BIRTH CERTIFICATE OF UCO

From the files of yesteryear.

The real intent.

"sort of umbrella association"

UCO Reporter, November '08 issue, the current issue, FROM THE DESK OF PRESIDENT GEORGE LOEWENSTEIN

"UCO ( United Civic Organization) was formed as a sort of Umbrella Association...."

Is there any person out there who can explain in legal language what a "sort of umbrella association" is.

Is there a place in 718 where I could look this up. Or perhaps George Loewenstein could elaborate on where he got such a definition, and what that actually means.

Looking forward to your answers.

The Real CV Comcast Problem

At the Delegate Mtg Dave listed the second batch of channels removed, there were also some in June.
We are getting reduced service with no reduction in price.
If you are renting a set-top-box you do not care, since these channels have been punted into the digital bands (for more profit for Comcast).
The majority of CV people are receiving Comcast Enhanced Basic for the CV rate of $20.55/month (going up 5% next year).
Comcast is ignoring our requests for fair treatment.
Comcast is pushing us to rent their set-top-boxes to get our channels back (for more profit for Comcast).

June '08 removals:
46 C-Span 2 Senate
65 Oxygen
79 CMT Country Music Channel
Mid-October '08 removals
29 HBO Signature
72 ETW religion
26 Style
39 Shop NBC

how male and female brains are different

by Mark Gungor. That is not at all funny.

UCO - BUSINESS AS USUAL - REVERSION TO TYPE

Hi All,
This Morning, 30 October 2008, I was invited to a meeting of the Officers Committee at the Camden pool UCO office.

VP Frank Cornish invited me hopefully to contribute to the issue of combining the BLOG with the Official CV Web site, and implementing a "Contact Us" button on the CV Web site., thanks Frank.

I had previously implemented such a facility on this BLOG, Whereupon, UCO in it's typical "Not Invented Here" (NIH) doctrinal philosophy rejected that capability, out of hand.

VP Sal Bummolo, who's favorite phrase is "There is something that you may not be aware of", a standard saying by those folks who think they know everything; implied that the responses on the BLOG were inaccurate and controversial. Gee Sal, have you read the latest issue of the UCO Reporter, it resembles an irrational cat fight conducted by children.

Sal further implied that the only people who are qualified to answer questions are Officers of UCO, or Committee Chairs, most certainly not yours truly.

Secretary Avis Blank further opined that the only person on earth qualified to implement the Contact Us Facility was Pat Blunck.

Both positions are utterly absurd.

Under the current regime, the very fact of being elected seems to transfer to certain incumbents, from the ether no doubt, a Universal knowledge of all things, along with this miracle comes the apparent belief that the rest of us mere Unit-Owners know nothing and have nothing to contribute.

My experience with some of the incumbents suggest that they have no knowledge of the Law, no respect for the Law and worst of all, no capability of researching the correct Legal response to most questions.

Let me assure all of the UCO Officers and the LCAM that when I research the law and provide a reference from Florida Statutes or Administrative Code, it is neither inaccurate nor controversial.

When I raised my hand seeking recognition to speak, Chair person Pro-Tempore, in President Loewenstein's absence, Treasurer Tetro, made it very clear that there would be no contributions from non-members of the Officers Committee until all business was concluded and all the decisions had been made.

Queen Tetro, who's first public comment upon being elected Treasurer, was; "I have no experience, but I know what lines to put the numbers on"
Made it very clear by her actions that the concept of "Open Meetings" is now extinct once again in CV.

So, what is a dedicated volunteer who has something to contribute supposed to do?

In the current reign of darkness, it is clear that no such volunteers are really wanted; the "we know it all and you know nothing" doctrine reigns supreme. As the micro-management increases and the Loewenstein inner core of acolytes and sycophants slide back into the "business as usual" mode; perhaps the only valid course of action is to walk away.

Dave Israel

Chain of command

Should the President of any Organization be unavailable, for any length
of time, whether it be a day, week, or month..the duties are assumed
by the Vice President until the President is once more able to resume
their position, or choose to resign, in which case a special election would
follow. That is the typical route....however, we here, at UCO, have
4 VP's, 2 elected every other year..and from what I've heard, all have
equal standing. Does seniority not mean a thing, and is UCO exempt
from the universal practice of having a Vice President step in at such
time, or can the President appoint a Secretary, Treasurer etc., to
fill the role?
Appreciate your input....Thank you...

THE COMCAST PROBLEM

The following article was extracted from Time magazine.

Thanks to John Sapponaro for the reference.

Dave Israel

----------------------------------------------------------------

REF: http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1848728,00.html

COMCAST'S Challenge

BY: Bob Diddlebock

---

The Comcast Kingdom's new 56-story castle in Philadelphia's Center City is gilt-edged--a gleaming obelisk, from its flushless urinals to the sumptuous cafeteria named for the company's 88-year-old co-founder Ralph Roberts.

---

"The tallest [building] between New York and Chicago," gushes the hometown Inquirer.

---
Erecting a corporate monument is often the kiss of death. But Comcast leases the building, perhaps a more fitting tribute to Roberts, a suspenders-and-belt salesman who parlayed a tiny system in Tupelo, Miss., into the nation's largest cable-TV operation, with 24 million subscribers and $31 billion in annual revenue.

---
Despite not-bad first-half financial results, these are cautious times for Roberts and his son Brian, 49, the corporation's CEO. Cable companies like Comcast and Time Warner Cable (which is being spun off from Time Warner Inc., TIME's parent) are getting competition from all directions. As Brian Roberts put it in a speech that said as much about Comcast as it did about his industry, "There have been moments in time when cable has been at a major inflection point. This is one of those moments."

---
Topping Roberts' list of challenges: calling Verizon's and AT&T's billion-dollar bets on delivering TV service through fiber-optic lines.

---

Verizon has signed up 1.4 million video subscribers, a good many of them in the Northeast, where Comcast rules. By 2010, Verizon expects its video, phone and Internet effort, dubbed fios, to reach 18 million households. AT&T is following along the same track, while EchoStar and DirecTV continue to add satellite-video subscribers.

---
Other nagging issues:

---

the Federal Communications Commission has castigated Comcast for shortchanging some broadband customers when it comes to delivering the service they pay for. The National Football League has long been sparring in and out of court with the company for not carrying the NFL Network as a basic channel.

---

Also, subscribers have been furious about weak customer service despite robust cable bills, which, industry-wide, have risen at twice the rate of inflation since 1996.

---
Then there's Wall Street.

---

Comcast stock, priced not long ago at $18.35, is trading around 10-year lows. Until recently, some shareholders like Glenn Greenberg, whose Chieftain Capital Management owns 1.5% of the stock, had loudly argued that the company was underperforming.

---

Their major concerns: Comcast was paying too much for acquisitions. Return on assets was way too low. And Brian Roberts wasn't hard-nosed enough.

---
Comcast got the message. The company is paying a 25¢-per-share dividend, buying back $7 billion in stock, paring capital expenditures and canceling a scheme to keep paying Ralph Roberts after he dies. Greenberg now says Comcast is coming around, "The company is doing what shareholders want in a very smart way."

---
Give the Robertses credit. They're staying in the game at a moment when Time Warner is spinning off its 15 million cable subscribers.

---

Since its failed bid for the Walt Disney Co. in 2004, Comcast has returned to its roots as a program distributor, smartly upgrading its cable systems so it can offer hundreds of digital channels as well as high-def TV, video on demand, and broadband and telephone service.

---

The company is also shelling out $1 billion--along with other companies like Time Warner Cable, Google and Intel--to fund a wireless Internet venture formed by Sprint Nextel Corp. and Clearwire Corp.

---
Since it became clear that Verizon is a threat, Comcast has also stepped up its marketing. That includes discount packages featuring, say, cable TV, Internet and telephone service for $99 a month.

---

While Comcast has lost 195,000 basic-cable customers in the past two sluggish quarters, it has added 1.2 million telephone subscribers, bringing that total to about 5.6 million, as well as adding 770,000 lucrative broadband customers.

---
Other initiatives in what the younger Roberts terms "Comcast 3.0" include rolling out more services to small businesses and hiring more customer-service representatives.

---

But don't expect major deals in the near term. Roberts, who earned $20.8 million in 2007, allows that Comcast has a long way to go but says he's the guy to get it there:

---

"I can't think of a business, industry or company I want to lead as much as this one."

COMMENT FORMAT

Hi All,
I have changed the format of Comment presentation.

Please advise if you like or do not like the new presentation.

Dave

VETERANS AFFAIRS 7

Hi All,
Here is the latest mail:

www.military.com/NL_MR/1,14852,6361,00.html

www.military.com/NL_WK/1,14845,6352,00.html

Dave

CABLE COMMITTEE MEETING REMINDER

Cable Committee meeting:
-----
Our next meeting is as follows:
-----
Date: October 31, 2008
Day: Friday
Time: 9:30am
Place: CV Clubhouse
Room: Party Room
-----
Agenda

-----

Presentation by Jennie Rios

CCG :
Communications Consulting Group, Inc.

regarding negotiating the best contract for content and price
and exploring other providers:

-----

a) Satellite

-----
b) TELCO (AT&T/Verizon)

-----
c) Power line distribution

-----
All Unit Owners are encouraged to attend
-----
Dave Israel - Cable Chair

PENCIL TOP

'Pencil top' palm at Dover CV, see waistline on trunk, caused by previous excessive trimming. Now that is a dangerous palm in a hurricane, the whole head of the palm may snap off and become airborne.
The first major rule to pruning palms is to avoid pruning them at all. Palms are designed to shed their fronds on their own. Just because a palm frond is turning colors or maybe even browning does not mean that it is done contributing to the tree. The browning of fronds is a process called Trans location of Nutrients meaning that the palm is recycling the nutrients of the frond back into the heart of the palm itself. If you remove the fronds during this process then you weaken the palms defenses against molds and fungi.
If it is necessary to prune the Palm then a general rule is applied to palms that you should not cut fronds above a parallel line to the ground or the 9:00 to 3:00 o'clock rule. Cutting more than that is called a Hurricane Cut or a Candle Cut and is very damaging to the tree. If a hurricane cut is repeated over and over it will create a condition know as a "pencil top" which is the narrowing of the trunk just below the fronds. The name hurricane cut comes from the fact that during hurricane winds, the head of the palm may snap off where the thinning occurred and become airborne.
So there you have it plain and simple, keep the tropical look, just don't prune your Palms and they will be happy and healthy, and you will save money.
Thx to A Garden in Fort Pierce Blog

Early voting sites and wait times.

http://www.pbcgov.com/newsroom/1008/10-24-08_early_voting.htm or click on header. Take something to read!
Wait times will be updated every hour starting at 10:00 AM when polls open.

BUTCHERING PALM TREES PROHIBITED

The Photo. above is extracted from the PBC - ULDC (Unified Land Development Code), Article 7. Left click on it to supersize the Photo.

ref: http://www.pbcgov.com/PZB/uldc/articles/Article7.pdf

The text provides code on the proper method of trimming our Palms. The Palms in CV are being illegally butchered.

Thanks to Elaine for the tip and reference.

Dave Israel

Pelham One Two Three

You are coordially invited to click on the above title link and see on hulu.com the original classic movie. Because it's R-rated, you must register on the site and prove you're over 17. Hurry before they premiere the remake with Denzel Washington (The Manchurian Candidate) and John Travolta (Hairspray).

Just Say No to 2

Florida already has a law banning gay marriage. Therefore, Amendment 2, the so-called ban on gay marriage, is superflurous. It is written so vague that it can be interpreted as a ban on any unconventional lifestyle, including unmarried men and women living together. Here in Century Village, there are a number of couples that moved in together in their upper years. Mainly for company and also by combining their SS checks, they both lead a better life. This proposal is dangerous. Legal benefits that they currently enjoy could be taken away from them under Amendment 2. Vote NO on 2, and let our neighbors enjoy what's left of their life.

Click on this link to get an opinion signed by over 125 lawyers saying that Amendment 2 is bad news.

Comments appreciated.

CV Medical Building Progress

A note from Les Alt today: “Tenet Hospital Corp has leased the entire second floor and is actively planning to expand medical services...ie...cardiologists, internists and other medical sub-specialties...this will phase in over the next 12 months....we are still negotiating with a bank, but as you know they have all run into trouble. Comprehensive Home Care and private duty nursing services are moving in later this month in the back area of the first floor. Renovations are continuing....building is being painted...parking lot is going to be re-black topped. There are other things going on that are too preliminary to provide detail.”

VETERANS AFFAIRS 6

Hi All,

Here is the latest mail:

www.military.com/NL_MR/1,14852,6344,00.html

Dave

Raining stupid emails and internet hoaxes..

For Goodness Sake, it is raining stupid emails, internet hoaxes, and especially political hate perversions. If you receive something frantically over-the-top, urgent, or full of CAPITALS and !!! ??? go to http://www.snopes.com/info/search/search.asp put in some keywords for careful accurate research.
Today I got emails about Obama’s ‘Dreams’ and ‘Audacity of Hope’. It was all altered but especially the last paragraph on support for ‘Americans’ has been changed to the word ‘Muslims’. The straight story is on http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/ownwords.asp

MURCIELAGO

Murciélago (meaning bat in Spanish) was a famous bull from Joaquin del Val di Navarra's farm, partly responsible for the fame of the Miura breeders.

---
On October 5, 1879 he fought in Córdoba, Spain with Rafael Molina Sanchez, "El Lagartijo.

---

He went after the picadores 24 times, with a rare courage. For this display Murciélago was spared the usual fate of death in the arena.

---

He was given as a gift from El Lagartijo to Don Antonio Miura, who mated him with 70 cows. His line, now called the Miura line, still exists and is famous for its ferocity and courage.

Dave Israel

nice new stores open

There are some nice new stores open, PB Lamborghini and Lowes.
2008 Lamborghini Murcielago Price over $400K, City mpg 8!
I thought about buying one if it had better gas mileage.
Instead I bought a plant that prays for me, the leaves move, fold and at night create the 'praying hands' appearance. Only $10 Lowes. Stromanthe AKA Tricolor Ginger.
Tech stuff for Dave: Stromanthe sanguinea has both nyctinastic (night) and heliotropic (sun) movements. The movements are controlled at a pulvinus, (pl. pulvini) a swollen area near the base of the leaf blade. Two pigments are present in the pulvinus: phytochrome which is red light sensitive, and cryptochrome which is blue sensitive. Phytochrome triggers the night position of the leaves; cryptochrome triggers the day movements. http://www.killerplants.com/plant-of-the-week/20060925.asp

FICUS ALTERNATIVES

Hi All,

Below is a photo. of Cocoplum trimmed to form a hedge. it is but one of many alternatives to the Whitefly prone Ficus. So, if you do not like the Ladybug idea and would prefer not to saturate the environment with pesticides, think about replacing the Ficus with an alternative listed in the following reference:

http://miami-dade.ifas.ufl.edu/pdfs/urban_hort/Ornamental%20plants%20commonly%20used%20as%20hedges%20in%20south%20florida.pdf

Dave

Restaurant Review

Recently I went to City Pizza west of the village. The pizza wasn't exactly New York quality, but I could eat it.

What places would you recommend?

DIGITAL TRANSITION

Hi All,
Worried about Digital Transition?

Well, Dennis of Salisbury B sent along this item which will simplify all issues and answer all questions regarding Digital Transition.

Thanks, Dennis:

http://www.hulu.com/watch/36608/talkshow-with-spike-feresten-cable-psa#s-p1-st-i1

Dave

Ficus Whitefly

Hi All,
The picture on the left is of a 15 foot Ficus about 1 mile North of CV on Haverhill road. (left click once on picture to super size photo)

You may see this on the way to the Roebuck Road Publix on the right..

The leaves are gone in the infested area; if left untreated the entire hedge will become involved in due course.

Dave

FIG (FICUS) FLORIDA WHITEFLY PART TWO

Hi All,
Here is a current article on the very species of Whitefly in our area.
Please read it carefully and consider selecting a preventitive systemic approach.

While I believe that the Ladybug approach is best for the health of our residents, it is not catching on with the Unit Owners, I know not why.

Dave


http://mrec.ifas.ufl.edu/lso/IAWG/FIG/The%20Fig%20Whitefly%20(2007)%20Fact%20Sheet.htm

LAKE FOUNTAINS OPERATIONAL

Hi All,

Today, October 17th, at approximately 1500 hours

THE FOUNTAINS ARE BACK IN OPERATION

Ken Davis

ACCESS TO UCO RECORDS

Hi all
---
In a comment stream, A Nony Mouse (Oct 17, 2008 11:22:00 AM)
---
said:
---
Us peons are not entitled to see any official documents. We exist so that UCO officials can pee-on us.
------------------------------
While there may be any number of issues about which we may criticize UCO; access to records is not one of them.

---
UCO is organized as a Not-For-Profit Corporation under FS 617, which provides for access to records as follows:

---
REF: http://www.leg.state.fl.us/Statutes/index.cfm?App_mode=Display_Statute&URL=Ch0617/ch0617.htm

Following is extracted from FS 617 please read the entire section for specifics on records involved.

---
617.1602 Inspection of records by members.--

---
(1) A member of a corporation is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at the corporation's principal office, any of the records of the corporation described in s. 617.1601(5), if the member gives the corporation written notice of his or her demand at least 5 business days before the date on which he or she wishes to inspect and copy.

---
(2) A member of a corporation is entitled to inspect and copy, during regular business hours at a reasonable location specified by the corporation, any of the following records of the corporation if the member meets the requirements of subsection

---

(3) and gives the corporation written notice of his or her demand at least 5 business days before the date on which he or she wishes to inspect and copy:

---
(a) Excerpts from minutes of any meeting of the board of directors, records of any action of a committee of the board of directors while acting in place of the board of directors on behalf of the corporation, minutes of any meeting of the members, and records of action taken by the members or board of directors without a meeting, to the extent not subject to inspection under subsection (1).

Who Needs the Cable Company?

After you click on the title link, think about not renewing our contract altogether — there are other fish in the sea!

Besides Comcast, another cable company is messing with us: The Cox-owned Palm Beach Post is giving us less paper for more money!

LADYBUG AND WHITEFLY

Hi All,

-----

On the left above is a variety of Whitefly; on the right a subspecies of Ladybug called the Delphastus Beetle. (a variety of Ladybug)

-----

You are interested in this, why?

-----

Because the little Whitefly has the power to destroy every Ficus tree and hedge in CV at an alarming speed.

-----

This fly is spreading rapidly across Southern Florida.

-----

Of course, the first thing that comes to mind is to engulf our Ficus in a deluge of various pesticides, both granular and liquid, at significant cost.

A key factor mitigating against spraying is that these flys will in short order develop a resistance to whatever molecule is selected.

-----

As a card carrying member of the Sierra Club, I would like to suggest a "Green Solution" to this problem.

-----

Oh yes, the little Ladybug on the right destroys Whiteflys at a prodigious rate at the site of infestation. The one pictured above is busy eating Whitefly larvae which is deposited on the underside of the leaf

-----

Let's think about it before we start spraying.

-----

This would be a fine project for UCO to take up and coordinate; Do not ignore this problem, it is not likely to go away.

-----

Dave Israel

-----

REF: http://greenmethods.com/site/biocontrols/delphastus/

http://whiteflies.ifas.ufl.edu/wfly0002.htm

http://www.doacs.state.fl.us/pi/enpp/ento/Singhiella%20simplex.html

http://greenmethods.com/site/shop/buy-bugs/4/#BDCATA

Is Cong. Mahoney Ethicly Challenged?

ClickHeader

SOLVING THE BROKEN GATE ARM PROBLEM

Hi All,

Here is the solution to stop gate crashing and tailgating:

Click the following URL: http://www.ldi.com/

Dave

Where Wexler gets his contributions

Click Header
The Pacs and People from all over the country give him money because he is a nice guy. Ya Think?
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The BLOGMEISTER replies:

Hi All,
Try starting here:

http://www.fec.gov/disclosure.shtml

Dave

LOOKS LIKE ANOTHER SCREWED UP ELECTION COUNT

Click header

Wouldn't it be cheaper to hire people to purge the voting rolls before the election ?

WHERE DOES WEXLER PAY TAXES

Hi All,
Elswhere on this BLOG the question was raised as to where Wexler pays taxes!

Wexler may pay taxes in Maryland. He and his Wife Laurie own a very nice 2400 Sq. Ft. home in Potomac, Maryland on 1/2 acre which is very much an upscale property. They do not claim this home as their primary residence, and they are not Tax exempt in Maryland.

SEE:

http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/rp_rewrite/details.aspx?County=16&SearchType=ACCT&District=04&AccountNumber=00115863

This is extracted from the Maryland Department of Assessments and Taxation.

Over the years The Wexler's have indeed owned property in Florida at:

1) 17526 Wagonwheel Drive, Boca Raton FL 33496

2) 5955 Michaux Street, Boca Raton FL 33433

There is an interesting Notice of Lis Pendens (Mortgage Forclosure) filed by Bank one financial services Inc.. JP Morgan Chase. Against "The Robert Wexler for Congress Committee."

For Wexlers record of ownership and interesting Court interactions see the Clerk of Court site right here in Palm Beach County the names you will want to search for are Robert I. Wexler and his wife Laurie B. Wexler.

There is no mention of the Wexlers on the Property Appraisers site, in other words, he appears to pay no taxes in Florida.

If you have a problem finding this stuff , let me know.

Dave Israel

This is as good an idea as LOST

Click Header

LAW OF THE SEA TREATY

click header

WEXLER VOTED FOR THIS ,
JUST WHAT AMERICA NEEDS, THE UN TELLING US WHAT TO DO WITH OUR COASTAL WATERS AND SEA BEDS . CALL YOUR SENATOR OR E=MAIL HIM TO VOTE NO ON RATIFICATION OF THIS AWFUL TREATY.

PASSES

Is UCO still issuing 3 month passes to visitors ?

WATER FOUNTAINS

Hi All,
The following is extracted from the CV Q & A:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Author: Marc Velonis (---.234.6.114.Dial1.Miami1.Level3.net)
Date: 10-10-08 20:29

Does anyone know if there has been any steps still to get the water fountains working? Or is this going to go on with out them for years, like it has been already . Hope not. Who ever is working on it thank you.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi Marc,

As you cross the bridge to the Clubhouse, you will note, on the shoreline on the right, a new FPL transformer.

This is testimony to work in progress. Be patient, the project is "in train"

Dave Israel

EARLY VOTING LOCATIONS

Hi All,
In a Comment stream PLcruise queried as to the location of EARLY voting places in the County.

The following URL will take you directly to a list along with a map of the locations:

http://www.pbcelections.org/GetDocument.aspx?id=640

So, vote early, but not often!!

Dave

Where has Wexler paid taxes?

CLICK HEADER

Fl. Congressmen Who Don't Live In Fl.

Click Header

CABLE COMMITTEE MEETING

Cable Committee meeting:

-----

Our next meeting is as follows:

-----

Date: October 31, 2008

Day: Friday

Time: 9:30am

Place: CV Clubhouse

Room: TBD

-----

Agenda
-----
Presentation by Jennie Rios of CCG :

Communications Consulting Group, Inc.
regarding negotiating the best contract for content and price

and exploring other providers:

-----
a) Satellite
-----

b) TELCO (AT&T/Verizon)
-----

c) Power line distribution
-----

All Unit Owners are encouraged to attend

-----

Dave Israel - Cable Chair

EARLY VOTING

Hi All,
The question of Early Voting, here in Florida, arose elsewhere on the BLOG; here is some preliminary information on this process:

REF: http://election.dos.state.fl.us/voting/voting-info.shtml

(Very interesting site, well worth reading)

Early Voting:

Voters may vote in person by casting a ballot prior to Election Day.

The voter will use the same type of voting equipment that is used at the polls on Election Day. Early voting begins 15 days before an election and ends on the 2nd day before an election.

During this period, early voting is conducted 8 hours per day on each weekday and for 8 hours in the aggregate for each weekend.

Supervisors of Elections designate early voting sites 30 days prior to an election.

Early voting will be offered in the main or branch office of the Supervisor of Elections.

They may also designate any city hall or public library geographically located so that all voters in the county will have an equal opportunity to cast a vote.

Contact your Supervisor of Elections for dates, times and locations in your county

Dave

Bicycle and Racks

Research was done regarding bike racks and it was learned that it is illegal to have them at Century Village because we do not meet the minimum standards for parking spaces. According to Article 5, Supplementary Standards, Section 1, Supplemental Regulations #17 Bike Racks, page 22. There must be at least one parking space per unit plus one guest space for every four units. You may see further on the internet at:
http://www.pbcgov.com/pzb/uldc/articles/Article6.pdf

Would appreciate any feedback on the above subject.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The BLOGMEISTER makes the following small correction;

The referenced URL above is correct, but I would suggest you want to see Page 4, Table 6.A.1.B.

The requirement of current code is 2 parking spaces per unit plus 1 guest spot per every 4 units.

In fact , bike racks are not illegal in CV; except when you place them in a parking space or guest space.

With a vote of the unit owners you may build a "Code approved" bike rack on your Common Element. See photo above.

A Bike rack in a parking space is subject to a citation by Code Enforcement, and many have been issued in CV.

Good work Nutmegger

Dave

it's moving mag!

thanks to all you bloggers who have kept me updated while I wait to move. making a trip down tomorrow fri to get my id/odds and ends etc ---i love reading the blogand find it most informative-I have my moving day set ---here's a laugh- have to stay 1 night in a hotel up here in Chicago -bringing my 85 yr old momster w/me and too hard to get her up real early to get to airport so w/stay overnight of moving day at airport hotel-the room and of course the 17% plus tax ends up costing more than her plane ticket! I must say all the utility people I have contacted so far have been great-thanks Elaine for all the tips. just seven more packing weekends and we'll be on our way for good and hopefully will meet all of you! hope we can adjust to sunshine! xxx to all /

Quiet Heroes

Hi All,
I wanted to share the following with you, but I I didn't know how to insert the pictures into the story. I'm pretty sure you will know these men without seeing the pictures. Please read on...

You Would Never Have Guessed Captain Kangaroo passed away on January 23, 2004 at age 76 , which is odd, because he always looked to be 76. (DOB: 6/27/27 ) His death reminded me of the following story.

Some people have been a bit offended that the actor, Lee Marvin, is buried in a grave alongside 3 and 4-star generals at Arlington National Cemetery . His marker gives his name, rank (PVT) and service (USMC). Nothing else. Here's a guy who was only a famous movie star who served his time, why the heck does he rate burial with these guys? Well, following is the amazing answer: I always liked Lee Marvin, but didn't know the extent of his Corps experiences.

In a time when many Hollywood stars served their country in the armed forces often in rear echelon posts where they were carefully protected, only to be trotted out to perform for the cameras in war bond promotions, Lee Marvin was a genuine hero. He won the Navy Cross at Iwo Jima There is only one higher Naval award... the Medal Of Honor!

If that is a surprising comment on the true character of the man, he credits his sergeant with an even greater show of bravery. Dialog from "The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson":
His guest was Lee Marvin. Johnny said, "Lee, I'll bet a lot of people are unaware that you were a Marine in the initial landing at Iwo Jima ..and that during the course of that action you earned the Navy Cross and were severely wounded."
"Yeah, yeah... I got shot square in the bottom and they gave me the Cross for securing a hot spot about halfway up Suribachi. Bad thing about getting shot up on a mountain is guys getting' shot hauling you down. But, Johnny, at Iwo Jima, I served under the bravest man I ever knew.... we both got the Cross the same day, but what he did for his Cross made mine look cheap in comparison. That dumb guy actually stood up on Red Beach and directed his troops to move forward and get the hell off the beach. Bullets flying by, with mortar rounds landing everywhere and he stood there as the main target of gunfire so that he could get his men to safety. He did this on more than one occasion because his men's safety was more important than his own life. That Sergeant and I have been lifelong friends. When they brought me off Suribachi we passed the Sergeant and he lit a smoke and passed it to me, lying on my belly on the litter and said, "Where'd they get you Lee?" "Well Bob... if you make it home before me, tell Mom to sell the outhouse!" Johnny, I'm not lying, Sergeant Keeshan was the bravest man I ever knew. The Sergeant's name is Bob Keeshan. You and the world know him as Captain Kangaroo."

On another note, there was this wimpy little man (who passed away) on PBS, gentle and quiet. Mr. Rogers is another of those you would least suspect of being anything but what he now portrays to our youth. But Mr. Rogers was a U.S. Navy Seal, combat-proven in Vietnam with over twenty-five confirmed kills to his name. He wore a long-sleeved sweater on TV, to cover the many tattoos on his forearm and biceps. He was a master in small arms and hand-to-hand combat, able to disarm or kill in a heartbeat
After the war Mr. Rogers became an ordained Presbyterian minister and therefore a pacifist. Vowing to never harm another human and also dedicating the rest of his life to trying to help lead children on the right path in life. He hid away the tattoos and his past life and won our hearts with his quiet wit and charm.

America's real heroes don't flaunt what they did; they quietly go about their day-to-day lives, doing what they do best. They earned our respect and the freedoms that we all enjoy. Look around and see if you can find one of those heroes in your midst. Often, they are the ones you'd least suspect, but would most like to have on your side if anything ever happened.

Take the time to thank anyone that has fought for our freedom. With encouragement they could be the next Captain Kangaroo or Mr. Rogers.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The BLOGMEISTER replies.

REF: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/bl-marvin-keeshan.htm

Sorry to burst your bubble on this one Chris but this "story" has been circulating for years and while minor components are true, the essence of the tale is False:

Despite sundry grains of truth scattered throughout -- including the fact that both actor Lee Marvin and Bob "Captain Kangaroo" Keeshan were Marines during World War II (Keeshan a reservist), and that Marvin really was wounded in the buttocks while storming a beachhead (though in Saipan, not Iwo Jima) - the story is fundamentally false.

According to their respective biographies, Marvin had already been injured and shipped back to the United States with a Purple Heart by the time Keeshan entered basic training. They could not have encountered one another in combat. Neither was awarded the Navy Cross.

At the age of 20, Lee Marvin was a private in the U.S. Marines 4th Division, part of the Allied landing force that invaded the Japanese-held Pacific island of Saipan on July 15, 1944. He was wounded three days later on July 18, spent the next 13 months in Navy hospitals recovering from a severed sciatic nerve, and was discharged in 1945.

Bob Keeshan signed up for the Marine Corps Reserve shortly before his 18th birthday in 1945. Since the war was all but over by the time he finished basic training, it's unlikely Keeshan ever saw combat before completing his service a year later, let alone attained the rank of sergeant.

Those old enough to remember Lee Marvin's occasional appearances on TV talk shows up until his death in 1987 will find the manner and spirit of the storytelling reminiscent of the man himself, but it seems unlikely he would have trumpeted such blatant lies about another man's service record over national television, nor have I been able to find any evidence in the form of tapes or transcripts that prove he did so.

Update: A version of this message circulating since March 2003 includes an addendum claiming that Fred Rogers, host of public television's "Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood," was an ex-Marine sniper (or, in another version, a Navy Seal) with dozens of wartime kills to his credit. This, too, is false.
Update: Bob Keeshan died on Friday, January 23, 2004.

Dave Israel

HATE POSTS ON OUR BLOG

Hi All,
While recognizing the potential from the outset, I had high hopes it would not happen here; what utter naivete on my part!!

We have picked up a very malevolent spirit on our BLOG who is publishing "Hate Speech" about CV residents.


These Posts or Comments will be deleted upon detection.

I have modified the founding Dogma in our masthead by adding the words Reasonable and Rational, yes; I am aware of the fine line we tread when deciding what is Reasonable and Rational.

Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart is reputed to have said; "I can't define pornography, but I know it when I see it".

The two offending Comments thus far removed were clearly well over the line of Reasonable and Rational. (IMHO)

I hope no further action will be necessary. Comments from our readers are solicited on this issue.

Thanks,
Dave Israel

545 PEOPLE BY CHARLIE REESE

THIS GUY PUT INTO WORDS, WHAT AND HOW I FEEL
IT DID NOT TRANSFER VERY WELL, SOME WORDS RAN TOGETHER BUT I HOPE YOU FIND IT INTERESTING. MIKE
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems andthen campaign against them.>> Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicansare against deficits, WHY do we have deficits?>> Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are againstinflation and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes?>> You and I don't propose a federal budget. The President does.>> You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on appropriations. The House of Representatives does.>> You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does.>> You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does.>> You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bankdoes.>> One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nineSupreme Court justices 545 human beings out of the 300 million aredirectly, legally, morally, and individually responsible for thedomestic problems that plague this country.>> I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because thatproblem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress delegated itsConstitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a federallychartered, but private, central bank.>> I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a soundreason. They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coercea senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking thing.I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash.The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter whatthe lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility todetermine how he votes.>> Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing you thatwhat they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this common conregardless of party.> What separates a politician from a normal human being is an excessiveamount of gall. No normal human being would have the gall of aSpeaker, who stood up and criticized the President for creatingdeficits. The president can only propose a budget. He cannot forcethe Congress to accept it.>> The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives soleresponsibility to the House of Representatives for originating andapproving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the House?She is the leader of the majority party. She and fellow House members,not the president, can approve any budget they want. If the presidentvetoes it, they can pass it over his veto if they agree to.>> It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million can notreplace 545 people who stand convicted -- by present facts -- ofincompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domesticproblem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When youfully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of thefederal government, then it must follow that what exists is what theywant to exist.>> If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.>> If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red.>> If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ, it's because they want them inIRAQ.>> If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirementplan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way. > There are no insoluble government problems.>> Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom theyhire and whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts andadvice they can reject; to regulators, to whom they give the power toregulate and from whom they can take this power. Above all, do not letthem con you into the belief that there exists disembodied mysticalforces like 'the economy,' 'inflation,' or 'politics' that prevent themfrom doing what they take an oath to do.>> Those 545 people, and they alone, are responsible.>> They, and they alone, have the power.>> They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people whoare their bosses provided the voters have the gumption to manage theirown employees.>> We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess! Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel Newspaper. What you do with this article now that you have read it is up to you, though you appear to have several choices. After all, our present Congress has the lowest approval rating over the last one hundred years, shouldn't we be looking at the real problem within Congress?

NEW YORK VOTING BOOTH - SCANDAL FREE FROM DAY ONE

In another Post Mike said: " New York voting booths: Scandal-free since day one"

To the left is pictured an Automatic Voting Machine, in use from 1898 through the early 1960s, the gear-and-lever voting machine was promoted as an ideal voting technology.

Though its internal mechanism changed over the years, the machine's "three steps to vote" never changed:

1) Pull the handle to close the curtains of the booth.

2) Turn the voting levers over the names of your chosen candidates to expose the Xs.

3) Pull the handle back to register your vote and reopen the curtains.


Sorry Mike but your memory as to the integrity of these machines is seriously flawed.

Tammany Hall staged a small scale come-back in the early 1950s under the leadership of Carmine DeSapio, who succeeded in engineering the elections of Robert Wagner, Jr. as mayor in 1953 and Averell Harriman as state governor in 1954, while simultaneously blocking his enemies, especially Franklin D. Roosevelt, Jr. in the 1954 race for state Attorney General.

One of the many techniques employed was accomplished with a match book cover; it was folded and placed behind the Voting machine so as to block the registration of votes for candidates slated to lose by Tammany Hall. Additionally, Voting Machine technicians would regularly roll back the speedometer style counters that registered votes for the undesireable candidate.

Using the matchbook cover technique, everything worked fine, except when the curtain was pulled back, the vote on the blocked lever did not register.

The "Good Old Days" may be fine, but the fraud was in play and just as effective as it is today.

Dave Israel

WEIGHT WATCHERS

IS THERE A GROUP IN CV ??

PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE

HOW ABOUT THE TWO SLUGS LAST NIGHT???? IS THIS THE BEST AMERICA HAS TO OFFER FOR CANDIDATES???? YOU CAN THANK THE CRIMINAL DEMS & REPS BUT MOSTLY THANK YOURSELVES FOR PUBLIC APATHY. IT'S PATHETIC.

19 DAYS TO ZERO

Money & Company



Tracking the market and economic trends that shape your finances.

Dow zero? At this rate, we'll almost be there by Halloween .

4:48 PM, October 7, 2008

Just 19 more days like this one and the Dow Jones industrial average will be at zero. And we can all start over from scratch.

Stocks were hammered today by what many traders described as another round of desperation selling.

The Dow lost 508.39 points, or 5.1%, to 9,447.11, its lowest since September 2003.

We said goodbye to Dow 10,000 on Monday. Today, the Standard & Poor’s 500 index closed below the 1,000 mark for the first time in five years, tumbling 60.66 points, or 5.7%, to 996.23.
The severity of Wall Street’s decline over just the last 2 1/2 weeks has been breathtaking.

By the classic bear-market yardstick -- a minimum 20% drop in a major stock index -- the S&P 500 now has experienced a bear market in just 12 trading sessions: The index has fallen 20.6% since Sept. 19.

That would be a bear-within-a-bear. Measured from its record high a year ago, the S&P now is down 36.3%.

Yes, investors are fearful of what will happen to the economy because of the credit crunch. But when selling reaches this magnitude, some portion of it surely has to be disconnected from economic fundamentals.

Art Hogan, veteran analyst at Jefferies & Co. in Boston, noted the relatively uniform percentage declines in broad market indexes today: 5.4% in the New York Stock Exchange composite, 5.6% in the S&P small-stock index, 5.8% in the Nasdaq composite.

"That tells you it’s just waves of people selling everything that’s traded," Hogan said.

Who is so desperate to get out? Many analysts point to hedge fund managers, who are believed to be facing another round of massive redemption notices from clients who want their cash back.
"You’re seeing selling by people whose hands are forced now," said Christopher Johnson, head of Johnson Research Group in Cincinnati.

Ditto for stock mutual fund managers, as retail investors join the exodus.

Then throw in gun-to-the-head selling by investors who bought stock on margin and now are facing margin calls by their lenders -- demands to put up more cash to offset the tumbling value of their portfolios.

As I noted in this post on Monday, everyone’s looking for signs of capitulation -- a final deluge of selling by investors too disgusted and demoralized to hold on any longer.

"Bottoms don’t happen until everyone walks away," said Johnson.

The last two days certainly have had the feel of capitulation. But is it enough, already?
Some analysts say there still are too many market pros reluctant to exit stocks because they’re sure a bottom is near.

Mark Hulbert, who tracks investment newsletters, wrote today on MarketWatch.com that Monday’s market dive -- which saw the Dow off 800 points before recovering about half that loss -- probably was another capitulation false alarm.

"An eagerness to declare that capitulation has occurred probably means that it hasn't," Hulbert wrote. Read his piece here. And be prepared to weep, if he’s right.

Photo: On the NYSE floor today. Richard Drew / Associated Press

REF: http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2008/10/just-19-more-da.html

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Dave Israel

Section 8 residents upsets some unit owners at Century Village

FYI. From the Sun-Sentinel today. This is CV in Pembroke Pines.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Influx of Section 8 residents upsets some unit owners at Century Village in Pembroke Pines

By Jennifer Gollan South Florida Sun-Sentinel
October 8, 2008

Perhaps there is a bright spot in the real estate collapse: "It's made more units available for low-income people to rent," said Kevin Cregan, of the Broward County Housing Authority.

But the idea that Century Village is home to folks who get federal Section 8 rent subsidies has upset some unit owners.

"Section 8 residents shouldn't live here," said retiree Anne Corman, adding she fears they would bring more crime.

Candace Tapscott, a director with the federal Housing and Urban Development agency in Miami, met with hundreds of Century Village owners this week to allay their fears. The Section 8 folks are screened, and "they look just like everybody else," she said.

PLEASE KEEP OUR BLOG CIVIL AND CLEAN

Hi All,
In a comment stream someone, using the name Kurt Wise, entered an egregiously inaccurate statement with blatantly anti-Semetic overtones.

BLOGGERS; needless to say, Kurt Weiss did not publish this foul statement.

Given that this BLOG allows Anonymous and fictitious cognomens, we should count ourselves lucky that we have had precious little of this sort of character assassination.

Nothwithstanding the founding dogma in the BLOG masthead, there are elastic limits to what may be tolerated.

I have taken the initiative to take down this particular Comment. Please do not turn this BLOG into a mudslinging Forum.

Thanks,
Dave Israel

VETERANS AFFAIRS 5

Hi All,

Here is the latest mail:

www.military.com/NL_MR/1,14852,6296,00.html

Dave

WALL STREET BAILOUT VOTE

Only NELSON VOTES NO on The Wall Street BAILOUT. VOTE NO on WEXLER IN THE COMING ELECTION

October 6, 2008
In this MegaVote for Florida's 19th Congressional District:
Recent Congressional Votes -
Senate: U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act
Senate: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
House: Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008
Editor's Note: The Senate and House are out of session until January 3, 2009, unless they are called back into session early.
Recent Senate Votes
U.S.-India Nuclear Cooperation Approval and Nonproliferation Enhancement Act - Vote Passed (86-13, 1 Not Voting)The Senate passed this bill that would allow the U.S. to trade nuclear technology with India.Sen. Mel Martinez voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Bill Nelson voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Vote Passed (74-25, 1 Not Voting)The Senate approved a bill authorizing the Treasury Department to spend up to $700 billion to purchase bad mortgage-backed securities from troubled financial institutions.Sen. Mel Martinez voted YES......send e-mail or see bio Sen. Bill Nelson voted NO......send e-mail or see bio
Recent House Votes
Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 - Vote Passed (263-171)The House agreed to a bill authorizing the Treasury Department to spend up to $700 billion to purchase bad mortgage-backed securities from troubled financial institutions.Rep. Robert Wexler voted YES......send e-mail or see bio
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NO BOARD MEANS EXPENSIVE CONSEQUENCES

Hi All,

Failure to volunteer for your Association Board may have very expensive consequences.
Please read the following carefully:
----------------------
In a Comment stream;

Grace said...
Does this mean if we are already on the board we have to sign the form? Why would anyone want to be on the condo (Board)?
I would dearly like to get off but we will be left with just a president who has wanted to resign for 3 years and other board members who are here for about three months a year and that is really useless.
We are a small association of 24 units and most of the units are empty for most of the year. Between this form and the insurance responsibilities it is becoming very difficult to want to volunteer
----------------
Hi grace;

If you run again for the Board you must indeed sign the Certificate.
Your recalcitrant and absent Board may find the following extract from Florida Statutes elucidating:

Dave Israel

Start extract:
-------------------

718.1124

Failure to fill vacancies on board of administration sufficient to constitute a quorum; appointment of receiver upon petition of unit owner.--

(1) If an association fails to fill vacancies on the board of administration sufficient to constitute a quorum in accordance with the bylaws, any unit owner may give notice of his or her intent to apply to the circuit court within whose jurisdiction the condominium lies for the appointment of a receiver to manage the affairs of the association. The form of the notice shall be as follows:

NOTICE OF INTENT TO APPLY FOR RECEIVERSHIP

YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that the undersigned owner of a condominium unit in (name of condominium) intends to file a petition in the circuit court for appointment of a receiver to manage the affairs of the association on the grounds that the association has failed to fill vacancies on the board of administration sufficient to constitute a quorum. This petition will not be filed if the vacancies are filled within 30 days after the date on which this notice was sent or posted, whichever is later. If a receiver is appointed, the receiver shall have all of the powers of the board and shall be entitled to receive a salary and reimbursement of all costs and attorney's fees payable from association funds.

(name and address of petitioning unit owner)

(2) The notice required by subsection (1) must be provided by the unit owner to the association by certified mail or personal delivery, must be posted in a conspicuous place on the condominium property, and must be provided by the unit owner to every other unit owner of the association by certified mail or personal delivery.

The notice must be posted and mailed or delivered at least 30 days prior to the filing of a petition seeking receivership. Notice by mail to a unit owner shall be sent to the address used by the county property appraiser for notice to the unit owner, except that where a unit owner's address is not publicly available the notice shall be mailed to the unit.

(3) If the association fails to fill the vacancies within 30 days after the notice required by subsection (1) is posted and mailed or delivered, the unit owner may proceed with the petition.

(4) If a receiver is appointed, all unit owners shall be given written notice of such appointment as provided in s. 718.127.

(5) The association shall be responsible for the salary of the receiver, court costs, and attorney's fees. The receiver shall have all powers and duties of a duly constituted board of administration and shall serve until the association fills vacancies on the board sufficient to constitute a quorum and the court relieves the receiver of the appointment.
---------------------
End extract

Oops! Missed the Delegate Meeting

You can catch it all week. The rebroadcast on Channel 63 will be 9 AM Mon - Fri, 10-6 to 10-10-08, it runs 1 hr 20 or so minutes, approx. No excuses.
Who is under the hood at Channel 63, improving, updating, organizing? – a big thank you to Ed Black.

Old Time Radio

What were those old shows Dave was trying to find, lots of Green Hornet and Charlie Chan here:
http://www.otr.net/ over 12,000 shows
http://www.oldtimeradiofans.com/
http://www.radiolovers.com/
http://www.old-time.com/FAQs
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc7 UK best
http://www.bbc.co.uk/bbc4

Condo Assoc. Candidate Certification Form

A question was raised at the Delegate Assembly of October 3, 2008.
about signing the "Condominium Association Candidate Certification Form", handed out at the meeting, and what if any liability arose from signing this form

The Legislature adopted many changes that impact on the Boards actions in the administration of the Business of the Associations. HB 995 clearly states “there are penalties for breach or failure to perform Board duties both monetary damages and criminal law violations”. This means that whenever anyone, including the Division of Florida Condominiums, evaluates the actions of any Board, your signature on that form wherein you certify the “I have read and understand to the best of my ability, the governing document of (Your associations name goes here) and the provisions of this chapter and any applicable rules” will be available for review via subpoena should evidence be required that you failed to adhere to either your documents or Chapter 718.
I believe that we are required to sign this form to further enforce your actions to become more compliant to governing documents and Chapter 718. Liability has increased, and the old adage that "ignorance of the law is no excuse” does apply here.
Consequences? Could be, especially if we, the Boards, fail to follow either Chapter 718 or our Condo Documents.
Ed Black