A Very Special Kind of Stupid

Not sure if ‘stupid’ is the right description, but I can’t think of a word to best describe this condition.

I am not talking about folks with elevators don't quite reach the top floor. This is a category of a different kind.

The ones I am referring to are those folks that are well, just plain gullible. These are the folks that read fake news and totally believe it, just like the guy that totally believed the sex traffic ring was being run from a pizzeria.

Despite this fake news being debunked by numerous sites, this guy totally believed this silliness and almost caused a real tragedy.

Then there are the 'birthers'. There are many people who believe that Barack Obama was born in Kenya and not eligible to be President of the United States. The conspiracy was started by a Democratic supporter for Hillary Clinton during the election campaign 2008. Despite the fact there was no real proof this was true and Obama's birth certificate being provided by the State of Hawaii, many people still believe it to this day.

There are people that believe the government of the United States was behind the World Trade Center tragedy, man did not go to the moon, the Sandy Hook shootings did not really happen, and the list goes on and on.

So why are so many people so gullible? It's probably due to several reasons, but mainly because of what I call 'a special kind of stupid'. A lot of these folks are intelligent, but when a theory is introduced by someone and it appeals to the 'I want to believe this' element present in someone, this 'special kind of stupid' or confirmation bias, kicks in. Once this happens, no amount of proof will sway their belief.

A Guide to Arguing With a Snopes-Denier

Some will believe, but some won’t.

Martha

Wondering Why

Why does Chevrolet think actors aren’t ‘real people’?  If they aren’t real people, what are they? Androids?

Are the ‘Real people’ in those ads real? I am not the only one to wonder, just look at the Consumerist.

Why when I click a link to someone’s page on Facebook and then click the back arrow why doesn’t Facebook take me back to the place I just left? Annoying!

Do people read the side effects on all those drug ads? If they do read them, do they still take those drugs? Why? Even those side effects that can include death? ‘Ask your doctor if death is right for you!’.

What is this bar? Can’t close it even though there is a X on it.



Why does every website I visit assume I want to sign up for their newsletter?

Why does my computer keep losing Internet Connection?

Why do people pay a lot of money for jeans with holes in them? And for heaven’s sake, why would anyone want to wear these?

Martha

Facebook, Adios for Now

At least until the election is over!

I like Facebook for the most part, but lately it is too depressing.

Babies being raped, dogs being abused or killed and other depressing stuff.

Politics getting too ugly. Today just one more post put me over the edge, so this tells me ‘bye for now, Facebook!'

Not closing my account just yet, but I have thought about it.

Maybe I will get some productive work done by staying off Facebook for awhile. And maybe, just maybe, I can figure out why Facebook always take me back to the beginning if I click a link that goes to another Facebook page!

Block Those Scamming Robo Calls

Yesterday morning  I received one of those fake IRS scam calls. I didn’t answer the phone but the scumbag left a threatening message on my answer machine. Guess this might be a new tactic, but then again I’ve been told my voicemail message sounds like me and not a canned message. (Sometimes I get a message ‘Press one or Press two’. These from my health insurer, no idea what that is about!)

I was pretty irked to say the least.

Previously I had tried to setup Nomorobo, but at that time it wasn’t available for Charter.

Since it is generally easier to delete voicemail messages while logged into my Charter account, I logged in to delete the message.

Wonderful! Nomorobo is now available! I set it up last night and this morning it has already blocked one of those ‘Toll Free Calls’.

I am delighted!

If you are interested in blocking robocalls, check to see if you can get Nomorobo for your phone.

It’s about time we can fight back!

Ah, Facebook!

What I want to read on Facebook.

I want to see my family and friends and how they are doing.

I like funny stuff like cat and doggy videos.

What I don't want to read on Facebook.

Anything about politics or religion ( I have my opinion about both and anything I see on Facebook will not change my mind)

I don't want to 'copy and paste' someone else's post. (I have to admit to being guilty of this, but I am trying to be selective and only share funny stuff.)

I don't want to click links to quizzes that just are there to capture your stuff. This 'Place of birth' could be another way for scammers to add to profiles for ID theft.

I see no reason to re-post, share or otherwise comment on whether I love my kids, or other family members.

I know most of the weird stuff could be hoaxes, photo-shopped or unsubstantiated rumors, so I just wish folks would check it out before posting.  I know it’s all too easy to just click share and go on, but think!

And remember the majority of those posts denigrating someone or someone, are probably by someone somewhere with a *hidden agenda!

Think before you share!

*http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=hidden%20agenda

Those Tacky Cookie Warnings

A lot of folks really don’t like cookies from websites.Nearly every browser has a way to delete cookies and a lot of utilities have an option to delete cookies.

Personally I have never worried about cookies as for the most part they are harmless, but they are a method to track users. I just assume I am being tracked anywhere I go on the web.

But recently I keep seeing something like this on a number of sites:

(Click to enlarge)

Okay I know you are placing a cookie on my computer. I already knew this before you started with this obnoxious banner! So being the ornery old lady I am, I now do this:



The folks who put this on their sites are getting it from Google. If you click the ‘More info’ link you get taken to Google’s Privacy & Terms page.  At the top of the side menu is Technology and then Advertising. And the truth is revealed. Read it for your self!

Privacy and Terms/Advertising

Then there is ‘UClick’.



According to this banner they use a cookie to ‘get you the best experience on our website’. I fail to see how collecting information about a view to one of their sites is going to make the experience any better, all I see is they are collecting information to share with other sites, basically to do with your details as they see fit.

Universal Uclick Privacy Policy

This page is a bit long and I suspect they count on folks not bothering to read it all, but again, nothing they say here is really going to benefit the user, just the site owner and/or affiliates.

I know we are being tracked everywhere we go on the web. I don’t knowingly go to sites that are not what I would choose. But my information can be shared, sold or given to any number of other sites.

Keep in mind, nothing is or almost nothing is really free any more. We the consumers are the product, not the websites, free utilities or most advertised free stuff.

MyPhone

We have an unlisted phone number and we signed up for the 'Do not call Registry', but it doesn't make any difference. We still get calls from scammers, unethical marketers, dubious charities and the list goes on. The phone rings all day from these calls.
We have considered just cancelling the phone service, but that really isn't a viable option for now. (Maybe later)

We have caller ID, but with all the folks that know how to spoof phone numbers and names, it doesn't always let us know who is really calling.

If only we could afford one of those automated answering systems!
It could go something like this:

"Hello, thank you for calling our unlisted number!"
"Press one if you are a scammer!"
"Press two if you are trying to sell us something we don't want!"
"Press three if you want us to donate some money to your CEO and maybe a little bit to a real charity!"
"Press four if you are from Microsoft and my computer is sending out a virus!"

Which ever number they press would automatically hang up.

For folks we want to talk to, there is this option:
"If you are one of our family members or friends, dial the secret extension you were given by us and leave a message or just wait for someone to answer"

However, we don't have one of those systems so we will just have to look at the caller ID and if it is a number we recognize, answer it or let it ring.

Breaking News

Something is seriously wrong with 'Breaking News'!

Maybe it's just me, but I foolishly thought 'Breaking News' should be something of some magnitude of importance such as floods, earthquakes, national events that affect us, etc.

I get 'Breaking News' notices from USA Today. I am seriously considering canceling this service.

The reason?

Kim Kardashian announced she is pregnant.  This is important? How? Millions of women are finding out they are pregnant and it isn't important to anyone except their families and friends.

If this is 'Breaking News', then I guess I don't need to know about these news flashes.

Good grief!

 

Martha

Less is More and More is Too Much!

Why do I think I need so much stuff?

The last time I moved house was in 2005. I cleaned out stuff galore.  I donated loads and loads of stuff to Goodwill.  I sold over $200 worth of paperback books to Half Price Books.  (That was a LOT of paperbacks, they don’t pay too much for old books!)

I took a lot of stuff to a consignment shop. I tossed out gobs of old stuff. (Why I had kept it all, who knows?)

When I finally got moved and everything put away,  I thought I had finally purged all the un-needed stuff from my life.  I was wrong.

I still have too much stuff. Yesterday I decided I should take my cell phone with me when I go out into the back yard. (Just in case the door gets stuck, I can call for help to get back in the house. That happened once before, but I was IN the house, luckily!)

Now I don’t want to just lay my phone down somewhere, I want it in reach (I might fall down!) So I remembered I have a small pocket on a chain that would work just great. So I went looking for it. What in the world is all this stuff hiding in dresser drawers!

Time to get rid of more stuff.

I found things that I thought I had thrown away, donated, or just forgot I had ever had!  (Why do I have 40 pairs of socks?)

I did find that pocket, but now I have to go through all those drawers where stuff is hiding out of sight.  The closet too, and get rid of more stuff.

I know why I have so many clothes I don’t wear any more. What if I gain back all the weight I lost and need them?

That kind of thinking is why I have so much stuff! I might need it!  So I need a new mind set, ‘That stuff is old.  If I need it I’ll get new stuff!’

Less stuff will give me more room. (To get more stuff!)

 

Martha

It Seemed Like a Good Deal

I was offered a really good deal with Verizon. Get a tablet for $100 and get a $100 rebate and  1GB of Data Free for Life! (For the tablet)



Except it wasn’t.

Today when I checked on it, I found out the rebate form was lost.  The customer service rep told me I was more than welcome to resubmit if I had a copy, which I didn’t as it was filled out at the store and mailed before I came home.

This just reinforces my opinion of rebates.

They suck.

It has yet to be determined if I get that 1GB of Data, it sure doesn’t show on my online plan!

Martha

Trapped!

A garage door opener is such a handy thing.  That is until it doesn’t work.

We didn’t know there was a problem until my son came home from work and the remote opener didn’t work. Our garage door is extremely heavy and he was afraid it would fall before he could get it completely raised. He certainly didn’t want it to fall on his car.

My car was in the garage and I really didn’t want that door to fall on my  new car!

So here we were, one car in the driveway and one trapped in the garage.

I am a bit paranoid about all sorts of stuff and I kept thinking, ‘What if the house caught fire? I couldn’t get my new car out!

I made a rather frantic call to a overhead door repair and the next morning all was well. The door was fixed toot sweet and now I am no longer ‘trapped’.

Martha

A Dangerous Day?

Supposedly daylight savings time save energy. I guess maybe there is a small savings, but on the whole, is it really worth it?

Think about it. The Friday before this silly thing started, people were driving to work in daylight. The Monday after, they are driving to work in the dark, and they haven’t had quite enough sleep. So more accidents are likely to happen. No savings there.

When those sleepy heads do get to work, they are just a tad sleepier than normal and as a general rule, sleepy people are not at their most productive. No savings there either.

I am not the only one thinking about this. So I Googled it. Look what I found.

USA Today  In fact this dumb practice is actually costing MORE energy! And it is dangerous to our health!

Daylight Saving Time is Bad for Your Health I knew it!

There is a lot more,  just Google it for yourself.

Two states seem to be smarter than the rest, Arizona and Hawaii do not observe DST (Daylight Saving Time). maybe I should move.

So how did all this silliness start?  If you really want to know, this article on  WebExhibits is pretty thorough and very interesting.

Rant over.

Martha

Doldrums

Doldrums defined:

: a state or period of sadness or depression

: a state or period in which there is no activity or improvement

That certainly fits the description of me for the past month. I guess it's the weather.  Or maybe it's just a state of mind due to my advancing age. Whatever it is, I am trying to overcome this 'state', but it isn't easy.

Whatever the cause/reason, I have discovered I am not alone. A lot of folks around me are having the same problem.

It Has to be the weather. I can hardly wait for Spring!

 

Martha

Tale of a Prescription Part Two

The conspiracy seems alive and well.

I did go back later that day and guess what, the prescription still wasn’t ready.  The reason this time, they didn’t have the required amount and it had to be ordered.

Sigh! I have never ever had this much trouble getting a prescription filled. It isn’t as though it had a narcotic involved, not a pain killer of any kind! Just a antibiotic to kill an infection.

I finally got that prescription. Was it a massive amount? No, just an tiny tube. I just hope it does the job after all that hassle. It has an option for refills, so if I need to refill it, I will put in the request at least two weeks before I actually need it!

 

Martha

Tale of a Prescription

If I was even a little bit paranoid, I would have been sure this was a conspiracy out to get me.

Last week I went to the eye doctor for my annual exam. Everything was as well as can be expected after having eye surgery on the right eye to repair a macula hole. However I do have an infection on the eye lids, so the doctor said he was giving me a prescription. The assistant said it wouldn’t be ready until after 5 PM, so since I turn into a pumpkin about that time I waited until the following day to pick it up

The pharmacy had no record of this prescription, so I called the eye doctor’s office to see what was up. After checking they were most apologetic and said they were sending it ‘right now’.

Now I went to pick it up, but no it still wasn’t ready as the prescription did not have the required specified amount. The pharmacy had faxed the doctor’s office, but there had been no reply. So I went back the next day and yet again the prescription was not ready as there still had been no reply from the doctor’s office.

Fast forward to today. I went to pick up the prescription and it wasn’t ready  and won’t be until 5 PM. So again, I will wait.  Since there is a major temperature drop expected tonight, I guess I will try to hold off on the reversion to the pumpkin stage and pick it up after 5 PM, assuming it will finally be ready.

If it isn’t ready, I am going to assume there really is a conspiracy concerning this prescription!

All The Posts I Didn't Make

I've written a lot of posts for my blog that never got posted. For some reason I just can't bring myself to post stuff that's either political or religious.

I have text files all over my desktop for posts that will never be posted. Most of them are just gripes.

I gripe about politics all the time. I absolutely hate what politicians are doing to our country. These politicians that we send to Washington just need to start doing their job. They all seem to want to have it "my way or the highway". Never mind what the people want.

But you know, it's the people's fault. They don't vote or if they do vote, they just keep voting for the same folks who aren't doing their job.

Then there are the religious posts I don't make. This country was founded on freedom of religion. But there doesn't seem to be anything that sets folks off than their religion. They want everyone to believe their way. Again it's almost like "my way or the highway".

I just have one thing to say about politics, I won't argue with anyone as it never does any good. And about religion, I'm not going to say anything about your religion or mine.

Now I'm going to delete all those unfinished posts on my desktop about religion and politics and try to think of something better to write about.

Martha

Trash Can Trouble

Yesterday I bought a new kitchen trash can. It is black to match the appliances.

When I got it home, I wanted to remove the huge label proclaiming it was made by Good Housekeeping, so started to peel off the label.

It started to come off ok, then ripped and the label wouldn’t peel any more, then the fun started.

It left a big gummy patch that just wouldn’t come off.



I scrubbed and scrubbed.  Since the can has a shiny surface I didn’t want to scratch it and tried to be careful.  I put a damp rag on it, the gummy stuff wouldn’t come off. I spayed it with Fantastic and it still wouldn’t come off.

After about thirty minutes of trying to get this gunk off the new trash can, I looked on the Internet for a solution.

(What took me so long? I usually go to the Internet for everything!)

Seems like there are a number of ways to get rid of gummy stuff left behind by hard to remove labels on glass. I decided to try one method mentioned, dab it with baby oil and let it set a minute.

That worked. I still had to scrub a bit, but it all came off and now my new trash can looks like it should.



All nice and shiny!

Time Warner and CBS

I feel for the cable customers that can’t see their favorite CBS shows,  While most of those shows are now reruns, still if someone missed them the first time around, viewing a rerun is a good thing.  In case you don’t know what that is all about, here is an explanation.

I really feel sorry for the customer service reps that work for these two feuding companies. Ads are telling them to call and tell Time Warner to  get CBS back and I have no doubt Time Warner is telling customers  it is all the fault of CBS,  so call to tell CBS to make up with Time Warner.

So those poor customer service reps are getting screamed at, cursed out and they have absolutely no responsibility for the entire TV blundering mess.  They can’t do anything about it, but they are taking the brunt of the dissatisfied customers.

No, I don’t work for Time Warner or CBS.  But I did work as a customer service rep once and I know exactly how those poor folks must feel.

By now most of those reps are thinking about getting in to another line of work. I hope they find something a lot better.

Martha

The Magic Word Is Free

Nothing seems to grab folk’s attention like the word ‘free’.

‘Buy one, get one free’.  It’s everywhere. Ads on TV simply shout it in all those ads about products that seem to be about making our lives so much easier. It starts with ‘But wait’ and then the pitch to buy one and get another one free (except for shipping and handling).  The fine print will bump up the free product to make the total quite pricey, but folks just buy into the word ‘free’.

Then there is the phrase ‘Free download’ for a software program. Granted, some free downloads work as promised, but those are few and getting fewer all the time.

With a few exceptions all of those promised ‘free’ programs come with stuff users probably don’t want, like the infamous Ask toolbar. This little ‘gem’ will change your home page, take over your search and generally frustrate you no end.

The problem is nothing is really free in the long run. The free programs that don’t push unwanted stuff on your computer may be free now, but they hope you will buy the pro version and/or at least donate to their cause. Some of these may contain ‘nagware’ Then there are the sneaky free downloads that aren’t even what you wanted in the first place. The How-To Geek has a great page about all of this stuff. I wrote about the sneaky install on Martha’s Web too.

The point I am trying to make though, is the word ‘free’ is what grabs people’s attention and may cause unintended consequences. If you have to buy something before you get that ‘free’ thing, it isn’t free. If you have to provide personal information to get something, it isn’t free.

Longtime Internet users got spoiled with free stuff, but those days are getting shorter and shorter and the ‘free stuff’ is not really free any more.

Got a Will?

It’s a fact of the modern day world, if you own anything of value, you need a will.

This is necessary to make sure your wishes are granted if you want your assets distributed in the manner of your choosing.  I suspect you already know that and have made sure you have a will and named who is to get what after your demise.

But what about your online stuff? What should be done about all that cyber stuff that requires usernames, passwords and the like?  Do you want it all to go on forever?

What about your online business? What if someone buys something and it never gets to the buyer? What then? Would that leave a mess for your heirs to clean up? They already have enough to deal with without that!

What if some hacker hacks your email after you die and sends spam forever to your family and friends you left behind?

Do you want your Facebook account to just site there unused for perpetuity?

All of those accounts like PayPal, other online banking accounts, investment accounts and the list goes on and on, need user names and passwords. Sure eventually they may get cleared up, but it sure would be easier if someone you trust had all of those web addresses, user names and passwords.

Want to know how to make it all easier for those you leave behind?

Setup a password keeper! A really good password keeper can handle all that for you and all your designated online heir has to do is log on to your password keeper and take care of the cyber stuff in the way you want it done.

Of course you have to make sure your designated online heir has the current password for that password keeper, but keeping up with just one login and password is a whole lot better than trying to keep up with all your cyber stuff.

Another advantage of that password keeper works for you! Most will generate really good passwords and keep them safe so you don’t have to remember them all and can make sure you are not using something stupid like ‘password’ or your dog’s name, or using the same password for all your accounts. I’m sure you don’t do that, do you?

If you want a really great password keeper, I suggest LastPass, which is free for pcs and only one dollar a month for phones. The best thing about LastPass, besides being free, you are the only one who knows the password. If you forget it, you will just have to start over again as, LastPass doesn’t have a record of your password. Since I don’t trust the Cloud, this is a huge factor for me!

But there are other password keepers, here is a list of some you can try. The best Password Managers.   Notice LastPass has a five star rating!

So don’t leave your heirs in the lurch about your cyber life, make sure they can take care of your online assets as well as the physical stuff you leave behind.