Don’t Drink Too Much at the Office Christmas/Holiday Party
November 26, 2007
eWeek so kindly published a list of stupid things you should not do at your company’s Christmas holiday party: “10 Office Holiday Party Landmines to Avoid.” eWeek even put together a cute slide show to help illustrate their top ten list.
I can distill their essay into the following quick guidelines:
- Don’t be stupid
- Don’t say anything stupid
- Don’t dress stupid
- Don’t do anything stupid
- Don’t bring uninvited stupid people
I would add ‘don’t be photographed doing anything stupid.’
Look, common sense should prevail. It’s not a time to get drunk and cut loose in front of your bosses and colleagues. Be smart, be sober, be polite. Let some other clown make a fool of herself/himself.
To get you in the spirit, be sure to check out the song “I drank too much at my office Christmas party” by The Alice Project.
Have fun!
Scam Awareness:
November 21, 2007
Here’s another email scam you might not have heard of — personal threats. They’re designed to scare the recipient to open emails or run malicious software applications.
You might be savvy not to respond to this, but you should teach your parents and young adults to be aware of this fraud.
Check out some of the subject lines these scam artists use to trick victims into opening an email:
- “We have tape of your conversation”
- “Your phone is monitored”
- “You’re being watched”
- “I’m monitoring you”
- “We’re watching you”
The email message might say:
“I am working in a detective agency. My name is not important now. I want to warn you that i’m going to watch you and monitor your telephone line. Do you want to know who paid for shadowing you? Expect my next letter.”
There are many more examples you can read at Symantec.
As always, please share your tips to keep your family safe online.
Thanks.
-BD
DIY Home Theater
November 21, 2007
My home “media room” looks more like a garbage scowl than the bridge of the Enterprise. But this Star Trek-themed home theater in Florida is impressive. Okay, I’ll admit… I want it, I want it, I want it!
[ More photos ]
Article: Germany foils school massacre
November 19, 2007
German police say they have thwarted a plot by two students to carry out a massacre at their school.
One suspect, aged 17, committed suicide after being questioned about the plot and his alleged accomplice, 18, is under arrest, police said.
The school’s head teacher alerted police on Friday after classmates saw the two boys studying a website with images of the Columbine massacre.
Holiday Re-gifting Tradition
November 19, 2007
It’s that time again. Your opportunity to re-gift. You know you want to.
Wikipedia cites the following rules of re-gifting etiquette:
- The primary rule is not to give a gift back to the person who gave it to you.
- Similarly, re-gifting to someone who knows the original giver carries the risk of exposing both your lack of attachment to the gift, and your failure to select and purchase a new gift for the recipient. (Made popular on the ’90s sitcom, Seinfeld.)
- One should remove any cards and other indicators that the gift was originally given to you.
- Finally, using the gift before re-gifting it — so that it is no longer “new” — is generally considered inappropriate.
Etiquette guru Emily Post suggests that re-gifting should be done only rarely, and under specific criteria:
- You are certain the gift is something the recipient would enjoy.
- The gift is brand new (no cast-offs allowed) and comes with its original box and instructions.
- The gift isn’t handmade, or one that the original giver took great care to select.
According to results of the November 2005 Re-gifting and Holiday Credit Card Use Survey posted at Regiftable.com:
- More than half of surveyed consumers do not find re-gifting rude
- Nearly 4 in 10 people have practiced re-gifting
- Women 35-54 years old are more likely to regift than men
- Re-gifting is more practiced among those who are college educated
- One third of re-gifters do so to save money
In general, don’t regift the following:
- Used or opened items
- Expired items, such as last year’s Dilbert desk calendar.
- Champagne/alcohol
- Eclectic items the receiver might not be interested in
If your feeling tacky about the whole idea, give your stuff to a charity or resell on CraigsList, Amazon or eBay.
Related links:
(You’ll enjoy this song) Regifting for the Holidays by The Alice Project
MSN 12 rules for regifting without fear
That’s all folks. Let the re-gifting begin!
-BD
BD-026 - Prevent Scams Against the Elderly
November 15, 2007
Your parents, grandparents, aunts, uncles are all potential targets of scam artists. You’d be shocked how even well educated and fiscally responsible people can get lured into schemes to boost their retirement savings. Read more
Article:Lottery Scam Led To Grandmother’s Suicide
November 14, 2007
Do you think I’m over-reacting when I post examples of email scams to warn your parents about?
Then read about this tragedy in New Jersey.
I am so angry right now thinking about what this women went through, the humiliation she felt, and how she died. All because some @#*! bastards took advantage of her.
Please share her tragic story with people you know.
