I hate Chase bank… WaMu was AWESOME! and then these ass-hole Chase banks come and take them all over!

WaMu never had any issues but Chase has done nothing but give me problems.

Chase bank refuses to cash any of my checks through their tellers unless the check is from Chase bank! they force me to wait 24 hours to withdraw any of my money! However, if I go to a Chase ATM and deposit a check and then withdraw the funds I have found that the ATM will allow me (even if the teller wont!)
So I have recently been doing this to avoid having to walk into a branch and feel the evil aura that every JP Morgan Chase branch emits.
So the other day I go and cash my check at an ATM without realizing or knowing that my account had been over drafted $.25.
*BAM*
Chase hits me with a $35 fee!

OUCH!

But since I did a deposit withdraw that same day without realizing my account was overdrawn

*BAM*
Chase hit me with ANOTHER $35 fee!

So I go in the next day to make a deposit and they tell me that I owe them $70!

I tried to get the bank to wave the second overdraft charge but they refuse.

I’m very confused at this point because I have setup an EMAIL NOTIFICATION SYSTEM to let me know IMMEDIATELY if I over drafted the account.  Sure enough, the email came!

2 DAYS LATE!

If their notification system was working properly I could have avoided the other charge!  but is it their fault?

Apparently not! because they have refused to refund the second overdraft charge!

THANKS CHASE BANK! You SUCK! I would close my account but I can’t find a good bank out there to switch to!

Austin and Central Texas Laser Light Shows at YOUR party or in YOUR backyard! Click the link for more pics or contact me for more information.

Don’t forget to check out:

Your home for Vintage KitchenAid mixers parts and accessories from the 1930′s to the 1970′s.

One more to take a look at:

In July 2007 I received a phone call from a business partner of mine. He informed me he had just received a call from Earth Dance Austin asking him to show some artwork at their festival in September 2009. He informed me that he wanted to bring some other artists out to the event and asked me to make some phone calls. I called one of my artist friends and he said he was very interested in vending at the Earth Dance event. He notified me that if I payed the $100 vending cost he would compensate me so he could attend. I went ahead and made the payment via paypal and sent him the application to fill out.

Well in the middle of August I was notified by my friend that the Earth Dance event in central Texas was canceled. Notified by my friend NOT the event promoters. Earth Dance Austin made NO effort to inform me of their canceled event via email or otherwise. I contacted Austin Earth Dance and asked why the event was being canceled and requested a refund for the $100 vending permit I had purchased for my friend. Earthdance Austin did not contact me back at all. After a week I logged into paypal and filed a dispute over the payment. Paypal sent the dispute to Earth Dance Austin and notified me that Earth Dance Austin stated: “If an event date/time is rescheduled or postponed, there are no cancellations, refunds, or exchanges.”
I found this very interesting considering that they did not make this statement when I made the purchase and it was also not included on the vendor application. This statement was made AFTER THE EVENT HAD ALREADY BEEN CANCELED! As you can expect I was rather upset.

I notified paypal that the terms of refund had not been clearly stated at the time of checkout and only AFTER THE EVENT WAS CANCELED. Paypal deemed the claim in my favor and would have awarded me my $100 had Earth Dance Austin not cleared their account out already. Earthdance Austin also tried to get me to attend an alternative event in exchange for attending the Earth Dance event. I did not attend and had no interest in the alternative event for the following reasons: The alternative event was not promoted well and nobody I knew had heard about it. The alternative event catered more to music and musicians while the Earth Dance event catered to artists. It was for these reasons that the artist I was representing did not want to attend the alternative event.

So now what should I do? Paypal had approved me for my refund but Earthdance had cleared the account out before I could receive it. I did not want to take any of the alternative events because they were not the crowd we had been expecting to vend to. I emailed Earth Dance Austin several times asking them for my refund with NO RESPONSE! I then decided to email the Earth Dance Umbrella Organization and explain the situation to them.

Reavis Daniel Moore, the co-founder of Earth Dance, contacted me back and said that “We are following up and will try to help resolve. Earthdance promoters are independent and we don’t control budgets/finances. But we are doing all we can to get this sorted.” I have emailed him and called him since with no further reply. However after I emailed Reavis Daniel Moore I did finally receive an email back from Darla Horton at Earth Dance Austin. This email contained an attachment from another vendor who was also upset with Earth Dance Austin over their event. Darla Horton told me “If the group (EDA) will not go forward with the refund, I personally will make sure I get you the money back.” This has not happened and I have had no further response from Darla Horton, even after sending multiple emails.

I contacted the other company that had had complaints with Earth Dance Austin. They informed me they had decided to attend the alternative event and it was a nightmare. Not only was there a very small crowd but they had some of their inventory stolen and ended up loosing money over the whole event. They informed me that I could use them as a reference if I wanted to file with the Better Business Bureau. I decided to give Earth Dance Austin another chance and sent another round of emails. After I received no response I followed through with my formal complaint to the Better Business Bureau. I did not mention the other company and only stated my personal complaint and issues with the organization.

Now it is November 2009, this issue has been ongoing since August and I still have not been reimbursed for my $100. I have continued to send emails and did receive another response from the Earth Dance umbrella organization, this time from Abigail Lewis the Executive Director of Earthdance International. Abigail Lewis told me “Earthdance International is not directly involved in nor do we have control over individual event productions, but we certainly do not want anyone to have an experience such as yours. We will keep you posted.” I contacted her back requesting a resolution and have still had no response from her or anyone else affiliated with Earth Dance or Earth Dance Austin.

It is my opinion that Earth Dance Austin has scammed those interested in participating in their event. It is my opinion that they have taken payment for ticket and vendor sales and used the money for other purposes. They did not properly notify participants of the cancellation and tried to pawn everyone off on an alternative event that was much smaller and less successful than the one they originally promoted and promised. It appears to me that they have no intention of repaying me my one hundred dollars. It is for that reason that I am writing this article to inform others so that nobody else falls for the Earth Dance Austin Scam. I do not want to participate in any Earth Dance event in the future and I urge you to participate AT YOUR OWN RISK.

UPDATE: After I created this post I logged onto the earth dance site and began to send their members links to it so that others could be warned about the risk of dealing with this organization. Reavis Daniel Moore contacted me and said that they were still trying to resolve the issue but in my opinion that was a lie. Earthdance also banned me from their network. I have sent them several paypal invoices and tried everything short of a small claims lawsuit to recover my money. I’m considering taking this step or getting with others who got ripped off to file a class action suit against the organization. Times are tough these days and that $100 would have really helped me out. The money I was expecting to make at their event would have helped out more. Instead they have screwed me over and I feel ripped off.
I have also talked to quite a few other people who were trying to work with the Austin Earth Dance organization and the general consensus is that they did not do anything right in the organization of their event. I would like to warn the community and let them know to avoid doing business with the people involved with Earth Dance Austin. I understand that because of the bad press they have received they will be changing the organization name. No matter what they change it to I would advise anyone to avoid doing business with Reavis Daniel Moore or Darla Horton.

Ladies and Gentleman, Boys and Girls, welcome to the 2005 Darwin Awards!  Today we are here to recognize those unfortunate individuals who gave up their lives for the cleansing of the gene pool. Natural selection has taken its toll due to their idiotic actions and moronic behavior.

As we gather here today, in memory of this year’s winner, let us take our hats off to those that have left us in the past. In 2001 Ismael, from Hillsboro Oregon, took the award for his lack of understanding of electricity.  After wrecking his car and knocking 7500volt power lines across the hood of his car, he attempted to free the vehicle by cutting the cables with a pair of pruning shears. (Darwinawards.com)  The 2002 winner: Gerald, from Colorado, graciously removed himself from the gene pool.  While running from police and firing a pistol over his shoulder, he accidentally shot himself in the head. (Darwinawards.com)  A brazilin truck driver taught us why in-depth job training is important.  In 2003 Manoel took the award for using a lighter to check the tank level in his gasoline truck. (Darwinawards.com)  Dianne naturally selected herself in 2004.  The 56yr old bus driver, after failing to properly engage the parking brake, attempted to stop a rolling 50ton bus with her own force. (Darwinawards.com)

Those poor unfortunate souls, they demonstrated how their lack of brain power and forward thought made them inferior.  After performing a final act of stupidity they stopped any further breeding by ending their existence.  They have sacrificed their lives with the hope that the human race will evolve intelligently.  This year’s winners have also showed their ignorance.

Honorable mention is given to a special individual.  In some way they have demonstrated utter stupidity.  However, unlike the winners, their behavior did not lead to their funeral but instead a long hospital visit. This years honorable mention goes to; a construction worker in Moscow, Russia.  While drilling with a huge auger he let go of the machine to pick up a shiny object.  His co-workers were unable to stop the machine before it had eaten half his leg. (Darwinawards.com)  Think about what you’re doing before trying to pick up the quarter.
 

And now to this years winners!

January 3rd in St. Maurice, Switzerland this 24 year-old second lieutenant attempted a lesson in surprise attacks to his battalion.  Immediately following live ammunition training he whipped out his dagger and lunged at a soldier.  The surprise attack lesson was learned.  The soldier, in an attempt to protect the rest of detachment and himself, raised his rifle and fired (Darwinawards.com).  Third place, may he rest in peace: Lieutenant Johnson!

Second place was close this year.  It came down to only a few votes. Let us give a round of applause for the memory of; Christopher from Missaukee, Michigan.  On March 19th after a night of heavy drinking, 19 year old Christopher found that some of his liquor supply had disappeared.  In a drunken haze he stormed over to his neighbor’s house to confront him about the missing brew.  He yelled and waved a knife but the neighbor denied the accusation.  After returning home he conceived a flawless plan of revenge.  Christopher retrieved his phone and walked to the bathroom, knife still in hand.  He dialed 911 and told the dispatcher that his neighbor stabbed him.  He then proceeded to impale himself on the knife.  The second stab sliced his left ventricle and he passed away 2mins later. (Darwinawards.com)

And now, the moment we have all been waiting for.  The 2005 Darwin Award, first place award goes to:  Nguyen from Vietnam.  This 21yr old found an old rusty detonator about the size of a twinky.  Nguyen insisted that the device was too old to work.  After a few beers he convinced his friends to plug the long wires coming out the end into a nearby 220volt outlet.  They plugged it in while he placed the detonator in his mouth.  The explosion that resulted successfully stopped his stupid gene from being passed on. (Darwinawards.com)

That’s all folks!  The 2005 Darwin Awards!

As we continue to change and evolve let us pray that none of the individuals in this room will incur a level of ignorance and stupidity and contribute to our evolution by participating in the cleansing of our gene pool. Remember think before you act.  If you have ever done anything stupid just for kicks, thought that natural selection was a kind of beer, or when I said “gene pool” you wanted to come over and swim, Watch out!  You may be eligible for an award next year!

Works Cited:

Darwin Awards Website

Introduction: Attention:  I was at an old friend’s house the other day, when he pulled out a blunt.  When he offered me a puff I declined.  He looked at me in surprise and said: “Yo… Dude, man… I like, uh the other day read… that this stuff makes you smarter… man… and if you… uh… like smoke it all the time and stuff, your brain gets bigger!”  I just looked at him and laughed.  “Naw, man… its for real… man, I read it on the internet.”  “Dude, you can’t even remember my name, and you’re trying to tell me smoking pot makes you smarter?  I think you smoked yourself retarded.”

Credibility:  So I went home, and did some research on the internet.  Sure enough, the old hippie wasn’t just blowing smoke.  Apparently two Canadian Universities have been studying how cannabis affects the brain.  The University of Saskatchewan and the University of Calgary have both done extensive research. (American Society for Clinical Investigation)

Thesis:  What I want you to understand today is how synthetic drugs created from marijuana are being used to create neruogenesis in the brain.

Importance: This is important not only because of the benefits of marijuana based drugs but also because further research in America is restricted due to its legality.

Preview: So today I am going to explain to you what neurogenesis is, how marijuana affects it and what the test results were when lab rats were injected with a marijuana derived compound.

I. What is hippocampal neurogenesis?

  A. Neurogenesis is the creation of neurons.

      1. Neurons are what our nerves and brain cells are composed of.

      2. Neurons allow our brain and nervous system to coordinate with each other. 

      3. Memory and motor function cells in the brain are also composed of neurons.  (Behavioral and Brain Sciences)

  B. The hippocampal part of the brain is the center of motor skills and memory.

      1. Inside the hippocampal region are neural stem/progenitor cells also known as NT/PC’s

      2. Neural stem/progenitor cells are what create neurons in the brain. (American Society for Clinical Investigation)

II. How does Marijuana affect hippocampal neurogenesis?

  A.  Drugs affect the hippocampal part of the brain.

      1. Cocaine, opiates and all other illicit drugs are known to have a negative effect on the hippocampal region with one exception.

      2. Cannabis is the only illegal drug that doesn’t affect neuron growth.

         a. THC is the active chemical in Marijuana that makes you high.

         b. THC reacts with CB receptors in the brain.

         c. The hippocampal region has been found to contain CB receptors.  (American Society for Clinical Investigation)

  B. A synthetic THC called HU210 was created for use in this study.

       1. Synthetic means it was grown in a laboratory.

       2. HU210 is 100 times more potent than THC itself.  (MedPage Today)

       3. HU210 reacts to the CB receptors in the same way as THC does. (American Society for Clinical Investigation)

III. What happened when lab rats were injected with HU210?

  A. Lab rats were injected twice a day over a 10 day period.

      1. Neurogenesis did not occur immediately.

      2. Changes were seen after chronic injections over a few weeks.  (American Society for Clinical Investigation)

  B. The neural stem/progenitor cells that create neurons showed increased activity

      1. New neurons were grown due to HU210 reacting with the CB receptors stimulating the NS/PC to increase neuron growth.

      2. The new neurons are unchanged compared to those that were created naturally.  (American Society for Clinical Investigation)

Closing:  Does marijuana make you smarter?  No.  The study is using a synthetic THC compound that was injected into lab rats.  There is no proof of smoke or ingested THC having the same results.  However this study does show that there is a possibility of marijuana being used to cure: nausea, depression, anxiety, obesity, lung cancer and skin cancer. It also may give us new ways to better manage pain. (MedPage Today)  But before you go running home to smoke a joint remember: Marijuana is still illegal, and by using it you are breaking the law.  Denver, Colorado legalized marijuana shortly after this study was released.  Will Austin be next?

Sources Cited:

American Society for Clinical Investigation – Cannabinoids promote embryonic and adult hippocampus neurogenesis and produce anxiolytic- and antidepressant-like effects
J. Clin. Invest. 115:3104-3116 (2005). doi:10.1172/JCI25509.

MedPage Today – Marijuana May Grow Neurons in the Brain
Michael Smith.  October 14, 2005

Behavioral and Brain Sciences – Two functional components of the hippocampal memory system. 17 (3): 449-517.

Introduction: Attention:  January 18, 1920 alcohol was made illegal.  The aftermath that followed was devastating.  Mobs ran rampant in the street due to their increased profit from bootlegging.  Stills were setup underground to keep the supply to those who would pay.  Underground taverns opened up with violent police raids regularly.  All of this led to all states legalizing alcohol by 1966.(Wikipedia)  Thesis:  I am here today to convince you that prohibition still does not work.  Marijuana was made illegal throughout the United States on August 2, 1937.(Wikipedia)  Drug money still supports gangs and the violence that accompanies them.  Underground hydroponics labs are setup all over the nation and marijuana is smuggled into the country, just to keep the peaceful pot-heads high.  Credibility:  I first used marijuana when I was 15 years old.  Since then I have been an avid supporter of NORML (The National Organization for the Reformation of Marijuana Laws) and very outspoken on the issue of marijuana prohibition.  Now I pass on the peace pipe, but my views remain unchanged.  Preview: Today I am going to explain to you why marijuana is illegal, what problems have risen from its prohibition and how legalization is a productive solution.

I.  Why is marijuana illegal?

  A. Hemp is a very diverse resource.

      1. Hemp can be used to make hundreds of products.

      2. These products include; fabric, paper, rope, incense, oil and even food.

      3. In Amsterdam there is a “hemp hotel”

        a. The curtains, blankets, sheets and mattresses are all hemp products.

        b. Food that is served there is all made from non intoxicating hemp.

  B. In the early 1900′s competing industries wanted to increase profits by eliminating hemp.

      1. William Randolf Hearst owned a huge chain of newspapers and used this to support marijuana being made Illegal.

        a. He invested in the timber industry and didn’t want to see hemp paper becoming a competitor.

        b. He helped his own company sell more newspapers by printing headlines like the following: “Users of marijuana become STIMULATED as they inhale the drug and are LIKELY TO DO ANYTHING. Most crimes of violence in this section, especially in country districts are laid to users of that drug.” (Drug WarRant)

      2. DuPoint Chemicals joined the fight against marijuana.

        a. DuPoint had recently patented nylon and wanted to see hemp rope eliminated as a competitor.

        b. DuPoint also manufactured pesticides and other chemicals that were used by the cotton industry; another hemp competitor. (Earth Times)

      3.  Andrew Mellon, owner of Mellon bank, was DuPoint Chemical’s financial backer.

        a. His niece was married to Harry Anslinger.

        b. Anslinger was the deputy commissioner of the government’s alcohol prohibition campaign.

        c. Harry was put out of a job after prohibition was lifted so Andrew Mellon created the Federal Bureau of Narcotics and made Harry Anslinger the head of the new organization. (Earth Times)

      4. Harry took a stand to make marijuana illegal, in doing so he could greatly benefit not just his organization, but also the companies he was tied to through his family.

        a. The racist was quoted saying “Reefer makes darkies think they’re as good as white men… the primary reason to outlaw marijuana is its effect on the degenerate races.”

        b. He also spewed such garbage as; “Marijuana is the most violence-causing drug in the history of mankind… it is an addictive drug which produces in its users insanity, criminality, and death.” (Drug WarRant)

II. Why is marijuana prohibition a problem? [I'll tell you why it's a problem!]

  A.  Regardless of what Harry Asslicker says 4 out of every 5 people in our prison system today are nonviolent drug offenders.

      1. That’s 80% of people in our overcrowded prisons supported by hard working taxpayers that did nothing but sell or possess marijuana.

      2. These inmates’ lives have been ruined over a drug that is less harmful than alcohol.

        a. But not just the inmates, millions of people in America are on probation or parole for possessing a drug that has never been proven harmful.

        b. When these probationers and parolees are asked, in rehab, what negative effects marijuana had on their lives, there is only one answer; “I got arrested.”

      3.  I have even heard of cases where child molesters are getting lesser sentences than drug offenders, only because America‘s prisons are so full.

  B.  Jail is not the worst thing that can happen from possessing marijuana.

       1.  I’ve seen it on the news all the time, especially in Austin.

         a. Police Officer being investigated after a teenager was shot in his sleep during a drug raid, all that was found was a small bag of marijuana.

         b. Young child shot in a gang related drive by, all over a stolen pound of pot.

       2. These people died over a drug; no, not a drug; a plant, that can grow anywhere; the worst side effect is an empty pantry.

       3. There has never been a case of anyone dying of a marijuana overdose, not one!

III. What will change if marijuana is legalized?

  A. Cannabis plants could be grown, taxed, and sold in stores and bars.

      1. Just like Amsterdam hemp and marijuana could be grown as natural resources.

        a. Hemp paper could save the rain forests that are being destroyed to meet our current paper demand.

        b. Hemp oil is the best known natural skin and hare care device.

        c. Hemp oil is also an effective ethanol fuel which is the cleanest burning bio-alternative to gasoline.

        d. Hemp extracts can be used to make paints, varnishes, and even plastics.

        e. Henry Ford once made the body of an automobile from hemp based plastic, and even had the engine running off clean-burning hemp based fuel.

        f. Hemp can even be pressed together to make particle board.

        g. Even hemp seeds can be used as food and have great nutritional benefits.

      2. Recreational use of marijuana could be regulated and kept to appropriate venues or private residences.

  B. Medicinal marijuana can be studied more in America.

      1. Canadian research teams have found that marijuana and cannabis derived substances have many medical benefits.

        a. Synthetic THC causes neurons to be created in the brain.

        b. Marijuana derived chemicals can cure obesity, epilepsy, anxiety, depression, nausea also give us better stress and pain management.

        c. THC is known to reduce the growth of and even prevent many forms of lung and skin cancers. (MedPage Today)

      2. If marijuana was legal our government would acknowledge these studies and we could do our own research.

Closing:  So if there are so many benefits of cannabis why is it still illegal?  Did “Reefer Madness” distort our view?  How could this plant stay illegal for so long?  Is it because of all the money the government makes off of arrests?  Could it be because the insurance companies don’t have to pay if you fail a drug test after an accident?  After all, THC stays in your system 4 times longer than any other drug.  Why have we continued to fall for the propaganda?  We continue to believe the lies that are spoon fed to us.  If you smoke pot, are you really under the influence of others?  Is it not more likely for a drunk driver to run over the bicyclist at the drive through?   Just because they told us “If you drive and SUV you’re a terrorist” does it mean we have to believe it, or anything else they try to shove down our throats?  Join NORML, sign the petition, and join Denver Colorado in making a statement.  No more pushing us around anymore.  Marijuana users can be active and effective members of society.  Hemp can be a productive industry.  After all, man made beer, but god made pot, who do you trust?

Sources Cited:

Why is marijuana Illigial?  A brief history on the criminalization of cannabis
Drug WarRant       By Pete Guither

Prohibition – Wikipedia

The History and Benefits of Hemp – Earth Times
San Diego 1999  

MedPage Today

………………………………!!!!???!???!?!??!?!??!?!

Exactly…

so now on to more pressing matters…

Haven Meadows (dot) com…

YES go there, check it out!  See artwork like THIS:

CLICK IT!  You know you want to….

And now to more things you should click:

Both of them need to be updated but I’ve been busy!

><

Sorry guys,  go check em out anyway!  Good stuff there!

While your at it, have you seen the items I have for sale for local pickup or delivery in the Austin TX area?

just go to:  http://www.assetrenew.com

Check out what is available.

I also have a new idea for a business building online stores for people.  Wanna know how it works?  Need an online store for yourself?  Then Contact Me for more info!

Ok… so what other projects do I have going on right now…

Oh yeah!  Have you heard of Liquid Media Lab?  or Waveform Lasers?

(click the links)

ok….. what else, what else…

oh yeah!  I have a new camera!

The Panasonic Lumix G1 is the world first Micro 4/3 Lens Camera.

“What does that mean Nate?”

Well, in all older SLR cameras the camera had a mirror box that would reflect what was seen through the lens up to the viewfinder so the photographer could look through and capture his image perfectly.  With the Panasonic Lumix g1 this mirror box was removed and replaced with a small lcd screen.  This allowed the SLR to become much more compact.

Now there are two companies that have adapted this new lens standard.  Olympus has been working on a micro 4/3 point and shoot while Panasonic has come out with the Lumix g1 (and also the GH1 that has the ability to shoot HD video)

So now I have this beautiful new micro 4/3 SLR camera that I can go out and take amazing photographs with as well as do professional photo shoots.

Interested in hiring a photographer? videographer?  graphic designer?  web developer?

CONTACT ME

Read MORE at SOFT THOUGHS!

You can find a full review of this program and many more at softthoughts.info