HIGHWAY 109
>

>
> > > > > > >A drunk man in an Oldsmobile
> > > > > > >They said had run the light
> > > > > > >That caused the six-car pileup
> > > > > > >On 109 that night.
>
>
> > > > > > >When broken bodies lay about
> > > > > > >And blood was everywhere,
> > > > > > >The sirens screamed out elegies,
> > > > > > >For death was in the air.
>

> > > > > > >A mother, trapped inside her car,
> > > > > > >Was heard above the noise;
> > > > > > >Her plaintive plea near split the air:
> > > > > > >"Oh, God, please spare my boys!"
>

> > > > > > >She fought to loose her pinned hands;
> > > > > > >She struggled to get free,
> > > > > > >But mangled metal held her fast
> > > > > > >In grim captivity.
>

> > > > > > >Her frightened eyes then focused
> > > > > > >On where the back seat once had been,
> > > > > > >But all she saw was broken glass and
> > > > > > >Two children's seats crushed in.
>

> > > > > > >Her twins were nowhere to be seen;
> > > > > > >She did not hear them cry,
> > > > > > >And then she prayed they'd been thrown free,
> > > > > > >"Oh, God, don't let them die!"
>

> > > > > > >Then firemen came and cut her loose,
> > > > > > >But when they searched the back,
> > > > > > >They found therein no little boys,
> > > > > > >But the seat belts were intact.
>

> > > > > > >They thought the woman had gone mad
> > > > > > >And was traveling alone,
> > > > > > >But when they turned to question her,
> > > > > > >They discovered she was gone.
>

> > > > > > >Policemen saw her running wild
> > > > > > >And screaming above the noise
> > > > > > >In beseeching supplication,
> > > > > > >"Please help me find my boys!
>

> > > > > > >They're four years old and wear blue shirts;
> > > > > > >Their jeans are blue to match."
> > > > > > >One cop spoke up, "They're in my car,
> > > > > > >And they don't have a scratch.
>

> > > > > > >They said their daddy put them there
> > > > > > >And gave them each a cone,
> > > > > > >Then told them both to wait for Mom
> > > > > > >To come and take them home.
>

> > > > > > >I've searched the area high and low,
> > > > > > >But I can't find their dad.
> > > > > > >He must have fled the scene,
> > > > > > >I guess, and that is very bad."
>

> > > > > > >The mother hugged the twins and said,
> > > > > > >While wiping at a tear,
> > > > > > >"He could not flee the scene, you see,
> > > > > > >For he's been dead a year."
>

> > > > > > >The cop just looked confused and asked,
> > > > > > >"Now, how can that be true?"
> > > > > > >The boys said, "Mommy, Daddy came
> > > > > > >And left a kiss for you.
>

> > > > > > >He told us not to worry
> > > > > > >And that you would be all right,
> > > > > > >And then he put us in this car with
> > > > > > >The pretty, flashing light.
>

> > > > > > >We wanted him to stay with us,
> > > > > > >Because we miss him so,
> > > > > > >But Mommy, he just hugged us tight
> > > > > > >And said he had to go.
>

> > > > > > >He said someday we'd understand
> > > > > > >And told us not to fuss,
> > > > > > >And he said to tell you, Mommy,
> > > > > > >He's watching over us."
>

> > > > > > >The mother knew without a doubt
> > > > > > >That what they spoke was true,
> > > > > > >For she recalled their dad's last words,
> > > > > > >"I will watch over you."
>

> > > > > > >The firemen's notes could not explain
> > > > > > >The twisted, mangled car,
> > > > > > >And how the three of them escaped
> > > > > > >Without a single scar.
>

> > > > > > >But on the cop's report was scribed,
> > > > > > >In print so very fine,
> > > > > > >An angel walked the beat tonight
> > > > > > >On Highway 109.
>

DON'T EVER DIAL AREA CODE 809



MAJOR SCAM:

Don't respond to Emails, phone calls, or web pages which tell you to call  an "809" area Phone  Number.

This is a very important issue of Scam  Busters because it alerts you to a scam that is spreading  *extremely* quickly, can easily cost you $2400 or more, and is difficult to avoid unless you are aware of it.

We'd  like to thank Verizon for bringing this scam to our attention.

This scam has also been identified by the National Fraud Information Center and is costing victims a lots of money.

There are lots of different permutations of this scam.

HERE'S HOW IT WORKS:

You will receive a message on your answering machine or your pager, which asks you to call a number beginning with area code 809. The reason you're asked to call varies.   It can be to receive information about a family member who has been ill, to tell you someone has-been arrested, died, to let you know you have won a wonderful prize, etc.   In each case, you are told to call the 809 number right away.   Since there are so many new area codes these days, people unknowingly return these calls.

If you call from the US, you will apparently be charged $2425 per-minute.
Or, you'll get a long recorded message.  The point is, they will try to keep you on the phone as long as possible to increase the charges. Unfortunately, when you get your phone bill, you'll often be charged more than $24,100.00.

WHY IT WORKS:
The 809 area code is located in the British Virgin Islands (The Bahamas).
The 809 area code can be used as a "pay-per-call" number, similar to 900 numbers in the US.   Since 809 is not in the US, it is not covered by U.S. regulations of 900 numbers, which require that you be notified and warned of  charges and rates involved when you call a pay-per-call" number.

There is also no requirement that the company provide a time period during which you may terminate the call without being charged. Further, whereas many U.S. homes that have 900 number blocking to avoid these kinds of charges, do not work in preventing calls to the 809 area code.

We recommend that no matter how you get the message, if you are asked to call a number with an 809 area code that you don't recognize, just disregard the message.

Be wary of e-mail, or calls, asking you to call an 809 area code number.  It's important to prevent  becoming a victim of this scam, since trying to fight the charges afterwards can become a real nightmare. That's because you did actually make the call.   If you complain, both your local phone company and your long distance carrier will not want to get involved and will most likely tell you that they are simply providing the billing for the foreign company. You'll end  up dealing with a foreign company that argues they have done nothing wrong.

Master and Commander is great. If you like 200 year old ships and the men who braved them, and if you like the scenery from the Galapagos Islands, this film is a must see.  You have to listen carefully to hear the old British humor.

Here is mid November from our new front door with a view of my favorite museum: the center building.

Here is our friend and attorney Peter with his nephew Tommy

giving us an important present for near our front door. 

It is a granite stagecoach stepping stone.

If guests arrive by coach to visit us, they can step onto our stone first.

Or if they arrive by my Expedition, they no longer need a ladder to get out.  

Thank you again Peter and Eileen.

Mary and I hope you enjoy the 6 foot long rock we gave you in return for your rock garden.

It is from Ted and Ursula's driveway in 1988, the namesake subdivision project of our Development Corp.

While the gigantic Link Belt excavator was removing it, a branch in its bucket hit my head.

I saw my blood dripping on the ground and fell unconscious.

In the hospital with my fractured skull, the doctor told me the swelling was my brain coming through.

I still have that scar, and now Peter has my memento, while we have the wonderful stagecoach stone.

Here it is in place:

Pete