In our biz, you never want to hear, “deception,” “targeting the elderly,” or “abusive tactics” related to a company. But there they are in this report, “The Ugly Truth Behind We Buy Ugly Houses.” (Thank you to Ken S. for passing this along.) The franchise is nationwide, unlike… cicadas? The U.S. Census Bureau says the Midwest includes 12 states: the Dakotas, Kansas, Missouri, Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Ohio. I mention this, not only because some people are confused where they live, but also because this spring, two different broods of cicadas, one that lives on a 13-year cycle and the other that lives on a 17-year cycle, will emerge at the same time from underground in a rare, synchronized event that last occurred in 1803. Billions of the winged insects will make an appearance across the Midwest and the Southeast, beginning in some places in late April, for a raucous mating ritual
Today I am in San Diego for the SD CAMP event. At the same latitude, a poll was taken by Texas Governor Greg Abbott's office which asked whether people who live in Texas think illegal immigration is a serious problem. 29 percent of respondents answered: "Yes, it is a serious problem." 71 percent of respondents answered: "No es una problema seriosa." (Did you know that Texas even has its own pledge of allegiance?) Politics aside, Texas is home to many lenders. And many hotels. Marriott certainly has the business travel market dialed in, but just six companies in the United States control 80 percent of branded hotels, and two companies (Choice Hotels and Wyndham) may merge giving us five. Choice owns Radisson, Quality Inn and Econolodge brands; Wyndham owns Ramada, La Quinta, Days Inn, Super 8, and Howard Johnson. If a takeover/merger occurs, 16,500 hotels and 46 brands will be run by a single entity. Yikes! Today’s podcast can be found