The S.C. House last month gleefully passed a bill that defers property reassessments for up to five years AFTER a property changes hands.
Let's think about this for a moment. Thousands of people are losing their homes because the fine print on their loans rose up and bit them. In one fell swoop, their payments doubled or worse because the real cost of their debt kicked in.
Under HB 4942, the market value of a house wouldn't kick in until the next countywide assessment, which could be up to five years later.

You know it’s bad when people are stealing gasoline out of golf carts at Lady’s Island Country Club.
What's next? Draining gas blowers and weed wackers?
I’m just glad my car has a remote release gas door. Remember those locking gas caps from the 1970s? They’re going to be big sellers again, I predict. Especially on those road-worthy gasoline tankers known as Escalades, Armadas (the name of that vehicle is too ironic to put into words) and Suburbans. I’ve noticed that in most cases, I see only one person in those behemouths. Really, people, what were you thinking?

I'm getting tired of chicken little. The economic sky is falling! The economic sky is falling! We're all panicked for one reason - we're out of practice. It's been ages since the economy took a nosedive as part of the normal business cycle. Ladies and gentlemen, what goes up must come down. Same goes for the economy.

Overall, I was very impressed. After that, I called a few friends and thanked them for serving. They were, to a person, most appreciative. Nope, we don't thank them enough.

OK, here are a few observations:

Last night, I was accused by someone who has never met me of being too "feature-y" to be a city editor. To be polite, I didn't laugh, but I could have.
Me. Who has subscribed to two daily newspapers and Newsweek since college. Who watches only CNN, movies and sports on TV. Who covered the Michigan State Senate for four years to the point where the majority leader had to ask me what procedural maneuver was just pulled.

There are two major deficiencies in Beaufort grocery stores, particularly as the temperatures cool.

1. Cocoa mix. A measly six or seven varieties on the local shelves. Up north, there would be six or seven varieties of mini-marshmallows alone.

2. Chili beans. Here, one or two different brands, with mild in the largest quantity. Come on. Mild? Then there's the size problem. The local store in which I shopped carried only 14-something ounce cans. People, there are 32-ounce cans and those are just a good start. To compete with northern stores, carry Brooks brand.

I have to say, didn't think watching out for wayward lizards would be required here in the Lowcountry.
Last week, I had to gently remove a lizard from my sideview mirror before driving off. Next day, same spot another lizard. I didn't want to consider that it might have been the same lizard. That would really be dumb on the lizard's part. Down he went. It is pretty cool when you move them, though. They attach their feet to your hand and ride down to the ground. Feels really, well, sticky, but a good sticky.

For the extreme weather all over the world, and since Americans are rather self-centered, in the United States. There, that should get people's attention -- this could affect YOU.

Consider for a moment - a Category 5 storm churns through Central America. Thankfully, the death toll is minimal. Meanwhile, rainstorms are swamping the Midwest. So far, 22 people have died. More deaths there than from the Cat 5. Being a Midwestern, I keep close attention on how weather might be affecting friends and family. It's pretty frightening. And disconcerting.

If you haven't seen An Inconvenient Truth, you must.

It outlines, irrefutably, that we are doomed if we (not them, US) don't do something to reduce the amount of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere. While the documentary will scare the living daylights out of you, hang in there until the end. Then you'll see that there are very simple things we can do to reverse course and save South Carolina. If the trend continues, as shown in the film, Beaufort County, ALL of Beaufort County, will be underwater in our lifetime.

For months people have asked me if I had been through a S.C. summer. Nope. You won't believe how hot it gets, they told me. Evidentally, they can't believe it this week either. It's the first time the heat has prevented me from doing things outdoors. I equate it to sub-zero temperatures in the north during the winter. I'm getting cabin fever. The good thing is the heat won't last.