maybe it's the rivalry?

i'm beginning to turn into a one-trick pony. i can't help but be drawn to the news of california's demise. william gibson, cyberpunk jesus, based many of his novels around a dystopian california of the future, one rent in twain by unspecified events and populated almost exclusively by people in leather jackets. i guess i've always wondered if that could turn out to be true. these days, though, i doubt anyone could even afford the jackets.

so what's the latest in this fecal monsoon? it's foreclosure data--but that's not all. it's california's foreclosure data framed in a certain light: the light of national monthly new home sales. more specifically, it's the mindboggling news that in june of this year, california, with 45,691 notices of default, took more homes (36,000) from people than were sold in the entire united states of america.

let's list what we know so far, then:

1. california does not have a budget (this is old news).

2. california has a $26.3 billion budget deficit. to put this in perspective, projections for 2009 revenues are $87.5 billion, and that is with several accounting tricks thrown into the mix. much of california's payment obligations to employees and creditors has been moved over the 2009 budget-year deadline, meaning that they won't appear until 2010.

3. californians do not have homes.

4. california processes unemployment claims on the equivalent of a toaster oven strapped to a casio keyboard.

i think i am going to keep a running list of all the staggeringly crazy things i learn about compton the state. if you'd like to contribute, please, do not hesitate. anybody got anything on some of the state's pension systems?