Superstition

I always hate when the 13th floor is missing. It's so common, I was
surprised the other day to be in an elevator that had one.

--
Sent from my mobile device

Just donated

Man am I ever slow to heed the clarion. Made a donation to MSF to assist them however they need it. I think they sent me a map once or twice with a request in the past. I just hope they don't pile on address labels. Can't use any more address labels, charity people. Two years supply sitting in the drawer.

Offline Book "Lending" Costs US Publishers Nearly $1 Trillion

 

 

Sent to you by Dan via Google Reader:

 

 

Offline Book "Lending" Costs US Publishers Nearly $1 Trillion

via Slashdot by Soulskill on 1/19/10

An anonymous reader writes with this excerpt from a tongue-in-cheek blog post which puts publisher worries about ebook piracy into perspective: "Hot on the heels of the story in Publisher's Weekly that 'publishers could be losing out on as much $3 billion to online book piracy' comes a sudden realization of a much larger threat to the viability of the book industry. Apparently, over 2 billion books were 'loaned' last year by a cabal of organizations found in nearly every American city and town. Using the same advanced projective mathematics used in the study cited by Publishers Weekly, Go To Hellman has computed that publishers could be losing sales opportunities totaling over $100 billion per year, losses which extend back to at least the year 2000. ... From what we've been able to piece together, the book 'lending' takes place in 'libraries.' On entering one of these dens, patrons may view a dazzling array of books, periodicals, even CDs and DVDs, all available to anyone willing to disclose valuable personal information in exchange for a 'card.' But there is an ominous silence pervading these ersatz sanctuaries, enforced by the stern demeanor of staff and the glares of other patrons. Although there's no admission charge and it doesn't cost anything to borrow a book, there's always the threat of an onerous overdue bill for the hapless borrower who forgets to continue the cycle of not paying for copyrighted material."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

 

 

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Spoke with Chase again

Well that was unpleasant. I really didn't enjoy having to call them again, and I didn't get a conclusive answer from the nice man on the phone. Apparently Chases outbound robocall number has multiple departments behind it, and there's no way to determine which center the calls originated from...

Besides my frustration that asking to have the number removed resulted in about a two week reprieve, I was equally nonplussed by his inability to prevent further calls.

Chase

Chase started the robocalls again. I guess the request to stop calling me didn't register loudly enough.

Sadly, as long as I have an existing account with them, the FTC won't consider it an unsolicited call. And as long as there isn't a closer branch in my neighborhood, the convenience outweighs the nuisance of answering a robocall.

I just wish they weren't so creepy when you call them back.

Line of Credit

Every time I think Navy Federal has nothing to offer me, I find another way that they can make my life better. I just opened a $2500 line of credit with them (unsecured at 14.9%). I don't intend to use it, but it should make my types of credit accounts improve, since I control my borrowing rather tightly. Another interesting product Navy Federal offers is a credit line secured by CD's (share certificates). Interest rate is the CD apr +2%, since it is secured, and the term can be up to 5 years. If you need to borrow your own money (short term need to access the money you have locked up in a certificate), this is a startlingly clear way to do it. If they had a branch closer than Waukegan, that would be better still.

Some day in the distant future, I may even borrow money for a car. I don't really want to, so that day will have to be in the distant future.

I would gladly have opened this at whatever usurious rates Chase suggested if they would only offer. Sadly, they do not.

(side note, why does spell check think of Milwaukee, Waukesha, Pewaukee, but not know about Waukegan?)