Meddling

It would’ve worked, too, if it weren’t for those meddling kids!

There are 614 posts filed in Meddling (this is page 61 of 62).

Warranty phishers call in the evening

The alleged Great Atlantic Warranty/Automotive Warranty Solutions (alleged scumbags), allegedly called my house at 6:30 this evening using “Warranty Division” and the number 732-242-6557 as their alleged CallerID.

I have allegedly filed complaints with the alleged Departments of Justice of the alleged states of Florida and North Carolina. Allegedly they’re on the case. I allegedly have lots of evidence to present to them.

Car warranty phishers get back to work

Thanksgiving is over now and the crooks at Automotive Warranty Solutions have wasted no time in dialing for dollars again. This morning’s call came from 208-844-6519, a number not yet listed on 800notes.com (it is now…heh). I was betting the number was a fake CallerID and I was right.

I’m thinking of calling Automotive Warranty Solutions’s CEO, Ralph Mancusco, at his home number (561) 865-2294 and giving him a piece of my mind. That wouldn’t be right, though.

During a related search, I found a nice writeup in this month’s AARP Bulletin discussing this sleazy company.

Tuscany Industries now ‘Alpha Service’

Remember the Tuscany Industries car warranty telephone scam I’ve been following? They’ve now calling from a CallerID claiming to be Alpha Service with the number 702-520-1274, and leaving the toll-free number 877-700-5880. Once again, the pitch is to “extend your car’s warranty.” An MT.Net reader claims these calls originate from Great Atlantic Warranty of South Florida. Wouldn’t surprise me.

If you get calls from these clowns, please report your call at 800notes.com under the appropriate number. And, please, don’t reward these crooks with your money!

The CIA and the cocaine plane

Cristobal pointed me to the latest news on the CIA-connected cocaine plane that crashed last month. As Cristobal hints in his post, the article explains how easy it is to muddle the ownership of a plane caught trafficking drugs. We should certainly close these FAA loopholes if we’re serious about the other Endless War: the “war on drugs.”

As for whether the CIA’s actively ferrying drugs, I cannot say one way or another. But I’m getting mighty suspicious of all the drug busts that seem to occur so soon after the CIA allegedly owned these aircraft. There’s definitely smoke here, if not outright fire. I’m glad McClatchy’s got two good reporters on the trail.

Cary police charge driver in Ponce-Perez death

Cary police yesterday charged the driver in the death of Maria Soledad Ponce-Perez, a jogger who was struck and killed last week. Beverly Alice Castelli, age 51, was charged with misdemeanor death by motor vehicle in the incident.

Kelly and I agreed that this is an unfortunate move on the part of Cary PD. Its tragic that Ponce-Perez was hit by Castelli’s car, to be sure. Its something Castelli will have to live with the rest of her life. On the other hand, Ponce-Perez was jogging with her back to traffic. Not only that, she was jogging in the middle of the road! The article doesn’t specify but it wouldn’t surprise me if she was also wearing headphones like a lot of joggers do.

Any kid can tell you that you that if you’re a pedestrian you’re supposed to face traffic and if you play in traffic you’re going to get hit. I don’t know what kind of reaction time Castelli may or may not have had, but there’s no doubt in my mind that Ponce-Perez was in the wrong here and solely responsible for endangering herself. She was jogging in a manner and place that made it inevitable she would be hit. Its the same as if I decided to play on the power lines: no one would blame the power company if I get electrocuted.

Now Castelli will have to go through the spectacle of a trial in addition to the grief she already must feel. Unless Cary Police know something I don’t, there’s no way Castelli should have been charged.