Spare Room Be our guest…

Victorian Postcard: biting humour, ahead of its time. (Via Jezebel)

Times are tough for the property narcissists: This week we had a nosey at a place high on the summit of Mt Albert. It was pretty rough, but had heaps of space for our small but ever expanding publishing empire. We were keen, particularly when they dropped the rent from $645 to $550. But we quickly changed our minds when the blond, pony-tailed owner raved on at us about how she was not happy about the price drop, then bleated on about how terrible the property market was — they would have to top up the rent to meet the cost of the place. Excuse me? Are we supposed to feel sorry for you because you couldn’t sell your rundown, five bedroom investment property with spectacular views? She seemed bitter her property hadn’t sold and resentful that she had to drop the price to meet the rental market. She couldn’t even be bothered opening the door to welcome us and we had to walk through the house to find her. But most of all, she was not to be trusted. Among other things — “no I’ve never noticed that leak before” … “we’re always at the neighbours, we’ll be popping our heads in” — was the telling note scrawled on the back of the rental application. She was planning six-monthly rental reviews based on valuation, even though we had offered to sign for a one year fixed term. We suspect they had lowered the rent just to get someone in and would hike the price back up later. So for the record love, we’re not sympathetic to your property investment woes. In case you haven’t noticed, we still rent. At an affordable price too, through landlords we like and can trust.

All that to segue into some more inspirational real estate listing pictures from the It’s Lovely, I’ll Take It blog. It’s important to remove all dead pets from interior photos. A wood-burning stove, suspended from the ceiling, and plastic fantastic, saving your furniture for the afterlife?

Why pervs in Japan are not fond of the iPhone.

Death conferences: Suicide has become such a problem in South Korea that many companies, including Samsung and Hyundai, are sending their employees on “well-dying” courses, which involve writing out your will and faking your own funeral. Somehow this is supposed to prevent suicide. From the Financial Times:

Before they are “buried”, participants are asked to pose for their funeral portrait.
Participants enter a “death experience room” where they choose a coffin and put on a “death robe”.
Course members get into their coffins and a flower is laid on each person’s chest.
Funeral attendants place a lid on the coffin and dirt is thrown on the casket. Participants are left in the closed casket for five minutes and some start to cry in the darkness.

The new label for straight men who like to cook: Gastrosexuals…

A British headmistress doesn’t like UK’s slapper tans — you know, the orange fake tans pioneered by Roger Moore…

Video: What if a major corporation designed the stop sign?