The reassessment has harmed some small business men or women. The reassessment has enriched other business men or business women. The taxpayers will pay the taxes no matter which category they fall in.

Repbublican Commissioners Denied Funds for the Poor

First Wayne Township Trustee Rick Stevenson save families from living in squalor and gets kicked in the teeth. Next Wayne Township Stevenson goes before the Allen County Commissioners to request funds for the needy and is denied.

According to an Indiana's News Center website:

Mar 09, 2007 - (Fort Wayne, IN)--The Wayne Township Trustee went before the Allen County Commissioners this morning requesting more than one million dollars in poor relief.

But the Commissioners denied the request. Now Township Trustee Rick Stevenson must go before the Allen County Council for the cash. Stevenson says at the rate he's doling out poor relief; the fund will be empty by the end of the month. If the County Council turns him down, he will have to go to the bank for a loan.

The fund is expected to be replenished in June when property taxes are distributed. (Edited by Paula Hinton)

Trustee Stevenson was somewhat vindicated when other residents were moved after a fire. Let's hope that the Allen Council vindicates Stevenson in understanding the needs to support it community and voters by giving him the money to do his job.

More on the Harrison Square Park and Downtown Stadium

After reading about the Downtown Stadium, something did not quite square with me. Jason Freier's, one of HardCapital owners fought to protect residents from eminent domain. Matter of fact, Freier was involved with the NAACP filing of an amicus Brief on the Kelo v. London decision. Yet here in Fort Wayne, a baseball stadium was going to displace some family with the taking of property to give to a private developer. But if it is not called eminent domain perhaps that justifies the deal. It now made sense why Greg Leatherman was going to door to door, cutting let's make a deal with homeowners. Leatherman, Redevelopment Director, was trying to prevent an eminent domain takeover to avoid perhaps offending one of the owner's of the Wizard, Mr. Jason Freier, himself.

Unlike the legal stealing of property that occurred under the Southtown Mall, (currenlty called SouthCentre) deal that used eminent domain. Leatherman posed as an undercover real estate agent by purchasing property in an underhanded business deal, to advoid the ugliness of eminent domain. The act could be viewed as a constructive condemnation of the area land that was marked for acquiescence by the city for the private developers. This would save money for the developers and the city.

The reasoning given behind the sneaky deals was to save the taxpayers money. Or was it? However, the sneak attack could be perceived as a way of circumventing Engrossed House Bill 1010 which required that property taken from such property owners should be paid 150% of its value.

This information was to be disclosed to those owners whom property would be taken and given to another private owners. Indiana Legislators create legislation as protection for homeowners from corrupt elected officials. Read the synopsis below, I really like the part about the attorneys involved in such deals receiving a flat fee up to $25,000. Who are some of the attorneys who were involved in this deal!?

Synopsis: Eminent domain. Requires a condemnor, before proceeding to acquire property by use of eminent domain, to: (1) establish a proposed purchase price; (2) provide the owner with an appraisal or other evidence used to establish the proposed purchase price; and (3) conduct a good faith negotiation with the owner of the property.

Requires a condemnor, except the department of transportation (department), certain utilities, and certain other persons, to proceed to acquire the property by use of eminent domain not more than two years after the condemnor submits a written acquisition offer to the owner of the property.

Requires the department, certain utilities, and certain other persons to initiate eminent domain proceedings not more than six years after the department, utility, or other person submits a written acquisition offer to the property owner.

Requires two of the three appraisers appointed under the eminent domain law to be: (1) licensed under the law concerning real estate brokers and salespersons; and (2) residents of Indiana. Extends certain deadlines under the eminent domain law.

Provides that if a condemnor fails to: (1) take possession of property the condemnor acquired though the use of eminent domain; and (2) adapt the property for the purpose for which it was acquired; not later than six years after the payment of the award or judgment for damages occurs, the condemnor forfeits all rights in the property as if the procedure to take the property had not begun.

Establishes procedures for using eminent domain to transfer ownership or control of real property between private persons for uses that are not public uses, including: (1) limiting the use of eminent domain only to certain types of property; (2) requiring mediation; (3) requiring that the acquisition of the property will accomplish more than only increasing the property tax base of a government entity; (4) requiring the payment of a premium to acquire certain types of property; (5) requiring the condemnor to pay the attorney's fees of certain owners; and (6) requiring the payment of certain other damages, if applicable, including business losses.

Prohibits a state agency or political subdivision from requiring that a lawfully erected sign be removed or altered as a condition of issuing a permit, license, variance, or other order concerning land use development unless the sign owner is compensated or has waived compensation in writing.

Provides that the land owner may receive litigation expenses and reasonable attorney's fees not to exceed: (1) $25,000 in a public eminent domain proceeding; or (2) 25% of the cost of the acquisition in a private to private eminent domain proceeding; if the land owner receives greater compensation at trial than was offered in the most recent settlement offer.

Provides that the landowner is entitled to reasonable attorney's fees if a proposed private to private eminent domain proceeding does not meet certain eligibility requirements. Specifies that certain persons authorized to exercise eminent domain may only do so to accomplish the essential delivery of services. Prohibits libraries from exercising eminent domain unless a specified legislative body in the library district adopts a resolution specifically approving the use of eminent domain for a particular purpose. Prohibits a privately owned cemetery from exercising eminent domain. Establishes a study committee to study eminent domain issues. Makes other changes and conforming amendments.

Consolidation--Is almost a done deal

First the big boys were not going to be upstaged by the small fries. With surrounding areas gaining more knowledge of the underlying reasons for City County push to consolidate, East Allen County are banning together. So Allen County Commissions are giving in to some type of consolidation for merging departments, only. The City will have to swallow the amendment consolidation agreement or the agreement fails. Or City Council can choose to make other amendments sending the consolidation agreement back to the Allen County Commissioners. With this back and forth amendment nowhere is the public involved.

The amended consolidation agreement does not follow the law under Indiana Code 36.1.5.2, formerly referred to as House Bill 1362. The reason because it would require community input before any type of consolidation. City Council consolidation agreement has thumbed its nose at the voters.

Council Person Sam Talarico is not running for his seat and is one of the co author of the push consolidation down the throats of the voters. The public was not supporting of City-County changing government, and the second co-author, Dr. John Crawford was not impressed with the unyielding Allen County Commissioners non cooperative. So the two new founding fathers, Dr. Crawford and Talarico flipped the steps, merge departments and study and then go to the people.


The joint parties will commission a study on how to consolidation city and county government. This circumvents of IC 36.1.5 requirement of public hearings on consolidation of city and county government. The local Republican leadership, believe like their fear leader, President George W. Bush, they know what's best for the people. It is not a government for the people, by the people, it is by elite businessmen seeking their own best interest.

According to Amanda Icone in the Journal Gazette

The commissioners will send a cover letter with the amended resolution to the City Council asking for the facilitator and the committee to review each city and county department for ways to make them more efficient, including possible mergers. The letter would also ask that a committee of council members and commissioners meet before the proposed study committee begins to ensure the elected officials work together.

East Allen County were quite aware of behind closed door dealing instead of open government for local citizen. East Allen County formed their proposal. And East Allen County will place it on a referendum for the voters to vote on it.

Communities in east Allen County are considering creating an umbrella government that could provide some services to 19 towns, townships and cities but maintain the independence of existing municipalities. The proposed hybrid government is expected to be on the November 2008 ballot for a referendum.

No surprise here. In the Harrison Square Study, consolidation will bring more people to work for city-county government. The Study suggest that having a jobs in the area (downtown) will encourage these folks to live downtown. Fort Wayne's new tool for growing its population seems to have failed. Fort Wayne has tried annexation to stem the tide of raced white flight from the core of the city. But elected official call it a more efficient and efficiency government.

Indiana-Foreclosure King

Indiana Representative Win Moses discussed House Bill 1525 with WOWO's Charley Butcher. House Bill 1525 is to address the number of foreclosures happening throughout Indiana with education. This a solution bill that tells how homeowners should be informed about all the hidden cost in purchasing a home. The truth in lending required openness in lending, but the failure to disclose robbed many new homeowners during the reassessment. The money has been made and now the lenders are suffering. Local taxing units are suffering, because homeowners are losing their homes and are filing bankruptcies. Folks should be under the prisons!

Indiana has the highest foreclosures in the United States. You think this problem popped up over night? Indianapolis has the highest foreclosure rank in the State and no surprise Fort Wayne, the second highest.

Not only is Rep. Moses a johnny come lately. But Attorney General Steve Carter, busy with the no call list, failed to respond to the citizens of Indiana on the housing schemes. Many families lost what many see as one symbol of the American dream, a place to call their own. Home ownership.

Indystar reports in the Indystar:

The state attorney general is looking into a failed real estate deal that could involve nearly 500 Indianapolis houses and lead to a string of bankruptcy filings and foreclosures.

Why are Rep. Moses and A.G. Carter acting now on foreclosures? One was to educate the buyer and to explain why lenders are folding, Many of these schemes were concocted by less than stellar real estate agencies and lenders.

LRTB would arrange the purchases of houses by investors. The houses would be repaired by another company tied to LRTB. Later, LRTB would find buyers for the homes and split the profits with investors. But the project fell apart. Many houses were not fixed, and investors are now saddled with mortgage payments on multiple properties. Some may declare bankruptcy.

More

The houses are in neighborhoods within three miles of Downtown

.


Sounds familiar? Do you remember the city lauding a program called Fort Wayne Neighborhood Housing Partnership? Do you remember the story which told how homes were supposedly fixed up? (no pun intended) Do you remember how these homes were over appraised and sold to uninformed home buyers? And the city leaders had the folks come down and failed to act. Criminal action I would think on the part of the city in failing to act when they had evidence of wrongdoing.

Why you say because the same crook that cooked up the scheme are the very same one that told you there was no wrong doing found. And you believed them. But why would folks cook up such schemes, you say?

In the good old days, getting a mortgage was something to be proud of," Zuckerberg said. "Now you just walk in, and they hardly check any records. The mortgage lender makes a commission when they sell the mortgage. They don't care who the borrower is because they are going to sell the mortgage to a securitized trust.''

, from the Indystar article. The lender makes a commission!

I did not say anything about these folks being honest. But,you so want to believe in the integrity of these crooks. So much so that when you receive your property tax reassessment, question these crooks about the increase in the value of your home was out of the question. Even knowing that you did not spend one dime as Jake Parker would say, making improvement in your home. Besides, the increase in your home values moved you up along side your neighbor in bragging right. Even if you're not in a position to sell your home right now, you are willing to pay the taxes on the new value, just for the bragging rights. It's sorta like who can pee the farthest, or who's pecker is the...you get the long and short of it.



Read a synopsis of House bill 1525, and watch for the words property taxes.

New home construction and homeowner education. Provides that after June 30, 2007, a builder may not enter into a home construction contract with a prospective home buyer unless the builder first gives the prospective home buyer a written estimate of the property taxes that:
(1) will be owed by the prospective home buyer on the new home; and (2) are based on an assessment made on the first assessment date after the construction of the new home is complete. Specifies that the required estimate may not be based on an assessment of unimproved real estate.

Requires the Indiana housing and community development authority (authority) to prescribe a form to be used by builders in making the required disclosure. Defines an "at risk home buyer" as a person who: (1) has a credit score that is less than 620; and (2) seeks to obtain a home loan from a creditor.

Requires the authority prepare and make available to creditors home ownership educational materials for use by at risk home buyers. Provides that after June 30, 2007, a creditor may not enter into a home loan with an at risk home buyer unless the creditor first gives the at risk home buyer the educational materials prepared by the authority.

And you thought it was the poor, uneducated ones who are the most gullible you say. It's those folks that the local officials can easily bamboozle. No it can't happen to you, because you're middle class. These are your friends, you say. Take another look at that Reassessment form 11 again? Friends, nope, just politicians making money off of your inability to challenge your friends and their policies. Remember it's your money that local politicians are spending.

I would think you would have a say on where your money is spent. Nope, earmarked When you earn your money, local government has earmarked a certain portion to invest and spend anywhere they want. Because they know you have not figured it out and you will not challenge them

Note: Hat tip to one of the local readers of the blogosphere on explaining the term earmarked. In closing the bible does not say money is evil, it's says the love of money. And these local folks not only love your money but they love spending your money. Earmarked.

The city with Two Mayors-Elected and Unelected

is Kevin Knuth the unofficial Mayor of Fort Wayne Democrats clique ? How strange that a voter who steps up to run for Mayor is turned away! Sean Collentine is no stranger to the Democratic party. The Democrats need all the members they can get, but Kevin was not having it.

These folks won't be able to run for any political office, either.

The 4,300 residents in Fort Wayne’s Carroll Road annexation won’t become part of the city until Sept. 30, but that likely won’t keep them from voting in this May’s primary election.

, wrote Ben Lanka of the Fort Wayne.com. But the unofficial sidekick, and unofficial Democratic Deputy Mayor Andy Downs drops the bomb after the time for filing for candidacy has expired that yes these folks can vote. Yes they can vote.

And once again we understand why Fort Wayne is ranked the dumbest city in the United States

Smart Cards-Online Training

Smart Card Alliance

Smart cards are now being used globally in financial, healthcare, identity, security, transportation and telecommunications applications. It’s important to be grounded in the basic fundamentals of this emerging and evolving technology.

Bill Gates on Smart Cards.

The 6th Annual Smart Cards in Government Conference 2007 is to be held in Washington, D.C.

April 10-13 • Ronald Reagan Building & International Trade Center • Washington, D.C.

Register early. Discounts expire March 2. Click here for complete information.

Smart Cards in Government has experienced double-digit growth, driven by the accelerating interest in strategies and technologies that help speed the adoption of HSPD 12 and other key government initiatives. The 2007 conference will accommodate that growth while maintaining the personal interaction and quality of focus that has been a hallmark the event.

TrustBearer-CEO-David Corcoran-

The partnership neighborhood association representatives invited and played host to several council members and other elected officials. The meeting was an opportunity to hear more about the Harrison Square Project. The audience was allowed to ask questions or comment on the project after the presentation.

Ben Lanka reports on the Fort Wayne.com:

David Corcoran, partner and founder of a local business, passionately called to the crowd to support the project. He said his company needs to attract young talent to succeed, and that is difficult because of the lack of an urban life in Fort Wayne. He said the Harrison Square project could be the start of something to create the lifestyle sought after by young professionals.

The local business was identified as TrustBearer Lab, LLC an affiliate of Identity Alliance. According to the Identity Alliance website:
David Corcoran, CEO, TrustBearer Lab: Identity Alliance, a Fort Wayne, Ind., security firm, will receive a special award to further develop its enterprise after winning the third annual Opportunity for Indiana $50,000 Award for Entrepreneurs sponsored by Purdue University and Lilly Endowment.

And Greater Fort Wayne Business writes in its February 16, 2007:

TrustBearer Labs is located in the Northeast Indiana Innovation Center. The company has experience in “smart” cards and other security devices and has worked with well-known companies like Apple Inc., Sun Microsystems Inc. and Xerox Identity Alliance, a Fort Wayne, Ind., security firm, will receive a special award to further develop its enterprise after winning the third annual Opportunity for Indiana $50,000 Award for Entrepreneurs sponsored by Purdue University and Lilly EndowmentCorp.

TrustBearer Labs plans to remain in Fort Wayne as it continues to grow, Corcoran said. The company is an affiliate of Identity Alliance, which was founded in 2003.

The $500,000 was essentially what was needed to begin marketing the software, Corcoran said. He could not talk about who was investing in the company, but he said all of the funding came from the Fort Wayne region. A grant from outside the area also was received as part of the fundraising effort.

An angel network to help startups get off the ground was created in Fort Wayne early last year. Last fall, Ruffolo Benson LLC created the Main Street Venture Fund, which will provide mezzanine and equity capital for investments in northeast Indiana and northwest Ohio. It is looking for more-established companies that need additional investment to continue growing.

And a press release from AdVenture:

(Fort Wayne, IN) Imagineer Fund, LLC, a Northeast Indiana equity fund that invests in technology development, announced today that it was placing an investment in Identity Alliance, LLC to develop and market TrustBearer, a software security product.

TrustBearer provides a simple interface for Internet users to protect their personal information such as credit card numbers and passwords. Using TrustBearer, consumers and businesses can conveniently and cost-effectively protect their information with “multi-factor authentication” which is the new standard in information security. Applications range from homeland security to on-line retail.
“We believe that TrustBearer has great potential,” said Donald R. Willis of the Imagineer Fund. “Identity Alliance brings some very talented people to a growing industry.”

“We are excited to work with the Imagineer Fund and its members” said David Corcoran. “It is partnerships like these that will restore Fort Wayne as a technology leader. We have and will continue to hire some of the best talent from across the nation and provide our software and services to some of the most reputable companies in the world. It can be done - and it can be done here.”

Imagineer Fund, LLC, was formed in 2004 with the goal of supporting entrepreneurs in Northeast Indiana who are developing new technology. The fund is comprised of 28 private investors. It is managed by adVenture Management, LLC, a subsidiary of FourthWave, LLC.
For additional information, please contact Karen Goldner, FourthWave, LLC, at (260) 469-4411 or refer to the company’s website at www.adventurefund.net.

The City of Strip Joints-Fort Wayne

This is a new spin on Fort Wayne. The harm to downtown economical development is the number of strip joints in the city. The voices from the radio called them SOB, sex oriented businesses. The lack of criminal enforcement to protect the city from permissive criminal activity cultivate an environment for such activity. Families will protest these areas by avoiding such areas, that build bars for more drinking and irresponsible behavior. Building a baseball stadium downtown will encourage such businesses and not shopping. The more family friendly shopping activity is located in Jefferson Pointe.

The voices on the radio station were Matt Kelty who is running for Mayor and Charley Butcher. It's amazing how fast this story is flying on the blog. After I posted this story FWOB placed the press release on his site. ADvance Indiana gave a hat tip to Fort Wayne Observed. I would think, Christopher Mann, campaign worker of the Kelty for Mayor campaign, would be the one who is driving this story you think?

International Women's Day

Read about Global Women Strike Day here.

Women & girls do 2/3 of the world's work, most of it unwaged. $1 trillion/year is spent on the military worldwide, more than half by the US. 10% of this would provide the essentials of life for all: water, sanitation, basic health, nutrition, literacy, and a minimum income.

Read more about International Women's Day here.

Imagining ourselves a global work

Hat tips to Taking Place and abyss2hope

Fort Wayne City Police Department Leased Building

Hey here's a picture of Fort Wayne City Police Department. It's in a leased building that our tax dollars rent. And has been renting for over 10 years. Are you thinking like I'm thinking? Yep, we could have purchased a building for all the rent that was paid over 10 years, huh !

Rumors has it that some people got sick, caught cancer after the tire-burning. I don't know how much of the rumors are true. But to have gone to work after all that poison was released in the air makes you wonder?

And take a look at the land where the tires actually burned. Guess what? This land sits right behind the Fort Wayne City Police Department Leased Building. Right behind the police station!


Does it not look dangerous? Well, sometimes, you can't see danger, that's why I'm reminding you. Seeing that water sitting there reminds me that tires burned on this sites for days. Water could not put the fire out. Think polluted, Think Love Canal. Bring your children over and let them roll round around on the grass in the greenspace called Renaissance Pointe.

Cybercriminals

When I first started blogging, I wondered why folks were so interested in the real identity behind the blogger. And that red flag, made it even more important for me not to give certain personal details. Just giving your name gives an unsavory character too much information. And your name allow him or her to tunnel in your identity from all the hits visiting his or her site.

This is no different from the Internet sexual predator, from a name, a house number they can stalk the person until they get what they want.

OU hires new tech chief after data thefts

ATHENS (AP) — Ohio University hired a new technology chief who will be in charge of computer systems that hackers once breached, compromising personal information of alumni, students and staff.

The university announced Wednesday that Brice Bible, 45, will become chief information officer April 16. He currently is interim chief information officer and assistant vice president for information technology at the University of Tennessee at Knoxville.


Bible will take over for OU’s interim technology chief, Shawn Ostermann. He held the job while the university searched for a permanent replacement for Bill Sams, who stepped down last year.

The university last April discovered breaches in four computer systems, exposing about 367,000 files containing Social Security numbers, names, medical records and home addresses. The university later revised those numbers, stating that about 173,000 people’s files were affected.

The school fired two administrators over the electronic break-ins and spent millions to upgrade computer security. There have been no proven cases of identity theft or fraud linked to the data thefts, university officials have said.

“The university made a lot of head way and is moving in the right direction,” said Bible, who will supervise an $18 million annual budget and 150 employees. He will report to university President Roderick McDavis.

“Every person I have talked to here, from the president down, is committed to doing the right things to put the right information-technology services in place,” Bible said.

But you think they are your friends,when they call you by your first name. When they just may have access to a whole lot of your personal information. Cybercriminals

Greenspace-Phoenix Place

It's a bird no it's a plane no it's Phoenix Place, no it's green space. I know rumor had it that the space behind the police station would become a new YMCA. But the abandoned field, 6-7 acres was to hold lots of houses. But, rumor has it will become a green space for Renaissance Pointe.

I know Renaissance Pointe is the surrounding the Hanna-Creighton area, but who can tell in a photo op? So you didn't hear it from me....I'm still looking for all the houses were to be built for the Phoenix place project and the new Renaissance Pointe. Let me know when the first Renaissance Pointe home goes up, will ya? In the meantime, here's a picture of the field of dreams beyond the police station.






Now rumors of a millions of tax dollars..and one single model home will be built representing the future of Renaissance Pointe.

What's going on with you?

Sometimes you just got to know what you got to do. But, I am back. Yessirree.

Generating Income Working from Home

Welcome to my first carnival of bloggers March 7, 2007 edition on generating income working from home. I decided to play host because I wanted to hear from other folks and what they are writing about in the blogosphere. So welcome fellow bloggers and readers to this space.

L. Mills presents Online Tutoring...Is it the Job for You? posted at Work at Home Mom Revolution. Love this site for helping students online with their schoolwork.

Rebecca Newburn presents How-To Squidoo and Educational�Lenses posted at Information Age Education. I found this a fun and interactive resource for students and teachers.

Sunflower presents Sunflower: Make Money while Blogging! posted at Sunflower. Find this site interesting an online billboard.

supermom_in_ny presents Why I'm Happy Squidoo Started Accepting Advertisements posted at Getting Out of Debt. This is a busy mom site," My son's autism was the reason why I started blogging in the first place. Now I earn a living from it."


Nenad Ristic presents Money Consciousness » What is Money? posted at Money Conscious.

John1212 presents How to Develop Your Own $2,000 a Week Internet Strategy posted at OhCash.com. It's not location, location, location! It's strategy, strategy, strategy!

This one was past my deadline, but I'm posting it anyways.

Matt OConnor presents Why Keywords Are Your Friend posted at Adventures In Internet Marketing.

Posted at >> Work at Home Mom Revolution, Information-Age-Education, Sunflower, Getting Out of Debts, Money Conscious, OhCash.com

That concludes this edition of generating income working from home. Mark your calendar for my second carnival of bloggers on self esteem issues for women on March 15, 2007.

Up from Ashes-Phoenix Place or Renaissance Pointe

On Labor Day weekend, 1997, folks in the Bowser-Creighton spend the morning watching or escaping a burning inferno. Behind the police station thousands of tires burned in their neighborhood. Later city officials began purchasing land in the area with funding from the brownfield program. Several pastors, preachers, reverends, fathers got into the pictures and began buy up land, with Greg Leatherman was in charge of overseeing the operation. African-American men in Action, you see doing something to save the African-American community. The people who stayed behind were told, their neighborhood would be renewed as a sort of biblical phoenix rising from ashes.

This was a branding or marketing hook for those church folks to buy into the promise being peddaled by the men of actions, preacher, minister, city leaders..men. This is needed because this was the same area in the 1960 that African-Americans were resettled into under a negro removal program called urban renewal..Business men got paid and families got shafted. Urban renewal funding was to pay for the tearing down of housing and relocation of African-American families. But city officials redirected the funds to their businesses, friends and families, not to the African-Americans families who qualified for the funding. The excuse African-Americans did not deserve to live among raced whites.


Some houses were built, but here lies unfinished business..



Phoenix Place is unfinished business. But a new negro removal is in the air, first as synergy and now has morphed forward into the Hanna-Creighton Neighborhood as Renaissance Pointe.

If city officials lied about Phoenix Place..where is the proofs they are not lying now about Renaissance Pointe? And where did the money go for the Phoenix Place?

Millions and millions of dollars were to be spent in the Hanna-Creighton neighborhood. Yet the areas has the look of an abandoned field.





Now rumors of a millions of tax dollars..and one single model home will be built representing the future of Renaissance Pointe. One single home is not going to transform the Hanna-Creighton neighborhood! But the background will serve as a photo op for politicians trying to get votes for those who has the audacity to hope

So Long..Goodbye

Hello, we are going to do away with the old and build a new city? Where shall we built it? In the Dumbest City in the United States. Where? Fort Wayne. Can you see it? Oh yeah, it has a baseball stadium, but no people! What do you think happen to them?

Internet Identity Thieves

Identity thief is an easy crime. And it much easier when you are not careful of the company you keep. And it is even more dangerous when that company has access to your computer. And if that is not bad enough, if by chance the company you keep should happen to be an evil techie, you just might have a much bigger problem on your hand. Webroot tell us about these evil demons' ability to capture your personal information. This is especially true for those folk who prepare their income taxes online. Local bloggers are aware that we have a hacker or two among us. So, be careful and take notes from the article below.

BOULDER, Colo. (BusinessWire EON) March 5, 2007 -- Webroot specifically cautioned users about a potential spike in the instances of system monitors and keyloggers during tax season. Last year Webroot's Threat Research Team recorded a 265 percent increase in the instances of system monitors from February to March, when the majority of users use the Internet to prepare and file their taxes.

Classified as some of the most dangerous computer security threats, system monitors and keyloggers can track and record a user's individual keystrokes, making it easy for spyware criminals to steal any personal information that might be entered into an
online tax program or form.

Here's a site by Arizona State University for testing your knowledge on internet security. ASU will be hosting an event to teach computer awareness and risks when using a computer during March 27th-30th. This week is entitled Security Awareness Week.

ASU's University Technology Office (UTO) will host the third annual Security Awareness Week beginning March 27th – 30th. The event is open to the public and is designed to enhance students' awareness about the potential risks associated with computer and internet use.

Is this blight or are the children just in the way?

Martin Luther King Montessori School received a beautiful building from Lincoln Life Corporation as a day care. But the building is in the way of parking space. That's right, parking space. And you thought our local folks were interested in Brain Drain.

There is a reason why Fort Wayne is called the Dumbest City in the United State. Take a good look at the building. So, tell me again why the administration is looking for a building when they sold this one for $1.4 million dollars. With $1.4 Million you can build your own building.

Local Reassessment

Reading the local bloggers it does not surprise me more of the bloggers are not outraged by the latest reassessment conducted by their local assessor office. No one wants to be seen as the trouble maker or the whistle blower. It is not a beauty picture. Ask Valerie Plame whom identity was revealed by an aide to Richard B. Cheney to reporters. Of course Plame has finally been validated with Libby being found guilty. But Plame's face is known to the world, now.

And look at the War in Iraq. Voters are now aware that the President lied. But the troopers are still fighting the war, and the Democrats and the Republicans are still bickering about whose fault it is. It's both parties fault.

Now back to the local reassessment. True these local government folks are not appraisers. But that's what they did. Who said that local officials were qualified for their position? Who? These folks took a look at market values in your area, not necessarily in your neighborhood and smashed a price on it. Trending value is what they called it, to up the ante on collecting more money from the value of your home. Is your home that value? No! Is that lying? Yep! So what are you going to do about it?

First you will compare with your neighbors and see if they got screwed more than you in the reassessment. Next you will rationalize in you mind for justifying why you would allow incompetent people to lie to you about the worth of your property without taking any actions.

You'll say things, like well I was able to get exemptions to reduce my liabilities. Whereas the other suckers not qualifying for such exemptions are gonna pay more. Not.

You'll see things like, well my taxes stayed the same, so I don't care. Wrong.

I know folks in the blogosphere took simply math, I just know they did. So please example to me, why they are not raising cane about the reassessment in the blogosphere. But they can yell all day about that dang gone George Bush, Jr. Bush, Jr. ain't the only one stealing your money out of your family pockets.

What you are screaming about Bush doing is the exact same thing local folks, politics is doing. It's local folks.