Hacked in PayPal? Here's the answer!

My adult daughter's checking account out in Colorado was wiped out last night.  A hacker, working through PayPal, successfully withdrew over $3000.00 from her checking account.

Needless to say, she is actively pursuing recovery of her money.

I have made use of PayPal often.  It has been very useful and convenient for sending money to friends and relatives, as on birthdays and the like.  My PayPal account has long been linked to my checking account, so that money sent would appear on my bank statements, and monies received could easily be deposited.  Today, after reporting my daughter's disaster to my bank's customer service rep, I have cancelled that link between my checking account and PayPal, as well as two credit card links.

My bank's representative has informed me that the safest link is to my debit card. Debit transactions are limited to a total of $1,000.00 per day, she says, and if fraudulent use occurs, the bank can simply cancel the card, issue me a new one, and the leak will be plugged.  Recovery of the stolen amount, she says, usually takes only one day.

This high-tech world we live in has many wonderful aspects, but is not without its risks.  I wish my blog readers secure banking, and freedom from fraud!

Ring's True

Ring's True
by
Duncan C. McDougall

My wedding ring went on me,

One October day,

And well have I worn it,

At both work and play.

Since Seventy-Three, 

Which now matches my age,

The ring has been on me,

Through many a page.

I lived here in Campton,

At Beebe River I worked,

When Shirl-Girl said "Yes!"

Knowing happiness lurked,

In these White Mountains,

In a little chalet,

That was to be home to

Four children one day!

Shirl gave me this ring,

"With this ring I thee wed,"

At our wedding in Westborough,

Where she had been bred.

Then I wore it in Pittsburgh,

A coal industry guy,

It came along with me,

As I learned how to fly.

In Tulsa it helped me,

To pass the exam,

To become a pilot,

All life-long my dream.

It came home to Campton,

In Seventy-Six,

Where I started my teaching,

And soon found my niche.

As assistant professor,

At old P. S. C.

My ring felt a sense,

Of good things soon to be.

Jamie was born here,

In Laconia town,

Then Jesse followed,

Not tying us down!

We moved down to Westboruogh,

Where our family grew,

And I wore this fine ring,

Teaching now at B. U.

I went for my doctorate,

At H. B. S.,

Which took me six years,

Productive at best!

Piper and Alex 

Were born in that time,

With Shirl and me bonding,

By ring, and by rhyme.

There's more to this story,

This ring round the world,

To Romania, Panama,

 It sees flags unfurled,

In Italy, Greece, 

Bulgaria, too,

Shirley's companionship,

Always comes through.

Cute, smart, and funny,

Dear Shirley, my wife!

I love you, old ring,
Please see me through life.
 

Baha'i Queen of Romania

My friend Titiana Șilimon-Morariu sent me this article.  I found it relevant at this point in this blog.

http://bahaiteachings.org/the-bahai-queen

Baha'i Parallel

From: Duncan C McDougall [mailto:oldrider_nh@yahoo.com]
Sent: Saturday, March 04, 2017 3:30 PM
To: House of Worship Activities
Subject: My poem perhaps parallels Baha'i thinking?

Dear friends at the Baha'i Temple,
I am a 73 year-old retired professor who grew up in Wilmette. In 2008-09 I had the honor of teaching in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, the historical capital of Transylvania. I have returned for a part of each year thereafter, with the exception of 2016.
While visiting over the Christmas season in 2012, my Muse visited me with the poem at the link below:
A Poem for the Holidays (Link below)
I am in no way an expert in Baha'i teachings, but based upon what my mother taught me as a boy, it occurs to me that my poem's theme may parallel the teachings in your beautiful nine-sided dome.
I would love to hear from you about that, whether you agree or disagree.
Sincerely yours,
Duncan (NT '61)
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
To: oldrider_nh@yahoo.com
Messchecking our E-mail and assume that no one else on the staff has responded. I enjoyed reading it and indeed the sentiments expressed the inclusiveness of the Bahá'í Teachings. Your mother indeed taught you well. I think the core Teaching is that Humanity now must recognize that we are citizens of one World as Bahá’u’lláh has said “The Earth is but one country and Mankind its citizens” and he went on to say “Let your vision be world embracing and not concerned with your own selves.” https://www.bahai.us/bahai-temple
With very best wishes
Chris
Christopher Vodden
Director of the Activities Office
Baha’i House of Worship Welcome Center
100 Linden Ave Wilmette, IL 60091

A Poem for the Holidays

So Nice of Her!

When Your Greatest Romance Is a Friendship

A writer seeking solitude in a small town finds himself developing a deep and unlikely bond with his elderly neighbor.

nytimes.com

(A special young friend sent this link. I was touched that she would do so.)