Well, well, well, now that the Federal Reserve’s rate hike program has finally broken something (Silicon Valley Bank, Signature Bank, and possibly now First Republic Bank too…) they might be forced to back off. The winds of prevailing opinion have suddenly shifted: the tightening cycle … Continue readingHousing Crisis: Is the End in Sight?
I knew traveling would broaden my horizons and clarify my ambitions for my future, but I had no idea how far I had to go to make that happen; it’s kinda funny how seeing a place you actually like and can fall in love with … Continue readingSurf Marks the Spot?
I know I just made a blog post about a story concept of mine (plus an earlier one!), to the extent my posts on the subject might be longer than the actual story! Though we’ll see about that. I’ve been doing some more thinking, and … Continue readingChristmas in Americasia?
I’ve been doing some more brainstorming for the story concept I outlined in my post “A Slice of Life at the Dawn of the Space Age”. I had a bit of an inspiration: why can’t the reclusive landlord (who will have a pale ghostly pallor … Continue readingChristmas Night, Rocket Night, Magic Night
It’s kinda funny how brainstorming works. One day I’m watching the 2003 film “The Haunted Mansion” — a fun enough romp, with the main highlight being Chancellor Valorum (er, excuse me, Terence Stamp) playing an aged butler with a big secret — and it strikes … Continue readingA Slice of Life at the Dawn of the Space Age?
In my post “Building a Better House”, I explored what I believe to be superior forms for housing, specifically the first floor being garage and the second floor being open like a loft apartment but with Japanese-style doors to partition rooms if desired: a maximum … Continue readingKudzu Among the Ruins
Maybe I shouldn’t take so many of these restful days where I don’t go out, because I ended up looking up real estate listings again. Even in low-cost-of-living cities a home of decent caliber in a decent area (nothing great or luxe, mind you, just … Continue readingThe Heir Abides?
Quite a few things about new home construction, and indeed some of our ideas of what a single-family home should be like, bug me. For instance, I’ve noticed that ever since I was a kid in the 2000s traipsing about the wooden shells that were … Continue readingBuilding a Better House
It’s curious how Americans seem to find it normal and acceptable that not just particular neighborhoods but whole regions of the country are off-limits for you to live in unless you make more money than most people. This economic situation is of recent provenance, and … Continue readingNo Escape for the Cheap
We hear much talk about globalization and its effects on human societies, but relatively little about the promise a more globalized and technologically advanced world holds for improving fundamental aspects of our daily lifestyles. Much discourse around the topic over-complicates globalization, which is fundamentally the … Continue readingLifestyles in a Fully Globalized Future