the latest letter from jordan bowman, private attorney and county attorney for shenandoah county, virginia, is harassment--it will NOT stand.

another letter from bowman...  (sigh)

let's look at the facts:

• does bowman have all the answers? no. he's a lawyer working for a private law firm. what does he know about construction, drainage, etc.?
• does mark griffey, building official for shenandoah county, have all the answers? no. what are his qualifications? does he have a degree in civil engineering? is he a licensed engineer? how many years' experience as a licensed engineer does he have in construction, drainage, geotechnical engineering, etc.?
• does anyone at shenandoah county have a license to practice engineering and more than 40 years' experience doing so?
• does toothman have all the answers? obviously, no. he breaks the law by not following the building code. he can't read plans, e.g., the approved grading plan for stony pointe. he thinks that water flows uphill, e.g. flexible plastic drainage pipe with peaks and valleys and buried outlet ends and gutters that are undersized and level. 
• does toothman's engineer have all the answers? no. he should know better than to come up with a cockamamie, numbskull scheme for a 80 ft. long trench next to my foundation wall that will fill up with water.  and flexible plastic pipe on a 1% grade. what some people will do for $!
• does ms. ruffner have all the answers? obviously, no. one has to look no farther than the grading in the front and rear of ms. ruffner's property to know why she has mold in her crawl space. the ground slopes towards her foundation walls--a clear violation of R401.3 in the state building code. ms. ruffner's mold has everything to do with alan toothman construction inc. and failures of shenandoah county's office of building inspection and code enforcement and county attorney's office. the mold in ms. ruffner's crawl space has nothing to do with us.

• I own the property
• I'm a retired civil engineer with a degree in civil engineering
• I held licenses to practice civil engineering in several states, including virginia
• I have 40+ years experience in civil engineering, construction, drainage, etc. 

so, if you had a flooded crawl space, caused by the builder breaking the law, with shenandoah county and ms. ruffner trying to shove the builder's "fix" down your throat, who would you give precedence to? 

• bowman?
• griffey?
• shenandoah county?
• toothman?
• toothman's engineer?
• ms. ruffner?

• or the property owner? after all, it's his property. he's also a retired civil engineer, who has a degree in civil engineering, who's held licenses to practice engineering in several states, including virginia, and who has more than 40 years' experience in civil engineering and construction.

griffey, bowman, toothman--it doesn't pass the smell test.

PS in his last letter to me bowman said: "Any building code violation is now your responsibility." minds of mush: how shenandoah co. va. mishandled a clear building code violation Now Bowman says: "If this issue is not resolved within 30 days, then the county will have no choice but to evaluate its enforcement options against you and proceed accordingly." 

This is harassment, and it will not stand. worse than incompetence is arrogant incompetence.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Gadsden_flag.svg

By Christopher Gadsden (1724–1805), Lexicon, Vikrum [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/), CC BY-SA 2.0  (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0) or Public domain], from Wikimedia Commons

"The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized." 
U.S. Constitution, amendment 4

citizens of shenandoah county: 

• you deserve to be protected from construction that doesn't meet the state building code
• you deserve competent building inspection and code enforcement
• you deserve county and state government that defends you, not lawbreaking builders 

       ➤ SPEAK OUT
       ➤ SPREAD THE WORD
       ➤ VOTE

listen to the guy who knows:

• not bowman
• not griffey 
• not smith
• not toothman
• not lellock
• not ruffner

listen to the engineer who has 40 years experience in civil engineering, construction and drainage and who was licensed to practice civil engineering in Virginia and several other states. 

virginia 
shenandoah county
strasburg
stony pointe 
toothman 

trump legacy: lies and mean spiritedness

had enough? 

who do you trust?
- a mean spirited liar?

- or someone who you know who has similar values to yours? 
- or do you trust the republican and democratic parties that are financed by billionaire corporations and billionaire PACs that breed extremists? 

here's how government operates: 

or rather, doesn't operate.

the fix to our dysfunctional government is simple and easy--stop voting candidates who don't have values similar to yours and who don't represent the best interests of our country to move our country forward. 

If you vote for a republican or a democrat, then it's not the person who you voted for who is in control--it's the party--the hand that holds the puppet/money strings. 

In the next election--national, state or local--vote for someone who shares your values who is not a democrat or a republican. 

even with their billion dollar donors, the republican and democratic parties will shrivel up and die if no one votes for their obstructionist candidates.

Nothing will be better for our country.

two party system | See the article "Two Parties See Record L… | Flickr

File:Two party system diagram.png - Wikimedia Commons

blow it up! reorganize the catholic church

with the end of the second millennium and the beginning of the third millennium, the problem is abundantly clear. the catholic church has a serious management problem. the old model that may have worked in the first part of the first millennium just doesn't work anymore. one man simply can't manage a worldwide organization with more than one billion members--and neither can one man and a relatively small group of "good ole boys".

the catholic church needs to take a page from the secular world and from other christian churches. in the secular world, large organizations typically have a board of directors whose function is to oversee the management staff's operation of the organization. effective boards of directors have diverse members (women, men, young, old, minorities, etc.) who monitor and hold management staff responsible for meeting the organization's mission statement. 

likewise, other christian churches have boards or councils. ideally, these consist of non employees who represent the typical cross section of church members--male, female, young, old, in between, and different incomes, races and ethnicities.

an organization as large as the catholic church needs boards of directors at every level--parish, diocese, country. e.g. The National Review Board, 
Statement from the National Review Board Calls for Lay Leadership Amid Sexual Abuse Crisis

the days of the "good ole boy(s)" should come to an end quickly. 

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Catholicism_by_country.png

By Ernio48 (Using paint in a Wikipedia blank map.) [CC0], via Wikimedia Commons

Sturm und Drang

Brett Kavanaugh Hearings: Theater of the Absurd | National Review

"Nebraska senator Ben Sasse, in one of the best opening statements of any hearing I’ve ever heard, cut through it all.

“Since your nomination in July,” Sasse said, “you’ve been accused of hating women, hating children, hating clean air, wanting dirty water. You’ve been declared an existential threat to our nation. Alumni of Yale Law School, incensed that faculty members at your alma mater praised your selection, wrote a public letter to the school saying, quote, ‘People will die if Brett Kavanaugh is confirmed.’”

“This drivel is patently absurd,” he continued, “and I worry that we’re going to hear more of it over the next few days. But the good news is, it is absurd, and the American people don’t believe any of it.”

Sasse eloquently expanded on a point I’ve been banging my spoon on my highchair about for a while now: The legislative branch is becoming a parliament of pundits, in which both parties teem with people desperate to emote, preen, and shriek for voters and donors who follow politics like it’s a form of entertainment, and, in this case, a theater of the absurd." 

note: Sturm und Drang is German for storm and stress.

had enough? 

who do you trust?
- the republican party and the democratic party who "teem with people desperate to emote, preen, and shriek for voters and donors who follow politics like it’s a form of entertainment, and, in this case, a theater of the absurd"?

- someone who you know who has similar values to yours? who does what is necessary (e.g. compromise) to get the job done?
- or do you trust said republican and democratic parties that are financed by billionaire corporations and billionaire PACs that breed extremist obstructionists? 

here's how government operates: 

or rather, doesn't operate.

the fix to our dysfunctional government is simple and easy--stop voting for obstructionist candidates who don't have values similar to yours and who don't represent the best interests of our country to move our country forward. 

If you vote for a republican or a democrat, then it's not the person who you voted for who is in control--it's the party--the hand that holds the puppet/money strings. 

In the next election--national, state or local--vote for someone who shares your values who is not a democrat or a republican. 

even with their billion dollar donors, the republican and democratic parties will shrivel up and die if no one votes for their obstructionist candidates.

Nothing will be better for our country.

two party system | See the article "Two Parties See Record L… | Flickr

File:Two party system diagram.png - Wikimedia Commons

I feel your pain, ma'am--more virginia corruption

Bentonville homeowner questions practices of county officials, warns Front Royal | Royal Examiner

Bentonville woman starts petition for investigation into Warren County officials for malfeasance and nonfeasance | Royal Examiner 

our story from the county next door: 
minds of mush: how shenandoah co. va. mishandled a clear building code violation 

virginia 
shenandoah county
building inspections department
county attorney

board of supervisors
strasburg 
stony pointe 
alan toothman construction, inc.

don't waste your vote on a republican or a democrat

had enough? 

who do you trust?
- an ultraconservative republican or an ultraliberal democrat?

- someone who you know who has similar values to yours? who does what is necessary (e.g. compromise) to get the job done?
- or do you trust political parties that are financed by billionaire corporations and billionaire PACs that breed extremist obstructionists? 

here's how government operates: 

or rather, doesn't operate.

the fix to our dysfunctional government is simple and easy--stop voting for obstructionist candidates who don't have values similar to yours and who don't represent the best interests of our country to move our country forward. 

If you vote for a republican or a democrat, then it's not the person who you voted for who is in control--it's the party--the hand that holds the puppet/money strings. 

In the next election--national, state or local--vote for someone who shares your values who is not a democrat or a republican. 

even with their billion dollar donors, the republican and democratic parties will shrivel up and die if no one votes for their obstructionist candidates.

Nothing will be better for our country.

two party system | See the article "Two Parties See Record L… | Flickr

File:Two party system diagram.png - Wikimedia Commons

impervious slope: what we had to do because the builder didn't follow the building code and approved plans and the shenandoah county building inspection dept. was out to lunch

1. per building code: slope ground away from foundation walls--minimum six inches fall in ten feet.
2. impervious (polyethelene) layer.
3. stone

location: Strasburg, VA

county: shenandoah

builder: Alan Toothman Construction, Inc., Woodstock, VA.

catholic priests, bishops and the pope are not above the law

Then the Pharisees went off and plotted how they might entrap him in speech. They sent their disciples to him, with the Herodians, saying, “Teacher, we know that you are a truthful man and that you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth. And you are not concerned with anyone’s opinion, for you do not regard a person’s status. Tell us, then, what is your opinion: Is it lawful to pay the census tax to Caesar or not?” Knowing their malice, Jesus said, “Why are you testing me, you hypocrites? Show me the coin that pays the census tax.” Then they handed him the Roman coin. He said to them, “Whose image is this and whose inscription?” They replied, “Caesar’s.” At that he said to them, “Then repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God.” When they heard this they were amazed, and leaving him they went away. 

Matthew 13: 15-22

Let every person be subordinate to the higher authorities, for there is no authority except from God, and those that exist have been established by God. Therefore, whoever resists authority opposes what God has appointed, and those who oppose it will bring judgment upon themselves. For rulers are not a cause of fear to good conduct, but to evil. Do you wish to have no fear of authority? Then do what is good and you will receive approval from it, for it is a servant of God for your good. But if you do evil, be afraid, for it does not bear the sword without purpose; it is the servant of God to inflict wrath on the evildoer. Therefore, it is necessary to be subject not only because of the wrath but also because of conscience. This is why you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, devoting themselves to this very thing. Pay to all their dues, taxes to whom taxes are due, toll to whom toll is due, respect to whom respect is due, honor to whom honor is due. 

Romans 13: 1-7

an exception to "the widespread and rampant growth of ignorance":
faith, hope and love: Texas bishop seeks "a thorough investigation ... accountability at the highest levels" and prayers

how shenandoah co. va. mishandled a clear building code violation

the building code violation:

June 30, 2018

Mr. Griffey,

under section 401.3 of the virginia residential building code (https://codes.iccsafe.org/public/document/VRC2012/chapter-4-foundations) and paragraph 6 of section 19.2-8 of the code of virginia (https://law.lis.virginia.gov/vacode/title19.2/chapter1/section19.2-8/), I am submitting my formal complaint of violation of  the virginia building code. Specifically section 401.3 of the virginia residential building codestates "Surface drainage shall be diverted to a storm sewer conveyance or other approved point of collection that does not create a hazard to the dwelling unit. Lots shall be graded to drain surface water away from foundation walls. The grade shall fall a minimum of 6 inches (152 mm) within the first 10 feet (3048 mm)." The grading at our house, located at 148 daniel ct., strasburg, does not slope away from the foundation walls as required. This has resulted in several inches of standing water in our crawl space. 

Our certificate of use and occupancy is attached. Please note that our house meets the time requirements set forth in paragraph 6 of section 19.2-8.

Should you reject my formal complaint, then I request a meeting at county offices with you and other county personnel or outside consultants involved in the decision not to issue a notice of violation of the building code to the builder for this violation.

Sincerely,

Ray Koenig

notes: 

1. Mark Griffey is the building official for Shenandoah County VA .   https://shenandoahcountyva.us/building-inspection/
2. "Should you reject my formal complaint..."  this was inserted because griffey and county attorney jordan bowman with the private law firm of Litton and Sipe, Harrisonburg Va. rejected without a written response my neighbor's valid building code violation complaint.
3. the meeting that I requested never happened.

********************************************************

shenandoah county's response:

1st paragraph:

notes:

1. "...leakage..." wrong word. the correct word is flooding.
2. "...possible violation..." wrong word. the correct word is clear violation.
3. see note #2  following "complaint".

2nd paragraph:

notes:

1. "...discussed..." wrong word. Mr. Griffey "reached out" (his words) to alan toothman construction, inc., the builder who failed to comply with the building code and the approved grading and drainage plan. One "reaches out" to someone in need, e.g., a hungry or homeless person, a person in danger, a person needing help, a citizen with a valid building code violation complaint, etc.--not a builder who breaks the law by failing to comply with the building code.
2. the builder's plan to "fix" the building code violation wouldn't have "fixed" it at all. in fact, it would have made the problem worse. I provided a detailed written explanation of why toothman's "fix" makes the problem worse. the county failed to respond.
3. yes, griffey and bowman, I refuse to allow you and toothman to make our problem worse.
4. griffey and bowman don't want to hear facts. that's why they didn't grant my request for a meeting.

3rd paragraph:

notes:

1. see #2 above.
2. this is how shenandoah county va. treats one of its citizens victimized by a clear building code violation.
3. poor government inspection and enforcement is why there are many bad builders in the USA.
4. poor government inspection and enforcement is why quality of home construction in the USA has declined in the past 50 years while quality in all other sectors has increased more than 200%.

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Construction-non-farm-labor_1964-2003.jpg

By U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Labor Statistics [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

it doesn't pass the "smell test".

virginia 

shenandoah county 
strasburg 
stony pointe
toothman

defending the indefensible

Vigano letter exposes the putsch against Pope Francis | National Catholic Reporter 

pope refuses to comment on claims he ignored McCarrick abuse accusations

Pope refuses to comment on claims he ignored McCarrick abuse accusations | Fox News

Pope Francis | © Mazur/catholicnews.org.uk | Catholic Church England and Wales | Flickr

labeled for noncommercial reuse

"No one works in secret if he wants to be known publicly. If you do these things, manifest yourself to the world.” John 7: 4

clueless democrat elizabeth warren

What part of ‘illegal’ does Liz Warren not grasp? | Boston Herald 

image by Tim Pierce

Elizabeth Warren | Elizabeth Warren at a campaign rally in A… | Flickr

had enough? 

who do you trust?

- someone who you know who has similar values to yours?
- or a clueless, loudmouth  senator who just doesn't get it? 
- or do you trust political parties that are financed by billionaire corporations and billionaire PACs? 

here's how government operates: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIAJl-wZElg

the fix to our dysfunctional government is simple--stop voting for lousy candidates who don't represent your values. 

If you vote for a republican or a democrat, then it's not the person who you voted for who is in control--it's the party--the hand that holds the puppet/money strings. 

In the next election--national, state or local--vote for someone who shares your values who is not a republican or a democrat. 

even with their billion dollar donors, the republican and democratic parties will shrivel up and die if no one votes for their lousy candidates.

Nothing will be better for our country.

two party system | See the article "Two Parties See Record L… | Flickr

File:Two party system diagram.png - Wikimedia Commons

stupid is as stupid does

‘“Remember, safety first.’ That’s what I told him before he left here every time,” she said. “And he’s like, ‘I know babe. I’m safe. I’m not going to do anything stupid.’”

Stephens City motorcyclist killed in crash | | winchesterstar.com

narcissist-in-chief

 Trump to Fox News: 'If I ever got impeached, I think the market would crash' 

narcissist-in-chief

image by Gage Skidmore

Donald Trump | Donald Trump speaking with supporters at a ca… | Flickr

stupid is as stupid does.

had enough? 

who do you trust?

- someone who you know who has similar values to yours?
- or a shameless, self-promoting narcissist? the good, the bad & the ugly: trump's 3-ring circus
- or do you trust political parties that are financed by billionaire corporations and billionaire PACs? 

here's how government operates: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIAJl-wZElg

the fix to our dysfunctional government is simple--stop voting for lousy candidates who don't represent your values. 

If you vote for a republican or a democrat, then it's not the person who you voted for who is in control--it's the party--the hand that holds the puppet/money strings. 

In the next election--national, state or local--vote for someone who shares your values who is not a republican or a democrat. 

even with their billion dollar donors, the republican and democratic parties will shrivel up and die if no one votes for their lousy candidates.

Nothing will be better for our country.

two party system | See the article "Two Parties See Record L… | Flickr

File:Two party system diagram.png - Wikimedia Commons

"sorrow and shame"? where have you been?

Pope apologizes for priest sex abuse scandal with 'sorrow and shame' 

• 70 years
• 300 priests--just in PA
• more than 1,000 victims--just in PA
• multiple bishops covering it up--just in PA
• a worldwide abomination
• 7 popes

where have you been?

answer: Pope Francis covered up McCarrick abuse, former US nuncio testifies (OFFICIAL TEXT) | News | LifeSite

   https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Rome_San_Pietro.jpg

author: "user:Flicka" does not exist

murderer admits wife's murder--then blames her for daughters' deaths--needs "america's lawyer"--"truth isn't truth"

Man admits wife's murder, blames her for daughters' deaths | Fox News 

"america's lawyer"

image by Gage Skidmore

Rudy Giuliani | Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York speak… | Flickr

rudy giuliani: "truth isn't truth"

Giuliani: 'Truth isn't truth' | Meet The Press | NBC News - YouTube 

image by Gage Skidmore

Rudy Giuliani | Former Mayor Rudy Giuliani of New York City … | Flickr

had enough? 

who do you trust?

- someone who you know who has similar values to yours?
- or someone who doesn't know that truth us truth?
- or do you trust political parties that are financed by billionaire corporations and billionaire PACs? 

here's how government operates: 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xIAJl-wZElg

the fix to our dysfunctional government is simple--stop voting for lousy candidates who don't represent your values. 

If you vote for a republican or a democrat, then it's not the person who you voted for who is in control--it's the party--the hand that holds the puppet/money strings. 

In the next election--national, state or local--vote for someone who shares your values who is not a republican or a democrat. 

even with their billion dollar donors, the republican and democratic parties will shrivel up and die if no one votes for their lousy candidates.

Nothing will be better for our country.

two party system | See the article "Two Parties See Record L… | Flickr

File:Two party system diagram.png - Wikimedia Commons