I spent $50 on Connecticut Lottery scratch off tickets. One set of tickets said 20 CHANCES TO WIN! The other set bolding boasted I had 30 CHANCES TO WIN! Among those "lucky chances" would be an opportunity to win $5,000 a month FOR LIFE. (EAT YOUR HEART OUT PUBLISHERS CLEARING HOUSE....MORE ON THAT SCAM COMING UP).
So I had 50 chances to win mucho dollars. You know what? I lost $50. That makes me wonder why the CT Lottery doesn't print 30 CHANCES TO LOSE! Especially on those cards they know are losers. They could at least let me scratch off $5 on a $5 card. Then I would feel better because I did win my money back! And I would invest it in another card. THEY DON'T DO THAT BECAUSE THEY TOO SUFFER FROM CORPORATE GREED!!! ALL OR NOTHING AT ALL.
Well, folks, I do enjoy the scratching off procedure. The CT Lottery teases customers with their form of 3-card-monte. Many years ago I saw they three African-American guys flipping those cards before about 10 onlookers throwing their money down on the blanket and throwing it away.
Every third person would win $20 for their $20 that was bet. Then they would continue to lose until they lost a few hundred. I waited for the third person who would win and jumped in with my $20 bill. I won that amount and walked away. One of the team followed me closely whispering, "hey man, you're a winner. Don't quit now. I can smell you going home with big bucks in your pocket."
This charade was on busy Fifth Avenue in New York City. I was at the street ready to cross to my office. I didn't respond to the confederate. He continued to whisper nice things in my ear (they have to be careful because the cops would take their money and haul them off to jail). Then he took a chance and held my arm in the middle of the crossing street.
The light changed and traffic began beeping their horns. I decided to have my heart attack because this linebacker goon was still holding on to my arm. I wasn't supposed to win and walk away from their stupid game. I was supposed to win and surrender my cash. Not me. I clutched my heart and sank to the pavement. He took off like a bird in flight. No way he could deal with a heart patient possibly dying at his feet..
A man in the lead car got out and helped me to my feet. I feigned injury and thanked him for being compassionate. He got back in his car and traffic flowed again. So did the 3-Card Monte scammers. They left their dirty blanket behind and skipped town, so to speak. My fall, which they witnessed, scared the living shit out of them. It works every time. Try it. You'll have the last laugh, and money too!!!
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
Monday, January 18, 2016
How Many Times Were You Screwed In 2015?
For starters, it's always better to give ulcers than to get them. My first screwing was with LIBERTY MUTUAL INSURANCE. They have quietly doubled the rates for insuring our house and automobile over the past three years. Other companies have been bombarding us to switch for a lower rate. But when I gave GEICO that opportunity, they wanted $500 more a year than we were paying!
So, folks, a little screwing doesn't mean it's the end of the world. After all, banks are still only paying 1% interest on savings, the stock market has been plunging like rats on a sinking ship and Social Security for 2016 remains the same as it was in 2015; no 3% cost of living increase. So we'll eat out three times a month instead of four.
Before continuing this rant, I was thinking about the ad on TV for renting a NATIONAL car. You can pick out any car and just get in and drive off to your destination. But wait. I recall that after the 9/11 attack on the USA, the jazz duo, Mitchell/Ruff, wanted to rent a NATIONAL car in Chicago and drive it to New York City for their next concent. All air flights were grounded. NATIONAL immediately raised rental rates three times the normal amount. They paid the price.
The Internet is a mecca for corporate scammers. They open a bank account in Delaware, where the tax bite is low, set up a P.O. Box address in Las Vegas and design a web site that grabs your credit or debit card and every month they deduct a small amount you aren't supposed to be aware of. It's in the small print following an offer to send you a free sample for just shipping and handling costs.
I've fallen for that sucker trap. But not any longer. No matter how enticing the offer is. Nor should you be screwed. Just be firm. Don't be intimidated. If the phone caller wants a donation for the lepers of Basoutoland in South Africa, hang up. If the caller says IRS will take away your house, car and bank account "for what you owe," hang up. It's the latest national scam.
There are no more free lunches. The year 2016 is going to be a historic mess with all the political ads and conventions to boot. I'll leave you with my photo below. Thanks for reading!
So, folks, a little screwing doesn't mean it's the end of the world. After all, banks are still only paying 1% interest on savings, the stock market has been plunging like rats on a sinking ship and Social Security for 2016 remains the same as it was in 2015; no 3% cost of living increase. So we'll eat out three times a month instead of four.
Before continuing this rant, I was thinking about the ad on TV for renting a NATIONAL car. You can pick out any car and just get in and drive off to your destination. But wait. I recall that after the 9/11 attack on the USA, the jazz duo, Mitchell/Ruff, wanted to rent a NATIONAL car in Chicago and drive it to New York City for their next concent. All air flights were grounded. NATIONAL immediately raised rental rates three times the normal amount. They paid the price.
The Internet is a mecca for corporate scammers. They open a bank account in Delaware, where the tax bite is low, set up a P.O. Box address in Las Vegas and design a web site that grabs your credit or debit card and every month they deduct a small amount you aren't supposed to be aware of. It's in the small print following an offer to send you a free sample for just shipping and handling costs.
I've fallen for that sucker trap. But not any longer. No matter how enticing the offer is. Nor should you be screwed. Just be firm. Don't be intimidated. If the phone caller wants a donation for the lepers of Basoutoland in South Africa, hang up. If the caller says IRS will take away your house, car and bank account "for what you owe," hang up. It's the latest national scam.
There are no more free lunches. The year 2016 is going to be a historic mess with all the political ads and conventions to boot. I'll leave you with my photo below. Thanks for reading!
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