Today's Update

Since I'm heading overseas, as we speak, I thought i'd throw on some recent international issues:

TEHRAN, Iran Feb 24, 2007 (AP)— The Iranian foreign minister said Saturday the United States was in no position for another war, and maintained that negotiations not threats were the only way to resolve the standoff over its nuclear activities.
Foreign Minister Manouchehr Mottaki was responding to Vice President Dick Cheney, who renewed Washington's warning to Iran earlier Saturday that "all options" were on the table if Tehran continues to defy U.N. demands to halt uranium enrichment.
Mottaki said the U.S. could not afford to settle its differences with Iran by launching a third war after Afghanistan and Iraq.



New Mortgage Product, at least it's new to me
Yesterday, February 23, 2007, 3:42:38 PM Steve Dalton (Synergy Homes)
My friends over at First Federal Trust Mortgage introduced a new mortgage product to me. I guess it goes like this. It's so new I guess they don't even have it on their website yet.You buy a home, let's use round numbers, and it costs $250,000. You put your normal down paymennt and closing costs on the table and purchase the house.Now, you set up your paycheck to go as a direct deposit into a paydown of your mortgage balance. Following? This pays down your mortgage perhaps twice a month quite a bit. Then you write checks to pay all your bills for the month, from that same mortgage line, which increases it perhaps right back to the spot or just less than the spot it started on the 1st.Why? Because it will be paid down at least for parts of the month, and the interest is computed daily, so in the long run you reduce your interest outlay and pay-off the mortgage quite a bit quicker than the 15 or 30 year term!I'm told it's the rage in Australia. Anyone know more? Comment at will, I'm listening.



Indiana soldier died during 2nd month in Afghanistan - FayObserver.com
Today, February 24, 2007, 4 hours ago
Indiana soldier died during 2nd month in AfghanistanFayObserver.com, Fayetteville NC - 3 hours agoA central Indiana soldier who died in Afghanistan had gone to that country last month as part of the American anti-terrorism effort. ...



Turkey PM denies anti-Shia alliance
Today, February 24, 2007, 13 minutes ago
Erdogan says



Albania thanks US for supporting Kosovo plan - Xinhua
Today, February 24, 2007, 2 hours ago
Albania thanks US for supporting Kosovo planXinhua, China - 1 hour agoFor years, Albania has been the strongest supporter of Kosovo's independence, although it said it had no territorial ambition over the province.