M. A. SMITH

A PROFESSIONAL LAW CORPORATION

MASAPLC.COM

 

Michael A. Smith, Attorney at Law

 

319 E. Foothill Blvd., #C    Voice - (626) 357-1177

Arcadia, CA  91006      Facsimile - (626) 357-4588

 

January 2007 No. 19

 

PIN NUMBER REVERSAL

http://www.menshealthnetwork.org/ Rumor has it, if you are the victim of an attempted robbery at the ATM, you can enter your PIN in reverse. You still withdraw money but the police will be alerted to the problem. Unfortunately, this technology, known as SafetyPIN, does NOT exist, yet.  Thanks Phil Y.

 

STAY SAFE

Most door-to-door salespeople are honest. They  are trying to sell their wares or want to introduce us to a cause. Unfortunately, there are the “less than honest” types who pose as salespeople. These are the ones to watch out for. When interviewed, a professional burglar said he would pose as a door-to-door salesman while casing neighborhoods for potential houses to rob. When he spoke to people he would attempt to determine:

1. What kind of lock is on the door.

2. What possessions they have worth stealing.

3. Is there a monitored security system.

4. Indications of when the occupants are away from home.

 

To protect yourself, do not open your door or invite unknown callers in the house. If you have a security system in place, be sure yard signs are prominent. Whenever you leave your house, even for a short time, be sure to set your alarm. The few seconds it takes can make a big difference.

Keeping You Posted, Post Alarm Systems

 

THINKING IN THREES

Three things in life that, once gone, never come back:

1. Time

2. Words

3. Opportunity

Thanks Linda C.

 

GIFT CARD SCAM

Buying gift cards from a display rack with various store cards (grocery/drug stores), could make you a victim of the latest scam. Crooks jot down card numbers in the store; they wait a few days then call to find out what the remaining balance is on the card. Once they know the card has been activated and what the balance is, they go online and begin shopping.

 

Although less convenient, consider buying gift cards from a customer service rep at a specific store, where gift cards are not “open” to the public.  Thanks Judi M.

 

MENTAL ACUITY

Have you ever wondered why you are easily able to solve problems on vacation that boggle the mind when aggressively pursued in the office? It seems the mind has a tendency to do tangential searches for related information. For example, the smell of cigarette smoke brings back your distaste for your parents’ smoking. Then you remember your uncle who died of lung cancer. Next you recall the article about the Phillip Morris company successfully overturning a multibillion dollar jury award through reversal in the Court of Appeals.

 

These facts, once unearthed by your mind, remain in current memory and interfere with processing. The processor in our mind muddles through this array of useless information taking up processing power which could be applied to solving the problem at hand.

 

When it comes to professional problems, useless information bombards the mind as the individual is multi-tasking; speaking with a client,  employee interruptions, working on the computer, reading a report.  The mind is multiprocessing information and diminishing processing power. However, when  on vacation and away from the office, phone calls,  employees and other distractions, the mind can focus and solving problems becomes easier.

 

A recent study of people talking on their cell phones while driving showed their capacity to drive diminishes to that of a drunk driver with a .08 percent blood alcohol reading.

 

The capacity to apply 100 percent of processing power to a problem is also present when one sleeps. The mind is at rest and can easily work out problems without interruptions or delving into useless factual inquiries and the individual wakes with a solution to their problem. However, unlike a digital computer, the mind becomes tired and needs rest. Long periods of intense processing and use diminish its capability to reason (process). 

 

Solving problems can be accomplished by:

1.   Work out the problem in solitude.

2. Short bursts of problem solving are better than one long session.

3. Unearth the facts necessary to solve the problem first.

4. Since the mind works during the time we sleep, attempt to solve the problem prior to retiring.

5. Focus on the facts of the problem. Do not allow the mind to go off on a tangent.

6. Work on the facts during the work day. Work on the solutions either in the evening or morning when you are less likely to be interrupted.

7. Catalogue the problems to be solved in the form of a “to do” list.

8. Do not multitask when solving problems. Use a room where there is sufficient air, light and comfort but no distractions.  Thanks Mike S.

 

SWEET RELIEF

The sugar substitute aspartame (NutraSweet) is in everything from cough syrup to soda. If you are concerned about the rumors of it causing cancer, you can relax. The large-scale NIH-AARP Diet and Health Study fond those who drink beverages with aspartame have no greater risk of brain cancer, lymphoma or leukemia than those who do not.

AARP Magazine, June 2006

     

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