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“Make one solid case, one solid point for why this should go through.” — Jeanne Crumly PAGE, Neb. — The fight seemed over. Plans to bury an oil pipeline in the Nebraska dirt, through hilly grazing land near the Elkhorn River and flat expanses of corn farther south, had been halted. Farmers and ranchers who spent years opposing the project moved on with their lives. But suddenly the pipeline from Canada to Nebraska, known as Keystone XL , is back on the table. As President Trump promised on the campaign trail, he has cleared the way for the project, which his predecessor had blocked . Republican politicians, many union members and some landowners are cheering the pipeline as a way to create jobs and bring more North American oil to market. But in spots along the proposed route through Nebraska , including here on the sandy soil of the Crumly family farm, the president’s decision is being met with frustration and resolve to resume the fight. Jeanne Crumly, … [Read more...] about Risen From the Grave, Keystone XL Pipeline Again Divides Nebraska

It's always fun to see what the homes renovated on reality television really sell for. Do the sale prices given on the show accurately reflect the true sale? Did some offers fall through? And does a reality TV makeover increase a home's resale value? One of the most transparent renovators on television is Tarek El Moussa , co-star of three HGTV shows: "Flip or Flop," "Flipping 101," and "The Flipping El Moussas." He not only reveals his purchase price and the cost of the renovation but also what it should cost to sell the house (taking into account the marketing, commissions, and staging expenses). El Moussa also discloses the finance, or "carrying" costs, on his properties. This comes down to the monthly interest paid to the lender. Short-term loans usually demand a higher interest rate. A quick turnaround renders a higher profit. He also attaches his name and the show name to his listings, which could add sales appeal for El Moussa fans who want to buy his renovated … [Read more...] about Flips or flops? Checking on 8 of Tarek El Moussa’s current home listings

HONG KONG — Far from the sleek skyscrapers of downtown, in a world of bamboo trees and Buddhist shrines, the Wo Hop Shek Garden of Remembrance stands as one of this territory’s most alluring resting places. Grasshoppers prance on the pathways, and bells chime in the distance. But the garden , which opened two years ago as a place for families to scatter the ashes of loved ones, is deserted on most days. The stately granite walls that line the paths, meant to preserve the names of those laid to rest here, are nearly bare, with only 300 of 9,000 plaques in use. “Nobody wants to come here,” said Lam Ming-wai, a government worker who oversees the garden. “ Hong Kong people are too old-fashioned.” Generations in Hong Kong have followed a familiar routine to honor the dead, jostling for prime burial spots in the mountains and by the sea, or spending small fortunes on jade urns and elaborate ceremonies. But now the government is seeking to upend those customs. Concerned by a … [Read more...] about Hong Kong’s Drive for ‘Green Burials’ Clashes With Tradition

CHENGDU, China — Ever since Deng Xiaoping signaled in 1978 that it was fine to get rich, much of China has seemed hell-bent on that goal. But some local governments would like those who succeed not to lord it over others, at least when it comes to paying final respects. As of last month, in the cemeteries of this hilly megalopolis in south central China, modest burial sites are in. Fancy tombs are out. And in some places, so are fancy funerals. Plots for ashes are limited to 1.5 square meters, about 4 feet by 4 feet. Tombstones are supposed to be no higher than 100 centimeters, or 39 inches, although it is not clear that limit will be enforced. Sellers of oversize plots have been warned of severe fines, as much as 300 times the plot’s price. “Ordinary people who walk by and see these lavish tombs might not be able to keep their emotions in balance,” said Zheng Wenzhong, as he visited the relatively modest resting place of a relative at The Temple of the Lighted Lamp … [Read more...] about China Curbs Fancy Tombs That Irk Poor