There are times, I believe, when everyone finally comes to the realization as to how lucky they are. Tonight was one of those times for me.
I am very fortunate in many ways. I have my health; a loving supportive, close-knit family; a group of equally cool friends; some great business associates...and two of the best bosses I have ever worked for.
Life is not just good...it's GREAT!
Friday, March 20, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Second Tattoo
It has been a week since I sat for my second tattoo. The whole process went seamlessly, again. Of course, that is because I was working with Krystal at Riverview Tattoo.
I am, to say the least, EXTREMELY pleased with the tattoo and how it came out. I knew it would be perfect when I arrived at the shop, with my Mom, to find Krystal still working on the drawing of the design. She explained that she was not happy with the drawing she had done and had started over from scratch. The final drawing was perfection.
Rather than go through the whole experience again (as it was very much like the first time – read below), I thought I would use this blog post to share some of the comments I received on facebook.com, twitter.com and myspace.com when people saw the pictures.
In the interest of full disclosure, I will tell you that I cleaned up some typos, etc. But, the words and sentiments are exactly what people wrote:
Is someone addicted to the tattoo think? I've heard that happens!! LOL Nice one Paul - they did a really great job on it. – Tina (former co-worker)
Wow, I am no expert, but that is a cool tattoo. It is so 3-dimensional! Congrats! – Krista (Librarian in MA/Friend)
Paul the tattoo came out great. – Scott (PCSO/Friend)
Love the tattoo! What a way to honor your dad! – Heidi (Friend)
AWESOME!!! - Missy (Hairdresser/Business Owner/Friend)
It's gorgeous, Paul! Your father would be so proud. – Stephanie (Friend)
Oh WOW, Paul that is soooo awesome. UMaine should hire Krystal and "badge" all the officers. :-) I'm sure he's smiling down on you. – David (Life-long friend)
Freaking AWESOME tat!!! Thanks for sharing! - DG (Sister)
WOW- she is good! - O (Mom)
Totally incredible! - Amber (HS Friend)
Very, very nice....looking good sweet man - Vicky (Friend)
Very nice... and its sense is so deep; good idea Paul, you must be proud of it. – Deborah (Friend from Italy)
Good job - Deborah (Friend from Italy)
Pretty tattoogirl! she looks very professional - Deborah (Friend from Italy)
COOLEST TAT IN THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD FO'SHO' :) - Kelsey (co-worker)
I am saving the story behind the tattoo for a reason. Basically, a friend of a friend writes a blog about the stories behind tattoos and I have been asked to be interviewed for her blog. I will post a link to her story if she chooses to write my story.
Finally, (AGAIN?) if you are thinking about getting your first tattoo, having bad work re-worked, or adding to your “ink collection”, I cannot recommend Krystal highly enough. Not only is she very professional, she is an extremely talented artist and is fun to work with. Call her at 207-989-2436 to schedule a time to get your tattoo.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Protection from Identity Theft...Password Protect Your Cell Phone!
My friend, Kelly from Sephone Internet Solutions, sent me a message using Twitter which contained a link to an identity theft story. Knowing that Kelly never sends me junk mail, I clicked on the link and read the following story: (To see full text, click here)
His [speaking of a friend of his son] identity was compromised through a device so common that I never would have even suspected that it can be used for such a purpose. It was a cell phone. I know; I said the same thing: a cell phone! How could a cell phone possibly be used to steal or attack your identity? I can assure you that was the first question that went through my mind.
This is Bob's story as told to my fiancé by his father. Bob is 16 years old. What could he possibly have to compromise at that age? It wasn't so much what Bob had as it was to what he had access. Bob's story begins a few weeks back when he lost his cell phone. Apparently the cell phone fell into the hands of a very capable criminal. This capable criminal used Bob's phonebook/contact list contained within the cell phone. The criminal used the cell phone to contact Bob's Grandmother. The Grandmother was told of a terrible accident that involved Bob while he was traveling in Canada. The thief went on further to tell the Grandmother that unless she was able to electronically transfer $3,900 to the hospital in Canada, that Bob would be unable to receive desperately needed medical care. Obviously the thief appealed to the grandmother's maternal nurturing instinct to come to the aid of a loved one. Sadly, she sent the money. I am absolutely convinced that if my mother had received a similar telephone call telling her of a terrible tragedy that has befallen one of my daughters, she would also become a victim in this type of scam.
[NOTE: I have read some of “Father Tom’s” other postings and subsequently added his blog to my google reader list.]
Kelly and I talked briefly about this post and decided to blog about different aspects of this security issue.
So, how can you protect yourself, and your loved ones, from falling prey to a similar criminal? LOCK YOUR PHONE!
In most cases it is very easy. Here is how to do it for models we carry at Central Maine Wireless.
Typically, manufacturers use very similar menus across models. So, using these instructions should work for you. If they don’t, feel free to stop into Central Maine Wireless and we’ll help you…for FREE!!!
CAUTION: If you password protect your phone, use something that you will remember. If you put a password on and can’t remember, the only fix for that is to have the phones software flashed – which will cause you to lose all of your information!!!
Motorola Phones:
1) Click the Menu button (typically the middle of the round navigation button)
2) Choose Settings
3) Choose Security
4) Choose Phone Lock
5) Choose Lock Now or Automatic Lock
Samsung Phones
1) Click the Menu button (varies from model to model)
2) Choose Settings (usually has an icon that looks like a cog)
3) Choose Phone Settings
4) Choose Security (it will prompt you for a code. Typically it’s 1234 or 0000 or last 4 digits of your phone number.)
5) Choose Lock Phone
6) Choose Lock, Unlock, or On Power Up
LG Phones
1) Click the Menu button (varies from model to model)
2) Choose Settings (usually has an icon that looks like a cog)
3) Choose Security
4) Choose Lock
5) Choose lock, unlock or On Power Up
Kyocera Phones
1) Click the Menu button (varies from model to model)
2) Choose Settings
3) Choose Security
4) Choose Lock Phone
5) Click OK (will bring up a warning message – click after reading)
6) Choose Never, On Power Up or Now (Info option gives you the warning message from step 5)
Blackberry Phones
1) Go to Applications
2) Choose Options
3) Choose Security Options
4) Choose General Settings
5) Enable Password by highlighting “disable” and click on it with roller ball. Choose Enable.
6) Press Blackberry Menu Key (the one with the Blackberry logo on it)
7) Choose Save – will prompt you to choose a new password – type in password.
8) Click Back key and the password will save.
(NOTE: It is especially important to remember your Blackberry password. You only have 10 attempts to put in the correct password before it will wipe all data off your device)
HTC Phones
1) Choose Start
2) Choose Settings
3) Choose Lock
4) Check “Prompt if devise is unused for”
5) Choose number of minutes you want for delay.
6) Choose Password type
7) Choose and enter your desired password
8) Confirm the password entered in step 7
9) Click the hint tab at the bottom.
10) Provide a password hint in the text field provided.
I hope the information provided here helps you. Again, if you need assistance to place a password on your phone, come in and see any one of us (Ronda, Bob, Kelsey, Joe, Rob or I) at Central Maine Wireless. We are located at 627 Broadway (in the Broadway Shopping Center) in Bangor.
His [speaking of a friend of his son] identity was compromised through a device so common that I never would have even suspected that it can be used for such a purpose. It was a cell phone. I know; I said the same thing: a cell phone! How could a cell phone possibly be used to steal or attack your identity? I can assure you that was the first question that went through my mind.
This is Bob's story as told to my fiancé by his father. Bob is 16 years old. What could he possibly have to compromise at that age? It wasn't so much what Bob had as it was to what he had access. Bob's story begins a few weeks back when he lost his cell phone. Apparently the cell phone fell into the hands of a very capable criminal. This capable criminal used Bob's phonebook/contact list contained within the cell phone. The criminal used the cell phone to contact Bob's Grandmother. The Grandmother was told of a terrible accident that involved Bob while he was traveling in Canada. The thief went on further to tell the Grandmother that unless she was able to electronically transfer $3,900 to the hospital in Canada, that Bob would be unable to receive desperately needed medical care. Obviously the thief appealed to the grandmother's maternal nurturing instinct to come to the aid of a loved one. Sadly, she sent the money. I am absolutely convinced that if my mother had received a similar telephone call telling her of a terrible tragedy that has befallen one of my daughters, she would also become a victim in this type of scam.
[NOTE: I have read some of “Father Tom’s” other postings and subsequently added his blog to my google reader list.]
Kelly and I talked briefly about this post and decided to blog about different aspects of this security issue.
So, how can you protect yourself, and your loved ones, from falling prey to a similar criminal? LOCK YOUR PHONE!
In most cases it is very easy. Here is how to do it for models we carry at Central Maine Wireless.
Typically, manufacturers use very similar menus across models. So, using these instructions should work for you. If they don’t, feel free to stop into Central Maine Wireless and we’ll help you…for FREE!!!
CAUTION: If you password protect your phone, use something that you will remember. If you put a password on and can’t remember, the only fix for that is to have the phones software flashed – which will cause you to lose all of your information!!!
Motorola Phones:
1) Click the Menu button (typically the middle of the round navigation button)
2) Choose Settings
3) Choose Security
4) Choose Phone Lock
5) Choose Lock Now or Automatic Lock
Samsung Phones
1) Click the Menu button (varies from model to model)
2) Choose Settings (usually has an icon that looks like a cog)
3) Choose Phone Settings
4) Choose Security (it will prompt you for a code. Typically it’s 1234 or 0000 or last 4 digits of your phone number.)
5) Choose Lock Phone
6) Choose Lock, Unlock, or On Power Up
LG Phones
1) Click the Menu button (varies from model to model)
2) Choose Settings (usually has an icon that looks like a cog)
3) Choose Security
4) Choose Lock
5) Choose lock, unlock or On Power Up
Kyocera Phones
1) Click the Menu button (varies from model to model)
2) Choose Settings
3) Choose Security
4) Choose Lock Phone
5) Click OK (will bring up a warning message – click after reading)
6) Choose Never, On Power Up or Now (Info option gives you the warning message from step 5)
Blackberry Phones
1) Go to Applications
2) Choose Options
3) Choose Security Options
4) Choose General Settings
5) Enable Password by highlighting “disable” and click on it with roller ball. Choose Enable.
6) Press Blackberry Menu Key (the one with the Blackberry logo on it)
7) Choose Save – will prompt you to choose a new password – type in password.
8) Click Back key and the password will save.
(NOTE: It is especially important to remember your Blackberry password. You only have 10 attempts to put in the correct password before it will wipe all data off your device)
HTC Phones
1) Choose Start
2) Choose Settings
3) Choose Lock
4) Check “Prompt if devise is unused for”
5) Choose number of minutes you want for delay.
6) Choose Password type
7) Choose and enter your desired password
8) Confirm the password entered in step 7
9) Click the hint tab at the bottom.
10) Provide a password hint in the text field provided.
I hope the information provided here helps you. Again, if you need assistance to place a password on your phone, come in and see any one of us (Ronda, Bob, Kelsey, Joe, Rob or I) at Central Maine Wireless. We are located at 627 Broadway (in the Broadway Shopping Center) in Bangor.
Saturday, February 14, 2009
History of Valentines Day
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus. (From: History.com)
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
My First Tattoo
It's been 2 weeks - and it still jumps me occasionally. Pass a mirror and I get that "What the..." feeling.
What is making me pause? My "new" tattoo!
Those of you who follow me on facebook, myspace, etc. are probably sick of hearing about it. But, I figured I would blog the "start to finish" of it all and add some of the pictures I took along the way.
I got my tattoo on January 28th. My appointment was for 12:30 and the weather prediction was for a nasty snow storm - starting at about that time. At about noon, I was doing some errands when my phone notified me that I had a voicemail. It was my tattoo artist Krystal. At first, my heart sank as I thought she was calling to cancel due to the weather. Thankfully, she was only running a bit behind and she called to ask if we could meet at 1 p.m. I called her back and told her that would be fine. As the snow began to fall, I wasted the extra time by dropping by the store (Central Maine Wireless). I tried to fool Joe and Ronda by telling them that I had chickened out. Neither of them bought it...they know me too well.
I got to Riverview Tattoo right before 1:00. Krystal showed me her drawing and we went over a few of the little changes she thought would make the tattoo even better. Because my tattoo was of my family crest, each "revision" was carefully explained and my approval was requested on each change. Krystal explained that she didn't like to improvise on family crests because they were designed a certain way, often a long time ago, and any change could change the meaning of the crest. The changes she suggested were minor but collectively made the tattoo look much better.
After we went over the drawing, she had me fill out the paperwork while she prepped the stencil and set up her needles and inks. As she set up the inks, she explained each one to me and what colors they matched on my family crest. She has a great eye for color and matched each almost to perfection. Then came the moment of truth!!
Krystal told me that she was going to do a small dot to allow me to experience what the rest was going to feel like. She started the needle up and went to work. Now, here's the part that no one seems to believe...it didn't hurt! I'm not just saying that to be some macho tough guy. It really didn't hurt. Most of what I felt was the vibration of the needle. I have to admit that twice I had to really resist yanking my arm away. "Ah Ha!", you say, "It did hurt!" Nope! It tickled. Yep...you read that right...tickled! I've always been ticklish and this was awful. I really had to resist pulling away.
After the outlining was done, Krystal and I took a smoke break and checked out the snowfall. It was pretty.
After our break, Krystal went to work on the coloring.
She said that the coloring was akin to the color by number paintings you probably did as a kid. She had all of her little pots of ink lined up and frequently referenced the picture I had given her. She commented several times that my skin took the color really well. Apparently, different peoples skin "take" the ink differently. Some skin even rejects some colors. Mine is good for tattooing...even yellow ink, which is one of the most rejected colors, stays with me well.
After 5 hours in the chair, the tattoo was done. The finished product made me extremely happy. Krystal cleaned my arm of the left-over ink, and soaked a paper towel with Witch Hazel and placed it on the tattoo. Despite smelling weird, it felt great. It was soothing and cooled the area down. She let me check out the tattoo in a mirror before putting some ointment on and covering it with a bandage.
We then went over the after-care instructions. She explained the different phases of healing I would experience and what to expect in each phase. She asked if I had questions about anything and answered everything professionally. Oh yeah...and the written aftercare instrcutions are not only thorough, but, also hilarious! With lines like "They do not let your tattoo breathe and they also make crap stick to your tattoo like dust and dirt."
I drove home through heavy snow with a smile on my face.
Once I got home and waited the required 4 hours, the pain came into play. It had nothing to do with the tattoo. It was removing the damn medical tape from my arm. After taking a good amount of hair out at the roots, I took a picture and then cleaned the area as instructed. The funniest part of this process was when I patted the area dry with a paper towel. When I pulled the paper towel away, there was an almost perfect imprint of the tattoo left on the towel. I lotioned up as instructed and went to bed.
Over the next
several days, the tattoo went through the exact phases Krystal told me about. The smudgy, the scaly, the flaky, and the waxy/dry. The hardest part of all of these stages were the scaly and flaky stages. It was very hard for me to not pick at the skin that was falling off. But, I behaved and just kept lotioning up and letting it fall off naturally...in the shower. I made it through the worse parts. Now it's just keeping it moisturized until it finishes this last stage.
I have all the pictures ready for my next tattoo design and can't wait to get in and get it done. Here's what I am getting:
This is my father's badge. He was a police officer with the University of Maine Police Department from 1968 until his death in 1976. Originally, this was going to be my first tattoo. But, I thought I would get something else first. I wanted to make sure I had confidence in the artist before getting this done. It is very important to me. So, I want it done right. I know Krystal will do it right.
In case you haven't figured this out, I am incredibly impressed with the work done by Krystal at Riverview Tattoo. She is fun, professionally, and an incredibly talented artist. I cannot recommend her highly enough. All of the folks at Riverview Tattoo were very pleasant. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun. I am including their information here in case you are thinking about getting inked in the near future.
Krystal Raczkovy
Riverview Tattoo
State Street (in the old Footman's Dairy Building)
Brewer, ME 04412
207-989-2436
I also have her email address. If anyone who knows me would like it, email me and I will send it to you. I am not including it here to protect her from spammers.
What is making me pause? My "new" tattoo!
Those of you who follow me on facebook, myspace, etc. are probably sick of hearing about it. But, I figured I would blog the "start to finish" of it all and add some of the pictures I took along the way.
I got my tattoo on January 28th. My appointment was for 12:30 and the weather prediction was for a nasty snow storm - starting at about that time. At about noon, I was doing some errands when my phone notified me that I had a voicemail. It was my tattoo artist Krystal. At first, my heart sank as I thought she was calling to cancel due to the weather. Thankfully, she was only running a bit behind and she called to ask if we could meet at 1 p.m. I called her back and told her that would be fine. As the snow began to fall, I wasted the extra time by dropping by the store (Central Maine Wireless). I tried to fool Joe and Ronda by telling them that I had chickened out. Neither of them bought it...they know me too well.
I got to Riverview Tattoo right before 1:00. Krystal showed me her drawing and we went over a few of the little changes she thought would make the tattoo even better. Because my tattoo was of my family crest, each "revision" was carefully explained and my approval was requested on each change. Krystal explained that she didn't like to improvise on family crests because they were designed a certain way, often a long time ago, and any change could change the meaning of the crest. The changes she suggested were minor but collectively made the tattoo look much better.
After we went over the drawing, she had me fill out the paperwork while she prepped the stencil and set up her needles and inks. As she set up the inks, she explained each one to me and what colors they matched on my family crest. She has a great eye for color and matched each almost to perfection. Then came the moment of truth!!
Krystal told me that she was going to do a small dot to allow me to experience what the rest was going to feel like. She started the needle up and went to work. Now, here's the part that no one seems to believe...it didn't hurt! I'm not just saying that to be some macho tough guy. It really didn't hurt. Most of what I felt was the vibration of the needle. I have to admit that twice I had to really resist yanking my arm away. "Ah Ha!", you say, "It did hurt!" Nope! It tickled. Yep...you read that right...tickled! I've always been ticklish and this was awful. I really had to resist pulling away.
After the outlining was done, Krystal and I took a smoke break and checked out the snowfall. It was pretty.After our break, Krystal went to work on the coloring.
She said that the coloring was akin to the color by number paintings you probably did as a kid. She had all of her little pots of ink lined up and frequently referenced the picture I had given her. She commented several times that my skin took the color really well. Apparently, different peoples skin "take" the ink differently. Some skin even rejects some colors. Mine is good for tattooing...even yellow ink, which is one of the most rejected colors, stays with me well.
After 5 hours in the chair, the tattoo was done. The finished product made me extremely happy. Krystal cleaned my arm of the left-over ink, and soaked a paper towel with Witch Hazel and placed it on the tattoo. Despite smelling weird, it felt great. It was soothing and cooled the area down. She let me check out the tattoo in a mirror before putting some ointment on and covering it with a bandage.
We then went over the after-care instructions. She explained the different phases of healing I would experience and what to expect in each phase. She asked if I had questions about anything and answered everything professionally. Oh yeah...and the written aftercare instrcutions are not only thorough, but, also hilarious! With lines like "They do not let your tattoo breathe and they also make crap stick to your tattoo like dust and dirt."
I drove home through heavy snow with a smile on my face.
Once I got home and waited the required 4 hours, the pain came into play. It had nothing to do with the tattoo. It was removing the damn medical tape from my arm. After taking a good amount of hair out at the roots, I took a picture and then cleaned the area as instructed. The funniest part of this process was when I patted the area dry with a paper towel. When I pulled the paper towel away, there was an almost perfect imprint of the tattoo left on the towel. I lotioned up as instructed and went to bed.
Over the next
several days, the tattoo went through the exact phases Krystal told me about. The smudgy, the scaly, the flaky, and the waxy/dry. The hardest part of all of these stages were the scaly and flaky stages. It was very hard for me to not pick at the skin that was falling off. But, I behaved and just kept lotioning up and letting it fall off naturally...in the shower. I made it through the worse parts. Now it's just keeping it moisturized until it finishes this last stage.I have all the pictures ready for my next tattoo design and can't wait to get in and get it done. Here's what I am getting:
This is my father's badge. He was a police officer with the University of Maine Police Department from 1968 until his death in 1976. Originally, this was going to be my first tattoo. But, I thought I would get something else first. I wanted to make sure I had confidence in the artist before getting this done. It is very important to me. So, I want it done right. I know Krystal will do it right.In case you haven't figured this out, I am incredibly impressed with the work done by Krystal at Riverview Tattoo. She is fun, professionally, and an incredibly talented artist. I cannot recommend her highly enough. All of the folks at Riverview Tattoo were very pleasant. The atmosphere is relaxed and fun. I am including their information here in case you are thinking about getting inked in the near future.
Krystal Raczkovy
Riverview Tattoo
State Street (in the old Footman's Dairy Building)
Brewer, ME 04412
207-989-2436
I also have her email address. If anyone who knows me would like it, email me and I will send it to you. I am not including it here to protect her from spammers.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
How Clean is Your Cell Phone?
A recent blog on Yahoo! Reported that 99% of recycled or resold cell phones do not have personal information removed from them before reuse. NINETY-NINE PERCENT!
For those of you who like to analyze statistics, here’s what Yahoo! reported:
Turns out they're the norm, not the exception, as the vast majority of cell phones sent in for recycling aren't properly wiped clean, with a full 99 percent of them containing sensitive material when they're gotten rid of, including personal emails and financial information and logins.
The numbers come from Regenersis, a cell phone recycling outfit that processed two million handsets last year and tested a random sampling of the phones it's received in order to reach this shocking conclusion. (source: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/118074)
It is interesting to read this short blog and find that cell phones aren’t the only devices containing sensitive data. But, since I deal with cell phones every day, I’m going to concentrate on those.
What do you have on your phone?
I am not easily shocked. I admit that I have experienced enough in my 41+ years to have very little that’ll make me blush. But, in my year and a half of working at Central Maine Wireless, I have seen more than one thing that has made me shake my head and wonder “Why?”.
Let’s talk about the useful stuff first. Then we’ll discuss the stuff that might make me blush.
Modern cell phones have a bunch of great tools to make life easier for the user.
All models have contact “books”. Most can hold at least 500 contacts. Each contact can hold phone numbers, addresses, email address, etc.
Most models have calendars. With a little practice, you can easily keep track of client meetings, doctors appointments, kids’ & spouses’ schedules, etc. And, depending upon how fancy that calendar is, maybe more personal information.
Most smart phones (i.e Blackberry, Moto Q, HTC), and some standard models, have “note pads” too. You can easily note information important to you, but, potentially “useful” in the wrong hands, too.
All of this information, being stored in one place, makes your life easier, more productive, and/or less stressful. Let me share a quick personal story:
I am a book junkie! I admit it and wear the badge proudly. In the past, I was constantly writing titles and authors on anything handy – usually a scrap piece of paper that I promptly lost. Now, I just take out my HTC 6800 Smartphone and I write down the information (yes – write! Because my phone has a touch screen and cool note function that allows me to write notes). Then, the next time I am in the bookstore, I can just take out my phone, bring up the note and find the book I want.
It is so cool that we can do that kind of thing with one device. It was not too long ago that PDAs and phones were separate devices and to have the functionality of both, you had to carry both…not that convenient, right?
Okay, so now let’s get to the “fun” stuff…
You have WHAT on your phone?
Why? Why? Why?
Why would people put “very personal” pictures on their phone? Have they learned nothing from watching E! ?
I start with pictures, because I think that’s been the biggest newsmaker. The latest celeb to be bitten by the camera-phone age is Michael Phelps. Granted, Michael didn’t have the infamous “Bong hit” on his phone. But, he still got stung by the little lens.
I can't tell you how many people have come into the store to get new equipment and gotten red-faced when we told them we were transferring their contacts – and pictures – into their new phone. I thought one woman was going to pass out as she breathlessly asked “Can you see the pictures?” I assured he we could only see the file names as the machine transferred the data. But, the flag was raised that it wasn’t pictures of the kids and the new puppy she was worried about.
And it’s not just the Retail Wireless Consultant you have to be concerned about. Sending a picture message of your “bits & bobs” to someone can be risky business. Just one digit off and you’re sending that personal image to someone you might not know…or, maybe, someone you do…like your boss!!
Text messages can be just as bad. Some of the things I’ve seen “said” in texts would make a sailor blush. Why are you keeping them? I clean my text and email files pretty much daily. If there is something I think I need to keep, I send it to my email address at home and file it safely away in some other way.
So, what can you do?
1) “Lock” (in other words…password protect) your phone. And make it something you will remember. Once the password is set, it’s permanent (unless you change it...and to change it, you have to remember the one you already set). Phones that are “locked” with a password have to have the software flashed (i.e. wiped clean) by a tech in order to get back into it. That means everything is lost. If you need that information, this can be devastating.
2) Ask your local cell phone retailer to wipe your device clean before putting it in the recycling bin. Most locations have the knowledge, codes, etc. required to make sure that all of your data is erased. With that said, damaged phones that will not power up, or devices where you can’t see the screen, may not be able to be wiped at the retail location. And, as noted in the Yahoo! article, most recycling facilities don’t have the time or resources to clean each device. So, keep personal data to a minimum. Erase what you don’t need regularly (this will also help your phone perform better.
3) Keep your “personal” pics and texts just that…personal! Store them somewhere else. Or just don’t use your camera-phone to take pictures of a bawdy (or body) nature.
Next time…let’s talk about cleaning of another sort!
Thanks for reading!
For those of you who like to analyze statistics, here’s what Yahoo! reported:
Turns out they're the norm, not the exception, as the vast majority of cell phones sent in for recycling aren't properly wiped clean, with a full 99 percent of them containing sensitive material when they're gotten rid of, including personal emails and financial information and logins.
The numbers come from Regenersis, a cell phone recycling outfit that processed two million handsets last year and tested a random sampling of the phones it's received in order to reach this shocking conclusion. (source: http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/118074)
It is interesting to read this short blog and find that cell phones aren’t the only devices containing sensitive data. But, since I deal with cell phones every day, I’m going to concentrate on those.
What do you have on your phone?
I am not easily shocked. I admit that I have experienced enough in my 41+ years to have very little that’ll make me blush. But, in my year and a half of working at Central Maine Wireless, I have seen more than one thing that has made me shake my head and wonder “Why?”.
Let’s talk about the useful stuff first. Then we’ll discuss the stuff that might make me blush.
Modern cell phones have a bunch of great tools to make life easier for the user.
All models have contact “books”. Most can hold at least 500 contacts. Each contact can hold phone numbers, addresses, email address, etc.
Most models have calendars. With a little practice, you can easily keep track of client meetings, doctors appointments, kids’ & spouses’ schedules, etc. And, depending upon how fancy that calendar is, maybe more personal information.
Most smart phones (i.e Blackberry, Moto Q, HTC), and some standard models, have “note pads” too. You can easily note information important to you, but, potentially “useful” in the wrong hands, too.
All of this information, being stored in one place, makes your life easier, more productive, and/or less stressful. Let me share a quick personal story:
I am a book junkie! I admit it and wear the badge proudly. In the past, I was constantly writing titles and authors on anything handy – usually a scrap piece of paper that I promptly lost. Now, I just take out my HTC 6800 Smartphone and I write down the information (yes – write! Because my phone has a touch screen and cool note function that allows me to write notes). Then, the next time I am in the bookstore, I can just take out my phone, bring up the note and find the book I want.
It is so cool that we can do that kind of thing with one device. It was not too long ago that PDAs and phones were separate devices and to have the functionality of both, you had to carry both…not that convenient, right?
Okay, so now let’s get to the “fun” stuff…
You have WHAT on your phone?
Why? Why? Why?
Why would people put “very personal” pictures on their phone? Have they learned nothing from watching E! ?
I start with pictures, because I think that’s been the biggest newsmaker. The latest celeb to be bitten by the camera-phone age is Michael Phelps. Granted, Michael didn’t have the infamous “Bong hit” on his phone. But, he still got stung by the little lens.
I can't tell you how many people have come into the store to get new equipment and gotten red-faced when we told them we were transferring their contacts – and pictures – into their new phone. I thought one woman was going to pass out as she breathlessly asked “Can you see the pictures?” I assured he we could only see the file names as the machine transferred the data. But, the flag was raised that it wasn’t pictures of the kids and the new puppy she was worried about.
And it’s not just the Retail Wireless Consultant you have to be concerned about. Sending a picture message of your “bits & bobs” to someone can be risky business. Just one digit off and you’re sending that personal image to someone you might not know…or, maybe, someone you do…like your boss!!
Text messages can be just as bad. Some of the things I’ve seen “said” in texts would make a sailor blush. Why are you keeping them? I clean my text and email files pretty much daily. If there is something I think I need to keep, I send it to my email address at home and file it safely away in some other way.
So, what can you do?
1) “Lock” (in other words…password protect) your phone. And make it something you will remember. Once the password is set, it’s permanent (unless you change it...and to change it, you have to remember the one you already set). Phones that are “locked” with a password have to have the software flashed (i.e. wiped clean) by a tech in order to get back into it. That means everything is lost. If you need that information, this can be devastating.
2) Ask your local cell phone retailer to wipe your device clean before putting it in the recycling bin. Most locations have the knowledge, codes, etc. required to make sure that all of your data is erased. With that said, damaged phones that will not power up, or devices where you can’t see the screen, may not be able to be wiped at the retail location. And, as noted in the Yahoo! article, most recycling facilities don’t have the time or resources to clean each device. So, keep personal data to a minimum. Erase what you don’t need regularly (this will also help your phone perform better.
3) Keep your “personal” pics and texts just that…personal! Store them somewhere else. Or just don’t use your camera-phone to take pictures of a bawdy (or body) nature.
Next time…let’s talk about cleaning of another sort!
Thanks for reading!
Wednesday, February 4, 2009
Cell Phone Recycling...It's the LAW!
We all have them! Used cell phones that are living out there last days in a drawer or closet. The question is: “What do I do with them?” The answer is easy. RECYCLE THEM! In Maine…it’s the law!
What’s the big deal?
According to the First Annual Update on the Recycling of Cellular Telephones in Maine (Maine Department of Environmental Protection, February 2009), cell phones contain materials such as “arsenic, beryllium, cadmium, copper, lead, nickel, and zinc”. Most of these materials are components of the circuit boards that make the phones work. They are essential to the performance of the phone. But, they are potential environmental contaminants when not properly disposed of.
According to this same report, most cell phone users replace their phones every 18-24 months. In Maine, this accounts for 450,000 unused cell phones each year. Of this number only 1% are recycled.
It’s the LAW!
The 123rd Legislature enacted Public Law Chapter 343, An Act To Promote Recycling of Cellular Telephones (38 M.R.S.A. §2143). For the purpose of this article, the important part of this law reads:
2. Collection system. Effective January 1, 2008, a retailer shall accept, at no charge, used cellular telephones from any person. A retailer required to accept used cellular telephones under this subsection shall post, in a prominent location open to public view, a notice printed in boldface type and containing the following language: “We accept used cellular telephones at no charge.”
3. Disposal ban. Effective January 1, 2008, a person may not dispose of a cellular telephone in solid waste for disposal in a solid waste disposal facility.
So, What do I do now?
If you are reading this blog and you are a retailer, comply with the law (if you aren’t already). I found everything at http://www.maine.gov/ under the DEP section.
If you are like my friend Kelly (the Marketing Maven at Sephone Internet Solutions), and are holding on to some used equipment, bring it to me at Central Maine Wireless in the Broadway Shopping Center in Bangor.
We have a great recycling program. We partner with Larry Reynolds, a Bangor businessman, to recycle used phones and help local schools. Larry collects our recycled phones, sends them to four different processing companies (the one he uses most is Office Products Recycling Associates) and divides the proceeds among four or five different educational institutions, most notably Bangor and Brewer High Schools’ Project Graduation programs.
If you can’t make it to our location, know that every cell phone retailer is required to have a program in place. Bring your useless equipment into any store (it doesn’t even have to be the company who supplies your service) and they will dispose of it properly for you.
There are also several local and national organizations that will provide recycling of used cell phones and donate the proceeds to various charitable causes. An internet search will yield hundreds of results. Find one that you feel comfortable with and contact them about how to properly dispose of your old phone.
Teaser!!!
In my next blog, I’m going to ask the question: “How clean is your phone?”
And I want an honest answer!
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