WTF-Beta

She should have worn a veil and not something that looks like it might accidentally poke someone's eye out at a Halloween party.

There are Americans who don't bother to show up.

Prince Andrew's Duke of York title has been reported as stripped from him. Actually, that would take an act of Parliament. His Duke of York title has been put in abeyance.

Of course, he won't show up in Washington.

Where's the drummer emoticon when you need it.

I looked at the prices of listings at the park across the street with land leases. That park is out of the question for me personally because the average asking price is $150,000.

The Board of Governors has the same contractual right to evict you for rule violations as management does here. So it is a weakened land lease with the HOA breathing down your neck. Board of Governors is a pretentious term. Also you can't get a 50 year land lease. The land lease is 50 years but its start date is retroactive to date the leases were originally offered.

The danger to residents of lot rent mobile home parks, higher end, perfectly maintained ones, connected to municipal utilities, like mine, and rural mobile home parks alike, in all states is that they are being bought by hedge funds. The lot rents are being increased dramatically, and water and garbage removal are being charged as separate fees on top of the lot rent increases.

I've decided that if this happens here (and it probably will because the owner is in his '80's and his children have no interest in the park meaning of course they're going to sell) I will be able to absorb the rent increase and new fees.

My ability to adjust (very many people in every state are being evicted after these sales because they don't have the necessary income to manage-- and it's sad because many of them are elderly) combined with the terrible state of the market make me think staying here would be the best choice.

My favorite house (stunning renovation, luxury kitchen, luxury bathroom, peaceful energy, on a quiet street, next to an empty lot--I've linked to in another thread) was $59,500 asking during the pandemic, taken off the market and relisted many times without selling, was at $29,500 asking when I found it.

It was relisted three days ago at $27,000 asking. That's a steal.

I was told by the woman who had the listing previously that realtors haven't been very interested in this house and haven't tried very hard with it.

I think I've figured out why.

I think the reason it's a hard sale is down to the fact that it's only 600+ sq ft. That's 200 sq ft less than any other unit in the park. It's the only 1 bedroom in the park.

It would be perfect for me and allow me to pay $27,000 cash and be done with it.

I can make it work financially because of the money I will save.

I've decided to buy a Hyundai Accent from the last generation Hyundai sold the Accent in the US.

There many in pristine condition with around 40k miles for no more than 17k.

This will be a cash sale and likewise I will be in a position where I can afford the insurance (I've been told car insurance in Florida had risen dramatically), gas, and maintenance.

I will buy my place on the first day possible but I'm buying the car immediately.

It made my day to find out the house hadn't been sold.

My roommate is having a very hard time and taking it out on me or trying to every chance he gets.

It's been a long haul. I'm not taking anything for granted.

But the settlement of my father's estate can't last forever.

A concise narrative of the theft from the NYT now that the dust has settled.

Link to video

Link to video

https://photos.app.goo.gl/xbSkJo3vS3E79hcP6

A Georgian textured yellow gold chain necklace

Description

A Georgian textured yellow gold chain, the belcher-style link chain with each round link featuring a textured star motif design, the clasp in the form of a hand, the hand extending from a coiled snake, with a rub-set ring with a redish pink gem on the index finger holding a ball, circa 1800, measuring approximately 124 x 0.5cm, gross weight 45.9 grams.

I had trouble linking the page.
This is on Necklaces> page 1

124cm Georgian long chain.

Magnificent!

A "long chain" is "a thing" in jewelry. I love them.

I noticed a listing for a Victorian chain and it has the hand motif clasp too. I thought that was interesting.

This is a long chain I'd like to buy. The price has increased $300 in about a year but there have been similar price increases in lower price point stock gold items at Cartier too.

I believe this can fairly be said to relate to the increase in gold prices recently.

This item probably reaches my personal limit of what I would pay for a piece of new or vintage jewelry.

https://www.vancleefarpels.com/us/en/collections/jewelry/other-collections/vcarp7u600---trace-chain-70-cm.html

This-- from architectural experts in Berlin (you're just going to have to trust me on this unless you want a link to an hour long documentary)--

States build oversized government buildings ignoring any context of their placement as an expression of authoritarianism.

Danger, Will Robinson!

Link to video

It's a ceasefire in name only. The Israeli state has never honored its ceasefire agreements. That's just an historical fact.

The Israeli state wants all of the Palestinians gone (more precisely, it wants them dead), and, it wants the entirety of the land (and more-- the so-called "greater Israel" Net... has presented in UN speechs, openly, repeatedly, and with imaginary maps).

I don't personally know how anyone could fail to notice any of this because the Israeli state has been openly, explicitly stating its intention to commit genocide for the past two years.

But that's my problem. I don't really care anymore about changing anyone's mind.

The fact is I changed my own mind is surprised and I'm satisfied by it.

Btw, you can look up a comparison of the energy of the nuclear bombs dropped on Japan vs the energy of the bombs dropped on Gaza.

The bombing of Japan by scientific measurement pales in comparison.

But, this is a fact I learned yesterday-- all of the bombs dropped on Gaza have left (so-called) depleted uranium.

It's a wasteland now. I can't think it would ever make a good tourist destination.

I'm not personally a fan of bombe style mounts but I think it's a fine piece!

I'm going to add this site to my links.

Thanks!

Oscar Heyman, Inc., or Oscar Heyman, traditionally known as Oscar Heyman and Brothers, New York, 1912.

The best jewelry house in the Western Hemisphere.

They do all their own lapidary work, except diamonds; they create their own platinum and gold.

They design their own jewels and take commissions.

Their website tells their unique history of making jewelry for Tiffany, VCA, Cartier, and others by the time of the Art Deco period.

It shows examples of their work and contains a series of catalogs.

This is a short and sweet video of a tourmaline ring.

Link to video

Imagine having a budget of 1.7 million to hire an architectural firm to buy whatever kind of lot/ land and steer all of your budget into something you could think of as your dream house.

It wouldn't take me a minute to decide to do that instead of buying some AI looking monstrosity.

I have spray bottles with various amounts of rubbing alcohol/ water, vinegar/ water, and Dawn/ water.

Other than that I buy products with any chemical you can think of except ammonia.

I buy fragrance free laundry soap--same brands, just the "free and clear" versions.

I don't like the smell of industrial perfumes.

Other habits? I don't know. I think people are creatures of habit so probably so!

I wash every article of clothing every time I wear it unless it's a jacket.

I don't keep my garbage bags in trash cans but know people who do it. I don't think it's unsanitary.

Needless and disgusting.

I'm not joking.

There's a park across the street where the people have 50 year land leases.

The Karens there are numerous, on speed dial with every neighbor and the head of the Board of Governors.

East Germany during the Cold War is a good enough description of the vibe.

They spy on each other day and night, report to an owner when a family member with their own keys comes to the owner's house, and will confront anyone very aggressively and rudely when as I said you could well be a family member.

Well, they're here too! I had my worst encounter with one the other day. I've had a few.

I'm what they call an owner, i.e. I own my home. I'm a tenant in the sense here we don't own the land and have to pay lot rent.

Imagine this. I've lived here for six years.

The other day I walked to Circle K and was waiting at the back gate with two fountain drinks in the middle of the day. I was dressed and groomed as appropriate. I don't look threatening or like a criminal.

You see?! There's no logic to it.

This woman has a gate clicker, drives in, and of course I came through the gate.

She stops her car and rolls down her window.

Her (mean, judgment, suspicious, sanctimonious voice):

"Do you live here?!"

Me: "I'm an owner. I've lived here for six years."

Her: "Then it's in your interest."

Note: Here she is actually blaming me for her bad behavior.

Me: (if looks could kill)-- "It's in our mutual interest."

She's played her game. Of course she drove off in a huff having no other choice.

I'm holding two fountain drinks in my hands and minding my own business!

I'm actually thinking about buying in one of the more expensive parks to have the stability of the decades long lease hold and no lot rent.

There might be more Karens in my future not less. Lol.

BTW, I am the single resident in my park of 401 units who has the physical ability and know how to climb over the back gate. I even got an anonymous mention/ reprimand in a monthly newsletter about it.

So I now try very hard to refrain but sometimes if I have to come or go late at night I sometimes get impatient and climb over it anyway.

Your stupid gate won't stop me from robbing your house!

Too funny.

My dream Chrysoprase vintage ring in platinum with diamonds sold.

Now it's been put up for auction again at +1k asking price vs its previous selling price.

I'd actually wear this ring but it's past the price point I would spend on any jewel.

It's a masterpiece. I love it.

https://www.1stdibs.com/jewelry/rings/cocktail-rings/platinum-chrysoprase-diamond-ring/id-j_12431142/