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How to reduce your spam intake
An associate in the newsroom asked me "What can I do about all this junk e-mail?" My first thought, thankfully unspoken, was "learn to live with it." As I thought it over again, however, I realized that there are positive steps she can take to stem the tide of electronic junk, and to manage it with less effort. You may benefit from these as well. The first thing you can do to get this flood of unwanted e-mail under control is to get yourself off of as many mailing lists as possible. Legitimate U.S.-based commercial e-mailers must provide an opt-out option in their e-mail, and honor that option when you exercise it. Be careful, however, about using opt-out links on spam messages from unknown or less-than-reliable senders. Their opt-out link could simply confirm the validity of your e-mail address to them, or worse yet, cause spyware to be downloaded to your computer.
AOL makes more services free
The decision, announced Wednesday by AOL parent Time Warner Inc., removes the few remaining reasons for AOL subscribers to keep paying when they already have high-speed Internet access through a cable or phone company. \"We\'ve listened to our customers, and many of them want to keep using these AOL products when they migrate to broadband -- but not pay extra for them,\" said Jeff Bewkes, Time Warner\'s president and chief operating officer. AOL will still offer its dial-up accounts at $26 a month for unlimited use, but the company no longer will aggressively market it. That\'s likely to mean the end of mailboxes stuffed with CDs of trial AOL software, as well as job cuts in marketing and customer service. There was no immediate word on how many layoffs will result. The changes are to fully take effect in early September.
It Takes Homework to Pick the Right Financial Planner
WASHINGTON--Working single mom Kathy Gambrell has had no problem finding a lawyer to write her will or a certified public accountant to prepare her taxes--professionals she found by asking friends and family for recommendations. But a four-year quest to find a financial planner has left the CongressDaily editor baffled, angry and, worst of all, unenlightened on how to find someone good to help her manage her money. Three weeks ago, she fired her latest adviser after he recommended she quit her job, fire her babysitter and yank her child from Montessori school--then let him manage the money she would save, along with a small inheritance she's about to receive. ``As if!'' says Gambrell, 46, of Rockville, Md. ``He had no idea what I was about.'' Many people are comfortable handling their own investments.
It's the season of bat mania
The bat days of summer in Madison have never been this bad, some pest control experts say. Credit weather that pushed bats out of overheated attics and into cooler rooms, and adolescent brown bats testing their wings, getting into places they don't belong. "It's the worst bat month I've ever seen in my life," said Sam Gottlieb of Environmental Pest Management. "I have five bat estimates to give today. I've had to hire a couple of contractors to help me with my bat work. It's just perfect weather and growing conditions for insects and bats." Laura Povinelli, an assistant scientist at the state Laboratory of Hygiene, woke up Aug. 17 to find a small brown bat on the ceiling in her Jenifer Street apartment. .
Ban on hand luggage lifted as BAA cuts flights
Restrictions on the luggage allowed on board planes have been relaxed in a bid to ease the congestion faced by holidaymakers undergoing lengthy security checks. The new rules came into effect at midnight last night following the decision to lower the UK threat level from critical to severe. The Department of Transport said passengers would now be permitted to carry one item of hand luggage on to flights. The the new arrangements apply to "all passengers starting their journey at a UK airport and to those transferring from international flights at a UK airport". In a statement, it said: "Each passenger is permitted to carry one item of cabin baggage through the airport security search point. The dimensions of this item must not exceed a maximum length of 45cm, width of 35cm and depth of 16cm, including wheels, handles and side pockets." However, liquids of any type - including gels, pastes, aerosols and lotions - cannot be taken on to planes.
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