Random Posts 2011 & 2012

[Antony]

It's not even July (okay, almost), and the "Christmas Lay-by" has started! I received an email from Kmart, and the Christmas Lay-by for toys has started.



(For those who are not familiar with the term "Lay-by", it means a consumer pays instalments for certain goods, and the store holds the goods until the full payment has been made. Wiki, Australian Government Law)

There are a few things wrong in this. Allow me to elaborate.
(1) Today's super-modern and extremely picky kids do not want outdated toys. The current "hot" toys many not be popular by Christmas.
(2) You do not know what kids really want. You are not taking the kids to the store and let them pick the toy, and tell them they have to wait half a year.
(3) Although I can understand the financial merits of "lay-by" over buying with credit. But, why bother? If you can't afford consumer goods, don't get it. You can earn more rewards when using your credit cards. (To Don: although I like to use my credit cards for shopping, I don't spend more than I can afford. I use credit cards for earning rewards and I pay off the bills in full by the due date.)

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[richard mitnick]

Antony-

In the U.S. is is called lay away,

>>RSM

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[Antony]

I can't believe it, after getting the RFID shields to protect my credit cards, I don't have my credit cards for the next few days.

After getting the RFID shields, I discovered that Laurent managed to lost my credit card... I called the bank, cancelled the card.

The worst part: My window-shopping plan has also been cancelled. (I don't usually shop with cash.)

(blog entry if you are interested)

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[James]

Interesting, Antony. I've seen it happen in my own life. You make plans... careful plans... and then something else that you could not foresee happens to change everything. I hope that your new shields will give you the complete protection you require BUT don't lose them.

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[iJohnE]

-Summer vacation is coming to a close, working a lot the next month.
-Can't believe I'm a Senior, really not ready.
-Had an HIV scare, that wasn't fun. I'm negative, that's good. Use protection people.

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[Don_HH2K]

My window-shopping plan has also been cancelled. (I don't usually shop with cash.)

Congratulations on getting a taste of living like the rest of us!

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[James]

Ah, Don... you are a master of saying clever things in very few words.

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[Antony]

Excellent news.
My new MasterCard has arrived, and the linked Amex is now active!

Time for some bargain hunting.

Congratulations on getting a taste of living like the rest of us!

Unlike the rest of you, Antony had to walk to school everyday (during his primary school years), and Antony does not even own a car Antony is poor.

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[James]

HaHa... had to walk to school you say, Antony? Me too! And in snow as deep as mid thigh! About a mile and a half each way! One area was through a farmer's field and next to a wooded area. I always wondered whether there were bears in there that would come out and eat me up! You're not the only one, Antony, who had to walk. I suspect most of us did.

But no car? Now that "is" a hardship. I'm stunned.

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[Antony]

James,
You probably are not aware, today's American kids (particularly those in rich suburbs) are driven to school in a nice comfy cars (usually SUVs). (You can ask Don.) I had been walking in the rain without raincoat or umbrella, as well as forgotten the house key, and I had to wait for hours.

To respond to Don's “a taste of living like the rest of us”, I only wish I could.
So, I walked to school each day during primary school. In junior high school (perhaps called intermediate in the states), I rode bicycle to school, even during raining days (Man-powered one, not motored version). To many Americans, bicycle is a sporting equipment, not really a tool for transporting.

And it was true that I never owned a car so far in my life. Comparing to some American youth, owning a car is something damn normal there. (Okay, I drive Laurent's car, but that's another story.) For that part, I envy American kids.

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[James]

There is a problem here in America, Antony, that may or may not be the same "burning issue" in Australia. We have many sick individuals who prey on our children. Just a day ago a little Hasidic boy was abducted while walking five blocks from school to meet his mother. His body was found both in a refrigerator and a suitcase on the other side of town... having been killed and dismembered. That's so sick and disgusting and it's one of the reasons parents drive their children to and from school. They want to protect them from these sickos.

http://globalgrind.com/news-politics/Le ... ster-photo

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[Antony]

It is unfortunate, James.

When I was young, there were kidnap stores from time to time. The school taught us how to handle strangers, where and how to seek help during emergency (back then we don't have mobile phones), how to cross the roads safely etc. Not protective or luxurious style... being driven in a nice comfy car.

When a kid had an accident in the road, back then, the focus was how the kids must learn to walk home safely. Today? The focus somehow became shaming the driver, even if it was at kid's fault.

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[iJohnE]

I have to walk to school, ride my bike, or the over crowded bus for an hour and a half. I opt for walking haha.

-Ordered a 3.40Ghz dual core Pentium D to upgrade my desktop today. Thoroughly excited.

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[James]

Congratulations, John. And you're still a poor student? Wow! I must be doing something wrong.

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[iJohnE]

Congratulations, John. And you're still a poor student? Wow! I must be doing something wrong.

Yup, still a poor student, working three minimum wage jobs.

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