Welcome back \u2026 it\u2019s time for some additional tidbits to satisfy your informational cravings.<\/p>\n
First of all, let me remind El Tecolote readers who own cell phones that January 31 is the last day to block sales calls made to your cell phones.<\/p>\n
Yes, that\u2019s right, as of Feb. 1, all cell phone numbers are being released to telemarketing companies, so you will be swamped with sales calls. To make matters worse, you will be charged for these calls. But, if you act now, you can prevent this from happening by calling 888-382-1222 from your cell phone and asking to be placed on the National Do Not Call List. Doing so, blocks your cell number for five years. Oh those scrupulous telemarketers, they\u2019ve convinced the cell phone companies to sell them their phone lists. Is nothing sacred? In any event, pass this information on to others. Let\u2019s protect our right of privacy!<\/p>\n
Speaking of scams \u2026 did you hear about the property tax reassessment scam? Well, yours truly, almost fell for it. I got a very official looking document titled the 2010 Property Tax Reduction Form from a company in Granada Hills that calls itself the Property Tax Adjusters. For a $189 service fee they said they could verify that I have been paying more property tax than I needed to \u2013 $749 more.<\/p>\n
In fact, in their literature they said they would prepare and submit \u201call necessary documentation to the County Assessor\u2019s Office and Assessment Appeals Board, and will act as your agent in all dealings with the County Assessor\u2019s Office and at all Assessment Appeals Board hearings.\u201d Unfortunately, a number of people have been duped. Consumer rights groups are encouraging anyone who received such a letter to file a complaint with the California Attorney General\u2019s Office Public Inquiry Unit at (800) 952-5225. Good grief! What will they think of next?<\/p>\n
Here\u2019s a novel cultural happening that is emerging once again in our fair city. It\u2019s called the 3rd Annual Poets 11 that sponsors a citywide poetry contest and a poetry reading series at branch libraries in the City\u2019s 11 districts. The deadline for poetry submissions is March 1. Winning poets will receive $50 and their poems will be published in an anthology. For more information visit friendssfpl.org or call (415) 626-7500. Maybe I\u2019m a poet \u2026 but I don\u2019t know it \u2026but I have some words to show it? Hmmm\u2026I think I\u2019m in the zone. Anyone for a reading!<\/p>\n
On the international front, the recent detention of a U.S. government contractor in Cuba has exposed a secretive U.S. program aimed at destabilizing the Cuban government. The program seeks to \u201cimprove the flow of information\u201d by sneaking in computers, cell phones, DVD players and other communications equipment into Cuba for encouraging the use of blogs, Twitter and YouTube.<\/p>\n
Launched in 1997, the Bush administration continued to support the program at a cost of $45 million in 2008. At that time, news reports cited expenditure abuses and even the theft of $600,000. Meanwhile, the Obama administration is making overtures to warm up relations with Cuba by entertaining the idea of opening up travel to Cuba for U.S. citizens. In fact, major U.S. travel operators met recently in the nation\u2019s capital to listen to Cuban officials via satellite TV speak about the benefits of travel to Cuba. How ironic.<\/p>\n
It appears that the left hand doesn\u2019t know what the right hand is doing. And, our tax dollars continue to be ill spent on ineffective programs that only foster corruption. Is there no end to this madness!<\/p>\n
As for the final word \u2026 congratulations to El Bohemio News for reportedly 40 years of publishing. Their January 8 edition boosts a near full-page reprint of a city proclamation honoring the newspaper. But, wait, on its inside page staff box it claims 39 years of publishing. In fact, it says it was founded on January 6, 1971. If you do the math that makes El Bohemio News 39-years-old, right? Hmmmm….<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Welcome back \u2026 it\u2019s time for some additional tidbits to satisfy your informational cravings. First of all, let me remind El Tecolote readers who own cell phones that January 31 is the last day to block sales calls made to your cell phones. Yes, that\u2019s right, as of Feb. 1, all cell phone numbers are […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[223,225,224],"coauthors":[18468],"class_list":["post-1628","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-voices","tag-cellulars","tag-privacy","tag-scams","entry"],"yoast_head":"\n