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...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .How do you frame them? Marilyn Monroe X-rays snapped up for $45,000 http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100628/od_ uk_nm/oukoe_uk_monroe Three X-rays of Hollywood actress Marilyn Monroe's chest and pelvis taken during a hospital visit have sold for more than 10 times their pre-sale estimates, earning $45,000 (29,862 pounds). Auction house Julien's said in a statement that the sale was part of an auction of Hollywood Legends memorabilia which took place at the Planet Hollywood Resort and Casino in Las Vegas over the weekend with the X-rays expected to go for $800 to $1,200 each. The highlights of the sale had toured Ireland, Japan and China before finally going under the hammer. The Monroe X-rays came from a 1954 visit by the actress to the Cedars of Lebanon Hospital. The actress died in August 1962 at the age of 36. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * ...

NEW Things That Stick in my Craw - Tourists

Have you or someone you know been harassed via text messaging and live in the Washington, D.C. area? If so, CBS' Early Show is looking to interview a victim on camera for tomorrow's show. Please contact me ASAP if you think your story fits.

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Why the mattess? NY vacuum salesmen charged with damaging mattress http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100620/ap_ on_fe_st/us_odd_vacuum_damage Two vacuum salesmen didn't exactly close the deal at a recent home demonstration in central New York. State police charged the Syracuse men with a misdemeanor after a $1,300 Sealy latex foam mattress was damaged. Trooper Andy Davis said the damage occurred during a demonstration Monday at a home in Richfield Springs. Davis wouldn't elaborate on what was done to the mattress. Davis said the men were both at the home when police arrived and were trying to save the situation. They were charged with reckless endangerment of property. The mattress owner is looking for reimbursement. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS TO USE AND PASS ALON...

Southwest Finds Shipment of Heads on a Plane | NBC Dallas-Fort Worth

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .They wand for these at airports, so why didn't they do that here? Bra causes headache for lawyer visiting Miami jail http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100613/ap_ on_fe_st/us_odd_wrong_bra_jail An attorney claims she couldn't visit her client at a South Florida detention center because of the undergarment she was wearing. The attorney said an underwire bra set off a metal detector at the Miami Federal Detention Center earlier this month. Guards at the facility then wouldn't let the woman inside. According to The Miami Herald, the attorney removed the bra in a bathroom and again tried to enter the detention center. This time, guards refused to let her inside because she wasn't wearing a bra. The woman later e-mailed other attorneys about the incident. Officials at the detention center declined to comment to the newspaper, as did the attorney who was involved. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .Talk about snail mail Woman goes to pick up mail, gets trapped 4 hours http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100606/ap_ on_fe_st/us_odd_post_office_lock_in A woman making a stop to pick up her mail from a post office in Michigan ended up trapped inside for four hours because of a door malfunction. WJBK-TV reported the post office in Willis about 28 miles southwest of Detroit was closed Thursday evening when the woman stopped by but the post office box area was open. After she went inside to get her mail, she couldn't get out. Another woman saw her when she was mailing letters and called 911. Postal Service spokeswoman Shannon LaBruyere said something in the mechanical mechanism on the door prevented it from opening. LaBruyere said the woman was understanding about the "unfortunate fluke." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * ...

Woohoo - The Dept of Justice Office for Victims of Crime is featuring me on their site all month! Please share!

I couldn't make this up if I tried. . .This is so sweet Pa. pair born in same hospital on same day to wed http://tinyurl.com/33osxzc An engaged eastern Pennsylvania couple were born on the same day in the same hospital ­ and their mothers even shared a room in the maternity ward. Amy Singley and Steven Smith were born at St. Luke's Hospital in Fountain Hill on April 17, 1986. After the mothers were hospital roommates, the two families continued to interact through their church in Easton. Smith asked Singley on a date to the movies when they were sophomores in high school. Singley says she knew Smith was the right guy for her after their second date. She says people are convinced the 24-year-olds were "destined to be together." They plan to get married June 12. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Visit WHOA on the web at http://www.haltabuse.org * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * NEWS TO...

SECURITY & CYBER CRIME EXPERT TO SPEAK AT BIDDEFORD HIGH SCHOOL Cyber Crime Expert Focuses Addresses Parents On Social Networking Safety June, 2010 – Working to Halt Online Abuse (WHOA) and WHOA-KTD (Kids/Teens Division) are pleased to announce that their president, Jayne A. Hitchcock , noted cyber crime and security expert and author of eight books, will be the featured speaker at Biddeford High School. On Wednesday, June 1st, from 6 pm to 8 pm Hitchcock’s “Sexting, Texting, Chatting...OH MY!” presentation will be given in the BMS Auditorium at Biddeford High School, 20 Maplewood Avenue, Biddeford, Maine, for parents to learn about online safety for their kids. Hitchcock’s focus is on educating and helping those who use the Internet to stay safer online with a special emphasis on the greatest threats to kids and teens today, including harassment, bullies, sexting, texting, predators and social networking sites such as Facebook. “Remember when you were young – you thought you...