Dan Abel > wrote:

>The bill to the towing company was estimated at
>US$1500! If you have no valid driver's license or no insurance, it gets
>towed the first time, no warning. Since we have a number of illegal
>aliens here, and they *cannot* get a driver's license or insurance, they
>drive very cheap cars, because they know once their car gets towed, they
>won't ever get it back.

What happened to the plans to arrange for undocumented peoples
to get consular ID cards that allowed them, after some process,
to get a driver license and insurance? Did that one never
happen?

Steve

On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:29:15 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

>Dan Abel wrote:
>
>>
>> They very seldom tow cars for illegal parking here. It has to be
>> blocking something important, like a fire lane, traffic or the mayor's
>> parking spot.
>
>Same here - or parking spaces that are marked as 'no parking zones'
>between certain hours (think it's because of peak traffic times). If a
>car is found in one of those spaces when it's not supposed to be
>there - they tow it away, no warning issued.
>
>>
>> Around here, the police department orders the towing, but private
>> companies, under a contract, do the actual towing.

Yep. It's the tow truck Mafia.
>
>I still see tow trucks 'round here that are owned by our local Traffic
>Department. I guess that's why we pay such a big fine to get a car
>back - somebody has to pay for fuel and maintenance of those trucks.

We pay a lot of profit too.
>
>BTW, our Police Force as such is separate from the various municipal
>Traffic Departments - and they in turn, have specific juristdictions in
>which they operate. i.e. The Police Officers are not the guys that pull
>you over just to check your license and registration and/or give you a
>speeding fine - that's the local Traffic Officers' job, if ya get my
>drift. <g>.

Small town mentality.
>
>We do of course have plenty of private tow truck companies. We jokingly
>refer to them as 'vultures' because they (literally) lurk around all
>over the place just waiting for somebody to have an accident or a
>breakdown and they also charge a fortune to tow your car anywhere.
>
Around here, they are more like sharks.
>
>> If you have no valid driver's license or no insurance, it gets
>> towed the first time, no warning. Since we have a number of illegal
>> aliens here, and they *cannot* get a driver's license or insurance,
>> they drive very cheap cars, because they know once their car gets
>> towed, they won't ever get it back.
>>
>When you say 'insurance' do you mean insurance cover for accident
>damage, theft, personal injury etc.?

http://www.insure.com/articles/carin...ge-levels.html


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

sf wrote:

> On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:29:15 +0200, ChattyCathy
> > wrote:
>
>>Dan Abel wrote:


>>> If you have no valid driver's license or no insurance, it gets
>>> towed the first time, no warning. Since we have a number of illegal
>>> aliens here, and they *cannot* get a driver's license or insurance,
>>> they drive very cheap cars, because they know once their car gets
>>> towed, they won't ever get it back.
>>>
>>When you say 'insurance' do you mean insurance cover for accident
>>damage, theft, personal injury etc.?
>
>
http://www.insure.com/articles/carin...ge-levels.html
>
>
Ah. Thanks. We have something called "The Road Accident Fund" here
instead. It's not ideal, but that's the way it is.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_Accident_Fund

But a lot of people do buy their own private car insurance from one of
the many insurance companies we have here - and depending on the car
one drives and/or the level of cover one takes, it can get rather
expensive. Sigh.

BTW, most insurance companies charge higher premiums for drivers under
the age of 25 and the excess (deductible?) amounts that one has to pay
are higher for those people too.

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

In article >,
(Steve Pope) wrote:

> Dan Abel > wrote:
>
> >The bill to the towing company was estimated at
> >US$1500! If you have no valid driver's license or no insurance, it gets
> >towed the first time, no warning. Since we have a number of illegal
> >aliens here, and they *cannot* get a driver's license or insurance, they
> >drive very cheap cars, because they know once their car gets towed, they
> >won't ever get it back.
>
> What happened to the plans to arrange for undocumented peoples
> to get consular ID cards that allowed them, after some process,
> to get a driver license and insurance? Did that one never
> happen?

My memory about this is very poor, but I believe, to put it politely, is
that:

NO ****ING WAY IN HELL!

We are speaking about the state of California, I believe. I don't have
a stance on this, myself.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

Wayne Boatwright wrote:

> On Fri 03 Apr 2009 11:14:38a, Jean B. told us...

>>
>>I tend to agree on the parents with kids spaces. I sure never
>>needed such a space. I also never parked particularly close to
>>the store.
>>
>
>
> Most likely that's because you had control of your kids. I would guess
> that you're not the "average" parent of today. :-)
>

I never used the "parents with kids" spaces. But I always had good
control of my kids. And when at the age of 2 years, my daughter went
through a brief phase where she thought it was funny to dart off into a
crow, she earned herself a harness and bungy leash. Even at the age of
27 months, she found it embarrassing enough that we only had to use it a
couple of times.

Not long ago I was up at Walmart and just down the aisle from me I saw a
student, a 4th grade girl, from one of the Gifted Ed classes that I
cover, shopping with her mother. I don't remember what the exchange was
about but the mother had told her "no" about something she wanted. And
she rolled her eyes, glared at her mom and said, "Whatever!"

Now, I don't know how it is in other parts of the country, but where I
live and teach, "Whatever" is just about as rude, dismissive and defiant
a phrase as you can come up with, shy of actual profanity, and it is
used almost exclusively by females. Any classroom where I teach is a
"No Whatever" zone.

And I spun around and snapped "Kayla!" She looked up, recognized me,
turned to her mother and produced the ritual apology, "I'm sorry for
being rude and disrespectful. It was uncalled for. There are better
ways to express my feelings."

"Mom, this is Missus H. She teaches Spectra sometimes."

I could see Mom trying to decide if she should be outraged or grateful.
And to be honest, I wasn't sure if i'd overstepped the boundaries or
not. People give lip service to the idea that it takes a village to
raise a child but...

On Sat 04 Apr 2009 05:03:54a, Kathleen told us...

> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>> On Fri 03 Apr 2009 11:14:38a, Jean B. told us...
>
>>>
>>>I tend to agree on the parents with kids spaces. I sure never
>>>needed such a space. I also never parked particularly close to
>>>the store.
>>>
>>
>>
>> Most likely that's because you had control of your kids. I would guess
>> that you're not the "average" parent of today. :-)
>>
>
> I never used the "parents with kids" spaces. But I always had good
> control of my kids. And when at the age of 2 years, my daughter went
> through a brief phase where she thought it was funny to dart off into a
> crow, she earned herself a harness and bungy leash. Even at the age of
> 27 months, she found it embarrassing enough that we only had to use it a
> couple of times.
>
> Not long ago I was up at Walmart and just down the aisle from me I saw a
> student, a 4th grade girl, from one of the Gifted Ed classes that I
> cover, shopping with her mother. I don't remember what the exchange was
> about but the mother had told her "no" about something she wanted. And
> she rolled her eyes, glared at her mom and said, "Whatever!"
>
> Now, I don't know how it is in other parts of the country, but where I
> live and teach, "Whatever" is just about as rude, dismissive and defiant
> a phrase as you can come up with, shy of actual profanity, and it is
> used almost exclusively by females. Any classroom where I teach is a
> "No Whatever" zone.

I totally agree.

> And I spun around and snapped "Kayla!" She looked up, recognized me,
> turned to her mother and produced the ritual apology, "I'm sorry for
> being rude and disrespectful. It was uncalled for. There are better
> ways to express my feelings."
>
> "Mom, this is Missus H. She teaches Spectra sometimes."
>
> I could see Mom trying to decide if she should be outraged or grateful.
> And to be honest, I wasn't sure if i'd overstepped the boundaries or
> not. People give lip service to the idea that it takes a village to
> raise a child but...

Kathleen, you're obviously a good mother and a good teacher, and not what I
perceive as part of the majority today.

--
Wayne Boatwright

"One man's meat is another man's poison"
- Oswald Dykes, English writer, 1709.

"Kathleen" > wrote in message
>
> And I spun around and snapped "Kayla!" She looked up, recognized me,
> turned to her mother and produced the ritual apology, "I'm sorry for being
> rude and disrespectful. It was uncalled for. There are better ways to
> express my feelings."
>
> "Mom, this is Missus H. She teaches Spectra sometimes."
>
> I could see Mom trying to decide if she should be outraged or grateful.
> And to be honest, I wasn't sure if i'd overstepped the boundaries or not.
> People give lip service to the idea that it takes a village to raise a
> child but...
>

You probably taught both parent and child a lesson on behavior. Ever watch
Jo, the Supernanny? Some parents have no clue and let the children control
them, but are easily fixed after some consistent attention and fortitude.
Spend an hour now for a lifetime of good behavior.

On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 11:05:40 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

>sf wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 04:29:15 +0200, ChattyCathy
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>>
>>>When you say 'insurance' do you mean insurance cover for accident
>>>damage, theft, personal injury etc.?
>>
>>
>http://www.insure.com/articles/carin...ge-levels.html
>>
>>
>Ah. Thanks. We have something called "The Road Accident Fund" here
>instead. It's not ideal, but that's the way it is.
>
>http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Road_Accident_Fund
>
>But a lot of people do buy their own private car insurance from one of
>the many insurance companies we have here - and depending on the car
>one drives and/or the level of cover one takes, it can get rather
>expensive. Sigh.

We don't have socialized car insurance over here.
>
>BTW, most insurance companies charge higher premiums for drivers under
>the age of 25 and the excess (deductible?) amounts that one has to pay
>are higher for those people too.

That's the case the world 'round, I guess, because younger drivers
tend to drive as if their car was a built like a tank and they were
immortal.


--
I love cooking with wine.
Sometimes I even put it in the food.

On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:52:39 -0700, sf wrote:

> On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:19:22 GMT, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:26:04 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:
>>
>>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>>
>>>> Good grief, indeed. Aren't you getting tired of this? God knows I
>>>> am.
>>>
>>> No, I'm a woman, remember. I will argue about this till I drop dead...
>>
>> <snort>
>>
> Women are like that, pal.

who listens?

your pal,
blake

On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 12:13:03 -0700, Dan Abel wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
>> On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:56:15 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
>>> Many couples, self-described as DINCs, also refer to couples with numerous
>>> small children as breeders. The term is not restricted for use by those of
>>> us who happen to be ***.
>>
>> i don't recall hearing the term used by straight people, but you're
>> probably right.
>
> I don't like the term at all. Many *** people have children, some
> before they realized they were ***, some as *** people. We have at
> least one regular male *** poster here, who adopted children with his
> male *** partner. My wife has a number of ******* friends, some with
> children. Are they "breeders"?

it's just another insulting term based on sexual preference. who needs it?

your pal,
blake

On Fri, 3 Apr 2009 19:30:36 -0700, Bob Terwilliger wrote:

> blake wrote:
>
>>>>> There are plenty of people who celebrate getting a disability because
>>>>> (in California, at least) it means they'll have a guaranteed income for
>>>>> the rest of their lives without lifting a finger.
>>>>
>>>> you're welcome to cut your legs off with a chain saw and join them.
>>>
>>> Feeling a little BITTER today, aren't we, Sunshine?
>>
>> no, not bitter at all. i'm laughing at you because you are stupid.
>
> Right. We both know that I am far from stupid. I wrote about the widespread
> incidence of people who are happy to be placed on disability -- a phenomenon
> which happens to be completely factual, as you yourself probably know. You
> responded with a suggestion that I cut my legs off with a chain saw.
>
> Your suggestion was obviously stupid, which means I touched a nerve and you
> ARE bitter, so now you respond with your childish attempt at flaming.
> Nothing better to do with your time, eh, Rawhide Dogie?
>
> Bob

whatever you say, o mighty triple-nine brain.

blake

On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:00:05 GMT, blake murphy
> wrote:

>On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:52:39 -0700, sf wrote:
>
>> On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:19:22 GMT, blake murphy
>> > wrote:
>>
>>>On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:26:04 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:
>>>
>>>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Good grief, indeed. Aren't you getting tired of this? God knows I
>>>>> am.
>>>>
>>>> No, I'm a woman, remember. I will argue about this till I drop dead...
>>>
>>> <snort>
>>>
>> Women are like that, pal.
>
>who listens?
>
Huh? What'd you just say?

--
Avoid cutting yourself when slicing vegetables by getting someone else
to hold them.

On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 10:12:56 -0700, sf wrote:

> On Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:00:05 GMT, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>>On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:52:39 -0700, sf wrote:
>>
>>> On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 16:19:22 GMT, blake murphy
>>> > wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Fri, 03 Apr 2009 10:26:04 +0200, ChattyCathy wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Good grief, indeed. Aren't you getting tired of this? God knows I
>>>>>> am.
>>>>>
>>>>> No, I'm a woman, remember. I will argue about this till I drop dead...
>>>>
>>>> <snort>
>>>>
>>> Women are like that, pal.
>>
>>who listens?
>>
> Huh? What'd you just say?

the underrated system for comity between the sexes. (just a joke. i am a
listener.)

your pal,
blake

while we're on the subject, i was watching a re-run episode of 'monk,' and
there was this scene:

a biker dude parks his hog and strides away. someone yells, 'you can't
park there, it's a handicapped space!'

biker dude looks over his shoulder and says 'it's o.k., i'm psychotic.'

your pal,
blake

"blake murphy" > wrote in message
...
> while we're on the subject, i was watching a re-run episode of 'monk,' and
> there was this scene:
>
> a biker dude parks his hog and strides away. someone yells, 'you can't
> park there, it's a handicapped space!'
>
> biker dude looks over his shoulder and says 'it's o.k., i'm psychotic.'
>

Sigh. My ex-husband. What a man.

On Sun 05 Apr 2009 10:56:21a, blake murphy told us...

> while we're on the subject, i was watching a re-run episode of 'monk,' and
> there was this scene:
>
> a biker dude parks his hog and strides away. someone yells, 'you can't
> park there, it's a handicapped space!'
>
> biker dude looks over his shoulder and says 'it's o.k., i'm psychotic.'
>
> your pal,
> blake
>

LOL! Seems to fit the description of a lot of drivers these days.

--
Wayne Boatwright

"One man's meat is another man's poison"
- Oswald Dykes, English writer, 1709.

Dan Abel wrote:

> In article >,
> blake murphy > wrote:
>
> > On Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:56:15 GMT, Wayne Boatwright wrote:
>
> > > Many couples, self-described as DINCs, also refer to couples with
numerous
> > > small children as breeders. The term is not restricted for use by
those of
> > > us who happen to be ***.
> >
> > i don't recall hearing the term used by straight people, but you're
> > probably right.
>
> I don't like the term at all. Many *** people have children, some
> before they realized they were ***, some as *** people. We have at
> least one regular male *** poster here, who adopted children with his
> male *** partner. My wife has a number of ******* friends, some with
> children. Are they "breeders"?


We call those "carpet munchers" or "bulldykes"...their offspring are "turkey
baster kids", Dan...


--
Best
Greg

"The trouble with socialism is that you eventually run out of other
people's money."~~~~Margaret Thatcher