ZakKlemmer.vox.com

"All Animals are Equal but some are more equal than others"

--George Orwell, Animal Farm

071304-delhifly-250

In Lucas v. South Carolina Coastal Commission, in an opinion for the 6-2 majority, Antonin Scalia wrote: “Even if a regulation addresses a serious harm, the government must compensate a property owner denied all economically viable use of his land.”

“Although the decision was favorable for Lucas. It appears that the US Supreme Court’s decision was narrowly drawn and did not adequately protect private property rights destroyed by government taking of property. It’s impossible to tell what it does to a whole range of cases because its effect may be extremely limited.” Wrote Rodger Pilon of the Cato Institute. 

Fellow Toastmasters and most welcome guests…

The Fly is in the Icing and it has spoiled the party.  The American dream is where one dreams big makes plans and with hard work propels himself up the ladder of success.  My family has owned the ten-acre parcel for over twenty years. Our plan was to develop it so that we could retire on the rents- just like my immigrant grand parents did. Our plan was destroyed when the Delhi Sands Flower Loving Fly was added to the Endangered Species list in 1993.

The 1-½ inch long winged insect emerges from sandy soils for a few days every summer to mate, breed and die.  A life spent underground makes it impossible for biologists to determine how many exist.

According to Greg Ballmer, UC Riverside research associate and entomologist: “The destruction of the fly’s habitat can trigger the extinction of many more species that depend on the same habitat.” This statement is questionable at best.

Mr. Ballmer’s advocacy propelled the Delhi Sands flower Loving Fly to the endangered species list in 1993.

The Federal Fish and Wildlife Service is charged with protecting endangered species has required landowners to set aside acreage for the fly’s habitat in exchange for a permit to build. The agency has also required the cities of Colton, Fontana, Rialto and Mira Loma to maintain the habitat.

The City of Colton will be required to rip up and close sections of four public streets. This area includes a 10-acre parcel at the city owned Hermosa Cemetery would dedicate to fly habitat.  An environmentalist called this a meaningless stab at conservation.

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This process has dragged out over ten years and has cost a sum greater than 300 million dollars in lost opportunities due to the stoppage of economic development. This not only has hurt my family – other landowners have stopped paying their property taxes due to the denial by the FWLS to issue building permits. It has stopped our community from being able to provide gainful employment for its citizens. This regulatory taking has created an undue hardship. When the government destroys your property through its authority is should be required to justly compensate you for its full value, just as if it needs your land to build a school or highway. 

The regulatory taking of property implemented by the bureaucracy plunders the rights of property owners and produces a needless financial burden.  The hidden cost of complying with these laws is measured by time lost in negotiating the nearly endless maze of local, state and federal agencies in the permit process, through applying for variances and design changes, defending nuisance suites and enduring delays in the legal process.  All of this dramatically impedes economic growth for each of us for raising the cost of housing and manufactured products, thwarting of new products and eliminating employment opportunities.

Leroyneiman.luisarmstrong

LeRoy Neiman has long been one of my favorite artists. What I love about his work is the way he blends realism with his abstract style, his choice of color and brush strokes. Enjoy!

If you don’t vote for McCain you will be handing all your money and liberty over to the Democratic Party. I’m beginning to think that Bonito Mussolini is the real “God Father” of the Democrats!

Key Economic Proposals:

H. R. Clinton:

• $60 Billion funding for new National Infrastructure Bank to finance large scale projects.
• $10 Billion funding for emergency Infrastructure Repair Fund.
• $150 Billion funding for green energy technologies over 10 years.
• Tax Credits to spur retirement savings, $20 – 25 Billion per year.
• $110 Billion to expand health insurance coverage per year.

Funding sources: Reverse income tax cuts on high income earners, maintain the death tax and increase taxes on oil companies.

Obama:

• $60 Billion funding – over 10 years through new National Infrastructure Bank to finance large-scale projects.
• $150 Billion funding for green energy technologies over 10 years.
• Making Work Pay Tax Credit of $500 per person.
• $65 Billion to expand health insurance coverage per year.

Funding sources: Reverse income tax cuts on high income earners, maintain the death tax, increase taxes on oil companies, increase the tax rate on long term capital gains and dividends, tax carbon pollution and he “promises” to end the war in Iraq. 

McCain:

• Cut corporate tax rate to 25% from 35%.
• Let business deduct 100% of the cost of equipment in the first year.
• Double the tax deduction per child to $7,000.

Funding sources: End earmarks, budget savings. 

My source for the above was Investor’s Business Daily, Monday April 21, 2008, page 1.

Maxicam_Leg_and_Calf_Press_Professional_Gym_Equipment_II

When my last major symptoms of Sciatica occurred in October of 2003 my right thigh was in a great deal of pain. I was having difficulty standing and walking. Within several weeks my right thigh had lost muscle mass and had visibly shrunk. After months of ineffective treatment I changed doctors. My new doctor sent me to a physical therapist to treat my Sciatica. This was July 2004. The PT gave me stretching exercises and advised me to join a gym.  Well after about 15 months I finally started weight training at an L A Fitness club near my home. 

The picture above is similar to the Seated Leg Press that I use on a weekly basis.  When I started using this machine in September of 2006 I could only press 90 pounds with both legs. Presently I can press 160 pounds with both legs and 70 pounds with my right leg only.  From inspection my right thigh is still smaller than the left and still weaker but slowly the right leg is gaining on the left. I am really encouraged by the fact that my right leg is near the capacity where both were in September of 2006.

I still must be mindful of my posture and can’t lift heavy loads especially in an awkward or off balance position. I can run now when before I had difficulty walking and have fewer instances of back pain.   

I love Judy Wexler’s new CD: Dreams and Shadows, the title song has been one of my favorites and Judy does a superb job of capturing the feeling. There are turning points in everyone’s life. When I grew up in the Valley in the 50s and 60s I thought jazz was only Dixieland. Then I found KBCA on the radio (1966) and my whole world changed.  I remember hearing Dinah Washington on the radio for the first time, Carmen McRae singing “Midnight Sun” and Nina Simone singing “Four Women”. Hearing her sing, “Love is A Necessary Evil” [on her first CD- Easy on the Heart]  was one of those special moments. The band really shines and brings out the best of her talent. Ms. Wexler understands Jazz and captures all the musicality that the human voice can demonstrate and she is quite possibly the greatest living Jazz singer of today

Dreams&Shadows

Judy Wexler's Website

Miata.exterior

My car is a 1999 Mazda Miata 10th Anniversary Edition. This photo was taken by my son Bradford Klemmer and is copyrighted 2004. The photo was taken in Santa Barbara while he was a student at the Brooks Institute of Photography.

Bradford Klemmer's website

It is my daily driver and besides being reliable transportation is very fun to drive especially on a winding road. :-)

Animal Farm, George Orwell's classic work is availible on line, follow the link bellow. Will America's politicians lead us down the primrose path to a utopian nightmare?

Orwell

Animal Farm, chapter one

Wfbtributepic

National Review Magazine

MySpace.com - Andy Bey - US - Jazz Soul Other - www.myspace.com andybey

Andybey

I had the pleasure of meeting and speaking with Andy Bey at the Jazz Bakery in Culver City Calif. when he appeared there in April of 2005. He is very soft spoken and a real gentleman- but his music speaks for itself!