The Hobbit Hole III - Journey to the Cross-roads!

[HairOfTheDog]

Welcome to The Hobbit Hole!

Journey to the Cross-roads
The Two Towers Edition

Come on! Come in! -if you would like to have some seedcakes and a pint and relax a while. (If it is a special occasion, we still have a few bottles of the old wineyards left!)

Our first thread ( New Zealander builds Hobbit hole ) reached 4,100 posts, and we thought that was big. Our second thread (The New Hobbit Hole ) held us for over 48,000 posts, and we loved it dearly. We talked about moving to a new thread for the last 38,000 posts, but we are really slow to muster! Finally, the time has come. Tomorrow (at 12:01 am, to be precise!) The Two Towers comes out, and we start a new chapter.

[Ramius]

What case is that? What's happening?

[Overtaxed]

LOL They have squirrels in Africa?

We went to the NC Zoological Park one time. It's a big nature preserve with an African exhibit...oliphants and such. Anyway, my Dad wanted to get a shot of the critters only the indigenous "African Gray Squirrels" kept getting in the shot.

[Overtaxed]

Good Dog! And cute too.

[JenB]

Actually I think it does mean you're losing your touch. Before you know it, you'll be bald, have a beer belly and five kids.

[Ramius]

Before you know it, you'll be bald,

Nope. Not gonna happen, if it ain't happened yet. :-)

have a beer belly

Uh... you say that like it's a *bad* thing or something...

and five kids.

Yikes! Egads no.

[JenB]

This is called denial. It ain't a river in Egypt.

[HairOfTheDog]

Here is the only thing I can find on the web about it.... it is a proposed referendum for the ballot this fall. This is the description language that won, and remains...

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/initiatives/referendum2.aspx

Sonya's boyfriend Tim was the opposing attorney representing the Building Industry of Wa and several Senators who were the drafters of legislation passed last year which this seeks to basically 'veto'. They filed suit to protest the language in the description.

Basically, (if I understand half of it, it is really complicated) what happened last year is that legislation was passed and signed that said that water rights such as irrigation, once granted, could not be taken away again... that water rights were a permanent right that would remain and transfer with property.... This is basically what the law has always been, until somewhat recently when Ecology began using a vague authority of "water pollution control law" to restrict water use by farmers (and other users, like cities).... The legislation was supposed to clarify that they can't do that.

This referendum was sought because the Environmental group didn't like the legislation and thinks the people would turn it down.... the language in the referendum, as written, makes it sound like Ecology would be prohibited from protecting water quality.... Tim's side was seeking to change the language to reflect that the referendum only clarified the extent of power Ecology had, and that lawful water access rights, once granted, could not be revoked in the name of water quality.

[HairOfTheDog]

Ecology began using a vague authority of "water pollution control law" to restrict long-held water rights (think Klammath) by farmers (and other users, like cities)....

[HairOfTheDog]

Tim made a comment the other day in passing that the tribes here are seeking authority 'in common' (not ~those~ words again!) over all rivers and activities upstream from all their traditional fishing grounds...

Half the water?

[mstar]

Hi everyone...just woke up from a "headache nap", still not too with it...what's going on...water rights? China Town? If I have to think too hard to post, I may go back to bed. Everybody O.K.?

[HairOfTheDog]

Don't worry, don't have to think - it isn't required - I think everyone is hangin' in there best we can!

[mstar]

O.K., as long as I don't have to think too hard "to hang in there the best I can"...I'll try.

[HairOfTheDog]

I took a nap this afternoon too.... and I need some coffee to wake back up again, but I don't have any, I ran out.... I could go to the store and get some, but I am too tired!

[mstar]

I have some coffe, but am too lazy to fix it. You still got that picture from last night... that might do it.

[Ramius]

[sigh] This stuff is getting out of hand again. Time to open up the indian wars again, methinks. They've already ruined fishing, and now they're going after the water? Oh, yeah, this'll be fun.

"Usual and accustomed..." my ass.

[Ramius]

Hey... don't knock denial. It works. :-)

[JenB]

Sez you.

[mstar]

So we have squirrels, seeing yellow, bad postmaster day, Indian Wars, various comments on the pro and cons on Elves, Ruthy OK and making breakfast, today's Friday, thank God...still reading or trying to....

[HairOfTheDog]

..indian wars... "Usual and accustomed..." my ass.

[holds face in hands] I need some coffee.

[mstar]

Did I "kill a thread", as you call it. If so, I'll go back to bed. Sorry didn't mean to. Is that "killing a thread"?