Neddy's Palaver

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Look out Loudoun and Fauquier Counties! The big enchilada that is Fairfax County is about to take over your horsey status as “Horse Country.” A movement is underway to banish horse-less carriages in favor of more horses, bicycles and walking in Fairfax County, Virginia.

In future, beginning July 2009, Fairfax County residents seeking admission to their own taxpayer funded park-lands, must pay a fee if they arrive in a “horse-less” carriage, but no fee if they arrive riding a horse. This is blatant discrimination against non-equine modes of transportation. Why is Fairfax County trying to become horsey Fauquier County? If one employs a horse-less carriage instead of a horse to transport oneself, why should the horse be favored in entering into government owned parks.

Do horses pay taxes to Fairfax County? I do not know. I do not own a horse, because Fairfax County will not allow me to stable one upon my minuscule Fairfax County property. But Fairfax County does allow me, for now at least, to keep a horse-less carriage on my property, and I do know that my horseless carriage indeed pays taxes to Fairfax County.

I demand to be allowed to keep a horse, so that I can get into Fairfax County’s parks without paying a penalty.

Read today’s WaPo for this latest revelation about Fairfax County’s Plan to charge its own tax-paying residents to enter publicly own parks.

If you are interested in fighting Fairfax County’s City Hall on this “additional” tax on horse-less carriages, read PatCleary.com.

First off -DO NOT follow the advice of a “fraudulent” email being sent about the Internet, “How to Lock Your Car and Why!” The email is “kinda” true, as it may indeed apply to automobiles manufactured before the mid 1980s, when the Remote Key-less Locking Device for automobiles was first introduced.

According to Snopes.com, the email is doubly FALSE as it states that Snopes has approved the information in the email. In fact, Snopes has verified as FALSE the basic premise that car thieves, sitting somewhere in a parking lot, are using a new device that can easily grab and clone your security code as you lock your car using a key-less locking device. The email further states that police are advising people to thwart the thieves by using the key-less remote to lock a car while still sitting “inside,” before exiting. In this case, according to the fraudulent email quoting the police, the thieves cannot grab your code.

Before following the email’s advice, you would be far safer to lock your car the “old-fashioned” way, with the key in the lock. That is because locking your car, from inside the car, is far more likely to end up with you locked outside of your locked car, and your key, along with your children and pets, still inside.

Since the 1990s, manufacturers of these key-less entry devices have been employing rolling random codes which change each the system is used to lock or unlock a car, thus rendering ineffective the car thieves “code grabber” devices. Automobiles manufactured after the mid-1990s, are not vulnerable to being quickly and easily opened by criminals armed with code grabbers.

Yes, a very determined and smart thief could thwart the system according to Keeloq. However, the thief would need specialized knowledge and then spend hours, if not days, crunching data in order to replicate a device to produce the correct entry code. The thief would also have to confidence that the vehicle would stay fixed in place during the time he was calculating the key code.

So — when you receive this email warning you about the use of your Key-less Remote to lock your car, be advised that the information in that e-mail is FALSE, and, in the interest of the personal safety of others, please do not disseminate it any further.

The Smithsonian wants it, but Aretha Franklin is not keen about reliquishing her hat with the big wool bow sparkling with genuine Svarovski crystals. At latest count there are more than twenty-five Fan Groups for her hat at Facebook and probably as many at Flickr. The hat’s Detroit designer has more than 3,000 requests for silk replicas at $180 each. The original in wool would cost upwards of $500, and it is unknown how many have ordered that version. And … Even I have finally got my own official “Aretha Franklin Inauguration Hat.” Mine is the original - all wool Svarovski. Now I can die happy. My only regret is that it was not available in fire engine red.
Flickr Slide Show of Aretha Chapeaux

(The Weekly Standard)

The image, Edna-Aretha, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Barneykin’s account.

Visit Neddy’s Archives for more of Edna’s writings.

OVER 10,000 Apple Apps and Counting!
Did you know, that in the first 142 days since Apple first started accepting new iPhone/iPod Touch Apps, there have been over 10,000 Apps added to the iTunes App Store?

My grandson told me that he has downloaded five pages of Apps onto his new iPod Touch. My Touch holds twice as much as his and I have only five Apps in toto: Facebook, Crazy Candle (came in handy for a candle-less birthday), Stanza (love it for reading ebooks), Twitterific and DataCase. Actually I have only four, as DataCase, the most expensive of all of them, didn’t work, so I deleted it.

So, thanks to Grandson’s enthusiasm, I went to the Apple Apps Store and downloaded many of the recommended ones at this link: “Top 15 iPhone Apps of 2008,” except for the games, plus a few others I found. Games bore me. I only downloaded the “FREE” Apps, as I know from experience that the Apps that charge oftentimes do not work, and there is little if any chance of getting a refund. Then I went to bed and before falling off to sleep I tried figuring out what I had done. Imagine this - I now have 160,000 recipes on my iPod, the complete works of Shakespeare plus some that scholars are not sure he wrote, Pandora radio, Urbanspoons restaurants, and two more lights, in case I need to see where I’m going at night. Now I need to find time to sync these to my new iPhone.

I am here to report that the favorite of all that I downloaded has got to be Pandora. It works perfectly. I now have my own custom made radio on this little device. It is like the old “Bluegrass Country” at WAMU has come back to life. WAMU kicked “Bluegrass Country” over to HD radio and the Internet, so they could have more “BORING, BORING” talk on WAMU. I’ve not listened to them since. Who needs them anyway? I’ve got an iPod Touch with all my favorite music on it. But I do miss Ray Davis.

The Shakespeare App is incredible, except it is not easy to read. I am used to reading books on my iPod Touch with STANZA, and I feel certain that I can download Shakespeare’s plays from STANZA for reading. But this Shakespeare App is nice for impressing my friends with my “new found” erudition. See, I carry ALL of the Bard’s works in my purse. If there are any quotations that they cannot remember, I can find them all right here on my iPod.

One of the lights was really not worth the price - FREE. I am going to delete that as I cannot figure what it is suppose to do, except click off and on. I like the Flashlight, as it could come in handy at the theater or when trying to find something at the bottom of my black bag (my purse). I’ve not tried the WordPress App yet.

Most of these Apps need WiFI to work, which in the past would have been a problem for me, as the iPod Touch is not always connected. That is probably why I had not downloaded so many Apps to it. Like the Google Maps are great, but I don’t usually need them at home where I have computers and Internet. I need them when I’m away from home - like on the streets of DC where they don’t work on the iPod Touch. Now my iPod Touch stays home and I go abroad with my new iPhone, where I will always be 100% connected to the real world - the Internet.

If you go out on this Saturday night,
you'’re sure of a big surprise.
If you go out on this Saturday night,
You better not close your eyes.
For every wacko and robber and crook,
Will gather about for certain because,
Tonight’s the night everyone sees the Big Moon Rising.

Yes, we are getting closer and closer to that mysterious and ancient ritual known as The Winter Solstice. Be prepared. We know not what awaits us in that long night when vampires vamp and werewolves weir and howl at the Big Moon Rising. Take your flashlight along for the chilly wind of a fleeing specter may extinguish any candles and lanterns you be carrying.

If you stay away form Hampstead Heath, you may be fortunate enough to make it through the Night of the Big Moon without being gobbled alive by hobgoblins or lose your blood to blood-thirsty British vampires. However, you will not be totally safe. Because the gravitational pull of both the sun and the moon are at their strongest, there is a high probability that the earth will tremble, move and shake right under your feet. Earthquakes on a Saturday night! Nothing could be worse if you are watching the Big Moon Rising from The California coast.

Look Up Tonight! You will not see this again for another eight years, …. if ever.

BEAT ARMY! They did!

With President George W. Bush in attendance, Shun White ran for 148 yards and scored two touchdowns to lead Navy over Army 34-0 yesterday for its seventh straight win iover Army.

The image, U.S. Navy Flag, was originally uploaded by barneykin. It is posted here from Barneykin’s account.

Visit Neddy’s Archives for more of Edna’s writings.

Have you heard of it? If you drive in Virginia, and many other states, you should become aware of it. In Virginia there is a “SLOW DOWN - MOVE OVER” law. Someone who had not, has written of her experience:

In case you are not aware, there is a relatively new law in Va, and I want to give all of you a heads up because of a traffic citation I received last Sunday morning. As I was traveling in the right lane on the Dulles Toll Rd to the airport, I came upon a stopped state trooper on the right shoulder who had stopped a vehicle; he was pulled all the way over on shoulder. I was driving the speed limit and remained in my lane and even slowed down; there was a speeding car that passed in the left lane, thus I stayed in my lane. The next thing I know, the trooper is behind us with his lights flashing and I thought he was going to go after the speeding car, but instead he pulled me over. The first thing the officer said was that I was not speeding, but the reason he pulled me over was because I was supposed to move over to the left lane prior to passing a stopped emergency vehicle. I told him I wasn’t aware of the law and he said he had just gotten hit the previous day by someone who hadn’t moved over. I thought he would give me a warning since I wasn’t aware of the law and was driving responsibly and haven’t gotten a ticket in over 10 years, but he gave me a summons where I have to appear in court. This is a class 1 misdemeanor violation which can result up to $2500 in fines and up to 1 year in jail.

Drivers must yield the right of way or reduce speed when approaching stationary emergency vehicles on the highway. Any driver when approaching a stationary emergency vehicle that is displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating emergency light or lights (i) on a highway having at least four lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that occupied by the stationary emergency vehicle or (ii) if changing lanes would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for highway conditions. Violation of any provision of this VA law constitutes a Class 1 misdemeanor. (CarInsurance.com)

Virginia: Unknown Traffic Violation Carries $2500 Fine

Virginia motorists face $2500 fine for Move Over traffic violation about which 71 percent of public is unaware.

Five years ago, the Virginia legislature made it a serious crime to drive past a police officer stopped on the side of the road without changing lanes. As a result, unsuspecting motorists — including those who are not speeding — can nonetheless be caught in a speed trap and face a first degree misdemeanor ticket that carries a fine of up to $2500. Despite the significant financial penalty involved, nearly three-quarters of all motorists have never heard of “move over” laws, according to a Virginia State Police news release issued in July.

Forty states require drivers approaching a police vehicle with flashing lights activated either to make an immediate lane change or to slow down at least 20 MPH under the posted speed limit.

“If drivers do not move over or slow down, officers can and do write citations,” the Virginia State Police statement explained.

“Our nation’s law enforcement professionals put their lives on the line to protect our citizens,” said Bill Johnson, executive director of the National Association of Police Organizations. “Slowing down and changing lanes to give our first responders the space they need to stay safe is the least we can do in return. It’s what we must do. Move Over, America. It’s the law.”

Motorists who are pulled over in a speed trap, however, can find themselves placed in just as much peril as law enforcement (see video of an incident). Likewise, some police agencies reject move over laws as dangerous. In 2005, California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (R) vetoed similar legislation, citing the objection of the California Highway Patrol.

“This bill is unnecessary and could result in the unintended consequences of additional roadway hazards,” Schwarzenegger said in his veto message. “Specifically, the California Highway Patrol is concerned that this bill’s mandate could create chaotic and dangerous situations at crime and collision scenes on the state’s freeways.”

A year later, an essentially identical Move Over bill was signed into law in California.

Section 46.2-921.1 of the Code of Virginia states:

§ 46.2-921.1. Drivers to yield right-of-way or reduce speed when approaching stationary emergency vehicles on highways; penalties.

The driver of any motor vehicle, upon approaching a stationary emergency vehicle, as defined in § 46.2-920, that is displaying a flashing, blinking, or alternating emergency light or lights as provided in §§ 46.2-1022, 46.2-1023, and 46.2-1024, shall (i) on a highway having at least four lanes, at least two of which are intended for traffic proceeding as the approaching vehicle, proceed with caution and, if reasonable, with due regard for safety and traffic conditions, yield the right-of-way by making a lane change into a lane not adjacent to that occupied by the stationary emergency vehicle or (ii) if changing lanes would be unreasonable or unsafe, proceed with due caution and maintain a safe speed for highway conditions.

Violation of any provision of this section shall constitute a Class 1 misdemeanor. If the violation resulted in damage to property of another person, the court may, in addition, order the suspension of the driver’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for not more than one year. If the violation resulted in injury to another person, the court may, in addition to any other penalty imposed, order the suspension of the driver’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for not more than two years. If the violation resulted in the death of another person, the court may, in addition to any other penalty imposed, order the suspension of the driver’s privilege to operate a motor vehicle for two years.

Thanks Arielle.

Please be aware of the following fraudulent and dangerous email supposedly from CNN. This has just recently started within the past week. I am receiving dozens of these a day, and although I have not clicked on any of the links, I have had to delete my email account from my computer. I now only fetch my mail on the Internet. This story has been verified at TruthOrFiction.com which follows:

Email Offers Links To The CNN Top 10 Stories-Virus!

Summary of the eRumor:
A message appears to be from CNN and shows links to videos linked to the top 10 CNN stories.

The Truth:
This email is a virus that began circulating August 6, 2008.

The email includes graphics that appear to be from CNN and claims to be talking about the Top 10 stories as well as offering links to videos about them.

If you click any of the links, however, a message appears telling you that you do not have the correct version of Flash Player as well as a box you can click to download it.

That click, however, does not download Flash Player, it connects you to a web site that can infect your computer with malware. Security experts are still trying to pin down what code is downloaded to your computer, but it could be the type that connects your computer as part of a massive network of home and business computers that are used to send out similar fake emails, spam, or to try to harvest personal and financial information.

One frustration was that when you clicked the link and got the phony Flash Player warning, you could not get out of it, even if you chose “cancel.”

Samples that we have gotten were titled “Top 10″ when in fact 20 stories are listed.

One security company estimated that more than 1,000 hacked web sites are hosting the fake Flash Player program.

Adobe.com, the makers of Flash Player, warned not to download Flash Player from any source other than Adobe.com.

Actually, It was a “Miracle on Turf,” and perhaps a “Tide’s Up” for us all.

That is what Navy insiders are calling Navy football’s 46-44 triple-overtime victory over Notre Dame last Saturday. That is because Notre Dame has beaten Navy 43 straight times, dating back two generations to 1963, when players like Roger Staubach were willing to joing Navy’s team, knowing that in return they would be required to serve a five year military commitment. That was before the Vietnam War, which changed everything for America’s military. That was a very different world when Navy could win over Notre Dame. That was not today’s world. As NBC’s play-by-play announcer Pat Haden said on Saturday: “With all due respect, Navy doesn’t get to recruit blue-chip football players.” He should have added: “Just blue-chip people,” but he didn’t, and that is what is expected in today’s world.

What is it that today’s Navy offers it football team recruits?

The chance to play against Notre Dame. Or maybe it’s the chance to wake up at 6 o’clock every morning; the chance to be screamed at by upperclassmen; the chance to lose your weekend liberty for carrying a book-bag improperly or for being 30 seconds late to class. Not to mention the chance to get shot at when you graduate.

The best description I ever heard of what it is like to play football at Navy, Army and Air Force came from Fred Goldsmith, who coached at Air Force: “At a civilian school the hardest part of a football player’s day is football practice,” he said. “At an academy, the easiest part of a football player’s day is football practice.” (The Washington Post)

Navy’s football celebration should be a celebration by all who love and rely upon our military heroes. Perhaps the tide is up for us all.