Thursday, Aug. 14, 2003 | 8:21 a.m.
The offer is intriguing, but there's a catch.
My e-mail contained the message: "Ruthe Deskin. Why not enhance your manhood?"
I debated an answer referring to my age as a deterrent, and, of course, I am not a man.
There was a time, a few years back, when a well-known Northern Nevada bordello sent special privilege cards to potential customers.
I must have been considered a prospect. My card came in the mail. It was made out to Mr. R. Deskin. Several other ladies in the media received the card with their first initial preceded by "Mr."
That was long ago -- long before e-mail users were subjected to such a vast and unwanted selection of sexually motivated material. The cards were greeted with outrageous laughter and a few ribald comments.
All of which, in a circuitous way, brings me to the subject of today's column -- the junk known as spam that floods our computers.
The federal government appears to have found a way to halt telemarketing in its tracks. Perhaps e-mail porn should be the next goal. At this point it appears such an undertaking would be monumental.
Hopefully there are computer wizards out there who can solve this problem before we all pick up our computers and toss them out the nearest window.
While they are at it, Big Brother, who looks after our welfare, should start an investigation of billing practices in the medical business community.
If you believe your medical bills are being properly processed and duly submitted by suppliers, dream on.
For years I have been the recipient of correspondence titled "this is not a bill," "claimant's responsibility," "explanation of benefits," etc. If it looked like something I should pay, then I did. The problem is, nobody bills you until years later.
I just received notice from a local collection agency that I owed $5,000 on a delinquent bill. I called the agency and was told it was for something 2 1/2 years ago, but they weren't sure just what it was.
They did think it was for unauthorized services.
Now, my question is, how do we mathematically disadvantaged know what is and isn't "authorized"? The advice is to read your insurance program -- as if I can understand all the gobbledygook contained therein.
As one who takes pride in an A-1 credit rating, all of this is very stressful for me. And the doctors tell you to avoid stress.
Other seniors or individuals in need of specialized care must have had similar experiences.
Heaven help the average citizen who gets involved in the medical merry-go-round.
A bright bit from Sunrise magazine advises: The average human eats 16 times his weight in an average year, while a horse eats only eight times its weight. This all seems to prove that to lose weight you should eat like a horse.
Does it really seem like there are more commercials being piled one on top of the other on current TV? I think so.
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