Daryl wrote --

he couldn't understand that using a credit card just delays paying for

the purchase. You or someone else has to pay for it. I guess he thought
the money tree was evergreen, and would never be cut down.

Your brother isn't the only one who thinks that way.
Simple economics is no longer taught in school, how to balance a
cheque book, what credit is, what APR's are (which is the real killer),
etc. This was taught at one time in math class in junior high. Far too
many people think its just free money. They buy this, that and the other without thinking and wind up in a world of hurt.
Plus too often the parents pay the bills so the kids don't even know.
And there is so much "free" credit out there, just make a minimum
payment, etc. Its all very tempting to a lot of people young and old.
Until I was in my 60s money was tight and I scrimped, eked out, etc.
Now that I am a bit more financially secure I still live that way. I
never want to go back to the early days of the late 1990s and early
2000s. Its sort of the mindset of people who lived through the Depression.
I don't horde my money, I'll freely give several hundred for a good
cause because I am able to and thankful for that. (I would rather give
cold hard cash rather than use my debit card or cheque since one gets on
a mailing list and everyday some group or other is begging for more and
more. With cash they have no way of "tracking me down" again. :)

ended up going into Chapter 13 Bankruptcy nearly 10 years ago.

I am thankful I didn't have to do that. The debt consolidation
company I worked with made sure of that.
I can't recall off hand the name of the company, have it somewhere.
There are several around the country. They contacted the creditors and
made deals with them, often greatly reducing the APR and stopping any
more interest being charged. Credit cards in general make their money on
high APR's.

I've used up all my sick days, so I'm calling in "dead". <G>

Funny thing, I have taken only one sick day in over 40 years.
I was a temp and working at a call centre contacting block captains in
New England for a national charity. There was a high turn over because
of the rude people we had to deal with. I can understand because they
had agreed and we were calling to remind them.
Anyway I had a stomach ache one morning, there were plenty of other
people doing the job, and called off. Later that day my then captain
called with more security work and never looked back.
In the '80s I worked for a small wholesale produce company, only three
of us, and I came down with the flu, had a temp of 103 according to the thermometer and worked every day with that. Don't remember anything,
just dragged myself out of bed, moved a lot slower at work, and fell back
into bed after work for about five days.
And working outside most of the time I seldom even get a cold. Maybe
once every five or six years.
I am thankful I have no chronic health problems.
Joe
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Nancy wrote --

My ring tone for him is "blah-blah-blah-blah-blah".
Anymore instead of asking what he wants its "OK, I'll be there"
knowing what he wants.

Maybe one of these days, he'll be inviting you to some social event... ;)

Yeah, right, I'll be waiting by the phone for that call. :)
Joe
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Hi, Joe...

Your brother isn't the only one who thinks that way.

Sad. It was the same way with an episode of "I Dream Of Jeannie", if I remember right. Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman) couldn't convince Jeannie
(Barbara Eden) about the truth of what credit cards are.

Simple economics is no longer taught in school, how to balance a
cheque book, what credit is, what APR's are (which is the real killer), JM>etc. This was taught at one time in math class in junior high. Far too JM>many people think its just free money. They buy this, that and the other JM>without thinking and wind up in a world of hurt.

I never had an economics course, but I did well in math...at least up
through Algebra 1 -- when it got into Algebra 2, it got daunting. I
originally was going to be a music major and a math minor in
college...but changed to e Radio/TV/Fil major and a music minor before
my first year in college was done. To me now, the definition for
"algebra" is something The Little Mermaid wears. :P

Plus too often the parents pay the bills so the kids don't even know.

That's what my Mom was doing for my brother. And, apparently, the guy
who did his taxes last year, forgot to put in 2 forms, and my brother is
in trouble for it. Yet, that was the tax preparer's fault...not his. I
told my brother that next year, we'll go to H&R Block.

And there is so much "free" credit out there, just make a minimum
payment, etc. Its all very tempting to a lot of people young and old.

Years ago, the credit card folks were swarming the college campuses. I
think many of them finally banned these "monetary vultures".

Until I was in my 60s money was tight and I scrimped, eked out, etc.

It is that way for me now on disabilty. $1100 a month doesn't go
far...and you've got the greedy bastard politicians in Washington, DC, lamenting that "they can't survive on $175,000 to $500,000 a year or
more". They don't have a clue. And, they still get the same salary and benefits, after they finish just one term in office...until they die.

Now that I am a bit more financially secure I still live that way. I JM>never want to go back to the early days of the late 1990s and early JM>2000s. Its sort of the mindset of people who lived through the Depression.

I went through Chapter 13 Bankruptcy once, and when I was down at the
Hearing Of Creditors, the room was PACKED FULL...and several in there
had been in bankruptcy before. I was paying around $135 a month...but
compared to what others were having to pay (tens to hundreds of
thousands of dollars a month), I came out smelling like a rose!! I asked
the lawyer "why the big fees??". The reply: "Yachts, RV's, homes, etc.".

I don't horde my money, I'll freely give several hundred for a good
cause because I am able to and thankful for that. (I would rather give JM>cold hard cash rather than use my debit card or cheque since one gets on JM>a mailing list and everyday some group or other is begging for more and JM>more. With cash they have no way of "tracking me down" again. :)

That's for sure. The thing is, with a lot of these homeless people,
who are panhandling on the street corners, while there may be some who
are legitimately in need...most likely are getting their money that
way. They don't have to pay taxes, can do it whenever they want, or stay
home that day, and drive off in a Lexus.

I am thankful I didn't have to do that. The debt consolidation
company I worked with made sure of that.

I went through that as well...and I learned my lesson. But as noted
above, some folks apparently have to go through it multiple times.

I can't recall off hand the name of the company, have it somewhere.
There are several around the country. They contacted the creditors and JM>made deals with them, often greatly reducing the APR and stopping any JM>more interest being charged. Credit cards in general make their money on JM>high APR's.

That's how they can do their rewards and cash back deals...plus pay
the salaries of their employees. They HATE folks who make the full
monthly payment each month, or hardly charge anything...because it means
no extra money for them.

I've used up all my sick days, so I'm calling in "dead". <G>

Funny thing, I have taken only one sick day in over 40 years.

I wish I could say that <sigh!>.

I was a temp and working at a call centre contacting block captains in
New England for a national charity. There was a high turn over because JM>of the rude people we had to deal with. I can understand because they JM>had agreed and we were calling to remind them.

How quickly some forget.

I am thankful I have no chronic health problems.

You are indeed blessed. I've got over 50 medical conditions, and they
keep finding stuff wrong with me. Last year, they diagnosed degenerative
disk disease in my spine. I thought "Well, they won't take away my
disability now". Thankfully, it's in the early stages, and I hope it's
very slow progressing.

Daryl

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Joe,

My ring tone for him is "blah-blah-blah-blah-blah".
Anymore instead of asking what he wants its "OK, I'll be there"
knowing what he wants.

Maybe one of these days, he'll be inviting you to some social event... ;)

Yeah, right, I'll be waiting by the phone for that call. :)

Just tell them your number is BR 549. <G>

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

Sad. It was the same way with an episode of "I Dream Of Jeannie", if

I remember right. Tony Nelson (Larry Hagman) couldn't convince Jeannie
(Barbara Eden) about the truth of what credit cards are.

And that was in the day when credit cards were a status symbol.
They weren't handed out like candy on Halloween as today.

Simple economics is no longer taught in school, how to balance a
cheque book, what credit is, what APR's are (

I was taught simple econ in math class, how to make a budget, etc.
I've known many people over the years who don't know how, or make, a
budget. X income to pay for rent, electric, savings, this, that and the
other, with Y amount of disposable income for the month or Y amount in
the hole. Instead they get a cheque of some sort and spend it all, then
have nothing for the rest of the month.
Its just really tempting for some people to spend the money in their
pocket.

I never had an economics course, but I did well in math...at least up through Algebra 1 -- when it got into Algebra 2, it got daunting.

I remember being told "someday you will need to know and use this" and
being the all knowing high school student, who was much smarter than the teachers I thought "yeah, right". Then years later realised that yeah,
I need to use that from time to time.

Plus too often the parents pay the bills so the kids don't even know.

That's what my Mom was doing for my brother. And, apparently, the guy
who did his taxes last year, forgot to put in 2 forms, and my brother

is in trouble for it. Yet, that was the tax preparer's fault...not his. I
told my brother that next year, we'll go to H&R Block.

My taxes are relatively simple and use TurboTax on line, which is free
since I use the EZ form.
They are really good at finding things to either deduct or get a refund
that I never knew when doing it myself.
In the past I would get a pittance in state tax refund, but with TT I
get a bit more back.

And there is so much "free" credit out there, just make a minimum
payment, etc. Its all very tempting to a lot of people young and old.

Years ago, the credit card folks were swarming the college campuses.

I think many of them finally banned these "monetary vultures".

We had the same thing here.
The start of each year in the fall they had tables set up in the
student centre with kids lined up for all the free money.
I think the only ones there now are a couple of banks signing up new depositors. (Of course once the kid is with that bank, CC offers could
be made).

and you've got the greedy bastard politicians in Washington, DC,
lamenting that "they can't survive on $175,000 to $500,000 a year or
more". They don't have a clue.

Very true.
They claim they need a larger salary because they HAVE to have two
homes (one in their home state, the other in DC), etc.
I would like to see government go back to the days when they lived in
DC for only a few months a year, and stayed at hotels or boarding houses.
Nowadays the only time they go back home is election time.
They have learned that unlimited pork barrel means votes.
Here in WV Robert Byrd was senator longer than anyone can remember. He brought home the pork (buildings, bridges, roads, etc, all with his name plastered all over them) and had no real competition for years and years.
But I stray into modern politics...

I asked the lawyer "why the big fees??". The reply: "Yachts, RV's,

homes, etc.".

An honest lawyer! :)

That's for sure. The thing is, with a lot of these homeless people,
who are panhandling on the street corners, while there may be some who
are legitimately in need...most likely are getting their money that
way. They don't have to pay taxes, can do it whenever they want, or

stay home that day, and drive off in a Lexus.

I have seen and read many stories of panhandlers who make 100s of tax
free dollars a day! Now not all of them, but if they have a good
corner... A dollar here and a dollar there all adds up.
These are the people that laugh at saps who work everyday and pay taxes.

Credit cards in general make their money on high APR's.

That's how they can do their rewards and cash back deals...plus pay
the salaries of their employees. They HATE folks who make the full
monthly payment each month, or hardly charge anything...because it

means no extra money for them.

They gotta make a living as well... :)
I was talking to my banker once and somehow my bank credit card came up
and I said its had a $200 cap since I got it. He suggested, in all seriousness, to max it out and then not pay the full amount, carry a
balance and over time the cap would be raised.
Joe

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Joe,

And that was in the day when credit cards were a status symbol.
They weren't handed out like candy on Halloween as today.

That's for sure.

I was taught simple econ in math class, how to make a budget, etc.
I've known many people over the years who don't know how, or make, a
budget. X income to pay for rent, electric, savings, this, that and the JM>other, with Y amount of disposable income for the month or Y amount in JM>the hole. Instead they get a cheque of some sort and spend it all, then JM>have nothing for the rest of the month.

I think of the skit from Jerry Jordan, who did an album called "Phone
Call From God" (more on that in a moment). I don't know if I told this
before or not, but it's a perfect example for this thread.

Anyway, one of the other deals was called "Overdrawn At The Bank". Apparently, his wife, Marilyn (who he termed as "no mental giant") was
one of these who was always ending up overdrawn at the bank each month.
The banker, Mr, Jones, would call Jerry, asking him to come down to the bank...and Jerry admitted that "this is embarrassing for me".

So, he took his wife aside, and told her "it's a simple matter of
adding and subtracting. You put your money in the bank at the start of
the month, deducting the balance as you write checks. When the balance
gets down to zero, just quit writing checks". She said she understood,
but the first of the month came, and she was overdrawn again!!

He noted "I'm a patient man...but I told her that if this happened one
more time, I was going to knock the thunder out of her!!". She said she understood...but, once again, the first of the month came, and she was overdrawn again!!

He continued "Being a man of my word, I did just exactly what I said I
was going to do!! And, you know...I didn't see that woman for 5 days.
Then, I got a glimpse of her, out of my left eye, where the swelling has started going down"!! <BG>

I think Red Skelton did a similar routine, but I'm not sure who did it
first.

Anyway, back to "the phone call from God". The guy is watching "The
Tonight Show with Johnny Carson" (there's a memory for you...telling
about when this was recorded!!), and the phone rings. He asks his wife
to get the phone, and she tells him to do it. Grumbling, he grudgingly
answers it. The realization of what's going on, is when he repeats a
question asked of him..."What do you mean, 'Am I A Christian?? Who's A-Callin'??". Upon hearing the answer, he stutters, and asks "Did you
say Heaven??!!". Indeed, it is The Lord on the other end of the
line...although you don't actually "hear" what The Lord is saying.

It basically is a sermonette on several topics, and I was able to
memorize that and act it out from my years of drama and theatre arts in
both high school and college 40 years ago. When I did the
"interdenominational worship service" at the National Single Square
Dancers Convention in Little Rock back in 2007, I had people rolling in
the aisles in laughter. After that, I did Scott Rice's song "Come To
Jesus", and people in the audience were in tears. In fact, one young
lady came up to me afterwards, and said "If I talk to you right now, I'm
going to cry". You could tell she was "troubled". Being "a shoulder to
cry on" over the years, can be so rewarding...but it's also a burden.

I stumbled on some YouTube videos last night of Mark Lowery, one
member of The New Gaither Vocal Band...and he apparently is "a Christian comedian". His jokes were G-rated, and an absolute scream!! He said that
"Home Depot is Heaven to a man, for all you can get!! Their carts are
not like ones at Kroger. When I got out of there, I had a Jacuzzi!!".
<G> But, the funniest one was when he was talking about "toilet
plungers". He said that "These aren't the old 'suction kind', but these
are 'like an accordian'"....and added "Don't you hate it, when you're
having to interrupt a seven course meal, and ask where the people hid
their plunger??!!" <G>.

Seriously, in many areas now, the plumbing and pipes are so old, that
putting a bunch of toilet paper down the commodes is clogging the lines,
and it's messing with the sewage systems. In some restaurants, there are
signs warning parents that "YOU ARE RESPONSIBILE FOR YOUR CHILDREN IN
THE RESTROOM. DO NOT LET THEM CLOG THE TOILET WITH PAPER!!".

Anyway, I have a separate trash can in the restroom just for that.
When it's full, I seal it with a twist tie, and put it out in the
garbage. I could rig up a bunch of empty boxes, and put them on the
front porch, and put those "crappy bags" inside them...and see how it
takes for folks to steal them off of the porch!! <BG> That has actually
been done in some areas, because of a rash of "porch thieves". One
central Arkansas police department said "Have your packages shipped to
us instead. We will hold them for you at no charge...just come by with
ID, and we'll give you your package".

Its just really tempting for some people to spend the money in their
pocket.

What's the saying that "the money is burning a hole in their pocket"??
I'm what you'd call "a frugal cheapskate". <G>

I remember being told "someday you will need to know and use this" and
being the all knowing high school student, who was much smarter than the JM>teachers I thought "yeah, right". Then years later realised that yeah, JM>I need to use that from time to time.

Most kids nowadays are like the cartoon of the student, who said to
his teacher "Why should I study about The American Revolution?? I know
who won!!". <G> He does have a valid point, but in some cases, if your
field of study has nothing to do with such and such course, why should
you still have to take that course?? As my late barber noted (he
obviously was raised on a farm), "it makes as much sense as teats on a
boar hog"!! :P

My taxes are relatively simple and use TurboTax on line, which is free
since I use the EZ form.
They are really good at finding things to either deduct or get a refund
that I never knew when doing it myself.
In the past I would get a pittance in state tax refund, but with TT I
get a bit more back.

I think I'm going to have H&R Block do it. My taxes are relatively
simple, but with my having to deal with my Mom's items, since we had to
cash in all of her life insurance, stocks, etc. to pay for her nursing
home care, I know I'm going to miss something if I try to do it myself.
Plus, I think that they have a "guarantee" that "if we miscalculate on
your return, we are liable for the errors, penalties, etc.".

I think the only ones there now are a couple of banks signing up new
depositors. (Of course once the kid is with that bank, CC offers could JM>be made).

And, they're not going to tell them the real economic truth, or
"the smart kids" would walk away, and tell others of this. Then, it'd be
a waste of time for these "monetary vultures". I had to learn the hard
way about credit cards. Now, if I can't make the purchase with my debit
card right now, I don't get it.

They claim they need a larger salary because they HAVE to have two
homes (one in their home state, the other in DC), etc.

Never mind "keeping up with the Jones'".

I would like to see government go back to the days when they lived in
DC for only a few months a year, and stayed at hotels or boarding houses.

I heard that in Texas, the state only pays the legislature when they
are actually in session, and working. When they are on recess, etc. they
don't get a dime. Too bad they don't do that for Washington, DC.

Nowadays the only time they go back home is election time.

Before the election, they give the voters a "thumbs up". After they
win, they give them "the obscene bird finger". Vulgar, but true. All
they care about is their political careers...and when you confront them
with the truth of that, they blow you off.

They have learned that unlimited pork barrel means votes.

Three things you will NEVER see, IMO, in Washington, DC:

1) The END of political pork.
2) Term Limits (max of 2 terms), then a lifetime ban on lobbying.
3) Max 20% of total salary upon leaving office for the rest of their
life. Let them get their own health insurance.

Those have as much chance happening as The Pope renouncing
Catholicism.

Here in WV Robert Byrd was senator longer than anyone can remember. He
brought home the pork (buildings, bridges, roads, etc, all with his name JM>plastered all over them) and had no real competition for years and years.

Unfortunately, that's the same everywhere. Remember "The Bridge To
Nowhere" in Alaska??

I asked the lawyer "why the big fees??". The reply: "Yachts, RV's, JM>homes, etc.".

An honest lawyer! :)

That's an oxymoron!! <G>

I have seen and read many stories of panhandlers who make 100s of tax
free dollars a day! Now not all of them, but if they have a good JM>corner... A dollar here and a dollar there all adds up.
These are the people that laugh at saps who work everyday and pay taxes.

I heard in some cities that you actually "have to have a
license"...and if not, you're arrested. They probably bond out, and are
right back on the street again.

I was talking to my banker once and somehow my bank credit card came up
and I said its had a $200 cap since I got it. He suggested, in all JM>seriousness, to max it out and then not pay the full amount, carry a JM>balance and over time the cap would be raised.

That doesn't make sense. Why have a card if you can't use it??

Daryl

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Quoting Joe Mackey to Nancy Backus on 11-19-18 06:25 <=-

My ring tone for him is "blah-blah-blah-blah-blah".
Anymore instead of asking what he wants its "OK, I'll be there"
knowing what he wants.

Maybe one of these days, he'll be inviting you to some social event... ;)

Yeah, right, I'll be waiting by the phone for that call. :)

Ya never know... ;)

ttyl neb

... You have 2 choices for dinner. Take it or leave it. Bon appetit!

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Daryl wrote --

Apparently, his wife, Marilyn (who he termed as "no mental giant") was
one of these who was always ending up overdrawn at the bank each month.

"But I can't be overdrawn! I still have cheques left." :)

was going to do!! And, you know...I didn't see that woman for 5 days.
Then, I got a glimpse of her, out of my left eye, where the swelling

has started going down"!! <BG>

I think Red Skelton did a similar routine, but I'm not sure who did

it first.

I think so.
Its one of those jokes that pop up every now and then.

Seriously, in many areas now, the plumbing and pipes are so old, that putting a bunch of toilet paper down the commodes is clogging the lines,

What I hate are those low volume toilets today. They use less water
with each flush but sometimes it takes several flushes to do the job of
the old one.
There's a drug store in a nearby town that has a great soda fountain.
Now they sell more ice cream and sandwiches than they do drugs.
Anyway, they remodeled their bathroom in keeping with the retro look
(they do use the original 1900 era marble counter) that has the tank
above the toilet itself with a pull chain. Man, when that thing is
flushed I think the water pressure for three blocks around lowers. :)

Anyway, I have a separate trash can in the restroom just for that.

I'm old-fashioned, I use a cloth hand towel. When dirty its washed and
used again. Have had it for years.
The last time I bought paper towels was when Molly was still alive,
about seven or eight years ago. She always had a delicate tummy and
sometimes had to clean up messes when something didn't agree with her.
It was a three roll pack and the second roll is only about half used.

field of study has nothing to do with such and such course, why should
you still have to take that course??

To be well rounded, in a liberal (old style) education.
There are all sorts of videos on You Tube of college aged students
asked simple history questions who haven't a clue. They may be scholars
in their field but know nothing about history, science, etc.

And, they're not going to tell them the real economic truth, or
"the smart kids" would walk away, and tell others of this. Then, it'd

be a waste of time for these "monetary vultures".

But how many of the others would actually listen? Too so many its just
free money or mommy and daddy will pay it. ==sigh==

I had to learn the hard way about credit cards.

I have always been careful with my money, save for what I wanted, use lay-away, etc.
I got into trouble with I was between jobs for several months and then
it was only necessities (food, shelter, etc).

I heard that in Texas, the state only pays the legislature when they
are actually in session, and working.

WV as well.
They have January and February to conduct state business. But they
piddle around the first six weeks then say they need more time to do what
they are there for.
And that is nothing new.
When I was in college in the mid-70s I was writing a paper on some long forgotten topic and researching newspapers from the early 1930s on
whatever I was writing about, and getting sidetracked, there were lots of stories of delegates partying at one of the two hotels they all stayed
at, then actually working for a couple of weeks.

Three things you will NEVER see, IMO, in Washington, DC:

1) The END of political pork.
2) Term Limits (max of 2 terms), then a lifetime ban on lobbying.
3) Max 20% of total salary upon leaving office for the rest of their
life. Let them get their own health insurance.

Agreed!
Joe
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Joe,

Apparently, his wife, Marilyn (who he termed as "no mental giant") was JM>> one of these who was always ending up overdrawn at the bank each month.

"But I can't be overdrawn! I still have cheques left." :)

Sad, but true...so many people have that way of thinking!!

I think Red Skelton did a similar routine, but I'm not sure who did JM>it first.

I think so.
Its one of those jokes that pop up every now and then.

But, it's still timely.

What I hate are those low volume toilets today. They use less water
with each flush but sometimes it takes several flushes to do the job of JM>the old one.

I saw a skit with Christian Comedian Mark Lowery, part of The Gaither
Vocal Band. He told of "Home Depot is a Man's Heaven"...especially with
"the accordian plunger"...adding "don't you hate having to go somewhere
for dinner, and interrupt a 7 course meal, to ask where their plunger
is??!!" :P

There's a drug store in a nearby town that has a great soda fountain.
Now they sell more ice cream and sandwiches than they do drugs.

I miss those old time places. There's a restaurant in central Arkansas
called David's Burgers. It has a jukebox, plays 50's music, and is set
up like those old drug stores and soda fountains. If you order a combo,
you get unlimited french fries.

Anyway, they remodeled their bathroom in keeping with the retro look
(they do use the original 1900 era marble counter) that has the tank JM>above the toilet itself with a pull chain. Man, when that thing is JM>flushed I think the water pressure for three blocks around lowers. :)

And, you probably hear the screams of agony from those in the shower
at the time!! <G>

I'm old-fashioned, I use a cloth hand towel. When dirty its washed and
used again. Have had it for years.

I have the cloth hand towel, but the "bun wad" (as my late wife
referred to toilet paper) is for "the other stuff". :P She said that's
what they called it at Cornell University years ago.

It was a three roll pack and the second roll is only about half used.

I've got plenty of toilet paper here at my Mom's place...but I will
need to get some more paper towels soon. But, it's like anti-diarrhea medicine...better to have, and not need...than to need, and not have.

To be well rounded, in a liberal (old style) education.

My belly must be at Genius status then, as it's well rounded, with its history of eating. <G>

There are all sorts of videos on You Tube of college aged students
asked simple history questions who haven't a clue. They may be scholars JM>in their field but know nothing about history, science, etc.

That really gets me. You ask "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?", and they
have such a blank look on their faces!!

But how many of the others would actually listen? Too so many its just
free money or mommy and daddy will pay it. ==sigh==

Sad, but true.

I got into trouble with I was between jobs for several months and then
it was only necessities (food, shelter, etc).

I'm doing that now...I don't want to go down the road of bankruptcy
again.

They have January and February to conduct state business. But they
piddle around the first six weeks then say they need more time to do what JM>they are there for.

Par for the course.

Three things you will NEVER see, IMO, in Washington, DC:

1) The END of political pork.
2) Term Limits (max of 2 terms), then a lifetime ban on lobbying.
3) Max 20% of total salary upon leaving office for the rest of their
life. Let them get their own health insurance.

Agreed!

And, those are the 3 reasons why there's such a "Swamp" in Washington, DC...and why we're broke.

Daryl

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Daryl wrote --

asked simple history questions who haven't a clue. They may be

scholars in their field but know nothing about history, science, etc.

That really gets me. You ask "Who's buried in Grant's Tomb?", and they
have such a blank look on their faces!!

Yep, and they probably have no idea who Grant was.
A few years ago I was in a Dollar General store and if one correctly
answered a history question they got a discount on their purchase.
I was asked, "Who was president in 1881?" and I quickly replied
"Garfield". The clerk checked and sure enough I was right.
He asked I knew that and I said its simple, there was Lincoln, Johnson,
Grant then Garfield".
People around me said they had no idea there was a President Garfield.
Like the old saying, "To many people, history started when they were
born". Anything before then doesn't mean anything.
Joe (Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. You
may quote me on that, thought someone else originally said it).
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Joe,

A few years ago I was in a Dollar General store and if one correctly
answered a history question they got a discount on their purchase.
I was asked, "Who was president in 1881?" and I quickly replied
"Garfield". The clerk checked and sure enough I was right.
He asked I knew that and I said its simple, there was Lincoln, Johnson,
Grant then Garfield".
People around me said they had no idea there was a President Garfield.

I'll bet they were amazed. They should've asked you several questions,
and you probably could've shopped for free. <G>

Like the old saying, "To many people, history started when they were
born". Anything before then doesn't mean anything.

Really.

Joe (Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it. You
may quote me on that, thought someone else originally said it).

Plagiarist. <g,d,r>

Daryl

===
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Daryl wrote --

A few years ago I was in a Dollar General store and if one

correctly answered a history question they got a discount on their
purchase.

I'll bet they were amazed. They should've asked you several

questions, and you probably could've shopped for free. <G>

I doubt it. They weren't too happy giving that one discount. :)
I was probably the only one, or one of very few, who gave a correct
answer.
Years ago was a national radio call in show, Ted Byre.
Each Friday was a trivia show and I made it on the air. My national
radio de-but!
I was asked a series of long forgotten questions and won.
My prize?
A card that read I was an official "bar bore" I could show when
answering trivia questions so people could see I knew what I was talking
about.
I still have it around here somewhere.
His show was on the air around the time Hubble was having trouble with
its lenses. He called it The Rubble Telescope. :)

Joe (Those who don't learn from history are doomed to repeat it.

You may quote me on that, thought someone else originally said it).

Plagiarist. <g,d,r>

That's where I get my best ideas!
Joe

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Joe,

You may quote me on that, thought someone else originally said it).

Plagiarist. <g,d,r>

That's where I get my best ideas!

ROFL!!

Daryl

===
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Quoting Joe Mackey to Daryl Stout on 11-20-18 07:41 <=-

Credit cards in general make their money on high APR's.

That's how they can do their rewards and cash back deals...plus pay
the salaries of their employees. They HATE folks who make the full
monthly payment each month, or hardly charge anything...because it
means no extra money for them.

They gotta make a living as well... :)
I was talking to my banker once and somehow my bank credit card came
up and I said its had a $200 cap since I got it. He suggested, in all seriousness, to max it out and then not pay the full amount, carry a balance and over time the cap would be raised.

And did you let him know that you intended to keep that cap....? In his experience, probably most people want a higher credit limit on their
cards... Richard has one card with a low cap on it, that he uses for the occasional time he needs a card to pay for something on the internet...
no intentions of ever raising that limit.... :)

ttyl neb

... And he disappeared in a puff of logic.

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Nancy wrote --

max it out and then not pay the full amount, carry a
balance and over time the cap would be raised.

And did you let him know that you intended to keep that cap....?

Still have it, several years later.
There was only one time that a high limit would have come in handy.
I was renting a car and paid with my debit card (I had moved money from savings to checking for that) yet still needed a credit card for
something and the guy did a work around.
To me a debit card is more safe since one needs that amount to pay
right then.
Besides, if someone gets that CC number they can only spend so much.
Like Richard, I sometimes use it for Net purchases for that reason.
Years ago I was getting all sorts of odd deductions and seems someone somewhere had gotten my number and used it for other purposes and ran up hundreds on porn sites.
The bank quickly tracked them down and I got the money back, save for
about $40.
I had contacted these sites myself and got nowhere. But when the bank
called they were quick to return it. :)
Joe
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Quoting Joe Mackey to Nancy Backus on 11-26-18 06:48 <=-

max it out and then not pay the full amount, carry a
balance and over time the cap would be raised.

And did you let him know that you intended to keep that cap....?

Still have it, several years later.
There was only one time that a high limit would have come in handy.
I was renting a car and paid with my debit card (I had moved money
from savings to checking for that) yet still needed a credit card for something and the guy did a work around.
To me a debit card is more safe since one needs that amount to pay
right then.

Car Rentals want a valid credit card to ensure (hopefully) that the
renter is responsible... and to have something to fall back on in case
the car isn't returned... So they don't like cash transactions, except
at the end when the car is returned safe and sound... It's good the guy
was able to do the workaround... :)

Besides, if someone gets that CC number they can only spend so much.
Like Richard, I sometimes use it for Net purchases for that reason.

That's exactly his reasoning... :)

Years ago I was getting all sorts of odd deductions and seems
someone somewhere had gotten my number and used it for other purposes
and ran up hundreds on porn sites.
The bank quickly tracked them down and I got the money back, save
for about $40.
I had contacted these sites myself and got nowhere. But when the
bank called they were quick to return it. :)

There's more weight behind the banks... :)

At one point, scammers would just generate a string of numbers that
might be a credit or debit card number, and then try it out someplace
like a gas station to see if it worked... then they'd run up bills at
stores or sites or whatever.... It happened to me once, on a debit
card... and the bank caught it before I got a statement... the perps
were stopped, and I got my money back....

ttyl neb

... Foods labeled as "cheese food" must now be labeled as "fake cheese"

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Nancy wrote --

It's good the guy was able to do the workaround... :)

I imagine being an long time customer helped as well. :)
Been a Enterprise user for over 25 years. Haven't rented a lot, but
been on the books. :)

stores or sites or whatever.... It happened to me once, on a debit
card... and the bank caught it before I got a statement... the perps
were stopped, and I got my money back....

I get a daily e-mail from the bank of all activity. If I get something
that seems odd I trot down to the bank and talk to someone.
The dumbest thing happened one time.
I got a mysterious deduction from a well known internet company, (I
won't mention any names --under my breath-- paypal) and had no idea what
it was for. Instead of saying something like "payment to" it was just a
odd grouping of letters and numbers. Even the bank couldn't figure what
it was for. That was stopped till things could be figured out.
Shortly after I get a notice from a source I had set up recurring
payments wanting to know why it was stopped.
Why can't companies put show the name of whom the payment is for?
Seems it would be easier that way. Or a reminded a few days before. I
mean they have "Algore rhythms" for that.
Joe

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Quoting Joe Mackey to Nancy Backus on 11-30-18 06:21 <=-

It's good the guy was able to do the workaround... :)

I imagine being an long time customer helped as well. :)
Been a Enterprise user for over 25 years. Haven't rented a lot, but
been on the books. :)

Did the guy at the counter recognize you...? or was it just seeing you
and your history in the computer when he brought it up....?

stores or sites or whatever.... It happened to me once, on a debit
card... and the bank caught it before I got a statement... the perps
were stopped, and I got my money back....

I get a daily e-mail from the bank of all activity. If I get
something that seems odd I trot down to the bank and talk to someone.

I haven't set anything like that up.... So far, the banks have been good
at catching things and letting me know... :)

The dumbest thing happened one time.
I got a mysterious deduction from a well known internet company, (I
won't mention any names --under my breath-- paypal) and had no idea
what it was for. Instead of saying something like "payment to" it was just a odd grouping of letters and numbers. Even the bank couldn't
figure what it was for. That was stopped till things could be figured out. Shortly after I get a notice from a source I had set up
recurring payments wanting to know why it was stopped.

At least that let you know who it was, and that it was legit... <G>

Why can't companies put show the name of whom the payment is for?
Seems it would be easier that way. Or a reminded a few days before.
I mean they have "Algore rhythms" for that.

You'd think. Maybe you'd have to specifically set up email reminders of soon-to-post payments with the company....? :)

ttyl neb

... "I've been sane, I am at present exploring my other aspects".

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Nancy,

I haven't set anything like that up.... So far, the banks have been good NB>at catching things and letting me know... :)

My bank gives me text alerts, and calls my cellphone, on any
"questionable transaction(s)".

Daryl

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Nancy wrote --

Did the guy at the counter recognize you...? or was it just seeing you
and your history in the computer when he brought it up....?

No, he was some new guy, at least to me.
But then I hadn't rented a car for a few years so he may have been
around a while.

out. Shortly after I get a notice from a source I had set up
recurring payments wanting to know why it was stopped.

At least that let you know who it was, and that it was legit... <G>

-- snip--

You'd think. Maybe you'd have to specifically set up email reminders

of soon-to-post payments with the company....? :)

One would think so.
Most services I use do that, or if there's a problem* they let me know
the details.
(*When there's a problem with my card that is stopped, a new one
issued and problems are usually when the old number needs to be changed).
Joe
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Quoting Daryl Stout to Nancy Backus on 12-02-18 12:35 <=-

I haven't set anything like that up.... So far, the banks have been
good at catching things and letting me know... :)

My bank gives me text alerts, and calls my cellphone, on any
"questionable transaction(s)".

As I said, I've not set that up... don't really want texts from
everywhere clogging up my inbox or my cell phone... which is usually off
unless I'm away from home, anyway.... the banks call the landline...

ttyl neb

... There is always free cheese in a mouse trap.

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Quoting Joe Mackey to Nancy Backus on 12-03-18 06:05 <=-

Did the guy at the counter recognize you...? or was it just seeing you
and your history in the computer when he brought it up....?

No, he was some new guy, at least to me.
But then I hadn't rented a car for a few years so he may have been
around a while.

So it was right there in the computer... :)

out. Shortly after I get a notice from a source I had set up
recurring payments wanting to know why it was stopped.

At least that let you know who it was, and that it was legit... <G>

-- snip--

You'd think. Maybe you'd have to specifically set up email reminders
of soon-to-post payments with the company....? :)

One would think so.
Most services I use do that, or if there's a problem* they let me
know the details.
(*When there's a problem with my card that is stopped, a new one
issued and problems are usually when the old number needs to be
changed). Joe

As long as everything works out in the end.... ;)

ttyl neb

... As easy as 3.14159265358979323846264338327950288419716939

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