I think they both work overall, but there are issues with both. To me,the first room works pretty well at first glance. But when you take a longer look, I think there are a couple of issues. It looks like a room that a 'real person' decorated, using things they had in part. The chair shape is great, but the fabric on the chair is wrong for the room. Not because of the print, but because it is done in 'dirty' colors (and actually, looks like an old chair),a fact the pillows on it highlight. Were the chair done in a white duck or a lime and turquoise stripe, it would be fine. The rug is again a 'dirty' color, more olive; a plain cream or white rug, or a colorful large scale modern print, would do more for the space. I love the READ on the wall, because I believe the framed pieces are favorite books (one is Eric Carle's "The very busy spider"). But I guess that to me would be better on another wall, near a reading chair or beanbag in a kid's room, and a bookshelf. Then again, if the child is a voracious reader, nothing wrong with celebrating that fact! The second room is fine, except for the fact that all the color weight is low in the space, and the lampshade disappears against the wall and looks awkward with the little built-in above. Instead of the lamp on the night stand, I would have hung reading lights of some kind centered above each headboard, done in brass (for the nautical feel) with lampshades in a print with deep blue (no stripes to compete with the beadboard) or a solid dark blue. It also looks like the rug is running in the wrong direction for the pattern. I would have also preferred to mix up the decorative pillows on each bed, so they weren't matching but complimentary, but that is not a big deal.

pogo games ask you to sign up but they don't ask a lot of info. You can also become a member for about 29 a year and play all the games free with no ads. I'm not a member and there are a lot of games to play and they all have a chat box. There are ALL KINDS of games to play...I love it. patti Here is a link that might be useful: pogo

OK, first... Not every lender handles REOs the same. Countrywide with 90,000 REOs is going to be different from your local credit union that has 4-5 REOs in inventory. Lenders do like contracts without any contingencies. However, they rarely receive any. Most have several including financing, inspection, & a few repairs. Since each property is unique it's impossible for me to tell you what Countrywide is likely to do on this particular house that I've never seen. As a work-out officer though I can tell you that, yes, they have spreadsheets. However, they are not written in stone like the Ten Commandments. REO listing prices are moving targets & every lender in the country is now very aware of that fact. Any institution I've ever worked for gave me what's known as a "lending limit". In other words, I could approve or reject deals up to that limit. The experience of the loan officer & the individual instituion both play a role in determining what an officer's limits are. Usually...portfolios are divided up so most loans within a particular lender's portfolio fall within their approved limits. Now always though. So, if a contingency offer or one less than asking price should come in on a property outside the lender's limit...he/she would have to take the offer to either their department head...or, the dreaded 'Committee'. On each REO, the institution sets what's known as a 'Loan Loss Reserve' which is NOT THE SAME AS THE ASKING PRICE. If accepting your offer increases that amount...higher approval will be required...usually 'Committee' (ugh!). It is this 'Loan Loss Reserve' number that drives the contract. You, unfortunately, have no way of knowing what that number is. How are prices set??? Here's how... The lender, by accounting standards & regulations, is SUPPOSED to have an appraisal that is LESS than 6 months old. That appraised amount becomes the listing amount. Now, again unfortunately, many lenders are using appraisals that exceed the 6 months. And, as we know, prices are falling in most areas across the country. I come back to each lender handles this situation different. There really is NO one correct answer on how to negotiate on an REO. Here are some things that may make it easier: 1.) Find out the foreclosure date. The longer they've had it in inventory the better for you. 2.) What was the foreclosed mortgage amount? 3.) When was the mortgage signed...is it 2 years old or 17 years old? 4.) Is the property in an area that's experiencing significant price declines? 5.) What is the inventory level for the area? 6.) Are there a lot of other REOs nearby? Then, you're on your own. My recommendation would be to offer $885K & be ready to move to $900K. I would ask for a few repairs IF they are major. Some lenders are outsourcing their REOs. This is a real wild card for a potential purchaser. There are many things that drive a vendor & they may, or may not, be compatible with those of the lender. That's about all I should say on this matter. Bottom line is, yes, you can expect the lender to negotiate. But, it's that 'Loan Loss Reserve' that's going to determine whether they accept your offer, or not. Now, a lender is SUPPOSED to write-down a loan to the appraised price (which is also probably the list price)...but, there's a lot of REOs out there that are not written down appropriately. Neither I nor you know if the house you're interested in is one of them? :( This is the 'mark to market' issue you've been hearing on the evening news. It's very ugly out there right now...very ugly. Good luck. I'll try to answer specific questions if I can. /tricia

Cindy, I did a bit of research to verify that Uris's book came first; it was published in 1958. According to IMDb, the screen rights were sold even before the book came out, and Ernest Gold was recruited to write the film score on the strength of his work on projects such as "The Defiant Ones" and "On the Beach." Gold was much taken with the story of the Jews returning to the land of their ancestors and is said to have studied Hebrew and Arab music to incorporate the correct harmony and rhythm. I think we can say he succeeded splendidly. Personal note: I remember my mother weeping the first time we heard the Exodus theme on the radio. The orchestration has a wonderful French horn part, and since I'm a horn player it has long been a favorite of mine. It gives me goosebumps even when I'm playing it.