Portfolio manager Cale Smith’s riffs on investing, spoke funds, and Islamorada in the Florida Keys.

This week the Mortgage Banker’s Association, a group that represents 2,400 real estate finance companies in Washington, DC, was forced into a rather embarrassing situation on its own mortgage.

The MBA sold its headquarters building on a short sale for $41.3 million…a little more than half the $79 million it originally financed in 2007.

I’m not sure how they could even attempt to spin that. Sums up this mortgage crisis pretty well, though, don’t ya think?

Great clip of NBC’s 30 Rock show spoofing CNBC.

The frenetic pace. Silly banter. Faux controversy. Flashy things.

I’d say they nailed it.

Text ‘HAITI’ to 90999 from any mobile phone and a $10 donation will be sent to the Red Cross. The donation will be added to your phone bill at the end of the month. Here’s more from the Red Cross website.

First State Bank here in the Keys has opened an account to collect donations for the Red Cross and will match the donations. You can also help by visiting the Red Cross or Mercy Corps websites.

If you are aware of other relief efforts, please add in the comments. Thank you.

Update: Here’s a link to a good article on KeysNet, “How Keys residents can help with Haiti relief.”