Flocke
Forget kids, I want a Polar Bear cub!
Isn’t Flocke (Snowflake) the cutest little wuggie-buggie-schmuggie you’ve ever seen? I wonder if bear-napping is a capital offense . . .
The Bear Bitch’s Project
She’s moody and grey, she’s mean and she’s restless.
Archive for January, 2008
The E-Mails of Honesty (or lack thereof)
Every time I’ve been asked that hypothetical question ‘What would you do if you found a wallet full of money?’ I always answered straight away that I would return the wallet. Duh. No brainer, right? Well, that’s obviously easier said than done. When you find yourself in a similar situation, you find that it’s harder than you can ever imagine to be noble.
To make a long story short, I ordered something from an online retailer. They sent me the wrong item so I contacted them and was advised to just return it and they would send me the correct item. I mailed the item back to them the very next day and sure enough, a few days after that, I received the replacement. Then, about a week after I mailed the wrong item back to them, I receive an e-mail telling me that my returned item has been received and that the refund has been issued. What? I was confused but I checked my credit card account and there it was: a credit for $35 from the online retailer. What I didn’t mention at the start of this story was that there was a whole lot of drama involved with this purchase. My sister asked me to buy it for her but I was hesitant so there was a LOT of cross-continent & cross-time zone correspondence flying back and forth; to summarize, the purchase entailed more time and effort than just a few clicks of a mouse.
Honestly, my first reaction when I saw the credit was: “Cool. I’m getting compensated for all the time and effort I put into this crazy order.” But then of course my conscience kicked in so I (quite reluctantly) e-mailed them back to ask why they were crediting me $35. They answered that they were crediting me back for the item that they received; I guess they assumed that it was a return rather than a replacement. Again it crossed my mind to just leave it at that. I figured, look, if their records are that messed up then no one will realize the mistake and besides, $35 is chicken feed to a huge company like ******. I deleted the e-mail and forgot about it.
No, my guilt didn’t eat me up and I didn’t start seeing imaginary accusatory signs everywhere I went. I slept soundly that night and the nights that followed. I honestly did forget all about it. But a few days later, I was cleaning out my e-mail trash and I saw the e-mail again. Just as I was about to delete it permanently a thought popped into my head “Is my soul only worth $35?”. With a huge sigh, I opened the e-mail again and typed out a reply. I explained that it was an exchange rather than a return and that I shouldn’t be credited anything since I already received the replacement item. I sent it before I could change my mind.
“Ms. DeCastro, thank you for contacting us and thank you very much for your honesty. We have made the necessary adjustments to your account.
We are happy to offer you 10% off of your next purchase in appreciation for your honesty.
We greatly appreciate your business.”
The 10% discount will definitely not amount to $35 but you know what, that short e-mail reply I got sure felt better. You really can’t put monetary value on feeling good about yourself and being proud that you did the right thing.
*******
Oddly enough, I got this email that afternoon:
#### Law Chambers
# Floor Mass Mutual Tower
Taman bukit segar 1 Selangor
Kuala Lumpur Malaysia.
Tel: +60########
Mobile: +60########
Dear Kristine DeCastro,
I am #### Lopez, an attorney at law. A deceased client of mine, by name Mr.####### DeCastro, who here in after shall be referred to as my client, died as the result of a heart-related condition on the 11th November 2004. His heart condition was due to the death of all the members of his family in the Gulf Air Flight Crashes in Persian Gulf Near Bahrain Aired August 23, 2000 - 2:50 p.m. ET as reported on: http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0008/23/bn.08.html
I have contacted you to assist in distributing the money left behind by my client before it is confiscated or declared unserviceable by the bank when this deposit valued at 15.5million dollars is lodged. This bank has issued me a notice to contact the next of kin, or the account will be confiscated.
My proposition to you is to seek your consent to present you as the next-of-kin and beneficiary of my named client, since you have the same last name, so that the proceeds of this account can be paid to you. Then we can share the amount on a mutually agreed-upon percentage. All legal documents to back up your claim as my client’s next-of-kin will be provided. All I require is your honest cooperation to enable us see the transaction through.
This will be executed under a legitimate arrangement that will protect you from many breach of the law. If this business proposition offends your moral values, do accept my apology. I must use this opportunity to implore you to exercise the utmost indulgence to keep this matter extraordinary confidential, whatever your decision, while I await your prompt response. Please contact me at once to indicate your interest. I will like you to acknowledge the receipt of this e-mail as soon as possible via email this transaction will be treated private with absolute confidentiality and sincerity. I look forward to your quick reply. Please for security reasons reply
Best regards,
Barrister Lopez Esq.
What the heck??? Okay, call me naïve but I still get shocked at how unbelievably guiltless some people are. I mean, they really don’t have consciences, do they? And the audacity of it all – I was so tempted to reply “Yes, I am morally offended and I hope you loose all his money at the gambling tables and the dead guy haunts you until you go insane and check yourself into an asylum”.
That was one e-mail that I was only too glad to permanently delete.
I seriously hope the guy gets haunted till his dying day.
Couch Potato with Cobwebs
For goodness’ sake, give the writers what they want and end the bloody strike already!!!
I was totally looking forward to new episodes of Heroes, Chuck, and House but at the rate this strike is going, new episodes won’t air until the Fall of 2008 - that’s ages from now!
What can I say? Thank god for "reality" shows like Ghost Hunters and American Idol that don’t really need writers but I definitely can’t live on reality tv forever. This couch potato has no choice but to make do with them until the writers and producers get their act together but c’mon, people! Give me back my Chuck Bartowski!
Actors’ appeal: Speechless (click to watch the videos)
Have a Green Christmas
I decided to go "green" this Christmas and not use a single sheet of wrapping paper or a single gift-tag. I put all my presents in red, reusable Target shopping bags. I decided on the reusable bags because I wanted to be environmentally conscious and - if I’m being completely honest - I was too lazy to properly wrap each an every present, but they turned out to be a lot more useful than I thought; after the festivities, the kids were able to load their new loot into the bags to take home. It looks like I’ve just started a Christmas tradition for myself 
