The Merging Unit of Email Accounts Operating Board

Never ceases to amaze me. I don't know if it's that a spammer/phisher will try even the most absurd and lame tactics to achieve their purpose, or that there really might be a substantial number of people out there who would fall for it.
This Phish-Spam dropped into my box recently....{with my comments}


Dear Account User,{thank goodness they remained professionally formal and didn't use my actual name}

VERIFY AND CONFIRM YOUR EMAIL ACCOUNT TO AVOID CLOSURE !

This Email is issued by Customer Care Service of the merging unit of email accounts operating board. We have sent this email to you for safety. {ooooo....sounds so important. Not just "email accounts" but "the merging unit of email accounts operating board." Yet, have they mentioned the actual NAME of this business? This is a fine example of euphemistic Gobbledygook} }

We are having unnecessary congestion resulting from numerous anonymous registrations of various email accounts.{Numerous ANONYMOUS registrations...just like this letter}

Due to the congestion, we would be shutting down most email accounts which appeared anonymous and unused on our secret assessment unit. {more euphemism} Your Email account was among those to be deleted. This email is a notification for you to verify and indicate to us if you still want to keep and use this account.

To confirm your E-mail account, fill out your Login Informations below {Euphemism for "Give me your private information so that i can do something illegal with it}.
after clicking the reply button.


* User name: .....
* Password: .....
* Date of Birth: ...


Subject to Email accounts client protection policy, we will not access your email account. {No, but they will access your credit card accounts, and any other accounts they can find} We require your user name, password and date of
birth to que {obviously they don't know what a queue is, as they can't even spell it correctly} automatically on our secret assessment unit were every valid account appears to safeguard your email account from automatic deletion by our system.

Your account will not be interrupted and will continue as normal if you fill out your Login Informations as listed above.

Warning!!! Refusal to this demand will suspended your Email account anonymously and your email account will be closed permanently without further notification on our termination date.{fear tactic; often used in politics and sales}

Thanks for your attention to this request.
We apologize for any inconveniences.

Sincerely,
Customer Care service - {no names of anyone or anything}
Email Accounts Operating Board.>>


Now, if you fall for any of this and lose anything, whether it be money or credit rating or otherwise, it's your own damn fault.

Why the Bailout won't work

USPS, WTF?

It didn't take very long after moving here to realize that something was amiss with the local mail delivery. I would miss bills and notices and shipments of products, and Netflix, and other things I know someone sent, but i never received. Then it got more serious. Like, my notice of property tax for some real estate i own. That wound up costing me a $100 fee, since my tax payment was late--and when i DID RECEIVE THAT letter, i was told I'd better hurry or my property would be sold at a tax sale for non-payment.

I wound up getting stopped and ticketed for expired tags. GUESS WHY? I don't drive very much since i work at home, and I only notice my tag dates when i receive the usual renewal notice. I didn't get it, because the mail carrier DID NOT DELIVER IT TO MY BOX. who knows where it ended up. So i was driving around with expired tags. That cost me SIX MONTHS of payments to the Police Department before it was over.

Then i began to get calls from neighbors. Neighbors who lived on similar sounding streets. Similar, but not the same. One had two of my Netflix. One had my electricity bill, one had other mail mistakenly delivered to them that belonged to me and incidentally, was ADDRESSED CORRECTLY. All my neighbors were very nice and some even brought my mail to my door and handed it to me. Their kindness was only matched by the rudeness of the Bella Vista Postmaster, as it turns out. I called him several times, and he never called back, and finally i reached him and the first thing out of his mouth was rude, then the second thing, then the third.

I said, "Look. All I'm trying to do is get this problem corrected. I am not receiving things i should be and my neighbors on other streets are bringing me my own mail, and I'm also finding theirs in MY box..."

He dismissed me with some catty remark and when i said, "Hold on a minute, aren't you in charge of this? Isn't this your job?"

He told me not to tell him what his job was and HUNG UP ON ME.

Fucker.

I filed a complaint online with the Inspector General who sent me some other notice that i should contact someone else. I'm in the process of that, but i wonder if it's a case of just picking my battles, since I'm not going to be here that much longer. Maybe i should skip the "Going Postal" response.

I am SO ready for my move to Colorado, where at least they are capable of reading an address and matching it to the right box. I mean, it's not quantum physics. I'm sure there are plenty of capable people who would love to have that carrier's job.

And now, a word from the Toddler Party....

Harness the Power of Google

Here are the top ten uses fro Google that most of us haven't been using, and most don't know exists....

10. Get Local Time: Type in What time is it followed by any city to get the current time.

9. Track Flight Status: Enter the airline and flight number to find out the departure time and estimated arrival for any flight.

8. Convert Currency, Metrics, Bytes and More: Google has a built-in converter calculator. You can enter quarter cup in teaspoons, seconds in a year, 5 US dollars in Euros and countless others.

7. Search for Pages That are “Better Than,” “Similar to,” or “Reminds me of”: Enter “better than keyword” or “similar to keyword” to find Web pages you never knew existed.

6. Use Google as a Free Proxy: Enter cache:website.com to view a Web page that’s been blocked from the computer you’re using.

5. Remove Affiliate Links From Product Searches: To avoid seeing search results from certain sites, enter –site:website.com.

4. Find Related Items: Enter ~ (tilde) before any search term to find related items as well.

3. Find Music and Comic Books: Enter -inurl:(htm|html|php) intitle:"index of" +"last modified" +"parent directory" +description +size +(wma|mp3) "Band or comic book name" to find music files and comic books.

2. See Images of People, Objects, Etc.: Type in a search term, and click on images to see photos of the results.

1. Search for Faces: If you’re looking for a photo of a person named Rose, and don’t want to see photos of the flower, add &imgtype=face to the end of your image search. It will show you only images of faces.

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* Lifehacker.com January 2, 2008

Hemp: N.B.'s crop of the 21st century

Published Friday August 8th, 2008

New Brunswick can become a model for the 21st century, create a vast array of jobs in many sectors, and retain westward fleeing job-seekers by fully embracing hemp farming. Not only could hemp production keep workers in the province, it could also attract new industry and immigrants into the province.

Hemp is truly one of nature's gifts to mankind, but no member of the plant kingdom has ever been so willfully and stubbornly misunderstood. It is generally assumed that hemp became collateral damage in the United States' so-called "war on drugs."

There is compelling evidence, however, that hemp was actually the primary target of the whole "Reefer Madness" hysteria. A number of major U.S. corporations, lumber and pulp barons, and chemical companies stood to lose lucrative market shares because the hemp plant is so useful and versatile. Hemp provides the raw material for bio-fuel, paper, and plastic alternatives, among its many uses. It is time to understand what we have lost, and will continue to lose, if we don't realize the infinite benefits of hemp production.

Since the mid-1930s, about half the world's forests have been cut to make paper. If hemp had not been outlawed, most forests would likely still be standing, providing oxygen for the planet.

Hemp plants provide four times the paper fibre per acre per year than trees do, and can be re-planted yearly. Hemp is naturally resistant to insects and weeds and thrives in New Brunswick. Nearly half of the agricultural chemicals used by the U.S. are applied to cotton crops.

As people continue to become more ecologically aware and responsible, the demand for all types of organic products will increase. Hemp fibre is a naturally organic alternative to cotton. It is much more durable, wears longer, and is resistant to salt - which is why it has been traditionally used to make ropes and sails for ships for thousands of years. In fact, the word "canvas" comes from an Arabic word for hemp.

Henry Ford experimented with utilizing hemp as a bio-fuel source and as an ingredient in a composite material for automobile bodies. In 1941, the Ford Motor Company rolled out an experimental car that was made from hemp. Ford demonstrated this vehicle's durability by beating on the fender with an axe. It bounced off and did not leave even a scratch. Imagine the benefits of a rust-proof, bio-degradable car that runs on hemp bio-fuel.... and where the planet would be today if this had become a reality 70 years ago! Also imagine that petro-chemical companies and many other major U.S. corporations still have a stake in preserving the status quo while they fill their coffers with money spent on over-priced gas, oil, chemicals, fertilizer and consumer goods that are petroleum based. The United States is the only industrialized nation that prohibits the growing of hemp.

In 1937, Popular Science magazine listed more than 25,000 potential uses for the hemp plant, and modern technology has increased this number. The market for organic food and personal care products has exploded. In addition to its many industrial uses, hemp also provides one of nature's most perfect foods in its seed. It contains the essential fatty acids omega 3 and 6 in the proper 3:1 ratio for human health, and provides superior anti-oxidant qualities. Hemp nuts are also one of the world's richest sources of protein, second only to the soybean, and they taste great. Chefs all over the world are using hemp butter, nuts and oil in their kitchens.

Right now, in many N.B. stores, you can buy hemp foods and goods that were produced in other Canadian provinces. The Manitoba Harvest Company is a co-operative that is co-owned by more than 20 farming families. In Ontario, the Cool Hemp Company is producing ice cream and cookies made from hemp seed - desserts that are both good and good for you!

When you add up all of the environmental benefits, jobs, products and industry that would be created by hemp production, you have only a win/win situation for the province of New Brunswick.

There is a lingering reluctance to embrace hemp farming because of the current U.S. laws and attitude. But people should control their institutions rather than continue to be dominated by these human creations. At the Kyoto Summit, Al Gore used an apt hockey analogy when he appealed to Canada for environmental support. He suggested that we not look to where the United States has the puck now - but where the puck will ultimately be in the future.

Stephanie Kelley is a resident of Perth-Andover.
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http://telegraphjournal.canadaeast.com/article/378219

KUDOS! Hemp farming becomes law in VT!

Vermont Hemp Farming Bill Becomes Law

Controversy Resolved by Opinion of Attorney General's Office

MONTPELIER, Vermont (July 1, 2008) — Vote Hemp, a grassroots advocacy organization working to give farmers the right to grow non-drug industrial hemp, is extremely pleased that the Vermont Secretary of State's office accepted Formal Opinion #2008-1 from the Office of the Attorney General and gave H.267, the Hemp for Vermont bill, the designation of Act No. 212 last Friday. There had been a constitutional controversy as Governor Jim Douglas forwarded H.267 to the Secretary of State intending it to become law without his signature. The bill had overwhelmingly passed both the House (127 to 9) and the Senate (25 to 1). The new law sets up a state-regulated program for farmers to grow non-drug industrial hemp which is used in a wide variety of products, including nutritious foods, cosmetics, body care, clothing, tree-free paper, auto parts, building materials and much more. Learn more about industrial hemp at the Vote Hemp Web site.

Smart and effective grassroots organizing by Vote Hemp and the Vermont-based advocacy group Rural Vermont mobilized farmers and local businesses, many of which pledged to buy their hemp raw materials in-state if they have the opportunity. Rural Vermont's Director Amy Shollenberger says that "the Hemp for Vermont bill is another step toward legalizing this important crop for farmers. The United States is the only industrialized nation in the world that doesn't allow this crop to be grown. Looking at the Canadian experience, hemp provides a good return for the farmer. It's a high-yield crop and a great crop to mix in with corn."

Vermont grows an average of 90,000 acres of corn per year, a small amount compared to Midwest states; however, the need for a good rotation crop exists nationwide. From candle makers to dairymen to retailers, Vermont voters strongly support hemp farming. Admittedly a niche market now, hemp is becoming more common in stores and products across the country every day. Over the past ten years, farmers in Canada have grown an average of 16,500 acres of hemp per year, primarily for use in food products. In Vermont, the interest in hemp includes for use in food products, as well as in quality and affordable animal bedding for the state's estimated 140,000 cows.

"Vermont's federal delegation can now take this law to the U.S. Congress and call for a fix to this problem of farmers missing out on a very useful and profitable crop," comments Eric Steenstra, President of Vote Hemp. "North Dakota farmers who want to grow hemp per state law are currently appealing their lawsuit in the federal courts. The real question is whether these hemp-friendly state congressional delegations feel compelled to act," adds Steenstra.

Rural Vermont's Shollenberger states that "the Vermont law is significant for two reasons. First, no other state until now has followed North Dakota's lead by creating real-world regulations for farmers to grow industrial hemp. Second, Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont is Chairman of the Committee on the Judiciary, as well as a member of the Committee on Agriculture – both relevant committees that could consider legislation. We also have a friend at the USDA in new Secretary Ed Schaffer who signed North Dakota's hemp bill as Governor. I plan to visit Washington, DC and try to figure out what Congress and the Administration intend to do."

Support Vote Hemp

Vote Hemp depends on your support to do the work we do. You know we are effective and get things done. Your donation will go a long way. Help us bring Vermont and North Dakota farmers to Washington, DC to lobby their delegations. It's time to ratchet up the pressure! Please make a donation today.

About Vote Hemp

Vote Hemp is a national, single-issue, non-profit organization dedicated to the acceptance of and a free market for low-THC industrial hemp and to changes in current law to allow U.S. farmers to once again grow this agricultural crop. More information about hemp legislation and the crop's many uses may be found at www.VoteHemp.com and www.HempIndustries.org. BETA SP or DVD Video News Releases featuring footage of hemp farming in other countries are available upon request by contacting Adam Eidinger at 202-744-2671.

Vote Hemp, Inc. Adam Eidinger Communications Director email: adam@votehemp.com phone: 202-744-2671

Tom Murphy National Outreach Coordinator email: tom@votehemp.com phone: 207-542-4998