Watch Out For Bears

Do you have a bird feeder at home? If so, are you always chasing those pesky squirrels away from eating all the bird food?

Look at these pictures...you never know what may be checking out that bird feeder!

What on earth is that line made of?!?!?!?

Avoid Identity Theft ~ Part 2

Be alert to any suspicious activity by keeping a close watch on your financial accounts and billing statements.

1) Be alert to signs that require your immediate attention:
2) Bills that do not arrive as expected
3) Unexpected credit cards or account statements
4) Denials of credit for no reason
5) Calls or letters about purchases you did not make
6) Letters received from debt collectors

You are entitled to a free credit report each year. Get your free copy and inspect the information it contains.
You can go online to www.AnnualCreditReport.com. This service was created by the three nationwide credit reporting agencies and you will easily get your free copy.


How To Defend Yourself Against ID Theft

If you suspect Identity Theft you can place a 'fraud alert' on your credit reports. This alert will tell creditors to follow certain procedures before they open new accounts in your name or change anything on your existing accounts.

Three nationwide credit agencies are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian: 1-888-397-3742
TransUnion: 1-800-680-7289

When you place a fraud alert, this also entitles you to free copies of your credit report. Look for inquiries from companies you didn't have contact with, accounts you didn't open and debts on your accounts that you can't explain.

Close any accounts that have been tampered with or you did not open. Call the security or legal department of each company where the account was opened or changed without your knowledge. Follow up in writing

Contact ftc.gov/idtheft to support your written statements.

Ask for verification in witting that the disputed account has been closed and the fraudulent debts discharged.

Keep copies of all documents and records of conversations regarding the theft.

File a police report. The creditors involved may want proof of the crime.

Report the theft to the Federal Trade Commission. This report helps enforcement officials across the country in their investigations. 1-877-438-4338

Avoid Identity Theft~ Part 1

Having had a bout with Identity theft recently, I wanted to help prevent you from going through the same thing.
Trust me, it has been very stressful. The process in which to clear up this mess is very time consuming. It did affect my credit and cost me money. Hopefully, the road to recovery will not be a long one.

This will be a three part series on Avoiding Identity Theft.

First, it is important to know some ways this can happen. Believe it or not, there are people who are actually 'skilled' identity thieves.

1) They rummage through your garbage looking for bills or other paper that contains personal information.
2) They steal your credit and/or debit card numbers when processing a card.
3) they pretendd to be from a financial company and send you spam or pop up messages to get you to reveal your personal information.
4) They can divert your billing statements to another location by doing a 'change of address' form
5) They steal wallets, mail, bills, pre-approved credit offers, new check purchases or tax information.
6) They can steal from your employers if they have access to your records or even bribe an employee if they have access.

Some ways to prevent identity thieves from accessing your information:

1) Shred all documents. If you don't have a personal shredder...GET ONE!
2) Do not carry your social security card in your wallet or purse. Do not write your social security number on your checks.
3) Do not give out any personal information over the phone, through the mail or over the Internet unless you know who you are actually dealing with.
4) Do not click on links in spam emails. Instead, type the web url that you know. Use firewalls, spyware and virus software to protect your computer.
5) Do not use an obvious password like your birthdate, last 4 numbers of your social security number or your mother's maiden name.
6) Keep your personal information in a safe, secure place at home.

Look for Part 2 ~ Detecting Suspicious Activity

WAH Watchdog is on our side...

How many times have you heard or read… you can make tons of money on the Internet with this program or that program OR you will become rich by using this work at home program?

Are you aware of the many different scams out there or the programs that request you pay an up front registration fee before you can get access to their program (this fee is on top of the product cost), only to find out their promises were just lies? We all know you can’t get rich overnight…okay, if one was to win the lottery….maybe, but the real truth is there are programs available that you can make money from if you take the time, put in the effort and follow their program.

I’m finding the biggest hyped up product these days is the rebate processing work at home program. The emails I have been getting lately, promise the world. After clicking on the link provided in the email (I’m always curious), it brings you to a landing page full of hype.

I have come across a review site (Wah Watchdog) that strictly reviews work at home programs and/or affiliate type programs. Before you get scammed or shell out your hard earned money for a program, take a good look at this review site. Each product is scored with an A, B, C, D or F. What I liked about review site is the scores are given by actual users of these programs and then casting their own votes. Some other review sites are somewhat biased and are not scoring these programs with the users in mind. There are other motives. You’ll find both positive and negative opinions/votes based upon the users experience. You can scan down the list of over 100 programs and locate the programs given an A or A-, B or B+ and read the details. These are the programs you would most likely want to purchase rather than the programs with grades C, D or F.

So….if you are considering a work at home program that will enable you to make some additional monthly income, use this review site first before getting scammed.

And, don’t forget to cast your own vote if you have had any experience with any of the products listed, so you can help others.

Saturday's Chuckle

A woman was flying from Seattle to San Francisco . Unexpectedly, the plane was diverted to Sacramento along the way. The flight attendant explained that there would be a delay, and if the passengers wanted to get off the aircraft the plane would re-board in 50 minutes.

Everybody got off the plane except one lady who was blind. The man had noticed her as he walked by and could tell the lady was blind because her Seeing Eye dog lay quietly underneath the seats in front of her throughout the entire flight.

He could also tell she had flown this very flight before because the pilot approached her, and calling her by name, said, 'Kathy, we are in Sacramento for almost an hour. Would you like to get off and stretch your legs?'

The blind lady replied, 'No thanks, but maybe Buddy would like to stretch his legs.'

Picture this:


All the people in the gate area came to a complete standstill when they looked up and saw the pilot walk off the plane with a Seeing Eye dog!

The pilot was even wearing sunglasses. People scattered. They not only tried to change planes, but they were trying to change airlines!

True story... Have a great day and remember :

Things aren't always as they appear

A free video: Reality 101

Are you sick of all the puffed-up marketing hype running rampant on the Internet these days?

... Then you have GOT to check out this free instructional video from online marketing genius, Derek Gehl:

http://www.marketingtips.com/reality-101/t/904745

Derek has accomplished what no other marketer has ever done...

In just 30 minutes, he gives you the complete "3-D" snapshot of the steps you absolutely MUST take in order to build a REAL money-making online business.

Derek DOESN'T stoop to making false promises -- he simply cuts straight to the chase and tells it exactly how it is.

(And bursts a lot of "marketing hype" bubbles along the way!)

If you're tired of being bombarded by emails that promise to "revolutionize" online marketing with the "NEXT BIG THING!"...

... And you simply want to UNDERSTAND the "bare bones" essentials of building a successful online business once and for all...

(And save yourself $1000s by NOT getting sucked into buying over-hyped products that don't fit your current needs!)

... Then you need to watch this video NOW:

http://www.marketingtips.com/reality-101/t/904745

I guarantee it'll give you a better understanding of what you REALLY need to do to build a successful business that makes real money online!

This video is NOT for "magic bullet" seekers who are looking for a get-rich-scheme that'll make them millions overnight! Such a thing just doesn't exist... and in this video, Derek explains why:

http://www.marketingtips.com/reality-101/t/904745

Managing Credit Card Debt

Have you found yourself in a situation where you are having a hard time paying your monthly expenses? Maybe you have been buying more using credit cards and suddenly realized your account balance spiked upwards? Around the time of the holidays, many people used their credit cards for purchases. Now in the months of January and February you're hit with having to make that monthly payment.

Below is a video which will give you some tips on handling your credit card debt.

When you are content to be simply yourself and don't compare or compete, everybody will respect you...
~lato-tzu

Is There Harm in Half Truths?

Are you one who feels the need to make up excuses for something in your life? Maybe this helps psychologically or emotionally... maybe someone does this so not too much is revealed about themselves, family or experiences.

Excuses are used to make one feel better about behaviors that we are not proud of, decisions made that we try to justify. Maybe the truth would be too embarrassing and don't want to share it with others.

Is there harm in telling half truths?

If excuses are getting in the way of leading a responsible life, attaining your goals, excessively used in the work place or within relationships, then you may need to ask yourself why you choose to be less than truthful.

Several reasons can be fear of rejection, scrutiny of others, fear of getting close to someone. Ego is said to be a factor with habitual excuse making, but this usually results in the reverse. What you end up feeling is deflated self worth.

How do you feel when being less than honest?

Excuses are often used to hide our shortcomings or give a better light to failures. People try to justify their excuses. If making excuses doesn't feel good or you achieve a kind of euphoria from excessive excuse making, then it might be time to change your ways.

Twisting the truth could become a way of life. Believing in your own excuses, using one excuse then needing another one, just diggs yourself deeper.

Taking responsibility for your actions, admitting any failures and accepting who you are can be emotionally freeing.

Nothing is impossible; there are ways that lead to everything, and if we had sufficient will we should always have sufficient means.
It is often merely for an excuse that we say things are impossible.
~Francois De La Rochefoucauld

For Your Safety

I was home today and when I completed everything on my 'to-do' list, I decided to see what is on TV during the day. Clueless, I was channel surfing and came across the Tyra Banks show.

She had an interesting segment on "For Your Safety". It was actually geared towards women and dating, but this information can be applied to everyone...even children.

The segment was showing how when women go out and are approached by a man (or men), they give out so much personal information during conversation. I was amazed as I listened and watched a video showing a man walking up to a woman, who then started to flirt with her. He started asking her questions about where she lived, where she worked etc..and the women gave him exact addresses. What was she thinking? She didn't even know this man. He could have been a stalker or worse.

We don't realize as we are engrossed in a conversation just how much personal information we give out to complete strangers.

In this day and age there is so much we need to protect ourselves from. Identity theft, stalkers, rapists, pedophiles, theives.

The Internet is a constant for most people and you may not realize what information you are providing to others about yourself.

This is something to teach your children too. Innocent ones should never give out information to strangers. Teenagers may not be aware of the dangers or think the conversation is one to not worry about, but what they are doing is providing a way to be found. Young people sometimes have a narrow mind about the world and don't realize what can happen.

Please be cautious when in conversation with someone you don't know. Think before speaking about personal information... if in the wrong hands it can cause you harm.

Pass It To The Front

Dear Friends and co-bloggers lets play-game-tag to tag- "pass it to the front"

I was just tagged by My Sassy Mind with this linky love meme

Heres the Rules:*

First copy and paste it.* Do not remove any content.* Just add One word related to your blogs.* If you don't like the concept Pls! say no?* Our main goal is we are going to circulate our number of friends.* The more people join the "pass it to the front" the more links we generate.* Lastly write only one word "short" for your blogs...* Keep it simple and short, I know some of you have more than one blogs.* the color is only black, gray, or white plssss avoid using any color okies.

Let me show you:1. Filipina 2. Stories 3. Abroad 4. Halfway 5. life 6. culture 7. interracial 8. Foreign 9. Filipino, 10. happymomiam 11. miss sassy mind 12. kuya roger 13. pinaymama 14. janese 15. Space of Reality 16. A Life In Bloom 17. All In Korea 18. AC Associates 19. Angel Noah 20. Angelika's Blog 21. Catsy Carpe Diem 22. Clumsy Mommy 23. Cool Stuff 24. Cubicled Playground 25. Dear Me 26. Denz Techtronics Blog 27. Feel The Good Vibes 28. Femikey Journey 29. FF Productions 30. Free Text Messages 31. From Jos Desk 32. Frustrated Dancer 33. Fyrnz Humble abode 34. Gagiers Striking Zone 35. Glamorous Cha 36. Halfway around the world 37. Hanguk Umsik 38. Hello Pinas 39. Honestly Fresh 40. How To Live Lovelife 41. Ideal Pink Rose 42. Joliber's Make Money Online 43. Make Money Online For Free 44. Michelle's Small World 45. Mind Body Spirit N Fluttering Thoughts 46. Pig's Tale 47. Pinay Wife's Den 48. Ramblings Dumplings 49. Rose' World 50. Sweet Temptation 51. Awareness 52. Holistic 53. Self esteem 54. Aquire Wisdom 55. Helping Friends 56. Hye 57. Sunshine

Fast Facts

For every 1, 000 watts (1 hour) of electricity saved, we can eliminate the following:
* 20 tons of Carbon Dioxide
* 130 Pounds of Nitric Oxide
* 101 Pounds of Mercury

To give you an idea of what the above actually means. They are the equivalent of:
* Planting 6 acres of trees
* Taking 4 cars off the road
* Not driving 48,948 miles

Source: NJ Solar Power
Figures over 30 years