We just had a wonderful dinner of stir fried shrimp and asparagus with
pasta. We used to go and have a wonderful NY eve dinner with my wife's
oldest and bestest friend and stay overnight, but she died 17 years ago.
Since then we have been staying home and making nice multi course meals
for ourselves, occasionally having others join us. Tonight we are going
out to a last minute party hosted by a pickleball friend. I made up a
platter of smoked salmon canapes.

In article >, Dave Smith
> wrote:

> We just had a wonderful dinner of stir fried shrimp and asparagus with
> pasta. We used to go and have a wonderful NY eve dinner with my wife's
> oldest and bestest friend and stay overnight, but she died 17 years ago.
> Since then we have been staying home and making nice multi course meals
> for ourselves, occasionally having others join us. Tonight we are going
> out to a last minute party hosted by a pickleball friend. I made up a
> platter of smoked salmon canapes.

Way too fancy! I cook everything for Thanksgiving and Christmas. New
Years is low key junk food. We are having these today and tomorrow.

1. assorted sliced vegetables with Hidden Valley powdered buttermilk
ranch dressing and what you have to do to make it.
2. home made meatballs and factory made little smokies simmered in a
slow cooker barbecue sauce recipe.
3. deviled eggs, sixteen halves.
4. Chung's pork egg rolls [frozen], but baked when we eat them if
needed.
5. T.G.I. Friday's [frozen] stuffed jalapeño poppers but deep fried
when we eat them if needed.

I see that we are already into tomorrow, so Happy New Year everyone!

leo

On 1/1/2016 4:22 AM, Leonard Blaisdell wrote:

> Way too fancy! I cook everything for Thanksgiving and Christmas. New
> Years is low key junk food. We are having these today and tomorrow.
>
> 1. assorted sliced vegetables with Hidden Valley powdered buttermilk
> ranch dressing and what you have to do to make it.
> 2. home made meatballs and factory made little smokies simmered in a
> slow cooker barbecue sauce recipe.
> 3. deviled eggs, sixteen halves.
> 4. Chung's pork egg rolls [frozen], but baked when we eat them if
> needed.
> 5. T.G.I. Friday's [frozen] stuffed jalapeño poppers but deep fried
> when we eat them if needed.

OMG, I wasn't about to post what we had for dinner. We had
decided just to have something easy, we just weren't in the mood
for making anything. We already had frozen tempura shrimp from
Costco, and while we were at the store, I had been looking for
Japanese vegetables and all I came up with was broccoli teriyaki,
and Ron bought frozen rice pilaf.

We laughed when we served it up. Today, it will be pot roast.
Homemade.

> I see that we are already into tomorrow, so Happy New Year everyone!

You too, Leo, best wishes for 2016.

Got to start practicing writing the new year on checks, not that
I write many any more thanks to online banking.

nancy

Nancy Young wrote:

> On 1/1/2016 4:22 AM, Leonard Blaisdell wrote:
>
> > Way too fancy! I cook everything for Thanksgiving and Christmas. New
> > Years is low key junk food. We are having these today and tomorrow.
> >
> > 1. assorted sliced vegetables with Hidden Valley powdered buttermilk
> > ranch dressing and what you have to do to make it.
> > 2. home made meatballs and factory made little smokies simmered in a
> > slow cooker barbecue sauce recipe.
> > 3. deviled eggs, sixteen halves.
> > 4. Chung's pork egg rolls [frozen], but baked when we eat them if
> > needed.
> > 5. T.G.I. Friday's [frozen] stuffed jalapeño poppers but deep fried
> > when we eat them if needed.
>
> OMG, I wasn't about to post what we had for dinner. We had
> decided just to have something easy, we just weren't in the mood
> for making anything. We already had frozen tempura shrimp from
> Costco, and while we were at the store, I had been looking for
> Japanese vegetables and all I came up with was broccoli teriyaki,
> and Ron bought frozen rice pilaf.


Playing "tourist" today, a friend is treating me (for my birthday) to the new Star Wars film at the IMAX thee - ater at Navy Pier here in Chicago. "Where to eat?", he asked. All the restos are very touristy, so I said "Bubba Gump!". When I was a kid I always had fried shrimp for my b-day (out of a box, natch), so "the tradition continues". It's a tourist trap for sure, but it will be fun playing "tourist", lol...


>
> We laughed when we served it up. Today, it will be pot roast.
> Homemade.
>
> > I see that we are already into tomorrow, so Happy New Year everyone!
>
> You too, Leo, best wishes for 2016.
>
> Got to start practicing writing the new year on checks, not that
> I write many any more thanks to online banking.


Was in the grocery line the other day, and someone was actually writing a *check*! They were middle - aged, not "old" ;-) Something I hadn't seen for ages, it seemed positively "antique" (although I'm "old", I haven't written a check for years).

Happy New Year to y'all, Nancy, you are another one of the "select few" posters who keeps me reading this group :-)


--
Best
Greg

On 1/1/2016 11:50 AM, Gregory Morrow wrote:
> Nancy Young wrote:

>> You too, Leo, best wishes for 2016.
>>
>> Got to start practicing writing the new year on checks, not that
>> I write many any more thanks to online banking.
>
>
> Was in the grocery line the other day, and someone was actually writing a *check*!
> They were middle - aged, not "old" ;-) Something I hadn't seen for ages,

Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
take note how someone's paying.

> it seemed positively "antique" (although I'm "old", I haven't written a
> check for years).

Not in a store, I haven't.

> Happy New Year to y'all, Nancy, you are another one of the "select few"
> posters who keeps me reading this group :-)

What a nice thing to say, sorry I didn't see it sooner. Thank you!
And always happy to see you come around, too.

nancy

On 03/01/2016 12:47 PM, Nancy Young wrote:
> On 1/1/2016 11:50 AM, Gregory Morrow wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> You too, Leo, best wishes for 2016.
>>>
>>> Got to start practicing writing the new year on checks, not that
>>> I write many any more thanks to online banking.
>>
>>
>> Was in the grocery line the other day, and someone was actually
>> writing a *check*!
> > They were middle - aged, not "old" ;-) Something I hadn't seen for
> ages,
>
> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
> take note how someone's paying.
>
I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.
Graham

On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 12:51:32 -0700, graham > wrote:

>On 03/01/2016 12:47 PM, Nancy Young wrote:
>> On 1/1/2016 11:50 AM, Gregory Morrow wrote:
>>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>
>>>> You too, Leo, best wishes for 2016.
>>>>
>>>> Got to start practicing writing the new year on checks, not that
>>>> I write many any more thanks to online banking.
>>>
>>>
>>> Was in the grocery line the other day, and someone was actually
>>> writing a *check*!
>> > They were middle - aged, not "old" ;-) Something I hadn't seen for
>> ages,
>>
>> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
>> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
>> take note how someone's paying.
>>
>I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.
>Graham

When I first moved here (nearly 11 years ago) had to produce 12 post
dated cheques for the condo fees - what a bloody pain. After fussing
at meetings, they finally made it so it can be an automatic bank
deposit - what a relief. However they still accept cheques and the
super tells me there are a few envelopes in the box with same every
January 1.

About the only thing I use cash for now are bridge games.

On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 14:47:10 -0500, Nancy Young
> wrote:

>On 1/1/2016 11:50 AM, Gregory Morrow wrote:
>> Nancy Young wrote:
>
>>> You too, Leo, best wishes for 2016.
>>>
>>> Got to start practicing writing the new year on checks, not that
>>> I write many any more thanks to online banking.
>>
>>
>> Was in the grocery line the other day, and someone was actually writing a *check*!
> > They were middle - aged, not "old" ;-) Something I hadn't seen for ages,
>
>Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
>usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
>take note how someone's paying.
>
> > it seemed positively "antique" (although I'm "old", I haven't written a
> > check for years).
>
>Not in a store, I haven't.

I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking. I mostly use
Teachers Federal Credit Union on Long Island, they will do all
transfers, etc. via phone for members who have moved out of the area.
They were smart to service retirees who have moved as a way to keep
their accounts and retireees typically have the largest accounts. I
have my SS and pension deposited there so I call at least once a month
to have that money transfered from checking to savings to money market
accounts, they all know me and take good care of me. They have a
branch on site where I used to work so I've had an account with them
for some forty years. They have an investment service too so I also
phone to manage my stocks and mutual funds. I really detest doing
business with a faceless menu entity. Every time I call we chat so I
get to know about marriages, graduations, new babies, even the weather
and local news. It's a nice connection with past history, and with
the old timers we exchange email and pictures, they share their grands
and I share my cats.

On 1/3/2016 2:51 PM, graham wrote:
> On 03/01/2016 12:47 PM, Nancy Young wrote:
>> On 1/1/2016 11:50 AM, Gregory Morrow wrote:
>>> Nancy Young wrote:
>>
>>>> You too, Leo, best wishes for 2016.
>>>>
>>>> Got to start practicing writing the new year on checks, not that
>>>> I write many any more thanks to online banking.
>>>
>>>
>>> Was in the grocery line the other day, and someone was actually
>>> writing a *check*!
>> > They were middle - aged, not "old" ;-) Something I hadn't seen for
>> ages,
>>
>> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
>> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
>> take note how someone's paying.
>>
> I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.

I generally don't notice, so odds are they're paying by card here,
too. It took me a while, but I finally convinced my mother to
carry a credit card in case she gets into a jam. She still doesn't
use it. I haven't asked her how she pays for groceries.

nancy

On Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 11:29:56 AM UTC-10, Nancy Young wrote:
> On 1/3/2016 2:51 PM, graham wrote:
> > On 03/01/2016 12:47 PM, Nancy Young wrote:
> >> On 1/1/2016 11:50 AM, Gregory Morrow wrote:
> >>> Nancy Young wrote:
> >>
> >>>> You too, Leo, best wishes for 2016.
> >>>>
> >>>> Got to start practicing writing the new year on checks, not that
> >>>> I write many any more thanks to online banking.
> >>>
> >>>
> >>> Was in the grocery line the other day, and someone was actually
> >>> writing a *check*!
> >> > They were middle - aged, not "old" ;-) Something I hadn't seen for
> >> ages,
> >>
> >> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
> >> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
> >> take note how someone's paying.
> >>
> > I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.
>
> I generally don't notice, so odds are they're paying by card here,
> too. It took me a while, but I finally convinced my mother to
> carry a credit card in case she gets into a jam. She still doesn't
> use it. I haven't asked her how she pays for groceries.
>
> nancy

I was surprised to see a small notice on the door of a local market chain saying they would no longer accept checks in 2016. OTOH, I don't see any horse and buggy's in their parking lot either so I guess it shouldn't be too surprising.

Personally, I like payments in check because I don't have to pay the processing fees. Then again, I don't have lines of people in a hurry to fork over some dough and get the hell out.

On Sun, 03 Jan 2016 15:45:57 -0500, Brooklyn1
> wrote:

>I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking.

Are you one of these charming elderly people at the supermarket
checkout?

Finding check: 2 mins
Realizing pen is needed for writing: 3 mins
Talking to checkout person: 1 mins
Finding pen between years old peppermints: 2 mins
Writing on check: 5 mins
Talking to checkout person: 2 mins
Checking if amount is correct: 3 mins
Saying goodbye: 2 mins

It's alright. We all hope to get that old.

--
Bruce

On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 16:29:41 -0500, Nancy Young
> wrote:


>I generally don't notice, so odds are they're paying by card here,
>too. It took me a while, but I finally convinced my mother to
>carry a credit card in case she gets into a jam. She still doesn't
>use it. I haven't asked her how she pays for groceries.

My MIL has a credit card, but I'm not sure how often she actually uses
it.

I was in the grocery store with her last week, and when we got to the
check-out she said she wanted to use her card, then she handed it to
me and asked me if I'd do it. Then she whispered her PIN to me.

I took the card, waved it over the pay-pass screen*, and handed it
back to her. "Easy!" I said to her.

*In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
seconds.

Doris

Doris Night wrote in rec.food.cooking:

> On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 16:29:41 -0500, Nancy Young
> > wrote:
>
>
> > I generally don't notice, so odds are they're paying by card here,
> > too. It took me a while, but I finally convinced my mother to
> > carry a credit card in case she gets into a jam. She still doesn't
> > use it. I haven't asked her how she pays for groceries.
>
> My MIL has a credit card, but I'm not sure how often she actually uses
> it.
>
> I was in the grocery store with her last week, and when we got to the
> check-out she said she wanted to use her card, then she handed it to
> me and asked me if I'd do it. Then she whispered her PIN to me.
>
> I took the card, waved it over the pay-pass screen*, and handed it
> back to her. "Easy!" I said to her.
>
> *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
> have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
> seconds.
>
> Doris

Hope you have good fraud protection if someone steals your card...


--

On 1/3/2016 6:20 PM, Doris Night wrote:

> My MIL has a credit card, but I'm not sure how often she actually uses
> it.
>
> I was in the grocery store with her last week, and when we got to the
> check-out she said she wanted to use her card, then she handed it to
> me and asked me if I'd do it. Then she whispered her PIN to me.
>
> I took the card, waved it over the pay-pass screen*, and handed it
> back to her. "Easy!" I said to her.
>
> *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
> have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
> seconds.

That's the RFID chip in the recent cards. Those are the ones you want to
protect from chip readers that thieves carry these days. A tin foil hat
for your credit card so to speak, but in this case it isn't paranoia.

--
ღ.¸¸.œ«*¨`*œ¶
Cheryl

On 1/3/2016 5:47 PM, Bruce wrote:
> On Sun, 03 Jan 2016 15:45:57 -0500, Brooklyn1
> > wrote:
>
>> I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking.
>
> Are you one of these charming elderly people at the supermarket
> checkout?
>
> Finding check: 2 mins
> Realizing pen is needed for writing: 3 mins
> Talking to checkout person: 1 mins
> Finding pen between years old peppermints: 2 mins
> Writing on check: 5 mins
> Talking to checkout person: 2 mins
> Checking if amount is correct: 3 mins
> Saying goodbye: 2 mins
>
> It's alright. We all hope to get that old.



>

I tend to get a little impatient too, but what you described is only 20
minutes out of my life but may have been a social and happy moment for
someone elderly who might not get out much.

--
ღ.¸¸.œ«*¨`*œ¶
Cheryl

On 2016-01-03 2:51 PM, graham wrote:

>> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
>> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
>> take note how someone's paying.
>>
> I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.

A lot of people pay by debit card. The biggest slow down I see is when
the old ladies are standing there watching their groceries getting rung
up and they stand there until the cashier tells them the total. They
know they have to pay for the groceries. They know the total is about to
be rung up. Most checkouts have a running total displayed, so they know
approximately how much it is going to be. But do they get out their
wallet and their cash or card??? Nope. They wait until it is all done.
Then they open up the purse and start rifling through the big bag to
find the wallet that has the card in there..... somewhere.


We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
that wastes the time of the people behind them.

On 2016-01-03 6:20 PM, Doris Night wrote:
> On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 16:29:41 -0500, Nancy Young
> > wrote:
>
>
>> I generally don't notice, so odds are they're paying by card here,
>> too. It took me a while, but I finally convinced my mother to
>> carry a credit card in case she gets into a jam. She still doesn't
>> use it. I haven't asked her how she pays for groceries.
>
> My MIL has a credit card, but I'm not sure how often she actually uses
> it.
>
> I was in the grocery store with her last week, and when we got to the
> check-out she said she wanted to use her card, then she handed it to
> me and asked me if I'd do it. Then she whispered her PIN to me.
>
> I took the card, waved it over the pay-pass screen*, and handed it
> back to her. "Easy!" I said to her.
>
> *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
> have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
> seconds.
>


We do. My bank card has to be swiped and inserted and a PIN entered.

On 1/3/2016 6:20 PM, Doris Night wrote:

>
> *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
> have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
> seconds.
>
> Doris
>

Sorry to hear that. That type of card is being eliminated because it is
possible to steal the information and clone them. New chip cards take
longer but are much more secure.

Bruce wrote:
>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>
>> I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking.
>>
>> Are you one of these charming elderly people at the supermarket
>> checkout?
>>
>> Finding check: 2 mins
>> Realizing pen is needed for writing: 3 mins
>> Talking to checkout person: 1 mins
>> Finding pen between years old peppermints: 2 mins
>> Writing on check: 5 mins
>> Talking to checkout person: 2 mins
>> Checking if amount is correct: 3 mins
>> Saying goodbye: 2 mins
>>
>> It's alright. We all hope to get that old.

I don't mind waiting, many of those middle aged women have fantastic
bosoms... and keep in mind their breasts are some 13 years younger
than they are.

On Sun, 03 Jan 2016 17:31:46 -0600, "cshenk" > wrote:

>Doris Night wrote in rec.food.cooking:
>
>> On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 16:29:41 -0500, Nancy Young
>> > wrote:
>>
>>
>> > I generally don't notice, so odds are they're paying by card here,
>> > too. It took me a while, but I finally convinced my mother to
>> > carry a credit card in case she gets into a jam. She still doesn't
>> > use it. I haven't asked her how she pays for groceries.
>>
>> My MIL has a credit card, but I'm not sure how often she actually uses
>> it.
>>
>> I was in the grocery store with her last week, and when we got to the
>> check-out she said she wanted to use her card, then she handed it to
>> me and asked me if I'd do it. Then she whispered her PIN to me.
>>
>> I took the card, waved it over the pay-pass screen*, and handed it
>> back to her. "Easy!" I said to her.
>>
>> *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
>> have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
>> seconds.
>>
>> Doris
>
>Hope you have good fraud protection if someone steals your card...

We don't need it, so long as we report the card missing straight away
or respond when the card operator calls. I know two people who were
called before they even were aware of the break in security. Didn't
cost them a penny,

On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 18:45:23 -0500, Cheryl >
wrote:

>On 1/3/2016 6:20 PM, Doris Night wrote:
>
>> My MIL has a credit card, but I'm not sure how often she actually uses
>> it.
>>
>> I was in the grocery store with her last week, and when we got to the
>> check-out she said she wanted to use her card, then she handed it to
>> me and asked me if I'd do it. Then she whispered her PIN to me.
>>
>> I took the card, waved it over the pay-pass screen*, and handed it
>> back to her. "Easy!" I said to her.
>>
>> *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
>> have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
>> seconds.
>
>That's the RFID chip in the recent cards. Those are the ones you want to
>protect from chip readers that thieves carry these days. A tin foil hat
>for your credit card so to speak, but in this case it isn't paranoia.

I have about five of them, no tin foil and no problems at all.

On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 18:50:29 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2016-01-03 2:51 PM, graham wrote:
>
>>> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
>>> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
>>> take note how someone's paying.
>>>
>> I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.
>
>A lot of people pay by debit card. The biggest slow down I see is when
>the old ladies are standing there watching their groceries getting rung
>up and they stand there until the cashier tells them the total. They
>know they have to pay for the groceries. They know the total is about to
>be rung up. Most checkouts have a running total displayed, so they know
>approximately how much it is going to be. But do they get out their
>wallet and their cash or card??? Nope. They wait until it is all done.
>Then they open up the purse and start rifling through the big bag to
>find the wallet that has the card in there..... somewhere.
>
>
>We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
>smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
>that wastes the time of the people behind them.
>

Yes we should because the biggest offender I see like that is ... THE
MAN !

On 2016-01-03 6:57 PM, Dave Smith wrote:

>> *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
>> have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
>> seconds.
>>
>
>
> We do. My bank card has to be swiped and inserted and a PIN entered.
>
>

Oops... that should be "We do??" My BMO does not tap.

On 2016-01-03 6:49 PM, Cheryl wrote:
> On 1/3/2016 5:47 PM, Bruce wrote:
>> On Sun, 03 Jan 2016 15:45:57 -0500, Brooklyn1
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking.
>>
>> Are you one of these charming elderly people at the supermarket
>> checkout?
>>
>> Finding check: 2 mins
>> Realizing pen is needed for writing: 3 mins
>> Talking to checkout person: 1 mins
>> Finding pen between years old peppermints: 2 mins
>> Writing on check: 5 mins
>> Talking to checkout person: 2 mins
>> Checking if amount is correct: 3 mins
>> Saying goodbye: 2 mins
>>
>> It's alright. We all hope to get that old.
>
>
>
>>
>
> I tend to get a little impatient too, but what you described is only 20
> minutes out of my life but may have been a social and happy moment for
> someone elderly who might not get out much.
>

Sure.... 20 minutes for them to feel good. Put three old people with
cheques in the line ahead of you and you're looking at an hour to check
out.

On Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 1:50:43 PM UTC-10, Dave Smith wrote:
> On 2016-01-03 2:51 PM, graham wrote:
>
> >> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
> >> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
> >> take note how someone's paying.
> >>
> > I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.
>
> A lot of people pay by debit card. The biggest slow down I see is when
> the old ladies are standing there watching their groceries getting rung
> up and they stand there until the cashier tells them the total. They
> know they have to pay for the groceries. They know the total is about to
> be rung up. Most checkouts have a running total displayed, so they know
> approximately how much it is going to be. But do they get out their
> wallet and their cash or card??? Nope. They wait until it is all done.
> Then they open up the purse and start rifling through the big bag to
> find the wallet that has the card in there..... somewhere.
>
>
> We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
> smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
> that wastes the time of the people behind them.

I think it's pretty cute when a little old lady does that. They're intently watching the cashier until he rings up the total. Then she goes into her bag and pulls out a checkbook and writes the amount in her check register and then fills out the check. I don't mind at all. It relaxes me when people around me start huffing and puffing. I like to do the exact opposite of other people,

On Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 6:05:43 PM UTC-6, Brooklyn1 wrote:
> Bruce wrote:
> >Brooklyn1 wrote:
> >>
> >> I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking.
> >>
> >> Are you one of these charming elderly people at the supermarket
> >> checkout?
> >>
> >> Finding check: 2 mins
> >> Realizing pen is needed for writing: 3 mins
> >> Talking to checkout person: 1 mins
> >> Finding pen between years old peppermints: 2 mins
> >> Writing on check: 5 mins
> >> Talking to checkout person: 2 mins
> >> Checking if amount is correct: 3 mins
> >> Saying goodbye: 2 mins
> >>
> >> It's alright. We all hope to get that old.
>
> I don't mind waiting, many of those middle aged women have fantastic
> bosoms... and keep in mind their breasts are some 13 years younger
> than they are.

Oh great ShelDUM! One more thiung for women to be wary of, some old geezer staring at their breasts in the checkout line! :-(

John Kuthe...

On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 19:01:07 -0500, Ed Pawlowski > wrote:

> On 1/3/2016 6:20 PM, Doris Night wrote:
>
> >
> > *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
> > have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
> > seconds.
> >
> > Doris
> >
>
> Sorry to hear that. That type of card is being eliminated because it is
> possible to steal the information and clone them. New chip cards take
> longer but are much more secure.

They have to work out a new system. Either make it possible to insert
the card at the beginning of the transaction or figure out how to
process it as fast as the swipe, because the current way is holding up
lines.

--

sf

On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 18:50:29 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

> On 2016-01-03 2:51 PM, graham wrote:
>
> >> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
> >> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
> >> take note how someone's paying.
> >>
> > I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.
>
> A lot of people pay by debit card. The biggest slow down I see is when
> the old ladies are standing there watching their groceries getting rung
> up and they stand there until the cashier tells them the total. They
> know they have to pay for the groceries. They know the total is about to
> be rung up. Most checkouts have a running total displayed, so they know
> approximately how much it is going to be. But do they get out their
> wallet and their cash or card??? Nope. They wait until it is all done.
> Then they open up the purse and start rifling through the big bag to
> find the wallet that has the card in there..... somewhere.
>
>
> We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
> smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
> that wastes the time of the people behind them.
>
In the olden days, you could watch the cash register as entries were
made and catch mistakes. Not so anymore, but you can't teach an old
dog new tricks.

--

sf

On 2016-01-03 7:08 PM, wrote:

>> Hope you have good fraud protection if someone steals your card...
>
> We don't need it, so long as we report the card missing straight away
> or respond when the card operator calls. I know two people who were
> called before they even were aware of the break in security. Didn't
> cost them a penny,
>


Sometimes their security system seems to work. I rarely use my credit
cards. A few years ago I went out Christmas shopping and used my
MasterCard in a number of places within a short period of time, and the
purchases were significant. I called home on my cell phone to check for
messages and there was one from MasterCard and they were wondering about
the unusual pattern of charges on my card that day. They told me the
stores and the amounts and I confirmed them.


OTOH, I once got double billed on Visa at a restaurant... in early
August. When I got the bill in September I called Visa immediately. They
called the restaurant and were told they were new and thought it had not
gone through so they did it again. They were supposed to issue a
credit. I found out the next month they had not. Called Visa again and
was told they would ask for hard copies and I would not be responsible
for the charges unless they were provided.

The calls went on monthly until one day in February when I was passing
by there on business. I went in, talked to the owner/manager and
demanded payment. It may have helped that I was in uniform. They cut me
a cheque. By coincidence, Visa called that night to ask if their had
been any resolution. I told the lady I had been paid that day. She said
that was good because.......after all that time there was not much more
they could do.

???? After all that time?? I called them the day I got the bill and
realized they had double billed me. I was told that they had 45 days to
provide hard copies or I would not be responsible. Apparently, the hard
copies were never provided, but Visa never credited me the money.

On 2016-01-03 7:11 PM, wrote:

>> We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
>> smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
>> that wastes the time of the people behind them.
>>
>
> Yes we should because the biggest offender I see like that is ... THE
> MAN !
>
Baloney!!!! I am calling bullshit on that one because it is so far from
my personal experience. When I am deciding which checkout counter to go
to I opt for the one with men in it because they are more likely to have
cash or card in hand before the cashier even starts ringing up their
purchases. We have even had people here try to defend the old ladies
with the suggestion of security concerns, as if someone is going to run
through the checkout lines and grab women's purses.

On Sunday, January 3, 2016 at 2:01:06 PM UTC-10, Ed Pawlowski wrote:
> On 1/3/2016 6:20 PM, Doris Night wrote:
>
> >
> > *In Canada, we don't have to swipe a card and enter a PIN. We just
> > have to touch a screen with the card. The whole thing takes about 1.5
> > seconds.
> >
> > Doris
> >
>
> Sorry to hear that. That type of card is being eliminated because it is
> possible to steal the information and clone them. New chip cards take
> longer but are much more secure.

As of October 1st, 2015, businesses in the US were supposed to replace their card readers with new ones that take the chipped cards or face bad things happening to them. I got my new reader but haven't connected it yet. It seems like a lot of bother to have to swipe and insert the cards and input a pin. I've been telling folks that I haven't gotten my new reader up a running so a check would be perfectly acceptable but I don't think I can keep that up for long.

On 2016-01-03 7:38 PM, sf wrote:

>> We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
>> smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
>> that wastes the time of the people behind them.
>>
> In the olden days, you could watch the cash register as entries were
> made and catch mistakes. Not so anymore, but you can't teach an old
> dog new tricks.
>


Are you serious? In the old days cashiers rang things up by hand and
they were usually so fast that you really had to keep an eye on the
register to catch mistakes. Now they have a fair sized screen that
shows the item, weight and cost per unit if applicable, and the price,
and there is room on the screen for about a dozen items, so it is much
easier to catch mistakes.

Cheryl wrote:
>Bruce wrote:
>>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>
>>> I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking.
>>
>> Are you one of these charming elderly people at the supermarket
>> checkout? It's alright. We all hope to get that old.
>
>I tend to get a little impatient too, but what you described is only 20
>minutes out of my life but may have been a social and happy moment for
>someone elderly who might not get out much.

Very true... and whenever I go into town I'm never is any big hurry...
conversing with the seniors is always time well spent... many a time
I've spent an hour out in the parking lot continuing discussing life
experiences, time well spent.

On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 19:43:21 -0500, Dave Smith
> wrote:

>On 2016-01-03 7:11 PM, wrote:
>
>>> We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
>>> smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
>>> that wastes the time of the people behind them.
>>>
>>
>> Yes we should because the biggest offender I see like that is ... THE
>> MAN !
>>
>Baloney!!!! I am calling bullshit on that one because it is so far from
>my personal experience. When I am deciding which checkout counter to go
>to I opt for the one with men in it because they are more likely to have
>cash or card in hand before the cashier even starts ringing up their
>purchases. We have even had people here try to defend the old ladies
>with the suggestion of security concerns, as if someone is going to run
>through the checkout lines and grab women's purses.

May you always find a male line up because the day you arrive in the
same line up as me - watch yourself!!

On 1/3/2016 7:53 PM, wrote:
> On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 19:43:21 -0500, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>> On 2016-01-03 7:11 PM, wrote:
>>
>>>> We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
>>>> smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
>>>> that wastes the time of the people behind them.
>>>>
>>>
>>> Yes we should because the biggest offender I see like that is ... THE
>>> MAN !
>>>
>> Baloney!!!! I am calling bullshit on that one because it is so far from
>> my personal experience. When I am deciding which checkout counter to go
>> to I opt for the one with men in it because they are more likely to have
>> cash or card in hand before the cashier even starts ringing up their
>> purchases. We have even had people here try to defend the old ladies
>> with the suggestion of security concerns, as if someone is going to run
>> through the checkout lines and grab women's purses.
>
> May you always find a male line up because the day you arrive in the
> same line up as me - watch yourself!!
>
Seriously!!!!


--
ღ.¸¸.œ«*¨`*œ¶
Cheryl

On 4/1/2016 10:49 Cheryl wrote:

> On 1/3/2016 5:47 PM, Bruce wrote:
>> On Sun, 03 Jan 2016 15:45:57 -0500, Brooklyn1
>> > wrote:
>>
>>> I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking.
>>
>> Are you one of these charming elderly people at the supermarket
>> checkout?
>>
>> Finding check: 2 mins
>> Realizing pen is needed for writing: 3 mins
>> Talking to checkout person: 1 mins
>> Finding pen between years old peppermints: 2 mins
>> Writing on check: 5 mins
>> Talking to checkout person: 2 mins
>> Checking if amount is correct: 3 mins
>> Saying goodbye: 2 mins
>>
>> It's alright. We all hope to get that old.
>
>
>
>>
>
> I tend to get a little impatient too, but what you described is only 20
> minutes out of my life but may have been a social and happy moment for
> someone elderly who might not get out much.

Yes, that's the right attitude

--
Bruce

On 4/1/2016 11:05 Brooklyn1 wrote:

> Bruce wrote:
>>Brooklyn1 wrote:
>>>
>>> I write checks often. I don't like on-line banking.
>>>
>>> Are you one of these charming elderly people at the supermarket
>>> checkout?
>>>
>>> Finding check: 2 mins
>>> Realizing pen is needed for writing: 3 mins
>>> Talking to checkout person: 1 mins
>>> Finding pen between years old peppermints: 2 mins
>>> Writing on check: 5 mins
>>> Talking to checkout person: 2 mins
>>> Checking if amount is correct: 3 mins
>>> Saying goodbye: 2 mins
>>>
>>> It's alright. We all hope to get that old.
>
> I don't mind waiting, many of those middle aged women have fantastic
> bosoms... and keep in mind their breasts are some 13 years younger
> than they are.

lol

--
Bruce

On 4/1/2016 11:11 wrote:

> On Sun, 3 Jan 2016 18:50:29 -0500, Dave Smith
> > wrote:
>
>>On 2016-01-03 2:51 PM, graham wrote:
>>
>>>> Just once in a while, you see that check come out. For some reason it's
>>>> usually when there's been some other holdup that makes you even
>>>> take note how someone's paying.
>>>>
>>> I've noticed that a large % of the elderly now pay by card.
>>
>>A lot of people pay by debit card. The biggest slow down I see is when
>>the old ladies are standing there watching their groceries getting rung
>>up and they stand there until the cashier tells them the total. They
>>know they have to pay for the groceries. They know the total is about to
>>be rung up. Most checkouts have a running total displayed, so they know
>>approximately how much it is going to be. But do they get out their
>>wallet and their cash or card??? Nope. They wait until it is all done.
>>Then they open up the purse and start rifling through the big bag to
>>find the wallet that has the card in there..... somewhere.
>>
>>
>>We should be able to give them a whack in the back of the head to
>>smarten them up, or at least to express our displeasure at the stupidity
>>that wastes the time of the people behind them.
>>
>
> Yes we should because the biggest offender I see like that is ... THE
> MAN !

Chip.

--
Bruce

On 2016-01-03 19:53, wrote:

>> Baloney!!!! I am calling bullshit on that one because it is so far from
>> my personal experience. When I am deciding which checkout counter to go
>> to I opt for the one with men in it because they are more likely to have
>> cash or card in hand before the cashier even starts ringing up their
>> purchases. We have even had people here try to defend the old ladies
>> with the suggestion of security concerns, as if someone is going to run
>> through the checkout lines and grab women's purses.
>
> May you always find a male line up because the day you arrive in the
> same line up as me - watch yourself!!
>


Why? Are you going to be the old lady who stands there while her
groceries are being rung up and waits until the cashier tells you the
total before you start looking for your money?

On 1/3/2016 7:43 PM, dsi1 wrote:

>
> As of October 1st, 2015, businesses in the US were supposed to replace their card readers with new ones that take the chipped cards or face bad things happening to them. I got my new reader but haven't connected it yet. It seems like a lot of bother to have to swipe and insert the cards and input a pin. I've been telling folks that I haven't gotten my new reader up a running so a check would be perfectly acceptable but I don't think I can keep that up for long.
>

Not really. No swipe at all. Insert card. If debit, enter the pin as
you do now. If credit, just sign if required. It does take a little
longer though for the chip to be read.