Telephone Fraud

For the last two weeks, I received local calls, which I didn't recognize, so I didn't answer. A voice mail was soon left, which I would delete.

Yesterday, the recorded message was alerting me to a problem with my credit card, and the request of pressing "1" to find out the details. I erased the voice mail, as usual, and then thought about what I needed to do.

I called the number on caller identification. A nice woman answered, who had no idea her number was being used by the telemarketer. This led me to some investigation into what is happening.

Apparently, caller id can be manipulated to use your own area code, the first three digits of you phone number, and the last four digits randomly picked. It looks like a local call, which usually leads to an answer, since it doesn't seem like a telemarketing call.

Within an hour, I had another call, with the same number, so I answered, waited for the "press 1" option, and soon had someone to talk to.

The voice on the other end was male, with a noticeably Indian, or Pakistani accent. I didn't wait for him to start his spill, and immediately asked "Who the $#%@ are you? He tried to go on, but I continued by telling him the were breaking the law, and wanted to speak to his supervisor. He tried to continue. I raised my voice and continued: "Who the $#%@ are you? He hung up.

I told my sister-in-law about it, and she explained she too had the same types of calls, and used up the telemarketer's time with inane questions, or ridiculous remarks. It sounded like fun, so I have a new strategy. It looks like I might have some fun with the telemarketers, and I need to see how long I can waste their time.

Fourteenth Amendment Nonsense

Section 1

"...All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside. No state shall make or enforce any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States; nor shall any state deprive any person of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

If someone pays attention, they realize foreign citizens are not subject to the jurisdiction of the United States. Of course, they can be prosecuted for crimes, but the embassies for the citizens are safe havens, and they might even be allowed to leave under the protection of diplomatic immunity. 

What does this have to do with the 14th Amendment? Its the part about jurisdiction. Foreign citizens are not under U.S. jurisdiction, and even if their child is born here, they are still a foreign citizen just visiting. Therefore, they are not automatically a U.S. citizen. 

This is easy stuff. How anyone can think otherwise either indicates they're as dense as a box of rocks, or have an agenda to subvert the laws of the United States. 

It's Halloween

The forecast for the local folks is not good for tricks and treats. Not only may there be rain, some may come from severe thunderstorms So, the children will miss a late evening moon; rising over the trees; tendrils of high clouds making the moon appear as sailing on a wispy sea; swirling leaves in the dark shadows leaving thoughts of scurrying, tiny night creatures;  the damp, cool breeze inspiring pulling up a collar; and the trek home, with bags of treats to protect from the hidden ghosts behind the wide trunk of the old oak tree.

Oh well, there's always next year.  Happy Halloween!

Eyes Wide Shut

Pollster, and odds makers, are either in collusion, or ridiculously naive on the majority of U.S. voters. Whatever the reason, the early voting turnout is not what they expected.

From my vantage point, it appears those unwilling to return to the Obama economy, and the liberal beliefs that squelch personal liberty, are voting Republican in droves. If so, the projections of a "blue wave" may be as imaginary as the anticipated results of the last election for President.

We'll see, but I'm only finding a few die hard, ignorant, booger eating liberals willing to throw away their brain to continue the madness promoted by the Democratic Party.

Dueling Roosters

I woke early. After the Keurig spat me out a fresh cup of coffee, I eased onto the porch to enjoy the time before sunrise.

It was quiet. The crisp air was heavy with dew, and the dark sky was filled with the constellations soon to be seen in the early evening. I sat, and sipped my coffee.

As I sat, I listened for the usual distant dog bark. There was none to be heard, and even the night creatures were silent in the cold air. It was unusually quiet, even for mid Fall, which added a deeper calm to an already calm morning.

I sat for a few minutes before a rooster crowed in the distance. The crow was almost immediately answered by another crow in another direction. Soon another followed, and another, and finally a high pitched crow; like a distant squeak from a juvenile banty; an answer, or maybe a direct reaction to what the rooster considered a threat.

The duel went on for a few minutes. One would crow, then the answers would soon follow. The crows came from all directions, and pinpointed which neighbors had chickens.

I counted six separate crows before the dueling roosters finally settled down; obviously content in their greeting of the morning. It was something to hear, and made the early morning even more special.