The Sound Guy

Cut grass in several yards around the house until I graduated High School, then a friend helped me get on at Winn Dixie. Started as Bag boy, then stock, produce and dairy.

Hey Whitey - Doesn't it make you wonder where all these Conservative Republicans who are all concerned about tax increases were last year when the Republican led state houses and Republican Governor didn't renew the state property tax break, raising collected taxes on every home in Ga? Rather than kill the Bass Fishing support and other pork in the state budget, they cut education, and then raised state taxes by $300 on every home to fund their pork. As I recall, Whitey was about the only one on here complaining about that tax increase the Republican state leadership gave us.

Ya know, in the end, I believe that it really doesn't matter. Yea, some may take from deception, but if you give from the heart, God knows the reason behind the gift and it will be remembered, and what the others do, they will be dealt with later. Or, if you prefer, the karma train becomes an express when you take advantage of those willing to give. I wouldn't let it prevent me from giving, do your best to figure out the sheep from the goats, but if you get it wrong, don't let it bother you. Cheers!

If the SPLOST wasn't passed, you wouldn't be looking at just a mil or so of rate increase, it would be more like 4+ mils. The stuff the SPLOST pays for would have had to be purchased one way or another. Even with the rate increase, my taxes will remain about the same or a little less this year for the county after dropping last year (even if the state ate up the reduction last year). That's a nice change compared to what happened over the 10 years before that. Austin could have raised rates last year and kept the budget the same, instead, he slashed quite a bit off of it. Now to b

Well, we screamed that we wanted the school system to use anything donated and as I recall, that land was donated to the system by a local developer, so they used it.

The 160 day schedule in Polk county lengthens the school day by one hour for all schools. 160 hours / 8 = 20 day reduction in the year to 160 days. For those whose kids don't do after school activities, it might not be that big a deal but if you kid has sports practice after school then goes home to do homework it will make for a longer day. Also Polk is taking advantage of having a smaller schools system, with the new system, the hours are: Elementary: 8:00 AM to 3:10 PM Middle: 7:45 AM and ends at 3:35 High: 7:55 a.m. and ends 3:45 With all the schedules the same, non

I'm on Firefox and not seeing any issues. I have been logged in the whole time. I also have Flashblock active, so only Flash ads are blocked. (All that motion slows down my poor PC) Could this be a flash exploit? I just did a flash upgrade just a week or so ago for security reasons.

Ok, I see where you are coming from. I believe that the budget (with it's millage rate) has to be voted on and passed every year, so they are directly voting on the taxes that will be collected. I'll have to look and confirm that has happened in the past. If that is correct, then it would seem that a vote on a budget that has lower collections from the taxpayers is a vote to reduce taxes those taxpayers (since they pay less than they did the year before) no matter what the rate/tax base. On the other hand, if the county is collecting more than last year, no matter what the rate/tax is,

Spaceweather Another interesting Site. So... sounds like it should be starting now.. anyone see anything to the North yet?

Ah I see. Well, interesting question, he seems to have backed himself in a corner with that statement on his website. Not real smart to have included the tax rate in that pledge when no one has control over the property values in the county. Kinda like Jason did with all his press releases on rolling back the rate further. There has to be a balance somewhere between the good of the county and the tax load. The video seems to show that he does realize that the good of the county is an important thing, rather than just campaign rhetoric. Of course, not being on the commission yet, he d

Just think how many people would be lost if the GPS system failed.

If that is what the county needs to stay safe and financially stable then I think they should support it. That is their job, to keep the county running properly for the voters. However, David should not have put out that misleading budget to begin with if their was no plan to keep it. I want my representative to do what is needed to provides the minimum required services the county must provide to keep us safe, traffic moving, etc. If that means maintaining the current tax level, then fine, I'm used to paying it, after all, I paid more than this for the last 6 years under Jerry! Just

You have got to be kidding me. You would be happier paying more and have the millage rate cut than paying less with a millage rate increase? Boy I wish I had as much money as you do that I would love to send more to the Government and be happy about it. Come on, it's pretty simple, no matter what happens to the digest vs the rate: If I pay more this year than last year, I got a tax increase. If I pay less this year than last year, I got a tax cut. Now a comment on this budget change: I'll be the first to admit I am disappointed in David. It appears now that the f

Cool. I'm actually in Yankee Land tonight, may have to get up early to see the show!

Amen Brother... Our politicians have a problem with understanding that the "Rules of War" only work if both sides agree on them

You want creepy, take a look at this one. I'm afraid I'd get a bullet posting it. I hope its a fake. Lysol Ad

After our $300+ bills last month, I bumped both thermostats back up to 78. Bill this month was about the same as last month or a little less, so I'm happy. Did notice that the A/C units have little ponds at the outlets (I have twin 2 1/2 ton units, overkill, but a long story) so I brought up the dehumidifier from the basement. It's pulling 2+ gallons of water a day out of the upstairs and really helping to dry the air and make it more comfortable. We'll see if the bill goes down any next month with it upstairs.

As I recall, it was reported to come from a "restoration" grant from the feds or somebody.

Well it's not as bad as those, but we've had laughs in the family about our wedding: We had two ministers for our wedding (Our current minister and the the one that had been pastor at the church when DW was christened). At the ring ceremony, the pastor on my side asked for my DW's ring and I hand it to him. He promptly hands it to the other minister who then hands it to her. So she's standing there holding her ring. He then asks her for my ring, and they do the same thing and I'm holding my ring. When he starts to say the words for me to put the ring on my wife's finger, they reali

There is a $10 charge for tube TVs. Also, when I last took a projection tv up there, they wouldn't take it and had me take it to the transfer station. (even though ones like mine have 3 projection tubes in them?)

I've cooked pancakes in bacon grease for years... looks like that is a great idea to minimize frying pan's used.

Wikepedia to the rescue:

They actually fell for a fake ad in that one. That's a Rigid Pipe Threader, they had Women in most of their ads. The original:

LOL, when is that full moon?

Yea, but the reverse is also true, if you have spent over what you paid in before you get laid off/quit, whatever, you don't have to pay the difference. It's part of the risk balancing between the company and employee. You can file until the end of the year for expenses that you had BEFORE the date of separation.