Featured Articles

INSTAGRAM FOCUS

Oct 11 2021

INSTAGRAM FOCUS


		Biggest Animal on Earth Blue whales can reach a length of 100 feet and weigh up to 200 tons. Watch one now in the Santa Barbara Channel. You may need an Instagram account to view these posts. Go to Instagram.com to sign up or sign in to your account.		Cool Flames in Space On the International Space Station, researchers are studying cool flames, which burn at extremely low temps.

COOKING DEMO

Oct 08 2021

COOKING DEMO


		Ina Garten’s Chicken Recipes September is National Chicken Month. If you’re bored with your chicken dishes, try these Barefoot Contessa favorites.		4 Variations of Basic Muffins Turn this recipe into your choice of muffins — chocolate chip, banana pecan, orange poppy seed, or mango coconut.

DIY TIPS

Oct 06 2021

DIY TIPS


		10 Easy DIY Projects Transform an old tire into a storage seat, wine corks into a pen holder, a picture frame into a key rack, and more.		How to Refinish Furniture Learn how to turn a flea market find into a piece of furniture you love without the hassles of stripping the finish.		>

CUSTOMER ALERT

Oct 04 2021

CUSTOMER ALERT


		Do you follow your favorite celebrities on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram? It’s a great way to stay updated on their career news and personal views. But be suspicious if you receive a direct message from a celebrity out of the blue. It’s almost certainly a scam. Social media is filled with bogus celebrity accounts, and imposters will reach out to the real star’s followers and ask for money. For example, if you post “I love you, Blake Shelton!” on the singer’s real Facebook or Instagram page, you might get a message from something like #SecretBlakeSheltonacct. The Blake impostor will say he’s flattered, values your fandom, and would love to meet you … if you first donate to his charity. Or you may be invited to buy tickets to a private concert or meet-and-greet. Another popular tactic of celebrity imposter scams is the phony livestream. It typically features a video taken from the celebrity’s real social feed along with a message promising a cash prize to the first 500 people who comment with a specified phrase or identify something hidden in an optical illusion. Respondents get a direct message asking for a bank account number or other personal data to facilitate payment of the prize. To avoid celebrity imposter scams, use these strategies: Look for the blue checkmark on celebrity social media accounts, which verifies that they’re the real deal. If there’s no checkmark, it’s an impostor. Search the celebrity’s name with the word “scam” to see what’s been reported. Never give personal information or send money via gift card, wire transfer, prepaid debit card, or peer-to-peer payment app to someone you don’t know and have only communicated with online, no matter how supposedly famous. Don’t engage with a supposed celebrity on an unverified social media account, even if they don’t initially ask for money. If you come across a celebrity impersonator account, report it and help others avoid becoming a scam victim. Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram have procedures in place to make reporting easy.

SITES OF THE MONTH

Oct 01 2021

SITES OF THE MONTH


		Guide to Apple Varieties Learn about popular kinds of apples and the best uses for each — from eating out of hand to making pies or salads. Learn more…		DIY and What to Buy Popular Mechanics is a go-to source for how to do all kinds of projects and which products to buy for best results. Learn more…		Rolling with Dough Roller This isn’t about pie crust. It’s about learning how to better manage and invest your dough, as in money, to build wealth. Learn more…