Expatriate Owl

A politically-incorrect perspective that does not necessarily tow the party line, on various matters including but not limited to taxation, academia, government and religion.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

Which Part of "Dead" does Wells Fargo Not Understand?





            My sister passed away a few months ago, and while she is now in Very Secure Hands, the affairs of her past worldly existence now rest upon my shoulders as the Executor of her Estate.  Her neighbor came north a few weeks ago with a box of papers and documents that had been in my sister's apartment.  One of the items was a credit card from Wells Fargo, issued to my sister not long before her passing.

            I called up Wells Fargo for the purpose of informing them of my sister's demise, and apprising them that the account should be placed in lockdown.   There apparently are no charges on it, inasmuch as none of my sister's mail forwarded to me contained any statements for that particular credit card account (though there were other accounts, credit card and otherwise, reflected in the forwarded mail).

            The Wells Fargo representative airhead on the other end of the line insisted that she could not make any changes or adjustments to the account unless I send an original certified specimen of my Letters of Appointment as Executor.

            Understand that I do not seek any funds from that account, and that I don't even seek any information about the account.  All I want them to do is allow no future charges against an account that, by all indications, has been inactive anyway!

            [It is theoretically possible that this single sample of one may be a fluke incident.  I have tentatively rejected the fluke hypothesis, however, because, within the past 36 hours, I had another conversation with another person where Wells Fargo people have operated at a similarly abysmal level of competence.].

            I have mailed out a letter to Wells Fargo, including a photocopies (not certified originals) of my sister's death certificate, and of my Letters of Appointment.  In the unlikely event that any charges are or have been racked up to that credit card following my sister's passing, they shall not be paid.

            My sister would not have had it any other way.

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Sunday, November 16, 2014

This Veteran Needs to go Viral





Justus "Jay" Belfield was not able to get up from his bed to join in the Veteran's Day festivities at the Baptist Health Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Glenfield, NY, where he lived, and so, he had the attendants dress him up in his Army uniform.  The former Master Sergeant gave one last salute from his bed, and was mustered out a few hours thereafter, completing a well-lived tour of duty on earth, both in and out of uniform.

Rest in Peace, Sarge!




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Friday, November 14, 2014

Terrified of Terrorism





Seems that accused cop killer Eric Frein has now had some terrorism charges lodged against him by the authorities in Pennsylvania.

Most appropriate, I daresay.

Query:  What is holding back the authorities from classifying the Fort Hood "workplace violence" incident perpetuated by Soldier of Allah Nidal Malik Hasan as an act of terrorism?



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Sunday, November 09, 2014

New York's Racist Voters


Been (and will continue to be) busy.

A somewhat belated critique of the election last week:

New York's voters re-elected Andrew Cuomo as their governor, who defeated challenger Rob Astorino.  Cuomo's running mate is Kathy Hochul, who will be our Lieutenant Governor.

Astorino's running mate was Christopher Moss.

Kathy Hochul is white, and Christopher Moss is an African American.

New York voted against the Black candidate!

Applying the Liberal standards, does that not make New York's voters racist?




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Sunday, November 02, 2014

Never mind Kaci, what about Ted?



The more that comes out about Kaci Hickox, the more questionable she becomes.

But neither should the government be excused from all questions in its handling of Kaci in particular, and of Ebola in general.

The Maine health officials had sought a court order to compel Kaci to distance herself from others by at least three feet for the duration of the 21-day incubation period.  Had the order been granted, Kaci would have been allowed to go biking or jogging outside.  In my opinion, that struck a reasonable balance between public safety concerns and Kaci's Constitutional rights.

But, as just about every non-comatose American knows by now, the judge ruled against the State of Maine and Kaci now has no movement restrictions.

I am, of course, concerned for the health of the population of Maine no less than I am for the Constitutional rights of Kaci Hickox.  If Hizzonor called that one wrong, and Kaci actually comes down with Ebola, then not only will the people of Maine and beyond be in danger for their health, but the Constitutional rights of everyone will be imperiled from what will be the reluctance of any court anywhere in America to take chances.

So I now wait and see, and pray for the health of Kaci Hickox.

I do have one question for the Maine Center for Disease Control & Prevention, however.  You people were so quick to lawyer up and go to court to try to restrain Kaci's movements.  You tried to keep her at least 3 feet away from everyone.  But what about Kaci's boyfriend, Ted Wilbur?  Why didn't you try to impose similar restrictions upon him?  How sure are you that Ted has been keeping 3 feet away from Kaci?  If he has been getting closer than 3 feet, then is he not also a menace to the public health?

 

Methinks that your Ebola management program is too light on public health, and too heavy on politics.

 

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