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LCRA Parks: Public Boat Ramp Information - LCRA - Energy, Water, Community Floodgates are open at Wirtz Dam and Starcke Dam to release storm runoff flowing into Lake LBJ from the Llano River. See the Flood Operations Report for more information.

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Excited to have you on our team. As we grow and expand our professional network in the real industry I am thrilled to have you on our team! Looking forward to all of the good things to come!

How a CrowdStrike security update crippled computers worldwide—and underscored the fragility of modern global technology.

The Software Patch That Shook the World A CrowdStrike security update rendered computers unusable, and underscored the fragility of modern global technology.

"The challenge of leadership is to be strong, but not rude; be kind, but not weak; be bold, but not bully; be thoughtful, but not lazy; be humble, but not timid; be proud, but not arrogant; have humor, but without folly."-Jim Rohn

Melissa Alcocer

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Melissa Alcocer

NASA has classified Sansevieria, now called Dracaena, as an air purifier due to its ability to remove toxic compounds such as benzene, formaldehyde, trichloroethylene, xylene and toluene.

This plant uses the acid metabolism of the Crassulaceae to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide, enabling it to resist drought.
The microscopic pores on its leaves, called stomata, open only at night to limit water loss through transpiration in the heat of the sun. Unlike other plants, Sansevieria produces oxygen and absorbs carbon dioxide at night, making it an excellent indoor air purifier while we sleep.

George Kurtz spent more than a decade building CrowdStrike CRWD -11.10%decrease; red down pointing triangle into a cybersecurity powerhouse that helps prevent massive disruptions to computer systems. Now the company he co-founded has caused the kind of massive global outage it was supposed to prevent.

The outage rippled across the world Friday morning, canceling thousands of flights, upending banking transactions and media broadcasts, and causing widespread global disruption. Because of a CrowdStrike software update to devices running Microsoft’s Windows software, millions of people confronted useless blue computer screens and scrambled to contain the damage.

In an appearance Friday morning on NBC’s “Today” show, a visibly haggard Kurtz said “we’re deeply sorry for the impact we’ve caused to customers, to travelers, to anyone affected by this,” he said.

At one point, he lost his voice and was handed a bottle of water while trying to explain why a single bug could have such a profound impact. “It’s been a long night,” he said after taking a sip.

Founded in 2011, CrowdStrike is widely used by Corporate America, supplying software that protects against cyberattacks to tens of thousands of customers, including 300 companies in the Fortune 500. The scale of the outage was compounded by the fact that cybersecurity software like CrowdStrike’s has access to the most fundamental elements of the operating system to ward off cyberattacks, security experts say.

The computer outage caused widespread disruptions to air travel, resulting in long lines at airports including London’s Gatwick.

“You get this cascading breakdown,” said Robert Graham, chief executive of Errata Security, a cybersecurity firm in Atlanta. “It’s probably the biggest IT failure that we’ve ever had.”

Austin, Texas-based CrowdStrike originally pitched itself as a nimbler and smarter technology for keeping hackers off corporate computers, what the security industry called next-generation antivirus. Kurtz and another of the company’s co-founders, Dmitri Alperovitch, had worked together at the antivirus giant McAfee, where they perfected the art of marketing their security products by exposing global hacking operations.

Melissa Alcocer

Get ready for cancellations....MICROSOFT IS DOWN! AIRLINES are effected!! If anyone is flying Delta, United or American Airlines, Microsoft has a HUGE outage and none of these flights are going out/in on time.

BANKS, AIRPORTS, TV stations, health care organizations, hotels, and countless other businesses are all facing widespread IT outages, leaving flights grounded and causing widespread disruption, after Windows machines have displayed errors worldwide.

In the early hours of Friday, companies in Australia running Microsoft’s Windows operating system started reporting devices showing Blue Screens of Death (BSODs). Shortly after, reports of disruptions started flooding in from around the world, including from the UK, India, Germany, the Netherlands, and the US: TV station Sky News went offline, and US airlines United, Delta, and American Airlines issued a “global ground stop” on all flights.

The widespread Windows outages have been linked to a software update from cybersecurity giant ​​CrowdStrike. It is believed the issues are not linked to a malicious cyberattack, cybersecurity officials say, but rather stem from a misconfigured/corrupted update that CrowdStrike pushed out to its customers.

“Earlier today, a CrowdStrike update was responsible for bringing down a number of IT systems globally," said a Microsoft spokesperson in a statement. "We are actively supporting customers to assist in their recovery.”

Engineers from CrowdStrike posted to the company’s Reddit forum that it has seen “widespread reports of BSODs on Windows hosts” occurring across its software, is working on the problem, and has advised a workaround for impacted systems. It also issued instructions to its customers in an advisory.

As we advance through 2024, the intersection of artificial intelligence and mobile technology is creating new and exciting possibilities. In this edition of our newsletter, we’re zeroing in on the AI innovations integrated into the highly anticipated new iPhone.

AI: Transforming the New iPhone
Apple's new iPhone is not just another iteration; it's a leap forward in intelligent technology. Here’s a glimpse of how AI is set to redefine your smartphone experience:

Smart Camera Enhancements: The new iPhone’s camera system is smarter than ever, thanks to AI-driven features. It can recognize scenes and subjects, automatically adjusting settings to capture the perfect shot every time. Low-light photography, portrait modes, and video stabilization are all enhanced with AI, ensuring professional-quality results with minimal effort.
Personalized User Experience: AI on the new iPhone learns from your behavior, customizing the device to suit your needs. From app suggestions to battery management, the phone optimizes its functions based on your usage patterns, providing a seamless and efficient user experience.
Advanced Voice Assistance: Siri, Apple's virtual assistant, has received a significant AI boost. It's more responsive and capable of understanding context, making interactions smoother and more intuitive. Whether you’re setting reminders, sending messages, or searching for information, Siri’s enhanced AI capabilities ensure you get more done with less hassle.

You could spend a whole lifetime in Texas and not see half the state. (It’s truly mind-boggling how big our state really is!) Sure, we all know about the Palo Duro, the Big Bend, Enchanted Rock, and tubing the Guadalupe, Comal or Frio, but have you ever thought to visit the lesser-known hidden gems in Texas?

1) Historic Ott Hotel - Liberty

Ott Hotel & Apartments
305 Travis St, Liberty, TX 77575, USA

This lesser-known haunted hotel opened way back in 1928 to accommodate all the salesmen traveling from coast to coast. While part of the building has been converted into apartments, there are still a handful of guest rooms available if you're brave enough to stay overnight, that is. Guests have reported many bumps in the night as well as strange, shadowy figures, lights going on and off without explanation, and much more. We might consider staying here... as long as someone will come with us!

2) Willow City Loop - Fredericksburg
Willow City Loop, Texas, USA

If you drive along this 20 mile stretch of road in the springtime, you'll get to see an endless field of bluebonnets and other wildflowers, plus the rolling hills of the hill country. Texas has plenty of roads to travel for a nice Sunday drive, but many people don't know about this one. To find it, take Highway 16 to Farm Road 1323 to Willow City; this is where the picturesque scenery of Willow City Loop begins.

3) Medina River - Bandera
Medina River, Medina, TX 78055, USA

When it has water, the Medina River is one of the most beautiful rivers in Texas, and it doesn't attract the crowds that the Guadalupe and Comal do. Lined by giant cypress trees, the Medina offers plenty of shade and a nice place to go kayaking or just relax along the riverbanks. Check the water levels before you head out there, though; if it hasn't rained in a while, the river will be pretty dry in some spots.

NAR Deputy Chief Economist and VP of Research Jessica Lautz reacts to mortgage rates reaching their lowest point since March.

National Association of REALTORS®

The Beaumont Botanical Gardens Is A Hidden Gem In Texas Worthy Of A Day Hike
By Katie Lawrence
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Published July 08, 2024
Calling all Texas nature lovers! If you’re not in the mood for a big adventure but still want to spend some time outdoors, the Beaumont Botanical Gardens is the perfect place to visit. With paved paths that meander through colorful blooms, waterfalls, and koi ponds, this tranquil oasis provides respite from the hustle and bustle of everyday life.

Located within the expansive and beautiful Tyrrell Park in downtown Beaumont, the Beaumont Botanical Gardens is a peaceful oasis that promises to melt away all of your worries. Meander through 11 acres of impeccably manicured grounds and discover a world of wonder hiding right under your nose.

Open from dawn until dusk each day, the gardens are free for all to explore. People come here from all over the world, and all it takes is one visit to understand why.

The Perfect Storm of Unending National Association of REALTORS® Lawsuits:

Some agents are having their best year while everyone else is suffering an industry-wide “Perfect Storm” of:
Unending NAR lawsuits
Persistent high interest rates and low inventory
PropTech companies like Zillow trying to replace agents
Confusion on how buyer agents will operate
Negative public sentiment toward agents
These same agents predict the biggest real estate boom is coming because of historically high pent-up demand.

It's always this way: people who leverage breakthrough technology combined with blue ocean opportunities thrive in even the most disrupted markets.

This is our time to transform everything using 2 history changing trends:

Residential Investors and Artificial Intelligence.

Here are a few stats:
Forbes says AI will impact 60% of all jobs and replace 30% of jobs. But those who learn how to use AI will make outsized returns.

Harvard research says an unbelievable 1 out of 3 homes sold now involve a real estate investor and this trend is still going up.
Yet almost all real estate agents are afraid to work with investors and AI.

The drag 1927
Pecan St (6th) 1880
Treaty Oak 1928
UT stadium 1924 (Opened in 1924 as War Memorial Stadium)

$18,118 is the average hidden cost of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S. every year, according to a recent study from Bankrate. 💰

According to Bankrate, "Everything has become more expensive in the past four years. Home prices have risen by 40% since the beginning of the pandemic. In March 2020, the median price of an existing home was $280,700, according to the National Association of Realtors. By March 2024, that figure had reached $393,500."

Moreover, insurance costs have surged, driven by escalating home values, rising construction expenses, and more frequent natural disasters, further squeezing homeowners.

Most expensive states:
1. Hawaii
2. California
3. Massachusetts
4. New Jersey
5. Connecticut

Least expensive states:
1. Kentucky
2. Arkansas
3. Mississippi
4. Alabama
5. Indiana

Are you trying to avoid PMI? Here are some strategies:

🏦 Save for a 20% Down Payment: Avoid PMI entirely with 20% equity upfront 💰
🔄 Piggyback Loan: 80-10-10 loan structure: 80% first mortgage, 10% second mortgage, 10% down payment
📈 Lender-Paid PMI: Higher interest rate, but no monthly PMI
🏦 💳 Improve Your Credit Score: Better credit can lead to better loan rate

Life Changing Lending Website We, at Life Changing Lending, are able to get you the best rates on all types of loan programs, we'll fit your needs!

Money will buy you a bed, but not a good night’s sleep, a house but not a home, a companion but not a friend.

What would you do if you got sent this message by a guest for your luxury lake house property…

You don’t drown by falling in water; you only drown if you stay there.
.com

Instant Reaction: Housing Starts, July 17, 2024
"New apartment units completed reached a 50-year high in June. That is truly a wow."Instant Reaction: Housing Starts, July 17, 2024

“Happy 4th of July from Texas Security Title! Today, we celebrate the freedom and independence that make our nation great. As we gather with family and friends, let’s remember the sacrifices made for our liberty and enjoy the festivities that unite us. Have a safe and joyful Independence Day! 🇺🇸🎆”

“A consideration today’s homeowners should review is what their home equity picture looks like. With the typical home listing price up 40% from just five years ago, many home sellers are sitting on a healthy equity cushion. This means they are likely to walk away from a home sale with proceeds that they can use to offset the amount of borrowing needed for their next home purchase.”

Unleash your sense of wonder and adventure at Jacob's Well in Austin, Texas! This stunning natural spring, nestled in the picturesque Texas Hill Country, offers an invigorating escape from the summer heat. Explore the crystal-clear waters and discover the awe-inspiring underwater cave system that beckons to divers and thrill-seekers alike. Surrounded by breathtaking landscapes, Jacob's Well is a treasured gem that promises an unforgettable experience and a renewed appreciation for nature's beauty.

We have moved!

Find us at our new location: 9737 Great Hills Trl #220, Austin, TX 78759.

We are looking forward to the new memories we will make at the office and sharing those memories with our clients.