Subj : Resend Re: virus stuff was: Solar T To : Barry Martin From : Nancy Backus Date : Fri Jun 12 2020 15:56:12 This starts the second set of 5, resending from June 2... Original Date: 02 Jun 20 12:08:36 Subj: Re: virus stuff was: Solar T -=> Quoting Barry Martin to Nancy Backus on 19-May-2020 11:10 <=- 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. NB>> True... last few days the spam/scam calls have all been the credit NB>> card variants.... or hangups.... BM> Pretty much the same here. And lately, a lot of medicare scam-type calls... with a little spate in between of auto insurance and extended warranty calls... BM> The problem currently is we have to monitor the calls as we're BM> expecting a call from the person overseeing the hail damage project BM> here and with COVID-19 they're primarily working from home using BM> their cell phones. And if they've moved around some their cell BM> number could be from anywhere. Seems a lot of people that do use their cell phones for business have made the effort to have their name come up on the ID, which is handy and reassuring... ;) BM> We did verify they're aware of that little problem and they do leave BM> messages, either for pickup or so the client can call back. That works nicely, too.... 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). NB>> I very rarely get spam emails... apparently they don't make it NB>> through my ISP.... BM> My spam e-mail reception from my "Q" account (the former Qwest phone BM> company, now owned by CenturyLink) goes from tons then slowly BM> decreased to almost nothing and nothing. It'll then stay at the BM> acceptable dribble level for months, then suddenly shoot up and repeat BM> the cycle. Almost like they put in a new filter which has to be BM> trained. Maybe... or just a system upgrade that the filter has to get used to... 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. NB>> Precisely... also to make it seem as though your neighbor is NB>> calling... :) BM> Right, which tend to make one a hare more off-guard while one racks BM> their brain on who the voice belongs to. Unless one is wise to the ploy and only answers the ones that are totally recognized... and otherwise presumes that it's likely to be bogus... Particularly on my cell phone, if it comes up with the same area code and exchange, I discount it to being spam/scam... I know no one else that shares that with me... :) If it turned out to be valid, they'd leave a message hopefully (and the scammers that do, are immediately obvious as such).... 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 NB>> There's always been some degree of that among some people... it's just NB>> been more of a minority thing.... BM> Yes; plus everyone is more aware of the, for example, social BM> distancing detail. Thinking the accidental bumping into a stranger BM> while walking down a sidewalk. Before: "watch where you're going!". BM> Now: "you trying to kill me?!". ...Before, go to a restaurant and BM> waterspots on the silverware was sort of a lightly raised eyebrow and BM> wipe with the napkin. Now... ?? I supposed there could be heightened awareness at the moment... I tend more to a more laissez faire attitude anyway, and expect that as things run their course I'll just drop back to how I was.... Others might not, I suppose... :) 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. NB>> Even with the current situation, Taste of Japan is still using the NB>> same regular menus, plastic encased... disposable napkins and NB>> chopsticks same as always... The only other place we've been, Nam NB>> Vang, is also using their same menus (theirs are plastic-coated)... NB>> Most restaurants we go to are pretty meticulous about cleanliness NB>> anyway, just on general principles (and health code standards)... ;) NB>> For a while, restaurants will be forced to operated at reduced NB>> capacity to allow for more distancing, but I don't expect that to NB>> stay the case forever... and a lot of places don't lack the tables NB>> anyway.... :) BM> Yes, plastic-wrapped menus have been around for ages, though I've seen BM> some which shouldn't have been! Now, a tiny rip and it will be BM> disposed of. Cleanliness will be under a microscope; always was BM> supposed to be clean but sometimes things slipped by. As for capacity, BM> right now the need to keep separation because of the 6' rule - BM> eventually will be relaxed, though I wonder if the customers will like BM> being so close to the next party again? I'm thinking there will be a BM> preference for separation but now for privacy: not overhearing the next BM> table or booth, and I certainly wouldn't miss the kid on next booth BM> jumping up and down! Yeah, to avoid that, I do prefer the outside seat on the last booth so as not to be sharing that inner divider... ;) NB>>>> 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. NB>> Money is probably easiest to transfer... :) But some items might have NB>> family significance... :) You'll just be the recipient of those, NB>> though, and your aunt's executor will be the one with the headaches NB>> (if any) of distributing the items or turning into money... :) BM> Possibly. European (or at least Austrian and Slovakian) lawyers seem BM> to be a lot more laid back than American. When the land was BM> transferred to the Slovakian part of the family my Mother (and BM> Father's) lawyer drew up some multi-page contract, signed, and BM> notarized. Gets over there, those lawyers said all that was needed was BM> a paper saying she (my Mother) agreed to giving the land. Essentially BM> a paragraph, maybe two. Probably better to have done more than required than to find out that you hadn't done enough. though... ;) The last remaining hurdle for us to close out my mother's probate is to get the final report to my sister in England and then a signed and notarized (by a US notary at the embassy in London) receipt and release form back from her.... we have them for everyone else... and then take those with a final report back to the court... Covid restricting travel put a crimp into our planned schedule... but I'm sure the court will understand... :) 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 NB>> I suppose it could actually be considered a public service, to let NB>> the public know what is available now, and as things open up... :) NB>> I've been hearing regular advertisers tailoring their ads to let NB>> people know to what extent they are able to be open (take-out, NB>> curbside retail, etc) and similar in the sponsor spiels on public NB>> radio... ;) BM> Yes, might be considered as in the Public Service Announcement arena, BM> and a bit of a trickle-down effect: I see/hear Matilda's Millet BM> Muffins is open for curbside, hey: I wonder if Barbara's Bran Bagels is BM> open still too?! Of course one can always just drive by one's favorite spots and check out the progress... ;) We see a lot of signs out front saying "Open for Takeout", often with a phone number... :) ttyl neb .... 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