New York State Police Trooper Timothy T. Pratt was tragically struck by an automobile and killed while he was out of his police cruiser assisting a lost semi truck driver. While hundreds were gathering for his funeral, Bronx resident Stephen J. Calderon had already stolen the dead officer’s identity using it to open a charge account. It was not until store associates became suspicious that authorities with the state police began to investigate.

What Police Discovered?

While officers from throughout New England was gathering for the funeral of Trooper Pratt, his identity had already been stolen by Stephen J. Calderon. This Bronx-resident went to Home Depot where he used a fake ID showing his picture but containing Pratt’s information to open a charge account. Once he opened the account, he purchased a washing machine.

Calderon then drove a short distance to another Home Depot. He quickly accumulated more than the credit line on the card. He did not discover this until he went to check out. Calderon started to put things back which raised suspensions from store employees. One of the store’s employees called Pratt’s daughter while another employee called the police.

Armed with a warrant, troopers went to Calderon’s apartment a few days later. They found several cell phones with names attached to the back of them. Investigations determined that he opened a cell phone for each person whose identity he stole so that if a store tried to contact him, he would know what name to answer with when questioned.

Robert Patnaude with the New York State Police says:

“We see the worst in people, so unfortunately, we expect things like this, and we do what we can to keep it from happening to others.”

How to Protect Your Identity?

The New York Police Department, the police in New York City, says that people should take several steps to make sure that their own identity is not stolen.

Police recommend that all credit card monthly bills and bank statements be checked on a monthly basis. They recommend that everyone memorize any passwords or numbers. Never write them down. They say that no one should ever loan out their credit cards.

Participate in credit cards and financial institutions opt-out programs each year so that they cannot share information with anyone without consent. Opt out of credit card programs where they automatically send new cards without the person requesting one.

They say everyone should shred any bill, bank account information, credit card receipt or anything else containing personal information or identifying numbers. The police say that only after the paper is shredded, should it be discarded in the trash.

Protect any identification numbers very carefully. Do not list them on a form without knowing why the business needs that information. Police say that not providing this information without the need to know helps to protect identities from getting stolen.

Everyone should be very prompt in picking up their mail as thieves go through the mail left in boxes to get identifying information. They recommend that people going on vacation either have a trusted friend pick mail up each day or have the post office hold the mail. They also recommend mailing any letters with identifying information at a post office or in a secured mailbox.

Taking these steps is still not enough. The New York Police recommends that people examine their credit reports at least once a year to make sure that everything looks right. He says that if anything suspicious is found, then the individual should call the company and also send them a letter.

Conclusion

On the same day that New York State Trooper Pratt was being buried, Stephen J. Calderon was using the officer’s identity to open up credit cards in the dead officer’s name. Alert store employees were able to tell the police who discovered that the Bronx man was operating an identity theft ring. New York Police representatives say that everyone should be proactive in protecting their identity.

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Since its founding in 1997, United Parcel Services (UPS) has grown to be one of the major shipping services in the world. The company declared January 5, 2017, National Returns Day as they expect people to return more than 1.3 million packages with the company on that day. The first full week of January will be extremely busy for the company as it expects customers to return more than 5.8 million packages during that week.

What is the Changing Landscape of Returns?

Retailers will suffer about $260 billion in lost sales. The news is not all bad, however, as over 45 percent will make an additional purchase from the company’s website when they send back a return. This compares to about 70 percent of buyers making an additional purchase when returning to a brick-and-mortar store.

While many customers used to complain when they had to return an item, retailers are making it much easier for people to send back items now. About 60 percent of companies provide free shipping on returns. Almost 51 percent offer a hassle-free return policy. Forty-four percent offer an easy-to-print return label while 40 percent include a return label right in the box.

Cathy Sparks, vice president of global direct-to-consumer retail concepts for sports company Nike, says that:

“people exchange unwanted clothing items for ones that better suit their routine or style. The same can be true for footwear.”

She recommends sticking with socks, hats, and other accessories if you do not want your gift returned. She also adds that many gift recipients would rather have a gift card so that they can pick out an outfit for themselves.

Another highly returned item is gaming equipment. American video game company, GameStop’s senior director of merchandising Eric Bright, says that one of the problems that he sees often is that buyers are not interested in the hobby themselves. Therefore, he recommends that buyers visit stores in person allowing them to get help from a knowledgeable store employee even if they end up making the purchase online.

Jeanne Tamayo, a global lifestyle buyer for grocery chain Whole Foods, says that while quirky gifts are fun to open, many people end up returning them. They send them back rather than letting them become clutter on their counters.

What are Some Tips for Making Returns?

Whenever possible, get a receipt for the item before making a return. This allows the retailer to know that you actually bought the item from them. Some companies will also accept credit card receipts as proof that you purchased the item.

Understand the store’s timeframe. Some products only give you a certain amount of time to return an item. Therefore, make sure that you return the item within that time.

Learn about how the company handles returning the purchaser’s money. Some companies will only put the money back on the buyer’s credit card if they paid using that method. This may leave the recipient with nothing.

Retailers may also control where you can return the gift. Some require that you send it back to a specific address when the item was purchased online. Others will take any purchase back at one of their retail locations.

Conclusion

While many people will try to return their items on National Returns Day, unless recipients are faced with a return deadline, this can be a very bad idea. Shippers are more likely to lose packages when they are overworked. Retailers are also more likely to process return information incorrectly when they are faced with hundreds of returns at one time. If you cannot return an unwanted present, remember that there are many places that you can sell it online.

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Since President-Elect Donald Trump won the election on November 8th, he has made it a priority to go after companies that he views as failing the American consumer and the economy alike. He frequently makes his displeasure known through his infamous Twitter account. With the haste and skill with which he took on Boeing and Lockheed Martin, Trump has many in the American business community wondering what companies could be in his crosshairs in 2017 and beyond.

The Impact of Trump’s Tweets

Trump makes no secret of his preference of communicating with the American public via social media. He frequently sends out tweets from Twitter to address the public directly rather than using the mainstream media for this purpose. However, as witnessed in recent weeks, his tweets often bear the weight that could be devastating to a company’s stock.

After he openly questioned Boeing’s $4 billion price tag that was attached to the new Air Force One project, Trump singlehandedly sank the company’s stock for several consecutive days. While the stock eventually rose back to its pre-Tweet level, it clearly reacted to Trump’s targeted social media attack on Boeing.

Perhaps in a bid to get on Trump’s good side even before he takes office on January 20, Lockheed Martin quickly offered its help in creating a new Air Force One at a price tag that Trump would appreciate. In return, Lockheed Martin’s stock held its place solidly in the market and garnered favor from stock brokers and investors.

It is clear that Trump’s business prowess will play a definite role in how the economy evolves during his administration. Companies that normally courted the favor of the federal government have been put on edge and are now veritably scrambling to stay out of the way of President-elect Trump’s Twitter arrows. However, some of the businesses for which Trump may come next include Booz Allen Hamilton and Walmart, both for failing to deliver on promises of quality service and economic performance during Obama’s administration.

The Background of Trump’s Economic Vision

What exactly does President-elect Trump envision for the American economy? Is his vision folly or does he stand a chance of bringing it to fruition? The juries on both matters remain heavily engaged in debate. Nonetheless, President-elect Trump makes his plans clear on his campaign’s website as well as on his own social networking accounts. He says his plan for America is simple: Going forward with him as president, America will buy American products and make American products. This sweeping vision to bring as many jobs and businesses back to American soil is designed to boost the economy and put the masses back to work.

However, some companies continue to resist President-elect Trump every step of the way especially since they continue to reap the benefits of Obama’s tax breaks for keeping manufacturing jobs offshore. Many of these businesses are not taxed on what they earn internationally; they also do not have to pay taxes on products that they ship back to stateside. With incentives like those, why would they want to relocate their jobs and businesses back to the U.S.?

Conclusion

However, President-elect Trump vows to heavily tax businesses that refuse to bring factories and jobs back to U.S. at a rate of 30 percent at the border. While some businesses may be standing on principles right now, they may quickly change their mind once Trump is sworn in and takes control of the Oval Office. For their livelihood, they may have no choice but to cooperate with Trump’s vision of rebuilding the American economy with an influx of jobs and products that are made in the U.S.

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People who are homeless are at an increased risk of premature death. With no regular access to healthy food, warm clothing, safe shelter, and reliable healthcare, people who live on the streets are in jeopardy of dying from both violent and natural causes. With the homelessness rate in the U.S. on the rise, it can be difficult for the public to keep track of the homeless individuals who die with no one left to bury or remember them. Many cities are honoring those individuals by holding an annual Homeless Memorial Day.

What is Homeless Memorial Day?

Unlike Memorial Day that is held in May, Homeless Memorial Day is held in December on the night of the Winter Solstice, also the longest night of the year. As the sun sets early on the evening of December 21, cities that mark this somber occasion host marches across their neighborhoods and invite people to walk while holding signs of the homeless people who died that year.

This march hits many of the marchers hard as a large number of them are formerly homeless themselves. Some of the marchers experienced homelessness firsthand and were saved by the mercy of their communities and advocates who helped them secure housing and jobs.

While they are the fortunate few who were able to raise themselves out of homelessness, many others cannot for one reason or another follow in their footsteps to security. Instead, they are relegated to living on the fringes of society and on the very streets themselves, sometimes dying without anyone to care about or remember their names. They are remembered increasingly through events like the Homeless Memorial Day held on December 21 each year.

While the march and memorial are held yearly, organizers and marchers hope that it will increase people’s resolve to end homelessness around the country. The march serves to inspire community leaders to raise funds and resources to help house the homeless in their own cities.

The Realities of U.S. Homelessness

While many people readily dismiss homelessness as a problem that could not impact their own lives, they fail to realize that the very people whom they are ready to ignore once enjoyed the presumed level of security and livelihood they have now. Statistics show that while homelessness is on the rise in the U.S., the fastest growing number of homeless people are single women and children. Factors like divorce, unemployment, and domestic violence force women and children out of their homes and onto the street.

Likewise, statistics also show that more than eight percent of the homelessness population in the U.S. today include military veterans. Factors like PTSD, divorce, drug use, and depression make it difficult for these veterans to hold jobs and maintain steady livelihoods. They have no other recourse than to live on the street, sometimes dying without the honors entitled to them as veterans.

The realities could be easily forgotten were it not for events like Homeless Memorial Day. The signs being hoisted in the air during the Homeless Memorial Day marches are emblazoned with the names of veterans, mothers, children, and others who died without the comfort or security that many people today take for granted.

Where Do We Go from Here?

It may be easy for people to think that they or anyone they love and know will be homeless. However, statistics show that homelessness is on the rise in the U.S. and now includes people who were once employed and relatively secure in life. Those who have no choice but to live on the streets are at an increased risk of dying from violence or health problems. Their names are remembered with the annual Homeless Memorial Day in December.

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The election of 2016 has brought into public awareness the importance of transparency in the government. Scandals surrounding emails that were drafted, sent, and received on private accounts and devices sank campaigns and uprooted the political system as we know it. The question of whether or not politicians have the right to use private accounts and devices when conducting government business continues to land at the feet of politicians around the country including Democrat Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel.

Rahm Emanuel and the Use of a Private Email Account

Rahm Emanuel was recently discovered to be using a private email account and device to conduct government business via email. This scandal comes on the heels of a similar email scandal that sank the campaign of Hillary Clinton as she ran for the presidency. While Rahm Emanuel and the City of Chicago argued that his emails and devices were off limits because they derived from a private account, the watchdog group the Better Government Association argued that Rahm Emanuel wanted only to curtail the extent to which his own constituency could hold him in check.

To a greater extent, the actions of Rahm Emmanuel could influence the behavior of the city’s own 30,000 plus employees and the manner in which they conduct their own government business via email. While privacy laws say that most communications created, received, or sent on private accounts are exempt, the laws also say that people have a right to access most government communications. But how can they access those emails if the emails were written on, sent from, and received by private email accounts and devices?

This was the question taken to court by the BGA and its supporters in Cook County, Illinois. Two county judges sided with the watchdog group and ordered Rahm Emanuel to release his emails even though they came from his own private email account and device. The watchdog group hails the judge’s decision as a landmark for citizens in Chicago and beyond.

Why Transparency in Government Matters

The politicians who are elected to serve on the public’s behalf at any level of government are beholden to the people who put them in office in the first place. They have an obligation to account for all of their actions, expenditures, and speeches. In theory, they have no right to secrecy when it comes to their duty of acting on behalf of their constituency.

So why then do some politicians try to conceal their emails by using private servers, devices, and email accounts? The federal government blurs the line when it comes to privacy and safeguarding communications. It says that everyday people have the expectation of privacy when sending and receiving their own emails from their own private accounts and devices. However, it also says at the same time that the public has the right to government letters, emails, phone call transcripts, and more in a bid to keep elected officials in check.

Conclusion

To solve this dilemma, many watchdog groups and supporters of transparency back up their arguments with the Freedom of Information Act, or FOIA. FOIA outlines to what extent the public can access and review unclassified government communications. It is this act that prompted the Chicago judges to back the Better Government Association in Cook County.

Politicians have an obligation to account for their government business to the people who voted them into office. Their refusal to disclose emails derived from private accounts and devices continues to be viewed as a violation of the Freedom of Information Act. More judges agree that government business conducted by email on private devices and accounts are not exempt from transparency laws.

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In September, The Navy decided that it was going to make a major course correction to its rank and rating system that would effectively bring and end to hundreds of years of naval service tradition by calling personnel not by their military rank, but rather by their service job and proficiency rating.

Names such as corpsman I, or Yeoman III, have been a significant part of the Navy method of recognizing crew members from the early days of the US military. Nevertheless, that was all proposed to change in September when the navy suggested that they would do away with the practice to move to a system similar to the other services.

On Wednesday, the Navy announced another course correction, opting to go back to the original path by reinstoring rating titles.

“Big Navy” Listened to the Masses, and The Masses are Shocked

The announcement by the Navy to reinstore rating titles was welcomed with enthusiasm by almost all personnel. The initial decision to remove them was looked at by the majority of navy sailors as an affront to centuries of tradition.

Sailors take a great deal of pride in not only their branch and ship, but also at a more personal level they take pride in their accomplishments in their chosen career path.

By removing the rating titles and going to a strict rank and file system, most felt that the Navy would lose an important and defining tradition. In a virtually unprecedented move from Navy Command, often referred to as “Big Navy”, the powers that be responded to the outcry of criticism of the proposed change and the demand to reinstore rating titles.

Navy Adm. John Richardson, chief of naval operations stated in the message that was released Wednesday:

“The proposed removal of rating titles was unnecessary and detracted from accomplishing our major goals. We have learned from you, and so effective immediately, all rating names are restored.”

No doubt Big Navy took notice of the social media outcry, specifically the proliferation of memes that criticized the proposed change, a trend that just as with other aspects of life, has become as commonplace as the sun rising in the morning.

It is a significant point to be made in the decision to reinstore rating titles, that this is the first time in the history of the United States that the upper command of a branch of the military changed a policy based on negative public reception of it.

Cross-Training is a Good Thing but Loss of Identity is Not

The forums on popular social sites were also abuzz with comments about the decision to reinstore rating titles, one poster on the popular site Reddit who goes by the name ‘artuno’ posted:

“No one is complaining about cross-training, if anything that’s something that’s been welcomed with open arms. Better training & employment opportunities for everyone great, but it can be done without removing the ratings.”

This is a sentiment that is echoed all over Navy sites and mainstream social media sites alike. Another poster pointed out that someone should perhaps do a Christmas movie celebrating how Santa saved the Navy rating system, a reference to the fact that the announcement was being referred to by many as a Christmas surprise.

Happy Sailors Make for a More Effective Navy

The decision to reinstore rating titles was a welcome one, and has gone a long way to restore a sense of mutual respect among the rank and file personnel of the Navy and those who are in the upper levels of branch command.

The Navy has always had a love hate relationship between the senior most officers and the enlisted sailors & officers around the world, but it has always worked on some level and with steps such as this, it shows that perhaps it always will.

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The 111-year-old Hopewell Baptist Church of Greenville, Mississippi was burned on the night of November 1, 2016, and graffiti left behind on the walls seemed to initially point to the crime being either politically or hate motivated. The community was in shock and vowed to be resilient and defiant, not resisting until the culprit was found and brought to justice.

While the community was looking for an outsider, a political dissident set on making a statement in the name of the Republican candidate for president, they should have been looking within the loving arms of the church family that had been offended.

The arsonist was, in fact, one of their own, and more importantly, the Vote Trump Arsonist has been captured and charged with the crime.

Congregation Member was to Blame

According to authorities Andrew McClinton, 45, of Leland, Mississippi set the fire that destroyed the church. The Vote Trump arsonist, who was a member of the congregation, is a man who has been in trouble with the law before. He has served almost 20 years in prison for various crimes in three separate stints since 1992.

The most severe of these was armed robbery for which he served eight years getting out of jail in 2012. McClinton lived only six miles from the church and had been a member for a couple of years. He is in the custody of the Washington County Correctional Facility awaiting trial for his crime. Representatives of his family were not available for comment.

Not a Hate Crime

One thing is for certain in this very strange turn of events, the state of Mississippi has chosen not to charge McClinton with a hate crime. However, the federal government can decide to pursue an indictment against McClinton, charging him with a federal hate crime.

In another twist, it has been reported that the purported Vote Trump arsonist had actually volunteered to be interviewed as a person of interest immediately after the fire occurred. Despite the official position of not charging the Vote Trump Arsonist with a hate crime, the community does not feel the same way.

Errick D. Simmons, Mayor of Greenville, said Wednesday in reference to the church burning:

“This is a direct assault on the Hopewell congregation’s right to freely worship. There is no place for this heinous and divisive behavior in our city. We won’t rest until this person is prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.”

Indeed the community has taken the attack on the church very personally, whether the official title of a hate crime is applied or not.

False Flag Attempt Gone Awry

While the Vote Trump Arsonist has officially decided to remain silent as to his motivations, sources close to the situation have stated that McClinton, who was an unyielding Hillary Clinton supporter, may have committed the crime as a type of false flag operation.

His intention, reportedly, was to make the crime look like it had been undertaken by white extremist supporters of Donald Trump. The final goal was to rally the community around a landslide vote effort for Hillary Clinton.

Whatever the motivation of the Vote Trump Arsonist, the result was not a tearing down of a building, but the rising of hope among a congregation that will come back out of the ashes stronger than ever, and with more love and forgiveness than any could have thought possible.

Since the fire, the congregation has been holding services at a predominately white Baptist church nearby, which just goes to show that love does really trump hate, or in this case, it trumps an arsonist.

Image Source: Pixabay