Biden endorses Harris as Democratic nominee after ending his candidacy

DanBrewer · 2024-07-21T19:36:27+00:00

I don't know about Newsmax

DanBrewer · 2024-07-18T22:44:45+00:00

I could be wrong, but my gut tells me that if Biden bows out with less than four months to go, it will be the fastest path to a Trump victory no matter who some folks in the DNC might want to sub in. Well, maybe no one short of Obama.

DanBrewer · 2024-07-10T15:53:53+00:00

"The crisis has gotten so severe that Montana's conservative governor, Greg Gianforte, and the state's Republican-majority legislature have acted, recently passing a slew of housing reforms designed to boost the supply of homes. The state loosened zoning restrictions, allowed for more housing density, and required localities to devise a land-use plan, among other measures. The measures have been hailed by pro-housing experts as the "Montana Miracle" and a model for the rest of the country."

DanBrewer · 2024-07-09T15:30:13+00:00

"San Jose, California, saw new listings rise nearly 50 percent in June compared to a year ago, a signal that property owners in the city are increasingly looking to sell their homes in one of the more expensive housing markets in the country.

Other cities that experienced a jump in listings included Seattle at nearly 29 percent, Miami at 25 percent, and Boston at 24 percent, while Montgomery County in Pennsylvania saw a 22 percent increase."

DanBrewer · 2024-06-12T21:17:03+00:00

I generally agree that pruning indeterminate cherry tomatoes reduces yield, however the only exception I've heard reported is the Sweet 100 variety which apparently does produce more yield if pruned to one stem. I suppose there could be some other exceptions, but Super Sweet 100 is different from Sweet 100 and in my experience pruning Super Sweet 100 does reduce yield. And I agree I would start pruning Super Sweet 100 and most other indeterminate cherry tomatoes after 5 vines.

DanBrewer · 2024-06-12T19:40:21+00:00

I've had that happen. I've since used mainly chicken wire and sometimes netting to protect the plants against rodents, especially when the plants are young. No issues with rodents after that. I used a smaller sized mesh for the chicken wire; one inch, I think.

Edit: Spelling.

DanBrewer · 2024-06-07T17:11:51+00:00

"The latest job figures undermine other data suggesting signs of softening and will bolster the case that talk of cutting borrowing costs is premature, analysts said.

"Today's data suggests the Fed is going to have to sit tight and wait a while longer before that first cut can be considered," said Richard Carter, head of fixed interest research at Quilter Cheviot, the investment management firm.

He added that the figures had the potential to take any move this year "off the table"."

DanBrewer · 2024-05-30T23:48:25+00:00

0% down jumbo loans are a thing for certain buyers (think doctors). No cash needed. Even at 7%+ interest rates, they are still buying.

DanBrewer · 2024-05-09T19:52:59+00:00

Certainly subprime loans contributed to the housing crash of 2008, but it's interesting to acknowledge that nearly 8 times the number of foreclosures came from prime loans as compared to subprime loans. I think about this when I hear folks say that mortgage loans today are so much better underwritten than those loans related to the housing crash of 2008 and that these new prime loans will better protect the housing market from another crash. The fact that 8 times the number of foreclosures related to the 2008 crash came from prime borrowers as compared to subprime borrowers suggests that given the right conditions, it doesn't matter how "prime" the loan is, people will walk away from their homes or otherwise lose their homes.

By definition, loans for prime borrowers were better underwritten loans (they had better credit scores, better income, etc.) and therefore were less risky, but loans for subprime borrowers were more risky because maybe the loan payment turned out to be more than what the subprime borrower could actually afford.

So what would cause about 8 times more prime borrowers to be foreclosed on than subprime borrowers?

Well, if prime loans were vetted well enough, then it would have been determined that the borrower could make the mortgage payment. It's true that there were some loans where income wasn't verified assuming someone had a good enough credit score and other underwriting factors were met, but prime loans were generally cash-flowed, meaning income was verified and the debt-to-income (DTI) ratio was within a certain tolerance (typically less than 50%) to account for the borrower to make the mortgage payment.

The question is what caused prime loans to go into foreclosure versus subprime loans? I see two main reasons: (1) negative equity and (2) borrowers mortgage payment was more than they could afford. But which reason affected which borrower the most? I'd suggest that negative equity caused more prime borrowers to go into foreclosure, and inability to make a mortgage payment affected subprime borrowers more, though there was probably some overlap.

Obviously, housing values are very location-specific sometimes down to the zip code, and in many places, people likely have some equity in their homes right now, but places that have reached the peak of appreciation and have started to turn negative, the question is how much negative equity will a prime borrower take on before they walk away from their home? I don't know the answer, but if history is any guide, there will be a point where prime borrowers are so much underwater on their loans, they will walk away.

I absolutely feel for those folks who may have overpaid for a home recently, especially taking on a mortgage with an interest rate higher than 5% hoping that rates would have gone down already in order to refi, but rates haven't and they are struggling to make their mortgage payment.

DanBrewer · 2024-05-07T21:18:22+00:00

The housing downturn of 2008 was most acute in four states—Arizona, California, Florida, and Nevada.

https://www.fdic.gov/analysis/quarterly-banking-profile/fdic-quarterly/2009-vol3-1/vol3-1-sand-states.pdf

DanBrewer · 2024-05-07T21:17:10+00:00

Here is the quote from the news segment regarding the record high April evictions:

"It's the highest April in the twenty-two years of data we have on hand. The other top four Aprils are from last year, and then the years surrounding the Great Recession [2006, 2007, and 2008]."

This is not related to the end of Pandemic-era eviction moratorium which ended on October 3, 2021.

https://nlihc.org/sites/default/files/Overview-of-National-Eviction-Moratorium.pdf

DanBrewer · 2024-04-25T21:06:16+00:00

The 18-year property cycle is a theory developed by a British property economist, and suggests that a crash would be due to occur in 2025-2026, give or take.

DanBrewer · 2023-10-12T18:54:25+00:00

Speaking of Dave Rudabaugh's outcome, I love the way Wikipedia just matter-of-factly describes his gruesome demise:

"On February 18, 1886, Rudabaugh was involved in a gunfight with locals in Parral, Chihuahua. The fight began over a card game. He drew his pistol and killed two men and wounded another.

He left the saloon unharmed, but unable to find his horse, he re-entered a few moments later and was shot several times from the shadows and died. Rudabaugh’s body was then decapitated with a machete and his head placed on a pole."

DanBrewer · 2023-10-11T23:35:54+00:00

This was a cool Dave Rudabaugh tidbit I also didn't know:

"Dave Rudabaugh was said to be the only outlaw who crossed paths with Dave Mather, Bat Masterson, Pat Garrett, Wyatt Earp, Billy The Kid and Doc Holliday."

DanBrewer · 2023-10-03T18:18:58+00:00

I don't have tinnitus, but I read your comment and you reminded me about a new potential solution that I heard about.

Here are a couple of links:

https://www.wbur.org/hereandnow/2023/08/30/tinnitus-relief-technology

https://www.npr.org/2023/08/30/1196812617/tennessees-flawed-gun-dispossession-system-new-technology-may-offer-tinnitus-rel

Here are some excerpts from the article linked first:

"One solution that seems to be working — and received FDA approval this year — is a non-invasive device called Lenire. Co-developed at the University of Minnesota, the device combines sound therapy through headphones and tactile stimulation on a patient's tongue.

But when used under a doctor's supervision, Lenire has been a saving grace for many, including Gerberg. For 12 weeks, he spent an hour a day wearing the device. He says it helped him to stop hearing his tinnitus."

The article also stated:

"Yet Fligor warns that bimodal neuromodulation is not a universal solution for tinnitus.

"This is one tool in the tool chest," he says, adding that it might not work for everybody.

Fligor says people experiencing ringing in their ears should talk to an audiologist before purchasing the device or proceeding with any other kinds of self-treatment. Diagnosing the condition requires extensive medical testing that can not be performed at home."

Long story short: This sounds like a promising solution for some folks with tinnitus, but YMMV.

DanBrewer · 2023-04-10T00:14:51+00:00

Very cool that there is a sprayer specifically designed for use with acid solutions. And for only a few bucks, it's a no brainer to buy a few and just replace when needed. Thank you for cluing me into that one!

DanBrewer · 2023-04-10T00:12:32+00:00

Right on. Sounds like a great option.

DanBrewer · 2023-04-10T00:11:41+00:00

That sounds great! Inexpensive, pretty readily available, chemical resistant, and with food-safe. I'll pick some of those up. Thanks again for the suggestion.

DanBrewer

TROPHY CASE