Looking back on the disaster that was Denver Mayor Michael Hancocks hypocritical Thanksgiving travel decision and the resultant trashing of his credibility

And then comes the news Saturday night that Gov. Jared Polis and his husband, Marlon Reis, have tested positive for COVID-19. Polis was already in quarantine for having come in contact with someone who had tested positive. If anyone still questions how serious the crisis is were facing as if four ineligible Broncos quarterbacks hadnt made the point this should about do it.

On Wednesday morning, I was taking notes, as I sometimes do, for future column ideas. What struck me and probably you were the long lines of people in airports across the country, millions of them ignoring all medical advice against visiting relatives on Thanksgiving. You shake your head in disbelief, or maybe disgust, and say to yourself that while you understand COVID fatigue, thats not really an excuse. Weve just passed 250,000 COVID deaths. The experts are saying we could hit 400,000 deaths by the end of February. In other words, the people who have chosen to travel are directly risking their lives and the lives of others.

This hit me because, like most people, I stayed home with my live-in family. I mostly do, although I do take the grandkids on masked, socially distanced tours of the neighborhood. I dont go to the office/coffee shop. I order in from restaurants. I get my groceries delivered. I know Im fortunate to be able to afford all that. I also know that Im old, and I have a chronic condition that makes me especially vulnerable.

And so, I wear a mask. I distance. I wash the hell out of my hands. I keep up with the scientific recommendations as they change. Thats how science works. The more information we get like, the vaccines are (we hope) coming! the easier it is to make better decisions, like the decision most American families, and most Denver families, made. Youre not a hero for staying home unless you think its heroic these days simply to do the right thing.

The message coming from all corners was clear enough. By traveling, you risk becoming a super-spreader as if, you know, you worked in the Trump White House and forgot that the pandemic is completely out of control. Those traveling either dont believe in the science or dont believe, in any case, that science applies to them.

And so I wrote down the old Strother Martin line from Butch Cassidy, because Ive quoted the movie maybe a thousand times over the years: Morons. Ive got morons on my team.

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And then a little later in the day, I saw a tweet from 9News that Hancock was among the, uh, morons. And since I know him not to be a moron, I was, well, confused by his selfish decision to travel to Mississippi to see his daughter, who had recently moved there, and his wife who was already there with her. I was also angry, and not only because while Hancock was heading to the airport, his office had put out a tweet advising people to stay home. That has been his message, and Polis message, for weeks.

It was good advice from Hancock or his office: Pass the potatoes, not COVID. He advised virtual family gatherings and to avoid travel when possible.

And so when Hancock chose to ignore the science and ignore his own advice on potatoes we had latkes at my house I was furious for at least two reasons:

One, there is the rank hypocrisy. Once caught, Hancock immediately said the choice was between his wife and daughter coming to Denver or him visiting his daughters new digs in Mississippi. Those werent the choices, of course. The only right choice was to stay home, not to decide which family member should take the most risks. Hancock would later apologize, but to little effect, because no apology and no spin are going to help, certainly not in the short term.

READ:More columns by Mike Littwin.

I had to Google to get this early 19th-century quote right, but this via British essayist William Hazlitt might apply: The only vice which cannot be forgiven is hypocrisy. The repentance of a hypocrite is itself hypocrisy.

Two, wtf.

We are finally putting behind us a president who showed a complete lack of leadership on COVID. For those needing advice on how to properly trash your credibility, you ignore the pandemic killing thousands daily and instead hire My Cousin Rudy as your lawyer while lying repeatedly to the nation that the 2020 election was rigged. I mean, it would take thousands of conspirators to rig the election, and maybe not even then. Does that seem plausible to anyone besides Trump and the Trump cultists? And yet, what is happening by the thousands and by the tens of thousands and by the hundreds of thousands is that people are getting sick and many dying from the coronavirus.

With Trump mentioning COVID these days only when taking credit for the scientists amazing work on a vaccine, and not, say, for the many White House COVID clusters, the mantle of responsibility has fallen to governors and mayors, with mixed results. The truth is, Hancock has been often ahead of Polis in making the tough decisions to keep us safe. The sad truth is, people actively look for reasons not to trust politicians any more and often get those views validated from the ugly depths of social media. But Hancock was caught out by the mainstream media. This was no hit piece. This was no conspiracy. Every wound Hancock has suffered has been self-inflicted.

Hes not alone in this. California Gov. Gavin Newsom was recently seen at a mostly mask-free birthday party dinner went for $350 apiece with what was apparently five other couples, which breaks about a dozen California rules. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo had announced that his 89-year-old mother and two daughters would travel to Albany to celebrate Thanksgiving with him. As social media exploded, Cuomo suddenly changed plans. There go two possible future Democratic presidential candidacies down the tubes.

So now, what do we do, and what does Hancock do?

The second part is easier. Hancock did an interview with 9News on Saturday after returning from his trip and offered up his best mea culpa. It was unwise, it was hypocritical, it was a mistake that I deeply regret and deeply apologize for, Hancock said. He went on to say that his decision to make the trip was not a wise one, and Im man enough to say it, that I should not have made the trip.

Hes right. It was unwise and hypocritical. But he was not so much manning up as he was doing the only thing he could do.

All leaders who make decisions make the occasional bonehead decision, but this is well beyond the bonehead category and moves into brain-dead territory. One of the big jobs of the mayor is to represent his city. Hancock has plainly misrepresented Denver. He must go into quarantine the governor is in quarantine now and hope, once hes tested, that hes negative. He has work to do, a lot of work, to have any shot at rebuilding trust.

What do we do? Hancock is not resigning, and the nascent recall movement is, well, a joke. Colorado is recall happy, and for the thrice-elected Hancock, who is now term-limited as mayor, it makes absolutely no sense, especially during a pandemic. What we can do is demand our leaders do everything possible to head off the worst of the pandemic, including the Weld County commissioners who have said they wouldnt enforce any new level-red rules as if ignoring COVID will help and put out a news release advising us that theyre no smarter than they were the last time the governor toughened rules.

And now the commissioners might want to note that the governor himself has tested positive. As Polis put it, no one is immune.

God knows, people arent perfect. Weve been working on that project for however many thousands of years. But is it too much to ask of those we elect as our leaders to at least try to come closer? At this point, Hancock has no choice. Of course, he should have seen he had no choice when it came time for him to board that airplane.

Mike Littwin has been a columnist for too many years to count. He has covered Dr. J, four presidential inaugurations, six national conventions and countless brain-numbing speeches in the New Hampshire and Iowa snow.

The Colorado Sun is a nonpartisan news organization, and the opinions of columnists and editorial writers do not reflect the opinions of the newsroom. Read our ethics policy for more on The Suns opinion policy and submit columns, suggested writers and more to opinion@coloradosun.com.

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Littwin: Getting on a plane was easy, but restoring Michael Hancock's credibility will be a lot harder - The Colorado Sun

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--By late Friday (Oct. 23), Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) expects to restore power to essentially all the 31,000 PG&E customers in seven counties who are affected by the Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) that began on Wednesday (Oct. 21).

PG&E turned off the power to these customers, the majority living in Shasta, Butte and Tehama counties, to protect their safety and the safety of their communities because of strong, windy weather that elevated the risk of wildfires in Northern and Central California. Due to changing weather conditions Wednesday evening, PG&E was able to decrease customer impact by another 16% than previously estimated, removing about 6,000 customers and eight counties from the scope.

PG&E meteorologists forecast that the strongest winds will subside Friday morning, enabling crews to begin patrolling power lines (by air, vehicle and on foot) to ensure that no damage or hazards exist before those lines can be re-energized and those customers restored. PG&E expects all customers who can receive service will be back in power by 10 p.m. Friday.

Meanwhile, PG&E meteorologists are monitoring an additional potential wind event due to arrive Sunday. Although its still three days away and weather conditions can rapidly change, it has the potential to be a larger scale event than the PSPS event that began Wednesday, Oct. 21. Tomorrow, the company plans to begin notifications two days in advance of the event for potentially impacted customers indicating the possibility of another power shutoff for safety Sunday morning.

Our crews have been patrolling lines in helicopters, in vehicles, and on foot today and will continue into Friday in order to safely restore customers power as soon as possible. We know that being without power represents a hardship, especially for customers who might have to lose power a second time within a week. We are making every effort to restore power by Friday at latest so that our customers can run their appliances, recharge their devices and do whats needed before the power potentially goes off again on Sunday morning, said Mark Quinlan, a PG&E senior director and incident commander for the PSPS events.

Here are some updates related to the two PSPS events:

Current Oct. 21-23 Public Safety Power Shutoff

The PSPS that began Wednesday evening remains in place for some customers and PG&E is continuing to monitor conditions across the de-energized areas.

The top three recorded wind gust speeds by noon today were 56, 52 and 45 miles per hour. in Shasta, Butte and Yolo counties respectively, with humidity and fuel moisture levels remaining low.

Crews have already restored power to about 74 percent of customers affected by the Oct. 21 PSPS, with about 8,000 customers remaining as of 7:30 p.m.

Community Resource Centers

To support our customers, beginning Wednesday, PG&E planned to open 20 Community Resource Centers (CRCs) that operate from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. through the current PSPS event. However, seven of these locations were cancelled last night after the weather risk lessened and those areas were removed from the event scope as they did not have to be de-energized. An additional CRC closed once all customers in Glenn County were restored this evening. Thirteen temporary CRCs are now open to customers when power is out at their homes and provide ADA-accessible restrooms, hand-washing stations, medical-equipment charging, Wi-Fi; bottled water, grab-and-go bags and non-perishable snacks.

PG&E will also open CRCs for affected customers should the potential Oct. 24-26 PSPS come to fruition.

For updates on the CRCs, check here.

Potential Future Oct. 24-26 Public Safety Power Shutoff

PG&E meteorology is tracking and forecasting a potential PSPS event encompassing areas and adjacent terrain of the northern and western Sacramento Valley, Northern and Central Sierra, higher terrain of the Bay Area, the Santa Cruz Mountains, Central Coast Region and portions of southern Kern.

Support for Customers with Medical Needs

In order to support customers during both PSPS events, PG&E is also partnering with 30 community-based organizations (CBOs) to assist customers with medical, financial, language and aging needs before, during and after PSPS events. These activities include:

Details about these resources are at our website at pge.com/disabilityandaging.

So far in 2020, more than 1,000 portable batteries have been provided to vulnerable customers via the CFILCs Disability Disaster Access and Resources Program and through PG&Es Portable Battery Program.

Heres Where to Go to Learn More

About PG&E

Pacific Gas and Electric Company, a subsidiary of PG&E Corporation (NYSE:PCG), is one of the largest combined natural gas and electric energy companies in the United States. Based in San Francisco, with more than 20,000 employees, the company delivers some of the nation's cleanest energy to 16 million people in Northern and Central California. For more information, visit pge.com and pge.com/news.

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Current PSPS Update: Restoration to Continue Friday Morning with a Goal of Restoring Power to Essentially All 31000 Customers by the End of the Day -...

BY BALFORD HENRYSenior staff reporterbalfordh@jamaicaobserver.com

Friday, October 23, 2020

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LEADER of the House of Representatives Edmund Bartlett is confident that the renovations to Gordon House to accommodate a resumption of sittings of the House of Representatives, will be completed by mid-November.

Bartlett told the Jamaica Observer on Tuesday that there would be no need for an extended delay of the works to be completed, and that he was satisfied that team that has been contracted will complete it within this timeline.

It could be completed earlier than that, based on the responses from the team which is carrying out the renovation. But, it would be safe to say that we will resume meeting at Gordon House by mid-November, he said.

Preliminary work started at the building Monday, and Gordon House sources said that it should be in full swing by weekend. The challenge is to create a chamber in which all 63 Members of Parliament, particularly the overwhelming 49 Government MPs, can be seated on either side of the aisle under COVID-19 social distancing rules.

In the meantime, Bartlett acknowledged that Parliament will need to fork out just over $200,000 per sitting for the use of the Jamaica Conference Centre, which was originally built to host the International Seabed Authority (ISA).

Gordon House and the conference centre are situated less than a mile away at different ends of Duke Street in downtown Kingston, but while the huge centre is a much more accommodative venue, it does not have the parliamentary trappings of Gordon House.

Efforts by a committee led by Bartlett to get the work going as quickly as possible after the current session of Parliament started on September 13, following the September 3 General Election, were also delayed by the positive COVID-19 test result returned by House Marshall Captain Wayne Blake. This led to a brief closure of the building for full sanitisation, before staff was allowed back in.

We owe payment for the two meetings so far, and we expect to meet there on October 27 and November 4. After which the renovation of Gordon House should be completed. I am sure the work will not go beyond mid-November, the latest, Bartlett told the Observer.

He also suggested that with the Government's Urban Development Corporation (UDC) operating the venue, Parliament could end up paying less. No payments have been made so far.

Now you can read the Jamaica Observer ePaper anytime, anywhere. The Jamaica Observer ePaper is available to you at home or at work, and is the same edition as the printed copy available at http://bit.ly/epaper-login

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Gordon House renovation to be completed by mid-November - Jamaica Observer

Photo by Matthew Bowler

Above: Border Angels Executive Director Dulce Garcia speaks in support of asylum-seekers at the San Ysidro Port-of-Entry on Oct. 21, 2020.

Marchers converged on the U.S.-Mexico border Wednesday morning to protest the treatment of asylum-seekers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

In Tijuana, asylum-seekers marched to the El Chaparral port of entry, demanding that the U.S. restore asylum proceedings for the thousands of migrants fleeing their home countries and arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border. Across the border in San Ysidro, advocates read the stories of asylum-seekers.

Aired 10/22/20 on KPBS News

Listen to this story by Max Rivlin-Nadler.

We cannot return to Honduras because our lives are in danger," read one of the testimonials. We do not feel safe in Tijuana, and the closure of the border has left us without work."

Before the pandemic, many asylum-seekers were waiting months in Mexico for their chance to appear in a U.S. court for an asylum hearing. As COVID-19 limited travel across the border, however, the US asylum system has nearly ground to a halt, and the U.S. has expelled anyone who crosses the border without authorization in a matter of minutes.

It has also postponed all scheduled asylum hearings for those in the "Remain-in-Mexico" program.

"Theres a lot of uncertainty, and fear for our asylum-seeking siblings in Tijuana. Their dates are having to be postponed. Theres a lack of information, a lack of resources, they dont have any certainty in their asylum process, said Dulce Garcia, the executive director of Border Angels.

The two groups converging at the border issued a list of demands including the end of Remain-in-Mexico, the reopening of the border for asylum-seekers, more support for immigrants from the Mexican government and the end of waiting lists for people who want to declare asylum.

RELATED: Trump Administrations Unprecedented Asylum Restrictions Could Outlast Pandemic

Garcia said next years presidential election will prove pivotal in the lives of these asylum-seekers. But she believes a lot of damage has already been done. Earlier this week, ACLU lawyers said that it has been unable to find the parents of 545 young asylum-seekers who had been separated at the border in 2017.

Essentially, this administration has undone all protections for refugees and asylum-seekers. So, if there is a new administration, a change in administration, wed expect there would be a respect of asylum laws, both domestic and international laws. The U.S. was a driving force for protections for asylum-seekers, we were setting an example for the rest of this world, until this administration.

On Monday, the Supreme Court announced it would soon be hearing a challenge to the Remain-in-Mexico program. The administrations migrant expulsion policy is also being challenged in court.

Protesters gathered at US Ports of Entry to demand the US restore asylum proceedings for migrants who have been waiting in Mexico for months. Also, well review Measure E on the ballot. Plus, a look at how the San Diego craft brew industry has been handling the changes ushered in by the pandemic.

Aired: October 22, 2020 | Transcript

Max Rivlin-Nadler Speak City Heights Reporter

I cover City Heights, a neighborhood at the intersection of immigration, gentrification, and neighborhood-led health care initiatives. I'm interested in how this unique neighborhood deals with economic inequality during an unprecedented global health crisis.

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Binational Protestors Converge On The Border To Demand Restoration Of Asylum - KPBS

New Fenwick Hotel Granted Inside Alcohol License After 7-Hour Hearing; Pool Bar Decision Delayed For Now After Opposition

FENWICK ISLAND With approval to license the facilitys interior for alcohol sales and consumption, the connections of a new Fenwick Island hotel now await a state commissioners decision regarding a second-floor pool deck.In a seven-hour-long public hearing Tuesday, the Delaware Office of the Alcoholic Beverage Control Commissioner (OABCC), headed by Commissioner John Cordrey, granted Read more

NEWARK Worcester Countys public schools continue to gradually return students to classrooms.Worcester County Public Schools remains in Stage Two of its Responsible Return model as COVID-19 continues to be a concern. A third of the countys public school students are back in their schools for in-person learning and more will return on Monday.Weve welcomed Read more

BISHOPVILLE Worcester County launched its new place brand, Marylands Coast, at Lighthouse Sound on Wednesday.Elected officials joined county staff and industry partners to share the new brand, which highlights the countys greatest asset, the ocean.Our goal was to define a distinct brand to strengthen our countys destination as a vibrant destination for families, vacationers, Read more

BERLIN County officials approved the creation of an overlay zone to allow Ocean Downs Casino to expand despite objections from Ocean Citys mayor and representatives of the local hospitality industry.The Worcester County Commissioners on Tuesday voted 5-2, with Commissioners Jim Bunting and Joe Mitrecic opposed, to approve a casino entertainment district for the A-2 Read more

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10/22/2020 | New Library Branch Will Not Find Home On Donated Land | News Ocean City MD - The Dispatch

When you're tired of watching shouting matches among the housewives or sick of dating shows, HGTV has your back with its simple yet entertaining content. What better way to spend a lazy day than curling up in your couch or bed watching people on a quest to find their homes, or giving their houses a makeover to turn it into their dream abode? Here are 10 HGTV shows that should definitely be on your watchlist for times when you can't decide what to watch or are seeking ideas on how to upgrade your home to the next level.

Over the years we have watched Drew and Jonathan Scott of 'Property Brothers' fame working alongside each other to renovate their clients' homes. If you ever wondered which brother was better at renovating and designing a home, then you should definitely check out HGTV's 'Brother vs Brother'. On this show, the twins are pitted against each other to redo and upgrade a property. The winners will be declared based on the home that earns the highest net profit. Aside from sibling rivalry, what's at stake for the brothers is the humiliation that awaits them if they lose the challenge and also that the loser will have to buy all the winners' favorite things during their trip to Disneyland. To know which brother aced the challenge, make sure you watch the fun show.

There are plenty of home renovation shows on TV, but what sets 'Extreme Home Makeover: Home Edition' apart from the other shows is the time taken by the renovation experts to complete the project. While we are used to seeing the contractors take weeks to complete a project, on this show, they have just a day to finish converting their clients' home into their dream abode. Apart from the awe-inspiring renovations and host Jesse Tyler's wit, the incredible talent of the designers Breegan Jane, Darren Keefe Reiher and Carrie Locklyn will definitely draw you in.

By now you should know that HGTV shows do not have any spicy drama in them, but the exception to that would be 'Windy City Rehab'. What started off as a mission to fix homes around Chicago city quickly became a hot mess, after Alison Victoria found out that her partner Donovan Eckhardt was embezzling money from her. The initial episodes focused on the renovation work, but the final episodes were heavily covered in the personal drama between the hosts.

Brad Pitt, Melissa McCarthy, Viola Davis, Rebel Wilson, Jeremy Renner and Michael Buble were some of the stars who appeared on HGTV's hit show 'Celebrity IOU'. Each episode of the show features a celebrity who wants to surprise a special person in their life with home renovations. The celebrities then roped in Jonathan and Drew Scott of 'Property Brothers' fame to execute the renovation work. The brothers worked alongside the celebrities to create a design plan and deliver a customized space as per their taste and that too under tight deadlines. If watching celebrities in their element alongside stunning homes appeals to you, then 'celebrity IOU' has to be on your watchlist.

Purchasing a home is without a doubt a very emotional experience. Everybody has their laundry list of things they want in their dream homes, but unfortunately, not everybody has a budget to meet their laundry list of expectations. So on 'House Hunters', we see real-estate agents showing their clients three homes and the client will have to pick one which is within their budget, but it may not have everything they want. Who knew watching clients reject homes over the paint color or the shape of countertops would be this addictive and entertaining.

The fun and witty banter between David Visentin and Hillary Farr is part of the charm of watching 'Love It or List It'. While realtor David tries his best to woo their clients into moving out of their current home into a new property shown by him, interior designer/ decorator Hillary makes all the remodeling and redesigning to the clients' current home to make it appealing enough for them to not move out of their home. At the end of each episode, the client will decide whether they want to stay put in their current home, thus declaring they "love it", or want to "list it" and move into a new property shown by David.

Bryan and Sarah Baeumler decide to kiss goodbye to their life in Canada and move to a remote tropical island seeking some adventure. As soon as they get to the island, they take up an ambitious project of restoring an old, massive, rundown resort after purchasing it for $100K. The couple has several challenges lying ahead of them, ranging from tight budget, a deadline to staff shortage. "This is the biggest change our family has faced and the largest project we've ever taken on," said Bryan. "What are we risking? Absolutely everything." Bryan and Sarah's adventures will definitely keep you at the edge of your seat wondering whether they'll manage to pull off the feat of completing the renovation of the resort in six months.

In this exciting prequel to 'Renovation Island', 'Renovation, Inc' will show the Baeumlers in their home turf juggling between running their successful construction company and managing their family.

Martha Stewart aka the domestic goddess revealed some treasured gardening secrets that every gardening enthusiast must definitely watch to learn more. On the show, we see Martha helping out her celebrity friends and fans with their home projects and also sharing some helpful tips and suggestions along the way. From demonstrating how to cut open a pomegranate to Jay Leno, to teaching Snoop Dogg how to pot tomato plants, Martha does it all on her HGTV show.

Who doesn't dream of winning a lottery? One of the first things that most lottery winners want to invest on after winning big is real-estate. So, on 'My Lottery Dream Home', we see host David Bromstad going on a quest with the lottery winners to find their new dream home. It is interesting to watch whether the lottery winner will shell out all their money to buy an extravagant house or just buy a simple one.

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Top 10 HGTV shows to stream: From 'Windy City Rehab' to 'Renovation Island', here are the network's best shows - MEAWW

Popular home renovators Dave and Jenny Marrs are all set to make a comeback with the second season of HGTVs Fixer to Fabulous. More worn-out houses will be brought back to life by the husband-wife duo in Season 2 of the reality show. From dilapidated front porches to squirrel invaded attics, theres nothing this husband and wife team cant make fabulous. Here's all you need to know about the new season of Fixer to Fabulous.

Fixer to Fabulous returns on Tuesday, October 27, at 8-9 pm ET/PT, on HGTV.

As per HGTV, Dave and Jenny Marrs embrace small-town America by renovating classic homes in and around their hometown of Bentonville, Arkansas. This resourceful and creative couple transforms historic houses in desperate need of an update and turns them into charming forever homes. In the new 13-episode run, the husband-wife duo -- who reportedly attracted more than 17.9 million viewers to the first season of Fixer to Fabulous -- continue to overhaul old homes in Northwest Arkansas, all while raising five young children and managing their family farm. Jenny, the creative influence behind their personalized renovations, specializes in designing spaces that are warm and welcoming for families, while Dave tackles the construction with aplomb, crediting his passion for reviving old homes.

Home renovators Jenny and Dave met right after college when they found themselves at the same company but in different branches. Love knows no limits and the two had a long-distance relationship. Jenny is a Florida native and Dave is originally from Colorado.

The Bentonville pair are the stars of Fixer to Fabulous. They put their handiwork and design skills to good use while renovating historic properties. They also operate a berry farm and event venue.

The trailer for Season 2 is not out yet. MEAWW will update the article when it's released.

Tidying Up with Marie Kondo

Jamies 30-Minute Meals

Property Brothers

Flip or Flop

Tiny House Nation

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Fixer to Fabulous Season 2: Release date, plot, host, trailer and all you need to know about HGTV's home ren - MEAWW

The leadership race tells you something about thorny trade issues

WASHINGTON, DC

MEMBERS OF THE World Trade Organisation (WTO) are not known for co-operating with each other. So when in June they began the process of choosing a new director-general, many feared deadlock. But now, as the process draws to a close, officials are feeling hopeful. Two candidates are still in the running: Nigerias Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, the chairwoman of GAVI, a vaccine-finance agency, and a former World Bank official and finance minister; and Yoo Myung-hee, South Koreas trade minister. A winner is due to be announced between October 28th and November 7th, and support seems to be coalescing around Ms Okonjo-Iweala. Yet the contest says more about the discord in the trading system than the harmony.

The candidates themselves did a good job of highlighting various divisions in the course of the selection process (while dutifully noting that only members have the power to resolve them). Between them they identified a long list of problems: jammed negotiations that have left the WTOs rule book out of date; a broken system of solving disputes; members lacklustre commitment to transparency; and a trade war between America and China.

Disagreements between members also explain the candidates rather limited ambitions. A bold agenda might include a grand bargain on agriculture that lowers tariffs in poor countries and limits subsidies in rich ones. Ms Myung-hee is a seasoned negotiator and not one to shy away from tricky talks. Even so, rather than shooting for a big deal, she now reckons that restoring the WTOs credibility as a negotiating forum means just agreeing on something. She would prioritise ongoing talks to curb members fishing subsidies. (Even that narrower deal will be a stretch, given that negotiators do not yet agree on what counts as fish.)

Ms Okonjo-Iweala has emphasised her experience fighting covid-19 as her strong suit. As head of GAVI she understands the importance of open trade so that vital supplies can get to where they are needed. But this too is a thorny topic. Rich countries are more interested in lowering others tariffs than limiting their own right to apply export controls. They also hate a recent proposal from India and South Africa to suspend intellectual-property protection for products that could prevent, contain or treat the disease. So instead Ms Okonjo-Iweala has spoken only vaguely of exploring new trade rules and intellectual-property and licensing rights for drugmaking.

If she wins, Ms Okonjo-Iweala has also promised to empower the WTOs secretariat. That could be controversialsome members will resist what they see as a threat to their power over negotiations. But it could also help poorer countries, some of which lack the capacity to draft proposals on their own, making it hard to participate in talks. Her political clout will be useful too. If the problems of the global trading system were purely technical, they would have been solved long ago, she told members in July.

But Ms Okonjo-Iwealas success would also say something about the geopolitics of trade. China could reject Ms Myung-hee if that allows it to keep its deputy-director-general spot. (Historically, jobs have been divvied up among regions.) Japans nasty trade dispute with South Korea makes it unlikely to support Ms Myung-hee. Brazil, a big exporter of farm products, may be put off by South Koreas membership of the G10 group of countries, which staunchly defends agricultural subsidies. The agreement on the next director-general could be born from a host of disagreements.

This article appeared in the Finance & economics section of the print edition under the headline "The home straight"

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Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala is the favourite to lead the WTO - The Economist

With a home equity loan from Alpine Credits, you can upgrade your living conditions and increase your homes value

As the current global situation keeps us physically distanced from each other and the world outside, were focusing more on the safety and comfort of home life. Since we dont know how long the current situation may last, some of us are looking to make our homes as comfortable as possible.

Many homes have an underutilized space, whether its a spare room, large attic, or unfinished basement, and theres never been a better time to renovate that space and put it to use. A renovation wont just make your living conditions more enjoyable, itll also add value to your home.

Of course, home renovations cost more than most of us have sitting around. One way to finance your renovation is by leveraging your homes equity. Your home can be your best collateral: lenders view borrowing against it as low-risk, which means youre likely to get lower ratesand make smaller monthly interest payments as a result.

There are other ways to save money during a home renovation too, such as taking advantage of home renovation tax credits. We asked Alpine Creditsa pioneer in the private lending marketto help us examine the costs of finishing a basement and advise us on the best ways to finance it. Heres what they told us:

The costs of finishing a basement

Basement renovations are among the most common types home modifications in Canada. Finishing your basement can cost, on average, between $35 and $55 per square foot, depending on your planned usage. Obviously, turning a basement into a standalone living area with its own bathroom and kitchen will cost more than building a simple rec room or office space. A full basement renovation can cost between $22,000 and $82,000, depending on the size (square feet), while renovating your basement for use as a recreational or home office space is more in the $14,000 to $50,000 range.

The benefits of finishing your basement

Whatever way you decide to go, finishing your basement is one of the best investments you can make in your home. For one, it raises your propertys value, making it more attractive to a future buyer who wont have to worry about doing the work themselves. Finishing your basement can also be a way to bring in a bit of extra incomeup to tens of thousands of dollars a year!by creating a standalone rental apartment.

Financing your renovation

Even a simple home renovation can cost more than most people have on hand. One of the best ways to finance it is with a home equity loan. Home equity loansare among the most popular means of financing home renovations. They work by providing access to the equity youve built up in your home over the years. This equity can easily be enough to cover the cost of your renovation.

Why use a home equity loan rather than putting the cost on a credit card or line or credit? For one, interest rates on a home equity loan usually are much lower. And taking out a home equity loan with a lender like Alpine Credits, instead of a traditional bank, can save you even more money. Plus, lenders like Alpine Credits dont take your credit score into accountthe main criteria is that your home has enough equity to cover the cost of the loan.

Tax credits

Unlike most home renovation tax credits, a home equity loan from Alpine Credits doesnt come with a list of eligible and ineligible renovations. The equity youve built up in your home is yours, and you can use it as you see fit.

A home renovation is just one of the many ways a home equity loan can help change your lifeand Alpine Credits is here to support you along the way. For more than 50 years, Alpine Credits has helped Canadian homeowners get the home equity loans they need, when they need it, regardless of their credit, age or income.

Contact Alpine Credits today to make your financial dream a reality.

Excerpt from:
Why now is the perfect time to renovate your homeand add to its value - Toronto Life

The initial COVID-19 lockdowns were easier said than done. Staying home sounds great in theory, but what is a kid to do when theyve exhausted the activities around their house? For a 12-year-old named Bea, that meant sprucing up parts of her familys abode in Kent, UK. With her DIY-expert mom Susie Levache as a guide, Bea helped transform areas of the home into chic spaces on a budget. Over the course of a week, they spent just about $125 to renovate parts of the house by largely repurposing items and using supplies they had on hand.

Some of Beas additions include wood paneling placed in her moms office and making upgrades to hardware on cabinets. Susie taught her to use tools like a handsaw, electric drill, and tile cutter, giving Bea the confidence to take on her own DIY tasks while helping her mom, too. Ive pretty much been trucking through our house renovation solo, Susie tells My Modern Met, so when I had help and Bea took a very active role in the room updates, it was wonderful to go from solo to a team!

Despite teaching her some serious power tools (that many adults would be apprehensive to use), the most challenging lesson that Susie has taught her daughter is all in her head. The most difficult thing was to get her to believe in herself and let her know there was no jeopardy and that if something went wrong we could fix it together, she says. Once this was overcome there wasnt any work or project that she didnt want to tackle.

Bea is already developing her own decorating voice. Her style and the way she goes about the physical work is far more precise and clean than mine, Susie explains. Im very slapdash and do things impulsivelyshe thinks and plans because she wants to get things right the first time. She will also start with a color and build from that whereas I want to see the whole picture.

Working together and chronicling it on Susies Instagram has gained admirers throughout the world. Weve been over the moon at the responses and the messages we have received from as far and wide as China and Australia with photos of other peoples first-time projects, and we hope to add more how-to videos on our Instagram in the next school holiday.

Susie Levache: Instagram

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12-Year-Old Helps DIY Mom With Home Renovations During COVID-19 - My Modern Met