🚀 go-pugleaf

flamer@mail.utexas.edu (SickOfTexas) writes:
>I started renting a 1 bedroom apt in Austin last Sep.
>Was initially surpised...

So basically, you are complaining to us because you can't read a lease 
before you sign it.

I suppose that means you're also stupid enough to leave your stash out where
the guy can find it and walk off with it.  That's the real problem isn't it. 
'fess up.  You're from Hawaii.  We know what they REALLY grow there.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Charles Forsythe  forsythe@onramp.net        "Thankyou for playing Usenet."

In article <3j3nev$p12@news.onramp.net>,  <forsythe@onramp.net> wrote:
>flamer@mail.utexas.edu (SickOfTexas) writes:
>>I started renting a 1 bedroom apt in Austin last Sep.
>>Was initially surpised...

The location might have something to do with it. Since the Southern
Californian invasion of the 90's, Austin's been sitting at or above 97%
occupancy. I believe last year it was around 99%. Therefore, the
apartments not only can raise their rents to what the market will bear
(and with little construction of new apartments going on near the center
of town on main bus routes and shuttle routes, the market will bear a
whole lot) they can write all sorts of nifty neato things into their
leases...simply because they'll fill up the space, no matter what.

>So basically, you are complaining to us because you can't read a lease 
>before you sign it.

Something like that, apparently. I suggest in the future beginning to
look for apartments very early on and comparing lease agreements. Or,
complain to the Austin tenant's council. Might not do anything, but
it'll make you feel better.

>I suppose that means you're also stupid enough to leave your stash out where
>the guy can find it and walk off with it.  That's the real problem isn't it. 
>'fess up.  You're from Hawaii.  We know what they REALLY grow there.

Heh.

-Miss Laura, iz51@jove.acs.unt.edu

In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>, flamer@mail.utexas.edu (SickOfTexas) says:

DON'T LET THE DOOR HIT YOU IN THE ASS ON YOUR 
WAY OUT OF STATE !!!!!

*****       *****        *****       *****        *****
*****        + Jaxas from Texas +         *****
*****      Look for the silver lining,        *****
*****          ELSEWHERE !                *****
*****                                                 *****
*****       *****        *****       *****        *****

Dear Mr. SickOfTexas.  You need to change your name to Mr. SickOfAustin.
Austin is in no way, shape, or form a token representative of the great
State of Texas.  Thank you.

-bdg-
 

flamer@mail.utexas.edu (SickOfTexas) wrote:
> I started renting a 1 bedroom apt in Austin last Sep.
> Was initially surpised to find that the worker from the Management
> Office is allowed(and indeed actually uses this right) to freely open
> my apt. door, go in, do any of the following listed below, _as long as_
> he leaves a note immediately before leaving.

Yeah, but in Hawaii you can't shoot the workers for entering your
apartment; in Texas, its encouraged!  Next time the wankers
open your door, blast 'em with a few 12-gauge flachet rounds and
tell the cops you thought someone was breaking in.  Works for me...

Hate@mail.utexas.edu

In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>,
SickOfTexas <flamer@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
<snip>

We have a saying here in Texas. If you don't like it here then get the 
hell out. If you were so happy living in Hawaii then move back. I have 
never had the problems you claim to. Makes me wonder what you are hiding 
that you need such privacy? Running a drug lab, or stock-piling weapons 
perhaps?

-- 
==============================================================================
Ed Bullard

a Klingon Bear                                          bItuHpa' bIHeghjaj
==============================================================================

In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu> flamer wrote:

> I started renting a 1 bedroom apt in Austin last Sep.
> Was initially surpised to find that the worker from the Management
> Office is allowed(and indeed actually uses this right) to freely open
> my apt. door, go in, do any of the following listed below, _as long as_
> he leaves a note immediately before leaving. Even when nobody is in. 
> Me, the rightful tenant will not even be consulted or informed
> BEFOREHAND!!!!!!  Furthermore, the management is not _responsible_ for
> theft, as written in an addendum.

Contrary to what some people are saying, this is not just in Austin.
My lease in Denton was exactly the same way --- we thought we had
a reasonable apartment manager who said they would notify us first
before showing the apartment (this was a few months before we moved
out).  What the apartment manager really did was let us know whenever
she managed to remember (not always), and when she *DID* arrange
appointments, didn't let us know when they were cancelled (this happened
a couple of times).  If the problem is them showing your apartment,
you might want to tell them that you're "redecorating" and hanging
a big sign in the living room saying "DON'T RENT FROM xxx".  :-)
That was our next step, but we managed to get things worked out
before it got quite that far.  This lease seems to be standard 
practice in the area, so the statements of "read the lease" are 
short-sighted and useless.

To the people that say "if you don't like it, move", I have this to
say:  This is where my job is, so this is where I will stay.  However,
don't expect me to like the extreme lack of individual/consumer/tenant
rights in this state, and I will support any law that gets rid of
the unfair situation described above.  Nobody can *honestly* think
this is a reasonable situation, can they?  When you rent an apartment,
it is your home, and NOONE should be able to come in without your
permission, except in case of an emergency.

The one other thing I have to say on this thread is that in another
comment I saw what is perhaps the most ignorant, stupid thing I have
seen on the net in a while:

Ed Bullard said:

> Makes me wonder what you are hiding that you need such privacy? Running 
> a drug lab, or stock-piling weapons perhaps?

So if you support privacy you must be hiding something?  Hey, I know,
let's just get rid of the need for police to get search warrants.  I
mean, after all, if you're innocent and have nothing to hide, you won't
mind if the police can just come in whenever they want.  Why don't
we just have regular sweeps that check up on people to make sure they
don't have anything illegal --- after all, the innocent people shouldn't
object, because they have nothing to hide....

Simply put, my home is my castle.  There is nothing illegal, and nothing
even embarrassing in my home.  And nobody, but NOBODY, should have to
right to come into my home without my approval or without a valid
search warrant.

--
Steve Tate  ---  srt@cs.unt.edu | "As often as a study is cultivated by narrow
Dept. of Computer Sciences      |  minds, they will draw from it narrow
University of North Texas       |  conclusions."  -- John Stuart Mill, 1865.
Denton, TX  76201               | 

In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu> flamer wrote:
[...]
> Was initially surpised to find that the worker from the Management
> Office is allowed(and indeed actually uses this right) to freely open
> my apt. door, go in, do any of the following listed below, _as long as_

Just a note... We manage a few rental properties and there may be some
new state requirements wrt this subject. The legal issues are confusing
still, but our lawyer is recommending that we provide both a keyed
deadbolt (both sides require a key) and a keyless deadbolt (turn knob
only on the inside) on all properties.

The keyed deadbolt is to prevent someone breaking a nearby window
and gaining access while the keyless deadbolt is to prevent unauthorized
access by the manager... And if you might notice, the local hardware
stores are running specials on the keyless deadbolts. :^) :^)

-- 
Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute (will disavow any knowledge of me)
Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu
(DoF #)  : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently"

In article <3j4t7h$kne@hermes.unt.edu>,
Steve Tate <srt@zaphod.csci.unt.edu> wrote:
>In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu> flamer wrote:

>> he leaves a note immediately before leaving. Even when nobody is in. 
>> Me, the rightful tenant will not even be consulted or informed

Hey, at my apartment they don't even have to leave a note.
However, they don't enforce the lease provision about having
locks they can't open, so I (and many tenants) have locks they
can't open.  If they get tough on this rule I may move.

>Simply put, my home is my castle.  There is nothing illegal, and nothing
>even embarrassing in my home.  And nobody, but NOBODY, should have to
>right to come into my home without my approval or without a valid
>search warrant.

I agree.  Anyway, for those of you convinced everyone who agrees
with this really does have something to hide anyway, I have an
innocent but good reason I don't want people coming in my apartment
when I'm not there:  my cats.  I care a lot about whether my cats
get out.  The maintenance guys are pretty nice guys, and I'm sure
they'd try not to let them out, but ultimately they don't care as
much as I do.  Not to mention my cats are frightened by strangers
and I'd rather be there when strangers are coming.

(No, actually, you see my cats are fake cats, they're actually
robot cats I use to keep my illegal substances in.  Yeah, that's it.)

Anyway, I knew all this before I signed the lease.  I don't like
it, but there are lots of things I don't like about my apartment
that I accepted for various reasons.

In article <3j4t7h$kne@hermes.unt.edu>,
Steve Tate <srt@zaphod.csci.unt.edu> wrote:
>In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu> flamer wrote:
>> I started renting a 1 bedroom apt in Austin last Sep.
>Contrary to what some people are saying, this is not just in Austin.

You may have a bad lease in Denton, but Austin is still a special case
as far as treating residents like shit.  This is mainly because the city
itself has a govt which prides itself on denying basic services to people
(like roads, see US 183, _finally_) because services to taxpayers is pork and
when employed people live here, it drives prices up.  The majority
of our city council was elected by people who want to live in a 
small, cheap town of students and musicians.  If we need more tax $$,
the state can send them to us from Houston and Dallas, 'cause our lifestyle
is so valuable it deserves public support.

-- 
 - Scott                             |
                                     |
 These opinions void where           |  scatt@ti.com
 prohibited by law.                  |  (my opinions, not TI's)

Reference:the original article is in tx.flame. 
________________________________________________________________________
__________
AVOID SIGNING A LEASE BY                    TEXAS APARMENT ASSOCIATION
INC.

unless you are willing to give up privacy
________________________________________________________________________
__________
To all who reponded to the original BARBARIC post:

Thank you for all your scoldings, teachings and info.
I(M) just ran down to talk to the resident manager(r) for a
confrontation, looks like my lease will not be renewed after this
semester. abstracts from the conversation:

M:"In Hawaii, the tenant must be informed before the management can
enter under normal circumstances"

r:"How long have you been here?"

M:"Several Months"

r:"This is Texas, this is the way we run things here, we have the RIGHT
to enter your apt as long as we leave a note immediately after leaving"

M:"Are you responsible for anything loss during the intrusion?"

r:"No, but we know the person who entered your apt"

M:"Then what happen if something is stolen?"

r:"We know the person who entered your apt"

M:"What about my rights to privacy?"

...

r:"Why are you so worked up over this? Are you hiding something in your
apt"
(Why am I always treated like a criminal, when all I wanted is respect
for my privacy)
[ Note to Ed Bullard:

Why don't you give everyone keys to your house? Makes me wonder what
you are hiding 
that you need such privacy? Running a drug lab, or stock-piling weapons

perhaps?

]

M:(irritated)"This is a matter of principles, and rights to privacy" 
....

M:"Someone in Texas told me I have the right to shoot any intruder"

r:(alarmed) "You better call the police to find out about that.  If you
bought a house, you have that right but this is _our_ property"(i.e. we
can do anything we like).

....

M:"How about Pest Control?"

r:"We can enter your apt to perform Pest Control during the designated
times, you know about the dates. And it is a courtesy to others...blah
blah blah"

M:"even when I am not home?"

r:"yes"

....

A note about Pest Control, in my rental unit in honolulu, there was
Pest Control every 3 months, if the tenant is not at home during time
of operation, the tenant has the choice to
          - sign a form authorizing entrance for the Pest Control
People
          - not allowed the Pest Control to enter
At least there is a gesture of respect for privacy.

Really, I think I need to buy a 'house', maybe I'll just rent a 5x5
land(that's all I can afford) and live in a tent. In this way I _have
the right_ to disallow any dogs, cats, pigs into my abode, and shoot
them if required.

The demand for rental houses may be the partial reason for the rental's
agencies arrogance as noted by Neil Laura. But isn't Hawaii worst? With
living cost 2 times that of Austin and little new construction, but
they still respect tenant's rights.

And to Scott Cattacnach who remarked about Austin's govt treatment of
residents like Shit.  I don't know, at least I know that Texas
Apartment Association, INC. treats tenants like shit. Next time I get
to sign a lease, which will be that of a UT married dorm, I sure hope I
won't see this TAA shit again.  

As for the person who remarked:"Get out if you don't like Texas".  If I
were to heed your advice, I would need to "Get out of Earth" and live
on the Moon, 'cause every place has its nice and bad things.  But
really, I did not expect supposedly the most democratic nation in the
world to still have such blatant human rights violation, when it
continuously accuses other nations of such.

I doubt if this can be changed by someone without power or money.  A
more effective route would be to build a chain of quality rental units
which advertises (in all local newspapers) specifically "We respect
your rights to privacy, rent Righteous Apts", a sub note would be
,"When you consider other leases, especially that of TAA,INC's,  note
item 28....., we don't have anything like that, instead we will
'Request your permission to enter not later than 24 hrs prior to our
entrance'.

In life, with money, even ghosts can bribed.

Sorry if this post antagonize everyone, my temper.


P.S. to Steve Tate : The worker opens my door to drop mail
packages(left at the management's office) if I am not in.  He can also
repair things when I am not at home.  In addition, Pest control comes
in to my unit every month and I must let them in. I have not reached
the Showings stage, but I will put up a huge sign to alert the
potential renters, something like "Read the lease item 28, the
management has the right to enter your apt when you are not home for
NON EMERGENCY purposes, e.g. ....Don't sign a TAA lease"


ITEM 28 in TEXAS APARTMENT ASSOCIATION INC. Apartment Lease Contract
_______________
28. WHEN WE MAY ENTER. If you or any guest or occupant is present, then
repairers, servicers, or our representatives may peacefully enter the
apartment at reasonable times for the purposes listed in (2) below.  If
nobody is in the apartment, then repairers, servicers, or our
representatives may enter peacefully and at reasonable times by
duplicate or master key (or by breaking a window or other means if
locks have been changed in violation of this Lease Contract) If:

(1) written notice of the entry is left in a conspicuous place in the
apartment immediately after the entry; AND

(2) entry is for:responding to your request;repairs;estimating repair
or refurbishing costs; pest control; preventive maintenance; filter
changes; testing or replacing smoke-detector batteries; retrieving
unreturned tools or appliances; preventing we of utilities; exercising
contractual lien; leaving notices; delivering, installing,
reconnecting, or replacing appliances, furniture, equipment, or
security devices; removing or rekeying unauthorized security devices;
removing unauthorized window coverings; stopping excessive noise;
removing health or safety hazards (including hazardous materials) and
items prohibited under our rules; removing unauthorized pets;
retrieving property owned or leased by former residents; inspections
when immediate danger to person or property is reasonably suspected;
entry by a law-enforcement officer with search or arrest warrant or in
hot pursuit; showing apartment to prospective residents (after move-out
or vacate notice has been given); or showing apartment to government
inspectors, fire marshals, lenders, appraisers, prospective buyers, or
insurance agents.
_______________

In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>,
SickOfTexas <flamer@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
>
>This is really wierd/uncivilized, Texas is in Mainland USA,
>_supposedly_ more American and more respectful of human rights, as
>compared to the largely Asian Hawaii, but seems like Hawaii respect
>individual rights much better than Texas.  
>

I think you deserve to be treated like an idiot because you're
such a moron that can't respect the people you live with.
There, I feel much better now.

In article <3j5r7p$dt0@sleepy.cc.utexas.edu>,
undergraduate <student@sleepy.cc.utexas.edu> wrote:
>In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>,
>SickOfTexas <flamer@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
>>
>>This is really wierd/uncivilized, Texas is in Mainland USA,
>>_supposedly_ more American and more respectful of human rights, as
>>compared to the largely Asian Hawaii, but seems like Hawaii respect
>>individual rights much better than Texas.  
>>
>
>I think you deserve to be treated like an idiot because you're
>such a moron that can't respect the people you live with.
>There, I feel much better now.
>
>

Unlike you who has demonstrated an enormous amount of respect.

Jeez........

In article <3j4vm1$9pl@larry.rice.edu>,
Catherine Anne Foulston <cathyf@is.rice.edu> wrote:
>In article <3j4t7h$kne@hermes.unt.edu>,
>Steve Tate <srt@zaphod.csci.unt.edu> wrote:
>>In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu> flamer wrote:
>
>>> he leaves a note immediately before leaving. Even when nobody is in. 
>>> Me, the rightful tenant will not even be consulted or informed
>
>Hey, at my apartment they don't even have to leave a note.
>However, they don't enforce the lease provision about having
>locks they can't open, so I (and many tenants) have locks they
>can't open.  If they get tough on this rule I may move.

If they cannot get into your apt. what happens if there is a fire, a 
water leak, a gas leak. By law the owner or rep. for the owner has the 
right to have access to their property if you are not their in case of 
emergancy. If an electrical fire broke out in your apt and destroyed the 
building because they could not get in to stop it you could be liable for 
the losses of the other tenets.

No I am not against privacy and I guard mine closely because I know I 
cannot depend on any one to guard it for me. I have never had a problem 
getting apt.  management to agree to any reasonable request and in some 
cases to get them to put it in writting in the lease.

To the original poster: It is never safe to assume the laws of one state 
are the same in another state. I hate to say it but you should have read 
the lease thoroughly before you signed it. If you sign a legal document 
without reading it first you have no one to blame but yourself if it 
turns around and bites you.

-- 
==============================================================================
Ed Bullard

a Klingon Bear                                          bItuHpa' bIHeghjaj
==============================================================================

> srt@zaphod.csci.unt.edu (Steve Tate) writes:
>When you rent an apartment,
>it is your home, and NOONE should be able to come in without your
>permission, except in case of an emergency.

Let's get something clear: when you rent a place, all you've done is
sign a contract saying that the Owner will let you live there under
certain conditions, provided you pay them rent.

*WHO* owns and is responsible for the property? Not you, but the owner.
Your rights to the property are spelled out in law and your contract
(lease).

>Simply put, my home is my castle.  There is nothing illegal, and nothing
>even embarrassing in my home.  And nobody, but NOBODY, should have to
>right to come into my home without my approval or without a valid
>search warrant.

But, it is neither your home nor your castle. Your are merely paying for
the use of someone ELSE's castle. This limits your rights.

cheers,
mark

-- 
Mark Brown     | AIX Architecture             |   Civil Liberty
(512) 838-3926 | 11400 Burnet Rd M/S 9582     |    Through
T/L   678-3926 | Austin, TX 78758             |     Complex Mathematics!
mbrown@austin.ibm.com  -or- MBROWN at AUSVM6  | 

Mark Brown (mbrown@austin.ibm.com) wrote:

> Steve Tate wrote:
> >Simply put, my home is my castle.  There is nothing illegal, and nothing
> >even embarrassing in my home.  And nobody, but NOBODY, should have to
> >right to come into my home without my approval or without a valid
> >search warrant.

> But, it is neither your home nor your castle. Your are merely paying for
> the use of someone ELSE's castle. This limits your rights.

That seems to be the current state-of-the-law in Texas.  What I'm saying
is it should NOT be that way.  In my opinion, when a property owner
decides to rent out their property for other people to live in, the
primary concern should then be for the rights (to privacy, etc.) of
the people who are living there (it IS their home, whether they own
it or not), and the rights of the property owner come in a far distant
second place.

--
Steve Tate  ---  srt@cs.unt.edu | "As often as a study is cultivated by narrow
Dept. of Computer Sciences      |  minds, they will draw from it narrow
University of North Texas       |  conclusions."  -- John Stuart Mill, 1865.
Denton, TX  76201               | 

In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>,
>I notice that Federal Express, UPS, etc. frequently simply leave
>important letters, packages in front of my neighbours doorsteps if they
>are not in,  without any concern for the possible theft of the items by
>evil neighbours or passer-bys.  What kind of junk service is this?  In
>Hawaii, at least, there will be no such cases.  If you want to argue

Federal Express and UPS have rules about it.  The sender can
indicate that the package is to be left if there is no one home,
or can require a signature.  If UPS expects a signature, they
leave a note, and you can either plan to be there, pick up the
package at a UPS office, or leave the note out saying it's ok to
leave the package when you're not there.  I'm fairly sure neither
service will leave a package without signature unless they've been
instructed to do so.  (And when you tell FedEx to do this, you
are also releasing them from liability if the recipient never
gets the package.  I don't know about UPS.)

So it's hardly fair to blame UPS and FedEx for doing this.

In article <3j7bbr$50b@fohnix.metronet.com>, bounty@fohnix.metronet.com
(Ed Bullard) wrote:

> In article <3j4vm1$9pl@larry.rice.edu>,
> Catherine Anne Foulston <cathyf@is.rice.edu> wrote:
> >Hey, at my apartment they don't even have to leave a note.
> >However, they don't enforce the lease provision about having
> >locks they can't open, so I (and many tenants) have locks they
> >can't open.  If they get tough on this rule I may move.
> 
> If they cannot get into your apt. what happens if there is a fire, a 
> water leak, a gas leak. By law the owner or rep. for the owner has the 
> right to have access to their property if you are not their in case of 
> emergancy. If an electrical fire broke out in your apt and destroyed the 
> building because they could not get in to stop it you could be liable for 
> the losses of the other tenets.
 
Unless there are apartment complexes here with some kind of inpenetrable
lead/steel doors and no windows, I'd say my combat boots would do just
fine in remedying that situation, not to mention those things they call
axes that firemen(women) carry around. In fact, most apartments I've been
in in Austin have walls so thin, I could probably get through those, too.
IOW, I don't believe that concern to be as serious, considering it can be
remedied fairly easily.

>No I am not against privacy and I guard mine closely because I know I 
>cannot depend on any one to guard it for me. 

Hence your previous statement regarding privacy was meant to be ironic,
right? For those of you who don't remember, ol' Ed said: "Makes me wonder
what you are hiding that you need such privacy? Running a drug lab, or
stock-piling weapons 
perhaps?" Yeah, I know that's why I don't want my landlord rummaging
through my house - he might find that rocket launcher that's been under my
bead for all these years, not to mention that stash-hiding robotic cat
that Catherine sold me the other day.


> To the original poster: It is never safe to assume the laws of one state 
> are the same in another state. I hate to say it but you should have read 
> the lease thoroughly before you signed it. If you sign a legal document 
> without reading it first you have no one to blame but yourself if it 
> turns around and bites you.

On this point, the bear is most definitely correct. I've heard others say,
"well the law shouldn't be that way, it needs to be changed, etc." whine,
whine, whine. How do you think laws get changed? From people getting
pissed and refusing to swallow the laws on hand, and doing something about
it. If everyone refused to accept these conditions in the leases, I doubt
you'd even need to change a law - the apartment complexes would change the
leases themselves. You can't bitch when you VOLUNTARILY sign away your
rights and/or priviledges. Call the Austin Tenants' Council if you don't
know how to interpret a lease.

Cheers!

-- 
Jewel (J. Weaver)
calendar@auschron.com

In article <D4vJw8.38qK@austin.ibm.com> mbrown@austin.ibm.com (Mark Brown) writes:


>But, it is neither your home nor your castle. Your are merely paying for
>the use of someone ELSE's castle. This limits your rights.

Are you saying that only property owners have a right to privacy?  

It is my opinion that when one receives money for something, he should provide 
that something.  As long as the original poster pays rent, his apartment _is_ 
his home and _his_ castle.  If the owner of the apartment building wants it to 
be _his_ home, then he should not rent it out.

Don't be a dictatorial moron.

In article <calendar-0303951422270001@204.96.174.67>,
J. Weaver <calendar@auschron.com> wrote:
>In article <3j7bbr$50b@fohnix.metronet.com>, bounty@fohnix.metronet.com
>(Ed Bullard) wrote:
>> In article <3j4vm1$9pl@larry.rice.edu>,

[delete]
>On this point, the bear is most definitely correct. I've heard others say,
>"well the law shouldn't be that way, it needs to be changed, etc." whine,
>whine, whine. How do you think laws get changed? From people getting
>pissed and refusing to swallow the laws on hand, and doing something about
>it. If everyone refused to accept these conditions in the leases, I doubt
>you'd even need to change a law - the apartment complexes would change the
>leases themselves. You can't bitch when you VOLUNTARILY sign away your
>rights and/or priviledges. Call the Austin Tenants' Council if you don't
>know how to interpret a lease.
>Jewel (J. Weaver)
>calendar@auschron.com

I live in the are of the original poster complained about (DFW).
Ten years ago this area had an apartment glut and apartment
managers didn't dare do as they do today. Today there is an
apartment shortage, so the managers write the lease as they see
fit, and you have no choice, all apartments are doing it.

The new law requiring apartments to install keyless dead bolts
helps apartment dwellers protect their privacy while they are
home, but while away the managers can come and go as they please.

As long as there are more people than apartments, managers can
do as they wish. Only choice is to move out of the city and face
a long commute, not a pretty picture.


-- 
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------
| There are two types of people in this world, those who separate      |
| people into groups,and those who don't.  KC5LWF copeland@metronet.com|
 ----------------------------------------------------------------------

In <3j3o4e$adu@hermes.unt.edu>, iz51@jove.acs.unt.edu (Neil Laura) writes:

>The location might have something to do with it. Since the Southern
>Californian invasion of the 90's, Austin's been sitting at or above 97%
>occupancy. I believe last year it was around 99%. Therefore, the
>apartments not only can raise their rents to what the market will bear
>(and with little construction of new apartments going on near the center
>of town on main bus routes and shuttle routes, the market will bear a
>whole lot) they can write all sorts of nifty neato things into their
>leases...simply because they'll fill up the space, no matter what.

Hey...  I resemble that remark!  What do us ex-Southern Californians
have to do with this?  This is one problem you can't blame on us.
We *buy* our domiciles.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
= Uwe Baemayr                   = Internet: uwe@liant.com                =
= Principal Programmer          =       or: jeannyb@huey.cc.utexas.edu   =
= Liant Software Corporation    = Compuserve: 74774,47                   =
--------------------------------------------------------------------------

After perusing the posts that are the influx of this very intriguing
thread, six words spring immediately to mind:

Village Glen Apartments on Burton Drive.

I moved to Austin in January of 1990 to continue my college education at
UT. About a month before I made the move I called a couple of good friends
in town and inquired about decent rental properties, their locations, and
prices. One friend suggested I move into the Village Glen complex because
it provided "a lotta space for a little price." And he was right. In
January of '90, a 1-1 with approximately 750 square feet at Village Glen
went for $270. My, my, what a deal! I did need the space for I owned too
much furniture, and didn't want to part with any of it. I had also seen
the complex before, as well as my friend's own 1-1, on a couple of trips
to Austin a year before. Needless to say, I was sold. Two weeks before
moving I visited and signed a lease for my very own Village Glen
Xanadu-riffic apartment.

My parents accompanied me to Austin when I moved. My mother's first words
upon surveying the Village Glen asphaltscape were, "This place is a
shithole." I didn't think it was that bad. I did, however, after my car
was broken into in March, and my apartment in September. But I'm getting
ahead of myself.

The apartments were supposed to be furnished with nifty little microwave
ovens. My apartment was without on the day I signed the lease. I had the
"leasing agent" at Village Glen stipulate in the lease that one be
installed before I moved in. They had two weeks. Needless to say the damn
thing wasn't in the kitchen when I did arrive on that foreboding January
afternoon. I called the management office and complained. "Wonderful," I
was thinking to myself. "Here I am not ninety minutes in my new apartment
and I'm already complaining to the management." It took the so-called
maintenance crew four days after my call to deliver the stupid thing. (And
as a single guy living by himself, I needed it. Ha!) And when they did
deliver it, they helped themselves to doughnuts, Doritos, and half a
bottle of Coke. I am not lying, this is the honest-to-God's truth.

I came home from class and could see the microwave attached underneath a
cupboard from the front door. Okay, so I was happy. I flung my bookbag
onto the couch and went to take a gander at the helpful appliance. Before
I noted the absence of my foodstuffs I noticed a pink work order carbon on
the countertop. I read it and discovered that it took *two* maintenance
men to deliver this 14" x 18" microwave oven; their names were on the
paper. I then cast a cursory glance at the now-opened plastic HEB doughnut
box next to the fridge. My jaw dropped to the floor. I had purchased the
doughnuts the night before and didn't open the box. But there it was...a
box two famous-HEB-sour-cream-doughnuts short of four. My mind reeled. I
couldn't believe it. These two assholes simply had to deliver a microwave
oven, and couldn't help themselves from the doughnu...what in the hell is
my Doritos bag doing on the counter instead of in the pantry where I put
it last night?! 

To make a horribly long story short, they also drank from a then-unopened
Coca-Cola bottle. I threw it away. So there it was: My groceries providing
a little snack for the hungry maintenance men. The very same men that have
keys to my apartment. Whee! I called the then-manager/owner, a smarmy,
cretinous crook named Jim Crockett, and told him what had happened. He
chortled heartily. "Now that didn't happen. They didn't eat your food."  I
was livid. "Oh, they most certainly did. I am not kidding! What are you
gonna do about this?" He asked for the names on the work order, said he'd
made a note of them, and would inqure. Somehow I doubted it.

Time marches on...into March. The night before some pals and I were to hit
the high road to Colorado for Spring Break, my car is broken into.
Apparently the thieves were looking to foist the stereo, but couldn't get
it out. (That sucker was damn near bolted into the dash.) As a consolation
to themselves, though, the thieves busted out three of the six windows in
the car, ripped the passenger's side-mirror off, and punctured the
dashboard repeatedly with one of the sharp tools they had brought along.
When a cop came out to file a report he said to me, "You know, this
complex has a terrible crime rate. We're probably out here every day
filing one kind of report or another like yours. I'd suggest moving out."
He looked sorry for me when I told him I had my signature on a
twelve-month lease.

It's now September of '90. I'd been living mostly without incident at
Village Glen, save for the couple next door that argued every single
night. I came home around two in the morning on one night, and noticed
that my front door was wide open from the parking lot. I shut the car off
and ran to my apartment screaming obscenities along the way. I got to the
doorway and found out that I had been robbed...of damn near everything:
television, VCR, stereo, hundreds of audiocassettes, CDs, albums, tennis
shoes, shirts, a lamp, food, et cetera. Bright and early the next morning,
yet another police officer and myself knocked on the doors of my immediate
neighbors and on the doors of those neighbors across the little park that
separated the two buildings. "Did you see anyone removing my property? Did
you see anyone that appeared to be moving my stuff out, but wasn't
really?" Everybody told me absolutely not. "Nobody saw nothin'." So, it
was probably an inside job, so to speak. How were my neighbors divvying up
my belongings? Who the fuck knew? What I did know was that I had to move
out, and do it within a week or two.

Jim Crockett wasn't especially sympathetic. While I ranted about the
piss-poor quality of the security that he advertised as a "perk" of living
at Village Glen, the creep would look at the ceiling, the stapler on his
desk, beyond me into the other room. At one point he looked directly at
his watch and gave a little sigh. Was it a speech he'd heard many times
before? Was he the kingpin of all the crime that went on within the
confines of his sprawling megalopolis of shit? I thought so. Jim's
attention *was* obtained, however, when I informed him that I was going to
move out within fourteen days. "No, you're not. Not without breaking the
lease you're not." I was aghast. "I've had my car and apartment broken
into with six months of each other at this place. You mean to tell me with
all that's befallen me as your tenant you're going to consider my decision
to move out, for the most obvious reasons in the world, as a breaking of
the lease? I need to get the hell out of here for my own sake, not yours!"
He looked sternly at me and replied, "If you break the lease you'll owe me
so much money that if you don't pay it, I will file legal papers." I told
him he was a fucking asshole and walked out.

I did move out eight days later into a quaint little 1-1 in the heart of
Hyde Park. I live not six blocks from there today. I couldn't believe that
life could be so good after my Village Glen experience. I don't know if
Jim filed those papers or not. If he did it certainly hasn't prohibited me
from renting elsewhere, acquiring charge accounts, and writing checks--all
since September of '90. And to end on a sweet note, I saw an interesting
story on the KVUE 10:00 p.m. newscast about a month ago on dangerous,
crime-ridden apartment complexes in Austin. Can you guess which was the
star of this newsstory? Village Glen! The manager/owner is no longer
Crockett, but someone with about as much compassion though. When asked if
he informed current and potential tenants about the EIGHTY-EIGHT incidents
of crime reported at Village Glen last year, the manager replied, "No,
because that's not my business to. I don't have to. Crime happens
everywhere. It's not my responsibility to make that statistic known."
Figures. He's following in Jimmy-boy's footsteps to be sure.

I don't really know the purpose of having written all of this. Maybe I
needed to vent. There's tens of apartment managers/owners that don't give
a damn about their tenants, and will skirt the envelope of gross
negligence, mismanagement, and crooked ways and means until they get out
of the business one way or another, are killed, or get caught perpetrating
their illegalities. Yes, the TAA lease favors the owner, not the tenant.
Property leasors in Austin have got to love that, considering the number
of young persons that go to school and make their homes here.
Unfortunately, you get what you pay for, the neighborhood *does* make a
difference, and you're going to probably stop getting messed around with
when you're in your late 20s, looking to lease a place that's no doubt
three times the amount you're paying now. These apartments managers want
to screw the "irresponsible" college students first before they screw
them. And believe me, they'll do it.

In any regard, don't move into Village Glen Apartments at 2000/2010 Burton
Drive, off East Riverside. And if you're already there, don't renew the
lease. You'll be glad you didn't.

You can stop reading now.

-- 
Acid casualty with a repossessed car
Vietnam vet playin' air-guitar
It's just the shit-kickin', speed-takin',
Truck-drivin' neighbors downstairs.

                Ooooh my goodness...

In article <3j4mli$knc@fohnix.metronet.com>, bounty@fohnix.metronet.com
(Ed Bullard) wrote:

> In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>,
> SickOfTexas <flamer@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
> <snip>
> 
> We have a saying here in Texas. If you don't like it here then get the 
> hell out. If you were so happy living in Hawaii then move back. I have 
> never had the problems you claim to. Makes me wonder what you are hiding 
> that you need such privacy? Running a drug lab, or stock-piling weapons 
> perhaps?

Ha! What kind of bad attitude is this "My country, wrong or right!" stuff?
You tell him that if he has a legitimate beef then he can just screw off
and get out of Texas? Then you accuse him of being a criminal simply
because he wants some privacy? Maybe you'd feel different if your landlord
came around to your place every now and then when you weren't home.

Maybe assholes like you think "if you don't like it here then get the hell
out" but some people prefer to stay and defend what they believe in. Hey,
I think Texas is great... but I do agree that TAA leases methodically
strip the leasee of each and every single right they might have and I
certainly stand behind Mr. Sick Of Texas' right to vent his spleen about
it.

By the way, my new landlord is not a TAA member.

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex Currier                           | me lu lu mu al nu um me en
http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~mycroft/    | ki me en me lu lu mu me al 
Alex_Currier@attpls.net                | nu um me al nu ume me me...
---------------------------------------------------------------------

In article <3j7bbr$50b@fohnix.metronet.com>, bounty@fohnix.metronet.com
(Ed Bullard) wrote:


> >Hey, at my apartment they don't even have to leave a note.
> >However, they don't enforce the lease provision about having
> >locks they can't open, so I (and many tenants) have locks they
> >can't open.  If they get tough on this rule I may move.
> 
> If they cannot get into your apt. what happens if there is a fire, a 
> water leak, a gas leak. By law the owner or rep. for the owner has the 
> right to have access to their property if you are not their in case of 
> emergancy. If an electrical fire broke out in your apt and destroyed the 
> building because they could not get in to stop it you could be liable for 
> the losses of the other tenets.

Oh please. Stop right there. If there was a REAL emergency they could
break the zarking door down. No little deadbolt is going to stop the fire
department, I guarantee you that. The deadbolt prevents casual entry, not
emergency entry.


> No I am not against privacy and I guard mine closely because I know I 
> cannot depend on any one to guard it for me. I have never had a problem 
> getting apt.  management to agree to any reasonable request and in some 
> cases to get them to put it in writting in the lease.

Even so, maybe some managers are not as polite or trustworthy as yours and
so long as they have a binding lease on their side, they don't have to be.
What's wrong with making it illegal for someone to enter your house at
their leisure? What's wrong with people having some kind of legal
guarantee of privacy in their own homes?


> To the original poster: It is never safe to assume the laws of one state 
> are the same in another state. I hate to say it but you should have read 
> the lease thoroughly before you signed it. If you sign a legal document 
> without reading it first you have no one to blame but yourself if it 
> turns around and bites you.

What does it matter when he read it? He's taking exception to it now.
Obviously he can choose to break the lease or rent from a non-TAA agent
next time or he can fight the lease in court (or he can just spread
awareness like he's doing now). Are you suggesting that just because "The
Man" slipped one to him when his guard was down that he now has to lie
there and take it? 

The fact that he failed to read the lease in advance does not justify the
unacceptable conditions of the lease.

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex Currier                           | me lu lu mu al nu um me en
http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~mycroft/    | ki me en me lu lu mu me al 
Alex_Currier@attpls.net                | nu um me al nu ume me me...
---------------------------------------------------------------------

In regards to the Rental Agents achieving entry into 'your' apartment, the only
way I know of to keep them out is to get a dog.  My girlfriend has a dog (not
even a big one) but when she puts in a work order they have to ask her when
she'll be there so they can work on it.  They won't come into her apartment
because of the dog.  Because if the dog bites one of the workers she isn't
liable for it so they get no money from her.  Sure, it's an additional 
$150-300 dollars for a pet deposit but it seems kinda worth it if you are 
worried about people breaking in.  Make sure you get a dog with a good deep
bark so they won't know how big (or small) it is.  Just an observation.

--
Heath

****************************************************************************
*  Heath C. Burnette        *      Penn State  12-0  #2 in both polls      *
*  HB17898@Swt.Edu          *           #1 Offense in the Nation           *
****************************************************************************
* I forgot what goes here!  *  I Love RED-HEADED Women!!! *   Go Lions!!   *
****************************************************************************

srt@zaphod.csci.unt.edu (Steve Tate) wrote:
>
> In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu> flamer wrote:
> 
> > I started renting a 1 bedroom apt in Austin last Sep.
> > Was initially surpised to find that the worker from the Management
> > Office is allowed(and indeed actually uses this right) to freely open
> > my apt. door, go in, do any of the following listed below, _as long as_
> > he leaves a note immediately before leaving. Even when nobody is in. 
> > Me, the rightful tenant will not even be consulted or informed
> > BEFOREHAND!!!!!!  Furthermore, the management is not _responsible_ for
> > theft, as written in an addendum.
> 
> Contrary to what some people are saying, this is not just in Austin.
> My lease in Denton was exactly the same way --- we thought we had
> a reasonable apartment manager who said they would notify us first
> before showing the apartment (this was a few months before we moved
> out).  What the apartment manager really did was let us know whenever
> she managed to remember (not always), and when she *DID* arrange
> appointments, didn't let us know when they were cancelled (this happened
> a couple of times).  If the problem is them showing your apartment,
> you might want to tell them that you're "redecorating" and hanging
> a big sign in the living room saying "DON'T RENT FROM xxx".  :-)
> That was our next step, but we managed to get things worked out
> before it got quite that far.  This lease seems to be standard 
> practice in the area, so the statements of "read the lease" are 
> short-sighted and useless.
> 
> To the people that say "if you don't like it, move", I have this to
> say:  This is where my job is, so this is where I will stay.  However,
> don't expect me to like the extreme lack of individual/consumer/tenant
> rights in this state, and I will support any law that gets rid of
> the unfair situation described above.  Nobody can *honestly* think
> this is a reasonable situation, can they?  When you rent an apartment,
> it is your home, and NOONE should be able to come in without your
> permission, except in case of an emergency.
> 
> The one other thing I have to say on this thread is that in another
> comment I saw what is perhaps the most ignorant, stupid thing I have
> seen on the net in a while:
> 
> Ed Bullard said:
> 
> > Makes me wonder what you are hiding that you need such privacy? Running 
> > a drug lab, or stock-piling weapons perhaps?
> 
> So if you support privacy you must be hiding something?  Hey, I know,
> let's just get rid of the need for police to get search warrants.  I
> mean, after all, if you're innocent and have nothing to hide, you won't
> mind if the police can just come in whenever they want.  Why don't
> we just have regular sweeps that check up on people to make sure they
> don't have anything illegal --- after all, the innocent people shouldn't
> object, because they have nothing to hide....
> 
> Simply put, my home is my castle.  There is nothing illegal, and nothing
> even embarrassing in my home.  And nobody, but NOBODY, should have to
> right to come into my home without my approval or without a valid
> search warrant.
> 
> --
> Steve Tate  ---  srt@cs.unt.edu | "As often as a study is cultivated by narrow
> Dept. of Computer Sciences      |  minds, they will draw from it narrow
> University of North Texas       |  conclusions."  -- John Stuart Mill, 1865.
> Denton, TX  76201               | 
> 
There is one way to assure that apt. personnel do not enter your
apt. is to not answer the door if they knock, and if they then enter
shoot them.  Wounding would probably be suffent.  Explain to the 
police that you believe it was a break-in, and you were protecting
your property.  The Grand Jury will no bill you and the apt. personnel
will always notify you if they do infact ever deside to enter your
apt. again.  This is a little extreme, but guaranteed to work.

I don't recommend that method, and it may be better to tell the apt.
mamager that you are very paranoid, and never answer the door and 
that you have aways wanted to shoot an intuder.  This may get the 
apt. personnel to notify you in advance.

Dave
bear@computek.net

Neil Laura (iz51@jove.acs.unt.edu) wrote in tx.general:
>In article <3j3nev$p12@news.onramp.net>,  <forsythe@onramp.net> wrote:
>>flamer@mail.utexas.edu (SickOfTexas) writes:
>>>I started renting a 1 bedroom apt in Austin last Sep.
>>>Was initially surpised...

>The location might have something to do with it. Since the Southern
>Californian invasion of the 90's, Austin's been sitting at or above 97%
>occupancy. I believe last year it was around 99%. Therefore, the

It's up to that level down here in San Antonio as well.  The real problem 
may be a lack of construction, possibly due to too much control by bank 
regulators who are leery of giving out almost any loan that isn't a "sure 
thing".  (But I've got a credit union down here that offered to loan me 
some money if I froze an equal amount in an account as collateral... 
sure, loan me my own money AND charge me interest, thanks a lot!)

In article <3jdsf6$er7@crl3.crl.com> btomlin@crl.com (Bruce Tomlin) writes:
> Neil Laura (iz51@jove.acs.unt.edu) wrote in tx.general:
> 
> >The location might have something to do with it. Since the Southern
> >Californian invasion of the 90's, Austin's been sitting at or above 97%
> >occupancy. I believe last year it was around 99%. Therefore, the
> 
> It's up to that level down here in San Antonio as well.  The real problem 
> may be a lack of construction, possibly due to too much control by bank 
> regulators who are leery of giving out almost any loan that isn't a "sure 

Money hasn't been a problem for well over a year now.  Several reports I have
read indicated that N.W. San Antonio is right there at the top in new *house*
startings in the country. Checked the price of lumber around here recently? :^(
Apartment complex startups, however, are almost nil.

-- 
Kent Polk: kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu
(DoF #)  : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently"

Kent Polk (kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu) wrote in tx.general:
>In article <3jdsf6$er7@crl3.crl.com> btomlin@crl.com (Bruce Tomlin) writes:
>> Neil Laura (iz51@jove.acs.unt.edu) wrote in tx.general:
>> 
>> >The location might have something to do with it. Since the Southern
>> >Californian invasion of the 90's, Austin's been sitting at or above 97%
>> >occupancy. I believe last year it was around 99%. Therefore, the
>> 
>> It's up to that level down here in San Antonio as well.  The real problem 
>> may be a lack of construction, possibly due to too much control by bank 
>> regulators who are leery of giving out almost any loan that isn't a "sure 

>Money hasn't been a problem for well over a year now.  Several reports I have
>read indicated that N.W. San Antonio is right there at the top in new *house*
>startings in the country. Checked the price of lumber around here recently? :^(
>Apartment complex startups, however, are almost nil.

The banks could be more willing to make loans to build single family 
housing, rather than for building apartment complexes.

In article <3je1h1$glo@crl3.crl.com> btomlin@crl.com (Bruce Tomlin) writes:
> Kent Polk (kent@eaanu.nde.swri.edu) wrote in tx.general:
> 
> >Money hasn't been a problem for well over a year now.  Several reports I have
> >read indicated that N.W. San Antonio is right there at the top in new *house*
> >startings in the country. Checked the price of lumber around here recently? :^(
> >Apartment complex startups, however, are almost nil.
> 
> The banks could be more willing to make loans to build single family 
> housing, rather than for building apartment complexes.

The money is there. Appears the 'investment opportunity' isn't adequate.
The situation is somewhat puzzling at the moment.

-- 
Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute (will disavow any knowledge of me)
Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu
(DoF #)  : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently"

In article <3jdsf6$er7@crl3.crl.com>, btomlin@aol.com wrote:

> It's up to that level down here in San Antonio as well.  The real problem 
> may be a lack of construction, possibly due to too much control by bank 
> regulators who are leery of giving out almost any loan that isn't a "sure 
> thing".  (But I've got a credit union down here that offered to loan me 
> some money if I froze an equal amount in an account as collateral... 
> sure, loan me my own money AND charge me interest, thanks a lot!)

What kind of crazy idea is that? I hope you laughed at them and pointed
and laughed some more and announced to the whole bank what your potential
loan officer had offered. 

Why would you need money if you already had the same amount of money? Duh.
Oh yeah, I want to pay loan interest so I can build a credit rating. Hell,
it'd be cheaper to pay someone to fix your records.

-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
Alex Currier                           | me lu lu mu al nu um me en
http://ccwf.cc.utexas.edu/~mycroft/    | ki me en me lu lu mu me al 
Alex_Currier@attpls.net                | nu um me al nu ume me me...
---------------------------------------------------------------------

flamer@mail.utexas.edu (SickOfTexas) wrote:

> What kind of BARBARIC rule is this?

It's the one in your LEASE, dude!

> Where is the tenant rights to privacy?

The rental people aren't the police, or the BATF, or
the FBI, or janet reno's left nostril.  Your right to
privacy exists, with certain mods which YOU SIGNED away.

This isn't a Texas thing.  It's far more common than
that.  I'll have to remember if I go to Hawaii to act
like an obnoxious, ignorant jerk, just to even things
out.

"What do you MEAN, this is a steak?  In Texas, this isn't
even a booger!"

> Even the police requires a search warrant before one is allowed to step
> into private property (under normal circumstances). One feels like

Here's a free clue.  The cops STILL need this.  UNLESS YOU ARE ON
THEIR TURF.  If you are in the bathroom, at a sink, at the police
station, and a cop walks in, it's too bad if you didn't want him to!
Now, guess who owns the property?  Guess who has to look out for it?
Don;t you have any SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY for THEIR RIGHTS?  What
kind of barbaric, long-eared jackass are you?

> living in a boarding house/dormitory, instead of a rented apt.  I
> really fail to understand the justification for this blatant abuse of
> power(just because the management has my keys, it can enter my abode at
> any 'reasonable' times, even without my prior consent). 

Hey, Mr. Vision/cognition-impaired dude, YOU GAVE PRIOR CONSENT
WHEN YOU SIGNED THE LEASE.  I know this is a difficult concept;
that's why I keep SHOUTING IT AT YOU.
 
> Is this the normal practice in Texas?  If so that is very sad indeed --

"That's not how we do it in Hawaii", he whined.  Like I said above,
it's done in PLENTY of other states besides Texas.  "But I don't
like it."  Go home, then.  To your mommy.  Crawl up in her lap,
and cry, and get it out of your system.  Then she'll tuck you
night night, and dance a traditional "I hate Texas" dance to help
you get to sleep.  Mind the lei - their may be ants in your bed.

> Texas' landlords are years behind the times.  During my brief stay at
> Hawaii, whenever the landlord/manager wants to enter the apt(for
> showings, maintainence, bug spraying), I will be informed and
> CONSULTED, such that a time when I will be present may be arranged. 

Gosh, that's real nice!  Bet they dance a hula for ya, and give you
a lei every time, too!

> Never has the landlord/manager entered the _rented_ apt without my
> prior consent/knowledge.
> This is really wierd/uncivilized, Texas is in Mainland USA,
> _supposedly_ more American and more respectful of human rights, as
> compared to the largely Asian Hawaii, but seems like Hawaii respect
> individual rights much better than Texas.  

Sounds like SOMEONE came to TEXAS with a CHIP on their SHOULDER.
Well, just keep poking at Texans with sharp sticks, and I'm sure
that eventually one of us uncivilized barbarians will SHOOT IT OFF.
Maybe the CHIP, TOO.

> SIDE NOTE 1
> -----------
> I notice that everytime there is a US Mail package addressed to me here
> IN Texas, it will always be a note stating that
> 'we were here but you weren't, so please collect your package at xxx
> station'
> even when I was in _at the time of delivery of the package_, I will
> receive the same note.  Are the Texas Postmen lazy or what? In Hawaii,
> the Postmen will always call you up via the security-phone and ask you
> to retrieve the package.  Do Texas Postmen expect me to be waiting in
> front of my mailbox to be construed as  being 'present'?  If so, this
> is extrememly POOR US mail service, here in Texas.


Naw, it's a federal law.  It's only superceded in hawaii because certain
Japanese bought some congresscritters when they bought the rest of
the island - including YOUR BRAIN.

[more blathering deleted]

> All in all, I can only conclude that there is simply a LACK of
>           sense of RESPONSIBILITY

No, we would have already put what was left of your ragged, bullet-
riddled body six feet under, if that were the case.

>           sense of DUTY

Like your sense of duty to be an ass.

>           RESPECT OF RIGHTS

Like the right to be an ass in public?

-Miles
meo@rru.com

In article <3jg962$hmd@digdug.pencom.com> Miles O'Neal <meo@pencom.com> writes:

>Now, guess who owns the property?  Guess who has to look out for it?
>Don;t you have any SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY for THEIR RIGHTS?  What
>kind of barbaric, long-eared jackass are you?

Some hick asking someone else what their SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY is?  don't 
YOU have any SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY?  Like PROVIDING a FAIR PRODUCT to 
the CONSUMER who PAYS FOR IT?  this sure seems to be a TEXAS thing.  PROPERTY 
OWNERS constantly WHINING about their RIGHTS while REFUSING to take 
RESPONSIBILITY for their SORRY LITTLE HICK SELVES.

Can't the apartment owners of Texas find SOME WAY to MAKE A BUCK without 
FORCING everyone into an UNFAIR lease?

>Hey, Mr. Vision/cognition-impaired dude, YOU GAVE PRIOR CONSENT
>WHEN YOU SIGNED THE LEASE.  I know this is a difficult concept;
>that's why I keep SHOUTING IT AT YOU.

BOO HOO HOO. Now I expect you'll be telling us if we don't like it to GET THE 
HELL OUT.  Then all you TRUE TEXANS can get back to chewin' tobacco and 
whittlin' sticks and driving yer pickups or whatever it was you did before 
CIVILIZATION came to town.

> Dave Fay <bear@computek.net> writes:
[gives some very stupid advice about shooting the maintenance people]
>apt. again.  This is a little extreme, but guaranteed to work.

Yup. You'll never have to pay rent again. My taxes will be paying for
your new home. *sigh*

>I don't recommend that method, and it may be better to tell the apt.
>mamager that you are very paranoid, and never answer the door and 
>that you have aways wanted to shoot an intuder.  This may get the 
>apt. personnel to notify you in advance.

...or keep them from renting to you in the first place, or from renewing your
lease.

Now, I was embarassed by the 'get out of Texas' comments too; but this
goes beyond embarassing.

disappointed.
mark
-- 
Mark Brown     | AIX Architecture             |   Civil Liberty
(512) 838-3926 | 11400 Burnet Rd M/S 9582     |    Through
T/L   678-3926 | Austin, TX 78758             |     Complex Mathematics!
mbrown@austin.ibm.com  -or- MBROWN at AUSVM6  | 

In article <kilgore.297.00075E5F@acad.stedwards.edu> kilgore@acad.stedwards.edu (deb) writes:
> Some hick asking someone else what their SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY is?  don't 
> YOU have any SENSE OF RESPONSIBILITY?  Like PROVIDING a FAIR PRODUCT to 
> the CONSUMER who PAYS FOR IT?  this sure seems to be a TEXAS thing.  PROPERTY 
> OWNERS constantly WHINING about their RIGHTS while REFUSING to take 
> RESPONSIBILITY for their SORRY LITTLE HICK SELVES.
[...]
> BOO HOO HOO. Now I expect you'll be telling us if we don't like it to GET THE 
> HELL OUT.  Then all you TRUE TEXANS can get back to chewin' tobacco and 
> whittlin' sticks and driving yer pickups or whatever it was you did before 
> CIVILIZATION came to town.

And the above is an example of that 'CIVILIZATION'?

-- 
Kent Polk: Southwest Research Institute (will disavow any knowledge of me)
Internet : kent@eaenki.nde.swri.edu
(DoF #)  : Official DoF Squid Motto: "Ride Hard/Crash Gently"

> However, don't expect me to like the extreme lack
>of individual/consumer/tenant rights in this state,
------------------------------------------------------
OK you may not like it, but heres the catch:

E PLURIBUS UNUM

It's the Motto of the USA.  It in Latin, and literally translates "Out of
Many, One."  It refers to the US having many states with the ability to
self-govern, but united as one nation. It is yet another reminder which
reflects the intent of the US constitution to have the individual states
govern themselves (unique laws, get it?). Texas, as are all states, can
have its own laws set by the majority of the residents. The US government,
especially in this reduced-Washington-controlled era will certainly not
preempt individulal state's laws on leases, divorce, or any
non-US-'critical' issue (critical determined by 2/3rds of the congress).

What a concept! (One vastly forgotten). This is not a nation of homogenious
state laws, never was meant to be, I hope it never will be.

Herb

In article <3jbb6f$7oe@news.computek.net> Dave Fay <bear@computek.net> writes:
>There is one way to assure that apt. personnel do not enter your
>apt. is to not answer the door if they knock, and if they then enter
>shoot them.  Wounding would probably be suffent.  Explain to the 

No wounding, it's better without witnesses. :-)


Eric

In article <3j4mli$knc@fohnix.metronet.com>, bounty@fohnix.metronet.com (Ed Bullard) says:
>
>In article <3j3kn3$bjb@geraldo.cc.utexas.edu>,
>SickOfTexas <flamer@mail.utexas.edu> wrote:
><snip>
>
>We have a saying here in Texas. If you don't like it here then get the 
>hell out. If you were so happy living in Hawaii then move back. I have 
>never had the problems you claim to. Makes me wonder what you are hiding 
>that you need such privacy? Running a drug lab, or stock-piling weapons 
>perhaps?
>
Maybe, jerk, he just does not want people wandering in and out of his
apartment. Tell ya what, why don't you give me a key to your apartment
so I can come over whenever I want? In fact, I will perform some chore
such as taking out trash or clean the windows. C'mon, send the key, ya 
got something to hide, maybe a drug lab, or building a bomb?

> front of my mailbox to be construed as  being 'present'?  If so, this 
> is extrememly POOR US mail service, here in Texas. 
>  
 
 
 
Hmmmmm.  Poor US mail service in Texas...   
Yes, I believe the Federal Government has different Postal regulations in Texas than   
elsewhere!!! 
 
 
 
> I notice that Federal Express, UPS, etc. frequently simply leave 
> important letters, packages in front of my neighbours doorsteps if they 
> are not in,  without any concern for the possible theft of the items by 
> evil neighbours or passer-bys.  What kind of junk service is this?  In 
> Hawaii, at least, there will be no such cases.  If you want to argue 
> that Texans are so darn honest, forget it, just put $100,000 cash in 
> front of your doorstep(if you live in an apt) tommorow morning and if 
> they remained there untouched when you return, I will agree with you. 
 
 
Same goes for UPS and Federal Express... 
 
 
 
 
Get a fucking life! 
 
If you don't like it here then why don't you get the fuck out?