Comments for The Retort

Comment on Art of the con II: A second round with my father’s postal oppressors by JDSTHat

JDSTHat — Tue, 14 May 2013 02:15:55 +0000

Same issue as most of you, my mother is 93. She continues to write “crap” checks, but they never seem to clear the bank, so no real cost with the exception of some postage. Besides she feels good reading the materials and making the contributions – kind of a “hobby”.
Has anyone ever tried to provide their parents with a separate bank account with no money in it, let our loved ones write check out of the account and let the “cause/charity” fight it out with the bank.
The ideal would be for the check to make it through the organization, bounce back from the bank, with no cost to the account holder (Mom), but force the organization to go through the cost/time or trying to get the check reissued etc.
Downsides are if the bank tries to charge the account holder (mom) or she gets a bad credit score, but she is 93 and if there are “organizations” she would just as soon not be bothered by . . .

Comment on I’m glad ‘Community’ is back in all its glory; now may that glory not kill them by Katherine

Katherine — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 01:10:29 +0000

Almost a year, my friend. And Community has changed a lot. Where’s the rallying cry?!?

Comment on Art of the con II: A second round with my father’s postal oppressors by LDS

LDS — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 15:52:55 +0000

Wow! I just discovered this site and I am not alone. My aging parent began making contributions to these fear mongering, blood sucking vandels last year. After a major stroke this summer there was evidence that my mother had a minor stroke early in 2012 which went unnoticed except that I mistook some of her confusion for natural aging. Only when I took over her accounts with a POA this summer did I realize the extent of her confusion. I spent hours and hours as well as stamps last summer writing the vultures who had taken advantage of her to no avail. The only thing that has resulted in a decrease in the onslaught of pleas for money was a slight change in her address. The Center she now resides in holds her mail for me to pick up and there is a recycling bin near by. The individual who is having her parent’s mail forwarded to her is probably on the right track. I asked the post office for help and they were unable to help. This needs to stop. Unfortunately, I am caught in the middle between my family’s needs and my parent and have little time to pursue this. Perhaps at a later time, I am sure I will be furious for a long time.

Comment on Art of the con II: A second round with my father’s postal oppressors by J. Drew's brother

J. Drew's brother — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 02:03:15 +0000

I guess my brother has finally received some “fame” for this post. Our Father passed away a year ago, one heck of a way to finally stop getting “requests”. I urge you all to keep up the good fight, to call your Congressional Idiots and see what they can do to help stop this raping of our Mothers and Fathers. It’s not a question of money, it’s the fear mongering indecency of disrespect and disdain these money grubbing predators have on our parents at a time when they can least defend themselves. If you find something that works, SHARE! Spread the word! Maybe a wildfire of information and action can defeat these inhuman manipulators.

Comment on Three-Word Review of ‘The Secret World of Arietty’ by zackatoustra (@zackatoustra)

zackatoustra (@zackatoustra) — Thu, 20 Dec 2012 10:22:07 +0000

I loved the haïku. You definitely got it.
(I laughed my nose out reading the captions too, but since, you know, they don’t count)

Comment on Eats shoots & robots: Why the Panda trumps Wall-E by wei lian lee

wei lian lee — Sun, 25 Nov 2012 16:19:55 +0000

You’re not alone. I thought KFP was better than Wall-E.
Not sure why they replaced the original directors. Maybe as you said – even the original directors thought KFP could not be surpassed and therefore decided not to do KFP2. Unfortunately DW went ahead.
Just watched Rise of the Guardians – another great film. When you take into consideration HTTYD, I think DW is on the up and is ahead of Pixar at this point.

Comment on Art of the con II: A second round with my father’s postal oppressors by Cherie

Cherie — Fri, 28 Sep 2012 18:44:11 +0000

What a comfort to learn of similar situations. This has all exploded in the last 12 years – it was not the case when my father died in 2001. Now i have another relative who died this year and the story is exactly the same as all those told here. Isn’t there a REAL senior advocacy group who would take on this cause?

Comment on The world’s best media room: The Batcave vs. The Nautilus by Poet22

Poet22 — Thu, 09 Aug 2012 00:03:30 +0000

Wow! I love the Nautilus basement! I wonder when someone is going to recreate Bilbo’s home at Bag End!

Comment on The art of the con: How fearmongering money-grubbers honed in on my dad with dementia by Beth Cowles

Beth Cowles — Sat, 21 Jul 2012 01:47:49 +0000

Our family is also trying to stop these abusive mailings. Our Father has demetia and can’t decide if it’s a bill or a worthwile organization. While i have no hope of stopping these groups, I can ask that stiffer regulations be imposed to protect the elderly people targeted. I am also requesting refunds through our family attorney. This practice is sick, and does not fit the image of the rightious, conservative values these groups say they espouse.
I can only hope that parents of the parasitic little wonk wannabes working for these groups will also become “valued donors”

Comment on Quite possibly the world’s best adjective by frothy srutt

frothy srutt — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 03:41:30 +0000

How about “frothy” or “soggy” or “gooch” or “Scrutt”?