TheVoiceOfJoyce

1. FINANCIAL TIMES 7/16/13. Outdated technology could lead to another crisis in Banking.

No one is rewarded for the maintenance of internal IT infrastructure; therefore, the ability of Banks to separate their operations is lacking. Last year, after RBS, inserted a new software program, there was a meltdown of their ” normal” payment systems as regular payment transactions failed. Andrew Freeman, fears” that the next time the money transmission system freezes, we could face rapid social breakdown. ( I.e. your money could be frozen within the Banks and unavailable for your use) It is that serious. We do have choices.

2. FINANCIAL TIMES 7/16/13 Jumbo loan rates as cheap as standard US MORTGAGES. The rates on expensive US mortgages are converging with those on government subsidized loans. Banks are competing to attract well healed customers as regulators try to wean the housing market off federal support. These mortgage benefits are available to a limited spectrum of borrowers and particularly desirable ones at that. One can only hope, that the home, shown in the NY TIMES, selling for $190 million with $120 million in mortgages, does not fall into this category. We have choices.

3.NY TIMES7/16/13 Andrew Ross Sorkin: On Wall Street a culture of greed, just won’t go away. Of 250 interviewed,” 23% of those surveyed, said they had personally witnessed wrongdoing in the workplace . 24% said they would participate in Insider Trading, to make $10 million, if they thought they could get away with it. “. 26% ” believed the compensation plans and bonus structures in place at their companies incentivized employees to compromise ethical standards or violate the law.” 5 years after the crisis, analysts are dismayed by the facts; Wall Street plays by it’s own rules and not for the benefit of it’s clients. We have choices.

4.LOL NY Times 7/17/13 Trying to sidestep Political gridlock to build a bridge. Two Northwest cities work to save a $3.4 Billion project. When State governments voted down legislation to build a bridge between Portland, Oregon and Vancouver , Washington, the Mayors of both Cities regrouped and have marshaled assets to redesign the Bridge. This is symptomatic of thinking locally and acting locally, a concept sweeping the Nation. The cavalry is not coming, wrote Bruce Katz and Jennifer Bradley, in heir recently published book, ” The Metropolitan Revolution “. We have choices.