In discussing the “inverted fascism” of public-private partnerships (e.g. the water monopoly) I mentioned that, theoretically, under fascism proper the government was the master in its union with corporations. Theoretically… Read more The Water Authority: The Legacy of Fascism →
“The Story of America Makes Everyone Free” proclaims whitehouse.gov on the same page disclosing the creation of a public-private partnership, “Freedom 250,” tasked with “engaging all levels of government, the… Read more The Botetourt Data Center & the Lie of Freedom →
The law, in its majestic equality, forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal their bread. -Anatole France I began this series with one question: how can a decision of the Botetourt Board of Supervisors drain Roanoke’s water supply? Answering it has taken me through municipal government code, various contracts concerning the Botetourt data center installation, the agendas and minutes of the Botetourt Board of Supervisors, and the authorizing statutes for the Water Authority, for Appalachian Power, and for county government. … Read more The Botetourt Data Center: Bilious Corporate Prerogative →
Data centers are not yet a partisan issue. There is plenty here for conservative and liberal alike to hate. The writers of our reality have a way of, with time,… Read more If It’s Not Love, Then It’s the Data Center That Will Bring Us Together →
As we have learned, the Western Virginia Water Authority is an independent corporation, a monopoly, which can contract to sell our water to whomever it chooses, and can issue bonds—the interest of which is charged to consumers—and owes a fiduciary duty to its bond holders rather than to the residents of the counties of Roanoke, Franklin, and Botetourt. I failed to mention previously that its property, and its income both from supplying water, and from bond issues, are tax exempt pursuant to Va. Code § 15.2-5132. That’s an interesting set… Read more The Botetourt Data Center: a Bad Deal with a Scammy Cherry on Top →
The Botetourt data center is bad news, and some people are quite appropriately upset. Let’s not, however, allow our anger to preclude a little education. Here we have an excellent case study of how government in these United States works. When I learned that a decision of the Botetourt board of supervisors bid fair to drain dry Roanoke’s water supply, I wondered how one county could unilaterally make a decision for a public utility servicing multiple counties. Well, it can’t, but then it turns out that the Western Virginia Water… Read more The Botetourt Data Center, The Water Authority, and an Invitation to Corruption →
It’s odd returning to old writing. I wrote what follows more than a decade ago, and I hardly recognize myself. Still, I think it holds up pretty well. It was intended to be chapter 2 or 3 of a book of Virginia lawyer stories. Here it is: In law school I met one of my good friends, Dave. While I am a Southerner of mostly Irish descent, and have consequently never enjoyed a tranquil day in my life, Dave is half Scottish and half British, and is generally composed and… Read more Wythe County →
Since writing about memory reconsolidation here, I’ve learned to explain it more simply, as follows. Your brain is a prediction machine. If one of its predictions fails, a four to five hour window opens, in which you may install a new one. To do so, repeat the prediction error, in this time frame, at least three times. You can try this at home. This exercise is for those of us gummed up with nastiness from childhood. Sit or lie down in a comfortable place, close your eyes, and listen to… Read more Memory Reconsolidation: An Exercise →