We're All In The Same Boat - A Continuing Review

Let’s Discuss Some Classics! 

Three Men In A Boat can be read in a Kindle compilation of classic books everyone should take the time to read. I'm not making money on it. The book is free and the link can be found at the bottom of this little piece. :)

This is a humorously philosophical book that begins with the narrator discussing how he knows he doesn’t have long to live because of the number of illnesses with which he suffers. He knows he has them because every circular containing ads for medicines lists the same symptoms from which he suffers and he has looked up symptoms in his book on diseases. Among his afflictions are typhoid fever, gout, liver problems, and zymosis. However, he does not have Handmaid’s Knee and this actually puts him off a bit. He goes so far as to check his pulse and heartbeat. At first, he cannot detect either of them - which is very troubling. 

Convinced he will be a prize to medical science, he visits his doctor, describes all his symptoms and endures the tests to confirm his self-diagnoses. The doctor writes out a prescription and hands it to him:

1 lb of beefsteak

1 pt of bitter bear every six hours

1 ten-mile walk every morning

1 bed at 11 sharp every night

And don’t stuff up your head with things you don’t understand. 

The prescription makes him feel better and after several weeks, he is pleased to still be alive. 

Now, he is in a boat with two other men who have their own symptoms of various diseases, although he is sure that one man doesn’t have the problems. He just needs a good psychiatrist. 

 

I have not finished the book yet, but I will have it read by tomorrow. Still, I think I can tell you where the phrase “All in the same boat” came from and I am astounded at how little people have changed throughout history.  Back then, it was advertisements and books that scared readers. Now, it is advertisements and Google. ;-)

So far the book is a good one. Within just a few pages, I have smiled, laughed, and spent time in consideration of the human condition. 

Three Men In A Boat was written by Jerome K. Jerome and was published in 1887. 

Find it on Amazon:

Note: The Kindle book is free and I do not make money from zero :)

This Is Not What I Wanted And I Cannot Read Chinese

 What I ordered:

What I received:

Puppies For Sale - NO REALLY (not)

So, months ago I heard about a scam where people used Facebook to sell their puppies, but convinced buyers to send deposits and then blocked them without an address. 

I forgot. 

They were English Bulldogs. She was from a town not half an hour away, and I just knew I wanted one. I couldn't afford one, but it was late, I was tired, and they were going "fast". Fortunately, my Cash App caught it and stopped the transfer for my security. The next morning, the woman (who knows, really, I think it was a guy -- and English was not his first language. I offered to bring all the cash to the house with me: "We can be there in half an hour".  

"I will send the address when you send the deposit again (different name)."

So it went on, I told them what I thought, they insisted they were not tricking me. I asked for a picture of the woman in the profile photo holding one of the puppies. Nothing. I asked for a video chat.  (Yes, fully knowing they were scammers - I played with the man(?) woman (?). 

"I'm not with them right now."

"Keep the pup. Not interested."

"I'm not making tricks. I am not tricking people out of their 'hardearned' money."

"Send me your address and I'll meet you at your house with money in hand."

"I need you to send money in cash app". 

"Karma is real, buddy. Best of luck to you. By the way, your English needs some work."

Blocked and reported. 

Two weeks later the same profile was selling "Yorkers".  Nice job, Facebook. 

I must give two thumbs up to Cash App, two thumbs down for FB security, and a slap on my own face for falling for it. 

I had even named him or her: This was "Stanley" or "Ruby". 

Don't send puppy deposits through any cash apps. Seriously. 👀