An operator confirmed that this was correct so please pass it on. Check out Snopes.com. This is true and also applies to cell phones.  PASS ON TO EVERYONE YOU KNOW! The author of this article is unknown.

I received a telephone call last evening from an individual; identifying himself as an AT&T Service Technician (could also be Telus) who was conducting a test on the telephone lines. He stated that to complete the test, I should touch nine (9), zero (0), the pound sign (#) and then hang up. Luckily, I was suspicious and refused.

Upon contacting the telephone company, I was informed that by pushing 90#, you give the requesting individual full access to your telephone line, which enables them to place long distance calls billed to your home phone number.

I was further informed that this scam has been originating from many local prisons/jails. The GTE Security Department requested that I share this information to everyone I know. After checking with Verizon, they also said it was true. Do NOT press 90# for ANYONE!

Through the Eyes of a Rapist

This is important information for females of ALL ages. Please pass it along.

A group of rapists and date rapists in prison were interviewed on what they look for in a potential victim and here are some interesting facts:

1) The first thing men look for in a potential victim is hairstyle. They are most likely to go after a woman with a ponytail, bun, braid or other hairstyle that can easily be grabbed. They are also likely to go after a woman with long hair. Women with short hair are not common targets.

2) The second thing men look for is clothing. They will look for women who's clothing is easy to remove quickly. Many of them carry scissors around specifically to cut clothing.

3) They also look for women on their cell phone, searching through their purse or doing other activities while walking because they are off guard and can be easily overpowered.

4) Men are most likely to attack & rape in the early morning, between 5:00a.m. and 8:30a.m.

5) The number one place women are abducted from/attacked is grocery store parking lots. Number two is office parking lots/garages. Number three is public restrooms.

6) The thing about these men is that they are looking to grab a woman and quickly move her to another location where they don't have to worry about getting caught.

7) Only 2% said they carried weapons because rape carries a 3-5 year sentence but rape with a weapon is 15-20 years.

8) If you put up any kind of a fight at all, they get discouraged because it only takes a minute or two for them to realize that going after you isn't worth it because it will be time-consuming.

9) These men said they would not pick on women who have umbrellas, or other similar objects that can be used from a distance, in their hands.

Keys are not a deterrent because you have to get really close to the attacker to use them as a weapon. So, the idea is to convince these guys you're not worth it.

10) Several defense mechanisms he taught us are: If someone is following behind you on a street or in a garage or with you in an elevator or stairwell, look them in the face and ask them a question, like what time is it, or make general small talk: "I can't believe it is so cold out here", "we're in for a bad winter." Now you've seen their face and could identify them in a line-up; you lose appeal as a target.

11) If someone is coming toward you, hold out your hands in front of you and yell STOP or STAY BACK! Most of the rapists this man talked to said they'd leave a woman alone if she yelled or showed that she would not be afraid to fight back. Again, they are looking for an EASY target.

12) If you carry pepper spray (this instructor was a huge advocate of it and carries it with him wherever he goes,) yell I HAVE PEPPER SPRAY and holding it out will be a deterrent.

13) If someone grabs you, you can't beat them with strength but you can by outsmarting them. If you are grabbed around the waist from behind, pinch the attacker either under the arm (between the elbow and armpit) OR in the upper inner thigh VERY VERY HARD. One woman in a class this guy taught told him she used the underarm pinch on a guy who was trying to date rape her and was so upset she broke through the skin and tore out muscle strands - the guy needed stitches. Try pinching yourself in those places as hard as you can stand it; it hurts.

14) After the initial hit, always GO for the GROIN. If you slap a guy's parts it is extremely painful. You might think that you'll anger the guy and make him want to hurt you more, but the thing these rapists told our instructor is that they want a woman who will not cause a lot of trouble. Start causing trouble and he's out of there.

15) When the guy puts his hands up to you, grab his first two fingers and bend them back as far as possible with as much pressure pushing down on them as possible. The instructor did it to me without using much pressure and I ended up on my knees and both knuckles cracked audibly.

16) Of course the things we always hear still apply. Always be aware of your surroundings, take someone with you if you can and if you see any odd behavior, don't dismiss it, go with your instincts!!! You may feel a little silly at the time, but you'd feel much worse if the guy really was trouble.

PLEASE READ THEN FORWARD THIS TO EVERY WOMAN YOU KNOW, IT'S SIMPLE STUFF BUT IT COULD SAVE HER LIFE!
 

Good Safety Idea

Always place your car keys next to your bed at night.  If you hear a noise outside your home or someone trying to get in your house, press the alarm key for your car.  The alarm will be set off and the horn will continue to sound until you turn it off or the car battery dies.

Next time you come home for the night and you start to put your keys away, think of this: It's a security alarm system that you probably already have and requires no installation. Test it. It will go off from most everywhere inside your house and will keep honking until your battery runs down or until you reset it with the button on the key fob chain. It works if you park in your driveway or garage. If your car alarm goes off when someone is trying to break in your house, odds are the burglar or rapist won't stick around.... after a few seconds all the neighbors will be looking out their windows to see who is out there and sure enough the criminal won't want that. And remember to carry your keys while walking to your car in a parking lot. The alarm can work the same way there..... this is something that should really be shared with everyone.

This tip came from a neighborhood watch coordinator.

Crooks and Gift Cards

Crooks have found a way to rob you of your gift card balance. If you buy gift cards from a display rack that has various store cards, you or your gift recipient may become a victim of theft.  Crooks are now jotting down the card numbers in the store and then waiting a few days to call to see how much of a balance THEY have left on the card. Once they find the card is "activated", they go online and start shopping. You may want to purchase your card from a customer service person, where they do not have the gift cards viewable to the public. You can prevent this theft from happening to a friend or member of your family. Please share this with all your loved ones...

Recognizing a Stroke

A neurologist says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he can totally reverse the effects of a stroke, totally. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed and getting to the patient within 3 hours which is tough.

Thank God for the sense to remember the "3" steps. Read and Learn!

Sometimes symptoms of a stroke are difficult to identify. Unfortunately, the lack of awareness spells disaster. The stroke victim may suffer brain damage when people nearby fail to recognize the symptoms of a stroke.

Now doctors say a bystander can recognize a stroke by asking three simple questions:

1. *Ask the individual to SMILE.

2. *Ask him or her to RAISE BOTH ARMS.

3. *Ask the person to SPEAK A SIMPLE SENTENCE (Coherently) (i.e. . . It is sunny out today) If he or she has trouble with any of these tasks, call 9-1-1 immediately and describe the symptoms to the dispatcher.

After discovering that a group of non-medical volunteers could identify facial weakness, arm weakness and speech problems, researchers urged the general public to learn the three questions. They presented their conclusions at the American Stroke Association's annual meeting last February. Widespread use of this test could result in prompt diagnosis and treatment of the stroke and prevent brain damage.
 

Car Theft Scheme

I received this in an email. I don't know if it's true or not but it could be. Nonetheless, it does off a tip which you may not have given thought.

Here's the Scenario:

You walk across the parking lot, unlock your car and get inside. You lock your doors, start the engine and shift into reverse. You look into the rearview mirror to back out of your parking space and notice a piece of paper stuck to the the middle of the rear window. You shift into PARK, unlock your doors, get out of the car and walk to the rear to remove the paper (or whatever it is) that is obstructing your view. When you reach the back of your car, car-jackers appear out of nowhere, jump into your car and take off! Your engine was running and they practically mow you down as they speed off. Guess what ladies and gents? I'll bet your purse and/or other valuables were still in the car...Your child could also be in the car!

This is a new car-jack scheme that is now being used....very successfully.

What to do: Just drive away and remove the object that's stuck to your window - later.  This is especially important for women - their purses contain all of their identification and you certainly do not want someone getting your home address, because - guess what - they already HAVE your keys!

Credited to: Tony Bartolome, Bureau of Investigations, California Highway Patrol

Safer Cooking Tips

Follow these tips to protect you and your family when in the kitchen. Whether stirring up a quick dinner or creating a masterpiece four-course meal, here's a recipe for safer cooking you need to use daily.

*To Prevent A Cooking Fire in Your Kitchen*

• Keep an eye on your cooking an stay in the kitchen. Unattended cooking is the #1 cause of cooking fires.

• Wear short or close-fitting sleeves. Loose clothing can catch fire.

• Watch children closely. When old enough, teach children to cook safely.

• Clean cooking surfaces to prevent food and grease build-up.

• Keep curtains, towels and pot holders away from hot surfaces and store solvents and flammable cleaner away from heat sources.  Never keep gasoline in the house.

• Turn pan handles inward to prevent food spills

*To Put Out a Cooking Fire in Your Kitchen*

• Call the FIRE DEPARTMENT immediately. In many cases, dialing 911 will give you Emergency Services.

• Slide a pan lid over flames to smother a grease or oil fire, then turn off the heat and leave the lid in place until the pan cools. Never carry the pan outside.

• Extinguish other food fires with baking soda. Never use water or flour on cooking fires.

• Keep the oven door shut and turn off the heat to smother an oven or broiler fire.

• Keep a fire extinguisher in the kitchen. Make sure you have the right type and training to use it properly.

• Keep a working smoke detector in your home and test it monthly.

Keep Your Pets Safe During Winter

• Keep your cat inside. Outdoors, cats can freeze, become lost or be stolen, injured or killed

• During the winter, outdoor cats sometimes sleep under the hoods of cars. When the
  motor is started, the cat can be injured or killed by the fan belt. Before starting the engine, bang loudly on the car hood to give the cat a chance to escape.

• Never let your dog off the leash on snow or ice, especially during a snowstorm--dogs can lose their scent and easily become lost. More dogs are lost during the winter than during any other season, so make sure they always wear I.D. tags.

• Thoroughly wipe off your dog's legs and stomach when he comes in out of the sleet, snow or ice. He can ingest salt, antifreeze or other chemicals while licking his paws and his paw pads may also bleed from snow or encrusted ice.

• Own a short-haired breed? Consider getting him a coat or sweater with a high collar or turtleneck that covers the dog from the base of the tail on top to the belly underneath. While this may seem like a luxury, it is a necessity for many dogs.

• Never leave your dog or cat alone in a car during cold weather. A car can act as a refrigerator in the winter, holding in the cold. The animal can freeze to death. If your dog is sensitive to the cold due to age, illness or breed type, take him outdoors only to relieve himself.

• Puppies do not tolerate the cold as well as adult dogs and may be difficult to housebreak during the winter. If necessary, paper train your puppy inside if he appears to be sensitive to the weather.

• If your dog spends a lot of time engaged in outdoor activities, increase his supply of food, particularly protein, to keep his fur thick and healthy.

• Antifreeze, even in very tiny doses is a lethal poison for dogs and cats. Unfortunately, because of its sweet taste, animals are attracted to it. Be sure to thoroughly clean up any spills from your vehicle. To prevent accidental poisoning; more and more people are using animal friendly products that contain propylene glycol rather than traditional products containing ethylene glycol. Call your veterinarian or the ASPCA Animal Poison Control Center (1-888-4ANI-HELP) if you suspect your animal has been poisoned

• During the winter time dogs and cats need just as much water as during the summertime.  Make sure water bowls are not frozen over and never assume they can get their water needs met by eating snow.

For more information, to make donations or to report animal cruelty visit the ASPCA Web site at www.aspca.org

Tips from the US Forest Service & Leave No Trace for Safe & Low-Impact Campfires

• Camp in areas where wood is abundant. Go without a fire if there is little wood at higher elevations, in heavily used areas or desert settings.

• Don't build your fire under overhanging branches.

• If there is a fire ring, use it. Keep your fire small and burn it only while you are using it. Allow the wood to burn to ash. Put out the fire with water, not dirt. Don't build fires next to rocks, where black scars will remain for years.

• Clean combustible debris from around the fire ring

• If there isn't a fire ring, consider a mound fire (directions at the end). A fire pan will also work; Use a metal oil drain pan or backyard barbecue grill that has sides at least three inches high. Elevate the fire on rocks or on mineral soil so the ground isn't scorched.

• Collect small pieces of wood no larger than the diameter of your wrist. Pick them up over a wide area away from camp. Leave standing wood, dead or alive, intact so it can provide habitat for birds and insects. Fallen trees increase the water-holding capacity of the soil and recycle nutrients back into the environment when they decompose. Avoid using hatchets or saws or breaking branches off standing or downed trees.

• Keep wood and other fuel sources away from the fire.

• Burn all the wood to white ash, soak with water and scatter the remains over a large area away from camp. In river corridors, pack out aches. Replace the soil you used in your mound fire and scatter unused wood.

• Pack out campfire litter, including plastic items, glass and foil-line wrappers that should never be burned in a campfire.

• Provide adequate supervision for children

• Never leave your fire unattended

Building a Mound Fire

1. You'll need a garden trowel or other digging tool and a ground cloth or plastic garbage bag.

2. Collect mineral soil, sand or gravel from an area already disturbed (a hole left by a toppled tree, for example)

3. Lay a ground cloth on your fire site and form the soil into a round, flat-topped mound that is at least 6 inches thick and larger than your intended fire (to allow for spreading of coals). The thickness is important because it insulates the ground from the fire's heat. The ground cloth makes it easier to clean up.

Be On Your Guard - A New Identity Theft Scam Almost On One Knows About

Identity theft scammers, pretending to work for local courts, are calling potential victims with the news that they have failed to report for jury duty and that a warrant has been issued for their arrest. They then ask victims for personal confidential information, including Social Security numbers, birth dates and credit card numbers for verification purposes. This is exactly the information scammers need to commit identity theft.

The jury duty scam is very new and has already been reported in nine states: Arizona, Illinois, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Texas and Washington.

In reality, court workers do not call potential jurors and ask for their social security numbers, credit card numbers and other personal information. Most courts use Postal mail exclusively for jury matters.

"Whereas it's easy to avoid many scams by simply using common knowledge, it makes it much easier to protect yourself if you know about the other scams in advance," said Dr. Audri G. Lanford, co-editor of Internet ScamBusters.