Paul's Journal

08/30/2005 13:58 #32198

school and a house

Everything is starting again. It reminds me of unhappy long days.

Today I officially own a house in Buffalo. I had to go buy insurance this morning. To get landlord insurance, I needed to get renters insurance. However, when they all combined in the computer I qualified for the trifecta car, home and rental insurance so I got a 10% discount of the car insurance for it. The discount paid for the rental insurance, so why did I need it again? At least I know know that the vaio will never leave me, at least in spirit.

While out I overheard some insurance gossip that some secretary who files claims with Celino and Barnes said it was so corrupt that she knew which doctor, physical therapist, etc each person went to without opening their files because they were all the same,implying that they are all getting kickbacks along the chain.

What's up with these signs on the train?

metalpeter - 08/30/05 20:31
To promote safety. To make sure you watch out for shaddy characters I guess. I didn't know there where really that many problems but it is good to let people know to be aware.

08/29/2005 23:32 #32197

happy birthday mikey

I hope that you have a great year and finally move into your own apartment.

08/29/2005 15:58 #32196

student credit card deals
Category: school

So I headed out to UB North Campus today to take care of some business. While we were there, we decided to eat the Korean place at The Commons. Outside of Subway there was a "credit dealer" giving away a free subway sub if you signed up for a credit card.

There was a non-stop flock of students signing up for these cards to get the free sub. While I ate my Kim Bob about 20 students sign up for a crad. Afterwards, I asked the guy what the APR was and he said it was "22% but that there is no annual fee!!!" He said the annual fee part with the biggest smile and acted like it made it such an amazing deal, I wouldn't be able to refuse. I think that is what happend to so many of the young students who didn't know better. They probably just didn't understand the concept of APR and thought not having an annual fee was some amazing perk.

All those poor kids that are getting their first credit card for free stuff at school have no idea how badly they are being ripped off. Maybe campuses should prevent such extortion but in reality I bet they gets plenty of kick backs for letting it happen. 22% is outrageous!

metalpeter - 08/29/05 17:34
When I went to Canisius there was always someone there with credit card applications from what I can remember. They handed them out like free candy. It is a win win situation for them. If you finish school and have a good job you will have money to pay them back 10 fold what you bought but if you can't pay them back, guess what they are insured so they get most of the money anyways. No annual fee is important cause charging you to use it is a rip off. The way that they get you is that they give you a low percentage from 0%-5%. But as soon as you are late in paying once or twice then it jumps up to 22-26% and that is in the very fine print. If you are late by a day $29 fee. If you go over your balance a fee. But they are the ones who let you go over your balance. That fee is charged every month you are over you balance so lets say you go $200 over your balance then they charge you $30 then they put interest on that, it really adds up. When I had multiple Cards I had a discover card I think it took me six months to get it paid to where that fee was gone maybe longer I don't know.

I can see a free T-shirt or Teddy Bear or radio or some device but for a freesub that is insane. That new bankruptcy law is a crock of shit. It is designed to hurt the poor and help the rich. Don't get me wrong if you use a credit card the right way you can get good stuff like airline tickets but most people arn't that organised, budgeted and monetarly responseable. Use a debit card much better it comes right out of your bank, and get overdraft protection (free most places with direct deposit).

joshua - 08/29/05 16:09
I have a rant saved up for this one! Holy shit do I ever agree with you Paul. I don't blame the guy doing the grunt work. I blame the credit card companies. They systematically prey on students who they know are largely ignorant about how credit works, in the hopes that they can gain some debt assets out of the deal. Its a sham, and the worst part is that our government passed this bankruptcy bill! The credit card companies openly hope and pray for people to be in too much debt, work towards making that happen, then rig the law so that the consumer is the one who is punished! I hate it!

jason - 08/29/05 15:21
I agree. This shit is predatory to say the least. No way should they be allowed on campus to take advantage of students like they do. That Subway sandwich better be DAMN good!

08/28/2005 16:37 #32195

needles in the streets
Category: drugs

This is the first time I ever saw a hypodermic needle in the streets of Buffalo.

leetee - 08/29/05 09:05
Sadly, ihave seen a needle on the streets of Buffalo. Oh, but it was attached to the arm of a prostitute near the corner of Grant and Forrest at 8.30am. Of course, that was in our lousy 'hood...

08/28/2005 15:59 #32194

at the festival
Category: events

We saw so many people at the festival. I am strung out on ice chai from spot coffee. This is the only time of year that I really miss living right on elmwood. It used to be so nice to watch the main stage from the window. (e:terry) is having a happy birthday.

I captured about 3 hours of sound. Here is a sample from the singers on (e:matthew) journal [inlink]matthew,610[/inlink]

::DOWNLOAD SOUND::