If your in to "notepad" replacements TextPad is pretty good and as of March 6th 2007 they now have version 5.0 better yet is a free update for all 4.x users.

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Release Notes

BrokerUnivers reports

IBM Offering Origination Services

IBM has formed a new business unit that will specialize in mortgage origination services. IBM Lender Business Process Services Inc. "will enable mortgage lenders to replace the fixed costs associated with typical loan fulfillment operations with a variable cost framework," the company said. Services it will offer include loan application, underwriting, processing, vendor management, document preparation and loan closing, according to IBM.

This was just to funny.

Thanks Steve

BBC has a second article(Call for blogging code of conduct)regarding what has happened to Kate Sierra

Its premise is that some how the blogosphere can form a rules of conduct to prevent this type of behavior.  While I feel what has happened to Kate is horrible, it is a stark reminder that in the shadow of our civility lies a boiling cesspool of hatred and bigotry.  We may want to to solve a horrendous problem like this with community rules but at best we could prevent some blog service sites from displaying hate, or our rss feed reader from retrieving hate.  In the end all we would have done is hide the fact that hate exists.  Its only a solution as sweeping dust under your rug is a cleaning solution.  I don't have any magic bullet solutions.  All I can offer is that we live in a free society and we have to except hate speech and actively speak out against it.  We need to adopt a no tolerance attitude.  If some one crosses the line call the authorities (ie police).    If you get physical treats on your blog its not protected speech take action.  Otherwise the problem will stay in a corner and fester until some thing tragic happens.

If your interested Microsoft released " Office Business Applications" OBAs Their first target is a Reference Application Pack for Loan Origination Systems.

Thanks Mike now every one and their mother will think they can build an LOS and Wholesale system.

Video: Microsoft Loan Origination Reference Architecture

Building Distributed Applications

Architecting Regulatory-Compliant Architectures

Building Distributed Applications

Architecting Enterprise Loan Workflows and Orchestrations

Building Distributed Applications

Office Business Applications: Building Composite Applications Using the Microsoft Platform

MSDN Financial Services Industry Center

The Ado and Data blogs have posted links for the screen casts from this mornings VSLive KeyNote.

Data

ADO.Net

If you want to see the press release for what's coming in Point 6.0 check out Calyx Software Announces Point 6.0 with Mortgage Banker Functionality Scheduled for Release in Summer 2007

The announcement doesn't really due some of the new features justice, since they are some what overshadows by the additional Bankers section.  At any rate It should prove to be an impressive release.

Here is my way of getting a DotNet DLL to load its app.config file.

AppDomain.CurrentDomain.SetData ("APP_CONFIG_FILE",ConfigFile);

Where ConfigFile is the full path to your application's app.config file.(c:\test\myapp.config)

Some Interesting posts regarding Subprime.

Tim O'Reily: Subprime Loans Glossary

I am not sure how Automated Underwriting really played in the over evaluation of the Housing Market.  I believe this swift ramp up was the result of low interest rates backed by very creative loan programs especially Stated Asset Stated Income or ( liar loan as the washingtonpost's Steven Pearlsteing describes it.).

The washingtonpost has 'No Money Down' Falls Flat

I don't agree with item D Piggyback loans were not (at first) a means to no down payment but rather a way to escape Mortgage Insurance.  One could argue that it was a lie to the Investor because there was more then 80% loan to value relating to the borrowers actual liability.

The New York Times offers The Subprime Loan Machine

Little bit of history relating to how AU came to Subprime and its ramifications.  Although A paper ala Freddie Mac, Fannie Mae had AU years before.

Phil (haacked.com)has a story about a nasty little scam some one sent to his father.  In this case the check more then likely will clear paid for by some other hapless victim.  Thankfully Phil's father wasn't taken by the allure of easy money.  Check out the rest of the story