Miscellaneous Discussion Thread II

Quote: DRich

But how many should you buy? If you buy more than you will use you will be losing money unless you go to prison where stamps are currency.
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Quote: Dieter

Quote: DRich

But how many should you buy? If you buy more than you will use you will be losing money unless you go to prison where stamps are currency.
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My gut feeling says an 8 year supply.

I have no idea how much lifetime you've got left, nor if a hurricane is going to destroy your stash before you can use it up.

There seem to be some non-USPS sellers offering 100 count rolls for about half of face value, so maybe find a child who really likes getting mail and send them something every two or three weeks.
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Quote: Dieter

Quote: DRich

But how many should you buy? If you buy more than you will use you will be losing money unless you go to prison where stamps are currency.
link to original post

My gut feeling says an 8 year supply.

I have no idea how much lifetime you've got left, nor if a hurricane is going to destroy your stash before you can use it up.

There seem to be some non-USPS sellers offering 100 count rolls for about half of face value, so maybe find a child who really likes getting mail and send them something every two or three weeks.
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Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: Dieter

Quote: DRich

But how many should you buy? If you buy more than you will use you will be losing money unless you go to prison where stamps are currency.
link to original post

My gut feeling says an 8 year supply.

I have no idea how much lifetime you've got left, nor if a hurricane is going to destroy your stash before you can use it up.

There seem to be some non-USPS sellers offering 100 count rolls for about half of face value, so maybe find a child who really likes getting mail and send them something every two or three weeks.
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Wonder how difficult it would be to counterfeit a US postage stamp? Not that I would ever do such a thing. Orange isn't my color, Federal prison stripes aren't flattering on my body, and I am much too pretty to survive prison...
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Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: DRich

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: DRich

Quote: tuttigym

In other news, postage stamps are going up to 73 cents each. I am old enough to remember postage at 3 cents for regular mail and 5 cents for air mail. YIKES!!!

tuttigym
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Fortunately, we probably only mail 5 items per year. I still find it incredible that someone will take a letter across country for 73 cents. I wouldn't take a letter to my next door neighbor for that price.
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The key is to buy a lifetime's worth of forever stamps at once, knowing the price of first class postage will always go up. This way, you've locked in today's prices forever.
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But how many should you buy? If you buy more than you will use you will be losing money unless you go to prison where stamps are currency.
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Buy a bunch. If you use them up before you die, you can buy more at the higher price, and still come out ahead. If you have excess left over when you die, as long as you didn't buy too many, you'll still come out ahead as the money you'd save on postage actually used would be higher than the money spent on excess unused stamps.
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Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: DRich

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: DRich

Quote: tuttigym

In other news, postage stamps are going up to 73 cents each. I am old enough to remember postage at 3 cents for regular mail and 5 cents for air mail. YIKES!!!

tuttigym
link to original post

Fortunately, we probably only mail 5 items per year. I still find it incredible that someone will take a letter across country for 73 cents. I wouldn't take a letter to my next door neighbor for that price.
link to original post

The key is to buy a lifetime's worth of forever stamps at once, knowing the price of first class postage will always go up. This way, you've locked in today's prices forever.
link to original post

But how many should you buy? If you buy more than you will use you will be losing money unless you go to prison where stamps are currency.
link to original post

Buy a bunch. If you use them up before you die, you can buy more at the higher price, and still come out ahead. If you have excess left over when you die, as long as you didn't buy too many, you'll still come out ahead as the money you'd save on postage actually used would be higher than the money spent on excess unused stamps.
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Quote: odiousgambit

Quote: Dieter

Quote: DRich

But how many should you buy? If you buy more than you will use you will be losing money unless you go to prison where stamps are currency.
link to original post

My gut feeling says an 8 year supply.

I have no idea how much lifetime you've got left, nor if a hurricane is going to destroy your stash before you can use it up.

There seem to be some non-USPS sellers offering 100 count rolls for about half of face value, so maybe find a child who really likes getting mail and send them something every two or three weeks.
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those discount sellers are a scam! at least I had mucho evidence of that for the one I looked into that showed up on Facebook feed
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Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: GenoDRPh

Quote: Dieter

Quote: DRich

But how many should you buy? If you buy more than you will use you will be losing money unless you go to prison where stamps are currency.
link to original post

My gut feeling says an 8 year supply.

I have no idea how much lifetime you've got left, nor if a hurricane is going to destroy your stash before you can use it up.

There seem to be some non-USPS sellers offering 100 count rolls for about half of face value, so maybe find a child who really likes getting mail and send them something every two or three weeks.
link to original post

Wonder how difficult it would be to counterfeit a US postage stamp? Not that I would ever do such a thing. Orange isn't my color, Federal prison stripes aren't flattering on my body, and I am much too pretty to survive prison...
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I am sure it has been tried and done. Thing is you would need distribution. Not like making fake $20s, having a teen kid buy stuff in one store after another, then keeping the change and selling off the merch on the street. Someone would need to move thousands and thousands to make it worth it.
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Quote:

Researchers have found evidence for a substantial underground cave on the moon that is accessible from the surface, making the spot a prime location to build a future lunar base.

The cave appears to be reachable from an open pit in the Mare Tranquillitatis (Sea of Tranquility), the ancient lava plain where the Apollo 11 astronauts Neil Armstrong and Buzz Aldrin first set foot on the moon more than half a century ago.

Analysis of radar data collected by Nasa’s lunar reconnaissance orbiter (LRO) revealed that the Mare Tranquillitatis pit, the deepest known pit on the moon, leads to a cave 45 metres wide and up to 80 metres long, an area equivalent to 14 tennis courts. The cave lies about 150 metres beneath the surface.

Quote: Tanko

Video captured mans death by fentanyl overdose while playing blackjack at Mohegan Sun.

Brain dead by the time tribal medics arrived eleven minutes later.

Father tried to sue, but the tribal court tossed the suit.

Reader Comment:

"This reminds me of the early days of Resorts International in Atlantic City where a man had a heart attack and died. It was so busy players basically slid his body underneath the table and game kept going."
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Quote: Tanko

Video captured mans death by fentanyl overdose while playing blackjack at Mohegan Sun.

Brain dead by the time tribal medics arrived eleven minutes later.

Father tried to sue, but the tribal court tossed the suit.

Reader Comment:

"This reminds me of the early days of Resorts International in Atlantic City where a man had a heart attack and died. It was so busy players basically slid his body underneath the table and game kept going."
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Quote: TigerWu

Wouldn't you just cash out the chips and the money would go to the guy's "estate" or next of kin?
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Quote:

Las Vegas Restaurant Owner Says 32 Unpaid Wages Was an “Honest Mistake”

After a three-year investigation by the federal department, the owners of a Las Vegas restaurant chain are paying back employees and have been fined $475,000.

However, the owners who allegedly did not pay the employees of Juan’s Flaming Fajitas & Cantina their correct wages are pushing back against the language used to describe their actions and want to try to explain their actions.

Unpaid Wages
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Wage and Hour Division District in Las Vegas released details of their investigation into the population of Mexican restaurants, revealing that 32 employees’ hours were not combined from working at multiple locations.

Quote: lilredrooster

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AI deepfakes are being made and circulated on YT and Facebook and elsewhere
many using the image of Elon Musk and then using AI to fake his words
many have been scammed out of money - particularly the elderly
here's one of the scams - a crypto fraud - these are very common and there is a news story about it linked below the YT vid
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https://archive.ph/DmyDl

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Quote: Dieter

I think the scam would seem more plausible with one of the 15 government approved hairstyles.

Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: Dieter

I think the scam would seem more plausible with one of the 15 government approved hairstyles.

yes, I agree with your point - it doesn't seem very convincing - there are prolly better ones out there - I didn't spend a lot of time looking

and the scam vids will prolly get better as AI gets better and becomes more widespread

I thought I was too sharp to ever get scammed - but I almost did

what got me was an email from (supposedly) a company that I use that said I needed to pay the linked bill

it took me a fair amount of time to figure out that it was a fake - I finally realized it was fake due to the bogus address of where the email came from

it was very convincing - they had the company logo and other stuff that looked so legit - they wanted my c.c. info - it shook me up quite a bit - that I was pretty close to giving it to them

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Quote: EvenBob

Quote: lilredrooster

Quote: Dieter

I think the scam would seem more plausible with one of the 15 government approved hairstyles.

yes, I agree with your point - it doesn't seem very convincing - there are prolly better ones out there - I didn't spend a lot of time looking

and the scam vids will prolly get better as AI gets better and becomes more widespread

I thought I was too sharp to ever get scammed - but I almost did

what got me was an email from (supposedly) a company that I use that said I needed to pay the linked bill

it took me a fair amount of time to figure out that it was a fake - I finally realized it was fake due to the bogus address of where the email came from

it was very convincing - they had the company logo and other stuff that looked so legit - they wanted my c.c. info - it shook me up quite a bit - that I was pretty close to giving it to them

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I got email last week that said my $1,400 purchase with PayPal had gone through and the item was on the way. If I had any problems call this number. That would have been a good trick considering my PayPal account is not in that email address. I got the one from the post office all the time that says my $800 package needs to be delivered but they need my address.
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Quote: EvenBob

Speaking of scams I never answer the phone if I don't recognize the number because 90% of the time it's a robocall with somebody I don't know trying to sell me something. I've heard they have apps you can get that kill robocalls before you ever get them but I can't see how they would work all that good.
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Quote: TigerWu

My phone will straight up say "spam risk" if it's a spam call. If that's somehow a mistake and someone real is trying to call, they can leave a message.
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Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: TigerWu

My phone will straight up say "spam risk" if it's a spam call. If that's somehow a mistake and someone real is trying to call, they can leave a message.
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I am wondering/hoping when will they have a way to block political appeals. I am getting 5 or so a day for the last month. I use the "report junk" feature even though I know it is useless.
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Quote: Joeman

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: TigerWu

My phone will straight up say "spam risk" if it's a spam call. If that's somehow a mistake and someone real is trying to call, they can leave a message.
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I am wondering/hoping when will they have a way to block political appeals. I am getting 5 or so a day for the last month. I use the "report junk" feature even though I know it is useless.
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I know they cost nothing to send out, but do these texts/calls ever actually benefit the campaign? I will always delete them without listening to/reading them. Spamming me with texts/calls/mailers will make me less likely to vote for that candidate.
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Quote: billryan

Quote: Joeman

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: TigerWu

My phone will straight up say "spam risk" if it's a spam call. If that's somehow a mistake and someone real is trying to call, they can leave a message.
link to original post

I am wondering/hoping when will they have a way to block political appeals. I am getting 5 or so a day for the last month. I use the "report junk" feature even though I know it is useless.
link to original post

I know they cost nothing to send out, but do these texts/calls ever actually benefit the campaign? I will always delete them without listening to/reading them. Spamming me with texts/calls/mailers will make me less likely to vote for that candidate.
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Send them a penny. When I get mail solicitations from the party I used to belong to, I cut them a check for a penny. They usually provide a stamped return envelope.
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Quote: billryan

Send them a penny. When I get mail solicitations from the party I used to belong to, I cut them a check for a penny. They usually provide a stamped return envelope.
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Quote: billryan

An experiment was done a few years ago where a magazine mailed out checks for $1.11 to many famous people to see who would cash them. The people who signed and cashed them got a check for half the original. About half the people cashed the first check, but only a dozen signed the second. Those got a third check for 13 cents. Two people signed them. One was an international arms dealer, and the other was a NY businessman who would later run for higher offices. You can easily google the rest of the story.
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Quote: TigerWu

Quote: billryan

Send them a penny. When I get mail solicitations from the party I used to belong to, I cut them a check for a penny. They usually provide a stamped return envelope.
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Don't do this unless you get free checking. Last time I got checks from my bank, it cost me like $1 a check. Or maybe 50 cents. Something stupid.
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Quote: TigerWu

Quote: billryan

An experiment was done a few years ago where a magazine mailed out checks for $1.11 to many famous people to see who would cash them. The people who signed and cashed them got a check for half the original. About half the people cashed the first check, but only a dozen signed the second. Those got a third check for 13 cents. Two people signed them. One was an international arms dealer, and the other was a NY businessman who would later run for higher offices. You can easily google the rest of the story.
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This sounds like a fake story but it really happened. But it's also not known if the people in question cashed the checks themselves or if it was just someone on their staff. Seems logical that some random accountant would handle something like that, and not the celebrities in question. The checks were also made out to look like it was a "refund" for some kind of service rendered.
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Quote: Dieter

Quote: TigerWu

Quote: billryan

Send them a penny. When I get mail solicitations from the party I used to belong to, I cut them a check for a penny. They usually provide a stamped return envelope.
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Don't do this unless you get free checking. Last time I got checks from my bank, it cost me like $1 a check. Or maybe 50 cents. Something stupid.
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I stopped getting checks through the credit union 30 years ago.
For something ridiculous like $8, I could get 250 or 500 from a third party printer.
I feel this is a much better deal than $32 for 100 from the credit union's supplier.
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Quote: billryan

Quote: TigerWu

Quote: billryan

An experiment was done a few years ago where a magazine mailed out checks for $1.11 to many famous people to see who would cash them. The people who signed and cashed them got a check for half the original. About half the people cashed the first check, but only a dozen signed the second. Those got a third check for 13 cents. Two people signed them. One was an international arms dealer, and the other was a NY businessman who would later run for higher offices. You can easily google the rest of the story.
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This sounds like a fake story but it really happened. But it's also not known if the people in question cashed the checks themselves or if it was just someone on their staff. Seems logical that some random accountant would handle something like that, and not the celebrities in question. The checks were also made out to look like it was a "refund" for some kind of service rendered.
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The experiment was done after they published an article on an autograph collector who used the method to obtain quite a collection.
It was done long before politics were involved. I found it interesting then, and more so now.
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Quote: Joeman

Quote: AZDuffman

Quote: TigerWu

My phone will straight up say "spam risk" if it's a spam call. If that's somehow a mistake and someone real is trying to call, they can leave a message.
link to original post

I am wondering/hoping when will they have a way to block political appeals. I am getting 5 or so a day for the last month. I use the "report junk" feature even though I know it is useless.
link to original post

I know they cost nothing to send out, but do these texts/calls ever actually benefit the campaign? I will always delete them without listening to/reading them. Spamming me with texts/calls/mailers will make me less likely to vote for that candidate.
link to original post

Quote: billryan

Quote: Dieter

Quote: TigerWu

Quote: billryan

Send them a penny. When I get mail solicitations from the party I used to belong to, I cut them a check for a penny. They usually provide a stamped return envelope.
link to original post

Don't do this unless you get free checking. Last time I got checks from my bank, it cost me like $1 a check. Or maybe 50 cents. Something stupid.
link to original post

I stopped getting checks through the credit union 30 years ago.
For something ridiculous like $8, I could get 250 or 500 from a third party printer.
I feel this is a much better deal than $32 for 100 from the credit union's supplier.
link to original post

I don't usually write checks, but I needed one a few months ago. Wells Fargo charged me $4 for four counter-checks. I ordered 100 from a mail-order place. I could have had 100 more for almost nothing, but how many lifetime supplies does one need?
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Quote: lilredrooster

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another very harmful form of AI deepfake scamming is going around - fake nudes of females - students or pop stars or just anybody

from the link:

"Like many parents, Yvonne Meré was deeply disturbed when she read about a frightening new trend.
Boys were using “nudification” apps to turn photos of their female classmates into deepfake pornography, using images of the girls’ faces, from photos in which they were fully clothed, and superimposing them onto images of naked bodies generated by artificial intelligence.

The technology has been used to create deepfake nudes of everyone from Taylor Swift to ordinary middle-school girls with few apparent repercussions. The images are sometimes used to extort victims for money or humiliate and harass them. Experts have warned that they can harm the victims’ mental health, reputations and physical safety, and damage their college and job prospects.

Once the images are circulating, it is nearly impossible to determine which website created them, making it very difficult for the women to successfully sue the companies, Mr. Chiu said."


https://archive.ph/86qWY

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Quote: Dieter

Quote: lilredrooster

.
another very harmful form of AI deepfake scamming is going around - fake nudes of females - students or pop stars or just anybody

from the link:

"Like many parents, Yvonne Meré was deeply disturbed when she read about a frightening new trend.
Boys were using “nudification” apps to turn photos of their female classmates into deepfake pornography, using images of the girls’ faces, from photos in which they were fully clothed, and superimposing them onto images of naked bodies generated by artificial intelligence.

The technology has been used to create deepfake nudes of everyone from Taylor Swift to ordinary middle-school girls with few apparent repercussions. The images are sometimes used to extort victims for money or humiliate and harass them. Experts have warned that they can harm the victims’ mental health, reputations and physical safety, and damage their college and job prospects.

Once the images are circulating, it is nearly impossible to determine which website created them, making it very difficult for the women to successfully sue the companies, Mr. Chiu said."

https://archive.ph/86qWY

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Quote:

There were some talented photoshop editors doing this back in the early 1990's.
I'm sure there were some reasonably talented darkroom workers compositing film images before that.

The fact that it's easier with AI just makes the problem more apparent.
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Quote: rxwine

So, if anything shows up you now can claim it is a fake whether it is or not. "That's a really good fake!"
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Quote: lilredrooster

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if I was planning to be active on dating websites -

I could "enhance" my image in certain ways that would attract females

don't need to spell it out - you get the picture______________________________________(-:/

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