Wednesday, March 18, 2009

Real Hunk Real Estate

It is an open house. I am listening to the two women whispering in the living room. Listening in that manner when we want not to be noticed for listening,...you know, checking for things that need not be checked, blindly looking about, the better to focus all efforts on the ears.

"Look at him," whispers the blond one, "that chin."
"That chest!"
"The eyes,..like they make my clothes melt away..."
"He can melt my clothes anytime..." giggle, giggle.
"Get his card, get his cell number, (giggle) there's something to be said for "sexting (giggle)."
"God, he's a Real HUNK!"

I should point out that this open house in NOT my open house. The above noted indelicate comments were not directed at me but at the young Lochinvar whose visage rests in the bottom left corner of the property's information sheet.

Some men can just excite women to a frenzy.

I am at the open house on behalf of a first time buyer, a charming lady whose pluck and wherewith all have garnered her at fat 20% down payment on a home of her dreams. She has asked me to help her turn that dream into brick and stone, so to speak.

I take my buyer to the basement, point out a few things, talk some issues then it is back to the office to gambit strategy and write up an offer that will bring the sellers to their knees.

"This is great," my buyer says, "I was so scared about the whole thing, but you made it so easy to understand, now and into the future. I was a nut case before you took over. Now I am calm and ready to go! Thanks!"

There it is in a nutshell, folks....Some men excite women; I just calm them down.

Thursday, March 5, 2009

I did not see YOUR NAME ANYWHERE...(or mine)...I looked

This is where YOUR 787 BILLION is GOING///...Note that solme agencies have not said what they are dong with it...why GIVE it to them????????????????????????????...oh I forgot, crooks don't need a reason to give away other peoples' money.

Department of Agriculture

The agency is receiving $28 billion -- $6.9 billion in discretionary funds and $21 billion in mandatory funds to go for specific programs -- including money to aid rural development programs and assistance for farmers. details

Department of Commerce

The U.S. Department of Commerce is receiving $7.9 billion, including $150 million for grants to economically distressed areas across the Nation to generate private sector jobs. details

Department of the Interior

The department was allocated $3 billion, which it is set to use for hydropower projects, preserving national parks, helping the Bureau of Indian Affairs, renewable energy development and beefing up research facilities used by the U.S. Geological Survey. details

Department of Labor; details not yet available

Department of State

The department will receive $602 million, which includes up to $38 million for USAID. The money will also be used for diplomatic and consular programs, addition to a capital investment fund, and money geared toward the International Boundary and Water Commission Construction. details

Social Security Administration

According to the SSA, the stimulus act provides for the one-time payment of $250 to individuals who get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security benefits. The payment is expected to reach individuals by late May 2009. details

Department of Veterans Affairs; details not yet available

National Science Foundation; details not yet available

National Endowment for the Arts

The stimulus act provides $50 million to be distributed in direct grants to fund arts projects and activities for state and regional art agencies -- as well as certain nonprofit organizations. details

Environmental Protection Agency

The EPA is receiving $7.22 billion for programs that will "protect and promote both 'green' jobs and a healthier environment," according to the agency's Web site. Some of the projects include improving water quality, shoring up infrastructure, cleaning up former industrial sites, reducing diesel emission and hazardous waste cleanup. details

Department of Transportation

Some $27 billion in stimulus funds are headed to states to provide critical repairs to crumbling roads and bridges throughout the country. On Tuesday, President Obama announced the package will help states "create a 21st-century infrastructure." details

Department of Homeland Security

While the full details haven't been released, the Department says about half of the stimulus funds will be "allotted to information technology-related programs." details

Small Business Administration

The SBA is receiving $730 million to make changes, it says, to the agency's lending and investment programs so that they can reach more small businesses that need help, including: temporary fee reductions on SBA loans, setting up a new loan program to help small businesses meet existing debt payments, technical assistance grants to small lenders and upgrading technology systems. details

Department of Health and Human Services

Around $59 billion is being invested in improving health and human services, including: construction of new research and educational facilities, improving childcare and community services, supporting renovations to community health centers and modernizing health information technology. details

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

NASA is receiving $1 billion, which it says will be used to restore NASA-owned facilities damaged from hurricanes and other natural disasters, advancements in science and aeronautics programs. details

Department of Housing and Urban Development

The stimulus provides HUD with $13.61 billion for projects and programs, nearly 75 percent of which was allocated to state and local recipients on February 25, 2009.

HUD says the money will help generate jobs, modernize homes to make them energy efficient and help families hit hard by the economic recession. details

Department of Energy

The DOE has set out to use the funds to create or protect nearly 3.5 million jobs over the next two years, reduce dependence on foreign oil, invest in green technology, renewable energy projects and scientific research. details

Department of Education

Around $141 billion will go for saving or creating early childhood, K-12 and higher education jobs; create construction jobs related to school modernization projects; raising Pell grants and tuition tax credits for college, among other programs. details

Corporation for National and Community Service

The $201 million in funding will, according to the CNCS, support an expansion of AmeriCorps State and National and AmeriCorps programs that is aimed at "engaging citizens in addressing unmet needs and strengthening communities." details

Agency for International Development; details not yet available

Department of Defense

The DOD is receiving around $7.4 billion in stimulus funds -- and says it will spend the funds to upgrade facilities, make energy-related improvements, pay for military construction of hospitals, child development centers and facilities used to house soldiers and their families. details

Department of Justice

The DOJ will use the $4 billion its received to "enhance state, local, and tribal law enforcement efforts, including the hiring of new police officers, to combat violence against women, and to fight Internet crimes against children." details


Department of Treasury

The Treasury Department has allocated its share of the stimulus funds to go to the administrative budget: IRS Health Insurance Tax Credit Administration; Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration; Community Development Financial Institutions; Financial Management Service; Internal Revenue Service.details