And this would be why I buy everything online and have been for many years…
BTW, for the record, I HATE BB! >=[
Updated: 11-15-06
Online Trip Planning
For travel comparison tools head over to:
Kayak.com
Sidestep.com
Farechase.yahoo.com
Need the latest airfare bargains? Try:
Airfarewatchdog.com
Farecast.com
Smartertravel.com
Make n online itinerary:
Travel.yahoo.com/trip
Need a guide? Download podcasts that can be played in any mp3 player. Try:
Soundwalk.com (New York, France, India)
Ijourneys.com (Italy)
Audiosteps.com (US Cities)
Want to know which seat is the best on your plane? Try:
Seatguru.com
Reviews/catalogue of airline meals:
Airlinemeals.net
“Only” use these lethal self defense techniques in a life threatening situation. Be advised, you may be taking the responsibility of a life. These self defense techniques can be fatal!
Sometimes when you are threatened with physical violence, a weapon to defend yourself with is not always available. Your hands, however, are always with you, and can be as lethal as any weapon. Below are a list of attacks that police are instructed not employ, as they may prove deadly.
- TEMPLE – A very susceptibile vital spot. If struck with sufficient force, may cause unconsciousness or death.
- NASION – This is the summit of the nose. If struck with sufficient force may cause death.
- PHILTRUM – This is the area between the upper lip and the bottom of the nose. Attack to this area may also cause unconsciousness or death.
- HOOK TO JAW – A powerful hook punch to the front side of jaw may snap an enemy’s neck. Fatal.
- ADAM’S APPLE – A sharp blow here may cause enemy to asphyxiate.
- SOLAR PLEXUS – The small of back. May cause death.
- TESTICLES – The strong, focused pain of a vicious low blow may cause shock, resulting in death.
- BASE OF CEREBELLUM – A powerful blow to the nape of the neck, causing mortal damage.
- COCCYX – A powerful blow to the tail bone. Fatal.
- FULL NELSON – Stand behind the enemy, put your arms under his, and lock your hands behind his head. Bending the neck forward may either break neck, asphyxiate enemy, or cut of supply of spinal fluid to brain, causing brain damage or death.
- HALF NELSON – Again, standing behind enemy, but one arm is used to pin one of enemy’s arms.
- BRAIN BUSTER – Bend enemy over towards you, placing him in a headlock. Grab the back of his belt, and haul him into the air, vertical, upside-down. Allow yourself to fall backward, landing on your enemy’s head, which will absorb your combined weight. Most effective on concrete or gravel.
- RUSSIAN OMELET – Cross enemy’s legs. Fold enemy by pinning his shoulders to ground upside-down and placing his legs above him. Sit on his legs, folding the bass of the spine. Fatal.
- HEART PUNCH – A strongman’s attack, it is simply a powerful blow to the heart. (Many years ago, the wrestler Ox killed an opposing wrestler with this attack.)
- UPPERCUT – An upward strike to the bottom of the jaw with the heel of the hand, causing the enemy’s head to snap backward. May shatter vertabrae. Fatal.
- ABDOMEN – A substantial blow to this area may rupture a vital organ, causing death.
- RIB CAGE – A vicious shattering of the rib cage may cause grave internal bleeding.
- HEAD-TO-WALL PUNCH – A swift, hard, cold-cock punch to an enemy’s face while he is standing near a wall may drive his head into it, causing the back of the skull to shatter fatally.
- PINNED DROP KICK – Standing behind enemy, holding his arms straight back. A drop kick to the back without releasing arms may severe spine, causing death.
- HEAD WRENCH – Grabbing an enemy’s head by the mouth and the back of the skull, then twisting with a sudden, violent jerk to rend vertabrae, may easily cause death.
- CHOKE HOLD – Once a favorite of law enforcement officials, has often proved deadly. The right arm goes over the enemy’s right shoulder, and grips the back of the head. The left arm comes over his left shoulder, reaches across neck, and grabs own right forearm. With enough pressure applied, causes brain damage or death.
- HEAD YANK – Bend enemy forward, grab head, and pull back with convincing force. May seperate delicate vertebrae, causing death.
GENERAL GUIDE FOR VICTIMS OF IDENTITY THEFT
This information is provided to assist individuals who are victims or suspect they may be victims of identity theft. It is intended as a general guide, not as legal advice.
SOME THINGS TO DO IMMEDIATELY
Victims of identity theft must act quickly to minimize the damage. It is very important to keep good notes of all conversations and records of all correspondence with your financial institutions and law enforcement agencies, including a log of the names, dates and phone number of persons you contacted. You also should confirm the information in writing. Sending your letters by certified mail, return receipt requested, will provide you with a record of your correspondence.
REPORT ID THEFT TO MAJOR CREDIT BUREAUS. Contact the fraud departments of each of the three major credit bureaus and report that your identity has been stolen. Ask that a “fraud alert” be placed in your file.
- Trans Union – Phone: 800-680-7289
P.O. Box 1000, Chester, PA 19016-1000. - Experian (formerly TRW) – Phone: 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
P.O. Box 9532, Allen, TX 75013. - Equifax – Phone: 800-525-6285
P.O. Box 105069, Atlanta, GA 30348.
FILE A POLICE REPORT WITH LOCAL POLICE OR POLICE WHERE IDENTITY THEFT OCCURRED. Get a copy of the police report and retain for your records. Credit card companies and financial institutions may require you to show a copy of this report to verify the crime. Keep the phone number of your investigator and provide it to creditors and others who require verification of your case.
CONTACT ALL CREDITORS. For any accounts that have been fraudulently accessed or opened, contact the billing inquiries and security departments of the appropriate creditors or financial institutions. Close these accounts. Use passwords – not your mother’s maiden name – on any new accounts opened. Confirm your contact in writing. Ask that old accounts be processed as “account closed at consumer’s request.” Having a “card lost or stolen” reference because when this statement is reported to credit bureaus, it can be interpreted as blaming you for the loss. Carefully monitor your mail and credit card bills and report immediately any new fraudulent activity to credit grantors.
OBTAIN FREE COPY OF YOUR CREDIT REPORT, MONITOR REGULARLY. As a victim of identity theft, you may obtain a free copy of your credit report and should monitor activity every few months. Ask the credit bureaus for names and phone numbers of credit grantors with whom fraudulent accounts have been opened. Ask the credit bureaus to remove inquiries that have been generated due to the fraudulent access. Other consumers seeking a copy of their credit report may be charged a fee.
- Equifax – 800-685-1111
- Experian (formerly TRW) – 888-EXPERIAN (888-397-3742)
- Trans Union – 800-888-4213
A consumer submitting a valid police report can have the credit reporting agency block the reporting of any information that the consumer alleges appears on the credit report as a result of identity theft. You also may want to ask the credit bureaus to notify those who have received your credit report in the last six months in order to alert them to the disputed and erroneous information.
CONTEST BILLS THAT RESULT FROM IDENTITY THEFT. Consumer and privacy advocates suggest not paying any portion of a bill which is a result of identity theft and not filing for bankruptcy. This will involve disputing credit card charges with the card company by writing to the address for “billing error” disputes – not the bill payment address. You should follow the directions given by the credit card company for disputing charges. This information must be provided by the company. Your credit rating should not be permanently affected, and no legal action should be taken against you as a result of identity theft. If any merchant, financial institution or collection agency suggests otherwise, simply restate your willingness to cooperate, but don’t allow yourself to be coerced into paying fraudulent bills. Report such attempts to government regulators immediately.
ACCESS INFORMATION IF ACCOUNT OPENED FRAUDULENTLY IN YOUR NAME. If a loan, credit or utility service account has been opened fraudulently in your name, you now can obtain a copy of the application used and a record of transactions or charges associated with that account. The information you learn may be useful in determining what personally identifying information was stolen, help clear your good name and credit, and even lead to the identity of the thief.
Here is a checklist for accessing account info:
- File a Police Report that you believe you are a victim of identity theft. Keep a copy of the police report.
- Fill out the request forms provided by the law enforcement agency or use the Fraudulent Account Information Request
Form
- Fill out the Identity Theft Affidavit
- Send completed package (Info Request/ID Theft Affidavit/Police Report) to each creditor where the thief opened an account using your stolen identity.
- Provide account information you receive to the police officer investigating your ID theft case.
FALSE CIVIL AND CRIMINAL JUDGMENTS.
Sometimes victims of identity theft are wrongfully accused of crimes committed by the identity thief. If a civil judgment has been entered in your name for actions taken or debts incurred by your impostor, contact the court where the judgment was entered and report that you are a victim of identity theft. If you are wrongfully prosecuted for criminal charges, contact the state Department of Justice and the FBI and obtain information on how to clear your name.
________________________________________
FOR OTHER TYPES OF IDENTITY THEFT:
NOTIFY YOUR LOCAL DEPARTMENT OF MOTOR VEHICLES OF MISUSE OF DRIVER’S LICENSE NUMBER. You may need to change your driver’s license number if someone is using yours as identification on bad checks. Call the DMV to see if another license was issued in your name. Put a fraud alert on your license. Go to your local DMV to request a new number. Also, fill out the DMV’s complaint form to begin the fraud investigation process. Send supporting documents with the completed form to the nearest DMV investigation office.
REPORT STOLEN CHECKS AND STOP PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY. If you have had checks stolen or bank accounts set up fraudulently, report it to the appropriate check verification companies. Put stop payments on any outstanding checks that you are unsure of. Cancel your checking and savings accounts and obtain new account numbers. Give the bank a secret password for your account (not mother’s maiden name). If your own checks are rejected at stores where you shop, contact the check verification company that the merchant uses. To report fraudulent use of your checks:
• CheckRite: (800) 766-2748
• Chexsystems: (800) 428-9623
• CrossCheck: (800) 843-0760
• Equifax: (800) 437-5120
• International Check Services: (800) 631-9656
• SCAN: (800) 262-7771
• TeleCheck: (800) 710-9898
REPORT STOLEN ATM CARDS AND CHANGE PASSWORDS IMMEDIATELY. Get a new ATM card, account number and password. When creating a password, don’t use common numbers like the last four digits of your SSN or your birth date. Monitor your account statement. You may be liable if fraud is not reported quickly.
FOR SUSPECTED FRAUDULENT CHANGE OF ADDRESS, NOTIFY LOCAL POSTAL INSPECTOR. Call the U.S. Post Office to obtain the phone number, (800) 275-8777). Find out where fraudulent credit cards were sent. Notify the local Postmaster for that address to forward all mail in your name to your own address. You may also need to talk with the mail carrier. www.usps.gov/websites/depart/inspect
REPORT MISUSE OF SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER BY CALLING SECURITY ADMINISTRATION. Order a copy of your Personal Earnings and Benefits Statement and check it for accuracy. The thief might be using your SSN for employment purposes. If you fit specific fraud victim criteria, the Social Security Administration may change your Social Security Number. Report fraud: (800) 269-0271. Order Personal Earnings and Benefits Statement: (800) 772-1213. Web: www.ssa.gov
FOR SUSPECTED MISUSE, CANCEL LONG DISTANCE CALLING CARD ACCOUNTS. If your long distance calling card has been stolen or you discover fraudulent charges, cancel the account and open a new one. Provide a password which must be used any time the account is changed.
FOR MISSING OR FRAUDULENT PASSPORTS, NOTIFY THE US STATE DEPARTMENT. Whether you have a passport or not, write the passport office to alert them to anyone ordering a passport fraudulently.
SEEKING LEGAL ADVICE. You may want to consult a lawyer to determine legal action to take against creditors and/or credit bureaus if they are not cooperative in removing fraudulent entries from your credit report or if negligence is a factor. Call the local Bar Association or Legal Aid office to find an attorney who specializes in consumer law, the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Credit Billing Act.
Self-Defense Strategies for the Untrained Man or Woman
Let’s say you’re out and enjoying life with your friends or a certain
loved one, But some knucklehead is determined to end your fun by trying to punch your lights out. What can you do?
There are some simple self-defense tactics that even someone who’s not in great shape or has any special training can employ:
- First of all, wake up!
- Who’s watching you?
- Look around, is someone giving you a hard look? Or alternately, does someone quickly avoid your gaze?
- Watch people’s hands as you are walking, don’t look away when you pass.
- Cross the street if you have to avoid a group of punks.
- Don’t get too drunk.
- Are you doing something stupid like hitting on someone’s girlfriend or boyfriend at the bar?
- Are you in the habit of boasting about your fancy watch, car, or apartment?
- Point out the troublemaker to the bartender or doorman.
- If the negative vibes get too intense, leave.
- Remember, it’s always easier to STAY out of trouble than to GET out of trouble. Second of all keep from getting hit in a vital area!
- Get your hands up in front of your face to protect your head.
- Keep your mouth closed with your teeth clenched. When your mouth is open you are ripe to get your jaw broken (which means you should forget about “talking trash”).
- Circle away from his power side (circle to the right if he has his right hand cocked back, circle to the left if he has his left hand cocked back).
- You need to be either two arms lengths away from him (outside of his kicking
range) or all the way in tight against him (holding him in a boxing clinch). - Anything in between puts you in range for his punches and kicks.
- Third use your strongest weapons against his weakest targets.
- Use the proverbial knee to the groin when you are clinching.
- Smash him with your elbows in the face, throat and neck.
- Kick him in the knee, groin or lower abdomen. Kick straight ahead using the bottom of your foot like you would kick in a door. Or kick straight back like a mule using your heel. If you are untrained, resist the urge to kick with the top of your foot like you are punting a football, you will probably use too much of your toes instead of your shin (ouch!).
- If you try to trade punches with him, you’re probably playing right into his game.
Finally:
- Get a barrier between you and him (even if you have to run around a car).
- Yell for help. You can’t count on people coming to your aid, but he might think someone will render assistance.
- Use a weapon. Hose him down with your pepper spray. Use a chair like a lion tamer. Throw ashtrays at him.
- Make your escape. Lose your ego and your attitude. Retreat and escape. Live to go out and party again next weekend.
^_^
Modern Day Pirates | Est. 2005
Where has all the rum gone?