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Josh Smith is the new Rudy Gay, except way way worse.

I don't remember if this was a year thread or in general. In High School, I never took a class on European history, and along those lines, never had any lessons on the French Revolution. Part of this was on purpose, as I thought too much history was taught from a anglo-/franco- lens because I was really into World War I at the time and the lessons there were so ridiculous. Anyway long-story short, I'm not sure where to start book-wise. I was going to read the oxford history of the French Revolution, but then read that was in the "revisionist" camp. I'd probably like to read a marxist historian as this seems crazy to me that it would not be a class struggle so I'd like that background first before moving on. I started reading "The French Revolution a history by Thomas Carlysle" but had to stop. It basically confirmed that the wordy writers of the 19th century were often terrible, but like we assume British people are smarter than us, read the barrage of vocabulary and think it's intellectual. Any recommendations? My first idea is reading "The 12 Who Ruled" but that's a very specific, not longview, history of the revolution. I'd also like one that doesn't end with Napolean.

QUOTE (Tex @ Jan 2, 2015 -> 07:39 PM) As my wife and I are getting closer to retirement we are making some changes to our investments. One area is we have sold our undeveloped land and are looking at rental properties. This thread has helped a little in my process of putting a plan together. I've slowly developed a strategy for looking at homes. I've divided neighborhoods and/or homes into three opportunities. 1. Buy and improve 2. Buy and maintain 3. Buy and do as little as possible and keep it cheap. Aesthetically and philosophically I can't do #3. That is about as close to slumlord as can be and not my style. I will be part of the "problem" as some people see the process. We are looking at buying three homes in developments that are between 15 and 25 years old. Typically they will need new roofs and major updates to kitchens and baths. My wife also enjoys landscaping. By the time we are finished they will rent at the high end of the market with several amenities included (lawn service and water). That will push out some potential renters. But I am looking for more solid middle class to upper class renters who are more stable and more dependable. Knowing you live in Texas, I have to say good luck. With the lack of density there, the rental market may be very inconsistent. But, to answer your question, I don't think anyone would have a problem with you introducing better housing quality to the neighborhood. If a true market were in place and demand was there, better housing would continue to flood in, and your "quality housing for a higher quality tenant" may be available to lesser tenants in the medium-term. I imagine Texas has pretty good housing policy, just a lack of preference for density. So maybe that is the case there.

QUOTE (Middle Buffalo @ Jan 2, 2015 -> 05:04 PM) Not replying specifically to address your parents or their neighbors, but the "white flight" isn't always as simple as racism or prejudice. Plenty of people are motivated by their largest personal investment rapidly being devalued as their neighbors dump their houses and run to the next town. And, this flight happens within racial groups, too. Black people move out of black neighborhoods. Hispanic people move out of Hispanic neighborhoods. The reasons are usually a little more nuanced than race alone as a factor. Gentrification is a cycle tha reoccurs in all large cities. A big factor that leads to it is access to transportation. It's how big cities got big. People with more money wanted bigger houses and more land, so they move out of the city. Roads were built to support that. People with less money try to live close to their jobs. They don't have they money to maintain their houses. Property values drop. Taxes drop. Services drop. People see opportunity to buy fixer uppers. Neighborhood slowly changes for the positive. Rinse. Repeat. It's not only black or Hispanic neighborhoods that undergo gentrification, either. See the neighborhoods right around the Cell for an example. The problem with this is you are really only referring to a specific time period (post-world war II) where the accessibility of the automobile is what created the suburbs, not wealthy suddenly wanted more land. When the wealthy wanted more land prior, they just bought more land in the city, which are the outrageous plots you see sometimes around town. The car allowed people with modest amounts to get space and land for cheap, while still being about as close to work! Of course, by "people" I'm being generous, as a fairly large swath of the population was not allowed to engage in this, and were basically forced to stay "close to their jobs" (as evidenced by "drive to you qualify" not being applicable to "people with less money try to live close to their jobs"). They also did not get the same access to mortgages, and if they wanted access to housing were pushed into predatory deals where the landowner was incentivized to evict often and keep the cash down payment. For those that had the means and access to move into nice areas of the city, they were often met with riots and even getting their houses burned down (we see you bridgeport). Post 1985, we have seen a slow and steady trend to moving back toward urban areas, and the gentrification heating up. From New York City we can see that wealth moving back to the city is absolutely a positive thing. The housing stock improves from slums, and on net, nicer housing becomes MORE affordable. But ultimately within 2 generations, some groups of people were bullied into specific neighborhoods with poor conditions, then some years later pushed out of the same neighborhood to even worse neighborhoods, and basically the answer given is "This is better for you". Basically, I find your evaluation disingenuous because it's basically saying "market forces at work" when really it has only been at work for certain groups, while regulatory and structural forces were at work for others. So when market forces again come to work, you have to at least understand why a group is not trusting and angry, and see if it can be done right this time.

QUOTE (buhbuhburrrrlz @ Jan 2, 2015 -> 11:08 PM) I Laughed out loud.

QUOTE (Jerksticks @ Jan 2, 2015 -> 12:08 PM) For every area that's seeing gentrification and increasing property values & outlandish rent....there's the opposite area, seeing degentrification and values plummeting, crime rolling in, malls folding up etc. It sucks that people have to shuffle around against their will, but all races have to deal with it. Money talks. That's the rule. Somewhat true, it's one of the reasons why a city needs to do all it can to keep population growth. Doesn't have to be a zero sum game. But if there's an area that is attractive, safe and doing well with schooling, city also needs to make sure housing growth is possible.

QUOTE (Soxfest @ Jan 2, 2015 -> 12:30 PM) http://411mania.com/wrestling/wwe-news-lat...he-bella-twins/ Video bottom of page Winston and ref got RKO'd Lance Stephenson one was still my fave.

QUOTE (KyYlE23 @ Jan 2, 2015 -> 10:57 AM) You can say that about all of the candidates, really. To the ones that have a lot of hype, none of them have head coaching experience. The ones that have experience, have recently experienced bad seasons. There is no golden boy candidate anymore, that guy is shopping for houses in Ann Arbor This is how I feel. Beside AZ, the past 2 years have not seen a new up and coming franchise. We are still talking about Pats/Seattle/Denver, and are now talking about their 2nd gen coordinators. Unless of course we are talking about AZ, where we would be hiring the coordinator of the coach we turned town 2 years ago. Very pessimistic times. I'm almost ready for Kubiak to be honest. He'd get us back to 9-7 then we can fire him for another terrible coach.

Err, nevermind, DeCosta did decline already.

So, yesterday we heard DeCosta declined Jets interview. I'm guessing it's a matter of time with the Bears before declined. For as much as I want him, he clearly will be a GM in his mind, and likely if he gets that job he'll be a gm for 10-15 years. There's so much to do on the bears he may only get his dream job for 3-5 years. he probably looks at Reggie McKenzie and thinks he made a huge mistake.

My only hope here is the market is not as high as we assume for a player entering free agency. The cost of prospects seems be coming down from its high, but still pretty large. Maybe they are willing to shed without Anderson.

Actually, now realizing my favorite part about that game was having Gary Danielson announcing as his favorite toy gets destroyed.

QUOTE (Chilihead90 @ Dec 31, 2014 -> 07:33 PM) The issue with the fastball is the most concerning thing in that article, IMO. Yeah, I figured he was crushing fastballs and hangers, but...if he's just crushing hangers. This org really needs to dive into what it is doing wrong with position player development.

QUOTE (LittleHurt05 @ Jan 2, 2015 -> 08:36 AM) So is it too early to declare Urban Meyer the best college football coach ever? Probably because old people never let the ole ball coaches die. I will say that this playoff era will be the one that defines best ever. It was a nice run of hating Saban, but ye gods if OSU can do this with their 3rd string QB. Pretty sure all of OSUs QBs are better than Missouri's starters until we get Drew Lock going. Even if Alabama pulled that out, I don't think they'd win championship, they had ridiculous problems on deep passes. Boy, good thing the SEC added Missouri and A&M so we could prop up this crap conference.

That was one of the better throws I've seen and it wasn't from a QB.

This was the 2011 Bulls offense today. Rose shooting and big men cleaning up.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 1, 2015 -> 09:10 PM) So Hinrich is 4/4, 2/2 from 3, 2 ast 2 reb, +16 on the game. Ok, these things happen. He Was clearly overplayed. He has not only looked good with his shot, he's been his usual stellar defense around screens.

But, still the best play prolly!

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 1, 2015 -> 09:05 PM) Turns out two turnovers in your own territory is bad. Considering Alabamas vulnerability to long throws, it's understandable the willingness to pass. Just sucks the OSU QB situation.

Thibs playing 3 guards on floor right now, Hinrich Rose and Brooks

QUOTE (RockRaines @ Jan 1, 2015 -> 08:57 PM) Ohio state has the best field position in the country. Not tonight. Among annoying talent advantages Alabama tends to have, one is a stupid good punter.

Nurkic (whom Bulls traded pick that drafted him for Doug) is punking Gasol and laughing at him. Cocky kid but he's got game.

QUOTE (Jake @ Jan 1, 2015 -> 08:24 PM) He's healthy so I don't give a s*** These are stretches you could predict having really had a run of games. But, his defense is a joke recently.

Yeah, people thought this would be an easy stretch for Bulls but they've all just gone ice cold.

QUOTE (Balta1701 @ Jan 1, 2015 -> 05:06 PM) Good sign but you pretty much have to. My guess is he will take the Jets if offered. My only thought is he must have known major interest from a party before leaving. Maybe not, but it's interesting. Edit: nvm, didn't realize jets were lined up.