[spdrun]

What about just spending $100k cash and borrowing $50-100k for a slightly dumpy condo that pays 6-7% return? Less risk when you have 50-66% down.

[spdrun]

Once you have kids, everything changes. I think that women, especially those who have kids, would always choose safety over just about everything else.

Strong argument for coin-operated vasectomy machines.

[spdrun]

You’ve nailed it, Joe. That’s a HUGE reason, if not the primary reason, why many women won’t take mass transit (or bike by themselves late at night or in isolated areas). Why do women drive SUVs? Safety. Why do women want to live in clean, well-maintained, suburban areas? Safety…and good schools, which are also considered “good” largely because they are safer than other schools.

This makes sense on the surface. But what’s interesting is that most denser urban areas have a female/male ratio significantly higher than 50/50. I think that MEN have the desire to protect women and push them to get SUVs, move to the ‘burbs, etc….

[spdrun]

The potential of human error already greatly exceeds that for software/hardware error. Tell me which is more dangerous:

Of course. But right now, the driver generally has responsibility for a crash. With self-driving cars, any accident will basically open the manufacturer (with multi-billion dollar deep pockets) to huge liability. The legal issues need to to be sorted first.

[spdrun]

Fortunately, the era of the B.S. Bernanke Fed seems to be over for now, and movement is in opposite direction. Current jobs report looks good enough for further cuts to QE.

[spdrun]

The good thing is that the jobs report today wasn’t stronger than expected, and participation is still at a 36 year low. Meaning no strong economic growth/inflation/fellation yet.

OTOH, it’s strong enough for the “members” of the Fed board to continue the taper. Hopefully this will have a salutary corrective effect on stocks and home prices in the next 6-12 months, especially if the weather is nasty again (maybe another tough winter, here’s hoping, love snow).

A Goldilocks report. As a pessimist who wants everyone else’s glass to be at best half empty so they’ll toss it away for me to drain the dregs, I like it.

As far as stocks, buy stocks. Don’t buy the market. And why go short when there are always beaten-down stocks you can take a long position in? TWTR is up about 10-12% in the last two weeks. Would have been a perfect flip for those who had the stomach.

[spdrun]

I’d charge them for carpet cleaning, cleaning, and painting, plus your time, then call it a day. But I’d also think of replacing the carpet with a form of flooring that isn’t as prone to damage. Like tile or Pergo.

[spdrun]

Self-drivin’ cars, BABY! If cars can drive 5′ from each other under computer control, and crash less (thus can be smaller with smaller crumple zones), highway density can be increased. This is only 50% tongue in cheek.

[spdrun]

I’d go for a townhouse. The important thing is minimal yard care for you, the landlord. But I’d evaluate any shared structure carefully.

[spdrun]

I know the Coaster exists. My point was that it would make more sense to dual-track and electrify the existing line, running more frequent trains vs converting it into a tram line. Coaster is actually one of the places where commuter trains make sense in SD, since development along the coast tends to be somewhat linear.

[spdrun]

If you have the trolley to go from Oceanside to downtown, you’d also greatly reduce the traffic on the I-5.

Oceanside to Union Station, SD is almost 40 miles — more of a suburban train line. Far too long to be sitting on a trolley that does at most 50 mph, probably 35-40 mph with stops. Better to dual track the existing coast line from O’side, electrify it at 25kV, and run regular electric multiple-unit railcars.

Something like a Silverliner V would work and is already approved for US rail lines…

[spdrun]

The problem with trolleys in SD is that they’re great for getting to downtown or to the border, but jobs are sufficiently spread out that they sort of suck for commuting.

Will the trolley system ever be extended to:
(a) the airport
(b) the beach cities?

[spdrun]

^^ Here’s hoping it is. (if it isn’t right now) *clink*

[spdrun]

My stocks are doing well to be sure (I don’t short). This being said, hope the stock markets get pimp-slapped like a manwhore who blew all his money on coke after the next (June 19, BABY!) taper.

And glad that the NJ property market is going nowhere fast. Lookin’ at some “more-closures, baby” this weekend.

[spdrun]

Nah, my amusing doomsday scenario is a certain East European country going into full-on blowup mode combined with another tough US winter/recession right after QE is tapered, and while the Fed cogitates what to do next. Why wait for another bubble before things crash down?

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