Anthony Fokker: Dutch Innovator, Industrialist and Aviation Enthusiast
Anthony Fokker was destined to be an accomplished auto mechanic. His father sent him to technical school to learn how to repair cars in 1910, but his interest in aircraft led him to transfer. He started schooling at an institute where he could study air maintenance instead.
That same year, he designed and built his first plane. It was called “The Spider,” and it was an open monoplane. It was short-lived however, as his business partner flew it into a tree and demolished it shortly after construction was completed.
Out of the ashes came a new design, which Fokker named “Spin.” It was with “Spin” that he acquired his license to become a pilot. He used his license for a bit of publicity in 1911, when he flew his plane around the Bavokerk Tower in Haarlem.
During World War I, Germany took over operation of Fokker’s company after he demonstrated how he could assemble a plane and take off within minutes. He became chief director and designer for the German Luftstreitkrafte, building over 700 military planes. One of those planes was the infamous tri-plane flown by the Red Baron.
Although, Fokker’s intentions were never with the military for long term. He successfully smuggled hundreds of designs out of Germany after the German surrender. This led him to the United States, where he manufactured the tri-motor aircraft engine that ruled the air during the 1920s. Fokker eventually sold his plans to General Motors, which the company used to create “General Aviation Corp” in 1931.
About the Author: Phineas Upham is an investor at a family office/ hedgefund, where he focuses on special situation illiquid investing. Before this position, Phin Upham was working at Morgan Stanley in the Media and Telecom group. You may contact Phin on his Phineas Upham website or LinkedIn page.
Tolhurst and the New Model Army
Jeremiah Tolhurst a man of some importance during the 1600s. He’d held seats in the British House of Commons, cut his teeth as a sailor, and made a name for himself a businessman. He also fought in the English Civil War for the New Model Army, a controversial policing unit during the Parliamentary Civil War.
Tolhurst was born in 1615, and his father died by the time he was eight years old. By then, the boy was on his way to apprenticing as a tailor.
In his thirties, England erupted into Civil War. The War boiled down to a conflict between loyalists to the crown, and those who served Parliament. Tolhurst chose Parliament and became a a fairly adept soldier, rising to lieutenant of foot, and then captain in 1644. He joined up with the so called “New Model Army,” a group of highly trained religious zealots, who were responsible for series of police actions during the English Civil War. Tolhurst, being an officer, was not likely to have held such radical viewpoints. Instead, he was made a major and placed in charge of motivated men. During his time there, he became distinguished and either met or gained favor from Oliver Cromwell. After his time serving, he relocated to the north and acquired interests in coal and salt. He used those interests to supply Cromwell throughout the Scottish campaign. The New Model Army would splinter after Cromwell’s death, causing tension that threatened to boil over into conflict. But the army was disbanded when Charles II was coroneted.
For his service, Tolhurst took a seat in Parliament. However, Cromwell’s death led to the restoration of the monarchy and he fled to Jamaica to spend his elder years. He died just two years after serving his last position in the government.
Samuel Phineas Uphamis an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phin on his Samual Phineas Upham website or Linkedin page.
Danone: How a European Brand Came to American Markets
Danone company, the makers of Dannon yogurt, is a Spanish company founded in 1919. It was created by Isaac Carasso, of Jewish descent, and it consisted of a very small factory for the production of yogurt. It was named after Carasso’s son Daniel, his nickname being “Danon.”
It was quite successful during its first ten years, relocating to France and building an additional factory there. The company was moved briefly to New York during the German occupation of France in World War II, something that likely saved Carasso’s life. This was to avoid prosecution for his German heritage. It was in the US that Daniel met Joe Metzger, and the two decided to change the brand name to “Dannon.” This made the brand sound more American, as opposed to the way Americans had previously called it “Dan One Yogurt.” The move helped cement the brand stateside, where it continues to thrive to this day.
The American side of the business was sold in 1959, after Daniel decided to return to France and Spain in order to manage some family business. He later repurchased the American business, but the company had already merged with Gervais, a leading producer of cheese in France.
Danone is actually a group of companies, yogurt being just one aspect of the business. There is a thriving glass making side called “Boussois-Souchon-Neuvesel,” founded by the family of Antoine Riboud. Although the glassmaker began within that industry, it eventually became transformed into a food company through acquisitions and mergers. In 1973, it merged with Gervais Danone, officially putting glass into yogurt.
Samuel Phineas Uphamis an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phin on his Samual Phineas Upham website or Linkedin page.
The Impact of Money on the Self
Money has a strange effect on people. Those who launch companies that become successful, especially the young, may feel conflicted on what to do with their sudden accumulation of wealth. There may be guilt, that one person earns more than others. It’s also common to feel joyous and waste it all in a frenzy with no real sense of planning. The truly wealthy are those who exercise extreme discipline in managing their money and its impact on the self.
The Meaning Behind Money
Listen to some people and you’ll hear that money is the only thing fueling charity and museums. Others will tell you money is systemic of greed. Some will say money can help preserve nature, others say the accumulation of wealth is the directly related to the destruction of nature. That signals a deep divide in how some people perceive wealth. Those who argue that more should be given to the poor may not donate money or time themselves. This is not to say the rich are to be pitied, only that there is a disconnect between what we can do with the means we accumulate.
If wealth is the root of all evil, then wealth will remain unattainable and the world will always seem unfair and opposing. After all, only evil people get rich.
So it’s important for all of us to understand the impact that money has on the self. Be honest with your intentions on spending money and money will find a positive use.
Samuel Phineas Uphamis an investor from NYC and SF. You may contact Phin on his Samual Phineas Upham website or Linkedin page.
Top Reasons to Invest in Grand Cayman Real Estate
The Cayman Islands collectively are one of the most beautiful spots on the planet. They offer the draw of sandy beaches with all of the conveniences that come with modern living. There are a few subtle differences, like buses that will pick you up in the same fashion as a cab, but the islands offer a sanctuary for working professionals and families.
Schools and Quality of Life
Cayman homes have a “best keep secret” that doesn’t involve the night life or beachfront vistas. Schools in Grand Cayman are top notch, able to rival anything stateside. Native residents are the only ones allowed to use the public Cayman Island school system, so those who come to the islands for residence enroll children in private schools. The class sizes are smaller, resources are better, and parents are generally more involved. Quality of life is also equivalent to what you might find in South Beach, Florida.
Grand Cayman has a large financial sector that fuels much of the growth tourism doesn’t handle. These professionals work hard, and they play hard. There is always something happening on Grand Cayman, from the Pirate’s Week Festival to the upcoming charity run against domestic abuse. The communities here are tightly knit, making for happier people and a safer place to raise a family.
Final Thoughts
Carribbean homes for sale also have the opportunity to make up their value as vacation homes. For Cayman Islands residents, income earned on island is tax free and it’s a popular tourist destination for those itching to avoid crowded beaches. There are no annual property taxes or capital gains tax on the sale of property. The only tax associated with the purchase of Cayman Islands real estate is a one-time stamp duty of 7.5% paid at the time of purchase.
Related Story: Consider the Benefit of Cayman Islands Property
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– James Bovell, and the Dream Finders team, represent the largest real estate firm in the Cayman Islands. James Bovell specializes in the showing and selling of luxury property on one of the most beautiful island chains in the world.
How to Increase the Efficiency of a Construction Project
Too often, the word efficiency is equated to speed. There is another definition relevant to construction. Efficiency also relates to the foot print a building will leave on its environment, so new construction projects must consider methods to make their projects more energy efficient. Construction consultants are knowledgeable in the materials and technology required to make a project compliant with today’s energy standards.
Design
The design of your home or commercial project can take advantage of natural elements to improve the efficiency of the building as a whole. One method is to use the sun’s orientation to cool your office at strategic times of day. The natural lighting would also cut down on power bills for the building, which saves the owner money down the road.
Materials
Construction & turnaround services have to consider every aspect of the development of a project whe efficiency is at stake. Materials play an important role because they impact the environment before, during and after the project is complete. Windows should be double pane, which can remove up to 25% of energy loss. Insulation is another concern that can heavily influence a building’s energy consumption.
Consultants may also include plans for solar installations, or instructions to order energy efficient bulbs for ceiling lighting. Finding a good lighting plan that minimizes consumption is crucial, as most buildings leave their lights on all day long.
Appliances
One of the last places to find savings is in the appliances you plan to use in the building. Upgrading the HVAC to a new unit, or using more energy efficient sinks and toilets will cut down on consumption.
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Lyle Charles Consulting services are available now for construction mediation and claims preparation. Lyle Charles has more than forty years in the field of commercial construction projects.
Why Real Estate Investing is In Vogue Again
Investing in your future seems very overwhelming at first glance. There are differences between stocks, bonds, and funds that signal higher or lower returns and tax implications for you. Real estate is another factor that is often overlooked by the average investor, but it’s a simple prospect that almost anyone can get into. Even owning your own home is considered some form of real estate investing, and upping the returns on your investment can be as simple as paying attention to your local market.
Renting is Up
Rental properties are increasingly finding value, especially in areas like Los Angeles. First time home buyers are increasingly choosing to wait on their investments, pooling their money together and looking for a higher down payment. When you buy a property for real estate investment, renters are the most obvious source of cash flow. Look for properties in a good area with a high concentration of renters if you want to get the most out of your initial investment.
Larger Returns
The returns on a property, even a property you own yourself, will be much greater percentage wise than those of your average low-risk savings vehicle. That is to say that the money you invest in the property, in the form of improvements to it, tend to have a higher payout for you if you invest that money strategically. Places like the kitchen, master bedroom and bathrooms are likely to give you the highest bang for your buck.
Choosing how to invest is almost as important as choosing what to invest in. Also realize that your income levels will change over time, which means you can put more in the bank.
What Is Interim Short Term Management?
Written by Lyle Charles
The construction industry is home to all kinds of different methods and practices designed around getting the job done. Obviously, there are countless materials and other “tricks of the trade” that help build large buildings, keep them standing and make customers happy.
However, what you may not know about is interim short term management. This is the practice in construction where a management team is brought in to take over the build for a very short period of time. Why would you want this? It usually has to do with a very specific problem or challenge that threatens the entire project. So it could be a claim that was filed or delays due to weather. Whatever the case, a short term management team that specializes in this delay will take the project over while you concentrate on other important areas that still need your attention.
The best versions of these management teams can do everything from help settle legal disputes to serve as a construction expert witness to simply suggest a solution they know will work for a very precise problem you may be experiencing. So this is definitely a solution to consider.
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Construction projects involve too many moving parts to go at it alone, which is why so many companies in your situation rely on Lyle Charles Consulting. Aside providing construction claim analysis service, Mr. Charles is experienced in all facets of the construction industry and can lend his knowledge to help get yours the results you desire.
Factors influencing your home insurance premium
Many factors might influence the cost of your home insurance premium. Some of them might be beyond your control and as such you may not be able to change them while others can be modified and adjusted so that you may obtain a lower rate.
Age and Construction type
Older houses present a higher risk of plumbing, electrical and HVAC issues and might therefore be subject to a higher premium than newer homes.
Location risks
If your locality is often victim to natural disasters or high crime rates, there might be increases in the policy.
Claims History
If you have filed several claims in a small span of time, your premium is likely to be higher.
Domestic Risk Factors
If your home is deemed to contain high risk features such as a swimming pool, a trampoline or aggressive pets, then your premium might be higher.
Your Credit Score
Your credit score is used to determine the price of your policy. The price will vary depending on whether the score is good, average or bad.
The Level of Deductible
The price of your coverage will depend on the amount of deductible that you choose to pay. Choosing a high amount of deductible means that you would have to take out more funds from your saving in the event that an incident happens. As a compensation for this, you would have a lower premium. It is however recommended to opt for a deductible that can be comfortably met as your insurance will not take over until the deductible amount is spent.
3 tips for choosing a mortgage
Choosing the right mortgage can be a tough decision. There are many factors that ought to be taken into consideration in order to avoid any contingencies in the years to come. The tips below might be helpful.
Know what you can afford
Most financial decisions would start with this step. Knowing what you can afford is about knowing where you stand financially. You might think about going through your monthly spending to determine what is within your budget in terms of the house, insurance, mortgage and property taxes. You might also think about including monthly maintenance and utility costs. Your credit report would also have to be checked to ensure that get the lowest interest rate possible on your mortgage.
Compare Loans
This shopping around takes time and energy, but it is unfortunately required in order to guarantee the best decision and more savings. You can consider a mortgage lender or mortgage broker. Brokers would sell you a loan from a lender. However, neither of these professionals would be finding the best loan for you. You would have to carry out the research yourself.
Understand loan prices and fees
Customers often make the mistake of accepting the first loan that they are being offered without thinking about looking around for a better deal. You might also keep in mind that lenders and brokers alike have a consideration for the profit that they would receive once you agree to the terms of a particular loan with higher interests or higher fees. Understanding and comparing prices yourself is the best way to strike a deal.
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