I was following the case of the woman, Robin Speronis, living in a Florida town and choosing to be off grid. Since I am openly biased on the subject, I've simply followed along waiting for a verdict. The verdict is in. She can choose to continue to live the way she's been living, but she has to get connected. In essence, she isn't required to have electricity, but she does have to connect to the city water system, even if she continues to collect rain water and not use the system. So, as long as she pays a monthly connection fee, she's allowed to live the way she chooses in her own home.
What caught my attention in this latest article was the reference to "International Property Maintenance Codes" and the enforcement thereof in Cape Coral, Florida. International law has come to private property owners here in the USA. I remember when I first stumbled across this concept back in 2005 and it was presented to be voluntary . . .
Links are included for the full article and the website of the International Code Council.
http://www.offthegridnews.com/2014/02/22/court-rules-off-the-grid-living-is-illegal/
http://publicecodes.cyberregs.com/icod/ipmc/2012/
Sunday, February 23, 2014
Sunday, February 16, 2014
Paul Harvey's Newspaper Column - 1964
If I Were the Devil
If I were the Prince of Darkness I would want to engulf the whole earth in darkness.
I'd have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree.
So I should set about however necessary, to take over the United States.
I would begin with a campaign of whispers.
With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whispers to you as I whispered to Eve, "Do as you please."
To the young I would whisper "The Bible is a myth." I would convince them that "man created God," instead of the other way around. I would confide that "what is bad is good and what is good is square."
In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be "extreme" in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct.
And the old I would teach to pray — to say after me — "Our father which are in Washington."
Then I'd get organized.
I'd educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull, uninteresting.
I'd threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vice-versa.
I'd infiltrate unions and urge more loafing, less work. Idle hands usually work for me.
I'd peddle narcotics to whom I could, I'd sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction, I'd tranquilize the rest with pills.
If I were the Devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions; let those run wild.
I'd designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I'd get preachers to say, "She's right."
With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to vote against God and in favor of pornography.
Thus I would evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, then from the Houses of Congress.
Then in his own churches I'd substitute psychology for religion and deify science.
If I were Satan I'd make the symbol of Easter an egg
And the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
If I were the Devil I'd take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. Then my police state would force everybody back to work.
Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in slave-labor camps.
If I were Satan I'd just keep doing what I'm doing and the whole world go to hell as sure as the Devil.
If I were the Prince of Darkness I would want to engulf the whole earth in darkness.
I'd have a third of its real estate and four-fifths of its population, but I would not be happy until I had seized the ripest apple on the tree.
So I should set about however necessary, to take over the United States.
I would begin with a campaign of whispers.
With the wisdom of a serpent, I would whispers to you as I whispered to Eve, "Do as you please."
To the young I would whisper "The Bible is a myth." I would convince them that "man created God," instead of the other way around. I would confide that "what is bad is good and what is good is square."
In the ears of the young married I would whisper that work is debasing, that cocktail parties are good for you. I would caution them not to be "extreme" in religion, in patriotism, in moral conduct.
And the old I would teach to pray — to say after me — "Our father which are in Washington."
Then I'd get organized.
I'd educate authors in how to make lurid literature exciting so that anything else would appear dull, uninteresting.
I'd threaten TV with dirtier movies, and vice-versa.
I'd infiltrate unions and urge more loafing, less work. Idle hands usually work for me.
I'd peddle narcotics to whom I could, I'd sell alcohol to ladies and gentlemen of distinction, I'd tranquilize the rest with pills.
If I were the Devil, I would encourage schools to refine young intellects, but neglect to discipline emotions; let those run wild.
I'd designate an atheist to front for me before the highest courts and I'd get preachers to say, "She's right."
With flattery and promises of power I would get the courts to vote against God and in favor of pornography.
Thus I would evict God from the courthouse, then from the schoolhouse, then from the Houses of Congress.
Then in his own churches I'd substitute psychology for religion and deify science.
If I were Satan I'd make the symbol of Easter an egg
And the symbol of Christmas a bottle.
If I were the Devil I'd take from those who have and give to those who wanted until I had killed the incentive of the ambitious. Then my police state would force everybody back to work.
Then I would separate families, putting children in uniform, women in coal mines and objectors in slave-labor camps.
If I were Satan I'd just keep doing what I'm doing and the whole world go to hell as sure as the Devil.
Sunday, February 9, 2014
Too Much Brutality
If our society has now come to the place in which the police have to fear people already in handcuffs, what's next? As I read about tasers, and the seemingly indiscriminate way they are used, if I was in a large city, I'm not sure I'd ever want to leave the house. I know I wouldn't have a clue who to call, as far as hoping for help.
Years ago, I changed lanes without signaling and saw the flashing lights in my rear view mirror. I slowed down, but attempted to get past the exit ramp before stopping, so I wouldn't be blocking it. That new law about leaving an extra lane on the right for law enforcement and emergency vehicles had just passed, so I thought I was being diligent. Just as I got to the exit ramp, this wild cop car came circling around all the lanes, blocked me and he got out with his gun drawn. My first thought was, "this idiot is going to get someone killed" . . . with my next thought realizing he was aiming his pistol at me. He told me to put my keys on top of the car and keep my hands on the wheel.
The first cop that had flashed the lights, asked to see my driver's license. I told him I'd have to take my hands off the wheel to get it. He professionally told "Barney bad butt, to ease up . . ." The gun went to his side. As I handed the officer my driver's license, he asked me where I was going. I told him I was on my way home. He asked where I'd been, and I told him, synagogue. You could see his countenance change. He then, of course went back and ran my license, only to discover I was exactly who it said I was. He brought it back to me, and ask I reached for my purse to put it away, he saw my badge. That's right, those were in my Police and Fire Chaplain days.
He asked me why I didn't show him that to begin with. I responded that he had asked for my license and if I had broken the law, the badge shouldn't change anything. With that, he told me to have a nice evening, and signal when changing lanes. He then told the other cop to let me through.
Now, for the truly frightening part of the story. Before I'd gotten five miles up the road, the hostile officer had someone pulled over and it was clear by his body language, the interaction appeared to be less than cordial. Now, thirteen years later, this is not only intensified with tasers and cavity searches, but in nearly every investigation of severe circumstances, this brutality is now simply policy.
Years ago, I changed lanes without signaling and saw the flashing lights in my rear view mirror. I slowed down, but attempted to get past the exit ramp before stopping, so I wouldn't be blocking it. That new law about leaving an extra lane on the right for law enforcement and emergency vehicles had just passed, so I thought I was being diligent. Just as I got to the exit ramp, this wild cop car came circling around all the lanes, blocked me and he got out with his gun drawn. My first thought was, "this idiot is going to get someone killed" . . . with my next thought realizing he was aiming his pistol at me. He told me to put my keys on top of the car and keep my hands on the wheel.
The first cop that had flashed the lights, asked to see my driver's license. I told him I'd have to take my hands off the wheel to get it. He professionally told "Barney bad butt, to ease up . . ." The gun went to his side. As I handed the officer my driver's license, he asked me where I was going. I told him I was on my way home. He asked where I'd been, and I told him, synagogue. You could see his countenance change. He then, of course went back and ran my license, only to discover I was exactly who it said I was. He brought it back to me, and ask I reached for my purse to put it away, he saw my badge. That's right, those were in my Police and Fire Chaplain days.
He asked me why I didn't show him that to begin with. I responded that he had asked for my license and if I had broken the law, the badge shouldn't change anything. With that, he told me to have a nice evening, and signal when changing lanes. He then told the other cop to let me through.
Now, for the truly frightening part of the story. Before I'd gotten five miles up the road, the hostile officer had someone pulled over and it was clear by his body language, the interaction appeared to be less than cordial. Now, thirteen years later, this is not only intensified with tasers and cavity searches, but in nearly every investigation of severe circumstances, this brutality is now simply policy.
Sunday, February 2, 2014
No Credit, No Bail Out, No Lunch
Banks get bailouts. Adults get credit. College students get student loans to obtain degrees for which there are no jobs, but children can't have lunch . . .
Have we given any thought at all to the lack of logic in which so many have entrusted their children? Children cannot learn critical thinking skills from educators who have none!
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/elementary-school-takes-away-students--lunches-due-outstanding-balances-on-accounts-174726995.html
Have we given any thought at all to the lack of logic in which so many have entrusted their children? Children cannot learn critical thinking skills from educators who have none!
http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/elementary-school-takes-away-students--lunches-due-outstanding-balances-on-accounts-174726995.html
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