Watch it, rent it, or skip it?
Skip. That was $5.99 I will not get back. The best thing about this movie is that fact that I was able to watch it outside in the comfort of my patio and with cool weather.
What was it about? I don’t know. I really couldn’t figure out WTF it was about. It was chock full of actors providing a performance that led me to fall asleep towards the end.
At least my wife didn’t leave me out there. She woke me up at the end.
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Consumer | Tagged: Movie Review | 
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Posted by johncoby
Most Americans don’t even know what the 7th Amendment of the Constitution is until they need to use the protections it used to provide under the Bill of Rights.
Here it is:
In Suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury, shall be otherwise reexamined in any Court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.
So the bottom line is that the Bill of Rights protects your right to a civil trial like when your new home has a construction defect or your new or used car is a lemon. You have (had) the right under the US Constitution to file a lawsuit. Unfortunately that right has now been limited with many contracts requiring you to surrender your rights to the Constitution as a requirement to a purchase.
Homebuilders started using this little scheme back in the mid 90’s. If you buy a new home you will have to sign an agreement to resolve all disputes by mandatory, binding, arbitration. It is not an option. New and used car dealers require it also. If you look at your credit card agreements and cell phone contracts they have mandatory arbitration clauses. A few years ago the home insurance industry attempted to use arbitration clauses in their contracts but it was turned down by the Texas Department of Insurance and for good reason.
Arbitration has been sold as being faster, cheaper, and better than our Constitutional rights to a trial. That is not completely true. In fact the car dealers in Texas sponsored a bill to prohibit the use of mandatory binding arbitration claiming it gave an unfair advantage to the car makers. It passed but the dealers still use it with their consumers. But faster, cheaper, or better, isn’t the issue. You have no choice. If you buy the house, the car, the cell phone contract, you sign the agreement. Period.
Sometimes arbitration works out for the consumer (sometimes) but if it doesn’t then you lose. It’s binding. You can’t appeal. It’s also in secret so no one will ever know what happened. And most of all, it is mandatory. I have many stories I could tell. I
So while you were clutching your pearls and your guns you lost.
My favorite story:
Back in 1996 Mr and Mrs Cull filed a suit against Bob Perry Homes for a defective foundation. They went to arbitration. The arbitrator awarded them $800,000 to cover the cost of the home, mental anguish, and more. Bob Perry went to the Supreme Court to overturn the “binding” arbitration and actually won! So the owners had to go back to a civil trial. The jury awarded them $51 Million. I met the Culls and attended the hearing in the Texas Supreme Court.
Leave a Comment » | Consumer | Permalink
Posted by johncoby
Just remember who did this to you.
You might have noticed your electricity bill was about 20% higher. I didn’t until the Houston Chronicle posted an article about it. Turns out my bill was higher than I expected. I expected about $120 for the month of Aug. (I have solar panels) Instead it was about $148. What happened?
I actually used about the same kWh than the previous month but this bill had a TDU Surcharge of $21.74. According to the Chronicle:
This charge, also known as the transmission and distribution utility or TDU charge, is paid to companies like CenterPoint that manage the power lines, poles and meters that deliver electricity from generators to homes and businesses.
If you want to try to understand why you are getting screwed go read the article. For those of you who weren’t around in the late 1990’s here is a recap of how we got here. Prior to 2003 Houston Light and Power provided our electricity. It was a regulated market. We paid just under 8 cents/kWh and had long term contracts which started the day you signed the contract and ended the day you cancelled. It was easy, cheap, and reliable.
Then Ken Lay and Enron lobbied the State for deregulation with promises of lower rates, consumer choice, reliable, free market electricity. LOL. (Key Lay died as did Enron) The rest is history. Now contracts are short term. Contracts are so complicated even the Public Utilities Commissioner agreed. Contracts are expensive! Deregulation failed so miserably the east Texas Senator filed a bill to stop deregulation in his area due to the failed promises. That bill passed.
So there you have it. You are getting screwed. Enjoy.
Leave a Comment » | Consumer | Tagged: Electricity | Permalink
Posted by johncoby
The Houston Chronicle seems to be advocating for private schools via a voucher system.
Yesterday the Chronicle reported on a number of highly rated Houston private schools in the State as well as in the United States. What they forgot to report is how much these schools charge for tuition. This tuition, for those who can afford it, could be reduced by Greg Abbott’s voucher system. I’ll fill in the gaps in the Chronicle’s article. From the Chronicle:
Greater Houston has four of the top five best private schools in Texas, three of the top five largest public high schools, Texas’ most diverse private high school and some of the best schools for various religions in the state.
St. John’s School. At No. 1 in the state and No. 5 in America, St. John’s School is one of the highest-rated K-12 schools in the country. Tuition: $35,000/year. (that is not a typo)
The Woodlands’ John Cooper School. Third in the state and No. 27 in the U.S. Tuition: Prekindergarten: $25,460. Kindergarten: $25,460. Grades 1-5: $28,030
Awty International School. Fourth-best private high school in Texas and the 15th-most diverse private high school in America. Tuition: $33,000/year
The Village School. Fifth-ranked private school in Texas, the most diverse private high school in the state and Texas’ highest-rated boarding school. Tuition: $74,000/year
Strake Jesuit was rated the best in Texas [$25,000/year] , trailed by St. Agnes Academy (3rd,) [$25,000/year] Duchesne Academy of the Sacred Heart (5th,) [$26,000/year] Incarnate Word Academy (6th) [$18,000/year], St. Pius X. High School (7th) [$19,000/year] and St. Thomas High School (8th.) [$24,000/year]
So you can see how much Greg Abbott’s voucher system is needed for those who can afford to pay $25,000/year for a private elite education.
Leave a Comment » | Consumer, Political | Tagged: CCISD, Education | Permalink
Posted by johncoby
One thing seems to be pretty sure based upon what I have heard at TribFest these past few days. We are about as close to losing our democracy as we have ever been since the civil war.
I just listened to former Congressman Adam Kinzinger raising the alarm (again) about what is happening to our country, the possibility of becoming a facist nation, Donald Trump winning again, the collapse of democracy, and possible violence in the upcoming elections. It was actually a really great hour of rehashing what we already know. We knew it last year. And possibly the year before. I haven’t heard too many suggestions on what to do besides “we have to get people to vote” as if that is a novel idea.
With a little help from a friend I began to wonder “Now what?”. OK. We are on the path of facism. Now what do we do? Kinzinger said, and I agree, that we need to have an uncomfortable coalition of the true conservative republicans (what’s left of them) and the left to work together to save our country. As he has said to real conservatives “We may not like all of Joe Biden’s policies, but we can live through them, but we (our country) will not live through another trump presidency.” He is right.
In 2024 we are going to need help from everyone in order to rid our country of this cancer called Trump. Everyone on the left and every remaining conservative on the right. We all need to quit with the bitching about [pick your particular issue] and realize we are on the brink of losing it all. If Trump is re-elected your particular issue will no longer be an issue.
FFS. Focus people.
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Posted by johncoby
I got to admit….I didn’t watch all of it.
OMG. Some quick notes on what I did watch/listen to. Paxton’s attorney, Tony Buzbee looks like an overly tanned Ken and he sounds like a civil attorney trying to act like a criminal defense attorney. He isn’t a criminal defense attorney. Even with my law degree from Facebook U I know a thing or two because I’ve seen a thing or two.
For instance they spent 10 minutes on an objection by Buzbee against evidence being presented that the Buzbee team introduced! Seriously. Team Buzbee provided the evidence. Team Harding was presenting this evidence to the jury (The Senate) and Buzbee was objecting to it. To compound this stupidity Lt Governor Patrick, who is presiding over the trial, let this stupidity continue for a full 10 minutes. Patrick isn’t a judge or a lawyer. His only experience is what he learned from Facebook U.
Buzbee on a number of instances objected to testimony on conversations between a witness and Paxton. My attorney friends says it was a case of Lawyering 101, a class Buzbee must have failed.
Only one witness was called. He talked about learning of Paxton’s involvement with Nate Paul (he is the guy Paxton illegally helped in a civil case), something he said was highly irregular for a sitting Attorney General to do. He met with Paxton and claimed Paxton agreed to not interface with Paul again, yet the very next day he did it again.
I’m going to have to watch the cross examination. This witness was pretty good. Clearly he was concerned about the integrity of the Office as well as Paxton’s actions.
Leave a Comment » | Consumer | Tagged: Ethics, Texas Politics | Permalink
Posted by johncoby
This isn’t journalism.
Fox 26 aired a piece by Greg Groogan about a”rumor” that Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo was going to resign. Needless to say it was a baseless rumor started by an undisclosed individual. Usually TV station management would refuse to air a story based upon baseless rumors. If not any idiot journalist would have a great story every single day.
Groogan has a history of pissing on a campfire. He seems to enjoy it. Maybe someone ought to air a story based upon baseless rumors from a very reputable source: Fox 26 will fire Greg Groogan for his story about a baseless rumor. How is that for journalism? Maybe I can take over for Greg.
Dear Greg. Do better.
Leave a Comment » | Consumer, Political | Tagged: Ethics, Houston Politics | Permalink
Posted by johncoby
From Houston City Council Member Sallie Alcorn.
This is getting real. Clear Lake is currently under Stage One according to the Clear Lake City Water Authority. You can review their suggestions on watering your lawn here, including “Forget about watering streets, sidewalks, and driveways. They will never grow a thing.” Got to love their humor!
The City of Houston will enter Stage Two on Sunday Aug 27 requiring homeowners to water only on certain days depending on their address. From Alcorn’s newsletter:
During Stage Two, outdoor water use is only allowed between 7 p.m. and 5 a.m. with the following schedule:
Detailed information can be found here.
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Posted by johncoby
That was a great trip!
Overall.
We flew into Buffalo NY, toured the American and Canadian side of the Falls. Most of the views were at no charge! My suggestion is to take a day and walk the American side of the falls in the State Park then another day on the Canadian side. Wear walking shoes and possibly a change of socks and shoes if you intend to get wet. Lots of walking but they also have a shuttle for the park.
American side.
You will get fantastic and up close views of the American Falls and Bridal Veil Falls. You can also take a tour of the Cave of the Winds (extra cost) which isn’t a cave but a long staircase to the bottom of the falls. You will get soaked but they give you a poncho.
Canadian Side.
There are a number of sites that provide beautiful up close views of Horseshoe Falls. You can also see the American Falls from this side. Be prepared to show your passport when entering Canada. Most of all the sites are free of charge.
Must See.
Take the time to go on the Maid of the Mist tour. It is a boat that goes right up to the falls. You will most probably get wet but they provide a poncho. It is a great tour and well worth the admission!
Also go up the Skylon Tower for a great view of the falls. I thought this view was very well worth the admission cost. Don’t miss it.
Another tour is the power plant. Spend the extra money to get a guided tour. It’s pretty interesting.
Skip it.
Do yourself a favor and skip the Journey Behind the Falls. It’s nothing but a long line to get in, a long line to get out, and another long line to see two “portals”. It’s not like you are walking behind the falls. It’s only a couple of tunnels that end in a wall of water. It’s pretty unimpressive. Another portal shows you a tunnel that was made many years ago. It is interesting but you can’t walk into it. There is an outside area that is right next to the falls but if you take the boat tour you get the same and better view. I really wasn’t impressed.
Hotels.
If you really have to have a view of the falls from your hotel you will be paying a premium for it. We stayed at the Oakes Overlooking the Falls but left after 1 night. Yes the view was nice but the hotel wasn’t what we expected. Real disappointed. I suggest finding a place away from the tourist trap area.
Leave a Comment » | Consumer | Tagged: Travel | Permalink
Posted by johncoby
Greg Abbott has some balls to be claiming Texas is not for sale.
Abbott has sold Texas to the highest bidder for decades. Who do you think runs the state? Who do you think bankrolls republican candidates across the state even candidates against Greg Abbott?
I’ll give you a hint, Texas oligarchs and their PACs. There is the PAC, Defend Texas Liberty, who has pumped millions into races including $10,000 into our local CCISD races. Two Texas billionaire oligarchs funded this PAC, Farris Wilks and Timothy Dunn. They donated nearly $12 million in just 3 years to their PAC. It is an unlimited source of money as documented by CNN.
There are the Weekley brothers, David and Richard, homebuilders and developers. They own Greg Abbott’s ass. They donated $28 Million over the last decade. There are PAC’s like Texans for Lawsuit Reform that has raised millions to fund candidates that would, and have, weakened our civil justice system. There are Home Insurance PACs, funded by the insurance industry, claiming to be advocating for the homeowner. LOL.
These PACs are responsible for our sagging education system, high insurance, electricity, and college costs, our out of control health care costs. But don’t trust me, just look at your damn bills. So spare me with your stupid bullshit Abbott and Fox News. Texas has been sold already. Bought and paid for. How about focusing on that instead the pissant donation by George Soros?
But….Soros has single handedly funded a PAC called Texas Majority with a $750,000 donation, a small drop in the bucket compared to the millions donated by Texas oligarchs. In their last report TM has spent about $650,000 on consultants, travel, salaries, and polling. I’ve listed their contributions and expenditures below. Soros has been known to fund candidates in deep blue areas with far left candidates and after losing his money dries up. I would keep an eye out for this PAC.
| Contributions | |
| Name | Amount |
| Democracy PAC II | $850,000 |
| Others | $2,040 |
| Total | $852,040 |
| Expenditures | |
| Consulting | $356,763 |
| Polling | $108,574 |
| Overhead | $47,239 |
| Fundraising | $32,053 |
| Travel | $30,397 |
| Other | $15,524 |
| Legal | $6,377 |
| Food | $585 |
| Fees | $573 |
| Total | $601,216 |
Leave a Comment » | Consumer, Political | Tagged: Ethics | Permalink
Posted by johncoby
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