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Greetings, Quotaholics:
Fairly or not, most of us have unkind words for large companies, be
they oil companies, cable companies, phone companies, banks, supermarkets,
discount stores…you name it. Maybe it’s some subconscious fear
of an entity that large and powerful that has so much control over your
life. Maybe it’s unjustified. And maybe it isn’t.
The UK’s Daily
Express ran an story about Laura Gibson, 20, a student studying
for A-levels at Gloucestershire College in Cheltenham.
In telling her story, I’ll use British Pounds for the currency.
Just multiply the numbers by two to approximate American dollars.
In September, Laura made a £60 purchase , but her account was actually
8p (16¢ US) shy, and so she incurred an overdraft
– and an immediate charge of £60 from her bank, Lloyds TSB. The
overdraft charge equalled the price of the purchase she made.
Laura was then unemployed and, as she was raised in care and has no
family to fall back on, she couldn’t repay it in full that month. The
charges kept coming, totalling over £300 by March.
She was almost back in the black when Lloyds TSB increased overdraft
charges to a flat monthly rate of £166.55 in May. Now she still owes
£515.18.
“This whole episode has been an absolute nightmare. For a debt to have
gone from eight pence to more than £500 is crazy,” said Laura.
“I’m working part-time to try to make ends meet and there’s no way I
can afford to hand over that amount of money for such a ridiculous debt.
“Letters have been sent telling me to settle a debt which has been incurred
for last month’s fees. But before I’ve had a chance to contact them
another one has dropped through saying it’s too late.”
Lloyds TSB has offered to waive half the fee if she repays £250 immediately.
But Laura cannot afford that. The bank has also written warning her
of legal action if she fails to settle.
A Lloyds TSB spokeswoman said: “The charges are not for a one-off unplanned
overdraft position of 8p, they relate to an unplanned overdraft of varying
amounts dating back to September 2007.
Is this a business run amok, earning the kind of scorn that so many
have for them, or is it simply sound business practice? Is there
any way a debt of 8p could realistically be worth £500?
What do you think? What should she do? What should the bank
do?
Mathematically challengedly,
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it worth $1 a month to you to keep RGQ going? Please click the
link and direct your contribution to reallygoodquotes@yahoo.com.
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“New
ideas pass through three periods: 1) It can’t be done. 2) It probably
can be done, but it’s not worth doing. 3) I knew it was a good idea
all along!” - Arthur C. Clarke
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“Asthma doesn’t seem to bother me
any more unless I’m around cigars or dogs. The thing that would bother
me most would be a dog smoking a cigar.” - Steve Allen
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A Trip to the Zoo
[Thanks to Bonnie in Louisiana]
A father was reading
his paper one day when his son came in and said, “Dad, will you take
me to the zoo tomorrow?”
His father said,
“No. If they really want you, they will come and get you.”
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“Dignity is like a perfume; those who use it are scarcely conscious of
it.” - Christina of Sweden, Queen of Sweden (1626-1689)
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“I didn’t realize our songs were so good until Ella sang them.” – Ira
Gershwin, lyricist who collaborated with his composer brother George on
such work as Porgy and Bess, on Ella Fitzgerald
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“The belief that there is only one truth, and that oneself is in possession
of it, is the root of all evil in the world.” - Max Born, German physicist.
(1882-1970)
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E-Mail
the Imp
When the government spends money it rarely gets a good deal. In many
cases the government is the reason the deal isn’t very good.
We’ve all heard about the space program buying a toilet seat for thousands
of dollars and hammers for hundreds. In many cases the government causes
the prices to be excessive. Many years ago in the military I remember
ordering a transistor that had a unit price of over ten dollars. I had
helped a friend build a color TV set from a kit and the same transistor
was sold at Radio Shack in packs of five for less than a buck a piece.
The reason for the higher price in the supply system was due to the
Military Specifications for the item. They required a single transistor
in special packaging to prevent crushing, electrostatic charge damage,
waterproofing, and of course special labeling with stock and part numbers,
contract number, manufacturers part number, etc, etc. The government
shoots itself in the foot…often.
So when the government buys something that performs well beyond expectations
and lasts longer than expected, that rarity becomes legend. One such
item was the DC-3 aircraft of WW2 known as the C-47. We bought an off-the-shelf
civilian aircraft that became the prime military cargo plane of the
war. In fact, many of the 1930’s designed aircraft are still in service
around the world.
A lesser known but legendary bargain are the Voyager spacecraft. Voyager
1 and Voyager 2 were launched over thirty years ago and they’re still
working! That’s over two centuries in Dog Years! They are no longer
working at 100% of their original capability but are still
sending back data. In fact, NASA expects them to continue to operate
in a degraded mode until 2025.
They’ve already reached the edge of our solar system, having traveled
further than any other manmade object. When they finally cease operating,
they will have been in service for nearly half a century. Makes you
wonder sometimes why you can’t get more than a 100,000 mile warranty
on your car.
There’s just one teensy problem that I can see. If there is intelligent
life out there that doesn’t know about Earth, the Voyager craft will
alert them. It would be apparent that Voyager isn’t some sort of Frisbee
that got loose…we put
a map of our solar system pin pointing Earth on it.
The Bad Sied 
Voyager
Photo Gallery
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Speak
right up!
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On
this day in history, July
23, 1914: Serbia ignores an ultimatum issued by Austria-Hungary. Franz
Ferdinand Karl Giuermo Anikò Strezpek Belschwitz Mòric Pinche Bálint Szilveszter
Gömpi Maurice Bzoch János Frajkor Ludwig van Haverbeke Josef von Habsburg-Lothringen
was an Archduke, Prince Imperial, Royal Prince, and next in line to assume
the throne of Austro-Hungary. Franz was supposed to wed only someone of
royal lineage. He was smitten by a young duchess and lady-in-waiting.
After great upheaval and ignoring pleas from the Pope, a Tsar, and an
Emperor, the couple married.
On June 29, 1914, the Archduke and his wife were assassinated while riding
in an armored car in Sarajevo. The car was a convertible and the top was
off. They had come to Serbia, knowing it was dangerous. Europe was already
involved in an arms race, increased nationalism, and imperialism. Serbia
wished for freedom from Austrian rule. The Black Hand, aka Unification
or Death was intent on uniting Serbs, Croats, Macedonians, Slovenes –
all the South Slav populations in a free nation. Franz was one of Serbia’s
strongest advocates in Vienna.
Danilo Ilic formed a cell of Black Hand adherents in Sarajevo in 1914.
On June 28, 1914 the group threw a grenade at the Archduke’s car and it
bounced off the hood, injuring several bystanders. Franz and Sophia insisted
they go with the victims to the hospital. Their car made a wrong turn
and 19-year-old Gavrilo Princip was able to shoot both occupants at close
range. He was eventually arrested and died of TB in prison. The Austrian
government was outraged at not being granted access to the hunt and capture
of the assassins. Instead, on July 28, they declared war – and so began
WWI.
“Sophie dear! Don’t die! Stay alive for our children!” – Archduke Ferdinand’s
last words to his wife
“I am the son of peasants and I know what is happening in the villages.
That is why I wanted to take revenge, and I regret nothing.” - Gavrilo
Princip
“[Sophie] could never share [Franz Ferdinand’s] rank … could never share
his splendours, could never even sit by his side on any public occasion.
There was one loophole … his wife could enjoy the recognition of his
rank when he was acting in a military capacity. Hence, he decided, in
1914, to inspect the army in Bosnia. There, at its capital Sarajevo, the
Archduke and his wife could ride in an open carriage side by side …
Thus, for love, did the Archduke go to his death.” - A. J. P. Taylor
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Email
Kirsten
“The world is
divided into two kinds of people: those who have tattoos, and those
who are afraid of people with tattoos.”
~ Unknown ~
When I was living on a kibbutz in Israel, I met a Yorkshireman who we
all fondly referred to as Vic the ***** (replace ***** with a word that
starts with PR and rhymes with hick). Vic had an impossible accent and
a great big Band-Aid covering the back of his hand. He was clearly hiding
a tattoo, and there was wild speculation that the tattoo was of a Swastika.
After all, what else would someone go to such extreme lengths to hide
while in Israel? Eventually the Band-Aid was removed, and it became
clear why Vic had been hiding his tattoo. It was not a Swastika, it
was a black panther, and it was easily the ugliest tattoo in the known
Universe. If I’d had a tattoo like that, I would have hidden it as well.
I would have kept the Band-Aid on permanently, or possibly had my hand
amputated.
That is a ridiculous “what if” scenario, simply because I’d never get
a tattoo in the first place. I don’t have anything against body art
per se, I simply prefer adornations that I’m not stuck with for
my whole life. Besides, I’m too much of a sissy where needles are concerned.
So much so that I endured the agony of natural childbirth instead of
getting the epidural. But I digress.
Tattoos are made by repeatedly poking little holes in the skin with
needles connected to tubes of ink. The ink is injected into the top
layer of skin and results in permanent pigmentation changes. Tattoos
done in dodgy locations, such as prisons or on street corners of gang
neighbourhoods, can be seriously risky. If they are done in clean headquarters
by trained people using sterilized equipment, however, they are quite
safe. The incidence of complications resulting from properly administered
tattoos is very low, especially considering how many people have tattoos.
Even so, there are some health
considerations that people should be aware of prior to getting a
tattoo. Any time you puncture your skin with anything, there is an increased
risk of infection. The risk may be small, but it is there, and taking
the proper precautions just makes good sense. First, ensure that your
ten-year tetanus shot is still good. Second, do your homework on whoever
is giving you the tattoo. Anyone who is reluctant to show you the premises
and the equipment, and to answer your questions, is probably not as
vigilant as they should be where safety standards are concerned.
Specific risks of tattoos include blood-borne diseases like HIV and
hepatitis, skin diseases and allergic reactions. Interestingly, another
side effect - a relatively rare one - is that tattoos can interfere
with the MRI process. The tattoo itself can become swollen during the
scan, and the pigment can interfere with the quality of the image.
If you do decide that you don’t want the tattoo anymore, there are things
you can do. Laser surgery is the most common tattoo removal option.
It is generally not painful, and only causes mild inflammation. Downsides
are that several treatments may be required, and the tattoo may never
be completely eradicated. The other two options - dermabrasion (sanding
the skin right down) and surgical removal - will get rid of the tattoo,
but permanent scarring may result.
None of this sounds very appealing to me. I think I’ll stick with body
piercings…
Kaleidoscopically yours,
Kirsten
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For the past couple of issues, I’ve described how my sister’s frivolous
obsession with making changes to her computer when she needed it most
caused me very real and very devastating physical and emotional distress.
It has affected my personal life as I have to move by July 31st, but
for the past two weeks have spent most of my time in bed. It has also
affected my professional life as I had to leave work early yesterday,
not having the physical strength to complete my day. It is now affecting
my cyber-life, as I don’t have the emotional energy to write a story
for you today.
Unfortunately, I’ve also come to the realization that I have three
weeks worth of packing to do and only one week in which to do it.
That means something has to go, and I’m afraid it is RGQ. I don’t
foresee myself being able to write again until next month. My apologies
to those that look forward to my musings, but my life has to come
first.
Tim a’Musing
Having a Ball with Yarns
[Tim, you’ve been an incredibly
reliable columnist, and we all understand that you have to worry about
yourself first. We’ll run some of the Best of Tim in your absence.
Good luck, and believe it or not, we’ll miss you.]
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Sausage patties rolled in flour before frying won’t crack open during
cooking. - Peggy in Tonawanda, New York
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New
submitter. Woo-hoo!
Next opening line…
There’s one thing I’d like to take back…
Hints:
Here’s a great new rhyming/composition tool. http://www.writerhymes.com/
There’s also a great rhyming dictionary at http://www.rhymezone.com/
Limerick rules. http://freespace.virgin.net/merrick.sheldon/limerickrules.htm
Submit
Opening Line
Submit
Limerick
There
once was a man from France,
who after 10 years got his chance,
but he muffed it. -Rach from Missouri |
I
just bought some Oil of Olay.
It smooths out the wrinkles, they say.
My cheeks puffed that day,
But the red went away
Alas, the wrinkles seem here to stay. (I’m allergic to it) - Nancy
L in Ohio |
I
just bought some Oil of Olay,
Trying to keep those age lines at bay.
I apply it morning and night,
And to my great delight,
Now, a younger woman I can portray. - Bonnie in Louisiana |
I
just bought some Oil of Olay,
And I hope to use it some day,
But I don’t know when,
Or if I’ll use it again,
With a new filter in my Chevrolet. - Bruce |
Although
I really don’t have the time
To escape from my work grime
I need to take a pause
To practice my guffaws
In the form of a limerick rhyme. - Anne Onimous |
I
haven’t been able to find
My last dollar, nickel, or dime.
I am now dead broke.
But if you kind folk
Send me your cash, I’ll have a good time. - Anne Onimous |
I haven’t been able to find
Where I set that watermelon rind.
I now have great despair -
I set it on this chair
And it’s right under my behind. - Anne Onimous |
I
haven’t been able to find
My white, walking cane so fine.
I’ve looked high and low;
I can’t find it, you know.
You would think that I was blind. - Anne Onimous |
I haven’t been able to find
A way to get out of this bind.
I was trying some magic
I call my rope trick.
But from me, the rope I can’t unwind. - Anne Onimous |
By
not writing, I feel like a jerk
I didn’t want to leave you in a lurk
But now I must go
(Which I think does blow)
And return to that thing called work. - Anne Onimous |
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Reader
Submission
>From the ArcaMax
Publishing, Science & Technology Newsletter:
Hay
fever pill may aid Alzheimer’s patient
LONDON
(UPI) — A potential new weapon against Alzheimer’s is nothing to sneeze
at because it’s a hay fever medication, British doctors said.
The antihistamine
dimebon improved brain function and memory in patients with early- to
mid-stage Alzheimer’s, The Sun reported Friday.
The
Alzheimer’s Research Trust, which assists many of the 500,000 British
Alzheimer’s patients, told the British newspaper no approved drug resulted
in the improvements seen with Dimebon.
Dr.
Rachelle Doody, who led research in Houston, told The Lancet medical journal,
“There were clear benefits.” - Dora in Denver
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Disclaimer- All quotes printed in this publication are believed to be
accurately attributed, but no guarantees are made that some incorrectly
attributed, or even outright false quotes won’t get in here from time
to time. I assure readers that I will do my best to weed out incorrect
quotes, and will print a retraction as soon as I become aware of any errors.
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Click here to see the archives of past issues, or go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/reallygoodquotes/messages.
If you run across something really outstanding when perusing the archives,
I’d appreciate it if you’d mail me at TheBestOfRGQ@yahoo.com
and point it out to me. I’m in the process of compiling an e-book
called, not surprisingly, The Best of RGQ, and I’d like to hear from you
which pieces impacted you the most. |
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