QA Graphic
July 4, 2022

Telephone at The Table

Weird Service Idea from the 1990s.

Did you know there is a need in restaurants to have telephones at the table? In the 1990s, George & Jeanie Douglas thought it was and came up with this business idea.

This is part 19 of many ideas that are on the "George & Jeanie Douglass Run A Computer-Based Business From Home" Cassette Tape.

It's funny listening to this idea from the 1990s and how the cell phone industry took over this market.

Permalink
June 27, 2022

Boston Celtics Audio

Classic Throwback to Better Days

Earlier this month, the Boston Celtics lost to the Golden State Warriors in game 6 of the NBA Finals. It was a bitter ending to a great season.

I thought it would be nice to look back at a happier Celtic moment...

Boston Celtics Look Back

Johnny Most and Glenn Ordway

This is Johnny Most and Glenn Ordway after a successful win by the Celtics against Milwaukee in the first round of the NBA playoffs. Here he is talking about how well they played and what they can look forward to in the next game. The first few words he says almost describe the end of the 2022 season.

Permalink
June 13, 2022

Predicative Beep

Just Hang up after the Predicative Beep

If you say Hello, and there is a pause, and then you hear a beep or a bloop or a click type of sound, and then a live agent responds, you were probably called by a predictive dialer.

Sample Audio

A predictive dialer is a computerized system that automates the process of making phone calls. It predicts how many agents are needed to handle the expected volume of incoming calls and then dials those numbers for agents to answer. Predictive dialers are often used by telemarketers, charities, and political campaigns to increase efficiency by automatically connecting potential callers with available representatives.

While predictive dialers can be an efficient way to connect with potential customers or donors, they can also be used as a scam tactic. Some scammers have programmed their predictive dialer software to make repeated calls in quick succession in the hopes of catching someone off guard who will then agree to whatever offer is being made. This type of scam call can be very frustrating for recipients who may not have time for multiple unsolicited phone calls in a row.

If you receive a call from what seems like a random number and it's using a predictive dialer, don't feel bad about hanging up! You're not obligated to listen or speak with anyone who has called you without prior consent. And if you're ever feeling harassed by these types of automated calls, remember that you can always report them to your local telephone service provider or the FTC's National Do Not Call Registry

Take Back Your Phone

Next time you hear the predictive dialer tone, simply hang up the phone. Don't engage in the call anymore. You are pretty safe to assume that the next voice you hear will be a scam or somebody trying to sell you something.

Just hang up. If millions of users did this then at some point the calls will go away.

Permalink
June 6, 2022

Chemical People 1983 TV Movie

Magic-Man Skit

Chemical People was a two-part TV program examining the scope of drug and alcohol abuse among schoolchildren. The show aired on November 2, 1983.

Viewers learn how to spot which children are taking drugs and where to ship them for rehabilitation. Featured Nancy Reagan and Bruce Weitz, Chemical People provides an in-depth look at this growing epidemic, while also providing solutions for parents, educators, and children alike.

Bruce Weitz Skit

One of the memorable moments of the show was the "Magic Man" skit on the show. Here is the skit from my video collection:

Memorable Quotes

Some memorable quotes from the skit:

  • The lady won't fly with a dude that's dry
  • If you don't go ape over the Grape
  • Pale Ale
  • Without the suds your all duds
  • Hey, a little heavy breathingg never hurt anybody
  • This isn't any herb jack... all weed no seed
  • Who's hot for some super pot
  • Hey now, just thing thing for those all nighters when its exam time.
  • Hey now, Cocaine running all around my brain.
  • Plus they are extremely addictive

Permalink
May 30, 2022

Health Care Services Scam Call

Why Do You Need to Know My Age?

You may have recently received a call from someone purporting to be from a health care services company, asking for personal information like your Social Security number or credit card number. This is a scam ??? do not provide any information to these callers!

There are several variations of this scam, but in all cases, the caller is trying to get your personal information so they can steal your identity or use your credit card without permission. They may even promise free health care services if you give them your personal details.

If you receive one of these calls, hang up and report it to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). You can also file a complaint with the FTC online at https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov/.

Why Do You Need My Age?

Here's a caller pretending he works at Health Care Services. I asked him why he needs to know my age and he gives me a very strange response.

Permalink
May 23, 2022

Final Expenses Phone Scam

Why do I keep getting these calls?

A recent scam making the rounds is targeting seniors with a promise of help paying for final expenses. The scammers call and say they are from a funeral home or other organization that helps with end-of-life arrangements. They then ask for personal information, such as Social Security numbers, in order to process the payment.

Don't be fooled by this scam! There is no legitimate organization that will contact you out of the blue and asks for your personal information in order to pay for your final expenses. If you receive a call like this, hang up immediately and report it to the FTC Consumer Sentinel Network .

There are several steps you can take to protect yourself from scams like this:

Never give out personal information over the phone unless you initiated the call and know who you're talking to. Legitimate organizations will never ask for your Social Security number or other sensitive information without first verifying your identity.

Sample Call

This is a sample of the Final Expense call that I get many times a day. In this call, the call get lost in some computer glitch and I end up hanging up because they are using too much of my time.

Permalink
May 16, 2022

Yellow Can Man

Getting the Dumpster on the truck

This week's video features a truck loading up a 15-yard Dumpster onto a truck. Probably not the most exciting video that I have posted up on this site, but it is interesting to watch how they manage to get the heavy dumpster up on the truck. It seems like it would be difficult to get such a large object onto the back of a vehicle, but these professionals make it look easy!

I think this video is worth watching because it shows how much effort goes into waste management. It can be easy to take for granted all of the work that goes into keeping our environment clean, but videos like this remind us of just how important it is. I encourage you to watch this week's video and learn more about what goes into waste management!

Watch the Video!

Permalink
May 9, 2022

Cash App Phone Scam

Why Do they keep calling me?

Cash App is a great way to send and receive money, but there are some scams that you need to watch out for.

One scam is when someone asks you to pay for something with Cash App and sends you a fake invoice. Be careful of any requests like this, and always make sure that the person or company you're paying is legitimate.

Another scam involves someone posing as a Cash App representative. They may ask for your personal information or try to get money from you by saying there's been an issue with your account. Don't give them any information and report the incident to Cash App immediately if this happens.

Phone Call

Listen in to this Cash App call that I got last week - Oh, I don't even have a Cash App account...

Permalink
May 2, 2022

Stealing Identity

Some Scams Just want To Steal Your Info

I get calls all the time from companies like "Senior Care." Trying to sell me on some low-cost final expense that has "become available recently in my state." I'm not sure how many people have fallen for this, but it's a scam.

The caller usually starts by saying that they are from a company called Senior Care and they offer low-cost final expenses. They'll ask if you're interested in learning more, and then they'll try to get your personal information, like your Social Security number or date of birth. They may even promise freebies or discounts if you sign up right away.

Don't be fooled ??? this is a scam! Legitimate companies will never call you out of the blue and try to sell you something. If someone does call you with an offer like this, just hang up. Its not worth reporting to the FTC as they spoof their call-back number.

Are You Trying to Steal My ID?

In this quick call, I flat out asked the caller... are you stealing my identity. Hey if it was a legitimate call from "Senior Care" they would defend themselves...

Permalink
April 25, 2022

Unexpected Voicemails

Couple of Weird Voicemail messages

This past week, I received a couple of very unusual voice mails. One was from the Tele-Ministry System and the other was from Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes.

Tele-Ministry System message

I have no idea how they got my phone number, but they left a message asking me to call them back. I wasn't sure what to make of it, so I decided to do some research online. It turns out that the Tele-Ministry System is a religious organization that uses automated messages to spread their faith. After reading more about them, I decided that I didn't want anything to do with them and deleted the voice mail.

Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes message

Publishers Clearing House (PCH) is a legitimate company that runs sweepstakes and lotteries. However, there are many scams out there that use the PCH name in order to try and trick people into sending them money.

One common scam is when someone calls you claiming to be from PCH and saying that you've won a large prize. They may even tell you to call back on a specific number in order to "claim" your winnings. However, this is not how PCH operates - they will never contact winners directly by phone in order to award them a prize.

If you receive any calls like the one I got, it's important not to give out any personal information or money, and instead report the scammer call back number to authorities.

Voice Messages

Tele-Ministry System Transcript

Full Transcript from Hooper Communications:


Hello this is Tim Hooper from Mobile Alabama for the tele ministry system 
do you want to grow your ministry 
our church system is the only system that can call 1,500 people a day 
40,000 people a month in your own voice to invite to your church 
or to tell about the needs of your ministry 
our sister knows every cell phone number and landline number in the general public 
Pastor, make a message in your own voice and enter in any area code or zip code in our system makes everything all number in 3 seconds 
the person calls can leave a message 
go to your website to make a donation 
you could average 50 plus responses a day from people needing prayer 
people interested in joining your ministry 
people offering to make donations to the ministry 
one telephone call from you to the community could pay for the system in full from their donations
also our system can be used to contact any group of your church and your voice.

Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes Scam

Full Transcript of the scam:


Hello this is a secure phone call from the sweepstakes headquarters at 4800 Signature Dr., Raleigh, NC 
You are a selected winner with Publishers' Clearinghouse Sweepstakes 
and association with Windstar international 
your claim code is 100234 
I repeat 100234 
This represents the grand prize package of 2.5 million 
and the most awesome bonus prize ever 
A brand new 2022 BMW congratulations 
Please call our claim department at 623-264-1613 
Again 623-264-1613 
We will be expecting your call for clearance 
There will be agents available to assist with your delivery schedule thanks for your patience...

Permalink

About

We've collected a variety of media posts only available at cryan.com. Watch and listen to them if you like! Whether you're looking for something to make you laugh or something to make you think, Cryan.com has an extensive library of media posts from all different genres. There's something for everyone!

Check out all the blog posts.

Schedule

FridayMacintosh
SaturdayInternet Tools
SundayOpen Topic
MondayMedia Monday
TuesdayQA
WednesdayNew England
ThursdayGluten Free