Phung

The poem, "i carry your heart with me," by E. E. Cummings has been a favorite love poem and a favorite selection at weddings for many years. The poem has gained renewed interest since being featured in the film, "In Her Shoes." It is used with devastating effect in the films climactic wedding scene and again to close the movie. Countless fans have been inspired to review the touching words of "i carry your heart with me."

The Poet

E. E. Cummings was born Edward Estlin Cummings in 1894 in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He died in North Conway, N.H., in 1962. Cummings earned a B.A. degree from Harvard in 1915 and delivered the Commencement Address that year, titled "The New Art." A year later he earned an M.A. degree for English and Classical Studies, also from Harvard.

Cummings joined an ambulance corps with the American Red Cross in France during World War I. The French imprisoned him on suspicion of disloyalty, a false accusation that put Cummings in prison for three months. He wrote the novel, The Enormous Room, about his experience. Many of Cummings' writings have an anti-war message.

Cummings was a fine artist, playwright and novelist. He studied art in Paris following World War I and he adopted a cubist style in his artwork. He considered himself as much a painter as a poet, spending much of the day painting and much of the night writing. Cummings particularly admired the artwork of Pablo Picasso. Cummings' understanding of presentation can be seen in his use of typography to "paint a picture" with words in some of his poems.

During his lifetime Cummings wrote over 900 poems, two novels, four plays, and had at least a half dozen showings of his artwork.

Contrary to popular opinion Cummings never legalized his name as, "e.e. cummings." His name properly should be capitalized.

The Poem

E. E. Cummings poetry style is unique and highly visual. His typographical independence was an experiment in punctuation, spelling and rule-breaking. His style forces a certain rhythm into the poem when read aloud. His language is simple and his poems become fun and playful.

Cummings poem, "i carry your heart with me," is about deep, profound love, the kind that can keep the stars apart and that can transcend the soul or the mind. The poem is easily read, easily spoken, and easily understood by people of all ages. The poem could almost be called a sonnet. It has nearly the right number of lines in nearly the right combination. But, typical of a Cummings poem, it goes its own direction and does so with great effect.

The poem makes an excellent love song when set to music. The outstanding guitarist, Michael Hedges, has set "i carry your heart" to music on his "Taproot" album. Hedges himself sings the lead, but the backing vocals are sung by David Crosby and Graham Nash.

More than 168 of Cummings' original poems have been set to music.

Enjoy the words and the sentiments of this famous poem.

i carry your heart with me

i carry your heart with me (i carry it in
my heart) i am never without it (anywhere
i go you go, my dear; and whatever is done
by only me is your doing, my darling)

i fear
no fate (for you are my fate, my sweet) i want
no world (for beautiful you are my world, my true)
and it's you are whatever a moon has always meant
and whatever a sun will always sing is you

here is the deepest secret nobody knows
(here is the root of the root and the bud of the bud
and the sky of the sky of a tree called life; which grows
higher than soul can hope or mind can hide)
and this is the wonder that's keeping the stars apart

i carry your heart (i carry it in my heart)

********************
Garry Gamber is a public school teacher and entrepreneur. He writes articles about politics, real estate, health and nutrition, and internet dating services. He is the owner of http://www.Anchorage-Homes.com and http://www.TheDatingAdvisor.com

We hear about law everyday whether we realize it or not. It's in our Government, in our work, and even in our houses. One type of law is Criminal law, which is also known as Penal law. This is "The body of statutory and common law that deals with crime and the legal punishment of criminal offenses."

Inside of criminal law there is four major theories of criminal justice:

- Punishment

- Deterrence

- Incapacitation

- Rehabilitation

This form of law is essential in many cases because it can distinguis between crimes from civil wrongs. Criminal law has been around for ages, and is seeing as the fundamental system of regulating the behavior of individuals and groups relatively to what is defined as the social norms. This differs between civil crimes, where the difference is between two individuals and their individual rights and obligations under the law which is ruling the entire society.

An example of a civil law case is a dispute between two individuals over a contract that they made to for example sell an automobile. In that case one individual feels that their individual rights for a fair automobile sale have been breached by the other party. Where as in a criminal case, you would have for example a murderer, who is infringing on the right of safety that we all have. Given those two examples I'm sure you can appreciate how important Criminal law is, and the important role that it plays in everyone of our societies.

Feel free to reprint this article as long as you keep the article, this caption and author biography in tact with all hyperlinks.

Ryan Fyfe is the owner and operator of Good Criminal Lawyer - http://www.good-criminal-lawyer.com, which is the best site on the internet for all criminal lawyer related information.

Your home may be your castle, but the chances are you dont have it protected with a moat and drawbridge. Regardless of the number of locks which you have on your doors, there is no way to keep would-be intruders from going after the door panels or doorframe if they are determined enough, and know that there is no one either in your house or expected to arrive any time soon.

Thinking you can simply reinforce your existing wooden door by bolting a sheet of metal to it is also taking a risk; a sledgehammer exerted with enough force will buckle the metal and pulverize the doors frame. If you are serious about making your homes entryway intruder-proof, you need to replace your wooden door and door frame with the solid steel of a security door, and a frame capable of withstanding the worst your unwanted guest can throw at it.

If your first reaction is to think Wont having a steel security door make my home look like a factory? relax. Steel security doors are available with wood cladding which be stained or painted to blend perfectly into your homes appearance. And they are easy to maintain, cleaning up very well with just warm water and soap or stainless steel cleanser.

Security Door Locks

A security doors locking system, while invisible, is very nearly impenetrable and indestructible. The locks are steel bolts positioned at intervals along the security doors edges; when the security doors key is turned it slides the steel bolts into aligned openings in its frame.

A steel security door will be constructed of heavy gauge steel; there are models available with tempered glass inlays for those who would like to identify their visitors. The best steel security doors will be strong enough to withstand hurricane force winds and rain, and soundproof as well. Available in a variety of thicknesses, security doors can be used in a homes interior walls as well as in its entrances. When used in partition walls, they require a reinforced frame to support the weight of the door and strengthen the wall against intruders.

Security Door Warranties

Even better, the warranty on a security door is usually far superior to that of a standard wood one. A steel security doer is not susceptible to warping and dry rot like a wooden door, and will need replacing far less often. And if you select a security door which contains tempered glass, even if the glass needs replacing, you are facing a much smaller expense than you would have from buying a completely new door.

You can also find more info on Home Security Surveillance Camera and Home Security System. Homesecuritysystemsguide.com is a comprehensive resource to know about Home security.

If you love helping people but would rather deal with details behind the scenes than in the waiting room, medical billing/coding schools could be just what the doctor ordered for your career.

Medical Billing and Coding Roles
Medical billing/coding schools lead to one of the health occupations in which there is little or no direct contact with patients. But it's not an easy job -- accuracy is essential, as these professionals assemble patients' health information, ensuring that medical charts are complete and that all pertinent information is in the computer.

Medical records technicians may also specialize in coding information for insurance billing purposes. They assign a code to each diagnosis and procedure, consulting classification manuals and relying on their knowledge of disease processes. Using computer software, medical billing technicians assign the patient to a diagnosis-related group (DRG), which determines the amount the hospital will be reimbursed if the patient is covered by insurance programs using the DRG system.

Staring Out at Medical Billing/Coding Schools
Once you've received medical billing and coding training from one of the 184 associate degree programs offered at medical billing/coding schools accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Health Informatics and Information Management Education (CAHIIM), you may take the Registered Health Information Technician (RHIT) certification exam given by the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA).

For insurance billing, you may take the Certified Medical Reimbursement Specialist exam, a national credential awarded by the Certifying Board of the American Medical Billing Association. Certifications in coding are available either from AHIMA (Certified Coding Associate, Certified Coding Specialist, and Certified Coding Specialist-Physician-based) or from the American Academy of Professional Coders (Certified Professional Coder, Certified Professional Coder-Hospital, Certified Professional Coder-Payer).

On the Job in Medical Billing and Coding
Median annual earnings in the medical billing/coding field were $25,590 in 2004, with the highest 10 percent earning more than $41,760. That same year, about 159,000 jobs were held by medical records and health information technicians.

Job prospects continue to look good for those with medical billing and coding training. In fact, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment of medical billing/coding professionals is expected to grow much faster than average for all occupations through 2014. Technicians with a strong background in medical coding will be in particularly high demand due to the increased amount of paperwork involved in filing insurance claims.

To find college and career schools near you, surf http://www.CollegeSurfing.com.

Copyright 2007
The CollegeBound Network
All Rights Reserved

Robyn Tellefsen is a frequent contributor to The CollegeBound Network. Learn more about finding a school or career that's right for you!

The bane of internet mlm business in trying to build any internet mlm business is having whinny downlines that think that they do not need to do anything to make money online. The best way to deal with them is to develop a method to develop leadership in your business as part of how you deal with your downlines so that they start taking ownership of their own business and start building their own downlines.

Be nasty to be nice

Sometimes affiliates in my internet business spend time asking questions that they could have read and answered online by reading the online forums. The solution is to acknowledge the validity of their questions and direct them back to the online resource and tell them that its not that you do not want to help them but you want them to learn to direct any of their future downlines to the forum so as to help them save time when their downlines get real large.

Provide a roadmap

Many people are fishing in the dark when they join any internet mlm business opportunity. Provide a simple plan for your new affiliates to follow and then give them a few resources and let them work. You want affiliates who are motivated to work so that these people can then build their own downlines strong and on autopilot without your intervention. Providing too much help I have found can be a hindrance to growth.

Reading List

Some people have no idea what it takes to become a leader in their field of business and what it takes to succeed online. A good way for you to groom leaders is to choose a list of books for them to read in the library and discuss with them. Choose books like Rich Dad and Poor Dad and other leadership building books to help them along to become great internet mlm leaders.

In conclusion, leadership in your downline can be encouraged but not forced. Spend some time thinking and planning who in your downline can be groomed into a leader and help them achieve their potential today.

Joel Teo is the successful owner of several successful internet business ventures.Click here to learn how you can start your own successful internet business today.

http://www.massive-profits-online.com

Copyright 2005-2006 Joel Teo the Coolest Guy On The Planet

Term refinancing is used to apply for a secured loan in order to replace existing loan that is secured by same assets. Refinancing is generally used for home mortgage. It is used to make a payment of other debts or to reduce the interest costs. Refinancing is the better option to meet your long as well as short term financial goals. It helps to reduce the monthly payments.

Mostly homeowners choose refinancing just to obtain lower interest rate, build equity faster, and change loan type, take advantage of an improved credit rating or to draw on equity that is already built in the home. It is the best way to lower monthly mortgage payments. Before refinancing, you should try to get answers for certain questions like:

How long would you like to remain in your home?
How many years are left for your existing mortgage?
Are you ready you pay some extra costs?
Will you really save your money by refinancing?

These are some general question that enables you to think wisely for your personal eligibility. Your financial eligibility is based on revenues, recent mortgage information, property value and some other related information. Refinancing is good in certain conditions like:

if interest rates are lowering
if you want to generate some extra cash
if you like to merge the debts
if youre planning to stay in your home for a long period of time
if you want to lessen the mortgage period

While shopping, be smart & intelligent! The customers should meet two or more suppliers to compare the rate of interest and total costs provided by the existing lender. You should check all the facilities offered by different suppliers and then choose the best as per your needs.

About Author: Author owns a website on Refinancing. The website provides advice on how to choose refinancing. It offers some consumer tips at the time of getting refinance. You can visit his site to get information about Mortgage Calculators.

If the doors of perception were cleansed every thing would appear to man as it is, infinite. For man has closed himself up, till he sees all things through narrow chinks of his cavern. William Blake

Via SEOBook, I was introduced to Frank Schillings domain-focused blog. Discovering the world of domaining from Frank and other domain experts like Jay Westerdahl has been an extremely eye-opening experience because until recently, I had viewed domain names solely as a component of the equation for attaining high search engine rankings. I intuitively knew that domain names had their own intrinsic value apart from the SEO process but I had never considered that I could make money from them just through mere possession.

Frank and Jay taught me that a domain name can be very valuable on its own without even taking into consideration any monetization I might do to it. By picking and holding onto domain names wisely, I can generate wealth while mostly ignoring the prevailing search engine algorithms. I could get targeted visitors to my website from people who type the name of my website into their web browser and I could earn money from these visitors either by placing ads on the parked pages or creating my own web pages that sell products relevant to the name. Furthermore, my ability to monetize the sites would only play a small part in determining the worth of my domains to a prospective buyer.

If I could register a generic, descriptive commonly searched word/phrase as a dot com domain, I have potentially acquired an asset that will be worth far more than what I paid for it.

I had made a few recent domain pickups but lacked a cohesive strategy for purchase. I was floundering around looking for some guidance that would allow me to make a bigger splash into this new (for me) internet marketing realm. Then, I had my Kubla Khan Moment

Instead of giving you a set of boilerplate domain name acquisition rules to follow, I think it would be more useful for me to provide you a diary of my initial foray into domaining. I encourage you to follow along with my story with your take-away being:

That you can go apply this process to a subject area of knowledge that interests you and participate in this exciting way of making money online.

That you go through my process in my specialty niche and if you see any good domains that I missed, you can grab them for yourself.

My First Time

Since becoming an internet marketer, I have kept current with the latest news involving lifestyle pharmaceuticals with the aim of selling them as an affiliate. I learned very quickly that I wasnt going to break into the Viagra / Phentermine marketplace as a major playerinstead, I focused on identifying drugs early in their research / testing phase that had potential to be big and formulated strategies to earn income from them well before they became available to consumers. One drug that caught my attention was Intrinsa, a testosterone patch used to treat female sexual dysfunction. Though approved in much of Europe, Intrinsa was not approved in the U.S. and as we speak, pharmaceutical companies are attempting to develop Intrinsa alternatives that will hopefully satisfy the FDA.

I stumbled across the following web page that discussed one such alternative and as I read this page, I had my domainer epiphany. I encourage you to read the content on the linked page so you can better follow my thoughts.

First, I looked at the headline that referred to MDTS (Metered Dose Transdermal Spray), a method of drug delivery that was unknown to me. I thought this product/process might have the potential to be quite important in the realm of drug delivery, which meant that perhaps I could conjure up a worthy new domain name from the presented information. If I could figure out what people would commonly call this device in a way that avoids its trademark, I could purchase a valuable domain name. MDTS was trademarked (and likely taken anyway as a domain) and the non-trademarked Metered Dose Transdermal Spray would be too long for many to type or remember. How about Transdermal Spray? I perceived that most folks searching for information on this device would call it a Transdermal Spray and since transdermalspray.com was available, I grabbed it.

Then, I focused my attention to the pharmaceutical itself. In generic terms, the product was a testosterone spray but testosteronespray.com was taken (and not likely my best choice anyway). Femaletestosteronespray.com was available but I thought that phrase sounded too clinical to be commonly used. Summoning all my perceptive abilities, I concluded that if this product were to hit big in the marketplace, no matter what its trademarked name would be, and considering the prurient nature of most people, it would likely be thought of as the Female Sex Spray. Since femalesexspray.com was available, I purchased it. If this product makes it to market successfully and become an effective treatment for female sexual dysfunction, my domain name could become much more valuable than the seven dollars I spent to register it.

Suddenly, I felt that I figured out a methodology from which I could smartly pick lifestyle pharmaceutical domain names. I then created two lists. The first list consisted of the top lifestyle conditions that would lead people to seek out a pharmaceutical. The second list would consist of pharmaceutical delivery agents: i.e. the form in which the pharmaceutical would be delivered to the patient. I would match terms from list 1 and list 2, and check to see what domains were available for purchase.

List 1: Lifestyle Conditions Chosen: Male & Female Sexuality, Male & Female Hormones, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, Smoking Cessation, and Acne. Not Chosen: Anti-Aging (due to diverse keywording).

List 2: Pharmaceutical Delivery Agents Chosen: Pill, Patch, Ointment, Gel, Cream, Lotion, and even (yuck) Suppository Not Chosen: Balm, Unguent, Salve, Oil, Liniment

Once I started combining phrases from List 1 and List 2, I was amazed at how many domains remained available that were common generic phrases that mapped well either to drugs in development that I knew about, drugs that should/could be in development that I didnt know about, or non-pharmaceutical formulations that could be sold in a high-end affiliate program. I then grabbed a whole bunch of domains and placed relevant advertising on these pages (complete list heredefinitely not family safe). Earlier, I had made up my mind to purchase 100 domainsin my enthusiasm, I probably selected some domain names that I should have left on the table.

It might be years before I know how successful my first domaining venture was. However, just by the fact that many of these domain names map well to potential blockbuster drugs in development, I feel comfortable that I had a profitable day. I know that if just one of these domains succeeds, I will have a huge ROI from my purchase. Most importantly, I have trained myself to view any marketplace through the prism of a domainer and translate real world opportunities into potentially valuable generic keyword domain name purchases.

Todd Mintz is the Director of Internet Marketing & Information Systems for S.R. Clarke Inc., a Real Estate Development and Residential / Commercial Construction Executive Search / Recruiting Firm headquartered in Fairfax, VA with offices nationwide. He is also a Director & Founding Member of SEMpdx: Portland, Oregon's Search Engine Marketing Association.

Ouch! Your back hurts. Youll go to a doctor if it doesnt let up soon, but meanwhile, what can you do to treat back pain? Better yet, since you dont want to simply treat it, what can you to relieve back pain? Wait a minute. What can you do to cure back pain now?!

While back pain can be excruciating, it is common. It is one of the leading reasons people visit doctors each year. Add those who dont want to visit a doctor, and the numbers are staggering.

Question is: how can you truly cure back pain?

You Dont Want to Hear This!

My own doctor told me last week that the best way to cure back pain is to begin, and consistently maintain, regular exercises to strengthen core muscles.

After telling me that, he gave a short laugh, and added, But most people dont want to hear that.

How about you? If my doctor is right, you probably dont want to hear that you can cure back pain with regular exercise. You would rather hear that

* a new chair will cure back pain while you watch TV
* a new prescription drug will cure back pain with daily doses
* a month in bed (paid sick leave) will cure back pain
* you should not exercise at all

Im sorry, but what you and I really need is exercise that specifically targets the core muscle groups that support our backs.

Exercises to Cure Back Pain

The Texas Back Institute tells us that research shows more than two days of inactivity is harmful when you have back pain. Lying in a bed or reclining chair will only cause your muscles to weaken and become less flexible. As you move around, exercise improves blood flow to discs, joints, and muscles. Exercise relaxes spasms that are causing you pain, and speeds healing.

You need to get up and get gentle exercise if you expect to cure back pain.

The following daily routine will go far toward helping you actually cure back pain and keep it from recurring.

* Morning Rising: Begin your day by getting out of bed with this exercise. Roll on one side. Gently swing your legs to the floor while pushing up with your arms. When you are in a sitting position, stand up. This exercise will remind you every morning of your desire to cure back pain forever.

* Warm-up: Warm up your back before beginning exercises or rushing around getting ready for your day. Bend at the waist, and let your arms hang toward the floor. Do not stretch or bounce. Simply bend and hang, feeling your back lengthen. Then reach slowly for the ceiling, gently stretching upward. A brief, relaxed walk will finish your warm-up.

* Six Exercises:

1. Slippery Heels - Lie on your back on the floor, legs straight. Slowly slide your left heel toward your body, knee bent upward. Then slide the heel back away from your body until your leg is straight again. Repeat 10 times for each leg.

2. Slippery Lap Stand with your back touching a wall, feet 12 from the wall. Tighten abdominal muscles, hold, and slowly bend both knees, sliding downward until you form a lap. Hold 30 seconds, and slowly slide up again. Repeat 10 times.

3. High Heels - Stand facing a wall, about 18 away. Balance your weight evenly on both feet. Slowly lift up only your heels as though wearing high heel shoes. Then lower your heels slowly back to the floor. Repeat 10 times for each foot.

4. High Legs Lie on your back, left leg straight, right leg at right angle. Tighten abdominal muscles, and slowly lift straight leg 6 to 12 inches, keeping it straight. Hold 5 seconds, and slowly lower. Repeat 10 times for each leg.

5. Reverse High Legs Do high legs while lying on your stomach on the floor. Hold for 10 seconds, and slowly lower the leg to the floor. Repeat 5 times for each leg.

6. Brake Pedals - Lie on your back on the floor, legs straight. Push toes away as though pushing on 2 brake pedals. Pull the toes back toward your body, as though letting up on the brake pedals. Work your brake pedals up and down. Repeat 10 times.

* Cool-down: Cool down before going on with your day. A brief, relaxed walk is all you need.

Additional Secrets to Cure Back Pain

You can cure back pain by adding these additional secrets to your exercise program. First of all, remember that you should see your health care provider to learn exactly what type of back pain you have, and whether home care is sufficient.

With your physicians approval, add these steps to cure back pain.

* If you must sit at a computer all day, sit with feet flat on the floor, or use a footrest to relieve back strain and cure back pain.

* Get up and move around for at least 5 minutes out of every hour.

* When standing for extended periods, shift your weight regularly.

* Wear shoes that have soft soles and low heels, preferably no more than 1.5 inches and square in shape. Place inserts in your shoes to correct any incorrect posture.

* Lose weight if you are too heavy. You can cure back pain more quickly if your muscles have less work to do.

* Avoid sitting on a thick billfold. A lot of money might buy back surgery, but you wont cure back pain by sitting on it or a stack of credit cards and photos.

* Bend at the knees, not at the waist, when lifting something heavy.

* When your doctor says you are ready, begin a program of aerobic exercise to strengthen those core muscles in your back and abdomen. Choose from activities such as jogging, cycling, or swimming.

Cure Back Pain with Mind over Matter

Recent research indicates that mental gymnastics can do much to cure back pain. Although my doctor may not want to hear this, it appears to be true. Published in the journal BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, the study found that training the mind was just as effective as using more physical methods to deal with chronic lower back pain.

The secret is to consciously realize that pain does not necessarily mean harm. Learn about your pain and what causes it, allowing your brain to deal with the perceived pain.

As long as you try to avoid it, you cannot cure back pain. Talk to your physician and create an exercise program that is right for you and your pain.

2007, Anna Hart. Anna Hart invites you to read more of her articles about back pain at http://www.backpainreliefblog.com. Anna has done extensive research on back pain, its symptoms, causes, and treatment, and offers you the results of her research free of charge. If you are looking for more ways to treat or cure back pain, visit Anna often to see what new information she has posted.

You cant believe a few years have gone by since you graduated from High School and yet you still dont have a clue what to do with your life. How can you decide what career path to choose? You definitely know that you are tired of low-paying dead end jobs with absolutely no future. So what is the answer?

Online career training.

Career training is a very good way to learn new skills in a short amount of time. There are lots of career training programs, which can help you gain technical and/or business knowledge. Students can attend college for years, but do not receive very specific knowledge in a particular field because they are busy discussing theory instead of what is happening in the real world. Career training utilizes step-by-step online training based on current trends in industry.

Online training has come of age and millions of people yearly join online courses worldwide. You just require a computer and an internet connection to study from the luxury of your home. You can access your course from anywhere in the world.

Career training courses are designed in such a way that there are full instructions about the subject usually via streaming video and audio. They help you to gain valuable knowledge on a subject and include many types of questionnaires and tests so that you learn the subject very well.

There are many benefits of career training. You are taught the required skills for doing a particular job and it is a very convenient way to study. If you are working or managing a business, you can study and take your tests anytime, anywhere. There is no need for you to commute or attend classes.

There are lots of online training courses and it is very easy to enroll. You simply register for the course and you will receive login information. Use this information to login to the website and from there you can access the course materials and begin your training. Some websites allow you to take mock tests to judge your skills and knowledge while others provide online career counseling.

Once you complete a course you can get a job because you have skills. Most employers want to hire people who have experience. Your career training course will give you the hands-on experience needed. Yes, career training helps facilitate getting a job because you get the requisite experience you wont receive from a standard classroom education.

There are lots of career training courses available and by doing your research you can join a program that you really like and that will pay off.

Copyright 2006 Sherry Harris

Sherry Harris is the President of online career training school, Malibu Institute. For more information on master certificate courses and career education offered, go to: www.MalibuInstitute.com

In the wake of the mammoth study of mortgage disclosures released in mid-June by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), the real estate industry is actively analyzing the new forms and the FTC's conclusions about what needs changing. But the opinions on the study and what it could mean for RESPA reform are unsurprisingly varied. Paul Schieber of Blank Rome LLP perhaps said it best when he observed, "To be honest, any new form is probably going to be an improvement, but no form will satisfy everyone."

Brokers pleased

Marc Savitt, vice president and president-elect of the National Association of Mortgage Brokers (NAMB), was very pleased with the FTCs findings.

I cant tell you how happy I am to see this report the way it came out, because it validates everything NAMB has been saying for the past few years we need to simplify these disclosures to make them easier for consumers to understand. Whoever originates a loan should disclose on the exact same forms in the exact same manner. As the report shows, the way it is done now confuses the consumer, and when it confuses the consumer, they make mistakes, and they are costly mistakes.

Savitt noted, One of the most surprising things from this is that youd think more disclosure would come out as a result of this report or that theyd be recommending more disclosure not just clearer disclosure. But actually what theyre saying is that there is too much disclosure.

He added that even the savviest consumers are often confused by the forms, saying, Ive had people that are lawyers and/or involved in the mortgage business [applying for loans] and you can see in their eyes that they dont understand [the forms]. We always tell them that if you dont understand, dont be afraid to ask what you may think is a stupid question, because the only stupid question is the one you dont ask.

Breaking down the findings

Howard Lax of Lipson Neilson Cole Seltzer Garin PC took a very analytical look at the report.

I cannot fault the empirical findings of the study, he said. However, there is still a lot more work to be done before new disclosure models are proposed. This is clearly evident from the conclusions of the study.

Lax went through each conclusion one-by-one, offering comments on each.

(1) Current mortgage cost disclosures failed to convey key mortgage costs to many consumers.

We know this already, Lax said.

(2) Prototype disclosures developed for the study significantly improved consumer recognition of mortgage costs, demonstrating that better disclosures are feasible.

Yes, but they are up against a very low standard, Lax said. The issue is not whether better disclosures are feasible - that is a given. The issue is whether better disclosures will be effective. This is just a first stab at providing effective disclosures. More work needs to be done.

Lax emphasized that "significant improvement is needed in the next prototype disclosure about prepayment and balloon loans, and explaining how the APR differs from the interest rate (and why this is important).

Lax also pointed out the following quote from page ES-9 of the study:

Although the prototype form provided significant improvements in consumer understanding, some consumers still failed to recognize key costs, and, in some cases, represented substantial proportions of prototype form respondents. Forty-one percent of prototype form respondents, for example, could not identify the amount of prepayment penalties (though this was a substantial improvement over the 95 percent who could not do so with the current forms), and 30 percent did not recognize that the loan included a large balloon payment, an identical percentage as in the current forms group. Further development of the disclosures may provide additional improvements that better convey these costs.

Regarding this, Lax said, It is significant that borrowers who thought they were happy with their loan were not, and borrowers who thought they understood the terms of their loan did not even those who considered themselves sophisticated consumers. Further study may reveal that there is no good way to explain certain terms, such as what the APR is and the benefit this disclosure provides. If it is not possible to make this disclosure effective (especially since almost all homeowners prepay their loan), the Federal Reserve Board and Congress should think about abandoning this disclosure or significantly revising it in favor of a more effective yardstick (perhaps by showing the cost of credit over the first seven years of a loan rather than over the life of the loan).

(3) Both prime and subprime borrowers failed to understand key loan terms, and both benefited from the improved disclosures.

Was anyone able to identify how they could have benefited from the improved understanding? Lax asked. Were there any Gee, I could have had a V-8! moments? Did anyone go back to their lender and demand a modification of their loan?

(4) Improved disclosures provided the greatest benefit for more complex loans, where both prime and subprime borrowers had the most difficulty understanding loan terms.

I would like to see the FTC repeat the study with people who never had a mortgage loan, across a broader range of the population, Lax said. The study produced minor differences between the understanding of loan terms by prime and subprime borrowers. We hear anecdotal stories of loan officers taking advantage of subprime borrowers because they are uneducated or inexperienced. Perhaps subprime borrowers are educated by the origination process so that the study results are similar for prime and subprime borrowers. Perhaps the anecdotal stories were not supported by the study because the sample population for the study was from Montgomery County, Md., an area where education and income levels are substantially higher than elsewhere in the U.S., he noted.

Testing individuals who fall into the prime and subprime credit categories in various financially homogeneous regions (e.g. the City of Detroit, the City of San Francisco, and two rural communities) but who have not purchased a home may show that there are greater differences in understanding disclosures among persons of different financial circumstances. This issue was not part of this study, Lax said.

He added, I suspect that creditworthiness is strongly related to the level of parental training and other informal education concerning financial services received by teenagers and young adults. Disclosures need to be developed for the inexperienced (first time) home buyer. Perhaps we need an additional set of disclosures for the experienced consumer.

Regarding this point, James Lacko of the FTC's Bureau of Economics and author of the study, disagreed about the study's scope.

Lacko told RESPAnews, Although [Lax] is correct that we did not focus the study on first-time homebuyers, we did examine mortgage customers in many areas of the country, Lacko said. The Montgomery County, Md. sample was used for the 36 in-depth interviews conducted in the study. The study also conducted consumer testing with over 800 mortgage customers in 12 locations across the country, including Boston, Westchester County (New York), Akron, Chicago, Nashville, Atlanta, Denver, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, Portland and Seattle.

Making it mean something

Lax also had some observations about other portions of the study.

He pointed out pages 31-34 of the report (Section 3.4.2) which explain how the study found that applicants really do not understand the various services that a broker or lender performs that are listed on the GFE.

These statements underscore the need for mandatory financial education in public schools, Lax said.

Further, Lax said, Page 61 of the report states that the enhanced GFE disclosure used in the study provided a total closing cost estimate rather than an itemized cost list. Many brokers and lenders have been providing a total of the estimated closing costs for a long time without any apparent benefit to consumers. This is evident from the high number of subjects that failed to identify the cash due at closing when the closing costs are financed (pages 99-100 of the report). Anecdotal stories indicate that the average uninformed consumer only cares how much his or her payment is going to be. Hence, there are only two significant items of information. First, how much money do I need to bring to closing (the report correctly identifies this as the borrower's first payment), and how much is my monthly payment thereafter.

If the total closing costs is going to be a prime disclosure on the GFE, it has to mean something, he continued. I believe that consumers are confusing the total closing costs and the amount needed to close. Both are important, but they are different concepts and they should be disclosed in different manners to recognize the differences. The total loan closing costs should be identified as a hidden cost of credit much like taxes and title fees when buying a car that may be built into the amount that is financed to buy the car. The amount that needs to be brought to closing should be identified as the first loan payment, as alluded to in the report.

A second disclosure?

Lax further said that the disclosure did not address some of the more complex decisions that a borrower should consider in structuring the loan.

I think that the FTC should consider adding a second disclosure as an addendum that addresses subtle issues beyond the what is my payment level, he said. For example, the concept that the consumer can lower his closing costs and monthly payment by paying the closing costs rather than financing them should be disclosed in terms of the borrower's loan perhaps in a short table attached as an addendum at the end of the disclosure.

The HUD factor

After the study came out last week, HUDs Brian Sullivan said the department was looking at the report and prototype disclosure and felt that the agencies were both singing the same general song here, and that is better disclosure is better.

Sullivan said HUD certainly will be considering the FTCs suggestions as it moves forward with drafting the new rule and noted that HUD has continuously been in contact with its federal partners throughout the whole reform process.

For his part, Savitt said he hopes HUD limits itself to RESPA reform lite as Phil Schulman of K&L Gates put it in 2005, commenting on a reform proposal that would include only a revamped GFE.

Savitt added, We hope HUD implements these changes and takes the recommendations seriously. It would be a tremendous benefit to the industry and consumers.

RESPA reform and policy implications

With regard to HUDs RESPA reform effort, Rich Andreano Jr. of Weiner Brodsky Sidman Kider PC felt that the FTCs finding that consumer comprehension of mortgage transactions can be materially enhanced by simply improving the loan disclosures is significant.

Andreano noted, While the FTC prototype disclosure presents a lump sum amount for settlement charges as a package, the FTC makes clear that it is not proposing the packaging concept that HUD included in its 2002 reform effort. Specifically, the FTC states that although the prototype form uses the phrase package when referring to the settlement services charge, it would not necessarily require the types of packages outlined by HUD in its 2002 proposal. All that is necessary is that the cost of the various settlement services be disclosed as a single price rather than itemized as in the current GFE. Whether this is accomplished through a HUD-type package or simply an aggregation of the individual costs is not material to the disclosure or its intended use by consumers. It will be interesting to see if HUD hears the FTC and proposes only improvements in the GFE and related changes, or attempts to adopt more wide-sweeping changes to RESPA as it did in 2002.

HUD may be successful if it takes the former approach, and it likely will not be successful if it takes the latter approach, Andreano said.

Giving teeth to the GFE

Lax went a bit further in his policy speculation, stating that there is another issue Congress needs to address.

State regulators recently began criticizing brokers for providing a GFE that varies significantly from the figures on the final HUD Settlement Statement. In many cases, the variance is due to differences between the processing fees, lender paid broker fees, and origination fees for (a) the loan amount and loan program used to provide the GFE, and (b) the loan program offered to the borrower after underwriting the borrower's credit, he said.

In Michigan, state examiners have been recommending that brokers and lenders redisclose the GFE three days before closing to correct the estimates made at the time of application, Lax continued. There is no basis in state or federal law to require the redisclosure of the GFE. Some brokers, to avoid a charge by state regulators that the GFE is not accurate, are providing ranges of fees (e.g. the dollar equivalent of 0 percent to 5 percent of the loan amount) rather than fixed amounts. If only a total range of fees is provided, the consumer will not be able to use this disclosure for its intended purposes to shop for credit.

Either we must drop the pretense that consumers can use the GFE to shop for credit, or we need to make this disclosure binding on the broker for a period of time to permit the borrower to shop it around, he concluded.

RESPAnews will continue to follow this story as it progresses.

Robin Wardzala is the editor of http://www.respanews.com the first and only online publication dedicated solely to covering issues and news related to the Real Estate Settlement Procedures Act (RESPA). RESPAnews.com provides its 32,000 readers with exclusive reporting and analysis on HUD settlements, RESPA court cases and class actions, ongoing compliance updates and multi-sided perspectives on regulatory reform debates and proposals. RESPAnews.com also offers a Q&A service with questions answered by expert attorneys. RESPAnews.com is a publication of October Research Corporation, the nations premier provider of real estate industry news and analysis.

Do you know who to contact when you are laid off of work? When you are hurt at work? When you are too ill to work - short term - long term? Do you know the difference between State Disability and Federal Disability? If you have answered yes or no to any of these questions, read on.

Life today is complicated. Medical Insurance is complicated.

I will ask you this question again? Do you know what kind of medical insurance you have? Do you know what is covered under your insurance plan? Do you spend a fortune every month for medical coverage and do not have a clue how it will affect you until it is too late?

Well if you answer this question honestly, you will realize that you are not alone. Most people do not know what their medical coverage will cover until you are hit in the face with the reality of what your insurance coverage does not cover.

(1) When your life changes and you are laid off of work, hurt at work and became so ill you could not work what are your options?

(2) When you are laid off of work you qualify for unemployment insurance.

(3) When you are hurt at work you qualify for Workmans Compensation.

(4) When you are ill and can not work you qualify for State Disability.

(5) When you can not return to work and have been off of work for one year or in some cases less you qualify for Federal Disability.

-When you qualify for permanent disability on a case by case basis you maybe entitled to Medicare Insurance.

The confusion between State Disability and Federal Disability is completely confusing and I am afraid there are many consumers getting lost in the red tape, medical jargon and all the complications the goverment agencies throw at you.

When your work status changes and you return to work do not assume all of your benefits have been closed. You work a year or longer and your work status may change. The (5) types of government insurance can change with each separate problem. Always call the Social Security office before you start or stop any of the above Insurance Plans.

With one phone call you will save yourself money, stress and you will receive the help you need.

Thank you for reading my article., Please feel free to read any of my other numerous articles.

Copyright Linda E. Meckler 2007

Linda is the author of her first published book, Ghost Kids Trilogy. "Christy, 12 and her Brother Brad, 16 moves into an old house on top of a mountain and meet two Ghost Kids.

Then we have a mysterious, magical Blue Vase where Uncle Charlie the villain is trapped. He wants out of the Blue Vase and exchange he will tell Christy and Brad where Pirates Treasure is Hidden.

Take a walk with Christy and Brad down a dark hall hunting for Pirates Treasure. You will think were you there right there with them.

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Slate flooring is becoming a popular option for use in the home. It is a hard wearing and durable product and is suitable for areas that experience more than their fair share of wear and tear. Colors that look the best for your slate flooring project include the Peacock, the Rusty and the California Gold.

You will need to put a little more time and effort into maintaining slate flooring as opposed to a porcelain or ceramic tile product. The unique appearance of slate flooring is sometimes worth the time and effort to own.

Because slate flooring is a natural stone, you should avoid using one pallet at a time, you should use pallets from all boxes at once. This will ensure that the pallets will blend well with each other when all pallets are installed. You can even use slate flooring outdoors as long as you set it on a solid subfloor with mortar. You should not install slate tiles on sand and you shouldnt use slate tiles for pavers.

As long as the slate flooring is installed on a proper sub-floor, your slate flooring should be highly resistant to any kind of damage. If you have any doubt about the suitability of the surface where you want to install your slate flooring, it is best to consult a professional before you attempt any installation procedures.

When you receive your shipment of slate flooring, it will not be unusual for 2%-3% of the tiles to be chipped or broken. You can have breakage of up to 10% that is considered acceptable by most manufacturers. If you find an inordinate amount of breakage on your order, be sure to take pictures and report it to the manufacturer as soon as possible.

Using slate flooring for your home improvement project is certainly an option you should consider. If you have any questions, you can search online and you are sure to find an answer to anything you may ask. You can search various sites to find the right deal for your budget and have your slate flooring delivered to your home in no time. If you still have any doubts, you can find a site that will offer you a sample free or for a small fee that will usually be subtracted from your order.

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