The Lengths People Go To

Maybe it's a sign of the times. Maybe it's an indicator of the culture in which we live. Whatever the case, I have noticed an increasing number of stories about people trying to trick and to  fraud insurance companies or big businesses/corporations. Or even just to cheat the good nature of generous people.

Two notable cases spring to mind, mainly because they indicate the lengths these people will go to; self harming lengths. The first was a story about a couple who ate glass particles. No, you didn't read that wrong. They smashed up glass and consumed it, and then attempted to sue restaurants, claiming they ate food contaminated with glass. What's worse, is that they may have gotten away with it, but for the frequency of their complaints. If successful, they could've made family-run restaurants go bust.

Worse still, was the case about a woman who threw acid in her own face. Why? Why would you do that? Well if you're asking how on earth someone could do that to themselves, I do not know! Her logic was in part to frame an ex-boyfriend I think, but mainly, to steal money from those who were horrified by her story, and generously gave what little money they could to help her recover and to subsidise healthcare costs. She ended up receiving thousands of dollars, and going on shopping sprees. Thankfully she has been found guilty of theft by fraud and has to repay the money.

Is it the economic climate which has caused this spike in fraud? Or has it always been present, and I have only just noticed stories about them? I think to a certain extent "cheating the system" has been a problem society has had to deal with. Perhaps its human nature. But I think in the minds of some people, desperate times call for desperate measures.

Newspapers

I've finally almost done it. Finally almost caught up with all the newspapers and reading materials we have in our apartment. I seem to have become a bit of newspaper hoarder, engorging myself on various different articles, stories, and even the occasional promotional leaflet. I've subscribed to the Wisconsin State Journal, for a great student rate, so each day I get a delivery of the paper. I feel so grown up and professional, walking out of the apartment building to pick up the plastic bag each morning which contains my daily news bulletins. I hope it doesn't get cold or wet in the winter, as it's just left on the floor. It doesn't have my name on it either, so I have make sure I grab it early.... though I don't think anyone else subscribes, or is even that interested.

Printed news is supposed to be a dying breed, but I just can't get enough of it. There is something so pleasurable about holding a newspaper in your hands and perusing the day's news. Super informative too. Of course, I still read BBC News online, and the NY Times, and WisPolitics, but I see articles I wouldn't find online in the paper, and it gives me multiple outlooks on the same story. Nicole's doing all this kind of thing in her journalism class. Give me both types of technology any day.

Plus, the newspaper gives me lots of inspiration for my blog.

If I miss a day of reading the newspaper, due to work, then it all starts to pile up. It also doesn't help that I insist on picking up all the free newspapers Madison has to offer. It's a great way to learn what's happening! There are the two student newspapers, the Badger Herald and the Daily Cardinal, the Madison local "Isthmus" (can you see a trend to the names... the badger state/mascot, cardinal red colours of UW, Madison is on an isthmus), and then the national spoof paper the Onion, along with 2 magazines from the State Journal, Cap Times-news and opinions, and 77 Sqaure- entertainment. Our apartment is littered with old unread issues. Sorry Nicole. But I think it's sophisticated.

But thankfully, I almost all up-to-date. Better make sure I get on top of that huge Sunday issue then!

P.S. Isn't this ironic; the dictionary on this blog site, doesn't recognise the word 'blog'.

The Final Word on Obama (for now)

Pictures from the Obama rally up on Facebook now. My camera isn't great, but I did manage to get some zooms, though they are a little pixelated.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=230055&id=511178313&l=2eceea0d66

That's the public link for the photos. I realised I hadn't been posting the right link, so I have gone back to change the links on all the other "Photo" blogs, so you should be able to browse through them on Facebook, even if you don't have an account.

Let me know if it works, and what you think.

The Hazards of Mountain Dew

Well we all know it isn't the healthiest drink for you! Loaded with sugar and other "stuff", it also has the highest caffeine content of any carbonated drink. But it's just so darn tasty! And so many flavours and versions to try. I think it holds a special place in my heart just because we don't have it in England. And who doesn't like the radioactive colour! I am a MTN DEW collector, in the sense that I have to try every new flavour. I love it when they do "Dew-mocracy" where drinkers get a variety of flavours to try, and pick the new one. Just great.

The newest edition- Mtn Dew Throwback.. One of the original formulas of Mountain Dew, made with real sugar, instead of high fructose corn syrup (which is probably worse for you). Personally, I enjoyed it just as much as original dew, and couldn't really taste the difference, though I am sure if you had them together, you would notice that they were not the same.

The reason I write this blog is not really because of the new flavour I tried, but rather as a result of a news article I read. The story was on rural healthcare, and free clinics offered to those who couldn't afford insurance. There was one lady from Kentucky, who had to have all of her teeth pulled. Why? Because of Mtn Dew.

But not because of a can or two a week, but because she drank a twelve pack of Dew PER DAY! 12x 355ml (12fl ounces) per day! Every single day. Even when her teeth began to hurt so bad she couldn't even let the liquid touch them, she just switched to using a straw! What blows my mind most is that this woman could afford to buy a 12pk of soda each day. I mean, the cost of 12 cans of mountain dew is about $4.50. Sure, you get offers on buying in bulk, but still, the cost each week or month must be tremendous. Kind of like cigarettes.

If she stops drinking dew for a few months, maybe she can save up the money to buy the dentures she now needs. For now, I'll be sticking with water.

Empathy for the Mailman

As I am now a seasoned wanderer up and down people's drives , knocking on doors or delivering flyers, I have come to appreciate the job of the postman so much more.

A large proportion of the streets in America actually have their mailboxes conveniently located at the end of their driveway; a little wooden stand with a metal box on top. This means the mailman can just drive up to each box in his van, lean out, and deposit whatever post you have. He will also collect mail you need to send from your post box, which is a really nice service. Saves hunting for a mail box on the street. It also means that residents get a nice little walk down their drive to collect their mail. (Not so great in the winter).

In a lot of the small neighbourhoods I have been walking through however, perhaps more in lower-class areas, the mailboxes are located on the side of house, usually right next to the front door. Regardless of that, in delivering election materials, I cannot use the mailbox, as it is illegal. Therefore either way, I have to walk up the path or driveway, right up to the house. I have already spoken about the fun game of finding a place to put the literature, but increasingly I also have to play the game of finding the best route to the front door.

Jumping over overgrown bushes, dodging spider's webs. Tripping up over hose pipes. Brushing past prickly things. I have even had to navigate my way over broken pathways, holes in the ground, crumbling stairs, and half complete decking. Today I had a new obstacle: The Sprinkler. I saw it spinning over the path, and thought to myself "OK, it's just moved over the path, I can walk up it now, wait at the door for it to go around again, and then walk back down." No problem right? Well I got to the door, and was just about to place my flyer in the door handle when I noticed something that made me stop; I looked up, and saw the door was wet. Before I could put two and two together, it hit me. A blast of water from the sprinkler. Who positions the sprinkler so that it hits their own front door every time it rotates? Thankfully it was a nice sunny day and I dried off fast.

Increasingly, I have had to deal with infestations of these little black and red flying bugs. Boxelder bugs. Some houses are just swarming with them, and they fall onto you as you push the leaflet through the door handle or behind the mailbox. Or else they fly into you.

And then there are the dogs. Now I like to think of myself as a dog person, but some of these houses really make me think twice. In most, the dogs are just obnoxiously loud, barking as they see you, or hear you at the door; you can just tell them to shut up, and carry on. The little ones are usually the loudest/yappiest. Occasionally, when the door of the house opens, they will run on out to you, and usually just lick you, if the owner is present. Some might jump up in excitement once, but that's it. At other houses though, you find large dogs literally patrolling the perimeter, daring you to take a foot onto the drive. There are times when the owner isn't in site, and the dog isn't on a lead. Today there was a really ferocious dog barking and baring it's teeth at me, as I got closer, running alongside me I was walked along its yard on the road. Better skip that house I thought. The next house had two dogs patrolling, again not on leads, but these were quiet. A golden retriever and a big black mongrel. I edged in slowly; no hurtling dogs in my face. They both sniffed my hands, and I stroked their heads, and everything seemed well. As I walked towards the door though, they both started circling my feet, and the black one kept jumping up at me, front claws on my back or my chest. I couldn't take a step forward because of them. Another abandoned house, but no harm done.

Long and short of it; I wouldn't like to return to these types of houses everyday, as the postman here must have to do!