Easy to understand, hard to fix?

Several news articles in the last few weeks point to a three-pronged reason why the economy, and particularly the real estate market is so (let's be kind) lackluster.  The argument goes like this: 
Prong one:  falling product sales led to falling corporate profits that led to layoffs, giving a new unemployed class.
Prong two:  this large group of newly unemployed led to missed mortgage payments that led to foreclosures that led to falling home prices that led to less activity in home construction and sales, which led to even more unemployed.
Prong three:  The reasons leading to the layoffs in prong one also result in fewer jobs available for 20-somethings trying to launch, and thus they stay at home and further reduce home demand and home prices.
These three 'prongs' almost make a satanic-style pitchfork.

I confess, this reasoning makes a lot of sense to me.  It kind of flows in a logical way that seems to address most of the observed effects we are seeing in society.  The only thing remaining is what to do about it.

The whole Occupy Wall Street movement doesn't seem to address any of the issues.  It strikes me more as organized whining, except it's not too organized.  Is there really anything worthwhile to do, or is it more of a massive societal flu - no treatment will work except time, rest and drinking plenty of fluids.

If there's something productive to do, by all means let it be done by whoever has the vision, power and will to do it.  It might be government, corporations or individuals - I just don't know.

It might be that nothing useful can be done, and any governmental action will cause more harm than good.

Candles that Sell Homes?

In the October 5, 2011 issue of the Rock Hill Herald there is an article by Don Worthington entitled "a smell that sells" which amounts to an interview with Stephen Cooley, a fairly famous (he has a TV show) area realtor.  The premise is that Mr. Cooley has contracted with a custom candle manufacturer who has "created a candle that cleanses the air without leaving a tell-tale aroma."

Maybe.


No doubt, there are some homes that could stand some air cleansing.  But as a PhD chemist, I can assure you that burning a candle may MASK odors, but it can't remove anything.  You're setting something on fire in your house - that just doesn't REMOVE odor.

It may well be pleasant, and it may well help sell homes.  No argument there.  And there has always been a big fuzzy area where marketing-speak and science co-exist, albeit often somewhat uncomfortably.  As a science guy, I have to say that the word "cleanses" implies the removal of something.  Firing up a candle doesn't remove anything from a home.  Let's give the process the benefit of the doubt and say it leaves the house more pleasant than it began, and not worry too much about the 'how' part.

I'm of the opinion that some really wonderful photography is more likely to help sell a home than custom candles. In tough times, let's use all the available arrows in our quivers - or, if you don't care for the Native American metaphor, IMHO u need both.