Cuba Issuing Bills Printed On One Side

Above, Cuban CUC currency no longer used. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Things must be pretty bad in Cuba when their banknotes are being dispensed from ATM machines printed only on one side.

Such is the case as reported by World Nation News.

They reported:

Many Cubans lamented on social networks that the island’s ATMs began dispensing bills printed on only one side, possibly due to a lack of ink.

Photos of the “new banknotes” circulate the network and although the regime has not ruled on the matter, a teacher said in a Facebook post by the influential Edmundo Dantes that at his school he paid with bills that had a It was white on the side.

“And then out of the blue the ATMs start giving you invisible money like the achievements of the revolution,” Dantes said in his post.

On his part, Félix Yasser Castillo Pelayo, showing a 100-peso bill with a blank side, conceded that the state “robs you even at the ATM”.

To read more, go here.

National Haywire Day?

Above, Historic Route 66 is bare of cars at a time when there are many of them normally. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Today is proceeding on a strange note.

I had to go into Gallup this morning to the UPS Store to print a couple of tax documents. Things went fine there. Afterwards, I went a gas station and filled the Mustang's gas tank. That went fine also (gas was $1.929/gallon).

I first noticed something when I went to a convenience store and the cashier's chip reader wouldn't read the chip on my debit card. So, they had to press a few buttons and swipe the strip on my card and that worked.

Then, I had to scan and send 2 documents to my tax man in California. The scanner worked fine a week ago. Suddenly, it stopped working. I tried all kinds of different things per the program's instructions, but none of them worked. I will bring in the computer to the computer repairer when I pick up my other computer from his shop to see what's going on.

Above, Interstate 40 in the distance with few cars in Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

I photographed the documents and emailed them to my tax guy and mailed a hard copy of each. So that matter was taken care of.

Then, I went to the Flying J to mail the hard copies and to get a book of stamps. They are $11.00 a book of stamps and I only had $8.00 on me (they don't take debit cards). So, I went to one of the two ATMs there and it started to act up and the card reader wouldn't release my card. I called the phone number on the machine and they instructed me to get an employee to unplug and plug in the machine to get my card released. An employee came, did what the ATM company said and my card was released.

I tried the second ATM at the Flying J and the same thing happened. I unplugged it myself and got my card.

The post office clerk and I had a chat and she said people are really getting edgy and today seemed weird. I told her what happened to me with the 2 ATMs. We wondered if a nuclear detonation took place causing a nuclear pulse that affected electronics.

I then decided to get the hell out of there and head on home before something else goes haywire. 

Movie Posters At G-FEST XXVI

Above, the one-sheet for the U.S. release of Godzilla vs. The
Smog Monster (Godzilla vs. Hedorah). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Along with anything kaiju (toys, etc.), the G-FEST XXVI Dealers Room had movie memorabilia such as lobby cards, one-sheets and half-sheets posters.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, since I saved some cash), the only ATM in the Crowne Plaza was out of cash by Friday night and, so I heard, ATMs in surrounding hotels and businesses were also out of cash. Some dealers were able to make transactions with Visa and MasterCard.

Had the ATM in the hotel had cash in it, I would be very tempted in getting some of these.

Above, a vintage one-sheet poster for House of Dark Shadows (1970). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, this poster was bought not long after I posted a picture of it on Facebook. It starred
Robert Shayne (Inspector Henderson of the Adventures of Superman). Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Above, I thought this one-sheet poster was interesting as the robot looked a lot
 like "Mr. McTavish" in the Adventures of Superman episode, "The Gentle
Monster" in 1957 with some modifications. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Back To Normal

Above, all's normal in Jamestown and Gallup. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since the Internet was down in the region yesterday (I heard from a neighbor that someone cut the lines near Farmington, New Mexico), I have to go back into Gallup today to pick up some groceries at the market. Thank goodness I had enough food for dinner last night and gasoline to get back home.

The outage affected all ATMs and businesses' ability to process credit and debit cards, so they were only able to take only cash for purchases. I joked with the market clerk that I only have $2.00 on me and I'd be willing to pay for everything with that. He didn't go for it.

I wonder how many people who were low on gasoline had to sit and wait it out for their cards to work at the gasoline pumps again if they had no cash on them.

I did attempt to find out what happened. I called AT & T to see if they knew what caused the outage, but they had no information on it.

Everything seems normal now since the Internet went back up last night at around 8:00. It is amazing how everything grinds to a halt when cables are cut.

Just Desserts

This video reminds me of somebody, although no wedding was involved or anything like the situation described in the video. It is just about these kinds of people, who use others as an ATM and then, at the same time, treat them disrespectfully, that rings a bell.

April 9 Blog Post Pick-ups

The good folks at The Japan Daily has picked up several blog posts from yesterday for sharing with their readers.

They include:

To read The Japan Daily, go here.

Using ATM and Credit Cards Around Japan

Above, Gamera souvenirs for sale at a movie premiere. While ATM and credit cards are
used more frequently, Japan is still primarily a "cash-only" nation. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

When I first visited Japan in 2001, it was generally a "cash-only" country whose businesses did not accept credit cards (with very few exceptions) and very few ATM machines accepted foreign debit cards (and those were mostly found in Japanese post offices).

14 years later, it is somewhat the same, but usage of credit cards is becoming more frequent and more ATM machines are accepting foreign debit cards. After seven visits to Japan, I have used my debit card once and that was at Narita International Airport to make a purchase in a duty-free shop after I had already exchanged my yen for dollars last year.

Japan Info has posted an article outlining the usage of ATM and credit cards around Japan. If one is planning a trip to Japan, they should read this article and plan accordingly.

They begin with:

Japan sure is one of the best countries to visit in the entire world. It seems that Japan’s entire archipelago is filled with a tourist attraction one must visit. It has beautiful sceneries, colorful landscapes and rich architecture that draw tourists from different places. For that reason, if you want to visit Japan you must at least know an inkling about using your ATM and Credit cards around Japan.

 To read the full article, go here.

Fraud Alert!

Folks, there's a lot of crooks out there just trying to make a fast buck off of you. Two instances of fraud came to my attention yesterday.

First, I found that someone got a hold of my ATM card number and charged $95 on it. Luckily, I have it set up with my bank to send me notices on activities on my accounts.

It was a charge at some gas station somewhere in San Fernando. Well, I haven't been in San Fernando for at least six months. The last time I was anywhere in the vicinity was to pick up the Adventures of Superman plaque, and I didn't even buy gasoline at the time while there.

I notified the bank of this bogus charge and they will be taking immediate action on it including "killing" the ATM card so they can't use that anymore.

The second involves someone trying phish my PayPal account by sending an email asking me to "update" my bank accounts that are set up at PayPal. This happened before (a few months ago) and I sent PayPal a notice to their fraud investigation unit. They confirmed that it was a phishing attempt.

The crooks try to trick you by sending official-looking emails to get you to reveal your password or other personal information. They also use fake websites.

I again notified PayPal and they confirmed that it was a phishing attempt and they will take immediate action. My PayPal account has not been compromised in any way.

If you receive notice that someone's trying to rip off your bank accounts and/or trying to phish you, you should protect yourself immediately by notifying the bank and the anti-fraud departments. In doing so, you may help prevent future crimes against someone else by these good-for-nothing weasels and get their asses thrown in prison.

Check Your Bank or Credit Card International Fees

Above, a ATM booth in Niigata. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Whether you're traveling to Japan or any other international destination and plan to use your credit or bank card, beware! There may be hidden costs that you don't know about.

Travelers Today posted an article that would be helpful if you plan on using a card.

They begin with:

The worst thing is coming back from a perfect trip to find that it costs more than you thought. Bank and credit cards may cost you more if you are traveling abroad and do not understand the fees associated with withdrawing money or buying goods. Here are some general tips to help you save some money while you are enjoying your vacation.

Read more: http://www.travelerstoday.com/articles/13895/20141110/secret-travel-costs.htm#ixzz3If5nWfn3

Latest Japan Daily Pick-ups

The Japan Daily picked up several of yesterday's blog posts to share with their readers.

They include:

To read The Japan Daily, go here.

Foreign Credit Card-Friendly ATMs Coming To Japan?

Above, an ATM booth at Niigata Station. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is relatively a cash-only country as far as foreign tourists are concerned. Very few businesses or banks accept ATM cards or credit cards. 

The Japanese government would like to change all that ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

The Japan Times reported:

Under the campaign to help tourists ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, the government plans to step up pressure on banks and convenience stores to update their ATMs so it’s easier to withdraw cash with a foreign credit card. 

In response to complaints from foreign travelers about the lack of ATMs that will accept foreign-issued cards, the Japan Tourism Agency has called on major banks to take action as part of the government’s effort to increase the number foreign travelers here to 20 million over the next six years.

 Generally, one has to go to a Japanese post office to use an ATM that will accept foreign credit cards.

To read more, go here.

Windows XP Phaseout Puts 13 Million PCs At Risk In Japan, Says Experts

Above, a Japanese ATM kiosk. Most of the world's ATMs will be
vulnerable to attack due to the phaseout. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Did you know that Microsoft is going to stop supporting Windows XP operating systems in April?  Yes, it's true, and many (and I mean MANY) personal and business computers around the world will be vulnerable to attacks and viruses.

Japan's personal and business computers that are operating on Windows XP will be likewise vulnerable.

According to The Japan Times:

More than 13 million personal computers in Japan will be exposed to higher risk of virus and other attacks starting in mid-April, experts warn. 

These computers are still running the Windows XP operating system, which Microsoft Corp. will stop supporting entirely on April 9. 

An estimated 7.23 million Windows XP-based PCs are still in use by companies, accounting for 20 percent of all PCs in Japan. Migration to newer operating systems, such as Windows 8.1, has been slow, especially at small and midsize firms, because managers are either unaware of the problem or want to avoid the cost of updating.

Windows XP was introduced in 2001 (hard to believe it has been that long, since my now-discarded Acer laptop was bought in 2007).

Thank goodness my main computers are based on Windows 7 (which is a better operating system than Windows 8) and oldest computer is on a Windows 98 system that is no longer a target to attacks and viruses (I just use it for word processing anyway).

To read the full story, go here.

Japanese Megabanks Working To Allow Cash Withdrawals Via Foreign-issued Credit Cards

Above, a Japanese ATM sign featuring Astro Boy in Niigata.  Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Japan is generally a cash-only country with virtually no usage of personal checks and limited use of credit cards. Very few ATMs will accept American debit or credit cards, so visitors have to bring plenty of cash to spend on their visits.

In an effort to be more visitor-friendly, three major Japanese banks are working to accept foreign credit cards in their ATM machines.

According to the Mainichi Shimbun:

TOKYO (Kyodo) -- Japan's three megabanks are working to allow foreign tourists visiting the country to withdraw cash at ATMs using their credit cards issued overseas, bank officials said Wednesday. 

The move by Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp., the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ Ltd., and Mizuho Bank Ltd. is part of efforts to improve convenience for tourists visiting Japan ahead of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. 

Sumitomo Mitsui will start enabling holders of foreign credit cards to withdraw cash and make a balance inquiry at its ATMs as early as fiscal 2015 after replacing credit card reader devices and modifying software programs, officials said.

To read the full story, go here.

Theft Prevented!

A tip of the hat to my bank!

Their anti-fraud system prevented $500 from being stolen from my account. It appears that someone hacked into my account through my ATM card info. Fortunately, their system caught it and prevented the theft.

I had to get a new ATM card, but that's just a small price to pay.