J. Palmer

I received a call this morning from a gentleman who claimed to be an agent of the law firm of Gerald E. Moore and Associates. I believe that the call is most likely that of a debt collector, for some old debt which I have been unable to pay from years past, or have simply forgotten about.
I tried to google the number left on the answering machine, and didn’t find any results. I did, however, run across an interesting story attached to a firm of the same name:

A few weeks ago, I recieved a message from some place claiming to be an ‘Attorney’s Office,’ with the phone number 866-448-8558, on my answering machine. So I called the place up and spoke to a representative who claimed that I was going to be sued for 5000 dollars if I didn’t pay. So I thought to myself… ‘wow, he’s filing a lawsuit against me.’ I asked which court he’s filing a suit against me in, and he told me he didn’t know. Hmm, a little suspicious. I told him I would call him back within 30 minutes, because I wanted to seek legal advice from my friend, who’s an attorney.
I called back this wonderlust of an Attorney’s Office, and I informed the representative that I would be recording my phone call with him, after all, if i make a payment agreement, etc, then I want evidence for my records. After he consented, I started yelling racial slurs at him (which is not illegal), and I told him that I do not do business with members of his race because I find them to be beneath me (which is also not illegal). I then proceeded to read some pages from Mein Kampf and I told him that I love Hitler and I made a few more derogatory comments about his race. Anyways, he started cursing me out, and he threatened to kill me, and since I had it on tape, all I had to do was file a lawsuit. Low and behold, I won!
If you want to beat a collection agency, do something like that. It’s a lot more fun than paying, and hey…it helps relieve stress
Wellington
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.

I just had to share this story, because I found it so entertaining. Story originally posted at: http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/156/RipOff0156371.htm

From lifehacker:
Weblog Hackosis details a smart hack for finding an internet browser in Windows XP in the face of extreme IT lockdown—where Internet Explorer is blocked and Firefox is an out-of-the-question extravagance. The method? Simply use the browser built into the XP default help app. For example, just open up an app like Calculator, hit F1 or go to Help -> Help Topics, then right-click the title bar and select “Jump to URL…” Then it’s simply a matter of entering the URL you want to visit. It may not work in extreme cases of IT lockdown, but it’s worth a try if you’re desperate. While you’re at it, here are a few more methods to survive IT lockdown.

From Valleywag:
The FBI has made a deal with Clear Channel to put “most wanted” bulletins and “hot pursuit” alerts on digital billboards around the country. Predictable: The SiliconView digital billboard on the 101 was just the beginning. The future of outdoor advertising is digital billboards which can display different ads depending on time of day or current traffic conditions, for example. So it makes sense that public security would be just the latest use for these annoying monstrosities. A trial of the technology in Philadelphia led to the capture of three criminals, so the project is being expanded to 150 billboards in 20 cities across the U.S. But the real question is when Google will start brokering the ad space. (Photo by AP/Jim Mone)

What? Is The Cynthiana Democrat for sale? Maybe. At least, the parent company, Landmark Communications, is looking into possibly selling off some of it’s subsidiaries:

Landmark’s CEO, Frank Batten Jr., said in a statement Thursday that the privately held company has retained JPMorgan and Lehman Brothers to help it explore possible sale scenarios.

Landmark’s companies include The Weather Channel, two television stations, a marketing and design firms, a broadband Internet service provider, and a handful of publishing firms; including Landmark Community Newspapers, Inc., which publishes 54 newspapers nationwide (parent company to The Cynthiana Democrat).
While no official word of any interested buyers, or whether Landmark will sell off any portion of it’s interests has been released, the Associated Press has quoted Batten as saying, “At this early stage, we cannot speculate on where this process will lead.” No further comments from Batten have been made. (Landmark, 2008)
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The Cynthiana Democrat has been published since 1868. After numerous sales and acquisitions through the years, The Cynthiana Democrat and Cynthiana Publishing Company were purchased by Landmark Community Newspapers in 1974. (The Cynthiana Democrat, 2008)
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Landmark Communications’ history is rooted in Samuel Slover’s (Batten’s Great-uncle) acquisition of the Newport News-Times Herald, and acquisitions of other newspapers in the Norfolk, VA area which led to the formation of Norfolk Newspapers in 1905. Norfolk was later renamed by Slover’s nephew Frank Batten, Sr. in 1967, shortly after being named successor and chairman of the family business that year. (Hoovers, 2008)
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Online:
Landmark Communications: http://www.landmarkcom.com
Landmark Community Newspapers: http://www.lcni.com
The Cynthiana Democrat: http://www.cynthianademocrat.com
The Weather Channel: http://www.weather.com

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REFERENCES
Hoover’s, Inc. (2008) Landmark Communications, Inc. company history. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from
Jacobs, G. (n.d.) Our History. The Cynthiana Demorcat. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from http://www.lcni5.com/cgi-bin/storyviewnew.cgi?081+section+ServicesAbout

Landmark Communications Explores A Sale (2008) Associated Press. Retrieved January 3, 2008 from

From the Harrison County Board of Education:

Welcome back!  We hope everyone had a restful and happy holiday break.  

We had our first full snow day yesterday and had a one hour delay today.  It’s the time of year when the weather can be unpredictable.  If there is inclement weather and you need to find out if school is closed, delayed, or dismissing early, please tune into your local radio station, WCYN 1400, or watch WLEX 18, WKYT 27, WTVQ 36, or WDKY Fox 56.  These stations will provide you with information regarding school closings/delays. 

The next regular board meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 15th at 7:00 pm at the Community Education Center.

The next pay day for Harrison County Schools’ employees is January 15th.   

Schools will be closed January 21st in observance of M. L. King Day. 

From the Harrison County Community Education Center:

NATIONAL WEAR RED DAY

Friday, February 1, 2008

National Wear Red Day is a day when Americans nationwide will wear red to show their support for women’s heart disease awareness.  One in four American women dies of heart disease, and most fail to make the connection between risk factors-such as high blood pressure and high cholesterol-and their personal risk of developing heart disease. 

We want to encourage all students and staff to wear red on this date and participate in National Wear Red Day.

From ars technica:
A new Microsoft patent could head off computer frustration by using biometric feedback to detect agitation, then ask other Internet users to help the frustrated user with a task. But will people want a biometrically-enhanced Clippy peering at their heart rates?

Read More…

The Cynthiana Democrat published their top-ten stories from 2007. The list, and links follow:
10. Community survey results to help to prepare for future
9. Promised funding is still a dream for MCTC
8. Main Licking tapped as primary water source
7. State pulls plug on new stadium proposal
6. Football Breds have historical success on the field
5. CPD officer numbers on decline
4. Schmidt returns, auditor report released
3. Crime stories captured many headlines in 2007 
2. March trial set for Willis
1. Tragedy strikes when sisters are killed in September wreck