Gary Stapp Weblog

NEW CREDIT CARD RIP-OFF 12-20-09

If you ever get a phone call from someone pretending to be your credit card company checking on a purchase you've made, or telling you there is a charge on your card that doesn't belong and you are being "scammed", beware And under no circumstance ever give them your card numbers. They'll tell you they need to verify your card # ..... but if it's really your credit card company, they already know your card numbers and would never ask. Hang up! You're being scammed. Just remember one simple, rule never give out your social security #, drivers license #, or credit card numbers to anyone that calls you for any reason, or you'll be sorry. Hang up, and YOU CALL THEM.

 BUMPITY .. BUMPITY .. BUMP

Has anybody out there noticed the ever increasing rise in "Speed Bumps"? I believe they call it "Traffic Calming". Frankly .... I call it Lunacy. I mean we pay millions of tax dollars to repave our roads .... and then someone comes along and puts speed bumps on them. Why not just leave the chuck holes or dig some more. Wouldn't that work just as good as speed bumps and be a lot less expensive? I just can't believe in this day and age that we are regressing to "speed bumps". Is it only a matter of time untill we regulate the traffic in our area by the size of the speed bumps ..... ????? .... We could have small ones on the freeways ..... medium ones on N.E. 8th and 148th .... and big ones on the side streets. We would probably need a "moon rover vehicle" to get over the ones near hospitals and schools ..... Let's not forget the wear and tear on our cars including wearing out the shocks, breaking motor mounts, and knocking the front end out of alignment.  Your tires wear out 1O times faster and just think of all the new rattles and clanks your car is going to acquire. Now for the worst thing .... I would hate to have one of my children choking to death .... where every second counts .... and waiting on an ambulance or fire truck that had to keep slowing down for those speed bumps. I'm sorry but you so called bureaucrats and planners are really screwing up here. You need to comeup with a new idea not something from the stone age.

 SAVE YOUR CHILD'S LIFE AND MAYBE YOURS

It's Winter now and nights are usually darker because the clouds block out the moon. Add some rain and glare on a windshield and it's really hard to see at night. I suggest you dress your kids as "bright" as you can for evening excursions. Children as well as adults don't show up very well at night dressed in dark clothing ..... not even in crosswalks or parking lots. Never take it for granted that the driver sees you, and always try and dress the kids .... and yourself .... in at least one piece of reflective clothing like a white or light coat or white tennis shoes. Just anything that will reflect off of a car's headlights. I can't count the times I've seen people just walk right in front of my car at night, in a driving rain storm, and think I should see them just because they're in a crosswalk crossing a street or a crosswalk in a parking lot or mall . pay attention here ..... this might just save your life ..... or someone else's.

 GIVE US A BREAK 

I see now there's about a half dozen real estate gurus trying to milk your wallet on TV again ... and they're all selling the exact same so called system. I even see one guru selling his winning gambling system.  Hey! That's old news. 25 years old as a matter of fact and if you ever tried to play his black jack system they would throw you out of the casino. Listen up people if these so called gurus knew how to make a million dollars do you really think they would tell you ???

WARNING - DUMMY WARANTEES AND CONTESTS

Did you get a warantee card to register your latest Christmas gift? Did it seem not worth the effort? Then it probably wasn't! The latest fiasco of late is getting people to fill out warantee cards, grocery store cards, questionaires, credit card applications and yes even a contest at your local store or mall. The only reason they want your name and address is to SELL IT to other people, that SELL IT to other people, that SELL IT to other people. And thats where a lot of your junk mail and phone solicitors come from. Want it to stop? Write to EQUIFAX, PO Box 740256, Atlanta, GA. 30374, EXPERIAN, PO Box 919, Allen, TX. 75013 and  TRANSUNION, PO BOX 97328, JACKSON, MS, 39288. Your local bank, grocery and retail stores you have cards for (like Costco, Safeway, Sears, B of A, Visa or ANY PLACE you have credit) get away with it by saying they only share your name with their affiliates. ANOTHER JOKE. If a grocery store shares your name with General Mills, that's an affiliate. If B of A shares your name with VISA or MASTER CARD, those are affiliates..........See what I mean. Always read what you sign and NEVER give them permission to "share" your information, WITH ANYONE........

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