Hey everyone -
Sorry I haven't written much lately. I've been on the computer so much with various projects that I really have been trying to take a break from it in the evenings and afternoons.
In any case, I'm going on vacation to Costa Rica. See everyone in a week!
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Saturday, May 10, 2008
I Escaped the Housing Bubble
For years I heard it from almost every side: You can’t lose! Real estate is continuing to escalate. You buy a house for an investment! Look at the money you can make. And on and on and on.
Part of this was me being in Montana and seeing the unbelievable price of homes there. I also spend a bunch of time in CA and see the unbelievable price of homes there, too. I was pretty torn about possibly moving to MT but the housing market is primary what kept me away. Everyone in my company kept telling me to buy, buy, buy. They are all from CA and see the value of homes on the rise. The same was true of MT. But it was not to last and I saw this a long time before it happened.
But these people didn’t live in TX. I did. I saw that TX stayed undervalued by approximately 10% compared to the national average. I saw that my home value only increased by very small percentage over a ten-year period – roughly the rate of inflation. This was not new to me.
Well, here we are now with the bubble still collapsing. Foreclosures are at an all-time high. Housing prices have plummeted. And it’s not over, yet. Here is an interesting article about one little house in CA that had a 68% drop in value within one year. Click on the house for the link.
Part of this was me being in Montana and seeing the unbelievable price of homes there. I also spend a bunch of time in CA and see the unbelievable price of homes there, too. I was pretty torn about possibly moving to MT but the housing market is primary what kept me away. Everyone in my company kept telling me to buy, buy, buy. They are all from CA and see the value of homes on the rise. The same was true of MT. But it was not to last and I saw this a long time before it happened.
But these people didn’t live in TX. I did. I saw that TX stayed undervalued by approximately 10% compared to the national average. I saw that my home value only increased by very small percentage over a ten-year period – roughly the rate of inflation. This was not new to me.
Well, here we are now with the bubble still collapsing. Foreclosures are at an all-time high. Housing prices have plummeted. And it’s not over, yet. Here is an interesting article about one little house in CA that had a 68% drop in value within one year. Click on the house for the link.
Sometimes I really want to go back to all these people out in CA that kept telling me to buy and ask them how they feel about it now.
Arbitration Clauses
It seems that more and more corporations and businesses are trying to force consumers into binding arbitration. This is a very serious practice and should not be taken lightly.
In short, arbitration is not bound by the rules of the courts with regards to the discovery process, the ruling process, or any other process. It also forces you to give up your rights as a consumer.
Arbitrators rule against consumers 98% of the time. Think about it. That’s a huge number. I wouldn’t think much of it if it was closer to 60% of the time or even 70% of the time as I believe most people do not have a legitimate grievance most of the time. But 98%??
The National Arbitration Forum has come under scrutiny and lawsuits over the whole process. Yet, businesses still put the clauses in their contracts and consumers continue to sign away their rights.
And, I’m not completely against arbitration. Arbitration can expedite what could otherwise be a lengthy and costly dispute for both the corporation and the consumer. But the arbitrators cannot be hand selected by the companies or their affiliates and associates and this is exactly what is happening.
The only way we are going to get this practice to stop is to stand up for our rights as consumers and tell companies that we will not agree to binding arbitration. One in a thousand won’t cut it. A company will simply say that is too bad and move on down the road. But what if they lost even 30% of their business because consumers stated that they had enough? Then you would see change.
In short, arbitration is not bound by the rules of the courts with regards to the discovery process, the ruling process, or any other process. It also forces you to give up your rights as a consumer.
Arbitrators rule against consumers 98% of the time. Think about it. That’s a huge number. I wouldn’t think much of it if it was closer to 60% of the time or even 70% of the time as I believe most people do not have a legitimate grievance most of the time. But 98%??
The National Arbitration Forum has come under scrutiny and lawsuits over the whole process. Yet, businesses still put the clauses in their contracts and consumers continue to sign away their rights.
And, I’m not completely against arbitration. Arbitration can expedite what could otherwise be a lengthy and costly dispute for both the corporation and the consumer. But the arbitrators cannot be hand selected by the companies or their affiliates and associates and this is exactly what is happening.
The only way we are going to get this practice to stop is to stand up for our rights as consumers and tell companies that we will not agree to binding arbitration. One in a thousand won’t cut it. A company will simply say that is too bad and move on down the road. But what if they lost even 30% of their business because consumers stated that they had enough? Then you would see change.
Friday, May 02, 2008
I Slabbed It….and Saved!
This past week I had to make an appointment in Killeen, TX which is home to Fort Hood. I figured I’d get down there quick, and play a little bit more on the way home. On the way down I took I-35. I got caught in a little traffic trying to get out of FTW due to road construction but after that it was smooth sailing.
Basically, I slabbed it down there. If you recall reading a previous post (http://invioletlight.blogspot.com/2008/04/its-all-about-ride.html)
about how we ride or why we ride I mentioned that I just don’t understand the mentality of this.
Well, I still don’t. It wasn’t outright miserable, but it didn’t do much for me either. I certainly didn’t find my zen place as slabbing it just didn’t require much mental focus and attention. I didn’t find it much more taxing than driving my truck.
On the way down, it was just a tick under 150 miles and it took me two hours. I filled up my tank and that netted me right at about 40 miles to the gallon on the nose (ok not quite on the nose, but pretty darned close). Conversely my truck gets about 13mpg and that’s downhill with the wind behind me. It’s definitely a money saver to take the bike.
After the meeting I decided to have some fun coming back and play a little bit. I didn’t have all day to waste so I figured I’d hit a key road or two and then just enjoy the scenery of Texas the rest of the way back.
Well, going back took me a little over 200 miles and 2.5 hours. Needless to say I didn’t get nearly as good of gas mileage on the way back even though the winds were with me. I never touched I-35 or any other interstate for that matter. It was all country roads. Some of them were more twisty than others, but since I didn’t have time to dawdle I did try to take some of the more popular country roads back in.
It was on these roads I found my inner peace. My Zen. The reason I ride motorcycles in the first place. Forget the interstate, this is where it’s at. Rolling tarmac, rivers, greenery, smells, temperature differences and feeling like I am part of the environment rather than part of the rat-race.
I have to admit, though, I was laid into a twisty at about 90 mph. The warning on the curve governed the speed at 40mph so I was into it pretty good. Suddenly, my bike stepped out on me and I started to wallow towards the outside of the curve. Thankfully I didn’t panic and my tires hooked back up. I laid it in harder, gassed it, and here I am to talk about it. Talk about pucker factor!! Sometimes it amazes me how exhilarating that is. What is it about skating the edge that does it for me? I have no idea.
In any case, I had a good ride and I got to write it off for business. For all of you that slab it, keep slabbing it. Stay off my roads and out of my way. For those of you that ride the twisties, I hope to see you on the road and flash you a peace sign.
Basically, I slabbed it down there. If you recall reading a previous post (http://invioletlight.blogspot.com/2008/04/its-all-about-ride.html)
about how we ride or why we ride I mentioned that I just don’t understand the mentality of this.
Well, I still don’t. It wasn’t outright miserable, but it didn’t do much for me either. I certainly didn’t find my zen place as slabbing it just didn’t require much mental focus and attention. I didn’t find it much more taxing than driving my truck.
On the way down, it was just a tick under 150 miles and it took me two hours. I filled up my tank and that netted me right at about 40 miles to the gallon on the nose (ok not quite on the nose, but pretty darned close). Conversely my truck gets about 13mpg and that’s downhill with the wind behind me. It’s definitely a money saver to take the bike.
After the meeting I decided to have some fun coming back and play a little bit. I didn’t have all day to waste so I figured I’d hit a key road or two and then just enjoy the scenery of Texas the rest of the way back.
Well, going back took me a little over 200 miles and 2.5 hours. Needless to say I didn’t get nearly as good of gas mileage on the way back even though the winds were with me. I never touched I-35 or any other interstate for that matter. It was all country roads. Some of them were more twisty than others, but since I didn’t have time to dawdle I did try to take some of the more popular country roads back in.
It was on these roads I found my inner peace. My Zen. The reason I ride motorcycles in the first place. Forget the interstate, this is where it’s at. Rolling tarmac, rivers, greenery, smells, temperature differences and feeling like I am part of the environment rather than part of the rat-race.
I have to admit, though, I was laid into a twisty at about 90 mph. The warning on the curve governed the speed at 40mph so I was into it pretty good. Suddenly, my bike stepped out on me and I started to wallow towards the outside of the curve. Thankfully I didn’t panic and my tires hooked back up. I laid it in harder, gassed it, and here I am to talk about it. Talk about pucker factor!! Sometimes it amazes me how exhilarating that is. What is it about skating the edge that does it for me? I have no idea.
In any case, I had a good ride and I got to write it off for business. For all of you that slab it, keep slabbing it. Stay off my roads and out of my way. For those of you that ride the twisties, I hope to see you on the road and flash you a peace sign.
At The Speed Of Junk Mail
Last week, I filled articles of incorporation for a new company I am trying to get off the ground. I got all the paperwork processed, stuck it in an envelope, and mailed it off to the Secretary of State for the state of Texas.
This Wed., I received my copy of the filings with the acknowledgement that the company is now official and exists. This is a good thing.
Today (Friday) I received my first official piece of junk mail for the company. As much as I knew I’d start getting unsolicited junk mail I didn’t expect it to happen quite so fast. Who says companies aren’t efficient?
This Wed., I received my copy of the filings with the acknowledgement that the company is now official and exists. This is a good thing.
Today (Friday) I received my first official piece of junk mail for the company. As much as I knew I’d start getting unsolicited junk mail I didn’t expect it to happen quite so fast. Who says companies aren’t efficient?
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