King’s Grant Pine Tree Alters Weekend…
U.S. Mortgage Defaults Outpace Columbia, SC
Comparatively speaking, Columbia, SC homeowners are making their payments…
A South Carolina political blog (http://www.fitsnews.com/) wrote about foreclosure stats today. While the stats are true, I want to remind Columbia residents that most “doom and gloom” numbers are national in nature. The “home builder” that wrote the first comment (seen below) is dead on. The map above (please squint) reflects the relative health of South Carolina’s mortgage situation. FJ
MORTGAGE DEFAULTS REACH RECORD HIGH
FITSNews – March 6, 2008 – In the latest sign that our national economy pretty much blows at the moment, mortgage defaults reached an all-time high today. At least that’s according to the Mortgage Bankers Association of America, who may be a bunch of lying bastards for all we know. Assuming they’re not, though, here’s the bad news courtesy of the NYT:
The Mortgage Bankers Association reported Thursday that the number of loans past due or in foreclosure jumped to 7.9 percent, from 7.3 percent at the end of September and 6.1 percent in December 2006. Before the third quarter, the rate had never risen past 7 percent since the survey began in 1979.
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1. home builder – March 6, 2008
While the rest of the country may be in the tank, South Carolina is in better shape, although perhaps not in great shape. Foreclosures are actually down in South Carolina. While the coastal market is not performing well, the midlands and upstate real estate markets are only down slightly from what were historic highs.
You Mean So Much, Yet So Little…
Two Stately Homes Hit The Market…
We put these two homes on the market this week…
Columbia’s Two Newest Listings…
Facebook’s “True Age Test.” Ooof
Thank goodness 40 is the new 30…
A few weeks ago, I joined Facebook. I’m sure you are making fun of me already, but it’s actually a little bit unbelievable. This thing has connected me with people that I haven’t seen in 15 years.
Anyway, someone sent me a third party application called, “The True Age Test.” I thought it was interesting enough, so I agreed to participate. It asks questions like how much sleep do I get, has an immediate family member ever had heart surgery under the age of 60 and do I eat breakfast. Well, after I completed the 30 questions, it reported that my “true age” is freaking 41 years old! Gad-Zooks!!!…It was AWFUL!!!!
To make matters worse, some friends decided to report their “true age” to me. I’ve heard that a 36 year old is “26”, a 35 year old is “27” and an over 40 person is “29.” Another reported that his true age is “27.” He is really 34. So far, I’m the only person that I’ve found that is “actually” older than I really am!
I was so pissed off, that all I could think to do, is throw down on some oatmeal and cranberry juice…and take a freegin’ nap…
Everyone Please Think Happy Thoughts Tomorrow…
We know that you will have a headache…
Posted Feb 25th 2008 5:30AM by Sarah GilbertFiled under: Bad news, Starbucks (SBUX), Employees
Tomorrow evening, starting at 5:30 p.m. (local time), your neighborhood Starbucks is closing. Yes, yours — and yours, too. (If you live in the U.S., that is.) CEO Howard Schultz has ordered this emergency intensive remedial training, hopefully giving baristas valuable skills they should have learned in the ordinary 40-hour new “partner” training. One of the skills — which, according to one New York Starbucks manager involved in the test training program, was a “revelation” to some of her workers — is a milk steaming technique that will allow baristas to “free pour” (without holding foam back with a spoon) the milk no matter how the customer orders the drink.
Partners will also be instructed to wipe the steamer wands and rinse the pitchers and shot glasses every time — not a new idea, but according to anecdotal evidence, also not commonly done. A new procedure will be instituted for the espresso machines; baristas will always pull a double shot, instead of occasionally pulling only one when only one shot is needed. This, apparently, will assure a better-tasting espresso.Baristas, customers, stockholders and analysts all seem to agree that, much though retraining may be necessary for some individuals, it’s not bad foam that has prompted the dip in Starbucks’ (NASDAQ: SBUX) stock price; no, it’s the uneven and quixotic management initiatives. Now, we’re a coffee shop… now we’re the “third place” with comfortable chairs… now we’re a movie studio… now we’re an Apple store… now we’re a book publisher/record company/toy store/candy store/cookbook… now we’re a fast food joint. It’s enough for stakeholders to all rise up with a single voice and ask plaintively:
How Ruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuude…
With the square, black buzzer in hand, my wife and I were patiently waiting to be seated at Za’s. For a few minutes, we were probably third in line to get a table. All the sudden this nice couple walks in, scopes out the situation and notices that there is one freshly cleaned table. Well, they swiflty grab two menus and their napkin wrapped silverware, to gladly clain their new spot.
I don’t know if the couple noticed, but everyone else saw this act of rudeness. Waitresses, the manager and customers were all looking at each other across the room. Of course, Jenna and I didn’t really care, as we were just visiting with everyone. It was a tinch awkward though. Even worse, two of the people waiting were in their military camouflage.
I looked at the fella’s in uniform, and just shook my head and rolled my eyes. Taking the high road, they just shrugged their shoulders…
Someone needs to tell the couple that this is not how we do it, in the city “where friendliness flows…”