On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:45:16 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

> her school has a pool and the kids get to swim in it
> two or three times a week in the summertime (fully supervised, of course)
> so I don't think she's "missing out"

That's quite a perk. Pools in public schools are few and far between
here.

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:11:42 +0200, "Giusi" >
wrote:

>
> "ChattyCathy" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> > I think what one also has to factor into the decision about building an>
> > outdoor pool or buying a property with one already in situ is how many
> > months of the year you're actually going to make use of it. If it's less>
> > than 6-8 months of the year, >fageddaboudit, IMHO.
>
> Sorry to interrupt, Cathy, but you've been missing. Please make them stop
> with the Vuvuzelas! It's driving me mad.
>
I didn't like them at first either; it sounded like a bad traffic jam
in New York city. But then I realized they were so constant that they
would soon become background noise (white sound). I watched a
vuvusela demonstration yesterday and it takes a lot of lung power to
blow one. So, considering how violent European soccer fans can get, I
started thinking it's better for them to put their energy into blowing
a stupid horn than beating up on fellow spectators.

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:24:43 -0500, George Leppla
> wrote:

> We are looking into possibly moving way far south where the weather
> might make a pool usable 9 to 10 months a year. I have never considered
> owning a pool before and won't go looking for a house with one on
> purpose, but if a house we look at has one, I won't automatically rule
> it out like I have in the past.

If you move to a warm area where in ground pools are common, you will
have lots of choices! Do you have a state in mind? Are you moving to
be closer to family?

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:14:57 -0600, "gloria.p" >
wrote:

> A vineyard, an orchard!

too much work!

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:11:42 +0200, Giusi wrote:

> Sorry to interrupt, Cathy, but you've been missing. Please make them stop
> with the Vuvuzelas! It's driving me mad.

It would seem you're not alone:

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/Worl...lease-20100610

or

http://tinyurl.com/38nnub2

Howzat for an HOA-type decision?
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:11:42 +0200, Giusi wrote:

> Sorry to interrupt, Cathy, but you've been missing. Please make them stop
> with the Vuvuzelas! It's driving me mad.

It would seem you're not alone:

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/Worl...lease-20100610

or

http://tinyurl.com/38nnub2

Howzat for an HOA-type decision?
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:11:42 +0200, Giusi wrote:

> Sorry to interrupt, Cathy, but you've been missing. Please make them stop
> with the Vuvuzelas! It's driving me mad.

It would seem you're not alone:

http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/Worl...lease-20100610

or

http://tinyurl.com/38nnub2

Howzat for an HOA-type decision?
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:29:19 -0400, "Nancy Young"
> wrote:

> I think you people know just what would *really* impress me.
> If someone owned a castle with a park attached.

and some of those blow up things to jump in? Oh, not *that* kind of
castle and park?

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On 6/17/2010 10:52 AM, sf wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:24:43 -0500, George Leppla
> > wrote:
>
>> We are looking into possibly moving way far south where the weather
>> might make a pool usable 9 to 10 months a year. I have never considered
>> owning a pool before and won't go looking for a house with one on
>> purpose, but if a house we look at has one, I won't automatically rule
>> it out like I have in the past.
>
> If you move to a warm area where in ground pools are common, you will
> have lots of choices! Do you have a state in mind? Are you moving to
> be closer to family?
>

In the past few years, we have spent some time in the Rio Grande Valley
area of South Texas and we like it there a lot. We like Shreveport, but
are looking for a place to retire and this isn't it. Cost of living and
real estate is pretty low in that area and we like that kind of
weather.... especially the mild winters.

Won't be any closer to family and that is a bummer..... but nothing is
written in stone and we are in no hurry to move. Just looking down the
road a year or two.

George L

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 08:38:11 -0700, sf wrote:

> On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:45:16 +0200, ChattyCathy
> > wrote:
>
>> her school has a pool and the kids get to swim in it two or three times
>> a week in the summertime (fully supervised, of course) so I don't think
>> she's "missing out"
>
> That's quite a perk. Pools in public schools are few and far between
> here.

But, but, but.. Daaahlink, our Little Princess attends a *private*
school...

However, quite a few local public schools I know of have swimming pools -
and excellent sports facilities in general. Hey, we live in Sunny South
Africa - and I think Johannesburg (and the surrounding satellite suburbs
have almost as many (private) pools per square mile as Hollywood does
(well, almost).

--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

On 6/17/2010 10:52 AM, sf wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:24:43 -0500, George Leppla
> > wrote:
>
>
>> We are looking into possibly moving way far south where the weather
>> might make a pool usable 9 to 10 months a year. I have never considered
>> owning a pool before and won't go looking for a house with one on
>> purpose, but if a house we look at has one, I won't automatically rule
>> it out like I have in the past.
>>
> If you move to a warm area where in ground pools are common, you will
> have lots of choices! Do you have a state in mind? Are you moving to
> be closer to family?
>

We are thinking about moving to south Texas, to the Rio Grande Valley.
We would be Janet Wilder's neighbors.

Becca

Giusi wrote:

> Please make them stop with the Vuvuzelas! It's driving me mad.

It reminded me of the opening bars of Korn's A.D.I.D.A.S.


Bob

Food Snob® wrote:

>
> S.A. may not get to host the World Cup again for the next 100 years.
>
> --Bryan

We can but live in hope...
--
Cheers
Chatty Cathy

Food Snob® wrote:

>> Sorry to interrupt, Cathy, but you've been missing. Please make them stop
>> with the Vuvuzelas! It's driving me mad.
>
> S.A. may not get to host the World Cup again for the next 100 years.
>
> --Bryan


All soccer matches involving South or Central American teams have
had "vuvuzelas" for as long as I can remember (and that's a LONG time.)
The stuff about it being recently derived from African tribal
instruments is a fiction that sports writers have adopted.

gloria p

sf wrote:
> On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:45:16 +0200, ChattyCathy
> > wrote:
>
>> her school has a pool and the kids get to swim in it
>> two or three times a week in the summertime (fully supervised, of course)
>> so I don't think she's "missing out"
>
> That's quite a perk. Pools in public schools are few and far between
> here.
>


In New England I never knew of a school with a pool. Most high schools
in Colorado have them. In addition to competitive swimming and diving
our local h.s. has P.E. classes in basic swimming, SCUBA and lifeguard
certification, kayaking, water polo, and drownproofing skills.

gloria p

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:01:47 -0500, George Leppla
> wrote:

> Won't be any closer to family and that is a bummer..... but nothing is
> written in stone and we are in no hurry to move. Just looking down the
> road a year or two.

Yes, that *is* a bummer. I love being close to my family.

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:10:23 -0500, Becca > wrote:

> We are thinking about moving to south Texas, to the Rio Grande Valley.
> We would be Janet Wilder's neighbors.

That would be nice!

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:54:09 -0600, "gloria.p" >
wrote:

> All soccer matches involving South or Central American teams have
> had "vuvuzelas" for as long as I can remember (and that's a LONG time.)
> The stuff about it being recently derived from African tribal
> instruments is a fiction that sports writers have adopted.

I heard the *word* was zulu or derived from zulu, I don't remember
which it one it was.

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:06:16 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

> But, but, but.. Daaahlink, our Little Princess attends a *private*
> school...

Let me amend that statement: Pools in schools (public or private) are
few and far between here.
>
> However, quite a few local public schools I know of have swimming pools -
> and excellent sports facilities in general. Hey, we live in Sunny South
> Africa - and I think Johannesburg (and the surrounding satellite suburbs
> have almost as many (private) pools per square mile as Hollywood does
> (well, almost).

My (public) high school had a pool, not every HS in the city did and
no elementary school within the city limits (public or private) has
one as far as I know. So I remain impressed.

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 11:01:33 -0600, "gloria.p" >
wrote:

> sf wrote:
> > On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:45:16 +0200, ChattyCathy
> > > wrote:
> >
> >> her school has a pool and the kids get to swim in it
> >> two or three times a week in the summertime (fully supervised, of course)
> >> so I don't think she's "missing out"
> >
> > That's quite a perk. Pools in public schools are few and far between
> > here.
> >
>
>
> In New England I never knew of a school with a pool. Most high schools
> in Colorado have them. In addition to competitive swimming and diving
> our local h.s. has P.E. classes in basic swimming, SCUBA and lifeguard
> certification, kayaking, water polo, and drownproofing skills.
>
Cathy knows where "here" is for me.


--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

sf > wrote:

>My (public) high school had a pool, not every HS in the city did and
>no elementary school within the city limits (public or private) has
>one as far as I know. So I remain impressed.

Were there high schools without swim teams?

steve

On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 20:12:05 -0400, brooklyn1 wrote:

> On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 17:41:37 -0400, blake murphy
> > wrote:
>
>>On Mon, 14 Jun 2010 18:23:54 +0000 (UTC), Steve Pope wrote:
>>
>>> sf > wrote:
>>>
>>>>On Sat, 12 Jun 2010 05:30:28 +0000 (UTC),
>>>
>>>>> They are truly Dark Overlords.
>>>
>>>>No, they're not. CC&Rs don't magically change at every meeting, but
>>>>they are enforced. One of the first recourses you'd have in a
>>>>neighborhood dispute is to take it to the board. The reason the board
>>>>becomes the bad guy is that they *do* enforce rules, so there's a
>>>>winner and a loser... and nobody likes to lose. If the majority of
>>>>voting residents don't agree with the board's decisions, then the
>>>>board needs to be voted out - but then new people have to step in and
>>>>be willing to serve.
>>>
>>> I'm not so concerned about disputes among the members of the HOA,
>>> as I am with the HOA's relationship with larger society. The
>>> history is HOA's are racist and anti-environmentalist.
>>
>>the racist part was true at one time but that has been illegal for years.
>
> Now that is hilarious... there are no more racists! LOL-LOL

not until you finally commit suicide.

blake

In article >,
(Steve Pope) wrote:

> sf > wrote:
>
> >My (public) high school had a pool, not every HS in the city did and
> >no elementary school within the city limits (public or private) has
> >one as far as I know. So I remain impressed.
>
> Were there high schools without swim teams?

Any unheated outdoor school pool in my town could have been used by the
ice skating team during much of the winter.

:-)

My high school didn't have a swim team. It was before my time, but my
high school had an indoor pool. It was closed when somebody died.

--
Dan Abel
Petaluma, California USA

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 18:42:56 +0000 (UTC),
(Steve Pope) wrote:

> sf > wrote:
>
> >My (public) high school had a pool, not every HS in the city did and
> >no elementary school within the city limits (public or private) has
> >one as far as I know. So I remain impressed.
>
> Were there high schools without swim teams?
>
I have no idea, but logic says at least one must have had one. We
have lots of public pools in SF, so if other schools had swim teams
I'm sure they practiced there.


--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

"Bob Terwilliger" > ha scritto nel messaggio
> Giusi wrote:
>
>> Please make them stop with the Vuvuzelas! It's driving me mad.
>
> It reminded me of the opening bars of Korn's A.D.I.D.A.S.

Opening bars do not go on every afternoon and night for a month. I really
tried again last night to watch France-Mexico. Argh!

"ChattyCathy" > ha scritto nel messaggio
news:4yrSn.60248$nW1.2554@hurricane...
> On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 16:11:42 +0200, Giusi wrote:
>
>> Sorry to interrupt, Cathy, but you've been missing. Please make them
>> stop
>> with the Vuvuzelas! It's driving me mad.
>
> It would seem you're not alone:
>
> http://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/Worl...lease-20100610
>

But were I there I would still hear them if I watched the game on TV. As I
presently try to do. The Italian TV folks have gotten marginally better at
toning the noise down, but it still is way too much. If I want to hear the
commentators, I have to hear that terrible buzzing. And my man, Buffon is
gone. Woe is me!

On 6/17/2010 4:29 PM, Dan Abel wrote:
> In >,
> (Steve Pope) wrote:
>
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> My (public) high school had a pool, not every HS in the city did and
>>> no elementary school within the city limits (public or private) has
>>> one as far as I know. So I remain impressed.
>>
>> Were there high schools without swim teams?
>
> Any unheated outdoor school pool in my town could have been used by the
> ice skating team during much of the winter.
>
> :-)
>
> My high school didn't have a swim team. It was before my time, but my
> high school had an indoor pool. It was closed when somebody died.
>
The high school I went to was so small we didn't even have a wading
pool. Thirty-two people in my graduating class and that was the largest
in 40 years. This year they graduated 110 and were crowing about it at
the annual get together.

Being a Texas school we were big on football, six-man style. Didn't even
have a baseball team but did have a basketball team. Swimming? You did
that in Cow Bayou and to hell with the alligators.

On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 19:50:15 -0700, Terry Pulliam Burd
> wrote:

>On Tue, 15 Jun 2010 10:43:56 -0500, Lou Decruss
> wrote:
>
>>Now I remember why I hate the legal system.
>>
>I would suggest, Lou, that what is hated is the *tort* system, not the
>legal system in general. I usually defend the tort system, up to a
>point, but there are enough frivolous lawsuits out there to gag a
>maggot.

You may be right Terry. I'm not sure. Legal terminology is far to
confusing for me to understand everything. I don't have a problem
with lawyers making good money because they have the brains and
discipline to do something there's no way I could do. I feel the same
with doctors.

But the ****ing match you mentioned over a paint color costing more
than 4,000 is just insane.

In my divorce I got the to claim my kid as a dependant. The ex always
filed first and claimed him. I submitted the decree to the IRS but
they didn't care and they said whoever files first gets the deduction
and I'd have to go to court. I did the first year and it cost me more
than I would have got for the deduction. The judge told her not to do
it again but she did.

How she abused the insurance co-pay I got stuck with is another story.
I had to go back to court to get her to think before she took the boy
to the emergency room. It didn't matter to her as I had to pay
anything the insurance company denied. They weren't happy when the
diagnosis came back as gas. I got stuck with that bill (and others)
and had other issues so we went back to court. All I could get was
for her to pay for 1/3 of any bills the insurance didn't pay. I
wanted 50%. It didn't matter as she stopped doing it. It cost me a
lot but it was worth it. I see both sides of the fence but having a
judge made a decision shouldn't cost so much IMO.

Lou

On Thu, 17 Jun 2010 15:45:16 +0200, ChattyCathy
> wrote:

>On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 13:55:10 -0400, Nancy Young wrote:
>
>> I'd be impressed by a nice house on a big property with room for horses,
>> overlooking a beautiful river. All paid for.
>
>I suppose 3 outta 4 ain't bad - we decided against buying a property with
>river-frontage for various reasons (which I won't bore you with)...
>
>> Heh. A pool? If it didn't come with the house I wouldn't put one in.
>> It's nice to have but I wouldn't pay a lot for it.
>
>Agreed. We don't have an outdoor pool on our property and don't miss
>having one. IMO, they're a PITA to keep clean and the chemicals they
>require cost the earth (at least here they do). Not to mention the pump
>and all the other peripherals etc. We have one of those "paddling pools"
>for the kidlette and she has plenty of fun splashing around in it (weather
>permitting). Besides, her school has a pool and the kids get to swim in it
>two or three times a week in the summertime (fully supervised, of course)
>so I don't think she's "missing out" (and I don't have to worry about
>maintaining/cleaning it <g>).
>
>I think what one also has to factor into the decision about building an
>outdoor pool or buying a property with one already in situ is how many
>months of the year you're actually going to make use of it. If it's less
>than 6-8 months of the year, fageddaboudit, IMHO.

In my area the season is traditionally Memorial Day to Labor Day.
That's like 13 weeks. Doesn't make sense to me unless you use it
daily. To extend the season the heater would have to run constantly.
But if someone has the money and wants one I say go for it. If I
lived in Florida I might want one but I don't like Florida. Indoor
pools are very nice but you're talking a different world as far as
money to keep up with them. The FIL of an old boss has a place in
central Wisconsin 5 hours northwest of Chicago. He's wealthy and has
an indoor pool. In the winter to keep it at a useable temperature it
was 50 bucks a day 10 years ago. I don't know anything about
maintenance costs but I'm sure it's a big chunk-O-cash. Around here a
pool isn't a good thing for resale because it drastically limits
potential buyers. My dad bought a house with a good sized in-ground
pool because his wife wanted it. After a few years the diving board
went bye-bye for insurance reasons. He eventually got tired of the
maintenance costs and brought a backhoe in to cave the walls in and
fill the hole. He now has a very nice backyard.

Lou

On 6/14/2010 9:33 PM, Lou Decruss wrote:
> On Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:05:45 -0700, Dan > wrote:
>
>> In >,
>> Lou > wrote:
>>
>> [snipped attribution]
>>
>>
>>>> that when HOAs don't carry their full community obligations they can
>>>> lose their HOA status, those units still occupied get reassesed and
>>>> suffer a big tax hike to make up for all those empties that are not
>>>> paying taxes.
>>>
>>> That's interesting but I think I'll call bullshit.
>>
>> Well of course. Taxes are not reasonable. They never have been, and
>> never will. Don't even try to think of them as a reasonable charge for
>> services rendered.
>
> They're very reasonable if you're working for minimum wage and 4 kids
> in public schools. When I was young and pushing 6 figures and giving
> 20% of that to my ex for child support and had no deductions it was a
> joke.

Around here if you inherited a dilapidated house the property tax is
going to take about a quarter of your minimum wage.

>> Same thing for the example given at the top. If my house is in a HOA
>> that is failing, and my property is worth little, I can call the county
>> and ask them to reassess my property, presumably at a lower rate, and my
>> taxes will be lowered to reflect the actual situation.
>
> You are correct and that's where shemp is wrong. At least in most
> states. In my state property taxes are actually going up even though
> value has dropped like the rest of the country.
>
> Lou

On 6/16/2010 4:08 AM, sf wrote:
> On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:05:17 -0500, >
> wrote:
>
>> Some, yes, but I was referring to property and personal crimes. Like
>> muggings and home break-ins.
>
> Mugging, you're where you shouldn't be. Home break-in, you bought in
> a bad area or did something incredibly stupid like leaving the doors
> unlocked or the windows wide open when you left the house. Most
> robbers don't enter an occupied home, unless of course large amounts
> of cash, gold or drugs are on the premises. Two out of those three
> tell me you're probably up to no good too.
>
>>
>> And rapes...
>
> If the female is attacked from behind and that's usually the case, a
> gun will not help that situation.

Truly amazing the things you don't know about crime.

In article >,
"J. Clarke" > wrote:

> On 6/16/2010 4:08 AM, sf wrote:
> > On Wed, 16 Jun 2010 01:05:17 -0500, >
> > wrote:
> >
> >> Some, yes, but I was referring to property and personal crimes. Like
> >> muggings and home break-ins.
> >
> > Mugging, you're where you shouldn't be. Home break-in, you bought in
> > a bad area or did something incredibly stupid like leaving the doors
> > unlocked or the windows wide open when you left the house. Most
> > robbers don't enter an occupied home, unless of course large amounts
> > of cash, gold or drugs are on the premises. Two out of those three
> > tell me you're probably up to no good too.
> >
> >>
> >> And rapes...
> >
> > If the female is attacked from behind and that's usually the case, a
> > gun will not help that situation.
>
> Truly amazing the things you don't know about crime.

Indeed...

The vast majority of rapes are "date rapes":

<http://www.google.com/#hl=en&q=major...aqi=&aql=&oq=&
gs_rfai=&fp=64f719c8669fe4b7>

Or planned.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
*Only Irish *coffee provides in a single glass all four *essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar *and fat. --Alex Levine

On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:37:18 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:

> Indeed...
>
> The vast majority of rapes are "date rapes":
>

A gun is supposed to help in that situation?

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

In article >,
sf > wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:37:18 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
> > Indeed...
> >
> > The vast majority of rapes are "date rapes":
> >
>
> A gun is supposed to help in that situation?

Depends on your level of preparedness... <g>

Especially if one does not know the guy.

I personally do not care to make myself that vulnerable. But yes means
yes and no means NO!

My holster is a fanny pack purse carried in the "crossdraw" position.
It's incredibly fast and easy.

But I honestly hope to never have to use it. I'd prefer not to put
myself into that position in the first place.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:23:36 -0500, Omelet >
wrote:

> In article >,
> sf > wrote:
>
> > On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:37:18 -0500, Omelet >
> > wrote:
> >
> > > Indeed...
> > >
> > > The vast majority of rapes are "date rapes":
> > >
> >
> > A gun is supposed to help in that situation?
>
> Depends on your level of preparedness... <g>
>
> Especially if one does not know the guy.
>
Oh, come on. That's scare mongering at its best.

--
Forget the health food. I need all the preservatives I can get.

In article >,
sf > wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 15:23:36 -0500, Omelet >
> wrote:
>
> > In article >,
> > sf > wrote:
> >
> > > On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:37:18 -0500, Omelet >
> > > wrote:
> > >
> > > > Indeed...
> > > >
> > > > The vast majority of rapes are "date rapes":
> > > >
> > >
> > > A gun is supposed to help in that situation?
> >
> > Depends on your level of preparedness... <g>
> >
> > Especially if one does not know the guy.
> >
> Oh, come on. That's scare mongering at its best.

Tell that to the girls it has happened to... I've been involved in more
than one rape workup from the ER.

I've seen the results in person.

Have you?
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 11:13:28 -0700, sf > wrote:

>On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:37:18 -0500, Omelet >
>wrote:
>
>> Indeed...
>>
>> The vast majority of rapes are "date rapes":
>>
>
>A gun is supposed to help in that situation?

Date rapes are typically non violent, if they even are rapes, more
likely an afterthought when the next day the gal realizes the guy is
finished with her and she has a hissy fit. Sure there are cases where
a drug is slipped into a drink but then a gun ain't gonna be of any
use, except to the perp who lifts it. There are a lot better ways to
keep from getting raped/attacked than carrying a firearm... an ounce
of common sense is worth more than an entire arsenal.

In article >,
brooklyn1 > wrote:

> On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 11:13:28 -0700, sf > wrote:
>
> >On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:37:18 -0500, Omelet >
> >wrote:
> >
> >> Indeed...
> >>
> >> The vast majority of rapes are "date rapes":
> >>
> >
> >A gun is supposed to help in that situation?
>
> Date rapes are typically non violent, if they even are rapes, more
> likely an afterthought when the next day the gal realizes the guy is
> finished with her and she has a hissy fit. Sure there are cases where
> a drug is slipped into a drink but then a gun ain't gonna be of any
> use, except to the perp who lifts it. There are a lot better ways to
> keep from getting raped/attacked than carrying a firearm... an ounce
> of common sense is worth more than an entire arsenal.

I actually agree with that... It's best not to put yourself into a bad
situation in the first place.
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine

On Sun, 20 Jun 2010 12:02:31 -0400, "J. Clarke"
> wrote:

>On 6/14/2010 9:33 PM, Lou Decruss wrote:
>> On Mon, 14 Jun 2010 12:05:45 -0700, Dan > wrote:
>>
>>> In >,
>>> Lou > wrote:
>>>
>>> [snipped attribution]
>>>
>>>
>>>>> that when HOAs don't carry their full community obligations they can
>>>>> lose their HOA status, those units still occupied get reassesed and
>>>>> suffer a big tax hike to make up for all those empties that are not
>>>>> paying taxes.
>>>>
>>>> That's interesting but I think I'll call bullshit.
>>>
>>> Well of course. Taxes are not reasonable. They never have been, and
>>> never will. Don't even try to think of them as a reasonable charge for
>>> services rendered.
>>
>> They're very reasonable if you're working for minimum wage and 4 kids
>> in public schools. When I was young and pushing 6 figures and giving
>> 20% of that to my ex for child support and had no deductions it was a
>> joke.
>
>Around here if you inherited a dilapidated house the property tax is
>going to take about a quarter of your minimum wage.

Sure if you could even pay the inheritance tax. And a minimum wage
job would never cover the maintenance of a house. A person making
minimum wage pays little in income tax. If they have kids they are
educated and get food at school. Most likely the family will also
qualify for food stamps and be eligible to go to food banks. They may
also qualify for energy assistance for heating costs and be able to
live in subsidized housing. All this is a great deal for someone
paying little or no taxes. The education alone for the kids is a
value. I'm not sure why you brought up property taxes because there's
no way someone making 8 bucks an hour with 4 kids will own a house.
Even if they could the property tax would be a value for educating 4
kids. My state (Illinois) spent $11,383.00 per pupil in 2008.

All I'l saying is taxes are reasonable for low wage earners.

Lou

In article >,
Lou Decruss > wrote:

> Sure if you could even pay the inheritance tax. And a minimum wage
> job would never cover the maintenance of a house. A person making
> minimum wage pays little in income tax. If they have kids they are
> educated and get food at school. Most likely the family will also
> qualify for food stamps and be eligible to go to food banks. They may
> also qualify for energy assistance for heating costs and be able to
> live in subsidized housing. All this is a great deal for someone
> paying little or no taxes. The education alone for the kids is a
> value. I'm not sure why you brought up property taxes because there's
> no way someone making 8 bucks an hour with 4 kids will own a house.
> Even if they could the property tax would be a value for educating 4
> kids. My state (Illinois) spent $11,383.00 per pupil in 2008.
>
> All I'l saying is taxes are reasonable for low wage earners.
>
> Lou

Actually. if you shop the repo' market like I did, mortgage can be lower
than paying apartment rent... Especially in a college town like this
one. Even refinanced for home repairs, my house payment is lower than
any decent rentals in the area. And that includes my annual property tax.
This is a 3 bedroom too.

It'll be paid off in November 2012. Yay! :-)
--
Peace! Om

Web Albums: <http://picasaweb.google.com/OMPOmelet>
Only Irish coffee provides in a single glass all four essential food groups: alcohol, caffeine, sugar and fat. --Alex Levine