People sure did think differently back then.

Apparently the government is the solution as evidenced by the passing of the so-called stimulus package that grows the government even more, increases entitlements (and thereby dependence  upon the government) and extends the government into the private sector. All hail Barrack!

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Follow the leader

Following the lead of the government's policy of spending more to get out of debt and to spread the wealth around, I did the same thing.

I used money that I don't have, via a credit card, and then spread it [the money] around to the city's Public Works division that was holding my car hostage because of expired registration. How much money did I spread around today? Enough to pay a weeks salary to the clerk who was happy to take the money, all $409.00 worth of it.

The city imposes a lien on the fifth and sixth day that the vehicle is in impound in addition to the daily storage fee which is how the total got so high but I didn't leave it there that long by choice. Remember, as I mentioned in a previous post, the D.M.V. was closed this past Friday so I couldn't get it then which was the day I had intended to retrieve my car for allot less money redistribution.

In this new savior-based economy I just wish Barrack would of come to my hometown and allowed me to plead my case before him. I'm sure either him or another government official could of helped me in my plight of being irresponsible in registering my vehicle in a timely fashion with a bailout. Oh well!

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State agencies close, no money

The state of California is broke and the governor has declared a fiscal state of emergency, enabling him to require state workers to take off two Fridays per month.

Today was the first Friday that many state agencies took the day off without pay, including the Department of Motor Vehicles. Wouldn't you know it, the D.M.V. was just the state agency I needed to visit today so that I could get my car back.

It's bad enough that the elected state employees can't seem to balance a budget, run the economy to near bankruptcy, force thousands to loose a day of pay but also affect millions who need to use the state agencies. Like myself. Because the D.M.V. was closed today and will be closed Saturday I will have to wait till Monday to be able to pick up my car. That means an additional $64. storage fees and also a $50. lien placed on the vehicle bringing the total to about $357.00

This blunder by our government officials causes to wonder if we really want to increase the growth of the government and our dependence upon them. I mean come on, the more services they provide the more likely that we will have to put up with sub-par standards as compared to private enterprises. Case in point, the Postmaster General has requested to eliminate 6-day mail delivery and reduce it to five days. Why? Not enough money.

Can't wait for government run health care.

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Happy Birthday Ronald Wilson Reagan

"If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under." - Ronald Reagan

February 6, 1911 – June 5, 2004

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City is hurting for money

Image by akseabird via Flickr

On Thursdays I have a mandated meeting to attend for persons with Bi-Polar disorder and this Thursday is no different except I planned on arriving on-time for a change. Because it's not by choice that I go to this meeting I tend to procrastinate getting ready and leaving so as a result I'm always late.

This Thursday, I knew I needed to trim my hair and take a shower, so I purposefully started thirty minutes earlier than usual. No problem in the shower but trimming my hair was a problem. Between the clippers not working so well and the plug constantly falling out of the receptacle doing my hair took longer than expected. By the time I left the house it was the usual time that I leave which means I would be late again.

It was pouring down rain as I'm leaving the house and jogging towards the street to get into the shelter of my car but my car was not where I left it. I was sure I parked it in front of the house but decided to look down the side street in both directions just in case. I'm getting drenched walking around looking for my car and after a few minutes I conclude that someone must have stolen it.

One thing for sure is that I got out of going to my meeting but this is a bad way of getting out of it for sure.

I called the police to report it stolen and they went take the information over the phone so they have to send an officer out to take the report, more standing out in the rain, well I guess I could invite him in but having the long arm of the law in your place isn't always the first thing on the to-do list. No worries though, after the person on the phone returned from running my plates she informed me that my car was towed because of expired tags.

Wow, the city couldn't just issue a citation, they had to tow the car. Unbelievable.

I called the impound yard for the cost to reclaim my car it was $199. for the tow and $32. for storage. But I wouldn't be able to pick up the car because it needed to be registered first. Here is my problem. The car was written off as a loss by the insurance company after a minor accident. I sent the money in for the registration but got a letter back stating that I would need to apply for a Salvage Certificate and to get one of those the car needs to be inspected to determine its road worthiness. I have not had the money to do that so the tags are outdated.

So the lady at the tow yard informs me that I need to go to the D.M.V. and request a moving permit, and then I could pick-up the car on Friday for $243.00.

How stupid is all this, the city towing cars for expired tags? I guess in a down economy they get creative. I suppose issuing a ticket only would just boost the cities coffers but by having it towed it keeps them guys earning a living as well.

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There is allot of un-common sense going around

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It's time to take a second look at a familiar place

Helpless from Keith Loutit on Vimeo.


This video is made by Keith Loutit, a Sydney, Australia based photographer. He uses a combination of tilt-shift and time-lapse photography to produce his works of art.

This particular short film is filmed at Bondi Beach, Sydney and captures Greenpeace activists sculpting a beached whale. The music is performed by Headstrong featuring Shelley Harland.

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