Elderly Amish Man Caught on Film With Prostitute, Blackmailed
When a 75-year-old Amish widower slept with a prostitute, he -- we feel certain -- felt pretty bad about it the next morning. As if that guilt weren't enough for the old man, the prostitute and her boyfriend demanded $67,000 from him, claiming that they had filmed the scene with wall-mounted cameras and would upload the recording to the Internet. The pair was later arrested and, we can only imagine, the Amish man abhorred technology more than ever.
Bank Robber Gets Away With the Help of Craiglist
In October, a bank robber -- wearing a safety vest, blue shirt, face mask and goggles -- eluded police with the help of Craiglist. Just outside the bank, while the robbery was in progress, stood a group of men who were responding to a Craiglist day labor opportunity. As the advertisement required, they were all wearing safety vests, blue shirts, face masks and goggles.
Nude New Zealander Arrested After Responding to Fake Sexy Text Message
Late in 2007, a Wellington, New Zealand man received a racy text message from two anonymous "ladies," giving him only an address and a request that he show up naked. Well, he indeed showed up naked... at the home of one appalled, unsuspecting New Zealander. Both the nude Romeo and the sadistic texter were arrested, though neither were prosecuted.
Fake Craiglist Ad Costs Man Most of What He Owns
Last Spring, a post appeared on an Oregon Craigslist board stating that the owner of a specific house was leaving all of his worldly possessions (still in said house) to whoever wanted them. When homeowner Robert Salisbury rushed home -- on a tip from a woman suspicious about the offer of a free horse -- he found his house being ransacked by 30 strangers. We suggest he take that horse and collect some vengeance Clint Eastwood-style.
17-Year-Old Jailed for Stealing Virtual 'Furniture'
When a 17-year-old Dutch boy hacked into several accounts on the Second Life-style site 'Habbo' in 2007, the the law got involved. The boy was discovered to have stolen $5,800 worth of virtual furniture and knick-knacks. Apparently, crime -- whether actual or virtual -- does not pay.
Phishers Going After Your Phones in New 'Vishing' Trend
Over the past year, sneaky spammers have begun to forsake the worn-out territory of e-mail in favor of cell phones' fertile frontier. The result? "Vishing." Get it? Voice mail phishing. It might be more ominous if it didn't sound like a James Bond villain saying, "Wishing."
Burglars Break Into Restaurant, Steal HDTV, Leave Money / Food Behind
Around Halloween of last year, a truckload of thieves drove into -- that's right, into -- a Pennsylvania Mexican restaurant, where they -- apparently uninterested in the cash register -- stole a mid-grade 47-inch HDTV and fled the scene. We've all heard about how this generation is lacking in ambition, but this generation's thieves, too?
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 5)
Shawn Puckett said 6:27AM on 12-28-2007
Sure right how about asking tech support for help and not getting a responce for a few days! The customer is king!How about the Queens there rich!
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TOM MOLES said 6:58AM on 12-28-2007
I agree that this is a problem...big time, especially for business'. And I can't believe that this response is the first to respond giving the length of time the article has been posted. I'm on the way out the door right now and it will surly be discussed this morning at our management meeting and a solution in place by the New Year to fix it, at least at our corporation.
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fordgirl08 said 7:19AM on 12-28-2007
It's called multi-tasking. Why are people IMing at work anyway? Our company doesn't allow that but following up on emails and phone calls in a timely manner is part of my job. You have to learn to be able to do more than one thing at a time.
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Brandon said 7:35AM on 12-28-2007
This is simply not true, unless they are mixing the texting/IMing social habits of high schoolers and pretending businessmen and women are doing it, but that again would make it not true. I'm not saying that they don't ever do it, but give me a break, the ones that text/IM this year were the same ones that spent their time playing minesweeper last year, so there is really no greater loss in productivity, it's already been accounted for!
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mtprinting said 8:10AM on 12-28-2007
Yeah right, try telling my customers that. Gee, I got an order via e-mail, nah I'll answer it in two days. Truth is, the customer is always right. If you dont give them the service they want, they will find someone who will. In todays day and age it is very hard to get a customer and when you do, you do what it takes to hold on to them.
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Deborah said 9:02AM on 12-28-2007
Dear naive Brandon...This is NOT made up.
Even in a closely monitired setting such as health care...people are texting and the like ALL THE TIME. It is rampant. Those of us that are grown ups keep our phones in our lockers and use them on break as allowed by policy, or we can be terminated, on the spot. Whether it is health care or another business, it is stealing time, and wasting time.
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leczornsales said 9:10AM on 12-28-2007
I wonder if it's really that high. Nevertheless, it is a problem and one that many of us, including me, could improve in. Technology is great in so many ways, but it definitely has its share of drawbacks. We should pray for guidance on using technology and not abusing it.
Lec Zorn
http://www.leczorn.com
http://www.myspace.com/leczorn
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Engelun said 9:40AM on 12-28-2007
I don't own a cell phone. Hate the damn things, and who would I call or text message when I am working? My dog sure won't answer the phone. lol
I see people constantly calling and text messaging during work. I think it is a gross misuse and mistrust of company time. I have even seen people calling someone who is just a around the corner in the building. I guess laziness is really coming to a head when a person can't walk 30 feet to talk to someone.
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daytona said 9:42AM on 12-28-2007
Brandon sounds like he has done some homework. Deborah on the other hand blantantly says, "NO" but gives no info. She lost the debate and Brandon comes out on top. Ig you disagree \, show some facts to back you up MISS NAIVE!
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Bama said 10:07AM on 12-28-2007
NOT TO WORRY ... THE ECONOMY WILL NOT ALLOW 25% OF PEOPLE NOW WORKING TO BE WORKING BY 2010.
THANK YOU SO MUCH GEORGE W BUSH
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Esther said 10:11AM on 12-28-2007
It's costing more right this minute
:)
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JM said 10:12AM on 12-28-2007
Brandon and Deborah both have good points, but I'm not sure either of them are addressing the article. It appears that it mentions IM'ing in the context of work and it also includes e-mailing. Some of our programmers and vendors have an IM presence and use it as a way to stay connected for work. Also, I've seen so many cases where I was elbow deep in a project and an email would come in from on high asking for something that is due by COB and everyone has to drop what they're doing and answer the call. Often we even find that the requirements have changed before we even have a chance to reply.
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Artful Dodger said 10:22AM on 12-28-2007
Hey don't forget women's cell phone conversations interrupted by suv driving ! ! ! !
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carly justin worth said 10:22AM on 12-28-2007
hey engelun; finally! someone I agree & relate. I DO own a cell phone, however, I only use it for emergencies. My husband & sister only ones that have my #! I have MS so when driving, out & about alone etc. I may need to call or if trouble with car or my husband calls me if in traffic, (SEATTLE)! Anyway, I agree. Such misuse. & no wonder so many of us overwieght now more than past years. gadgets ...laziness. And there's no talking one to one anymore. or a PEN to paper! Technology /so many 'THINGS' so fast too! I like to talk on a 'landline' to my mother and receive & WRITE a letter. & NO I'm not that old! Just 53. Any one else long for the 'good old days'?
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Dave C said 10:33AM on 12-28-2007
Multi-tasking can also produce greater problems. Within my workplace (9-1-1 Center) not only are workers allowed to IM, text message, use personal computer, and other non-work related items, but they are also permitted to watch personal DVD players and play hand held video games. This has been of some concern for a while with supervisors but there continues to be a lack of leadership by management to take a stand and set some simple rules and expectations. Just imagine your 9-1-1 call is not answered in a timely manner because they are watching "American Pie", or busy moving their thumbs having to immediately answer that IM, that is probably encouraging them to call in sick for a party on Friday night.
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cece said 10:42AM on 12-28-2007
I guess it simply depends on your job if this would be a problem or not. At mine, we are REQUIRED to be on AIM actually during the time we are present in the office. We constantly have to monitor our e-mail and phones in case a random conference call pops up or because a client may have an emergency situation (of course making it time-sensitive). This figure just seems incredibly high and I would like to see the true breakdown used. Maybe it's just a sign of the modern, information technology times.
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cb said 10:45AM on 12-28-2007
This is off the main topic here...but I just have to vent a little. I hate to say it, being a female myself, but I agree with Artful Dodger about the women driving SUVs and talking on cell phones. Not to say there aren't plenty of men out there driving and using cell phones, too, but maybe I just notice it more with women...especially since they often have two or more childen in their giant SUVs with them, all the while blabbing away on their cells, seemingly oblivious to the traffic and what's going on around them! They are a safety hazard to themselves, their children, and every other driver around them. What could possibly be so important that they MUST speak on that cell phone all the time? This applies to all who use their phones excessively. Get a grip, people.
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Richard Phillips said 10:46AM on 12-28-2007
The native American indian is still sending smoke signals and puffing peyote....and they are very, very happy and content. We should do likewise......tune in, turn on, drop out.
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Nic said 10:46AM on 12-28-2007
To get to the real point--Many if not most of us are not hired to put in X number of hours during work, but to produce a product or service. If I have met the requirement (in both of quantity and quality) by the end of the day, who cares whether I was e-mailing, IMing, or chatting on the phone? (Personal calls or chats with co-workers are as much a time-waster as e-mailing).
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Rick Thorpe said 10:48AM on 12-28-2007
Bama just kills me he had to bring politics into this. This is a management problem. They must lay down rules just like they do about smoking, fratranizing etc. People tend to be short on self discipline and long on immediate gratification. Bama, think positive dude, toss you negative comments or you may end up being a koolaid drinker.
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