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GRAFFITI -- December 12, 2005 thru December 18, 2005>> Link to the Current Week <<Last Week << Mon Tues Wed Thu Fri Sat Sun >> Next Week Welcome to Orb Graffiti, a place for me to write daily about life and computers. Contrary to popular belief, the two are not interchangeable. About eMail - I publish email sometimes. If you send me an email and you want privacy or anonymity, please say so clearly at the beginning of your message. |
 
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December 12, 2005
Scam warning below, please get to that if nothing else
0655 - Good morning. Cooler heads than I weigh in ...
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Subject: Bush thinks Constitution only piece of paper
Hi Brian, Thanks for continuing to maintain an excellent website. I try and read as much as possible and while I do not always agree with what you write, I do agree that you have the right to do so. Most times I think I come down on your side of things or not to far away. Your current post on President Bush's supposed statement is one that causes concern. First let me say that if this is true I'd be just as angry as you are and to set the record I voted for this man (not my favorite but better then the alternatives) I am a fairly conservative person as well. I do not always agree with the President specially on our borders and our immigration policies. The person breaking this latest story though has some credibility problems and no verification, having run headline screaming fantasy stories in the past. I cannot help but notice that even Matt Drudge is not running the story or any of the main stream press. I'd wait a bit to see how this story pans out. It has become fashionable these days to blame anything and everything on the President, from Tsunami's in Asia to Cat5 Hurricanes to global warming. The liberals are loosing and they know it, with the economy improving by the day, the war in Iraq doing a lot better then the liberals would have you believe. I have been searching and researching the whole weekend and I can not find any verification for this story. I'm no cool aid drinker it this story does come to light to be true I will be asking for his head just like you are. Unfortunately the other side likes to play down and dirty such that we need to be ever vigilant when these stories surface. Once again thanks for the efforts you have put into making this an excellent website and for taking the time to read my email. I hope you and your wife have a great week. Steve Swickard, USN Retired |
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Regarding verification, he at least claims three separate sources. He has had ... issues before, although he did publish a retraction and apology for at least one bogus blunder: http://www.capitolhillblue.com/cgi-bin/artman/exec/view.cgi?archive=19&num=2529 Now perhaps Doug Thompson is just outright lying. It isn't as though there isn't enough real dirt to dig on the administration (and probably every administration, if truth be known). He sure stirred things up, look at Sunday's article: http://www.capitolhillblue.com/artman/publish/article_7787.shtml Maybe the story's just being killed. Heh. I find it extraordinarily interesting that the phrase "just a goddamned piece of paper" entered into Google Saturday returned a link to the CHB article. By Sunday night, no such luck. Google news, yeah, Google proper, no. The part that irks me most is how credible the story seems on the face of it. I can imagine that Oval Office conversation going down just like that. And now it's in print, West Wing can't use it. Grin. best, |
Then there was this from Marcia, forwarded humor to start out the week right:
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Subject: Shopping Trip Diversions 15 Things to do at Wal-Mart while your spouse/partner is taking their sweet time: 1. Get 24 boxes of condoms and randomly put them in people's carts when they aren't looking. 2. Set all the alarm clocks in Housewares to go off at 5-minute intervals. 3. Make a trail of tomato juice on the floor leading to the rest rooms. 4. Walk up to an employee and tell him/her in an official tone, 'Code 3' in housewares..... and see what happens. 5. Go the Service Desk and ask to put a bag of M&M's on lay away. 6. Move a 'CAUTION - WET FLOOR' sign to a carpeted area. 7. Set up a tent in the camping department and tell other shoppers you'll invite them in if they'll bring pillows from the bedding department. 8. When a clerk asks if they can help you, begin to cry and ask 'Why can't you people just leave me alone?' 9. Look right into the security camera; use it as a mirror, and pick your nose. 10. While handling a gun in the hunting department, ask the clerk if he knows where the anti-depressants are. 11. Dart around the store suspiciously loudly humming the "Mission Impossible" theme. 12. In the auto department, practice your "Madonna look" using different size funnels. 13. Hide in a clothing rack and when people browse through, say "PICK ME!" "PICK ME!" 14. When an announcement comes over the loud speaker, assume the fetal position and ! scream "NO! NO! It's those voices again!!!!" ( And; last, but not least!) 15. Go into a fitting room and shut the door and wait a while; and, then, yell, very loudly, "Hey, there is no toilet paper in here! |
Today I'm migrating an exec to a new laptop, learning about and training people on the new phone system, and if I can find the time, figure out why the Veritas backup on the Exchange Server is such a sucky piece of crap. Tonight is the first of two nights of traffic school, my penance for a traffic violation that even Marcia thinks is bogus. But the school keeps the points off my record, so in I go.
Have a great day!
0824 - SCAM WARNING that I've copied from Jerry's mail page:
Just in time for the holidays...WARNING...New Credit Card Scam.
Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself. One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard".
The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern,and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card which was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for $497.99 from a Marketing company based in Arizona?" When you say"No", the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account. This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from $297 to $497, just under the $500 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 1- 800 number listed on the back of your card (1-800-VISA) and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number. The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?" Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers". There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the security Numbers' that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card.
The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back if you do", and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of $497.99 was charged to our card.
Long story made short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them. Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN Number, you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you 20 didn't make, and by then it's almost to late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report.
What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening. Please pass this on to all your family and friends.
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December 13, 2005
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December 14, 2005
1802 - Good evening. Yesterday. Prep and painting for Linda Rose. Ceilings hurt the most, crouch to roll in more paint, stretch to paint a small swath. Much more of that tonight, I think. Evening brought the second three hour stint of traffic school. Most interesting thing learned: In Maryland, you may use your turn signal when changing lanes. Not must or should. May. Don't bitch at the cop, just beat it in court. Today was moderately successful, with a couple of pending low-priority tasks from the ToDo list completed. That and I did a transplant to bring a dead old machine back to life. That was good. Now for dinner before another few hours helping out our friend.
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December 15, 2005
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December 16, 2005
1553 - Good afternoon. Tough keeping up appearances around here when there's no spare time to keep in a bottle. Marcia and I were back at Linda Rose's new place last night, more painting plus carpet removal. We'll go back tonight for more painting, I think. I've still got a bit of stuff to do around here at work, so I'd best get back to it. Thanks for your patience.
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December 17, 2005
1640 - Whew! Done with the painting, I think. I finished up ceilings (for areas except in the master bath) last night. When I dropped into bed around 11 last night, I had no idea I was going to sleep for 13 hours ... but I did. Since then found that I'd received an Amazon gift certificate from our friend Jennifer, entitled "Merry Bacon". When Jen comes to visit, I make up 3# of bacon, instead of my customary 1.5#, so the sentiment is appropriate. However, even though I can buy bacon from Amazon, I chose not to. Instead, I started filling back in the Floyd section of my music collection. I had a fair amount of Floyd when the house I was living in back in California in 1997 was burgled. All my discs went in that loss. So I've picked up Meddle, Dark Side of the Moon, Wish You Were Here, and Animals. Thanks, Santa Jen!
I've continued catching up on my email, reading just headers and pitching large swaths of traffic that I know I'll never catch up on, primarily list messages of assorted arcana. Here's one tidbit, sent by my sister-in-law Karen...
Customer: I'm trying to connect to the Internet with your CD, but it just doesn't work. What am I doing wrong? Tech support: OK, you've got the CD in the CD drive, right? Customer: Yeah.... Tech support: And what sort of computer are you using? Customer: Computer? Oh no, I haven't got a computer. It's in the CD player and all I get is weird noises. Listen..... Tech support: Aaaarrrrgggghhhh!!! =============== Tech support: What kind of computer do you have? Customer: A white one... =============== Customer: Hi, this is Celine. I can't get my diskette out. Tech support: Have you tried pushing the button? Customer: Yes, sure, it's really stuck. Tech support: That doesn't sound good; I'll make a note. Customer: No... wait a minute... I hadn't inserted it yet... it's still on my desk... sorry.... =============== Tech support: Click on the "my computer" icon on the left of the screen. Customer: Your left or my left? =============== Tech support: Good day. How may I help you? Male customer: Hello... I can't print. Tech support: Would you click on "start" for me and... Customer: Listen, pal -- don't start getting technical on me! I'm not Bill Gates! =============== Customer: Hi, good afternoon, this is Martha, I can't print. Every time I try, it says, "Can't find printer." I've even lifted the printer and placed it in front of the monitor, but the computer still says he can't find it... =============== Customer: I have problems printing in red... Tech support: Do you have a color printer? Customer: Aaaah....................thank you. =============== Tech support: What's on your monitor now, ma'am? Customer: A teddy bear my boyfriend bought for me in the supermarket. =============== Customer: My keyboard is not working anymore. Tech support: Are you sure it's plugged in to the computer? Customer: No. I can't get behind the computer. Tech support: Pick up your keyboard and walk 10 paces back. Customer: OK. Tech support: Did the keyboard come with you? Customer: Yes. Tech support: That means the keyboard is not plugged in. Is there another keyboard? Customer: Yes, there's another one here. Ah...that one does work. =============== Tech support: Your password is the small letter a as in apple, a capital letter V as in Victor, the number 7. Customer: Is that 7 in capital letters? =============== Customer: I can't get on the Internet. Tech support: Are you sure you used the right password? Customer: Yes, I'm sure. I saw my colleague do it. Tech support: Can you tell me what the password was? Customer: Five stars. =============== Tech support: What anti-virus program do you use? Customer: Netscape. Tech support: That's not an anti-virus program. Customer: Oh, sorry...Internet Explorer. =============== Customer: I have a huge problem. A friend has placed a screen saver on my computer, but every time I move the mouse, it disappears. =============== Tech support: How may I help you? Customer: I'm writing my first e-mail. Tech support: OK, and what seems to be the problem? Customer: Well, I have the letter "a" in the address, but how do I get the circle around it? =============== A woman customer called the Canon help desk with a problem with her printer. Tech support: Are you running it under Windows? Customer: No, my desk is next to the door, but that is a good point. The man sitting in the cubicle next to me is under a window, and his printer is working fine. =============== And last but not least:.... Tech support: Okay Bob, let's press the control and escape keys at the same time. That brings up a task list in the middle of the screen. Now type the letter "P" to bring up the Program Manager. Customer: I don't have a P. Tech support: On your keyboard, Bob. Customer: What do you mean? Tech support: "P" ... on your keyboard, Bob. Customer: I'M NOT GOING TO DO THAT!! |
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December 18, 2005
1329 - Good afternoon. My throat is scratchy, both of us are fighting a mild cold. Honestly, I don't know where we pick these things up. The good news, I guess, is that at least we're keeping our immune systems challenged. Hopefully that makes us stronger in the long run. All the same, we've managed to get out and do the weekly shopping. We haven't quite figured out when we'll do next week's, as Sunday is the actual holiday this year.
This time last week, I was extremely incensed about Bush calling the Constitution "just a goddamned piece of paper!" I remain so, although the major media outlets (MMO) have not picked up the story. In "Where there's smoke, there's ire", Doug Thompson continues to support his story, while disagreeing that Bush's flagrant disrespect for his oath of office is worthy grounds for impeachment. If the MMO won't use their sources to confirm the story, pick up the ball and run with it, then nothing's going to happen, again. If you care about what remains of the Republic, these United States of America, then do your research on candidates, positions and platforms, long before the next elections. It's time to pick a party, or set of candidates that will stand up for change. Fund them early and help them battle their way to victory. You might find some worthwhile folks over at the Libertarian Party.
Meanwhile, our troops helped support and protect the Iraqis as they headed to the polls to vote for their first permanent government following the overthrow of Saddam. Each week, I list the fallen as announced by DoD, to keep in mind the sacrifice our troops make on our behalf.
Now I have a few other web-ish chores to take care of before Marcia and I head off to help out further with Linda Rose's move. Ciao!
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Visit the rest of the DAYNOTES GANG, a collection of bright minds and sharp wits. Really, I don't know why they tolerate me <grin>. My personal inspiration for these pages is Dr. Jerry Pournelle. I am also indebted to Bob Thompson and Tom Syroid for their patience, guidance and feedback. Of course, I am sustained by and beholden to my lovely wife, Marcia. You can find her online too, at http://www.dutchgirl.net/. Thanks for dropping by.
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