Archive: Business & Technology

Protect yourself From Web Scammers

: By Richard Meagher; Business & Technology; | Oct 20, 2005 |

Like most people who use E-Bay, I often rely on Paypal to handle my transactions when selling and buying items on E-Bay. I have found it safe and very easy to use. Now I know there are some folks who have have complained about PayPal; there is even a website called http://PayPalSucks.com where you read others’ negative experiences and air your grievances. That has not been the case with me so far (knocking on wood).

However, I have been getting a few e-mails from Paypal warning me about fraudulent transactions by members using stolen credit cards when making online purchases. Chances are, you may have also. Here’s an example below.

Smart Financial Moves for New Parents

: By Reprinted with permission of Invstment Representative Celine Richardson of Ithaca's EdwardJones; Business & Technology; | Oct 20, 2005 |

If you are a new parent, you're probably enjoying one of the happiest times of your life. And you'll find it's easy to get absorbed in the day-to-day activities of your child. Yet, with the addition of a child, your family has a whole new set of financial needs - so you'll want to plan and prepare for them.

Getting Untangled

: By Richard Meagher; Business & Technology; | Oct 13, 2005 |

As the weekend approaches and you scan your digital TV channel lineup for football programming schedules, your spouse bursts in with an inspiration and an idea from her favorite HGTV makeover program to redo your home office. Rather than play with matches and risk missing the big game, you reach a compromise and agree to take care of the computer and electronics while she cleans out your office and strip the walls bare like an artist setting up her canvas.

A week later, the walls have been primed, painted and covered with new wall covering. You scan the newly decorated room when your face suddenly turns pale as you notice the cable and the hole in the wall that it once protruded from are gone and covered beneath the freshly painted wood trim. Even worse is that your old furniture has been replaced with wall to wall bookshelves, a small lamp table and upright sitting chairs. Your last remaining hidden domain that you sneaked away to every night has become a public library right in your own home.

Watch Out for Retirement Investment Scams

: By Reprinted with permission of Invstment Representative Celine Richardson of Ithaca's EdwardJones; Business & Technology; | Oct 13, 2005 |

If you're planning to retire soon, you have a lot to anticipate: more time with your family, the chance to travel, the freedom to pursue your hobbies, and so on. Yet, there's one thing you'll want to avoid during your retirement years: investment scams.

Unfortunately, retirees are the number one target for investment con artists. Unscrupulous stock brokers and financial planners do engage in abusive practices, and they seek out the elderly. However, you are far from defenseless against this kind of behavior. You can avoid being "scammed" by following these suggestions:

Dr. Digit: Upgrading Filemaker

: By Dan Veaner; Business & Technology; | Oct 6, 2005 |

Dr. Digit 'Splains It All Dr. Digit 'Splains It All

Last week a reader wrote for advice: "I recently bought an iMac and transferred my document file to it using an external hard drive that connects to a USB port. That worked easily. But when I tried to open a FileMaker Pro file, it would not open, because it depends on OS 9.

The new computer uses OS 10 (Tiger) and the old computer, also a Mac, uses OS 9. The new computer has something called Classic, with could help with this problem. The message given said I need to load OS 9 in the new computer. I have OS 9 on a disk and could do this. But I am afraid it might do something bad. I'm a scardy cat = cautious. What do you think? Thanks."

Becoming an Investment Representative

: By Reprinted with permission of Invstment Representative Celine Richardson of Ithaca's EdwardJones; Business & Technology; | Oct 6, 2005 |

You probably think a lot about how you can achieve your financial objectives. But have you ever thought about helping other people achieve their goals?

If not, perhaps you should. You might find that a career as an investment representative is highly profitable, both to yourself and to the people you would serve.

Work With a Financial Professional?

: By Reprinted with permission of Invstment Representative Celine Richardson of Ithaca's EdwardJones; Business & Technology; | Sep 29, 2005 |

Should You Work With a Financial Professional?

When you make investment decisions, you've got a lot of factors to evaluate: corporate earnings, economic climate, interest rates, oil prices and so on. In fact, navigating the investment world can seem like a daunting task if you're going it alone. So, make it easier on yourself - and get the help you need.

When you work with a financial professional, you can become a better investor. Consider the following highlights of a 2004 survey of investors by the research firm of Mathew Greenwald & Associates Inc.

Should You Work With a Financial Professional?

: By Reprinted with permission of Invstment Representative Celine Richardson of Ithaca's EdwardJones; Business & Technology; | Sep 29, 2005 |

Indian Chimney Farm

: By Dan Veaner; Business & Technology; | Sep 22, 2005 |

Chris Grant and Paco the Curious AlpacaWhile driving along Conlon Road you may be surprised to see alpacas looking back at you. If so you must have passed Indian Chimney Farm, a 65 acre farm that is the home of Chris and Kim Grant, alpaca, horses, goats, several chickens and Clyde the dog. The farm is an agritourism destination, open to the public for special event weekends in October, November and December.

Initially the Grants bought the farm to live on. Chris makes his living as an Internet consultant. His firm, Gorges Web Sites, specializes in Web design, application programming, and Information Technology (IT) support. The farm was Kim's vision. She is an Animal Sciences graduate of Cornell who grew up on a farm in Rochester. For now Chris earns the money that they turn around and put into the farm. "I like to tell people it's very tax advantaged."

Technology Review: Open Office

: By Richard Meagher; Business & Technology; | Sep 22, 2005 |

If you do a lot of word processing, budgeting with spreadsheets or develop presentations at work but do not like paying a premium to buy software like Microsoft Office to handle these tasks at home, there is actually a proverbial free lunch in this case. Most people who work for medium to large sized companies, health and government agencies or academic institutions most likely use Microsoft Office, but would rather risk breaking the law by illegally copying the software for their personal use than pay a $300 to $500 price tag.

So, rather than spending sleepless nights worrying about the Software Piracy Squad knocking down your door like mongrel hordes from a credit card commercial, there is actually a free and legal downloadable software application that can compete with many of the features found in MS Office. It is called OpenOffice it can be downloaded from the OpenOffice.org site - http://www.OpenOffice.org.

Overcome Portfolio "Inertia"

: By Reprinted with permission of Invstment Representative Celine Richardson of Ithaca's EdwardJones; Business & Technology; | Sep 22, 2005 |

Overcome "Inertia" When Managing Your Portfolio

If you remember your high-school science classes, you may recall Newton's first law of motion, which says, in essence, that an object at rest will stay at rest unless a net force acs on it. This principle is also called the law of inertia. But you don't have to be a scientist to be acquainted with this phenomenon - in fact, if you're an investor who hasn't done anything to your investment portfolio for a long time, you may be experiencing inertia first hand - and that could be a problem.

Free Credit Reports Now Available in NY

: By Dan Veaner; Business & Technology; | Sep 15, 2005 |

Last December the Federal Trade Commission began phasing in a new policy that allows consumers to have access to their own credit report for free. New York was in the fourth and final phase of the project, and as of a few days ago this benefit is available to all US. citizens. The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) requires each of the three nationwide consumer reporting companies to provide you with a free copy of your credit report once a year.

With so many credit cards stolen, identity thefts and just plain mistakes, it is a good idea to see your report so you can find problems and make corrections if needed. This can all be done on a centralized, secure web site: https://www.annualcreditreport.com/. From this site you can get reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion.

Rotary Seeks Group Study Exchange Team Members

: Business & Technology; | Sep 15, 2005 |

Group Study Exchange Committee for Rotary District 7170 seeks Team Members for Exchange to Brazil.

Cooperstown, NY, July 17, 2005…Rotary District 7170 is sending a Group Study Exchange team to Rotary District 4500 in northeast Brazil in May/June 2006. Sponsored by The Rotary Foundation, the trip promotes international understanding and goodwill through personal contact.

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