Intown Living
Jury Duty Scam
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Most of us take summonses for jury duty seriously. But enough people skip out on their civic duty that a new and ominous kind of fraud has surfaced.
The caller claims to be a jury DUTY coordinator. If you protest that you never received a summons for jury duty, the scammer asks you for your Social Security number and date of birth so he or she can verify the information and cancel the arrest warrant. Give out any of this information and bingo, your identity was just stolen.
The fraud has been reported so far in 11 states, including Oklahoma, Illinois, Colorado, Arizona, and more. This swindle is particularly insidious because they use intimidation over the phone to try to bully people into giving information by pretending they are with the court system.
The FBI and the Federal Court System have issued nationwide alerts on their web sites warning consumers about the fraud. Check it out here:
http://www.fbi.gov/page2/june06/jury_scams060206.htm
And here:
http://www.snopes.com/crime/fraud/juryduty.asp
Posted in: Intown Living
Add More Self Confidence To Your Inner-Self
Tuesday, February 08, 2011
Do you want to have more self-confidence? Here are five quick and easy steps to attain a higher level of confidence:
1) Learn to accept praise. Honestly, I have consistently flunked this guidline; that’s why it is Number One on this list. Practice accepting compliments and stop apologizing!
2) Learn to laugh at yourself. While we want to exude confidence and accept praise, we also need to have a good sense of humor and be able to laugh at our own mistakes.
3) Associate with positive folks. If you avoid whiners and surround yourself with positive people, you will receive positive reinforcement and learn a thing or two!
4) Give unto others. Nothing brings greater satisfaction than helping others. And by lending your helping hand, you will not only enrich someone else’s life, you’ll feel fantastic!
5) Establish a few good, sounding-boards. Having others you respect available to bounce ideas off of not only helps you achieve greater things, it also reinforces you and your goals!
There you have it. Short and sweet. But it works!
Take care.
- Scott Askew
Posted in: Intown Living
A New Year Cometh
Thursday, December 30, 2010
2010 was a challenging year for almost everyone. Yet, the challenges presented pale in comparison with what my parents went through during their lifetime. Born in 1914 and 1916, my parents lived through World Wars I and II, the Great Depression, the Korean War, Vietnam, and three major ‘recessions’. I, on the otherhand, have only had Vietnam, two significant ‘recessions’ and now this ‘down-turn’. I’ve had it easy. How about you?
Here’s wishing 2011 brings you Good Health, Happiness, and Improved Prosperity!
- Scott Askew
Posted in: Intown Living
A Dog’s Purpose In The Eyes Of A Six Year Old
Thursday, December 16, 2010
An old story reminds us the value of truly living each day:
Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog’s owners, Ron, his wife, Lisa, and their little boy, Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle.
I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn’t do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.
As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience
The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker’s family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on. Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away.
The little boy seemed to accept Belker’s transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker’s death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, “I know why.”
Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I’d never heard a more comforting explanation.
He said, “People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life - like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?” The six-year-old continued, “Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don’t have to stay as long.”
Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.
Remember, if a dog was the teacher, you would learn things like:
- When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
- Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
- Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure ecstasy.
- Take naps.
- Stretch before rising.
- Run, romp, and play daily.
- Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
- Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
- On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.
- On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
- When you’re happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
- Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
- Eat with gusto and enthusiasm. Stop when you have had enough.
- Be loyal. Never pretend to be something you’re not.
- If what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
- When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by and nuzzle them gently.
- Be always grateful for each new day.
During this Holiday Season, experiment with being more dog-like.
- Scott Askew
Posted in: Intown Living
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