The Spirit Of America Goes Out to First Fans

International copies have gone out to the First Fans.

Domestic copies go out next week.

It's a wonderful day to be Straight out of El Cajon.

Unauthorized Account Access Sanctioned by Verizon

Have you ever dialed a cell phone carrier's Customer Service division? You call in, punch in your pass code, provide your secret answer, and if you get a real person, they want to know who they are talking with. They ask for permission to access the account, and then they confirm that they can talk to you because you are listed on the account.

That's how it should work.

Earlier this evening Customer Service at Verizon Wireless confirmed by date and name, that they have have been talking to someone, who's not on the account, is not authorized to operate on the account, and who has authorized changes to the account.

It's taken 7 months to locate it and 4 hours on the phones in the past two days alone.

Who needs a better network as explained by colorful balls when Verizon Wireless sanctions unauthorized access to account.

#verizonwireless #verizon #admissionswithoutcorrections

Witness to The Fall of Saigon

The Fall of Saigon.

Earlier this week I got to listen to the first hand account from the man on the right in this photo.

Look for a feature article in a major publication soon.

Mission Control is Dark, Wall Street has Fallen.

Umm...

"Mission Control is Dark. Wall Street has fallen.."

Last week I wrote about the loss of a long standing computer, Mission Control.

Unbeknown, my files for several financial matters had been backing up to the recovery disk of the computer, instead of the external drive.

"Houston, we have a problem."

The recent American taxes were completed but the Australian taxes may have to be paid late. Extract files, transfer to another storage - maybe more money than I I'm willing to invest to recover just a couple months difference from my US taxes.

Lesson learned form the last crash several years ago - all the writing is salvaged including the major project which is now back on the menu. 

Mission Control is Dark.

Umm...

Power outage must have happened today.

No problem, I'll just turn the computer back on.

Ut oh.

Huston, we have a problem.

"Mission Control" is dark.

Launched February 2003, loss of operating power April 2016.

Not bad for a Windows XP computer.

Chicken Soup for the Soul #Stand4Heroes

Chalk up another appearance within the Chicken Soup for the Soul franchise.

On 7 June 2016,  the next in their series of books will be released, titled Chicken Soul for the Soul: The Spirit of America.

My story, "Straight out of El Cajon" highlights the discussions I still  have, ten years after arriving in the "new country" The irony of an Australian writing about the Spirit of America, has not been lost.

Royalties form the book will benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation's #Stand4Heroes program for veterans.

California Franchise Tax Board Needs 130 Days to Answer A Letter

  How long does a state department need to respond to a letter of inquiry?

  14 days?

  30 days?

  How about of 130 days for the California Franchise Tax Board.

   In November 2015, I inquired about assets not received, (for the third time) following the completion of the 2014 tax returns. The California Franchise Tax Board needed 4 months and 9 days to identify which department they intercepted funds on behalf of.

  I should consider myself lucky however. In March 2016, the California Franchise Tax Board requested $30 million in funding to enable them to meet service standards. The request was made based on their policy for the timely processing of correspondence within thirty (30) days, but they acknowledge that the average turn around time has been eight (8) months, (Page 14) with 70,000 items of correspondence unaddressed.  This is further complicated by the inability of consumers to speak to a representative when they telephone.

  Is it any wonder that businesses are leaving California for other states like Texas?

  I wonder how forgiving the State of California would be on April 15 if I delayed the filing of my tax return by 130 days?