Gov. Jerry Brown calls for greener world, jabs at GOP 'declinists' - San Jose Mercury News

Gov. Jerry Brown calls for greener world, jabs at GOP 'declinists' - San Jose Mercury News

He said he wouldn't say what party such "declinists" tend to associate with, but "I can tell you they're losing power from coast to coast," he said, earning applause from the audience. And those who hung the nickname "Governor Moonbeam" -- "not a term of endearment" -- on him during his earlier gubernatorial terms "aren't around anymore, but I am."

California on Wednesday launched its new system for limiting greenhouse gas emissions by putting a price on carbon, as the state's Air Resources Board began auctioning permits to create a marketplace for such emissions. Businesses must either cut their emissions or buy permits from other companies for each extra ton of pollution discharged each year.

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Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link. I think California's diverse economy will make a big comeback.

Students build forts to bring comfort to central Edmonton

Students build forts to bring comfort to central Edmonton: EDMONTON - Saying they want to inspire and spread the love, a group of architecture students is setting up an informal living room at various spots around central Edmonton. With used furniture and a tarp to block the wind, their “forts” will offer free hot chocolate and a casual place to socialize, starting Friday. The installation is meant to change to a physical space to encourage more social interaction between strangers on city streets, said Tara McCashin, a Dalhousie University student working at Manasc Isaac Architects Ltd.
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You can do this only if you call it art. If you call it home, you have to move.

George Evan McKenzie

The photo on my Facebook badge on Veteran's Day (see below) was my father, George Evan McKenzie. He served in the US Navy in World War II. He was a disabled veteran who died of service-connected causes in 1985.

I would like to extend my thanks to all the veterans and service men and women who risk everything to protect us.

Actions of just a few don't diminish HOAs | Reno Gazette-Journal | rgj.com

Actions of just a few don't diminish HOAs | Reno Gazette-Journal | rgj.com

It is vital that any and all improprieties be exposed and dealt with by the proper authorities. It is also important not to assume that improprieties are common at HOAs in Nevada. One of the reasons these cases attract as much attention as they do is because they are the exception, not the norm.
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A bit of spin control by the Nevada CAI folks.  A major criminal conspiracy to take over and corrupt HOAs.  Lots of indictments, plea bargains and people turning up dead. Isolated incident No. 576,896.  Nothing to to see here; please move along.

Illinois Supreme Court to Consider Possible Limits on Homeowners Association Security | Sedgwick LLP - JDSupra

Illinois Supreme Court to Consider Possible Limits on Homeowners Association Security | Sedgwick LLP - JDSupra
The case is Poris v. Lake Holiday Property Owners Association. The big question: what powers do HOA security guards have to conduct traffic stops and detention for violation of an HOA speed limit? Did the detention constitute false imprisonment?  The Illinois Supreme Court will decide. The appellate court opinion that is the basis of the appeal is here.

Now that's geek chic! Tolkien superfan re-creates Bilbo Baggins' hobbit house out of 2,600 BALLOONS | Mail Online

Now that's geek chic! Tolkien superfan re-creates Bilbo Baggins' hobbit house out of 2,600 BALLOONS | Mail Online
Where do people get the time to do things like this? I'm lucky if I can find time to read a newspaper.

Backyard battle over huge hole in Granbury | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth

Backyard battle over huge hole in Granbury | wfaa.com Dallas - Fort Worth: GRANBURY — A walk through Sandi Wynne's backyard in Granbury reveals a big danger, and the battle brewing with her homeowners association.

"It's over 100 feet long," said Wynne as she pointed to the huge hole on her property. "It's about 30 feet wide."

Minor erosion grew into the massive problem after a small creek that ran next to Wynne's home turned into a raging river. It happened in January after several days of heavy rain.

"I went out there and the yard was gone," she said.
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Sounds like the opening scene from another X-Files episode set somewhere in Privatopia.

Canada Post delivers mailbox fee to developers - The Globe and Mail

Canada Post delivers mailbox fee to developers - The Globe and Mail: Ron Olson, president of the Canadian Home Builders’ Association, said builders and developers across the country were “blindsided” by the move and will fight it.

Mr. Olson said that the cost will definitely be passed on to home buyers. “Why should new homeowners pay that kind of cost when other people who are receiving mail right to their door have none?” he said. “They’re charging them for substandard service.”
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A perfect excuse to form a homeowners association, eh?

Fearing unrest, Woodstock community locking gates after election - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5

Fearing unrest, Woodstock community locking gates after election - Atlanta News, Weather, Traffic, and Sports | FOX 5: WOODSTOCK, Ga. -

Fearing chaos depending on the outcome of the election, a community in Woodstock is taking steps to protect themselves. The homeowners association president of Cottages of Woodstock sent an email to the residents saying all gates will be closed 24/7 starting on Tuesday night.

Some residents in the community for people 55 and over told FOX 5 that they were surprised by the actions of HOA president Bill Stanley.

Hilda Wiggs said she was taken aback when she saw the email from Stanley saying "in light of the contentious nature of the upcoming election, and some of the rhetoric indicating possible civil unrest, I have decided to close the community gates 24/7.
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A bit off the deep end, wouldn't you agree?

Prosecutors to seek death penalty for HOA shooter | Metro Louisville - WLKY Home

Prosecutors to seek death penalty for HOA shooter | Metro Louisville - WLKY Home:
Mahmoud Yousef Hindi, a former physician, is facing two counts of murder and seven counts of wanton endangerment in the shootings at an eastern Louisville church. Prosecutors will seek execution if Hindi is convicted on the murder charges. Hindi, 55, told police he was frustrated over battles with the association and went to the Sept. 6 meeting with a loaded gun. Police say he shot 73-year-old David Merritt and 69-year-old Marvin Fisher, two association members.
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Thanks to Fred Pilot for this link to the latest development in this case.

America's cheapest private island could be yours for just $120,000 | Mail Online

America's cheapest private island could be yours for just $120,000 | Mail Online
Sounds like a heck of a deal.

Homeowner says HOA took down her political sign | News - Home

Homeowner says HOA took down her political sign | News - Home 

A Colorado Springs resident says a member of her homeowners association took down a political sign she made because of the sign's political affiliation.

Dianne Soto made a sign supporting President Barack Obama. She said it has either been taken down, or attempted to be taken down several times. One of the people she saw tearing down the sign told her he was a board member of her HOA.

"He said that he was from Warren Management, which is our property management company for the HOA, and that he was within his rights to take it down," Soto said.
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Yet another election season political sign set to in Privatopia.  Film at 10.

Romney Wants to Privatize Disaster Relief

Romney Wants to Privatize Disaster Relief
According to Bill Black, who teaches economics at the University of Missouri and is a former federal regulator. Thanks to Matt Bowler of the San Diego Union-Tribune for the link.

Neighborhood says 'no' to political signs | WCNC.com Charlotte

Neighborhood says 'no' to political signs | WCNC.com Charlotte: HUNTERSVILLE, N.C. -- The Carrington Ridge neighborhood in Huntersville does not allow political signs to be placed in front yards. Still, there are some homeowners who still do it.

Bena, who asked us not to use her last name, said she didn't know about that rule until the Home Owners Association sent her a letter Monday telling her to remove the Obama/Biden sign from her yard.

"As soon as I checked the mail, I drove around the circle, right by the HOA President's house and there was his Romney-Ryan sign in his yard," Bena said.

She showed NBC Charlotte a photo she snapped during Trick or Treating on Halloween night that showed the sign still up at the HOA President's house.
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The double standard lives on in Privatopia.

BBC News - Europe's oldest prehistoric town unearthed in Bulgaria

BBC News - Europe's oldest prehistoric town unearthed in Bulgaria:
Archaeologists in Bulgaria say they have uncovered the oldest prehistoric town found to date in Europe. The walled fortified settlement, near the modern town of Provadia, is thought to have been an important centre for salt production. Its discovery in north-east Bulgaria may explain the huge gold hoard found nearby 40 years ago. Archaeologists believe that the town was home to some 350 people and dates back to between 4700 and 4200 BC.
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Police allowed to install cameras on private property without warrant | Ars Technica

Police allowed to install cameras on private property without warrant | Ars Technica:
"A federal judge has ruled that police officers in Wisconsin did not violate the Fourth Amendment when they secretly installed cameras on private property without judicial approval. The officers installed the cameras in an open field where they suspected the defendants, Manuel Mendoza and Marco Magana, were growing marijuana. The police eventually obtained a search warrant, but not until after some potentially incriminating images were captured by the cameras. The defendants have asked the judge to suppress all images collected prior to the issuance of the search warrant."
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Interesting ruling. Warrantless surveillance cameras on private property don't violate the 4th amendment?  It appears that the defendants did not offer any evidence in their motion proving that they own or lease the property. However, they posted it as if they did:  "The property in question was heavily wooded, with a locked gate and "no trespassing" signs to notify strangers that they were unwelcome. But the judges found that this did not establish the "reasonable expectation of privacy" required for Fourth Amendment protection. In their view, such a rule would mean that (in the words of a key 1984 Supreme Court precedent) "police officers would have to guess before every search whether landowners had erected fences sufficiently high, posted a sufficient number of warning signs, or located contraband in an area sufficiently secluded to establish a right of privacy."

9-year-old boy’s fort causes a stir with the neighbors | www.statesman.com

9-year-old boy’s fort causes a stir with the neighbors | www.statesman.com: Nicholas Aarsvold, 9, does what little boys do: Play in the woods, throw rocks in the creek and build stuff.

However, his latest creation, a small “fort” nestled between two nandina shrubs in front of his Northwest Hills townhome, is causing a stir with some neighbors who believe it’s unsightly.

Nicholas’s fort violates the architectural rules set by the Summerwood Homeowners Association, said Stan Scheiber, the managing agent for the community of 136 townhomes near Steck Avenue, west of MoPac Boulevard. On Thursday, the association’s board of directors voted to send Ramona Aarsvold, the boy’s mother, a letter giving her 10 days to take the structure down.
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Recently a girl's pink playhouse caused a ruckus in Privatopia.  Now it's a little boy's play fortress.  More bad press for Privatopia. Film at 10.

Report Labels Indiana Toll Road an Intergenerational Cash Transfer

Report Labels Indiana Toll Road an Intergenerational Cash Transfer:
A College of William and Mary professor believes the toll road public-private partnerships currently in vogue among transportation bureaucrats may end up costing the public a great deal of money in the long run. John B. Gilmour makes the case in the journal Public Administration Review, using the Indiana Toll Road as an example.
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Yet more evidence that state and local governments need to be a whole lot more careful about privatization than they have been to date. The short term benefits, if any, may end up being outweighed by the long term costs.

Condos now missing $1 million in accounting scandal - Connecticut Post

Condos now missing $1 million in accounting scandal - Connecticut Post:
A Westport property management firm is facing more legal trouble in a widening accounting scandal and from fallout from a string of thefts at a Greenwich apartment complex.

This week, Community Association Underwriters of America Inc. filed a lawsuit against Consolidated Management Group, of Westport, and its former controller in an attempt to recover more than $1 million missing from the bank accounts of eight condominium associations that Consolidated manages.
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All these reports, and there are too many to even keep track of these days, demonstrate that people who own units in associations have to watch their BOD and property management firm very closely; that there is a need for governmental oversight of association finances; and that this form of privatization is in need of some serious study.

unique urban planning in denmark | one big photo

unique urban planning in denmark | one big photo
Fascinating design--thanks to Tom Besore for the link.