God that's awesome. Not only does he manage to get all those fluffy degrees (and I say that as a proud English major) but there's not a decent-earning one in the bunch. I salute you, Mr. Lechner. I hope he lived in the dorms and smoked out the whole time too.
I think it's kind of cool - and a ratty older lambo sans engine probably isn't nearly as expensive as you think (and this particular one, if it's really a '74 (given the roof detail* it might be) has been modified with lots of tacky add-ons from later models - the huge wing and the fender flares - making it worth even less).
It's really none of my business what people do with their money - and how do we know he hasn't given a ton to charity as well?
*given the terrible rearward vision, the early 70's prototype had a prismatic mirror that was mounted on the headliner in front of the depression visible in some of the photos and would reflect down to give the driver a view out the back. It was deemed too expensive for production, but the roof designed for it lingered into the earlier production models.
"Looks real... But, for me this is really good news. I direct an alternative education program, the parents buying this crap are assuring my professional future..."
So you help kids whose parents had a sense of humor? C'mon, the people buying these are upper-middle-class 30-something hipsters who want their babies to reflect their own sense of detached irony. It'll most likely be worn once for a photo-op (that everyone can chuckle over in 12 years) and then forgotten at the bottom of a drawer somewhere.
Annoying? Sure (though in the interest of full-disclosure my wife and I have sent "Born To Suck Titties" onsies to several friends - inspiring one to start her own line of rude/crude baby gear). Some people need to lighten up ;-)
My best friend (an amateur racer and SCCA driving instructor in his spare time) was able to flog a rental BMW around the Nordschleife last year while in Germany for business. I am supremely jealous.
agree that Johnathan Stratham, aka dude from the Transporter, would rock. However, I have a big crush on him (ohhhh... the voice...)
Can't be that much of a crush, as his name is Jason Statham ;-)
In Boston, you make fun of everything. Other neighborhoods in the city, the western suburbs, the north and south shore, western Mass., New Hampshire, Maine, the rest of New England, the flyover states, the south, California, the world.
The only towns we'll admit to not totally hating are Chicago and San Francisco, and we feel superior to everyone except New Yorkers, because even as we make fun of them we know they're cooler than we are.
(as someone who grew up elsewhere, I tend to think there are a lot of places cooler than here, but it's fun to watch the locals froth)
Also: The "Irrational Exuberance" guy's claim that real housing costs have been basically flat since the 1800s smelled a little off to me.
Me too, though FWIW, a few months back there was a MeFi(? or maybe here) thread featuring scans of the homes you could buy from the Sears catalog (most from the 19-teens and twenties). Someone looked up median income for the equivalent time period and the home costs were a greater percentage of income then than they are now. Not very scientific I know (and the "average" tends to minimize crazy hotspots like mine - i.e. Boston) but it was eye-opening.
I'm looking forward to the bubble bursting. Then I might be able to afford a decent home.
Keep in mind when things go kablooey, if the disruption is severe enough to drastically impact home prices, the odds of you keeping your job may not be all that good. That's what drove me to buy in '03. If everything's going to hell, I might as well enjoy a tax break 'til then...
While really over the top placement is often jarring (Hey look, apparently on this version of earth Ford is the sole vehicle manufacturer) the fact remains that no product placement is equally, if not more jarring. I'd hate that moment in a film or TV show when I'd notice the character was drinking from a can of Coke with the label distorted or covered - it would totally break the spell for me. It's like hearing "555" as part of a phone number (though I understand why they need to do that.)
As long as it's not too overbearing or unrealistic, I say bring on the product placement...
(Realizing this poor fellow is still alive) I often ponder, when seeing stories like this. the one-sentence description of death that must go into some cosmic ledger somewhere, and what people would think of their own demise were they around to read about it. "Torn apart by chimpanzees" is less embarrassing than, say, "broke neck while self-fellating", but a good bit more violent.
When I was in Florida recently, I was reading an article in the local paper about people using the upswing in property values along with scary mortgages to essentially "house-hop".
They interviewed a guy making $35K a year who had an $800K house. He bought a modest house, sold it in two years for $100K more, used the $100K and an interest only mortgage, sold that house before the mortgage terms got ugly, used that extra $150K, etc. etc.
Heck of way to operate as long as values rise and rates remain low....
(we've got an ARM, but it's fixed for 7 years, then can only go up a certain amount each year to a specific (admittedly somewhat scary) cap, but I've got some time to take advantage of a lower payment and save...)
Would you pay more for this turd if we budled it with a turd and called it double special edition turd?
Sheesh - not like anyone's holding a gun to your head. If you like U2, it's probably pretty cool, if not, it's not.
I haven't listened to them with any seriousness for quite some time, though I'm sad to admit my wife's distressing habit of watching the O.C. exposed me to a track from the new album last night, and my toe may have tapped once or twice...
Wow - since becoming a dad I turn to mush at any/all baby pictures. It's really embarrasing, frankly. Congrats invoke and Wolof. (and it's cool, I still dig all you non-breeders...)
Whatever choice people make in regards to having kids is their business.
But I do chuckle reading sites like this, wondering if any of the participants think about the fact that if their parents shared the same view...
God that's awesome. Not only does he manage to get all those fluffy degrees (and I say that as a proud English major) but there's not a decent-earning one in the bunch. I salute you, Mr. Lechner. I hope he lived in the dorms and smoked out the whole time too.
posted by jalexei 17 years ago
In "“I have a Lamborghini and I've got a big wall.”"
I think it's kind of cool - and a ratty older lambo sans engine probably isn't nearly as expensive as you think (and this particular one, if it's really a '74 (given the roof detail* it might be) has been modified with lots of tacky add-ons from later models - the huge wing and the fender flares - making it worth even less). It's really none of my business what people do with their money - and how do we know he hasn't given a ton to charity as well? *given the terrible rearward vision, the early 70's prototype had a prismatic mirror that was mounted on the headliner in front of the depression visible in some of the photos and would reflect down to give the driver a view out the back. It was deemed too expensive for production, but the roof designed for it lingered into the earlier production models.
posted by jalexei 17 years ago
In "Pimpfants."
"Looks real... But, for me this is really good news. I direct an alternative education program, the parents buying this crap are assuring my professional future..." So you help kids whose parents had a sense of humor? C'mon, the people buying these are upper-middle-class 30-something hipsters who want their babies to reflect their own sense of detached irony. It'll most likely be worn once for a photo-op (that everyone can chuckle over in 12 years) and then forgotten at the bottom of a drawer somewhere. Annoying? Sure (though in the interest of full-disclosure my wife and I have sent "Born To Suck Titties" onsies to several friends - inspiring one to start her own line of rude/crude baby gear). Some people need to lighten up ;-)
posted by jalexei 17 years ago
In "The earth is not moving."
The best is the 404 link when you click on "Contemporary Geocentrists"
posted by jalexei 18 years ago
In "The Nürburgring Nordschleife"
My best friend (an amateur racer and SCCA driving instructor in his spare time) was able to flog a rental BMW around the Nordschleife last year while in Germany for business. I am supremely jealous.
posted by jalexei 18 years ago
In "Piersh Broshnan makesh it offishial."
agree that Johnathan Stratham, aka dude from the Transporter, would rock. However, I have a big crush on him (ohhhh... the voice...) Can't be that much of a crush, as his name is Jason Statham ;-)
posted by jalexei 18 years ago
In "Curious George: Who's Dumb to You?"
In Boston, you make fun of everything. Other neighborhoods in the city, the western suburbs, the north and south shore, western Mass., New Hampshire, Maine, the rest of New England, the flyover states, the south, California, the world. The only towns we'll admit to not totally hating are Chicago and San Francisco, and we feel superior to everyone except New Yorkers, because even as we make fun of them we know they're cooler than we are. (as someone who grew up elsewhere, I tend to think there are a lot of places cooler than here, but it's fun to watch the locals froth)
posted by jalexei 18 years ago
In "The biggest financial bubble in history is about to burst ."
Also: The "Irrational Exuberance" guy's claim that real housing costs have been basically flat since the 1800s smelled a little off to me. Me too, though FWIW, a few months back there was a MeFi(? or maybe here) thread featuring scans of the homes you could buy from the Sears catalog (most from the 19-teens and twenties). Someone looked up median income for the equivalent time period and the home costs were a greater percentage of income then than they are now. Not very scientific I know (and the "average" tends to minimize crazy hotspots like mine - i.e. Boston) but it was eye-opening. I'm looking forward to the bubble bursting. Then I might be able to afford a decent home. Keep in mind when things go kablooey, if the disruption is severe enough to drastically impact home prices, the odds of you keeping your job may not be all that good. That's what drove me to buy in '03. If everything's going to hell, I might as well enjoy a tax break 'til then...
posted by jalexei 18 years ago
In "One member of the FCC wants to investigate "rampant" product placement in television and radio."
While really over the top placement is often jarring (Hey look, apparently on this version of earth Ford is the sole vehicle manufacturer) the fact remains that no product placement is equally, if not more jarring. I'd hate that moment in a film or TV show when I'd notice the character was drinking from a can of Coke with the label distorted or covered - it would totally break the spell for me. It's like hearing "555" as part of a phone number (though I understand why they need to do that.) As long as it's not too overbearing or unrealistic, I say bring on the product placement...
posted by jalexei 18 years ago
In "Infant care through SCIENCE. "
The nursing link, while amazingly sexist and haughty, has some sound advice. Go figure.
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "Al Qaeda May Have Targeted Oscar-Winner!!"
Is poor Russell that starved for attention? It's a lot easier to just slug a photog....
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "Chimp Birthday Party turns bad."
(Realizing this poor fellow is still alive) I often ponder, when seeing stories like this. the one-sentence description of death that must go into some cosmic ledger somewhere, and what people would think of their own demise were they around to read about it. "Torn apart by chimpanzees" is less embarrassing than, say, "broke neck while self-fellating", but a good bit more violent.
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "The Saga of Lt. Ilario Pantano "
Or is the government using him to try and placate critics of the war? Why would they start now?
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "The Day After Tomorrow."
When I was in Florida recently, I was reading an article in the local paper about people using the upswing in property values along with scary mortgages to essentially "house-hop". They interviewed a guy making $35K a year who had an $800K house. He bought a modest house, sold it in two years for $100K more, used the $100K and an interest only mortgage, sold that house before the mortgage terms got ugly, used that extra $150K, etc. etc. Heck of way to operate as long as values rise and rates remain low.... (we've got an ARM, but it's fixed for 7 years, then can only go up a certain amount each year to a specific (admittedly somewhat scary) cap, but I've got some time to take advantage of a lower payment and save...)
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "Greater Manchester Police clamp down on cod Irishry"
Never mind Flatley - What was that about getting a ticket for having uneaten fruit in the car???
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "If I was going to spend $450.00 on an iPod, this is the one."
Would you pay more for this turd if we budled it with a turd and called it double special edition turd? Sheesh - not like anyone's holding a gun to your head. If you like U2, it's probably pretty cool, if not, it's not. I haven't listened to them with any seriousness for quite some time, though I'm sad to admit my wife's distressing habit of watching the O.C. exposed me to a track from the new album last night, and my toe may have tapped once or twice...
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "Lilliput Play Homes."
Wow - maybe I'll get one for my daughter, and when the market crashes we can all live in it.
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "New Olympic events..."
please have your sound up (it's the best part of the game)
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
In "Ooops I Forgot to Have a Baby!"
Wow - since becoming a dad I turn to mush at any/all baby pictures. It's really embarrasing, frankly. Congrats invoke and Wolof. (and it's cool, I still dig all you non-breeders...)
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
Whatever choice people make in regards to having kids is their business. But I do chuckle reading sites like this, wondering if any of the participants think about the fact that if their parents shared the same view...
posted by jalexei 19 years ago
(limited to the most recent 20 comments)