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June 27, 2006

$@&%^ Computers! %^&%$ Internet!

I'm out on the left coast for some business and a few days off. Before leaving I carefully back everything up, transfer current files to my laptop and test my internet connections to my main computer. Battery back-up - check! Show guy in next-door office how to re-start the system, in case of long-term power outage - check! Make a DVD backup of critical files to take along- check! I'm ready.

So, after travling for a day, I settle into the hotel and fire up the laptop. It works, first test passed. Pick up hotel's Wi-Fi signal and I'm into the internet - that's two down. Use GoToMyPC to connect to my system and voila! I'm in and life is good.

First thing, update the daily news. Found a bunch of good stories, posted the first on to my Radio Userland News Aggregator, clicked post and...........error message. Not only an error message, but all prior news posts have disappeared off my work page. Trying not to panic, I close the program and restart it. No dice. Still not panicking, I post a note to the program's discussion board (their only form of customer service), after all, its the weekend, and I sometimes don't update the news on Saturday or Sunday.

Well, its now Tuesday, and I've tried 3 different fixes that they've recommended. None have worked. They are still trying to figure out this strange, never seen before error. I just want to post news. I fly home tomorrow so that will be another day lost. So, to all of you who post my news feed on your web pages, my deepest apologies. I hope I can resolve this by Thursday. But, if, for some reason I still haven't, please be patient, as I will probably have some serious damage to my computer by then, as well as offended some programmers from Radio. I hate computers and the internet today, but I will get over it.......until the next time.

Posted by joewest at 11:50 PM

June 18, 2006

It must be an election year

Its that time again ---- time to roll out all of the legislation to cater to the emotions of special interest groups -- in other words, an election year. Congressman Bartlett (R-MD) expects to bring to the House floor soon the “Freedom to Display the Flag Act,” a resolution that would bar condominium associations, cooperative associations or real estate management associations from creating restrictions on flagpoles to fit building or neighborhood standards. Here is the bill, originally introduced in 2005:

109th CONGRESS

1st Session

H. R. 42
To ensure that the right of an individual to display the flag of the United States on residential property not be abridged.

IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

January 4, 2005
Mr. BARTLETT of Maryland introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Financial Services
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

A BILL
To ensure that the right of an individual to display the flag of the United States on residential property not be abridged.


Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,

SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

This Act may be cited as the `Freedom to Display the American Flag Act of 2005'.

SEC. 2. DEFINITIONS.

For purposes of this Act --

(1) the term `flag of the United States' has the meaning given the term `flag , standard, colors, or ensign' under section 3 of title 4, United States Code;

(2) the terms `condominium association' and `cooperative association' have the meanings given such terms under section 604 of Public Law 96-399 (15 U.S.C. 3603);

(3) the term `residential real estate management association' has the meaning given such term under section 528 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (26 U.S.C. 528); and

(4) the term `member'--

(A) as used with respect to a condominium association, means an owner of a condominium unit (as defined under section 604 of Public Law 96-399 (15 U.S.C. 3603)) within such association;

(B) as used with respect to a cooperative association, means a cooperative unit owner (as defined under section 604 of Public Law 96-399 (15 U.S.C. 3603)) within such association; and

(C) as used with respect to a residential real estate management association, means an owner of a residential property within a subdivision, development, or similar area subject to any policy or restriction adopted by such association.

SEC. 3. RIGHT TO DISPLAY THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES.

A condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association may not adopt or enforce any policy, or enter into any agreement, that would restrict or prevent a member of the association from displaying the flag of the United States on residential property within the association with respect to which such member has a separate ownership interest or a right to exclusive possession or use.

SEC. 4. LIMITATIONS.

Nothing in this Act shall be considered to permit any display or use that is inconsistent with--

(1) any provision of chapter 1 of title 4, United States Code, or any rule or custom pertaining to the proper display or use of the flag of the United States (as established pursuant to such chapter or any otherwise applicable provision of law); or

(2) any reasonable restriction pertaining to the time, place, or manner of displaying the flag of the United States necessary to protect a substantial interest of the condominium association, cooperative association, or residential real estate management association.

This last part is interesting, since no one will be able to agree on what is "reasonable" or what a "substantial interest" means. I can see more litigation ahead.

In California, the state Senate just passed SB 551, which creates an ombudsman's office, and in order to reduce the trial load of civil courts, establishes a mechanism that allows owners to file complaints agains associatons (of course if they were serious about reducing the court cases, they would also handle enforcement actions by the board against an owner, so reducing the trial load is not the real issue), allows for associations to be fined if they don't correct anything the new bureau tells them to (of course it doesn't mention that it will be the owners who actually pay the fine), and establishes a new level of bureaucracy that the owners will have to pay to support. It requires board members to sign a document that they've read all of the CC&R's, rules, and the Davis-Sterling Act (or summary - its the state's Common Interest Development Act) and provides for education of board members. This one is going to be fun to watch. If it passes the House and is signed by the Governor, its going to take years and a lot of litigation to figure out.

Florida, Nevada and Arizona are also hotly in pursuit of additional legislation designed to reign in those thousands of incompetent and abusive boards that the owners elected. Well, that problem is going to be solved fairly soon, when it becomes next-to-impossible to find anyone to run for a board. I'm sure the ownrs will prefer a court-appointed receiver telling them what to do instead.

Posted by joewest at 8:15 PM

June 9, 2006

Alex's Lemonade Stand Keeps Going

I'm just going to re-print this one verbatim and the heck with the copyright. One article shows the stupidity of some boards and the hearts of some children:

"The girls made national headlines after they saw 7-year-old Alexandra Scott, who had cancer, on the Today Show with Matt Lauer. Alex, as she was called, told of how she had set up a lemonade stand and was encouraging others to do so in order to donate all the funds to pediatric cancer research.

Kara and Breanne, who were visiting their grandmother in Florida, decided to set up shop outdoors on the Seven Springs Villa condominium property in New Port Richey, where they were staying. It wasn't long, however, before a staff member informed them that they were breaking condo rules regarding soliciting. Kara's mother, Annette, said she put a sign on the table that read, "God save those that lack compassion," and took the girls to the beach. When they came back, they were swarmed with media. Some of the residents had called the press because they were disgusted with what had happened.

"We didn't know what to think," said Kara. Annette said the girls were scared because they thought they had violated a law. But soon they found themselves holding an Alex's lemonade sale during a live radio broadcast with a Florida on-air personality, the first of several such events. One of the normally 25-cent cups went for $500. The brouhaha made what happened to the girls the subject of national opinion columns, including one in the Washington Post, as well as a political cartoon. Annette said all the way home, the phone was ringing with media inquiries, but the call they most cherished - and still do - is one placed by the Alex's parents from Pennsylvania. They asked if the girls would consider continuing their efforts back home in Michigan.

Since they are big University of Michigan (U/M) sports boosters, they thought they might be able to do something there to support pediatric cancer research, but still were quite surprised when Lloyd Carr, who coaches the Wolverine's football team, invited the girls to sell their lemonade as part of a charity car wash the players hold each year to benefit the construction of a new Mott's Children's Hospital. This Saturday, June 10, the girls will conduct business for Alex's Lemonade Stand at both a private charity function in the morning and the public car wash in the afternoon. Tecumseh's Dance Step Studio and the McDonald's Corporation help sponsor the stand. They already have a commitment of $100,000 from the Philadelphia Foundation who will send a check for pediatric cancer research to the University of Michigan this year. They sent $72,000 last year. Annette said it is the organization's biggest grant and she and the girls are thrilled that the funds are going to further Alex's dream.

The little girl passed away in 2004, but not before Kara and Breanne got to speak with her. They said they talked with Alex about what it's like to be a child who has cancer. Alex's dream, since she was four years old, was to donate money to help doctors find a cure for all kids with cancer, something she had battled since before her first birthday. Kara, a Tecumseh Middle School student who enjoys dance, cheerleading and swimming, said she also talked with Alex about things like Barbie dolls and asked the color of her eyes and other details. "She wanted to be a fashion designer when she grew up," she said. Breanne, who is athletic and was on the Madison School boys football team, but will be attending Tecumseh Middle School next year, asked her favorite sport: soccer. Alex's family was planning a trip to Michigan to meet the girls, but then she passed away before it could come about.

The girls say the fundraising is rewarding and fun and they have learned a lot. "We're getting to help out a lot and we see the football players and talk to the people involved while raising money for cancer research," said Kara.
Annette said watching the girls lifts her heart and she keeps thinking, "The power of kids," because they have overcome adversity to continue their task, and holding the events involves a lot of work, which they do themselves. On top of the Florida incident, Kara lost her dad, Bradley, known as "Skeeter," shortly afterward. Breanne was shot in the leg while hiding in a closet during a domestic incident several years ago in which an aunt and uncle were killed in Adrian. Annette is amazed at their resiliency - and Alex's inspiration which has fostered more than 1,100 stands set up in the U.S. each year with funds benefiting her foundation. The girls' scrapbook full of news clippings includes a verse from Isaiah 11:16 which reads, "A little child shall lead them," and that's certainly true in this case. Kara and Breanne consider their commitment a labor of love and say they have learned a lot.

"You don't always hear about children with cancer because many of them are dying," said Kara. "We have learned that anyone can help."

Breanne said, "We learned that it doesn't just take adults to help out, kids can, too." And they are doing just that - fighting childhood cancer one cup at a time.

For more information visit www.alexslemonade.com. To make a donation to Kara's and Breanne's stand, send checks to 804 Waskin, Tecumseh, MI 49286 with "Alex's Lemonade Stand" on the check."

From the Tecumseh Herald, June 9, 2006

Posted by joewest at 11:52 AM