Spahams And Scam Wars
Posted by Michelle Moquin on April 26th, 2010
Good morning. I don’t know about you but I am finding scams coming at me pretty consistently through my e-mail more and more, and many don’t go into my spam mail. It is annoying to say the least to have to filter through them, all of the time, to find the good content. Can you relate?
And the scammers are smart. I’ve noticed that they try to entice you to open up their e-mails by posing as people that you actually do business with. I have reported at least 3 e-mails that I have gotten from Paypal posers that have contacted me in attempt to get my password and other personal information. And unfortunately many of those scam e-mails contain malware ie., viruses, Trojans, spyware.
Today’s article not only talks about malware, but it also includes the top shocking scam tricks. Some info may be old hat, but it is always beneficial to be reminded. And some info may be new to you. In either case, once again forewarned is forearmed.
On a side note….MAC users rarely get viruses compared to PC users, but that doesn’t mean MAC users are safe from the scam tricks. So whether you are a PC or a MAC user, you definitely want to continue reading.
When it comes to spaham (misspelled intentionally) and scam wars, it’s the same. Sadly, however, most people have no idea of the scale of the threat — for example, that up to half of all PCs may be infected with malware.
Here’s your chance to put that right. In this issue we highlight 20 little-known but startling facts about spahams and scams. We also include 7 easy things you can do to stay safe.
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Scam Tricks and Spahams: 20 Shockers to Keep You On Guard
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If you’ve ever met anyone who says they’ve never been a scam or spaham target, you should be skeptical.
It’s possible they’ve never been scammed but the chances are high that someone, some time, will have tried it on them. Or they will in the future.
And, if they’re online, they surely will have been spahammed.
Certainly, there’s no room for complacency. To underline that, here at Scambusters, we’ve been taking a close-up look at the latest figures and trends in the murky, multi-billion dollar scam world.
They make alarming reading. But they’re facts we all need to know, so that we never let our guard drop.
We’ve trawled across the latest survey and research reports to identify 20 things you may not know about Internet spahams and scams.
Here Are the Top 20 Shocking Scam Tricks:
* Email scams: One in 304 emails that are sent to us contains a virus and one in 404 is a phishing message.
* A scan of 22 million PCs by security firm Panda Labs in the second quarter of 2009 showed that just short of 12 million of them were infected. There’s no way of knowing, but if the same proportion applies elsewhere, that means over half of PCs worldwide could be infected with viruses, Trojans, spyware and other malware. The biggest single category of infection is by banking Trojans and password stealers.
* The most phished organizations (that is, those who were targeted or used in phishing scams) are, not surprisingly, banks and credit unions. But this year, according to a
spaham/scam study called Project Honeypot, the social networking site Facebook, currently in second slot behind J P Morgan Chase, is predicted to become the biggest single vehicle for phishing.
* According to the Consumer Federation of America, one third of all adults have at some time been approached with scams (as distinct from, say, having their identity stolen). Lottery cons are the most common, followed by bogus grants and work-at-home schemes.
* The typical victim of a lottery money scam loses around $3,000, usually for supposed tax, administration or Customs fees, while those who fall for advance fee scams lose, on
average, up to $4,000. The average identity theft victim gets taken for $5,000.
* Scammers profile their victims — they know who makes the best target. For instance, a woman aged 70-plus is the most common target for a lottery scam, while a man in the 55-61 age range is the most common investment fraud victim. However, the age group that attracts the most scams is the 30-39 year olds.
* Almost two-thirds of people incorrectly believe a check is valid if a bank pays out funds on it. (It’s not, and if the check subsequently bounces, the account holder is responsible for repaying any money they withdrew.)
* On average, 3,500 new sites harboring malware are set up every day. Online security experts McAfee reckon there are now more than 1.2 million different types of Internet malware.
* Up to 45,000 people contact the Federal Trade Commission — the US agency responsible for preventing and halting consumer fraud — with complaints every week.
* In 2008 — the last year for which full records are available — 275,000 Americans told the FBI’s Internet Crime Complaint Center they had been scammed out of a total of $265
million. Non-delivery of merchandise and auction fraud accounted for 60% of this.
* However, this is only the tip of an iceberg. 10 million people were said to be victims of identity theft, losing more than $48 billion — yes, that’s “billion” — a year. According
to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), a total of 30 millio Americans ages 18 and older, or 13.5% of the U.S. adult population, were victims of consumer fraud of one type or another during a one-year period.
* Half of all identity thieves in a recent study came from a middle class background, had a college education and an otherwise conventional lifestyle. Most of them had jobs and
their main motivation was to buy luxuries. In other words, they’re not all serial crooks or drug addicts.
* More than 3,000 fraudulent IRS tax agency websites were taken offline by law enforcement action last year. And, in 2005, before Hurricane Katrina even made landfall, there were 200 phony Katrina aid websites. In a recent intervention, the
Nigerian Government shut down 800 fraudulent sites.
* 79% of all email in the US is spaham. But the nation is only Number 7 in the spaham league. Britain comes top with 94%, then China (90%), Hong Kong (89%), Australia (88%), Japan (86%), and Germany (83%). The Netherlands is 8th (78%) followed by Canada (77%).
* China is the world’s biggest spahammer, accounting for more than 11% of messages, followed by Brazil, the US and Turkey. Most spahams are sent out by compromised “zombie” PCs whose owners are unaware they are being used — up to 400,000 zombie machines are activated every day. In the US, California is the most prolific state as a source of spaham.
* An estimated total of 125 trillion spaham messages have been sent out in the past five years, says Project Honeypot. Monday is the busiest day for spaham, and Saturday the least busy. 8am EST sees the highest volume during any day.
* In a survey by the Messaging Anti-Abuse Working Group, one third of North American Internet users admitted they’ve replied to spaham. The most common excuse is that they did it in error but some confessed either interest in the product or just wanting to see what happened.
* An estimated 40% of Internet users enter the same password for every protected site they visit.
* The scam ratio for work-at-home jobs posted online is 59:1. In other words, out of every 60 advertised jobs, only one is genuine.
* Almost 200 million phone numbers are listed on the “do not call” register but last year alone more than 7 million people complained that telemarketers called them anyway. Arizona has, proportionate to the population, the highest level of complaints and Colorado has the highest proportion of registrations.
To register or for more information, visit the Do Not Call site.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1ghmB7fUi0tWfo&b=WtlDMTa.ndQVsuzoInmaIg
Not a pretty picture is it? But it’s not all gloom and doom. Thousands of organizations, including Scambusters, official government agencies and crime fighting groups have joined the battle against online fraud.
You Can Play Your Part Too…
Here’s our quick-and-easy list of 7 important things you can do to cut the risk of becoming a scam victim:
1. Surf safely: Follow the recent lead from France and Germany and stop using Internet Explorer as your browser. Firefox is much safer. Install Internet security software and keep it up to date.
2. Be wary about downloading software from unfamiliar websites or using peer-to-peer (“torrent”) sites that swap and share files. These might install malware on your PC. Same goes for pop-up windows that offer to scan your computer or claim it is
infected by a virus. Again, they will load malware to steal information.
3. Use a different password for every site and change them frequently. See this Scambusters issue for guidance.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1ghmB7fUi0tWfo&b=OlzjqcsW94jIWxWyuHBM6Q
4. Never reply to spaham, click on links or attachments from people you don’t know or respond to emails offering you money as a prize, an advance payment or an inheritance.
5. Always check and confirm the identity of individuals and websites you are dealing with, both online and offline. Don’t give them any personal or confidential information until you have both done that and confirmed that they do need it and will protect it.
6. Be wary of dealing with companies, websites and charitable organizations you’ve never heard of. See our recent warning about Haiti earthquake scams.
http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1ghmB7fUi0tWfo&b=GuLPKMR32M__eXDR1j0APw
7. Finally, be a skeptic about anything and everything that might cost you money and report any suspicions you have or scams you’ve experienced to the police and the Federal Trade Commission.
Education, technology and tough justice are key weapons in the battle against scam tricksters. Making sure as many people as possible are alert to the risks, providing increasingly smart Internet security applications, and harshly punishing perpetrators may one day stem the tide of these scam tricks.
Here’s to that day!
Readers: So…according to the lack of comments over the weekend, I’m going to assume and say there is probably an issue in posting your thoughts and comments. Too bad; I miss hearing from you. Hopefully this will be rectified soon. :)
On another note, I want to wish my husband a beautiful day! – It is his birthday.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUG!
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)
April 26th, 2010 at 12:57 pm
Hi Mischa, had a busy weekend and am still busy playing catch up…I’ll admit I haven’t read Sat/Sun or today’s post yet but as soon as this current baket of paperwork is handled or round filed I will : )
Doug, the main dude – Happy Birthday!!
I miss Howie, Al, the aliens (all of them), and Anonz and not necessarily in that order ; ) where is everyone?
Luv, Zen Lill
April 26th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
Michelle
I couldn’t get in yesterday. I only tried twice but each time it wouldn’t post.
My daughter Evelyn, called to say that it was shut down because she couldn’t pull it up. I hope this gets in.
Helen
April 26th, 2010 at 1:15 pm
I read this in Huffington Post: ” President Obama has personally urged him not to cut a deal with Republicans. This is a welcome sign that Obama realizes that public opinion is moving in the direction of tougher banking reform, and that he learned from the health debate that bipartisan compromise on key reform issues is a snare and a delusion.”
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It seems President Obama is getting wise to the republicans.
Larry
April 26th, 2010 at 1:26 pm
Michelle
What do you think about Stephen Hawkins saying we should avoid aliens because they can be dangerous. Do you think he has been reading the “Ori” statements?”
The great scientist says aliens do exist and we should be worried about it.
Has he had a talk with you, Michelle?
April 26th, 2010 at 1:46 pm
ADULT ILLNESS FOR CHILDHOOD CANCER SURVIVORS
Here’s something to feel great about: In just 40 years, researchers and physicians have flipped the mortality figures for children with cancer — where 80% of afflicted children previously succumbed to their cancer, the five-year survival rate is now 80%.
This remarkable achievement poses an important new question… what are the long-term health implications for adults who have survived a childhood bout with cancer?
Are there special dangers… or special precautions that the growing population of survivors should know about?
St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis is conducting the long-term Childhood Cancer Survivor Study initiated in 1993 by Leslie Robison, PhD, chair of the epidemiology and cancer control department.
The study includes 27 cancer centers in the US and Canada and 14,000 survivors diagnosed and treated under age 21 between 1970 and 1986.
The long-term goal is to learn whether childhood cancer patients tend to develop particular health conditions or psychological problems 30 or more years after their cancer treatment… whether these conditions are results of the treatment… and, of course, how to help survivors stay healthier.
These follow-up conditions (called “late effects”) are categorized in the realms of physical (such as organ function) and psychological issues (such as success in education, marital happiness, cognitive function and rate of depression).
HOW DO ADULT SURVIVORS FARE?
Based on results thus far, Dr. Robison told me that it appears that about 75% of childhood cancer survivors will experience some type of late effects in adulthood, ranging from minor (such as low-level pain) to extremely serious, including secondary cancers or heart conditions.
Compared to the control group (siblings of the survivors who’d never had cancer), researchers concluded that the childhood cancer survivors are three to four times more likely to have a chronic health condition and eight times more likely to have a serious to life-threatening medical condition.
Two particular treatments stand out as being responsible for serious late effects, specifically breast cancer and heart disease. Dr. Robison says that women who had chest radiation therapy as girls (about 21% of the female cancer survivors in the study) have a very high risk for breast cancer, with 20% of them developing it by age 45.
Childhood doses of chest radiation can also cause problems with cardiac function in adulthood — and so, too, can chemotherapy (specifically, the group of drugs referred to as anthracyclines, which Dr. Robison told me are important drugs for treating many types of childhood cancers).
Today’s pediatric oncologists do their best to avoid using chest radiation and are working to determine a safer dose of the cardio-toxic chemo.
On average, it appears that childhood cancer survivors often begin to experience heart problems at around age 32. They are twice as likely as siblings to have high blood pressure, 60% more likely to develop high cholesterol and 70% more likely to have diabetes.
Other potential problems for survivors of childhood cancer include short stature because of endocrine disruption from having radiation to the head… loss of teeth from jaw radiation… cognitive deficits from cranial radiation… and skin cancer (basal cell carcinomas) from localized radiation.
I was happy to hear that on the emotional side, the news is excellent. Dr. Robison says “resilience is generally high with cancer survivors.” Rates of stress and depression were relatively low, he said — noting that, in fact, they are about the same as for the siblings.
HOW TO STAY HEALTHY
It’s hoped that this study will help survivors better understand the medical problems that they may face. So I asked Dr. Robison for some advice on what adult survivors of childhood cancer — even those who are healthy now — should do.
He said the number-one piece of advice for all childhood cancer survivors is this: “Be aware of your history and your risk and be prepared to advocate for yourself.”
It is crucial to obtain a summary of your treatment from the cancer center(s) where you were treated. You should know exactly what your treatment involved, including any drugs (names and doses), radiation and/or surgery.
Share this information with your primary care doctor, as it may have implications for your adult health.
Also, you and your doctor should review the medical guidelines for survivors provided by CureSearch, a joint effort of the National Childhood Cancer Foundation and the Children’s Oncology Group, where you can get recommendations for screening and management of late effects of cancer treatment.
There is a detailed list for physicians and patients at (http://www.survivorshipguidelines.org/).
Another goal of this study is to improve cancer treatment for children so they can be healed without fear of future repercussions.
But until then, survivors should understand that knowledge of their past can help them have a better future.
Source(s):
Leslie Robison, PhD, chair of the epidemiology and cancer control department at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee.
April 26th, 2010 at 3:06 pm
Michelle
i couldn’t pull up your blog yesterday. I wanted to tell everyone about the Transformers 3 filming coming to Andersen AFB on Guam.
I wanna be an extra.
Hafa adai
Anna
April 26th, 2010 at 3:29 pm
John, I think you had a typo. The scientist’s name is Stephen Hawking not Hawkins.
To me it was obvious that he was reading Michelle’s blog or talking to someone who was.
Harriet
April 26th, 2010 at 4:13 pm
The bigots are using race and fear to sell books and increase the money in their pocket. Here is another hypocrite using the tactic.
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Click here to learn more — and to get your FREE copy of Sean Hannity’s Conservative Victory today.
Sincerely,
——————————
By the way, I couldn’t get in yesterday either.
Mike
April 26th, 2010 at 4:23 pm
The Republicans have stopped reform on Wall Street by stopping the bill.
I’ll bet that most of my white friends will still find a way or reason to continue supporting their white republican politicians.
I smile as I await for them to tell me why they can support a politician who takes money from the group they defend. Yes, the democrats take money from the same guys but they don’t deliver.
Wall Street knows that they have to hedge their bets by supporting dems. But that is well balanced by the fact that they can give less to republicans and they will deliver.
The country first guys actually mean the guys with the money in the country first.
Perry
April 26th, 2010 at 5:19 pm
The state of Arizona was the last state in the Union to approve the Martin Luther King holiday. They did it reluctantly because blacks were quick to force the state to pay a huge economic price for their bigotry.
Like the bus strike by the blacks in the sixties, the blacks went after the greatest love of most white, their pocketbooks.
Depriving them of an economic benefit is the only true way to make whites pull back from their racist laws.
We Latinos need to organize to boycott any tourism to the state. Starting with the Baseball event scheduled for next year.
Carlos
April 26th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
We aliens have been living miles deep under your oceans for longer than you humans have been living on the earth’s land.
You have been polluting our ocean world with your nuclear waste, garbage, and oil leaking from your oil rigs.
Enough is enough. we will start sinking those well so that you can experience the devastating effects of that oil in your environment.
Alyce, alien
April 26th, 2010 at 5:35 pm
Carlos
I feel for you man. Police should be stopping us based on our conduct not on the color of our skin.
Perhaps the American Indian should have enacted laws to prevent the white immigrants from coming to their country. That would have save 13 million lives and counting.
I hope the Latinos know that they will have the full support of the black population. I think that there will be a considerable support from white America too.
Robert
April 26th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Hafa adai
Anna of Guam
I”m sorry to inform you that there is no movie coming to film “Transformers 3″ on the Andersen AFB on Guam. That was misinformation launched by the U.S Air Force on Guam as an exercise involving a form of Internet fraud that aims to steal personal information.
It’s called phishing. So if you responded to it you have had some of your private information stolen.
Shawn
April 27th, 2010 at 2:25 am
Hafa adai
Peter, the legalization of weed is all the talk lately on Guam. Are you for or against? I just read this article.
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Decriminalizing Cannabis on Guam, Part 1
Posted: Apr 26, 2010 10:34 PM
Updated: Apr 26, 2010 10:49 PM
by John Davis for KUAM Columns
Guam – There has been much talk lately about the legalization of cannabis on Guam. So much that several different ways to legalize and regulate the natural drug have been proffered.
Medical cannabis and outright legalization of cannabis seem to take the lead in discussions related to legalizing the drug, but are our people ready for it either way? Before jumping to conclusions, let’s take a look at some history about law, cultivation and consumption of Cannabis.
Cannabis has been used throughout America since 7,000 B.C. That’s over nine thousand years that Cannabis has been used by numerous civilizations.
The cannabis plant was used to make rope, clothes, medicine and of course, as alternative to tobacco. In fact, cannabis has been illegal for less than one percent of the time it has been in use.
What do local lawmakers think about the issue? The main proponent of decriminalization of cannabis is Democrat senator Rory Respicio. In an effort to get different views on the issue,
I was able to interview the Chairperson on Rules via email. Below are the questions asked and answers by Senator Respicio in detail, take a look.
JD: Senator Respicio, if the issue of legalizing or regulating the use of cannabis were to ever be decided, would you chose bill form or referendum? If it’s bill form, do you think it will get enough votes to pass in the legislature and possibly overridden incase the governor veto’s it?
Senator Respicio: “First, let me make it clear that we cannot legalize marijuana, or cannabis, in Guam, we can only decriminalize it. In other words, we can remove local penalties, but the Federal penalties will still be in place.”
“Cannabis is on the Federal list of Controlled Substances, alongside many medicines, drugs, and dangerous substances. Only the Federal Government can legalize marijuana.”
“Medicinal cannabis is very different. Doctors can prescribe a number of substances on the Controlled Substances list, including Xanax, Morphine, Vicodin, Ritalin, Percocet, and so on.
More than 20 Jurisdictions across the United States have taken the initiative to allow doctors to prescribe cannabis to patients with specific conditions. This is a sensible beginning for the process of decriminalizing this drug.”
“If the Federal government did choose to legalize the use of cannabis (With restrictions similar to those on alcoholic beverages), I would be in support. There are economic studies that show that a legal cannabis industry could be as large and valuable as the adult beverage market.”
“Lastly John, I will be introducing a bill. I have completed a draft bill that I intend to circulate among doctors, my colleagues and other interested parties for input.
I think that there is enough sentiment in the community, especially among suffering veterans, to at least allow for medicinal cannabis in Guam.”
Just thinking about Bills becoming Law makes me think as far back as the 1600′s. States implemented laws that ordered farmers to grow Indian Hempseed, also known as Cannabis Indica.
If you put the propaganda explaining just how bad cannabis is to the side, you’ll learn that cannabis use was criminalized in the United States for several reasons, but the one that sticks out in my mind is how the U.S. Government used criminalization of cannabis as a tool to keep Mexicans outside U.S. borders.
In the 1900′s Americans living in the western region of the united sates weren’t too happy with an influx of Mexican-Americans as a result of the Mexican Revolution.
Mexican-Americans were cheap labor used for large American farms. However; it was the small time farmers that harvested bad feelings towards these immigrants.
So how did Uncle Sam deal with this problem? Well, most Mexicans smoked cannabis during that time and even brought the plant with them when they migrated into the U.S. so the state of California stepped up to the plate passing law that criminalized the preparations of hemp or loco weed.
Today, I bet the California government is not too happy with prohibiting cannabis cultivation, oh I meant preparation. In fact, the same state is leaving the option of decriminalizing cannabis to voters.
In November, California residents will vote to approve legalization of cannabis. If passed and implemented, residents would be allowed to “cultivate” cannabis in a five foot by five-foot space in their homes or yards.
Cannabis consumption will not be accepted in public and no one will be allowed to carry more than an ounce on his or her person.
JD: If cultivation of marijuana in a 5′x5′ space is legalized like it is already being considered in California, how will it be regulated on Guam? We always hear the bureau of Budget Management and Research saying Guam needs to find ways to increase its tax base, well this is one measure that will definitely increase the tax base, but will taxation be per pound or ounce or gram? What are your thoughts?
Senator Respicio: “Once again, legalization is probably a long way off, and the nuts and bolts of an industry that can’t exist is pure speculation. There are many good arguments for a cannabis industry, but it may take a while to get the Federal government to agree.”
“I have a section in my draft bill that would remove all penalties on possession of one ounce or less of cannabis. This would not be contrary to the new Federal policy, and I think this may also get public support. Penalties will still exist on possession of over an ounce.”
Aside from the first cannabis law “ordering” all farmers to grow in the early 1600′s, there were other laws enacted over the next 200 years. There were even laws stating you could be sent to jail for not growing hemp during times of shortage in the state of Virginia between 1763 and 1767. Topping it all off, you could even pay your taxes with hemp! Imagine that!
Over all these years, one thing hasn’t changed. The cultivation and use of Marijuana or Cannabis is still illegal unless prescribed by a physician in a state that has decriminalized medical marijuana.
Even at that, the Federal Government still has the authority to drop down from the sky via helicopters, raid farms and close down pharmacies, that’s just the plain truth.
Despite statements made by the President of the United States, Barack Obama, that all cannabis issues should be dealt with at the state level and not the federal level, there has been no change or hint of changing laws related to cannabis regulation and cultivation. I guess we’ll all just have to wait and see.
Next week, we’ll focus on the medical point of view in regards to cannabis use with another proponent for the legalization of cannabis for medical use, Dr, Chris Dombrowski.
The views and opinions expressed in KUAM Columns are not necessarily those of Pacific Telestations, Inc. or its advertisers
=====================================
Are you for or against?
Alberto
April 27th, 2010 at 2:46 am
Hafa adai
I have been reading about the fear of aliens. Maybe that is why we have so many new Navy ships visiting Guam.
The Coast Guard Cutter Mellon is now visiting. A friend of mine says there are some top secret missions that are being conducted by some of the crew. I wonder if it has anything to do with contact with aliens?
If someone reading this knows something, maybe you will share anonymously.
Silvia
April 27th, 2010 at 3:08 am
The SEC is bringing a civil suit against Goldman Sachs for fraud.
Why? In a nutshell, Goldman slapped a “Grade A” label on investments that they had specifically designed to fail, and then sold them to unwitting investors and made billions of dollars.1
It’s good to see regulators finally starting to hold Goldman accountable with a civil suit—but what they did could be criminal and if so, they should go to jail. Period.
===================
If you agree with this assertion, write your Congress men and demand they seek criminal charges against Goldman.
Brian
April 27th, 2010 at 3:13 am
Eat to Beat Jet Lag
Bradley Connor, MD
International Society of Travel Medicine
When traveling from one time zone to another, eat pasta the night before your flight — carbohydrates boost your brain’s supply of the sleep-inducing neurotransmitter serotonin.
Skip in-flight meals. Eating is one of the ways your body sets its internal clock, and airlines generally serve meals according to the time zone from which you took off, not the one where you will land.
After you land, order steak or eggs — foods that are rich in protein prompt your brain to produce neurochemicals that increase alertness.
April 27th, 2010 at 3:26 am
Mike this is the guy the Right is promoting over Reid. My brother is so excited about taking the WH back that he is out promoting this guy every free hour he has.
============
Conservative Friends -
The ad war against Harry Reid is starting, and you can help me today to expose his radical agenda to literally millions of Nevadans.
In poll after poll, I am leading Harry Reid by an average of over 9 points. Today, I am starting an aggressive television ad campaign to defeat Harry Reid, and I need your immediate help to expose Harry Reid’s socialist agenda to have government take over every aspect of our lives.
Watch the television ad I am running statewide in Nevada. We have already bought a full week of airtime, but I am asking for your immediate help to keep this ad on the air for as many more additional days as possible.
I am the conservative in this race to defeat Harry Reid. Senator Jim DeMint has praised my “impressive leadership” on cutting federal spending. Glenn Beck has called me a “tea party radical.” Sarah Palin’s family has campaigned for me personally in Nevada, and conservative leader Erick Erickson of RedState has endorsed my campaign to defeat Harry Reid.
Our grassroots army in Nevada is strong, but as you know, television ads are a key to victory over a powerful Senator like Harry Reid.
My campaign has already bought a full week of network television for these ads. Won’t you please contribute right away so we can keep these ads on the air a full extra week?
Thank you again for your continued support. Victory is close at hand.
Yours Truly,
Danny Tarkanian
===========================
I pretend to help him to keep the peace in the family. But I am donating my money to Harry Reid. I pray he is re-elected.
Cathy
April 27th, 2010 at 3:36 am
Anna
Hafa adai
I think that this is what Shawn was talking about. It doesn’t say if the movie “Terminator 3″ is really coming to Guam.
——————————
US Air Force base on Guam runs phishing scam
4/26/2010, 6:55 p.m. EDT
The Associated Press
(AP) — ANDERSEN AIR FORCE BASE, Guam – Officials at a U.S. Air Force base on Guam say they regret any confusion among the general public because of an exercise involving a form of Internet fraud that aims to steal personal information.
The 36th Communications Squadron at Andersen Air Force Base implemented the phishing scam last week as part of the base’s Operational Readiness Exercise.
The Air Force said Monday that an internal e-mail purporting to be from “Transformers 3″ spoke of a casting opportunity for the movie and asked interested personnel to submit an application with their personal information.
The military says the purpose of the exercise was to measure the effectiveness of information awareness and cyber security training efforts.
======================
I think this is despicable.
Lea
April 27th, 2010 at 3:44 am
Notice how the right never misses an opportunity to make a buck. Here they use patriotism and hatred of Obama to sell a flag with a snake on it.
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First Navy Jack Flag
The U.S. Navy is relying on a historic icon to remind the world of America’s strength and courage. The rattlesnake has been a favorite symbol of independence throughout America’s history. Adopted as a uniquely American icon by early patriots, such as Benjamin Franklin, the rattlesnake represents American unity. Individually, its rattles have no sound, but united they can be heard by all. And while it does not strike unless threatened, once provoked, the deadly rattlesnake never surrenders.
The rattlesnake was used as a symbol of resistance to British repressive acts in Colonial America. Flags bearing rattlesnakes and bearing the simple warning “Don’t Tread on Me” were flown on the first ships of the Continental Navy in the Delaware River in 1775.
Today, as America faces unprecedented threats, this historic symbol of our founding has emerged as a powerful reminder of our origin and true courage. Since May 2002, all U.S. Navy ships have flown the First Navy Jack from 8 a.m. to sunset daily while in port. The temporary substitution for the Union Jack represents a historic reminder of the nation’s and Navy’s origin and will to persevere and triumph during the global war on terrorism.
We have joined with the United States Navy Memorial Foundation to bring you a special edition First Navy Jack Flag. Created to meet the standards of flag construction established by the United States Navy Memorial Foundation, each 3′ x 5′ flag in this edition is handmade, piece-constructed together, and then marrow-stitched.
We have also arranged for each First Navy Jack Flag to be hand-raised according to tradition over the U.S. Navy Memorial. Your flag will be accompanied by a certificate documenting that it was flown over the U.S. Navy Memorial.
We invite you to proudly display this American symbol and send a message to the world that America will stand up to its aggressors and preserve liberty.
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I almost feel sorry for the bigots and morons that buy this crap.
Madge
April 27th, 2010 at 3:51 am
Hafa adai
Peter why are you so concerned about aliens? You should pay more attention to the real problems on Guam such as the fact that the children of Guam will not have an opportunity to further their education this summer.
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DOE Doesn’t Have the Money To Fund Summer School
Written by Kevin Kerrigan
Friday, 23 April 2010 08:23
Guam – Guam News
Guam – It looks like summer school at the Guam Public School System will have to be cancelled.
The problem again is money.
Deputy Superintendent Taling Taitano says U.S. DOE has told them they can not access federal funds until the third party administrator, that U.S. DOE now requires, is in place. But Taitano says that probably won’t happen until June and that will be too late to prepare for a summer session.
However, Taitano says there will be some summer instruction for seniors that need credits to graduate.
Taitano says that the school system needs more than $1-million dollars to operate a full summer school session. The only chance for that now is if the Legislature agrees to allow DOE to draw down funds in advance of next year’s budget. They have sent a letter to the legislature to ask if they can do that. DOE is waiting for a response.
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I hope you and Anna will get back to working for the people and children of Guam and forget about the foolishness of Aliens invading Guam.
Mai
April 27th, 2010 at 4:05 am
Michelle
I found this article which shows that we still have a lot to do to curb the Big Pharma abuses.
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Pfizer’s fall guy
You might think Pfizer paid a pretty hefty price last year when it agreed to $2.3 billion in fines for illegally marketing drugs like the dangerous painkiller Bextra.
It turns out the company got off easy… very easy.
By law, that settlement should have also prohibited Pfizer from doing business with Medicare and Medicaid–a restriction that could have killed the company.
But a CNN investigation found that Pfizer managed to do an end run around that law… and the feds actually helped.
Pfizer has a specially created subsidiary–a firm CNN said is essentially an “imaginary friend”–just to take the rap in cases like this one.
The subsidiary, Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. Inc., was created in 2007 just to take the fall in an earlier kickback case against a Pfizer-owned company. And last year, it was used again in the Bextra case.
So now, instead of Pfizer itself, Pharmacia & Upjohn Co. Inc. can’t sell meds to Medicare and Medicaid–but since this shell corporation has never sold a single pill to begin with, it won’t make a dime’s bit of difference.
Federal officials told the news network they had no choice, because truly nailing Pfizer would actually damage the industry and hurt too many people–both innocent patients who rely on Pfizer meds and innocent workers employed by the company.
If that sounds like rubbish to you, that’s because it is rubbish.
There are so many ways they could have handled this–and if all of them ultimately led to the failure of this company, so what? It’s not like they’ve earned our trust over the years.
It’s a company that’s been in trouble time and again… and if they finally went too far, they should have paid the price. The feds could have created a very reasonable plan to slowly shut this company down.
During a transitional period, Americans could switch to competing treatments… and, as in any other failure, Pfizer’s patents could be auctioned off–allowing another company to make these supposedly necessary meds.
And, in an ideal world, many of the people on Pfizer meds might use this as an opportunity to switch to non-drug alternatives or lifestyle changes.
In that case, sure, hundreds of Big Pharma jobs might be lost… but many of them could probably find a new line of work in the growing alternative health industry, where they could use real science, and not lawbreaking gimmicks, to heal patients.
Done right, the collapse of a drug giant could actually lead to millions of healthier Americans.
I’d say that’s a pretty fair trade.
I’m not done with Pfizer yet–they’re still paying off doctors, and I’ve got the scoop. Keep reading!
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We have to be ever vigilant to stop their abuses.
Colleen
April 27th, 2010 at 4:07 am
Michelle
Thanks for publishing the article on scams. My family and friends get so many it is scary. It is nice to know that there is something we can do about it.
Helena
April 27th, 2010 at 4:12 am
Anna and Peter
Your work has brought some fruit. The archdiocese is now reporting some of the abuse by as you call them “romp rustlers.”
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Archdiocese details priest’s sexual abuse
Posted: Apr 23, 2010 12:45 AM
Updated: Apr 23, 2010 12:47 AM
Video Gallery
Group helps victims of sex abuse by clergy
2:05
by Lannie Walker
Guam – The Guam Catholic Church says abuse allegations against former priest Father Raymond Cepeda date back over five years. Deacon Jeff Barcinas, spokesman for Archbishop Anthony Apuron, tells KUAM News that only one victim that he knows of reported abuse by Fr. Cepeda and he says the victim was not a minor.
Barcinas says the process to laicize Cepeda took several years and required the consent of the Pope. Cepeda, a former priest at the Santa Barbara Church in Dededo, was officially removed from the clergy last December.
“All I know from when the alleged incident was from when the incident was first reported to the Archbishop. At that time the archbishop did take the necessary action to suspend that time Father Ray Cepeda from any ministry for whoever the victims; and whoever is affected would not be affected by his presence.”
Barcinas says Cepeda is no longer working under the church, but says he doesn’t know when the investigation into Cepeda was completed. The Archdiocese meanwhile will not say when they contacted Child Protection Services, the Attorney General’s Office and Guam Police Department to report the allegations of abuse against Cepeda.
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I have lost my faith because of these cursed men wearing the cloth of the Lord.
Xena
April 27th, 2010 at 4:20 am
Michelle
I am not trying to dominate your blog, but I have trouble getting in some days so I have a lot to bring a little light to. Here is the right’s attempt to rewrite history and make the Nazis of the South seem to be fighting for something other than enslavement of other human beings. It is another example of my some of my race having their feet in another reality.
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The Civil War: Reality was different
Dear Fellow Conservative:
The politically correct history that dominates our schools and universities today insists that Jefferson Davis was another Hitler, Robert E. Lee was another Rommel, and the Confederate States of America were our own version of the Third Reich — a blot on American history.
But reality was different: the Old South, as H. W. Crocker III explains in The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Civil War, had slavery, but also immense charm, grace, and merit — not to mention a very strong Constitutional case.
Now, for a limited time, Human Events is making The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Civil War available to you absolutely FREE in a limited-edition hardcover.
In your FREE hardcover copy of The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Civil War, you’ll find among many intriguing items:
That secession was legal
That the Emancipation Proclamation did not free a single slave
That leading Northern generals — like McLellan and Sherman — hated abolitionists
That bombing people “back to the Stone Age” got its start with the Federal siege of Vicksburg
That Stonewall Jackson founded a Sunday school for slaves where he taught them how to read
That General James Longstreet fought the Battle of Sharpsburg in his carpet slippers
That if the South had won, we might be able to enjoy holidays in the sunny Southern state of Cuba
CLICK HERE to get your FREE hardcover copy of The Politically Incorrect Guide™ to the Civil War today.
Sincerely,
Thomas S. Winter
Editor in Chief, Human Events
==============================
My concern is the people who I meet who want desperately to believe this lie. Like arabs who want to believe that the Holocaust was a lie.
Mike
April 27th, 2010 at 4:26 am
The aliens that have existed on the island of Anatahan are being disturbed by humans who insist on invading the island for military purposes. If this continues the inhabitants will cause the volcano Anatahan to explode.
This is not something the US will want to happen. A hint to the wise
Xiao
April 27th, 2010 at 4:34 am
Xena, hafa adai
Maybe it was all the people who are coming out to testify to the abuse of the “butt bandits” in the clergy that has forced the hand of the Archdiocese.
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Claims emerge of sexual abuse by Catholic Church clergy in Guam
PHOTO
The Catholic Church on Guam is facing sexual abuse allegations against some of its clergy. [AFP]
Last Updated: Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:19:00 +1000
The Catholic Church on Guam is facing sexual abuse allegations against some of its clergy.
More than 20 people have come forward to contact a victim’s assistance group to report abuse.
The Church has so far denied any knowledge of specific allegations, but says it has a policy of investigating any accusations and to assist victims where needed.
Joelle Casteix from the Survivors Network of Those Abused by Priests says the victims are too afraid to talk publically about the abuse.
She says at least one accused priest is still working on Guam.
“The first person who contacted me, his perpetrator is still an active priest on Guam and he’s a young vibrant man doing all kinds of great stuff but any time he goes to church here’s this guy who sexually abused him. And that story is very very common,” she said.
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Whatever the reason, we need to hold the church accountable and to force it to do something to show that they are taking steps to prevent future occurrences.
Tracy
April 27th, 2010 at 4:48 am
Ann Coulter is an example of a person who will do anything to make a dollar. She really doesn’t believe the stuff she mouths. I know that she is f**king a black guy she met at a republican fund raiser. They both are playing the system for all the money they can get.
I am constantly amazed at the lengths she will go to to make a dollar. Here is her latest.
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April 21, 2010
Wouldn’t A Mini Series on Attila the Hun Explain Nancy Pelosi?
by Ann Coulter
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Rachel Maddow’s MSNBC special on Timothy McVeigh this past Monday night did not come a moment too soon. As Maddow explained in the introduction to her show: “Nine years after his execution, we are left worrying that Timothy McVeigh’s voice from the grave echoes in the new rising tide of American anti-government extremism.”
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After months of hysterically warning viewers that cheerful, well-dressed tea partiers carrying “I Can See November From My House” signs could suddenly erupt into wanton violence, MSNBC finally had proof: Timothy McVeigh.
How about a special on the KGB to help us understand what makes Henry Waxman tick? We’re just trying to seek answers …
On her April 14 show, Maddow gave a “War of the Worlds” report on gun rights activists whom she claimed were planning tributes to Timothy McVeigh’s bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City. “On the anniversary of the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma City by Timothy McVeigh,” she said, “there will be two marches on Washington.”
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This woman has sold here sole for a few dollars more.
Dorothy
April 27th, 2010 at 5:46 am
Michelle
My cousin sent me this article.
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vFighting back after stroke
Surviving a stroke is only half the battle. The real challenge begins for many stroke victims when they return home from the hospital. Many of them face debilitating and even permanent damage, and some even need to relearn basic activities like walking, talking and eating.
Now, two recent studies give some hope to a seemingly hopeless situation.
The first comes in the form of a simple easy-to-find everyday vitamin–one many people start their day with, whether they know it or not.
Vitamin B3–better known as niacin, a nutrient that can be found in abundance in coffee–helps rats that have suffered ischemic strokes to grow blood vessels and new nerve cells in their brains, according to a study presented at the recent International Stroke Conference.
That’s all well and good for the rats, but will it work on humans? That’s what the research team at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit wants to figure out–which is why they’re now testing to see if humans can get those same benefits after suffering an ischemic stroke. (That’s the most common type of stroke, which happens when blood can’t make it to the brain.)
But we already know that niacin has some terrific benefits for the arteries, as I’ve mentioned before. (Read “Common vitamin tops meds.”) What’s more, it’s easy to get it from your diet by eating more oatmeal, peanuts, mushrooms and fish.
And, as I mentioned, you can even get it from your morning brew. Espresso is overflowing with niacin, containing about 30 times what you’ll find in a serving of tuna or mushrooms. Regular brewed coffee is also an excellent source of niacin, but it doesn’t contain nearly as much as espresso.
Niacin is also inexpensive and widely available in supplement form.
The researchers say this nutrient appears to rewire the brain… which is exactly what another group of scientists working with stroke patients say about a very different treatment. Their study looks at how stroke victims benefit from something many of us do in the shower every day: singing.
It’s long been known that singing and speaking use different parts of the brain, which is why many stutterers can often belt out a tune without a single pause.
And in recent years, stroke patients who’ve lost the ability to talk have been learning to sing instead. It’s called “melodic intonation therapy,” and researchers say that the singing appears to rewire the brain–putting regions to use that had not been used before the stroke.
Many patients who’ve lost all ability to speak can begin communicating again after just one therapy session.
Stroke is often a traumatic life-changing event that robs people of their independence along with many of their abilities. It can be a long way back–but there is a road that can take you there.
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I hope this will help someone else
Shirley
April 27th, 2010 at 5:55 am
A WOMAN’S WEEK AT THE GYM
This is dedicated to everyone who ever attempted to get into a regular workout routine.
Dear Diary,
For my birthday this year, my Husband (the dear) purchased a week of personal training at the local health club for me.
Although I am still in great shape since being a high school football cheerleader 43 years ago, I decided it would be a good idea to go ahead and give it a try.
I called the club and made my reservations with a personal trainer named Christo, who identified himself as a 26-year-old aerobics instructor and model for athletic clothing and swim wear.
My husband seemed pleased with my enthusiasm to get started! The club encouraged me to keep a diary to chart my progress.
_______________________________
WEDNESDAY:
The only way I can brush my teeth is by laying the toothbrush on the counter and moving my mouth back and forth over it. I believe I have a hernia in both pectorals. Driving was OK as long as I didn’t try to steer or stop. I parked on top of a GEO in the club parking lot.
Christo was impatient with me, insisting that my screams bothered other club members. His voice is a little too perky for that early in the morning and when he scolds, he gets this nasally whine that is VERY annoying.
My chest hurt when I got on the treadmill, so Christo put me on the stair monster. Why the heck would anyone invent a machine to simulate an activity rendered obsolete by elevators? Christo told me it would help me get in shape and enjoy life. He said some other crap too.
April 27th, 2010 at 6:02 am
What is this world coming to when white men have to stoop to writing draconian laws to get an advantage over the coloreds.
I am from Ohio. I am a Republican but this shit in Arizona is repulsive. How white men can call themselves for liberty and be willing to deprive themselves and others of theirs so easily is offensive to the very concept of liberty.
Selvig
April 27th, 2010 at 6:04 am
All I got yesterday was “Safari can’t open the page “http://blog.michellemoquin.com/” because the server unexpectedly dropped the connection. This sometimes occurs when the server is busy. Wait for a few minutes, and then try again.”
Today I open the blog and what the F**K how did all these comments get in?
April 27th, 2010 at 6:07 am
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A father was at the beach with his children
When the four-year-old son ran up to him,
Grabbed his hand, and led him to the shore
Where a seagull lay dead in the sand.
‘Daddy, what happened to him?’ th e son asked.
‘He died and went to Heaven,’ the Dad replied.
The boy thought a moment and then said,
‘Did God throw him back down?’