Ceiling Google?

boobies.

According to town officials, pools without permits could be dangerous because without inspections, it's unknown whether the structures meet safety regulations it's important that city inspectors receive their regularly scheduled bribes and kickbacks.

FTFtownofficials

Privacy my *ss. Google Earth is hardly precise enough to tell even if there's someone in the pool, much less if they're wearing clothes or not. This is just someone caught red-handed with a non-permitted pool whining about something.

Plus, it's not like the cameras are watching your pool in real time. They take a photo of the area from orbit and don't update it for years after that, if ever.

"The peasants are revolting."

How exactly does Google get away with calling it "satellite" imagery when it's actually taken from airplanes? (The close ones anyway)

clownpenis.fart: How exactly does Google get away with calling it "satellite" imagery when it's actually taken from airplanes? (The close ones anyway)

I know! It's like that episode of Itchy and Scratchy where Itchy played Scratchy's ribs like a xylophone, and he struck the same rib in succession, producing two clearly distinct sounds. Are we to believe that's some sort of magic rib or something?

Actually, this is a good way to find out which houses in my neighborhood have swimming pools. It could really influence my decisions when making new friends.

BTW, do pool construction companies really build without permits? Sounds pretty risky.

Stop looking AT US SWANS!

/are they still looking?

Goodfella: "The peasants are revolting."

They've always been revolting. Now they're rebelling.

no more than ceiling cat does

Goodfella: "The peasants are revolting."

You said it. They stink on ice!

If they're disgusted they should stop watching me.

TheyCallThisWork: Actually, this is a good way to find out which houses in my neighborhood have swimming pools. It could really influence my decisions when making new friends.

BTW, do pool construction companies really build without permits? Sounds pretty risky.

Probably talking about a lot of above-ground pools people can install themselves.

It's not Google's fault that the city used a free tool available to anyone. The article was about the city, not about Google spying on your fat ass. So sick of articles going "BOOGA BOOGA BOOGA" and the you read it and it's just "hehehehe gotcha!"

Goodfella: "The peasants are revolting."

I'll say, they stink on ice.

zomg 1984... something .. something.

Nah I can't get outraged over this.

Just pay your fines you fat middle aged honkies and stfu.

The reason they SAY they're doing it: "According to town officials, pools without permits could be dangerous because without inspections, it's unknown whether the structures meet safety regulations."

The reason they're doing it: "Because of Google Earth, Riverhead has been able to collect about $75,000 in fees from violators."

So you have to pay the city $3000 for the inspections to build a pool?

Bendal: Privacy my *ss. Google Earth is hardly precise enough to tell even if there's someone in the pool, much less if they're wearing clothes or not. This is just someone caught red-handed with a non-permitted pool whining about something.

Plus, it's not like the cameras are watching your pool in real time. They take a photo of the area from orbit and don't update it for years after that, if ever.

know how I know you didn't RTFA?

Though this use of Google Earth is obviously perfectly legal, ethical and reasonable I, cynically perhaps, assume they were more motivated by collecting the fines than assuring safety.

Inibrius: know how I know you didn't RTFA?

Because this is Fark?

But Barnes still doesn't understand the backlash. Google Earth, he said, is a public tool with imaging data available to anyone around the globe. In Greece, officials reportedly used Google Maps and Google Earth to find people who didn't declare a pool to evade the taxes. Google has no official position on Riverhead's use of Google Earth, but issued the following statement:

Bad example. Greece is in a bit of a mess right now regarding taxes.

In Ontario, they used to have these tax assessors knocking on doors to demand to see if you have any taxable renovations. They always used to find something to ding you for to justify their existence.

Then homeowners got wise to the fact that government officials actually needed to get a warrant to access private property, and just refused these clipboard-wielding weasels access to their property.

The solution was to go to "Market Value Assessment" where your property tax is based on what your house is actually WORTH on the market. It pissed a few folks off in urban centers because their taxes went up due to inflated "close to the downtown" property values, but by and large the suburbanites liked it because it removed that arbitrary tax rate based on whether the city knew about your extra bathroom or finished basement (which don't affect property values that much. Additions to homes, which DO affect property values are available from the building permit records.)

And a bunch of annoying property tax assessors lost their jobs, too!

Maybe it is my youthful naivety, but I do not understand this whole "you need to pay us to build a pool" nonsense.

Okay, so that fee is to have an inspector come out and inspect it, then?

Riiighhhtt...but isn't this the sort of thing that our property taxes go for (or should be going for)?

Orr...I pay something like $0.60 per gallon of gas that I put through my car (or so), yet when I register it every year, I have to pay for that again? And when I need to get it emission tested...I pay for that...again. What is the gas tax going towards?

And if I am paying a fee for the government to do anything for me...then why are they taking tax money out of my paycheck every couple of weeks? And why are they taxing me on capital gains? On every cent that I eventually *spend*?

WTF IS GOING ON STOP THE WORLD I WANT TO GET OFF!

Peep all you want.
I look good naked.

wygit: The reason they SAY they're doing it: "According to town officials, pools without permits could be dangerous because without inspections, it's unknown whether the structures meet safety regulations."

The reason they're doing it: "Because of Google Earth, Riverhead has been able to collect about $75,000 in fees from violators."

So you have to pay the city $3000 for the inspections to build a pool?

Math is tuff.

wygit: So you have to pay the city $3000 for the inspections to build a pool?

You know how I know you're bad at math?

URAPNIS: Peep all you want.
I look good naked.

That is a lie!

I look just fine naked, and so do the rest of my pool orgy guests.

And yes, we're just swimming, but you can watch.

dj_spanmaster: I look just fine naked, and so do the rest of my pool orgy guests.

And yes, we're just swimming, but you can watch.

Then explain why the water is all cloudy!

They're concerned about pool safety, riiiiiight, just like the cops pulling people over for not wearing a seatbelt, they want you to be safe....certainly has nothing to do with money.

SLADE: URAPNIS: Peep all you want.
I look good naked.

That is a lie!

Lost Thought 00: There's an easy solution for that, you know...

Incontinentia Buttocks?

FTFA Chief Building Inspector Leroy Barnes Jr. dismissed invasion of privacy charges, stating that the town only aims to make sure owners have safe swimming pools, nothing more.

If that were true than why do you charge a fee?

clownpenis.fart: How exactly does Google get away with calling it "satellite" imagery when it's actually taken from airplanes? (The close ones anyway)

Get away with? Exactly what federal agency do you think is responsible for verifying the accuracy of such trivia? Should that agency have stopped Comcast from marketing themselves as Xfinity because there aren't really infinite channels?

What an odd complaint. If you were trolling, congratulations, you got me fair and square though I'm puzzled rather than angry.

Why Would I Read the Article: clownpenis.fart: How exactly does Google get away with calling it "satellite" imagery when it's actually taken from airplanes? (The close ones anyway)

I know! It's like that episode of Itchy and Scratchy where Itchy played Scratchy's ribs like a xylophone, and he struck the same rib in succession, producing two clearly distinct sounds. Are we to believe that's some sort of magic rib or something?

Oh Jeff, do shut up.

Hey now, I'm not greasy. Not unless it's Tuesday afternoon, that is.

Why Would I Read the Article: Inibrius: know how I know you didn't RTFA?

Because this is Fark?

balls were touching actually.