Subj : virus stuff w To : Nancy Backus From : Barry Martin Date : Thu Jul 09 2020 08:41:00 Hi Nancy! NB>>> No messages can be left here on the landline... The variation here NB>>> is that the same guy uses multiple names.... two days ago, he was NB>>> Sharon Ricotta, today he was Larry Fitzgeral... (Today's I misread NB>>> as someone's name that might have been calling me...) This one's been NB>>> pushing auto insurance quotes online... I say no thanks, and the NB>>> computer responds by saying oh, ok, no problem and hanging up... :) BM>> Hmm: a polite computer! I don't recall if had the insurance quotes - BM>> I'm usually up here or outside and don't get to the answering machine BM>> first. There have been a few related to roof damage from the hail BM>> storm but those have pretty much tapered off to zero. Most are with BM>> health insurance of some sort. NB>> Always somebody hoping you'll fall for their product... BM> Yes, and with coronavirus expense concerns on most people's minds a BM> little extra opening in their spiel. NB> Still doesn't work here... ;) Good! :) BTW, message left on the answering machine yesterday was the old one about being billed $399 for some computer service contract. Haven't heard that one for a while! BM>> So same situation. Sort of liked the old display better as far as not BM>> reading the 'wrong' name. NB>> Yup, same situation... not sure but that some companies may have fixed NB>> that, or programmed things differently anyway.... but it is a common NB>> thing to come across.... Currently my friend, on her daughter's plan, NB>> comes up as "Jenny's Burgers" (no, that's not her name)... ;) BM> Seems like when the carriers decided to add the subscriber BM> name they didn't quite plan things out fully. ...Would be 'funny' if BM> they did have it almost right. Would make sense to list the primary BM> subscriber first, then the secondary, so: BM> Jenny's Burgers BM> Jenny's Burgers - Melissa Smith BM> Jenny's Burgers - Thomas Smith BM> And the CID system displays only the first field when the desired one BM> is the second if available. NB> Yup, the CID only displays the first however many characters... NB> which is why my primary doctor's office comes up as RU Systems NB> D/B/ instead of Unity Family Medicine (or better, UFM @ NB> St.Mary's)... at least I recognize the number now... ;) Right: only some many characters can be displayed. And while the number might be "Dr. Smith" for you it will be "Dr. Jones" for someone else and another doctor for a third patient. (I'm thinking of a group practice within the hospital campus.) 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. NB>>>> That works nicely, too.... BM>>> Yes -- work with the problem every including themselves is having. NB>>> And often they really don't have any control over what shows for NB>>> their phones, unlike the scammers.... BM>> Oddly enough correct. The legit phone folks need to hire a reformed BM>> scammer or two to fix the problem!! NB>> Or run their phone thru VoIP themselves to get the ability... BM> Probably all will eventually. NB> I think our landline will continue to be analog, not VoIP, NB> though... Probably so for compatibility, or at least the portion coming in to the house. NB>>> So it's working now, anyway... :) BM>> Yes, shortly to train the new account. Router installed this morning, BM>> corrected that, just have to switch the computers over and the Backend BM>> (the one recording the TV programmes) is being stubborn. Updating it BM>> the new IP address was easy enough, the database is not wanting to let BM>> go of the old address: updating/correcting not holding. NB>> Another glitch.... BM> Did get that corrected -- took only four or five days which isn't bad BM> considering one person figuring out the problem was somewhere here in BM> the U.S, another in Holland, and the third in New Zealand (he's the BM> one who did provide the actual correction but needed the information BM> obtained by the other two.) NB> Tech support is now international... ;) And to think it all started with India! (Faux mis-attribution to Al Gore, inventor of the Internet. ) NB>>> Sometimes one simply has to resort to a sense of humor to break the NB>>> seriousness of everything around... BM>> Yes, my pharmacy counter visits are relatively easy: usually just BM>> refills, last time did have a "no refills left" according to the BM>> lable; brought that up, tech locks at the label, "nope: you have six BM>> left". I look surprised (because I am): "Gee, you're _good_!! Take BM>> care of my problems before I get here!" (She liked that one too.) NB>> If it's a maintenance drug, possibly their computer knows to contact NB>> the doctor for a new script when the refills run out.... or the doctor NB>> noticed that you were getting close to date and sent a new one in.. :) BM> Both possibilities. I'd lean a little more towards the computer BM> flagging a human to intervene or possibly sending a message to the BM> doctor's office for a direct electronic verification. No matter how BM> done just surprised me the renewal had been done already. Recall last BM> time with 0 refills I mentioned and was told too early for a renewal BM> request as I was on a 90-day supply and the system would only allow a BM> lesser time renewal request. NB> There can be a rather narrow window there, depending on the NB> insurance coverage.... :) Right. At the time it sounded like the tech would have been more than happy to put in an electronic note/flag to do the renewal, just she was not able to, for what ever reason: limitation on the Hy-Vee programming, limitation on insurance programming, maybe something else. The option wasn't available, so best to go with the flow and I would request closer to the desired refill date. (I would have inquired a few weeks before needing anyway, just as not urgent if there was a line or I was in a bit of a hurry would have postponed.) BM> At future 0 renewals I will mention, probably will have been taken BM> care of automatically but better safe than sorry: the less last-second BM> stuff the better! NB> I tend to call things in, and often ask "at what date can I get NB> this refilled" if it looks to me that maybe the insurance would NB> be a little persnickety about it... :) And sometimes the NB> pharmacy can go ahead and get the new script even if it's still NB> too early too fill right away.... I've been using my cell phone (!! -- well for me it's a '!!' ) to be notified/check on prescriptions, etc. Some things just easier to do in person/via telephone (and that meaning talking to someone, not texting). NB>>>> Probably better to have done more than required than to find out that NB>>>> you hadn't done enough. though... ;) The last remaining hurdle for us NB>>>> to close out my mother's probate is to get the final report to my NB>>>> sister in England and then a signed and notarized (by a US notary at NB>>>> the embassy in London) receipt and release form back from her.... we NB>>>> have them for everyone else... and then take those with a final report NB>>>> back to the court... Covid restricting travel put a crimp into our NB>>>> planned schedule... but I'm sure the court will understand... :) BM>>> I'd probably contact the court, directly or indirectly, to keep aware BM>>> of difficulties and delays. Might be international participants isn't BM>>> as common as we think. NB>>> They are already aware of this particular (at least in possibility) NB>>> snag... we've had to let them know of other slowdowns in the process NB>>> already, and I mentioned at one of them that this was another NB>>> potential snag, dealing with this out-of-country heir.... And if they NB>>> look at the ongoing paperwork it's obvious that her address is in the NB>>> UK.... :) BM>> They look but might not see/comprehend -- IMO always a good idea to BM>> gently remind. NB>> If they don't nudge me first, I might mention it... at the moment, I'm NB>> not even sure if the court is open or closed due to the Covid... :) BM> The judge is working from home and his offical robe on over his BM> pajamas! BM> I don't know if the courts around here have re-opened. Last I heard BM> was at the begining of the COVID-19 close-down and trials in progress BM> were going to continue but no new ones started. NB> And this is probate/surragates court, not a criminal or civil NB> court... eventually, I'll probably call and find out if they are NB> open, etc... but with our snag, no real need yet to push them... NB> ;) Right: if not ready/not needed no real reason to check if open. Locally I would guess some court sessions being held, probably via teleconferencing: traffic offenses, maybe small claims. BM> There was a comment: if the to-go liquor is in a say Styrofoam or BM> paper cup with a lid it technically violates the (Iowa) Open Container BM> law. I'm thinking that one's simple: apply a seal/sticker over the top BM> on to the side so can't be opened without breaking the seal. Don't BM> stick a straw in. Gently squeezing to get a little oozing out the BM> straw's hole is a desperation!! NB> I'd think the seal and no straw should cover that... :) To me it would. ¯ ® ¯ BarryMartin3@ ® ¯ @MyMetronet.NET ® ¯ ® ¯ (Humans know what ® ¯ to remove.) ® .... 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