Saturday, July 30, 2016

Some thoughts

I know that the people that own the cloud storage, that is Google, Microsoft and others are claiming that your files can not be lost.

But wait they can. They can be deleted without warning and with no recourse by the Cloud's owners, and without a credible reason!

This has been done with the Blog administrated by Dennis Cooper and called the DC Blog. The entire history of this considerable blog has disappeared and there appears to be no recourse, See this NYT article. Click here

Here are some remarks by Bette lee Bleckman.


Regarding "Taxi Service" provided by Village Resident's.

Please be advised unless the individuals are registered with the County and are properly insured, I would be hesitant to use their service, for should an accident occur, what type of coverage would you have?

Secondly, With regards to any Appointee to The Executive Board, strongly suggest one investigate their prior involvement in the Community, such as committee's, etc., they have served on. There have been some individuals who agreed to serve on Committee's, however, never appeared nor informed any member they would not be in attendance, on one or more occasion I had one individual, who had initially agreed to serve on a particular committee, however never appeared at any of the several meetings held. We need committed individuals, not ones that will only attend when an issue , (usually brought up by the President, who of course has the ability to appoint anyone he chooses to support his actions) so once more think carefully, before you cast your Associations' vote.

Thank you one & all...

Bettie Lee Bleckman

Thursday, July 28, 2016

Mike Bloombergs case for Hillary

Why I'm Endorsing Clinton for President

July 28, 2016 - Newsletter



The Independent's Case for Clinton

By Michael Bloomberg

The following is an adaptation of an address delivered to the Democratic National Convention on July 27, 2016:

When the Founding Fathers arrived in Philadelphia to forge a new nation, they didn’t come as Democrats or Republicans, or to nominate a presidential candidate. They came as patriots who feared party politics. I know how they felt.

I’ve been a Democrat. I’ve been a Republican. And I eventually became an independent, because I don’t believe either party has a monopoly on good ideas or strong leadership. When I enter the voting booth, I look at the candidate, not the party label. I have supported elected officials from both sides of the aisle. Probably not many people here can say that.

But I know there are many Americans who can. And now, they are carefully weighing their choices. I understand their dilemma. I know what it’s like to have neither party fully represent my views or values. Too many Republicans wrongly blame immigrants for our problems -- and they stand in the way of action on climate change and gun violence. Meanwhile, many Democrats wrongly blame the private sector for our problems -- and they stand in the way of action on education reform and deficit reduction.

Continue reading on Bloomberg View

Our Social Security is at Risk!

The Lock Box is Open and they Will Take It
How politicians view our Social Security system!
Stew Richland
Just opened the UCO Reporter and glanced through the political ads, commercials and columns. In Bobbi Levin’s column “Now You see it! she laments the fact that the current Social Security Cost of Living increase will quickly get lost before any of the recipients get a chance to spend it. More importantly, will the system survive the greedy fingers of the politicians who make it a habit of raiding the fund when they want to fund some of their pet projects.
 One of the first reform acts that was put in place as the result of the collapse of our economy in 1929 was the Social Security Act. This act provided for unemployed, aged dependent and handicapped. Financed by FICA taxes paid by employee, matched by employer and Federal government.
Good idea at the time.  Retirement age for SS payout would be 65.  You could tap into the fund at age 62 but would get a lesser amount. The premise of the plan was based on the statistics that the average American mortality rate would be 75 with women living a bit longer.  No one figured on the advances of medical science and thus our elderly population began to expand.  As a result of this miscalculation, the system had to pay out more money to more people over a longer period of time.  However, as long as our population was expanding, the people paying into the system would certainly be able to keep the pot full of cash.
Time and greed changed the equation.  Politicians of both parties looked at the Social Security fund the way a kid licks his lips when entering a candy shop.  Money, Money and more Money to fuel  pet projects. Thus the reserves to fund the retirement of thousands began to fly out a so called locked box. Each political party offered solutions to this problem. There is no question that politics has insinuated itself in this equation. The Social Security issue has gone through many transformations. The first phase lasted from the early years of the program until the beginning of the 1990s, and featured a consensus about the program’s legitimacy. Benefits increased incrementally during this period, mostly propelled by robust economic growth after WWII as well as the dominance of center-right Republicans and center-left Democrats on Capital Hill. Any disputes between conservatives and liberals revolved around the degree and speed of benefits expansion.
A letter written by Dwight Eisenhower in 1956 to his brother sums up the feeling about Social Security during this era.  “Should any political party attempt to abolish Social Security, unemployment insurance, and eliminate labor laws and farm programs, you would not hear of that party again in our political history. There is a tiny splinter group, of course, that believes you can do these things.” Eisenhower mentions H.L.Hunt and other billionaires and business men who were small in number and were quite stupid about Social Security issues.
In the 1970s and 80s our economy suffered from high unemployment and inflation especially during the term of Jimmy Carter. Conservative critics gained an audience forcefully raising alarms about the system’s future soundness with the aging of the population. Some conservative think tanks along with financial services groups proposed  the case for privatizing, or at least partially privatizing, Social Security. “Privatizing” essentially means transforming Social Security into a private pension plan reminiscent of a 401(k), where savers direct all or part of their Social Security contributions into their own accounts and are responsible for investing the money.“Wall Street saw privatization as a golden egg,”
The second phase of the Social Security problem began in the mid-1990s when Newt Gingrich was Speaker of the House of Representatives. During President Clinton’s and George W. Bush’s tenure, the push for privatization and cutting benefits moved from the fringes into the mainstream. Clinton flirted with partial privatization and Bush spent considerable political capital in 2005 pushing his own partial privatization plan. President Bush’s efforts failed mainly because most people did not believe that the Social Security system was in trouble. Conservatives has continued to support some sort of privatization plan. Paul Ryan, the current House Speaker, supports privatization and one staple of modern conservative commentary has been that the swelling ranks of boomers is pushing the U.S. toward an inevitable fiscal crisis unless benefits are cut.
Possible phase three has arrived. During the Republican debate in Miami that night, CNN’s Jake Tapper asked (March 10, 2016)  “What you candidates intend to do to keep Social Security going for future generations?” Sen. Marco Rubio focused on raising the retirement age; Sen. Ted Cruz and Gov. John Kasich mentioned private accounts. This was the standard rhetoric of phase two Social Security conservatism. Then, Donald Trump weighed in, saying “and it’s my absolute intention to leave Social Security the way it is. Not increase the age and to leave it as is.” Trump has the support of the “Tea Party and seniors” on this issue. According to a recent Pew Survey: , 73% of Trump supporters were against reducing Social Security benefits. Similarly, 66% of Cruz supporters and 62% of Kasich supporters felt that way as did 72% of Sanders supporters and 71% of Clinton supporters.
 Bobbi Levin is correct in stating that Republicans wanted to raise the retirement age to become eligible for Social Security. This was a very good idea.  Our work force was expanding and more and more people were paying into the system and, over time, Americans would accept this change in the Social Security program.  So far, this has not happened. My research has not provided any evidence that the Republicans ever proposed cutting Social Security payments.
With the rise of Donald Trump, and the aging of the Baby Boomers along with wage stagnation of those closing in on retirement that the politics of the Social Security system is taking a different course.
When voters were asked about the long-term future of Social Security, 71% of registered voters recently surveyed by the Pew Research Center said that benefits shouldn’t be reduced in any way. And this has become a bipartisan sentiment. Clear majorities of Democrats (72%) and Republicans (68%) opposed Social Security benefit cuts, according to the Pew study published in March  of 2016.
If Social Security is in trouble what are some of the suggestions in fixing the problem. There’s solid support for raising or even eliminating the cap on earnings that are subject to the payroll tax (now $118,500), something both Democratic candidates said they favored in the debates they had last year. A poll by the National Academy of Social Insurance found that  71% of Republicans and 92% of Democrats agreed that top earners should pay more into Social Security.
There is no question that extreme right wing thinkers will oppose any large-scale government programs. Tea Party conservatives strongly believe they have “earned” their Social Security benefits through years of hard work, Many Tea Party conservatives would support new revenues rather than having their benefits cut. Sanders has called for, among other things, raising the minimum benefit and an across-the-board increase for most recipients. Clinton’s approach is more targeted, aimed largely at boosting benefits for widows and those who’ve taken time out of the paid labor force to raise a child or care for aging parents. Sanders says he will raise the cap for those who will pay into the program to $250,000. Clinton supports this view but as yet, has not provided any figures. It seems that many Republicans will go along with some cap increase and begin to back off their desire to have benefits  begin at 68 or 70. More importantly, “the enthusiasm for raising the retirement age will fade with disturbing evidence that life expectancy is declining among lower income, less educated middle-aged, whites in the U.S.” according to a recent analysis made by Forbes Business. I think that the Republicans will attempt to keep the status quo and step away from increasing benefit cuts and privatization.  Hillary Clinton will probably ask for an increase on the cap for those who fall under the $118,500 cap.
The big problem is the fact that so many Americans are unemployed and that they are not contributing to the Social Security tax fund. Job creation and expanding the economy is the real key to providing the funds necessary to keep the Social Security system functioning. As Trump stated in an interview, cracking down on waste and corruption will really help. Finally, the Social System cash box must be closed to the grubby fingers of the politicians of both parties. I think that Donald Trump would be a better protector of the SS system than the Democrats.
Please feel free to respond to my comments at phyllisrichland.blogspot.com or on the forum that you find it posted.
Much of the research that went into this article is found with the Google search engine, Forbes magazine and sites that provide analysis on the history of the Social Security system. Authors Note:  Since my last two articles that were written for publication in the UCO Reporter were deemed inappropriate, I will now use other forums that welcome controversial opinions to present my side of current issues.


Monday, July 25, 2016

Richland on plagiarism

Shedding Light on the Truth
Stew Richland

Mark Twain on plagiarism
All ideas are second-hand in a letter written to Helen Keller Twain wrote: “The kernel, the soul — let us go further and say the substance, the bulk, the actual and valuable material of all human utterances — is plagiarism.”

In the early 1940’s there was a radio program called the 4th Estate written by Mark Hellinger, a well-known author and screen writer. The theme of the program extolled the virtues of the American press and its historical role in investigating crimes and misdemeanors against  Americans.  These “Muckrakers” shed light on actions by politicians and individuals that were damaging the life, health, and welfare of Americans. A new form of journalism was created when Americans were introduced to the evening news segments when television  began to provide the public with the “news events of the day.”  One of the first things the network stations shared was news. During the late 1940s and early 1950s television viewers began watching the news on four television networks: NBC, CBS, ABC, and DuMont.

John Cameron Swayze, who worked in radio for many years, had done voice-over work for the Camel Newsreel Theatre before becoming the television anchor of Camel News Caravan. He made eye contact and understood the visual role that anchors play in presenting the news. Swayze ended his program each night with the line, "Well, that's the story,  Glad we could get together."

The Today show with host Dave Garroway first aired on January 14, 1952. Garroway began the first Today show with the following introduction:”Well here we are, and good morning to you.  The very first good morning of what I hope and suspect will be a great many good mornings between you and me. Here it is, January 14, 1952, when NBC begins a new program called Today and, if it doesn't sound too revolutionary, I really believe this begins a new kind of television.”

The Huntley-Brinkley report first aired in 1956.  Over the years viewers came to expect their familiar sign-off, "Goodnight, David -- Goodnight, Chet." Walter Cronkite began his nightly news broadcast in 1967.  When Chet Huntley retired he said: "Be patient and have courage -- there will be better and happier news some day, if we work at it."

These were the faces and voices Americans that entered the lives of millions of Americans each day.  Americans believed their view of the news.  We  trusted their analysis.  We felt that we were being told the truth.  Political partisanship was did not temper their objectivity.  This what Americans demanded from the 4th Estate.

Sadly the 4th Estate slowly but relentlessly began to evolve into a partisan organization that looks for “gotcha” news in order to support their own political agendas.  There is no question in my mind that the overwhelming news media outlets along with their reporters, journalists and editorial boards are liberal left wing supporters and will do anything necessary to undermine their conservative opponents.
Just look at how the left wing press attacked the potential First Lady. They accused her of plagiarism after several passages in her speech to the Republican National Convention in Cleveland appeared to echo lines from Michelle Obama’s speech to the Democratic National Convention in Denver.

The Trump campaign denied it borrowed lines from Michelle Obama, including: “that you work hard for what you want in life; that your word is your bond…”.

CBS has spent the most time on this (25 minutes, 52 seconds), followed by NBC (17 minutes, 6 seconds) and ABC (16 minutes, 27 seconds). ABC’s Jon Karl padded his report this morning by relaying social media mockery of Mrs. Trump:  “The hashtag #Famous Melania Trump Quotes trending online, joking about Melania making up other famous phrases like ‘you can’t handle the truth,’ ‘Luke, I am your father,’ and ‘I have a dream.’”

Trump’s wife joins Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama and Joe Biden as accused plagiarists. Even Michelle Obama was accused of plagiarizing part of her own 2008 DNC speech.
Michelle Obama: “…the world as it should be.” In 2008, the aspiring First Lady was accused by bloggers of lifting lines for her DNC speech from Saul Alinsky.   Alinsky wrote, in Rules for Radicals (emphasis added): “The standards of judgment must be rooted in the whys and wherefores of life as it is lived, the world as it is, not our wished-for fantasy of the world as it should be.” Michelle Obama said: “And Barack stood up that day, and he spoke words that have stayed with me ever since. He talked about ‘the world as it is‘ and ‘the world as it should be.'” (Perhaps Mr. Obama who left out the attribution.)

Barack Obama: “Don’t tell me words don’t matter.” As then-Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) surpassed Hillary Clinton in the Democratic primary, largely on the strength of his oratory, Clinton said that Obama’s record was “just words.” Obama responded in a speech whose refrain was lifted from then-Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick. The Obama campaign did not even bother to refute the claim. Instead, it circulated examples of lines that it said Clinton herself had borrowed from Obama. The left media defended Obama, saying that he had not committed plagiarism, but merely, at worst, “poor footnoting.”

The first network coverage of Obama’s evident plagiarism appeared on Monday, February 18, 2008. Over the next day and a half, CBS produced only 2 minutes, 58 seconds of coverage, or less than one-eighth their total coverage of the Melania Trump flap. The other broadcast networks generated much less coverage — just 14 minutes of airtime, or barely one-fourth what they’ve covered over the Melinia Trump speech.

To further illustrate the biased nature of the reporting community one just has to examine similar events occurring in 2008 and how the press and TV reported these issues of so-called plagiarism.

Hillary Clinton: “No bank can be too big to fail, no executive too powerful to jail.” After the Obama campaign accused Clinton of stealing lines in 2008 — a claim supplemented by The New Republic, which accused her of stealing lines from then-Sen. John Edwards (D-NC) —  she ought to have learned her lesson. But in 2016, she stole lines from Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT), who responded by telling NBC News’ Meet the Press, jokingly: “We’re looking into the copyright issues here.” Clinton was accused of lifting other lines, too — and Sanders supporters responded on Twitter with the hashtag: #StealtheBern.

Joe Biden: “My ancestors who worked in the coal mines…”. Biden was found to have borrowed heavily from the oratory — and the biography — of British Labour Party leader Neal Kinnock, without attribution. In addition, it was discovered he had committed plagiarism while in law school. The scandal helped bring down Biden’s presidential campaign in 1988 — though Biden’s angry outburst at a reporter — “I think I probably have a much higher IQ than you do, I suspect” — didn’t help, either.

*NOTE: the above two items came from an internet search dealing with the events of the 2008 Democratic Convention.
The questions about Melania Trump’s speech are legitimate and deserve coverage, but the networks have blown this all out of proportion. If suspected plagiarism by an actual presidential candidate deserves only 14 minutes of coverage, then how does the same alleged offense by a candidate’s wife merit four times as much journalistic scrutiny?

Mark Twain, one of America’s greatest wordsmith reflected on this idea of plagiarism and I selected just a few of his observations to illustrate my thoughts on the issue.

Those who do not want to imitate anything, produce nothing.
Unconscious appropriation is utterly common; it is not plagiarism and is no crime;
But lemme correct you in one thing -- I mean soothe you with one fact: a considerable part of every book is an unconscious plagiarism of some previous book. There is no sin about it. If there were, and it were of the deadly sort, it would eventually be necessary to restrict hell to authors -- and then enlarge it.- letter to editor of Grants Pass Observer dated April 2, 1887. Reprinted in The Morning Oregonian, May 4, 1910, p. 10.

Solomon, when he said there was nothing new, meant also there were no new literary styles under the sun, either.
- quoted in Twenty Years in Europe by Samuel H. M. Byers
What's in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet. William Shakespeare.  How often have people used this quote as an idiomatic expression to explain a concept or idea.

 The nature of a thing is more important than what it is called.  How many of us have read books in which we find a passage so well expressed that we underline it and place a copy of it on your refrigerator.  As a teacher, I have placed on the board many ideas found in books that clearly are thought provoking and inspiring in order challenge my students.  This is what good teachers do.

The Press, by over reporting what Melinia Trump said in her speech at the Republican Convention and using a wide brush to minimize the ideas that she was conveying in comparison to what how they treated others from the Democratic side clearly proves that the role of the 4th Estate has not lived up to the logo which is found on the front portico of the New York Times building, “All the News That’s Fit to Print.” It is sad that our press today does deem to allow all the light to shine on their reporting and not cast shadows on what they don’t  report because of their bias.

Shame on you all.




Friday, July 22, 2016

The Internet Bully and the Internet Gangster,

And so the small man emulates the big man. They are both irrelevant. Read this quote about the Turkish President and reflect how it pertains to our wannabe dictator.

"And the drama playing out in Turkey today is the story of just how off track a once-successful country can get when a leader who demonizes all his rivals and dabbles in crazy conspiracy theories comes to believe that he alone is The Man — the only one who can make his country great again — and ensconces himself in power."

This fits our leader perfectly. It can be seen in many of things he does. But, more  specifically, in the ways he treats the Messenger Club. He sees Conspiracies in everything they do. This attitude has been going on for years. As a matter of fact, I met the Great One once in a Publix and all I could get out of him was that I was an Internet gangster. This coming from the Internet Bully!

Fantastic isn't it?  All it tells me is that he has been in office too long. He is getting too old. He wants to win the next election, at all costs. He needs this job to keep himself busy and occupied.

He has to go. We need new blood in this office. We need new ideas. We need a new leader. He can't stay in this office forever.

Thursday, July 21, 2016

DOROTHY MILLS-TETRO

DOROTHY MILLS-TETRO, a long-time resident of Century Village, a good friend to hundreds of people in and out of the Village, -- and to some people the very best Treasurer that UCO has ever had, has been struck down by a very rare disorder called GUILLAIN-BARRE (gee-YAH-buh-RAY) syndrome. It is the body's immune system attacking the nerves.

She has been in the Good Samaritan Medical Center since July 12th under the care of a whole team of specialized doctors treating her for this illness of which there is no known cure. However, it can be treated and controlled with some degree of success when the illness is recognized in the early stages.

On July 22nd, she is being transported to St. Mary's Medical Center for weeks of extensive rehabilitation therapy. A card or a note wishing her well would go a long way in getting her out of the doldrums and the dark and painful days she has
already suffered.

Thank you sincerely to all of those who have already expressed their best wishes and kindness.

EDWARD J. ROSS

Wednesday, July 20, 2016


PASSING THE BUCK

UCO Treasurer Howard O’Brien and the finance committee decided to pass the buck on the road paving. Past precedent allocated enough money for the budget to pave the road every 15 years; they decided to advance the time to 20 years. When asked how this would be accomplished, David Israel – the clown - answered we will patch the roads as needed.   In all probabilities, given their respective ages, David Israel and the finance committee members will be dead in 20 years  -  if not,   they can join us on the bumpy road ahead.

Tuesday, July 19, 2016

Messenger Club Meeting and David Israel's interference.

This is hard to believe. It hard to understand. The Messenger Club is a club dedicated to the oversite of UCO and David Israel. It is watching them to observe some of the unfair moves made by UCO, lead by David Israel.

Let's look at what happened at the last Messenger club meeting. Remember the D.Israell thinks he is in charge of the rentals in that building.

So Israel wrote an email to CSI advising them of the fact that this club has the propensity to "bash Israel" and this is no longer allowed with a threat of expulsion. Then after the meeting started a functionary from CSI came in and held forth on the need for no bashing allowed. This all occurred because of a threat from D. Israel himself. This all happened because David Israel seems to have the power to quash any and all competitors. This all happened because D.Israel feels he is the lord and master of CV.

This is clearly a misuse of his Presidential Powers.

Now that isn't the end of it. The Messenger Club invited 2 Comcast people to talk with the club. Again Israel interfered and told them to stay away or else. So they did.

Israel is so afraid of the Messenger club that he goes to these extremes to block them.

Do you think this will work?


Friday, July 15, 2016

Random Thoughts

Can you believe this? Congress, the Republicans, essentially, have taken a 12-week vacation and left us to deal with the incoming Zika threat. This threat will metabolize all summer long. What are they thinking?

Do you think the leopard has changed his spots? Do you think bombastic Trump has changed? He has gone quiescence, but this is only for a while, he can not change. He is what he is.

Did you have an opportunity to listen to David Israel at the Cable meeting? Can you believe the way he  talks down to us? He talks down to anyone  that opposed him and his ideas? Can you believe they way he looks down his nose at us? He is snobbish, haughty, and pompous! Not good. Not good at all.

Let's take a look at what is happening here. Let's look at what Israel is trying to do. First off the minimum TV that Comcast has offered us in the past was nowhere near enough to what we wanted or needed. It is nothing more than an introductory offer of TV, a teaser, to get you to expand it and pay the full rate. Do not be fooled.

So this Cable thing that Israel wants to foster on all of us  is nothing more than Internet access hidden behind the TV offer. Look at it separately. We are going to have to pay for our TV and the Internet will be hooked on to it. They have taken the triple play away and want us to pay extra to include phone service in this bundle, or they are only just beginning to  considering this. You either have TV and Phone service (maybe) or you have TV and the Internet (Read Wi-Fi here).

Many of us already have Wi-Fi, cheaper than they are offering.

I am not so sure We should invest in their business, for 10 or 13 years, that is, pay for the expansion, and when it is all done we have nothing. And another thing why us? They have said as they build this cable link from Miami to WPB, they will pick up feeders who will pay for access. So why just us?

The subject is the Wellington East Pool. We have been improving the Bathrooms for a year now. Specifically, it seems we are stuck on the East Pool's Men's room. We do not seem to be able to get an approval so we can use it. First, we submitted a  set of plans, they were approved. Then we modified the  bathroom accordingly. It failed I know not why. This happened 2 more times. Right now we are in the unapproved status.

Why is this happening?

Seacrest is responsible for the care of the pools. As far as the East Pool is concerned, they are doing a lousy job. They are supposed to pressure clean the floors. Not Done. They are supposed to pressure clean the canvas shelter. Not done. They are supposed to put the long tables in storage, to be taken out as needed. Not done. Basically, Seacrest is allowing our pool to fall into 3rd world status. again!!



Thursday, July 14, 2016

Broadband again

Broadband is not the Association's business???    
By Dan Gladstone

During the Broadband committee meeting on 7/13 and while Atlantic Broadband was listening to Ed Grossman's question, David Israel, once again and as usual when Ed has the floor, burst in anger, started shouting on the verge of temper tantrum and said "your Association's private internet business has no place in this meeting". David Israel kept on going on in his usual sarcastic tone, when it come to Ed Grossman, and addressed everyone in the room and said "...welcome to condominium land...".

 David kept on going and gave the famous example, which was always used by interested individuals/parties to promote their way, of buses in the village, that only 10%-20% of the village residents use.

Over a generation ago, the bus service was the first reason that UCO was established. Later on, we know that many residents do not like it but it is grandfathered in. Phyllis Richland, when she was a very successful UCO VP, said many times the Century Village "is not an assistant living facility". And it is not!!! So please let us forget about the bus example.

Now let me understand! The broadband business is not Ed Grossman's Association business. His Association has already a successful internet installed in his building, so why David Israel shutting him up (again) when Ed brings very relevant point to the meeting?

DAVID ISRAEL SHUTS UP ANYONE WHO IS NOT IN HIS CAMP AND SAYS THINGS HE DOES NOT LIKE.

So I have news for you Mr. Israel. I liked what I heard in the meeting and I would go for it BUT my Association is overwhelmed against it. So David Israel can sign as many times as he wants, my association does not have to go along. The Bi-Lateral agreement, where we, the associations, give the authority to UCO to act on our behalf, does NOT cover the broadband.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS THING BEFORE WITH THE WI-FI

Some of the reasons, but not limited too, for the refusals are: Our "Snow-Birds" who are 7-8 months away, do not care for this service. They do not want to pay for service not rendered.

Out of our 24 units, only 8 have computers out of which 2 only use it for Solitaire.

Our very senior owners, the 97 years old tops them all, do not care for the 21st-century electronics.

The very good reason that was brought up during the meeting of upgrading the value of the units  "look what services come with the apartment..." does not impress many of them (they want to end their life in it).

So Mr. David Israel, if you want the cooperation of Associations please behave!


Broadband again

Broadband is not the association business???      By Dan Gladstone

During the Broadband committee meeting on 7/13 and while Atlantic Broadband was listening to Ed Grossman's question, David Israel, once again and as usual when Ed has the floor, burst in anger, started shouting on the verge of temper tantrum and said "your Association's private internet business has no place in this meeting". David Israel kept on going on in his usual sarcastic tone, when it come to Ed Grossman, and addressed everyone in the room and said "...welcome to condominium land...".

 David kept on going and gave the famous example, which was always used by interested individuals/parties to promote their way, of buses in the village, that only 10%-20% of the village residents use.

Over a generation ago, the bus service was the first reason that UCO was established. Later on, we know that many residents do not like it but it is grandfathered in. Phyllis Richland, when she was a very successful UCO VP, said many times the Century Village "is not an assistant living facility". And it is not!!! So please let us forget about the bus example.

Now let me understand! The broadband business is not Ed Grossman's Association business. His Association has already a successful internet installed in his building, so why David Israel shutting him up (again) when Ed brings very relevant point to the meeting?

DAVID ISRAEL SHUTS UP ANYONE WHO IS NOT IN HIS CAMP AND SAYS THINGS HE DOES NOT LIKE.

So I have news for you Mr. Israel. I liked what I heard in the meeting and I would go for it BUT my Association is overwhelm against it. So David Israel can sign as many times as he wants, my association does not have to go along. The Bi-Lateral agreement, where we, the associations give the authority to UCO to act on our behalf, does NOT cover the broadband.

WE HAVE BEEN THROUGH THIS THING BEFORE WITH THE WI-FI

Some of the reasons, but not limited too, for the refusals are: Our "Snow-Birds" who are 7-8 months away, do not care for this service. They do not want to pay for service not rendered.

Out of our 24 units, only 8 have computers out of which 2 only use it for Solitaire.

Our very senior owners, the 97 years old tops them all, do not care for the 21st-century electronics.

The very good reason that was brought up during the meeting of upgrading the value of the units  "look what services come with the apartment..." does not impress many of them (they want to end their life in it).

So Mr. David Israel, if you want the cooperation of Associations please behave!


Wednesday, July 13, 2016

Do you believe this?

Here are some quotes from our erstwhile wannabe leaders. Do you believe them? I mean do you actually believe them? Or do you just want to be in the chaos is coming group?

Is there anything in these quotes that you really and deep down believe? Or is that you just want to be a member of the  shock and awe group?


“When President Obama said the other day that he doesn’t think it’s as bad as people think, I think it’s far worse and certainly far worse than he believes it is,” Trump said. “We are in a divided nation. I looked two nights ago and you were having trouble in 11 different cities, big, big trouble. And the press actually plays it down.
“I mean, you were having big, big trouble in many cities. And I think that might be just the beginning for this summer.”

In other words: Be afraid, because more chaos is coming. 

So the Great wannabe leader says that this Country is no Good. Our leaders Past and Present are no good. He doesn't see anything good in this Country. Do you Believe this?

Founded in 2013 by a 32-year-old neo-Nazi named Andrew Anglin, The Daily Stormer is among the most prominent online gathering places for white nationalists and anti-Semites, with sections devoted to “The Jewish Problem” and “Race War.” Mr. Anglin explained that although he had some disagreements with him, Mr. Trump was the only candidate willing to speak the truth about Mexicans.

David Duke, the Louisiana lawmaker turned anti-Semitic radio host, encouraged listeners to vote for Mr. Trump.

Enough said

Tuesday, July 12, 2016

HELLO TO ALL CENTURY VILLAGE RESIDENTS:

On Wednesday, July 13th at 11 am in the UCO Building Conference Room, there will be a Broadband meeting. 

 I urge all CV residents to attend.  David Israel  and CSI are pushing for Atlantic Broadband for a new WI-FI Contract.  
Please read the information on Gary's Blog

 (myvillageblogger.blogspot.com) regarding this company. 

This company is in BIG trouble. We do not need any more problems than we already have.  

Please attend this meeting and say "NO" to David Israel and CSI.  Our delegates have already voted on WI-FI and have said "NO" .  So folks of Century Village WPB, lets all stick to our guns.  Come to this meeting on Wednesday, July 13th, at 11 am in the UCO Building.
                               
 " SAY NO TO DAVID ISRAEL AND CSI"


Sunday, July 10, 2016

Email Problems redux.

So, you have all heard of Hillary' email problem. These problems have been dogging her for years. Basically, the problem with her was poor judgement. Why did she feel she needed to control her email flow by hiding, or at least trying to hid her Emails in her own private Server?

Poor Judgement. But it did not rise to a criminal offense!

So now we have some disturbing information about Atlantic Broadband and their misuse of the Emails.

I have come across  a warning about Atlantic Broadband and their handling of their Emails. Again reading this I wonder about the truth.

But, more importantly, what do our proponents of this Company, people like Dave Israel and his minions have to say about this warning?

I have printed it below. See for yourselves.

I ask, who is showing good judgement now?

Public Service
Announcement
ALL-ATLANTIC BROADBAND CABLE RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL
CUSTOMERS
Staff Members, Potential Customers, and Cogeco Investors Beware.
This warning to the public will remain up, until the problem is permanently fixed.
Those Primarily Responsible for the Atlantic Broadband Security Problem Include:

Edward Holleran, Jr. - Vice President, Industry
Richard J. Shea - Current CEO
Relations
The two people above are primarily responsible for creating the security problem at Atlantic Broadband Cable. They have created a security mess for their entire company. Not only are they responsible for the breaches of security for their residential, commercial customers, and also anyone who communicates by email to or from them, but also their very own employees and legal department. Those consumers (commercial and residential) & employees at risk are located in the following regions: Florida, Maryland, Delaware: South Carolina and Central Pennsylvania. Our legal department has sent their legal department several notices outlining SERIOUS security problems.
Those security problems consisted of breaches in their office sending us personal information, personal emails of their registered customers both commercial and residential, and also including government agencies, financial institutions, and more. They have ignored evidence sent to them and have not fixed the problem permanently. They created this security problem since the day they opened their business and have been fully aware all along, meanwhile their security problem has only grown. We would expect that a cable company operator would take full action to see to it, that their cable consumers private and confidential information (residential and commercial), employees and company as a whole, are secure as possible. This is something they have failed in. Knowing beforehand of opening their business that the security of their consumers would be in jeopardy, shows a disrespect for consumer security.
Also Note:
Our legal department has also sent evidence of this security problem to Cogeco legal department. In fact. we have also been the unwilling recipient of  an email from Cogeco to the sister cable company as well. I have also tried contacting the President of Cogeco by phone several times, and emailed details, however, he has not returned any of my calls or email. Cogeco has been fully informed by our legal department that they have purchased a billion dollar company (Atlantic Broadband Cable) that has never been secure since the day they opened their doors for business.
Below are just a few of the many, many, email we have received. (Click thumbnails to enlarge) 

As the owner of the official website AtlanticBroadband.com I have unwillingly received Staff Medical Insurance
Information, Financial Information & Documents, Account Information, Consumers Identification Cards Scans, Legal Documents, Security & Privacy Agreements, Work Orders, Commercial & Residential Account Holder
Information, Support Tickets, Passwords, Secure email, and much much more, with Consumers Information, either to, from, or carbon copied; the following staff (as well as others not listed) at Atlantic Broadband Cable:
  Richard J. Shea - President and Chief Executive Officer
  Edward Holleran, Jr. - Previous CEO - Now Vice President, Industry Relations
  David Isenberg - CFO - President and Chief Revenue Officer
  David J. Keefe - President and Chief Executive Officer
  Amis J. Kuolas - Senior Vice President and Chief Technology Officer
  Sam McGill - Vice President and General Manager, South Carolina and Maryland/Delaware
  Denise Paine - Vice President and General Manager, Commercial Services
  Thomas Roundtree - Senior Vice President, Human Resources
  Debra Miller - Accounts Payable at Atlantic Broadband
  David Mcbride - Atlantic Broadband Construction Coordinator
  Edwin Zambrana - Atlantic Broadband Construction Coordinator
  Chris Bubalo - Director of Commercial Sales at Atlantic Broadband
  Tom Costa - Commercial Sales Director at Atlantic Broadband   Chuck English - Director Technical Operations   Natalie Kurchak - Marketing Manager
  Jeremy McMasters - Director of Network Engineering
  Jackey Voltz - H. R. Generalist at Atlantic Broadband
  Ed Winklarek - Technical Operations Manager
  Dale Albright - Atlantic Broadband Branch Manager
There are many more not included in this list.
*Note: If you contact the cable operator, or work for the cable operator, and ask if there is a security problem and you are informed there is currently not a serious problem, it is highly recommended you get their name, or employee number, as well as log the time and date of your discussion for your own personal records.
Together with consumers,we will make the internet a safer place. Customers come first, and more importantly their security. Until the cable companies fix their security problem, this notice will remain in place. We have also submitted our complaint to Consumer Affairs.
  

Saturday, July 9, 2016

Some thoughts on Budget Cuttings

So, the Republicans want to stop the Federal Government from being so large and getting larger. How do they do it? How do they reduce the size of the federal Government? They do it by reducing the budgets of some of our most cherished institutions. They do it be reducing the IRS Budget. They do it by reducing the TSA budget.This means less workers as the Airports.This means longer lines, slower moving lines. More aggravation at the Airports, more delays.

The National Institute of Health has had a serious reduction in their budget and therefore the good work that they do has been reduced by at least 25%. Is this good for the country? What good does it do? How does it help us?

The K12 programs have been drastically reduced and so the children will suffer. Probably suffer for the rest of their lives.

So what good is this doing?

So the Budget attacks that our Congressman are doing, in both houses are not doing us any good. Only causing more suffering.

So what is happening to our Police Forces? Obviously, the Senate or Congress cannot attack our Local PD budget, but indirect they can and are! Now, we all know what reduced Police Services mean. Look at Dallas, Look at Florida, look at California. Are we going to stand for this? Is this what we want? Is this the way to correct out Problems?

I think not. Maybe higher taxes, maybe smarter ways to spend our money. Maybe we need smart people in our Elected positions.

If you look at what is happening now. The elected officials, in both houses, are following the lead that says they are to worry about Hillary only. They are to worry about the Presidential elections, the rest of us can go to hell!

Yes, that's right, the rest us can go to hell.

That is all except the NRA!!





Concern by the Average Person.

Just exactly what is needed here? We are waiting for it. Something bad to happen again. And it will. You can feel it. I can feel it.

I rush to read the papers every morning with trepidation. What has happened now? What has happened overnight?

This must change. Our leaders are preoccupied with Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. They are preoccupied to the extent that there seems to be no room for worrying about the man in the street. There is no room for the Protestor. There is no room for any of us except for the worry by Congress that Hilary will make it to the Presidency.

Where is the concern for the average person in this country?

What about me?

Friday, July 8, 2016

Congress is chasing nothing Important

So, there is plenty going on that requires our attention, It certainly requires the attention of our Politicans. So what is happening? We are protesting the lack of concern by our lawmakers, and they are busy chasing the fairy tale of the Emails and private servers.

They, the Lawmakers, prefer to chase Hillary's imaginary Email Problems. That, which has already been put to bed by the FBI director.

But, No the Congress has to keep looking for a problem. That does not exist.

What they should be doing is examine the Gun Laws and change them and tighten them up. Get rid of the In-house terrorists, and make our streets safe again.

Saturday, July 2, 2016

See the June Issue of the CV Messenger - Click Here



An answer to Lanny Howe, the Great Follower!

OK, Lanny Howe lets get it straight. I do not post as anonymous. I sign all my work. I am proud of what I write and so I put my name on it. I do not know what post you are referring to. I rarely delete a post. If I took one off the blog it is because it did not work. My opinions do not change.

I do not follow the leader and say what he wants me to say.

I also note that there are no more comments on the Great One's blog.

Sad and embarrassing

And one more thing, about the need for an outside negotiator. We don't need one! If El Supremo feels the need of one , because he is not up to it. Then use the bid committee. They are not irrelevant! They could do the job nicely.

Clean Water revisited, again, and again.

Scott and other state leaders have taken the position that toxic algae blooms on both Florida coasts are the result of the federal government’s failure to fortify the dike around Lake Okeechobee. Yes, the federal government strikes again!

Here’s how that narrative works:

The lake is a major source of the nitrogen- and phosphorous-rich water that spawns toxic algae blooms. There’s a 33-square-mile algae bloom in the lake right now. And when it rains a lot, as it has this year, the lake levels can be dangerously high under the current state of the lake’s 143-mile levee. Algae bloom is bad now, but catastrophic when it dies, expert says  A dead walking catfish lays on the shore with algae along Sewell’s Point on the St. Lucie River under an Ocean.

A failure of the old and vulnerable 30-foot-tall earthen barrier would flood lakefront communities and risk the lives of the people living there. Can’t have that. So to reduce the lake level, billions of gallons of that tainted water is pumped through the St. Lucie and Caloosahatchee estuaries before being spewed into the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico. “The state, as you know, doesn’t have any control over Lake Okeechobee,” Scott said this week, putting the blame, as he has in the past, on the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for not building a stronger dike, so the lake’s water wouldn’t have to be pumped.

To emphasize the federal government’s blame, Scott declared a state of emergency in February, after winter rains created another algae-bloom crisis, calling for the federal government to spend $800 million to fortify the lake’s Herbert Hoover Dike. And he declared a state of emergency again on Wednesday, following the lead of Martin County officials. Cerabino says: Algae blooms, a Florida problem decades in the making. But a solution that calls for Florida’s largest freshwater lake to be converted into a sturdier cesspool evades addressing the reason why the lake is so polluted. And it also doesn’t address why water flows not connected to the lake are also becoming putrid with pollutants.

For years, one of my favorite weekend activities has been to sit on the rocks at the end of the jetty on the north side of the Boca Raton Inlet, where you can see tropical fish swimming among the rocks and sea birds swooping in and out of the flowing water. It’s not such a wonderful spot anymore. Whenever the tide runs out, a rush of water the color of black tea is pulled from the Intracoastal and out into the ocean surrounding the jetty. When that happens, the blue ocean doesn’t prevail for nearly a half-mile to the north, meaning that tourists who plunk down $429-a-night to stay at the Waldorf Astoria’s Boca Beach Club get to look at or swim in yellow-brown ocean water that more resembles battery acid than the brilliant blue water shown on the resort’s website.  Toxic Algae is Spreading Along Treasure Coast Beaches. Blue-green algae in the St. Lucie River and on Treasure Coast beaches

Building a stronger dike around Lake Okeechobee won’t fix that. But fixing the pollution levels permitted for the water that flows in and out of that lake — as well as the rest of Florida’s freshwater canals, rivers and waterways — will.

And you can’t blame the feds for that. Since 1998, the federal government has been trying to get Florida to lower the nutrient levels permitted in fresh waters protected under the federal Clean Water Act.

After decades of non-compliance, the federal Environmental Protection Agency six years ago stopped waiting and called for specific numeric limits on water pollutants from farmers, municipal wastewater and stormwater utilities operations, and other polluters of state waters. The reaction from Florida’s leaders was swift. Gov. Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi, Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam and legislative leaders wrote a letter to the EPA, urging the federal government to do nothing. “We are very concerned about the cost of this onerous regulation to Floridians,” the letter said. “Businesses across Florida are struggling and our unemployment rate is nearly 12 percent. We each ran on a platform of fiscal responsibility and hear from numerous constituents about concerns of an overbearing federal government that’s placing burdensome regulations on Florida’s families and employers.”

A year later, the state legislature moved to ban the EPA’s pollution limits from being imposed. And two years ago, Florida, through Bondi’s office, joined the Fertilizer Institute in opposing the EPA’s pollution controls on the Chesapeake Bay — even though Florida is unconnected to the Chesapeake and the six states that are had already agreed to the cleaner water standards there.

Earlier this year, Scott signed a state water bill that eases timelines for cleaning up tainted Lake Okeechobee water, a bill that former Gov. Bob Graham called “a purposeful effort to weaken protection and management of Florida’s water resources.” So it’s not surprising that Scott is trying to distance himself from this week’s algae blooms on the Treasure Coast, as is our President, David Israel.

After all, they illustrate an uncomfortable truth long ignored in Florida: That the cost of clean water pales in comparison to the cost of dirty water.

Blue-Green Algae revisited, again

So the Great One makes an announcement at the last Delegates Assembly. That UCO, That He, the President, is not responsible for the Blue/GreenAlgae. And for the labeling of our County as a  disaster area.

We have talked about the Algae growth for almost a year now. So far the Administration has done nothing but denied it's existence. Now he denies that the Village Administrators, including WPRF, have any fault here,

The sins of Omission lay heavily on their shoulders. There are things that they could have done.  There are things that they could do now. There are things that they could do to make this Village a little more habitable.

But his answer is to deny. And WPRF's answer is silence.

Now that the Algae growth is out of control. The great denier is about to make jokes and deny any fault at all.

Not True Israel, you wanted this job, so  now help the Village. Do something!