We can have all sorts of good plans about “what we’ll do when…” but then we don’t recognize when “when” is “now.”  It makes me think when I was 16 and thought I knew everything.  I certainly knew more than my 6th grade education father, who’d worked himself to the bone to provide for us ungrateful kids.  We repaid him by acting up and smarting off and disrespecting him at every turn.  I mis-took schoolbook memorization as knowledge, and according to that measure, I was the smart one.  Mmmm.  Of course I realize as time goes on that I knew nothing back then and not a whole lot more right now.  I’m always surprising myself by what I think I know. Continue reading →

Army Discharges Lt. Dan Choi ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ Critic Who Told One of the most prominent voices against the U.S. military’s “don’t ask, don’t tell” policy, who came out on national TV last year and was arrested in March for handcuffing himself to the White House fence, has now been discharged from the Army because he is gay.   Lt. Dan Choi received a phone call from his New York Army National Guard commander this week, informing him he has been honorably discharged from the military.  Choi, 29, revealed his sexual orientation publicly for the first time last year, prompting the Army to begin proceedings to discharge him.  “Being in the closet is a poison.” Choi said. “‘Of course we expected it. You don’t go into battle like this… without fully knowing what lays ahead.”  I salute Lt. Choi for his courage. Any aspect of yourself that you keep hidden is a poison that slowly eats you alive. He’s helping many accept who they are, and to be prepared for consequences.

Visit www.horizonsmagazine.com

Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and will someday be old. Keep me from the fatal habit of thinking I must say something on every subject and on every occasion. Release me from craving to straighten out everybody’s affairs. Make me thoughtful, but not moody; helpful but not bossy. With my vast store of wisdom, it seems a pity not to use it all, but Thou knowest, Lord, that I want a few friends at the end.

Keep my mind free from the recital of endless details; give me wings to get to the point. Seal my lips on my aches and pains; they are increasing and love of rehearsing them is becoming sweeter as the years go by. I dare not ask for grace enough to enjoy the tales of others’ pains, but help me to endure them with patience.

I dare not ask for improved memory, but for a growing humility and a lessing cocksureness when my memory seems to clash with the memories of others. Teach me the glorious lesson that occasionally I may be mistaken.

Keep me reasonably sweet; I do not want to be a Saint — some of them are so hard to live with — and a sour old person is one of the crowning works of the devil. Give me the ability to see good things in unexpected places and talents in unexpected people: And, give me, O Lord, the grace to tell them so. Amen

Yesterday was one of my busy days.  The August issue of Horizons Magazine was delivered, so I spent the morning getting it in the mail.  Tropical Storm Bonnie was off the coast, so it was a really windy day.  At the loading dock in the downtown Melbourne, FL main post office, carts were rolling and stuff was flying.  Even my hair; my hair band broke about 10:00am and I didn’t have a spare with me.  By the time I left the post office, I just wanted to go home and relax. Continue reading →

Does everyone know you can read entire books online at http://books.google.com?  I like holding a book in my hand to read it since I read so much material online for work.  I can’t imagine ever wanting a Kindle or one of those type things, but it’s nice to know I can find entire books online here if I am looking for something.

Bobby and Andrea 9-9-75

I wrote yesterday in Weeding out to create room for what I want that I noticed my laundry room and pantry area needed decluttering, so I spent the morning cleaning and organizing.  I ran across about 24″ of cookbooks, some of them I’ve never opened, some 30 and 40 years old.  I see I have eleven volumes I don’t need of the Better Homes and Gardens series Great Cooking Made Easy.  There are half a dozen cookbooks I’ll keep, as well as my own collection of recipes, but I’ll give the rest away.  Continue reading →

I just found Soul Lessons and Soul Purpose by Sonia Choquette A Channeled Guide to Why You Are Here, online at the Google books page.  Does everyone know you can read entire books online at http://books.google.com?

My friend Domino just wrote me “I just spent the last three hours in my backyard pruning, weeding and watering plants. I’ve been told that, according to feng shui, my deck area is the love and relationship area of my home. I noticed there was a lot of growth there but it was all just whatever popped up. Some plants were weeds, some were shrubs that no doubt were seeded by birds and squirrels, but none by me. I saw the correlation between my love life and the deck area. So I weeded out everything I didn’t plant or want. I hoping this symbolism will spill over into my life and “weed” out all the what-evers and leave room for what I really want.”  I thought that was a brilliant correlation on her part. Continue reading →

I own several domain names and they come up for renewal at different times. This week I got several renewal notices from Domain Registry of America to renew my domains for just $30 each.  The Domain Registry of America is an Internet domain registrar best known for sending solicitations for business that resemble legitimate invoices.  In 2003, the FTC reached a settlement with the company for practices such as transferring domain registrations to their service under the guise of domain renewal, a practice known as domain slamming, and having hidden fees. Despite this action, the company still sends mass direct mail to consumers resembling invoices with “domain name expiration notice” in bold print. Recipients are targeted for mass mailings with info obtained in violation of their ICANN registrar agreement.

I went online to my account at www.godaddy.com and renewed each one for just $11.62.  You can, too.

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After I posted this, my friend Carmen Barkett wrote: I had an Art gallery for 16 years; built a website for Artsiphartsi and when I went to renew it learned the day after my domain name expired that a Korean person or company bought the name! I could buy it back for $3-5k if I wanted …. …  At which point I told them to enjoy. I refused. I can re-register in one year if I choose, but it is a big scam to get corporate America’s $$’s. I had a dozen other variations of domains, so no love lost. Careful though if you have a domain name. Renew by the day it expires. 24 hours can make a difference.

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Also after I posted this, Facebook friend Jeffrey Smith posted ” My friend got a “Domain Name Expiration Notice” from Domain Registry of America and paid for two years at $50 to continue his domain name. But that’s not what happened. This Domain Renewal Scam is Alive and Kicking is called “domain slamming” and it’s cost him his Web site and his domain name. He must now spend more money to try to get his name back. Use. GoDaddy.com, they’re great.”

At the Domain Renewal Scam is Alive and Kicking link,it reads:

A friend of mine forwarded a suspicious email message recently. I’ve replaced the domain, order number, etc. below:
—————————-
From: Customer Support <support@droa.com>
Subject: Order Confirmation for <domain>, Order ######
To <registered domain holder>,
Thank you for registering/renewing the following domains with the Domain Registry of America, America’s fastest growing Domain Registrar.
We take pride in offering you superior customer service and competitive pricing.
*******************************************************
Order Information
*******************************************************
<domain> renewal/transfering
The order number for <domain> is #####.
*******************************************************
Payment Information
*******************************************************
Your check ##### for $30.00 has been received.
Domain Registry of America
support@droa.com
—————————-

I validated for my friend that the email was bogus. The domain was not held by Domain Registry of America (DROA), and never had been. The domain was not expiring in the next 90 days.
Later he received a follow-up email:
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From: “Transfer Department” <transfers@namejuice.com>
Subject: RE: <domain>; Order #####
Reply-To: <support@namejuice.com>

To <domain holder>,
Thank you for choosing to transfer and renew <domain> with the Domain Registry of America.
Your transfer and renewal of <domain> is not yet complete.
Due to the changes in the .org renewal process, you will need to obtain an EPP key code from your current registrar.

This authorization key removes the need for the user to send in a fax or reply to an email to verify their transfer request. This is because these names are assigned a unique authorization key at the time of their registration. The key is created and held with your current registrar. You should be able to obtain your authorization key by contacting your current registrar.

Please contact your current registrar using the information below and request your EPP Key code.
Domain: <domain>
Current Registrar: <registrar>
Registrar Phone Number: Please visit their site to contact them

When you call provide them with your domain name (<domain>), and ask for your EPP key.
Once obtained, please click the link below to input your EPP key code and confirm your email address.
http://confirm.droa.com/getepp.asp?e=1&o=####&p=####
You must click on the link above in order to continue the transfer and renewal process.

Yours truly
Domain Registry of America
Toll free 1-866-434-0212 or for International Callers, dial +1(905)479-2533

—————————-

The scam attempts to get domain holders to transfer service and pay accordingly. It seems this scam has been around for at least eight years, though it has morphed over time. Apparently the DROA has chosen to test the 2003 judgment by the Federal Trade Commission (http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2003/12/domainreg.shtm).

One thing of interest here is the two-staged approach: The first message requires no action by the recipient, but the second message tells the user to obtain and hand over the keys to the castle.

One Response to “Persistent Domain-Renewal Scam Alive and Kicking”
Huh, I have actually received this as snail mail from the same company. Sure it’s a scam, but it feels like 50% of everything is. I even get mail from a very well known auto insurance company, with PAYMENT NOTICE ENCLOSED printed on the envelope, even though I’m not insured by them. It’s the company with the gecko mascot

If I am who I say I am, then I take responsibility for bringing harmony to all my relationships. Yep, just me. No matter what someone else is doing to me or saying about me.

I was surprised to discover, years ago, that the people I’d had the hardest times with through the years and sometimes even cut off years ago ended up being my closest real friends now.  Don’t burn bridges. There’s less to regret later.  If I am who I say I am, I will remember that.