Global Warming
April 30, 2008
The weather is not being very spring-like and I’m getting a little tired of it. A couple of evenings ago, we had mid 60s until late at night, and were able to sleep with the windows open. Tonight, however, the windows are closed while the rain pounds on them. I glanced out the window and found that there’s a dusting of snow all over everything. In all my years of living in Utah, I don’t remember ever having snow as late as May. I’m sure tons of other Utahns have, but I haven’t.
I always said that I wouldn’t complain about the weather because I chose to move back to Utah and accept what it gave me, but winter is getting a little old.
Mistakes, Halftruths and Just Plain Lies
April 26, 2008
I went through an open house today. It was at a home in West Jordan, Utah, which is not too far from where I live. The home has these specs:
- 3140 Square Feet (1584 on the first floor, 1556 in the basement)
- 3 bed
- 2 bath
- 20% finished basement
- .28 acre lot
- priced at $305,000
The agent was nice and did a good job of showing the house, but I have to question her on something. She was talking about how Utah is following the rest of the nation, housing market-wise, by about 18 months. While I believe that is true, she also said something that sure sounded completely false to me. She said that since she’s in contact with real estate agents from all over the US, she knows that we’ve now hit rock bottom in pricing. Um, what? If Utah follows the rest of the nation by 18 months, and seeing as how the rest of the nation hasn’t hit it yet, why would Utah have done so? Apparently, real estate agents don’t read the news about real estate.
Page 2 of the above linked article has a table showing the projected foreclosure rates for all of the states for 2008 and 2009. It states that the U.S. average is 1 foreclosure for every 33 homes. It shows the following locations as being the locations that are expected to be higher than the national average:
- Nevada – 1 out of 11
- Arizona – 1 out of 18
- California – 1 out of 20
- Utah – 1 out of 25
- Colorado – 1 out of 25
- Florida – 1 out of 26
- Maryland – 1 out of 26
- DC – 1 out of 27
- Georgia – 1 out of 27
- Hawaii – 1 out of 29
- Rhode Island – 1 out of 31
- New York – 1 out of 32
I find it to be very interesting that Utah is fourth on this list. To me, this means that we here in Utah haven’t even begun to see how bad it’s going to get. In talking with my agent today, he said that he’s seeing four times the number of foreclosures and short sales with each home search as what he used to see. That tells me that it’s really starting to hit here, but I really question whether we’ve hit the 1 in 25 rate that is predicted. If the area had truly hit rock bottom, I think that we’d have much lower prices throughout the Utah market.
So, in short, I guess I can give the agent the benefit of the doubt and say that she may not be lying, as she could really believe the words that were coming out of her own mouth. Just because she may believe that doesn’t make it true, however.
What I Think I Think
April 25, 2008
I’ve been thinking about something. I’m 33 and have been feeling a little old as of late. More often, lately, I also notice the grey in my hair. That’s enough to make somebody feel really old, right? Well, I’ve come to a conclusion about it. It may be grey, but at least it’s still hair. I guess it’s better than the alternative.
CNN Sued by the Chinese
April 24, 2008
Did you hear that some Chinese people are suing CNN for over a billion dollars because CNN “hurt China’s feelings?” I’m not making this up.
The case against the Atlanta-based cable channel, its parent company Turner Broadcasting and Jack Cafferty, the offending commentator, comes after 14 lawyers launched a similar suit in Beijing alleging that Cafferty’s remarks earlier this month violated the dignity and reputation of the Chinese people.
Cafferty said the United States imported Chinese-made “junk with the lead paint on them and the poisoned pet food”.
He added: “They’re basically the same bunch of goons and thugs they’ve been for the last 50 years”.
Perhaps if China didn’t make so much junk, the lawsuit would have some merit. Perhaps if they didn’t have a bunch of communist goons and thugs leading the country, I’d actually have some sympathy for them. Maybe, just maybe, if the Chinese had some dignity and a reasonable reputation for craftsmanship, tolerance, human rights or freedom, I just might feel for them. As they don’t, neither do I.
Here’s a classic line:
“We hope CNN will take this seriously, because what CNN said and did has not only hurt China’s feelings, but also CNN’s own image.”
Perhaps China should man up and not let their feelings get hurt so easily.
Frustrations
April 23, 2008
I’ve realized some things lately that just bug me.
- People who talk over other people. For example, when one person decides that what they have to say is more important than anything that anybody else has to say. One person in particular really has mastered this technique of “Josh Frustration.”
- People who don’t return phone calls. My co-workers and I routinely call people to help them with their computer issues. Every time we call and leave a message or send an email, we note it in the help desk request that the end user submitted. There are so many examples of us having to leave 10 voicemails for people before they’ll call us back. Do they not realize that their issues will get resolved sooner if they just do their part.
- This one’s not a work-related one (well, it’s not current employer related, at least), but it’s still frustrating. I absolutely hate it when somebody asks me a question about something I have expertise with, then they don’t believe my answer. If you’re not going to believe my answer, don’t ask me the question.
- I really don’t like it when people take advantage of my wife’s generosity. My wife is one of the most giving people you could ever imagine knowing, and she’d do anything to help people. When people use her, though, it just drives me nuts. Some advice: Don’t take more than you give when you are her friend.
- Have you ever known a person who just always has to one-up you on everything? Yeah, so have we. It seemed like no matter good thing we had experienced in our lives, whoever we mentioned it to had to tell us about how their life was better. When Melanie miscarried, they had to talk about how lucky we were because (insert some traumatic event here) had happened to them. When I bought Melanie some fancy-schmancy new gizmo, somebody else had to got get some other new gizmo, then kept going on and on about how it was so much better than Melanie’s. I’ll be honest, that gets pretty old. It’s not some friggin’ competition! Don’t act like it is.
- People who run red lights. Seriously, what the hell is wrong with people!? I see so many people each day who simply MUST make it through that light that they will still be pouring into the intersection after the light has been red for 3 or 4 seconds. Don’t people realize that this is how other people get killed? Does the safety of oneself and the safety of others just not matter to people?
- Last but not least, one thing that bugs me is that I get bugged so easily.
At the Shark Tank
April 22, 2008
Watching the San Jose Sharks and the Calgary Flames in game 7 of their series and the Flames just scored to go up 2-1. Go Sharks.
Wireless Upgrade
April 22, 2008
Melanie sure is tricksy. She was dropping hints like crazy for the new Intel PRO/Wireless 4965AGN WLAN card for her laptop. Here’s our discussion about it:
Me: You know, there’s a faster wireless card for your laptop.
Her: Huh? I’m sorry, I was watching American Idol so I wasn’t paying attention to you rambling on about my computer.
Me: It’s the Intel PRO/Wireless card and it would replace the built-in Dell Wireless card. It’s faster, too! Your existing one is only an 802.11g spec at only 54Mbit when the signal is perfect while the new one is 802.11n and 150Mbit. You clearly need one.
Her: Whatever.
See what I mean? She wanted it SO bad and it was so obvious. I can see right through her facades of “Huh?” and “Whatever.”
And the good husband complied.
Paranoid Schizophrenics Need Government Help
April 21, 2008
This is also hilarious. I love The Onion.
Prayer Monitors
April 21, 2008
I’m having a little trouble seeing why the judge would even think of this:
Addressing the concerns about prayer, Walther said she was aware of a community of members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in San Angelo. While acknowledging LDS Church members are not from the same group, she asked attorneys to see if the LDS faith would be willing to monitor the prayer services of the women and children who remain in the shelter.
“How would I stop someone from practicing their faith?” the judge asked.
She acknowledged concerns from Texas child welfare authorities about improper communications between mothers and children that could occur in such private prayer times and have an affect on the pending investigations.
“If they cross the line or coach the child or make any kind of comment on litigation, all bets are off,” Walther said.
The president of the LDS Abilene Texas Stake, which oversees San Angelo, was surprised by the judge’s request.
“They think we’re the same ones because we use the Book of Mormon,” said Charles L. Webb. “I’m dumbfounded they would suggest that.”
Webb plans to contact church headquarters in Salt Lake City for guidance.
This thing does NOT involve us and we should not be dragged into it in any way, shape or form. I don’t understand how the judge just doesn’t understand this fact.
UPDATE: To my question of, “Why the hell are we getting dragged into this?” my friend, Jon, answers:
Because these “law enforcement” people in Texas appear to be morons. I will be *very* surprised if LDS HQ in Salt Lake allows a local ward to have *any* involvement in this, much less to monitor prayers of mothers and children!
I loved this:
“The Court finds that an unknown number of males of reproductive age reside, or have resided, at the ranch during the probable time of conception of one or more of the children the subject of this suit,” her order says. “The court further finds that an unknown number of females of child bearing age reside, or have resided at the ranch and could be the mother of one or more children the subject of this suit.”
So, in other words, the Court finds that some people may have been there and could have made babies. Wow, a real surprising find!
I couldn’t have said it better myself.
Voice Talkers
April 20, 2008
This is fun.
