Month: February 2020

Sad but true.

Houston isn’t the world’s capital of human trafficking, but it’s a major center. Due to port proximity, interstate access and lack of zoning, the reality exists that untold numbers of modern-day slaves are suffering in the city.

Two TCU professors are studying Houston’s regular-looking massage parlors (like those next to major retail stores), which are part of the gray market where legal and illegal industries coexist.

In illicit massage businesses, most trafficking victims are adult women from Southeast and East Asia, said Vanessa Bouché of TCU’s political science department.

“They’re told they’re going to be working in a massage business but not always told that they’re going to be engaging in sex acts — oral sex being the most common,” she said. “They are told that if they come to the U.S., their flights and visas will be paid for … and so they don’t have to worry about that. But once they arrive, they’re not paid a fair wage until they pay off their debt, which is often associated with some exorbitant interest rate.”

This is knowledge worth having. Read more in TCU Magazine: https://magazine.tcu.edu/winter-2020/human-trafficking-massage-parlors-texas/

Hi Houston,

Where can I buy calcite granules for water treatment? They usually come in a 50-lb bag and are used in an acid neutralizer, to bring acidic well water up to a normal pH.

It’s just pieces of clean marble. I’d like to find it for $20-35/bag and am willing to pick it up locally. I’m aware it’s online for $54-100/bag, with shipping accounting for about half of the cost. I need 4-5 bags (each is 0.5 cubic foot).

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I’ve checked with the following supply houses:

• Culligan: $48.50/bag
• Grainger: $60/bag
• Pumps of Houston: I have a call in to them.
• Morrison Supply: $45+shipping, 3-4 week lead.
• Ferguson: Used to carry it locally, but no longer. Now it would be shipped from AL, CA, etc.
• Quality Home Products (Rainsoft dealer): Doesn’t have it.
• Moore Supply: Doesn’t have it.

I’ve checked with these suppliers:

• Lancaster Pump: Refers to Ferguson.
• Columbia River Carbonates: Refers to Pumps of Houston.

Here are some references so you can see what I mean:

• https://www.zoro.com/3m-aqua-pure-calcium-carbonate-media-05-cu-ft-c-050p/i/G5680333/
• http://www.carbonates.com/products/water-treatment/puri-cal/
• https://www.ferguson.com/product/watts-05-cf-calcite-neutralizer-w7300107/_/R-7517913