Taking Responsibility for Death - NYTimes.com

By SUSAN JACOBY
Published: March 30, 2012
   
I WAS standing by my 89-year-old mother’s hospital bed when she asked a doctor, “Is there anything you can do here to give me back the life I had last year, when I wasn’t in pain every minute?” The young medical resident, stunned by the directness of the question, blurted out, “Honestly, ma’am, no.”

***Read More;  Taking Responsibility for Death - NYTimes.com

Don’t resist the urge to kitchen-purge

We here in the Food section like to cook. No surprise there, but it means we’re in a continuous state of equipment acquisition. You can just imagine what that can do to a kitchen.
Or we suspect you don’t have to wonder about it at all, because you, too, might be experiencing symptoms of Failure to Launch It Syndrome. The palette-shaped pasta-measurer that came free with something so long ago we can’t remember. A mini whisk whose performance can’t hold a candle to a table fork. Things that might be a little worse for wear, but are of too little consequence to post on Freecycle.
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Miami Mod Homes – March 2012 edition

Miami Mod Homes – March 2012 edition:
This month’s Miami Mod Homes edition is located on Sunset Island number 2, with direct bay views and over 150 feet of water frontage. It is one of those Miami Beach homes that epitomizes our sexy South Florida lifestyle and evokes tranquility and elegance.

Miami Beach Mod Home at 1835 W 27 St

listed for $14,500,000

If the exterior of this home didn’t catch your attention, then I don’t know what will.  The pool area is perfection!  With infinity pool and the right combination of landscaping. together with leveled patios to enjoy unending views from different  perspectives.  I personally love when the facade of the house compliments the view.  I don’t know what is more pleasing to the eye, the actual architecture, or the vistas.

I’ve been detailing the home to death to try to find negatives and frankly, I can’t find any.  This contemporary home is simple and unpretentious, just like modern architecture should be.  The choice of materials is fantastic – from woods, limestone and metals.  The fact that you have wall space for art is a plus, since most of these homes focus on light and a lot of windows and never leave room for artistic expression on walls.
The house has over 10,000 sf of interior living space with 7 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms.  The lot size is 22,192 sf and has a 2-car garage and private dock.  It was built new in 2009 and has been listed since September of 2010 with a starting price of $15,900.000.  The current asking price is $1,450 per square foot.  Keep in mind that the average price per square foot in 2011 in The Sunset Islands was $924, and Anna Kournikova  just sold her Sunset Island Home for $1,116 per square foot.  Does this mean that this seller would be willing to let go of this amazing modern home for $12 Million….only one way to find out!

One factor is for sure, this home is the perfect way to enjoy Miami’s climate and lifestyle with location, privacy and style.  Kudos to sellers in their choice of furniture and color which only serves to compliment the home’s architecture.

Home prices fall to 2002 levels

The housing market started off the new year with a thud. Home prices dropped for the fifth consecutive month in January, reaching their lowest point since the end of 2002....Home prices fall to 2002 levels:

5 Ways to Increase Your Credit Score

It's common knowledge that a high credit score is the key to low-interest loans and increased purchasing power. But what makes a credit score go up? Counter to conventional wisdom, people who keep their credit card balances near zero and always pay t...5 Ways to Increase Your Credit Score:

Personal Property Insurance Pitfalls

Between 2005 and 2009, 5.73 percent of insured homes were the subject of claims filed against homeowners insurance policies, with losses averaging $7,876 over the six-year period, according to the Insurance Information Institute. You may have bough...Personal Property Insurance Pitfalls:

DealBook: Bank of America Tests Rental Program as Alternative to Foreclosure

Offered to a small number of customers, such a program could provide investments for large private equity firms looking for opportunities in the beaten-down housing market............DealBook: Bank of America Tests Rental Program as Alternative to Foreclosure:

Mortgage rate jumps past 4%

After many recent weeks where mortgage rates hit record lows, the 30-year rate jumped this week to its highest level since late October...........Mortgage rate jumps past 4%:

Introduction to Annuities

Annuities are among the oldest forms of investments. Investment Vehicle Can Provide a Lifetime of Retirement Income
****READ MORE Introduction to Annuities:

Fannie, Freddie suffer Florida foreclosure woes

Florida lawmakers never voted on a chance to speed up the foreclosure process for Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac and the taxpayers who support the mortgage giants.

More than 166,000 mortgages guaranteed by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac spent more than one year without a payment in Florida, according to Federal Housing Finance Agency data released Monday.
The next closest state, Illinois, totals 41,000 GSE-backed home loans more than 365 days delinquent.
The Florida share represents about 30% of the more than 568,000 year-long delinquent loans on Fannie and Freddie books as of Dec. 31.**** read more

Financial Planning For Women

 Money and financial planning may seem universal, but there are a few important areas where men and women differ. And how women confront and navigate those differences can affect their long-term financial health. Women's rights advocates and fi ****READ MORE; Financial Planning For Women:

The No. to watch for a housing recovery

If you're waiting for home prices to go up, then you're missing signs the troubled housing market has finally turned aro*****READ MORE; The No. to watch for a housing recovery

Make Moving a Breeze

If you plan right, you'll dramatically increase your chances for making a smooth move. ****READ MORE: Make Moving a Breeze:

Buying vs. Leasing -- What Is Cheaper?

When it comes to getting a new car there are generally two options: leasing the vehicle or buying it. There are many pros and cons for either option and the decision often comes down to personal preference and finances. ****READ MORE  Buying vs. Leasing -- What Is Cheaper?:

Adjustable-Rate Mortgages: A Fresh Look

For people considering an adjustable-rate mortgage (ARM) as a result of ultra-low interest rates, there's good news and bad news.  *****READ MORE; Adjustable-Rate Mortgages: A Fresh Look:

Stop Thinking in Cents

One of my favorite quotes has always been "Stop thinking in cents ? Anybody can make a buck" and when it comes to saving money so many people think about today but forget about tomorrow. Living paycheck to paycheck is a harsh reality for some but it's also a lifestyle choice for millions of ...Stop Thinking in Cents:

Updating the Moldings Before Selling a Home

We own an older home that had its original trim removed. Should we reinstall the crown molding before putting it on the market?......Updating the Moldings Before Selling a Home:

Tenets of Financial Investing

Investing your money provides the opportunity to build your capital, preserve savings and ensure that future generations will enjoy the fruits of your hard work....Tenets of Financial Investing:

Taking Ownership of Your Credit

You may not remember what you purchased with your very first credit card, but you might find yourself continuing to pay for those Bose speakers and that pair of gotta-have Manolo Blahnik shoes years after you have unloaded them at a yard sale....Taking Ownership of Your Credit:

Breaking a Lease Is Hard to Do

YOU loved your apartment when you first moved in. But now your girlfriend has joined you, and the “charming” space the ad promised has started to feel intolerably cramped. Or the street noise, once a minor distraction, has become an infuriating obsession. Or you’ve landed your dream job — in Los Angeles.
Getting out of a lease is no small thing. The tenant is generally responsible for the rent for the duration of the contract. ****READ MORE;    Getting Started: Breaking a Lease Is Hard to Do: 

When Is Rehearsing a Presentation a Bad Idea?

When is rehearsing a presentation a bad idea?  Clients often try to talk themselves out of rehearsal, because they’re pressed for time, because they don’t like the feeling of rehearsal (you’re not in control yet), or because they argue that rehearsal will make them stale. 

Those are bad arguments.  People who ‘wing it’ usually betray their lack of preparation in their body language.  They don’t think they do, but they give themselves away.  So generally, more rehearsal is better.  But there are times and kinds of rehearsals that are counter-productive.  Here are 3 ways it doesn’t pay to rehearse. 

Don't rehearse more than once on the day of the presentation. 

I can imagine exceptions to this rule, but not many and not often.  By the day of, most people are in adrenaline mode, and rehearsal is not very helpful.  Do rehearse once, especially in the actual venue, just to get familiar with things and have the performance fresh in your mind.  But obsessive rehearsal at this point simply won't do much good.  You have to have done the work already.  It's too late.   

Don't rehearse the wrong speech or presentation. 
This may sound odd, but you'd be surprised how many times people don't have a speech set until the last minute, so if they do rehearse, it's the 'wrong' speech -- because it's not the one they're ultimately going to give.  Get the speech set, weeks before the date, and rehearse that one.  Many people get nervous as the awful date approaches, and they start to doubt themselves and the message.  So they tinker with the speech, almost always making it worse.  Don't fall into that trap. 

Don't rehearse too often only in your mind.
Half the reason for rehearsal is that speaking, like, say, acting, is a physical art.  You rehearse so that your body can learn the speech, not just your mind.  Too many people say, "I don't need to rehearse, I ran over it in my mind."  Therein lies potential disaster.  You need to discover physically what it feels like to give the whole speech, to say a particular line out loud, to make the transitions from one section to another.  None of those things can be imagined as effectively as they can be rehearsed. 

How much should you rehearse?  A lot.  Stage actors often get up to 6 weeks, 5 or 6 days per week, 8 - 10 hours per day, to rehearse.  That's how you end up looking natural, assured, and authoritative.  Not by winging it. 

Mortgage rates flirt with record lows

Mortgage rates dipped into record territory again, with the 15-year fixed-rate falling to its lowest level in 60 years and the 30-year fixed-rate just a tick off its own record. ****READ MORE; Mortgage rates flirt with record lows:

REO rental program to capture 20% of foreclosure pipeline

The Federal Housing Finance Agency's REO rental program will capture 20% of the nation's 7.5 million total foreclosure pipeline, according to analysts at Bank of America Merrill Lynch. ***READ MORE: REO rental program to capture 20% of foreclosure pipeline:

Important Calculations for Real Estate Investments

Real estate investments generally require some number crunching to assess their profitability. To succeed, investors must understand four calculations, beginning with the capitalization rate, which measures the actual value of a property. Gross operating and gross potential income are used to calculate profits based on total vacancy and occupancy rates, respectively. Net operating income takes the actual costs of property management into account and can provide additional information in making a purchasing decision.
****Read more: Important Calculations for Real Estate Investments | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/info_12193248_important-calculations-real-estate-investments.html#ixzz1oHvKhtUU

Foreclosures made up one in four home sales

Homes in some stage of foreclosure accounted for nearly one in four homes sales during the fourth quarter, according to RealtyTrac.****Foreclosures made up one in four home sales:

Underwater borrowers are on the rise

The number of homeowners who have fallen underwater on their mortgages -- owing more than their homes are worth -- climbed to 11.1 million in the last three months of 2011, a 3.7% increase. **** READ MORE; Underwater borrowers are on the rise:

Breaking Up With Your Insurer

There is always a better insurance deal out there -- at least, that's what the ads say. But before you rush to cancel your current policy, take a breath and really consider what you're giving up, what you're gaining, and how to go about the process in the right way to protect yourself, advised James Berliner, a Chartered Property and Casualty Underwriter and president of the Professional Insurance Agents of Connecticut.

“Make sure you’re getting an apples-to-apples comparison,” Berliner said. “You’re not buying a quart of milk. You’re buying something that means nothing to you until you really need it. And when you need it, you really, really need it. So make sure you’re getting what you need.”

Read more: Breaking Up With Your Insurer | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/feature_12117029_breaking-up-insurer.html#ixzz1oHrr8qHf

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The world’s population falls roughly into six categories

Those who feel that efforts underway impede economic growth often malign sustainability, which is essential for our collective future.The people who measure progress by quarterly returns are challenged to look at a bigger picture that can’t always be measured and quantified on a ledger sheet.
Without sustainability, wholesome business and community practices, there won’t be economic growth long term. The disparate players need to hear common messages, understanding their role, and feel empowered to join in creating a healthier, more coherent global marketplace.
The world’s population falls roughly into six categories.   **** READ MORE; globotext

'Losing our multi-million dollar home'

Like millions of Americans, Joanne and John Buchanan are facing foreclosure. But at a value of more than $2 million, the home they stand to lose isn't your average delinquency. ****READ MORE: 'Losing our multi-million dollar home':

Investors target property tax deadbeats

Jean Norton's first foray into tax lien investing was hands-down a lucrative one. ****READ MORE: Investors target property tax deadbeats: