Today I got a call from Equifax. For some unspecified (?) reason they were suspicious of the fact that someone had ordered my credit report on March 22. Since I did not recall ordering a credit report, she offered to put an “alert” on my “file” with all three (?) credit reporting agencies.
A few weeks back I did get a letter dated March 28 from TrueCredit. “Thank you for choosing TrueCredit!” This was odd as I did not remember making such a choice. Tried logging in to their site, but stopped when they asked for information I did not want to provide.
Up to this point there was some small chance I had indeed ordered a credit report, and had simply forgotten.
Called TrueCredit. Found that someone ordered my credit report using the credit card of someone in Brentwood, Missouri. Since I do not know anyone in Brentwood, Missouri (let alone anyone who would need my credit report), it is clear this is part of something dubious. Also heard from TrueCredit that whomever did not actually succeed in gaining access to my credit report.
Hopefully that is the end of the story…
Update July 10: Received a free copy of my credit report from Equifax. Checked and found nothing seriously wrong. They do have my ex-wife’s new address listed as one of my old addresses … odd but not serious.
This is the road that did in my Honda. You cannot tell from the picture but this road is steep. Coming up the road required driving in first gear, which after a mile or so proved too much, and my car overheated. Guess long periods of heavy throttle in first gear is just more than my car (and probably most cars) can handle.
Never saw my car overheat before. In fact before this drive I was not sure the temperature gauge worked, as no matter how I drove the indicator was always a third of the way from cold to hot. Now I know that the gauge works, as on this road the temperature rose all the way to the top. My memories of the Detroit cars my dad drove in the 60’s and 70’s always have the temperature gauge moving around a lot. Guess newer cars are more closely regulated.
After sitting a while to let the engine cool, turned around and headed downhill. Once back on the main road and able to get the speed up over 20mph the engine cooled to the normal temperature very quickly.
Was a bit alarmed for a time. Had not seen any cars for rather a while, so if my car quit I had a long walk back to Silverton.
Musing on the Apple-to-Intel transition, there are a couple points that come to mind.
- Jobs and company recognized the need for a bet-the-company transition if Apple’s desktop and laptop computers are to remain relevant. Better to make the bet now rather than wait through a long painful decline.
- Apple is using the announced transition to Intel to give IBM a chance to get their act together. If it is possible for IBM to deliver competitive hardware at competitive prices to meet Apple’s needs, then the Apple folks could simply decide to de-emphasize or punt on the transition to Intel. This is a win for Apple, IBM, and customers – if IBM is capable. If IBM cannot deliver then the transition goes ahead.
- Perhaps Apple as a manufacturer of computers can no longer be kept relevant. The alternative is for Apple to become a software company. If Apple software runs on Intel computers then existing PC manufacturers can be used to make hardware for Apple.
The last item occurred to me since the earlier post – and seems to complete the equation. If the most likely outcome is that Apple will essentially become a software company, then it makes some sense to pre-announce the transition to Intel, and kill the sales of the IBM PowerPC based computers.
Yet another speculation 
.
When you can spend nearly all day with the cruise control engaged, you get a different sense of distance. Much nicer than driving around California.
These are very nicely-built houses, but note the blank “face” presented to the street. Windows few, small and always shuttered. Neighbors can go months or years without interacting.
When streets are our public spaces, and our houses face the public space with closed garage doors, it is easy to stay isolated.
How to do better?
Own your very own 128-bit Uniqueidentifier (GUID)
Probably only funny to a specific, er, unique group of people .
Took part of a day off from helping my dad unpack to go for a drive. Headed south toward Ouray. When you reach Ouray you are fairly well up into the mountains, and the scenery is getting rather nice. From Ouray heading south the “Million Dollar Highway” climbs into and over the mountains.
This road calls for close attention from the driver. On one side is the mountain, and on the other side is … nothing. I love this road! It climbs, curves and swoops wonderfully as it makes it way through the mountains. This is not a road for driving fast.
Best to pay attention to the signs with recommended speeds. Pretty sure I’d not want to take this road at night, or when there might be ice on the road. On a warm spring or summer day, this is a very nice drive indeed.
At the same time the scenery is really worth a look around. Problem is that when driving, you cannot more than glance at scenery during those brief moments when the road does not demand your full attention. Lots of internal dialogue along the lines of “Oh – look at that! – CAN’T LOOK!!”. Fortunately there are many places to stop, where you can climb around and take pictures.
Felt a bit of sympathy for an older couple in a white pickup from Lousiana. The driver was clearly uncomfortable with twisty road and shear dropoffs. Followed them for a bit. The driver showed a clear preference for the center of the road (closer to the mountainside), and speeds below 25mph. Hung back enough so that I hoped the driver would not feel pressured to drive outside their comfort zone, but after a bit he pulled over and waited for me to pass.
Still have a lot of photos to sort through and upload.