Sunday, January 7, 2024
How's this for a bleak headline? "16% of Home Listings Were Affordable for the Typical Household in 2023, Likely the Bottom for Housing Affordability"
This analysis of new listings in 97 of the most populous U.S. metropolitan areas measured the estimated monthly mortgage payment against the local median household income, where 30% is the affordability limit. Some of the details are astounding. Only 0.3% of the new listings in Los Angeles, San Francisco and Oxnard, California, are considered affordable; San Jose and San Diego are at 0.4%. By comparison, New York City is for bargain hunters with 3.1% of new listings affordable. It obviously takes more than record high stock market numbers and record low unemployment figures to make the average American feel economically secure.
Monday, January 8, 2024
I had the distinction of being the oldest person in my law school class. That was pretty good, but it’s nothing like Peter Park who passed the California bar exam at age 17 and is now a deputy district attorney in Tulare County at 18.
On the other hand, Terrific Tom quoted me in a story in the New York Law Journal (October 5, 2001) as saying, “If it was up to me, you couldn’t go to law school until you’ve 35 years old.” Sorry, Peter.
. . .
Speaking of law school, it ain’t a boys club anymore. For the past eight years, women have become a majority in law school enrollment.
In only three of what are considered the top 20 law schools, men are in the majority, but by the slightest margins.
. . .
Just as the law school enrollment of women has increased, salaries for young lawyers have climbed at the big law firms.
The numbers are somewhat astonishing. New hires at these eminent enterprises are being paid $225,000 annually, with likely bonuses of $15,000 to $20,000. But, are they happy?
Tuesday, January 9, 2024
The very same Terrific Tom came up with this fascinating bit of information, surprising, in fact. Pekin Noodle Parlor, established in 1909 in Butte, Montana, is the oldest continuously operating Chinese restaurant in the United States.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/
Butte is 1,039 miles from San Francisco and 2,247 miles from the Holy Land. More remarkable is the fact that Butte’s Jewish population declined throughout the 20th Century, now down only to a half dozen families, according to the lovely local lady that I was able to locate. Yet, Pekin Noodle Parlor remained open. I guess other people eat Chinese food.
By contrast, Nom Wah Tea Parlor, 13 Doyers Street, started in 1920 and claims to be the oldest restaurant in (our) Chinatown. In any case, Shanghai 21, 21 Mott Street, was our destination today, Tom included.
Eventually, there were seven of us at the table. We ate heartily and with pleasure; cold sesame noodles ($8), scallion pancakes (2 orders @ $6), soup dumplings (2 orders @ $9.75), Shanghai style beef lo mein ($13.25), diced chicken in hoisin sauce ($21), jumbo shrimp with salt and pepper ($25.50), pork fried rice ($12.50). Incidentally, the restaurant was half empty when Gentleman Jerry and I walked in at 12:20, but had a line waiting to be seated a few minutes later.
Thursday, January 11, 2024
I don't consider my fellow Americans to be a particularly humble people. Our assertiveness and self-confidence are virtues overall, I believe. Chants of "USA! USA!" and "We're number 1!" are common in competitive situations. However, there is at least one vital area where we are trailing the field -- our physical size.
https://ncdrisc.org/height-
Looking at the height of our 19-year olds compared to the rest of the world, our males placed 47th, sitting between Jamaica and Tunisia, while our females (let's not get started on who's what) are 58th, between Trinidad and Tobago and Georgia (Stalin's, not Ray Charles's). Come on, moms. Make the kids drink their milk
Looking at the height of our 19-year olds compared to the rest of the world, our males placed 47th, sitting between Jamaica and Tunisia, while our females (let's not get started on who's what) are 58th, between Trinidad and Tobago and Georgia (Stalin's, not Ray Charles's). Come on, moms. Make the kids drink their milk
Friday, January 12, 2024
You
read “The Man Without A Country“ in junior high school, right? Can you
even remember back that far? Do kids read it today? It is a fictional
short story set in the 19th Century. Philip Nolan, an Army officer on
trial
for consorting with Aaron Burr, cries out,
"Damn the United States. I wish I may never hear of the United States
again." He gets his wish, a lifetime sentence on a ship at sea, no one
to ever speak to him of the United States again.
But, there he was today, Philip Nolan, my oral surgeon, standing on the dry land of the Bronx, giving me the news that my teeth should be sent out to sea, never to rejoin my mouth.
. . .
In case you run into me this weekend and wonder why I look so forlorn, my young bride left for California this afternoon, leaving me to my own devices for several days. So, if you happen to have an extra chocolate chip cookie . . .
My got married in June and still hasn't found a 4 bedroom house in or around Westbury for under $775. (the bids go up as soon as you make an offer). WE are losing oour young people to The South.
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