Wordsmithery Space

Human At Work.

Blog

  • It Seems Like…

    …Everyone Is A Scammer

    Or a scammer in training. Or maybe I just haven’t been paying attention. I myself got scammed through Etsy one day a year or so ago. I was stupid and didn’t realize what was happening until I sent my credit card information to the perpetrators.

    I was pissed off — mostly at myself. I cancelled my card immediately and contested the charge. I was lucky. I got my money back in a week or two. But I guess it has had an effect as I pretty much look up EVERYTHING and EVERYONE before trusting anybody now.

    I want to exercise more, but just going to the gym and pretending I know what I am doing doesn’t work — doesn’t achieve any goals. I am going to hire a personal trainer to get me straight, but for the moment there is not a lot of discretionary money.

    So I am waiting.

    I was invited by Master Lee (several times) to do Tai Chi.

    Short digression — I can’t believe I had to look up the spelling for Tai Chi, after all the Matais I drank in my previous life. Tai…

    So it looked good. I filled out some forms, answered some questions, and they created an exercise plan just for me.

    Cool.

    But before offering up my financial information, I looked it up. Turns out it doesn’t matter if the training works. The biggest problem has to do with them charging money even when you 1) haven’t given them permission, and 2) even while you are trying to figure out how to cancel the service.

    I suppose I am singling out Master Lee, but there are others — all of whom suffer from the same financial indiscretions that will keep me away. I guess I will just wait until I can afford the trainer at the YMCA.

    It isn’t just exercise. I get ads for “free” books. I just need to pay for “shipping and handling.” Hello??? Then it isn’t free, is it?

    I like the places where calligraphers will create a custom signature for you. My signature is horrid. They advertised a “sale price” of $39. Okay, I can do $39. I went through all the forms and gave them my email address and other personal (non-financial) information. Looking pretty cool!

    But you have to pay in advance. I can understand that. It doesn’t make me happy, but I understand.

    On the “checkout” screen(s), I found out that there was a charge for $39, plus several other charges for whatever, I forget what for. Turns out the $39 sale comes to somewhere in the vicinity of $100.

    Sorry. Goodbye. Email blocked. I won’t be able to get my signature (yet). Once our house sells, I will probably do it, but not now.

    I will say that we have been buying a lot of things for our new house since we downsized, and our belongings are still in storage in South Carolina while we wait for the house to sell. We outfitted our office with two desks, two chairs, two file cabinets, and lamps. Plus, we needed other items while we wait to get our furniture out of storage.

    We found a lady an hour away that sells ceiling fans for half-price. Have purchased four of them, now we have ceiling fans everywhere!

    I guess I will stop now. I just wanted to write something here before too many more days pass. I am getting back into writing and I have been practicing my mandolin more, getting ready for (hopefully) lessons (not online).

    Peace.

    Kevin

  • It’s Here…

    Congratulations, you have made it to the year 2025. Not sure this is something to be celebrated, but here we are.

    In 1896, Svante Arrhenius, a Swedish scientist, published a paper calculating the warming effect of increased carbon dioxide (CO2). His theory was that burning fossil fuels could lead to a rise in global temperatures. 

    Let me repeat the beginning of the preceding paragraph:

    “In 1896”

    One hundred and twenty-nine years ago, someone actually published a document supposing the effects of increased CO2 on the global temperatures.

    But I digress. My mood isn’t going to get any better if I continue to write about how the two newest ways of getting killed that we need to worry about are fire and water.

    Sounds like something in a video game. But this isn’t a video game, this is real. Unfortunately.

    One day, your entire town might burn to the ground, and possibly you with it. Nowhere is safe.

    Another day, a wall of water might wash your house away, and possibly you with it. Nowhere is safe.

    And nobody who could make a real difference gives a shit.

    I read a novel once, I can’t remember the title. I remember that this famous scientist in that world informed the world that they had 20 years left to live before a giant asteroid blew up their planet. In the story, the world as a whole came together, eliminated fossil fuels, and created a large planetary “gun” to shoot the asteroid out of space before it reached the planet.

    The scientist lied. She created a valid reason for the people of the planet to band together as one, and unite in a common cause.

    That wouldn’t work on Earth. Remember the movie “Don’t Look Up?”. Enough said.

    Did you know that some gasoline companies are using windmills to power oil wells where they cannot get enough electricity? Doesn’t that make you think?

    I can’t go on and I presume nobody wants to read this anyway.

    Why?

    Apathy.

    Don’t give a shit.

    So get ready. If you are lucky enough to beat all cancers and Alzheimers and live long and prosper…

    Get ready for the fires. Get ready for the floods. Get ready for nuclear annihilation.

    I am glad I am closer to death than birth.

    I feel sorry for the children who have no viable future, if you think about it.

    Too bad the human race completely screwed up God’s gift to us.

    Kevin