I don’t know about you, but I never put anything valuable in my luggage even if I am checking it in at the airport. I never trusted those silly little luggage locks and I never invested in better stronger locks, which I didn’t think would ever prevent anyone from stealing from me if they really wanted to.  To me any lock would be too easy to break in to and I didn’t want to chance it. I always felt that my valuables were best with me, in my possession, on the plane.

However many people think that if they have invested in sturdy luggage and a set of good locks, their valuables in their luggage are safe. Sorry, those things will not prevent someone from getting in and stealing your goods. In fact, many people have had things missing from their baggage, even when they received them at the arrival port UNOPENED and UNTOUCHED. How could that happen?

This video shows how locked luggage is opened at the airport without your knowledge. This is why you should never put anything of value in your checked baggage!

Readers: Now think of this in your hotel room! How many of us lock things in our suitcases when we leave the room? Don’t do it.

**********

Beau: My pleasure. It has certainly inspired insightful comments. And thanks for the compliment. Authenticity you will certainly get here. I HOPE you’ll stick around. :)

Robert: I pride myself on being a pretty logical person. I so enjoy learning and seeing from a different viewpoint. As always you bring something different to the table, and you inspire one to think, so thank you.

As I read your comments, you articulate yourself so clearly that it makes what you say seem very obvious as you spell it out with your fine and logical examples. And actually when one thinks about it, it is pretty obvious. And your assessment of the word “Integrity” is right on.

The definition is too broad and  vague when it speaks of morals, where morals are not defined in the definition of the word. The meaning is subjective, because morals are subjective.  Am I being clear here?

Perhaps the word integrity needs to be defined according to the culture it is used in. Not sure if I agree with my previous statement…just talking out loud.  But what I do agree with is that the word is really not definable as it is presently defined. Does that make sense?

On another note, I have been guilty of deciding whether a person has integrity based on my own principles and morals of what I feel is “right” and “good” for all. And I base my morals on the behaviors of people (including myself)  that allow all people to “live and let live”.

So I don’t care whether in some cultures a person who beats a woman in public for violation of his religious dress code could be considered as having integrity. In my opinion, his so-called integrity is interfering in the well-being and livelihood of a woman. So yes, the word, in how it is defined today, the man beating the woman could have integrity, in his country, according to his rules. But does that make his actions “right” and “good”? Perhaps in his country, yes. But in my eyes, no, never. But I totally get your point as it is valid one, and one that Gereshk have pointed out, men use to justify their actions.

As I write this morning my mind is whirling…I believe I lacked the true understanding of the word integrity when I have used it in the past. And I now understand that it is difficult to use the word integrity because it is so subjective. I feel as if I am going around and around with a meaningless word. How enlightening!

Perhaps, it is not the lack of integrity that is being revealed in our society but the influx of “hypocrisy” revealed: The practice of claiming to have moral standards or beliefs to which one’s own behavior does not conform.

Whew…that subject was challenging to articulate so I HOPE I  am understood, and it was more than just ramble. I am just trying to say it in my own words, inspired by yours, by writing it out, as I think it out. I am a visual person, so seeing the words as I write them here and as I say them to myself, helps me understand. I feel I am doing it for my benefit more than anyone else’s. :) I think I’ll end it there.

Peter: I Know you have a busy life but how about going just to check it out, so you can report your findings to us. Hafa Adai.

Gloria: It’s all about the varying definitions of morals because an individual’s morals are defined based on what an individual feels is “right” or “wrong”, “good” or “bad”, etc. Morals are subjective. Therefore the meaning of “integrity” is not defined. Oh…dont get me going again. Please Robert, you say it best.

Anonymous: I am a different person on my blog than I am in my daily life. Who can keep this up 24/7? But I have had friends say that my writing is very different than my chat.  I also used to be a person who couldn’t articulate very well what I was feeling and thinking. That has changed. You would know that if you decided to have a chat with me. And if you feel that you can’t bring whatever up in a mixed crowd, pull me aside or give me a call. I’d be happy to chat with you about anything.

As far as me going through a mid-life crisis - that’s funny. No, no mid-life crisis here. I won’t say that these past few years haven’t been the most challenging in my life, but they have also been the most eye opening. PS: I have no idea who you are, but I wish I did. Call me.

Peace & Love: “Live it, Give it”

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)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

“Just Noticing”….

• That some people just really shouldn’t be parents.

Though his parents previously vowed to get help, 2-year-old Aldi Suganda Rizal — the Indonesian toddler who caused a sensation in May when video footage of him smoking a cigarette turned up online — continues to indulge his nicotine habit.

CBS reporters tracked Aldi and his parents down in a tiny fishing village on the island of Sumatra. As if on cue, Aldi appeared, cigarette in hand, alongside his mother, Diana. The new footage is perhaps even more disturbing than the original clip. In several shots, the toddler — said to have started smoking at just 11 months — uses one already lit cigarette to light another.

“If he can really quit smoking, he will definitely be a very healthy boy,” Diana says. She noted her son is currently enrolled in a government-sponsored rehabilitation program, but continues to throw tantrums and even vomit when he can’t smoke. “I can’t stand seeing him hurting himself. What can we do but accept it as it is?”

Authorities have called Aldi “a victim of his environment,” as Indonesia is the only country in the Asia-Pacific region that has yet to ratify the World Health Organization’s framework on tobacco control.

Readers: Perhaps you have seen this before. It has been in my queue for awhile and today I decided to post it. I can’t “just notice” this one. This one deserves some judgement as this is truly disgusting. If this isn’t the worse form of child abuse I don’t know what is. And if ever a parent should be held for child abuse this is it.

Doug: My pleasure. By the way, speaking of our garden…do you think you could cut down that tall Bamboo in the corner? I think it would look better in our zen garden if the bamboo was “even” as you suggested. This is kind of fun communicating with you over my blog. It’s like that commercial where the couple is sitting on the couch and texting each other. :)

Peter: Hello….With all of the unemployed contractors out here and all of the work over there, I can’t imagine you won’t get an influx from the mainland. Hafa Adai.

Boys: Heed Peter’s words though: “Bring your best behavior.”

Bob: that one is too cute….puts a smile on my face with the visual. Thanks. Hope you are well.

Helena: How are you? Wow those stats are incredible - A prescription drug that kills more people than an Cocaine and heroine; illegal drugs combined.

I agree, get the drug companies to pay for it. They have to start being accountable. If they can just manufacture drugs and then throw them out there to the public without demanding any kind of mandatory training for these doctors who are going to prescribe there drugs, that is just lazy, uncaring and irresponsible. It seems the attitude the drug companies have is that once they manufacture these drugs, they market the hell out of them, make a ton of money, and then they get to wash their hands of any responsibility, should any issue come up. They can blame it on the doctor for prescribing it in the first place. Like the article said, “They’re making a killing.” Thanks for posting.

Lourdes: Happy you enjoyed it - I love it too.

Hi Ruth: How are you doing? I like this too. And the lesson learned depends on how one looks at it. Thanks. I hope you and the girls…all of your girls are doing good.

Robert: I liked your opinion of the matter. Once again “racist” rights hiding behind the title of “religious” rights. And now they have to claim “deeply” religious because no one is buying their BS,  so they need to take it to the next level…a “deeper” level of BS.

I notice how the racist whites can always twist things to their advantage. Another thing that came to my mind, being a designer, is how Angle can say on the one hand that the color black is evil, yet in regards to “fashion” the “Little Black Dress” or “LBD”  is just so chic and sophisticated. A woman wouldn’t be fashionable unless she had a least one “LBD” in her coset.

And the same stands for a “Black Tie” affair. Now I don’t think she’d be calling her “LBD” or her husband’s “black” tuxedo “evil” now would she? Or if one attended a funeral wearing “black”,  ”black” wouldn’t be considered “evil” but a sign of “respect”…expected attire from one who is “deeply religious”. - No “evil” attached to the word “black” in these cases.

Like you, and I, and others have said, racists just love to twist things to their advantage justifying their racist attitudes, by claiming to hide behind their “deeply religious” values. And most white media doesn’t call them on it. We need more reporters like Maddow and Olbermann in the media.

Oh “just noticing” that more comments have come in, and the racists are having their say. I’ve said enough. Hope you are well Robert.

Readers: What are you “just noticing”? Blog this BABE. Enjoy your Sunday! Peace out.

6:09 PM: Sorry. Just got home from a day in the sun and “just noticed” that the comments were off. The comments were on when I posted but it must’ve happened during the saving process when Doug pointed out a typo that I later corrected.

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)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

Funny how we have had our TV working for about 2 months now and I rarely watch it. I think that is a good thing, considering I get so much more done when I don’t fall into couch potato mode. But don’t get me wrong, the two things I love most is watching the news - my huge dose of reality, and watching movies - my huge dose of escape (most of the time:). Oh, and I almost forgot Oprah. It is her last season, so when I have the opportunity, I try and catch a glimpse of her show especially if I find the topic to be interesting or intriguing.

And even in regards to my two faves, and an occasional dose of Oprah, I am still not glued to the tube, or should I say HDTV every day. And for that I am grateful.

It isn’t every day that after I write, I check my blog during the day to see what’s up and who’s peeped in, but I occasionally do, and sometimes more often depending on the topic. But thanks to Zoila who chimed in yesterday, I got the heads up about Iraq. I had yet to turn on the news for the evening, and I may not have if it were not for Zoila’s comment. So Thanks Zoila!

It’s been almost seven and a half years since back in April 2003 when Bush first delivered his speech welcoming the troops home from Iraq, declaring an end to major combat operations. What a joke. Unfortunately the joke was on us, and funny it wasn’t. American Soldiers continued to be killed.

So, as I listened to MSNBC’s Keith Olbermann, and watched the troops head to Kuwait, believe it or not the first thing I thought about was Olbermann wasn’t going to be throwing his crumpled up piece of paper at the television camera anymore, saying, “That is Countdown for this, the ‘whatever’ day since the declaration of ‘Mission Accomplished’ in Iraq. I’m Keith Olbermann. Good night and good luck.” I love that he ended his show daily, signing off with that statement.

But I love it even more that the Iraq war has ended, declared over, and our troops are finally coming home.

Goodbye Iraq.

Last U.S. Combat Brigade Pulls Out Of Iraq

KHABARI CROSSING, Kuwait - As their convoy reached the barbed wire at the border crossing out of Iraq on Wednesday, the soldiers whooped and cheered. Then they scrambled out of their stifling hot armored vehicles, unfurled an American flag and posed for group photos.

For these troops of the 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division, it was a moment of relief fraught with symbolism. Seven years and five months after the U.S.-led invasion, the last American combat brigade was leaving Iraq, well ahead of President Barack Obama’s Aug. 31 deadline for ending U.S. combat operations there.

In a statement released by email, the president noted that the drawdown has been significant — but isn’t over yet:

Over the last 18 months, over 90,000 U.S. troops have left Iraq. By the end of this month, 50,000 troops will be serving in Iraq. As Iraqi Security Forces take responsibility for securing their country, our troops will move to an advise-and-assist role. And, consistent with our agreement with the Iraqi government, all of our troops will be out of Iraq by the end of next year. Meanwhile, we will continue to build a strong partnership with the Iraqi people with an increased civilian commitment and diplomatic effort.
P.J. Crowley, a spokesman for the State Department, told MSNBC that this is “an historic moment” that marks the end of Operation Iraqi Freedom, but not the end of the U.S. mission in Iraq.
___

EDITOR’S NOTE: The 4th Stryker Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division was officially designated the last combat brigade to leave Iraq under Obama’s plan to end combat operations in Iraq by Aug. 31. Associated Press writer Rebecca Santana joined the troops on their final journey out of the country.

-Huff Po

Readers: This is a significant moment and HOPEfully a momentous one too. It is goodbye to Iraq, and a warm welcoming hello to our troops. Thoughts? Blog me.

Guy: When I met with my client, he mentioned to me that a friend of his got the same ticket a week ago, and that the town of San Anselmo was hurting for cash.  And evidently on the path to generating cash as you pointed out. Thanks for being persistent in getting in and our very informative comment.

Lila: Ya know I didn’t even think about racism when I wrote my write even though I had visions of otws, not whites, in my mind when I spoke of the “poor” who suffer. And only because when I was at the court house, there were many more otws than whites dealing with their citations. But how did they get there?

I was so focused on the fact that it was the “poor” that suffered that I didnt think about the fact that most of the people standing in line were otws, because it is mostly otws that get pulled over by the police.  I am aware of this. Therefore to answer your question: Who do you think gets ripped off the most? Otws. Thanks for adding your two.

Ricardo, Florence, Larry, Veronica: Thanks for adding to the conversation also. I learned so much from all of you.

Zen Lill: Maybe I should’ve started bawling. But I got the feeling he felt he gave me a big enough break that day, and he wasn’t going to budge any more. Boo hoo.

Bob: I liked that one. :)

Lots of love….Peace out…

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)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

I love to travel. And August is a big month for it. But there are scams out there that one needs to be aware of. Don’t let you guard down just because you’re out vacationing and having a good time. That’s when you’re most likely to relax and get into the groove with the locals. And mingling with the locals is fun, but those wanting to scam you are watching, and tourists are they ones the scammers prey on. Have fun but be aware - don’t let your hard-earned vacation turn into a disaster. Here’s the latest from Scambusters. Check it out:

If you’re about to take your annual summer vacation abroad, watch out for a travel scam.

In popular tourist countries like China, Mexico and the historic sites of the Middle East, together with new destinations such as Turkey, we’ve identified several new global travel scams.

We explain how they work and how to avoid them.

New Travel Scam Tricks Target Vacationers Abroad
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On every vacation at every location, a travel scam lurks to catch the unwary tourist.

Over the years, here at Scambusters, we’ve highlighted many travel scams.

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1c5axKoLPmtWfo&b=YzeeTODG1Ccd1MrXc2jHlA

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1c5axKoLPmtWfo&b=QXG1f.rt_MW.OZuU156xkA

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And with the 2010 vacation season now in full swing, we’ve identified a new batch of travel scams to look out for.

As previously reported, overseas vacationers are a favorite target of global travel scam artists who exploit their unfamiliarity with the language and the locale.

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So we’ll focus on these for this issue. Here we go…

The Beijing Tea Scam

China is an increasingly popular tourist destination, and the nation’s capital, Beijing, lures the vast majority of the country’s visitors to its fabulous culture and architecture. So it’s a well-tried travel scam hangout too.

For instance: In the most popular haunts, a couple of young women approach you, claiming to be English students and saying they want to chat to improve their language skills.

Eventually, as a sort of thank you, they invite you to a Chinese tea ceremony and you follow them to a backstreet tea house.

You and your “friends” drink copious amounts of tea, without thinking of the price (if there’s a menu, it won’t list prices).

Then they disappear, the bill comes — for $100 or more (you discover refills aren’t free) — forcing you to pay. Don’t waste your time trying to protest: you drank the tea!

Action: These travel scam artists, who earn commission from the tea house, are persistent but just refuse their attention. Eventually, they give up.

The Turkey Trot

Perhaps due to the low prices and a fascinating cultural history, Turkey has experienced a huge tourist boom in recent years, giving the less scrupulous locals a chance to practice the art of theft.

There’s nothing sophisticated about these tricksters; they’re just adept at pick pocketing and bag snatching. In particular, they scout out distracted tourists, usually alone, carrying shoulder bags loosely or those weighed down with shopping bags.

Often, they grab your purse, bags, or your camera as you’re trying to get into a taxi and therefore have your back to them. They also use these occasions to pick pockets.

It’s no use following. They make their escape fast. And, anyway, catching them could land you in more trouble if there’s no one around to help.

Action: Keep your money and valuables out of sight – preferably at your hotel — and be wary of going out alone.

Not So Ancient Wonders

Whenever you visit the ancient worlds of the Middle East, North Africa and India, traders can drive you nuts trying to sell you souvenirs.

Seems like they’ll never give up, but they’re just doing their job, trying to make a living. In a way, it’s part of the whole tourist scene. If it gets you down too badly, you might want to consider not going.

However, one thing you should definitely be wary of is attempts to sell you what the trader claims is an ancient artifact.

The truth is that a whole backstreet industry churns this stuff out around the clock — and they’re experts at the con, whereas you’re probably not!

Still, if it looks good and the price is right, maybe these things make suitable mementos of your visit.

On the other hand, if, by any chance, the item is a genuine relic of ancient times, buying it could break the law.

Many countries, like Egypt and Israel, forbid the sale of certain artifacts, and airport searches (sometimes by less than honest officials) are common.

Action: It’s best to check the laws online for the countries you’re visiting before you go. If you’re not sure, check with the countries’ embassies. And if you’re still not sure, don’t buy.

The Mayan Dollar

We’ve mentioned currency confusion before but this is a new one on us.

In Mexico’s Riviera Maya earlier this year, Scambuster Keith was mightily impressed by the low prices offered by traders for souvenirs at the famous Chichen Itza heritage site.

“Only five dollars,” the trader would shout, thrusting a handmade bag or an ornate stone carving in front of him.

But once hooked, he discovered this price turns out to be ”Mayan dollars,” a non-existent currency that someone apparently dreamt up and many traders now use.

This means the exchange rate can be whatever the trader wants it to be — US$10 seems to be the most popular, but US$5 is also used.

Of course, once you discover this, you can back out of the deal but if you already agreed to the purchase, this can be an uncomfortable experience.

Since Keith’s experience, use of the “Mayan dollar” ruse has been reported from other parts of this beautiful area. It does a great disservice to the Mayan people.

Action: Well, now that you know about this one, you won’t fall for it. But it does emphasize the point about knowing your exchange rates. If you struggle with this, carry a pocket calculator with you.

Also, it’s probably not a bad idea to ask what currency the sale price is in before agreeing to the purchase.

It Didn’t Look Like That in the Brochure

How many times have you arrived at a hotel or vacation rental disappointed that the place looks nothing like you imagined, and not even like any photos you saw of it when you booked at the travel agency or online?

These are hard times and the travel trade is tough right now, and in the scramble for business, some owners, especially in Mediterranean Europe, exaggerate the amenities and benefits of their properties.

You may have to stand on tiptoe on the roof to get that “ocean view.” Or they may just forget to mention you’ll be miles out of town, with no transport.

Action: Reduce the risk of being fooled by checking independent reviews and photographs of the place.
TripAdvisor.com is a good starting point.

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That Volcano!

Scambusters’ home page already sounded an alert about bogus cash pleas from people claiming to be stranded as a result of the Iceland volcano eruption.

Now, travelers who have been genuinely stranded are targets.

A bogus email, supposedly from the Chief Consumer Protector of Britain’s Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), claims the organization has set up a fund to compensate them.

All you have to do is send your name, address, phone number and a copy of your passport. Then he sends you a check, which you bank immediately, and pay the phony CAA an administration fee, by wire transfer, of course.

Action: Need we say more? This is a very thinly-veiled attempt at both ID theft and an advance payment scam. These crooks show no mercy.

By staying informed and being alert, you can avoid all of these travel scams. Also, be sure to check out our earlier list of tips on the subject.

http://clicks.aweber.com/y/ct/?l=8JUKO&m=1c5axKoLPmtWfo&b=O7F4ZiKfh93ZLf_k4iznuA

It’s important to point out that the vast majority of locals in popular tourist countries are decent, honest people — even when they live in extreme poverty.

In some ways, because of their bad compatriots, they too are the victims of a travel scam, if it deters vacationers from visiting.

Readers: Good stuff huh? If you have been traveling and you got scammed…bummer. But how about sharing your story so we can be enlightened? Blog me.

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)

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" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"

UFOs Over China: Alien Invasion or Economic Indicator?

In the past two weeks, China has had two major UFO sightings. The first, on July 7, was basically a glowing streak in the sky near Xiaoshan airport in Hangzhou, a city outside Shanghai. In the interests of passenger safety, airport authorities shut down operations for an hour, and eighteen planes were delayed.

Eight days later, on July 15, another UFO appeared in Chongqing, a city in eastern China. Described as “four lantern-like objects forming a diamond shape,” the lights “hovered over the city’s Shaping Park for over an hour.” Whether or not China has recently become a destination spot for space travelers, its recent spate of unexplained celestial phenomena may say a great deal about its emerging place in the world — and its plans for the future.

See full article from DailyFinance: http://srph.it/bCz2LD

China’s Military in Space?

Several prosaic explanations quickly emerged for the sightings, including suggestions that the U.S. was testing bomber aircraft routes into China or the Russian military had deployed a new satellite. But the most common explanation was that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA), China’s military, was testing a new aircraft or missile. Admittedly, the decision to launch a weapon in range of an airport seems out of character for the secretive Chinese government, but the PLA’s public stance has become increasingly aggressive over the past year, and the public display of a new, impressive technology could be an effective way to demonstrate China’s rising military strength.

While China’s UFO sightings are exciting in their own right, they may also indicate a change in the Middle Kingdom’s status in the world. For decades, the U.S. has been the destination of choice for unidentified flying objects, with the number of sightings far outstripping those of other countries. Since1940, in fact, there have been 56 clusters of sightings in America. By comparison, China has had only four — two of which occurred within the past two weeks.

China’s Industry and UFOs

There are several terrestrial explanations for UFOs. Two of the main studies on unidentified flying objects — the U.S. Air Force’s project Blue Book and the work of Alan Hendry — determined that most UFO sightings were easily explained. Many alleged UFO sightings were actually man-made aircraft. Other causes included dust, windblown debris, and light pollution, all of which could be the result of industrial activity.

In 2009, China had 11% industrial growth and, according to China Online Daily, the country is working to achieve an equivalent growth rate this year. Such impressive economic development comes at a cost: China’s air quality is the worst in the world, and the lower Yangtze delta — where Hangzhou is located — is among the regions that have been specifically cited for airborne particulates. Add in the horrific dust storms that China had earlier this year, and the effect is an air pollution index that is literally off the charts. While dust in the air wouldn’t cause UFOs, it could exaggerate, blur, or refract commonly-occurring light, creating images that look like light beams and glowing spheres.

Blame China’s Space Program

Another contributing factor could be the psychological impact of a space program. It’s worth noting, for example, that UFO sightings in America spiked between 1965 and 1975, when the U.S. space program was at its height. While this could be coincidental, it seems likely that, as more and more Americans cast their eyes heavenward, many of them saw things that they couldn’t explain.

China has had a space program for decades, but it only recently kicked into overdrive. In 2003, the country launched its first manned spaceflight, a 21-hour orbit of the earth. Four years later, it successfully conducted its first unmanned orbit of the moon, and it plans to conduct a manned landing by 2022. According to some estimates, they could get there by 2017.

China isn’t the only Asian country with an aggressive space program. For the past few years, pundits around the globe have noted that India and China are facing off in what might be a replay of the U.S./USSR space race of the 1960’s. In 2008, India’s Chandrayaan-1 probe landed on the moon, and the south Asian behemoth now has its sights set on Mars.

The India connection further cements the space program/UFO link. Like its neighbor to the east, India is also experiencing a spike in unidentified space phenomena: in the past five years, it has had five major clusters of UFO sightings. In fact, if UFOs are any measure of a nation’s potential for space exploration, India has a very bright future: with 60% more sightings than China, it appears that the South Asian behemoth is far ahead in at least one aspect of the space race.

See full article from DailyFinance.

Readers: Interesting huh? What are your thoughts? Blog me. And to my readers in China: I would love to hear your comments especially if you happened to actually see the UFO.

********

Zen Lill, Cherika, Marinda, Alaleb: I feel for my sisters in Africa too. The bottom line is this: We have to look at where the problem originated…where it began, and it did not begin with the women. The women are not the problem. Mothers would never do such a thing to their daughters if men didn’t let the little head overrule the big head to say the least.

Flying high today…HOPE you are too. :)

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)

Or if you would like to send a check via snail mail, please make checks payable to “Michelle Moquin”, and send to:

Michelle Moquin PO Box 29235 San Francisco, Ca. 94129

Thank you for your loyal support!

For archives dated before January 17, 2008 click on my Blogroll:

or click here: “A Day in the life of…”

All content on this site are property of Michelle Moquin © copyright 2010

John Curley Photography

" Politics, god, Life, News, Music, Family, Personal, Travel, Random, Photography, Religion, Aliens, Art, Entertainment, Food, Books, Thoughts, Media, Culture, Love, Sex, Poetry, Prose, Friends, Technology, Humor, Health, Writing, Events, Movies, Sports, Video, Christianity, Atheist, Blogging, History, Work, Education, Business, Fashion, Barack Obama, People, Internet, Relationships, Faith, Photos, Videos, Hillary Clinton, School, Reviews, God, TV, Philosophy, Fun, Science, Environment, Design, The Page, Rants, Pictures, Church, Blog, Nature, Marketing, Television, Democrats, Parenting, Miscellaneous, Current Events, Film, Spirituality, Obama, Musings, Home, Human Rights, Society, Comedy, Me, Random Thoughts, Research, Government, Election 2008, Baseball, Opinion, Recipes, Children, Iraq, Funny, Women, Economics, America, Misc, Commentary, John McCain, Reflections, All, Celebrities, Inspiration, Lifestyle, Theology, Linux, Kids, Games, World, India, Literature, China, Ramblings, Fitness, Money, Review, War, Articles, Economy, Journal, Quotes, NBA, Crime, Anime, Islam, 2008, Stories, Prayer, Diary, Jesus, Buddha, Muslim, Israel, Europe, Links, Marriage, Fiction, American Idol, Software, Leadership, Pop culture, Rants, Video Games, Republicans, Updates, Political, Football, Healing, Blogs, Shopping, USA, Class, Matrix, Course, Work, Web 2.0, My Life, Psychology, Gay, Happiness, Advertising, Field Hockey, Hip-hop, sex, fucking, ass, Soccer, sox"