Medicare Healthcare Advisor

Who Are These People??

I get calls all the time from people thinking that I am over 65 and have Medicare. (How do I fix this?? )

This is a sample call that I get. Sometimes I play along - only if I have some free time. By the way, this is a telephone not a court of law, there's no presumption that I must tell the truth when a caller from an unknown number asks me questions.

Medicare Healthcare Advisor Phone Call

Fireworks Display

GoPro Hero 9 vs iPhone XS Max

When it comes to capturing fireworks shows, there's a big difference between using a GoPro and an iPhone. In this short video clip, I compare the footage from my GoPro Hero 9 and my iPhone XS Max. The results are pretty clear - the iPhone footage is much crisper and more detailed than the GoPro footage.

So if you're looking to capture amazing fireworks footage this Independence Day (or any other time), make sure you bring your iPhone!

In the GoPro portion of the clip, I zoomed in to try to get a better picture.

Video Show

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.

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...

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.

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.

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

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.

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:

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.

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!

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...