
The Building Game That Doesn’t Let You Build
In “Sim Nimby,” would-be city-builders face an intractable foe in a video-game satire of Bay Area housing politics.

My worst nightmare would be someone who could read my mind.Something like 40% of my internal thoughts feel kinda sociopathic to the out-loud version of me. I wonder. I'm stealing a donut in 3-2-1....gotta go.
Received a mortgage quote recently; what a blow to the psyche.
That's really interesting, good point. I bet the big builders/sellers will have a field day. Maybe one effect will be fewer "for sale by owner" properties?Kind of related to that, I wonder what the changes to the 6% commission expectation will do to sales now that it won't be required.
The 6% commission on buying or selling a home is gone after Realtors association agrees to seismic settlement
DAN! Good to see you, sir!
To be fair, 6% was never REQUIRED, but people just didn't realize the commission was always negotiable. The industry did a great job of creating this false understanding that 6% was the norm.Kind of related to that, I wonder what the changes to the 6% commission expectation will do to sales now that it won't be required.
The 6% commission on buying or selling a home is gone after Realtors association agrees to seismic settlement
What's crazy is that I've been seeing more realtors lately push higher commissions. We have a couple of the bigger names locally that were asking 8-10% or requiring some additional fees. Its not like we're low on realtors either.To be fair, 6% was never REQUIRED, but people just didn't realize the commission was always negotiable. The industry did a great job of creating this false understanding that 6% was the norm.
I don't need you to worry for me 'cause I'm alright
I don't want you to tell me it's time to come home
I don't care what you say anymore, this is my life
Go ahead with your own life, leave me alone
This happens several times a year in our hood.Helicopter and cars everywhere.
So my mom sold my childhood house last year (can't say I blame her--she doesn't need a 5-bedroom house) and moved to a great neighborhood on the other end of town.That's really interesting, good point. I bet the big builders/sellers will have a field day. Maybe one effect will be fewer "for sale by owner" properties?
Most people get bonuses at work. Work for a city and you get a $200 sonic toothbrush as a "benefit". I'll take it. It is kind of a cool toothbrush.
When I'm slow on the draw
and I need something to chaw
I hanker for a hunk of cheese!
I have never used an electric toothbrush until a few weeks ago. Wife got it online for about 7 bucks. I love it.I got a fancy electric toothbrush from my employer as part of a raffle at a health fair about 10 years ago. I looked it up at the time and it was like $180 or something. I had no idea that electric toothbrushes were even that expensive. I've grown to really appreciate it.
What kind of neighborhood am I living in that people like Doohickie live in the same kind of place?This happens several times a year in our hood.
The sonic toothbrush is so much better than the electric, but I don't know if it's $200 better. Also:I have never used an electric toothbrush until a few weeks ago. Wife got it online for about 7 bucks. I love it.
There's a gallon of milk sitting on the storm grate near my house, it's kind of odd....
Finishing the book you are writing???I have been busy today in meetings but in the back of my mind I am thinking I really can't wait to get home to finish my book - I am at that part of the book where I gotta know what happens!
Finishing the book you are writing???
Heh. That reminds me: I abruptly stopped my manuscript when I had my brain aneurysm . . . I really need to get back into it. It's a similar concept to my others I've written, but with a fun twist.Finishing the book you are writing???
Today is voting day in Ohio. Sigh.
Got my new 23oz denim (like cardboard) last night and starting the break-in at the office today. Oof.
I hope people never go to WV. It'll keep it nice for the rest of us.View attachment 62052
I would agree with most of it.
Gustins. I've had good luck with them- this is the first pair I've ordered with the ... ahem.. straight leg as I have come to appreciate a bit more room. Out of the box, they were so thick I couldn't get the top button unbuttoned.What are you wearing?
20oz is my heaviest (a pair of super slubby Oni "Secret Wash" straight fit) and I was surprised at how quickly they broke in. The 12 to 14 ounce range is generally my sweet spot but it was fun to try something a bit heavier.
Gustins. I've had good luck with them- this is the first pair I've ordered with the ... ahem.. straight leg as I have come to appreciate a bit more room. Out of the box, they were so thick I couldn't get the top button unbuttoned.
I have a now 7 year-old pair of the ones they did with kevlar reinforcement that they called 24 oz.- but I bought those in the "slim" and an inch smaller in the waist- they still fit and look good but the rise is low and pulls the waistband down over my hips-not super comfortable or a really great look. Awesome fades, though:
View attachment 62054
I do wish they would do a slightly higher rise- I think it would help the fit and not needing to size the waist up so much. But I'm happy with this new pair. I also grabbed an on-sale pair of their linen slubby pants and they look and feel great but need massive hemming. I guess I have time before summer to get them done though.
I think almost everybody thinks their voice sounds more nasally than they expect; wonder why?I was on the radio yesterday for a talk show and all I could hear in my voice were my tonsils - I wanted to take them out some years back but my ENT said the health insurance company said is was elective surgery so they wouldn't cover it
I went from that 1 pair to about 20 pair in pretty short order.
We are dual working parents with kid (1) and all I can say is we drive a lot more than we wished. We are both public-sector folks so not a lot of money or anything and we make it work by both having slightly-flexible schedules during the day and by working a lot on nights and weekends to make up for it.How do dual working parents with kid(s) manage?![]()
It is such a juggling act. My schedule is semi-flexible but Hubby's really isn't which means all the extraneous driving and kid stuff falls to me, while I am also working full-time. It doesn't help that I am driving out and about in the community for my job which just adds the time in the car. Ugh. We moved to Europe for the less car-centric culture and ability to walk and train places but our jobs and living situation don't allow for it.We are dual working parents with kid (1) and all I can say is we drive a lot more than we wished. We are both public-sector folks so not a lot of money or anything and we make it work by both having slightly-flexible schedules during the day and by working a lot on nights and weekends to make up for it.