The President always wanted to re-evaluate the census process? - Moe_Lane’s blog - RedState
Prediction: Our new president is about to politicize the 2010 census. He has stripped his new secretary of commerce, Judd Gregg, of his power to control the census and will have it run directly from the White House. That will mean remarkable transformations in the US population that miraculously occurred between 2000 and 2010...and all of them will redound to the benefit of the Democratic Party.
Saturday, February 07, 2009
Crime: Landlord Orders Ex-Husband To Pay Murdered Wife's Rent
Crime: Landlord Orders Ex-Husband To Pay Murdered Wife's Rent: "The ex-husband of a woman who was murdered at a Christmas party along with 8 other people has been ordered by her landlord to pay her rent. The landlord says she gave insufficient notice to vacate the premises, and broke her lease. Apparently they require 60 days notice before being shot dead by your sister's ex-husband in a Santa suit."
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Mystery Reader sent this heart-warming story full of Christmas cheer, involving a murdered wife, the ex-husband who killed her, and the landlord who accused her of breaking her lease by getting murdered.
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Mystery Reader sent this heart-warming story full of Christmas cheer, involving a murdered wife, the ex-husband who killed her, and the landlord who accused her of breaking her lease by getting murdered.
Real Estate Blog - How to be an authority in your Niche marketing
Real Estate Blog - How to be an authority in your Niche marketing
In which Mr. William Johnson tells you how to be an authority on townhouses.
In which Mr. William Johnson tells you how to be an authority on townhouses.
Cohousing offers green living, sense of belonging - Kansas City Star
Cohousing offers green living, sense of belonging - Kansas City Star: "Cohousing is a type of intentional community, where like-minded residents get together years in advance to plan, design and build homes in a neighborhood where they will eventually live together. What makes it 'cohousing' is the focus on mutual support and a sense of communal living that stresses the sharing of resources to have less of an environmental impact. It's different from a homeowner's association mainly because there's no decision-making hierarchy or board - all important moves are made by consensus."
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Cohousing is actually voluntary, unlike CIDs, which are about as voluntary as being drafted into the military. It isn't for everybody, but it has been around in the US since the late 1980s and in Scandinavia for longer than that.
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Cohousing is actually voluntary, unlike CIDs, which are about as voluntary as being drafted into the military. It isn't for everybody, but it has been around in the US since the late 1980s and in Scandinavia for longer than that.
Community Associations Institute: Nuisance Dogs Bill - We need your help!: "CAI-CT supports legislation that would provide authority for animal control officers to impound the dog of a resident of a condominium association. Many of our associations have experienced the problem of roaming animals, but in some cases, animal control officers have stated that they do not have the authority to go onto private community association property. In several instances, vicious dogs have terrorized communities because animal control officials have felt they did not have the authority to provide assistance. Proposed legislation would allow for enhanced public safety in all communities."
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OK, but why wouldn't the animal control officer just ask for permission from the condo association to impound the Hound of the Baskervilles that is terrorizing the community? If the situation is that bad, presumably the condo association has been asking for animal control to show up.
Association for condos sets program : SearchChicago Homes : Condo watch
Association for condos sets program : SearchChicago Homes : Condo watch: "The Association for Condominium, Townhouse and Homeowner Associations will host the South Suburban Expo on March 7 in Orland Park.
'The South Suburban Expo provides an excellent opportunity for board members to get the education they are seeking and the opportunity to meet industry professionals who can help them with many of their needs and questions,' said Beth Lloyd, president of ACTHA.
The event will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Palos Country Club, 13100 Southwest Highway. About 60 companies that market their products and services to condo buildings will be at the free trade show portion of the expo."
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ACTHA is the CAI alternative in this area. I note that the seminars for board members are $40.
'The South Suburban Expo provides an excellent opportunity for board members to get the education they are seeking and the opportunity to meet industry professionals who can help them with many of their needs and questions,' said Beth Lloyd, president of ACTHA.
The event will be from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Palos Country Club, 13100 Southwest Highway. About 60 companies that market their products and services to condo buildings will be at the free trade show portion of the expo."
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ACTHA is the CAI alternative in this area. I note that the seminars for board members are $40.
Bloomberg.com: Stop me if you've heard this one before...: "Feb. 5 (Bloomberg) -- Fannie Mae, the mortgage-finance company under U.S. government control, will loosen rules for homeowners seeking to lower their loan payments by refinancing.
Fannie Mae will drop some credit-score requirements, reduce income-documentation standards and waive the need for appraisals in some cases, according to a notice yesterday to lenders posted on the Washington-based company’s Web site. The changes apply to loans that the company owns or guarantees.
The company, which accounts for more than 40 percent of the $12 trillion in U.S. residential mortgage debt, is seeking to break a “logjam” in refinancing and allow more homeowners to take advantage of near-record low interest rates..."
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Great. Just great. Let's get those people back in the housing market--the ones who have low credit scores, can't document their claimed income, and want to buy a house that's worth less than the mortgage. What could possibly go wrong with a clever arrangement like this?
Thursday, February 05, 2009
Oldest fossil evidence of animals found - UPI.com: "'Demosponges appeared during the Neoproterozoic era, 1,000 to 542 million years ago, an era of climatic extremes and biological evolutionary developments culminating in the emergence of animals and new ecosystems,' said University of California-Riverside Assistant Professor Gordon Love. 'These sponges currently represent the oldest evidence for animals in the fossil record.'
The preserved compounds Love and colleagues discovered in the sponges, called steranes, exist in a wide variety of biochemical configurations, said Stephen Macko, program director in the National Science Foundation, which funded the research."
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Dr. Love missed an opportunity. He should have called them "Love Sponges."
Listen to past Dave Ross Shows - 710 KIRO · MyNorthwest.com
Listen to past Dave Ross Shows - 710 KIRO · MyNorthwest.com
If you scroll down to January 29 and click that link, you can hear me talking about Governor Hairbrush, Rod Blagojevich. This is a Seattle radio station, and Dave Ross is a great interviewer.
If you scroll down to January 29 and click that link, you can hear me talking about Governor Hairbrush, Rod Blagojevich. This is a Seattle radio station, and Dave Ross is a great interviewer.
Nearly 9 Years Later, Pebble Creek Turf War Still Entrenched
Nearly 9 Years Later, Pebble Creek Turf War Still Entrenched: "TAMPA - After years of hearings, a weeklong jury trial, two appeals and costs running into the hundreds of thousands of dollars, a ruckus over who should pay to sod a lawn in a deed-restricted community is back to square one.
A three-judge panel in Hillsborough County Circuit Court has reinstated a lawsuit filed by Edward and Billye Simmons against the Pebble Creek Homeowners Association.
The judges overturned a jury verdict in favor of the association, a ruling awarding it $118,773.31 in attorney fees and costs, and a pending foreclosure against the couple's property."
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This account of a mind-boggling war of escalation and attrition was forwarded by Fred "Sky" Pilot. I just taught my condo law course at John Marshall Law School and talked about the Nahrstedt case, where a woman's refusal to give up three cats led to a major California Supreme Court decision. She lost. Some people say, "Why do these owners insist on fighting battles where the chance of winning is slim and they will lose a fortune in attorney fees even if they win? They must be crazy." But my view is that these folks are heroes and heroines who stand on principle, draw a line in the sand, and fight as long as the law allows. They keep the system honest--to the extent that is honest--and without them the lives of all those who live in CIDs would be more regimented, less free, and diminished in quality. The free riders enjoy an enhanced quality of life that is purchased by those who fight the system.
A three-judge panel in Hillsborough County Circuit Court has reinstated a lawsuit filed by Edward and Billye Simmons against the Pebble Creek Homeowners Association.
The judges overturned a jury verdict in favor of the association, a ruling awarding it $118,773.31 in attorney fees and costs, and a pending foreclosure against the couple's property."
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This account of a mind-boggling war of escalation and attrition was forwarded by Fred "Sky" Pilot. I just taught my condo law course at John Marshall Law School and talked about the Nahrstedt case, where a woman's refusal to give up three cats led to a major California Supreme Court decision. She lost. Some people say, "Why do these owners insist on fighting battles where the chance of winning is slim and they will lose a fortune in attorney fees even if they win? They must be crazy." But my view is that these folks are heroes and heroines who stand on principle, draw a line in the sand, and fight as long as the law allows. They keep the system honest--to the extent that is honest--and without them the lives of all those who live in CIDs would be more regimented, less free, and diminished in quality. The free riders enjoy an enhanced quality of life that is purchased by those who fight the system.
State employee: I get $93,803 for no work -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY
State employee: I get $93,803 for no work -- Page 1 -- Times Union - Albany NY: "He spends much of his workday at the State Insurance Fund donning headphones, listening to rock 'n' roll, blues or classical tunes and his superiors are cool with that.
His work agenda involves placing his feet up on his desk, staring out his office window and counting cars on the New York State Thruway. He arrives at 7:30 a.m., leaves at 3:30 p.m., sees no one and talks to no one.
He never does any work. It's been this way for Hinton for most of this decade."
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And amazingly, New Jersey has a huge budget hole to dig itself out of.
His work agenda involves placing his feet up on his desk, staring out his office window and counting cars on the New York State Thruway. He arrives at 7:30 a.m., leaves at 3:30 p.m., sees no one and talks to no one.
He never does any work. It's been this way for Hinton for most of this decade."
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And amazingly, New Jersey has a huge budget hole to dig itself out of.
Solis Senate Session Postponed in Wake of Husband's Tax Lien Revelations | 44 | washingtonpost.com
Solis Senate Session Postponed in Wake of Husband's Tax Lien Revelations | 44 | washingtonpost.com: "A Senate committee today abruptly canceled a session to consider President Obama's nomination of Rep. Hilda Solis to be labor secretary in the wake of a report saying that her husband yesterday paid about $6,400 to settle tax liens against his business -- including liens that had been outstanding for as long as 16 years."
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Remember the way the press (on behalf of Obama and Biden) tore into Joe the Plumber over his tax liens, as though there was some rule saying no mere citizen can ask The One a question if he ever had a tax lien? Now this.
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Remember the way the press (on behalf of Obama and Biden) tore into Joe the Plumber over his tax liens, as though there was some rule saying no mere citizen can ask The One a question if he ever had a tax lien? Now this.
Hundreds will be without water even though bills are paid | LOCAL NEWS | Local Breaking News and Weather from AZFAMILY.COM & KTVK 3TV - Arizona's Family
Hundreds will be without water even though bills are paid | LOCAL NEWS | Local Breaking News and Weather from AZFAMILY.COM & KTVK 3TV - Arizona's Family: "PHOENIX – A meeting with the city turned into a shouting match on Wednesday.
Hundreds of people who live at a condo complex in west Phoenix will be without water on Monday even though they have paid their bills.
City officials said they have never seen a situation like this. This is what makes it so unique and so difficult.
The condos and townhouses are owned by individual people, however the meter that controls the water goes to multiple units, not just that one person's home."
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Hundreds of people who live at a condo complex in west Phoenix will be without water on Monday even though they have paid their bills.
City officials said they have never seen a situation like this. This is what makes it so unique and so difficult.
The condos and townhouses are owned by individual people, however the meter that controls the water goes to multiple units, not just that one person's home."
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SKorean granny fails driving test 771 times - Yahoo! News
SKorean granny fails driving test 771 times - Yahoo! News: "SEOUL (AFP) – A dogged South Korean grandmother has failed her driving test 771 times, police said Thursday, but a local newspaper reported she will keep trying.
The 68-year-old, identified only by her last name Cha, has taken the test almost every working day since 2005 in the southwestern city of Jeonju. She failed again Monday for the 771st time."
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The 68-year-old, identified only by her last name Cha, has taken the test almost every working day since 2005 in the southwestern city of Jeonju. She failed again Monday for the 771st time."
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ABC 13 - Top Stories
ABC 13 - Gated community goes broke: "Accusations are flying about one of the developers of an upscale Woodfin community. Versant is a gated community at the end of Baird Cove Road. The property is now bankrupt and one of the developers is accusing his partner of embezzling millions of dollars.
The town of Woodfin forced the developers to put up a 4-million dollar bond when the project began. Now that Versant is broke, the town administrator is cashing it in. several local companies are now in bankruptcy court trying to collect on unpaid bills, totaling nearly 4 million dollars."
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Good thing the town made the developer put up that bond.
The town of Woodfin forced the developers to put up a 4-million dollar bond when the project began. Now that Versant is broke, the town administrator is cashing it in. several local companies are now in bankruptcy court trying to collect on unpaid bills, totaling nearly 4 million dollars."
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Good thing the town made the developer put up that bond.
Wednesday, February 04, 2009
Houston may ban tall-tree planting under lines | Top stories | Chron.com - Houston Chronicle: "A proposed ordinance before council would prohibit the planting of tall trees, including live oaks, under power lines. The measure originally was intended to strengthen existing rules to protect trees in public rights of way from being cut down or hacked up by developers.
But the proposed ban on planting live oaks under electric lines — a last-minute addition to the measure — has a vocal group of tree lovers dismayed. Their main complaint centers on the live oak’s usefulness for hiding power lines.
“If this were to pass, we would have to look a lot more at the ugliest feature of our city: power lines,” said Hugh Kelly, a former general counsel for Houston Light & Power who advocated against the change on behalf of two neighborhood groups. “And we would not be able to look at one of the prettiest features: live oaks."
City officials and Council member Sue Lovell said the provision is important because it will ensure that tall trees that require costly pruning no longer will be planted under power lines. Those expensive pruning costs are passed on to electric ratepayers, Mayor Bill White noted."
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From what I have been told the Houston area is pretty much HOA Heaven, Houston being the only major city in the US that has no zoning code. And no concept of aesthetics, either.
But the proposed ban on planting live oaks under electric lines — a last-minute addition to the measure — has a vocal group of tree lovers dismayed. Their main complaint centers on the live oak’s usefulness for hiding power lines.
“If this were to pass, we would have to look a lot more at the ugliest feature of our city: power lines,” said Hugh Kelly, a former general counsel for Houston Light & Power who advocated against the change on behalf of two neighborhood groups. “And we would not be able to look at one of the prettiest features: live oaks."
City officials and Council member Sue Lovell said the provision is important because it will ensure that tall trees that require costly pruning no longer will be planted under power lines. Those expensive pruning costs are passed on to electric ratepayers, Mayor Bill White noted."
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From what I have been told the Houston area is pretty much HOA Heaven, Houston being the only major city in the US that has no zoning code. And no concept of aesthetics, either.
President Obama's Executive Pay Limit Could Be Damaging To New York - wcbstv.com: "'Without the talent of Wall Street to bring us back into a position of leadership in the global economy, we're going to be in bad shape as a world economic power,' said Kathryn Wilde of the Partnership for New York.
Wylde says the Obama salary cap [$500,000 for companies that take TARP money] will lead to a critical brain drain – China and the United Arab Emirates have already come to poach Wall Street talent. She also says lower salaries in the financial industry will mean dramatically lower tax revenues for the city and state.
'We also depend heavily on the financial services industry to fund our economy and our tax rolls,' said Wylde. 'Last year 20 percent of our income taxes in the states – 12 percent in New York City came from Wall Street.'"
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So if we don't let corporations grotesquely overpay the geniuses who wrecked our economy, they will display their patriotism by leaving for China? Buh bye. Don't let the door hit you on the *** on the way out. And it is shocking how heavily New York relies on taxing these huge salaries.
Supervisors vote to sue state | Politics | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California
Supervisors vote to sue state | Politics | PE.com | Southern California News | News for Inland Southern California: "Riverside County supervisors voted Tuesday to sue the state to compel it to pay billions of dollars in funding for county-run social services, payments the state began delaying this week to conserve cash.
Supervisors also voted to take legal action to relieve the county of the responsibility to provide those state-mandated services, such as welfare, assistance for disabled people and mental health services, if the state does not fund them."
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First of two approaches being taken by California counties to deal with their insolvent, profligate, and supremely dysfunctional state government. See below for the LA approach. Thanks to Fred Pilot for these parallel links.
Supervisors also voted to take legal action to relieve the county of the responsibility to provide those state-mandated services, such as welfare, assistance for disabled people and mental health services, if the state does not fund them."
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First of two approaches being taken by California counties to deal with their insolvent, profligate, and supremely dysfunctional state government. See below for the LA approach. Thanks to Fred Pilot for these parallel links.
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