Monday, December 31, 2007

Existing Home Sales Up

Although a narrow gain, sales were up for the first time in months
clipped from online.wsj.com

Existing-Home Sales Edged Up
In November, but Remain Weak

Existing-home sales managed a small climb during November, the first increase in
nine months
The supply of unsold homes fell -- but remained bloated. Analysts see demand for
homes receding
"Near term, existing-home sales should continue to hover in a narrow range, just
as they have since September, and that's good news because it'll be a further
sign that the housing market is stabilizing," NAR chief economist Lawrence Yun
said
"Mortgage interest rates are near historic lows and the most current data shows
decelerating price declines, along with a modest reduction in the number of
homes on the market," Mr. Yun said
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Prediction: "I would be putting my money on John McCain"

I guess I'd have to agree
MITT ROMNEY, JOHN MCCAIN, 2008 HOMEPAGE CAMPAIGN BOX, HORSERACE

Santa was good to me, and got me an XM Satellite Radio receiver. Right now on POTUS08, David E. Johnson, CEO of Strategic Vision polling company is predicting the Republican primary will come down to a two-man race between John McCain and Mitt Romney.

"If I were to bet right now, I would be putting my money on John McCain," says Johnson, who worked on Bob Dole's 1988 campaign.

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Saturday, December 29, 2007

Kenya Elections Update

It sure looks like current President has won again in Kenya, but who knows? When will the final totals be announced?

Kenyans on edge for result of tight election

If you have better info, than my feeds off of the Alertdesk, send the links, I'd like to get better and quicker updates on the election in Kenya.

Thursday, December 27, 2007

Bhutto Assasinated


In a blow to peace in Pakistan, Benazir Bhutto was assasinated Thursday by a suicide bomber.


Suicide Attack on Rally May Have Killed BhuttoNew York Times - 25 minutes agoBy SALMAN MASOOD and GRAHAM BOWLEY RAWALPINDI, Islamabad - A bomb blast devastated a political rally being held by the Pakistani opposition leader Benazir Bhutto near the capital, Islamabad, Thursday, killing several people and seriously injuring Ms.Report: Bhutto killed in attack CNNExplosion heard at Bhutto rally CNN InternationalBloomberg - Reuters - Guardian Unlimited - FOX Newsall 285 news articles »

Wednesday, December 26, 2007

The Black Swan - Chapter by Chapter Reviews

Once a year I try to use this blog site for a chapter by chapter review of a book I'm reading, one that has some signifigant impact or high level of interest for me.

Will I do every chapter, probably not, I lose interest quickly if the book drones on, so initial chapters will have better reviews. If you've read the book, or want to read it, follow and comment or even disagree with me.


The Black Swan, The Impact of the Highly Improbable.


Author: Nassim Nicholas Taleb.

Prologue thought for the day - "everyone knows that you need more prevention than treatment, but few reward acts of prevention." So ... should one goal be to give notice those that prevent. How?

"I don't particularly care about the usual." This is a strong statement indeed by the author. I guess I would say I agree, the usual the normal doesn't really help you understand someone, or a place, or a company, or a plan. The unusual, the unpredictable, the reaction to pressure ... that's got a lot more to do with understanding. I think I agree. But, how does a person set about to understand the unpredictable or the unusual?

"We lack imagination, and repress it in others" Yowee, that's big, that's powerful stuff.

We need more imagination, we need more innovation ... calling all Tom Peters followers ... It's high time we realized that imagination may be our greatest asset in a time of unusual and impossible.

Saturday, December 22, 2007

Opportunity Enterprises Expands

Bravo, to a terrific Porter County organization that is expanding their ability to work with their valuable clients.
clipped from www.nwi.com

Nonprofit buys land to boost programs

VALPARAISO | Opportunity Enterprises on Friday announced it has bought 158 acres
of Lake Eliza and adjacent land from First National Bank, which will allow the
agency to expand its day program and add programs.

The new facility will
be known as Lakeview and will be located on the shores of 51-acre Lake Eliza and
107 acres of surrounding land. The site, which includes a 13,000-square-foot
program center, will provide space for Opportunity Enterprises to expand its
traditional day services, while also offering innovative wellness programs,
outdoor education and diversified recreation activities, a news release states
Opportunity Enterprises is a nonprofit organization devoted to promoting
self-sufficiency and life choices to more than 1,700 people with challenges of
all ages in Porter County and Northwest Indiana.

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Thursday, December 20, 2007

Interested in Home Comfort? Energy Efficiency?

Aaron Simac over at On Home Comfort is writing a series of articles on home to increase your home's comfort and energy efficiency. Go take a look.

Sunday, December 16, 2007

McCain picks up two big endorsements

Now, I think we'll see the polls start to surge to McCain's benefit

Des Moines Register endorses McCain, Hillary

The Des Moines Register has released its party endorsements for the Iowa Caucuses and the winners of that coveted nod are Hillary Clinton and John McCain. Also on the endorsement front, the Boston Globe, a newspaper widely read in next door New Hampshire, has aslo endorsed McCain as well as Barack Obama on the Democratic side:



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Saturday, December 15, 2007

My Mini City

the more visitors, the larger my city grows
Increase population http://daltonsbriefs.myminicity.com
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Thursday, December 13, 2007

Heroic Conservatism


I'm reading book of that title by Micheal Gerson, former speech writer in the Bush whitehouse.


The subtitle "Why Republicans need to Embrace America's Ideals"



Some terrific stories about 9/11 and crisis moments in the white house, from a moderate conservative who believes, like John McCain, that we need to win Freedom.

Monday, December 10, 2007

War in Iraq is a success

I get a little sick of hearing all the talk of how the "entire" American public has lost interest in the War on Terror and just wants our troops home. Do they want all our troops home, from South Korea, from Kosovo, how about from Japan too?

No, they just want the troops home from Iraq because we were having a hard time beating the little militias over there and we were seeing our troops give up their lives, the biggest sacrifice.

Well, why is it then that when good news about success in Iraq begins slowly leaking out, the press nor the pundits have the time to say anything? The British are turning over control of an entire province to the Iraqi's. That's a success right?

Tuesday, December 04, 2007

Why are intellectuals so liberal?

Actually the Cato article I stumbled on was title "Why do intellectuals oppose capitalism" but I just added own spin.

"It is surprising that intellectuals oppose capitalism so. Other groups of comparable socio-economic status do not show the same degree of opposition in the same proportions. Statistically, then, intellectuals are an anomaly."

Elegant Universe Videos

I have read and heartily endorse this book
clipped from www.pbs.org
The Elegant Universe

To view any part of this three-hour miniseries, choose an episode from one of the three columns below and select either QuickTime (full-screen option available) or RealVideo to begin. If you experience difficulty viewing, it may be due to high demand. We regret this, and suggest you try back at another time. Note that NOVA programs are not available for downloading due to rights restrictions.

HOUR 3: Welcome to the 11th Dimension
The Wild West of Physics The Wild West of Physics

watch chapter 1 in
QuickTime
RealVideo

String theory is radically changing our ideas about the nature of space, opening up the possibility that extra dimensions, rips in the fabric of space, and parallel universes actually exist.
running time 10:02

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A case against homeownership - What!

I just happened to run into this article, foolish as it sounds, that suggests that home ownership is bad for society. I bet the writer is pretty happy to see people getting kicked out of their homes too?

Homeownership a Problem? What a liberal says.

Saturday, December 01, 2007

My Wife is a Realtor

Very funny video, follow link
clipped from www.kioskrealty.com
Kiosk Realty - A Consumer Centric Manhattan Real Estate Brokerage

American Dad - My Wife is a Realtor


Source: Hulu

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"Fixed Rates under 6% as good as it gets"

America's Most Opinionated Mortage Lender says it like it is.

Time Is Running Out For Some Borrowers

With fixed rate mortgages sliding back under 6%, expect to see refinances, and buyers back out in the market this winter. A Perfect Storm for Spring Rebound

Here in Northwest Indiana, I suggest contacting First Financial Trust Mortgage Company, the key Portage and Valparaiso team for refinances and for purchasing homes.