Welcome Back

From CNN:

Home prices skyrocketed last year. Two regions saw the biggest increases

Home prices rose 18.8% in 2021, according to the S&P CoreLogic Case-Shiller US National Home Price Index, the biggest increase in 34 years of data and substantially ahead of 2020’s 10.4% gain.

All regions saw price gains last year, but increases were strongest in the South and the Southeast, each of which were up over 25%.

Phoenix, Tampa and Miami reported the highest annual gains among the 20 cities in the index in December. Phoenix led the way for the 31st consecutive month with prices 32.5% higher than the year before. It was followed by Tampa with a 29.4% increase, and Miami, with a 27.3% increase.

“We continue to see very strong growth at the city level,” said Craig J. Lazzara, managing director at S&P Dow Jones Indices. “All 20 cities saw price increases in 2021, and prices in all 20 are at their all-time highs.”

This entry was posted in Economics, Housing Bubble, Housing Recovery, National Real Estate. Bookmark the permalink.

218 Responses to Welcome Back

  1. Fast Eddie says:

    I’m not sure if Zillow and Trulia are the best devices to measure inventory but I do a quick sweep of towns around North Jersey a few times per week and there seems to be very little listed. Draw your own conclusion as to the reason why. I can only vaguely speculate.

  2. Phoenix haha edition says:

    Trump says Putin’s invasion plan was ‘GENIUS’, praises ‘savvy’ move to send the ‘strongest peacekeeping force in the world’ to take over Ukrainian breakaway regions and says US should do the same at the southern border

  3. Juice Box says:

    China does not give two craps about Ukraine. Oil prices are not good for China either, they import over 60% of their oil needs approx 8.4 million barrels a day mostly from Russia, Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Angola.

    BTW – Putin when he was in China for the Olympics projected the invasion to Xi Jinping, supposedly he asked for China to settle oil trades at a fixed rate from Rubles to Yuan instead of the need to covert to dollars. Putin has been after our Dollar Hegemony for nearly a decade now, ever since 2014 for annexing Crimea when we imposed sanctions. He wants to end the “dollar dictatorship” in the oil market.

    He got a big NO on oil this time but what he did get was a 30 year gas deal with China to be settled in Euros.

  4. Juice Box says:

    BTW we should pull our support from the EU. They should be paying for and defending themselves now. It’s been 70 years already. When we impose sanctions the EU members all complain that we are affecting their exports. Last time in 2014 we sanctioned goods and supplies being sent only to Crimea, and the European companies from Lufthansa to Siemens all complained we were hurting their business.

    Same type of sanctions now targeted to the regions invaded only, not Russia trade itself with the EU. Trump sanctioned the Nord Stream pipeline and Biden lifted it as a favor to Germany. Look were we are again, they condemn Russia but do nothing about it, don’t want to affect their trade with the enemy.

  5. grim says:

    We need to spend the next 50 years turning our side of the globe into the greatest economic powerhouse the world has ever known, the entirety the the Americas, North and South, from top to bottom.

  6. Juice Box says:

    Well if Taiwan goes then so does the semiconductor business, it’s 92% of the world’s most advanced semiconductor manufacturing capacity.

    Would make sense to help out a central American country in need to an upgrade. We could remake violent Guatemala it into an semiconductor power house.

  7. Bystander says:

    Nord Stream 2 has been 25 years in making. It is basically built. The US is not stopping, not Trump, not Biden..we threaten sanctions, add sanctions, remove sanctions. Same old dance…

  8. The Great Pumpkin says:

    10,000 isn’t a magic number

    The research, which was recently published in JAMA Network Open, followed 2,110 middle-aged adults who had worn a step-counting fitness device in 2005 or 2006 for the next eleven years. Were those who managed 10,000 steps a day less likely to meet an untimely end, or did some other number seem matter more?
    The researchers determined, as expected, that getting more exercise is good. Six thousand steps beats 5,000 and 5,000 beats 4,000 for health outcomes. But they didn’t find anything particularly special about 10,000 steps (except going much beyond it brought no health additional benefits at all). Instead 7,000 steps seemed to be an important inflection point. Taking that many steps reduced participants’ chance of premature death by 50 to 70 percent.

    “7,000 steps a day may be a great goal for many individuals who are currently not achieving this amount,” study leader Amanda Paluch commented.

  9. Hold my beer says:

    Pumps

    I believe the 10,000 steps concept was created by a Japanese marketing company as an ad campaign for pedometers or something like that. Don’t think there was any valid data to support the 10k steps.

  10. Ex says:

    Calorie restriction in laboratory animals enhances their lifespan, prior research shows, but does the same hold true for humans? Researchers at Yale University concluded the first controlled study of the dietary regimen in healthy humans to determine if it is indeed as beneficial for people. Results confirm that calorie restriction in humans leads to “remarkable” long-term health benefits. They also identified a protein connected to calorie restriction that may ensure a longer, healthier life.

    The clinical trial, entitled the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE), first established the baseline calorie intake of more than 200 participants. Then, some of the subjects were instructed to reduce their total calorie consumption by 14 percent. The other subjects continued their baseline calorie intake. The researchers analyzed the health effects of calorie restriction over two years.

    Led by Vishea Deep Dixit, a professor of pathology at Yale, study authors also wanted to find out how calorie restriction confers better health. They wanted to determine how the practice may be linked to the immune system and inflammation. “We know that chronic low-grade inflammation in humans is a major trigger of many chronic diseases, and therefore has a negative effect on life span,” Dixit says in a statement. “Here we’re asking: What is calorie restriction doing to the immune and metabolic systems and if it is indeed beneficial, how can we harness the endogenous pathways that mimic its effects in humans?”

    Diving into the impact of calorie restriction

    The team analyzed the thymus gland, which is above the heart and produces T cells, white blood cells important to immune function. The thymus ages faster than the rest of the body, interfering with the gland’s immune function. They found that calorie restriction rejuvenated the thymus gland, increasing T-cell production, to levels greater than at the start of the study.

    On closer examination of the thymus they determined that it was not the T cells that had the beneficial effect. It was in adipose (fat) tissue in the gland. They studied the genes which have a role in fat production. Calorie restriction changed how the genes were expressed in the adipose tissue. “We found remarkable changes in the gene expression of adipose tissue after one year that were sustained through year two,” says Dixit. “This revealed some genes that were implicated in extending life in animals but also unique calorie restriction-mimicking targets that may improve metabolic and anti-inflammatory response in humans.”

    ‘Simple reduction in calories has remarkable effect’

    Researchers also honed in on the action of one gene with a site described as PLA2G7, which is a protein produced by immune cells called macrophages. It was inhibited by calorie restriction.

    “These findings demonstrate that PLA2G7 is one of the drivers of the effects of calorie restriction,” explains Dixit. “Identifying these drivers helps us understand how the metabolic system and the immune system talk to each other, which can point us to potential targets that can improve immune function, reduce inflammation, and potentially even enhance healthy life span.”

    Dixit continues, “There’s so much debate about what type of diet is better – how carbohydrates, fat, increased protein, intermittent fasting, etc. – and I think time will tell which of these are important. The CALERIE study shows a simple reduction in calories, and no specific diet, has a remarkable effect in terms of biology and shifting the immune-metabolic state in a direction that’s protective of human health. So, from a public health standpoint, I think it gives hope.”

    The study is published in the journal Science.

    Faith A. Coleman MD
    Dr. Coleman is a graduate of the University of New Mexico School of Medicine and holds a BA in journalism from UNM. She completed her family practice residency at Wm. Beaumont Hospital, Troy and Royal Oak, MI, consistently ranked among the United States Top 100 Hospitals by US News and World Report. Dr. Coleman writes on health, medicine, family, and parenting for online information services and educational materials for health care providers.

  11. BidenIsTheGOAT says:

    Our border is wide open but Biden tells us we should care about Ukraine. Sure whatever, part of the lefts incoherent foreign policy.

    Let’s double triple the price of gas while we’re at it and deliver an economic kill shot. As long as the lobbyists are taken care of Biden is taking care of his most important constituents.

  12. Ex says:

    RIP Mark Lanegan

    The sun is gone, and that’s all I really know
    No angels in the air
    With hearts as good as gold
    The closer you stand to the gates
    The more the gates are closed

  13. Ex says:

    9:46 Just another myopic talking point from Faux news.

    Thanks!! Big Ups there.

  14. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Nice share, ex.

    I already practice intermittent fasting. Been doing it for 3 years. Every once in a while, i throw in a day of no eating. Only water.

  15. BidenIsTheGOAT says:

    I haven’t watched tv in weeks. But I know propaganda when I see it. And it’s everywhere now. My guess is that Fox News it’s also beating the war drum.

    Too bad about the left and their severe tds. They really lost themselves. Since trump is America first, by dogma the tds left has to be interventionists. Old corrupt Joe is firing up the drones as we speak. Quota Kamala is putting on her cheerleading uniform.

  16. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Trumpers still waiving that Russian flag. Lol

  17. BidenIsTheGOAT says:

    Not really. They are an adversary but not an existential one. The hyperventilating about Russia from the left over the post few years has been completely unhinged.

    But they serve as a bogeyman for to disguise whatever intrigue you’d like to conduct. Say for example, a fake dossier to frame up a presidential candidate like Hillary and the deep state did.

    Or what about a diversion from China who the entrenched powers here are in bed with.

  18. BidenIsTheGOAT says:

    China triggers a global pandemic , costs us 20 trillion, contributes to 600k deaths, plus multi generation repercussions and Biden tells us we need to told Russia accountable. is that a sick joke.

  19. crushednjmillenial says:

    Bill Gates said that approximately 80%+ of Africa’s population, as sampled by researchers, have tested positive for antibodies suggesting that they were either vaccinated or had been exposed to Omicron.

  20. Phoenix says:

    “Quota Kamala is putting on her cheerleading uniform.” Now that will make me throw up this morning. Late night, but at least I will vomit before breakfast.

    Trump- “Southern Border?” Is he suggesting we attack Mexico? Why build the wall then?

    Now here is a great statistic: “More Americans are now killed by GUNS than car crashes as shootings become country’s leading cause of death by trauma for the first time” I think I might have mentioned in an earlier post that this might happen.

    “Texas GOP wannabe railroad commissioner, 37, divides locals after posting TikTok video of herself TOPLESS while straddling oil pumping jack”
    Now this I never predicted. Too bad I didn’t get the text.

    “Biden sits in silence and picks his teeth after being asked if he underestimated Putin”

    Now that’s funny. Not as funny as Bush reading My Pet Goat, but it’s up there.

    Boomer, I really hope you didn’t start WW3.

    Time for coffee.

  21. chicagofinance says:

    Saw that on a DM website. Gahan was a big fan.

    Ex says:
    February 23, 2022 at 9:48 am
    RIP Mark Lanegan

    The sun is gone, and that’s all I really know
    No angels in the air
    With hearts as good as gold
    The closer you stand to the gates
    The more the gates are closed

  22. chicagofinance says:

    Are there any research subjects that post on these threads of the human trial for oxygen restriction to the brain?

    Ex says:
    February 23, 2022 at 9:23 am
    Calorie restriction in laboratory animals enhances their lifespan, prior research shows, but does the same hold true for humans?

  23. phoenix says:

    Comment from DM. Funny, actually:

    Scouzio, Liverpool, United Kingdom, 34 minutes ago

    I. An only imagine how much money NJ taxpayers are paying to fund utter life-time – and life-style – retirement of this cop .. now living in Florida ..

  24. chicagofinance says:

    Lesson of the day regarding Home Depot. Tremendous company. Fabulously successful. Huge tested Amazon-proof retail moat. Right in the middle of serendipity of 2020-2022 strategic position and execution. That said, it was hard to understand it trading 30x+ earnings selling lumber and toilets. Helps you appreciate why in this market Cathie is getting wood impaled in her snatch with such ruthless force……

  25. Phoenix says:

    Cathie is getting wood impaled in her snatch with such ruthless force……

    I can see that now. I’ll book that for you. Removal of foreign body with repair of vaginal laceration, irrigation and debridement.

    In other news, looks like the “Rubber Duck” is about to ride again. Where is Kris Kristoffersen?

    America’s People’s Convoy gets ready to roll! One thousand trucks begin 11-day drive from California to D.C. TODAY to protest COVID mask and vaccine mandates

  26. phoenix says:

    This is who owns your government- some democracy you have there America:

    “Pete Buttigieg’s political action committees took money from 23 companies who then got jobs from South Bend’s Board of Public Works on which he was seated, documents obtained by DailyMail.com reveal. On two occasions, the former presidential candidate received donations the same day the companies were awarded contracts. Other city contractors gifted the mayor cigars, alcohol and golf trips worth hundreds of dollars. The companies, their executives and spouses donated a total $253,750 to Buttigieg’s campaigns, and received a combined $33,280,426 in city contracts between 2011 and 2019.”

  27. Libturd says:

    I love when non-partisan issues are hijacked by wonks from both sides.

  28. Phoenix says:

    I hope they set aside some extra cash for that convoy, as thanks to Putin you can expect an increase in the price of diesel fuel.

  29. chicagofinance says:

    eech…. makes me wistful about our innocent days with necrophilia-laden testicles……

    Phoenix says:
    February 23, 2022 at 11:14 am
    I can see that now. I’ll book that for you. Removal of foreign body with repair of vaginal laceration, irrigation and debridement.

  30. Phoenix says:

    Just waiting for the Ruskies to catch an American soldier in the Ukraine.

    Biden will be dumb enough to send some there.

    When the Ruskies string him up the chain reaction to WW3 will begin.

    Biden, have another bowl of Grape Nuts and keep our boys at home.

  31. chicagofinance says:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3VN54M1OXA

    Phoenix says:
    February 23, 2022 at 11:14 am
    In other news, looks like the “Rubber Duck” is about to ride again.

  32. Phoenix says:

    Chi,
    I was just trying to make your statement a little bit more professional sounding, and with a trend towards the healing aspect vs the actual occurrence.

    A little less violent, perhaps.

    Now OTOH, if I was in the ER that day, I could put in quotes what you said…

  33. Phoenix says:

    CHi

    Haha.

    “We laid a strip for the Jersey Shore prepared to cross the line. I could see the bridge was lined with bears but I didn’t have a god darned dime.”

    What’s it today? Probably over 50 bucks. Same exact bridge, but now needing repairs. Whose pockets did all that money go into?

    CB looked like an old Lafayette.

  34. chicagofinance says:

    My current pending compensation run includes renewal fees for registration in most of the states. They run $35-$70 with a notable outlier……. NJ $135

  35. BRT says:

    Lib, just downed a veggie hoagie from Antonio’s. The best

  36. Phoenix says:

    Well, since they are heading from LA to DC, this works as well.

    https://youtu.be/jAG4XXCOj48?t=15

  37. Fast Eddie says:

    I’ve been in meetings since 7:00 AM and just took a break. I often go to numerous news sights to catch the latest. I just went to MSNBC and of all the dumpster fires going on domestically and abroad, this was the main highlight:

    “It’s time to admit the obvious: Donald Trump sure is acting like a Russian agent.”

    The left is so amusingly pathetic, I feel guilty laughing at them. Good luck finding which bathroom to use today.

  38. Phoenix says:

    LW and Chi,
    In my remake of Smokey and the Bandit, which one of you want’s to play Big Enos Burdette?

  39. Phoenix says:

    Eddie,
    You should read the DM, a “right” leaning paper. It’s got something for you as well. In fact, it was the second post on here today.

    You wanna invade Mexico?

  40. Phoenix says:

    Memory is better than I thought. Except I didn’t think these are that expensive.

    https://www.ebay.com/itm/224532878476

  41. 3b says:

    The west should have never said Ukraine could be able to join NATO one day. This would have been a time to say nothing. Even the President of Ukraine says joining NATO is a pipe dream. The NATO countries have no appetite to defend Ukraine, yet they told them they could be able to join someday. And now an impoverished country is going to suffer more misery. That’s the the US and the west , take a dump and walk away and let someone else clean it up. I don’t know if ultimately that would have stopped Putin , but what was the point of promising something to a country that was never going to happen. It certainly did not help the situation.

  42. Fast Eddie says:

    I see this term mentioned constantly by the utopian left occupying my country:

    “…a threat to American democracy.”

    I’d like to know what is the left’s definition of American democracy?

  43. Libturd says:

    BRT,

    Down in Philly today and tomorrow for the D. I’m going carb free these days, so no sandwich for me. Chowing down on some broccoli and chili. Told them to hold the cornbread.

    Have not had an empty carb for about nine days now. I can already see some definition coming back to my face. Carbs are so bad for me. It’s either all or nothing for me. I am a glycemic idiot.

  44. leftwing says:

    “…approximately 80%+ of Africa’s population…have tested positive for antibodies suggesting that they were either vaccinated or had been exposed to Omicron…”

    Love the passive, inconclusive statement to avoid the obvious…so which is it guys, vaccinations or natural immunity (which everyone in the US knows doesn’t exist /s)….how many needles went into how many arms, otherwise the rest is natural immunity, no? Unless Africa has a magical vaccination fairy that flits around the population all night long….

  45. leftwing says:

    Vols doing not normal divergences…wouldn’t be surprised to see a solid rally, AOTBE.

  46. BRT says:

    Were you in reading terminal market today?

  47. crushednjmillenial says:

    1:03 . . .

    Yes. Overwhelmingly, that must be natural immunity. The researchers believed before the study that it would have been 10% of the population had the antigens for immunity, but the experiments showed 80%+.

    Furthermore, Africa got there without any notable hospital surge (at least, according to what I saw in the news). So, the Australia method of dealing with Covid looks worse-and-worse.

    https://twitter.com/SueC00K/status/1495330679562854403

  48. joyce says:

    What’s your definition of classical America?

    Fast Eddie says:
    February 23, 2022 at 12:23 pm
    I see this term mentioned constantly by the utopian left occupying my country:

    “…a threat to American democracy.”

    I’d like to know what is the left’s definition of American democracy?

  49. crushednjmillenial says:

    Will be interesting to see how the Freedom Convoy going to DC will turn out.

    I’d guess that the DC-area authorities will either intercept the truckers on the way in and divert them somehow or be ready to tow trucks immediately for stopping in a lane of traffic. Alternatively, I suppose the DC-area might tell everyone to stay home as much as possible while towing operations are ongoing.

    DC is a much bigger metro area than Ottawa and with worse traffic. I can’t even imagine how wide and bad the gridlock would be even with a modest amount of roads closed off.

  50. leftwing says:

    Don’t know, Phoenix, but from that video I’ll take that young Sally Fields ass planted squarely in my face…

  51. Phoenix haha edition says:

    Lw,
    Hahaha. I agree.
    I knew someone would comment on that part of the video.

    You have good taste….

  52. No One says:

    Libturd,
    Carbs are like crack for me. People tell me to just be moderate but anything but green vegetables send me looking for more. I need to do what you’re doing, but it’s difficult to keep up.

  53. Phoenix says:

    In case you need to travel on these days, a bit of warning.

    https://bit.ly/3vgpkIj

  54. No One says:

    Phoenix,
    Cathie accidentally sat down on that splintered log. She swears it was an accident.

  55. leftwing says:

    “You have good taste….”

    Marisa Tomei in My Cousin Vinny……

  56. BRT says:

    Occasionally, I’ll make a pasta using Guanciale (pork jowls). The richness of the fat from that makes me not even want to eat dinner.

  57. BRT says:

    sh1t, I didn’t even see that Mark Lanegan died. I saw him live a bunch of times with Queens of the Stone Age. Amazing vocalist and incredibly underrated. Even the past month, I taught myself how to play “Nearly Lost You” on the guitar. Was shifting between that an a bunch of Pearl Jam songs.

  58. Libturd says:

    Nope. Closest I got to the market was Yards Brewery for lunch. They use Sunday POS for their table checks. Awesome technology. If they were public, I’d be all over them. Square will probably buy them out. Just great technology and huge savings to restaurants, improves security, reduces employee count, improves table turnover. Thinking about applying there as this tech is a no brainer.

  59. Libturd says:

    Mask and vaccine mandates? Where? I’m going tomorotest the lack of enforcement.

  60. Libturd says:

    And if anyone is interested. A really nice multi-family just came on the Market in Montclair. ChiFi has first dibs.

    https://tinyurl.com/Yourownpersonalmoneypit

  61. grim says:

    Sunday isn’t a full POS, they are a bolt on for end-of-service payments. It’s kind of odd, since it settles through Stripe, and not your existing/current merchant accounts. For people with high card volume, you could actually lose discounts if you are spreading your charges over two different providers like this (some customers won’t use it, and will insist you take their card).

    It’s more like a digital bolt on for shitty proprietary POS systems, as opposed to competing with Square – which already has all of this.

  62. Libturd says:

    You might be correct, but Square isn’t selling a lot of it. The convenience factor for the customer not having to wait to pay the check or get a receipt or hand in a credit card to pay and the ease to split a bill really is great for all. Never saw a Square establishment do any of this yet.

    On paper, it doesn’t sound like much. In reality, it significantly improves the restaurant experience.

    If they expand to be a complete POS so you order off your phone and it sends your order to the bar and kitchen and ties into the inventory, it will really change dining forever.

  63. grim says:

    Yeah we have Square setup to do QR codes and table-side ordering and payment, tickets get printed at the bar – the equivalent of kitchen tickets. We can even have tickets display on an iPad if we didn’t want paper.

    My only criticism is, tabs don’t really work like tabs where your card is authorized up front. So if someone opens a tab, we take the card. For the table side, when you use it you put your card in up front, each order/round is charged as a separate transaction. The rationale is to prevent losses. In a model where folks are DIY paying, you don’t really know who paid and who didn’t when they get up to leave. If they pay every transaction, up-front, you don’t ever have to worry about getting stiffed.

  64. SmallGovConservative says:

    Just got a bill for $33 from NJ Div of Taxation for underpayment of taxes — for the 2018 tax year! Is the state so desperate for funds that they’re revisiting everyone’s old tax returns, or is Phil just using the Div of Tax to harass anyone that voted for his opponent?

  65. Phoenix says:

    SGC
    I get these every year. Don’t own a business, no write offs except my kid, W2’s.

    NJ is a toxic barely malfunctioning state.

    I want out so bad.

  66. The Great Pumpkin says:

    “My neighbor sold his house 18 mo ago for $642k because he promised me the market was going to crash.

    He had grand plan to re buy the market at 50% discount.

    He rented a house for $3500 a mo.

    His house is now $1.1mm

    Market timing is tough”

    https://twitter.com/shawngorham/status/1496480922006339588?s=21

  67. Phoenix says:

    Let’s Go Brandon:

    American F-35s circle above Europe and attack helicopters and armored combat vehicles move to the Baltic States: US repositions its firepower to join the 4,700 paratroopers deployed in Eastern Europe with Ukraine on the brink of a full-scale invasion

    https://youtu.be/LrjHz5hrupA

  68. Phoenix says:

    ChiFi

    One good thing, and one good thing only.

    At least there is no holographic Phil Murphy.

  69. grim says:

    Stupid fucking rest stop names, NJ should be ashamed.

  70. The Great Pumpkin says:

    “Elon will go down as the greatest heist in American history. Unloading 10 billion in TSLA while holding it up with call options on the cheap.

    All based off an Elon Musk twitter poll. 🙃”

    https://twitter.com/insomnia4quads/status/1496589611119874054?s=21

  71. chicagofinance says:

    NASDAQ composite skirting bear market….. we are also at Stu’s identified boiing area….. this has been a lopsided sell off… however it almost looks as if the holdouts are being taken out back and shot one by one…. we shall see…..

    leftwing says:
    February 23, 2022 at 1:05 pm
    Vols doing not normal divergences…wouldn’t be surprised to see a solid rally, AOTBE.

  72. Nomad says:

    Chi,

    In a rise rate environment, why would anyone buy a mutual bond fund? Even ultra short duration will drop.

  73. Phoenix says:

    Eddie,
    Are you on Truth Social yet or stuck on the waitlist?

  74. Hold my beer says:

    Chicago

    Does the Bon Jovi rest stop have slippery when wet signs in the bathrooms?

  75. Phoenix says:

    Does the Bon Jovi rest stop have slippery when wet signs in the bathrooms?

    Only when it’s open for cottaging there.

  76. Libturd says:

    Talking about the woodshed, the last builder stock I own BLD, dropped over 10% today after reporting great earnings and guidance. After HD, I suppose anything and everything building related was going to have to drop in sympathy. I hate when Inam right and still wrong. On the bright side, I had already sold 80% of my position off when I started selling off all of my high P/E positions at the end of last year.

    Seems like my prediction of interest rate increases, combined with the banks having to make those loans As the fed asset purchasing is halted is about to kill housing. When I mentioned this to my realtor, she did not disagree.

    So who wants to guess what my multi will sell for. One bottle of Grim’s finest to the person who comes closest after inspection items are factored in.

    I’ll start the guessing at $855k with no contingencies.

  77. 3b says:

    Lib: Good luck with the sale of your multi! Sounds like your escape to Costa Rica plan is starting to take shape.

  78. Libturd says:

    SGC,

    We got one too from NY for last year. Ours was like $250. Forgot Gator’s employer put her on furlough at start of Covid.

  79. Libturd says:

    3B,

    Headed down with fam in April to look around again.

  80. chicagofinance says:

    $0
    You ain’t selling….

    Libturd says:
    February 23, 2022 at 6:13 pm
    So who wants to guess what my multi will sell for. One bottle of Grim’s finest to the person who comes closest after inspection items are factored in.

  81. chicagofinance says:

    Post of February 2022 to date……

    Hold my beer says:
    February 23, 2022 at 5:24 pm
    Chicago

    Does the Bon Jovi rest stop have slippery when wet signs in the bathrooms?

  82. chicagofinance says:

    You are just pissed there is no Bobby Vinton rest stop.

    grim says:
    February 23, 2022 at 4:38 pm
    Stupid fucking rest stop names, NJ should be ashamed.

  83. chicagofinance says:

    Not that I would, but 2 things: (1) you don’t know for a fact what the future holds; (2) “rising rates” depends on what you mean….. if you mean government securities, then it COULD be a sure loser, but with spread product, the price movement in crappy credits is not necessarily dominated by the underlying.

    In theory, a savvy asset manager should be able to find opportunities in any conditions.

    Nomad says:
    February 23, 2022 at 5:06 pm
    Chi, In a rise rate environment, why would anyone buy a mutual bond fund? Even ultra short duration will drop.

  84. Juice Box says:

    Chi – please sell advice with your disclaimer……

    Don’t be a hunger there is plenty and the herd heading your way now….

  85. Juice Box says:

    BTW – Pumps

    major dip….

    Don’t be shocked it was projected…..

  86. Boomer Remover says:

    PSA: If you aren’t using Apple wallet to checkout at physical stores, you are really missing out.

    I lost my wallet some weeks ago and decided not to repurchase a traditional wallet. I have a magsafe wallet on the back of my phone which holds ID and a physical card of last resort. The rest, I just double tap, select a card from my wallet, touch a terminal and it’s done. The actual transaction occurs much faster too.

  87. Boomer Remover says:

    I get the first part, but would love a translation for the latter:
    “Don’t be a hunger there is plenty and the herd heading your way now….”

  88. Ex says:

    https://youtu.be/shvZRO0CAB8

    One of the all time greats. Lanegan was.

  89. A Home Buyer says:

    War has begun in Ukraine, from what I’ve read.

  90. Boomer Remover says:

    I have a wedding to attend in Krakow, Poland early August. Hoping this doesn’t pick up steam. I feel for the folks in the Ukraine.

    His comments about nuclear armaments were chilling.

  91. Phoenix says:

    America has overplayed its hand.

    It’s time. Game on.

    Women in my town posting on Facebook, whining about having to travel in order to get to a Whole Foods. Cause ShopRite isn’t good enough for them.

    Some people just don’t know how good they have it.

    I told you this is coming. And war, once you start it, takes on a life of it’s own.

    America hasn’t had a taste of it on it’s own land. 9-11 was not a real war.

    Remember, all of God’s children have nukes now. Just think, you could be 10 minutes away from death right at this moment. Don’t worry, they won’t warn you.

    I would think your only warning would be if you were to notice that your GPS system would become inaccurate- they may disable/modify it in order to foil the trajectory of an incoming missile.

    Don’t think it would work too well.

    Happy Thursday!!!!

  92. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Now everyone crying about america’s military intervention and power all these years will see what it provided for the world…stability.

  93. Fast Eddie says:

    This is all really sad. Who’s to say Vlad doesn’t decide to invade the Baltic states as well? And then Poland? And what happens if China just declares Taiwan as it’s own? Every possible thing that can cripple Russia’s economy needs to be done.

  94. Fast Eddie says:

    And does anyone have any confidence in this administration? Fucking Carmella Harris can’t even fake it well. At least sound like you know what you’re talking about. Maybe we can send some non binary muppets over there to do some diplomatic negotiations. Do they have gender neutral bathrooms over there? Maybe we can send Hunter O’Biden over there since he has more success in the Ukraine than his father.

  95. grim says:

    Well, attacking Poland is attacking NATO – so that’s WW3.

  96. Fast Eddie says:

    Yes, I know grim, that’s pretty much what I was saying about moving on Poland. It’s a scary thought but the madman over there just might decide to do it. I would say if he invades the Baltics, that’s WWIII.

  97. Nomad says:

    The 55 second spot cuts right to the chase. The one immediately before it gives more background and includes the 55 second spot at the end.

    Her background includes CIA, so this is her wheelhouse.

    https://twitter.com/repslotkin

    Grim, yes, America needs to retool its manufacturing and industrial might. We are still very good at it but have given away too much over the years. The Intel Fab is a great start. Antibiotics should be made here too as well as a whole bunch of other things.

    Control your destiny or someone else will – Jack Welch.

    Thx Chi.

    Good luck with house sale Lib. While in PHL, stay away from the 4th st. deli.

    “The U.S. can no longer make penicillin. The last U.S. penicillin fermentation plant closed in 2004.”

    https://www.uscc.gov/sites/default/files/RosemaryGibsonTestimonyUSCCJuly152019.pdf

  98. Grim says:

    Clearly Putin is going to be emboldened by the lack of response., so he may push deeper into Ukraine.

    Bigger issue right now is the looming humanitarian crisis. 44 million people in Ukraine, if even 1% flee west, that’s nearly half a million people streaming into Slovakia, Hungary, and Poland.

  99. Juice Box says:

    re: War has begun in Ukraine

    Yup air battles between Russian and Ukrainian Migs. Helicopters surround Kyiv and are being shot down, missiles being launched into the capital. Allot of people trying to get out roads are clogged.

    This twitter feed has allot of the live action

    https://twitter.com/ThomasVLinge/status/1496821171119079430

  100. BRT says:

    Long term, I would hope these governments will learn at least 2 things.

    1. Dismantling your energy infrastructure for a green pipe dream is stupid and makes you reliant on regimes like Saudi Arabia and Russia.

    2. Free trade with authoritarian nations breeds reliance and more problems than it’s worth. They’ve gotten to the point where they cannot put economic sanctions on them. Decoupling is their best option.

  101. Juice Box says:

    lack of response?

    There are allot of dead soldiers already even a battle at Lutsk airport close to the Polish border. The Russians are trying to take all the airbases. Massive amount of helicopters and Russian paratroopers troops sent in.

    Things can escalate. If any of those Migs cross the border they will be shot down.

  102. grim says:

    Does Ukraine have cruise missiles? Will be interesting if they launch on Russia targets.

  103. grim says:

    Is Twitter down?

  104. Juice Box says:

    Some midrange missiles and a small amount of home grown cruise missiles, anti-ship apparently.

    Going to get real messy now. Ukrainian forces are supposedly launching a counter-attack to recapture Antonov International Airport close to Kyiv city. Their main airport was captured by hundreds of Russian special forces flown in on helicopters.

    Seems the helicopters flew low enough to avoid most air defenses although some were shot down.

  105. grim says:

    International community needs to retaliate by banning all flights in and out of Russia.

  106. 3b says:

    Fast: Putin will have a hard enough time occupying Ukraine although he says that’s not his intention. Perhaps he installs a puppet government. There is talk about continuing to arm Ukraine, how do we get those weapons in now, through Poland? The Russians won’t stand for that, and things could get out of control quickly. I think Putin overplayed his hand he probably would have gotten away with taking the entire Donbas region of Ukraine, but taking the whole country will be a disaster for him. Russians don’t want their young men coming home in body bags.

  107. Juice Box says:

    re: retaliate

    Energy trade is the only thing Russia has going for them. We import 595,000 barrels of oil per day from Russia. Europe is extremely reliant on Russian oil and gas, as is China. You can be the next round of further sanctions mean the price of everything is about to go sky high.

    Recession in unavoidable now, markets are going to be way down today DOW futures looks like a blood bath already.

  108. 3b says:

    Hit Putin hard across the board in every sphere. Make it hurt.

  109. Grim says:

    Ukraine is too big to control without taking over the government. There is no way Russia is going to be able to stop the flow of arms across the border, without taking over all the borders.

  110. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Oil almost a 100 a barrel.

  111. The Great Pumpkin says:

    So happy I pulled the 401k at the start of the year. Damn, I got lucky.

  112. grim says:

    Zelensky offering to arm civilians to fight? Does Kiev fall before noon?

  113. Phoenix says:

    America needs to retool its manufacturing and industrial might.

    F You, Booomer.

    America can’t even build a table anymore cause no one here can manufacture a bolt or a nut.

    How you going to make a lockwasher WORKING FROM HOME?

    Mommies crying over Whole Foods.

    Well, you greedy old far ts kept pushing. Now deal with it.

  114. Old realtor says:

    Occupation is an invitation to never ending guerrilla warfare.

  115. 3b says:

    Grim: True, how do you occupy a country of 44 million people? In hindsight Ukraine never should have given up its nuclear arsenal back in the mid 90s. So much for security guarantees from the west.

  116. Phoenix says:

    3b

    America lies. It lies to itself as well. It’s what we do.

    This is not a trustworthy country. It’s a country of “Gig Workers.”

    Here today, gone tomorrow, make a buck and split.

    I know how it feels to be full of hate and anger. If that’s how Putin feels I’d be real careful with that guy.
    Sanctioning will just piss him off more.

  117. Juice Box says:

    re: “Does Kiev fall before noon?”

    Not yet, it’s mostly special forces, missiles and aircraft.

    The west sent them allot of anti- tank and anti-aircraft weapons, so far they have shot down about seven Russian aircraft and four helicopters and blew up ten armored vehicles. Russia has not even begun rolling in the tanks and short range artillery units yet. There could be thousands of dead soldiers by next week on both sides once a big ground war begins.

  118. Grim says:

    Belarus inviting additional arms placement from Russia this morning pretty much opens the door for additional arms shipments into Ukraine, if they don’t fall first.

  119. phoenix says:

    If I were China, I would buy all of the Russian oil and gas I could get my hands on.

    And next, I would start with messing with American currency so the dollar is no longer the benchmark.

    Then my neighbors can be happy, cause Aldi will cost as much as Whole Foods.

  120. Phoenix says:

    The west sent them allot of anti- tank and anti-aircraft weapons,

    Never minding their own business.

    The west put in their puppet president into Ukraine, as this way they could control NORD 1.

    That was the reason for NORD 2, to avoid the control that America and the west had on fuel imports.

    Keep meddling.

  121. Grim says:

    China in a very sticky situation this morning.

  122. phoenix says:

    With a name like Mary she had to be innocent.
    Haha.

    Mary Wickersham had a fairly lavish lifestyle, federal prosecutors said. The 76-year-old South Florida woman allegedly paid for a housekeeper to tidy her home, often dined out and spent thousands on home goods, shopping sprees and online dating sites.

    The issue was that the money used to pay for those things didn’t belong to Wickersham, but to the Miss Florida Scholarship Program she was in charge of leading, according to prosecutors.

    For years, Wickersham was the executive director of the nonprofit organization, an annual beauty pageant that awards financial aid to participants and winners to advance their education. But from December 2011 to June 2018, she stole about $100,000 from the organization, according to prosecutors.

  123. phoenix says:

    China will support Russia only for the things that are to their advantage.

    You wanna eff with them too Aricept man?

    This is what happens when you create regime change around the world, eventually someone realizes they are your next target, or they just get tired of your meddling.

  124. Phoenix haha edition says:

    Biden better sniff lots of hair this morning. He has lots of choices to make.

    Hahaha

    Thank’s Boomer!

  125. Phoenix haha edition says:

    Hey Biden,

    With gas going up, we need a stimulus package, STAT!

    hahahaha.

  126. Boomer Remover says:

    We had to have ticked a few seconds closer to midnight on the doomsday clock last night.

  127. 3b says:

    Phoenix: A lot of truth in what you say. Not that it matters now but I still think we could have had a better relationship with Putin and Russia. 2 big bad guys Russia and China we should have done business with Russia and stop with our democracy nonsense.
    Too late now of course we have China and Russia against us, while we fight over here about use of pronouns and self identification. We truly are a self absorbed country.

  128. Juice Box says:

    It will be sunset in 1 hour in Kyiv. There is apparently a big battle occurring at the airport, supposedly hundreds of Russian special forces landed there. Kyiv has sent allot of troop transports that way, the Russian special forces don’t have heavy armor near. I don’t see how they can last.

  129. Grim says:

    Ukraine a big part of Eastern Europe dev outsourcing.

    Going to be interesting.

  130. phoenix says:

    Trust America, local style:

    The attorney for Martell Williams, 15, said Waukegan police interrogated the teen for hours without his parents or a lawyer present and tried to bribe Williams with food from McDonald’s in exchange for a confession; Williams caved after police promised he could go home once he confessed.

    Williams said during a Monday news conference that he didn’t know why his principal pulled him from class at Waukegan High School on Friday morning, or why the two police officers waiting for him in the office immediately announced that he was under arrest.

    “When they came and got me from school, I was very confused by the situation,” Williams said. “I was scared. I just wanted to go home.”

    Kevin O’Connor, an attorney representing Williams, said that when officers coerced the teen’s wrongful confession, they had not yet told him that he was suspected in a shooting.

    “They tried to bribe him with McDonald’s and saying, ‘Look, just tell us you were there … and we’ll get you home in 10 minutes,’ ” O’Connor said.

    A woman was jailed 13 days before police realized they had the wrong person, her lawsuit says

    Williams’s family knew he was not involved and soon found video evidence to prove as much: He was playing in a high school basketball game 20 miles away when the Feb. 4 shooting in Waukegan took place.

    “If his sister hadn’t found this evidence, he would have been convicted,”

  131. BRT says:

    Phoenix, what a newb. All she had to do was pay herself a lavish salary from the “non profit” like the rest of the scumbags.

  132. grim says:

    Well fuck, if the Ukies can surround the airport those Russians are sitting ducks. Parachuting in? That’s risky.

  133. grim says:

    Twitter still relevant, once again proves it’s value. Better information coming out of twitter than even CNN right now.

  134. grim says:

    Refugees going to be a big test for the EU. If EU member countries west of Poland and Slovakia start balking over taking on refugees…

  135. Phoenix haha edition says:

    Phoenix, what a newb. All she had to do was pay herself a lavish salary from the “non profit” like the rest of the sc umbags.

    Greedy old Battle Axe.

    She has all day, why not clean her own place like she used to nag her husband to do?

    A little Polish song here for my Polish buddies, it fits perfectly:

    https://bit.ly/3IprnxG

  136. Phoenix haha edition says:

    Phoenix, what a newb. All she had to do was pay herself a lavish salary from the “non profit” like the rest of the sc umbags.

    Greedy old Battle Axe.

    She has all day, why not clean her own place like she used to nag her husband to do?

    A little Polish song here for my Polish buddies, it fits perfectly:

  137. Phoenix haha edition says:

    Can’t post You tube for some reason. But it was a FRankie Yankovic number

    I’ve got a wife at home:

    Oh, I’ve got a wife at home
    I’ve got a wife at home
    I’ve got a wife, she’s the apple of my life
    But I wish she would leave me alone

    When I hear
    Hang your clothes up
    Wipe your feet off
    Goodness sake, don’t slam the door
    Fix the sockets, dry the dishes
    Can’t you do a single chore?
    Hang the picture
    Set the table
    Don’t drop ashes on the floor
    Heat the bottle
    Change the baby
    She don’t love me anymore

    He don’t love her anymore
    There he goes right out the door
    He’ll be back ’bout half-past ten
    And then she’ll start right in again

    Oh, I’ve got a wife at home
    I’ve got a wife at home
    I’ve got a wife, she’s the apple of my life
    But I wish she would leave me alone

    I hear, tack the shade up
    Wash the windows
    Wipe the handprints off the door
    Change the light bulbs
    Scrub the bathtub
    Pick the toys up from the floor
    Tape the lamp cord
    Make some coffee
    Burn the garbage
    Oil the door
    Get the kids
    And call my mother
    She don’t love me anymore

  138. Boomer Remover says:

    It’s amazing how televised this war is. I am looking at Apache helicopters flying over Torun, Poland en route to the eastern front.

  139. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Cool visual.

    “California exodus visualized by State”

    https://twitter.com/thisisterrance/status/1496512796942602249?s=21

  140. Phoenix haha edition says:

    Looks like the Brits have their share of Boomers as well. Bring back? Why did they leave, for your greed?

    “emyinthemidlands, Warwick, United Kingdom, 14 minutes ago

    If China supports Russia in anyway the World must stand up against these two superpowers and ostracise them both. Bring back manufacturing to Europe and UK”

  141. Juice Box says:

    Seems Russian heavy armor is moving in quickly. Eastern city of 1.4 million Kharkiv is now surrounded by Russian tanks and there are reports of units inland hundreds of kilometers.

  142. SmallGovConservative says:

    Mitt Romney in 2012: “…Russia…without question, our number one geopolitical foe. They fight every cause for the world’s worst actors. The idea that [President Barack Obama] has some more flexibility in mind for Russia is very, very troubling, indeed.”

    Oblama in 2012: “A few months ago when you [Romney] were asked what’s the biggest geopolitical threat facing America, you said Russia…the 1980s are now calling to ask for their foreign policy back because the Cold War’s been over for 20 years.”

    SlowJoe in 2012: “Governor Romney is mired in a Cold War mindset…”

    Does everyone finally get the picture…The modern Dem party is incapable of governing. They are on the wrong side of literally every single issue and are responsible for virtually every malady facing this country! In less than a year SlowJoe ceded oil/energy pricing power to OPEC+, allowing Vlad to build foreign reserves and a huge war chest, and displayed such mind-numbing incompetence with Afghanistan and Iran, that he practically begged Russia to make a move. The only solace I can take today, is knowing that I’ll never have to explain to my grandchildren why I voted for this schmuck.

  143. Phoenix haha edition says:

    “It’s amazing how televised this war is. I am looking at Apache helicopters flying over Torun, Poland en route to the eastern front.”

    To most Americans it’s like watching a movie. They get so excited they need a box of tissues to absorb their emissions.

    hahahaha.

  144. Phoenix haha edition says:

    I could use a new Ukranian wife.

    Can I get one on a discount today?

    Hahahaha

  145. Phoenix says:

    Hey Buddy,
    Go buy a gun, some boots, a helmet, and head over there. Put your money where your mouth is- Go join the rebels you twi t.

    But GOP Representative Mike Gallagher of Wisconsin said Putin is a ‘KGB thug who understands no language except force,’ while slamming the western response so far

  146. Phoenix says:

    Sounds about right:

    The Ukrainian border guards and military on Zmeinyi island (the Black sea coast, near Izmail) are threatened to surrender. “If you resist, you will be annihilated. The chances to survive are zero”, the voice told the Ukrainian border guards on radio

  147. Phoenix says:

    Still waiting for Aricept Man to send in some American soldiers.

    When they catch one, and they have proof——

    WW3.

  148. A Home Buyer says:

    Zelensky offering to arm civilians to fight? Does Kiev fall before noon?

    Don’t be silly. Its not like ARs and AKs can win against tanks and bombs.

    I appreciate how once the government realized things were about to get real, they also permitted Citizens to carry unconditionally. They used firearms as a status / gift (because this is the modern world and everything is safe) at least on paper so the largest contingent of legal owners are the well connected. I doubt the average civilians whose had a 30 minute “how-to” prior to the invasion will understand how to clear a malfunction (under stress no doubt), or generally even carry the thing safely when not in combat (or in combat).

    Not that Ukraine didn’t become a cesspool for actual military weapons finding their way into civilian hands illegally after the last Russia conflict… but having something collecting dust in your basement is a lot different then having been able to field test it and gain an understanding of it.

    Wish them well.

    https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/ukraine-mps-vote-give-permission-civilians-carry-firearms-2022-02-23/

  149. Phoenix says:

    Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

    Puppet president put in by American interests.

  150. Ex says:

    Trump sure likes Putin, I see.

  151. Fast Eddie says:

    Does everyone finally get the picture…The modern Dem party is incapable of governing. They are on the wrong side of literally every single issue and are responsible for virtually every malady facing this country! In less than a year SlowJoe ceded oil/energy pricing power to OPEC+, allowing Vlad to build foreign reserves and a huge war chest, and displayed such mind-numbing incompetence with Afghanistan and Iran, that he practically begged Russia to make a move.

    The list of failures in one year is so large, it’s almost unfathomable to think that a little common sense could have prevented half of them. Why would you shut down your energy-producing capacity and then beg OPEC for more only to be met with a middle finger? Why would you exit Afghanistan while reshuffling the most logical order to do so? Why are you allowing progressive m0rons dictate useless, personal, emotional agendas that benefits a fraction of the U.S. at most? What good is it now to say, “I told you so.” You fucking 1diots on the left are so out of bounds and out of touch that that’s a crime in itself. Everything you touch… every ridiculous agenda you propose is met with failure.

  152. The Great Pumpkin says:

    You have a point.

    “Why would you shut down your energy-producing capacity and then beg OPEC for more only to be met with a middle finger? Why would you exit Afghanistan while reshuffling the most logical order to do so? Why are you allowing progressive m0rons dictate useless, personal, emotional agendas that benefits a fraction of the U.S. at most? What good is it now to say, “I told you so.””

  153. BidenIsTheGOAT says:

    Let’s not forget Joe and Hunter’s kickback scheme in Ukraine. If the government ever had a chance at legitimacy they did their best to undermine it. It must have been personal to watch the same oriole who backed the coupe deep in and grabs piece of the spoils for themselves.

  154. Ex says:

    You guys are right the orange imbecile would have handled things differently.
    Too bad he’s not in charge, Or is he????
    When’s Q think he’s coming back. Buehler?

  155. Fast Eddie says:

    Jesus Christ almighty… anyone of us on this board could have done a better job than this fucking dunce occupying the White House. How in Gods name did he survive in D.C. for 50 years? What the fuck were the democrats thinking?

  156. 3b says:

    Fast You make valid points. Would it not have made sense to keep the Keystone pipeline while simultaneously developing green alternatives, and then phase out the use of fossil fuels when the alternatives are viable.

  157. BidenIsTheGOAT says:

    Give him a break Eddie. He’s busy spying on parents who push back against school boards for promoting crt and he’s scouting for gender fluid people to fill his vacant posts. You know, he’s too busy with the important stuff.

  158. Phoenix says:

    Plenty of Americans who are already on the edge financially are about to go over a cliff.

    They might actually become homeless and live in California.

    Guess Ex is going to need to order a few more charter buses to Tacoma.

  159. Phoenix says:

    Jesus Christ almighty… anyone of us on this board could have done a better job than this fucking dunce occupying the White House. How in Gods name did he survive in D.C. for 50 years? What the fuck were the BOOMERS thinking?

    Fixed it for ya.

  160. Phoenix says:

    Taiwan scrambles fighter planes as nine Chinese aircraft enter its air defence zone on the day Russia invades Ukraine

  161. Phoenix says:

    Meanwhile Turkey reported that one of its ships had been hit by a ‘bomb’ off the coast of Odessa, where fighting is also going on. Turkey is a member of NATO, underlining fears that the war in Ukraine could quickly suck in other states and spark an all-out conflict in Europe.

  162. The Great Pumpkin says:

    This was my fear 2 weeks ago when China and Russia made their relationship public. I just can’t see China not taking advantage of us in a position of weakness.

    Phoenix says:
    February 24, 2022 at 11:12 am
    Taiwan scrambles fighter planes as nine Chinese aircraft enter its air defence zone on the day Russia invades Ukraine

  163. Ex says:

    11:05 you’re a real treat.

  164. Grim says:

    Welcome back PPT

  165. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Man, these people are in for a rude awakening when the labor market tightens during this recession or even depression. Lmao…dude moves his family to Puerto Rico. Comical. Yea, this won’t last, it’s obvious. Living on vacation when you should be working, I’m sure you work just so hard in Puerto Rico like all the locals. You will never see a better time for workers than the past two years, but like I said, it’s going to be rough ending for these people if they think they will continue to be in the position to call the shots.

    “What is holding up the return to the office right now? Plenty of workers simply don’t feel like it. They’re dining at restaurants, going to movies and taking trips, but offices aren’t on their itinerary. That is delivering a reality check for bosses, who’ve been hoping the plunge in Covid-19 cases meant workers would finally—finally!—come back.

    Big banks like Goldman Sachs Group Inc. and Jefferies Group LLC recently recalled much of their staffs, and tech giants like Microsoft Corp. and Meta Platforms Inc. , the parent company of Facebook, are planning March returns for some employees. There are people eager to resurrect their office lives, just as many business leaders have let go of the notion that face-time five days a week is the optimal way to work. Nationwide, however, office occupancy rates are hovering around one-third, according to an estimate by Kastle Systems, which tracks building-access-card swipes.

    Sure, employees like catered lunches, lounges filled with beanbag chairs and the masseuse who sets up in the conference room every other Friday. But they aren’t ready to recommit to a five-days-a-week relationship—or even a three-day one.

    “You’re not going to get me on the train for two hours for free bagels,” says Jason Alvarez Schorr, a 36-year-old software engineer who quit his job in New York in January, when his former employer signaled an office return was imminent.

    It isn’t that Mr. Schorr disliked his old boss or workplace. The father of two young children says he simply found something better—a remote job that allowed him to move his family to Puerto Rico, where they plan to live for at least two years.

    Call it the professional version of “It’s not you; it’s me.””

  166. The Great Pumpkin says:

    “What stings, Mr. Johnson says, is that his company trained a lot of those workers and retained them when the economy was at its worst, in 2020. Yet the investment in his people didn’t seem to matter when it was time to reopen the office.

    “The amount of effort and energy that was put into ensuring nobody lost their job—that we made the proper adjustments to weather the storm—people just don’t remember those things,” he says. “You have that lack of loyalty.””

  167. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Owners are going to come back with a vengeance. You know they will.

  168. The Great Pumpkin says:

    “Bosses are surveying seas of empty seats and quietly noting employees who are going to packed sporting events, posting sun-drenched photos on Instagram and helping the latest Spider-Man movie set box-office records—basically, going about every facet of their daily lives from the Before Times, except coming in to work.”

  169. Juice Box says:

    cyberwarefare.

    Russian government websites including the Kremlin’s appear to be down.

  170. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Imagine paying workers this much money to do this. Lmao. Really focused on the job.

    “These new employees were all up at my ski area today working on their laptops and mobile phones in what used to be called a lunch room. As this is midweek they are messing up my retirement program by crowding the hills when they should be locked into an office somewhere.”

  171. crushednjmillenial says:

    Putin probably overstepped here. If he annexes all of Ukraine or the Eastern half, I believe that the conventional wisdom is that Russia will suffer a lot of internal instability from digesting that annexation. Ukraine suffers a brain drain – maybe Russia too. Ukraine and Russian elites know they need their capital sneaked out to the West, if at all possible, and ideally send your kids overseas to some quiet US upscale suburb. So, you’ve now annexed economically disadvantaged people who are disgruntled, and you are spending Russian resources to minimally placate them so you are further disgruntling Russian Joe Sixpack (Ivan Vodka-Bottle?). Nevermind the tremendous overlay of direct sanctions from the international community. Nevermind that even if there were not direct sanctions, what Western company is risking the farm to do business in Russia (would you feel comfortable having 20% of your net worth at play in a venture selling things in Russia? . . . Similarly, would you build a factory in China right now?). So, the oligarchs will feel the heat, too. So, Putin has some increased risk of a popular revolt or an oligarchic coup.

    The other side of the above coin is that geopolitical concerns trump economic concerns for a totalitarian (or, at least authoritarian) leader who feels confident that has consolidated internal control. Furthermore, after 2014, Russian domestic production of a lot of goods which were formerly imported rose.

    NATO spending goes up. Increased NATO troops will be stationed at NATO borders for a generation. I don’t think we see a vicious Ukrainian guerrilla response – not sure what the magnitude will be of the refugee outflux. A Russian boot crosses into NATO ex-baltics, Russian troops across the line get annhilated. Baltics- I don’t know if NATO really stands up for them?

    SP500 hit about 14.5% off ATH at the low today. I agree with the bid on stocks today – I don’t think this Russia-Ukraine conflict spirals into something huge.

  172. crushednjmillenial says:

    ^MSM isn’t talking about the settlement negotiations that Putin can hold with the West after he formalizes whatever annexation or puppet regime he wants. Some level of sanctions reduction can likely be traded for some disarment or whatever at some time point down the line.

    Surprised Putin didn’t strike in like December – Europe would have faced a cold winter without Russian fossil fuels. Today, springtime isn’t far away so it would seem his position is weaker than would have been true if he invaded earlier in the winter.

  173. crushednjmillenial says:

    NATO expansion . . .

    I disagree with NATO’s expansion into the Baltics and Romania.

    The Poland-Slovakia-Hungary line makes more sense. Aggression toward the Baltics makes a lot of danger – will the US risk nuclear war over territory populated by a few million Western-oriented people, which is located in a logistically-challenging position? Especially when the Baltics were literally formerly within the Soviet Union?

    Regarding Poland, Slovakia and Hungary, you have some more credibility backing up posturing that YES! WE ACTUALLY would risk nuclear winter, because we must have a split on the Eurasian plain.

    US squandered a lot of goodwill and resources in Afghanistan, Iraq, global WOT, persucting Assange, etc. Putin just sent waffling Euro nation and third world nations back under the skirt of the USA, though. Interesting conversations being had in African, Middle Eastern and Asian capitols today, too.

  174. joyce says:

    They are wrong then and your are wrong now… China is a bigger threat.

    SmallGovConservative says:
    February 24, 2022 at 9:46 am

  175. 3b says:

    Crushed I think he annexes the entire Donbass region, and installs a puppet government in the rest of the country.

  176. 3b says:

    Joyce: I agree China is the bigger threat for the USA.? We should have spent more effort trying to come to an accommodation with Russia, distasteful as it would have been. The Left has been obsessed with Russia/ Trump for 5 years, but are pretty much silent on China.

  177. SmallGovConservative says:

    joyce says:
    February 24, 2022 at 12:15 pm
    “They are wrong then and your are wrong now… China is a bigger threat.”

    I never said anything about who/what is currently our biggest threat; typical for you to feel the need to deflect, and not just say the Dems were wrong. In any case, one thing you can be sure of is that Joe and his inept admin won’t deal effectively with either China or Russia — or Iran, or ISIS, or N Korea… For instance, between Joe and the feckless Europeans we already know that there will be no sanctions on Russian aluminum production and that Russia will not be cut off of SWIFT. Vlad may have regrets in the long term, but short term he correctly assessed that the west was governed by a bunch of limp-wristed idiots.

  178. The Great Pumpkin says:

    People are insane to think this is the bottom and buying the dip. Liquidity is tightening, and the world is not in a good spot. Nothing about the supply chain is safe during these trying times from the freedom convoy to Russia and China making moves. And who knows what happens with the pandemic…is it really over, or does mother nature hit us with a new stronger variant? You never know.

    Wait till the real panic hits the market, unless the FED somehow turns dovish. I don’t know how they could, but you never know.

    “SP500 hit about 14.5% off ATH at the low today. I agree with the bid on stocks today – I don’t think this Russia-Ukraine conflict spirals into something huge.”

  179. Juice Box says:

    RutRoh…

    NBC reports that Joe Biden has been given various options for American cyberattacks to disrupt Russia’s military action in Ukraine. According to the news network:

    Two US intelligence officials, one Western intelligence official and another person briefed on the matter say no final decisions have been made, but they say U.S. intelligence and military cyber warriors are proposing the use of American cyber weapons on a scale never before contemplated. Among the options: Disrupting internet connectivity across Russia, shutting off electric power, and tampering with railroad switches to hamper Russia’s ability to re-supply its forces, three of the sources said.

    “You could do everything from slow the trains down to have them fall off the tracks,” one person briefed on the matter said.

  180. leftwing says:

    Make sure you have at least a few K actual cash in the drawer if you usually don’t and get the cars filled up…..

    US goes cyber on Russia over this incursion that is a new silo, a legitimate aggressor move US on Russia, and you can bet Russia will hit us back in kind.

  181. grim says:

    Would be pretty disruptive to simply “adjust” global DNS servers to disregard .ru domain entries. Likely not within Russia, but for anyone external communicating/working with Russia. Flip a couple of router switches and just block traffic to russian network ranges too.

  182. leftwing says:

    “…anyone of us on this board could have done a better job than this fucking dunce occupying the White House. How in Gods name did he survive in D.C. for 50 years?…”

    Recall these images….

    You get on NJ Transit to take the train into Penn. In the same seat, every day, every year, are the guys who have been riding the same train for decades. In those exact same seats. With the exact same people.

    They wear the dated, slightly ratty rain coats with ancient briefcases and out of style shoes. The seats are the pairs facing each other, and the four of them play cards both ways. Every day. Every year. Every train ride.

    They are on their way to entirely faceless cog jobs in some second tier company, usually insurance, where they do something – allegedly – that may be deemed to be value added, although what is not easily discernable to an outsider and they are not quite capable of explaining it themselves.

    Moving them outside of the comfort zone of their 10 minute drive to the station, same seat ride, and quick walk to the undefined job seriously disorients them. They pointedly avoid attention, but will have a quick repartee opinion once it is well worn and safe. They believe it makes them witty and edgy. They are attracted to non-sequitur platitudes like moths to light, feeling magnanimous.

    You would not trust them to run a local small business, let alone even a mid-sized division of the middling company employing them. That point is moot, since deep down even they know they are not competent.

    You know this visual, you’ve seen if not experienced these people.

    The train is Amtrak. The middling, useless organization is Congress. And the aged incompetent is your President. With an icing of age related cognitive decline for good measure.

    Good luck.

  183. grim says:

    Good going Boris – Like I said above.

    35 min ago
    UK bans Russian aircraft from its airspace
    From CNN’s Pete Muntean
    The United Kingdom is banning civilian Russian aircraft from its airspace.

    Biden’s sanctions seemed to be lacking any substantive detail.

  184. Chicago says:

    FabMax puts his technology expertise to constructive use.

    Russia has mobile crematoriums in its arsenal that could follow invading forces and “evaporate” dead soldiers, according to a report.

  185. leftwing says:

    Anyone wanting to Wile E Coyote on the branch hanging off the ledge…..RSX. Was short it two days ago, partly as a cheap hedge on a significant short volatility position (7% of my portfolio….)…liquidated part of RSX and considering putting on a straight long…..

    Nobody gives a fuck about this part of the world, lots of sturm und drang, Putin will be done in a week, a lot of clucking the following week by the West, and then recognition of the new reality thereafter….

    Putin gonna Putin, and nothing we can (or really want to) do.

  186. Fast Eddie says:

    Putin will be done in a week, a lot of clucking the following week by the West, and then recognition of the new reality thereafter….

    Don’t forget about China taking Taiwan, too.

  187. joyce says:

    What am I deflecting? Typical? You posted three quotes to try to further a point you’re trying to make, and the pertinent sections include: “our number one geopolitical foe… biggest geopolitical threat facing America… is Russia”

    If you’re saying the Dems were wrong, then you’re saying Russia was number one/biggest threat. Words have meanings.

    SmallGovConservative says:
    February 24, 2022 at 12:53 pm
    joyce says:
    February 24, 2022 at 12:15 pm
    “They are wrong then and your are wrong now… China is a bigger threat.”

    I never said anything about who/what is currently our biggest threat; typical for you to feel the need to deflect, and not just say the Dems were wrong.

  188. leftwing says:

    “Don’t forget about China taking Taiwan, too.”

    Even less ability for us to be relevant as we are more dependent on China than Russia, and China has much better ability to fcuk with us than Russia does.

    So expect even less of a nothing burger if/when Xi moves.

  189. SmallGovConservative says:

    leftwing says:
    February 24, 2022 at 2:08 pm
    “Putin gonna Putin, and nothing we can (or really want to) do.”

    This is where I respectfully disagree, and where the vast and dangerous incompetence of the modern Dem party is highlighted. Just as Dems and their mainstream media partners mocked Romney when he identified Russia/Putin as a major problem in 2012, so they mocked T when he noted that Russia is attempting to control Arctic resources and that we need to consider the future of Greenland, and when he noted that we need a Space Force to counter China/Russia there. So you have Reps clearly identifying current and future geopolitical challenges, and proposing bold actions to address them. Contrast that with the modern Dem party that’s focused on tranny bathroom ‘rights’ and defunding the police.

  190. leftwing says:

    I don’t think we disagree. Read my post literally.

    Putin is Putin, he is outside of the international system and always has been.

    We have little desire to contain him.

    Right now, we have painted ourselves into a place where we really cannot contain him given the cards he holds.

    Our statements are consistent.

  191. leftwing says:

    Although my account, now strongly green for the day, very much likes having a confused, incompetent old man incapable of action…

    Much better to have a whiny tattle-tale third grader as President…”Mom, he’s building up divisions on the border!! Again!!”

    Beats the hell out of the punch in the face of a hot war….

  192. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Bull trap for day traders? Unless they think the FED is going to go soft and start up another round of QE..

    “Although my account, now strongly green for the day, very much likes having a confused, incompetent old man incapable of action…”

  193. leftwing says:

    You are so out of your league don’t even try to comment….

    The only ‘trap’ is that on occasion I was sympathetic and thought you were actually interested in learning to advance yourself and situation so I (and others) tried to dispense some useful advice and experience to you. That position evaporated quicker than any ‘bull trap’ in history….

  194. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Then what is happening right now with liquidity tightening coming next month? QE ends. So why is tech moving up so much in such a gloomy environment with so much risk on the table? Just day traders and computers battling it out, imo.

    So tell me instead of putting me down.

  195. Ex says:

    2:13 you are a feckless twat.

  196. Ex says:

    Naw pumps we’ve got some real superior banker types here.
    All they know is latency and snobbery.

  197. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Exactly what i thought. They are betting on the FED going soft. And the day traders push it up..

    “Some tech and growth stocks rose Thurs­day, as did some meme stocks. Some in­vestors are bet­ting that the Fed­eral Re­serve won’t act as ag­gres-sively to curb in­fla­tion dur­ing these height­ened ten­sions, which will help jus­tify the val­u­a­tions of growth com­pa­nies.

    “That makes peo­ple more com­fort­able buy­ing growth stocks,” said Gary Black, man­ager of the Fu­ture Fund Ac­tive ex­change-traded fund. Mr. Black owns Al­pha­bet and Palo Alto Net­works, which rose 2% and 12%, re­spec­tively.”

    https://www.wsj.com/articles/global-stocks-markets-dow-update-02-24-2022-11645676676

  198. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Ark funds ripping

  199. leftwing says:

    “Naw pumps we’ve got some real superior banker types here.
    All they know is latency and snobbery.”

    Now THAT is funny…if we ever were to meet you would see I am the least ‘snobbish’ person around….by background and practice. In fact, being unwilling to ‘play that role’ was likely a professional impediment to me internally more than once….

    You were a teacher. Many here have kids in sports so have dealt with coaches. More than I realized have dealt with dysfunctional ex-spouses….

    What do you do when presented with someone you are trying to engage who just mails it in (at best) or most frequently is an obliviously hostile no-show?

    You’d be an idiot to continue to engage that person.

    I am equally unwilling to play that idiot as I am to play the snob…..

    Stated much more simply and succinctly, life is just too short to deal with him.

  200. Ex says:

    https://youtu.be/dRwq9HrkTI0

    Rat in a drain ditch, caught on a limb, you know better but I know him
    Like I told you, what I said, steal your face right off your head
    Now he’s gone, now he’s gone, Lord he’s gone, he’s gone
    Like a steam locomotive, rollin’ down the track
    He’s gone, he’s gone and nothin’s gonna bring him back, he’s gone
    Nine mile skid on a ten mile ride, hot as a pistol but cool inside
    Cat on a tin roof, dogs in a pile
    Nothin’ left to do but smile, smile, smile

  201. The Great Pumpkin says:

    “In the 40 years since the inception of S&P 500 futures, there have been only 3 sessions when they opened down more than 2%, fell to a 6-month low, then rallied to close up by more than 1%.

    • July 24, 2002
    • September 16, 2008
    • Today”

  202. crushednjmillenial says:

    4:54 . . .

    I think that a lot of market participants saw the SP500 futures down 2.5% or so pre-market, and said “bullspit”. The value of the SP500 is not impaired that much by Putin launching a more-aggressive-than-expected invasion of Ukraine. So, the buyers came in and BTFD. Then, Biden didn’t cut Russia off Swift, and more buying became justified.

    Not saying that overall bearishness is not justified. Maybe the SP500 gets to 20% or 30% or 40% or more off of ATH for several reasons floating around bearishly right now. But, 2.5% down in one day from this one geopolitical event – Nope.

  203. The Great Pumpkin says:

    Crushed…it’s the gamblers and computers betting that the FED is going to go soft. I guess everyone forgot that inflation is still f’ed if not contained and that the supply chains are still f’ed.

    Let’s see how high they take it before it crashes down again once reality sets in.

  204. BRT says:

    U. of Chicago professor on the Ukraine 6 years ago…this guy is like the Quasimoto of politics. Notre Damus predicted all this.

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrMiSQAGOS4&t=1s

  205. Chicago says:

    Podhoretz
    But making Russia suffer while working to ensure Putin does not attack NATO’s eastern flank are not goals to rally around. They do nothing to inspire. Biden himself inadvertently acknowledged this in the question-and-answer session that followed the speech when he was asked whether the sanctions were tough enough: “Let’s have a conversation in another month or so to see if they’re working.”

    This is not what the president of the United States should be saying about the first effort to seize territory in Europe in 80 years.

    It’s what your podiatrist says about the goop he gives you to cure your foot fungus.

  206. Phoenix says:

    Nasty nasty Marty Hyde. Repub wanting to be a congressman.

    Someone needs to knock him down a few notches.

    https://youtu.be/SunGGUktKok

  207. Ex says:

    12:13 chi – Biden doesn’t want a war with Russia.
    It’s not in the USAs interest nor does it make sense to intervene.
    Biden was against the Afghan (Wigs) buildup during Obama’s term.

  208. Juice Box says:

    re: “make sense to intervene”

    It didn’t before and doesn’t now. We would have had to give them billions in modern anti-aircraft weapons to just defend themselves from air attack for a few more days. They were shipped a handful of stinger missiles by the US and some NATO countries. Today the Russians apparently launched a much bigger helicopter attack on the Hostomel Airport near Kiev that they failed to take yesterday and there are no reports of helicopters shot down today.

    ““The Russian Ministry of Defense reported on the successful landing of troops in the area of the Gostomel airfield in the suburbs of Kiev. During the landing, more than 200 helicopters were involved.”

    Russia has air superiority and now their heavy artillery is now rolling in. If they don’t surrender they will be bombed into submission. For every shell the Ukrainians can manually fire from their old soviet era artillery using manned crews of a dozen soldiers the Russians can fire automatically 15 shells using electronic fire-control systems and they have many more pieces of equipment, and are now close to surrounding the major cities.

    Let’s hope it does not come down to it, Zelenskyy knows now NATO will not rescue them. He should take the offer up and negotiate if it is real, but first they have to stand down “surrender” according to Sergey Lavrov.

  209. Juice Box says:

    EX – It’s more complex, and it’s really German that does not want a war with Russia. They do not want Ukraine in NATO and they don’t want them in the EU either. Ukraine is literally the largest European country and were preparing to formally petition to join the EU. That is about over now, the Europeans have shown their self interest only. They will be happy keeping the Russians away with buffer countries like Ukraine, Poland and the other countries between them and Russia.

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