Friday, July 31, 2009
The Volokh Conspiracy - A Tax Break for Trial Lawyers?
The Volokh Conspiracy - A Tax Break for Trial Lawyers?: "Walter Olson notes that some folks in Congress are pushing a tax break for trial lawyers. Specifically, the proposal would enable plaintiffs' lawyers to deduct loans to clients to cover litigation expenses as made, rather than at the conclusion of the litigation. The estimated value of the tax code revision is $1.6 billion."
Rudy: 'Shut Up' - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com
Rudy: 'Shut Up' - Ben Smith - POLITICO.com: "Rudy Giuliani, who has returned as a leading Republican spokesman, condemned Obama's health care plan in an interview with Sean Hannity.
He also offered, in response to the president's hope that the Gates arrest would be a 'teachable moment,' this:
'He's actually right. It is teachable. Here's the lesson: Shut up.'"
He also offered, in response to the president's hope that the Gates arrest would be a 'teachable moment,' this:
'He's actually right. It is teachable. Here's the lesson: Shut up.'"
California's default rate soars to 9.5% - Los Angeles Times
California's default rate soars to 9.5% - Los Angeles Times: "About 1 in 10 Californians with a home loan is now in default, and there's growing evidence that the mortgage meltdown is spreading to commercial real estate.
The home mortgage delinquency rate -- the percentage of borrowers who have missed several payments and are in the first stage of foreclosure -- climbed in June to 9.5% in California and 9.9% in Los Angeles County, according to First American CoreLogic."
The home mortgage delinquency rate -- the percentage of borrowers who have missed several payments and are in the first stage of foreclosure -- climbed in June to 9.5% in California and 9.9% in Los Angeles County, according to First American CoreLogic."
San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly's living situation to be probed - 7/27/09 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com
San Francisco Supervisor Chris Daly's living situation to be probed - 7/27/09 - San Francisco News - abc7news.com
Chris Daly is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He is so far to the left that he can look to his right and see Che Guevara. His main cause in life is to turn the city, and especially the Tenderloin, over to the homeless and the poor. He crusades against every proposal to re-open the city to the middle class, as was done in Chicago. No condo conversions, no tenancy in common conversions--nothing. Don't take my word for it--just do a Google search and see for yourself. Anyway, it turns out that his wife and kids live in Fairfield, which as I understand it is located in Sonoma County, some 45 miles from San Francisco, and he supposedly shares a condo with some friends in SF. You have to live in the city to be a Supervisor. Does he really live in the city? The City Attorney is going to find out.
But, says Daly, we can't afford a house in the city on my salary. Right, pal. Join the club--the club that you helped to form--of middle class families who have had to move to the suburbs because of the ludicrous public policies in this city.
Chris Daly is a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. He is so far to the left that he can look to his right and see Che Guevara. His main cause in life is to turn the city, and especially the Tenderloin, over to the homeless and the poor. He crusades against every proposal to re-open the city to the middle class, as was done in Chicago. No condo conversions, no tenancy in common conversions--nothing. Don't take my word for it--just do a Google search and see for yourself. Anyway, it turns out that his wife and kids live in Fairfield, which as I understand it is located in Sonoma County, some 45 miles from San Francisco, and he supposedly shares a condo with some friends in SF. You have to live in the city to be a Supervisor. Does he really live in the city? The City Attorney is going to find out.
But, says Daly, we can't afford a house in the city on my salary. Right, pal. Join the club--the club that you helped to form--of middle class families who have had to move to the suburbs because of the ludicrous public policies in this city.
Downtown Fort Myers condo has 32 stories, and one lonely tale | news-press.com | The News-Press
Downtown Fort Myers condo has 32 stories, and one lonely tale | news-press.com | The News-Press: "Victor Vangelakos lives in a luxury condominium tower on the Caloosahatchee River. He never has to worry about the neighbors making too much noise.
There are no neighbors.
Vangelakos, 45, his wife Cathy and their three children are the only residents in the 32-story Oasis I condo on the east edge of downtown Fort Myers."
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Not bad for a $430,000 condo. You get the whole 32 stories to yourself.
There are no neighbors.
Vangelakos, 45, his wife Cathy and their three children are the only residents in the 32-story Oasis I condo on the east edge of downtown Fort Myers."
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Not bad for a $430,000 condo. You get the whole 32 stories to yourself.
Thursday, July 30, 2009
Investors buying condos in bulk in South Florida | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida's Information Leader
Investors buying condos in bulk in South Florida | HeraldTribune.com | Sarasota Florida | Southwest Florida's Information Leader: "Big-time cash investors are snapping up South Florida condo units in bulk. There have been at least seven purchases of 10 or more condos this year, including four since June, according to county records. Investors are reselling the units or renting them until the market recovers"
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Fred Pilot sent this story of life in what amounts to the real estate fast lane these days.
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Fred Pilot sent this story of life in what amounts to the real estate fast lane these days.
Here's why downtown San Francisco is so seedy
My cousin Jason Zubia told me this story, and it was so astounding that we looked it up.
San Francisco's red-light denizens fight to stay seedy
SAN FRANCISCO -- When Carolyn Abst moved into this city's harsh Tenderloin district several years ago, she thought she would be welcomed. As owner of an architecture firm, she was bringing in jobs and ideas to revitalize the area. Instead, some of her neighbors called for her head.
"Wanted" posters went up around the Tenderloin last year, featuring Ms. Abst's photo. Someone circulated pamphlets disparaging her. Residents yelled at her in the street. Ms. Abst's offense: trying to plant 400 trees in the area. "I had no idea that cleanliness, beauty and safety could get people so riled up," the 58-year-old says.
San Francisco's red-light denizens fight to stay seedy
SAN FRANCISCO -- When Carolyn Abst moved into this city's harsh Tenderloin district several years ago, she thought she would be welcomed. As owner of an architecture firm, she was bringing in jobs and ideas to revitalize the area. Instead, some of her neighbors called for her head.
"Wanted" posters went up around the Tenderloin last year, featuring Ms. Abst's photo. Someone circulated pamphlets disparaging her. Residents yelled at her in the street. Ms. Abst's offense: trying to plant 400 trees in the area. "I had no idea that cleanliness, beauty and safety could get people so riled up," the 58-year-old says.
Another pit bull saga
Dog fight in gated community
Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link. It seems that once again the pit bull lovers are defending their imaginary right to own dangerous dogs.
The owners of a pair of pit bulls have sicced a lawyer on two men who've tried to keep their dogs out of the gated Brentwood community.
Byrd and Anne Cain filed a lawsuit against James Carroll and Miles Hession on July 13, claiming the men, who are former board members of the community's homeowners association, have invaded their right to privacy, made misrepresentations about them and "wrongfully used the legal process against the Cains in order to accomplish an ulterior purpose."
The lawsuit is the latest in a neighborhood feud that began in 2006, when the association's board of directors banned specific breeds of dogs, such as pit bulls, Doberman pinschers, rottweilers and chow chows. The board later took court action to force the removal of the Cain's pit bulls, which had been declared "a nuisance" by the association. Anne Cain said her dogs have never attacked anyone.
Circuit Court Judge Jeff Bivins declared the board could not prohibit a particular type of dog but ruled that the homeowners association's governing documents gave them the power to specifically prohibit the Cain's dogs.
Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link. It seems that once again the pit bull lovers are defending their imaginary right to own dangerous dogs.
The owners of a pair of pit bulls have sicced a lawyer on two men who've tried to keep their dogs out of the gated Brentwood community.
Byrd and Anne Cain filed a lawsuit against James Carroll and Miles Hession on July 13, claiming the men, who are former board members of the community's homeowners association, have invaded their right to privacy, made misrepresentations about them and "wrongfully used the legal process against the Cains in order to accomplish an ulterior purpose."
The lawsuit is the latest in a neighborhood feud that began in 2006, when the association's board of directors banned specific breeds of dogs, such as pit bulls, Doberman pinschers, rottweilers and chow chows. The board later took court action to force the removal of the Cain's pit bulls, which had been declared "a nuisance" by the association. Anne Cain said her dogs have never attacked anyone.
Circuit Court Judge Jeff Bivins declared the board could not prohibit a particular type of dog but ruled that the homeowners association's governing documents gave them the power to specifically prohibit the Cain's dogs.
Summit County, homeowners square off over crumbling road
Take our roads, please. No thank you.
Fred Pilot sent this along. This is the typical scenario when an HOA gets stuck with crumbling private roads: they ask local government to take it, and the municipality or country usually says no, because the roads don't meet the minimum standards for public streets:
"The homeowners association recently asked the commissioners to take over full maintenance for the road system in the neighborhood, but county staff recommended against the move, citing a need for more than $1 million worth of repairs that need to be done first."
Fred Pilot sent this along. This is the typical scenario when an HOA gets stuck with crumbling private roads: they ask local government to take it, and the municipality or country usually says no, because the roads don't meet the minimum standards for public streets:
"The homeowners association recently asked the commissioners to take over full maintenance for the road system in the neighborhood, but county staff recommended against the move, citing a need for more than $1 million worth of repairs that need to be done first."
On vacation
I am in San Francisco with my children, visiting my sister and extended family. It is harder for me to blog here but I will put up some things whenever I have time.
Monday, July 27, 2009
Clinton says she has no interest in White House - Yahoo! News
Clinton says she has no interest in White House - Yahoo! News: "'Well, you know, I say no, never, you know, not at all. I don't know what, what else to say,' Clinton said on NBC's 'Meet the Press' after host David Gregory noted that she left some wiggle room in an interview last week in Thailand.
But then Gregory followed up by asking, 'Are you saying you wouldn't entertain another run?'
Clinton's response was less clear: 'I have absolutely no belief in my mind that that is going to happen, that I have any interest in it happening. You know, as I said, I, I am so focused on what I'm doing.'
In the interview on Thai television, Clinton said, 'I don't know, but I doubt very much that anything like that will ever be part of my life.'"
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On the one hand, these questions are silly because they are just trying to get some sentence out of her that they can twist and make it look like she's planning to run against Obama. That seems to be possible in the sense that most anything is possible. On the other hand, obviously she would love to be President, and I suppose if Obama were to drop to Bush-level approval ratings, some scenario like Ted Kennedy challenging Jimmy Carter would go from barely possible to reality. But when I read these interchanges with Clinton, I wish they would deal with her as Secretary of State instead of grilling her in the hope of finding some "wiggle room" between her words.
But then Gregory followed up by asking, 'Are you saying you wouldn't entertain another run?'
Clinton's response was less clear: 'I have absolutely no belief in my mind that that is going to happen, that I have any interest in it happening. You know, as I said, I, I am so focused on what I'm doing.'
In the interview on Thai television, Clinton said, 'I don't know, but I doubt very much that anything like that will ever be part of my life.'"
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On the one hand, these questions are silly because they are just trying to get some sentence out of her that they can twist and make it look like she's planning to run against Obama. That seems to be possible in the sense that most anything is possible. On the other hand, obviously she would love to be President, and I suppose if Obama were to drop to Bush-level approval ratings, some scenario like Ted Kennedy challenging Jimmy Carter would go from barely possible to reality. But when I read these interchanges with Clinton, I wish they would deal with her as Secretary of State instead of grilling her in the hope of finding some "wiggle room" between her words.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Women are getting more beautiful - Times Online
Women are getting more beautiful - Times Online: "Scientists have found that evolution is driving women to become ever more beautiful, while men remain as aesthetically unappealing as their caveman ancestors.
The researchers have found beautiful women have more children than their plainer counterparts and that a higher proportion of those children are female. Those daughters, once adult, also tend to be attractive and so repeat the pattern.
Over generations, the scientists argue, this has led to women becoming steadily more aesthetically pleasing, a “beauty race” that is still on. The findings have emerged from a series of studies of physical attractiveness and its links to reproductive success in humans."
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They say beautiful women have 16% more children. But aren't the kids still half caveman?
Company director arrested for attempted murder after rescuing son being beaten by yobs | Mail Online
Company director arrested for attempted murder after rescuing son being beaten by yobs | Mail Online: "A company director has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after confronting a gang of yobs who were attacking his stepson.
Colin Philpott, 58, allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old in the chest during the incident in the front garden of his £500,000 Tudor-style house.
He had awoken late on Friday night to discover stepson Alex Lee being beaten by the group of teenagers."
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So he went to his son's defense with a letter opener, and now he's charged with attempted murder. I suppose the main prosecution witnesses will be the thugs. Nice country, that Great Britain.
Colin Philpott, 58, allegedly stabbed a 16-year-old in the chest during the incident in the front garden of his £500,000 Tudor-style house.
He had awoken late on Friday night to discover stepson Alex Lee being beaten by the group of teenagers."
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So he went to his son's defense with a letter opener, and now he's charged with attempted murder. I suppose the main prosecution witnesses will be the thugs. Nice country, that Great Britain.
Key Senate Democrat Concedes Republican Support Needed for Health Overhaul - Political News - FOXNews.com
Key Senate Democrat Concedes Republican Support Needed for Health Overhaul - Political News - FOXNews.com: "Senate Democrats are going to need help from Republicans to get President Obama's ambitious plan to reinvent the health care system over the goal line, a top lawmaker acknowledged on Sunday."
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If that is the case, I don't see how it will end up being "President Obama's ambitious plan." It will be something more modest, and that "government option" will have to go, I think.
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If that is the case, I don't see how it will end up being "President Obama's ambitious plan." It will be something more modest, and that "government option" will have to go, I think.
Drought turning Texas as dry as toast - Weather- msnbc.com
Drought turning Texas as dry as toast - Weather- msnbc.com: "DALLAS - Off-duty police officers are patrolling streets, looking for people illegally watering their lawns and gardens. Residents are encouraged to stealthily rat out water scofflaws on a 24-hour hot line."
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I assume the HOAs are not enforcing their green lawn restrictions?
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I assume the HOAs are not enforcing their green lawn restrictions?
America's Top States for Business 2009 - Overall Rankings - CNBC.com
America's Top States for Business 2009 - Overall Rankings - CNBC.com
Interesting--California ranks 1st in technology & innovation, and in access to capital. But it ranks 49th in cost of business and business friendliness.
Interesting--California ranks 1st in technology & innovation, and in access to capital. But it ranks 49th in cost of business and business friendliness.
Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man - NYTimes.com
Scientists Worry Machines May Outsmart Man - NYTimes.com
Strange. More worried that we will outsmart ourselves. Hurm.
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