Fiscal Rangers

Great article on global warming and differences between "Conservationists" & "Environmentalists"

Dated Jan. 27, 2015 - from Canada Free Press. This is from the Canadian Free Press, and is an excellent overview of the stupidity of liberal environmentalists and claims about global warming vs true conservationists. The author, Daniel Greenfield, describes how New York Central Park was designed and constructed to replace a swamp in New York City by two Republicans, and then explains what it would be if environmentalists of today had their way. I recommend it. Excerpts, but doesn't include the Central Park segment: "Global Warming is an ideological weapon by the environmentalists against human civilization. It is part of a broader anti-civilization agenda by the left, which values the natural world only because it sees it as a “primitive” antidote to the complexities of civilization. That romanticism is the borrowed hostility of the nomad to the farmer (and it is very telling to look at Europe and see its intellectuals championing the virtues of Bedouin nomads over London and Paris) taken up by bored intellectuals, arguing against the complexity of civilization and for the noble barbarism of the savage. Where the conservationist values the natural world because of its beneficial impact on the human spirit through cultivation and... Read more →

Very 2012 Direct Video Editorial by UK Bloke on "A word to Rioting Muslims"

This video by Pat Condell has over 2-million views since creation in 2012. It is only five minutes long, and clearly shows unhappiness with constant complaints by Muslims. "They are the Gimme religion". It is also translated into 14 languages. https://dotsub.com/view/72457cbc-fe18-4053-ae3f-6c7639cf4e79 Read more →

Lake County, FL Animal Services has problems, but at least they aren't labeled a "death camp" like Putnam County.

Jan 26, 2015 Lake County, FL Lake County's Animal Services has had repeated problems with management and their approach to euthanasia. But this article points out that Putnam County, FL has a worse problem - they are labeled as a death camp for animals. See, we aren't the worst! http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2015-01-25/story/putnam-county-working-improve-death-camp-animal-control-reputation?utm_source=FAC+News+Clips+-+January+26%2C+2015&utm_campaign=FAC+News+Clips+-+January+26+2015&utm_medium=email Read more →

Will Lake County Schools implement the one world IB education program?

The Lake County School Board may initiate IB education programs if two School Board members have their way. There are pros and cons, and we will have more next week. Read more →

FL State AG audit of Okaloosa County TDC funds usage results in recommendation the County payback TDC $3.7-million for "improper" payment for Lifeguards

Tavares, FL Jan. 22, 2015 The FL State Auditor General audit of Okaloosa County, FL Tourism Development Fund usage resulted in the recommendation that the County payback TDC $3.7-million for "improper" payment for Lifeguards. "The Auditor General maintains that the use of bed tax revenue to fund lifeguards is not "expressly authorized by law," according to the audit findings. The state went as far as to recommend the county return money it spent on lifeguards from May 2010 to July 2014 - a total of $3.7 million - to its bed tax account. The Auditor General also urged the county to seek an opinion from the state Attorney General on the issue." Since Lake County, FL doesn't have lifeguards in Lake County, I assume this is not a problem, but it appears the FL AG could audit and disagree with TDC spending plans. http://www.nwfdailynews.com/local/okaloosa-state-disagree-over-lifeguards-is sue-remains-unresolved-after-audit-document-1.424797?utm_source=FAC+News+Cli ps+-+January+15%2C+2015&utm_campaign=FAC+News+Clips+-+January+15+2015&utm_me dium=email Vance Read more →

Lauren Ritchie, Orlando Sentinel Columnist, Blasts Lake County School Admin for Class Size Fiscal Fiasco

Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015 Tavares, FL Columnist Lauren Ritchie blasts Lake County, FL school administration and some board members for the latest class size fiscal fiasco. This is the latest in the sad management by School Board member Debbie Stivender and Supt. Susan Moxley. Ritchey is right on with this one. You would think that after last year's fiasco over class size reporting that the administration, after hiring a $48,000 per year specialist to ensure class size reporting to the State of FL was accurate, that they actually would provide supervisions and management direction to ensure accuracy of data sent to the state. But, NO, NO, NO, they did not. That is what will keep happening with Stivender and Moxley in their positions. More reactions, lack of planning, lack of accuracy and lack of action. Reminds me of Nissan Motor Corp. when I worked there in the 90's. They were the same way, and not soon after I left, the French firm, Renault, bought controlling interest in Nissan and turned them around after firing the leadership. vj Read more →

Will Lake County School fines of $1.2-million for exceeding class size be waived, or required?

Tavares, FL Jan. 6, 2015 Note: See also separate issue below of Lake Schools reinstating courtesy busing The State of Florida just posted potential fines for all 67 school districts for exceeding class sizes, and Lake County is 2nd highest on the list, with potential fines over $1.2-million. You can see the list of fined due from each Florida school district HERE on the TampaBay.com website. Very specific class size limits exist due to a State Constitutional Amendment passed in 2002. Thanks go to Stuart Klatte, head of the Lake County teachers union, LCEA, who sent me this list. So, Lake County, due to class size limit overages, has a fine due over $1.2 million, the second largest in Florida school Districts Now last year, LCSD had large fines when they were caught manipulating data, but the fines were waived. Now, this year, they exceeded class size limits based upon Board direction so as not to disrupt kids in the middle of semesters if new kids caused a class size to go over required limits. But, will the State accept that as an answer and waive the fines? Will parents support the Board and Superintendent for making the decision to... Read more →

Action Alert: Today is US House Vote for new Speaker - Call your Congressman to support Louie Gohmert, not John Boehner

Today the US House of Representatives votes for the new Speaker of the House. If you want change in the Republicans, you need to take action and contact your House Representative to request he vote for Louie Gohmert as Speaker of the House, and not establishment Republican John Boehner. Read more →

Bill Gates Common Core Update - He admits being naive - was the public guinea pigs?

Dec. 3, 2014 Bill Gates Common Core update: You have to ask yourself why the Lake County School Board and Administration are not aware of this information about Bill Gate's grants and act on it. We all know that Bill Gates was behind much of the funding for Common Core, but this in-depth Jan. 3, 2014 Washington Post article describes how he has admitted he was naive in his education and grant programs "Gates then poured hundreds of millions of dollars into helping develop and promote the Common Core State Standards, as well as hundreds of millions more in creating and implementing educator assessment systems that incorporated student standardized test scores into individual teacher’s evaluations. The fact that assessment experts repeatedly warned against using student test scores as part of a teacher’s evaluation because the method isn’t reliable or valid did not stop the foundation from making these grants. He and his foundation just thought it would work" "There is indeed a big place for philanthropy in American society, but there are consequences for replacing public policy with the dreams of the super-rich, not the least of which is that public institutions become testing grounds for philanthropic experimentation. Given that... Read more →

Lake County Schools and Common Core (Florida Standards ) Issues Described by Daily Commercial

Jan. 4, 2014 Tavares, FL An article on Lake County Florida Standards (Common Core) from the Daily Commercial. Some good quotes but not much on a major issue, which is the child abuse caused by too complex standards for K-5 which is called "developmentally inappropriate" due to kids brains not developing yet to handle the concepts being taught. Many, many videos on YouTube by psychologists about this, plus others by early childhoold development specialists. Additionally, it seems several quotes focus on eliminating "high stakes" tests which are used to evaluate teachers and set their compensation. Teachers don't want to be measured, so the two new teachers on the Board bring it up. However, not as much about the excess testing of KIDS, and parents need to speak out. vj Read more →

Comcast Users - Are your rates for a rental modem going up 2.50%?

Comcast and time warner are raising modem rental rates, at least in Denver. The increased cost may justify ditching the rental and buying your own modem. I did it. Other Comcast issues are discussed. Read more →