HR 4437

Last Friday when I was at work, I saw ten of thousands of people flocking to the loop to attend demonstration voicing their concerns about the newest immigration sweeping law called HR 4437.

It was probably the biggest public gathering ever happened in the city of Chicago to date. While people were learning what was going on, they found themselves stuck in sea of people while out during luncheon. I heard from many that the Chicago Police Department did not expect the number of crowds to exceed 20,000 people. Later that day it was estimated the number of crowd to be close to 100,000 participants in the rally.

Many of my co-workers who worried that they would be trapped in rush hours traffic decided to leave early that day as for me it was fun to take many pictures from the height of where my office stands.

Thankfully, the day ended without any incident which some may had predicted.

Hotel Room Key

When you check out of a hotel that uses the credit-card-type room key, the clerk often will ask if you have your key(s) to turn
in...or there is a box or slot on the Reception counter in which to put them? It's good for the hotel because they save money by re-using those cards. But, it's not good for you, as revealed below.

From the Colorado Bureau of Investigation:

"Southern California law enforcement professionals assigned to detect
new threats to personal security issues, recently discovered what type of information is embedded in the credit card type hotel room keys used throughout the industry.

Although room keys differ from hotel to hotel, a key obtained from the "Double Tree" chain that was being used for a regional Identity Theft Presentation was found to contain the following information:

a.. Customers (your) name
b.. Customers partial home address
c.. Hotel room number
d.. Check in date and check out date
e.. Customer's (your) credit card number and expiration date!

When you turn them in to the front desk your personal information is
there for any employee to access by simply scanning the card in the
hotel scanner. An employee can take a hand full of cards home and using a scanning device, access the information onto a laptop computer and go shopping at your expense.
Simply put, hotels do not erase the information on these cards until an employee re-issues the card to the next hotel guest. At that time, the new guest's information is electronically "overwritten" on the card and the previous guest's information is erased in the overwriting process. But until the card is rewritten for the next guest, it usually is kept in a drawer at the front desk with YOUR INFORMATION ON IT!!!!

The bottom line is: Keep the cards, take them home with you, or destroy them. NEVER leave them behind in the room or room wastebasket, and NEVER turn them in to the front desk when you check out of a room. They will not charge you for the card (it's illegal) and you'll be sure you are not leaving a lot of valuable personal information on it that could be easily lifted off with any simple scanning device card reader. For the same reason, if you arrive at the airport and discover you still have the card key in your pocket, do not toss it in an airport trash basket. Take it home and destroy it by cutting it up, especially through the electronic information strip!

Information courtesy of:
Sergeant K. Jorge, Detective Sergeant, Pasadena Police Department

Filling Your Taxes

It is almost that time again to file for your taxes. Whether you like it or not, it is one of the few things that you cannot avoid to do if you are living in the US. International students are included, even if you are not making much money it is required by IRS that you report your income. Believe me, it is safer to follow the rules than being sorry in the future when IRS audits your income.

It is always recommended by many that the earlier you file your taxes the better it is a chance to get your refund back faster. Besides, you know that you are not going to be late. And that is way now many people go to many shops that provide Tax Services to get instant refund. While you think it is at your best interest to file it there and stepping out of the door with money in your hand. The reality is you are getting robbed by going to those places.

Here is the catch. For example, if you are expecting around $1000 refund from IRS, then most likely you are being "taxed" around $100 by these services, which is 10% of your possible return. Yes it is fast, but would you rather do it yourself if you know how to do it?

It is very simple. Go to IRS Website where you will find free service provided by IRS for you to send your tax online. The key to get your money faster is to choose direct deposit directly to your saving/checking account. If you decided to do this then your return will be available to you within 10 days and you don't have to settle with losing your money by going to shops offering instant refund.

You decide!