Monday, November 29, 2010

How to Making Money






The Wall Street Journal surveyed the pre-tax earnings of the CEOs of the 456 biggest American companies and discovered that, as corporate profits have once again increased, they've made 3 percent more money overall. That doesn't sound like much, but there's an upward trend: The CEOs of the 65 companies whose fiscal year ended more recently and covered more of the recovery saw their pay increase by almost 15 percent.



The best-paid exec in the country is Liberty Media's Gregory Maffei, who made $87.1 million. Ralph Lauren came in at No. 9, making $27 million. The story also comes with an interactive graphic decoding the jargon that companies use on financial statements to justify paying so much.



The Year's Top Ten Highest Paid CEOs

How To Read A Proxy Statement

Paychecks for CEOs climb






Thanksgiving is almost here, and that means there's only a month of shopping left in the holiday season. However, while this can be a scary realization for many people, you don't have to worry — because we've got ideas for the geeks on your list (or anyone else you want to convert to a life of geekery) covered.


This year, we're giving you the next best thing to actually buying the gifts for you. Your friendly neighborhood Splash Page team has come up with a wide-ranging list of books, games, toys, music and various other things to buy for everyone on your list — from the hardcore fanboys and fangirls to someone who's still learning the difference between Green Lantern and Green Hornet.


In the end, we tried to avoid some of the most obvious comics-related gifts this year and give you a mash-up of our own wishlists and the items we're planning to buy for our own friends and family. Here's hoping you find it helpful when it comes time for you to start dropping your hard-earned money on manufactured holiday joy.


If you're buying gifts for someone new to comics or in need of a familiar name or title to catch their attention, how about "The Dark Tower" graphic novels (based on the popular Stephen King novels) or Dark Horse Comics' "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" or "Serenity" comics (based on Joss Whedon's fan-favorite television series)? They all feature original stories that unfold within and expand the world each one is based upon. There's also IDW Publishing's critically praised "Parker" graphic novels based on the crime-noir novels of Donald Westlake (which also inspired such movies as "Point Blank" and "Payback"). "The Hunter" and "The Outfit" are available now, and they're as beautiful to look at as they are to read.


If you're shopping for someone who loves music almost as much as comics, why not pick up an album by nerd rockers Kirby Krackle? It's filled with ridiculously cool, addictively sing-able tunes about comics, gaming, love, and, well... everything else that being a geek is all about. My favorite track? An ode to Green Lantern titled "Ring Capacity." It's brilliant. Also worth checking out is "Zero Day," the latest album from nerdcore rapper extraordinaire MC Frontalot (named the "rapper laureate" of the massively successful "Penny Arcade" webcomic), as well as the awesomely indie soundtrack for this year's hit film "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World." Oh, and if you're looking to give someone a nostalgia-inducing trip down memory lane, snag them a copy of "The Music of DC Comics: 75th Anniversary Collection." It's a collection of popular and little-known jingles (who knew "The Atom" had a theme song?) featuring DC characters.


If you're shopping for young readers, pick up a copy of "Tiny Titans/Lil Archie." The books combine all-ages superhero fun with classic Archie characters and sensibility. You might also want to check out Boom Studios' "Muppet Show" comics and Archaia Studios' "Fraggle Rock" comics. Both of these series are just as good as the television shows they're based on, and to be honest, you'll probably enjoy the heck out of 'em, too.


For older readers, why not pick up a few novels written by and for comics fans. Matt Myklusch's "Jack Blank and the Imagine Nation" is a great novel that feels a lot like the "Harry Potter" series, except instead of magic and wizards, it deals with superheroes and supervillains. There's also "Machine of Death: A Collection of Stories About People Who Know How They Will Die," featuring a bunch of stories written (and occasionally illustrated) by some of the biggest names in the webcomics world, including "Dinosaur Comics" creator Ryan North and "Wondermark" creator David Malki.


Looking to help someone prep for next year's slate of comic book movies? Ryan Reynolds name-dropped "Green Lantern: Secret Origin" as one of the books that inspired the upcoming movie, so it can't hurt to revisit Geoff Johns' origin story. On the other side, Marvel's upcoming slate of movies all draw heavily from the publisher's line of "Ultimate" comics, so picking up the first volume of "The Ultimates" (the "Ultimate"-universe version of The Avengers) will get readers ready for what's to come in 2011 and beyond.


Buying for a comics fan with some gaming tendencies? You can't go wrong with "Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions" for various systems, which gives players the opportunity to web-swing as several different incarnations of Spider-Man over the years. There's also the downloadable game based on "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" for the Playstation Network, and the all-ages friendly "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" for the Nintendo Wii. All three games are bunches of comics-inspired fun.


Beyond the normal DVD and Blu-Ray suggestions of "Iron Man 2," "Kick-Ass," "Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World" and other recent big-screen adaptations, you might want to consider some outside-the-box selections like "Grant Morrison: Talking with Gods," a documentary about one of the comics industry's most celebrated writers of the modern era. There's also "Will Eisner: Portrait of a Sequential Artist," which puts the spotlight on one of the greatest creators ever to craft a comic. If documentaries aren't exactly what you're searching for, pick up a copy of "DC Showcase Collection." It's a collection of the excellent animated shorts DC and Warner Bros. have included on their larger animated features the last year or so, focusing on lesser-known characters. Every one of them is animated gold.


If you know someone who enjoys the latest television series based on comics like "The Walking Dead" or "Human Target," why not introduce them to the source material? Image Comics' "The Walking Dead Compendium, Volume 1" collects the first eight chapters of the comic in one hefty book. And though it doesn't quite match up with the comic, Vertigo's "Human Target: Chance Meetings" collects several great storylines from writer Peter Milligan's celebrated work on the series and offers a nice example of why the character is so popular.


On the toy front, we'd be fools not to point you in the direction of Hasbro's awesome Iron Man 2 helmet. It's made to fit just about any head, and is both ridiculously cool and surprisingly comfortable to wear on a regular basis (trust me on this). Of course, if you're buying for kids, you might as well complete the package and buy the Iron Man 2 3-in-1 Repulsor and Iron Man 2 Arc Light — just for the sake of completion. (Note: Star Wars fans, there's a Boba Fett version of the helmet, too.)


And finally, if you're looking for something that will look great on a bookshelf and is as much a status symbol as it is reading material, DC's "Absolute Planetary" hardcovers come with a hefty price tag but are well worth the price. If that's along the lines of what you're looking for, Image Comics' "Spawn Origins Collection" hardcover is another book that will not only be appreciated by whoever receives it, but will make you look that much cooler for picking it out.


And that's about it for the first-ever MTV Splash Page Gift Guide. Here's hoping it gives you some shopping suggestions for the geeks on your list (especially if you're one of them).


Happy shopping, and an early Happy Holidays from MTV Splash Page!


Let us know what you think in the comment section or on Twitter! You can also follow me, Splash Page editor Rick Marshall, on Twitter!






Tags gift guide 2010





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Fox <b>News</b>&#39; 2012 roster – CNN Political Ticker - CNN.com Blogs

(CNN) -- Five big name Republicans have two things in common- they are all considering runs for president and are each employed by Fox News. Former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum and former House Speaker ...

Apple offers &#39;Cyber Monday&#39; discounts | iLounge <b>News</b>

iLounge news discussing the Apple offers 'Cyber Monday' discounts. Find more Apple news from leading independent iPod, iPhone, and iPad site.

Fox <b>News</b> claims anti-fees protests were &quot;rebellion against big <b>...</b>

Rupert Murdoch's Fox News has again been caught misrepresenting video footage, claiming the anti-fees protests were a rebellion against big government.


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Saturday, November 27, 2010

Free Making Money

We used the University of Colorado, Denver. The rooms were free. We had three rooms, each could seat between 50 and 125 people depending on the room and each had speakers, projector, lights and so on. You can find similar venues very easily, just ask around. We had the rooms from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or so on the quietest day of the week for this particular campus and they were booked something like two-three months in advance.

Food



We used Einstein Brothers for breakfast and lunch. We planned food for about 100 people and it worked out very well, with food taken to the after-party too. We simply booked online, chose a ton of food and it arrived at 8:15 for breakfast and 11 a.m. or so for lunch. Breakfast consisted of bagels with various schmears, coffees (remember decaf too) and some bagel poppers (think donut holes). Lunch was boxes of bagel sandwiches (remember vegetarian option), iced tea, lemonade, cookies (three kinds I think), chips (including chips that don't suck, like Sunchips) and gherkins.



Set up was very easy, there were a couple of fold out tables and a few people volunteered to set up the boxes, etc., along with the staff from EB. At the end of the day I asked everyone in the room to help clean up one item (we had boxes, empty cups, etc., etc.) and it was done very quickly.



Breakfast mingling took from 8:30-9 a.m. or so. Lunch was one hour: noon-1 p.m. It was a nice enough day that people wandered outside, chatted and so on.



Website



As a hangover from last year, I happily used Google Sites to host www.wherecamp5280.org for free. It has a super simple editing interface. I only built a couple of very simple pages listing the details upfront as you can see.



Tickets



Eventbrite was pretty awesome. You set up your event, add ticket types (with different prices), link to it and you're done. It's entirely free to use if your tickets are free. For wherecamp, the majority of the tickets were free. You can also use their iPhone app to scan peoples tickets if you like, but I didn't do this as it's free and it would have just been a hassle for very little benefit. Tip: tell the attendees this so they don't print out the paper ticket! Also see sponsorship next:



Sponsorship



I used Eventbrite again. This worked out fantastically. Usually people spend a ton of time setting out sponsor levels, making a brochure and all that stuff about what a sponsor gets for their money. What I did instead was set up Eventbrite "tickets" that were priced as powers of two. So $16, $32, $64... $1024. Sponsors could then simply go in to Eventbrite and buy a ticket. This was wonderful for me as I didn't have to screw around with checks and bank transfers.



It was wonderful for sponsors as they could buy a "ticket" and expense that, whereas sponsorship is sometimes a much harder thing to get and has to go through other channels. One big thing to learn from though is that powers of two is a cute way to get sponsorship, but it doesn't match very well to what can be expensed. Often people can expense things with some rule like "so long as it's less than $1,000." Next time I will price things like $190, $490, $950 and so on.



As for "what do the sponsors get," I didn't produce a brochure or have anything particularly in mind. I've run conferences before which do do this and that's fine but this was a volunteer event. If the sponsors didn't come through, all I had to do was not order food (the major cost) and instead point people at nearby cafes, etc. It helps that I've run conferences before and therefore have a level of trust from the people sponsoring to not fuck it all up. I was asked a couple of times, but simply said it was a volunteer conference therefore time was short and we couldn't really produce brochures, etc.



Next page: How about actually getting the sponsors?







Earlier today the students of Citrus College in Glendora, California published an open letter ("Governor Elect Jerry Brown: We need your help") concerning the institution's financial health. And if the letter's economic illiteracy and intellectual bankruptcy are indicative of California in general, I recommend flushing twice and starting over.

Dear Gov.-Elect Jerry Brown,

...as the generation who is currently feeling the brunt of the state's financial hardships, we are asking for your help because we do care and changes need to be made.

-- Education is our priority. Please invest in it.

...College enrollment has gone down inpart because students cannot afford tuition costs, putting more weight on our already-impacted local community colleges.

The UC and Cal State systems have continuously imposed tuition increases while still making class cute , in reality, making students pay more for less... We as students are not only handling with the pressures of succeeding in our studies, but also dealing with the stress of getting, seemingly unattainable, classes and trying to afford tuition...

Could someone interpret those last few sentences for me?

In order to pay for the ever-rising tuition, we also need to find work.

We need you to create jobs and offer tax incentives to keep jobs in California.

In short: we, the students of Citrus College, demand that you raise taxes to help increase the quality of education while simultaneously lowering taxes to keep jobs in California so we can find jobs.

According to the Los Angeles Times, California is ranked as having the third highest unemployment rate...

Next cuts and tax increases must be made in appropriate areas to bring back balance to this state's finances.

I'm sooo confused, students! Tax incentives, mentioned in the prior paragraph, are the opposite of tax increases.

One thing is certain, California needs to keep a closer eye on who is receiving public services like welfare and WIC...

The government should be run just like any other business and reduce the wasteful spending that they so often spend on overtime and unrealistic government pensions.

There should also be an increase in taxes... Alcohol and cigarettes should be more heavily taxed as well as the uncommonly thought of, junk food... For example, reconsider the soda tax.

Say, I wonder if heavy taxation of "junk food", "soda" and sundry other taxes will hurt entry-level jobs like those in grocery and convenience stores, mom-and-pop retailers and the like?

This is your second time as California's governor and our votes have shown we trust in your experience.

Please, do not let us down.

Sincerely, the students of the Citrus College Clarion.

Jerry Brown's first two terms as governor led to many of the problems you're facing now, kids. In fact, during the campaign, he was forced to admit to a series of screwups and Statist social engineering policies that helped bankrupt the state.

What color is the sky on your planet, Citrus College students?

Sorry, children, but you're about to find out for yourselves just how screwed up the the modern Democrat Party is. There are no unicorns, there are no free lunches, and your new governor is just like the old Jerry Brown: dumber than ever and owned lock, stock and barrel by the public sector unions.

Welcome to the Tea Party.



bench craft company scam

No Batmobile in Arkham City <b>News</b> - Page 1 | Eurogamer.net

Read our news of No Batmobile in Arkham City. ... Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 teaser 14 December, 2009. Latest News. Batman: Arkham City details emerge . Batman: Arkham City revealed, dated . Batman domains name Arkham sequel? ...

Minecraft dev explains sales transparency PC <b>News</b> - Page 1 <b>...</b>

Read our PC news of Minecraft dev explains sales transparency.

Web type <b>news</b>: iPhone and iPad now support TrueType font embedding <b>...</b>

This is also exciting news, as TrueType fonts are superior to SVG fonts in two very important ways: the files sizes are dramatically smaller (an especially important factor on mobile devices), and the rendering quality is much higher. ...


bench craft company scam

No Batmobile in Arkham City <b>News</b> - Page 1 | Eurogamer.net

Read our news of No Batmobile in Arkham City. ... Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 teaser 14 December, 2009. Latest News. Batman: Arkham City details emerge . Batman: Arkham City revealed, dated . Batman domains name Arkham sequel? ...

Minecraft dev explains sales transparency PC <b>News</b> - Page 1 <b>...</b>

Read our PC news of Minecraft dev explains sales transparency.

Web type <b>news</b>: iPhone and iPad now support TrueType font embedding <b>...</b>

This is also exciting news, as TrueType fonts are superior to SVG fonts in two very important ways: the files sizes are dramatically smaller (an especially important factor on mobile devices), and the rendering quality is much higher. ...


bench craft company scam
We used the University of Colorado, Denver. The rooms were free. We had three rooms, each could seat between 50 and 125 people depending on the room and each had speakers, projector, lights and so on. You can find similar venues very easily, just ask around. We had the rooms from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. or so on the quietest day of the week for this particular campus and they were booked something like two-three months in advance.

Food



We used Einstein Brothers for breakfast and lunch. We planned food for about 100 people and it worked out very well, with food taken to the after-party too. We simply booked online, chose a ton of food and it arrived at 8:15 for breakfast and 11 a.m. or so for lunch. Breakfast consisted of bagels with various schmears, coffees (remember decaf too) and some bagel poppers (think donut holes). Lunch was boxes of bagel sandwiches (remember vegetarian option), iced tea, lemonade, cookies (three kinds I think), chips (including chips that don't suck, like Sunchips) and gherkins.



Set up was very easy, there were a couple of fold out tables and a few people volunteered to set up the boxes, etc., along with the staff from EB. At the end of the day I asked everyone in the room to help clean up one item (we had boxes, empty cups, etc., etc.) and it was done very quickly.



Breakfast mingling took from 8:30-9 a.m. or so. Lunch was one hour: noon-1 p.m. It was a nice enough day that people wandered outside, chatted and so on.



Website



As a hangover from last year, I happily used Google Sites to host www.wherecamp5280.org for free. It has a super simple editing interface. I only built a couple of very simple pages listing the details upfront as you can see.



Tickets



Eventbrite was pretty awesome. You set up your event, add ticket types (with different prices), link to it and you're done. It's entirely free to use if your tickets are free. For wherecamp, the majority of the tickets were free. You can also use their iPhone app to scan peoples tickets if you like, but I didn't do this as it's free and it would have just been a hassle for very little benefit. Tip: tell the attendees this so they don't print out the paper ticket! Also see sponsorship next:



Sponsorship



I used Eventbrite again. This worked out fantastically. Usually people spend a ton of time setting out sponsor levels, making a brochure and all that stuff about what a sponsor gets for their money. What I did instead was set up Eventbrite "tickets" that were priced as powers of two. So $16, $32, $64... $1024. Sponsors could then simply go in to Eventbrite and buy a ticket. This was wonderful for me as I didn't have to screw around with checks and bank transfers.



It was wonderful for sponsors as they could buy a "ticket" and expense that, whereas sponsorship is sometimes a much harder thing to get and has to go through other channels. One big thing to learn from though is that powers of two is a cute way to get sponsorship, but it doesn't match very well to what can be expensed. Often people can expense things with some rule like "so long as it's less than $1,000." Next time I will price things like $190, $490, $950 and so on.



As for "what do the sponsors get," I didn't produce a brochure or have anything particularly in mind. I've run conferences before which do do this and that's fine but this was a volunteer event. If the sponsors didn't come through, all I had to do was not order food (the major cost) and instead point people at nearby cafes, etc. It helps that I've run conferences before and therefore have a level of trust from the people sponsoring to not fuck it all up. I was asked a couple of times, but simply said it was a volunteer conference therefore time was short and we couldn't really produce brochures, etc.



Next page: How about actually getting the sponsors?







Earlier today the students of Citrus College in Glendora, California published an open letter ("Governor Elect Jerry Brown: We need your help") concerning the institution's financial health. And if the letter's economic illiteracy and intellectual bankruptcy are indicative of California in general, I recommend flushing twice and starting over.

Dear Gov.-Elect Jerry Brown,

...as the generation who is currently feeling the brunt of the state's financial hardships, we are asking for your help because we do care and changes need to be made.

-- Education is our priority. Please invest in it.

...College enrollment has gone down inpart because students cannot afford tuition costs, putting more weight on our already-impacted local community colleges.

The UC and Cal State systems have continuously imposed tuition increases while still making class cute , in reality, making students pay more for less... We as students are not only handling with the pressures of succeeding in our studies, but also dealing with the stress of getting, seemingly unattainable, classes and trying to afford tuition...

Could someone interpret those last few sentences for me?

In order to pay for the ever-rising tuition, we also need to find work.

We need you to create jobs and offer tax incentives to keep jobs in California.

In short: we, the students of Citrus College, demand that you raise taxes to help increase the quality of education while simultaneously lowering taxes to keep jobs in California so we can find jobs.

According to the Los Angeles Times, California is ranked as having the third highest unemployment rate...

Next cuts and tax increases must be made in appropriate areas to bring back balance to this state's finances.

I'm sooo confused, students! Tax incentives, mentioned in the prior paragraph, are the opposite of tax increases.

One thing is certain, California needs to keep a closer eye on who is receiving public services like welfare and WIC...

The government should be run just like any other business and reduce the wasteful spending that they so often spend on overtime and unrealistic government pensions.

There should also be an increase in taxes... Alcohol and cigarettes should be more heavily taxed as well as the uncommonly thought of, junk food... For example, reconsider the soda tax.

Say, I wonder if heavy taxation of "junk food", "soda" and sundry other taxes will hurt entry-level jobs like those in grocery and convenience stores, mom-and-pop retailers and the like?

This is your second time as California's governor and our votes have shown we trust in your experience.

Please, do not let us down.

Sincerely, the students of the Citrus College Clarion.

Jerry Brown's first two terms as governor led to many of the problems you're facing now, kids. In fact, during the campaign, he was forced to admit to a series of screwups and Statist social engineering policies that helped bankrupt the state.

What color is the sky on your planet, Citrus College students?

Sorry, children, but you're about to find out for yourselves just how screwed up the the modern Democrat Party is. There are no unicorns, there are no free lunches, and your new governor is just like the old Jerry Brown: dumber than ever and owned lock, stock and barrel by the public sector unions.

Welcome to the Tea Party.



bench craft company scam

No Batmobile in Arkham City <b>News</b> - Page 1 | Eurogamer.net

Read our news of No Batmobile in Arkham City. ... Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 teaser 14 December, 2009. Latest News. Batman: Arkham City details emerge . Batman: Arkham City revealed, dated . Batman domains name Arkham sequel? ...

Minecraft dev explains sales transparency PC <b>News</b> - Page 1 <b>...</b>

Read our PC news of Minecraft dev explains sales transparency.

Web type <b>news</b>: iPhone and iPad now support TrueType font embedding <b>...</b>

This is also exciting news, as TrueType fonts are superior to SVG fonts in two very important ways: the files sizes are dramatically smaller (an especially important factor on mobile devices), and the rendering quality is much higher. ...


bench craft company scam

No Batmobile in Arkham City <b>News</b> - Page 1 | Eurogamer.net

Read our news of No Batmobile in Arkham City. ... Batman: Arkham Asylum 2 teaser 14 December, 2009. Latest News. Batman: Arkham City details emerge . Batman: Arkham City revealed, dated . Batman domains name Arkham sequel? ...

Minecraft dev explains sales transparency PC <b>News</b> - Page 1 <b>...</b>

Read our PC news of Minecraft dev explains sales transparency.

Web type <b>news</b>: iPhone and iPad now support TrueType font embedding <b>...</b>

This is also exciting news, as TrueType fonts are superior to SVG fonts in two very important ways: the files sizes are dramatically smaller (an especially important factor on mobile devices), and the rendering quality is much higher. ...


bench craft company scam

Friday, November 19, 2010

personal finance

bench craft company rip off

2020Green by Second Story


bench craft company rip off

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

<b>News</b> Corp developing a tablet-exclusive publication

News Corp Logo Reuters is reporting that News Corp, the world's third-largest media conglomerate, has confirmed they will be releasing a news publication developed specifically for tablet computers like the iPad. "It's a tablet-only ...

Fox <b>News</b> Commentators Caught On Camera Mocking Sarah Palin&#39;s Show <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON -- The Fox News channel has been something of a safe haven for Sarah Palin, the type of outlet that provided the former Alaska Governor not only with a friendly audience but similarly kind questions.


bench craft company rip off

2020Green by Second Story


bench craft company rip off

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

<b>News</b> Corp developing a tablet-exclusive publication

News Corp Logo Reuters is reporting that News Corp, the world's third-largest media conglomerate, has confirmed they will be releasing a news publication developed specifically for tablet computers like the iPad. "It's a tablet-only ...

Fox <b>News</b> Commentators Caught On Camera Mocking Sarah Palin&#39;s Show <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON -- The Fox News channel has been something of a safe haven for Sarah Palin, the type of outlet that provided the former Alaska Governor not only with a friendly audience but similarly kind questions.


bench craft company rip off

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

<b>News</b> Corp developing a tablet-exclusive publication

News Corp Logo Reuters is reporting that News Corp, the world's third-largest media conglomerate, has confirmed they will be releasing a news publication developed specifically for tablet computers like the iPad. "It's a tablet-only ...

Fox <b>News</b> Commentators Caught On Camera Mocking Sarah Palin&#39;s Show <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON -- The Fox News channel has been something of a safe haven for Sarah Palin, the type of outlet that provided the former Alaska Governor not only with a friendly audience but similarly kind questions.


bench craft company rip off

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

<b>News</b> Corp developing a tablet-exclusive publication

News Corp Logo Reuters is reporting that News Corp, the world's third-largest media conglomerate, has confirmed they will be releasing a news publication developed specifically for tablet computers like the iPad. "It's a tablet-only ...

Fox <b>News</b> Commentators Caught On Camera Mocking Sarah Palin&#39;s Show <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON -- The Fox News channel has been something of a safe haven for Sarah Palin, the type of outlet that provided the former Alaska Governor not only with a friendly audience but similarly kind questions.


bench craft company rip off

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

<b>News</b> Corp developing a tablet-exclusive publication

News Corp Logo Reuters is reporting that News Corp, the world's third-largest media conglomerate, has confirmed they will be releasing a news publication developed specifically for tablet computers like the iPad. "It's a tablet-only ...

Fox <b>News</b> Commentators Caught On Camera Mocking Sarah Palin&#39;s Show <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON -- The Fox News channel has been something of a safe haven for Sarah Palin, the type of outlet that provided the former Alaska Governor not only with a friendly audience but similarly kind questions.


bench craft company rip off

2020Green by Second Story


bench craft company rip off
bench craft company rip off

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

<b>News</b> Corp developing a tablet-exclusive publication

News Corp Logo Reuters is reporting that News Corp, the world's third-largest media conglomerate, has confirmed they will be releasing a news publication developed specifically for tablet computers like the iPad. "It's a tablet-only ...

Fox <b>News</b> Commentators Caught On Camera Mocking Sarah Palin&#39;s Show <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON -- The Fox News channel has been something of a safe haven for Sarah Palin, the type of outlet that provided the former Alaska Governor not only with a friendly audience but similarly kind questions.


bench craft company rip off

bench craft company rip off

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

<b>News</b> Corp developing a tablet-exclusive publication

News Corp Logo Reuters is reporting that News Corp, the world's third-largest media conglomerate, has confirmed they will be releasing a news publication developed specifically for tablet computers like the iPad. "It's a tablet-only ...

Fox <b>News</b> Commentators Caught On Camera Mocking Sarah Palin&#39;s Show <b>...</b>

WASHINGTON -- The Fox News channel has been something of a safe haven for Sarah Palin, the type of outlet that provided the former Alaska Governor not only with a friendly audience but similarly kind questions.


bench craft company rip off

Taiwanese <b>News</b> Channel Animates Royal Engagement! | PerezHilton.com

Royal Wedding Fever has hit Taiwan! Check out their animated (because we wouldn´t want it any other way!) interpretation of Prince William´s engagement to Kate Middleton (above)! Sooo...

<b>News</b> Corp developing a tablet-exclusive publication

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Small Business <b>News</b>: Questions For Your Business

Everybody has questions when going into or running a business...everybody. If you have some burning inqueries you'd like to get answered, read our small.

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autosport.com - F1 <b>News</b>: Rosberg: Pirellis won&#39;t help Mercedes

Nico Rosberg doubts the new Pirelli tyres will do anything to ease the difficulties Mercedes suffered with front-tyre grip on the 2010 Bridgestones, after the Formula 1 teams tried the 2011 rubber for the first time in Abu Dhabi today.

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Thursday, November 18, 2010

Making Money Your

eric seiger

make money with the law of attraction by Shannon and Kim


eric seiger

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Fox <b>News</b>&#39; Roger Ailes Apologizes for Calling NPR Execs Nazis <b>...</b>

Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News, publicly apologized on Thursday for comparing NPR executives to Nazis.

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green <b>News</b> Report: November 18, 2010 <b>...</b>

IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): Tea Party: Smart development is really a global conspiracy; EPA: Major US cities violate lead standards; UN, World Bank say act now on climate change or pay much more later; Illinois Spending $2M ...


eric seiger

make money with the law of attraction by Shannon and Kim


eric seiger

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Fox <b>News</b>&#39; Roger Ailes Apologizes for Calling NPR Execs Nazis <b>...</b>

Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News, publicly apologized on Thursday for comparing NPR executives to Nazis.

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green <b>News</b> Report: November 18, 2010 <b>...</b>

IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): Tea Party: Smart development is really a global conspiracy; EPA: Major US cities violate lead standards; UN, World Bank say act now on climate change or pay much more later; Illinois Spending $2M ...


eric seiger

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Fox <b>News</b>&#39; Roger Ailes Apologizes for Calling NPR Execs Nazis <b>...</b>

Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News, publicly apologized on Thursday for comparing NPR executives to Nazis.

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green <b>News</b> Report: November 18, 2010 <b>...</b>

IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): Tea Party: Smart development is really a global conspiracy; EPA: Major US cities violate lead standards; UN, World Bank say act now on climate change or pay much more later; Illinois Spending $2M ...


eric seiger

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Fox <b>News</b>&#39; Roger Ailes Apologizes for Calling NPR Execs Nazis <b>...</b>

Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News, publicly apologized on Thursday for comparing NPR executives to Nazis.

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green <b>News</b> Report: November 18, 2010 <b>...</b>

IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): Tea Party: Smart development is really a global conspiracy; EPA: Major US cities violate lead standards; UN, World Bank say act now on climate change or pay much more later; Illinois Spending $2M ...


eric seiger
eric seiger

make money with the law of attraction by Shannon and Kim


eric seiger
eric seiger

Sen. Rockefeller: FCC should shut down Fox <b>News</b> and MSNBC « Hot Air

You see, Rockefeller says he hungers for quality news and believes that the FCC should play a part in facilitating that end. He believes that without the extremes of Fox News and MSNBC, the American people would have more faith in their ...

Fox <b>News</b>&#39; Roger Ailes Apologizes for Calling NPR Execs Nazis <b>...</b>

Roger Ailes, the chairman of Fox News, publicly apologized on Thursday for comparing NPR executives to Nazis.

Brad Friedman and Desi Doyen: Green <b>News</b> Report: November 18, 2010 <b>...</b>

IN 'GREEN NEWS EXTRA' (see links below): Tea Party: Smart development is really a global conspiracy; EPA: Major US cities violate lead standards; UN, World Bank say act now on climate change or pay much more later; Illinois Spending $2M ...


Wednesday, November 17, 2010

managing your personal finance

Are you an entrepreneur, solo business owner or freelancer? Are you keen to get regular business advice but don’t have the time to work out which blogs to subscribe to? Well, we’ve done the research for you.

Here’s a collection of business blogs aimed at entrepreneurs and small businesses. These have been chosen for their insights, advice, presentation and overall appeal to business people. Hopefully you’ll find these blogs cover all the business management advice and business trends analysis for your needs.

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1. Harvard Business Review

Harvard Business Review is a staple in any entrepreneur blog collection. The blog delivers timely business analysis and professional management advice.

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2. Young Entrepreneur

When you’re just starting our with your business venture, things can be a little tough. Young Entrepreneur focuses on the things you’ll need to know – financing, bootstrapping, identifying opportunities and making sales.

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3. 64 Notes

64 Notes gets straight to the nuggets of gold by bypassing straightforward management tips and filling each post with those eye-opening things that change your business from alright to amazing. They also write a lot about how to avoid being the start-up that failed.

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4. The Personal MBA

The Personal MBA is a blog dedicated to teaching all the tips and tricks you would have learned if you had done a degree in business. It recommends books, summarises books and draws on advice given freely by great minds in business. If you follow this blog you will learn a great deal about managing your business.

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5. Instigator Blog

Instigator Blog is a very insightful blog, mainly discussing thoughts relevant to small business and entrepreneurs, written by an entrepreneur as he works on his business.

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6. Fast Company

Fast Company is a major business blog, covering business news and trends. It’s vital information if you want to know where business is heading.

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7. Entrepreneur Blog

Entrepreneur Blog is a site dedicated to providing business insights to entrepreneurs. It will analyse business failures, successes and trends, while offering sensible advice for any business owner.

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8. The Entrepreneurial Mind

The Entrepreneurial Mind is a business blog written by a Belmont University professor of Entrepreneurship. His academic insight into the world of the entrepreneur is a great balance to the news and trends offered by other blogs.

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9. Creative Web Biz

Creative Web Biz is a great blog for all the artistic entrepreneurs out there. This is a place for those people who are entrepreneurs, but don’t much care for all the business management advice and trends. This blog is entirely focused on how to get that art out there and sold. Highly recommended for musicians, artists, and makers of other crafts.

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10. Work Happy

Work Happy is a blog offering advice for anyone in business for themselves. It’s useful for freelancers, small business owners and entrepreneurs alike. It features a lot of video presentations from entrepreneurs to keep things interesting.

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Bonus: Entrepreneurship Interviews

Entrepreneurship Interviews added itself on to the list by being a wealth of information in the form of interviews with entrepreneurs. It’s not much to look at, but there is a lot to be gained by listening to what other entrepreneurs say candidly about their own business ventures.

More Blogs

If you’re keen to see some more great blog lists from MakeUseOf, read on:

  • Four Best Inspiring Blogs Every Life Hacker Should Subscribe To
  • 3 Personal Finance Blogs That Will Get You Out Of Debt
  • The 10 Most Stunning Photo Blogs
  • 6 Best Web Design Blogs To Follow
  • The 6 Best Blogs For Architectural & Interior Design Ideas

If you know of other great blogs for business people, let us know in the comments!

Image Credit: Shutterstock

In the digital age, nobody likes carrying a lot of cash around – I know I don’t, anyway. This can be especially frustrating when you go to keep track of your expenses, who you owe money to, who you lent some to and just where it all goes over the month.

As always, there are a lot of apps out there to help you do various things with your money. There are apps to figure out how to manage your money, oversee expenses, send money to people, keep track of who owes you, and more.

In this article, I’ll show you some of the applications you can take advantage of to do everything I’ve mentioned here, leaving you free to pick and choose the apps that will make your life easier.

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How to Manage Your Money

I’m beginning to learn just how difficult managing your expenses can be. For the most part, I use my debit card tied to my checking account to make purchases. I use it at the grocery store, when I go out to lunch with my coworkers and on the weekend when I’m out exploring the city.

At the end of the month, my bank statement looks pretty ridiculous. All of these small transactions make it difficult to sift through. I still know what everything is, but if I wanted to see where I could be saving some money I wouldn’t know the first place to look.

Sounds like you? Even if it doesn’t, you could still reap the benefits of visually being able to manage your money. These apps make the process a lot easier.

Mint

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Mint has been on our radar since back in 2007 when Karl wrote about it. Plain and simple, if there is one app I want you to keep in mind it’s this one.

Mint is a free personal finance application that can help you compare your bank accounts, credit cards, CDs, brokerage and 401(k) to the best products out there. It offers a visual representation of your finances and is very easy to set up. Use it to manage your budget, get credit card advice and understand investing.

Here’s a great video showcasing an overview of Mint’s features:

For some helpful tips on how to use Mint, check out Bakari’s article on How To Use Mint To Manage Your Budget & Spendings Online.

Thrive

Thrive (directory app) is also a great application if you’re looking for a simple way to keep track of your spending. With Thrive, you get an overall Financial Health score, which is one number that shows you how financially fit you are. It also shows you scores in other areas and offers you advice on how to make improvements.

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Thrive breaks down your spending for you and shows you where you can save. Compare your current budget to last month’s, as well as view a six month average and target budgets to follow.

Texthog

Looking for an even simpler way to track expenses? Texthog (directory app) lets you easily store, organize and access your receipts, expense reports and more via text message, the web, your email, iPhone and even Twitter.

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A Texthog free account gives one user the ability to track expenses, view unlimited reports and get budget/bill reminders. Take a photo of your receipts and utilize tags and categories to keep track of everything.

To check out Texthog on your iPhone, you can find the application on iTunes.

Venmo

Speaking of text messages, have you heard of Venmo? Venmo (directory app) is a nice little app that lets you pay and charge friends with your phone. Send and receive secure payments by linking your card to your account. This allows you to settle small loans you give/get by eliminating paper transactions for small amounts of money.

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To use Venmo, all you do is create an account. You can then send and receive money to other accounts simply by using text commands in SMS. Accept a “trust” request from your friends and make transactions without having to authorize them by texting a 3 digit code.

This is a pretty solid application that I have been using a lot lately with my friends/coworkers. It’s great for when a bunch of you are out to lunch and not everyone has cash on them. “I’ll just put it on my card and Venmo you all afterwards.”

Owe Me Cash

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Owe Me Cash is a nice app I found recently that is also very easy to use. If someone owes you money, you just sign into Owe Me Cash with your Twitter, Facebook, OpenID, or regular account and tell the app about the debt. The app will send automatic reminders to those that owe you money by phone, text and email, so you can get paid!

This app is more fun than serious, but it doubles as an easy way to keep track of who owes you what. Let the app bug your friends to pay you so you don’t have to do it yourself – it’s a win-win.

Conclusion

With these applications, your finances will never look better. Say goodbye to paper money and change.

What do you think of these money-managing applications? Will you be using any of them?

Image Credit: marema


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Google <b>News</b> Blog: Credit where credit is due

News publishers and readers both benefit when journalists get proper credit for their work. That can be difficult, with news spreading so quickly and many websites syndicating articles to others. That's why we're experimenting with two ...

Great Dolly <b>News</b>! | PerezHilton.com

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Video: Is Cable <b>News</b> Actually <b>News</b>? - NYTimes.com

Video: Pondering the value and integrity of cable news.



9781572225800 by QuickStudy / BarCharts


Google <b>News</b> Blog: Credit where credit is due

News publishers and readers both benefit when journalists get proper credit for their work. That can be difficult, with news spreading so quickly and many websites syndicating articles to others. That's why we're experimenting with two ...

Great Dolly <b>News</b>! | PerezHilton.com

Yes! We´re totes excited for this! Dolly Parton made the official announcement on her website today that she is planning not only a brand new album full of brand new music, but a worldwide...

Video: Is Cable <b>News</b> Actually <b>News</b>? - NYTimes.com

Video: Pondering the value and integrity of cable news.


alpine payment systems scam

Google <b>News</b> Blog: Credit where credit is due

News publishers and readers both benefit when journalists get proper credit for their work. That can be difficult, with news spreading so quickly and many websites syndicating articles to others. That's why we're experimenting with two ...

Great Dolly <b>News</b>! | PerezHilton.com

Yes! We´re totes excited for this! Dolly Parton made the official announcement on her website today that she is planning not only a brand new album full of brand new music, but a worldwide...

Video: Is Cable <b>News</b> Actually <b>News</b>? - NYTimes.com

Video: Pondering the value and integrity of cable news.


foreclosure list


The LPS Mortgage Monitor has a nice series of 33 slides that shows delinquent loans had stabilized in the first half of 2010 but new problem loans are once again picking up.

Over 4 million homes are 90 days late or in foreclosure.

Total Delinquent and Foreclosure Rates



Delinquent loans still at troubling levels. Expect foreclosures to rise.


Noncurrent Loans



There are 7 million noncurrent loans but that is down from 8.1 million at the beginning of the year.

New Problem Loans




Unfortunately, things have gotten worse since July-August, just about when home prices stopped rising.


Average Days Delinquent for Homes in Foreclosure



That chart highlights the desperate need to speed up, not halt the foreclosure process.

Economic Conditions Deteriorating

Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, things are getting worse since mid-summer.

Adding to the housing misery, over 2 million unemployed workers will lose benefits starting November 30 unless Congress acts to extend benefits in the lame-duck session. Don't count on it.

Furthermore, gallup surveys point to a flat Christmas season at best, so seasonal hiring may not be as good as expected. Finally, stimulus money is spent and there is no driver for jobs with inventory replenishment nearing the end.

These factors will put still more pressure on delinquent loans and foreclosures, which in turn will further pressure prices.

The housing bottom may be a lot further off than most think, in terms of time and price.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List



See Part One of this liveblog here.


Shelby was actually pretty good, but then Johanns and Bennett went to some length to try to pretend the banksters weren’t doing what they were doing.


Johnson: Does the law need to be change?


Levitin: It’s not the law, it’s compliance w/the law. What was governing securitization was private contractual law. Servicers allowed to contract around UCC in Pooling and Servicing Agreements. Generally requirements set forth in PSAs not followed. A good reason for PSAs to be written the way they are: bankruptcy remote. If you don’t have that chain of endorsements, it’s going to be very difficult to prove you’ve got the chain of transfers in BK remoteness.


Levitin: This is a problem with following the law.


Johnson: What were barriers to recognizing doc problems that exist.


IA AG Tom Miller: People coming forward in foreclosure issues.


Johnson: What are the conflicts of interest?


BOA Desoer: “We do not take seconds into consideration” when modifying a first. 2nd Lien not an obstacle, does not get taken into consideration.


Chase Lowman: Second liens do not get in way of modifying first.


Tester: [referring to cases he's followed in MT] It’s not a pretty picture. [Describes constituent told by BoA not to make any payments] Can you tell me how servicer can ever tell homeowner not to pay a mortgage.


BoA Desoer: That is not what we should be telling homeowners.


Tester: Would you attribute this to employee that screwed up.


BoA Desoer: We will reinforce that aspect of communication to our teammates.


Tester: How can someone receive notice he’s in foreclosure before foreclosure process restarted?


BoA Desoer: The sale will not take place, but that customer will continue to get notices.


Tester: These particular hearings not particularly enjoyable for me. Not an isolated incident. MT is not a state where people come to Senator willy nilly. I don’t know how many people didn’t come to me and they just wound up on the street. It’s clear servicers have been a little bit glib, particularly about risks to their own balance sheets. Quite frankly, there ain’t gonna be more bailouts.


IA AG Miller: We want to work with the banks and the Feds.


Tester: Go to what Levitin said about Countrywide. This can be taken care of by the servicers. Their heads need to roll.


Merkley: GSEs say if foreclosure has begun before mod, servicer continue foreclosure during Mod. Is continued pestering on foreclosure during mod due to parallel processing.


Chase: Foreclosure sale won’t take effect.


Merkley: You don’t take the final step. [Now repeats a story on similar story of parallel processing] Can’t we just change this policy and suspend proceedings while mod going on?


Chase: New process prescribed by HAMP would necessitate that we enter into Mod process and engage prior to commencement of foreclosure.


Now Chase dude trying to blame it all on only relying on evidence taken over the phone.


Chase: Now we collect docs before we enter into trial period.


Merkley: Would it be possible to suspend foreclosure during mod?


BoA: We’re proposing, but can only do on our own loans.


Merkley: MERS. Case in OR where MERS cannot foreclose where they have no damage. We’re talking about rights of homeowner, but also confusion that can send shockwaves through system of home finance. Can any of you comment about what to do to honor homeowner rights and shock waves.


MERS: MERS makes all of that more clear. Find out who servicer and note-holder. Never available prior to MERS.


Merkley: Person who reps MERS at proceeding is normally person you designate as certifying officer. How many?


MERS: It’s not temporary, it’s limited. Limited to 7 specific. 20,000 of those nationwide.


Bennet: It is so depressing how little we’ve moved in last 3 years. On HAMP, I wrote to Admin suggesting that servicers who were part of HAMP ought to not be able to pursue foreclosures. My understanding Admin put forward policy to that effect. Status? Are you in position to not pursue foreclosures?


BoA: Not in position to say we’re not going to follow foreclosure process in parallel. We will not proceed w/foreclosure sale. Eliminating parallel process has not yet taken place.


Bennet: Gating?


BoA: Investor requirements.


NCLC Thompson: For HAMP, does halt foreclosure process, but only for loans that are not yet in foreclosure. It does not relate back to cover loans already in foreclosure process.


Bennet: 22 months of town hall meetings people bringing their documents. Servicers telling them what they’re doing is okay. I can’t understand misalignment of interest. I don’t believe it’s possible to prop up value of all these houses. Clearly in interest to prop up the value of those homes. For investors in their interest to have homeowner to keep paying.


Levitin: 2 problems. Mortgage servicers. Simply put, foreclosure is either less costly or more profitable than mod.


Bennet: Not for investors.


Levitin: Servicers do not match investors. Loans on bank books. Strong disincentive to recognize losses quickly. 40% not securitized. We don’t know how many mortgages there are in US. Somewhere between 50-60 million. If loan defaults, bank can stretch out time. If bank writes down now, it’s taking immediate loss. Almost all 2nd liens on banks books. Held by 4 largest banks. BoA, Chase, Citi, Wells. Roughly equal to mkt cap of those four banks. If they started writing off these liens, they’d be insolvent.


IA AG Miller: You’ve made my speech [to Levitin] better than I did. Culture to get over, that servicers traditionally their job was to turn over $$ to investors. Now being asked to do something totally different. To underwrite loans. Our belief, State AGs, like yours, a lot more mods should be made. Working w/servicers what solution should be.


Dodd: Yes or no, do you disagree w/what Bennet said.


BoA: Largest consumer bank, aligned w/consumers being healthy and economy recovering.


Chase: Yes.


Thompson: If I may, we spent a lot of time talking about why servicers aren’t modifying. [lays out report] Three key changes: Ending 2-track system, requiring mod before foreclosure, requiring that mod being offered if would provide net benefit to investor, BEFORE FEES ADDED ON. 2) complicated rules imposed by PSAs. Reduce repayment of servicer expense when mod. WHen foreclosure, servicers get paid off the top. 3) Reduce default fees.


Akaka: It’s not the law, it’s not being complied to. Many problems have been addressed here. Recs?


Thompson: Key recs in testimony. Much better compliance if you fund quality mediation programs and legal services. If you can get servicers into program to focus on that particular loan. Those need to be funded. Dodd Frank authorized 35 million for legal services, that money has not been appropriated. All robosigning found by legal services.


Miller: I’d underscore funding issue. Legal services terribly underfunded. In terms of substantive leg, it might depend on how we come out w/our investigation, if we can’t solve, you might think about regulation on fees.


Dodd: How long AG investigation?


Miller: Months, rather than year or longer. Depends on negotiations. If we expand scope, expands time. Maybe something on fees allowed. Forced insurance, huge abuse. Same thing w/dual track. If you all could solve the 2nd lien problem.


Levitin: Support everything Thompson and Miller. Alternative that would go farther. Taking servicers out of loan mod altogether. We’re trying to get them enter business line they’re not used to doing. Having federally administered loan mod program. Would not necessarily have to be through BK courts, though it could.


Reed: You anticipated my question. How do we deal w/millions of indiv cases? SDNY BK judges are already doing this.


Levitin: You need to make sure quiet title in US. Ultimately, real problem is that there are losses. We have to figure out how to allocate them. Right now losses put on MBS holders and average homeowners. Losses have to go somewhere. Banks, homeowners, govt, investors. Not govt, had that already in 2008.


Dodd; very perceptive.


Levitin: It might get me tenure. No one wants to see losses on homeowners, but that’s where it’s falling. So investors or banks. Investors didn’t originate problems. In many cases, investors saying “we thought we were buying better paper.” We need to allocate the losses. We can avoid that for a time. As long as we don’t address loss allocation, making a choice, stick losses on homeowners and investors, and that’s not where they should be.


Reed: What if it gets worse. Problem for all institutions. We have to start moving towards a solution, things are getting worse in my mind. Will your recs touch upon discussions about BK-like approach? Talk about some type of distrib?


Miller: Could be recs, core would be agreement w/banks that are servicers. Trying to change paradigm w/them staying in place. They’re not going to agree to kinds of fundamental change that you’ve talked about. So it functions way Bennet said it should function. Some provisions, requirements they’d have to live up to. There’d have to be some way it’d be enforced. We struggle w/dysfunction of system. It’s a system that was designed to collect $$. Talking to investors, talking to consumer groups. Do the best we can and let the chips fall. We need agreement from the banks.


Reed: Appreciate what you’re doing. MOnths from now, recs, which might take further. Do we have that time. Not just homeowners, but the economy. If economy gets worse for reasons unrelated, bottom keeps slipping down down down down.


Miller: We feel that pressure, btw.


Reed: [To BoA and Chase] Implicit, could be significant losses. Are efforts being made to minimize losses, or to effectively deal w/mods. And I suspect constant tension.


BoA: Not conflict in our company. Nothing more important than doing this right. We have moved as many resources, into servicing space. We have made progress.


Chase: We have sustained billions of losses in this crisis, as a bank. Best outcome is to keep person in home and keep paying. Don’t have anything to gain to have someone go into foreclosure. Interests aligned, doing everything we can.


Reed: Require industry standard full attempt to mod prior to foreclosure being enacted, might require renegotiating contracts w/trust. Would you consider?


Chase: As we’ve described in HAMP program requirement today. Have to offer a mod.


Thompson: In our view HAMP, what Loman said, over time, we’ll see a mod being offered. Over time, means 10s and 100s and perhaps millions until you get to point before mod offered before foreclosure. Over time, millions of dollars of fees piled on.


Levitin: Requirement only applies to HAMP eligible, only 1/6. We have a problem of HAMP too narrow a focus.


Dodd: Importance to anticipate systemic risk. This seems to be like classic example. We are in crisis w/this. Not yet one that is systemic like 08. Idea is to head off systemic process. Any conversation w/Treasury?


Chase; Haven’t had contact w/council. Repeated w/AAS Michael Barr.


Dodd: Urge Sec Treas to convene that council to start talking about this.


Dodd: [To BoA and Chase] Suggestions Thompson made, Elimination of 2 track system. End of two track system. Second, proposes failure to offer mod, where mod net present positive, be allowed to use as defense against foreclosure. Principle reduction should be mandatory under HAMP.


Chase: WRT two track system. As I mentioned, HAMP already requires.


Dodd: Would you be willing to accept?


Chase: We have now, a process, where every defaulted borrowed. We start mod much sooner than when borrower referred to foreclosure.


Dodd: So you reject that. How about #2. If mod better return for investors, using as defense.


Chase: Net present value models, in cases where it is in interest of investor to mod, we offer mod.


Dodd: Using a model is one thing.


Chase: If we should mod, it should be modified.


Chase: Principle reduction. Participating in HAMP. Most important, affordable payments. REducing interest rate. Duty to investors to minimize losses. Need to insure that collatoral values are there.


Dodd: Why wouldn’t it make more sense.


BoA: Very interested in discussing changes w/existing pipeline. We do have proprietary program on principle reduction. For hardest hit states w/govt funding.


Merkley: Clarify a couple points. Sought to create safe harbor for servicers from investors so follow HAMP. Not subject to suits. Did it not provide enough protection?


BoA: Dual track, where BoA is investor, ability to do something about that. But for rest, it would take their approval.


Chase: I’m not certain we have the right safe harbor. But I’ll follow up.


BoA: We have inconsistencies. There are customer issues. I do not deny that. For a homeowner who has an ability to pay, that’s what we’re committed to make happen.


Merkley: Not contesting her assessment, but reputation of banks weighs that out.


Levitin: Many servicers in different sit than BoA. Plenty servicers who service under completely different name. Consumer unlikely to make any connection.


Merkley: Financial incentives not offset by reputation.


Chase: As servicer, calculation used to determine whether to foreclosure or renumerate doesn’t take into factor servicing $$. Incented to modify.


Merkley: Systemic risk that comes from legal issues being raised.


Dodd: Subject matter of next hearing. Say this respectfully of others. 30% in judicial states. Of that 30%, 60% in FL.


BoA: In BoA’s portfolio.


Dodd: 70% in non-judicial states. Burden on homeowner. Burden shifts. Judicial burden more on servicing side. Anything to draw from states, that 70% in non-judicial, why we’re seeing so many more foreclosures in non-judicial states.


BoA: Economic factors, unemployment, housing price declines. I don’t think FL is related to judicial or non-judicial state.


Dodd: Does framework have any impact on outcome.


Thompson: CA and NV nonjudicial. Some studies show judicial delays time to foreclosure, and increases slightly mod.


Dodd: Foreclosed homes bought, bought w/cash.


BoA: 30% of all purchases are purchased w/cash.


Dodd: That number, bought w/cash, these are not owner-occupied.


BoA: Vast majority investors rather than primary homeowners?


Dodd: Neighborhoods?


BoA: Could mean shift to rental, but primary indication is that there are investors w/cash who think price of property is right to earn return as rental. As we acquire real estate after foreclosure. Sell relatively quickly.


Dodd; Is correlation between having less owner-occupied and value of other properties.



benchcraft company scam

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Yes! We´re totes excited for this! Dolly Parton made the official announcement on her website today that she is planning not only a brand new album full of brand new music, but a worldwide...

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bench craft company scam

The LPS Mortgage Monitor has a nice series of 33 slides that shows delinquent loans had stabilized in the first half of 2010 but new problem loans are once again picking up.

Over 4 million homes are 90 days late or in foreclosure.

Total Delinquent and Foreclosure Rates



Delinquent loans still at troubling levels. Expect foreclosures to rise.


Noncurrent Loans



There are 7 million noncurrent loans but that is down from 8.1 million at the beginning of the year.

New Problem Loans




Unfortunately, things have gotten worse since July-August, just about when home prices stopped rising.


Average Days Delinquent for Homes in Foreclosure



That chart highlights the desperate need to speed up, not halt the foreclosure process.

Economic Conditions Deteriorating

Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, things are getting worse since mid-summer.

Adding to the housing misery, over 2 million unemployed workers will lose benefits starting November 30 unless Congress acts to extend benefits in the lame-duck session. Don't count on it.

Furthermore, gallup surveys point to a flat Christmas season at best, so seasonal hiring may not be as good as expected. Finally, stimulus money is spent and there is no driver for jobs with inventory replenishment nearing the end.

These factors will put still more pressure on delinquent loans and foreclosures, which in turn will further pressure prices.

The housing bottom may be a lot further off than most think, in terms of time and price.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List



See Part One of this liveblog here.


Shelby was actually pretty good, but then Johanns and Bennett went to some length to try to pretend the banksters weren’t doing what they were doing.


Johnson: Does the law need to be change?


Levitin: It’s not the law, it’s compliance w/the law. What was governing securitization was private contractual law. Servicers allowed to contract around UCC in Pooling and Servicing Agreements. Generally requirements set forth in PSAs not followed. A good reason for PSAs to be written the way they are: bankruptcy remote. If you don’t have that chain of endorsements, it’s going to be very difficult to prove you’ve got the chain of transfers in BK remoteness.


Levitin: This is a problem with following the law.


Johnson: What were barriers to recognizing doc problems that exist.


IA AG Tom Miller: People coming forward in foreclosure issues.


Johnson: What are the conflicts of interest?


BOA Desoer: “We do not take seconds into consideration” when modifying a first. 2nd Lien not an obstacle, does not get taken into consideration.


Chase Lowman: Second liens do not get in way of modifying first.


Tester: [referring to cases he's followed in MT] It’s not a pretty picture. [Describes constituent told by BoA not to make any payments] Can you tell me how servicer can ever tell homeowner not to pay a mortgage.


BoA Desoer: That is not what we should be telling homeowners.


Tester: Would you attribute this to employee that screwed up.


BoA Desoer: We will reinforce that aspect of communication to our teammates.


Tester: How can someone receive notice he’s in foreclosure before foreclosure process restarted?


BoA Desoer: The sale will not take place, but that customer will continue to get notices.


Tester: These particular hearings not particularly enjoyable for me. Not an isolated incident. MT is not a state where people come to Senator willy nilly. I don’t know how many people didn’t come to me and they just wound up on the street. It’s clear servicers have been a little bit glib, particularly about risks to their own balance sheets. Quite frankly, there ain’t gonna be more bailouts.


IA AG Miller: We want to work with the banks and the Feds.


Tester: Go to what Levitin said about Countrywide. This can be taken care of by the servicers. Their heads need to roll.


Merkley: GSEs say if foreclosure has begun before mod, servicer continue foreclosure during Mod. Is continued pestering on foreclosure during mod due to parallel processing.


Chase: Foreclosure sale won’t take effect.


Merkley: You don’t take the final step. [Now repeats a story on similar story of parallel processing] Can’t we just change this policy and suspend proceedings while mod going on?


Chase: New process prescribed by HAMP would necessitate that we enter into Mod process and engage prior to commencement of foreclosure.


Now Chase dude trying to blame it all on only relying on evidence taken over the phone.


Chase: Now we collect docs before we enter into trial period.


Merkley: Would it be possible to suspend foreclosure during mod?


BoA: We’re proposing, but can only do on our own loans.


Merkley: MERS. Case in OR where MERS cannot foreclose where they have no damage. We’re talking about rights of homeowner, but also confusion that can send shockwaves through system of home finance. Can any of you comment about what to do to honor homeowner rights and shock waves.


MERS: MERS makes all of that more clear. Find out who servicer and note-holder. Never available prior to MERS.


Merkley: Person who reps MERS at proceeding is normally person you designate as certifying officer. How many?


MERS: It’s not temporary, it’s limited. Limited to 7 specific. 20,000 of those nationwide.


Bennet: It is so depressing how little we’ve moved in last 3 years. On HAMP, I wrote to Admin suggesting that servicers who were part of HAMP ought to not be able to pursue foreclosures. My understanding Admin put forward policy to that effect. Status? Are you in position to not pursue foreclosures?


BoA: Not in position to say we’re not going to follow foreclosure process in parallel. We will not proceed w/foreclosure sale. Eliminating parallel process has not yet taken place.


Bennet: Gating?


BoA: Investor requirements.


NCLC Thompson: For HAMP, does halt foreclosure process, but only for loans that are not yet in foreclosure. It does not relate back to cover loans already in foreclosure process.


Bennet: 22 months of town hall meetings people bringing their documents. Servicers telling them what they’re doing is okay. I can’t understand misalignment of interest. I don’t believe it’s possible to prop up value of all these houses. Clearly in interest to prop up the value of those homes. For investors in their interest to have homeowner to keep paying.


Levitin: 2 problems. Mortgage servicers. Simply put, foreclosure is either less costly or more profitable than mod.


Bennet: Not for investors.


Levitin: Servicers do not match investors. Loans on bank books. Strong disincentive to recognize losses quickly. 40% not securitized. We don’t know how many mortgages there are in US. Somewhere between 50-60 million. If loan defaults, bank can stretch out time. If bank writes down now, it’s taking immediate loss. Almost all 2nd liens on banks books. Held by 4 largest banks. BoA, Chase, Citi, Wells. Roughly equal to mkt cap of those four banks. If they started writing off these liens, they’d be insolvent.


IA AG Miller: You’ve made my speech [to Levitin] better than I did. Culture to get over, that servicers traditionally their job was to turn over $$ to investors. Now being asked to do something totally different. To underwrite loans. Our belief, State AGs, like yours, a lot more mods should be made. Working w/servicers what solution should be.


Dodd: Yes or no, do you disagree w/what Bennet said.


BoA: Largest consumer bank, aligned w/consumers being healthy and economy recovering.


Chase: Yes.


Thompson: If I may, we spent a lot of time talking about why servicers aren’t modifying. [lays out report] Three key changes: Ending 2-track system, requiring mod before foreclosure, requiring that mod being offered if would provide net benefit to investor, BEFORE FEES ADDED ON. 2) complicated rules imposed by PSAs. Reduce repayment of servicer expense when mod. WHen foreclosure, servicers get paid off the top. 3) Reduce default fees.


Akaka: It’s not the law, it’s not being complied to. Many problems have been addressed here. Recs?


Thompson: Key recs in testimony. Much better compliance if you fund quality mediation programs and legal services. If you can get servicers into program to focus on that particular loan. Those need to be funded. Dodd Frank authorized 35 million for legal services, that money has not been appropriated. All robosigning found by legal services.


Miller: I’d underscore funding issue. Legal services terribly underfunded. In terms of substantive leg, it might depend on how we come out w/our investigation, if we can’t solve, you might think about regulation on fees.


Dodd: How long AG investigation?


Miller: Months, rather than year or longer. Depends on negotiations. If we expand scope, expands time. Maybe something on fees allowed. Forced insurance, huge abuse. Same thing w/dual track. If you all could solve the 2nd lien problem.


Levitin: Support everything Thompson and Miller. Alternative that would go farther. Taking servicers out of loan mod altogether. We’re trying to get them enter business line they’re not used to doing. Having federally administered loan mod program. Would not necessarily have to be through BK courts, though it could.


Reed: You anticipated my question. How do we deal w/millions of indiv cases? SDNY BK judges are already doing this.


Levitin: You need to make sure quiet title in US. Ultimately, real problem is that there are losses. We have to figure out how to allocate them. Right now losses put on MBS holders and average homeowners. Losses have to go somewhere. Banks, homeowners, govt, investors. Not govt, had that already in 2008.


Dodd; very perceptive.


Levitin: It might get me tenure. No one wants to see losses on homeowners, but that’s where it’s falling. So investors or banks. Investors didn’t originate problems. In many cases, investors saying “we thought we were buying better paper.” We need to allocate the losses. We can avoid that for a time. As long as we don’t address loss allocation, making a choice, stick losses on homeowners and investors, and that’s not where they should be.


Reed: What if it gets worse. Problem for all institutions. We have to start moving towards a solution, things are getting worse in my mind. Will your recs touch upon discussions about BK-like approach? Talk about some type of distrib?


Miller: Could be recs, core would be agreement w/banks that are servicers. Trying to change paradigm w/them staying in place. They’re not going to agree to kinds of fundamental change that you’ve talked about. So it functions way Bennet said it should function. Some provisions, requirements they’d have to live up to. There’d have to be some way it’d be enforced. We struggle w/dysfunction of system. It’s a system that was designed to collect $$. Talking to investors, talking to consumer groups. Do the best we can and let the chips fall. We need agreement from the banks.


Reed: Appreciate what you’re doing. MOnths from now, recs, which might take further. Do we have that time. Not just homeowners, but the economy. If economy gets worse for reasons unrelated, bottom keeps slipping down down down down.


Miller: We feel that pressure, btw.


Reed: [To BoA and Chase] Implicit, could be significant losses. Are efforts being made to minimize losses, or to effectively deal w/mods. And I suspect constant tension.


BoA: Not conflict in our company. Nothing more important than doing this right. We have moved as many resources, into servicing space. We have made progress.


Chase: We have sustained billions of losses in this crisis, as a bank. Best outcome is to keep person in home and keep paying. Don’t have anything to gain to have someone go into foreclosure. Interests aligned, doing everything we can.


Reed: Require industry standard full attempt to mod prior to foreclosure being enacted, might require renegotiating contracts w/trust. Would you consider?


Chase: As we’ve described in HAMP program requirement today. Have to offer a mod.


Thompson: In our view HAMP, what Loman said, over time, we’ll see a mod being offered. Over time, means 10s and 100s and perhaps millions until you get to point before mod offered before foreclosure. Over time, millions of dollars of fees piled on.


Levitin: Requirement only applies to HAMP eligible, only 1/6. We have a problem of HAMP too narrow a focus.


Dodd: Importance to anticipate systemic risk. This seems to be like classic example. We are in crisis w/this. Not yet one that is systemic like 08. Idea is to head off systemic process. Any conversation w/Treasury?


Chase; Haven’t had contact w/council. Repeated w/AAS Michael Barr.


Dodd: Urge Sec Treas to convene that council to start talking about this.


Dodd: [To BoA and Chase] Suggestions Thompson made, Elimination of 2 track system. End of two track system. Second, proposes failure to offer mod, where mod net present positive, be allowed to use as defense against foreclosure. Principle reduction should be mandatory under HAMP.


Chase: WRT two track system. As I mentioned, HAMP already requires.


Dodd: Would you be willing to accept?


Chase: We have now, a process, where every defaulted borrowed. We start mod much sooner than when borrower referred to foreclosure.


Dodd: So you reject that. How about #2. If mod better return for investors, using as defense.


Chase: Net present value models, in cases where it is in interest of investor to mod, we offer mod.


Dodd: Using a model is one thing.


Chase: If we should mod, it should be modified.


Chase: Principle reduction. Participating in HAMP. Most important, affordable payments. REducing interest rate. Duty to investors to minimize losses. Need to insure that collatoral values are there.


Dodd: Why wouldn’t it make more sense.


BoA: Very interested in discussing changes w/existing pipeline. We do have proprietary program on principle reduction. For hardest hit states w/govt funding.


Merkley: Clarify a couple points. Sought to create safe harbor for servicers from investors so follow HAMP. Not subject to suits. Did it not provide enough protection?


BoA: Dual track, where BoA is investor, ability to do something about that. But for rest, it would take their approval.


Chase: I’m not certain we have the right safe harbor. But I’ll follow up.


BoA: We have inconsistencies. There are customer issues. I do not deny that. For a homeowner who has an ability to pay, that’s what we’re committed to make happen.


Merkley: Not contesting her assessment, but reputation of banks weighs that out.


Levitin: Many servicers in different sit than BoA. Plenty servicers who service under completely different name. Consumer unlikely to make any connection.


Merkley: Financial incentives not offset by reputation.


Chase: As servicer, calculation used to determine whether to foreclosure or renumerate doesn’t take into factor servicing $$. Incented to modify.


Merkley: Systemic risk that comes from legal issues being raised.


Dodd: Subject matter of next hearing. Say this respectfully of others. 30% in judicial states. Of that 30%, 60% in FL.


BoA: In BoA’s portfolio.


Dodd: 70% in non-judicial states. Burden on homeowner. Burden shifts. Judicial burden more on servicing side. Anything to draw from states, that 70% in non-judicial, why we’re seeing so many more foreclosures in non-judicial states.


BoA: Economic factors, unemployment, housing price declines. I don’t think FL is related to judicial or non-judicial state.


Dodd: Does framework have any impact on outcome.


Thompson: CA and NV nonjudicial. Some studies show judicial delays time to foreclosure, and increases slightly mod.


Dodd: Foreclosed homes bought, bought w/cash.


BoA: 30% of all purchases are purchased w/cash.


Dodd: That number, bought w/cash, these are not owner-occupied.


BoA: Vast majority investors rather than primary homeowners?


Dodd: Neighborhoods?


BoA: Could mean shift to rental, but primary indication is that there are investors w/cash who think price of property is right to earn return as rental. As we acquire real estate after foreclosure. Sell relatively quickly.


Dodd; Is correlation between having less owner-occupied and value of other properties.



bench craft company scam

Great Dolly <b>News</b>! | PerezHilton.com

Yes! We´re totes excited for this! Dolly Parton made the official announcement on her website today that she is planning not only a brand new album full of brand new music, but a worldwide...

Nintendo hasn&#39;t discontinued Wii Speak Wii <b>News</b> - Page 1 <b>...</b>

Read our Wii news of Nintendo hasn't discontinued Wii Speak.

Google <b>News</b> Blog: Credit where credit is due

News publishers and readers both benefit when journalists get proper credit for their work. That can be difficult, with news spreading so quickly and many websites syndicating articles to others. That's why we're experimenting with two ...


bench craft company scam

benchcraft company scam

Just Listed Foreclosure In Clarendon, Columbus County by Broker Shawn


bench craft company scam

Great Dolly <b>News</b>! | PerezHilton.com

Yes! We´re totes excited for this! Dolly Parton made the official announcement on her website today that she is planning not only a brand new album full of brand new music, but a worldwide...

Nintendo hasn&#39;t discontinued Wii Speak Wii <b>News</b> - Page 1 <b>...</b>

Read our Wii news of Nintendo hasn't discontinued Wii Speak.

Google <b>News</b> Blog: Credit where credit is due

News publishers and readers both benefit when journalists get proper credit for their work. That can be difficult, with news spreading so quickly and many websites syndicating articles to others. That's why we're experimenting with two ...


bench craft company scam

The LPS Mortgage Monitor has a nice series of 33 slides that shows delinquent loans had stabilized in the first half of 2010 but new problem loans are once again picking up.

Over 4 million homes are 90 days late or in foreclosure.

Total Delinquent and Foreclosure Rates



Delinquent loans still at troubling levels. Expect foreclosures to rise.


Noncurrent Loans



There are 7 million noncurrent loans but that is down from 8.1 million at the beginning of the year.

New Problem Loans




Unfortunately, things have gotten worse since July-August, just about when home prices stopped rising.


Average Days Delinquent for Homes in Foreclosure



That chart highlights the desperate need to speed up, not halt the foreclosure process.

Economic Conditions Deteriorating

Unfortunately, but not unexpectedly, things are getting worse since mid-summer.

Adding to the housing misery, over 2 million unemployed workers will lose benefits starting November 30 unless Congress acts to extend benefits in the lame-duck session. Don't count on it.

Furthermore, gallup surveys point to a flat Christmas season at best, so seasonal hiring may not be as good as expected. Finally, stimulus money is spent and there is no driver for jobs with inventory replenishment nearing the end.

These factors will put still more pressure on delinquent loans and foreclosures, which in turn will further pressure prices.

The housing bottom may be a lot further off than most think, in terms of time and price.

Mike "Mish" Shedlock
http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com
Click Here To Scroll Thru My Recent Post List



See Part One of this liveblog here.


Shelby was actually pretty good, but then Johanns and Bennett went to some length to try to pretend the banksters weren’t doing what they were doing.


Johnson: Does the law need to be change?


Levitin: It’s not the law, it’s compliance w/the law. What was governing securitization was private contractual law. Servicers allowed to contract around UCC in Pooling and Servicing Agreements. Generally requirements set forth in PSAs not followed. A good reason for PSAs to be written the way they are: bankruptcy remote. If you don’t have that chain of endorsements, it’s going to be very difficult to prove you’ve got the chain of transfers in BK remoteness.


Levitin: This is a problem with following the law.


Johnson: What were barriers to recognizing doc problems that exist.


IA AG Tom Miller: People coming forward in foreclosure issues.


Johnson: What are the conflicts of interest?


BOA Desoer: “We do not take seconds into consideration” when modifying a first. 2nd Lien not an obstacle, does not get taken into consideration.


Chase Lowman: Second liens do not get in way of modifying first.


Tester: [referring to cases he's followed in MT] It’s not a pretty picture. [Describes constituent told by BoA not to make any payments] Can you tell me how servicer can ever tell homeowner not to pay a mortgage.


BoA Desoer: That is not what we should be telling homeowners.


Tester: Would you attribute this to employee that screwed up.


BoA Desoer: We will reinforce that aspect of communication to our teammates.


Tester: How can someone receive notice he’s in foreclosure before foreclosure process restarted?


BoA Desoer: The sale will not take place, but that customer will continue to get notices.


Tester: These particular hearings not particularly enjoyable for me. Not an isolated incident. MT is not a state where people come to Senator willy nilly. I don’t know how many people didn’t come to me and they just wound up on the street. It’s clear servicers have been a little bit glib, particularly about risks to their own balance sheets. Quite frankly, there ain’t gonna be more bailouts.


IA AG Miller: We want to work with the banks and the Feds.


Tester: Go to what Levitin said about Countrywide. This can be taken care of by the servicers. Their heads need to roll.


Merkley: GSEs say if foreclosure has begun before mod, servicer continue foreclosure during Mod. Is continued pestering on foreclosure during mod due to parallel processing.


Chase: Foreclosure sale won’t take effect.


Merkley: You don’t take the final step. [Now repeats a story on similar story of parallel processing] Can’t we just change this policy and suspend proceedings while mod going on?


Chase: New process prescribed by HAMP would necessitate that we enter into Mod process and engage prior to commencement of foreclosure.


Now Chase dude trying to blame it all on only relying on evidence taken over the phone.


Chase: Now we collect docs before we enter into trial period.


Merkley: Would it be possible to suspend foreclosure during mod?


BoA: We’re proposing, but can only do on our own loans.


Merkley: MERS. Case in OR where MERS cannot foreclose where they have no damage. We’re talking about rights of homeowner, but also confusion that can send shockwaves through system of home finance. Can any of you comment about what to do to honor homeowner rights and shock waves.


MERS: MERS makes all of that more clear. Find out who servicer and note-holder. Never available prior to MERS.


Merkley: Person who reps MERS at proceeding is normally person you designate as certifying officer. How many?


MERS: It’s not temporary, it’s limited. Limited to 7 specific. 20,000 of those nationwide.


Bennet: It is so depressing how little we’ve moved in last 3 years. On HAMP, I wrote to Admin suggesting that servicers who were part of HAMP ought to not be able to pursue foreclosures. My understanding Admin put forward policy to that effect. Status? Are you in position to not pursue foreclosures?


BoA: Not in position to say we’re not going to follow foreclosure process in parallel. We will not proceed w/foreclosure sale. Eliminating parallel process has not yet taken place.


Bennet: Gating?


BoA: Investor requirements.


NCLC Thompson: For HAMP, does halt foreclosure process, but only for loans that are not yet in foreclosure. It does not relate back to cover loans already in foreclosure process.


Bennet: 22 months of town hall meetings people bringing their documents. Servicers telling them what they’re doing is okay. I can’t understand misalignment of interest. I don’t believe it’s possible to prop up value of all these houses. Clearly in interest to prop up the value of those homes. For investors in their interest to have homeowner to keep paying.


Levitin: 2 problems. Mortgage servicers. Simply put, foreclosure is either less costly or more profitable than mod.


Bennet: Not for investors.


Levitin: Servicers do not match investors. Loans on bank books. Strong disincentive to recognize losses quickly. 40% not securitized. We don’t know how many mortgages there are in US. Somewhere between 50-60 million. If loan defaults, bank can stretch out time. If bank writes down now, it’s taking immediate loss. Almost all 2nd liens on banks books. Held by 4 largest banks. BoA, Chase, Citi, Wells. Roughly equal to mkt cap of those four banks. If they started writing off these liens, they’d be insolvent.


IA AG Miller: You’ve made my speech [to Levitin] better than I did. Culture to get over, that servicers traditionally their job was to turn over $$ to investors. Now being asked to do something totally different. To underwrite loans. Our belief, State AGs, like yours, a lot more mods should be made. Working w/servicers what solution should be.


Dodd: Yes or no, do you disagree w/what Bennet said.


BoA: Largest consumer bank, aligned w/consumers being healthy and economy recovering.


Chase: Yes.


Thompson: If I may, we spent a lot of time talking about why servicers aren’t modifying. [lays out report] Three key changes: Ending 2-track system, requiring mod before foreclosure, requiring that mod being offered if would provide net benefit to investor, BEFORE FEES ADDED ON. 2) complicated rules imposed by PSAs. Reduce repayment of servicer expense when mod. WHen foreclosure, servicers get paid off the top. 3) Reduce default fees.


Akaka: It’s not the law, it’s not being complied to. Many problems have been addressed here. Recs?


Thompson: Key recs in testimony. Much better compliance if you fund quality mediation programs and legal services. If you can get servicers into program to focus on that particular loan. Those need to be funded. Dodd Frank authorized 35 million for legal services, that money has not been appropriated. All robosigning found by legal services.


Miller: I’d underscore funding issue. Legal services terribly underfunded. In terms of substantive leg, it might depend on how we come out w/our investigation, if we can’t solve, you might think about regulation on fees.


Dodd: How long AG investigation?


Miller: Months, rather than year or longer. Depends on negotiations. If we expand scope, expands time. Maybe something on fees allowed. Forced insurance, huge abuse. Same thing w/dual track. If you all could solve the 2nd lien problem.


Levitin: Support everything Thompson and Miller. Alternative that would go farther. Taking servicers out of loan mod altogether. We’re trying to get them enter business line they’re not used to doing. Having federally administered loan mod program. Would not necessarily have to be through BK courts, though it could.


Reed: You anticipated my question. How do we deal w/millions of indiv cases? SDNY BK judges are already doing this.


Levitin: You need to make sure quiet title in US. Ultimately, real problem is that there are losses. We have to figure out how to allocate them. Right now losses put on MBS holders and average homeowners. Losses have to go somewhere. Banks, homeowners, govt, investors. Not govt, had that already in 2008.


Dodd; very perceptive.


Levitin: It might get me tenure. No one wants to see losses on homeowners, but that’s where it’s falling. So investors or banks. Investors didn’t originate problems. In many cases, investors saying “we thought we were buying better paper.” We need to allocate the losses. We can avoid that for a time. As long as we don’t address loss allocation, making a choice, stick losses on homeowners and investors, and that’s not where they should be.


Reed: What if it gets worse. Problem for all institutions. We have to start moving towards a solution, things are getting worse in my mind. Will your recs touch upon discussions about BK-like approach? Talk about some type of distrib?


Miller: Could be recs, core would be agreement w/banks that are servicers. Trying to change paradigm w/them staying in place. They’re not going to agree to kinds of fundamental change that you’ve talked about. So it functions way Bennet said it should function. Some provisions, requirements they’d have to live up to. There’d have to be some way it’d be enforced. We struggle w/dysfunction of system. It’s a system that was designed to collect $$. Talking to investors, talking to consumer groups. Do the best we can and let the chips fall. We need agreement from the banks.


Reed: Appreciate what you’re doing. MOnths from now, recs, which might take further. Do we have that time. Not just homeowners, but the economy. If economy gets worse for reasons unrelated, bottom keeps slipping down down down down.


Miller: We feel that pressure, btw.


Reed: [To BoA and Chase] Implicit, could be significant losses. Are efforts being made to minimize losses, or to effectively deal w/mods. And I suspect constant tension.


BoA: Not conflict in our company. Nothing more important than doing this right. We have moved as many resources, into servicing space. We have made progress.


Chase: We have sustained billions of losses in this crisis, as a bank. Best outcome is to keep person in home and keep paying. Don’t have anything to gain to have someone go into foreclosure. Interests aligned, doing everything we can.


Reed: Require industry standard full attempt to mod prior to foreclosure being enacted, might require renegotiating contracts w/trust. Would you consider?


Chase: As we’ve described in HAMP program requirement today. Have to offer a mod.


Thompson: In our view HAMP, what Loman said, over time, we’ll see a mod being offered. Over time, means 10s and 100s and perhaps millions until you get to point before mod offered before foreclosure. Over time, millions of dollars of fees piled on.


Levitin: Requirement only applies to HAMP eligible, only 1/6. We have a problem of HAMP too narrow a focus.


Dodd: Importance to anticipate systemic risk. This seems to be like classic example. We are in crisis w/this. Not yet one that is systemic like 08. Idea is to head off systemic process. Any conversation w/Treasury?


Chase; Haven’t had contact w/council. Repeated w/AAS Michael Barr.


Dodd: Urge Sec Treas to convene that council to start talking about this.


Dodd: [To BoA and Chase] Suggestions Thompson made, Elimination of 2 track system. End of two track system. Second, proposes failure to offer mod, where mod net present positive, be allowed to use as defense against foreclosure. Principle reduction should be mandatory under HAMP.


Chase: WRT two track system. As I mentioned, HAMP already requires.


Dodd: Would you be willing to accept?


Chase: We have now, a process, where every defaulted borrowed. We start mod much sooner than when borrower referred to foreclosure.


Dodd: So you reject that. How about #2. If mod better return for investors, using as defense.


Chase: Net present value models, in cases where it is in interest of investor to mod, we offer mod.


Dodd: Using a model is one thing.


Chase: If we should mod, it should be modified.


Chase: Principle reduction. Participating in HAMP. Most important, affordable payments. REducing interest rate. Duty to investors to minimize losses. Need to insure that collatoral values are there.


Dodd: Why wouldn’t it make more sense.


BoA: Very interested in discussing changes w/existing pipeline. We do have proprietary program on principle reduction. For hardest hit states w/govt funding.


Merkley: Clarify a couple points. Sought to create safe harbor for servicers from investors so follow HAMP. Not subject to suits. Did it not provide enough protection?


BoA: Dual track, where BoA is investor, ability to do something about that. But for rest, it would take their approval.


Chase: I’m not certain we have the right safe harbor. But I’ll follow up.


BoA: We have inconsistencies. There are customer issues. I do not deny that. For a homeowner who has an ability to pay, that’s what we’re committed to make happen.


Merkley: Not contesting her assessment, but reputation of banks weighs that out.


Levitin: Many servicers in different sit than BoA. Plenty servicers who service under completely different name. Consumer unlikely to make any connection.


Merkley: Financial incentives not offset by reputation.


Chase: As servicer, calculation used to determine whether to foreclosure or renumerate doesn’t take into factor servicing $$. Incented to modify.


Merkley: Systemic risk that comes from legal issues being raised.


Dodd: Subject matter of next hearing. Say this respectfully of others. 30% in judicial states. Of that 30%, 60% in FL.


BoA: In BoA’s portfolio.


Dodd: 70% in non-judicial states. Burden on homeowner. Burden shifts. Judicial burden more on servicing side. Anything to draw from states, that 70% in non-judicial, why we’re seeing so many more foreclosures in non-judicial states.


BoA: Economic factors, unemployment, housing price declines. I don’t think FL is related to judicial or non-judicial state.


Dodd: Does framework have any impact on outcome.


Thompson: CA and NV nonjudicial. Some studies show judicial delays time to foreclosure, and increases slightly mod.


Dodd: Foreclosed homes bought, bought w/cash.


BoA: 30% of all purchases are purchased w/cash.


Dodd: That number, bought w/cash, these are not owner-occupied.


BoA: Vast majority investors rather than primary homeowners?


Dodd: Neighborhoods?


BoA: Could mean shift to rental, but primary indication is that there are investors w/cash who think price of property is right to earn return as rental. As we acquire real estate after foreclosure. Sell relatively quickly.


Dodd; Is correlation between having less owner-occupied and value of other properties.



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