Big D is acting sheepish. We got into a wrestling match this morning and he ended up leaping off the bed with bits of my flesh dangling from his diggers. He returned fifteen minutes later, mild and questioning. All is forgiven.
Day Seven, no work on the novel. The Dufflebag is home sick.
I'm going to try to use the time wisely, and write my second application essay. I might watch a movie. Clean the house. Drink a cup of tea. Finally get some reading done.
*
In a study in the dynamics of idiocy, following an "incident" in which Obama was seen drinking a beer at a basketball game, the media picked up on a few muddleheaded callers phoning in to a sports talk show as a controversy. Scare quotes again, please.
When a handful of dolts object to something or other, it gets covered, as long as it makes a good story. That is, as long as it pushes the right buttons. It's much easier to weigh in on inconsequential topics like whether or not Obama should be able to enjoy a beer while watching the game (the correct answer, for the curious, is YES) than, to, for example, figure out ways of putting the jackals at Webloyalty behind bars.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Tuesday, March 3, 2009
Webloyalty and Negative Option Schemes
I have continued to research the pernicious Webloyalty. There are countless sites on the net exposing them, so it is easy enough to see the big picture. The problem is, their scam works when it isn't noticed. Once you notice, and have the time and certainty to challenge their confidence scheme, then you've pretty much figured it out yourself. I was lucky enough to check this morning. Imagine the many Americans who simply assume that their online transactions are being handled honestly. Such people might not notice the recurring twelve dollar fee. It's such a small amount, one can see how it might slip by unnoticed for months.
Here's the great part.
Webloyalty's payment processor is located in Lowell, MA, the town where I was born.
Here's what the execrable Rick Fernandes, CEO and Chief Swindler over at Webloyalty has to say about Litle & Co.:
"Litle & Co. is more than a processor. They are a partner. In every step of our relationship, they have added value in many, many ways. They have assisted us in understanding the nuances of the processing environment. They strive to enhance the value of our business by ensuring that processing through them is a value-added proposition."
This was taken right from the Litle & Co. website! They post a quote from one of the biggest perpetrators of legalized Internet theft in the country right on their homepage, as if it was a point of pride! So, if Litle & Co. is not just a processor, but a partner, then they are equally guilty and equally worth of opprobrium.
Litle & Co is located at 900 Chelmsford Street, in Lowell. Stop by and say, "Howdy, partners!!!"
*
In case you're curious, along with Fandango and allposters.com, here are some other companies that work or who have worked with Webloyalty: EB Games, Redcats USA (online retailer for Lane Bryant and Brylane Homes), movietickets.com, petco.com (yes, Mom!), ftd.com, and staples.com.
My experience with the swindlers at Webloyalty reminded one of my readers of the controversy surrounding freecreditreport.com.
Type in "freecreditreport.com" and "scam" into google and you'll get 425,000 hits.
The most succinct article my search revealed was posted by a man named Mike. He notes that this site was investigated by both the Federal Trade Commission and the Florida state attorney general's office.
Despite paying out a massive settlement, FCR continues to conduct business as usual.
As do Webloyalty, Vista Print, and others that operate "negative option" schemes.
Why this cyberpickpocketing continues, often in such a glaringly "steal from the poor and give to the rich" way, should be a cause of great concern because, to my mind, it seems impossible to imagine this going on without help from corrupt government agencies. Or, let me put it this way: either the government regulatory agencies are corrupt OR they are inept.
Well, okay. I can imagine a third solution. Some decent minded attorney general has these bastards in his or her sights, and soon, heads are going to roll.
I hope this is the case.
Here's the great part.
Webloyalty's payment processor is located in Lowell, MA, the town where I was born.
Here's what the execrable Rick Fernandes, CEO and Chief Swindler over at Webloyalty has to say about Litle & Co.:
"Litle & Co. is more than a processor. They are a partner. In every step of our relationship, they have added value in many, many ways. They have assisted us in understanding the nuances of the processing environment. They strive to enhance the value of our business by ensuring that processing through them is a value-added proposition."
This was taken right from the Litle & Co. website! They post a quote from one of the biggest perpetrators of legalized Internet theft in the country right on their homepage, as if it was a point of pride! So, if Litle & Co. is not just a processor, but a partner, then they are equally guilty and equally worth of opprobrium.
Litle & Co is located at 900 Chelmsford Street, in Lowell. Stop by and say, "Howdy, partners!!!"
*
In case you're curious, along with Fandango and allposters.com, here are some other companies that work or who have worked with Webloyalty: EB Games, Redcats USA (online retailer for Lane Bryant and Brylane Homes), movietickets.com, petco.com (yes, Mom!), ftd.com, and staples.com.
My experience with the swindlers at Webloyalty reminded one of my readers of the controversy surrounding freecreditreport.com.
Type in "freecreditreport.com" and "scam" into google and you'll get 425,000 hits.
The most succinct article my search revealed was posted by a man named Mike. He notes that this site was investigated by both the Federal Trade Commission and the Florida state attorney general's office.
Despite paying out a massive settlement, FCR continues to conduct business as usual.
As do Webloyalty, Vista Print, and others that operate "negative option" schemes.
Why this cyberpickpocketing continues, often in such a glaringly "steal from the poor and give to the rich" way, should be a cause of great concern because, to my mind, it seems impossible to imagine this going on without help from corrupt government agencies. Or, let me put it this way: either the government regulatory agencies are corrupt OR they are inept.
Well, okay. I can imagine a third solution. Some decent minded attorney general has these bastards in his or her sights, and soon, heads are going to roll.
I hope this is the case.
Water for Milk
While I haven't gotten any work done on the novel, I did write an application essay for a teaching job that seems perfect for me. It requires a second essay, as well -- I'll get started on that after I proof some yeast for bread.
Today's variations: using water instead of milk, adding fresh rosemary, trying out a secret leavening agent. Nothing sinister -- I just want eaters to judge first.
Today's variations: using water instead of milk, adding fresh rosemary, trying out a secret leavening agent. Nothing sinister -- I just want eaters to judge first.
Reservation Rewards II
Well, aparently, a few things have changed since the blog I linked to below was posted. As soon as I called Reservation Rewards, I got an automated answering service. Cancelling my membership was first on the list.
I had to take note: Once I tried to cancel, the first, number one option, was an oddly phrased choice: Yes, I would not like to cancel my membership at this time. I can't remember the specifics, but, even as a former English teacher, I had to think about the option a few times to realize it merely allowed me to . . . do nothing. Option two was the one to cancel, and I did.
I was informed that I hadn't been charged and would not be charged. I was given a confirmation number.
The only problem? Why is the pending charge still listed on my bank statement?
So I'm calling Bank of America to make sure they cancel the charge and all future charges from the swines at Reservation Rewards.
I was given an estimated wait time of three minutes to speak with an operator. I've been on the phone for twenty minutes now. At least it gives me time to update the blog.
When I had the problem with Vista Print, once I actually got to a human being, they were friendly and helpful. Those weight times, though . . . .
*
Okay. Talked to the Bank of America rep, and the charge hasn't been "hard posted" yet, meaning that it is still pending. I need to keep checking, because I can only file a claim once it posts. I asked if there was a direct number to the claims department and there isn't.
So that's that. I'll have to keep checking my bank account this week to monitor to see if the fraudulent charges post.
*
For the record, I finally remember the website where I inadvertently fell into their trap: it was Fandango -- the site I used to buy the Coraline tickets.
I read this excellent article and discovered other websites that willingly work with these con-artists: priceline.com, hotels.com, and classmates.com.
The article notes that, as of the post date, at least one company did the right thing and ended their relationship with the reservation rewards program: 1-800-FLOWERS.com.
Reservation Rewards is a run by a company called Webloyalty. They might just as well be called Orwell's Nightmare, with a name like that.
The most sinister part of the article concerns the company's CEO, Richard Fernandes, who told author Peter Dizikes, that he refused to change his business practices on the grounds that, ""Our approach is generally to make transactions simple for consumers."
In a just society, Mr. Fernandes would be doing time in prison for theft and fraud. But not for punitive reasons: I simply want to make sure he gets his food and shelter as simply as possible.
I had to take note: Once I tried to cancel, the first, number one option, was an oddly phrased choice: Yes, I would not like to cancel my membership at this time. I can't remember the specifics, but, even as a former English teacher, I had to think about the option a few times to realize it merely allowed me to . . . do nothing. Option two was the one to cancel, and I did.
I was informed that I hadn't been charged and would not be charged. I was given a confirmation number.
The only problem? Why is the pending charge still listed on my bank statement?
So I'm calling Bank of America to make sure they cancel the charge and all future charges from the swines at Reservation Rewards.
I was given an estimated wait time of three minutes to speak with an operator. I've been on the phone for twenty minutes now. At least it gives me time to update the blog.
When I had the problem with Vista Print, once I actually got to a human being, they were friendly and helpful. Those weight times, though . . . .
*
Okay. Talked to the Bank of America rep, and the charge hasn't been "hard posted" yet, meaning that it is still pending. I need to keep checking, because I can only file a claim once it posts. I asked if there was a direct number to the claims department and there isn't.
So that's that. I'll have to keep checking my bank account this week to monitor to see if the fraudulent charges post.
*
For the record, I finally remember the website where I inadvertently fell into their trap: it was Fandango -- the site I used to buy the Coraline tickets.
I read this excellent article and discovered other websites that willingly work with these con-artists: priceline.com, hotels.com, and classmates.com.
The article notes that, as of the post date, at least one company did the right thing and ended their relationship with the reservation rewards program: 1-800-FLOWERS.com.
Reservation Rewards is a run by a company called Webloyalty. They might just as well be called Orwell's Nightmare, with a name like that.
The most sinister part of the article concerns the company's CEO, Richard Fernandes, who told author Peter Dizikes, that he refused to change his business practices on the grounds that, ""Our approach is generally to make transactions simple for consumers."
In a just society, Mr. Fernandes would be doing time in prison for theft and fraud. But not for punitive reasons: I simply want to make sure he gets his food and shelter as simply as possible.
Reservation Rewards I
I checked my meager bank account balance this morning and found a charge to a company called Reservation Rewards. I learned to check my balance long ago and to scan for small charges after I got ripped off buying business cards through a company called Vista Print, who at the time were the princes of these hidden charge scams. I remember doing research on them and finding out the owner had used the company to amass a fortune and was a close associate to George W. Bush. That seemed to be the only viable explanation, to me at least, for why such scammers could operate so brazenly and so openly without the feds cracking down on them.
These people are, after all, thieves. The owners, the reps, the employees. They are thieves, pure and simple. Just because you fill out a W-2 form when you go to work for the first day doesn't give you the right to rob people. But this is obvious.
Twelve bucks. I never bought anything through Reservation Rewards. Their number was listed as 800-732-7031.
So a quick and easy google search lead me to this website. What a way to start the morning. What's great about the scumbags you deal with at these places, is that they always try to make it seem like they're making an exception for you because of YOUR mistake, even though they are dogshit scam artists.
Now I'm going to drop the Dufflebag off at school and come home and try to clear the charges.
These people are, after all, thieves. The owners, the reps, the employees. They are thieves, pure and simple. Just because you fill out a W-2 form when you go to work for the first day doesn't give you the right to rob people. But this is obvious.
Twelve bucks. I never bought anything through Reservation Rewards. Their number was listed as 800-732-7031.
So a quick and easy google search lead me to this website. What a way to start the morning. What's great about the scumbags you deal with at these places, is that they always try to make it seem like they're making an exception for you because of YOUR mistake, even though they are dogshit scam artists.
Now I'm going to drop the Dufflebag off at school and come home and try to clear the charges.
Monday, March 2, 2009
Winter Warming
As the next draft of the novel nears completion, I'm going to start focusing on freelance food writing -- I've already secured a name and a site and I'll update you as soon as there's anything worth reading up there.
Today, I'm baking bread, using the autolyse method Charlie suggested, as well as making a few other modifications: I'm using wetter dough, I'm not using a bread pan but a stone, and, instead of punching the bread down, I've been letting it rise and folding it on itself every 20 minutes or so, a technique suggested on some artisinal baking sites I visited. I'm also playing with the baking times -- starting with a high temp for the first fifteen minutes then switching to a lower one for half an hour. It is baking now, so I can't speak for the results.
The bread is a simple, unbleached white with no added ingredients.
It's snowing too hard for me to head in to teach (four hour commute? Sorry, guys. I'll be there in spirit) so I'm also making a sausage lentil soup: I've added tomatoes, roasted cumin and coriander, dijon mustard, celery, a single lime leaf, and other standard spices. I'm slow cooking it. I didn't have access to stock, so I'm using water. I add pepper about ten minutes from completion -- overcooked pepper adds an unpleasant, bitter taste. A pinch of salt, and I'm serving it up with the bread for a snowy night's feast for the family.
Today, I'm baking bread, using the autolyse method Charlie suggested, as well as making a few other modifications: I'm using wetter dough, I'm not using a bread pan but a stone, and, instead of punching the bread down, I've been letting it rise and folding it on itself every 20 minutes or so, a technique suggested on some artisinal baking sites I visited. I'm also playing with the baking times -- starting with a high temp for the first fifteen minutes then switching to a lower one for half an hour. It is baking now, so I can't speak for the results.
The bread is a simple, unbleached white with no added ingredients.
It's snowing too hard for me to head in to teach (four hour commute? Sorry, guys. I'll be there in spirit) so I'm also making a sausage lentil soup: I've added tomatoes, roasted cumin and coriander, dijon mustard, celery, a single lime leaf, and other standard spices. I'm slow cooking it. I didn't have access to stock, so I'm using water. I add pepper about ten minutes from completion -- overcooked pepper adds an unpleasant, bitter taste. A pinch of salt, and I'm serving it up with the bread for a snowy night's feast for the family.
Sourdough
Day five without working on the novel. Very frustrating.
School was cancelled, so the Dufflebag is home. I have to go out and shovel and work on the house electrical problem before teaching tonight.
*
After spending a great deal of time reading about sourdoughs, I started a starter last week and, as luck would have it, it is now bubbling and stinking up and doing all that it is supposed to. I spent some good hours reading about the history of sourdoughs: San Francisco, the miners, the European variations.
My first attempt, after I let it grow for a week, will be to make an olive bread. I love olive breads, and olives in general, so it seems a fitting way to begin.
I nearly finished off the last of the wheat bread this morning. It is heavier, but not too stale, which is surprising given how quickly homemade breads will go bad. I toasted it and ate with with some raspberry jam. If that won't get me through the snow shoveling, I don't know what will.
School was cancelled, so the Dufflebag is home. I have to go out and shovel and work on the house electrical problem before teaching tonight.
*
After spending a great deal of time reading about sourdoughs, I started a starter last week and, as luck would have it, it is now bubbling and stinking up and doing all that it is supposed to. I spent some good hours reading about the history of sourdoughs: San Francisco, the miners, the European variations.
My first attempt, after I let it grow for a week, will be to make an olive bread. I love olive breads, and olives in general, so it seems a fitting way to begin.
I nearly finished off the last of the wheat bread this morning. It is heavier, but not too stale, which is surprising given how quickly homemade breads will go bad. I toasted it and ate with with some raspberry jam. If that won't get me through the snow shoveling, I don't know what will.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
Posts
