Thursday, April 26, 2012

FTC FCC friday fragments

Don’t you just love abbreviations? They create a quasi secret code within your group or industry. My first bombardment of initialism was in the USAF. Within the blog gang I hang with, FF means Friday Fragments. 

If you like FF posts then be sure to visit Mrs. 4444 blog. She has a whole catalog of FF links to share.


Mommy's Idea


(sent from my brain)

The other day I sensed I was just drifting in space. Where am I going?  Should I choose a path, road, trail or track?  Then I remembered a astrophysics lesson. We actually are drifting in space.



Way back (eons ago in internet time) one blog gang member often created a post based on comments she made. Unknown Mami called it, “I Comment Therefore I Am”. I love comments and can occasionally drop a good one off on a blog.

Last week’s FF post Tami who is “Not Just a Hockey Mom” posted that her husband surprised her with some shoes. I offered the following comment: 
Just a hypothetical question -- If at some future date your husband were to angry you (very unlikely I know, guys are typically perfect) would you remember he was buyer of those shoes and therefore never throw them at him? 

I have given my wife slippers as a gift and but only consider soft type shoes like flip-flops. One needs to protect oneself.


I had a birthday years ago. Alright like you I have them every year. You know how often because of schedules you don’t celebrate your birthday on your birthday? I had a great idea (on my blog all my ideas are great) today. I’m going to suggest celebrating my 60th birthday when I’m 65. Oh, my birthday was a months ago and 60 is not here yet.


Remember the post title? Yeah FF posts bounce around a bit and before you know it you are drifting in space (oh I covered drifting at the beginning). 

I hate telemarketers. If anyone out there loves telemarketers please let me know. I think your brain should be studied. 

I got this message yesterday from Prize Direct (708-279-7721). Jack wants to talk to me about my entry for a $25000 contest and please call him back at 1-866-430-3177. 

Oh right, sure I’m going to do that right away. I called the FCC (they run the Do Not Call list). The FCC representative asked many questions and then said it sounds like a scam and I should call the FTC because they could warn people and possibly prosecute. The FTC took my complaint and the phone numbers. They also ask many questions. Who knows if my report will lead to prosecuting a scammer but afterwards I felt better than when I just cuss into the phone. (I included the phone number in the chance that you receive the same call)



I downloaded this cover of George Harrison’s “While My Guitar Gently Weeps”. This song made #7 on the Rolling Stone list of the 100 Greatest Guitar Songs of All Time.  I found this cover by Santana and featuring India Arie on youtube. The clip interprets the song with an interesting story.



(proofreading provided by C. F. Eyecare)

39 comments:

Jennifer Richardson said...

a hearty "yep!" and a smile
to each point
you raise:)
-Jennifer

Barbara said...

Kudos to you for taking the time to report the scammer. I hope it helps. Thank you on behalf of the rest of his future victims. And thanks for posting that Santana video - beautiful cover and great story!

oceangirl said...

Woah what fragments you have, are you turning sixty or not.

lisleman said...

 I sure hope to turn sixty but it's months away (2013). thanks.

lisleman said...

 I hold the reporting helps too.  I did read not too long ago that a company was fined for the "do not call" abuse.  thanks

oceangirl said...

That's another year :)

Bill, I just want to let you know that I have installed DISQUS but I guess it does not work with the Dynamic template, it works with others i.e., Simple, etc..

lisleman said...

 I didn't know that.  Personally (we all have different tastes) I don't care for the dynamic template/views.  I noticed blogger has a few layout gadgets that appear to ONLY work in dynamic view.  I hope this change is not a trend.

Bearmancartoons said...

Is that where the "you don't know shit from shinola" comes from?

lisleman said...

Yes it does.  I actually discovered that on another blog.  I did a post on it.  I was just about to add the link but notice you had left a comment on that post.  Thanks for both comments.

W.C. Camp said...

HA - wouldn't it be frustrating if you called the authorities to report that scam number and it turned out to be THEIRS!!! I can't believe you didn't automatically believe you won $25,000 right out of the blue ... you must be a cynical person! W.C.C.

Karen and Gerard said...

Good for you for actually taking action regarding that telemarketer call. 

Profwaynewsmith said...

That was indeed a classic 'comment'  I should start a comment hall of fame on my blog...hummm.

Laurie Matherne said...

Where do all the telemarketers turn when they are shut out of the US market? They go to Honduras! I get endless offers via my cell phone, especially texted messages, for ways to get a free truck, a visa, unlimited calling to the US, blah, blah, blah. And no one can stop them here. Almost daily, I have to empty my inbox of text messages because they fill up the box leaving no room for legitimate texts. Sigh.

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

I've gotta tell ya that I own several of Santana's albums along with a whole cedar chest full of other singers and groups.  I know...shockin' isn't it??? 

Good for you reportin' the tele~master.  Wouldn't it be great if they traced it all the way back to you and you won!!!  Sorry, but I'm not holdin' my breath here!  Heehehe!

God bless ya man and have yourself one fantastic weekend!!!  :o)

Nezzy (Cow Patty Surprise) said...

BTW...The sixty thing...September for me!  :o)

lisleman said...

 I should have made it clear in the post (good comments often show things I didn't explain clearly) that I did not enter any contest for years.  It's just a scam playing on hope.
Oh I know from your blog that you love rock n roll.  Let's us know how 60 is in September.
thanks

lisleman said...

 wow I didn't realize the telemarketers were bigger pests in Honduras.  Being that Honduras is a poor country, I would have thought telemarketers or any marketers would ignore it.  That situation ruins your service.

lisleman said...

 Good idea - would they be your comments or just comments you've read?
thanks

lisleman said...

 thanks - my wife was surprised but really it was mostly my anger than drove my action on it.

lisleman said...

 I'm cynical often.  I should have made it clear in the post (good comments often show things
I didn't explain clearly) that I did not enter any contest for years.
thanks

Laurie Matherne said...

The offers seem tempting to the poor because the price to enter these sweepstakes or apply for these prizes are ridiculously cheap. Then, as you keep responding, the costs get higher. The crooks don't mind if they get a little money from a lot of naive poor people, or a lot of money from one wealthy fool.

Tami Miller said...

Thanks for mentioning how wonderful my husband is. HAHA!  I still giggle when I read your response! 

Ann in the UP said...

Very vigilant of you to report that phone call.  I got a text message on my cell phone announcing a $1000 gift card from Walmart.  I'm all over that, for sure.  No way that would be a scam!

lisleman said...

 you welcomed - I believe in recycled laughter.

lisleman said...

The old saying about it appearing too good to be true.  Since the cost to send these crazy sounding scams out is  close to zero they only need 1 out of 100,000 or more and they are making money.

Mrs4444 said...

I got stuck for a minute, reading your fragment about astrophysics; I thought it was apostrophes!  I was all like, "I don't even see an apostrophe. Hm.) It might be time for bed....
Thanks for linking up!

lisleman said...

 thanks for browsing by.  That's an odd mistake but you are right about  your eyes telling you something.

Sorta Southern Single Mom said...

I always celebrate my birthday on my birthday... but then,  I also celebrate the WHOLE month and the actual day is at the end, so people have lots of notice! :-)

I remember my aunt telling me one time that she and my uncle had an argument and she threw a piece of toast at him.  His response, "Oh, yeah, THAT will hurt!" which successfully ended the argument, so perhaps you are on to something with the soft shoe thing!

CaliforniaGirl500 said...

I should wait til I'm 65 to celebrate 60.  

Ooops!  Too late.  

Damn

lisleman said...

 One of those many ideas that come too late.  Hey you can always pick another year's birthday.
thanks

lisleman said...

 Giving lots of notice for your birthday - does that work well?
The soft thing - that was the genius idea behind the nerf line of products.

unknownmami said...

Ahh, I remember the days of I Comment Therefore I Am. Then I had another kid and witty comments became a thing of the past. 

lisleman said...

 I'm sure you have wit lingering just waiting to be freed.  I think I understand - your witty comments decreased because the child caring time increased.  But a happy face, and hug are better than any witty comment.
thanks

SparkleFarkle said...

Hi, Bill! No, up here. Look, up. I'm floating!

lisleman said...

 like a feather on a breeze - or - the Hindenburg coming into New Jersey ?  -  I assume the feather.
thanks

Secret Agent Woman said...

I can honestly say I've never thrown a shoe or any other object at the man in my life (husband, boyfriend).  

lisleman said...

 you have better anger management than many.

lisleman said...

 Good to know I generated a laugh.  I have not had a problem with cell phone telemarketers but I have gotten a few unwanted texts and a call or two on the cell.  I once talked with a telemarketer for awhile and told  her that she should change careers.

Me and the Mexican said...

We hardly even use our home phone anymore.  It is basically just an internet line.  I think we actually have the ringer turned off.  We use our cells for everything!  I'm saying all of this just to make the point of how I HAVE NOT missed telemarketers!  I think hubby use to think I had a secret boyfriend in the past because telemarketers would call from unknown numbers like clock work every night between 6 and 8 pm.  My father likes to get a kick out of acting like he is interested then placing them on hold for HOURS!  

Your soft shoe comment made me laugh!!

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