As I sit in the quaint, inviting coffee bar, rain is falling in the streets of Florence, but nobody seems to care as they enter the shop with their conversations in full swing, shaking off their umbrellas and hanging up their overcoats. I watch the proprietor chat it up in a familiar way with the some patrons standing with their espressos or Cafe Americans (only two choices since they don't order cappuccinos past noon) at the "belly bar". Seated at tables, I observe a foreign sight; folks chatting with each other; some are laughing, others seemed engrossed in what they are debating, there's a buzz of human energy in the air; it's a cornucopia of social scenes around this little haven.
It's Florence, Italy March 2009.
As I sit in the quaint and inviting coffee shop, the 82 degree sun is shining. Nobody seems to care as they enter plugged into their devices, silent and focused on somewhere other than here, avoiding eye contact at all costs. I watch a line of people waiting for their custom coffee drink, each that take careful instructions to order, while they chat on their cell phones or text to folks not here. Seated at tables, I can see folks chatting... on cell phones still; some are plugged into i-pods, others seem engrossed in the laptops they brought, there's a buzz of electronics in the air; apparently I stumbled into somebody's office, mistaking it for a coffee shop.
It's Anywhere, California March 2009.
Loving and Learning From Italy, March 2009 "It's a scene man!"
Identity theft is a growing problem. Once stolen, thieves obtain money, services, products, and even jobs in your name. Thieves sift through garbage to find sensitive information. They steal wallets and mail. They overhear your conversations in public places, or they trick you into giving them information over the phone or though the mail. Much of your personal data is already publicly available, thanks to voter registration records, real estate transactions, and divorce proceedings. Increasingly, identity thieves have access to your information via the Internet. If your identity is stolen, it can take years to clear your name. Your credit history may be ruined, and you might lose substantial sums of money.
It is impossible to completely protect your information, but here are steps you may wish to take to reduce your risk.
1.
Shred! Buy a personal shredder for home use. Shred any documents that contain personal information. This includes credit card/account/Social Security numbers, birth dates, previous and current addresses, passwords, phone numbers, and driver's license numbers. Shred all financial junk mail, such as subscription or donation requests, credit card offers, and "convenience" checks. Thieves search trash to find these forms, complete them, and then steal the cards when they arrive in your mailbox. They start using credit cards you don't even know you have.
2.
Shred utility bills, bank statements, and credit card receipts you plan to throw away. Store in a secure location those you retain. Carry only those you use. Secure or shred the rest.
3.
Review your credit report at least annually. Make sure the data is accurate. Close any accounts you no longer use. If you find errors, contact the credit reporting agency, not the creditor that filed the information.
4.
Use a locked mail box. Having your mail delivered to your unlocked mail box allows easy access. OR have all mail delivered to a rented post office box. If a street address is required, rent a box at a commercial firm such as Mail Boxes Etc. Never allow your financial institutions to mail statements, checks, or credit/debit cards to your home. Use your PO Box address on all financial accounts. If you suddenly don't receive mail, contact the local post office immediately. Thieves are known to submit change of address forms that route your mail to them.
5.
Get a new "non-published" telephone number from the phone company. It's not perfect, but it'll reduce access to your phone number and address. Expect to pay a fee.
6.
Photocopy all documents you carry in your wallet or purse. On that copy, write the telephone number and e-mail address for each source. Also carry with you the following information: Transunion: 1-800-888-4213; fraud division: 1-800-680-7289 - Equifax: 1-800-685-1111; fraud division: 1-800-525-6285 - Experian 1-888-397-3742; fraud division: 1-888-397-3742.
7.
Keep with you the telephone number for your state's department of motor vehicles. Keep this information with you, but stored away from your wallet or purse. This way, if your wallet or purse is lost or stolen, you can immediately issue notifications.
8.
Your Social Security Number is the most important number to guard. With it, thieves can open bank and credit card accounts in your name. Unfortunately, your SSN is easy to get once a thief has your name and address. Therefore, make it hard for the thief to get your address and telephone number. To learn more about how professionals use the Internet to get SS numbers illegally, go to:
..."onClickUnsafeLink(event);">http://www.backgroundcheckgateway.com/ or ..."onClickUnsafeLink(event);">http://www.accurint.com/.
Avoid using your SSN number as an ID number. If your state uses it as your driver's license number, request an alternative number from the state Department of Motor Vehicles. If your SSN is on your checks, shred them and get new ones that omit the number. If you use your SSN as an ID or password number, change your ID or password. Never use any part of your SSN as a PIN, especially on the Internet or with bank accounts.
Never carry your SS card with you. Store it in a fireproof safe along with other important documents. If you have not done so already, memorize your SSN. Never carry any document bearing your SSN. Any time you are asked for your SSN, such as at the doctor's office, ask to use a different number. In most cases, your SSN is not required and is used by vendors unnecessarily. Avoid giving your SSN over the phone or on the Internet.
9.
Limit the information you have printed on your checks - the less the better. Instead of using your first name, consider using your first initial. Avoid your middle name or initial. Do not include your driver's license number, SSN or telephone number. Consider removing your address, or replacing it with a PO Box number. Never write a credit card or SSN on a check.
10.
Use checks only when paying bills through the mail; in stores, use charge or debit cards. Never add information to a charge card slip (such as your phone number or address). It is illegal to ask you to do so in most states. Always take your card receipts with you; check them against your monthly statement before shredding.
11.
Do not use any part of your address or birth date as a PIN. Never write your PIN anywhere.
12.
Ready to mail your bill payments? Don't leave them in the open. Thieves will grab them off your desk, use cleaning solvent to remove the payee's name, and replace it with another name that enables them to get the money. And once thieves have your checks or your checking account number, they can use computers to print checks with your name on them.
13.
Never put any information about yourself on a post card or on the outside of an envelope other than a return address.
14.
Stop giving people your mother's maiden name. It helps crooks access private information about you.
15.
New credit card? Sign the back immediately with permanent ink. Never carry more than 2 credit cards. Don't give your credit card number over the phone unless you initiated the call, and never do so in a public place, including at work. Never give your credit card number when using a portable or cell phone. If a credit card you've ordered does not arrive promptly, call the card issuer.
16.
When you buy an item, keep the warranty information, but don't mail the warranty reply card, especially if it is a post card.
17.
Avoid entering contests that require you to provide your name, address, or other personal or financial information.
18.
To restrict access to your personal data, remove your name from as many data bases as possible. For example, contact the Direct Marketing Association at ..."onClickUnsafeLink(event);">http://www.the-dma.org/. You can reach all three credit reporting agencies (Equifax, Transunion and Experian) by dialing 888-567-8688 or 800-353-0809.
19.
Keep important papers in a bank safe deposit box or in a home safe that is fire and burglar resistant. These documents include your SS Card, marriage license, pay stubs, credit cards, military papers, bank, investment, tax, and real estate records.
20.
If your computer is connected to the Internet, set your computer to erase daily the sites you visit by completing the following steps. Click on "Start" and select "Settings." Click on "Control Panel" and select "Internet Options." When that page appears, go to "History." and set "days to keep" to zero. Also, install a "firewall" to keep thieves from accessing your electronic files via cyberspace. Remember that anything you say or attach in an e-mail could end up anywhere. Never include personal information in an e-mail. When you use a credit card to make a purchase on-line, look for a padlock that identifies a secure web site.
21.
Remember that identity thieves are not always strangers. They could be co-workers, friends, relatives, roommates, and others physically or emotionally close to you. Thieves often steal from people they know, sometimes because they know you are unlikely to suspect them, and sometimes because they know you are unlikely to punish them.
22.
Learn more about protecting your identity at ..."onClickUnsafeLink(event);">http://www.identitytheft.org/.
Thursday, February 28, 2008, 07:31 AM PST
[General]
The Internet Whirlwind Tour
Overview
The Internet is a huge global computer network that no one owns or controls.
It consists of millions of computers connected together. It all started back in the 1960s with three computers. Within a year, the Internet grew to 12 computers, and by 1980, more than 300 systems were part of the Net.
By 1991, the Internet had grown to over 350,000 computers, which nearly doubled to more than 727,000 users by 1992. From 2000 to 2007 the Internet's growth has averaged 214%, bringing the current number to over 1 billion users worldwide.
Today, Internet users can find virtually anything pertaining to any topic on the Internet. The information can be accessed by text; graphics, sound and chatting live with others on the Net. In fact, so much information is available; users are often faced with information overload, making it difficult to find what they are looking for.
Smart businesses today have turned to the Internet to make sales and to build better relationships with customers. Consumers are making purchases every day on the Internet, ranging from a delivered bag of groceries to a new car. Successful companies know that commerce on the Internet is growing exponentially and that e-business is required to keep up with the competition.
Today's Internet
Many experts agree that in our lifetime, the Internet will have a greater impact on our day-to day living than the home computer, credit cards and even television. Everyone agrees that the Internet is clearly the single fastest-growing business marketplace ever experienced in the entire history of the world.
Success Magazine describes the opportunity of the Internet early on in its June 1995 issue. "With a worldwide audience of millions, the Internet has the power to transform a local company into a global entity instantaneously. Awesome opportunities exit for entrepreneurs . in cyberspace (the Internet)."
Today, the Internet has grown to offer consumers instant access to things such as banking functions, full shopping services, education services, live and recorded entertainment, picture telephone service and the integration of what we now know as television, telephone, computer, digital, satellite, laser and fiber-optic technologies.
As the Internet continues to transform the process of shopping, retailing and manufacturing, more consumers and companies are realizing the benefit and advantages of e-business. With so much growth yet to come, the Internet today represents a ground floor opportunity for people of all ages worldwide.
Many people who are now facing financial downturns in their life are turning to e-business as an alternative to seeking new employment.
For many families, a car is the second largest investment they have ever made. Getting that investment safely to a new home is an important component of a smooth move.
What are my options for transporting a vehicle? A vehicle can be moved with your household goods or with a separate auto transport company. To ship your car most efficiently and cost-effectively, it's important to know about the different shipping techniques, such as open and closed trailers. The model of the car, as well as the intended destination, will help determine the type of trailer you will need.
What is an open trailer? An open trailer is the more popular and frequently used trailer. It carries anywhere from 10-12 vehicles at a time.
Advantage: Open trailers are less expensive than closed trailers. The cost is determined by the weight of the vehicle.
Disadvantage: Open trailers are subject to the elements (i.e. rain, snow, wind, dirt and dust).
What is a closed trailer? A closed trailer is a vehicle that has a covered freight area. It is commonly used for shipping expensive or classic cars that need to be protected. If you wish to protect your car from wind blown sand and heat, this is your best option.
Advantage: The car is well-protected from the elements of nature.
Disadvantage: Closed trailers cost more. Keep in mind, the cost is determined by the weight of the vehicle.
Is my car insured? The company which transports your vehicle(s) should provide adequate insurance to protect against driver negligence. Ask for a copy of the "Certificate of Insurance" and familiarize yourself with the types of coverage provided. Consult with your current auto insurance agent to determine whether you need supplemental coverage.
Turning your vehicle over to the carrier. Prior to handing over your car to a driver or transport company, be sure you receive an "Original Inspection Report." This report provides: pick-up and delivery information, current mileage, and most importantly, shows the condition of your car at time of pick-up (pre-existing scratches and dents, cracked glass/mirrors, general paint condition, etc.).
Accepting your vehicle for delivery. At the time of delivery, inspect your vehicle thoroughly and compare the condition and mileage against the "Original Inspection Report". Many transport companies also provide a copy of this report at time of delivery. If there are discrepancies, note them as exceptions and be sure the driver signs it. NEVER accept your vehicle at night if you cannot verify its condition and without being signed by the driver.
What's in your trunk? As of 1990 the Department of Transportation ruled that you may not load any items in a vehicle other than clothing. Auto transporters are not licensed to carry household goods or personal items. Damage to your vehicle due to household goods shifting or breaking is not covered by insurance.
Contact The Moving Coach today if you are considering transportation of your vehicle. After discussing your specific situation, The Moving Coach will guide you through the process of choosing the right method of transportation and will help you obtain quotes for that move.
IRS Announces Optional Standard Mileage Rates Effective January 1, 2008
The IRS on November 27, 2007, announced new optional standard mileage rates for use in computing deductible costs of operating an automobile for business and other purposes, including moving.
Effective January 1, 2008, the new rates are 50.5 cents per mile for business use, up from 48.5 cents in 2007, and 19 cents per mile for moving expenses deductions, down from 20 cents in 2007.
The new rates are discussed in detail in Rev. Proc. 2007-70, which can be accessed at www.irs.gov.
