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Very good how-to guide for brand guideline designers from those London-based guys at Saachi & Saachi.
Some points in there that I found useful to add to my development of brand guidelines for my clients, including:
1. First understand:
• Who will be using the guidelines
• What they will gain from using them
• Where & how it will be accessed
• Why the guidelines are being produced
9. Guide, don't tell. Engage the user.
Tone of voice is key, so keep it short and simple to understand. Depending on your brand, some light-hearted copy in key places can keep it fun and creative.
See the full 20 top tips on the Saachi and Saachi blog


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This week has been spent lounging around at home, riding my newly fixed bike and catching up with S.A.W. Here are some things from my week:
This song has been stuck in my head for the past week:
{Bought this ring holder and necklace stand to reorganize my accessories}
{Matcha milk from Fujiya}
{Homemade lunch: pasta, chicken and salad}
{Greek food in White Rock: picture taken after I ate some, almost forgot to take a picture}
{My cousin sent me a picture of Yuki after a bath and her fur is so fluffy! Too cute :D}
{Marulilu and Menchies with S.A.W: iced London Fog, ome rice and frozen yogurt topped with mochi, cheesecake bites and cookie dough}
So that was my week. I apologize for the iPhone/Instagram photos, I haven't been using my camera lately because I don't like bringing it everywhere. Hope everyone has a good weekend!

subset: commoncrawl


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The New York Giants announced that DB Will Hill "has been suspended for 4 games by the NFL for violating the policy on performance-enhancing substances".
Hill was inserted into the starting lineup after starting DB Kenny Phillips hurt his knee in week 4, but after starting just one game for the Giants, Hill will now have to sit out for an entire month. While Phillips remains out it is apparent that DB Tyler Sash will take his spot in the lineup after just coming back from suspension.


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It's now three weeks since we last played in the Premier League and had that terrific 3-0 win over Southampton at home.
Newcastle will try to do the same thing against Huddersfield tomorrow who, like the Saints, are a point behind Newcastle before this game.
A win will take us 4 points clear of the Terriers, and that's what we must do tomorrow afternoon – win the game.
And we don't think Rafa will make any changes from the side that did so well in our last league game.
Islam Slimani – on the bench tomorrow?
This is the starting eleven we expect against Huddersfield:
Yedlin Lascelles (c) Lejeune Dummett
Ritchie Shelvey Diame Kenedy
Perez Gayle
Joselu is the only player who is injured and not available for tomorrow's game.
We should also see Islam Slimani on the bench tomorrow, especially since Joselu is not available, and we could see the Algerian make his debut in the second half tomorrow.
Over 80% of fans think we will win this game tomorrow, but it could still be a difficult game against a well organized Terriers side.
What do you think?
Comments welcome.
44 comments so far
He's already signed a pre window agreement
Toon Jovi, Kenedy and Traore would be some kind of magic in our team. We haven't had a great midfield since, god I could go back to Beardo and Tino, or even Beardo, Wads and Gazza. After that honestly would have to go with Ginola, Batty, Tino and Keith. After that we had a few that could entertain and scare defenders, Solano and Laurent, but for everything needed at our club, please let us get back to the days when clubs used to say, shite we are playing at St James next weekend, we have not had that feeling forever.
Massive game tomorrow, we should get 3 points & that should hopefully get us to safety
Think this opinion will be unpopular but here goes:
As much as I dislike the mackems and always want us to finish above them, I would prefer it if they survived this season. We need to make the north east a hot bed / good region for football clubs like the north west is to attract players to the area. If there's more than 1 side in top flight football from the north east then it's better for the reputation and will attract players up here.
Also I would like to see us play 2 derby games a season and hopefully get the back to having the upper hand in those games.
If Ozyakup is also interesting Everton they have one huge feather in the cap that we don't.
Yes, they have one player we should have signed to tie up this loose ends but MA didn't think we needed it.
Talk about blinkers on, this is why clubs like Everton kick our ass in the transfer window, they set things up for next season.
Ronaldo, here you go Jibs post translated. Captain O?uzhan Özyakup, who had bid with Be?ikta? and was offered to transfer from many clubs at the end of the season, gave his decision.
Oguzhan, who plans to open a new page after the clarification of the transfer issue, even though he is unhappy because he can not play, told the management that he is happy and wants to stay in Be?ikta?.
It is expected that the protocol made with Ozzie will be dumped into official format in the coming period. Despite this, however, proposals coming from British clubs in particular are devastating to young players.
Especially, it is known that Benitez, the teacher of Newcastle United, wants to transfer O?uzhan very much. Cenk Tosun's team Everton is also among those who want Be?ikta?'s
On talent Slimani goes straight in. He is obviously a step up on anything we've had this season. Even in his limited opportunities at Leicester he's looked the goods. But of course Rafa needs to consider Gayle's psyche. He can't simply discard him because he may well need him to start if Slimani breaks down again. Gayle is a decent second striker option off the bench, but he's been something of a problem for us as a lone striker since the day we signed him.
Hey guys! I'm a very infrequent poster (about 5 times in 6 years) but I need some advice / information. Me and 2 of my friends are planning on coming up to watch the west Brom game on the 28th. But I can't seem to find much useful information on the site for tickets. I so if anyone could help me with the following I'd be eternally grateful
1.Is this match likely to sell out before it's on public sale and is there any chance I'd be able to get 3 seats together (doesn't matter where I'm sat)
2.newcastle seems to limit the amount of tickets you can purchase for various matches… Should I be able to buy 3 for this game
3.i can't seem to find any information on pricing/categories for matches. Roughly how much would it be for ticket.
Any advice would be much appreciated 🙂 been a fan since 96.but only ever been to one home game. I usually end up having to sit with the home fans of Derby or villa watching us play and it's crushing not being able to celebrate goals 😀
Interview with Paul Dummett in the Times today with George Caulkin:-
Save you from registering it's below.
It has been a long journey for Paul Dummett, although the distance is short, from Kingston Park to St James' Park, from doubt to acceptance and, finally, to love.
At a club that dots between extremes, the left back's reliability is unusual, but in
Newcastle United's last match his name was sung, a fitting tribute much delayed. "It was weird," he says. "Normally people shout, 'Dummett, you're shite.' "
A sturdy defender who relishes defending, Dummett shuns flamboyance. In an era of dashing full backs he does not offer glitter, but solidity is precisely why he is prized so highly by Rafa Benítez and his absence for 136 days this season with a hamstring injury put his worth in context. In the 12 games he has played since returning to the team, Newcastle have lost only to Manchester City and Liverpool.
Victory over Huddersfield Town today would take Newcastle to 35 points, close enough for survival to beckon. This life is all Dummett knows. "You never switch off," he says. "I'm a fan, all my family and friends are fans, so wherever I go it's always football. The whole city revolves around how well the team are doing. If the team gets beat, town is quiet; if the team wins, town is busy. I feel it."
He grew up close to Newcastle's ground. "It was Kingston Park when I was younger and then we moved to Gosforth when I was 11," he says. "I still live there now. My first memory is playing football and my first memory as a fan is watching Alan Shearer, my hero as a kid. I had a season ticket with my dad and brother, up in level seven, which was quite a climb. I was in the East Stand for a bit as well.
"I was there when Kieron Dyer and Lee Bowyer had their fight on the pitch. I remember Sir Bobby Robson's team. I was ballboy once when Laurent Robert was playing and he hoyed [threw] his gloves to one side and I picked them up. Now I'm playing and other people are watching. It's strange when you think about it. I'll carry on doing it for as long as the club want me."
There have been moments when Dummett, 26, has not felt wanted at all, but he has doubled down on effort, a model of perseverance. He fought for his place, for a career, for football. "When I was six, my dad, Ian, took me to a little soccer school in Ponteland," he says. "The weather was bad so they did it in the gym. Dad said I was like Bambi on ice. My co-ordination was terrible.
"After training Dad said, 'Look son, I don't think football's for you.' The week after, he took me to Newcastle Falcons for a bit of rugby but I said, 'I want to go back to football.' The next time it was on grass and totally different. Two years later, I joined Newcastle and I've been there ever since, apart from loans, but there have been times when I've wondered, 'Am I going to get kept on, am I going to be released?'
"When I was leaving school at 16, not really knowing what was going to happen, dad would ask me, 'What if you don't make it? Get some extra education.' I put it off. He knew how difficult it was to become a player. He runs a plumbing and heating company, so if it hadn't happened I'd probably be working for the family business, like my mam and brother.
"I'd always tell my dad not to worry. I suppose I just believed the worst wouldn't happen. It was either confidence or the kind of thing where you think, 'Ah, it won't be me, it'll be someone else.' I just had the same attitude then that I have now, that I'll keep trying, keeping working, that I'll give it my best shot. I always ended up staying."
The naysayers included Alan Pardew, Newcastle's former manager. In 2012-13, Dummett had two spells on loan at St Mirren. "When I came back at the end of the season, Pardew told me he was giving me another one-year contract but said, 'I don't think you've what it takes to play in my team.'
"It was a shock. It was one of those: there you go, another contract, but you're not good enough. You've got no chance, basically.
"My response was to say, 'It's up to me to prove you wrong,' and I think Pardew liked that. I'm naturally fit, but I worked even harder on my fitness and either started or came on for every pre-season game that summer. We played Manchester City in our first Premier League game, Steven Taylor was sent off and I came on. Against Liverpool, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa was sent off, I came on again and scored. The club asked me to sign a new six-year contract straight after that, which was quite a difference. It just shows what can happen. You have to be lucky to get an opportunity, but then you have to take it."
Pardew provided the motivation and was not too rigid to block Dummett's path to the team, but he never admitted being wrong. "No," Dummett says. "He said nothing. When Pardew has been at other clubs there's been some interest in taking me there, but I don't know whether that's always been true and I've never spoken to him direct."
Under Benítez, Dummett has thrived, a mainstay during Newcastle's promotion season. His improvement has been palpable, and there has been another contract extension. "When we were first linked with the manager, I remember thinking, 'He's not going to come here,' " Dummett admits. "It was a reminder of how big this club is. We're lucky to have him. Hopefully we can stay up, he'll stay and we progress. Because the fans love him so much, it's made it easier for us. There's pressure, but it's a good environment. I wouldn't say a bad word about him. He's been nice about me, which is great when he's achieved so much and worked with so many fantastic players. He always says he wants to strengthen, bring in another left back, I don't have a problem with that. I want to be pushed."
There is a stubborn determination that filters across to his international career. There have been two caps for Wales (he qualifies through his grandfather), but none since 2015. "Under Chris Coleman I was going away knowing I wouldn't be playing," he says. "You have to be professional, but it was difficult. I wasn't picked for Euro 2016 but I was taken away for the friendlies and to cover for injuries until a couple of days before. I was gutted.
Dummett says that Newcastle must keep Benítez if they are to improve
"I'd be thinking to myself, 'When am I ever going to get an opportunity?' I didn't feel like I had a chance, like I was part of the squad, because I wasn't involved. I decided to have a break from it, to concentrate on playing for Newcastle. Coleman said that for as long as he was manager he would never pick me for Wales again, but it's been a different approach from Ryan Giggs and we've had a conversation.
"He said that I'd get opportunities to play. No manager can guarantee games and I understand that. I told him that I wouldn't close the door — it's a massive honour to play for your country — but if I'd gone with Wales now, got injured and Newcastle went down, I'd have regretted it for ever. My contract is with Newcastle. I want to do the best for Newcastle, make sure we stay up. After that, I can have a rethink."
That commitment will crystallise Dummett's relationship with Newcastle's supporters. He has had to work for it, work for everything. "If the club had bought me for £8 million it might have been different," he says. "When you've come through the academy and cost nothing maybe they assume you're no good. And if the team is struggling, you're associated with it more as a local lad.
"Fans like to see attractive football and I'm never going to be taking people on, doing fancy tricks and hitting one in the top corner. I know what I can do and I know what I can't do. I do what I can as best I can."
It has been a slow burn, but Dummett is Newcastle's own and they proclaimed it against Southampton three weeks ago. "I haven't had that sort of thing before," he says. "It's taken a long time. It was strange when I heard it. I was buzzing. I just need to keep putting performances in, so they keep doing it and sing it louder. I'm doing what I've always wanted."
Tickets will be on NUFC.co.uk
WBA not up for sale yet
When they go on sale there is a window in which only members can buy them. Then general sale. But the can in effect sell out before general sale especially for three seats together.
Not sure about the whole price range from Platinum club to the least popular spots, Go look on the site above at the price of tickets for the Everton game (assuming that there are any left). Platinum are circa £52 I think.
I have two memberships which should be good for up to four tickets. Happy to assist, but you will need to ask Ed to send me your e-mail address.
'Gareth Bale is edging closer to a Premier League return with Real Madrid keen to sell the 28-year-old Wales forward this summer. (Sky Sports)'
There is only 1 Premier League club that is stupid enough to pay through the nose for a 29 year old (turns 29 in the summer before Jib starts) with back problems, and it isn't Manchester City. I wouldn't even want Bale at Newcastle according to what it was would cost per game, or more accurately, what it would cost per goal/assist.
hobobicus – What Jasper said but get yourself a log in for the tickets on NUFC.co.uk then you can see when they go on sale and buy them. Also I think you can buy a membership quite cheaply which means you can buy tickets earlier and more chance of 3 together. Nufc.com also shows dates when tickets become available.


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Saturday, September 9, 2017
And the answer is...Yep
5 comments:
- Ponita in Real Life said...
I sure hope you don't get hammered again. Is the Old Gal still tied to the ground? My fingers are crossed that both you and Savannah don't get much of this storm. Hurricanes do their own thing, and you just never really know what until it happens. xoxoxo
- September 9, 2017 at 1:53 PM
- hope said...
She and her two "kids" will be tied down probably for another year. In fact, the kids only had 3 straps and winds might come from the direction not tied down so this morning, the same guy who helped put in the anchors last year, came and put one more down for each of the other trees. They're 6 ft. steel spikes like the use to tie down guide wires for electrical/phone poles.
Fingers crossed.
- September 9, 2017 at 1:58 PM
- savannah said...
Great post! This is it exactly: we know where we live and what can happen, BUT we stay and make the best of every day. I'm glad the sun is shining for us both today. xoxox
- September 13, 2017 at 7:44 AM
- roth phallyka said...
you just never really know what until it happens. xoxoxo
- September 14, 2017 at 10:01 PM
- maurcheen said...
I hope you are all safe.
- September 15, 2017 at 6:07 AM


text: Rockefellers join Rothschilds & Soros in cryptocurrency investing 0 Bitcoin, Cryptocurrencies, Rockefeller, Rothschilds, Soros 11:12 AM A+ A- Print Email So officially Illuminati families are getting in Bitcoin cryptocurrency investing. Despite the dramatic collapse of the crypto market this year, well-known investors have opted to buy into digital currencies, triggering a brief surge in the prices of top tokens. Reports have emerged that George Soros is preparing to invest in digital assets, despite his earlier criticism of them. Adam Fisher, who controls macro investing at Soros Fund Management, has reportedly secured internal approval to trade the currencies.The Rockefellers have also reportedly joined the crypto party. Venrock, the official venture-capital arm of the family, reportedly signed a partnership with Coinfund, a cryptocurrency investment fund, to back virtual tokens and blockchain business innovations.Coinfund has recently launched token-based financial services platform Coinlist. The company had previously initiated a number of projects, including chat messenger app Kik, which raised almost $100 million in the Initial Coin Offering (ICO) last year."We wanted to partner with this team that has been making investments and actually helping to architect a number of different crypto economies and crypto token-based projects," said David Pakman, partner at Venrock, as quoted by Fortune.The Rothschilds, also known for their close ties to banks and other financial institutions, have stepped towards cryptocurrency trading as well. In December, the family reportedly purchased bitcoin exposure via the Grayscale Bitcoin Trust for the first time.Crypto investors hope that the interest from big-time names will help to take the heat off the market from global financial watchdogs. Up until now, financial regulators across the world have taken a tough stance toward cryptocurrencies. Charles Hoskinson@IOHK_Charles Rockefeller, Soros, and Rothschild money entering the cryptocurrency space....it sounds like regulations might be getting a bit more lax 2:01 PM - Apr 7, 2018 2,259 1,016 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy News of the involvement of big investors has triggered a jump in crypto prices, sending bitcoin back above $7,000. The price of the number one virtual currency has dropped more than 40 percent since January. It plunged below $7,000 on March 30 before dropping to its lowest point since last November in the past week. However, bitcoin remains nearly 400 percent higher than this time last year.Sourcehttps://www.rt.com/business/423559-rockefellers-soros-rothschilds-cryptocurrency-investment/ Get Widget Share to:


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This week, there are four exceptional performances to check out. Two were Oscar-nominated (George Clooney in The Descendants and Michelle Williams in My Week With Marilyn) and two could well have been (Kirsten Dunst in Melancholia and Charlize Theron in Young Adult).
Alexander Payne's The Descendants takes place in Hawaii, where Matt King (Clooney) heads a family that is preparing to sell its land for development, a deal that should make everyone in the family rich. But there's no joy for him, because Matt's wife lies in a coma from a boating accident and isn't likely to wake up. Now he must take care of his daughters, Scottie, 10 (Amara Miller), and her disaffected teen sister, Alexandra (Shailene Woodley).
Worse, he finds out that his wife was cheating on him with a real estate agent (Matthew Lillard).
As in Payne's other films, Election, About Schmidt and Sideways, The Descendants is about American males adrift. A marvelous Clooney is able to make us forget his movie-star looks and charms to convey the trials of a man trying to find his place in the world.
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The Descendants retails for $29.98 or $39.99 Blu-ray.
I didn't think any actress could create a credible Marilyn Monroe, but Michelle Williams did it. In My Week With Marilyn, she not only has the sexiness and sweetness of the Hollywood legend but creates a real person — and that's no easy trick.
The film, directed by Simon Curtis, has its charms, telling the story of the unlikely meeting/clash of two showbiz titans — Monroe and Sir Laurence Olivier (Kenneth Branagh) — for the tumultuous filming of The Prince and the Showgirl in 1956. It's based on two memoirs by Colin Clark (Eddie Redmayne), who was an assistant to Olivier. Clark claims to have had a brief affair with the star, who had just married playwright Arthur Miller.
What's true or not doesn't really matter. The film captures the glamour and fun of the era, which, like Marilyn, was a mixture of innocence and naughtiness. And as with Marilyn, it's impossible to take your eyes off Williams.
My Week With Marilyn retails for $29.98 or $39.99 Blu-ray.


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Beware of mystery shopper scams
I confess… I once was a mystery shopper. Decades ago, I shopped at stores to see what they were charging for certain products and visited restaurant chains to evaluate the food and service. I wrote up a report, sent it in, and received a check for my work. Nothing I could make a living from, but it helped fill the gas tank.
Back then, it didn't occur to me that responding to a mystery or secret shopper ad could set me up for a scam. Now I know – if you're looking to make extra money as a mystery shopper, it pays to do some homework to make sure the job is real.
Recently, we've heard about a scam that begins when you get an email offering "secret shopper" jobs with retailers like Wal-Mart, Kmart, Best Buy or Home Depot. If you click through to the website, it looks like you're on a retailer's site – but you're not. You're asked to provide some personal information to get started, and told you'll soon get a cashier's check for around $1,500. You're instructed to deposit the check into your account to "activate" your employment, keep $300 of that money as "advance payment" to cover initial expenses, and wire back the rest.
Problem is, the "job" isn't real and it's not associated with any actual stores. You're dealing with a scammer. That check is a fake. If you deposit it, you're on the hook to pay the bank back.
Following these tips can help you avoid a mystery shopping scam:
- Do your research. Most legitimate secret shopper jobs are posted online by reputable marketing research or merchandising companies. A quick internet search can help you verify the company's reputation, legitimacy, or flag any complaints. Scammers like to use the names of well-known companies like Home Depot or Wal-Mart to gain your trust.
- Never wire money to someone you don't know. Wiring money is the same as sending cash – once you send it, you can't get it back.
- Never agree to deposit a check from someone you don't know. If the check turns out to be fake, it will eventually bounce. And since you are responsible for any deposited checks to your account, you will owe the bank the money you withdrew.
- Never give your personal or financial information out online. Guard your personal information, and treat it as if it were cash. Refrain from entering your Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers online or by phone to someone who gets in touch with you.
You don't have to pay to get into the mystery shopper business. We have more advice on finding legitimate mystery shopping jobs. If you suspect a scam, report it to the FTC.
Excellent information. These 'Mystery Shopper' scam artists are working while we speak.
Find the List and Names of the Most High Profile Scammers syndicates. Abayomi Arinde (Yomi Vuitton)
Afolabi damilare (Sean)
Samson Ajani (Hush)
Saheed Kareem (creamy)
Kehinde Ariyo Kelvin Bada Faruk ladejobi (Hmoney)
Olise Amstrong Ayepola omotaloni (Teemoney) Valentine Osuji (val) Oluwafemi Disu Fasheun Adebola (Rosay)Debo Animashaun (DV8 ) Femi Poshill Samson Oyekunle (Papi Smiley) Osadebay Wilson (Son bay) Abimbola Olarewaju (Abimbola Pepper) Terry Akinyemi Akinola Victor Bruno Roy Oluwatoye Akinde (Morrison) . But the "You can keep your doctor" healthcare scam is so big, affects so many people and has only a political solution, that we've kept it out of our top ten list. Instead, our list focuses on the scams that you could avoid, those reported to the FTC and BBB (Better Business Bureau) rather than those perpetrated upon you by politicians. Nonetheless, medical scams of all types grew in 2013 to become the largest category. For detailed explanations of each scam, how to report a scammer and how to protect yourself, click on the blue titles below for more information! To see federal and select state top 10 scam lists, click here . Medical Alert Scam - This is a telemarketing scam that promises a 'free' medical alert system, that scam targeted seniors and caretakers. The robocalls claimed to be offering the medical alert devices and system free of charge because a family member or friend had already paid for it. In many cases, seniors were asked to provide their bank account or credit information to 'verify' their identity and, as a result, were charged the monthly $35 service fee. The system, of course, never arrived and the seniors were left with a charge they had trouble getting refunded. Easy rule of thumb - be wary of 'free' offers that require your personal information upfront and always verify with the supposed friend or family member that the caller says paid for the service. Ebay / Auction Reseller Scam - Scammers posing as buyers convice sellers into shipping goods prior to receiving payment. Usually the fake buyer claims it's an 'emergency' like a child's birthday and asks the seller to ship the same day. The seller receives an email that appears as though it came from PayPal for the payment, but emails like that are easy for scammers to fake. Arrest Warrant Scam - Scammers create a fake Caller ID, which allows them to call you and appear to be calling from a local police, sheriff or other law enforcement agency. They say there is a warrant out for your arrest, but that you can pay a fine in order to avoid criminal charges. Of course, these scammers don't take credit cards; only a Western Union Moneygram, other wire transfer or pre-paid debit card will do. Invisible Home Improvements - In addition to email, mail and phone, scammers now just show up at your door. Scammers posing as home improvement contractors come door-to-door sale and target seniors, those who live alone, and victims of weather-related disasters are common targets Casting Call Scam - Scammers pose as agents or talent scouts looking for actors, singers, models, reality show contestants, etc., and use phony audition notices to fool aspiring performers into paying to try out for parts that don't exist. Foreign Currency Scam - Investments in foreign currency can sound like a great idea, and scammers frequently use real current events and news stories to make their pitches even more appealing. They advertise an easy investment with high return and low risk when you purchase Iraqi Dinar, Vietnamese Dong or, most recently, the Egyptian Pound. The plan is that, when those governments revalue their currencies, increasing their worth against the dollar, you just sell and cash in. Unlike previous hoaxes, you may even take possession of real currency. The problem is that they will be very difficult to sell, and it's extremely unlikely they will ever significantly increase in value. Scam Text Messages - It looks like a text alert from your bank, asking you to confirm information or 'reactivate your debit card' by following a link on your smart phone. But it is just a way to steal personal information Do Not Call Scams - The National Do Not Call Registry (U.S.) or the National Do Not Call List (Canada) offer consumers a free way to reduce telemarketing calls. Scammers call anyway, of course, and they've even found a way to scam consumers by pretending to be a government official calling to sign you up or confirming your previous participation on the Dot Not call list! Facebook Fake Friend Scam - Did you ever get a Friend Request on Facebook from someone you already thought was your Friend? If you hit Accept, you may have just friended a scammer. Affordable Care Act Scams (ObamaCare) - Scammers love the Affordable Care Act ('Obamacare'), using it as a way to fool Americans into sharing their personal information. Other common scams: Lottery Scams These include scams which can go under the name of genuine lotteries like the UK National Lottery and the El Gordo Spanish lottery. Unsolicited email or telephone calls tell people they are being entered or have already been entered into a prize draw. Later, they receive a call congratulating them on winning a substantial prize in a national lottery. But before they can claim their prize, they are told they must send money to pay for administration fees and taxes. The prize, of course, does not exist. No genuine lottery asks for money to pay fees or notifies it's winners via email. Internet Auction Frauds - Auction frauds (commonly called Ebay or PayPal scams, after the two largest venues) is a misrepresentation of a product advertised for sale through an Internet auction site or the failure to deliver products purchased through an Internet auction site. Nigerian Advance Fee Frauds (AFF) These frauds take the form of an offer, via letter, e-mail or fax, to share a huge sum of money in return for using the recipient's bank account to transfer of the money out of the country. The perpetrators will often then use the bank account details to empty their victim's bank account. Often, they convince the victim that money is needed up front, to pay fees or is needed to bribe officials. **Phishing and Pharming for Identity Theft** The victim receives an email that appears to be from a credible, real bank or credit card company, with links to a website and a request to update account information. But the website and email are fakes, made to look like the real website. Online Dating Scams Fake profiles of scammers posing as attractive men and women, then claiming they need money to help in an emergency, typically when they claim to be out of the country on a business trip. "PASSIVE RESIDUAL INCOME" SCAMS Get rich scheme and scam websites - Make $$$ in your spare time! It so EASY once you get their free book or cd and learn their secrets! Sure... These websites are themselves scams; claiming to offer you a good deal, when at best, their products are worthless, they have no real secrets, and worse, some are identity thieves! Counterfeit Checks You receive a check in the mail - either from a lottery you "won" (without buying a ticker) or from an EBay buyer or other source. It looks real... but after you try to cash it, you find out it is a fake; and you're arrested for passing a counterfeit check! Read more about scam checks on this page and here about the EBay check scam . FreeCreditReport What a scam this one is! The name of the website is freecreditreport, but you'll only get a credit report when you sign up for their paid service. And worst of all there IS a government mandated website where you CAN get a free credit report! Find out more here! Work At Home Scams Work-at-home and business opportunity scams are often advertised as paid work from home. After the would-be worker applies, they are asked for money up-front to pay for materials and, after paying, they hear nothing back. A variation of this is, people are asked to invest in a business that has little chance of success. **Matric and Multilevel Marketing** and **Pyramid Schemes** "MAKE MONEY NOW!" scream their websites! And do it in your spare time! Earn big bucks for almost no work. If that isn't enough to tell you it is a scam, let us explain why it is. These schemes are promoted through websites offering expensive electronic gadgets as free gifts in return for spending about $25 on an inexpensive product, such as a mobile phone signal booster. Consumers who buy the product then join a waiting list to receive their free gift. The person at the top of the list receives his/her gift only after a prescribed number of new members join up. The majority of those on the list will never receive the item. Pyramid schemes offer a return on a financial investment based on the number of new recruits to the scheme. Investors are misled about the likely returns. There are simply not enough people to support the scheme indefinitely. Property Investment Scams Investors attend a free presentation, which aims to persuade them to hand over large amounts of money to enroll on a course promising to make them a successful property dealer, usually involving "no money down". Schemes can involve the offer of buying yet-to-be built properties at a discount. Other variations include a buy-to-lease scheme where companies offer to source, renovate and manage properties, claiming good returns from rental income. The properties are generally near-derelict and the tenants non-existent. 900 Phone NumberScams Postal notification of a win in a sweepstake or a holiday offer in this scam include instructions to ring a premium rate number. This is generally an 900 toll number. Calls to the number incur significant charges, the recorded message is lengthy, and the prize often does not exist. It is a scam that has been around a long time, but it is still in use. Advance Fee Brokers . Often these appear to be very professional operations with attractive websites and advertisements. However, it is illegal for a business to charge a fee prior to providing a loan. Typically, after wiring money to the scammer, the victim never receives the loan. These 'lenders' will use fake physical addresses or the addresses of real companies. Credit Repair Services with Advance Fees . Consumers with bad credit ratings are particularly vulnerable to this scam. Everything a credit-repair operation offers an individual can do personally at little or no cost. Credit repair operations cannot ask for money in advance and they cannot automatically remove legitimate negative reports from your credit history. **Foreign Lottery Scams** . Any lottery from a foreign country is illegal in the United States. Stating a person can win or is a winner already provides a strong incentive; however, people should never send money to obtain lottery money. Scammers using fictitious addresses will request you send 'fees and taxes' to them through a wire service, take the cash and never provide any winnings because there are no winners. Office Supplies - Sale by Deceptive Telemarketing . This scam features fake invoices for office supplies being sent to a business, often for only a couple hundred dollars. This relatively low amount makes it easier for company personnel to quickly sign off and feel it is not worth their time to check the invoice's validity, which would be done if it was for a larger amount. Debt Relief Services (Non-Compliant with FTC rule). The Federal Trade Commission has established rules for debt relief services (for profit businesses that represent that they renegotiate, settle or alter the terms of payment for an unsecured debt). The FTC rule governs disclosures and representations that debt relief services can make and does not allow advance fees. There are legitimate debt relief companies that comply with the FTC rule and the Better Business Bureau is identifying only the non-compliant companies as scams.
Mystery Shopper Scam called Shoppers Express. Received a priority mail from them with a check that looked legit for 2,350.00 Navy Army Community Credit Union. I called the credit union and they said that there are a ton of calls about this. Mark Henderson from " customer survery" text messaged me asking to confirm delivery and to ask when I would deposit the check and then go and buy 2050.00 to buy MOney Pak cash top up cards.
Mark Henderson..SCAM. Got a Check for Community Bank N.A. for 2350.00 to do a "money-gram" job. luckily I read about this scam before going to the bank.
I just got myself into the same jam. I received the cashiers check today so did you return the check or tear it up?
I have gotten 2 already wanting me to Western Union money to different people wanting me to keep 300 and send the rest .
can u please provide the name of the scam company so I can compare the two, cuz I was also scammed as well.. thank u n adavnce
what do i do with this "cashiers check" ?
Most certainly destroy the check. I took pictures of mine and when I reported it to the BBB and FCC I added the pics to the report. You are NOT on the hook for the check until you cash it, or attempt to. Be careful.
Meant FTC not FCC. Ugh.
Evans Colorado police department told me to tear the check up. These people change names and locales so often they are almost never caught.
I just got the package in mail! Luckily I saw this before I did anything! Got a check for $1930 and ask me to wire to two different accounts. I'm m going to report it!
I just got the same one!!! Bummer!!! Did you report it?
How do you report it?
Please report this to the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint.
I feel so stupid, just wanted to make a little extra money to help out. the check along with instructions to "secret" shop at Kmart or Walmart then to send money to two different foreign addresses. Anyhow, sounded fishy, so I went online, to look this guy up, no such person can be found, emails to his supposed address come back undeliverable. His name lists as Mark L Rodgers, Mark Inc, 1491 Holly Hill Dr., Mississippi S MS 39762-0156. I'm tearing the check up after I post this and hope that others don't end up feeling a fool.
I got a check today in the amount of 2880 I call the BBB THEY TOLD ME ITS A SCAM I didn't TAKE IT TO MY BANK.and that number they Gove you to call it is not working now sorry scamers better luck next time I am " not a foom
What's bbb? In the email it said I would be reported to relevant authorities
I just received a package for Sears/Kmart mystery shopper with a check for $3850.00. Was told to keep 365 and buy 7 reload cards but I was told to keep the cards for future shopping evaluations. They didn't ask for any money back. So idk if it's real or not so I'm calling the bank on the check Monday morning to see if it's a real check or if it's some type of scam. There not asking for anything from me except the evaluation of store I shop at. Anyone else got something like this?
What happened was the check good or was a scam,
I got the same type of check, same amounts of money and instrux, etc. from "Sears Holdings". Gotta be a scam!
exactly ..im so confused
I received the package today. [I had previously responded to what looked like an official eml Amazon Drive from (Charles olsen, mcanthonyconsultant ) to be a mystery shopper.] Pkg rcvd via US priority mail from Smart Shopper, 20600 Plum Canyon Rd, Santa Clarita CA (address came up as an empty lot when I tried the street view on mapquest). $2300 chk from EFCU Financial Federal Credit Union, Baton Rouge LA (cant read signature, and it looks very real). Instructions say deposit check, buy 4 $500 iTunes gift cards from Walmart or Best Buy (in order to evaluate their service), the $300 bal was my payment. Once cards are purchased, I am supposed to open the pack, peel off back panel, then eml them pics of front/back of cards, along with feedback on the 'purchase experience' to surveyteams@ . But do not discard cards as they will be used for my forthcoming assignment. Too many red flags were going off. if it sounds too good to be true, then it prob is. The envelope is valid USPS, mailed from Panaroma City, CA (I checked the tracking#), chk looks real, but instructions aren't printed on any company's official letterhead & it's a bad copy... why are so many different cities involved?! is that so they cant be tracked down? just too fishy. I will prob call the EFCU credit union just out of curiosity, I wont depost chk, and I will look up the FTC complaint website. I will also spread the word via social media to warn others.
I just received the same package ?? Is this a scam ?
unfortunately, i was sent an email asking if i was interested in being "a secret shopper" and make some money! Of course, i would! So, I replied, i was i was interested and gave info..my address, name and phone number.
it was probably a couple weeks before i got a text from "my survey supervisor" asking if i got my mail from the postal.
i replied that i did. a check for $1850. job is to buy 4..$400 gift cards for walmart at different stores. ok, first deposit the money in my account , it should be ok in 24 hours, and its time sensitive
to do this job. LOL! hell no!
also, email is to a yahoo address! if this is legit, it would be to an actual business email. i actually, texted the guy back and said the letter wasn't legible and i was going to void the check.
it was around 1 am. He responded back saying it was 100% legit and i had nothing to worry about! SCAM
Deffffffffinitely sounds like a scam. I used to work for Publix and we had a high volume of customers performing gift card fraud this way.
If you ever receive a check before you actually do any work, chances are it's a scam. ESPECIALLY if they ask you to send a certain amount back to them, whether it be monetary or in gift card credit.
If you were to email the front/back of the gift cards, the scammers would then transfer the balance on the cards to another card and you would be left with a zero balance card. Don't do it!
Got similar thing. Cashiers Check for $2,400. Told to keep $400 and buy iTunes card for $20 a piece and to keep that they would be used for a future assignment. Not buying it. Will not cash the check. When I told the "texter" that I was validating the check..."Said no problem...have a good day." Then at 11:30 PM got a text that said, "Have you deposited the check yet?" WHAT A SCAM!!!!!!! Don't fall for it.
I got screwed to they sent me a check for 2940 to be a secret shopper my bank put a hold on the check try and screw any body.
I also got an email to be a mystery shopper was sent a cashiers check for 3850.00 was told to send 2450 by money gram to someone in Turkey and 1000 to someone in texas and the remainder was mine to keep it was,supposedly to see how well money gram workers at walmart did there job , how stupid these people are Turkeys not a red flag anyway I reported it immediatly to FTC and to my local news station just everyone beware
I recieved the same check and the same information not sure if it is a scam or not going to call the bank in the morning.
Yes- I just got it.
Yes, I jus received a check in the mail from famersbank and trust for 1480.00 cents saying something bout a secret shopper and telling me to deposit it into my bank. So I took the check to easy money telling them the situation and the lady told me that the check was fake and she handed me the check back but made a copies out the check and my ID I jus wanted to know was it real or fake and trying to see how did these people get my name as well as my address to even be able to send me anything of the sort. I'm so confused about everything I jus don't want to get in trouble cause I don't know nothing or how this stuff works.
It's good that you checked out the check, and didn't deposit it. This FTC article about mystery (or 'secret') shopper scams explains how the scam works.
OMG, thank you guys I received the packet yesterday and felt it was too good to be true. I went online to review scams and this came up. It's exactly as described!
I've been on the phone with chase for over an hour and they're trying to help me in case these people try something funny with my account since I already deposited the check.
What a mess
Thank you so much
OMG, what a fool I am, they got me for
$2500.00, now must paid the bank back..is there any hope the bank will be kind?..
Me too - I have now had my stupid moment and it will cost me! Thought it was legit because the add was posted on LinkedIn by someone I use to work with - apparently they were hacked! I feel really stupid - just wanted to earn done xtra money in retirement. Fools rush in. I hope these folks rot in hell!! Can't believe they can't be caught
IT IS A SCAM! They will hav yu take a pic of the card's barcode and send to them via text! Or something like that. I received same scam!
Did you hear back from the bank, because o got a similar issue today and wondering if it is a scam
Yes, I did get a similar one today. They asked for nothing else so far except the evaluation of the store and gave me guidelines to follow. Letter looks totally legit. I am going to call the bank also to see if it's a real check.
I got the same THINg today but mine waz a real check it looked like
Losing my job and was looking for a small income. Realized what the scam was today and got a text right after that a check was coming to me today. Decided i needed to research and found this. Thank you for sharing and I'm going to report them too. Dread telling my husband how close i got to being scammed.
So anybody deposited the check? And were charges brought or did they just have to pay the bank back
I cashed a check on my bank account for my son's friend and it was one of these checks.what do I do now.. he's young thought he was doing a job now my account is at risk with regions bank.
If you deposited a fake check and withdrew money, you'll have to repay the bank for the money you withdrew. You might want to contact your bank and explain what happened, and ask how they handle situations like this.
If you or the person who got the check told a scammer your bank account or social security number or other personal financial information, take steps to protect your information. IdentityTheft.gov has tips about what to do if information is lost or stolen.
Today,i got an email from MS company & checked them on Google.
* Welcome to (M/S) Networks * On Jun 18, 2016 12:23 PM, "Sherry Evans" > wrote: Hello, Sorry for getting back to you late. The delay is due to the number of applications we have to treat everyday. Count yourself lucky as your details have undergone background checks and have been processed. We received your mailing details in replication to our Survey/shopper job ad.
Your job is to act like any customary customer and perform a mundane business transaction while you conduct a simple evaluation (without being noticed) and accumulate information about the quality of service by staff, customer service professionalism, comportment of staff and other issues at such locations. Your survey evaluation will be on business locations such as, Walmart outlets / Western Union and MoneyGram outlets / Financial institutions. There have been reports about lapses in the services of their management and some of their staff. This evaluation is necessitated predicated on reports which their customers forwarded anonymously and phone calls, which were also made to the head office. A package will be sent to you, inside the package you will find your Emolument payment of $200-$300 and other funds you will utilize to carry out your surveying process. The funds will be sent securely to your mailing address you have given down in form of a Check which you would cash at your bank and use for the assignment. You must not use your personal money to consummate any of the surveying processes and there will be no reimbursement of any kind since we are providing you with all the funds you will require to carry out the survey. However, you are allowed to use your personal money in a situation where you want to promptly accomplish your assignment if you are capable to do so as bonuses are paid for timely execution of assignments and it enhances new tasks to be designated to you expeditiously. An Evaluation Instruction will be sent to you through email, this will tell you what to do at the store location and how to expend the funds at the location. I would optate you to confirm how your name should appear on the check, give down a working cell phone number where you can receive text messages.
Additionally, I would want you to state if you have done this kind of job before and what your experience was when you did it? You are also to confirm your mailing address and give down your apartment number if there is any, so there won't be issues when the courier service wants to deliver the package with your payment. Please note that you are to act Cool, Calm and Confident throughout the period which you will be carrying out your survey at the Outlets in order not to arouse any suspicion. Your swift response would be highly appreciated, replying with the Subject THIS IS ACKNOWLEDGED. Best Regards, Sherry Evans 703- Task Coordinator Survey Shopper® Copyright © 2016
Don't know if it's scam, but may be spam. What can I do?


text:
Amazon Flaw Lets Password Variants Throughurl Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Amazon Flaw Lets Password Variants Through
Amazon Flaw Lets Password Variants Through
Extracted Page: http://it.slashdot.org/story/11/01/28/2333206/Amazon-Flaw-Lets-Password-Variants-Through?from=rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+Slashdot%2Fslashdot+%28Slashdot%29Amazon Flaw Lets Password Variants Through
Wired reports that it has confirmed a password flaw affecting some Amazon accounts. If your password hasn't been changed in a while ("the past several years"), it may be less secure than you'd like. As Wired explains, for these older accounts, "[...] if your password is "Password," Amazon.com will also let you log in with 'PASSWORD,' 'password,' 'passwordpassword,' and 'password1234.'" The article suggests that Amazon's use of the Unix crypt() tool may be at fault. (Hat tip to E. Maureen Foley for pointing this out.)


text:
Word play deconstruction ahead:
First Word
insight – in(wards) sight to nature (my own). Insight – a 'gift' (deeper understanding, liberation, etc), insight – it, whatever it is, is within grasp (ironic within means inside ).
Second Word
Self – love. Now love is not singularly definable from a being perspective. What I mean is that when we are being..whatever it is in the moment, love comes in many colours. Today's was Great Blue Heron.
Great Blue Heron Symbolism
Self – determination. Self – reliance. These are attributes of self – love which I will elaborate on momentarily.


text:
How to get slapped (in French)
As some of you know, I've been taking French lessons and using duolingo to practice. I am currently sitting at 56% fluency, which to me just means their fluency algorithm really needs to be re-calibrated. Netflix has a sad lack of titles both dubbed and subtitled in French, so I've been watching the Santa Clarita Diet. As long as France gets invaded by zombies and I need to hide bodies and eat people while I am there, everything will be fine. France, do not let me down.
Duolingo has this lovely little add-on lesson on how to flirt in French.
Vous me plaisez
Tu me plais
Both mean 'I like you', but the top one is the formal and polite way to say it, while the bottom one is how you'd say it to someone you are already friends with. And if someone you are already friends with doesn't know you like them, you might be doing it wrong. Anyway…
It contains your basics, such as:
Vous venez ici souvent? Do you come here often?
On va chez toi ou chez moi? Your place or mine?
Je peux vous offrir un verre? Can I buy you a drink?
It also has some true gems.
Tu es mannequin? Are you a model?
Je ne suis pas saoul, je suis juste ivre de vous. I'm not drunk, I'm just intoxicated by you.
Tues si chaude, que j'en attrape un coup de soliel. You are so hot you are giving me a sunburn
Il fait chaude ici, ou bien c'est vous? Is it hot in here, or is it just you?
It is good to know obnoxious pick-up lines know no language barriers.
France, je suis désolé.


text:
Direct Search
You need to login to order products. Go to the signup page to sign up today!
YESforLOV - Intimate Hide-and-Seek Kit
YESforLOV - Intimate Hide-and-Seek Kit
An invisible marker and a flashlight under the sheets... The hidden message is written on the skin. (Hidden almost anywhere...).
A new sultry game for elegant spies. A fluorescent marker that doesn't stain the sheets. The writing is invisible until revealed by the indiscreet black light flashlight, which completes the kit. Write the most secret words on bare skin and offer your body like the trembling pages of a book.
An invisible body marker and a black light (batteries included)


text:
Represented By:
Nick Walz
15900 College Boulevard
Lenexa, Kansas 66219
Focus Workforce Management is Kansas City's leading provider of light industrial staffing and workforce management solutions. Our clients include some of the best-known names in manufacturing and distribution, as well as local and regional facilities with high-volume labor needs.
Focus specializes in "facility-specific" programs, customizing service at the site, department and all the way to the shift and/or line level. Our proprietary infrastructure, SOPs, and workforce management technology allow Focus to respond quickly to the unique labor needs of each of our clients.
Our Mission
To be the leader in value and service to high-volume staffing clients.
Our Vision
By Focusing on talent, we help realize the true potential of our clients, our employees and ourselves.
Our Philosophy
Learn more about our Staffing and Workforce Management Services.
About Us
Staffing & Workforce Management
Find a Job
Contact Focus Workforce Management


text:
Foundation Press has just published their 30th Law Stories book. The idea behind these books is to learn the stories behind the cases you study in law school. It is a good approach. As I mentioned a few days ago, I rented Scottsboro: An American Tragedy after studying Powell v. Alabama in my Criminal Procedure class. I also finished reading Gideon's Trumpet which gives the background story behind Gideon v. Wainright, the landmark Supreme Court case which established the right of all indigent criminal defendants to have an attorney appointed to them if they could not afford one on their own. (The development of this case stemmed from the holdings in Powell.) Learning the context of the cases and the stories behind the people involved serve two useful functions:
1) Providing historical context for the cases involved and how they relate to previous rulings makes understanding their importance much easier than studying the cases in isolation to their broader context.
2) Hearing more about the human elements of the cases -- learning what happened before and after the cases were decided -- appeals to our natural inclination towards storytelling. This makes the cases become more alive and meaningful. It makes the connection between impersonal law and personal lives, making the law much more memorable.
I first heard about the Law Stories series while taking Antitrust. I purchased Antitrust Stories and got one of the best grades I've received in law school in that class. (Interning at the Federal Trade Commission at the time didn't hurt either.) I regret not having read through this series in my other classes. (I currently have Criminal Procedure Stories and Tax Stories checked out from our library and have been reading about a few cases from them.) To be fair, a large reason I have not been able to read more of these books while taking the related classes is because the sheer volume of reading in law school is so intense. With a few exceptions (such as the Scottsboro movie and reading Gideon's Trumpet), whenever I find myself with a rare moment of spare time, the last thing I want to look at is something related to law.
If I ever teach law in some capacity, I definitely plan on using these books as part of my teaching arsenal. I agree with Paul Caron -- studying fewer cases more in-depth would be a better way to learn the law. Instead of trying to force students drink from a fire-hose, why not make sure they are drinking deeply instead?
I know far too many lawyers, including Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas and several friends who graduated from Harvard Law, who say they didn't learn much law in law school. Maybe this approach could help change that?
Here is a list with links to the 30 books currently in the series. Also, a paper by Paul Caron (author of Tax Stories, the first book in this series) extolling the virtues of learning law through stories.
Read my previous post on the series.
My one request is that they please come out with these books in a Kindle format. My back is killing me from all the law books I have to carry and my bookshelf is getting full...


text:
Lester walked home carrying a couple grocery bags. He didn't need to do much shopping for his food as his salary used to afford him frequent meals out. That changed over the last couple weeks and now he found he desperately needed to stock up on the necessities. An ambulance whizzed by sirens blaring. Not an uncommon occurrence in this part of the city. He found himself whistling to the tune of a song he heard blasting on someones car stereo a few blocks earlier. Seeing the sky turned to shades of pink and orange and purple clouds he picked up his pace. He hated being out on the streets after sundown. Especially in this neighborhood.
When he reached his apartment he fumbled with the bags and keys until he finally managed to get the one he needed out without having to put anything down. He placed the bags on the kitchen counter then returned to the entry way, closed and locked the door. After putting the groceries away he grabbed one of the beers left behind by Lars and melted into his easy chair. For a time he wished he had someone to share in his miserable existence. Someone who would give it up and for a time in their embrace. Who am I kidding? I haven't been on a date in thirty-three months and seventeen days. He thought. Too late in the game to start a relationship now.Maybe when I get out. He then dwelled on the very real possibility of becoming someones prison bitch. "No." He shook his head. "I can't think about that."He said to the empty apartment walls. He resolved instead to drown his thoughts with the half a case of beer at his disposal. The beer didn't last long but it achieved his goal of dulling his senses. So much so that getting out of the chair seemed an insurmountable challenge. After his fifth attempt to get up he gave up and passed out in his chair.
Jackie drove forty-five minutes out of the city and into the suburbs through terrible rush hour traffic. Her phones GPS lead her into a neat,perfect, little neighborhood of identical houses and near copied and pasted landscaping. She parked on the side of the street and stood on the corner of the two streets indicated in the text from Mackey. Across the street, kitty corner from her, a half dozen young adults stood around chatting idly. She wondered whether or not she should be standing with them. In the distance she heard the song of an ice cream truck.
She checked the clock on her phone. Fifteen minutes remained until the appointed time. Down the street she saw a school bus rounding a corner and headed toward her. A few minutes later the bus stopped in front of the parents across from her and disgorged several elementary aged passengers. United with their children the young adults dispersed,each going their own separate way. The ice cream truck music grew closer.
Jackie checked her phone again impatiently then decided to check her e-mail while she waited. Nothing new popped up aside from a notification from one of the dating sites informing her she'd received a new message from someone. She looked up from her phone and watched the ice cream truck roll to a stop in from of her. A young black man got up from the drivers seat and leaned out the side window.
"555-3317?" He asked.
"Excuse me?"Jackie replied stepping forward.
"Are you 555-3317?" He repeated.
"That's my phone number. My name is..."
He cut her off, "No names. You got the money?"
Jackie produced an envelope from her purse and handed it to him. He popped it up and thumbed through the stack of bills inside. He tossed the envelope on the front seat then pulled a box of Popsicles out of the freezer which he passed to her.
"What's this?"Jackie asked turning the sealed box of Cherry Blast flavored Pistol Pops over in her hands.
"You wanted something that goes bang. That's what you get. Mackey makes the world go boom." She starts to open it but he stops her. "Not out here.Wait till you're in your car or better yet till you're at home." He climbed back into the drivers seat and pulled off leaving her very confused.
Jackie returned to her vehicle, looked around to be sure no one was around, then ripped open the flaps at one end of the box. Inside she found a pair of MAC11 machine pistols and half a dozen spare magazines. She pushed the flaps back closed and set the box in the passenger seat. I guess I'm really doing this. She thought as she turned the key in the ignition.
Emma sat next to Spoony on the couch idly flipping through channels looking for something to watch. Spoony looked up to the TV and said,"Will you just pick something already?" before returning to counting stacks of money. Finally she settled on a new episode of Deathwatch. "How can you wash this trash?"
"I think it's funny." Emma answered.
"It's fake."
"That's why it's funny."
"That's why it's trash."
"Obviously enough people disagree with you since this is their third season."
"Just because the world is full of idiots doesn't change the fact that they are idiots."
"You think everyone is an idiot." Emma pulled her legs up curling into a tight ball in her seat.
" I have a lot of experience dealing with people. I know an idiot when I see one." Spoony placed a large stack of cash on the table and sparked up a joint.
"You have a lot of experience dealing to addicts. That's not the same as dealing with normal people."
"What would you know about the difference between an addict and a so called normal person?" He blew out a plume of smoke. "I'll tell you what I know. Everyone is addicted to something."
Emma didn't bother with a response. Never mind the fact that she served more people in a day as a waitress than he did pushing on the streets. She just didn't want the argument to escalate. She sat there silently watching her show, not really paying much attention, when her phone chirped at her signifying a new text message. She pulled out her phone and checked it.
"Who the fuck is that?" Spoony asked sharply.
"It's Stephanie from work. She wants to know if I will cover for her tomorrow morning." She lied, looking down at the message from Josh which read:
[Tell Spoony I got his message.]
[What message?] she typed out hastily.
"What did you tell her?"
"I told her I'm not working a double with a damn good reason." She got up, placed her phone in her pocket then headed toward the hall.
"Where are you going?" Spoony asked.
"Bathroom."She responded just before entering the bathroom. She sat down on the edge of the bath tub and silenced her phone so Spoony wouldn't hear it go off again. A second later another message popped up. It contained only a photo which depicted Joshes beaten, battered, and bruised face. Emma stared at it, first in disbelief, then with indignation. She couldn't believe Spoony would do such a thing but then realized he was not above having someone else do it for him.After staring at the picture for several minutes all she could muster was a simple
[I'm sorry.]
She started to cry not knowing what to do about this new situation. She couldn't confront him because that meant admitting to her encounters with Josh at work, but then again he obviously already knew,otherwise he wouldn't have had someone attack Josh. The tears rolled down her cheeks and she wiped them away. She stood up and checked herself out in the mirror. She spent what seemed like an eternity trying to pull herself together to no avail. Finally she gave up,wiped away all her now ruined make up, and resigned herself to hiding in bed so Spoony would leave her alone.
"She made sure to get all the welling tears from her eyes, took a deep breath, and exited the bathroom. She walked down the hall into the living room. "I'm going to bed." She told Spoony.
"You forgot to flush." Spoony responded without bothering to look at her.
Shit. She thought. "Good night." She quickly went to the bathroom and flushed the toilet then retreated to bed where she carefully deleted the texts from Josh.
Victims of Wicked Men (Complete)General Fiction
Four unlikely heroes brought together by a support group for the down trodden wage a personal war against the criminals that have wronged them. Their pains may be wildly different, but their lives are interconnected in ways they never imagined. #91...


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9 free Dubai Valentine's ideas in case you're skint
Let's face it, not all of us remembered to budget for Valentine's Day this year, but instead of beating ourselves up about it, we've devised a list of cool, fun and free activities to do this February 14.
A road trip to Hatta Village
While it's not technically free, 'cause petrol and snacks cost money, it's pretty closet. We recommend going to Hatta Village which will give you a glimpse into the UAE's history.
Have a picnic
What do about 30 percent of all romance films have in common? There's a picnic scene. A Walk to Remember- picnic under the stars, 500 Days of Summer (slightly dark view of love but okay) - picnic scene in the park and drum roll please, the 1955 romantic classic Picnic. In case you haven't seen these films, it's okay – you should but it's okay for now- just bring a red and white checkered blanket, sandwiches, chocolate, a beverage and some tunes.
Visit Al Qudra Lake
Head over to Al Qudra. Better yet, if you've got bikes, take them for a spin. One of Dubai's man-made lake, Al Qudra is home to over 130 species of birds.Known for its magnificent swans, Al Qudra Lake is the perfect excuse to spend the most romantic day of the year surrounded by nature.
Location: Located in the middle of the Saih al Salam Desert Reserve and close to Bab Al Shams.
Go to the beach
There's nothing like a getaway with your partner to the beach. Listening to the sound of waves creeping in and feeling the warm sand beneath your feet is an absolute bliss. With beaches such as Kite Beach and Jumeirah Beach, there's no need to spend a single dirham.
Dubai Fountain
Find a good spot - we recommend the Souk Al Bahar side - and take some time to appreciate one of Dubai's most famous freebies. You've probably seen them before, but take some time to view them with a fresh set of eyes, take pictures like a tourist, and share a romantic moment when the Mariah Carey song comes on.
Details: 6:00pm to 11:00pm, every 30 minutes
Visit the Dubai Gold Souk
While the spices and gold are great, we're referring to the all-round experience i.e. the journey which in most cases includes a AED1 abra ride across the creek and getting lost more times than you'd like to admit - it's kinda like the reality series The Amazing Race minus the international travel. It's also a great way to learn more about one of the nation's oldest districts, snap the perfect Instagram shot and bag a bargain. The food which includes mouthwatering Indian and Middle Eastern delicacies are great too and the Chi tea is not to be missed.
Go for a walk
Now, we're aware that walking is in some cases one of the most boring date ideas known to man, but let us explain. How romantic would it be if you and your partner walked across some the city's many sights with a headphone splitter listening to your favourite songs? Think about it, it has all the elements that make up a perfect date - it's entertaining, exciting and fun. You can thank us for the health benefits later.
Movies Under the Stars
They might not be airing anything on Valentine's Day but they are playing Nicholas Sparks' famed novel turned film The Lucky One on February 12. It's a great way to take advantage of the last few days of "winter", admire the beauty of the city and well Zac Efron too. If you're willing to pay for popcorn, they have that too.
When: 8:30pm, Sunday, February 12
Where: Pyramids Rooftop Gardens
Contact: +971 4 324 4100, website
Ras Al Khor Wildlife Sanctuary
One of largest wetlands in Dubai, Ras Al Khor wildlife sanctuary is a host to all types of birds, flora and fauna. Best for its flamingo collection, Ras Al Khor is a great place to have a look around.
Details: Saturday to Thursday; 09:00am to 16:00pm


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Tomorrow — Wednesday, March 31, from 5:30 to 7 p.m. — there will be a Family Literacy Forum at the Fair Haven branch of the New Haven Public Library, 182 Grand Avenue.
The featured speaker is Joyleen Albarracin, home-based manager for Windham Head Start. Her title: ¿Dónde está mi abuelita? (Where is my grandmother?)
Junta for Progressive Action and the Greater New Haven Literacy Coalition, in partnership with the New Haven Free Public Library, invite you to attend.
RSVP: email@example.com


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Jailbreak iOS 8.4
As some users still using iOS 8.4, we would like to review jailbreak iOS 8.4 for Cydia as follow. It was great for all iOS users as they could jailbreak iOS 8.4 just after the release thanks to Taig jailbreak. As Taig has already captured all below versions of iOS 8.4, it seemed that they reached the jailbreak iOS 8.4 too before the major release even kept it without any sign. Also, we cannot neglect the PP jailbreak too, the other team that could stands for iOS 8.4 jailbreak because of their excellent work on jailbreaking. So the jailbreak iOS 8.4 could amaze us all and even Apple as well.
Cydia download iOS 8.4
Cydia iOS 8.4 was the most talk as users have to stay on iOS 8.4 until the jailbreak iOS 9 reach us. So at that time, Taig could bring the Cydia 1.1.23 update as the latest update before arrive the 1.1.26 which is now on iOS 9. Also, Taig could released their first ever jailbreak tool for Mac users as well. Therefore, most users were wait to receive the iOS 9 too as a Taig jailbreak because of their cleverness to fulfill the eagerness of fed up iOS users, stayed without Cydia up to four major iOS releases. So with the jailbreak iOS 8.4, Taig could draw the leadership of the jailbreak community and still most jailbreak users are looking for them with a hope for a Taig tool on iOS 9.1.
Release of the iOS 8.4.1
Anyhow, when the Taig and PP jailbreak tools could crack iOS 8.4 it became a reason to evolve iOS 8.4.1 to expel the jailbreak possibility to keep it as a barrier to protect iOS 9 which was on its beta season. But the amaze was most users avoid upgrade iOS 8.4.1 even it included Apple music improvements. Because all were looking to welcome iOS 9 with a great jailbreak tool. But we have to stay for a long period as the jailbreak community failed for the jailbreak iOS 9 until Apple released three iOS releases of iOS 9 series.
The Rootless security system vs iOS 9 jailbreak
The reason that the jailbreak community take much longer to archive iOS 8.4 jailbreak was a new security system added on iOS 9 as "Rootless". But Pangu could surpass it through their expertise. So now the iOS 9.1 jailbreak has become the effort of them as it appears as a version without jailbroken.
However, we will let you know if there will be any update of Apple or the jailbreak community too as soon as possible. And if you need perfect news of iOS, just visit us.


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This error is due to not having connectivity to the machine and port of where the database is running.
All DevTest ports must be bi-directional including ones to the database.
To troubleshoot, do a telnet from the Workstation machine to the machine and port the database is running on and make sure you get a good connection.
You will also have to open Workstation port 2008 to accept communication from the database machine.
Once the firewall is open, this should resolve the issue.


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Discussion in 'Windows 7' started by PaSsInG bY, Aug 5, 2009.
You need to login to view this posts content.
I guess it's an Insyde BIOS.
Probably here http://forums.mydigitallife.net/threads/7681
my hp was insyde have you used eveast to check you bios in the motherboard setting..
that will tell you your verison and all mabey u wanna check that out first
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Try here!


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Pana residents look to revive a thriving city
PANA — A detachment of slender young trees was planted recently in downtown Pana, the advance guard of a bridgehead to a brighter future.
At least, that's the hope.
The $8,000 tree project saw more than 50 trees with names like Bradford Pear, Cherry Snow Goose and Maple Red Rocket set in place in a static march along Locust Street. The trees will eventually reach heights of 25 to 30 feet and dazzle passers-by with their foliage and blossoms, a pretty sight for a town that could sure use a shot of something uplifting.
If towns, like people, can hit a run of bad luck, Pana has certainly had to suffer more than its fair share. A persistent economic decline dating back decades has left the town and downtown dotted with zombie homes and stores: buildings that are still standing but are empty and dead, their facades in various stages of crumbling.
And then there have been the tragedies: a 2-year-old girl and her 3-month-old brother died in a house fire April 2, followed barely a week later by the death in another house fire of a man aged 43. A spate of seven arson fires since January torched both abandoned homes and former businesses.
All that was followed on June 14 with a horrific accident in which two married couples and third woman, all aged between 77 and 89, died after their van was hit by a train in a collision at a railroad crossing.
Pana residents say they have learned to lean on each other and their faith in times of tribulation, and that's how they are getting through it. Pure tragedy isn't easily explained, and must simply be borne. "Grief takes time," said the Rev. Amanda Richards of First United Methodist Church, where four of the train accident victims were members of the congregation.
"However, I think here in church and in the broader Pana community there is a deep steadiness, a will to move forward. The weight of tragedy hasn't stopped us from living and wanting to improve our community, to make it a better place."
For Pana, the issue now is how this community of 5,700 is getting over its challenges, binding its wounds and moving forward.
'City of Roses'
Drop in at the Pana Area Senior Center if you want a Memory Lane snapshot of Pana's glory days. Viola Armstrong, 87, talks of acres of greenhouses growing roses and other plants back when the 20th century was young. The greenhouses were fueled by coal from local mines. "Back in 1950, the roses they hung on the winning horse in the Kentucky Derby were Pana roses," she said.
But the mines died as the world turned away from Illinois high-sulphur coal and the greenhouses faded away until they were gone completely by the early 1990s. Pana is still known as the "City of Roses" but the roses grow now only in the rich beds of memory.
"They get a lot roses from South America these days," said Richard Nohren, 65, one of a group playing cards with Armstrong. "They can grow them cheaper down there, even with flying them up here, that would be my guess."
Rhodes France Scout Reservation
Rose City Classic Race
Senior Citizens Club
Senior Citizens Club
United Methodist Church-First
Virgin Mary Grotto
Kitchell Park
Kitchell Park
Kitchell Park
Kitchell Park
Kitchell Park
Kitchell Park
Kitchell Park
Christmas House
George's Candy Shop
George's Candy Shop
Hawthorne Lodge-Lobby
National Greenhouse
Reeder Air Conditioning
Rhodes France Scout Reservation
Rhodes France Scout Reservation
Factory jobs in surrounding towns like Decatur were the next to wither and that hurt Pana, too. The whipsaw winds of economic decline ate into Pana's once vibrant downtown area leaving it, as in so many Central Illinois small towns, a pale shadow of what it once was.
Yet many of those who have settled their lives here don't want to move away. Pana's sense of cozy camaraderie exerts a powerful appeal. "I love Pana," said Armstrong, who socializes at the Senior Center and plays spoons in a kitchen band. "I've got lots of friends here."
And those friends like to help out people of all ages. The Senior Center members talk of fundraisers to help the family of the children who died in the house fire and generally leaving no worthy cause unsupported. "Just for instance we made noodles for about a week to sell to help send our high school band to Washington D.C.," said Rosie Jones, 85. "The Senior Center matched what we raised."
Shirley Jones, the Senior Center president, says a traditional sense of generosity inside the center's walls is being matched by a new spirit outside aimed at making Pana a better place to live.
"They've got people cleaning up their yards now and they are focusing on particular streets and giving out plaques if someone has done some nice landscaping and things like that," she explained.
Improvements from the ground up
Persuading people to pretty-up their yards is one of the pet projects of a new force for good in town, the Pana Pride organization. A volunteer group, it was formed in 2014 and is a community-funded not-for-profit. In 2016 it worked with experts from Western Illinois University to execute a "MAPPING" project to identify and target areas of Pana life that need improvement.
"Action teams" meet regularly to work on goals that range from streetscape upgrades to beautifying downtown, growing the economy and enhancing family activities and events. The new trees downtown are a partnership between Pana Pride and the city council.
"We were able to hire a city planner who works for Pana Pride and we loan him to the city," said Jack Nollman, Pride vice-president. "He spear-headed the tree planting project."
They've found a more-than-willing ally in Pana's new mayor, Donald Kroski. He's got a direct way of talking and doesn't care to mince words. "I've survived cancer, my wife as survived acute leukemia," said Kroski, 77, a former educator. "We just keep battling, we don't give up."
Which sums up his attitude to saving Pana. He said he ran for mayor because he was sick of watching his town slide downhill. Kroski believes more should have been done in the past to head off the problems Pana's got now, but won't waste breath lamenting the failings of others.
"I know that maybe this and that should have been done 50 years ago but they didn't do it," he said, cataloging infrastructure problems that include an ancient, leaky city water system. "So, they didn't do those things back then and the question is: what are we going to do now? It's time for us to step up to the plate."
He said the city is getting ready to borrow $10 million to enhance the water system, a new assault in an improvement war being waged simultaneously on multiple fronts. The city is going after those zombie buildings, too. The mayor said several dilapidated properties have been razed and the city is crafting new ordinances, with a new ordinance officer to enforce them, to target structures that either need to be fixed or be gone.
Nollman from Pana Pride says it's about time, lamenting how many derelict buildings are part of elaborate real estate investment schemes tied into complex tax arrangements. The absentee landlords have no interest in doing anything with the buildings themselves, which are left to rot and decay.
"Up until now the city hasn't had the ordinances or the power to do anything about that, but that is going to change," Nollman said.
The city and Pana Pride have facade grants available to help interested building owners enhance their property, making them offers it would be best they didn't refuse if they wish to avoid being at the wrong end of code enforcement action.
It's going to be a long road, given the fact the Pana fire chief identified 70 empty and decaying homes in a survey that didn't count vacant business properties. But Pana's city engineer, Greg Holthaus, believes the important thing is to make a start. He says good news feeds off itself, just like bad news.
"Pana residents drive through downtown and they don 't see anything, because it's always been the same thing, it's just slowly falling apart," he said. "But you fix up a couple of those buildings, they will see that. Those new trees we've planted, they notice them. It's a positive, and it's attitudinal: your action motivates others to do something."
And people are noticing, including some of the younger ones who have decided to make a home in Pana. Eric Hutchinson, 26, reads city water meters for a living and is well-acquainted with worn out equipment and infrastructure. But he's also seen some of the changes, too, and is encouraged by the new sense of purpose he feels flowing through the town: "We've got a good group of people here trying to help the city and we've got some good stuff going on," said Hutchinson.
"I think this town is going to hold its own just fine."
Trees and sympathy
Pana Fire Chief Rod Bland likes to go above and beyond in his duties. So it was no surprise to find him taking a fire truck on a sweltering day and watering the newly-planted downtown trees.
Bland loves his community and it's clear his community loves him and his volunteer fire department right back. Pana residents recently provided a meal for the 34-strong department in the city's Kitchell Park as part of an elaborate public "thank you" for all they've endured recently, like handing the fire deaths of the two children.
"It was very nice of them to do that for us," recalled Bland, 60, a department member for 41 years who has served as chief for the last 10. "We do this job because we want to, but you do see some terrible things that stay with you, they don't leave you."
Bland says in some ways, though, his town is at its best in crisis situations, when people pull together for the common good. Whether it's rallying around the fire department or finally bulldozing the fire hazard of derelict buildings or planting attractive trees to counter a backdrop of decay, he senses a resilient will to win a brighter future.
"I can see a kind of attitude change where people are thinking 'Yes, maybe we can make some positive change happen in Pana,'" added Bland, smiling.
"And we could always use some good luck, too; that wouldn't hurt at all."
The fire chief was also full of praise for the work of the Pana Police Department, where his nephew, Police Chief Daniel Bland, has come up with some innovative ways of tackling major crime problems, like drug use.
One of those ways has four legs and a tail and is a Belgian Malinois police dog called Brahm. A grant from the Decatur-based Howard G. Buffett Foundation paid the more than $80,000 cost of the dog, its training package and specialist canine vehicle, which the nine-strong police department could never have afforded on its own. Bland says Brahm and K-9 officer Jeremy Cox soon got busy taking a bite out of crime.
The chief explains that intercepting drug dealers bringing trouble to your town is a lot easier when you have a trained police dog and therefore probable cause to search their vehicles. "It's a huge resource for a small town as far as intercepting, interdicting and locating drugs and drug dealers," explained Bland.
When he took over as chief in 2013, Bland said Pana was in the grip of a major drug problem that metastasized into more calls for everything from domestic violence to overdoses. He says a more proactive drug policing approach, with the dog in the lead, has done much to intercept illegal narcotics and get pushers off the street.
He has also joined wider law enforcement efforts to urge Illinois legislators to keep up with the latest drug trends, like synthetic marijuana, and give police the legal tools to arrest criminals selling this poison. But perhaps surprisingly, Bland is up front about the limits of law enforcement.
"You can't just incarcerate your way out of a drug problem," said the chief.
He believes prison is the answer for dealers who seek to profit from others' misery but, for many addicts, treatment and recovery is the best long-term solution. Bland supports a group of law enforcement agencies seeking to create a program where addicts can turn in their drugs at a police station and then be taken to a treatment center.
Bland points to several church-based addict recovery programs doing good work in Pana and highlights his own church, Christ Tabernacle in nearby Herrick, which is running one such program. "Probably half of the 100 people involved down there are from our area in Pana," he said.
"No program is perfect, but when you see people successful in recovery and staying sober, families being restored and able to bring their kids back to the family structure, that's a positive direction that affects this whole community."
School and work
From the police chief to the mayor and people you bump into on the street, Pana residents talk of two main things that will shape Pana's future: the quality of its education system and the availability of decent jobs.
Schools superintendent Jason Bauer has just taken over and has only been on the job barely 30 days. He doesn't have to dig too far, however, to come up with the biggest challenge facing his school district: money. Illinois' dysfunctional school funding system, constantly coming up short or threatening through political gridlock to deliver no funding at all, doesn't make classroom planning easy.
On top of that, Pana is far from a rich area. Bauer says roughly 60 percent of the school's 1,300 students in K-12 qualify for free and reduced lunch, for example. "If we have the resources in place, the funding in place, then we have a lot more to offer kids who need additional help," said Bauer, 39.
The superintendent says he also knows that a strong school district delivering solid results is a major factor that plays into the location decisions of everyone from companies to families when considering a move. "The schools will work closely with the community to make sure we are providing the best service," he added.
"We're going to do everything we can to be part of the solution for a better Pana community."
The schools' performance so far gets a steady round of applause from parents like Reggie Ademi, who runs one of Pana's most recognized eating spots, the Rosebud Cafe just outside town.
"Every town like Pana has got its ups and downs, but I think Pana is holding its own and I've been very impressed with the quality of the school system," said Ademi, 57. "I've got three kids in the schools here and they are doing well; the teachers are impressive."
Lisa Mooney, 56, manages the Rosebud kitchen and while she says she has been "shocked" at some of the deterioration she has seen in Pana, she serves up nothing but praise for the school district. "I have grandchildren in the Pana schools and, yes, those schools are really good," she added.
Mooney says Pana could sure use more job opportunities for those students when they leave school and college, but points out the prairie business horizon isn't all storm clouds.
Pana Community Hospital, for example, has announced a more than $20 million expansion plan to both modernize the facility and increase its space. And smaller businesses, seen by the mayor and Pana Pride as the most viable source of future economic expansion, have also been willing to give Pana a shot.
The Locked & Loaded full service gun store on Illinois 16, located not far from the Rosebud, represents, with inventory, an investment of around $1 million. The log cabin-like store was built in 2014 and has already undergone two expansions to add a shooting range and more sales space. The light and airy interior, complete with comfy chairs and a faux fireplace under a big screen television, is antiseptically clean and blows away the traditional vision of dusty and oily mom and pop gun stores.
Jarred Agney is one of the owners and also the Locked & Loaded gunsmith. He's from Shelbyville and feared at first that sinking this kind of investment in Pana might prove to be a misfire. He's been happy to be proved wrong.
"We had a revenue goal for the first year and far surpassed it," said Agney, 28, a former Marine whose wife, Regina, is now president of the Pana Chamber of Commerce. "And every year since has been better than the year before."
Agney has come to believe that the right store targeted in the right place has a good chance of making it in Pana. "I think it's easy to underestimate the city," he added. "But there is opportunity here."
Back in the downtown area, Mayor Kroski is walking around looking at more zombie retail buildings he wants to take care of and gazing with affection at the new trees, that expeditionary force from a hopeful tomorrow. "Like I said before, I don't give up," he said.
"And I hope when I'm gone that people will say 'Well, he helped Pana turn the corner and we're on our way.' What a wonderful statement that would be. That is all I want."
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