The views of politicians and the teachings of their churches may be important, but are they always sincere?
In most Christian countries, membership in a church is voluntary, and people join or remain members for many reasons. Many people join a church, or remain in the church in which they were raised, for religious reasons. Others do so for social, economic and/or political reasons as well.…
Article comments
76 - Clavos
Works on both, actually...
77 - Dan Miller
Try holy water, mixed 2:1 with vinegar. Now THAT should work on both.
Dan
78 - Clavos
Even in Panama, Dan...:>)
79 - Dan Miller
Clav,
I haven't found it necessary to try it yet. Feral cats don't come around, possibly because they know that we have three cats and five dogs. The various proselytizing folks aren't much of a bother, either. A pickup truck full of them came by a couple of days ago, and my "no hablo Espanol" seemed to scare them away; either that or the dogs. I haven't yet used the expression common in Cartagena when approached by street salesmen, Estoy mondau or something like that. Anyway, I thanked them nicely for the copy of Watchtower, which I declined, and they went away, but not without putting a few minor ruts in our inclined gravel driveway. Then the driver thought to go into four wheel drive, and there was no further problem.
Actually, we live 420 meters off a road for which four wheel drive is necessary during the now-beginning rainy season, and the 420 meter access is a tad worse, so hardly anyone bothers us.
Dan
80 - Andy Marsh
When I was a kid we lived in a house back off the road like that...up a little hill about a 100 yards or so, gravel and dirt driveway and when it rained it would get some outrageous ruts in it.
One Saturday morning, my little brother and i were up early, watching cartoons like we usually did back then and a big car pulled into our driveway. The car didn't have four wheel drive so it had to stop at the bottom of the driveway. Four very large ladies got out of the car and started slowly making there way up the driveway.
Back then I had two dogs, a full blood female German Shephard and her son, a shephard/St. Bernard mix. They were very friendly dogs and would never hurt a fly, but they were big and I I guess, some people might be a little...alarmed, at the sight of them. They hadn't been out to do there business yet and they were ready to go.
Being the punk kid that I was (am), I waited...patiently...until the large women were a little farther up the driveway. I started getting the dogs exited about going out and then I opened the door.
I've never seen four large people move that fast in my life!
It woke my pop up and he was a little pissed about all the noise, my brother and i were laughing uncontrollably, until I told him what had happened.
Yeah, I know it was a rotten thing to do...but I was like 15 at the time...
...it did seem to take care of the problem of our doorbell ringing at 7AM for quite a long time.
81 - Baritone
I am a real estate appraiser, and I hear all kinds of crazy stories regarding HOAs.
A fellow in a particular toney subdivision told me that he once received a fine from the association because he did not conform to the accepted pattern of cutting his grass at an angle to the street.
Imagine this: That a group of homeowners presumably brought up, discussed and ultimately passed, via parliamentary procedures, a rule pertaining to the pattern in which they and their neighbors cut their damn grass! This fellow discovered that it had even been discussed whether all the homes in a particular block should cut their yards at the same angle - say rising right to left or left to right - or if perhaps, to increase aesthetic interest that they should alternate. I guess that discussion was tabled for further review. What a crock!
B-tone
82 - Dr Dreadful
B-Tone:
Ours isn't quite that bad.
But they do have rules stipulating the colors, shades and patterns of umbrellas you're allowed to have on your patio. And we did receive a rather querulous letter once because we had the wrong type of shade on our porch light. They even instructed us as to the exact brand, style, price and the specific aisle at Home Depot where we could obtain the correct one.
83 - Andy Marsh
I went to an HOA meeting when I lived in Surprise, AZ. There were probably 15 people in the room in a community with some ridiculous number of homes, probably 100's. Anyway, there was this one group of grumpy old ladies sitting at a table by themselves and one of them piped up with an idea. She said that the HOA needed to put together a group to go around the neighborhood and write tickets to houses that weren't in compliance with whatever rule.
I jumped up and said, no, that's not what we need, what we need is neighbors to act like neighbors. If you have a problem with something I'm doing then come knock on my door, that's what neighbors do!
I got these really ugly looks, but I also got that discussion tabled. For all I know they bought it up later and it's policy now, but I know I'll never live in another HOA community again.
84 - Baritone
As with so many things, HOAs do have their good points. While they often go overboard, HOAs along with restrictions and convenants setting out what is and isn't allowable within the confines of the sub-division or project in question do provide safeguards and recourse.
When you purchase real estate, you are not technically buying the land, but rather you acquire what is referred to as a "bundle of rights" which lay out just what you can and can't do with and to it while under your ownership. Almost any piece of land will likely have with it some kind of restrictions set by zoning regulations, utility easements, limits to mineral rights, etc. Restrictive covenants that often come with subdivision or condo living are pretty much par for the course.
The problem often lay with those of small mind and heart when they get into positions of power within those associations. It in effect becomes their little fiefdom wherein they can bully and even terrorize members who don't toe the line. It's crap, but it just adds to the already enormous pile that we are obliged to slog through every damn day.
B-tone
85 - Cindy D
I would rather die than live with an HOA. I once rented a condo for 6 months. I was told that I couldn't have a bird feeder because the birds would poop on the landscaping. I looked at the three scrawny misshapen bushes they called the "landscaping" and wondered if the bird poop might not provide some needed nutrition.
My life would be a living hell if I had to live that close to stupid people. I don't tend to be as successful at easy going as I wish I could be. Perhaps I overdid the "easygoing" thing in my youth.
Jordan:
I attended one of James Randi's Amazing Meetings (skeptics) a few years back and I found Teller to be very polite, not rude or objectionable at all. Penn though, was one of the rudest bastards and really pissed me off. He made a very base remark about people who would believe in a god, that was uncalled for and unprovoked.
Andy: Take care, that can lead to hemorrhoids--the reading thing. Not reading, in general of course, depending on whose work you are reading. But, you know, well, ahem, enough said.
86 - Zedd
I live with a perpetual smirk inside anyway however my first and last HOA meeting nearly killed me. I had a difficult time trying to keep the laughter in. I think parliamentary procedure is funny anyway. All those motions being made for inconsequential things and seconded... I keep expecting the Grand Poop-ha to jump up with the secret shake, flailing arms and crow caws at any minute.
There were stay at home moms who thought that we cared whether their children had a fort that was 8ft or 12ft and whether they had canvas tops or wood covers (they got emotional). I thought, "wow, they REALLY need to go to work". We had a weirdo who thought that it was impressive that he patrolled the neighborhood at random times (for the element of surprise)sometimes 2am, 3:30am or midnight. Everyone (but this attractive retiree who looked astonished and me) stood up and give him a standing ovation. I imagined myself standing up to display an "L" sign (for looser) created with my fingers and placed on my forehead. They would have stoned me. His big accomplishment was catching some teens in one of the pools in the development, after hours. The kicker was this Black gentleman who stood up and made a Martin Luther King-esque speech, arms raised to the heavens and all. By then my shoulders were shaking uncontrollably from trying to hold it in but I couldn't excuse myself because all of my energy was going towards containing the laughter. The brother actually used the word "FREEDOM!!". They clapped for him but I think it was because of White guilt(smirk). I think they were hoping he wouldn't switch from fence heights to race matters or something. It was all so entertaining. The only thing is I had no one to share the moment with. The entire room was intense. :o)
I do desperately want to attend another one but I have to mature a little. I think I would break up just walking into that room.
87 - Dan Miller
Andy,
Lord Chesterfield is reported (I don't really believe it, but that's what was reported) once to have replied to a particularly objectionable correspondent:
Sir: I am sitting in the smallest room in the house, and have your letter before.
Soon, it will be behind me.
Dan
88 - Clavos
Lord Chesterfield (and the age in which he lived) was known for his turns of phrase and clever bons mots.
In more modern times, Winston Churchill was also a clever wordsmith.
89 - bliffle
It's quite true, Dan.
90 - bliffle
Chesterfield also wrote to his son regarding sex: "The posture is ridiculous, the pleasure momentary, and the expense damnable".
91 - Dan Miller
Clav,
One of Churchill's that I particularly like was directed at Lady Astor (you know, the one who derided the British "cowards" at Anzio), when she commented that he was drunk:
Yes, Madam. I am drunk. I am very, very drunk. And you, Madam, are ugly, very, very ugly. But tomorrow, I shall be sober.
Dan
92 - Dan Miller
Biffle,
Unfortunately, Lord Chesterfield's son did not much profit from his father's letters and turned out to be rather a buffoon.
He once fell asleep at a dinner when his father was entertaining friends, and wound up with his face in his desert.
I will refrain (or then I guess I won't) from commenting that he got his just deserts.
Dan
93 - Cindy D
LOL Zedd. That story is very funny and at the same time makes my skin crawl.
What is it? People don't have enough power ,or what?
I have always discussed rules with my niece and nephew with the following (um) suggestion (hehe)-- if they ever get into a position where they are able to make some rules, they should look at whatever rules are already there and eliminate as many as they make.
We need rule eliminators. I have had my fill of rule makers.
94 - Dan Miller
Cindy,
Amen!
Dan
95 - Clavos
We need rule eliminators. I have had my fill of rule makers.
Same here. Let's start with rescinding most of the United States Code and dismantling most of the bureaucracy that implements it.
96 - Dan Miller
Clav,
Now wait just a minute! How about the attorneys? And what about their children? Are they to go without food? IPODs? We must think of the Children!
Actually, dismantling most of the U.S. Code would probably be considered the full employment act of 2008 for attorneys.
Dan
97 - Clavos
...and for many more years into the future.
Can you imagine the legal wrangling that would be engendered as everyone moved to protect their particular oxen from being gored?