I signed up for Medicare.

They are always a robo call, and I always hang up as soon as I realize that.

Lately I've been getting calls trying to sell me tickets to the Policeman's Ball or some such. I hate unsolicited calls.

I got a call a few minutes ago with caller ID "Policemens" and the number ID 580-857-0163. The guy, Ray, asked how I was doing so I told him about my lousy day then started to tell him to take my number off his list. He hung up in the middle of my request.

That pissed me off so I've now reported him to the national and the Florida Do Not Call lists.

I am very aware that the Policemens thing is essentially a scam, that almost no money goes to benefit anyone, but mainly covers fund-raising.

But if they are polite I don't report them to the Do Not Call lists. If they are rude or pushy, I do.

The only groups I give money to have been researched on the ratings sites like Charity Navigator. I'm getting to the point where I will agree to give them a designated amount per money on the condition that they never solicit any further donations from me - ever.

Almost forty years ago I stopped donating to some of the supposed eco groups because they spent more money sending out further solicitations than I could afford to give them in the first place. Even after I stopped sending them money, they sent me fund raising stuff for a decade or more. I want my donations to go to the cause the charity is supposed to support and not go to fund raising activities!

I give to specific groups I have an interest in. Never to a telephone solicitor.