Nightmare by Home Depot - the Sequel

Two years ago, I contracted with Home Depot to do some remodeling in my kitchen, basically replacing the cabinets and counters, installing a new sink, and adding/replacing electrical outlets. This project dragged on for months. As I wrote at the time, midway through the project:

It's been two months now since they came in and ripped the kitchen out. I have no sink, no counters, no cupboards, no dishwasher, no ice, no nothing, and the whole place is a mess with the new cupboards and the kitchen stuff lying around everywhere and all the furniture awry. . . .

Up to a point, however, I was able to use the stove, mainly to make chili (easy), after which I'd wash the pan in the bathtub. Meanwhile I spent a lot of time and $$$ over at Flanigan's. A year ago or so (I'm guessing), the kitchen was fully operable again and all the inspections had been passed -- or so I thought.

Two weeks ago, I received a letter from the City of North Miami, telling me the building permit had expired without a final inspection, and threatening me with a $500 fine if I didn't renew the permit within a month from the date of the letter. They also threatened to come in and rip out the new cabinets if I didn't comply. I was apoplectic. The next day I called Home Depot, which had been responsible for all the permitting.

Sure enough, Home Depot had dropped the ball (again), but they're diligently remedying the situation. This past week they sent me a permit renewal to sign and notarize, which I mailed back to them yesterday (i.e., immediately). It appears this will be processed in time to save me the $500 and my new cabinets. I look forward to a final inspection and getting Home Depot out of my life once and for all.

Rentboy Update: Antigay Activist Is Gay

'In all honesty, [Dr. Rekers] should disassociate himself from these [anti-gay] groups.' - Rentboy Lucien

From The Advocate Online here.

The escort spoke to the Miami New Times at length Wednesday night, detailing his sexual exploits with Rekers, who had previously claimed the young man accompanied him to Europe to help haul his luggage. He told the New Times he provided Rekers with daily body rubs in the nude.

From The Miami New Times here.

In his first interview since New Times broke the story Tuesday, the 20-year-old escort, who prefers to go by the name Lucien, contradicts Rekers's contentions that he hired the escort to help carry his luggage and that he was trying to save the soul of a lost sinner.

From Wikipedia here.

In 1983 Rekers was on the founding board of the Family Research Council, a non-profit Christian lobbying organization, along with James Dobson and Armand Nicholi Jr.^[3]' . . .

George Alan Rekers is an officer of NARTH, the National Association for Research & Therapy of Homosexuality.^[10] Despite NARTH's position as a secular organization, Rekers has testified in court that he believes the Bible is the infallible word of God, and that homosexuality is a sin.^[11] His personal beliefs regarding homosexuality, according to the ACLU, interfere with his ability to give an unbiased professional opinion on LGBT topics, including gay adoption.^{[12] . . .}

In 2008, Rekers was . . . an expert witness in In re: Gill, a case defending Florida's gay adoption ban. Miami-Dade Circuit Court Judge Cindy Lederman ruled against the state. In her decision, she said "Dr. Rekers’ testimony was far from a neutral and unbiased recitation of the relevant scientific evidence. Dr. Rekers’ beliefs are motivated by his strong ideological and theological convictions that are not consistent with the science. Based on his testimony and demeanor at trial, the court can not consider his testimony to be credible nor worthy of forming the basis of public policy."^{[13] . . .}

More background from The Miami Herald here.

Oil spill “an act of God”

"[Tex.] Gov. Perry: More Offshore Drilling." From The Daily Beast here.

GOP's Candidate for Gov In Minnesota Wants To Nullify All Federal Laws

From TPM here.

The Minnesota Republican Party's official candidate to succeed Gov. Tim Pawlenty, who is looking ahead to a 2012 run for President, is a staunch conservative well to Pawlenty's right who has a long history of "Tentherism," the attempts by the far right-wing to invoke the Tenth Amendment and nullify federal laws on various liberal initiatives. He has even proposed a state constitutional amendment that would allow federal laws to operate in Minnesota only if they were consented to by super-majorities of the state legislature.

State Rep. Tom Emmer picked up the official Republican endorsement at the party's convention this weekend, and he also walked away with the backing of Pawlenty himself. "We don't have any doubt about what Tom Emmer stands for or what his values are," Pawlenty said at the convention. "He is strong. He is steadfast. He is clear. ... He is going to be the next governor of the state of Minnesota." Emmer also has the support of Sarah Palin, who praised him just before the convention got underway as a "hockey dad" who once played for the University of Alaska-Fairbanks -- a move that may have been a tipping point, according to the Star-Tribune. . . .

Anthony Sayers

An experienced builder and residential contractor with charm to spare, Anthony Sayers co-starred on the popular TV series Me, My House & I (W Network), and is back for the third hit season of The Unsellables HGTV). With a knack for transforming outdated and undesirable properties into beautiful real estate gems, the Jamaica native and George Brown College graduate has worked with some of the top building companies in Toronto, and after nearly two decades on the job, has garnered a dedicated client base, and a widespread reputation for quality craftsmanship.

Gay-rights groups rally in Little Havana

Local and national gay-rights groups hold a public forum seeking repeal of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell' at Versailles Restaurant in the heart of Little Havana. - C.W. GRIFFIN [Miami Herald]

'The Talents of a Middle-Aged Brain'

Story here.