tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-38936514243473916042011-11-04T23:25:53.615-07:00really...solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.comBlogger3231100tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-62683408324024960732009-02-09T14:12:00.000-08:002009-02-09T14:41:20.120-08:00

Dan Leger writes in The Chronicle Herald that after the bailouts, justice ought to be served.THERE MUST have been millions of people grinning with satisfaction...when they read about...Obama’s plan to cap executive pay at companies bailed out by the American taxpayer.After all, these are the greed heads in red suspenders who helped crush the world economy. They are the ones who caused the crisis

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-77677417682649544232009-02-07T22:45:00.000-08:002009-02-07T23:55:50.697-08:00

I've been out traveling around, listening to music, playing, shunning serious thought. I think that we all could use some distraction - as if there was not enough - but a distraction from the distraction. To that end, I have embedded a couply videos that are just fun to listen too. patriotz will need his Flash...Canada lost 169,000 jobs last month. Of those, 35,000 were in BC, and of those,

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-89987864864069063472009-01-29T13:39:00.000-08:002009-01-29T13:48:23.443-08:00

I have been wanting toa) take this blog in a new directionb) put it out of my miseryc) continue on lamelyd) ignore it (and I have been...)e) escapeHowever, I am still vacillating like a wind vane. So, in the interim, I will post some scary movies that require little effort on my part. I will concretise things eventually.

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com35tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-86167640400633751582009-01-22T22:39:00.000-08:002009-01-23T01:27:03.315-08:00

sourceCBC.ca had an unscientific poll (results pictured above) indicating that a whopping 64% were always against the Games Being Played. Are CBC readers more knowing than National Post readers? Are they more prescient than The Province readers? More cynical than The Sun readers? Who benefits?That leads me to this;I heard rumours of a possible criminal investigation around the whole Olympic

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-40684907758740884122009-01-18T23:58:00.000-08:002009-01-19T01:20:50.739-08:00

A Vancouver real estate developer is making an unprecedented move to offer a liquidation sale of $350 million worth of its condominiums throughout the Lower Mainland.The marketing strategy by Onni Group of Companies is aimed at selling off hundreds of condos in its inventory.About 375 unsold condominiums in cities such as Richmond and New Westminster will be offered at 20 to 40 per cent off...

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-72972783753781053712009-01-11T23:15:00.000-08:002009-01-11T23:53:48.506-08:00

So, you've probably heard by now that Vancouverites are the last bagholders on the Millenium(Under)water development - AKA "The Athletes' Village". A billion bucks. $2000 more debt for every man, woman and babe-in-arms in Vancouver. Say, I don't remember having the option to vote against that when I voted against the Olympics, and the $175 million in capital expenditures. Ah well, never mind,

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-57615750266749922222009-01-06T21:34:00.000-08:002009-01-07T13:32:34.769-08:00

Image ripped off from Alaska education systemGrack! I, and the fambly have been sick as dogs...and you thought I didn't love you anymore... I'm still pretty sick, but the miniature ME is more settled, so I have a few minutes.Did you hear about the guy who is renting condos from flippers, and hiding behind the RTA (Residential Tenancy Act) to rip off the condo "owners"? Seems that this snake on

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-73017954711574537552008-12-28T00:04:00.000-08:002008-12-28T01:16:13.623-08:00

image from hereGreat deals out thereVince sent me an e-mail asking for my reaction to the article linked above. Thanks for the e-mail Vince, I appreciate all e-mails.I thought it to be a well written article. It had well placed platitudes -I have heard both doomsday predictions and rosy outlooks. From this, I conclude that right now people are looking for direction. They are looking for some

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-65881917479910095192008-12-24T00:09:00.000-08:002008-12-24T01:38:19.433-08:00

Oh!Hey!Hi! How ya doin'?Still there?Ya, me too.I have not written much lately, I've been considering where to go from here. I've had a lot of fun with the zany, the zowie, the zip and the zing. Jertains in my curtains, and zillows on my pillows... but the RE market is toast. That is not news anymore. Well, maybe it is - to some...I got an e-mail yesterday from condohype alerting me to this

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-51610496471243342572008-12-16T23:48:00.000-08:002008-12-17T21:54:46.643-08:00

From the Gloom and Mentira Canada's stock market plunge... contributed to a 3.2 per cent drop in household net worth in the third quarter of this year, equivalent to ...$191-billion, Stats Can said Tuesday.Stock prices were down by 18 per cent in the third quarter,...“The...loss in... equities, combined with the related loss in the value of pension and life insurance assets..., was the principal

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-20319319890858406782008-12-12T12:45:00.000-08:002008-12-12T13:17:51.436-08:00

From the comments section:"Pity the fool who bought this... Buying an asset which doubled in 3 years is nothing short of idocy..."(sic)5164 Madeira Court Asking price: $1,090,000 Selling price: $870,000 Previous selling price: $389,750 (2005) Taxes: $5,240 (2007) Days on the market: 36 Listing agent: Betsy Carstairs, Park Georgia Realty Ltd.Even though this 1,972-square-foot house...sold for

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-35281041170261673262008-12-10T13:02:00.001-08:002008-12-10T21:54:59.861-08:00

REBEL ENGLISH BIKERS GETTING VESPASI wrote about the pope packing it in, but it seems that due to popular demand, he is considering other avenues (an assumption that the pope is XY, and not XX). condohype has made an excellent comment today, and the pope reproduced the affair here. Prior to sending a cease and desist regarding the language via our Legal staff, if the matter can be resolved

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-83966085296253476442008-12-05T23:52:00.000-08:002008-12-06T01:05:35.412-08:00

What a week, huh?The November RE numbers are out (as reported by CBC Newsworld a couple of days ago), and Vancouver is 70% down in sales, and prices (benchmark, if I recall correctly) are off 12.3% since May 08. Flippers in Paradise? More like a floppers with a pair of dice, and they've crapped out. Shucks.OJ, oh, OJ. You are up shite creek now. Justice delayed is still justice - especially when

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-40646044132144861512008-12-03T21:35:00.000-08:002008-12-03T21:45:43.275-08:00

I have realized the futility of explaining fairness, decency, honour, the Westminster Parliamentary system, the constitution, history, and a whole lot more.Just remember Goebbels' meme about repeating a lie often enough.from here, by way of Garth Turner's.

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-40029469796533108332008-11-30T23:48:00.000-08:002008-12-01T00:35:33.948-08:00

a thought for the thoughtfulWe are having an economic melt-down, and a political melt-down - that seems to be leading to a societal melt-down (just read some of the comments on the boards at CBC, G&M, NP, MacLean's, etc. There is talk of Harper proroguing Parliament, illegal tape recordings, "coups d'etat" (oh please!), "bloodless coup" (I'm swooning now), internecine squabbling about who gets to

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-56459354062454105832008-11-28T12:59:00.000-08:002008-12-04T17:20:56.821-08:00

I am practically speechless, I have too much to say. Where to start? Where to finish? "There is no end. There is no beginning. There is only the infinite passion of life." That is what Fellini said.The "Old Chinese Curse" (supposedly, NOT!) May you live in interesting times seems applicable here too. Things certainly are interesting - fascinating, even. I am digesting so much information these

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-10155600612015582802008-11-25T12:03:00.000-08:002008-11-25T21:39:26.055-08:00

Thanks to Saturday Night Live for providing me with some blog fodder.I get weary of the doom and gloom, so a little levity is welcome.Update: SNL/NBC seems to have canned the YouTube vid, but I found another...

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-62020809906516688602008-11-21T12:44:00.000-08:002008-12-02T13:28:39.878-08:00

My holdings are down ~50% this week. Such fleeting exuberance I had 6 months ago, such nebulous hope. It is just not as much fun as the track. At least there, you get to see the jockeys fall off of their horses. Watching the numbers turn red on the board is just boring. Though, I thought that it was funny that Washington sent the automotive executives home on their private jets to come up with a

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-74887583156273838202008-11-17T00:39:00.000-08:002008-12-02T13:27:58.065-08:00

I've been as busy as a hen on an anthill - doing lots of reading, trying to figure out what the heck is going on in this world. I don't have much of a clue, but that is okay - nobody else does either. I could write about what I think is going on, but there is a shortage of tin foil, so I will spare you from that for now.The $700 billion bail out package in the States is more like $2 trillion, and

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-64096993386611593762008-11-13T20:59:00.000-08:002008-11-13T21:04:11.550-08:00

You may have already seen this, but I thought that it was wryly funny.Okay, I just have no time or energy right now.

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-4229666095585660002008-11-12T12:20:00.000-08:002008-11-12T13:01:12.973-08:00

I came across this (redacted) story in the Glum and Moving (italics and emboldening mine), about a woman who waited too long to list. I wonder how many stories like this there are - aside from the flippers with shooting stars in their eyes.When Pat Webb moved to Vancouver a year ago, she didn't think twice about buying a condo in tony Kitsilano...Perhaps she ought to have had a sober second

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-10376148846800079912008-11-09T13:39:00.000-08:002008-11-09T14:04:09.596-08:00

One of these things is not like the other one...I read something that prompted me to look and see what is available in Beverly Hills, and found this 3 bedroom/3.5 bath beauty for $2,995,000. It is on a half acre (21,825 square feet), and basks in warmth and sunshine year-round. And, you might bump into Salma Hayek whilst looking over the asparagus and arugula at the Atelier Market.So, maybe you

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-77278379923562047012008-11-05T13:24:00.000-08:002008-11-05T17:33:51.951-08:00

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-55417801989099058072008-11-04T00:18:00.000-08:002008-11-04T01:54:44.048-08:00

Most hopeful blurb of the day...Priced to sell is this immaculate Renfrew Heights bungalow boasting 3 bdrms up plus a 2 bdrm basement suite. Features 14 year old kitchen overlooking the sundrenched South facing backyard, updated bathroom, hardwood floors on the main, double glazed windows plus a superb location, half block to Gladstone Elementary & within walking distance to the Skytrain.

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-47866499268884952532008-10-29T12:20:00.000-07:002008-10-29T13:22:23.478-07:00

I heard of Cameron Muir on CBC this AM, saying that Vancouver RE has corrected by 12% since March, and will correct another 18% over the next year. Wait a minute! Wasn't he saying earlier this year that price increases would moderate to 8% this year, and a bit lower the next? Now he is talking about a 30% correction. If we extrapolate the errors of the forecasts of the experts, we ought to see a

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-41640486540989770322008-10-26T23:51:00.000-07:002008-10-27T01:26:27.856-07:00

(Globe) Ottawa bled $1.7-billion in red ink in August, offering the latest sign that Canada is in serious economic turmoil and that balancing the federal books will be a tricky challenge this year.“We’re in for rough times. These are difficult times. Canadians should not underestimate what we’re facing. We’re not an island. We’re a trading nation,” Finance Minister Jim Flaherty said

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-11275577088658321282008-10-23T11:58:00.000-07:002008-10-23T13:52:23.820-07:00

Home price slide may be over-stated. Canadian home prices cooled last month, but the depth of the correction may have been exaggerated by distorted data, says...TD Securities Inc.The average price of a resale home across the country's 25 major markets fell by an estimated 6.2 per cent year-over-year in September, according to a report last week from the Canadian Real Estate Association (CREA).The

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-36662362560689315442008-10-20T12:04:00.001-07:002008-10-21T19:32:39.515-07:00

This pic has been used beyond redemption......so, I redeemed itSlow motion train wrecks and all...I'm still digesting the last weeks, and there is ever-more to digest. It is difficult (for me) to look at markets, bail-outs, etc., without getting into politics, but I'll do my best.Trillions of dollars lost in the stock markets, and governments pumping trillions into the banks to "save" them, but

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-87495314418945132792008-10-15T22:41:00.000-07:002008-10-16T01:26:35.166-07:00

The Gleaners - by MilletThere is weird stuff happening with Blogger these days. I keep getting Sanskrit-like font, and I don't know why. I kind of dig it though.So yeah, here we are - back in much the same position (politically) that we were 5 weeks ago. A record low participation rate, which is very sad. I put that down principally (and ironically) to a lack of civics education in schools, and a

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-66098630055269572252008-10-13T00:33:00.000-07:002008-10-17T21:36:26.360-07:00

picture from Garth Turner'स blog (ask him where he got it)Almost there. Thanks given for that. On Tuesday, we will go to the polls as the markets continue to roil and twist. It's great that we will have a PM that talks soothingly of us not being the US, and that his steady hand on the tiller is just the ticket in an incomprehensible future. I was so reassured when he spoke of no bail-outs for

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com24tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-45427966072074002712008-10-10T23:41:00.000-07:002008-10-11T01:50:04.929-07:00

The Vancouver real estate market does not seem to be pricing in the new realities yet. This place on E. 39TH AV, Fraser, is one of the 24 places in all of East Vancouver that is priced under $500K It's for sale at $499,000.00. Are they freaking serious? The blurb says; This existing 3 level home offers more square footage than can be re-built on this 2947 sq. ft. lot. House is in need of

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-84944899412599887182008-10-09T20:52:00.000-07:002008-10-10T01:08:11.255-07:00

let him wear itWowza! Did I hear someone say; - The TSX closed at 9600 - down 4.5% on the day? That is just a measly 1/3 from the peak. Oil down, and the dollar down. Batten the hatches, this is just the leading edge of the storm. The market was as over-valued when flirting with 15,000 as the RE prices were last May, so it is no big surprise. I feel that if things hadn't been messed with so much

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-84160704888969808782008-10-07T01:02:00.001-07:002008-10-08T00:50:36.250-07:00

original imageYikes! That picture is horrible, but man, the meltdown.TSX closed below 10K, and so did Dow Jones. The $850 Billion is now a trillion, with much more to come. It's all over for the US. We are not insulated, and all of our banks are exposed to sub-prime (probably even the co-op banks). Thanks to Paul Martin (and others before them) our banks don't have the reserves to cover their er

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-63545019179557903992008-10-05T20:46:00.001-07:002008-10-05T20:54:45.193-07:00

picture from hereInteresting week, it has been. There is the bail-out down south that went from a three page, $700 Billion Bill, to a 440 page, $840 Billion Act. That is $2,545.454545454545454... per man, woman and child in the US. I would not feel so good, as an American, to be so indebted with nothing material to show for it. (And do you notice the weird numerology in that number? Just asking.)

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com28tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-40267225265379844542008-10-02T17:32:00.000-07:002008-10-02T17:47:59.106-07:00

Wow, TSX down 814 points - about 7 per cent - at the last I heard, and this on the news that the latest bail-out package in the US has passed the Senate (now up to $800 billion). It still has to pass the House of Representatives though, and that is the body that rejected it last week. Will they pass it this week?, and if they do, will it save the American economy? I doubt it (on both counts).The

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-59766481563741200282008-10-01T00:52:00.000-07:002008-10-01T12:57:11.479-07:00

The markets bounced back a bit today, huh? But the trend is down, and volatile. Today was a suckers' rally. The big boys bailed yesterday, and the sheep followed. Then the big boys bought back in, and more sheep will think it's okay, and the big boys will dump again, and so forth. Okay, so I have a pet theory of the looting of the people's wealth. I'll get to that at another time.I read this

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-1240761302414166422008-09-30T00:56:00.000-07:002008-09-30T19:32:36.448-07:00

Yikes! Ouch! The TSX gave up 840 points today, DJ took it's biggest single-day loss ever. Tokyo closed down 340-something just a bit ago, Hang Seng down over 400 with an hour or so to go. Stephen Harper said today that the Canadian economy has "good fundamentals", and that what is happening down south, well, we are insulated. It's different here. Jeebies, doesn't that sound familiar? I might have

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-55574891340155460782008-09-28T23:59:00.000-07:002008-09-29T18:28:07.846-07:00

BREAKING NEWS - 12:56 PM Monday,Sept. 29, 2008The bail-out package has been rejected in Washington. TSX crashed 900 points today.Make sure that all of your deposits are covered by CDIC. The shite is hitting the fan - now.---------------------------------------------------------------------------------Back to testerday's post...There are lots of media to speak, so I'm cutting short my rants, and

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-23887578485928069842008-09-27T00:49:00.000-07:002008-09-27T01:54:13.015-07:00

Breaking local news! There is a line-up tonight in North Delta!First new subdivision in 25 years in N. Delta! Would that make it Alpha? It might just be the Omega for the next 25 years.There are 25 new town homes, starting at $319k for three bedroom units. One potential buyer gushed that: "it's the same price as a 30 year old fixer-upper in Burnaby" (not to mention quite a bit more of a commute).

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-60349456179902545342008-09-25T00:25:00.000-07:002008-09-25T09:12:35.668-07:00

I think that an anger management intervention is due for this double-speaking blow-hard. Just another of Harper's angry henchman. I'd much rather see Elizabeth May as Minister of the Environment, wouldn't you?Short and sweet today. I am rather exhausted, and am having trouble typing - let alone thinking. Others can speak today.I could write about Merrill-Lynch Canada saying that we are on the

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-14818549521067877332008-09-23T20:20:00.000-07:002008-09-24T00:25:12.785-07:00

editorial cartoons from hereI have made it clear that I don't like Harper - perhaps too clear, as I have taken liberties with photoshop, and with word play with his name That has provoked at least one commentator from Calgary - who incidentally, was much more vituperative than I - in alluding to Obama as a "nigger", and Dion as a "frog". That is unacceptable here. many franks pointed out that it

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-15644382238195920662008-09-23T01:39:00.000-07:002008-09-23T16:36:36.564-07:00

As promised, a look at the plans the various parties have on carbon taxes (yes, they all have them, in one form or another - even the Conservatives).There are a lot of lies being spread by the Conservatives (Well, by Stiff Heartless, anyhow. The clones that keep opening their mouths just reveal the vindictiveness and small-minded nastiness of the whole party, and it is a top-down party. Those

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-12029721067521159532008-09-21T00:12:00.000-07:002008-09-22T01:02:10.330-07:00

put yer mouse over the picky, and clicky, and it will get biggy.Thanks to everyone for voting. I am gratified by the interest, and the discussion. I am so, because it seems that more people are invested in our social futures than not. I hope that those who are not interested in this election are visitors from other countries, and not Canadians (but then again, I am always interested in their

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-24094981734485538942008-09-20T23:48:00.000-07:002008-09-21T00:55:36.566-07:00

We are all wondering quite a few things these days;What on Earth is going on with the financial markets? Down 1500 one day, up 800 the next. Why did the US bail out private companies to the tune of hundreds billions of dollars? Will this spill over into Canada?The BoC ponied up with $12 billion the other day to stabilize things - hey! isn't that our money? What about the billions in ABCP that the

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-65594532424878597092008-09-17T00:33:00.001-07:002008-09-17T12:08:46.048-07:00

Vesuvius 1822Wow, the shite is hitting the fan. Lots of talk about 1929, global depression, doom, gloom, and despair - and that is just the MSM! The commentary runs from the apoplectic, to the apocalyptic, to the apathetic, to the apologetic - and that is just the A's! I thought that I ought to add to the mix with some brimstone, bitter nettle, bone heads, and just a little braying.Speaking of

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-10166178920661733572008-09-13T23:35:00.000-07:002008-09-14T00:32:48.911-07:00

or not.Here is an alternative to the 2,100 sq. ft. junk boxes that plague our fair landscape - a mobile mini-manse that has less of a foot print than a Cadillac SUV. Low cost, and low emission, it costs only $6/month to heat, and $10K to build. No landlords either. Why throw your money away on rent? It is an answer to the land shortage - there are so many roads, and soon, nobody will be able to

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-54356112194384278702008-09-11T01:28:00.000-07:002008-09-11T12:36:07.208-07:00

Yesterday, they fired up the HADRON super collider in Switzerland. There had been some consternation that they might create a black hole that would swallow up the Earth, and all of us with it. Reportedly, no black hole was created, and so we are all safe...except for RE "investors".Urban real estate values set to plunge, UBC expert forecasts. Oops. I went down the memory hole because I thought

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-42217092052172477652008-09-07T21:33:00.000-07:002008-09-07T21:33:39.389-07:00

Wild week, wot?TSX gives up 6%, and with it, all of the gains of the last year. Gold way down, oil down, and like the TSX, RE has pretty much given up its gains YOY. This game has not even started yet.The bulls are not saying any more that there will be no losses, now a bullish statement seems to be "we'll see a 10% correction, then the cycle will start again", or other such drivel. What happened

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-2264816714947042772008-08-30T23:44:00.000-07:002008-09-02T22:37:45.244-07:00

Do we need some tragi-comic relief?Well, maybe a trip down memory lane to January 31st of this year, when semi-anonymous bill left the nuggets quoted below, along with some other stuff about how he bought a place by borrowing the down payment from his parents, and it will only go up, and he will never lose his job, and the economy is solid, and other stuff like that. He promised to come back in

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-78256160515266944572008-08-29T20:54:00.001-07:002008-08-30T12:13:48.163-07:00

I've been as busy as the bees captured above; hence the dearth of posting. It's not just the usual vagaries of life, diapers and baths, and paying bills, and all of that, I have been immersed in other studies (besides real estate) as well.I'm a political junkie, and have been for many years (thanks, Grandma!). I have belonged to no party, and never will, and can swing either way, though as I get

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-67538432224501420642008-08-24T22:01:00.000-07:002008-08-25T01:08:26.588-07:00

She's come off the rails, and it doesn't look like it's going to be a slow-motion train wreck. Everything is looking down from here.Calgary had a major project cancelled on Friday. I read a snide comment somewhere wondering if Calgary had run out of oil. Infinity Towers in Vancouver sounds rather uncertain, and anecdotal to what I read over at Rob Chipman's, sales prices are dropping in the

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-89145155162153992702008-08-20T22:46:00.000-07:002008-08-20T23:22:07.059-07:00

I heard a piece on CBC Radio today about Brian Howell, who has been taking photographs of abandoned houses in Surrey. At first, I was wondering at why there were abandoned houses in Surrey; is it really that bad in there? Has the market really melted down, and it just escaped my attention? Upon reading the article (linked above), I realized that it was old (1950s, and '60s, and '70s) houses - on

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-50563254923544545852008-08-17T11:32:00.000-07:002008-08-18T10:40:43.268-07:00

I can't make any sense of anything anymore. Everything that I read says something different. Over at Rob Chipman's, there are some claiming that prices are down 15%, while The Financial Post says "The result was Vancouver home prices actually fell 1% in July from a year earlier...with an average price of $575,256.". So, varying numbers, depending on what one reads. The only number I pay

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-200876867910868292008-08-13T22:44:00.000-07:002008-08-16T23:08:27.767-07:00

Things still look stoopid out there. Prices and quality are all over the place. I gave up on trying to keep track of asking prices for comparison a while ago, I just don't care that much. My new criteria for judging how things are going is to do a search in the whole of East Vancouver for places under $400K. I found one today; MLS V726307 It's a crack shack on a 55' x 37.22' lot for $335,000.

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-28666898111981949412008-08-10T20:42:00.000-07:002008-08-10T23:01:51.571-07:00

Tom Waits interviews himself on NPR, and leaves us with this pearl;Q: What's wrong with the world?A: We are buried beneath the weight of information, which is being confused with knowledge; quantity is being confused with abundance and wealth with happiness. Leona Helmsley's dog made $12 million last year... and Dean McLaine, a farmer in Ohio, made $30,000. It's just a gigantic version of the

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-73240278680942825812008-08-06T00:04:00.000-07:002008-08-07T01:11:13.705-07:00

I feel like my head is shrinking. Mrs. solipsist calls it baby-head, I call it brain dead.The blogging pool has shrunk, a bunch of bears chased a disingenuous realtor off the web, which was never my intention, but c'est la vie. There is a lot of talk of this being a buyers' market, but I don't see it that way. I see it as being a faltering market teetering on the brink. It is not even a balanced

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-65361206894145830022008-07-31T00:36:00.001-07:002008-07-31T01:12:42.324-07:00

It is still a buyer's market. The number of homes on the market has increased and the asking prices have adjusted to the market. Now is a great time to buy, while Vancouver homes are at rock-bottom prices.Good grief.They must have started adding mind-addling fluoride (or something) to the water when I was not looking. The above quote is from the Kerrisdale Real Estate blog. The picture is a

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com38tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-25110838475744995452008-07-27T20:15:00.000-07:002008-07-27T21:31:31.937-07:00

Well, the lawns have withered, the trees are thirsty, and the bloom is off the rose. No real relief in sight. Oh, a few raindrops over-night, but that is nothing compared to the rains that are needed, and will come - as sure as November will.Waidaminit! I am I writing of the weather? Or the RE market? Both, really.I don't bother checking inventory much any more, I see a lot of "For Sale" signs, a

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-90180334078125833662008-07-22T00:59:00.000-07:002008-07-23T11:35:38.624-07:00

On 16 August 1960, Joe Kittinger jumped from a balloon into the stratosphere (102,800 ft.) to make the longest skydive from the highest altitude in history. He reached a peak velocity of 614 mph (988 km/h), a mark that still stands as the fastest speed ever reached by a human without a vehicle. Though Kittinger fell short of supersonic speeds, he did get pretty close. Automatic camera recording

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-51499339702832123962008-07-18T22:35:00.001-07:002008-07-19T10:43:44.884-07:00

or, more signs of the timesI rather liked the last post picture, with allusions to perversion, a black hole sucking in the 604 area code, y'know.The picture for today seemed emblematic as well - a sign advertising "quality homes" that has a mean list to it. I hope they build homes better than they put up signs. It does not instill confidence. Most of us are well aware of the preponderance of

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-79839225230916213652008-07-16T23:22:00.000-07:002008-07-16T23:47:34.485-07:00

...or signs of the timesI found this one in my peregrinations. For rent, and for sale. I know that there is some twisted logic to that - such as if it's rented, the revenue income will be a selling point! There has got to be some great big fool looking for an investment property... Thing is;a) Who is going to rent a house that will be sold out from underneath them, and have to put up with open

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-3045294911370556542008-07-13T23:35:00.001-07:002008-07-14T00:27:57.934-07:00

Thanks to R.Di for pointing out this travesty @2630 FRANKLIN ST, Hastings East, Vancouver East. v718488$890,000.00?!!! WTF are these people smoking down on Franklin ST.? It reminds me of The Charge of The Light Brigade, or the Kamikaze Cult. No guts, no glory.IT IS OVER! Shave your price by $600G's, and you might get a low-ball offer of $225K.I have a mind to get a real estate license - just so

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-10612859061445580682008-07-12T00:12:00.000-07:002008-07-12T00:39:44.681-07:00

I was out wandering with li'l solipsist today, and noticed a lot of strange new fruit (depicted below) amongst the flowers and trees that he demands identification of.Joe Chan (in the first picture) has had that place for sale for months. Ellie Chan joined him next door, and Winnie Lam is next to her. Two doors down, a house struggling to be completed will soon be for sale (I photoshopped its

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-35182736908747253582008-07-10T00:05:00.001-07:002008-07-10T00:33:42.186-07:00

(click the pic for biggy)I spotted these evil twins on Copley - just east of Nanaimo. Good grief! They look like raffle prizes from a monster truck show, or worse. Side-by-side slaps in the face.I have noticed a "deteriorating" trend in the finishes on these now ubiquitous press board boxes. Gone are the heady days of Mandarin Orange, Venous Red, Fecal Brown,

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-28855670219450141772008-07-07T11:29:00.000-07:002008-07-07T11:59:40.707-07:00

Yesterday I was out and about, and noticed more "For Sale" signs than I have seen for a while. It seems that there are 4 or so on every block. It seems that it is sinking in that it is over.My neighbour has had open houses the last three week-ends in a row. It seemed that it was mostly Chinese looking (I can tell the difference between Chinese, Japanese, Korean, etc. 19 times out of 20 +/- 3%).

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-80600234306896232062008-07-04T00:39:00.000-07:002008-07-04T01:03:22.203-07:00

Yay! It's a buyers' market! At least, that is what was breathlessly reported on the CBC Vancouver news at 11:00 PM. The Reasoning is a 43% decrease in sales (timeline not provided), and an 18% increase in listings (ditto, and Huh? It must have been an 80% increase in listings...?). But, it was said, 'prices are still rising, just not at the same pace as recent years.'Well golly! Colour me finicky

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-40836548409952551512008-06-29T22:14:00.000-07:002008-06-30T11:07:10.705-07:00

I wrote in January 2007 that The crazy weather has the environment on everybody's minds, and gov'ts will react. Whether (no pun intended) they react with vision remains to be seen.Since then, they have reacted with some vision; the provincial Liberals have enacted a carbon tax of 2.4 cents per litre of gasoline, which takes effect the day after tomorrow. Is it too little too late? We got our

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com19tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-40511806252908768792008-06-26T23:25:00.000-07:002008-06-27T00:17:32.184-07:00

A few shots of the sky over Vancouver last might.Got Chemtrails? Climate change? HAARP? Tune in for more details - it might just turn into a series - The Skies Over Vancouver, or such.Don't know about chemtrails, or HAARP? Google them for some background.This was to be a post, but time is not on my side. li'l solipsist has moved to one nap a day, and I have even less time than ever. It's well

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-52280313464363343412008-06-21T19:32:00.000-07:002008-06-21T19:55:11.466-07:00

clicky pic for biggernessI got an e-mail yesterday (below), and sent a response.I see no need to write a thesis on it, so without further preamble:What would you do/say?Queftion20 Jun (1 day ago)Hi,I am moving from Yaletown to Port Moody, because I have a new job there. Should we keep our condo in Yaletown as an investment? Or

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-11104938518177510572008-06-19T19:14:00.000-07:002008-06-19T20:13:18.887-07:00

or, your guess is as good as anyone's.Good grief. The TSX blew over 15,000 for a couple of days - setting it up to be worth almost 25% more than Wall St. Is that historical? Hysterical maybe. It shaved off a bit today with oil dropping by over $5/bbl. And the dollar edged up on expectations of the BoC raising interest rates to counter inflation. Gird your loins. (and why did it take so long to

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-39251628739274058532008-06-12T23:48:00.000-07:002008-06-13T00:16:33.104-07:00

Yay! I was allowed back in!I was out perambulating with li'l solipsist today and grabbed a few shots for curb appeal/appall/whatever. I don't think that the correction has happened yet, and I can't even be bothered to check.So, a few shots of what East Vancouver has to offer, though none of these are for sale to my knowledge.From not too bad to worst.This place isn't too bad for some reason.

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-20474876475698438532008-06-08T13:07:00.000-07:002008-06-08T17:11:22.096-07:00

I have not been posting so much for a number of reasons. l'il solipsist is the biggest one, but I have been engrossed in other areas of study besides. I wrote a post over two days (many, many interruptions), and was just finishing, when blogger crashed it, and it was gone. I will try to reproduce it...Politics are very interesting these days. I don't fixate on US candidate nomination races - that

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-90480555646667374272008-06-03T09:24:00.000-07:002008-06-03T09:45:44.938-07:00

I've been at sixes and nines over the RE market for some time. But what about eights?I came across this place (V712672) when checking the state of the market. The wish price is $888,888.00. Do you think they are marketing to the Chinese demographic - who have a thing about the number 8?Rob Chipman talks about "sharp pricing"; I think that this place is sharply priced (though ridiculous). Would a

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-9258020639339011182008-05-28T22:10:00.000-07:002008-05-28T23:01:17.375-07:00

I have been dying to use this picture (lifted from The Guardian - UK). Maybe it is nostalgia for a life I never knew, or only knew vicariously. Beats me. I just got back from my psychotherapist, and she doesn't have a clue either.Well, really, I was going to do a post about the fat lady singing, or as it's turned out, real estate agents flipping.The house next door to me sold for $450K to a real

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-86146248169429487832008-05-26T14:38:00.000-07:002008-05-26T22:38:29.608-07:00

the pope already covered the issue of The Anvil being dropped on "unsuspecting" buyers' heads with a demand for $20,000 to $40,000 if they want to keep their units pre-bought in good faith almost two years ago, but (holding back expletives) ferchrysaches! Anybody who ponies up for that abuse deserves a good swift kick in the head.The developer - United Properties - is a well-known developer in

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-38427900429274969262008-05-19T09:20:00.000-07:002008-05-19T10:01:06.342-07:00

My posting here has been getting slower and slower, while the residential listings come faster and faster. An incongruity to be sure. I have a good reason - as seen above. My kid is now 15 months old, and demands more and more attention. I can't, in good conscience, neglect the precious moments of growth and development of my progeny to stoke my own self through regular posting.So what, beyond

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-36456917082325172442008-05-13T20:45:00.001-07:002008-05-13T20:54:33.811-07:00

Sorry, but no time to elaborate. Draw your own conclusions. As the NASA motto goes - "Don't let your pre-occupation with reality stifle your imagination"(Clicky to make biggy) sourceWhat if there never is another boom, but a steady decline to...well...who knows?Life is changing. "Peak Oil" is a driver of that change (pun intended). Greenhouse gas(p) emissions/Climate change are another. The "

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-40652912245816606882008-05-09T23:21:00.000-07:002008-05-10T00:05:02.237-07:00

When I first arrived in this fine burg 20 years ago, I thought that houses were a good deal. I wanted to buy an old Victorian fixer-upper, but I just could not qualify for financing. So I peregrinated, and thought, and dreamed, and had many wild and wonderful experiences. I have not peed away too much in rent, because often I was paying a dollar a night or less for a bunk in a cattle shed in

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com17tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-27783943938882237662008-05-07T18:08:00.000-07:002008-05-07T18:58:38.470-07:00

I have been despairing because I don't have the time that I used to have to dream up silly posts and do research. Such is life.One of my first posts at this blog was a compare and despair, featuring a West Side house, and comparing it to a beautiful French mansion - for the same price.Today I fed the wee one a half bottle of scotch, and while he slept it off, I tried to find something of interest

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-5824416528250759652008-05-01T21:09:00.000-07:002008-05-02T00:13:19.341-07:00

(or, signs of the end times)Yeah, I say unto You, my Brethren and Sistren, Ye True Believers,The Rapture is upon Us, and I have seen the Signs. The End is nigh. Tremble, and feel The Rapture. Witness the Apocalypse.(*I hope that any perceived heresy is forgiven in the spirit of poetic license.)So, what are the signs?1) The Globular and Morons had an article last Friday in which they dragged out a

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-23969189973090018672008-04-27T12:51:00.000-07:002008-04-27T13:18:58.896-07:00

Yesterday, the Missus and the Ba, and I (Da) checked out this "lovely 1912 home" just for fun (it was an Open House, and we were passing by). The first thing that the agents said (beyond "hello") was that the price had been dropped from $799k to $709k, and that the sellers were "very motivated". The male agent started blathering about how the market was strong for another 4-5 years. I did not ask

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-81846867467024541802008-04-24T14:18:00.000-07:002008-04-24T14:33:06.868-07:00

Jari sent me the e-mail below, as well as the picture above - which I photoshopped a bit more. I'm pretty busy, and you already know that the BoC dropped the prime again, and that they are saying that we will have a downturn that will last exactly two years, and blahbitty-blah-blah, so I will ask you to consider this a guest post.Thanks Jari This is only vaguely related to Real Estate, but I

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-32063754784766296592008-04-21T22:26:00.000-07:002008-04-21T23:06:24.275-07:00

I checked the listings today to see what's up, and detected a change. There is not a single house in East Vancouver for $2m! For that matter, the highest price was in the $800k range. There are even a couple of places for less than $400K. That and a book of matches will get you a new home in a sketchy area!Speaking of sketchy, there are some pretty sketchy descriptors in some of the features

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com20tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-41005643642070841462008-04-17T13:07:00.000-07:002008-04-17T17:45:56.412-07:00

As I was drifting off to sleep last night, it occured to me that this real estate market (at least, the participants) has a lot of characteristics of The Undead, or a Zombie. Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)zom·bie–noun 1. (in voodoo) a. the body of a dead person given the semblance of life, but mute and will-less, by a supernatural force, usually for some evil purpose.Wallstreet WordszombieA

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-43496456449622857072008-04-14T22:47:00.000-07:002008-04-14T23:10:06.802-07:00

I have alluded to fractional reserve banking in the past, and David sent me an e-mail a while ago wondering about it. I don't have a lot of time these days to delve into it (or much of anything beyond me super cool kid), but I have understood that it was at most 5% (in Canada), and maybe as low as...gulp...0%. Makes you feel good about paying interest, eh?But I stumbled upon this article that had

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-28458846239029684052008-04-11T18:11:00.000-07:002008-04-11T18:41:04.128-07:00

I had an e-mail asking whether there was any gain in waiting for the Canada Line to finish in order to sell a nearby house. Will there be greater appreciation? I think that appreciation would already be priced in.I've always been a rebel though, and would cut off my nose to spite my face.What do you think?On 11/04/2008, Ben wrote:Hi there, first of all I'd like to thank you for creating the blog.

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-86750238616876951752008-04-08T22:11:00.000-07:002008-04-08T23:00:05.306-07:00

the pope already wrote about Garth Turner's new book: Greater Fool - the troubled future of real estate, and there is a blog that goes with it. He did a post on Vancouver (you have to check it out), and I was compelled to reproduce some of his commentary here. I own a downtown [westend] Vancouver condo in a very good building within 3 blocks of the seawall and many other amenities. At 750 sq ft.

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com25tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-29718604805574366322008-04-06T22:14:00.000-07:002008-04-06T23:05:04.922-07:00

macho slob commented on his disappointment with the disconnect between the blog's title, and some of the recent subject matter. Fair enough, I guess.Here is some RE schtuff for ye;I read over at the pope's place (from awum - from Landcor - @ Rob Chipman's) that East Van. condos are crashing - by 15%! It's about time. Check it out at the pope's - there is a graph, and everything! I wonder what

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-39327613380228598452008-04-03T13:55:00.000-07:002008-04-03T14:36:07.257-07:00

I came across this article, and found it to be "very interesting". The comment below is something that I have alluded to here (and elsewhere) before.'Bush Caused the Financial Market Meltdown'Washington ignored the lessons of the bank failures of the 1930sNot a mistake, not incompetence, its the plan."It also ignored the lessons of the bank failures of the 1930s"I would say "It learned from the

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com18tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-73405293024119382092008-04-01T17:14:00.001-07:002008-04-01T17:21:17.943-07:00

It's the alligators, and me arse...a cheap post is the result. Hopefully better than no post!Adrian sent me this picture explaining sub-prime a while ago, and I am just getting to posting it now. (Thanks Adrian!)click picture to enlargeGRAPHIC: By Laura Stanton - The Washington Post - March 14, 2008

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-71852134325889796002008-03-27T15:16:00.000-07:002008-03-27T15:39:57.074-07:00

I heard on CBC today that Councilor TimStevenson is introducing a motion to tax empty (read; speculator/flipper) houses at a higher rate. It will probably get shot down in Council, but quelle idee. There are other aspects to the motion as well - such as mandatory inspections (for health and safety) for all rental properties. Also not a bad idea. - An anti-vacancy by-law, which would increase the

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com26tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-8311826410452231652008-03-24T13:38:00.000-07:002008-03-24T13:52:34.077-07:00

OK! It's Spring now! Time for the Spring surge. Question is, will it be a surge in listings? A surge in sales? a surge in prices? All three? Things are so bent, that I almost don't care anymore.I had no power on the week-end, so no computer, no Internet, no blogs, no music. It was actually kind of nice, but I was truly expecting to hook up today, and read that everything was crash. Bummer.Last

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com43tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-63465326169971180372008-03-19T20:03:00.000-07:002008-03-19T22:44:37.274-07:00

...who died of ennuiI'm getting bored.When will it start? Where will it end?Was that "little" stock market stumble of today profit-taking, a small correction, or the beginning of the end? Do you think it will continue tomorrow? Betcha it does.I liked this line quoted here yesterday - re-born Robber-Barons do not suffer fools or casual opportunists-instead they eat these 'hangers-on' that would

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-10955587213016664862008-03-17T13:28:00.000-07:002008-03-17T14:28:38.704-07:00

Bear-Stearns price graph.A low-pressure trough is sometimes called a depression. I have been talking of an impending depression for years (not here, but elsewhere, and verbally). Most people just thought that I was a crank, but it is starting to come to fruition.Bear-Stearns was trading at around $70/share last week, but today, sold off the whole shebang for $2/unit. I'm sure that a lot of people

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com11tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-3945434745538947842008-03-14T14:03:00.000-07:002008-04-06T00:51:11.660-07:00

David sent me the following e-mail: subject: the elephant in the room Still trying to puzzle this out. Banks are failing, not due to lack of regulation (Mish). But the elephant of Fractional reserve lending. Okay I get that, what I don't get is how can a bank lose liquidity when they never had it in the first place.They make 'money' by typing it into the computer. Yes, that's simplified, but

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com27tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-50079218360424479322008-03-12T21:20:00.000-07:002008-04-06T00:51:36.823-07:00

I mentioned in the last post that there are rumoured to be spooks skulking about that Podcast-adrift project. Spooks are believed in by every culture, and pretty much by all, but for the most skeptical. One reason that those UFO pod houses are still there is that the locals believe that you are playing with danger by tearing down haunted houses.The aboriginal cultures believe that their ancestors

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-81421756685498032262008-03-10T17:50:00.000-07:002008-04-06T00:52:01.870-07:00

Thanks to coco for alerting us to Podopolis Place in Taiwan. She was right; it fits in well with Legopolis Mews of the last post, but seems to once have had greater ambitions.It looks quite nice from a distance; lush, tropical, and colourful......but as the view zooms in, the decay starts to show.The elements are slowly rendering the abandoned project back into the landscape (although, the

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-8700910742182660732008-03-07T09:26:00.000-08:002008-04-06T00:52:44.990-07:00

Shanghai Thunder sent this image to me (thanks Shanghai!), and the next day, my cousin in Florida sent it to me as well. I just had to post it for some comic relief.I'm too brain-dead to come up with any quirky quips, or funny fictions, so I'll leave it for you all to do.Average price in Vancouver now some $970k (un-freakin'-believable!). When will the madness end?Oh, I guess the new 50 year

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-49652547073262325862008-03-05T13:58:00.000-08:002008-04-06T00:53:05.885-07:00

I just don't have any energy to post these last 7 days or so: first, I was engrossed in the "Cadscam" thang for a few days, then I started getting sick with the flu, and I am a stay-at-home-dad these days. I've been feeling pretty low, and I'm sorry not to have dreamed up some fantastic presentation for you.BoC has cut rates by 50 basis points - which is significant - but it is not going to help

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3893651424347391604.post-44645511189762714092008-03-02T14:43:00.000-08:002008-04-06T00:53:22.087-07:00

I regret that I have not scribed another instalment on the interminable wait for things to start sinking, but I have been deeply immersed in the goings-on at Parliament Hill. It's a fascinating story, and I can't wait for tomorrow.This is not entirely unrelated to the game of RE, and is, in my view, a match to the fuse to one of the bombs that is part of the ensuing melt-down.Imagine Harper

solipsisthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11585532276216559502noreply@blogger.com8