I did some research before I bought my home and if you can handle the topsy turvy of it all, people with variable rate mortgages generally pay less for their mortgage than someone with a fixed rate, and historically, the general trend for interests rates is a downward one.

That's a good point. In a market other than this one, a five or seven year reset is not necessarily something to be scared of. I don't know that I'll be in this place that long - probably not, in fact. But it relies on being able to sell or refi before that reset happens (or on interest rates trending well, but that's more of a plan b, I think). People assumed/were told/believed that there would be no problem doing that. In some, maybe a lot, of cases, that was a stupid assumption. But not crazy, by historical standards.

(And given that we've spent the last few days watching Lieberman whisper into McCain's ear - it can hardly be a surprise.)

Yeah, they're clearly BFF and have been for a while. But it still sticks in my craw.

I am awake and at work, although leaving early. It is snowing. People are being stupid on the internet. People are being stupid in my work inbox. If a tourist is stupid at me on the train this afternoon, I will choke a bitch.

not off work, but the boss is, so I was late. Later than I had hoped, but there were no waiting messages, so all is good.

Captain, I'm sensing a great deal of hostility coming from the shriftian.

Argh! 93 does not equal 100. Is "Bevel duodenum" more or less important than "End teeth are longer" and "Stomach meets small intestine"?

I totally forgot today was a holiday.

Crap. My boss knows I'm an atheist. Maybe I can tell him I accepted Jesus and joined the, I don't know, Eastern Orthodox Church and I have to leave early to do the Jesus thing....

Getting a five-year ARM when you only plan to stay in a house three years is normally a perfectly reasonable thing to do. Expecting people to think, "Well, suppose something happens and we don't move, or we move in four years, at a time when the market is down. and the house stays on the market for two years" is asking a bit much of the crystal ball.

Captain, I'm sensing a great deal of hostility coming from the shriftian.

I went to a Mike Doughty concert last night. Clearly I pegged his audience wrong, because I didn't expect to be surrounded by aging drunkass jackhole fratboys who wouldn't shut up.

On the internet, people are displaying their utter lack of reading comprehension, and also tracking me down via personal e-mail to grill me about things rather than using the group e-mail. Which is really the same complaint I can make about work, most of the time.

I've probably forgotten to pack something important. I've had a low-level sinus migraine for three days. I have to try on bridesmaids dresses tomorrow.

I've got more hostility than you can fit on a hand cart.

I guess you have to be smart enough to only borrow what you can comfortably afford to payback.

But the risk with an ARM is that a loan you can comfortably afford can turn into one you can't pretty much overnight if the market doesn't go your way when your introductory low-interest period expires.

Is "Bevel duodenum" more or less important than "End teeth are longer" and "Stomach meets small intestine"?

Now there's a question for the ages.

Maybe I can tell him I accepted Jesus and joined the, I don't know, Eastern Orthodox Church

I don't think this will work, tommyrot; the Eastern Orthodox Church has a different calendar, so Easter isn't until later.