text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|May 30, 2000
|Filing date
|Apr 27, 1998
|Priority date
|Apr 27, 1998
|Fee status
|Also published as
|Publication number
|Donald A. Barnett
|Original Assignee
|Barnett; Donald A.
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (3), Referenced by (145), Classifications (20), Legal Events (4)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a security card and system for reducing credit card fraud.
2. Description of the Related Art
Credit-card fraud is an increasingly large problem. Stolen or misplaced credit cards are frequently misused. Standard credit cards, bank cards (debit cards) and stored value cards are memory cards with a magnetic stripe affixed to the surface or have a chip built into the card, and are inexpensive and easy to produce. All of these cards can be used at automated teller machine (ATMs) to make transactions between accounts or make cash withdrawals/advances or to make purchases at a given point of sale (POS). Standard credit cards that are used to charge purchases can often be used by consumers over the telephone or in a written purchase without actually presenting the card, but most in-person credit purchases and ATM uses require possession and use of the actual card, and in the case of an ATM in the United States and in all cases in the United Kingdom, possession and use of the correct personal identification number (PIN), which enables access to cash at automated teller machines (ATMs) located in millions of locations around the world.
When credit cards are used at an ATM, the credit card owner runs the credit card through the ATM card reader for identification and authentication of the account to be accessed. The information contained on the magnetic stripe or chip is minimal, often only a name, social security number, account number and address. What the card reader is looking for is the encoded key for authentication purposes. When the card is read, a message goes to the host (for example, Visa, MasterCard, etc.) for authentication. Once the host has the encrypted code it sends a challenge to the user (ATM). The correct response to the challenge is the PIN associated with the account that the person is trying to access. Both the initial transmission of the encoded key (PIN) that is to open the account and the challenge and response messages are hidden deep within the encrypted code that consists of an algorithm. If the user does not know the correct PIN for the card associated with the account the user is trying to access, often the system will allow more than one attempt at entering the correct PIN. Once the preset limit of incorrect PIN entries is met, the card is "captured" by the ATM and not returned to the user. This process is an "on-line" transaction, meaning that the card is being authenticated in real time before the transaction can be completed.
When credit cards are used at a store that is on-line, the process is exactly the same if a PIN number is used to authenticate the transaction. Many points of sale, however, do not require the individual presenting the card to enter a PIN number when making a purchase, thereby completing the transaction on faith that the individual presenting the credit card is actually the owner of the credit card and the account associated with the card. At a POS, often cards are read to see if the card has credit/value remaining and not for authentication. If the card has been reported stolen, and is on the system, it is at this point that the card reader can inform the POS of the status of the card. It is now the responsibility of the POS to either retain the card or allow an illegal transaction.
When credit cards are used at a small shop that is not on-line, but which later uploads the information from a reader from the off-line site, the POS has taken all transactions on faith that cards used to purchase goods or services did in fact belong to the individuals presenting the card and that the card did in fact have credit/value remaining to cover the cost of the transaction. Only after uploading all transactions at the end of the day or week or other time interval, will the POS discover which cards were legitimate and which were beyond their limit or were stolen.
In addition to the straightforward theft of credit cards themselves, thieves often steal PINs. Through "shoulder-surfing" (looking over the shoulder of a credit card user at an ATM), video surveillance by unauthorized cameras positioned within viewing distance of ATMs, and strong-arm robbery by persons seeking access to the account of a card-holder and through sharing of PINs and by card-owners carrying cards and PINs together, and through other means, the current credit card system is easily corrupted. Consumers are often desperately afraid to go to an ATM site because of the high likelihood of robbery during the time period of their approach to, utilization of, and departure from, an ATM site.
Through lack of knowledge or through carelessness, consumers often unwittingly assist the thieves by their behavior at the ATM or by their time of use of the ATM. Some consumers even write their PIN on the back of their credit cards so that they can remember it, but of course the number is then easily available to any thief. Any type of system that depends on a password or secret number depends on the ability to keep the secret information a secret.
Other thieves install bogus ATM machines that are simply computer terminals whereby people are induced to enter their credit card numbers, thereby providing a copy of all information contained on the card and the PIN not knowing that they are not using a real ATM but are using an inauthentic host. With that knowledge, credit card thieves who know the PIN can make multiple copies of the credit/debit card and access the funds from numerous locations, confounding the authorities' efforts to stop the crime.
There have been many efforts to try to reduce the amount of credit/debit card-related theft because this theft harms both the credit companies, and the legitimate credit card owners, who must pay more for the privilege of having a credit card to help offset the amount stolen each year. One basic step is to educate consumers so that all information about their credit/debit cards is kept secure.
There are a number of current technologies to try to solve these problems, which, although often clever, do not stand up to the "strong-arm tactics" of thieves. For example, solutions involving cryptography have been developed for user authentication. Such systems authenticate a user based on the knowledge or possession of a cryptographic key. Such systems require the user to have access to or to have memorized a key to be able to access a particular system, but there is no method provided to keep unauthorized users from obtaining the key by subterfuge or force.
Criminals desiring to utilize credit/debit cards for which there are hand-held password generators that require the use of a PIN, can, through might or cunning, obtain the PIN from the legitimate consumer along with the password generator itself, and thus, the cash. These devices have the inconvenience of requiring the consumer to carry the generator and to memorize the PIN, or to risk carrying the written PIN with them.
Another example of a current technology which can be very unsafe is "biometrics" in which the legitimate credit card user is recognized by a biological characteristic, for example, fingerprints, finger measurement, retinal/iris scan, or voice recognition. In each case, the serious criminal can subvert the system and/or there are serious drawbacks to use of the system. In the ease of fingerprints, the finger which is scanned by the duped ATM can be the finger of a coerced credit-card owner, or a dead credit-card owner. Many consumers are also reluctant to be finger-printed, fearing that the information will go into a police file somewhere. In the case of finger measurements, a frozen finger measures the same as a live finger. In the case of retinal scans, consumers are afraid of retinal scanner malfunction and resultant damage to the eye. Voice recognition equipment has advanced to the point where an individual's voice can be correctly identified under several different circumstances, even under extreme stress or duress. The problem with voice recognition is the same with all biometric authentication, which is that the user can be coerced into using parts or characteristics of the user's body to access secured areas, whether they be personal accounts or bank vaults.
Other systems designed to meet this problem include THE PANIC BUTTON™ made by Statsignal Systems, which consists of a radio transmitter contained in a hand-held key fob, which is essentially designed as a personal security system rather than to prevent credit card problems. In this system, there is a receiver inside the ATM facility and a modem connected to the 911 emergency response telephone network. Information on the owner's name, address, make of car and location from which the alarm is sounded is passed to the police. This system takes 18-20 seconds to identify the caller and then calls the 911 number. There is no guarantee that the call will go through, nor is there an estimated response time. The cost is about $500 for a bank to install and about $5 per month for the consumer.
There also are systems for removing one or more portions of the credit card so that the card-owner is not carrying an intact, usable card, but must assemble the completed card to use it. From the very high-tech VAULT CARD™ by CardLogix which allows the owner to unlock the card by entering a PIN via buttons on the card itself, to the very low-tech PINCard™ by Affinity Actions Ltd. that is nothing more than a grid-type encrypting system that utilizes a paper grid and a clear plastic overlay that when properly aligned decodes the blackened-in squares that correspond to a PIN, every attempt at securing a credit/debit card thus far still relies on the memorization of a PIN or alphanumeric code to keep either the card or the PIN itself secure.
"Smart cards" are the next step in credit/debit/stored value card evolution. They employ a microchip in conjunction with or in place of a magnetic stripe. Because the chip is a microprocessor, it has much greater capacity for the storage of information and is able to make computations that a magnetic strip cannot make. Smart chip/card technology is advancing every day, making the cards able to store more and more information about the user, such as the accounts the user owns, the types of purchases and their frequency. It is the desire of smart card makers to do away with magnetic stripe technology. The problem is that the existing infrastructure is not designed to support the new and changing technology. The card readers of today cannot support a smart chip. A smart chip only needs only to have power applied to it to turn it into the functioning microprocessor that it is. When the card is powered, it is capable of authenticating a user without going to a host in the way a magnetic stripe-based technology does. The smart card essentially determines whether or not a transaction will be allowed to take place. This, however, is its greatest flaw, because now, not only is one source of cash/value accessible, but all functions of the card are able to be utilized or exploited. Even with the increased functionality of smart chip technology, there is still need to for an access key. Again, smart card makers are looking to existing technologies such as cryptology and biometrics to provide the solutions for reducing fraudulent transactions. While these cards are far superior to conventional magnetic stripe-based cards, the common denominator is still the user/abuser. These cards do not have any mechanism for keeping an unauthorized user from forcing the authorized user to use the card, and do not have any mechanism of notifying authorities of unauthorized use or attempts at use.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a security card system which builds on existing technology to work actively against fraud and misuse of credit/debit cards, and arms the consumer with the proper tools to be proactive in the prevention of fraud, theft and violence.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a security card system which can be used to serve as a PIN memory aid, an emergency call activator, and a financial access padlock, and can thus give the consumer increased peace of mind.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a security card system which decreases the success rate of the would-be thief who is trying to determine the credit/debit/stored value card owner's PIN.
Other objects and advantages will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims.
The invention herein is for a security card system comprising a security card, and a security network containing a security firm that enrolls persons in the system who have been provided with a security card by a card-issuing institution, and uses the security network for responding to emergency calls initiated by use of the security card, reports fraud, and in general, implements an emergency system and acts as a theft deterrent.
Other objects and features of the inventions will be more fully apparent from the following disclosure and appended claims.
FIG. 1 is a plan view of the upper surface of a security card of the invention.
FIG. 2 is a plan view of the lower surface of a security card of the invention which has a magnetic stripe.
FIG. 3 is flow chart showing how the security system works when a security card is used.
FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of the system security network for processing use of the security card of the invention.
FIG. 5 is a flow chart schematically showing how the system of the invention may be programmed.
The present invention provides a security card system that includes a security card and a security network. The primary component of the security card system is the security card, which has an external appearance that is essentially identical to the external appearance of "real" credit cards or other bank cards, because it has many, if not all, of the external features found in the real cards, in addition to being readable in card machines used for real credit cards. As will be made more clear herein, the security card of the invention is not usable as a credit card, that is, to obtain money or credit, and is not meant for such a use.
As used herein, the term "bank card" or "credit card" or "credit/debit card" includes any generally rectangular, generally plastic, card, such as a debit, credit or cash value card, that is used to obtain credit or cash or cash value by a user at a POS or ATM or other transactional location and is generally issued by banks and other financial institutions. Included within such card terminology herein are also "contactless" cards, for example, cards that do not need to be scanned in the conventional sense of the word, but only need to be in close proximity to a reader to have information evaluated. Such contactless cards include cards used in subways, for toll payment, for admission to concerts, or any other place where there is a high volume in a short time period. The card scanner or reader, whatever type of card is used, must be connected the security card system via the CPU in order for the trigger code to be detected and the system activated as discussed in more detail below.
The term "POS/ATM" refers to any place a bank card might be used. As used herein a "card machine" refers to any machine, such as an ATM, POS card-scanner or reader, and the like which is capable of handling a bank card to charge a consumer, or credit or debit a financial account or any other function controlled by or accessed by such cards. The term "security card" refers to the card of the invention herein and "security firm` refers to the company(ies) that enroll owners who have been issued a security card, and respond to the alarm resulting from use of the security card in any card machine connected to the system of the invention as described herein.
Referring now to the figures in more detail, the security card 10 shown in FIG. 1 has all of the normal external, visible characteristics of a real bank card, including shape, size, and material of construction. The security card shown as an example in FIGS. 1 and 2 is made to be as closely identical in appearance to a particular VISA™, magnetic stripe card. The external appearance of the security card of the invention can be made to be as closely identical in appearance as possible to any chosen bank card, including, for example, those with smart chips, or other visible features, and of any bank or financial institution, and any credit card company, as well as to contactless cards discussed above.
Thus, the front of a typical security card 10 shown in FIG. 1, like a typical credit card, for example, a VISA™ card, has a bank logo or name 12, a sequence of four 4-digit numbers 14 which are raised above the surface of the card type 16, the expiration date 18, the card-holder's name 20, one or more holograms 22, the credit card company's logo 24 (e.g. VISA™), and the bank identification number 26. It may also have an indication of when the cardholder first became a cardholder or other information or design features (not shown).
On the reverse side of a typical such card (both a typical credit card and therefore, the corresponding security card of the invention) as shown in FIG. 2, miscellaneous card or bank information 28, another bank name indication 30, other logo(s) such as that of the card operating system 32, a tape strip 34 to be signed by the card-holder, and recessed information from the front side of the card (not shown), the telephone number(s) 36 to call for information or to report lost or stolen cards, and a visible area 38 which indicates the location of encoded algorithms and the like, such as a magnetic stripe or strip and/or smart chip as discussed above. Any other information, coloration and markings that are found on real credit cards are also found on the security card so that the security card has exactly the same appearance as the "real" bank card that it is meant to imitate.
With respect to the four 4-digit numbers on the front side of the security card, these numbers may be assigned by the card issuer, but preferably are chosen by the card purchaser. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, to obtain a security card, the consumer provides four 4-digit numbers to go on the security card (or three 4-digit numbers where the bank identification number (BIN) is required to be the first 4-digit number; the BIN connects the seller to the account of the card owner at the correct financial institution). Each of these 4-digit numbers can be random numbers, or in the preferred embodiment of the invention, are the consumer's PINs for three of the consumer's "real" credit cards. In a preferred embodiment of the invention, at least one of the series of four digit numbers on the security card of the invention, instead of being part of a random number, is the PIN for the credit card owner's "real credit card(s). Because essentially all real credit cards also have four 4-digit numbers and because the security card of the invention otherwise looks like a real credit card, someone looking at the security card of the invention and the consumer's other real credit cards does not know whether a particular card is a real card with a real bank card number, or is a security card having PINs or random or bank-generated numbers.
In addition, the magnetic strip or smart chip on the security card has a program that looks in every way to be authentic when the security card is inserted into a card machine. The security card has a false history and stored value that is displayed by the card reader. Cryptographic algorithms, the same as those employed on real credit cards, are used on the security cards of the invention, except in the preferred embodiment of the invention herein, code is added to the algorithms to enable use of the security card to disable an inauthentic host (a computer terminal masquerading as an ATM). An inauthentic host, comprising essentially a card reader and a computer, such as a lap top, will not have the necessary algorithms to complete the challenge and response sequence of a true host, unless someone with top secret information is using that information illegally. When the security card is read by an inauthentic host, it will automatically load a destructive virus that will be activated when the host is unable to correctly respond to the security card's challenge, thereby destroying all of the illegally gained information. True hosts will be privy to the challenge of the security card and will be immune to the destructive virus. If a security card of the invention is read by a POS/ATM that is not part of the system of the invention, the information on the card is transmitted to the host. So long as one person from the host's organization were carrying the security card, then the host would be on the system and would be privy to the trigger code and therefore immune to the virus. Ultimately, it would be to all legitimate hosts' advantage to be on the system, because as is the common practice, most people do not limit themselves to using the ATM system that belongs to their financial institution.
It is important to note that "cash value" or "stored value" cards of the future may not have any numbers on the front to identify them as belonging to an account, because they themselves are the account. They are an "electronic purse" capable of storing value, having value removed or paid out, and reloading value. For these types of cards, the security card of the invention will not be a memory aid to PINS, but rather it will only play the roles of theft deterrent, financial access padlock and emergency call beacon. For such applications, such as at home banking via the Internet, security cards of the invention that mimic "cash value" or "stored value" cards are the ideal security system. In this application of the card, the home computer serves in the role of card reader/scanner via the Internet connection to the host which is where the security system CPU is co-located. Instead of the CPU sending the host location as the point of activation, it then would report the Internet address from where the transaction originated, e.g., email@example.com. Given the numerous Internet service providers in multiple domains, it will be more difficult to apprehend a would-be thief on the Internet; however, the security card has still served its purpose by shutting down financial access to the card holder's accounts. Not only can a thief spend the value stored on a stolen card, but the thief can also continue to reload value from the owner's account via a personal computer over the Internet if the thief has the PIN which allows for that transaction and is not using a security card of the invention. When the thief uses the security card, the alarm, response and apprehension features of the invention which are discussed in more detail below are initiated.
In addition to "cash value" or "stored value" cards it is equally important to make mention of cards such as membership cards, corporate gasoline charge cards, student identification cards, and loyalty cards, all of which now feature either a magnetic stripe and/or smart chip. Essentially any card that is carried in a wallet or purse by anyone can serve in the role of a security card, whether it be to summons help or place a padlock on financial access.
Also, there is an encrypted trigger code on each security card of the invention herein which preferably changes every twelve months so that there is a reduced opportunity for someone to have time to determine the code by reverse engineering or other means. For security cards expiring in two years from a given date, there are thus preferably three trigger codes, one trigger code for the first partial year until the current calendar year ends (for example, for a security card beginning on Sep. 1, 1997, from Sep. 1, 1997 until Dec. 31, 1997), one trigger code for the full calendar year of the security card (all of 1998 in the same example), and one trigger code for the time between the end of the fall calendar year of the card and the expiration date (Jan. 1, 1999 to Aug. 31, 1999 in the example). This allows the credit card to be issued at any time during the cycle of the active code. Because the odds of anyone being able to break the algorithm's code in a lifetime are estimated to be one in a trillion, would-be hackers are deterred from trying to break the code. Having more than one code also provides a means for changing the active code should an individual privy to classified information somehow compromise the system.
FIG. 5 shows schematically more detail on the computer operation in the system of the invention. Thus, in the preferred embodiment, the security card is issued to a consumer with three trigger codes embedded deep within coded algorithms. In addition to codes that "activate" the system, the consumer's ID code/number and other information is also embedded with algorithms to protect that information (completely separate from the codes that act as triggers). When a card is scanned into the system within its lifespan, the CPU has within it an active trigger code, and may also have multiple fake trigger codes to deter hacking. The computer matches the card code and the code it knows to be the real trigger code, and if there is a match the security system is activated. Activation of the system means that a "dummy" program plays its interactive video for the would-be thief, while in the background, a preprogrammed chain of events takes place. If a real credit/debit card is scanned, the CPU does nothing to activate the security system, and the transaction occurs as it normally would. The programming of the system itself is preferably designed, as is known in the art, to work with many platforms and many computer languages, so that it may be as widely disseminated as possible.
Real cards have certain strengths and weaknesses in regard to the questions of cloning and identity assumption which are preferably mimicked by the security card of the invention. Thus, the security card of the invention can be copied or cloned in the same manner as a real credit card. This means that someone who has stolen the security card can make additional copies of it, without realizing that the cards are not real bank cards, and increase the likelihood that the security card or a copy of it will be used by the thief or his collaborators in a card machine, and initiate the emergency system. Once a consumer has secured his/her financial holdings via a separate account, the stolen card can serve to track and hopefully apprehend the thief.
Consumers who obtain a security card need not have any "real" credit cards to receive the benefits of the invention. The security card of the invention can still be used, as discussed herein, as a distress beacon from any on-line activity, and can aid in the retrieval of stolen goods and the apprehension of assailants.
The consumer receiving a security card is educated on the safe use of credit cards, enrolled in the security card program so that use of the security card will trigger the security system. The consumer is assigned an identification number, which is known only to the financial institution and the security firm, and is then issued the security card. Optionally, the consumer can be photographed and additional information obtained from the consumer to help solve a future crime once the security system is triggered by the use of the security card.
If the security card of the invention is placed in a reader that is on-line or is uploaded from an off-line site, it initiates an emergency trigger program, comprising an alarm system and preferably, subsequent response and apprehension procedures. When the security card of the invention is used by someone, whether it be by a thief, or intentionally or by mistake by the legitimate owner of the security card, at a point of sale (POS), at an ATM, or any other "bank machine" where bank cards are accepted, the emergency trigger program is first triggered by the insertion of the security card of the invention in the credit card scanner. The person using the security card, however, cannot tell that anything is wrong when the security card information enters the machine. As discussed above, a "dummy" program runs an interactive display on the terminal, which appears to an observer to be the same as when a real credit card is used, while the true but hidden program triggered by use of the security card has already set the remote alarm, and a subsequent, essentially immediate response and apprehension process in motion.
While appearing identical to the program triggered by a normal credit card transaction, the dummy program preferably has a built-in time delay that increases the normal transaction time, for example, by one-half to three-quarters over the normal transaction time, allowing more time for the authorities to arrive. Use of any PIN with the security card of the invention preferably is accepted the first time, and the machine returns the card to whoever used it. This is important in increasing the likelihood of catching the thief, who is likely to take the card and to try to use it again somewhere, thus again activating the system.
The security card by design is a "hot list", meaning that whenever it is used the emergency system is activated. The events which occur when the security card of the invention is used are set forth in FIG. 3 (when the POS/ATM CPU determines that the card that has been inserted is not a real card but a security card).
In the event a consumer is confronted at a location such as an ATM, it is possible for the card to benefit the consumer in one of two ways. First, if the encounter is anticipated in time to use the security card, the consumer pretends to use the security card as a real card to complete a cash withdrawal or other appropriate transaction. The consumer appears to cooperate with someone who is forcing the consumer to use a card to withdraw funds by entering in any PIN and asks for the demanded amount of money. When the machine gives a nondescript reason for denial of funds a first time (and possibly, one or more additional times), the consumer cannot be blamed for noncompliance with the demand. In actuality, the mere fact that the card has been inserted into the ATM or other machine has actuated the emergency system.
At the time of activation, the POS/ATM CPU sends the identification number of the card-owner, and preferably a real-time video feed from the site via the existing surveillance camera(s) and real time audio feed enabling the user, although unwittingly, to give even greater detailed information to the security firm dispatcher to aid in apprehending the assailant, i.e., the assailant's voice can be recorded at the scene of the crime, and, through voice recognition, this recording may biometrically later help identify a suspect as the assailant. On the screen at the security firm's center appears personal information about the cardholder, the location where the card was used, a photo of the card-owner (if provided by the card-owner at the time of enrollment) and a picture of what is happening in real time at the scene where the card was used if the real time video feed is available at that site.
The second way a consumer can be benefited by the security card is to summons help after the fact. Thus, after a robber has made a getaway, the consumer can use the security card to start the communication about what has happened. Thus, the security card system of the invention can also be used as a distress beacon from any on-line activity. Use by anyone of the security card of the invention can assist the authorities in retrieving stolen goods and apprehending thieves and assailants.
In addition to the security firm notifying the local law-enforcement authorities when the security card is used, the card-owner's real cards are immediately suspended until the card-owner can be identified as the one tripping the alarm if that is the case.
Both a preferably newly created security firm and any existing financial institution that issues bank cards are part of the security system of the invention. The security card of the invention is preferably issued to the consumer by a financial institution, as is the case with real credit cards. The financial institution that issues the security card of the invention retains information on what "real" cards the consumers has, as in the prior system for standard billing and accounting purposes. The consumer picks a participating card that the consumer preferably does not presently carry, for example, VISA™ or MASTERCARD™, whether it be a debit, credit or cash value card, brand and a participating issuer financial institution, to start the process of obtaining a security card according to the invention.
In part of the preferred security card system of the invention, the security firm is responsible for enrolling consumers in the program, monitoring of the security card, responding to emergency calls, and reporting fraud to the financial institutions which issued the card. The security company retains information on the consumer, including identity, date of birth, and permanent address for use in assisting local authorities with the verification of the user's identity. If the user is the owner of the card, it is far more likely that the card is being used to summon help. Real time video feed from the site of usage can also help security firm operators target suspects for the local authorities and aid in apprehension.
To ensure the security of the "real" accounts, the consumer who obtains a security card is known only to both the security company and the financial institution as an assigned identification number, which is unknown to the consumer, and cannot thus be revealed by the consumer either inadvertently or by being forced by a thief.
The system for processing the use of the security card preferably has the following components as shown schematically in FIG. 4. The system includes an intranet that is part of the security company, having a centrally located hub 50 and regionally located clusters of mirrored (identical backup system) computer processing units (CPUs). The flow of information in the system, once the security card is used at a POS/ATM is from the POS/ATM card reader 52 (home computer in the case of cards used over the Internet for home banking) to the CPU 54 (co-located with the host as used in the Internet home banking example), which determines if the card is a "real" card or not, to the nearest server 56 if it is a security card that was used, to the firm hub 50. From the firm hub 50, the local authorities 58 are contacted, as are the financial institutions 60 which have issued real bank cards to the owner of the security card. Due to the speed of network transmission, the approximate time from the scan of the security card at a POS or ATM 52 to display of information on the screen of a dispatcher in the security firm who in turn immediately contacts the closest law enforcement agency 58 to the point of origin is in the range of about 10 seconds. It is the duty of the security firm dispatcher to ensure that information is passed to the nearest law enforcement agency. Each regional cluster comprises servers as are known in the art, for example, UNIX™, which are preferred due to their dependability and capabilities of the servers. Other servers that would work include Windows NT™ servers (4.0 and later) and Microsoft NT™ servers once the 1995 innovation of a PC bus design with Intel capabilities is implemented.
The function of the server is to process hits on the system and route them to the nearest available hub. There may be one server for an estimated one million people. The hub would be one location where the security firm receives information on hits to the system and dispatches authorities. Because routing is almost instantaneous, with the individual server can process an estimated two thousand hits simultaneously and the system is a closed system based on dedicated 800 numbers, a hit received in the farthest northeastern corner of the United States, for example, could have local authorities dispatched in less than thirty seconds by a hub on the west coast of the United States. Preferably, a state of the art computer, such as a DUAL PENTIUM PRO™ having at least a nine gigabyte hard drive, is at the centrally located hub. In the preferred system, the information in the system is passed via dedicated 800 numbers and/or satellite communication networks 58.
Not only does the security card system of the invention have utility in its activation of an emergency system when the card is used, but it also is a practical, cost-effective system, as the major parties likely to be affected or which are now part of the credit-card system will all benefit. The system will allow credit card companies to sell more cards as consumers are less afraid of fraud and theft, and the system of the invention can be made with known technology for card making (e.g., the same magnetic strip or smart chip technology). CPU manufacturers will sell more CPUs for use in ATMs and at business sites, and for use by the security firm in its network of sites. The cost to a merchant to be part of the system of the invention is approximately $100-$200 at current prices, based on �86 chip technology (meaning times 86) with a modem capable of transmitting a minimum of 28,800/56,000 BPS via a dedicated 800 number. Telephone service providers will sell more "air time". Most importantly, the credit card companies (e.g., MasterCard, Visa, Discover, etc.) will save millions of dollars because of the reduction of fraudulent transactions, the public will save money because the financial institutions will not have to pass on the cost of the fraudulent transactions, and the small and large retailers can eliminate the headache of processing fraudulent transactions and having to try to collect from the card-owner. The POS/ATM CPU will not allow the sale to take place whether the merchant is on or off-line because the CPU acts as a gatekeeper to the financial institution's host. When an ATM site or POS (such as a small store) is connected to the security firm's system, it has the advantage of "prescreening" of the card. This means that if the card is not a true credit card, the CPU will not allow the transaction to take place, thereby eliminating the hassle of trying to collect on a fraudulent transaction. While it is true that this system only works for a security card with the trigger code and that stolen credit cards that have not been reported as such will be able to make transactions, the retailer will benefit by warding off potential frauds by the fact that the retailer could be a member of the security system, whether they are an on-line site or an off-line site. Given the fact that the security card appears to be an authentic card, a thief would be less likely to run the risk of using a card that could trip the alarm and thereby far less likely to steal the card(s) in the first place.
In summary, the steps the system takes are simple. First, the card is read. If it is a security card, the CPU does not allow the transaction and performs the dummy program in the case of an ATM, or simply denies the transaction in the case of a store or shop. Essentially simultaneously, the system sends out the alarm to the security firm setting into motion the full range of services the security firm provides, provided the location is on-line. If the location is not on-line, at the minimum, the fraudulent transaction is stopped and once the transactions are uploaded (for the day, week, or other time period), the rest of the security measures can be completed, such as securing other credit cards of the owner of the security card that was used, until it is verified that the owner was the one trying to use the card.
Advantages of a security card having an appearance similar to a contactless card, for example, a subway card, include that someone who steals a purse or wallet containing numerous cards, and uses the stolen contactless security card, for example, to board a subway in making a getaway, will trigger the alarm mechanisms of using the security card, thereby suspending all of the owner's "real" credit cards, and by virtue of the security firm's notification that the cards are stolen, they too will be placed on a hot list that will alert merchants that they are stolen. By using the security card in the form of a subway pass, the thief has increased his chances of being caught by several fold, and the stolen cards will never have fraudulent charges accumulated.
Consumers who benefit from the security card of the invention include any persons who are interested in protecting their financial holdings, likely at a cost which could be less than $5.00 per year, children whose parents want them to be able to call for help from anywhere there is a card reader, anyone who has a PIN or combination or any other number they want to have available but kept from being known to thieves, anyone afraid of losing their wallet, purse or credit cards, anyone who is a possible kidnapping victim, and anyone who would feel more secure knowing that the police are just a scan away.
While the invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that numerous variations, modifications, and embodiments are possible, and accordingly , all such variations, modifications, and embodiments are to be regarded as being within the spirit and scope of the invention.
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|U.S. Classification
|235/379, 235/380
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Nov 26, 2003
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Dec 10, 2007
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|May 30, 2008
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|Jul 22, 2008
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20080530


text:
Who's banned?
Who's banned?
EL-Cubano's Lil bro
you are going to be banned
whatever. BM west channel 4. Join the retarded named one. password is dick.
EL-Cubano's Lil bro
NEED 1 more!
We do extreme mode.
Join Papa-West ;; Channel 8 ;; ROOM 071;; pass is mpgh
BTW all hackers wanted. Knife through wall and etc!
Oh i thought you meant here i was like WDF??
/ Join Papa-West ;; Channel 8 ;; ROOM 051;; pass is mpgh
ortax (06-11-2011)

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Longlisted for the John Creasey Dagger Award for best debut crime novel of 2014.
London, 1727 - and Tom Hawkins is about to fall from his heaven of card games, brothels, and coffeehouses to the hell of a debtors' prison. The Marshalsea is a savage world of its own, with simple rules: those with family or friends who can lend them a little money may survive in relative comfort. Those with none will starve in squalor and disease. And those who try to escape will suffer a gruesome fate at the hands of the gaol's rutheless governor and his cronies.
The trouble is, Tom Hawkins has never been good at following rules - even simple ones. And the recent grisly murder of a debtor, Captain Roberts, has brought further terror to the gaol. While the Captain's beautiful widow cries for justice, the finger of suspicion points only one way: to the sly, enigmatic figure of Samuel Fleet.
Some call Fleet a devil, a man to avoid at all costs. But Tom Hawkins is sharing his cell. Soon, Tom's choice is clear: Get to the truth of the murder - or be the next to die.
A twisting mystery, a dazzling evocation of early 18th-Century London, The Devil in the Marshalsea is a thrilling debut novel full of intrigue and suspense.
©2014 Antonia Hodgson (P)2014 Hodder & Stoughton
"One of the best audio books I've chosen recently"
Dont know
I liked both the naive but brave and resourceful narrator and his enigmatic cell mate, Fleet. They reminded me a bit of Davy and Long John Silver in Treasure Island.
This was a an atmospheric novel which also had plenty of suspense and twists and turns. I thought it was very well written and researched. Who knew that the old Marshalsea operated like a kind of concentration camp, killing poor people through brutality and starvation in the plain centre of London? Unlike the previous reviewer, I didn't find it at all repetitive, though that's often a criticism I make of audiobooks. I thought the narrator was great and didn't mind the sound effect either!
"Promising but flawed."
This is very well researched and an enjoyable, fast-paced story but I felt the writing lacked depth and would have benefited from better editing . It was sufficiently engaging however, for me to try the next in the series providing Audible sorts out the sound track. My listening enjoyment of the book was really marred and my patience sorely tried by the awful and too often repeated musical refrain.
The standout character for me was not the hero,Tom, but Samuel Fleet, a sophisticated and genuinely enigmatic character who I wished has been at the heart of this novel and indeed in future books in the series. I particularly liked the selected bibliography of source materials at the end and the integration of real and imagined characters.
"Brilliant book let down a little by the editing"
Dirty smelly history
The War of the Roses trilogy by Iggulden - same gritty realism you can almost smell with well drawn characters.
Not his fault - the recording was badly done - first one ever - I could hear him swallowing; there were a number of repeats, one of which even included his apology as he re- read it. I actuallly liked him as a narrator.
I found the beginning rather slow and was not totally convinced; but once he got to the prison I was hooked and could have listened to it in one go
First time I have experienced this - but poor editing, as mentioned, the narrator swallowing and lines repeated in error. I perservered as I was enjoying the book and the narrator. I wanted to give it 5 stars for performance but could not - though not the narrators fault.
"Poor Editing"
gripping, atmospheric, detailed
good story, but too many repeats of narration which weren't deleted, lack of editing became annoying through the course of the book
"Great story, shame about the edit."
This is a great story. A bit graphic so not one to listen to whilst you're having dinner.
The voice actor is very good and, without over the top accents, differentiates the characters well. His voice is a good match to the story and the volume is well regulated.
The only problem with this book is the audio edit. First, the musical interludes between chapters are rather drawn out and, secondly, there were sections where the different 'attempts' or 'takes' of occasional sentences were not edited out. At one point the actor apologises and then repeats the sentence again with the emphasis in a different place. Not what I would expect and detracted from the excellent story.
"Poor editing and weak characters"
I'm suprised how many good reviews this audiobook has got. The book was very well researched and the Marshalsea is a fascinating and horrifying place. Unfortunately I felt the characters and plot were secondary to the research. The plot twists were far fetched and our narrator was very naive, with the rest of us working out the truth long before he did.
The editing of this book was very poor. The narrator was good but repeated lines and a few mistakes were not edited out. And what idiot decided to add awful music and sound effects between every chapter, sometimes continuing for over a a minute. Really got on my nerves.
"Life in a London debtors prison"
I got this as recommended by Richard and Judy bookclub.
This tale is set in 1727 London and is the debut novel of Antonia Hodgson. The description is very atmospheric and listening to it as an audiobook aided the atmosphere as the eery music that went with it with its clinking and clanging was quite scary.
Tom Hawkins is his own worst enemy drawing trouble to himself. Despite this though he has an inherent decency and sense of fairness. Tom fought with his parson father leaving home seeking the company of prostitutes and alcohol, resulting in his being penniless and living on his wits in London. He builds up debts he cannot pay so will be put in a debtors prison called the Marshalsea.
As a gambler he is skilled and he manages to raise enough money to keep him out of the Marshals. He is then attacked and the money stolen so ends up in prison anyway.
I feel this novel was well researched and in prison we meet many squalid unsavoury characters some very dangerous indeed. The Head Keeper William Acton is himself a murderer allowed to choose his victims at his pleasure. The reader witnesses poverty extreme cruelty and brutality up close and personal. Money is the currency which can make or break an individual despite it being a debtors prison. The prison is divided into two sides, the Masters side where you have a chance of staying alive or the Common side where disease including Smallpox is rife and chances of dying a slow and painful death are pretty much guaranteed.
Tom is taken under the patronage of Samuel Fleet whose recent cell mate Captain Roberts was murdered. Fleet was considered the culprit. Captain Roberts wife is haunting the prison trying to get justice for her husband. Tom is offered freedom if he discovers who murdered Roberts.
As per usual there are a multitude of suspects, false clues and leads. However as well as being a murder mystery this book is historically and factually based so is for the historian also.
I enjoyed the writing and how the novel progressed. I enjoyed the ending finding it quite surprising. I think this is suitable for readers interested in murder mysteries, historical prison life, with a little period drama thrown in.
"Those Cranking Doors!"
After reading Little Dorrit I was encouraged to make a further visit to The Devil in the Marshalsea which gave more ghastly detail of the life endured by the prisoners. However, although the story was well read, it was spoilt for me by the constant screeching noise at the beginning and end of each chapter - so unnecessarily tiresome. The editing was also rather careless and there were several overlapping repetitions, even of sentences, during the reading. I felt that a disservice was done to the author and narrator.
"Smelly, dirty and deadly!!"
Not a bad story with a great twist at the end. The performance was a little juvenile with not enough distinction between characters. Loved the historical research that has gone into this book, it's a shame it wasn't translated in terms of literacy, I didn't feel I was there even though the aliteration and similies were in abundance.
Overall it was good but I also had some sentences that repeated which I'm sure was not a prose but technical problem! Initially I thought I tapped my phone screen accidentally but on other occasions I was sat still so I think it was a recording mishap.
"I very much enjoyed this book!"
Good plot, some action, pathos and some good twists too! There are some issues with the narration where phrases are repeated and some editing is needed but it didn't really detract from the story.
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Koh Chang
The type of search By District | By Place
Map Have Map No Map
Ranong attractions
Attractions in Thailand
Operating day: Daily
Operating time: 24 Hour
Ko Chang is a large island covering an area of approximately 18 sq. km. located 20 km. from downtown Ranong and 4 km. from Ko Phayam. The island is inhabited by some 80 households whose main occupations are cashew – one of the country's best varieties – para rubber plantations, and coastal fishery.
There is also a processed agricultural produce centre operated by the Ko Chang Housewife Group producing wine from cashew flesh and various cashew nut products. Ko Chang is the habitat of a flight of a small variety of hornbill: the oriental pied hornbills that fly between Ko Chang and nearby islands.
As the inhabitants of Ko Chang never catch nor hunt them, the hornbills are familiar with humans and tame and easily encountered, except for the period of March – April when they nest and take care of their chicks.
Various activities are available on Ko Chang; such as, trekking to hilltop viewpoints, sightseeing biking, herbal steam at Wat Ko Chang, hornbill watching, and fishing for various fish like grouper, sea perch, and spanish mackerel. Accommodation is available. Please visit www.kohchang-ranong.com for more details.
To get there Ko Chang is accessible by a long-tailed boat from the Chao Ko Pier, Saphan Pla Road (the entrance to the pier is next to the Pak Nam Police Station).
There are 3 boats leaving for Ko Chang at 9.30 a.m., 12.00 a.m., 2.00 p.m., and 2 boats on the return trip at 7.00 a.m. and 2.00 p.m. The boat trip takes 1 hour and costs Bt 200 each. A chartered boat for approximately 20 passengers costs Bt 4,000 – 4,500.
Koh Chang Map
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My Nonprofit Reviews
Review for Heart Of Texas Spca Hotspca, San Antonio, TX, USA
We got our baby girl from this shelter. Was the shelter like my home? Of course not. They have more animals than I and less money to work with! All the folks who are complaining about the shelter, well, maybe they need to change their outlook. The animals are what are important. Sure, paperwork is a necessary evil, but it shouldn't take precendence. The animals should. Board members, have you spent a day voluntering here? Have you cleaned the kennels, fed and watered the animals? Do you know that side of the picture? Or are you simply sitting at a board room table criticizing? I am greatful for the shelter and the help they provide for abandoned animals. I think they are doing the best they can do with what they have and that is more than a lot of people are doing.
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During the past six months, I've talked with countless owners who've seen occupancy rates drop to the lowest levels in years. "Are we at the end of the Great Self-Storage Run?" they ask. "Is the end in sight? Will we ever recover?" My answers have been an unwavering, "No ... no ... yes."
While I admit to being optimistic, I don't think my positive outlook of our industry's future is unrealistic, but owners' expectations must be brought in line with reality. Many of us have enjoyed above 90 percent occupancies with 4 percent to 7 percent annual increases for years. My guess is those days are over.
A realistic budgetary forecast of 80 percent to 85 percent will be more achievable. A 2 percent to 4 percent increase would be wonderful, but consider anything over that a gift from the storage gods. Some owners/operators may discover that, once discount patterns are considered, the average rental rate per square foot is less than expected. So don't ignore the giveaways.
Are there markets that are overbuilt? Of course! Are there some facilities that should never have been built? Absolutely. Have some buyers created artificial expectations of real cap rates? You bet. I have started to see signs that with tightening mortgage underwriting and more realistic closing prices on some transitions, most excesses will leave the market replaced by more normal levels.
The bottom line is we invested in a business that has paid us an amazing return over the past several decades. The fact that those returns may now have been downgraded to great or substantial is certainly no reason to become Chicken Little.
The biggest problem many owners will be facing in the next five to seven years is estate planning. Maximizing the aftertax net financial gain on this business for children, grandchildren or an estate trust can be daunting. With millions of dollars in tax-deferred processes from refinancing and the creative accounting some owners have employed over the years, sorting out future tax liabilities and using all the twists and turns of the current tax code will keep many people up nights for years to come. The recent congressional action on "carried interest" is just a harbinger of what could be ahead for small-business people.
I still consider self-storage one of the best entrepreneurial ventures. Don't forget more than half of the households in the country have never used self-storage before—according to the Self Storage Association's 2007 Demand Study. My advice: Don't panic, and keep marketing.


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|Author: Emode Victor
Topic: Heavenly Valued and Earthly Useful. Pt Two [24/11/16]
His substance also was seven thousand sheep, and three thousand camels, and five hundred yoke of oxen, and five hundred she asses, and a very great household; so that this man was the greatest of all the men of the east. Job 1:3. Read: Job 29:7-17
Another Bible character that was tremendously blessed was brother Job. He enjoyed all round blessings of the Almighty and the Bible described him the greatest of all the men of East. Wonderful! Job actually fulfilled the scripture in Deut 28:1-14. Despite all his wealth, he still maintained a close relationship with God that caused God to build a hedge round him and the devil could not invade him.
But then, the glory of men they say is in their story. There are secrets to Job's greatness. Chapter one of Job described him as a perfect and upright, and one who feared the Lord and eschewed evil. And the Bible says, the secret of the Lord is with them that fears Him. Another thing that made Job great among the men of the east is documented in our Bible reading, please, take your time to go through it. Job was an eyes to the blind, leg to the lame, defended the poor and the widows. He extended his wealth to outsiders not to his family alone.
* True greatness and happiness comes from living a life of impact. Go put a smile on someone's face today with your blessings


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Find your Medical needs in low PriceNovember 29, 2007 # 7:00 am # Fun Off-Topic, Home Gadgets # 9 Comments
Medical supplies is really expensive these days. It's really hard for family that have a family members which have a long term illness as it will cost so much money. Have them stay at hospital is not a wise way, it takes much money and they won't happy if you forced them to stay in hospital.
But in jrsmedical, you can find the medical supplies in the really low price. For example this knee walker, you can get it just for $242.95. In another web, I found the market price is far more expensive range from $399-$500 at the very same products. In this online store, you can get free shipping for purchase more than $100. As this knee walker is more than $100, you can get free shipping for this medical products!


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I hate sinusitis in a totally different way than all of the adults out there with a stuffy nose, pain when they lean over and achy teeth. I hate it in a "Seriously? You expect me to diagnose this is someone?"-kind of way. I secretly long for the days before Internal Review Boards told people that doing sticking a needle through someone's face to drain the sinuses seemed too cruel to justify the information they might yield. Let me explain:
Sinusitis is the 5th most commonly used pediatric diagnosis. It accounts for 5-10% of most pediatric practice patient visits. If treated, it is recommended to treat for 10-14 days with antibiotics (= a lot of antibiotics). But there is NO GOOD WAY of diagnosing it. The only difference between most cases of sinusitis and a common viral upper respiratory infection is that on day 10 of symptoms, most colds are getting better and most sinus infections are not. (http://www.cdc.gov/getsmart/campaign-materials/info-sheets/child-rhin-vs-sinus.pdf) That's it. The color of the drainage doesn't help either. Let me repeat. Green or yellow boogers does not mean it is or isn't a sinus infection.
From the Cincinnati Children's Hospital Evidence Based Medicine Guidelines
It is recommended that the character of the nasal discharge not be used to make a diagnosis or as an indication for antibiotic treatment. The quantity, quality, and color of nasal discharge are not helpful in differentiating ABS from other upper respiratory illnesses (e.g. common cold, allergic rhinitis) (Wald 1981 [B], Aitken 1998 [C], McLean 1970 [D], Gungor 1997 [S], Wald 1994 [S]). Note: Physical exam is likely to reveal purulent nasal discharge and/or posterior oropharyngeal drainage. These findings, however, are non-specific and of little diagnostic usefulness (Wald 1981 [B], McLean 1970 [D], Williams 1993 [S], Fireman 1992 [S]).
"Well, Scott," you say. "That doesn't seem too bad, just treat the kids who have had symptoms for over 10 days and quit your whining." But wait, there's more – From the Cochrane Library a review of 59 randomized controlled studies showed:
There is moderate evidence that antibiotics provide a small benefit for clinical outcomes in immunocompetent primary care patients with uncomplicated acute sinusitis. However, 80% of participants treated without antibiotics improved within two weeks. Clinicians need to weigh the small benefits of antibiotic treatment against the potential for adverse effects at both the individual and general population level.
So do I wait until 14 days and treat the 20% not better? Or will you have already gone to Patient First to get your antibiotics?
*This post is supposed to teach people about the difficulty of diagnosing and treating Sinusitis. Please know that I understand how difficult it to care for a sick child (Read: not sleeping) for 10-14 days just waiting for symptoms to get better . I also know how stressful a 10 day illness can be on your job; as a doctor with patients scheduled in advance it is VERY HARD to "just take a sick day" when my kids can't go to school.


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Henri de Toulouse-Lautrec (1864-1901) was a French painter, printmaker, draughtsman and illustrator whose immersion in the colourful and theatrical life of Paris in the late 1800s yielded a collection of exciting, elegant and provocative images of the modern and sometimes decadent life of those times. Toulouse-Lautrec – along with Cézanne, Van Gogh and Gauguin – is among the most well-known painters of the Post-Impressionist period.
Throughout his career, which spanned less than 20 years, Toulouse-Lautrec created 737 canvases, 275 watercolours, 363 prints and posters, 5,084 drawings, some ceramic and stained glass work, and an unknown number of lost works. His debt to the Impressionists, in particular the more figurative painters Manet and Degas, is apparent. His style was influenced by the classical Japanese woodprints which became popular in art circles in Paris.


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In 1972, Brazilian biologist Francisco Varela introduced the concept of "autopoiesis," which explains the process by which cells regenerate and replace themselves. According to the theory, human cells die and are replaced; so every ten years or so, you are literally an entirely different person than you were before. So if you called your car-insurance company to tell them the speeding ticket you got in 1998 wasn't you, you'd actually be right.
Seeing as how I'm reaching the end of my 30s, I figure I'm due a new body. I hope model 4.0 will be taller and skinnier; if it's 4G capable, that would be awesome, too. Yet there's one thing I find problematic about my impending new self: It will be supporting Mitt Romney for president.
This galls Current Me. My dissatisfaction with Romney mirrors that of many conservatives who recognize his long history as a political chameleon. As a kid, I remember the cartoon He-Man confusing me; He-Man and his alter-ego, Prince Adam, looked exactly alike, just wearing different clothes. And yet none of the citizens of Eternia figured it out. Apparently, Mitt Romney thinks in order to disassociate himself from his past political life, he just has to wear a different suit and say the word "Reagan" enough.
But we've figured it out. The list is well traveled: This Mitt is the same one who supported TARP; the same one who instituted an Obama-style individual mandate requiring Massachusetts residents to purchase health care; who supported "cap and trade," assault-weapons bans, and Roe v. Wade.
His puerile attacks on Rick Perry for asserting that Social Security is a "Ponzi scheme" were as confusing as Perry's awkward attempts to explain his position. Romney slammed Perry for allowing the children of illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition, despite Latinos' making up 38 percent of Texas's population — yet all of Romney's erstwhile liberal positions clearly represented naked political opportunism of an equal order.
Yet Romney is almost a lead-pipe lock to be the GOP presidential nominee in 2012. His titanium chin has plowed its way through the Republican presidential field, making otherwise good candidates occasionally seem amateurish.
And while many of Romney's positions have "evolved" based on the office for which he is running, many of them have stayed strong throughout. In their 2007 endorsement of Romney, the National Review editors pointed out that in 1994, when he tried to unseat Ted Kennedy, "he ran against higher taxes and government-run health care, and for school choice, a balanced budget amendment, welfare reform, and 'tougher measures to stop illegal immigration.'"
Romney's campaigning skills have improved markedly from his first presidential run in 2008; he is currently the only candidate plausible enough to share the stage with Barack Obama in 2012. Not only are his currently held convictions right; if he were actually to make it through the primary, his past liberal positions could make him more appealing to out-of-work Democrats who are looking for a safe home.
And while Romney may not be the ideal candidate, he may just be ideal enough to win. As the old saying goes, when being chased by a bear, you don't have to necessarily be fast — you just have to be faster than one other guy. The good news for Romney is that he'd be running against an incumbent whose approval rating is slightly lower than that of paper cuts. And this bear economy may just devour Obama as Romney jogs across the finish line.
In 2011, Republicans are sitting at the end of the bar, and it's 2 a.m. Ryan and Christie have already gone home, and the GOP is looking for someone to keep it company. As Joan Jett's "I Hate Myself for Loving You" plays, Mitt winks at them from the other end of the bar. Right now, he's the best the GOP has; how the night turns out is yet to be seen.
In 2012, I will be writing breathlessly about how America will be engulfed in flames should Mitt Romney not be elected president. I will write endlessly about his infallibility and his impeccable conservative credentials. But thanks to science, I can be forgiven. It won't be me.
— Christian Schneider is a senior fellow at the Wisconsin Policy Research Institute.


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so what are you reviews on this game I recently bought an ipad and I want the communities review on the game so I won't waste my money if I don't enjoy it
English#BungieAerospace #Crimson
The crashing seems to kick in if you apply an update or attempt to repair/reinstall the app. There has been a lot of talk about fixing this, but not much action. A few of the proposed fixes end up clearing your game progress ... so you may as well do a complete delete/re-purchase. The game is average, and does get a little slow/boring quickly as it tends to be the same thing over again. Also found the last of multi/pass play left it without any challenge. I prefer the social play from these type of games ... short turns or the challenge of beating other peoples score - this games more for someone who plays alone. Shame the free play option was removed. Try for a free code - but guess the price wont be a killer given you aid for the iPad already ... but know what you mean
i'll get back to you once Crimson Steam Pirates stops crashing 10 seconds after i open the app [Edited on 01.05.2012 7:29 PM PST]


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About Elephant and Castle
Elephant and Castle is a central London neighbourhood just south of the ThamesRead about the area
Plans and the Future
There are 18 projects that form the core of the regeneration programmeFind out what's happening
Regeneration map
Find out more about the main developments and how they are changing the ElephantExplore the projects
Latest news
Get the latest updates on what's happening in the areaUpdate me
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Housing, jobs, training and transport. Read about the benefits.What's in it for me?
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- Please select a date to see the proper prices!
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Description of the Accommodation
Rooms, services Herculaneum B&B Ercolano is welcoming all guests in Ercolano with six comfortable rooms to stay in. Parking possibility is available nearby for guests arriving by car. You can secure your valuables in the safe. Wireless Internet connection (WiFi) is available at the hotel, ensuring that you can stay up-to-date during your holiday. If you wish to learn more about the exact scope of services provided by Herculaneum B&B Ercolano (including those available for an extra fee) or about the equipment of the rooms, you can find the complete list on the information sheet below.
Payment In order to finalize the reservation you may be required to provide credit card guarantee or advance payment by credit card, depending on the chosen room, date and price.
Arrival, opening hours The earliest time for arrival and check-in is 14:00, the latest time for departure and check-out is 11:00. The personnel of the hotel can speak in Italian and English with you.
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Build Your Very Own Online KingdomGroupe Public Actif il y a 1 an
First in the agenda, Barack Obama's camp is up in hands. Why? you ask. It seems that the brand new Yorker started feeling a little too innovative. So that they can satirize the prejudice leveled against Obama, they printed a cover that has been controversial as you would expect. The cover showcased a cartoon Obama wrapped in Muslim garb, while Michelle stands sporting a 'fro and packing heat. Also John McCain had been appalled. Good one, Brand New Yorker.
Until you're Steve Jobs or facebook meeting, steer clear of wearing typical gym shoes. When we say cool sneakers, we mean good pair of sneakers which in fact make a fashion declaration. Do not be concerned about lacking designer sneakers-a set of Onitsuka Tigers by ASICS will do.
Open with a witty comment. Comment on exactly how this woman is always on line. This will put the lady regarding defensive and also make the lady answer you, she certainly does not wish you to definitely believe that she is some type of computer geek.
How will you handle those voices and individuals? Never let them to guilt you into feeling you are lacking one thing if your life is really saturated in abundant joy. The same as making peace with yourself is a key to change, accepting that it is okay to be pleased will transform the manner in which you see yourself while the way the thing is the planet. Once you fully learn the concept that no real matter what other people may need to state, it's okay become pleased, your lifetime will change.
Mr. I Have No Idea What I wish to accomplish With my entire life: lots of men need certainly to find out their life's purpose or at the very least find a job which they never hate before they're willing to put the work into a significant relationship with you. This type can be a bit scattered, because they are attempting so desperately to discover who they really are. They're good guys in disguise. Remain facebook hookup and let fate take its course.
Well, I visited setup an online profile in Twitter, and after the very first handful of pages it asked me personally to locate some buddies online. You might have done it currently. Guess who we looked for? Yes, my girlfriend. Could I find the girl? No. Did I find her? Yes. I merely seemed for one of the woman daughters and discovered the lady as a pal of the woman child. When I delivered a request to the lady to be my Facebook buddy.
Online daters aren't hopeless, lonely individuals (at the least not absolutely all of these). Most women and men who find yourself on online dating sites are searching for someone because they're tired of the dating scene, do not have time and energy to hunt for a mate, or both.
You will find handful of treatments. One is to have an uncomplicated profile with not many buddies, furthermore your real every day profile. Another quality would be to retain your profile apparent of your times and exes. Of training course, if you should be dating many folks at the very same time, or utilizing skype adults for free options, then you can perhaps require become much a lot more cautious if you want to prevent a great deal of dilemmas.
If everything is copasetic so far, then you're probably going to desire to satisfy this gentleman if ever the chemistry will there be. That's great. But be careful about where you decide to satisfy.
My final Facebook Dating Suggestion will be that you should restrict the amount of photos on your profile to no more than 30. You never desire to look like you may spend your entire life on Facebook or MySpace as well as your most powerful weapon would be to create intrigue, therefore never provide way too much away.


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The Kindle might be cool, but it's got nothing on the good old fashion book. First, there's that weirdly intoxicating vanilla-grass scent an older tome gives off (people have even tried to bottle it). And then there's the fact that no GenXer, or Millennial of a slighter older vintage can give up the habit of actually turning pages.
As heritage explorer and archaeologist Kurush F Dalal says, "Since their inception, and before the Internet was invented, libraries have been created to share knowledge. There's no use showcasing a library just as a structure. Many of our libraries have unique histories and architecture attached to them that are not exploited fully. There is no active management policy undertaken by libraries in India because they are run by people who don't understand the digital age. However, if you combine these with new-age tools like Wi-Fi and a modern ambience, there is no reason why libraries can't thrive again."
So for those bibliophiles who still enjoy their books, we've handpicked 9 libraries in India that we hope you will escape to as soon as possible, WiFi access or not.
Asiatic Society, Mumbai
The star of many advertisements and movies shot in Mumbai, the Asiatic Society building, built in the Greek and Roman style, was founded by Sir James Mackintosh. It was established in 1804 and is also known as the Town Hall building. This blockbuster library contains over 15,000 rare books and is most famous for holding one of only two original copies of Dante's Divine Comedy.
Connemara Public Library, Chennai
Google's got nothing on this library. While the internet giant might be working to digitize book from across major research libraries, the Connemara Public Library has been storing a copy of every book, newspaper and periodical published in India. Since 1896. As if that weren't enough, the place is also a depository library for the United Nations. Imagine the millions of stories waiting for you to explore here!
David Sassoon Library, Mumbai
The David Sassoon Library lies in the heart of the art deco district of Kala Ghoda in Mumbai. Built in 1870, it is the oldest library that almost wasn't in Mumbai, taking on its current avatar when the money to build a science and technology ran out. The library's 35,000-book collection is peppered with those that date back to colonial times, so take your pick and head to the (secret-ish) garden. Today, the library and garden hold many performances and book readings during the annual Kala Ghoda festival.
India Habitat Centre, New Delhi
This red-brick institution, designed by Joseph Stein, sits in the heart of the Capital and is home to the very modern (compared to the other libraries on this list at least, at least) Habitat Library and Resource Centre. While the HLRC has been design to encourage readers to incubate their ideas; it's worth heading over here to explore their collection of books on Delhi, design and architecture.
National Library of India, Alipore
The official residence of the Lt Governor of Bengal during the Raj, the 30-acre National Library of India is the largest library in the country by volume with more than two million books in its collection. In fact, when it was first established as the Calcutta Public Library in 1836, it was one of the world's best libraries in terms of organisation and efficiency. On your next visit to the City of Chaos, find peace and a vintage periodical to ogle over.
Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi
This collection of charming colonial structures has been home to some illustrious men, including the British Armed Forces chief, and after independence, Jawaharlal Nehru. Now the buildings house a museum and library dedicated to India's Independence movement and are a leading centre for information on Nehru, his mentor Mahatma Gandhi, as well as other freedom fighters. So if you're a history buff, Nehru fan, or just plain curious, you know where to head. Of course, as the library has grown in size, new buildings have been built to house books.
Raza Library, Rampur (Uttar Pradesh)
Housed in a palace, the Raza Library contains rare works of Islamic calligraphy, notable historical documents and over 30,000 books in its collection. Established by Nawab Faizullah Khan, who ruled Rampur from 1774 to 1794, the library is today one of the biggest in Asia and a must-see in its own right.
Seshadri Memorial Hall Library, Bengaluru
It isn't a well-kept secret, but if you aren't in on it yet, walk through Cubbon Park towards the Seshadri Memorial Hall, that circular red stone, gabled building that is a city icon. The hall, which is Bengaluru's apex public library, houses more than 2.5 lakh books in its 300 sq km radius. If you love reading outdoors, then pick a book and head to the rose garden surrounding it for a dose of Romanticism.
State Central Library, Hyderabad
Formerly known as the Asafia Library, Hyderabad's State Central Library is one of South India's biggest. The heritage structure was built in 1891 and should be on any history buff's go-to list for information on manuscripts from the fifth and sixth centuries, as well as news and periodicals from the 1940s onwards.
Like this article? Also read: India's Best Live Music Venues
Cover Image Courtesy: Shutterstock.com; Images via Asiatic Society; Connemara Public Library; David Sassoon Library; India Habitat Centre; National Library of India; Nehru Memorial Museum and Library; Raza Library; Seshadri Memorial Hall Library; State Central Library