Reptile & Amphibian Forums

Just saw on the news, they are bringing Formula 1 racing to Austin, TX. Going to build a track.

I think that's a good thing, but isn't it a bit hypocritical for the town that makes energy conservation one of it's primary objectives. A town that requires energy efficiency audits, at seller's expense, before the sale of any habitation over 10 years old can take place, with a Class C Misdemeanor as penalty for non-compliance, all in the name of conservation...for such a town to sponsor and to facilitate such an unnecessary elitist exhibition, one that not only contributes to air pollution but also contributes to an unnecessary and inefficient use of fuel and energy consumption?

OK, so they burn Alcohol. Still, lots of Hydrocarbons and Carbon Black put into the atmosphere.

Not really an issue, just an issue in Austin. Contrary to everything that government preaches.

jsc

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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Yes and no.

For all we know, the facilities will be a state of the art energy efficient showcase.

These event bring in people from all over the world: it's a great opportunity for Austin to show off how green can be achieved with positive results.

Methinks you have too much time on your hands. Maybe it's time to go do something proactive instead of wasting time being just another anti-government internet curmudgeon.

Since I lived, worked, and owned property in Austin, TX for the past 20 years or so (moved out in 2009), I think I'm entitled to and reasonably qualified to have my opinions on the bureaucratic hypocrisy there.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

To be sure, but how useful are the opinions if one doesn't ever take action to affect positive change? Not very useful at all.

I did write the then mayor at the time, explaining my opposition to the proposed energy audits...stating they were intrusive and unnecessary...that they were an invasion of privacy, an overreach by government, an infringement of the 4th Amendment to the Constitution; and that an actual compilation of recent energy bills would more than suffice.
Did no good.
Thanks,
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

So, you complained. Imagine that.

" There's that attitude again.."
jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Let me repeat -- "and that an actual compilation of recent energy bills would more than suffice."

I did offer a very logical suggestion -- Reasonable, straightforward, simple and direct.

I'm not going to bore you with all the details on the policy, or the economic ramifications for that matter It would be a waste of time, but suffice it to say the true motives behind the agenda were an increased tax base and real property speculation.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

To be sure, but how useful are the opinions if one doesn't ever take action to affect positive change? Not very useful at all.

StephF take your own advice and stop BSing everyone on here like you know what it is you are talking about. You ramble on with hypothetical scenarios about how others could be wrong when they at least know something about what it is they are talking about and you do not.
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

LOL.

Your narrow mindedness is showing. Not only do you seem to be quite unwilling to view issues from different perspectives, but you also condemn those who examine problems more closely do as 'BS-ers'.

As for knowing what you're talking about, well, your posts speak for themselves, although probably in ways not intended.

You should look up the diagnostic criteria for sociopathy sometime, just for kicks.

StephF the thing is you think you are the smartest person on here or maybe even the world as your post tend to show. But you missed the point of my post all together. It was not that I got charged more for turtle keeping. I got fined only once for moving my garden hose and they said I was watering my yard. I did not water my yard in the three years I lived there. It was dirt and dry dead grass. They just wanted more money from people.
Also if they take money from people and say it is in the name of conservation then that money should get used for it so it actually helps to fix the problem at hand. The money instead being put into a fat cats pocket does nothing good.
I was not over using the water and before I moved there I hybridized bog plants and other plants too as well as kept turtles. My water bill was never more than 30.00 but as soon as I moved to North Austin my water bill was 100.00 most of the time and I did not keep plants anymore.

It is a little much to have to explain all of those kind of details to you. All I am saying is if you are half as smart as you think you are I would not have too.
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

"Methinks you have too much time on your hands. Maybe it's time to go do something proactive instead of wasting time being just another anti-government internet curmudgeon."

No Steph, I'm not anti-government at all. I'm anti BAD Government.
Just like I'm anti pretentious snobbery...those persons with the insipid inane comments and opinions. Those insecure individuals that must always speak to issues they have no first hand knowledge of and no stake in, in an effort to let others know how intelligent they are. Those that must always have the last word. Things like that are what I'm against.

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

https://health.google.com/health/ref/Narcissistic personality disorder

Jaykis, I think you hit the nail on the head.
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

Methinks? How funny! THE GREEN MOVMENT is what algore has every morning,along with the rest of your phony veek'in hero's. Get rich on restricting freedom like water use, ele. consumtion, a carbin credit scam, and preaching about how Globel Warming will cause Calif. to go under water, and then buy a four million dollor house there for his self. The new POST AMERICA regimenters. That is what we are here to talk about. Some of us have a lifetime of work to lose. It aint me babe! Your words arnt clear you better spit out your gum.*bd Go to the Green Movment Forum and take one yourself. VM

It is like when Austin said that due to the drought Lake Travis could go dry in 80 years. So they started water rationing and made a large fee for the penalty if you used more water or used it on days you where not supposed to. I had to water my turtles so got a large fine. But if I had not watered them it would have been animal cruelty.
The truth is it is always about the bottom line (AKA money) !

Take a look at the amount of land that Austin or any other City plans to expand by over the next fine or ten years. You can get the blue print for the plan as most Cities have this planed out already.
It will kill off a lot of reptiles and other animals and destroy a lot of habitat. But because you keep reptiles you are the problem here.
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

One more thing I would point out is not one penny of the fee for over use of the water went on any water conservation project. You can bet it went into a CEO's fat pocket to pay for his large house and or one of the many cars he owns.
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

It's a public utility....

Because being a transplanted Texan myself I can tell you most Texans in the rest of the State wouldn't piss on Austin if it was on fire. In that case they need to conserve every drop of water they have. John I have to applaud you for moving out of that left wing scum hole but I really have to wonder what would posses you to live there for 20 yrs?
I know the hill country is pretty and all but for myself if I ever moved back I think I'd opt for going back to Jim Wells or Frio county myself. I definitely prefer living somewhere where beating up people from Austin is considered a sport #rd only to football and beating up people from NYC.

Damned if you don't sound like a "Florida Cracker" of which I am and proud of it...LOL
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

That's because I live in Paisley now, but I grew up in South Texas. I've spent most of my life in the middle of nowhere 40 miles from anything. The longer I live the better I like it that way.

It was your choice to keep turtles: stop playing the victim!

You would have been more upset if you had to buy water by the bottle and/or had rolling blackouts, since apparently the lake is a hydroelectric reservoir, too.

Nobody is playing the victim. The water company I had when I was there was a smaller privately owned company and there was no choice who we got our water from there. I stopped keeping turtles and did not use hardly any water and my water bill was still almost 100.00 for water alone and all they would do is say it was right when asked to recheck it. One of the utility companies there got caught over charging and had to pay some back because someone video taped the meters.

There was a show on TV not too long ago that showed some of the homes of some of the utility company CEO's and yes they get paid a load of cash.

So StephF figure what is being talked about here before you put your two cents in. The point is if they want to charge big fees for water use especially when most of it was probably trumped up charges they should at least put that money into a conservation fund to improve the water in the area and not there pocket. I don't see how paying more money to the ones that over use as being a conservation thing period.
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

Eric, you are the victim of Steph playing the devils advocate with many cards short of of a deck 52. Don't worry about it as you're in good company. Apparently not many Carretta carreta are nesting these days or according to her she would be busy...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

From what I see is Steff has the hots so bad for John she stalks his posts seeking attention .Negative attention is better than none and if she did not stalk him she would disappear in to oblivion never to be scene again.At least try to get his number and quit trying to play hard to get you know you want it.

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Archie Bottoms

Paging Dr. Freud....

Terrapene Carolina carolina...but you'd know that if you'd paid attention.

One nesting as I type.

If you learned your taxonomy you would know not to capitalize the species. Only the genus should be capitalized....thanks
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com

Oh, you mean like this?

jsc
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"As hard as I've tried, just can't NOT do this"
John Crickmer

Thanks Tom. I already know those on here that only want to make more crap. If they are so smart why can't they solve the worlds problems instead of trying to impede those that are?
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

Can you PROVE that they lined their own pockets with the over-usage fees? You know, with documentation instead of conjecture or citing an obscure local TV program?

You do have a choice to lower your bills. Use less or move to someplace where you are on a well. Use rain barrels and cisterns. Flush once a day. Make do.

Stop the professional victim-hood schtick. It's un-American. And really really boring.

Nice catch, Tom

But it won't matter.

As I explained in a post above there was little choice. The fact that the CEO's of utility companies are filthy rich speaks for itself. Who else gets the money that they take in? Santa Claus?
I know you think you are so smart you know this already but really you don't know jack. I was not using too much water and do use rain barrels. My bill was 100.00 even when I was not keeping turtles and gone for a month.
As for moving? I did !
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Noah was the first snake collector. ~Eric~

Steph, you are the one that is boring and unfortunately a novice without even a baseline understanding of the issues at hand. I dislike having to converse in a condensending manner but with you there is NO other option...
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Tom Crutchfield
www.tomcrutchfield.com