Net Crimes & Misdemeanors

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .They forgot a tinfoil hat! Professor returns from vacation, gets 'foiled' http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100724/ap_ on_fe_st/us_odd_foiled_professor A science professor at Gustavus Adolphus College left for a week's vacation this summer and returned to a shiny office. Very shiny. Professor Scott Bur's students had covered his office in aluminum foil. Computer screen, chairs, the ceiling, the floor ­ all covered in foil. Books and pens were individually wrapped, so was the phone, a ball cap, a bottle and the coffee maker. Bur said it's a sort of tradition among his research group. He goes on vacation and when he comes back there's ... something. That last time it happened, his office was decorated for a fairy princess. Pink fabric and bows covered everything. The pink glow from the office could been across campus. Senior Kristen Jahr said the foil prank required 10, 200-foot rolls of foil. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *...

If you're in/near York, Maine tonight, I'll be speaking about cyberbullying, online safety for kids/teens and adults, Facebook privacy, etc beginning at 7 pm at Upsurf.net at 273 York Street in the Village. FMI 207-363-4181. I've made my famous Spam Dip - come on by!

Ivanhoe Broadcasting is hoping to find a US-based female victim for a segment they would like to film about cyberstalking. They guarantee your anonymity/hiding your face, etc if you would like that. Your case can be active or already resolved. They are flying to the following cities in the next few months and would ideally like to find victims based in those areas, but would be willing to talk with any female victim in the US: Seattle, Washington Portland, Oregon New York City Orlando/Gainesville, Florida Charleston, South Carolina Your story could help another woman going through the same or similar situation, so please if you or someone you know would be willing to do this, contact me at whoa@haltabuse.org or reply to this post. Jayne A. Hitchcock President, WHOA Working to Halt Online Abuse haltabuse.org

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Ruh roh Mass. releases 'great places' list ­ with errors http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100719/ap_ on_fe_st/us_odd_mass_great_places It turns out that some of Massachusetts' greatest places aren't so great after all. To promote tourism, the Legislature last week released a list of the state's top 1,000 attractions. But the Boston Herald reports that some sites don't exist any more, some are closed to the public and some are listed in the wrong towns. The list also actually has 996 places. The list includes the Baker Robinson Whale Oil Refinery in New Bedford, which has been gutted to make way for a hotel; and Worcester's African Cultural Center and Ashland State Park, both of which are closed. St. Stanislaus Kostka Church in Pittsfield was closed by the Springfield Diocese two years ago. Tourism officials acknowledge some mistakes and say they did their best. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Wonder where he went? Tortoise shows up in NH 4 years after disappearing http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100711/ap_ on_fe_st/us_odd_tortoise_returns A New Hampshire couple says a 25-pound pet tortoise has reappeared four years after escaping from its pen. Mike and Christine Wellington say their African spur thigh tortoise named Lucy made off from their greenhouse business in Brentwood. But on Friday, the Wellingtons received a call from a neighbor half a mile up the road that Lucy had reappeared. The Wellingtons say they're certain the tortoise is theirs because of the unusual protruding bumps on its back. Mike Wellington says turtles of Lucy's species dig deep holes in the ground for protection in extreme weather. He says he supposes Lucy did just that to survive New Hampshire's winters the past four years. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * ...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .How do they know the dog likes it? Deep sea dog: Russian teaches dachshund to scuba http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100704/ap_ on_fe_st/eu_russia_deep_sea_dachshund Any dachshund owner knows the feisty breed rarely backs off from a challenge, but one in Russia is taking that reputation to new heights ­ or depths. The dog named Boniface is learning how to scuba dive. Owner Sergei Gorbunov, a professional diver in the Pacific Coast city of Vladivostok had a diving suit complete with helmet made for the dog and is teaching him the tricks of the trade. In a recent demonstration, Boniface barked eagerly as Gorbunov readied the equipment and uncomplainingly endured being hung upside-down as Gorbunov fitted the suit on him. Once underwater, he seemed to have a different outlook, emitting some high-pitched whines. Gobunov says, "Underwater, I don't think he experiences any stress." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *...

I've been helping a victim whose ex has been escalating the harassment online when her restraining order was denied because she moved from Arizona to Massachusetts and the Massachusetts judge just couldn't fathom him doing anything to her because he's in California. So, I've been filing complaints. Yahoo has been great about canceling the accounts he's been opening and one anonymous remailer service also canceled his account. Facebook also deleted a profile he created in her name. The other remailer he's been using has an idiot for an owner. He replied to my complaint with "No, I can not." All I asked was that I hoped he would do something before the situation escalated further. I asked him why he couldn't. His reply: "Tor is about anonymity and freedom. There is nothing I can do, I am sorry. Apart, I think it it the responsibility of everyone to protect themselves. Please don't ask me to support the Anglo-saxon/US-American belief, that ea...