That was good, TIS

.
What's the biggest mistake women make when dating?

Complain. It's the biggest turn-off to a man. You can actually walk into a room and be covered in guano and it still won't be as bad as complaining. Women take that for granted; the one thing men want more than anything in a relationship is positivity. Women don't understand that. When you show up late for a date because you couldn't find parking, don't spend the first 15 minutes of the date complaining about what you just had to do to get there. Put it behind you. Say, "Hey! Sorry I'm late, but I'm glad I'm here."

I must've spent at least 4-5 hrs looking for a freakin' $1000 easter egg on some web site

At least you're doing something worthwhile.

Not if he didn't find the egg.


TIS

US Couple Charged With Tampering With Jell-O Pudding Posted by Staff on Mar 29th, 2010

Alexander and Christine Clement, husband and wife from Suffolk County, are looking at being charged with the tampering of Jell-O pudding mix packages. Suffolk County arrested the couple on Sunday only after reports were being made from customers who purchased the Jell-O and discovered after opening them that there was some sort of fine substance, like sand inside.

Authorities state that Christine has been buying the Jell-O boxes from four different Long Island stores where three have already reported food tampering with the Jell-O. Christine has been removing the contents inside the Jell-O boxes, filling the boxes back up with other items and then returning them back to the stores for refunds. Authorities did say that the packages seemed to be opened, emptied out and then refilled with salt and sand. This was not noticed when the boxes were being returned.

UPDATE: The Snyder family is seeking donations to help them continue their suit.

BALTIMORE (AP) — The father of a Marine killed in Iraq and whose funeral was picketed by anti-gay protesters was ordered to pay the protesters' appeal costs, his lawyers said Monday.

On Friday, Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit ordered Snyder to pay $16,510 to Fred Phelps. Phelps is the leader of the Westboro Baptist Church, which conducted protests at Marine Lance Cpl. Matthew Snyder's funeral in 2006.
The two-page decision supplied by attorneys for Albert Snyder of York, Pa., offered no details on how the court came to its decision.

Attorneys also said Snyder is struggling to come up with fees associated with filing a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court.

The decision adds "insult to injury," said Sean Summers, one of Snyder's lawyers.

The high court agreed to consider whether the protesters' message is protected by the First Amendment or limited by the competing privacy and religious rights of the mourners.

Got my AmEx statement:

"If you make no additional charges and each month you pay only the minimum amount due, you will pay off the balance shown on this statement in about 28 years"

vs

"If you make no additional charges and each month you pay $345, you will pay off the balance shown on this statement in about 3 years and you will save $9,773 (over the above)"

Holy schnitzel!

Is this new that they have to tell you this, or do they really want their money sooner (as opposed to more of it long haul)?

Geoff,

No it is new. I understand all CC companies now have to do that. I can imagine the shock some will have, but then again, I think it is a good thing. It'll make you think twice before using your credit cards excessively. I try to only use my cards when I travel or for other things if absolutely necessary.

TIS

I think it's a good thing, too. People never think about how long it will take them to pay it off when they send in that $50 a month, and how much interest they'll pay. It's frightening when you see it in front of you.

We've done our best to never have credit card debt, but sometimes it's impossible to avoid.

I believe too their statements need to be very clear as to the rules/regulations/annual fees, etc. I haven't used my CC for a while so I can't say I've gotten any statements. BUT read whatever updates and changes to your accounts that you may get.

It was rumored (and it wouldn't surprise me) that some of these companies that never charged a yearly fee could do so now. However, what really ticks me off (if it's true) is that they MAY charge you a fee if you don't use your card enough. WTF!!!! I'm checking every bit of info that I get about any of my cards.

TIS

You should have gotten a letter from all of your credit card companies that stated all the new information.

Yes, they can do that. It depends on the agreement or any updates to the agreement.
They got me with that a few months back for a card I had gotten for my small business but had not used. They charged me a "inactivity fee". Yup. Because I HADN'T borrowed money from them, they charged me money. This would make Don Corleone weep tears of joy.
I closed the card account. It was the principle of the thing (no pun intended) and not the principal.

Always read the fine print, disclosures and updates. Banks aren't looking to do anyone any favors. They don't much like people that pay everything off in full each month or worse, don't even use the card. Ideally they want everyone to carry a balance and pay minimum payments a few days late.

Well I only have two cards and I have been reading the fine print and haven't seen it yet, but I'll cancel the card too if they pull that shit.

I would prefer to use my debit card actually, but you simply must have a credit card for certain purchases, and it's very convenient for travel.

TIS

Lilo,

May I ask what CC company it was? Am. Ex., Mastercard, etc.???

MasterCard...

Arizona Rancher murdered
Robert Krentz

We are having problems here in CA/Mex border with drug trafficking and lately murder/shootings and it's become very very dangerous. Mexico is a popular Spring Break vacation for students. They are all cautioned to be very careful. I wouldn't be surprised if the crowds in Mex weren't as large this year.

Something really does need to be done.


TIS

mexico is beyond fix sadly...and what else is there to do...make mexico the 51st state?

Yes, it really is in bad shape. Another state? I don't think so.



TIS

CLAYTON, Mich. — David B. Stone Sr. and his wife, Tina, made no secret about the fact that they were part of a militia, neighbors say. The couple frequently let visitors in military fatigues erect tents in front of their trailer home at the intersection of rural dirt roads, and the sound of gunfire was routine. Police officers guarded a home in Clayton, Mich., on Sunday after a raid.

A Michigan State Police tank headed down a street in Hillsdale County on Monday during a militia-related standoff.
“In Michigan, I don’t think it’s that big of a deal to be in a militia,” said Tom McDormett, a neighbor.

He added: “They would practice shooting, but that’s not a big deal. People do that all the time out here.”

My state

We're number 2! We're number 2!

Chicago – Michigan, the home base of the Hutaree militia, has one of the highest concentrations in the United States of militias and other extremist groups that see the federal government as the enemy.

Only Texas, with 57 so-called "patriot" groups, outstrips Michigan's 47, according to the Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC), a nonprofit civil rights organization in Montgomery, Ala., that tracks hate group activity.

Nationwide, the patriot movement has grown dramatically since the election of President Obama. Between 2008 and 2009, the number of such groups increased from 149 to 512, SPLC numbers suggest.

The Hutaree was part of this movement. Nine members of its members were arrested by federal authorities last weekend and charged with conspiring to "levy war" on the United States.

The arrests point to how the Midwest in particular has become a hotbed for patriot activity.

Yahoo Article

That's shocking. I thought that Michigan was far too diverse in its population to support such thinking . Texas doesn't surprise me, though.

Outside of SE Michigan and one or two points in the center of the state, Michigan isn't that diverse. Anyway, people generally stay to themselves.

Obviously, but I never realized that .

I can't remember and don't care enough to look up his name right now but one of the people that was associated with Timothy McVeigh was from Michigan. Some of the planning for the Oklahoma City attack might have been done on a Michigan farm. But of course there are nuts everywhere..

Living in NY, I can certainly agree with that!

That's true. And to echo what Lilo said about Michigan not being very diverse, the same can be said of New York, once you get outside New York City and its neighboring suburbs, like Westchester, Rockland and Long Island.

I was looking out my kitchen window and my back yard needs mowed. It'll have to wait till Spring break is over I'm going to VA to see my babies.

I'm watching rugby on the TV,then going to work later. Not a great way to spend Good Friday.

Well, rugby players are almost as violent as the Roman soldiers who crucified Jesus, so you have that connection going for you, Yogi .