Dec 12, 2008
Dec 6, 2008
Safe Toys
I learned that the toy guitar I used to illustrate noisy toys in the story above had been souped up. It's called bending a circuit. Hackers take toy electronics and alter them to make distinctive sounds. There are musical groups--including one in Madison--that use these devices.
One of the things that hackers may do is drill a hole in the toy and then stick a finger inside to alter the sound. Obviously, this could be trouble if the device is plugged into the wall.
Click here, and you can check out circuit benders--one actually uses his son to alter a guitar's sound.
Nov 30, 2008
Nov 28, 2008
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Nov 21, 2008
Zillow's Home Values/Sales Report By State/City
Zillow.com You can also see a photo of your house and neighborhood here.
Nov 17, 2008
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Nov 7, 2008
Suggestions On Fighting Fake Check Scams
In recent weeks, consumer protection has warned consumers about the Publishers Clearinghouse scams which involve fake checks. MSNBC Consumer Reporter Herb Weisbaum recently wrote about this scam and had some interesting observations about MoneyGrams and banks:
There are plenty of warning signs this prize notice is a scam. The most obvious one: You are required to send money. No legitimate contest ever requires you to buy something or pay any money.
Then there’s the check that comes with the award notice letter. It always has the name of some unrelated company on it – such as a funeral home in North Dakota or a collision shop in California – not Publishers Clearinghouse. Why? The bad guys steal the names and account numbers of real companies to put on their fake checks so they won’t bounce as soon as you deposit them.
And then there’s the strange instruction you get about wiring the money. You’re told not to mention that you’ve won the contest. You’re supposed to say you’re sending money to a friend or relative. That should make warning sirens go off.
Willard Hart, director of fraud at MoneyGram International says this is done to fake out their agents who will question the transaction if you say you’ve won a contest or lottery. “What the bad guys are trying to do is give their victims a set answer to keep the transaction going,” he explains.
Trying to attack the problem
Consumer groups, businesses and government regulators have formed a task force on fake checks. Susan Grant, director of consumer protection at the Consumer Federation of America chairs this task force.
I asked her if she believes the banking industry should do more to protect their customers from these fake check scams. Her response: “Banks clearly need to do more.”
Grant has high praise for West Suburban Bank in the Chicago area. It reduced this check fraud by 85 percent in one year by instituting a simple policy. Every customer who deposits a check for $1,000 or more or withdraws $1,000 or more gets a flyer about fake check scams. “It’s simple and effective,” Grant says.
Entire article
Nov 2, 2008
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Oct 11, 2008
TV Viewers Cut Cable's Cord; Here's What They're Watching Online Instead
Wall Street Journal
In addition to some latest network shows, classics like the Bob Newhart show are on line, too.
Oct 3, 2008
Rats and Mice Can Destroy Household Furnishings Stored in Mini Warehouses
The above story about rats and mice ruining household furnishings and memorabilia is just one of a number of interesting animal tales I’ve heard lately.
For example, a lonely young friend of mine going through a divorce often sits in front of his computer late at night eating bag after bag of Doritos with the crumbs tumbling down the shirt covering his ample stomach. Recently, my friend discovered he had company…a mouse. Every time my friend uses his computer late at night, the mouse shows up to provide company and share junk food.
Cellphone photos by Glen Loyd III
Recently my son, Glen III, had a beautiful red fox approach him while he was parked near the quarry in Columbus. Glen noticed that the fox was staring at him like a hungry dog…so my son started sharing part of his lunch with him—a bagel and two bear claw pastries. In the photos, you can see Glen’s bear claw pastry in the fox’s mouth. After awhile, the red fox went away and came back with another hungry fox which looked like a brother or sister. A colleague thinks the two may be new offspring who haven’t fully developed hunting skills. They often explore together. The red fox is usually very good at avoiding man--his enemy--and is found in rural areas bordering towns. Usually they eat rodents, insects, fruit and plants.
Shortly after his experience with the foxes, Glen glanced out the window of his home on the Rock River in Janesville and saw both a majestic eagle in the sky and a tiny humming bird at the feeder.
