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Orange&White

Certifiably Surly
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Posts posted by Orange&White

  1. 3 hours ago, Pasken said:

    I'll say that everyone should be hopeful for Cap Metro regardless of what you think about it 

    Here some excerpt from their last Sunset Review (2011):

    Sunset Provisions 1. Require the Board to revamp Capital Metro’s reserves and budgeting practices to ensure its finances are responsibly managed. Senate Bill 650 requires the Board to maintain a reserve equal to at least two months of actual operating expenses, or about $27.5 million. The Legislature modified this provision to allow the Board five years to establish the reserve amount, but requiring Capital Metro to report to the Legislature in three years on its progress in meeting the reserve. The bill allows the Board to spend from reserves only to address unanticipated circumstances, and requires the Board to adjust reserve amounts at least once a year. The Legislature expanded on this provision by requiring the Board to post on its website the balances, deposits, expenditures, and interest income for all its financial accounts, as well as for its reserve account. The bill requires Capital Metro to develop a new strategic plan that establishes its mission and goals, and sets policy and service priorities to drive budget development and allocation of resources. The bill also requires Capital Metro to develop a system for tracking the progress of its capital projects, and prohibits Capital Metro from spending more on these projects than provided for in the budget.

    4. Require Capital Metro to develop a policy to more effectively engage stakeholders and to help rebuild the public’s trust. Senate Bill 650 requires Capital Metro to develop a public involvement policy that ensures full opportunity for the public to help shape decisions on Capital Metro’s plans and transportation projects. The policy must provide for public comment on issues in advance of Board decisions, an approach for obtaining input throughout the year, and information on how the public can be involved. The bill requires that Capital Metro post the public involvement policy on its website.

    Capital Metro has a history of uncontrolled costs and overspending that cannot be sustained.

    l Capital Metro did not control the costs of developing commuter rail, which climbed from $60 million to almost $140 million. As discussed in Issue 3 of this report, Capital Metro did not adequately plan for, and control, commuter rail capital costs. The three primary causes of the increase were higher costs for the rail cars and moving these costs into the capital budget, technical problems with the signal system that prevents collisions, and failure to include significant expenditures needed to improve the existing freight rail system to safely allow for freight and commuter service on the same tracks. The Authority also did not clearly track all spending while completing the project, and could not provide detail on all rail-related capital expenditures.

    The Board awarded lavish compensation to its General Manager behind closed doors. In 2009, the Board awarded the General Manager an early retirement package and other payments totaling $298,808 with little regard for the ongoing costs to Capital Metro. While employed by Capital Metro for only eight years, the Board vested the General Manager with 35 years of service. This additional vesting, combined with the retirement package, increased the General Manager’s monthly retirement payments from $2,668 to $7,500 for life.

    Capital Metro lacks basic management tools needed to control spending and adhere to a budget.

    https://www.sunset.texas.gov/public/uploads/files/reports/Capital Metro SOL 2011 82 Leg.pdf

     

     

     

     

    • Like 1
  2. I've read here (shaggy) that the aggies roster was shit and that they'd only win five games for the past three offseasons, yet they still win 8 every year. Maybe that will be the case this year and I will laugh hysterically if it is, but the broken record has skipped too many times for me to wholeheartedly agree with it.. 

  3. As LCHorn pointed out, they make their surveys intentionally misleading/decieving.

    This is how they define the IPMC :

    "IPMC = The International Property Maintenance Code (IPMC) is a model code that regulates the minimum maintenance requirements for existing residential and commercial buildings. The IPMC is intended to establish minimum standards for basics such as structural conditions, lighting, ventilation, sanitation, and fire safety. "

    So they state that the code is for residential and commercial buildings.

    Yet none of the answers allow the respondent to distinguish between commercial and residential buildings, and they include words like "Food Preparation Area" and "Food Service Area" to make it appear as if they are talking about restaurants.

    They had a survey a few years ago where there were not any available options on any answer that would allow the respondent to be against what they were trying to push through.

    Fucking horseshit.

  4. 13 hours ago, OnAComputer said:

    I just found out Thai-Kun is East Side King. I’m dumb. Still great.

    They also have a brick and mortar on Rock Rose in the Domain. I've eaten there twice and been pretty impressed. The whole fish in tamarind sauce kicks ass. Had the beef panag curry last night and it is hot af but legit.

  5. Bartlett's continues to shine after decades in the market despite outliving it's franchise agreement with Houstons, the death of the original owner and several recessions.

    Eberly is fantastic.

    Someone up thread mentioned OastHouse which is great.

    I am sure more will come to me.

     

     

    • Like 2
  6. 2 hours ago, gurt said:

    Can't you eliminate the accordion motion down the highway with driver less cars, though?  If all the cars around each other are in unison with one another you wouldn't have the gas, brake, gas, brake that you have in human driven transportation

    There will still be stoplights and stop signs to stop at. There is only so much pavement and when everyone is trying to use that pavement all at the same time (rush hour) there is no way to avoid congestion and keep all of the cars moving at all times.

    This notion that driverless cars are going to be some panacea that solves all traffic problems is asinine.

  7. 14 minutes ago, FizzleFish said:

    She probably screwed that dudes development all up. He will probably have girl issues the rest of his life.

    Yeah...he'll probably go the entire rest of his life with the unrealistic expectations of women giving him enthusiastic blowjobs pretty much on demand.

  8. "Fatty on the train"

    http://www.businessinsider.com/china-internet-kim-jong-un-fatty-on-the-train-to-avoid-censors-2018-3?r=UK&IR=T

     

    Quote

    As China banned all mention of Kim Jong Un on its internet during his secretive visit, people on the internet dodged the ban by calling him "fatty on the train" instead.

    The North Korean leader made an "unofficial visit" to Beijing earlier this week, China finally announced on Wednesday. But while the visit was in progress, nobody would say what was going on, despite huge speculation and the fairly obvious signal of Kim's personal armored train pitching up in the city.

    In an attempt to keep the visit under wraps earlier this week, China censored the characters for "Kim Jong Un" and "North Korea" from its internet — as well as longstanding nicknames for the North Korean leader, such as "Fatty Fatty."

     

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