Comments on: links for 2006-10-09 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/ personal finance that makes cents Sun, 07 Sep 2008 16:26:18 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: James Kew http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10071 James Kew Mon, 09 Oct 2006 21:27:04 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10071 As to the mortgages article: while the basic concepts are the same (a loan is a loan is a loan, right?) there are a *lot* of differences in detail, terminology, and practice between UK and US mortgages. The list of questions at the end are fairly universal, but the body of the article is very specific to the UK mortgage industry. (For example, note the comment angrily accusing the poster of misdescribing fixed-rate mortgages. Not so: in the UK mortgages very rarely have the rate fixed for the entire term, as they do in the US. Rather, a mortgage typically offers an introductory period of a few years at either a fixed rate, a discounted rate, or a capped rate before reverting to the lender's standard variable rate -- sometimes with a further lock-in period before the borrower can remortgage to a new deal.) So, good for the basics, but watch out for the details! It'd be interesting to read an introductory guide to US mortgages -- particularly for me as a transplant to the US, but also for anyone who's starting out and confused. (For example: what are points?) As to the mortgages article: while the basic concepts are the same (a loan is a loan is a loan, right?) there are a *lot* of differences in detail, terminology, and practice between UK and US mortgages.

The list of questions at the end are fairly universal, but the body of the article is very specific to the UK mortgage industry.

(For example, note the comment angrily accusing the poster of misdescribing fixed-rate mortgages. Not so: in the UK mortgages very rarely have the rate fixed for the entire term, as they do in the US. Rather, a mortgage typically offers an introductory period of a few years at either a fixed rate, a discounted rate, or a capped rate before reverting to the lender’s standard variable rate — sometimes with a further lock-in period before the borrower can remortgage to a new deal.)

So, good for the basics, but watch out for the details! It’d be interesting to read an introductory guide to US mortgages — particularly for me as a transplant to the US, but also for anyone who’s starting out and confused. (For example: what are points?)

]]> By: Susan http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10045 Susan Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:33:53 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10045 A-ha! I just plugged the full title, in quotes, into Google and got Google to do it for me. Their link into the Times articles through Google News apparently bypasses registration. So, if anybody else wants to look without the rigamarole, that seems to work. A-ha! I just plugged the full title, in quotes, into Google and got Google to do it for me. Their link into the Times articles through Google News apparently bypasses registration. So, if anybody else wants to look without the rigamarole, that seems to work.

]]> By: James Kew http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10043 James Kew Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:29:03 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10043 New York Times Link Generator: http://nytimes.blogspace.com/genlink although for some articles (including the one here) it cannot generate a link. New York Times Link Generator:
http://nytimes.blogspace.com/genlink

although for some articles (including the one here) it cannot generate a link.

]]> By: Susan http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10042 Susan Mon, 09 Oct 2006 16:20:50 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10042 Advertising does not exist to manipulate people. In its simplest form, advertising makes people aware of a possible solution for a need they have. Lots of advertising is manipulative... but then, there's plenty that isn't, too. The problem is that we allow ourselves to be manipulated even by things that aren't particularly persuasive. We know damned well that nothing Taco Bell makes really looks that good, but we go anyway. Blaming ads is as bad as blaming your credit cards; they don't make you do anything. They're just a temptation. The hard part is, as with just about everything else in life, resisting the temptation. As an aside, didn't there used to be a way to link directly to NY Times stories without the login thing? BugMeNot seems to be down and I really don't want to have to register just to read that. Advertising does not exist to manipulate people. In its simplest form, advertising makes people aware of a possible solution for a need they have. Lots of advertising is manipulative… but then, there’s plenty that isn’t, too. The problem is that we allow ourselves to be manipulated even by things that aren’t particularly persuasive. We know damned well that nothing Taco Bell makes really looks that good, but we go anyway. Blaming ads is as bad as blaming your credit cards; they don’t make you do anything. They’re just a temptation. The hard part is, as with just about everything else in life, resisting the temptation.

As an aside, didn’t there used to be a way to link directly to NY Times stories without the login thing? BugMeNot seems to be down and I really don’t want to have to register just to read that.

]]> By: prlinkbiz http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10041 prlinkbiz Mon, 09 Oct 2006 15:44:33 +0000 http://www.getrichslowly.org/blog/2006/10/09/links-for-2006-10-09/#comment-10041 I LOVE Guy Kawasaki! Wish I would have read The Art of the Start before I launched my first business instead of afterward! LOL Very practical, a must read for anyone thinking about starting a business! I LOVE Guy Kawasaki! Wish I would have read The Art of the Start before I launched my first business instead of afterward! LOL Very practical, a must read for anyone thinking about starting a business!

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