Random thoughts

[cassiesmom]

PT friends in the U.S., I received a phone call from this scam. It was just as this press release described it. I was stupid enough to call back to the toll-free number on my caller ID. It was a very scary phone call because of the information the caller claimed to have about me and the formality of the language she quoted. I was a little suspicious when she said she was from the "Internal Revenue Services" and also when she demanded immediate payment under threat of arrest. The village police were just here and told me they would have been notified in advance if a federal agent had a valid reason to arrest me. They referred me to the IRS Web site, which in turn referred me to the Inspector General's Web site. So please be careful if you get such a call. If you have both a land line and a cell phone, please use the other one to call the police while you keep the scammer on the line.

Thank you,
Elyse

http://www.treasury.gov/tigta/press/...ta-2014-03.htm

Edited to add, I don't always agree with all of the ways the government uses my tax money, but I think this Web site and information is a good one. The village police officers told me that another person was asked for way more money than I was, and did pay it to the scammer.

[cassiesmom]

I was talking to a co-worker. I was about to go get some lunch from the cafeteria. Asked if she was going that way, we could walk together. She said no, she is fasting because it's Ramadan. I asked if I could bring her something to drink, which she declined. There are apparently a few more days left in the observance because she said she would be back to eating with our little group again next week.

Here are my questions- am I allowed to wish her a happy Ramadan? What kind of a holiday is it? Should I wish her an easy fast? She told me that her family eats a light meal after sunset. I'm not trying to be nosy or intrusive, just to get along better with someone who has a different faith tradition. Plus she has helped me on several occasions, for which I'm really grateful. Maybe I shouldn't even mention it further, just stick to conversation topics like the weather, fun summer activities, that sort of thing.

Thank you so much,
Elyse