Where Does Gordon Live? - The MAD Version

[_Gadianton]

j adams is one of the best and brightest on MAD.

Goodness, Gad, sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or cry at some of your statements.

The apartment vs. mountrain retreat dichotomy does sound very early 20thC. It's underlying urban vs. rural binary it also rhymes with mid 20C fascist imagery: the mountain top is what pushes it all the way over. What accounts for its existence at this late date is, I'm sure, explainable via class--I'm just not sure I'd put it in exactly the same terms as Merc. At best it displays a lack of familiarity with the niceties of current real estate values, not to mention the status-drenched status of the "penthouse."

The place: Orinda, California.

"Orinda is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 17,599 at the 2000 census. The town is home to many wealthy professionals who commute to downtown Oakland, San Francisco and Walnut Creek.

Originally a rural area mainly known for ranching and summer cabins,.."

"Orinda is known for its beauty as the streets are lined with trees, lawns are manicured and covered in brightly colored flowers, and the downtown area is well-planned and easy to get around. The town is part of Contra Costa County, and is surrounded by beautiful green hills."

How Does Orinda California link to this topic? Most have heard of the mega-selling computer game world known as "The Sims". Many have also heard of the Sim City games. Orinda California is home to the creators, Maxis entertainment. Sim City was a brilliant concept, and surely the technical achievement to pull it off was noteworthy for the time. There was only one problem, the economic assumptions were way off. The creators must have thought, driving through their beautiful countryside, who wouldn't rather live here than within the blight of the city? And so land values in the game for pristine wilderness would go off the charts while the "ugly" city lands had low prices. It made the game nonsensical. Later versions fixed these kinds of problems.

Many years ago I became fascinated with a New York real estate website. It was amazing, for someone who lived in Utah to see these tiny apartments selling for millions of dollars. An apartment in Manhattan, barely larger than mine in Salt Lake, would go for around 700,000$. Some of the advertising tactics were humorous too, insinuating that merely dropping the address in a conversation would instill envy. During the time I studied that website, the movie "American Psycho" came out, and I was a little sharper in picking up on some of the humor.

[_Blixa]

j adams is one of the best and brightest on MAD.

Goodness, Gad, sometimes I don't know whether to laugh or cry at some of your statements.

The apartment vs. mountrain retreat dichotomy does sound very early 20thC. It's underlying urban vs. rural binary it also rhymes with mid 20C fascist imagery: the mountain top is what pushes it all the way over. What accounts for its existence at this late date is, I'm sure, explainable via class--I'm just not sure I'd put it in exactly the same terms as Merc. At best it displays a lack of familiarity with the niceties of current real estate values, not to mention the status-drenched status of the "penthouse."

The place: Orinda, California.

"Orinda is a city in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 17,599 at the 2000 census. The town is home to many wealthy professionals who commute to downtown Oakland, San Francisco and Walnut Creek.

Originally a rural area mainly known for ranching and summer cabins,.."

"Orinda is known for its beauty as the streets are lined with trees, lawns are manicured and covered in brightly colored flowers, and the downtown area is well-planned and easy to get around. The town is part of Contra Costa County, and is surrounded by beautiful green hills."

How Does Orinda California link to this topic? Most have heard of the mega-selling computer game world known as "The Sims". Many have also heard of the Sim City games. Orinda California is home to the creators, Maxis entertainment. Sim City was a brilliant concept, and surely the technical achievement to pull it off was noteworthy for the time. There was only one problem, the economic assumptions were way off. The creators must have thought, driving through their beautiful countryside, who wouldn't rather live here than within the blight of the city? And so land values in the game for pristine wilderness would go off the charts while the "ugly" city lands had low prices. It made the game nonsensical. Later versions fixed these kinds of problems.

Many years ago I became fascinated with a New York real estate website. It was amazing, for someone who lived in Utah to see these tiny apartments selling for millions of dollars. An apartment in Manhattan, barely larger than mine in Salt Lake, would go for around 700,000$. Some of the advertising tactics were humorous too, insinuating that merely dropping the address in a conversation would instill envy. During the time I studied that website, the movie "American Psycho" came out, and I was a little sharper in picking up on some of the humor.

Yesiree! My mother thinks I must live in a palace. I live in a medium-to-low priced apartment for the area and features. Its still a crapload of money, but outside of having a relative in a rent-controlled apartment die (that's called "winning the lottery" here), there's not much I can do. I could go down a tad in rent if I lived further out, but then I'd have a longer and more expensive commute.

I realize this doesn't add much to the discussion of Hinckely's former residence, but its the first of the month and I'm making out that check again...

[_Sethbag]

I have to admit I can't get all worked up about the housing of the former President of the church. The guy was 97 years old. He had to live somewhere. His last few decades of life were dedicated to the church, and I don't have a problem with them having provided him the apartment. And as far as stipend goes, what the heck was Hinckley spending money on? Probably not much. He doesn't seem to have been a man of lavish tastes or anything.

[_Dr. Shades]

Since President Hinckley was living rent-free, I wonder what he spent his stipend on. You don't read too many accounts of people seeing him out shopping.

Now that I think of it, does anyone know of any "Apostle sightings" out in the real world? Them shopping for cars or whatever? If so, do they get mobbed by their adoring fans, or do they wear baseball hats and sunglasses to hide their identities?

[_skippy the dead]

Since President Hinckley was living rent-free, I wonder what he spent his stipend on. You don't read too many accounts of people seeing him out shopping.

My father-in-law is quite fond of the little red and white peppermint candies - maybe President Hinckley did too, and blew his stipend on those.

[_why me]

I think that that Dr. Shades and the quorum of mormondiscussions seventies should write to Salt Lake and suggest that the LDS prophet should live in a small one room apartment complete with dishwasher and perhaps an airconditioner. This way the critics would have nothing to complain about. I might suggest that the apartment in question should resemble the apartment of Mr Krueger in Mr. Krueger's Christmas below street level. That should keep the critic bite off the church for a a while. Yep, that is for sure.

I don't think anyone is complaining, just explaining.

Some people don't know where he lives. Some people ask. Some people have conversations and speculation about it. I don't see a lot of criticism, except when it comes to discussions of "no paid clergy," which is a separate issue.

I had this feeling that people were beginning to hint that he was living in a luxury apartment and this was hypocritical of him. If I misuderstood then I would have to say sorry.

[_why me]

http://picasaweb.google.com/wheaties.box/TheProposalAndDeparture/photo#4967650620518105106

This is just a quick Google search.

Well. How humble. Is that the entire floor? And is this right next to the COB? Anyone want to venture a guess at how much an entire-floor-penthouse in downtown SLC might cost?

Anyway. It seems like a smart way to conduct business to live right next to your work.

Here is one example where I got the impression of the lavish living theory and why I responded with the Krueger's apartment post.

[_the road to hana]

I think that that Dr. Shades and the quorum of mormondiscussions seventies should write to Salt Lake and suggest that the LDS prophet should live in a small one room apartment complete with dishwasher and perhaps an airconditioner. This way the critics would have nothing to complain about. I might suggest that the apartment in question should resemble the apartment of Mr Krueger in Mr. Krueger's Christmas below street level. That should keep the critic bite off the church for a a while. Yep, that is for sure.

I don't think anyone is complaining, just explaining.

Some people don't know where he lives. Some people ask. Some people have conversations and speculation about it. I don't see a lot of criticism, except when it comes to discussions of "no paid clergy," which is a separate issue.

I had this feeling that people were beginning to hint that he was living in a luxury apartment and this was hypocritical of him. If I misuderstood then I would have to say sorry.

It wasn't a castle, and it wasn't a monk's cell.

The thread here was just in reaction to someone over on MADB asserting that if it was "an apartment" it must have been modest, and that's not necessarily the case. I'm sure by any standards it was very comfortable.

As I said, no one really particularly cares until LDS leaders or the general membership start touting their "unpaid clergy."

[_harmony]

As I said, no one really particularly cares until LDS leaders or the general membership start touting their "unpaid clergy."

Or until someone starts comparing the lavish lifestyle of other church leaders to the modest lifestyle of LDS church leaders. The Eagle Gate apartment doesn't look modest or lavish to me. It looks like it's comfortable. And when you're 97 years old and still working almost every day, comfortable isn't a bad thing at all.

[_the road to hana]

As I said, no one really particularly cares until LDS leaders or the general membership start touting their "unpaid clergy."

Or until someone starts comparing the lavish lifestyle of other church leaders to the modest lifestyle of LDS church leaders. The Eagle Gate apartment doesn't look modest or lavish to me. It looks like it's comfortable. And when you're 97 years old and still working almost every day, comfortable isn't a bad thing at all.

Right. As I said, it's not a castle, and it's not a monk's cell.