Karl Laughs!

New Camera!

Dad got us a new camera last night, and we've been busy taking pictures of the kitties (what else would we be doing?)



Aren't they cute?

I Wish I Weren't Able To Do Basic Math

I'm just about through with media again. There's really only so much I can take before I have to go cold turkey to preserve what little faith in humans I still have. Sometime you just gotta block it all out.

Back and forth on this stimulus bill is what's got me really annoyed at the moment. And since I can't read yet another short essay proving just how little economics people know, I decided to actually dust off those critical thinking and research skills I supposedly use professionally each day.

Yep, I actually read the text of the housing tax credit amendment. Then I did some math. And then I sent my thoughts to Nick, who did yet more math (see how this math thing spreads like a disease, reproducing itself as it travels via social networks? Dastardly stuff!).

The interesting thing you might notice, if you look closely, is that this is a stimulus designed to deliver to biggest bang to the upper middle class. Everyone is shouting $15,000, but no one wants to mention the 10%. This is really easy math here: a 10% credit that tops out at $15,000 means that the benefit not only stops at the first $150,000 in the home price, but it also delivers less than 15 grand for houses that cost less than $150,000.

And then there's the tax credit part. This baby isn't a refund. And you can only stretch it out over 2 years. So if you don't pay at least $7500 in federal income taxes each year, it doesn't matter how expensive a home you bought.

I don't think I know a single apartment dweller (aka potential homebuyer) who pays more than $7500 in income taxes to the fed in a year. They must all live in Manhattan.

So, for a single person earning $40,000 gross, you'll have to subtract the standard deduction, medicare/social security payments, 401k contributions and student loan interest (and any other deductions they may have). That leaves a taxable income level that pushes your home purchase tax rebate to less than $4,500 each year. Nick calculated that a married couple would have to earn more than $55,000 in TAXABLE income to receive the full benefit. That implies either a pretty sizable paycheck, or a couple who are so behind on their retirement contributions that they should put any tax rebate money they get into cat food futures.

When they roll out things like this for the "middle class," I start to wonder how many people I know who are actually IN the middle class. Oh well, at least this provision isn't alone. It can sit right next to the mortgage interest deduction as one of those things that middle class people can't live without even though they don't have enough money to actually use them.

Rain in Cali

So, I've finally gotten around to posting another blog post. Nick and I are here in Cali, at the 'rents, watching the drizzle mist the windows. Not the most spectacular weather, but a heck of a lot better than what we leaft behind in MN.

The worst part of a rainy Christmas day is that you're pretty much stuck inside the house. Perhaps I'll make some tea, read the cozy mom's checked out from the library, and stuff my face with more Yule Log (I make a mean Yule Log!).

Only two more days of vacation before work in LA.

Coming Home!

Yesterday's dinner plans kept going awry. The French restaurant we wanted to go to was fully booked by an event, so we had to look for an alternative. That's when we decided to go to a Jamaican place. So we all board Marta to get there, only to find that the place is shut down. So back on Marta to the next stop in Buckhead, where we wandered basically from one stop to the next in search of food.

Thankfully we finally settled on an Italian place (we'd started this process at 6:30, and didn't get to a table until 8:00). I don't know what it is, but add some academics and some bottles of wine, and suddenly you've got a three hour meal. I didn't get back to my room until 11 pm.

Thankfully, this colloquium is now over as well. I've packed up the library, and I'm getting myself ready to head to the Marta station. Even with a gas shortage in the city of Atlanta, at least the Marta goes to the airport!

Hotlanta!

Here I am in Atlanta, enjoying the beautiful weather in the snazzy Marriott Renaissance. It's actually a pretty nice hotel. No refrigerated towels in the workout room, but there are balconies in every room, so I can get real fresh air! Plus, we're within walking distance of tons of restaurants, which is always very nice.

I'm starting to think that Atlanta is my favorite place to go for Colloquium. You can't beat a town with lots of good food, nice hotels, and decent weather. I also rode MARTA from the airport, which was fantastically easy and fast.

Last night Sommer and I went to Shout for dinner. Thanks to Google Maps (which seriously mis-labeled Shout on the map), we ended up walking about 3 miles before we actually got to dinner. Still, despite being 30 minutes late for our reservation, it was a great meal.

Sommer had sushi (and sake), while I went for a more traditional salmon dinner. We split a dessert medly, with the most amazing molten chocolate cake. Even if the service was pretty slow, that cake was worth waiting for.

As you can see, it's a bit trendy, and we were a little horrified by the number of bachelorette parties (we counted 5 during our stay). It wasn't as good as the YO Ranch Steakhouse in Dallas, but still pretty good.

With two more nights out before we head back, I think we're going to go to the French American Brasserie for some more posh fare.

But we couldn't leave without going to the Varsity! I can see it from my hotel room, and the only reason we haven't gone already is the Saturday Georgia Tech game. Nothing like hordes of football fans to make a quick trip for hotdogs impossible.

I'm already practicing my order, so I'll be able to respond right away when they call "what'll ya have?" My only dilemma right now is cheese or no cheese on the chili dog.