It’s encouraging to learn that the US government is considering a new strategy to handle the glut of unsold homes.
Resulting from many defaulted mortgages, the Fed through its mortgage insurance agencies, Federal Home Mortgage Corporation (also known as Freddie Mac), and Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae), has become the de facto owner of about a quarter of a million of foreclosed homes. And efforts to sell these vacant homes only depressed the house prices further. So instead of dumping additional homes to an already oversupplied housing market, the government is considering renting out the homes it owns.
By reducing supply, the people behind this idea think renting out the excess inventory can help the housing market to recover. In addition, demands for rentals are rising and so are the rents. The steady rental income can definitely help defray some of the expenses the government spends on maintaining the unsold inventory.
At present both Freddie and Fannie have already rent out many of the homes they own. Therefore, it is really a nonissue when the people against this idea consider both these two mortgage insurers are unfitted landlords.
When and if the Fed follow through with this idea, it can implement this measure expediently by simply changing the laws without outside investors. So both Freddie and Fannie can rent out all the homes they still own.
I remember seeing on television that showed many Americans are now living in motels and hotels. Therefore, I think it is high time the US government make good uses of many vacant homes to house millions of its homeless populations.
Moreover, many bankers and accountants would know that value of a property increases when it generates income. Schemes to rent or rent-to-own can also be a savior for lenders with many foreclosed properties.
Therefore, I think in this case to rent is a win-win proposition - Ayee .
Tuesday, July 26, 2011
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Food for Thought (V) - Food Allergy
Recently, a case of acute urticaria (hives) got my attention to what I eat when taking antibiotics.
It all started in the middle of the night when my sweet dream was interrupted by some unbearable itches. Thereafter, some reddish patches on me spread like a wild fire. While medicated talcum powder, aloe vera and calamine locations did give me some reliefs, I was determined to figure out what has caused my skin to irrupt into red itchy splotches!
Quickly, I narrowed down to the new antibiotics I took that day for a cat bite. Not many hours after I took a blue-colored capsule, my very first one, the outer layer of my body exploded. We all know some antibiotics do cause rashes. Based on my past experiences, it would take more than one dose for the rashes to surface. And my switching to another antibacterial drug did not help either.
Then I remembered what some elderly family members had told us in the past. They said that seafood can cause itchy skin. I have also learned that sometimes berries can give us havoc too.
It looks like seafood, fresh berries and antibiotics do not complement each others well. On that memorable night, I did have my favorite fish for dinner. Making a bad situation worse, while on a different antibiotic, I snacked on bowls of natural yogurt topped with those juicy raspberries. - Ayee
It all started in the middle of the night when my sweet dream was interrupted by some unbearable itches. Thereafter, some reddish patches on me spread like a wild fire. While medicated talcum powder, aloe vera and calamine locations did give me some reliefs, I was determined to figure out what has caused my skin to irrupt into red itchy splotches!
Quickly, I narrowed down to the new antibiotics I took that day for a cat bite. Not many hours after I took a blue-colored capsule, my very first one, the outer layer of my body exploded. We all know some antibiotics do cause rashes. Based on my past experiences, it would take more than one dose for the rashes to surface. And my switching to another antibacterial drug did not help either.
Then I remembered what some elderly family members had told us in the past. They said that seafood can cause itchy skin. I have also learned that sometimes berries can give us havoc too.
It looks like seafood, fresh berries and antibiotics do not complement each others well. On that memorable night, I did have my favorite fish for dinner. Making a bad situation worse, while on a different antibiotic, I snacked on bowls of natural yogurt topped with those juicy raspberries. - Ayee
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Food for Thought (IV) - A Balanced Diet
According to a posting on The Fool on The Hill website, we may prevent and cure cancer by maintaining a certain level of alkaline in our body chemistry*(1).
That posting, Combat Cancer*(2), tells us what a Chinese doctor had discovered in the blood chemistry of cancer patients. Dr. Lu Geling, who is said to have practiced at Majie Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, in the forties, found body chemistry of 600 cancer patients all acidic.
In addition, the good doctor observed that there were no reported cancer cases amongst Chinese monks and nuns. As we know, the serene and benevolent Buddhism followers live ascetically on strict vegetarian fares. They also invariably reside close to nature where the air is fresher and the grass is greener.
Together with the knowledge that cancer cell cannot survive in an alkali environment, Dr. Lu concluded that besides living a simple and caring life, maintaining a "weakly" alkali body chemistry can help prevent and cure cancer.
Somehow there is very little background information on Dr. Lu, his hospital and his research on cancer and body chemistry. But an alkaline-rich diet did help two lung cancer patients became cancer free and healthy.
To reflect what this fool has just learned from reading Combat Cancer, now I also know cancer is not a modern-day ailment. But thirty or forty years ago, I had never heard of anyone I knew died of cancer. I wonder why?
Finally, let’s put aside the debate on whether a diet change can or cannot prevent and cure cancers. Just think how relieved and joyful many cancer sufferers will be if they know there are other simpler and gentler alternatives they can choose to fight this dreaded disease. - Ayee
*(1) At pH level between 3.35 and 3.45
(2) From http:/dfoolonthehill.com/health-Combat Cancer
That posting, Combat Cancer*(2), tells us what a Chinese doctor had discovered in the blood chemistry of cancer patients. Dr. Lu Geling, who is said to have practiced at Majie Hospital in Taipei, Taiwan, in the forties, found body chemistry of 600 cancer patients all acidic.
In addition, the good doctor observed that there were no reported cancer cases amongst Chinese monks and nuns. As we know, the serene and benevolent Buddhism followers live ascetically on strict vegetarian fares. They also invariably reside close to nature where the air is fresher and the grass is greener.
Together with the knowledge that cancer cell cannot survive in an alkali environment, Dr. Lu concluded that besides living a simple and caring life, maintaining a "weakly" alkali body chemistry can help prevent and cure cancer.
Somehow there is very little background information on Dr. Lu, his hospital and his research on cancer and body chemistry. But an alkaline-rich diet did help two lung cancer patients became cancer free and healthy.
To reflect what this fool has just learned from reading Combat Cancer, now I also know cancer is not a modern-day ailment. But thirty or forty years ago, I had never heard of anyone I knew died of cancer. I wonder why?
Finally, let’s put aside the debate on whether a diet change can or cannot prevent and cure cancers. Just think how relieved and joyful many cancer sufferers will be if they know there are other simpler and gentler alternatives they can choose to fight this dreaded disease. - Ayee
*(1) At pH level between 3.35 and 3.45
(2) From http:/dfoolonthehill.com/health-Combat Cancer
Saturday, July 2, 2011
Not A Dog's Day
July Fourth always reminds me of my late friend’s little dog: Kiku. But I would never consider this rumbustious furry ball a patriotic pooch, she loathed the nation’s birthday.
On the night of one particular July Fourth, while everyone else was embracing the display of bursting fireworks, this wee doggie squeezed through the garage door and escaped. The next morning she, with cuts and bruises all over her small body, was found on the door mate of a neighbor she knew. Kiku must have quite an ordeal before she reached her friend’s house. Definitely, the July Fourth celebration was a very painful experience to this pint-size but wise dog.
And Kiku is not the only one who fears abnormal noises. I remember one of our cats ran away one night when one of our neighbors decided to light up a few fire crackers in their back yard. It took us a long, long time before the frightened kitty was coaxed out from his hiding place. In this instance we were lucky. Our pet did not run too far away from home. Unfortunately, to escape from this unusual and scary noises many other family pets may not end on a happy note. This explains why animal shelters everywhere are inundated with many disoriented dogs and cats days after the July Fourth holiday.
So this year, when we are ready to set up the sizzling grills for the July Fourth party, be sure keep close eyes on our pets too. - Ayee
On the night of one particular July Fourth, while everyone else was embracing the display of bursting fireworks, this wee doggie squeezed through the garage door and escaped. The next morning she, with cuts and bruises all over her small body, was found on the door mate of a neighbor she knew. Kiku must have quite an ordeal before she reached her friend’s house. Definitely, the July Fourth celebration was a very painful experience to this pint-size but wise dog.
And Kiku is not the only one who fears abnormal noises. I remember one of our cats ran away one night when one of our neighbors decided to light up a few fire crackers in their back yard. It took us a long, long time before the frightened kitty was coaxed out from his hiding place. In this instance we were lucky. Our pet did not run too far away from home. Unfortunately, to escape from this unusual and scary noises many other family pets may not end on a happy note. This explains why animal shelters everywhere are inundated with many disoriented dogs and cats days after the July Fourth holiday.
So this year, when we are ready to set up the sizzling grills for the July Fourth party, be sure keep close eyes on our pets too. - Ayee
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