2009 archive
Gypsum Joint 1
This reminds of the Forensic Files episode about the mold-infested house.
These days, the Dunaways spend as little time as possible in the house.
Two months ago, Jason discovered the walls were built with dozens of sheets of Chinese-made drywall, which has been the focus of complaints in several states by people who say it emits a corrosive gas that damages household electrical systems and causes respiratory problems.
Now, electric fans hum throughout the house in an effort to dissipate the unpleasant odor. Sheets of plastic cover large scars cut out of a half-painted living room wall. And the Dunaways debate moving their children to West Virginia to get them out of the home.
And, in related news in the same part of the world,
Among the allegations in the lawsuit, filed in Norfolk’s U.S. District Court, is that the companies were negligent for selling the drywall and not warning homeowners and customers that it was defective.
Such wallboard has been the focus of complaints in several states by people who say it emits a corrosive gas that damages household electrical systems and causes respiratory illness.
“The heart of the complaint was that these companies installed drywall into homes that was unfit for the purpose and in fact has now caused these homeowners to have houses they can’t live in,” said Richard Serpe, the plaintiffs’ Norfolk attorney.
Bubblicious 0
Pop!
The median price fell 14 percent to $169,000, the National Association of Realtors said today. Prices dropped in 134 of 152 metropolitan areas, with the deepest declines in Cape Coral-Ft. Myers, Florida, and the San Francisco and San Jose areas.
When Zombie Banks Walked the Earth 0
and sucked the blood of the polity. Citibank puts its bailout funds to use. From TPMMuckraker:
Obama has been talking about overhauling student loans since at least 2007, echoing GAO estimates that banks had been taking in $15 million a day peddling and securitizing private student loans without taking on any risk, since student loans are guaranteed by the government and cannot even be discharged in a bankruptcy. The “most controversial” aspect of his proposed legislation, according to the New York Times, would cut out the proverbial middleman so all students could borrow directly from the government. Any “controversy,” of course, is likely to be fomented by the banks that make money off the arrangement.
Guess being skimming student loans is easier than honest work.
End Run 0
Somehow, this doesn’t pass the smell test.
What makes procurement “years-long” (if, indeed, it is so) are redundant and cumbersome procedures enacted to protect the purchaser from vendors who try to game the system.
Not that Boeing would ever do something like that.
Oh. Wait.
I Do Not Know Whether To Be Outraged or Disgusted . . . 1
. . . at the continuing attempts of the Republican Party to use faith as a partisan weapon.
l guess I’ll have to be both.
Tempest in a DoubleD Cup 0
I mentioned this brouhardy-har-har (that’s a big brou-ha-ha) the other day.
Barbara Ellen lifts and separates the issues here.
Enlightenment 0
An interesting article on Enlightenment (as in Voltaire) values, creeds, and violence in this morning’s Guardian. A nugget:
Drinking Liberally 0
Tuesday, Triumph Brewing Company, 2nd and Chestnut, Philadelphia, Pa., 6 p.
I’ll think about y’all while I’m in Virginia.
Recap, Financial Geniuses Dept. 0
There have so far this year been 18 complete weeks.
That’s almost two a week, folks (emphasis added).
And that doesn’t include the zombie banks that still walk the earth.
Skip to the Lulu 0
Over at Skippy’s place.
Geek Irony 0
My folder for the alt.html newsgroup currently has 404 unread posts.
Gun Nuttery 0
Handguns, semiautomatic weapons, and all types of ammunition are flying off store shelves, despite the recession.
The FBI reports a 27 percent increase in background checks for guns purchased by federally licensed dealers for the first three months of this year compared with the same period in 2008.
Meanwhile, the family that slays together stays together:
(snip)
Authorities said the couple fired when they mistakenly thought the group was trespassing on their property.
(snip)
Liberty County Chief Deputy Ken DeFoor said Sheila Muhs fired a 12-gauge shotgun once, then handed it to her husband, who also fired once.
Mancini: Peter Gunn 2
The music starts 35 seconds in.
Snail Spam 2
Since the Republican Party was kind enough to send me a business reply envelope, I figured I’d put it to good use by sending them a subscription form for the Nation.
Maybe they’ll get a clue. Forget that.
Home Decorating 3
Tips for the rest of us.
I have to run right out and get a telescope (wonder whether two pairs of binoculars count?), a safe, and a spice rack (my spices are stuck on sconces in the kitchen where I can reach them easily).