Ajay,

I wouldn't go so far as to say that there will be only 2 "classes" of residents.

Before I get into this, no place on earth is so sweet that you should give up at least half your income just to have a roof over your head. No 2 bedroom home is worth a half million dollars. This has to do with people making ill advised financial decisions just as much as it is sketchy business practice. I'll offer up a few tidbits that I've learned.

Not too long ago the housing market and related industries were more or less carrying our economy. It is my belief that the Feds kept interest rates low on purpose to keep everything afloat. Of course when interest rates are low, people seemingly are willing to accumulate shitloads of debt as their interest payments are lower. As our economy has gotten stronger lately the Feds have slowly increased interest rates.

Increased interest rates are bad news for San Fran residents because nearly all of them have variable interest rate mortgages. Since they have taken on such large amounts of debt the interest payments on their home jump dramatically. Not coincidentally there has been a huge spike in the number of foreclosures. It gets more interesting when you learn how banks behave. I've learned that the banks are more than willing to give people these huge mortgages because they pass off the risk by selling those mortgages to Fannie Mae. Not a bad deal for the banks, eh?

The reason why I say that you shouldn't worry about there being 2 classes of residents is because a lot of those POs are swiftly being put on their ass for the reasons I've explained, plus many more that I have not explained. I've read that lately San Fran is losing those high paying dot com jobs, so average salary is actually going down. People can't afford to buy homes obviously, and any market can't last if there is no money going through it.

What I don't get is why and how housing prices got so high so fast. San Fran has lower property tax rates than we do, so it wouldn't surprise me if they got their tax money the same way Buffalo does - reassessment of homes by a "preferred" agency. House values go up artificially and the government doesn't have to say it raised tax rates! A very slick maneuver indeed.

I don't have all the answers obviously but I thought I would just offer a few things for conversation. Anyway Ajay why would you want to move to Cali? The Big One is way overdue and you definitely don't want to be there when THAT goes down. =)

Jason

I was going to write about tin foil capism and the Newsweek debacle, but instead I'll talk to you all about something much more important and interesting...ME of course. You see in less than a month I turn 27. As most people find out through experience, I've grown up a lot since I turned 23. Every new birthday brings the question, are you where you want to be and doing what you want to do? I don't really believe in marriage (I could fill up page after page about that), so I never think about being married with kids like so many of my friends. I still haven't been to London or Stockholm because I've been paying a huge chunk of my money to help take care of my family. I still want to go to Graduate school. There are so many things I still need to do in order to be satisfied.

In other news, I've been at home alone a bunch lately because (e:Joshua) has a new job and he's flying all over the country. He left a big mess here for me to clean up so I guess I can spend my time doing that. One cool thing is that my ladies man of a best friend has a bunch of new girls lined up. I love going out and playing wingman with him because there is zero pressure on me to be a perfect gentleman. I can be as silly as I want because all that matters is that he looks good. In fact I'm so damn fucking tired of being a gentleman. It gets you nowhere, it's not appreciated and you get the opposite of the result you want out of it. Chivalry isn't dead, it's just that it's not worth the effort anymore. That's what makes Wingman so fun. Don't be a jerk, make good conversation and be silly, a little bit of a smart ass even. I'm there!

Jason

It's the world's most huggable Republican here, just reminding you all to have a happy day.

Jason

I hate being like this. I get penalized financially for being sick. You feel like you want to crawl under a rock Jason? Great, why don't we dock you a couple hundred bucks! I get my family and coworkers second guessing me. Women don't want someone who has such a significant weakness. Gotta be perfect you know? (e:Joshua) says "Jay every moment of life is worth living so hang in there" but he's not the one who is basically permanently screwed. Fuck this shit in the fucking ass.

Jason

How much would it cost to get a decent digital camera? Since my sidekick got viciously murdered I need something.

Here's a question. Where the F is (e:Rachel) nowadays? Did she disappear? Where are you when we need you, (e:pageseven) - get to work!

(e:Southernyankee) I am so jealous of you because of Sebastian. Mine is an econobox and chicks don't dig those. I can relate to the new Weezer song. Maybe I should pimp my ride with some euro headlights lol.

Um, I don't know what else to say, other than yes (e:Maureen) there are people who read your journal and are glad you're doing well.

Jason

Yep I got my flag flying! I'm waiting to see how long it takes for someone to steal it or deface it or burn it. I'm sure I won't be waiting for too much time.

Jason

......my bed! End of story! Bring on the babes!

Ahem.

(e:Robin) - hate me instead of my brother. I brought up this topic in the first place. I had no idea it would blow up like that. I know for a fact that if he ever reads your posts it's going to be ON, and being as fragile mentally as I am right now I don't want to worry about people arguing over a topic I started. It's really not worth it. Please please please let it go.

It's not likely that you'll care, but I wrote about the runaway bride because I have a problem with people who run away from people they supposedly care about. I've had that happen to me before, and it's part of the reason I'm in such shitty condition. I feel really bad for the guy because his fiance ran away from him, and on top of that he had to deal with speculation that he had something to do with it. The guy did nothing wrong and he was in a world of shit there for a while. That's what provoked me, not because I wanted to start a flaming war. I'm sorry I even wrote about it.

Jason

I didn't see that part of the story (I've been running around replacing my dead Sidekick). I think (e:Ajay) has a good theory. I'll try another one out that will probably piss off some people here: It's because she's a woman! There is a certain level of softness and forgiveness when it comes to women in our society. They are valued far more than men. I think if someone actually pressed charges on the woman all of the women's organizations would go ape-caca. Being relatively well known in the place you live and being white can't hurt, either.

Jason

Georgia woman found in New Mexico after running out on her fiance! I love this country!

Jason

Europe is civilized? Really? =) Well I guess I have to agree that the thought of cutting off a clit is grotesque. I suppose this isn't one of those things that I feel is important enough for me to fight right now. I'm not missing out on anything except for another flap of skin. I'm not pissed off at my dad, either. Mr. Jason works perfectly thank you very much! I doubt I would make my son get clipped but it isn't out of some moral problem I have with it. I see it as unnecessary, but not something worth getting my panties in a bunch about. It's okay. There are other pro-male causes I believe in which many men (to the detriment of their interests) don't care too much about.

Jason