tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10165062655703374152024-03-13T17:22:07.460-07:00Sparkle JarsStefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-10782124512462507852018-03-09T04:21:00.000-08:002018-03-09T04:21:22.706-08:00Da Vinci Technology<div style="text-align: justify;">
This technology, Da Vinci robot-assisted Surgery is current for only a short time. Every hospital doesn't need one. Let other hospitals purchase other expensive technology and share. Then again if every hospital doesn't buy into this they might not sell enough to be profitable, and factory workers would lose their jobs. Is there anyway to win in this rat race? Watching this video reminded me of technology I see when watching NASA videos. Now which came first, the chicken or the egg? Did NASA (government funds) do the research and development of robots and the medical world tapped into it? Or is it possible the medical world did the research and development and NASA tapped into it? Did you know that when the miners were trapped so long in that mine in Chile, NASA was asked to come and oversee feeding them and monitoring their health? That's enough of me for today.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-83902163477188980282018-03-06T04:18:00.003-08:002018-03-06T04:18:40.543-08:00Robot Assisted Surgery<div style="text-align: justify;">
Last week-end when Linda's son had surgery to remove a kidney and was back home the next day, wearing elastic waisted pants, and able to sit at the dinner table with the rest of the family, I was blown away. How could he do that? Now I know, Linda posted this YouTube video on Facebook yesterday. Now it all makes sense. I've been thinking about this since watching the video and have a few things I'd like to say. This is amazing technology and every town should have it available to patients. The danger I see in this is that now every hospital in town will think they have to have it or their patients will think they're a second rate hospital.</div>
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This technology is major expensive. My opinion is, that to keep health costs down, every hospital doesn't need to purchase such equipment. Many years ago the Santa Fe Railroad had its own hospitals for employees. My father used one. It was located in a town with a major medical center. To cut costs, the RR hospital had an agreement with the major medical center to do expensive procedures. The patient would be placed in a van equipped like an ambulance and transported to the major medical center. After the procedure, the patient would then be transported back to the RR hospital to complete their needed stay. It was a big cost saver for the RR. Why can't that be done today?</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-17476990703107543772016-06-16T03:02:00.000-07:002016-10-19T06:54:34.747-07:00How do We Preserve our Children’s Souls<div style="text-align: justify;">
Okay, so we’ve pretty much lost ours. Our country has been spiralling downward into a cesspool of evil our entire lives, but it seems unlikely that it has ever been worse than now, and does not seem that it will get any better any time soon. So what do we do? The people behind us made the mistake of going to the barricades and then when victory hung bloody in their jaws, they retreated. They retreated. Thus, the enemy arose far stronger, and perhaps even more evil, than before. On a smouldering mound of the corpses of our brothers and sisters, our enemies’ victims, we may yet cling to some sort of narrow victory by our very fingernails, perhaps missing a limb or an eye. There is still, still much fighting to be done. And not simply the rhetorical armchair fighting by sycophantic sandwich-eating internet hogs such as yours truly, but actual fighting by actual fighters who believe as we do that the purpose of human beings on this earth is not to rape it and each other, but to coexist. Simply to coexist. But we must not make the mistake of retreating into our very own “me decade” like they did. We must behead the demon, fill its fanged mouth with garlic, drive a wooden stake through its heart, and bury it in a sarcophagus of solid marble. And then drop it down the shaft of an abandoned copper mine and seal it off with a bunker buster. We must make the very idea, the very whiff of the idea of our enemies’ ideology to be so repellent that future generations will flay themselves to avoid being tarred with the epithet “neoconservative”. How is that done? Go back to the archives and observe how they did the very same thing to the word “liberal”.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-30984649270358789742016-05-01T02:53:00.000-07:002016-10-19T06:53:30.175-07:00What Claims could You Have from a Rented Car?<div style="text-align: justify;">
It is always good to know your rights no matter the case you're in, more important or not, because only this way you can receive what you deserve against the amount you pay for certain goods or services. The same think happens when you rent a car. You have certain rights on the car and you can benefit from very many advantages if you know about their existence, so that you ask for them. When you call on a rent a car Bucharest company or in any other city in the country, firstly you have the right to receive a car that is in an flawless condition against the price you for it. The car should not be hit, all the signals should work, it should have tyres appropriate for the relevant season, it should be clean and with all due documents up to day. Besides these, that the rent-a-car companies are bound to provide you, you can also ask for additional facilities that should exist on the car delivered to you. </div>
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These are optional and most of the companies do not have them available, but, because there are companies that can provide them, you should not satisfy yourself with less. Therefore, on a leased car you can ask for snow chains if you'll travel in the winter on long or difficult roads. When the weather forecast changes from one minute to another, it is good to ensure to you'll be able to travel under any conditions. The car chair for children is another one of the additional facilities that you can benefit from to be able to carry your child completely safe. The GPS is an important item that could be made available to you when you rent the car to be able to easily reach your destination, even more if the city or country that you're about to drive to is unfamiliar to you. Hence, this is how from a simple rented car you can reach to a fully endowed one, secure and comfortable, by just becoming aware of the availability of these services in the offers of some of the rent-a-car big companies.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-15149960947008279042015-05-25T04:28:00.001-07:002016-10-19T06:55:05.010-07:00Luxurious Hypnotherapy in Abu Dhabi<div style="text-align: justify;">
In the United Arab Emirates there are plenty of hypnotherapists, but your initial experience and the best hypnosis you will slip into will be right when you arrive as all the luxury, beautiful landscapes and amazing buildings awaiting you lull you into a state of bliss. You may transform yourself with a real personal <a href="http://www.adrianrusin.com/" target="_blank">hypnotherapist in Abu Dhabi</a>, or simply allow the culture itself to transform you. Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates, has exciting commercial centers, the market place, and extraordinary delicious restaurants where you can taste a mix between Arabian spices and flavors, sea fruits and so on. Also, you can be hypnotized in Dubai with a perfect view of the city from one of the tallest buildings in the world. You can take a walk on the Palm Islands, now that the second artificial island is complete, or you can drink a coffee in one of the best cafeterias in the city. </div>
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In Dubai, another place you must visit is the hotel Burj Al Arab, which is a model of new and modern architecture. On its roof you can play a tennis match or simply drink a cocktail, because it’s especially made for relaxing activities. The beauties of Abu Dhabi and Dubai are of course the women you will see walking on the streets because of the elegance of their appearance, but after that you will be amazed of the jewel stores full of gold, precious stones and most important, natural pearls from the Persian Gulf. The two emirates, Dubai and Abu Dhabi, are ones of the most expensive, luxurious and beautiful places to go in the seven United Arab Emirates. Dubai was also voted to be one of the best places to live in the world and has a growing economy based today on tourism, politics, trading and so on. Abu Dhabi’s economy is based on rock oil production which is the principal source of founding.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-69492083514993979742015-03-30T03:36:00.000-07:002015-03-30T03:36:02.596-07:00Careful What you Wish For<div style="text-align: justify;">
A sexy, whimsical debut featuring the hunky genie of one single mom's dreams... Back in her tiny hometown with a new baby to care for, successful attorney Ravine Patton thought her life had gone up in smoke. Then her Diaper Genie went haywire, and out popped a handsome pilot who'd been trapped inside. Gene-who, it turns out, is her genie-has granted her three wishes. Lucky Ravine now has the gorgeous hunk scrubbing her entire house. But it isn't long before she starts falling for Gene, which means big trouble. Because once her third wish is fulfilled, he'll vanish from her life forever. And Ravine realizes she's going to have to be very careful about what she wishes for next. I'd really wanna have my own Genie in a Bottle after reading this. </div>
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This is a story about a lawyer-mother with a baby; the father was missing in action or should I say, he preferred to be in the shadows. In her struggle with being a single mom, she's having a hard time finding a husband. One day, she ends up with a genie and he grants her 3 wishes. On her last wish, she has to chose between her mother's life, or her love for the genie. She chooses her mother's life,and loses the genie. It would take her years before she could wish again. What's wonderful with the story is, she would be able to settle to a happy marriage soon. But with whom? This is a fun, light read and although the characters are kinda whimsical, you get a good feeling after realizing what you really wanted and wished for has been granted. Definitely a feel-good story. My rating for this book: is 4 out of 5!</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-31356885769392097352015-02-10T04:14:00.000-08:002015-02-10T04:14:15.828-08:00Wolves, Cormorants & Condors<div style="text-align: justify;">
It's not easy saving the earth and its inhabitants. What happens when cormorants, protected by the Migratory Bird Treaty Act eat salmon and steelhead protected by the Endangered Species Act? The Oregon Zoo breeds Condor chicks and sends them to California. "The effort to restore the species, nearly extinct in the 1980's has cost tens of millions of dollars." Somebody came up with the bright idea of a multibillion-dollar Southern California wind industry. Would you believe condors and wind turbines don't mix? Will wind farm owners be held criminally liable if a turbine's spinning blades kill a condor? Condors are a federally protected bird. "Will banks and other investors shy away from financing wind projects for fear that the unauthorized "incidental take" to use the legal language of the federal Endangered Species Act, of a cordor could prompt interruptions in the electricity production, or even lead to the shutdown of wind farms?"</div>
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Then there's the on going story of OR-7, who's earned international fame for his travels across Oregon, into California, and headed now to Nevada. In 1995 it was decided to reintroduce wolves into Yellowstone park but the wolves didn't understand the boundary system. They moved into Idaho and now into Oregon. This has caused a lot of anger and hard feelings among those who want to save every wolf and those who want to kill every wolf. OR-7 separated himself from his pack in Oregon and went looking for love in all the wrong places. His travels continue to be of interest to the public but California and Nevada have no interest in introducing wolves to their states. California hasn't had wolves in 90 years and Nevada has never had wolves. Oregon wasn't interested either but they are here now. Now what happens? It's all tied up in the courts where it will be argued for years to come. As I said earlier, it's not easy saving the earth and its inhabitants.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-42677111293759581702015-01-16T05:30:00.001-08:002015-01-16T05:30:47.863-08:00A little Trip to the Seaside<div style="text-align: justify;">
I should mention that over the holidays, our family took a little trip to the seaside. It was very cheap as it was the off season and I have some fabulous pictures to show you. So stick around to see... some are so beautiful! And, as a person who grew up in the Midwest, I am proud to say, I finally saw my very first sea turtles in the ocean... not in a <a href="http://www.destinatii.info/gradina-zoologica-bucuresti/" target="_blank">Europe Zoo</a> like I saw last time I went in a vacation with my parents! That was the most incredible part for me! Needless to say, I did not include everything about my past few weeks, but as you can tell even by this small amount of information, it has been busy. I hope you will forgive my absence and continue you to pop by every now and again! It was lovely to be back and I hope you all have a very, very wonderful weekend! P.S. Do you have any questions on anything that I mentioned above that you would like to see a post about? If so, let me know and I will be happy to explain in a longer post.</div>
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Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-10487295592273313402014-06-19T07:24:00.001-07:002015-01-16T04:58:06.522-08:00Is it Really the Dog?<div style="text-align: justify;">
There are times the dogs come back with a story behind them... "This dog is not housbroken. It poops/pees in the house everyday". I then take the dog back wondering why the heck he/she is acting this way b/c the while in the foster home it never had an accident. I then get the dog back and it never has an accident. I start to wonder was the person telling the truth? Was the person not taking the dog out? Was the person leaving the dog alone for too many hours? You really have to wonder why the heck the dog would be perfect in the foster home bad in the adopters home and then fine after it was returned. Then you have the people that say the dog is aggressive or in some case the dog did bite. And this is behavior that you never expected from the dog. I then get these stories from the people on how the dog is aggressive towards the kids and she just doesn't understand why. The dog has been fine and the kids are always wrestling and playing with the dog. I get the dog back and he is 100% fine. You can do anything to him and I have him around kids and nothing. So was the person telling the truth or did the kids do something to the dog that made him fearful of them?</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-83553874262225481392014-03-12T06:35:00.000-07:002015-02-10T04:14:45.116-08:00Book Review: Dark Legacy by Anna DeStefano<div style="text-align: justify;">
Title: Dark Legacy, Legacy Series, book 1. Author: Anna DeStefano. Genre: Paranormal thriller. Mass market paperback: 307 pages. Publisher: Love Spell. Review: <a href="http://www.news-bite.com/" target="_blank">News Bite</a>. Description: "Die!” scream her nightmares. The voice is her sister’s, the compulsion stronger than any ordinary dream. Maddie Temple can’t go through this again. Her twin is in a coma for the last ten years. Their psychic link was severed. But there’s a lot Maddie doesn’t know about the 200-year-old curse on her family, about the shadowy group that wants to exploit the Temple powers for themselves, about the sexy psychiatrist offering to help her. The only way to find the answers antd avoid being pulled into the abyss of madness is to trust her heart and confront her. My Review: Well, I got this book after swearing off Paranormal Romances. I have a feeling I may not stick to my vow of avoiding them. I saw it and said, "Mmmm, this can't be a PNR. There isn't a (half) naked man in sight!" Not that I am complaining about naked men, but I do shy away from those covers due to my preconceived notion that the insides contain mind numbing (or mushing) fluff. This book is beyond repetitive. I was coaxing the book, "Yeah, yeah baby, I get it. Let's be gettin' to the good stuff." The nightmares mere so damn! I am not super dense, I do grasp things after I am told a time or two. If so much of this material was going to be repeated you would have hoped for some variety. Right? </div>
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So that was extremely frustrating as well as a yawn fest. The romance was weird. No chemistry. And the s3x was funky (of what I read of it. I admit I skimmed this book after a bit) and not actually real. I always think it is strange that a love interest doesn't run when the first sign of crazy pops up. You don't know this person and suddenly they are pushing you away and/or acting mentally deranged. Maybe they are even physically harming you. I guess the love interest/other person needs to be a little bit psycho too, yeah? "I don't mind that you stabbed me, baby. Because deep down I know we are meant to be. Just stay on your meds". There were four POVs. The main character, Maddie (I see her as the true main). The love interest dude (whatever his name was). A doctor man, who is experimenting on and in love with Maddie's crazy and violent sister. The sister (whatever her name is, really don't care). Hated most, okay make that all, of the POVs. I felt like I didn't know or even care about the characters half way through. I actually disliked (intensely) the doc and the sister after a bit. Maddie and loverboy were just too bland and flat too feel anything expect annoyed. As I said in my goodreads review, I got a bit of a kick in the junk after the being put through this non-eventful book and then they tell us that it isn't really over, there still is evil brewing. Kill me now! I hate those kind of endings. Definitely not encourage me to read the second in the series. Especially with what I got the first time. Rating: Did not finish. Read at your own risk. Brain leakage may occur, so stuff some cotton balls in your ears if you do take the risk and read this book.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-7486625486167008272014-02-04T14:01:00.002-08:002014-02-04T14:01:52.167-08:00Balancing Act<div style="text-align: justify;">
Dog rescue is a very tricky balancing act. You have to balance work, family, life and then the rescue. The only problem is rescue is so much work and time that other things get pushed aside. Like the Christmas tree that is still up in my front room! Ornaments are off and have been for 2 weeks but tree is still up... ooops! I did get everything else Christmas put away almost immediately! Which reminds me I can probably get my few Valentine's Day stuff out! Hmmm wonder when I am going to have time for that. The Pits I took in are doing wonderfully. They are very good dogs and I really have no concerns about them what so ever. They are ready to start a new life in a home with a family and be the center of someone's world. I have them off the leash trained, almost totally crate trained, working on come and sit but doing very well with that. They poop outside every time but peeing we do have accidents even though I watch them like a hawk. Stairs forget it! Scary scary scary. We will keep working on those. </div>
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Wishbone was afraid of them too for a long time now he runs up and down them like they are nothing. Last night I was showing Freedom how to do the stairs. Omg, so funny he was gripping with his front toes like he was holding on for dear life. I just carry him down, he isn't going anywhere near that hole in the floor so I have to pick up his nearly 40 pound body and carry him down. He still has about 4 or 10 pounds he needs to gain so he better figure it out quick b/c soon he will weigh 1/2 as much as me and I am not carrying him then! I took in another JRT today. I totally don't have room nor should I have taken him. I just don't want another dog but he was getting put down tomorrow. Ugh! What I was supposed to do. Nice doggie see you in the after life? No! So he is in my. He smells so bad. First thing I am going to do when I get home is give him a bath. Gross! Well I am off to a dentist appointment that I really don't have time for b/c work is kicking my butt but oh well. Balancing act continues.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-14241722917077877282013-09-26T04:11:00.001-07:002014-02-04T13:43:58.802-08:00Book Review: A Woman Called Sage by Diann Mills<div style="text-align: justify;">
The relationship between the two mains had me annoyed. It was that typical combative first meeting. Walls are up, judgments are made. Of course, they learn they are wrong...pretty quickly (less than a whole day and these two were spouting praises). I hate when stuff is rushed. Sage goes on and on about she "don't trust no lawmen," and suddenly! she completely trusts Parker. And Parker, wow his mind is blown! He has met a woman who can take care of her self, blah, blah, blah. This is set in the 1800s, in the "old west." Outlaws are rampant. They are isolated from "civilization." And Parker hasn't met one woman who can fend for herself? I found that unbelievable. Besides being in awe of her, apparently, unique ability, Parker is immediately aware of her fair looks. Which progressively get better every ten pages. Until! This is the kick in the pants for me. Until he decides he wants to spend the rest of his life with Sage. What? He knew the woman for a little more than twenty-four hours! </div>
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And already! Already he wants to marry the woman! We are only one hundred pages in at this point. They haven't done much of anything yet! Which leads me to my next point. There is no action. Okay, granted I did not finish this book so there could be some high octane, pulse pounding action afoot that I missed. But, eh, I don't believe so. The portion I did read the action was just... meh. All the killing and beating was pretty tame or happened offstage. We, as the reader, never got to witness the action bits, just the aftermath. And even that was kind of skimping on the details. I am by no means looking for a blood bath within this Christian novel, but if there was going to be some gun slinging, outlaw hijinks going down, even just a little bit, I would have liked to have some suspense. If you are a fan of Christian novels and you are well aware of their formula and love it anyway (or because of it) then go right ahead and read away. Also if you are a fan of this author I would recommend this book to you.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-88541445809419992412013-08-28T03:49:00.000-07:002014-03-12T06:33:08.987-07:00A Woman Called Sage by Diann Mills<div style="text-align: justify;">
Title: A Woman Called Sage. Author: Diann Mills. Genre: Christian Historical Fiction. Paperback: 304 pages Publisher: Zondervan. Description: They took away everything she loved... now, she's out for revenge. Sage Morrow had it all: life on a beautiful Colorado ranch, a husband who adored her, and a baby on the way. Until five ruthless gunmen rode up to their ranch and changed her life forever. Now Sage is a bounty hunter bent on retribution. Accompanied only by her majestic hawk, she travels throughout the Rocky Mountains in search of injustice, determined to stamp it out wherever it's found. The stakes are raised when two young boys are kidnapped and Sage is forced to work with Marshall Parker Timmons to rescue them. But Sage may ultimately get more than she bargained for. My Review: I haven't read much, if any, books with a Native American main character since I reached adulthood and started reading "grown-up" books. My favorite, or the most memorable, books with na leads probably all came from Scott O'Dell's ya novels. The culture wasn't overwhelming or alienating, it was intriguing. But mostly his books have a immense feeling of loss and injustice.<br />
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That melancholy really made the books memorable. It wasn't a happy-happy ending, so it was forced to stay with me. It made me think, it made me dwell on the wrongs that can be done to people. I had hoped that this book would rekindle the feelings I had experienced as a kid. It didn't. The cover is gorgeous and the idea for the story had great potential. But beyond that it just didn't deliver. I am, in general, iffy about books labeled as "Christian." When it comes to <a href="http://www.cartoon-coloring-page.com/religious-coloring-pages/" target="_blank">religious books</a>... I just can't relate. And it isn't because I am not religious, it is because the attitudes are slightly skewed. Not that I feel like going on and on about religion, that is just blah (and can be a headache, right? conflicts and all). So far I have gotten, really, only one scenario when it comes to these books. First, one person is very religious, and despite hardship they are quite devoted to God. The other person is bitter, and no longer trusts, loves or relies on God. Stuff happens and the stray sheep is once again brought back into the fold. And some praying goes on in the middle parts. And not that I mind terribly, I just find it a tad disingenuous.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-24561045564106359412013-06-12T02:18:00.000-07:002014-02-04T13:56:30.798-08:00More Risky Places for your Debit Card<div style="text-align: justify;">
Aside from the potential for hacking at many different points in a transaction, Abagnale says a fundamental problem with using debit cards online is it's impossible to know who is handling your information. "Buying stuff online, you have to be careful, because you have to know who you're doing business with. "When you buy things online, what kills me about that is, people say, 'This is a safe site'," Abagnale says. "Who works there?" Restaurants keep customer data on file. "Would you care for a side of debit card fraud with that?" Restaurant servers don't ask that question, but they might as well, with the standard practice of taking customers' debit cards to run them behind closed doors. "Any place where the card is out of hand" can increase the chances of fraud, says McGoey. </div>
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<img alt="Magic chest" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIIDsnAixtIdknrorE20cCoExd6tawlbDgwsou4p-TyxM-hDAjaEmXNg7MmBLf2W__4XDXfIvoioCoj_57DddtHYNDeXEg_vIuEWG4q47tpcjFgCj5ehawxRp2GpgKEkht4ywp9qLgl9o1/s1600/Magic+chest.jpg" title="Magic chest" /></div>
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"The guy/gal comes to your table, takes your card, and disappears for a while, so he or she has privacy," giving the person the opportunity to copy your card information. Even restaurants without sit-down service can present a threat. McNelley says using debit cards to order delivery can be risky, because cashiers tend to keep customer payment information on file. That may make future orders more convenient, but small businesses rarely take the steps necessary to safeguard payment information, she says. Overall, regardless of whether you use your debit card at a small restaurant or a big-box store, the possibility of fraud is always there. She cites the example of Michaels Stores Inc., which saw its customers' debit card information stolen in May by debit card terminals doctored by thieves. Even if you do exercise caution... there are still the Michaels-type incidents that will happen," McNelley says.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-13628438233231431512013-05-15T02:17:00.000-07:002013-09-25T02:18:04.056-07:00Risky Places for your Debit Card<div style="text-align: justify;">
Gas station payment terminals have many of the characteristics card fraudsters love, McNelley says. "In a gas station, where you have a whole bunch of pay-at-the-pump kinds of things and minimal supervision, it's pretty easy for a bad guy to put a skimming device on, put a little pinpoint camera there, and compromise debit cards that way," McNelley says. Thieves often use small cameras to capture footage of debit card users entering their PINs so they can have free access to their money. She says even if the thief doesn't manage to get your debit card personal identification number, or PIN, from such a device, he still may be able to duplicate the card's magnetic strip, and use it for "sign and swipe" Visa or MasterCard transactions. With the high potential for fraud in pay-at-the-pump debit transactions, it might make sense to use an alternative, such as cash or credit cards, the next time you fill up.</div>
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The Web is a risky place. Debit cards are a convenient way to buy products online, especially for those who don't like to use credit cards. Unfortunately, the Web is one of the most dangerous places to make purchases, McNelley says. "Online is the No. 1 place where consumers should not use debit cards," she says. "It's susceptible at so many points. "The consumer could have malware on their computer, so it could be at their endpoint the data get compromised. "It could be a man-in-the-middle attack, where somebody is eavesdropping on their communications via the wireless network. "At the other end, that data goes into a database at the merchant. "As we've seen with some of the higher-profile breach events over the last year or so, that data is going to be vulnerable if not properly cared for." </div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-301562957300187262012-12-21T01:26:00.000-08:002013-09-25T02:28:08.174-07:00Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling<div style="text-align: justify;">
This book begins to explore the “dark magic” element people told me would emerge in the series. I wasn’t sure I’d like it, me being one who is more pulled to historical and literary works than fantasy fiction. (While confessing above that I might have spent history class thinking of <a href="http://www.cartoon-coloring-page.com/harry-potter-coloring-pages/" target="_blank">Harry Potter</a>, if I’d grown up with these books). I am definitely not put off by the way Rowling presents the magic element so far. Indeed, I feel it could be real, because she so clearly delineates between the “Muggle” and “Wizard” worlds at the start and finish of each book that it’s hard to argue the logic of it all, being myself a clueless Muggle. She steeps the story in emotion and personal investment for Harry. The magic is important because the loss of his parents is a searing wound never healed, and magic is who he is. Discovering it and mastering it is who he is, as much as it was ever who they were. I can believe that he must master it and choose to use it well, as much as I believe that about a Muggle’s intelligence, money or luck. Magic is Harry’s world, but what he does with it is the story. I like that he is so noble and innocent throughout the book, and yet so flawed. He ignores the rules he doesn’t like (even Dumbledore’s) and gets in trouble all the time. For me, this shows that humanness is not a flaw. To bumble through with every good intention as well as every self-focused grievance is better than doing nothing at all. Rule-followers like Hermione are not necessarily better at achieving results, though they might stay safe and achieve good grades. “Have you ever seen anything quite as pathetic?” said Malfoy. “And he’s supposed to be our teacher!” </div>
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Harry and Ron both made furious moves toward Malfoy, but Hermione got there first, smack! She had slapped Malfoy across the face with all the strength she could muster. Malfoy staggered. Harry, Ron, Crabbe, and Goyle stood flabbergasted as Hermione raised her hand again. “Don’t you dare call Hagrid pathetic you foul, you evil”. “Hermione!” said Ron weakly and he tried to grab her hand as she swung it back. “Get off Ron!” Hermione pulled out her wand. Malfoy stepped backward. Crabbe and Goyle looked at him for instructions, thoroughly bewildered. “C’mon,” Malfoy muttered, and in a moment, all three of them had disappeared into the passageway to the dungeons. “Hermione!” Ron said again, sounding both stunned and impressed. What can I say? I truly adore this series and love immersing myself in it. I cannot wait to read the next book. And I love the way this one ends! There’s a Harry Potter table set up where I work (a bookstore), upon which there are Potter books, magic wands, stuffed owls, and bright red and yellow Griffindor scarves. I walk by it often and smile because it feels so real, and because it is awesome that people still go mad over these books. I almost want to buy one of the scarves! But I might go for an owl and put it next to my snow globe of Atlanta, Georgia. Would I ever re-read this book? Definitely. Opening lines: Harry Potter was a highly unusual boy in many ways. For one thing, he hated the summer holidays more than any other time of the year. For another, he really wanted to do his homework but was forced to do it in secret, in the dead of night. And he also happened to be a wizard... Favorite Passage: “You are truly your father’s son, Harry...”. Favorite Character: Still Dumbledore: “You think the dead we loved truly ever leave us? You think that we don’t recall them more clearly in times of great trouble?” And also the surpising character whom I choose not to spoil. Those who’ve read it can likely guess!</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-61628528066296139912012-10-10T05:12:00.000-07:002013-07-23T05:21:15.335-07:00More than Subsidy<div style="text-align: justify;">
For those who remain hard and solid on the view that the former price must be reverted to because of the hardships that would be felt and until the time is right for the removal seem to be missing the big picture to me. We could go back to the former price and be satisfied with the crumbs from the table falling to us in the form of subsidy, while the corruption in the system, not just the petroleum sector, and the fat pay politicians receive continue. On the other hand, we could take this agreed price and continue to apply pressure to bring accountability and transparency in government, a reduction in size and expenditure and for them to deliver on their promises. Like I mentioned in a previous article of mine, fuel subsidy removal has galvanised the people to begin to speak up louder on issues beyond just fuel subsidy, but on the larger, surrounding issues. Receiving dividends of governance in fuel subsidies is a low-hanging fruit, and while we concentrate on that one, we could end up missing the higher, juicier fruits.<br />
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In the scenario where government reverses itself completely and we go back to N65/litre, the strike ends, the protests stop and we all go back to life, happy to have scored a victory, albeit a pyrrhic one. However, the pressure the government has been feeling to reform itself would be gone, and it will be back to business as usual for them. But with this scenario, the anger if properly channelled would go a long way to making government open up and reform, as we can see that already happening with the small starts they have made. Rather than us being non-negotiable on the price of N65/litre, we should shift that to being non-negotiable with good and accountable governance. This is because under the current situation, even N30/litre is too expensive with this level of bad governance. Change, especially the sustainable, positive one, does not instantaneously. We should applaud every small progress, yet without taking our eyes off the desired destination and any attempt to veer off track must be resisted. This change works for me, as far as the big picture vision is concerned. This article was written for NigeriansTalk, an personal opinion on Nigerians issues and problems we are facing daily.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1016506265570337415.post-45115892518658763552012-09-25T02:25:00.000-07:002013-09-25T02:26:26.750-07:00Snow Squalls Sweep over Southern Ontario<div style="text-align: justify;">
After a relatively warm week, some areas of southern Ontario will see severe weather today, with up to 40 centimetres of snow possible in areas near London. Environment Canada issued snow squall warnings for Barrie, Parry Sound, Muskoka, and the Bruce Peninsula. The forecast for those areas calls for snow squalls, with heavy blowing snow, in accumulations of up to 15 centimetres. Environment Canada says drivers should leave extra time for trips, and expect reduced visibility in those areas. CBC meteorologist, Johanna Wagstaffe, said a snow squall watch is also in effect for the London and Woodstock area, and into Sarnia. Snow squalls are created when cold, Arctic air sweeps over unseasonably warm Great Lakes waters. In the afternoon, winds will swing south. "This morning, the Orilla-Barrie area will see zero visibility, and 15 centimetres (6 inches) of snow; </div>
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This afternoon those snow squalls will sink down to London and sit there for the next couple of days," she said. “Parts of London and Stratford County could see 40 centimetres by the end of Tuesday." “We could even see a few flurries in Toronto, as they reach down through Lake Ontario.” “By Tuesday afternoon, 40 centimetres is not out of the question, if you get stuck in one of these snow squall bands.” Toronto will likely escape with only a light dusting of snow, but the forecast is calling for temperatures to fall to -4 C by this afternoon. "It will feel like a shock for Toronto," said Wagstaffe. "We had +7 C on Sunday, it's going to -1 C this morning, dropping to -4 C this afternoon. "We're missing the worst of the Ontario weather." The temperature will continue to drop overnight and into Tuesday, when a high of -11 C is forecast for Toronto.</div>
Stefan Moxahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06163506392644126278noreply@blogger.com0