Last week I had one of those moments that make you think
“wow if they used their skills for good and not evil, where would we be as a
world and society?” The backstory is
that I went to use my credit card Sunday at an office supply store and it was
rejected. When I called, I was shocked
to learn my credit card had been cloned and someone 3000 miles away was using
it. And crazier yet, they were using an
actual card and swiping, this wasn’t some online purchase. Thankfully my card company shut this scheme
down quick, but it just amazes me how incredibly intelligent people use their
skills for criminal activities.
Evidently when I was at a gas station in Mississippi, my swipe was
intercepted. The code then was copied
and laid on a card. And within a day, it
was in circulation. It’s incredible that
this happens and that no matter how many precautions you take, you are always
vulnerable. Somewhere truly brilliant
people are working to game the system, and rip off innocent people and
companies and it’s a shame of the largest measure.
Elsewhere…
-- This past week had the always-solid Glass Expo from the Mid
Atlantic Glass Association. I was unable
to attend but heard from many who did that it was a very good event. I like that there’s a heavy thirst for shows,
as it proves that people in our industry value the education, information, and
networking that these events bring. Keep
in mind; the biggest and best of all of these comes up September 12-14 in Las
Vegas. It is shaping up very nicely and
if you are not planning on being there, you should really start thinking about
it.
-- After a quiet several weeks, last week the drumbeat of
rumors of branch closures and equipment being moved overseas started up
again. While this could be more smoke
than fire, the fact that the tide of bad news is returning does lead me to
believe that the “quiet” I was mentioning was a temporary respite from the
volatility we are facing.
-- If you ever find yourself in Dearborn, Michigan, do yourself
a favor and take in the Henry Ford Museum and Greenfield Village. Simply awesome slice of American history on
display at both and for the summer a stunning “Titanic” exhibit is on
hand. I went last weekend and it was
mind blowing.
-- Just got my most recent issue of Glass Magazine and it was
very strong again. Loved the decorative
focus. Many standout pieces but my
personal favorites were the products by Jockimo and M3. Really well done by those companies and
everyone who submitted- make sure you check it out!
-- Construction spending was up, albeit slight, but up
nonetheless. Small victories are nothing
to sneeze at in a challenging world.
-- From a personal note, I was very excited to see Charles
Witherington joining the team at Binswanger Glass. I am happy to see Charles back in the industry;
his knowledge and experience will be put to great use. No doubt the folks at Binswanger are lucky to
have him.
-- Last this week… My daughter’s Derby choices were a mixed
bag. Her winner faded badly down the
stretch but her choice for 2nd actually did finish 3rd. She vows better results at the Preakness.
LINKS of the WEEK:
Newark Airport unfortunately is one of the most frustrating
places to fly in and out of. And this
past week a bizarre security glitch made it even worse!
This is for my friends who were using Klout for a while
before they realized it was a waste of time.
Great idea here.
Looks like the end of the “kids meal” is getting
closer. Personally, it never made sense
to me. Then again nothing makes sense to
me!
VIDEO of the WEEK:
A pretty cool movie from a few years ago is coming out with
a sequel. “The Expendables” now has a #2…
and here’s the preview for it. I love
Sly Stallone and Jason Statham… good stuff.
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