BARUCH DAYAN EMET - BLESSED BE THE TRUE JUDGE

     It is with great sadness and horror that I write this posting. The three boys, Gilad, Eyal and Naftali, were found dead, shot and bound and thrown into a shallow grave. It appears that they were shot almost immediately after they were kidnapped and the animals who took them planned to bargain for their bodies.
     My heart is broken and aches for the families of these boys. We all feel the hurt, but none can touch theirs at this moment.
     This is what Israel has to fight, animals who use children as tools of war, who kill ours and send theirs out to die. None of their leaders are brave enough to deny these terrorists, they get salaries from the Palestinian authority for being terrorists and Israel is supposed to make peace with these people. How? Why?
     Now they are shooting rockets in barrages into the south of Israel, hitting civilian property and people and Israel must stop them but the world will go tsk tsk and counsel restraint, please practice restraint.
     When will the world realize that there are people who must be defeated. How many Caliphates must be announced? How many countries will be invaded before we accept the truth of the situation? And now, it appears that Israel is being asked to pull Jordan's nuts out of the fire as they are threatened at their border crossing with the Caliphate ISIS nutjobs.
     And all the while the entire nation of Israel and the Jews worldwide mourn the loss of three shining children, boys on their way home from school, planning new songs, driving lessons and taking tests needed for college entry.
     We can never understand the reasons why G-d does things that hurt us and that is why we say the words that are in the title of this article but how many more times will we be mourning our murdered children? How many more?

OH WE GOT TROUBLE! RIGHT HERE IN RIVER CITY!

     And it starts with.... Oops, so it is not River City but Century Village. It was a catchy title though! Got your attention. So what is the trouble? Bear with me.

     
The First Amendment of the United States Constitution protects the right to freedom of religion and freedom of expression from government interference. See U.S. Const. amend. I. Freedom of expression consists of the rights to freedom of speech, press, assembly and to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and the implied rights of association and belief.


From the Reporter - July,2014 issue:

Editorial Policy:"... We promise to seek the truth and to print both sides." (What a load of hooey!)

From The Reporter - July,2014 issue:
This is from an editorial by Joy Vestal:

   "....a group of six dissidents.....There will be no more
         from this publication on them or their platform."

     Does anybody NOT see the contradictions here? Oh, and here is one more quote: "You are out of order! Sit Down! Slam (the gavel).  Hint: D.I, our fearful leader.

I guess CV is definitely outside the legal boundaries of the USA as we are denied all these rights guaranteed by our Constitution - no freedom of speech, no right to assembly, David Israel's pronounced anti religion bias and statements in the campaign, no access to the newspaper for which WE pay, yes, WE PAY (remember the $24,000 we forgave - and oh, someone must have died and left them money because now they are renovating to make room for Channel 63 in the same building.) Hmmm.....

This is truly getting tiresome, hearing the same crap from Joy Vestal and David Israel, his sad sacks of lady followers (remember, there are even women who marry felons in jail) - so no need to explain the attraction here, his Bozo, DonHoHo, Lanny Howe and his pompous pronouncements, Eva and her "political" excuses - uh, Republicans and Democrats appearing in the Clubhouse???? and on and on it goes. The Supreme Court has just affirmed free speech and assembly rights in a more fraught with danger situation, so Fearful Davy boy, how about getting with the program? What are you so afraid of? What are you hiding? Maybe we should get a forensic accountant in and see what he or she finds. It's an idea. And Eva, I asked you to check with the Levys. Have you? Do they know that we are being denied rights in this gulag of a Village in which we live?
     People, delegates and residents, how much longer are you willing to live under Fascistic and Communistic living conditions? Some of you have already been there, done that. Is this what you want again, now? When we call on you to help in a recall drive, please stand up and be counted. The big bully can do nothing to you. All he is, is an inflated ego in an inflated body with a dwindling mind.
     Oh, and Joy, this was written by me. I guess my "ghostwriter" is on vacation. As if!!!!!
     Uh oh. Here it comes again. Can't quite resist it.....

        POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!!!!!

18 DAYS IN CAPTIVITY WHEN WILL IT EVER END?

     So tonight I could not even fall asleep. My mind kept returning to the three boys held in some dark and confined space, underground, written off by the world, but part of the entire Jewish nation. Thousands came out to Rabin Square last night to sing in their name, to put forth a full throated plea that they be rescued, be found and returned to the love and hearth of their families.
     I have never seen such strong families as the three bereft ones now in the news. They are going to keep their sons in the news, plead in front of the world for their sons but know that there is a chance that the worst can happen. And yet, their faith is as strong as it ever was. And they are not alone in their grief and faith as only those who have lost a child to terror can fully comprehend what they are feeling and undergoing. The parents and families of Nachshon Wachsman, of Koby Mandel, of Yosef Ish-Ran, of Alysa Flatow, of Malka Roth, and the list goes on and on, as children are so often the victim of these terrorists. Children on buses, children hiking, playing in the street, waiting outside a synagogue, celebrating a family event. Children.
     18 is a number that translates in the Jewish tradition to life. Multiples of the number are often given in donations. Yet this 18th day has brought no news to a nation that has adopted these boys into all their families. In fact, Jews all around the world have gathered  in rallies, in prayer assemblies. Please G-d, in your mercy, return these boys, we pray, bring them out of the darkness into light, from the narrow confines of prison to the openness of life, from slavery to freedom, please, soon.
     This, in essence, is what we pray. This, in essence, is what Jews have been praying for millennium as we rescued Jews all over the world. It is one of the biggest mitzvoth, or good deeds that one can do.
     So world out there - return our boys. Show by your words AND DEEDS that you feel the pain of a people, of families bereft of their children. These were children on their way home, not to throw rocks. Not to cause havoc. Not to threaten. Simply to go home and spend the Shabbat in prayer and with family as we are commanded. Imagine the pain in the hearts and minds of the families and multiply it by millions as all Jews around the world unite, from left to right and back again.


#BRINGBACKOURBOYS


NAFTALI  GILAD   EYAL


DEAR LORD, PLEASE RETURN THEM TO LIFE, TO THEIR FAMILIES, IN PEACE, HEALTH AND HAPPINESS. ALLOW US TO PRAISE YOU ONCE MORE, ONCE AGAIN, AS WE PRAY -

LO YISHAN SHOMER YISROEL

HE WHO WATCHES OVER ISRAEL DOES NOT SLEEP.

                  PLEASE

PHEW! I AM SAVED! OR NOT!

     So suddenly my potential slayer has realized that he has done a dumb thing, threatening me in a physical manner. Well, too late. All the retractions you now make do not erase what you said. Now you write me and tell me that there are not enough fireworks to blow me up. So what now? A gun? A bow and arrow? Perhaps a knife in the back - nope, you did that already. So, what is left? A conk on the head, run me down with your car and claim you are a senior citizen and lost control? Aha, perhaps a poison pill!
     Do you now realize how truly dumb you are and sound. If you disagree with what I write, speak properly without stupid baby name calling - nyah, nah nah nah nah! (See how stupid that is!). Try to write intelligently, back up what you have to say and stop trying to bully everyone. And of course, why not try honesty for a change and post your comments with YOUR OWN NAME. If you are so correct in what you state, then have the courage of your convictions but until that happens, you will remain a sniveling coward whose comments will never be posted on the blog. Now go play somewhere else!

FREEDOM OF SPEECH

     This past week there was a decision made by the courts that I did not care for in one sense but valued highly for what it says on another issue important to me. The Court abolished the buffer zone around clinics such as those belonging to Planned Parenthood, thus allowing the protesters to approach those entering the building. Now understand that people entering so called abortion clinics are not there only for one reason. Most of these clinics provide for women's health and advise in an area where it is scarce.
     Now people entering the clinic, many in crisis mode, will be allowed to be hassled. Yes, there is free speech and the protesters had free speech standing where they were and the clients and staff of the clinics had their safety as well. Now that safety is in danger and we all know that there is a twisted logic among extremist protesters that anti abortion is ok for there are lives at stake, but to kill in the name of saving those lives is ok, fine to murder others. I cannot understand that.
    Abortion is not something one is for. It is a terrible decision to have to make and is not made easily but the choice must be there and it is the woman's choice, not that of a cabal of know it alls screeching away outside the door of a clinic. Legal or not, abortion will take place, so actually, lives are saved when it is legal. Are we truly heading back to back alley abortions in filthy apartments or wire hanger abortions with horrible consequences?
     Anyway, back to free speech. It appears that one cannot block people who wish to speak or gather somewhere for the purpose of expressing themselves. So, David Israel, this appears to put a cramp in your dictatorship. Perhaps the one who is out of order is you and when you slam that gavel and screech your favorite refrain, the PBSO armed guards which you have brought in might have to take YOU into custody! It will be you violating rules.Nice picture, that! In addition, we appear to have the right, according to this ruling, to gather and protest or hand out items by the Clubhouse. Eva, you need to think carefully on this. This is a great issue and great for publicity for an organization that champion rights. What would it look like if there are headlines - Huge Conglomerate Oppressed Helpless Senior Citizens or Seniors at CV Denied Rights or stories of the Levys and how they conspire with a tinpot dictator to deny the civil rights of residents of the Village. Gotta tell ya' - not too good for new residents to buy into the Village and really crappy publicity!
     Perhaps we need to organize a protest and we can even have signs reviving the old slogans - POWER TO THE PEOPLE! Wouldn't all the past rebels of the sixties and seventies love to relive a bit of their past! Interesting thought, that.

WRITTEN IN MY OWN HEART'S BLOOD - DIANA GABALDON

     We readers and fans of Diana Gabaldon have waited five years for the next book in this series, the saga of the Frazer family, original of Scots origin, but have come to represent the story of America and its birth. These books are not short reads, just flipping the pages. The story line is fascinating with time travel happening, but not in a science fiction type of way but rather more mystical, a leftover perhaps from Druidic times. But that is not really important.
     What is important is the development of the characters of this family, the amazing times they live and the love they have for one another. It is amazing to suddenly run across a famous figure out of history in a normal type situation and realize once again that our Founders were people, not mythic figures, supra human. It gives one courage to continue on a difficult path knowing that one can succeed against the odds.
     This novel is set mainly during the late 1770's, a time of fierce battles in the American Revolution and there is quite an interesting take on the manner in which they were fought and of course there are scenes in the past and future all melding together to form a great book. It is a huge tome, over 800 pages and one must have patience and cannot flip thru the pages, but must read carefully for the amazing nuances and tie ins.
     It was a long time to wait and some of the prior details were lost in the fog of time, but while reading, they come back. One can also just read a summary of the prior book and thus enter this one with a remembrance of the past events. I highly recommend this book, but make sure you have the time that it takes to read it! In fact, if you have not read the books in this series, you have a treat waiting for you and they are all available in paperback as well - save your wrists!

PAY ATTTENTION, BOZO, THE GREAT MANIPULATOR AND ALL ASSORTED VILLAINS

     We have a great problem here in the Village. Those who are supposed to be responsibly running the administration have all reverted to kindergarten age and mentality, and I am sorry for insulting kindergarten students in the comparison. We have the Great Manipulator, David Israel, and his coterie, including Bozo the clown, DonHoHo, his sad group of ladies, including a newspaper editor/vp/tv producer/whatever the hell she wants, who cannot remember anything she says or promises.
     This oh, such a lovely group, have nothing better to do than call names , real clever ones such as "silly slob" "bag of sh^t, hemorroid, silly ass, moron troublemaker, and the list goes on. Moronic Bozo, jealous, because he can't find his own rear end with his own two hands, decides that it is his holy duty to castigate me because I dare to write about things other than his asinine friends and have the nerve to have insomnia. Well, Bozo and buddies - *****you and the asses you rode in on. And the names they call Olga are in similar vein, perhaps even filthier and they generally include me in it - and I am proud to be associated with such an honest and forthright person.
     Where this stupidity gets more serious is when I am told that I need to be blown up by firecrackers, along with various sexual innuendos. Now here is the interesting part. First, when I told David Israel in response to his perceived need for armed guards that maybe I should get armed guards to follow me around as I have reason to fear for my physical safety, he was incensed. It seems only physical and moral cowards such as he are entitled to guards at OUR expense. Second, it is quite interesting that after I told the Officers of these threats that suddenly the comments are reverting back to nursery school. So what does this tell us? That I am right and the a**h*** who is sending these remarks is either David Israel himself with his misogynistic statements as there are some lulus here about women, or one of his close buddies whom he warned about a PBSO case being opened about the physical threat.
     Lovely people we have heading UCO. Lovely people we have with their filthy mouths and nasty souls. Delegates, who voted for David Israel when he took you out of your units to vote and then stuffed you back in again, this is what you have wrought. This is what you have caused. You, the dupes of David Israel, you, the elderly, elderly citizens of our Village, those least able to pay the huge increases that are coming are way - this is what becomes  and befalls people who do not think before voting or let themselves get intimidated into voting a certain way. and if you think there is no increase, read Howie O'Brien's most recent article and then add in the increases not accounted for such as security and ambulance new contracts as well as the perennial paving crap job.
     Buddha is reputed to have said that there are only three things which cannot be kept hidden for a long time - the sun, the moon, and the whole truth. Are you listening out there David Israel, Bozo, Ed Black and the rest of you.

OPEN MOUTH - INSERT FOOT

     Understand that this article is not one which takes sides in this issue; it is written only to further delineate the rapid devolving of David Israel. In this matter his megalomania, rather than his paranoia, is in evidence.
     Here is his statement re the Mizner issue in Boca, similar in many ways to the issue here with the golf course.
     "I think we need to be prepared for Reflection Bay to be built on the old golf course here. "
    
     I do not think that we are at this point quite yet. The development of the golf course here has proponents on both sides of the issue and that is as it should be in a democracy. (Remember what that is, David Israel?) Both sides have and will continue to argue their sides and we are not anywhere near the end of this matter. In fact, I can see this dragging on for years and should David Israel not totally destroy us, our children will inherit this issue along with our units!
     The commissioners voted, a strange vote at that, that the Mizner development is approved, the details here not being important at the moment. This means nothing in reality, for now it will be appealed and argued in front of judges or have briefs prepared for the judges and eventually they will make a decision and then that decision will be appealed and on and on.
     We are waiting to hear from the judges on our golf course. They have been mulling the issue for months and we all know that no matter the decision, the matter is still ongoing, for either side not gaining the decision they want will appeal. The article in the Sun-Sentinel was very clear on the fact that there will be an appeal and there are no homes going in quite yet! In addition, there is a great big difference between our case. First of all, their golf course is not separated from the homes already there while our golf course is adjacent to our development, but more important is that one word that is in our battle and not in Mizner's - the word or two words "in perpetuity". This has great power and importance not only for us here in CV but also in Florida at large and quite possibly nationwide.
     So while the great man thinks he knows it all, he does not. There are so many issues and appeals in the future that I cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel. Neither side is giving up as far as I can see and no one need prepare for any machines and development just yet.
     I have a more recent concern. Abacoa, Boca downtown, are both in bad financial straits. Stores are empty, funds are low. There are huge malls, including our new one, and people do not seem to lack for places to spend their money or simply to walk around, window shop and people watch, so the reasoning that this will be an Abacoa style development adjacent to us simply does not fly and we do not need an empty echoing development adjacent to us. Thinking out of the box is necessary as we go forth in this argument. What do we really need adjacent to us and how do we get it? Where do the Waldmans fit in and what lessons can be learned for future developments? Are we going to cede all future open green areas or are we going to integrate? The whole issue is not so simple and passions are strong on both sides.There are many, many questions to be raised and answered on both sides so please, Mr. David Israel, newly minted a lawyer, a seer, a real estate maven, and anything else he wants to be - please do not try to induce panic and please control your pronouncements. Remember - a closed mouth gathers no foot!

BIZZARO LAND, WEST PALM BEACH CV

      Just came back from an Officers' meeting at UCO this morning and attending were the usual suspects who now fill all the committees in David Israel's dictatorship government. The first issue that came through loud and clear was the continued lack of process and procedure that is rife throughout the entire administration. That is why nothing gets done. There are issues with the bar code installations and despite the hard work of some volunteers, there are still so many that need to be done if only the drivers would step up to the plate. Now it seems much of it is in the hands of WPRF and that is not good - cede anything to them and before you know it, it will come back to bite you in your rear.
     But the big issue is the use of armed guards from PBSO at all delegate assemblies from now on. There was a spirited opposition to this, to the ludicrousness of it, that we need armed guards because David Israel is either unable to control the assembly or wants to over-control it by deeming any opposition as out of order and SIT DOWN!!. The thought of having armed deputies standing there, arms akimbo, with stares at the people who come up to the mike is not very appetizing. Will we all need our own armed guards now? I have been threatened with being blown up by fireworks, a raging statement made by an animal who has grown worse and worse. If it is not David Israel with an email name, then it is certainly one of his close associates and he did not even sound surprised or concerned that this misogynist who has only curse words for those he opposes has gone this far. So now, should I walk around with two armed guards from PBSO or private security services? Should everyone?
     This whole idea is immoral and possibly illegal and certainly spending money based only on his paranoia and the vote of SIX people, 6!!!! out of all the people in the Village. No Executive Board vote, no delegate assembly vote - nada but David and his 6 cronies, one of whom, Bob Marshall, sat there in his usual daze, saying nothing, just merrily picking away at his nose the entire time. this is our UCO now. This is what the delegates have allowed by voting like lemmings and through whatever hanky panky went on at the election site since we are held off from the records like they are the classified records of the NSA!!!
     We are in a desperate situation, in an armed governmental state where our rights have been abrogated and the situation is only getting worse. People, you all need to wake up NOW. You need to either get new delegates or warn them to vote the way of the building, not the way of David Israel. A popular vote during season would bring him down, a debate would show up his incompetence and paranoia, but he refuses all debate and now seeks to eliminate any and all opposition - even by fireworks explosions, David Israel?
     Think about all this and think about when it was that you all have ceded your rights to David Israel, a man truly not in his mental prime.
    

AS JULY 4TH APPROACHES

     July 4th approaches. Music by the pool, fireworks and street celebrations. Parades and barbecues and picnics. And solemn moments commemorating what it all really means and oh, do not forget that most important of all American holiday rituals - the sales!
     Seriously, it is a time for all of us to think about how lucky we are to live in such a country, even with all the issues. I forgot who it was that said something like this, "Democracy is the worst form of government - until you have tried the others." Yes, we have Tea Party and quickly may they go down the drain, we have missing emails from the IRS - thought only I could do that - a do nothing Congress and hell breaking out all over the world. Yet there is much to value, treasure and defend.
     So here we are in CV in West Palm Beach and I wonder if we should even celebrate the 4th since we seem to have lost some of our rights as Americans by virtue of our residence here. In today's NY Times  a question was asked what it means to be an American. One answer I particularly loved was this. "Being American means protection by the law. Anyone can say whatever they want and, even if I don't agree with them, they're still protected by the law it's my job to enforce. That's their freedom. That's their right."
     What a novel idea! How come we did not think of that? Why is it that we allow a demented, paranoid man growing ever more senile and childlike, under the influence of his puppet master, to determine what we can and cannot say here in the Village? When did we cede our rights to free speech and the right to assembly? When did we allow Eva Rachesky to determine the limits of that right, never mind the Constitution!
     Whether one likes to hear something or not, unless it advocates murder or other crime or is truly disgusting in its content (aha - there ya' go you piece of filth, Fred Sanford), it is the person's right to speak. Mr. NSA Patriot, the Savior of America After 9/11, has determined that it is not a right that he wants to exist here in the Village so out it goes and in come the armed guards. Guess he will not be hiring that sergeant in the Tulsa Police Department who I quoted at the beginning of this article. Hey, maybe I should offer to bring him down here and be my guard!
     David Israel, please think carefully about this issue and do not open any more cans of worms. You can always adjourn if you so wish to continue to deny civil rights, but in any case, there should be no armed guards and no pistol packing papas and mamas for that is a definite possibility if this thing grows into a real big mess. For once in your life, look outside your own head and think.

ARMED GUARDS AGAIN? ARE WE TO BECOME DODGE CITY AT HIGH NOON?

ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT ALERT

David Israel, obviously falling deeper and deeper into that long darkness known as dementia, has now decided to try to ram through his pet committee another of his dangerous ideas. This Thursday, at 10 AM at UCO at the Officer's meeting, he is bringing up under New Business the idea to CONSTANTLY have armed PBSO deputies who are off duty and FOR HIRE at our assembly gatherings. Be at the meeting so you can add your voice to the discussion. Say NO NO NO to this dangerous idea.

This is dangerous, very dangerous. I have no idea where his head is at. First of all, exactly of what is he so afraid. Let's see. We have a 75 year old lovely and intelligent woman, a man in a scooter, a man with a cane, a man with a kidney transplant and not a fast runner, an elderly blogger and others in the same kind of categories. These are the people who frighten him? Can you just picture this - all these people running? no, walking, slowly, vey slowly, and don't forget the lift for the scooter - up to the stage to beat David Israel up? It is ludicrous!
     The idea of armed guards as a constant is frighteneing. First of all, we do not live in a police state as much as David Israel would like to think so. He is not Capo, nor Fuhrer, nor Stalin, nor tinpot dictator of a third world country. And while the PBSO deputies are trained, how often do we read about a deputy involved shooting, where a gun was erroneously used during an incident. Do we want to be the headlines of a Palm Beach Post story or on a national TV station? Do we want someone to be shot and why, because David Israel is paranoid and cannot deal with any opposition to his own ideas or thoughts?
     And what is the opposition supposed to do when faced with the concept of armed guards at the meeting, placed there to intimidate them? Are they, too, to hire off duty PBSO deputies or private service security people? Will we have these armed guards in a face off a la the frontier? Are those of us who have guns then to petition to be able to carry them all over the Village to protect ourselves from a loony UCO President with delusions of self grandeur and paranoid fantasies?
     While the images may cause one to laugh, the reality is not funny. Come and say NO. If you are not here now, send an email to ucopresident@gmail.com with your opinion. Keep our Village safe and sane. Gunfight at the CV Clubhouse is not a good movie title, nor for life.

Here are a few headlines that are apropos to this whole issue. We thought you might enjoy them.

CENTURY VILLAGE SENIORS TAKE UP ARMS AGAINST DICTATOR.

 

Another Headline: CENTURY VILLAGE SENIORS TAKE THEIR WHEELCHAIRS, CANES AND WALKERS AND HEAD FOR THE TRENCHES.

Another Headline: GOLDEN LAKES AND CYPRESS LAKES   SENIOR COMMUNITIES FOLLOW SUIT AND TAKE UP ARMS.

Another Headline: PALM BEACH COUNTY  SENIOR COMMUNITIES ON RAMPAGE.

     

Shut Up and sit down!!

The shutting up of delegates seems to be a habit with the UCO Fox.

Shutting up Ed Grossman, Olga & Esther was not the first time that David Israel was over powering speakers!!!

David Israel shut me up before Ester and Olga. At the delegates assembly that took place in Anshei Shalom Synagogue a few years ago, he used the term "Dan you are OUT OF ORDER SIT DOWN". Do you hear it? out of order sit down!!!

David Israel did not want the delegates to hear how he interfered with 2 associations who sent me (the same delegate). Century Village had several delegates already that legally represented 2 associations and all was well for more than 20 years. The minute that he saw Dan Gladstone's name for the 2 associations he sent a letter to each association with ridiculous reasons like "conflict of interest, bad move..." and more. 

When I presented this letter to the delegates, David Israel would not let me speak. He said that I was out of order and to sit down but a minute later said to me that UCO was working on changing that very by-law. Guess what?! A meeting or two later, that by-law was changed, SO MUCH FOR "OUT OF ORDER SIT DOWN" (this is all on UCO tapes of the delegates assembly).

Post by Dan (shadup) G.

HERE THEY GO AGAIN!

     Several months ago, I attended a meeting where I suggested that we perhaps stockpile tarps, wood, etc. for damage after a hurricane or even hire a company to stockpile and then come in to the Village. I was poo-poohed, told it was too costly, no room, they had already tried that with a roofer from Texas and then Ed Black and David Israel gave wicked snide little laughs and smirks and went on to another issue. Not ten minutes later David Israel had a great idea. Why not stockpile material for hurricane damage!!! I really did not care, for the idea was to get help quickly should G-d forbid, we be hit again.
     Talk of forming a committee was bruited about but nothing happened for months. Then finally there appeared to be a spin-off from the Insurance Committee and the Disaster Committee was formed. The same people who make up most of the committees now are to be found here as well. Suddenly, supposedly an RFP (I hope) was brought forth and answers were received from several companies and now, one company was chosen with several questions remaining. Did anybody in the Village get this information, details, terms, etc.? NOPE! So here we go again.
     The following is from David Israel's emails that he sends out so, trust me, I did not make this up.
 
     "Minutes - disaster Committee Meeting - 6/19/14

         Call to order
         Discussed merits and drawbacks of all contractors
         Voted and chose Cotton - motioned by John Hess    and seconded by Phyllis Siegelman.
         Decided to make a list of the associations needs after a storm to discuss with Cotton.     
         Agreed it would be beneficial to add an additional contractor and would speak with Cotton on how to move forward.
        Jason Cloar will contact Cotton and ask when they are available for a meeting."

Whoa! So it seems there was no RFP, no solicitation of proposal answers so where did these companies come from? How was this Cotton chosen over other companies and who were the other companies and why was no one in the company spoken with so more details as to ability to fulfill needs would be clarified. Sounds like another M&M Paving story to me. Then a decision is made as to add other companies on - to what and where and why? Now to go and speak with Cotton - NOW - after a decision was made, a sloppy one, but this is truly backwards - again!! First now we are going to speak with Cotton and first now a list of needs is being made? How do you look for a company if the needs are not clarified?
     Just who or what is this Cotton? I looked up Cotton Construction , close enough I figured and found one in Katy, Texas - Texas again! They have a nice website, true, but anyone can write anything on a website. How do we know it is true without having spoken with them before? What are the terms of this contract - what materials? Where stored? What is time frame? Are they capable of doing all that is needed from mold remediation to concrete repair should a building lose its front due to a tornado spinoff? Have they ever done it before and if so, where? Has anyone spoken to someone from a previous job? Has there been a comparision with other companies in the category - but how could there have been if no RFP was sent out in the first place?!! And if there was an RFP then publish it. Transparency, remember?
     Additionally, is UCO even entitled to make a deal on behalf of the Associations for this kind of repair. They did that back with the roofer after Wilma, I believe and Ed Black THREATENED associations if they did not use this roofer and even blocked other roofers from coming in. The buildings of an association belong to the association and UCO is not entitled to infringe on that building. It cannot force anyone to use a particular contractor. It can recommend, but it cannot force. What if this contractor cannot due a roof such as the one we have on our building. One has to be trained and licensed by Dow who guarantees the roof and how much is this going to cost?
     I am in favor of having a stockpile or several companies on a favorite son basis to be recommended AFTER they have been truly vetted, and only then but they cannot be forced on anyone and the entire Village must be made aware of all that this whole thing entails. Who are the companies, their reputations, their experience, their project managers, has the contract been read over by a lawyer and not Tennyson! There are so many questions to be asked and answered and I have just touched on the tip of the iceberg. We cannot allow David Israel and coterie to set us up for a major fall again. This whole thing is a result of lack of proper experience and procedure in setting up contracts. I have so much experience in this but , sorry folks, David Israel is too afraid of me so he will not appoint me to a committee and this is one I asked for too. If we allow this situation to continue, then we have brought it upon ourselves and we reap what we sow. Action is up to all of you. I have said my piece.
 

EYALGILADNAFTALI

     Their names have begun to become one. The Israeli public speaks of them in one breath. The mothers of these boys mention all three, call upon the world for the return of all of them.
 They are all our sons, our brothers, our children who are in harm's way because they are Jewish, because the world continues to devalue Jewish blood. One of the boys is an American citizen and why, President Obama, have you not taken ownership of that fact? Could he, too, also be your son? There are times that his mother has a touch of a good old Brooklyn accent in her English. She smiles as she describes her son and then fights hard as she says she cannot go certain places in her mind.
    These are the places that are unthinkable to all of us, to any caring and decent human being. These are boys who wanted only to get home. They were not throwing stones nor bricks nor flaming tires nor homemade explosives. Now they are who knows where, either dead or alive in horrific beyond thinking about conditions. Hamas and even PA officials trumpet about the triumphant and heroic deed that was their abduction even as they then accuse Israel of masterminding it! Sure, just as the Jews masterminded 9/11.
     Abbas, whose wife just completed surgery and recuperation in an Israeli hospital, says he will help find the boys even as he whines about the search. Truly, what would you do if it were your child, your boy, who had been snatched from life? The mere fact that underneath appliances and behind furniture there have been found tunnels, weapons manufacturing and storage places tells us much. The natural topography is difficult to search but it is impossible that the regular people who live around where these boys are now hidden do not know, they HAVE to know. The living quarters are too close together to hide and yet - NOONE SPEAKS - and the horror goes on.
     Now Syria, as if not busy enough killing its own citizens and reducing its country to rubble, now decides to ramp up its rocket shelling of Israel, perhaps to match the rockets and missiles raining down on civilians from Gaza, yes, the land of the peace loving Hamas. And when they kill a little 13 year old boy who went to work with his father, the world says nothing - and why, because he is Israeli - and yes, he is an Arab Israeli, possibly a Druze, but does one notice Israel making a distinction from a Jewish Israeli? NO!!!
     When will the world wake up and face facts. There have just been so many documentaries on WWII on TV, books published, and more to come and yet all have one thing in common - the disaster that took place because Chamberlain did not stand up to Hitler. Appeasement to bullies, to human filth, does not work. PC or not, Israel is in an existential fight for its life, as are Jews in France, Belgium and other areas of rising anti - Semitism. Terror is terror and murder is murder and do not, for one moment, think that we are exempt because we are here, across the ocean. Terror has feet. Terror has wings and it has already flown here several horrific times. World, face the facts, face reality, stand up to evil, for if not, it will come to you.
      #BRINGBACKOURBOYS

     EYALGILADNAFTALI

DESPERATE IS AS DESPERATE DOES

     Didn't think I would be writing again till tomorrow afternoon, but pathetic postings and comments on David Israel's blog and Elaine Brown's blog as well, just caused me to react.
     This morning, David Israel, all on his own, printed a tiny print pamphlet from Comcast. Now his even more pathetic followers, like DonHoHo and the cruiser fool and Elaine on her blog are trying to excuse what he wrote AS IF WE WERE THE ONES WHO POSTED IT. Suddenly it becomes clear when Elaine posts this ridiculous Temkin survey which of course knocks Comcast and any other company so the question is - Who has David Israel picked for the Wi Fi? Surely it is not a named company on the survey. The attempt to set this up is beyond pathos but that comes when intellectual power is waning. But there he goes again, setting the Village up for another debacle.
     Personally, I find the new box we got from Comcast is quite good and their service has definitely improved. I have no patience with sloppy service so if I say it has improved - it has. I am even beginning to miss the old "one moment please." It is just not there any more.
     Once again, Don HoHo forgets to point out - after he already said how good his Comcast service was - that in order to get speedy service for downloads and uploads and for a wider bandwidth which will definitely be needed for anyone who used the computer often, WILL COST MORE MONEY so there we are - paying out money again. Not going to be so cheap, will it? Right now many people are quite satisfied with what we have and no one is rushing to take on another debt that will escalate over the years - and probably prove to be faulty if David Israel's past history is any indicator.
     Finally, the remark about Robert's Rules. please do not pick and choose and ignore what you prefer to. The Chair must exercise restraint and civility as well. Oops, there goes David Israel down the toilet. One cannot just say out of order as one wishes. There has to be a real reason behind it and oops, there he goes again.
     Please, a bit less pathos and a bit more fact. As for the rag of a paper, The Reporter, its bias is so unwieldy at this point that one has to have zero brains to miss the tilt. C'mon, Joy, are you just as much a coward as David Israel who was too scared to debate me? Are you too scared to allow in other viewpoints as perchance they will show you up? Pathetic, absolutely pathetic. Oh, I forgot. You go around saying I have a ghostwriter. Too bad, wrong again. Try harder next time.
     And again, stay tuned for more info tomorrow.

GOOD MORNING CENTURY VILLAGE!!!

     Do you hear it? Listen closely and you will hear the refrain.  There it is - "Here it comes again, um, a,um..." Yes, once more we have that poor devolving man, David Israel, trying to pull his tootsies out of the fire. Why? Because he has been caught up once more in a mess of his own making.
     What? Here is a part of a message I received from the Messenger Club about the agenda of their meeting tomorrow at 10 in Room C in the Clubhouse.
                     At the June 23 meeting, Monday, we are expecting a Comcast representative to be our guest and talk about W--Fi, Wi-Fi security and how to put up your own Wi-Fi in your association.

Wow! Can you imagine, they have already scheduled a speaker from Comcast to discuss Wi Fi here in the Village with all their options. Suddenly, David Israel realizes that once again he is lagging behind and suddenly we have a posting on his personal blog of a pamphlet from Comcast explaining its newer options. Wow, such a discovery! Too late, David Israel. You've been scooped.
     This is an example of what we have been saying all along about Wi Fi. Yes, Wi Fi here in the Village, but guess what - we already have it. We are not in a Wi Fi desert. Wi Fi for the whole Village as a unit - major issues there and there is no reason to hurry up and then regret a decision made in haste with poor forethought. Over and over we have said there are new options coming down the road. Wait and see what they are before we commit to anything or even if we have to commit. And remember, there are many people here in the Village who DO NOT have computers and do not want them. They find their lives just fine and do not need to spend their day tap tap tapping away as do some other people. They have lives beyond and without computers and that is their choice. They are not interested in paying any more money for it and they have every right to say so and OPT OUT.
     So David Israel publishes the pamphlet in teeny tiny letters and explains nothing, trying, as usual, to amaze people with his techie stuff. Sorry, not working.
     People, this is just one example of how many errors in judgment David Israel and his administration are making, continuing a tradition of giving the Village less, rather than more, and we will be the ones taking it right on the nose if we do not vigorously watch and double check and insist on details. So tomorrow, do as I am doing. Go to the meeting and find out what the deal is, what the options for Wi Fi are. If you can, take along a techie as I am doing -  ask questions, think, think, think.
     And please tune in tomorrow sometime in the late afternoon for breaking news of another debacle we are being set up for and no one seems to have caught it. It can shape up to be a real disaster if not done right and this time it affects the very structures of our lives - our homes. If done properly, with oversight and care, with details and transparency, it can be a good thing but as it stands now, I am not so sure that will be the path it takes. In fact, I am sure that it is on the wrong path. Been there, done that and we must see that it does not happen again.
      Please turn off that refrain - "Here it comes again...."

TWO SATURDAYS - #BRING BACK OUR BOYS

     Our boys, Naftali, Eyal and Gilad, are facing their second Shabbat in awful captivity. 70 years after the Holocaust and we are still trying to rescue Jewish children. I guess 1 1/2 million children were not enough for the world. As a mother, as a Jew, as a person, my heart is breaking and I only wish I would be able to give some of my strength to these parents and my G-d, the boys.
      Avinu shebashamayim, berachamem, tachzir and banenu bimhera, shalem bagoof oobamoah. Ana, Hashem, Ana.
      Our Father, in Heaven, with mercy, please return our boys, quickly, and complete and healthy in body and mind. Please, G-d, please.

SAY IT AIN'T SO, JOE! SAY IT AIN'T SO!

     Could it be? Is it true? Nah! Not the pillar of the NSA! Not the man who singlehandedly saved us after 9/11 (ask him - he will tell you how). And yet, and yet, look at the behavior and actions. Look at his statements, both verbally and in writing. Yes, it certainly can be. David Israel is un-American!
     This all started when a 13 yr. old character (out of the mouths of babes) in a novel I recently read, stated, "In America, people don't get thrown in jail just for being troublemakers." Well, somehow, the meaning of this statement, its truth, seems to have eluded David Israel or seems to have gotten lost during his period of mental devolvement.
     The Declaration of Independence (remember that document) states that it is the right of all human beings to have life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. They have the right of seeing that their representation is fair and proper (no taxation without representation, remember that?) And when these rights are abrogated, then it is their right, no, their duty, to overthrow that government and install one that is proper, that follows the rules, that abides by the civil rights of its citizens.
     Along came the Constitution (remember that document). It states in its first Ten Amendments basic rights that are not to be removed from its citizens. Among them are the right to free speech and the right of assembly. Need a tutorial lesson on how to read and comprehend? Well, evidently we here in CV do not live in the USA proper. We seem to have a different set of rules.
     Certainly there is taxation without representation and our rights of free speech and assembly have been violated. We all pay the same fees to UCO and that gives all equal rights and access to the facilities of the Village. Yet this access has been denied and is increasingly being further denied to more people. As soon as one becomes a "troublemaker" in the eyes of David Israel - i.e. meaning that you refuse to kowtow to him and demand the right to think your own way and express opposition or insist on oversight so we do not have more multi million dollar debacles, well, whoops, suddenly you are a ''troublemaker" and off you go to the jail of his own making here in the Village. No access to media, to the clubhouse, to assembly, to anything and everything. David Israel, our latest addition to the role of loony tinpot dictators has so decided.
     He will tell you - and has written - that HE will not appoint anyone to a committee. He will not allow people to advertise on OUR Channel 63. He will not allow flyers to be posted or placed in delegate's packets unless these people have passed some esoteric, known only to David Israel, qualifications. Dis him in any way, even in the latitudes of his ever decreasing mental capacity, and Boom! you are off in CV Jail. Yet remember what the character said. Remember our founding documents.
     Yes, people, David Israel, is un-American in his behavior, in his thoughts, in his dictatorship. Time to go, David Israel. We thank you for your service, such as it is or was, but time to relax and let Century Village in West Palm Beach rejoin the United States of America once more. It is bad enough that the USPS does not remember that at times; we certainly do not need you adding to the problem.
     How much more talking in whispers do we need when people gather in homes and at the pools. All are talking about the looniness, the pettiness, the vengeance that David Israel is exhibiting and all are asking what to do. Well, what we can do is urge resignation and if not, then there is recall when the delegates are back and it is not only or mainly his coterie at the assemblies who follow his lead like lemmings. Hey, maybe we need to take them on a trip somewhere....

EVERYTHING IS RELATIVE

     Just pick up a paper, go online, open the TV or radio. No matter what, the news is all bad. The innocent boys are still missing and it took only five days for the world to finally say something; that it is wrong. People are still trying to play the old "blame the victim" game, but there is no way that blame can be laid on a bunch of kids trying to get home. That is their right and the right of their parents, to know their children, not soldiers, not combatants, but students, are coming home.
     The tension in the entire region is rising and ISIS is well on its way to establishing its Caliphate under Sharia law. People laughed when that idea was first promulgated, but who is laughing now? Who will be laughing when the price of gas shoots up because the major Iraqi refinery is now in the hands of the terrorists - and do not for one minute think that this is the end of their goal. The country of Syria is in rubble piles, people are scattered all over and many of the wounded near the border with Israel are getting treatment in Israel, Israel is sending over medical and food help, but all is kept quiet. Why? Because the people are afraid to say anything.
     The revolving door of Israeli prisons are opening again to take in those released under the Shalit deal who are violating the terms of their parole or release agreements. What a shock!!! A crazed Member of Knesset, an Arab, praises the kidnapping while a cousin of hers, a brave 17 year old boy, speaks the truth and for that gains death threats.
     Three families are ripped asunder and who knows when it will be over. We are still sending USA soldiers all over the world to stem the tide - the tide of what and with what plan? To use these soldiers as fingers in a dike? Doesn't work long term, does it? What to do? Way above my pay grade but we need to think out of the box and quickly. We must face facts, whether they be PC or not.
     Here in the good old USA Senators are proposing to raise the gas tax 12 cents because we are not paying enough already and the price of gas is not going to shoot up now with the mess in Iraq and the rest of the Middle East? Why not take a pay cut in Washington - get pay per piece, like the workers of old and even in sweatshops today. For each piece of positive legislation each Senator and Congressman will get a prorated percentage of salary. No work - no pay. Chitchat and fight all day - no pay. Might work!
     And now for the biggest news of the day. David Israel is still ranting and raving on his personal blog about the message from the Messenger Club. Can he not find anything else to write about, to discuss, to open for improvement? Enough with your stupid supposed anti spam campaign. I believe the spam is openly posted on David Israel's blog, actually.
    Everything is relative. I used to show my students how unimportant one test in my class would be for the future and in the present as we wrote some current crises on the board. It calmed them down and they did all the better on their tests. David Israel, put your piddly spam campaign which is not really spam anyway in proper perspective and try to do something positive for our Village - like resign maybe?

ORDINARY GRACE - WILLIAM KENT KREUGER

     The first time I came across this author was when I literally stumbled over his book. Someone left it on the floor and of course, I found it! Good find, though. It was one of the early books of his Cork O'Connor mystery series set in Minnesota, away from the larger cities there. This series tells of the stories and travails of Cork O'Connor and very quickly the reader becomes quite involved with the family and friends. They are gently written though the questions raised and the experiences undergone are not so quiet. It is best to go back to the beginning and read them through. You will enjoy it. It is not just a good mystery story, but a continuing saga of a family.
     However, the latest book, Ordinary Grace, is a stand alone novel, also in Minnesota and set in 1961. For many of us, certainly for me, that was a time of golden years of childhood. I was allowed a bit more freedom, the music on the radio was still filled with doo wop and the sweet and innocent words of love as well as the famed story songs of teen tragedy. We were all inspired by our young and charismatic president and life seemed go on in a bright light. Yet underneath it all something was lurking for soon after we had the Cuban missile crisis, the assassination of JFK, RFK, the Vietnam War, and the hippies and flower children turning into SDS, Black Panthers and bombs and explosions.
     In this novel we see that underneath a supposedly friendly small town there lurks more, something dark. Also gently written, it quickly enmeshes the reader as we read of a coming of age of a thirteen year old boy told from the adult version of that child some forty years later. I highly recommend this book as well as his major series. Happy reading!
     For those of you who like finding new authors and books, we have the new book club on the first Thursday of the month beginning in October, Classroom B in the Clubhouse 10-12. We are looking for different books, not the classics and not the best sellers, but books that one might never have found, certainly not had the opportunity to discuss, if not for the book club and the recommendations of its members. Come join us - all welcome.

#BRING OUR BOYS BACK

     Today is day 6 of the search for the kidnapped boys of Israel - Gilad, Naftali, and Eyal. These are children ripped from their lives as students, as sons and brothers and thrust into horror and terror beyond words. How are these children supposed to cope with this situation? An adult with life experience cannot, so how are boys to do this?
     Israel is searching everywhere, finding much arms and ammunition, over 100 tunnels dug for nefarious purposes and the rumors are flying. Rescue is soon. They are alive. They are not. They are still in Judea and Shomron. They have been moved. Fatah frantic over move of Hamas and threat to "unity" government. Arab Israeli threatened for saying let them go and he sympathizes with them. His family threatens to do him harm.
     The families of the boys are exhibiting grace under the worst conditions one can imagine for parents, especially the mother of Naftali who seems to have emerged as a spokesperson for the group. Jews all over the world are putting aside their differences and asking for prayer, joining in huge prayer rallies, pleading for the safe return of the boys.
     There is no excuse for taking children hostage, not here and not in the children pressed into serving as soldiers in various militias in Africa. There is no excuse for raising children to become "martyrs". The world has flipped over the edge and these boys are the victims of a world gone crazy. Whether one is a parent of girls in Nigeria or boys studying in school in a seminary in Israel, one should be able to expect to receive their children back home, not hear that they have been kidnapped.
     I, personally, do not hold out much hope of a positive end to all this. I say my Psalms; I plead with G-d for a safe return; I cry for these children and these parents but I am not optimistic. The animals who have perpetrated this horror have been known to slaughter captives, have been known to kill children before and have no signs of humanity.
     All of us, be one a Jew, a Catholic, a Hindu, Sikh or Moslem - think of your children and then pray for their return and pray that they are not in a pain beyond belief. Pray for their rescue from the hands of inhuman beings. Pray for their families to be whole once again and pray that this never happen again. Join a Facebook page, take a picture and post it, holding a sign Bring Our Boys Back. Do something. The cries of these boys are rending the heart of any thinking, sentient being.

PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

WE WILL BE ANNOUNCING THE TIMES OF MEETINGS FOR VARIOUS CLUBS WHICH HAVE SUFFERED AT THE HAND OF DAVID ISRAEL AS HE DENIED THEM ACCESS TO THE DELEGATES PACKET AND TO CHANNEL 63.
WE TAKE NO SIDES IN THESE ANNOUNCEMENTS. WE ONLY SERVE TO PROVIDE OPEN AND FREE SPEECH IN OUR VILLAGE.

PRPC - PROACTIVE RESIDENTS PROJECTS COMMITTEE - WORKING TO PREVENT DEVELOPMENT OF THE GOLF COURSE.
WHEN: THURSDAY JUNE 19, 2014
 TIME: 10 AM
WHERE: CLUBHOUSE CLASSROOM B



PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT 2

Century Village Messenger Club 

Very Important Meeting 

Monday. June 23 10:00 AM 

Room C - Clubhouse 

TOPICS: DRAINS AND ROADWAYS
                WI FI AND ALTERNATIVES FOR YOU AND YOUR BUILDING.



SHOULD ANYOME ELSE BE DENIED THEIR RIGHT OF FREE SPEECH AND FREE ACCESS TO OUR MEDIA, PLEASE EMAIL OR LEAVE A COMMENT AND WE WILL GLADLY PUBLICIZE YOUR EVENT. WE WILL NOT TAKE SIDES OR EXPRESS AN OPINION. WE ARE SIMPLY MAKING THE ANNOUNCEMENT.

THOUGHTS ABOUT LEADERSHIP

     Just read an interesting article about leadership and the pitfalls within awaiting the leader and the care he/she must take, the precautions to insure that the leader comes out as a good person rather than as a warped and twisted being.
     The leader must always remember that he/she is there to serve the people. FDR said, "I never forget that I live in a house owned by all the American people and that I have been given their trust." A true leader is there to serve the people, not be served by them.  The leader is there to benefit the people who are his/her constituents rather than to benefit him/herself. Yet even FDR forgot that when he thought that only he could lead the country to victory, even as sick as he was, as exhausted as he was. He was sick when he went to Yalta and gave away the store. A true leader has to know when his/her time is over, when he/she would only harm those whom he/she serves.
     We need good leaders. We need leaders who have vision, who have a plan to follow which has a wide expanse of interests rather than a plan focused only on those issues that interest him/her. He/She must be strong, yet aware of and open to other people's interests ,ready to concede that they too have a good idea, a better way, or be able to convince others by logic and calm words that the other way is the right way.
     A good leader must be a good manager, for otherwise the budget, the needs, the daily minutiae and the future directives just get away and out of control. President Obama finds himself in this position because he was not strong enough to focus properly and has let events overcome his plans. Granted, I would never wish to be President of the United States, but if one takes on a job, one needs to be prepared for change, for demand, for surprises and be able to adapt, even if Congress is not the most friendly of places. Power changes people, and usually not for the good. The good person who entered the job almost always loses his/her way when the ego takes over and puts blinders on the leader, especially when the leader overstays in position. At all times the leader must remember that he/she is there to serve, to chill out on his/her ego, to be without sin. Proverbs 27:24 states that "power is not forever". Power is temporary and the leader must know when the time to go has come. We have all seen heads of schools, managers of companies, bosses who all have passed their time, yet cannot realize or accept that the time to pass on the leadership position haslong ago come.
     Please read this and think about it, what it clearly says. I found it thought provoking and extremely timely.

GREAT BOOK TO READ - THE LIE BY HESH KESTIN

     Another book you might want to read. It is extremely ripped from the headlines, only this was published before the current crisis of the three kidnapped boys in Israel. It is a small, fast reading book, but the questions it raises are not so quick to disappear. Similar to The German Suitcase book, it raises questions of morality, fate, the unforeseen consequences of actions years down the line, nurture vs. nature, moral relativism, exigent circumstances and the list can go on. Yet with all these issues, it is simply a gripping story and you will not want to put it down. The library has it in its floating division so it can be reserved right here at Okeechobee library. It is well worth the read - and while you read, please keep the three boys in mind and the terror, and G-d forbid, the pain and torment, in which they find themselves. Think of your own child as you read this book.  Powerful indeed.
     As you read the book you are not sure what the lie is and still not sure even after. We all lie to each other and to ourselves, sometimes without realizing or acknowledging it, and if only we could accept truth,  - but that is for another person to write about. I am not that gifted. Or that sure of what the truth is in many circumstances. I only know what I think and believe.
     Just as an aside, when I recommend a book, I will not give a summary of it. For myself, I find that annoying. I would rather page thru the book myself and peek at the back page if I so desire, but not know the whole story beforehand. Just the way I think and since I am writing this....

WELL, WELL, WELL - PLEASE READ ON

     Well, well. David Israel and his pathetic claque of fools know that he has made a big boo boo and have tried to rectify it. Too bad it is too late. If one goes back to Elaine's blog now, the comment that David Israel made on it is GONE. THAT IS RIGHT, THEY TOOK IT OFF, TRYING TO HIDE IT. Tough bugs. I already had it copied and pasted into a posting of mine so there you go - it was there, it was made and it just showed that David Israel is truly becoming the Demented David that I feared was happening.
     Losing the benefits of one's faculties is a hard thing to accept and to see in oneself, but the proof of the pudding is there. The temper tantrums, the nonsensical comments, the aggressive and nasty tones, the accusations that make no sense, the paranoia - all these are symptoms of a loss of mental acuity and we see the results in a limited range of vision and thought, obsessions on certain topics and a refusal to recognize what must be done. Now he is falling further into the hands of his puppet master, Ed Black, and woe upon us.
     It does not give me joy to point this out; in fact, it kind of ruins the fun I was having poking holes in David Israel's pomposity. It is something that we all fear here in the Village, something we watch for like a hawk - why can we not remember a name, a face, a story, a TV show, etc. It is all well and good if we compensate for it in our personal lives, but not when we are in a position of public responsibility.
     I shall now have to remember to try to be a little gentle when pointing out David Israel's inanities and faults, but unless and until he resigns or is recalled, he is leaving himself open to this. We do not want another Reagan nodding off at meetings or forgetting what is happening. We already have that with Joy who seems to keep disremembering promises and statements that she made to others, or is it perhaps that she is trying to cover all bases and she is only a mediocre player meant for one position at a time?
    Speaking of David Israel's claque. There appears to be perhaps one or two idiots who seem to have an objection to my blog. It seems they cannot understand what I write, my vocabulary perhaps or is it the compound-complex sentences I write. They object to the fact that I comment on worldly matters, something they are obviously incapable of, but they also do not like when I poke fun at their master or point out contradictions in his behaviors. Well, to that I say - tough ****! I still have the free tutorial sessions on offer or, you can realize that your obscene and threatening comments are ignored and will never make it on to the blog, or you can even just buzz off like the insignificant gnats that you are. Ta ta, ....SWAT!

IS THE MAN TRULY LOSING IT? LOOK FOR YOURSELF

     David Israel has always had the reputation for being a screamer, a shouter of curses and foul words at people. He did and does not care who is around when he lets his mouth open and filth or strange things come out and he even does this on line as well. We have documented his writing on line that a Holocaust survivor should vanish in a puff of fire and ashes, he has ranted his out of order and sit down comment countless time in a maniacal manner and pounded that gavel of his for all he's worth. He has called Barbara Cornish a tart and a whore, her husband a piece of s**t and on and on. He has behaved in obnoxious behavior with Dan Gladstone numerous times and what about his witch
hunt of Dorothy, but this latest posting is unbelievable.
     Actually, it is two postings that send out a strong and clear sign of deteriorating mental faculties and a lack of control over his emotions and mouth, be it vocally or in writing. Because he has nothing constructive to say, David Israel harps back to a campaign that is months over and why? Because defeat at the hands of a new name was near and possible. Only by his machinations of a political machine did he come up with votes to win and by the way, NEVER let anyone see the originals of all the papers. HMMM....!!! So now he is conflating two or more events together - the campaign and Olga's right to speak or rather anyone's right to speak be they in opposition or not. He has censored our media outlets and now will not even include PRPC material in a packet for the delegates and why? Because he is upset with Honey Sager, calls her a liar, she ,who , whether you agree with her goal or not, is working for the benefit of the Village as she believes it to be and asks for no recognition or special privileges other than to be allowed to use the facilities of OUR Village, not David Israel's Village.
     That is bad enough but read the following and tell me that this posting response does not indicate his disrespect for woman and an idiotic or loony response to a serious issue at hand. This was posted on Elaine Brown's blog.

      Library Drop Box - Car Drop

Yesterday a patron at the Okee Branch Library left her car, w/keys, purse, and wallet at the curb and took a few steps over to the Outside Book Drop. Two young guys jumped into the car and took off. Vroom!

I do not know if the car was recovered, STAY ALERT AND CAUTIOUS. Park properly and lock up.

STILL MISSING

     For almost three days now, the three boys who were kidnapped are still missing. The security forces of Israel are looking for them, for their kidnappers, but why were they notified only eight hours after the police were told? Why did the police wait five hours to take it seriously? These are questions to be answered later, once the boys are home, but for now the focus is on bringing them back, returning them to the arms of their aching families.
     Hamas, which always publicly shouts that the plan is to kidnap either an Israeli soldier or civilian, now knows it has gone too far in kidnapping children. Now they are saying that to accuse them is "stupid". Really? When one keeps announcing intent to do something and it happens, what are people to think?
     In the meanwhile there is barely any ripple in the waters of the world. When a 20 year old Arab throws bricks and stones at an Israeli soldier, and receives a rubber bullet in exchange, the world bemoans the damage to the "youth". Today, the Times reprinted a feed from Reuters which at least allowed that the two 16 year olds are kids but called the 19 year old a "man". The USA and its President keep quiet when one of the boys is an American citizen. No where do we hear a condemnation of Hamas nor a retraction from the USA which said it would work with a Hamas  - Fatah unity government, going back on their oft published vows not to do so.
     And all the while there are three families sobbing, broken hearted. Their children are in distress, danger, alone and terrified, if still alive, and if so, in what condition, and they can do nothing. In Israel, every child is the nation's child. There is not even six degrees of separation and so the entire nation is wounded and we must be wounded too as do not think that we are exempt from this kind of terror.
    Write to your representative, to the President, to Ban Ki-moon who calls for restraint!!! Really, what is Israel to do when its children are missing - not go after them with all their might until they are found and brought home? Why not urge restraint on the animals of Hamas? Why not come down hard on these and other related animals? But, as usual, when it comes to Jewish blood, to Jewish children, the world is quiet. What the hey, let's go play ball.
     Eyal, Naftali, Gilad - these are their names. They are real. They are children. They are in terror, pain, crying. Do not forsake them.

HEY, POP

     Eight years. Eight years since I kissed you and asked you, "What's up, Pop?" Eight years since we talked on the phone, sharing our letters and concerns, joking around. Eight years and I keep imagining you sitting by your desk.
     I remember how proud I was when I was your "helper" as a kid and you set up a table for me in your office. I remember how proud I was to walk with you to shul (synagogue) on Shabbat, hold your hand and talk and laugh.
     I remember how I swore to myself as a little kid that I would never hurt you or disappoint you, only wanting you to be proud of me. I also remember how you helped me go to the movies with everyone - even the guys- in eighth grade and didn't let Nellie know! You were my Pop, my go to guy and I loved you so much.
     You were the best Saba (grandfather) to our kids and Gerry loved you as his father, walking over to sit and talk with you and Mommy every Shabbat afternoon. You were the only one who could calm Roni down when she had her earaches. She slept on your shoulder like a little doll. When Tziyona decided to get up every night at 10 and have playtime, we would visit with the two of you and you became her nighttime playmate - her first playdate, in fact! And how proud you were of Kivi in his growing reputation as a scholar and a counselor.
     You were my Pop, my friend, my protector, my teacher, my father. I loved you more than words can say and I still do. Every Friday night when I light candles I talk to you and Nellie, tell you of the events of the week, ask you questions and ask your advice and guidance. I will love you always and miss you, for when you left us, you left a great big hole in my heart. Take care of Nellie up there and the two of you, try not to drive G-d too crazy! He needs to be strong for us down here and all the messes we have made in this world. And Pop, watch over the three boys in so terrible a situation now  and their families. Love you, Pop.

PRAY FOR THE BOYS

     Today, or rather last night, at a hitchhiking station on the West Bank, three boys were grabbed, stolen from their families. These are boys, two 16 and one 19, not soldiers, but students. They were waiting to get a ride, to go home, when some animals came along and kidnapped them.
The three – Naftali ben Rachel Devorah, Gilad Michael ben Bat Galim, Eyal ben Iris Teshurah – need all our prayers, our pleas to G-d, to bring them home safe.
     These are the same animals who shoot babies in their crib and slice the throats of children in bed. The world makes a fuss when an Arab youth throws stones and receives a rubber bullet from a soldier defending himself as stones do kill. Just ask Goliath. Just ask the women who are stoned to death in Moslem countries. Will the world make a fuss over these children? I doubt it; just more Jewish blood down the drain.
     We can add our prayers to the prayers of the whole country. While the Palestinians are handing out candy to children and celebrating this kidnapping, the world must cry along with Israel and help in any way we can to get these boys back, safe and whole. Israel will not stop looking and will not leave them out there. Woe upon those who opened themselves up to a world of hell and hurt.
     Read your Psalms. Let tears run down your face as we pray and search for these boys.

DEJA VU

     Looking at the paper this morning, all I felt was despair and deja vu. Here we go again. Iraq is falling apart and our country is running in to save the day again, whether it will be via air strikes or boots on the ground - only time will tell. But once again, here we are in a country for which we bled and it was all for nought. In fact, it appears to be worse as the invasion seems to be a well planned incursion of Islamic terrorists and extremists pouring over the border from Syria. Will this be the fate of another country where we are bleeding every day - Afghanistan? And the question is - For What? All we get are complaints, obstructionism and back sliding as soon as we leave a pacified area.
     That which comes too easily is valued less. That is a well known thought voiced by many. Was it too easy for the people of these countries to claim the initial victory and then sit back and do nothing, or worse, fall back into tribal and clan groups, family against family? Was it too easy for them to fall back now into the backward traditions of mistreatment of women, violation of their rights as people?
     I do not know all the details but it does not really matter. All I feel is a sense of despair and disillusionment. All the men and women, all that money and equipment, all the corruption and now all the backward movement. Again, for what?
     Once we had beaten down Al Queda in the first place, and especially once we had killed Bin Laden, why did we stay? We have no more place there and until people in place truly want to form a democracy, a national democracy, not a tribal one, then we have no place there. People have to want something, participate in gaining it, achieving it, if it is to be of value - fighting, writing, social outreach - whatever.
     I feel sorry for those people in those countries who thought democracy had finally arrived and stepped to the front. Now where are they? And where is the country? And where is our country now? Our boys and girls are coming home with much combat stress, more so than any other war. They are surviving horrific wounds and trauma, lifetime wounds, and what have we accomplished?
     We support our troops and welcome them back, a much better attitude than we had back in the Vietnam era. Back then so many of these soldiers, draftees, were abused verbally and physically, when they returned. We cannot fall into that same situation, but perhaps it is time again for some protests against this war that is nebulous, and seemingly purposeless and goalless at this point in time.
     Deja vu. Here we go again.

BACK HOME AGAIN

     So here we are, back home in CV, after driving thru various patterns of rain from Orlando to CV. It is a huge storm network but I see that our lake has filled up and no more beachfront territory. Looks much nicer.
     What does not look nicer is what I have heard from people today. David Israel has seriously become a megalomaniac in his behavior. He is obsessed with his power and the need to control what comes out of anyone's mouth other than his own or his puppet dummies and will not allow access to any outlet  - paper, channel 63 (both controlled by his puppet Joy Vestal) - UNLESS HE AGREES WITH IT.WE pay for these items, gave the paper a pass on payments it owes UCO - that is us - and we pay for the Channel 63 equipment and yet we have no free access to it, with flyers and public announcements now deeply censored by David Israel. NOTHING gets done in this Village unless he says so.
     Now Ted Herle, the CAM, has made a good suggestion that we have an internal audit committee. Great idea, but it will be rather like putting the fox INSIDE the henhouse unless membership is NOT composed of David Israel dupes and dummies. Ted, Howie O'Brien - yes, but for the rest we need fresh faces, people who can and will stand up to a blustering, threatening, shouting, bullying David Israel and Ed Black as they try to get their negligent funds and spending passed through scrutiny.
     I am beginning to truly believe that there is a strong legal case to be made against David Israel for violation of civil rights, and opening the gate to showing that he is mentally incompetent at this point to run an $8 million dollar government. David Israel, if you wish to stop this, then stop yourself, think before you shout and accuse; think before you act; simply think! And change accordingly or there will have to be consequences. People are tired of you and your constant shouts of "out of order. Sit down" and the banging of that infernal gavel. There needs to be a modicum of civility in government, among the residents of the Village and from the very first moment I announced, you took it as a personal slight, as to how I dare to challenge your God-given right to rule - or so you think. For your own sake - settle down, come back to reality and decency. Tammany Hall fell, all crooked politicians are found out and every tinpot dictator gets his comeuppance and you are no different - except that you have the time - right now - to change, make amends, and do the right thing.