Carp Fair 2008

Another year has passed since Carp Fair (2007). We're back again with the RainMan. This year is was grey with a little rain. Not bad enough to ruin the fair but enough to keep people away.

There were the usual fair type exhibits. The neat steam powered village. The mini pony's (PS PB's personal policy is that in a one on one situation the smaller animal really shouldn't be pulling the bigger animal).

There was some neat farm equipment that I never got a picture of. We got to ride the complimentary tractor & trailer ride from the parking lot.

We mixed up some of the smaller rides like the merry go round with

A few more rides that were a little more adventurous like this twirling swing. I think BigE was getting a little scared at one point but boy did he over come it.


Then there was the big adventure slash jungle jim climbing ride. The last part was a long slide run that must have been covered in pine tar to keep the kids from getting too much speed. Of course BigE adapted by sliding on his tummy.


And what's a trip to the fair without a ride on the bumper cars. Many thanks to the Williamsons who provided a child who was old enough to get our last kid on the ride. (They were really strict on the you must be this tall to ride the bumper cars. That must be because of the safety harness that consisted of a loop that went over one shoulder!)


And finally I should note that we did not go on the scary roler coaster or do the walk of shame on the slide.

Mortgage Crisis III

If Only Somebody Saw This Coming? Hmmm

Wall Street Journal (Same Article as Mortgage Crisis I)

In 2005, the Senate Banking Committee, then under Republican control, adopted a strong reform bill, introduced by Republican Sens. Elizabeth Dole, John Sununu and Chuck Hagel, and supported by then chairman Richard Shelby. The bill prohibited the GSEs from holding portfolios, and gave their regulator prudential authority (such as setting capital requirements) roughly equivalent to a bank regulator. In light of the current financial crisis, this bill was probably the most important piece of financial regulation before Congress in 2005 and 2006. All the Republicans on the Committee supported the bill, and all the Democrats voted against it. Mr. McCain endorsed the legislation in a speech on the Senate floor. Mr. Obama, like all other Democrats, remained silent.

Mortgage Crisis II

An addition to Mortgage Crisis I. Make sure you read the second paragraph. Forseen in 99?

Fannie Mae Eases Credit To Aid Mortgage Lending NY TIMES Sept 30, 1999

In a move that could help increase home ownership rates among minorities and low-income consumers, the Fannie Mae Corporation is easing the credit requirements on loans that it will purchase from banks and other lenders.

...

In moving, even tentatively, into this new area of lending, Fannie Mae is taking on significantly more risk, which may not pose any difficulties during flush economic times. But the government-subsidized corporation may run into trouble in an economic downturn, prompting a government rescue similar to that of the savings and loan industry in the 1980's.

Mortgage Crisis I

I'd wanted to put together what looks to be contributing trend to the whole mortgage or credit crisis. More then just CBC's recap of the actions by politicians to "fix" the problem.

Since I'm out of time I'll just do a couple of posts quoting key articles. Blame Fannie Mae and Congress For the Credit Mess Sept 23, 2008 (Wall Stree Journal)

If they [Ed. Fannie and Freddie] were not making mortgages cheaper and were creating risks for the taxpayers and the economy, what value were they providing? The answer was their affordable-housing mission. So it was that, beginning in 2004, their portfolios of subprime and Alt-A loans and securities began to grow. Subprime and Alt-A originations in the U.S. rose from less than 8% of all mortgages in 2003 to over 20% in 2006. During this period the quality of subprime loans also declined, going from fixed rate, long-term amortizing loans to loans with low down payments and low (but adjustable) initial rates, indicating that originators were scraping the bottom of the barrel to find product for buyers like the GSEs.

The strategy of presenting themselves to Congress as the champions of affordable housing appears to have worked. Fannie and Freddie retained the support of many in Congress, particularly Democrats, and they were allowed to continue unrestrained. Rep. Barney Frank (D., Mass), for example, now the chair of the House Financial Services Committee, openly described the "arrangement" with the GSEs at a committee hearing on GSE reform in 2003: "Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have played a very useful role in helping to make housing more affordable . . . a mission that this Congress has given them in return for some of the arrangements which are of some benefit to them to focus on affordable housing." The hint to Fannie and Freddie was obvious: Concentrate on affordable housing and, despite your problems, your congressional support is secure.

Quote of the Day 58

We've been using the finger in mouth to calm some of peanut's crying when she's not legitimately feeding. Essentially in place of a soother. Which would be ok by me but she can't quite keep a soother in her mouth.

As I ran something downstairs I heard peanut cry out from the bouncy chair. Knowing that Mama was down with the laundry I went back up quickly but to relative calm. There was BigE with his finger for his sister to suck on talking in a calming voice.

BigE "I made sure to wash my finger really good and rinse off all the soap for my baby sister"

Bige "There baby sister, everything is ok"

Ahoy Matey

BigE became "Evil BigE" during a birthday party with Pirate Adventures. They've got a pontoon boat done up lie a pirate ship and take the kids out a little pirate adventure for an hour in a local bay. (really just a wide part of the river)



BigE had a blast. They got to say Arhhh, make Pirate Pete walk the plank, and find sunken treasure. And yes they did get to use those water canons. That's how the kids sunk Pirate Pete in his little boat.

We're in full fledged pirate mode around here right now.

Everyone is Doing Well

One pic says it all

Some little boy really likes his little baby sister

Total Junk Post

How Long Could You Survive Chained to a Bunk Bed with a Velociraptor

I could survive for 1 minute, 13 seconds chained to a bunk bed with a velociraptor

I might have done better if in the later questions I hadn't answered to the question "What would you do when the raptor is chewing off your arm" with "cry like a giant sissy". I gotta be honest I'm pretty sure that would be my reaction. Especially over options such as "chocking him with the chain" or apply a "choke hold with my other arm".

Although since this is a scenario I had never thought about I'm now better prepared!

More Baby Pics

Sleeping on Dada's lap

From Sept08

From the bed this morning

From Sept08

Quote of the Day 57

BigE is really wanting the Playmobil Fire Rescue boat. He saw it the other day at Play Value and was really, really, really hoping Mama would buy it for him.

He was very disappointed to hear that he was not getting it. That's when he decided to offer up this helpful suggestion:

BigE "Why don't you put the boat in the cart and I'll pretend that I don't see it?"

(BigE was reliving the days, not that long ago, that we could sneak things into the cart pretty much right in front of him and he wouldn't know.)

BigE's First Trip to the Hospital

Here's a quick video of BigE's visit to the hospital to see his baby sister.

Swashbuckler BigE

BigE has been dieing for a sword for a couple of weeks. He even went looking for the wood glue to stick some of his Lincoln logs together. I was finally able to stop and pick up a some 1x2 for a sword on Friday. I took a couple of pieces and made a simple shaped one. I knew the imagination would take care of the rest.

It was a pretty big hit during the day. It was even used for a little baseball at one point. In his mind its like a big Swiss Army knife capable of anything.

So tonight after his and his baby sister's shower I came out of the baby's room to Nanny and BigE in a sword fight. They'd even figured out to use the laundry basket covers as shields.

Of course much of the battle was in keeping BigE in control of his sword. Hit the other sword not the person. Should real pirates attack this will surely confuse him but we'll cross that bridge when we need to.


After Nanny had suffered a few bruises she finishes with a text book point

Just Like Mama

BigE has seen Mama's nursing pillow in action. He's even been a good helper and fetched it a few times for us. Today he found a small pillow and decided it made a kid sized version:

From Sept08

He was very pleased to be holding her just like Mama.

From Sept08

More Napping

The cheeks in this pic convey just how out of it she is.

From Sept08

First Day of Senior Kindergarten

Tomorrow is BigE's first day of school. He was in on Thursday for the half day but it was half of the class. Tomorrow all of the kids will be there in his class.

It's been a year since First Full Day of School (Junior Kindergarten)

Morning Nappy

Here she is catching a morning nappy:



Baby and Mama are doing good.

Meeting the New Baby Sister

BigE was very excited to finally see his baby sister. He was especially curious about the size of her fingers and toes.



He was very fascinated to see how she grabbed his finger. A simple thing that really impressed him.


Oh and by the way we got the first (accidental) boot to the head by the older brother out of the way too.

The New Bussey Family

Our New Baby

BigE says this is the cutest one because he can see his baby sisters tummy:



Mama and baby are doing well:


New code name: Peanut?