Finally! I've been pretty mad about the idea of 'Double cycle billing' for a long, long time. It's about time someone did something about it.
Let's say that on 11/20 you get your statement, and it's $1200. Since the statement, you've racked up another $500 in balance. When you go to pay your statement balance, you only pay $1150. On the NEXT statement, how much should you pay in interest?
A NORMAL person would say that you should by your interest rate (say 13%, which is typical of many credit cards but can go as high as 18% or more) times the unpaid balance: $50.00 * 0.13 = $6.50 in interest. So the next statement (assuming you didn't make any other purchases since you paid your bill) would be the $50 you didn't pay, the $6.50 in interest and the $500 new balance. But you'd be WRONG!
Instead, they do the following: they take the AVERAGE balance from the last two billing cycles and charge you interest on THAT balance. And they do that for TWO billing cycles. Which is just stupid. Especially if you pay the entire balance the next month...you would STILL see some interest being applied (thanks to the averaging).
The other aspect I don't understand is how they can charge it on the $500 in new purchases? How can I be charged any interest on that amount at all when the amount isn't due yet? That pisses me off. And I don't think these new policies actually address this issue either.
Oh well...at least we're a step closer.
Dec 18, 2008
Nov 25, 2008
News: Lori Drew "MySpace Suicide" case goes to jury
OK. So...I haven't really talked about this. Mainly because I thought it was a bunch of crap. But, I finally broke down and read this today because Wired has been putting up an article a day (if not more) on the subject over the last 2 weeks.
Here's the story: Lori Drew is a 49-year-old mom. Her 13-year-old daughter was called a lesbian by 13-year-old Megan Meier. Drew, her 18-year-old employee Ashley, and her daughter (Sarah Drew) conspired to create a fake MySpace account. This account was for the imaginary 16-year-old boy Josh Evans. They used this account to convince Megan, who suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts, to fall in love with 'Josh'. Then had 'him' turn on her, telling her that 'the world would be a better place without you.' And did this while 'he' 'broke up' with Megan, driving Megan to suicide.
I really don't know where I stand on this. On the one hand, the 13-year-old daughter probably isn't to blame: she really didn't have a whole lot of intelligence, at least looking at what her mom did. But the mom? I'm half-convinced that she should go to jail. She deliberately commited fraud in order to drive this girl either deeper into depression, or, more likely, to suicide.
And what the hell is a 47-year-old doing orchestrating elaborate schemes to humiliate a 13-year-old girl. Teenage girls are horrible to each other. It happens...same with boys, to be honest. But you don't dive into helping your 13-year-old get back at another kid, much less a depressed child, because your daughter was called names.
Or maybe...the daughter is so broken up because Megan (depressed suicidal) was calling Sarah (the daughter) what she really is, just in a negative way??? Maybe?
Here's the story: Lori Drew is a 49-year-old mom. Her 13-year-old daughter was called a lesbian by 13-year-old Megan Meier. Drew, her 18-year-old employee Ashley, and her daughter (Sarah Drew) conspired to create a fake MySpace account. This account was for the imaginary 16-year-old boy Josh Evans. They used this account to convince Megan, who suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts, to fall in love with 'Josh'. Then had 'him' turn on her, telling her that 'the world would be a better place without you.' And did this while 'he' 'broke up' with Megan, driving Megan to suicide.
I really don't know where I stand on this. On the one hand, the 13-year-old daughter probably isn't to blame: she really didn't have a whole lot of intelligence, at least looking at what her mom did. But the mom? I'm half-convinced that she should go to jail. She deliberately commited fraud in order to drive this girl either deeper into depression, or, more likely, to suicide.
And what the hell is a 47-year-old doing orchestrating elaborate schemes to humiliate a 13-year-old girl. Teenage girls are horrible to each other. It happens...same with boys, to be honest. But you don't dive into helping your 13-year-old get back at another kid, much less a depressed child, because your daughter was called names.
Or maybe...the daughter is so broken up because Megan (depressed suicidal) was calling Sarah (the daughter) what she really is, just in a negative way??? Maybe?
Nov 14, 2008
First female ever promoted to 4-star general
From the article - The military on Friday promoted Lt. Gen. Ann E. Dunwoody, who has served in several command positions in her 33-year Army career.
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Now don't get me wrong. I think this is great. But I also think that they are doing it only because she is a woman and the Army is trying to look for 'equal opportunity'. I mean hell....read what she will be in command of. She's basically the Army's equipment manager! I remember managers: they're the kids who couldn't play but still wanted to be on the team.
I honestly believe that this is too low to be a great step forward. This is not the least bit sad. If it were a true command position, I might be able to be convinced that this is a great step forward for the Army's image when it comes to women in the military. But when this is the command she gets and while 1 in 7 military women are sexually assaulted in Iraq...I think I'll hold off on feeling good about this.
*********************************************
Now don't get me wrong. I think this is great. But I also think that they are doing it only because she is a woman and the Army is trying to look for 'equal opportunity'. I mean hell....read what she will be in command of. She's basically the Army's equipment manager! I remember managers: they're the kids who couldn't play but still wanted to be on the team.
I honestly believe that this is too low to be a great step forward. This is not the least bit sad. If it were a true command position, I might be able to be convinced that this is a great step forward for the Army's image when it comes to women in the military. But when this is the command she gets and while 1 in 7 military women are sexually assaulted in Iraq...I think I'll hold off on feeling good about this.
Sep 29, 2008
News: McCain Campaign Owns VoteForTheMILF.com?
The reason I post this, is because based on the reactions of the DNS (basically, how trying to go to the URL reacted based on the proof provided on the site), I believe that this is true.
Basically, the web address does two things: first, it redirects to www.johnmccain.com and second, redirects to www.johnmccain.com/palin.htm. The problem with this is the following: for it to go from www.johnmccain.com to palin.htm on the same website, that means that the index page of www.johnmccain.com (the homepage of the website) RECOGNIZES that the request came because of a redirect FROM voteforthemilf.com. The only way it would do that would be IF the developers of www.johnmccain.com KNEW that traffic would be coming from voteforthemilf.com. THAT is unacceptable.
There is no other way for that specific set of redirects to work out like they do unless, at the very least, that the McCain campaign's website developers expect traffic from voteforthemilf.com...which can only be known for sure if they also own the voteforthemilf.com domain name. And it is also given more credibility in that GoDaddy (the registrar of BOTH domain names) has a utility to give all domain names managed by them on an account to point to a single target (in this case johnmccain.com). I don't actually care about this...I think it's funny. But I also know that MANY of John McCain's supporters (especially those whose support came after the selection of Palin to be the VP nominee) would be up in arms things like this in a heartbeat.
Basically, the web address does two things: first, it redirects to www.johnmccain.com and second, redirects to www.johnmccain.com/palin.htm. The problem with this is the following: for it to go from www.johnmccain.com to palin.htm on the same website, that means that the index page of www.johnmccain.com (the homepage of the website) RECOGNIZES that the request came because of a redirect FROM voteforthemilf.com. The only way it would do that would be IF the developers of www.johnmccain.com KNEW that traffic would be coming from voteforthemilf.com. THAT is unacceptable.
There is no other way for that specific set of redirects to work out like they do unless, at the very least, that the McCain campaign's website developers expect traffic from voteforthemilf.com...which can only be known for sure if they also own the voteforthemilf.com domain name. And it is also given more credibility in that GoDaddy (the registrar of BOTH domain names) has a utility to give all domain names managed by them on an account to point to a single target (in this case johnmccain.com). I don't actually care about this...I think it's funny. But I also know that MANY of John McCain's supporters (especially those whose support came after the selection of Palin to be the VP nominee) would be up in arms things like this in a heartbeat.
Sep 10, 2008
Palin promotes general after he changes his stance on her experience
From the article -
***********************************
Last Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell suggested to the Boston Globe that Gov. Sarah Palin's role as commander of the state's National Guard was largely ceremonial, thus blunting attempts by the McCain campaign to assert she had foreign policy experience.
***
Later in the week, however, Campbell appeared on Fox News to tout Palin's candidacy.
***
On Monday, he was quietly promoted.
***********************************
I'm sorry...but there is NO way you would do something that would CLEARLY look bad on a national stage. Not unless you actually made this deal and followed through on it.
This is either an unbelievably, horrible misstep by an under-qualified VP candidate OR a deal that seemed perfectly reasonable for someone in her position to make. So either Gov. Palin is either not qualified or is a complete idiot. As far as I know, both of those reasons mean that she shouldn't be the Vice-President of the United States.
Regardless of what you may think about Sen. McCain (I personally respect him and his actions before he became the Republican Presidential Nominee. Now he is under the control of the RNC as their nominee...which is understandable and forgivable. It just makes him unable to receive my vote), this selection of VP is the worst possible scenario. Sen. McCain is old; there is no way around that. That makes his Vice-Presidential selection extremely important. Having someone this either unqualified or stupid is far too close to the current President's condition than I'm prepared to be comfortable with.
***********************************
Last Wednesday, Maj. Gen. Craig Campbell suggested to the Boston Globe that Gov. Sarah Palin's role as commander of the state's National Guard was largely ceremonial, thus blunting attempts by the McCain campaign to assert she had foreign policy experience.
***
Later in the week, however, Campbell appeared on Fox News to tout Palin's candidacy.
***
On Monday, he was quietly promoted.
***********************************
I'm sorry...but there is NO way you would do something that would CLEARLY look bad on a national stage. Not unless you actually made this deal and followed through on it.
This is either an unbelievably, horrible misstep by an under-qualified VP candidate OR a deal that seemed perfectly reasonable for someone in her position to make. So either Gov. Palin is either not qualified or is a complete idiot. As far as I know, both of those reasons mean that she shouldn't be the Vice-President of the United States.
Regardless of what you may think about Sen. McCain (I personally respect him and his actions before he became the Republican Presidential Nominee. Now he is under the control of the RNC as their nominee...which is understandable and forgivable. It just makes him unable to receive my vote), this selection of VP is the worst possible scenario. Sen. McCain is old; there is no way around that. That makes his Vice-Presidential selection extremely important. Having someone this either unqualified or stupid is far too close to the current President's condition than I'm prepared to be comfortable with.
Sep 4, 2008
My reactions to Cosmos 21 things girls can do guys can't
1. Get pregnant: Got us there...but is that really a good thing? Morning sickness, tearing, body changes...you can have it!
2. Fake it: The fact that you have to or even do makes this a non-starter. We don't HAVE to fake it. And actually...yes we can. And some do... So well in fact that you clearly didn't know we could. Well done....
3. Ask for directions: What kind of a stereotype is this? The modern man gets to his destination on time. Even if he needs to ask directions. But really...with Google Maps...who the hell needs to ask anymore anyway? We have the ability to read and follow a map...that trumps your 'asking for directions' any day of the week.
4. Look sexy while sipping fruity cocktails: Got me there...definitively yours.
5. Live longer: 'Plenty of time to ... have a few more orgasms...' Yes...but then you have to make up for all the ones you had to fake (see #2). So...I'm pretty sure we win this one too.
Next: Multiple orgasms and more...
6. Have multiple orgasms: First, you can't multiple every time. And we can do it sometimes too. Or are you one of those girls who picks horrible mates and doesn't get that chance? Ouch...too bad...
7. Multi-task: Mmhmmm. I'm sure. I on't know any girls who multi-task better than I do (not saying I do it BETTER...just none better than me) and many of them tell me they have no ability to multi-task. And actually...watching TV and talking to your BFF are probably both mindless, autonomic activities...so it really doesn't count as multi-tasking.
8. Get a new last name: Got me there...good job.
9. Wear skirts: 'Plus, a hot mini is sure to score us a few free drinks at the bar.' Go ahead...play up the fact that you will gladly abandon your morals and standards for free drinks and attention. Like that's a good thing?
10. Get out of a speeding ticket: Sure...you're right here. But you're also saying that you shouldn't be treated equally by the law. If you want true gender equality, you can't just take all the advantages and expect to avoid the negative consequences of being treated equally under the law.
Next: Dance-floor moves and more
11. Become a cougar, not a dirty old man: 'Like, Demi Moore.' For every Demi, we have Hef. Don't pretend that you have the advantage here. More young women date older men than the other way around...as bad of an idea as that is.
12. Wing it on the dance floor...convincingly: Yes we will...but we won't care.
13. Wear high-heels: Yeah...talk up the fact that you lie right away. ''I'm this tall!'' No, you're not...liar. And you sound like a horse clopping around with those things... Want us to treat you like more of an equal and less of a sexual object? Try starting by putting something forward other than your physical attractiveness...like a personality.
14. Flirt with the bouncer: Got me there...but how do you feel that you're getting paid (the free cover) for being a companion (escort)? Think about it...
15. Blame it on PMS: Got us there. We will forever try and make up for the fact that you have to go through this. We will do whatever you wish. Seriously...we all feel garb that you have to go through that. And we are (mostly) perfectly fine with you even abusing it if you feel the need. Seriously...we apologize for you dealing with it.
Next: Growing out our hair and more
16. Grow out our hair: I disagree. I let my hair grow out all the time. And my girlfriend seems to think it looks even better as I let it grow out. Personal choice I suppose.
17. Cover up a zit: Got us here too.
18. Get aroused without the entire room knowing it: Yeah...that does suck for us.
19. Wear a thong: Man thongs....*shiver*. TJ...I hate you.
20. Get a manicure: Not for the Barnacle!!! HIMYM...anybody?
21. Make a longer list of our talents. We didn't want to overload you with our greatness. But seriously...we're just trying to buck up from all of the attacks on men going around these days. We're punching bags...we get it. But there are lots of things we can be proud of. So...just let us have them will you? In return, we will be at your beck and call since we all love you. And, by the way, you really don't have to try so hard for us to like you (mini skirts, heels, thongs, etc.). We're going to like you anyway... All that stuff is just female competition. We really don't care. Well...douchebags care...but nice guys who will take care of you and make you never have to do #2 and CAN do #6 just want a partner. Not a sex object. So join our side and stay away from that will you. We're right here waiting for you to be a person...friend...and more. :-)
2. Fake it: The fact that you have to or even do makes this a non-starter. We don't HAVE to fake it. And actually...yes we can. And some do... So well in fact that you clearly didn't know we could. Well done....
3. Ask for directions: What kind of a stereotype is this? The modern man gets to his destination on time. Even if he needs to ask directions. But really...with Google Maps...who the hell needs to ask anymore anyway? We have the ability to read and follow a map...that trumps your 'asking for directions' any day of the week.
4. Look sexy while sipping fruity cocktails: Got me there...definitively yours.
5. Live longer: 'Plenty of time to ... have a few more orgasms...' Yes...but then you have to make up for all the ones you had to fake (see #2). So...I'm pretty sure we win this one too.
Next: Multiple orgasms and more...
6. Have multiple orgasms: First, you can't multiple every time. And we can do it sometimes too. Or are you one of those girls who picks horrible mates and doesn't get that chance? Ouch...too bad...
7. Multi-task: Mmhmmm. I'm sure. I on't know any girls who multi-task better than I do (not saying I do it BETTER...just none better than me) and many of them tell me they have no ability to multi-task. And actually...watching TV and talking to your BFF are probably both mindless, autonomic activities...so it really doesn't count as multi-tasking.
8. Get a new last name: Got me there...good job.
9. Wear skirts: 'Plus, a hot mini is sure to score us a few free drinks at the bar.' Go ahead...play up the fact that you will gladly abandon your morals and standards for free drinks and attention. Like that's a good thing?
10. Get out of a speeding ticket: Sure...you're right here. But you're also saying that you shouldn't be treated equally by the law. If you want true gender equality, you can't just take all the advantages and expect to avoid the negative consequences of being treated equally under the law.
Next: Dance-floor moves and more
11. Become a cougar, not a dirty old man: 'Like, Demi Moore.' For every Demi, we have Hef. Don't pretend that you have the advantage here. More young women date older men than the other way around...as bad of an idea as that is.
12. Wing it on the dance floor...convincingly: Yes we will...but we won't care.
13. Wear high-heels: Yeah...talk up the fact that you lie right away. ''I'm this tall!'' No, you're not...liar. And you sound like a horse clopping around with those things... Want us to treat you like more of an equal and less of a sexual object? Try starting by putting something forward other than your physical attractiveness...like a personality.
14. Flirt with the bouncer: Got me there...but how do you feel that you're getting paid (the free cover) for being a companion (escort)? Think about it...
15. Blame it on PMS: Got us there. We will forever try and make up for the fact that you have to go through this. We will do whatever you wish. Seriously...we all feel garb that you have to go through that. And we are (mostly) perfectly fine with you even abusing it if you feel the need. Seriously...we apologize for you dealing with it.
Next: Growing out our hair and more
16. Grow out our hair: I disagree. I let my hair grow out all the time. And my girlfriend seems to think it looks even better as I let it grow out. Personal choice I suppose.
17. Cover up a zit: Got us here too.
18. Get aroused without the entire room knowing it: Yeah...that does suck for us.
19. Wear a thong: Man thongs....*shiver*. TJ...I hate you.
20. Get a manicure: Not for the Barnacle!!! HIMYM...anybody?
21. Make a longer list of our talents. We didn't want to overload you with our greatness. But seriously...we're just trying to buck up from all of the attacks on men going around these days. We're punching bags...we get it. But there are lots of things we can be proud of. So...just let us have them will you? In return, we will be at your beck and call since we all love you. And, by the way, you really don't have to try so hard for us to like you (mini skirts, heels, thongs, etc.). We're going to like you anyway... All that stuff is just female competition. We really don't care. Well...douchebags care...but nice guys who will take care of you and make you never have to do #2 and CAN do #6 just want a partner. Not a sex object. So join our side and stay away from that will you. We're right here waiting for you to be a person...friend...and more. :-)
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