Because, America

[Stargrunt6]

 

 

[Tim the Tank Nut]

what's the denominator in that video?

[Murph]

22 minutes ago, Tim the Tank Nut said:

what's the denominator in that video?

Sadly no one is allowed to point it out.

[Stargrunt6]

 

 

[Ivanhoe]

Let's not overlook the murder at this year's Burning Man;

https://nypost.com/2025/09/01/us-news/nevada-sheriff-issues-desperate-plea-asking-burners-to-help-id-mystery-man-murdered-during-burning-man-festival-as-killer-still-at-larger/

Quote

Nevada law enforcement officials issued a desperate plea to tens of thousands of strung-out Burners for help identifying a mystery man found dead in a “pool of blood” Saturday night as they try to narrow their search for the still-at-large killer.

 

[Stargrunt6]

The Age of Aquarius is followed by the Age of Scorpio.  You have to be on some bath salts to weather the conditions at Burning Man. It makes Arrakis seem like a beach resort.

[Ivanhoe]

I have concluded that Burning Man is a microcosm of what California hippies would do to any nation that they got control of. Drug overdoses, violence including sexual assault, trash everywhere, pervasive incompetence. 

[Stargrunt6]

I have more respect for Dashcon. At least nobody died then.

 

 

[Rick]

On 8/22/2025 at 3:14 PM, Tim the Tank Nut said:

what's the denominator in that video?

Same one as cruise ship brawls.

[Stargrunt6]

 

 

[Mr King]

5 hours ago, Stargrunt6 said:

 

 

lol that's funny. 

[Ivanhoe]

IMHO, public schools should require a minimum of 25 hours of bodycam video (with written final exam) during students' sophomore* year. I think a goodly percentage of them would experience one or more epiphanies about drug abuse, street life, etc. 

* For you furriners, sophomore year in high school is 10th grade, roughly 15-16 y.o. My idea being to plant the seeds of wisdom well in advance of voting rights. 

[Ivanhoe]

Some of the states at greater risk of recession, such as Montana, are now in "Bit Tech Hangover" mode I think. All that Silicon Valley money that went into California escapees buying houses in Montana has dried up, and now that housing prices are falling, speculators are getting crunched. 

Easy to understand Virginia and Maryland. Downsize the federal gov't, a bunch of those folks must move elsewhere. 

 

 

[Ivanhoe]

 

https://www.natesilver.net/p/what-is-blueskyism
 

Quote

 

The first essential characteristic: Smalltentism

Aggressive policing of dissent, particularly of people “just outside the circle” who might have broader credibility on the center-left. Censoriousness, often taking the form of moral micropanics that designate a rotating cast of opponents as the main characters of the day. Self-reinforcing belief in the righteousness of the clique, and conflation of its values with broader public sentiment among “the base”.

 

It seems to me that one of the wounds that have crippled the BlueSky-ists is the evolution of the Karen meme. The "blueskies" are the embodiment of the Karen stereotype. Narcissitic, belligerent, arrogant. 

 

[Rick]

This is what tyranny fears.

 

[Ivanhoe]

[Rick]

Thoughts?

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/why-your-parents-could-afford-house-one-salary-you-cant-two

[rmgill]

All the mandated doo-dads in houses has not made them cheaper either. 

[Ivanhoe]

2 hours ago, Rick said:

Thoughts?

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/why-your-parents-could-afford-house-one-salary-you-cant-two

The FNC article writer, and the author of the quoted book, are complete morons.

There are multiple factors, not one (strange how that keeps happening). 

Deficit spending, going to fiat money, oil crisis, globalization, population growth*, changes in products**, the list goes on. 

* The majority of a new house price is for the land, not the building. Constant land area, tripling of population, supply and demand laws will not be denied for long. 

** Median price houses are much larger and more complicated than they were in the 1960s. The house I grew up in didn't come with an air conditioner. Just basic appliances. Lumber was far cheaper. Minimal insulation. 

 

[Ivanhoe]

https://www.zerohedge.com/medical/oklahoma-overrun-chinese-operated-marijuana-farms
 

Quote

 

Chinese gangs are taking advantage of loose marijuana rules in Oklahoma to grow and transport marijuana to other states for sale on the black market, authorities say.

Oklahoma narcotics officials told Congress $153 billion worth of marijuana is unaccounted for and likely leaving the state for the black market in other states.

As many as 85 percent of licensed grow sites have connections with Chinese owners or operators, according to Mark Woodward, information officer with the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics.

 

What a wonderful use of farmland and water. 

[Ivanhoe]

For you Sowell fans;

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sowell-a-solo-play-about-an-american-genius#/

I'm not a stageplay fan, but I'm glad somebody is working on this stuff.

[Rick]

https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/26/us/politics/trump-soros-foundations-donors.html?unlocked_article_code=1.pE8.kzCm.q_7nIIjl3TLp&smid=url-share

A good start into the funding for violent groups.

[Ol Paint]

On 9/23/2025 at 7:08 AM, Rick said:

Thoughts?

https://www.foxnews.com/opinion/why-your-parents-could-afford-house-one-salary-you-cant-two

To add to what Ivanhoe and rmgill posted, the article is self-pitying navel-gazing.  When the article isn't just lying.*   These talking points come up every so often, but don't survive the most basic scrutiny of the statistical basis.  I'd come across similar points in a YouTube video a few months ago about how much easier things were in the 1980s vs today and I posted the following comment based on a quick study of the statistics:

Quote

The median house price in 1980 was $63,700 and mortgage rates in that year ranged between 12.18% at 16.35%.  The average rate works out to about 14.74%.  So the median house, assuming 10% down payment, financed over 30 years, would be a payment of $667.51.

Median household income in 1980 was $21,023, or $1751/mo...Gross income, not accounting for tax.  That payment represents 38% of gross income for the household.

That same ratio applied to today's median household income of $69,244 is equivalent to a monthly mortgage payment of $2198.50.  That equates to a home priced around $375,000 at today's mortgage rate of 6.84%.  That's about 10% below the median home sales price of $416,900, but far from a micro apartment.  And renting is usually more expensive per square foot than owning.The median house price in 1980 was $63,700 and mortgage rates in that year ranged between 12.18% at 16.35%.  The average rate works out to about 14.74%.  So the median house, assuming 10% down payment, financed over 30 years, would be a payment of $667.51.

Median household income in 1980 was $21,023, or $1751/mo...Gross income, not accounting for tax.  That payment represents 38% of gross income for the household.

That same ratio applied to today's median household income of $69,244 is equivalent to a monthly mortgage payment of $2198.50.  That equates to a home priced around $375,000 at today's mortgage rate of 6.84%.  That's about 10% below the median home sales price of $416,900, but far from a micro apartment.  And renting is usually more expensive per square foot than owning.

And this comment

Quote

The average home selling today is over 50% larger than the home of the '80s.  The median house price in 1985 was $84,300 and the square footage was 1740, and the median household income of $23,620 in that year.

2025 median household income is $69,244.  A factor of 2.93.

Based on today's average house size of 2,657sq.ft. , we can scale it to today.  (84,300 x 2,657 / 1740) x 2.93 = $377,170.  That's 5.45x today's median household income.
Considering that the current median house price is $416,900, or 6.02 times the median household income.

So, housing is somewhat more expensive than it was in 1985, but not by some massive multiplier.

As has been noted, this comparison does not correct for differences between '80s construction and today--many houses today are built with 2x6 walls for added insulation, double pane windows, central air, and other amenities.  While these things existed in the '80s, they weren't as prevalent, so would be additional factors skewing the home prices higher.

https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/programs-surveys/ahs/working-papers/Housing-by-Year-Built.pdf

Some of the categories that saw significant growth:

• Central air - 65.8% in 1970s, 77.7% in 1980s, 88.7% in 2000s.
• Washer - 70.4% in 1970s, 80.8% in 1980s, 89.1% in 2000s
• Dryer - 68.7% in 1970s, 79.5% in 1980s, 88.4% in 2000s
• Dishwasher - 63.6% in 1970s, 76.8% in 1980s, 93.0% in 2000s
• Garbage Disposal - 52.2% in 1970s, 63.0% in 1980s, 74.4% in 2000s
• Fireplace - 30.9% in 1970s, 40.7% in 1980s, 44.7% in 2000s
• (Fire) Sprinkler System - 2.8% in 1970s, 5.5% in 1980s, 17.7% in 2000s

As homes got bigger, they also added rooms.  The percentage of houses with each type of room:

• Bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms all stayed in the 98-99% range (as you'd expect). But,
  • 4 or more bedrooms - 17.2% in 1970s, 17.2% in 1980s, 33.6% in 2000s
  • 2.5 or more bathrooms - 16.7% in 1970s, 23.9% in 1980s, 47.9% in 2000s
  • 2 or more living rooms - 3.4% in 1970s, 3.6% in 1980s, 6.1% in 2000s
• Garage - 58.7% in 1970s, 62.4% in 1980s, 79.3% in 2000s
• Laundry/Utility Room - 19.7% in 1970s, 21.8% in 1980s, 38.2% in 2000s
• Den/Library/TV room - 7.3% in 1970s, 8.1% in 1980s, 14.7% in 2000s

Median Lot Size is interesting - 0.32 acres 1970s-1990s, declined to 0.25 acres in 2000s.  However, mobile/manufactured home lot size went from 0.2 acres in the 70s up to 1.01 acres in the 1990s before dropping to 0.76 acres in the 2000s.

*The article claims "A median home cost just $23,000 – four times the average household income – in 1970. Now, that ratio has exploded, with homes costing eight times what most families earn."  The first sentence is sorta kinda true, if you squint, with income being ~$9,870 in 1970, so the house price was 2.3x, not 4x.  However, 8x today's median income of $84,300 would be $674,400, which is not even close to reality.

Doug

Edited September 29, 2025 by Ol Paint
To call out the BS on housing price vs income growth in the article.

[Colin]

Pretty awful, my guess is just carelessness or a series of mistakes leading to a BOOM. 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c89d4zw8704o

[Rick]

On 9/29/2025 at 8:12 AM, Ol Paint said:

To add to what Ivanhoe and rmgill posted, the article is self-pitying navel-gazing.  When the article isn't just lying.*   These talking points come up every so often, but don't survive the most basic scrutiny of the statistical basis.  I'd come across similar points in a YouTube video a few months ago about how much easier things were in the 1980s vs today and I posted the following comment based on a quick study of the statistics:

And this comment

As has been noted, this comparison does not correct for differences between '80s construction and today--many houses today are built with 2x6 walls for added insulation, double pane windows, central air, and other amenities.  While these things existed in the '80s, they weren't as prevalent, so would be additional factors skewing the home prices higher.

https://www.census.gov/content/dam/Census/programs-surveys/ahs/working-papers/Housing-by-Year-Built.pdf

Some of the categories that saw significant growth:

• Central air - 65.8% in 1970s, 77.7% in 1980s, 88.7% in 2000s.
• Washer - 70.4% in 1970s, 80.8% in 1980s, 89.1% in 2000s
• Dryer - 68.7% in 1970s, 79.5% in 1980s, 88.4% in 2000s
• Dishwasher - 63.6% in 1970s, 76.8% in 1980s, 93.0% in 2000s
• Garbage Disposal - 52.2% in 1970s, 63.0% in 1980s, 74.4% in 2000s
• Fireplace - 30.9% in 1970s, 40.7% in 1980s, 44.7% in 2000s
• (Fire) Sprinkler System - 2.8% in 1970s, 5.5% in 1980s, 17.7% in 2000s

As homes got bigger, they also added rooms.  The percentage of houses with each type of room:

• Bedrooms, kitchens, bathrooms, and living rooms all stayed in the 98-99% range (as you'd expect). But,
  • 4 or more bedrooms - 17.2% in 1970s, 17.2% in 1980s, 33.6% in 2000s
  • 2.5 or more bathrooms - 16.7% in 1970s, 23.9% in 1980s, 47.9% in 2000s
  • 2 or more living rooms - 3.4% in 1970s, 3.6% in 1980s, 6.1% in 2000s
• Garage - 58.7% in 1970s, 62.4% in 1980s, 79.3% in 2000s
• Laundry/Utility Room - 19.7% in 1970s, 21.8% in 1980s, 38.2% in 2000s
• Den/Library/TV room - 7.3% in 1970s, 8.1% in 1980s, 14.7% in 2000s

Median Lot Size is interesting - 0.32 acres 1970s-1990s, declined to 0.25 acres in 2000s.  However, mobile/manufactured home lot size went from 0.2 acres in the 70s up to 1.01 acres in the 1990s before dropping to 0.76 acres in the 2000s.

*The article claims "A median home cost just $23,000 – four times the average household income – in 1970. Now, that ratio has exploded, with homes costing eight times what most families earn."  The first sentence is sorta kinda true, if you squint, with income being ~$9,870 in 1970, so the house price was 2.3x, not 4x.  However, 8x today's median income of $84,300 would be $674,400, which is not even close to reality.

Doug

From what I can remember of the 60's and 70's, the following looks correct.