Author Archives: jik

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is at it again

Apparently, BCBS MA’s foray into invading patients’ privacy, which I detailed here, wasn’t good enough. Now, they’re planning on sending invasive surveys to all mental health patients. The surveys are “voluntary,” of course, but if too many of any particular practitioner’s patients don’t respond, s/he may lose his/her annual increase in reimbursement rates, so practitioners… Read More: Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is at it again »

“Bank error in your favor, collect $13,117.50.”

In September, my Chase credit card offered me a deal — a good rate on a balance transfer with no transfer fee. I wasn’t using the card at the time, so its full credit limit was available to me for transferring balances, and I had a pretty big balance on my home equity line, so… Read More: “Bank error in your favor, collect $13,117.50.” »

It’s hard to be a Harvard or Yale student

Seen in an article in today’s Herald about the fact that tail-gaters weren’t allowed to carry in their own liquor for the Harvard-Yale game (although people 21 and over were allowed to buy up to five beers): “Is this not the lamest tailgate?” Ellie Brophy, a 21-year-old Yale junior, complained to her friend. “You actually… Read More: It’s hard to be a Harvard or Yale student »

“Damn it, Jim. I’m a headline writer, not a chemist!”

Seen in the Boston Herald Tuesday, November 14, 2006: Maine pair dies from CO2 poisoning SMITHFIELD, Maine — Two men working in a house died of carbon monoxide poisoning… Maybe it’s time to alert the Herald to the dangers of dihydrogen monoxide.

Lawyer: Abusing foreign children is OK

Seen in yesterday’s Boston Herald in a letter from Geoffrey Nathan, an attorney of an alleged child pornographer: “In purchasing kiddie porn, users abuse children who live in distant countries. Who really cares about incarcerating U.S. citizens for looking at pictures on their computers, when the pictures ware taken thousands of miles away? Are we… Read More: Lawyer: Abusing foreign children is OK »

Discover Card refuses to do the right thing

Check out this site. This guy’s ex-girlfriend applied for various credit card accounts over the Web in his name while living with him for several years, grabbing the statements from the mail as they came in or signing up for paperless statements so he never found out about them, until she finally skipped town right… Read More: Discover Card refuses to do the right thing »

Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan deserves to lose her seat

I just sent this letter to Stewart Umholtz, the challenger to Illinois Attorney General Lisa Madigan in the upcoming election:

Muslims are their own worst enemy, if what they want is peace

The Pope gives a speech in which he quotes a Byzantine emporer characterizing Muhammad’s teachings as “evil and inhuman” and referring to spreading Islam “by the sword.” Offended Muslims all over the world protest the Pope’s speech by burning the Pope in effigy; participating in violent riots; firebombing churches; wounding and killing people; calling for… Read More: Muslims are their own worst enemy, if what they want… »

Beating a ticket

Approaching a red light on Washington St. at the intersection with Waverly Ave. near Newton Corner. Thought the two cars riding the yellow line at the red light were turning left (cars often don’t signal turns at that intersection, or for that matter anywhere else in the Boston area). Started to pass them on the… Read More: Beating a ticket »

Kudos to Intuit

I use TurboTax to do my taxes every year, and I’m signed up for Intuit’s AutoRenew program, which means that they send me the new version of TurboTax automatically every year when it comes out. I’ve got a credit card on file with them, and they charge the credit card when they ship the software.