According to the email I received, this is the "BEST TRUE LAWYER STORY OF THE YEAR, DECADE, AND POSSIBLY THE CENTURY" - some claim indeed!
Here goes...
This took place in Charlotte, North Carolina. A lawyer purchased a box of very rare and expensive cigars, then insured them against, among other things, fire.
Within a month, having smoked his entire stockpile of these great cigars, the lawyer filed a claim against the insurance company.
In his claim, the lawyer stated the cigars were lost 'in a series of small fires.'
The insurance company refused to pay, citing the obvious reason, that the man had consumed the cigars in the normal fashion. The lawyer sued - and WON!
Delivering the ruling, the judge agreed with the insurance company that the claim was frivolous. The judge stated nevertheless, that the lawyer held a policy from the company, in which it had warranted that the cigars were insurable and also guaranteed that it would insure them against fire, without defining what is considered to be unacceptable 'fire' and was obligated to pay the claim.
Rather than endure lengthy and costly appeal process, the insurance company accepted the ruling and paid $15,000 to the lawyer for his loss of the cigars that perished in the 'fires'.
AND NOW FOR THE BEST PART...
After the lawyer cashed the cheque, the insurance company had him arrested on 24 counts of ARSON!!! With his own insurance claim and testimony from the previous case being used against him, the lawyer was convicted of intentionally burning his insured property and was sentenced to 24 months in jail and a $24,000 fine.
ONLY IN AMERICA...!
Saturday, 26 February 2011
BA bites
Here's an interesting tale about when an airline really bugged one of its customers!
Click here for the story.
Click here for the story.
Monday, 21 February 2011
Funny sign
Here's a funny sign I spotted in a shop in East Grinstead on Saturday. Does anyone want to buy a massive girl?
Council Tax scam - beware!
DON’T FALL VICTIM TO THE COUNCIL TAX SCAMS
With the end of the paid council tax year coming up fraudsters are targeting the public with various scams relating to council tax refunds.
One local council in Stafford has received reports from residents being phoned by scammers purporting to be from the council, requesting their bank details to refund overpaid council tax. Reports of fraudsters operating a similar scam have been received across the UK. All UK residents should be vigilant about this type of scam.
Other scammers say they are from the Valuation Office Agency, or council officials, who tell them they are eligible for thousands of pounds in a council tax rebate or eligible to have their banding reviewed. In these cases, most victims are asked to provide their credit card or bank account details so the money can be refunded. There have been instances where the caller has asked for a one-off administration fee so the refund can be processed.
Councils do offer refunds on genuine council tax payments. These refunds are given free of charge – you should never be asked to pay a fee to receive a refund and councils would not call and ask someone to give out their bank details over the phone.
If such calls are received then speak to your local council. Councils will be liaising with the police and trading standards regarding any similar incidents. Anyone who thinks they might be eligible for a refund should contact their local council directly on a verified phone number.
If you have lost money to any type of fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
With the end of the paid council tax year coming up fraudsters are targeting the public with various scams relating to council tax refunds.
One local council in Stafford has received reports from residents being phoned by scammers purporting to be from the council, requesting their bank details to refund overpaid council tax. Reports of fraudsters operating a similar scam have been received across the UK. All UK residents should be vigilant about this type of scam.
Other scammers say they are from the Valuation Office Agency, or council officials, who tell them they are eligible for thousands of pounds in a council tax rebate or eligible to have their banding reviewed. In these cases, most victims are asked to provide their credit card or bank account details so the money can be refunded. There have been instances where the caller has asked for a one-off administration fee so the refund can be processed.
Councils do offer refunds on genuine council tax payments. These refunds are given free of charge – you should never be asked to pay a fee to receive a refund and councils would not call and ask someone to give out their bank details over the phone.
If such calls are received then speak to your local council. Councils will be liaising with the police and trading standards regarding any similar incidents. Anyone who thinks they might be eligible for a refund should contact their local council directly on a verified phone number.
If you have lost money to any type of fraud, call Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040.
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Romeo, romeo... wherefore art thou?
Delighted to have the Alfa back again after being repaired following the "sneeze" incident. I will be more careful in the future!
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
Church ladies with typewriters
Those wonderful Church Bulletins! Thank God for church ladies with typewriters. These sentences (with all the BLOOPERS) actually appeared in church bulletins or were announced in church services:
> The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
> The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
> Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
> Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
> Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
> Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
> For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
> Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
> Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
> A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
> At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
> Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
> Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
> Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
> The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
> Potluck supper Sunday at 5pm - prayer and medication to follow.
> The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
> This evening at 7pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
> Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10am. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
> The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
> Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door.
> The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
> Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
> The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours'.
> The Fasting & Prayer Conference includes meals.
> The sermon this morning: 'Jesus Walks on the Water.' The sermon tonight: 'Searching for Jesus.'
> Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Bring your husbands.
> Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say 'Hell' to someone who doesn't care much about you.
> Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help.
> Miss Charlene Mason sang 'I will not pass this way again,' giving obvious pleasure to the congregation.
> For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs.
> Next Thursday there will be tryouts for the choir. They need all the help they can get.
> Irving Benson and Jessie Carter were married on October 24 in the church. So ends a friendship that began in their school days.
> A bean supper will be held on Tuesday evening in the church hall. Music will follow.
> At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be 'What Is Hell?' Come early and listen to our choir practice.
> Eight new choir robes are currently needed due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.
> Scouts are saving aluminium cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children.
> Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered.
> The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility.
> Potluck supper Sunday at 5pm - prayer and medication to follow.
> The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon.
> This evening at 7pm there will be a hymn singing in the park across from the Church. Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin.
> Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10am. All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the B.S. is done.
> The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the Congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday.
> Low Self Esteem Support Group will meet Thursday at 7pm. Please use the back door.
> The eighth-graders will be presenting Shakespeare's Hamlet in the Church basement Friday at 7pm. The congregation is invited to attend this tragedy.
> Weight Watchers will meet at 7pm at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance.
> The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new campaign slogan last Sunday: 'I Upped My Pledge - Up Yours'.
Sunday, 6 February 2011
Al Pacino's brother
This is one way of messing up the spelling of cappuccino. Spotted by my mate Raj.
Friday, 4 February 2011
Security alert
At Heathrow Airport today, an individual, later discovered to be a public school teacher, was arrested trying to board a flight while in possession of a compass, a protractor, and a graphical calculator. Authorities believe he is a member of the notorious Al-Gebra movement... he is being charged with carrying weapons of maths instruction.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Misty bridge
This is a photo taken by me down at South Queensferry last Sunday, which turned out to be a cold and misty day.
First the floods... now a cyclone
This looks really scary! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that the effects won't be as bad as predicted. Good luck to my Aussie rellies.
Info taken from the BBC News website:
"Fierce winds and driving rains brought by the most powerful storm ever to hit Queensland are lashing northern coastal areas of the Australian state. With winds reaching up to 290km/h (181mph), Cyclone Yasi is ripping roofs off buildings and has cut power to at least 100,000 people. The storm struck south of Cairns and is moving inland, with forecasters warning of severe damage and likely deaths. Queensland's premier has warned of devastation on an unprecedented scale."
Waiter, waiter... there's a hare on my plate
I had a fantastic lunch today at the superb Castle Terrace Restaurant in Edinburgh. It was an opportunity to treat my mum, who's up visiting for a week. It was my birthday lunch that was postponed from December due to the bad weather, and it was definitely worth the wait. And the "hare on my plate"...? Well, it was the 6th of the 7 courses in the Chef's Land and Sea Surprise Tasting Menu - the hare had been cooked for 30 hours "a la royale", and was a real melt-in-the-mouth treat.
Check out their website at: www.castleterracerestaurant.com
"Castle Terrace presents modern British cuisine influenced by learned French cooking techniques and an appreciation of the best ingredients available from Scotland’s outstanding natural larder. The well-balanced and exciting menus reflect Dominic’s many years of training in some of Europe’s top Michelin star kitchens - such as l’Arpège, restaurant Les Elysées and Taillevent in Paris, where he spent many years working as sous chef for Michelin 3-star chef Alain Solivérès. Castle Terrace is a true representation of the finest and freshest seasonal Scottish ingredients and offers elegant and wonderfully balanced dishes, all prepared with a delicate flair and passion.
The restaurant’s philosophy - From Nature to Plate - is exactly the same as its sister restaurant The Kitchin. Dominic Jack and fellow chef proprietor of The Kitchin, Tom Kitchin, met as young chefs in Gleneagles and have since taken similar career paths, influencing and encouraging one another over the years.
Castle Terrace Restaurant is fresh, modern, stylish and bright. The atmosphere and approach are both welcoming and relaxed. Simple and uncluttered with beautiful detail, neutral tones are blended with bright flashes of warm colour."
Tuesday, 1 February 2011
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