And The Winner Is.....

Last Thursday part of the blog was about a program that latched itself onto my browser. I didn't want it and couldn't get rid of it. Last Thursday I also wrote about the cats barfing on carpets and throw rugs. Over the week end the blog received a comment from a company that sells carpets.

Irony, or invasion, you be the judge. There is a computer program that recognizes key words and sends notification when they are used. About a year ago Wanda and I were in Steeltown Coffee and Tea, our local coffee shop. Adian, the owner, told me he read a blog entry of mine. Anytime the shop is mentioned on the web, he gets notified. I hope I wrote something good.

And while I'm on the subject. In my morning email I received, from a friend, HACKED.....DO NOT OPEN, so I didn't. Now I don't know what I should be looking for.

I wonder why spam is almost always for Viagra, get rich quick schemes, or off shore pharmacies?

Another good word, scheme. Scheme, scheme, scheme. "Honestly, I wasn't looking for him and suddenly I ski-'em." 

Watched a documentary about a fellow named Marc Dreier. In 2009 he was sentenced to 20 years in prison. He was a very smart guy that had an undergrad degree from Yale and a law degree from Harvard. He devised several schemes (there it is again) to accrue and spend between 400 and 700 million dollars.

Without their knowledge he used clients names and credit to borrow money. He set up fictitious accounts as collateral for other loans. He impersonated and had employees impersonate financial representatives of companies in order to borrow money from large retirement accounts. This man had the nerve to meet prospective clients in offices that were not his. 

Dreier was a white collar thief, plain and simple. He had a marvelous education but was never satisfied with what it could bring. Over the years from illegally gained wealth, he bought, among other things; a 10.2 million dollar condo in New York, City, a 12 million dollar beach house, and an 18 million dollar yacht. He drove expensive cars and had an art collection worth over 20 million dollars.

He continued to spend money that wasn't his. When one promissory note came due he would borrow elsewhere to pay that off. As my mother used to say, he was, "borrowing from Peter to pay Paul." Eventually his house of cards came crashing down. He was arrested in Toronto by Canadian authorities for criminal impersonation after he claimed to be a lawyer with the Ontario Teachers' Pension Fund, which he said was guaranteeing the notes he was trying to peddle to another hedge fund.

What I found so interesting about Dreier was his attitude. He was sure that he 'deserved' what he took. He was certain he was 'better' than the people he swindled. He was destined for wealth. He said, "It's fear that prevents others doing things like this. I'm sure a majority would do this if they knew they wouldn't get caught."

I wouldn't. 

News flash: Issac may cause a rise in gas prices. 

"In & Out" is a very funny movie with Kevin Kline and Joan Cusack among many others. Released in 1997 it's the story of a high school English teacher (Kline) about to marry (Cusack). He's outed as a gay man by a former student (Matt Dillon) while he's accepting an Academy Award.

At one point in the movie Joan Cusack yells, "IS EVERYBODY GAY?"

Sort of how I feel about gas prices. "DOES EVERYTHING RAISE GAS PRICES?"

A friend told us everytime she puled in a station she'd complain about gas prices. One day her husband told her to stop. "There's nothing we can do about it. It's they way things are. No point raising your blood pressure."

I know all this. I know there isn't a damn thing I can do about it. I know I shouldn't get upset when I see six gallons and $24.00 on the pump, but I do. I can't help it. 

Gas price increase, Isaac to blame.

I understand why complete and utter devastation in the gulf could damage oil rigs, I get it. But the storm hasn't hit yet. Already the news has us prepared for higher gas prices. If someone eats beans and farts in New Mexico gas prices may go up. The campfire scene in "Blazing Saddles" would have prices well over five dollars a gallon. 

Not the norm today? Gas prices may rise. Bad weather? gas prices may rise. Forrest fires? gas prices may rise. Political uncertainty? gas prices may rise. A CEO gets a smaller than expected quarterly bonus? gas prices may rise. Anything and everything that may make living harder? gas prices may rise. And, when gas prices rise, may things follow, like food prices.

Wouldn't it be nice to read about gas prices coming down? It didn't rain today, gas prices to drop. The weather in the Pacific Northwest was beautiful, gas prices to drop. Wanda won a game of Words With Friends, gas prices to drop. Chuck is holding his breath until he turns blue, gas prices to drop. 

Never did I think I would say, happiness is gas at 3 bucks a gallon.

In the "I didn't do it" or  "it's not my fault" section:

From United Mileage Plus frequent flyer program I received an update that reads.....United Mileage Plus is not liable for mileage balance misprints.

So, if you send me an accounting balance of my accumulated flight miles and you're wrong, misprint or otherwise, you take no responsibility! Who will? No one will.....always a good person to blame, no one.

While watching a home improvement television show.

She said, "It's a perfect picture of a keepsake."
He heard, It's a perfect picture of a toothpick.

While writing a letter.

She said, "Do you want an envelope?"
He heard, Did you know his mom eloped?

and the winner is.........no one.