“It defies logic for a city to bursting at the seams…”

Actually, it’s perfectly logical. It has been the continued trajectory of human social evolution for 10,000 years. There have been some attempts at reversing urbanisation – e.g Cambodia – but none successful AFAIK.

"it’s a complex and multi tiered issue"

Yes, I agree. And of course, the other side of the affordability equation is wages. Maybe we just don't all earn enough - well, most of us.

"Asked if housing affordability was due to land shortage, high compliancing/legal costs, or property developers profiteering…"

...err, none of the above? Or were there more options? Loose macro-prudential policy, low interest rates, tax benefits to residential investment, shallow capital markets, development sector incompetence and luddism, unrealistic quality/size/location ambitions of homebuyers, collapse of mezzanine finance sector, or NIMBYs trying to block almost every new residential development?

I have this very vivid childhood memory in which I overhear my father telling a phone pollster that he is going to vote for X, but I very well know he supports Y. I ask him why he lied to the man on the phone and he tells me "because it makes election night a lot more exciting". I think it was 1984.

The Wire Season 3 now winging its way to me from distant lands - woot!

Yeah, I'm only up to Season 3 as well. Best. show. ever. (Apart from Curb).

It's solid, if not stunning

I'm finding the announcement of Spoon pretty exciting - indie rock heaven! Was hanging out for a Jens Lekman announcement though, that would have been summer-tastic.

A quick look at The Golden Compass trailer on apple.com reveals what looks suspiciously like a golden monkey...