The Adventures of a Highway Road Runner: A City at War With Itself: Chicago - Fast Tracking To Anarchy (Understanding the Organizational Paralysis of the CPD and the Mission to Recovery)
The author of this blog post is Chicago Police Department Lieutenant John Andrews, who I happen to know. For writing this piece on his own blog, he is now being pursued by Internal Affairs. This outrage is now being covered by The Huffington Post.
The post that got John in trouble with Superintendent Jody Weis is devastating, loaded with fact and insight, and of course deeply embarrassing to the power structure in this city. With the Chicago Tribune and the Huffington Post and perhaps some First Amendment advocates on the case, I hope John will be protected from the Machine.
Saturday, August 28, 2010
FL Officer, Community Spar Over Patriotic Display
FL Officer, Community Spar Over Patriotic Display
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) - A South Florida police official is fighting his homeowner association's request that he remove a patriotic display from his garage door.
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No signs allowed including "God Bless America" spelled out in little magnets.
CORAL SPRINGS, Fla. (AP) - A South Florida police official is fighting his homeowner association's request that he remove a patriotic display from his garage door.
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No signs allowed including "God Bless America" spelled out in little magnets.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Tea Party "Don't Tread on Me" flag roils HOA politics
Tea Party "Don't Tread on Me" flag roils HOA politics
An HOA attorney contacted by 9NEWS said Smith's case fell into a gray area because the flag could be considered a "political sign," which would be protected under state law, or it could be considered a "decoration," which would not be protected but would require the HOA to strictly enforce a policy forbidding all homeowners from displaying any kinds of decorative flags.
The most recent letter sent to Smith from HOA lawyer Elina Hindley states: "Please be advised, we have discussed this situation with the board of directors and the board has decided to allow the Tea Party flag to remain displayed on your property. Thus, you may disregard the request contained in the original letter."
"The board was told to back down, at which point they promptly all resigned," Smith said. He was once the HOA board of directors' president and has now volunteered to serve on the board again, along with his neighbor across the street who also displays the Gadsden flag.
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Perhaps HOA boards are getting a bit media savvy after years of PR gaffes over flag flying that generate lots of bad publicity for Privatopia. Had the board not retreated in this case, the story would have likely been spotlighted on Fox News.
An HOA attorney contacted by 9NEWS said Smith's case fell into a gray area because the flag could be considered a "political sign," which would be protected under state law, or it could be considered a "decoration," which would not be protected but would require the HOA to strictly enforce a policy forbidding all homeowners from displaying any kinds of decorative flags.
The most recent letter sent to Smith from HOA lawyer Elina Hindley states: "Please be advised, we have discussed this situation with the board of directors and the board has decided to allow the Tea Party flag to remain displayed on your property. Thus, you may disregard the request contained in the original letter."
"The board was told to back down, at which point they promptly all resigned," Smith said. He was once the HOA board of directors' president and has now volunteered to serve on the board again, along with his neighbor across the street who also displays the Gadsden flag.
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Perhaps HOA boards are getting a bit media savvy after years of PR gaffes over flag flying that generate lots of bad publicity for Privatopia. Had the board not retreated in this case, the story would have likely been spotlighted on Fox News.
The Really Creepy People Behind the Libertarian-Inspired Billionaire Sea Castles | Economy | AlterNet
The Really Creepy People Behind the Libertarian-Inspired Billionaire Sea Castles | Economy | AlterNet
More on who is behind the bizarre Libertarian "seasteading" fantasy.
More on who is behind the bizarre Libertarian "seasteading" fantasy.
The Ultimate Escape: The Bizarre Libertarian Plan of Uploading Brains into Robots to Escape Society | | AlterNet
The Ultimate Escape: The Bizarre Libertarian Plan of Uploading Brains into Robots to Escape Society | | AlterNet: "Perhaps you've had a good laugh over seasteading, the scheme hatched by rich libertarians to escape the clutches of democracy by living on giant metal platforms in the middle of the ocean. But as it turns out, seasteading is something of a wet dry run for some libertarians’ ultimate escape plan of uploading their brains into robot bodies and blasting off into space."
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They are serious about this, too. They want immortality. Some libertarians are into cryogenics. They have contracted with these corporations that promise to freeze your head, or for a higher price your entire body, until such time as (a) you can be brought back to life with a new and improved body, or (b) your brain's contents can be downloaded into some electronic medium and put into a robot.
Does that put into context just how realistic the libertarian infatuation with common interest housing really is?
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They are serious about this, too. They want immortality. Some libertarians are into cryogenics. They have contracted with these corporations that promise to freeze your head, or for a higher price your entire body, until such time as (a) you can be brought back to life with a new and improved body, or (b) your brain's contents can be downloaded into some electronic medium and put into a robot.
Does that put into context just how realistic the libertarian infatuation with common interest housing really is?
Fascinating Underground Homes | JetSetta
Fascinating Underground Homes | JetSetta
Bilbo Baggins would love these places.
Bilbo Baggins would love these places.
America’s Ten Dead Cities: From Detroit To New Orleans - 24/7 Wall St.
America’s Ten Dead Cities: From Detroit To New Orleans - 24/7 Wall St.
And here's the funny part. Congress and Obama have committed billions of dollars to building a high speed rail system that would include connections to Detroit and Cleveland, both of which are dead, dead, dead.
And here's the funny part. Congress and Obama have committed billions of dollars to building a high speed rail system that would include connections to Detroit and Cleveland, both of which are dead, dead, dead.
The Problem with Seasteading | Bottom-up
The Problem with Seasteading | Bottom-up: "The brainchild of Patri Friedman (grandson of Milton) and others, seasteading is a program for political reform based on a proliferation of self-governing ocean colonies."
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Floating condominium buildings full of libertarians...why didn't I think of that?
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Floating condominium buildings full of libertarians...why didn't I think of that?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Preacher told not to issue unauthorized fatwas - Arab News
Preacher told not to issue unauthorized fatwas - Arab News: "RIYADH/JEDDAH: The Kingdom's most senior religious scholar has ordered a preacher to stop giving unauthorized fatwas (religious edicts) after he called for boycotting a supermarket chain that employs women as cashiers."
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I guess they stopped him before he laid a big fatwa on Justin Bieber.
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I guess they stopped him before he laid a big fatwa on Justin Bieber.
Scarcity of jobs puts more at risk of foreclosure
Scarcity of jobs puts more at risk of foreclosure
"Ultimately, the housing story, whether it is delinquencies, homes sales or housing starts, is an employment story," Jay Brinkmann, the Mortgage Bankers Association's top economist, said in a statement. "Only when we see a consistent increase in employment will we see an increase in sales and starts, and a sustained improvement in the delinquency numbers."
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If things don't turn around relatively soon, I wonder if mortgage lenders will take a voluntary foreclosure holiday, figuring the costs of foreclosing and attempting to resell in a bad market simply aren't worth it. After all, foreclosure is based on the value (and marketability) of the property securing the amount of the loan. With home price deflation and so many out of work (and therefore unable to buy foreclosed homes), the quality of that security to remedy delinquent mortgage debt is called into question.
"Ultimately, the housing story, whether it is delinquencies, homes sales or housing starts, is an employment story," Jay Brinkmann, the Mortgage Bankers Association's top economist, said in a statement. "Only when we see a consistent increase in employment will we see an increase in sales and starts, and a sustained improvement in the delinquency numbers."
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If things don't turn around relatively soon, I wonder if mortgage lenders will take a voluntary foreclosure holiday, figuring the costs of foreclosing and attempting to resell in a bad market simply aren't worth it. After all, foreclosure is based on the value (and marketability) of the property securing the amount of the loan. With home price deflation and so many out of work (and therefore unable to buy foreclosed homes), the quality of that security to remedy delinquent mortgage debt is called into question.
California rejects even modest pension reform | Washington Examiner
California rejects even modest pension reform | Washington Examiner
I'm no fan of taking away pension benefits from public employees who have already paid a ton of money toward their pensions and deserve what they bargained for. I'm one of them. But unless some sort of reform takes place, many of these public pension funds will become insolvent. That will put in question the adequacy of the federal insurance that stands behind most of these plans. There was a savings and loan bailout in the 1980s, and a huge bank/auto bailout two years ago. The feds are up to their necks in red ink. How can they stand another bailout? So...what are the states going to do about their unfunded pension liabilities?
I'm no fan of taking away pension benefits from public employees who have already paid a ton of money toward their pensions and deserve what they bargained for. I'm one of them. But unless some sort of reform takes place, many of these public pension funds will become insolvent. That will put in question the adequacy of the federal insurance that stands behind most of these plans. There was a savings and loan bailout in the 1980s, and a huge bank/auto bailout two years ago. The feds are up to their necks in red ink. How can they stand another bailout? So...what are the states going to do about their unfunded pension liabilities?
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Morgan Stanley Says Government Defaults Inevitable - Bloomberg
Morgan Stanley Says Government Defaults Inevitable - Bloomberg
It does look that way, doesn't it?
It does look that way, doesn't it?
Housing in Ten Words � The Baseline Scenario
Housing in Ten Words: The Baseline Scenario
The ten words are, "Housing fades as a means to build wealth, analysts say," and it is the title of a New York Times article. They say, "Many real estate experts now believe that home ownership will never again yield rewards like those enjoyed in the second half of the 20th century, when houses not only provided shelter but also a plump nest egg."
And I think they are right. Buying a house was like getting on an escalator. All you had to do was wait, and up you went. No longer. Take a look at the graph of housing prices.
The ten words are, "Housing fades as a means to build wealth, analysts say," and it is the title of a New York Times article. They say, "Many real estate experts now believe that home ownership will never again yield rewards like those enjoyed in the second half of the 20th century, when houses not only provided shelter but also a plump nest egg."
And I think they are right. Buying a house was like getting on an escalator. All you had to do was wait, and up you went. No longer. Take a look at the graph of housing prices.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Policy re comments
I need to ask some people to use a little common sense in posting comments here. I normally greenlight everything that isn't either commercial spam or potentially defamatory. What is defamatory? Going after particular individuals, especially by name, and accusing them of crime or other such activity. Please, people--use some common sense, OK? If you want to libel people on the web, get your own blog, and then you can defend yourself in the ensuing libel suit.
Home sales plunge 27 pct. to lowest in 15 years - Yahoo! News
Home sales plunge 27 pct. to lowest in 15 years - Yahoo! News
WASHINGTON – Sales of previously occupied homes plunged last month to the lowest level in 15 years, despite the lowest mortgage rates in decades and bargain prices in many areas. July's sales fell by more than 27 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.83 million, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday. It was the largest monthly drop on records dating back to 1968, and sharp declines were recorded in all regions of the country.
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Sales were weakest in the low to mid-priced range. That's especially troubling. This isn't just the end of the McMansion era. This is middle-class housing.
WASHINGTON – Sales of previously occupied homes plunged last month to the lowest level in 15 years, despite the lowest mortgage rates in decades and bargain prices in many areas. July's sales fell by more than 27 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 3.83 million, the National Association of Realtors said Tuesday. It was the largest monthly drop on records dating back to 1968, and sharp declines were recorded in all regions of the country.
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Sales were weakest in the low to mid-priced range. That's especially troubling. This isn't just the end of the McMansion era. This is middle-class housing.
Monday, August 23, 2010
CNNMoney.com: The latest real estate rip-off
Here's an item appearing in CNNMoney.com that suggests the community association industry and other backers of residential property transfer fees are going to face PR and political headwinds on this issue, which was spotlighted on this blog several days ago.
US housing slide threatens to drag economy into recession
US housing slide threatens to drag economy into recession
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: Housing led the US out of seven of the last eight recessions. This time, it may kill the recovery. Home sales collapsed after a federal tax credit for buyers expired in April.
Since then, the manufacturing-led expansion, which began in the second half of 2009, has been waning, with jobless claims rising and factory orders falling.
“If foreclosures continue to mount and depress home prices, that could send the economy back into a recession,” said Celia Chen, an economist who tracks the industry for Moody’s Analytics. “The housing market and the broader economy are closely intertwined.”
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More bad economic tidings: a potential double dip recession led by the still deeply troubled housing market. It's also not good news for the residents of Privatopia and future Privatopian developer/kings.
NEW YORK/WASHINGTON: Housing led the US out of seven of the last eight recessions. This time, it may kill the recovery. Home sales collapsed after a federal tax credit for buyers expired in April.
Since then, the manufacturing-led expansion, which began in the second half of 2009, has been waning, with jobless claims rising and factory orders falling.
“If foreclosures continue to mount and depress home prices, that could send the economy back into a recession,” said Celia Chen, an economist who tracks the industry for Moody’s Analytics. “The housing market and the broader economy are closely intertwined.”
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More bad economic tidings: a potential double dip recession led by the still deeply troubled housing market. It's also not good news for the residents of Privatopia and future Privatopian developer/kings.
Philly requiring bloggers to pay $300 for a business license | Washington Examiner
Philly requiring bloggers to pay $300 for a business license | Washington Examiner
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The city isn't doing anything for bloggers to justify this "tax." It isn't really a tax--it's more like a legalized form of theft.
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The city isn't doing anything for bloggers to justify this "tax." It isn't really a tax--it's more like a legalized form of theft.
Sunday, August 22, 2010
House buyers $tung - NYPOST.com
House buyers $tung - NYPOST.comJust when you thought it was safe to dive into the housing market, a new survey shows mortgage closing costs have skyrocketed an average 37 percent -- with New York topping the surge. The Bankrate.com survey released this week found that in New York, closing-cost fees hit $5,623, basing the estimate on a $200,000 mortgage for a $250,000 home. The national average on that same loan was $3,741 -- up from $2,739 last year. Blame it on regulations designed to rein in the mortgage industry.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/house_buyers_tung_kpFSxiqYirMOtFoXnaiuxL#ixzz0xMzHV9e4
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So we have lots of new rules for lenders, tougher requirements for getting a loan, and higher costs. Now go buy a house.
Read more: http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/house_buyers_tung_kpFSxiqYirMOtFoXnaiuxL#ixzz0xMzHV9e4
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So we have lots of new rules for lenders, tougher requirements for getting a loan, and higher costs. Now go buy a house.
Post-Mortgage Meltdown, Where Do We Go Now? : NPR
Post-Mortgage Meltdown, Where Do We Go Now? : NPR: "'The world we live in today is not quite the world that existed in 1950,' he noted. 'The nature of households and the rate at which they dissolve and reform, the nature of work and its transient nature across geographies are all things that suggest that maybe, just possibly, a middle-class American shouldn't stake themselves to an illiquid, very large, concentrated, leveraged asset —- that is to say, a house.'"
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Especially one where you not only have to deal with your "asset," but you have a complicated and troublesome joint ownership with all your neighbors.
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Especially one where you not only have to deal with your "asset," but you have a complicated and troublesome joint ownership with all your neighbors.
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