Subj : virus stuff was: Solar TV Battery Test To : Barry Martin From : Nancy Backus Date : Sat May 09 2020 22:30:30 -=> Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 05-May-2020 10:45 <=- BM>>> True. You know people have been isolated too long when they start BM>>> chit-chatting with the telephone spammers! NB>>> Not there yet, thankfully.... I have noticed, though, that NB>>> there have been fewer of the spammer calls.... apparently they NB>>> aren't considered essential businesses... BM>> They couldn't arrange their boiler rooms to comply with the BM>> 6' rule! But yes, have noticed a lot less spam calls. NB>> I had a darker thought on them... perhaps they've fallen prey to the NB>> virus, since they couldn't distance, and were packed into small NB>> spaces.... probably the callers themselves are considered expendable... NB>> and the bigwigs there are just laying low for the time being... BM> Planning even more sinister spams! Cures for the coronavirus... threats of infecting you if you don't send them money.... Helping you get your stimulus check if you just send them.... (actually, I've heard that those really are popping up now...) BM> And I had a strange thought on robbers: now with just about everyone BM> wearing masks do the thieves have to have the faces exposed? They'd do best if they were still masking their faces to avoid recognition... but they'd do well to make the mask not particularly memorable... ;) BM>> The one in particular we've been getting is the same male recording BM>> but from scattered telephone numbers: Dubuque, IA, Lansing, MI, BM>> ...GA, WI. Probably several more. Maybe they bought the same Earn BM>> Money Quick package and instead of re-recording the message to BM>> customize it they just used the example?! NB>> More likely it's one guy that spoofs the numbers to avoid being NB>> tracked down by the authorities... even if one reports the number to NB>> the watchdogs, it isn't really a valid number so they can't NB>> anything to cut him off.... BM> That's a possibility too -- probably a probability. Was scanning BM> through an article indicating random 'correct' local numbers coming up BM> on Caller ID are due to the spammers buying pre-paid phone cards. BM> Apparently somehow triggers a valid number to display. The whole BM> getting-around-the-computers is interesting and baffling! As I understand it, it's a function of doing calls with VoIP... they can give themself any number they wish.... NB>>> lately more just a calming of paranoias and such, though.... BM>> Focus moved to a different target. One thing the local NBC-affilate BM>> (TV) has done is air aa lot of one-minute calming spots: puppies and BM>> kittens playing, scenic wonders, etc. Also 30-second spots with the BM>> message "it's normal to feel overwhelmed and confused, here's how to BM>> handle it". NB>> Our Public Radio has been doing the 30-second spots with an announcer NB>> or three from the station giving the guidelines for staying safe and NB>> healthy and ending with "we're all in this together... together..." NB>> And playing mostly calming music... :) BM> No 'William Tell Overture'?! Well, ok... calming and/or encouraging music... :) BM> Yes, good to be reminded it is normal to be confused, annoyed, BM> overwhelmed, etc. It is not the normal we're used to. It was a sudden BM> change. And if I may say so Americans are not used to being told what BM> to do: stay home! Wear a mask! Don't touch! IMO there are times for BM> freedom and there are times to strictly follow the government rules. BM> (There isn't much freedom in a box six feet underground.) True... As long as the restrictions are only for a limited time and for a recognizable reason... Hopefully the normal we were used to will return again... :) BM>> Yes on the withholdings and refunds. I do recall asking when started BM>> and he said federal and state (IA) generally require, though could be BM>> lessened or none at all. At the time it seemed better just to 'go BM>> with the flow' and have the customary amount withheld. The short-term BM>> policy is expiring in a couple of months and the new one will start -- BM>> have to go down and do the paperwork; thinking having the withholding BM>> amount changed. NB>> Having some withheld is probably good insurance... probably enough NB>> variant factors that it isn't a cut-and-dried type of thing, anyway... BM> Yeahhh.... I'll have to do a bit of research but I think most of it BM> has been done: tax person (with a large company) initially suggested no BM> withholding and then thought around half a good idea based on BM> inheritance. At this point I don't see why my financial advisor would BM> disagree when I activate 'Part 2' of my IRA -- plan on switching to BM> half but have an open mind for why it may not be in my best interests. Your financial advisor might have better information about inheritance laws.... the tax person might not really know anything (or much) about how an inheritance would affect things... I know when I asked a friend that works as a tax advisor about some things dealing with my mother's stuff, he didn't really know.... only the usual individual tax issues were his balliwick... BM>> probably do as distributions rather than lump sum as better for me. BM>> Get to play '20 Questions'with the financial advisor and the tax prep BM>> company! NB>> I've recently been through all of this, settling my mother's estate... NB>> but rules can be different from state to state... Anything with you NB>> as co-owner will just go directly to you and not go through probate NB>> or be subject to tax... Beneficiary, it depends on what it is... NB>> insurance payouts are not taxed, but income (like the IRA) probably NB>> is... Just as well to go over it with your advisors... ;) BM> Right: they know, or at least are much better informed than I am. And BM> dealing with Iowa may be one thing, dealing with Iowa and New BM> Hampshire (wheer my Mother lives) another. ...Good thing we got rid of BM> the land in Slovakia and just have to deal with small stuff in Austria! Indeed...! Dealing with international stuff is its own hassle... My parents had an account in a UK bank that we had to go through hoops to liquidate into the estate... ;) BM>>> ...There's talk of a $1,200 stimulus check because of the COVID-19 -- BM>> FWIW I received mine on April 13th -- everyone else is jealous because BM>> they haven't seen their accounts being deposited yet. I'm guessing BM>> done in Social Security Number order and mine begins with 0? NB>> We didn't get ours yet... but I don't think it's in SS# order, as both NB>> of ours also begin with 0 too... I've heard of some other people that NB>> have gotten theirs already... Did you e-file your taxes this year and NB>> have the payment or refund taken care of electronically from/to your NB>> bank account....? BM> Yes to both parts of the question. Also filed in February. NB> That's probably why you got yours so early.... the combination of NB> all three.... :) BM> Works for me! :) ...The initial announcements of the stimulus checks BM> implied all would be sent out approximately the same time. NB>>>> From what I've seen, it shouldn't be considered income to be taxed, NB>>>> and as long as your income is less than $75000 ($150000 joint) you'd NB>>>> be getting $1200 each... NB>>> It's not like it's all that large an amount, anyway, as far as being NB>>> taxed is concerned, though... :) BM>> True, and have read in other sources it is not taxable. Not trying to BM>> be pessimistic about it, just if I was running real tight with my BM>> money would want to set aside a bit in case of a surprise. NB>> The good news is that if that bigger stimulus comes through, that NB>> won't be taxable, either.... BM> And I might be at the beginning of that line too! :) Indeed you might... :) BM>>> Local news had an interview with a finanacial advisor -- from the same BM>>> company my broker is with (private firm). Was sort of funny as the BM>>> advice was to spend the money and not pay off bills, etc. 'Funny' BM>>> part was he commented normally he'd advise paying down credit cards, BM>>> bills, etc., with this kind of money but in this instance would be BM>>> better to spend. NB>>> Well.... the point of it is to put money into people's hands in order NB>>> TO spend, so as to stimulate the economy.... Just have to figure out NB>>> what's still open in order to spend money at... ;) BM>> True! The local TV stations are putting up ads for what is open and BM>> how to contact. The station I usually watch for news has maybe a BM>> 30-second spot with mini-ads of random lengths: some are cell phone BM>> videos of a bakery "we're open" and a quick contact info; other BM>> mini-spot might be a local restaurant taken with a camera. The BM>> stations also has a webpage where businesses can list they're open and BM>> contact information. IIRC the webpage is free, not sure about the BM>> price of the TV mini-ads but other information indicates they're either BM>> very cheap or free as a PSA type of thing. NB>> Haven't seen or heard of anything like that happening here, but then NB>> I don't watch TV, as you know... ;) Mostly we just keep our eyes open NB>> to see what might be still open when we drive by places... and if we NB>> particularly need something, take a chance that something might be NB>> open... generally it has been.... apparently we only need necessities NB>> as defined by the strictures... BM> And it would be probably difficult to do that sort of listing on BM> radio, probably even more so on public radio as the "we're" open BM> announcements would sound like a commercial. Actually they _are_ BM> commercials, just real short and frequently shot with a cell phone, but BM> still commercials. I could see it showing up as a list on the public radio/TV stations webpage(s).... :) They could be considered "sponsors" even, for a minor amount just to be on the list... ;) NB>> ... Murphy's Philosophy: smile -- tomorrow will be worse. BM> May as well enjoy today! Exactly... :) ttyl neb .... A day without BBS mail is a day with much more free time. --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F * Origin: Tiny's BBS - http://www.tinysbbs.com (454:1/452) .