polly - wow 1,600 with major damage and 10 condemned. The sad part is that those whose homes are condemned will most likely not see a reimbursement for the total value of their homes. No, I am sure that FEMA was not expecting so many to turn out. FEMA made automated telephone calls to all our our telephone numbers, home and cells, about where to call for the help available, as the entire state has been declared a disaster. Did they believe people wouldn't turn out, especially those who don't carry flood insurance coverage? On another note, apparently FEMA claims it is low on $$. That tidbit makes me crazy as every year for over 20 years, we have paid out of pocket to carry unrequired flood insurance. It wasn't required by my mortgage lender. But living close to a creek that flows into the Delaware, we figured it would be better to be safe rather than sorry. So, FEMA has collected a tidy sum from us over these many years, and yet we've never made a claim before now. We have an acquaintance, "Joe", who also lives on the same water source, about a mile as the crow flies, from where we live. His home continually floods from noreasters, remnants of hurricanes, and locally heavy rains. The township will not allow him to raise his home. We have been assigned to work with the same adjusting company (you don't get to choose who you work with). I hope our situation goes better than I am anticipating. To keep my sanity, I have set my expectations low, if I am pleasantly surprised, at least I will not be disappointed. In speaking with "Joe" the other day, DH remarked that his wish is that his home would either completely float away or burn down. Can you imagine? At least that way he would not have to be continally inconvenienced, and deal with making flood claims only to wait to see whether FEMA will cover the cost of repair his home each time. It is exhausting both mentally and physically when your home is flooded. You are usually displaced for some period of time, only to return to a home that needs major repair. Fortunately, our damage was confined to our crawlspace, but everything that runs the home is located in that space. We are still in chaos as prepping for Irene, we moved everything we could to our second floor. Now, everything needs to be put back, including all business records that we relocated to a safe location as a precaution in anticipation of Irene. No loss of life is one of the most important things. Things/possessions can be replaced.

"Capitalism needs government to work." Only to provide a legal framework. "Government needs to oversee products & services which are sold to the public." Really? Everything? I just bought a couple of lights from Amazon. Did/should the government oversee them? No. "For example, defective equipment liabilities..." That's why we have a legal framework that allows person who are harmed to take action against those who harm them. "The government should keep the relationship between consumers & businesses fair to keep consumers". Ah, the old "fair" argument. Is it fair to keep Uber from competing against the taxi monopoly? How about preventing foreign airlines from competing against domestic ones? Granting Comcast a monopoly? Governments are preventing housing production thereby driving up housing costs; "fair"? Warren wants to drive the health insurance industry out of business; is that "fair"? "tax break incentives for businesses who manufacture quality appliances which last longer." Whose going to define "quality"? "Last longer" than what? Bernie Sanders is going to sit in his office and define "quality" and "last longer" for thousands of appliances models? What's the difference between this and Soviet-style central planning? "tax break to consumers who bought the appliances that last longer" So you also want the government to give tax breaks to people who buy products the government approves? You want to Elizabeth Warren to decide what YOU buy? When it's tax time, do you want to have to drag out all your receipts to see if you get a tax break? Isn't the mortgage tax deduction and all the other crap in the tax code enough?

No time for videos, but Ida, I love to hear my church choir sing "It is Well With My Soul". They do the last verse acapella. If you don't know the background of the old hymn, look it up. KSWL, cool pic of the fox! We had a little red fox who was living in one of our landscaped areas (scooted an area underneath a small tree). Sadly, he no longer comes around. One of our community websites caught a picture of him with an injured leg (hit by a car?) and ever now and then I wonder about him. :( Have a great day all!

I saw too many horses at below zero temperatures in early December where you could see their ribs to just state it is just a few. Even if the horses only grazed they should not have been in that condition at that time of the year. I would like people to look at the condition of their horses and how they are being treated. Do not do what I initially did and looked then mentally said nice horses. It was only when I actually looked did I see the condition they were in. I do wonder if some are confusing the other Anabaptist groups with the Amish. There are other groups who do use and do some of the things that the Amish do but without the disregard for the care of animals, wives and children. Amish also group themselves under 'house' and 'church' some using modern convivences where necessary. One of those interesting things about Amish made stuff is that in certain areas the factory may have an Amish label on it but most of the workers are not.