Miss Margaret Picky

Scam Email

2011-08-07T13:55:00.007-04:00

FROM THE DESK OF DR.KABORE ISA
AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING MANAGER,
BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A)
OUAGADOUGOU-BURKINA FASO.

Dear Friend,

I am the manager of auditing and accounting department of BANK OF AFRICA (B.O.A) here in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. In my department we discovered an abandoned sum of US$20.5m dollars (Twenty Million Five Hundred Thousand US dollars) in an account that belongs to one of our foreign customer (MR. RICHARD BURSON from Florida, U.S.A) who died along with his entire family on November 1999 in a plane crash.For more informations about the crash you can visit this site: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/502503.stm

Since we got information about his death, we have been expecting his next of kin to come over and claim his money because we can not release it unless some body applies for it as next of kin or relation to the deceased as indicated in our banking guidlings and laws but unfortunately we learnt that all his supposed next of kin or relation died alongside with him at the plane crash leaving nobody behind for the claim. It is therefore upon this discovery that I now decided to make this business proposal to you,so that the money can be release to you as the next of kin or relation to the deceased for safety and subsequent disbursement since nobody will come for it and we don't want this money to go into the bank treasury as unclaimed dormant fund.

The banking law and guidline here stipulates that if such money remained unclaimed after twlve years the money will be transfered into the bank treasury as unclaimed dormant fund. The request of foreigner as next of kin in this business is occassioned by the fact that the customer was a foreigner and a Burkinabe like me can not stand as next of kin to a foreigner.

I agreed that 40% of this money will be for you as a respect to the provision of a foriegn account ,10% will be set aside for expenses incurred during the business and 50% would be for me.Thereafter, I will visit your country for disbursement according to the percentage indicated Therefore, to enable the immediate transfer of this fund to you arranged,you must apply first to the bank as relation or next of kin to the deceased customer with a text of application that i will send to you,but before i send to you the text of application form,I will like you to send me the following informatios

1.NAME IN FULL:................................
2.ADDRESS:.......................................
3.NATIONALITY:.................................. .
4.AGE:.............................................
5.Sex..............................................
6.OCCUPATION:......................................
7.MARITAL STATUS:..................................
8.PRIAVTE PHONE NO............................................
9.PRIVATE FAX NO:.............................................
10.ATTACH COPY OF YOUR IDENTIFICATION...........................

so i will like you to send to me those informations for easy and effective communication.Upon receipt of your reply, I will send to you by fax or email the text of the application form.I will not fail to bring to your notice that this transaction is hitch-free and that you should not entertain any atom of fear as all required arrangements have been made for the transfer. You should contact me immediately as soon as you receive this letter,if only you are intrested and ready to help. Trusting to hear from you immediately.

DR.KABORE ISA
MANAGER AUDITING AND ACCOUNTING DEPARTMENT
BANK OF AFRICA

What I Bought at Trader Joe's 8/4/11

2011-08-04T17:00:00.002-04:00

A Mexican Fiesta!

Whole wheat hamburger buns - $1.99
White tortilla rounds, 2 pounds - $2.99
Thompson raisins, 1 pound - $2.29
3 Bananas - $0.57
Valencia oranges, 4 pound bag - $3.29

Frozen:

Supersweet cut white corn, 1 pound - $1.29
Melange a trois sliced bell peppers, 2 pounds - $3.38
Organic vegetarian burritos - $2.69
Chicken buriritos - $2.49
Organic black bean and corn enchiladas, 2 - $3.98

TOTAL $24.96

Scam Email

2011-08-03T19:32:00.001-04:00

Dear friend,

I am Mrs Nicole Marois, and i have been suffering from ovarian cancer disease and the doctor says that i have just few days to leave.I am from (Paris) France but based in Africa Burkina Faso since nine years ago as a business woman dealing with gold exportation.

Now that i am about to end the race like this,without any family members and no child.I have $3 Million US DOLLARS in Africa Development Bank(ADB) Burkina Faso which i instructed the bank to give (St Andrews Missionary Home) in Burkina Faso.But my mind's not at rest because i am writing this letter now through the help of my computer beside my sick bed.

I also have $7.5 Million US Dollars at Bank Of Africa Burkina Faso here in Burkina Faso and i instructed the bank to transfer the money to the first foreigner that will apply to the bank after i have gone that they should release the fund to him/her,but you will assure me that you will take 50% of the money and give 50% to the orphanages home in your country for my heart to rest with GOD.

You are to contact the bank through this email address:(telex_depart_boa_bf@pisem.net), if you can do this return back to me immediately before death cross my way so that i will send to you a copy my international passport if possible which you will show to the bank to make the bank know that i instruct you to contact them relating to my balance fund with them.

Yours fairly friend,
Mrs Nicole Marois

What I Bought at the Grocery Store 4/25/11

2011-04-30T16:12:00.001-04:00

2% milk, 1 gallon - $2.99
3 juice oranges - $1.00
1 bunch scallions - $0.50
1 piece Brazilian ginger - $0.15
1 Brazilian mango - $0.99
yellow onions, 4 lbs. - $1.76
organic tahini, 1 lb. - $5.99

TOTAL $13.38

Donald Trump

2011-04-28T19:39:00.000-04:00

You can't spell "Trump" without "rump"!

Squirrel Week at the Washington Post

2011-04-04T18:01:00.000-04:00

It's Squirrel Week at the Washington Post and there are several very interesting articles discussing our favorite urban rodents.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/squirrel-week-where-did-dcs-black-squirrels-come-from-blame-canada/2011/03/30/AFgnPaHC_story.html

If you look under the illustration on the left-hand side labeled "Squirrel Week" you will see a list of all the articles.

Thanks for letting me know about this, Sharon!

This is a great time to be exploring the Washington Post because the New York Times has started charging for online viewing. . .

Say it ain't so, Joe!

2011-04-04T17:46:00.002-04:00

I just stopped in at Whole Foods to pick up a gallon of milk. I don't usually shop there but a friend gave me a gift card as a thank you for babysitting the kitty.

A gallon of non-organic milk was $3.49. At Trader Joe's, it's $3.99! I was shocked.

Trader Joe's, are you paying attention? How can Whole Foods be cheaper for something like a gallon of milk?

Internet Browser Market Share: Firefox vs. Chrome vs. Internet Explorer vs. Safari

2011-02-27T11:48:00.001-05:00

This table comparing internet browser market share is quite interesting:

http://www.w3schools.com/browsers/browsers_stats.asp

Since January 2009, Firefox has had more users than Internet Explorer. Chrome has been gaining market share steadily since its introduction in 2008 and it looks like it is now starting to eat into Firefox's market share as well as Internet Explorer's and that it has even stalled the growth of Safari.

Google has Chrome notebooks out for pilot testing. I predict that Chrome will have the largest market share in a year or so, beating out Firefox. It looks like Chrome will surpass Internet Explorer in March or April at the latest, if it hasn't already done so in February.

Open-source (first Firefox and now Chrome) really seems to be the way of the future.

Five Odd Places with Unusual Things to See in New York City on a Budget

2011-02-24T20:08:00.000-05:00

Uncommon and Free or Cheap New York City Attractions

After waiting in line for the big, expensive tourist attractions like the Empire State Building or discounted Broadway show tickets and being exhausted by the fast-paced and

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loud streets of New York City, it's relaxing to spend a few minutes or a couple of hours taking in one of the more uncommon or little-known and relatively peaceful sights well off the beaten path. Here are five very different places to go in New York City, all of which are either free or very inexpensive.

* The New York Earth Room
* Merchant's House Museum
* Wild Parrots of Brooklyn at Green-Wood Cemetery
* St. Frances Xavier Cabrini Shrine
* Mossman Lock Museum

Read more about these unusual and odd New York City attractions.

Simplicity

2011-02-19T10:12:00.003-05:00

Simplicity, simplicity, simplicity ! I say, let your affairs be as two or three, and not a hundred or a thousand; instead of a million count half a dozen, and keep your accounts on your thumb nail. In the midst of this chopping sea of civilized life, such are the clouds and storms and quicksands and thousand-and-one items to be allowed for, that a man has to live, if he would not founder and go to the bottom and not make his port at all, by dead reckoning, and he must be a great calculator indeed who succeeds. Simplify, simplify. Instead of three meals a day, if it be necessary eat but one; instead of a hundred dishes, five ; and reduce other things in proportion.

--Henry David Thoreau
Walden, 1854

Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award (ABNA)

2011-02-04T19:07:00.006-05:00

It's ABNA time again! Amazon Vine Voices started receiving invitations to review excerpts of contestant's novels yesterday.

The Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award or ABNA allows people thirteen and older from twenty different countries to submit their unpublished or self-published English language novel for consideration for a grand prize of a

publishing contract with Penguin USA and a $15,000 advance on royalties. In 2010, a similar prize for young adult fiction, aimed at twelve to seventeen year old readers, was added to to the contest in addition to the general fiction prize awarded in past years. The prizes, for young adult fiction and general fiction, are awarded in parallel contests following the same procedures.

Good luck to all the contestants and may the Amazon Vine Voices who are selected to participate enjoy reviewing the excerpts and being part of the process.

Read more about the Amazon Breakthrough Novel Award.

Citrus Season

2011-01-09T18:20:00.005-05:00

It is one of my favorite times of the year. The bleak days have started getting just a little longer, we have some of the coldest weather of the season, and the tart sweetness and sunny colors of citrus fills the fruit carts and produce departments.

This season I started out with kumquats and red-fleshed oranges and now the bottom of my refrigerator is full of tangelos, tangerines, clementines, oranges, and red grapefruit. Sometimes I will eat three different pieces of fruit standing over the sink in the kitchen, slicing them into eighths on a cutting board because I am too eager to peel and separate them into sections.

Of all the fruits I have ever tried, only one didn't I like at all: chontaduro or palm fruit. A very few I don't particularly enjoy, such as guava or supermarket strawberries. The rest I enjoy greatly in various degrees, particularly tropical fruits such as mango and pineapple. But my favorite family of fruit is definitely citrus.

Happy New Year 2011!

2010-12-31T15:08:00.002-05:00

This past year didn't go exactly as I might have imagined but it is over and it's time to start the new year out fresh and with an optimistic attitude.

Happy New Year 20011!

Saigon Shack: Vietnamese in the Village

2010-12-17T19:06:00.000-05:00

At Saigon Shack, bahn mi, pho, small dishes such as fried pork dumplings, plus Vietnamese coffee and tea, espresso, and shakes are served in a loft-like space, offering NYU students and Village residents a great place to get an inexpensive meal.

Read more about Saigon Shack.

Have you ever made buttermilk?

2010-12-15T19:10:00.007-05:00

Buttermilk is very easy to make at home. No special equipment is needed. It tastes better than buttermilk from the supermarket and it's great for people who are lactose intolerance.

Many people use buttermilk to make pancakes, biscuits, salad dressings, and smoothies for both health and taste. Buttermilk can substitute in most recipes that call for milk to lend richness and flavor. However,

buttermilk is often two or three times more expensive than regular milk by the gallon.

The good news is that you can make your own with no special equipment and little trouble because microscopic bacteria do all the work for you! Making your own buttermilk is a good way to use milk that is just on the verge of going sour and it's also a great project to do with your children.

Read more about how to make your own buttermilk.

I am sorry to niggle but the language is under attack and someone must defend it.

2010-11-07T20:49:00.002-05:00

That's all.

Simple Mayonnaise Recipe

2010-08-22T15:56:00.010-04:00

If you have never made your own mayonnaise, it is very easy to prepare and much nicer than the stuff that comes in jars. This recipe is from One Hundred & One Salads compiled by May E. Southworth and published by Paul Elder and Company in 1904. The book gives only two recipes for dressing, this one and another for French dressing. I prefer making my mayonnaise by hand using this recipe although I do use a whisk and a bowl rather than a silver fork and a soup plate.

Virgin olive oil has too heavy a flavor but the second pressing is fine or you can use any other oil that does not have too strong a taste, such as canola or sunflower. Adding a little walnut or avocado oil or even some apple cider vinegar gives a nice flavor and a pinch of salt doesn't hurt. You can also substitute garlic or mustard powder for the cayenne.

Mayonnaise

Place in a shallow plate the yolk of one egg, and beat well with a silver fork. Add drop by drop, stirring constantly, about a half-pint of olive-oil. When it is thick and jelly-like cut with a tablespoon of vinegar or lemon-juice and season with a saltspoonful of salt and a pinch of cayenne. Have plate and all materials very cold. Should the egg curdle and obstinately refuse to thicken commence on another plate with a fresh yolk, and after it begins to thicken the curdled mayonnaise may be slowly added.

Religious Freedom and Mosques

2010-08-21T16:58:00.007-04:00

"I believe that Muslims have the same right to practice their religion as anyone else in this country. That includes the right to build a place of worship and a community center on private property in lower Manhattan, in accordance with local laws and ordinances. This is America, and our commitment to religious freedom must be unshakeable."

(From a quote by Barack Hussein Obama II, the 44th and current President of the United States of America.)

Peanuts

2010-08-09T22:02:00.002-04:00

Unshelled peanuts have shells while shelled peanuts do not have shells.

Think about it.

What I Bought at the Grocery Store 6/26/10

2010-06-28T00:06:00.006-04:00

carrots, 1 lb. - $0.66
brown rice, 4 lbs. - $2.58
2 cans coconut milk - $1.33
2 pints sour cream - $1.98
1 small head cabbage, 1.76 lbs. - $0.88
3 peaches, 0.96 lbs. - $0.84
6 plum tomatoes, 1.57 lbs. - $1.38
2 ears corn - $0.66
1 bell pepper, 0.88 lbs - $0.70
TOTAL $11.01

In Which Mr. Vincent Chen Hoi Chuen, GBS, Makes Miss Margaret Picky Rich

2010-06-27T20:16:00.001-04:00

from    Mr. Vincent Cheng
reply-to    choi_chu808@yahoo.co.jp
to
date    Thu, Jun 24, 2010 at 1:22 PM
mailed-by    tours.inra.fr

I am Mr. Vincent Cheng Hoi Chuen, GBS, JP Chairman of the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited.i have a business proposal of Twenty Two million Five Hundred Thousand United State Dollars only for you to transact with me from my bank to your country.

All confirmable documents to back up the claims will be made available to you prior to your acceptance and as soon as I receive your return mail Via my email address:choi_chu808@yahoo.co.jp and I will let you know what is required of you.

Your earliest response to this letter will be appreciated.

Best Regards,
Mr. Vincent Cheng

Cracks Reveal a Harsh World

2010-06-27T18:03:00.003-04:00

Adulteries, Hot Tubs, and Such Like Matters

This is a very tight collection of short stories which, as the title implies, are indeed mostly about adultery to one degree or another but with other recurring topics such as marijuana and alcohol, religion, and different aspects of marriage, in various combinations.

The focus is on the characters, which are mostly middle-class, middle-aged west coasters but with the occasional oddball thrown in, such as Andrew Radford in "The Gates of Sodom". Many of them display bad judgment and are caught off-guard by what would seem to be the expected and quite a few are revealed to be not as they appear.

There is a very subtle sense of humor running through the collection after the reader gets through the first, humorless, almost brutal tale of "The Ardent Admirer" but all of the stories still have a bit of a bite. A lot of mostly painful emotions are exposed in these characters' lives and the reader experiences the same dismay and bewilderment that they do and with little sympathy for them.

One of these stories, "Edna's Mission", more or less reappears as a chapter in the novel "The Nominal Theory of Good Art".

This collection reminds me of "Drift: Stories", another contemporary anthology in which the veneer of west coast suburban banality is scratched away to expose something more interesting, revealing lives that were not invisible but which seemed inscrutable. Both make excellent summer reading for people who appreciate short stories.

Adulteries, Hot Tubs, and Such Like Matters

by William McCauley

*****

Very highly recommended.

Electronic Waste Recycling

2010-05-19T17:29:00.013-04:00

It seems to be getting harder, not easier, to find places to recycle household electronic waste at no charge, at least here in New York City. The Department of Sanitation no longer has e-waste recycling events and events sponsored by others such as the Lower East Side Ecology Center and Tekserve are few and far between. Home Depot accepts CFLs, Whole Foods accepts batteries, and Staples accepts some small electronics and printer cartridges, but what can be done with an old laptop or printer?

After a lot of research, I discovered that Goodwill and Dell have partnered to create a program called Reconnect to accept computers and related items plus other Microsoft brand electronics at hundreds of Goodwill locations around the country. If the items don't work, they are broken down for parts or raw materials and the program supports Goodwill's mission. Donors can even get a tax deduction. This is a great service and everyone involved benefits!

Reconnect

Jefferson during the Revolution

2010-05-16T22:30:00.001-04:00

Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War

Virginia was strategically important during the Revolutionary War as her location was at a crossroads between the northern and southern colonies and waterborne transportation relied heavily on the Chesapeake Bay and the many rivers flowing into the continent from it. Forty percent of the exports from the thirteen colonies consisted of tobacco from Virginia and much of the wealth in the colony was controlled by a relatively small, patrician class of slave-owning landholders, such as Jefferson, who had much at risk in a conflict with the Crown.

Jefferson was no military man yet he served as governor during the critical period when British armies invaded the colony with almost unbridled success and finished his term just before the decisive victory of the American and French forces over the British and loyalist forces at Yorktown in 1781.

We learn that the problems he faced were severe and that his power as governor to summon resources to overcome them was purposefully inadequate. His requests and recommendations often went unheeded by an ineffective legislature. Jefferson was heavily and publicly criticized and even censured for his leadership, especially the failure to stop the British invasion, and he feared greatly for his reputation. His personal life also weighed heavily on him during this time.

Flight from Monticello does not focus on being a biography of Jefferson to the exclusion of describing the other fascinating people and exciting events of the war in Virginia and it definitely does the subject matter justice. The quality of the writing here is every bit as good as the extensive research supporting it. There are copious notes and a useful index. The editing is apparently flawless and the map proved to be very helpful.

I have no complaints about anything other than the slightly sensationalistic title and very highly recommend this book to others as interesting reading for both pleasure and study.

Flight from Monticello: Thomas Jefferson at War

by Michael Kranish

*****

Very highly recommended.

A copy of this book was provided for review by the publisher through Amazon Vine.

Abnormal relationships with things

2010-05-08T19:49:00.001-04:00

Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things

It seems that there are different types of hoarding behavior, that it is not well understood even by professionals, and that treatment is difficult. Anyone who either is a hoarder or who knows one will find insightful information here as well as lots of questions but few definitive answers. However, it is sometimes very comforting simply to know that there are others out there sharing the same experiences and problems and this book certainly fills that need.

Where "Stuff" falls short is as a useful academic resource, having a reference list but no footnotes and neither a detailed table of contents nor an index. Most of the information, though drawn from years of professional experience working with hoarders, is anecdotal.

On the other hand, this is also the book's strong point as entertainment in that it presents a range of different types of hoarders with much more social and psychological depth and detail than is possible on a television show segment. Although the hoarding environments are described in delicious detail, they are not illustrated with photographs, so anyone craving visual hoarding porn should look elsewhere.

All-in-all, this is a very good book for those whose interests lie somewhere between researching and gawking, certainly appropriate for those laypersons who want to increase their understanding of the disorder.

Stuff: Compulsive Hoarding and the Meaning of Things

by Randy O. Frost & Gail Steketee

****

Highly recommended.

A copy of this book was provided for review by the publisher through Amazon Vine.