Subj : Re: virus stuff was: Solar T To : Barry Martin From : Nancy Backus Date : Mon May 18 2020 16:45:10 -=> Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 10-May-2020 09:25 <=- NB>>>> I have noticed, though, that there have been fewer of the spammer NB>>>> calls... apparently they 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! NB>> Cures for the coronavirus... threats of infecting you if you don't send NB>> them money.... Helping you get your stimulus check if you just send NB>> them... (actually, I've heard that those really are popping up now...) BM> Wouldn't surprise me! Here the spam telephone calls are in the down BM> phase -- seemed even prior to the coronavirus there were constantly BM> ringing periods and rather quiet periods. True... last few days the spam/scam calls have all been the credit card variants.... or hangups.... BM> Same for e-mails, though most are getting shuttled to the Junk Mail BM> folders and category (Thunderbird will allow a small part of the BM> message to go through and question if it should be tagged as junk). I very rarely get spam emails... apparently they don't make it through my ISP.... 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? NB>> They'd do best if they were still masking their faces to avoid NB>> recognition... but they'd do well to make the mask not particularly NB>> memorable... ;) BM> Probably better for them! Indeed. :) 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! NB>> As I understand it, it's a function of doing calls with VoIP... they NB>> can give themself any number they wish.... BM> Ah, OK. And apparently they change their number constantly to make it BM> more difficult to trace. Precisely... also to make it seem as though your neighbor is calling... :) 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.) NB>> True... As long as the restrictions are only for a limited time and NB>> for a recognizable reason... Hopefully the normal we were used to will NB>> return again... :) BM> I'm thinking a revised normal (a.k.a. the new normal), at least in the BM> near future. One group of people will be maintaining and therefore BM> requiring social distancing, not touching/cleaning surfaces, and the BM> like There's always been some degree of that among some people... it's just been more of a minority thing.... BM> - so to use restaurants as an example greater space between BM> tables, one-use menus, wrapped silverware and napkins. On the end is BM> the group who will crowd together and not worry about single use as BM> long as assumed cleaned for them (menu in a plastic protector and wiped BM> down). Right now I'm more with the first group but reusing cleaned BM> items isn't out of the question. Even with the current situation, Taste of Japan is still using the same regular menus, plastic encased... disposable napkins and chopsticks same as always... The only other place we've been, Nam Vang, is also using their same menus (theirs are plastic-coated)... Most restaurants we go to are pretty meticulous about cleanliness anyway, just on general principles (and health code standards)... ;) For a while, restaurants will be forced to operated at reduced capacity to allow for more distancing, but I don't expect that to stay the case forever... and a lot of places don't [ack the tables in anyway.... :) 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. NB>> Your financial advisor might have better information about inheritance NB>> laws.... the tax person might not really know anything (or much) about NB>> how an inheritance would affect things... I know when I asked a friend NB>> that works as a tax advisor about some things dealing with my mother's NB>> stuff, he didn't really know.... only the usual individual tax issues NB>> were his balliwick... BM> Right; sort of ask both for their opinions in their specialized areas BM> and then ask again as I learn more. My financial advisor will BM> probably have more clout on my decision; as you indicated the tax BM> person is more specializing in a area of the financial world. Yup, best to capitalize on their strengths.... 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 (where 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! NB>> Indeed...! Dealing with international stuff is its own hassle... My NB>> parents had an account in a UK bank that we had to go through hoops to NB>> liquidate into the estate... ;) BM> I'm thinking my inheritance from my Aunt won't be too bad as it is a BM> set dollar (well, Euro) amount. My Mother is the one to deal with the BM> property distributions, though I'll be involved indirectly. Semi- BM> decided the items will be bought out by the relatives other there and BM> just transfer money. Money is probably easiest to transfer... :) But some items might have family significance... :) You'll just be the recipient of those, though, and your aunt's executor will be the one with the headaches (if any) of distributing the items or turning into money... :) 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. NB>> I could see it showing up as a list on the public radio/TV stations NB>> webpage(s).... :) They could be considered "sponsors" even, for a NB>> minor amount just to be on the list... ;) BM> The radio is doing something similar to TV except abbreviated: BM> announcer reads a list of six or so restuarants and businesses and then BM> refers to the station's website for more and details. I suppose it could actually be considered a public service, to let the public know what is available now, and as things open up... :) I've been hearing regular advertisers tailoring their ads to let people know to what extent they are able to be open (take-out, curbside retail, etc) and similar in the sponsor spiels on public radio... ;) NB>>> ... Murphy's Philosophy: smile -- tomorrow will be worse. BM>> May as well enjoy today! NB>> Exactly... :) BM> Though tomorrow might be better so allow for that too! That's only when you are looking forward to it being worse... ttyl neb .... BTW, FWIW, IMHO, yes. OTOH, AAMOF, maybe not. And RTFM. --- EzyBlueWave V3.00 01FB001F * Origin: Tiny's BBS - http://www.tinysbbs.com (454:1/452) .