Something's Not Right Here

Signing a Credit Card

I was speaking to one of the less-than-smart members of humanity once about the importance of signing the back of a credit card. In theory, the signature on the back of your card should match the signature on the receipt. This way, people "can't" steal your card unless they can also forge your signature. But in reality, pretty much no one checks the back of the card. Plus, a lot of people don't bother so sign it (and who really cares anyway?).

I like to write SEE ID very noticably on the card. That way, the 1 in 50 cashiers who look at the back of the card will actually ask for my ID. If the card was stolen, the theif will no doubt say "I forgot my ID" and the cashier will process the transaction anyway. But nonetheless, I do make it a point to write SEE ID on the card.

When this logic was presented to the moron I mentioned in the first sentence up there, Captain Stupid responded with, "Oh, I just don't sign it. When they see there's no signature, they will ask for my ID."

Deep breath.

IF I WERE TO STEAL YOUR CARD THE FIRST THING I'M DOING IS SIGNING IT! If you don't sign your card, then whatever, but if you purposefully don't sign it because you think it makes it theft-proof, then you should just live on an island somewhere and don't bother anybody. You're obviously too stupid to function.

While we're on the subject, why do self checkouts at grocery stores force you to sign on that tablet thingy? It doesn't matter what you write. God has been buying my groceries for years now.

Pennies

Pennies cost more than 1¢ each to produce since zinc prices have been rising. There are several groups out there trying to do away with the penny.

When the penny was introduced in 1793, it was worth what is now 22¢. From 1793-1857, there was also a half-cent piece. It was worth what is now 10¢ when it was discontinued. (Equivalency to today's money calculated on this site.)

So basically back in the late 1700s, the smallest coin you had was essentially a dime. Frankly I wouldn't mind not having pennies anymore, or at least seeing them much less. But then what would I throw at people when they snore through movies? Nickels would indeed hurt more.

From a retail standpoint, perhaps discontinuing the penny will also boost the usage of dollar coins, since most cash registers in the US are already designed for 4 types of coins. Then we can bring back to $2 bill with the space once populated by $1 bills! Then it will finally be the future!

...Oh yeah and nickels also cost more than their face value to make. Just thought I'd throw that in there.

The Maine Penny

The Maine Penny is a Norwegian Silver Penny dating from between 1065-1080 CE. It was found in 1957 in the remains of an old Indian settlement at Naskeag Point, Brooklin, Maine. As it was the only Norse artifact found at the site, it is unlikely Vikings brought it there themselves. More likely, it was worn as a pendant (some accounts state there was a perforation in the penny) or it was traded from a Viking settlement in Newfoundland and eventually made its way south. An Eskimo tool was also found at the site and could have also arrived via trade.