Painter Gets Revenge For Not Being Paid

Dean Reeves wrote in large black letters: "Want your house painting? Don't be like Terry, pay the bill! Now you will!” over the cream exterior he had painted on a house in Bolsover, Derbyshire in the UK. Reeves claims that building owner Terry Taylor paid him just £650 ($861) of the £1,150 ($1,523) agreed upon fee for the work. Reeves claims he worked through his lunch for a week to get the job done on time on the former North Star Club which is being converted into apartments. However, Taylor told Reeves he wouldn’t be getting paid the remainder of the cash until he gave the back of the house another coat of paint. Reeves pointed out that he had gone above and beyond, even doing the job on ladders, saving Taylor £900 ($1,192) in scaffolding. Taylor, however, denied ripping Reeves off, saying he intended to pay in full once the job was finished.

 

 

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If You Hear This 4-Word Phrase When You Answer the Phone, Hang Up Immediately

You answer the phone and the caller quickly asks you a yes or no question: “Can you hear me?” In a matter of seconds, you’ve just become the victim of a scam, and that brief exchange could wind up costing you hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. The phrase is designed to trick the victim into responding “yes,” while the person or computer on the other end records the response. The scammer can then use the recording to access the victim’s accounts. When asked to authorize log-ins, make a major purchase, or sign up for expensive services, the scammer impersonates the victim with the recorded “yes.” By abruptly using the words “Can you hear me?” without any introduction or context, the scammer creates a sense of urgency. This causes the victim to quickly reply out of emotion before they have a chance to think rationally. Other variations include “Sorry, the connection is bad. Can you hear me?”, “I can’t hear you; are you there?”, “Are you the homeowner?”, and “Is this the lady/man of the house?” While scammers are using technology to find new ways to trick their victims, you can take steps to protect yourself by doing the following:

• • Avoid unfamiliar numbers. If you do accidentally answer, try to hang up as quickly as possible.
• • Don’t rely on Caller ID. Even numbers that appear to be legitimate on Caller ID might not be. 
• • Think before you speak. If you must answer unfamiliar numbers, be cautious. If the ask you a question, ask why they want to know.
• • Block unwanted calls by signing up for the Do Not Call Registry and using a call-blocking and labeling app to screen and block unknown calls. 
• • Establish a safe word or phrase to be used only by close friends and family. Then, if you get a frantic call for a loved one and are unsure whether it’s them or a scammer, you can confirm by asking for the secret word. 

 

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Couples Who Have Tried the Scandinavian Sleep Method Say They’re Never Going Back

Many Americans aren’t getting a lot of sleep. Researchers have found that just 15% of nearly 65,000 participants got the doctor-recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night. Why is poor sleep such a common plight? There are endless reasons, but for most it’s the tiny disruptions that do them in — their spouse getting up to go to the bathroom, that cold whoosh of air leaking into the warm cocoon, the light of a reading lamp, not to mention tossing and turning. For many, that has changed, thanks to something called the Scandinavian sleep method, which involves using two separate duvets in order to give each person more freedom as they sleep. The method gets its name from this popular sleeping style in the Scandinavian countries of Sweden, Norway, and Denmark. Couples may prefer the Scandinavian sleep method because it allows the benefits of co-sleeping while also allowing each person autonomy to use their own bedding. Sleepers can regulate their body temperature and personalize their sleep experience. It minimizes spousal disruptions, allowing one person to crawl into bed while the other person is asleep and allowing each person to choose the bedtime that works best for them. The Scandinavian sleep method allows couples to continue sleeping in the same bed without sacrificing their sleep quality.

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Anyone Who Lets Grandpa Pay is Terminated Immediately

Retired high school business teacher and athletics coach Gil Walker has become a cherished regular at the local Dunkin’ Donuts in Concord, Calif. He found the store when the pandemic began, and he couldn’t continue one of his favorite routines — meeting friends at his longtime coffee shop. Since he couldn’t get out of his car, he began looking for places he could just drive through and not have to get out of his truck. One of those places was the local Dunkin’ Donuts. On one of his early visits, the 81-year-old arrived with an envelope containing 14 $20 bills, one for each employee. Knowing that people in the area aren’t rich, he decided he would do what he could to help out a bit. The store’s owner, Matt Cobo, and his team were stunned. What followed was something even more special: a growing friendship between Gil and the staff, who now lovingly call him “Grandpa.” Each morning, they eagerly wait for his arrival, ready with his usual order — an iced coffee and a maple bar for him, and a carefully customized iced chai latte — known around the store as “The Ginny” — for his wife. However, no matter how many times Gil tries to pay, the answer is always the same: no. The staff has made it their mission to return Grandpa's kindness in their own way, often joking that the register is “broken” or that the customer ahead already covered it. The store owner has even posted a playful sign that reads, “Anyone who lets ‘Grandpa’ pay is terminated immediately.”

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