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Saturday, December 1, 2012
Sarah's problem
In his book Tamanaha presents the case of Sarah, a hypothetical graduate making an entry-level salary of $63,000 (this was NALP's -- needless to say quite inflated -- "median" salary for the class of 2010). Tamanaha points out that if Sarah has $100,000 in law school debt she will be unable to service that debt via the standard ten-year repayment plan, and she will still struggle to do so under the 25-year extended payment option. "In 2007, however," Schrag announces, "the United States Congress solved Sarah's problem," by creating IBR.
The new version of IBR, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), has been fast-tracked via executive order by President Obama, who is displaying either a touchingly naive belief in the investment value of higher education, or a ruthlessly cynical willingness to exploit that belief. PAYE reduces the loan payments graduates must make from 15% of disposal income (defined as income beyond 150% of the federal poverty line) to 10%, and reduces the period of payment prior to debt forgiveness from 25 to 20 years (it remains 10 years for those who qualify for PSLF by working in the non-profit sector).
Schrag argues this program makes law school eminently affordable for graduates making moderate incomes, without regard to their debt levels, and that thus it undermines the central thesis of Failing Law Schools, which is that law schools are failing because they cost too much.
Indeed from the perspective of universities in general and law schools in particular, IBR appears to be the budgetary equivalent of manna from Heaven. Note that, if she remains eligible for IBR, it makes literally no difference whatsoever how much money Sarah borrows as an undergraduate and while in law school: she will make exactly the same total loan payments over the next two decades in any case.
Let's see how this works. Using this handy calculator (which Schrag warmly recommends to prospective law students), we will assume that Sarah gets a $60,000 entry-level job, and that her income will increase by an average of 3% per year over the next 20 years, i.e., she will be making around $108,000 20 years after graduation. If Sarah incurs $100,000 of total educational debt (this assumes all the debt is IBR eligible, which for people who entered college after 2007 it almost certainly will be), she will initially make loan payments of $360 per month, which will rise to $470 after ten years, and be up to $632 when she is making a six-figure income after 20 years in the program. She will make a total of $116,200 in payments over 20 years -- the calculator estimates that this is equivalent to about $65,000 discounted to present value -- which all go toward interest. In fact she will not have paid nearly $30,000 in the interest she owed on her loans, meaning that she will have $128,775 in debt (all the money she borrowed and then some) written off when her loan is forgiven. This debt will be treated as income by the IRS, and she will have to pay the tax on it to the extent that her net worth exceeds the forgiven amount (Or something like that. Consult a tax law professor or better yet a real lawyer to get the gritty details).
Note that $100,000 in total educational debt is a far lower figure than will be incurred by people currently applying to law school. I estimated recently that the average educational debt of members of the class of 2016 who graduate from private law schools and incur educational debt will be around $205,000. How much will Sarah pay if she graduates with $205,000 in IBR-eligible debt? The answer is $116,200. Her payments will be exactly the same -- but after 20 years the government will write off nearly $400,000 ($396,299.07) in unpaid principal and interest (Again, $200,000+ educational loan balances will be typical for people now entering law school by the time they graduate, and $300,000 balances will be far from rare).
Is this a good deal for Sarah? That, as we shall see, is far from clear. What is clear is that it's an unbelievably fantastic deal for law schools. You don't need a Nobel prize in economics to figure out what will happen to the cost of law school if that cost no longer bears any relationship whatsoever to what a significant portion -- indeed quite possibly a majority -- of law graduates actually end up paying for their degrees. (As Matt Leichter recently pointed out, a huge percentage of law graduates going forward are going to be IBR-eligible. He also quotes the rather Zen-like economic aphorism that "debts which can't be repaid, won't be.")
But let's leave behind the world of law school administrators, who are no doubt fantasizing even now about opening taxpayer-subsidized International Environmental Space Law summer programs in Ravenna, and return to Sarah. Does IBR make law school a good idea for her?
Well . . . consider what our hypothetical graduate has been hypothetically bequeathed :
(1) A real job.
(2) A real job that pays $60,000.
(3) A real job that will lead her to make an average of between $60,000 and $108,000 every year for the next 20 years.
That, to put it mildly, constitutes a terrific career outcome for the average current law graduate. How good of an outcome?
Percentage of all 2011 ABA law school graduates who were reported to acquire jobs paying $60,000 or more: 21.4%
Percentage of all 2011 non-T-14 law school graduates who were reported to acquire jobs paying $60,000 or more: 17.6%
How many of these people are going to stay continuously employed as lawyers for the next two decades, while averaging at least COL raises over that time? In other words, how many Sarahs are law schools graduating right now?
There are a whole lot of problems with Schrag's claim that IBR is a good thing for law students (let alone for the public as a whole, which of course is picking up this particular bill), but I'll leave those for another day. Here I'll stick to a much simpler and more fundamental point:
Sarah's real problem is that she's not getting a job, or if she does get a job it's not paying $60,000, or if it does pay $60,000 she's not going to be able to keep it.
Law professors tend to live in a bubble where they imagine that Sarah's hypothetical career path is a typical outcome for people who don't make the big bucks in Big Law. That's why arguments about "affordability" end up assuming a series of can openers, consisting of solid salaries, career stability, and other features that have very little to do with what the large majority of current law graduates can realistically expect to obtain in return for taking out ever-more enormous piles of taxpayer-funded debt that will never be repaid.
63 comments:
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 11:30 AM
Here are some links on IBR if anyone is interested.
http://www.whitehouse.gov/blog/2012/06/07/income-based-repayment-everything-you-need-know - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 11:31 AM
It's shameful that law professors/administrators are touting Gov'mt Cheese as an incentive to go to law school, economics be damned.
Isn't the point of going to a professional school to better oneselve in a manner that results in them NOT having to rely on WELFARE type programs?
How slimy and clearly self serving.
But, thankfully, consumers are on to it.Replies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 6:18 PM
When are people going to realize that relying upon government programs always has strings attached. Screw IBR. Didn't anyone ever consider that maybe the law schools should just reduce their tuitions? Of course they have, but that's where their own self interest comes takes precedence. Now you have idiots like this Case Western dean spouting off nonsense to keep the gravy train rolling. I hope he's getting paid off by someone for making such ridiculous statements. His talk of law careers lasting 40-50 years only applies IF you are able to get that first job. If you are not employed as a lawyer within 9-12 months after graduation, you are basically damaged goods since a new bumper crop of bushy-eyed law students is available for the pillaging.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 11:35 AM
"a ruthlessly cynical willingness to exploit that belief"
here's the other end of that spectrum
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NkjbJOSwq3A - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 11:35 AM
KUDOS to current law Dean Nancy Rappaport (UNLV) for being courageous by sticking to the facts and being honest, in contrast to her counterparts.
Her post is a must read:
http://lawschoolsurvivalmanual.blogspot.com/2012/11/is-dean-lawrence-mitchell-right-about.html - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 11:46 AM
My numbers nearly mirrored this hypothetical person's numbers until I lost my job:
72K salary, 100K debt over many years (I only borrowed 75k)
After I lost my job, I had to defer, the years I spent repaying ate up all I paid down. Now I am back to where I was years ago when I began repayment.
The good news:
I received a government job so I qualify for PSLF. Who cares if I had to move to the direct loan program and get a higher interest rate. Who care that the balance is growing exponentially, who cares when I start to repay it. I can control my AGI (the basis for calculating my IBR payment) and put every raise into my retirement account to keep my AGI low(er).
So long as I keep the job (a risk-even a government job) and PSLF is never abolished (another risk). I am in the clear. This is how fucked the system has become and how FUCKED a person can be if they cannot see years into the future.Replies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:02 PM
Does anyone know if this new 10 percent cap only applies to new debt taken out after 2014 (or whenever it goes into effect)? Or does it also apply to existing debt? I.e., are those of us who have been out of school a while and still saddled with massive debt going to be stuck paying 15 percent under IBR, or can we now get the 10 percent cap? Because this gubmint attorney can't afford what they want me to pay under 15 percent, but could scrape together the 10 percent...
Delete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:42 PM
If you had any outstanding educational loans as of Oct. 1 2007 (even if you've paid them off now), then you are not eligible for the 10% cap.
Delete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Likewise, I was ineligible to deduct the interest on my student loans, which went back to the late 1980s. Rich parents who were paying the full cost of my classmates' degrees, however, could borrow the money against the equity in their mansions and deduct the much lower interest on that.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:11 PM
Our current President was pandering to CURRENT college students when he made the changes. Your loans have to be taken out after a certain date to qualify:
The administration also proposed changes to the income-based repayment program, which allows borrowers to repay on a sliding scale if their payments exceed 15 percent of their discretionary income. The change would lower the qualifying debt-to-discretionary-income ratio to 10 percent. Outstanding loan balances would be forgiven after 20 years, five years earlier than under the current arrangement. Congress previously approved legislation that would let these changes begin in 2014, but President Obama plans to change that start date to 2012.
The changes to income-based repayment would apply only to current students. But administration officials said they hope they will draw more attention to the existing program as well: only about 450,000 borrowers are currently enrolled, although administration officials said many more could benefit.
Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2011/10/26/obama-proposes-changes-student-loan-programs#ixzz2DphfS8Yj
Inside Higher EdReplies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:17 PM
Ugh, that's what I thought. So unfair. That just really highlights how arbitrary the whole student loan scheme/scam is: people who happened to graduate in different years paying wildly different interest rates, and now wildly different total amounts, too. What a scam!
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:16 PM
Thank you for pointing out just how unstable legal careers are. 0Ls need to understand that it the legal job that you got after looking for 8 months after passing the bar is not likely to last long. It rains one day and you lose the job. It takes you a year to get a new legal job. Because they hired you from unemployment, they take advantage of you (you are a temp, not a regular employee like the people they hired from jobs and you sit at a back part of the office, in an inside office when the other lawyers have outside offices). That second job fires you when it rains again. This time it takes you three years to get a legal job. That job is also a temp job and they take advantage of you. That job ends after 8 months. You look and look again and now it is two and a half years later and nothing. In the meantime, you were lucky enough to be able to go back your job at the men's department at Lord & Taylor.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:27 PM
"The new version of IBR, Pay As You Earn (PAYE), has been fast-tracked via executive order by President Obama"
What a guy. IBR is meant to be a last resort, a way to mitigate the damage caused by oversupply; it's not meant to be a reason to pump out more graduates and keep the law school gravy train rolling. This is like urging people to pump carbon dioxide into the atmosphere so they can qualify for FEMA money when sea level rise floods their home. At some point members of congress are going to realize that law school deans are using it as a selling point and are going to shut down or limit the program.
ReplyDelete- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:36 PM
as a taxpayer, this really pisses me off. i am scammed by law schools and new students who should have known better.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:40 PM
I simply shake my head at the glib suggestions that law school is great because a graduate (or, in more than a few cases, non-graduate) allegedly can seek discharge of hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt that remain after twenty or more years.
Few people in the general population would expect many graduates of law school to have failed to achieve an income sufficient to support payments on their student loans even after a quarter of a century.
The very cost of law school renders the legal profession more and more aristocratic.Replies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 5:42 PM
"more aristocratic"
I think things have proceeded beyond even "aristocratic exploitation" - I think we are now in the realm of actual institutional insanity.
Law schools have painted themselves into a hopeless financial corner and are willing to *do* (and *believe*) anything to keep their lucrative lies alive even a little bit longer.
Credentialed filth.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:45 PM
Of course, some of us think that borrowing a lot of money you have neither the intention nor the ability to repay is, well, dishonest. And that advising young people to do this, for your own benefit, is shameful. But I'm old fashioned and, anyway, once you've gotten rid of integrity the rest is easy.
Then there is the fact that Sarah is gambling her entire future on the assumption that the IRB or PAYE programs will continue to exist in something like their current form for more than twenty years. This is a big gamble since there is absolutely no good public policy reason why the government should subsidize people to obtain degrees which do not enable them to contribute to the economy. Now I realize that to mention "good public policy" and the US government in the same sentence is evidence of delusional thinking but still, the government could sober up some day and if it does Sarah is likely to be screwed. The good professor, of course, got his money up front.
In addition, what the government grants it can -- actually will -- attach strings to. And sooner or later it will condition continued participation in IBR on certain occupational or lifsstyle choices. In fact, it is already doing this with its public interest (read "work for the government") loan forgiveness program. It will get worse. Remember, this is a government that thinks its just fine to require middle school students to take drug tests to join the chess club. Trust me, Sarah, you do not want to live your life until early middle age by the federal government's leave.
RPLReplies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 4:51 PM
These schools don't have integrity. That is why we are in this situation. Honest employment figures decades ago would have prevented this crises.
Delete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 7:40 PM
"some of us think that borrowing a lot of money you have neither the intention nor the ability to repay is, well, dishonest. And that advising young people to do this, for your own benefit, is shameful."
Highly credited. Thank you. - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 7:54 PM
One problem for me is that I have never been prepared to leave my principles at the door. That bodes ill indeed for me in the legal profession, despite the incessant chatter about "ethics" and "justice".
Recently a professor advised me to ask the judge for whom I am working to help me to find work in law. I was stunned: it struck me as altogether inappropriate to ask a judge to compromise herself by interceding—most likely with lawyers who might have to appear before her—on behalf of her intern. The professor assured me that this is perfectly appropriate. Perhaps it is, but I still don't buy that, and I haven't approached the judge for assistance.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 12:50 PM
Another reason to hate the scam:
Schools will tout IBR as a solution rather than looking at the fundamental flaw in their product. The public and/or Congress will eventually wake up to the scam and shut down IBR and the other loan forgiveness programs. In turn, those currently in the programs risk getting kicked out if/when IBR is eliminated.
The schools do not give a damn about any of us. They will argue to keep the gravy train rolling regardless of the consequences to its graduates. Law school deans who are promoting this as the new standard payment have no idea how silly they are being. I briefly read up on IBR. It seems the intent is for unusually poor graduates to avoid repayments that would push them below the poverty line. If this is now standard for most law students, then aren't they saying that average tuition is now way too high as its enough to impoverish most students?
Of course many can't see this as in their desperation they have latched onto this as the best way to allow them to continue the now-standard law school growth model of continuously jacking up prices faster than inflation.- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 1:33 PM
The dean at my law school touted IBR as a solution for INCOMING students when the topic of outrageous tuition prices was brought up by me.
This came at the tale-end of a discussion where I was asking for my money back. Is anybody surprised?
This is just a symptom of the disease, though. The larger problem is that law schools only real purpose is to benefit law professors. Tuition, textbooks, scheduling, finals, class rankings, and now IBR. Designed or exploited by professors to benefit themselves.RepliesThat, and the larger university too. Think about how "cheap" it is to set up a "Samuel L. Bronkowitz School of Law and Catholic Girls in Trouble." Put some books in a library, get the ABA to smile and nod, and viola - huge income stream to the university by taxing the lol skool. ROI is huge, compared to a chemistry department or something else.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 3:07 PM
I'm not one of those that believe IBR dooms a user for a failed financial future. I'm on it and it's saving my ass. And I understand all the credit implications. I've already bought a new car and had a mortgage (subsequently sold the house) while on IBR. However, I will say that to use IBR as an excuse for the current market abuses law schools are engaging in is disgusting. You shouldn't socialize the costs so that law professors and administrators can continue to be compensated at a level at least 2 to 3 times their value (and sometimes 8 to 10). And those losses also shouldn't be paid for by the taxpayer to continue such niceties that the law school atmosphere provides when there are so many more obvious needs that public dollars should be used towards. The defense of the status quo by any serious person is pathetic.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 3:57 PM
Why is it that law schools haven't migrated to the whole temp/adjunct model that the rest of higher ed is embracing? Is it fear of prestige loss, which might be reflected in rankings? I just see these law prof salaries as a great area to cut. Obviously, the savings wouldn't be passed on to students. They could be used to pump up administrator pay/benefits, per usual.
ReplyDelete "Why is it that law schools haven't migrated to the whole temp/adjunct model that the rest of higher ed is embracing?"
ABA protectionism.RepliesRight. The ABA accreditation standards are written so as to ensure that any school that wants to maintain an "acceptable" faculty-student ratio can't use too many adjuncts.
The funny thing is that a law school could have a full-time faculty staffed exclusively by people who have never really practiced law (this is almost literally the case at a lot of elite schools now) and this would be perfectly OK with the ABA, but a school that brings in too many actual practitioners to teach classes is risking its accreditation.- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 7:45 PM
Very few of my professors have practiced law for more than a year or two; some haven't practiced ever.
Meanwhile, the lady who teaches legal writing and research—and works her ass off—doesn't even get the dignity of being called "Professor", despite having a lot more experience as a practitioner than almost anyone else in the law school. She has been on a long series of one-year contracts. Yes, her position comes up for renewal every year even though she has been here for ages.
ABA Standard 405(d) states that "[a] law school shall afford legal writing teachers such security of position and other rights and privileges of faculty membership as may be necessary to (1) attract and retain a faculty that is
well qualified to provide legal writing instruction as required by Standard 302(a)(3), and (2) safeguard academic freedom". Yet Interpretation 405-9 states that this provision "does not preclude the use of short-term contracts for legal writing teachers". Well, "short-term contracts" doesn't sound much like "security of position" to me.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 4:23 PM
It's interesting to see that so many lawprof's are still in denial as to the actual institutional problems. There will be fewer applicants this year than there were first year seats just a couple of years ago. This isn't by accident or unfair press coverage or bias in Brian Tamanaha's book. It's because the system is broken. Amazingly, instead of working to fix the broken system, so many lawprofs seem intent on defending and promoting the status quo. How long will/can they do this?
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 4:45 PM
In a few weeks, my tax rate will increase again. If I add all the taxes I pay throughout the year (e.g., property, sales, payroll, federal, state, city, etc.), I am already paying over 50% of my gross income to the government. Do I take comfort knowing that my money is being used to fund (via, inter alia, IBR) the lavish lifestyles of law professors and deans? I have stopped donating my money to my alma mater. In fact, I called the alumni office and told them to take me off the mailing/email list as I don't want any propaganda from my old law school. I used to donate $500-$1,000 a year to my old school and sure I got to deduct it on my taxes but I realize that money is also being misappropriated. I urge other established lawyers to stop giving money to your old law schools. By giving money to these schools, you are enabling the greedy beast within them. I want schools to starve to closure. Dean Mitchell's NYTimes op-ed piece was a desperate cry. The law schools are hurting. The tide is turning. Do not rest on your laurels. The nail in the coffin has not been hammered in yet.
A.E.S.Replies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 5:01 PM
Never give a goddamn penny to a law school! Jesus H Christ: $50k and more per student per year, yet they have their grubby hand out? The devils can go to hell.
Delete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 6:09 PM
I think 4:55 sums up IBR quite nicely and particularly how the tax payers are funding the lavish lifestyles of law professors. BTW, I recently received an e-mail containing a video of my law school dean begging for money. You're right - the law schools are hurting. Time for you law school deans and professors to feel some pain for once ... like the rest of us suckers that bought the law school scam based on your lies.
Delete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 8:14 PM
4:45 while I heartily agree with your main sentiments, I find it very difficult to believe it when you say you're paying over 50% of your gross in taxes.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 4:53 PM
It makes more sense to me to allow bankruptcy than to keep people chained to debt they can't pay for 20 years. Does no one else see what a terrible drain on the convoy this will be?
ReplyDeleteReplies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 6:12 PM
The government/law schools WANT you to be a debt slave for life so that when the government attempts to impose a digital currency those that are in debt will fall in line. Get ready to bend over.
Delete - AnonymousDecember 2, 2012 at 2:47 AM
While we see BK for student loans as eminently fair, it's political poison.
Most people have paid off some uncomfortably large bills in their lives, so politicians do not want to be seen as advocating for a break for whiny, entitled students.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 4:55 PM
Keep drinking that IBR Kool Aid you self-interested idiot Schrag.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 5:32 PM
The IBR/PSLF thing is of a piece with the increasing emphasis on food stamps as a routine way for the middle class to survive. The plan is to eliminate all remaining traces of a free market, money based economy, and move the US to a third world model where each person's well-being depends on toeing the party line and kissing up to politicians rather than on productive work.
Have you ever heard statistics such as, the average annual income in Ecuador is $4,500, and wondered how anyone can live on that? The answer is that the government provides most of their needs, and they know that if they try to make more money, it will just be taxed away from them. So only those with political connections can have anything beyond a subsistence lifestyle.Replies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 5:49 PM
"and kissing up to politicians rather than on productive work"
That is the law school survival model *now*.
Check out which party gets the Politburo-like share of political contributions from "higher" education - it ain't the government-distrusting one... - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 8:23 PM
What - it was a 90/10 split. The repubs don't need more than 10% anyway.
The political realilty is that this deal cannot last. Law students need to be aware that the rug will be pulled out from under them when somebody in Congress understands that the Department of Education is giving away billions of dollars to overproduce lawyers. Without some form of underwriting this is a scam all on its own!
ReplyDeleteReplies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 9:05 PM
Yep. My State funds per pupil K - 12 at less then $7k a year. This is $90k total. Yet, the government and individuals are funding higher Ed at $50k plus a year? For non-technical degrees? Come on.
- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 8:16 PM
Am I the only one wondering whether Philip Schrag has ever had the nickname "Dish"?
ReplyDelete The pigs are starting to defend their criminal behavior. Of course, the bastards are still unable to muster actual evidence and facts to bolster their "case." Apparently, "the best and brightest" cannot make a cogent argument as to why law school truly is a wise investment for students.
ReplyDeleteReplies- AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 10:21 PM
Schrag's response in the comment section of the article shows just that. It basically amounts to "b-b-but eveything else is subsidized too, waaaaaaaaaah stop picking on law school debt, waaaaaaaaaaah"
All the other subsidies actually provide goods and services; law school, at its current cost and graduate employment prospects, provides a glut of people who can neither purchase goods nor provide services. - AnonymousDecember 1, 2012 at 11:49 PM
Au contraire! This subsidy provides PLENTY of goods and services - to law school faculties, that is.
Those 200 law schools must have one AMAZING lobbyist.
- AnonymousDecember 2, 2012 at 1:44 AM
Six figure debt affects life in other ways as well, and IBR doesn't change it.
Get ready kids, there is the "Debt to Income Ratio" which is stated grounds for rejecting an application for credit, and I have received at least three letters with those exact words: One From Bank of America when applying for a credit card, one from Best Buy when applying for store credit, and one from Wells Fargo when applying for credit to purchase a rug.I applied for credit recently and I am awainting a rejection letter which I bet will have the same words (Excessive obligations in relation to income)
The second major problem with such debt is the deterrent to marriage and/or the financial burden such debt can potentially place upon an innocent spouse if assets are accidentally comingled or at least if the loan payments are made out of a joint account. It's a very tricky situation and one article even recommended a prenup. (You can find all this easy enough if you google)
And of course the psychological toll of hopeless debt is devastating, especially after the realization that you have thrown away three valuable years of your life, and that the remainder of your life is pretty much ruined. - AnonymousDecember 2, 2012 at 2:37 AM
When hiring faculty, law professors have a simple definition of "qualifications": whatever career path I took.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 11, 2012 at 2:44 AM
In true lawyer like fashion I cut and paste a pertinent quote from above followed by my comments and questions of wisdom as only the great lawland prophet can do: "Sarah's real problem is that she's not getting a job, or if she does get a job it's not paying $60,000, or if it does pay $60,000 she's not going to be able to keep it.".....
....those words are the kind of words that 0L lemmings need to see BEFORE the sign the dotted line on those law scam...I mean school.. applications and loan agreements....
BUT, now I pose the following question to the would be law lemmings who are unconnected, straight, non WASP and non JEWISH males: What if Sarah had a penis, was not a connected WASP or JEW and was not metro sexual or gay? Are you schlubby unconnected males, white, or even worse, black and straight males even remotely prepared to deal with the very real discrimination against you that exists in most of law?
Law is increasingly becoming a business for connected white and jewish women and their metro sexual or gay male allies/minions. "Sarah" at least has a chance...especially if she is at least remedially hot. Tyrone Hairlip or Joey Bagggodounuts do not have a prayer.
This has been a warning from the great lawland truthsayer, John J. Bungsolphagus The First writing lawland truths to lemmings and devilish lawland power since 2006. - AnonymousDecember 11, 2012 at 2:52 AM
PS: to my unconnected, overweight, unattractive wimmenfolk out there, you might as well forget law too much like the schlubby unconnected males. The devilish powers that be in law, meaning those at the tippy top, meaning baby boomer connected white or jewish males have no use for you either.
And Sarah, even if you are hot and seemingly willing to facilitate the sexual needs of your devilish boomer boss, do not count on that lasting over a 20 or 30 year career as you age and your looks fade....but then again, you probably were not concerned with that because you likely went to law school to catch a rich lawyer to put you on the stay at home mommy track in the first place.
More uncomfortable truths from the Great John Bungsolaphagus. God bless! - AnonymousDecember 11, 2012 at 2:56 AM
F Sarah. Hey what about Joey Baggodonut and Tyrone Hairlips' problem? Let's talk about the anti unconnected straight schlubby male disrimination that is so prevelant in law's lower/entry levels.
ReplyDelete - AnonymousDecember 15, 2012 at 12:43 PM
What if Sarah graduated before GRADPlus loans became available and has private student loans on top of federal loans? IBR + private student loans is more than hard to manage. Why weren't the two comments above deleted by the moderator? And where is the best source of long-term employment data? For those lucky enough to get median firm jobs, what happens when they age out?


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Hundreds of new ATMs capable of dispensing as little as $1 are popping up across the country.
Chase and PNC have both been launching ATMs that churn out exact change to the dollar, allowing customers to withdraw denominations as low as $1 and $5.
Chase (JPM) has rolled out between 350 and 400 such ATMs over the past 18 months, and the count is expected to double by the end of the year. Customers can type in the withdrawal amount, opt for "custom denominations" and select how many bills they want in denominations ranging from $1 to $100.
The new machines, located within branches or drive-thrus, even have the capability of dispensing coins, a service that will be piloted soon and eventually rolled out nationwide.
The move is part of Chase's push to create what are essentially virtual tellers that don't require additional staffing and increase efficiency for customers, said Bill Sheley, head of branch innovation. He calls the machines "next generation ATMs or new teller platforms." Other services the ATMs provide include paying credit card bills and loading Chase prepaid cards with cash.
Related: ATM fees hit record high, free checking accounts decline
Meanwhile, PNC (PNC) has upgraded more than half of its 7,200 ATMs to dispense $1 and $5 bills over the past year, and the rest are expected to be upgraded by the end of the summer. A PNC spokesman said the bank is adding this feature to make its ATMs more convenient for its customers.
The option to get exact change will be a plus for customers -- including those with low account balances who want to take out less than $20 or who need $25 but don't want to take out $40, for example, said Greg McBride, senior financial analyst at Bankrate.com.
"Particularly in difficult financial times when peoples' account balances have been lower, not having to withdraw more money than you really need is helpful," said McBride.
The new ATMs are free for customers. But the same $3 out-of-network fees apply to non-customers as they do for any of the banks' ATMs. A customer's own bank also typically charges a fee of around $1.60 when they use an out-of-network ATM.
Related: Which is the best bank in America?
In many cases, these out-of-network fees overshadow the convenience of getting exact change. But for some non-customers, it may be worth it, McBride said.
For someone who needs $45 but would overdraw their bank account if they took out $60, for example, it might make sense to pay a $4 fee to get the precise $45 from a PNC or Chase ATM.
Since it costs banks to add denominations to their ATMs, this new capability will need to prove worth it -- either in fee revenue or customer retention -- before other banks follow suit, said McBride.
Wells Fargo (WFC) and Citi (C) said they don't have any ATMs that dispense $1 and $5 bills at this time. TD Bank (TD) has a small number of ATMs inside businesses that dispense $5 bills, but most of its machines dispense only $20 bills and it doesn't have plans to introduce lower denominations. A Bank of America (BAC) spokeswoman declined to comment on future plans but said its ATMs currently dispense $10 bills and that the bank "always looks at ways to make banking at our ATMs more convenient."


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A hailstorm just blew in through your neighborhood. Suddenly, there are people at your door telling you they can repair your home's damage quickly and easily. What would you do?
While some hail damage may be obvious, you can't always trust that someone showing up to your door has your best interests in mind.
The size and density of a hailstone will determine the severity of damage you'll find after a storm. While some hailstorms can cause severe damage to your car and home, others can leave little to no harm at all.
If you've recently battled a hailstorm, here is what you need to know about hail, roof damage, homeowners insurance and common scams.
What should I do after a hailstorm?
When the storm has passed and it's safe to go outside, inspect any damage that may have occurred to your car or home. The Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety (IBHS) recommends contacting your insurance agent immediately if you suspect hail damage. Your ERIE agent knows the ins and outs of your specific policy and can help you determine whether you should file a claim to help cover the cost of repairs.
To help your agent, be sure to record the date and timeframe the storm occurred and take photos that can help support your claim.
For more hail safety tips, read our guide on what to do before, during and after a hail storm.
Common signs of hail damage
You may spot hail damage in a few different places on your property including roof, siding, windows, outdoor furniture and vehicles. Damage can look different depending on the object.
Signs of hail damage to a car:
- Chipped or cracked windshield
- Dents on the roof or other areas of your vehicle
- Other dings or paint scratches
Signs of hail damage to a home:
- Dents in gutters or outside vents
- Chipped or cracked windows or skylights
- Damage appearing on one side of the roof
- "Bruises" or dark spots appear on shingles in a random pattern
While some damage can be easy to spot, you may not always be able to see the damage hail has done to your roof.
An insurance adjuster knows the difference between roof damage from hail versus regular wear and tear. We recommend letting a trained and trusted professional up on your roof to check for any potential problems.
What is hail fraud?
Having to deal with weather damage is bad enough. Unfortunately, there can also be fraudulent roofing contractors that emerge after a storm, sometimes called "storm chasers."
They often appear quickly after a storm and claim that your roof has been seriously damaged by wind and hail. Many "storm-chasing" contractors are transient, moving around the country following recent storm activity to increase their chance of landing a sale.
The IBHS and the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) recently teamed up to offer this list of tips to spread awareness of roofing contractor fraud.
What are the signs of hail fraud?
Storm chasers may point out pre-existing damage, create their own damage, or say that there is damage when there isn't. Here are some signs that you should think twice:
- "Free" inspection: Someone wise once said nothing good in life is free. While reputable contractors might offer free inspections with no strings attached, be cautious that some fraudsters might use this tactic to get on your roof and point out damage that isn't there. Worse, some might create their own damage.
- They pressure you: Those in the con business often pressure you to make a quick decision during a difficult or stressful time. Give yourself space and time to contact your insurance agent and make the right decision.
- The contract has blanks: Your contract should be detailed and include an estimate on cost, work schedules, payment schedules, listed contractors and more.
- Upfront payment: While it's reasonable for any contractor to ask for a down payment, fraudulent contractors often demand all or a large amount of the payment upfront. Sometimes, they'll take your cash and dash after performing shoddy work – or no work at all. Trustworthy contractors will often organize a payment schedule that works best with your schedule.
If you do find damage to your roof or other areas after a storm, a trustworthy contractor will work with your insurance company to help fix the damage.
Hiring a contractor after a hail storm
As you begin your search for a contractor, here are some tips:
- Get multiple estimates. Don't rely on a single estimate as being the one with the best price – or the best work. Do some research and get estimates from three to four different contractors.
- Ask to see their license and proof of insurance. Make sure both are real and up to date.
- Ask for references. Has this contractor worked on similar projects? Do their references speak highly of them?
- Take the right steps. Hiring a contractor can be stressful, especially when you've discovered some recent damage from a storm. Read through our full checklist of tips to consider when hiring a contractor.
Does my homeowners insurance cover hail damage?
The average cost for a hail damage claim can average about $15,000 – which varies based on how long the storm was, the size of the hail and the amount of damage it caused. Generally speaking, most homeowners insurance policies cover damage from hail and wind caused by storms. Coverage can vary, however, for example, manufacturing defects that existed prior to the storm might not be covered under a hail damage claim. Check with your insurance agent about the specifics of your policy.
Uncertainty is part of life, but that's why you have insurance. Talk to an insurance professional like your local Erie Insurance agent.They can tell you more about the options ERIE offers and help you get you a free quote customized for your home.
This story was originally posted in 2014. It was updated with new information in 2020.
Source: New feed


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'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies' first official teaser trailer
Peter Jackson is continuing to amaze J.R.R. Tolkien fans. First official teaser trailer for The Battle of the Five Armies is now out.
The third part brings to an epic conclusion the adventures of Bilbo Baggins, Thorin Oakenshield and the Company of Dwarves. Having reclaimed their homeland from the Dragon Smaug, the Company has unwittingly unleashed a deadly force into the world. Enraged, Smaug rains his fiery wrath down upon the defenseless men, women and children of Lake-town.
Obsessed above all else with his reclaimed treasure, Thorin sacrifices friendship and honor to hoard it as Bilbo's frantic attempts to make him see reason drive the Hobbit towards a desperate and dangerous choice. But there are even greater dangers ahead. Unseen by any but the Wizard Gandalf, the great enemy Sauron has sent forth legions of Orcs in a stealth attack upon the Lonely Mountain.
As darkness converges on their escalating conflict, the races of Dwarves, Elves and Men must decide – unite or be destroyed. Bilbo finds himself fighting for his life and the lives of his friends in the epic Battle of the Five Armies, as the future of Middle-earth hangs in the balance.


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Your credit card information is protected in two ways. First of all, as a result of the SSL-based encryption, your card number is ALWAYS secure during transmission. A visual means of confirming this is for you to watch the small padlock icon in your browser. While on any page where financial information is to be entered, this icon will change to a locked state, denoting a secure page. This security measure is privately audited by an independent third-party, Geotrust, whose icon you can click on from any secured page to confirm its secure status.
Secondly, our private links to banking networks ensure that your sensitive information is ALWAYS secure once we have received it. All the information traveling on our banking network is guaranteed 100% secure.
Shopco actively works with international banking institutions and law enforcement to discover and prosecute cases of fraudulent credit card use. All connections to, and transactions within Shopco are logged and regularly audited. WE USE ALL MEANS AVAILABLE TO US TO PURSUE CRIMINAL PROSECUTION AGAINST PERSONS ATTEMPTING FRAUD OR UNAUTHORIZED ACCESS TO OUR SYSTEMS, IN ALL ICPO/INTERPOL JURISDICTIONS.
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Castro Valley Pest Control
Got Bugs? Call Your Castro Valley Pest Control Experts
When termites, ants, or other pests have taken over your home or office, you need fast, reliable pest control service. In and around Castro Valley, we are your pest control experts. We have the experience, equipment, and training necessary to rid your home, office, or other structure from pests that can cause headaches and costly property damage. Don't let the bugs win. Call your Castro Valley pest control professionals to take care of the job and do it right – the first time.
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A former advertising executive's story of relying on two part-time jobs to help him get by during retirement is attracting attention and impassioned comments at Bloomberg News.
At 77, Tom Palome is a former vice president of marketing for Oral-B who paid off a mortgage and put his kids through college, Bloomberg says. But he didn't have enough savings to maintain his lifestyle in retirement, especially after the 2008 economic crisis. So he now works at a grill and at a Sam's Club in the Tampa, Fla., area.
"What I make in a week at these jobs, I probably made in an hour during the highlight of my career," Palome tells Bloomberg's Carol Hymowitz. He estimates that he earns about $10 an hour at each of his jobs.
The money from those part-time jobs isn't Palome's only income; he has a pension and receives Social Security payments. He uses that money — about $1,400 a month — to help pay for things like visits to see his grandsons, or trips to the theater.
Palome's advice for people in his position is straightforward. Be positive, he says. Respect the work you do. And get some rest.
"I'm not going to sit on my laurels and say I was an executive making six figures and traveling the world," he tells Hymowitz. "I tell people I demonstrate food and I do short-order cooking. I don't mind saying it. What's important is that I can work today."
On the Bloomberg site, one reader commented on Palome's story, "The concept of Retirement may prove to be a short-term phenomenon."
Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit https://www.npr.org.


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Francesca Croc Pouch (Green)
Product details
Carry your essentials with ease and style with the addition of Francesca Croc Pouch, perfect for everyday styling.
- Zip top closure
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- Materials: Vegan Leather & Plated Metal
Size Guide - Product Measurements
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There are three types of garage door openers: chain drive, belt drive, and screw drive. They get their names from the special pulley systems in the motor. These pulleys act as track guides for a trolley, ensuring your garage door opens and closes smoothly. The power unit is attached to this track, ensuring your garage door works reliably and efficiently.
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Federalsburg Tax Resolution
For many people, taxes are a nightmare to sort out.
There are many things to take note of, and the paperwork can be overwhelming, especially if you are a business taxpayer. Missing one small detail or making an error in one part can automatically get you in trouble with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), which can pin you with numerous penalties that can be difficult to pay for.
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The Copenhagen conference is upon us, and what's happening ? Well, CO2 emissions from delegates travelling to the conference are huge for a start, so let's hope they achieve something.
No doubt we've also got any number of articles about "the world's cycling capital" to look forward to.
So what's the problem with this ?
Danish cyclists are increasingly scared to cycle. A recent press release from the city revealed that the number of people who feel safe cycling on the city's streets has fallen from 47% to 40%. An officer from the city's cycling programme is quoted as saying 'More parents don't want their children to ride.'
You can see why there is this concern over safety in almost any photo of cyclists in the city. The majority of cycle paths have no real separation from the street. To cycle in Copenhagen is to cycle in close proximity to motor vehicles. This leads inevitably to a lower level of subjective safety.
The paths are also very narrow. Many are just two or 2.2 metres wide. This is much narrower than the 2.5 m + 1.5 m separation from the road which is normal in the Netherlands for single direction paths. A recent report from the Fietsberaad reported that there is "no promotion" and "almost no important technical or infrastructural innovation."
The cyclists of Copenhagen include relatively few children. Helmets are much more common than here in the Netherlands (they reflect the feeling of safety of those who choose to wear them). There are lots of motor vehicles.
When the Copenhagenize blog includes a piece on cycling to school, you don't see videos of Danish children. Rather, the blog has used the video I shot of Dutch children here in Assen. That's great, but where are the Danish children ? This is important. I can see the next generation of Dutch cyclists already riding their bikes, but not where the next generation of Danish cyclists will come from.
Danish children cycle to school less than ever. Lots of people do use cargo bikes to transport their children within cities, but children are relatively infrequently seen on their own bikes. To be fair, Copenhagen is trying to do something about this, and Mikael is right to point out the absurd direction in which cycle promotion has been heading in Denmark. But the cycling rate in the country as a whole has dropped 30% since 1990. (Sadly, it continues to drop).
So how much cycling is there in Copenhagen ?
The diagram above comes from page ten of "Cycle Policy 2002-2012", an document produced by the City of Copenhagen, showing the modal shares for the city. The text says "The (bicycle) share of the total number of all purpose trips is slightly less than one fifth, but the share of home-workplace traffic is as high as one third." Note how the figure for commuters is substantially higher than that for all trips. This is very often the case because when you concentrate on commuters you conveniently get to ignore the problems faced by pensioners, disabled people, parents cycling with their children and children cycling on their own. Working age adults are less sensitive to a low level of subjective safety.
These figures come from ten years ago. Why am I looking at such old figures ? Well, as it turns out, newer figures from a reliable source are not that easy to find. More recent "Bicycle Accounts" omit the "all trips" figures and only talk about the more impressive figures for commuting. According to the "Bicycle Account" for 2008, the commuting figure has risen to 37%. If we scale the "all journeys" figures by the same proportion you can expect that around 22% of all journeys in Copenhagen are now by bicycle - and around twice that number are by car. John Pucher independently reports that "A 2005 travel survey found that 20% of all trips in Copenhagen were by bike." (page 26 of this document).
Do I have something against the Danes ?
I am sure that some people will ask my motivation for posting this. Do I have something against the Danes ? Of course not. Denmark has the second highest cycling rate in Europe. That is something to be proud of, and to build on. I want to see them reach their target for 40% of commuters by bike. I'd like to see them set targets for wider demographics than just commuters, too.
Denmark needs to try harder than they are at present, for the sake of their own cyclists quite apart from for the rest of us.
Copenhagen looks impressive compared with countries where few people cycle, but the cycling rate is not that high in comparison with many cities in the Netherlands. Several Dutch cities now have more cycle journeys than car journeys. However, while Copenhageners also like their bikes, they still drive a lot more than they cycle.
I think it's quite simple. The infrastructure has let them down. Cycling in Copenhagen isn't as stress free as it needs to be. Not quite so pleasant as it needs to be. There is inadequate subjective safety.
Dutch cities with less than a 30% share are considered to be doing quite badly and work to make improvements. At 27% of all journeys, and 35% of all journeys under 7.5 km, the cycling modal share for this entire country is higher than that of Copenhagen.
Copenhagen's targets
Back in 2002, the City of Copenhagen set some targets:
- The proportion of people cycling to workplaces in Copenhagen shall increase from 34% to 40%.
- Cyclist risk of serious injury or death shall decrease by 50%.
- The proportion of Copenhagen cyclists who feel safe cycling in town shall increase from 57% to 80%.
- Cyclist travelling speed on trips of over 5 km shall increase by 10%.
- Cyclist comfort shall be improved so that cycle track surfaces deemed unsatisfactory shall not exceed 5%.
- The 40% commuting target has not yet been met. Rather, the city still says that "more than a third of residents pedal their way to work."
- The fears associated with cycling in Copenhagen have risen. The proportion who feel safe has dropped from 57% to 53%.
- Actual death and injury rates have definitely dropped, which is very good news.
- The other two issues, of speed and comfort have not been reported on, so I can only assume there isn't much progress to report on these.
How is the infrastructure different ?
Some of the language from the Cycle Policy document explains the difference. For example, "Normally cycle tracks are wider than two meters across." Two metres is actually rather narrow by Dutch standards which require 2.5 metre minimum widths. Also, there is no mention of any separation from the road. We have a 1.5 m separation standard here, while on many of the Danish cycle tracks, there is simply a kerb which will drop you onto the road. This makes the usable width of the cycle tracks narrower than their actual width.
Copenhagen (urban population 1.8 M) has around 350 km of cycle tracks. This are in large part not separated from the road by more than a kerb. Also, at junctions bicycles and cars are mostly mixed in together without separate traffic light timings (even with their newer designs). There are more details and lots of photos of different types of Copenhagen cycle tracks on page 23 and onwards in this document.
By contrast, even tiny Assen (population 65000) has over 100 km of separated cycle paths (double that if you count both sides of the road - I'm not sure how Copenhagen counts), which are mostly quite well separated from the road, and road junctions mostly keep cars and bikes separate (as seen here, here, here).
Copenhagen is also growing a network of "green cycle paths" away from the road, and now has more than 25 km of these. From the videos and photos I've seen, these look very good. They quite closely resemble some of the better cycle paths we have in Assen and Groningen. I've recently featured some typical local cycle routes here and here. The reaction of an American visitor to the streets of Groningen can be seen here.
So, why write this now ?
Copenhagen's marketing as "the world's cycling capital" has been very successful so far. Nice branding too. However, real growth in cycling comes not from marketing and branding, nor from taking photos of pretty girls on bikes, but from investment in infrastructure.
Unfortunately, the effects of the hype now go beyond the residents of just that one city. London, for instance, seems to think that merely painting its cycle paths "copenhagen blue" will lead to success. It won't. To get a really high rate of cycling you need the proper infrastructure. There is one country in the world which has it.
So what's to be done ?
Groningenize ! What is needed everywhere is to build better infrastructure and make cycling more attractive. Copenhagen itself could do with a good dose of "Groningenization" in order to improve both its cycling rate and the demographics of its cyclists. Groningen itself needs to continue to improve its infrastructure in order to continue to increase its cycling rate.
And the rest of the world would be best off watching the best example. To "Copenhagenize" is to copy what is second best. "Groningenize", "Netherlandsize", even "Amsterdamize".
Copenhagen has achieved a lot. It has the highest cycling rate in Europe outside of the Netherlands. There is quite a lot of catching up to do to get to the point that many Dutch cities have reached, but they're still doing really well by world standards. Let's keep it in perspective, cheer on their success so far. However, it's also important to realise why their success has been limited, and try to understand why Dutch cities have achieved so much more.
Other countries wanting to achieve a significant modal share for bicycles really do have to look beyond Copenhagen. Groningen leads the world.
And us ?
And what about Assen where we live ? Well, the cycling rate here is 41% of all journeys. Not as high as Groningen, but not far off double the figure for Copenhagen. It's a very high figure for a city which doesn't have a student population to boost the cycling demographics. This city only started to refer to itself as a "fietsstad" or "cycling city" after the all journeys figure reached 40%, and then did so just with a small piece in Dutch on the city's website. That's called modesty.
We weren't born here, but came here for a reason. The cycling environment is first class (not only in the city but also in the countryside) and it's a wonderful place to live.
There are several other posts about Copenhagen. Copenhagen has continued to make claims which are not supported by evidence. For instance, a widely reproduced press release which claimed a huge number of cyclists on "the busiest cycle street in the world" did not stand up to scrutiny.
2013 update
You read it here first in 2009, now it's confirmed by the Danish press (English translation). Cycling has stagnated in Copenhagen at about 35% of commuters, well short of both the 40% target which I wrote about above and the 50% target which the city then set. As I suggested in 2009, Copenhagen has at last started to look to Groningen for advice.
The Danish article discusses several of the things that we recommend and which feature on our study tours: Simultaneous green junctions, the much larger railway station cycle parking facilities in the Netherlands, and it is topped by a photo of the Gerrit Krol triple bridge which saves cyclists an enormous amount of time.
It's also been confirmed this year that two stage junctions used widely in Denmark are an unsafe design of junction which has led to many deaths.
These problems could have been avoided or minimised by Copenhagen and Denmark as a whole following a path of building better infrastructure which invited people to cycle rather than relying heavily on marketing, both within the country and to an outside audience.
We can help cities in Denmark or any other nation by demonstrating best practice.
2014 update
Five years after publishing this blog post, calling for Denmark to attempt to stop trying merely to use hype to sell cycling and instead "Netherlandsize" itself so that the country can genuinely grow the popularity of riding bicycles, there is at last official recognition within the Danish government that cycling has been in decline for twenty years in their country. This is a very good thing. It is only after recognition of a problem that the beginnings of a solution can be found.
2014 update - part 2
Unfortunately, this new found sense didn't last. A few weeks after I wrote the last paragraph, Copenhagen once again started claiming implausible numbers of cyclists on one route as a success.
For the sake of your own population, it's time that international city marketing and promotion of prestige projects took second place to building a useful network of infrastructure.
Independent EU statistics for cycling in Copenhagen for 2010 and 2012. Cycling dropped from 31% to 26% Car usage rose from 29% to 33%. |
2015 update
Sadly, the cycling embassy of Denmark reports that funding for cycling has been severely cut. Official figures from the city also show that cycling in Copenhagen declined between 2010 and 2012.
This post was inspired by a post on a similar subject on the Amsterdamize blog, and not quite believable figures quoted on the Copenhagenize blog. The Groningen chart comes from page 23 of this presentation by Cor van der Klaauw. Since this blog post was written, the claims on the Copenhagenize blog have been slightly modified.


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Mortgage interest rates are at historic lows and homeowners can take advantage of great savings by refinancing into those lower rates. But what if you've already refinanced and you still need to save money on housing costs? Or what if you don't want to reset the loan term on your mortgage? Or what if you simply don't want to deal with all the paperwork again. Fortunately, there may be other ways to save some cash without refinancing.
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Let's say you bought a home with a mortgage payment that stretches your budget pretty thin. If you are able to save up your tax return checks, bonuses or other financial windfalls, you can recast your loan. That means that if you throw a significant chunk of money (usually $20,000 or more) at your mortgage at one time, you can apply to have your loan recast, or re-amortized. That means it's like you are starting over with a lower loan amount (but the same time left to pay) and your monthly mortgage bill will be lower as well.
Refinancing can be a great option for saving money, especially in today's low interest rate climate. But if it's not right for you right now, hopefully these alternatives can help you reduce your costs and keep your budget in the black.


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Author Matt Heywood
Matt is literally from a galaxy that is far, far away. Star Wars has consumed his life, and made him the geek that he is. He's no fan of the Prequels, but still loves the Maker. When he's not recording his unstable takes for the Star Wars Time podcast, he's either working on EntertainmentBuddha.com, taking pictures of Star Wars toys, or trying to legitimately wield the Force.


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- For other saints named "Paraskevi," see the disambiguation page.
Saint Paraskevi, The Parthenomartyr, (July 26th), was born in a village near Rome during the reign of Hadrian (117-138 AD). Her parents were the pious Christians Agathonikos (Agathon) and Politea. Her parents prayed fervently for a child, and God finally blessed their piety. They gave great honor to Friday, the day of Our Lord's suffering. Being born on this day, her parents named her Paraskevi ("Friday" in Greek, but literally "preparation").
St Paraskevi obtained an excellent education from both secular and Scriptural instructors. She was also very knowledgeable in the field of philosophy. Bolstered by her Christian upbringing, she often conversed with other women about Christianity, trying to strengthen their faith in this new religion. Many distinguished families wanted this beautiful, educated and rich woman to marry their sons. Her understanding and kindness made her even more desirable. However having a higher goal in life, St Paraskevi rejected any marriage proposals.
When she was 20 years old, both her parents died leaving her as the sole heir to the family fortune. St Paraskevi did not use her fortune for herself. Filled with the spirit of Christ and Christian ideals, she sold all her worldly possessions using the money to relieve human suffering. There was a portion retained to a community treasury that supported a home for reverent virgins who stayed in a kenobion, a type of commune like a contemporary monastery. These women prayed and fasted doing charitable works. They preached primarily to Hebrew and idol worshiping women giving them an opportunity to learn about Christian salvation.
She left Rome at the age of 30 and began her holy mission, passing through many cities and villages. St Paraskevi's activities occurred during a period that the Jews and Romans persecuted the Christian religion with the greatest intensity. Antoninus Pius (138-161) ruled Rome at this time, and he did not execute Christians without a trial. She was not caught immediately or put to death. Instead, Antoninus protected Christians against the blind mania of the Jewish and Roman inhabitants. Christians could only be brought to trial if another citizen lodged a formal complaint against them. Antoninus however had to repeal this law because of the many disasters which had befallen Rome and which were blamed on the Christians.
Strong in faith, learning, and eloquence, Paraskevi spoke persuasively to her fellow Roman citizens, leading them from idolatry to faith in Christ. Eventually, Antoninus heard of St. Paraskevi's holy mission. Upon her return to Rome, several Jews filed complaints about her and Antoninus summoned her to his palace to question her. Attracted by her beauty and humility he tried with kind words to make her denounce her faith, even promising to marry her and make her an empress. Angered by her refusal he had a steel helmet, lined with nails and compressed on her head with a vice. It had no effect on the Saint and many who witnessed this miracle converted to Christianity. Thrown into prison, Paraskevi asked God to give her the strength to face the terror that awaited her. Antoninus again continued her torture by having her hung by her hair and at the same time burning her hands and arms with torches. The Saint suffered greatly, but had the will not to submit to the pain. Antoninus then prepared a large cauldron of oil and tar, boiled the mixture and then had Paraskevi immersed in it. Miraculously she stood in it as if she being refreshed rather than burned. Angered, Antoninus thought that she was using witchery to keep the contents cooled. Antoninus then approached the cauldron only to be blinded by the hot steam and searing emissions coming from the area. At this moment the mighty emperor asked for the intervention of St Paraskevi to heal him from this affliction to which she responded:
"Emperor, the Christian God is healing you from the blindness that was given to you as a punishment".
Immediately, he regained his sight. Humbled by the miracle he freed the Saint, allowing her to continue her missionary activity and ended all persecutions against the Christians throughout the Roman Empire.
From this episode it is clear to the Christians that St Paraskevi has the intercessional ability to help people with visual ailments.
Astonished by the miracle, Antoninus released Paraskevi. He also ceased persecuting Christians throughout the Roman Empire.
This period was brief. After Antoninus' death in 161, a plague broke out throughout the empire. Romans took it as a sign from their gods that that they were angered by the tolerance of Christianity. Under Antoninus' successor, Marcus Aurelius (161-180), the laws dealing with "non-believers" were changed and the persecutions against the Christians resumed.
Despite these dangers, Paraskevi persevered in her missionary endeavors, spreading the Gospel wherever she traveled. By authority of emperor Aurelius the provincial eparchs Asclepius and Tarasios captured St Paraskevi. Having refused Asclepius' demands to sacrifice to pagan gods, she was thrown into a snake pit. The Saint made the Sign of the Cross over the serpent and the serpent perished. Asclepius had heard of the Saint's previous miracles, realized that a great and mighty power guarded Paraskevi and decided to set her free while Asclepius and his court were all converted.
Tarasios however was less tolerant. St Paraskevi was tied and beaten and afterwards imprisoned and a huge rock placed on her chest. She prayed to Christ to help her be strong. The next morning Paraskevi was taken willingly to the Temple of Apollo. Everyone praised Tarasios, thinking that he had succeeded in breaking St Paraskevi's faith. However, upon entering the temple, the Saint raised her hand and made the sign of the cross. Suddenly, a loud noise was heard and all the idols in the temple were destroyed. The priests and idolaters dragged her from the altar, beat her, and pushed her out of the temple. The priests demanded that Tarasios kill Paraskevi. She was convicted and condemned to death by beheading.
It was customary to give the condemned their last wish. She asked to be left alone for a few moments so that she might pray for the last time. Afterwards, the roman soldiers returned and executed the Saint.
Many healing miracles occurred as a result of St Paraskevi's divine intervention. It is said that merely coming into contact with the dirt of her grave, faithful crippled could walk, demonized would return to health and that the infertile would bear children. Most importantly St Paraskevi healed the blindness of the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius while she was in a heated cauldron. Her merciful disposition to her tormentor has made her an intercessor Saint for the healing of eye ailments.
Her remains were eventually taken to Constantinople, where they are venerated by the faithful to this very day.
Appropriate to your calling, O Champion Paraskevi, you worshipped with the readiness your name bears. For an abode you obtained faith, which is your namesake. Wherefore, you pour forth healing and intercede for our souls.
O most majestic One, we have discovered your temple to be a spiritual clinic wherein all the faithful resoundingly honor you, O famed and venerable martyr Paraskevi.
Tomb in Pounta, Greece
According to the tradition of the people of Epirus, Paraskevi was not martyred in Rome as mentioned in her traditional hagiography, but in Thesprotia where the Monastery of Saint Paraskevi of Pounta stands today. According to this tradition, strongly held by the locals, the headless body of the saint was entombed here and her tomb is still venerated today.
It is said that the persecutors of St. Paraskevi dragged her to the edge of the river Acheron to behead her. As the sword was raised over her head, she grabbed a stone pillar that she held so tightly that the print of her hands melted into it leaving an indelible mark. A church was eventually erected here by the faithful in her honor and housed her holy relics. Her skull was eventually placed in the walls of the church, though today it is kept in Moni Petraki in Athens.
According to the author and novelist Spyros Mouselimis, in his article "The Monastery of Pountas and the Feast of Saint Paraskevi" (Ηπειρωτική Εστία, 10, pp. 638-641, 1961), Pountas Monastery was known for its healing waters and numerous miracles. The pilgrims would cut off portions of the stone pillar of St. Paraskevi as a talisman, to the point that in 1960 the size of the stone was half its original size.
The property of the Monastery at one time was very great. According to Lambridis, at the end of the 19th century the annual revenue of the Monastery was 20,000 piastres, from which a boarding school was supported on its premises until 1913. After the population exchange of 1923 the Monastery was abandoned and did not operate again until 1975. Only the eastern side of the original Holy Altar area of the Katholikon survives today, while the rest of the church was restored in 1989 together with the inscription for the tomb of St. Paraskevi.
Today the Monastery operates as a female convent.
See also
External links
- Saint Paraskevi (GOARCH)
- Martyr Paraskevi (Antiochian)
- Saint Paraskevi (OCA)
- Icon and Troparion of St. Paraskevi
- Prayer for Peace St. Paraskevi practiced peacemaking by making an enemy her brother.
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