First, a note – the ”Nattering Nabobs” article was going to be this week’s About Last Week but it seemed it needed it’s own starring role, as it were.
So getting to last week, we had Hunter Biden indicted on nine felony counts of tax icky. Not at all a surprise in a nation under the rule of law and not men, but even for what’s happening now it’s still not really surprising because, well, it was sooooo obvious what were they going to do?
More exactly, what were they going to do that wouldn’t really hurt Hunter’s dad too much? And these indictments achieve that goal.
The indictments do a number of things, some good, some bad.
On the good side, they vindicate the multiple IRS whistleblowers who have been slimed in the media – and by their agency – since they dared to tell the world that the Hunter plea deal was, shall we say, generous?
Also, the indictments show that at least something is still possible, justice wise, even if it is still woefully incomplete.
Finally, they confirm Special Counsel David Weiss – a Trump appointee, don’t you know? Of course you know, it’s practically his last name in news stories – absolutely slow walked/crawled the investigation and was extremely aware of Hunter’s crimes when he offered the plea that would get him out of those crimes. In other words, even though he technically brought the indictments, Weiss clearly had no plans to do so and he lied about that – a lot.
On the bad side, there are a few shudder factors. First, Hunter can use this to avoid/deflect his possible testimony in front of Congress.
Second, the charges can be used in public to show that anyone who doesn’t think the DOJ is squeaky clean and fair is a deranged conspiracist.
Third, the charges could obviate the “need” for further investigation and that is not good because they stop one millimeter beyond Hunter’s doorstep and a million miles from Joe’s. Using the charges as a “asked and answered, been there, done that” public relations shield for Joe is very convenient.
Fourth, while they provide some rather sordid details of the life of – in theory – a multi-talented international business consultant, they don’t really get into where the money came from. It’s mentioned, of course, but the “Why him?” is left aside and since there will be no trial – plea and/or pardon is assured – the public may never learn the answer to that crucial question.
And fifth, tax evasion is bad, but not evil, its not treason, it’s not a sign of systemic rot. It’s just tax evasion, something everyone does just a little bit, if you’re being honest with yourself, so move along, nothing to see here.
On a completely different topic, in the course of looking for today’s topping image – count the pipes – I came across something rather fascinating: the floor plan of a kit home from 1916.
Not a Sears house like Richard Nixon grew up in, but a Sterling Home. Cut, packed and shipped to your town for you to put together and put up on your land.
Hundreds of thousands of these were sold throughout the country before World War II as they offered surprising quality – they are still everywhere, nearly 100 years later – at a good price. And since people used to be able to do things, the owner could complete much of the assembly work himself (pronoun intentional.)
So here’s just one of them – The MaCherie (Plan C):
Does something unexpected catch your eye, maybe the maid’s room off the kitchen in a two bedroom, 1,600-square-foot house?
To be blunt, people used to be cheaper than stuff. For example, Agatha Christie had a maid in the 1920s but she couldn’t afford a car.
The maid’s room doesn’t even have a bathroom – there’s just the one between the bedrooms.
Cost delivered, with some of the fancy add-ons? $1,680 – about a buck a foot. Add in land – you could buy a lot three blocks from the Pacific Ocean in Seal Beach or a lot in Borough Park for $500 – labor if you needed help – two men for three weeks cost about $100 – then the foundation and a little finishing work for another $500 and you’re done.
Total cost - $3,000. Oh, but that was in 1916 so that must equal…nope – it’s just $90,000 in today’s dollars. By the way, the (very) average income was about $100 a month, so the cost of the house equaled two and half years of total pay – how does that stand up against what you paid for your house?
We’ll wait while you lurch to the liquor cabinet…Okay, we’re back.
The book of designs is here and really do click https://archive.org/details/InternationalMillTimberCoThefamousfiftyandotherfav0001/page/n104/mode/1up?view=theater – because it describes the entire process - fascinating - and you will note a few consistencies.
First, almost all have one bathroom for the family (and the maid.) Remember, though the house was offered at a time when well less than half of American home’s had indoor facilities.
Second, the lack of a “master bedroom,” let alone a “master suite” in the designs.
Third, the size. There are no McMansions here.
Finally, the quality. If you go into the details a bit you will see things like “oak floors for $18 extra” and such.
And, again – most of them are still standing.
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