Behind the Headlines

Las Vegas Hip, Hip, Hype

Home sales in the toilet: I don't blame the pundits, headline writers, and analysts, really I don't. They have to produce something that will attract people so their ratings increase so more advertisers can be attracted to pay higher prices for ads. What makes the whole engine run is that naive and lazy readers of and listeners to the headline writers and media pundits. Recent surveys show that a shocking number of people get their news from comedy and satirical news shows. Most people do not take the time to investigate or research on their own.That is why we get exactly the political leadership we deserve.

A recent headline shouted that a study shows homes still unaffordable. The implication from the headline is that homes are affordable by only a few. But homes are still affordable. Ok, perhaps the zero down loans for 105% of the appraised value no longer exist. It might take a family a while longer to save up for a 10% down payment on a home, but the market is flush with good deals.

Another recent headline bemoaned, "Five percent unemployment highest in years." Hello! It does not take a Phi Beta Kappa math major to subtract five from 100% and determine that the corollary of the headline is that 95% of the work force is not unemployed.

A third headline shrieks, "Foreclosure filings soar during '07," citing a report that shows 3.7% of houses in Nevada received foreclosure notices in 2007. Despite the fact that receiving a notice does not necessarily mean foreclosure will automatically follow (intermediate steps can often be taken), even at face value of the headline, the converse is that 96.6% of Nevada houses did not receive foreclosure notices.

In fairness, some good news was squeezed in among the fear mongering. Retail development "continued to flourish" according to another article. The number of hotel rooms continues to grow as does tourism.

So do your own homework. Don't copy the answers from somebody else because that person has his own TV program or writes about economics. Plenty of research is available. Remember, you can lead a horse to water but you cannot make him drink. You can lead a man to knowledge but you cannot make him think.

A little blogging music Maestro... George Gershwin's "It Ain't Necessarily So," from Porgy and Bess.

Dr. Forgot

Liars, Damn Liars, and Politicians

Summary to Date

Liar, Liar, Iraqi Fire: The problems keep adding up for the current administration. A study by two non-profit journalism organizations reported the Bush White House told more than a few little white lies about Iraq in the two years after 9/11. Of the 935 false statements by the Decider, the Vice Decider, and top level staff, 532 untruths stated that Iraq had WMDs, was trying to produce them, or had links to al-Qaeda. It worked.

Poor Dennis Kucinich: He has been running for the presidential nomination consistently slightly below none of the above. He has been treated worse than Rodney Dangerfield while seeking respect. Last week prior to the Las Vegas Democratic caucus DK was invited to be one of the four candidates to grace the Cashman Center stage. But a funny thing happened to the long shot from Ohio on his way to the debate - he was, as the Country and Western song says, "stepped on, lied to, cheated on and treated like dirt." Master debater NBC (Nothing But Caucuses) decided that three on a match played better than a foursome so they shoved the Ohio odd man out.

DK cried, "Foul" and on Debate Eve stepped to the legal free throw line - the court system. But the case landed in the lap of a missing judge - one who has been suspended because she asked her bailiff to rub her sore feet and other stupid stuff for a judge to do. The case went to a substitute judge who had been whistled into the courtroom for the day. But Judge Sub was in a hurry to get to his real courtroom so an hour and a half after DK filed his suit Judge Sub sat patiently for 20 minutes and told (NBC) Never Bank on Courts it had to let the gentleman from Ohio orate. When the sun next rose on the Valley of the Dollars the state Supreme Court upset the applecart and overturned the hasty pudding judges decision. Solon Kucinich sat out the debate and must have been Nothing But Crushed.

Some Caucus Slobs: The at large sites that were set up at hotels on and near the Strip got most of the publicity but the caucus was held mostly at schools. The Clark County School District did their part for democracy by allowing 258 local schools to be used as sites. For the most part the caucus goers followed the school rules, but one group put themselves at risk of being suspended until their parents could come in and meet with the principal. Some might have put on restriction for the rest of their lives plus two weeks. Caucus goers in one upscale community ignored agreed upon rules that forbid campaign signs from being affixed or stuck in the ground, food being eaten in classrooms and, well you remember the rules. Cleanup will cost an estimated $ 100 grand which the school district plans to bill the organizers.

Fiscal Health of Health Care Group: A couple of decades ago a group of local doctors, fed up with health care system red tape, decided to start their own. The health services group grew and thrived as the entire Valley of the Dollars did for many years. They became so attractive that a national group decided to buy the locals. The national group is in the midst of consummating the deal when they stated their fourth quarter earnings. They had their worst fourth quarter in over a decade - a mere $ 1.22 billion in net income. Things are tough all over.

A little blogging music Maestro... "Crazy Times" by Gene Vincent.

Dr. Forgot