Incidental #1,133
IF THERE'S ONE THING ANTI-IMMIGRATION ZEALOTS AND TRUE BELIEVERS--NOT TO MENTION "PATRIOTIC" NATIVISTS AND XENOPHOBES--CAN AGREE ON, it would probably have to be their rejoicing, harpie-stylee, over the news of a new mutated strain of swine flu making the rounds across Mexico and in some border areas of the United States.
The which, in Mexico itself (especially so in Mexico City), has seen 68 dead to the moment, sickened many thousands, and has cancelled all public events for the next ten days to reduce the spread. That, and public health authorities issuing free masks @ subway stations and bus terminals ... as well as stockpiling 1 million doses of anti-viral drugs like Tamiflu to further contain the spread in case the situation gets worse within measurable distance (notwithstanding reports where the situation seems to be easing up).
As for the United States, eight cases have been reported (most in and around the San Diego area), with all surviving.
But then again, one should never take chances on an emerging new pandemic of such a flu-virus mutation, never mind where the swine-flu strain in question was picked up by such who had no prior contact with hogs (a common means of its contraction), let alone create undue panic with overtones of paranoia: The United Nations' World Health Organisation (WHO) has imposed a Level 3 (Pandemic Alert) advisory, essentially urging heightened caution among those already visiting, or planning to visit, Mexico to avoid contracting the new strain (including frequent handwashing, avoiding large crowds where flu can spread all the easier and drinking bottled water, what with tap water in Mexico being, in the main, unsafe--or, if tap water is the only option, using water-purification tablets beforehand, reading and following all directions carefully).
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IN ANY CASE, EXPECT THE NATIVIST ELEMENT TO PLAY UP THE MEXICAN SWINE FLU PANDEMIC TO THE HILT IN THEIR ATROCITY PROPAGANDA targeting the same crowds likely to identify with the "astroturf" "tea party" element: Poor white trash with overzealously arrogant hubris excusable as True Patriot Love in All Thy Sons Command.
Especially so the paranoia angle, unaware of the possibility that even arrogant nativists and xenophobes can pick up flu just as easily as anybody else--and can easily go insane in the process.
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AND HOW DO WE KNOW THE FOLLOWING UNSOLICITED PLEA FOR ASSISTANCE IN MOVING THE PROCEEDS OF CRIME AND/OR CORRUPTION (as it's likely to be--if, indeed, such proceeds do exist in fact and deed) is genuine, sincere, and made in good faith, even if the targeted receipent can't be expected or trusted to make wise investment decisions?
FROM RAYMOND VIEIRA
DEAR BELOVED FRIEND
Please let all your correspondence be on my personal email address.
[redacted]
My
name is Master Raymond Vieira, the first son of the second wife of late
president Joao Bernardo Vieira of Guinea Bissau who died on 2nd march
2009.I am 23 years of age.
This might be a surprise to you about where I got your contact address. Igot your
address from your country chamber of commerce.
Please visit this site:
http://search.bbc.co.uk/search?go=homepage&scope=all&q=death+of+President+Joao+Bernardo+Vieira+of+Guinea+Bissau+&Search=Search
Before
my fatehrs death, he told me he had deposited with a firm the sum of
12.5M Euros (Twelve Million five hundred Euros)in a Bank in the
NETHERLANDS as we intended to run to the usa me and my mum . My father
has noticed some kind of coup planing hence he informed me about this.
I
managed to escape and flew to London UK where am hiding now and my mum
is with me.I do not have any foreign account so i want you to stand for
me as my trustee to claim this funds and invest it for me while we find
a way to come to your country.
Furnish me with the below details so that i can submmit to the bank as my trustee.
1.Your full names
2.Telphone /Cell phone numbers.
3.Full mailing address with any of your photo-picture.
4.Ocupation
I
spoke to the bank officer today and he said i should present my only
trustee/beneficiary for immediate transfer since i do not own any
account and that it will take only two days.Once i recieve the info i
will send you the bank info for you to make contact after i have
submmited your details as my trustee.
Best Regards,
Master Raymond Vieira.
Address:12b Minet Avenue
Harlesden
nw10 8aj.
London .
United Kingdom.
Please let all your correspondence be on my personal email address.
[redacted]
Come to think of it, where would this "Raymond Vieira" (if he is, indeed, an actual "flesh-and-blood" person) get the idea of addressing this appeal to an outright stranger "Dear Beloved Friend" when you don't exactly recall knowing "Mr. Vieira" before now?
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MEMO TO THE GREATER CONSERVATIVE PROLEFEED MASHEEN AS ARE FOND OF THROWING OUT TERMS LIKE "COMMUNIST," "MARXIST," "SOCIALIST" OR "FASCIST" in their "winning of hearts and minds" (usually ignorant and guillable) against President Obama's Agenda, probably unaware of what these terms (and their variants) really mean in their use thereof:
May I suggest that you go look them up in your Funk & Wagnall's, per the catchphrase from Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In from the 1968-71 period, what with your overzealous use thereof without any acquaintenance as to what they stand for ideologically.
Or what prevents your doing so @ this time? (If you take this approach, I would prefer facts, not platitudes, to so explain.)
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AS IF IGNORANCE BEING "VIRTUOUS" WASN'T GOOD ENOUGH FOR THE PROLEFEED CROWD, EXPECT THEM TO PLAY THE MARTYR CARD before too long in their atrocity propaganda vis-a-vis the news that Czech police had arrested white-supremacist leader David Duke on charges of Promoting Holocaust Denial in connexion with a book-promotion tour sponsored by local extremists.
(The Czech Republic has Holocaust Denial punishable by a three-year penal term.)
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SO MUCH FOR THE WHOLE IDEA OF "FAITH-BASED" FREE-ENTERPRISE BEING "CHRISTIAN" AND YET "AMERICAN" ALL THE WHILE, as per the following Consumer Alert from the Better Business Bureau:
Consumers across the United States are alleging that Wentzville, MO-based US Fidelis, a company touting itself as Americas leading provider of extended auto warranties, pressured them into buying expensive and unnecessary vehicle service contracts from which they received little or no benefit.
In the past three years, BBB has received more than 33,000 inquiries and more than 1,200 complaints and reports from consumers expressing dissatisfaction with US Fidelis or its services. Consumers say that in some cases they spent thousands of dollars for extended warranties and yet still ended up paying thousands more for repairs that were not covered under plans sold by US Fidelis. A number of state attorneys general have also taken complaints from angry consumers alleging the companys business practices are unethical and misleading.
The sheer volume and ongoing pattern of the complaints involving US Fidelis are nothing short of astonishing, said Steve Cox, BBB spokesperson. We continue to get reports from consumers saying they have been pressured or misled into buying warranty contracts they dont want or dont need, and many others tell us theyve been left holding the bag when the claim-processing company refused to pay for costly vehicle repairs.
US Fidelis calls itself a faith-based company with a commitment to treating every customer with honesty and integrity. Its logo, topped by a shining halo, can be seen in national television commercials. US Fidelis is also a primary NASCAR sponsor of the No. 66 Chevrolet Impala SS, participating in 2009 NASCAR Nationwide Series events and owned by 1989 Sprint Cup champion Rusty Wallace, owner of Rusty Wallace Racing, LLC (RWR).
The company previously operating under the names Dealer Services and National Auto Warranty Services is owned by Darain and Cory Atkinson, two brothers from St. Charles County, west of St. Louis. Chris Riley was recently named the companys chief executive.
Records show the company, founded in early 2003, sells extended vehicle service contracts across North America. US Fidelis TV and Internet commercials ask car owners to call a toll-free phone number for information. The company also has solicited customers by mail and by phone, and BBB notes consumers are especially critical of letters and postcards that appear to be associated with their manufacturers warranties. Riley has stated that the company has recently stopped making outbound telemarketing calls.
The nature of complaints against US Fidelis ranges from rude and
uncooperative sales representatives to the companys refusal to provide
consumers with copies of coverage contracts before purchase. Some
consumers allege contracts were written to make it extremely difficult
to obtain payment for repairs. Others said repairs they thought should
have been covered were not.
Following are examples of US Fidelis practices provided to BBB by customers.
*A letter sent by US Fidelis earlier this year to a man in Westerville, OH, is titled, 2003 Buick Regal Owner Notification and opens by saying:
Our records indicate that the factory warranty on your vehicle has expired or may be expiring soon. As a loyal Buick owner, you qualify for extended vehicle coverage of up to six additional years or 140,000 miles. Only your vehicle qualifies for this program.
The letter lists several expensive repairs said to be covered under an extended repair contract and states, due to the nature of this program, we can only authorize your vehicle for 72 hours from the receipt of this notice.
*A woman in Philadelphia said she received a telephone call informing her that the warranty was about to expire on her Hyundai. She said she bought the contract because she was convinced she was speaking with a manufacturers representative.
*A woman from Mission, TX, said a mailing she received in November 2008 stated the manufacturers warranty on her 2006 Chevy Malibu was about to expire. She called US Fidelis and asked that more information be sent. Soon after the call, she noticed the company had made two unauthorized withdrawals from her bank account despite the fact that she claims she never gave out her bank account number totaling about $650.
A suit filed by the Missouri Attorney General against National Auto Warranty Services (US Fidelis) is still pending in St. Charles County, MO. In papers filed with the court, the firm denied misrepresenting its products or deceiving customers. The Attorney General claimed the company violated the Missouri No Call Law, failed to inform consumers that it was not affiliated with the dealers or manufacturers of the vehicle and that it was offering to sell motor vehicle extended service contracts instead of warranties.
BBB offers the following advice for dealing with firms offering extended auto warranty contracts:
Never give personal information, including Social Security, bank
or credit card numbers, over the phone to an unknown telemarketer.
Read
your manufacturers warranty and contact your dealer or manufacturer to
ensure that you are not purchasing duplicate coverage.
Consumers can place their phone numbers on the Federal Do Not Call List by visiting www.donotcall.gov.
If a consumer is already on the list but continues to receive
telemarketing calls, he or she can use the same Web site to report
incidents to the Federal Trade Commission.
To find trustworthy auto warranty companies, consumers can check out BBB Reliability Reports online and free of charge at www.bbb.org.
In other words, any company presenting themselves as "faith-based" or otherwise offering products or services "based on Christian Principles" should be looked upon as proverbial wolves in sheep's clothing (as in using affinity for purposes of trick or deception, or otherwise seeking to create an aura of credibility for "Christian business principles" which may really be closer to the deceptive.
(Never mind their contributing, or so they want you to think, to "Christian" causes and organisations which, for all we know, may have unwitting or otherwise notorious connexions to the weird and unwholesome.)
Talk about what's on your mind--or, for that matter, about this item--in The Exaggerator Forums; come join the discussion!
