Loan Modification Rant

So I did a loan modification on our home in Georgia;11 months into it, the bank fraudulantly foreclosed anyway Now that light has been shed on the banking industry, it's no wonder. My home here in Bonita has a loan on it and Bank of America can't or won't tell me who the investor even is??? Hummm? Securitization is all pretense. Alan Greenspan said that with 100 PhD's he couldn't figure out what they were doing and he was wrong to give them a pass. He should have insisted on the real facts before allowing the continuation of the creation of fake money. Modification is all pretense. If banks and servicers received any part of TARP money they must CONSIDER modification proposals submitted by borrowers. But they don't. And they don't even allow the investors to know that the offers exist. Here's why. The creation of the bogus mortgage bonds was a mere accounting trick in which the typical loan receivable account was transformed into a security. The way the banks played it, they asserted ownership and control over the loans and the bonds until they were done wringing the last cent out of them. All told, they appear to have received $17 trillion in aid on a total of only $13 trillion in loans, in which there were only $2.6 trillion in defaulted principal and half of that was the actual loss. Of course they didn't give the $17 trillion to the investors because that would pay off the loans, so they claimed the loss of the investors as their own and received $17 trillion in bailouts. But wait there's more. They also received money in insurance, and credit default swaps. All told the average loan was sold an average of 15-20 times. So that $300,000 loan of yours was worth $5-$6 million as long as they declared the pool in default --- even if your loan was paid up to date. The pool they declared in default never existed, because it was never funded, and never treated as though it was a separate entity except when it suited the banks who were routinely stealing identities of the investors and borrowers. Despite the obvious fictional nature of these transactions, they were treated as real in the financial world. I wrote an article about this a few years ago entitled the Emporer's New Clothes. We are still in the period where most people are afraid to notice that the Emporers on Wall Street are buck naked and that they never had any cover or clothes. So they got all these trillions of dollars for loans that were in default and all the loans that were not in default. If they modify your loans in any large volume, all those trillions they received will be refundable to the insurers and counterparts to the credit default swaps and the bailouts. And the investors' losses will be cut, thus exposing the fake losses declared by the Master Servicer. Money will flow in large waves back to pension funds and homeowners. So they sit on the proposal, or go into trials that they know will end in rejection, and then they say they considered the loan modification and rejected it. The real reason is that they will lose millions on each modification. So they neither consider it nor communicate it to investors. You can challenge them in court on this. Bring in a realtor and/or appraiser and show that your proposal was over fair market value of the property, that foreclosure proceeds were 50% of fair market value and that no reasonable person would reject your offer if they knew about it or truly considered it. You can demand to know who reviewed it, what formulas they used and proof that they asked the investors. Those who take this route are getting traction. The last thing the banks and servicers --- all of whom are really only intermediaries ---- want is for borrowers and investors to get together and compare notes. If that happens the housing crisis will be over. But the party of the mega banks will also be over. Whew, okay, I'm done ranting

Run the Race

Okay, so the Olympics are done and we won... a bunch.

You know the Olympics were talked about in the Bible....Really.  Hebrews 12:1 says ...

12 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.

Well, maybe not, but seriously how many of you start something without seeing it through to the final outcome?  I almost always start the day in prayer in the Jacuzzi while watching the sunrise, but all it takes is a singing bird,  ice crystals up in the stratosphere, or a cat jumping up curiously to see what I'm doing to get off tack...You get the idea, I am easily sidetracked and distracted.  Would an Olympian running running a Marathon stop to smell the roses, sign autographs etc?

You and I run the race for the prize that lies ahead, even when we get off track and lose our way we are not lost; just need to refocus and fix our eyes on the prize.  Even when we stumble and fall don't stay there, get up the race can still be won.  His grip is sure, there's no letting go today, no way.

http://youtu.be/zplX5FDDuH0

Target and a Retired Husband

A friend sent me this, I thought I would pass it along...FYI-PG

"After I retired, my wife insisted that I accompany her on her trips to Target.
Unfortunately, like most men, I found shopping boring and preferred to get in and get out.
Equally unfortunate, my wife is like most women - she loves to browse.

Yesterday my dear wife received the following letter from the local Target: Dear Mrs. Harris,

Over the past six months, your husband has caused quite a commotion in our store.

We cannot tolerate this behavior and have been forced to ban both of you from the store. Our complaints against your husband, Mr. Harris, are listed below and are documented by our video surveillance cameras:

1. June 15: He took 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in other people's carts when they weren't looking.

2. July 2: Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals.
3. July 7: He made a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the women's restroom.
4. July 19: Walked up to an employee and told her in an official voice,'Code 3 in Housewares. Get on it right away'. This caused the employee to leave her assigned station and receive a reprimand from her Supervisor that in turn resulted with a union grievance, causing management to lose time and costing the company money. We don't have a Code 3.
5. August 4: Went to the Service Desk and tried to put a bag of M&Ms on layaway.
6. August 14: Moved a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area.
7. August 15: Set up a tent in the camping department and told the children shoppers he'd invite them in if they would bring pillows and blankets from the bedding department to which twenty children obliged. 8. August 23: When a clerk asked if they could help him he began crying and screamed, 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' EMTs were called.
9. September 4: Looked right into the security camera and used it as a mirror while he picked his nose.
10. September 10: While handling guns in the hunting department, he asked the clerk where the antidepressants were.
11. October 3: Darted around the store suspiciously while loudly humming the ' Mission Impossible' theme. 12. October 6 In the auto department, he practiced his 'Madonna look' using different sizes of funnels.
13. October 18: Hid in a clothing rack and when people browsed through, yelled 'PICK ME! PICK ME!'
14. October 22: When an announcement came over the loud speaker, he assumed a fetal position and screamed 'OH NO! IT'S THOSE VOICES AGAIN!' 15. October 26: Took a box of condoms to the checkout clerk and asked where is the fitting room?
And last, but not least:
16. October 30: Went into a fitting room, shut the door, waited awhile, and then yelled very loudly, 'Hey! There's no toilet paper in here.' One of the clerks passed out. "

Logan's Run

"It's my job to kill you."

The first time I saw boobs on the big screen was when I went to see Logan's Run with my dad.  That was Farah Fawcett's first gig after the 70's hit show Charlies Angels.  I was a typical teen very interested in viewing her jigglies! Just being real here.

If you haven't seen it, don't fret, you didn't miss much.  The premise is that the current government of the time legislated that when you turned the ripe age of 30 you were terminated.  The main character believes he still has plenty of life left, so he runs.

This country is sitting on the pinnacle of stepping over on the slippery slope of legislation.  When governments step in and legislate that Chick-Fil-A can't be built in their town because of a belief in traditional marriage and being closed on Sunday's whose to say Logan's Run isn't too far behind?  When this movie came out, gay only had one meaning-Like the Flintstones theme song "we'll have a gay old time, Wilma".  Times are changing. It's a catch 22- You either believe in the Bible and in what  Kirk Cameron stated he thought that to be" unnatural"  or, Darwin's Natural Selection theory, in which case humanity would cease to exist in around 100 years. So the default selection would be considered a lifestyle choice.  A lot of religious groups get there panties in a wad over this, yet true religion is loving others as yourselves and helping widows and those less fortunate.  When you know the right thing to do and don't do it to you it is sin... James also says "When you withhold good from those whom it is due- to you it's a sin.  I'd like to see more honey, less vinegar.

Sin is an olde English term for missing the mark or bulls eye.  The Biblical term would be settling for less than God's best-missing the mark set by Jesus in word, thought, or deed. The Bible tells us that we all sin-multiple times a day; it's important to keep in mind that in God's eyes sin is sin is sin, and there is only one way out. The 10 Commandments have/are being removed from public places. This country was based on the belief in God.  Says right on out legal tender-In God We Trust. When a country is based on a few absolutes, then laws are set based on those. When you get rid of absolutes, then the end can justify the means.  Ethics becomes a variable, and sin becomes a discount.  Tamper with adultery-defined as any sexual relationship outside of marriage, then hey, let's redefine marriage  Tamper with killing and eventually it cost the taxpayer too much to keep you alive so 30?  C-ya.

First Class Tcket

The outspoken half of Penn and Teller who just happens to be an atheist once said

"I’ve always said that I don’t respect people who don’t proselytize. I don’t respect that at all. If you believe that there is a heaven and hell and that people could be going to hell or not getting eternal life or whatever, and you think that, well, it’s not really worth telling them this because it would make it socially awkward...How much do you have to hate somebody to not proselytize? How much do you have to hate somebody to believe that everlasting life is possible and not tell them that?

I mean if I believed beyond a shadow of a doubt that a truck was coming at you and you didn’t believe it, but that truck was bearing down on you, there’s a certain point where I tackle you. And this is more important than that."

It comes down to more than just belief though.  I can believe all I want that there is a flight from San Diego to Atlanta, but unless get the ticket and get on the flight, I'm going to miss it. Even if I initially buy the ticket...it's in my hand, I still have to get on board.

A couple blogs ago I talked about a Party being planned for those who put their trust and hope in Jesus.  I have to tell you, the religious groups of the day hated Jesus; in three years while he was walking the earth 2000 years ago, he turned religion upside down.  He was the life of the party, was accused of being a drunk and glutton because those were the groups he hung with.  He was inviting everyone he met, giving out tickets like they were candy, but just like today many accepted were planning on getting on board but missed the flight. Jesus was continually bashing the religious because the put on a good show on the outside, but were evil on the inside and refused to RSVP.  They had all the knowledge in the world about God and his laws hated him; something had to be done.

So they set him up in Pilate's court with false accusations, and had him killed.  But that's not the end of the story....Easter. Can't keep a good man down!  Everyone has an invite to the party, it's up to you to RSVP; it's a First Class ticket!

Numbers and Budgets

3.82, 3.67, 729, 5.49, 112,  614, 2500, 25, 1000, 2350, 2400

What's in a number and what do those have to do with budgeting?  I read that a typical household can cut over $1000 a month just by recording on a spreadsheet every penny spent per day for a month and cutting out the non-essentials.

Long ago, I realized that much of my business is done at the local coffee house, I personally frequent our local Starbucks just down the street.  They have a rewards card that gives free drinks after a certain number of swipes, and I get one every couple weeks; I never seem to get them as my kids get the mail first. Now before I hear the "Wow, that's a lot of money you spend there."  The reward I signed up for is free refills. I get a "Tall in a Vente" cup on Monday and pay $1.55.  Free refills are good for 24 hrs, so as long as I swipe the card a couple minutes earlier than the previous day, I get it filled (to the Vente level, room for cream) for, you guessed it....free, additionally each swipe is considered a purchase, so when my kid goes to cash in a free drink card, he gets a $7 foofoo drink.  They LOSE money on me!

$3.82 is the average patron's cost per drink; 3.67 is the average times per week at a given Starbucks. costing on average, $729 annually. Starbucks views each customer as a $750 value asset!   Fast food stats are similar, with the average customer visiting 112 times and spending on average $5.49 or $614 a year. The Auto Club AAA reports the average driver if combining trips could save around 2500 miles a year and at 20mpg would save $1000 ($4 gallon) when you add in actual cost of a car of .30-.52 cents per mile, it can easily cost well over.  Those couple things add up to over $2350.

A vice of sorts?  Anyone drink bottled water, typically cost more than gas?  Can of Coke, can of beer, glass of wine..guilty as charged. there's a $100 While a pack of cigarettes is only around $5 here in CA, I was stunned to find out a pack is almost $12 in NY. 20 years of that, is a paid off house in rural America  Cable/Internet/magazine or paper subscriptions, easily another $100.  Fixed income? Do you really need to live in one of the most expensive cities if housing is half the cost just 50 miles away?

If you meet certain criteria; heart beat, over 100lbs etc, you can donate blood/plasma at the local blood bank and make $200 a month or $2400 a year.  Need a quick $100?  Have a yard sale, someone will pay for that 70's shag wig,, stuffed animal or crock pot rarely used. If you didn't use it last month, most likely you don't need it..unless seasonal.  What you don't use you don't miss.  Anyway you get the idea; many ways to save/create extra income.

Q- How many Psychiatrists does it take to change a light bulb?

A-One-but it has to want to change

"That guy- you either know him or you are him" new series at the church I attend, this week we covered a couple points that you give people what they need not what they want and yes, they may use anger or guilt to manipulate so you keep enabling them, and sometimes unknowingly disabling God by coming to their rescue. Don't work harder on someone else's problems than they are willing to do themselves; So stay out of God's way and stop rescuing people from their consequences and bad choices or you'll help prolong the enabling codependent symptoms...Galatians 6:7 "People reap what they sew. Don't mock God cause you continue to mess up."

Remember the story of a butterfly we all learned in Kindergarten-We may want to intervene and help a butterfly out of the cocoon, and while helping it gives it an initial ease to life, it dies quickly since it was not able to endure the struggle to escape the hardship of the cocoon; the wings never get to develop, it can't escape it birthplace and it eventually succumbs.