Joe Krakovsky's Blog: Joe's Blog
October 6, 2025
Pay Pal scam
Beware of this scam. It looks like a real pay pal email, but I don't use Pay Pal. I imagine if you call them or email them you will end up getting screwed.
Hilda Hettinger
10:49 AM (17 minutes ago)
to me
Hello,
We appreciate your payment for order EN-905783-6563674018254, received on 2025-OCT-06.
Delivery Details: 2881 S Park Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120
Reference Number: GUID-20251006-20903f6c1a0a4c7cbb889c1e5815ad34
Your order is now being processed. For support, please contact our Customer Care team.
Thank you,
Hilda Hettinger
10:49 AM (17 minutes ago)
to me
Hello,
We appreciate your payment for order EN-905783-6563674018254, received on 2025-OCT-06.
Delivery Details: 2881 S Park Blvd, Cleveland, OH 44120
Reference Number: GUID-20251006-20903f6c1a0a4c7cbb889c1e5815ad34
Your order is now being processed. For support, please contact our Customer Care team.
Thank you,
September 26, 2025
Beware of Friends
It seems that the internet scams will never cease until they get serious about stopping them.
Lately I have been getting a lot of friend requests on Goodreads. That in itself is okay, but one still has to be careful. I started receiving emails from someone going by the name of Kevin Masters who claimed to be a surgeon. I thought he was one of these new friends. He sounded like he needed a friend being as he claimed his wife left him for his best friend. Feeling sorry for him I responded to his short emails. But then I became suspicious.
He started questioning me for information and pictures of myself. At first I thought his grammar errors were due to stress or just carelessness, you know, like somebody who doesn't bother to proofread their email or text before hitting 'send.' But finally one message became really confusing. So I asked just what he was asking. When I started reading his reply and got to the point where he mention "Amazon Gift Cards" I had enough. I told him not to email me again and that I was reporting it.
A few words of warning:
Beware of a stranger referring to you as 'my friend' or 'dear friend.'
Beware of strangers asking you about yourself.
Beware of strangers asking for help (online).
Beware of strangers praising you, such as for having a big heart.
As soon as they mention Amazon Gift cards know it is a scam. And I might as well add beware of official looking emails from such things as Paypal that comes by email. I have been getting these even though I don't use it.
Due to my experience with 'Kevin,' I won't be accepting any new Goodreads 'friends' that I don't know already.
Beware people.
Lately I have been getting a lot of friend requests on Goodreads. That in itself is okay, but one still has to be careful. I started receiving emails from someone going by the name of Kevin Masters who claimed to be a surgeon. I thought he was one of these new friends. He sounded like he needed a friend being as he claimed his wife left him for his best friend. Feeling sorry for him I responded to his short emails. But then I became suspicious.
He started questioning me for information and pictures of myself. At first I thought his grammar errors were due to stress or just carelessness, you know, like somebody who doesn't bother to proofread their email or text before hitting 'send.' But finally one message became really confusing. So I asked just what he was asking. When I started reading his reply and got to the point where he mention "Amazon Gift Cards" I had enough. I told him not to email me again and that I was reporting it.
A few words of warning:
Beware of a stranger referring to you as 'my friend' or 'dear friend.'
Beware of strangers asking you about yourself.
Beware of strangers asking for help (online).
Beware of strangers praising you, such as for having a big heart.
As soon as they mention Amazon Gift cards know it is a scam. And I might as well add beware of official looking emails from such things as Paypal that comes by email. I have been getting these even though I don't use it.
Due to my experience with 'Kevin,' I won't be accepting any new Goodreads 'friends' that I don't know already.
Beware people.
July 31, 2025
Another scam
I received an email.
Hi David,
Thank you for your recent payment.
Your receipt has been attached to this email.
Kindly gets in touch with them whenever you have any queries or concerns.
Jul 30 2025 21:54:57 / 10569069- Emery Delamos
263 Lake Ave / Anderson, SC, 29621
Payment Receipt On INV/HYJDG/ZABXWTPVRUCVVL
from Douglas Jsmith
It says that it was a Pay Pal charge. My wife says it is a scam and not to worry. Pay Pal doesn't have any of my information. I don't deal with them. Once again I want to remind everybody that scams will come through emails, and in some cases phone calls if you are elderly. The reason for the phone calls is that many elderly are too polite to hang up on a smooth talker.
IGNORE STRANGE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS, EVEN IF IT SAYS IT IS FROM THE IRS.
Hi David,
Thank you for your recent payment.
Your receipt has been attached to this email.
Kindly gets in touch with them whenever you have any queries or concerns.
Jul 30 2025 21:54:57 / 10569069- Emery Delamos
263 Lake Ave / Anderson, SC, 29621
Payment Receipt On INV/HYJDG/ZABXWTPVRUCVVL
from Douglas Jsmith
It says that it was a Pay Pal charge. My wife says it is a scam and not to worry. Pay Pal doesn't have any of my information. I don't deal with them. Once again I want to remind everybody that scams will come through emails, and in some cases phone calls if you are elderly. The reason for the phone calls is that many elderly are too polite to hang up on a smooth talker.
IGNORE STRANGE EMAILS AND PHONE CALLS, EVEN IF IT SAYS IT IS FROM THE IRS.
May 18, 2025
Losing a pet
Sometimes the loss of a pet can only be understood by someone else who has gone through the same. How often do we heard the phrase, "My pet died," but fail to understand just what that loss means. Sure, we may feel sorry for them, but then the thought passes and we go merrily on our way. Now I am not comparing it to the loss of a child or parent, but it still hurts.
My little goat buddy Tag had to be put to sleep. I prefer that to the term 'being put down,' because of the connotations involved. 'Being put down' sounds impersonal, and also can mean something negative like someone being 'put in their place.' Whereas 'going to sleep' sounds peaceful and the hope implied of seeing that pet again someday. Maybe in Heaven? Maybe with that critter in perfect health? That is my hope.
Tag had a 'personality'. I think all animals do, once we get to know them. A farmer once told me that you can't name a farm animal because, well, you know why.
Over the years I saw Tag change as he grew older. He was spunky as a baby goat. As a 'teen' he got into mischief. One time when I was leaving for work I heard him crying. Later I felt bad when I learned that he had gotten his head stuck in the fence trying to get to that greener grass. But then Ruth said he had done the same stupid thing three more times before I got home.
As a teen he could be naughty. One time he keep headbutting me and being hit in the knee hurt. I hollered at him to stop and when he didn't I yelled real loud and swatted him on the rear end. He then just gently leaned against me as if to say he was sorry.
As a mature goat he could let me know what was on his mind. Once I was taking Dexter for a walk without him and he got out of his pen and came up and started headbutting me over and over because he was mad I didn't bring him along as well.
With age he mellowed, and he started acting like he was my dog. We would play and he would try to steal my gloves out of my back pocket. If I held out my hand and asked, "Where is my goat?" he would accept the challenge and butt my hand. If I played dead he would come up and nudge me as if to say, "Get up."
When he turned 12 the vet said that was old for a goat. Maybe a year or two later he started getting arthritis in his right hind leg. We no longer had to put a harness on him when we let him graze in the front yard with Dexter our donkey as all he wanted to do was eat dandelions and weeds instead of bothering Dexter.
A few years later his joints must have really hurt at times so we would give him a pill wedged between a cracker with a dab of peanut butter. He still tried to get around sort of dragging one leg, but he still enjoyed life. Sometimes he would just lay in his shelter in summer so I ran out an extension cord to a small desk top fan. We didn't think he would make it through this last winter so we insulated his shelter walls with extra straw. He survived alright for it seemed that the cold days were his better ones.
He turned 18 on April 1st, which we thought him being born on April Fool's Day appropriate. But now the arthritis was getting bad on both his hind legs and with the warm weather came the flies. He wasn't even trying to shake them off anymore. He barely ate even though we went through a lot of trouble mixing in sunflower seeds, carrots, apple, granola, and crackers in with his hay pellets. While he was picking at his food I would try to make sure he had fresh water and fluffed up hay for him to lay in. I spent far more time in the morning with him than with Dexter, and donkeys can poop a lot!
So we made the hard decision and called the vet. I was in tears as he lay there drained of life. I buried him myself. It was some time later that I realized that it seemed that the bigger the sacrifice you make for a pet, the more it hurts when they leave. So the same thing applies to people. The closer you are, the more you miss them.
Someday when if and when I lose my Ruth or child the only thing that will sustain me is the belief that I will someday see them again. Until then I will live my life in that great hope.
Do pets go to heaven? I would like to think that an Almighty God that can raise me up and replace every hair on my head could also do the same for a loving pet. After all, He originally gave them live to begin with, didn't He?
My little goat buddy Tag had to be put to sleep. I prefer that to the term 'being put down,' because of the connotations involved. 'Being put down' sounds impersonal, and also can mean something negative like someone being 'put in their place.' Whereas 'going to sleep' sounds peaceful and the hope implied of seeing that pet again someday. Maybe in Heaven? Maybe with that critter in perfect health? That is my hope.
Tag had a 'personality'. I think all animals do, once we get to know them. A farmer once told me that you can't name a farm animal because, well, you know why.
Over the years I saw Tag change as he grew older. He was spunky as a baby goat. As a 'teen' he got into mischief. One time when I was leaving for work I heard him crying. Later I felt bad when I learned that he had gotten his head stuck in the fence trying to get to that greener grass. But then Ruth said he had done the same stupid thing three more times before I got home.
As a teen he could be naughty. One time he keep headbutting me and being hit in the knee hurt. I hollered at him to stop and when he didn't I yelled real loud and swatted him on the rear end. He then just gently leaned against me as if to say he was sorry.
As a mature goat he could let me know what was on his mind. Once I was taking Dexter for a walk without him and he got out of his pen and came up and started headbutting me over and over because he was mad I didn't bring him along as well.
With age he mellowed, and he started acting like he was my dog. We would play and he would try to steal my gloves out of my back pocket. If I held out my hand and asked, "Where is my goat?" he would accept the challenge and butt my hand. If I played dead he would come up and nudge me as if to say, "Get up."
When he turned 12 the vet said that was old for a goat. Maybe a year or two later he started getting arthritis in his right hind leg. We no longer had to put a harness on him when we let him graze in the front yard with Dexter our donkey as all he wanted to do was eat dandelions and weeds instead of bothering Dexter.
A few years later his joints must have really hurt at times so we would give him a pill wedged between a cracker with a dab of peanut butter. He still tried to get around sort of dragging one leg, but he still enjoyed life. Sometimes he would just lay in his shelter in summer so I ran out an extension cord to a small desk top fan. We didn't think he would make it through this last winter so we insulated his shelter walls with extra straw. He survived alright for it seemed that the cold days were his better ones.
He turned 18 on April 1st, which we thought him being born on April Fool's Day appropriate. But now the arthritis was getting bad on both his hind legs and with the warm weather came the flies. He wasn't even trying to shake them off anymore. He barely ate even though we went through a lot of trouble mixing in sunflower seeds, carrots, apple, granola, and crackers in with his hay pellets. While he was picking at his food I would try to make sure he had fresh water and fluffed up hay for him to lay in. I spent far more time in the morning with him than with Dexter, and donkeys can poop a lot!
So we made the hard decision and called the vet. I was in tears as he lay there drained of life. I buried him myself. It was some time later that I realized that it seemed that the bigger the sacrifice you make for a pet, the more it hurts when they leave. So the same thing applies to people. The closer you are, the more you miss them.
Someday when if and when I lose my Ruth or child the only thing that will sustain me is the belief that I will someday see them again. Until then I will live my life in that great hope.
Do pets go to heaven? I would like to think that an Almighty God that can raise me up and replace every hair on my head could also do the same for a loving pet. After all, He originally gave them live to begin with, didn't He?
November 21, 2024
Not receiving notifications
Perhaps you have noticed the phrase "Not receiving notifications" behind some individuals names. Well, here is the reason. We are no longer receiving Goodreads notifications being sent to our, in my case, Gmail account. I still get notifications such as a book being offered in a giveaway and updates of reviews from friends, but I no longer hear of people liking one of my reviews or responses to comments. I tried contacting the GRs help desk but all they did was refer me to comments made by others complaining about the same problem.
Now in all honesty I can see the notifications on my GRs page but it is a hassle. I mean you look at the first one on the list and then you have to scroll down to the next. And after seeing that one and checking it out, you have to go back to the beginning and scroll down again. What if you have a couple of hundred that you need to scroll down past? My finger gets tired from rolling that wheel to scroll down. If the notifications are sent to my Gmail account I can simply delete them after reading them.
So, no, my problem is not fixed. And I am mad! And believe it or not I got so fed up that I stayed off of GRs for about week. I even thought of quitting GRs altogether, or maybe starting over under a new name. If anybody from Goodreads sees this, please fix my problem, and then fix it for my friends as well.
Now in all honesty I can see the notifications on my GRs page but it is a hassle. I mean you look at the first one on the list and then you have to scroll down to the next. And after seeing that one and checking it out, you have to go back to the beginning and scroll down again. What if you have a couple of hundred that you need to scroll down past? My finger gets tired from rolling that wheel to scroll down. If the notifications are sent to my Gmail account I can simply delete them after reading them.
So, no, my problem is not fixed. And I am mad! And believe it or not I got so fed up that I stayed off of GRs for about week. I even thought of quitting GRs altogether, or maybe starting over under a new name. If anybody from Goodreads sees this, please fix my problem, and then fix it for my friends as well.
June 9, 2024
Our 50th
I am taking the liberty to repost a blog I wrote some years ago as Ruth and I will be celebrating our 50th wedding anniversary on June 14th, 2024. It is as follows.
It was late fall in 1973 when this girl walked into Homeroom. I noticed her right off the bat, though that was the first time I ever laid eyes on her. True, I had seen her picture before in the high school year book from the preceding year, and remembered that she caught my eye even then. But it was a big school, and our paths had not crossed until that fateful day. Little did I know that the first thought through her mind when she saw me was, "I wonder what our baby will look like?"
I will never forget that hot chick that roped me, threw me, and branded my heart that day. Though I don't remember the shoes she wore, she had on bell bottom jeans that were the style back then. A dark shirt and pink sweater. Her coat, hung over her arm, was long with the appearance of short fur with a fake fur collar. Her hair was slightly puffed up, not much, but just enough to register on my love counter. Her facial features were thin, petite, and cute; very kissable. Wow! Don't stare!
Recognizing my friend she walked over all cool like and sat down. They started some small talk and I tried to not blow it by making the wrong impression. That just made me all the more nervous, and then when my so-called friend turned to me and asked, "So, Joe, how's so-in-so (old girlfriend) doing," I wanted to punch him in the nose!
Sometime later she showed up again and came and sat by me. Luckily, my friend was not around. I showed her a cartoon of Nixon throwing tapes in a garbage can. She laughed, though I found out years later she didn't get it. She then gave me a cookie that she made in Home Economics. I still have that cartoon but the cookie is long gone.
Not wanting to be apart, we decided to skip the next class together and left through a side door. Sanctuary was the pool hall across the street and we started to run for it. I grabbed her hand in mine, because that is what the hero does to the woman when they are fleeing danger, and it felt so good. Reaching the safety of the hall with all the other kids, we found our spot along the wall. We were both still breathing hard as we just stood there listening to the music and the bells on the pinball machines. Her hand was still in mine and though our hands were sweating, neither dared let go.
And that, my friend, was the start of our romance that has led to us celebrating our 45th (50th now) anniversary this month. And yes, that baby was cute!
It was late fall in 1973 when this girl walked into Homeroom. I noticed her right off the bat, though that was the first time I ever laid eyes on her. True, I had seen her picture before in the high school year book from the preceding year, and remembered that she caught my eye even then. But it was a big school, and our paths had not crossed until that fateful day. Little did I know that the first thought through her mind when she saw me was, "I wonder what our baby will look like?"
I will never forget that hot chick that roped me, threw me, and branded my heart that day. Though I don't remember the shoes she wore, she had on bell bottom jeans that were the style back then. A dark shirt and pink sweater. Her coat, hung over her arm, was long with the appearance of short fur with a fake fur collar. Her hair was slightly puffed up, not much, but just enough to register on my love counter. Her facial features were thin, petite, and cute; very kissable. Wow! Don't stare!
Recognizing my friend she walked over all cool like and sat down. They started some small talk and I tried to not blow it by making the wrong impression. That just made me all the more nervous, and then when my so-called friend turned to me and asked, "So, Joe, how's so-in-so (old girlfriend) doing," I wanted to punch him in the nose!
Sometime later she showed up again and came and sat by me. Luckily, my friend was not around. I showed her a cartoon of Nixon throwing tapes in a garbage can. She laughed, though I found out years later she didn't get it. She then gave me a cookie that she made in Home Economics. I still have that cartoon but the cookie is long gone.
Not wanting to be apart, we decided to skip the next class together and left through a side door. Sanctuary was the pool hall across the street and we started to run for it. I grabbed her hand in mine, because that is what the hero does to the woman when they are fleeing danger, and it felt so good. Reaching the safety of the hall with all the other kids, we found our spot along the wall. We were both still breathing hard as we just stood there listening to the music and the bells on the pinball machines. Her hand was still in mine and though our hands were sweating, neither dared let go.
And that, my friend, was the start of our romance that has led to us celebrating our 45th (50th now) anniversary this month. And yes, that baby was cute!
October 11, 2023
Making a movie of your book?
Beware of anything that comes to you over the internet. If it sounds like a good thing it is probably a scam. Say what you want about snail-mail, but a letter, or a certified letter, is in my opinion, 9 times out of 10 more legit than an email or text message. For one thing, if I was serious about something, I would write a letter, put it in an envelope, put a stamp on it and mail it. If I were running a scam I would acquire a mailing list and send out a zillion messages because everyone knows that will be saving trees and the electricity in computer usage is practically free, whereas all those stamps, envelopes, and paper cost money. Well, I am being a little sarcastic here because I am angry.
After receiving several offers from self-publishing companies to publish our books, somebody must have bought the same mailing list and sent us an email stating that they wanted to make our book into a movie. After doing some research we found out the 'director' mentioned in the email is a real person, but that is about as far as the truth in the matter goes. The rest of the email is a scam. Others received the same message, word for word, thanks to the advantage of email mailing lists. It was said that when talking on the phone the person on the other end has a heavy foreign accent. Now I don't care if you are from Arkansas or Zimbabwe, if I can't understand you than you are in the wrong line of work! And all you have to do in order to see your literary work on the silver screen is to start sending them money for one expense after another. So my advice, DELETE THAT EMAIL!
Sometime back I received an email (same mailing list?) from this lawyer in some African country saying that my relative was working for an oil company over there and passed away leaving me a small fortune. All I had to do was send some money to get the ball rolling so I could collect my wealth. It seems this lawyer is a real person but it was another scam. What makes me angry about this business is that when you report it they act like they can't do anything about it or it is out of their jurisdiction. Oh come on! If it was Hillary's money they took that person would be tracked down by the NSA and she would send her people after them. But I am neither rich nor (in)famous.
I will post the original email I received below. Be safe!
Dear Joe,
I would like to express my interest in purchasing the rights to your script with the intention of producing it as a feature film. I believe that your work has immense potential and aligns perfectly with the vision I have for an upcoming project.
Before we proceed further, I would like to discuss the terms of the potential purchase, including the financial arrangements, credits, and any creative input you may wish to have during the production process. It's important to me that we establish a fair and mutually beneficial agreement that respects your creative contributions to the project.
Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring that you are appropriately credited for your creative contributions to the project and that your vision for the screenplay is respected during the production process. Our goal is to collaborate with talented writers like you to bring exceptional stories to the screen.
If this opportunity interests you, we would be delighted to schedule a meeting or a call to discuss the specifics of the potential purchase, including the terms, financial arrangements, and any creative involvement you may desire.
Please let us know your availability, and we will coordinate a time for our discussion.
Thank you for considering this inquiry. We are excited about the possibility of working with you to bring your screenplay to life on the big screen and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Jon Casey
Director • Cinematographer • Producer
Headquarters: Culver City, California, United States
I just received another offer, this time from 'Todd Peters'
Dear Joe,
I hope this message finds you well. I am Todd Peters, a director based in California. It is with great excitement and admiration for your work that I reach out to you today.
Recently, our esteemed book agent brought your remarkable book to my attention, highlighting its potential for a film adaptation. I must admit, I was captivated by its unique narrative and rich storytelling. Your book has been on our database for quite some time, and we've been closely monitoring its growing popularity and the increasing demand from our audience.
The reason for my reaching out only now is that we believe in timing and the right moment to transform a book into a cinematic experience. With the recent surge in interest and demand for your book, we feel that this is the opportune moment to discuss the potential of bringing your story to life on the big screen.
This is an opportunity we don't want you to miss. A film adaptation can open new horizons for your story, reaching wider audiences and adding a new dimension to your already profound narrative. Our team is enthusiastic about the possibility of collaborating with you to honor the essence of your work while translating it into a visual masterpiece.
I would be delighted to discuss this further and explore how we can work together to make this vision a reality. Please let me know a convenient time for you to have a conversation about this exciting venture.
Thank you for considering this opportunity. I am looking forward to the possibility of working together to create something truly magical.
Warm regards,
Todd Peters, Director (Film and TV Drama)
After receiving several offers from self-publishing companies to publish our books, somebody must have bought the same mailing list and sent us an email stating that they wanted to make our book into a movie. After doing some research we found out the 'director' mentioned in the email is a real person, but that is about as far as the truth in the matter goes. The rest of the email is a scam. Others received the same message, word for word, thanks to the advantage of email mailing lists. It was said that when talking on the phone the person on the other end has a heavy foreign accent. Now I don't care if you are from Arkansas or Zimbabwe, if I can't understand you than you are in the wrong line of work! And all you have to do in order to see your literary work on the silver screen is to start sending them money for one expense after another. So my advice, DELETE THAT EMAIL!
Sometime back I received an email (same mailing list?) from this lawyer in some African country saying that my relative was working for an oil company over there and passed away leaving me a small fortune. All I had to do was send some money to get the ball rolling so I could collect my wealth. It seems this lawyer is a real person but it was another scam. What makes me angry about this business is that when you report it they act like they can't do anything about it or it is out of their jurisdiction. Oh come on! If it was Hillary's money they took that person would be tracked down by the NSA and she would send her people after them. But I am neither rich nor (in)famous.
I will post the original email I received below. Be safe!
Dear Joe,
I would like to express my interest in purchasing the rights to your script with the intention of producing it as a feature film. I believe that your work has immense potential and aligns perfectly with the vision I have for an upcoming project.
Before we proceed further, I would like to discuss the terms of the potential purchase, including the financial arrangements, credits, and any creative input you may wish to have during the production process. It's important to me that we establish a fair and mutually beneficial agreement that respects your creative contributions to the project.
Furthermore, we are committed to ensuring that you are appropriately credited for your creative contributions to the project and that your vision for the screenplay is respected during the production process. Our goal is to collaborate with talented writers like you to bring exceptional stories to the screen.
If this opportunity interests you, we would be delighted to schedule a meeting or a call to discuss the specifics of the potential purchase, including the terms, financial arrangements, and any creative involvement you may desire.
Please let us know your availability, and we will coordinate a time for our discussion.
Thank you for considering this inquiry. We are excited about the possibility of working with you to bring your screenplay to life on the big screen and look forward to hearing from you soon.
Jon Casey
Director • Cinematographer • Producer
Headquarters: Culver City, California, United States
I just received another offer, this time from 'Todd Peters'
Dear Joe,
I hope this message finds you well. I am Todd Peters, a director based in California. It is with great excitement and admiration for your work that I reach out to you today.
Recently, our esteemed book agent brought your remarkable book to my attention, highlighting its potential for a film adaptation. I must admit, I was captivated by its unique narrative and rich storytelling. Your book has been on our database for quite some time, and we've been closely monitoring its growing popularity and the increasing demand from our audience.
The reason for my reaching out only now is that we believe in timing and the right moment to transform a book into a cinematic experience. With the recent surge in interest and demand for your book, we feel that this is the opportune moment to discuss the potential of bringing your story to life on the big screen.
This is an opportunity we don't want you to miss. A film adaptation can open new horizons for your story, reaching wider audiences and adding a new dimension to your already profound narrative. Our team is enthusiastic about the possibility of collaborating with you to honor the essence of your work while translating it into a visual masterpiece.
I would be delighted to discuss this further and explore how we can work together to make this vision a reality. Please let me know a convenient time for you to have a conversation about this exciting venture.
Thank you for considering this opportunity. I am looking forward to the possibility of working together to create something truly magical.
Warm regards,
Todd Peters, Director (Film and TV Drama)
July 10, 2023
Am vs FM
Back when I was in high school we all listened to local AM radio stations out of Chicago. They played the latest top selling tunes along with some occasional oldies. Chuck Berry was big then along with all the others like ZZ Top, Pink Floyd, and The Rolling Stones. Styx was one of the new bands and we used to see them at local concerts before they made it big.
About the time we were graduating, maybe 1973 or 74, there was a new station on the air. It was on FM and believe it or not, they played all the latest tunes with no commercials! So we switched over to FM.
Fast forward to today. We still listen to the local stations on FM. There are three in our area and I think they are all owned by the same company. They play the same Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin, and a few others over and over again. Even the occasional oldie ( White Room by Cream) is repeated.
I wonder if those AM stations are still out there?
About the time we were graduating, maybe 1973 or 74, there was a new station on the air. It was on FM and believe it or not, they played all the latest tunes with no commercials! So we switched over to FM.
Fast forward to today. We still listen to the local stations on FM. There are three in our area and I think they are all owned by the same company. They play the same Def Leppard, Led Zeppelin, and a few others over and over again. Even the occasional oldie ( White Room by Cream) is repeated.
I wonder if those AM stations are still out there?
March 15, 2023
Hiding inflation
We all know the extent of this runaway inflation, so why try to hide it. First they take away our pensions to save money and then they either force us to multi-task so they can lay off workers or ship the manufacturing overseas. Now that they have trimmed all the fat off the bone they are going after the muscle too.
Take for instance what they do to the product itself. They change the recipes or specs on food products. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Elmer Chocolates used to have 5 pieces in their little Valentine Hearts where now they have 4? I bought a Reese's the other day and the chocolate didn't cover the bottom. I saw peanut butter filling. Klondike ice cream bars used to have a thicker chocolate covering if I remember right. Now it is a couple of millimeters thinner, almost like a sheet of paper. At least that was how the last batch we bought was. Probably the worst abusers are the makers of Town House Original crackers. The last couple of boxes we bought had crackers that broke and crumbled apart as we tried t take them out of the plastic sleeve with as much care as one playing the old childhood game 'Operation'. Our goat still likes them. And they lowered the cracker count per box over the years. And don't get me started on Hostess Cupcakes!
Take for instance what they do to the product itself. They change the recipes or specs on food products. Correct me if I am wrong but didn't Elmer Chocolates used to have 5 pieces in their little Valentine Hearts where now they have 4? I bought a Reese's the other day and the chocolate didn't cover the bottom. I saw peanut butter filling. Klondike ice cream bars used to have a thicker chocolate covering if I remember right. Now it is a couple of millimeters thinner, almost like a sheet of paper. At least that was how the last batch we bought was. Probably the worst abusers are the makers of Town House Original crackers. The last couple of boxes we bought had crackers that broke and crumbled apart as we tried t take them out of the plastic sleeve with as much care as one playing the old childhood game 'Operation'. Our goat still likes them. And they lowered the cracker count per box over the years. And don't get me started on Hostess Cupcakes!
January 16, 2023
When government fails to do its job.
We recently had a fire and some explosions in a nearby town. Luckily, there were no fatalities. The fallout from this factory spread this contamination not only over the surrounding houses but probably on vehicles traveling down the interstate. I can just imagine somebody on a business trip or vacation getting to where they are going and wondering why the paint job on their car is ruined.
Could this have been avoided? Probably. The thing is, I have heard stories from employees who used to work there who have all said the same thing. The place was a dangerous place to work. My question is, why didn't OSHA or some other government agency, or even their insurance underwriters detect the true conditions?
I will tell you what I think. They come in and didn't want to cause trouble. If you want to know what true conditions are, ask somebody who works there or has worked there. Disgruntled ex-employees may have an ax to grind but those working there are more worried about their jobs than being whistleblowers. Do you think the security at Jeffery Epstein's island with underage girls was going to tell what was going on? They had to know.
There is an ethanol plant near us that has had fires over the years. They are naturally played down, but the fact is they happened. Some ex-employees have said that was a hazardous place to work too. But this is a small town and the owner is a millionaire.
Government agencies need to do a better job because bad things happen when they don't.
Could this have been avoided? Probably. The thing is, I have heard stories from employees who used to work there who have all said the same thing. The place was a dangerous place to work. My question is, why didn't OSHA or some other government agency, or even their insurance underwriters detect the true conditions?
I will tell you what I think. They come in and didn't want to cause trouble. If you want to know what true conditions are, ask somebody who works there or has worked there. Disgruntled ex-employees may have an ax to grind but those working there are more worried about their jobs than being whistleblowers. Do you think the security at Jeffery Epstein's island with underage girls was going to tell what was going on? They had to know.
There is an ethanol plant near us that has had fires over the years. They are naturally played down, but the fact is they happened. Some ex-employees have said that was a hazardous place to work too. But this is a small town and the owner is a millionaire.
Government agencies need to do a better job because bad things happen when they don't.
