Jobs Americans WILL Do.

I was just surfing the Internet, when I found this story.. I would like you to comment this note for I could know your opinion.

One small favor from this disastrous recession: slightly fewer reporters are mindlessly scribbling down the phrase, “jobs Americans won’t do.” More than 400 NumbersUSA members wrote to me personally after my fundraising email on Monday. About 275 of them told me they are unemployed. Another 100 reported that their retirement income is so small that they cannot donate.

Many of those writing me are making ends meet in unusual ways. In fact, you wouldn’t believe all the jobs that they used to do and would very much like to do again.
Former factory workers, former construction workers, even a cotton picker, wrote me. They are all active, faxing and phoning members of NumbersUSA.
Some have taken jobs that younger people really ought to be doing.
Listen to Pat’s story:

I do everything I can – faxes when you give me the chance, phone calls too – (isn’t it a shame our representatives can’t afford 800 numbers to their offices so that ALL their constituents can call with their thoughts and moral support? I’ve written them about THAT, too.)

I DO appreciate your disclaimer regarding ‘ability to pay’. We are retired and our life savings were wiped out on my medical bills (even though we have insurance). At age 67 my husband delivers pizzas 3 nights a week – and by the third night, he is just dragging. If you will keep giving me the opportunity to fax I will. I call whenever I can (luckily I have a cell phone – which allows me to call as I couldn’t afford the long distance bills if I had to pay each call).

I appreciate the wonderful work this organization is doing and am so glad you have offered a way for me to get so personally involved, even though I have no spare money to send you. (I was emailing and calling before I ever found your site. The ability to fax is a great addition for me.) Keep the faxes coming and I’ll keep sending them on – nearly always with my own personal comments rather than the standard text. (I’m maybe a little more militant in my wordage and that makes me feel a little better when I can get my thoughts off my chest).

Again, keep up the great work and thank you for letting me be involved. You have come upon a great system that encourages and allows many more to be involved.

~Pat N, of Texas

Pat’s email says so many things that I’d like to underscore.

1. This 67 year-old American’s husband is willing to work as a pizza delivery man, even though common sense says younger people would be better able to do that job. Americans are just like any other industrious people. When they have to put food on the table, any job is better than no job.
2. Pat got my message that we only want donations from people who are able to pay. If you’re on a small fixed income, or unemployed, or sick, or otherwise unable, let other people bear the burden.
3. It’s refreshing for me to read hundreds of letters from members who, like Pat, are so grateful to NumbersUSA for allowing them to fax Congress even though they cannot contribute. “Pat, you’re welcome!” You really need to thank the many thousands of NumbersUSA members who can and do pick up the faxing tab for those who cannot help.

Pat, thanks for contacting me. Thanks for using our faxing system to amplify your voice. Thanks for making the calls that make a huge impact. Thanks for working hard and keeping your head up.
I say to you, Pat, what I tell so many– “Keep the faith, and never give up!”

JIM ROBB is Vice President, Operations for NumbersUSA

Views and opinions expressed in blogs on this website are those of the author. They do not necessarily reflect official policies of NumbersUSA.

Google Voice: Cool, But Not Really New

Found a note wroten by the RingCentral user. I was interested because, as I said before, I am also their client. So, I put it here for you could get acquainted with this info.

For all the hoopla over Google Voice, I have to wonder why it’s such a big deal. Have people never heard about RingCentral before? Yes, I know we’re talking about Google, which apparently makes it an instant hit, but most of the features have been available for years.

As a RingCentral customer, I’ve had most, maybe all the important features of Google Voice for three or four years. And I have features–like multiple local numbers in different calling areas–that I haven’t seen mentioned for Google’s service.

Pricing alone makes Google attractive for me as a home user, but having an 800-number, plus local numbers in several cities, makes RingCentral worth paying a premium for in my business.

RingCentral is also selling multi-line systems, allowing a virtual company to use a single virtual PBX system. This further distances RingCentral from Google Voice, at least for the time being.

I have not actually used Google Voice, except as a caller. My invitation has yet to be sent, though I work with people who already use the service and are extremely happy with it. Much as I am extremely happy with RingCentral.

What I like most about both RingCentral and Google Voice is their shared ability to ring multiple phones in an attempt to find me. I also like being able to screen calls by listening to an incoming voice message while it is being recorded, and then answer if I want to.

I used to do that with an answering machine and the Google Voice/RingCentral feature is only slightly less useful as you have to answer the call to hear the caller leaving the message.

The ability to turn voice messages into text and deliver it as e-mail is a Google Voice feature that many people are going to find useful, and something else RingCentral lacks.

Overall, Google Voice is more feature-rich, an issue RingCentral will have to address in order to justify its pricing.

Or maybe it won’t have to. Google could get into trouble if its free pricing forces competitors out of business. Maybe RingCentral and its ilk won’t get bigfooted by Google after all, though it’s pretty hard to compete with free.

Watch phone bills to guard against telephone fraud

Hey!

Found one more message about the telephone fraud. Hope it will help you to protect yourself of being in the same situation. Be aware of telephone scum! Read the text below!

Everyone can take steps to help themselves avoid being victimized by many common telephone marketing and billing deceptions, and the Iowa Utilities Board (IUB) often can help customers who fall prey to unethical and unlawful practices.

Paying close attention to see if there are any changes on the monthly phone bill is important. Switching a customer’s local or long distance provider (slamming) and adding or charging optional services to a customer’s account (cramming), without the customer’s knowledge or permission, are common fraudulent practices. The IUB has lawful authority to fine companies found to be doing this and stop them from providing service in Iowa.

Slamming can be achieved by many means, including direct mail or prize offerings, sweepstakes entries, or other methods, so customers should be wary. In cramming cases, services like Internet, personal 800 numbers, 900 numbers, caller ID, pagers and voice mail, for example, are often attributed to third party providers that bill customers through local phone companies.

When examining their monthly bill statements, customers should look for any new service entries that they did not authorize or any company name that is unfamiliar. Precautions customers can take to avoid being slammed or crammed include reading all fine print for contests, sweepstakes or incentives like bonus checks, free minutes, or raffle entries. These may authorize telephone service changes or additions. Also, customers should turn down pitches from telemarketers or listen intently, being careful not to answer “yes” to anything they do not understand. Local residents might also contact their local telephone service providers to safeguard their accounts by requesting a Prescribed Interchange Carrier (PIC) freeze. There may be a minimal fee for doing this.

Fax Featured Article

Hello all!
For today I’ve found an article about RingCentral. Hope it will be interesting for you.

Today, image is important, and nothing says professional like a toll-free or vanity number for your business. First introduced in 1967, toll free numbers were used by companies to provide customers with a way to call them without charge. At the time, however, only those with a high volume of callers were able to afford this luxury.

Now, RingCentral brings the availability of a toll-free or 800 number with a host of features including internet-enhanced voicemail, integrated fax and comprehensive call forwarding options at a low price.

Anyone can call your business free-of-charge any time, anywhere. Plus you won’t miss an important call, message or fax again.

According to a Chicago Tribune study, advertisers using toll free vanity numbers received ten times more calls than those just using the local number.

RingCentral’s True 800 number offers just 3.9¢ per minute and one phone and fax number. Maximize your time, personalize your business’ identity by creating a distinctive and customized vanity number for your business in addition to enhancing your professional image by building coast-to-coast presence.

Response Marketing Group issued a study saying that after listening to a radio spot just one time, 58 percent of the participants remembered the vanity number used.

A toll free number gives a nationwide, big business image and allows customers to call you for free, making it more likely that they’ll call, according to RingCentral officials.

Immediately activate RingCentral’s advanced telephone and fax features that give all the functions of a PBX without the expense.

With RingCentral signing up is simply. Just pick your number and if you already have a toll-free number, RingCentral can help you too!

After the initial set-up, RingCentral will receive calls from your toll free number and distribute them to the telephones you select.

You can direct all calls to a single telephone, such as your home phone or take advantage of RingCentral’s Virtual PBX to create a phone answering and routing system equal to that of a big company.

Any way you set up your toll free number, RingCentral will keep track of all your calls in your Call Log and give you real-time call management through RingCentral’s Call Controller software and call screening abilities.

According to the Response Marketing Group, the success of vanity numbers had long ago been established when 1-800-FLOWERS leapt ahead of the 75-year-old FTD, which enjoyed both a dominating position in its market and name recognition.

Neither of those traits were enough to keep the older company ahead of 1-800-FLOWERS and its easily remembered phone number, the marketing company said.

Virginia Beach/Hampton Roads Military Movers Plus Real Estate Rebate Helps Veterans

Hi all!
I’ve found very interesting article for Veterans.

Military families relocating to the Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads area searching for real estate now can reduce their home buying costs with the Military Movers Plus Program.

The Military Movers Plus Program is a streamlined rebate/cash back initiative designed to help military families with expenses incurred during their home purchase. No waiting time periods, annuities, 800 numbers, no requirement to use a “preferred vendor, or forms to submit.

The program has already received many laudatory comments:

“Dennis listened carefully to our criteria. His expert negotiating and communication skills helped secure a home that we love at a price that we are comfortable with. We simply could not have done this without his help! I have recommended Dennis to our friends, and I do not hesitate to recommend him to anyone who wishes to purchase real estate in Virginia Beach.” Mike/Jen, LCDR, U. S. Navy.

“Dennis is a very timely and knowledgeable Virginia Beach REALTOR®. His helpful attitude and pleasant personality make you feel like you’re his only client. We were very impressed with his level of dedication and professionalism with our real estate transaction”. Matt & Jennifer, LCDR, U. S. Navy

Unlike USAA and Navy Federal Credit Union real estate rebate/cash back programs, the Military Movers Plus is superior because of its one percent rebate incentive. Other programs limit your rebate based on purchase price while the Military Movers Plus Program has no “cap” and does not penalize the home buyer at any purchase price point but rather helps the military real estate buyer further reduce their closing/settlement fees. Military buyers may still choose USAA or NFCU for their mortgage needs and choose the Military Movers Plus Program to augment fee/costs.

Combining the Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads Military Movers Plus Program with a Veterans Administration (VA) loan makes a real estate purchase very affordable by limiting out of pocket expenses.

Trap Call One Way To Deal With Telemarketers

Hi people!

There is new technology available for consumers to help unmask callers who block their caller ID. It may be great for dealing with telemarketers, but some groups believe the new technology could be dangerous. The technology to block a call has been around for a while. All people do is dial *67 and the number they are calling. The person receiving the call only sees the word blocked or restricted on their caller ID. So, they do not know who is calling. If the person receiving the call declines to answer, it automatically goes to voicemail. Using a new service called “trap call” the person receiving the call hits “decline” when they see a blocked call on their caller ID and within seconds they have the caller’s cell phone number, the city they are calling from and maybe their name. If the caller is on a landline, the receiver may also see the caller’s address.

Consumers Can Blacklist Numbers

If someone is calling all the time, such as a creditor or telemarketer, trap call lets consumers put their number on a blacklist and when they call they will hear the following message. “We’re sorry, the number you have dialed has been disconnected and is no longer in service. “Here is how it works. No one can block their number when they call an 800 number because that company is paying to receive the call. So, trap call reroutes the call to an 800 number. The 800 number can see the number calling and sends it back to consumers. So, they can see exactly who is on the other end of the line. Trap call is great for people receiving harassing calls that are blocked because now they can get the number of the harasser.

Tobacco products to see spike in cost

Hi all.

Awful news for smokers. It is possible that most of them should quit. The article is below. My smoking friends said that it is one of the saddest days.

Federal taxes kick in on April 1 and smokers who roll their own cigarettes will notice the biggest increase: about $23 per pound.
And that has the people pretty fired up.
Friday, the federal tax alone on loose tobacco is $1.10 per pound.
Daniel Spaniola is the manager at Paul’s Pipe Shop in downtown Flint. He says he feels the tax will be bad for business.
“That’s just not even feasible or believable,” he said.
Lisa Nichols started thinking about quitting when the state tax on cigarettes increased to $2 a pack.
“It’s about $10 a carton to roll your own now. It’s going to be $25 a carton now. I can’t afford that,” she said.
All tobacco products will see some sort of increase. You’ll pay 62 cents more per pack of cigarettes, nearly $1 more for a pack of little cigars and pipe tobacco will increase to $1.73 a pound.
The money raised will help provide health insurance for low-income children.
Nichols says she’s quitting smoking.
“I have to,” she said. “I can’t afford it.”
Wednesday the state started offering free cessation products to anyone who calls its quit line and enrolls.
The problem is, so many people have called that it’s hard to get through. Margaret Eaton tried.
“It just keeps kicking you out,” she said.
A new alternate number has now been added. The number is 1-800-480-7848. You can also call 1-800-QUIT-NOW. You’re encouraged to keep trying and calling both numbers you see on your screen.
The recorded message on the line says that if you wait for more than three minutes, your call will be disconnected.
Just like the other number, you will get kicked off the line if your wait exceeds three minutes.
Here’s an idea of just how busy the hotline has been: State officials say they normally get about 30 phone calls every 15 minutes.
Thursday, operators received 21,000 calls. That’s more than they usually get in one month.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm has also proposed doubling the state tax on loose tobacco, cigars and snuff as a way to help bring money in.

Correctional Service of Canada: Contraband Seized at Drumheller Institution

Hi guys!

Today’s news are about contraband from prison. I even haven’t known that it is possible to contraband prison made weapons and alcohol! But every product has it’s customer.

“On February 16, 2009, Drumheller Institution was locked down and a thorough search of the institution was conducted. The search was conducted by Drumheller staff assisted by Drug Detector Dog teams from other Prairie Region institutions.

As a result of the search, a large quantity of contraband was removed from the institution. Included in the contraband are drugs with an approximate institutional value of $16,000, cell phones, prison made weapons, and prison made alcohol, better known as brew.

The Correctional Service of Canada has a number of tools available that are consistently used in our efforts to control the flow of drugs into our institutions. These include such things as searches of offenders, visitors, ion scanners, drug dogs and searches of buildings and cells.

The authorities at Drumheller Institution wish to remind citizens there are toll-free telephone numbers 1-800-222-8477 or 1-866-380-6125 for reporting any pressure to which a visitor may be subjected by other visitors and/or inmates involved in drug trafficking, intimidation, assault and loan sharking. Such information is treated with confidentiality and a security intelligence officer will provide follow up.

Drumheller Institution is a federal penitentiary located 135 km northeast of Calgary, currently accommodating 536 medium security and 72 minimum security inmates.”

Police Say Goodbye To “Ink And Roll” Fingerprints

Hi!

I found the interesting information about modern police departments. Now most of them will use digital fingerprints for the fastest work and cooperation.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Department will be among the 11 police agencies in five rural counties which will soon have the technology to electronically process fingerprints of individuals arrested in their jurisdictions, enabling law enforcement authorities to quickly and accurately make positive identifications that are crucial to determining how cases against those arrestees will proceed.
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) recently provided grants totaling $105,000 that will allow sheriffs’ departments in Franklin, Hamilton, Herkimer, Schoharie and Washington counties to make the switch from “ink and roll” fingerprints to digital.
With the awarding of these five grants earlier this month, every county in New York State will have at least one law enforcement agency with the ability to electronically capture and transmit arrest fingerprint data.
This infrastructure will allow law enforcement agencies across the state to comply with a mandate requiring that all fingerprint submissions to the state’s fingerprint database at DCJS be made electronically as of January 2010. Smaller police departments with very low annual arrest numbers, for example, will be able to access the technology via their local sheriff’s department or another large police agency in their counties rather than investing in their own systems.
Approximately 92 percent of the remaining 316 agencies in the state process fewer than 225 arrests annually, while 8 percent (24 agencies) process more than 225 arrests a year. DCJS is working to determine the most cost-effective way to allow those agencies to meet the electronic fingerprint submission deadline.
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services is a multi-function criminal justice support agency with a variety of responsibilities, including collection and analysis of statewide crime data; operation of the DNA databank and criminal fingerprint files; administration of federal and state criminal justice funds; support of criminal justice-related agencies across the state; and administration of the state’s Sex Offender Registry and a toll-free telephone number (1-800-262-3257) that allows anyone to research the status of an offender.

Cell phone users push no-call list numbers up

Hello!

Good news for the Wisconsin. You can sign up for the no-call list. Wow, I think it is a perfect idea to make the list like this!

More than 1.6 million phone numbers are now registered for Wisconsin’s do-not-call telemarketing list.
A year ago, the list had 1.1 million numbers, but the state expanded the list to include cell phone users last June.
The no-call list started in January 2003 and is updated every quarter. The deadline to sign up is Feb. 28 for the list that comes out in April.
The Wisconsin Department of Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection requires phone customers to renew their registration every two years.
To sign up, call (866) 966-2255 or visit nocall.Wisconsin.gov.