Satisfaction - The Rolling Stones

Live at Hyde Park - 1969

World's First Parking Meter

On this day in 1935, the world's first parking meter was installed. Known as Park-O-Meter No. 1, it was installed on the southeast corner of what was then First St. and Robinson Ave. in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. 

Read more on the history.

The Haircut

From the archives:
One day a florist went to a barber for a haircut. After the cut, he asked about his bill, and the barber replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'

The florist was pleased and left the shop.

When the barber went to open his shop the next morning, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen roses waiting for him at his door.

Later, a cop comes in for a haircut, and when he tries to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you, I'm doing community service this week.'

The cop was happy and left the shop.

The next morning when the barber went to open up, there was a 'thank you' card and a dozen donuts waiting for him at his door.

Then a Congressman came in for a haircut, and when he went to pay his bill, the barber again replied, 'I cannot accept money from you. I'm doing community service this week.'

The Congressman was very happy and left the shop.

The next morning, when the barber went to open up, there were a dozen Congressmen lined up waiting for a free haircut.

And that, my friends, illustrates the fundamental difference between the citizens of our country and the politicians who run it.

Drifting Apart

The moon is moving an inch away from Earth every year. 

Five Factor Personality Test

You are Neurotic and Open

Extroversion: You have low extroversion. You are quiet and reserved in most social situations. A low key, laid back lifestyle is important to you. You tend to bond slowly, over time, with one or two people. Conscientiousness: You have low conscientiousness. Impulsive and off the wall, you don't take life too seriously. Unfortunately, you sometimes end up regretting your snap decisions. Overall, you tend to lack focus, and it's difficult for you to get important things done. Agreeableness: You have low agreeableness. Your self interest comes first, and others come later, if at all. In general, you feel that people are not to be trusted. And you're skeptical that anyone else really feels differently. Neuroticism: You have medium neuroticism. You're generally cool and collected, but sometimes you do panic. Little worries or problems can consume you, draining your energy. Your life is pretty smooth, but there's a few emotional bumps you'd like to get rid of. Openness to experience: Your openness to new experiences is high. In life, you tend to be an early adopter of all new things and ideas. You'll try almost anything interesting, and you're constantly pushing your own limits. A great admirer of art and beauty, you can find the positive side of almost anything.

The Five Factor Personality Test

FBI Spam

I was just clearing out the junk mail folder in my Gmail acct. when this one caught my eye...nestled in amongst the other scams and mailings from girls who saw my "social media" profile and are dying to meet me and do all sorts of things to/for me.

At first glance, it seems very official, what with the Washington, DC address:

Federal Bureau of Investigation
Field Intelligence Groups J. Edgar Hoover Building
935 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW Washington, D.C.

Attention: Beneficiary,

We sincerely apologized for sending you this sensitive information via e-mail instead of a certified mail, post-mail, phone or face to face conversation, it's due to the urgency and importance of the security information of our citizens, I am Special Agent Mark Giuliano from the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Field Intelligence Groups (FIGs). We intercepted two consignment boxes at JFK Airport, New York. The boxes were scanned and they contained large sum of money ($4.1 million) and also some backup documents which bears your name as the Beneficiary/Receiver of the money. Investigation was carried out on the diplomat that accompanied the boxes into the United States and he said that he was to deliver the fund to your residence as overdue payment owed to you by the Federal Republic of Nigeria through the security company in United Kingdom.

After cross-checking all legal documents in the boxes, we found out that your consignment was lacking an important document and we can't release the boxes to the diplomat until the document is found, we have no other option than to confiscate your consignment.

According to Internal Revenue Code (IRC) in Title 26 also contain reporting requirement on a Form 8300, Report of Cash Payment Over $10,000 Received in a Trade or Business, money laundering activity may violate 18 USC §1956, 18 USC 1957, 18 USC 1960, and provision of Title 31, and 26 USC 6050I of the United States Code (USC), this section will discuss only those money laundering and currency violation under the jurisdiction of IRS, your consignment lacks proof of ownership certificate from the joint team of IRS and IRC, therefore you need to reply back immediately for direction on how to procure this certificate to enable us relieved the charge of evading the law on you, which is a punishable offense in the United States.

You are required to reply back within 72 hours or you will be prosecuted in a court of law for money laundering, also you are instructed to desist from further contact with any bank(s) or person(s) in Nigeria or the United Kingdom or any part of the world regarding your payment because your consignment has been confiscated by the Federal Bureau of Investigation here in the United States.

Yours In Service,
Special Agent Mark Giuliano
Regional Deputy Director
Field Intelligence Groups (FIGs)

---

Wow, a twist on the old Nigerian scam!  I wonder just how many people have actually fallen for this sort of thing;  I hope none, but I'm sure there have been a few that were gullible and greedy enough to take the bait.

Funny thing, though;  these were the two email addresses given in the mailing:

reply-to: mark_giuliano@aol.com
to: markgiuliano@ic.fbi.gov

Now, why would Agent Mark Giuliano use his own AOL account as the reply-to address?   He had to put the @ic.fbi.gov one in there to make it look legit, I guess, but in the msg. header out in the open on the mail was this:

AGENT MARK GIULIANO

The babyplants.co.uk looks to be a legitimate website, but I'm not sure why the spammer/scammer would spoof that particular site address in the mailing? 

There are so many things I'd love to know about how these scam artists operate and do these mass mailings, but only as a matter of curiosity.  I'm glad I'm at least smart enough to recognize a con when I see one.