airdvr

More like an observer. I probably won't live to see it but I imagine the response of these folks when the scales tip. Being that nothing is static I believe the future will see the "have-nots" rise up against the ruling class or the "haves" will suddenly wake up to see that they actually work for the government. I did think it was odd that property taxes in CA work differently than elsewhere. Seems your tax rate doesn't change once you purchase. That's why, even in MV every once in a while a dilapidated home graces the corner. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Absolutely SAN FRANCISCO NAMED LEAST-AFFORDABLE CITY IN THE U.S. http://www.interest.com/mortgage/news/study-big-city-housing-often-unaffordable/ Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

No problem. Crime here in Valhalla is almost non-existent. And yet the apartment building has a multitude of unmanned electronic checkpoints. Without the magic fob we wouldn't be able to get near. I look for these to be implanted at birth in the future. Again, no mayans allowed without a weed eater. And the safety nazi's don't stop at your doorstep. So far during our visit we've come to know that baby walkers are so dangerous as are those fun bouncy things my kids hung from the doorframe. We can't be trusted to take care of our children. We have digital thermometers in the bath, tiny mixers for the formula and no video interaction for baby until 18 months. A must have for your toddler? babiators http://shop.nordstrom.com/s/babiators-polarized-sunglasses-toddler/3832585?cm_cat=datafeed&cm_ite=828092&cm_pla=toddler_unisex:eyewear:sunglasses&cm_ven=Google_Product_Ads_pla_online&mr:referralID=a2a29081-ccc8-11e4-82f7-001b2166c2c0 I think folks here are pretty sure they are incapable of raising proper offspring without the government's help. I see this area as the land of "take". Spotting a US manufacturer's auto here (with the exception of Tesla) is like a big-foot siting. I'm seeing the people with the most disposable income doing the least to help their fellow traveler. I did have the privilege of my first ride in a Tesla P85. I'm glad to know my taxes help support this area; it's so needy. Of course in all it's glory the Golden State is about to become a desert. Funny how something as simple as water will either be the great equalizer or the resource that exposes these over privileged douchebags for what they are. Somehow I seriously doubt Mountain View will be the area hardest hit by the lack of H2o. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Let me start by saying it should be no surprise that i am not a fan of California politics and laws. I see them as intruding way too far into the average everyday life. That being said... Rox and I have been in Mountain View CA since Friday. We're staying at one of the least expensive hotels in town (at least of the ones that don't charge by the hour). This area is beautiful. Great weather just about every day. We're walking around in shorts and tees and some folks look at us like we're nuts. For those of you not familiar this is the heart of Silicon Valley. Home to Google, Intuit, Symantec et al. Geek nirvana. And I'm not kidding when I say it's beautiful. However, I get the feeling that this is the blueprint for the future according to high ranking liberals. It's been quite an eye opening experience. Had I not been blessed with an orthopedic surgeon for a stepdaughter and a well paid code monkey for a stepson I probably would have never seen this area from the perspective of those who live and work here. This is an economically gated community. You can pick up a cool 3 bedroom, 2 bath 1167 sq ft home for $1,664,000.00. Of course these days homes in this area are selling for 8-12% more than asking prices. Don't want to buy just yet? You can rent. Least expensive rental I can find is 750 sq.ft for $2350/mo. If you want to live someplace nice plan on $4-5,000. Interestingly I read an article in the local paper that talks of a problem with affordable housing in Mountain View. The fix; raise taxes on those who build developments, office complexes and apartments. http://ww2.kqed.org/news/2014/11/29/mountain-view-may-raise-developer-fees-to-fund-affordable-housing So the only way the average person has a chance at living here is if the government says it's OK. Of course raising taxes on those who build the local housing ought to fix the problem. The transportation system is second to none here. Right across the street is a stop for CalTrain and VTA. Just want to get around town? There's the Google funded buses. Of course this is controversial because you can now live in SFO and work in Mountain View and your transportation costs are near $0. Of course that is leading to rent increases in areas near the bus stops. http://io9.com/yes-the-google-bus-is-affecting-rental-prices-in-san-f-1510968923 I just deleted about an hour's worth of writing because it might possibly reveal unwanted personal information. Perhaps more to come later about this economically gated community and the way they control the uneducated brown people who work here. Funny, you never hear about this area as being racist because it's not racist if you are paying them. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

jasper must be fixed...he doesn't seem to like pussy. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

What's the frequency, Kenneth? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

False. Chicago doesn't even make the top 20 in terms of gun crimes per 100,000 population. Memphis, Miami, Atlanta, St. Louis, KC, Baltimore, Detroit, Birmingham... all have higher rates. I'm sure the 291 people shot and 61 Chicagoans who died in the first 2.5 months of 2015 will take great solace in knowing that John. http://heyjackass.com/ How's life on the South Side...of Illinois? And those numbers don't even get them in the top 20? Good thing the US doesn't have a violence problem more guns couldn't fix. Indeed. John benefits greatly from the population numbers and the fact that there are quite a few nice neighborhoods within the city proper to offset the warzone neighborhoods. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

False. Chicago doesn't even make the top 20 in terms of gun crimes per 100,000 population. Memphis, Miami, Atlanta, St. Louis, KC, Baltimore, Detroit, Birmingham... all have higher rates. I'm sure the 291 people shot and 61 Chicagoans who died in the first 2.5 months of 2015 will take great solace in knowing that John. http://heyjackass.com/ How's life on the South Side...of Illinois? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Jeebus! I hope a freshman senator doesn't get elected as POTUS. We would be in a world of hurt if that ever happened. You do know the meaning of "freshman", don't you? The United States Senate career of Barack Obama began on January 4, 2005 and ended on November 16, 2008. How many 6 year terms do you think he served in those 4 years? You and I have a different view of the term Freshman. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Jeebus! I hope a freshman senator doesn't get elected as POTUS. We would be in a world of hurt if that ever happened. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

I was talking with my daughter today. She's in her second year. In her Oceanography class AGW is taught as fact. The war is over...we lost. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Always pisses me off when I see some self righteous asshat complaining about the noise from an airport that was there when the asshats arrived. I remember for a couple of seasons at Parkman we had a TwinBo that was a real plate rattler. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Ahem...post 44 - Perhaps the government ought to spend more time going after employers who hire illegals Do you like your crow served warm or cold? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

I know four things for sure; 1. There are too many illegals in country and more coming every day. 2. Our current system rewards people for illegal entry. (see #1) 3. We need/want these workers in our economy. 4. We need to gain control over our southern border. Seems to me the only sticking point to changing the system is what to do with the illegals who are already here. We can grant them some sort of path to citizenship but until we can control the entry points that only adds more incentive for illegal entry. You have to close the barn door first then figure out what to do about the horses. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

In an all-volunteer armed forces why would an Iraq War resistor need asylum in Canada? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Wow...that car has more cameras on it than a 100 jump wonder. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Just a comment - I won't venture an opinion on the amnesty until I observe the economy and society for a couple years now that it's happened (no conclusions without data, only theories) Bold mine say that as an American about the US and you'll get totally driven out of town and tar and feathered - and much of the time by people from countries with immigration rules that you'd think would be sympathetic the short of it is that most all developed countries have standards and rules for immigrating legally - but it seems only the US gets bashed on trying to do the same (or do I just not hear about the others?) Shouldn't the free market correct for this automatically? If this was so important for Americans, wouldn't consumers be willing to buy products at a higher price point if manufactures/produced without illegal labour? If your own society didn't have such a need for cheap products and labour, there would be no, or at least a much smaller, market for the illegals. Why is the government getting blamed for the fact your own people cannot abstain from the products, services and labour provided cheap by illegal immigrants? Where is the personal responsibility? I think you've got this one a bit backwards. We pay what is offered for sale. Perhaps the government ought to spend more time going after employers who hire illegals. But that's not the true fix. I can illegally enter this country and get an ITIN card. With the ITIN card I can legally get a job. Do you see the problem there? BTW...I seriously doubt very many illegals are getting ITIN cards. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Ummm NO. www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/10/02/u-s-deportations-of-immigrants-reach-record-high-in-2013/ The only dodging going on is your dodging of facts. Until you control the southern border that's like bailing out the Titanic with a bucket. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

I got this explanation from a friend on FB...Catapult of outgoing Air Wing Commander's unit 'toy' while ship is testing newly installed catapult systems... a morale building event for the flight deck crew Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

It's starts like this. "In their continued war on women and sexist attitudes the Rebublicans -------------" I was personally thinking it was a vast right-wing conspiracy. Edited to add: woukdnt it be something if the NSA has all the e-mails? Hill is a seasoned veteran. There won't be any "blue dress" moment for her. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

You go ahead and trust them all you want. In December, the Iranian defense minister declared that Iran is now the fourth largest missile power in the world after the United States, Russia and China. In August 2012, Saudi Aramco came under a massive cyber attack that left a great number of the company’s computers destroyed. That was presumed to be an Iranian retaliation for a similar attack on Iran’s oil industry at hands of Iran’s foes, most likely the United States or Israel. Thanks to its Arab character, Hezbollah is Tehran’s preferred instrument for its public relations aimed at the Arab street. When Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah castigates the House of Saud and its policies, it no doubt resonates to a greater extent with ordinary Arabs than if a Persian-speaker made the same charges. Iran has long threatened to close the Strait of Hormuz, through which much of the world’s oil shipments pass. http://nationalinterest.org/feature/4-iranian-threats-terrorize-saudi-arabia-12310 Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zzdzZxgbsE Not the same thing but you get the idea. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

How else will you grow the Dem voter base? Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

One man's terrorist... And, anything someone does that gets Nancy's panties in a bunch means we're on the right track. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne

Agree. While that certainly is a possibility Barry has had some less than stellar performances in the foreign policy arena. If your pitcher's tossing grapefruit you bring in the reliever. Please don't dent the planet. Destinations by Roxanne