Fake News #45857

When I open my Edge browser, it starts with an msn "news" page (that's a story for another day), with aggregated stores from various sources.  I've noticed lately that every day it seems to be highlighting negative economic news.  Usually company closures, layoffs and the sort.  Occasionally I bite on the clickbait, and find it's either overstated, or downright lying. Today, for instance:

Yikes, sound ominous, huh?  Popular store "closing all locations"!  So I bit, to see who, and why.  The answer:  The "popular" convenience store is "Kum and Go".  They are being rebranded as Maverik after being bought in August 2023. The actual linked article makes no mention of any location closing.  So 2 years ago, one C-Store company bought out another, and they are now rebranding those stores to the new corporate image.  No stores are closing.  

The question is: why do "news" outlets outright lie in their headlines?  I understand click-bait, and wanting to draw eyes.  But there's a big difference between hyperbole and outright lying.  I guess they won, they got me to click through.  But it really ticks me off.

Why Bother?

 I'm over 1/2 way through my 4th year doing monthly reviews of the Top 40 charts from 50 years ago.  Starting with January 2020, through July 2023, just posted yesterday.

I decided to look at see how popular this has been through the years.  Looking at views, as reported in blogger, the most popular post was September 2020, with a paltry 39 views.  Ouch.  Worse is the steady decline since then.

So what of it?  At time i wonder why I do it.  I mostly do it for myself, but I could study the charts w/o bothering with the blog post.  I certainly don't pest as often (photos etc) as I used to, I've largely shifted to Instagram, where a photo probably gets 10x the views.  I think that the era of blogging is probably long gone.  On the other hand, I kind of like that I've been here since 2004.  And it does document that I've been using the LSquared Imaging name for almost 20 years.  (Reality is that I was using it before 2004, but can't document it).

Anyway, this isn't meant to be a rant...  although I'll tag it as such.  Maybe just musing.  

I'm sure I'll continue these posting through the end of 2023.  We'll see after that.

in the Universe's Customer Service Abyss

 

The joys of (on-line) customer service.  Last night, I turned on 1 of our TV’s and after 30 seconds or so, the network interface box started cycling through reboots, over and over.  I verified that the problem was in the box (not the TV, nor signal into the house).  I decided to unplug it overnight, but this morning it is totally dead (won’t power up).

Not really a big deal, it happens.  So, this morning it’s a dive into the abyss that is customer service.  First try:  Online support.  After about 20 minutes of serval paths through the infinite loop of on-line help, I finally found a phone number.

Next step: Phone support.  We got hold of a real person withing just a couple of minutes, and then had to go through resetting our PIN and security questions, because we hadn’t needed either in years.  I explained our problem, the person was very understanding.  Then announced that he was in billing, and would need to re-route us to technical support.  And then (before transferring me) tried to see me now phones.

So, after 15+ minutes, I was transferred to Technical support.  Or more accurately, to Technical supprt’s hold music.  And I’ve been sitting on hold for 40+ minutes.  After 20 minutes in a computer voice told me they were busy, and my wait time might exceed 10 minutes.  Yeah, a little over 10 minutes.  After another 20 minutes they told me again that my wait time might exceed 20 minutes…

Finally, after just over an hour, I reached a nice support person who cheerfully ordered a new receiver which we should receive tomorrow.  The whole process took about 70 minutes, but less than 5 once I reached the right person!

Humblest Apologies... yet again

I realized today it has been month since I've posted here, since 2/12/2022.  I apologize.  No real excuse, just distracted.  It's not just blogger, at least.  My wife had a friend reach out to make sure we were doing ok, because we haven't been posting as much as usual to social media.  And I haven't been doing much photography,. 

I have been pretty regular at instagram, I'd welcome follows there!!  of course, it looks like I get almost 3x the traffic over there compared to here.....  Oh well, I still need to do better.

Why Does Facebook do this?

 So, I'm browsing Facebook, see a post from a musician I foolow announcing a new album coming out soon.  There's a comment the asks if the new release will be on CD.  There's a reply from the artist, presumably answering the question.

I click on the reply, and get nothing except an announcement from Facebook that "some replies may have been filtered out".

I don't know what idiocy their algorithm uses, but ho can  the original poster answering a question be irrelevant????????????????????????????????????????????????

I see this with distressing frequency.

Worst Spam Ever?

 

I found this one in the Junk folder of my least used email:

- - - 

Mr Femi Brown <tes@aspirepp.com>

Tue 3/16/2021 11:07 AM

To: recipients:

This mail is been writing to you because we have come to understand that you have lost a lot of money all because you want to receive your fund well note that all that have been put to a stop as the federal government of Nigeria has promised to assist you with the sum of $5million in other to compensate you and all you have to do is fill the below information s.

1 full name

2 home phone and cell phone number

3 occupation

4 amount that was lost by you

Send this and get back at once.

Warm regards

Femi

- - - 

Where to start?  How about it is clearly a bulk email, sent to "recipients".

And the reply address doesn't match the sent from.  

Then the fact that it is 1 run-on sentence.  

And, the message is pretty much incomprehensible.

Just to make sure you know it's a scam, it's from Nigeria!

After a couple of readings, I wonder if this is targeted at people who have already fallen for a Nigerian scam, since it says the Nigerian govt is going to "put a stop" to your loss and "assist you".

I do like that I get to tell them how much money I lost, presumably not to exceed the $5M they mention.  

I guess people still bite on these, or they would still be trying.  On the other hand, I used to get these with some regularity, now they're pretty rare.

I'm Rich (or not...)

 So, I was glancing one of at my spam folders and saw the following message, sent from JFK International Airport <info@jfkairport.com>:

ATTENTION! ATTENTION!

I received your Fund Consignment Box worth $10.5 million USD in my office and it is ready to be delivered to your home address or through bank transaction before two young men by name WILLIAM HUGES and JOHN CAMEL came with a sad news of your death, they also claim to be your relatives and they make enquiry to claim your Fund as it is their rightful inheritance. They told us that you gave them the permissions at the hospital bed to claim your money before you die we couldn't hand over your money to them until we find out that you are dead and if they are truly your sons please reconfirm with your information if you are still alive and if you know these two men . If you fail to do so , we will assume also that you're truly dead and we will be left with no other option than to hand the fund over to them .

WOW!!  $10.5 Million, and all I have to do is assure the folks at JFK Airport that I'm alive!  I should probably hurry, hurry to make sure those "young men" don't steal my money.

On the other hand, it's been 10 days since the airport sent the message, so it's certainly too late.  Oh well, huh?

- - - - -

Clearly, it is Spam, Spam, Spam, Spam....  This is a little bit of a twist, the promise that there's a lot of money physically in the USA, ready to pickup.  On the other hand,   And there's push to respond quickly, so those two imposters don't walk off with my money.  .  On the other hand, they didn't even bother to dream up some backstory as to why somebody sent me 

But wouldn't it be nice if random strangers actually sent you $10.5M?

Sang What?

 So, I was listening to the Bee Gees song "Run To Me" this morning.  From 1972, the song reached #16 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart (US), and was top 10 in much of the world.  Really solid song, great harmony, perfect example of the pre-disco Bee Bees. 

Anyway, as I listening, the lyrics caught my attention:

"Run to me whenever you're lonely. 
Run to me if you need a shoulder
Now and then, you need someone older

So darling, run to me"

Wait...  "Now and then, you need someone older"??  What exactly do they mean by that?  Especially considering that the oldest brother  Gibb (Maurice) was only 26 when it came out.  Just how much older is he talking?

But I think I'm overlooking it.  Older is a good rhyme with shoulder after all.  And there's certainly no shortage of songs about young girls, so many that are a LOT more creepy than this line.

So:  nevermind.

Shopping Cart Theory

From the internet: The viral "Shopping Cart Theory" proposes that an individual's moral character can be determined by whether they choose to return a shopping cart to its designated spot after use or whether they simply leave it wherever it suits them....  

To return the shopping cart is an easy, convenient task and one which we all recognize as the correct, appropriate thing to do. To return the shopping cart is objectively right. There are no situations other than dire emergencies in which a person is not able to return their cart. Simultaneously, it is not illegal to abandon your shopping cart. Therefore the shopping cart presents itself as the apex example of whether a person will do what is right without being forced to do it."

It's also a pet peeve of mine.  I saw this cart on the way into the shopping this afternoon left in the middle of a parking space.  It was 20 steps (yes, I counted) from a cart return.  That's 40 steps, round trip...maybe 30 seconds, tops.

I guess it qualifies as a "first world problem", though.

What's the buzz?

So, over the past couple of days, I've gotten a rash of spam texts.  Probably 5 or 6 of them over the past 2-3 days.*  I block the numbers as they come in, so it may be more.

All of them have been related to vague job opportunities.  The most recent (the only one I didn't immediately delete) said:

Please call me Katherine.  I may have a job opening for you.  Call me at [number]

Sorry Katherine.  You don't know me, the odds are less than 0% that you have a job opportunity that would be so awesome that I would be interested.

Over the same few days I've seen a comparable uptick in apparent spam phone calls.  I say apparent, because I don't answer random phone calls from places like "American Fork, UT", and they never leave messages.


I presume I've managed to trigger some algorithm someplace.   I'm not job hunting, and can't think of anything I might've done to make the digital world think that I would be.... 
       Unless they know something I don't??????   (cue paranoia music)



*  OK, 5 or 6 texts isn't necessarily a "rash".  Unless compared to 0 over the previous 5-6 months.

 end rant

A Know Not Known To All...

So, I was listening to Stanley Clarke's 1976 album "School Days" on the way to work today.  But somehow, between the car and my desk, Maria Muldar's "Midnight At The Oasis" wedged into my mind.  Specifically the lines "I know your daddy's a sultan, a known not known by all"... 

Who knows why these things pop into your head (or mine)?  Guess I'll have to deal with it.

I think It Is Finally Done

I think It Is Finally Done.  "The World In Black And White" blog, that is. 

The World In Black And White (TWIBW) started in June of 2008.  The point was a select group of photographers (I think it was limited to 25) who would post only Black and White photos.

Sometime around September 2012 a friend suggested I join / apply, and I was accpeted.  My first post was 9/26/2012.  I enjoyed it a lot back then, very cool being in the company of some excellent photographers, and I was getting orders-of-magnitude more views than over at my own blogs*.

Anyway, over time it seemed that folk were drifting away for TWIBW, and not being replaced.  Including the person who originally suggested the site to me.  IAt some point there was talk about transitioning to a Facebook Group, but I'm not sure that ever happened.

Bottom line, the site went from getting daily posts from several photographers, to a few posts per week from a few photographers.  And fewer posted each month, it seemed.  Still getting way more traffic than my blogs, but just not much fun.  And in late March of this year, I kind of faded away.  I'm devoting my Black and White energies to Happenstance.

I popped in to TWIBW today, and noticed it has been 9 weeks since anyone has posted there.  No posts in September, oand only three since May 19.  I think it's pretty much dead.

I suppose I should look through my posts there and make sure I have all of them...  I sure wish I could get that kind of traffic, though.




*  This blog has been around since September of 2004.  Happenstance Photography was started late September 2006, although the images prior to 9/2007 were lost due to a change in web hosting, and it had become pretty stagnant until August 2012, when I resurrected it as a Black and White only blog, more of less following the format of TWIBW).

2020 Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Nominations

We're getting pretty close to the knowing the 2020 RRHOF nominees, last year's announcment came October 9th.

Now, I'm not going to speculated who they'll nominate, but here's a list of 5 performers who I'd like to see added:

1)  Doobie Brothers.
 As others have noted:  "With more than 48 million albums sold, a laundry list of accolades and a legacy as one of the great vocal-harmony groups, the Doobie Brothers seemingly check every box necessary for Rock Hall induction.".  Eight (8) Top 10 albums in 7 years (US charts).  Sixteen (16) Top 40 hits.  Still a successful touring act. The sound of the Doobies drove the mid 70's.

2) Weird Al Yankovic
He's sold more albums than any comedy act in history, and is one of only 3 artists to have Top 40 hits in every decade since the 80's (with Michael Jackson and Madonna, both member of RRHOF).  There used to be a saying  that "you know you've made it when Weird Al parodies you".  He helped pioneer the music video industry, including contributions like the movie UHF.  And still touring.

3) The Monkees
The made for TV band that confounded their keepers by becoming actual music stars.  Their first 4 albums hit #1, their first 5 were Platinum.  11 Top 40 hits, all in less than 2 years.  Still relevant with their 2016 release that reached #14 on the charts, with contributions from Rivers Cuomo, Andy Partridge, Ben Gibbard, Noel Gallagher and Paul Weller.  The Monkees helped give starts to great songwriters like Neil Diamond,  Harry Nilsson, David Gates (Bread), Michael Martin Murphy, John Stewart...  They were part of a ground breaking TV show with cameos from folk like Frank Zappa...   and one of the wildest movies (Head) of the late 60's.

4)  Joe Osborn
Sideman.  Joe Osborn was one of the great session bass players of the 60's, 70's, and 80s,  playing on dozens of top hits.  Osborn was a member of the Wrecking Crew, 2 of whom are already inducted.  Let's show the bass player some love!

5) J.J. Cale
Another contributor, J.J. Cale wrote songs made famous by folks like Eric Clapton (After Midnight, Cocaine) and Lynyrd Skynyrd (Call Me The Breeze).  With other songs recorded by everybody from Santana to Kansas to Poco to Waylon Jennings.  And more.  As Clapton himself put it:  "one of the most important artists in the history of rock, quietly representing the greatest asset his country has ever had."


Sadly, I expect all 5 of these would be long shots.  The Doobies may get a nomination, simply because they're running out of bands from the classic era of rock.  Weird Al and the Monkees are too much "fun", not nearly cool enough.  Joe Osborn is a bass player, 'nuff said.  JJ Cale's only shot would be if folks like Clapton lobbied from behind the scenes.  Maybe id Eric suggested leading a medley of JJ Cale songs for the ceremony?

On One Hand

Over the 2016 and 2017 NFL seasons, Pittsburgh Steeler running back 21, LeVeon Bell was the top offensive performer in football.  Over those 2 years, he accumulated 3,830 yards from scrimmage (rushing + passing).  The next nearest player was Todd Gurley of the LA Rames, at 3,305 total yards.

In yards per game, it is even more impressive, as Bell only played in 27 of 32 regular season games.  His yards per game was an eye popping 141.9.

So naturally, he wanted to be the highest paid player in football.  When his team balked, he sat out the year to become a free agent.  And  now is with the NY Jets.

Granted we're only 3 weeks into the 2019 season, but how's that working out?  Right now, Bell is tied for 15th in the league in total yards.  He's averaging 97.4 yards per game.  And the Jets are 0-3.

- - - - -

On the other hand:

In 2018, Bell's replacement on the Steelers, James Conner, was 10th in the league in total yards.  But he missed 3 games due to injuries.  On a yards per game basis, he was 6th at 113.1 yards/game.  And while their rushing totals were down (3.6%), their overall offensive numbers were up 6.7%.  BUT, the Steelers missed the playoffs, which is the ultimate measure for a team.

Three games into 2019, and the Steelers are struggling.  They're 0-3, and Conner ranks outside the Top 25 in total yards.  Granted, their superstar Quarterback is injured, but the rushing game has been pathetic.

- - - -

So what?  is this a lose-lose? I dunno.  I think that Bell will never recoup the money he left on the table from the Steelers' final offer, and he'll never win a Super Bowl with the Jets.  So it is (IMHO) a lose for him.

 As for the Steelers?  Well, they were a better team with him, for sure.  But it's hard to know how much of their decline is due to Bell's departure, and how much is due to the drama with another player (Antonio Brown), and how much is due to the QB's (Ben Roethlisberger) season ending injury.  But it's hard to call it a Win, that's for sure.


Ah, First World Problems, I suppose

What Can It Possibly Mean??

Looking at the stats function in Blogger today, interesting to see:


Where does my traffic come from?  Over the past month, looking at this blog, top 10 sources:

United States 38%

Sweden 27%

France 16%

United Arab Emirates 4%

Portugal 3%

Russia 2%

Ukraine 2%

Unknown Region 2%

Germany 1%

Egypt 1%

I would've expected it to be almost all USA, with a smattering of English speaking countries.  But it's not!  In fact, a rather eclectic mix, Quite a bit of Europe (47%), no Far East, Australia, or South America...  

I decided to see what the results were for my other blog:  Happenstance, which focuses on Black and White photos.  The top 10 sources over the last month:

United Kingdom 37%

Netherlands 23%

United States 18%

Germany 12%

Unknown Region 4%

Sweden 2%

Ukraine 2%

Russia 1%

Portugal 0.4%

France 0.4%

Pretty shocking (to me) that USA came in 3rd, at only 18%.  UK leads the pack at 37%, while not making Top 10 for LSquared.  A whopping 75% from Europe.  And again, nothing from Far East, Australia, or South America... 

I have no clue at all what it could possibly mean.

Another interesting thing:  Going back several years, LSquared has been more popular than Happenstance.  Until recently.  Looking at 6 month total page views, Happenstance overtook LSquared starting last April (2019) and opened up a rather notable lead.

Again, no clue what it means.  But since this is all for fun, and I don't generate any income from it*, it doesn't really matter.

* - you'll notice that there are ads on LSquared, but I've never accumulated enough clicks to earn a payout.  Frankly, I should figure out how to turn them off...

RIP Creve Coeur Camera

No, no, not me.  I plan to stick around.  BUT. I received an email yesterday (7/1/2019) from Creve Coeur Camera, announcing that they were closing, After 40+ years in the STL area.  At one point they had 8 locations, but have been dwindling down to just the main store.  And now it will close.  Sad, but not all that surprising.  The timing is a little surprising since it has only been 2 weeks since their last Photopalooza event (which I attended).

Through the years we've purchased several cameras from them, including 2x DSLRs, and at least 3x compact digitals.  Some accessories, and a few print jobs.  But nothing in a probably 2+ years. 

One big issue (for me) was the closing of the Edwardsville store, which was <5 35="" all="" an="" and="" as="" at="" average="" be="" business="" but="" classes="" closed="" convenience...="" do="" easy="" evening.="" events="" fairview="" far="" from="" further="" get="" going="" green="" heights="" held="" home.="" house.="" i="" is="" it="" liked="" main="" miles="" mount="" moved="" my="" nbsp="" never="" not="" of="" office="" on="" p="" point="" rd="" really="" same="" seemed="" so="" something="" still.="" store="" technically="" the="" them.="" them="" then="" time="" to="" was="" weekday="" were="" which="" with="">
Another (long) example:  Last fall, I was looking to upgrade my Nikon DSLR.  I decided to consider more than Nikon, and made a weekend trek down to the Green Mount store, to see what they had.  I explained to the clerk exactly what I was looking for, in great detail.  And he proceeded to show me what they had in the store, which was rather explicitly NOT what I described.  Ticked me off.  So I did some internet research and got my thoughts in order.  A couple of weeks later, I attended the fall Photopalooza (at the main store) where I was able to do some hands on research, talk to the company reps, and some of the teachers.  This was a HUGE value, helped me decided on Mirrorless (rather than DSLR) and a change from Nikon (to Fujifilm).  But I wanted to do a bit more research, and wrap my brain around the investment.  Two weeks later, I called the main store to confirm they had the camera in stock, but they did not.  I explained exactly what I wanted, and asked when when they could get it in stock.  They would have to let me know.  I called back a couple of times, but never got an answer.  Since I needed to have the camera in hand before Christmas (since it was technically a gift from my wife), I gave up after 2 weeks and ordered it on line.  About a week after I had received it, Creve Coeur finally called me back to say it had arrived.  I really wanted to buy from them, but they didn't have it in stock, and were not able to communicate when they would have it.  SO I went elsewhere.  I was actually quite disappointed.

I've been in brick-and-mortar specialty retail (been a 10+ years now), and I can't imagine doing it these days. 

Stats and Other Pointlessness...

So...  Blogger has a Stats function.  Which allows me to track page views and traffic sources and such stuff.  Perhaps meaningful if I were a business.  Or perhaps if I had any meaningful traffic here.

Since neither is true, so it is pretty useless.

SO....

What's my most popular post of all time?

Blue Meanies, from May 11, 2011.  What is kind of funny is that the post it was inspired by my discovering the Stats function.  It notes that my most popular post at that time (May 2011) was titled Sky of blue and sea of green In our yellow submarine from 9/5/2010.  That post is still my #2 all time.  Combine those two posts and, they account for 1.7% of my total page views over the past... well however long it is (this blog has been around since September 2004, but I don't think the stats go back that far.  The page view graphs don't even go as far back as either of these two "Top" posts).

Clearly, I need to do more Beatles related posts.  Or keep re-posting this image:

- - - - -

Meanwhile, Looking at the past month (and past week), my most popular post is Vacation, from all the way back to August 1, 2007.  Quite simply, That Don't Make No Sense.  A twelve year old post about vacationing in Aurora, Kentucky (no Beatles connection there!).  A 12 year old post where all the photos have been deleted (back when I used AOL for my image hosting!)...

What can it all mean?  Probably nothing.  But it keeps me interested.

It's Beginning To Look A Lot Like Christmas?

So...  I was on a Wal Mart run this evening and stopped by the Garden Center looking for a specific item...  Alas, On Sunday, September 23, they are well into the process of converting the garden center over to Christmas decorations.

September...  more than a month before Halloween.  8 weeks before Thanksgiving.  A quarter of a year early!!!!

I tell you, it just ain't right.

Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam Spam

So...  Three weeks ago, I got a new smart-phone.  New phone, new number, clean slate.  For a variety of reasons, I have been a little slow to switch all my activities over. So, after 21 days, what does my (incoming) call log look like?

10 inbound calls;  9 are spam, and 1 is my wife.

Yep, 90% of the calls I have received have been spam.  It took about 10 days before the first one, so I'm averaging 1/day.

Now, by policy, I don't answer calls from unknown numbers.  Leave a message, I'll call you right back.  None of those 9 calls left a message.  Several of those seem to be from spoofed numbers (same area code / exchange, different last-4).

Really ticks me off, but I guess it's just the way of the world these days.

Anyway, here's "Don't Call Us, We'll Call You" by Sugarloaf:

https://youtu.be/fHDNWf_ws38

Worst Football Game?

I was talking with somebody at work, and the topic of the old St. Louis Cardinals football team came up.  I mentioned that one of the worst football games I rememebr was the Cardinals playing the NY Giants on Monday Night Football back in 1983. 

Seems odd that I would remember that game as being bad.  But I couldn't really remember why.  Except for missed field goals.  Missed firld goals stuck in my mind.

BUT: thanks to the glory of the internet, I was able to look it up.

October 24, 1983.  One web site described it thus:  "In a battle of two mediocre NFC East rivals, the Cardinals and Giants played for nearly five hours--and STILL couldn't produce a winner, as the game ended in a 20-20 tie, the last deadlock to date on MNF."

 Looking at the stats, the game featured:

• Both teams were 2-5 on the season, not exactly a promising sign... 
• 20 penalties for 195 yards (9 for STL, 11 for NYG)
• 6 turnovers (3 for each team)
• Neither quarterback managed 50% completions, neither team managed 200 net passing yards.
• Combined, the teams missed 4 field goals (out of 8 attempts).  And STL missed 3 of 5 field goals, including a 19 yard attempt!
• Each each team gave up a defensive touchdown (1 fumble return, 1 interception return)

I'm sure it's not the worst game ever.  And perhaps I was grumpy because I was watching it from a hotel in Walnut Creek California (on a business trip), where the game started a 6pm.