Read until the end.....you'll laugh....

This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word, and that word
is 'UP.' It is listed in the
dictionary as an [adv], [prep], [adj], [n] or [v].

It's easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky
or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we
wake UP?

At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do
we speak UP, and why are the
officers UP for
election and why is it UP to the secretary to
write UP a
report? We call UP our friends,
brighten UP a room, polish UP the
silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We
lock UP the house and
fix UP the old
car.

At other times this little word has real special
meaning. People stir UP trouble,
line UP for
tickets, work UP an appetite, and think UP excuses.

To be dressed is one
thing but to be dressed UP is
special.

And this UP is confusing: A
drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP.

We
open UP a store in the morning but we close it UP at
night. We seem to be pretty mixed
UP about UP !

To be
knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word UP in the dictionary.. In a desk-sized
dictionary, it takes UP almost 1/4 of the page and can add UP to about
thirty definitions

If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don't give UP, you may
wind UP with a hundred or
more.

When it threatens to rain, we say it is
clouding UP . When the sun comes out
we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it
soaks UP the
earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on & on, but I'll wrap
it UP, for now ........my time is UP !

Oh....one more thing:
What is the first thing you
do in the morning & the last thing you do at
night?

U
P !

Did that one crack you UP?

Don't screw UP.. Send this on to everyone you
look UP in your address
book..or not...it's UP to you.

Now
I'll shut UP

I am getting E-Mails from Anonymous. Can anyone tell me who he is so I can post his remarks???? Thanks

80,000 hits today Saturday Jan 15, 2011

Paul, they could not proved he killed anyone so they got him on Income tax invasion and you know the rest of the story

e 6:57

Paul Pontious! Why are you not sending me more of your dumb E-Mails? Do you think you are out of the hole now? Guess again. Have a great day

Dear Reader,

The average American works three months a year, WITHOUT PAY, for the federal government.

If you are in a higher tax bracket, you could be spending up to half your life working for Uncle Sam.

And how is your money being spent?

• The Securities and Exchange Commission spent $3.9 million rearranging desks and offices at its Washington, D.C., headquarters

• The refusal of many federal employees to fly coach costs taxpayers $146 million annually

• Washington will spend $2.6 million training Chinese prostitutes to drink more responsibly on the job

THE TRICK IS TO FIND THE MAN IN THE COFFEE BEANS: This is bizarre - after you find the guy - it's so obvious. Once you find him - it's embarrassing, and you think, 'Why didn't I see him immediately?' Doctors have concluded that if you find the man in the coffee beans in 3 seconds, the right half of your brain is better developed than most people. If you find the man between 3 seconds and 1 minute, the right half of the brain is developed normally. If you find the man between 1 minute and 3 minutes, then the right half of your brain is functioning slowly and you need to eat more protein. If you have not found the man after 3 minutes, the advice is to look for more of this type of exercise to make that part of the brain stronger!!! And, yes, the man is really there!! After you find the man in the beans forward the e-mail to your brainy friends.

YACHT DELIVERY 85' custom-built motor yacht complete with 4 State rooms, A state-of-the-art galley, GPS System and radar for Navigation,Twin supercharged diesel engines, Etc. $7,474,793.00 *********************************************************** Champagne, Chocolate covered strawberries with cream, and Music dockside for the Excited 'soon to be owner' and a small Group of his Friends $1500.00 Two corporate representatives, crane, and Rigging $2,500.00 an hour minimum... Complete With a faulty $25.00 dollar turnbuckle. (Note the owner in the stern) Watching your 7 million dollar dreamboat nose dive into the Harbor, accompanied by two corporate Representatives from the company that built it, just prior to 'inking' the final paperwork and handing over a 7 million dollar bank check... PRICELESS! So, How was your day going.....

So Simple a caveman could understand:

Why did Bernie Madoff go to prison? To make it simple, he talked people into investing with him. Trouble was, he didn't invest their money. As time rolled on he simply took the money from the new investors to pay off the old investors. Finally there were too many old investors and not enough money from new investors coming in to keep the payments going.

Next thing you know Madoff is one of the most hated men in America and he is off to jail. Some of you know this. but not enough of you.

Madoff did to his investors what the government has been doing to us for over 70 years with Social Security. There is no meaningful difference between the two schemes, except that one was operated by a private individual who is now in jail, and the other is operated by politicians who enjoy perks, privileges and status in spite of their actions.

Do you need a side-by-side comparison here? Well here's a nifty little chart.

BERNIE MADOFF	SOCIAL SECURITY
Takes money from investors with the promise that the money will be invested and made available to them later.	Takes money from wage earners with the promise that the money will be invested in a "Trust Fund" and made available later.
Instead of investing the money Madoff spends it on nice homes in theHamptons and yachts.	Instead of depositing money in a Trust Fund the politicians use it for general spending and vote buying.
When the time comes to pay the investors back Madoff simply uses some of the new funds from newer investors to pay back the older investors.	When benefits for older investors become due the politicians pay them with money taken from younger and newer wage earners to pay the geezers.
When Madoff's scheme is discovered all hell breaks loose. New investors won't give him any more cash.	When Social Security runs out of money they simply force the taxpayers to send them some more.
Bernie Madoff is in jail.	Politicians remain in Washington .

'The taxpayer: That's someone who works for the federal government but doesn't have to take the civil service examination. ' - Ronald Reagan

"If you put the federal government in charge of the Sahara Desert , in five
years there’d be a shortage of sand.” Milton Friedman

PASS THIS ON !

I LOVE THIS WOMAN I LOVE THIS WOMAN An elderly lady was standing at the railing of the cruise ship Holding her hat tight so that it would not blow away in the wind. A gentleman approached her and said, "Pardon me, madam.. I do not intend to be forward but did you know that your dress Is blowing up in this high wind?" "Yes, I know," said the lady. "I need both my hands To hold onto this hat." "But madam, you must know that you are not wearing any panties And your privates are exposed!" said the gentleman in earnest. The woman looked down, then back up at the man And replied, "Sir, anything you see down there is 75 years old. I just bought this hat yesterday!" Live each day as if there is no tomorrow!

David Nelson (ABC) David Nelson, the elder son of Ozzie and Harriet Nelson, died January 11, 2010 of colon cancer. Nelson and his family played fictio

Seal Workout Gotta listen to your personal trainer if you want to get in shape!

Subject: FW: An Obituary printed in the London Times

An Obituary printed in the London Times - Interesting and sadly rather true

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has
been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his
birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be
remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:
- Knowing when to come in out of the rain;
- Why the early bird gets the worm;
- Life isn't always fair;
- and Maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more
than you can earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in
charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but
overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy
charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from
school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding
an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job
that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their unruly children.


It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent
to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform
parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and
criminals received better treatment than their victims.

Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar
in your own home and the burglar could sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to
realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her
lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement.

Common Sense was preceded in death, by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his
wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepbrothers;
I Know My Rights
I Want It Now
Someone Else Is To Blame
I'm A Victim

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you
still remember him, pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.


"If you want to know how rich you are, just count up all the things you have that money cannot buy."

650 hits today

We have a coward in our community that is consistently sending me E-mails who is hiding behind his mother's shirt. He refuses to sign his name every time he sends me a rotten E-mail. Man does it smell. It is so bad that I wanna puke!He seems to think that he is GOD and we are the devil. Let me tell you straight to your rotten face. We are the ones who wants to keep Lake Ashton a good place to live. We don't want dishonest crooks living here like you. We have a good idea who you are. We are not doing rotten things to this community like you pretending to have a Bingo player who should have won $200.00 in prize money but only receives $100.00 while the other half goes in the other pocket of Bingo to be used to dine your dishonest crooked buddies by bus. How can you sleep at night keeping the other half for yourself. Don't waste your time sending me articles with no signature because I just don't read your crap. Have a good day

PS I am not a Bingo player because I am not going to give you my money for you and your friends to enjoy. I am too smart and clever.

EVER WONDER WHAT TWO FEET OF SNOW LOOKS LIKE ?? WELL---- HERE IT IS----





















HEY!! DON'T YELL AT ME--- I DON'T MAKE THIS STUFF UP-- I JUST SEND IT ALONG--

Dear Mr. Judd, law enforcement is always telling people to be vigilant of a
crime or suspicion of a crime being committed and to report it to the sheriff
or police department.

This is exactly what some concerned Lake Ashton residents have done in the
investigation of an illegal operation of Bingo and 50/50 games being conducted
in the Lake Ashton Golf Club community.

A resident's request to the LA HOA board for copies of all the Bingo records was
not given as required, and because of this denial residents for justice hired a
lawyer to attain the Bingo bank records. A forensic accounting financial
investigator and certified fraud examiner was hired to examine these records.
This evidence was turned over to the Sheriff's Office.

January 11, 2011, 1PM at the Lake Ashton Golf Club clubhouse, the Sheriff's
Department Investigative Team held a meeting to give a report on this case to
all those in attendance which included LA HOA Board Members, HOA attorney Daniel
Perry and residents of the community.

Detective Opitz stated even though many crimes have been committed by the misuse
of monies amounting in the thousands, tax evasion,and violation of the Bingo
Ordinance Laws, he was not making any charges and was dropping the case because
there are too many people involved and it would not be good for Lake Ashton.
Furthermore he has the LA HOA's word they will conduct Bingo within the law in
the future. This same HOA board did not honor a request for the Bingo records
which HOA President David Ross said were shredded which records have to be
retained for at least the last three years.How good is the HOA's word? My
personal opinion, the LA HOA's credibility has been lost. Paul Pontious was
First Bingo Director and he signed the majority of the Bingo money checks. He is
a current HOA board member. He is also a current Bingo committee member. Carol,
his wife was the Bingo bookkeeper and is a board member of the Lake Ashton CDD.

What authority does Mr.Opitz have to make the decision to drop the case?
What right does he have to say what's best for our community?
What is he saying, that it's better to let illegal activity go unpunished?
What good is it to have laws if they are not enforced?
How can there be respect for the laws if they are not enforced?
Law enforcements duty is to enforce the laws. In this case, that's not being
done.

An injustice has been done to the concerned residents that reported this illegal
conduction of Bingo.

Time and money was spent by these residents to gather the proof of evidence to
give the authorities to aid their own investigation. The motivation was to rid
the corruption from our community in the hopes of making it a better community
to live.

I have always respected law enforcement and you, Mr. Judd. I cannot believe you
will let the dismissal of this case stand. Please don't disappoint me in my
faith and trust in you that you will proceed with this case to bring those
guilty to justice.

Mr. Judd, I would like your reply concerning this issue as soon as possible.

I am also requesting a copy of Gorgon Opitz's Final Report and reasons for
dismissal of the Lake Ashton Bingo case.

Thank you for your time.

Sincerely, John L. Guenther
4172 Muirfield Loop
Lake Wales, Fl. 33859
863-324-2825

Restaurant Inspections

Polk County at a Glance

Select County: Alachua Baker Bay Bradford Brevard Broward Calhoun Charlotte Citrus Clay Collier Columbia Dade Desoto Dixie Duval Escambia Flagler Franklin Gadsden Gilchrist Glades Gulf Hamilton Hardee Hendry Hernando Highlands Hillsborough Holmes Indian River Jackson Jefferson Lafayette Lake Lee Leon Levy Liberty Madison Manatee Marion Martin Monroe Nassau Okaloosa Okeechobee Orange Osceola Palm Beach Pasco Pinellas Polk Putnam St. Johns St. Lucie Santa Rosa Sarasota Seminole Sumter Suwannee Taylor Union Volusia Wakulla Walton

Restaurants That Didn't Pass Inspections

• View All Inspection Reports

Name (Inspection Date)	Disposition
TOMS RESTAURANT Jan. 6, 2011	Warning Issued
SHOGUN JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE Jan. 6, 2011	Warning Issued
DIROMIO'S PIZZA & GRILL Jan. 5, 2011	Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
MICKEY'S OTHER PLACE Jan. 4, 2011	Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
CHEN'S WOK Jan. 3, 2011	Warning Issued
DOMINO'S PIZZA Dec. 28, 2010	Warning Issued
BIG J'S BARBQUE Dec. 28, 2010	Warning Issued
DOMINO'S PIZZA Dec. 28, 2010	Warning Issued
LAQUINTA Dec. 27, 2010	Warning Issued
SHARIS RESTAURANT Dec. 22, 2010	Warning Issued
BEDROCK CAFE III Dec. 22, 2010	Call Back - Admin. complaint recommended
TBONES RESTAURANT Dec. 22, 2010	Warning Issued
STEAK 'N SHAKE #270 Dec. 22, 2010	Warning Issued
STEAK 'N SHAKE #270 Dec. 22, 2010	Warning Issued
DOMINO'S PIZZA #5030 Dec. 15, 2010	Warning Issued
FROST PROOF FAMILY RESTAUANT Dec. 14, 2010	Warning Issued
SHANGHAI CHINESE RESTAURANT Dec. 14, 2010	Warning Issued

Latest Disciplinary Actions

• MORE

Fine	Name (Fine Order Date)
$500	PIPO'S CUBAN CAFE (Dec. 30, 2010)
$1000	HAMPTON INN & SUITES LAKELAND-SOUTH POLK (Dec. 30, 2010)
$1000	HOLIDAY INN - GRILLE 493 (Dec. 9, 2010)
$250	WAFFLE HOUSE #363 (Dec. 9, 2010)

Restaurants with Most Violations in Last 30 Days

33	TBONES RESTAURANT Dec. 22, 2010
24	FROST PROOF FAMILY RESTAUANT Dec. 14, 2010
23	SONNY'S REAL PIT BAR B Q Dec. 21, 2010
18	MANNY'S ORIGINAL CHOPHOUSE Jan. 5, 2011
17	FOUR SEASONS RESTAURANT Dec. 14, 2010
17	BOB BA LOUIE'S RESTAURANT & LOUNGE Jan. 4, 2011
16	MOJO'S WINGS, BURGERS & BEERS / MOJO'S LIQUORS Dec. 14, 2010
16	CHINA ONE Dec. 22, 2010
16	PERKINS REST & BAKERY #1130 Dec. 29, 2010
16	IMPERIAL BUFFET INTERNATIONAL Jan. 6, 2011
15	BEEF O' BRADY'S Jan. 5, 2011
14	POPEYES CHICKEN & BISCUITS#105 Dec. 15, 2010
13	LING'S BUFFET OF CHEN INC Dec. 27, 2010
13	LING'S BUFFET OF CHEN INC Dec. 27, 2010
13	MCDONALD'S RESTAURANT Dec. 15, 2010
13	CHEN'S WOK Jan. 3, 2011
13	KING'S WOK Dec. 22, 2010
13	SHARIS RESTAURANT Dec. 22, 2010
13	HURRICANE GRILL & WINGS Dec. 17, 2010
13	CYPRESSWOOD RESTAURANT Dec. 23, 2010

On January 10, 2011 Sheriff Grady Judd was invited to speak at our Lake Ashton clubhouse coffee meeting here in Lake Wales. After his talk, he was approach by a resident who asked him why is this Bingo investigation taking so long? To our surprise, we were all called to the clubhouse for a meeting the following day at 1:o'clock. Inspector of investigations, Gordon Obitz who once told me he was off the Bingo case and that this case was given to other inspectors because it was too large to handle, was suddenly there on hand to present his findings. He said straight out that this investigation of Bingo has terminated. He said that there were too many people involved and it was all a mistake that the person in charge of Bingo made a " simple mistake". Over $50,000 dollars is missing, no taxes were ever paid to the state since Paul Pontious took over Bingo even thou prior to Paul taken over Bingo taxes were paid. Hundreds of residents including the entire HOA board and their wife's were take by chartered bus to a very high price restaurant called the Brazilian Steakhouse in Poke County and dozens of times to other restaurants. Detective Opitz stated several times that numerous crimes had been committed by Paul Pontious that it was miss-appropriations of funds well over $50,000 and it was all a mistake. Just too many people were involved.

I find it very suspicious that the following day after Sheriff Grady Judd was invited to speak at our Lake Ashton clubhouse where we all had a meeting to discuss this case. It was also Grady Judd that said after a person was shot 63 times, why was this person shot so many times? He told the Orlando Sentinel that was all the bullets we had. A total of 110 rounds were fired at the suspect. After the shooting the FBI started an investigation.

This is the oath he took while taken office:

"I do solemnly swear that I will support, protect and defend the Constitution and Government of the United States, and of the State of Florida; that I am duly qualified to hold office under the Constitution of the State; and that I will well and faithfully perform the duties of Polk County Sheriff on which I am now about to enter. So help me God."

I can honestly say he violated his oath here at Lake Ashton when he told these inspectors to tell us that the Bingo case is closed. The evidence is very clear that we have in our possession that Bingo violated a dozen or more laws, and Sheriff Judd is turning a deaf ear on it. We we were never question about what we know and what we had on this case.

It seems that he has friends here at Lake Ashton who help advised him in making this decision, the evidence we have clearly shows Bingo violated the rules of Bingo plus over $50,000 is missing. Sheriff Judd is saying all this is OK. but don't do it again. Hey, I just shot my wife but I won't do it again and I still have the gun in my hand. What kind of person is this to dismiss this case with this very strong evidence, and why were we not question on the activities of Bingo?

Sheriff Judd is getting out of hand and I feel that the State Attorney should look into his decisions.

Edmund King
publisher of lakeashtontalk.blogspot.com

---

HOA BOD told they committed numerous crimes …

On 11 January 2011, Detective Gordon Opitz and 3 other members of the Sheriff’s office, debriefed the Lake Ashton Home Owners and Home Owners Association, regarding the tasking, by the Florida States Attorney’s Office to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, to investigate the Lake Ashton (LA) Home Owner Association (HOA) Board of Directors (BOD), regarding alleged crimes committed by the LA HOA BOD in terms of their Bingo operation.

Detective Opitz stated, several times, that while numerous crimes had been committed by many people, crimes that include miss-appropriations of funds well over $100,000, and ranged from buying drapes, rugs, to taking bingo volunteers on expensive dinners, buying gifts, and giving money etc to volunteers. In short, ALL those who participated in such activities or willingly received monies from Bingo, ALL are considered to be guilty of these crimes.

Detective Opitz went on to state that in spite of these numerous crimes, that it was the opinion of Detective Opitz and his superiors, NOT to make any arrests and that the Sheriff’s Department would NO LONGER pursue this issue any further because the Sheriff’s Office had the ‘word’ of the HOA BOD that they would no longer operate in an illegal manor.

Additionally, when Detective Opitz was asked by a Resident, if the Sheriff’s Office would take any new evidence which would show that the HOA BOD has continue to run their Bingo Operations much as they did prior to the so called investigation, Detective Opitz said NO and that as far as the Sheriff’s Office was concerned, the matter was closed.

For Residents who may not be aware the roles that a Sheriff’s Office and the States Attorney’s Office has; the role of the Sheriff’s Office is to investigate crimes and then forward their findings to the State’s Attorney’s Office who, at that time, reviews the evidence and decides, based upon the evidence, if a case is to be prosecuted or dismissed.

Following this short notice meeting, the Florida State’s Attorney’s Office was contacted and informed as to what just occurred; we were subsequently informed that:

1) the State’s Attorney’s Office was shocked to hear that the Polk County Sheriff’s department held this meeting

2) stunned that the Sheriff’s Office claimed that the investigation was over since it is NOT the role of the police department to make such judgments and finally

3) that the State’s Attorney’s office stated that investigation was still very much underway.

1 million homes repossessed in 2010

By Les Christie, staff writerJanuary 13, 2011: 5:17 AM ET

NEW YORK (CNNMoney) -- Foreclosures were at a record high in 2010, and more than 1 million people lost their homes, even as notices started leveling off during the end year.

In total, there were nearly 2.9 million foreclosure notices filed during the year, according to report released Thursday by RealtyTrac. That was a record high, but just 1.7% above 2009.

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Foreclosure Fiasco

• 1 million homes repossessed in 2010
• Court gives banks 'beat-down' over foreclosures
• Vegas home prices: On the skid until 2032
• Home price plunge is widespread
• Record plunge in foreclosures, thanks to robo-signers

It most certainly would have been higher had notices not plunged in November and December as banks halted tens of thousands of foreclosures in the face of the robo-signing scandal.

"Total properties receiving foreclosure filings would have easily exceeded 3 million in 2010 had it not been for the fourth quarter drop in foreclosure activity," said James Saccacio, RealtyTrac's CEO. "Many of the foreclosure proceedings that were stopped in late 2010 -- which we estimate may be as high as a quarter million -- will likely be re-started and add to [foreclosure] numbers in early 2011."

For the fourth consecutive year, Nevada led the nation in the rate of foreclosures with one of every 11 households there receiving at least one filing in 2010. Still, that constituted a 5.3% improvement from a year earlier.

In Arizona, one of every 17 households received a filing in 2010, down 4.5% for the year. Florida's 2010 foreclosures (one in 18 households) dropped 6.1% year-over-year, and California (one in 25) fell 8.5%.

Overall, 2010 was a rough one for the mortgage industry. The big news was the robo-signing scandal, which erupted in the fall amid allegations that banks were foreclosing on homes without having read the documentation.

Then, President Obama's efforts to fend of foreclosures foundered as the year wore on and the potential for ever more massive foreclosures ballooned.

At the beginning of 2010, the bloom had not yet faded from Obama's HAMP (Home Affordable Modification Program ) program, and many analysts were optimistic it would help many people save their homes.

By April, it became apparent that the program was losing the foreclosure fight; there were reports of 10 new defaults for every HAMP modification and the projections for the number of borrowers who would actually receive a HAMP mod had nose-dived to 1 million from 4 million.

Then the next shoe to drop came in June, with a report from Fitch Ratings that showed HAMP modifications re-defaulting at a high clip. The company forecast that three-quarters of all HAMP mods to ultimately fail.

The foreclosure prevention program really started to fade by mid-summer: Fewer than 37,000 loans received HAMP modifications in July, down from more than 50,000 a month earlier. Only 435,000 loans had gotten permanent modifications through the program.

The next few years could be difficult. Some industry analysts, such as Laurie Goodman, head of Amherst Securities mortgage group, say that as many as 11 million mortgage borrowers are in potential danger of default.

However, Rick Sharga, RealtyTrac's spokesman, predicted 4 million to 5 million and scoffed at quantifying the magnitude of the potential disaster, comparing it to "taking inventory of deck chairs on the Titanic."