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 DATELINE: METRO OFFICES
The annual Christmas name draw / Gift Exchange was held at Mom's house on October 15th. Making their presence at the drawing just to keep things on the up-and-up were Mom, Mike, Karen, Jill, Kelly, Margaret & Austin. Names were kept in a mayonnaise jar (with an expiration date of 2002) in the refrigerator, until Mike started making sammiches. The limit for gifts this year is $1000. ABSOLUTELY NO GOING OVER THE LIMIT!!!
| 2006 Christmas Name Draw Results | 
| Steve drew Andy
Kristen drew Karen
Jerry drew Kelly
Kathlene drew Kristen
Kelly drew Rick
Margaret drew Carla | Larry drew Jerry
Carla drew Missy
Rick drew Mike
DP drew Ryan
Mike drew Larry
Karen drew Kathlene | Andy drew Scott
Ann drew Erin
Ryan drew DP
Missy drew Margaret
Scott drew Steve
Erin drew Ann |
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| . | . | - DATELINE: GRAND TRAVERSE RESORT & SPA
In a related story reported first in the Rzepka Ga-Rzette, Margaret McCarty, Marianne Rzepka, and Nancy Chapa were on hand and drew names for the annual Rzepka Christmas Name Draw. The event was held at the plush Grand Traverse Resort & Spa in Traverse City, Michigan in between massages, sea weed wraps, and facials. All results are final.
| | Rzepka Name Draw Results | Chuck drew Lee
Jane drew Marianne
Marianne drew Kelly
Chris drew Chuck
Beverly drew Margaret | Margaret drew Jane
Kelly drew Nancy
Bill drew Beverly
Nancy drew Chris
Lee drew Bill |
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DATELINE: OWINGS MILLS, MD
Max McCarty, son of Andy and Ann McCarty, turned 1 year old in Owings Mills, Maryland in November. One of his birthday presents was a helicopter. The boy apparently likes the choppers.
| - DATELINE: TWIN LAKES GOLF COURSE
Larry Wendt... Eat your heart out. Steve McCarty didn't have to go to Illinois to bag a buck, he simply drove his golf cart onto the 3rd fairway, hit it, then wrestled it into submission in front of a foursome of women golfers. Of course out of etiquette, he let the ladies play through before it gutted it..
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DATELINE: LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
Once again, humanitarian and celebrity stalker, Jerry McCarty, helped serve dinner at the LA Mission to the needy on Thanksgiving Day. In the annual show of goodwill, Jer was able to help the less fortunate, and snap a few photos at the same time.
 |  | | Actress Minnie Driver helped | Billy Davis Jr. (Fifth Dimenision) |
| .. | . | . | CELEBRITY SIGHTINGS ED NOTE:
I encourage you to send in your celebrity sightings to the McCarty Metro. Each month, we will post them, and the best ones will be nominated for an M&M award in February. | 
| Jerry poses with Khrystyne Haje
from the 90's TV show
"Head Of The Class". |
FROM METRO MEDICAL NEWS REPORTER KRISTEN It has been scientifically proven that if we drink 1 liter of water each day, at the end of the year we would have absorbed more than 1 kilo of E-coli bacteria found in feces, in other words, we are consuming 1 kilo of poop. We do not run that risk when drinking wine (or rum, whiskey, vodka, beer or other liquors) because alcohol has to go through a distillation process of boiling, filtering and fermenting.
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WATER = POOP.......... WINE = HEALTH.......... FREE YOURSELF OF POOP.......... DRINK WINE
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It is better to drink wine and talk crap than it is to drink water and be full of crap. There is no need to thank me for this valuable information, I am doing it as a public service and because I have a kind heart.
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| THE McCARTY METRO
PROTECTING OUR READERS | . |
HOLIDAY CREDIT CARD FRAUD
Be careful this Christmas season, and be sure to read 'Scene 3'
SCENE 1: This is a new one. People stay busy trying to cheat us, don't they?? A man went to the local gym and placed his belongings in the locker. After the workout and a shower, he came out, saw the locker open, and thought, "Funny, I thought I locked the locker. Hmmmmm." He dressed and flipped the wallet to make sure all was in order. Everything looked okay - all cards were in place. A few weeks later his credit card bill came - a whooping $14,000! He called the credit card company and started yelling at them, saying he did not make the transactions. Customer care personnel verified that there was no mistake in the system and asked if his card had been stolen. "No," he said, but then took out his wallet, pulled out the credit card, and yep - you guessed it - a switch had been made. An expired similar credit card from the same bank was in the wallet The thief broke into his locker at the gym and switched cards. Verdict: The credit card issuer said since he did not report the card missing earlier, he would have to pay the amount owed to them. How much did he have to pay for items he did not buy? $9,000! Why were there no calls made to verify the amount swiped? Small amounts rarely trigger a "warning bell" with some credit card companies. It just so happens that all the small amounts added up to big one!
SCENE 2: A man at a local restaurant paid for his meal with his credit card. The bill for the meal came, he signed it, and the waitress folded the receipt and passed the credit card along. Usually, he would just take it and place it in his wallet or pocket. Funny enough, though, he actually took a look at the card and, lo and behold, it was the expired card of another person. He called the waitress and she looked perplexed. She took it back, apologized, and hurried back to the counter under the watchful eye of the man. All the waitress did while walking to the counter was wave the wrong expired card to the counter cashier, and the counter cashier immediately looked down and took out the real card. No exchange of words --- nothing! She took it and came back to the man with an apology. Verdict: Make sure the credit cards in your wallet are yours. Check the name on the card every time you sign for something and/or the card is taken away for even a short period of time. Many people just take back the credit card without even looking at it, "assuming" that it has to be theirs. FOR YOUR OWN SAKE, DEVELOP THE HABIT OF CHECKING YOUR CREDIT CARD EACH TIME IT IS RETURNED TO YOU AFTER A TRANSACTION!
SCENE 3: Yesterday I went into a pizza restaurant to pick up an order that I had called in. I paid by using my Visa Check Card which, of course, is linked directly to my checking account. The young man behind the counter took my card, swiped it, then laid it on the counter as he waited for the approval, which is pretty standard procedure. While he waited, he picked up his cell phone and started dialing. I noticed the phone because it is the same model I have, but nothing seemed out of the ordinary. Then I heard a click that sounded like my phone sounds when I take a picture. He then gave me back my card but kept the phone in his hand as if he was still pressing buttons. Meanwhile, I'm thinking: I wonder what he is taking a picture of, oblivious to what was really going on. It then dawned on me: the only thing there was my credit card, so now I'm paying close attention to what he is doing. He set his phone on the counter, leaving it open. About five seconds later, I heard the chime that tells you that the picture has been saved. Now I'm standing there struggling with the fact that this boy just took a picture of my credit card. Yes, he played it off well, because had we not had the same kind of phone, I probably would never have known what happened. Needless to say, I immediately canceled that card as I was walking out of the pizza parlor. All I am saying is, be aware of your surroundings at all times. Whenever you are using your credit cards, take caution and don't be careless. Notice who is standing near you and what they are doing when you use your card. Be aware of phones because many have a camera phone these days.
Please make sure when you are in a restaurant and the waiter/waitress brings your card and receipt for you to sign, make sure you scratch the number off. Some restaurants are using only the last four digits, but a lot of them are still putting the whole thing on there. I have already been a victim of credit card fraud and, believe me, it is not fun. The truth is that they can get you even when you are careful, but don't make it easy for them. LET'S GET THE WORD OUT! JUST BE AWARE.
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Mike On
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| METRO
GIFT IDEA! 
Get Bubba an Ab-Flex
for Christmas. |
HOT OFF THE PRESS  Lions football practice was delayed last Monday for nearly two hours. One of the players on the offensive line, while on his way to the locker room happened to look down and noticed a suspicious looking, unknown white powdery substance on the practice field and reported it to the coaching staff. Head Coach Rod Marinelli immediately suspended practice while the FBI was called in to investigate. After a complete field analysis, the FBI determined that the white substance, unknown to the players, was the goal line. Practice was resumed when FBI Special Agents decided that the team would not be likely to encounter the substance again.
It seems that the Detroit Lions have been tipping their plays recently to the opposing teams. It seems that every time the Lions are going to run the football, Kevin Jones, the running back, leaves the huddle with tears in his eyes.
SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE Steve Yzerman, Mario Lemieux, and Wayne Gretzky are on a global tour of goodwill when their plane goes down and they perish. All 3 arrive in heaven at the same time. God is sitting in his chair and says to Lemieux "Mario, my son. What do you believe in?" Mario replied ""I believe hockey is not only the greatest sport in the world, but the best sport in the history of the world." To that God says "Take the seat to my left." He looks at Yzerman and asks, "And Steve what do you believe in?". Yzerman says humbly, "I believe in bravery, along with perseverance, utilizing all the talents you have given me to the best of my ability, and giving back to the community." To that God says "Take the seat to my right and Wayne what do you believe in?" Gretzky thinks for a second and says "I believe you’re sitting in my seat"
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NEWS AROUND THE NATION (The dumb get dumber & the smart get smarter)
. - DATELINE: WASHINGTON DC
The United States Postal Service pulled a blunder on their upcoming Lewis & Clark commemorative stamp which is due out January 1.
| - DATELINE: BOSTON UNIVERSITY
Boston University just released their most recent findings on their study of dogs.Dogs lie around all day sprawled on the most comfortable piece of furniture in the house. They can hear a package of food opening half a block away, but don't hear you when you're in the same room. They can look dumb and lovable all at the same time. They growl when they are not happy. When you want to play they want to play. When you want to be alone they want to play. They are great at begging. They will love you forever if you rub their tummies. They leave their toys everywhere. They do disgusting things with their mouths and then try to give you a kiss. | Their conclusion... DOGS ARE TINY MEN IN LITTLE FUR COATS! |  
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AROUND THE WORLD
. - DATELINE: AUSTRALIA
An amazing tree was recently discovered in a forest in Australia. You can plainly see that the tree has formed the shape of a bowing man. What's interesting about this is that it mimics a person in a posture of Islamic prayer known as the "ruku" or 'the bow', even down to the hands placed upon the knees. The most amazing part is that the "man" is directly aligned and facing the Kaaba in Makkah, Saudi Arabia, which is the direction Muslims all over the world face while in prayer.
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GONE BUT NOT FORGOTTEN IN NOVEMBER 2006      | | Newsman from 60 Minutes Ed Bradley, movie star Jack Palance, former University of Michigan head football coach Bo Schembechler, movie director Robert Altman, former Detroit Tiger pitcher from 1968 Pat Dobson |
AND FINALLY... NO NATIVITY SCENE IN WASHINGTON DC THIS YEAR!
The Supreme Court has ruled that there cannot be a Nativity Scene in Washington, DC this Christmas season. This isn't for any religious reason, they simply have not been able to find three wise men and a virgin in the Nation's capital. There was no problem, however, finding enough asses to fill the stable
HAVE A MERRY CHRISTMAS!
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