patrick.net

War is Peace. Up is Down. Wrong is Right, etc. How else can you explain the historical fact that a war expansionist won the peace prize?

Oh, and I would just like to add that many professional scientists gladly falsify data to "support" their own biased presuppositions.

I happen to agree with Krugman on this issue, but by and large I don't care for his opinions because his track record is pretty average among economists. I'm particularly annoyed at him because he refuses to admit when he's wrong, and he acts like winning the "Nobel Prize in economics" makes everything he says the gospel.

lmao

Actually I think rumblings in Europe are a problem for gold. As people are concerned about the Euro zone they're buying Dollars short term, thereby depressing gold prices.

My take on the Japanese situation of the last 15-20 years is that they propped up their banks instead of writing off the bad debt. I remember discussions back then about how they were just hiding the bad debt inside the banks. I think that slowed down their recovery. I see the same thing happening in the US. I think we're in for a prolonged period of shadow inventory and other problems.

I think we'll see a long term decline of the USD, whether to the Euro or just to the global basket of currencies and commodities. I'm going to watch for a breakout in gold and try an options bracket but right now I just don't see much movement in anything. It's like everyone and everything is just slowing down, afraid of making a move. That, or everyone's just watching the Olympics...

Basically we see people flock to the USD when things get tops turvy, and then head straight back to emerging currencies when things stabilize again, since those economies often offer up better returns.

As things stabilize more here, I'm sure people are going to flock elsewhere, hoping to catch a big uptick in some other country. The Euro is probably going to head down though. I'm not sure how the USD will do, probably better than most countries but probably worse against some of the emerging countries.

If things keep going up and down, I could see people buying more into gold as a last resort currency.

If the Euro falls apart good for me. Gold is nothing but a hedge against the worst anyhow.

I bought some more Gold & Silver about 2 weeks ago. All the cash I kept on the sidelines since last June has gone straight into the metals. I was expecting to dump some into stocks but I've been waiting for a pullback for nearly 8 months. It never came. I always steered clear of the Eurozone. It's obvious they can't maintain their current system for more than a decade.

Nomograph says

You two should get a room.

elliemae says

lmao

This is not Ad Hominem from Nomograss followed by laughter from the "compassionate" ellie may.

No, it couldn't be. They would never resort to personal attacks and jokes at someone else's imagined expense. Not a bunch of internet bullies at all. Go back to grade school where you can LYAO with kids of the same mentality.

You two should get a dose of your own medicine, and eat that for supper.

This article discusses how shortly after WWI the real beneficiaries of the war were exposed, debunking the myth of "a good war."

After every major war until WWII the United States dismantled and downsized its military and went about paying back the money borrowed to finance the war. Since WWII however the size and expenditures of the US military have grown (along with the casualties of its wars and undeclared wars). Our military spending is largely responsible for our large fiscal deficits. Our military occupation around the world is largely responsible for anti-American sentiment around the world.

AdHominem says

After every major war until WWII the United States dismantled and downsized its military and went about paying back the money borrowed to finance the war. Since WWII however the size and expenditures of the US military have grown (along with the casualties of its wars and undeclared wars). Our military spending is largely responsible for our large fiscal deficits. Our military occupation around the world is largely responsible for anti-American sentiment around the world.

In every imaginable way, America is an empire with military bases in obscure places all over the world. Coincidently, this all began soon after the creation of the private bankster cartel known as the Federal Reserve. The Great War (World War I) was the most avoidable war in history and benefitted only the banks and the military industrial complexes here and in Europe. Our involvement in it was beyond ridiculous. Woodrow Wilson stated we were going to fight this European war to "make the world safe for Democracy." Too bad few noticed that Europe didn't have any democracies to fight for. Now our soldiers are dying to again spread democracy, even though in the long history of the Middle East there has never been a Muslim country that has implemented Democratic government on their own. Democracy is anathema to Islam. Once our presence is removed from this region, it will collapse into chaos and civil war. Our leaders know this, and in spite of their rhetoric, I believe they have no intention to ever withdraw our military from this region.

AdHominem says

This is not Ad Hominem from Nomograss followed by laughter from the “compassionate” ellie may.

Actually, it was.

AdHominem says

They would never resort to personal attacks and jokes at someone else’s imagined expense. Not a bunch of internet bullies at all.

Thank you for recognizing that we're not internet bullies. I'll sleep better tonight.

So, what's the area with the lowest cost per square foot in the US?

Mind providing us where you got those worldwide price data?

Actually for 1-oku 3500-man yen you can get just about anything, condo-wise, in Tokyo.

Here's an example of a super-deluxe condo for $1.4M.

Even with 3% 10-year fixed interest rates people can't afford $1.5M 40-year mortgages in Tokyo. THAT'S WHAT KILLED THEM.

None of those examples really work for SF. Every city is different. Manhattan is a global city with 1000X the wealthflows of SF. London is the most livable city in the whole of what remains of the British Empire.

SF is not Monaco or the other enclaves you list.

Hong Kong and Singapore are kinda similar but are true island-states, with master-planned Executive economies, not counties in a larger, competitive context

Don't get me wrong, like PA I think the fortress of SF will always be very expensive. The only question is how big the fortress is.

elliemae says

AdHominem says

This is not Ad Hominem from Nomograss followed by laughter from the “compassionate” ellie may.

Actually, it was.
AdHominem says

They would never resort to personal attacks and jokes at someone else’s imagined expense. Not a bunch of internet bullies at all.

Thank you for recognizing that we’re not internet bullies. I’ll sleep better tonight.

Glad you can revel in your inner demon. Have a HELL of a day!

Ellimae, no worries, he probably has AFLACK!

AdHominem says

Glad you can revel in your inner demon. Have a HELL of a day!

Thanks.

Me & my inner demons are going out tonight. We were out driving earlier on our motorsickles, saw some land and bought the farm. It's in a beautiful valley with plenty of drainage - the road to the property circles the drain and is quite lovely. I was thirsty after the ride, but I accidentally kicked the bucket by the door and consequently am still dying of thirst. We were called home before we got the chance to stop at the store.

I didn't want to go home - began fighting my demons but I lost - even though I fought the good fight. My demons are now upstairs taking a nap. May they rest in peace.

Oh my GAWD!

He was tossing out some numbers. SF isn't as expensive as some other places in the world. The rest of the US, ditto. Not earth shattering info but interesting. There doesn't always have to be a point, and there isn't alway cause for an argument.

Sometimes, "is" simply means "is."

Perish the thought! I'll probably be spilling it on myself and don't want to waste too much.

You bought a farm? Well, I'm not so sure. I wasn't barn yesterday. Hay, this is the last straw.
As far as war goes, tanks but no tanks, unless you tread on me.
PS: I once bought a farm but got rid of it post haste. Too much hassle. Ever try to teach an ant how to milk a goat?

>> Yeah but I still kinda want an answer.

No you don't, for the answer is right there in front of your beak, but you still can't see it. Stop lying to yourself. That would be a good starting point.

You're going to be the death of me, Mikey. But it's your funeral. My friend Ashley warned me about you - and I thought she was just choking. Now I'm not so sure, so I'll follow the procession of this post.

You offend me with your comments about my family - My aunt is outside, milking the goats right now. What makes you think she can't? She's a tough one, for chore. She can juggle the chickens with one hand while she shovels the bull with the other. Cow's that for a hardass woman?

I'm plowing through this post, was hoping for death puns 'cause I was called out by Ad Hom.

I dig. But death puns? That's the craziest thing I ever hearse. That's an odd thing with which to kick off this pun war. Perish the thought before I depart. I'm mortified and ready to blow a casket.

Sybrib,

I look at in in a different way: If you allow people to lie and do not call them on it, they will just continue. Allowing people to make dishonest arguments and then responding to them as if they are being reasonable simply validates their dishonest tactics. and encourages them to do more.

At some point one has to stop being excessively polite and just state things the way they are.

justme,

I suppose so. My point was, there was so much anger in his posts earlier, that it was akin to throwing a tantrum.

It kinda takes credibility away from one's argument if they make it in a tantrum.

Give a break. This is old news. These are TROPHY properties for the mega-rich in word class cites. The very wealthy were buying homes for absurd prices up until a few years ago. Note the article is from 2008.

Article:

6. Manhattan
Price: $4,320 per sq. ft.
What you get for $1.5 million: Studio apartment

Never mind most of Manhattan was never close to that, peaking out at around $1200/sqft

http://curbed.com/archives/2010/02/04/manhattan_housing_prices_doubled_over_past_decade.php

This data is not hard to look up. These are trophy properties, pure and simple. Comparing that to typical properties in the region is foolish.

Hmm, I don't think that there is some golden rule of the internet that a link must contain the the same exact text as the headline of the linked article, or even agree with the headline.

I think it is quite acceptable to provide one's own description of the linked material. Of course, if the description is off base then presumably someone will point that out in the ensuing discussion.

I do not see how linking with an interpretation constitutes filtering of opposing messages. The message is right there, just click through.

Nomograph,

when You spend the time and money to maintain Your Own website where You can use Your standards of Intellectual Honesty, please post a link to it so we will know where to get Your Fair and Unbiased Information.

Patrick has done that ever since I started reading the articles on his site. I don't think it is new and I definitely don't see it as a problem. Maybe you should provide a specific example to illustrate your point.

Nomo,
For that to be a valid point, wouldn't one first have to feel that the author (of any news story posted on Patrick) had wrote and titled their piece honestly? What do you feel would make the authors opinion of what the piece should be titled worth more than Patricks opinion?

How come there are never any positive articles linked to on the housing crash page? Why must everything be gloom and doom? And also, why is Patrick supportive of Socialst health care, but is not for the same policies when ti comes to bailouts? It seems to me that Patrick supports Socialism when it benefits him and then supports the free market when it benefits him (in housing).

Jeepers, what's with all the Patrick-bashing suddenly.

I can't speak for Patrick, but personally I can state that one relevant reason I am for universal healthcare is because disease strikes much more randomly than does greed and bad decision-making in the housing market, which is more of a your-own-damn-fault type of situation.

It ought to be pretty clear, I think.

http://www.property-report.com/japan-tokyo-condos.php
This article in early 2009 states that average condo prices in the Greater Tokyo area are $48.6 Mil Yen or ($420K dollars approx).. (A far cry from $1.5Million for a studio). ( I have a hunch those were 2000 sq foot luxury studios anyway).
Also in central tokyo the prices are a bit higher around 65.5 Mill Yen... or approx $713K in U.S. Still a far cry from those fake $1.5 Million dollar numbers... The fact they EVERY area had a studio/1 bedroom listed for 1.5 million should have showed any rational person that those numbers were horribly inflated.
Your point about wages not supporting incomes in other countries as proof they don't have to in the U.S. makes sense in small fortress areas...
But most people on this site aren't really looking to move into small fortress areas... We just realize that once you wipe the 5% of cream off the top of the coffee of america.. We are all essentially in the same boat financially. The top 5% can afford anything they want without needing to look at a pricetag... The rest have to live by the laws of economic supply and demand.. and yes.. real incomes in the areas we live and work.
I'm not moving to Beverly Hills in this lifetime... But I shouldn't have to over-pay for a small pool home in the valley with a good school district when i make more than my neighbors.

justme,
there is no cure for death. Forced wealth redistribution included.

i definitely missed the bottom bec of all gloomy news..

I think I'm pretty honest. I rewrite headlines because I enjoy it, and it helps point out spin in the media. I definitely concentrate on the downside of owning, because there's a real need for that. From your local realtor all the way up to the president, the mortgage system is a trap looking for debt-slaves. When the president talks about "supporting housing prices" in opposition to free market prices, you can be sure game is still rigged.

justme says

I can’t speak for Patrick, but personally I can state that one relevant reason I am for universal healthcare is because disease strikes much more randomly than does greed and bad decision-making in the housing market, which is more of a your-own-damn-fault type of situation.

Yes! If you're deep in mortgage debt and can't pay it back, well, it was your choice to borrow too much money, wasn't it? Why should it be anyone's problem but your own?

But if you're sick, there is no choice and no free market for you. You are forced to pay whatever they say or die, very similar to armed robbery. Sure, there's some personal responsibility for your own health (obesity and smoking for example) but lots of health problems are just random bad luck, followed by confiscation of your assets by the insurance industry.

Every other industrial country does health insurance better than we do. We pay twice as much per person and don't get our money's worth. At some point, enough Teabaggers will be bankrupted by the insurance oligopoly that things will change. But they're not too bright, so I think it will take a while.

The headline spin is part of what makes it entertaining. It's not like Patrick modifies the content of the stories. And I'm not sure the Internet gives out Purveyor of Truth licenses anyway.

elliemae says

Now, THAT’s anger. And overkill.

Seriously. I actually strongly agree with the second part of his post:

It’s funny how all those socialist countries can support all that demand for upper class housing and still provide health care for everyone. Very strange……….

The whole idea that having heavy government regulation in some industries spells the death of capitalist economies, and lowered prosperity is not backed up by the evidence.