Ragam Nya Kabar

Wednesday, January 31, 2024

This North Texas city has asked large trucks to avoid its quaint downtown. They come anyway - Yahoo News

ragamnyakabar.blogspot.com

Glen Rose’s downtown — lined with boutiques, antique shops, bookstores and cafes in early 20th century buildings — sits especially quiet on a sunny Monday afternoon … with the exception of rock haulers that rumble through the city square.

At the intersection of Northeast Barnard and Elm streets, these trucks struggle to avoid crossing the oncoming lane as they squeeze onto the narrow stretch toward to area quarries.

It worries Glen Rose city administrator Troy Hill.

“This is an unsafe situation, “ Hill said. “We believe that this is a matter of public safety, which affects everybody.”

The Glen Rose City Council passed an ordinance Dec. 12 that bans semitrucks from driving through its square. To avoid the square, truck drivers have to take county or farm-to-market roads around the city of 2,800 about 55 miles southwest of Fort Worth.

The ordinance was quickly met with legal threats.

“We are getting push back from area shipping companies, area rock quarries, in regards to the proposed alternative route,” Hill said. “We have had legal action threatened against the city. We obviously don’t want that. We are not anti-business at all. We encourage businesses to locate in our city. But, at the same time, it is our duty and our job to make sure that people here are safe.”

A letter from a law firm representing a Glen Rose quarry said the ordinance was unlawful.

The letter from Barnes & Thornburg of Indianapolis, obtained by the Star-Telegram through a records request, states that TxDOT transportation codes bar Glen Rose from placing signage to reroute truck drivers and that the alternate route must not to be “unreasonably longer than the original route” or confusing to follow.

TxDOT did not respond to a request for comment.

Barnes & Thornburg was retained by the Rogers Group, a Nashville-based construction aggregate company that operates Glen Rose Sand & Gravel.

The law firm and quarry did not respond to requests for comment.

Business concerns

Hill isn’t just looking to enforce the ordinance for the sake of public safety. He also wants to help small businesses in this city known as the “Dinosaur Capital of Texas.”

“When I started meeting downtown businesses, they voiced concerns about it,” Hill said. “They said that they believe that it affects their businesses in a negative way, that it affects the number of people that come to our town square.”

The rumbling trucks have rattled the early 20th century building that houses Front Porch Designs, owner Traci Joyner said.

“The mortar between my rocks is literally falling out. Rocks are falling off the roof, just from the vibrations alone,” said Joyner, who has owned her business for eight years.

Heather Bienko said her family’s building at 200 NE Barnard St. has sustained damage. It was constructed in 1894 and is registered as a Texas historical landmark.

“It’s an old limestone rock building,” Bienko said. “You can see where little pieces of the rock have fallen off the mortar.”

The tenants, a clothing boutique and a winery, have expressed concerns about the trucks affecting their day to day operations, Bienko said.

“They’ve said they can’t open their doors on nice days,” Bienko said. “Their area where they check people out is kind of toward the front of the building and many times they have to pause the transactions and talking to those people while these trucks go by because it’s so loud.”

Bienko is optimistic that a solution can be hashed out

“There’s no way anybody could think from a safety perspective this needs to continue,” Bienko said. “I just don’t think it’s something that can continue long term. There has to be a solution.”

Hill also hopes there is a solution but said the city can’t risk a tragedy in the meantime.

“In the short term, we would like truckers and the quarries to work with us and realize that public safety has to come first, “Hill said.

Adblock test (Why?)

"avoid it" - Google News
February 01, 2024 at 12:08AM
https://ift.tt/mQ2DvO4

This North Texas city has asked large trucks to avoid its quaint downtown. They come anyway - Yahoo News
"avoid it" - Google News
https://ift.tt/Tg9LbnS
https://ift.tt/Gd5Lkuo

Catfishing explained: what is it, how to avoid it and what to do if you are catfished - AS USA

ragamnyakabar.blogspot.com

Catfishing is a deceptive activity where someone creates a fake online persona to establish a relationship with another person, often for fraudulent or deceptive purposes.

The term “catfishing” originated from the 2010 documentary film “Catfish,” in which the filmmaker, Nev Schulman, discovers that he had been engaged in an online relationship with a person who had created a false identity.

This deceptive practice has become prevalent in recent years, with more people getting duped out of their money by this scheme. According to TechReport, around 20,000 people in the US become catfishing victims each year. The website adds that in 2021, people lost more than $500 million to catfish scams.

Catfishing 101

The catfisher’s fictional persona comes with fake photos, personal information, and sometimes an entirely made-up life story. This fabricated profile is used to interact with others on social media, dating websites, or online communities.

Catfishers may use photos stolen from others’ social media profiles, websites, or other online sources to create a more convincing fake identity. This adds an extra layer of deception to the scheme.

Catfishing commonly occurs on platforms where people interact and form connections. The anonymity provided by the internet makes it easier for these scammers to operate without being immediately identified.

Why do people catfish?

Catfishing can involve various motives, such as seeking emotional connection, financial gain, revenge, or simply enjoying the act of deception. In some cases, these con artists may engage in “romance scams” to build fake relationships with the intention of exploiting their targets financially.

Catfishers often engage in emotional manipulation to create a sense of trust and intimacy with their targets. They may share personal stories, express deep emotions, and establish a false connection to gain the trust of the person they are deceiving.

How to avoid catfishing

It’s important to exercise caution when forming online connections, especially with people we have not met in person. Verifying the identity of someone online and being careful about sharing personal information can help prevent falling victim to catfishing schemes. If suspicions arise, conduct due diligence and, if necessary, seek assistance to confirm the authenticity of an online relationship.

Be wary when interacting with individuals who are overly secretive about their identity, such as those who refuse to share photos, provide specific details about their lives, or avoid video calls.

Use reverse image search tools to check whether the photos provided by the person appear elsewhere on the internet. Catfishers often use stolen photos from other people’s social media profiles.

Request a video call to see and hear the person in real-time. A refusal to engage in video calls or constant avoidance may be a red flag.

‘Listen’ for signs of catfishing

Pay attention to inconsistencies in the person’s stories or details. Catfishers may struggle to keep their lies straight, leading to discrepancies in their narratives.

Be cautious if someone declares deep feelings of love or commitment very quickly, especially if you have not met in person. Catfishers may use emotional manipulation to gain trust rapidly.

Avoid sharing sensitive personal information, such as financial details or addresses, with someone you’ve only met online. Catfishers may exploit this information for fraudulent purposes.

Examine the person’s social media profiles, and look for consistent activity, connections, and engagement.

If something feels off or too good to be true, trust your instincts. If you have doubts, take the time to investigate and confirm details before proceeding.

Familiarize yourself with common signs of catfishing and online scams. Stay informed about the latest tactics used by catfishers to deceive individuals.

What to do if you are catfished

If you suspect that you are being catfished, here are some steps you can take to protect yourself and address the situation.

Stop all communication with the person you suspect is catfishing you. Do not share any more personal information or engage in further interactions. Block them on all communication channels. This prevents further contact and minimizes the risk of additional deception.

Collect evidence of the catfishing, including screenshots of conversations, photos, and any other relevant information. This documentation may be useful if you decide to report the incident to authorities.

Report the catfisher to the platform where you first encountered the person. Most social media and dating platforms have reporting mechanisms for fraudulent or deceptive activities.

Review and update the privacy settings on your social media accounts. Check that your personal information is secure and that you are not inadvertently sharing sensitive details. If the catfishing involves criminal activities, such as fraud or harassment, consider reporting it to local law enforcement. Provide them with the evidence you have gathered.

Adblock test (Why?)

"avoid it" - Google News
January 31, 2024 at 08:14AM
https://ift.tt/MFZucyl

Catfishing explained: what is it, how to avoid it and what to do if you are catfished - AS USA
"avoid it" - Google News
https://ift.tt/IASl1Db
https://ift.tt/wgqMK3J

Avoid This $50 Credit Card Mistake I Made as a Student - The Motley Fool

ragamnyakabar.blogspot.com

As a college student, I made a lot of mistakes. I overdrew from my bank multiple times, which cost me about $35 a pop. I sold investments that later grew 10 times in value (cough Tesla cough). Frankly, I had no clue what I was doing because it was all new, and I was learning.

None of the above made a huge dent in my long-term finances. But I did make one credit card mistake that, had I let it snowball, might have pulled me fairly deep into debt.

In a nutshell, I only made minimum payments on my credit card. I even scheduled automatic payments, so I didn't have to think about it. The combination of the two cost me about $50 before a close friend let me know that I was digging the first nine inches of a shallow grave.

The $50 credit card mistake

Only making a credit card minimum payment is like spotting a weed and only trimming the part above ground. Everything is fine until the following month, when the weed returns with a vengeance, taller and stronger than ever.

That's because credit card users pay interest on balances. Say you have $120 of credit card debt. You pay your monthly minimum payment of $20, leaving you with $100. Your credit card company will charge you the APR of your credit card. If that's 15%, then it will add $15 to your $100 debt. That $115 will be carried over into next month's balance. Over time, it snowballs.

It's good to make minimum payments because they protect your credit score. If you pay your minimum, FICO won't ding you for making late payments. But you'll still accrue debt, assuming there's money left on your monthly credit balance.

Featured offer: save money while you pay off debt with one of these top-rated balance transfer credit cards

My mistake cost me somewhere between $50 and $100 before a classmate told me that paying my credit card minimum would not, in fact, stop me from racking up more and more debt.

How to avoid credit card debt as a student

You can do a few things to avoid debt as a college student. One is to simply pay off 100% of your student credit card balance monthly. That's the most straightforward way to get the benefits of credit card rewards without racking up debt.

Another thing you can do is stick with debit cards. They're not as secure or rewarding as credit cards, generally speaking, but there's no risk of you going into debt. If you can't afford to pay for something, your debit card will typically decline the transaction.

If you must take on a bit of debt but have no way to pay it off right away, you can apply for a 0% intro APR credit card. This might be more difficult for students, who typically have short credit histories. But if you can swing it, you can go months without paying interest on your balance.

However, if you're taking on long-term debt and you think you'll be charged interest on it before you can pay it off, consider taking out a personal loan instead. The rates are typically better than those on credit cards.

Alternatives to student credit cards

As a student, I used the Discover it® Student Cash Back credit card. It was easy to get, the mobile app was convenient, and it paid me for good grades. I swiped it here and there to build credit.

Mostly, though, I swiped debit cards and paid with cash. Doing so helped me track my budget; back then, I didn't use budgeting apps that did the math for me. The downside was my bank charged me overdraft fees. Tallied up, they cost me much more than my credit card did.

These days, many banks have done away with overdraft fees. Some even offer checking accounts for students with student-specific perks. So long as they charge $0 monthly and don't charge overdraft fees, they're worth looking into.

Adblock test (Why?)

"avoid it" - Google News
January 31, 2024 at 08:00AM
https://ift.tt/zLDBgYi

Avoid This $50 Credit Card Mistake I Made as a Student - The Motley Fool
"avoid it" - Google News
https://ift.tt/IASl1Db
https://ift.tt/wgqMK3J

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Catfishing explained: what is it, how to avoid it and what to do if you are catfished - AS USA

ragamnyakabar.blogspot.com

Catfishing is a deceptive activity where someone creates a fake online persona to establish a relationship with another person, often for fraudulent or deceptive purposes.