Exercise

Posted on March 13, 2013 by novahockey

I started Crossfit a few weeks ago. Really liking it. It’s a team environment, which is a lot more fun that just going to a gym. It’s a bit intense, but we have all ages. There’s guy in my class in his 60s and some women who can’t be more than 110 soaking wet.

The “box” (the lingo for gym) that I go to is owned by a Marine. He tends to name his workouts. This one is named after a 1LT who was killed in Afghanistan. It’s strangly motivating. I find myself working harder, like it owe it to her. Here’s the workout:

U.S. Army First Lieutenant Ashley White, 24, of Alliance, OH, assigned to the 230th Brigade Support Battalion, 30th Heavy Brigade Combat Team, North Carolina National Guard, based in Goldsboro, NC, died on October 22, 2011 in Kandahar province, Afghanistan, from wounds suffered when insurgents attacked her unit with an improvised explosive device. She is survived by her husband Captain Jason Stumpf, her parents Robert and Deborah, brother Josh, and sister Brittney.

“White”
5 Rounds of the following.
3 Rope Climbs
10 Toes to Bar
21 OH (overhead) Plate Walking Lunges (45/25) use a 45 or 25 pound plate, hold it above your head, and do lunges
Run 400m

LII — level 2, so not as hart as the “White”
5 Rounds
1 Rope Climb
7 Toes to Bar
21 OH Plate Walking Lunges (45/25)
Run 400m

LI
4 Rounds
3 Rope Pull to Standing
7 Knees to Wherever
21 OH Plate Walking Lunges (25/15)
Run 400m

Filed under: fun stuff | 16 Comments »

Morning Report – The war over the CFPB 03/13/2013

Posted on March 13, 2013 by Brent Nyitray

Vital Statistics:

  Last Change Percent
S&P Futures  1546.7 -0.1 -0.01%
Eurostoxx Index 2696.2 -15.7 -0.58%
Oil (WTI) 92.97 0.4 0.46%
LIBOR 0.28 -0.001 -0.36%
US Dollar Index (DXY) 82.61 0.029 0.04%
10 Year Govt Bond Yield 2.03% 0.01%  
RPX Composite Real Estate Index 193.5 -0.6  

Stock index futures are flattish after a good retail sales report. Retail sales increased 1.1%, higher than the .5% estimate. January was revised upward. While retail sales is a notoriously volatile number, it does provide another data point that the economy seems to be picking up speed, not slowing down. Mortgage applications fell. Bonds and MBS are down.

HARP refis are accounting for the lion’s share of refinancings in the hardest hit states.In Nevada, they account for 68%.  In Florida, it is 58%.  This has had the effect of taking inventory off the market, which is driving price increases and helping create a virtuous circle of price appreciation and easier credit. The MBA is projecting that lending will fall 21% this year as higher interest rates cool the refi market according to Fannie Mae. Refis will still account for 58% of all origination. 

The battle over the Consumer Financial Protection Board continues. Republicans are threatening to block Richard Cordray’s nomination to head the agency unless changes are made in its charter to make it more accountable to Congress. Republicans are pushing for the Chairman of the CFPB to be replaced with a bipartisan board and for the agency to be subject to the normal Congressional appropriations process.

Ally has sold a large MSR portfolio to Ocwen for $585 million, covering $85B of unpaid principal balance. No word on what percent were performing, etc. 

Filed under: Morning Report | 111 Comments »