horn4life

It's important to know that we never allowed foreign control of broadcast news networks prior to Newt Gingrich carrying Australian Billionaire Rupert Murdoch's water and changing US law. The reasoning for preventing foreign ownership was it would be too easy to make money without any regard for patriotism, and the only concern advertising revenue. Fox simply is NOT a news station. It is now only a corrupt GOP propaganda machine. While Republicans love to criticize CNN, MSNBC and every non-Fox news source, none of those stations every i my memory did not carry a prime time presidential news cast. Fox did not air tonight's speech because they are NOT a news station. As you see it's a lot more profitable to sell Republicans lies, than for even for a minute, allow their viewers to be confronted with even the slightest glimmer of the truth. Truth is the enemy of the Fox. And airing an honest prime time speech by the President of the United States is simple not in Fox's best interest. And that is exactly what the President spoke about tonight. A fight for the Soul of our Nation! Something Fox doesn't give a shit about.

My kid went to ULM for Undergrad. Hard not to turn down a full academic scholarship. The campus is actually pretty nice with a beautiful library overlooking the Bayou and their claim to fame is they are nearly every year National Collegiate Water Ski Champions like 30 times or something. However, the one thing that makes me pause about these sorts of games looking at it from the point of view of the kids at the smaller schools, is the potential for life changing injuries. Simply that the payouts are big for the small schools, but the kids are often at such a disadvantage that I wonder about the potential for life changing injuries versus the big check the school gets. I realize it's the only way for a smaller school to make money via athletics. Anyhow I know we will be dominant, and the only prayers I ever have before games is that the kids on both sides stay healthy (sometimes modified for OU to be honest). Since I know we roll them my only hope beyond victory is that no kids on either side have any life altering injuries. Hook'em!

Well My assumption of the kids getting back in sports putting off season Port A back on a more normal footing seems to have been affirmed. Had some friends go down, and the went to eat at Virginia's and only had to wait 30 minutes at 6:30 on a Saturday night. I think that is a decent sign October might be the shit again. (Pro tip... you can get on the wait list via yelp at Virginia's). Shit I bet last year the wait was an hour and a half at Virginia's. Good smoked tuna dip, and it seems they are better than a few years ago on the food side. Only reason I know about the Yelp wait list is my talking to the waitress about assholes and walked tabs. She marveled at the dumb asses that reserved on yelp to beat the line then walked the tab... You lucky bastard. National Longhorn Television broadcast.... warm water, hopefully good weather, and a good fishing weekend looking at the tables and tides IS shorty's Pig Party that Saturday as well? I think it will be an 11 am kick. Looks like a decent dawn bite, so hopefully the day starts good, and stays good! I wonder if La Playa would rent the parking lot for a Longhorn Tailgate? But where to piss...

Two things - First -yes LHN on Direct TV streaming. You can run it on your phone and cast it if you want. Samsung TV's are compatible (have preloaded?) DirectTV streaming App. But Box works better. But cool to be able to watch LHN on your phone. Second - the only good thing about being rolled into the SEC Network is the inevitable Aggie anger at once again being eclipsed repetitively with Texas getting the coverage nod.

How you mofo's did not jinx me. Was talking to the wife that I had not been out to check on the trailer since the rain finally came. Top is dirty as shit being stored outside and needs a good once over before I head to Port A for October. Finally got a new front decal to replace the cracked one which is down to basically glue remains making the front look oh so pretty. But fingers crossed, hope when I go back out I am not finding any roof failure after finally getting some rain up here in Austin. But cool to see what it looks like peeled back... and hope seeing that up close is not in my immediate future...

God Damn It! I'm In WuLaw! It's hard not to get swept up in the enthusiasm. How can you question a man that made the commitment to take his family on a family vacation, that could only best be described as a combination of Chevy Chase's "Vacation" and Robin Williams "RV." Who could doubt the wisdom of a man heading out into the wilderness with wife and family in a shiny new RV, with the stairs down... We then got to explore the survival skills of a man discovering the existence of the strange miracle of metal rivets that could not be removed with a screw driver. Who among us cannot embrace the enthusiasm of a master plan involving not a "Stabbin Wagon" like Micheal Douglas drove explaining the mysteries of women to Mr. Alright, alright, alright, but instead opted to bring a nookie tent! Not all of us can head forward in life despite the headwinds of diversity! I am all in! I just hope that my enthusiasm and embrace of Wulaw's prognostications do however end up better than the final chapters of the great American Road Trip! It would be disappointing if partway though this year's Sark and Co season, the team instead of looking like a shiny new RV, resembled a half opened sardine tin... with a wrinkled and mildewing nookie tent in the background. So I'm with you WuLaw! But I am praying that you did you bring the low bridge map with you, to help guide Sark this season?

Seemed like when I was doing research some rubber between layers of sheet rock was about as good as blowing in the stuff. But seems like the material was expensive. But I looked and found some 1/4 inch think rubber matting. Not cheap but a lot cleaner and quicker, IF (do your research) the sound deadening of a rubber barrier might work better. I was thinking get some outlet extenders, enough rubber matting for to cover the wall, and rubber tape for seams, and then 3/8 sheetrock over that. just find the studs and make them on the floor and ceiling with tape and re-rock the wall with the 3/8. I think there are some outlet extenders that are nearly right on for that additional thickness. Or better yet just make an entire wall of that puzzle looking kids mats on the wall? Might look cool and could be used as a giant bulletin board as time goes on? Them removed in later years where eaves dropping becomes more important! 😉

Luckily there looks to be no activity up in the attic. Just the old activity in the two boards on the top plate. No tunnels to any of the untreated wood. Still think I am going to treat around the whole house and set up some traps (soup can with some wet cardboard inside to see if I ca find any activity around the slab. So just dig out the couple bad spots, fill with wood filler and fill every hole with termite foam and move on. I thought this was old, but I figured with my luck I would see dirt tunnels moving to fresh untreated wood.

Oh use the blower for sure. But if you start off blowing in the insulation you will have it catch on the wiring and not fill the bottom of the void in the wall. So put the first stuff in by hand, and use a stick or something to push the loose insulation below the wiring then... fill her up. The on/off on the machine can be a little tricky unless you want to blow a lot of insulation into the house while jumping to the next whole. Nothing a helper can't fix. Good luck!

Talked to her today and she is open to trying to figure something out. I said we could always just clean it up and sell it and do a split, but that once fixed up a rental income stream might be better. She liked the idea. I expressed my lack of knowledge about dealing with a trust, and that making sure everything was legal and proper protecting all parties would be my biggest concern (protecting me mostly). I am going to create a Google doc with all the questions and concerns I have, and allow them to also address and add concerns. Anything we do I want to be certain that the daughter who will eventually be the trustee of the estate is onboard will any decision making. I was spitballing with her and came up with the possibility of creating an LLC where I would be a minority shareholder who would gradually obtain full control over time. Which would create an entity in the LLC that could protect us both from potential liability. I also brought up the fact I would only really be interested if she was willing to do some sort of deal on the House as well. To which she was open. So now do some research and more due diligence. Apparently it is seller financing of an owner occupied property that is restricted, and then only a once every 12 month restriction for the owner. Interesting decision tree though- Dodd-Frank Owner Financing Decision Tree from Barnes Walker law firm

Finishing off my whole house remodel and I found some termite damage that sort of freaked me out. The good news is that I know the wall in question is not load bearing. We knew there was prior termite activity when we bought the house years ago. It appears as thought this damage is all old, but the amount of dirt and tunnels on the edge of the double top plate. Looks like the critters came in from the area beneath the tub plumbing access and through a small slab crack. Normally I would say tear all that shit out and replace it. But most of the wood is pretty good and since it is not structural I was thinking of just re-rocking over it, if I can confirm there is not current activity. My biggest concern is that while most of the framing is treated, I do not believe any of the rafter material is treated lumber. And of course where I want to look is in an awkward place. I'm going to go up in the early AM when it's cooler and really poke around to see if there is any activity in the attic. If not I am thinking of treating all the wood in the attic in close proximity with the area as a preventative if I leave the framing in place. it's more dirt on the surface of the wood against the treated wood and behind the sheet rock. I probed pretty well with a screw driver and only found one area that was really spongy. Part of me says fuck it. Tear out the wall and pop up a new one. But I worry that if I do that I may open up another can of worms and cascade into more work. I think I am going to drill into a few spots that seem solid and probe around some more. If I don't find anything alive, I think I am going to foam all the boring holes I can find and fill with wood filler and finish off the bath. IF I find anything alive, I am thinking tear out the wall framing. Treat the new wood and reframe. Only real pain in the ass will be having to redo the electrical, but if those fuckers are alive it seems removing the termite highway would be the wisest choice.

Interestingly one of the houses in my neighborhood that moved recently had a split put into the garage, I think that space that was not on TCAD was a major selling point. A split unit for the garage sounds like a definite possibility after I get all my other shit done.

I have a common wall with our Master bedroom that of course did not have insulation in it as it was an interior wall. I looked into it and the foam is a possibility but a more expensive option. The problem with putting in anything after the fact is that you have electrical wiring going horizontally to all the plugs, that blown in or non-expanding foam can hand on and not completely fill. The new foams may be light enough to flow past the horizontal wiring and full the space, but a few years ago that was a question. Here is my hillbilly engineering solution. But you are going to have to do some sheet rock repair no matter what you do. My solution was to make fairly large holes about a foot off the ceiling. make sure the hoes are between thee studs. (Ask me how I know this... ;-). )And use the blown in insulation to fill the void in the wall. The larger holes with come clearance from the ceiling allow you to sort of see into the void and gives you the ability to put some of the blow in insulation into the void and use something to help push it around the wiring to fill the bottom of the wall. You can tell if the insulation made it all the way down by knocking on the sheet rock where you are trying to fill the void. You can hear the difference with a duller thud when the void has insulation in it. The other reason for the larger hole is that you can then cut some normal roll insulation to size and tuck it up to fill the void above the blown in insulation. I put the insulation by hand rather than blow it in for the first part, the used the blower to top off once I had the bottom filled. This method will work and it is a lot cheaper. The one WARNING I would give is that if you are going to go the spray in foam route, add any electrical or future cable drops into the wall before the foam goes in. As once the foam goes in good luck doing anything in the wall without tearing the wall out. The other method... Buy some Outlet extenders for any plugs on the wall and add a layer of noise absorbing sheet rock. There was also some sort of sound deadening material that could go between a new layer of sheet rock that worked pretty well. But I researched those options a few years ago. Good luck!

Well If I had $250K for downpayment and remodeling costs laying around I would indeed just say fuck it and make an offer for both at $525,000 with no realtor fees. But unfortunately I don't. So unless I want to go to a hard money lender who will finance loans on two unoccupied and uninhabitable properties at a low interest rate (haha), just buying them conventionally isn't gonna work for me. But some owner financing from an owner who has been losing money on the properties for years might work for me? And her! Especially if I can craft a deal that make her more money over time than a sale today, while also giving me an opportunity to profit long term. If I did not want to try to hold onto the properties, then I could write a contract where i did the rehab and we split the profit beyond my recovering my costs and labor. But renting long term provides both an income stream and appreciation, over time. She is trying to avoid expenses to rehab, the burden of property tax and t capital gains tax on a sale. She is SOL in avoiding property taxes, but a rental income stream could provide her positive rather than negative cash flow on the properties. She can sell and gradually spend that money over time. But I am selling the fact she can indeed make more money over time on properties that are rentable. Or sell them cheap as is, and have a lot less cash to spend over time. As i have said probably won't work out. But worth some consideration and thought for sure.

Not trying to take advantage at all. That's why I am trying to create some sort of cash flow for her. There is certainly a desire for future retirement cash flow and both these properties would not sell near peak value in their current condition. I may just buy the condo from her, but only on the condition of the ability to purchase the House. I am trying create a solution that gives her solid cash flow for ten years, and then the wife and I cash flow starting in 10 years. I have done thousands of dollars of work and helped her out without billing her. She's a former teacher of my kids, and fucking her over is the very last thing I would do. As has been said she is a hoarder, and that is a problem in and of itself that may not be solvable on the House. Without that condo flooding it too would be a high priced storage space. I am trying to find a win/win since our cash flow needs are so different. I would however certainly come out ahead over time, but she would come out far ahead over time than selling two distressed properties in the buyer's market we now have in Austin. So I am trying to find a creative solution. My concerns are: 1) dealing with a trust which I am unfamiliar with. 2) forming an equitable deal for BOTH of us. 3) protecting my investment of time and money with the ability to exit. The fact I am NOT trying to fuck her, is what is making this more complicated financially. The fact she is a hoarder just fucking complicates any of it, but that is also what has created the opportunity... Maybe sort of structure the deal like a 5/1 mortgage? I get her to agree to 5 years with interest free financing, that turns into a fixed higher rate after 5 years if I do not refinance? I agree to cover the property taxes and she gets 3/4 of all the rental profits past expenses for that same 5 years. I lock in the lower purchase price, and have a fixed financing costs going forward should I not sell or refinance. She in turn makes some cash flow for the next five years, then past that either a lump sum should I refi without any realtors fees, or interest payments until the note is paid off? Is that crazy?

Well from the ashes.... Interesting how times have changed in a year. I am more cash poor as my Stocks have donked a bit in the last year, but the deal could still be a possibility. And the white hot market is now stirred embers with inventory mounting. The place is mold filled mess, exacerbated by the fact the upstairs unit's A/C has been leaking into the unit probably since my post last Summer. I think the real deal I want will indeed "require a longer term collaboration and cooperation." The condo thing has lingered forever, but with my house flooding and her lack of urgency I just dropped it. But now it's back in play and, I think... I have convinced her to make the house a part of the deal. The stock market downturn has hurt her drawdowns past her teacher's pension, and now soon to be $20K annual tax bill. In other words I think there is a possibility if I push it hard now. I had a good conversation with her today, and directly asked if a lump sum, or cash flow for a period of time would be better. I think the daughter is mostly interested in not having to deal with any of this stuff and the idea of cleaning out two houses full of crap. I also think the daughter would see advantages to cash flow rather than sales in keeping her mom financially independent. My plan was remodel the condo, furnish it and turn it into a short (30 days or more) rental. When my house flooded I realized how few and how expensive month to month rentals of decent quality were. I think the bylaws for the condo require a 6 month or more lease. So my idea of high rent and a 10 year note... sort of mathematically drifted away. Though until I see the bylaws I am holding out a sliver of hope. Now my plan is to tie the house and the condo together. As I honestly do not know if I want to do all the work on the condo to make that deal work, if I cannot lock in the house a few doors down. I think she is at the point of dumping crappy properties at a low price in a buyers market, or working with me to improve both properties and create some decent cash flow off the properties. (For her in the short term, and us in the longer term). I think I can put the condo together for $20K in materials, and $20K in labor. The house probably $80K in materials, and $45-$60K in labor to do it right. After thinking about it a bit today I came up with the idea of giving her nearly all the income off the condo for a period of time to create the most immediate cash flow for her in the short term. In return I would negotiate a below market purchase price on the house, that she would owner finance, and not start the clock on the loan until the house is complete. My goal for this house would be to turn it into a furnished 30 day or more rental for more than twice the monthly rental of a normal year lease. The only way this really makes sense for her is to finance/partner with me on the rentals and redevelopment of both properties. If not she should dump them and just take he cash after fees and capital gains. But from our conversation today the idea of cash flow seemed very appealing. If both properties were in top shape I would think the 1/1 condo would be worth $200k and 3/2 the house worth at least $650K(more probably). I am thinking of a price of $125,000 on the condo, and $400K on the house. I would have to invest $100K to make it happen, but to conventionally purchase $525,000 I would need that much anyhow. Seems like it could be a good deal for both of us, but as always the devil is in the details. If we did the deals on 20 year notes (with no penalty for additional principle) she could get the cash flow she needs the nest 8-10 years, and we could begin our cash flow as the interest starts falling off in the later years of the note. Thoughts, and more importantly criticisms. Thanks in advance

The be honest, Trump's tilt of the US Supreme Court, to a court no longer representing the majority of Americans was quite simply Putin's greatest victory. Instead of his corrupt influence campaign simply helping get Trump elected to the presidency, the effects of his efforts will be felt in the most divisive way possible for years to come. In 50 years Trump's election will widely be viewed as part of the most effective foreign influence campaign ever undertaken.

Heck I remember wondering if my old 1967 Coronet was gonna make it to Dallas and back from West Houston. Saw Van Halen again at the Sam Houston Coliseum a few months later opening for Black Sabbath. Walked out on Sabbath as they Ozzies voice sucked and they could not hold a candle to Van Halen. Heart actually put on a hell of a show, which I was sort of not expecting. I was really there for Head East, Nugent and Aerosmith. In fact I honestly cannot remember if we missed Van Halen or not, but we were 18 and pretty damn hard partiers. I had actually forgotten Journey was there, but for some reason I thought I remembered seeing them, but could never remember where... now I know! Hot as fuck, but heck first big festival on my own. I had been lucky enough a few years before to see Bob Dylan and the Rolling Thunder revue, but that was like my very first date and my Dad was taking pics, and we were in the press area on the mezzanine at the Dome. Aerosmith actually sounded pretty good as I recall. I remember walking out early on them in Houston(they were one of my faves) as Steven Tyler's voice just sucked I am still mad that my original pressing of Aerosmith's first album before the pulled all the crazy drug shit off the back and changed the cover. got ruined by a backed up AC at a college duplex. Good times... I still love hearing Head East most every time I get near the coast on the Radio. Something about that beat just gets me going even today. 1978 (July 1) – Texxas Music Festival, Cotton Bowl, Dallas, Texas (General Admission – $12.50) Blackstone (Winner of the State-Wide "Battle of the Bands" for opening slot on the 1978 Texxas Jam) Walter Egan Van Halen (second appearance in Texas)[3] Eddie Money Atlanta Rhythm Section Head East Journey Heart Ted Nugent Aerosmith Frank Marino and Mahogany Rush Cheech & Chong

I pout a vote down for Pelé. Simply as his play was truly game altering at the time. PLUS, the level of fouling and physical punishment allowed to try and mute his talent was considerably more than the physical abuse that Messi faced on game days. Messi is clearly the modern and overall skill winner. It would be silly for me to say that Messi does not have a superior skill set to Pelé. All you need do is look at the Academy System that Messi was a part of, versus the poverty of Pelés youth. Head to head, in the exact same system, I would put my money on the original. There is absolutely no doubt that if Messi was in Pelé's time Messi would be the loser, as hormone therapy of that era would have rendered Messi at a severe disadvantage in a more physical era. Both are beautiful and creative players. And as i said Messi has the overall superior skill set. But Pelé, ruled his era in a way that I honestly doubt that Messi could have without the greater protections for the players afforded today in officiating. Flame away... https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lionel_Messi#2004–05:_Success_at_youth_level https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelé#Early_years

Another fucking drunk in the urinal....

The GOP is about to go all in on the LIE that working class folks are going to all get audited by the IRS. Lies work unfortunately. Lest you forget the run that "Death Panels" got with the rise of the Tea Party to revolt against a non-existent threat. I expect IRS overreach to be the rallying cry for the GOP. Need a lot more young people and educated people to turn out this mid term. The dumb will be fully engaged in some sort of complete lie this fall. Morphing with FBI overreach... the GOP preaches anger at every opportunity. And sadly it works. https://www.npr.org/2017/01/10/509164679/from-the-start-obama-struggled-with-fallout-from-a-kind-of-fake-news

YES! But I am also heavily betting on mutual heat exhaustion when placing my bet!

There is only one certainty! Whoever is named the starting QB, will clearly not be as good as the backup!

Basically October in Port A became a thing years ago when the kids were young. Since I wasn't dragging the kids to OU, I was selling my tickets and that was a good chunk towards a 4 day weekend in October. The fact the kids always had a school holiday the monday after the OU game sealed us heading to the coast, as I never had to worry about being able to see the game as it is a national broadcast. Never surf fished before then either, but always have loved the beach. Now I'm getting excited again. I am curious to see how much the crowd drops off this weekend.

Glad I got on there with B-3!