In case the caption didn't come through clearly, the lifeguard is saying, "Not on MY beach!"
Sharks. That's next.
At least we're not dealing with the Gulf oil spill, yet, anyway.
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the water ...
Molly the dog asked me to post this. She thinks it's hilarious. Of course, she loves Marmaduke.
In case the caption didn't come through clearly, the lifeguard is saying, "Not on MY beach!"
Sharks. That's next.
At least we're not dealing with the Gulf oil spill, yet, anyway.
In case the caption didn't come through clearly, the lifeguard is saying, "Not on MY beach!"
Sharks. That's next.
At least we're not dealing with the Gulf oil spill, yet, anyway.
Friday, July 30, 2010
The true cost of development
The cost of development
Holey moley, here's a little bite of what developers cost our county:
It was the forces of development that tried to force through a bunch of rules revisions that would de-fang the Volusia Growth Management Commission.
After countless hours of meetings and pushes from developers' attorneys, the residents of Volusia County spoke out last year. Most of the changes were canned.
Attorney Paul Chipok of GrayRobinson, who represents the Growth Management Commission, provided the commission a breakdown of legal consulting fees relevant to the rules changes. It's the taxpayers who foot the bill for this, remember.
For fiscal years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 the total came to $70,241.
It's just a drop in the bucket of the true cost to the taxpayers for developers maneuvering to get what they want.
Think of all the money county and city governments spend on the development process — millions — on hearings, comp plan changes, appealing state rulings, going to court. Think of all the hours county staff — legal and planning — put in on Farmton, to help push it through.
Then think how much you spend in taxes to pave and maintain the roads, put in the fire stations and law-enforcement officers, maintain the sewer lines and everything else for the development after it is built.
HISS X 5.
Holey moley, here's a little bite of what developers cost our county:
It was the forces of development that tried to force through a bunch of rules revisions that would de-fang the Volusia Growth Management Commission.
After countless hours of meetings and pushes from developers' attorneys, the residents of Volusia County spoke out last year. Most of the changes were canned.
Attorney Paul Chipok of GrayRobinson, who represents the Growth Management Commission, provided the commission a breakdown of legal consulting fees relevant to the rules changes. It's the taxpayers who foot the bill for this, remember.
For fiscal years 2007-08, 2008-09 and 2009-10 the total came to $70,241.
It's just a drop in the bucket of the true cost to the taxpayers for developers maneuvering to get what they want.
Think of all the money county and city governments spend on the development process — millions — on hearings, comp plan changes, appealing state rulings, going to court. Think of all the hours county staff — legal and planning — put in on Farmton, to help push it through.
Then think how much you spend in taxes to pave and maintain the roads, put in the fire stations and law-enforcement officers, maintain the sewer lines and everything else for the development after it is built.
HISS X 5.
Thursday, July 29, 2010
Poster cat
Hey, there. Here are some photos of moi:
This is me in all my splendiferousness. No, I am not pregnant. I am a 13-year-old male.
And, do not call me "Orca!"
This is me in all my splendiferousness. No, I am not pregnant. I am a 13-year-old male.
And, do not call me "Orca!"
My hero
My hero, William Shatner: He's big and fat and sassy. And hammy. And just like me, he gets away with a heck of a lot!
Hiring consultants for beach driving is crazy
I've been itching to post this all week. Getting my typist to work for me was difficult, however.
Here's the thing on the County Council's decision to hire a consultant ($50K, no less) to look into beach driving: It's a stupid waste of money. It does, however, get the County Council off the hook for making a decision now, during election season.
The consultants aren't going to tell the council members a durn thing they don't already know.
Here's what they can do on beach driving (and I'll tell 'em for free):
1. Continue as usual.
2. Prohibit all driving on the beach.
3. Designate more drive-free zones on the beach through Daytona Beach
4. Get more off-beach parking to assist with items 2 and 3.
There!
I never go to the beach, with my aversion to getting wet. My person had a squirt gun out the other night, and the thought of it wetting us drove Jack and I under the bed. Uggghhhhh.
But prohibiting beach driving does no more than turn our beaches into private preserves for the hotel owners, while access for locals would be just about nil.
More good areas where families can park close by and hit the beach is the ticket.
If the County Council would like to pay me for this advice, I'll be happy to take it. Let me know, and I'll set up PayPal.
Booyah!
Here's the thing on the County Council's decision to hire a consultant ($50K, no less) to look into beach driving: It's a stupid waste of money. It does, however, get the County Council off the hook for making a decision now, during election season.
The consultants aren't going to tell the council members a durn thing they don't already know.
Here's what they can do on beach driving (and I'll tell 'em for free):
1. Continue as usual.
2. Prohibit all driving on the beach.
3. Designate more drive-free zones on the beach through Daytona Beach
4. Get more off-beach parking to assist with items 2 and 3.
There!
I never go to the beach, with my aversion to getting wet. My person had a squirt gun out the other night, and the thought of it wetting us drove Jack and I under the bed. Uggghhhhh.
But prohibiting beach driving does no more than turn our beaches into private preserves for the hotel owners, while access for locals would be just about nil.
More good areas where families can park close by and hit the beach is the ticket.
If the County Council would like to pay me for this advice, I'll be happy to take it. Let me know, and I'll set up PayPal.
Booyah!
Monday, July 26, 2010
On Amendment 4
Here's a thoughtful post making the rounds. After reading all the hysterical hoopla, read something that makes sense: "Amendment 4 — Hell, Yes: It's Common Sense!"
Saturday, July 24, 2010
And the rains came
I don't really understand people sometimes.
Rain just isn't my thing. I don't like getting wet. Dry weather is just fine with me, as long as there's some drinking water in my dish.
After a couple of weeks of no rain, we've been getting little showers off and on all day. To look at my person and her friend, you'd think they've been using catnip or something.
They jump up and run to the door and make noises like they're all excited. My person ran out onto the front porch, grabbed her potted herbs and sat them out where they would get all wet (shudder). It was awful.
She ran out into the drizzle too, to coo to her tomato plants and cantaloupe vines.
Strange. People are just strange.
Rain just isn't my thing. I don't like getting wet. Dry weather is just fine with me, as long as there's some drinking water in my dish.
After a couple of weeks of no rain, we've been getting little showers off and on all day. To look at my person and her friend, you'd think they've been using catnip or something.
They jump up and run to the door and make noises like they're all excited. My person ran out onto the front porch, grabbed her potted herbs and sat them out where they would get all wet (shudder). It was awful.
She ran out into the drizzle too, to coo to her tomato plants and cantaloupe vines.
Strange. People are just strange.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)