Mike Haldas’ Internet Blog

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Notes: Words, Images, and Word + images can be trademarked

This bull dog named Tyson taught himself how to ride a skateboard. I saw him on one of the new Apple iPhone TV commercials so decided to google “skateboard riding bulldog” and sure enough there he was.

He has his own website at: www.skateboardingbulldog.com

The owners really say that they did not teach him. It is really amazing how good he is not only at riding the skateboard but also making turns and keeping in going straight in tight areas.

The following video was captured in May 2007. It shows a worker spraying herbicide in a protected wetland preserve in Journeys End, Lake Worth Florida. We are currently contacting the HOA and management company to understand why they are killing areas in a wetland preservation. This area is visited and home to many birds including some that are endangered. Wood Storks and American Bald Eagles are seen here regularly.

Click on the video to start playing.

Here are pictures that were taken a week later after the spraying which shows the area that was killed off.

This is a real funny spoof on a great scene from the movie Full Metal Jacket. An old friend of mine that I met in the Marine Corps sent it. Thanks Woody! WARNING: This video contains bad language, so do not share with children.

Enjoy.

The following video was taken this morning, January 16, 2007, in my back yard which is in Lake Worth Florida. The video contains 3 animals in it: an American Alligator, an Anhinga (type of bird that goes underwater), and a Common Moorhen (another type of bird).

I thought for sure that the alligator was going to go after the Moorhen but it did not happen. Click on the video screen to start.

This is a re-post from a previous video of Jim doing the Napolean Dance at a halloween party. I wanted to test embedding a flash video into the site. Please click the screen to play:

There is a serious problem with property tax right now in Florida. The Florida homestead exemption that was put in place years a go has backfired and split Florida homewoners between the have and have-nots of the benefit.

 The homestead exemption does two things for homesteaded residents.

1. In gives them a $25,000 deduction off of the amount their homesteaded property can be assesed for taxes.


2. It caps the amount that their assesed property value can go up to 3% per year.

Unfortunately, you do not realize how unfair caping property tax increases is until the following happens:

1. Homeowners have been capped for 10+ years


2. Property values increase dramatically


3. New homeowners, businesses, landlords, and seasonal residents get taxed based on current market values after these large value increases.

You end up with people living next door to someone in a similar model house within the same development paying 10 times the taxes. This in no way can be fairly justified. Landords (and in turn renters), seasonal residents, business owners, and newer buyers end up assuming all of the tax burden and will be run out of the state.

Fortunately, there is a reform committe that is meeting regarding this and also a website to voice your opinion:

Florida Property Tax Reform Committee

If this issue affects you, you are encouraged to visit the website and share your thoughts. I hope that our newly elected governor, Charlie Crist, and this reform committee will solve the problem.

The following is a very funny video of my friend and co-worker, Jim Knight, performing the Napoleon Dynamite Dance at a Halloween Party in 2005.  The movie, Napoleon Dynamite, was very popular last year. 

Andria and I had a great time at Steve’s Party. Thanks for the extra entertainment and sorry it took so long to post Jimbo.

Everyone, be sure that you go to YouTube to vote for this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2sVfdDYuA4Y