Lost the Plot

Fortunately the conservative moment has been taken over by rich assholes who live in a bubble and young dudebros who are more interested in high fiveing each other than accomplishing anything.

Um, Good?

Is there any reason "we" want to stay in Afghanistan other than our general desire to be everywhere? I don't understand it.

Efforts by the United States and Afghanistan to finalize a long-term security arrangement appeared on the brink of collapse Monday as Afghan President Hamid Karzai made a new set of demands, and the Obama administration said it would be forced to begin planning for a complete withdrawal of U.S. forces at the end of 2014.

Cold coffee

But better than no coffee.

Monday Evening

Rock on.

Can San Francisco Build Its Way To Lower Rents?

I generally lean towards "build more" as an answer to housing price woes. It's a nice simple story - increase supply of housing units, and prices should fall.

But it's actually too simple of a story. The character of neighborhoods and cities is affected by the number and characteristics of its inhabitants. As demand for San Francisco living from relatively rich people increases, increasingly San Francisco is filled with rich people who are driving up rents/house prices. They're also creating demand for things - shops and services - that rich people like. So a few more Whole Foods and pricey restaurants open up, making it even more desirable for rich people. And, frankly, rich people like to live near other rich people, so simply the presence of more rich people makes the area more attractive. Driving out the poors is a feature. More rich people leads to more neighborhood amenities that rich people like which boosts demand for housing by rich people. Since they're rich, their willingness/ability to pay for housing vastly exceeds that of mere mortals.

Building more in San Francisco will mean that there are more spots for people to live in San Francisco, but it doesn't necessarily mean that rents will actually fall.

This is because San Francisco is fairly small and unique. Massive infill throughout the Bay Area would surely lower rents.* But it isn't clear that San Francisco proper can realistically build its way to lower rents.

*Not clear to me the transportation network is anything close to adequate, but I don't have deep knowledge...

Happy Hour Thread

enjoy

That Loud Noise Only Exists To Annoy Me

Why are car alarms still legal? I have a hard time believing they ever did much to prevent theft, but decades later we have newer fancier technology. I'm sure it'd be trivial for an "alarm" to simply shutdown the ignition or lock the wheels or whatever. They can activate cheap cameras to take pictures of the perp and send an alert to your phone. I guess people get their GPS systems ripped off, but my ability to remain asleep at 3:30 in the morning really should be more important than your ability to leave unattended valuables in your car.

Think Of The Children

The disconnect between our rhetoric about children and how our society often treats them is stunning.

Perfectly Safe

It's not the prettiest spot and there are parcels that should be better developed,but if hotels and convention center staff want guests to return to Philadelphia perhaps they should stop scaring them?

Market East represents one of the city's "biggest challenges," according to a Center City District report, an area of "obsolete and underperforming low-scale structures, unattractive storefronts, neglected historic assets and large, vacant parcels at key locations."

That report, issued in 2007, remains true today.

"It's the last frontier of our city," said Ed Grose, executive director of the Greater Philadelphia Hotel Association, who said hotel staff frequently recommended that guests take taxis the few blighted blocks to historic sites.

"If people don't come here because of safety and security, this means fewer good jobs for Philadelphians," he said. "It's a shame what it costs us in dollars. We want this area to be clean, safe, and attractive."

The area is as safe as any. And, frankly, to the extent that the stretch between 8th st. and the Independence Hall area is unappealing it's because of blocks of office buildings without street level retail creating a bit of a dead zone, not the "blighted" bits.

But, seriously, if hotel staff are telling their guests they should take cabs for the 5 blocks instead of a) walking or b) taking the subway then they shouldn't be too puzzled about why they don't plan to return.

Think Of The Residents

Generally, cities should stop focusing on big projects with the goal of attracting tourists and suburbanites. Focus on quality of life issues for people who do - or might - actually live in them. Requires less parking, too.

I Learn Nothing

I know almost nothing about Iran, nothing about what our current sanctions policy actually is, nothing about about what sanctions are being lifted in this current deal. I have read many articles on the subject over the past couple of days and have learned very little. I know we had "tough" sanctions (yay!) and apparently now we're going to have wimpier sanctions (boo!).

I doubt most of the people bloviating about Iran know any more than I do. Some of them, however, seem to think SMASH BAD GUY is only smart policy option ever.

The Kids Today Have It So Easy

I'm not going to link it, but Bruni has a piece in the times about how resistance to Common Core is all about parents wanting their precious little flowers to have easy pressure free lives, and not grow up with the character building Common Core-less brutal regime that Bruni and his peers did. Or something.

Those stupid white suburban mothers.

Sunday Night Thread

Pie recipe edition.

Happy Hour

If Sundays can have one

Afternoon Thread

enjoy

"Eligible For Medicaid"

Hopefully it will be a better deal even for people who aren't, but certainly the Medicaid expansion is one of the best things about Obamacare. I think there's a lesson there but maybe I'm a bit stupid and can't quite figure out what it is...

The Dick Whisperer

I like wine and have bought a few not quite cheap bottles over the course of my life, but unlike Dana Milbank I don't think I'd ever refer to a $48 bottle of wine as a "steal."

Overnight

Rock on.

NUKES!

I'm personally far more relaxed about Iran having nukes than about, say, Texas having nukes. The Iranians are lots less crazy or religiously fanatical, and not overall so broadly stupid. I will say this about Texas though -- you could be Oklahoma! Anyway whatever.

Evening Thread

enjoy