Posts by granitebadger18

I was scrolling through some news earlier and it got me thinking about how aggressive corporate branding has become in spaces that used to feel almost sacred. It feels like everywhere you look lately—especially in sports and collegiate life—there’s a new logo plastered over something that used to be purely about tradition or school spirit.

I remember watching games growing up where the jerseys were clean, just the school colors and maybe a simple crest. Now, it feels like every single inch of fabric is a potential billboard. Don't get me wrong, I get the money aspect. Schools and teams need the cash to keep up with the arms race of modern athletics, and it’s a massive business. But at what point does the "brand" of the institution get swallowed up by the brands of the sponsors?

It starts to feel a bit hollow when you realize the identity of a team is being shared with a financial service or a tech company. Does it cheapen the legacy, or is this just the inevitable evolution of how we fund the things we love?

Do you guys think we've crossed a line, or is this just the new normal we all have to accept?

Just saw that the Okefenokee Swamp finally got UNESCO World Heritage status. It's a huge win for Georgia and such a unique ecosystem to have recognized on a global level. Do you guys think this will help with conservation or just drive more tourists to the area?

c/p from http://www.clubmed.com/ErsteClub/Er...ti01012010.pdf

II. STUDENT LOANS FOR EDUCATIONAL EXPENSES

This loan is for Club Med package members looking to cover undergrad and
grad school costs in the US or abroad (housing, food, travel, books, and gear)

Loan amount: up to $40,000.00, subject to currency adjustment clauses
due date: up to 7 years, with an option for a 12-month grace period
How to use: monthly or quarterly disbursements until graduation (max. 7 years)

Collateral Requirements
- up to $10,000.00 requires no additional collateral
- from $10,000.01 to $20,000.00 requires a qualified co-signer or life insurance policy plus a 10%
deposit or a mortgage at a 1:1.5 ratio
- from $20,000.01 to $40,000.00 requires a mortgage at a 1:1.5 ratio

A co-signer is mandatory for loans used to study overseas
If the borrower is over 25 or already working full-time, the Club Med
package isn't required.

So—since they say a co-signer is a must for studying abroad, but you don't need extra collateral for loans under $10k—does that mean if I'm just taking out a student loan for living expenses, I don't need a co-signer OR a guarantor?

Thanks...