The unimportant news thread

[Karl Henning]

I'll check out Uniglo's clothing

I remember when they opened up in Quincy Market. I have no awareness of their product.

[Karl Henning]

Some personal news: I am meeting with two editors on Friday to discuss the book proposal I sent in.

Good luck!

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

Lately several news websites, including CNN, have recommended onsen/waffle towels. I like them but I don't want to pay more than $20.


https://www.cnn.com/cnn-underscored/reviews/onsen-towel

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbes-personal-shopper/article/onsen-towel-review/?sh=1a888357759b

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) says it is temporarily banning transgender women from competing in its women's events.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66538328

[Spotted Horses]

The International Chess Federation (FIDE) says it is temporarily banning transgender women from competing in its women's events.


https://www.bbc.com/news/world-66538328

Why on earth would chess tournaments be divided by gender?

[JBS]

Why on earth would chess tournaments be divided by gender?

According to what I've seen, boys get the attention and money much earlier than girls, so female players have less experience and resources than a male of their own age.
[Important: I can not vouch for the accuracy of that claim.]

So a trans woman who started her chess career as a male would have advantages over her competitors.

[T. D.]

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/18/the-worlds-cheapest-home-is-on-sale-for-one-dollar-in-pontiac-michigan.html

[Pohjolas Daughter]

https://www.cnbc.com/2023/08/18/the-worlds-cheapest-home-is-on-sale-for-one-dollar-in-pontiac-michigan.html

Well, it looks like they're getting offers for much more than that!  Clever!

Here's one for you that I read the other day.  A guy who lives on Long Island bought some property decades ago in CT (undeveloped) in an area where he used to live.  An old friend calls him up one day to say that the land was being cleared and that there was now a big house on it (valued to be 1.5 million once finished).

https://www.ctinsider.com/columnist/article/house-built-on-fairfield-lot-18261063.php

PD

[T. D.]

Well, it looks like they're getting offers for much more than that!  Clever!

Here's one for you that I read the other day.  A guy who lives on Long Island bought some property decades ago in CT (undeveloped) in an area where he used to live.  An old friend calls him up one day to say that the land was being cleared and that there was now a big house on it (valued to be 1.5 million once finished).

https://www.ctinsider.com/columnist/article/house-built-on-fairfield-lot-18261063.php

PD

Thanks. Wow, that's bizarre.

But to be honest, based on my experience (a) it's not that big a surprise; (b) the blame lies squarely with the local real estate industry (brokers, attorneys, title search agencies).

I work for a municipality (though I recently cut back by half) and occasionally interface with local real estate "professionals", mostly dopes who have no clue and are hoping I'll do their work for them.

Almost all the real estate industry people I deal with are shockingly incompetent. One basic cause is that they collect bloated commissions in exchange for adding minimal value, and are consequently "fat, dumb and happy". Another is that real estate agents, whose commissions are particularly excessive and added value particularly minuscule, become ethically challenged and never encourage due diligence re. any potential commission-generating sale.

By way of contrast, I once passed the "Series 7" exam for securities industry registered representatives. One of the fundamental principles there is "KNOW YOUR CUSTOMER".

The post-Covid real estate bubble has significantly exacerbated the woeful state of affairs.

[Apologies to any real estate agents on the forum.  ]

[Karl Henning]

Thanks, it went well.

They liked my overall project, and want me to deliver an Introduction and two chapters before Summer 2024.

Conquer!

[Todd]

From ICN: During Some of the Hottest Months in History, Millions of App Delivery Drivers Are Feeling the Strain

Around 4 million people in the U.S. work as contractors for app services like DoorDash delivering pizzas, salads and pad thai. Those in areas with extreme heat are taking new measures to keep working through it.


I'd better not see any more surcharges, that's all I have to say.

[T. D.]

https://sports.yahoo.com/baker-mayfield-reportedly-in-legal-battle-with-fathers-company-over-missing-12-million-193157780.html

Cue the jokes about taking too many hits to the head.

[Pohjolas Daughter]

https://sports.yahoo.com/baker-mayfield-reportedly-in-legal-battle-with-fathers-company-over-missing-12-million-193157780.html

Wouldn't he had been given statements by the private equity and venture capital companies and had meetings over the years?  Rather scary that two of the companies are owned by his father and that he and his wife are having to petition in order to get financial reports from six companies to see if his money has been properly invested. 

PD

[T. D.]

Wouldn't he had been given statements by the private equity and venture capital companies and had meetings over the years?  Rather scary that two of the companies are owned by his father and that he and his wife are having to petition in order to get financial reports from six companies to see if his money has been properly invested. 

PD

Not enough information to judge this chronicle of dopiness.

Obvious questions: Why didn't the dude read his monthly statements all these years? What were the historical cash flows / returns? Did he ever meet with managers?

Given the nepotistic connection, one suspects that the father either: a) pocketed the money or b) invested it in some drinking buddy's hare-brained scheme, thereby p***g it away. Crypto also comes to mind. 

I'm not sufficiently interested to look beyond the initial story.

[Dry Brett Kavanaugh]

The Guardian: Sooner or later, China will go the way of the Soviet Union.


https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/20/china-too-big-soviet-union-collapse-growth

[Todd]

US Home Investor Share Remained High in Early Summer 2023

[Pohjolas Daughter]

850 people still missing after the Maui fires.  One hundred and fourteen people are confirmed to have died so far.  27 of the deceased have been identified.  It could take months or years to identify the rest.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66571294

PD

[pjme]

"Have fun": new and unique Latin slogan "avoca te" discovered at archaeological find in Mortsel (Antwerp/Belgium)
In Mortsel, a new Latin expression has been discovered in an archaeological find. Archaeologists found a drinking cup with the two words: "avoca te" or "amuse yourself". "It is a unique inscription that has never been found before," says Christian Laes, professor of the history of antiquity at UAntwerp.
...
At least 800 (more or less similar) cups have been excavated in France, Belgium and Germany. Of all those cups, three had an inscription with the verb "avocare" on them," says Professor Laes. These are chalices that were found in Cologne. One, for example, says "avoco te". . Based on that, we know that "avoca te" is the command form of the verb, meaning "have fun".

"There are many ways to say "have fun" in Latin, but we've never seen cups with this formulation. Nowhere else has that expression popped up."

Avocare is not exactly an obscure verb, however. "The meaning has changed over time. Originally the word meant to call away or divert something or someone. Later it evolved into having fun," says Professor Laes. "Avoca te, here in the imperative, can then be translated as 'amuse yourself'. The phrase is probably an informal expression that was used during festivities where the wine flowed freely."

[Spotted Horses]

850 people still missing after the Maui fires.  One hundred and fourteen people are confirmed to have died so far.  27 of the deceased have been identified.  It could take months or years to identify the rest.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66571294

PD

It is distressing to think about. I take it cell phone service and other forms of communication have been reestablished. Taking into account the number of sets of remains found, how to account for more than 700 people who have not been heard from since the fires? The great majority of residences and other buildings have reportedly been searched. Could so many have tried to escape to the sea and lost their lives, or tried to flee overland and perished in the open? Or could the fires have been so intense as to destroy remains utterly?

[Pohjolas Daughter]

It is distressing to think about. I take it cell phone service and other forms of communication have been reestablished. Taking into account the number of sets of remains found, how to account for more than 700 people who have not been heard from since the fires? The great majority of residences and other buildings have reportedly been searched. Could so many have tried to escape to the sea and lost their lives, or tried to flee overland and perished in the open? Or could the fires have been so intense as to destroy remains utterly?

I don't know the answers.  According to one article, they are now checking out multi-story residential and commercial properties.  https://mauinow.com/2023/08/22/maui-wildfire-disaster-updates-for-aug-22-teams-transition-to-search-of-multi-story-residential-and-commercial-properties/

PD