patrick.net

It really is too bad that people have bought into both political parties rhetoric and pigeon hole people without any critical thinking at all. Everybody who cannot think for themselves will pay for it in the coming years.

Uh, dude this is America.

Thinking doesn't matter.

Actually I take back my last comment - that was pretty negative.

But still, if critical thinking mattered in this country, people wouldn't pay to see people like Robert Kiyosaki speak.

Now, I’m not a geologist, but isn’t silica quartz also called sand?

I guess it comes in many different forms.

I know nothing about geology though. Geomancy sounds more interesting.

M. Cote,

Boxer and Feinstein are not dummies, and their public service record is at least as good as that of most GOP senators. Ditto Pelosi, there's very little evidence that indicate she would be a bad leader. In fact, in her time as minority leader, she has been able to exert more control over the ranks than Dick Gephert and his hopelessly out of date (rust belt labor union) politics.

I don't think she'll be a Tip O'Neill or a LBJ...at least not overnight, but that woman is pretty, and that's exactly what the Dems need if they are to dig themselves out of Bush's pile of poop. Niceness and cordiality won't get GOP cooperation.

@ConfusedRealtor,

Nice of you to selectively provide us with that useless information. Yes, I saw that Apple and Yahoo are up to. Too bad that doesn't affect the average homebuyer, who still doesn't want to buy much right now:

http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2006/11/08/BUGT3M7LPQ1.DTL&type=business

Are the commissions drying up? Can't make the sportscar payments?

SFWoman,

I'll take engineered quartz. It's probably much cheaper and easier to care for compared to real stone.

I can't wait until engineered diamond countertops become the norm...

I don’t think she’ll be a Tip O’Neill or a LBJ…at least not overnight, but that woman is pretty

Yeah, if you like the plastic surgery fake face type.

"Can’t make the sportscar payments"

Good point skibum. I wonder what kind of sportscar it is...

skibum,

something got cut off

That was supposed to be "pretty tough"

She was rather attractive while young, and she's gotten good work done, but I wouldn't call her pretty even if I was a male octogenarian shopping for a third wife.

I can’t wait until engineered diamond countertops become the norm…

I rather have a self-cleaning countertops.

And just to clarify, I'm not a male octogenarian shopping for a third wife...

"I rather have a self-cleaning countertops."

Aren't those called maids?

Aren’t those called maids?

Maids can be used as countertops? How?

And just to clarify, I’m not a male octogenarian shopping for a third wife…

but u never know. it's the internet, fer gawd's sake. do octogenarian's use all lowercase?

You obviously haven't seen Blackadder the Third: Dish and Dishonesty.

@astrid,

RE: Pelosi, seriously, I find her almost as disingenuous as GWB, although in a very different way. He's a fake back-slapping Texan who has that fake "I'm determined" squint and lip pursing. She's got that wealthy urban liberal fake concern for the masses thing going.

Two great tastes that taste great together!

Can you exagerrate any more than you already are?

No, i'm not, and not exaggerating either... and not the first to remark on it...

skibum,

Real Texan or fake Texan, Texas as a state voted for Bush again and again.

I don't know too much about Pelosi. I agree that she's not my favorite for leading the House, but she seems to have done a good job thus far. I doubt she's in a position to put in national rent control or similar "fake concern for the masses" stuff, there's way too much damage control to get to now.

SFWoman,

I'm holding out for Diamondique :)

@ConfusedRealtor,

Nice. I like the fake implication that you make at least $550K. Or are you really saying the this $55K "new" car was purchased for, say, $5K and you generated only $50K in commissions last year as a realtwhore (TM).

Of course, you'll need to drive clients (buyers, whatever few who are left still looking) around in a nice comfortable "family car."

Can you ever be honest and upfront about anything you post? Oh yeah, you're a realtor. It's not in your nature.

What I do not understand is, when the U.S. topples a totalitarian regime for geopolitical purposes, why don’t those on the far left at least cheer for the secondary benefits? For example, those who had been rightly bemoaning the oppression of women in Afghanistan for decades–why did they not throw their weight behind the U.S. military effort? They could think to themselves: “Toppling the Taliban is the right thing to do, but the U.S. is doing it the wrong reasons. But in the interest of those Afghani women, I will support this effort.”

oh, gimme a break...

Instead, what I hear is complaining about any U.S. intervention, but an unwillingness to provide an alternative.

i see, there are no peaceful or ethical alternatives put forward such as diplomacy, aid, aid with strings, education, even trade sanctions, etc etc. There is no such thing as the UN, UNICEF, or aid or awareness groups... of course, the 'blast 'em boys' military approach wins heart and minds like nothing else and doesn't create enormous suffering and lingering resentment and a new wave of terrorist foment... wrong thing for the wrong reasons...

DS,

most of the Chinese dealings in Burma are not publicized. PRC is THE supplier of arms to the military regime, simple as that. When a mine is opened in Burma, Chinese get the first dip, customarily.

I am sure you are aware of the much circulated wedding footage of the general's daughter. Most of her wedding gifts were acquired from Shanghai, because a lot of PRC inner circle "pals" foot the bill.

The only entertaining thing about this election is, Bush the dumb ass gets his well-deserved public humiliation. But obviously this is not good enough, I'd like to see him jailed at some point, if not more.

I am a GOP, and I think Bush is the worst leader of the world, ever, because he is a dumbed down, uncharismatic, unsuccessful version of Hitler.

The Iraq war is a war of his f*cking ego, it has nothing to do with terrorism. It just proves to the world how effective a leader that Saddam is. Those who think that America needs to get involved in different parts of the world have never spent a single day with their fat ass out of this country. They don't know anything about the world beyond America, certain parts of the world need to be run a certain way because historical, cultural and many other reasons.

+because of

Rumsfeld is smart to bail out now rather than later. Bush is going to be the ultimate scapegoat for the deep doo doo we are in, and deservingly so.

Americans need a scapegoat bad, real bad. Whoever in power later needs to take a bath and pinpoint all sins to a person out of favor, and by sinking that person in front of the world we can all be sin free and start from a clean slate. Since he is such a devout Christian, it will be most fitting for him to get crucified for the good of us all.

OO,

Bush is a lot of things, but he's nothing like Hitler. That's not saying he's better or worse than Hitler, but I see absolutely no resemblance between the two. A comparison to Mussolini seems more apt.

I've just been reading a journal article entitled 'Selective conscientious objection':

British SAS soldier Ben Griffin refused to serve in Iraq, was expcted to be court-martialled, but instead was permitted to quit the army with a glowing testimonial from his Commanding Officer, "describing him as a 'balanced, loyal and determined individual who possesses the strength of character to have the courage of his convictions.'" Griffin had served 3 months in Iraq, and had formed the opinion that illegal tactics were being used by US troops, namely, being "trigger happy".

This is a crack SAS soldier, mind you. Very easy for the chickenhawks who stay at home to wax lyrical about the 'benefits' of a war of aggression against another sovereign power and conveniently overlooking the actual practices of troops and the not-so-hidden agenda which violates both individual and sovereign rights. "We only want to help the poor untermenschen, not get at their oil or set up convenient strategic military bases for decades to come to help achieve global supremacy and gain resources for ourselves..."

SAS soldier quits Army in disgust at 'illegal' American tactics in Iraq - The Telegraph

An SAS soldier has refused to fight in Iraq and has left the Army over the "illegal" tactics of United States troops and the policies of coalition forces.

After three months in Baghdad, Ben Griffin told his commander that he was no longer prepared to fight alongside American forces.

Ben Griffin told commanders that he thought the Iraq war was illegal
He said he had witnessed "dozens of illegal acts" by US troops, claiming they viewed all Iraqis as "untermenschen" - the Nazi term for races regarded as sub-human.

The decision marks the first time an SAS soldier has refused to go into combat and quit the Army on moral grounds.

It immediately brought to an end Mr Griffin's exemplary, eight-year career in which he also served with the Parachute Regiment, taking part in operations in Northern Ireland, Macedonia and Afghanistan.

But it will also embarrass the Government and have a potentially profound impact on cases of other soldiers who have refused to fight.

On Wednesday, the pre-trial hearing will begin into the court martial of Flt Lt Malcolm Kendall-Smith, a Royal Air Force doctor who has refused to return to Iraq for a third tour of duty on the grounds that the war is illegal. Mr Griffin's allegations came as the Foreign Office minister Kim Howells, visiting Basra yesterday, admitted that Iraq was now "a mess".

Mr Griffin, 28, who spent two years with the SAS, said the American military's "gung-ho and trigger happy mentality" and tactics had completely undermined any chance of winning the hearts and minds of the Iraqi population. He added that many innocent civilians were arrested in night-time raids and interrogated by American soldiers, imprisoned in the notorious Abu Ghraib prison, or handed over to the Iraqi authorities and "most probably" tortured.

Mr Griffin eventually told SAS commanders at Hereford that he could not take part in a war which he regarded as "illegal".

He added that he now believed that the Prime Minister and the Government had repeatedly "lied" over the war's conduct.

"I did not join the British Army to conduct American foreign policy," he said. He expected to be labelled a coward and to face a court martial and imprisonment after making what "the most difficult decision of my life" last March.

most of the Chinese dealings in Burma are not publicized.

Sure, everyone's had a turn... My point is that there are lots of examples of oppression around the world that are not adequately being dealt with, and it doesn't have to be by military intervention, that would be the method of absolute last resort. My point is that most multinationals and govts initially use realpolitik mainly to get at resources. It's usually NGOs who raise the alarm over human rights abuses first, and who do their utmost to publicise them for lobbying effect. The latest rhetoric from Rice that 'for 60 years the US has pursued stability at the expense of democracy in the Middle East' misses the mark of cultural difference and the political evolution of the Middle East for one, and glosses over the fact that the West needs stability in the Middle East mostly to get at oil and gas resources.

The Dems will be stuck with a big mess to clean up. Besides personal BKs, many lenders will go bust and need a bail out like we had when the S&Ls failed.

Most political 'resignations' are either sackings, or a bailing out before the SHTF to save what's left of the reputation of the party, as the next guy to step in can't then be blamed directly. The 'resignation' is often a party decision of the sacrificial lamb. Anyway, how's Rummy going with that $350M aspartame lawsuit...

ConfusedRenter Says:
Oh yeah, I forgot, I am a realtor.

ooh, a confession at last...

Aren’t you interested in high rise and mid rise apartments? The Infinity, here in SF, has reduced prices between 7.4% and 9.3%. (Boy I bet the people who bought before are happy about that).

I love high rise apartments. But a 2/2 at The Infinity is still too expensive for me. I heard the quality is pretty good though.

It would be nice if they build some high-rise towers down in the south bay.

One bad thing though, kitchen hoods usually recirculate air in those apartments. The whole unit may smell like garlic after a meal.

Wow, so much hatred and name calling against Realtors. Why the hatred? It’ll be interesting to hear the answer. Watch out though, it could be a reflection of one’s self.

@ConfusedRealtor,

Actually, I have no hatred, just disdain, which is mostly directed toward lying realtors, like you. There are good realtors, just like there are good executioners or good used car salesmen. George on this board is an example of an honest, good realtor. Only there are few and far between. They, I mean, you are to some degree responsible for this housing bubble mess we as a nation are in.

I think ConfusedRenter was a Junior Analyst who didn't make the cut. Up or Out is pretty tough, eh CR?

Still got friends on the ladder you're jealous of? Don't fret it, it's a hard way to make a high income living anyway. Of course your current line of "work" is going to get a whole lot harder now too, but at least it pays a lot less.

Of course, if the Fed slashes rates back to 1% or even 0%, or if the banks offer FB “amnesty” programs, then all bets are off.

HARM,

Rates will never be cut that low again. If rates even came close to that, the dollar would crash hard, foreigners will dump the dollar and the long term rates (ie. mortgages) will skyrocket which will nuke a significant portion of the FB community.

I really, really don’t like many people ganging up a single guy.

You all can gang up on me too, then it would be many people ganging up on TWO guys, which should be fine.

My territory, is your territory madam.

SFGuy = SFWoman?

Yes everyone, i am failed junior analyst too!

Why don't we just go have sushi?

Since you are food guy, have you heard of this French restaurant, L’Orangerie - Los Angeles?

No. I rarely go to LA.

Good that you offered a hand to C.R.

Am I offering a hand?

Did I misread you? I thought you said “make it two guys.”

Oh. Whatever. CR does not bother me.

La Orangerie is the top, according to a colleague of mine, who also salivates over $3000-8000 bottle Bordeaux. The top on the east coast, according to him, is Citronelle.

I am a wine-illiterate. A friend let me try a glass of some $3000-a-bottle 1982 wine and it tasted like normal wine to me. I may give the restaurant a try though. But I hate having to book many weeks in advance.

Prices seem to be on the high side but they seem reasonable if the restaurant is top-notch.

http://www.lorangerie.com/menuor.htm