patrick.net

Rin,

I did not intend offend good hearted honest foreign women. It's just my observation that some of these foreign women are susceptible to materialism the same as American women. I believe there is no distinction between a women in the US that marries for millions and a person in Asia that marries for a home and a meal. They both are in it for material possessions.

PolishKnight says

So what do I mean by that? A neighborhood made up by people like me allowed entrepreneurs to exist. Try to set up your wife's business in, say, Detroit. Or in any other inner-city matriarchy. This European-American funded equality fantasy is fun, while it lasts.

I agree that the middle class - what's left of it - is important to the overall strength of our economy.

As for my wife, she came from a lower middle class, broken home. Paid her way through college, as did I. No quotas, government loans or grants, or anything other advantage that a man wouldn't have gotten. She's just really smart, creative and talented. And she works really hard too. (harder than me as I waste WAY too much time here)

So what, she either runs a bean counter business, (justifying outsourcing man), or made up some consumerism crap that mostly other women buy.

PolishKnight says

Hahahaha! Yeah, look at the great economy that these women are producing and the rising standards of living,

Well my wife started a business with 50k in savings back in 1999. Today that business employs over 30 people and her take home profit last year was almost 500k.
What about you? As a white male I'm sure you have a similar story, only even more successful, right?

everything says

So what, she either runs a bean counter business, (justifying outsourcing man), or made up some consumerism crap that mostly other women buy.

Like I wrote - she employs more than 30 people and takes home about 500k a year. No big deal, right? You do a lot better than that, right?

BTW, learn how to use the "quote" link. Otherwise, your posts will be confusing. Then again, no matter what you do, your posts will probably be confusing.

rooemoore says

Like I wrote - she employs more than 30 people and takes home about 500k a year. No big deal, right? You do a lot better than that, right?

Escort services make a lot of money!

hanera says

grywlfbg says

For me I don't think the recovery is sustainable and we will slide back into recession and see the dow ~8,000. The Fed and their cronies have managed to roll the boulder back up the hill for much longer than I thought possible.

Please elaborate if possible. Why do you think they can't do it forever? So are you expecting hyperinflation, depression or stagflation going forward, say, 1 year from now?

Because the cracks are starting to appear. Bernanke knows he's painted himself into a corner. Interest rates are rising and he's all out of ammo. He has no choice but to start tapering even though the economy is not ready to walk on its own.

The financial markets (including housing) are moving in opposition to what the (main street) data is telling us. Based on labor participation rates we haven't recovered since 2008. People have just been dropping off the rolls and/or being moved onto disability. The only reason it doesn't look like 1934 out there today is programs like Food stamps. We have all-time record numbers of people on government assistance. Who's going to buy all the houses? Oh right, I forgot, the Chinese. Yeah, because their economy is doing so great.

As I stated in my first post they have managed to keep the party rocking way longer than I thought possible. But that boulder will roll back down the hill. Why? Because is ALWAYS does. In every empire in the history of humanity.

PolishKnight says

It's the main reason I and most other white males have flown the Democrat party but, sadly, even Republicans don't seem to care about us so much.

It is good you have realized that the Republican establishment really does not give a damn about working class white males. They just like to get that demographic sufficiently riled up about some cultural distraction that said demographic will vote against their own best interest. One such distraction is the whole "welfare queen" propaganda.

But, yeah, the Democrats are not doing men any favors, either.

Here is what non-wealthy white people voting Republican should think about: Was the ability to delay gay marriage by 8-12 years worth the death, destruction and cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? That is is essentially the choice you made when voting for George W. Bush.

And in the name of equality, I'll pose the same question to gay marriage activists: Was making a fuss about gay marriage in 1999 worth loosing 1% the vote and therefore ensuring the aforementioned same wars? I think not.

grywlfbg says

Interest rates are rising

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/DGS10

and he's all out of ammo.

LOL

Based on labor participation rates we haven't recovered since 2008.

That's counting old people. Don't count old people, they're retiring now.

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/LNS12500000

is the picture of the recovery. Weak sauce, but just like the first half of the 1990s, really.

But note the age 25-54 population peaked already:

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=lxC

so things aren't quite as bad as that.

The only reason it doesn't look like 1934 out there today is programs like Food stamps.

And also http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/FDEFX

Who's going to buy all the houses?

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/graph/?g=lxA

baby boom echo is turning 30 soon . . .

I'm tired of hearing the bitching & moaning.Everything would be sunshine & lollipops if the BUMS would get off their LAZY ASSES & get a third part time job.

A third part time job will eliminate third party collections. Just a bunch of LFs.

Carolyn C says

I did not intend offend good hearted honest foreign women. It's just my observation that some of these foreign women are susceptible to materialism the same as American women.

Yes, what you're referring to is something akin to a Wendy Deng, Rupert Murdoch's social climbing Ivy-educated wife. But here's the thing, I think that this personality type, at least coming out of either Asia or South America, is developed during one's teens or early 20s. Pretty much, everyone knew that Wendy was a b*tch from the get-go. Usually, if it's not established at the core personality, by ages 22-25, then it's not as common as you think.

Now, in the USA, this sort of behavior is encouraged throughout a girl's upbringing, esp during those years, ages 16-19, where they get sneaked into bars/clubs without id cards with their gal power friends while at the same time, going for the thrill seeking gangster/bad boy persona. BTW, my own flesh-n-blood sister is one of these types. When a critical mass of this sort of behavior ensues, then what you have is a culture of American women, who don't make for good spouses and the net result is a divorce rate, hovering over 50%.

In contrast, it's 20% with a foreign woman. Thus, the Rupert / Wendy breakup is a minority event and not a flip of a coin. I know of plenty of marriages between American guys and Asian or South American women and those marriages have held up pretty strong now, for a good number of years. At least 1/2 to 2/3 of the American-to-American marriages I know of, are broken homes today, for will be, just a few years down the road.

Yeah this whole notion that you can marry somebody and after a few years expect him to maintain you in the lifestyle you are used to -while not giving anything in return -is absurd.

You have people like Meg Whitman, Carly Fiorina who have risen in so called male dominated field. That is what equality means-you have choices. Now if you fail-it is your responsibility-not the man's. Why does the woman not be forced by law to keep the man in the lifestyle he was used to??
Time to restore the balance. But the problem is the dems have become the women's party and republicans are stuck in the stone ages and are concered about things such as abortion, birth control and gay marraige. If the republicans become a bit sane and start appealing to the troubles of the modern man-they would be a lot more supporters.

Now I have choosen to be with someone who is as capable as me in pulling in an income and has family money. But someone in their 20s may not be that wise and may end up paying a price for life. The govt in America is in everybody's business and has gotten to be too big.

justme says

Here is what non-wealthy white people voting Republican should think about: Was the ability to delay gay marriage by 8-12 years worth the death, destruction and cost of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan? That is is essentially the choice you made when voting for George W. Bush.

And in the name of equality, I'll pose the same question to gay marriage activists: Was making a fuss about gay marriage in 1999 worth loosing 1% the vote and therefore ensuring the aforementioned same wars? I think not.

It's called divide and conquer. Voting in the US is an illusion. Now when do we get that 2nd party?

tatupu70 says

That's fine, but are you cash poor or do you more money than you could spend in a lifetime?

Geez!

Cash on hand is different than money. Money is any type of equity.

That equity can also turn to losses.

If I do nothing money can continue to come in from Real Estate holdings, but my cash can buy me greater opportunities, in my opinion.

Bellingham Bill says

baby boom echo is turning 30 soon . . .

Great rebuttal, and I agree that things aren't as bad as some people make out.

I think that the economy is shifting, and the 30 somethings will be living a more mobile lifestyle.

I just don't see the future of having a house, two kids, and a dog.

So whats his name?
lostandconfused said:
I have choosen to be with someone who is as capable as me

Let's do everything possible to stop the coming real estate implosion of overpriced houses.

MrEd says

So whats his name?
lostandconfused said:
I have choosen to be with someone who is as capable as me

You have a point ?

Early am

mell says

For some reason women reserve the rights to be offended when male coworkers talk about anything remotely sexual that is in no way involving said women.

Don't talk about sex at work and you shouldn't have any problems.

lostand confused says

Why does the woman not be forced by law to keep the man in the lifestyle he was used to??

She is. If she was the breadwinner and the man was a homemaker, or if she made significantly more than him, she would owe him alimony, child support and she would be giving up half of the assets that her money bought.

lostand confused says

But someone in their 20s may not be that wise and may end up paying a price for life.

No, many are not but presumably his or her spouse would have been supporting them while they were achieving their greatness. Someone has to cook dinner, wash the socks, even work part time when the other spouse is in college. I guess you could call it an investment in your spouse that you get a return on no matter what.

jessica says

Don't talk about sex at work and you shouldn't have any problems.

Sure, but why? Totally arbitrary. I really don't want people to talk about Dr Phil or Oprah at work. Doesn't mean I should have the right to shut up a conversation between 2 coworkers that I accidentally overhear.

http://www.theblaze.com/stories/2013/03/22/donglegate-woman-fired-for-reporting-offensive-jokes-men-made-at-tech-conference/

Two people fired (incl. the "offended" woman) for political correctness bs like this? No wonder the economy is stuck. There are people working their asses of for minimum wages who don't have the privilege to attend posh conferences during work, and that woman, instead of being grateful for having a well-paid tech job, feels "offended" by a conversation she happens to overhear? Political correctness is the scourge of the 21st century, and feminism is partly responsible.

David Losh says

I think that the economy is shifting, and the 30 somethings will be living a more mobile lifestyle.

That would be me and friends...and I don't see that changing at all...

SubOink says

David Losh says

I think that the economy is shifting, and the 30 somethings will be living a more mobile lifestyle.

That would be me and friends...and I don't see that changing at all...

Do you and your friends expect to have your current jobs for a lifetime?

No? Then you might be moving

Are you willing/able to commute 1-2 hrs each way each day should your job change?

No? Then you might be moving.

Is your and your friends' local industry so entrenched they will never decide to move to lower cost of living areas?

No? Then you might be moving.

Might you or your friends one day have a lifestyle change (divorce, kids, disability, etc.) and decide your current house no longer satisfies your needs?

No? Then you might be moving.

David Losh says

Bellingham Bill says

baby boom echo is turning 30 soon . . .

Great rebuttal, and I agree that things aren't as bad as some people make out.

I think that the economy is shifting, and the 30 somethings will be living a more mobile lifestyle.

Most of us will try not to live a life on the move because most of us want kids. Im in this group and bought a house last year and don't plan on moving anytime soon b/c of kids.

No one talked about the foreign money being wired here in Bay Area ?
Indians , chineese please speak up ?

Bellingham Bill says

Based on labor participation rates we haven't recovered since 2008.

That's counting old people. Don't count old people, they're retiring now.

http://research.stlouisfed.org/fred2/series/LNS12500000

is the picture of the recovery. Weak sauce, but just like the first half of the 1990s, really.

That doesn't make sense. The first year of the 70 million baby boomers turned 65 last year. There isn't any change in the participation rate based on baby boomers increasing the percentage of retired people yet. Not that the baby boomers are going to be able to retire ever. A lot of baby boomers will be working till the day they die. The boomers should eventually end up skewing the participation rate up not down.

The labor participation rate is the lowest it's been since 1978 when large numbers of women were entering the work force. Your chart only looks at numbers not adjusted for population gain rather than percentages of the population. Chart your "recovery" the last 6 years against population gain, which is almost all from immigration who would be looking for jobs and it looks like this. http://data.bls.gov/pdq/SurveyOutputServlet That's not a very pretty picture at all.

You seem like someone who should be able to tell the significance of the difference between raw numbers and percentages. Was I wrong about that?

drudometkin says

Most of us will try not to live a life on the move because most of us want kids. Im in this group and bought a house last year and don't plan on moving anytime soon b/c of kids.

They operative word there is try. The average family in America moves every 7 years so I wish you the best of luck beating that.

Call it Crazy says

HEY YOU says

Let's do everything possible to stop the coming real estate implosion of overpriced houses.

How do you propose to do that??

Step 1) Spend more than asking with no contingencies.

Step 2) Immmedienty HELOC

Step 3) Use HELOC money to repeat step 1

Repeat ad infinitum.

Bellingham Bill says

This is not capitalism, it is parasitical rentierism.

Bellingham Bill says

Capitalism involves the creation of new goods and services. Rentierism is the toll-collecting of economic rents on pre-existing wealth.

These are great phrases, and something I've struggled with for many years.

Providing housing is a business. It is a very good business if managed well, but many people don't approach rental property from a business perspective.

Rental property is providing a service, so it's been hard the past couple of decades with this massive amount of appreciation, and listening to yahoos who only see the funny money of equity.

I think the business of rental property is changing to be much more professionally managed catering to market conditions.

It's because I think large rental property owners are taking over that I would rather be doing something else until things shake out.

drudometkin says

Most of us will try not to live a life on the move because most of us want kids.

We own our house, and have stayed because of the kids. Before I was married I moved a lot, more times than I care to recount.

The fact of the matter is that many of the people who work in our market place of Seattle Washington are contract workers with Microsoft, Amazon, or even Boeing.

The good paying jobs are changing.

B.A.C.A.H. says

I dunno about "better" odds. I've known several of those women who were loyal partners right up till the time they got their green cards. Some of them locked it in with a child for the cash flow, some not.

divorce rate among mail order brides is 20%.

or you can choose to believe what you have been told by American women.

American women are known to be greedy, power hungry bitches who pretend to marry you for "love" then and file for divorce 2-3 years later for bullshit reasons so they can live off on your hard earn paychecks.
of course i don't mean to offend all American women, just those who do the above.

Rin says

One important point which is sometimes missed in American male/Foreign woman marriages is that the divorce rate hovers near ~20% vs the 50-60% standard for American male/American female. So while there's no perfect situation, I'd at least feel better knowing that that's an 80% chance of success than less than half.

yep most of these "horror" stories about foreign wives leaving after getting their greencard is completely bullshit, fabricated by angry and jealous American wives who feel threatened by younger, thinner and more attractive foreign brides.

Carolyn C says

Speaking of Asian woman

that is complete bullshit and you know it. women like you are the reason why many American men marry foreign wives.

does the C. in your name stand for CUNT by any chance?

Mark D says

1. does the C. in your name stand for CUNT by any chance?

   Truly a shining example of American masculinity that I feel very sorry for......
   Another short dick man on display for all to see by any chance?

coriacci1 says

Mark D says

1. does the C. in your name stand for CUNT by any chance?

   Truly a shining example of American masculinity that I feel very sorry for......

   Another short dick man on display for all to see by any chance?

who are you by the way? some mangina?

you are ok with this woman degrading Asian women? let me guess you are one of those white washed, self-hating idiots? rejected by Asian women and are now hating them? are you one of those? speaking of short-dick, have you looked in the mirror lately?

No Mark d it is not bull. It is absolutely the TRUTH. You get all upset because I state THE TRUTH! I have been married for over 15yrs to the same man. What about yourself. I suspect not. Keep your Psycho aggression to your self.
And reserve the c word for your cheap girlfriends or boyfriends.

Too many feminists, not enough real men left around.

Let me give you a totally different argument and say.

Gold almost reached 2000 an ounce a few months ago. And everybody was saying:

-> Gold will go up from here!!
-> Hyperinflation is coming!!!

Good school district bay area houses have reached prices 20-30% above those of the previous bubble, and now everybody is saying:

-> I'm wiring my bangalore money to buy silicon valley investments!
-> My mom, father, grandparents and those of my wife are bringing all the yuans from beijing to buy properties to the bay area!!
-> My friend is getting rich on real estate!. I am too maxing my preapproval to buy a house in the bay area smaller than my dick!.
-> I am getting together with five friends to buy, all together, an house in palo alto that we would not be able to afford alone. Hey, schools are important for when we have kids!
-> I bought a house in menlo park in 1974, and I have made 50 times my investment!!. Hell, I will buy another one and I will probably make 50 times my investment again!

Folks. It's impossible to predict when will a bubble pop. For those bears of you, hey, It's also impossible to predict if they will EVER pop (sometimes, bad for those of you bears, they never pop).

But for you bullish people, remember, the definition of a bubble is plain and simple:

"An asset class whose price appreciation is based on the expectation of further price appreciation in the future, and not from the underlying fundamentals of the assets".

I think bay area people forget that too easily due to the heavy constipation out of eating way too many curry chow mein burritos. That's what make them sooo full of shit :-).

So, folks. Yes, it's a bubble.

Sorry folks, we do not know when will it pop. We do not know if it will pop.

Oh, for those of you talking about good debt, and bad debt:

"If the only way you can afford an asset is by leveraging 4 times your cash, let me remind you, YOU CANNOT AFFORD THE PLACE". If 80% of people needs to leverage 4 times their cash to buy a property: 80% of the people cannot afford the place. If you still go ahead and leverage, together with everybody else. PRAY, if a crash comes, your ass will hurt way more than a skinny weak guy in a san francisco prison."

Finally, for those of you hoarding cash. Be careful. The world of economics is cruel. All you need is a steep increase in money velocity to see your life time savings be wiped away.

So, in conclussion:

Diversify

The bond dumping this week is huge. Possibly a turning point. I thought everyone loved our debt no matter how little it returned. Apparently not.
Notice that it also accompanied dumping of Fannie and Freddie. Loss of faith in the dollar? Plus a short squeeze on paper gold causing physical disconnect?

Yikes. Keynesianism is helpless if this continues.

I'd like to weigh in on this......
199 for 3 days straight, holding water....