What's The Diff?

The things Quicken Loans team members care about and want to share with the world

The greatest baseball player in history was born yesterday

Friday, August 31, 2007

Ted Williams may be the greatest baseball player everYup, that’s right. I’m talking about Ted Williams. I missed his birthday by a day.  And I guess he wasn’t exactly born yesterday.  I mean, he was born yesterday, but just 89 years ago yesterday.

And ok, maybe he’s not the absolute greatest ever, but he sure is one of best darn ball players ever to circle the diamond. 

Williams played 19 seasons of pro ball with the Boston Red Sox.  Despite the fact that his playing was interrupted two times by military service as a Marine Corps pilot during WWII and the Korean War, he still put up numbers that were just short of spectactular. 

Speculation is that if he hadn’t served in the military, his accomplishments would have been untouchable.

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Corporate Culture is Not Just Slushies and Popcorn

Thursday, August 30, 2007

Quicken Loans Intern Mark Messing Bids Farewellby Mark Messing

Mark was an intern for the Quicken Loans Marketing team this summer.  Mark has now returned to Michigan State.  Below is an excerpt from his "goodbye note" and it’s a great take on what corporate culture is really all about.  Congratulations Mark on a sucessful internship and good luck your senior year at MSU!

There is a lot of people who talk about the culture of this company.  I think that we all know the things I mean when I say “the Quicken Loans culture,” so for the most part, I will spare you on those details which have been covered already.

At the risk of sounding corny:

I can’t thank a "culture."  I can only thank the people responsible for creating it.  In many ways, the people ARE the culture. 

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Today’s College Freshmen Have No Clue

Tuesday, August 28, 2007

When the Berlin Wall Came DownThey have no clue how we felt when the Berlin Wall came down.

"Where’s Berlin?" some may ask.

Keeping up with the world around you gives you an edge in relating to others. Just as much as youth is wise to respect age and experience, our elders would be wise to acknowledge the difference in perspective for the people just entering adulthood. The eye-opening Beloit College Mindset List® for the Class of 2011 is out, and you can read for yourself why things like the Berlin Wall have no relevance to today’s college freshmen.

However, I will argue with #66: The World Wide Web has been an online tool since they were born. Considering that the Mosaic web browser didn’t enter college consciousness until 1993, these kids were more inclined to be exposed to the World Wide Web beginning at earliest age 4. More realistically, though, the web browser is still struggling to get into some classrooms, so I’d hold off another five years before adding this statement to the list. Being the social analyst that I am… not.

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The Pegasus Grill – Gourmet Cooking for the Front Line

Monday, August 27, 2007

Pegasus Grill at Camp Liberty in IraqFloyd Lee is not your average Army cook.  Forget what you’ve heard about fatty, bland food served to hapless soldiers after a grueling day in the field.  Anyone who’s ever seen an episode of M.A.S.H. knows what I’m talking about.  Just about every episode featured Hawkeye and the gang gagging on a helping of gruel. 

So it really blows my mind to hear about Floyd Lee.  He runs the Pegasus Mess Hall at Camp Liberty in Iraq, and he’s turned chow time into fine dining time. (That’s the Pegasus in the pic on the right, courtesy of  www.defendamerica.gov.)   It’s rumored that soldiers come from miles around to dine at the Pegasus.  Lee, a retired military cook with a 25-year career serving Marines and other troops food, was asked to come out of retirement to run the Pegasus back in 2004 and he jumped at the chance to do his part for the effort.

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Golfer Mary Drummond hits a hole in one – and she’s blind!

Sunday, August 26, 2007

Wow.  This should motivate you if you are having a discouraging day.

On August 21, Mary Drummond, a 53 year old golfer from Pennsylvania, became the first totally blind golfer in history to hit a hole in one.  And she did it while it was raining!

According to Golf Digest, the odds of an amateur golfer hitting a hole in one are 1 in 12,750.  Who knows what the odds of a blind golfer in the rain would have been.  This is very inspiring. 

Congratulations Mary!  You are the DIFF!

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Macy’s to Lower Your Credit Score?

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

macyscard

I’m completely neurotic about my credit. I’ve never paid a bill late, am very careful about opening new credit cards and would flat-out freak if my credit score dropped below 720. That’s why I was particularly revolted when I read about Macy’s new “information sharing” practice on The Consumerist.

Here’s the low-down: If you have a Macy’s credit card but haven’t used it in more than two years, Macy’s will give Citibank the thumbs up to open up a Citibank Mastercard on your behalf. You do have a chance to opt out, but that would require that you actually opened and read what could have only been a long form-letter from Macy’s detailing this new practice (and if you’re anything like me, this letter went straight into the trash before it was given a healthy once-over).

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The Indian is Crying

Monday, August 20, 2007

by Ed Moffett

buttsThe old TV ad that shows Iron Eyes Cody shedding a single tear after a passer-by throws a bag of garbage at his feet, is of course a bit of an exaggeration when speaking of the littering problem in the U.S.

In fact, I’d say that I can count on one hand the number of times I’ve seen a motorist hurl a bag of trash out his window at someone’s feet.

Actually if I include my college years, I might need both hands, but anyway… I got another bone to pick with the smokers; why do you people feel comfortable flicking your flaming plastic cellulose acetate out onto our roads and lawns?

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Beverly Hills Couture in Farmington Michigan

Friday, August 17, 2007

by Stephanie Powel

ashley loaderLarry Kraylowski and William Ray are the proud owners of Salon Kray Chic, the swankiest couture, “plus,” east of Rodeo Drive.  Upon making your first, but certainly not last, grand entrance into this local boutique, be prepared to be pampered like the special person you are.

Whether you are in search of a bridal gown, bridesmaid dresses, mother of a bride fashions, or the perfect pageant, prom or cocktail attire, you will be amazed by the way their services match their styles, no matter what your budget may be.    

When you visit, you’ll understand what I’m talking about.

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Dr. Parthum teaches us not to hate.

Thursday, August 16, 2007

by Mark Messing

dentistHate is one thing everyone hates.  And yet, growing up, there’s one person we are taught it’s OK to hate: the dentist.  Sure, as a kid, you may have been told to “be good” for the dentist, but even your parents would announce their disgust towards having to go there.

When someone messes with your teeth, IT HURTS.  There is no getting around it.  And being forced to sit in a chair, staring at the ceiling, feeling sharp pain for an hour isn’t exactly a trip to Cedar Point. 

But there’s a catch.  The more regularly you go to the dentist, the less severe your dental problems will end up being.  Regular cleanings will be far less intrusive then a double root canal.  So, if you have to go to a dentist anyway, you might as well go to one you can actually like.

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Magazines.com = Great Customer Service

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Dave Rigotti

Dave Rigotti is our blog intern winner for Round 2 of our 2007 Summer Intern Contest.  Good luck Dave at the University of Toledo next semester.

by Dave Rigotti

Magazines.com, like Quicken Loans, realizes that customer satisfaction is of the upmost importance.  I was moving and needed an address changed, but was having difficulty doing it through their online control panel.

I saw their phone number on the top of the page (1-800-magazines) so I decided to give it a call.  On the 2nd ring a REAL person picked up the phone.  No “press 1” or “press 2,” a real person. 

They also NEVER put me on hold, spoke clearly and very understandably. 

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Thursday, May 17, 2012