Zion National Park

Just testing out the panarama function on my photo software. Zion National Park, Southern Utah, March '06. Look close and you can see my kids. Click to enlarge.

Subdivisions and Developers

The picture below is of the entrance to a subdivision on Eagle Road. The subdivision is named "Tuscany," and the entrance invokes Tuscan themes. You gotta admit, that's a nice entrance. It's terraced, has fountains and waterfalls, pillars, flowers, you name it. Very nice.



This picture shows the walkway along Eagle road, just outside the fence atop the berm enclosing the subdivision. Lots of grass and a nice, curvy sidewalk.



Inside the subdivision it doesn't look so Tuscan.



Looking down on the subdivision from a hill also shows that it's just a nice subdivision, and not a real slice of Tuscany, of course.



Finally, here's a picture of the cheesy park in my subdivision, which is the only common area we have.



That cheesy park costs my homeowners association around $7,000 a year for maintenance and insurance, in case a child gets hurt on the playground equipment.* That is almost the entire homeowners association budget, and my annual assessment is $90.00. That's not so much, but no one in my family uses that park so we aren't getting much for our dues.

Have another look at "Tuscany." I don't know much it costs to mow all that grass and keep the fountain up, and plant flowers each year, but it's got to be significant. Since the Tuscany common area really isn't usable space like our park, what are the homeowners there paying for?
Well, for one thing, they're paying for advertising for the developer. The developer puts up that beautiful entrance, builds the cost into the subdivision, and then the homeowners take over paying for it over the ensuing years. The entrance entices folks into the subdivision. Have another look at the fourth picture, the one from the hill top. See that dirt field at the bottom, with the two backhoes in it? Know what going in there? Yep, Tuscany, Phase II. These developers are smart folks.

If any of you live in a subdivision with a beautiful entrance, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts about your entrance. Is it worth the ongoing money? Does it make you feel good about living in the subdivision? Are you proud of the entrance?

*Update: added the following. Idaho Code 36-1604 exempts landowners who allow recreation without charge on their property from liability. It says "Statement of Purpose. The purpose of this section is to encourage owners of land to make land and water areas available to the public without charge for recreational purposes by limiting their liability toward persons entering thereon for such purposes." I suspect we don't really need insurance on the park.

Irony, or Absurdity

Perhaps Bubblehead with his finely tuned sense of absurdity can help us categorize this. Below you'll see the ballot to elect a commissioner from the 4th district of the Idaho State Bar Association. Say what you will about lawyers, but you've got to admit they're integral to the process of standing up for personal rights and upholding the constitution. So, what do they require on their ballot? (Click on image to enlarge)



Yep, the lawyer must print his or her name on the envelope to vote. No secret ballots here. I suppose once the ballots are received by the Bar they become a public record, so anyone can see how the lawyer voted.

BTW, were I voting, there's no way I'd vote for B. Newal Squyres. For one, I think it's kind of pompous to use the first name initial. For another, I believe from personal experience that the guy is pompous.

Update: Per comment from scootermom, changed ballot to envelope. Can't figure out how to do strikethrough font.

Breast Cancer Not Linked to Abortion

The New York Times reports, along with many other newspapers and news sources, that a new study found no link between breast cancer and abortion.

There is no association between abortion and an increased risk for breast cancer, scientists reported yesterday in a large study.

We'll see if Bill Sali persists in his position that the two are linked.

I'm Kind of Amazed

Or perhaps I'm just naive, but this story really struck me. This year, 2007, Turner County (Georgia) High School holds its first ever integrated prom. Before that, white kids went to a white-only prom, and black kids went to a black-only prom. In 2006 the school stopped electing separate black and white homecoming queens in favor of a single queen.

It's good to see progress toward integration, but it's obviously slow in coming.

Traveling

Is what I'll be doing until the weekend. Or at least actually traveling on the first and last days, and being somewhere else in between. So depending on availability of internet access in my hotel, I will probably not be posting much for the next few days.

TTFN

Bill Sali Sings

Here are a couple of short videos of Bill Sali taken Labor Day 2006, at a summer campaign event/picnic. They are a bit choppy, as were taken with a digital camera, not a video camera. Also, I couldn't edit them so the quality isn't the best. But still, perhaps kind of interesting.



And he drums.



Update: Adam pointed out that I got the wrong weekend, so I changed Memorial Day to Labor Day. I guess I just couldn't see Sali celebrating Labor Day.

Campaign money

Gov Otter has appointed Royce Chigbrow to replace one of the Idaho Tax Commissioners, per the Statesman. Chigbrow ran for Controller in the 2006, losing to Donna Jones.

In 04, Chigbrow was Sec of State Ben Ysursa's campaign treasurer. (Interestingly, in '03, Ysursa was then Sec of State Pete Cenerrusa's treasurer.) A Cordell Chigbrow was Otter's treasurer in the '06 Gov election. Don't know if they're related, but with an unusual last name, it's likely.

Another interesting tidbit; Delores Crow chose not to run for reelection, and shut down her campaign. She spent most of her remaining campaign cash by donating to other Rs, but she also donated $350 to the Brethren Church Africa Mission, and $350 to the Crossroads Community Church. I guess that's lawful, but it kind of surprises me; campaign donations rolled over and donated to religious institutions. Not much separation of church and state there.

Update; Changed Jana to Donna. Thanks to Tara for the tip.

Rexburg Dries Up; Chris Not Surprised

Chris has stirred up some of our Red brethren with a post about the last bar in Rexburg closing. Looks like it might have the possibility of turning into a flame war. Check it out.

Soldiers and Quilts

This is a photo of Specialist Wertz holding a quilt that was sent to me in Iraq. The lady who made the quilt went to church with my aunt in Riverton, Wyoming. My aunt told this wonderful woman about me, and she sent a quilt. It did get cold in the winter, so a warm cover was welcomed.

The quilt was made from flannel shirts worn by Wyoming cowboys to keep them warm in the cold western winters, as she described it. I had a blanket but this young soldier didn't, so I gave him the quilt and sent the pic to the nice lady who made the quilt. She ended up sending three, and I gave them all away and sent her pictures of the happy recipients.


Sgt. Dagget grins as he shows his quilt.

I don't know what point I'm trying to make. I was just very moved by the woman's generosity, and by the soldiers' joy in the gift, so I thought I'd share it.

Luna Campaign Debt

Since the November election, Tom Luna has loaned his campaign $27,000, and has spent some $22,000, mostly to Veritas Advisors for “Media.” Per a campaign expenditure report filed 7 Feb 07 for the period 11/18/06 – 12/31/06, Luna’s campaign carries $34,500 in debt, including the post-election $27,000. It also has cash on hand of around $22,000.

Luna’s campaign has incurred substantial post-election expense, but instead of using up its cash on hand, it has received loans from Luna and maintains a decent cash balance.

Luna’s campaign shows a $10,000 loan from Luna on 1 April 06, and another of $2,500 on 27 May 06. The loan balance seems to fluctuate, but it’s hard to tell why or to track. Various reports list the debt as $12,500 or $7,500, but mostly don’t show payments or new loans. It looks like Luna’s campaign finance person might be struggling.

Update: Mountain Goat reported here on similar, uh, inaccuracies.

Bubble's head

The IdaBlue research divison has unearthed a photo of Bubblehead, before his bubble swelled to the enormous porportions of late. I guess being Idaho's premier sub-blogger will do that to a guy.


Old photo


Curent photo.

Something's Happening Here

For four years, Lt. Gov. Jim Risch has reported campaign debt of $360,000 on his filings with the Secretary of State. Over the four years, the debt has not been paid down, nor has it accrued any interest.

Have a look at the pix below. You can click on them to enlarge. The first is from Risch's November 2006 filing. It shows the debt at an even $360,000, just as it has since the end of his campaign in 2002. The second, Dec 2006, shows the same debt, with the annotation "plus accrued interest." (Red underline mine.)



I'd guess that the note was a last minute brainstorm, otherwise they'd have taken the time to figure out the interest. At some point I suppose they'll have to put in an actual figure. It'll be interesting to see how much interest accrued. I wonder what rate they'll choose, and what start date.

Even more interesting, why now? Note the $137, 504 cash on hand. Perhaps Risch is getting ready too pay himself back from campaign funds and wants the number to be as large as possible. Or, maybe he's getting ready for a run at the Gov's office again. As I posted during the campaign, it's lawful for donors to exceed contribution limits if the donation is to pay off debt. A big donor could donate the max for the campaign, then donate unlimited amounts to retire debt. That money would then be available to the candidate to spend. Candidates have no limit on how much they can spend on their own campaign. Even more tricky, the candidate could relend the money back to the campaign, establish a new debt, and start the cycle all over again.

I don't think Lt Gov Risch will do this; he's too old to work this through a few election cycles, especially if Gov Otter gets re-elected. But it is a loophole in Idaho's election law.

Mistakes Were Made

I guess, at least that's the best explanation I can come up with for my inclusion in this.

Thanks to a tip in a comment from bubblehead, I learned that I was awarded the 2006 David Niewart Award for Best Electoral Commentary by the The Northwest Progressive Institute. As pointed out by Julie (Red State Rebels) here, Grassroots for Grant got the award for Best Campaign Blog (maybe even in the nation), and 43rd State Blues got an honorable mention for Best Community-Driven Blog.

I'm flattered by this, and surprised, and pleased. Any organization that has the insight to recognize Julie's and 43rd State Blues' contributions to our blogosphere (notwithstanding my erroneous inclusion) deserves to be in my blogroll, and it has been added.

In case it wasn't a mistake, thank you Northwest Progressive Institute.

Another One Bites the Dust

Some mope in Boise was trying to buy a $150 vacuum cleaner with a forged check, and ended up dead, according to the Statesman.

The Fred Meyer store manager called the BPD, a scuffle ensued inside the store, the guy pulled a knife, and the officers shot him three times; once in the arm, twice in the "torso."

The Boise Police Chief said that "Tasers are not appropriate in this situation." The article carried no elaboration on this point. This got me wondering, why isn't it safer for bystanders if police fire off a Taser than start shooting? Was guy with the 6 inch knife such a great threat that deadly force was more appropriate than a Taser? Wasn't there a risk of missing the guy and the bullet taking out an onlooker?

I'd like to know more. In the mean time, Fred Meyer is the venue of choice for Boise Police shootings. They shot another fellow in November at a different Fred Meyer in Boise.

In that case, six of the eight shots fired hit the guy. Two missed. The decedent "made a threatening move with a handgun." Don't bring a Taser to a gunfight, of course, but this shows that bystanders are at risk when the guns come out.