patrick.net

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.

The Four Seasons in EPA is quite nice.

I recommend the warm seafood salad there. Service at the restaurant is superb at times.

StuckinBA,

First of all, this is hardly a freedom of speech issue at all, but one of social nicety. If most people here had declared me so repugnant as to boot me out, that's your perogative. Freedom of speech is not applicable to small privately runned websites.

In any case, I have no problem that you think, on this one point, that I hold a repugnant view. I'm not big on this particular brand of social nicety. And I think very very poorly of people with bad parenting skill.

Also, what location is awesome in Sunnyvale?

Why, the part next to Cupertino - of course!

"Do these guys think they’re selling to idiots?"

Yes.

And I think very very poorly of people with bad parenting skill.

To the extent that you think the kids are better off with the parent dead ? Because they don't match your definition of good parenting skill ?

SFWoman,

Death tax is just the nickname. It's called the federal estate tax. Exemption limit is $2mm this year.

Link

SQT,

If her son was a decent kid and she made an effort to raise him properly, then I was wrong and I retract that statement. My impression was that she was a very unfit mother.

StuckinBA,

Because it is my opinion only! It would be different if I was a family court judge or child service person making a judgment that affects these people's lives. I see no reason to tone down my opinion simply because they may offend the sensibility of some, unless I deem that offense to be great enough to cause some sort of actual harm.

Increasingly, I’ve started to appreciate socialism, as in the European sense.

Socialism works only for countries with small population and large reserve of natural resources.

I think you are admiring the relative wealth of those countries.

BTW, I've repeated stated my own opinion about child raising. People can do whatever the heck they want to their own lives, but if they have a child, I think they owe that child at least 18 years of reasonable stability and loving care. That obligation, once undertaken, supersedes their own personal preferences.

I do think that a major reason why this society is screwed up is that many people don't think before undertaking this responsibility and are derelict in their duty as parents.

MtView,

Ah, I thought the amount to qualify for the estate tax was much higher, because such a small percentage of people end up qualifying to pay it.

I feel sorry for ANS's daughter. Who knows, maybe she died of flu, but I'd guess it was likely drugs or heart failure. Why didn't the people close to her do an intervention or something? Everytime I've seen the woman appear on anything she seemed to be a stupor.

I do think that a major reason why this society is screwed up is that many people don’t think before undertaking this responsibility and are derelict in their duty as parents.

I agree. But I am not ready to accuse any specific person of not being a good parent.

I am probably a bad parent myself. :(

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.

SFWoman,
Will your kids be surly teenagers in 2010? If so, I would look both ways before crossing the street -- I know FABs parents will :-)
Exemption limits revert to $1 million in 2011.

SQT said:
I think ANS biggest flaw was that she wasn’t terribly bright. Being beautiful and not-to-smart is a sure fire way to be taken advantage of.
Uhhhh.... she was a golddigger, and quite a good one I would say -- or am I missing something?

"Not that you need or want me on your side. Nor that there are sides. "

:-) It's more of an oval. ( I hope I didn't just offend the rhombus people)