Style: Eye Patch and Sun Glasses

Some Reflections

It's becoming obvious, I think, that the monetary union in the EU is a failure. Can't have nations with such varied economic situations tied together under a single currency.

Also think we are reaching the end of the road of the credit system of economics. Falling apart everywhere. Fake bubble booms created everywhere in the last couple of decades. Spending more then you make, both at a personal and national level, has to by definition come to an end.

Either club med nations go back to being poorer but living-the-life, or reform themselves and become like Northern European workaholics.

Putin's Softer Side

Putin recently received a puppy as a gift from the premier of Bulgaria.

Even More Putin Action Antics

Putin was photographed inside a Formula One race car recently. Reports say he reached 150mph.

More Putin Action Antics

Putin shooting darts at whales from a crossbow in Kamchatka Peninsula in far-eastern Russia as part of a biological expedition.

Dead Castaway

I originally doodled this at work, and I liked the way it turned out, so I re-drew it at home. This time, I added a ship that is sailing away, which makes the whole scene a little more tragic.

(click image for full size)

Chase Overdraft Coverage

Chase bank has been bombarding me with ads and documentation to renew my overdraft coverage. Which means that even if I have no money in the account, my card is still accepted. But I'm hit with a big fee. That's their scam. They make a lot of money from that program. If I don't have any money my card should get declined!

Almost everyday they've sent me a letter about it. It is getting to the point in annoyance of me calling them up. In these letters, there is always new copy too. Always presented differently, with some new angle.

They charge a $34 fee each time you use your card, with insufficient funds (yet your card is still accepted everywhere). You could unknowingly, which is what they want, buy some gas, a pizza, and a water bottle some place else, and end up paying over a hundred dollars in fees alone.

I remember, I brought that up to a friend, who is a Chase employee, a while ago. He said "it's only 34 dollars". Yes, $34 per transaction. You buy a bus ticket and a hamburger, get slapped with a $68 fee, that doesn't include other charges. How is that not a scam.

I'm not only getting tired of Chase spamming me with this BS. But I know thousands of their customers are falling for their misleading letters. My bank, or any bank, should not try to devise these tricks, scams, and misleading programs to extort money from its customers.