We're closing in on a million loans and that's something we think is worth celebrating.

It's such a big deal to us that we're going to recognize the millionth closed loan by paying off one lucky client's loan. That's right. We're going to pick a Quicken Loans client who closes between now and December 31, 2010 and we're going to pay off their loan. They close a loan with us and then we pay it off.

Wow! I want that deal. Wait, I can't. I work here. I don't qualify.

But you do! All you have to do is refinance or buy a home and we might pay off your loan.

So how did we get to one million loans? It all started back in 1985 when Dan Gilbert and few of his friends founded Rock Financial. One thing lead to another and Rock Financial became Quicken Loans.

Things went well over the years and today the company that Gilbert and his friends started 25 years ago is now the nation's largest retail online lender and among the top five overall retail lenders. Last year we closed about $25 billion in loans and we're on track to top that this year.

UNIQLO, a really cool  (and very affordable) Japanese clothing store that I love shopping at when I've over there, does something to make me like them even more.

They run a program called UNIQLO Recycles. Simply put, you can take your old UNIQLO clothing into any store and they will distribute them to needy people around the world. Very cool.

I probably have 20 UNIQLO t-shirts. The other day Quicken Loans President Jay Farner said to me "Clayton, you have a lot of t-shirts. I've never seen you wear the same one twice." Now you know my secret (though I admit I do wear them all more than once).

Here's one of my least favorites in the pic above, but I still like it (or I wouldn't be wearing it).

UNIQLOhas one U.S. store in New York City (on Broadway in SoHo), so American's can get their UNIQLO on while hanging out in the Big Apple.

This is amazing and proof anyone can do ANYTHING.

Lui Wei is a 22-year old who lost his arms in an accident.

That didn't stop him from becoming an amazing pianist. I've never seen anything like this in my life.

Not sure I've ever seen a better video for this blog.

Enjoy!

Leave it to the Japanese to take something as uncool as a 300 sq. ft. home and make it very cool.

I guess that's what happens when land is at a super premium.

It's hard for me to imagine that, coming from Detroit, where land is pretty much as cheap as it gets.

But evidently, Japan is a little different than Detroit and the good people there make the best of a difficult situation.

Recently, NPR.org ran a very good article on Japan's tiny homes, In Japan, Living Large in Really Tiny Houses. Here is a bit from the article:

Great article today in the WSJ about Michigan Corps, a non profit intent on boosting Michigan's ailing economy. Michigan Corps was recently started by Rishi Jaitly, a New York native and former Google executive.

Here's some info about Michigan Corps and Mr. Jaitly from the article:

The New York native and former Google executive this week launched Michigan Corps, a national nonprofit intent on boosting Michigan's economy and creating wealth for its residents. Founding board members include Google's chief executive Eric Schmidt, CNN's chief medical correspondent Sanjay Gupta, author Jeffrey Eugenides and former Digg CEO Jay Adelson.