TRANSYLVANIAN LULLABY by THE ACES
The conclusion of a recent Letter to the Editor of the Mariposa Gazette regarding water service issues of the LDPCSD (more like a 350 word drive-by spray of relevant facts in outline form) referenced this website for more information on the subject. I woke early this morning realizing I had essentially invited the entire Gazette reading public to drop by without making any reasonable advance preparations. You know, rather like inviting folks to physically stop by and visit where you live without first picking up and cleaning to make a decent first impression – quite a traumatic realization for an “almost hermit”.
Sure, in this case it is more a matter of rummaging around my “grey matter output” on this website that has been fueled by a sense of betrayal and frustration with the lack of more immediate correction and expressed in a variety of ways: verbatim transcriptions of board meetings; audio and video meeting productions, formal complaints to local, state and federal authorities, etc. and most recently, through what I call “almost music” videos. (An activity which, in itself, only goes to show – you never know what previously unconsidered, new, and enjoyable options might materialize in response to a negative situation demanding much time, money, effort and diversion from originally planned and more happier pursuits.)
Anyway, a friend recently pointed out that banging on an empty trash can with or without vocal expression is still a form of music and my referring to what I was doing as “almost music” could conceivably be considered offensive or insulting to others who might express themselves in a similar fashion. OK. Point well taken – I basically agree with that and would never intentionally demean other sincere expressions regardless of form. The “almost music” characterization of my back ground sound and/or satirical little songs was not intended to be self deprecating, but rather, just an acknowledgement that (in my own mind) what I’m doing would likely not qualify as true music by those trained in composition and/or those possessing the talent and skill (achieved through extensive study and practice) to play an authentic musical instrument. Seriously, I am merely pressing different Casio keys to mimic instrument sounds digitally – but it is still a blast of fun!
Do I know how to play a violin? No.
Tuba? Nope.
Laotian flute? No.
Would I know how to use a set of drums if they were laid out in front of me and I was handed a couple of drumsticks? No.
Could I conduct a string quartet or orchestra? No.
Do I know how to write music? No.
You get the idea — but I sure can play around with a Casio keyboard in an attempt to produce digital sounds that at first blush seem like actual musical instruments/equipment. (A real trumpet player or violinist could never hold a note as long as I can digitally – while sipping a beer with the other hand no less! lol)
Heck, that keyboard even has the capability of conveniently recording different tracks with a variety of instruments with playback of all or only selected tracks. I honestly do not know how to use the far majority of functions and features of the darn thing! This new interest started when a friend generously loaned me an old keyboard she had and I was hooked – and thus began the systematic torture of viewers with “almost music”. I just needed a short cut to being an accomplished musician so I could (hopefully) present my opinions and thoughts in a form folks might think interesting, or humorous enough, to spend the time to get the point. (Which I repeat over, and over, and over, ……anyway.)
Yup, Lewtune “almost music” videos turned out to be a blessing in disguise while continuing objection and fight against what I sincerely believe to be an intentionally designed financial and water service fraud operating for decades committed against thousands of MR WECs of the Lake Don Pedro residential subdivision since 1980 (formerly Sierra Highlands Water Company – transformed into a public agency in August 1980 with 88 affirmative votes and 29 against).
Yes indeed, a brand new special district complete with built in innocent, but mandatory victim customers of LAFCO’s foothill water providing district scam essentially creating a perpetual “deep pocket” for continued water service expansion outside the subdivision POU of WL11395 to serve LAFCO ANNEXATIONS.
How? With an extremely expensive (and for this area, unreliable) GROUNDWATER SUBSTITUTION PROGRAM to specifically serve thousands of acres of LAFCO ANNEXATIONS into the LDPCSD that apparently didn’t even follow their own operational guidelines.
Why groundwater? Because water license 11395 prohibits Merced River water service outside the subdivision so all river water illegally leaving the subdivision must be replaced with groundwater. If the water is replaced – supposedly there is no violation of the license, so the MR WECs of the subdivision have been, and are expected to continue, paying for this special benefit water REPLACEMENT service for even more third party land developers who own LAFCO ANNEXED PROPERTIES within the district’s LAFCO expanded water service boundary. Some of these outside owners are attempting to develop adjacent subdivisions which will obviously only increase the demand for expensive groundwater that is already primarily subsidized by subdivision residents!
Please understand: subdivision MR WECs, DO NOT REQUIRE GROUNDWATER REPLACEMENT!
Seriously, consider how different this designated “disadvantaged community” might be if clear state regulations had been followed from the beginning. Wonder how much more developed, attractive, and valuable our subdivision properties would be right now had our right to that quality Merced River water been protected rather than exploited by the respective local county government departments, agencies, commissions, etc. which were apparently focused more on the special interests of land developers in a drought prone area wanting our subdivision dedicated water. Everybody wins but the subdivision residents who have primarily paid for all the additional costs! (Heck, subdivision owners no longer consume the quality Merced River water from Lake McClure, but a “blended product” made with groundwater that must have contaminants such as arsenic removed. Special monitoring, treatment, reporting, equipment, etc. all paid for by those who do not require a remedy for intentional violations of the state water license.
Shame, shame, shame. Distrust of local government is sometimes not only warranted, but earned.
My best to you and yours, Lew
