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Monday, February 28, 2011

Top 10 Airline Safety Tips

While airline passengers have to deal with constant changes in airport security, airline baggage rules, and even in the kinds of items that are prohibited and restricted from airline flights, a lot of the basic common sense suggestions for flying safely and with minimum hassle haven't changed much at all.


Fly on Nonstop Routings
 
Most airliner accidents happen during the takeoff, climb, descent, and landing phase of flight, so the easiest way to reduce your chance of getting in an accident is to take fewer flights. If you have a choice, and there isn't much difference in price, flying nonstop would not only reduce exposure to the most accident prone phases of flight, but it will probably take quite a bit of time off your trip too.

Choose Larger Aircraft 

Currently, aircraft with more than 30 passenger seats were all designed and certified under the strictest regulations. Also, in the unlikely event of a serious accident, larger aircraft provide a better opportunity for passenger survival.

Pay Attention to the Pre-flight Briefing
 
Although the information seems repetitious, the locations of the closest emergency exits may be different depending on the aircraft that you fly on and seat you are in. Some passenger safety briefings include a few words about the position to take in an emergency landing, and AiSafe.com has put together a video below that goes into much greater detail, showing six common crash positions.

Keep the Overhead Storage Bin Free of Heavy Articles
 
Overhead storage bins may not be able to hold very heavy objects during turbulence, so if you or another passenger have trouble lifting an article into the bin, have it stored elsewhere. A heavy bag falling out of an overhead bin can cause a serious injury, so if one is above your head, try to move the bag or change your seat.

Keep Your Seat Belt Fastened While You are Seated
 
Keeping the belt on when you are seated provides that extra protection you might need to help you avoid injuries from flight turbulence.

Listen to the Flight Attendants
 
The primary reason flight attendants are on an aircraft is for safety, so if one of them asks you to do something like fasten your seat belts, do it first and ask questions later. You can also take other steps to improve your safety and comfort in the cabin like wearing comfortable clothes. You should also get up a walk around on longer flights to help avoid problems like deep vein thrombosis.

Don't Bring Any Hazardous Material 

There are rather long lists of hazardous materials that are not allowed, but common sense should tell you that you shouldn't bring gasoline, corrosives, poisonous gases, and other such items on the aircraft unless they were allowed by the airline and shipped in a proper container. While the list of banned materials is too long to remember, you should take the time to find out about the most common prohibited and hazardous items you should not bring on board.

Let the Flight Attendant Pour Your Hot Drinks

Flight attendants are trained to handle hot drinks like coffee or tea in a crowded aisle on a moving aircraft, so allow them to pour the drink and hand it too you.

Don't Drink Too Much

The atmosphere in an airliner cabin is pressurized to about the same altitude as Denver, so any alcohol you consume will affect you more strongly than at sea level. Moderation is a good policy at any altitude, and in the air limiting your drinking is a good way to reduce the chance of an air rage incident involving you or someone else.

Keep Your Wits About You 

In the unlikely event that you are involved in an emergency situation such as a precautionary emergency evacuation, follow the directions of the flight attendants and flight crew and exit the aircraft as quickly as possible. You can request all the necessary safety information when booking your airline tickets, it is important to be informed.

Bonus tip: You might find that wearing hearing protection during your next flight may relieve ear popping and pressure, and make your next flight more quiet and comfortable.

Wednesday, February 16, 2011

CONFESSIONS


CONFESSIONS OF A MILK THIEF
What’s wrong with 7-11′s coffee bar?

I have a confession to make.

I’m a milk thief. That’s right, today I stole milk from my local 7-11… and four other times in the past couple weeks.

See, recently, I’ve really grown an affinity for 7-11′s coffee experience. It’s not just the brew options or the fact that I’ve grown a bit sick of Starbucks. I also like:

  • The array of fresh pots (in the morning – can’t speak for evening freshness)
  • The individual (real) sugar packets, so you know exactly how many sugars you are using
  • The empowerment and ritual of self-service – there’s just something about pouring your own cup of fresh, hot coffee
  • The slew of optional flavors in the form of creamers and syrups
  • The range of cup options and designs (I particularly like the self-insulated ‘Cup with a Cause‘ cup)
  • The well designed and functional WAKE UP protector sleeve thingies (should you choose not to buy the self-insulated ‘Cup for a Cause’ – asshole)
  • And the price, c’mon


Yeah. I really, really like 7-11 coffee. But, even with all the awesome features I mentioned above, there is one major component missing to complete a truly great cup of coffee. That’s right, milk. 7-11 does NOT offer milk at their coffee bars.

So what did I do about it?
I’ll admit, the first trip I made to 7-11 for coffee a couple weeks back, I settled for the creamer.

Problem a.) If you are buying a very large cup of coffee you need about 7 creamers to make it work – if you are me

Problem b.) Creamer is not milk

So, the next visit to 7-11 for a delicious cup of coffee I took matters into my own hands and got a little vigilant. When I walked into the store I made a B-line to the drink cooler, grabbed a pint of milk and toted it over to the coffee bar. Then, I poured my coffee, opened the milk, poured in a splash, replaced the top and slid the rest of the milk over by the creamer caddy. You know, so others could also use some tasty milk if they wanted. Plus, In this economy, who wants to buy a whole pint of milk if they only need a splash?

This quickly became habit. I used the same technique 3 or 4 more times and it worked. Until it all came to a crashing halt today.

Yes. I got caught.

I went through my normal process (this time it was even more thrilling because there was a cop inside), got the milk, poured my coffee, poured the milk, left the milk for others to enjoy and walked to the register to pay. Just as I was paying for my hot, delicious, milked coffee the store manager walked up and told me that I had to pay for the milk. He also told me that he had seen me do the same thing 5 times. Dude was pissed. He also instructed me that I would need to buy my coffee elsewhere from now on. That’s right.

And I was banned from my local 7-11 – just for being the neighborhood Milken Hood for the past couple weeks. Gah.

I made good and voluntarily (if that counts for anything) paid my restitution for today’s pint and the previous 4. But, I am still left with an empty feeling about this whole situation.
This is What needs to happen:
If 7-11 wants to compete with the major players in the coffee business they are going to have to step their game up and start offering milk at their coffee bars. As I’ve already stated, everything else is amazing!

7-11 needs FREE milk at their coffee bars. This isn’t just for the people. This offering will transcend the 7-11 coffee experience past the “convenient store coffee” genre and into the upper echelon of coffee shop experiences. I mean, you can’t get Skittles or anything with your coffee at Starbucks can you?

But, You can at a local 7-11!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

CONFESSSIONS


Confessions of car thief
Are you in the wrong profession?

I was driving around when I stumbled on this radio station, talking about criminals. The hosts thought that our jails are filled with dumb criminals. The smart ones are at it, on the outside and never get caught.

Well, soon a car thief called in the show.

If you have never had the pleasure of having your car stolen, listen up.

The guy says he has never been caught, and now has three homes from the income he generated from stealing cars. Are you ready to turn in your resignation, yet?

He goes on to say that he has given up all that now, and currently runs his own business. How many cars did he steal? A mere 600.

What did he do with the cars. “Chopped them up”.

How much did he make per car? A mere $4000.00. Are you typing the letter yet?

How many did he steal in a week? “Three”.

How did he do it? “After selecting the victim, I would walk him to the event he was going to, like a movie, graduation ceremony etc. Once he was in, I would walk back to the car and use a three-inch flat head screw driver to complete the job”.

If you are at your door ready to begin your new career, just one more important tip. “I always waited for the cop car to show up, before I made my move. Then I knew there were no undercover cops around”.

I have never been caught and I am set for life. Now I wouldn’t even steal a candy from a store”. Why would you when the pocket is lined with ‘Benjamins’?

The host admitted that he had just one house.

Are you freaking kidding me!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Monday, February 14, 2011

A WOMAN IS CHARGED WITH RAPE


SANTA ANA, Calif.— A 36-year-old California woman has been arrested on suspicion of child molestation and rape for allegedly flying across the country to have sex with a 13-year-old boy she befriended online, authorities said Friday.

Rachel Ann Hicks, of Lake Forest, was taken into custody Friday by Orange County sheriff's investigators.
A Maryland state trooper contacted an Orange County sheriff's investigator on Tuesday and reported that the woman initially "met" the boy in September in an X-Box live chat room. The online relationship progressed to phone calls, sexting, e-mails and sending sexually explicit images and movies between one another, the sheriff's office said in a press release.

Hicks told the boy she was 23 years old and flew to Maryland and met him at his home where they had sex over the Thanksgiving holiday, the sheriff's office said.

Shortly after, the boy's family discovered "romantic" text messages on the boy's cell phone and he disclosed what had occurred.

On Friday, investigators served a search warrant on Hicks' residence. She was arrested without incident.
All the evidence collected will be forward to Hanford County Sheriff's Office in Maryland for their investigation, Orange County officials said.

Based on new information, investigators are seeking to identify a second possible victim, a California boy under the age of 18, authorities said.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

10 Confessions Of A Cash4Gold Employee


[NOTE: This was sent to my personal email by a friend, who though that it might be good for my Blog, he was right , this information is quite juicy, and you should really read this, I've kept it in its original content without changing any of the words - (As I, as a rule, generally don't Re-Blog material sent to me, unless I thoroughly investigate it myself first, this Article was too juicy not to re-blog it, so enjoy your read.  Birdy]

By Ben Popken on February 2, 2009 4:51 PM 320258 views

—>UPDATE 3: We did a feature investigative article on Cash4Gold, entitled, "The Article Cash4Gold Doesn't Want You To Read."

UPDATE 2: Cash4Gold (Green Bullion Financial Services, LLC) sent us a copy of a judgement they obtained on default, granting a "temporary injunction" against the ex-employee to prevent them from "publishing any more confidential, proprietary information, and any defamatory information on the internet." 

We continue to look into the ex-employee's statements and will keep you apprised. (7/02/09)

UPDATE 1: Cash4Gold has filed a defamation suit (right-click here and save to your harddrive to view the PDF) against the ex-employee who posted the below allegations against the company on ComplaintsBoard. The company asserts that the employee's statements were entirely false, and claims that she said she was going to "make Cash4Gold be sorry for firing her." They have also asked us to remove this story. We'll be looking into this and will keep you posted on further developments. (4/3/09)

From the acid-cloud haze of the Cash4Gold processing center steps forth a shadowy figure, fingers stained with orange testing fluid. It's an ex-Cash4Gold employee and in-between tuberculosic wheezes he manages to pass you a yellow legal paid with 10 confessions about how his former employer taught him to rip people off. Then he evaporates leaving behind a pile of gold dust. You dip your finger in it and touch it to your tongue. Just as you thought: fool's gold. 

If you decide to investigate the creaky clock tower, turn to page 4.

If you decide to read the confessions, to the post inside.


Spotted on ComplaintsBoard: "I would like an article to be posted pertaining to the refinery Cash 4 Gold, located in Pompano Beach, Fl. I am a former employee, who would like to alert/warn the public on the scamming process involved with this company. There are many of us who would like to vouch on behalf of this fast growing scam. We would like to get the word out to everyone on this step by step scam which involves so many people in this country and their valuables.

Below I have attached the full details on the scam involving this company. We know this first hand, because this is how we were trained. Please take note of this information and do what you can to get the word out there, especially in a time when the economy has truly affected everyone for the worst. Thank you!

I am a former employee of Cash 4 Gold. I did not know much about the company before being hired. On my first day of being hired, I was taught the "Cash 4 Gold Scam" from beginning to end.

1. The "refiner's pack" that is used for you to put your jewelry is "insured for UP TO 100 dollars, " according to how much they determine from a description from you, the worth of your items to be, NOT an actual fully researched appraisal.

2. We receive your "Refiner's Pack" within 3-4 days, BUT we are instructed to tell you that it takes "7-10 business days, for us to receive your pack, ALTHOUGH many times, your package has already arrived.

(All cash4gold customers who have called customer service to track a package can vouch for this)


3. Your jewelry gets appraised by hand, a magnifying glass, a plastic container, a small weight pad, and a bottle of ORANGISH fluid, which your items are then determined a value for. Not million dollar equipment or specially trained jewelry experts. The company was temporarily closed recently due to health and code violations. I have witness testers being transported to Medical Centers, due to the testing department environment. There is literally a cloud of smoke in the air from acid and other testing material. If you were thinking it was some state-of-the-art testing facility, you thought WRONG.

4. Although the payment (check) for your item is dated within 24 hrs of testing your jewelry, we SOMETIMES DO NOT actually send out the check until up to 3-4 days later. (if you are a customer check the date the check was issued against the stamped date on the envelope.)

5. We do offer a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee or your jewelry returned, BUT THE CATCH IS, that the guarantee is to contact us within 10 DAYS from when your check is DATED. (This begins with the time it took for the accounts payables dept. to ISSUE the check and also including the TRANSIT TIME for you to receive your check in the mail. **** NOTATE THE COMMERCIALS THAT INSINUATE THAT YOU GET YOUR CASH IN 24 HRS.*** If you request (sign) for FAST CASH (direct deposit) you automatically WAIVE your rights to have your items returned, EVEN if you are not satisfied with amount of your deposit.

6. You generally receive your check around the "7th-10th" business day, AND majority of the time Customers are outraged when they lay eyes on the amount of their check. Some Customer's even receive a check for 0.01 cents.

7. There have been times when we have received your package and MISPLACED or LOST it at the facility. 

We CLAIM to not have received the items and even try to convince you that it was lost in the hands of USPS. At which point we begin an insurance claim process on your package. We ask you to send us an itemized list of the content of the package, trying to be as descriptive as you possible can (if you can remember everything in full detail) and a copy of your state issud ID. We then issue an INSURANCE CLAIM for UP TO 100 dollars. GOD FORBID your items are worth more then a 100 dollars. If you call customer service to check on the status of your shipment, and we actually have not received your package, we inform you of the insurance claim process. For those who know that their items are worth more than a hundred dollars, they become very upset and threaten to take action against the company, at that point we inform the customer that if they knew their items were worth more they should have added additional insurance at the Post Office. BUT unless you are paying to ship your items in a completely different package other then the refiner's kit, you are unable to add insurance to the package.

8. For those who do get in touch with us within the allotted time frame, we already know what you are calling about. Customers want their items returned, because there check amount is so insultingly LOW. The first thing a Rep will ask you is "HOW MUCH WERE YOU EXPECTING TO GET BACK?" This way we can know how much to "BONUS" you.

*Definition of a BONUS: We issue low checks just to have you call us back if you are smart enough to realize that you just got scammed. For the smart one's we are paid to offer u a bonus up to 3x the original amount of your check and you accept. For ex: Sally Smith receives a check for $27.86 for a Rolex watch(which we don't issue value for), a class ring, a ring with diamond chips, a pair of earrings with emeralds, as well as a few sterling silver pieces, and maybe a few items that were really of no value. Now Sally Smith calls the cust srvc dept, where she speaks to a rep who seems so concerned and will see if she can do better with the amount by speaking to a "SUPERVISOR". We then place the caller on Mute, and speak to our neighbors or doodle on a sheet, or twiddle with our hair for about 45 seconds, while we are supposedly speaking to our supervisor about Ms. Smith's complaint. We then come back with an offer to "BUMP UP YOUR MELT DATE or any other lies the cust srvc reps can think of, and offer you a total amount of $53.20 which is a little under double the amount of your original check; in which case if you accept, the cust srvc rep makes a 15.00 bonus off of your transaction. If the customer service rep offers you under triple the amount of your orig check, he/she makes 10.oo in bonuses.

9. If you accept the offer, the deal is done, and you are told that the call is recorded (which most of the time, the record button does not work, or the box if full.)It's just a way to make your feel binded by a verbal contract. IF you do not accept the deal, you have to return your check, and it takes sometimes up to a month to receive your items back after we receive the check.

10. If you only want the items that we do not find of any value back, you have to pay 10.00 shipping and handling fee to have your own items returned, which varies. Although it is listed under the terms and conditions, this charge varies from a 10.00-15.00 charge to NO charge, reason being, UNSURE.

Cash 4 Gold is definitely not a trustworthy or credible company to do business with. You are almost better off taking your items to a local pawn shop or shopping around for other companies. With the economy the way it is, Cash 4 Gold seems to be a way out of financial stress for some, but in actuality becomes a stress of its own. I would advise you to think twice before sending in valuables or items inherited and of sentimental value, its not worth it."



By Chris Walters on October 6, 2008 3:41 PM 72859 views

—>UPDATE: Cash4Gold Offers Blogger $3,000 To Remove Negative Post
Rob at Cockeyed.com saw a late night commercial for Cash4Gold ("Sell your jewelry NOW!"), so he decided to test their service. His friend Brent gathered up some scrap gold and first had it appraised at a local pawn shop. Then, armed with a baseline of what to expect, he mailed it in to Cash4Gold. Their offer: $60, or one third of the appraised value. When he called and rejected it, they countered with a surprising new figure.
Brent called Cash4Gold and immediately and asked for his stuff back. They made a new offer on the phone: $178!
Can you imagine? They covered their smell a little by suggesting that they could manipulate the numbers on their end so that it would look as though he sent in more than he had....suggesting that they were doing HIM a favor by upping his offer to this new, more attractive number.
The two things to remember if you send in your gold to Cash4Gold:
  1. Get your gold appraised first so you know what's fair, and reject any unreasonably low offer over the phone so that they have the option of making a counter offer;

  2. Do not use their "FAST CASH" option, which offers a direct deposit into your bank account, but forces you to accept their first offer. You will almost certainly be paid a fraction of what your gold is worth.
"Cash4Gold Will Offer One-Third of the Actual Value for your Gold " [Cockeyed.com] (Thanks to Michael!)


Tuesday, February 8, 2011

54 Painless Money-Saving Tips


-Birdymckee
I now write about ways to develop the habit of spending less than you make. To continue this topic, here are some practical and painless money saving tips to help you save some cash each month. I’d like to get the number of tips to at least 101, so if you have some money-saving suggestions, please leave a comment.. Also, be sure to read to the bottom of this post, as tip #51 is bound to spark some discussion and debate.
  1. Use Ebates for up to 25% cash back: Ebates is a free online coupon site that offers up to 25% cash back from top online stores like Target, eBay, Barnes & Noble, and the Gap. Registering on Ebates is free and takes just seconds.

  2. Combine your cable, internet and telephone service. Companies now offer combined services that not only cost less, but offer the convenience of a single bill. Called a Triple Play Package (Cable, Internet, and Phone), these combined service deals can save you a bundle. 

  3. Slow down your internet service. I went to the slower internet service option with my cable company and saved $15 per month. And I haven’t noticed a difference when surfing the Net. 

  4. Improve your credit score. A good credit score can save you thousands of dollar in interest on everything from a home loan to a car loan, and from school loans to credit cards. . Once you know where you stand, you can begin to improve your score and lower your interest payments. 

  5. Send away for and follow up on rebates. After you buy a product with a rebate, send in the form that day. Then mark your calendar to remind yourself to follow up with the rebate company if the check hasn’t show up. 

  6. Buy Your Next Cell Phone from Amazon: It may seem odd to buy a cell phone from Amazon, but they offer all of the newest phones (e.g., Droid, Storm 2, Vibrant) from AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon Wireless. Amazon offers free 2-day shipping and low prices without the hassle of mail-in rebate forms. To check out the deals, visit AmazonWireless

  7. Buy a refurbished Mac: I’ve written about this before because it is a great way to buy not only computers, but iPods and iPhones as well. You can check out the details on how to buy a refurbished iPhone here. 

  8. Convert to a gas water heater. They are more efficient and will save you money in the long run. 

  9. Request a reduction in the interest rate for your home equity line of credit. I did and my mortgage company agreed to reduce the rate by more than 0.50%. And if you are looking for a home equity loan, LendingTree Home Equity Loans is a great place to check out available options. 

  10. Request a reduction in the interest rate on your credit cards. As with home equity loans, credit card companies sometimes are willing to reduce the interest rate. It can’t hurt to ask. If your credit card company won’t help you, switch to a low interest credit card or a one of several 0% APR credit cards 

  11. Refinance you mortgage. If you can reduce your interest rate by one percent or more, it is often beneficial to refinance. This is particularly true for those with high rates due to less than stellar credit scores. If your score has improved, you may qualify for a better rate. I would start by asking your current mortgage lender about lower rates. Here’s a table of refinance rates that is updated daily. 

  12. Get rid of Private Mortgage Insurance. If your down payment was less than 20%, you are probably paying PMI. Once you have a 20% cushion through reducing your debt and home appreciation (yes, prices do go up from time to time), contact your mortgage company to start the process of removing the PMI. 

  13. Get your books from the library. I love books and read every day. While I buy some of the books I read, most come from the library. Simply put, it’s hard to beat free. 

  14. Get DVDs from the library. Many libraries now have movies on DVD that can be checked out. If your library offers this service, it sure beats paying Blockbuster or Netflix. 

  15. Get DVDs from Red Box. If your library doesn’t offer DVDs, get your moves from Red Box. It costs just one dollar per night. You find Red Box locations here. Netflix is also a great, low cost and convenient alternative. 

  16. Read magazines at the library or online. Too many magazines can cost a fortune. And how many times have you bought a magazine based on the cover and been disappointed by the lack of substance. At the library you can read magazines for free. And many magazines now offer their content for free online. 

  17. Subscribe to magazines that are must reads. If you must have a certain magazine each month, subscribe. Subscriptions offer substantial savings over the cost at the newsstand. Update: Amazon offers some great deals on personal finance magazines.

  18. Buy your car over the internet: Search the internet for information on the car you want and then send e-mail requests to dealers for the best price. Even if the dealer is located in another state, the cost to have the car delivered may still be worth it. I paid $500 to have a Honda Odyssey shipped 500 miles and still saved $1,000 over the best local price available. 

  19. Request a discount on trash service. For some reason this is a highly competitive business. If you get a better offer in the mail for trash service, call your current trash company and ask them to beat the offer. My trash service has reduced its rates twice in six months to match competing offers.
  20. Never pay checking account fees. I hate bank fees. With so many free checking account plans available, there’s no reason to pay a fee. And if the bank happens to charge you one, ask them to reverse the fee or take your business to another bank. 

  21. Get a rewards card. There are many reward cards that pay out in cash or points that can be redeemed for travel or products. Many of these cards don’t have an annual fee. I recently traveled to my college reunion for free using points earned from a credit card. My favorite rewards card is American Express Gold Card.

  22. Don’t pay interest on credit cards. This is obvious, but I soon as you fail to pay off the credit card in full, the high interest payments start to eat away at your monthly budget. If the temptation to spend more than you can pay on a credit card is to great, get rid of the credit card (and ignore the previous tip!). 

  23. Take advantage of 0% credit card offers. I’ve saved thousands of dollars using 0% balance transfer credit cards. Again, as long as the cards won’t cause you to spend more, they can offer substantial savings. Make sure, however, that you keep an eye on the balance transfer fee, which can wipe out your savings. 

  24. Replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent light (CFLs) bulbs. These bulbs use 75% less energy and last 10 times longer. They do take some getting used to, and they won’t work in every light fixture. But use them where it makes sense and save energy and money. 

  25. Drive your car longer. The buy new versus used debate often overlooks the most important factor how long you own your car. Drive it as long as you safely can for substantial savings. 

  26. Pay your life insurance annually. Insurance companies charge you more if you pay monthly, quarterly or semi-annually. Pay once a year and you’ll pay less. 

  27. Pay car insurance semi-annually. At least with my car insurance, they offer quarterly and semi-annual payment options. It costs more to pay quarterly, and twice a year is more convenient anyway. 

  28. Increase insurance deductibles. Most of us don’t need to be insured for all losses over $100 on our car, for example. Although we wouldn’t want to pay a $250 or even $500 deductible, we could. If that’s you, find out how much you’d save from raising your deductible. I’ve raised my deductibles on my auto insurance and home owner’s insurance and saved a considerable amount. 

  29. Think before submitting an insurance claim. My rule of thumb is that I won’t submit a claim on a loss that is less than twice my deductible. So for a $250 deductible on an auto loss, I’ll pay out of pocket any loss up to $500. Why? The $250 I’d receive from my insurance company is not worth the increased premiums I’m likely to pay. You may want to call your insurance agent to find out how a claim will impact your premiums before filing the claim. 

  30. Get rid of your home telephone. This is a great way to save money. Many don’t do it because of the 911 service, and that’s understandable. But if you’re comfortable relying on a cell phone, there’s no reason to keep a land line. If you do, consider reducing your service to the minimum and only use the phone in an emergency. 

  31. Consider VOiP telephone service. We use Internet phone service and have saved substantial money over Verizon service. The phone service has been very reliable, and you’d never even know the signal was being carried over the Internet. Skype is a great option for internet telephone service, which costs as little as $0.00 a month. 

  32. Shut vents in unused rooms. This isn’t advisable if you have forced air heating, but shutting vents in unused rooms can save on your heating and cooling bill. 

  33. Eliminate some cable service. Note that I’m not recommending getting rid of cable completely, although that’s certainly a way to save money. If you must have cable, take a look at all the charges on your cable bill and consider getting rid of some of the service. Try it for a month and see if you really miss those last 500 channels. 

  34. Agree to limit gift giving. At Christmas our extended family and we go overboard when it comes to gift giving. Agree in advance to limit the gifts and save everybody some money. 

  35. Get healthy. Your health will directly impact the cost of life insurance and, in some cases, can reduce the cost of your health insurance. 

  36. Cancel the health club membership. Seems to contradict the previous tip, but evaluate how much you really use your health club. Less expensive options may include a gym at your work or a gym at your local parks and recreation center. Some offer pay as you go options rather than monthly fees, which can be great for those of us who aren’t as consistent in our routines as we’d like to be. 

  37. Pass on extended warranties. A $129 two year extension on a $300 product is just not worth it. Warranties are insurance, and we rarely need to insure such a small amount. 

  38. Take your lunch to work one more day a week than you do now. Eating out at lunch is fun, so I wouldn’t eliminate it completely. But taking lunch just one more day a week will keep money in your pocket. 

  39. Buy low cost mutual funds. This is easy to miss because the money doesn’t come out of your pocket each month. But keep an eye on the cost of the mutual funds in your 401(k) and other investments. My rule of thumb is that no fund should cost more than 1% and the combined cost for all your funds should be less than 0.50%. If you don’t believe that even a half percent can make a big difference, read this. 

  40. Take advantage of employer 401(k) matches. If your employer matches 401(k) contributions, do everything you can to take full advantage of that match. 

  41. Use flexible spending accounts. FSAs allow you to pay certain medical, dental and child care expenses using pre-tax dollars. If your not taking advantage of these accounts, you’re wasting money. Enrollment at many companies is occurring now, so check with your HR department if you have any questions about FSAs. 

  42. Get tires from Costco or other wholesale clubs. Simply put, they cost a lot less than buying them at the dealer or even a chain tire store. 

  43. Keep tires properly inflated. It keeps you safe and costs less on gas. 

  44. Stop smoking. Need I say more?

  45. Drink less alcohol. It costs money and adds calories. 

  46. Buy term life insurance. Any other life insurance product is just not worth the extra cost. 

  47. Buy generic over-the-counter medicines. They are exactly the same as their branded counterparts and cost less. 

  48. Get organized and avoid missed payments. I’ve missed a payment or two because the bill got buried beneath a stack of papers. Get organized and avoid those late payment penalties. If you do miss a payment, call your creditor and ask to have the penalty removed. They’ll usually accommodate the request, at least the first time. 

  49. Buy online when it saves you money. I’ve used Amazon to buy more than just books. It sells just about anything and sometimes at substantial savings. 

  50. Consider MythTV PVR in replace of TiVo type services. I just ran across MythTV and am still investigating it. I pay $15 a month to my cable company for a DVR box and would love to save the money. If you’ve used MythTV, let us know how well it works. You can get more information about MythTV here.

  51. Use Open Source software when possible. I use GIMP instead of Photoshop. GIMP is free; Photoshop ain’t. 

  52. Check the insulation in your home. Extra insulation can easily pay for itself in one or two years, and it helps save the environment, too. 

  53. Buy energy efficient appliances. Look for the Energy Star on appliances and consider the annual energy cost before buying. More efficient appliances cost more, but you make up the extra cost and then some over the life of the product. 

  54. Stay married. Yes, I did say 51 “painless” money-saving tips. Yes, I know that some marriages end because of abuse and other extreme circumstances. “Isn’t marriage about love”, you ask. Sometimes. “You don’t know my situation”, you say.  Am I telling you not to get a divorce? Of course not. I am telling you that divorce will wreck your finances and your spouse’s finances.

Monday, February 7, 2011

Confessions of a Wi-Fi Thief


When I moved into my apartment a year ago, the first thing I did after I tipped the movers was sit down on a box, crack open my computer and sniff the air for wi-fi signals. And I found them: my apartment was chock-full of delicious, invisible data, ripe for the plucking. You couldn't say I made a conscious decision at that exact moment to become a criminal. But it definitely got a lot harder not to be a criminal.

For the next year, I didn't pay for Internet access. Instead, I got online via the unsecured wireless networks of my neighbors. This didn't seem illegal at the time--I mean, those signals were streaming through my apartment--but it is an actual, bona fide crime. Last year a man in Cedar Springs, Mich., was fined $400 for mooching off somebody else's wi-fi--a police officer spotted him laptop-surfing in a parked car. Apparently that violates Title 18, Part 1, Chapter 47 of the United States Code, which covers anybody who "intentionally accesses a computer without authorization or exceeds authorized access."

The law was passed in 1986, back when people were worried about mutually assured destruction of Earth and Matthew Broderick hacking into the WOPR. But I still felt like kind of a desperado.

Illegal or not, it was definitely unethical. Not so unethical that I stopped doing it, though. True, my browsing slowed down my neighbors' connections from time to time, but I tried to keep from transmitting any big files till late at night. And leaving your network open can put your personal data at risk - even though I didn't want their data; I wanted their bandwidth! If it was so precious to them, they should have put a password on it! Don't look at me like that--according to the Wi-Fi Alliance, 93% of people surveyed said they'd done the same thing.

Mine isn't a particularly sociable apartment complex, but wi-fi transcends urban alienation. You can draw your blinds and grunt at me on the walk-way all you want, #3, but I can see your network just fine. Some people thought of creative names for their networks: ParisBrooklyn, MessageInaBottle. Some were boring: linksys, NETGEAR, default. I was always happy to see the boring ones, because the people who don't bother thinking of clever names for their home networks are the same people who don't bother to password-protect them. Anybody who calls his hot spot WebOfDarkness isn't going to give me any wireless love. I think YouHavSomNerv is also a good one for absolutely no love and a password that is next to impossible to break.

You don't fly first class when you're stealing bandwidth. Wi-Fi hot spots are large--about the size of a football field--but those signals had to pass through a lot of masonry before they got to my computer. 

Wi-Fi operates on an unlicensed frequency, so it has to deal with interference from baby monitors and microwave ovens and cordless phones too. As a result, my Internet access would vanish and reappear like a will-o'-the-wisp, even when I engaged OS X's excitingly named "interference robustness" feature. I always seemed to lose connectivity just when I was about to send a crucial e-mail--it's embarrassing to run down a city street waving your laptop around like a crazy person, but it's amazing how unselfconscious you get when you have to find one lousy bar of wi-fi in the next two minutes or you're going to get fired. (A website called ThinkGeek.com sells a T shirt with a battery-powered wi-fi detector that displays the ambient signal strength wherever you happen to be standing. It's super cool, though if I'm too cheap to pay for broadband, I'm definitely too cheap to spend $30 on a T shirt.)

This isn't supposed to be a problem anyway. A couple of years ago, some starry-eyed technology pundits - announced the dawning of the age of free municipal wi-fi networks, when every American city would have its own city-size hot spot. It would be too cheap to meter! But the legal, technological, financial and political practicalities of municipal wi-fi have been much harder to work out than anyone expected. Even mighty Google had to back down from its plan to flood all of San Francisco with free wi-fi. Downtown Spokane, Washington, is online, though, so I guess there's still hope.

As for me, I've joined the straight world, sort of. When I moved into a new apartment a few weeks ago, I decided my financial situation was stable enough that I could start paying for my data again, though my frequent conversations with EarthLink tech support make me miss the old days of trying to crack YouHaveSomNerv's password.

In an attempt to achieve some kind of karmic balance, I have left my network open to any neighbors who want to mooch off it. Which, believe it or not, is a violation of EarthLink's terms of service. What do you know – maybe I'm still a desperado after all.

Sunday, February 6, 2011

15 Cool Ways to Save on Electricity (Literally)

According to EnergyHog.org, last year the average household spent about $2,150 on energy bills. While that’s a lot of money, just a few small steps can save you 5-10% annually on your energy bills. Ten percent of $2,150 is not a life-changer, but it is a life-enhancer and it’s very easy money. Here is a number of ideas below to help you save at least that amount on your next electricity bill, and the more tips you can implement, the more you can save.

With the summer quickly approaching, here’s a list of 15 excellent energy saving ideas that you should be able to implement in the matter of a few minutes.  If you’ve got a good one that we’ve failed to mention, make sure you leave us a comment!
  1. In colder months, keep the heat at 68 degrees or cooler with the fan switch set to “auto.” Save even more by lowering your thermostat to 65 degrees (or cooler) at bedtime or when you’re away from home. 

  2. Use the auto sensor function on your dryer, if you have one, to conserve energy by not over-drying your clothes. 

  3. Install a programmable thermostat to adjust the temperature automatically. It also helps to maintain a comfortable temperature when you wake up or return home. 

  4. Clean or replace your air conditioner’s filter every month to trim your cooling costs and help your unit run more efficiently. 

  5. Turn off your ceiling fan when you leave the room. A fan that runs constantly can cost up to $7 a month depending on size and age. 

  6. Avoid per-rinsing dishes before putting in the dishwasher. It can save up to $70 a year. 

  7. Limit the time you run your pool pump to no more than four to six hours a day. 

  8. Adjust the water level on your washing machine to match the load size, especially when using hot water. Always use a cold rinse. 

  9. Clean the lint filter in your dryer before every load to dry clothes faster. 

  10. In warmer months, cool your home at 78 degrees or warmer with the thermostat fan switch on “auto.” For additional savings, raise your thermostat to 82 degrees or warmer when you’re away from home. 

  11. Put a dry towel in the dryer with wet clothes to absorb dampness and hasten dry time. 

  12. If your fireplace isn’t airtight, think twice about using it as it can draw a lot of warm air out of the house. 

  13. Check to ensure that furniture isn’t blocking ducts or fans 

  14. Replace incandescent light bulbs with compact, fluorescent ones. 

  15. Vacuum refrigerator coils every three months.
NOTE:  The above suggestions do not include the “spend money to save money” solutions, like replacing windows or trading in old appliances for newer, Energy Star rated ones. These are unequivocally excellent ways to reduce both energy consumption and cost, but the upfront outlay puts them in a different category.

Air conditioners and washers and dryers are not solely responsible for your electricity costs. Other appliances like microwaves, toasters, TV’s, blenders and hundreds of other everyday household appliances also consume significant amounts of electric y and leaving them plugged in when you’re not using them is not a smart idea Greenlivingtips.com (and others) refer to items that are plugged in when not in use as stand-by electricity, or phantom power. Phantom power is responsible for an incredible amount of electricity consumption nationally. Practically every electronic device that you plug into a socket continues to consume electricity after you’ve switched the device off. If an appliance or device has an adapter, the easiest way to tell if it’s still drawing power when the device is switched off is if the adapter is warm.

The American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy uses the term “leaking electricity” and cites TVs, VCRs, answering machines, cordless phones, portable power tools and office equipment as the worst offenders. They contend that leaking electricity accounts for nearly 5 percent of total residential electrical use and on average, $100+ annually is wasted on phantom power The list of most-common electronics that can drain electricity even when not in use are:


Now granted, some of the things in the table above would be pretty tough to unplug and replug in every time you use them, but try you’re hardest to take care of the easy ones. No one is expecting you to unplug the copier at work when you’re finished using it, but leaving the cell phone charger plugged in is an easy fix. 

Using smart strips, which are new and improved surge-protectors, will allow you to avoid leaking electricity, as the smart strip is designed to switch off your devices automatically when they are not in use.
So depending on what kind of climate you live in, you may be able to implement all the above changes, or just a few. But no matter how much you spend on energy bills every year, you always have the opportunity to spend less with a little hard work and clever thinking and if you’re the type of person that doesn’t just want to save money on electricity.




Thursday, February 3, 2011

20 Inexpensive Ways to Lower Your Utility Bills


-Birdy

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, the typical American family spends over $1,600.00 a year on utilities. Everyone could probably save significant amounts on our utilities by buying the newest and most efficient appliances, heaters and boilers. But the amount of money we’d have to pay up front is sometimes prohibitive, and it’s difficult to be sure that long-term reductions in our utility bills would be worth it. 

The good news is that the concept of snow flaking is particularly well-suited to helping us cope with climate control. Below are 20 ideas that, for a reasonable cost, can help us reduce the amount you pay each year for water, electricity and heat/cooling.
  1. Get an Energy-use Consultation: In many communities, utilities companies provide this service for free, or for a nominal fee. Many local volunteer organizations also perform energy audits. They can test your home to identify your areas of greatest heating/cooling loss, analyze your past utilities bills, and, in some cases, estimate how long it would take you to recoup the cost of upgrades to your home or apartment. If you’d rather perform your own audit, the Department of Energy has an online audit tool that takes you through the steps. 

  2. Install Extra Insulation: This can be expensive, but it doesn’t have to be, especially considering that attics, basements/crawl spaces, and the areas around utility pipes can be some of the biggest heat suckers in your home. These areas are usually tucked out of sight anyway, so the insulation job you do doesn’t have to be pretty, it just has to be effective and safe. Also remember that insulation will help you even if you live in the tropics. Not only does it keep in warm air when it’s cold, it keeps in cool air when it’s hot. 

  3. Seal Off Gaps: Weather stripping, heat-safe tape, and caulk are all relatively inexpensive and easy to find. Use them to seal off leaks to the outside of your home. Two things to pay attention to in your quest to mind your gaps: 1) The Department of Energy estimates that only 10% of air loss in a typical house comes from windows, whereas 15% comes from ducts and 13% comes from plumbing leading outside or to other uninsulated areas. 2) Ducts especially are tricky creatures, and sealing or insulating them improperly can be hazardous. Make sure that you know what you’re doing, or talk to someone who does, before you tamper with them. 

  4. Install Door Sweeps: If you have several heating zones in your house, installing small, insulating door sweeps on the bottom of your doors can help keep those zones from leaking into one another. Even if you don’t have zones, installing door sweeps on your outside doors, and the doors closest to the outside, can cut down on air leakage. Sweeps are easy to install, and cost about $5-$10 dollars. 

  5. Get a Programmable Thermostat and Use it: Now that the above steps are complete, and you aren’t leaking energy like a sieve, this step is the equivalent of having part of your paycheck automatically sent to your savings account. Set the thermostat a few degrees lower while you’re away at work, and a few degrees lower yet for bedtime. If you have multiple heat zones in your house, even better. Chances are some of those zones won’t need to be heated up to livable temperatures 24-7. If you live in an area where central a/c is required, some of the same conditions apply. The house can probably be 85 degrees in the daytime while you’re away at work. These thermostats can be expensive, but they offer significant savings as well. Amazon offers a wide selection of programmable thermostats, many for under $50. 

  6. Consider a Heated Mattress Pad: If you live in an area with cold winters, you can probably turn your thermostat down even more during the night by using one of these. The electricity that it takes to heat your bed is miniscule compared to the cost of heating your entire house a few extra degrees at night. 

  7. Use Compact-Fluorescent Bulbs: Yes, the light they give off is different from that of normal incandescent bulbs. But they typically use 75% less energy, and last ten times as long. 

  8. Use Power Strips: Even in sleep mode, your computer, DVD player, and other electronic devices use some energy. By plugging them into power strips, and then turning off the power at the strip, you use less electricity. 

  9. Maintain/Clean Your Appliances: If your heating vents (or the vents on the underside of your baseboard heater) are caked in dust, they probably aren’t running at maximum efficiency. Likewise, replace or clean the filter on your furnace and drain the sediment from your water heater as often as their user manuals say you should. Appliances last longer when they’re well-maintained, and it will knock some money off your utilities as well. 

  10. Make Your Water Heater More Efficient: If it’s an old heater, chances are it’s not as well-insulated as it could be. (Though be sure to first check the owner’s manual to see if it’s safe to add an insulating cover to your water heater.) Most hardware stores sell insulating sleeves for water heaters for around $20-$30. Likewise, make sure the pipes leading from your heater to the wall are insulated. If they’re not, simple pipe insulation, again available at most hardware stores, should do the trick. 

  11. Turn Down your Water Heater: If your water heater is set at 140 degrees or above, chances are that you can get away with only setting it at 120. The only thing you might need 140-degree water for is your dishwasher. Experiment a bit and see if you can get clean dishes at lower temperatures. 

  12. Install Faucet Aerators: They use less water, even if you’re turning on the taps for the same amount of time. You should be able to get faucet aerators for less than two dollars apiece. Chances are you already have some form of aerator in your faucet (they’re those little mesh screen pieces that screw onto the nozzle). If you already have them, you can unscrew them and check the side for their gpm (gallons per minute) rating. If it’s over 2.75 gallons, it’s probably worth it to get one with a better, lower rating
    .
  13. Install a Low-flow Shower Head: If you take long showers, this is definitely an investment to think about. These puppies cost anywhere from $5 to $50. Most of them operate by aerating water. Note that low-flow shower heads should not reduce your water-pressure by all that much. Take a look at your local hardware store’s return policy, too. It might be worth it to experiment with several different types if you can return them after one or two uses. 

  14. Only Run Your Dishwasher When Full: Unless you have a newer dishwasher with a half-wash option, you use the same amount of water no matter how many dishes you put in. Also note that since it’s hot water, you’re paying not only for H2O, but also for the energy used to heat it. 

  15. Air-dry Dishes: Instead of using the drying cycle on your dishwasher, just set it to clean only, and open the door when the dishwasher is done. The wire racks in the dishwasher can conveniently double as drying racks, and you’ll save the energy it would have taken to dry all your dishes. 

  16. Wash Whites on Warm, Not hot: Unless you or a member of your household is an athlete, or particularly stinky, your whites will probably turn out just as clean on the warm setting as they did on the hot setting, and you save your water heater from having to heat up several galleons of water to max temperature. 

  17. Simulate a Low Flush Toilet: If you don’t have a new, water-saver toilet, you can simulate one by putting a clean brick, or a sealed plastic bottle filled with pebbles, or a weighted mason jar, into your toilet tank. This displaces water so that less is used each time you flush. 

  18. Be Kind to Your Freezer/Refrigerator: Let hot food sit out an hour or so before you put it in the fridge, so that you don’t waste energy having your fridge work extra hard to cool it down. If you have empty space in your freezer, and live in a cool place, freeze plastic containers full of water by putting them outside, and then put them into your empty freezer space, giving the freezer a helping hand. 

  19. Buy Wisely: When Buying New Appliances, pay attention to their energy ratings: An Energy Star logo is put on many appliances that meet federal standards for energy efficiency. Large appliances such as refrigerators, boilers, water heaters, dish washers etc. have yellow Energy Guide tags on them that tell you how energy efficient an appliance is compared to other models.

  20. Consider Tax Breaks/Energy Incentives: Your county or state may have an initiative that offers savings on certain energy-efficient appliances. Rebates may be available for large, expensive appliances that meet certain energy requirements. Check the Database of State Incentives for Renewables and Efficiency to learn more about options in your state. The database also includes a federal incentives page.
Bonus Tip: Pay your utility bills with your cash back credit card. Many utilities let pay with a credit card, and you can also pay your phone, internet and cable bills with a cash back card, too. It’s a convenient way to pay your bills and an easy way to pocket some cash each month. 

If you have other tips on inexpensive ways to lower your utility bills, please leave a comment.


-Birdy

Wednesday, February 2, 2011

CONFESSIONS OF A MASTER BURGLAR

-Birdymckee

When you leave your overpriced residence in the morning, do you check to see if all the doors and windows are locked? You should. 95% of all burglaries happen during the day.

In the modern world, police statistics tell us that in a 20 year period, three out of every four homes will be burglarized. In fact, theft is the top crime here in the United States.

How can you take action against those odds? For some answers, Think Magazine shares some confessions from the criminals themselves. Is your home vulnerable to burglary? Who knows better than a burglar?

We asked a couple of United States burglars, one retired, one active and one in custody, to give us the low-down on house-breaking here in the United States. First, they choose a suitable target. Burglars say homes hidden by trees make good targets because they can stash stolen goods in the bushes until they get everything they want out of the house. Also apartments where there are large concentrations of foreigners and working professionals and few nosy mangers, so that they can work unmolested.

One tactic described by the active burglar is how he befriends building owners or maintenance people so he can get access to the keys. That's why most United States apartments have 2 or more locks, that and the fact that local insurance companies won't pay out on apartments that have been burgled and have only one key. They also look for homes and apartments with a vent or skylight on top of the roof. Once they get through any alarms there might be... they're in hassle free. Here's what some former burglars say they look for:

John: "Mostly the ones I look for were the ones with newspaper supplements built up on the porch. Lights are off, no cars in the driveway."

Luke: "If the drapes were open, you sit and wait, and you watch and see if you see people walk by."

Henry: "Hallway light on, all other lights off at all times. You go up there and knock on the door. I don't hear anybody and the phone keeps ringing then I know, more or less, in a fact, nobody is at the home."

Burglars also listen for the message on your answering machine. It's a good idea to turn the volume down because once they figure out no one is home, they look for ways to get inside. A very common method of entry is to look for air conditioners that can be pushed in through the house. Or they'll crawl from balcony to balcony to your place. And in the suburbs, automatic garage doors are easy to just lift up... allowing easy access into your home. Thieves also use stolen garage door openers. They take them off your sun visor, then come back later.

"I just go through the garage door, close it, stay in the house a little while. Make sure I got everything. " Says Luke. Sliding bolts will keep thieves out, but if you don't have one, here's what you can do.

"This is what I do at my house, inside the bars that unfold to open it up, you can put a padlock in there."

As popular as the garage door is, burglars like sliding glass doors even better. "It is very easy there... move them back and forth and it unlocks the door. What people should do is get the little railings that set on the ground, get them about 10” higher."

How safe are roll out windows? The burglars confess they haven't been able to get into one of those without breaking them. But the locks on older-style windows tend to break easily, giving burglars easy access.

Your home doesn't have to be a castle with a moat to keep burglars out, but you can make it difficult to break in. "Too much time is what it is all about," stresses Jim.

"I stay away when I see motion detectors in the doorway, also when I see triple locks. Get an alarm and a dog, or what you find often up by a major city is silent house alarms where they have the stickers in front of the house. That is how I was captured."

If you get an alarm, place it high on the front of your house near a window if possible. That way, anyone tampering with it would be seen.

"By having it real low on the side of the house with the gate like that, I know I would be able to do something like take it out. " Offers John. "Just protect all your property always, protect your house, be smart about it, because guys like me, this is how we earn our bread, you know?"

Where do the burglars look for the loot? A prison poll of 300 burglars in the States showed that the master bedroom is their first stop. They look in pockets, under the bed, mattresses and rugs.

Everywhere you may think your stuff is safe.

THE CONFESSIONS OF A HIGH-CLASS BURGLAR:


-Birdymckee

WILLIAM MASON doesn’t look much like a high-society burglar any more. The debonair looks with which he used to charm the rich and famous before relieving them of their jewelery have given way to the rugged wrinkles of a likable old rogue.
But think back 20 years, when he gave up thieving for good, and dress him in black tie and tuxedo and he could pass for the master jewel thief Raffles, played by David Niven, or for John Robie, the high-class cat burglar played by Cary Grant in Hitchcock’s To Catch a Thief

It is hard not to have a sneaking admiration for Mason, 63, who over a career lasting 35 years, lifted jewels at the rate of $1 million a year, tax free. He was not quite Robin Hood, because the poor did not get a look-in, but he made a point of limiting his elegant trade to stealing from celebrities and the super-rich. As he put it, “I never hit anyone that needed it. They always had insurance.” 

His list of clients included some of the smartest and best-known names in America, starting with Armand Hammer, the oil and gas mogul who sank his fortune in Impressionist paintings and diamonds for his wife. Then there was Truman Capote, the bejeweled author of In Cold Blood. And Margaux Hemingway, the grand old man’s grand-daughter. And Johnny Weissmuller, the muscle-bound Tarzan actor. Mason paid a call, too, on Bob Hope, though the old skinflint had the last laugh as he was as mean as his reputation and there was nothing worth pinching. 

Even those he didn’t succeed in stealing from were famous. He routinely cased Elizabeth Taylor’s holiday home in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, and still regrets that her visits never coincided with his. 

“But I blame it all on Phyllis Diller,” said Mason, who stole all her jewels, then stole them all over again years later. “After I took Phyllis Diller for a lot of money I really got hooked.” 

Which is another reason to admire Bill Mason. He not only took a pride in not physically harming his victims; he didn’t really do it for the loot. “It was a lucrative hobby and I got addicted to the thrill of it,” he said. “With the first couple, the Hammers, I did it for the money. Then I did it for the high-wire act, achieving something that others couldn’t do. I always wanted to increase the pressure, increase the odds, increase the challenge.” 

Thieving became an addiction as powerful as the buzz of crack cocaine. “You get high. You start with the planning and it builds to a crescendo with the job at the pinnacle. And it didn’t matter if I left with a million dollars. Later that night the adrenalin had stopped pumping and I was feeling let down because it was all over. I looked at the stuff the next morning and thought, what’s next?” 

Even when a security guard took a pot-shot at him and sent bullets flying through his belly, he was not put off. “You would think that when I got shot I would learn the lesson, and it did slow me down for six months or so. But then I started to read the society pages and before long I was back in the swim.”
The compulsion to steal became almost suicidal. After spending five years in and out of prison, hating every second behind bars, Mason was tempted to try his hand one last time. It was an encore that nearly killed him. 

“You always think, like a gambler, just one more time. But I was left hanging from my fingertips 20 storeys up and watching helpless as the ladder fell all the way down.” Literally looking over the precipice at his own death, he finally determined to end his thieving. “I remodel houses and sell costume jewelery now. You could say I earn an almost honest living.” 

No one doubts that Mason was the best. He made a profession of burglary, working out in gyms to build the upper-body strength needed to scale apartment block walls, learning the science of lock-picking and safe-cracking, becoming a museum-quality expert on gems. 

“They say if you can’t do the time, don’t do the crime,” he said. “But if, like me, you can’t bear to do the time, you plan the crime a little more carefully.” 

He was so good that no one could believe that his jobs could be the work of one man. When the police finally set a trap for him, they were so angry at his audacity that they came after him mob-handed and packing enough heat to take Baghdad. 

Above all, Mason did his homework. “In South Florida, with all the snowbirds coming down from New York for the winter, there was no shortage of prospects. I used to go to society balls to case out the people. I had a false press pass and by the end of the evening everyone was three sheets to the wind. You could ask any question you wanted. 

“If I couldn’t find out a name, I would flash my pass and take a picture of them and say I would send them proofs if they gave me their address. You know how people are, they love to have their picture in the paper. Then I discovered that the society papers were doing my job for me, giving me all the names, the faces and the jewels. When you are running around town flaunting a $200,000 necklace, I think you are asking for it.”
Mason doesn’t try to conceal that he was motivated by class envy. “I was a poor boy brought up in West Virginia. My mother was very straight-laced and taught me morality. My father was moral too. But it didn’t rub off on me too much. When our family moved to a wealthy apartment complex in Cleveland, Ohio, I developed an animosity towards those people. I was the only child and they were always giving me orders.” 

When setting out to steal from the rich he was careful not to think about the misery he would cause them. “I had to stay distanced. I had to keep them in the category of objects, not human beings. And that was mostly easy because so many of them were so ostentatious. I certainly had no morality about wealthy people who flaunted their jewelery.” 

Sometimes he succumbed to sentimentality. “Carol Channing was so sweet and nice that I couldn’t do it to her. And in Palm Beach there was this couple I had my eye on, but they were in the paper talking about their 50th wedding anniversary and they came over all lovey-covey and I thought, drop it, just drop it.”
Now older, wiser and safely beyond the statute of limitations, he has written Nine Lives: Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief, a candid memoir of his exploits and confronted for the first time the consequences of his actions. It was a cathartic exercise. 

“I look back and I know I hurt a lot of people. Writing this book has been tough on me because I came to realize the misery I caused, to my victims and to my family. I became very depressed. I am sure that there are people who read my book who are going to be very adverse to me and I can understand that.
“There were a lot of things I stole which had sentimental value and there was nothing I could do except tear them apart and sell them piecemeal. I would take a Tiffany piece and by the time I had taken it apart it was worth half the value.” 

But it is the harm he did to his family that really distresses him. It led to divorce from his first wife, Barbara, and too often deprived him of the company of his children. “Some of the time I was not there because I was incarcerated, yet they never turned on me. They were always very supportive.”
The role of his wife Barbara is puzzling. Although she protected him when in trouble, she took no part in the robberies, covered up for him when the police came calling and even tended his bullet wounds without question. 

“How soon did she know? That’s questionable. The first score I made a lot of money and all of a sudden I had enough to put a down payment on a house. The second score, when I hit the Mafia, I had enough to put money down on an apartment building. Barbara knew I didn’t inherit the money. She closed her eyes to what I was doing.” 

However, the prospect of the book reviving all the old heartache has caused ill feeling in the family for the first time. While Mason has a pride in his dubious achievements, his loved ones are wary of parading his notoriety. 

“My grandchildren all love me but they don’t know what their grandfather has done. I said when they get older they will be able to read my side of the story rather than a bunch of newspaper articles. They aren’t going to stop loving me for something they hear ten years from now. 

“But Barbara and my daughters are not real happy. At first they thought the book was a great idea. Then all of a sudden Barbara decided she didn’t want to hear about it again.” 

Looking back on his life of crime, Mason knows he got off lightly. He worked for 35 years, made $35 million and spent only five years locked up. 

But, apart from a dread of being incarcerated again, his time inside has left him with few insights into how criminals can be deterred. “Some people don’t mind prison. It was excruciating to me. Thank God I could read. I was able to lose my mind in a story. But I didn’t hang around with anybody. I didn’t want to make any friends in there. 

“I have been in all sorts of prisons and you aren’t going to reform those people. Prison is their life. All their buddies are in there. They play cards, lift weights, work out ways of getting high. It is much like their life on the outside. And it is all part of a game. 

“But can you lock them up for ever? People don’t want to pay the taxes it costs to incarcerate these people and they don’t want them out either. They don’t want to be robbed, hurt or bugged by them.
“I don’t know what the hell the answer is. There is no easy answer, that’s for sure.” 

Nine Lives: Confessions of a Master Jewel Thief by Bill Mason, Bantam £10.99 [UK]
A CAT BURGLAR’S ADVICE
  • Don’t park in your parking bay. Buildings which assign parking places according to your apartment number only tip off thieves as to when you are not in.



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