Amazing that so many care about the What. I don't know what's more pathetic - people who spend hours each day monitoring and commenting on a real estate website, or people like him who desperately want to be down with this crowd.

For the record: the What ain't hood. And as a general rule, anyone employing the term "asshat" ain't hood. But that's not the only reason for my assessment.

And it's simply astounding that, in this day & age, there are people who still think that rap is not music. And y'all are from Brooklyn? Good God. As a longtime hip hop fanatic, i say Jay-Z is an OK rapper. Certainly no "genius," but good, talented, and smart. And not a thug, unless one considers all former drug dealers to be per se thugs.

Posted by: Come Clean at September 17, 2009 7:00 PM in response to Jay-Z Slept Here

"if anything they are just as cheesy and faux as the beastie boys."

Hey Pitbull, 99% of the time I read comments on this site, I do not post. However, you said two things in two consecutive days that were so preposterous that I couldn't help my weak self.

Beastie Boys "faux," and "cheesy?" I love hip hop to death, and truthfully was never a big fan of BB. Yet, there is no question that they were pioneering. They are trend-setters who earned respect from everyone in hip hop, and will always be respected for what they did. And their first album was a classic.

Coming from a Foxy Brown fan, I guess your post makes some internal sense. You seem to not be from NYC, which is cool. Welcome. But really, perhaps you should aim for quality over quantity when it comes to commenting.

Posted by: Come Clean at March 17, 2009 1:37 PM in response to ODB Defaced in Bed Stuy

"brooklyn = an urban suburb of nyc. I KNOW brooklyn is nyc but really, it's not."

What?

Sure, if you completely re-define the word "suburb" to suit your liking, then your analysis is spot-on.

Otherwise, this comment is baffling. It's like saying something in the Constitution is unconstitutional.

Posted by: Come Clean at March 16, 2009 5:52 PM in response to Where Is The New Brooklyn?

I know neighborhood boundaries in BK are not absolute, and are somewhat subjective.

But isn't anything north of Grand and west of the BQE really Greenpoint. Or I should say "traditionally" Greenpoint.

Otherwise, W'burg is the size of three neighborhoods and Greenpoint's half of one.

Posted by: Come Clean at March 11, 2009 6:49 PM in response to Development Watch: 111 Kent Avenue

This is the reason why the real estate plummet, restaurant desperation, etc. is a good thing for us.

The cost of living is in the stratosphere, so as reality begins to kick-in people will have a reason to stay.

For every person who leaves the city b/c (s)he hates it, there are probably two who want to stay but just can't afford it.

Posted by: Come Clean at February 6, 2009 7:22 PM in response to It's Tough Out There for a Middle-Class New Yorker

I read the Times online all the time.

Yet, I vowed, and continue to vow, to never give that company one cent.

The reason is simple - two words, actually.

WILLIAM FUCKIN KRISTOL

OK, three.

Posted by: Come Clean at January 21, 2009 5:06 PM in response to (Slightly) Off-Topic Poll: Paying for The Times Online?

Wow. Not used to seeing such profundity here. Good stuff.

And no, this is not at all apocalyptic. As 11217 says, this is a necessary and good thing for humanity. Our greedy, materialistic, superficial culture needs correction. And sadly, countries with rich cultures around the world mimic our gluttonous lifestyle.

There will be big changes and this is not just a bump in the road. The consequences of our population having a negative savings rate will begin to manifest.

But we, as a people, will be just fine. Like an addict - sometimes you gotta hit rock bottom before you see the light.

Posted by: Come Clean at January 15, 2009 7:30 PM in response to Quote of the Day

With respect broker, I see lawyers do outrageous shit all the time. Indeed, I see judges do outrageous shit all the time.

And yes, by "outrageous shit," I mean shit that would "compromise their license."

I know that this topic has been beaten to death djdevvydev, and you probably already lost interest.

But if you want this humble lawyer's advice: re-read David Lewis's comments and act accordingly. Slopefarm at 12:02 has it right too.

Posted by: Come Clean at January 7, 2009 5:59 PM in response to Atty/Broker Conflict of Interest

Actually cobblehiller, I'm more of a Mobb Deep fan. But the Stones, Beatles, the Mobb - they're all the same.

And forgive me for sounding like a bitch. If I don't like the comments, I can choose not to read them. I get it.

So unlike others (who shall remain nameless), I do not intend to antagonize people or make negative comments for ego gratification.

So it's just a non-judgmental observation. One that I know is shared by others. Most comments are made by the same handful of people, who probably represent less than 1% of the site's readership. Perhaps y'all should physically get together more often. Many seem to have lots of free time.

But hey, this is no attack, so please don't take it that way. This is a very entertaining website.

Posted by: Come Clean at December 26, 2008 4:42 PM in response to Open Thread

Sometimes when I venture into a comment thread here I feel like walking into some incestuous orgy.

Actually, make that most of the time.

Posted by: Come Clean at December 26, 2008 3:57 PM in response to Open Thread

The gold market is significantly manipulated. From what I understand, the spot price of gold is inconsistent with what gold's actually worth. And I use the classic notion of "worth" as whatever someone will pay for it.

When the spot price was in the $700's, licensed dealers and jewelers were asking much higher.

And there's been a general silver bullion shortage, yet the price has gone down substantially these last 10-or so mos. Last I checked, prices rise as supplies drop.

If y'all really wanna get good financial news - REAL information, not MSM-filtered nonsense, go to
http://www.marketoracle.co.uk.

Hands-down best economic site I know. And it's a compendium, so it's not just the opinions of one "expert."

Posted by: Come Clean at December 16, 2008 6:28 PM in response to Fed Funds Rate Cut to Lowest Level Ever

"Why are so many people fearful of something different or beyond their immediate experience?"

Right on Putnimdenizen and Wasder. The amount of judgment being passed by commenters is sad.

Because it's different, because it isn't necessarily how you or I would prefer to live, it's somehow OK to insult and ridicule them.

Come on people - your voices represent a slice of NYC. Stop sounding like the right-wing bigots who ran this country to the ground the last decade.

And those mentioning Communism really need to re-read some history. Please stop using loaded words you don't understand.

I thought people understood that even in our mythical "rugged" and "individualistic" society, we're all to some degree communally raised. This is not different in any fundamental way.

Posted by: Come Clean at December 1, 2008 1:41 PM in response to Utopia in the City

This is why all laws should have grandfather clauses built-in.

But we live in a society where you can lose your freedom for growing a plant that has been safely used for therapeutic and recreational reasons since the dawn of civilization.

So until that changes, no one should be surprised about any of these insane laws.

And as y'all know, the city needs revenue where it can find it.

Disgusting.

Posted by: Come Clean at November 21, 2008 7:24 PM in response to Stoop Drinking Still Illegal

"sorry for picking on you directly. Your post was reflective of a broader attitude that I find tedious."

Apology wholeheartedly accepted. And unlike others (who shall remain nameless), I do not wish to make comments with the intent of antagonizing people. Really.

But on the other hand, I feel like people need a wakeup call. I, in a George Carlin sense, am delighted about the crash. As an eternal optimist, I think that things will eventually be much, much better. However, I also truly believe that before we reach the golden age, things inevitably must get much worse.

The system was designed to fail. But lest you think I'm being sarcastic about this being a good thing, when was the last time Britney Spears (e.g.) was front-page news?

The collective coma that the people have been in is finally ending. People are starting to actually understand how the Fed works and how screwed-up the system is. These bubbles were the bread and circuses serving to distract the masses. Now that they've burst, people are finally beginning to wake up. Hallelujah!

Posted by: Come Clean at October 10, 2008 1:50 PM in response to Dow Status Check

"Come Clean-it is that kind of attitude, cavalierly expressed on a site like this that makes me feel like you are an anti-social person. Why not spend some time thinking about how to prevent that from happening?"

Good lord. No need to take it personally. Do you really care where some anonymous poster ranks on the sociability scale? How 'bout you address the substance of my comment.

Indeed, AFTER I wrote it I checked the Times and saw that they have an article entitled "Keeping Wary Eye on Crime as Economy Sinks." What a coincidence!

And while I appreciate the implication that I have the potential to somehow prevent a mass crime wave from being the natural consequence of a massive surge in unemployment, I'm sorry to say I'm a humble NYer not quite up to such a task.

But hey, that's why I've been happy renting and not having kids. Gotta be ready to flee at a moment's notice if necessary, and owning real estate is a great way to stay both physically and psychologically locked into a place that you may have to leave.

Posted by: Come Clean at October 10, 2008 11:22 AM in response to Dow Status Check

As the economy plummets, the crime rate does the opposite.

We'll see what that does for property values.

People who bought into established, middle class hoods will be the best off. Those who tried to be pioneers are in for a rude awakening.

Posted by: Come Clean at October 10, 2008 11:02 AM in response to Dow Status Check

No comments about the "hipsters" getting beat down???

I could use a laugh.

Posted by: Come Clean at September 4, 2008 7:49 PM in response to Thursday Blogwrap

I used to go to D&D exclusively until it finally dawned on me: Starbuck's is actually cheaper.

I don't fuck with the fancy drinks, but the iced coffee at Starbucks is definitely cheaper, and much, much better. Add to that the fact that Starbucks is much nicer and treats its employees better, and I have no idea how D&D still does so well.

And if that Carlyle Group comment is true, that's even more of a reason to never go there again.

Posted by: Come Clean at September 2, 2008 3:37 PM in response to Dunkin' Donuts: the Starbucks of Brooklyn