tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post4000900609726874597..comments2024-02-26T05:51:17.859-05:00Comments on Economic Disconnect: All Out EntertainmentEconomicDisconnecthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02802078645713106743noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-41114830466586237782010-04-04T13:18:33.974-04:002010-04-04T13:18:33.974-04:00Gawains said:
"Anyway, since you're reco...Gawains said:<br /><br />"Anyway, since you're recommending short stories, I have one. "A Boy and His Dog," by Harlan Ellison, one of my favorite science fiction writers."<br /><br />This story is the basis of the game series known as 'Fallout'.<br /><br />If you like sci-fi stories you should try this post apocalyptic game 'Fallout 3' on the Xbox 360 console (PS3 is kinda buggy from what I gather).<br /><br />Total geek awesomeness!<br /><br />I cannot get over the level of thought that went into this game, with references to Occam's razor, and other things not widely known.<br /><br /><br />"A Boy and His Dog inspired Fallout on many levels, from underground communities of survivors to glowing mutants"<br /><br />http://tinyurl.com/mdzj4pwatchtowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-68373526116810766962010-04-03T23:08:13.326-04:002010-04-03T23:08:13.326-04:00Gawains,
saw your comment at Marks site, spot on a...Gawains,<br />saw your comment at Marks site, spot on as usual!<br /><br />Ha! I have read the Ellison story, nice selection indeed.EconomicDisconnecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02802078645713106743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-15869362679890488132010-04-03T19:09:04.199-04:002010-04-03T19:09:04.199-04:00All,
my friend Mark over at The Illusion of Prospe...All,<br />my friend Mark over at The Illusion of Prosperity has some great work up tonight that is worth your time:<br />"A Grand Unified Theory of Real Estate Malinvestment"<br />http://tinyurl.com/yzvqsla<br /><br />Enjoy!EconomicDisconnecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02802078645713106743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-78147992581894309072010-04-03T12:02:25.244-04:002010-04-03T12:02:25.244-04:00Well, another good cover would be the Runaway'...Well, another good cover would be the Runaway's version of "Weer All Krazy Now." They actually did an excellent job on that song, almost as if was written for them.<br /><br />Anyway, there was an interesting article in the newspaper the other day about the Neighborhood Rennovation Act, or something like that, whatever it's called. This is a program which allocated billions of dollars to communities and municipalities for the purpose of purchashing and repairing distressed houses for resale. Problem is less than 25% of the money has been spent, and now these city councils are in danger of losing it if they don't use it.<br /><br />You want to know why? Because they're being outbid by investors on the courthouse steps! This is rich. It seems that HUD rules allow the maximum bid to be 1% below appraised value. So the people charged with implementing this program cannot compete with investors who are not constrained by ridiculous government constrictions.<br /><br />It gets better. We actually sold a house via this program two months ago. It was bought by a minister (this guy wrote a book on the Ten Commandments that sold over 14 million copies), but the funds were provided by the government, as some sort of charity I guess.<br /><br />This was an older wood frame home in need of repair. It was originally listed at $85,000. Why this minister would want to buy this particular house is beyond me, but he did and via the program made a full list price offer. Then another buyer came in and also made an offer, so the deal immediately moved to a multiple-offer, highest-and-best situation.<br /><br />The minister stayed with his offer, and ulitimately won the bid, but while the deal was being negotiated the list price was lowered to $79,900. Go figure. Then the appraisal came in at $87,000. (See how that works? The appraised value is higher than the market value, which is now higher than the list price.) So the deal was approved and proceeded to closing.<br /><br />Big problem. Because the program providing the funds is hindered by HUD rules and other government regulations, an environmental study had to be done, to inspect for hazardous waste, lead paint, and God knows what else (endangered insect species, I suspect).<br /><br />This all took so much time that the closing date came and went and had to be extended. Finally, the minister gave up and decided to pay cash for the house, close the deal, and wait for or hope that the program would refund his money. No word on how that will work out, or whether it will or not.<br /><br />These are your tax dollars at work, folks. A government program to provides funds to a guy who has the cash to buy a house that is so encumbered by rules and regulations it can't close the deal. So the guy buys the house himself and applies for a refund. It would be funny if it weren't so mind-bogglingly ridiculous.<br /><br />Anyway, note the relevant point. The appraisal came in at above original list price, and far above current list price. The minister paid the former, as per his original offer, but he obviously overpaid for the house. And now he's waiting for the government to give him his money back. Good luck with that.<br /><br />The market value of this house is $85,000, which is the agreed upon sales price. Our fair market value estimation was around $78,000. But the company listed it at $85,000, before dropping it to $79,900 (while the deal was being negotiated, mind you), thinking that by appearing to come down in response to an offer, they could at least sell it for fair market value. And ended up getting the full original list price in cash, although not without complications. The appraised value exceeds what the house is actually worth and what it could sell for in the foreseeable future, even with rennovations.<br /><br />Sigh. Life in the wonderful world of real estate.GawainsGhosthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16719480047404817864noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-30664647782223426482010-04-02T22:18:15.327-04:002010-04-02T22:18:15.327-04:00Lurker,
I have to be very careful here as company ...Lurker,<br />I have to be very careful here as company policy dictates....<br /><br />That said,<br />I believe you CANNOT patent a gene (I have cloned over 8,000 unique myself) but I feel that therapies or targeted molecules based on a gene (usually in a pathway) that are found, that is eligible for patent protection. Also diagnostic tests (based on SNP or distribution plots) should be protected.<br /><br />The next best thing; The oceans harbor 80% of bacterial/algae/other makers of small molecules that could be huge. Who ever gets those bugs to grow in the lab (impossible so far) will see big returns.EconomicDisconnecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02802078645713106743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-75681389242424238322010-04-02T22:06:35.837-04:002010-04-02T22:06:35.837-04:00Do you have an opinion on the recent challenge to ...Do you have an opinion on the recent challenge to gene patents?<br /><br />http://www.sciencefriday.com/program/archives/201004021Lurkernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-29504042000558385892010-04-02T21:40:42.607-04:002010-04-02T21:40:42.607-04:00Lurker,
no problem, good song indeed.Lurker,<br />no problem, good song indeed.EconomicDisconnecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02802078645713106743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-42504530768108297622010-04-02T21:40:17.748-04:002010-04-02T21:40:17.748-04:00Watchtower,
agree on Gawains material.
Not sure I...Watchtower,<br />agree on Gawains material.<br /><br />Not sure I have ever heard of the cam bore not being in line?!! Weird.EconomicDisconnecthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02802078645713106743noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-35012440415410415382010-04-02T21:01:25.988-04:002010-04-02T21:01:25.988-04:00The weather broke about two weeks ago around here ...The weather broke about two weeks ago around here and we've been able to work in the garage without freezing our butts off.<br /><br />As I've mentioned before, my brother is building a 455 to put into the Firebird (a resto-rod if you will) and it has been a heartbreak.<br /><br />After having been bored thirty over, new pistons, and having the block line bored, the d*** cam will not go into the cam holes, it's like the cam holes need to be line bored too, very frustrating.<br /><br />Don't even get me started on the bodywork, it's like trying to do plumbing in an old house, you touch one thing and it leads to another problem.<br /><br />I've been reading your posts but I just don't have anything intelligent to add (not that I ever had), especially when my mind has been preoccupied.<br /><br /><br />Gawain's has really been laying down the gauntlet concerning real estate in the comments section.watchtowernoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1207581886255094115.post-86068483345868361482010-04-02T20:37:47.544-04:002010-04-02T20:37:47.544-04:00Thanks for Sixteen Tons!Thanks for Sixteen Tons!Lurkernoreply@blogger.com