patrick.net

Uncle Sam is a sucker. Every dollar he borrowed is worth ~$0.04.
It's been a while but still such pretty numbers on the debt clock.

Our creditors have been lending us money at negative real rates of interest.

Who's the sucker?

Unfunded Liabilities,Don't spoil it for me. I want to watch the whole movie to see how it ends.
Can't wait to find out who doesn't get a check & hear the final line: "What happened?"

Call it Crazy says

On the other end, for one decade and counting, the "top priority" for the US public was and continues to be "the economy", stupid.

Green Jobs anyone !

Yeah, whatever happened drinking, smoking, fucking, sports and driving a big ole wallowing, gas guzzling SUV?

The US is that bad at prioritization?

"I spent nearly all of my money on women, booze and fast cars, the rest I wasted!"

According to this you should just go ahead and move to Fresno:
http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2014/1/3/fresno-ranks-highlylivableforyoungpeople.html

Call it Crazy says

I am convinced that Californians enjoy having a sordid affair with real estate.

Certainly true. Many are not familiar with California so dont expect them to
pick up on Mountain Biking, Surfing, Hunting/Fishing or Camping. So they over spend any savings on upgrades to their 'live in investment".

Pretty sad life to live....

Robert Sproul says

According to this you should just go ahead and move to Fresno

So why did Santa Clara County become the hot bed of Tech boom ?

Cheap land ? so what happens when prices sky rocket ?

"we sound an alarm"... i know... it doesnt sound well for Bostonians and

Yorkers who moved here..

http://www.sfgate.com/business/ontherecord/article/ON-THE-RECORD-CARL-GUARDINO-2574540.php#ixzz1v6EFUJaI

"Hewlett-Packard and Dell are the top two computer-makers in the world. Corporate headquarters for HP are located in Palo Alto and Dell is in Round Rock, Texas. Obviously, they both have people and facilities around the globe.

In those two communities where their corporate headquarters are and where a lot of research and development takes place, the median resale price for a home in Palo Alto is about $1.6 million. In Round Rock, Texas, it's about $180,000, except the home and property are bigger.

We hear from HP all the time that a huge deterrent to the ability to recruit and retain people anywhere near Silicon Valley is the housing issue. We don't hear that from Dell, which is also a member company, about their operations in Round Rock.

It does continue to plague us and we will continue to sound the alarm."

from the Article...

Needless to say, you got what you voted for.. dismal 8 years, worst ever.

"A Wide Economic Growth Gap

The Obama recovery is the most feeble since the Great Depression. GDP growth is far below the average recovery since World War II, and even below the average growth of the past three recoveries.

In dollar terms, if Obama's recovery had been merely average, the economy would be $1.3 trillion — or 8% — bigger today than it is.

Put another way, every American alive today — workers, non-workers, children — is $4,100 less well off than he or she would have been if growth had only been normal. Consider it a tax we all pay for voting poorly in recent elections."

Call it Crazy says

It is fairly well accepted that mortgage rates will only move in one direction from this point forward. So why would anyone lock into an artificially low rate via an ARM that is set to adjust in a short time frame?

Why get a 30 year fixed if you plan on moving in 5 or 6 years. An ARM that is fixed for the first 5 years makes perfect sense.
Most developed countries like UK don't even have 30 year fixed mortgages. They are perfectly happy with ARM's.

thomaswong.1986 says

"Hewlett-Packard and Dell are the top two computer-makers in the world. Corporate headquarters for HP are located in Palo Alto and Dell is in Round Rock, Texas. Obviously, they both have people and facilities around the globe.

In those two communities where their corporate headquarters are and where a lot of research and development takes place, the median resale price for a home in Palo Alto is about $1.6 million. In Round Rock, Texas, it's about $180,000, except the home and property are bigger.

We hear from HP all the time that a huge deterrent to the ability to recruit and retain people anywhere near Silicon Valley is the housing issue. We don't hear that from Dell, which is also a member company, about their operations in Round Rock.

It does continue to plague us and we will continue to sound the alarm."

So why would Apple build this in Cupertino?
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24559188/apples-new-headquarters-gains-approval-cupertino-city-council

Strategist says

So why would Apple build this in Cupertino?

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_24559188/apples-new-headquarters-gains-approval-cupertino-city-council

As everyone (Tech old timers) would say, when your building that audacious global world headquarters in SV, the end is surely near.

Seems to have been the trend for the past several decades, without exception.

My take ? EGO, the true legacy of Apple Computers and the One called Steven Jobs ! And yes, there are lots of former Apple employees what would agree with that.

APOCALYPSEFUCKisShostikovitch says

Hard to believe there is so little concern for tit-fucking Christina Hendricks.

Careful now, those things are a clear suffocation hazard.

thomaswong.1986 says

My take ? EGO, the true legacy of Apple Computers and the One called Steven Jobs ! And yes, there are lots of former Apple employees what would agree with that.

I'm sure he had a big ego, but you gotta admit Steve Jobs is probably the greatest entrepreneur that ever lived. I have faith in his decisions.

Is there a reason why 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012 are missing from that chart? Looks fishy.

Strategist says

I'm sure he had a big ego, but you gotta admit Steve Jobs is probably the greatest entrepreneur that ever lived. I have faith in his decisions.

na! no where near these guys... these guys made it all happen...

Jobs was a speck of dust...

Call it Crazy says

Election years...

2012?

Call it Crazy says

Strategist says

Why get a 30 year fixed if you plan on moving in 5 or 6 years. An ARM that is fixed for the first 5 years makes perfect sense.

You're STILL not paying attention... ARM's just recently ramped up, why??

If what your saying is correct, ARM's would pretty much stay the same YoY, as a portion of the population would get them for your reason.

But, ARM applications have tripled recently. Either a hell of a lot more people are looking to flip houses, or as the OP states, people can't a afford a conv. 30 year at today's rates and prices....

So, which is it??

I would imagine the spike in ARM's applications would occur every time interest rates jump. Buyers would have sticker shock and start raionalizing.......hey, I don't plan on living there for ever, why not save some money?
I'm sure there are some who fall in love with a home, and when interest go up to a level they can't really afford, they take ARM's because they are not willing to give up their love.
That and lots of other reasons.

thomaswong.1986 says

Mountain Biking, Surfing, Hunting/Fishing or Camping

Little games are for little boys; I've find out there are other joys

thomaswong.1986 says

na! no where near these guys... these guys made it all happen...

And don't let the horn-rims and square cuts fool you -- those old engineers from Ampex and HP were some of the hardest drinking, hardest riding and all round good sports around!

Call it Crazy says

Watch out..... When you "grow up", you die....

I just meant that, at my age, the only three things that keep me going past breakfast are pussy, good suds and gasoline.

tatupu70 says

2012?

Ring a bell what happened in 2012

"If you don't have any fresh ideas, then you use stale tactics to scare the voters," he proclaimed, "If you don't have a record to run on, then you paint your opponent as someone people should run from."

http://www.youtube.com/embed/fTynx1hnfig

JodyChunder says

And don't let the horn-rims and square cuts fool you -- those old engineers from Ampex and HP were some of the hardest drinking, hardest riding and all round good sports around!

this is true....

So you think LBJ was just the front man for the operation, or do you think he was the head?

Kennedy was taken out because he ordered the U.S. treasury to issue lawful currency, just 10 days before the assassination.

What's it matter? In NC, 90% of the population is already eligible for medicaid.

JodyChunder says

thomaswong.1986 says

Mountain Biking, Surfing, Hunting/Fishing or Camping

Little games are for little boys; I've find out there are other joys

You are obviously not a surfer...you do not choose to surf. The surf chooses you. :)

I personally NEED to live within 20min of a nice surf able beach and 2hrs to a place where I can ski. Close to mountains to mountain bike and dirt bike ride...horses...and...I do like city style infrastructure, shops and restaurants within walking distance or very short drive.

People spend too much time in the office. CA lifestyle takes place outside of that and thats what we love about it. (well..I do) - If you don't love that then get the hell outta my state lol ...there is a nice arctic storm coming to the east coast by Wednesday..enjoy!! :)

SubOink says

You are obviously not a surfer...you do not choose to surf. The surf chooses you. :)

I respect the surfer and the ski bum. I tore around the dunes on my bikes as a much much younger man.

Outside of bowling, these days, I'm more of a homebody. (Three ex wives will do it to you!) I drink beer, read old books and putter around with my wood lathe.

SubOink says

I personally NEED to live within 20min of a nice surf able beach and 2hrs to a place where I can ski. Close to mountains to mountain bike and dirt bike ride...horses...and...I do like city style infrastructure, shops and restaurants within walking distance or very short drive.

Charlie dont surf ! Charlie didn't get much USO. He was dug in too deep into Palo Alto or moving too fast in his Silicon Valley job. His idea of great R&R was cold rice and a little rat meat.

JodyChunder says

SubOink says

You are obviously not a surfer...you do not choose to surf. The surf chooses you. :)

I respect the surfer and the ski bum. I tore around the dunes on my bikes as a much much younger man.

Outside of bowling, these days, I'm more of a homebody. (Three ex wives will do it to you!) I drink beer, read old books and putter around with my wood lathe.

Bowling is fun but I really suck at it.

Damn! 3 Ex-wives...

I bought a 2008 corolla with 15k mi last year for 10g from a nice older Filipino lady. Hubby does most of the work. What do you think about that!

Yeah, that 08 corolla is an alright good buy, I'm seeing some of the older ones climb past 200k with no problems yet, the Yaris, looking to be another good long term buy, the newer Camry's .. ouch.

December is the slow season for car sales.

APOCALYPSEFUCKisShostikovitch says

I've known a few hard core smokers from the entertainment industry and the ones who persist in the habit into middle years often - at least more often than would be explained by a representational proportion of the census curve - develop a persistent crabbiness, much more so than enthusiasts of, say, pizza.

I don't know it's the chicken and the egg, was I crabby before or after? Perhaps I smoke so I can forget what I was crabby about. Then that just makes me even more crabby, because I hate it when I can't remember... and... eh... huh... What were we just talking about?

CaptainShuddup says

I had insurance for only 1 year in my life and that was last year, it cleared my savings account out. Say what you want, but Obamacare is that insurance system. The insurance being offered at that same company today is the same BCBS Florida Blue plan as it was for 2012.

So your plan previously if you get really sick and it costs hundreds of thousands of dollars was to just not pay it and leach off of everyone else. I could see why you are so testy about ACA ending the mooching optiom.

No my plan was to pay my own in a what I thought was fair system.

Your Boy should have made it a fair system. You thought he was going to do that, because he threw a few words like "Affordable" in the name of his signature legislation. I'd worry more about your own short comings if I were you, and quit looking for fault in others.

CaptainShuddup says

No my plan was to pay my own in a what I thought was fair system.

Your Boy should have made it a fair system. You thought he was going to do that, because he threw a few words like "Affordable" in the name of his signature legislation. I'd worry more about your own short comings if I were you, and quit looking for fault in others.

So 1 years insurance premiums wiped you out financially but you were going to pay your own way if you had some major illness. That makes zero sense.

He's your boy more than mine. I voted against him and have been against the ACA since the beginning. The difference is I think the ACA as a bad law that just kicks the can down the road while you see it as the end of your free ride on other peoples backs.

The bottom line is that the ACA is here, and those who blindly were against it from day one just because it was something proposed by a Democrat lost. Too bad. Time to move on.

Call it Crazy says

Many people signed on for the lowest cost "Obamacare" plan without understanding their TOTAL costs out of pocket...

It will be a HUGE awakening for many people when they need treatment since many don't pay attention to the finer details....

I would refer to those people as morons.

dodgerfanjohn says

Walked by 4 dealerships at 7pm last night. Not one customer. This was in LA County South Bay Area....probably one of the wealthiest areas in the US.

Were they even open at 7PM?

CaptainShuddup says

I bought two cars last year, and the dealer sends me emails every day begging me to buy another. They must be desperate.

Last time I bought a new car was in October 1995. I still occasionally get offers in the mail from Ford, but my 1995 Escort is still doing just fine.