Sunday, September 25, 2011

Week 3 - College Students Being Targeted

Are you completely protected from identity theft? Most likely not. Have you or someone you known fallen victim to identity theft? It doesn't take long for your identity to be stolen, but it takes months to recover from and often you can never fully recover from it. People 18-29 years old, especially college students, are most at risk of having their identity stolen. There are many ways to stop this from happening, but there are ways they can steal your identity that you can't always prevent. This is why it's always good to take precautions and check regularly to make sure there is no suspicious activity.

Ways to minimize your chances of having your identity stolen:
1) Do not use debit cards. Alternatives are to use the debit card as a credit card in which you give them your signature rather than you PIN or a better idea is to use credit cards.
2) Never Disclose SSN.
3) Don't provide bank account or credit info unless you made the call.
4) Check your monthly statements. Make sure there is no suspicious activity on your accounts, if there is you should call your bank or the credit card company immediately.
5) Minimize what's in you wallet. Never carry your SSN number with you.
6) Don't write down passwords and especially don't carry them in your wallet.
7) Shred all discarded paper that contains account numbers. People will go through your trash, make sure you SHRED all of your papers, not just throw them out.
8) Don't show personal info on webpages.
9) Monitor your credit. Everyone is entitled to a free annual credit report from Equifax, Transunion, and Experian at www.annualcreditreport.com. Go through your report and look for suspicious activity.
10) Destroy your hard drive, computers, printers, etc., don't sell them. All of these devices store the data and leave footprints that cannot be deleted even when you think you delete the files from your computer. Destroy by the DoD Standard - disintegrate, incinerate, pulverize, shred, or melt.

Sunday, September 18, 2011

Week 2 - Privacy and Social Media

Be cautious when you post things online or when your friends post things pertaining to you, you never know who may be watching. Do you know how protected you are? Google yourself for 10 minutes and see how much information you can find on yourself. You are probably not as protected as you think. When you go out with your friends you drink, have fun, maybe do some illegal activities, and take pictures. Where do those pictures end up? Most likely on FaceBook or some other social networking site. Think about the people who will see these pictures, such as those you have "friended."Do you want all of them to see these? There may be more people seeing the things you and your friends post than you would like there to be. 

Here are 3 important tips on how to stay more protected when online:

1) Check privacy settings. Never settle for the default settings provided by the site. They are usually low protection and make you very vulnerable. Go into the privacy settings and customize them so that you are protecting yourself as much as you want to. Also, some sites update their settings quite regularly so make sure you update your customization regularly.

2) Only "friend" people you actually know. When someone requests to be your "friend" on FaceBook, make sure you know them. If you do not know them, who knows what they are doing with your information? Also, remember your tweets are available for everyone to see so be careful with what you ar tweeting or turn the privacy settings on.

3) Don't be stupid. If you know you should not be posting something on the internet, do not do it. It is that simple. Think about the people who may see these pictures or posts then think about the consequences. Is it worth it? Most likely it is not.

Be safe when using the internet. It is becoming easier and easier for people to find out information on you with just a few clicks, and could easily use it against you. More employers are turning to the internet to research potential employees. Are you posting things that could affect your chances at getting a job?

Be Safe and be smart,
Momma

Saturday, September 17, 2011

9 Home Remedies for Hangovers

by 

Well, you partied from sundown to sunup, and now you're paying the price. You've got the pounding headache, the queasiness, the dizziness, the sensitivity to light and sound, the muscle aches and the irritability that comes from overconsumption of alcoholic beverages. How quickly last night's fun turns into next morning's nightmare when you have a hangover!

Although we don't like to think of it as such, especially when we're having such a good time, alcohol is actually a drug. It's a depressant, and when taken in excess, it fills your body with toxins. Your body reacts as it would to any drug overdose: It tries to metabolize and get rid of the offending substances. 
The best way to prevent a hangover is, of course, drinking in moderation or abstaining from alcohol. But keeping yourself well-hydrated and well-nourished when you're drinking can go a long way toward minimizing the morning-after symptoms.

The best cure for a hangover: time. Of course, people ignore prevention and don't have "time" for the cure. So, here are some remedies to ease the suffering for those who have had one drink too many.
This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider. 

Friday, September 9, 2011

Bruised and Itchy

Question:


Hi mom,
So I woke up this morning with a hickey on my neck, ripped dress and bug bites all over my back. What do I do?
-bruised and itchy


Momma:


Well suga', sounds like you had quite the night ;) First let's talk about the hickey, it is nothing to worry about. Even the worst of hickeys wear of in about a week and can be covered up with some makeup. I recommend starting with a little bit of green concealer on the hickey followed by your regular concealer you use on your face. For the bug bites, if they are real itchy, use some anti-itch lotion on them. As for keeping them hidden, wear clothes that will cover them up. And finally the dress, if it can't be sewn up or the tear can't be hidden, then throw it away and get a new one. Hope this all helps and let me know if you need anymore help.


All my love,
Momma

Week 1 - Every College Students' Savior

Remember that time you failed that quiz because you drank too much the night before and came to class hungover? Or that time you called your ex-boyfriend and begged him to take you back? Or when you texted your mom saying you needed more condoms? Partying is fun, but the next day when you see the texts you sent, notice the phone calls you made, and that pounding in your head with every step you take, don't you wish you had someone to tell you what to do next or a way to get rid of your hangover within just minutes? Well now you do, Mom's Hangover Helper is here for you!

Mom's Hangover Helper is your second mother when things get out of control. This is your source for everything you need to know to recover from anything you did last night, including those things you can't remember. From drunk calls to hangovers to the dead hooker in the bathroom, you ask the question and we supply the answer. Nothing can be to extreme for Mom to handle.

Here's how it works: e-mail Mom at momshangoverhelper@gmail.com with your question. Within 24 hours of sending your e-mail, Mom will reply with an answer to your dilemma. With your permission, Mom will then anonymously post your question, hiding all details that may give away your identity, and her solution for others to see in case they find themselves in the same situation. Before sending Mom an e-mail, search the Mom's Hangover Helper database to see if your question has already been answered. Here's to the good nights you may or may not remember!