I just read this interesting artical by Mike Swain at Science, Health & the Enviroment.
It makes me wonder what my house would say.

House that twitters is home of the future

By Mike Swain on Sep 8, 09 04:52 PM in Environment

Scientist Dr Andy Stanford-Clark reckons he has cut his electric bills by a third by wirelessing up his house to Twitter.
He has “twenty to thirty” sensors dotted around his 16th century thatched cottage on the Isle of Wight telling him all kinds of information such as if he’s left the lights on or a window open.
He has linked the system onto Twitter which can send him messages about how much water he is using or when he has used £5 of electricity
He even has a globe which glows red, amber or green depending on how much energy he’s using so if it is glowing red when he goes to bed he knows he’s left something on.

Read more at:
http://blogs.mirror.co.uk/science/2009/09/house-that-twitters-is-home-of.html

SE Uplift Photo Contest
Southeast Uplift is looking for your best shot – pictures of the people and places that make our communities hum.

Here’s what you need to know.

The contest is open to anyone who lives, works or visits places within the SE Uplift Coalition boundaries.
Photos must be taken within the SE Uplift Coaltion boundaries and relate to the neighborhood.
Photos must be the original works of the entrant.
Winners will be printed, framed and displayed permanently at SE Uplift.
Visit contest rules for complete details.

See story at: http://www.southeastuplift.org/whats_happening/news

Contest Rules: http://www.southeastuplift.org/content/contest_rules

Boundaries:
http://www.southeastuplift.org/our_neighborhoods

Good Luck!

If your buying a home or selling for that matter.
You should be aware of the new Truth in Lending Rules that start at the end of July
(Click on the title link to read the full 17 page section of the Federal Register)

Realtor.org published the follow:
NOTE: Remember these rules only apply to loan applications filed on or after July 30,2009. There is some talk that the closing of a home will be affected by the new rules. Really only time will tell but, I can’t imagine closings getting any more delayed then they are right now with the HVCC rules on appraisals.

Revised TILA Disclosure Requirements Take Effect on July 30, 2009
Lenders will be subject to new disclosure requirements for mortgage loans under the
Federal Reserve Board Truth in Lending Regulation (Reg Z).
The new requirements apply to loan applications filed on or after July 30, 2009 (about two
months earlier than originally planned).
The new rules are complex and compliance will be a challenge for lenders.
REALTORS® will want to learn the basics so they can advise clients of potential delays and
the new procedures. Here are key highlights of the changes:
• The new requirements apply to all mortgages secured by a borrower’s home, including
primary and second homes and refinancings. Investor loans continue to be exempt.
• Lenders must give good faith estimates of mortgage loan costs within 3 business days
after the consumer applies for a loan (early disclosure). The lender may not collect any
fees before the disclosure is provided, except for a reasonable fee for obtaining a credit
report.
• The closing may not take place until expiration of a 7 day waiting period after the
consumer receives the early disclosure.
• Consumers may shorten or waive the 3‐day and/or 7‐day waiting periods for a “bona
fide personal financial emergency,” but only after receiving an accurate TILA disclosure.
In the final rule’s preamble, the Fed stated that it “believes waivers should not be used
routinely to expedite consummation for reasons of convenience.” The Fed decided not
to insulate lenders from liability even where a consumer modifies or waives the waiting
periods.
• If the annual percentage rate (APR) changes by more than 0.125 percent, the lender
must provide a corrected disclosure to the borrower and wait an additional 3 business
days before closing the loan. The APR includes not only the interest rate on the loan but
certain other costs related to settlement, so it will be important for any fees that affect
the APR to be as accurate as possible, as early as possible, to minimize the need for a
corrected TILA disclosure. – Realtor.org (http://www.realtor.org/RMODaily.nsf/files/RegZ.pdf/$FILE/RegZ.pdf)

This is why the book is named after a beer :: Milagros Boutique

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Summer is by far the best time to be in Portland. There are so many things happening it’s hard to keep up. The Portland Park Department has already started the Movies in the Park series for this summer. But it’s not too late to enjoy a free movie under the stars. And there are some good one’s coming up. Enjoy at your local park or get to know a new park close by. (click on the link for a Full Events Calendar)

MON July 27