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San Diego economists divided on how deep recession will be
Shizzy wrote: "he's an expert on why we shouldn't trust experts" That is by far the best description of Taleb I have ever seen. You should send it to him. I have the feeling he would appreciate such a description. Best, Fred "The Humongouss" Williams who is still recovering from a long night at MsGrant's brothel. And, fumber, after all my hard work, I can guarantee you the girls aren't dry.)— November 15, 2008 5:07 a.m.
San Diego economists divided on how deep recession will be
Quote from Taleb: "Why is it that an economics degree make people stupid, dangerously stupid?"— November 14, 2008 6:51 a.m.
San Diego economists divided on how deep recession will be
MsGrant and Shizzyfinn, you are my new best friends. Do you know of the Black Swan or Fooled by Randomness work of Nassim Taleb? He's not the most diplomatic guy in the world, loving to call prominent economists and journalists "idiots" to their faces, but he sure does put prescient points compactly, like here: http://www.fooledbyrandomness.com/imbeciles.htm Don, I wonder if you tend to have a similar world view now as Taleb, or do you think perhaps he is too extreme? Certainly, his thinking is at variance with the folks you interviewed. Maybe you could get Taleb on the phone, Don? Best, Fred "Humongous Reader" Williams— November 14, 2008 6:44 a.m.
Peters Nominates Peters
The new council members should make it the first order of business to rescind the appointment of Peters to the Port. The vote will be very different in a month, with Frye, Young, Emerald, Gloria, Lightner, and DeMaio all potentially voting to replace Scott Peters with someone better qualified to represent the voters interests in San Diego.— November 14, 2008 6:35 a.m.
San Diego economists divided on how deep recession will be
Greg, there's a wiki over at www.changesandiego.org. You ought to add your idea there. Best, Fred— November 13, 2008 3:14 p.m.
Crappucino
Donna Frye, of course, went right back to the city council to fight for the rights of rest of San Diego. She works hard to get change rolling, and she's just begun. So without any of fumber's assistance, but the rest of San Diego's eager approval, she's managed to Change San Diego a little. I wish it were much more. Here's my dream list: Alex Spanos and John Moores take on the responsibility to pay for their own damn stadiums. The current Port District delegation is recalled and replaced with some fresh new faces, with fresh new ideas that correspond to today's financial reality. Same with the Airport Authority. CCDC and SEDC are returned to the city's redevelopment authority so there is a clear line of accountability and we can recover some of that cash. The labor unions and city sit down and have a sober discussion about how to deal with the pension obligations. No one wants to break the city, and there is room to give on both sides. The developer clique disbands, bankrupt and humiliated by their over extension through gambling on real estate and exotic financing. They are last seen in the Caribbean, dragging gold laden chests off their boats...and promptly falling into the sea, entangled to drown in their loot. Donna, in the end, will be remembered in San Diego history books as the reformer who, if listened to earlier, might have averted so many of the city's worst moves. Yet her energy and drive are strong. She knows the path ahead is difficult. She persists, relentless, able to shrug off the muppet-mumblers of the UT as if they no bore no more lightning or thunder than fumber. I'm hopeful for our city, yet will have to keep a watch over what really gets done in the months and years ahead.— November 13, 2008 2:30 p.m.
They Had Great Text by Katie Reese
Fumber...I have enough booty calls to deal with already, my inbox is full, and I've turned off the phone...they all want Fred Wiliams the Humongous to satisfy them...I'm dehydrated and need some sleep. So, fumber, please don't tell any more of these horny women about how hugely I'm endowed. I can only do it so many times in one day, and my lower back is killing me. And for all you women out there, dammit, I'm tired of being treated as a sex object. I have a brain too, you know, and I deserve some respect. Sure, it's wonderful to be wined and dined and have you transfer all your worldly possessions to me just because of the way I make your toes curl, but it's beginning to get in the way of my modeling career. Thank you for all the booty calls...I'm deeply appreciative, but really I do need a little rest to recover. Best, Fred "Humongous" Williams— November 13, 2008 6:48 a.m.
San Diego economists divided on how deep recession will be
I suspect that many of the assumptions underlying current predictions will be proven wrongheaded. For example, Boddy proposes using the financial markets for "price discovery". But in the last few decades these institutions have completely lost the ability to discover price because they have been hacked by the smart boys to move up or down according to what amounts to side-bets. The markets simply do not serve their stated purpose of price discovery...if they did, we wouldn't be in the awful situation we find today. Instead, they've become gambling dens with outcomes that are often fixed by the dealers. Similarly, banks, investment houses, insurance companies and especially ratings agencies have so far strayed from their original roles that they cannot be counted on to be honest arbiters of risk or value. Now they want more of our money to wager on their being able to unstick the system they rigged. It's a gloomy thought that the institutions we are counting on to save us are so rickety and rotten that they're not going to be much help, and may make the situation far worse. Depending on the same folks who got us into this mess to somehow find a way out seems foolhardy. Again, we know they gamed the system to their benefit. So they will probably play "garbage in, garbage out" to get policy makers to believe they're working out a solution, when in fact they compound the frauds. Since no one else can pull the levers of the machine, we are being told we "have to" trust them to gamble further with our money. The assumptions the policy makers use today to justify their massive interventions in the markets seem to ignore the extent of financial system hacking. I don't think the panic stricken schemes concocted to prop up these compromised gaming institutions will end well. Best, Fred— November 12, 2008 4:22 p.m.
Oppose Mayor Sanders' Proposed Library Closings
While you still have the chance, "harvest" those political signs still blighting your neighborhood, turn them inside out, and write your own message. The Grantville Action Group is doing it: http://www.sandiegoreader.com/weblogs/abnormal-he… For a city to thrive it needs culture and civic engagement more than the passing spectacle of professional sports. Why does the city give tens of millions to the Chargers and Padres in times like these? Keep up your fight for equity. Best, Fred Williams— November 12, 2008 3:55 p.m.
Black Coffee, The Bee Gees, and Idiotic Clerks
I like the Clash a lot more than the Bee Gees, but the rest of the world disagrees. I've heard Bee Gees all over Europe and Asia, but it's rare to hear The Clash outside its natural habitat. The best fun is changing Bee Gees' lyrics...like a song for geriatric disco fans: Ah, ah, ah, ah Barely alive Barely alive or maybe the proctology theme song: I really want to know How deep is my glove? :-P Now you just can't do that with the Clash, can you? Rebel Waltz? Magnificent Seven? London Calling? Change those lyrics? No way...— November 12, 2008 10:45 a.m.