Housing Prices Down Across Much of US

This report indicates declines, some steep, in many parts of the US for home values and prices in the last quarter and throughout last year. Indications are that the decline is just starting and over the next two years most homeowners can see final numbers between 10 and 35 % as a total decline from what the prices and values peaked at in 2006 and the first half of 2007. The closer to the coast and more one is in the suburbs, the greater the decline. And the declines could be greater depending on other world and national events.

http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/Banking/HomebuyingGuide/HomePriceReport.aspx

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Henry Hyde, 1924-2007

Henry Hyde was a sixteen term Illinois US Congressman from 1975 to 2007 and served in the US Navy during World War II. Hyde was legislator with a mixed history. He showed independence and thoughtfulness on some issues and yet was a paradox with views on other issues and legislation that defied sensibility. He was part of the huge savings and loan scandal in the 1980s and was also exposed for his longterm adultery in the late 1990s when he was trying to push through the impeachment of President William J. Clinton. Overall, Hyde was the epitome of a sleazy self-serving politician bent only on serving and enriching the interest and wallets of his cronies and lackeys. His behavior and actions on the Reagan Iran-Contra scandal and coverup is one of the best examples of his treachery.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Hyde

http://www.consortiumnews.com/2007/113007.html

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Colorado Rockies 2008 Spring Training Games Schedule

Here is the first release of the upcoming games schedule for the Colorado Rockies for the 2008 Cactus League Spring Training. It would be awesome if I could figure out a way to get down to the desert for a few games ...

WED 27 FEB: @ Chi WS (TEP) 1pm
THR 28 FEB: CHI WS 1pm split squad
THR 28 FEB: @ Ariz (TEP) 1pm split squad
FRI 29 FEB: MEXICO CITY REDS 1pm
SAT 1 MAR: MLW 1pm
SUN 2 MAR: @ Oak (Papago Park) 1pm

MON 3 MAR: @ Ariz (TEP) 1pm
TUE 4 MAR: KC 1pm
WED 5 MAR: CHI WS 1pm
THR 6 MAR: @ SD (Peoria) 1pm
FRI 7 MAR: @ KC (Surprise) 1pm
SAT 8 MAR: ANAH 1pm
SUN 9 MAR: @ SF (Scottsdale) 2pm

MON 10 MAR: ARIZ 2pm
TUE 11 MAR: SEA 2pm
WED 12 MAR: @ Chi WS (TEP) 2pm
THR 13 MAR: TEX 2pm
FRI 14 MAR: @ Sea (Peoria) 2pm
SAT 15 MAR: @ Tex (Surprise)
SUN 16 MAR: SD 2pm

MON 17 MAR: SF 2pm
TUE 18 MAR: **idle**
WED 19 MAR: @ Chi WS (TEP 2pm
THR 20 MAR: @ Chi C (Mesa) 2pm
FRI 21 MAR: CHI C 2pm
SAT 22 MAR: @ Ariz (TEP) 2pm
SUN 23 MAR: LA 2pm

MON 24 MAR: @ Mlw (Maryvale) 2pm
TUE 25 MAR: CHI WS 2pm
WED 26 MAR: ARIZ 2pm
THR 27 MAR: @ Anah (Tempe) 1pm
FRI 28 MAR: @ Ariz @ Bank One Ballpark 7pm

TEP = Tucson Electric Park

Times listed are for MST thru Sat 3/8 & MDT from Sun 3/9 and afterwards
Times listed are for listening/viewing audience OUTSIDE of Arizona. Subtract one hour if in Arizona starting SUN 9 March.

Opponents and game times subject to change
Additional games may be announced, including for Saturday 29 March. As of this post, the Oakland Athletics are not scheduled to appear at Hi Corbett Field.

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College Football Picks for Week Fourteen, 29-30 November & 1 December

The final week of the regular season of this college football year has finally arrived. The picks for the games being played on Thursday 29 November through Saturday 1 December will include all eighteen games. (home teams in bold)

Thursday 29 November

Rutgers (+2 1/2) 38, Louisville 28 UPSET X +

Friday 30 November

Fresno St (-14) 39, New Mexico St 27 + +

Saturday 1 December

Central Michigan (-3 1/2) 27, Miami OH 20 (MAC Championship @ DET) + +
Navy (-14 1/2) 44, Army 17 (@ BALT) + +
Central Florida (-7 1/2) 39, Tulsa 28 (C-USA Championship) + +
# 6 Virginia Tech (-4 1/2) 23, # 11 Boston College 16 (ACC Championship @ JAX) + +
Troy St (-15) 27, Florida Atlantic 17 X +
Nevada (-7 1/2) 33, Louisiana Tech 20 + +
# 7 Louisiana St (-7) 38, # 14 Tennessee 30 (SEC Championship @ ATL) + X
# 8 Southern Cal (-20) 56, UCLA 20 + X
Oregon St (+even) 26, #17 Oregon 22 + +
# 19 Brigham Young (-17) 36, San Diego St 17 + +
California (-13 1/2) 21, Stanford 13 X +
North Texas (-2 1/2) 34, Florida Int'l 16 X X
# 2 West Virginia (-28 1/2) 55, Pittsburgh 14 X X
Arizona (+7) 23, # 13 Arizona St 20 UPSET X +
# 1 Missouri (+3) 30, # 9 Oklahoma 26 UPSET (BIG 12 Championship @ KC) X X
# 12 Hawaii (-14) 38, Washington 27 + +

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NFL Picks for Week Thirteen, 29 November/2-3 December

Here are the picks for the games being played during Week Thirteen from Thursday 29 November to Monday 3 December.

Thursday 29 November

GB (10-1) @ DAL (10-1): Packers (+7) 38, Cocaineboys 33 UPSET X X

Sunday 2 December

ATL (3-8) @ STL (2-9): Rams(-3) 30, Falcons 22 + +
BUF (5-6) @ WASH (5-6): Redskins (-6) 19, Bills 16 X +
DET (6-5) @ MINN (5-6): Vikings (-4) 31, Lions 17 + +
HTN (5-6) @ TENN (6-5): Titans (-4) 31, Texans 23 + +
JAX (8-3) @ IND (9-2): Jaguars (+6 1/2) 30, Colts 27 UPSET X +
NYJ (2-9) @ MIA (0-11): Dolphins (-1) 23, Jets 17 X X
SD (6-5) @ KC (4-7): Chargers (-7) 23, Chiefs 14 + +
SEA (7-4) @ PHIL (5-6): Seahawks (+3) 32, Eagles 30 UPSET + +
SF (3-8) @ CAR (4-7): Panthers (-3) 17, FortyNiners 13 + +
CLE (7-4) @ ARIZ (5-6): Cardinals (+1 1/2) 24, Browns 23 UPSET + +
DEN (5-6) @ OAK (3-8): Broncos (-4 1/2) 29, Raiders 27 X +
TB (7-4) @ NORL (5-6): Saints (-3 1/2) 23, Buccaneers 20 X +
NYG (7-4) @ CHI (5-6): Giants (-1 1/2) 27, Bears 20 + +
CINC (4-7) @ PGH (8-3): Steelers (-7 1/2) 33, Bengals 17 + +

Monday 3 December

NENG (12-0) @ BALT (4-7): Patriots (-20 1/2) 39, Ravens 10 + X

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