Tim Goodman gives Game of Thrones a rave review.

That's even weirder than the copper pipe thefts you hear about.

Because we build in such bad neighborhoods, we can almost count on the wire under the house being stolen out. Even if there's a padlock on the crawlspace - we've had to upgrade to piano hinges and angle irons with holes drilled for padlocks. They get $15 of copper; we have to pay for $1500 of rewiring. Also, we have to install metal cages around our A/C units. We have to turn people away from climbing into our dumpsters for scrap pretty much every day. And anyone rebuilding in NOLA can expect to have their wire/pipes stolen at least once, if not twice.

Heck, in Moldova, people stole park and bus stop benches to burn the wood, and manhole covers and storm grates for the scrap. It was common practice to shove tree branches into the storm drain so they would stick out so people wouldn't fall in or lose a wheel. Since, of course, there were probably no functioning street lights.

The whole Game of Thrones thing is so baffling -- I didn't read Tolkien, and I'll admit it, but I LOVED the movies. And one of the reasons I haven't read Tolkien (sorry, fans!) is the writing seems dated and ponderous to me, much as I adore the story and the characters (so, thank you for the trilogy, Peter Jackson!).

I'm really interested to pick up Game of Thrones, though, because the snippets I've peeked at seem really readable, and the story looks great.

hey get $15 of copper; we have to pay for $1500 of rewiring.

Wow. And ugh.

That's even weirder than the copper pipe thefts you hear about.

Because we build in such bad neighborhoods, we can almost count on the wire under the house being stolen out. Even if there's a padlock on the crawlspace - we've had to upgrade to piano hinges and angle irons with holes drilled for padlocks. They get $15 of copper; we have to pay for $1500 of rewiring. Also, we have to install metal cages around our A/C units. We have to turn people away from climbing into our dumpsters for scrap pretty much every day. And anyone rebuilding in NOLA can expect to have their wire/pipes stolen at least once, if not twice.

I know this isn't workable with copper wiring, but our neighborhood has had a lot of success with a program the police started where they (the police) give homeowners a specific color of paint. The homeowners paint the copper pipes, and then if the pipes are stolen and taken to a scrap yard, the people at the scrap yard know it's stolen copper and can call the cops. Apparently other cities that have instituted such a plan have seen copper theft go WAY down.

The Atlanta area also has a big problem of thefts of copper from HVAC units. They get maybe $50 worth of copper and the home owner has a $3,000+ replacement cost. I know a guy who had it happen to him twice. There was a group targeting houses for rent, including the house across the street. Recently they've been targeting churches.

Every couple of years, someone gets fried shooting down power lines for the copper.

Every couple of years, someone gets fried shooting down power lines for the copper.

Jesus Christ. That's a new one to me. Darwinism at work.

We get periodic e-mails from the community council reminding homeowners to not leave any scrap metal lying in plain sight, like the driveway, because thieves will just stroll on up and take stuff. Or not even scrap, really -- stuff like lawnmowers.

This is stressful to me because I live with a hoarder and we have 3 (non-working) lawnmowers and an old a/c unit in our backyard (not to mention the damn drill press). The good part is our fence is fairly high and obstructive, so the stuff isn't immediately visible from the street.

Still, we're attractive to metal thieves, and it freaks me out. This has become somewhat of a point of contention.

This is stressful to me because I live with a hoarder and we have 3 (non-working) lawnmowers and an old a/c unit in our backyard (not to mention the damn drill press).

Dude, put it further out closer to the street and let the thieves ease your clutter.

Did you all already know that the puppy cam is back: [link]

Michigan is so fucked up. [link]

As you probably know, Michigan Governor Rick Snyder recently signed legislation passed by the Republican-dominated House and Senate that gives State-appointed Emergency Financial Managers (EFMs) historically broad and sweeping powers. These new powers allow the EFM to cancel or modify contracts (including with unions) and even to fire the municipality's government.

Today, for the first time, a EFM did just that. According to a press release from the Michigan AFL-CIO, Joseph L. Harris, EFM for Benton Harbor, Michigan issued "an order prohibiting all action by all city boards, commissions, authorities and other entities, except as authorized by the emergency manager."

Am I wrong to think it's just a matter of time before an EFM ends up dead?