Pirates of Del Mar

Free at last. Free at last

2009-01-19T19:19:00.000-08:00

After eight years of it being hijacked by a bunch of fascists, I’ve got my country back!

The Obama Bash - My Inaugural Outfit

2009-01-17T03:02:00.000-08:00

I think this is fairly representative of Vero Beach style, don't you?

Indian River County Health Care – Death by Susi-cide

2009-01-15T05:23:00.000-08:00

”In the future, as government and insurance reimbursement rates falter, Susi said the hospital will rely heavily on philanthropy. Hospital officials also hope to create residency or fellowship programs as an added incentive to attract doctors.”

Wow! What planet is Mr Susi living on? Reimbursement rates are directly related to National Hospital Quality Measures called “Core Measures.” They are evidenced based measures that set a standard for the overall quality of care provided to patients with specific diagnoses. These consist of; MI (heart attack), Pneumonia, Stroke, Heart Failure and Surgical Infection Rates. When a facility like IRMC, fails to provide the minimum standard of care, then reimbursement declines. Standard of care is determined by Joint Commissions (JCAHO) and Centers of Medicaid/Medicare Services (CMS). If a facility wants to keep the moolah rolling in, then they do whatever is needed to comply with these measures.

Check out how IRMC compares to other health facilities in our area:

www.hospitalcompare.hhs.gov

www.qualitycheck.org

Looking at the statistics along with the quote by Mr Susi, it becomes apparent that Mr Susi would rather continue begging for money from donors and the county, than simply to do what is necessary to keep this community healthy by following industry standards which will then be reimbursed at the highest rate possible.

We're not Number One!

2009-01-04T02:23:00.000-08:00

Rankings of states on various topics have been coming out fast and furious lately and Florida’s numbers don’t look good. Here are the latest numbers:

Florida is No. 3 is prison population, with more than 100 thousand

Florida is No. 2 in foreclosures

Florida is No. 50 for children’s health care

Florida ranks last in access to emergency care

Florida ranks No. 50 in education funding

The Florida health care system ranks No. 50

Florida ranks No. 50 in high-school graduation rates

Florida ranks No. 1 in the number of convicted public officials from 1998-2007

Florida ranks No. 1 in requests for food stamps

Florida ranks No. 1 in mortgage fraud

H/T

http://quinnell.us/sspb/

HAPPY NEW YEAR

2009-01-02T02:45:00.001-08:00

Afgani Saale: Nao Mubbarak
Afrikaans: Gelukkige nuwe jaar
Albanian: Gezuar Vitin e Ri
Armenian: Snorhavor Nor Tari
Arabic: Kul 'am wa antum bikhair
Assyrian: Sheta Brikhta
Azeri: Yeni Iliniz Mubarek!
Bengali: Shuvo Nabo Barsho
Breton [Celtic]: Bloavezh Mat
Bulgarian: ×åñòèòà Íîâà Ãîäèíà(pronounced "Chestita
Nova Godina")
Cambodian: Soursdey Chhnam Tmei
Catalan: FELIÇ ANY NOU
Chinese Xin Nian Kuai Le
Corsican Language: Pace e Salute
Croatian: Sretna Nova godina!
Cymraeg (Welsh) : Blwyddyn Newydd Dda
Czech: Š?astný Nový rok (or Stastny Novy rok)
Denish: Godt Nytår
Dhivehi: Ufaaveri Aa Aharakah Edhen
Dutch: GELUKKIG NIEUWJAAR!
Eskimo: Kiortame pivdluaritlo
Esperanto: Felican Novan Jaron
Estonians: Head uut aastat!
Ethiopian: MELKAM ADDIS AMET YIHUNELIWO!
Finnish: Onnellista Uutta Vuotta
French: Bonne Annee
Gaelic: Bliadhna mhath ur
Galician [NorthWestern Spain]: Bo Nadal e Feliz Aninovo
German: Prosit Neujahr
Georgian: GILOTSAVT AKHAL TSELS!
Greek: Kenourios Chronos
Gujarati: Nutan Varshbhinandan
Hawaiian: Hauoli Makahiki Hou
Hebrew: L'Shannah Tovah
Hindi: Naye Varsha Ki Shubhkamanyen
Hong kong(Cantonese): Sun Leen Fai Lok
Hungarian: Boldog Ooy Ayvet
Indonesian: Selamat Tahun Baru
Iranian: Sal -e- no mobarak
Iraqi: Sanah Jadidah
Irish: Bliain nua fe mhaise dhuit
Italian: Felice anno nuovo
Japan: Akimashite Omedetto Gozaimasu
Kabyle: Asegwas Amegaz
Kannada: Hosa Varushadha Shubhashayagalu
Kisii: SOMWAKA OMOYIA OMUYA
Khmer: Sua Sdei tfnam tmei
Korea: Saehae Bock Mani ba deu sei yo!
Kurdish: NEWROZ PIROZBE
Latvian: Laim?go Jauno Gadu!
Lithuanian: Laimingu Naujuju Metu
Laotian: Sabai dee pee mai
Macedonian: Srekjna Nova Godina
Madagascar: Tratry ny taona
Malay: Selamat Tahun Baru
Marathi: Nveen Varshachy Shubhechcha
Malayalam: Puthuvatsara Aashamsakal
Mizo: Kum Thar Chibai
Maltese: Is-Sena t- Tajba
Nepal: Nawa Barsha ko Shuvakamana
Norwegian: Godt Nyttår
Papua New Guinea: Nupela yia i go long yu
Pampango (Philippines): Masaganang Bayung Banua
Pashto: Nawai Kall Mo Mubarak Shah
Persian: Sal -e- no mobarak
Philippines: Manigong Bagong Taon!
Polish: Szczesliwego Nowego Roku
Portuguese: Feliz Ano Novo
Punjabi: Nave sal di mubarak
Romanian: AN NOU FERICIT
Russian: S Novim Godom
Samoa: Manuia le Tausaga Fou
Serbo-Croatian: Sretna nova godina
Sindhi: Nayou Saal Mubbarak Hoje
Singhalese: Subha Aluth Awrudhak Vewa
Siraiki: Nawan Saal Shala Mubarak Theevay
Slovak: Stastny Novy rok
Slovenian: sreèno novo leto
Somali: Iyo Sanad Cusub Oo Fiican!
Spanish: Feliz Ano ~Nuevo
Swahili: Heri Za Mwaka Mpyaº
Swedish: GOTT NYTT ÅR! /Gott nytt år!
Sudanese: Warsa Enggal
Tamil: Eniya Puthandu Nalvazhthukkal
Tibetian: Losar Tashi Delek
Telegu: Noothana samvatsara shubhakankshalu
Thai: Sawadee Pee Mai
Turkish: Yeni Yiliniz Kutlu Olsun
Ukrainian: Shchastlyvoho Novoho Roku
Urdu: Naya Saal Mubbarak Ho
Uzbek: Yangi Yil Bilan
Vietnamese: Chuc Mung Tan Nien
Welsh: Blwyddyn Newydd Dda!

Folk Shows - John Flynn

2008-12-22T04:38:00.000-08:00

House Concerts at the Reading Room - Vero Beach

Live in Concert

From Hockessin, Delaware

John Flynn

Sunday March 1st @ 4:00 PM

^{Take this rare opportunity to see these singular artists in an intimate stetting. Space is limited at this house concert, so reserve your space by sending a $15.00 per ticket, per show donation to the address below. Checks should be payable to the artist, and please include your contact information should we need to reach you. The show is appropriate for all folks aged 12 and older. Refreshments will be served, and we invite you to bring a small plate of hor d’douvres or cookies to share at intermission.}

Lin Reading & Larry Macke · LinReading@bellsouth.net

If ya'll want to listen to John, he was just featured on NPR"S World Cafe Live

What he wants for Christmas

2008-12-20T04:35:00.001-08:00

Irish Viagra

2008-12-18T03:13:00.000-08:00

An Irish woman of advanced age visited her physician to ask his help in reviving her husband’s libido.

‘What about trying Viagra?’ asked the doctor.

‘Not a chance’, she said. ‘He won’t even take an aspirin’.

‘Not a problem’, replied the doctor. ‘Give him an ‘Irish Viagra’. It’s when you drop the Viagra tablet into his coffee. He won’t even taste it. Give it a try and call me in a week to let me know how things went’.

It wasn’t a week later that she called the doctor, who directly inquired as to the progress and the poor dear exclaimed, ‘Oh, faith, bejaysus and begorrah! T’was horrid! Just terrible, doctor!’

‘Really? What happened?’ asked the doctor.

‘Well, I did as you advised and slipped it in his coffee. The effect was almost immediate. He jumped straight up with a twinkle in his eye and his pants a-bulging fiercely! With one swoop of his arm, he sent the cups and tablecloth flying, ripped me clothes to tatters and made love to me passionately on the tabletop! It was a nightmare, I tell you, an absolute nightmare!’

‘Why so terrible?’ asked the doctor, ‘Do you mean the sex your husband provided wasn’t good’?

‘Twas the best sex I’ve had in 25 years! But sure as I’m sittin’ here, I’ll never be able to show me face in Starbucks again!’

Tunc Tezel - Orion Dawn Over Mount Nemrut

2008-12-16T10:01:00.001-08:00

Forty kilometers north of Kahta, Turkey, lies Mount Nemrut, a mountain adorned with the fragments of vast statues built over 2000 years ago. Zeus' head can be found near the above image's center, while the king's head is seen next closest to the horizon. Orion is above in the night sky.

This came from a great site, Astronomy Picture of the Day. Today the photographer was Tunc Tezel and I met him in 2007, at the Solar Eclipse in Side, Turkey. Tezel is a leading amateur astronomer and night sky photographer living in Turkey. He is know for the first Analemma photograph made of a solar eclipse.

The World is Listening!

2008-12-13T06:56:00.000-08:00

We have the technology!
Not only can one obtain news from sources other than the PJ, one can get streaming music on the internet.

Streaming music has saved my life. Really, I kid you not! Maybe it has saved your life and you didn’t even know; because the lack of good, non-commercial music could make the “royal we” go postal.

Web Stations – Part 1

ANETAntartica’s only web streaming radio station

One of the oldest web radio stations, this fine site features a continuous web cam of Antarctica- burrrrr- and The Antarctic picture of the day. You can also listen in to the Russian shortwave station, although it seems that they “don’t talk much”.

As for the Music they play?

“We play music by artists who perform internationally and usually carry their own guitar cases. Most prefer not to compete for to the record industry's favor. This music is owned, published and distributed by the musicians themselves. That is why we provide links to their web sites. We play what we like, everybody benefits.”

THe music loop, they play is a very nice mixture of country/folky storytelling songs.

Enjoy!!!

Ruling the World

2008-12-10T02:35:00.000-08:00

Whatever you give a woman, she will make greater.
If you give her sperm, she’ll give you a baby.
If you give her a house, she’ll give you a home.
If you give her groceries, she’ll give you a meal.
If you give her a smile, she’ll give you her heart.
She multiplies and enlarges what is given to her.
So, if you give her any crap, be ready to receive a ton of shit.

More on Merrill

2008-12-09T03:41:00.001-08:00

Bank of America got $15,000,000,000 on October 28. It just bought Merrill Lynch

Members of the United Electrical Workers Union are staging a sit-in because the company folded without paying them their severance and vacation pay, ostensibly because the Bank of America froze the company's line of credit:.

Some 200 UE members at Republic Windows and Doors in Chicago have sat-down and occupied their plant until they win the compensation they are owed. The peaceful occupation began Friday on the last day of the plant’s scheduled operations before closure. Republic reportedly failed to comply with notification rules for mass layoffs and skipped a meeting with a member of Congress to discuss the workers’ predicament.

Despite $11 billion in losses and 30,000 lay-offs, Merrill Lynch CEO John Thain is reportedly seeking a $10 million bonus in spite of the firm's "abysmal" performance.

But a key underpinning of the deal is the $15 billion in public funds that the Treasury Department provided BofA and $10 billion offered to Merrill that it is expected to accept once the merger with BofA is completed

Medical Mondays

2008-12-08T05:20:00.000-08:00

I thought it would be nice to meet and greet some of the folks that literally, hold our counties life’s in their hands, the board members of the Indian River Hospital Foundation. These are people I will never meet, unless I am involved in a fender bender with them. Nevertheless, they are the people who have decided that Jeff Susi is a good CEO of our local hospital and reward him as such. Mr. Susi I have met on numerous occasions (and to steal a phrase from my friend Miss Vero, will surely not remember me!). I was not impressed.

via Whale Trust
Allen N. Jones, Chairman
Allen recently retired from a 27-year career at Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. At the time of his retirement, Allen was a Senior V.P., Director and Member of the Executive Committee, and the Director of the Private Client Marketing Group. During his career as an executive at Merrill, he also held positions as the Director of Individual Financial Services and the President and CEO of Merrill Lynch Life Insurance Company. In addition to his financial expertise, Allen brings to the Board of Whale Trust a long and diverse history of involvement with other organizations including the American Heart Association, Forum for Investor Advice, the Princeton Medical Center, and the Houston Symphony. Allen currently is a part-time resident in Maui, Hawaii and Vero Beach, Florida.

The Allen N. and Ann L. Jones Family Foundation

What a nice sky!

2008-12-07T05:44:00.000-08:00

For those who did not see it, this is a great picture of Venus, Jupiter and La Luna! I don't have the proper camera equipment to record celestial events, so thank the FSM for google and these series of tubes.

Art Basil – There’s No Place Like Home

2008-12-06T04:36:00.001-08:00

It was vacation week for the Monkey Man and me! The political twins were down for a much deserved leisure time after single handedly winning the election for the O man, or at least ousting Sununu of New Hampshire. A mini stay-cay it was, with a lovely - albeit older - condo south of Jensen Beach with a view of the water and cold ass weather.
Nothing says stay-cay like pink playing cards, a case of wine, a raucous game of hearts and the large size of Summerlin’s Fish Dip. Good Times.

No visit to Florida is complete without a pilgrimage to Miami Beach, so Tuesday we were off the South Beach for our dose of beach-cit cool (no pun intended). Despite the chilly weather, Miami-South Beach was hoppin’, Art Basel was in town. For those of you not in the know, Art Basel Miami is the sister event of Switzerland's Art Basel, the most prestigious art show worldwide for the past 39 years. The New York Times calls it the “Olympics of the Art World.”

The stars were out Page 2 Live, hotels and restaurants were packed and thank goodness, the newly renovated Eden Roc and Fontainebleau were open for business.
But, as Dorothy says, there’s no place like home and for less than a $35.00 ticket one can drive down Indian River Dr., in Sebastian and see the fabulous sculpture of Geoff Myers
Art is just sitting out in his front yard. Be careful and don't drive into the river while you are passing by. His sculpture is some seriously cool stuff.

DBPR Training for Condo Boards

2008-12-02T05:40:00.000-08:00

Now that there is some sort of an educational requirement to run for the Condo Board, which is an improvement, the DBPR will be offering training directly and through various vendors. This training is also available for unit owners, not only the Boards and the Associations. It is a good idea to educate yourself and take a course about condominiums as soon as the classes are up to par and on point with the new laws. As good classes become available, we will inform you. There will be classes that come to your condominium and online opportunities available. The law on education now states:
“The division shall provide training and educational programs for condominium association board members and unit owners. The training may, in the division’s discretion, include web-based electronic media, and live training and seminars in various locations throughout the state. The division shall have the authority to review and approve education and training programs for board members and unit owners offered by providers and shall maintain a current list of approved programs and providers and shall make such list available to board members and unit owners in a reasonable and cost-effective manner.”

We will see how this new education and training help. There may need to be a testing component added to the laws next year.

Celestial Events for Free

2008-11-29T05:24:00.000-08:00

Anyone else notice the “new tower” in the western part of our skies?
I thought not, because the nefarious companion and I had this discussion Thursday evening. I noticed the “new tower” when we left the house and pointed it to him while we were driving down Indian River Blvd, near Grand Harbor.
After several marital “yes it is” – “no it isn’t” volleyed back and forth between us, I acquiesced, preferring to keep my buzz happy. A good partner knows how to pick the battles.
So it was with great joy, that I returned home after Black Friday, safe and sound, to discover the same “tower” in the sky over Sebastian.
I tell you, it was a Celestial Event!
In the west, just after sunset, Venus and Jupiter grace our skies. Over the course of several nights, as Venus orbits the Sun it appears to be slowly moving eastward, approaching Jupiter. Es muy linda, and on December 1 the thin crescent Moon will join them!
So since nothing much happens in our part of the world and this event is absolutely free,
take your cocktails outside on the 1st, and enjoy the show!

The Thankful List

2008-11-27T05:15:00.000-08:00

1. My extended family and friends love me, despite my craziness.
2. Hospice. Daddy- I miss you this Thanksgiving and will always hold you in my heart!
3. The cat has lived to see 13 (today is her birthday!)
4. There are still a few jobs available on the Treasure Coast.
5. Someone else will be cooking dinner tonight!
6. My husband and I agree that other than travel, if we can’t pay cash for something, then we don’t need it!
7. The kid’s only bad habit is “eating meat”.
8. The condo on the beach is paid for.
9. The Tammy’s (you know who you are!)
10. 3 seasons of gardening in Florida.
11. Bush will be out of office soon!
12. Gypsy music and Limewire.
13. My friends and families sense of humor.
14. My Macdear customers.
15. The only plan is that there is no plan
16. Spanish Classes and continuing education.
17. High speed internet.
18. Still being able to “care” after 15 years of healthcare.
19. Ocean breezes.
20. The Monkey Man – who loves me beyond all odds and expectations.

RECORDS REQUESTS

2008-11-25T03:54:00.000-08:00

One of the biggest complaints by unit owners and minority Board Members alike has been the lack of transparency and availability to the condominium documents. If you need records from your Association and they are refusing to provide the documents you request, you may now seek to use the subpoena powers of the DBPR to assist. Pursuant to 718.501(5), if a unit owner presents the division with proof that the unit owner has requested access to official records in writing by certified mail, and that after 10 days the unit owner again made the same request for access to official records in writing by certified mail, and that more than 10 days has elapsed since the second request and the association has still failed or refused to provide access to official records as required by this chapter, the division shall issue a subpoena requiring production of the requested records where the records are kept pursuant to s. 718.112. So follow the correct procedure when requesting documents. Follow though and ask again. After the second refusal, have the DBPR issue a subpoena on your behalf. Notice, the new language state the word “shall.” Further, arbitration is also available after you file the proper notice of intent. Your attorney’s fees and cost will be awarded to you as the prevailing party once you show the DBPR that the Board refused to comply with your request as properly sent as set forth above. The Association will also be fined $500.00, possibly more, if you prove the willful malice in ignoring your request.

On the cover of the Rolling Stone

2008-11-24T03:05:00.000-08:00

We loves us some Naomi Klein!
Her third book, The Shock Doctrine: The Rise of Disaster Capitalism, was published on 4, September 2007. The book argues that the free market policies of Nobel Laureate Milton Friedman and the Chicago School of Economics have risen to prominence in countries such as Chile under Pinochet, Russia under Yeltsin, and the United States (for example in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina),not because they were democratically popular, but because they were pushed through while the citizens of these countries were in shock from disasters or upheavals.

Now Naomi gives us specific information on the US's bailout plan in this months Rolling Stone Magazine

...five days before paulson struck his deal with the banks, british prime minister gordon brown negotiated a similar bailout — only he extracted meaningful guarantees for taxpayers: voting rights at the banks, seats on their boards, 12 percent in annual dividend payments to the government, a suspension of dividend payments to shareholders, restrictions on executive bonuses, and a legal requirement that the banks lend money to homeowners and small businesses.
in sharp contrast, this is what u.s. taxpayers received: no controlling interest, no voting rights, no seats on the bank boards and just five percent in dividend payouts to the government, while shareholders continue to collect billions in dividends every quarter. what's more, golden parachutes and bonuses already promised by the banks will still be paid out to executives — all before taxpayers are paid back.

Texting in Ghana

2008-11-23T05:06:00.000-08:00

Rosa Parks sat down

so that Martin Luther King could walk

so that Jesse Jackson could stand

so that Obama could run

so that our children can fly

Via Congo Girl

Miracle Cures

2008-11-22T05:49:00.001-08:00

It was a very interesting post over at my friend Mizz Vero’s Beach House, Friday.
Here are my humble thoughts.

Ya’ll are all thinking the nekkid man was “hanging out” so to speak, for that glorious all over tan, aren’t you. Well, nothing could be further from the truth! That man was nekkid ‘cause he wanted some of that good ole’ IRMC health care! You heard me right, free health care!
Now I’m not one to gossip because I leave it to Mizz Vero and my acquaintance, K. Ratchett, RN, to dole out the tasty tidbits. Best these things are left in the hands of trained professionals but…….
Several years ago, K. Ratchett, RN, likes to tell the story of a nekkid sunbather. Not quite to the age of Medicare and supremely out of shape….after viewing this gentleman sans clothing, Nurse Ratchett states, one would want to claw her eyes out or begin drinking heavily and perhaps both. This naturalist would prance on our fine Vero beaches, until the cops would come and put an end to his sun worshiping. Now, and this is the kicker…..upon his arrest for indecent exposure, Mr. Nekkid Man, would clutch his chest and state dramatically, “I’m having chest pain. I think it’s a heart attack!” Voila’ and off to the Emergency Room with you! Overweight and above a certain age will land you at least a 24 hour reprieve from jail, while our fine hospital staff evaluates your heart condition, usually just enough time for a friend to bail ya’ out of jail. Also, since one is arrested, the tab is picked up by the arresting enforcement agency.
What about when justice is served? Well, nekkid on the beach isn’t a large offense here in the Sunshine State and the fine is much lighter than the hospital bill would have been.
So, just what is the moral of this story? Nekkid on the beach is a victimless crime – if you don’t like it avert your eyes and find another beach. Better yet, establish a dedicated Nekkid Area for all those foreigners and naturalist’s visiting our area. Health care is a terrible thing to waste.

Cross Posted to Miss Vero's Beach House

Clarence Thomas wants to F&%# Amerryca

2008-11-21T03:39:00.000-08:00

A case that challenges President-elect Barack Obama’s name on the 2008 election ballot citing questions over his citizenship has been scheduled for a “conference” at the U.S. Supreme Court.
Conferences are private meetings of the justices at which they review cases and decide which ones to accept for formal review. This case is set for a conference Dec. 5, just 10 days before the Electoral College is scheduled to meet to make formal the election of Obama as the nation’s next president.
The Supreme Court’s website listed the date for the case brought by Leo C. Donofrio against Nina Wells, the secretary of state in New Jersey, over not only Obama’s name on the 2008 election ballot but those of two others, Sen. John McCain and Roger Calero.
The case, unsuccessful at the state level, had been submitted to Justice David Souter, who rejected it. The case then was resubmitted to Justice Clarence Thomas. The next line on the court’s docket says: “DISTRIBUTED for Conference of December 5, 2008.”

Food Insecurity or The Bush DIet

2008-11-20T13:26:00.001-08:00

I was born on a diet. Therefore I was amazed and delighted to read about the newest diet fad in town…the Republican Diet. Often referred to the Bush Diet, this weight loss plan is aimed specifically at our fat, little rolly-polly A-merry-can children. Ah. Compassionate Conservatism, is there any thing you can’t do?

Some 691,000 children went hungry in America sometime in 2007 [up 50% from 2006], while close to one in eight Americans struggled to feed themselves adequately even before this year's sharp economic downtown, the Agriculture Department reported Monday.

…Overall, the 36.2 million adults and children who struggled with hunger during the year was up slightly from 35.5 million in 2006. That was 12.2 percent of Americans who didn't have the money or assistance to get enough food to maintain active, healthy lives.

Almost a third of those, 11.9 million adults and children, went hungry at some point. That figure has grown by more than 40 percent since 2000. The government says these people suffered a substantial disruption in their food supply at some point and classifies them as having "very low food security." Until the government rewrote its definitions two years ago, this group was described as having "food insecurity with hunger."

Piperfish or Maori?

2008-11-18T13:36:00.001-08:00

I loves me some fishing! Along with the fishing, I definitely loves me some drinking!
A good day fishing and drinking is bliss. When you fish, people who have fishin’ envy like to stop and chat and often when those people are the interesting sort, I might offer them a cocktail or a beer just to be neighborly, you know?
In my experience, folks will confide in strangers. Give them a brewsky and they‘re your long lost, best friend.
This beautiful weekend while fishing, I had an interesting chat with some local folks…. Piper employees. A long time employee had some mighty interesting speculation about the decreased work hours and layoffs we haven’t much been reading about in the PJ.
Seems the down low, from their inside point of view, is that when the Vero Beach moolah arrives and is safely deposited in Pipers’ coffers, that’s when the layoff’s are going to begin in earnest.
Now, perhaps this is wild speculation like some fish stories I’ve heard. But given that our community is putting up a whole lot of cashola to keep jobs in our county, it’s something we should all be aware of and be ready to raise a whole lot of hoopla, at the first signs of layoffs.

Republican Math?

2008-11-16T05:52:00.000-08:00

via Blondsense

A funny thing happened on the way to the Coliseum

2008-11-14T03:19:00.000-08:00

I am a great fan of archeology. In fact right here on the Treasure Coast, one of the oldest human remains in the northern hemisphere was discovered.

The BBC reports on an ancient Greek book of the 4th century uncovered and translated………a joke book! ( No, it’s not by Henny Youngman) But those Pythons…yes the Monty types could have stolen one of the jokes from it’s pages.

Philogelos: The Laugh Addict, which has been translated from Greek manuscripts, contains a joke where a man complains that a slave he was sold had died.
"When he was with me, he never did any such thing!" is the reply.
In the Python sketch, written 1,600 years later, the shopkeeper claims the dead parrot is "pining for the fjords".
The 265 jokes in Philogelos are attributed to a pair of jokers called Hierocles and Philagrius, about whom very little is known.

Miss Vero's Drunken Monkey Bump

2008-11-13T03:39:00.001-08:00

Well thank you so much, Mizz Vero for the link! We’ll just have to see if there is a “Miss Vero Bump” in regards to visits to my humble blog.

I too, have missed the fun at the Beach House, during this election season. Seems like some of these silly locals, think way too highly of themselves and the smell of self importance wafts off the PJ, like stink on a monkey.... like drunken monkeys.

So let’s sit back and enjoy some You Tube

Border Policy

2008-10-25T05:21:00.000-07:00

The U.S. Government has long maintained a policy that they have the right to stop and search anyone at the border. The Department of Homeland Security is now taking the position that “the border” is the 100-mile wide strip that wraps around the “external boundary” of the United States. The ACLU took all the recent census maps and came to a rather surprising conclusion.

What we found is that fully TWO-THIRDS of the United States’ population lives within this Constitution-free or Constitution-lite Zone. That’s 197.4 million people who live within 100 miles of the US land and coastal borders.

That means the Fourth Amendment of the constitution, barring random and arbitrary stops and searches, does not apply to two-thirds of U.S. Citizens.

Shouldn’t Senator Leahy and the Judiciary Committee be looking into this?

http://jtaplin.wordpress.com/2008/10/23/bushs-constitution-lite-zone/

Susi-cide

2008-10-14T16:36:00.000-07:00

A tip of the martini to Miss Vero' Beach House! Thanks Hunny!

Ever heard of S.E.R.P.? Well hunnies, neither did we, until a few days ago. Here's the story;

What is a S.E.R.P.?
Why it’s a retirement plan for executives, based on years of service and pre-retirement cash compensation. It is not tied to executive performance and designed and marketed specifically as a way to increase executive compensation “off the radar screen of shareholders” (or taxpayers)

The financial accounting standards board "does not require liabilities associated with serps be itemized separately” and therefore compensation is usually hidden from our view, as firms are not required to include this increase of value in their compensation schedules.

(“Pay Without Performance” By Lucian Arye Bebchuk, Jesse Fried) http://www.amazon.com/Pay-without-Performance-Unfulfilled-Compensation/dp/0674022289/ref=sr_11_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1223470766&sr=11-1

Indian River Memorial Hospital Inc. paid its chief executive officer, Jeff Susi, $383,790 in 2006. The Vero Beach hospital was renamed Indian River Medical Center in 2006, but retains its legal name of Indian River Memorial Hospital Inc. on Internal Revenue Service documents.

In 2004, he received $361,121 in total compensation. In 2005, his total compensation was essentially the same, coming in at $357,778.

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2007/nov/23/30salaries-of-hospital-officials-released/

In 2006, his salary increased by $34,000 to $383,790,

but thanks to a SERP payout, his total compensation that year came to $1,222,384.

http://www.wherethemoneygoes.com/newSearch.php?state=&SearchString=florida&Submit=Search

Additional compensation to Mr. Susi came from Indian River Hospital Foundation to the tune of $838,594.00 in 2005.

www.guidestar.org/FinDocuments/2006/590/760/2006-590760215-0357e612-9.pdf
(see page 32)

A lot to consider, don'tcha think, what with all the recent budget cuts and job loss at the hospital:

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2008/sep/06/indian-river-medical-center-cuts-42-workers/?feedback=1#comments

i love miss veros beach house

2008-08-10T16:32:00.000-07:00

there, i've said it!

http://missverosbeachhouse.blogspot.com/

what 455,000 dollars could buy for my family

2007-12-19T04:03:00.000-08:00

The opinion of another shrill hysteric? Just David M. Walker, the Comptroller General of the United States and head of the GAO:

In a speech today at the National Press Club, he said, "If the federal government was a private corporation and the same report came out this morning, our stock would be dropping and there would be talk about whether the company's management and directors needed a major shake-up." Walker urged greater transparency and accountability over the federal government's operations, financial condition, and fiscal outlook...

"The federal government's fiscal exposures totaled approximately $53 trillion as of September 30, 2007, up more than $2 trillion from September 30, 2006, and an increase of more than $32 trillion from about $20 trillion as of September 30, 2000," Walker said. "This translates into a current burden of about $175,000 per American or approximately $455,000 per American household."

Full (PDF) report here.

how much does milk cost?

2007-12-16T03:07:00.001-08:00

This is how after-tax incomes grew from 2003 to 2005:

Bottom quintile: 2%
Next quintile: 2.4%
Middle quintile: 3.9%
Fourth quintile: 3.7%
Top quintile: 16%

Top 10%: 20.9%
Top 5%: 27.7%
Top 1%: 43.5%

ANNUAL CONDOMINIUM ASSOCIATIONS MEMBER ROUND-UP

2007-12-06T15:20:00.000-08:00

The Florida Condo Ombudsman, Danille Carroll, has invited all interested parties for an annual ROUND-UP. There will be a debate about the problems in our associations and about the problems about regulating these associations and lack of enforcement of the rules!

GO THERE, BE THERE -- AND BE HEARD!
WHEN: DECEMBER 8, 2007
WHAT TIME: 10 a.m. until 1 p.m.
WHERE: Broward Community College -- South Campus (Directions see below!)

There will be a very interesting panel including Mike Cochran, Chief of the Division of Florida Land Sales, Condominiums and Mobile Homes, the regulatory agency for condos. We all know that many of the problems we face are caused by the lack of enforcement. A substantial number of condo-owners claim that the Division is doing a lousy job! Just ask why ycitizens are paying $4 annually and get nothing but excuses in return?

Here is your chance to ask the person in charge! Tell them straight out what you think is not working well -- and what has improved. Demand your rights. These are the people responsible for many of the problems. I know that some legislators are getting complaints about condo and HOA problems.

Dear Rep. Mayfield

2007-09-20T03:55:00.000-07:00

Allow me to introduce myself. My husband and I have been residents of Indian River County for 20 years and are registered voters. He owns his own business. I am an RN. We are very lucky to live in a place we love. Our intentions are to retire here. With children almost “out the door,” we have begun implementing retirement plans by buying into a Condo in a 55+ community, in anticipation of selling the family home.

In my 2 year ownership of this condo, I have morphed into an advocate for stronger rights for homeowners against the power wielded by condo boards/HOA’s. I have become quite well versed with the Florida Statutes. The ombudsman’s phone number is on my speed dial!

In Miami this month, the board president of Villa Grande Condo was arrested and accused of stealing $50,000.00 from the association. The finger was pointed by a fellow board member.

What makes this arrest interesting is that the board president was investigated as part of a condominium-fraud pilot program in Miami-Dade County, instigated by State Rep. Julio Robaina (R), who says the state receives at least 1000 complaints every year that accuse their condo associations of stealing money. This program allows condo unit owners to report possible incidents of fraud by filling out a Condo Crimes Screening Checklist for police to investigate. It seeks to educate law enforcement thru a resource guide and training officers’ in addressing complaints effectively.

Important to this story (and to me), is that a board member turned in the president.

My personal experience is that my condo board can refuse to allow me access to legers, bills, and receipts with impunity, even though access to this information is guaranteed by the Florida statutes. The ombudsman or DPBR seem to have no powers to enforce the law, or in the case of the DPBR lack the willpower to do so, and possible wrongdoing continues.

I suspect my last board president has committed fraud. My suspicions are now thru the roof, as the named partner in the law firm which represents our board, Ira Hatch, has recently been disbarred and is under criminal investigation. Yet no one in DPBR can help me obtain records that the law mandated that HOA’s keep and maintain

So, that’s my story.

I would like to hear your views on the condominium-fraud pilot program and if you believe that a program like that would be good for our community and state?

I would like to know if you favor strengthening homeowner’s rights to demand transparency of their board’s actions and in the use of the homeowner’s money?

Would you consider a plan that would give the states ombudsman and DPBR more power in enforcing compliance with the law?

I await a reply.

Thank you,

Hospital Acquired Infections and Medicare

2007-09-07T05:44:00.000-07:00

Years working as an RN in the emergency room and I’m sitting home today because my staph infection is active. My boss stated there is no reason to stay at home, just because there are active staph lesions on my face (for those who are not in the know, staph looks and acts like an outbreak of cold sores starting in your nostrils and migrating to your lips. It stops there if you are lucky, if you are not lucky, boils develop in your arm pits and on your groin) But really, this is not why I’m writing.

Medicare is seeking to redefine its coverage, so as not to pay for “mistakes” and subsequent additional health care, resulting from negligence that happens while the patient is in the hospital. The articles I am aware of site falls, operations on wrong sites and medication errors that will not be covered if complications arise. But I can envision denial of payment, when patients have longer hospital stays due to hospital acquired infections. After all, with this line of thinking, what is more neglect than these acquired infections?
Instead of refusing to pay for services in hospitals where the infection rates are high, (this data is at hand), it might be better to require hospitals to have more staff. Studies show that the lower the nurse/patient ratio, the lower the mortality rate, infection rate, and medical error rate, also safety issues decline.

hurricane season

2007-09-05T13:21:00.000-07:00

Since June 2006, Citizens has added 450,000 policyholders, the result of private companies dropping thousands of customers and the financial collapse of Tampa-based Poe Financial Group, which resulted in the sudden transfer of 320,000 policies to Citizens.
Since December 2005, Citizens' exposure has doubled, rising from $220 billion to $452 billion today. The number of Citizens policies outside the high-risk coastal areas also has doubled, Scott said.
During the past 18 months, private insurers in Florida have dropped about 250,000 policies. People who have been dropped often have turned to Citizens for coverage.
Citizens has $9.4 billion available to cover claims if a devastating hurricane hits Florida. Beyond that, money from the state's Hurricane Catastrophe Fund would be used to cover losses.
Is that enough to cover the claims triggered by a major hurricane? Is Citizens overexposed?
"Yes and no," Citizens spokesman Rocky Scott said. "It depends on where the hurricane hits."

well,well,well......florida could end up looking like nola next time a hurricane decides to hit one of our large cities (or 2). i can't believe that there is enough money in the state catastrophe fund to make up the difference. the three storms hit my hometown in 2004, and i can still count at least 4/5 home on my street that continue to sit in ruin.

Board President steals 50k from homeowners

2007-09-02T14:57:00.000-07:00

More condo theft from south Florida…..no I don’t mean burglars, I mean dishonest condo presidents who steal from owners. According to the Miami Herald, the president of Villa Grande, located in Miami, was arrested and accused of stealing $50,000.00 from the association. The finger was pointed by a fellow board member.

What makes this arrest interesting is that the board president was investigated as part of a condominium-fraud pilot program in Miami-Dade County, instigated by State Rep. Julio Robaina (R), who says the state receives at least 1000 complaints every year that accuse their condo associations of stealing money. This program allows condo unit owners to report possible incidents of fraud by filling out a Condo Crimes Screening Checklist for police to investigate. It seeks to educate law enforcement thru a resource guide and training officers’ in addressing complaints effectively.

Important to this story (and to me), is that a board member turned in the president. How would anyone living in Villa Grande have known the president was committing fraud without an honest board member stepping up? It is the duty of all condo owners to actively participate in the operations of their condo associations. In Florida’s condo population of the elderly and snowbirds, many want only to kick back and enjoy retirement. They live in a close community. The neighbor on the board is their “friend”. Blissfully unaware and by non participation, a snake in paradise can rob them blind. A dishonest board can withhold requests from active members who wish to inspect its public records, a right guaranteed to them by the Florida Statutes, without costly legal battle that most cannot afford. Some boards even refuse to hand over documents when contacted by the state Ombudsman office or DBPR. As neither office have the teeth of enforcement, and what a better way to hide your tracks!

Florida we have a long way to go, and the Miami-Dade plan is a great start!
Contact your state representative to see what they can do to place this program in your county.

Why I love Florida

2007-08-20T05:18:00.000-07:00

By ASJYLYN LODER, Times Staff Writer
Published August 20, 2007 ST. PETERSBURG –

For 36 years, Shirley Ives felt secure in her home. So when her husband died nearly 20 years ago, she stayed by herself.
"I never felt afraid," said Ives, 82. That's why, on the evening of Aug. 7, she opened her door to a stranger, and a brutal attack.
A self-described "tough old bird," Ives is experiencing some fame for fighting back. Bruised and blindfolded, she nevertheless stabbed her attacker with an ice pick.
"He had the nerve to tell the police that he wouldn't have hit me if I hadn't stuck him with the ice pick," Ives said. "I hope I nicked him even a little, so every time he sees the nick, he'll remember how it felt and where he got it from." And if someone does break in, Ives warned, "My son bought me a Taser. It's all charged up and ready to go."

Why I love Florida

2007-08-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

Henry Pierson Curtis
Sentinel Staff Writer
7:40 PM EDT, August 17, 2007

Orlando emptied its bureau drawers and closets on Friday of more than 250 unwanted guns -- and one surface-to-air missile launcher.

The shoulder-fired weapon showed about 6 p.m. when an Ocoee man drove to the Citrus Bowl to trade the 4-foot-long launcher for size-3 Reebok sneakers for his daughter.

"I didn't know what to do with it, so I brought it here," explained the man, who said he found the missile in a shed he tore down last week. "I took it to three dumps to try to get rid of it and they told me to get lost."

After hefting the weapon designed to blow jets out of the sky, police spokeswoman Sgt. Barbara Jones commented: "I tell you, you never know what you're going to get."

Friday Cat Bloggin'

2007-08-17T03:57:00.000-07:00

My first attempt at Friday Cat Blogging, with the help of my feline friend Trixie, who will be 12 years old this year. I found her outside of the emergency room where I worked. It is a curious habit of people not wanting to deal with the humane society, to dump thier unwanted animal offspring outside local ED's at night. Trixie is very lucky, as at the time, I didn't know that thruout the years, I would make tons of calls to our local animal control to come and fetch a new litter.

Here she drinks from her favorite water bowl. Trixie will not be able to live with us at the new condo, as they do not allow pets. If you are a Floridian and think that pets are theraputic, then sign the petition at Citizens for Pets in Condos

Ombudsman and Enforcement

2007-08-16T06:09:00.000-07:00

By Juliette Guilbert, Freelance writer in Miami, Florida.
Article Courtesy of "Common Ground"
From the July/August 2007 issue

……..Florida 's ombudsman has no power of enforcement, but that may soon change. Rep. Robaina, with the support of Bergemann's group, (Cyber Citizens for Justice.net) is sponsoring legislation that will expand the office's purview to include investigation of fraud complaints and some powers of enforcement powers which Danille Carroll , Florida 's condominium ombudsman, says she is reluctant to take on. "I think the most important component is to be neutral, and with enforcement and investigation you're taking sides." Bergemann replies that in some instances, taking sides is precisely what is called for.
"We had a case in Boca [Raton] where a board president embezzled $650,000," he says. "The homeowners tried for a year to get the documents, but instead got nasty letters from attorneys, and one even got sued for harassment. That's why we need the ombudsman to have a little power."
Robaina says that he envisions the ombudsman as the point person for condominium fraud programs that will train detectives to investigate alleged crimes. "A lot of times, people want these problems to continue, simply because there's money to be made," he says. "When there's a problem, boards call the law firms that represent them, and they bill."

There is a great need in Florida to support this legislation. At this time, the powerful Condo attorney’s lobby, CAI, continue to control and call the shots. The heart of the problem is not trying to make state government smaller, it’s about the billable hours that the CAI wants to retain. When conflicts/disputes arise between homeowners and boards, homeowners are usually the least able to retain the services of an attorney to help enforce their rights guaranteed under the Florida Statutes, whereas boards can tap the resources of association fees. Homeowners end up footing all costs.

Robaina’s new legislation stresses education, in specifically, programs to train detectives to investigate alleged crimes. What a great idea!

I’ll be selfish here and use my example of a reasonable request to obtain a copy of a signed and fully executed contract with our property management company. It has been almost 6 months since this information has been requested from our board, which at first ignored the request. Subsequent filing of a complaint with the state DPBR, the board forwarded a contract which was not signed, not executed and was missing all but 1 addendums. On follow up with the DPBR, the case worked seemed to feel that this was enough information for me and closed the case. Now wouldn’t it have been nice to know that after going thru correct state channels during this 6 month process, giving the board time to comply WITH THE LAW, I could contact a local detective who in turn, could investigate to see, if in fact, any other laws are being broken? I have to wonder how fast the property management contract could be found, if the board was visited by a nice detective, who was fully informed regarding the rights of homeowners.

Waiting on documents (or how the state of Florida doesn’t enforce its own laws)

2007-08-14T08:27:00.000-07:00

I am still waiting on the state to take action on the documentation requested months ago from my HOA.

Since it seems that the law is impotent without enforcement, I am again requesting the documentation that was not received with my original request. What a colossal waste of time and energy for myself and for the resources of the state. Once again my husband and I will have to endure the smear campaign waged by some members of the board against us. All because we are interested in communication, transparency and trust between the owners and the board, thru the sharing of our public condo documents………

Smear you say? Why yes!
Because of our ongoing requests, we have been ridiculed in public by our president (not elected-just appointed), as “troublemakers, devious” and of course the ever popular, “attempting to destroy the community.”

It would be so easy to just let this drop and enjoy the beach. Our aging condo’s infrastructure be damned. But ours is a community consisting mostly of the elderly. Given the “developmental stage” of the majorities here, I would be remiss in letting an inept and out of control board continue to run rough shod over our community. Most of these folks are at the end of their lives. It’s time for reflection. They want to sit back and relax, most want to avoid conflict at any cost. This is the reason so many elder Floridians are taken advantage of. They are “sitting back” avoiding conflict and there is no one to speak for them, to fight for them.

So in a round about way, Florida's lack of enforcement of its own state statutes create victims of one of the most vulnerable sections of our society.

2007-08-10T06:52:00.000-07:00

Article Courtesy of The Tampa Tribune
By RUSSELL RAY
Published July 17, 2007

Since June 2006, Citizens has added 450,000 policyholders, the result of private companies dropping thousands of customers and the financial collapse of Tampa-based Poe Financial Group, which resulted in the sudden transfer of 320,000 policies to Citizens.
Since December 2005, Citizens' exposure has doubled, rising from $220 billion to $452 billion today. The number of Citizens policies outside the high-risk coastal areas also has doubled, Scott said.
During the past 18 months, private insurers in Florida have dropped about 250,000 policies. People who have been dropped often have turned to Citizens for coverage.
Citizens has $9.4 billion available to cover claims if a devastating hurricane hits Florida. Beyond that, money from the state's Hurricane Catastrophe Fund would be used to cover losses.
Is that enough to cover the claims triggered by a major hurricane? Is Citizens overexposed?
"Yes and no," Citizens spokesman Rocky Scott said. "It depends on where the hurricane hits."

2007-07-21T05:05:00.000-07:00

With condo construction booming around the state, legislators should examine whether Florida law strikes the proper balance between the rights of homeowners and association directors. Does a ruling minority have too much power over the majority who live there? Do owners lack adequate avenues of oversight and appeal?

Oh yeah baby, you bet your sweet bippy they lack adequate avenues of oversight and appeal! ( if you know what bippy is, then your age is showing!)

One of Florida’s very basic rights outlined in the Florida Statues is the right to inspect and request any documents generated by your HOA. This means financial statements, bids, ledgers and contracts to name a few. Reading the law, it all seems so simple. Request the documents in writing, present them to your HOA board and presto, within 5 days the documents should be in your hands.
Good luck!

If you live in an association where a dictorial few run things, getting documents is like squeezing blood out of a turnip.

Of course one has the right to file a formal complain to the state DPBR in order to procure documents, but how well does that really work? Not well at all from my experience. Whether the Fl. DPBR is overworked, understaffed, has the malaise that comes with a government employment or just really has no authority to enforce the law, my familiarity indicates it is just one more bureaucratic jungle and in the end, they can’t help the homeowner.

In March of 2007, I requested very basic documents form our HOA board, in writing and hand delivered to all 9 board members. After a month without being able to view the documents, a formal complaint was lodged with the state. The state contacted our present president who lied. First she said I was not eligible for documents, as I was not 55 years or older (I live in an adults only community). The state informed her that as long as a person is on the deed, they have full rights. The president then changed her tune and said there were no documents to be found. Some of these documents were very simple; a current, signed and executed contract with the management company and the elevator service contract with inspections since the beginning of the year, to name a few.
Our President went on further to state that if she found the documents they would be “too much to mail” (by this time the state required that our HOA forward the request directly to them)

To cut to the chase, last week I finally received a package via the state that contained the information requested. Sort of. No signed contracts, multiple pages missing on financial records, no bids, a very incomplete and sloppy job. Any examination of the doc’s made it very clear that they were incomplete and not what was requested. Following up with my contact at the state thru a phone all and email, I explained all that was missing or incomplete. My case worker at the state made me feel foolish for wanting the documents that were requested, in fact the case worker wanted to close the case. Only after time spent on the phone, did the state say they would call the HOA president again and seek the proper documentation. The state worker definitely thought that I should be satisfied with the doc’s received.

So now I wait……..again, for the law to be enforced.

2007-07-20T02:51:00.000-07:00

June 28, Gov. Charlie Crist signed into law a bill (CS/SB 314) that lets developer’s force condo owners from their homes.
Designed to let boards quickly tear down and replace a building destroyed in a hurricane, the measure went much further when it was first debated last year. It included a provision called "optional termination" that meant if 80 percent of owners agreed, a building could be sold and torn down at any time.

I am horrified, living in a community that absolutely HATES the condo units that are beachfront. All the whining and kvetching about how much money it takes for upkeep and maintenance…..let’s not even discuss the damage from the hurricanes! So that we all understand the ramifications, in the event of another hurricane (or 2, or 3) hitting and destroying my beachfront condo, the rest of the community can opt to just tear it down instead of rebuilding/renovating. I guess I’ll be reimbursed, but will it be market price? Too many questions to wrap my little pea brain around.
Once again another law is passed and not thought out properly by our Florida lawmakers.

Crist also signed into law bills that, among other things, let at least three condo and co-op buildings join in self-insurance pools to save on insurance (HB 7031); let a homeowner association whose documents expired again become a homeowner association, even if residents bought there during the lull specifically because there was no association (CS/SB 902); and requires homeowner association boards to give owners 90 days to pay any unpaid assessments before foreclosing—but also, as in condos, makes owners responsible for interest, late fees and attorneys' fees (CS/SB 1844).

Ok, it's fine to require owners to pay for interest, late fees, etc., but these fees should be just and the same for everyone who is in similar circumstances. For example 2 condo owners both witholding condo assessments and fees, due to bad work/worker dudes actually damaging property after the hurricanes, are both foreclosed on by the board. Let me state, that owners cannot withhold fees/assessments and the foreclosure proceedings were correct. Okay? One owner was a long time resident who was vocal in their disagreement with the sitting board. The other owner, a much more low key resident. Guess who's interest, late fees and attorney's fee's were significantly higher? Yep, the little old lady with the big mouth had fee's almost 50% greater than the non-vocal owner.

When are we going to hold our local representatives responsible for complete, well thought out laws for condo owners? When are we going to insist on a stronger States Ombudsman to actually enforce the laws and rights that are already on the books?

Let Them Eat Cake

2007-07-13T04:26:00.000-07:00

Bush spent a fair amount of time talking about health care yesterday, as well.
“The immediate goal is to make sure there are more people on private insurance plans. I mean, people have access to health care in America,” he said. “After all, you just go to an emergency room.”

This is why I choose not to participate any further with employment from my local ER. In the last 14 years, I have seen the tide of patients’ rise, until the load became a tsunami of sickness, poverty, ignorance and moral bankruptcy. The huddled masses are growing by leaps and bounds and they all look just like you and me! The ER will fix you. NOT!!!

The ER stabilizes you. That’s all. If your condition isn’t life threatening, you are given a diagnosis, a treatment plan and most importantly, a signed statement of the need for you to pay for a private doctor. Then it is OTDMF – an old ER acronym for discharging a patient- out the door mother f------.

Let’s see how this works. You are a woman, 55 years old, in reasonably good health. Due to downsizing, your employer decreased your working hours and your family and you are not covered by insurance. Although you were offered COBRA as a stop gap, due to the decreased hourly wage, the $1350.00 a month for a family of 4, is out of reach.
One day, you notice lumps and blisters on your right nipple. It hurts to wear a bra. You apply an OTC cream. When the blisters start to fester and ooze smelly pus, you decide to go to the ER. After an 8 hour visit where staff comes in and stares at you as you are crazy for “not seeking help sooner”, the doctor finally informs you that in fact, you have breast cancer. Advanced.
You are not going to die tonight. There is no reason to admit you to the hospital and therefore ER care is no longer needed. With a stern warning to follow up with your family doctor or oncologist, you are set free – OTDMF
This woman will not receive any further care from our system, until the cancer is so far advanced and until she and her family have spent their savings and lost their home. She will die a horrible death which her family and friends will witness.
Oh, did I mention how incredibly bad rotten flesh smells on a live person?

My last year of ER saw this particular scenario play out at least 6 times.
6 times in my little county! My little rich county. My rich big county.

So when I hear the leader of our country say, “Let them go to the ER” I hear “Let them eat cake.”

I suggest every one on the treasure coast who is a constituent of Dr. Weldon, contact his office and ask if he agrees with Mr Bushs’ statement. When you get the statement, please write an editorial and send it to your local newspaper. For those of you that are outside the treasure coast area, contact your representative or congress person.

Right to peaceful assembly

2007-07-12T09:50:00.000-07:00

An “owners only” meeting to recall board members at the Fontainebleau Terrace erupted in chaos when the condo manager burst in on the proceedings and called Panama City Police to break up the meeting.

Captured on video, the police arrested one owner while another owner who was videotaping the incident was thrown across the room, resulting in a concussion. (see video and article )

These condo owners were holding a peaceful meeting, guaranteed by The Florida Statutes. How in the world can the Panama City Police justify treating owners this aggressively on the demand of an employee of the association? How in the world can our state legislators leave so many Floridians without recourse against corrupt condo boards and management companies? We need to convince our lawmakers that the Florida Statutes are useless if condo boards and management companies are not held accountable.

The Fontainebleau Terrace meeting may sound like an extreme incident to some, but an owners meeting at our condo several months ago almost turned into the same situation.

One of our buildings was going to be condemned, due to the negligence of the board for not effecting repairs on decaying upper story railings 2 years after hurricanes Francis, Jeanne and Wilma. Concerned owners got together to have the city building inspector come and give us details regarding the condemnation. As we had an extremely dictatorial board which felt that communications and transparency with owners was unnecessary, this was our only means of getting information. One owner booked a common area of our clubhouse for our meeting, which was approved by the condo manager.

The day before the meeting, our boards’ vice president called the owner who had reserved the room and basically threatened her, telling her that there was “no way in hell you are going to be able to have that meeting.” Another owner was told by the property manager that our board had given her instructions not to let our meeting go on “under any circumstances.”

We contacted the states ombudsman’s office and our local public safety dept. The state called our board president, who lied and stated that no one had denied the use of the room for our meeting, only that we had not “filled out paperwork.” Meanwhile local Public Safety stated that if owners had held the meeting without the permission of the board and if the board called the police, the police would side with the board and break the meeting up! When informed of the Florida Statutes, which guarantees the right of peaceful assembly in common areas, they were unimpressed, but to their credit, the city hall chambers were offered as an alternative location for the building inspector to speak.

There are an incredible amount of Floridians that should closely question their representatives’ stance on stronger condo laws and demand significant changes that help homeowners. If our representatives continue to ignore their constituents’ needs, then let’s elect new ones.

On the beach, in a condo in Florida

2007-05-24T08:44:00.000-07:00

I love my condo.
One day I hope it will be home. Our community is a 55 and over. My main monkey man will obtain the legal age in a month and if we can ever get the girl off to college, then we're in like flint.
Too bad that we have a angry, inept board to contend with, most of them not elected, who don't believe in tranparency in government, following the law or just simply having manners.
To them and the others who do not wish to be a Prirate of Del Mar, all I can say is democracy is messy.
I will be trying to post the Pirate saga of hurricanes, lies and corruptions culled from my own experience and from others thru local, state and national news sources.
It's time to make the corrupt walk the plank!

The following story appeared in The Miami Herald, May 24th, 2007. It could be our story, sans the arrests.

2 arrested in probe of condo kickbacks