Spies and other untrustworthy types

When I was a kid, I was fascinated by espionage. Codes and ciphers, tracking and trailing, the methods and possibilities of living a double life.

I remember reading a book that had been written by an ex-spy, which basically was a sort of self-help manual to see if one had the right qualifications.

It was a long time ago, and while the local library no longer has a copy of Wolfgang Lotz' How to be a Spy, the not so local library did in fact keep theirs, which I recently reread.

I also checked out his biography, which I'd never actually read before, which was fairly interesting, and another book on the various secret services of the nation he worked for, from which I take the following quote-

Another Soviet technique was to use hidden cameras to film espionage targets making love, and to use the film for blackmail. According to a story circulated among Israeli and other diplomats, President Sukarno of Indonesia had an affair with a KGB plant, but when Soviet agents came and showed him incriminating photographs Sukarno did not give a damn. He is said to have nonchalantly pointed at the snapshots, saying: "I would like six of this picture and a dozen of that one."

Every Spy a Prince — Dan Raviv and Yossi Melman

Something that really disappointed me when we finally got cable again was to see the listings for a show on PBS— "Cooking Secrets of the CIA". I was fairly excited when I sat down to watch it, only to find out it was for the Culinary Institute of America.

But a few weeks ago, I found in the library "Spies, Black Ties, & Mango Pies: Stories and Recipes from CIA Families all over the World" and this time it was indeed about the Central Intelligence Agency, and a moderately entertaining read as far as the anecdotes went.

Speaking of disappointments, Monday before last, I sent yet another inquiry to DVDSoon regarding the refund they owe me for the DVDs I returned, and yet again, no response whatsoever. Because of the then-upcoming holidays, I gave them a full 12 days to reply, but still nothing. So, I'll be assembling all the evidence for not only the Visa chargeback, but also the RECOL report, because studiously ignoring every request I make for simple information and acknowledgment on the status of the return of money I am legally owed counts as fraud.

I hope they end up going bankrupt for real, this time.

(Incidentally, today, on the very day I have given them as a deadline for communication, I started getting spam at the address I use for contacting them. I've had this address for years, only use it for online purchases with proven companies, don't publish it anywhere, and have never received spam from it before. Happenstance, coincidence, or conspiracy...?)

Update: Well, went through my user account page at DVDSoon.com and saved records of everything in both iCab and Safari web archive format with PDF printouts. The important thing when dealing with a company so dishonest is to document, document, document. Also applied to refund the 28.98 they owed me when they charged my card in full while promising that the promotional compensatory "rebate" they offered would be applied to 50% of my order, which it wasn't.

God only knows if I'll ever actually see that money, as it was shortly thereafter deducted from my existing store credit and I have yet to receive a confirmation notice or any sort of acknowledgment on the website. Judging by the previous experiences of others on various formus, the prospects are not good.

If I don't get it, it'll be yet another thing to add to my case.