Things Smackie Thinks You Need to Know...

For anybody who's ever lived in LA, or even visited for a while, this an enjoyably frustrating read….

There can be few cities the size of Los Angeles where the prospect of a nine-storey office complex would cause such a fuss. But this one comes with a weighty expectation. At least some people are expected to get to it by public transport, or even on foot.

i wore ear plugs once to a dinosaur jr show

it was the most deaf i've ever been after a show

Originally posted by vansmack:
ear plugs are for the weak

… and the non-deaf :)

along with the risk of tinnitus, repeated exposure to loud music accelerated the rate at which you lose to the ability to hear high-frequency sounds. a friend who works in recording studios has a t-shirt that reads "don't trust anyone who can't hear over 15 kHz". that's pretty much everyone who doesn't wear ear protection at concerts.

foam earplugs are indeed horrible, but etymotics do a good job of providing flat attenuation. and at some shows (re: stooges), protection made the show bearable, from a ear-pain perspective.

I'm not saying it's the right choice, but then again, I'm not known for always making the right choice.

I always assumed this, but I never thought it was so drastic in SF. The numbers in Baltimore and DC were surprising as well.

Renting a Home is Cheaper than Buying it

Although owning a home is the middle-class dream, it's probably cheaper to rent than to own a home in major California cities, even with the recent decline in the housing market.

That's the conclusion of a new study on differentials between ownership and rental costs in 20 American cities – including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco – that found ownership to be comparable to renting in just one, Houston. And that's true, the study found, even when the equity gains from home ownership are placed into the equation.

The full report can be found Here. (PDF)

what kind of place can you get in dc for $1185? our temporary place in reston was more than that

I dunno, I'd be hard pressed to find a four bedroom home in the burbs where the rental price would be less than my mortgage+property tax payment of my house in the burbs. And I've gotta think the net increase in rental rates will be more in the next 26 years of payments than the net increase in property taxes.

Sure, there's the cost of upkeep, but they seems a pretty cheap price for the equity gained.

Originally posted by vansmack:
I always assumed this, but I never thought it was so drastic in SF. The numbers in Baltimore and DC were surprising as well.

Renting a Home is Cheaper than Buying it

Although owning a home is the middle-class dream, it's probably cheaper to rent than to own a home in major California cities, even with the recent decline in the housing market.

That's the conclusion of a new study on differentials between ownership and rental costs in 20 American cities – including Los Angeles, Sacramento, San Diego and San Francisco – that found ownership to be comparable to renting in just one, Houston. And that's true, the study found, even when the equity gains from home ownership are placed into the equation.

The full report can be found Here. (PDF)

CA Plan would tax music downloads

STATE LAWMAKER MEETS CRITICISM IN EFFORT TO INCREASE REVENUE

By Edwin Garcia
Mercury News Sacramento Bureau
Article Launched: 04/07/2008 01:30:50 AM PDT

Apr 7:

SACRAMENTO - Don't get too used to those 99-cent downloads from iTunes.

A Los Angeles-area lawmaker trying to help raise money to delete the state government's $8 billion shortfall thinks consumers should pay sales tax when buying from online music stores.

Pro-Tibet protesters climb Golden Gate Bridge tower
Three people climb the suspension cables of the Golden Gate Bridge on Monday, April 7, 2008, in a protest aimed at drawing attention to Chinese human rights violations in Tibet. Chronicle photo by Frederic Larson

<img src="http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/04/08/ba_protest_ggbridge_0150a_frl.jpg" alt=" - " />

<img src="http://imgs.sfgate.com/c/pictures/2008/04/07/ba_webcamprotestggbridge_040708kpix.jpg" alt=" - " />

There are lots of reasons to dislike China's government but the Tibet thing is such a ridiculous argument. Countries become part of other countries – it happens. It's like going "FREE SOUTH VIETNAM".

This is an embarrassing read. It makes me feel really old…it also helps explain Social D's Another State of Mind. A bit anyway.

My mate Joe Nelson on "The OC Sloth Crew"

Our resident west coast connection, Joe Nelson, will continually appear here at Double Cross delivering more great stories and memories from the hardcore reality. Since most of his material will be Orange County related, what better way to get acquanited with his colorful cast of characters than by getting a thorough history on The Crew: The O.C. Sloth Crew. -DCXX

More at DoubleCross.

PS - Yes it's that Zach De La Rocha, and usual Jim Rome listeners might recognize "Silk" - yes, it's that Silk. The rest of the names I been known to deny knowing depending on who's asking. I never miss that poker game when I go home, mostly because it's an easy way to pay for the trip.

Smackie spent the weekend in Vegas for a couple 21 year olds birthday parties, and while their sorority sisters are nice, it was the Miss America Pageant that really made my weekend.  Miss Missouri (who couldn't have been sweeter) was robbed.

 

No, Smackie did not write this article, as he was accused this morning. But he very well could have. What other rag would do such a good job comparing the US H1B policy to the most neglected movie in recent time, "Idiocracy"?

HELP NOT WANTED
Apr 10th 2008
From The Economist print edition

Congress is doing its best to lose the global talent war

ONE of the most unjustly neglected films of the past few years is Mike Judge's â??Idiocracyâ?. Mr Judge is the genius behind Beavis and Butt-Head, two of the most disgusting creatures on television, and Hank Hill, one of the wisest. In â??Idiocracyâ? he turns his talents to futurologyâ??and to the troubling question of the long-term impact of dysgenic breeding, junk food and grunge culture on America's collective IQ.

The premise is simple. Two typical citizensâ??the army's â??most averageâ? soldier and a street prostituteâ??find themselves transported 500 years into the future. They soon discover that they are towering geniuses compared with the knuckle-draggers who inhabit the America of 2505. The country's best university is run by Costco. People are named after brands such as Frito and Mountain Dew. Starbucks has become a chain of brothels. The president is a former porn star and wrestling champion.

One might imagine that America's politicians would do all that they could to prevent Mr Judge's dystopia from materialising. But when it comes to immigration they are doing exactly the oppositeâ??trying their best to keep the world's best and brightest from darkening America's doors.

As always, there's more...

go away, 'batin

Originally posted by god's shoeshine:
go away, 'batin

Nice.

Sure you're not just playin' with your XPhone?

<img src="http://blogs.zdnet.com/BTL/images/xphonezd.jpg" alt=" - " />

"High heels are the new smokes"

In Vegas two weeks ago, I noticed less and less chicks smoking by the pool, and more and more chicks wearing high heels to the pool.

After hours spent meticulously people watching at the MGM Grand, I discovered that chicks wearing high heels to the pool are the new chicks looking to have a good time, a welcome addition to the once great smackie corollary "Chicks that smoke, poke."

And if you see this corollary on Lewis Black's new show, have no fear. He's using it with permission (he had the cabana next to me and we exchanged a few thoughts).

In an attempt to one up my Epic Vegas weekend from two weekend's ago, I headed to Orange County for a sports weekend with the Ducks, Angels and the Long Beach Grand Prix all in town at the same time.

But it was the Pennywise show where the Riot Police showed up that made my weekend.

For the record, the OC weekend failed to trump my Vegas weekend.

Venerable just informed me that after the Judas Priest album "Screaming for Vengance" is released for Rock Band tomorrow, the next album will be The Cars s/t debut.

That means Quickie 'n the Bushes will be filming their first virtual video for youtube only release. We've chosen "Moving in Stereo" and are now casting for the role of Phoebe Cates. All interested parties should send me an email that includes a photo.

<img src="http://bp1.blogger.com/_-W2hU1N3qo0/RpsqYGgc0rI/AAAAAAAAAA8/6byQwW-oxhg/s400/300px-Phoebe_Cates_Fast_Times.jpg" alt=" - " />

a while back i did this online survey wherein you were asked to rate ladies' attractiveness, and were given an assessment of your taste. this quiz had some amount of seriousness behind it, as there was a lot of stats involved and it was based on a big sample size. upon completion i was informed that i should be a casting agent, as my definition of female beauty appeals to a large percentage of the population (i.e. women that i find attractive are very likely to be considered attractive by the general population). my taste in women is even more mainstream than my taste in music :p

the following story bears this out, as i'm on record here stating that the aptly-named megan fox is the hottest thing that i've laid on eyes on since, oh, meeting my girfriend (hopefully that last bit will keep me out of the dog house).

FHM names world's sexiest woman

LOS ANGELES, California (AP) – Megan Fox is the sexiest woman in the world – at least according to FHM magazine.

The "Transformers" co-star tops FHM's annual 100 Sexiest Women in the World poll of FHM readers.

The 21-year-old model-actress beat out the likes of Angelina Jolie (No. 12), Rihanna (No. 14), Kim Kardashian (No. 17), Paris Hilton (No. 77) and last year's champion, Jessica Alba (No. 3).

Fox debuted on the annual list in 2006 at No. 68 and ranked at No. 65 in 2007. Joining her in the top 10 this year are – in descending order – Jessica Biel, Alba, Elisha Cuthbert, Scarlett Johansson, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Hilary Duff, Tricia Helfer, Blake Lively and Kate Beckinsale. Britney Spears came in at No. 100.

The women from MTV's "The Hills" duke it out on the list with Heidi Montag (No. 44) beating out Audrina Patridge (No. 80) and Lauren Conrad (No. 95).

Current "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Shannon Elizabeth (No. 46) returned to the ranking after being absent last year, joining professional dancers Cheryl Burke (No. 40) and Karina Smirnoff (No. 78).

FHM said nearly 9 million votes were cast for the 14th edition of the annual poll.

<img src="http://www.fhm.com/images/media/image/meganbig8.jpg" alt=" - " />

http://www.fhm.com/100sexiestwinner08/

smackie, apologies for invading your thread. seemed to be the most appropriate place to post this important information.

Totally approved. Except for saying your girlfriend is hotter than Megan Fox.