIS.
2) Enact comprehensive immigration reform: One of the biggest challenges that lies ahead in 2016 is the growing need for comprehensive immigration reform. The benefits of comprehensive immigration reform are huge: it could put millions of people on the way to permanent legal status and citizenship, keep thousands of families together, and bring $1.2 trillion to the U.S. economy. And, it would cost $114 billion to deport all unauthorized immigrants in the United States. But since Congress failed to pass broadly supported and bipartisan immigration reform legislation in 2013, the progress for passing comprehensive reform has stalled indefinitely. Just recently, newly minted Speaker of the House Paul Ryan announced that he would not work with the Obama administration on immigration policy. But given the growing demographic and electoral power of the Latino vote, the actions of lawmakers on immigration policy will matter greatly in 2016 and beyond.
3) Tighten gun regulations: After a year of at least one mass shooting every week, 2016 needs to be the year for serious gun safety reforms. We need to expand background checks for people who want to buy guns and close loopholes such as the gun show loophole, such that those convicted of violent felonies, domestic abusers, and fugitives cannot buy a gun. Another necessary reform is closing the terror gap, since from 2000 to 2014, more than 2,000 individuals on the consolidated terror watch list passed a background check and were legally able to purchase a gun. In fact, in 2011, an Al Qaeda leader even encouraged recruits to exploit lax American gun laws to commit acts of terror.
4) Begin to reform the criminal justice system: Significant criminal justice reform is necessary, as nearly one third of Americans have a criminal record. Congress made great steps toward reform this year, but needs to build on broad bipartisan by moving immediately to pass the Sentencing Reform and Corrections Act of 2015 and the Fair Chance to Compete for Jobs Act of 2015, which are focused, bipartisan pieces of legislation that tackle many of the root causes and impacts of overincarceration and the over-criminalization of poor communities and communities of color And more needs to be done to address the barriers associated with having a criminal record—such as lack of economic and family stability, which can impact children’s long-term outcomes—as nearly half of American children have a parent with a criminal record.
5) Preserve progressive victories at the Supreme Court: The outcomes of various cases before the Supreme Court will impact the lives of workers, unauthorized immigrants, students, women, and more. In Friedrichs v. California Teachers Association, the court could impose a right-to-work standard for all government employees. This threatens to undermine economic security, especially since workers earn less in right to work states and research indicates the middle-class share of income has declined as union membership has declined. Therefore, if unions are undermined, workers and the whole middle class will suffer. Meanwhile, United States v. Texas will review the injunction— which was influenced by conservative lawmakers in 26 states who filed lawsuits—that is currently blocking President Obama’s DAPA and expanded DACA initiatives. DAPA and expanded DACA will help nearly 5 million people, and blocking these initiatives costs the United States $8.4 million every day. Additionally, Fisher v. University of Texas, could undermine affirmative action and erode diversity in higher education. Finally, Whole Woman’s Health v. Cole may significantly restrict Texas women’s access to legal abortions, thereby undermining their ability to make decisions about their lives and health.
BOTTOM LINE: As 2015 nears an end, we know there are many challenges ahead in 2016. Next year will be huge for politics and policy, and we hope that we can address the challenges of Supreme Court cases, comprehensive immigration reform, gun safety reforms, criminal justice reform, and national security. Happy holidays and we look forward to more progress in 2016! Read more at: http://thinkprogress.org/progress-report/a-primer-for-progress-in-2016/
On Nov. 25, 2015, the Federal Housing Finance Agency (FHFA) released the 2016 conforming Loan Limits for Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. The national conforming loan limit remained at $417,000 while 39 additional counties were added as high cost areas which raises the limit up to $625,500 in the most costly areas. FHFA requested comment on and implemented new methodology for its housing price index to better reflect the changes in the broader housing market.
Research shows that reminding yourself that a good moment will end and that you need to enjoy it while it lasts actually makes you happier.