Now showing at the Marblehead Arts Association December Members' Show.
Previously Showing on The Wall of Bob's Office.
Window/Wall
Now showing at the Marblehead Arts Association December Members' Show.
Previously Showing on The Wall of Bob's Office.
Poor neglected blog
Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and my other blog are killing this blog. I'm thinking of building a robot to manage my online activities for me.
Theft is the sincerest form of flattery?
I had this photo and a few others in the holiday show at the Marblehead Arts Association and when I went to pick it up it wasn't there.
"Do you think that means it was sold?" I asked.
"Or stolen," they said.
No way of knowing until (or unless) a check arrives in the mail. I can't wait to find out. Meanwhile, someone made the point that I ought to be flattered if someone did steal it.
And, seriously, if I had to choose one photo of mine that's most likely to be stolen, it would be the fembots.
Anyway, I have another five (!) photos in the current "new members" show, which runs this month. There are some really nice things there ... and I met some very cool folks at the opening.
A Christmas (card) story
Got lots of Christmas cards this year, which makes me very happy--I love getting them, even though I haven't sent them in a few years (too lazy). And the fact that I keep getting them even though I don't reciprocate just proves how much people love me.
But the one card I look forward to most is the one from RCAS and family, who are creative, funny, and wizards at Photoshop. This year's card arrived yesterday--It's so funny you could poke your eye out with it!
Wondering: Will the baby get a Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB rifle with a compass in the stock? Or a pink bunny suit?
Also, to KK: Still waiting for yours, and it better have a picture in it.
But the one card I look forward to most is the one from RCAS and family, who are creative, funny, and wizards at Photoshop. This year's card arrived yesterday--It's so funny you could poke your eye out with it!
Wondering: Will the baby get a Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model BB rifle with a compass in the stock? Or a pink bunny suit?
Also, to KK: Still waiting for yours, and it better have a picture in it.
Today I hate ...
... American Express.
Have you ever
In your life
Received a credit card bill that shows the past month's interest charges
EVEN THOUGH YOU PAID THE PREVIOUS BILL IN FULL?
When you pay a bill and the balance is zero after you pay it (assuming you paid on time), then the next bill should be zero, too.
But no: I paid the bill in full--I mean I paid the total balance showing on my statement--and the next month I get a bill for $42.05. The "recent activity" has just one item: $42.05 in interest. Um, interest on WHAT? My zero balance?
But here's the best part: The minimum balance due is $15.
So if you weren't paying attention, you might keep paying that bill for, oh I don't know, EVER? In fact, even if you paid the bill in full, wouldn't you have the accumulated interest on the interest to pay the next month? How would you ever pay that bill off?
I called them and got an extremely cheery woman who suffered my outrage like a saint. You have to pay your balance off two months in a row, she says, before they stop charging interest (this may be true--but it sure as hell doesn't sound right). "Let me explain how interest works," she tells me.
Let me explain, I said, that I know full well how interest works. Let me explain that American Express has a strong brand name--a company that has a reputation as being customer-centric and trustworthy. How many millions is it spending on its current ad campaign to bolster its image?
At a time where consumers aren't spending as much, it doesn't seem to be very smart to act so scummy. (Yeah, that's the only word I could think to describe it: scummy.)
BTW I thanked her for letting me rant and told her I know it is not personally her fault. But, I said, I wanted her to put two notes on my account: first, that I had been promised that if I paid this interest charge my next bill would have a zero balance and second, that I was very angry and wanted to state for the record that American Express is scummy.
It's a small consolation, but at she promised me she'd do both.
Edit: Apparently I am not alone. Check out this story on (and four pages of reactions from consumers with similar stories) on Consumerist.com
Have you ever
In your life
Received a credit card bill that shows the past month's interest charges
EVEN THOUGH YOU PAID THE PREVIOUS BILL IN FULL?
When you pay a bill and the balance is zero after you pay it (assuming you paid on time), then the next bill should be zero, too.
But no: I paid the bill in full--I mean I paid the total balance showing on my statement--and the next month I get a bill for $42.05. The "recent activity" has just one item: $42.05 in interest. Um, interest on WHAT? My zero balance?
But here's the best part: The minimum balance due is $15.
So if you weren't paying attention, you might keep paying that bill for, oh I don't know, EVER? In fact, even if you paid the bill in full, wouldn't you have the accumulated interest on the interest to pay the next month? How would you ever pay that bill off?
I called them and got an extremely cheery woman who suffered my outrage like a saint. You have to pay your balance off two months in a row, she says, before they stop charging interest (this may be true--but it sure as hell doesn't sound right). "Let me explain how interest works," she tells me.
Let me explain, I said, that I know full well how interest works. Let me explain that American Express has a strong brand name--a company that has a reputation as being customer-centric and trustworthy. How many millions is it spending on its current ad campaign to bolster its image?
At a time where consumers aren't spending as much, it doesn't seem to be very smart to act so scummy. (Yeah, that's the only word I could think to describe it: scummy.)
BTW I thanked her for letting me rant and told her I know it is not personally her fault. But, I said, I wanted her to put two notes on my account: first, that I had been promised that if I paid this interest charge my next bill would have a zero balance and second, that I was very angry and wanted to state for the record that American Express is scummy.
It's a small consolation, but at she promised me she'd do both.
Edit: Apparently I am not alone. Check out this story on (and four pages of reactions from consumers with similar stories) on Consumerist.com
