I saw a commercial on TV for Speedy Cash on KTLA. They were offering payday loans for $100, and you would have to pay fees of $17.65. In the ad, they showed the period as from payday to payday of two weeks. If you do the math, that's 17.65% for a two week loan, or an annualized rate of 459%! How is that legal when we have usury laws in California that limits personal loan interest to 10% APR?
Hmm, how are interest on credit cards of 19% legal either?
Tuesday, January 28, 2020
Sunday, January 26, 2020
SKYTRAX World Airline Awards
Top 100 airlines for 2019. I've been on the following:
2, Singapore Airlines
3. ANA All Nippon Airways
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. EVA Air
10. Thai Airways
11. Japan Airlines
19. British Airways
23. Air France
31. Air Canada
33. Cathay Dragon
34. China Airlines
40. jetBlue Airways
47. Southwest Airlines
54. Alaska Airlines
68. United Airlines
74. American Airlines
84. American Eagle
99. Air China
I guess Sichuan Airlines didn't make the list.
2, Singapore Airlines
3. ANA All Nippon Airways
4. Cathay Pacific Airways
6. EVA Air
10. Thai Airways
11. Japan Airlines
19. British Airways
23. Air France
31. Air Canada
33. Cathay Dragon
34. China Airlines
40. jetBlue Airways
47. Southwest Airlines
54. Alaska Airlines
68. United Airlines
74. American Airlines
84. American Eagle
99. Air China
I guess Sichuan Airlines didn't make the list.
Tuesday, January 21, 2020
The Toll Roads
My account with the Toll Road is on credit card autopay. I guess whatever credit card I used expired. Instead of notifying their customers like every other reputable business, the Toll Road decided to suspend my account, charge me a $20 fee, then call me on the phone to tell me to update my account. They have my credit card info on file and could have easily given me a few days notice to update my credit card info. Instead, they do nothing then charge their customers $20 for their neglect. Maybe some asshole in their finance department thought of this to scam $20 from their customers every few years. I wanted to switch to autopay from a bank account but of course, that's not an option. Since all credit cards have an expiration date so unless you go online each month to check whether or not the card expired, chances are you will get hit with the $20 fee again and again.
It would be interesting to see what % of their autopay customers get hit with this bullshit fee. I sent in a dispute since I did not receive notice prior to the fee. That sounds like basic customer service unless you are looking for additional revenue from fees. I don't expect them to give me my $20 back. If not, I am going to cancel my account and pay as you go in the future.
It would be interesting to see what % of their autopay customers get hit with this bullshit fee. I sent in a dispute since I did not receive notice prior to the fee. That sounds like basic customer service unless you are looking for additional revenue from fees. I don't expect them to give me my $20 back. If not, I am going to cancel my account and pay as you go in the future.
Saturday, January 18, 2020
Monday, January 13, 2020
LA County Courthouse
I was subpoenaed as a witness for a criminal case. This was actually the 4th subpoena; there was a continuance at each of the prior court dates. All this just for a preliminary hearing. Basically there was a fraud case at work where an employee stole cash from the company. My team finally found this after several years and since it was my responsibility as the Treasurer, I was providing information to the police and the district attorney so now that the case is going to court, my name is listed as the primary witness. Typically they inform you when the case has been delayed but I guess either they forgot or I didn't get the message.
Since the hearing was at 8:30 am at LA Airport court, I left the house at 6:00 am to make sure I wasn't late. Of course I get there way too early at ~7:30 am so I sat in my car for about 20 minutes reading the subpoena, making sure I read all the instructions. At about 7:50 am I show up at the juror/witness parking structure and was told it was full. It was also the employee parking lot and they get preference, even for disabled spots. I was directed to the pay lot outside the court building where they charged $6.00 per hour. Luckily my disabled placard was still valid so I parked for free. I then got in line, waited for the building to open at 8:00 am, and went through the metal detector along with hundreds of people: jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and defendants.
The instructions found in the subpoena directed me to report to a specific courtroom the court building. Initially all the doors were locked but the courtroom was opened at 8:40 am. It was a large courtroom with room for 145 spectators. Interestingly, there did not seem to be a jury box. Maybe it was a courtroom for administrative proceedings like preliminary hearings. There were 30+ cases scheduled; mine was #2. To be sure, I asked the bailiff if I was in the right place and he told me to check in with the district attorney. When I talked to her, she told me that the hearing has been delayed again. The defendant's lawyer was at another trial so they asked for another continuance. The DA apologized that I wasn't informed and wasted my time by going to the courthouse. Since I had nothing scheduled, I decided to stay in the courtroom and find out the new date.
Unfortunately, the cases were not called in order. I think it depends on when the DA or defense lawyer showed up. They seemed to call cases at random so I ended up staying for two hours and heard about 10+ cases before my case was called. In each case, the hearing seems to be about picking dates for another hearing. Maybe something productive was decided in a case after I left but for two hours, it was nothing but calendar dates. Sometimes the defendant was on bail so they showed up in the courtroom like everyone else, other times they were brought through a side door in prison clothes and handcuffed. One defendant was a no show so the judge forfeited his $100k bail and probation, and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Wow!
When my case was called, the defendant was already in the courtroom in the spectator area. I didn't even notice him even though we worked together for several years. I'm not sure if he recognized me either. Anyway, he went up with another lawyer and they chose another date next month. I did hear the judge say this is the last continuance so I guess I'll have to show up to that hearing for sure.
Since there were many cases on the docket, there was a lot of lawyers and spectators. I saw many families come to see the defendant, even if only for a minute. For one case, I saw a young girl come out in handcuffs and she waved towards her family. She was in court for about 60 seconds to pick a new hearing date, then she was walked out while waving to her family again. I kinda felt sorry for her until I looked up her case. One count of 187(a) and two counts of 451(b). Yikes!
Since the hearing was at 8:30 am at LA Airport court, I left the house at 6:00 am to make sure I wasn't late. Of course I get there way too early at ~7:30 am so I sat in my car for about 20 minutes reading the subpoena, making sure I read all the instructions. At about 7:50 am I show up at the juror/witness parking structure and was told it was full. It was also the employee parking lot and they get preference, even for disabled spots. I was directed to the pay lot outside the court building where they charged $6.00 per hour. Luckily my disabled placard was still valid so I parked for free. I then got in line, waited for the building to open at 8:00 am, and went through the metal detector along with hundreds of people: jurors, witnesses, lawyers, and defendants.
The instructions found in the subpoena directed me to report to a specific courtroom the court building. Initially all the doors were locked but the courtroom was opened at 8:40 am. It was a large courtroom with room for 145 spectators. Interestingly, there did not seem to be a jury box. Maybe it was a courtroom for administrative proceedings like preliminary hearings. There were 30+ cases scheduled; mine was #2. To be sure, I asked the bailiff if I was in the right place and he told me to check in with the district attorney. When I talked to her, she told me that the hearing has been delayed again. The defendant's lawyer was at another trial so they asked for another continuance. The DA apologized that I wasn't informed and wasted my time by going to the courthouse. Since I had nothing scheduled, I decided to stay in the courtroom and find out the new date.
Unfortunately, the cases were not called in order. I think it depends on when the DA or defense lawyer showed up. They seemed to call cases at random so I ended up staying for two hours and heard about 10+ cases before my case was called. In each case, the hearing seems to be about picking dates for another hearing. Maybe something productive was decided in a case after I left but for two hours, it was nothing but calendar dates. Sometimes the defendant was on bail so they showed up in the courtroom like everyone else, other times they were brought through a side door in prison clothes and handcuffed. One defendant was a no show so the judge forfeited his $100k bail and probation, and issued a bench warrant for his arrest. Wow!
When my case was called, the defendant was already in the courtroom in the spectator area. I didn't even notice him even though we worked together for several years. I'm not sure if he recognized me either. Anyway, he went up with another lawyer and they chose another date next month. I did hear the judge say this is the last continuance so I guess I'll have to show up to that hearing for sure.
Since there were many cases on the docket, there was a lot of lawyers and spectators. I saw many families come to see the defendant, even if only for a minute. For one case, I saw a young girl come out in handcuffs and she waved towards her family. She was in court for about 60 seconds to pick a new hearing date, then she was walked out while waving to her family again. I kinda felt sorry for her until I looked up her case. One count of 187(a) and two counts of 451(b). Yikes!
187.
(a) Murder is the unlawful killing of a human being, or a fetus, with malice aforethought.
451.
A person is guilty of arson when he or she willfully and maliciously sets fire to or burns or causes to be burned or who aids, counsels, or procures the burning of, any structure, forest land, or property.
(b) Arson that causes an inhabited structure or inhabited property to burn is a felony punishable by imprisonment in the state prison for three, five, or eight years.
Friday, January 10, 2020
The Farewell and China
I saw The Farewell with my parents in a theater. It was pretty good and I think my parents enjoyed it. I'm usually not into that Social Justice crap but it was good to see an Asian-American film do well in the box office.
However, I saw the following article in Inkstone, Inkstone publishes stories about China and is a part of South China Morning Post. The basic gist of the article is that the movie did not resonate with Mainland Chinese audiences, since they story was told from the Chinese-American perspective. I read the article and I was disappointed and disgusted. What's wrong with Mainland Chinese people (as presented in the article)? Not every movie has to be a Communist propaganda film, only showing China as a "perfect" society.
Jessica, a Chinese film editor based in Los Angeles, wrote on Douban that the Chinese-American director, Lulu Wang, portrayed the views of the Chinese-American characters as being more valid than their Chinese relatives.
“I was so upset after watching it. The director seems to think she is superior to Chinese people. Please do some research before you dump on Chinese people, don’t just put those stereotypes out there,” she wrote.
She told Inkstone by phone that the movie presented an unflattering view of China and perpetuated prejudice against Chinese culture. She refused to share her last name in fear of retaliation in the film industry.
I'm sorry, but that's f*cking pathetic. Chinese-Americans are not the same as Mainland Chinese. The culture and perspective on life is totally different. By comparing importance of cultural views, this Jessica is implying that the "Chinese relative's" perspective should be more important because after all, they are the "real" Chinese people. I felt this when I was in China. I felt like yelling, "I'm not like you. Stop putting your expectations on me." How am I supposed to speak fluent Chinese when I lived in America for 40+ years? I also see this cultural superiority online all the time. Probably due to Communist brainwashing, there's a lot of nationalist bullshit and Han superiority crap online. I think the Communist Party has screwed up Chinese culture in the past 70 years to further their personal political goals. I feel it's modern China that is out of step with the rest of the civilized world, where discrimination, genocide, and lack of privacy is seen as the norm.
So it's too bad that The Farewell won't do well in China, similar to Crazy Rich Asians. Mainland Chinese can't or won't look at Chinese culture with a critical eye, maybe because they will be seen as not "patriotic" enough.
Saturday, January 4, 2020
iPhone Battery Replacement
I'm either too lazy or too cheap to follow Apple's never ending phone upgrades. Until a month ago, I was still using my old iPhone SE with a bad battery. That got replaced by my sister's old iPhone 6S with a bad battery. My mom is still using her iPhone 6S+ she got at the same time as my SE, and my dad was using an old 5S until my sister gave him another iPhone 6S with a bad battery. Oh, I forgot to mention that my mom's 6S+ also has a bad battery. This is why I hate Apple. I have a Samsung S5 and it's easy to change the battery. I understand that they have to waterproof the phone now but at least make it easier to service and replace the battery. Also, 4 out of 4 phones need a new battery after a few years? This smells planned rather than coincidence. This is coming from someone that has owned an Apple II+, Mac, Mac IIse, Macbook Air (battery replaced), multiple iPads, and whatever else Apple makes. Love their products; hate their battery policy.
Anyway, I purchased a 2500 mAh battery for the 6S and my dad is replacing it now. He successfully changed out the battery in his 6S and my mom's 6S+ so I'm letting him do it. I did replace the battery for a 3GS a long time ago, and more recently in my Macbook Air, but my close-up eyesight is not as good anymore.
Anyway, I purchased a 2500 mAh battery for the 6S and my dad is replacing it now. He successfully changed out the battery in his 6S and my mom's 6S+ so I'm letting him do it. I did replace the battery for a 3GS a long time ago, and more recently in my Macbook Air, but my close-up eyesight is not as good anymore.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Yacht Crew Cabins
Following up on my superyacht post, I've noticed that some yachts have tiny crew quarters that are accessible from the back of the boat. I understand space is at a premium but some of the crew spaces are ridiculously small. If I was working on a yacht full-time, I would want to get on the biggest ship possible so the accommodations are more reasonable.
Looking at floor plans for Princess Yachts. it seems like 50' yachts do not have crew cabins while anything over 55' has something in the back. The 60-70' yachts seem to have two beds for crew. So is that the cutoff? I think the 50' boats are a couple of $ million. Can you afford crew if all you can afford is a smallish yacht? Or are people in 50-70' yachts hiring only part-time? If I owned a smallish yacht, I'd probably just learn to drive it myself.
Princess F50 - no crew accomodations
Princess F55 - one crew bed
Princess R62 - two crew beds
Princess Y78 - three crew beds
Aquaholic tour of the Princess Y78. He mentioned that this is probably the upper limit for not hiring a crew. I guess you have three more guest beds if you don't hire a crew. He also says this boat costs about £3 million which is ~$4 million.
Looking at floor plans for Princess Yachts. it seems like 50' yachts do not have crew cabins while anything over 55' has something in the back. The 60-70' yachts seem to have two beds for crew. So is that the cutoff? I think the 50' boats are a couple of $ million. Can you afford crew if all you can afford is a smallish yacht? Or are people in 50-70' yachts hiring only part-time? If I owned a smallish yacht, I'd probably just learn to drive it myself.
Princess F50 - no crew accomodations
Princess F55 - one crew bed
Princess R62 - two crew beds
Princess Y78 - three crew beds
Aquaholic tour of the Princess Y78. He mentioned that this is probably the upper limit for not hiring a crew. I guess you have three more guest beds if you don't hire a crew. He also says this boat costs about £3 million which is ~$4 million.
Thursday, January 2, 2020
Superyachts
I've been binge watching yacht tour videos on YouTube lately. I like the guy from Aquaholic channel. His tours are concise and he covers all sizes of yachts, from $50M superyachts to $200k small boats. He also shows the crew quarters which most other videos ignore.
I'm not sure why I'm watching these videos. There is no way I can afford a half-decent yacht, where "half-decent" means something >80 feet long. Those yachts cost $5M and probably require a crew of at least 3: captain, engineer, and stewardess. I saw another video that said annual operating costs of a yacht are ~10% of the cost so another $500k/year. Finally, most billionaire only spend ~8 weeks on their boats so for $500k/year, I can go on lots of cruises, staying in suites, and probably spend less money.
€155 million yacht tour
I'm not sure why I'm watching these videos. There is no way I can afford a half-decent yacht, where "half-decent" means something >80 feet long. Those yachts cost $5M and probably require a crew of at least 3: captain, engineer, and stewardess. I saw another video that said annual operating costs of a yacht are ~10% of the cost so another $500k/year. Finally, most billionaire only spend ~8 weeks on their boats so for $500k/year, I can go on lots of cruises, staying in suites, and probably spend less money.
€155 million yacht tour
Wednesday, January 1, 2020
Way Maker
Way Maker - Leeland
You are here
Moving in our midst
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Working in this place
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Moving in our midst
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Working in this place
I worship you
I worship you
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God
That is who you are
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
My God
That is who you are
You are here
Touching every heart
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Healing every heart
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Turning lives around
I worship you
I worship you
You are here
Mending every heart
I worship you
I worship you
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in the darkness
That is who you are
Way maker
Miracle worker
Promise keeper
Light in…
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