• virus stuff was: Solar T

    From Barry Martin@454:1/1 to Nancy Backus on Sun May 10 09:25:00 2020
    Subject: virus stuff was: Solar TV Battery Test


    Hi Nancy!

    True. You know people have been isolated too long when they start
    chit-chatting with the telephone spammers! <g>
    Not there yet, thankfully.... <G> I have noticed, though, that
    there have been fewer of the spammer calls.... apparently they
    aren't considered essential businesses... <G>
    <chuckle> They couldn't arrange their boiler rooms to comply with the
    6' rule! But yes, have noticed a lot less spam calls.
    I had a darker thought on them... perhaps they've fallen prey to the
    virus, since they couldn't distance, and were packed into small
    spaces.... probably the callers themselves are considered expendable...
    and the bigwigs there are just laying low for the time being...
    Planning even more sinister spams!
    Cures for the coronavirus... threats of infecting you if you
    don't send them money.... Helping you get your stimulus check if
    you just send them.... (actually, I've heard that those really
    are popping up now...)

    Wouldn't surprise me! Here the spam telephone calls are in the down
    phase -- seemed even prior to the coronavirus there were constantly
    ringing periods and rather quiet periods. Same for e-mails, though most
    are getting shuttled to the Junk Mail folders and category (Thunderbird
    will allow a small part of the message to go through and question if it
    should be tagged as junk).


    And I had a strange thought on robbers: now with just about everyone wearing masks do the thieves have to have the faces exposed?
    They'd do best if they were still masking their faces to avoid recognition... but they'd do well to make the mask not
    particularly memorable... ;)

    Probably better for them!


    The one in particular we've been getting is the same male recording
    but from scattered telephone numbers: Dubuque, IA, Lansing, MI,
    ...GA, WI. Probably several more. Maybe they bought the same Earn
    Money Quick package and instead of re-recording the message to
    customize it they just used the example?!
    More likely it's one guy that spoofs the numbers to avoid being
    tracked down by the authorities... even if one reports the number to
    the watchdogs, it isn't really a valid number so they can't
    anything to cut him off....
    That's a possibility too -- probably a probability. Was scanning
    through an article indicating random 'correct' local numbers coming up
    on Caller ID are due to the spammers buying pre-paid phone cards. Apparently somehow triggers a valid number to display. The whole getting-around-the-computers is interesting and baffling!
    As I understand it, it's a function of doing calls with VoIP...
    they can give themself any number they wish....

    Ah, OK. And apparently they change their number constantly to make it
    more difficult to trace.



    Yes, good to be reminded it is normal to be confused, annoyed, overwhelmed, etc. It is not the normal we're used to. It was a sudden change. And if I may say so Americans are not used to being told what
    to do: stay home! Wear a mask! Don't touch! IMO there are times for freedom and there are times to strictly follow the government rules. (There isn't much freedom in a box six feet underground.)
    True... As long as the restrictions are only for a limited time
    and for a recognizable reason... Hopefully the normal we were
    used to will return again... :)

    I'm thinking a revised normal (a.k.a. the new normal), at least in the
    near future. One group of people will be maintaining and therefore
    requiring social distancing, not touching/cleaning surfaces, and the
    like - so to use restaurants as an example greater space between tables, one-use menus, wrapped silverware and napkins. On the end is the group
    who will crowd together and not worry about single use as long as
    assumed cleaned for them (menu in a plastic protector and wiped down).
    Right now I'm more with the first group but reusing cleaned items isn't
    out of the question.



    Yes on the withholdings and refunds. I do recall asking when started
    and he said federal and state (IA) generally require, though could be
    lessened or none at all. At the time it seemed better just to 'go
    with the flow' and have the customary amount withheld. The short-term
    policy is expiring in a couple of months and the new one will start --
    have to go down and do the paperwork; thinking having the withholding
    amount changed.
    Having some withheld is probably good insurance... probably enough
    variant factors that it isn't a cut-and-dried type of thing, anyway...
    Yeahhh.... I'll have to do a bit of research but I think most of it
    has been done: tax person (with a large company) initially suggested no withholding and then thought around half a good idea based on
    inheritance. At this point I don't see why my financial advisor would disagree when I activate 'Part 2' of my IRA -- plan on switching to
    half but have an open mind for why it may not be in my best interests.
    Your financial advisor might have better information about
    inheritance laws.... the tax person might not really know
    anything (or much) about how an inheritance would affect
    things... I know when I asked a friend that works as a tax
    advisor about some things dealing with my mother's stuff, he
    didn't really know.... only the usual individual tax issues were
    his balliwick...

    Right; sort of ask both for their opinions in their specialized areas
    and then ask again as I learn more. My financial advisor will probably
    have more clout on my decision; as you indicated the tax person is more specializing in a area of the financial world.


    probably do as distributions rather than lump sum as better for me.
    Get to play '20 Questions'with the financial advisor and the tax prep
    company!
    I've recently been through all of this, settling my mother's estate...
    but rules can be different from state to state... Anything with you
    as co-owner will just go directly to you and not go through probate
    or be subject to tax... Beneficiary, it depends on what it is...
    insurance payouts are not taxed, but income (like the IRA) probably
    is... Just as well to go over it with your advisors... ;)
    Right: they know, or at least are much better informed than I am. And dealing with Iowa may be one thing, dealing with Iowa and New
    Hampshire (where my Mother lives) another. ...Good thing we got rid of the land in Slovakia and just have to deal with small stuff in Austria!
    Indeed...! Dealing with international stuff is its own hassle...
    My parents had an account in a UK bank that we had to go through
    hoops to liquidate into the estate... ;)

    I'm thinking my inheritance from my Aunt won't be too bad as it is a set
    dollar (well, Euro) amount. My Mother is the one to deal with the
    property distributions, though I'll be involved indirectly. Semi-
    decided the items will be bought out by the relatives other there and
    just transfer money.



    True! The local TV stations are putting up ads for what is open and
    how to contact. The station I usually watch for news has maybe a
    30-second spot with mini-ads of random lengths: some are cell phone
    videos of a bakery "we're open" and a quick contact info; other
    mini-spot might be a local restaurant taken with a camera. The
    stations also has a webpage where businesses can list they're open and
    contact information. IIRC the webpage is free, not sure about the
    price of the TV mini-ads but other information indicates they're either
    very cheap or free as a PSA type of thing.
    Haven't seen or heard of anything like that happening here, but then
    I don't watch TV, as you know... ;) Mostly we just keep our eyes open
    to see what might be still open when we drive by places... and if we
    particularly need something, take a chance that something might be
    open... generally it has been.... apparently we only need necessities
    as defined by the strictures... <G>
    And it would be probably difficult to do that sort of listing on
    radio, probably even more so on public radio as the "we're" open announcements would sound like a commercial. Actually they _are_ commercials, just real short and frequently shot with a cell phone, but still commercials.
    I could see it showing up as a list on the public radio/TV
    stations webpage(s).... :) They could be considered "sponsors"
    even, for a minor amount just to be on the list... ;)

    The radio is doing something similar to TV except abbreviated: announcer
    reads a list of six or so restuarants and businesses and then refers to
    the station's website for more and details.


    ... Murphy's Philosophy: smile -- tomorrow will be worse.
    May as well enjoy today!
    Exactly... :)

    Though tomorrow might be better so allow for that too!


    ... A day without BBS mail is a day with much more free time.

    Funny how that works out!


    ¯ ®
    ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
    ¯ @Q.COM ®
    ¯ ®


    ... Sure I'm smart! I have an IQ of 20/20!
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  • From Nancy Backus@454:1/452 to Barry Martin on Mon May 18 16:45:10 2020
    Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 10-May-2020 09:25 <=-

    I have noticed, though, that there have been fewer of the spammer
    calls... apparently they aren't considered essential businesses... <G>
    <chuckle> They couldn't arrange their boiler rooms to comply with the
    6' rule! But yes, have noticed a lot less spam calls.
    I had a darker thought on them... perhaps they've fallen prey to the
    virus, since they couldn't distance, and were packed into small
    spaces... probably the callers themselves are considered expendable...
    and the bigwigs there are just laying low for the time being...
    Planning even more sinister spams!
    Cures for the coronavirus... threats of infecting you if you don't send
    them money.... Helping you get your stimulus check if you just send
    them... (actually, I've heard that those really are popping up now...)
    Wouldn't surprise me! Here the spam telephone calls are in the down
    phase -- seemed even prior to the coronavirus there were constantly ringing periods and rather quiet periods.

    True... last few days the spam/scam calls have all been the credit card variants.... or hangups....

    Same for e-mails, though most are getting shuttled to the Junk Mail folders and category (Thunderbird will allow a small part of the
    message to go through and question if it should be tagged as junk).

    I very rarely get spam emails... apparently they don't make it through
    my ISP....

    And I had a strange thought on robbers: now with just about everyone
    wearing masks do the thieves have to have the faces exposed?
    They'd do best if they were still masking their faces to avoid
    recognition... but they'd do well to make the mask not particularly
    memorable... ;)
    Probably better for them!

    Indeed. :)

    The one in particular we've been getting is the same male recording
    but from scattered telephone numbers: Dubuque, IA, Lansing, MI,
    ...GA, WI. Probably several more. Maybe they bought the same Earn
    Money Quick package and instead of re-recording the message to
    customize it they just used the example?!
    More likely it's one guy that spoofs the numbers to avoid being
    tracked down by the authorities... even if one reports the number to
    the watchdogs, it isn't really a valid number so they can't
    anything to cut him off....
    That's a possibility too -- probably a probability. Was scanning
    through an article indicating random 'correct' local numbers coming up
    on Caller ID are due to the spammers buying pre-paid phone cards.
    Apparently somehow triggers a valid number to display. The whole
    getting-around-the-computers is interesting and baffling!
    As I understand it, it's a function of doing calls with VoIP... they
    can give themself any number they wish....
    Ah, OK. And apparently they change their number constantly to make it more difficult to trace.

    Precisely... also to make it seem as though your neighbor is calling... :)

    Yes, good to be reminded it is normal to be confused, annoyed,
    overwhelmed, etc. It is not the normal we're used to. It was a sudden
    change. And if I may say so Americans are not used to being told what
    to do: stay home! Wear a mask! Don't touch! IMO there are times for
    freedom and there are times to strictly follow the government rules.
    (There isn't much freedom in a box six feet underground.)
    True... As long as the restrictions are only for a limited time and
    for a recognizable reason... Hopefully the normal we were used to will
    return again... :)
    I'm thinking a revised normal (a.k.a. the new normal), at least in the near future. One group of people will be maintaining and therefore requiring social distancing, not touching/cleaning surfaces, and the
    like

    There's always been some degree of that among some people... it's just
    been more of a minority thing....

    - so to use restaurants as an example greater space between
    tables, one-use menus, wrapped silverware and napkins. On the end is
    the group who will crowd together and not worry about single use as
    long as assumed cleaned for them (menu in a plastic protector and wiped down). Right now I'm more with the first group but reusing cleaned
    items isn't out of the question.

    Even with the current situation, Taste of Japan is still using the same
    regular menus, plastic encased... disposable napkins and chopsticks same
    as always... The only other place we've been, Nam Vang, is also using
    their same menus (theirs are plastic-coated)... Most restaurants we go
    to are pretty meticulous about cleanliness anyway, just on general
    principles (and health code standards)... ;) For a while, restaurants
    will be forced to operated at reduced capacity to allow for more
    distancing, but I don't expect that to stay the case forever... and a
    lot of places don't [ack the tables in anyway.... :)

    Having some withheld is probably good insurance... probably enough
    variant factors that it isn't a cut-and-dried type of thing, anyway...
    Yeahhh.... I'll have to do a bit of research but I think most of it
    has been done: tax person (with a large company) initially suggested no
    withholding and then thought around half a good idea based on
    inheritance. At this point I don't see why my financial advisor would
    disagree when I activate 'Part 2' of my IRA -- plan on switching to
    half but have an open mind for why it may not be in my best interests.
    Your financial advisor might have better information about inheritance
    laws.... the tax person might not really know anything (or much) about
    how an inheritance would affect things... I know when I asked a friend
    that works as a tax advisor about some things dealing with my mother's
    stuff, he didn't really know.... only the usual individual tax issues
    were his balliwick...
    Right; sort of ask both for their opinions in their specialized areas
    and then ask again as I learn more. My financial advisor will
    probably have more clout on my decision; as you indicated the tax
    person is more specializing in a area of the financial world.

    Yup, best to capitalize on their strengths....

    probably do as distributions rather than lump sum as better for me.
    Get to play '20 Questions'with the financial advisor and the tax prep
    company!
    I've recently been through all of this, settling my mother's estate...
    but rules can be different from state to state... Anything with you
    as co-owner will just go directly to you and not go through probate
    or be subject to tax... Beneficiary, it depends on what it is...
    insurance payouts are not taxed, but income (like the IRA) probably
    is... Just as well to go over it with your advisors... ;)
    Right: they know, or at least are much better informed than I am. And
    dealing with Iowa may be one thing, dealing with Iowa and New
    Hampshire (where my Mother lives) another. ...Good thing we got rid of
    the land in Slovakia and just have to deal with small stuff in Austria!
    Indeed...! Dealing with international stuff is its own hassle... My
    parents had an account in a UK bank that we had to go through hoops to
    liquidate into the estate... ;)
    I'm thinking my inheritance from my Aunt won't be too bad as it is a
    set dollar (well, Euro) amount. My Mother is the one to deal with the property distributions, though I'll be involved indirectly. Semi-
    decided the items will be bought out by the relatives other there and
    just transfer money.

    Money is probably easiest to transfer... :) But some items might have
    family significance... :) You'll just be the recipient of those,
    though, and your aunt's executor will be the one with the headaches (if
    any) of distributing the items or turning into money... :)

    True! The local TV stations are putting up ads for what is open and
    how to contact. The station I usually watch for news has maybe a
    30-second spot with mini-ads of random lengths: some are cell phone
    videos of a bakery "we're open" and a quick contact info; other
    mini-spot might be a local restaurant taken with a camera. The
    stations also has a webpage where businesses can list they're open and
    contact information. IIRC the webpage is free, not sure about the
    price of the TV mini-ads but other information indicates they're either
    very cheap or free as a PSA type of thing.
    Haven't seen or heard of anything like that happening here, but then
    I don't watch TV, as you know... ;) Mostly we just keep our eyes open
    to see what might be still open when we drive by places... and if we
    particularly need something, take a chance that something might be
    open... generally it has been.... apparently we only need necessities
    as defined by the strictures... <G>
    And it would be probably difficult to do that sort of listing on
    radio, probably even more so on public radio as the "we're" open
    announcements would sound like a commercial. Actually they _are_
    commercials, just real short and frequently shot with a cell phone, but
    still commercials.
    I could see it showing up as a list on the public radio/TV stations
    webpage(s).... :) They could be considered "sponsors" even, for a
    minor amount just to be on the list... ;)
    The radio is doing something similar to TV except abbreviated:
    announcer reads a list of six or so restuarants and businesses and then refers to the station's website for more and details.

    I suppose it could actually be considered a public service, to let the
    public know what is available now, and as things open up... :) I've
    been hearing regular advertisers tailoring their ads to let people know
    to what extent they are able to be open (take-out, curbside retail, etc)
    and similar in the sponsor spiels on public radio... ;)

    ... Murphy's Philosophy: smile -- tomorrow will be worse.
    May as well enjoy today!
    Exactly... :)
    Though tomorrow might be better so allow for that too!

    That's only when you are looking forward to it being worse... <G>

    ttyl neb

    ... BTW, FWIW, IMHO, yes. OTOH, AAMOF, maybe not. And RTFM.

    --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
    * Origin: Tiny's BBS - http://www.tinysbbs.com (454:1/452)
  • From Barry Martin@454:1/1 to Nancy Backus on Tue May 19 11:10:00 2020

    Hi Nancy!

    I have noticed, though, that there have been fewer of the spammer
    calls... apparently they aren't considered essential businesses... <G>
    <chuckle> They couldn't arrange their boiler rooms to comply with the
    6' rule! But yes, have noticed a lot less spam calls.
    I had a darker thought on them... perhaps they've fallen prey to the
    virus, since they couldn't distance, and were packed into small
    spaces... probably the callers themselves are considered expendable...
    and the bigwigs there are just laying low for the time being...
    Planning even more sinister spams!
    Cures for the coronavirus... threats of infecting you if you don't send
    them money.... Helping you get your stimulus check if you just send
    them... (actually, I've heard that those really are popping up now...)
    Wouldn't surprise me! Here the spam telephone calls are in the down
    phase -- seemed even prior to the coronavirus there were constantly ringing periods and rather quiet periods.
    True... last few days the spam/scam calls have all been the
    credit card variants.... or hangups....

    Pretty much the same here. The problem currently is we have to monitor
    the calls as we're expecting a call from the person overseeing the hail
    damage project here and with COVID-19 they're primarily working from
    home using their cell phones. And if they've moved around some their
    cell number could be from anywhere.

    We did verify they're aware of that little problem and they do leave
    messages, either for pickup or so the client can call back.


    Same for e-mails, though most are getting shuttled to the Junk Mail folders and category (Thunderbird will allow a small part of the
    message to go through and question if it should be tagged as junk).
    I very rarely get spam emails... apparently they don't make it
    through my ISP....

    My spam e-mail reception from my "Q" account (the former Qwest phone
    company, now owned by CenturyLink) goes from tons then slowly decreased
    to almost nothing and nothing. It'll then stay at the acceptable
    dribble level for months, then suddenly shoot up and repeat the cycle.
    Almost like they put in a new filter which has to be trained.



    The one in particular we've been getting is the same male recording
    but from scattered telephone numbers: Dubuque, IA, Lansing, MI,
    ...GA, WI. Probably several more. Maybe they bought the same Earn
    Money Quick package and instead of re-recording the message to
    customize it they just used the example?!
    More likely it's one guy that spoofs the numbers to avoid being
    tracked down by the authorities... even if one reports the number to
    the watchdogs, it isn't really a valid number so they can't
    anything to cut him off....
    That's a possibility too -- probably a probability. Was scanning
    through an article indicating random 'correct' local numbers coming up
    on Caller ID are due to the spammers buying pre-paid phone cards.
    Apparently somehow triggers a valid number to display. The whole
    getting-around-the-computers is interesting and baffling!
    As I understand it, it's a function of doing calls with VoIP... they
    can give themself any number they wish....
    Ah, OK. And apparently they change their number constantly to make it more difficult to trace.
    Precisely... also to make it seem as though your neighbor is
    calling... :)

    Right, which tend to make one a hare more off-guard while one racks
    their brain on who the voice belongs to.


    Yes, good to be reminded it is normal to be confused, annoyed,
    overwhelmed, etc. It is not the normal we're used to. It was a sudden
    change. And if I may say so Americans are not used to being told what
    to do: stay home! Wear a mask! Don't touch! IMO there are times for
    freedom and there are times to strictly follow the government rules.
    (There isn't much freedom in a box six feet underground.)
    True... As long as the restrictions are only for a limited time and
    for a recognizable reason... Hopefully the normal we were used to will
    return again... :)
    I'm thinking a revised normal (a.k.a. the new normal), at least in the near future. One group of people will be maintaining and therefore requiring social distancing, not touching/cleaning surfaces, and the
    like
    There's always been some degree of that among some people... it's
    just been more of a minority thing....

    Yes; plus everyone is more aware of the, for example, social distancing detail. Thinking the accidental bumping into a stranger while walking
    down a sidewalk. Before: "watch where you're going!". Now: "you trying
    to kill me?!". ...Before, go to a restaurant and waterspots on the silverware was sort of a lightly raisied eyebrow and wipe with the
    napkin. Now... ??


    - so to use restaurants as an example greater space between
    tables, one-use menus, wrapped silverware and napkins. On the end is
    the group who will crowd together and not worry about single use as
    long as assumed cleaned for them (menu in a plastic protector and wiped down). Right now I'm more with the first group but reusing cleaned
    items isn't out of the question.
    Even with the current situation, Taste of Japan is still using
    the same regular menus, plastic encased... disposable napkins and chopsticks same as always... The only other place we've been, Nam
    Vang, is also using their same menus (theirs are
    plastic-coated)... Most restaurants we go to are pretty
    meticulous about cleanliness anyway, just on general principles
    (and health code standards)... ;) For a while, restaurants will
    be forced to operated at reduced capacity to allow for more
    distancing, but I don't expect that to stay the case forever...
    and a lot of places don't [ack the tables in anyway.... :)

    Yes, plastic-wrapped menus have bene around for ages, though I've seen
    some which shouldn't have been! Now, a tiny rip and it will be disposed
    of. Cleanlines will be under a microscope; always was supposed to be
    clean but sometimes things slipped by. As for capacity, right now the
    need to keep separation because of the 6' rule - eventually will be
    relaxed, though I wonder if the customers will like being so close to
    the next party again? I'm thinking there will be a preference for
    separation but now for privacy: not overhearing the next table or booth,
    and I certainly wouldn't miss the kid on next booth jumping up and down!



    Your financial advisor might have better information about inheritance
    laws.... the tax person might not really know anything (or much) about
    how an inheritance would affect things... I know when I asked a friend
    that works as a tax advisor about some things dealing with my mother's
    stuff, he didn't really know.... only the usual individual tax issues
    were his balliwick...
    Right; sort of ask both for their opinions in their specialized areas
    and then ask again as I learn more. My financial advisor will
    probably have more clout on my decision; as you indicated the tax
    person is more specializing in a area of the financial world.
    Yup, best to capitalize on their strengths....

    As one should.


    probably do as distributions rather than lump sum as better for me.
    Get to play '20 Questions'with the financial advisor and the tax prep
    company!
    I've recently been through all of this, settling my mother's estate...
    but rules can be different from state to state... Anything with you
    as co-owner will just go directly to you and not go through probate
    or be subject to tax... Beneficiary, it depends on what it is...
    insurance payouts are not taxed, but income (like the IRA) probably
    is... Just as well to go over it with your advisors... ;)
    Right: they know, or at least are much better informed than I am. And
    dealing with Iowa may be one thing, dealing with Iowa and New
    Hampshire (where my Mother lives) another. ...Good thing we got rid of
    the land in Slovakia and just have to deal with small stuff in Austria!
    Indeed...! Dealing with international stuff is its own hassle... My
    parents had an account in a UK bank that we had to go through hoops to
    liquidate into the estate... ;)
    I'm thinking my inheritance from my Aunt won't be too bad as it is a
    set dollar (well, Euro) amount. My Mother is the one to deal with the property distributions, though I'll be involved indirectly. Semi-
    decided the items will be bought out by the relatives other there and
    just transfer money.
    Money is probably easiest to transfer... :) But some items might
    have family significance... :) You'll just be the recipient of
    those, though, and your aunt's executor will be the one with the
    headaches (if any) of distributing the items or turning into
    money... :)

    Possibly. European (or at least Austrian and Slovakian) lawyers seem to
    be a lot more laid back than American. When the land was transferred to
    to the Slovakian part of the family my Mother (and Father's) lawyer drew
    up some multi-page contract, signed, and notarized. Gets over there,
    those lawyers said all that was needed was a paper saying she (my
    Mother) agreed to giving the land. Essentially a paragraph, maybe two.



    True! The local TV stations are putting up ads for what is open and
    how to contact. The station I usually watch for news has maybe a
    30-second spot with mini-ads of random lengths: some are cell phone
    videos of a bakery "we're open" and a quick contact info; other
    <snip>
    I suppose it could actually be considered a public service, to
    let the public know what is available now, and as things open
    up... :) I've been hearing regular advertisers tailoring their
    ads to let people know to what extent they are able to be open
    (take-out, curbside retail, etc) and similar in the sponsor
    spiels on public radio... ;)

    Yes, might be considered as in the Public Service Announcement arena,
    and a bit of a trickle-down effect: I see/hear Matilda's Millet Muffins
    is open for curbside, hey: I wonder if Barbara's Bran Bagels is open
    still too?!


    ... Murphy's Philosophy: smile -- tomorrow will be worse.
    May as well enjoy today!
    Exactly... :)
    Though tomorrow might be better so allow for that too!
    That's only when you are looking forward to it being worse... <G>

    It better not be!




    ¯ ®
    ¯ Barry_Martin_3@ ®
    ¯ @Q.COM ®
    ¯ ®


    ... Famous Last Words: Everything seems to be working fine now.
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  • From Nancy Backus@454:1/452 to Barry Martin on Tue Jun 2 16:08:36 2020
    Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 19-May-2020 11:10 <=-

    Cures for the coronavirus... threats of infecting you if you don't send
    them money.... Helping you get your stimulus check if you just send
    them... (actually, I've heard that those really are popping up now...)
    Wouldn't surprise me! Here the spam telephone calls are in the down
    phase -- seemed even prior to the coronavirus there were constantly
    ringing periods and rather quiet periods.
    True... last few days the spam/scam calls have all been the credit
    card variants.... or hangups....
    Pretty much the same here.

    And lately, a lot of medicare scam-type calls... with a little spate in
    between of auto insurance and extended warranty calls...

    The problem currently is we have to monitor the calls as we're
    expecting a call from the person overseeing the hail damage project
    here and with COVID-19 they're primarily working from home using
    their cell phones. And if they've moved around some their cell
    number could be from anywhere.

    Seems a lot of people that do use their cell phones for business have
    made the effort to have their name come up on the ID, which is handy and reassuring... ;)

    We did verify they're aware of that little problem and they do leave messages, either for pickup or so the client can call back.

    That works nicely, too....

    Same for e-mails, though most are getting shuttled to the Junk Mail
    folders and category (Thunderbird will allow a small part of the
    message to go through and question if it should be tagged as junk).
    I very rarely get spam emails... apparently they don't make it
    through my ISP....
    My spam e-mail reception from my "Q" account (the former Qwest phone company, now owned by CenturyLink) goes from tons then slowly
    decreased to almost nothing and nothing. It'll then stay at the acceptable dribble level for months, then suddenly shoot up and repeat
    the cycle. Almost like they put in a new filter which has to be
    trained.

    Maybe... or just a system upgrade that the filter has to get used to...

    That's a possibility too -- probably a probability. Was scanning
    through an article indicating random 'correct' local numbers coming up
    on Caller ID are due to the spammers buying pre-paid phone cards.
    Apparently somehow triggers a valid number to display. The whole
    getting-around-the-computers is interesting and baffling!
    As I understand it, it's a function of doing calls with VoIP... they
    can give themself any number they wish....
    Ah, OK. And apparently they change their number constantly to make it
    more difficult to trace.
    Precisely... also to make it seem as though your neighbor is
    calling... :)
    Right, which tend to make one a hare more off-guard while one racks
    their brain on who the voice belongs to.

    Unless one is wise to the ploy and only answers the ones that are
    totally recognized... and otherwise presumes that it's likely to be
    bogus... Particularly on my cell phone, if it comes up with the same
    area code and exchange, I discount it to being spam/scam... I know no
    one else that shares that with me... :) If it turned out to be valid,
    they'd leave a message hopefully (and the scammers that do, are
    immediately obvious as such)....

    Yes, good to be reminded it is normal to be confused, annoyed,
    overwhelmed, etc. It is not the normal we're used to. It was a sudden
    change. And if I may say so Americans are not used to being told what
    to do: stay home! Wear a mask! Don't touch! IMO there are times for
    freedom and there are times to strictly follow the government rules.
    (There isn't much freedom in a box six feet underground.)
    True... As long as the restrictions are only for a limited time and
    for a recognizable reason... Hopefully the normal we were used to will
    return again... :)
    I'm thinking a revised normal (a.k.a. the new normal), at least in the
    near future. One group of people will be maintaining and therefore
    requiring social distancing, not touching/cleaning surfaces, and the
    like
    There's always been some degree of that among some people... it's just
    been more of a minority thing....
    Yes; plus everyone is more aware of the, for example, social
    distancing detail. Thinking the accidental bumping into a stranger
    while walking down a sidewalk. Before: "watch where you're going!".
    Now: "you trying to kill me?!". ...Before, go to a restaurant and waterspots on the silverware was sort of a lightly raised eyebrow and
    wipe with the napkin. Now... ??

    I supposed there could be heightened awareness at the moment... I tend
    more to a more laissez faire attitude anyway, and expect that as things
    run their course I'll just drop back to how I was.... Others might not,
    I suppose... :)

    - so to use restaurants as an example greater space between
    tables, one-use menus, wrapped silverware and napkins. On the end is
    the group who will crowd together and not worry about single use as
    long as assumed cleaned for them (menu in a plastic protector and wiped
    down). Right now I'm more with the first group but reusing cleaned
    items isn't out of the question.
    Even with the current situation, Taste of Japan is still using the
    same regular menus, plastic encased... disposable napkins and
    chopsticks same as always... The only other place we've been, Nam
    Vang, is also using their same menus (theirs are plastic-coated)...
    Most restaurants we go to are pretty meticulous about cleanliness
    anyway, just on general principles (and health code standards)... ;)
    For a while, restaurants will be forced to operated at reduced
    capacity to allow for more distancing, but I don't expect that to
    stay the case forever... and a lot of places don't lack the tables
    anyway.... :)
    Yes, plastic-wrapped menus have been around for ages, though I've seen some which shouldn't have been! Now, a tiny rip and it will be
    disposed of. Cleanliness will be under a microscope; always was
    supposed to be clean but sometimes things slipped by. As for capacity, right now the need to keep separation because of the 6' rule -
    eventually will be relaxed, though I wonder if the customers will like being so close to the next party again? I'm thinking there will be a preference for separation but now for privacy: not overhearing the next table or booth, and I certainly wouldn't miss the kid on next booth jumping up and down!

    Yeah, to avoid that, I do prefer the outside seat on the last booth so
    as not to be sharing that inner divider... ;)

    Just as well to go over it with your advisors... ;)
    Right: they know, or at least are much better informed than I am. And
    dealing with Iowa may be one thing, dealing with Iowa and New
    Hampshire (where my Mother lives) another. ...Good thing we got rid of
    the land in Slovakia and just have to deal with small stuff in Austria!
    Indeed...! Dealing with international stuff is its own hassle... My
    parents had an account in a UK bank that we had to go through hoops to
    liquidate into the estate... ;)
    I'm thinking my inheritance from my Aunt won't be too bad as it is a
    set dollar (well, Euro) amount. My Mother is the one to deal with the
    property distributions, though I'll be involved indirectly. Semi-
    decided the items will be bought out by the relatives other there and
    just transfer money.
    Money is probably easiest to transfer... :) But some items might have
    family significance... :) You'll just be the recipient of those,
    though, and your aunt's executor will be the one with the headaches
    (if any) of distributing the items or turning into money... :)
    Possibly. European (or at least Austrian and Slovakian) lawyers seem
    to be a lot more laid back than American. When the land was
    transferred to the Slovakian part of the family my Mother (and
    Father's) lawyer drew up some multi-page contract, signed, and
    notarized. Gets over there, those lawyers said all that was needed was
    a paper saying she (my Mother) agreed to giving the land. Essentially
    a paragraph, maybe two.

    Probably better to have done more than required than to find out that
    you hadn't done enough. though... ;) The last remaining hurdle for us
    to close out my mother's probate is to get the final report to my sister
    in England and then a signed and notarized (by a US notary at the
    embassy in London) receipt and release form back from her.... we have
    them for everyone else... and then take those with a final report back
    to the court... Covid restricting travel put a crimp into our planned schedule... but I'm sure the court will understand... :)

    True! The local TV stations are putting up ads for what is open and
    how to contact. The station I usually watch for news has maybe a
    30-second spot with mini-ads of random lengths: some are cell phone
    videos of a bakery "we're open" and a quick contact info; other
    <snip>
    I suppose it could actually be considered a public service, to let
    the public know what is available now, and as things open up... :)
    I've been hearing regular advertisers tailoring their ads to let
    people know to what extent they are able to be open (take-out,
    curbside retail, etc) and similar in the sponsor spiels on public
    radio... ;)
    Yes, might be considered as in the Public Service Announcement arena,
    and a bit of a trickle-down effect: I see/hear Matilda's Millet
    Muffins is open for curbside, hey: I wonder if Barbara's Bran Bagels is open still too?!

    Of course one can always just drive by one's favorite spots and check
    out the progress... ;) We see a lot of signs out front saying "Open for Takeout", often with a phone number... :)

    ttyl neb

    ... If you eat yogurt, you'll have lots of culture.

    --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F
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