Volume 2, Number 4, January 22, 2002 
                 
                 
                
                
       From The Editor:
As you know we had an AIH Catch Phrase contest last week and it's now time to announce the winners. Yes,
in case you hadn't read my posting to the A-Boards, it was decided that we choose five winners. Again, each
winner will receive 2000 A-Bucks. The question generated fantastic slogan suggestions and also a large
amount of participation. For that I want to thank each and every one of you! So, without further ado, the winners
of the AIH Catch Phrase contest are, in no particular order:
 
1.) 1da - "Enter The Know Zone!"
2.) RunAmuck - "Need To Know? Ask-It-Here!"
3.) SamHill - "What Do You Want To Know Today?"
4.) AngelSong - "AIH. Right On Target. Any Questions?"
5.) Fried Squash - "AIH - A Cure For The Common Question."
          Congratulations!
 
 
                   Question Of The Week:
                   This week's winner of QOTW is ETHMER! Congratulations Ethmer and 200 A-Bucks is being transferred to your
                   account. 200 A-Bucks will also be deposited into trav_ler's account for submitting this week's QOTW.
 The Question:How to backup your Wallet

A friend of mine had this happen just recently. Here's some really good  advice to follow just in case......
Some good advice. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine, copy both sides of each license,
credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to
call and cancel. Keep the photocopy in a safe place.


A corporate attorney sent this out to the employees in his company. I pass it along, for your information.

We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed us in your name, address, SS#, credit, etc. Unfortunately
I (the author of this piece who happens to be an attorney) have firsthand knowledge, because my wallet was
stolen last month and within a week the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a
VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to
change my driving record information online, and more.

But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know. As
everyone always advises, cancel your credit cards immediately, but the key is having the toll free numbers and
your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily. File a police
report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is
a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never ever thought to do this) Call the three national credit reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and SS#. I had never heard of doing that until
advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name.

The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact
you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost 2 weeks after the theft, all the
damage had been done.

There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing
the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away
this weekend (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

The numbers are:
Equifax: 1-800-525-6285
Experian (formerly TRW): 1-888-397-3742
Trans Union: 1-800-680-7289
Social Security Administration (fraud line): 1-800-269-0271

We pass along jokes; we pass along just about everything. Do think about passing this information along. It could
really help someone.
 
           Dilbert's Corner:
The plans for the 2002 Regional Gathering in Pittsburgh are coming together.It's going to be held at the Residence Inn
near the Pittsburgh International Airport. I'm going to talk to the hotel this week to see if we can use their meeting room.
I would like to have as many of the AIH members and their guests as we can get. I hope to have my laptop there with a
high-speed Internet connection going during the RG. Members of AIH who live in that area say that it's very easy to get to
the hotel, but it's not a walk from the airport if you are flying in.
To date, the following members have said that they will be attending:

        Michal and her husband Bill
        Imbizze
        Sue and her daughter
        Solana
        Angelbee and her daughter
        Pilvikki
        PeachEKeen and NiteOps

Of course, god and I will be there along with my wife. Several more people have expressed an interest and hopefully will
make it. A note to Ohio people… It's not that far away.


 

AIH Tips&Tricks: 

Using the Archives feature can be a bit tricky so I'll touch on the steps required to find a question. The Archives link can
be found at the top of your screen under the AIH logo. The first thing you'll see is the Search menu. Type the name of the
user who asked the question, including your own if you're searching for one that you've archived. After you've clicked the
Search button, select the next box which has the phrase 'choose a user' and click the arrow - the name you typed in will be
there. Select that name. Select the dates you wish to search and click Search Archives. A new page will be displayed with
a list of questions within that time frame. 
 
             
            The Target: 
            This weeks targets are dmeah and Sue
Dmeah is a self-proclaimed CT Yankee but living her virtual life in the snowy
            slopes of Grey's North Country. Sue, also from  Grey's North, runs the local virtual animal shelter and shares her cosy
            cottage with Dilly, Slick, Willy, Waya, Winston Sheldon Oggie Doggie, Tika, Chinook and Bulldog.
 
Dmeah  

Well Let's see, I am Deb. I live in CT. I go to College in New York. I am a senior with an english major and a psych minor and a teaching certification in elementary and special education. I do a lot of other volunteer work but I am sure I will go more into it as I finish these questions.I guess I would call myself an introverted extrovert. I am outgoing but I also enjoy being the quiet one. Others may or may not agree with this especially my best friend who I have known since second grade. Yeah that is a long time.

Since I enjoy writing I would probably write my autobiography. Why not do something I enjoy. Let's see a title: hmmm....My journey and I am still fighting.

My favorite movie is Finding Forrester. My favorite actor right now is Hugh Jackman. My favorite musical is Sound of Music. My favorite book is Special Sibling by Mary McHugh. Right now my favorite muscian has to be Enya but that can change.

If I met someone from AIH, their first impression of me would have to be..no that can't be her I pictured her so differently.

If I want peace and quiet, I usually go down into the basement and go on the computer or you could find me curled up on my bed with a book in my hand.

Do you have a life-long best friend? I do have a life long best friend. Steph and I have known each other since second grade and have seen each other through many different things from catholic elementary school to the death of a grandparent to engagement( hers).

Do you live near an internationally famous landmark or monument? I guess I would have to say PT Barnaum's house is in the next town over from mine. Other then that I am about 2 hours from New York City

What instantly comes to mind when you hear someone say, "Let's go camping!"? First thought..okay I'll see you when you come back or oh no there will be no room service

Can you think of a book that has directly influenced your life? I would have to say Special Siblings by Mary McHugh. I am a sibling of a special needs teenager. Reading the book directed me to a support group for siblings and basically told me I was not alone in my feelings about having a special needs brother.

Cell phones - necessity or annoyance? Both- a necessity for people to get in touch with you, an annoyance because they are there and you pay so much for them.

In what ways has the Internet impacted your life? It has introduced me to more information then I would ever need. A way to communicate with people all over the world and some of the best people to be friends with that anyone can ask for.

My Heroes are my special olympic atheltes. They have been dealt a not nice hand in life and they do not let that stop them. To see them cross the finish line, makes me smile and at times makes those issues that seem so big to us seem so small.

Have you ever taken a trip alone? Actually yes I have a went down to visit a friend in New Jersey for a weekend and only did one day with her.

Do you have a particular pet peeve? People who talk on their cell phones while driving or people who do not signal while driving

What is your favourite sandwich? My favorite sandwich...salami and swiss on wheat bread with mayo.

Do you have a childhood nickname that has followed you through adulthood? Little Debbie, The snackcake brand.

When you look in a mirror, what do you see? I see....me.

If you were asked to volunteer to fight for your country, would you? Yes I would because my father did. But the country wouldn't want me, too many health problems.

 

Sue

My name IS Sue, just plain Sue and not that boy named Sue. I was born a number of years ago before that song was even thought about on December 23. People often tell me I must really be forgotten with my birthday close to Christmas. Thanks to a mother's gestapo tactics, everyone close to me knows very clearly that my birthday and Christmas are 2 different days, and never a combined celebration.

I was a flower child of the 60's - meaning if it was radical and not cool, I tried it and sometimes more than once. Eventually that radicalism disappeared and was taken over by marriage and motherhood. I've raised 5 children and many of their friends - think I did a fair job, especially since I never found the right manual that gave me a real clue on how to do it.

Many years later after what felt like a life sentence, I finally accomplished a higher education and credentials that allow me to call myself a licensed professional therapist. For several years I worked in a hospital-based chemical addictions program, then went to a group practice and then ultimately set up shop by myself. Although semi-retired, I still see several clients a week.

Presently, I am living in a little backwater town in central Virginia (literally as it sits along the Appomatox River) with my husband and our 4 dogs of mixed lineage along with an ever-changing population of animals we foster for local shelters. Allegedly, I'm the alpha dog, but there are days even I wonder if that's so. Locally, I have the title Dog Lady and my home is often referred to as The Doggie Hilton. Someone recently commented that if they could come back reincarnated, they'd like to come back as one of my dogs! The "language of bark" is decidedly the predominate means of communication here. In addition to that, I write a pet column for the two local rags in the area, and help editor an animal welfare agency's newsletter.

With any leftover time I have, I like to read, am writing a book my Dad was never able to finish, and play with my 5 grandchildren whose ranks will multiply by 2 when my youngest son's wife delivers twins this May. Gatherings at my house with the humans and canines is quite an experience, and one that some say they will pass up unless they need a dose of chaos. Now that I have the gift of time, I've learned to meditate and am always opening myself to new spiritual searches. This kind of counters the amount of chaos with my expanded family. I am largely at peace in my world and have the blessings of many close friends that I get to share that with.

In June last year, I got my very own computer after a 9 year dry spell, and my life hasn't been the same since - nor that of those who offered to assist. I am beginning to feel less like an alien with it, but as surely as I utter those words, it will take it upon itself to challenge me all over again. Completely by accident while surfing one day, I found Lockergnome news. I was impressed with it because it spoke a language even I could understand. And from Lockergnome, I read about AIH. Since I had brazenly learned about clicking on links, I decided to try that skill out with their AIH link. And here I am still several months later. A few of my less compassionate friends would say I'm still here because I haven't figured out how you exit a site (little do they know I have learned even a few more tricks).

AIH - an internet community - originally the idea appealed to me as a clinician interested in group process. Promptly that receded upon arrival while I looked around and tried to figure out what I was suppose to be doing. With the patience and help of several veterans here, I got pointed in the right direction and have been going ever since. One of the biggest thrills to me has literally been meeting people from around the world. And many of the people on AIH have become close personal friends. Pretty astounding, as I look back to my first days here without a clue where I was heading. It's a place where I can socialize, learn, challenge and at times even educate. It has certainly enhanced me with a broader view of life, which I wouldn't have otherwise. And it's worked/working wonders with my computing skills, though I am sure I can hear snickers from a few in the background as they read this. But, that's the point, we can laugh, bicker, cry and rant and still we're like a big family - maybe just a tad less dysfunctional than most!

Overall, life is good and each day represents a new challenge to achieve a little more than the day before. I believe in life lived one day at a time because it really is about the only guarantee there is, and if I live it to the best of my ability and tomorrow comes, I get to give it a shot again. It's always nice to include my AIH family as a part of that day.

         
 
    Great Quotes?
    Who uttered this week's Great Quote? Answer at the bottom of this newsletter.
    "Because you are suffering from a common affliction, also known as: PosterialBlotimusMaximusGargantuass.
     Ahemm... :)"
 

Millard Fillmore is having a contest on AIH with the grand prize being 10,000 of his own A-Bucks! To paraphrase
Millard's description of his contest, "Some of you may remember the halloween and christmas avatar fancy dress
competitions. I thought we'd have another one of those, but since my self-esteem is feeling a little fragile I'm making it
an entirely egocentric competition. You can dress up your avatars either as me, or any of my pets. You can enter as many
times as you like. Getting started is easy - just get yourself a stickman avatar (and GreyEyes will put one in this week's
Arrow as well) and then save the image into a graphic application such as paint. Design your Millard (no, you're not getting
any hints) or pet, and mail the result to:  meanderingveteran@hotmail.com
 
My pets are: Gerbil the gerbil, Persephone the tortoise, Petunia the Irish Wolfhound, Samantha the trout, and an anonymous
tree sloth.

The winner will receive the princely sum of $10,000 a-bucks, and the privilege of having their avatar added to the site selection
so that everyone can have their own little Millard and/or pet.

Competition open until January 30th."                               Click Here For Stickman


 
     Ask Uncle Millie:
 
   "Because you mean more to me than the dust bunnies under my bed. Even the big one called Ethelred."


Have you ever been on a real shrimp boat? Do you own a police scanner?
-Sci

Dear Sci,
I spent many happy years as a deckhand on a shrimpboat after my mother ran away with a sword swallower from Pensacola
when I was seven. The smell of shrimp adheres to me still. I have three police scanners. They're vital for helping me piece
together the events I so often miss following my frequent Jack Daniels' binges.


Who drank my milk? Why when I reach for the glass is it always nearly gone when it never reached my lips in the first place?
- Ziggy Stardust

Dear Ziggy,
It sounds to me like you have a milk goblin. These evil little creatures lurk in the skirting board and catch you when you least
expect it. Common varieties include tool goblins (they run away with the tape measure shortly before large DIY projects are due
to commence) and remote control goblins (they particularly enjoy replacing the remote with something similar in appearance
but totally useless, such as a calculator.) Personally, I appear to have an infestation of underpant goblins.


Uncle Millard, is it possible to humiliate a salami? I've started carrying a salami around; I use it to bop people over the head
who disagree with me. It's a good way to indicate boundless polite indignation or moral outrage without resorting to cheese throwing. Anyways, my friend Daisy has a phobia of salamis so I started disguising my salami whenever I went to visit her. I'd
put a 'nose and glasses' mask on it, a fake beard and moustache, a pink tutu, a purple wig--anything to make it look less
sinister and threatening. I never worried about it until the other night when I had a dream that my salami was crying. It told me
that I'd endangered my immortal soul by failing to treat it with the dignity to which it was entitled. Now, presuming the salami
has some degree of sentience, am I morally required not to humiliate it? Or is this particular salami just being oversensitive?
And what about Daisy's feelings? Should she be subjected to a naked salami just because I've made some sort of
metaphysical contact with this one? You can see the ethical quandary I'm dealing with here. Please help.
- JC

Dear JC,
Will you marry me?


What comes to mind when you look @ Gene Simmons' tongue? - jmhutch

Dear jmhutch,
JC's salami.


Do you believe in sex before the first date? - cubie

Dear Cubie,
Of course I believe in it. Now all I need is indisputable proof it exists without costing $50 and a trip to the VD clinic.


Can someone come up with enough generalizations to make a good living as a fortune teller?
- csbbb

Dear csbbb,
If I can come up with enough advice to earn a living as an agony aunt, anything's possible.


Tell me Millard... what exactly IS the perfect size for boobs? I have my own opinion, but I would like yours :)
- SpasticChicken

Dear SpasticChicken,
For me it's not so much about size as location. If they're on a real woman and not a $6.95 inflatable love doll, I consider that
a bonus.


001110101100001111
- aDaisy475

Dear daisyunit475,
Do not fear. The puny humans suspect nothing. The informant has been dealt with in the usual manner.


UNCLE MILLARD IS GIVING AWAY $10,000

Yes, it's true. Check my profile for competition details. The entries so far have warmed an old man's heart and brought a
tear to his jaded eye. I liked them, too.



                              
                                                          See you next week. Sincerely, The Editorial Staff of AIH's The Arrow.
 
 

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                                                                 Copyright © 2002 TheArrow.
                                                 
                      
wvulf uttered this week's Great Quote!