Swindles and Spams

The NYT had an article about computer spamming today.
I got a phone call yesterday from Danny at Windows Care Service Center. Or so he said. He wanted my password(s), my computer was full of dangerous viruses and he urgently needed me to cooperate with him to fix my machine.

So I told him I don’t respond to these requests but if he gave me his phone number I’d pass it on to my tech friend. His number was 347 332 1135. He said he wanted to hear from me (us) very soon because this was urgent.
So I went on the internet and searched Windows Care Service Centers and there were many references to spamming. The recommendation was to call the FBI. So I did (212 384 1000).There I spoke with a real person who asked that I report this to IC3.Gov. I went to the site but found that they asked for so much personal information that I did not make the complaint. I wonder if I was wrong.

Abandoned Car

For several weeks there has been a car in front of my house that seemed to be abandoned. After a while a called the local high school to see if one of their students had left it there. Apparently not. So I finally called 311 reporting the car. Within a few days the Dept. of Transportation came to see it. I did not speak with them I assumed that I’d hear about it or the car would be gone. But no, it remained. So on Monday I called 311 again. They had no new information and suggested I call the local police precinct which I did. And within an hour a police car was in front of my house. This time I went out to talk with them. They had information that it was a stolen car. They would try to find the owner, tag it and then tow it away. I went about my business getting ready to leave the house.
When I reemerged from the house the police were there and told me it was not a stolen car. A woman affiliated with the HS came by and told them that the owner worked in the school and had apparently "misplaced" her car. Did not know this and reported it missing (or stolen).
When I came home the car was gone. Morale: The system works if you persist. I got my parking spot in front of my house back and the owner got her car back.

abandoned 1

abandoned

PEIR AV Team

We couldn’t manage without them; Allen, Mike, Art and Ellis.Thank you all so much.

My Emergency Room Hospital Experiences in 2 States, NY and Mass.

At the end of 2012 I had several spontaneous and prolonged nosebleeds and sought emergency medical help for 2 of them. On 12/29/12 I drove myself to the emergency room of St. Francis Hospital and on 12/31/12
I was taken by ambulance to To Lenox, Mass from Kripalu near Tanglewood. The ambulance ride was billed separately and is not included in this calculation.
So what was the difference in cost of treatment for the same condition at two different hospitals?
St. Francis Medical Center billed Medicare and my supplemental insurance $938.00 and received $601.96. No physician’s fees were billed.
Berkshire Medical Center billed a total of $1691.44 and received $1349.82. This included billing form the ER MD of $333.30.
Bottom Line:
St. Francis Hospital received less than half of the monies paid to the BMC.
There does not seem to be a standard. Is it just clever bill preparation by the hospital accounting staff?

AV Captain

Mike together with Allen Gold and Ellis Roeder and Art Mattson (when he’s in town) provide excellent AV support for PEIR members. Thank you all.

Queens Botanical Garden

Not as spectacular as others I’vs seen this Spring but quite nice anyway.

qbg 1

qbg gate

backyard garden

backyard garden 1

spiritual sculpture

qbg yellow tulip

Visit with Rabbi Michael Weisser

the garden at the Free Synagogue of Flushing was designed and executed by Rabbi Weisser. It is a peaceful, meditative and thriving spot in the middle of bustling downtown Flushing.

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rabbi michael in his garden

rabbis garden

The Best On This Visit

Central Park Conservatory Garden

Tulips toward their end but still beautiful.

bc red

yellow bc

striped bc

bc back

sole yellow

bc

Upper Fifth Avenue

I went in early, parked for free and visited the CP Conservatory Garden. Some interesting sights include a turtule on a leash and Marian Anderson Lived Here (1200 5th Ave.).

turtle out for a walk

marian anderson