Rant: I'm sick of this stuff

[imaguitargod]

Ok, that's it, I'm officially past my point of annoyed, I'm past my point of angered. I'm now officially pissed off at this country.

I'm sick of being biometrically scanned, putting up with the government's bs, having CCTV camera's everywhere, having to be put into databases in order to do damn near everything, and a whole other list of things.

The thing that sent me over the edge today was having to return a shitty, Radio Shack brand three pack of tapes that were probably made elsewhere in the world for cheap.

I spent $5.64 on a three pack, took it home and tried it out. It made some funny noises and jammed up in the tape deck. I have to dissasemble the deck and pry the sucker out. Pissed off, I got the reciept and packaging and bag it all come in and took it back to Radio Shack. (I noticed on the reciet that you need to give your name and address to get you money back, something they fail to tell you before you buy it...that ticked me off while I was driving there, making me even more furious)

I get there and one of the usual sights in Cleveland is behind the counter, a person of certain color that is bitchy and has an attatude that screams "I don't care about my job or lifeand I don't care whatcha are saying and anything you say I will take offense to".(I know this sounmds a little raciest, and I really am not raciest, I love all the worlds people and think they should all be treated with equal respect. Please let's not get into a racial discussion over this, not my intent. But 3/4 of that populous of Cleveland are like the person behind the counter and it sadenss me) so I knew this was going to be a hassel.

She immedietly asks for my phone number, "I don't have one" (I really don't have a number in my name, it's the truth). "Well, you gotta have a number to return this" she says with that attitude I oh so hate. "I don't have a phone number. I do not have a cell phone or a land line. I don't have a number to give you". She tries to put in the store number and bypass it. She talks to the manager and says to me that I can't return this with out a phone number (see, you have to get into their database and you can't bypass the software).

I said I'd give her a number I had three years ago. It works and I give her the address from LA that I don't live at any more. She prints out the reciept and says to sign it. I do. My signature is a very precise set of sqwiggles (think a bunch of veriticle lines smusched together). She looks at me, gives me that attitude again and says, "I asked for your signature" (she's being really nasty with her voice at this point).

Ohhhhhhh, I almost turned big and green and smashed her face in along with the store. But I held it in and said really harshly back, with teeth nashing and red rage in my eyes, "That is my signature. Here look at my drivers liscense, it's the same."

She gave me my money and I left with steam flating in my wake. I am outraged at this. You can't do anything without being inserted in a database. I want out of this country.

[POTAWIE]

I had a similar argument at Radio shack when I wouldn't give them my name and address. No problem now since they closed all their Canadian stores.

[klyth]

hahahah :)

I guess you really needed that $5.64. :)

Most of the technologically current world is becoming very Orwellian. It's not just the USA. I hear England is a LOT worse. RBB can verify this (or contradict it if I've been misled). And forget China - they INVENTED bureaucracy. Unless you're independently wealthy or self-sustenant, you'll have to deal with it.

You should have given a fake phone number right off the bat. That's what I do. I HAVE a phone, and I never give the number to anyone.

[imaguitargod]

hahahah :)

I guess you really needed that $5.64. :)

Most of the technologically current world is becoming very Orwellian. It's not just the USA. I hear England is a LOT worse. RBB can verify this (or contradict it if I've been misled). And forget China - they INVENTED bureaucracy. Unless you're independently wealthy or self-sustenant, you'll have to deal with it.

You should have given a fake phone number right off the bat. That's what I do. I HAVE a phone, and I never give the number to anyone.

Ya, I realy did need that $5.64, I'm unemployeed and can now buy beer with it.

England's really bad from what I read, their CCTV numbers are outragously huge.

[JeepZeke]

When asked for my number I sat (area code) - 382-5968 (look at the corresponding letters). I can't imagine I am the only one in their database with that number.

Feel free to use it.

[imaguitargod]

When asked for my number I sat (area code) - 382-5968 (look at the corresponding letters). I can't imagine I am the only one in their database with that number.

Feel free to use it.
Hehehe, that's a good one.

[QuadShotz]

I hear ya...

It's not just in the USA of course. It's everywhere.

I'm definitly not the average American for sure.

I do have a landline, but I've never had a cell phone, don't drive, don't rent videos, no credit cards, no financing or property, not even a checkbook.

Oh, I know that since I get SS/SSI I'm definatly in THAT system, but we all are anyway soon as you're born. I grew up with fairly paranoid and xenophobic parents who weren't from the U.S. and disliked the system entirely. Ha, I didn't even go to school until I was 14.

Nowdays, I don't really exist in mainstream society except for the Internet. And that, I have pretty good control over. :D

[DrHavanger]

Yeah, I never give out my real name, real addr or phone to any business. i like to give out 310-217-7638 as my phone number when asked and when cashiers ask for my zip code i just spout out 90210.

[rabbit]

Coming from a vet you would probably think I would disagree with you, yet oddly I agree with you TOTALLY!! I feel that our gov't in general is turning into quite the big brother. The department of homeland security has so many abuses of constitutional power it's flat out disgusting as well. Yeah, don't get me wrong I'm not a fan of Al-Qaida and 9-11, but I'm not a moron either. There were so many un-constitutional laws that were passed and not even questioned after that day. Makes me sick to my stomach thinking about it. Truth is while I still love it here, am proud of the American idea, and love my country, I also realize that it's come to the point now where we are already watched and we're just fed crap to let us feel like we're still what we were in the late 1700's. Sorry, it's not that way anymore. Sad thing is most of our society is like a bunch of mindless brainwashed sheep and don't know any better. I'm also disgusted with the presidential choices this year. They act like two separate parties, but if you listen to what they really want it's more power, feed you crap, get on American Idol, make you feel good, and act like they are different. They're all the same:( I wouldn't trust them to watch someones kids let alone lead a country. That's how I feel. How's that for a rant!:lol:

[rabbit]

Yeah, I never give out my real name, real addr or phone to any business. i like to give out 310-217-7638 as my phone number when asked and when cashiers ask for my zip code i just spout out 90210.

That a good good idea.;):idea:

[Chiliac]

Why don't you give 'em the number of the white house or CIA?

Anyway, same over here, be assured. Can't return shit without leaving an address, at least they don't ID you.

What I really hate though is that they want your fingerprints to let you enter the US nowadays. I have nothing to hide, but even if I could afford a trip atm, I'd probably not go, that idea really keeps me from coming back....

[Philipperv]

I'm with you guys on this! Use a phony phone number and an address that just happens to be a mail forwarding service. That's what's so nice about living overseas; you get the perception that you are outside the reach of big brother (if though I know that i'm not.)

Anyway, you'll just love this sh*t I discovered today:

http://www.auswanderer-forum.com/forums/f87/neue-us-electronic-passport-57691/

http://www.drudge.com/news/105906/us-passports-manufactured-thailand

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=812215&page=2

[ring sting]

Interesting reading Philipperv.

And I agree with Chiliac. Next time I go to the great white north to visit Doug and Bob McKenzie, I think I'll spend the extra to go thru' Japan or direct to Vancouver.

The saying "if you got nothing to hide, you got nothing to worry about" doesn't wash with me. With no other assets, privacy is the last thing that I perceive to own. I will not give it up solely to transit thru' LAX or Honolulu.

RS

RS

[stillmanz]

...thats why I'm the crazy guy who has no license doesn't vote never fills out his census and grows carnivorous plants and snails..............
its not me that crazy.












lol

[POTAWIE]

What I hate is when stores try to pressure you into buying extended warrantees. I freaked out on a salesman who wouldn't let me buy a printer without buying the warrantee. He even brought his manager over to try to convince me, then the same thing with the lady at the checkout. I'm usually quite calm and quiet but this time I snapped and realy made a public scene. Next time I'm bringing a camera to film my experience for you-tube. I'll do the hidden camera in the oversized hat like Homer Simpson:lol:

[rabbit]

What I hate is when stores try to pressure you into buying extended warrantees. I freaked out on a salesman who wouldn't let me buy a printer without buying the warrantee. He even brought his manager over to try to convince me, then the same thing with the lady at the checkout. I'm usually quite calm and quiet but this time I snapped and realy made a public scene. Next time I'm bringing a camera to film my experience for you-tube. I'll do the hidden camera in the oversized hat like Homer Simpson:lol:

That would be worth watching!!:lol::lol:

[rabbit]

I'm with you guys on this! Use a phony phone number and an address that just happens to be a mail forwarding service. That's what's so nice about living overseas; you get the perception that you are outside the reach of big brother (if though I know that i'm not.)

Anyway, you'll just love this sh*t I discovered today:

http://www.auswanderer-forum.com/forums/f87/neue-us-electronic-passport-57691/

http://www.drudge.com/news/105906/us-passports-manufactured-thailand

http://flyertalk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=812215&page=2

Hey, Philiperv. The one about the electronic passport I got into a heated debate about on another forum. I did alot of research on it and being a former radio operator in a LRS unit for the US Army I know a little bit about radios, and tracking. What they don't tell you is that there's a way to actually transmit location with them even though that type of RFID chip that's in it can't tranmit far. The signal can still be picked up with equipment with much stronger signal strength. (I can get into this later. I'm out of it right now and I'm about to hit the sack.) I also don't trust that it's all of the information held on that chip. I do know for a fact that the US gov't already has my DNA barcoded from when I was in way back. It's supposedly for ID purposes if I was blown up beyond all reconition, but with all of the information we have out there stored electronically what would happen if it was stored in one easy location and they could even track where you were? Scary thought:shocked:

[ring sting]

...thats why I'm the crazy guy who has no license doesn't vote never fills out his census and grows carnivorous plants and snails..............
its not me that crazy.



more reasons to participate in the cash economy only

RS

[chuk hell]

Dude.

While the "Orwellian" direction the world is heading in is certainly alarming, when dealing with the fools at Radio Shack, or any other retailer that's a bit too nosey, just lie. Really, it's not hard. Give them some fake numbers and move on.


Are you using cassette tapes? When they get eaten it's usually the sign of a dirty tape deck.


Just say'n.


:P

[imaguitargod]

Dude.

While the "Orwellian" direction the world is heading in is certainly alarming, when dealing with the fools at Radio Shack, or any other retailer that's a bit too nosey, just lie. Really, it's not hard. Give them some fake numbers and move on.


Are you using cassette tapes? When they get eaten it's usually the sign of a dirty tape deck.


Just say'n.


:P
Deck's clean, the tapes were crap. I've always had problems with Radio Shack baught/brand anything and generally never shop there. But I was in a bind. I did give them an old address.

I'm going to either start using 1313 Mockingbird Lane and giving out the number to Brown's Stadium.

[rabbit]

Dude.

While the "Orwellian" direction the world is heading in is certainly alarming, when dealing with the fools at Radio Shack, or any other retailer that's a bit too nosey, just lie. Really, it's not hard. Give them some fake numbers and move on.


Are you using cassette tapes? When they get eaten it's usually the sign of a dirty tape deck.


Just say'n.


:P
True. It just brought up some concerns of mine:) If you think Radio Shacks bad. I remember going on a discounted trip, but had to sit through a timeshare thing. Yeah, it's apples and oranges because they weren't trying to get all of my info. However, those salesman are THE WORST!!:shocked: I think I ticked them off because we wasted a couple hours of there time and we absolutely had no intention of buying. :lol:

[DevilDuck]

TDK tapes FTW!!!!

Or if you can afford them, Maxell Studio Plus. They're about $12 each, but worth every penny.

[QuadShotz]

Ha, that reminds me of my days taping stuff on cassette.

Here's a Sound Guard C-60 aluminum wheel tape that made it through a car wreck (thus the frelled case), and my old fave the Memorex CDXII 90's. Fun times. :)

http://www.darkgrid.com/images/photos/cassettes-2.jpg

One of these days, I really should rip all the old cassettes and vinyl to mp3 or something so I can use it more.

~QS

[Philipperv]

And I agree with Chiliac. Next time I go to the great white north to visit Doug and Bob McKenzie, I think I'll spend the extra to go thru' Japan or direct to Vancouver.

From personal experience I would try to avoid Vancouver too. Take my word on that.

[Philipperv]

Rabbit,

I agree that there is alot more info on that RFID chip than what they are claiming. Can the antenna be cut like they claim in that travel thread? I'm sure the thing has GPS tracking in addition to microwave.

[DevilDuck]

They passed a law here in Albuquerque that you HAVE TO take your pet to the vet and get a microchip implanted. Well, needless to say, I'm bucking the system. My pets stay with me. My dog won't even leave the yard without me being with him, and sometimes he looks at me like, "Are you sure it's ok?"

My cat is an indoor cat. He's terrified of being outside, but he's curious about it. The few times he has gotten out, all we have to do is call his name and he runs inside like his ass was on fire.

Oh, did I mention that it's also $80 for EACH pet?

[Chiliac]

I just love it when high fees are asked for mandatory things like new IDs and stuff like that. I MUST have an ID but if I can't afford it and get carded I am fined and that makes it even more unlikely that I can afford it soon....

[rainbowberry]

Ha, that reminds me of my days taping stuff on cassette. Fun times. :)


I remember the tapes that had labels written over many times and recording the chart show off the radio and running to hit the pause button each time the DJ spoke. It was no fun though sitting there with a pen and trying to wind the tape back in when it tangled, they'd usually be a part of the tape that had crossed over somewhere as you wound it in.

[QuadShotz]

I remember the tapes that had labels written over many times and recording the chart show off the radio and running to hit the pause button each time the DJ spoke. It was no fun though sitting there with a pen and trying to wind the tape back in when it tangled, they'd usually be a part of the tape that had crossed over somewhere as you wound it in.

man, are you right...i got lots of tapes with spotty because of failed pauses. ;)

yay, 1984, eh?

[imaguitargod]

They passed a law here in Albuquerque that you HAVE TO take your pet to the vet and get a microchip implanted. Well, needless to say, I'm bucking the system. My pets stay with me. My dog won't even leave the yard without me being with him, and sometimes he looks at me like, "Are you sure it's ok?"

My cat is an indoor cat. He's terrified of being outside, but he's curious about it. The few times he has gotten out, all we have to do is call his name and he runs inside like his ass was on fire.

Oh, did I mention that it's also $80 for EACH pet?
Yep and that's basically condeming your pets to suffering and eventual death. It's been proven that cancerous tumors strat to grow and spread from the area that has the RFID chip implanted in 5 years or less.

[AlabamaJack]

IGG if I were you I would give then an address that is about 75 characters long and make them type it in while you spell it out...heres one with 54 characters

100650 Photosynthetic Abiotic Research Center Boulevard

[imaguitargod]

IGG if I were you I would give then an address that is about 75 characters long and make them type it in while you spell it out...heres one with 54 characters

100650 Photosynthetic Abiotic Research Center Boulevard
Ohhhh, that's a good one!

[AlabamaJack]

Nat...seems you and I have a lot in common....except maybe the beard...but then again, I have a pony tail...I will be 59 this year...had my first heart attack at 37 and have had 5 other ones since along with quadruple bypass 9 years ago and an aortic aneurysm (7 cm) repaired two years ago...when I had my first heart attack they were balooning my vessels and od'ed me on the dye...I went flatline while I was watching the monitor and was flatline for about 25-30 seconds...needless to say my heart started beating again after some heavy deep coughing...whats funny is that I never got scared...it was just another procedure I had to go through...

after I flatlined, I promised myself I would live each day to the fullest and never ever let anyone tell me I can't do something because I have a heart condition or I was too old...

I was a wild young man growing up (probably why I was single for the first 50 years of my life) but sometimes I think I am even wilder now and take more chances than I did in my earlier life...I am still in the big corporate environment for another 15 months until I retire then look out baby....

I think the "live each day to the fullest attitude" came from growing up during the 50s and going through all the nuclear build up and cuban missile crisis...I lived on the gulf coast around mobile and pensacola and we were main targets for cuban missiles...it became a habit to say F*** it, I'm gonna have fun today because I may not be here tomorrow...I like the way you put it as "making memories"

it seems that people that are separated by just a single decade have differences of opinions because they were raised in a different atmosphere of a different time...

[rainbowberry]

I like you Nat, couldn't have put it better. AJ you know I have a lot of respect for you anyway.

[xgrafcorex]

there's a movie about IGG that's been out for a while now, maybe you've seen it:

http://www.thezreview.co.uk/posters/posterimages/f/fallingdown.jpg

if i was at home..i'd have PS'd the michael douglas out of there and replaced it with IGG. :lol:

[chilehunter]

yea big brother sucks, but what ya gonna do ? just be glad you dont live in europe or UK
asking for a ID for returns has some to do with thieves & track record of people buying stuff using the product & then returning it, if theres a out of normal returing going on some places will just tell them to do buisness elsewhere. or for thieves theres tracking record of whos doing this.

dont worry your name & everything about you is stored in a safe place under govt control :lol::scared: & when the day comes be a good citizen & step in line to get your chip or barcode :lol: which is NOT far fetched either!! :shocked:



Yep and that's basically condeming your pets to suffering and eventual death. It's been proven that cancerous tumors strat to grow and spread from the area that has the RFID chip implanted in 5 years or less.

suffering ? its a shot thats it! a needle pushing in a chip the size of a grain of rice into the back of the neck under the skin. thats not painful.the other method of ID'ing a pet is tattoo & thats more painful to the pet vs a needle shot because they tattoo the gums or the underbelly of the groin area, both very sensitive areas!
& I dont believe this caner thing because the chip is made out of the same material that other products are made of that are put into human bodies (pacemakers,knee replacment rods,etc....)

[imaguitargod]

suffering ? its a shot thats it! a needle pushing in a chip the size of a grain of rice into the back of the neck under the skin. thats not painful.the other method of ID'ing a pet is tattoo & thats more painful to the pet vs a needle shot because they tattoo the gums or the underbelly of the groin area, both very sensitive areas!
& I dont believe this caner thing because the chip is made out of the same material that other products are made of that are put into human bodies (pacemakers,knee replacment rods,etc....)

I mean suffering when they get cancer, not the shot :rolleyes:

The evidence of the cancer is there. They are all starting to get it and there is a ton of studies that are showing this. It's the radio frequencies that are doing it. Same thing with cell phone causing cancer.

[chilehunter]

It's the radio frequencies that are doing it. Same thing with cell phone causing cancer.


:shocked: what radio frequencies ? its a ID marker not a cell phone. they wave a hand held device that reads the chip, the hand held device has the power source not the chip.
with your theory pacemakers would be giving everyone that has them cancer because they are battery powered & cell phones can disrupt the pacemaker (not 100% sure but thought I heard they might be able to do this?)

another thing is I also heard (remember its hearsay) that our military is starting to chip our military personal, because the chip holds far more information than dog tags.
& I dont think its far fetched either for some paranoid parents to chip their babys/young kids, of course with the help of the govt pushing the idea of whats so great about chipping kids & maybe even adults.

[Philipperv]

Chilehunter,

You have me worried! If more people like you become complacent with this Big Brother stuff then it will become reality someday and MANDATORY!

[chilehunter]

woooo phil you got me all wrong there!
I'll fight tooth & nail to prevent a chip being placed inside of me & if it gets placed inside of me I WILL cut it out myself if needed! same goes for my offspring if I had some.

I was just simply stating theres some gullible people that could easily fall for govt pushing for people being chipped, when the govt claims the pros about them.

I see the chip as nothing more than the mark of the beast!
but I have no problem putting a chip in my dog for just incase because pounds & labs are supposed to scan the pet to check & I dont want to loose my dog, well I hope they scan them.

& this is the same crap govt's can pull on citizens about loosing a child or having your medical history in the chip for incase of a accident. & one reason for miltary personal to be chipped because dog tags can be lost.

[Philipperv]

Oh sorry about that. I do feel that a line has to be drawn because they will always come up with excuses to find more applications for these chips.

Next time it will be a new implantable "national ID" or an implantable "universal health identification chip". You get my point.

[chilehunter]

nothing to be sorry about, you didnt offend me.
I totally agree govt's will find ways to push this idea of having people chipped & sell it to citizens (not like selling a product by sell a idea ya know)
not saying this idea is bad but just like here they have programs that finger/foot print children & pictures & any other information, for just incase they were injured or kidnapped. well how hard is it to take it 1 step farther ? not too difficult when the public has been sold this idea of it being better for the sake of your children or your own life (medical history)
like I said its not far fetched & not far away either, I bet in my lifetime people will be chipped, I could almost bet within 20 years or less it will be on a grander scale because once your in the military your the govt property & they will want to use this technology for their own reasons.

[chilehunter]

oh yea what line ?
you mean the line you can bitch all you want but still force fed this idea like any other program govt's hand citizens, & if you dont like it or dont go with it theres jail time involved or fines. oh yea that line :rolleyes:

usa is pushing for national ID cards that are embedded with all sorts of info & whatnot, so this shit is already here & the chip is just knocking at the door.

[DrHavanger]

i think goverments south of usa are implanting tracking chips in high ranking officials to track them in the case they get kidnapped.

[chilehunter]

heres something I found on wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microchip_implant_%28human%29

they're already planning on it to have many uses, example replace keys.
& right now a 20 year test for cancer issues BEFORE being put into use on a grander scale. not saying before they decide if they should go forward to implant these chip humans just saying they like to know what happens or kinda saying make better ones & it'll happen anyways (humans being implanted) just they want to know what happens good or bad.

but right now its still being placed in humans at some hospitals.

& right now it cant be a GPS chip (well thats what it says)

& gee go figure the 1st place that it was implanted in a human was in the UK ;) you brits sure love to give up your rights & privacy at the drop of a dime :lol:

so the chip is knocking really hard on the door, watch out!

IGG - sorry I was kinda wrong about the cancer issue, I never heard about this but it mentions it in the link & a link about animal use but they also say its in rats & mice that get the cancer.

I guess you could say its kinda like laser eye surgery before they were saying its safe & blah blah blah. then what about 1 month ago they come out & say we dont know the full long term effects with laser eye surgery & they need to do some more research/studies to decide if its 100% safe :rolleyes:

[QuadShotz]

Here: http://www.realnightmare.org/

WA fought it, and won. Eat dat Gov't overlords!

Besides, I'm still an Canuck citizen..I cna bail anytime. And, as a Commonwealth citizen, I can be accepted about anywhere. ;)

Nobody hates Canadians. :D

[talas]

chilehunter yes we seem to sleepwalk into the controllers net dont we in the u.k..but some very bad things are happening in the u.s and the so called FREE world..next target in site IRAN..y?
because they have total control of all moneytary sources,pushing food and fuel prices so the poor can be tagged and controlled..as we are already.
freedom do you have it?.. of course not..you have to live your lives within a system of society..media,relationships,religion,science as many things as possible to keep you as sheep..its been a very long time since we fell to sleep thinking where on the top of the tree.
yes freedom belonged to us once long ago..but we decided on another route and its been down hill since....you have a very stark choice to come sooner than you think and it will determin all...fall back to sleep..or WAKE UP,its all there in your head and in your heart,a golden age or an ice age its your choice...

wake your brothers and sisters they are part of your world to we have been asleep to long...........

[talas]

QuadShotz i like my canuck cousins to ;)

[Philipperv]

Nobody hates Canadians. :D

Does that include the a-holes in immigration?

[DevilDuck]

On a side note....

You know that little magnetic strip that's on the back of credit/debit cards, drivers licenses, etc.? Well, I know the guy that invented those. He was going to the University of Oregon, and there was a problem with students ripping off the lunch rooms by using other students meal passes. So, he worked on this strip that held only the students' names and ID numbers. He gave up the rights to the school because he didn't think that there was any other real use for it.

Flash to present day:
He told me he regrets ever inventing that little strip, but said if he didn't do it someone else would have. The way it's used today was never the intention.

[QuadShotz]

Does that include the a-holes in immigration?


Funny, I actually applied for a job as a Border Guard once. For some reason, they and Interpol had a problem with me doing so.

Ah well. :lol:

[chilehunter]

talas, nicely put!

as for iran ? I dont know, I have no control over that issue. but USA is the "go to" country for all others, as much as you dont want to admit it but its the truth, kinda a love/hate relationship.
USA pays out alot for UN actions (heard 1/3 of all UN budget & world peace keeping missions)
so yea I guess USA should have a right to place their foot where they want to!
every other country whines about the USA being nothing more than the world police & bullies & hate USA but will cry out & plead for help when they need it or some other country does but once its half way done or they get what they want they'll turn their back & turn the blind eye after all USA have done for saving people/countries (otherwise they wouldnt even exsist!!) then stab USA in the back & try to force their ideas upon USA :rolleyes:

but its funny other countries dont step up to the plate to help as much, why is that ? they help a little here or there but nothing in great numbers. UK is about the only country that comes close or maybe even Russia

like I said love/hate.

& sadly, yes USA is becoming like the UK.

as for the chip, thats just evil I tell ya & wrong in many ways.

[chuk hell]

This is an interesting thread to me on several levels. I'll be 56 this year and within my lifetime, I've done as much as I could think of to do what I've always called "Making Memories". Anything I could do that was weird, fascinating, interesting, unusual, dangerous but livable, or just plain strange, is what I tried to find and experience.

It worked.

In my late 40's, I had a series of near fatal heart attacks and have succeeded in causing myself to become diabetic and have liver problems from the partying. I smoked for 40 years and of course quit when I had the bypassess, (5).

Simply put, I wore myself out. It was all worth it. I had a blast! I figured that dying without having done anything would be the worst end I could imagine, so regardless of the consequences, I did everything I could get into.

My whole life, I've heard people talk about how their life is monitored too closely. How everything they do is watched by someone. I agree, however, it's been that way to different degrees since the 50's when I was a kid.

I have a way of dealing with it. I ignore it. It really pisses them off when you give them an overabundance of what they're after. I set up a separate account for nothing but a debit card. I put what I spend each week into it. Then, I use it for every single thing I do. I don't care if it's a single piece of gum I'm buying for 25 cents, I make them use their little system of tracking to record that damn piece of gum, while I laugh my ass off while I watch them do it.

Cameras? Hell, they can put one in the crapper to watch me wipe my butt if they really want to. I could care less. Anything I do that I don't want watched, I do within my little acre of homeland that has an 8 foot privacy fence around it with MY OWN cameras, key punch pad and voice activated speaker system. When one of the service people come to MY gate, I have them hold their ID up to the camera so I can SLOWLY read it off as if I were writing it down, I ask them to verify their employers phone number and I call it and make THEM verify all of the information about the service call.

Hey, it's my own little game.

Payback is a bitch.

Now that I'm older and fairly well off as far as my current wages and job go, I live most of my life within my fence-line or at places that are wide open camping/fishing/hunting type places. I've seen enough city life to last me two lifetimes, so that part is done.

My advice to all of you is to give it back to them in mass. Make them record every single thing you do. Make them write it all down. Use their own system against them. It may not accomplish anything, but it is fun.

I have a sign I made and keep in my car. It says simply, EAT ME, and has a pic of a cow on it. The message is clear and the pic makes it legal. I show it to every camera I see as I drive. It gives me simple pleasure and a lot of laughs.

Take life with a grain of salt. Enjoy it DESPITE all the butt-heads that seem to fill it.

You only get one chance. Don't waste it worrying about the crap you have to do anyway.

Good luck to all of you. If you ever see an old guy with a white beard holding up a sign to a traffic light camera that says EAT ME, you'll have just met me.

Nat

You. Are. Awesome. :cool:

[talas]

nice one nat ;)