PMI: Home prices to fall into 2011

From Bloomberg:

U.S. Home Prices to Fall Through 2011’s First Quarter, PMI Says

Home prices may fall in more than half of the largest U.S. cities through the first quarter of 2011 as unemployment and foreclosures rise, mortgage insurer PMI Group Inc. said.

Thirty of the 50 biggest metropolitan areas have at least a 75 percent chance of lower prices through March 31, 2011, Walnut Creek, California-based PMI said in a report today. The decline is likely to spread to “all regions of the nation” from California, Florida, Nevada and Arizona, the states most affected by the housing slump, PMI said.

“The housing market has been hit by a demand shock of high unemployment and a supply shock of distressed foreclosure sales,” LaVaughn Henry, senior economist at PMI, the fourth- largest U.S. mortgage insurer, said in an interview.

“Affordability is no longer the driving issue in the housing market, and we believe prices still have a ways to fall in many areas before home prices reach their trough,” the Deutsche Bank analysts wrote.

The 15 areas with the highest probability of lower prices in 2011 each have a 99 percent chance, PMI said. They include Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Orlando, Tampa and Jacksonville in Florida; Riverside, Los Angeles, Santa Ana, Sacramento and San Diego in California; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Providence, Rhode Island; and Detroit.

Edison and Newark in New Jersey have a 97 percent and 96 percent chance, respectively, and Nassau, New York, has a 92 percent chance. New York City showed an 88 percent chance of lower prices, according to PMI.

“The New York area has gone from a moderate level to an elevated level because of the big hit from the financial crisis,” Henry said.

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

438 Responses to PMI: Home prices to fall into 2011

  1. grim says:

    From Forbes:

    America’s Most Troubled Luxury Neighborhoods

    Has the housing market scraped bottom? Not in some of the wealthier neighborhoods–places like New York City’s Greenwich Village, Santa Monica, Calif. and Chicago’s Lincoln Park. They held up nicely while the rest of the country slumped last year. This year such Tiffany zip codes are on track to fall 15% to 25%.

    Why haven’t you heard about this? Statistics lag. With relatively low unemployment, high-end addresses don’t have foreclosures to hasten capitulation. If they’ve attracted luxury high-rise developers, these markets may be propped up by recent condo closings at foolish prices agreed to two years ago. But talk to experts who know the regions block by block–or to people who’ve sold (or tried to sell) a home or co-op. There is a still-growing supply of wildly overpriced, unsold homes–60,000 U.S. properties priced above $2 million listed on Realtor.com. Experts get these gloomy vibes by dividing inventory by the current monthly rate of purchases. “Any result over seven months generally means falling prices,” says David Stiff, chief economist at Fiserv ( FISV – news – people ) in Brookfield, Wis. In some tony neighborhoods the level of glut is higher than the national average of ten months.

    Unsold inventories in Manhattan are at their highest levels in a decade. You can’t tell by looking at data about its condo market. According to Radar Logic, which generates national realty info from its New York City office, condo values fell only 4% last year–far less than the 12% drop for the city as a whole. It’s been held aloft by new-construction condo sales above the $1,200-per-square-foot level, says Radar Logic founder Michael Feder, reflecting deals struck a year or two ago. Once they pass through the system, the average price of a condo will plummet to $900 a square foot, reckons Feder.

  2. grim says:

    Most Troubled Luxury Neighborhoods

    1. Incline Village-Crystal Bay, Nev.
    2. New Vernon, N.J.
    3. Alpine, N.J.
    4. Sagaponack, N.Y.
    5. Amagansett, N.Y.
    6. Bridgehampton, N.Y.
    7. Ross, Calif.
    8. Old Westbury, N.Y.
    9. Santa Barbara, Calif.
    10. Southampton, N.Y.
    11. Medina, Wash.
    12. Greenwich, Conn.
    13. Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

  3. grim says:

    There will be no lack of large-scale multifamily development in NJ if the bill below is signed by Jon.

    From NJBIZ:

    A ‘monster’ to spur development

    A bill that would provide broad economic incentives to New Jersey developers is gathering support from business groups, but not without raising fiscal and land-use objections from critics.

    The proposed New Jersey Economic Stimulus Act of 2009 lets the state and towns dedicate tax receipts from development to provide incentives for builders. It also expands eligibility for the Urban Transit Hub Tax Credit program, temporarily halts affordable-housing fees levied on commercial builders, allows rental-car tax increases around Newark Liberty International Airport and promotes construction on college campuses.

    State Sen. Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) called the legislation “truly a monster economic stimulus bill,” terming it the most important legislation for New Jersey’s economy that he has sponsored in his 32 years in office.

    The stimulus has passed both houses of the Legislature, and now awaits the governor’s signature.

    The bill allows the state and towns to create Economic Redevelopment and Growth Grant, or ERGG, programs, in which grants would pay developers for up to 20 percent of the cost of building projects in areas designated by the state development and redevelopment plan. The grants ultimately would be funded through various taxes collected from new developments in the areas.

    The decision to dedicate new tax revenue stemming from development to create incentives for that same development drew praise from a leader of the New Jersey Builders Association.

    “I don’t think I’ve seen, in a long time, this kind of investment strategy in New Jersey,” said Timothy J. Touhey, association chief executive and executive vice president. He said the state must compete with other states that offer similar incentives.

    New Jersey Policy Perspective policy analyst Naomi Mueller Bressler said the bill would cost towns too much tax revenue.

    “New Jersey and its municipalities need this money to provide services to residents,” she said.

    Jeff Tittel, director of the New Jersey chapter of the Sierra Club, called ERRG a “giveaway to developers” that would shift the tax burden toward average residents. He said businesses locate based on the quality of the work force, the location relative to markets and other factors unrelated to tax incentives. He also said the bill could open environmentally sensitive land to development.

    “They took the Christmas tree out of the budget and put it into this bill,” Tittel said.

  4. grim says:

    From Bloomberg:

    Obama Adviser Says U.S. Should Mull Second Stimulus

    The U.S. should consider drafting a second stimulus package focusing on infrastructure projects because the $787 billion approved in February was “a bit too small,” said Laura Tyson, an adviser to President Barack Obama.

    The current plan “will have a positive effect, but the real economy is a sicker patient,” Tyson said in a speech in Singapore today. The package will have a more pronounced impact in the third and fourth quarters, she added, stressing that she was speaking for herself and not the administration.

    Tyson’s comments contrast with remarks made two days ago by Vice President Joe Biden and fellow Obama adviser Austan Goolsbee, who said it was premature to discuss crafting another stimulus because the current measures have yet to fully take effect. The government is facing criticism that the first package was rolled out too slowly and failed to stop unemployment from soaring to the highest in almost 26 years.

    Obama said last month that a second package isn’t needed yet, though he expects the jobless rate will exceed 10 percent this year. When Obama signed the first stimulus bill in February, his chief economic advisers forecast it would help hold the rate below 8 percent.

    Unemployment increased to 9.5 percent in June, the highest since August 1983. The world’s largest economy has lost about 6.5 million jobs since December 2007.

  5. Pol Clot says:

    Where’s Sergei’s place?

  6. Pol Clot says:

    Where’s Sergei’s place?

  7. grim says:

    #5 – Uncertainty surrounding who I think the victim might be. Not outside the realm to think that Sergey is being set up. I can’t believe a coder with his experience would be so sloppy if he really intended to steal the code.

  8. grim says:

    On the other hand, it sounds like a story of greed and arrogance clouding judgment.

    Did he really think nobody would be watching him, on his last week in office, after telling them he was leaving for a competitor paying 3x what they were? Or maybe, despite that, he thought he was still smart enough to get away with it?

  9. yo'me says:

    “Affordability is no longer the driving issue in the housing market, and we believe prices still have a ways to fall in many areas before home prices reach their trough,” the Deutsche Bank analysts wrote.

    Prices are going to pass affordability level.As an investor wich Metro area will be a good investment?NY metro area,South or Cali?

    The Northeast and Cali always came out better but each has their own problems.
    NY’s financial problems will come back at a smaller scale due to too much regulation and Cali will come out from being broke but a need of increased taxes to pay for liabilities same as most of the Northeast cities.
    Will it be state taxes be the driving force on wich cities will recover first from the free fall of home prices?

  10. grim says:

    From Reuters:

    US office market continues to spiral down–report

    The U.S. office market vacancy rate reached 15.9 percent in the second quarter, its highest in four years and rent fell by the largest amount in more than seven as demand from companies and other office renters remained weak, real estate research firm Reis said Inc.

    “It’s bad,” Reis director of research Victor Calanog said. “It’s decaying and getting worse. Given the depth and magnitude of the recession, you can argue that we are facing a storm of epic proportions and we’re only at the beginning.

  11. DL says:

    Grim, so the state now wants to use tax revenue to subsidize builders to build more un-needed inventory in the hope that the subsidies will let the builders price at a point that encourages all the pent-up demand? WHy don’t they just knock 20% off existing prices instead of building more junk no one needs?

  12. doom says:

    #8, I think he made a ‘stupid’ mistake. In his industry, when an employee leaves, the infrastructure team has to submit security access reports related to this employee to senior management. These reports cover all files the employee touched, all email exchange, all internal web sites he/she visits, all systems she used during the last 14 – 30 days (sometimes, up to 3 months). Managers of internal systems has to sign off these reports.

    If I was the manager of Sergei’s system, I can easily catch him since downloading files from internal systems is strictly prohibited.

    Coder likes him might not know or ignore these details.

    Poor Sergei.

  13. Pol Clot says:

    grim (10)-

    SRS will probably get hammered today.

    When everything finally turns to shit, the collapse is going to be epic.

    What am I talking about? Everything has turned to shit. The obfuscation and denial of that fact are the only things keeping the boat afloat.

  14. Pol Clot says:

    drat…13 moderated

  15. sas says:

    ” Sergei”

    low level stuff or a purpose plant to create a diversion (you focus on A, divert away from B).

    you don’t think GS has spies to make sure this stuff doesn’t happen? or you think they would run to FBI?

    If you don’t think GS gas spies that monitor employees or IP, you best think again.

    Back in the day, in a past life, we put together a crew for Mercedes Benz, we followed & monitored engineers and some other types.

    you remember Lemon borthers? well, they use to similar things, even more intrusive.

    so, if you don’t think GS doesn’t have the same type of monitoring, nothing like this can happen, unless of course you want it to happen, or … which I find hard to believe this guy really pulled something off. Possible, but i doubt it.

    *disclaimer* My name is SAS and this post is totally made up and a complete lie. Mercedes Benz, Lemon brothers, and GS are great companies with moral compass.

    SAS
    (with my fingers crossed, behind my back)

  16. sas says:

    back to RE,

    I’m interested in a house, brick & frame, up in Bergen County.

    what you blokes think of brick and frame?

    SAS

  17. yo'me says:

    One of the study’s coauthors, Boston Fed senior economist Paul S. Willen, said the government would be better off giving the money directly to struggling borrowers to help them with their payments, rather than to lenders that are averse to working out the troubled loans.

    “Loan modification is not profitable for lenders,’’ Willen said. “If it were profitable, they would go out and hire staff.’’

    http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/07/07/lenders_avoid_redoing_loans_fed_concludes/

  18. Dissident HEHEHE says:

    Where is BC Bob?

  19. Dissident HEHEHE says:

    “The U.S. should consider drafting a second stimulus package focusing on infrastructure projects because the $787 billion approved in February was “a bit too small,” said Laura Tyson, an adviser to President Barack Obama.”

    Yes, we need to throw MORE $$$ down the rat hole.

  20. sas says:

    “Boston Fed senior economist Paul S. Willen, said the government would be better off giving the money directly to struggling borrowers to help them with their payments, rather than to lenders that are averse to working out the troubled loans.”

    another knucklehead,

    if you wanna bail someone out, help those with unrealisitic medical expenses. That would be a good place to start for bailout.

    don’t get me started…

    well, tell you the truth, I’m pretty happy since I found heard that SOB McNamera is 6 ft under.

    and that pedophile, MJ is a goner too.
    I’m still waiting for the police to dig up those hardwood floors, might have us another John Gacy with a nose job.

    SAS

  21. Dissident HEHEHE says:

    The Citadel Trail Emerges, Goldman Injunction Likely To Follow Shortly

    Just when one thought it is possible to have a big scandal erupt, in which Chicago is named and not have Ken Griffin involved, the Citadel trail emerges. Contrary to previous rumors that Getco may have been the unfortunate firm to land Bond, Serge Bond, Misha Malyshev’s new outfit, Teza Technologies, emerges with a bang. Teza, run by Misha, whom Zero Hedge has discussed previously, former Head of High-Frequency Trading at Citadel, together with another former teammate and recent Princeton grad (resume recently pulled from the interwebs), Jace Kohlmeier, announced that it had suspended Sergey without pay after learning of the allegations. From Bloomberg:
    Aleynikov, 39, started at Teza on July 2, the day before he was arrested, the firm said in an e-mailed statement today. Teza, co-founded by Misha Malyshev, a former trader at hedge fund Citadel Investment Group LLC, said it first learned of the allegations on July 5 and suspended Aleynikov without pay following an investigation.

    The firm “was not aware of the alleged misconduct” and offered to cooperate with the government, according to the statement. James Margolin, a spokesman for the FBI’s New York Office, said the investigation is continuing.

    One wonders if the arrest of Sergey one day after his formal start at Teza was strangely coincident. It is easy to imagine that 85 Broad would like as little hi-fi competition in any way, shape or form, and Misha, whose group at Citadel was the only profitable one last year, would have likely presented just such a “challenge.” Arguably Goldman was just waiting for the Teza confirmation before throwing a 10,000 page injunction against Teza to prevent the current group from ever trading 1 share of high-frequency traded SPY in their combined lifetimes, based on possible information that Sergey may have “leaked” to Misha and Jace. And another one bites the dust.

    http://www.zerohedge.com/article/citadel-trail-emerges-goldman-injunction-follow-shortly

    This is just hilarious. The dirty laundry of high finance for all the world to see. Bunch of amoral a-holes fighting it out in public over the capability to manipulate the market. Somebody in government needs to start a war or something so they can put the Wizards of Oz back behind the curtain so joe six pack doesn’t start asking questions.

  22. NJGator says:

    Short Hills “value priced” or potential comp killer. You make the call:

    8 Meadowbrook 2696595

    7/6/04 SOLD $585k

    7/6/09 OLP $550k

  23. Shore Guy says:

    SAS,

    I can’t speak to the technical aspects of brick and frame but our family has had one for over 40 years and it has been great. For looks. I prefer used brick; the new stuff looks ugly on houses, at least to my eyes.

  24. Shore Guy says:

    Gator,

    Clearly, they are trying to spark a bidding war ;)

  25. Shore Guy says:

    About the Goldman code theft:

    Is there any company of any decent size that allows anyone computer accessonce they say they are leaving — and an IT person to boot? Pu-h-lese!

  26. NJGator says:

    Shore 24 – It’s a bargain. 1200 luxurious SF and a 50×110 estate for only $550k!

  27. chicagofinance says:

    HEHEHE: What is the big deal? I guess it sells papers (creates web-clicks)?

  28. chicagofinance says:

    Booya:
    July 7, 2009 —

    THERE’S a video of Megan Fox we want to see. When the sizzling star of “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” went to director Michael Bay’s house to audition for the part, “He made her wash his Ferrari while he filmed her,” reports Jason Solomons in Britain’s Guardian. “She said she didn’t know what had happened to that footage. When I put it to Bay himself, he looked suitably abashed — ‘Er, I don’t know where it is either.’ ” Come on. Cough it up!

  29. John says:

    hey where is clot bragging about how great gold is?

  30. yo'me says:

    Oil, Gas Market Speculation May Face Restrictions by U.S. CFTC

    http://bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aQkKJvVJLVP4

  31. Stu says:

    Firestorm (from last thread):

    “Everything is mercury based :(”

    There is not a shred of evidence that has proven that vaccinations cause autism or other related health issues. I’ll happily take that risk over the greater likelihood of another plague. Same with living near powerlines. No conclusive evidence that electromagnetic fields cause cancer, yet whenever someone who lives near a powerline gets it, it was obviously the fault of the electric company and had nothing to do with the daily regiment of bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches. To each their own of course. When measles or small pox rears up once again, my son can get a job collecting the dead. I hope you and your loved ones are not among them. :P

  32. Shore Guy says:

    Gator,

    50×110, wow! Lord of the manor, I could be. Actually, upon reflection, it may be a bit too much land. There must be 5′ on either side of the house and one would grow weary of tending to all that.

  33. Shore Guy says:

    What has been going on with Au lately? I have not been paying attention.

  34. A.West says:

    Does anyone have opinions on the quality and issues associated with “contemporary” homes? I see a lot of them for sale on wooded lots in Warren and Watchung. Seems like most were built in the 1980s. They tend to have one wing of bedrooms on the right, one wing on the left, with the living rooms in between. On the surface, seems like a good way to keep the in-laws in their own zone, next to the kitchen.
    Do they fall apart? Do the skylights leak? I’ve heard that they’re harder to sell than mcmansions or colonials.

  35. Shore Guy says:

    A. West,

    So many of those things are just plain ugly. The ones that are essentially “carved” into their environment can be stunning. We are CHC people but very nearly bought a contemp built into the side of a hill overlooking a gorge, think Ithaca, NY. The street view was okay, but once one opened thw door, WOW!

    Unless the home is built to maximize the particular lot and view, though, I find little appeal in contemps and tend to think they appeal to a narrow niche of buyers, at least here in the NE.

  36. Shore Guy says:

    Oh, as far as resale vs. mcmansions, the mcmansions are currently in vogue, and may sell better right now, I don’t know. But, even if they do, so many of them seem to be built from junk, with little craftsmanship, and one tends to believe they will fall apart well before their time. As people come to this conclusion they will be as desirable as herpes — and like herpes, they will be easy to give away but hard to sell.

  37. grim says:

    I’ve heard that they’re harder to sell than mcmansions or colonials.

    NJ doesn’t really have a taste for contemporaries, the only real exception being the upper price ranges.

    Most mid-century contemporary homes in the area have been bastardized and turned into what I call “contemporonials”. Stripped of most of the architectural detail and transformed into something that attempts to be a colonial, but never gets there.

    Every once in a while an unmolested mid-century contemporary comes on the market, and it does find fans.

    Although you could probably sell 100 colonials and capes for a single contemporary.

    Good examples in North Jersey end up being either in Morris County, Northeastern Bergen, or in and around West Orange. These areas seem to have a cluster of these types of homes. Likewise, the area around Warren (I’ll call that Central), has a cluster as well.

    Old skylights are a risk, although if they aren’t leaking now, you’ll probably not have an issue. Homes that were built in a California style pose other problems. Flat top roofs require more maintenance and really aren’t designed for the rainfall and snowfall in this area, so they can be prone to leaks. Also, many of these homes have large expanses of single paned glass windows. Beautiful to look through, but absolutely terrible from an energy efficiency standpoint. You could replace these, but the windows would be custom and would cost in the tens of thousands of dollars.

    Whenever I have a contemporary client, I let them know that they are an exception and are likely to have problems when it comes to resale time.

    Very high-end contemporaries that have architectural pedigree are really in a world of their own. Buyers/sellers in this category are looking at these homes as works of art. On the low end, there are plenty of “contemporaries” that are really just trash, and should be avoided entirely.

    Now, are we talking mid-century (think Brady Bunch House) or late 80s contemporary? The late-80s style is very prominent in areas like Kinnelon and Boonton, etc. These guys are very different from mid-century contemporaries. These homes really are just traditional construction homes that have an architectural style that differs from a colonial. Lots of these are typical box construction homes with crazy angle roof lines, etc. Wood clad colonial?

  38. gary says:

    Prices are still f*cking crazy. I still cannot figure out how the f*ck people are swinging it. A 3bd/1bth shit* ranch in a semi-haughty town is still going for $500,000. If you put 20% down, the PITI is still running you around $3,200 a month. How the f*ck are people paying utilities, car insurance, medical insurance, food, phones, cable and the other 50 things that slowly suck the life out of you and still be able to survive. Again, an entry level POS for 500K!! It’s f*cking unreal, I just can’t comprehend this insanity.

  39. Pol Clot says:

    John (31)-

    Slow and steady wins the race. Au trading around $930 is not my idea of sucking.

  40. yo'me says:

    #41 It will come down to who can afford to pay is the buyer.In this environment were bank check your credibility to pay,with money left for other things is a requirement before closing.Just an example my previous post #22 in key west 5 million dollar homes and most probably a vacation home for the buyer.
    I never believe everybody can own a house.One will have to look to what they can afford.If seller will not go down in price move on.Find a desperate seller.Not everybody will need to sell on this market.
    Don’t get me wrong,i believe median prices will go down but not all sellers are desperate.After all 90% are still employed maybe some with savings or homes are paid.

  41. lisoosh says:

    Contemps – Love them. Grim is spot on in his analysis.

    Thimerisol/mercury – removed from immunizations, autism diagnoses still went up.
    Japan eliminated “suspect” immunizations (the ones people blamed for autism) and diagnoses still went up.

    High end members of Autism Speaks have left the organization because they believe the whole immunization thing is a red herring and that far too much money, time and advertising is wasted on it.

  42. lisoosh says:

    Anecdata – Gym is busier than ever in the mornings.
    Not just the moms and retirees any more, LOTS of people there at 9-10 am.

  43. grim says:

    Just an example my previous post #22 in key west 5 million dollar homes and most probably a vacation home for the buyer.

    The market you use as an example has nothing in common with the primary residence resale market.

    The dynamics that drive that market are very, very different from those that drive “this” market.

    Sure, both have walls and a roof, but the similarities end there.

  44. freedy says:

    got a report last night , closter,many homes seem to be run down up on the tony
    east hill, perhaps taxes starting to take the toll on upkeep on some of these homes.

    for sale signs allover the place.

    in closter? can’t be

  45. x-underwriter says:

    Edison and Newark in New Jersey have a 97 percent and 96 percent chance, respectively, and Nassau, New York, has a 92 percent chance. New York City showed an 88 percent chance of lower prices, according to PMI.

    That reminds me of that old church song, “100% Chance of Rain”

  46. grim says:

    #46 (cont)

    I think Clot had an interesting anecdote a few years back on this. I think it captures the essence of the difference perfectly.

    When a buyer of a $400,000 cape pays over asking, he’d be considered an idiot for doing so. The fact that he paid more than asking means that he lacked the negotiating prowess to secure a “good deal”. He must have gotten “taken”, or “suckered” into the deal.

    However, when the buyer of a $7,000,000 mansion pays over asking, doing so is a sign of power. He wanted the home, and he had the financial ability to secure it at any price. He was also financially able to outbid all of the other bidders, a sign that he was likely wealthier than his competitors. Overpaying for a status symbol in this case enhances that conspicuous consumption associated with it.

  47. yo'me says:

    #46 I am aware of the market being different just simply pointing out the different capacity of buyers.
    Back to my hole.
    .

  48. grim says:

    #46 I am aware of the market being different just simply pointing out the different capacity of buyers.

    Like talking about engagement ring shoppers at Fortunoff vs. Harry Winston. The latter could probably buy up a whole case worth of rings at the former for an equivalent cost. But would they?

  49. Seneca says:

    NJGator [23]

    >>8 Meadowbrook

    … is the place haunted or something?

    Sold in:
    6/92 = 236,500
    4/96 = 238,000
    12/98 = 295,000
    8/02 = 508,000
    7/04 = 585,000

    …and now for sale AGAIN for 550?!?!

    It photographs really well but something ain’t right about that house.

  50. Sean says:

    The End Is Nigh?

    Capitulation over at the kannekt realtor forumn for haughty Hoboken.

    http://www.hobokenx.com/html/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?topic_id=27291&start=90

  51. yo'me says:

    He wanted the home, and he had the financial ability to secure it at any price. He was also financially able to outbid all of the other bidders, a sign that he was likely wealthier than his competitors. Overpaying for a status symbol in this case enhances that conspicuous consumption associated with it.

    Exactly.The one that has a deep pocket is the buyer.

  52. still_looking says:

    Stu, lisoosh, 34,44

    Re Immunizations.

    Thanks.

    I’m done trying to convince morons regarding the alleged dangers of immunizing vs the REAL dangers of not immunizing.

    After the attracting the likes of that frustrated at-home-mom former uber executive turned pseudo-scientist like last time– now I just ignore the topic.

    Folks fools who don’t immunize do so at the risk of their own and others like them.

    sl

  53. John says:

    When I was up at Mohonk which attracts a wealther and older crowd there were tons of dual career couples in their 50’s with young adopted or autistic or handicapped kids. Men looked like they were 50 when and their wife’s 45 when they had their first kids. Successful wealthy ivy league educated couples having kids late in life surely cannot have rusty sperm or rotten eggs (or both), it must be the vaccine as they are perfect.

    Stu says:
    July 7, 2009 at 8:32 am
    Firestorm (from last thread):

    “Everything is mercury based :(”

    There is not a shred of evidence that has proven that vaccinations cause autism or other related health issues. I’ll happily take that risk over the greater likelihood of another plague. Same with living near powerlines. No conclusive evidence that electromagnetic fields cause cancer, yet whenever someone who lives near a powerline gets it, it was obviously the fault of the electric company and had nothing to do with the daily regiment of bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches. To each their own of course. When measles or small pox rears up once again, my son can get a job collecting the dead. I hope you and your loved ones are not among them. :P

  54. yo'me says:

    Like talking about engagement ring shoppers at Fortunoff vs. Harry Winston. The latter could probably buy up a whole case worth of rings at the former for an equivalent cost. But would they?

    Elite mentality do apply to the low end.
    NO? Look at all the wannabe homes of the rich and famous.

  55. grim says:

    #54 – I was part of a negotiation in the $2.5 million range that fell apart over a $7,500 difference.

  56. yo'me says:

    #57 I guess that is not his price range.Find something $7500 lower.

  57. Pol Clot says:

    sean (53)-

    That thread is pathetic.

  58. grim says:

    #58 – Dollars were completely irrelevant. Buyer could have afforded more, and we’re talking about tenths of a percentage point for the seller. The negotiation had everything to do with who was going to break first. Both sides made big concessions during the negotiation, but ultimately it came down to who was going to bend over the last outstanding issue.

  59. renter says:

    55

    Why? I don’t understand why you would purposely give your child a disease? What do you think about this still looking?

    http://astrology.yahoo.com/channel/parenting/should-you-purposely-give-your-child-chicken-pox-444027/

  60. Alap says:

    Would a price of 30% off 2006 peak price be a pretty good deal at this point in time?

  61. grim says:

    From Bloomberg:

    U.S. Home-Equity Loan Delinquencies Set Record in First Quarter

    Late payments on home-equity loans rose to a record in the first quarter as 18 straight months of job losses and a slumping economy left more borrowers unable to pay their debts, the American Bankers Association reported.

    Delinquencies on home-equity loans climbed to 3.52 percent of all accounts in the quarter from 3.03 percent in the fourth and late payments on home-equity lines of credit climbed to a record 1.89 percent, the group said. An index of eight types of loans rose for a fourth straight quarter, to 3.23 percent from 3.22 percent in October through December, the group said.

    “The number one driver of delinquencies is job loss,” James Chessen, the group’s chief economist, said in an e-mailed statement. “Delinquencies won’t improve until companies start hiring again and we see a significant economic turnaround.”

  62. yo'me says:

    #60 And this don’t happen in the low end?That is why there is bidding wars on the flip side.

  63. John says:

    http://www.jetnation.com/?p=2546

    very good article discussing economics around new Giant stadium

  64. still_looking says:

    renter, 61

    I’m not sure what your point is.

    Many parents years ago had “chickenpox parties” and kids piled together to get exposed, get the illness early, and develop immunity.

    Now there is a vaccine for chickenpox. May or may not be as effective as a “real” exposure.

    And why would you attend a chickenpox party?

    Because as an adult, chickenpox is significantly more lethal than when you contract it as a child.

    http://www.nfid.org/pdf/factsheets/varicellaadult.pdf

    sl

  65. kettle1 says:

    SL

    Shingles, as an adult SUCKS!!!!!!

    imagine a piece of cloth such as a shirt lightly brushing your skin being very painful, now consider that condition over half your body for a week strait!

  66. Silera says:

    Once one cousing got chicken pox, we were all sent over to get sick. I’m pretty sure we were vaccinated too, it was almost like a failsafe.

    This one is an ouch.

    Sold 12/28/2005 for $550K in Ridgefield NJ. Under Contract currently for $375K. Over 30% nominal loss alone.

    http://www.century21.com/property/index.jsp?id=35293205

  67. zieba says:

    RE: bidding wars and class warfare

    I was standing outside a bakery in Montauk last Saturday waiting for my order to be filled. An older gentleman parked his silver Ferrari F430, went inside and started haggling over the price of a cheesecake.

    Plenty of no vacancy signs lit despite the fact that rt27 was a parking lot. I left East Hampton at 11:30PM at night and didn’t get home until sometime after 3AM.

  68. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [66] still

    I seem to recall from my youth that when a sibling got chicken pox (I did), mom packed the other sibs in bed with the sick sib so that they would get it and be immunized (though I don’t recall my siblings ever getting it). I never heard of parties though. Is that because so many kids are only children and playdates are the only way they interact with others? Seems kinda sick but it is really a modern variant of an old mothering technique.

  69. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [67] kettle

    I have an awful sunburn right now. So thanks for reminding me of the pain.

  70. Stu says:

    Nom, Still:

    When my brother got it at age 9, mom made us all share the same towel. I was only three, but I still remember living on the toilet for a couple of days. I’ll take the shot please.

  71. still_looking says:

    ket, 67,

    Been there, done that.

    If you had the body type, it’s not half your body, it’s (usually) half of the dermatome or nerve root distribution.

    Consider yourself lucky if you had the body one. There are 3 dermatomes of the face. Some folks get the facial kind. Picture that rash over half your face. And if you are really unfortunate to have the V1 distribution — then your vision is at risk as well. It affects the cornea and can result in scarring and blindness.

    (I had L1 – lumbar 1 and had a hip/flank rash that radiated forward to the front when I was 18 and yes, it sucked.)

    sl

  72. still_looking says:

    Nom, 70/71

    Not so sick if you think of the practicality of it.

    Um… did you miss my lecture on sunburns, skin cancer and the use of sunblock, skin mapping and such?

    oy.

    sl

  73. Alap says:

    How does one determine if the property tax should be disputed? How can I find out the tax rate for a specific town and determine if the tax being paid is too high?

  74. kettle1 says:

    Nom,

    did you get e-mail about last weekend?

  75. John says:

    Adults who had chicken pox as a kid who are under stress, poor health or have bad immune systems get shingles, I had chicken pox as a child but since I have the body of a greek god, better looking than Brad Pitt, in better health than an olymic athlete and I am richer than Warren Buffet I am confident I will never contract shingles.

    The interesting thing about shingles is you can’t catch it. However, if someone never had chicken pox and did not receive the vacince they can catch chicken pox from someone with shingles . Children under 1 have not yet received the vacine so you shingly people need to stay clear of infants.

    I think the worst would be to have gout, shingles and hemmoroids at same time. All non life threatening but you may want to kill yourself if you had all three at once.

    kettle1 says:

    July 7, 2009 at 10:19 am
    SL

    Shingles, as an adult SUCKS!!!!!!

    imagine a piece of cloth such as a shirt lightly brushing your skin being very painful, now consider that condition over half your body for a week strait!

  76. Pol Clot says:

    I think I’ve caught brain shingles from John.

  77. #77 I had chicken pox as a child but since I have the body of a greek god

    Hephaestus?

    I actually had chicken pox as a kid and again as an adult.

  78. Sean says:

    re: #65 – John – Jingle Mail for the Jets and Giants?

    I don’t think either team was able to refi those Auction Rate Bonds used to finance the Stadium construction and they are now paying very high interest rates.

    If they don’t sell out the PSLs they are going to be raising prices quite a bit more for everything else.

  79. yo'me says:

    # 75 Got a pre construction i bought in 2004 with delivery in 2006.Assessment was for 2006 prices.Appealed for current prices and got a stipulation offer at 2002 assessments,wich are still assessed higher.
    Can’t say you can get the current selling price as the assessment but it is still better to get something lower.When they increase the tax rate the one that did not appeal will get hit more.

  80. hughesrep says:

    Tales from the front line:

    We signed a contract on a house yesterday. Negotiated down to about what I wanted to pay for it, also got a sellers concession for some of the closing costs.

    In a vaccuum I think we probably paid a bit more than it is worth. However due to a few other factors it was worth it to us. It’s in my wife’s school district, but not her exact school, it’s got a bigger back yard than most other homes in the town. Pool is done, sprinkler system is in, so that saves me some hassle.

    Twenty percent down, and we get a mortgage we could stretch to handle on one salary if we had to.

    Most likely will be the last home I buy, so were are OK with it depreciating over the short term. The thought of renting for a year and moving twice with two kids under two didn’t hold a lot of appeal to save in essence a few months salary.

    Assuming two inspections, appraisals, and closings actually happen, in about six weeks I’ll be the proud owner of a bigger bag.

    But my god they had awful taste. I’ll be buying primer in the five gallon buckets.

  81. John says:

    According to the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research group, about 4.3 million of 150 million U.S. households filing tax returns will earn more than $200,000 this year.

  82. homeboken says:

    RE: The Jets, classic circle of life.

    PSL’s in place -> Fans can’t/won’t pay->gameday seats empty->TV blackout->fans lose interest->franchise collapses.

    The only beneficiary of this is Direct TV. The NFL can’t black-out that broadcast.

  83. kettle1 says:

    pro sports,

    just another bubble…

  84. Victorian says:

    hughesrep (82) –

    Congratulations and good luck!

  85. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [74] still

    used 50 sunblock and reapplied and still got fried. Badly too. There must be something in Jersey Shore water that just strips it from one’s body. The little deplume did not swim much and only got slightly singed (again, using 50 and reapplying). I even shirted up for a long time or stayed under cover. I never fried so quickly and so badly for having tried so hard not to burn.

  86. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    latest from CBO on how we had better make sure there is plenty of vaseline on hand when the “affordable” health care plan passes.

    http://www.cbo.gov/ftpdocs/104xx/doc10431/07-02-HELPltr.pdf

  87. Firestormik says:

    RE: Stu:
    There is not a shred of evidence that has proven that vaccinations cause autism or other related health issues.
    ————————————
    Nothing is proven and nobody knows why it happens and why most of the cases are in NJ. Again, I don’t advocate it’s true, but I can understand these parents and trust me, you would be one of them if you were in their situation.

  88. veto that says:

    hughesrep, congrats.
    if home is not an investment it sounds like you made the right decision already.
    and hopefully it turns out to be a good investment too.

  89. Sean says:

    R.I.P. CompuServe

  90. NJGator says:

    Nom 88 – And I thought I was the only one who sunburned wearing SPF 45. At least I was in Bermuda though.

  91. NJGator says:

    Alap 75 – what county are you in?

  92. freedy says:

    is this a real estate blog or medical?

  93. TomS says:

    Nom,

    I’ve been in vegas and florida this summer and so far I managed to get the most fried laying by the pool for two hours this past Sunday. Must be something in the jersey air. :)

  94. Alap says:

    NJGator – Middlesex

    Made offer on a place in Piscataway. Taxes seem a bit high for the property.

  95. sastry says:

    Goldman May Lose Millions From Ex-Worker’s Code Theft (from Bloomberg)

    … and they gain billions through ex-workers’ theft of the taxpayer money.

    S

  96. goonsquad says:

    [52] That house in Short Hills backs up to a marble and tile warehouse. Flipping that house is as easy as taking a stroll through your back yard.

  97. 3b says:

    #82 hughes rep:to save in essence a few months salary.

    Congrats. But I would not assume it will be just a few months salary. The difference in closed prices from last year to this year, is much more than a few months salary.

    Also keep in mind the cap on property tax deduction on your NJ state income tax. 150k or more can only deduct 5k of property taxes, 250k or more zero. It is only supposed to be in effect for 1 year, but I highly doubt that will be the case.

  98. Firestormik says:

    still,55
    I agree with you, but in NJ it’s overdone. Usless flu shot, originally designed for old folks mandatory given to kids twice a year? And yes, you can get it without mercury, but really hard to find

  99. #92 – No way! How will my PDP-11 connect to the intarwebs?
    Well, I guess I do always have my Prodigy account…

    I desperately wanted a Compuserve account when I was a kid in the late 70’s and early 80’s. It was just way too expensive at the time, IIRC like $14 an hour.

  100. jcer says:

    How do you burn with 50spf, I was in mexican caribbean in march and it is very, very sunny there and still came back pretty white using spf 50 3 times a day, 9am, then 12pm, then again at 3 or 4pm and I was swimming, wore a shirt(Dark color) and a hat. I don’t burn terribly easily but I also apply a ton of sunblock, so much so that after showering I still smell like it, I also use 8-hour glue like sunblock. In Jersey I only apply once or twice a day with good results. Other things to keep in mind, stay in the shade, cover what you can, clothing is more effective than sunblock esp. if it is spf rated. Don’t worry the thinning ozone will make sunburns even WORSE!

  101. Firestormik says:

    renter@61
    Anecdata from Belgium,
    My sister’s son recently got chicken pox, so she called the childcare to let them know he is not coming because of that. Answer? That’s good, bring him in!
    :)

  102. veto that says:

    where’s chifi today?
    i recently read that higher education article that he posted last week.

    http://www.nypost.com/seven/06282009/postopinion/opedcolumnists/dont_get_that_college_degree__176545.htm

    extremely thought provoking imo. I read it twice. Some parts couldn’t be more wrong yet at the same time hit the nail right on the head. i kicked myself for not having thought of some of that stuff previously.

    Its shameful when you have to rely on the NY Post and Rolling Stone to get decent analysis.

  103. yo'me says:

    Gator: I hope you don’t mind me asking;Did you get current selling price as your assessment when you won your tax appeal?

  104. Alexnyc88 says:

    This seems to be true for at least 2 areas that i am tracking since 2003 or so.
    Fort Lee (where we want to buy), still no notisable drop in prices, most ask prices are 2005-2006 peak levels. The only good thing i guess is i dont see much selling (at least according to Zillow, maybe realtors here can write a little overview on what is selling and for how much in Fort Lee? Would be very much appreciated).

    Similar situation in Jackson Heights, Queens, NYC. Apartment asking prices are completely insane. 350-500K for a 2-bedroom with $1000 maintanance in a Coop buildings (albeit nicer ones).

    Finally one thing i noticed that is interesting – 5 or 6 houses that had 4Sale signs in the area now have SOLD attached to the label. Question to the crowd, whats the point of having SOLD thing added, why not just remove the label if its sold? These things have been “SOLD” for about a month now, somehow i have my doubts that this are is picking up given the demographics.

  105. R.I.P. CompuServe

    I also just remembered how many people used to give out their CS IDs before email became prevalent.

  106. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [102] jcer

    If I knew the answer, I wouldn’t be so %(^&# burned, now would I?

  107. 3b says:

    #104 veto:Some parts couldn’t be more wrong yet at the same time hit the nail right on the head.

    Which parts did you consider wrong?

  108. NJGator says:

    105 yo’me – Our town revalued for 2007 tax year. We bought in 04, so we are currently assessed above our sale price. Our appraisal which we are using in our appeal for the current tax year is slightly higher than our 2004 purchase price. I expect we will be assessed within 50k of our purchase price after our current appeal is heard or settled.

    However, based on comps to date so far this year, I expect to be assessed at less than my 2004 purchase price after we appeal for the 2010 tax year.

  109. Ben says:

    I think we need a new slogan. “Sell now or be stuck with your overpriced home forever”.

  110. Pol Clot says:

    fire (103)-

    The Belgians also eat french fries with mayonnaise & think that’s a good idea, too.

  111. Pol Clot says:

    Come to think of it, I like fries and mayonnaise.

  112. Sean says:

    Anybody see this NY Times slideshow from the weekend?

    Ruins of the Second Gilded Age

    http://www.nytimes.com/slideshow/2009/07/05/magazine/20090705-gilded-slideshow_4.html

  113. Ben says:

    Vaccinations don’t cause autism. Increases in autism are simply a product of doctors increasing their diagnosis of the ailment. In reality, it’s really the parents looking to find an explanation as to why junior isn’t doing so well in school. Parents look to label their children with any learning disability they can, and with the invention of “slight autism”, we can label anyone with a learning disability.

  114. yo'me says:

    Gator:Congratulations.I hope you can keep on winning your appeals.

  115. lisoosh says:

    still – do you have a link to that Scandinavian longitudinal study on vaccines? Where they studied something like 50,000 kids and found that incidences of autism were no higher in those who were vaccinated compared to those who weren’t.

    firestormik – see above.

    All the time, energy and resources which go towards the dead end of vaccines should be trying to find out if there is anything which really IS causing increases in autism (as opposed to increased DIAGNOSES which is not the same thing). Terrorizing neurotic new parents is counterproductive but there is an anti-vaccination bandwagon that insists on doing just that.

  116. John says:

    There is no ozone in NJ as it has been depleted by the big haired bayone hose monsters spraying excess amounts of VO5

    TomS says:
    July 7, 2009 at 11:14 am
    Nom,

    I’ve been in vegas and florida this summer and so far I managed to get the most fried laying by the pool for two hours this past Sunday. Must be something in the jersey air. :)

  117. #114 – Thanks for the link.

  118. John says:

    Maybe we should neuter men and women when they turn 40, that would really cut down on autism.

  119. kettle1 says:

    Ben,

    “slight autism”

    that would be Aspergers or if you really want to piss some one off A$$burgers.

    And i agree that autism and associated diagnosis are way overdiagnosed, apparently we have forgotten that little boys dont act like adults

    not a DR just my worhtless 2 cents

  120. lisoosh says:

    Had mumps at 18 and it sucked big time (also sent the guys at my job into a panic).

    Had chicken pox at 19 and that sucked big time too. Was in college and they put me into quarantine.

    Only way to prevent my delicate North-Eastern European features from burning in the sun is to hide under a blanket in a dark room during daylight hours. It truly sucks. I’m practically a vampire. Luckily my kids inherited their fathers more swarthy middle-eastern skin tones.

  121. Ruggles says:

    110 – NJGator – do you get a new appraisal everytime you appeal or are you using the 04 one with from your purchase?

  122. grim says:

    #113 – Pommes Frites in NYC.

    Good stuff.

  123. Stu says:

    Ben (115): I couldn’t agree more. We all knew kids growing up who were slightly off. There was the kid who couldn’t have sugar or the kid who feared everything (we nicknamed him Thunder). Today there is a three-letter code for everything.

    I know one particular 5 year-old who is way above the grade in everything. He has been diagnosed with some kind of auditory disorder where he doesn’t do well when there are loud noises, yet he plays his drum-set for hours on end. His (hippy dippy) mother seems to try very hard to find things wrong with him. She subscribes to all of those parenting magazines that I made Gator swear she would never read prior to having our child. I honestly can’t even tell there is anything wrong this kid. He will be included in those autism statistics for sure.

  124. NJGator says:

    123 Ruggles – We appealed without an appraisal the first time. Settled completely on comps.

    You really need a new appraisal each year. The appraisal should only use sales from the current assessing period. In addition, if you go to hearing and do not settle beforehand, your appraiser must appear to testify, or you cannot submit the report as evidence.

    You do not need an appraisal to appeal. None of the appellants we observed had one. We hired one this year, because there were few sales and they were all over the map and we wanted some professional guidance on what to ask for, as I personally feel that we settled too high last time around.

  125. lisoosh says:

    Pol Clot says:
    July 7, 2009 at 11:35 am

    “Come to think of it, I like fries and mayonnaise.”

    So do I. Very tasty with some Trappist.

  126. still_looking says:

    Nom, Tom, Gator and Lisoosh,

    all else fails…. zinc oxide (yes, that white paste) and hat (preferably wide brim, or at least a fisherman’s hat for the guys.)

    I’d rather look weird from protecting my skin than look weird after a wide excisional surgery and skin grafting.

    The maggoty patient I saw a month ago likely had those maggots teeming in the cratered remains of a longstanding skin cancer.

    A preventable skin cancer.

    I tell you because I care. I could be watching reruns of “Dead Like Me” instead.

    /off soapbox

    sl

  127. tostayornottostay says:

    Has anyone on the board any experience with HSP – Hennoch-schonlein Purpura? My 7 year old son was just diagnosed with it. (I hadnt even heard of it till yesterday.)Red spots on lower legs,head arm and leg aches (but not at joints), bad stomach ache… What was your experience with it? Did it recur in your case? What precautions/signs should I be considering?

    Thanks a ton in advance!

  128. lisoosh says:

    John says:
    July 7, 2009 at 11:42 am

    “There is no ozone in NJ as it has been depleted by the big haired bayone hose monsters spraying excess amounts of VO5 ”

    You may be on to something there.

  129. Silera says:

    “Maybe we should neuter men and women when they turn 40, that would really cut down on autism.”

    Couldn’t agree more. Kids of older parents are either born more retarded or made more retarded by their obsessive over attentive parents. They tend to be only kids and socially stunted too.

  130. still_looking says:

    Clot, lis,

    me too… the once a year indulgence of just fried, sizzling hot french fries dipped in mayo with the salt rolling off….

    mmmmmmmm

    sl

  131. confused in NJ says:

    American people have always been Obese. What’s changed is doctors have better scales to diagnose the condition.

  132. Matthew says:

    #124 – mmmmm Pommes Frites on 2nd Ave … with that mango mayo …

  133. still_looking says:

    stay/not,

    never had it, have seen it in its mild form.

    http://www.aafp.org/afp/980800ap/980800b.html

    nice basic info on HSP.

    sl

  134. John says:

    A surtax would be levied on adjusted gross income, before deductions for items such as mortgage interest and charitable gifts. Regular income taxes are assessed after such write-offs.

    Bet many a person who though the rich tax for people over 200K would be based on after tax income not gross income.

  135. John says:

    I should sell some of my manly blood to you folks. No germ or desease stands a fighting chance in my body.

  136. still_looking says:

    lis, 117

    will look for it.

    sl

  137. jcer says:

    Stu highly intelligent children often exhibit strange behavior and are not Autistic, etc, they may have some form of “learning Disability” meaning not necessarily are they slow at learning but rather learn differently or suffer from mild physical disabilities that negatively effect learning rates. Autism must include an inability to socially develop. If the person has socialization issues then it is possible autism otherwise I’d categorically say definitely not. In my family we have a second cousin who is a little odd, he is an engineer, acts bizarre, and has no real social interaction. We think he is autistic and was never diagnosed, his mother had him at 40 years old in the 50’s. I think the autism link is the age at which mothers are having children. He is neither particularly smart or dumb but is socially incapable of carrying on normal human relationships.

  138. lisoosh says:

    128- Alive with maggots or dead with maggots?

    Surgically applied maggots (to remove dying tissue) or did the patient just pick them up somewhere?

  139. still_looking says:

    John,

    F*cking onions is keeping you immune…

    from human contact and germs alike.

    sl

  140. still_looking says:

    Lis, 140

    Just picked them up.

    Only came to the ER because she noticed them spilling out of the wound and, of course, the f*cking godawful smell of flyblown meat that used to be her leg.

    sl

  141. HEHEHE says:

    My brother just had the shingles. Said it wasn’t that bad.

  142. A.West says:

    Grim (40)
    Thanks for the advice. That’s the sort of insight I wish I could get from a real estate broker. So far they just say stuff like, oh yes, it’s a great house, great schools, great neighborhood, great time to buy (wow down 10% from fantasyland peak prices!).

    By the way, here is a stereotypical higher-end contemporary for the Warren area.
    They all seem similar. Rectangles with triangles on top, but the interiors are usually quite nice.
    http://www.homes.com/listing/87923775#stay

  143. lisoosh says:

    139 – First time I read about Aspergers I sent a copy to my sister and mom. Instantaneously they both replied “That’s Dad”.

    Super intelligent engineer. Obviously high functioning but poor social skills.

    They’re all over the place (engineering is full of them, as a friend says, engineers are “special people”) none of them were diagnosed because the diagnosis didn’t exist.

  144. lisoosh says:

    #142 -Double ew.

  145. John says:

    Pretty much a standard three level escalation policy is need to deal with these unrully brats.
    1st offense, over lap beat with belt
    2nd offense, over lap, pants down beat with belt.
    3rd offense, pants down, beat with buckle side of belt
    4th offense, boarding school.

    jcer says:
    July 7, 2009 at 12:01 pm
    Stu highly intelligent children often exhibit strange behavior and are not Autistic, etc, they may have some form of “learning Disability” meaning not necessarily are they slow at learning but rather learn differently or suffer from mild physical disabilities that negatively effect learning rates. Autism must include an inability to socially develop. If the person has socialization issues then it is possible autism otherwise I’d categorically say definitely not. In my family we have a second cousin who is a little odd, he is an engineer, acts bizarre, and has no real social interaction. We think he is autistic and was never diagnosed, his mother had him at 40 years old in the 50’s. I think the autism link is the age at which mothers are having children. He is neither particularly smart or dumb but is socially incapable of carrying on normal human relationships.

  146. Shore Guy says:

    AW,

    From that listing:

    5 br,4 ba,1-½ ba
    3631 sq. ft.

    In all that space ans with all those bedrooms 1 ½ baths? What were they thinking?

  147. lisoosh says:

    kettle1 says:
    July 7, 2009 at 11:44 am

    “apparently we have forgotten that little boys dont act like adults”

    Preschools these days have forgotten that little boys are supposed to act like little boys.

    I’ve seen more than a few parents of sons had their childs teacher insist they may be ADHD or have some other issue when a 3 year old boy has trouble sitting in place for a long time.

    Nuts.

    I also have an issue with “developmental delays” which are experienced by over 20% of a population (say young boys). If it is over 20%, why on earth is it considered a delay and not the back end of a normal spectrum?

    Also nuts.

    Its the homogenization of the human race.

  148. John says:

    20% of boys are stupid. Nothing new about that. Why do you think we have so many male cops, firemen, soldiers, ice truckers, bikers, murders, drug dealers, criminals, stunt car drivers who are men? Women are too smart to do stuff that gets them killed or in prision.

  149. A.West says:

    Shore,
    I don’t know what that extra 1.5 baths refers to. It’s a 5 br 4ba, maybe the basement also has 1.5 baths?

    I’d be happy with 4 or 5 beds and 3.5 or more bathrooms, which is why that example is higher-end than I’m looking for. I’ve seen similar models where the right wing is 2 floors, but the secondary wing is only 1 floor.

    I’ve seen houses claiming 3.5 baths, only to find that the master bedroom had a bath, and the other 3 bedrooms upstairs got to share one bathroom. An extra bathroom in the basement sure as heck doesn’t make up for that, when asking nearly $1 million for a 4/3.5 house.

  150. Shore Guy says:

    Hughes,

    Congratulations!

    One thing, though. What on earth are you doing buying a home you can aford on one salary? How on earth do you ever expect to get bailed out by the government and your prudent neighbors if you don’t overextend yourself?

  151. Shore Guy says:

    “Many parents years ago had “chickenpox parties”

    1970s NJ suburbs:

    Chickenpox parties by day,
    keyparties by night.

  152. Ben says:

    Stu, sounds like a classic case of ADD. Far from being a learning disorder, ADD is actually a learning advantage when you are able to focus their obsessive energy (in this kid’s case, the drums) towards academic work. I have ADD. It just means I can’t listen to you if you are boring. Give me something I’m interested in and I can spend years focused on it.

  153. Stu says:

    Yes congrats Hughesrep.

    Shoreguy, I 100% plan to push it to the limit next year when I buy my 2nd house. I won’t buy something too large for our needs, but I will definitely put as little skin in to the game as possible. What good is having good credit if the credit card companies and lenders aren’t lending anyway. I learned my lesson about the large downpayment.

  154. kettle1 says:

    lisoosh,

    in my opinion its tied in with the whole “we are all equally abled” Bull$hit. different people have different abilities. get over it

    I will never even come close to running as fast as an Olympic sprinter and will never be a competitive gymnast. if someone cannot pass the physical test to be a firefighter we lower the requirements of the test because one of the applicants might have an XX as opposed to XY?

    Its not politically acceptable to admit that different people are capable of different levels of achievement in different areas. At some level this is genetic and no prep class or sports coach is going to change it.

    Instead of letting people excel at whatever their natural talents or predispositions are every one must be pounded into the same mold.

    its makes the sheep easier to manage that way…. make people afraid of standing out, and keeping the heard moving in the direction you want is much easier.

    /a little bitter after they tried to pound me into the mold. didnt work very well.

  155. kettle1 says:

    John 151

    actually men have a wider bell curve for mental performance. That means more really dumb guys then woman, but it also means more super smart men then super smart woman.

    that does not in any reflect on the talents of a particular individual, but does mean trying to have an equal # of male and females in any one job is generally idiotic. men and woman will generally self select for the fields they are best suited for.

  156. chicagofinance says:

    spoiler from Bruno

    Review excerpt…

    Stage mothers and fathers who will do anything to see their children in a film make for the comic high point. One readily consents to liposuction for her preschooler. Another, informed his offspring would be expected to dress in a Nazi uniform and push a wheelbarrow carrying a Jewish baby into an oven, calmly responds, “that’s fine, as long as he gets the gig.”

  157. Stu says:

    I have a learning disorder as well. I suppose I am semi ADD and I have a terrible memory for things that don’t interest me. I have simply learned to compensate for it. Little Gator appears to have the same issue. When he was about 2 years old, his teacher asked us to get his hearing checked since he didn’t appear to listen very well. I said he was day dreaming. I still do it if the topic is lame. When invited on conference calls at work where I’m not needed, I have an impossible time focusing on it. As a parent, I now know what my mom had to deal with. I also know that no amount of pushing or threats will make any difference. Best thing to do in this case is to find issues that he finds interesting and support his habit.

  158. x-underwriter says:

    Ben says:
    It just means I can’t listen to you if you are boring.

    Problem is, 99% of the crap you do in corporate america is of the boring variety. I suffer the same problem as well.

  159. lisoosh says:

    Shore Guy says:
    July 7, 2009 at 12:24 pm

    “keyparties by night.”

    From a Reno 911 ad:

    “What if you don’t drive? If you walk there can you still get f%$#ed”

  160. hughesrep says:

    Thanks.

    99 3b

    Certainly a possibility. It’s a risk(certainty?) I was willing to live with. We were also looking in a lower dollar range than many here are accustomed, and in Monmouth County, not Brigadoon. In dollar terms the risk was not something that would be revoverable over a fairly short period of time

    153 Shore

    When I ran some calculation on CNN’s money page on how much house we could “afford” it told me the conservative estimate was about 30% more than I was looking to spend. I guess I am an ultra conservative?

  161. lisoosh says:

    “everybody has to be equal”

    Agree with the comments above.

    Somewhere along the line having equal rights has become confused with everybody has to be the same.

    It’s my biggest problem with American Feminism (British feminism is different in ways I can’t get into here), it isn’t acceptable to admit that you can be equal in terms of rights or value but different in terms of ability.

    Different abilities should be allowed to be complementary -everybody filling the role they are naturally the best fit for.

    And why is it ADD to not be able to focus on something which is boring? Who on earth can????

  162. ricky_nu says:

    oh the humanity – they just blocked out access to “theonion.com” at my work….

    where will I get my news?

  163. NJGator says:

    Lisoosh 164 – Can I have my trophy now?

  164. hughesrep says:

    163 shoudl be “In dollar terms the risk was not something that would be irrecoverable over a fairly short period of time

  165. Shore Guy says:

    ““What if you don’t drive? If you walk there can you still get f%$#ed””

    I am pretty sure Corzine and B.O. guarantee that will be happening.

  166. Shore Guy says:

    Hughes,

    One piece of unsolicited advice, from someone who approached things the same way as you:

    Keep your amortization schedule handy. Each month, especially in the first 5-10 years, pay your current payment and then make an extra payment equal to the next month’s (or next two month’s) principal payment. Each time you do this look at the interest you have saved as a result of the extra payment (and for fun, calculate the instant return on that investment). Before long you will be able to afford to pay for the place by collecting cans for deposit money, if need be.

  167. Shore Guy says:

    “British feminism”

    If that involves women dressing like Emma Peel, I am all for it.

  168. grim says:

    From HousingWire:

    Moody’s Downgrades $6.26bn of Jumbo RMBS

    Moody’s Investor Service took the red pen to 237 tranches of 40 residential mortgage-backed securities (RMBS) backed by jumbo loans in excess of the conforming loan limit ($729,750).

    Together the relevant downgraded RMBS totals $6.26bn.

    Moody’s downgraded $4.25bn of jumbo RMBS issued by Wells Fargo. The ratings agency downgraded ratings of 104 tranches from 21 RMBS transactions backed by prime jumbo loans issued by Wells in 2004. It also downgraded $362m of jumbo RMBS issued by GMACM Mortgage Trust in 2003 and 2004. The agency downgraded ratings of 31 tranches from five GMACM Mortgage Trust RMBS transactions backed by prime jumbo loans.

    Moody’s downgraded $75m of jumbo RMBS issued by ABN AMRO Mortgage Corp. The downgrades occured in just four tranches of a single RMBS transaction backed by prime jumbo mortgages issued in 2003. Moody’s bumped the four ABN AMRO RMBS tranches to “Aa3″ from “Aaa.”

    The rating agency also downgraded $786m of jumbo RMBS issued by Bear Stearns ARM Trust from 2002 through 2004. The agency downgraded ratings of 98 tranches from 13 Bear Stearns ARM Trust RMBS transactions. Downgrades to jumbo RMBS issued by a firm long defunct speaks to the depth of the pain unwinding in the space.

    “These actions are a result of Moody’s updated loss expectations on the underlying collateral relative to available credit enhancement,” the rating agency says in a press statement today.

  169. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [166] gator,

    I am pleased to announce the recipient of this year’s Libertarian Trophy for first place in the category of Tax Assessment Appeals.

    The envelope please . . .

    This year’s winner is . . . .

    NJGator!!!!!

    (crowd applaudes wildly).

  170. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    applauds even (had a Quale momemt)

  171. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [157] kettle

    I recall hearing somewhere the following quote:

    “God did not create all men equal. Colonel Colt did.”

  172. Shore Guy says:

    Does she get a crown like in Gainsville?

  173. NJGator says:

    It’s a tiara, Shore.

  174. Shore Guy says:

    Nom,

    Just go get a potatoe, all will be well.

  175. Shore Guy says:

    I stand corrected, Gator. It must be my visceral dislike for anything “royal” that fogged my brain.

    Well, that or just my geezer brain.

  176. lisoosh says:

    NJGator says:
    July 7, 2009 at 12:54 pm

    “Lisoosh 164 – Can I have my trophy now?”

    With a $10 registration fee.

  177. Ben says:

    “And why is it ADD to not be able to focus on something which is boring? Who on earth can????”

    lisoosh, it’s just like Stu said. No amount of coaxing or threats make a difference. They like to try to label students that refuse to read literature and history that score 800 on their Math SATs as slightly Autistic. The reality is, they just don’t give a damn about certain subjects.

    Of course, no one likes to listen or pay attention to something that’s boring…but for certain people, it’s literally impossible. For most kids that get diagnosed with ADD (whether or not it’s a true diagnosis), the simple fact is, it’s easier for them to learn with their eyes rather than their ears. They do it on their time on and their terms.

    There are a million give away signs to these types of kids. Stu knows a kid that’s obsessed with the drums. I went through a phase where I had to be dribbling a basketball 8 hours a day. I got obsessed with Computer Programming when I was 14. I got obsessed with finance and markets 3 years ago, which is why I’m always here posting. Most parents, including my mother, try to label their kids with ADHD because of these types of things. My mom wanted an explanation for why I was getting straight Ds in high school. I was too busy writing computer programs to do homework…it was that simple. People always try to find some wacky explanation as to why a kid can fail his way through high school and suddenly ace the math section on the SATs. The truth is, school is boring to them, and they are not nearly being challenged enough.

    I find it truly ironic that we try to label some of the smartest kids around with a learning disability and treat them like they have a problem when the fact of the matter is, a lot of these kids have more intellect and ability in their pinky than the so called professionals that claim these children have a problem.

  178. Shore Guy says:

    Oh! OH! That’s it!

    We can organize a Miss Housing Bubble contest. Instead of traditional beauty contest, excuse me — scholarship contest — the contestents can do real-estate-bubble related things, like untrash a foreclosed home and prepare it for resale. If everyonewants them in evening gowns or bathing suits while doing so, I will not object.

    C’mon, get to thinking. Registration fees could cover the costs and provide money for a group Nompound.

  179. kettle1 says:

    Ben,

    its easier to say the child is broken, then it is to admit the system is beyond repair.

  180. Shore Guy says:

    Miss Housing Bust, even

  181. kettle1 says:

    Ben,

    there is serious money in “fixing” broken children. much more so then trying to fix a broken system that just happens to be rigged in your favor

  182. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [177] shore

    Just had some potatoe salade. Does that count?

  183. gary says:

    I can’t wait to see the effects of the Oblama health care plan when it’s stuffed down the throats of the proletarians and the wannabe bourgeoisie. Imagine the look on the face of Mummy and Daddy when they’re instructed to bring little Graydon to a government run facility in East Orange for immunization. I can see it now: standing on line for six hours for an injection by a doctor who speaks a language never before heard in America as he reaches for an exposed hypodermic needle sitting on top of a counter next to yesterday’s Chinese takeout containers while little Graydon is flanked by an inebriated gunshot victim behind him and a full-blown TB case in front of him hacking up a lung on Graydon’s sister, Ellery. Beautiful.

  184. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [183] shore

    “Miss Housing Bust”

    There’s a joke in there somewhere, I just know it.

  185. Shore Guy says:

    John can even organize a drywall mud wrestling contest. A show of strength and agility, no doubt.

  186. DANZUD says:

    So during working hours, this is the NJ RE/ADD/Shingles Report?

  187. NJGator says:

    Shore – don’t forget the regal wave – elbow, elbow, wrist, wrist, wrist.

  188. Shore Guy says:

    Nom,

    “Errecting barriers to home ownership”

    Or something like that.

  189. Danzud says:

    Regarding the Post article above, but if you don’t go to school, where do you learn about bailouts? Learning that Obama is god is easy, that’s why TV is for….

  190. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [186] gary

    This wannabe bourgeoisie’s little Ellery will lawyer up. A call to the law firm of Pissed Off Mommy and Daddy, Attorneys at Law, will make sure that East Orange is only a GPS coordinate that our little Ellerys never see unless it is from the GSP.

    I actually snicker whenever I hear this name because my maternal side of the family lived for many decades on Ellery Street in Cambridge, Mass. (before it became a yuppie heaven and Stockholm on the Charles).

  191. Shore Guy says:

    Nom,

    Woe be the contestant who is dismissed from RE Bust competition by judges who tell her:

    deminimus non curat lex

  192. Shore Guy says:

    or deminimus no curat judging panel

  193. Shore Guy says:

    Gator

    You will need to use the wave at the next GTG.

  194. NJGator says:

    Hawaii hotel occupancy drops to record low
    Steep discounts, unprecedented incentives not enough to lure tourists

    HONOLULU – Despite steep discounting and unprecedented incentives, hotel occupancy in Hawaii continues to slide to new lows because of the slowed global economy, especially on the Big Island where only half of rooms were booked in May, according to a report released Monday.

    Hotel occupancy fell 6.9 percentage points to 62 percent in May, marking the worst May on record since Honolulu-based Hospitality Advisors LLC began its monthly survey in 1987.

    It’s unlikely Hawaii will see any sign of recovery until well into 2010 with room revenues continuing to lag the prior year by over 20 percent, said Joseph Toy, president and chief executive of Hospitality Advisors. May results reflected a continuation of the record hotel market lows since the start of the year, he said.

    “While we will see some seasonal lift in occupancy during our summer season, it will likely be marginal at best given the lack of momentum in the market,” Toy said in a statement.

    Every island saw sharp declines, with bookings on the Big Island plummeting 8.2 percentage points to a statewide low of 49.3 percent.

    Oahu posted the smallest occupancy loss of 3.6 percentage points to 69.2 percent, representing the highest occupancy of all islands. Oahu also had the lowest average daily room rate of $146 due to a wide range of room rates.

    Maui had the highest rate at $210.48 with an occupancy rate of 55.9 percent.

    The average daily rate also fell 12.8 percent to $166, resulting in a 21.1 percent decline to $103 in revenue per available room, known as “RevPAR” — a key gauge of a hotel profitability and performance.

    The hotel survey is compiled by Smith Travel Research in conjunction with Hospitality Advisors. It included 158 properties representing more than 46,000 rooms, or 82.3 percent of all lodging properties with 20 rooms or more in Hawaii.

    http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/31776541/ns/travel-news/

  195. skep-tic says:

    I’ve never been to Hawaii and always wanted to go, but I’ve talked to several people recently who said native Hawaiians are hostile and they were not made to feel welcome, even at very nice resorts.

  196. Stu says:

    “The truth is, school is boring to them, and they are not nearly being challenged enough.”

    For me it was not the challenge as much as the way the subject was presented. When one has a memorization issue and all our teachers ask us to do is memorize, then I’m dead in the water. Now offer me the chance to critically think about a math equation or diagram a sentence properly and I’ll get an A plus.

    My brother graduated from Rutgers New Brunswick and attended nothing more than the mid terms and finals. He aced his law exams and was told by Rutgers Law (Camden) that he was the lowest undergrad GPA that they have ever accepted. He had probationary status until he proved that he would attend class. Of course law very much interested him and he is grossly successful and partnered in near-record time.

    Do not push your kids in ways that it will not help them. They will eventually find their way on their own. If they do not become doctors or lawyers, that is perfectly OK. It is their choice, not yours.

  197. Shore Guy says:

    Skep,

    Come to the Shore. We can give you that experience, and save you a plabe ride.

    “Bennies go home.” Can’t you feel the love already?

  198. Stu says:

    Skep: Never sensed the hostility you spoke of and have been to Hawaii 3 times.

  199. Danzud says:

    198- I was there last month for my honeymoon. I can’t say I felt that way about the locals at all but then again I wasn’t trying to become their best friends either. The bus driver (local) in Honolulu respectfully told me what buses to take in a transfer situation and those who were in parks also were very helpful answering questions.

    As for the room rates, yes all the rates were lowered as we got closer to going and I changed rooms several times on hotels.com since the quality of rooms was going up as the prices were going down in both Maui and Oahu.

    Their economy is definitely suffering due to the drop in tourism. If you have more than a week, Hawaii is a great place to go.

  200. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [181] shore

    “Registration fees could cover the costs and provide money for a group Nompound.”

    I think it may cover buying a new hose and sprinkler for a group nompound, but that would be it.

  201. Shore Guy says:

    I am pretty sure a plabe is like a plane.

  202. skep-tic says:

    to me, a contemporary house prioritizes interior over exterior. The nice ones are really nice since they are generally built for a modern style of living, as opposed to traditional houses where the interior layout is often sub-optimal

  203. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [202] danzud

    We went 6 months after 9-11, and aside from the airport hassles, we took advantage of some uncrowded islands. Not a lot of deals to be had, but they were clearly feeling it.

    I think it is probably worse now though.

  204. Shore Guy says:

    A hose and sprinkler could come in handy for the drwyall mud contest.

  205. Pol Clot says:

    John (137)-

    Not to mention humility or good taste…

    “No germ or desease stands a fighting chance in my body.”

  206. Raul V says:

    So, our agent finally put in our offer ($475K)…seller came back…with $535K (5K credit at closing)……..home currently listed at $539K……..delusional sellers still exist by the boat loads! LOL

  207. Shore Guy says:

    drywall, even

  208. yikes says:

    I am not buying to late 2010 or 2011 right now I take the addresses of the houses I like, I will look them up in 2011 and if they never sold I will write a letter directly to owner. Heck it is worth a shot. Figured if after a year on the market with no seller buyer will be humbled into asking less and there will be no commission.

    funny that you mention the letter writing idea. when i bought my flip in another state in 04-05, within the first week it was completed, i had two hand-written letters under my door asking to buy my house.

    (in this area, prices were going up 10k a month)

    I laughed at them. then, i found NJ re … and then i quickly unloaded that sucker.

  209. Stu says:

    “I think it may cover buying a new hose and sprinkler for a group nompound, but that would be it.”

    Sounds worth it to me.

    I would gladly participate in the pageant, but only under my screen name…Ms. Busty McMansion.

  210. Shore Guy says:

    Raul,

    With your rejection, maybe you can send them a jar of vasoline, to help them extract their heads from where they are currently ensconced.

  211. gman says:

    Just one thing to say today…

    The truth will set you free!!

  212. Raul V says:

    No. 213………darn……rejection already delivered…….forgot to include vaseline!!! LOL

  213. Shore Guy says:

    Stu,

    Will you be beat boxing?

  214. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [180] ben

    This past year, Brigadoon centralized its kindergarten in one bldg, and had two sessions, morning and afternoon, so there is only 1/2 day kindergarten. As for the teaching quality, I recently found out that the elementary school teachers (1st grade and up) where my 6 y/o daughter will be going next year, consider the new kindergarten and its curriculum to be a joke.

    Earlier, we were told our 6 yo failed her reading and math assessments. Turns out, she scored highly in all categories except one, which was a low skill category. Essentially, she is headstrong and will walk all over wishy-washy people, and she just wanted to do her own thing instead of what the class was doing, so the teacher simply let her.

    We were worried about ADD but in the end we found out she simply had a crappy kindergarten teacher.

  215. Painhrtz says:

    Ski resort prices only go up. Just received this in my inbox thought it fit in nicely with the Hawaii discussion. Yes discretionary spending on winter vacations can only increase, blah!

    Now that Independence Day has come and gone, our bellies are full of hot dogs, hamburgers and watermelon, our minds are relaxed and our sights are set on the upcoming ski season, which, if you can believe it, is fewer than 100 days away! Now is the perfect time to find the best deal on this winter’s mountain vacation. Last year was anomalous for many reasons and some travelers were able to save money by waiting. This year, however, will be different. At Ski.com, we’re seeing resorts and properties offering extraordinary incentives to those willing and able to book early. In many cases, the prices are so low, they can only go up as time goes by. And, booking early increases your chance of getting your preferred flight schedule and lodging accommodation.

  216. Stu says:

    “Will you be beat boxing?”

    Busty McMansion is gonna bust a cap in yo @ss.

  217. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [212] stu

    I’ve met the gator. You don’t stand a chance.

  218. Shore Guy says:

    Nom,

    But have you ever seen Stu in a bikini?

  219. Shore Guy says:

    After a wax, of course.

  220. Stu says:

    “After a wax, of course.”

    There are not enough bees in the world…

  221. veto that says:

    “Which parts did you consider wrong?”

    3b,
    For one, comparing the ivy league to hospitals as if the masses are entitled to a harvard education without first working hard for the privelege. It seems wrong to me for obvious reasons. But at the same time, they are onto something.

    Also, the whole idea of earning lots of small certificates instead of broad college degrees. No need for college classes or homework, just download the youtube video and go study wikipedia. Equally brilliant as it is rediculous.

    These concepts are teetering on the edge of two things, One is pure genius; where the future is filled with a superior education than anything we’ve ever known, available at the fingertips of the masses. Of course, the risk is that the model totally doesnt work for various reasons and all our children consequently get stuck with worthless certificates from ebay university.

    For the record, i’m a huge fan of standardized testing and testing for comprehension in general. IMO, the strongest arguments against its credibility are made by those groups who dont do well on them. but thats just an opinion.

  222. goonsquad says:

    I think there is still a lot of tension/resentment in HI aimed at tourists and non-locals. I felt it more on Maui than Oahu. Some of the locals have bumper stickers on their cars that say “If you don’t like Hawaiians…why the F did you move here?”

    This included one of the cars owned by one of our hotel workers.

  223. zieba says:

    FYI.
    Restaurant week back in town.

    http://nycgo.com/restaurantweek

    This is why ya’ll pay these outrageous NJ prop taxes, right? Access to culture and good meals?

  224. lisoosh says:

    #186/Gary

    I grew up with government health care.

    Doctors made home visits.

    Immunizations are done at school – they just line you up outside the nurses office.

  225. 3b says:

    #199 Stu:My brother graduated from Rutgers New Brunswick and attended nothing more than the mid terms and finals.

    Understood. But than why pay 25k a year at a state school, or 40-50K a year at a private college.

    If these kids are only planning on doing the bare minimum, would it not make sense to just go to a state school, get the degree, and just live at home.

    A kid that just wants to do the bare minimum could get the standard BA/BBA for under 40k for 4 years going to a state school and living at home.

    Am I missing something?

  226. jcer says:

    Stu, the system fails kids, over and over again. Grades are also a very poor indicator of ones knowledge and capabilities. In college my grades were not always wonderful, not because of a lack of understanding material but because as an engineer manual problem solving(physics and math), problems with many steps is a problem for me, I can do complex math but will reverse steps, invert numbers etc. I also always felt that stuff was presented too slowly it. I have gotten C’s in classes that I could have taught, aced the projects without even trying but the tests with the manual problem solving killed me. Coincidentally on the projects people who performed better on the exams were not as good at design as I was. Things like Linear Algebra were not really a problem for me yet put a lot of other people into a tailspin.

    The education system has funny ways of presenting success and failure. The speed binning of children/students is the part that really doesn’t work, grades are not that important, yet are emphasized heavily. Key is that the student want to learn and want to be there.

    We label kids as X,Y, and Z and it doesn’t work, I was labeled as learning disabled, and fortunately I was able to overcome them but the system did make it harder and does make it more difficult for children to learn and follow the education path they wish to.

  227. Painhrtz says:

    Veto, I’m awful at standardized math tests. I can’t focus on something in a room quietly for 4 hours. I personally think they are awful, they fall into the all sheep being equal category. I grew up with kids who excelled at standardized tests but couldn’t think their way out of an open phone booth.

    if they were used as a predictive measure of future success I should be a penniless window washer. Instead I’m a penniless ex-scientist.

  228. NJGator says:

    I should not be laughing this hard at work…

  229. lisoosh says:

    skep-tic says:
    July 7, 2009 at 1:40 pm

    “generally built for a modern style of living”

    Define a modern style of living.

  230. Ben says:

    Nom, be prepared to self educate your child. What you are currently experiencing in kindergarten is merely sample of the next 12 years. Given that we’ve yet to reform the system, you can only expect it to deteriorate further.

  231. Ben says:

    “if they were used as a predictive measure of future success I should be a penniless window washer. Instead I’m a penniless ex-scientist.”

    Nothing is a 100% predictive measure of success. That being said, standardized tests have proven to be one of those things that easily expose a number of “straight A” students for the frauds they are. Of course there are some unnecessary casualties along the way.

  232. veto that says:

    “I grew up with kids who excelled at standardized tests but couldn’t think their way out of an open phone booth.”

    Painhrtz, im not good at standardized tests either so this is certainly not my biased talking.
    Maybe standardized tests are given too much credit but we need some measure. We cant just leave accountability up to some mystical science that can never be understood.
    Question about your statement above: Is a standardized test supposed to measure common sense?
    I read that albert einstein was an idiot who didnt understand simple math.
    I’d say that standardized tests are just one component of measuring performance, but an important component.
    And if i had to guess, id say that on average, those who score better on standardized tests are smarter, harder working, have more common sense and will probably go on to do better in real life than those who score lower.
    thats just a guess.

  233. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [221] shore

    I’ve met stu. Just visualizing Stu in a …..AUUGH, MY EYES, MY EYES.

  234. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [237] Sean

    Reading that thread reminded me of the remake of “Ocean’s Eleven” with the two brothers from Utah that were always quarreling. I envisioned them (once my eyes healed after envisioning Stu in a . . . OMIGOD, MY EYES, I DID IT AGAIN)

  235. lisoosh says:

    I’m Gen X.

    This is absolutely barf-worthy:

    http://www.womanaroundtown.com/working-around/baby-boomers-meet-the-millennials/

    “They were the children that we walked to school, helped out with homework, equipped with all the latest technology, and told time and time again, that they could succeed at anything they tried. Now they are entering the workforce in droves and we are left to wonder: “How do we manage all these wonderful, creative minds that we helped create?””

    This is just sad:

    “One manager told me about four young people who shared a small space yet never spoke to each other in the office. He was puzzled by this lack of communication. What he didn’t understand was that they were communicating constantly—online. Millennials prefer to e-mail and text and are less inclined to talk face-to-face.”

  236. zieba says:

    Is anyone from here posting on that site or are some of them in the acceptance stage?

  237. Painhrtz says:

    Veto, not necessarily. While I don’t disagree with you on measures for aptitude. The one size fits all education system doesn’t work and the standardized tests are a component of that. I would have loved an education that stressed science, literature and history. Unfortunately I got crammed into social science and litany of other subjects that held no interest. High School is also too long, after year two a student should either go on to trade school, apprenticeship, or college but that is way off topic.

  238. d2b says:

    We were also immunized at school here in the states. Guy had a gun to shoot the medicine into your arm. Too bad that I already had that shot. It was the only time that I ever wanted a needle. That would be around 1978.

    Direct TV blackouts home games that don’t sell out by zip code. There is a way to get around it by registering you account at an out of state relative’s.

  239. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [240] kettle

    Now I shouldn’t be laughing this much at work (having a hard time typing).

  240. John says:

    I have no clue what grades or results of standardized test have to do with success. Pretty much success comes after 30 and the big moves in your career between 30 and 45 until you peak and then just try to hold on. Interviewing a 35 year old I would never ask their grades, I am looking at the whole package. Also little things are important, no spelling errors, thank you notes please, dress the right way, stay in shape, have a personality, right connections, I also like some moxie and chutzpah and street smarts. I basically want it all. What your GPA was when you were 18 is irrelevant, in fact it is a sign you are overall stupid. I have an asian friend whose parents were like you study, study study and get straight A’s, which she did. Right now she can’t cook, clean, or drive. She has a husband who is old world and does not support her career. She has no time to network, go out or hit the gym. So her career is over at 35. Her straight A’s are useless.

  241. Stu says:

    “I read that albert einstein was an idiot who didnt understand simple math.”

    This is not true at all. Huge myth. The man was a boy genius in everything.

  242. Shore Guy says:

    “Define a modern style of living”

    It means no walls so one can see the 100inch TV from any room on the same floor.

  243. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [241] lisoosh

    Nice article. All I know is that, despite the snark I get from Gen Xers and millenials, I find them to be less erudite, less socially skilled, and generally shallower than the generations before them. Only their internet and texting skills are better, and not by much.

    I can’t shut up their snark, but I am perfectly happy smacking them around (literally or metaphorically) and eating their lunch.

  244. yo'me says:

    Standardized test is a basic measure of basic knowledge of a subject.I don’t agree for it as a main tool for measuring success of a person or acceptance to a school but i agree on at least passing the minimum value of the test.
    Above the passing grade,everybody should be treated equal for passing the minimum requirement of a basic knowledge.

  245. lisoosh says:

    Painhrtz says:
    July 7, 2009 at 2:25 pm

    ” The one size fits all education system doesn’t work and the standardized tests are a component of that. I would have loved an education that stressed science, literature and history. Unfortunately I got crammed into social science and litany of other subjects that held no interest. ”

    Pain – UK system has standardized tests of specific subjects as well as different levels.

    So,for instance a not-so-bright kid might have passes at easyish exams in shop or home-ec or whatever. The brighter kids would have the high level exam passes in social studies/history/languages and the wanna-be doctor in physics/chemistry/biology/math. Usually the only compulsory subject is English (comprehension/lit etc). There are huge variations.

    The point of standardized testing in the UK isn’t to make everyone the same or study the same subjects. The point is to let them have something to work towards no matter what their ability and also to have them leave with a measurable skill set.

    The advantage is that all kids in the country have the same standards applied to them. Very useful for universities as they can define course and entry requirements in an exact manner. No remedial English.

    Of course, kids with great parents who go to better schools still have an advantage. No change there.

  246. lisoosh says:

    Shore Guy says:
    July 7, 2009 at 2:29 pm

    “Define a modern style of living”

    “It means no walls so one can see the 100inch TV from any room on the same ”

    Not for me then. Hate open plan.

  247. kettle1 says:

    Shore,

    are you poor? only a single 100 inch plasma? i thought “wealthy” americans purchased a plasma for every room and put it on plastic.

  248. John says:

    CIT is waiting word weather it will get access to FDIC’s Temporary Liquidity Guarantee Program. CIT call option volume of 28,681 contracts compares to put volume of 34,958 contracts. CIT July 2 straddle is priced at 75c, October 2 straddle is priced at $1.35 according to Track Data, suggesting large price movement.

    Either way CIT will be a huge story in next few days!!! Will bailout nation hope them out!! I hope so.

  249. Painhrtz says:

    lisoosh – same in Germany as well. I feel that type of system is at least equitable but it has its restraints as well. Remeber universities in Europe are usually free, and have limited enrollment (not such a bad thing). If you don’t test in, you don’t get in. no probationary period, your labeled and that is it. I would have not been accepted to university with my Math scores.

  250. NJGator says:

    On an unrelated note, I have Shakespeare in the Park tickets for tonight’s performance. Please pray to the Weather Gods for me.

  251. lisoosh says:

    Comrade Nom Deplume says:
    July 7, 2009 at 2:33 pm

    [241] lisoosh

    “Nice article. All I know is that, despite the snark I get from Gen Xers and millenials, I find them to be less erudite, less socially skilled, and generally shallower than the generations before them. Only their internet and texting skills are better, and not by much.”

    I worked with 2 Millennials in my last job.

    One was great, extrememly efficient if a bit prickly. A borderline X’er though.

    The other spent 10 minutes doing something and then another half an hour talking about it and analyzing it to death. She also spent an inordinate amount of time networking online to find out what “everybody else” in similar positions was doing.
    Not much thinking outside the box there.
    She was a horrible communicator, although she had absolutely no idea. Totally unable to give a straight answer to a straight question.

    The boomers all loved number 2, saw her as the second coming, fired number 1 who was incredibly efficient.

  252. Danzud says:

    Dammit, what’s the point of buying a big house with no money down and lying about your income if you’re not going to do it right and hang plasma TVs in the bathrooms and the pantry too? There’s always a bailout somewhere.

  253. veto that says:

    “I have no clue what grades or results of standardized test have to do with success”

    John, i have no clue no clue either.
    but i know that there is another dynamic to consider.
    you cant measure success by how much money they make.
    Some smart students go in totally different directions. They dont all become cogs in the wheel of a machine and take the role of worker bee rat racing for that extra $5 grand raise. They might find fields that are creative and self fulfilling, perhaps with less pay but less stress and more vacation days, thereby virtually dropping out of the workforce as we know it.
    Your talking about making big moves at 45, but some are semi retired by then. All by choice.

  254. gary says:

    lisoosh [228],

    Doctors made visits when I was a kid also and we got immunizations at school as well and government had zero to do with it. What town did you grow up in?

  255. John says:

    In addition to being boring they are also stupid.

    Case in point went to Jones beach last week on a nice summer day. All the “kids” 15-23 were on beach with their little IPODS, cell phones and black berries and bottled water sitting there like zombies covered in PF 50 suntan lotion.

    Back in the day when I went we all had boom boxes blasting WLIR we all had beers and plenty of joints floating around, plus single girls would be getting plenty of visits from the guys, after knocking off a case on a 90 degree day I litteraly drove my car by braile to merrick road to the fast food joints and after the burger and fries and money were gone would stick my head in the roy rodgers fixing bar like a pig at feeding time to work off the munchies. I had a job I went to at 4pm so sometimes I actually change in the bathroom there and go to work for my 4pm to midnight shift before going out clubbing as I knew I could sleep at the beach the next day. But you know what these kids today score better on standardized tests and can type with their thumbs.

    Comrade Nom Deplume says:
    July 7, 2009 at 2:33 pm
    [241] lisoosh

    Nice article. All I know is that, despite the snark I get from Gen Xers and millenials, I find them to be less erudite, less socially skilled, and generally shallower than the generations before them. Only their internet and texting skills are better, and not by much.

    I can’t shut up their snark, but I am perfectly happy smacking

  256. safeashouses says:

    the standardized tests and immunization arguments are back. How soon till we have the move to NC/anywhere but an overtaxed blue state debate? Also the stay at home parent vs 2 working parent is always fun.

  257. John says:

    July 7 (Bloomberg) — The 30-year U.S. Treasury bond’s yield is “trapped” below 4.4 percent as it forms a head-and- shoulders pattern that indicates the rate will decrease, according to Citigroup Inc.

    The bond has traded at yields between the 55-day moving average and a resistance level at 4.4 percent for more than a week, a chart from the New York-based bank shows. The yield on the security will probably fall to 3.94 percent and may drop to the 200-day moving average of 3.77 percent, Citigroup technical analysts Tom Fitzpatrick in New York and Shyam Devani in London wrote in a report today.

    “U.S. 30-year yields appear trapped,” the report said, citing charting patterns. “The head-and-shoulders pattern continues to point to a move down.”

    The yield on the 4.25 percent bond due in May 2039 decreased four basis points, or 0.04 percentage point, to 4.32 percent, according to BG Cantor Market Data. The rate fell 52 basis points since reaching a 19-month high of 4.8391 percent on June 11.

    A head-and-shoulders formation is a peak, followed by a higher peak, then another smaller peak. Such a pattern forms during a series of increases over time, and once a currency completes the pattern it typically moves lower. Technical analysts study patterns in charts to predict future moves.

  258. safeashouses says:

    Looks like the Saints players fumble off the field as well.

    http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2009/football/nfl/07/02/saints.tax.ap/index.html

    Bunch of Saints and ex-Saints lost money in some kind of movie tax credit scheme.

  259. Is anyone familiar with what Singapore is like? As in, “You’re going to be living there for a year”. Recommended or against?

  260. Painhrtz says:

    SAfe I hear Asheville is nice ; )

  261. John says:

    opinions are like a-holes everyone has one. my problem is I only give facts yet people dispute them.

    Lets end this by saying, shots don’t make your kids stupid it is your rottem gene pool, unless your wife makes over 100K tell her to stay home and finally unless you are retired don’t move down south as houses cost less as you make less, duh.

    safeashouses says:
    July 7, 2009 at 2:52 pm
    the standardized tests and immunization arguments are back. How soon till we have the move to NC/anywhere but an overtaxed blue state debate? Also the stay at home parent vs 2 working parent is always fun.

  262. Painhrtz says:

    Second hand as my trip there was cancelled last year. English is the primary language, draconian decency laws, otherwise very nice and amicable place. Everyone I know that has been there liked it.

  263. safeashouses says:

    #265 tosh,

    I’ve been to Singapore twice. Would love to live there for a year or 2.

    Singapore has great zoos, cheap shopping, and great food. If you go, ignore the expat restaurants and go eat at the little places in the side streets or in the shopping arcades.

    Singapore is very small, about the size of Ocean county, so you might get cabin fever. google Jurong bird park, Singapore Zoo, and Sentosa Island.

    It is pretty hot and humid though since you are about 90 miles from the equator.

    The subways (called MRT) are very clean and air conditioned. The singapore tv shows are much better than the hing kong ones, plus you get all the main US ones too.

  264. #268 – draconian decency laws

    I’ve heard of them; no gum, smoking, spitting, etc.

  265. safeashouses says:

    #270 tosh

    You also can’t bring durian on the mrt.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Durian

  266. #271 – Good lord. Is that fruit or a weapon?

  267. lisoosh says:

    gary says:
    July 7, 2009 at 2:48 pm

    lisoosh [228],

    “Doctors made visits when I was a kid also and we got immunizations at school as well and government had zero to do with it. What town did you grow up in?”

    Scotland. The country.

    Who paid for the immunizations you had at school as a kid? The parents? District?

  268. goonsquad says:

    [265]

    A friend of mine got that memo only it was 9 months. He spent 2 months working there and was lucky enough to get reassigned back to the states. This was his wording. I didn’t get the full details though.

  269. safeashouses says:

    #272 tosh,

    Both.

  270. yo'me says:

    Singapore promotes public transportation.This is how much it will cost you to buy a toyota corolla

    78,000.00 SGD = 53,441.62 USD
    Singapore Dollars United States Dollars

    http://www.sgcarmart.com/new_cars/newcars_listing.php?MOD=toyota&PR1=0&PR2=&VT=Sedan&DT=A&imageField.x=28&imageField.y=13

    They don’t promote homeownership either.Everybody is subsidized in condo bldgs.

  271. lisoosh says:

    John – #261 – you are one interesting dude. On paper anyway.

  272. lisoosh says:

    safe #262 – Don’t forget the strollers!

    Sorry, partly my bad. I am avoiding something I need to do and am taking it out on the blog.

  273. Clotpoll says:

    This is going to end well.

    Oh yeah.

    “If you have an IOU that the big banks will not cash, I recommend closing your accounts and putting them someplace that will. Please tell Wells Fargo, Bank of America, JP Morgan, and Citigroup to go to hell.”

    http://globaleconomicanalysis.blogspot.com/2009/07/tell-wells-fargo-bank-of-america-jp.html

  274. yo'me says:

    159,000.00 SGD = 108,957.51 USD
    Singapore Dollars United States Dollars
    this is how much it will cost you to buy a bmw 1 series

    http://www.sgcarmart.com/new_cars/newcars_listing.php?MOD=BMW&DT=A

  275. skep-tic says:

    #233

    “Define a modern style of living.”

    not holed up in tiny rooms with few windows designed to keep in precious fireplace-heat

    suites instead of communal bathrooms

    kitchen as gathering area rather than functional room for subservient woman

    less emphasis on formality more on function

  276. #280 – I don’t have any problems with that. I wasn’t planning on buying a car there.
    They also have R34 Skylines.

  277. HEHEHE says:

    “July 7 (Bloomberg) — The 30-year U.S. Treasury bond’s yield is “trapped” below 4.4 percent as it forms a head-and- shoulders pattern that indicates the rate will decrease, according to Citigroup Inc.”

    Good, likely means the stock market is about to crater.

  278. yo'me says:

    John your BMW 7 series is worth a house in the US if you buy one in singapore.

    430,000.00 SGD = 294,637.62 USD
    Singapore Dollars United States Dollars

  279. chicagofinance says:

    I think this is legit…..you favorite alleged felon on display……
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hJQ9PyA3TMo&feature=related

  280. yo'me says:

    282 just pointing out how expensive are simple things that you are accustomed in the US and becomes luxury over there.Pretty sure you got my point.

  281. chicagofinance says:

    There is also this, but the sound has been stripped…..
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ksTaAt_SHBw

  282. HEHEHE says:

    For a master criminal Serge sure didn’t stay out of the spotlight all that much.

  283. chicagofinance says:

    sorry, here is the caption from the Wall Street Journal…
    If you thought getting arrested at Newark airport was embarrassing for Sergey Aleynikov, try the video about how he courted his wife. An amateur YouTube clip posted in 2007 titled “Serge & Elina Aleynikov’s Love Story” tells how Aleynikov went from a workaholic bachelor with only a baguette in his fridge to a man in love, thanks to the help of a genie from a magic lamp.

    Now that the FBI has charged the former Goldman Sachs employee with stealing valuable codes from the bank’s high-frequency trading desk — his lawyer says she believes he is innocent — Aleynikov’s 10 minutes, 23 seconds of online “fame” has been overshadowed by the real thing.

  284. skep-tic says:

    #241

    ““How do we manage all these wonderful, creative minds that we helped create?””

    boomers have done enough damage and need to get the f out of the way

  285. veto that says:

    Anyone else watching the Dow getting pummelled?

    Makes you wonder if the bear is back.

  286. Stu says:

    Still early to make that call.

    When the DJIA reaches 7200 or so, then I would be fairly confident that we were not trading in a range.

  287. gary says:

    lisoosh [273],

    I went to Parochial schools, it was paid by the parents. A government run medical plan in this country would reek of corruption and waste before the ink was dry.

  288. yo'me says:

    Junk Bonds Are ‘Dangerous’ After Rally, Peters Says
    http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a7aS8aaKOQ1s

  289. Clotpoll says:

    veto (291)-

    Watching with relish. I think the death spiral has just begun.

    The real fun will be when the riots start. Time to re-watch Memoria del Saqueo if you think it can’t happen.

    4,000, here we come.

  290. Shore Guy says:

    “#268 – draconian decency laws
    I’ve heard of them; no gum, smoking, spitting, etc”

    Sounds like Ocean Grove used to be.

  291. Shore Guy says:

    “are you poor? only a single 100 inch plasma? i thought “wealthy” americans purchased a plasma for every room and put it on plastic”

    Kettle,

    No rich guy here. Also, you would laugh if you saw my TV.

  292. lisoosh says:

    #293 Interesting.

    Medicare IS a government run medical plan.

    Lowest admin costs of any plan. 5% compared to 25% in private plans.

  293. Stu says:

    Oh no,

    Clot has fired his first salvo. He mentioned riots!

    The way the markets have been acting lately, I could see the indexes gaining 5% each on an alcoa meeting of earnings expectations tomorrow.

  294. Punch My Ticket says:

    toshiro, take the Singapore gig. Anyone can handle it for a year or two. (Well, not anyone. There are an awful lot of provincials in this country for whom anything more exotic than meatloaf and mashed potatoes is intolerable.)

    Forget the car. Unnecessary. Expensive. When I was there, you could only drive in the CBD every second day.

  295. Mike R. says:

    ShoreGuy [27] wrote:

    “Is there any company of any decent size that allows anyone computer access once they say they are leaving — and an IT person to boot? Pu-h-lese!”

    The normal warning period in IT on Wall Street is two weeks, and yes, you keep your access until the last day.
    When you are laid off, on the other hand, they cut off your access immediately.

  296. Stu says:

    “Natural Gas Fund Says It Has Run Out of New Shares”

    Now this is interesting. I hope all of these recent NG investors have some serious patience. The NG builds have been off the chart over the last 9 months.

  297. Punch My Ticket says:

    Clot [297],

    The banks have no choice. They can’t hold billions in paper from a single name that is now a BBB credit without huge capital commitments. Capital which they’re a wee bit short of these days.

    With apologies to Cindy, an innocent bystander if there ever was one, California is getting exactly what it deserves.

  298. kettle1 says:

    Clot 295,

    just for you

    Memorias del Saqueo

  299. kettle1 says:

    re california with BBB rating and lots of IOU’s..

    unintended consequences suck ;) and this is just the tip of the iceberg

  300. veto that says:

    this is just the tip of the iceberg

    kettle, you can say that again

  301. kettle1 says:

    veto,

    i didnt forget our last project, hope to have a little time later this week

  302. kettle1 says:

    quote of the day?


    I use to call myself left progressive. Now I just called myself fcuked.

  303. #300 – toshiro, take the Singapore gig

    Thanks, and thanks for everyone’s input.

    Nothing is definite yet, and may fall through. The possibility is there though and it seems like it could be very cool. It looks like a number of currently U.S. based hedgies are looking abroad, fearing the inevitable regulatory clampdown.

    Downside – I just got an awesome 70’s vintage leather, straight out of Starsky & Hutch. It might be a while before it sees any use.

    Plus – Asian wimmins.
    Also plus – Singapore F1 races.

  304. yo'me says:

    Pope condemns capitalism’s ‘failures’
    By Guy Dinmore in Rome

    Published: July 7 2009 14:14 | Last updated: July 7 2009 14:14

    Pope Benedict XVI on Tuesday condemned the “grave deviations and failures” of capitalism exposed by the financial crisis and issued a strong call for a “true world political authority” to oversee a return to ethics in the global economy.

    The pontiff’s call for stronger government regulation was made in his third and eagerly awaited encyclical, Charity in Truth, which the Vatican chose to issue on the eve of the G8 summit of rich nations being held in Italy.

  305. jcer says:

    I really don’t get the whole GS code stealing thing. It strikes me that the code is pretty useless and why even take it in theory he should have gained so much knowledge as to how the system worked he would not even need the code. In theory he should have know the basic architecture of the system, the basic structure of how the logic works and the models probably have a far more concise mathematical description than in code and it was probably documented somewhere like in the design of the system so why take the code?

  306. stan says:

    Have to agree with John. Tobay beach beers, sun, obligatory stop at all american burger on Merrick Road.

  307. yo'me says:

    291.veto that says:
    July 7, 2009 at 3:43 pm
    Anyone else watching the Dow getting pummelled?

    Makes you wonder if the bear is back

    Wall St falls ahead of earnings season
    By Kiran Stacey in New York

    Published: July 7 2009 13:54 | Last updated: July 7 2009 20:00

    US stocks fell to their lowest levels since the end of May on Tuesday as cautious investors sold shares ahead of the start of the second-quarter earnings season.

    Energy producers were badly hit as the price of oil quickly gave up pre-market gains.

  308. veto that says:

    kettle, no problem.
    our project is ongoing.
    we can probably get most done by email anyway.
    but yeah, i’m up for a meetup whenever.

  309. veto that says:

    gotta love the yahoo finance headline.

    ‘stimulus talk stokes fear.’

  310. Sean says:

    toshiro – A co-worker of mine who is from Singapore told me a bit about the place.About 80% of the population live in high rise small flats run by the government, an “upgrade” in living is a bigger privately owned condo. It is a crowded place with little open space, but the restaurants and night life are good.

    It also has lots of transients and apparently lots of prostitutes as it is legal over there.

  311. gary says:

    lisoosh,

    $130,000,000,000 per year in tax dollars and a $10 per hour government worker to decide if a family member lives or dies. Meanwhile, I can pay for my own insurance through 1300 providers to choose from and choose my own doctor. I’ll take my chances. And I’m sure every member of congress will choose the Obama plan as well? Right.

  312. james says:

    Gerald Celente calling for the disintegration of the American empire.

    Proof could be seen by the thousands in Times Square watching MJ’s funeral service while there freedoms are flushed down the toilet.

  313. PGC says:

    Singapore is great and I would recommend it, as long as you are clean living and respectful towards others, you won’t have a problem. The food is fantastic and the place is spotless.

    I used to go backpacking around the Far East when I working out of London. I would leave London with an empty rucksack and some bare essentials and do my clothes shopping for the year. Hand made suits were dirt cheap.

    I was in Singapore and work asked me to stop in at a client. So I walked into the Le Meridian with my Forte Gold card and upgraded to a suite. It was a James Bond moment. I didn’t need to call the house tailor as I had three suits and a load of shirts in my rucksack from a nice tailor in HCMC. But they can turn a suit order around in a few hours if you need it.

    The kicker with the cars in Singapore, is that the gmvt will not allow any car older than 10 yrs on the road. So they get shipped off the island to be sold in Indonesia or the like.

    Have a few Slings in Raffles for me.

  314. gary says:

    And I’m sure primary care doctors will be full of vigor after a continuous tidal wave of 32,000,000 people pummel them into oblivion.

  315. #316 – Thanks Sean. I’ve been told to expect a Tokyo like experience only without having to learn Japanese, which is ideal.
    I’ve been hearing it called ‘Asia for beginners’ a lot.

  316. still_looking says:

    320 gary

    wait’ll you see what they do to ERs.

    sl

  317. james says:

    Gary, universal healthcare just isnt going to work.

    a.)cant afford it
    b.)Americans are spolied by the care they receive. You dont need a plastic surgeon to suture your 2 year old laceration
    c.)Cardiac bypass surgery is going to be a gonner. Might as well eat your cheesesteaks you will die anyway.
    d.)Most of the good physicians wont or cant survive on Medicare only without private insurance offsetting the cost.
    3.)Near retirement physicians will retire.
    4.)Most new Doctors will be graduates of foreign medical schools.
    5.)Baby Boomers will finally reap what they have sewn. Their youth inspired by the great society will ultimately lead to their own death.

    Have fun, I will be leaving healthcare and thinking about becoming a lobsterman.

  318. still_looking says:

    james,

    good luck with that.

    While in Maine, my husband asked about it. Most of the locals can’t even get licensed for 5-10 yrs.

    There’s a waiting list now. Plus you have to do at least 2 yrs “apprenticing” and then there are courses you have to take, etc etc.

    On the plus side, there are hundreds of lobster boats for sale up there now.

    Would love to do that for a living and medicine as a side job. I’m not optimistic.

    sl

  319. lisoosh says:

    Gary –

    We’ll just have to agree to disagree.

    I’ve lived under both systems.

    In the UK I got to choose my doctor, would get appointments the same day, paid $5 for prescriptions and never had a problem getting any necessary care.
    Both of my parents still live there, they both receive necessary care, my father has physio and my mother was hospitalized and received home nursing when she recently broke her leg.

    Here I pay $650 a month for the privilege of whatever insurance my husbands employer chooses to give me. My husband was denied physiotherapy our plan expressly includes because the insurance company knows that most people won’t challenge decisions. He was in pain for 2 months while we fought about it.

    I can’t say that a government plan would be better or worse. I can say that I would like to have the CHOICE, as a consumer to make that decision for myself rather than rely on the whims of employers, especially in this financial environment.

    Currently, the end users, the patients are not in fact the consumers and have absolutely NO power where insurance is concerned unless wealthy enough to pay $2k-$3k a month.

    The system as it currently stands is unacceptable and not even market based.

  320. Painhrtz says:

    SL- I expect to see similar hospital conditions as those I observed in Shanghai. Minus the smoking in exam rooms of course us americans wouldn’t stand for that

  321. lisoosh says:

    James – at the rate of increase of insurance company profits, admin costs, unnecessary treatments, lack of tort reform , an aging population and ever more demanding patients I give it 10 years before private insurance costs $2k a month per employee.

    Don’t see many employers paying that, or employees either.

    The breaking point is very near. Putting heads in the sand and dreaming about unlimited healthcare spending on demand is a fantasy.

  322. Pol Clot says:

    yo’me (310)-

    Hey, Popey, hows about you STFU and worry about your own corrupt church’s problems…like the fact that some of your help likes buggering little boys. Or, that for a big, fat check, the church will pretend you were never married.

    “The pontiff’s call for stronger government regulation was made in his third and eagerly awaited encyclical, Charity in Truth, which the Vatican chose to issue on the eve of the G8 summit of rich nations being held in Italy.”

  323. Victorian says:

    A government run medical plan in this country would reek of corruption and waste before the ink was dry.

    Didn’t you get hit with a $90K health related bill recently?

    Lisoosh – Facts don’t matter to those who are blinded by ideology. Germany, UK, France and Canada are just outliers to the “free market” idol worshippers.

  324. yo'me says:

    Gary: I am not familiar with the omama health plan.My only concern on the current health plan is,it is good while you don’t need it.My wife co worker was found with a cancer 3 months ago.Can’t stop working cause she will loose her insurance.Too weak to work they send her home.That is not the kind of life i want after putting money on medicare all my working life and nothing i can use when we need it.She is qualified for Temporary disability good for 6 months.Then what?
    I will wait in line take any doctor,if i can not afford to pay but please i don’t want to leave my family the financial burden because i got sick.

  325. Seneca says:

    Brown Shoots!

    Dunkin Donuts Ownership Files For Chapter 11 (21 stores in Greenville, SC market)

    http://www.wyff4.com/news/19981058/detail.html

  326. yo'me says:

    328 Clot:Just thought it was interesting that seperation of church don’t happen here.

  327. Victorian says:

    Grim,
    Could you please unmod #333 ?

  328. Pol Clot says:

    james (318)-

    Both amazing and sickening. Another buggerer of children, held up as some kind of artist and hero.

    We live in a society of complete degenerates.

  329. Seneca says:

    Mobs spread ethnic strife in western China

    “The chaos returned when hundreds of young Han men seeking revenge began gathering on sidewalks with kitchen knives, clubs, shovels and wooden poles”

    …didn’t that Morgan dude call for this? Meh, nothing to see here, move along.

    http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090707/ap_on_re_as/as_china_protest

  330. Pol Clot says:

    james (323)-

    Memo: the lobster industry has crashed, too.

  331. Pol Clot says:

    I’m really starting to think again about the grenade launcher in the garage, storing plenty of shells for the Mossberg and grabbing extra canned goods and water every time I go to the store.

    It’s coming. I can feel it.

    I also want some MJ-strength sleeping pills.

  332. John says:

    Jordans Lobster Farm had 3 one pound lobsters for $23 dollars last weekend. They even steamed them and wrapped them and gave you napkins and bibs for that price with no tax. I ate two, I love the recession!!!!

  333. yo'me says:

    Shoprite had lobsters for $5.99 a pound

  334. John says:

    YES AMERICAN BURGER, stray cats, alex baldwin, seinfeld they all visit that place. Great Stuff!! Also Nathans on Long Beach road, they are the only fast food joint near beach that serves beer.

  335. John says:

    Jordans is the place Peter Lugars and Smith and Wolenkskis get their lobsters from, it is an actual lobster farm, boats pull in from Main and lobsters are kept underwater in ocean until they pull it out and steam it. Also they have waterfront picnic tables where you can eat there for no extra cost. Paying under eight bucks with no tax or tip for lobster waterfront with plates, napkins everything is just plain cheap. It beats the six bucks in supermarket for old lobster.

    yo’me says:
    July 7, 2009 at 5:26 pm
    Shoprite had lobsters for $5.99 a pound

  336. yo'me says:

    John:You are absolutely right.

  337. Stu says:

    yo’me. $4.99 a pound on father’s day weekend. I did an indoor clam bake for the inlaws complete with clams, mussels, potatos and corn. Even the deadliest catch (king crab) is getting cheap.

    Lobsterman is not looking terribly lucrative these days. I lean towards electrician and plumber as the smart occupations of the near future. Especially as people don’t do their preventative maintenance on their shoddily constructed mcmansions.

    Speaking of lobsterman, I’m going crabbing with a buddy on early Sunday morning. There is still space for two on the boat if anyone is interested in going. Probably will rent a boat out of seaside or Manahawkin.

  338. relo says:

    343: Stray Cats! Namedropper…

  339. james says:

    PotClot,

    “We live in a society of complete degenerates.”

    I am not the one with a grenade launcher in my garage.

  340. Pol Clot says:

    james (348)-

    What do you suggest we fight the degenerates with? Cap guns?

  341. james says:

    lmao, perhaps a grenade launcher is a bit excessive? Whatever happened to aim small miss small?

  342. Firestormik says:

    Silera says:

    Couldn’t agree more. Kids of older parents are either born more retarded or made more retarded by their obsessive over attentive parents. They tend to be only kids and socially stunted too.
    ——————-
    Wrong, with age your have more chances to give a birth to a child with down syndrom. You have equal chances to born autistic\PDD child at any age. We have friends with 2 kids, born in their late 20s/early 30s. The fist one has developmental delay – he didn’t speak till 4, the second on is fine. Same family, same house, same food.
    First one got shots right away, the second one much much later after he started to speak. Coinsidence? Go figure.
    Mine was born when my wife was 24, and I 31. Almost 3 and a half, doesn’t speak and barely understand speech. All shots made on schedule, except we are not giving him flu and chicken pox vaccine

  343. Cindy says:

    http://www.sacbee.com/politics/story/1987929.html

    303 – Punch My Ticket –

    “….With apologies to Cindy…California is getting exactly what it deserves..”

    Don’t worry about offending me. I think we need a two-tiered pension system and I mean ….yesterday. We should not be making promises we can’t keep.

    We spend more money than we take in – period. It has been that way for years. It is a structural deficit.

    That has to change.

  344. Silera says:

    Fire- I’m not using retarded in the clinical sense. Please don’t take my poorly worded comment and think that I feel at all superior to older parents or flippant about the disorder.

    I have three kids myself and my oldest is my “difficult” one. He’s classified as ODD and ADHD. I don’t know if it’s genetic or I just wasn’t the parent he needed. I tend to gravitate to it being my fault.

    From my interaction with relatives, and friends and the kid’s friends, it just seems that a lot of the ADHD, hyper activity, social stuntedness- tends to gravitate towards the older parents, and only kids. I’ve also read studies that show increments in probability of autism with the parents age- but that could also be related to the increased awareness/diagnosis. Also, the factor by which the diagnosis increases in relation to the age of the parent is much greater than the exposure to vaccine.

    I think in general, as parents we’re just trying to do our best. Maybe there are genetic traits that are triggered by vaccines that contribute to autism. I know with my son, all I can do is try to figure out how to get him to be as whole as possible without lables or either of us losing it in the process.

  345. Cindy says:

    On the shingles reporting…I had them last year…left side of my face, sores on the roof of my mouth, top of my head (couldn’t even lay my head on the pillow) and in my left eye causing uveitis.

    I had to go to the eye doc every week until the swelling was under control. I still to this day have to keep a steroid eye drop on me. Pretty serious stuff in my case.

  346. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [350] James

    Couldn’t agree more. Now, pay no attention to that small, red dot on your chest. ;-)

  347. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    [340] pol clot

    Just for you, some bruce cockburn

    “Here comes the helicopter — second time today
    Everybody scatters and hopes it goes away
    How many kids they’ve murdered only God can say
    If I had a rocket launcher…I’d make somebody pay

    I don’t believe in guarded borders and I don’t believe in hate
    I don’t believe in generals or their stinking torture states
    And when I talk with the survivors of things too sickening to relate
    If I had a rocket launcher…I would retaliate

    On the Rio Lacantun, one hundred thousand wait
    To fall down from starvation — or some less humane fate
    Cry for guatemala, with a corpse in every gate
    If I had a rocket launcher…I would not hesitate

    I want to raise every voice — at least I’ve got to try
    Every time I think about it water rises to my eyes.
    Situation desperate, echoes of the victims cry
    If I had a rocket launcher…Some son of a bitch would die”

  348. Pat says:

    seeing as this is the medical board today, can I ask sl a question without getting flamed?

    f it ..flame me.

    My daughter about a month ago shows up after school with this thing on the back of her wrist. Two inches long, brown around the outside, odd, irregular shape like two bowling pins bottom to bottom, raised in the center. No pain. What happened there? Dunno, she says.

    It’s still there, but now it’s flat and looks like a bright pink scar with a brown edge. It’s been like that about two weeks.

    I searched for scabies and all that stuff, but nothing looks like this.

    Take her to the DR, or just ignore?

  349. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    grim, 357, 358 and 360 in mod. Pls pick one, kill the rest. Tried to prevent modding but no success.

  350. lisoosh says:

    Pat – ringworm?

  351. silera says:

    I’m seconding ringworm.

  352. Pat says:

    hmmm….I will try ringworm.

    Did you hear back about your dependent care claim?

  353. Pat says:

    Can you imagine coming to this board for the first time tonight and getting hit with the pox, the shingles, the scabies and the ringworm?

    Poor James.

  354. Shore Guy says:

    Anyone have a good home re.edy for Ebola? I have this little spot of bleeding and….

  355. silera says:

    Yes, there is no cap on how much I have to pay out of pocket for psychiatric care. So, the $1000 anticipated bill that turned to $2400 will be added to the monthly payment plans of never ending copays and deductibles.

    One day, I will have money and pay everyone and then move into a tree fort and live like Nell.

  356. yikes says:

    harlem wanna ride?

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/nyregion/08harlem.html?_r=1&hp

    From 2004 to 2007, according to StreetEasy.com, a real estate Web site, the median sale price for the area’s town houses jumped by about 150 percent, to $1.4 million from $554,250. By contrast, the price on the Upper East Side rose by only 38 percent. And the volume of sales of town homes in Harlem far outpaced that of any other neighborhood.

  357. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    Tax news of the day:

    Polls Showing Concern Over Taxing Benefits Have Senators Eying New Health Care Offsets

    The Senate Finance Committee has begun to consider a few fresh options for paying for a roughly $1 trillion health care reform bill after polling data has made it clear that roughly 70 percent of Americans oppose taxing employer-sponsored health benefits, Sen. Kent Conrad (D-N.D.) told reporters July 7.

    “When you get numbers like that, it certainly makes you look for alternatives,” Conrad said. Three separate polls have been done on the topic and all have produced similar results, according to the North Dakota lawmaker.

    Conrad, a key member in Finance Committee negotiations over the bill, said the committee is “searching for options” that go beyond the health care sector and are different from what the committee has previously said it is exploring, but Conrad refused to elaborate on what the new alternatives under discussion include.

    One idea that health care and tax lobbyists said appears to be gaining traction in the House is a plan to assess a surtax on households with incomes above $250,000 per year. A similar plan floated by House Ways and Means Chairman Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) in 2007 was estimated to be worth $832 billion over 10 years, assuming a 4 percent surtax on incomes above $200,000.”

    *************

    What’s sad is the distortions that Rangel and his ilk will cause on a wide section of families in our area and in other red states. I have long maintained that HENRYs considering marriage to one another ought to rethink it for tax purposes.

    Last night, before this latest proposal even surfaced, the wife realized this and noted “we’d be better off financially if we got divorced.” I agreed and noted that it could save us thousands per year in state and federal taxes, especially if one of us changed domicile to PA. She wasn’t serious about it, but it was something that occurred to her and I know it would be something we would at least discuss if things got worse tax-wise.

    Now it just might–Rangel’s proposal would add a surtax of $12,000 on a family earning 300K between spouses and 23,000 on one earning 500K (assuming gross income, not taxable, as is suggested). In my case, “divorce” would yield tax savings that would pay our monthly mortgage.

    That is what the Messiah is doing to families in this country. That is what Rangel is doing. It is anti-family and it is class warfare, and there is no way to spin it differently.

    Now I expect Victorian or others to flame me about being unpatriotic for not paying as much tax as I possibly can. I’ll not wait for rejoinders on this one—Gregery v. Helvering hasn’t been overruled yet, and anyone who takes issue can bite me.

    /rant off

  358. lisoosh says:

    Pat says:
    July 7, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    “Can you imagine coming to this board for the first time tonight and getting hit with the pox, the shingles, the scabies and the ringworm?”

    Don’t forget the maggoty leg.

    At least their all virtual.

  359. lisoosh says:

    they’re

  360. Comrade Nom Deplume says:

    Good news, it is possible to avoid the Messiah’s class warfare and not get divorced:

    From the IRS:

    “You are considered unmarried for the whole year if, on the last day of your tax year, you are unmarried or legally separated from your spouse under a divorce or separate maintenance decree. State law governs whether you are married or legally separated under a divorce or separate maintenance decree.”

    Best part? It’s legal. Unless you get cute, IRS recognizes divorce (and presumably separations) for tax purposes.

    Not to say I’d do this, but if the Messiah gets this through (and even if he doesn’t), I expect there to be a TON of legal separations in tony train towns during 2010.

  361. safeashouses says:

    #367 nom,

    It’s anti-family and anti-dual income.

    I told one of my friend’s who lives in Brooklyn and wants to move to NJ about the loss of property tax deduction. His 2nd kid is on the way, and I was explaining to him that daycare for 2 kids under 3 is going to run about $600 a week for a center that opens before 8 and stays open till 6-6:30 pm. Him and his wife are now thinking she should stay home for the next 3-5 years after their 2nd one is born due to the cost of daycare and getting nailed by taxes.

    PS: how’s the James Boag’s?

  362. Pat says:

    Yeah, when I posted, I hadn’t made it down to the maggots yet.

    Maggots are good, though. At least you know what they are when they rear their little heads.

  363. Victorian says:

    Now I expect Victorian or others to flame me about being unpatriotic for not paying as much tax as I possibly can

    Can you point to a single instance where I have said anything remotely close to that? Don’t put words in my mouth which you want to hear.

  364. dolphinbeater says:

    Comrade Nom Deplume – want some cheese with that whine?

    The era of the wealthy and powerful stepping all over the rest of us is almost over. All the grenade launchers in the world won’t bring your boy Bush back. Sorry, bub.

  365. Punch My Ticket says:

    Nom [367],

    being unpatriotic

    Nah, just ungrateful. ;-)

    Think of all the services you’re getting.

    Besides, an extra 4% is only about a quarter of the way back to where marginal rates were in Shining City On The Hill’s paradise reign. You want to recreate that golden age surely.

  366. ruggles says:

    NJGator–thanks for the tax appeal info from this morning!

  367. Punch My Ticket says:

    Meanwhile …

    beater [374],

    The era of the wealthy and powerful stepping all over the rest of us is almost over.

    You wish. Do you honestly believe that dividends and cap gains are ever going to be taxed at better than 15% again? The wealthy and powerful will be fine. Well paid serfs, not so much.

  368. Pat says:

    Ooh. I’m kind of liking this Serge dude.

    So did the wife marry him for love? Do you think he’s a good companion?

    Is there a reality show here? Somebody can get him out of this very readily. It’s all been a very unfortunate misunderstanding, really. Serge has so much out there and will not be a popular takedown.

  369. dolphinbeater says:

    Punch My Ticket – people like Nom like it at the top too much, that’s why we’re gonna hafta kick them down a notch or two. This is gonna be fun. By the time we’re done, your stocks and bonds, your Alpine mcmansions, none of it will be worth a bucket of warm spit. As for me, what are you gonna do, inflate my value down to 0? It’s already 0, pal. I got nothing to lose and there’s an army of us out there. A freakin’ army. You don’t have enough grenade launchers to kill us all. We will win this round, bub. We’re almost there, your whining proves it.

  370. Cindy says:

    http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2004954.html

    “California IOUs May Become Investment Vehicles”

    There’s a market for anything…..

    Pay 3.75% – due 10/2…They are talking now about “rules” because they don’t want it to turn into a circus….

    Don’t want it TO TURN INTO a circus!
    What do they think we have now?

  371. Punch My Ticket says:

    I got nothing to lose and there’s an army of us out there. A freakin’ army… We will win this round, bub.

    Treason! Mutiny! Guards!!!!

  372. yikes says:

    Prices are still f*cking crazy. I still cannot figure out how the f*ck people are swinging it. A 3bd/1bth shit* ranch in a semi-haughty town is still going for $500,000. If you put 20% down, the PITI is still running you around $3,200 a month. How the f*ck are people paying utilities, car insurance, medical insurance, food, phones, cable and the other 50 things that slowly suck the life out of you and still be able to survive. Again, an entry level POS for 500K!! It’s f*cking unreal, I just can’t comprehend this insanity.

    1) They’re moving to Bucks County, where the taxes are half
    2) They’re putting 35% down after saving for 5 years

    :)

  373. yikes says:

    grim says:
    July 7, 2009 at 9:54 am

    #58 – Dollars were completely irrelevant. Buyer could have afforded more, and we’re talking about tenths of a percentage point for the seller. The negotiation had everything to do with who was going to break first. Both sides made big concessions during the negotiation, but ultimately it came down to who was going to bend over the last outstanding issue.

    I love that he walked away over 7500. I would have done the same. we made a small concession, they made a big one and asked us TWICE to come up and we said, ‘hey, give it to the ‘other’ buyer.’

    they sold to us

    :)

    (of course, we could be f’d in 3 years, who knows!)

  374. Traitor nom deplume says:

    Comrade beater

    First, you are comparing apples and oranges when you compare historical tax regimes. I don’t expect you to understand that but I thought I’d point that out.

    Second, the only top I am at is the list of those who pay the greatest percentage of tax on income. Its far higher than bill gates or warren buffett yet I don’t seem to be able to afford their perks. Now, if you weren’t a troll (or worse) you would know that as a truly wealthy person wouldn’t be bothering with your palaver.

    As for ungrateful, I think I paid my share so why do I need to show gratitude. In fact, since I am paying your share as well, it seems you are the ingrate.

    At least you had the good sense to stick to snark—for reasons I won’t get into, I appreciate that.

  375. yikes says:

    late, but re: Mercury/vaccinations …

    wife will be off mercury/tuna in the months leading up to the pregnancy AND during pregnancy.

    and we have the saddest tale about a Friend of the family and a vaccination that is too depressing to tell here. there never has been a definite link drawn in this case … but days after getting one (at age 4 or 5, i think), a perfectly healthy boy had his life likely ruined forever. he can’t stop having seizures. it’s really one of the saddest stories, ever (at least of a person i know). maybe the wife will tell it at a GTG. i dont have the stomach for it.

  376. Traitor nom deplume says:

    (371) Safe

    Was great, thanks

  377. yikes says:

    no, i dont know what the vaccination was. but i’ve been told by Dr. friends to spread out the three important ones, one year apart, starting at age 3, if you’re concerned/worried.

    /i am not a doctor, please do not take this as gospel. just passing along info, you should check with your own doctor or do your own research.

  378. yikes says:

    John says:
    July 7, 2009 at 10:55 am

    According to the Tax Policy Center, a Washington research group, about 4.3 million of 150 million U.S. households filing tax returns will earn more than $200,000 this year.

    if your stat is correct, 0.02 percent of US households earned over 200k last year.

  379. kettle1 says:

    dolphinbeater

    i am somewhere in between you and Nom, probably closer to you. Regardless of what you think of Nom, llok at the big picture. The average joe is led around by the nose through the MSM and the staged political BS. Its keeps you from focusing on the real meat. if that doesnt, then the overtime you will have to work to keep up with the credit cards will keep you to busy to look too closely at how the nation is run lately.

    Class division is exactly what the Pols want with such policies.

    The best response would be to ignore the class baiting and demand that the government stop spending more then it can afford and actually enforce laws equally, not based on how much money you have.

  380. kettle1 says:

    question /observation for the crowd:

    I am not a stats wiz, but a number of political races lately come down to the winner having a few hundred more votes out of millions. Can you really expect such a large group to split so closely down the middle without significant influence?

  381. bi says:

    388#, again your math made me laugh. 4.3/150 is about 2.8%, not 0.02 percent.

  382. safeashouses says:

    #391 bi

    The end is nigh!

    I agree with bi! :P

  383. Pat says:

    factual math doesn’t count.

    bi, what do you think of Serge and his transaction?

  384. Stu says:

    Grenade launchers won’t do anything to stop the wealthy. Our government is run by our business leaders and their lobbyists. Trust me, there won’t be no health care reform. It’s just more food for the sheeple. Republican/Dem is all the same. The Obama porkulus and the Paulson Street bailouts are all about keeping government the same corrupt vehicle it has been for the past 50 or so years.

    Can’t wait to see Ben remove a trillion dollars of currency when inflation rears its ugly head.

    Green shoots…perhaps? But if you don’t keep watering the plants, they will whither and die.

  385. Stu says:

    The end is nigh!

    Forget the math…bi posted on a day the markets dropped 2%!!!

  386. Stu says:

    bi, I called a market top on May 1st when the DJIA closed at 8212. I was slightly early on this call. What do you think? Up or down from here?

  387. chicagofinance says:

    396.Stu says:
    July 7, 2009 at 9:38 pm
    bi, I called a market top on May 1st when the DJIA closed at 8212. I was slightly early on this call. What do you think? Up or down from here?

    Stu: Isn’t this kind of a ridiculous question? People dumped out of the market because they do not want to go long into earnings. Give this about 10 days and all the questions will be answered. I say an option spread is the call. We are going to go somewhere fast……

  388. nj escapee says:

    kettle, I agree there are too many coincidences that results are so close. I suspect that ballot boxes are routinely stuffed or purged at the precinct level by either party.

  389. silera says:

    What If The Real Estate INDUSTRY Didn’t Control The Real Estate Market?

    http://www.bloodhoundrealty.com/BloodhoundBlog/?p=8871

    “Watch offers for houses, in real-time, be accepted or declined. NASDAQ Level Two Quotes go beyond the bid and ask; they show the “size” of the market for those prices. The implementation of that transparency greatly reduced the previous NASDAQ market manipulation, that stymied the individual investor to favor institutions. It isn’t perfect but exposure to that data makes the market operate more efficiently. Apply that model to real estate and you will quickly determine what the “real” market is for a property….

    Prominently display the terms and dates of the rejected offers, verified by participating market professionals, in the MLS system, and you solve the demand side of the equation because you identify the “size of the market”. Share that information with the banks and they’ll start trusting you. Show it to the prospective buyers and they’ll throw their arms around you in joy. The sellers will “get real” about the market, also.”

  390. Cindy says:

    #378 Pat “Do you think he’s a good companion?”

    Check out Chicago’s #287 – The man is a dancer! And he’ll take a lady on a cruise.

    Chicago – Hang in there – A baby is due soon – no?

  391. Stu says:

    ChiFi:

    Anytime I ask bi a question, it is simply for entertainment purposes!!! Do not read anything more into it please.

    Earlier today I said that earnings season could change the whole direction of the market one way or the other. If I was a technical analyst, I would say that the markets are in a flag pattern which means it could break either way. Of course you and I don’t believe any of that krap. I will be scrutinizing these upcoming earnings very carefully. When the green shoots were sprouting, the analysts estimates from the prior quarter (October disaster) were for depression. Once the green shoots hyperbole hit the MSM, the analysts seemed to make much more optimistic earnings estimates. Let’s see how many companies meet these greener earning predictions.

  392. Stu says:

    Cindy,

    You are a trip.

  393. bi says:

    396#, who cares dow at 8212 or 2812. what i only care is that particular etf is traded at 65% discount as we entered an entertainment contract.

    >Stu says:
    July 7, 2009 at 9:38 pm
    bi, I called a market top on May 1st when the DJIA closed at 8212. I was slightly early on this call. What do you think? Up or down from here?

  394. calitransplant says:

    #40–“Prices are still f*cking crazy. I still cannot figure out how the f*ck people are swinging it. A 3bd/1bth shit* ranch in a semi-haughty town is still going for $500,000. If you put 20% down, the PITI is still running you around $3,200 a month. How the f*ck are people paying utilities, car insurance, medical insurance, food, phones, cable and the other 50 things that slowly suck the life out of you and still be able to survive. Again, an entry level POS for 500K!! It’s f*cking unreal, I just can’t comprehend this insanity.”

    I share your sentiments—Just had a realtor send me comps for (POS) capes and ranches in New Providence and many of the sold prices were over the original listing price (still 2005 prices if not more recent.) I don’t get it…

  395. still_looking says:

    Re Vaccinations.

    Like I posted earlier. I officially recuse myself from posting judgment about vaccines any more than I have already today.

    Most here know my position on vaccines.

    I’m sorry for children and families that have severe medical problems. It’s awful and I see it more than I’d like.

    sl

  396. still_looking says:

    Pat, 357

    Can you email me a picture of it? You can get it from grim.

    [Disclaimer: I do not practice telemedicine and my online internet advice is worthless.]

    sl

  397. Pat says:

    SL, wow. Pictures. Who’d ever think of that? :P

    I sprayed some stuff for ringworm all over her wrist. She’s sleeping, but I’m going to go try to get a pic and upload.

    Disclaimer: I’m not a good Mom, I never claimed to be.

  398. silera says:

    I’m a mom in progress.

  399. Punch My Ticket says:

    Tough times for the in crowd.

    http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/08/business/08nantucket.html

    See, Nom? It’s not just you.

  400. still_looking says:

    Stu 409,

    Thank you! The article is lengthy but worth it.

    I just refuse to address it here anymore – as I’ve said before:

    Think what you want, do what you want. All at your own risk.

    sl

  401. lisoosh says:

    Silera – aren’t we all.

    Night all.

  402. Pat says:

    sl, you around?

  403. Firestormik says:

    RE: John says:
    Jordans Lobster Farm had 3 one pound lobsters for $23 dollars last weekend.
    ————
    Picked up a couple @ Shoprite last weekend. $3.99 a pound!

  404. yikes says:

    ah, damn, i did math after 9 pm without a calculator. carry the …

  405. Stu says:

    SL:

    There are tons of people out there that purchase Airborne/Cold Eeze and other completely unproven remedies. This is, even after the packaging clearly states that there is no medicinal proof that it works.

    For whatever reason, science can not be trusted if it involves parenting young children. Better off listening to english majors who write for Time-Out Kids or Parents Magazine. After all, they have no vested interested in creating fear in parents. Oh wait!

  406. Stu says:

    Firestorm. $3.99? That’s the lower than I used to be able to get them from a wholesaler who sold to restaurants. When was it $3.99? Now I’m pissed!

  407. sas says:

    “vaccinations”

    take vaccinations?
    your a nut. take yer cancer virus induced shot.

    Not to mention the carcinogenic perservatives and leechables & extractables in the containers.

    but, then again, if you feed your tubby kids chicken fingers, thats a hell of alot worse.

    infant formula? you want your kids injesting melamine and rocket fuel?
    you can always tell the formula babies, they look so damn puny and sickly.

    and don’t forget shift change…C-section anyone?

    SAS

  408. sas says:

    like I’ve said before, i only have a soft spot for 2 things in life:

    kids & puppies.

    SAS

  409. Stu says:

    Pat,

    Better to look like two inverse bowling pins than the number of the beast.

  410. still_looking says:

    Pat,

    Hi. It probably is ringworm given the length of time it’s been there and the pics. It’s a bit unusual but appears to be overlapping rings — it can appear this way.

    A dermatologist can verify and treat it.

    Do you have a cat? Check the cat, too. Sometimes they can be the source.

    Hope this helps. Now, back to reruns of “Dead Like Me.”

    sl

    sl

  411. sas says:

    and the god damn pharm companies & medical device companies write the god damn protocols and training manuals that the knucklehead Dr follows and tells them what to do.

    why you think we got pharm reps & lobbyists swarming the universitys.

    Its all about “making an emotional connection”.

    SAS

  412. Pat says:

    Thanks a bunch for looking, sl. The shape was baffling.

  413. sas says:

    “The Virus and the Vaccine: The True Story of a Cancer-Causing Monkey Virus, Contaminated Polio Vaccine, and the Millions of Americans Exposed (Hardcover)”

    http://www.amazon.com/Virus-Vaccine-Cancer-Causing-Contaminated-Americans/dp/0312278721

    and man, if your in prison, military, black foster kids, or a sap college kid enrolling in a “free trial” so you can get your ETOH money, and you are getting the shots.

    best get something in writing, cause your a goner.

    SAS

  414. Firestormik says:

    Re:
    Stu says:
    July 7, 2009 at 10:21 pm
    Excellent article on the vaccination-autism link
    ———————————-
    If it’s the cause of the problem, which I doubt is, it will NEVER be publicly admitted. Can you imagine how many lawsuits will be filed?

  415. sas says:

    “I’m a mom in progress”

    I’ve done the tango so many deadly elements & events in my life, it amazes I’m not 6 feet like that pedophile Jackson.

    but one thing that scares me to death, is a pregnant women.

    Do what she says and always make them happy, or there will be hell to pay.

    trust me
    SAS

  416. Firestormik says:

    Stu:
    It was Jul 5, our anniversary.
    Shoprite @ Piss-cat-away had a tag $4.99 for them and $1 off with the card. It seems like they had some kind of problem with the aquarium – the water was not clear and cloggy, they had them in boxes still alive and kicking :)

  417. sas says:

    took a spin in Cresskill today, near the Rockland Coach route.

    saw a nice house on the market, on a 1.5 acre lot.

    SAS

  418. still_looking says:

    Hey SAS,

    The house next to us is for sale :)

    sl

  419. danzud says:

    SL,

    You want SAS as a neighbor? Don’t you watch the Sopranos? Someone might just open up your front door with bullets or play with the gas lines at your house by mistake. Just kidding, I always enjoy the references and stories he brings.

  420. kettle1 says:

    last….

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