On the earlier daycare topic – I brought my kid to a birthday party where all the kids there were daycare kids. The kids played together well and had a blast. The very next week we went to a party at the same place where all the kids (except mine) were nanny-raised kids (the same age). The difference between the two groups was astounding. The nanny kids didn’t know how to play with each other, got into each other’s faces, went crying to mama/daddy continually during the party, and didn’t even know how to eat without practically being spoon-fed or making a giant mess. The daycare kids sat at the table eating pizza and later cake together happily, while the nanny kids couldn’t sit at the table for more than 5 minutes. At one point all the kids were running off in their own directions while my kid sat calmly eating pizza at the table alone.

I don’t like the idea of putting babies under 1 in daycare, and the daycare has to be decent, but there are certain very noticeable benefits among toddlers who are in daycare versus those raised by nannies. Socialization is critical.

# javaman Says:
November 25th, 2008 at 3:37 pm

according to this guy, NJ is bankrupt. Kaput…

http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2008/11/state-of-new-jersey-is-insolvent.html

if we go back to Grim’s ‘new year prediction’ post, i wrote something about nj and bankrupt

November 25th, 2008 at 3:03 pm

“If your wife has to work to afford a mortgage then you can’t afford a mortgage.”

What world are you living in?

If this was true, every McMansion would be bulldozed and small shed like dwelling structures would be built in their place. I’m thinking leen-tos.

seriously john, you have no clue. what % of families just have one person working, and enjoy a comfortable life with no car payments, no CC debt, two vacations a year (and im not talking about the jersey shore), investing in the market, socking away in 401k, and being able to stash away 6 months living expenses for if you lose your job?

we’re both working now to save up as much as we can, and the plan is to have the wife stay home for about 5-6 years to raise the kids.

Anyway, would welcome your opinion on various towns/school districts in Bucks.

there’s a PDF file with 2008 rankings here.
http://www.phillymag.com/articles/the_top_50_school_districts_2008/

we’re targeting council rock because new hope/solebury (while a bit closer to NJ) just has too much of a “sticks” feel to us.

Fed Aid Sets Off a Rush to Refinance
By RUTH SIMON and JAMES R. HAGERTY

The Federal Reserve’s attempt to stabilize the housing market set off a chain reaction across the U.S. on Tuesday, dropping interest rates and quickly spurring a burst of refinancing activity by borrowers eager to lower their mortgage costs.

Some brokers said it was the most activity they’ve seen in at least one year, although there was no way to determine to volume of refinancing.

At Bank of America Corp., call volume was roughly twice what was expected at call centers and via the Internet, said Matt Vernon, national sales executive. “It’s the folks who have been sitting on the sideline. They’re jumping in with this news.”

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122765938507058417.html

The struggling bank is slated to pay $400 million over the next 20 years to name the stadium Citi Field.

The bank made the commitment years ago, when it was flush with cash. Now that Citigroup is getting billions of dollars in federal aid, Staten Island Republicans Vincent Ignizio and James Oddo say the ballpark’s name should be changed to Citi/Taxpayer Field.

Citigroup and Mets chief operating officer Jeff Wilpon have been saying that they have no plan to alter the naming-rights deal for the ballpark, which hosts its regular-season opener April 13.

Wilpon and Citigroup spokesman Steve Silverman said they had no comment on the proposal.

Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press

Every morning at 6 AM, I turn off the alarm and wish I could avoid the compelling evidence of how bad things are getting.

Come spend a week with me. Come meet my clients. Peruse the new, online Hunterdon Co sheriff sale lists (they only went online two weeks ago; before that, there was no need). Come with me to Somerville & meet Sheriff Provenzano. He can tell you how they blew thru this year’s sheriff sale budget by the end of June and how a sheriff sale now takes around 18 months because of the backlog.

Since we’re the ones in denial, how are you playing this? Looking to buy before you get priced out? Picking up some good investment properties?

If we’re wrong to be on the short side of RE, how are you playing the other side of the trade?

Please elaborate, rather than trolling and baiting like so many so-called “bulls” who came here before you. Up until now, the only thing they have in common is that they all got carried out on their shields.

Hank? Hank??? Is that you?

sl

i think Joe Sixpack is already revolting, by defaulting on mortgage/credit card debt. this will be a different kind of revolution. why play by the rules when the big boys don’t????

why pick up pitchfork and torch and march on Washington? it’s alot easier to live in a house beyond your means for a year RENT FREE and go out piling up credit card debt on frivolous objects of desire. you don’t have to be in great physical shape to spend and default. marching on Washington requires a level of physical fitness that most Americans are not capable of.

very sad!

During this groupthink, these posters have avoided compelling evidence that contradicts their viewpoint.

By the way, the S&P/C-S condo index covers New York City and the suburbs, including central New Jersey counties of Union, Middlesex, Somerset, Hunterdon, Mercer, and Monmouth.

Stops are in. Light volume and half-sessions are a bitch.

I’m hoping SKF gets roughed up tomorrow so I can average down some more.