I have been on blogger holiday, I will be back on the 2nd. Have a great New Year and don't get in any trouble.
More to come
Lonny
Monday, December 31, 2007
Thursday, December 27, 2007
THE NEWS FROM PAKISTAN
No doubt you have heard the news about the recent assassination of Benazir Bhutto in Pakistan. She was running for political office in the country and one of her platforms was getting rid of the terrorists. She said in a recent interview that she was the terrorists worst nightmare. She was assassinated during a rally in a part of Pakistan that was a hotbed for terrorist activity. I have learned her Father was killed there many years ago speaking of the virtues of Democracy. Like Father like Daughter as they say. My guess is she knew her days were numbered and no doubt hopes her death brings change and gets the people in Pakistan to take up the fight and help rid the country of terrorism.
Now I am certainly no scholar on these things and doing a Blog like this gives me the ability to keep my mouth shut about such things but I just can’t seem too. I think if history shows us anything it shows us that these type of events have gone on and will continue to go on for more than my life at least. I believe for things to ever change they must change with the generations who teach their children not to hate and not to condemn those who don’t believe that hate and killing are the thing to do. That I fear is a long time to come sadly enough.
The one thought I did have as I heard the news was how glad I was that we have a military that is in the middle of all this mess. As mad as I am at President Bush for ignoring the immigration problem, today I am thankful he has stayed the course in the Middle East. There is no way we can simply walk away and I think everyone knows that. I also get the feeling the people of Iraq have finally started taking the fight in their own hands because they believe they have no choice.
I pray that the events of yesterday in Pakistan inspire the people to take the fight to the terrorists who have only one hope and that is for democracy to fail. The fight is real and worth fighting.
God bless the brave young men and women of our military who know the fight is worth it and keep us safe.
More to come
Lonny
Now I am certainly no scholar on these things and doing a Blog like this gives me the ability to keep my mouth shut about such things but I just can’t seem too. I think if history shows us anything it shows us that these type of events have gone on and will continue to go on for more than my life at least. I believe for things to ever change they must change with the generations who teach their children not to hate and not to condemn those who don’t believe that hate and killing are the thing to do. That I fear is a long time to come sadly enough.
The one thought I did have as I heard the news was how glad I was that we have a military that is in the middle of all this mess. As mad as I am at President Bush for ignoring the immigration problem, today I am thankful he has stayed the course in the Middle East. There is no way we can simply walk away and I think everyone knows that. I also get the feeling the people of Iraq have finally started taking the fight in their own hands because they believe they have no choice.
I pray that the events of yesterday in Pakistan inspire the people to take the fight to the terrorists who have only one hope and that is for democracy to fail. The fight is real and worth fighting.
God bless the brave young men and women of our military who know the fight is worth it and keep us safe.
More to come
Lonny
LEE IACOCCA PART 2
Enjoy the rest of Lee's comments:
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when "The Big Three" referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at
our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough?
Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope I believe in America . In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the "Great Depression", "World War II", the "Korean War", the "Kennedy Assassination", the "Vietnam War", the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this: "You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to "Action" for people who, like me, believe in America It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had "enough."
Excerpted from "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?".
Copyright (c) 2007 by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved.
More to come
Lonny
Name me a leader who has a better idea for homeland security than making us take off our shoes in airports and throw away our shampoo? We've spent billions of dollars building a huge new bureaucracy, and all we know how to do is react to things that have already happened.
Name me one leader who emerged from the crisis of Hurricane Katrina. Congress has yet to spend a single day evaluating the response to the hurricane, or demanding accountability for the decisions that were made in the crucial hours after the storm.
Everyone's hunkering down, fingers crossed, hoping it doesn't happen again. Now, that's just crazy. Storms happen. Deal with it. Make a plan. Figure out what you're going to do the next time.
Name me an industry leader who is thinking creatively about how we can restore our competitive edge in manufacturing. Who would have believed that there could ever be a time when "The Big Three" referred to Japanese car companies? How did this happen, and more important, what are we going to do about it?
Name me a government leader who can articulate a plan for paying down the debt, or solving the energy crisis, or managing the health care problem. The silence is deafening. But these are the crises that are eating away at
our country and milking the middle class dry.
I have news for the gang in Congress. We didn't elect you to sit on your asses and do nothing and remain silent while our democracy is being hijacked and our greatness is being replaced with mediocrity. What is everybody so afraid of? That some bonehead on Fox News will call them a name? Give me a break. Why don't you guys show some spine for a change?
Had Enough?
Hey, I'm not trying to be the voice of gloom and doom here. I'm trying to light a fire. I'm speaking out because I have hope I believe in America . In my lifetime I've had the privilege of living through some of America 's greatest moments. I've also experienced some of our worst crises: the "Great Depression", "World War II", the "Korean War", the "Kennedy Assassination", the "Vietnam War", the 1970s oil crisis, and the struggles of recent years culminating with 9/11. If I've learned one thing, it's this: "You don't get anywhere by standing on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to take action. Whether it's building a better car or building a better future for our children, we all have a role to play. That's the challenge I'm raising in this book. It's a call to "Action" for people who, like me, believe in America It's not too late, but it's getting pretty close. So let's shake off the crap and go to work. Let's tell 'em all we've had "enough."
Excerpted from "Where Have All the Leaders Gone?".
Copyright (c) 2007 by Lee Iacocca. All rights reserved.
More to come
Lonny
Wednesday, December 26, 2007
LEE IACOCCA PART 1
This is worth the read, part 2 tomorrow:
Remember Lee Iaccocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes? He has a new book, and here are some excerpts.
_____________________________________________________________
Lee Iaccocca Says:
"Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say,
"Stay the course"
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned "Titanic". I'll give you a sound bite: "Throw all the bums out!"
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the " America " my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.
The Biggest "C" is Crisis !
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess
So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: "Where have all the leaders gone?" Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense?
I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
More to come
Lonny
Remember Lee Iaccocca, the man who rescued Chrysler Corporation from it's death throes? He has a new book, and here are some excerpts.
_____________________________________________________________
Lee Iaccocca Says:
"Am I the only guy in this country who's fed up with what's happening? Where the hell is our outrage? We should be screaming bloody murder. We've got a gang of clueless bozos steering our ship of state right over a cliff, we've got corporate gangsters stealing us blind, and we can't even clean up after a hurricane much less build a hybrid car. But instead of getting mad, everyone sits around and nods their heads when the politicians say,
"Stay the course"
Stay the course? You've got to be kidding. This is America , not the damned "Titanic". I'll give you a sound bite: "Throw all the bums out!"
You might think I'm getting senile, that I've gone off my rocker, and maybe I have. But someone has to speak up. I hardly recognize this country anymore.
The most famous business leaders are not the innovators but the guys in handcuffs. While we're fiddling in Iraq , the Middle East is burning and nobody seems to know what to do. And the press is waving 'pom-poms' instead of asking hard questions. That's not the promise of the " America " my parents and yours traveled across the ocean for. I've had enough. How about you?
I'll go a step further. You can't call yourself a patriot if you're not outraged. This is a fight I'm ready and willing to have.
The Biggest "C" is Crisis !
Leaders are made, not born. Leadership is forged in times of crisis. It's easy to sit there with your feet up on the desk and talk theory. Or send someone else's kids off to war when you've never seen a battlefield yourself. It's another thing to lead when your world comes tumbling down.
On September 11, 2001, we needed a strong leader more than any other time in our history. We needed a steady hand to guide us out of the ashes. A Hell of a Mess
So here's where we stand. We're immersed in a bloody war with no plan for winning and no plan for leaving. We're running the biggest deficit in the history of the country. We're losing the manufacturing edge to Asia , while our once-great companies are getting slaughtered by health care costs. Gas prices are skyrocketing, and nobody in power has a coherent energy policy. Our schools are in trouble. Our borders are like sieves. The middle class is being squeezed every which way These are times that cry out for leadership.
But when you look around, you've got to ask: "Where have all the leaders gone?" Where are the curious, creative communicators? Where are the people of character, courage, conviction, omnipotence, and common sense?
I may be a sucker for alliteration, but I think you get the point.
More to come
Lonny
Monday, December 24, 2007
A CHRISTMAS THOUGHT
One of my customers sent me this and I thought it was a good topic too consider at this time of year. Enjoy:
Subject: Christmas Wishes
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.
During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups.... and then you began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life. The type of cup one has does not define, nor change the quality of life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your coffee.
May each of you have a blessed Christmas.
More to come
Lonny
Subject: Christmas Wishes
A group of alumni, highly established in their careers, were talking at a reunion and decided to go visit their old university professor, now retired.
During their visit the conversation soon turned into complaints about stress in their work and lives.
Offering his guests coffee, the professor went to the kitchen and returned with a large pot of coffee and an assortment of cups - porcelain, plastic, glass, crystal, some plain looking, some expensive, some exquisite - telling them to help themselves to the coffee.
When all the alumni had a cup of coffee in hand, the professor said: "Notice that all the nice-looking, expensive cups were taken up, leaving behind the plain and cheap ones. While it is normal for you to want only the best for yourselves, that is the source of your problems and stress. Be assured that the cup itself adds no quality to the coffee. In most cases it is just more expensive and in some cases even hides what we drink. What all of you really wanted was coffee, not the cup; but you consciously went for the best cups.... and then you began eyeing each other's cups.
Now consider this: Life is the coffee; your job, money and position in society are the cups. They are just tools to hold and contain Life. The type of cup one has does not define, nor change the quality of life a person lives. Sometimes, by concentrating only on the cup, we fail to enjoy the coffee. The happiest people don't have the best of everything. They just make the best of everything. Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly. And enjoy your coffee.
May each of you have a blessed Christmas.
More to come
Lonny
Friday, December 21, 2007
WORTH READING
Now that the lending/sub prime/mortgage meltdown/financial crisis is well along and gaining speed daily, for todays Blog, I wanted to post some really good articles for you to read if you so choose. We have not seen the reality of what is going to happen as yet and will no doubt feel this mess for years to come.
I am not one who is a gloom and doomer, my business really is not bad at the moment and I am looking for a good 2008 because home prices are down and those who are qualified can and will buy.
I encourage you to read these articles if you are in mortgage lending or if you are not. I too have been writing and teaching on the Predatory Lenders and what would happen if they were left unchecked and now we are living it. The articles below are varied, I don’t agree with everything said, but they are worth reading. Perhaps when we are done with this cycle history will be less likely to repeat itself.
http://business.smh.com.au/fed-repeatedly-warned-by-own-staff-of-looming-crisis/20071220-1ibm.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004083696_mortgages20.html
http://xeniagazette.1upmonitor.com/main.asp?SectionID=17&SubSectionID=452&ArticleID=157755&TM=38815.62
http://www.mexiadailynews.com/opinion/local_story_354094027.html?keyword=secondarystory
http://losangeles.injuryboard.com/class-action/mortgage-lending-fraud-class-actions-the-best-answer.php?googleid=13947
More to come
Lonny
I am not one who is a gloom and doomer, my business really is not bad at the moment and I am looking for a good 2008 because home prices are down and those who are qualified can and will buy.
I encourage you to read these articles if you are in mortgage lending or if you are not. I too have been writing and teaching on the Predatory Lenders and what would happen if they were left unchecked and now we are living it. The articles below are varied, I don’t agree with everything said, but they are worth reading. Perhaps when we are done with this cycle history will be less likely to repeat itself.
http://business.smh.com.au/fed-repeatedly-warned-by-own-staff-of-looming-crisis/20071220-1ibm.html
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004083696_mortgages20.html
http://xeniagazette.1upmonitor.com/main.asp?SectionID=17&SubSectionID=452&ArticleID=157755&TM=38815.62
http://www.mexiadailynews.com/opinion/local_story_354094027.html?keyword=secondarystory
http://losangeles.injuryboard.com/class-action/mortgage-lending-fraud-class-actions-the-best-answer.php?googleid=13947
More to come
Lonny
Thursday, December 20, 2007
FHA SECURE FLOPS
Remember the FHA Secure Loan? It was the Bush Administrations loan that was to help borrowers with sub prime loans refinance their property into a safe FHA loan? Well the report is in and it is a flop of major proportions.
If you remember to qualify for this loan you have to be in a sub prime loan and all payments would have been made on time until the interest rate reset. When it reset you would not have been able to make the payments and at that time got behind on the payments. You would have to qualify for the FHA loan in all other areas of income, job stability etc. Sub prime loan, qualified for a prime loan; seems to be a disconnect here. You must have been behind, you would not qualify if you were current at the time you applied for the refinance. Something a bit discriminatory here don't you think? Why not help the rest who are trying to stay current? You must have equity in the property of at least 2.25% to qualify or the lender who had the mortgage could take a second lien on the property for the difference. Lets see, loan fraud, sub prime, 100% loans, inflated appraisals, doesn't seem to go hand in hand with having equity. The phrase designed to fail comes to mind for me.
When this loan was announced the mortgage lending community just scratched their heads and wondered how in the world anyone would or could qualify. The confusion has now proved to be on the money. With all the money spent and all the borrowers who might qualify not applying and all the hype and BS associated with this Government program the numbers prove once again the Government is here to help is just not a reality. What were they thinking?
I don't remember what the exact estimates of the FHA Secure program were but as I recall it was projected to allow some 250,000 families to refinance and the actual # of closings to date is less than 290. In my book that is a failure of major proportions and just proves again in my opinion the more Government tries to help the more it gets screwed up. All of the news of all the laws and all the politicians coming to help hopefully won't make the problems worse than they already are going to be.
I wouldn't bet on it come to think of it.
More to come
Lonny
If you remember to qualify for this loan you have to be in a sub prime loan and all payments would have been made on time until the interest rate reset. When it reset you would not have been able to make the payments and at that time got behind on the payments. You would have to qualify for the FHA loan in all other areas of income, job stability etc. Sub prime loan, qualified for a prime loan; seems to be a disconnect here. You must have been behind, you would not qualify if you were current at the time you applied for the refinance. Something a bit discriminatory here don't you think? Why not help the rest who are trying to stay current? You must have equity in the property of at least 2.25% to qualify or the lender who had the mortgage could take a second lien on the property for the difference. Lets see, loan fraud, sub prime, 100% loans, inflated appraisals, doesn't seem to go hand in hand with having equity. The phrase designed to fail comes to mind for me.
When this loan was announced the mortgage lending community just scratched their heads and wondered how in the world anyone would or could qualify. The confusion has now proved to be on the money. With all the money spent and all the borrowers who might qualify not applying and all the hype and BS associated with this Government program the numbers prove once again the Government is here to help is just not a reality. What were they thinking?
I don't remember what the exact estimates of the FHA Secure program were but as I recall it was projected to allow some 250,000 families to refinance and the actual # of closings to date is less than 290. In my book that is a failure of major proportions and just proves again in my opinion the more Government tries to help the more it gets screwed up. All of the news of all the laws and all the politicians coming to help hopefully won't make the problems worse than they already are going to be.
I wouldn't bet on it come to think of it.
More to come
Lonny
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
FED TO THE RESCUE.....AGAIN
To start, the city mentioned yesterday was Grand Prairie, not Fort Worth, thanks Paul.
I read an article about the Fed trying to clean up mortgage lending and protecting home buyers from fraud.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jRjPX04ZFVg1uLmis-Cb57TwWtRA
Why are they so concerned? Well it is because the US is in a rather deep housing slump. Fed Chief Bernanke explained that “market discipline” had broken down. I had not heard it put like that but “market discipline” I agree did break down not to mention things like ethics, greed, criminal activity and the list goes on.
One thing he is trying to control is sub prime loans. If no one has noticed sub prime loans are gone and not likely to come back so he is probably beating a dead horse on that subject.
He also is trying to get language in the proposed new rules regarding deceptive advertising which frankly I hope he does. It still happens multiple times a day on my radio and TV and it should be stopped. Things like no cost refis, payment rates being represented as the interest rate, and there are more. Good luck on that, if you can’t deceive the consumer who can you deceive? Someone could enforce the current rules already in place; that could help!!
He wants to ban no doc loans. These are loans that require exceptional credit and started out (at least) requiring a large down payment. If you look at no doc loans I am sure you will find the no doc loans that don’t perform are those that were made to people who should not have them in the first place. No money down, loan fraud was rampant etc. He will probably throw the “baby out with the bathwater” on this one if he gets it.
I do agree that the Fed Chief is trying to help and maybe he can, but as government will tend to do they penalize the good guys and still fail to stop the bad guys. The fraudsters will overcome and probably flourish no matter what laws are in place. The big companies with money will get the law watered down in their favor with their check books and keep the ads going.
What we need, and still no one is trying to figure out, is how we qualify people who want to buy homes that don’t qualify under today’s rules. If you have followed my writing it really gets back to somehow bringing those folks back in the market to buy the homes that need to sell. No one seems to really spend any time on that one. What we need are more buyers who have access to fair loans to help start the turn around.
Some of what Mr. Bernanke wants does make common sense, but as we know Government and common sense just don’t seem to go together! Good luck Mr. Bernanke, you are going to need it.
More to come
Lonny
I read an article about the Fed trying to clean up mortgage lending and protecting home buyers from fraud.
http://afp.google.com/article/ALeqM5jRjPX04ZFVg1uLmis-Cb57TwWtRA
Why are they so concerned? Well it is because the US is in a rather deep housing slump. Fed Chief Bernanke explained that “market discipline” had broken down. I had not heard it put like that but “market discipline” I agree did break down not to mention things like ethics, greed, criminal activity and the list goes on.
One thing he is trying to control is sub prime loans. If no one has noticed sub prime loans are gone and not likely to come back so he is probably beating a dead horse on that subject.
He also is trying to get language in the proposed new rules regarding deceptive advertising which frankly I hope he does. It still happens multiple times a day on my radio and TV and it should be stopped. Things like no cost refis, payment rates being represented as the interest rate, and there are more. Good luck on that, if you can’t deceive the consumer who can you deceive? Someone could enforce the current rules already in place; that could help!!
He wants to ban no doc loans. These are loans that require exceptional credit and started out (at least) requiring a large down payment. If you look at no doc loans I am sure you will find the no doc loans that don’t perform are those that were made to people who should not have them in the first place. No money down, loan fraud was rampant etc. He will probably throw the “baby out with the bathwater” on this one if he gets it.
I do agree that the Fed Chief is trying to help and maybe he can, but as government will tend to do they penalize the good guys and still fail to stop the bad guys. The fraudsters will overcome and probably flourish no matter what laws are in place. The big companies with money will get the law watered down in their favor with their check books and keep the ads going.
What we need, and still no one is trying to figure out, is how we qualify people who want to buy homes that don’t qualify under today’s rules. If you have followed my writing it really gets back to somehow bringing those folks back in the market to buy the homes that need to sell. No one seems to really spend any time on that one. What we need are more buyers who have access to fair loans to help start the turn around.
Some of what Mr. Bernanke wants does make common sense, but as we know Government and common sense just don’t seem to go together! Good luck Mr. Bernanke, you are going to need it.
More to come
Lonny
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
WELL I FEEL SAFER
I was watching the news on Channel 8 last night and saw a story about a local law enforcements effort to keep us safe/make money. I didn't catch exactly which city but my guess it was Fort Worth. Sounds like a Fort Worth project. They were perched on bridges along I20. Anyway a rather portly police officer had in his hand what looked like a regular radar gun. He was pointing this device at the cars below which were no doubt just filled with criminals. He was not clocking the speed the cars were traveling in hopes he could catch us speeding. He explained that his radar gun had a program in it that calculated the distance one car was from another. Yes you heard correctly they were catching people who were following the car in front of them too closely.
Somehow this gun would take the speed of both cars and tell the officer that one was to close to the other by the number of seconds it took to travel the same distance or something like that. When the gun caught the criminal then the police force would chase them down, explain why they were giving the ticket and race off to catch more law breakers. I am finally relieved that the police department is solving this problem as it is one that has been concerning me. I don't know how often I have been concerned that there was an epidemic of people following too closely on our highways. Or is it that I haven't noticed that because I have been looking out for those bikers who are going about 1000 miles per hour and putting their life and my life in danger. I wonder why they don't chase those guys down. Oh I remember they can't catch them so they come up with a new reason to catch us.
I am thinking well since this group of police officers are now doing this I must be more careful because I know the cities goal is to keep us safe and not just to get more of our money. They are worried about our safety aren't they? It is not about the money is it??? Anyway how is one to keep ones self protected from those who protect us? I think the law says, (at least according to this officer) that you must be at least two seconds behind the guy in front of you and that depends on the speed you are both going. I guess if the guy in front of you is slowing down and you don't slow down as fast, then you could be breaking the law. I am sure there are other ways to break this law that we haven't thought of.
I guess I am going to have to get me one of those guns so I can tell how far I am away, or maybe figure out how the calculation is done and get out my cell phone and do the calculations. Oops that is probably against the law as well. What's a person to do I ask. I know; I think I will just send the city some money as it appears they will get me for something before it is over. Who knows they might just catch a criminal while they are chasing us down for following too close. One thing is for sure I feel much safer than I did.
More to come
Lonny
Somehow this gun would take the speed of both cars and tell the officer that one was to close to the other by the number of seconds it took to travel the same distance or something like that. When the gun caught the criminal then the police force would chase them down, explain why they were giving the ticket and race off to catch more law breakers. I am finally relieved that the police department is solving this problem as it is one that has been concerning me. I don't know how often I have been concerned that there was an epidemic of people following too closely on our highways. Or is it that I haven't noticed that because I have been looking out for those bikers who are going about 1000 miles per hour and putting their life and my life in danger. I wonder why they don't chase those guys down. Oh I remember they can't catch them so they come up with a new reason to catch us.
I am thinking well since this group of police officers are now doing this I must be more careful because I know the cities goal is to keep us safe and not just to get more of our money. They are worried about our safety aren't they? It is not about the money is it??? Anyway how is one to keep ones self protected from those who protect us? I think the law says, (at least according to this officer) that you must be at least two seconds behind the guy in front of you and that depends on the speed you are both going. I guess if the guy in front of you is slowing down and you don't slow down as fast, then you could be breaking the law. I am sure there are other ways to break this law that we haven't thought of.
I guess I am going to have to get me one of those guns so I can tell how far I am away, or maybe figure out how the calculation is done and get out my cell phone and do the calculations. Oops that is probably against the law as well. What's a person to do I ask. I know; I think I will just send the city some money as it appears they will get me for something before it is over. Who knows they might just catch a criminal while they are chasing us down for following too close. One thing is for sure I feel much safer than I did.
More to come
Lonny
Monday, December 17, 2007
THE REST OF THE STORY
I read an article over the weekend entitled Illinois Probing Top Home Lender. In the interest of good taste I will not name this lender. If you want to see the article be my guest.
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri_countrywidedec14,0,2728675.story
During the feeding frenzy that all big Lenders including the one in the article just finished a lot of Pay Option ARM type products were made. I believe this is the type of loan mentioned in the article. A significant percentage of them were made by Mortgage Brokers and Mortgage Bankers and sold to the lender mentioned and many other lenders who were just like them.
The whole industry turned a blind eye to the quality of the loans and to the real ability of the borrowers to repay them. Pay Option ARMs are not bad loans if they are made to educated, qualified borrowers who understand how to manage them and are of the financial mind to not allow the loan to destroy them. It is my opinion the lender mentioned in the article made loans to borrowers, made by people who brokered loans to them, where the borrowers were not qualified as they should be, not educated and had no business getting this type of loan. Greed and Profit were the incentives no doubt.
Predatory Lenders who now have perfected mortgage loan fraud to an art sold plenty of loans to them. Did this lender know these loans just might be made to people who should not have them? My opinion is yes. Is a lender like the one in the article guilty just because they were doing what other big banks and other lenders were doing? I say yes but you go with what's going on so to speak. As I mentioned before all lenders were originating Pay Option Arm type products.
What was really interesting to me was that just below the article this lender had a Google add touting among other things a no closing cost loan. I have been around the business a long time and if you are going to refinance your home you will pay to do it. There are numerous ways to pay the cost but there are costs. There is not a free ride, trust me on that one. I have talked to many former employees of this company and the real story on this lender and other just like them may never be known. The magnitude of Predatory Lending and Loan Fraud is yet to be discovered.
More to come
Lonny
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-fri_countrywidedec14,0,2728675.story
During the feeding frenzy that all big Lenders including the one in the article just finished a lot of Pay Option ARM type products were made. I believe this is the type of loan mentioned in the article. A significant percentage of them were made by Mortgage Brokers and Mortgage Bankers and sold to the lender mentioned and many other lenders who were just like them.
The whole industry turned a blind eye to the quality of the loans and to the real ability of the borrowers to repay them. Pay Option ARMs are not bad loans if they are made to educated, qualified borrowers who understand how to manage them and are of the financial mind to not allow the loan to destroy them. It is my opinion the lender mentioned in the article made loans to borrowers, made by people who brokered loans to them, where the borrowers were not qualified as they should be, not educated and had no business getting this type of loan. Greed and Profit were the incentives no doubt.
Predatory Lenders who now have perfected mortgage loan fraud to an art sold plenty of loans to them. Did this lender know these loans just might be made to people who should not have them? My opinion is yes. Is a lender like the one in the article guilty just because they were doing what other big banks and other lenders were doing? I say yes but you go with what's going on so to speak. As I mentioned before all lenders were originating Pay Option Arm type products.
What was really interesting to me was that just below the article this lender had a Google add touting among other things a no closing cost loan. I have been around the business a long time and if you are going to refinance your home you will pay to do it. There are numerous ways to pay the cost but there are costs. There is not a free ride, trust me on that one. I have talked to many former employees of this company and the real story on this lender and other just like them may never be known. The magnitude of Predatory Lending and Loan Fraud is yet to be discovered.
More to come
Lonny
Saturday, December 15, 2007
TOO FUNNY
Karren sent this to me and it is really a classically funny thing. I thought it was too hard to pass up for this weekends Blog.
Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=ubAxWIfcE5I&mode=related&search
More to come
Lonny
Enjoy:
http://www.youtube.com:80/watch?v=ubAxWIfcE5I&mode=related&search
More to come
Lonny
Friday, December 14, 2007
MORE ON IMMIGRATION
This past week we spent a couple of days in some incredibly interesting meetings at our office. Two men were there designing a system that would help us take an initial inquiry from a customer and put it in a specific system that worked for our industry that could service their initial needs while we made them their loan, track and communicate everything during the initial process, and market that person for as long as we wanted after they closed. Even I can see how great that would be.
They talked about how we could join a community of other service providers who had credibility within that community and thereby get leads for loans from folks who weren’t just trying to beat us out of every nickel. What a concept, sign me up, how much is it, me getting credibility, what a concept.
The second day I asked, “Where you boys from”? One of them said, “Vancouver”. I said, “Canada”? One of them said, “Duh”. I said, “I been through there going up to that resort, I can’t remember the name of it”. One of them said, “Whistler”. I said, “That’s the one”. One of them said, “You must be from Hereford”. I said, “Well how did you know that”?
Unlike the guys who do my yard, these guys looked like me, (so to speak), they talked like me, and they wore the same kind of cloths as me. I was surprised they were not from Texas or at least the good ole USA. I assumed they were here legally but had no proof and could really have cared less; they had a service and ideas that I wanted. Could they have been illegal aliens? I suppose. Could they have been people who were employed by an enemy of the country to come in and look like us, sell us a service and then imbed a secret virus in our computers that would spread to all the computers in America and blow them up. Well maybe, and a little ridiculous . And no these guys are completely honest and legitimate, I am confident, I think.
I guess what became so real to me at that time was the fact we really don’t know who anyone is anymore and everyone that may be here illegally is not going to stand out like or look like the guys doing our yards. If our government is not going to or can’t close our boarders to those who look the part, what chance do we have they can stop the people who are really here to harm us. Pretty scary stuff if you ask me!
If our next President and Administration can’t or won’t control our boarders then it may be a matter of time, until we find out what really bad things can happen. We need to make sure with our vote that we get the boarder problem solved.
More to come
Lonny
They talked about how we could join a community of other service providers who had credibility within that community and thereby get leads for loans from folks who weren’t just trying to beat us out of every nickel. What a concept, sign me up, how much is it, me getting credibility, what a concept.
The second day I asked, “Where you boys from”? One of them said, “Vancouver”. I said, “Canada”? One of them said, “Duh”. I said, “I been through there going up to that resort, I can’t remember the name of it”. One of them said, “Whistler”. I said, “That’s the one”. One of them said, “You must be from Hereford”. I said, “Well how did you know that”?
Unlike the guys who do my yard, these guys looked like me, (so to speak), they talked like me, and they wore the same kind of cloths as me. I was surprised they were not from Texas or at least the good ole USA. I assumed they were here legally but had no proof and could really have cared less; they had a service and ideas that I wanted. Could they have been illegal aliens? I suppose. Could they have been people who were employed by an enemy of the country to come in and look like us, sell us a service and then imbed a secret virus in our computers that would spread to all the computers in America and blow them up. Well maybe, and a little ridiculous . And no these guys are completely honest and legitimate, I am confident, I think.
I guess what became so real to me at that time was the fact we really don’t know who anyone is anymore and everyone that may be here illegally is not going to stand out like or look like the guys doing our yards. If our government is not going to or can’t close our boarders to those who look the part, what chance do we have they can stop the people who are really here to harm us. Pretty scary stuff if you ask me!
If our next President and Administration can’t or won’t control our boarders then it may be a matter of time, until we find out what really bad things can happen. We need to make sure with our vote that we get the boarder problem solved.
More to come
Lonny
Thursday, December 13, 2007
RUDY AND MITT ON IMMIGRATION
In one of the last Presidential Debates, Rudy G. and Mitt R. got into a tiff over Mitt hiring illegal aliens to work in his yard. Rudy described it as a palatial mansion or something like that. I am not sure which debate was the last one or which ones I have missed lately. For some reason there seem to be plenty of debates that are not ready for prime time so to speak. The one I was watching was on CNN and was billed as a You Tube Debate, (or something like that). I may have been the only person watching that particular one.
That brings up an initial question for me: Why would any intelligent Republican candidate show up at CNN to participate in a debate where someone could get on You Tube (whatever that is) and pose a question to them. One guy actually was asking some idiotic question on something and had a rebel flag in the background. Our candidates were trying to respond to this guy in an intelligent way. Hopefully a lesson was learned, not to show up to a liberal TV network whose goal (probably) was to make the candidates look less than Presidential if not totally ridiculous.
Anyway back to the point of today’s message. What Rudy was doing was trying to make Mitt responsible for the continuing immigration problem by pointing out that it was his fault somehow that the guys working in his yard were illegal aliens and that he should have done something about it. Mitt was taken aback with the attack and really looked a little embarrassed that Rudy had got him. Mitt responded by saying; it really was not the American way or the responsibility of a home owner to go out into the yard and ask to see documentation that would prove a contractors workers were or were not legal. I know on the days I have been at my home and the men who do my yard have been there I have had no real desire to check them out so to speak. Unless I had discussed the issue with my yard contractor (who assures me his guys are legal and pay taxes) my assumption would have been those workers were probably not here legally. They looked like illegal aliens would look, and they were doing a job that would require a lower paid, harder working laborer which again seems to type cast them into what I think would point to an illegal worker.
I agree it is absolutely not my job to enforce the law of the land and it seems that the authorities don’t either. I have an interesting twist to all this for tomorrow.
More to come
Lonny
That brings up an initial question for me: Why would any intelligent Republican candidate show up at CNN to participate in a debate where someone could get on You Tube (whatever that is) and pose a question to them. One guy actually was asking some idiotic question on something and had a rebel flag in the background. Our candidates were trying to respond to this guy in an intelligent way. Hopefully a lesson was learned, not to show up to a liberal TV network whose goal (probably) was to make the candidates look less than Presidential if not totally ridiculous.
Anyway back to the point of today’s message. What Rudy was doing was trying to make Mitt responsible for the continuing immigration problem by pointing out that it was his fault somehow that the guys working in his yard were illegal aliens and that he should have done something about it. Mitt was taken aback with the attack and really looked a little embarrassed that Rudy had got him. Mitt responded by saying; it really was not the American way or the responsibility of a home owner to go out into the yard and ask to see documentation that would prove a contractors workers were or were not legal. I know on the days I have been at my home and the men who do my yard have been there I have had no real desire to check them out so to speak. Unless I had discussed the issue with my yard contractor (who assures me his guys are legal and pay taxes) my assumption would have been those workers were probably not here legally. They looked like illegal aliens would look, and they were doing a job that would require a lower paid, harder working laborer which again seems to type cast them into what I think would point to an illegal worker.
I agree it is absolutely not my job to enforce the law of the land and it seems that the authorities don’t either. I have an interesting twist to all this for tomorrow.
More to come
Lonny
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
3/4 LIFE CRISIS
The question then becomes when do you have a ¾ life crisis???? It is when you are too old to have a mid life crisis of course. Think of it this way if I am 55 and am not going to live to 110 (trust me on that one) then how can I be having a mid life crisis? In fact if I have some shot at living to 73, I plan on making that # then I would be truly into a ¾ life crisis. The good news is that I am not sure I am in a ¾ life crisis but the signs certainly point to it.
What might be some signs one might be in a ¾ life crisis:
When you go to the Doctor you are the oldest one in the waiting room.
Everyone, I mean everyone calls you sir.
People start holding the door open for you and give you a look like, what a handsome older gentleman. Change the last part if you think that may not be what they are thinking.
You may have ED and don’t care.
You have to write down everything that ails you so won’t forget anything when you get to the doctor.
The only thing the doctor gets excited about is that your Triglycerides are the highest she has ever seen.
You take not one kind of Cholesterol medicine but two.
You have a private bin at CVS.
You actually have 3 doctor appointments during one week, two planned and one unplanned.
You know your customer care rep by name at your insurance company, and they are actually nice and helpful because they feel sorry for you.
When you are in the waiting room you choose to read the AARP magazine.
Your doctor starts everything they say with “Well at Your Age”.
You can’t get all your prescriptions in your pocket anymore.
You have to have a line item in your budget for insurance co pays.
Insurance benefits at your job are more important than the job itself, and one major illness can ruin you financially.
When you go to a job interview you take a form letter from your lawyer that reminds the company that age discrimination is illegal.
Your friends, (Paul W more than any) remind you that you should be retiring at your age.
The waiter at Denny’s insists you get the Senior Slam and does not ID you to make sure you are old enough. When you suggest they call it the Champion Menu (golfers will get that) they think you have really lost your mind.
Your kids call to check in on you to see how you are feeling. God love em we do have that going for us.
I am sure there is more, I just can’t think of them.
More to come, unfortunately
Lonny
What might be some signs one might be in a ¾ life crisis:
When you go to the Doctor you are the oldest one in the waiting room.
Everyone, I mean everyone calls you sir.
People start holding the door open for you and give you a look like, what a handsome older gentleman. Change the last part if you think that may not be what they are thinking.
You may have ED and don’t care.
You have to write down everything that ails you so won’t forget anything when you get to the doctor.
The only thing the doctor gets excited about is that your Triglycerides are the highest she has ever seen.
You take not one kind of Cholesterol medicine but two.
You have a private bin at CVS.
You actually have 3 doctor appointments during one week, two planned and one unplanned.
You know your customer care rep by name at your insurance company, and they are actually nice and helpful because they feel sorry for you.
When you are in the waiting room you choose to read the AARP magazine.
Your doctor starts everything they say with “Well at Your Age”.
You can’t get all your prescriptions in your pocket anymore.
You have to have a line item in your budget for insurance co pays.
Insurance benefits at your job are more important than the job itself, and one major illness can ruin you financially.
When you go to a job interview you take a form letter from your lawyer that reminds the company that age discrimination is illegal.
Your friends, (Paul W more than any) remind you that you should be retiring at your age.
The waiter at Denny’s insists you get the Senior Slam and does not ID you to make sure you are old enough. When you suggest they call it the Champion Menu (golfers will get that) they think you have really lost your mind.
Your kids call to check in on you to see how you are feeling. God love em we do have that going for us.
I am sure there is more, I just can’t think of them.
More to come, unfortunately
Lonny
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
MORE ON THE FREEZE
I found an article that was written in the National Post. I am pretty sure that is a Canadian Publication. It spoke of the Moral hazards in a Bush bailout. It was another article on the recent rate freeze put into place by the Bush Administration. I would not be surprised if you are just not totally absorbed in the sub-prime rate freeze news but I think this article does bring out some interesting things to think about.
It speaks of the lack of respect for contracts, the political side of the bailout, and it does bring up a good point that if you bail out those who don't deserve to be bailed out, is a lesson going to be learned?
I have not read any article as yet that gives any hope of the rate Freeze working. The good news is that the delinquencies are mostly in sub-prime rather than prime loans and it seems pretty clear the problem is based in the adjustable rate sub-prime loans. That tells me that when the mortgage lending industry gets back to basics that basics still work. From my chair at least it looks like we are back to basics. The free market has taken care of that.
Do morals or the lack of have anything to do with the problem or was it just a lot of greed and profiteering in the something for nothing society we seem to have today. Come to think of it the lack of morals may have more to do with it than we think.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=156965
More to come
Lonny
It speaks of the lack of respect for contracts, the political side of the bailout, and it does bring up a good point that if you bail out those who don't deserve to be bailed out, is a lesson going to be learned?
I have not read any article as yet that gives any hope of the rate Freeze working. The good news is that the delinquencies are mostly in sub-prime rather than prime loans and it seems pretty clear the problem is based in the adjustable rate sub-prime loans. That tells me that when the mortgage lending industry gets back to basics that basics still work. From my chair at least it looks like we are back to basics. The free market has taken care of that.
Do morals or the lack of have anything to do with the problem or was it just a lot of greed and profiteering in the something for nothing society we seem to have today. Come to think of it the lack of morals may have more to do with it than we think.
http://www.nationalpost.com/news/story.html?id=156965
More to come
Lonny
Monday, December 10, 2007
THE FREEZE IS ON
President Bush did announce the Rate Freeze the other day and I am not really sure if I get it. As you recall there are a group of sub-prime loans that have interest rates that are set to reset. The President is trying to somehow convince Mortgage Lenders and Investors to freeze the teaser rates on these loans for 5 years. There are a lot of qualifications before you are eligible and bottom line I just don’t think it is going to work. Too many contracts signed too many investors who won’t agree, too many people left out who really need the help. I will be surprised if the freeze makes much difference at all in the end.
If you have a loan you think might apply get with the lender you are making payments too and get started and good luck.
I ran across an article that seems to make some real sense to me. I don’t necessarily agree with all the points, especially when he attacks the real estate community, (someone needs to focus on the good news) but for the most part it does frame the problem quite well from a realistic problem/solution point of view.
Like it or not, worth a look if you have any interest in the RATE FREEZE.
http://scottsdale.injuryboard.com/business-disputes/mortgage-rate-freeze-a-flimflam-scheme-to-recharacterize-billions-of-fraudulent-mortgages-and-trick-investors.php?googleid=13702
More to come
Lonny
If you have a loan you think might apply get with the lender you are making payments too and get started and good luck.
I ran across an article that seems to make some real sense to me. I don’t necessarily agree with all the points, especially when he attacks the real estate community, (someone needs to focus on the good news) but for the most part it does frame the problem quite well from a realistic problem/solution point of view.
Like it or not, worth a look if you have any interest in the RATE FREEZE.
http://scottsdale.injuryboard.com/business-disputes/mortgage-rate-freeze-a-flimflam-scheme-to-recharacterize-billions-of-fraudulent-mortgages-and-trick-investors.php?googleid=13702
More to come
Lonny
Sunday, December 9, 2007
HELLO DADDY
Josh sent me this link this past week. When I originally heard that Ellen had put Jenna up to calling The President I thought it was a pretty dumb thing to do. When I saw the actual clip I agreed with Josh that it was priceless. The look on Jenna’s face and the anticipation in her voice is really special.
You can just tell by this that President Bush is just really a great Dad doing an impossible job during a hard time. When his presidency is over, Jenna and Barbara will still have a great Dad and hopefully we won’t have the Clintons for 4 years.
If you have seen this it is worth another look. If you haven't,
Enjoy:
http://video.nbc5i.com/player/?id=192078
I hope you have a blessed Sunday, Go Cowboys!!!!
More to come
Lonny
You can just tell by this that President Bush is just really a great Dad doing an impossible job during a hard time. When his presidency is over, Jenna and Barbara will still have a great Dad and hopefully we won’t have the Clintons for 4 years.
If you have seen this it is worth another look. If you haven't,
Enjoy:
http://video.nbc5i.com/player/?id=192078
I hope you have a blessed Sunday, Go Cowboys!!!!
More to come
Lonny
Friday, December 7, 2007
HOW TO STAY YOUNG
Always trying to stay on both sides of the issue: Yesterday we spent on Aging, so this morning certainly HOW TO STAY YOUNG needed to be our Blog topic. For those of you who are interested today I am feeling much better. I know Paul will be relieved. Here we go:
George Carlin would suggest: Except for #11:
HOW TO STAY YOUNG:
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop. " And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
11. If less is smarter, choose less, if more is more then go for it.
Well there you have it, today I am working on Staying Young, if you choose to do the same, good luck.
More to come
Lonny
George Carlin would suggest: Except for #11:
HOW TO STAY YOUNG:
1. Throw out nonessential numbers. This includes age, weight and height. Let the doctors worry about them. That is why you pay "them."
2. Keep only cheerful friends. The grouches pull you down.
3. Keep learning. Learn more about the computer, crafts, gardening, whatever. Never let the brain idle. "An idle mind is the devil's workshop. " And the devil's name is Alzheimer's.
4. Enjoy the simple things.
5. Laugh often, long and loud. Laugh until you gasp for breath.
6. The tears happen. Endure, grieve, and move on. The only person, who is with us our entire life, is ourselves. Be ALIVE while you are alive.
7. Surround yourself with what you love, whether it's family, pets, keepsakes, music, plants, hobbies, whatever. Your home is your refuge.
8. Cherish your health: If it is good, preserve it. If it is unstable, improve it. If it is beyond what you can improve, get help.
9. Don't take guilt trips. Take a trip to the mall, even to the next county; to a foreign country but NOT to where the guilt is.
10. Tell the people you love that you love them, at every opportunity. AND ALWAYS REMEMBER: Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.
11. If less is smarter, choose less, if more is more then go for it.
Well there you have it, today I am working on Staying Young, if you choose to do the same, good luck.
More to come
Lonny
AGING
After spending yesterday afternoon with some old buddies of mine, they were customers as well, today I am feeling my age a bit. I thought this might be appropriate for this Friday, enjoy.
George Carlin's Views on Aging:
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?
If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions."How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five!
That's the keyYou get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead."How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!
And then the greatest day of your life .. . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away.
Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70!
After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92.
"Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
Staying young tomorrow
More to come
Lonny
George Carlin's Views on Aging:
Do you realize that the only time in our lives when we like to get old is when we're kids?
If you're less than 10 years old, you're so excited about aging that you think in fractions."How old are you?" "I'm four and a half!" You're never thirty-six and a half. You're four and a half, going on five!
That's the keyYou get into your teens, now they can't hold you back. You jump to the next number, or even a few ahead."How old are you?" "I'm gonna be 16!" You could be 13, but hey, you're gonna be 16!
And then the greatest day of your life .. . You become 21. Even the words sound like a ceremony YOU BECOME 21. YESSSS!!!
But then you turn 30. Oooohh, what happened there? Makes you sound like bad milk! He TURNED; we had to throw him out. There's no fun now, you're Just a sour-dumpling. What's wrong? What's changed?You BECOME 21, you TURN 30, then you're PUSHING 40. Whoa! Put on the brakes, it's all slipping away.
Before you know it, you REACH 50 and your dreams are gone.But wait!!! You MAKE it to 60. You didn't think you would!So you BECOME 21, TURN 30, PUSH 40, REACH 50 and MAKE it to 60.You've built up so much speed that you HIT 70!
After that it's a day-by-day thing; you HIT Wednesday! You get into your 80's and every day is a complete cycle; you HIT lunch; you TURN 4:30 ; you REACH bedtime. And it doesn't end there. Into the 90s, you start going backwards; "I Was JUST 92.
"Then a strange thing happens. If you make it over 100, you become a little kid again. "I'm 100 and a half!"May you all make it to a healthy 100 and a half!!
Staying young tomorrow
More to come
Lonny
Thursday, December 6, 2007
VERY INTERESTING
My friend John, better known as El Monte Slim sent me this link the other day. I am not sure where the information and facts originated from. I am not sure they are correct or what I would do with such information, but one thing is for sure, it is Very Interesting.
Enjoy!
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/shifthappens
More to come
Lonny
Enjoy!
http://www.albinoblacksheep.com/video/shifthappens
More to come
Lonny
Wednesday, December 5, 2007
THE ANT AND THE GRASSHOPPER
Micah sent me this, definitely worth a look.
This may not be the opinion of this Blog….!!!
TRADITIONAL VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!
MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.' Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.
Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer! The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government. Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill Clinton appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients. The ant loses the case.The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow.The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2008
Author Unknown
More to come
Lonny
This may not be the opinion of this Blog….!!!
TRADITIONAL VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the ant is warm and well fed. The grasshopper has no food or shelter, so he dies out in the cold.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be responsible for yourself!
MODERN VERSION:
The ant works hard in the withering heat all summer long, building his house and laying up supplies for the winter. The grasshopper thinks the ant is a fool and laughs and dances and plays the summer away. Come winter, the shivering grasshopper calls a press conference and demands to know why the ant should be warm and well fed while others are cold and starving. CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, and ABC show up to provide pictures of the shivering grasshopper next to a video of the ant in his comfortable home with a table filled with food. America is stunned by the sharp contrast. How can this be, that in a country of such wealth, this poor grasshopper is allowed to suffer so? Kermit the Frog appears on Oprah with the grasshopper and everybody cries when they sing, 'It's Not Easy Being Green.' Jesse Jackson stages a demonstration in front of the ant's house where the news stations film the group singing, 'We shall overcome.' Jesse then has the group kneel down to pray to God for the grasshopper's sake. Nancy Pelosi, John Kerry & Harry Reid exclaim in an interview with Larry King that the ant has gotten rich off the back of the grasshopper, and both call for an immediate tax hike on the ant to make him pay his fair share.
Finally, the EEOC drafts the Economic Equity and Anti-Grasshopper Act retroactive to the beginning of the summer! The ant is fined for failing to hire a proportionate number of green bugs and, having nothing left to pay his retroactive taxes, his home is confiscated by the government. Hillary gets her old law firm to represent the grasshopper in a defamation suit against the ant, and the case is tried before a panel of federal judges that Bill Clinton appointed from a list of single-parent welfare recipients. The ant loses the case.The story ends as we see the grasshopper finishing up the last bits of the ant's food while the government house he is in, which just happens to be the ant's old house, crumbles around him because he doesn't maintain it. The ant has disappeared in the snow.The grasshopper is found dead in a drug related incident and the house, now abandoned, is taken over by a gang of spiders who terrorize the once peaceful neighborhood.
MORAL OF THE STORY: Be careful how you vote in 2008
Author Unknown
More to come
Lonny
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
FREEZE RATES? BRRRRR!!!!
There has been a lot of press over the last couple of days in regards to freezing interest rates on Sub Prime loans where the rates are scheduled to reset (increase) in the near future.
A little background may be in order:
A lot of people got Sub Prime loans in the last lending cycle. Sub Prime loans were very profitable to the lenders and others when they were made. Sub Prime loans are loans made to borrowers who had credit issues and could not qualify for regular Prime loans. If you read the Wall Street Journal 12-3-07 you can read an article about how people with good credit were given Sub Prime loans by lenders who were not exactly working in their customers best interest. The Wall Street Journal would suggest that was not a nice thing for those lenders to do. I certainly would not disagree.
For the most part these loans had teaser rates that are below market rates that are scheduled to reset at the end of two years at very high above market rates. In some cases the interest rates would more than double from the low teaser rates. Many buyers are not able to pay these rates or don’t want too pay them to the point they might let the home foreclose. The Bush administration is proposing some requirement for lenders to simply keep the rates at the low start or teaser rate. There are plenty of problems technically speaking with doing an across the board fix on this problem. The Bush administration actually put an FHA loan (FHA Secure Loan) into circulation so people with ARM loans could refinance and the reality of that fix is it is not working. In my opinion there are too many loans with too many variables to make it a workable program in practice. The type of new program President Bush is proposing to require the lender not to reset the rates will have the same problems if you ask me.
Do I agree with what The President is trying to do? There are a couple of ways to look at it I guess. On the one hand I can say hey, the borrowers should have known what they were getting into, let them crash and burn. On the other hand I can say that many buyers did not know what they were getting and mortgage lenders did not represent the buyers properly and therefore should be held to some higher standard, not do the reset and take the loss. I guess bottom line is this: If there is a workable plan to give some relief and keep homes from foreclosing then I think full speed ahead. I just don’t think the idea in practice can or will work. We will see.
More to come
Lonny
A little background may be in order:
A lot of people got Sub Prime loans in the last lending cycle. Sub Prime loans were very profitable to the lenders and others when they were made. Sub Prime loans are loans made to borrowers who had credit issues and could not qualify for regular Prime loans. If you read the Wall Street Journal 12-3-07 you can read an article about how people with good credit were given Sub Prime loans by lenders who were not exactly working in their customers best interest. The Wall Street Journal would suggest that was not a nice thing for those lenders to do. I certainly would not disagree.
For the most part these loans had teaser rates that are below market rates that are scheduled to reset at the end of two years at very high above market rates. In some cases the interest rates would more than double from the low teaser rates. Many buyers are not able to pay these rates or don’t want too pay them to the point they might let the home foreclose. The Bush administration is proposing some requirement for lenders to simply keep the rates at the low start or teaser rate. There are plenty of problems technically speaking with doing an across the board fix on this problem. The Bush administration actually put an FHA loan (FHA Secure Loan) into circulation so people with ARM loans could refinance and the reality of that fix is it is not working. In my opinion there are too many loans with too many variables to make it a workable program in practice. The type of new program President Bush is proposing to require the lender not to reset the rates will have the same problems if you ask me.
Do I agree with what The President is trying to do? There are a couple of ways to look at it I guess. On the one hand I can say hey, the borrowers should have known what they were getting into, let them crash and burn. On the other hand I can say that many buyers did not know what they were getting and mortgage lenders did not represent the buyers properly and therefore should be held to some higher standard, not do the reset and take the loss. I guess bottom line is this: If there is a workable plan to give some relief and keep homes from foreclosing then I think full speed ahead. I just don’t think the idea in practice can or will work. We will see.
More to come
Lonny
Monday, December 3, 2007
LIGHTS AND MORE LIGHTS
Yesterday was a beautiful 80 degree December day in North Texas. It was the day that most of the men in the neighborhood finally had to give in and put up the Christmas Lights. I am not sure if the unusually warm day was attributed to global warming, usual weather patterns or just plain dumb luck. I suppose Christmas Lights are partially to blame for global warming, needing more electricity to turn them on, lights give off heat, more power to generate, more coal, you get the drift.
The lights went up later this year it seemed, I usually use the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving to help Karren put up our lights. This year it rained those two days and Karren told me Thanksgiving was a week earlier this year so it worked out well for everyone that it rained. I don’t understand how Thanksgiving can be a week earlier. I am not sure when Thanksgiving is supposed to be. I use to think it was always on the 24th of November for some reason. I do know it is always on Thursday. I don’t know why all holidays don’t fall on Thursday so we could be assured of a 4 day weekend. Christmas on Wednesday is not good.
Our tradition calls for Karren to make the plan, handle the cords and the plug ins and I am in charge of outdoor labor. I climb the ladders and wrap the trees and I must say if you do something long enough you can get fairly efficient at it. I like getting done before the neighbors and then as they give you dirty looks for being early you can imagine how fun it will be to make fun of them when they are slaving with their chore.
I must admit, I like taking the lights down more than putting them up. You don’t care if they don’t work, and it is the end to the season and I like looking forward to the New Year more. I tried to take Lainey (my new granddaughter) around this year to give her a personal tour of the lights and she cried. Lainey is very particular what she does at 3 months. She is either happy or mad; there is very little middle ground for her. Growing and tying to hold her head up seems to be what she spends her time doing. She is not really into Granddad yet but that will soon change. I will spoil her as soon as she is ready.
I wonder sometimes if putting up the lights really matters. Our lights look the same every year and I doubt that anyone would worry too much if we didn’t. Traditions at our house mean a lot more to me as the years go by. I hope you got your lights up (if you put them up) and that you have a great Christmas season.
More to come
Lonny
The lights went up later this year it seemed, I usually use the Friday and Saturday after Thanksgiving to help Karren put up our lights. This year it rained those two days and Karren told me Thanksgiving was a week earlier this year so it worked out well for everyone that it rained. I don’t understand how Thanksgiving can be a week earlier. I am not sure when Thanksgiving is supposed to be. I use to think it was always on the 24th of November for some reason. I do know it is always on Thursday. I don’t know why all holidays don’t fall on Thursday so we could be assured of a 4 day weekend. Christmas on Wednesday is not good.
Our tradition calls for Karren to make the plan, handle the cords and the plug ins and I am in charge of outdoor labor. I climb the ladders and wrap the trees and I must say if you do something long enough you can get fairly efficient at it. I like getting done before the neighbors and then as they give you dirty looks for being early you can imagine how fun it will be to make fun of them when they are slaving with their chore.
I must admit, I like taking the lights down more than putting them up. You don’t care if they don’t work, and it is the end to the season and I like looking forward to the New Year more. I tried to take Lainey (my new granddaughter) around this year to give her a personal tour of the lights and she cried. Lainey is very particular what she does at 3 months. She is either happy or mad; there is very little middle ground for her. Growing and tying to hold her head up seems to be what she spends her time doing. She is not really into Granddad yet but that will soon change. I will spoil her as soon as she is ready.
I wonder sometimes if putting up the lights really matters. Our lights look the same every year and I doubt that anyone would worry too much if we didn’t. Traditions at our house mean a lot more to me as the years go by. I hope you got your lights up (if you put them up) and that you have a great Christmas season.
More to come
Lonny
Saturday, December 1, 2007
SONS
My friend Ted sent me this:
Interesting things you find out when you have sons, like ...
1. A king size water bed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they ignite.
3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on . When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. "PB & J" sandwiches will not eject from a Video Recorder.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that smell is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin , TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24. 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
(Hey, cool! It does make lots of smoke!)
I have a son, there is more than this!
More to come
Lonny
Interesting things you find out when you have sons, like ...
1. A king size water bed holds enough water to fill a 2000 sq. ft. house 4 inches deep.
2. If you spray hair spray on dust bunnies and run over them with roller blades, they ignite.
3. A 3-year old Boy's voice is louder than 200 adults in a crowded restaurant.
4. If you hook a dog leash over a ceiling fan, the motor is not strong enough to rotate a 42 pound Boy wearing Batman underwear and a Superman cape. It is strong enough, however, if tied to a paint can, to spread paint on all four walls of a 20x20 ft. room.
5. You should not throw baseballs up when the ceiling fan is on . When using a ceiling fan as a bat, you have to throw the ball up a few times before you get a hit. A ceiling fan can hit a baseball a long way.
6. The glass in windows (even double-pane) doesn't stop a baseball hit by a ceiling fan.
7. When you hear the toilet flush and the words "uh oh", it's already too late.
8. Brake fluid mixed with Clorox makes smoke, and lots of it.
9. A six-year old Boy can start a fire with a flint rock even though a 36-year old Man says they can only do it in the movies.
10. Certain Lego's will pass through the digestive tract of a 4- year old Boy.
11. Play dough and microwave should not be used in the same sentence.
12. Super glue is forever.
13. No matter how much Jell-O you put in a swimming pool you still can't walk on water.
14. Pool filters do not like Jell-O.
15. "PB & J" sandwiches will not eject from a Video Recorder.
16. Garbage bags do not make good parachutes.
17. Marbles in gas tanks make lots of noise when driving.
18. You probably DO NOT want to know what that smell is.
19. Always look in the oven before you turn it on; plastic toys do not like ovens.
20. The fire department in Austin , TX has a 5-minute response time.
21. The spin cycle on the washing machine does not make earthworms dizzy.
22. It will, however, make cats dizzy.
23. Cats throw up twice their body weight when dizzy.
24. 80% of Women will pass this on to almost all of their friends, with or without kids.
25. 80% of Men who read this will try mixing the Clorox and brake fluid.
(Hey, cool! It does make lots of smoke!)
I have a son, there is more than this!
More to come
Lonny
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