tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post3398059315872598886..comments2024-02-28T11:29:36.860-05:00Comments on just up the pike: robin ficker: accessibility at all costsDan Reedhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10594208011755406956noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-45169965992076081872009-03-28T22:31:00.000-04:002009-03-28T22:31:00.000-04:00Well, actually, the so-called "Ficker Amendment" o...Well, actually, the so-called "Ficker Amendment" only prevents the Council from exceeding the charter limit of tax increases, which means that even with a bare majority, they could still increase taxes at the rate of inflation, 3-percent or so for the last year. <BR/><BR/>As an aside, one has to wonder if they can decrease taxes pegged to Deflation, or if perhaps that ought to be automatic.<BR/><BR/>As for me, I'm not at all interested in increasing taxes the least little bit. <BR/><BR/>History tells us that one of the worst effects of the Great Depression was that many local governments actually tried to raise taxes to try to maintain spending. All that did was drive millions out of their houses and homes. Some places never recovered.Thomas Hardmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07951423786343852055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-23138086778328094072009-03-26T20:42:00.000-04:002009-03-26T20:42:00.000-04:00We already have 8 council members who have raised ...We already have 8 council members who have raised our taxes. Robin Ficker's property tax question passed despite the opposition of the council and Mr. Kramer and Ms. Navarro. He will be the one vote against property tax increases. But under the charter as amended by the Ficker Amended last November, only one vote is needed---Ficker's vote. He is man homeowners need.District 4 Voterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02268122489846362785noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-70474696751444360482009-03-25T10:13:00.000-04:002009-03-25T10:13:00.000-04:00Robin has always been eccentric, but has is gettin...Robin has always been eccentric, but has is getting a bit wackier lately. The kernals of truth or good information he's trying to get across are increasing lost in the clouds.Terry in Silver Springhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14327980975408524384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-10090731706206760772009-03-25T08:22:00.000-04:002009-03-25T08:22:00.000-04:00Oooh, much better!1960s Astroboy!Probably the most...Oooh, much better!<BR/><BR/><A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wANsjask_N8" REL="nofollow">1960s Astroboy!</A><BR/><BR/>Probably the most original anime, earliest for sure.<BR/><BR/>Ooops, now kids will be glued to the YouTube instead of terrorizing deer in the local parks.Thomas Hardmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07951423786343852055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-35410898398076471872009-03-24T19:12:00.000-04:002009-03-24T19:12:00.000-04:00Count Gore de Vol!You know, that poor man was Gore...Count Gore de Vol!<BR/><BR/>You know, that poor man was Gore de Vol, Cap'n 20, and the local incarnation of Ronald McDonald, if memory serves. <BR/><BR/>Wow, this totally gives me flashbacks to 3rd grade when the only interesting thing on TV was either a really bad animation of Marvel Comics, or "<A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTiysOs-91w" REL="nofollow">Tobor, the 8th Man</A>" which in retrospect wasn't all that bad. <BR/><BR/>Wowsers. I just remembered that I have a three-episode VHS tape of some 1960s "<A HREF="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHfb656YlEc&feature=related" REL="nofollow">AstroBoy"</A>.Thomas Hardmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07951423786343852055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-33190133016898797792009-03-24T17:14:00.000-04:002009-03-24T17:14:00.000-04:00In many ways I miss Captain Twenty!In many ways I miss Captain Twenty!chippyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09853701426607869416noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-56589433330079363822009-03-24T08:16:00.000-04:002009-03-24T08:16:00.000-04:00P.S. Hard to believe, but regarding those 7 TV ch...P.S. Hard to believe, but regarding those 7 TV channels and one fuzzy UHF: you had to stand up and walk over to the TV to change the channel. You actually had to move.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15552590357454301020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-70566697705421910642009-03-24T08:13:00.000-04:002009-03-24T08:13:00.000-04:00Smart Growth is not the culprit. And I'm not sure...Smart Growth is not the culprit. And I'm not sure that paranoia over open spaces is the culprit, either. Consider that only a generation or two ago, kids had a whopping 7 channels of TV to choose from, with maybe a fuzzy UHF thrown in. There was no internet. Video games were great in the parlors, and so-so with primitive Atari. I'm talking about the 1970's, and certainly through the 1980's for the Internet.<BR/><BR/>The change from those prehistoric days to our virtual technotopia is the main culprit for why kids don't run around outside, in my opinion.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15552590357454301020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-51450668597082526342009-03-24T06:45:00.000-04:002009-03-24T06:45:00.000-04:00Retgroclk: For one thing, there's the Lyme Disease...Retgroclk: For one thing, there's the Lyme Disease scare. For another thing, the media have gone far out of their way to characterize parks -- especially woodland areas -- as terrifying lairs of psychotic serial killers with hockey masks and chainsaws. It you saw trees as nothing but hiding places for either disease or monsters, you probably wouldn't want to go hang out there either. <BR/><BR/>Parks, of course, are worse: anytime you see movies about kidnappers or child molesters, parks are where they capture their victims. <BR/><BR/>No wonder kids spend all of their time blowing up monsters on their PlayStation.Thomas Hardmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07951423786343852055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-61877588115682837722009-03-23T21:29:00.000-04:002009-03-23T21:29:00.000-04:00Whee! Look at Mr Ficker with his hand-lettered sig...Whee! Look at Mr Ficker with his hand-lettered sign!<BR/><BR/>If he can do that, I can do that too!<BR/><BR/>No, wait, I can't... my handwriting is even worse. ;)Thomas Hardmanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07951423786343852055noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30306615.post-89215549377615920362009-03-23T18:32:00.000-04:002009-03-23T18:32:00.000-04:00Perhaps one of the reasons kids tonot get enough e...Perhaps one of the reasons kids tonot get enough exercise is Smart Growth.<BR/><BR/>There are fewer homes built with big yards- too many apartments and condos being built-.<BR/><BR/>I recall playing football and softball in our backyards, or even on side streets and at the park .<BR/><BR/>Sligo use to be a safe place for kids to play without parents having to watch out for gangs or predators.<BR/><BR/>We use to play capture the flag in the woods. football and softball in the open spaces, catch minnows and walk for long distances in the park.<BR/><BR/>You still see the occasional jogger but they are usually adults- younger children and teens are very seldom seen.retgroclkhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13538891152523408607noreply@blogger.com