::Thursday, February 26, 2004::
NOT GETTING AN EDUCATION
..It is no mystery why the number of foreign students applying for math and science degrees is declining. Bureaucratic red-tape and security considerations are making it harder for foreigners to study in the U.S. This could have adverse effects in the future where one can picture China, which graduated 500,000 technology students as compared to 65,000 in the U.S. becoming the most dominant economy in the world.
RICHEST PRESIDENT
..Is Dubya the richest president ever? You'd be surprised at the answer. Didn't we all think oil was the way to riches in this country?
DEFENDING MARRIAGE
..Lawmakers in the U.S. Congress doubt that an amendment to the Constitution regarding gay marriage will pass and for good reason. Although majority of Americans still oppose gay marriage, a growing number of lawmakers' constituents believe that the government should stay out of their bedrooms. Lawmakers can see the handwriting on the wall that it is a losing proposition for President Bush but his handlers would have none of it. They are pushing President Bush to play defense in order to placate his religious conservative base who are threatening to revolt over bad policy decisions in immigration, unchecked spending and the massive deficit that is threatening the country's future economic security. Just like the President's position on immigration, it does not matter whether it passes or not. The whole point is to energize the base by giving them what they want and enhancing Bush's image as a "passionate conservative". With the country clearly split in the middle regading party loyalty, the key to winning the 2004 elections is voter turnout. No group is as passionate in voting Republican as do evangelicals. This is what drives the President's policies.
::Wednesday, February 25, 2004::
THE VERDICT IS IN ON GIBSON'S "PASSION"
..Early reactions to the screening of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ"..
::Tuesday, February 24, 2004::
THE BATTLE IS ON!
..John Kerry's honeymoon as a front-runner in the democratic nomination is now officially over as President Bush launched an attack on his candidacy designed to portray Kerry as the flip-flopper. The President today endorsed a constitutional amendment banning gay marriage and defined the battle lines for the 2004 presidential elections. Kerry voted against the Defense of Marriage Act that was signed by President Clinton protecting States from being forced to recognize same-sex marriage licenses issued by a state that recognizes it. The White House obviously is gearing for a Bush-Kerry showdown and attempting to push Kerry to the wall by defining him as soft on values and character. They are aiming to diffuse attention out of the fact that Kerry is a perfect contrast to President Bush because of their opposite war records. It's a brilliant move by the White House to announce the proposed amendment as Christians all over the globe gear for Holy Week. A perfect symbolism for Bush as a faith and character president and Kerry as well, nobody really knows what yet.
::Thursday, February 19, 2004::
REALITY TV: WHY THEY'RE OUT FOR YOU NEXT
..The next phase of realityTV will be out to get you next, catching you in the most unflattering and uncompromising situation. Here's why.
UPS DELIVERS, NOW REPAIRS TOO!
.. Companies who don't innovate in the new economy will most likely fail. Score one for UPS who now has a right-arm business that accepts repair outsourcing and possible service everything in the future.
IDENTITY THEFT: DON'T SAY YOU WERE NOT WARNED!
..Here's a reminder from PCMagazine:
"By now you're hopefully asking yourself what steps you can take to protect your identity. While you can never completely safeguard your identity, there are common ways to distance yourself from the crime. As they say on The X-Files, "Trust no one"—at least not when it comes to your personal information.
• Be suspicious of transactions you didn't initiate.
• Ask yourself if you really need to provide your Social Security number, and don't carry your Social Security card.
• Don't carry your credit cards and checkbook unless you plan to use them.
• Review your credit report, and close accounts you don't really need.
• Opt in for credit agencies' periodic credit watches. It's not free, but it might buy you some peace of mind.
• Take the contents of your wallet out and photocopy everything, front and back. Keep the copies in a secure place.
• When you get a new credit card, sign it immediately.
• Of course, your mailbox is an invitation to thieves. Get a locking mailbox, retrieve your mail immediately after delivery, or get a post office box. Never leave outgoing mail in your unprotected box for collection.
• When ordering checks, omit your driver's license number, Social Security number, and consider using only the initials of your first and middle name. And if possible, pick up your checks in-person instead of having them mailed.
• During all in-person transactions, watch the people you give your credit cards to carefully.
• If you use your credit cards online, be sure to navigate directly to the retailer's site. Avoid following links in e-mails, even to donate to your favorite cause.
• When buying or donating online, look for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protection. A padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser isn't enough. Check the URL for https:// (the s is for secure) and beware of pop-up forms. Look for businesses and organizations that follow safe online and e-mail practices and feature certifications from groups such as TrustE or ScanAlert. Note, however, that this isn't foolproof. (For more information, see the Solutions feature "Should You Trust TrustE?" in our issue of February 17.)
• Shred all documents that contain any personal information before throwing them away. Dumpster diving isn't just about finding quirky furniture; it's also a favorite pursuit of ID thieves.
• Finally, keep records of all online purchases, including dates and order numbers. Keep all credit card receipts and compare them against your monthly statements. Better yet, sign up to view your account online and track it on a daily or weekly basis.
These simple steps could save you hours (or even months) of blood, toil, tears, and sweat. Even though the ITRC reports that victims are finding out about stolen IDs sooner, it's taking them longer to eliminate negative information from their credit reports. And sometimes there are darker consequences. If a thief uses your name in committing a crime, you may find yourself on a wanted list.
In the end, as consumers, we can minimize our risks but not eliminate them. Even if we are vigilant, we're still vulnerable to errant business and government practices. Easy credit, vulnerable databases, and trash with unshredded sensitive information are just a few things that put us all at risk. It will take a concerted and sustained effort by individuals, governments, and businesses to get the upper hand with the ID thieves. Until then, continue to worry."
Source: PC Mag.com
Identity Theft: What, Me Worry?
March 2, 2004
By Janet Rubenking
"By now you're hopefully asking yourself what steps you can take to protect your identity. While you can never completely safeguard your identity, there are common ways to distance yourself from the crime. As they say on The X-Files, "Trust no one"—at least not when it comes to your personal information.
• Be suspicious of transactions you didn't initiate.
• Ask yourself if you really need to provide your Social Security number, and don't carry your Social Security card.
• Don't carry your credit cards and checkbook unless you plan to use them.
• Review your credit report, and close accounts you don't really need.
• Opt in for credit agencies' periodic credit watches. It's not free, but it might buy you some peace of mind.
• Take the contents of your wallet out and photocopy everything, front and back. Keep the copies in a secure place.
• When you get a new credit card, sign it immediately.
• Of course, your mailbox is an invitation to thieves. Get a locking mailbox, retrieve your mail immediately after delivery, or get a post office box. Never leave outgoing mail in your unprotected box for collection.
• When ordering checks, omit your driver's license number, Social Security number, and consider using only the initials of your first and middle name. And if possible, pick up your checks in-person instead of having them mailed.
• During all in-person transactions, watch the people you give your credit cards to carefully.
• If you use your credit cards online, be sure to navigate directly to the retailer's site. Avoid following links in e-mails, even to donate to your favorite cause.
• When buying or donating online, look for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) protection. A padlock in the bottom right-hand corner of your browser isn't enough. Check the URL for https:// (the s is for secure) and beware of pop-up forms. Look for businesses and organizations that follow safe online and e-mail practices and feature certifications from groups such as TrustE or ScanAlert. Note, however, that this isn't foolproof. (For more information, see the Solutions feature "Should You Trust TrustE?" in our issue of February 17.)
• Shred all documents that contain any personal information before throwing them away. Dumpster diving isn't just about finding quirky furniture; it's also a favorite pursuit of ID thieves.
• Finally, keep records of all online purchases, including dates and order numbers. Keep all credit card receipts and compare them against your monthly statements. Better yet, sign up to view your account online and track it on a daily or weekly basis.
These simple steps could save you hours (or even months) of blood, toil, tears, and sweat. Even though the ITRC reports that victims are finding out about stolen IDs sooner, it's taking them longer to eliminate negative information from their credit reports. And sometimes there are darker consequences. If a thief uses your name in committing a crime, you may find yourself on a wanted list.
In the end, as consumers, we can minimize our risks but not eliminate them. Even if we are vigilant, we're still vulnerable to errant business and government practices. Easy credit, vulnerable databases, and trash with unshredded sensitive information are just a few things that put us all at risk. It will take a concerted and sustained effort by individuals, governments, and businesses to get the upper hand with the ID thieves. Until then, continue to worry."
Source: PC Mag.com
Identity Theft: What, Me Worry?
March 2, 2004
By Janet Rubenking
::Wednesday, February 18, 2004::
FASHION: PRIM AND PROPER IS BACK!
..Forget Janet Jackson. The general trend in fashion these days is to reject blatant sexuality and tone it down a little. Here's hoping MTV and those raunchy videos follow the lead.
::Sunday, February 15, 2004::
FALSE SENSE OF SECURITY
..Pop diva Britney Spears maybe making a mountain out of a molehill over her security problem. If she were not making ridiculous decisions that taint her image, she would not have created all this attention.
CHOCFUL OF LOVE, ADD WINE TO THAT..
..Make for good gifts for loved ones because they are good for your health. As in all things, however, too much of a good thing is bad for you.
HOME IS WHERE THE SCENT IS
..Your home emits a distinct smell that stays with you by way of your feelings. This according to experts who suggest it might be a good idea to always clean your house regularly and affect your mood positively all the time.
::Saturday, February 14, 2004::
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?
..Democrats are stepping up the attacks on Pres. Bush's military record so much so that the White House has had to put out fires these days. The president's National Guard records were released to the public to quell allegations that the president is not what his handlers portray him to be. The issue is not whether Bush failed to support the Vietnam War or dodged the draft but that he failed to serve his duty as a guardsman. Critics are taking on the president for putting harm's way to thousands of soldiers who risked their lives fulfilling the same duty that he allegedly turned his back on. In fairness to the president, his re-election should be judged according to his performance as a president and not his past military record. However, the political equation has changed what with growing American casualties borne out of his decision to go to war with Iraq. It's the reason why Democrats are comfortable contrasting the president's war record with Sen. John Kerry'saccomplishments in Vietnam.
::Friday, February 13, 2004::
HEIR TO THE THRONE
..The internet has changed election campaigns forever. Just think of Dean's rant that blasted its way over the internet in a couple of hours like a virus. Everything moves in a fast-forward mode these days and Democrats are becoming creative. It looks like John Kerry's supporters are the real heirs to the internet throne after all.
::Wednesday, February 11, 2004::
GAY MARRIAGE: A QUESTION OF TIMING?
..The wild card this coming Election 2004 is not Iraq, nor the stock market, neither President Bush's AWOL stint in the National Guard. It is the issue of gay marriage and the symbolism it presents. It will be a question of what party drives its base of voters most to the polling votes. The country is evenly split right now in terms of party allegiance. However, in the issue of gay marriage fully two-thirds of Americans disapprove as evidenced consistently by polls. Call this the religious conservatism that envelops rural America with the Southern states as its stronghold. That gives the Republicans a distinct advantage because of its Christian right core of voters.
The only symbolism that may trump this card is the issue of jobs, jobs, jobs. Although the economy is taking off as shown by strong GDP growth expected in the 4-5% area, people are not feeling it for good reason. The lost jobs are never coming back. What symbol illicits the most passion? Is gay marriage a visceral issue that is more important to most Americans than their economic well-being? Republicans will go the former and Democrats may well just hope it's still the "economy, stupid" argument that served them well under Clinton.
The only symbolism that may trump this card is the issue of jobs, jobs, jobs. Although the economy is taking off as shown by strong GDP growth expected in the 4-5% area, people are not feeling it for good reason. The lost jobs are never coming back. What symbol illicits the most passion? Is gay marriage a visceral issue that is more important to most Americans than their economic well-being? Republicans will go the former and Democrats may well just hope it's still the "economy, stupid" argument that served them well under Clinton.
::Tuesday, February 10, 2004::
IN THE SEASON OF LOVE, iPOD RULES!
..Experience what is arguably the best invention music has to offer..
::Monday, February 09, 2004::
THE FUTURE OF EMAIL
..Can email survive the onslaught of SPAM and virus attacks? There are structural limitations to the way we send and receive email that need to be addressed. Common sense can only get so far.
::Friday, February 06, 2004::
REALTY TIP
::Thursday, February 05, 2004::
PINOY NURSES ON E.R.
..It's about time that they put Filipino nurses on the hit-show E.R. It should be lauded for being politically correct at this time when the contributions of minority nurses, especially from the Philippines need to be recognized. NBC needs to do more than just showing them uttering ethnic comments for comic relief. They're doing a great disservice to the Filipino-American community by perpetuating the stereotype of a subservient Filipino nurse. They should elevate a Filipino nurse as one of the main stars of the show.
FACING THE MUSIC
..Does listening to music help babies become more intelligent? Is the rush to buy Baby Einstein CD's nonsensical? Does the "Mozart effect" really work? These are only some of the questions begging for an answer. All I know is that my 4 year old niece loves to sing, has perfect pitch and so far naturally excels in math in her age group. My sister played classical music every night and every morning when she was still pregnant. However, if the only effect is making kids happier, I'd take that too.
SUPER BOWL AD POLL
..For those who missed the event, here's a chance to review the best and worst of them ads.
