The new Omni VII ham radio transceiver is on order. Should arrive Friday (tomorrow). I am excited to have a new toy but still sad that the VI has passed to the land of memories. I have snapped to my senses though and realize it is and was just a box of electronics.
There was a problem of sorts in placing the order. My credit card company put a lock on my card when they saw the charge trying to be placed by Ten-Tec. OK so I guess someone could have stolen my number and was yeah, trying to buy a ham radio. Actually I am pleased they were watching out for my interests but in reality watching out for their own. A little annoying for the extra delay but good business.
However, the third degree I received trying and finally proving who I was to the credit card company was something else. Wow! For about ten minutes I was asked questions from 20 years into my past. I had no idea how much they know about me. It is a bit frightening. I know I never put that information into any form I have filled out. Even at the end I was still being asked questions, just to be sure.
If I have to do this for every large purchase, I will stop using credit cards. Maybe live in a cave in the mountains of Utah or an adobe in the deserts of New Mexico. Nah! too old and too soft.
I thought our lives are pretty much an open book with today’s linked communications and computers. This is the first time I have had it proven to me. It is information than can be used two ways, for me and against me. There is no freedom of anonymity. What have we created?