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<title>My RSS Feed</title><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/index.html</link><description>Follies of The State</description><dc:language>en</dc:language><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:rights>Copyright 2005 by Neil Alexander</dc:rights><dc:date>2005-12-11T10:28:44-05:00</dc:date><admin:generatorAgent rdf:resource="http://www.realmacsoftware.com/" />
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<lastBuildDate>Sun, 30 Apr 2006 15:50:13 -0400</lastBuildDate><item><title>Keep the Cops out&#x2c; please.</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-12-11T10:28:44-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/1.html#unique-entry-id-98</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/1.html#unique-entry-id-98</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[2) No traffic accidents are on record on the 100 or so miles of roads.

3) Though with a reputation for being decidedly upscale, the prices within the complex are quite reasonable, or even less than external counterparts.

4) When built, only private money was used to supply water, sewage, telephone, electricity, and later cable coverage.

5) A privately created dam was erected to make a small named "pond" into a "lake", though the word "pond" still shows up on most official state maps.

...No tax money was used to create a very nice resort area with a championship golf course, myriad lake facilities and buildings; private hiking trails; and many private roads.  In the winter, the roads are plowed and maintained by private contractors at much less expense than the county and town pay.

Security has two pick up trucks, and the fire department has a single antique fire engine that apparently finally saw use just last year after some idiot burned their house down.

There are several club houses, boat ramps, bridges, docks, and so on. Nobody locks their bicycles inside the property.

...For example, a bunch of large Condominiums circle several lake front areas, including near the wooden bridge and cove area....  But since there are 30+ miles of unpaved roads inside Eastman, there's not much to complain about.

...So much trouble, apparently, that the Eastman Board of Directors wants to "invite" the local Grantham Town Police department to patrol the roads inside Eastman and issue traffic tickets!

...Because of some complaints - and a perception - that there is too much speeding going on inside Eastman.  Oh yes, apparently dump trucks from local sand pits use Eastman as a shortcut to I-89 which is adjacent to the main entrance.

...But, based on this perception of a problem, they hired a firm to do a study of the traffic speeds inside the community.

Looking at this study, I was struck by the fact that overall, most of the speed restrictions were observed to very close to the 85th percentile....  The next thing that is noticeable is that the three "worst" areas are already in the jurisdiction of the police!!  These areas are near the golf course and boat ramp, which apparently were seized in the 80's by the state when they nationalized all bodies of water within New Hampshire that were of a certain size.

...As for thru-trucking, well, that's not a traffic problem, that's a trespass problem.  The police will not do anything about a trespass problem unless asked to do so by a property owner.

...My conclusion is that we have a bunch of nanny-staters who want to abdicate their responsibility to protect the assets of Eastman and turn it over to the local cops.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Flying Gear</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-10-17T23:43:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-46.html#unique-entry-id-81</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-46.html#unique-entry-id-81</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Back then - before the modern airliner - intrepid pilots and passengers had to worry about all sorts of hazards: bugs, rain, ice, even oil from a misbehaving motor.

...I avoid airports like the plague these days, and had not noticed that special attire is necessary to fly in an airplane in the United States.

...Thanks to "Shoe Bomber Richard Reid" - a US citizen - shoes are now on the list of clothing articles that have to be given extra attention.  In Great Britain, one poor bastard was executed by police in part because he was wearing a long coat in weather some bureaucrat determined was too warm for such a coat.

...A capitalist wouldn't waste money on steel and design, if there wasn't some good reason for it.

...The whole airport security ruckus is causing all kinds of new "flying gear" to appear, and shoes are just one of many victims...

...Extra, er, handling is necessary to ensure that the bra in fact contains only what it's supposed to contain.  We all "know" this because some bust challenged Russian women are supposedly responsible for downing some aircraft a couple of years ago. How they determined this is not at all clear to me.

...Of course the assailant would only have one hand free because one hand will be required to hold up his pants.

...Looking at the attire of that little child, is there any possibility of a bomb or knife or gun in the clothing???...  Luckily for us, if this much attention and resources are used this ineffectively, we might not have too much to worry about after all.

...Even if passengers do not set off the metal detector, the TSA warns that passengers may be pulled aside for more screening....  All a terrorist has to do is buy a round trip ticket a month or two in advance, and already he's [sic] made it through this particular "security" screen?

...The TSA even put on a "fashion show" at Reagan National Airport with models wearing cotton pants with plastic buttons, slip-on shoes - and bereft of jewelry.

...That little girl in the picture above is already basically wearing pajamas - and still she was picked for extra attention!  They can legally do this - according to an insipid Supreme Court Decision - as long as the searches are completely random.

...The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized, unless said search is done in a completely random and arbitrary fashion to ensure that the people are all violated in equally.

...Canadian change is made out of steel, so it will act differently than what the clueless TSA people are used to....  When they demand to hear the radio make a show of putting the battery in the radio, and the earphone in your ear.

...It has no metal in it whatever, and can you imagine even a TSA drone confiscating a handicapped person's cane??]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Traffic Accident</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-09-10T22:09:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-40.html#unique-entry-id-79</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-40.html#unique-entry-id-79</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As you get out, a police car pulls up, and parks directly in front of the accident scene.

...The driver of the second car comes up, bearing a fire extinguisher in one hand, and a nylon bag in the other.  "I said, don't WORRY about it!", the cop puts on an irritated face and steps out his car.

...The cop chews on a toothpick, "I don't think you should get too near that car, it's smoking and it might explode."

The driver of the other car chimes in, "I've got a fire extinguisher here, get yours and let's ensure it's all right!"

...At the same time, you get closer to the van, and with your flashlight you see several people hanging from their seat belts, including a child in a child seat, and an elderly woman who is not moving.

You drop your kit next to door, and getting on your knees, you try to calm down the accident victims, "Hello, you have been in an automobile accident.

...I DONT WANT TO HAVE TO ARREST YOU CLOWNS FOR OBSTRUCTION, BUT I'LL DO IT IF I MUST!", screams the cop, spittle flying from his mouth, and water rivulets running down his jacket.

...You have a fire extinguisher in your car, grab it and let's dampen the fire!  You two can work on the fire, I'll get the people out of the car!

...He talks briefly into his radio, then, arms spread wide, starts herding everybody away from the car. In the distance, you notice reflections of flashing lights coming around the curve.

...Your wife, the doctor, and one of the other drivers take turn peppering the cop with requests and questions - "Why won't you let us help!?", "I'm a volunteer fireman, I'll get my extinguisher."

...The second police car races ahead, and stops with a squeal and puts another spotlight on the crowd - not the car. You're blinded, and everybody is shielding their eyes from glare.

...Between the two cops, they're able to push away the small crowd of people from the car. You turn your head, and notice that the fire is now advancing more rapidly.

...By the time the fire truck arrives, there is little left for them to do, except put out the now fully-engulfed car and count the casualties.

...It's too bad that 4 people died, but nothing could have been done better - just look at all the assets assigned to one accident!

...The actions of the authorities - from the National Guard at the Superdome, to the Mayor, to the governor, to FEMA itself caused thousands of deaths that could have been avoided.

...What should happen to the FEMA guard that told the WalMart trucks, carrying trailers of water, "We don't need it."

...What should happen to the National Guard general that refused to allow people to leave the Superdome - even after it had run out of supplies, and had become a hell hole?

...The actions of those people are the same as those two cops preventing "unauthorized" help from getting to the accident victims.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>New Orleans Drowning</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-09-01T22:59:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-39.html#unique-entry-id-72</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-39.html#unique-entry-id-72</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I lived in New Orleans first as a teenager - my first major city to explore.

...Other parts pushed over several feet, making the whole thing look like a child's construction ready to collapse.

...He said it on Monday morning after Katrina struck early that morning.  He said it after he found out that the helicopters he had dispatched to lift 3,000 lb sand bags to repair two broken flood walls has been redirected by some unknown person.

...I remember seeing pictures of reporters talking on Canal Street and the French Quarter.

...This picture is on Carondelet Street (1 block from French Quarter) taken Monday Morning.

...This is 8am Tuesday morning showing Gravier street - near the intersection with Carondelet above.

...On Tuesday, the news concentrated on showing the myriad people who had become trapped on their roofs due to rising water.  5 - 19 feet of water that had rushed in through those two breaches.  Two flood wall breaches that should've been sandbagged but were not because of the mayor's orders being ignored.

The death and destruction of the hurricane was bad, but the real death and destruction did not begin until after the waters rose to equilibrium with Lake Pontchatrain.

...Thanks to the idiot National Guard commander who made a bad situation even worse.

...Lots of things -mostly bad - have happened since, including massive looting and sniping and attacks on hospitals and general unrest.

...A couple of hotels, seeing a need and meeting it, arranged for buses to come fetch their stranded tourists....  Those buses were comandeered by some government organization and used for something else.

...A long chain of events that can all point to the ineffectiveness of governments at *all* levels.

The unrest was caused by lack of protection that the National Guard is supposed to have as its mandate.  This is Bush's fault and the Governor's fault for not deploying them AS SOON AS THE EVACUATION ORDER WAS GIVEN.

But the whole real mess in New Orleans was caused by some flunky who took control over those helicopters, and thereby doomed New Orleans to a month long cesspool bath.  Who ever that person was, and we'll probably never know who, is directly responsible for billions of dollars in damage, and thousands of deaths.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>PorcFest 2005</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-08-07T13:31:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-36.html#unique-entry-id-71</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-36.html#unique-entry-id-71</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I was yelled at by one of my readers (my ONLY reader?)  that I need to be more disciplined with my blogs.  Naturally, I waited a week before responding!

The 2005 Free State Project PorcFest took place last week in Lancaster, NH.  It is difficult to describe how invigorating it is to be amidst 400 (!)  libertarians and liberty seekers in the same zip code, much less the same RV park!

It was great meeting a half dozen characters from the Claire Files forum, including Rhinoman, Hunter, and one whose name escapes me.

Listening to Jim Bovard was great - he speaks as eloquently as he writes.

But the crowning moment was when we zipped down to Plymouth to attend the NHLA (New Hampshire Liberty Alliance) dinner which was attended by none other than Congressman Ron Paul, aka "Dr. NO!"

I have never before felt the urge to take one of those vicarious, "I'm important because I met senator or congressperson so-and-so".  But I definitely wanted to get one with Ron Paul, as he is the only honest man in Washington.

Yes, that's a Looney-Toons tie I'm wearing.  Dr. Paul was an excellent speaker, as well.  He said when he gets unelected by his current district that he'll move to NH!  Since he's an honest man, I will take him at his word.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>See?</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-06-25T01:59:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-29.html#unique-entry-id-69</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-29.html#unique-entry-id-69</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I subject myself to daily emails from the Ludwig von Mises Center (www.mises.org) on economics issues.  I put Lew Rockwell's excellent site in my RSS news reader as well.  Rockwell's site is a bit more overtly political, even though he's the head of the Mises institute.

...It started off about economics, but strayed to the war in Iraq - which is almost inevitable these days.

...To back up, he was talking about the US Government lacking credible threats to justify spending trillions on defense expenditures after the collapse of the Soviet Union.

I have tried to articulate this thought before myself - with less precision and eloquence.  Along the lines of "Keep beating the bushes, and you're bound to piss off some birds."...  POOF, cuts through the fog and debris and gets to the point: the US Government is manufacturing terrorists to keep itself in business.

...I want to emphasize that this is different -in a subtle fashion- than the USG's constant hysterical bleating about terrorists and terrorism.

The whole drumbeat put out by DC about "Threat Levels" and "Yellow" and "Orange" and all that crap is what H.L.

...The whole aim of practical politics is to keep the populace alarmed by menacing it with an endless series of hobgoblins, all of them imaginary.

...It seeks to replace imaginary specters with real flesh and blood men and women who want to kill us. Now Washington won't have to resort to exhortations and paranoid sounding ramblings.  They'll be able to point to real people and really horrible events, and simply say - "See?"

I'm sure a lot of other people have already come to this conclusion.  After all, FDR sacrificed 2,500+ sailors and soldiers at Pearl Harbor to be able to say, "See?"

...All of those were basically made up, or stretched to fit the agenda.

Today, the US literally creates antagonists so it has somebody to fight, and therefore to keep the warfare side of the welfare/warfare state going.  The opponents to that warfare are virtually disarmed at the start, because REAL events and REAL atrocities and REAL antagonists can be trotted before the people to "prove" the case that the US faces REAL threats from virtually all quarters.

...We've started this mess, and it's damned unlikely we'll be able to extract ourselves from it - gracefully or otherwise.  It's easier on most of the actors to just keep up the status quo.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Bite Back&#x21;</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-05-17T15:42:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-24.html#unique-entry-id-67</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-24.html#unique-entry-id-67</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Today we have an installment of a small "reverse duck bite" - or a "Biteback".

In "Great" Britain, apparently parking and speeding violations have largely been delegated to private contractors.  I have been hearing horror stories about how these contractors are abusing their franchise - by issuing undeserved tickets, "booting" legally parked cars; jacking a car up, painting a different color stripe, lowering the car and issuing a ticket; even booting a police car!

I was seeking to verify these actions when I came across a story in the "Oldham Advertiser" online newspaper.  The above picture is from there (thanks Fair Use!)

It seems that this particular camera has been repeatedly vandalized.  They suspect it's by the same person - because the method is the same - spraying opaque silver paint on the camera lens.

Before the silver paint incidents, Martin James O'Callaghan used an angle grinder to chop the entire thing down.

Here we have an interesting situation.  There are hundreds of allegations of abuse, but what about proof?  I would imagine the only proof would be to wait around and video and audio tape the whole thing.  I wonder if that's being done?

Then, what is the fine to the contractor?  In my opinion, a contractor that is caught violating its "trust" should be pinged so badly, that it would NEVER try it again.  I mean, like a million dollars or something.

I'll bet, though, that if there are any fines, they're small, and rarely assessed.  After all, we're talking mercantilism here.

It's nice to see the Brits fighting back.  Even if only a little.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Pardon Moi?</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-04-26T11:26:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-21.html#unique-entry-id-66</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-21.html#unique-entry-id-66</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[So I'm watching cable TV here in Canada, and I notice quite a few advertisements for "Pardon Services Canada".  They're quite amusing, with a hapless man trying to have fun snorkeling in a fountain in downtown Toronto, or playing in the dirt of a construction site as if it were a beach.

These ads were running at least a dozen times per night on the network TV channels during prime time.  I wondered, "How many people must have criminal records to make such a service be able to run these expensive ads?"

...I also found out that there is plenty of competition for these pardon specialists here in Canada.

...I've always heard that Canada is a mild-mannered and friendly country.  Their reputation is that there is little crime in Canada - certainly little violent crime.  So how the heck do 10% of the population get criminal records?

...That said, I do find it interesting that they have a means to "officially forgive" people of past indiscretions....  I know they have pardons and such in the states, but as far as I know, they're largely done by the states' governors.

And, if you have actually committed the crime you can almost certainly forget about a pardon.  Pardons are primarily designed to clean up the mess left behind by a false conviction.

Federally, only the President can give you a pardon, and that always seems to go to members of current and former administration officials.

God forbid you should have committed an assault as an 18 year old in 1963.

...Once you screw up in the States, your ass is grass.

Even though there seems to be an awful lot of criminals in Canada, they are at least able to eventually get their rights back.

That's a hell of an improvement over the situation in the States.

I think that criminal convictions should have a statute of limitations....  For example, if you committed a crime in 1963 and are clean for 10 years - you should get an automagic pardon.

If you commit a crime in 1970, you have to wait until at least 1980 before you get a pardon.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Baker&#x27;s Dozen has been outlawed in Canada</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-04-25T23:14:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-21.html#unique-entry-id-64</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-21.html#unique-entry-id-64</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[My wife is working on a database program for a friend that has a retail food store.  Among other things, they need to weigh their products when they repackage them.  They were forced to buy very expensive scales with printers because in Canada, you are not allowed to give improper weight on a food label - even if it's low.  You also have to be accurate in your weight down to three (!)  decimal places.

The extra scales cost over $1,000 each, and he had to buy at least one per store.

The days of a baker throwing in an extra donut or bread when a customer buys a dozen are over, apparently.  Accuracy at all costs -to the retailer.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>So we won&#x27;t move right now</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-04-24T20:36:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-21.html#unique-entry-id-63</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-21.html#unique-entry-id-63</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We put an offer in on a property in Eastman, NH because its close proximity to Lebanon and Hanover.  Eastman is a polar opposite to what we were initially looking for, but has very interesting facilities for the children and adults for that matter.

...Unfortunately, with relatively low credit scores caused by the dot.com bust, it's hard to get a building loan.

...So far, it appears that Grafton county has no such restrictions, so that's encouraging.

Technically, the property we're looking at is in Enfield, which is actually quite nice.

What's interesting to me, is that Eastman represents a "town" that is not run through coercive taxes like every where else.  Sure, it has facilities, which can be taken away if you don't pay the fees.

...One major difference, though, is that property owner ALWAYS have a vote on fees and such.

In every state, out of town people always get it in the neck on their income or vacation properties - because they are denied the ability to vote.

...You only get to vote in one place - where your primary residence is....  How would local ordinances and regulations and fees and such be different if property owners could vote as well?

...The roads within Eastman are maintained by the Eastman Community Association ("ECA") and paid for with dues (call 'em taxes if you want).

...Total is $1800 per year (no matter the size of the house, I might add).

...One of the 10 best golf courses in NH (which is on a separate fee schedule) is in Eastman.

So we have three very large differences: no schools to support, votes for property owners no matter where they live, and property owners pay the same amount, NO MATTER THE VALUE of their house!

Of course the last is anathema to socialist "progressives" - who want to soak the rich for all their worth.

If you translated this fixed rate to the outside world, one immediate effect would be to prevent old folks from having their property taxes skyrocket - and kicking them out of their lifelong homes.

...So why will our taxes in Enfield (which we still have to pay) approximate about $3,000 per year, and the Eastman only $1800 - and we get far better service with Eastman?

One reason, of course, is that a real township such as Enfield has to have "real police" and "real fire".

...Anyway, I intend to study Eastman as a microcosm of how the State could be replaced by private enterprise.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Letter to the Editor</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-04-06T09:31:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-18.html#unique-entry-id-61</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-18.html#unique-entry-id-61</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I write this in response to Joshua Cline&#8217;s letter of 5 April, and his support of a moratorium on growth.

...My family searched the entire state of New Hampshire looking for a good place to &#8220;land&#8221;.  An exceptional property in Troy caught our attention, and we have been trying to obtain a building permit.

...This ROW has appeared on official town maps since at least 1976 &#8211; long before all the myriad rules, regulations, ordinances, RSA&#8217;s, etc. ad infinitum took effect.

...It seems that everybody has a say on this permit &#8211; except for the buyer and the seller.

...We live in an RV on a friend&#8217;s property out of state, and it costs us money to deal with this.

...The &#8220;good&#8221; he talks about is for the myriad people who want to utilize the so-called &#8220;viewshed&#8221;, hiking trails, nature paths, and so on, without paying for them.

...I have met many people living right here in Keene, that love the idea of Applebee&#8217;s and Borders within short driving distance.

...That vision is fine for china plates and cups, but these small towns are living, breathing organisms, populated by real people.  To force a static artist&#8217;s conception of New England small town &#8216;life&#8217; may be good for tourism, but it&#8217;s ultimately as satisfying and real as the glass eyed trophy mounted on a wall.

...What Mr. Cline seeks is to deny property owners &#8211; such as that 77 year old fixed income seller of our property&#8211; the right to use their land as they see fit.  He denies a 77 year old man the money to repair his house, and has the gall to say that no &#8220;undue harm&#8221; has occurred.

Unelected &#8220;planners&#8221; , who go from township to township, while based in Keene clearly couldn&#8217;t care less about Troy....  They use the force of government to take away the hard earned assets of property owners, then hide behind various rules and ordinances.

...In order for us to buy this property, we are forced to grovel before several groups of people &#8211; most of whom are antagonistic towards &#8220;growth&#8221; like Mr. Cline.  This last statement is supported by reading the SWRPC&#8217;s own documentation about Troy, written in 1998.

...They approve large shopping centers, restaurants, big box stores, bypasses, and so on. It&#8217;s OK for Keene to have a large retail district, but not Troy.

...That is always the result of government regulation &#8211; the wealthy and connected get what they want; the less wealthy move somewhere else.

...We cannot wait a year negotiating our way through arbitrary rules set up by unelected and unaccountable people whose publicly stated opinion is to deny our petition....  It saddens me when I think of all the many friendly people I met in Troy whose wonderful town will be just another trophy on the SWRPC&#8217;s wall.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Bureaucracy Run Amok</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-04-05T20:01:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-18.html#unique-entry-id-57</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-18.html#unique-entry-id-57</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We're still working on obtaining the property in Troy.  We are finding out first hand, exactly what kind of localized tyranny zoning and "planning" boards commit.

We've received so many different stories about why we can't build, that it's becoming a bizarre maze akin to the Incredible's "They're penetrating the bureaucracy!".  Only we're NOT penetrating so far.

It appears that a pencil pusher in Keene has determined that it's not a buildable site.  It should be noted that it took a WEEK to find out WHERE this particular pencil pusher worked.  All this time, I was led to believe it was a municipal attorney.

...The original stated objection was that the right-of-way was not well enough defined.  Now the issue appears to be that there is not enough frontage.  The amount of frontage went from 50' which is the number we've heard for the last week, to 200' which we heard about the first time yesterday.

We also were led to believe that the various rules were because of STATE laws, and therefore out of their hands.  Turns out the 200' rule is a TOWN rule.

...So the layers are: Town, Planning Board, and State.  The main obstacle appears to be the planning board....  Everybody has to sign off on it.

...This is exactly the kind of garbage that the FSP is designed to fight.  Though it looks damned doubtful at this point that we'll be able to get this property.  Jean and I plan at least one more planning board meeting.  I will prepare a speech, and all my paperwork.

The amount of time and effort needed to do this is not compensated.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Democracy in Action</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-04-04T17:47:00-04:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-18.html#unique-entry-id-56</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-18.html#unique-entry-id-56</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[One of the selectmen wasn't - a man, I mean.

Anyway, we wanted to get some first hand accounts of the problems with issuing a building permit.

...You end up feeling like you have to grovel to the town, county, and state.  All for the "privilege" of using your own property however you see fit.

What we heard first was that there was a State law demanding 50' of right-of-way on a Class V or VI road....  It's a TOWN ordinance - one that's causing a fair amount of grief, apparently.  (One wonders why such an arcane ordinance even came up to a vote, much less passed, since it deleteriously affects quite a few back lots).

In spite of all the myriad laws and regulations and ordinances and rules, etc., etc., etc., This particular property STILL comes under a "fuzzy" area!  If 500+ pages of rules can't cover everything, why bother??

Crux of the matter is that it's possible that the right-of-way can be grandfathered-in.  (no state issue, just a town issue), if it's defined better.  OR, it's ALREADY defined better - because it's shown clearly on the official town survey maps.

This latter is what I call the "34th Street Argument".  If you recall, in the movie, "Miracle on 34th Street", the defense said that the man in question really WAS Santa Claus, because the US Post Office, "a branch of the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT" just declared him to be Santa Claus, therefore he was!

The right of way in question is on official town maps, and therefore is in fact, defined, for the purposes of a building permit.

As a couple of zingers thrown in at the end, there are actually SEVERAL "permits" required, including a driveway permit (from the state, apparently), building permit AND and "occupancy" permit.

Each permit costs money, and any of them can be refused.

In other words, this could take months, if it happens at all.

...And this is a relatively simple state!

The FSP has a *lot* of work to do!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The State Steps in..</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-03-29T21:23:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-17.html#unique-entry-id-55</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-17.html#unique-entry-id-55</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Looks like the property in Troy is not going to be ours.

It turns out that NH passed a law a year ago to the effect that "back lots with undefined rights of way" shall not be allowed to have building permits.

I assume it's in response to some whining loser in a property conflict, and therefore NH has taken the value of thousands of parcels and flushed them down the septics that will never be built.

Oregon had some similar issues, regarding zoning regulations that deflated property values.  The voters passed a measure last year to say, in effect, that if the state, county, or town does such a rezoning, then it must compensate the owners whose properties have decreased in value.

...The seller is expressing no interest in resolving it.  We've offered to pay for it if the price comes down commensurately, we await word on that.

It's interesting to me how the State can foul up a relatively simple transaction like this.  There's a buyer and a seller....  It seems that most of these contingencies are the ability of the new owner to actually use the property in a particular manner.

The right-of-way is a contract between two other people....  Presumably, money or favors of some sort changed hands to get that right of way.

...If there is a dispute down the road [sic], it's between the two property owners.

...To be allowed to build a house on a property, the property MUST have 50 feet of road frontage....  They tell us so that they can get "emergency equipment" into the property.

...I can drive dump trucks, cement mixers, and cranes - not to mention my RV on a 10 foot road, but I need fifty effing feet for "emergency equipment"???

...Anyway, the kids are devastated, Jean is a basket case, and I am angry - at the State....  I imagine that somebody will still get to enjoy that property as part of their "view shed" or whatever.  The current owner gets screwed out of thousands of dollars, as do thousands of property owners around the state.  Until this law is challenged, and, hopefully, thrown out.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I broke a nail&#x21;</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-03-07T12:06:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-14.html#unique-entry-id-53</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-14.html#unique-entry-id-53</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[This refrain shouldn't bother most people, and actually, I broke 4 nails.  Moving the last stuff out of the old house in Oregon is hard on nails.

...(Uh oh, some 1984 person will probably use this on me, instead of Winston's rat).  But I couldn't do anything about it because I flew from Toronto to Eugene, thereby precluding me from packing any nefarious nail clippers.

I try to avoid checked baggage, and therefore got rid of my vicious weapon before even departing.

Immigration was a joke (as usual) in Toronto.  The female was dismayed that I ONLY had a driver's license.  "Why don't you have a passport or birth certificate?

...Biting my tongue about scuba diving in Lake Ontario, I replied that I had driven to Canada, and the only ID they asked me for was my DL.

Also, I imagine that if I DID keep my stupid birth certificate with me, that I'd ALSO have to keep a copy of a 1984 (there's that year again!)...  My BC has a name only vaguely similar to what I carry around now.

The house in Selma is now officially empty of our stuff.  There are a few "treasures" left around for the new owner.  To assuage my conscience, I left $200 in the safe to pay for some trash cleanup....  I even got the garage in shape.

...My contract ended with the good doctors a few days ago, so this is the first trip across the US that I don't have to fret about getting from connection to connection.  No sitting in truckers' lounges for 8 hours programming my butt off.

Looks like we'll land in Troy, NH, with a 40 acre plot....  Who says you can't gulch in NH?

Pictures are too close in - but considering that the property has no "timber value", it has quite a few trees!]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Domes &#x27;R&#x27; Us</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-02-17T15:29:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-11.html#unique-entry-id-50</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-11.html#unique-entry-id-50</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Just got back to the barn after a week in New Hampshire.  We've narrowed our choices down to Keene - specifically a nice property in Troy - and Lancaster.

If we can't get to terms on the Troy property, we'll probably end up in Lancaster - always my first general choice.

On the way back, we finally managed to see some AI domes in far Northern Vermont.  A gentleman there has three domes - and we saw two of them.

The green dome is a 34' with a basement.  The interior is quite interesting - kind of a rain forest motif...

The second dome is a 45', with no basement.  The glass spiral on the left is really cool - inside AND out.

The blue dome is off the grid and had external wood heat.  Quite cool.

After finally seeing these, we've pretty much decided that 45' is the smallest reasonable size, with a 48' being probable.  We also intend to plagiarize a lot of cool ideas these people used.  We thank him profusely.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>A Message&#x2c; from the Government of Canada</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-01-22T22:38:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-7.html#unique-entry-id-44</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-7.html#unique-entry-id-44</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I asked my children - as a "social studies" assignment, to pay attention and tell me what they find that's different about Canada from their native US.

...Second, the french fries up here are MUCH better - as a rule - than in the US. Third, "Swiss Chalet" has the best chicken strips on the planet - and their fries are damned good, too.

...For example, there's a commercial on TV- basically saying that all Canadians have to pitch in and use less fuel because of global warming and "Come on Canada, we're up for a challenge, right?"

Aside from the total acceptance of the pseudo-science of Global Warming (which is also accepted by California lawmakers), the end of the commercial is truly where the difference between "The States" and Canada lies.

...This is much more honest than the credits given by "public service announcements" in the US. We have McGruff the Crime Dog.  D.A.R.E, The Ad Council, "When You Know.", etc. Basically, all of these try to hide their allegiance and sponsorship from the Federal Government.

...Everybody in the US knows who is paying for these ads, why hide it behind a transparent facade?  Is it just an acknowledgment that the average US citizen is just a touch more uncomfortable with leviathan government than our socialist neighbors to the North?

...Wedging parenting classes in 30 second breaks between "Married With Children" and "The Simpsons" seems rather pointless to me.

...The people who drive drunk, and wreak this habit are busily sucking down suds at bars when these air.

...Instead of the normal epitaph, we get a picture of a truly pitiable looking creature, obviously burned and brain damaged, barely human - in a hospital.

...Why do these people insert these ads in commercial time during a sitcom?...  I feel badly for these victims, but *I* didn't cause the pain, and *I* don't need to be lectured to while trying to extract entertainment!

...Maybe a small swatch of guilt thrown in that some people may wear - just because it's the "in" thing to do.

...This time, these are run late at night, after all normal - and certainly post prime time- programming has ended.  The appeal to pity is there, but it's not thrown wholesale in our faces.  Rather it is presented in such a way as to allow us to turn away -or not.  But it is NOT inserted as a zinger during "Friends" to ruin our popcorn, or give us a bout of indigestion.

...If we don't tell you - over, and over, and over, and over, and over, that driving drunk is a bad idea - then everybody'll go out and wipe out the next generation after imbibing.  A corollary of this are the ubiquitous road signs telling everybody not to drink and drive.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Great COLD North</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-01-18T18:24:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-7.html#unique-entry-id-43</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-7.html#unique-entry-id-43</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Now that it's averaging -4F (not a typo), I find that I need propane.  No problem, just drive up somewhere and fill it up, right?

...First off, looking all over Ontario, and they all do the weight thing, or don't have hoses long enough.

Um, ok, how about getting a truck to fill up?

...I don't have a sticker which is required by Canada.  Basically, it has to be a tank less than 10 years old or have been "inspected" and thereby stickered.

"How can a US RV fill up, then?"  "Can't do anything without that sticker."  "But I'm just traveling through, you won't sell me propane?"...  "How much to get an inspection?"  (I wanted to do this anyway, what the hell.)

Long story short - nobody is doing inspections that I can find.  Nobody will fill me up.  Crap, some places won't even sell me parts (Cigas) unless I'm licensed!

So, I'm supposed to freeze?  Go to Buffalo (an all day affair) for propane, with its attendant border crossings and other problems?

Don't you just love government?  It's for my own safety, of course.

I'm still trying to figure out how to connect an external tank to my bird, but I'm not hopeful.  I'm now running two ceramic heaters which keeps the cabin temperature to about 40F(!).]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>The Great Wet North</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-01-12T20:54:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-6.html#unique-entry-id-42</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-6.html#unique-entry-id-42</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I was all prepared for a hassle at the border, but when you have all your papers in order, it's pretty easy.

We went up I-81 through the Thousand Island region of NY (quite beautiful) to Canada.

Presented our tattoos - I mean papers - answered a few questions, and was passed through.

Oh well, better duckbite next time.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>To the Freestate &#x26; Back</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-01-11T21:44:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-6.html#unique-entry-id-40</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-6.html#unique-entry-id-40</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Well, since we had a "visa" in Canada that expired, we zipped down to NH to pick up enough paperwork to satisfy the bureaucrats in Canadian immigration.  We ended up spending a week in NH, at a cost of about $1,000.  Thank you very much, butthead bureaucrats!

Going through Lancaster, Littleton, Bethlehem, Concord ("CONcud"), Portsmouth, Manchester ("MANchestuh"), and Keene; the overwhelming impression is how difficult it will be for us to decide where to land.

While in Keene, we met with Dada_Orwell, Kat, and her husband....  After spending 3 hours in their home, Jean and I left invigorated and recharged.  It's amazing how much you get reinforced by like minded people.

Tomorrow, we get to face Canadian customs and immigration again.  We have all our papers in order, but will our 2 day tardiness in leaving last time hurt us?  Why is it such a hassle for us to go there?

It's not 9/11.  We're clearly NOT terrorists.  They're simply 1)afraid we're going to use some of their government services, or 2) irritated that we didn't tug our forelocks, and actually leave Canada precisely on time.

Currently, we're in Watertown, NY.  Looks like a decaying city, quite depressing downtown.  The hotel we're staying in has many pictures of about 100 years ago when this was a happening place.

Lots of those buildings are still here, looking much the worse for wear.  Lots of lower-end housing near Fort Drum.  Lots of camouflaged soldiers walking around.

Well, with luck, we'll be in Canada tomorrow.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Barn Rats</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2005-01-02T16:29:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-5.html#unique-entry-id-39</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-5.html#unique-entry-id-39</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Well, we're in the really cool barn - 3 stories high and fully finished & heated.

We've taken to calling ourselves the "Barn Rats".  For some reason, it just seems to fit.

I'm almost finished (finally) with a huge subsystem for Echo - full upload, basically.  I'll "upload" it tonight, or die trying.  What's nice is how closely it aligns with the BeThere work, too.

Jean is happy because there's a bunch of computer work for her to do, too.  She's doing the Almost Perfect website, and will then tackle the database they need for working with their 3 (soon to be 5) stores.

Pix soon...]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Stingy is as Stingy Does</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-29T12:55:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-4.html#unique-entry-id-38</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-4.html#unique-entry-id-38</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[There's been a 9.0 earthquake in the Pacific Ocean near Sumatra.  It triggered a series of tsunamis which have killed an estimated 70,000+ people.  From Thailand, to Sri Lanka, to India, and Indonesia, widespread devastation.

Naturally, President Bush pledged millions of stolen loot to help with the recovery.

...Immediately, the US is bashed for being "stingy".

...Depending on who said it, my first inclination would be to declare "Fine, how about ZERO dollars?"

This is part of the whole "White Man's Burden", which I equate to guilt.  Just as Ayn Rand said, the US is made to feel guilty because of its success.

Of course the flip side, right now, is the imperialist wars the US has started of late.

...Had a giant turkey dinner with Margaret feverishly working the whole day.

...Jean browbeat me continuously to read "Fear Factor" by Michael Crichton.  His message regarding environmentalism is very close to my own - albeit with more supporting footnotes and such.

Without giving too much away, Crichton completely dismantles the "science" and motivation of the environmental movement.  He does so within a fictional context, but has littered the book with dozens of footnotes to support his accusations.

Basically, the book is a thinly disguised lecture on the entire environmentalist wacko movement, including the pseudo-scientific basis for it.  It preaches to the reader even more than Rand does!  And that's saying something!

Secondly, the idea that environmentalists are already killing people around the world with the ban on DDT, and other elitist rules, it becomes only a little extension to believe those same miscreants would be willing to actually murder their opponents on a more personal basis.

I'd recommend it to people to read mostly because its message is sorely needed to be disseminated to the masses as quickly as possible.  Otherwise, it's mostly a mediocre formulaic story with a lot of loose ends.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Oh Canada&#x21;</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-24T21:49:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-3.html#unique-entry-id-36</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-3.html#unique-entry-id-36</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We made it to Wayne's house in Whitby, Ontario on Tuesday - 3 days ago.

...In the left line, an argument broke out between the official and some people trying to get into Canada.  The official, clearly, did not think it necessary to be diplomatic or even polite.

...Old wife was the one who got into an argument.

Both lines ended at the same time, and we tried to avoid that irate clerk.

...Just the day before, we had gone to Niagara Falls, and had no problems whatever.

...This time, at a crossing only a couple miles down river, we got the third degree.  Telling the truth is probably not a good idea, I guess.

Since no birth certificates had been required of the children the day before, we had taken them to NH to put in safer storage.

...I guess they want to ensure we're not kidnapping children and spiriting them into Canada, or something.  They questioned not only my wife and me repeatedly, but they also questioned the two older children!

I'm sure they were REALLY confused when they asked about school - since we're homeschooling!

She said, over and over and over, how we could NOT use Canadian schools & services, and how I was not to work and so on. Ad nauseam.

They seemed to be concerned that we said we're moving from OR to NH.  Like we're homeless and living in the RV or something....  Since we now have two offers, both will be true any day now!

...Drove to Wayne's place, and was blown away by the property!...  The barn is three times the size of our house in Oregon.

...Jean now doesn't want a dome, but a Victorian instead.

...I'm finishing up work from the states.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Niagara Falls</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-18T22:58:00-05:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-35</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-35</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We bit the bullet and drove directly from Effingham, IL to Niagara Falls in one day non-stop.

...Very cold, everything frozen over and the congestion was incredible.

Some sort of ski contest was going on, and, being Friday night, all decent restaurants had 60 minute+ wait times....  The experience was "sub-optimal", but there is potential.

While there, my brother showed up, but only spoke French....  He was either from French Canada, or France....  Holly and Reese both thought he was a perfect copy.

We decided to brave the windy wet weather and explore the Canadian side of the falls.

...First, the United States had a TOLL on the bridge of $2.50!

...Second, the very stern, almost comically caricature of the stern faced too-serious government bureaucrat "greeted" us on the Canadian side.  Never once did she crack a smile - or even look at us.

After the usual questions - where from - where to, etc. She asked "Do you have any firearms?"...  She then asked, "Do you OWN any firearms?"...  Whereupon the bureaucrat asked again, "Do you have any firearms."  Whereupon I answered in the negative again.

...I have gone into Canada many times, and never was drilled like that before.

My supposition is that the US is asking Canada to ask the 2nd question.  OR, the fact that I had CCW from Oregon is available information to them.

Finally, all the cameras taking pictures of the license tags reminds me totally of 1984.  I didn't dare take pictures, in case I would be accused of casing the checkpoints.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Oklahoma is OK</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-13T22:58:00-06:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-34</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-2.html#unique-entry-id-34</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Hello from Oklahoma City.  I'm sitting in another Flying J - boondocked last night in another Flying J in Sayre, OK.  They have great wireless access.

OKC represents the last official stop we have to make for site-seeing purposes.  In this case, the Christmas light show which we caught accidentally 3 years ago.

This year proved to be just as wonderful, and Reese managed to get most of the pictures - Holly and I both had dead batteries.  (though I did get a few pix).

My travails in Gallup are not forgotten, however.  The BOA branch manager tried to call me, but managed to do so at the exact same time I was talking.  I haven't figured out how to switch callers, yet.

Also, somebody on the BlueBird forum found a Gallup government page, with all the email addresses of councilors, the mayor, and so on. He sent them my blog address about R G Truck Service.

I verified that going down in size for an alternator is a BAD idea.  The belts don't seem to be a problem, though - except they shouldn't have been required in the first place!

I'm behind at work, so I'll probably end up staying here most of the day tomorrow.  Maybe pulling out around 3 or so for a run to Tulsa to get SOME miles in. Next state is MO.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I hate New Mexico</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-10T23:28:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-10</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-10</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I arrived at an RV park (USA RV Park) on Route 66 in Gallup, and asked for a recommendation on repair.  The people behind the desk didn't know, but showed me to somebody getting a repair done right in the park.

...My first order of business was to get a motel room for the night, hook up to the internet and query the "Vintage Birds" site.

...I then called RG Truck Services' owner - a "Richard" somebody (STILL don't know his last name!), and explained to him that BlueBird owners had set up quite an elaborate support system to keep these fine old coaches running 20+ years.

...The electric shop "H&C" said they were going to rebuild the old alternator, using parts from two other identical ones lying around plus mine.

...About an hour later, the first responses to my emergency post started to get in. Also, I called BlueBird Customer Service in Georgia to get information about the alternator in my 1982 coach.

...A slight modification of the bracket was required, but should only take 10 minutes or so to do it.

...I mentioned that I wanted to retrieve some stuff out of my bus, and he seems to have heard that I wanted to stay in it overnight....  There is NO reason for me to state that I wanted to stay in the bus.  I expressed confusion, and then he started yelling (as best as I can remember) "You people say that when you're here, and then you sue me when something happens."

...I called the electrical shop, and they assured me that they were rebuilding the old alternator, and that it would be delivered not later than 9am.

...The kids and her were going on a home-school field trip to some ice-caves and a pueblo village, and would be gone for many hours.  I was going to pick up the RV, drive it back to the RV park, and start working on my amazing deadline.

...I talked with the guy installing it, and noticed it clearly was NOT a rebuilt alternator, but a far smaller one.

...Further, I noticed the grounding strap (perhaps the most important wire on the whole bus) was #4 wire - far too thin for the load it is expected to carry.

...Well, the new alternator wasn't the same size, they didn't use the bracket, and it required the mechanic to replace the fan belts to a different size!

...Then I made my 2nd mistake - I expressed irritation to "Steve" to the order that perhaps they should listen to their customers sometimes, because I could've (and offered, I might add) retrieved the CORRECT replacement alternator from Albuquerque.  As it was, I was getting a smaller one, AND had to pay for the extra labor to get it to fit.

...Looking at this bill, I sighed and said that I was unhappy, and felt that I was being overcharged for the work done, and further that the part they replaced it with was NOT sufficient for the load it would need.

...I mentioned, once, that maybe they should listen to their customers, and that's "bitching the whole time I'm here??"]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>I Hate Bank of America</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-10T23:14:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-15</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-15</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[...So we chose one of the only two (apparently) banks in Gallup - Bank of America....  Though the debit card I intended to use was not BOA, it seemed reasonable that they would help a customer.

...I told the teller my situation, traveling through, broken down, repair, cash only, etc. Could I get $629 from the account on this card, please?

...She came back and said that the card had been declined three times.  Amazed, since my wife transferred money into that account already, I asked to use a phone.

...After being on hold for 10 minutes or so, the lady at my bank said that $629 had been deducted from my account by BOA in Gallup, NM....  It was "declined" a second time because that account did not have 2 X 629.

I called the lady over, and had her talk with my bank on the phone, and sat down....  The teller went back to her station, and seemed to have forgotten about me.  I asked about my money, and she basically said "We didn't get an authorization code....  I said, that it was deducted from my account.

...I called my bank back, and after yet another long hold, had a human to talk to.

...I couldn't seem to get anybody's attention, so I yelled - at the top of my voice, in front of 30 or so customers patiently waiting in line that I wanted to see the manager, and I wanted to see him NOW!

...I said I wanted to speak to the manager, she said she was assistant.

...The assistant manager came over and said a bunch of bankerese - trying to say that it was a debit, and it was not authorized for cash advances, or some such rot, and that my $629 would magically reappear in my account at midnight.

...I said that I thought that was crazy, I didn't believe it, and furthermore, I needed that money NOW to get my RV out of hock!...  Even more, it was FRIDAY afternoon, and little is going to be done on the weekend, and I'll be damned if their incompetence was going to cost me the entire weekend!

After talking back and forth, my bank decided that a faxed sheet of the situation would settle the situation, and they would back the transaction out.

...Unfortunately, it would take about an hour for that money to reappear, and time was running out - it was 2 pm.  The driver from the repair shop said he absolutely needed to get back to work - so I agreed to let him ferry me back to the shop.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>New Mexico&#x27;s Finest In Action</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-10T23:10:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-17</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-17</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[After arriving at RG Truck Service (after over 2 hours!), I told "Steve" that there had been a problem at the bank getting the money, and that I needed to go to another bank.

...I tried to show him my fax sheet from the bank, to let him verify that I did indeed have the $629, and that it was tied up for a short while.

...I told him that I needed transportation, and he yelled to one of his men to drive a truck in front of my bus, blocking it in. And then he started yelling at me.

...He refused to let me use it to call my wife or the bank.

...Bear in mind, I'm just following him - at a distance - trying to get him to look at either paper, or a shiny metal discs in my palm!  He STILL won't let me near him, has my HOUSE blocked in. At this point, I lost my own temper, and told him he was a lunatic.

...Further, that the place was closing at 4pm, and that if I didn't pay before then, it would cost me $100 per day storage fee on my bus.

...The cop then frisked me - for his safety, and placed me in back of the patrol car. I think the cop appreciated my predicament, because he drove me to the 2nd bank in Gallup - Wells Fargo.

...But, I hadn't actually spoken with my wife, and I was nervous as hell that she and the kids would encounter those buffoons and get into a nasty situation.  Also, it was now after 3pm, and I literally did NOT have enough cash to pay the bill AND a $100 penalty for not making it before 4pm.

...I then had the surreal experience of explaining this all to another cop, having him check his dispatcher, and having the dispatcher say she knew NOTHING of the earlier encounter!

...FINALLY, at about 3:50, I get put in the back of the second car (didn't get frisked this time).

...Some may say that I may be more culpable in this situation that I am letting on. Further, I was agitated by the events at the first bank, and probably blew up at the man, and he reacted to me.

I submit, that he reacted badly, and with insufficient information, because I had expressed displeasure at both the quality of his service, and its exorbitant price....  Honest and competent people do not react to criticism by calling the police on a customer who CLEARLY has the means - and desire - to pay the bill!

...Since it was delivered by a policeman, I'm sure he felt pretty smug that he'd have his opportunity to have such vandalism.

This, after I'd been assured by "Richard" that there had been no vandalism or thefts on that property in 40 years!

...I assure you, that if I had been unable to scare up the funds or a cop escort by 4pm, I would have walked into that yard, and driven my bus out of there....  I am sure I could have gotten out off the property before the cops arrived, and then I have possession that then must go to court.

...I ensured he'd remember it, because I'd asked him about it several times in the back of his car.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Grand Canyon</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-06T22:59:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-3</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-3</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[We're in a lovely RV park, with about 2 inches of snow on the ground.  The kids are having a blast.

We went to the Grand Canyon, and at first it looked like we picked a bad day for it.  It was completely fogged in. All you could see were looming shapes FAR below your precarious perch.  Reminded me of WWII movies of convoys moving through the fog.

We went to a photography museum on the rim, and by the time we got out, the cloud had lifted to just about the rim.  So we were able to get some low contrast, but nevertheless satisfying shots of us dangling small children over the precipice.

The RV Park - "Railside RV Ranch", had excellent facilities.  It's in WIlliams, AZ, and the whole town is a perfect showcase for Route 66.  Too bad we can't stay longer.

Before the fog lifted, the kids had to be satisfied with an artist's rendition of the canyon looked like...

The last photograph is not retouched.  It looks like a surreal shot.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Best Show in Vegas</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-05T23:20:00-07:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-6</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-1.html#unique-entry-id-6</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[I stopped at the Rio in Las Vegas, and had a photo opportunity in front of the Best Show in Vegas!

I think Penn would make a great porcupine.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>Starbucks in Vegas</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-04T14:19:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-2</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-2</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[Went to Starbucks on the strip today, traffic seems to be slower during the day than at night.  Weird.

I think that I must attract disaffected people like flypaper.  The gentleman in the next table asked the time.  He had a British accent, and I tried to identify exactly where he was from.  I thought Liverpool - he was from Manchester.

He remarked - unsolicited.  HONEST!  - that he had been in Argentina for three weeks and was catching up on his world events.  He gestured insolently at the New York Times in his hand, and shrugged, "Doesn't appear to be any different than when I left."

I agreed, and said something to the effect that there was now 12,000 more troops in Iraq than when the invasion took place.  He said, "Please, tell me you're joking!"

I assured him I was not.  Then almost simultaneously we both uttered "Iran".  The conversation went on for a few minutes, and suffice it to say he was disaffected by Tony Blaire as much as I am with Bush.

It seems that the foreigners have our number, but why don't the Americans?]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>BUILD BUILD BUILD</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-03T16:10:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-1</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-1</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[A note from my current employer.  They want a build by Sunday Night, and the communications subsystem - much less the two daemon programs aren't even started yet!

Went to Luxor & Excalibur last night and enjoyed 4 hours with the family for less than $100.  We can be cheap when necessary!  Some pictures may migrate into the blog.]]></content:encoded></item><item><title>December in Las Vegas</title><description></description><dc:creator>nalex@hand-off.com</dc:creator><dc:subject>BLOG</dc:subject><dc:date>2004-12-01T15:05:00-08:00</dc:date><link>http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://homepage.mac.com/jollyprez/DuckBites/1/files/archive-0.html#unique-entry-id-0</guid><content:encoded><![CDATA[As I begin the first official DuckBites &#174; blog, I sit in my RV in Las Vegas.  Total Sin CIty, and it's a blast to be here.

The next RV over was inhabited by a couple of Canadians from British Columbia.  They noticed the "www.freeme.org" on my RV, and queried us about it.

After extensive conversation, they mentioned that they were outraged by the action of the US Government and its lumber tariff.  Turns out the gov wants to give that money - at their expense - to their competitors!

Just another DuckBite, in this case affecting our Northern neighbors.]]></content:encoded></item></channel>
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