Good morning!

I wrote about Ayesha (Aisha)  about a month ago when her mutilated face graced the cover of Time Magazine. Now one month later Ayesha is on her way to recovery, at least physically.

‘Bibi’ Ayesha, Mutilated Afghan Woman, Receives ‘Enduring Heart Award’

After having her nose and ears cut off by her husband as a punishment handed down by Taliban elders, “Bibi” Ayesha was left for dead. The courageous young woman found her way to an American military hospital where she was treated for her wounds.

In August, Ayesha traveled to California to begin an intensive eight-month facial reconstruction.

Readers: This is definitely heading toward a happy ending, or should I say beginning (?) for Ayesha, and I am so happy for her. How could you not be? – her story was devastating. And as I’ve said before, devastating doesn’t even come close to describing this atrocity. Devastation to women happens daily; I’ve written about them here, and readers from all over the world have chimed in with their personal stories. Ayesha is only one of many.

So yes, Ayesha was a lucky one, if you can call having your ears and nose chopped off by your Husband and in-laws, and left for dead, lucky. I still can’t help but think of the many other women who suffer daily from abuse, mutilation, and slavery, not just in Afghanistan, but in Iran, Sudan, Congo, India…What about them?

What I would like to come out of this horrific story is more than just a nose job and an “Enduring Heart Award”. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful for the California doctor who is graciously providing Ayesha’s reconstructive surgeries. And no doubt Ayesha deserves a reward for “enduring” such an experience, not to mention “enduring” the life she lead, before her husband pulled out a knife, first slicing off her ears, then her nose.

I don’t mean to keep driving the mutilation point home, but something has to happen to prevent this from ever happening again. As the article in my past blog write stated: This didn’t happen 10 years ago, when the Taliban ruled Afghanistan. It happened last year.

Last year. Are things getting worse for women or are we just able to access the atrocities easier because of the internet?

I try to remain HOPEful that things are getting better for women. But then I look at the huge numbers of girls who have contacted me wanting to be a girlz. It seems many are saying “Get me the fuck off of this planet. Anything is better than the life I have now. I am willing to risk dying in space for a cause, than dying at the hands of evil men.”

Do you blame them?

Comments? Thoughts? Blog this BABE. Speaking of girls…

Chin: You should be back? How about telling my readers what it was like for you out there?

Oh…and on a totally different subject….Hooray for the miners in Chile who are finally out and on their way home to their families!

Zen Lill: I don’t buy the alien bit. Aliens are such a small part of my blog. Unless one reads every day, you could miss them even being here. Wish they had a bigger presence here like they use to. Of course many peeps do read every day, but my blog is so much more than a hangout for the aliens. (Nothing against my friends the TAO – they know how I feel about them.:) Although I shouldn’t say my friends “never” talk about my blog…I do have conversations, but it is mostly me who broaches the subject. It is what it is, and I accept it. (most of the time) :P

On another note…what is going on in the zen life of Zen Lill? The universe is speaking that’s for sure. Now you just need to figure out what she’s saying. Sounds like you are in your own little random world looking for order. Good luck!  Such a bummer. I HOPE Your wallet is returned. The postal person will deliver it if the person who found it drops your wallet into a mailbox. Of course then you have to HOPE that the postal person is a decent person and delivers it to you.

Larry: That would be a kind person, and an easy thing to do, but there are many people who aren’t kind. And with identity theft raging, a wallet falling into the hands of the wrong person, would be seen as a gift from the Gods.

When I was living in LA, I mistakenly left my wallet on the hood of my car and drove away. It went flying into the street. I noticed it, so I pulled over. So did someone else. They pulled their car over at the same time as I did. I thought, “How nice; they’re going to rescue my wallet from the middle of the road and give it back to me.” Nope. They got out of their car as I was stepping out of mine, ran over to my wallet, and ran back to their car and drove away! I was shocked.

H: Cute.  :)

Anon: My pleasure. Well…give it up – what did you say to your wife in response?

Hi Helena: How are you? I just wanted to point out that you have been a loyal reader for a pretty long time now – how long has it been? I just wanted to say thanks.

And I liked the article you posted. Good observation about white women but I would like to think (and HOPE) it is changing. We are no longer in an era where women are predominantly stay-at-home housewives and mothers. And it seems that more and more younger women are either getting married later or opting out of marriage altogether.

Emily: Cute :) Nice to see you here again.

Peace out…

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning!

Another late morning so I am going to be brief.

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Using Online Pharmacies: Recommended Practices And How To Spot Fakes
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In these days of financial hardship and high healthcare costs,

it’s not surprising that many people have turned to online pharmacies to cut their medication bills.

Readers: So brief, that I am going to reserve saying ANYTHING more until tomorrow. That is just how it’s going to be today. Carry on…chat amongst yourselves and I’ll catch ya on the flip.

Peace Out….

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Don’t forget to pay your annual service fee…

…or your house may burn down.

Firefighters Watch As Home Burns: Gene Cranick’s House Destroyed In Tennessee Over $75 Fee (VIDEO)

A smoldering rage may be all that remains after Gene Cranick’s home burned to the ground last week in Obion County, Tennessee.

Firefighters are usually the bold “veni, vidi, vici” sort, but those from neighboring South Fulton could only say “veni, vidi.” They came. They watched. That’s it.

Cranick lives outside of the city limits and he admits that he forgot to pay a $75 annual service fee that would have provided him with fire protection. Firefighters wouldn’t lift a finger, much less the hoses that might have saved the house.

The fire reportedly started in some barrels outside. As the flames crept closer to the home, Cranick says he offered to pay whatever it would take. The plea fell on deaf ears. Hours later, the home was gone.

So were three dogs and a cat.

“They coulda’ been saved if they put water on it. But they didn’t do it,” Cranick told MSNBC.

The South Fulton firefighters did show up and managed to save a neighbor’s field. The neighbor had paid the fee. But they would provide no heroics for the Cranicks. A local news report shows them climbing back on their trucks, flames still dancing over what was once the family’s home.

The event was dubbed “pay for spray” by MSNBC host Keith Olbermann. It’s a chilling vision of what could play out in a third world America, where paying taxes isn’t enough to cover basic services. Fire protection, it turns out, is a privilege in some communities. On Monday’s show,Olbermann railed against the larger implications the incident, calling it “a look now into the America envisioned by the tea party … just a preview of what would come in a kind of a la cartegovernment.”

WATCH:

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy

Think Progress was equally incensed:

Readers: You’re probably on it, but I missed this one a a few days ago, and when I heard of it, I was shocked. I don’t even know how to express what is appalling anymore because these days there is so much that is “appalling”, that the word “shocking” has lost much of its impact, not to mention the word “appalling”, and “atrocious”, and “disgusting”…Need I go on?

These days what isn’t shocking is actually what is quite “surprising”. Do you know what I mean or does it sound like I am just talking in circles? My example is the homeowner Paulette Cranick, who doesn’t blame the firefighters. “They’re doing what they are told to do. It’s not their fault,”

Okay. I have a problem with this. I don’t care if they are doing what they’re told, it isn’t right and they know it. How can firefighters just stare at a burning house when it is their job to save it? Not to mention knowing that the family pets were in their dying – what if a person was in there, would they still stand by? Can you imagine?

When are people going to stand up for each other and do the right thing?

Not to mention the tax dollars in this particular area that aren’t going towards covering a fire unless you pay this “extra” fee. And what about Beck? Fuck Beck. It’s not surprising what came out of his mouth.

That’s just my opinion. What’s yours? It’s Friday…start flapping your lips. Blog me.

**********

Jennifer: Back to your comment. All I want to say is that I will take your concerns, as well as the concerns of those that e-mailed me, into consideration and act accordingly.

Josie: That stat is scary and very disappointing.

Chin: You make a very valid and logical point and it is noted.

Democrat women: How about changing this stat that Josie reported and making sure that you go out and vote on November 2nd? Do I really need to ask? Just do it.

Anonymous: That is so funny!

Now I’m out of here. Happy Friday!

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good morning.

I mentioned I was exhausted yesterday from saying the words, “Do something”. Is that really the truth? No. I said it more out of frustration. Frustration of the times and what I have been reading. It’s really no skin off my back to encourage people to get involved and “do something”. In fact, I  rather  like it. A lot. But I also like results. We have two choices: 1) We’re either going to do it…or 2) We’re not.

Now here’s a person who is exhausted and her exhaustion, unlike mine, I feel is warranted.

REPUBLICAN MANIFESTO: THE PARALYZING OF AMERICA
By Helen L. Burleson, Doctor of Public Administration
Chicago, Ill.

I am exhausted listening to people talking about their exhaustion defending the President of the United States of America, Barack Obama. As I listened to the lady at the recent town hall meeting who said she was exhausted with trying to defend President Obama to others who are disenchanted, I became even more exhausted.

Not once did I hear her say that she was exhausted with the obstructionisms, the odious smears, innuendos and lies being told about our president. I also did not hear her say that she would do all she could to discourage the GOP from blocking and preventing most of the progressive, humane agenda that the president has laid out to benefit all of America’s citizens.

What is so troubling to me is that Democrats are sitting back and allowing the tea party and the Republicans to dominate the conversation by perverting all the good the Obama Administration is doing. These detractors are deliberately twisting and distorting the truth. Their 24/7 attention to the constant repetition of lies has so numbed and confused the average person that they are accepting these lies as the truth.

I am exhausted listening to people criticizing and disrespecting our president.

I am exhausted listening to all the ranting and ravings of the tea partiers and ultra conservative Republicans, all designed to derail the Obama presidency.

I’m exhausted realizing how many stupid, non-thinking and easily manipulative people there are in the United States of America.

I’m exhausted witnessing how the American education system has deteriorated to the point that Americans are ready to embrace mediocrity, ignorance and prejudice. We have produced a nation of automatons and clones who are incapable of thinking and cannot make decisions that are in their own best interests.

I’m exhausted knowing that President Obama inherited the biggest and most chaotic and devastating situation ever to occur in American history.

Today, September 23, 2010, the Republicans came out with their manifesto which in essence will paralyze America. To return to the policies that put our country in the greatest financial crisis since the original Depression of 1929 is criminal. They openly admit that they will dismantle all the progressive programs advanced and passed by the Obama Administration.

Now if you want to see exhaustion, wait and do nothing and let the Republicans replay their scenario of man’s inhumanity to man, catering to the rich and powerful, decimating the middle class and totally dissolving the lower class until they become the underbelly of society.

Should the Democrats be negligent enough because of lack of fervor to allowa Republican takeover, then I want to hear that same lady who so eloquently dressed the President down for the millions of people all over the world to see and hear; I want her to speak out. Speak out if she has a voice left after bemoaning our country going to hell in a hand basket as they take us back to the conflagration that put us in the condition we are in now. Dante’s Inferno could be no worse.

You think you’ve got it bad now? Why? Is it because you are ungrateful for all this Administration has produced despite the obstreperousness of the right wingers? It will be worse than during the Bush Administration because we have not learned from history or psychology. Doing the same failed things over and over gets the same failed results.

It is time for Democrats to stop moaning and groaning and to knock on every door, open the white pages and call everyone in the telephone directory to save our country. We have a good team and it is getting better. We have made enormous strides and progress in less than two years.

The jobs are coming and they will be created here in America to make products by Americans and for Americans so that we can all get above the flood waters that we have been drowning in because of the Bush years – eight to be exact. Painstakingly these were eight years of mismanagement, pandering to the rich and the elite, shipping our jobs overseas depriving American workers of the ability to sustain themselves, and running up overwhelming debt while borrowing money to fund two wars.

We have destroyed lives and properties in two countries, simultaneously; and, now we are rebuilding what we have torn down. Our own infrastructure is outdated and seriously in need of repair or replacement. Let’s bring our money home to take care of home.

We had an ill conceived education program which did nothing except further dumb down America’s children and turn them into drones for passing tests. It did not matter that they were not learning or gaining knowledge or being prepared as lifetime learners, as long as they could pass these arbitrary tests, they were passed along.

Is this what we want for our children, America? Is this what we want for ourselves? Haven’t we suffered enough, America? If you say yes, then do something about it. If you don’t have genuine enthusiasm, fake it until you make it. Don’t allow our country to become paralyzed again with ill prepared, ill informed tea partiers replacing knowledgeable, forward thinking Democrats.

Let’s go forward! Let’s defeat the prognosticators! Let’s take our country back to the Clinton years, to the Franklin Delano Roosevelt years, to the good old days when a man and a woman who were willing to work were able to find a good paying job and then be able to circulate money within our country to stimulate our economy so we can again know the prosperity that wiser, humane Administrations created for us.

This is our Democracy, let’s practice what is necessary to sustain a thriving Democracy by voting for the Democratic lawmen who really and truly practice, COUNTRY FIRST. It is time to EXHAUST all your energies and your resources to keep the bums out! We don’t need witchcraft or voodoo economics, we don’t need to be paralyzed.

We need a functioning, thriving Democracy where all of her citizens are given an equal opportunity to pursue life, liberty and happiness. This is what we owe ourselves. This is what we owe our children and their children and their children’s children. This is America. We are Americans.

Let’s start acting like Americans who have always heeded the call to treat the least of these as we would want to be treated ourselves. We are our brothers and sisters keepers. This is our manifest destiny! hb

Readers: Kudos to Dr Burleson! I may not know how to be that inspiring myself, but I sure as hell know how to find the people who are. So if that doesn’t make one think,…if that doesn’t inspire people…if that doesn’t motivate people to get off of their lazy asses, I don’t know if anything will, and we may have to kiss our lazy asses goodbye because our country will go to hell in a hand basket, if we don’t lend a hand and “do something”.

That’s all I’ve got today. I think it’s enough. Well…maybe not. There is always LOVE…and HOPE that the people will do the right thing.

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

If you love my blog and my writes, please make a donation via PayPal, credit card, or e-check, please click the “Donate” button below. (Please only donations from those readers within the United States. – International readers please see my “Donate” page)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Good Morning.

It has been quite a read this morning catching up on all of your comments. Thanks for joining in on the dialogue and banter. I found the info very interesting and helpful this morning. It inspired me to post something that I feel is also interesting and very helpful.

Social Media is so hot these days…my blog included. It is very important to me that my readers not only feel safe blogging here but that their identities are safe here too. When I read this write below from Scambusters, I learned a few things myself, and I thought you would appreciate the advice on protecting yourself too.

I can’t hide from the things I say here; my name and face are everywhere. But you can protect yourself here and other places you voice your two…and you should. I call it responsible writing…Scambusters calls it…

How to protect yourself when you Post on the internet

If you use the Internet, chances are you post online. Perhaps it’s “tweeting” on Twitter, writing your own or commenting on another blog, or a Facebook page.

But your online posting also comes with a hidden “accessory” – the risk of identity theft or even physical crime.

For this week’s issue, we’ve compiled a Top 10 list of rules and actions you can take to cut the risk of becoming a crime victim from online posting.

Follow These 10 Safety Rules When You Post Online
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When you post online, the name of the game is usually to share your ideas and opinions, or even snippets from your personal life.

It should be fun.

Unfortunately, online posting also opens the door for a whole series of potential wrongdoings, from slander and online bullying, to identity theft and crimes that target young people.

Still, these days, most of us want to and do post online. So, here at Scambusters, we’ve put together our 10 Rules to make online posting safer.

1. First, Golden Rule #1. Never post anything — words, pictures, videos, links, emails, blogs, comments and tweets – that you’re not happy for the whole wide world to view. Because that’s the potential of the Internet. There is no hiding place.

No matter how secure or obscure a site is, there is always the risk that it can be hacked, and no matter how little interest you think other people would have in what you said or did, someone you thought you could trust may forward or link to the contents you intended to be private.

2. Golden Rule #2. This follows directly from Rule #1: Think before you post. This was the catchphrase for the 2010 Safer Internet Day campaign, aimed mainly at young people. But it applies to all of us every day.

Some other “think first” tips:

* Don’t post things that aren’t true or allegations that you can’t prove — you could land in legal hot water.

* Don’t victimize or bully other individuals (anonymously or not). You could cause a personal tragedy and end up in jail.

* Don’t fire off a comment based on an instant gut reaction that you might regret later.

* Don’t copy someone else’s comments or ideas and pass them off as your own.

* Watch your language!

3. Names. Be careful how you use your name. Avoid using your full name. Even a nickname could spell trouble — for instance, if it says something suggestive about your character, if it’s a name you already use with others who know your real identity, or if it’s made up from your real name (say, from your initials). First names are best, unless yours is extremely unusual.

These days, many people do use their full names for online posting — on social media sites and blogs for example. Just know that in doing so you’re raising the risk of becoming an identity theft victim.

4. Photos. Bearing in mind Golden Rule #1, don’t post photos you wouldn’t want everyone to see. Full face, high resolution photos may be “snagged” (copied) and used for identity theft. Some people don’t know how easy this is to do with any photo, with just a couple of clicks. Also, as a matter of etiquette, don’t post photos of others without their permission, unless you’re prepared for the consequences if the other person doesn’t think it’s funny.

For preference, use photos in which identities are obscured. And, as a general rule, don’t post photos of children online (especially not other people’s children without permission). If you want to share photos of your kids, put them in a private online album, accessible by invitation or password. Or email them directly to your friends.

5. Addresses. Keep your postal address and your main email address private. That doesn’t guarantee it won’t fall into the wrong hands — postal addresses, for instance, are a matter of public record. Set up and use a “disposable” email address for posting — either one you can delete if it gets into the hands of spahammers (intentionally misspelled) or a different one for each time you have to give it.

By the way, you can easily give away your address accidentally – by posting a photo of yourself outside your home.

6. Phone number. Why would you ever want to give out your phone number to the rest of the world? OK, crooks might be able to find it in a phone book, but to prevent identify theft or even abusive calls, don’t post online.

7. Comments. We all have a point of view on pretty much everything we read on the Internet. If you want to post online with a comment, many sites ask for your name and email address which, they say, is not for disclosure. Why take the risk? Use your first name or even a made-up name, and a temporary email address.

And apply Golden Rule #2 — think before you post. Usually, you can’t take back what you said. Even deleting your comment doesn’t guarantee it hasn’t already been read and stored somewhere else.

8. Keep it closed. As with the child-photo guidance given above, consider having a closed group on social networking sites that can only be accessed by invited users.

9. Read the fine print. Most sites where you can post online comments have a set of rules about how they can use your comments and any personal details you provide about yourself. These rules are usually viewable via a clickable link to ”Privacy Policy.” Make a point of reading this before posting. And if there isn’t a privacy policy, beware!

10. Don’t tell. Don’t give information about your planned movements which would let a burglar know when you’re not at home. See these useful Scambusters issues about posting your whereabouts online and about protecting yourself from burglars.

Readers: There is some good stuff here. I love the Golden Rule #2.: “Think before you post.” To me, the key to responsible writing. Like I said, I can’t hide so what I post here and how I say it is of the utmost importance to me. I don’t write casually, even when it may sound as if I am talking off the cuff. And sometimes I am, but there is still thought in it – I still call it responsible writing.

Being responsible when you write is being responsible for your own well-being.

I think about what I write and how I say it. I know I have a very wide and deep audience so I take that into consideration when I write. This by no means, means that I edit myself or I don’t give my honest opinion.  I just put more thought into how I want to articulate myself and I ask the question: What way of writing, what language choices, gets my point across the best?

My writing has changed. This is growth and growth is good. Responsible writing is important to me therefore I must be a responsible writer.  If something years later comes back to bite me in the ass, I want to feel just as good about it, as I did when I wrote it. Or at the very least, take all things of that particular time into consideration, and accept my writing for that time.

Now people change and grow and we don’t always feel the same about things years later, or even weeks or days later. And I HOPE that in some cases we do change our thoughts about things…we do have, for lack of a better word, an “Aha! moment. – At least that is what I HOPE here as I write to inspire and bring about change.

I don’t know what lead me off on that tangent but I think Im done. How about hearing from you now? Blog me.

Peace & Love: “Live it, Give it”

Lastly, greed over a great story is surfacing from my “loyal”(?) readers. With all this back and forth about who owns what, that appears on my blog, let me reiterate that all material posted on my blog becomes the sole property of my blog. If you want to reserve any proprietary rights don’t post it to my blog. I will prominently display this caveat on my blog from now on to remind those who may have forgotten this notice.

Gratefully your blog host,

michelle

Aka BABE: We all know what this means by now :)

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