Welcome to the Sixth Edition of Playground.
Here is a picture of Barbara's locality. See her descriptions under the heading 'The Message Board'.
Some important information is here for you and I’m sorry there are fewer pictures than usual: I haven’t had time to go looking for them.
Bernie
~ ~
From: Community Safety Co-ordinator, Colchester Borough Council
"As part of reducing crime in Colchester I have had several emails from CBC colleagues and partner agencies relating to a credit card security check scam that is becoming increasingly prevalent over the last few weeks with more victims each day."
It applies to us all, everywhere:CREDIT CARD SECURITY SCAM
This information is worth reading. By understanding how the VISA & MasterCard Telephone Credit Card Scam works, you'll be better prepared to protect yourself.
One of our employees was called on Wednesday from "VISA", and I was called on Thursday from "MasterCard". Note, the callers do not ask for your card number; they already have it. The scam works like this: Person calling says, "This is (name), and I'm calling from the Security and Fraud Department at VISA. My Badge number is 12460. Your card has been flagged for an unusual purchase pattern, and I'm calling to verify. This would be on your VISA card that was issued by (name of bank). Did you purchase an Anti-Telemarketing Device for £249.99 from a Marketing company based in (name of any town or city)?" When you say "No" the caller continues with, "Then we will be issuing a credit to your account.”
They go on, “This is a company we have been watching and the charges range from £150 to £249, just under the £250 purchase pattern that flags most cards. Before your next statement, the credit will be sent to (gives you your address), is that correct?" You say "yes". The caller continues - "I will be starting a Fraud investigation. If you have any questions, you should call the 0800 number listed on the back of your card and ask for Security. You will need to refer to this Control Number.” The caller then gives you a 6 digit number. "Do you need me to read it again?" Here's the IMPORTANT part on how the scam works. The caller then says, "I need to verify you are in possession of your card". He'll ask you to "turn your card over and look for some numbers". There are 7 numbers; the first 4 are part of your card number, the next 3 are the Security Numbers that verify you are the possessor of the card. These are the numbers you sometimes use to make Internet purchases to prove you have the card.
The caller will ask you to read the 3 numbers to him. After you tell the caller the 3 numbers, he'll say, "That is correct, I just needed to verify that the card has not been lost or stolen, and that you still have your card. Do you have any other questions?" After you say No, the caller then thanks you and states, "Don't hesitate to call back; if you do....", and hangs up. You actually say very little, and they never ask for or tell you the Card number. But after we were called on Wednesday, we called back within 20 minutes to ask a question. Are we glad we did! The REAL VISA Security Department told us it was a scam and in the last 15 minutes a new purchase of £249.99 was charged to our card. Long story made short - we made a real fraud report and closed the VISA account. VISA is reissuing us a new number. What the scammers want is the 3-digit PIN number on the back of the card. Don't give it to them.
Instead, tell them you'll call VISA or Master card directly for verification of their conversation. The real VISA told us that they will never ask for anything on the card as they already know the information since they issued the card! If you give the scammers your 3 Digit PIN you think you're receiving a credit. However, by the time you get your statement you'll see charges for purchases you didn't make, and by then it's almost to late and/or more difficult to actually file a fraud report. What makes this more remarkable is that on Thursday, I got a call from a "Jason Richardson of MasterCard" with a word-for-word repeat of the VISA scam. This time I didn't let him finish. I hung up! We filed a police report, as instructed by VISA. The police said they are taking several of these reports daily! They also urged us to tell everybody we know that this scam is happening.
Please pass this on to all your family and friends. By informing each other, we protect each other."
~ ~
LifeLines – February 2006
Ways To Keep Writing When You Haven’t Got Time
1) Writing a daily diary can be a bit much when there aren’t enough hours in the day to keep up with some of the essentials; and even a weekly diary entry gets pushed to the next week and the next . . . But ‘Goodbye January’, written like a letter to that month, is a good way of recording the key events and writing a few sentences about how you felt during the month. The season leaves its mark too, so that ‘Goodbye February’ will be different in character, expressing the subtle differences that time and growth bring to our lives. Each can be written in hindsight as the month drifts into the next. By the end of the year you’ll have twelve diary entries that were well worth recording.
2) Writing in hindsight is often ‘informed’ and prone to being bookish. By contrast it’s good to write pure observations, on the spot, rather like an artist sketches from life. Written observations make you feel like a writer (your pad on your knee in the restaurant or sitting on a bench in town . . .) and the resulting descriptions of people’s clothing and actions become characterisations you never knew you’d create.
3) Have you read a letter in a magazine or newspaper that made you want to answer back? Do it! It doesn’t matter about sending it, just write it. Writing is a tool of thought and you never know what thoughts might develop in the process of writing your mental response to something that’s in print.
4) When you finish reading a book or story, write a few sentences about it, keeping a note of its title, the author, the publisher and ISBN and/or library Dewey number. It’s worth keeping a notebook especially for these little write-ups so that when you want to refer to that book, subject or author again you’ll have it all in one place. You might even, some time, use it as a starting point for a book review.
5) An A6 spiral notebook lies flat and is small enough for any pocket. A stub of a pencil is more healthy than a cigarette lighter. Keep both the notebook and pencil with you at all times and use them. Remember: a single word, a phrase or a list can be expanded to incorporate so much more when your mind is free to roam. And there will be the time and space for it to do so, sooner or later.
Rome wasn’t built in a day.
© Bernie Ross 2006
~ ~
In future, students will be able to add their own articles and stories to the Writing Life Playground, any time. All they need to do is get the private username and password from Bernie. You just paste the words into a box and there are icons to click on for special fonts, italics etc. Easy-peasy. Pictures can be added too. Here is your chance to take part in ‘publishing’ for real.
See below for an excerpt from the WL Message Board.
~ ~
DIGGERS
by Colm Keenan
The two men stopped their work for a cigarette break. The day was hot and humid, but they knew that the more work they got done, the more they would soon be in the shade. A multitude of infant voices could be heard over at the school out in the courtyard. A brood of hungry crow chicks squalled high above the church wall –their parents having returned with some of that highly nutritious regurgitated worm.
‘How many years are we at this now, Paddy?’ asked one of the diggers as he took a big puff out of his cigarette.
‘Let me see…I finished in Murphy’s in…must be twenty-two years, Tom.”
‘That’s a long time! Do you ever feel bad at what we get paid for, Paddy?’
‘Not at all. I just dig and dig and dig. Six feet down, and then I go home.’
‘But do you ever think of the people who are being laid to rest in the holes that we dig, Paddy?’
‘Now, Tom! What sort of a question is that from a good Catholic man such as yourself who has never missed Sunday Mass in nine years in this parish, since you went over to Scotland to visit your brother! Father Leavy would not be impressed with that statement. We are just burying the bodies. The souls have departed to the good place. If we didn’t bury them they’d stink up the area, and we’d get every sort of disease possible. Our job actually saves lives, Tom. If these bodies were not buried, many people would get very sick.’
‘I suppose when you put it that way, Paddy. However, if we are just burying the bodies, why does the Church have a big burial ceremony, if the soul has departed? And why will the family of the deceased probably get a big fancy marble headstone with gold coloured inscription? And also, why will the family and friends of the deceased come here many times throughout the year and kneel on their brittle knees upon the solid marble?’
‘So many questions, Tom! Maybe because we can’t see the deceased until we die: the Grave is the closest we can get to them. I’m not sure, but there’s the man to explain it all. How’s it going, Father? A hot one, isn’t it, Father?’
Father Leavy was just entering the graveyard, about twenty metres from them - the two diggers’ shoulders and heads were all that could be seen from level with the ground. Father Leavy approached the side of the grave and stood tall against the sky. He looked down at the men as he talked:
‘Gentlemen! Yes, Paddy, it is very hot today; but I see you are almost in the shade there. How’s Betty today, Tom?’
‘Oh she’s keeping well, Father. I’ll tell her you were asking after her.’
‘Do indeed! How long are you married now to that wonderful woman, Tom?’
‘Twenty two years now, Father,’ replied Tom respectfully.
‘How time passes. It feels like only yesterday when I was asking you your wedding vows. You were a young gossoon then,’ remarked the priest.
‘Father?’ Asked Paddy - who had been taking a few quiet whiffs of his cigarette while Tom and the priest were talking, ‘Tom was asking me some very clever theological questions just prior to your arrival. I do not understand, but I am sure Father that you could give him some answers.’
The priest turned his attention sharply to Tom.
‘Tom. What would you like to know?’
‘Ah, it’s nothing, Father,’ said Tom.
‘Go ahead and ask. For what good of a priest would I be if I could not help my parishioners?’
‘Well eh….Paddy is exaggerating….I-I-I was just wondering what will we do when this graveyard fills up here. W-w-where would we bury the rest of the people or b-b-bodies if you would prefer?’ stammered a nervous Tom.
‘I am sure that the Church could buy some land from Mr. Maguire down the road there; and after that I would not worry, Tom: we will be long gone by then. A great job is being done here, Gentlemen. Would ye like a sup of whiskey?’
‘We would indeed,’ said Paddy bluntly.
The priest opened up his coat, which had been folded neatly over his left arm. With his right arm he took out a small bottle from the inside coat pocket. It was full except for one or two mouthfuls. He handed it down to Paddy who took a big mouthful and gasped in a gratified tone. Paddy then passed it to Tom who took a few drops of a mouthful, and passed it back up to the priest.
‘Mighty stuff you have there, Father,’ said Paddy.
‘Thank you, Father,’ said Tom politely.
The priest spoke: It’s a terrible shame about Mrs. Boyle, men. A good woman she was; a fine example to the parish. Nine children, and every one of them never got into any big trouble; all grown up now of course.
‘I was talking to Pat Kavanagh at the shop earlier, Father, and he said that she fought the cancer to the end,’ remarked Tom.
Aye indeed; a good woman was Mrs. Boyle,’ said Paddy.
The priest kicked some soil off his polished shoes, stretched up his arms, and said: ‘Well Gentlemen. I shall be off. Goodbye, Paddy. Goodbye, Tom – tell Betty I said that I’ll be down for some of that delightful stew she makes some time soon.’
Bye, Father,’ said Paddy.
I will, Father. Goodbye.’
The priest turned and walked to the entrance of the graveyard. He turned around and said: ‘Tom, if you have ever have any questions regarding your Faith, I’m always here. The shepherd must tend to his beloved sheep.’
‘Oh, I will of course, Father. See you soon,’ replied Tom.
The priest was gone. The school kids must have foiled back into the school. All that could be heard were the crow chicks high above squalling for food from their parents, and a lawnmower somewhere off in the distance.
The diggers dropped their cigarette butts on the ground and resumed digging.
‘I’ll get you back for that one, Paddy. That was a sly one!’
Paddy started to laugh which was very rare for such a serious man. Tom was not used to Paddy laughing so heartily – usually Paddy would only expose a snigger. Whatever it was, Tom could not help but join him in it.
The lawnmower in the distance hit a stone and cut out. The temporarily orphaned chicks were silent.
All that could be heard were two old men laughing. They could have been digging their own graves - it would not have mattered. Perhaps they were laughing at the irony of their situation: two grave bodies becoming draped in CLAY.
© Colm Keenan 2006
~ ~
The Message Board
"Welcome to the message board. Please say what you like, when you like. Questions, rants, comments and discussions - say what you jolly well want to say."
Well we jolly well would if we could find the time and if we could jolly well make the thing work. Here is an excerpt from the latest. You have to start at the bottom and work upwards to see how the conversation develops.
From Bernie:
Alex - and everyone - the problems we have with actually using the thing as well as finding timeto do so is evident with the last few posts. And there are many 'failed attempts' that I'm aware of as well. Though it's early days with opening it up to passers-by there's been no rush of enthusiasm.
When I get to speak to Julian (my web host who seems elusive) I might get him to close it down completely and find another way for students to 'meet'. So this is just a little warning . . . You might like to take note of email addresses or highlight and copy bits of text from anywhere. The pages go back a few years, closest being 1,2,3.
Rest assured it won't be closed in anger but in the interests of progress and an easier life for all.
From Alex:
So good, I did it twice!
From Alex:
Bernie, I think opening up the message board is a good idea. It needs some spice. The more the merrier and a whole host of other cliches that translate as - LET'S TRY TO MAKE LIFE INTERESTING.
From Alex:
Bernie, I think opening up the message board is a good idea. It needs some spice. The more the merrier and a whole host of other cliches that translate as - LET'S TRY TO MAKE LIFE INTERESTING.
From Bernie:
Alex, blushing is my natural colour. :-)
Erotic is what a woman of 53 needs.
From Alex: Sorry for being so tardy. I'm busy writing stuff for the course as well as our local writers group. Barbara, the weather in Scotland is freezing. But it's freezing in a way that reminds me why I probably could never live permanently in a warmer climate. Everything is glazed by a thick, white frost. Every tree is jewelled, stark, skeletal. The pavements glisten and every gate is festooned with a matrix of spiders webs. Global warming is going to rob us of so much! Still, Spain is a place I enjoy visiting Barbara and I can well understand the attraction. Not too many evenings up here, even in summer, when you can sit outside with a glass of wine and a good book. I have been with writinglife for about six months. I enjoy writing to a deadline. The course has taught me to be disciplined and to think of myself as a writer. I'm glad I'm doing it! Good to hear your writing Barbara. Good luck with it. Perhaps I will see some of your stuff in the 'new writing'slot before long. What kind of reading do you do? Jean. Read your piece. Is it part of a longer piece? It was fine but perhaps it requires pepping up. Perhaps a little less sentimental. Expand on it. See what happens to Tommy in your imagination. Bernie, next assignment almost ready. It's rather erotic. I hope you don't blush easily.
From Ivy:
Hi Barbara. Thanks for the update on the Spanish weather. The weather here is brilliant today. Sun streaming in through the window of my writing room which faces south east. The overnight frost has melted and there is no wind. We were saying only yesterday how little rain we have had in the last few months. Of course, this part of the country (East Anglia) is the driest part of the U.K. The average rainfall is very low and we are frequently threatened with hose pipe bans. We are trying gradually to change our back garden to one with plants which enjoy near drought conditions. A few miles away is the famous gardens owned and run by Beth Chatto. She planted a Mediterranean garden some years ago. It has never been artificially watered and is thriving.
From Barbara:
The rain in Spain doesn't always fall on the plain, in fact it's pouring down. We shouldn't complain because we need the water. We have an official drought at the moment, but watching the stair-rods come down outside it makes me think I'm back in England. Never mind soon it will be Spring and with the help of this water the hills,fields and mountains will be full of flowers, blossom and wildlife. The cats, Cleo and Jadna they don't like the rain. They sit and watch it through the windows, get bored and decide to create havoc around the house, especially if they get into my writing room. Who ever said animals were dumb knew nothing about their behaviour. So come on you guys out there let me know what the weather is like in your part of the world and what pets you have or have not. It would be nice to use this chat room if somebody would CHAT.
I'm Trevor, scribbler, who may appear from time to time.
