From Bloomberg:
N.J.’s Vanished Public Jobs Impede Economic Recovery, Study Says
New Jersey’s economic recovery is hindered by the elimination of 61,200 local and state government jobs and Republican Governor Chris Christie’s spending cuts, according to a report issued today.
The 2011 average unemployment rate of 9.3 percent would have been 8 percent with those public positions untouched, according to the study by New Jersey Policy Perspective, a nonpartisan Trenton nonprofit that analyzes issues affecting residents with low to moderate incomes.
…
During and since the 18-month recession that ended in June 2009, governments across the nation cut jobs as tax revenue fell. The number of public jobs in 2011 shrank by 1.3 percent, about 280,000 positions, according to data from the U.S. Department of Commerce. More than half those positions were with local and state governments.New Jersey has the fourth-highest jobless rate in the U.S. The August tally, 9.9 percent, was the state’s worst in 35 years. The national rate was 8.1 percent that month.
“The trend in unemployment is beyond dispute,” wrote Raymond Castro, a senior policy analyst.
Government jobs returned to New Jersey after past recessions, the study said. This time, their failure to reappear is stopping companies from hiring, too, the report said.
How was the debate last nite? Who won?
Here is the full report, are these guys the lobbying arm of the public sector unions?
Moving in the wrong direction
Gee, I loved the angry, confused and befuddled look on the face of Oblama when Romney outlined his slew of failures and how they’ll be fixed. Hey Oblama, it’s tough when you’re not handed puff ball questions, you looked like a little kid ready to cry. And once again, Oblama spoke in talking points and platitiudes, they only thing he knows.
Grim,
did you see that article in the NYT about middle class people dumpter-diving for food in Spain while their govt is increasing VAT from 20 to 20 something?
Mitt looked very good last night. He definitely came to play and most certainly won.
As far as a debate goes, Romney definitely won. Obama looked bored like he didn’t want to be there. He seems very annoyed that he actually has to run for his job again.
From WaPo:
Housing uptick hammers away at remodeling slump but contractors say jobs not as lucrative
Glenn Bridges can tell that the market for home remodeling is picking up — when he’s hanging cabinets or laying a floor in a customer’s house, a next-door neighbor is bound to knock on the door and ask if he’s available for another project.
They’ll look at his handiwork and then say, “we have something we’re interested in doing,” Bridges says. “It’s quite uplifting.”
The collapse of the housing market decimated business for contractors like Bridges, most of whom are small businesses with just a handful of employees. But many are seeing business improve as home sales slowly recover and homeowners who had put off projects during the recession are feeling better about the economy. Still, the improvement is gradual and projects aren’t typically as lucrative as they were back when homeowners were able borrow against a large amount of equity in their houses.
Bridges was so optimistic about the remodeling market that in February that he restarted the contracting business he was forced to shut down in 2007. When he closed, he had to lay off his three full-time workers. But at the start of 2012, things began to change.
Good Morning New Jersey
I didn’t get a chance to watch the debate last night, I’m 13 minutes in and it’s already getting ugly. Mr. Roboto is a debate machine.
Regarding sheriff sales and upset prices from yesterday’s thread…I was a regular bidder at Bergen, Passaic and Hudson County sheriff sales from 1983 to 1998. In the late 1980’s and early 90’s banks finally began to cut their upset prices from the full judgement amount. The number of properties going to sale was unprecedented and banks realized they could net more money sometimes by cutting properties loose at the sheriff sale rather than taking them REO. Dime Savings Bank even offered a commission of 2% to agents who brought a succesfull bidder to one of their the sheriff’s sales.
I believe you will see a return to these types of stratagies by banks as the volume of sheriff sales begins to reach full capacity. Banks and servicers always roll out the same old strategies for disposing of properties and call them new. On the REO side banks are currently in the repair mode. Anything located in a suburban area is being repaired prior to marketing. This will last for a year or two until they decide that “as is” sales is the latest and greatest way to marker REO.
Mitt ran roughshod over Jim and O. Like Mitt’s wife said last night Mitt always wins. Who here wins every argument with their wife? Regardless of who wins we are screwed the only real difference with Mitt is there won’t be any vaseline since it is against his beliefs.
7 re remodeling…I see contractor trucks all around my neighborhood like crazy now.
11. True. It will get really interesting. Can you imagine his approach to restructuring Washington? Slice and dice. No more Dept of Education. Lots of bureaucrats out. Dogs and cats living together. Chaos!!
I liked Mitt last night. I’ll say that he won a few converts.
I mean which guy would you want negotiating on your behalf??
Sorry Obama. Bill wasn’t there last night to lend you a much needed hand.
I wonder if Obamacare covers a whooped Ass?
I was on the fence about Mitt (not Obama, it was more of a sitting-this-one-out or voting for Mitt scenario) but he really changed my view in the debate last night. He came off as highly intelligent, experienced, and hungry for this job. Obama seemed bored, annoyed and not as engaged.
“I wonder if Obamacare covers a whooped Ass?”
Good one.
Dear Chris Matthews,
The thrill is gone.
Love,
Fast Eddie
I believe Romney won last night but only because it was easy to say what people want to hear.His numbers dont add up. He is definitely very convincing while lying to his teeth.
http://firstread.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/10/03/14207584-truth-squad-the-debate?lite
I guess Bo will have to reappear on the view to gather his confidence back. Eye Candy
Letterman calling as well. Bo will appear at a Chipolte this afternoon for further discussions
I thought it was a given that the debates are really nothing but lies and empty promises.
I heard Bernard McGuirk on the radio this morning suggest that the thrill in Chris Matthew’s leg must have turned into a load in his pants.
Exposed.
from CEPR.net
“Mr. Obama expressed worry about those who would lose out if government programs are cut too deeply, while Mr. Romney talked about those who feel constrained by excessive government taxation and regulation.”
Mr. Romney presumably knows that taxes are no higher today than they were in the Bush administration and that they considerably lower than they were when the economy was growing 4.0 percent annually in the last four years of the Clinton administration. He also knows that relatively few new regulations have been put in place in the Obama years, so this cannot be a major factor slowing growth. In other words, Romney is saying these things because he hopes that they will have some resonance with the public or at least people who will support his campaign, not because he actually believes them.
Later the piece tells readers:
“Mr. Romney talked about the impact of the continuing economic problems, noting that the cost of gasoline, electricity, food and health care has grown. ‘I’ll call it the economy tax,’ he said. ‘It’s been crushing.'”
In fact, gas prices have generally lagged behind the peaks reached in 2008, so Romney cannot “note” that the cost of gasolone has grown. Electricity prices have also fallen in many areas. Furthermore, Governor Romney surely knows that the price of gas is determined on world markets and the U.S. government’s actions have little or no impact on it. So these comments are being said for their political effect, it is inplausible to believe that they reflect a political philosophy.
The same logic applies to the next paragraph:
“The Republican focused on the impact on small business of Mr. Obama’s policies. ‘It’s not just Donald Trump you’re taxing,’ he said. ‘It’s all those businesses that employ one-quarter of the workers in America.’ He added, ‘You raise taxes and you kill jobs.’”
Only a small percent of businesses are structured as proprietorships and owned by individuals who will be subject to the higher tax rate supported by President Obama. These businesses do not employ anywhere close to one-quarter of the workers in America. (If they did, they hardly could be considered “small.”) Romney surely knows these facts
#16 Ann: And the arrogant look on Obama’s face.
I’m firmly in the clot camp now. Need blueprints for a nompound. Anyone have a good architect?
[14,15] essex
Republican Essex is back. Good to see you. How was your summer?
I can’t wait till you all get what you want and find that Oscar Wilde was right — “There are two tragedies in live: One is not getting what you want. The other is getting it.”
Doesn’t the SBA define small business as fewer than 500 employees?
Leading through the restoration hardware catalog that showed up in our mailbox this week. Size of a phone book.
For some time, I surmise that the next industry to completely tank will be furniture. Especially high end furniture. There is just so much out there that will ultimately end up on Craigslist that I think it foolish to buy new furniture, especially hard furniture.
Sure, there is plenty of ugly or cheap furniture that just won’t sell, and we see from home photos that there is plenty in New Jersey, but I think that there is enough classic or timeless furniture out there that it makes no sense to buy new. And once all those boomers start going into nursing homes or dying, and their kids clean out those houses, it will all wind up on Craigslist or the side of the road. Coupled with a more sensible attitude toward consumption, that will depress furniture sales for an entire generation.
#29 Jill: Speaking for myself I am not happy with either choice, and think it is a sad reflection that these 2 are the best we can come up with. However, that being said, Obama comes off as very arrogant and dismissive. That for me came through loud and clear last nigth.
[27]. Phoenix,
A good nompound is all about site selection. The house next to me isn’t special but it is a fantastic nompound. There is acreage and a pond. The house is surrounded by layers of trees, making it nearly invisible from the road. And there is some sort of fencing surrounding the perimeter that is not especially robust but would get her or slow entry and is about 8 feet high. I can also see what looks like a 400 gallon oil tank near some small sheds. Good sightlines beyond the near invisible fencing. So it is both discreet and defensible, and there is family at the farm across the road.
The house where I am isn’t as well set up but it is further back and in an extremely defensible position. I didn’t have nompound in mind but I can nompound this house quite easily.
I don’t like you, but that comment is fantastic…..kudos…..
Essex says:
October 4, 2012 at 7:45 am
I wonder if Obamacare covers a whooped Ass?
Immelt of GE went off the reservation yesterday and called for territorial taxation. This is a dig at Obama and a boost to Romney.
So I except he will be getting a call from 1600 today, and will be walking back his comments.
[34] chi,
Yes, that was a good one. Will have to steal it.
I only listened two twenty minutes of the debate on my way hme from the airport. All i heard were two sides of the same argument. Rombot was more eloquent, reasoned and composed. Chairman O sounded like an unprepared neophyte. I guess that is what happens when you lose your telepromter and felatiating media.
One good point on romney’s debate last night. A sign of a clear debate winner is not only when you start to crush your opponent but take over the discussion fromt eh moderator. I thought Romney was effective in having Lehrer pushed under while defining the tone.
Either way he lost me with the more wars more military BS.
Claims at 367k, damnit make a move already.
I’m surprised FHA 203K Renovation Mortgages aren’t more popular. I’m going through the process right now for one.
121. grim says:
October 3, 2012 at 2:22 pm
Might even be better off going lower and fixing a few things yourself and possibly changing your criteria a bit.
Much better deals available if you have a capability/capacity to renovate. I’m not talking about adding levels, blowing out great rooms, massive reconstruction. I’m talking redoing the kitchen, maybe taking down a load bearing wall to open up the main floor, redoing the baths. Potentially the good ol’ exterior trifecta (roof, windows, siding). You might need a few weeks before you could move in, but even if you couldn’t, there is nothing stopping you from living through the remodel.
$500k property + $150k renovation > $650k house
123. grim says:
October 3, 2012 at 2:27 pm
I suppose the other issue is actually having the capital to fund the renovation…
Here’s what we learned last night:
– The Skimmer is a good debater and prepares well.
– Bojangles really does need a teleprompter.
The truck is still hurtling toward a bridge abutment at 140 mph. And this whole thing ends in tears.
buck (39)-
These are great loans for people who love paperwork, interminable waits and bureaucratic procto-reamings. It’s easier to meet the Pope than getting one of these loans to close.
“I’m surprised FHA 203K Renovation Mortgages aren’t more popular. I’m going through the process right now for one.”
“Governor Romney surely knows that the price of gas is determined on world markets and the U.S. government’s actions have little or no impact on it.”
Isn’t the price of oil priced in US dollars? I thought people on this blog were constantly railing about how government stimulus has devalued the dollar over the last few years. I think this would be something the government has done to make it more expensive…no?
34 Chifi – Kudos actually owed to Dennis Miller.
[38] grim,
Wait until after Nov 6. when the pressure to game data points will be off.
#32: 3b, I know you and I don’t agree on everything but I’d like to believe that we are intelligent people of goodwill who just disagree on certain things political. But this bothered me: “Obama comes off as very arrogant and dismissive. ”
And Romney doesn’t? In my perception, he was dismissive of the moderator and of Obama, who like it or not, is still President. He’s dismissive of the middle class, dismissive of the poor, and as far as arrogant is concerned, well, it doesn’t get more arrogant. The quoted part above sounds just a bit too close for “uppity [ ]” for my taste.
[43] gator,
If that is true, them best props have to go to pain for his teleprompter and fellating media whip.
[43] gator,
If that is true, them best props have to go to pain for his teleprompter and fellating media quip.
It doesn’t matter who won the debate and it doesn’t matter who will win the election in November. So why waste time discussing it here?
Also, know that the head of NJPP (PAC who wrote the report) is hardly non-partisan. He’s about as close to center as 3rd base. Here’s the Wikipedia entry on this progressive.
Gordon A. MacInnes is a Democratic politician from New Jersey who has served twice in the state Legislature. MacInnes was elected to the state Assembly in 1973 in a heavily Republican Morris County district, as part of the Watergate-driven Democratic landslide of that year. He was defeated in his re-election bid in 1975.[1] In 1993, he won election to the state Senate in a major upset over incumbent Senate Majority Leader John Dorsey, again in a heavily Republican district. He again failed to win re-election in 1997, losing to Republican Anthony Bucco,[2] who continues to hold that Senate seat.
MacInnes also served as Assistant Commissioner in the New Jersey Department of Education from 2002 to 2007. He currently serves as a member of the Board of Governors of Rutgers University.[3] He also is a former executive director of the New Jersey Network.[4]
MacInnes is the president of New Jersey Policy Perspective, a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that researches and analyzes economic issues. MacInnes is a fellow at The Century Foundation in New York and previously was a lecturer at the Woodrow Wilson School at Princeton University.[5][6]
During the administration for President Lyndon Johnson, MacInnes was deputy director of the White House Task Force on the Cities.
Price of oil does not go up and down because of the value of the dollar,although there is a little bit of factor.Oil is priced due to supply and demand.Saudi Royals have the fair price of oil at $80/barrel.We are above this number.
Brian says:
October 4, 2012 at 10:03 am
“Governor Romney surely knows that the price of gas is determined on world markets and the U.S. government’s actions have little or no impact on it.”
Isn’t the price of oil priced in US dollars? I thought people on this blog were constantly railing about how government stimulus has devalued the dollar over the last few years. I think this would be something the government has done to make it more expensive…no?
#15 Essex
“I wonder if Obamacare covers a whooped Ass?”
Not sure it does as it wasn’t a Pre-existing condidtion?
Didn’t watch the debate, was in a bar watching the Yankees and drinking draft Pilsner Urquell and Firehouse IPA. What I hear is that it won’t really move the needle in OH, PA and FL.
Best piece this morning came from The Onion.
http://www.theonion.com/articles/mitt-romney-adopts-new-ronnie-ferocious-persona-fo,29789/?ref=auto
#45 I believe they are both dismissive of the middle class, and do not care one way or the other. Both are using the middle class situation as a means to win the election.
While Romney is probably just as arrogant he hides it well in public. In the case of Obama it is all over his face in my opinion. In any event whoever wins, nothing changes. We need a viable 3rd party alternative to what we have now, but that will never happen either.
I briefly skimmed the full article Grim posted. To summarize it one sentence…the reason NJ’s job growth has been so poor is due to the fact that NJ hasn’t hired back enough of the public workers it recently terminated. So is raising taxes to create public sector jobs which we don’t need the type of job growth we want? What a joke.
Here is one of Raymond Castro’s earliest NJPP pieces…
“State pleads poverty to reduce tax credits for working families, but has enough to provide tax credits for corporations”
Once again, proving why politics are a complete joke.
Both of these guys and their wives never worked a day in the private sector.
3B exactly!
They both promise you the pie in the sky, but once either gets elected, you’ll be lucky to get the crumbs left over in the tin.
Dennis Miller (comedian and Ayn Rand fan) essentially tweeted that good line last night:
“Obama better hope a kicked ass is covered under Obamacare”
It’s easier to meet the Pope than getting one of these loans to close.
I’ve known of lots of folks interested in these, but never actually heard of anyone that’s got one.
Libtard, 53
Did you learn grammar at a state-run school? Did you mean to say Neither … nor?
I thought Romney did spend time in the private sector. Wasn’t that how he acquired his evil riches, cane, tophat, and money bags?
Even Oblamer did some private sector work in high school selling pot, I thought.
Lib in the end that is the problem. Folks who are attracted to public service in this state are there not for the benefit of the communites they serve but rather for the easy living that is voted for them by the bought and paid for legislature. Are there some exceptions sure but they are the minority. As much as I hate platitudes when you let the foxes watch the henhouse you end up with no chickens.
nom thanks, you would have loved the little more erosion of civil liberties I witnessed in the airport in ft Lauderdale yesterday. Not content with dosing us with annual level of radiation in an instant, then patting us down like we were criminals. the pervs at the TSA set up a gate check pat down line for random searches as we boarded the plane yesterday. Luckily our flight was delayed two hours so they couldn’t wait around to get their jollies. You know union mandated breaks and all. Of course I got a picture on my phone. the best part after the flight was delayed they kept circling the gate like angry sharks looking for a meal. Hoping we would be released for boarding.
Free country my a$$
Yawn. No matter who wins the election you’ll get more wars, more crony capitalism, more debt and less civil liberties.
Ragnar you forgot monocle and Dick Dastardly mustache
FHA 203K, closed many deals with 203K’s but I was always on the listing side. Mostly urban properties.
Agreed it hasn’t been the simplest mortgage process, but the pros certainly outweigh the cons. I’m using AnnieMac Home Mortgage (after comparing & being pre-approved by 3 lenders) and already have my 203K Consultant report & appraisal. I’m now gathering bids from contractors.
Just trying to be like Grim & Stu…except I don’t have the extra 100K lying around…
41. Ernest Money says:
October 4, 2012 at 10:02 am
buck (39)-
These are great loans for people who love paperwork, interminable waits and bureaucratic procto-reamings. It’s easier to meet the Pope than getting one of these loans to close.
136. Libtard in the City says:
October 3, 2012 at 3:24 pm
“$500k property + $150k renovation > $650k house”
Very similar to our move.
425K property + 50K renovation resulted in a 550K appraisal from our bank.
Someone rocked it last night
Don’t have to say who. It was obvious.
Rags…was referring to the president and author of the NJPP article. My grammar is perfect when I have the time to proofread. Unfortunately, I work in the private sector (have 4 job titles now) so I rarely have the time to read what I write. My apologies to all in advance (and in retrospect too, I suppose).
The Plouffer was spinning hard this morning. Said that Romney was on defense the entire night.
Did he watch the same debate?
It occurs to me that we haven’t heard a good quote from the Attack Poodle. Where is Debbie this morning?
BTW thank you for your referral to Wells Fargo. I did contact John but ended up going with someone else. When asked who referred me I was only able to say “a Bergen County realtor from a blog I read named 30 year realtor.”
And yes, urban property – 2 family in Elizabeth. Wonder why it’s not more prevelant in other areas? I feel like it’s not very well known. That HGTV show Property Brothers should have an episode about it.
61. 30 year realtor says:
October 4, 2012 at 10:57 am
FHA 203K, closed many deals with 203K’s but I was always on the listing side. Mostly urban properties.
Libtard,
Just teasing on the grammar. I make plenty of errors myself, typing too. And I was once a member of the New York Writers Guild (a union for writers)! Thanks for clarifying who you were referring to, makes much more sense to me now.
AHW
Speaking of which, does anyone have contractor recommendations? Preferably, someone with experience working with 203K mortgages. Project consists of completely gutting and renovating a 3br apt, and partially renovating (kitchen & bath) the 2nd apt in a 2 family house in Elizabeth.
Watched about 20 minutes of the debate. Obama stuttered a lot and I agree, spoke in platitudes. Romney lied eloquently. ‘Nuff said.
I am consistently appalled by my grammer and misspellings on these threads. I guess it is always nice to have JJ around, because he makes us all look good……
Libtard in the City says:
October 4, 2012 at 11:10 am
Rags…was referring to the president and author of the NJPP article. My grammar is perfect when I have the time to proofread. Unfortunately, I work in the private sector (have 4 job titles now) so I rarely have the time to read what I write. My apologies to all in advance (and in retrospect too, I suppose).
69. Sing Chan FTW.
Jill: I know you probably think I am some red drone, but I swear I am not. The arrogant and dismissive thing is a very widely held opinion. Even the media openly discuss it all the time. The other thing I heard in passing on the radio driving into work is that Obama really does not like Romney, and part of the issue last night was that Obama was so focused on trying to suppress his open enmity, that he may have sapped his aggressiveness. As a result, he demeanor and facial expressions were somewhat offputting….
Jill says:
October 4, 2012 at 10:14 am
#32: 3b, But this bothered me: “Obama comes off as very arrogant and dismissive. ”
Only people who need how to spell dont have no staff.
Mitt had me when Obama said vote for Mitt if you believe wall st should be less regulated.
I actually liked the format of the debate. It didn’t seem as scripted as I anticipated. It was actually refreshing.
I thought they were pretty respectful of each other to. You know, the same way we all are here on njrereport.com.
45.Jill says:
October 4, 2012 at 10:14 am
#32: 3b, I know you and I don’t agree on everything but I’d like to believe that we are intelligent people of goodwill who just disagree on certain things political. But this bothered me: “Obama comes off as very arrogant and dismissive. ”
And Romney doesn’t? In my perception, he was dismissive of the moderator and of Obama, who like it or not, is still President. He’s dismissive of the middle class, dismissive of the poor, and as far as arrogant is concerned, well, it doesn’t get more arrogant. The quoted part above sounds just a bit too close for “uppity [ ]” for my taste.
Jill: here is a profane stand-up comedy video from Godfrey…..I posted it a few weeks ago. From 0:45-2:45 he does an impression of Obama Jedi-Mind tricks and it captures the essence of the arrogance of the O-man……NSFW – profane language…
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uk2Azl628Nw
How do you defend a record that’s deplorable? Oblama has no work history and his whole political life has been coddled, prompted and cushioned. In the debate against McCain, he could stay on the offensive because it was all rhetoric, just like his whole “career.” Now that he needs to defend something without any lifeline, the curtain gets yanked back and the fraud is exposed.
[65] redux.
After an internet search, I find no site or link where David Plouffe is referred to as “plouffer.”
Consequently, I claim dibs on “Plouffer”, noun, meaning someone who engages in extreme political spin to try to reinflate thier candidate’s limp, uh, campaign.
Moose, I may need copyright apps for Plouffer and Nompound!
Fast Eddie,
I think this was the first time since his Nobel Prize that anyone has asked him some tough questions about what he’s done. So Oblamer was off balance, as the MSM normally spends most of its time explaining why nothing is his fault. He wasn’t accustomed to having to defend himself, particularly when he can’t.
I think the best line of attack for Romney was pointing out that in the midst of the financial crisis and early recovery, Oblamer spent most of his political capital working to socialize another 40% of the health care industry, which had nothing to do with assisting economic recovery, and more likely, harmed it via additional uncertainty and increasing the potential liability of hiring someone.
The most fake part of the debate was the end, where these two guys and their families competed to act the most friendly and relaxed with one another. Smiles, handshakes, and backpats all around. I wonder who was seething the most at the end.
Michelle Obama’s thoughts about last night …http://i.imgur.com/6N8vX.jpg
I think this election comes down to whether this 2011 prediction by the Plouffer is right or not:
http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/170117-plouffe-americans-wont-vote-on-unemployment-rate
[78] redux
I stand corrected. I did find a blog discussing Plouffe that had the headline “Plouffer Nutter” but it never called him Plouffer or used it in the same context.
So I think I am good. Urban Dictionary, here I come.
And here is someone else who can expect a testy call from someone in the East Wing today:
“Sherrie Westin, the executive vice president and chief marketing officer for the nonprofit organization behind “Sesame Street,” told CNN’s “Starting Point” on Thursday that Sesame Workshop receives very little funding from PBS. She explained that the nonprofit raises its funding through licensed products and philanthropic sponsorship.
“You can debate whether or not there should be funding of public broadcasting,” she said. “But when they always try to tout out Big Bird, and say we’re going to kill Big Bird — that is actually misleading, because Sesame Street will be here.”
Nom:
Plouffer Nutter –
http://fletchcast.blogspot.com/2011/07/plouffer-nutter.html
Oh thank god!
The guy had two years and a super majority to concentrate on nothing but job creation and deficit reduction. He decided to saddle people with more taxes, a restrictive and destructive health policy that intrudes on you and your family, 8,000,000 less jobs than 4 years ago, 40% more people on food stamps, 1 in 6 living in poverty, decreased house-hold net worth and the 43 consecutive months of UE greater than 8%. If this were a republican president, he would be trailing on every poll and fit to be run out of town. The guy is a fraud, a sham, a professional con man. I don’t mean in a political sense, I mean the guy is truly a shyster on every level. His body language and demeanor was beyond un-presidential last night; it was downright scary.
Nom –
#84 – Sorry. You’ve already found it. (Note to self: Read ahead before posting.)
[84] grey,
That’s the one I found. But it was just a headline takeoff on the Fluffer Nutter, a sandwich of Marshmallow Fluff and peanut butter (and a childhood staple in New England).
Sox axe Bobby V. Thank God that’s over.
[87] grey,
No worries. Surprised that JJ hasn’t weighed in on a takeoff on fluffer yet. If there’s any sexual innuendo possible, he is usually right there. JJ? You feeling okay?
[86] eddie,
Is it any wonder then that foreign leaders don’t seem to have any respect for him?
Nom:
JJ recently hired a plouffer for his staff.
Nom [28];
Republican Essex is back. Good to see you. How was your summer?
I remember the LUG girls in college. Do we now have political DUDs (Democrats Until Depression)?
93. Are you saying that once you join the GOP you are clinically depressed?
Leave me out of this.
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/ticket/obama-mocks-romney-getting-tough-big-bird-165202158–election.html
Nom [91],
Respect him? The Middle East and North Africa is in flames, Putin is playing him like a puppet on strings and the nut job in Iran is telling us to go f.uck ourselves. But, don’t under-estimate the iShit, brain-dead society we’ve become to prolong the agony for four more years.
Congratulations, Hoboken!
Hoboken men are some of the most promiscuous in the country, study says
http://www.nj.com/hobokennow/index.ssf/2012/10/hobokens_rich_and_eligible_men.html
I wonder if Barry has a muffer on staff?
freedy I think you mean fluffer
Methinks Bojangles will be back to a pack of Kools a day and the occasional Olde English 40 before this is all over.
Depressing watching Europa League games in Spain & Greece where there are about 12 people in the stands.
Stepping out into the Rose Garden to huff a blunt…
And we think we got the stupid candidate in the 2000 election thanks to the supreme court I think old AL could give Shrub arun for his money on stupidity
http://www.mediaite.com/tv/al-gore-blames-denvers-high-altitude-for-obamas-lackluster-debate-performance/
Eddie [96];
You want to see fireworks at the debates? Ask the empty chair some real questions. Next debate; foreign policy —
Mr. President, what exactly do you intend to do with the ‘flexibiilty’ that you will have after the upcomming election that you are unwilling to do now? How might winning or losing this election affect your intentions? Why was this relevant to Valdimir Putin?
Mr. President, why did your administration willingly participate in the scapegoating of an American citizen who was exercising his first amendment rights, while denying the true nature of what your administration knew, and what is now is clear, were premeditated attacks by Al Quaeda, timed to coincide with the anniversary of their deadliest terror attack on American citizens and American soil, which attacks resulted in the assasination of an American Ambassador and three American diplomatic employees?
Con’t [104];
Re: Putin — you’re the damn President of the United States… ACT LIKE IT! You have something to say to Putin, pick up the red phone and say it. Don’t whisper it to his errand boy.
Moose [104],
Bob Schieffer is supposed to one of the moderators, am I right? If so, what does that tell you?
103 – He has a point, Mitt Ro
mneyboto’s breathing is really just a bunch of servos making his chest cavity go through the motions. I hear focus groups thought he felt more human by feigning breathing motions, than without. I agree with your thoughts about the reprogram, the eye movements and head tilts were much less dart-y last night.If Mitt win will Michelle stay in the White House as a sister wife?
Californication had a whole eposoide about puffers
[31] Nom – Beware of Bed Bugs
For some time, I surmise that the next industry to completely tank will be furniture. Especially high end furniture. There is just so much out there that will ultimately end up on Craigslist that I think it foolish to buy new furniture, especially hard furniture.
re# 97 – We jumped up ten spots when I moved to town, and we jumped 10 more when Chifi moved out. :)
I would love to have a big estate sale to sell all of my inlaws’ furniture. First I have to figure out how to get them to leave their estate.
For some time, I surmise that the next industry to completely tank will be furniture. Especially high end furniture.
I’m amazed at the cheap garbage passed as “furniture” these days. I saw a dresser the other day that was made out of veneered cardboard!?!?!? We were in a furniture store, and the guys dropped the thing in the showroom, the leg and the back end sheered right off, cardboard, flabbergasted. This thing was not cheap, are you kidding?
I’ve got some late mid-century Drexel end tables that were beat to hell for years and still look somewhat acceptable, and I wouldn’t even consider that kind of stuff high-end. Today’s mid-grade is junk, and the low end literally is compressed trash, painted over. I seriously doubt that this stuff could withstand being moved from one room to another, let alone lasting 50 years.
I hear the NC furniture biz is dead, and most everything comes from the far east now. It’s a shame. I wish more of my comrades would realize the value of a well built piece of furniture, even if dated, over so much of this decorative crap. Are these things even intended to be used? I can’t imagine. I really think this is just McMansion staging furniture, you know, you need to fill up all 6 bedrooms, despite only 3 people living there… remember those fake TVs and Computers that would be on the furniture displays at Penny’s? Seems like they now decided to just fake the whole thing, furniture and all.
112. Our fifties raised ranch is filled with mid century Wakefield. It takes a lickin and keeps on tickin so to speak. Also have some Russell Wright Modern Mates.
The ‘new’ stuff we bought is massive Crate and Barrell. Pretry decent leather stuff. Comfy.
Grim, for furniture American brands Henkel Harris, Kindel, Baker, Karges are tops. Wonderful pieces. Expensive, but buy furniture once and be done. Kids will also inherit.
28. Bear in mind that I have a very strong paternal beating of Kennedy Democrats into my skull. Tough to overcome sometimes. Though Dad did vote for Reagan. …
You’ll appreciate this one, a gift from my mother in law:
Braun HL1 @ Moma
Ethan Allen makes a nice looking catalog, but never indicates what the stuff is made of. I emailed them and asked. Answer was “veneered MDF”. I asked “What’s MDF?”. “Medium Density Fiberboard”, aka particle board.
I consulted on the furniture industry one day, I would consult on the best way to screw a monkey if someone paid my old bill rate.
Here it is. Huge forests in Canada, trees cut down, boat leaves from Portland to China, Furniture is made. Certain Furniture that is high end, not Bobs ares still assembled in China but shipped to North Carolina, they do the high end staining and carving of unit that ten cent and hour chinese people cant do. Also high end wood often comes from latin america etc. That goes right to North Caronlina. But commercial grade forest woods on land owned by places like weyerhouse goes right to china.
Grim I agree. We actually bought hand craftedd stuff for our dining room and i’m convinced this stuff will out last me. Our bedroom set on the other hand will be lucky to make it another year. Wife bought that while I was on a business trip. that was almost grounds for divorce while I was putting it together. You get what you pay for.
Grim…couldn’t agree more. The only thing I considered buying when shopping cost more for one chair then I wanted to spend on the entire dining room set. Even in the mid-range, the drawer fronts were heat glued to the sides and contained no dovetail joints. Staples instead of dowel joints was common too. Mostly veneers and what wasn’t a veneer was cheap soft knotty pine. Ended up buying a 12 foot table with two leaves and a beautiful china cabinet for less than the cost of that one chair from a nice family in Roseland through Craigslist. Even the drawers in the china cabinet are felt lined. Set was most likely constructed in the 50s at a Northern New York furniture maker. Nothing high end, but well kept and the table has nice inlays. All of the seats are still solid. That’s what happens when glue and dowels are used instead of screws and heat glue.
Bought? Actually I got mine for free from inlaws they bought it new in 1961.
Libtard in the City says:
October 4, 2012 at 3:57 pm
Grim…couldn’t agree more. The only thing I considered buying when shopping cost more for one chair then I wanted to spend on the entire dining room set. Even in the mid-range, the drawer fronts were heat glued to the sides and contained no dovetail joints. Staples instead of dowel joints was common too. Mostly veneers and what wasn’t a veneer was cheap soft knotty pine. Ended up buying a 12 foot table with two leaves and a beautiful china cabinet for less than the cost of that one chair from a nice family in Roseland through Craigslist. Even the drawers in the china cabinet are felt lined. Set was most likely constructed in the 50s at a Northern New York furniture maker. Nothing high end, but well kept and the table has nice inlays. All of the seats are still solid. That’s what happens when glue and dowels are used instead of screws and heat glue.
“Medium Density Fiberboard”, aka particle board.
Most everything is these days, you’ll hear lots of justifications for it too. More dimensionally stable, less prone to warpage, splitting, loosening, etc. Lots of companies call it green, as you aren’t using rarer hardwoods for construction, only veneer. It really boils down to the cost of wood. It used to be better grade plywoods that were used for this kind of casing, and in many ways this was very good from a construction perspective (strength, quality, etc). However, plywood made way to chip board, which was just garbage, and then back to fiberboard (same thing, just smaller bits of wood).
Most people wouldn’t pay for the cost of an all walnut or cherry sideboard or something like that, would cost thousands of dollars. You see lots of pine furniture still, but in the grand scheme of wood, that doesn’t really rate for exposed surfaces.
Where in the hell is Dylan Ratigan when you need him??
Grim considering the cost of walnut and cherry while both are extremely durable those costs are exhorbitant for a piece of furniture today. Not to mention people’s sustainability worries, I don’t care I like quality. That is why you see things like rubber wood, which by the way sucks for a dining room table,and pine dominating furniture materials.
MDF is the devil.
Grim 2,
The report is by Bloomberg News, part owner of Merrill Lynch, past part owner of TCGI, and the privately held concern espousing all the green shoot propaganda. Really, this article is a topic to debate?
Hol-o
Hey fools,
Seriously, you needed last night’s debate to shape your thoughts?!!??
Clueless!!
Enjoy your adaraxia!
Hol-o
Statler Waldorf 115
Try Nichols & Stone from New England – excellent maple. Very good quality, slightly pricy – http://www.nicholsandstone.com/index.cfm
Hol-o
Re: Elections
I usually enjoy quality political theatre but this election is nothing close to that. It is just sad.
The Kenyan got exposed for what he is last night. An illegitimate fraud with purple lips. Devoid of an original thought in his head.
Romney, on the otherhand, is a zionist pig Mormon with a nice hair cut.
My hopes this election rest on getting Bob “Scumbag” Menendez out of office. I’m sick of looking at his hamster face. I have squirrels in the trees near my house that are better looking.
MDF is not inherently bad. You can spend many thousands on a single veneered MDF end table. MDF is less susceptible to humidity changes, and over time, remains perfectly flat. Veneered wood is not necessarily a modern “cost saving” practice, as you can buy a 100-year-old antique made of veneered wood.
That said, most furniture today does use veneer and MDF as a way to cut costs while making mediocre to terrible products.
If you want solid wood, and like Mission style furniture, Stickley (made in America, and accidentally left off my earlier list above) is a brand to consider.
If you like traditional style, and don’t like veneer, Henkel Harris is another brand to consider.
And Cape, Ethan Allen does make a solid wood dining set, no veneer:
http://www.ethanallen.com/product?productId=7384150&categoryId=8023
Re: The real estate contract numbers.
Pretty amazing if you ask me. Is the rent squeeze coming into play? Mobility vs assets. Tough call. Ill take mobile assets. My second pick would be income producting assets. Told you guys I should have moved to North Dakota.
Other furniture made in America
Councill, councill.com
Century, centuryfurniture.com
Just Sayin:
Unemployment is surging across the Northeast. In two states — New York and New Jersey — the statewide rates of unemployment are higher than they were at any point during the recession. In Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Connecticut and Pennsylvania, years’ worth of progress against unemployment has been reversed in a matter of months.
Take a look at this map, which shows the net change in statewide rates of unemployment between January and August of this year, the latest month for which data is available. The lighter the blue, the more the unemployment rate has risen; the deeper the blue, the more it has declined.
MAP:
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-03/why-is-northeastern-unemployment-soaring-.html
Booyah!
Hol O’Leg says:
October 4, 2012 at 4:44 pm
Hey fools,
Seriously, you needed last night’s debate to shape your thoughts?!!??
Clueless!!
Enjoy your adaraxia!
Hol-o
[109] expat,
I plan to buy only hard furniture secondhand. Nothing upholstered for just that reason. And I will hunt out the quality stuff. So for less than cardboard, I will have decent furniture.
Except the wife persists in bringing home crap furniture from Pottery Barn.
Stickley.
If you haven’t been to the Stickley Museum in Morris Plains, you owe yourself the trip.
[137] essex,
I love Stickley but the wife isn’t impressed. If I ever have the man cave and home office of my dreams, it will be done up in Stickley.
What are the best sites and also sites specializing in looking through and also brochures?
This is a keeper! Good info! You efforts putting this blog together was worth the while. I appreciate you sharing this with the rest of us grim.