DO NOT FEED THE SCAMMERS!!!
I admit it. I fell for it. Being a bit self-conscious of my smile, I spotted the ads on Facebook for teeth whiteners and brighteners. The testimony got me. A local Mom stated that she discovered when using these products consecutively, she saw dramatic results in a matter of weeks. She explained that the best way to get a deal was by ordering the trial products and by using the promo codes she included on her web page which would cut the shipping costs in half.
In the ads these products are being sold together, reportedly by two separate companies. I placed my order for both products early on a Tuesday, thinking that I would be paying the low cost of just under two dollars in shipping for each item. When signing up, I gave them vital information including: my address, my cell phone number, my email, and, of course, my credit card number. While completing the short order forms, I was never required to read their terms and conditions or was it explained that I would be charged any larger fees or be placed on auto-shipment lists. Dazzle White Pro and Easy White were marketed as free trial offers. Shortly after placing the orders, I noticed that I had not received a confirmation email from Dazzle White, so I got on their 24-hour online chat service to talk with a representative. The rep stated that one would be sent out in under two hours. I never received it. This should have been a sign.
The balance in my bank account was just under sixty-three dollars at the time I placed my order. Later in the day, I tried purchasing a few songs on Itunes. I was unable to do this using my credit card. Frustrated, I figured it was the Itunes server and decided to try again later. Then it clicked in my head. I wondered if my two small purchases earlier in the day might have affected my ability to use my card.
Immediately, I got on the phone with my bank. A very nice gentleman explained that a hold had been placed on $58.76 for Dazzle White Pro. Knowing exactly what had happened, I disconnected with the bank and got back online to contact a representative at Dazzle White. Though a contact phone number was included on their website, when I called I got an automated response and then was frustrated by annoying elevator music for at least ten minutes before I finally hung up. I believe this is a very strategic tactic on their part; to keep you on hold until you hang up and hopefully forget about the cancellation you need to place, thus, making them at least $58.76, if not more.
At this moment I realized that these two companies were really one single unit. I had been scammed. In my anger, I got back online with ‘Christina’ requesting an immediate cancellation on the product and a refund. (Remember, at this point they have only placed the $58.76 on hold in my account.) Immediate action on my part would determine whether or not I would see that money returned. After a little foul language and insistence that I recognized their scam, ‘Christina’ agreed to cancel my order and remove my credit card number from their auto-ship list. However, she did not state that a refund would be issued. In my frustration during the chat, I was so relieved that my order had been canceled that I did not realize that a refund had not been confirmed.
My concise action was now required if I wanted to officially get these scammers. I understand as one individual I am not necessarily capable of taking them down, but I could out their scam. The next morning I visited my bank and canceled my credit card, ordered a new one, and disputed the charge of $58.76 that Dazzle White had placed on hold. On my Facebook page I posted a brief status update listing both Dazzle White and Easy White as scam products; included in this post was a link to a complaints web page where customers stated their dissatisfaction with these products and the difficulty they have had in contacting the companies and the lack of refunds provided.
I have been cruising the Internet pretty regularly since 2001 and thought I could recognize a nasty scam but I admit they got me. It is not over though, I can share my experience friends and fellow web-surfers so that eventually we can end the scammers free ride!
Below I have included several links to complaint pages for both Dazzle White and Easy White products:
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/easy-white-c208293.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/bycompany/easy-white-labs-a125394.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/easy-white-c221178.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/max-white-ivory-brites-dazzle-white-c205744.html
http://www.iripoff.com/7676/Dazzle_White_Now.html
http://www.complaintsboard.com/complaints/dazzle-white-pro-c216784.html
DO NOT FEED THE SCAMMERS!!!
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PGBE or Proper Grocery Basket Etiquette
I have really noticed since becoming a mother and having to make a regular grocery store trips with my three young children that people in general are not demonstrating proper grocery basket etiquette (PGBE). Proper grocery basket etiquette is not leaving your basket in the middle of a major traffic isle to go grab a sample of your favorite salsa and chips. This is one of my favorite rude basket behaviors. Recently, I was walking down the food thoroughfare at my local Wal-mart when suddenly the shopper in front of me stopped unexpectedly and left her basket in the middle of the isle. As she headed toward a sample tray, I muttered, “Oh, you’re kidding!” and then I proceeded to move her basket so that I might pass. Never once did she turn around to see if her basket was in the way of other shoppers. How rude! I should have loudly exclaimed, “Excuse ME!?!” but not wanting to get into an altercation in front of my two year old and four year old, I walked on by….
Do people think that “sharing the road” does not apply to shopping? I always park my basket to the side as far as I can to make it easier for other shoppers to pass by while I look for a particular product. I manage to do this politely while trying also to wrangle my three young children. A majority of the time I find it is the individual shoppers whom lack the PGBE. Apparently, because they are unattached they feel they get free reign. For those of us who demonstrate good basket behavior, I believe there should be a reward system. We have all seen the lights that are sensor activated in the freezer section at many grocery stores. Sensor boxes should be placed on the baskets, detecting the placement of the basket in the isle. These sensor boxes would be able to tell if the basket was left unattended in the middle of an isle or if the basket was properly placed to the side when needed. Another part of this sensor box would be to collect points or deduct points depending on the shopper’s basket etiquette. At the end of their shopping experience, the sensor box would disperse a money saving coupon for good behavior and perhaps make an embarrassing sound notifying the entire store of their bad basket etiquette. It would change the face of grocery shopping experiences everywhere. A safety system could also be put to use, utilizing a beeping sound when carts turn corners notifying others of their presence. Or perhaps lights that signal shoppers when it is safe to turn the corner.
During this crazy shopping season, we should all try a little harder to be cheerful to the cashiers, retail clerks and fast food employees, as they really have it rough. Thankfully, I am on the shopping side of the retail industry this year. Take a moment during your next grocery shopping trip and watch other people’s behavior when it comes to PGBE. Observe the inconvenience that it causes many people when one person leaves their cart unattended in the center of an isle. How much less stressful would this holiday be if we didn’t spend half the time complaining because of the lack of PGBE there is on the shopping floors of America! Good Luck & Merry Christmas!
©RSMorris 2007
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Local Tattoo Shops in Wichita, KS
I love tattoos. I have three tattoos that desperately need touch-ups. My first tattoo is of a court jester, he is pretty faded. My second tattoo is of a butterfly on my leftside, I want it to be bolder. My third tattoo is a piece of custom art that really needs a color touch-up. I got all three of my tattoos in a small Californian town named Morro Bay. It is a beautiful and cozy town by the beach that I considered to be my second home while I was growing up in Bakersfield, California.
I have been interested in getting each tattoo touched up for some time. Now that I have established residency in Wichita, Kansas, I figured that it was about time to do some research locally. Being a full time stay-at-home mom of three, I decided to utilize my Yellow Pages phonebook and make some calls with basic questions regarding services and hours. Below is a list of local tattoo shops here in Wichita as well as one located in Hutchinson and one in Newton. The top shop listed is the business that I felt offered the best services, was friendly and professional while also offering a sterile environment.
POINT BLANK TATTOO
3343 E 47th So
Wichita, Kansas
316) 522-1190
&
1808 N Plum
Hutchinson, Kansas
620) 665-1173
Offers:
Piercing: YES
Touch-Ups: YES
Custom Design: YES
Appointments: Preferred/Consult for Custom & Touch-ups
Walk-ins: If time, summer is busy time!
Hours: 12pm-7pm Tues thru Sat/ Friday 12pm-to later/ Closed Sunday
Sterile: YES (30min drive from Wichita)
115 S. Kansas
Newton, Kansas
316) 283-2907
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BODY INK & STEEL & PIERCING
Offers:
Piercing: YES
Touch-ups: YES, consult
Custom Design: YES, consult 1st
Appointments: Preferred
Walk-ins: Welcome
Hours: 2pm-8pm Mon thru Wed/ 2pm -9pm Tues, Fri and Sat/ Closed Sun
Sterile: YES1125 E Douglas Ave
Wichita, Kansas
316) 260-1200
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ARTIST AT LARGE
Offers:
Piercing: YES
Touch-ups: YES
Custom Design: YES
Appointments: During the Week
Walk-ins: If time, Sats
Hours: 12pm-10pm Tues thru Sat
Sterile: YES551 W Douglas
Wichita, Kansas
316) 262-5549
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LUCKY DEVIL TATTOOS
Offers:
Piercing: Call
Touch-ups: Call
Custom Design: YES
Appointments: Preferred
Walk-ins: YES, Custom Design = consult
Hours: 12pm – 7pm Tues thru Sat
Sterile: YES
*NO KIDS, NO CELL PHONES AND NO STUPID PEOPLE ALLOWED IN THE SHOP!*1107 W HWY 54
Wichita, Kansas
316) 733-8595
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KING PETE TATTOO
Offers:
Piercing: NO
Touch-ups: Not if by local artist
Custom Design: YES
Appointments: YES, ONLY
Walk-ins: NO
Hours: 2pm-10pm Mon thru Sat; Closes early on Tues & Sat
Sterile: YES115 E Douglas
Wichita, Kansas
316) 266-4114
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HELL BOMB TATTOO
Offers:
No Answer219 S. Havenhill Rd
Wichita, Kansas
316) 322-8664
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WALNUT RIVER TATTOOS
Offers:
No Answer7542 S Broadway
Wichita, Kansas
316) 522-1587
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TATTOO MIKE’S TATTOOING & BODY PIERCING
Offers:
Piercing: ?
Touch-ups: ?
Custom Design: ?
Appointments: ?
Walk-ins: ?
Hours: ?
Sterile: ? TATTOO MIKE’S TATTOOING & BODY PIERCING was the least favorite and least appealing shop. David, answered the phone by saying,”HOLD ON!” and he then placed the phone down. I could overhear him telling a customer, “If they are old or hangup, who cares you know?” He was referring to me, the customer waiting on the phone. When he finally picked up the line I explained that I had a few questions about the shop. He replied rudely, “Like what? I am in the middle of a tattoo!” I said that I only had five quick questions…….”BUT I AM IN THE MIDDLE OF A TATTOO!” I said okay and thank you and hung up. I hate to think of what he said about me after I hung up!
BTW I repeat that I have three tattoos of my own and am aware that is common for the artist to step back for a few minutes from his/her work. Needless to say, I don’t recommend this shop.
Visiting the tattoo businesses prior to having any work done is a safe and smart idea. I made my initial calls because there is a lot that you can tell about a business by the way they answer their business line. When arriving at the tattoo shop of your choice, make sure you check their license, that the environment is sterile and watch the overall attitude of the employees. Always look at the artist’s portfolio and have three to five questions ready to ask them about their process, experience and what they like the most about working as a tattoo artist. With a little research and respect for the art, you can make getting your tattoo a rewarding, awesome and memorable experience. Proper gratuity is considered fifteen percent of the total cost and it is recommended that you include this when paying the artist just in case there are any problems. It is also important to prepare yourself for the possibility that it could take more than one visit to get the tattoo you want. The experienced tattoo specialist can help answer your questions during the consultation. Remember a tattoo is permanent! Good luck!
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Potty-training Month
While at Watson Park one afternoon, I watched a ten month old boy drop his overalls and punch at the fullness in his diaper. I couldn’t help smiling. He could barely verbalize, but was saying that his pants were full and he didn’t like it! Later, I approached his mother and we talked about potty training.
Maggie from Derby offered, “I try to be consistent with him, but it can be hard at the end of a long work day. He just wants to play outside and I want to relax.” She explained that Ryan doesn’t have a male role model, so she relies on day care for potty training. Maggie understands that consistency is important, but doesn’t want to fight with Ryan to use the potty. “I figure he’ll just get it!” she says.
For many parents, potty training can be a frustrating and complicated process. With busy schedules, some moms and dads forget that consistency is crucial to successful potty training. One strategy mentioned on easypottytraining.com is introducing children to the idea of potty training at an early age which often leads to faster and easier success.
Of course, every child is different and, therefore, their potty training needs are different. Max, a dad with whom I spoke at Riverside Park says his youngest son Todd started potty training at twelve months, but didn’t want to stop playing to use the potty. “He would get really angry and upset when my wife or I encouraged him to use the toilet.” So Max and his wife decided to let Todd learn in his own time. One day Todd followed his cousin Casey into the bathroom and five minutes later Todd came out exclaiming, “Da potty!” Max said, “He was thrilled that he had used the potty on his own. He has been using the potty ever since!”
Wichita dad Mathew says potty training started for his son Jack when he was around ten months old. Jack had been showing an interest in the process by following his mom or dad into the bathroom. “Jack was very assertive about his interest in the toilet and wanted to utilize it like a big kid.” Jack’s mom began leaving a small box filled with cheerios on top of the toilet tank which she told Jack were for potty target practice. “He is very good about going in there, getting a handful of cheerios and shooting at the targets. He always comes out with a huge smile because he knows that he succeeded on his own.” Jack has an occasional accident, says his parents, but he knows he can go potty on his own.
Sarah of Hays declares her eleven month old twin girls were potty trained quickly and at the same time. “We didn’t experience a lot of frustration because we were able to give them a lot of time and patience. Now they only wear protective panties at night. The big thing for us was getting them to understand how to wipe correctly.” Teaching a girl how to wipe properly after a bowel movement prevents the spread of bacteria from fecal matter into the vagina and urethra which could lead to infection.¹
My own three children benefitted from a naked phase. For about two weeks whoever was potty training would just hang out with no pants on. When the urge arose, they had nowhere to go but to the potty chair. There were occasional accidents, but overall the naked phase was quite effective. Sometimes, however, the best advice comes from a casual conversation at the park with a fellow parent.
¹Jenson, Lara. “Potty Training Girls.”
Easy Potty Training . 2006. May 16, 2008.
<http://www.easypottytraining.com>
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Kansas Moms Groups Offer Positive Support
I recently moved to Wichita, Kansas from southern California in May of 2007. I had lived in California for about twenty seven years and a majority of my friends and family still reside there. We made the move to Kansas because my husband was offered a job that included housing. We had just lost our house to foreclosure and didn’t have anything left. We took a chance and headed for Wichita.
We got to Wichita at the end of May and we faced a long, humid summer. Right off the bat our kids all got sick with the rotavirus so that kept me busy for a few weeks. My husband was very busy working long days so I was at home alone with the kids. With the hot, humid weather and not knowing much about our new city we stayed inside alot. Thank goodness I had my internet connection or I would have lost my mind. Being online has allowed me to make new friends and visit with my old friends back in California.
I am constantly searching the internet for opportunities and one afternoon I decided it was about time to find a local moms group. It can be intimidating immersing oneself into a group of unknowns. Late in the summer I was craving adult interaction and needed to communicate on a regular basis with woman who were experiencing the long summer alone as well.
My first connection came with my registration with a website called CafeMom.com. I was really excited about finding a site that resembled MySpace but was tailored more toward the mom crowd with no fear of uncomfortable interactions with lonely men. I spent quite a few days customizing my profile and joining groups, hoping that I could gain consistent communication with fellow moms. I found, unfortunately, that things were pretty quiet. I rarely got a visit to my profile and local moms were hard to find. I knew a few moms back in California and I recommended that they join CafeMom and that got things going for a bit. Then school started and things got really quiet. We were in the middle of moving from our temporary apartment so the kids hadn’t gotten in school quite yet. Things were pretty much the same for me daily. I would check in every other day but there was nothing new. I was feeling really frustrated.
Out of my frustration I began a search for a moms group that was based in Wichita. I found several that were appealing.
MagicalMoms was the first site listed in my search results. This group was a bit extreme for me as they are a Pagan parenting group for parents (moms or dads) of alternative religions or just any parent who has a spiritual open mind who like to be around other parents who are trying to raise their children with a heightend spiritual awareness. This group does get together on a regular basis for playdates for children, at different locations including parks, rec areas, their homes, etc and of course the monthly MOM’s Night Out. The process to join MagicalMoms does include screening to secure the safety of other members. If you are interested in this group you can find out more information by visiting their website at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/MagicalMoms/ .
The second listing in my search results was for WichitaMoms. This site appealed to me but I did not end up joining. The WichitaMoms website is a community website supporting mothers, mothers to be, and women trying to conceive. The purpose of the site is to give mothers throughout Wichita, Sedgwick County and surrounding areas a place to meet, talk, and share about parenting, motherhood and life as a mom. Formed in June of 2006, the website offers members their own blog, playdate calendar, moms night out event listings, recipe information, classifieds and a photo gallery. There is more information about WichitaMoms at http://www.wichitamoms.org/ .
The next interesting listing in my search results was for The Wichita Moms Group. I ended up joining this website and I am glad that I did. The Wichita Moms Group website has great pictures of woman from the early twentieth century coupled with clever captions. I was able to customize my profile very quickly, incuding adding banners and links, my favorite photos and music too. One of my favorite things about the site is the Home page where after you have logged in you can see the latest posts on the message forums. There are always great supportive woman online to comment on your posts and offer neutral advice and awesome support. The Wichita Moms Group website also has an events calendar for playdates, moms nights out, birthdays, coffee meetings and other club events. Members can also post photos in a photo gallery and post a blog that can be viewed by other members from their Mom’s Space. More information on The Wichita Moms Group is available at the website http://www.thewichitamomsgroup.com/Home/tabid/54/Default.aspx .
Another great way to find clubs in Kansas is to visit the helpful website for Kansas Newcomers at http://www.newcomersclub.com/ks.html . This site is a directory of Newcomers Clubs, Women’s Groups, Moms Clubs & Dads organizations in Kansas, which are designed to give men and women the opportunity to meet and develop friendships with others who live in the area. The Newcomers Club is a worldwide directory as well and visitors can find links to other states and countries at the bottom of the homepage http://www.newcomersclub.com/ks.html .
Finding lasting friendships is difficult but doing the work to keep the friendships is even harder when you have long distance relationships. Having an online network of friends has helped me tremendously with the transistion to a new city and state as well as allowed me to keep in touch easier with my friends back in California. Always use discretion, however, when divulging personal information on the Internet. Good Luck!
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It’s a Scam: The Tricks of Fraudulent Job Postings!
I have been scouring the Internet in search of legitmate work from home opportunities that did not ask for money up front, for me to sell something or for me to throw some sort of merchandise party. In this ongoing search, I recently stumbled upon a couple of postings that proved to be malicious scams. I have to say that they were very cleverly disquised to make it seem like the position was working for a bank or financial insitution or a company that sold luxury merchandise. The scammers think if they make the position appear mysterious and luxurious people will be more attracted to the job. The descriptions of the job duties and companies are usually vague. When searching for a job online, you really have to read the fine print even if it means reading between the lines. Always ask yourself questions about the position and requirements. It should not be required that you send them money or give them any personel information until it is certain that the company is legitimate and you have been hired. There should always be contact information and a live person to communicate with regarding the position. It should always be posible to get information on the company, checking with the Better Business Bureau is a great place to start. The two scams I ran across claimed to need my banking information in order for me to work for them. The position required that I accept payments from customers into my bank account, take out my commission and then forward the rest to their respresentative. I played along at first but when it came down to providing my bank account information, I asked for information on the company. Since then, I haven’t heard from either contact . It’s a scary thing. You really don’t know who is on the other side of the posting. Trust your instincts, ask questions, learn about the company and contact someone before giving out any of your personal information.
I have provided some excerpts below of the job postings and email responses that I received regarding these scam positions:
Job Posting #1:
***Job title : ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT – VIRTUAL OFFICELOTUS
Description: Lotus an international luxury goods company, is currently seeking virtual assistants to work at the convenience of their home, part-time. Lotus presents the best off-season luxury finds from the most prestigious international designers and collectibles from the rarest collections at irresistible prices. Candidates for the job should possess excellent organizational skills as well as the ability to efficiently multi-task. Ideal candidates have a strong focus on day-to-day operational excellence, and a personal style that builds trust, and inspires loyalty. The candidate should be motivated, proactive, be able to learn and adapt quickly.
Other duties of the Virtual Assistant include, but are not limited to:
• Incorporating effective priorities for the virtual office function
• Administer day-to-day financial responsibilities for clients
• Reporting online daily
• Preparing brief summary reports, and weekly financial reports
Salary part-time $1, 200/month, plus commission. Send resume to: click on “Apply now”The response email to my inquiry was as follows:
Dear Rebecca Morris,
We have reviewed your resume and would like to consider you for the position of administrative assistant/sales support within Lotus. In the attachments you will find the agreement with a detailed job description. If you are interested in this trial period, which will last for one month, during which you will receive training, salary, and commission, please see the attached agreement. Upon successful completion of the trial period you may receive a contract and continue working with Lotus, change from part-time to full-time or continue working part-time. Please read carefully the trial period agreement, complete it and forward back to us either via email. If you have any questions email us.
Thank You,
Kate Evans****Attachments provided with this email included:
Payment Methods and Salary AgreementIn order to receive payments from clients and your salary please provide with account information:
Account Holder’s Name:
Name of Account (if business account):
Name of the Bank:
Address of the Bank (address, city, state, zip):
Account Number:
Routing Number:
Swift Code(if applicable/optional):
The Company will not reveal your details; and will only remit agreed funds to the account at the times and dates specified prior each transaction. The Employee will not attempt to use any of the Company funds – other than those that are deposited in relation to the employment as agreed remuneration, and commissions.Payment Methods
Please type in X to indicate which payment methods you will accept. You will be keeping 5% from every transfer received. By accepting all or most payment options you are increasing the amount of payments you will receive, thus your commission.Payment Methods/Accept Decline
Checks (certified, cashier’s, money orders)
Wire Transfers
Western Union & MoneyGram
PayPalPersonal Information
First Name:
Last Name:
Date of Birth:
Address:
City:
State:
Zip:
Residential Phone:
Cell Phone:
The employee, ____________________________, acknowledged the Payment Methods and Salary Agreement.
Name and Last Name of Employee and signed ___________________________on this _______ day of ________, 2007.
Employee’s Signature date month
Commencement Date: Salary
“During the trial period, you will be paid 1,200USD per month while working on average 3 hours per day, Monday-Friday, plus 5% commission from every payment received and forwarded. The salary will be sent in the form of wire transfer directly to your account. After the trial period your base pay salary will go up to 1,700USD per month, plus 5% commission.”
Job Posting #2: Response to my email inquiry
****The second scam position I got a response for was quite similar to the one above:Hello,
Thanks for your response… we need a representative that would be closer to where our major clients are located. We sell electronics and other consumer goods… You can check our mini for details about our products (http://wisdom211.en.ec21.com). Well, we have stores in Seattle, WA. and West Jordan, Utah. We sell these products mostly here in US. Our customers need to pay over a secure means and to them the best form is paying via Money order and bill payment issue from their banks. YOUR WORK: Receiving all payments in the aboved forms on our behalf from our customers located in your particular region. When you receive the payment… You are to process it, deduct your salary and remit the balance our supplier when we need you to or directly to the company on further directives. *(Note that you will need a checking bank account to execute the cashing of the payments.)
WHAT IS YOUR INTEREST: You will get $120 for transactions below $3k and $150 for payments above that $3k and 9% for payment above $4k from the entire sum of every payment received by you on our behalf and other stuffs like health allowance when the time comes. Taxes and all other charges during cashing will be deducted from the balance after you’ve gotten your pay. If you are interested, respond immediately by sending your personal information: What is your preferred mode of communication Phone/e-mail so that our clients will start making payments to you as the company’s representative
Mack,
Wisdom sales
206-350-1820This one did provide a website but looking at the figures, they are obviously exagerated to make you think you’ll make lots of money working for them. I also called the number listed above and it is a nonactive number.
********************************************************************************************
I have to admit that both appeared to be legitimate opportunities for employment at first glimpse. I had to ask myself some questions:
*Why would a corporate company need my bank information to complete financial transactions?
*Is there a website and company information?
*Can I contact someone over the phone and inquire about the position and company?
*Where is their corporate office located?
*What is my gut feeling about this opportunity?
After pondering these questions and emailing for more information, my questions were answered with no response from the contact person listed in the company email. These scammers don’t want to deal with people who are smart and want information. They want the easy targets who hand over their personal information with no questions asked!!Both of these positions were listed on various job search websites such as: hotjobs.com, virtualvocations.com, simplyhired.com, fashionjobs.com, careerjet.com, jobster.com, craigslist.com, indeed.com, homejobstop.com and genuinejobs.com. It is very easy to sign up on a website and post a job, especially on craigslist. Honestly, these sites all receive multiple listings daily and surely don’t have the time to screen each posting. So it is up to the job seeker to do their research, follow their instincts and use common sense when applying for any job listed online.
January 18, 2008
I just wanted to share an email that I received today. I did not contact this company for any information. It is for a ’work from home opportunity’ working for Emerson Electric Company. I have copied it below. I wanted to share it with you because I want you to know that the scammers will find you too. I get spam all the time saying that I have won the UK lottery or asking for my help transfering money to a United States bank account. These scammers don’t give up. They know that for every fifty people who recognize the scam there are maybe five or ten who fall for it. Follow your intuition when going for these work from home opportunities. In a perfect world, there would be staffing agencies that had referrals just for working at home. We may not be far away from that idea. Until things get a little safer for the virtual employee, please use caution and common sense when seeking online employment!! Best Wishes!
Email from Scammer:
Emerson Electric Co
Career Opportunities
We are currently seeking 24 part or full time employees for our ever-growing Accounts Receivable Department. Through extensive demographic research, we have discovered a wealth of untapped human resources that, for one reason or another, need the freedom to work from home. If this sounds like you, please read on, and consider becoming part of our company family.
Emerson Electric Co is a leading $3.2 billion global automotive supplier that has grown from our original 5 North American manufacturing facilities since our founding in 1994, to 27 global locations serving over 100 customers in
12 countries. Due to our wide and varied interest, as well as ever increasing overhead, we have found it necessary to have our clients prepay for orders, whether in part, or full. Since the majority of our clients are overseas, most of our
cash flow comes in the form of certified checks or money orders, payable in US Funds.
The position of Accounts Receivable officer entails the following duties: coordinate payments from our clients, receive payments, process payments at your local bank, and forward 90% of funds received to the proper branch office,
as instructed. The remaining 10% is your compensation. Since this position is need-based, you will have plenty of free time while enjoying a good income.
If interested, please reply with full name, full residential address, phone numbers, and email address, so that one of our Human Resource Managers can contact you for an interview. Please specify the best way to contact
you in your reply email or phone.
We appreciate your interest in Emerson Electric Co!
David N. Farr,
Chairman & CEO,
Emerson Electric Co
8000 W Florissant Ave,
St Louis MO 63136
15 Great Webmaster Resource Sites
As a self-taught webmaster, I began building websites by teaching myself HTML code and searching the Internet for free clipart, fonts, image hosting and web hosting. The Internet has grown a lot since 2003 when I first began building my simple webpages. Knowing HTML code has allowed me to be more creative in the construction of my websites. Although things have gotten more complicated, it is still possible to produce an independent and inexpensive website that is creative, professional and clear in its presentation.
There are many different webhosting companies on the Internet that offer free to low cost hosting packages. I stayed with Zerocatch.com for many years but the popups became too annoying so I then switched to Angerfire. Angelfire does have popups and banner advertising but the popups are easily controlled by a blocker on my tool bar . Both of these webhosting companies utilize the FTP uploading software or they offer premade templates to help you build your website if you don’t know HTML code.
I started using an image host when I got my MySpace page. My two favorite hosting companies are: ImageCave, which is free, and Flickr, which is also free and is easy to add to your webpage. ImageCave’s free accounts give you 250K GIF of storage and you can create albums with 200 images or less. Uploading is super easy and they produce the URL, HTML code, EZ code and Thumbnail code automatically for you. It is important to check in with your account, however, at least once a month or it will be deleted. Flickr is really popular with the bloggers because you can embed your RSS feed into the HTML code of your blog so that people can subscribe to your images. It’s not just for bloggers!! Anyone who wants to share their images can get a free account at http://www.flickr.com/. One of my favorite features of Flickr is ‘Everyone’s Photos’ which gives you a taste of the pictures that other folks have uploaded. It makes me feel really connected to the world!
Another important resource for webmasters is knowing where to get great fonts. My favorite site for this is FontFreak. FontFreak offers so many different kinds of fonts for both the PC user and Mac user. All you need to do is choose a font, pick PC or Mac download mode and then save it to your computer. I created a special folder for fonts in my C: drive just to make it easier to find. Once you have extracted the zipped file you will need to add the new font to your ‘Fonts’ folder. Go to the Control Panel and open ‘Appearance and Themes.’ In the top left corner under ‘See Also’ there should be an option called ‘Fonts.’ You will need to click on ‘Fonts.’ After ‘Fonts’ is opened, go up to File and click on ‘Install New Fonts.’ You will then need to find the file that you just installed and click on it’s folder. The new font should automatically be detected and you then just need click on the font and then click on ‘OK.’ The new font should then be installed and you will be able to use it the next time you use your WordPad. Tip: Some fonts work better than others for websites. It is best to test them in multiple browsers.
The best part about knowing HTML code is the ability to be creative with the contents of my webpages. I often make my own banners using an animated .GIF program or simply by using an art program. Two good software programs that allow me to do this are Artweaver and Easy GIF Animator. Artweaver allows me to edit images or even photos by filtering, adding special effects or text to the image. I can also customize the size of the image. Artweaver is a great program for easy banner creation that does not require animation. When I do want to add an animated GIF to my website, I use my Easy GIF Animator software. I am still utilizing my 20-use trial but it is only $19.85 to buy. It is great for beginners, intermediates and even advanced users who want to produce something effective and professional in a short amount of time.
FlamingText is a website that I have been visiting since I first began building my webpages. They offer free clipart, cool custom image creation such as banners, buttons, navigation tools and awesome headings. If you don’t want to download a bunch of software just to get your website started, FlamingText is a great site where you can create the tools you’ll need to produce a professional website.
I often visit Downloads.com for all of my freeware or shareware. They always have lots of software that is either free or allows you a generous trial period. The best part about this site is that you can feel safe knowing that you are downloading from a secure server. There are always risks when downloading from the Internet so be sure to read any information provided with your download of choice.
Finally, I would not have gotten as far as I have being an independent webmaster if it weren’t for the wonderful webmaster resource forums and communities online. Here are a few of my favorite sites: thefreecountry.com, geekvillage.com, walshaw.com, thewebmasterschannel.com and webmasterstreet.com.
It can get frustrating at times but I always love stepping back and looking at the end result of my hard work and research as a webmaster.
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Earth Signals Global Warming Emergency
As we prepare for another year of working, taking our kids to school, vacationing and complaining, I wonder how much longer our planet will tolerate us. The front page of Yahoo news displayed an article that expresses the threat of an even greater global warming. The coal, oil and fossil fuels that we use on a daily basis are responsible for a devastating impact on the Earth’s atmosphere and environment. Are we going to take responsibility for our actions or are we going to turn our backs?
Al Gore said recently in his acceptance speech for the Nobel Peace Prize, “we face a true planetary emergency. The climate crisis is not a political issue, it is a moral and spiritual challenge to all of humanity.” Gore has been applauded and highly criticized for his public contribution toward the global warming crisis. His great passion on the issue is hard to ignore and so are the statistics: because the Artic sea ice is melting so rapidly, it could disappear entirely by the summer of 2040¹. What does that mean for those of us SUV driving, technology obsessed, suburbanites?
Lack of sea ice means that eventually the sea level will rise and will also lead to more immediate changes globally in winter weather . We all think that this is so far off in the distant future. Truthfully, it appears to be occuring now just not quite as drastically as we expected. Unfortunately, it appears that we are moving too slowly in reversing the damages. It may already be too late. It has taken decades for the Earth to finally show us that enough is enough. We have taken this majestic planet for granted and now we expect instant results they way we want our easy slurpy from the Quickie Mart.
Scientists state that white sea ice reflects eighty percent of the sun’s heat off Earth. An Earth with no sea ice would mean that roughly ninety percent of the heat would go into the planet’s oceans which would then warm everything else up. If the oceans get warmer, it will cause more melting. Nasa scientist James Hansen, also known as the godfather of global warming, says that in some ways Earth has hit one of his so-called tipping points. “We have not passed a point of no return. We can still roll things back in time — but it is going to require a quick turn in direction,” Hansen affirms¹.
Our planet is clearly sick. With all the people, cars, power plants, industrial sites and fuel, our Earth has really been tolerant all these years. She is clearly trying to tell us all something now. We all need to open our eyes and ears and listen to her. Think about what you need in this life and think about what Earth needs to give you that life.
© RSMorris 2007
Reference:
1. BORENSTEIN, SETH, AP Science Writer, “Ominous Arctic melt worries experts.”
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Wichita, Kansas Needs to Take Larger Steps in Recycling!
With being Green so prominent in the media lately, I was surprised to read an article in the Wichita Eagle about the issues this city faces regarding curbside recycling. In Tim Potter’s article titled “Wichita, Sedgwick County are not taking action on recycling” he says, “the official trash plan adopted by the county called for curbside recycling in all cities — including Wichita — six years ago.” Wichita assistant Public works director, Joe Pajor, is quoted in the article as saying, “the city is not currently pursuing the idea.” The idea of recycling is not on city politician’s minds. Meanwhile, what are the local landfills beginning to look like?I am not a native of Wichita. I moved from California in May of this year, where each of the homes I lived in had curbside recycling bins. I didn’t mind paying a bit more for the service, appreciating that the items would be recycled into new products. Now in Wichita, I live in an apartment complex, where we throw everything into the trash. I feel guilty doing this; we are putting glass, aluminum, plastic, cardboard all into the trash. Mind you, I know I could keep bins in my home for the different items and take them to centers myself. However, being the mother of three young children, I am very busy. Taking these items to a drop off location is not convenient for me. But what am I teaching my children? I thought about starting a Community Recycling Group but this also takes time and effort. Maybe if I didn’t feel so alone in that effort it would be easier. My children would be excited to help. I believe that if our politicians made it important to them, the whole city would fall behind in that decision.
See Below!
I found this to be educational for myself as well, now I have the information and I just need to make a recycling plan!
My #1 pick is Heartland Recycling, LLC
Heartland Recycling is a locally owned and family run business whose concern for the environment fuels their business. They are interested in leaving a beautiful state to children of the future. Heartland Recycling offers curbside recycling services with minimal sorting of items and they accept more items than many other services.
Contact Heartland Recycling at 316) 683-6010
1101 N Parkwood Lane
Wichita, Kansas 67208
Email: recycle@heartlandrecycling.net
Website: http://heartlandrecycling.net/
Heartland Recycling accepts these items: plastic containers, magazines, corrugated boxes, paper grocery bags, junk mail, steel food cans/tin cans, aluminum beverage cans and toner cartridges in good condition.
More recycling companies:
Kamen Recycling
800 E 21st St
Wichita, Kansas 67214
316) 262-1475
Kamen Recycling accepts these items: industrial items such as glass, metal, steel and aluminum.
Industrial Pallet
302 W 53rd St N
Wichita, Kansas 67204
316) 832-0400
Industrial Pallet accepts these items: any kind of wood, trees, clean construction lumber, sheet rock, anything natural; grass, leaves. The also sell compost .
Innovative Recycling
1820 E 68th St S
Wichita, Kansas 67216
316) 524-7278
Innovative Recycling accepts these items: cars, trucks, most vehicles and scrap metal.
Computer Fix-it & PC Recycle
6600 W Kellogg Dr.
Wichita, Kansas 67209
316) 721-3131
Computer Fix-it & PC Recycle accepts these items: pc towers, printers, laptops, keyboards and monitors.
Also get Sedgwick County recycling information at: www.sedgwickcounty.org
No matter where we live, we should all do our part to help keep the environment safe and healthy, now and in the future!
I promise to try harder myself, no matter how inconvenient it is, promise! :~>
Go Green/Stay Green!!!!!
©RSMorris 2007
Image by Webweaver
I researched the local companies that offer many different recycling services and the products that you can recycle.
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Recycling the Buildings of Our Past
On a recent lunch date with my husband, we got to talking about a program we had watched on the Discovery Channel about alternative energy sources. One segment in the program mentioned a little town in Sweden by the name of Malmo. Around 2000, developers began construction on a futuristic community that was to be completely self-sustained. The community known as Western Harbour, was inspired by the plan of medieval Lund, a nearby town. Surrounded by greenery and water features, the futuristic buildings of Western Harbour display their solar panels and residents are able to walk the short distance into town. Many of the residents are students and single families, all of whom appreciate the fact that they contribute to and use 100% renewable energy.Driving home, I got to thinking about all of the vacant buildings that are available for lease in downtown Wichita. There are quite a few empty warehouses and office buildings that have been ignored for years. They represent a beautiful part of our countries history but unfortunately have been forgotten. Many investors would rather build new, thinking that it’s cheaper than the cost of reconstruction on an older building. That may be true but if that construction included changing the way that the building created and used energy wouldn’t it be cheaper in the long run? New buildings are great but all over this country we have older buildings that can be utilized. By reconstructing these older buildings we would be saving the stories of our past as well as teaching our children about how to live for the future. Waste not want not! Soon, newly developed “dye-sensitized solar cells” may replace traditional solar panels because of their flexibility and efficiency, allowing for cheaper commercial production and mass distribution. Rather than depleting resources with new construction, recycled materials could also be used to make these older buildings self-sustainable.
Imagine an old warehouse, completely gutted and rebuilt with on-site recycling facilities, wind, solar power and water aquifers. Inside the warehouse there could be apartments downstairs as well as a market and small restaurant. Upstairs there could be a gym, park and other facilities as needed by the community. This complex could create and store it’s own energy and also be able to store surpluses to be used elsewhere in the neighboring communities. Individuals who work in the downtown areas could walk to work and feel more connected with their fellow citizens and coworkers. Instead of taking our planet for granted we could work together, create a solution and build a better, cleaner future for our children.
©RSMorris 2007
References:
1. Peter, Lawrence. “Green living takes root in Sweden”. BBC News, Malmo, Sweden.
2. Staedter, Tracy. “‘Printable’ Solar Cell Factory Revs Up.” Discovery News.
3. The Discovery Channel.
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