Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : 2026 TeoTwawKi ... 2032 Darkest Interregnum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (15874)	3/23/2007 8:46:51 PM
From: Roebear	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 220085

Thank you Maurice, I see the suffocatocracy is by permitting and licensing, none of which is cheap. I notice the license fees are right up front and on the bottom line, which is as it should be for most important items, important to gov't paychecks that is, ggg. In US there is a uniform code, but yet it varies in practice even short distances as I noted in our last building experience last year. The contractors always seemed confused, except when it came to payday. I had to watch some of them like hawks, which does argue for inspectors, for those who know little about building. Last year was greatly different from my last experience 20 years ago, besides me getting a bit too old, busy and wise to do ALL the work, ggg. 20 years ago the work was done mostly by myself with the help of a few friends, my father helping me with the finish work. My father was a finish carpenter and we did all the cabinets, counter tops and fancy trim and even cut huge sheets of glass down and made our own windows. Of course the wife helped (a great painter/wallpaper/decorator). I did all the plumbing with no need to have a plumber sign off except for sewer connection, I did all the electrical work and had an electrician sign off after a quick peek. That was that. Which was a good thing because 20 years ago we were relatively and nominally poor, ggg. 20 years ago we really didn't see an "official" inspector until we were finished. When the assessor came a little later, 20 years ago, the dog and I (mostly the dog, a huge German Shepherd) chased the arrogant bugger off without a peek. The American Frontier John Wayne thingy I guess. Today I suppose me AND the dog would be in prison, probably for life. This time the assessor(s) were two pretty young girls. John Wayne is out of fashion and now also politically incorrect. The pretty ladies petted the huge German Shepherd (he was still a pup and he likes pretty young ladies also). I was feeling jovial and let them sneakily peek past me through the front door (all they could see was the hallway) and measure the outside of the large addition (bigger than original house). They asked a few questions, my reply always being "NO", but said with a smile. The dog and I waived goodbye when the young pretties left. The assessment came and it was exactly what I expected and reasonable. I was somewhat surprised, but I suppose they liked the puppy, he is very cute, his brothers and sister decorate doggy calendars, of course some folks think I belong on those too. I built to code 20 years ago also because I didn't want any problems and I take pride in doing things right, but no inspectors to check it really except a few blinks as mentioned... But all this recent adventure was built to code with numerous inspections, four figure inspector/permitting fees (total, some places it is 5 figures), construction held up for 3 weeks to move some joists 1/2" etc. Much of it I approved of as sound practice, but some of it was silly and just a pain in the arse and a punch on the lunch ticket for the inspector. A lunch ticket punch that cost me 3 weeks and thousands of $$ for no logical reason but the fine interpretation of a regulation that in my mind did not even apply and would have been OK 2 miles away. But you can't set the dog on them anymore, so you pay. I know how I want to build again, having learned over four houses and numerous projects, but maybe I better do it soon, before testosterone and the killing of sacred trees is outlawed. Perhaps someplace where there is no suffocatocracy, if there is such a place? I really hope someone tells me there is such a place! TJ will probably tell me HK, but I don't think I can afford to nail 2 2x4's together there, ggg. Best, Roebear

To: Maurice Winn who wrote (15874)	3/24/2007 2:17:59 AM
From: mcmudd	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 220085

I expect they'll ban motorcycles one of these days as being too dangerous. They don't have air bags, seat belts, crumple zones, and other safety features. People have to make sure they don't crash and that people don't crash into them. They made crash helmets compulsory decades ago. Maurice, Here in Arizona, somehow it is still perfectly legal for motorcyclists to ride without a helmet, and by far most do(ride w/o helmet). However there is a law requiring drivers of motor vehicles to wear their seat belts, and it is very much enforced. It is also legal at this time to build one's own house, which I am doing at the moment. The local officials frown upon it though, giving you the look of "what are you thinking?". Having last been through the process 16 years ago, I see how things are winding their way towards the day when the person behind the counter will smile, and then say, "You can't do that!". I've heard that in the UK one cannot do their own wiring (electrical), nor gas plumbing. Not safe for other people you know. And if we can't trust a person to safely wire or plumb a house which will be occupied by others, how can we trust them to actually build the structure itself? After all, it could fall down upon the heads of others, and so we would rather not allow it. Along these lines, one of the most irritating changes I've seen in recent years is the appearance of traffic light filters here, which provide for left turns. At first they were smart; allowing a line of cars to turn left, avoiding a backup in the turn lane. Over time they have evolved to the current situation where you cannot turn unless the filter shows green. You can see ahead for a quarter mile, and even though no one is coming from the opposite direction, you are not allowed to proceed. MADDENING! Government has really stepped up to the plate in making laws to protect us from ourselves. We simply have to wonder how we ever managed in the old days.