3 Boxes of BS

I’m not sure what else I would call it.

He is also disappointed with what happened after he said he called Fort Worth police during an  overnight break-in at the business on West Berry Street that he was watching with remote surveillance cameras from his computer at home.

“They came back and said, ‘We can’t dispatch because we don’t have an updated alarm permit on file with you from the city, so we can’t send anybody,’” Reber said.

…

“They said the can’t come out because they didn’t have my $50 fee on file,” he said.

Fort Worth has a “verified alarm response program” which seems to be a fancy way of paying for police protection.

ALL permit holders are allowed three (3) false alarm calls, as well as two(2) panic/robbery calls before service fees are assessed.  If/when a customer exceeds three false alarms or 2 false, panic/robbery calls in a 12-month period, service fees are assessed according to the following schedule:

The following false alarm service fee structure went into effect November 1, 2005:
1-3 false alarm calls in 12 months  No charge
4-5 false alarm calls in 12 months  $50 each call
6-7 false alarm calls in 12 months  $75 each call
8 or more false alarm calls in 12 months $100 per call

You will be allowed 2 false, panic/robbery calls in a 12-month period before penalties apply.  After 2, a flat $60 fee will apply.
Reducing false alarm calls will improve overall public safety and service when there is a real emergency.  Officers will be able to respond to emergency calls more rapidly.

I can see fining people who phone in multiple false alarms or have their system set so they go off too often — but that should be after the fact; like a traffic ticket – break the law get a ticket.

Instead we have a department deciding not to respond to a crime in progress report because someone didn’t pony up the money up front….how is that not a legalized protection racket?

Please join the discussion.

…the economic and political scene in Greece and Spain is looking rough.

Rajoy has been resisting calls from influential domestic bankers and the leaders of France and Italy to move quickly to request assistance, but a series of events this week will drive him closer.

With protesters stepping up anti-austerity demonstrations, Rajoy presents more painful economic reforms and a tough 2013 budget on Thursday, aiming to persuade euro zone partners and investors that Spain is doing its deficit-cutting homework despite a recession and 25 percent unemployment.

A series of events — those are called riots in most of the rest of the world.And parts of Spain are talking about succession:

CATALONIA INDEPENDENCE MOVEMENT

The government’s drive to rein in regional overspending as part of its austerity measures has prompted a flare-up in independence fervor in Catalonia, the wealthy northeastern region that generates one-fifth of Spain’s economic output.

Just as the euro zone crisis has strained relations between wealthier nations of the north and heavily indebted countries to the south, Spain’s crisis has aggravated tensions between the central government and its self-governing regions.

Catalonia is broke and needs a 5 billion euros bailout from the central state to meet debt payments this year, but Catalans are convinced they bear an unfairly large share of the country’s tax burden.

More than half say they want independence from Spain, the highest level ever.

Maybe there is something to being more like Europe — at least parts of it   (That was a joke — poking the europhiles in the eye with the fact that Europe isn’t the Paradise they make it out to be.)

Spain’s reluctance to seek a sovereign bailout – a condition for European Central Bank intervention to cut the country’s borrowing costs – could propel the euro zone into deeper trouble.

And I’m not sure where any possible bail out is going to come from — countries are already borrowed money in order to provide the first bail out to Greece.

And Greece is still on shaky ground

The clashes occurred after more than 50,000 people marched to parliament chanting “We won’t submit to the troika (of lenders)” and “EU, IMF Out!” on a day of strikes against a new round of cuts demanded by EU and IMF lenders.

As the rally ended, dozens of black-clad youth threw stones, petrol bombs and bottles at riot police, who responded with several rounds of teargas. Police chased the protesters through Syntagma square in front of parliament as helicopters clattered overhead. Smoke rose from a small blaze in a corner.

The strikes, called by the country’s two biggest unions representing half the four-million-strong work force, is shaping up to be the first test of whether Prime Minister Antonis Samaras can stand his ground.

Again — 50,000 people marching with some of them throwing stones and Molotov cocktails — that is a riot folks !

I found it confusing when I hear people complaining about not being able to leave on the amount they are making and then I read this:

“These tax hikes and wage cuts are killing us.”

The traditional summer break has allowed the fragile conservative-led coalition to enjoy relative calm on the streets since narrowly coming to power on a pro-euro, pro-bailout platform, but unions predict an end to the lull.

According to what I can find; Greeks enjoy 25 vacation days per year in addition to the 12 paid holidays each year — 37 days.

The economy in Europe affects the people in America in significant ways

U.S. stock futures are sliding as the European economic crisis devolves into social unrest for the most vulnerable countries like Greece and Spain.

Most of my retirement funds are in 401(k) accounts, just like many people in this country. Our economy is fragile and can’t take too many shocks before the whole house of illusionary cards come tumbling down.

Keep up with your preps folks, it is gonna get rocky or worse.

Sorry Bank of America; I simply refuse to play your game.

I am not going to give you the last 4 of my SSN.
I am not going to give you the account number.
I am not going to jump through the hoops of your internal procedures.

YOU called me.

YOU called me at my home number.

YOU asked for me and I confirmed you were talking to me.

THAT IS ENOUGH !

Most other companies don’t have that ridiculous confirmation process because it is not needed. Get over yourself. You aren’t dealing with national secrets needing a Top Secret or higher clearance.

This rant has been brought to you by a 8:30 a.m. phone call that woke me up on one of the few days I was sleeping in.

ERCOT is asking consumers and businesses to reduce electric use between 3 and 7 p.m. as generating stations struggle to keep up with the demand during the triple-digit heat wave.

“We are expecting the statewide power supplies to be very tight over peak today, primarily due to the forecast for continued temperature extremes which causes higher than normal electricity use, and because of unexpected unit outages,” said ERCOT spokesman Kent Saathoff in a statement released Thursday morning.

…any correlation and causality between these two articles, could there?

DALLAS (AP) — The major electric power provider for much of North and West Texas says it is considering closing or reducing operations at some of its coal-fired plants to meet new federal clean-air rules.

Tell me again how government is the solution.

Via many people on the blog roll, comes this article from the Philly Enquirer.

It has become a disturbingly familiar workplace scenario, statistically rare, but occurring often enough to have a ritualistic feel.

And that underscores a central reality for employers and the labor and employment lawyers who advise them on how to handle workplace conflicts: Identifying the one-in-a-million person on the verge of committing mass murder is akin to finding a needle in a haystack.

“My husband is out there. I don’t know how he found me.  I’m struggling as it is, now he’ll completely cut me off.”

“Excuse me for a moment.”  I step out of the conference room.  From inside the managers office, I call the reception staff in.  Everybody gets a quick briefing.  I ask them, “Any questions for me?” Only one: “Do you have your gun?”

Always.

You see, I don’t expect an office shooting. I don’t hold my breath because of what a visitor may do.  And yet, the vast majority of my practice is bankruptcy, domestic, and criminal/traffic law.  None of this is “happy law.”  Few people are happy to see me.  And so, I will not leave my safety to the whims and emotions of those who walk through the door.

I return to the conference room.  I need to wrap this interview up.  Her mind is not here anymore and we both know it.  I also need to be up front.  Ready.

Need to get back into the swing of things after being out.

First, thanks for everyone stopping by to check on the site, the emails asking about the site and the offers to help.

I appreciate it.

Thoughts on Traveling.

On Security

What a joke! Seriously folks, the efforts to make everyone feel safe is a joke.

Yep, they search for knives and guns, explosives — some at least — and other things but it doesn’t take much to get around it.

Let me give you an example – I was only going to be gone 3 days so I used my gym bag as my carry on.

I thought I had emptied it of all gym related materials but realized that I left my combination lock in a pocket.

I had a removable shoulder strap — think it through — Yep, you guessed it folks. In a matter of seconds, I could have had a deadly weapon in my hands.

On Licensing

I don’t see what the big fuss with about having every state accept everyone’s Concealed (or Open you lucky dogs) Handgun Licenses (CHL).

Tuesday evening, after the business activities concluded, the company threw a celebration of sorts. Had a nice dinner (Thanks Boss and Owner– appreciated the steak), had some fun with a mini casino night and there was some drinking involved. By others, not me.

I chose to stay completely sober — there were plenty of others staying sober, I didn’t drive there so I could have drank. It was a personal choice and everyone respected it.

Not only did they respect my choice but I didn’t see a single person, who drank leave driving. Not One.

The person I rode with actually handed me the keys to his truck and then provided directions as I drove.

Now, the state that I was in had no problems with the way that I got my driver’s license. Had no problems with me being behind the wheel, so why do we consider a CHL to be so different?

There are more fatalities associated with driving and automobiles then there are with firearms.

So, why not make a national reciprocity law?

Wouldn’t that be appropriated under the Full Faith and Credit clause (Article IV, Section 1) of the Constitution?

So, Antis — what is the argument against a national reciprocity law?

Please join the discussion.

Oh, by the way — please read and join in the discussion about the posts that should have gone up Monday through Wednesday. I think I have a couple of really decent ones in there.

I’ve stayed out of the flap regarding Starbucks for the most part.

(By the way, get your mind out of the gutter you 4, I know what you were thinking when you read the title — No, this is not a pictorial)

I’ve made comments here or there supporting the Right and Ability to Open Carry firearms. I also support the rights of companies and private property owners to ask others not to come into their stores.
I try to respect Starbucks position and not place them in the middle of the debate.

So, I’m not talking so much about the company as I am talking about people: who work there, the people who shop there and the people own stock in the company.

The Brady Campaign would have everyone believe that those carrying firearms are scaring everyone — or causing fear and concern.

It’s everyone’s right to sit in a restaurant or coffee shop with their families without intimidation or fear of guns, either concealed or openly carried.

If the people are so concerned about the issue– how many people have quit working at the stores over the ‘fear of guns’ or ‘intimidation’?

Are the “Partners” as Starbucks calls their employees, so super human they aren’t afraid? Or are they average people — a slice of society in general?

It is possible that people working there are so desperate for a job they can’t afford to quit but how likely is that? There are other coffee shops, other places to work.

If enough employees threatened to quit, wouldn’t that make the news or force Starbucks to respond by prohibiting firearms from their property?

I’ve looked in the media and I have found ——- NOTHING.

How about the people who shop at Starbucks? Are they fleeing for their lives, not paying for overpriced coffee and spreading the words to friends and family?

News reports of sales at Starbucks dropping precipitously? Checking, Checking…..Nope not there.

It appears if the ‘average person’ isn’t really all that concerned about the issue, doesn’t it?

{{{In the interest of full disclosure – I make the following statements. First — I don’t drink coffee. Second, I live in Texas where Open Carry is prohibited}}}

So….who are the people that are so afraid of an inanimate object that they won’t buy coffee from Starbucks? Where are they?

In addition to my massive internet based research program (aka Google), I ran an intensive, in-depth and exhaustive review of a  social media program (aka Facebook).

Out of the groups that I could determine that were related to Starbucks and the firearm issue:
The Anti Rights crowd had — 147 members in various groups.
The Pro-Rights crowd had —- 426 I mean 427 members in various groups.
(Yes, I’m on Facebook and joined one of the groups.)

If you can’t convince people to become a “Fan” of a page or group on Facebook, just how concerned about the issue are the people

Maybe they just buy in the drive through lane and don’t go in? But that opens up the whole ‘road rage’ issue involving gun owners, right.
And the news reports of the shootings in the Drive Through Lanes are where?

Anyone?

Okay, so we’ve looked at the people who work there and aren’t quitting. We’ve looked at the people who haven’t stopped buying coffee there.

Now, let’s look at what gets a companies attention if those fail to do so.

The Stock Price and the People who own the Stock.

Surely, if the Brady Campaign had relevance (stop laughing guys, you are going to hurt their feelings — just pretend it is possible for a few minutes) — then their efforts would show up some place, right?

Where better (besides massive number of employees quitting in fear or a massive boycott of the company) for the effects to show up then the Stock Price ?

So what has the stock done since February 4th when the Brady Campaign decided they should tell a private business how to run it’s business?

Notice that well before the start of the kerfuffle that the stock price was following the Dow Jones Index (for comparison) but slightly lower.

On Feb 4th, the stock closed at 21.81 – on Mar 26th the stock closed at 24.59 – that is an 11% increase.

Does that sound like investors wanted to give Starbucks a message?

On March 19th, Starbucks had its Annual Share Holder’s meeting. Did the stock owners dump it when the management refused to change its stated position?

There was a 3% drop in the Stock Price after the meeting.
News reports of investors shedding stock because they don’t want to support gun-owner rights? Not seeing any.

So, who are the people who are afraid of inanimate objects?

The Brady Campaign says they submitted a petition with 33,000 signature.

I used a little known site a while back so I once again turned to the exhaustive research my loyal readers (all 5 of you) expect of me.

Take GM  Corn off the Shelves! -21,263 Signatures  –  Deals with stopping the sale and production of genetically modified corn – guess some people would rather eat maize. Oh Wait, that’s not what they mean.

Stop the Hate Speech –11,828 signatures. Deals with getting manners back in Congress, of course it only applies to those whose party doesn’t start with a “D” it seems.

Ban the Gas Chamber for Animals in Michigan! 71,500 Signatures – Deals with trying to make lethal injection the default method of execution for Fido and Garfield in Michigan.

Help Save Japan’s Dolphins - 133,977 Signatures — Deals with Japanese Dolphins  — now with Added Mercury — being killed and sold as Whale Meat — IN JAPAN (note to self – call Marine Son and let him know about this).

Get that — twice as many people are concerned how animals are killed in Michigan then are concerned enough to sign the Brady Petition.

Four (4) times as many people are concerned about the possible illegal killing and marketing of dolphins then are concerned about law abiding citizens who Open Carry in Starbucks.

In the mean time, I work as the Membership Secretary for One local and PRIVATE Sportsman Club — we have nearly 2,000 members.

And that is just one of half a dozen or more Club and Ranges in the area.

We are just average people exercising our rights….much like the average people who are working at Starbucks, who buy from Starbucks or who own Starbucks stock.

Does it seem to anyone else that as the Antis suffer set back after set back that they bleat louder and louder — hoping that people will confuse volume with significance?

Please join the discussion.