No, I call it Walmart.

Maybe they do, but I haven't heard it.


TIS

Give them another chance but knock 10 or 20% off their grade?

I'm not sure why this is even a question. If a student doesn't live up to his or her obligations, why should they be given any special consideration?

Tell them "tough" Olivant. They need to learn that we live by rules, and if the rules are flaunted there are consequences.

Definitely should have moved to Brooklyn.
Third Teacher Investigated

Professor argues to stop paying your mortgage if you're underwater.
I think we will see more people start to do this.

Don't Pay

It's a risky proposition.

Yeah, I get the "we're mad as hell and we're not gonna take it anymore" attitude, but young people have to know just how important good credit is. Without it, you're living in a rental, paying someone else's mortgage all your life. Not to mention that even the most mundane things like getting a cell phone contract or ordering cable tv requires a credit check today.

As a landlord, I take no great pleasure in renting to a middle-aged couple struggling to make the rent. That's why it's important to make the right choices as a young couple. If you're not ready to buy, DON'T BUY.


And if you do give up on your mortgage, just be prepared for 7 years of bad credit (which is really incorrect, it's more like 10 years by the time you get it built back up again).

It's foolish advice. If you're stupid enough to commit yourself to 30 years of crap, then you'd better stick with it and pay it off. I'm not saying that a lot of lending institutions weren't culpable, but so are the idiots who signed up for these loans. Wah, wah, wah. Can't keep up with your payments? Then get a 2nd job.

Everyone wants instant gratification. Doesn't anyone know how to WAIT for anything any more???

I started reading this but I wasn't gratified so then I stopped. What were you trying to say?

There's a LONNNNNNNG WSJ article today concerning this which I will read at dinner tonight but the basic idea is that defaulting on things has lost a lot of its moral stigma. And from a cold business standpoint, someone who had very little equity in the home anyway won't lose too much by walking away. People see the banks getting bailouts and they want theirs. Also someone who played by the rules may feel like a sap continuing to do so when their home value has fallen so drastically. Perversely the article says this might start to be part of the solution to the housing crisis. I doubt that but I will read...

I see student loan companies like Sallie Mae as a legalized form of organized crime. It is completely unjust that students should have to borrow obscene amounts of money and be in debt for decades in order to get an education. If people refuse to pay the money back, I have no sympathy for the companies.

I heard yesterday on the news that more people are paying cash this Christmas season because of high credit card fees and/or maxed out cards. I think this is a good sign because so many are so accustomed to over-charging and and getting into such debt that it's hard or impossible to climb out of.

I think you need to have at least one credit card, because so many times you really do need one (like booking a trip), BUT I mostly use mine when I'm traveling and never charge more than I can pay off in a couple months at the most. And of course, we all have those little emergencies that you have no choice but to take care of.

TIS

How does a school of herring scare off killer whales? They do a group fart. I'm not kidding. I saw it on Animal Planet. The episode was about Extreme Noise Makers. The collective fart is very loud underwater and scientist theorize that the large schools of herring use the fart as a protective action. Now here's the best part: the action of expelling gas is scientifically called - Fast Repetitive Ticks (FRT), hmmm the only thing missing is the A.

Imagine you're out camping with a group of friends or family and a bear threatens your campsite. You could gather in a tight circle with rear ends pointing outward and execute a Fast Repetitive Tick. It may save your life.

One step ahead of ya, MC. If I'm threatened by a bear I'd shit in my pants.

From now on I'm taking a can of pinto beans with me camping. I know me and the Col will be safe if a bear shows up.

They couldn't just call it Fast-Action Repetitive Ticks??

I broke the stem my glasses, which sent me into a tizzy. I'm blind as a bat, and I'm stupid enough not to have a back-up pair. I took them back to Costco, where it turns out that I got them over two years ago (and I considered them my "new: pair). They fixed them for me immediately, and didn't charge me.

I love that store.

It's always good to avoid the tape on your glasses

Walmart's good like that, too. Which reminds me, I still haven't had my progressive lenses checked by the Dr at Walmart to see if Costco did them wrong or whether I just hate them. I just gotta find them first after the move.

Did you guys see the story about the Italian leader (Berlusconi)? Apparently, he was attacked by a mentally challenged guy, who, from what I understand hit him with a souvineer statue, breaking his nose and some of his teeth? Wow!!!



TIS

Yup. I saw that. Berlusconi didn't look too good afterwards.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/8411474.stm

i thought i heard he had mafia ties as well

Time for me to stop drinking soda:

I don't know, but this is a bit overboard if you ask me. Geez, first cigarets(which I successfully kicked I might add) but now soda? Nobody's gonna scare me out of my Dr. Pepper. I'm gonna keep a couple of my vices thank you.

Where are their "alcohol is bad for you commercials?" Smokers get hit hard in the pocketbook. Isn't it time to put an end to drinking and start charging an arm and a leg? That should be coming soon.

TIS

Just realized they're due; but sorry, too tired to update the listings (that no one reads anyway )... tomorrow!

What listings??

It is my good wifes birthday today (how lucky she is to share a special day with LN eh?) and i have been spoiling her all day. I even took her to the pub for lunch and bought her a giant yorkshire pudding!!

Yogi, what a good husband you are. Hope your wife has a wonderful day. It certainly sounds like she is!

She is at coffee with her pals just now Babe. When she gets back i am going to cook her a nice gammon joint with lots of veggies for her dinner. Then some nice wine.....and hopefully an early night

Happy Birthday to Mrs. Yogi.