Innocent Civilians
by Mama Confused
Who are the innocent? Can the innocent be silent?
We saw on CNN the terrible tragedy of war when Israel bombed Qana a town in Lebanon. It was horrible to see the bodies of women and children being brought out of the rubble. Towns men were in arms crying from roof tops death to America and Israel. Where are these voices when innocents Israels are slaughter in markets, restaurants, and on the bus from women and children being strapped with bombs. Do the men beat their chests and cry for these lives? If you knowingly cohabitate with a weapons and militia are you not asking for trouble. If you say nothing as the young men are coerced into martyrdom, do you weep violently for their deaths as well.
The world needs to be fair. Loss of life is horrible no matter what the circumstance. There are three reponsible parties in this tragedy: Israel, Hezbollah and the silent Lebanese.
FINANCES IN REVIEW -
POCKETBOOK DRAMA
Mistakes that One Makes with Money III
by Fiasco Mama
According to Suze Orman, one of the biggest mistakes that one can do is borrowing using an interest-only variable rate mortgage to buy property.
If the only way you can buy a home is to take out an interest-only loan with a low initial teaser rate, then you can't afford that home.
And the ultimate bad housing move is to use an Option Adjustable Rate Mortgage that allows you to set a very low payment during the start of the loan that might not even cover your interest costs. If you fall for that trap, you will have a "negative amortization loan." Instead of your loan balance becoming incrementally smaller with each monthly payment, it will actually rise because the lender just shovels the "unpaid" interest onto the balance of the loan. Paying just the interest initially on the mortgage only means that you will need to eventually repay the principal at an accelerated pace. If you have a 30-year loan and you don't pay principal for 10 years, you will then have to repay the entire principal in the final 20 years of the mortgage.
And don't fall for the lender's pitch that you will have more income to handle the increase once the principal is due, or that you can refinance. If your career takes an unexpected dip, perhaps your income won't grow as fast as you need it to. And refinancing isn't easy if interest rates increase, or property gains have slowed so you don't have much equity built up. There's no guarantee that you'll be able to handle the higher payments.
Source: Suze Orman
TRENDS IN REVIEW -
FASHIONABLE MOMMA
New Black
by
Hot Mama
What is the new black this year? What ever it is I hope it is opaque enough to hide my thunder thighs.
What is hot when you are trying to maintain your sanity. With this year I am firmly into my mid thirties. I should spend more time on my appearance. I should try to be more trendy. How do you figure out what is more trendy? If you currently shop at TJ Max which typically has last years fashions, will you even find the "New Black." Does Wal-Mart designers follow trends or are they too busy importing items to pay attention. I actually watched one of those catty fashion reviews who dished about what the stars where wearing at a recent award ceremony. My only take away is that women are not wearing necklaces and showing neck. I can do that. I do that now, but I do not think people think that I am a fashion diva.
Hopefully, spilled formula does not show up to badly on it.
RELATIONSHIPS IN
REVIEW - ULTIMATE
DRAMA
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