Chicagoland Barnes & Nobles among hacked stores

Major Chicago newspapers, Chicago Tribune and Sun-Times, report the latest hacking scandal, this time at the popular bookstore chain, Barnes & Noble. Read about it here.

Barnes & Noble Inc. said Tuesday that devices used by customers to swipe credit and debit cards have been tampered with in 63 of its stores in nine states, including seven in Chicago and the surrounding area.

Photo by tnimalan at sxc.hu

Card swipers were outfitted to steal the credit and debit card numbers with pin combinations.  Obvious question is, who and how installed those devices?  You cannot trust your own employees these days?  Why do I care so much?  Because, I've purchased books and magazines in of those stores on several occasions!

But more pressing question is: why it took Barnes & Noble 5 weeks to release that information to the public?   They disconnected the swipers on September 14th, but knew about even earlier.  So much for letting loyal customers double check their statements and switch their cards in a timely manner.

Is convenience trumping the awareness and danger of the cashless society?  Not likely.  The crooks are just getting better at their game.  With a wide access to the latest online technology and sophisticated electronics, scamming people became an easy income source.

 Remember the Subway stores hacking scandal?  Fortunately, the black hats were caught.  Ars Technica reports about the investigation:

Two Romanian men have admitted to participating in an international conspiracy that hacked into credit-card payment terminals at more than 150 Subway restaurant franchises and stole data for more than 146,000 accounts. The heist, which spanned the years 2009 to 2011, racked up more than $10 million in losses, federal prosecutors said.

What can you do to protect your online activities and your credit/debit car info?
The big 4 include:

• Use stronger online passwords. Use my tips here.
• Use credit cards instead of debit cards whenever possible.  By law, you are only responsible for $50 or fraudulent purchases. 
• Replace your debit card if you think it was compromised.  I was able to replace my debit card in one of the Chicagoland Chase bank branches the same day the news broke out.  It took literally 5 minutes to print the card and setup new PIN.  On Chase website, look for a branch that "Offers Instant Debit Card Replacement".
• Use Radio-frequency identification (RFID) shield to protect your credit cards with RFID chips and the new RFID passports.  Even the simple credit card shield sleeve will protect you from the electronic pickpocket.  

Black Friday and Cyber Monday are coming up, following by the Kwanzaa-Hanukkah-Christmas shopping spree.  Stay aware you laptop Jedi knights with your plastic swords.  We don't want Luke to overcharge his father.

Mitt Romney and Obama Style YouTube Gangnam spoofs

If you haven't seen the Mitt Romney Style and Obama Style spoofs of the Gangnam Style by Psy, prepare yourself for a treat.  The videos are hilarious!

Lessons from the second 2012 presidential debate

What valuable lessons have we learned from the second presidential debate?

The Town Hall debate style blows.

Watching the debate, I had a urgent feeling of wasted time. Why? Staging together some random people, aka undecided voters, in front of Obama and Romney with their whining gluteus maximus questions was just unbearable to watch.  Perfect example, question from Jeremy Epstein aka Jeremy the College Kid:

Mr. President, Governor Romney, as a 20-year-old college student, all I hear from professors, neighbors and others is that when I graduate, I will have little chance to get employment. What can you say to reassure me, but more importantly my parents, that I will be able to sufficiently support myself after I graduate?

Guy, you are 20 years old, still in college, having fun, possibly binge drinking, although I highly doubt it, and you’re asking the government officials about how to get your first real job?

The real question should be: have either of you ever had munchies after a wild frat party?

But really, how about showing some initiative and getting your face out there to get an internship or work-study job? What is this? A college student version of the lady in 2008 yelling that Obama will pay for her gas and mortgage? Whatever happened to that lady anyway?  That would be a great follow up story for this election.

I’m sure with the national exposure, Jeremy will be employed soon. Perhaps a syndicated reality show called “I Epstein Your Honor” dealing with courtroom hardship of a rookie attorney trying to make it right in the wrong reality.

Did I mention that Town Hall debate style blows?

The other gem question from Michael Jones, just reassured my thesis about houses built before 1978 containing way too much lead paint and affecting nervous system of an average American: 

Mr. President, I voted for you in 2008. What have you done or accomplished to earn my vote in 2012?  I’m not that optimistic as I was in 2012. Most things I need for everyday living are very expensive.

Really Mike? Really? What gave you that idea?

Yes, we realize that the cost of living went up. The price of gasoline pretty much dictates the cost of our existence. Food, common goods, utilities, services, daycare – everything is going up with the salaries being stagnant. We all know that. We also realize that the President of the United States doesn’t directly control the cost of gasoline. The government might influence the cost but the speculators set the final price.  

The bickering between the candidates and the weak moderator.

CNN’s, Candy Crowley, shamelessly lost the control of the debate giving in to the bickering of both Obama and Romney.  No, not because she’s a woman but because we need Barbra Walters to the rescue.  United States is not Turkey and live stage with 65 million Americans watching is a Turkish bazaar.  We’re lucky they didn't start a brawl with all that finger pointing in close proximity.

By the way, Candy Crowley is a woman? Just wait when Arnold Schwarzenegger finds out – enter Conan.  At least she doesn't have to worry about the green card.

Lack of clear points and a strong message.

Yes, President Obama came through more aggressive this time around but neither he, nor Romney, made any clear points about their agenda for the next four years. There was a lot of blame and false numbers going around but no strong substance.

I ask: where’s the beef?  Give me your clear plan.  Herman Cain’s 999 tax plan was questionable but everyone remembers his idea. Though, not so much in Germany.  You would think that a month before the election, both guys would bedazzle the voters with clever ideas about the future of our country.  Financing of Planned Parenthood is not my idea of a plan for a whole country.  We are still waiting meatless here.

One must hope that the 3rd time’s the charm and we’ll finally see some classy statesmen debating the hot issues at hand. People want real answers to real problems.  Meow Mix Meow Mix please deliver! 

St. Kitts and Nevis citizenship for sale marketed by a Dubai based Range Developments

What’s the easiest way for a person from a questionable country to infiltrate the United States or the European Union countries?  Change and the identity and nationality.

St. Kitts & Nevis, the two-island Caribbean state, must be in really bad financial shape since its citizenship is for sale by a Dubai based Range Development group.  According to its website:

Founded by Mohammed Asaria and Munaf Ali, Range Holdings seeks to develop hospitality complexes in areas that enjoy unique tourism dynamics.

The tourism dynamics must be great since for “only” $400,000, one can receive a St. Kitts & Nevis citizenship within 3-4 months!  Yes, they make you jump through some hoops but overall, if you have cash, things will move forward quickly.  Read about the details here.

Photo by Urlik at sxc

Since Range Developments is building the “finest 5 star luxury resort on Banana Bay, part of the Christophe Harbour on the Eastern Caribbean island of St. Kitts”, they have the leverage to invite the investors from the Middle East with added bonus – the citizenship.

So what’s the big deal?  Some wealthy person spends some cash and in return has the open access to over 139 countries.  The deal is: who really screens those people?  Will this become a back door access for some shady businesses or some radicals?   Although the program started in 1984, the actions of this little country are very disturbing.

However, there is more to the story.  On the legitimate St. Kitts & Nevis Citizenship-by-Investment Program website, there is an official disclosure stating:

Be advised that any advertising concerning the Citizenship by Investment Programme of St Kitts and Nevis is strictly prohibited. Developers and Service Providers are restricted to only stating that they are approved under the Citizenship by Investment Programme and by the provision of a link to the website ciu.gov.kn.Failure to comply would result in either immediate revocation of the status of the Approved Project or of the License to operate under the Citizenship by Investment Programme.The Citizenship by Investment Unit advises the public that the only entity authorised to promote, market or advertise the investment programme in any manner whatsoever is the Citizenship by Investment Unit.  No information, promotion, advertisement  or publication in relation to Citizenship by Investment shall be published or disseminated publicly by any media or by any person unless in compliance with the guidelines issued by the Unit or specifically mandated by the government.
Further, there are persons who claim to be capable of submitting applications to the Unit on behalf of persons seeking citizenship of St. Kitts and Nevis via the investment option.  The only persons authorised to submit applications under the investment programme appear on this list of authorised persons.  There are no exceptions.  The requirements and procedures of the programme are available for review here.

Once again, the financial incentives bend the rules and government seems to be fine with that.

Bagel-head Japanese sport a new freaky saline style

Only in Japan!  The new craze with the forehead saline injections is taking off among "self indulged indie elitists".  If you dare, watch the video from the National Geographic.  After injecting the saline, you press the bubble bulging from your forehead with your finger to create a bagel-like shape.

Is this the continuation of the horn implants and extreme piercing?  So what happens when the saline wears off and the loose flap of skin just skirts over person's eyes?  Luckily, when taking Shinkansen, no driving is required.

Perhaps the Einstein Bros Bagels will find this extreme body modification worthy of a bagel commercial.

British Snooki – Lorna Bliss at the UK X Factor 2012

Who says Brits don’t have a sense of humor?  Watch this hilarious video of the Britney Spears impersonator, Lorna Bliss, taking the X Factor UK 2012 by a storm – or a string.  Do we have a British Snooki debuting overseas?  Yes!





That's not all.  She tried the same stunt last year on the same show.  David Hasselhoff was delighted!

Comedian Rob Schneider at Chicago Improv of Schaumburg

Chicago Improv of Schaumburg

Comedian Rob Schneider performed last Friday night at the Chicago Improv of Schaumburg.  Who doesn’t remember him from movies like: Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo, The Animal, or Grown Ups.  He was a cast member at the Saturday Night Live where he became good friends with Adam Sandler.

Schneider was funny – as expected.  He talked about his family, his new wife, his mom and dad.  Good material.  He got a little spooked when the lights went off for about 3 minutes.  Then, he got jumpy when a waiter approached the tables at the first row.

Funny thing, couple months ago at Improv, Tommy Davidson got spooked the same way when a guy from the first table tried to shake his hand.  When you are big-time star, the paranoia sets in.  Kim Kardashian, take a note.  It might save you from becoming a snowman next time some crazy fan throws a bag of flour in your direction.

Chicago Improv of Schaumburg: 5 Woodfield Rd., Schaumburg IL 60173 (inside the Woodfield Mall).