Letter from the President

John Hathaway-Bates
President & Executive Director

There are times when I really wonder what all the fuss is about, about things that have little or no real importance to the long term, while things that will be recorded for our descendants to read a hundred years from now in History class are all but ignored by the purveyors of information to the masses in the western world.

American and British Forces (along with assistance from others) this year have defeated and deposed the most vicious Dictator since Adolph Hitler; and in so doing have given freedom to a people who have had no access to it for a time period more than twice as long as Hitler ruled Germany – and those Coalition soldiers, sailors and airmen did it with casualties so low that it would defy the imagination of any General in History.  Let us be honest, it is almost a given that far more innocent Americans will die a violent death in California this year (CA population 34,501,130) than Americans will die violent deaths in Iraq (population 24,683,313).

But if you want to believe the “News” organizations on the day I write this – it would seem that they think that adultery, murder, marriage and divorce amongst the movie industry elite (if there is such a thing, “like, for real”) is all far more important than what is happening in the Middle East at this time.  Of course there is still a resistance movement operating in Iraq – but then, there have been resistance movements against secular democracy in most countries for several millennium now. When CNN, ABC, FOX & CNBC all devote more “air time” to advertising themselves and the banal programming that they want us to watch, than they do to reporting the greatest victory (both time-wise and number of casualties suffered) in all of American history, one wonders if Congress should pass a law that these for-profit organizations that would demand that they change their listings in the phone book to “Entertainment Only - News only from our viewpoint to ensure profit - Channels” – just to guarantee all of our Constitutional rights.

Then there is all the fuss about “Separation of Church and State” going on right now.  Accepting that "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion", (and like the founding fathers I support this, noting that it says "an establishment of" and not "the freedom to practice"), I am then forced to wonder how come Congress votes regularly to give our tax money to countries that have “Established a State Religion”, most of which countries would probably fail to exist as nations in their present form without our very generous financial aid?  Are we not establishing a State Religion of Atheism in America when we prohibit the erection of a Menorah on the lawn outside of a Synagogue, or a Nativity scene outside of a Church, during the holidays?  And if Congress and the Supreme Court can begin with a prayer when they meet, why is it so important to forbid some kindergarten kids or teenagers who need a little moral guidance, from doing the same?  Seems to me the money and effort spent on such law suits would be better spent on giving food and shelter to the mentally ill and homeless people that sleep on our streets.  My friends come from all the major religions and as far as I have been able to establish, their views are more along the lines of my own than not.  In my opinion my nine year old son is far more likely to have his Civil Rights abused as a result of the pornographic emails that appear in his inbox, or pop-ups on his computer screen, or the sex, drugs and violence promoted every day and night on his television set – than he is by anyone’s prayers.

* * * *

Living as public a life as I do, especially through our web site (27,762 hits yesterday) I get a great deal of FW email – over the last few days I got one piece that I thought was worth passing on:

An Attorney's Advice

Read this and make a copy for your files in case you need to refer to it someday. Maybe we should all take some of his advice!

A corporate attorney sent the following out to the employees in his company:

1. The next time you order checks have only your initials (instead of first name) and last name put on them. If someone takes your checkbook they will not know if you sign your checks with just your initials or your first name but your bank will know how you sign your checks.

2. When you are writing checks to pay on your credit card accounts, DO NOT put the complete account number on the "For" line. Instead, just put the last four numbers. The credit card company knows the rest of the number and anyone who might be handling your check as it passes through all the check processing channels won't have access to it.

3. Put your work phone # on your checks instead of your home phone. If you have a PO Box use that instead of your home address. Never have your SS# printed on your checks (DUH!) you can add it if it is necessary. But if you have it printed, anyone can get it.

4. Place the contents of your wallet on a photocopy machine; do both sides of each license, credit card, etc. You will know what you had in your wallet and all of the account numbers and phone numbers to call and cancel.

5. Keep the photocopy in a safe place. I also carry a photocopy of my passport when I travel either here or abroad.

We've all heard horror stories about fraud that's committed on us in stealing a name, address, Social Security number, credit cards, etc.

Unfortunately I, an attorney, have firsthand knowledge because my wallet was stolen last month. Within a week, the thieve(s) ordered an expensive monthly cell phone package, applied for a VISA credit card, had a credit line approved to buy a Gateway computer, received a PIN number from DMV to change my driving record information online, and more. But here's some critical information to limit the damage in case this happens to you or someone you know: We have been told we should cancel our credit cards immediately. But the key is having the toll free numbers and your card numbers handy so you know whom to call. Keep those where you can find them easily.

File a police report immediately in the jurisdiction where it was stolen, this proves to credit providers you were diligent, and is a first step toward an investigation (if there ever is one).

But here's what is perhaps most important: (I never even thought to do this). Call the three national credit-reporting organizations immediately to place a fraud alert on your name and Social Security number. I had never heard of doing that until advised by a bank that called to tell me an application for credit was made over the Internet in my name. The alert means any company that checks your credit knows your information was stolen and they have to contact you by phone to authorize new credit. By the time I was advised to do this, almost two weeks after the theft, all the damage had been done. There are records of all the credit checks initiated by the thieves' purchases, none of which I knew about before placing the alert. Since then, no additional damage has been done, and the thieves threw my wallet away this weekend. (someone turned it in). It seems to have stopped them in their tracks.

The numbers are: Equifax 1-800-525-6285 - Experian (formerly TRW) 1-888-397-3742 - Trans Union 1-800-680-7289 - Social Security Administration (fraud line) 1-800-269-0271

Hope to see you at lunch soon,

President & Executive Director

You can email me at   john@bizforum.org
You can telephone me at        310-550-1984 
or Fax me at                                    310-550-6121

Previous Letters from the President

April 2001
May 2001
June 2001
July  2001
August 2001
September 2001
October 2001
November 2001
   December 2001   
The Etiquette of Formal & Business Dining

January 2002
February 2002
April 2002
May 2002
June 2002
July 2002
August 2002
September 2002
October 2002
November 2002

December 2002

 A tongue-in-cheek treatise on the many benefits that a country gains simply by being founded by the descendants of populations who were most often raped, pillaged and looted by the Vikings.

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January 2003
February 2003
March 2003
April 2003
May 2003
June 2003
July 2003
September 2003
October 2003

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