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Ryn Gargulinski

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snappy or crappy

Open letter to thief who stole my debit card number and robbed $700

Dear Thief,

Perhaps one day I'll have the pleasure of meeting the thief, and having his undivided attention/Thinkstock

First allow me to commend you on your craftiness.

Neither myself nor the lady from my bank had any clue as to how you succeeded in sneaking my debit card number and charging some $700 worth of random goods.

You could have nabbed it anywhere – from the kitschy souvenir shops in Michigan to the Best Buy in the heart of Tucson.

I knew I should not have answered all those personal questions just to get a Best Buy rewards card.

Or maybe you have a pal who doubles as an unscrupulous retail employee, stealing away debit and credit card numbers to share with his friends. Perhaps you dig through Dumpsters or somehow hack into Internet accounts. The list of possibilities rambles onward.

Your timing, too, was excellent. You managed to pull off an entire day and a half worth of charges before anyone even noticed. You are both crafty and quick, a real role model for society.

Secondly, allow me to show some understanding. Although my initial reaction was disbelief and rage, coupled with the extreme urge to poke nails deep into your eye sockets, let’s assume you have good reason for doing what you did.

The $50 at Duane Reade in Bayside, N.Y., was surely for life-saving medication for your elderly mother. Your $23 for the Long Island Railroad’s Jamaica, N.Y., station must have been for train fare to get that medication to your mother.

Of course, you then needed the parking fees you racked up at the LIRR train depots.

Glad, too, to see you got yourself $160 worth of groceries from Waldbaum’s in Stonybrook, charges which just showed up this morning after the card was canceled. Another bank lady said you must have chosen credit and the charges gone through before the cancellation did.

And no one can argue with the $195 charge at Toys R Us in glorious Valley Stream.

After all, kids these days just can’t live without the latest Barbie Dream Townhouse or full line of Ninja Warrior Hamsters. Your ailing mom may have benefited with a new mah-jong set or a yo-yo or two.

I’m still not sure what the $188 was for, but I know those Toys R US toys are surely more important to your darling family than paying my bills or meeting my mortgage could ever be to me.

I’ve also been known to waste my hard-earned money on frivolous things, like food or gas.

Thirdly, I must offer my sympathy, as I noted several charges were made in Queens, New York.

The only experience I have with that particular New York City borough is either getting stuck in the snow near Shea Stadium or meeting a man who would go on to stalk me and threaten my life.

I have come to associate Queens with things that are less than pleasant.

With such stomping grounds, I cannot really blame you for turning to a life of crime.

I do hope your other illegal endeavors, as I’m sure you must have a few, are equally as successful as robbing from my bank account was. And I do hope to meet you in person one day, perhaps over a stolen cup of coffee. Or perhaps over a nice wooden table in court.

Sincerely,

Ripped off and Teed off in Tucson, Arizona

P.S. Yes, my bank said the money you stole may be reimbursed but it will take some time for the claim to go through. In the meantime, since you’ve pretty much drained my entire bank account, I’m stuck eating oatmeal. Have a nice day.

[tnipoll]


What do you think?

Has anyone ever stolen your debit or credit card number?

Did they charge anything worthwhile at least?

Do debit cards bring more problems than straight up cash?

Would anything make you forgive a thief?

Do you suppose these thieves are ever even caught?

Filed Under: blogski, crime, danger, gross stuff, life, police, fire, law, snappy or crappy, stupidity Tagged With: bank account crime, bill money, credit card fraud, credit debit cards, crime, criminal employees, danger, debit card crime, debit card fraud, debit card scams, debit card stolen, fraud, gross, identity theft, idiot criminals, idiot robbers, idiot thieves, idiots, money, mortgage money tucson, new york city crime, new york city idiots, new york city police department, new york city thief, new york thief, online fraud, queens new york, rent money tucson, retail scams, ryn gargulinski, rynski's blogski, stolen debit charge card, theif employees, tucson, tucson crime, twisted

Odd Pueblo: Snappy or crappy: Wife beater tank tops as street wear

This fun Odd Pueblo feature asks the audience to rate a trend, topic or sighting of something around town: is it snappy or crappy?

The last snappy or crappy, political caricatures and figurines – with a Hillary Clinton nutcracker doll as an example – racked up a majority of snappy votes at 54 percent. A mere 10 percent voted crappy, 21 percent gave a snap/crap vote and 12 percent were too busy trying to crack open a walnut to decide.

Rather than a political statement, the latest snappy or crappy is a fashion statement: “wife beater” tank tops as street wear.

wifebeaterWB2
Wife beater tank as fashion statement/Ryn Gargulinski

These fine white tanks, which great-grandfathers wear as undershirts, have popped up more than once on the streets of Tucson – and beyond.

We love Old Pueblo for its laid-back vibe, but we’re wondering if great-grandpa underwear is the prettiest choice of outerwear for hopping about town.

Wife beater tank at a downtown Tucson bus stop/Ryn Gargulinski
Wife beater tank at a downtown Tucson bus stop/Ryn Gargulinski

This particular guy, who has been kept anonymous along with the rest of the folks in the photos, was spotted at a downtown bus stop. So it’s not like he’s just wearing the white tank for walking the dogs in the riverbed or watering his lawn.

Tucson fashion/Ryn Gargulinski
Tucson fashion/Ryn Gargulinski

These tanks also get a thumbs down for their nickname. The term “wife beater” never brings any positive connotations to mind.

Crappy, crappy, crappy.

[tnipoll]

logo

Would you wear a wife beater tank top in public?

Would you wear one in private?

Filed Under: blogski, gross stuff, life, odd pueblo, snappy or crappy Tagged With: gross, kooky, laid back fashion, ryn gargulinski, sloppy tucson, snappy or crappy, tacky fashion, tacky tucson, tucson, tucson fashion, tucson lack of fashion, twisted, wife beater tank tops, wife beaters, wife beaters tucson

Odd Pueblo: Snappy or crappy?

This fun Odd Pueblo feature asks the audience to rate a trend, topic or sighting of something around town: is it snappy or crappy?

The last snappy or crappy, giant, concrete balls, rolled in a full 50 percent of crappy votes for being silly and annoying. Twenty-nine percent gave them a snappy, 16 percent said snap/crap and a mere 2 percent said they were too busy getting their car out of a ditch after being distracted by the balls to decide.

The latest snappy or crappy happens to carry a similar theme as the giant balls – a Hillary Clinton nutcracker doll.

Hillary Clinton nutcracker doll/AZMouse photo
Hillary Clinton nutcracker doll/AZMouse photo

Loyal reader AZMouse spotted this sweet doll at a Goodwill store in Vail, so it counts as being local. The price tag put the doll at $3.99, although we are sure it is worth much, much more.

Close up of Hillary Clinton nutcracker doll/AZMouse photo
Close up of Hillary Clinton nutcracker doll/AZMouse photo

The Hillary Clinton nutcracker doll – and other political caricatures and figurines – are just one more way for Americans to mock authority. Such depictions of our political leaders are demeaning, insulting and crass.

That definitely makes them snappy.

Don’t you just love freedom of speech?

Thanks for sending photo, AZMouse!

[tnipoll]

wb-logolil

Close up of Hillary doll label/AZMouse photo
Close up of Hillary doll label/AZMouse photo

What do you think?

What’s the most tasteless political mockery you’ve seen?

The funniest?

Would you want to be depicted as an action figurine? Please explain.

Filed Under: blogski, life, notable folks, heroes, odd pueblo, snappy or crappy, stupidity Tagged With: cool, danger, funky, hillary clinton, hillary clinton nutcracker doll, kooky, odd, odd pueblo, policital caricatures, political figurines, political mockery, politically correct, ryn gargulinski, rynski, rynski's blogski, sick, snappy or crappy, tucson, tucson art, tucson hillary clinton, twisted, wacky art, weird

Odd Pueblo: Snappy or crappy?

This fun Odd Pueblo feature asks the audience to rate a trend, topic or sighting of something around town: is it snappy or crappy?

The last snappy or crappy, fast food sign landscape, was dripping with greasy crappy votes. The majority of 50 percent gave it a crappy, while 13 percent voted snappy, 25 percent opted for the snap/crap option and 9 percent said they were too busy picking between extra large fries and onion rings to decide.

The latest snappy or crappy brings us another landmark, this one on East Fort Lowell Road: two big balls.

Cantera Carved Stone advertising ploy/Ryn Gargulinski
Cantera Carved Stone advertising ploy/Ryn Gargulinski

This pair of giant, concrete spheres sits outside Cantera Carved Stone, on Fort Lowell just east of North Alvernon Way.

Perhaps the marketing team read that advertising manual that said sex sells.

Overview of advertising ploy at Cantera Carved Stone/Ryn Gargulinski
Overview of advertising ploy at Cantera Carved Stone/Ryn Gargulinski

Sex is used to sell everything – from beer to horse racing, from coffee to cars, from vacuums to toilet paper. Yes, toilet paper.

And now it’s being used as a ploy to sell cold slabs of massive concrete.

Crappy.

Not only could such a ploy distract the already distracted Tucson drivers, but it didn’t seem to sell the spheres.

They are still there, after all.

What do you think?
Please vote snappy or crappy below.

[tnipoll]

wb-logolilWhat other clever or ridiculous advertising have you seen around town?

Will you be investing in concrete slabs anytime soon?

Please note: Ryn is out riding a train this morning for train safety story coming soon on Rynski’s Blogski. Will respond to any comments upon my return. Thanks!

Filed Under: blogski, environment, gross stuff, life, odd pueblo, snappy or crappy Tagged With: art, big balls, cantera carved stone tucson, danger, fort lowell big balls, fort lowell carved stone, funky, gross, kooky, rynski, rynski's blogski, sex advertising tucson, sex sells, sex sells tucson, snappy or crappy, tucson, tucson art, tucson drivers, tucson sex, twisted

Odd Pueblo: Snappy or crappy?

This fun Odd Pueblo feature asks the audience to rate a trend, topic or sighting of something around town: is it snappy or crappy?

The last snappy or crappy, a gussied up truck, crashed into crappy. Forty-one percent said the thing stank, while 33 percent gave it a snappy and 20 percent said it was both snappy and crappy. A mere 5 percent were too dizzy from the design to decide.

At least the truck was unique, unlike other landmarks popping up around Tucson – such as these dang In-N-Out Burger signs.

Tucson landscape/Ryn Gargulinski
Tucson landmark/Ryn Gargulinski

Fast food signs are sprouting like weeds all over town – and the nation – killing off any hope of having natural, beautiful or even regional landscape.

This particular sign is near Interstate 10 on Ajo Way, letting highway drivers see what’s in store if they take the Tucson off-ramp.

What a gorgeous sight to behold/Ryn Gargulinski
What a gorgeous sight to behold (please note sarcasm)/Ryn Gargulinski

Such signs are becoming the face of Tucson. Never mind giant metal cactus, painted overpasses or other visual delights that add to our town’s quirkiness. Never mind pristine. Not that this particular sign’s location on Ajo Way is especially pristine, but you know what I mean.

Every city in America is a study in yellow and red fast food franchises and their oversize signs. It’s enough to make us sick – even before we eat the greasy food. In-N-Out Burger is just one of the violators, but they do seem to erect some of the largest eyesores.

If you haven’t guessed, my vote is crappy on this one. Crappy on the colors, crappy on the size and crappy that Tucson is blending into America’s fate as one big, ugly strip mall.

What do you think?
Please vote snappy or crappy below.

[tnipoll]

wb-logolilDo you even eat fast food?

What’s your favorite? What’s your least favorite?

Why are Wendy’s hamburgers square?

Where have all the White Castles gone?

Did you ever get hives from Arby’s chicken sandwiches?

Filed Under: blogski, crime, danger, environment, gross stuff, life, odd pueblo, snappy or crappy Tagged With: america landscape, america strip mall, american landscape sucks, bad food america, bad food tucson, environment, fast food american way, fast food franchises, fast food landscape, gross, highways tucson, in and out burger, in-n-out burger tucson, rynski's blogski, snappy or crappy, tucson, tucson art, tucson burger joints, tucson disgusting, tucson fast food, tucson greasy food, tucson landscape ruined, tucson quirky, tucson strip mall, twisted, ugly signs america, ugly signs tucson, ugly tucson landscape

Odd Pueblo: Snappy or crappy?

This fun Odd Pueblo feature asks the audience to rate a trend, topic or sighting of something around town: is it snappy or crappy?

The last snappy or crappy, kids on leashes, was nearly tied, pun not intended. Thirty-nine percent said snappy while 33 percent said crappy. Twenty-two percent said snap/crap and 3 percent of the most doting parents said they weren’t sure and had to ask their kids.

Let’s rev into one of our favorite subjects: decorated autos.

Decked out auto/Photo Andrew Farley
Decked out auto/Photo submitted by Andrew Farley

This gussied up truck is decked out with bottle caps, wine corks and stickers, according to reader and Far-log creator Andrew Farley who sent in the photos.

Back of decked out auto/Photo Andrew Farley
Back of decked out auto/Photo Andrew Farley

When I asked if it were his truck, Farley was quick to respond, “Heck, no!”

Guess it’s getting a crappy vote on his end.

Snappy for sure on my end. I am a big fan of decorated autos, as evidenced by my own RynMobile and my snappy vote on other decked out vehicles we’ve featured.

We had the hippie happy VW bus and the funkified – and some said junkified – bugged out VW bug.

The gussied up truck even helps the environment by recycling wine corks and bottle caps. We’re sick of stepping on the bottle caps that litter the streets, so way to go, gussied up truck.

Besides, we really like the skull theme that’s peppered throughout the design and featured on both the hood and rear spare tire cover. The gussied up truck is a work of art for sure.

What do you think?
Please vote and leave comments below.

[tnipoll]

logoWhat do you think?

Is this the coolest decked out auto yet?

What vehicles have you seen that were cooler – or more heinous?

Would you drive this thing?

Filed Under: art blogski, blogski, life, odd pueblo, snappy or crappy Tagged With: art, bugged out vw bug, cool, decked out cars tucson, decorated autos tucson, funky, gross, hippie happy vw bus, kooky, rynski art, snappy or crappy, tucson, tucson art, tucson artist, tucson artists, tucson drivers, tucson fun cars, tucson funky, tucson junky, tucson painted cars, tucson vw bugs, twisted, wacky art, weird, whimsical

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