problems: The Truth About Traffic
- 02/25/08 02:27 AM
I've been seeing these things a lot lately. Those black tubes stretched across the various roadways I drive. At first I thought they were some kind of traffic enforcement device and there were cops lurking nearby waiting for suckers like me to fly over them at unlawful speeds. But no, they are actually there to measure traffic counts. As the tires pass over the rubber tubing, the change in air pressure registers on the digital readout. I guess road planners use these readings to strategize traffic flow. I'm sure other folks use them to provide information for commercial real estate purposes, enticing would-be investors … (9 comments)
problems: I'm Mike Tullio and I Endorse The Following Message
- 01/31/08 07:25 AM
I laugh every time I see a political ad on TV and at the end, the candidate's mug pops on screen, they offer up a cheesy smile, stare sincerely into the camera, and tell us how they endorse the commercial. Really. Oh, now I believe all of the political wrangling and posturing that just took place for the past 30 seconds now that you've put your stamp of approval on it. I find myself thinking: Does it really matter that they endorse the ad? A few hours ago, I had a mental dot connecting moment. Endorsements. Ultimately what these folks in the … (12 comments)
problems: Burning Your Tongue Despite the Warning Label
- 01/30/08 04:58 AM
<-----Do you see it? The little warning at the bottom of the cup telling you how extremely hot your beverage is? I saw it too, but I figured enough time had passed since ordering my venti, and I tipped the cup back and proceeded to sear the kris kringle out of my tongue. Which left me wondering a couple of things: 1. Why do we ignore warnings if they aren't convenient for us to heed? If the small print said, "If you bring this cup back to Starbucks to recycle, we'll give you $1," I think I'd be all over reading and … (7 comments)
problems: Ignoring the Dashboard Warning Lights
- 01/24/08 12:52 AM
We've all done it. You're driving along and suddenly a bright little icon blinks on. Check engine it tells you. So what do we do? Ignore it. Hope it flickers out. Maybe it's just stuck. My engine is fine; it must be a mistake. I'll deal with it later. Pretty light, so pretty. A couple things can happen at this point. First, the light actually can go off. Which is the worst possible thing that can happen because then it reinforces the belief that all of the warning lights on my dashboard are a ploy designed by the engineers who made my … (4 comments)
problems: Line Dancing: More Than A Country Music Fad
- 01/22/08 09:22 AM
I was never any good at line dancing. Nor did I look good in tight jeans, boots, and a cowboy hat. But the line dancing this post refers to isn't done to a Brooks and Dunn song. The DJ in this case is Fannie Mae. The tune they are playing is the "Declining Market Value" boogie. Pretty much the entire state of Florida has been declared a sinking ship. Fannie Mae has red-tagged us with a 5% off sign, and our wholesale lenders have in turn reduced the loan to value limits in kind. On a 100% product, I can now only … (10 comments)
problems: It's A Full Doc World, and I'm A Full Doc Girl.
- 01/16/08 01:37 AM
No, I'm not really a girl. I think I had a Madonna song stuck in my head. But the heart of my title is this: Lenders are slowly squeezing loans back into the full doc box. If you haven't heard, no doc loans are gone (other than hard money). In fact, any loan with the word NO in it is virtually becoming extinct. Even Stated Income loans are being scrutinized to death. Case in point. Had a borrower with 780 credit, plenty of assets, and a perfect mortgage history. I chose a Stated Income/Asset product to make life easier on my client as … (11 comments)
problems: Are You a Donkey or a Moose?
- 01/15/08 01:11 AM
No, this is not a question about which political party you favor. It is a question I'd like you to consider. I was jogging on the treadmill in the gym this morning burning off some holiday grease and I saw this news blurb come on about a moose that fell through the ice. Rescuers did some fancy manipulations with ropes and they were able to free the moose from the frigid waters. Moments later the newscaster mentioned that the moose returned to the same hole in the ice and died a few hours later. Pretty depressing, but hey, it's the news. On … (20 comments)
I've been seeing these things a lot lately. Those black tubes stretched across the various roadways I drive. At first I thought they were some kind of traffic enforcement device and there were cops lurking nearby waiting for suckers like me to fly over them at unlawful speeds. But no, they are actually there to measure traffic counts. As the tires pass over the rubber tubing, the change in air pressure registers on the digital readout.
;)
;)
