Not that funny. But, killing your spouse or child will get you less time in prison than selling dope.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Cartoon
Not that funny. But, killing your spouse or child will get you less time in prison than selling dope.
Obama most admired in Gallop Poll
Polls do have purpose, merits, and benefits. Sometimes it's hard to see why.
Gallop has a new poll on "Most Admired."
For 6 years in a row, Americans have identified President Barack Obama as their most admired male. Hillary Clinton has been the most admired woman for 12 years in a row.
Ronald Reagan hasn't gotten an honorable mention since 2003. Our newest Pope looks to be tied for second with former President, George W. Bush. I'd rate the Pope a lot higher than that.
The question was completely open ended. Of all the 6 billion people living today on this planet, who do you admire most? Who would be second? I'd say our President being mentioned by 16% respondents who were given a pool of 6 billion possibilities is something to think about.
Last year, he got 30%. Seems that messing up a web page really hurt.
Is that what we should be comparing with this poll? Here's another version from Gallop.
This shows a better trend.
George W. Bush was the most admired in 7 of his 8 years in office. He's the only President since Nixon who couldn't carry the title for each year in office. Carter only carried 3 of his 4 years in office but he got beat out in the 4th year by Pope John Paul II. I think the Pope should be ahead of everyone. So I'm ignoring Carter's 4th year loss.
Other than Douglas MacAuthur and Pope John Paul, only US Presidents were named as Most Admired. Hillary Clinton has been the 'Most Admired Woman' 18 times in 21 years. Mother Teresa beat her out twice.
What I got out of this poll is that Barack Obama knocked a sitting President off the top of the list. That Bush was less admired by the general public than a Democratic Candidate in 2008.
Democrats, don't write yourselves off. You're more admired than you think.
Gallop has a new poll on "Most Admired."
For 6 years in a row, Americans have identified President Barack Obama as their most admired male. Hillary Clinton has been the most admired woman for 12 years in a row.
Ronald Reagan hasn't gotten an honorable mention since 2003. Our newest Pope looks to be tied for second with former President, George W. Bush. I'd rate the Pope a lot higher than that.
The question was completely open ended. Of all the 6 billion people living today on this planet, who do you admire most? Who would be second? I'd say our President being mentioned by 16% respondents who were given a pool of 6 billion possibilities is something to think about.
Last year, he got 30%. Seems that messing up a web page really hurt.
Is that what we should be comparing with this poll? Here's another version from Gallop.
This shows a better trend.
George W. Bush was the most admired in 7 of his 8 years in office. He's the only President since Nixon who couldn't carry the title for each year in office. Carter only carried 3 of his 4 years in office but he got beat out in the 4th year by Pope John Paul II. I think the Pope should be ahead of everyone. So I'm ignoring Carter's 4th year loss.
Other than Douglas MacAuthur and Pope John Paul, only US Presidents were named as Most Admired. Hillary Clinton has been the 'Most Admired Woman' 18 times in 21 years. Mother Teresa beat her out twice.
What I got out of this poll is that Barack Obama knocked a sitting President off the top of the list. That Bush was less admired by the general public than a Democratic Candidate in 2008.
Democrats, don't write yourselves off. You're more admired than you think.
Friday, December 20, 2013
Pay no attention to the man behind the beard!
“If you simply put your faith in Jesus coming down in flesh, through a human being, God becoming flesh living on the earth, dying on the cross for the sins of the world, being buried, and being raised from the dead—yours and mine and everybody else’s problems will be solved. And the next time we see you, we will say: ‘You are now a brother. Our brother.’ So then we look at you totally different then. See what I’m saying?”
Is it so bad to say that? Nope. It's what comes later that spins my head around and spews pea soup.
"We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around.”
How about 'how he sees the popularity of Duck Dynasty as a small corrective to all that we have lost.' That should have been a clue to what was coming. BTW, we lost all those Christian symbols in public spaces and that has diluted those founding principles of a country founded on Christianity. I didn't know that Lincoln used to display Christ on the Cross at Cabinet meetings. Did you? And that Washington guy forcing the mint to put Mother Mary's picture on the 1974 silver dollar. And a white dove on the back. It's just a shame we lost that.
“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong,” he says. “Sin becomes fine.”
Yeah. It does. Historical revisionism. Only 5 Commandments. Mother Mary never married. Jesus never had a job as a carpenter. It's a sin to have changed that story around. Even making Jesus into a socialistic Black guy.
But, Duck Dude, what do you really thing about?
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
He helps us wash that down with a six pack of beer while filming a State Farm ad.
“I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field.... They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”
Repeat after me: I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. White Trash. White Trash. White Trash. Then hang on for this next line.
“It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”
I agree; sin ins't logical. No more than operating a sporting goods store than doesn't sell guns.
Repeat after me: It's not logical. It's not logical. It's not logical. It's the reality of TV.
Read More GQ story link
Is it so bad to say that? Nope. It's what comes later that spins my head around and spews pea soup.
"We ought to just be repentant, turn to God, and let’s get on with it, and everything will turn around.”
How about 'how he sees the popularity of Duck Dynasty as a small corrective to all that we have lost.' That should have been a clue to what was coming. BTW, we lost all those Christian symbols in public spaces and that has diluted those founding principles of a country founded on Christianity. I didn't know that Lincoln used to display Christ on the Cross at Cabinet meetings. Did you? And that Washington guy forcing the mint to put Mother Mary's picture on the 1974 silver dollar. And a white dove on the back. It's just a shame we lost that.
“Everything is blurred on what’s right and what’s wrong,” he says. “Sin becomes fine.”
Yeah. It does. Historical revisionism. Only 5 Commandments. Mother Mary never married. Jesus never had a job as a carpenter. It's a sin to have changed that story around. Even making Jesus into a socialistic Black guy.
But, Duck Dude, what do you really thing about?
“Start with homosexual behavior and just morph out from there. Bestiality, sleeping around with this woman and that woman and that woman and those men,” he says. Then he paraphrases Corinthians: “Don’t be deceived. Neither the adulterers, the idolaters, the male prostitutes, the homosexual offenders, the greedy, the drunkards, the slanderers, the swindlers—they won’t inherit the kingdom of God. Don’t deceive yourself. It’s not right.”
He helps us wash that down with a six pack of beer while filming a State Farm ad.
“I never, with my eyes, saw the mistreatment of any black person. Not once. Where we lived was all farmers. The blacks worked for the farmers. I hoed cotton with them. I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. We’re going across the field.... They’re singing and happy. I never heard one of them, one black person, say, ‘I tell you what: These doggone white people’—not a word!... Pre-entitlement, pre-welfare, you say: Were they happy? They were godly; they were happy; no one was singing the blues.”
Repeat after me: I’m with the blacks, because we’re white trash. White Trash. White Trash. White Trash. Then hang on for this next line.
“It seems like, to me, a vagina—as a man—would be more desirable than a man’s anus. That’s just me. I’m just thinking: There’s more there! She’s got more to offer. I mean, come on, dudes! You know what I’m saying? But hey, sin: It’s not logical, my man. It’s just not logical.”
I agree; sin ins't logical. No more than operating a sporting goods store than doesn't sell guns.
Repeat after me: It's not logical. It's not logical. It's not logical. It's the reality of TV.
Read More GQ story link
Rally at the Capitol
Moral Monday GA is organizing many diverse groups for a mass rally at the Capital on Monday, January 13th, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., with other activities available earlier in the day. (See the attached poster.)
This is the opening day for the General Assembly, and the Moral Monday GA coalition is pressing Gov. Deal to accept the Medicaid expansion money from the Federal government. (There will be more actions on subsequent Mondays at the Capitol.)
David
See also Moral Monday GA's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MoralMondayGA?ref=br_tf.
This is the opening day for the General Assembly, and the Moral Monday GA coalition is pressing Gov. Deal to accept the Medicaid expansion money from the Federal government. (There will be more actions on subsequent Mondays at the Capitol.)
David
See also Moral Monday GA's Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/MoralMondayGA?ref=br_tf.
Wednesday, December 18, 2013
Fed to taper stimulus
Interest rates are going to rise starting today. I'm hoping that will be a slow and steady rise.
Why?
Here are several links to learn or unlearn more:
Yahoo Link
US News
A European perspective The Telegraph
Forbes
Why?
Here are several links to learn or unlearn more:
Yahoo Link
US News
A European perspective The Telegraph
Forbes
Teflon Deal, Gubinator of Jawhjah
Some where, there is evidence in a brief case or cardboard box which will send Deal to that great retirement home for crooked politicians. Maybe you know it as federal prison. See some details here at the Raw Deal/Story.
As his string of recent crimes are investigated, maybe we should think about Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.
Well, Casey isn't his real name. Stacy. That's it. Stacy.
I filed an ethics complaint against Lt. Governor Stacy Cagle in 2009? I alleged the man committed several state ethic violations by never disclosing all his employment positions. With the help of Donald Bloom, Stacy created a corporation called Strateia Group Atlanta, Inc. Stacy was CEO. Mr. Bloom was Secretary and CFO.
Under Georgia Law, Stacy position as CEO and his ownership position should have been disclosed to voters.
Well, I guess not since he's never done that. Never told people he ran a business consulting firm in Atlanta. Never bought a phone listing. I bet he never printed a business card.
I'm sure Mr. Donald Bloom would correct me if I'm wrong.
But, Stacy did list his position as CEO with the SEC and other regulatory agencies. When he formed a bank in Oakwood, Southern Heritage Bank.
I'm still waiting for Mr. Lt. Governor Lowell Stacy Cagle to respond to me.
Did you issue 1 million shares of stock in that corporation?
Did you file any tax returns?
Did you tell the other organizers of the bank you were a business consultant?
Or, did you tell them, "I operate a bridal shop and tux rental store?"
So while Teflon Deal continues to flirt with retirement, let's look at the possible replacement.
As his string of recent crimes are investigated, maybe we should think about Lt. Governor Casey Cagle.
Well, Casey isn't his real name. Stacy. That's it. Stacy.
I filed an ethics complaint against Lt. Governor Stacy Cagle in 2009? I alleged the man committed several state ethic violations by never disclosing all his employment positions. With the help of Donald Bloom, Stacy created a corporation called Strateia Group Atlanta, Inc. Stacy was CEO. Mr. Bloom was Secretary and CFO.
Under Georgia Law, Stacy position as CEO and his ownership position should have been disclosed to voters.
Well, I guess not since he's never done that. Never told people he ran a business consulting firm in Atlanta. Never bought a phone listing. I bet he never printed a business card.
I'm sure Mr. Donald Bloom would correct me if I'm wrong.
But, Stacy did list his position as CEO with the SEC and other regulatory agencies. When he formed a bank in Oakwood, Southern Heritage Bank.
I'm still waiting for Mr. Lt. Governor Lowell Stacy Cagle to respond to me.
Did you issue 1 million shares of stock in that corporation?
Did you file any tax returns?
Did you tell the other organizers of the bank you were a business consultant?
Or, did you tell them, "I operate a bridal shop and tux rental store?"
So while Teflon Deal continues to flirt with retirement, let's look at the possible replacement.
$9.5 Billion in revenue for a tax exempt non-profit organization called the NFL
It's kick off time.
The Falcons want taxpayers to buy them a new stadium. Why not we bought the current one.
I think the National Football League should buy the stadium. With $9.5 billion in revenue last year and a tax exempt non-profit status, I know they have the cash.
Details on how the Waffle House waitress supports NFL owners with her tip income.
From MSN.
Yeah, the article doesn't mention my favorite waitress. Do I need to draw you a line from her pocket to Arthur Blank's?
I didn't think so.
The Falcons want taxpayers to buy them a new stadium. Why not we bought the current one.
I think the National Football League should buy the stadium. With $9.5 billion in revenue last year and a tax exempt non-profit status, I know they have the cash.
Details on how the Waffle House waitress supports NFL owners with her tip income.
From MSN.
Yeah, the article doesn't mention my favorite waitress. Do I need to draw you a line from her pocket to Arthur Blank's?
I didn't think so.
When your in space and the toilet leaks
NASA plans 3 space walks to fix a leaky value on the space station.
Public statements indicate the leak is hurting the cooling system.
Ham radio operators say that's full of it. Because of budget considerations, the space station has only one toilet. Seems that, for some reason involving 'human error,' there has been some 'major blow back' in the system operations.
Various solutions were tried but without a plummer's helpers, the stoppage remains.
Not to worry. As soon as emergency repairs are made, things will be flowing smoothly again. And spewing into space litter.
Link
Public statements indicate the leak is hurting the cooling system.
Ham radio operators say that's full of it. Because of budget considerations, the space station has only one toilet. Seems that, for some reason involving 'human error,' there has been some 'major blow back' in the system operations.
Various solutions were tried but without a plummer's helpers, the stoppage remains.
Not to worry. As soon as emergency repairs are made, things will be flowing smoothly again. And spewing into space litter.
Link
Guns in school
A few years ago, the Gwinnett County school system expelled a female student for carrying an unloaded gun to school. I remember very few details but my children were in the Gwinnett system at the time.
The word on the street said the young lady didn't want to attend school any more. So, she carried a small caliber semi-auto hand gun to school in her back page. It might have been a .25 or .22 bullet. She whipped it out in front of a teacher knowing the zero tolerance policy on guns.
Wow!
Now in little ol' Hall County, we have law enforcement making random checks at all the schools. I hope the increased presence has some positive effect. Maybe the parents feel better. I would. Maybe someone thinks it will stop another senseless gun worshiping murderer from killing kids.
Maybe.
Despite all the attention being given school security, we're still seeing students carrying guns to school in a back pack Then, killing the innocent before a resource officer or other law enforcement can intervene.
I might need some help here. Any one remember a school shooting being stopped by law enforcement? Don't most of these gun worshiping killers kill themselves?
So we've gone from don't carry a gun to school or you get expelled to the new policy. Carry a gun to school and get shot.
As if that makes sense. Even the most mindless killer expects to get shot, die, or spend life in prison.
Still doesn't stop them.
So my beloved Gainesville School System is arming resource officers with M4 rifles. Story from Access North Georgia.
The cost is somewhere around $3,000.
Wanna bet there's no trauma kit in the school? Nothing more than band aids in the nurse's office? Wanna bet she buys them without being reimbursed?
I'll go further. Wanna bet there's a movement among conservatives to do away with school nurses?
We have money for M4 rifles and biometic gun safes. We don't pay school nurses competitive wages. We don't stock the clinics with band aids. We won't extend Medicaid with a 100% federal subsidy.
Guns or butter has become guns or brains.
The word on the street said the young lady didn't want to attend school any more. So, she carried a small caliber semi-auto hand gun to school in her back page. It might have been a .25 or .22 bullet. She whipped it out in front of a teacher knowing the zero tolerance policy on guns.
Wow!
Now in little ol' Hall County, we have law enforcement making random checks at all the schools. I hope the increased presence has some positive effect. Maybe the parents feel better. I would. Maybe someone thinks it will stop another senseless gun worshiping murderer from killing kids.
Maybe.
Despite all the attention being given school security, we're still seeing students carrying guns to school in a back pack Then, killing the innocent before a resource officer or other law enforcement can intervene.
I might need some help here. Any one remember a school shooting being stopped by law enforcement? Don't most of these gun worshiping killers kill themselves?
So we've gone from don't carry a gun to school or you get expelled to the new policy. Carry a gun to school and get shot.
As if that makes sense. Even the most mindless killer expects to get shot, die, or spend life in prison.
Still doesn't stop them.
So my beloved Gainesville School System is arming resource officers with M4 rifles. Story from Access North Georgia.
The cost is somewhere around $3,000.
Wanna bet there's no trauma kit in the school? Nothing more than band aids in the nurse's office? Wanna bet she buys them without being reimbursed?
I'll go further. Wanna bet there's a movement among conservatives to do away with school nurses?
We have money for M4 rifles and biometic gun safes. We don't pay school nurses competitive wages. We don't stock the clinics with band aids. We won't extend Medicaid with a 100% federal subsidy.
Guns or butter has become guns or brains.
Tuesday, December 17, 2013
Half a billion dollars in Lotto money. May you win it at least in your heart tonight.
Bought my mandatory lotto ticket about 3 hours ago. Had to stand in line. Very nice, very polite group of people. Some ESL speakers let me go ahead of them. The clerk was smiling and wishing everyone luck.
So I took a moment. Did some sort of Zen thing. Reached out whatever passes for my human feeling. Knew that thousands of people were buying tickets. Let myself imagine I had something in common with all of them. Maybe I didn't just imagine that.
So I took a moment. Did some sort of Zen thing. Reached out whatever passes for my human feeling. Knew that thousands of people were buying tickets. Let myself imagine I had something in common with all of them. Maybe I didn't just imagine that.
Entitlement generation
Ashton Kutcher says some thing on TV. And suddenly, he's a wise man according to conservatives.
This is the actor who played Michael Kelso in That 70's Show. You know, the good looking guy who's not very smart, smokes pot, screws around, gets caught. Sort of sounds like Bill Clinton.
Only Bill Clinton isn't Charlie Sheen replacement on Two and a Half Men. Walden Schmidt! That's the name!
A kind of mindless, entitled internet billionaire who screws around with older women and their daughters. "Walden lived primarily with his mother. Dad popped out of the picture He was raised for the first four years of his life with a baby Gorilla named Magilla.
Bad TV is bad TV. Not Ashton's fault. But saying that the unemployed are worse than anyone with a job? Using the show, Ellen, as a platform, he said, “I think the only thing that can be below you is to not have a job” So what jobs and job holders are better than any one currently unemployed?
So the financial mafia comes to mind. Pimps. President Nixon. Political lobbyists like JACK ABRAMOFF.
Or just anyone on this time line of the Abramoff Scandal.
So why mention any of this?
The Conservative Post calls Kutcher's comments "eye-opening and inspiring."
There are some jobs below me and my personal standards. I'm including any job replacing Charlie Sheen on TV.
Beneath us all to be that social example.
This is the actor who played Michael Kelso in That 70's Show. You know, the good looking guy who's not very smart, smokes pot, screws around, gets caught. Sort of sounds like Bill Clinton.
Only Bill Clinton isn't Charlie Sheen replacement on Two and a Half Men. Walden Schmidt! That's the name!
A kind of mindless, entitled internet billionaire who screws around with older women and their daughters. "Walden lived primarily with his mother. Dad popped out of the picture He was raised for the first four years of his life with a baby Gorilla named Magilla.
Bad TV is bad TV. Not Ashton's fault. But saying that the unemployed are worse than anyone with a job? Using the show, Ellen, as a platform, he said, “I think the only thing that can be below you is to not have a job” So what jobs and job holders are better than any one currently unemployed?
So the financial mafia comes to mind. Pimps. President Nixon. Political lobbyists like JACK ABRAMOFF.
Or just anyone on this time line of the Abramoff Scandal.
So why mention any of this?
The Conservative Post calls Kutcher's comments "eye-opening and inspiring."
There are some jobs below me and my personal standards. I'm including any job replacing Charlie Sheen on TV.
Beneath us all to be that social example.
Got another one
A little payback. Not much. Just some.
Got ya!
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The head of a San Diego mortgage company was sentenced Monday to serve more than three years in prison for creating bogus property purchase agreements that netted him more than $1 million in illicit profits.
In addition to handing down the 41-month custody term to Brian Nels Peterson of San Diego, District Court Judge John Houston ordered him to pay a $50,000 fine and $542,075 in restitution to Citi Mortgage.
Peterson, who ran a firm called Terra Finance, admitted that he devised a scheme to procure mortgage funds through deceptive means, including falsifying income on applications to qualify borrowers for loans.
The company facilitated loans in several San Diego neighborhoods, including the upscale Ivy Gate housing development in 4S Ranch and the Rolling Hills subdivision in southern San Diego County.
In its heyday, Terra Finance generated between $80 million and $100 million worth of residential mortgage loans, according to court documents.
Peterson, who held a state broker’s license, personally signed most of the fraudulent loan applications containing false income, employment, asset and liability information submitted under his license number, prosecutors alleged.
Peterson earned more than $1 million from his fraudulent loan business through broker’s fees, kickbacks from cash-out refinances and other sources in 2006 alone. He admitted that he failed to report that income and evaded taxes by various means, including arranging to be paid in cash.
Peterson also orchestrated fraudulent conduct on the part of employees, borrowers and industry professionals as the head of Terra Finance, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego.
Peterson recruited a cadre of loan officers, loan processors, office staff, real-estate investors and other industry professionals to participate in his scheme, including appraisers, tax preparers and lender representatives, prosecutors contended.
Did you get the details on that? He created a financial mafia in San Diego.
Got ya!
SAN DIEGO (CNS) – The head of a San Diego mortgage company was sentenced Monday to serve more than three years in prison for creating bogus property purchase agreements that netted him more than $1 million in illicit profits.
In addition to handing down the 41-month custody term to Brian Nels Peterson of San Diego, District Court Judge John Houston ordered him to pay a $50,000 fine and $542,075 in restitution to Citi Mortgage.
Peterson, who ran a firm called Terra Finance, admitted that he devised a scheme to procure mortgage funds through deceptive means, including falsifying income on applications to qualify borrowers for loans.
The company facilitated loans in several San Diego neighborhoods, including the upscale Ivy Gate housing development in 4S Ranch and the Rolling Hills subdivision in southern San Diego County.
In its heyday, Terra Finance generated between $80 million and $100 million worth of residential mortgage loans, according to court documents.
Peterson, who held a state broker’s license, personally signed most of the fraudulent loan applications containing false income, employment, asset and liability information submitted under his license number, prosecutors alleged.
Peterson earned more than $1 million from his fraudulent loan business through broker’s fees, kickbacks from cash-out refinances and other sources in 2006 alone. He admitted that he failed to report that income and evaded taxes by various means, including arranging to be paid in cash.
Peterson also orchestrated fraudulent conduct on the part of employees, borrowers and industry professionals as the head of Terra Finance, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego.
Peterson recruited a cadre of loan officers, loan processors, office staff, real-estate investors and other industry professionals to participate in his scheme, including appraisers, tax preparers and lender representatives, prosecutors contended.
Did you get the details on that? He created a financial mafia in San Diego.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round.
Just because it's in my head today.
Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
Oh lord won't you buy me a color TV.
Dialing for Dollars is trying to find me.
I wait for delivery each day until 3.
So oh lord won't you buy me a color TV.
Oh lord won't you buy me a night on the town.
I'm counting on you lord, please don't let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round.
Oh lord won't you buy me a night on the town.
Everybody, Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz
Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
Oh lord won't you buy me a color TV.
Dialing for Dollars is trying to find me.
I wait for delivery each day until 3.
So oh lord won't you buy me a color TV.
Oh lord won't you buy me a night on the town.
I'm counting on you lord, please don't let me down.
Prove that you love me and buy the next round.
Oh lord won't you buy me a night on the town.
Everybody, Oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz.
My friends all drive Porsches, I must make amends.
Worked hard all my lifetime, no help from my friends.
So oh lord won't you buy me a Mercedes Benz
Congressional Approval Ratings
Nixon was compared with Obama today. At least in approval ratings.
Odd isn't it? Obama is better than Nixon and that is news! 43% for Obama and Nixon is 29%.
How come 14% is suddenly so close we have to think about it?
Did Georgie the 43rd win either of his elections by 14% points? Hell No. He was lucky to win the first one by 14 votes.
So let's compare Congressional approval ratings to Presidential ratings?
Obama 43% and Congress at 14% as an annual average.
So Nixon, perhaps the worst of our recent Presidents, was twice as popular as our current Congress.
That's not how the real world works. That might be how college football teams are selected to post season Bowl Games. But it's not how Congress or the President works.
About half the people in the country are just OK with the President.
About one in seven people are OK with Congress.
We won't let Obama get elected again but we will re-elect 90% of the village idiots already in Congress.
Gallop
Just for comparison, here's a recent Gallop poll on how history will view Presidents.
I am not a crook!
Odd isn't it? Obama is better than Nixon and that is news! 43% for Obama and Nixon is 29%.
How come 14% is suddenly so close we have to think about it?
Did Georgie the 43rd win either of his elections by 14% points? Hell No. He was lucky to win the first one by 14 votes.
So let's compare Congressional approval ratings to Presidential ratings?
Obama 43% and Congress at 14% as an annual average.
So Nixon, perhaps the worst of our recent Presidents, was twice as popular as our current Congress.
That's not how the real world works. That might be how college football teams are selected to post season Bowl Games. But it's not how Congress or the President works.
About half the people in the country are just OK with the President.
About one in seven people are OK with Congress.
We won't let Obama get elected again but we will re-elect 90% of the village idiots already in Congress.
Gallop
Just for comparison, here's a recent Gallop poll on how history will view Presidents.
I am not a crook!
Friday, December 13, 2013
Changing mortgages
We can expect mortgages rates to continue a slow rise over the few weeks. But, I'm predicting nothing beyond March. Currently, there's no cause for alarm as high-LTV loan programs end. These programs were 97% Loan to Value. We will still have the FHA stand-by of 96.5% LTV. Conventional loans are 95% LTV.
We will still have two important no money down programs, USDA and VA loans.
LTV is a cash issue for buyers. So are closing costs, escrows, inspections, and appraisals. Perhaps as we deal with more regulatory changes, we will learn new ways to lower closing costs or reduce the cash needed to close.
We will still have two important no money down programs, USDA and VA loans.
LTV is a cash issue for buyers. So are closing costs, escrows, inspections, and appraisals. Perhaps as we deal with more regulatory changes, we will learn new ways to lower closing costs or reduce the cash needed to close.
Thursday, December 12, 2013
Waste in Defense spending
I am stealing content from Fox News! Say it ain't so, Joe.
The government does have a budget. In my opinion, it has three parts.
Number One: The trust funds holding trillions for social programs.
Number Two: Existing programs already funded by previous budgets which must by law continue to be funded unless action is taken to unfund the programs.
Number Three: Discretionary spending.
That would be programs rolling over which must be voted through the legislature, funded on the budget, and signed into law by the President PLUS new spending programs.
If we eliminated Number One from consideration, defense is the largest spending item and there fore the largest source of debt.
If we examine Number Three, defense spending will be more than 51% of the new spending programs next budget year.
Even Fox News admits defense spending is wasteful if not frivilous.
Check out this link on Bush's secret Afghanistanian Air Force.
Hint perhaps a spoiler: It's not in the air.
It's on the ground in Europe, paid for. Rotting away and no longer able to fly.
I wonder which Conservative Republicans voted for that disaster.
How did this happen? Before Obama became President, some crack head in the DOD gave half a billion dollars to a private industry company to rebuild some old planes and supply replacement parts.
What happened? The refurbished planes were crap and needed replacement parts to fly.
Where were the replacement parts? The private industry company didn't have any.
How is that possible for someone to get paid for planes which can't fly and invisible parts?
Ask a Republican. The planes will be disposed off either by us, the environment, or someone 'over there.'
The government does have a budget. In my opinion, it has three parts.
Number One: The trust funds holding trillions for social programs.
Number Two: Existing programs already funded by previous budgets which must by law continue to be funded unless action is taken to unfund the programs.
Number Three: Discretionary spending.
That would be programs rolling over which must be voted through the legislature, funded on the budget, and signed into law by the President PLUS new spending programs.
If we eliminated Number One from consideration, defense is the largest spending item and there fore the largest source of debt.
If we examine Number Three, defense spending will be more than 51% of the new spending programs next budget year.
Even Fox News admits defense spending is wasteful if not frivilous.
Check out this link on Bush's secret Afghanistanian Air Force.
Hint perhaps a spoiler: It's not in the air.
It's on the ground in Europe, paid for. Rotting away and no longer able to fly.
I wonder which Conservative Republicans voted for that disaster.
How did this happen? Before Obama became President, some crack head in the DOD gave half a billion dollars to a private industry company to rebuild some old planes and supply replacement parts.
What happened? The refurbished planes were crap and needed replacement parts to fly.
Where were the replacement parts? The private industry company didn't have any.
How is that possible for someone to get paid for planes which can't fly and invisible parts?
Ask a Republican. The planes will be disposed off either by us, the environment, or someone 'over there.'
Tuesday, December 10, 2013
Got ya!
Here's a story dear to my heart. Mortgage fraud hasn't stopped. Too bad we're only chasing down the little idiots and not the Wall Street idiots.
Seems to me since the big idiots all have the same address ... we could get them all at once.
A federal agent pleaded guilty Friday in connection to a mortgage fraud scheme.
Jeffrey Morriss, 48, a Kansas City, Mo., Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, admitted to lying to an FBI agent about the scheme, according to a report in the Kansas City Star.
Prosecutors say that Morriss lied about his child support payments, debt and monthly income on loan applications. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Morriss submitted four fraudulent applications for loans on three houses between 2007 and 2012. Morriss obtained loans for $812,000, but didn’t make full payments on the loans, the Post-Dispatch reported. The homes were foreclosed upon.
When Morriss was questioned by an FBI agent about a 2011 application, he blamed a bank employee, claiming the employee mistyped the information, according to the Star.
If Morriss’ plea agreement is accepted, he would be sentenced to three years’ probation and made to pay $12,794 in restitution.
Seems to me since the big idiots all have the same address ... we could get them all at once.
A federal agent pleaded guilty Friday in connection to a mortgage fraud scheme.
Jeffrey Morriss, 48, a Kansas City, Mo., Immigration and Customs Enforcement agent, admitted to lying to an FBI agent about the scheme, according to a report in the Kansas City Star.
Prosecutors say that Morriss lied about his child support payments, debt and monthly income on loan applications. According to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Morriss submitted four fraudulent applications for loans on three houses between 2007 and 2012. Morriss obtained loans for $812,000, but didn’t make full payments on the loans, the Post-Dispatch reported. The homes were foreclosed upon.
When Morriss was questioned by an FBI agent about a 2011 application, he blamed a bank employee, claiming the employee mistyped the information, according to the Star.
If Morriss’ plea agreement is accepted, he would be sentenced to three years’ probation and made to pay $12,794 in restitution.
Today's market commentary
So boring but here's what daily commentary on what's happening in finance.
Tuesday
December 10, 2013
10-YEAR NOTES 99-14 (+11) 2.814%
FN 3.5% COUPON 100-08.5 (+12)
SUPPORT 3.00%
RESISTANCE 2.45%
Overnight, the market saw better buyers and the curve flattening continued. In the U.S., the market is opening up and 2s10s is 4.5 bps flatter. MBS are 1-3 tics tighter with UIC outperforming after underperforming yesterday. The big news today was the announcement by the FHFA to increase g-fees by 10 bps on all 30-Year mortgages as well as changing LLPAs to better reflect credit risk. These fees will go into effect in March/April of 2014 for Cash/Pools. On the taper front, Bullard spoke in St. Louis yesterday and was quoted as saying "a small taper [in December] might recognize labor market improvement while still providing the Fed the opportunity to carefully monitor inflation during the first half of 2014". As market participants attempt to discern whether the Fed tapers in December, January or March it appears the market is setup to handle any/all of the above based on the size of the taper. Regardless of how much the Fed begins to taper, they will still be taking down more than the supply and as long as the market is comfortable with the speed/trajectory and with inflation levels it appears we might be able to get an orderly exit (given the price action post payrolls). The more difficult time will be in 2H14 when the technicals of the Fed vs. Origination begin to skew toward the Origination side of the equation assuming we are still near historic tights on the current coupon basis vs. 10-Yrs.
At 11:00 AM EST there is a UST buyback in the 1/18-2/43 TIPS and at 1:00 PM EST there is a $30 billion 3-Year note auction.
Yes, I read this stuff.
MBS stands for Mortgage Backed Securities
The rest of the alphabet jargon goes over my head.
My take on it? Mortgage rates are going up. Interest rates on US 10 year bonds are going up. Lots of people expect the FED to taper off on it's support for low rates. Me, too.
Tuesday
December 10, 2013
10-YEAR NOTES 99-14 (+11) 2.814%
FN 3.5% COUPON 100-08.5 (+12)
SUPPORT 3.00%
RESISTANCE 2.45%
Overnight, the market saw better buyers and the curve flattening continued. In the U.S., the market is opening up and 2s10s is 4.5 bps flatter. MBS are 1-3 tics tighter with UIC outperforming after underperforming yesterday. The big news today was the announcement by the FHFA to increase g-fees by 10 bps on all 30-Year mortgages as well as changing LLPAs to better reflect credit risk. These fees will go into effect in March/April of 2014 for Cash/Pools. On the taper front, Bullard spoke in St. Louis yesterday and was quoted as saying "a small taper [in December] might recognize labor market improvement while still providing the Fed the opportunity to carefully monitor inflation during the first half of 2014". As market participants attempt to discern whether the Fed tapers in December, January or March it appears the market is setup to handle any/all of the above based on the size of the taper. Regardless of how much the Fed begins to taper, they will still be taking down more than the supply and as long as the market is comfortable with the speed/trajectory and with inflation levels it appears we might be able to get an orderly exit (given the price action post payrolls). The more difficult time will be in 2H14 when the technicals of the Fed vs. Origination begin to skew toward the Origination side of the equation assuming we are still near historic tights on the current coupon basis vs. 10-Yrs.
At 11:00 AM EST there is a UST buyback in the 1/18-2/43 TIPS and at 1:00 PM EST there is a $30 billion 3-Year note auction.
Yes, I read this stuff.
MBS stands for Mortgage Backed Securities
The rest of the alphabet jargon goes over my head.
My take on it? Mortgage rates are going up. Interest rates on US 10 year bonds are going up. Lots of people expect the FED to taper off on it's support for low rates. Me, too.
Friday, December 6, 2013
Hans Solo Blaster
I want one and it seems the only one known to exist is for sale.
Star Wars
But can I conceal carry it? I wouldn't do it. I'd holster that sucker and waddle like a Hero. Well, any Star Wars hero except Reagan.
Star Wars
But can I conceal carry it? I wouldn't do it. I'd holster that sucker and waddle like a Hero. Well, any Star Wars hero except Reagan.
Wednesday, December 4, 2013
No duty to retreat
Is it fear that moves a homeowner to shoot another human being?
No.
I can prove it. I hate being able to prove it. I want to think more of my fellow man.
Here's the story.
A 72 year old man with Alzheimers gets lost. Happens a lot. Too often. It's the middle of the night. It's cold and dark. He wanders towards a house with a porch light on. Knocks on the door. The homeowner won't answer the door. The homeowner calls the cops. Can't wait for the cops. Gets a gun. Shoots the 72 year old man to death.
We wouldn't do that to a dog. Even a Mad Dog.
Think about it. We just shot him.
We just shot him. We don't really know why. Afterwards, the shooter can't explain it. But, at the time, it seemed like a really good idea to leave a warm, safe place. Go outside with a gun but without a flash light. And shoot.
It didn't make much news. And, the shooter won't go to jail. Won't be charged with a crime. Because that old man was dangerous. A threat to kill people. In the opinion of a gun owner.
But, can you provide me a story about a gun owner leaving the safety of a house to shoot a rabid dog?
When we see a dog in our yard, we stay inside. We call the cops. We wait for them.
It's not fear that motivates a gun owner to shoot a person. If fear made us grab a gun, walk out into the cold dark, and shoot ... we would shoot rabid animals.
Stand Your Ground gun laws and No Duty to Retreat Laws? Those create an open season on humans. A 007 license to kill people.
Read the story at No Duty to Retreat.
No.
I can prove it. I hate being able to prove it. I want to think more of my fellow man.
Here's the story.
A 72 year old man with Alzheimers gets lost. Happens a lot. Too often. It's the middle of the night. It's cold and dark. He wanders towards a house with a porch light on. Knocks on the door. The homeowner won't answer the door. The homeowner calls the cops. Can't wait for the cops. Gets a gun. Shoots the 72 year old man to death.
We wouldn't do that to a dog. Even a Mad Dog.
Think about it. We just shot him.
We just shot him. We don't really know why. Afterwards, the shooter can't explain it. But, at the time, it seemed like a really good idea to leave a warm, safe place. Go outside with a gun but without a flash light. And shoot.
It didn't make much news. And, the shooter won't go to jail. Won't be charged with a crime. Because that old man was dangerous. A threat to kill people. In the opinion of a gun owner.
But, can you provide me a story about a gun owner leaving the safety of a house to shoot a rabid dog?
When we see a dog in our yard, we stay inside. We call the cops. We wait for them.
It's not fear that motivates a gun owner to shoot a person. If fear made us grab a gun, walk out into the cold dark, and shoot ... we would shoot rabid animals.
Stand Your Ground gun laws and No Duty to Retreat Laws? Those create an open season on humans. A 007 license to kill people.
Read the story at No Duty to Retreat.
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