The Happy Jar -- How Little Things Can Mean a LotWritten by David Leonhardt
I just delivered a free speech. I am a great believer in free speech, but an even greater believer in paid speech. However, there are good reasons why someone like me would deliver free speeches. For instance, to support a charity or a cause I believe in. Or if audience is full of people who hire speakers.If you’ve ever spoken at a dinner or ran a workshop at a conference, you’ll wince when I mention dreaded “token of appreciation” presented to speaker. In your head you think, “Oh no, not another T-shirt.” I have my share of T-shirts, golf shirts, letter openers, books that do not interest me, sweets, ball caps, and pens. I don’t need any more. Sigh. I suppose that’s price of free speech. Which brings me to my recent free speech, at end of which I braced myself to face Dreaded Token. I was presented with a lovely gift bag brimming with colorful paper -- perfect camouflage to conceal Dreaded Token until he was ready to pounce. Mercifully, Madam Group President did not make me open bag in front of everyone. As I was preparing to leave, I sneaked a peak inside bag. To my surprise, there was a candy jar with dozens of tiny plastic smiley faces glued to lid. Around lid were foam-rubber multi-colored letters that read “Happy Guy”. Wow! It was hand-made. Madam Group President took time to craft a personal gift. How thoughtful. Dreaded Token, you have met your match. Meet Happy Jar. If you have ever been a parent, valuing more hand-made card your little daughter scribbles for you than any present she could buy, you know how I felt when I met Happy Jar. I can’t wait for my daughter to be old enough to draw so I can feel that way more often.
| | Don’t be a Victim of Online Auction FraudWritten by Stephen Bucaro
Permission is granted for below article to forward, reprint, distribute, use for ezine, newsletter, website, offer as free bonus or part of a product for sale as long as no changes are made and byline, copyright, and resource box below is included. ---------------------------------------------------------- Don’t be a Victim of Online Auction FraudBy Stephen Bucaro The Internet Fraud Complaint Center (IFCC) reported that last year 7.7 million dollars was lost through online auction scams. The actual losses are much greater. Most auction scams are not reported because they involve only small amounts of money. Most auction Web sites are aggressive at fighting fraud. eBay has a fraud investigation unit that has helped them hold down fraud to only .01% of its transactions. If you paid for an item and never received it, or if you received item but it was less than what was described, eBay's Fraud Protection Program will reimburse you up to $200, minus a $25 processing charge. In order to qualify for Fraud Protection coverage, you must submit an Online Fraud Complaint with eBay after 30 days and before 60 days from time auction ended. After making a purchase, buyers can leave feedback about their experience with seller. Before you bid on an item, check seller's feedback profile by clicking on number next to their User ID. There is also a feedback forum and discussion board. Below are a few actions that you should take to protect yourself from Internet auction fraud. - For a high cost item use an escrow service. - Avoid sellers who request payment by electronic transfer. - Never provide your Social Security Number or Drivers License Number. - Verify delivery data and sellers return policy. - Review online feedback on a seller. - If seller is a business, check with Better Business Bureau www.bbb.org. - Prefer sellers who accept credit card payments. When you use a credit card to pay for a purchase, federal law limits your liability for an unauthorized charge to $50. You can also request your credit card issuer to make a charge-back. - Be cautious about buying from a seller in another country. If you buy from a seller in another country, understand difference in laws governing auctions between that country and US.
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