Month May 2008

Waiting game on the escrow

The bank for the buyer’s mortgage still hasn’t given clear to close, so the escrow close will be late. This happens quite a lot more now. Banks are extra cautious now, checking everything, a far cry indeed from a a…

Big Dry’ hits Australian farmers

The number of farmers in Australia has dropped 10% in the past five years primarily due to their massive drought but also because of high interest rates. While small farmers are probably the worst hit by this, larger farms are…

Misplaced priorities

The US will spend $5 billion in 2008-2009 for world food aid or about about $210 million per month. The Iraq War costs $12 billion per month.

Bonneville Salt Flats

We passed them on Tuesday. The Great Salt Lake and the Bonneville Salt Flats go on for many miles. In some areas people write things in the salt with little black rocks (maybe briquettes?) and these too stretch on for…