patrick.net

Allah,

You make your points.

I recall the service economy/downsizing/sunbelt/right-to-work transition of the seventies, when smokestack industry became the rust belt and untold millions moved to the south. You may have sketched some future trends there.

As to cultural colonies, there's always a core of the educated, well-read and widely-traveled in most every burg of any size. I don't deny it. Regardless of a potential injection of new enterprise and relocationed workers, however, give me leave to doubt Columbia, SC will ever become SF.

See you in Sioux City. Or Knoxville.

Slow motion train wrecks:

I see that Anna Nicole Smith died. Gee, couldn't see that one coming...

I feel more sorry for her kids. It's probably a good thing for her daughter that ANS died.

GC,

I'd side with DS's analogy. Afterall, William the Conquorer had *some* Saxon blood in him via Ethelred the Unready.

Tell me this is not true.

Do you believe Freddie Mac?

Not to sound "too" indifferent but w/her son's passing that child's custody will now become center stage for the "real" battle.

39 is way too young to go.

JackInTheBox :

Of course it is true. It's coming from one of the most trustworthy companies known for good accounting practices.

allah,

As a graduate of one of those *best* schools, I should inform you that prevalence of AP/IB doesn't necessarily denote quality. My ghettoey school got in because it had a big IB magnet program, but the quality of education outside of IB was at best par.

It's just a sloppy way to sell more magazines.

Of course it is true. It’s coming from one of the most trustworthy companies known for good accounting practices.

...and David Liareah will back it up too!

I don't know if anyone caught Kudlow today but they had Doug Kass on (Seabreeze Partners) and he was hammering Larry that what made today's subprime meltdown so news worthy was that it WILL bleed into the A paper arena! I don't think Larry was dealing with that all too well and kept trying to shut him down.

Uh Larry..... you can't "hold" smoke!

Trust me. It’s faster than Cricket ! The “speed” version of that game takes one whole day. The “normal” game runs for 5 days. No kidding. Real stuff. I am madly in love with that game.

I asked a Briton about that once. He explained that it was so that you could have 5 days of drinking. Oh. duh!

I also asked why the scores are crazy. Like 109283 to 3. That part was less clear.

As a graduate of one of those *best* schools, I should inform you that prevalence of AP/IB doesn’t necessarily denote quality. My ghettoey school got in because it had a big IB magnet program, but the quality of education outside of IB was at best par.

It’s just a sloppy way to sell more magazines.

Astrid,

I never said that the list is the bottom line on schools, but I don't see any other list that shows differently, do you? Many schools I see here on Long Island are very ghettoey looking.

Besides, that survey was taken a couple of years ago and it can be all different today. Many schools such as down south are just built or are being built. I have been down there around October of last year. The schools I looked at are really nice; I have even went in and talked with some of the teachers. They all seem so much more nicer and less stressed out. I wonder why?

I haven't watched Kudlow in ages. But I remember that he was as irritating as Kramer. Who is worse ? (BTW, Kramer was pumping CFC today - saying they have better models that show that they won't blow up. Isn't that guy pathetic ?) Sometimes I feel Kiyosaki is not half as bad.

Believe me, the quality of students was more of a problem than the quality of the building (though the latter was pretty awful).

In any case, most of my best high school teachers had a real edge to them. Nicer and stressed out teachers are not necessarily better. Education is a relative thing.

Mainly, I just want to correct the perception that the Newsweek list is actually worth anything, it's not.

But to your main point, I doubt I'd ever send my kids (if I have any) to a non-magnet California public school. So I think we're in agreement there.

Off topic. Have you heard about this the 2008–2010 Zero-Percent Adjusted Net Capital Gain Rate?

http://www.nysscpa.org/cpajournal/2006/1206/essentials/p40.htm

So much for keeping the bubble inflated. I used to think that it is more of a conspiracy that the real estate bubble is there to continue the stock bubble in '90s. But it seems to have more truth to it now. I guess it will eventually be no capital gain tax on any investment.

eburbed - don't you mean 109 for 3?

- stressed out
+ NOT stressed out

SP,

Sorry, I guess that's why I'm called an iconoclast. But honestly, did you think my opinion was clearly wrong in some way, or am I just not supposed to say bad things of the recently dead. (If the latter, does that social nicety apply to Saddam Hussein and the likes?)

If capital gain tax is reduced to 0% and then sunset quickly, isn't there a HUGE incentive for certain people to cash out their stocks during that period?

astrid :

ANS is not in the same league of Hitler and Saddam. Secondly, loss of a parent is bad for a child - at any age, especially when the child is at that age. Do you know if she was abusing her daughter ? Then no, you do not get any right to pass judgment on her parenting skills.

Most parents love their children. And it's not good for any child to miss it.

Peter P & Anthony,

0% cap gains is only for the people in the lowest 2 (or 3?) tax brackets. I doubt most people who have stocks to sell earn less than 25k a year.

0% cap gains is only for the people in the lowest 2 (or 3?) tax brackets. I doubt most people who have stocks to sell earn less than 25k a year.

What about newly retired boomers?

May ANS rest in peace.

Well, I was basing my opinion based on what happened to her son. But perhaps it's always bad.

(I personally don't think so in this case, as long as responsible guardians are appointed for her daughter. ANS died before the kid was one. Plus, ANS is a trouble magnet. Without such a mother, the daughter might have hopes of leading a relatively normal life)

Well, you're all entitled to your opinions. Keep in mind that I didn't say anything bad about ANS other than my own opinion that the daughter is better off without her. I think I have substantial reasons, based on facts known to me, to think this is so.

Astrid, we know you, don't worry. ;)

Though you are welcomed to make fun of my eventual demise, which is going to happen sometime within the next 100 years.

With this 0% capital gains - could not someone theorectically take a long unpaid sabatical in one year to get their salary in the bottom bracket?

Am I missing something?

What about newly retired boomers?

It's always possible. But won't SSI for most boomers be around 25k a year?

The death tax is also eliminated for the year 2010. It'd be interesting to see if there are any correlation between it and death rates among the wealthy.

It’s always possible. But won’t SSI for most boomers be around 25k a year?

After deducting state tax and mortgage interests?

Peter P,

If you died, I would miss you a great deal. I have nothing but good to say about you. However, if you insisted on a mausoleum with a 500 sq. ft. bathroom...then I'd make fun of you, a little.

However, if you insisted on a mausoleum with a 500 sq. ft. bathroom…then I’d make fun of you, a little.

How about 400 sq. ft. But with marble?

Only while you're still alive.

After deducting state tax and mortgage interests?

Hmm, good point. Also, with a married couple, the income limits for those brackets double. Hold on to your stocks & your house! (unless Congress changes its mind)

NIA, NTA

What is the $$ amount that the 'death tax' kicks in at now? It doesn't really tax your death, unless you have a decent estate, I find that such an odd name for it.

I just received this email from ZipRealty:

Opportunity to buy in an awesome location in Sunnyvale. Only 3 left, offering a 10K financing incentive package for 2 of them. Also get a $ 6500 plus rebate from me.delivery 4-5 months. price 670K to 730K.
PLEASE CALL/EMAIL ME ASAP TO SEE THE FINAL UNITS.
----
Why do I need an incentive if these are the last units? Won't someone just snap them up? Also, what location is awesome in Sunnyvale? I cannot think of any.

SP : ditto to everything. I was shocked too.

Astrid : This is a free country. You can say whatever you want. But the parent-child relationship is very special. To casually say that it's more good for the child to lose the parent, just because you are free to come to your conclusions, is horrible. Unless you know and can show how her being alive was harming the child, don't hide behind the right of free speech.

Also, what location is awesome in Sunnyvale? I cannot think of any.

Better than an "awesome" location in East Palo Alto.

The only possible place in EPA I like is the Four Seasons hotel.

Also, what location is awesome in Sunnyvale?

Entire BA is awesome. Peter P said that every place is special.

Perhaps "awesome" as in Shock and Awe.

The Four Seasons in EPA is quite nice.