Anyone who has been online for more than a minute has heard about phishing. For those of you who just crawled out from under a rock… phishing is when identity thieves use fake e-mails and websites to get usernames, passwords, and account numbers from you. They use the information to gain access to your identity and go on enormous spending sprees. Thieves figured out pretty quickly that in order for people to fall victim to phishing, the fake websites need to be completely believable. Phishing websites duplicate the colors and the logos of the financial institutions they are mimicking and some even have the legitimate bank website open in the background, and a small extra window open in the foreground prompting for the user/pass. It is, of course, the small window that is the phishing website.
Unfortunately, the criminal element is getting smarter by the moment. They have found a new way to trick joe-public into releasing private data. This time it’s called Vishing. Vishing is very similar to phishing, but instead of using e-mail and websites, the would-be thieves use the phone line (specifically VOIP - Voice Over IP). Because VOIP is incredibly inexpensive, thieves are able to create mass voice-mail messages and send them out across the phone lines. These messages alert people to a problem with their account, and urge them to call an 800 number immediately. The 800 number is set up with elaborate automated systems that request private information to verify the account.
One of the biggest problems with this racket is that people typically trust the phone. Before VOIP, it was too expensive for thieves to use the phone to mass-message. People became trusting of the phone system, the same way they became wary of the Internet.
Bottom line…. don’t reveal account numbers and social security numbers unless you dialed the number that YOU have for your financial institution. If you receive a phone message about your account, don’t trust the 800 number given in the message. Pull out your credit card and dial the number on the back of it. Your financial institution can transfer you to any department, you shouldn’t need to dial directly.
Don’t get Vished or Phished. Stay alert and suspicious, but most of all… just use common sense.
[tags]vishing scams, phishing scams, identity theft[/tags]
[dels]vishing scams, phishing scams, identity theft[/dels]
As I write more (and go back to re-read more of what I write), I realize that my first draft is never as good as I think it is when I’m writing it. Sure, it isn’t bad… especially when I compare it to what the average population writes (read that as “people who don’t want to write for a living”). But when I compare my writing against others in the field, I realize that I’m wordy, and have a very formal way of organizing my sentences. I also over-use commas… chronically. I rely on the word “that” way too often.
Now, before anyone jumps to my defense (and thank you very much if that was your first thought!), I’m not belittling myself or my writing. I’m trying to be honest about the faults and flaws of my chosen craft. I’ m not perfect, but I also don’t stand a chance of becoming “closer to perfect” if I’m not honest about my writing. I hope that by knowing exactly where I always seem to go wrong, I’ll be able to quickly put it right.
Though I fear I may regret it… I’ll ask all of you to chime in with your flaws also. And why would I regret it? Well, some small part of me is worried that your flaws may also be my flaws and that I just never noticed them before. When you bring them up, I’m hoping I don’t smack my head and say “D’oh”.
So please, join in and let me know where the flaws are in your writing. When you start the editing process, what errors do you immediately look for? What do you absolutely know will be wrong with your first draft, before you even look at it again?
[tags]writing flaws, writing errors, overuse commas, writing process, editing process[/tags]
[dels]writing flaws, writing errors, overuse commas, writing process, editing process[/dels]
Over at Spittin’ Out Words Like a Llama, Colby wrote about having to trust her partner completely for a new dance move they were learning. When she didn’t trust her partner, she got hurt.
This made me think of skydiving. There is that moment when they open the hatch of the airplane, that you must decide to jump out. There is no turning back once you do. You know you have a parachute, but it takes a tremendous amount of faith to step out of a plane into nothing.
Life is a bit like this too. Sometimes you just have to take a leap of faith. You have to trust yourself and know that even if a situation doesn’t work out the way you expect it to, you are strong enough and capable enough to handle it. Push yourself just a little further than you are comfortable going. Make the decision to jump, scream like hell on your way down, and then pop your chute and enjoy the scenery of life.
There is no going back, in skydiving or in life. Decisions made today will affect tomorrow. Just have enough faith in yourself to know that you can recreate balance. Different isn’t bad, it just isn’t the same. Don’t be scared to try the Road Less Traveled. Bring your balance with you and trust yourself, otherwise you get hurt.
Next up in the chain is Life in Scribbletown.
Please be sure to check out the rest of the participants in the blog chain.
Spittin’ (out words) Like a Llama
[tags]absolute write blog chain, balance in life, leap of faith, skydiving metaphor for life[/tags]
[dels]absolute write blog chain, balance in life, leap of faith, skydiving metaphor for life[/dels]
I admit that I absolutely love reality television. I am completely dedicated to American Idol. I record Rock of Love with Brett Michaels (a guilty pleasure) and Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew. I’ve watched Celebrity Fit Club, Survivor, America’s Next Top Model, and Project Runway in the past. I think you get the idea - I really enjoy reality tv.
Which is why I have no trouble saying, without a doubt, that The Moment of Truth, on Fox is REALLY BAD television.
I mean really, what is the point of this show? To embarrass people? To ruin their credibility? To destroy their friendships and relationships beyond repair? Well, they succeed on all counts.
First, I want to know WHY a person would be dumb enough to go on this show? They have already been told that there will be a lie detector test, and that there will be incredibly personal and embarrassing questions. The producers offer gobs of money so people will blab their deepest darkest secrets to a few million people. Do people really think they are going to win the money without having to compromise their secrets?
And once they are on the show, I don’t understand how they can NOT win the money. I mean really, if you are going to answer the first 10 questions truthfully (3 of which have already destroyed your marriage), why are you then going to lie about something else and loose all the money you’d won up to that point? So now these poor fools have ruined their marriages, made fools of themselves on national television, and didn’t even win gobs of money to console themselves with.
Fox should be ashamed of itself for foisting this ridiculous show upon the public. I refuse to watch it. I feel sorry for these contestants, who are so quick to sell their secrets and their respectability for the shot at prize money. I wonder how they pick up the pieces of their lives after this show. I wonder how long it will take for one of them to commit suicide.
What is your take on this show? Do you hate it as much as I do? Do you love it? What reality tv show is your guilty pleasure? Let me know!
[tags]the moment of truth, bad reality television, stupid contestants on reality television[/tags]
[dels]the moment of truth, bad reality television, stupid contestants on reality television[/dels]