AND WE'RE OFF TO THE RACES AGAIN!

     First, apologies to my early readers but just could not move this morning. Well, hopefully, all good things come to those who wait so.....
     Time to get serious. Term limits. Coming up Friday at the DA. Why so quick? Because this month, for some reason, (ahem), the paper came out late and associations did not even get it till later - we just got ours sometime yesterday, with but two days left to consider the by law amendment. That is their plan  - a version of the give them five minutes to read the contract in tiny print and then force thru a vote after filling them with lies - like 'the best contract ever" - two times!
     David's blog has been rife with the usual suspects putting in their two cents - even Elaine Brown who just awes us with her "wisdom". But truly just listen to their statements and the "truth" of them. They speak of many small town mayors staying in office - yes, and in those cases the town is often filled with corruption, bad finances and lots of arguments, no progress and mostly just a deep and concerted effort of the returning mayor to keep his/her power, more and more entrenched in that purpose and drive rather than in improving the Village or town. The smart entities go for term limits and have been doing so in droves.
     That is our situation here. Think of the faulty contracts we have been given. Think of the monies gone to waste. Think of the constant push to get what David wants rather than listen to the voice of the people. Check the list of "volunteers" and find the same names on the committees, again and again. Look at the multiple votes that the officers get on each and every issue. Time and again they have been asked to cede these multiple votes but nope, they keep their power, keep their stranglehold on the electorate process.
     Any progress, which David then toots as his idea, comes after years of banging heads. The election by machine, the soon to be - hopefully - switch to electronic voting in the DA - all belong to the opposition and then were co-opted by him with scarcely a glance in the rear view mirror.
     The lies that come out of this massive effort to keep David and Co. in power and position lead to repression, censorship, governmental involvement, intimidation and the list could go on and on. The lies of an "overwhelming" vote - what? 28 votes? After a questionable sign in process? Nope - underwhelming is more like it.
     It is claimed that only two people ran for president in the last two elections. Well, so what? More splits the vote as it did in the Frank, Frank, and David election and David came in as a minority candidate and if the vote had not been split, he would have been gone! In addition, it takes a strong person to withstand the nastiness that pours forth from the Nasties during the campaign. Phyllis was and is such a strong person and as for me - I could care less about their filth except that it is disgusting and shame on them.
     More and more people and entities are enforcing and instating term limits. The outgoing people are often tired and stale, exactly as we have here and are incapable of seeing past their noses lest they lose that which validates them. Power and position. That is their mantra rather than the people, the needs of the electorates and true vision of the needs of the future.
     So under these oh so wonderful years of David rule, we have gained such accomplishments. Let me list a few. Five million lost on the roads. No plan to amass the funds needed to replace them. Two security contracts, one of which was dumped and the second which seems to put us in danger of the backups on Okeechobee and Haverhill! Oh - we did get cameras that we had to pay for out of the first contract - exactly what Ed wanted in the first place! Now we have to get new ID cards AGAIN - and why? Because the wrong machine was bought? Because there is no oversight of these ridiculous harebrained decisions and actions. Because there is no real oversight over WPRF and their use of OUR funds!
     We now have two murals that cost thousands, bus stops with poor pads, dangerous to the weak and frail, constant excuses about it, rank and putrid waterways that appear to be going in one direction only - downhill, and of course we have had the attempted effort to censor our own library and the constant treatment of our residents as either infants incapable of reasoned decisions or as incompetent demented imbeciles who need help to govern their lives and someone to make decisions for them. We have lost parking places in the Clubhouse lot - and for what? For pavers and to employees who now have primo spots, lest they have to walk too far!? We have had a constant battle over the Wi Fi and even more associations are opting out and installing their own but on and on goes David for his wasteful and expensive and unnecessary system at a time when that world changes three times a day and the sensible people wait till it sorts itself out even as we have Wi Fi and Broadband here anyway!
     To vote against this by law amendment is to mortgage the future of this Village. It will continue the system wherein the Treasurer even agrees that the budget is wrong, but what they hey, let's vote for it anyway and the heck with the consequences!
    People, these entrenched individuals need to go away. Their "institutional" memories are not holy, others have them as well, and besides, if they were grownups they would realize that the best UCO is an inclusive one, wherein all are welcome and their opinions and ideas welcomed as well. There is simply no bad side to the decision to return our Village to the way it was and functioned - term limits. They work. They are what is best.
     VOTE TO REINSTATE TERM LIMITS. VOTE FOR THE BY LAW AMENDMENT.
    

RETROFITTING EXPLANATION

    To all Century Village and Associations important issues to consider.

Stewart Richland

Two important issues were discussed at the UCO Executive Board meeting held yesterday that must be addressed by  every Condominium Association here in Century Village.

The first issue deals with the retro fitting of fire sprinkler systems in all condo units. The second issue deals with  infrastructure elements that focuses on the deteriorating condition of concrete walk ways, hand rails and rusted rebar supports.

CHAPTER 718 FLORIDA STATUTES THE CONDOMINIUM ACT

Division of Florida Condominiums, Timeshares, And Mobile Homes Northwood Centre 1940 North Monroe Street Tallahassee, Florida 32399-1030

The information below is found on page 22 of the Florida Business/Professional regulations for Condominiums.

I have taken the liberty to highlight the passages that explain what an Association can do to “op-out” of this very costly retro fitting requirement.  The important issue here is that all Associations must act on this issue prior to the December 31, 2016 deadline date.  Based on the cost to retrofit, it is reasonable to assume that all our Century Village Associations will opt out of this requirement. 

However, what is vital is that each Association follow the opt out instructions outlined below in order to protect their Association from any action that could be taken by the state of Florida.

(l) Certificate of compliance.—A provision that a certificate of compliance from a licensed electrical contractor or electrician may be accepted by the association’s board as evidence of compliance of the condominium units with the applicable fire and life safety code must be included. Notwithstanding chapter 633 or of any other code, statute, ordinance, administrative rule, or regulation, or any interpretation of the foregoing, an association, residential condominium, or unit owner is not obligated to retrofit the common elements, association property, or units of a residential condominium with a fire sprinkler system in a building that has been certified for occupancy by the applicable governmental entity if the unit owners have voted to forego such retrofitting by the affirmative vote of a majority of all voting interests in the affected condominium. The local authority having jurisdiction may not require completion of retrofitting with a fire sprinkler system before January 1, 2020. By December 31, 2016, a residential condominium association that is not in compliance with the requirements for a fire sprinkler system and has not voted to forego retrofitting of such a system must initiate an application for a building permit for the required installation with the local government having jurisdiction demonstrating that the association will become compliant by December 31, 2019. 1. A vote to forego retrofitting may be obtained by limited proxy or by a ballot personally cast at a duly called membership meeting, or by execution of a written consent by the member, and is effective upon recording a certificate attesting to such vote in the public records of the county where the condominium is located. The association shall mail or hand deliver to each unit owner written notice at least 14 days before the membership meeting in which the vote to forego retrofitting of the required fire sprinkler system is to take place. Within 30 days after the association’s opt-out vote, notice of the results of the opt-out vote must be mailed or hand delivered to all unit owners. Evidence of compliance with this notice requirement must be made by affidavit executed by the person providing the notice and filed among the official records of the association. After notice is provided to each owner, a copy must be provided by the current owner to a new owner before closing and by a unit owner to a renter before signing a lease

2. If there has been a previous vote to forego retrofitting, a vote to require retrofitting may be obtained at a special meeting of the unit owners called by a petition of at least 10 percent of the voting interests. Such a vote may only be called once every 3 years. Notice shall be provided as required for any regularly called meeting of the unit owners, and must state the purpose of the meeting. Electronic transmission may not be used to provide notice of a meeting called in whole or in part for this purpose.

3. As part of the information collected annually from condominiums, the division shall require condominium associations to report the membership vote and recording of a certificate under this subsection and, if retrofitting has been undertaken, the per-unit cost of such work. The division shall annually report to the Division of State Fire Marshal of the Department of Financial Services the number of condominiums that have elected to forego retrofitting

4. Notwithstanding s. 553.509, a residential association may not be obligated to, and may forego the retrofitting of, any improvements required by s.553.509(2) upon an affirmative vote of a majority of the voting interests in the affected condominium. (m) Common elements; limited power to convey.—

Please note that there is some confusion over retrofitting buildings that are considered high rise structures.  Use Google to connect with the current fire department regulations for multi-storied buildings.

Every Condo owner must become aware of their environment.  Every unit owner should show due diligence when inspecting their apartments and their outside environment.  When you see something that does not seem right, notify a member of the board so they can act upon it.  The problem arises when an owner sees changes in their surroundings, and ignores it. This is dangerous to the safety to all the residents. Many of the problems are hidden.  Such as cracked and stained concrete could be a result of corroding re-bar and deteriorating concrete. The best advice that can be given to any association is to call in an expert to determine if there is a problem, and if there is one act quickly.

In evaluating concrete problems, one of the important decisions home inspectors must make is determining whether a problem is the result of conditions that have stabilized with a low chance of continuing future problems, or whether the conditions that caused the problem are such that there is a high probability that problems will continue or worsen. The goal of inspection or quality control programs is to ensure that contract documents and building codes are followed.

Some causes of concrete and re-bar issues are:

Steel Corrosion

Corrosion of embedded steel is the most common cause of concrete problems. As steel corrodes, the corrosion product expands, and this expansion can crack concrete and cause sections to break loose in flakes. Steel is typically protected by a thin film that develops as part of a chemical reaction with cement. This coating, called passivity, lowers the rate of corrosion to a point at which it becomes insignificant.  Several conditions can damage the passive coating and dramatically increase the rate at which reinforcement steel corrodes.

Leaching by water.

Since most concrete is porous, CO₂ will be slowly absorbed by the surface and find its way deeper into the concrete.  Also, water will slowly diffuse through it. If steel has inadequate concrete cover, usually 1-1/2 inches minimum, the pH of the concrete encasing the steel may be lowered to the point at which the passive layer is damaged or destroyed and the rate of the steel’s corrosion may increase dramatically.

Pictured below are just some conditions that develop over time and must be addressed.

The issues addressed in this article are important.  Please take them seriously.  Become proactive. 

Direct comments to – phyllisrichland.blogspot.com

RANDOM THOUGHTS, TERM LIMITS AND A STORY THAT WILL BREAK AND HEAL ONE'S HEART

     You could have knocked me over with a feather, but yesterday, at the operations meeting, David Israel and I agreed on the need to not allow censorship in our library. Do not begin to understand his motivations or how he reached this conclusion but I'll take it. Perhaps he realized how crowded the room was, heard the tenor of the audience and heard the man from ACLU and saw the direction of the tide, but whatever - a victory!!
     But there is another vote immediately on the heels of this issue and that is term limits. Country after country and political entity one after the other, have come to the conclusion that term limits is the best way to go for political arenas. It keeps the people fresh, prevents the buildup of shady ties, prevents the forgetting of WHY one is in office, backs merit over seniority and that was a hard battle when it took place for people do not like to give up power. Term limits promotes altruism and idealism rather than the tired old political machine and machinations.
     It allows for new generations to come to office and in no way does it disallow the outgoing from participating in other ways and even for running for other offices or the same office after a break. Term unlimited people get tired, tired of fresh thoughts, tired of thinking of innovation, of thinking outside the box and become concerned with cementing their power, with  gathering allies around them, with insuring that they have the yesmen they need to continue in their offices.
     It does not matter how many times an idea is brought up - for there should be no censoring and even though Wi Fi should be buried already, there is a right to bring it up. Remember the censorship issue from yesterday, David. Same thing, a brother from another mother one might say. The plans to disallow return issues is taking place in the new bylaws being written so secretly that no one is privy to them outside of the golden circle of David Israel and allies - the Nasties.
     Personally, I wish we could all grow up and leave this stupidity of malcontents and nasty personal comments but with people such as they have that are encouraged to leave denigrating remarks, the same stupid people, then we have no choice but to oppose in kind. What a waste!!
     Delegates, bring back term limits, bring fresh air to the Village, fresh ideas, not the rerunning of the same old same old while nothing gets done in a positive manner for the Village and old mistakes are simply repeated again and again. Check on the beloved Internet of David and you will see the tide of pro term limits and stop this nonsense of "you can always vote them out." It is a proven fact that incumbency weighs heavily on the uncertain voter, the negligent voter, and the could care less voter who whines but does not move to vote. Go check out Jon Carter and see his reasoning for term limits.
     But in any case, I came across a story, a true happening, that will bring warmth to the heart even as one cries for those who never met, who died unknowing who survived, who died of the venomous hatred that exists in this world and that has raised its ugly snouted face again. Read.

     Miracle on Dan Bus #4
It was a very hot day in July 1951. I was in Tel Aviv and too hot to walk. I boarded Dan bus #4 on the corner of Ben Yehuda and Gordon streets.

    

The bus was very crowded and there was no available seat. I had to stand next to a Yemenite woman holding a live chicken under her apron.

People were chatting, discussing with fervor the day’s news, each one offering a personal description of the political situation, everyone with a different opinion. As is common in Israel, every person holds himself to be the authentic source of “inside” information. This one said “I have a cousin in the police force and he told me……..” Another replied, “that doesn’t make any sense. My neighbor’s son is in the army and he was telling us……” And from the rear of the bus, a passenger shouted “who cares? Nothing will change soon”.

   At each bus stop some passengers alighted and new passengers boarded. Now there were a few empty seats and I grabbed one in the middle of the bus.

   As we approached another bus stop (I can’t remember which corner), three or four new passengers boarded. One elderly lady stepped up to the coin box next to the driver and deposited a few coins.

   Suddenly, looking at the bus driver she gave a loud shriek. “Moishele, Moishele, Moishele mein kind.”

The driver jammed on the brakes, looked at the elderly woman and cried, “Mama, Mama, is it you Mama?”

    

   Both were Holocaust survivors from Poland and each one thought the other one was dead.

    Jumping up from his seat, the driver embraced his long-lost and presumed dead mother and both hugged and hugged and both wept bitter tears of joy.

    All the passengers clapped hands. Several were weeping from the joy of seeing mother and son re-united. One passenger jumped off the bus and hailed the next approaching bus. He shared the news with the new driver and requested him to notify the Dan bus company to send a relief driver.

    None of us left the bus. A relief driver appeared about half-hour later. Passengers sitting in the row behind the driver got up and gave the seats to the mother and son, still clutching one another and weeping with heart-wrenching sobs.

   At some point, our original driver and his mother left the bus while all of us clapped hands and the Yiddish-speaking passengers shouted “Mazal tov. Mazal tov. Tzu gezunt. A sach nachas”.

I never knew where they were going. Probably to the driver’s home so his mother could meet his wife and her new grandchild.

   

  

All of us were so filled with emotion that it was difficult to contain ourselves. There was not a dry eye among our passengers.

It was a hot July day in 1951. But I will never forget the miracle on Dan bus #4 on that very happy day.

     Read and then think all day on what is truly important and the stupid games we still continue to play. Think about why the hate is still here, why England's Labour Party indulges in blatant anti Semitism such as the claim that Israel is ISIS, that we really did bring down the Towers in 9/11, that we poison the world with our very presence. Enough!

G-D AND CENSORSHIP IN THE VILLAGE

     Awesome topic. Awesome Being. But before we get into this, two reminders.
1. Today at 10 AM at UCO, Operations meeting - be there to prevent the censoring of our library.
2. Friday, April 1 Delegate Assembly. Vote to reinstall term limits as we had until David squeaked in his plans after three attempts and taking advantage of the summer lack of delegates to oppose him.
     Now to the topic and the segue back to points 1 and 2.
     G-d, the Being or beings, singular or part of a pantheon - and Marvel and DC are certainly thankful for that! Which is it - but even more important - does it really matter? Are not these meta humans or human like gods or Supreme Beings all part and parcel of mankind's attempts to understand his world and explain that which he cannot explain or provide comfort in a harsh world that there is a better world to come?
     For years I, myself, often wondered about these questions. I am a Jew, proudly so, an Orthodox one who observes much of the commandments but am certainly far from perfect, but I am comfortable with myself and my beliefs. That has come around after years of questions and thinking, self discussions and discussions with others - and the attempt to understand religion actually never stops in that, as one who asks questions, who attempts to understand that which is often unable to be understood, I am in good company. The writings and the oral history of the world are rife with people who wrote of religion, of questions, who put forth new thinking. Martin Luther, though a vehement anti Semite, hater of Jews, did advance the idea that people need to be able to read the Bible for themselves, not only thru priests, that the language of a country can be used to "talk" with G-d, not only Latin and other world changing ideas.
     But even as mankind advanced thru discussion, religion also provided an excuse for some of the most horrific periods of history for mankind. Trillions were and are still being slaughtered in the name of religion. G-d is invoked as being on one's side as opposed to the other. From the bowels of flame in Moloch and Baal to the flaming Pele to the gods of the harvest who needed their sacrifice to the more gentle gods of latter day humanity and back again - there has never been a moment when religion has not been part and parcel of man, his development, his cross to bear and his diamond to value.
     It has been said that more harm and evil has been done in the name of G-d, any god, so much so, that if this is what the forces of good are doing and have done, then what in the name of all that's holy is left for the Devil. Or are we, people, humanity, actually the devils of others. Have we all looked into that legendary abyss for too long and have we had that abyss sow its evil roots within us?
     So if religion is all this bad, then why persist in keeping it around? Well, as people, we need a G-d, a Being, a supreme Power, to look towards for succor, for explanation, for help, even in the most evil of moments. There is the story of a young woman on line waiting for death to arrive at a concentration camp. In her arms is her newborn son. She asks a soldier, a guard, for a knife, and he, perhaps amused by the request, gives it to her, for after all the day is long and dreary and perhaps she will attempt to kill others or even herself, cheating the Nazis of another blood victim? Who knows. So he gives her the knife and the guards watch. She drops the blanket around her baby and gives him a circumcision, the brit milah that is the sign of the Covenant between G-d and His People. As she finishes, before the astounded guards can take action, she cries to the heavens in eternal victory.
     Even in the darkest of moments there is light. Those of us who are blessed with diamonds revel in their shared light. I adore my little one, as I adore his cousins and siblings, as he asks for yet another pet, this city boy who loves G-d's creatures. So I have turned down a horse, a snake, a peregrine falcon and now we have been asked for a roadrunner, along with a sigh that if he has to, he will accept figures of the animals rather than the real thing but along with a warning that when he grows up..... Here is the light of a diamond - along with the worry that comes with it.
     And we must look for more diamonds in the world to overcome the myriad blankets of darkness that often cover us. Where? Within ourselves? With the help of others? With research and thought and reading - the freedom to always be on a quest for greater understanding and hopefully a better world.
     That quest is our right and no one, absolutely no one, should be taking that away from us. It was an absolute privilege to meet the Dalai Lama and have a conversation with him and the other administrators of our school as to how to inculcate the values of history and heritage in children in exile. The man was gentle, intellectual and curious and pained for the future of his people in Tibet and in exile in India. Should he have been censored as the Chinese wish to do? Should he have been banned? I think not - and neither do I think we need protection from so called 'religious" literature in our library. We staff it, we run it, we shelve the books and have done so forever and yet never have I seen any volunteer or patron of the library break out into religious fervor and trance as a result of reading somethin there. So what if a Jehovah's Witness leaves a tract. Maybe I, or someone else is curious. Non desired material can always be culled as the volunteers do all the time as they refresh the shelves. What is the big deal here other than trying to impose more restrictions on us - as if we are morons or way beyond our skill sets. And by the way, so what if someone wants to convert or return to a former religion? Last time I checked there was an amendment that promised freedom of religion so it is not illegal!
     Enough of the repression within the Village and let us take care of that today in the meeting. BE THERE. SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF.
     And while we are at it, let us rid ourselves of the tyranny of those who would be in office and power forever, no term limits. Cornish dreads the loss of her power and watch her resign should we regain term limits. She has done that already. Nothing like sulking! Watch David Israel trip over his own words as he denigrates the delegates as they are "unelected" and thus should have no say over the Village and UCO. Really? Are to buy into their pathetic story that ONLY they know what is best for us? I gave that up when I was three! These are supposed to be the true representatives of the residents of the Village, not the pathetic sellers of their souls who are presently in office and while on the topic of non elected people making decisions - ahem, and what was ED Black doing for all those lo so many years. Hypocrisy. Shortchanging the people. And stop with the "landslide" victory. There were only 28 votes between Phyllis and David Israel and what with all those "disqualified" or having to leave due to the long wait and no chairs - who knows who should really have even been elected and we certainly know who would be the better president, not the selfish hidey hole one sitting in his lair in the back of the building. Term limits we always have had and term limits we certainly need to bring back. Liberty, equality and freedom - they still ring true. Tell your delegates to vote for term limits and if they refuse - fire them and appoint one who will.
     Be brave. Be righteous. Turn these people out at the end of their term. No one is throwing them out now, though recall is the best step for David Israel and all the rest actually, who always have "nothing to say" when asked to report. Just what the hell do they do all day other than to pat themselves on the back, act as the Nasties as they plot to keep themselves in office so what.., so they can nosh all they want on our pocket? So they can say they are officers and love themselves for nobody else will? Or get proposals of marriage (Gyich!) or write nasty comments and attack others in a personal way rather than address the issues? C'mon - time to take out the trash, reline the can and get on with the complicated doings that will save our Village and stem the outgoing tide of the decent and the worried, of the disgusted and the despairing of our future unless there is a major change. Do we really need to get more and more renters?
    BE there or accept your responsibility and role in the destruction of our home. NO CENSORHSIP UNLESS IT IS HATE LITERATURE AND CALLING FOR BLOOD.  REINSTALL TERM LIMITS AS THEY ALWAYS WERE AND BRING BACK THE HOPES OF A BRIGHTER FUTURE.
     G-d is the one and only and not the people of the present UCO. Keep the good and out with the bad.

AND THE NASTIES ARE AT IT AGAIN

     Once again we have the Nasties going at it again, sending comments that reek of foulness, anti Semitism and rife with threats to take away not only our rights, on which they have already done a bang up job, but also one's physical freedom. To take a cue from one's language they so carelessly throw around  - bitchy people are they not! Go back to your bromance and perhaps there you will find some happiness.
     In any case, let's take a look at what the future holds or portends since a more ominous word fits the forecast better. David Israel wishes to "revisit" the whole Wi Fi and Broadband issue as he states in his column. Why is the most likely response. Village wide Wi Fi was voted down quite strongly, funds for it were denied by acclamation by the DA and the truth of the matter is - WE HAVE WI FI AND BROADBAND ALREADY. It is all here in the Village - residents' choice to use or not, to install in a unit or go via the association route which has been working just fine, no issues and a hell of a lot cheaper than David Israel's plan. Wonder why he is so hot to trot on this issue? Is it perhaps because he is failing so abysmally on all the other issues? But more on that later.
     Back to Wi Fi. Does anyone realize out there that the old saw of the bigger they are the harder the fall is so true? Well, think if we had a system that locked all of us into one choice, one provider and most probably at a ruinous cost and then that system was hacked, dreadfully so. The sites are down, our cloud is destroyed, our info hacked, our security defenses destroyed and why - because we would have become a sweet and juicy target for some jerko out there who delights in doing this and who makes a living from it. And why? Because now we would be a whole juicy plum rather than skimpy little pieces which one by one would require too much work and too little payback for all that effort. And then, along comes Jones - no, oops, David Israel and his crew of Nasties and bingo! down we all go. And all for a useless campaign which simply brings to mind a question - why is he hot to trot here? What does he get out of it? More info for him? More ways to break into the personal files of the residents? More threats to make? What, is the question. So vote this down again . It is dangerous, wasteful, unnecessary and expensive and we all have enough expenses to take care of already and by the way - not a word in his column about the decrepit and crumbling roads. Huh!!!
     He talks as if there was lots of time for the Millennium prep. Well, guess again. Levy's lawyers, as usual, are way up on this already and who do we have as a lawyer? Only the Shadow knows for it is certainly not out there! We are supposedly working on new documents, new bylaws - so where are the products of these efforts? Why has the Chair of the now defunct Advisory Committee been thrown under the bus? Where are the products of the hours of the work she put into it? Could it be that she is now in disfavor with the King of the Nasties and thus the wheels of the bus that go round and round are doing that to her?!
     And again - where is that elephant in the room - the roads and their financing? Or are we truly planning to go all Acreage in our CV, unpaved roads and all, but remember - those roads out there are maintained impeccably - unlike ours! So again, even our Treasurer who wimps out at the thought of denying David his piece of cake, even he says that we are short and will be paying the price for it in the next budgets. Either that or we each take a bucket and a trowel and become repavers! A DIY project.
     And of course - where is the huge project of the waters of the Village. Shall we take a tour of the waterways within our home, smell the lovely odors and the ugly sight of mats of green, of dead water? And no, I am tired of hearing how the main lake is soooo much better - truly, does anyone see some blue water here and truly again, we all do not live around the main lake so could we get on with this project - another expensive undertaking.
     And what about the issues of buying the Clubhouse and stop the massive leaking of our funds into Levy's pocket. Why not set up something on that - or is someone already in someone's pocket? Just askin', just askin'.
     Not done yet, folks. There is another elephant in the room. For years now we have stood static, stagnant under the administration of David Israel and his selfish and unrealistic and unnecessary plans. We have wasted millions of dollars, concentrated on nonsense and have gone backwards. The truth is out there - even Muldar and Fox know that! - but we have allowed the truth to get farther and farther away. We have allowed the inmates to run the asylum, much to our detriment.
     So what is the elephant? The question of term limits. For years, since the inception of UCO we have had term limits, etched into our bylaws and documents and for the most part it worked. Unnecessary or incompetents or selfish UCO people were ousted within a reasonable amount of time but then along came a power hungry and lonely and bitter old man who had nothing and no one else in his life and who loves to sit in his lair and play with his computer and G-d knows what else, all the while as his cohorts keep on truckin' and taking down our home. TERM LIMITS MUST BE REINSTALLED. THEY MUST BE VOTED TO BE PUT BACK IN PLACE. DO NOT FALL FOR THE LIES OF THE MAN. OUR FUTURE IS AT STAKE.
     For another quick glimpse at the character of this man and why he and his have to go, just look at "his" column on retrofitting. This man who has his column ghostwritten, this man who cannot string two sentences together in either speaking or writing, this man has suddenly become able to write an entire column complete with all legal niceties, with the boilerplate of legalese, with all the signs that go along with it? I think not and he knows not so what he does is COPY an article about the retrofitting and then put his name over it. For shame!!! For shame!!! Just give the boilerplate and then explain it in English for those who need the explanation. But perhaps David Israel is having trouble understanding it and thus just puts his name to it. Plagiarism is a crime, by the way. Just a piece of info you might find interesting.
     Hark! Do ye not hear and see? There goes that weasel like  hare, hopping away with the lettuce from the garden, with the fruits of our labor - but hark again- there, on the wind, arf arf arf arf arf arf.....
   
     And oh, by the way, if you have a problem with this, you know who - tough!!! And no one is interested in your filthy mouth either. If you need to abuse women with vulgar statements - go find your sister or your mother or your wife or even your daughter. Maybe they can tolerate you but I find myself thinking of garbage dumps when your name comes up. That and the nausea of disgust that you induce. Shoo! Scram! Go back to the dirty alleys where you belong.

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IT'S MAY, IT'S MAY.....NO? STILL APRIL.....OOOHHHH....

      Please excuse my error; it is just that the air was filled with so much love that I made an understandable error. What, you ask? Well, here we had Grace professing her deep love of David and practically begging for him to propose to her and then we had the ode to Don as CAM (Is he, really? Has he passed the test? Do we have the CAM as needed by law for contract negotiations? What's the deal here?) This appears to be the biggest example of bromance we have had here in CV other than David and Ed. Why it rivals that of Danny and McGarret on Hawaii 5-0 or that of the NCIS various pairs! Seriously, can we tone down the love of self and the love of others that appears to spill over into the meetings of committees until it turns into a total lovefest! Can we get real and serious here? You do know what they say about self-praise, do you not?
     So, what is going on here lately? Well, it seems that two people have been appointed to round out the Exec. Bd. to 20. Gee, I wonder who the two are who have been removed? Another David special act? Uh huh! So on the Board go Toni Salometo, a good person and Ruth Dreiss, another yes person for David. The whole thing is just a joke already and that brings to mind an ongoing issue that appears will never be resolved until David can say that I am gone. Well, tough.
     Here is the issue. For years already there has been a problem with the bus stop outside Andover E. Three Andovers use this bus stop as well as Wellington E. Is the picture growing clearer? Let me help it along. Here are the names of those who have been contacted in the effort to get a pad installed under the bench so as to give it a balance, an evenness that will allow the weak ankles, legs and dizzy heads with poor balance, to actually reach the bench in safety and sit down while awaiting the bus. At present, after YEARS of requests, what we have was a dumping of rocks to fill up the deep depression between the roadbed and the bench. Well, dumb as that was as rocks are not particularly steady and firm items for the elderly who used the stop, these rocks began to move and disappear and guess what? We now have the same situation as before and it has been like this for years already.
     Lori Torres, Ed Black, Dom Guarnagia, Fausto Fabbro, Barbara Cornish, Don Foster - all have been contacted and even seen the bus stop in question and guess what? A big nothing!!! And why? Very simple. This bus stop is across the street from my building and thus it will never get fixed in some petty attempt to punish me and all those who live near me and would make use of the stop. So therefore, let us sing another song. "Who's afraid of a big bad suit, a big bad suit, a big bad suit....." for surely when one person is finally tired of standing and waiting, that person will attempt to maneuver closer to the bench and BAM!!!!! Major injuries and major suit for UCO in  general and for individuals in particular. Can we not grow up here for at least five minutes and pave this area already? I don't even use the buses so stop the stupidity and fix the stop for those who do use it. Hey, have a big opening day party for it! I do not care - but fix the damn thing already before it is too late. Hey, David, I will even write of this on the world wide web and who knows? perhaps even more than 200 million will read about it!!
     I read quite a bit this week and weekend as I am dealing with a bad back and feet who have decided to remind me of wear and tear and its meaning, but at least I learned a few things. One particular item I liked was the following. The past is never behind us; in fact, it is always with us, and that I have believed and stated many a time but there is more. A character stated this: "Life's three great labors are to see what you've done, face the consequences and adjust but......people will not look their acts straight in the eye. They will not accept what they have coming and they will not change direction."
     Have truer words ever been written, words that more completely describe the situation here in UCO? I think not. There is a culture within our UCO that refuses to accept responsibility for its actions and the consequences of it, the damage that ensues from these actions and these willful inabilities to look within and without and see what they have wrought.
     Take the most recent Officers meeting and quite sparsely attended as people are filled with despair at the situation. See the self congratulatory notes they speak to each other and about themselves. It is such a sickening love fest. And then of course we have Joy Vestal that so not a journalist who wears the hats of VP and Editor of our own Rag. She is so proud that the paper this month will have 68 pages and what followed that fact - "the ads just keep coming in!" YES, that is what she takes pride in. Not the journalistic ventures or the sharing positions it might take, the investigative pieces it should have, the vibrant exchange of ideas it should have - nope, none of that - only the fact that it is now a bigger Pennysaver than ever!! The depths to which this paper has fallen, actually been dragged down to via this woman's efforts and that of her sheepdog follower, Myron Silverman, and all those 2 or 3 people she allows to write articles for this joke of a paper, exciting articles like Lanny's trips, or a revolving shopping column that might actually be interesting if it were not for the fact that there is no serious news to counteract or counterbalance it.
     So what to do, folks? Well, here is an old Hindu saying which I also came across this weekend. The animals named within the saying are not important, and I copy the original translation, but what is important for both sides here, for all people to understand and internalize, is that there will be only one end to this division, this battle so to speak. The saying goes: "Many dogs will kill a hare, no matter how many turns it takes." We, of the opposition are many and will take as many turns as we need to in order to topple the Imperial Dictator for Life and His Imperial Underlings.

arf. Arf. arf ARF arf ARF arf ARF arf ARF arf ARF!!!!!
    

WHAT TO SAY

     Someone asked me why I wrote an article targeting some issues with UCO and David Israel's plans. Why am I doing this again, they asked. Well, sorry to bust someone's bubble, but I have not stopped, only put out a hand in a proposed cooperative working situation and gave him and his allies time to think and do what is right. Instead, they persisted and so we had an attempt to withhold information or to overcome opposition by various methods. So now we do have an Executive Board but what is this with yesterday's meeting of Officers where a discussion of new appointees to the Board was discussed. Who are they? Most probably more suckups to David, all the better to overwhelm the numbers of the opponents who made it to the Board. All the better to stop any progress in any way. Told you - the only way to get rid of this man is to get rid of him. Recall. Recall. Recall. And yes, I know it takes time but what else do we have but time.
     How is there any way to work with someone who persists in eliminating possibilities of opposition or thought. No Advisory or secret unannounced meetings of it, all the better to keep all in the dark. More Broadband meetings despite the fact that this was all voted on already, but evidently in this case David Israel likes revoting, though not on term limits as they are now where he wants them. Very picky is our esteemed president.
     And of course we have the voices of the besotted. Grace maintains that she "loves" HER David and would marry him should he propose. Well, there ya go, David. A chance for love in the winter of your lives. Gyich!!! But I guess love is in the eye and heart of the beholder so hey, Gracie, go for it.
     Then of course we have our censorship issue. WE are told in an article in the CV Messenger that it is really only a partial censorship and good for us for us tender little old people evidently cannot distinguish between propaganda literature and the real discussion stuff. By the way, who makes those decisions as to what falls into what category. Personally, I find that whole thing offensive. I do not need someone "protecting" me and can decide on what I read and value or do not. Thank you, but no thank you. And besides - Jeremiah! The prophet? That is conversion literature? Really? Here he has a big book of his deeds and adventures and speeches or prophecies and this is called conversion literature? C'mon. And if it is a discussion of Jeremiah so what? My Lord, he is so filled with doom and gloom and warnings that such a person is now called a Jeremiah. Not tempting at all.No one here is going to fall for every piece of literature or scams of every and all sorts and if we do, so do many people out there and it is our right to read what we wish unless it proposed murder, mayhem and blood hatred and acting upon that hatred. So thank you but no thank you. Let it all hang out and at nite - throw the pamphlets out and do not shelve. Will that do?
     I have already discussed the motivations of our nefarious administrators. Needless to say, they are not appetizing. Neither are those who stand by on the side and do nothing and then ask why someone does not do something. Well, many people are trying but we need all the help we can get in this uphill and slanted battle. Look around the world and see where dictators have taken us. Look at our own country and see how it has gone insane. Two candidates are arguing about their wives rather than the issues. People are calling on religious reasons why one has to or cannot support someone and religion has no place here at all. We need to vote on issues, on bread and butter, on rights, on forward movement, on intelligence, on reality checks. That goes for here as well. Lord help us all for the world certainly needs all the help it can get.
     Is it not time for the world to realize that the fighting between Catholics and Protestants in Ireland and environs needs to stop, not just go sotto voce and underground? Is it not time for Russia to realize that the dreams of a Russian Empire have died long ago with the death of the Tsar and was reinterred with the death of the Soviet Union? Is it not time to let countries decide for themselves what they want and to allow for their independence, not for bigger countries to come along and chew off small pieces of them for whatever reason? Is it not time to recognize terror for what it is and stop feeling so queasy about statements that might be interpreted as Islamophobia? I admit it, I am scared of the Moslems. I see no real sign or movement amongst them to combat those who use terror and murder and who come from their midst. I am afraid of people who raise their children to die and take others with them and if there are those amongst them who disagree - well, come out of the woodwork and speak up. Is it not time for the world to back the Dalai Lama and stop allowing China to oppress these people, rule Nepal and Tibet? Is it not time for all good people to speak up and be brave about it? And do not forget our own misbegotten administration, one that needs a full house cleaning and a return to sanity and morality and honesty and truthfulness and transparency....and need I go on. What a world, huh?
    Oh, by the way, Gracie. You think I do not know that G-d is watching me? I am indeed sure of it and happy about that. G-d and I have a simpatico relationship so not to worry. Perhaps you might want to look into your own relationship and what it means to be a good person, a thinking person, a rational person. You want help with that - just call.

WHAT'S GOIN' ON, WHAT'S GOIN' ON?

     Thus did Marvin Gaye sing in his song and thus do I ask now. Count your stars that I am not singing! But just what is going on here in the Village? I hate being the Cassandra of bad news but there it is, the facts are in front of us and they cannot be denied. All that I have warned about is coming true and yet nothing is happening. Are the residents of CV so careless, so apathetic, so unconcerned as they are now beginning to leave for another year so who cares? Do they think things will get better by the time they return? Or are they satisfied to give up their rights, their liberties, any say in the government of this Village? Would they do the same thing in their northern residences and their respective countries?
     Follow the trail that has been the path of David Israel and his accomplices, the gang of nasties.
     1. Appoints a non elected official to multiple positions that need to be split amongst a variety of volunteers.
     2. The officers of UCO begin to take on multiple hats (black hats at that!) thus limiting once again the division and sharing of labor.
     3. People who disagree with David are thrown under the bus and fired from volunteer roles and positions. An ongoing process.
     4. The newspaper begins its descent into The Rag with the limiting of viewpoints being printed and the nastiness expressed by the editors in their slanted editorials.
     5. The paper truly loses its soul with the stated position that certain people will NEVER be allowed to write for the paper.
     6. The paper becomes a propaganda rag for David Israel and then takes a further step into journalism hell when it becomes a pennysaver.
     7. UCO cries out for volunteers and then wonders why no one shows up, thus initiating the recycling of zombies, the use of the same people on various committees, the many hats syndrome.
     8. Even as freedom of the press has been denied, other rights have begun to disappear within the Village - freedom of assembly, freedom of speech, all in a desperate last ditch effort to stay in power.
     9. A purported improvement is made as to the election process but there are still many, many questions: A. Why was the count done by hand?
                 B. Why was Ed Black, a nefarious character at best, and a candidate, running back and forth to the voting and counting room?
                C. Why was David et al planning their victory dinner, running up like people run amok, even as the count was still going on - and the results were close. What did they know about the process?
               D. Why did the lines remain so long and without provision for people to sit rather than stand for so long? This necessitated many people to leave for their own sakes.
              E. Why were so many people sent away as Pat Sealander claims they were not on her list even as she admitted knowing their names and then just said, "Oh, well, it doesn't really matter." HUH!!!
      10. In fact, why were any UCO personnel involved in the process when it was supposed to be impartial and clean. So much for that. GIGO , huh, David?
       11. Why during the election campaign time were government forces called in to stifle competition? Does David think he is a whistleblower? Far from it. Far indeed.
      12. Why is the administration of UCO now crying over the lack of volunteers and yet not accepting applications or having them destroyed and ignored as ALL goes thru David - not the chairs. They ADMIT that David controls all.
         ALL HAIL CEASAR!! 
     13. Why has there been a resignation of David Forness from the bids committee where he did a great job and the current appointment of Dom as chair. Dom is a nice guy, even well informed in matters of infrastructure though he should always be eager for advice from other knowledgeable residents - but he is already a chair so once again - multiple hats.
     14. Why are we having the same committee membership lists again - all the officers and the one or two people that can be found to act as "beards" for UCO? And indeed, why are these officers voting again and again on the same issue. Are they privileged aristocrats who deserve the right to fun it all?
     15. What is even more threatening is check the list of meetings for April.
       Where is the Advisory Committee?
       Where is the Executive Board meeting?
       Where are the bylaws that were worked on by Gorodetzer and why has she been thrown under the bus?
     WHO IS DAVID ISRAEL TO CANCEL A MOST IMPORTANT PART OF UCO GOVERNMENT OR ADMINISTRATION?
     As predicted, he is consolidating the reins of power within his hot and greedy little hands - all the better to eat us up and spit us out. No Exec. Bd. meeting - and though it has mostly been a sad joke over the past few years as they follow David's instructions to the last dot, it is still an integral part of UCO and he has NO RIGHT to arbitrarily cancel it out.
     16. Why are we having to fight against censorship of OUR library? Does anyone not truly hear the bells - and it is tolling for us.
     People, wake up. See what is happening around and about you?
     TUESDAY MARCH 29 AT 10 AM AT UCO.
COME FIGHT FOR YOUR RIGHTS.

REMEMBER THE BATTLES OF YOUR YOUTH AND FIGHT THEM AGAIN.

REMEMBER WHAT YOU FOUGHT FOR IN TIMES OF WAR BE IT WWII, KOREA OR VIETNAM. FIGHT FOR THESE RIGHTS.

THINK SERIOUSLY OF  RECALL.
  
    
   

TAKING STOCK

     Lest one think that I spend too much time on the topic of world terrorism in general and that of "knife intifadas" in Israel and the stalking of Jews and Israelis outside their country, let us take a trip around the world, just a bit of a journey so that one can understand the importance of it.
     "The rapid growth of anti-Semitic acts on college and university campuses across America has created a toxic and unwelcoming climate for far too many students of all religions and viewpoints. Far too many Jewish students say that they no longer feel that they can wear their symbols of their religion, ....."
      This was written by a young Christian woman, a student at one of the many campuses of the University of California where an important vote is to be taken today on the "Principles of Intolerance", including the "Contextual Statement". The nastiness, the battery acid effect of the new growth of anti Semitism, or rather the uncovering of it from the hidey holes where it has festered lo these many a years, including right here in our own  country, must be combated. The Pope said,  “To attack Jews is anti-Semitism, but an outright attack on the State of Israel is also anti-Semitism.” The Pope has also said that “anyone who does not recognize the Jewish people and the State of Israel — and their right to exist — is guilty of anti-Semitism.”

     Our own President said yesterday "…and we stand in solidarity with them in condemning these outrageous attacks against innocent people.....
This is yet another reminder that the world must unite," Obama said. "We must be together regardless of nationality or race or faith in fighting against the scourge of terrorism."
     And yet, these people do not even hear the sounds of their own voices. Obama refuses to include Israel and Jews within his statement's understanding. Riyad Maliki , the Foreign Minister of the PA said openly yesterday that the violence and terrorism that is growing rampant within Europe, within Turkey, all over the world is NOT the same as the terrorism that has since September killed 34 people, horrifically killed them, and wounded hundreds of others. Why? Where is the difference? Is there any justification of terrorism, of knives, guns, bombs aimed at civilians or even at soldiers and police who are merely patrolling the streets to maintain the peace and avoid exactly what just happened  in Brussels, in Paris, in Kenya, in Turkey - and in Israel. Is it different because in one case it is mainly Jewish blood that is being spilled and in the other case it is more blood of others? Jewish blood is cheap? Is that we are being told? Need I revive Shylock's speech in "Merchant of Venice" wherein he posits the heartbreaking speech wherein the humanity of the Jews should not be questioned?
     Nor need we have pointed out the fact that there are voices such as Jewish Voices for Peace who are willing to sell their souls and sell out their people for what? I cannot figure them out, but remember, there were people in the Holocaust who sold their souls too for survival for another day, for the lives of their families, so perhaps these dangerously foolish people think they are saving their own lives. Foolish and dangerous and useless.
     I wonder where the sense of it all is? I wonder why I can have good and trusted friends who are not necessarily Jewish and it makes no never mind. It should not make a difference in the world in the 21st century, but it does, much to our detriment, for remember, one hatred leads to another and one cannot begin to distinguish between an "allowed" hatred and one that is not. There is no such thing.
     But we even have the supposed leaders of the world who scream out words of hate, threats to the existential being of people. That crazy guy in North Korea, not satisfied with starving and killing his own people, even his own family members, in a berserk campaign to keep his power, now threatens that he is going to wipe out South Korea and the USA. The supposed "moderates", G-d help us, of Iran, still shout and foam at the mouth with threats to Israel, to wipe it off the map and blatantly violate the terms of the ridiculous treaty and we, we stand here and do nothing.
     And lest you think you can stand aside, it does not affect you, it does. My friend's son, a brilliant boy, is working as a professor at a well known university. He has already published a book, been sent on research assignments and yet, he is warned to keep his kippah off his head, play down his Jewishness until he receives that tenure track appointment that he is up for. Here in America! Here in our own country, so do not think that it is gone and for that matter, the nasties have pulled it off here as well. I have received numerous remarks from them - all saved in print - commenting on my Jewishness and trust me, not in a pretty way.
     So we need to take stock. Are there bad people in every group? Yes. Are there good people in every group? Not so sure on that, but at least in Israel they know to punish their own, the Hilltop youth who are just as off the path as the young Palestinians who stab and maim, but these kids are punished and are the exception rather than the rule and their misdeeds can be counted on the fingers of one's hands, rather than in the hundreds.
     What we need is a generation of leaders who will actually talk with and not at each other. We need leaders who will understand that there has to be an end to this violence. We need new leaders who know how to stand firm, its importance and how and why we need to go after these world terrorists for that is what they are. Yesterday Paris, today Brussels, tomorrow the world and always Israel, for these attacks, these perpetrators of terror and death are one and the same no matter what name they give themselves. Where is the difference, the daylight, between ISIS and Al Qaeda? Where is the difference between Nusra and Daesh? There is none and once the world recognizes that, once they band and bond together in a united no holds barred organized resistance to these terrorists of mankind, once that happens then perhaps we can look forward to a better future. Perhaps.
     In the meanwhile, we here have to do what we can to further improve our own small world. We need to think carefully for the national elections. We need to fight the nasties for they belong amongst those who would take away your freedoms and your rights. It started with the censorship of the paper, of its removal from access by opponents. It continued with repression of the right to free speech and assembly. It continues with the exclusion of people from the society of UCO, of the administration of the Village, calling these people names so as to dehumanize them, allowing their fellow nasties, even encouraging them, to spew forth hurtful lies and garbage. It continues with the removal of rules that would protect the Village by insisting on term limits, from preventing a Dictator for Life, the end goal of David Israel and company. So here we stand
(thank you, Elsa) for terrorism takes many shapes and remember  "…actions like harassment, conspiracy, intimidation, and mob incitement that results (in) acts of violence and intimidation are not protected by free speech and are violations of law." No matter who initiates it! No matter where! It is all part and parcel of the same disgusting movement and remember - censorship of books ends with censoring of people.
     Come to UCO on Tuesday, March 29, at 10 AM and help stamp out terrorism here. Stamp out the repression of rights here in the Village. Stand up and be counted.
    

OF APOLOGIES AND TRUTHS

     So, nasties, guess I owe you an apology. I carelessly disregarded your antipathy to religion when I used the word baptize when I referred to your new name. Oops. Egads - oops, that comes from Oh G-d - so, Geez...oops again since that is a slurring and slang version of the name of Jesus. Well, then how about Heavens! Oops again. Seems that there is very little free from a religious connection, even when it sounds innocent. Nefarious, huh? Must be a plot. Maybe the malcontents invented religion and that is why you are planning on censoring it? Do you not see how foolish and wrong you are?
     Anyway, I woke up with a desire to read some serious stuff today, to think about things so I figured I would run to a library for some ideas. Thoughts of Thomas More or St. Augustine. Thoughts of the 95 Theses of Martin Luther. Thoughts of Sir Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, knighted by the Queen and the former Chief Rabbi of England - but all these thoughts were obviously incorrect since they all had connections to religion. So...."I Am Jewish" the book inspired by Daniel Pearl's last words before he was slaughtered because he was a Jew - too much religion there too? The point is made, there is little in this world that has naught to do with religion either in meaning, or source, or portent for the future or choose your category. So....if you cannot deal with that fact then perhaps it would be better if you kept your pathologies to yourself and your mouths closed so as to avoid the harm you cause to befall others. And forget any apologies.
     Now to the real and rather more important topics to discuss. It is presidential election time again and once more the politicians open their mouths and spew forth what they think the audience wants and perhaps needs to hear. And as all the candidates spoke to AIPAC, other than Sanders who was too busy campaigning, he said, but who made sure to tell and assure people he was a friend to Israel but also a friend to the Palestinians - in other words, as wishy - washy and unrealistic as he has been this whole campaign.
     So Clinton gives a whole speech vowing to do the right thing for Israel. There will never be a wedge between our two countries. A peace treaty can never be imposed from outside and a top. She will invite Netanyahu to the White House. She took Trump to the woodshed for a bit of a spanking on his words about Israel. Trump had somebody finally write a speech that was crisp and clear but who can trust this man as he is a loose cannon and wobbles with his mood. Cruz vowed to support Israel and I believe he means it, closed with Am Yisrael Chai - the people of Israel live (forever) but what about his other policies? They scare me. And I remember Obama coming here to the Village and speaking quite well, hitting all the high points, vowing to support Israel, to keep Jerusalem as its undivided capital and man! did he ever go off the path in the next four years. In fact, we have never had a worse president for Israel than Obama and I believe that this is his true inner feelings, what he was raised with or learned in his madrassa days or from his anti Semitic reverends that he followed or for whatever the cause - but what a disaster.
     I think of all that has gone on over the past few years and I believe much of the blame has to come from him, for if the President of the United States was allowed to be anti Israel and yes, even anti Semitic, then so could they, so anti Semitism grew like a rabid stain over mankind. It was now okay to rant and rave in Apartheid week, ignoring the fact that it was Jews, rabbis and common folks, famous people, who marched arm in arm during the civil rights years. It was Jewish blood spilled too as three young men did not return home from the Freedom Riders days until found in swamps, dead.
     And I think of the self hating Jews like Sidney and Max Blumenthal who think that come the apocalypse they will be spared the cruel treatment because they backed their natural enemies. I think to myself how these people have not learned the lessons of history. I think of the country of Israel where gay rights or rather people who are gay are accepted in most of society other than by the fanatical ones. How they have parades. How they are inducted into the army without fuss. And yet, there is a gay section here in this country that turns their back on this and rallies for those countries that throw them off roofs, hang them from lampposts and building cranes, behead them, refuse to allow them to live. I think of the continent of Europe once more enmeshed in screaming anti Semitism. Have they not done enough with their treatment of Jews over the millennia culminating in the Holocaust? Have they not done enough to encourage the slaughter of Jews and Israelis no matter where they are - even in Turkey as tourists? Does it ever end? Does it ever go away?
     I think of the bereaved of Israel, the parents wailing over their children, the children crying, bewildered at who wanted to kill their beloved parents who died protecting them, of the young men and women weeping over the loss of their comrades, burying so many. I think of a nation which barely makes two degrees of separation and wish the world would understand that we live for life, not death, that we feel each stab wound, each blow, each bullet, for surely we know someone who knows the victim if we actually do not know them ourselves.
     And where does all this stem from? From religion. From a hatred of those who practice Judaism or who have some connection to it. From a lack of knowledge about the true nature of true faith.The enemies of Israel, of Jews, for they are interchangeable no matter what people try to say and maintain, even purport to give compliments and then zing in with their truths. Tamim, the head of police in Dubai spoke of how the Jews need to lead a bi-national state for the Arabs could not do so - a compliment, one thinks - and yet go on to the rest of what he said. But in 70 years or so, the Arabs will take over. And there ya' go!
     Why are we still forced to rescue Jews from the world, to wrest them from harm? So we are still bringing over Ethiopian Jews and now, this week, have brought over 19 Jews from Yemen. French Jews have come in waves and Ukrainian Jews come to a place where they know they are welcomed and safe. Why is one little country living in a bad neighborhood so resented and why is that small piece of land coveted by a people that did not exist before 1948? Twenty odd Arab countries and approximately or close to 50 Moslem countries and they all need to see the land of Israel, the home for all eternity, the safe haven for all eternity of the Jewish people destroyed - that little country bothers them so?!
     So, to come back to the beginning of the piece and to return to the issue of censoring of knowledge and information, of the violation of freedoms granted to us in this country since its founding - here we are again. Censorship is wrong, wrong, wrong, legally and morally. Does that mean that the nasties are lacking in these areas? Well, you figure it out. And who owes whom an apology? Figure that one out too. And it does not help matters when Elaine Brown, one of the nasties, puts on "her" blog how there are 5,000 gods that people worship but not to worry for yours is the right one. This is the kind of person who instigates war and hatred. Why can we not allow for the beliefs of others? Why can we not all call upon our specific deity for help in reaching and maintaining peace? Why can we not stop the abuse of religion? Why? Because of people who believe that discussion is to be avoided, that knowledge is to be limited and censored, that nastiness is the way to go. G-d help them! And us as well.

A SANE DISCUSSION

     There obviously is a great deal of interest and concern about the censorship of the library contents and that can be told or seen by the heavy numbers on the last two blog postings. It is certainly a topic which needs to be put to rest with an official announcement from WPRF's Eva Rachesky, that there will be no censorship, no culling of books, magazines, articles or whatever, not on religion and not on anything else other than a possible elimination of hate literature should it ever show up. Quite truthfully, I have not really been in the library for a while, other than to take a quick gander at the shelves, but I have not seen anything hateful - though there are authors I do not like! - and if tracts from Jehovah's Witness or some proselytizing group found its way in, well, clean it up when the library is straightened out by volunteers and that is the end of it. I do not believe that there are people here in the Village who are scared of seeing something that is not of their religious belief or feel uncertain of themselves because another religion happens to have a book explaining itself  placed on a library shelf. NO, what this is, is another attempt to continue the repression, the oppression, the paternalistic attitude that is so often found in dictatorships, wherein the "leader' shows how concerned he/she is re the electorate, and "knows" what is best for them and under that guise cuts out lots of literature, lots of knowledge, and all free choice.
Well screw that. We are adults and can make our own choices and if someone is so scared of the library - don't come in and do not bother to go to the public libraries as they have many books dealing with religion or mentioning it, so stay out of there as well.
     All this is quite possibly and allegedly part and parcel of a continuing and growing campaign to establish David Israel as dictator for life and a likely collusion with WPRF for post Millennium agreements and in return..... who knows, but the mind does wonder.
     The cancellation of all open debate spots and rights, the difficulty and denial of rights to post or display items in the Village, the refusal to allow resident publications to be distributed within the Village while allowing outside publications to do so - and that is fine  for those publications - but it is an error, a grievous error, a calculated error, in not allowing other items for distribution. That is called freedom of speech, freedom of the press - two freedoms which are notoriously lacking within the Village.
     Time and time again I, and many others, have extended a hand, offering peace in return for cooperation and inclusion, for just and fair administration. Time and time again those hands have been spurned, tromped upon, had the nasties come out of their hidey holes and post their nasty remarks. Does David Israel really believe that we are going to lay down and die, allowing his free reign to establish his lifetime rule, telling us in so many words that the only way he is going, leaving office, is by his death?! Sorry, nope, no way, not my style. Fight for the right - use the might of the right to show the true way - that is the way I go and so do many, many others. And what is worse for David and Co. is that I truly enjoy this, for fighting for the right is an uplifting experience and the proper thing to do.
     So let us tackle a topic that David Israel is nervous about and that has been brought up formally by mention on Gary's blog. That is the topic of the election. For years the system of voting has been quite cloudy, suspected of being perverted and twisted, with irregularities running rife through the process. Even when the head of the committee tried to do the best, there was no way it could all be controlled, particularly when the system is based on a faulty basis - the delegates and who they are and how they get to vote, particularly from the "dead" associations.
     After the last two elections the roar of dissent was deafening and suddenly we had an electronic voting system. That was good. However, the system basis remained the same and thus could and most probably led to suspect results. Much further reformation needed and needs to be done but will that happen? Nope, for should that happen, the Dictator for Life will surely be gone, he and all his sycophants and residents of the sold their soul people. How does this work? I'll explain.
     Our system at present - one which needs to be changed to one of one resident owner in a unit - and only one unit - gets to vote in these elections - but in the meanwhile, delegates vote. Therefore and thus, the voting would be fair. All other items would still be voted on via the DA so delegates would still have lots of sayso over things in the Village.
      These delegates are appointed by the Boards of the Associations or named by the officers, however the association wishes. BUT here is the problem and one I have commented upon many times and here is where the rot starts. Many of the associations are defunct for all intents and purposes. Either most, if not all, are renters and thus ineligible to be a delegate, or the resident owners are just too old and tired or even past the point of being competent enough to do this with thought, and thus suddenly along comes someone who says to a person - "You are the delegate and here is what you are to do and how you are getting there and back." There is absolutely no check on this and it is our own version of the rotten borough system that was a part of England's system for a long time until reformation was undertaken.
     There is at present no allowable system allowed or method allowed to check the credentials of the delegates. None at all. Only an administration fixture supposedly checked and well, we know how that turns out and what that allows. There were people there on line, having waited for hours to vote, who suddenly found that their names had mysteriously disappeared. Even when the person in charge said, "Oh yes, I remember her" said well, maybe her paper was wrong or things changed. Truly? Really? There were too many of these situations not to have the reeks of fixing and fiddling grow up around us.
     The only true way to have an honest and fully impartially run election is to have NONE of the people of UCO or the Village take or play a role or part in the process. Having a candidate running back and forth to the counting room - sniff, sniff - especially when this same person was  allegedly suspected of  playing a shady role in prior elections - major no-no. Having insiders and biased people running the checkpoints - no-no again. An open system to check the credentials of the delegates - whoa, that raised an uproar in UCO. I could care less what the name of the supervising company is - that is their choice - but they need to be vetted as all contractors must - and if that works out, after a vetting by all sides of the election process - then the administration must stay out of the election process totally and completely and that way we know what is being done and how it is being done the proper and impartial way.
     Of course, the nasties came out with their nasty and demeaning comments but their hot air is worthless and does not lessen the truth and what needs to be done. We have taken the first steps on the road of fixing our system and let us continue with dignity and with the knowledge that right is on our side and the might of the right is with us. A great author once wrote in one of his books - "Today was good. Today was fun. Tomorrow is another one." Dr. Seuss in One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish.
    Tomorrow is indeed another one, another day and there is another and  another and another.......We are here and we are here to stay and complete the reformation here in the Village, to prevent censorship, to rid ourselves of corruption and dictatorship and if it takes baby steps, well so be it.
    There is a more or less peace in Ireland. There is an end to the Cold War. There will be an end somehow to the morass in Syria and the mess of the migrants. There will be an end to the nonsense here and a return to the right way. And hey, maybe one day there will even be peace in Israel.
     And by the way, I like that name, the nasties, so even Steven - you call the opposition "malcontents" so I baptize you guys - the nasties.

MOTIVATION

       What makes people tick? Why do they do things or take certain actions, follow beliefs? It is difficult to figure out at times but is well worth it.
     A hero of Israel just died and on his desk when at work was a picture of a man kneeling in front of a Nazi officer. That man was his grandfather who was shot immediately after the picture was taken and Meir Dagan said that his job was to insure that this never, ever, happened again. He also stated in his last speech that "I have a dream - to leave my three children and seven grandchildren a different society. I dream that they can dedicate their lives to growth, development to fulfilling dreams, and not to wars for their homeland. I would like to ensure them a better life than I lived. I would like to promise them a society that eliminates its discrimination and violence, that gets back to its roots and takes responsibility for its destiny. A society that will ensure a real opportunity for all of its citizens to strive for real equality."
     This statement is equally applicable to any and all countries and should be a prime motivation in their citizens and governments. Unfortunately it is not and thus the world suffers.

     What about the actions of people in other areas of the world? Why do the Kurds insist on blowing up things - or does their understandable quest for independence justify these actions? Why does ISIS kill and rape and rampage all over the world, with no apparent motive other than to establish a Caliphate and to hell with those who do not agree, who are not Moslems, I believe Shiite in their sect.

     What is it about human beings that they will fight to the death for their beliefs, for that which motivates them, but will not spend one minute of their time on discussion and possible negotiation and compromise? What gives such determination to the people in the Ukraine who are fighting on opposite sides of the issue there - what is to be with the eastern Ukraine?

     And what about those who insist on gaining or attaining power simply for the sake of power? So many of our politicians fall into this category and they overshadow those who actually are there to help their electorate. What is this need, this drive to rule, to impose, to dictate, to place primary importance on their wishes over all others?

     We have that situation right here in the Village with the current administration and those who follow along in its wake for the "privileges" they believe they are given. Yet these "gifts" for their selling their souls are often temporary for no dictator in history has ever been stable for any period of time and thus the followers are prone to fall under the whims and feet of their "leaders".

     And now I, and many others would like to know the motivations behind this apparent attempt to impose further censoring on the residents of the Village, further control and repression. This is the plan to totally censor the library and the Village and make it "religious rein" at all costs. No religious material is to make it alive into the library. Why? Ask the twisted minds of those who are pushing it. Is it some simpleton who cannot deal with a tract that might have ended up on a library table? Is it some fanatic who cannot deal with a book about the religion that is not his/hers? Or is it worse than that, with an evil plan afoot and the elephant in the room question is - WHERE DOES THIS END - OR DOES IT? Do we then proceed to rid the Village of religious people of all kinds?

     Religion is both a bane and a boon to mankind. There are those in history who have used it to justify murder on a large scale, allowed them to kill and maim in horrific manner, to crush people under their heels. But there are those who have lived their religious precepts, be they the Dalai Lama or Mother Teresa or the Rebbe or anyone else one knows who lives a life governed by the soft rules of religion, by the rules which guide and urge us to care for humanity.

     To perhaps classify myself, I consider myself to be an Open Orthodox Jew if you can figure that out, and my friends number amongst themselves every sect of Judaism, every level of observance there is, along with Catholics, lapsed and not, Protestants of all groups, Evangelicals, a Bahai and even some atheists. It would NEVER cross my mind to ban them or their thoughts just as it would never cross my mind to ban material which presents their religious beliefs as long as there is no hate literature, no words which encourage its readers to kill or maim those who differ from them, no imposing their beliefs on others and certainly there should be the recognition that there is no room for religion in the Oval Office or indeed in any political office of the country on any level.

     So why, in Heaven's name, WHY, is there a plan to rid our library in the Clubhouse of all religious material? Who exactly is going to determine this and the meaning of the definition of religious. Are we to ban all history books for certainly the history of mankind is rife with religion, good or bad. Are we to ban so many books of literature, of fiction and non fiction which deal with the topic of religion? Are we to ban magazines which dare discuss religion? Remember the issue that asked "Is G-d Dead?" Would that be allowed into the "holy" walls of our library?
     In any case, anyone remember the Constitution of the United States of America? Yes, the country we live in! There is freedom of speech and freedom of religion so this new plan violates both and what about the fact that we lease the Clubhouse, rent it for a fortune, pay for its upkeep on top of that - and now we are told that we have no right to run the library as we wish, the very library that is run by volunteers? And again, I ask, I shout, I cry out - Where does this end? Is there an end? And again, I end with that chilling quote:
     THOSE WHO BEGIN BY BURNING BOOKS WILL END UP WITH THE BURNING OF PEOPLE.
     The peoples of the world have been there before, many times, so why have we not yet absorbed and internalized that lesson?
     WHY NOT, DAVID ISRAEL? WHY NOT, EVA RACHESKY? WHY NOT, MARY MEROLA? WHY NOT???????