Showing posts with label spamming. Show all posts
Showing posts with label spamming. Show all posts

Friday, December 30, 2011

CUNNING SPAM

It seems each year around New Year's Day there is a surge of questionable comments, or downright spam. Today I received a new twist.


A seemingly positive comment, perhaps more sarcastic than positive, appeared by a person/site under name of "gclub." Within the comment were two hyperlinks in a foreign, seemingly oriental, language. Not having Google Translate immediately available I clicked on one which lead to a gambling site. I did not click on the other as I am afraid I might get a virus. My fairly rigid BitDefender did not pop and sock the first one.


I did not post the comment and marked it spam. The comment was on the recent blog about Mammoth Site; it referred to the fact I had used an You Tube movie for my information and made an oblique comment I was relying on the info of the movie. I had a several of my own pictures.

Most of these travelogues rely on information gained at visit, my own photos, and brochures received, plus Internet to back up my information and links provided for those seeking more information. The YOU TUBE was simply for your enjoyment and may have contained more information.

This blog is an effort to record my own life experiences; advertising. overt or covert, is never welcome. Subjects of my blog, the places I visited, and other topics might be construed as advertising, but it is a stretch. I certain am not receiving monetary value or collected any vast number of "hits.". In fact, we PAID a fairly expensive package vacation fee which included these sites.

There is also some comments going around using aliases for legitimate bloggers. If it sounds odd, e-mail the blogger.

This criticism is not aimed at those of you who are fortunate to offer gifts and give aways. You are open about  your activities. I am referring to subversive, hidden  activities.

Have any of you received this kind of spam? I wonder why a blog with less than 50 comments per post was singled out?

Be sure to read post before this; I just wanted  to interject this friendly warning.

Wednesday, February 23, 2011

PROBLEMS IN BLOGLAND, PERSONAL CONCERNS

When I started blogging, after an elementary class offered by a friend, I thought it great fun for retired person. I had periods of prolific work which leveled out to reading and less pontification on my part.

IT SEEMED A HARMLESS PAST TIME. Early on I heard of gang ambushes, stealing or using blogger's or copyrighted work without permission or attribution, unnecessary critical comments, outright intentional meanness, and many other startling misdemeanors for a seemingly harmless pastime.

Suddenly and early in my blogging experience, persons had private blogs for various reasons which I did not then understand. I have encountered several over nearly two years of blogging.

Others have eliminated comments from time to time. I only received two comments which were pornographic spam from a foreign country, which I deleted.

 The third was a person with a cause, posting multiple, -- I mean a great number--, links to my post about my parents relatively mild corporate punishment. I courteously replied to the person that causes were not a purpose of my post.

I realize some persons tire of comments and others feel a need to recognize comments.  I adopted a habit of  replying to comments on my blog by e-mail, especially if my reply was personal and not relevant to the blog.

I never built up the long following of many who even follow me, so I have not met up with these bandits of the blogland highway yet. I suppose I will quit if I do. I have eliminated only three comments mentioned above.

Spamming blogs is stealing the creative time and effort of a writer for personal gain.

Hiding behind anonymity with or without the intent of destroying another person for any reason is abominable.

 I'm sorry; I have too many other things to do with my time.
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My husband and I are in the process of changing a lot of our medical care. In a small remote area, there are not multiple choices in some disciplines and specialties. We have very good insurances, so that is not a problem, at least as long as Medicare and TriCare for Life assignment is accepted.


Assignment is a very important word: many medical facilities will file for you, but you make up the difference, no matter how much insurance you have. Believe me that adds up in a hurry.


My husband ALSO has VA 100% disability and use of  VA medical  facilities too, but that is approx. 150 miles away. The local VA clinic is a wellness clinic. When you have an illness you are stabilized and sent to Little Rock or other VA facility, in ambulance, etc. if necessary.


Despite being covered-insurance wise, physical accessibility is becoming difficult for us as we age. So we are looking for  a general practitioner for him to use Medicare/TriCare for Life assignment.

The nearest town with a relatively good sized hospital is 17 miles away -- not 4 lane highway, but fairly decent road.


I have Medicare/TriCare for Life and have been fortunate in finding a local physician in the past, and some specialists.
We have a clinic in our town but it seems in turmoil.


Our little town was elated with an area hospital gave us an abandoned medical facility if we found personnel for it. This means the City is in real estate business but at the time, it seem the only way we would ever be able to keep a medical service, other than an ambulance.


For about 5 years it was wonderful to have medical service just blocks from home, but the bubble burst late last  year when the physician chose to leave for a larger city and practice, leaving an advanced nurse practitioner as the sole occupant.   This recent turnover resulted in turmoil, including negotiations with the city.


The ANP has been gone on "business" several times. This week alone she will be working 1.5 days only out of her 4.5 official days. One employee of three has quit, leaving a heavy workload on a RN and a lab person.


I was resolved to stay if I felt I was getting good care. I am no longer sure I am.  So after I get my husband settled in I will have do some more thinking. I also have the unresolved issue of the ablation procedure, although I am leaning in that direction.....which, guess what, will be in Little Rock.


So you see we are in a state of flux, which we never anticipated, but we will face them as we have other situations in 42 years Feb. 22. [My husband cooked steaks Saturday night as anniversary dinner. Being ill I was not the best of condition among the 5 guests.

A number of retirees here go to the renown medical centers such as Mayo's or Cleveland Clinic.  They perceive they get better care. We are able to do this, but I wonder if the care is that extraordinary, or is it enticing?