Why do law enforcement cars travel at such a high rate of speed on the interstate and other state roads, but do not have their blue lights on?  If they are not in emergency mode, shouldn’t they obey the speed limit like everyone else?

In 2005, former Lexington Police officer John C. Lamb II pleaded guilty to two moving violations for speeding without emergency lights and sirens when his cruiser broadsided Rachel L. Burns’ vehicle, killing her. Kentucky state law does have statutes that exempt emergency vehicles (including state troopers) from traffic regulations. To be exempt from the speed limits, KRS 189.940 says the emergency vehicle “shall give warning in the following manner:  By illuminating the vehicle’s warning lights continuously during the period of the emergency; and by continuous sounding of the vehicle’s siren, bell, or exhaust whistle” unless using the siren is harmful to a victim’s health. It also states that “the driver shall not extinguish the warning lights during the period of the emergency.”

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Not only can you park there, but you’ll be parking for free. Charles Stephenson, Onstreet Manager for the city’s LexPark, said if an officer can tell the meter is non-functioning, the parked car won’t be cited. The parking officer will then call in a report about the damaged meter and it will be repaired. If the meter is not obviously broken and the vehicle is cited, the person can try to make a case that the meter is not working properly. The city will check the meter, and if it is indeed not working correctly, the citation will be dismissed.

The time limits for the parking space are still in effect, though. For example, if you park in a 2-hour space, you still only can park legally for 2 hours. But the reality is that without the meter, the officer has no way of knowing how long the vehicle has been parked in the space.

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What can you tell me about the stone fences that line the rural roads surrounding Lexington? The signs on them note the approximate dates and that they were constructed by Irish craftsmen, but I was curious about their history, and whether they are protected in any way like homes in historic districts. I’ve noticed groups repairing them at times on Leestown Road, and I was curious if this was up to the landowners to do or if they were protected in some other way.

The stone fences have long been an intriguing feature of our landscape. A survey done by the city planning staff measured the standing fences in 1990 which then totaled 38.7 miles. Jim Rebmann, senior environmental planner for the city division of Environmental Policy, estimates since 1990, “we’ve lost about another 2 miles.” Most recently, about 900 feet of fence was taken down on Russell Cave Road and another 600 feet on Old Richmond Road.

Rebmann also said about the fences that residents tend to keep an eye on them. If someone sees a fence apparently at risk, they call the city. His department will investigate pretty quickly to make sure a fence is not destroyed. Lexington has several ordinances that pertain to the stone fences, but Sec. 14-83 specifically addresses stone wall preservation. It requires anyone who wants to remove a stone fence to apply for a permit from the office of historic preservation. Rebmann said to call LexCall, 311, if you see a rock wall that looks like it could be endangered.

An organization based in Lexington, the Dry Stone Conservancy, has collected pictures and information about dry stone structures from around the U.S. In the spring, they offered classes in how to construct a dry stone fence. If a rock fence is constructed in a traditional way, within a few years, it appears to be as old as the original fences.

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What are these pork rinds or pork skins that are found in the potato chip aisle made of, really?  Pork skins are what footballs are made of.  You couldn’t possibly eat that.

Herald-Leader foodie Sharon Thompson said they really are made of pork skin, with the meat removed. It’s also dehydrated to make it crunchy. She has posted on her blog today a recipe for mofongo that uses 3/4 cup of pork rinds. The Frito-Lay product Baken-Ets Fried Pork Skins has two ingredients: pork skin and salt. They are 80 calories per serving, which is nine pieces.

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When is the fall time change this year? It used to be in October, didn’t it?

Daylight savings time did change in October. In 2006, it was October 29.  But in 2007, time changed. Time zones and daylight time are regulated by the U.S. Code. According to the U.S. Navy, the autumn time change is the first Sunday in November and the second Sunday in March. This year, Daylight Savings Time ends on November 2, which means you set your clock back one hour.

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I have one question about the economy. If the economy is so bad, why can’t I get any contractors to return my phone calls about me wanting to spend thousands of dollars with them in home improvements? I have been trying to get in touch with several fence companies, deck builders, and carpet contractors for several weeks. None have returned my phone calls. If they are hurting so bad, why don’t they want my business?

Bob Weiss, the executive vice-president of the Home Builders Association of Kentucky, could not specifically answer why the companies you contacted didn’t return your calls. He could, though, offer some suggestions on how to find a contractor who will return your calls.

Weiss said who you should contact depends on what type of work you are doing: new construction or remodeling. In general, companies do one or the other, not both. The Home Builders Association of Kentucky has contact information for area home builders groups which includes new construction and remodeling contractors.

To be a membership in the local Home Builders association, contractors must agree to several criteria,  including agreeing to provide a contract for all work; offering a warranty for work; carry work insurance and other requirements. The Home Builder association also can provide some mediation for disputed work.

Weiss said he was recently speaking with some contractors in Louisville which has quite a lot of repair work due to the recent wind storms. According to Weiss, Kentucky has “lots of contractors who are ready and willing to work.”

From the Associated Press, a list of tips for working with contractors:

• Hire an experienced contractor.
• Interview multiple contractors and resist the temptation to employ the first available tradesman.
• Ask potential contractors the tough questions: How much experience do you have on this type of project?
• Do you have proof of insurance?
• Have you ever been sued for bad work?
• Call the Better Business Bureau where you live to find out whether any complaints have been lodged against the contractor.
• Make sure to ask a prospective contractor to provide you with references.
• Don’t buy on cost alone. A lower-cost contractor who doesn’t show up on time, or who changes quotes for labor and materials mid-project, isn’t a good value and might end up costing you more than you’ve budgeted. So don’t quickly rule out contractors who might want to charge more for better service and a promise to finish on time and within budget.
• Get it in writing. Say it with me: No deal with a contractor is ever done on a handshake. If a contractor candidate offers a standard contract, run it by your real estate attorney to make sure your interests are included in the terms. (An attorney also has sample contracts that will give you an idea of the language and terms usually covered.)

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In this climate, what are some of the pros and cons of buying single family homes as rental properties?

The Bergen (New Jersey) Record reported in August 2008 about things to consider when deciding about investment property. “Today, sales (of property) are sluggish, prices are down and lending standards are tighter. But experts say real estate can still be a profitable investment, and with prices down this might be a good time to get in - but not for speculators, only for long-term investors with plenty of cash. … Slow real estate sales pump up demand for rental property as potential buying decisions are delayed. Further, incomes are rising more slowly, so a growing number of people will find they can’t afford to buy.”

For the person considering buying investment property, the Record offered these tips:

• Make sure you have enough money saved up to cover a vacancy for several months.
• Hire a qualified inspector before going ahead with the purchase. Structural problems could cost thousands.
• Find out why the owners are selling. Have they maxed out the rent they can charge for the area?
• Don’t overpay. Make sure your rental income will cover the mortgage, taxes and insurance payments.
• Consult with your accountant before buying an investment property to identify any potential tax ramifications.

From the Oct. 4 National Journal: “The Senate voted 74-25 on October 1 to approve a $700 billion financial markets rescue plan, sending it back for a revote in the House … Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., added several major provisions to win votes … including a controversial $100 billion package of tax-cut extensions for businesses and individuals and relief from the alternative minimum tax. …  Adding the tax package to the financial markets bailout was expected to garner additional GOP votes in the House.”

Some of the tax cut “sweeteners” added to the original bill that failed in the House, according to a variety of McClatchy newspapers:

• Raise the exemption level of the alternative minimum tax from the current $66,250/$44,350 for joint or single filers to $69,950/$46,200.
• An extension of the tax credit for alternative energy sources like solar and wind
• Grant tax relief to victims of natural disasters in the Midwest and elsewhere.
• Extend tuition deductions.
• Extend certain deductions for elementary and secondary school teachers.
• Extend an additional standard deduction on real property taxes for non-itemizers.
• Continue tax-free distribution from retirement plans to charities.
• Extend and modify the research tax credit.
• Extend restaurant improvement credits.

The Tax Policy Center, of the Urban Institute and the Brookings Institution, has extensive information about the effect of the presidential candidates’ tax proposals.

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The Harvard University Institute of Politics has a one-stop Web site for figuring out how to vote absentee in every state in the U.S.:  Kentucky and U.S.

For absentee voting in Kentucky, you must register to vote absentee by Oct. 28 (that’s different from registering to vote).  If you will be out of town, in your third trimester of pregnancy, with a hospitalized spouse, or otherwise unable to get to the polls on election day, you can also vote absentee. Check the state’s guide to voting for more details.

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The Herald-Leader, the New York Times and How Stuff Works have put together questions and answers about the economy.

From the Herald-Leader:

Wondering how much you should worry?

From the New York Times:

‘Is My Money Safe?’ and Other Questions to Ask

From How Stuff Works:

How can mortgage-backed securities bring down the U.S. economy?

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My 8-year-old son wants to ask why is it he coughs when he eats ice cream?

According to the Encyclopedia Britannica, coughing (and sneezing) are reflexes, which means it’s something your body does “automatically.” These reflexes are controlled by the brain, specifically the medulla oblongata. In the early 1980s, a scientist documented that some people sneezing when they’ve looked at  light for a long time. He theorized that the reflex is a biological response to stop humans from staring at the sun so long that they damage their eyes. The coughing reflex is caused by an irritant in the trachea — something tickles your throat. That sudden feel of coldness is most likely creating the cough.

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