Back in 1990 I witnessed a robbery, the Missouri/Colorado 5th down game.
Last night me and 68,000 witnessed a murder. Missouri 58 Colorado Nil.
That's big time college football.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
Let's be careful out there
As I have stated previously, in my business you see the same things over and over again. I had another client come in on one of these scammy issues recently and it just hacks me off that people are out there getting ripped off.
First and foremost, when somebody rips you off, they don’t put that money in a CD or money market account waiting for you to ask for it back. It is almost always gone. Collecting a judgment is often the most difficult part of the process. There are numerous protections for a debtor and you just cannot get at some assets. This is something that is difficult for many people to believe. You may be lucky to even find these people. Very often there is realistically nothing that can be done.
Avoid problems.
Here’s the list of things to think about:
First and foremost, when somebody rips you off, they don’t put that money in a CD or money market account waiting for you to ask for it back. It is almost always gone. Collecting a judgment is often the most difficult part of the process. There are numerous protections for a debtor and you just cannot get at some assets. This is something that is difficult for many people to believe. You may be lucky to even find these people. Very often there is realistically nothing that can be done.
Avoid problems.
Here’s the list of things to think about:
- Going cheap.
For example, if a roofer comes in several thousand dollars cheaper than any other bid, run don’t walk away. He either is an idiot, screwed up his bid, desperate to get a job (and will probably be looking for another job while not working on/finishing yours) or actively out to rip your off.
This goes for everything. Going “expensive” is no guarantee of not having a problem, but cheap is almost always a recipe for disaster.
2. Don't invest with or partner with a guy from church.
For whatever reason, I hear this one too much.
2 a) Avoid guys with religious symbols in ads, letter head or business cards unless they are a preacher.
See above
3. References. Ask for recent ones and check them out.
I once worked in an office in which I was assigned an assistant. The assistant almost immediately stated she needed my company credit card. I was not travelling anytime soon and refused. She persisted. I guess a couple other people had some questions about her. I spoke to the HR lady who hired her. The HR lady was more interested in smoking and what was for lunch than doing her job. After enough questions were raised, HR lady finally contacts her references. One of her “references” was shocked he had been listed. He said he had a $650,000 judgment against her for embezzlement. Nice work HR. Have a smoke. ( A few years later I heard a story about this assistant, from a completely unrelated source. The assistant had started cleaning houses and was caught stealing from a kids piggy bank. The group of people she was cleaning for then caught her stealing from all their children’s change jars)
If there is a hole resume look into it. Old references are useless. For construction guys, ask for their last half dozen jobs. Call them.
4. Unqualified and uninsured
We had a lot of new general contractors out there recently. Many with zero gc experience. Usually not good.
Tree trimmer + No insurance = no thanks.
5. Use the Better Business Bureau and Missouri Case Net system to check them out.
Look for complaints and or lawsuits against company and owner. Just having one or two may not be too bad, but look into them. Default judgments and not responding to BBB complaints are poison.
Also the Missouri Secretary of State for companies. Look for name changes, new companies or if the owner is the registered agent for several companies.
Buying a business? Hire an attorney and an accountant. Don't take the business brokers word for anything. He doesn't get paid unless you buy. Know what you are buying.
2. Don't invest with or partner with a guy from church.
For whatever reason, I hear this one too much.
2 a) Avoid guys with religious symbols in ads, letter head or business cards unless they are a preacher.
See above
3. References. Ask for recent ones and check them out.
I once worked in an office in which I was assigned an assistant. The assistant almost immediately stated she needed my company credit card. I was not travelling anytime soon and refused. She persisted. I guess a couple other people had some questions about her. I spoke to the HR lady who hired her. The HR lady was more interested in smoking and what was for lunch than doing her job. After enough questions were raised, HR lady finally contacts her references. One of her “references” was shocked he had been listed. He said he had a $650,000 judgment against her for embezzlement. Nice work HR. Have a smoke. ( A few years later I heard a story about this assistant, from a completely unrelated source. The assistant had started cleaning houses and was caught stealing from a kids piggy bank. The group of people she was cleaning for then caught her stealing from all their children’s change jars)
If there is a hole resume look into it. Old references are useless. For construction guys, ask for their last half dozen jobs. Call them.
4. Unqualified and uninsured
We had a lot of new general contractors out there recently. Many with zero gc experience. Usually not good.
Tree trimmer + No insurance = no thanks.
5. Use the Better Business Bureau and Missouri Case Net system to check them out.
Look for complaints and or lawsuits against company and owner. Just having one or two may not be too bad, but look into them. Default judgments and not responding to BBB complaints are poison.
Also the Missouri Secretary of State for companies. Look for name changes, new companies or if the owner is the registered agent for several companies.
6. Get it in writing.
Hire an attorney, see rule #1.
I will add to the list as I think of them. Nothing earth shaking here, just common sense. Keep these in mind to stay out of a jam and out of my office.
Tuesday, October 14, 2008
Its October?
Winter can't be far behind.
Hopefully there will be plenty of this:
And none of this:
Speaking of October, Boulevard Brewing Co. has its seasonal Octoberfest brew out right now, the Bob's 47 Munich Style Lager. I think it may be the best beer's they make. And it has a reasonable price. Support your Missouri Brewery. But like all good things it won't last.
Came across this little gem surfing the tube the other night. Check it out.
Best new comedy* of the year.
Wednesday, October 8, 2008
I recently took up photography
Here is an action photo from my portfolio. I think it nicely captures the eternal struggle of man versus machine (or seat post)
I call it: " Three Monkeys In Search of a Football", but I am open to suggestions.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
That must be some hat
From the News-Leader. Tis a privilege to live in the Ozarks
Shooting prompted by conflict over woman, hat
Depending on who tells the story, a double shooting outside a Springfield nightclub Saturday morning was caused either by a conflict over a woman or a stolen hat.
A document used to charge Ozark resident Johnathon L. Kates in the incident includes both scenarios.
Kates, 21, is accused of opening fire on two men with an AR-15 rifle outside the Electric Cowboy nightclub, 3636 S. Campbell Ave., at about 1:30 a.m. Saturday.
Later that day, he was charged with first-degree assault and armed criminal action in connection with one victim's injuries.
A probable cause statement filed with the charges sheds new light on what preceded the shooting.
Victim John Miller allegedly told police Kates and his friends "were jealous over a girl that was talking with his buddy," the document says.
When a fight broke out in the parking lot, Miller said Kates went to a pickup truck and "pulled out an assault rifle."
Miller said he tried to wrest the weapon from the man's grip, but was shot in the process. He told police he continued to struggle with Kates and, following several more shots, got the gun away from him.
"Miller said he struck the male with the butt of the rifle and started stomping on his head several times," the document says.
Timothy Merritt, a friend of Kates, told a different story.
He said Kates' hat went missing at some point in the night. The friends later identified a man they believed took it and began fighting with the man in the parking lot, the probable cause statement says. Bouncers broke up one of the fights, but another ensued, Merritt said.
Merritt told police Kates went to the pickup and got a gun, and that he lay on the ground as shots rang out.
Then, there's Kates, who spoke to an officer in St. John's Hospital.
He allegedly told the officer that he didn't know what happened, asking "Did I shoot someone?"
According to the probable cause statement, he then told the officer:
"I keep an AR-15 in my truck and if anyone (expletive) with me, that's the first place I run."
Kates pleaded not guilty to the charges in an arraignment hearing Monday. He's next scheduled to appear in court Nov. 5.
Saturday, October 4, 2008
News Flash: Hurricane Karma hit Las Vegas Friday
It looks like Detective Nordberg won't be joining us on a training* ride any time soon. Apparently what happens in Vegas does stay in Vegas.
13 years to the day after acquittal . Now that is Karma.
Getting away with a double murder (allegedly) and going to prison on armed robbery for sports memorabilia? Dick Wolfe would reject that script for Law & Order as too absurd.
An old attorney said it best years ago after a story came out about a car break-in at the courthouse parking lot before court one morning.
Pointing at the group chained together for their hearings he said,
"You know, these guys aren't down here to pick up their Rhodes Scholarships"
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