George Mindling Column 12-24-2004 - It's That Time of the Year

It's That Time of the Year

The Christmas spirit is upon us, I can tell by the traffic jams and the long lines at the area malls. Santa must be getting a lot of help in loading his bags in preparation for his annual trip to children around the world. Maybe he's loading up for more than just children. After all, does the new GPS I want count toward the gift statistics the elves put together each year? I was a good little boy, comparatively speaking, and see no reason to get a lump of coal instead of an expensive new toy I would probably buy myself if it weren't for the ease of asking Santa.

Of course, I would have a harder time getting my official "gift request" through family channels during the rest of the year, but at Christmas, we all seem to get special dispensation for our normally difficult or nearly impossible acquisitions.

"Just how far out are we going in the boat?" would be the normal question if I asked any other time of the year. But at Christmas, a request for a world wide, handheld electronic navigational tool that can actually pinpoint your location to a few yards anywhere on the planet is met with a sweet, understanding smile. Even if it is a couple of hundred bucks that could be better spent on other things, like food or gas for the car.

Kitchen add-ons and new refrigerators just don't seem to fill the bill of Christmas giving, even if they are sorely needed. A new dishwasher for the wife will not get the same response as a bottle of Chanel No. 5. Of course, wives know Chanel is for the husband, but at least it beats a garbage disposal!

Husbands used to be resigned to the "new tie syndrome", but lately, men have been wising up as well. Kids have always understood the power of Santa. Requests for toys that would usually draw an immediate "NO!" are pondered with a wry smile by parents this time of year. Kids know they can cash in on their “Santa” leverage. It doesn't cost the kids a cent. Not even one extra chore or minute of household duty. In the spirit of the holidays, we cave in and give, give, give.

We adults, unfortunately, are still encumbered with the actual responsibility of paying the bills. I have heard of one family that has not paid off last year's charges for Christmas, and they are already shopping at a pace that will outspend last year. They have to spend more to give more than they did last year because things cost more this year. That must make sense to the elves who are pumping this stuff out as fast as it can get loaded on a boat, er, ahh, sleigh, bound for the U.S.

But what hey, it's Christmas! Even if I never get out of sight of land, I'll know I'm special to somebody special. Isn’t that’s what Santa’s sleigh is all about?

George Mindling

George Mindling Column 1-21-2005 - Phishing

"Phishing" The Newest of Internet Cons

The web scam I received today looked exactly like a real message from Microsoft Support. According to the official Microsoft Logo and header, I was to update my account within 3 days or lose my account with Microsoft. The error was apparently a server or data base failure within Microsoft, and with their apologies, all I had to do was click on the link marked “click on our link” and key in my credit card information. The link actually was a Russian web site I have never used. I know it was a scam because I don’t have an account with Microsoft.

The worst offender, however, is the one I have received three times in the last month. It was a scam perfectly modeled after SunTrust’s logo. The page had the logo from the supposed sender, in this case SunTrust. The message read: “We recently reviewed your account, and suspect that your SunTrust Internet Banking account may have been accessed by an unauthorized third party. Protecting the security of your account and of the SunTrust network is our primary concern.” Again, logging on to the supposed web site took you somewhere else, even though the name looked almost real. I forwarded the SunTrust scams to SunTrust security, as I am sure many others did also, and as of December 21st, the offending web site has been shut down. How did I know it was a scam? I don’t have an account with SunTrust, either!

Do not click on any link you receive in an E-mail unless you specifically requested the information. Even then, use a little common sense. Do not assume that any e-mail is real without checking first, even if it means calling your bank or financial institution by telephone. Remember, they already have ALL of your account information.

An official looking web site is easy to create. Stealing logos and web page layouts is done with a few keystrokes, and they are created with the idea of making you respond without questioning the message. The marvel of electronic communication will be exploited by those who operate without morals or ethics, and without the traditional boundaries of law and jurisdiction, it becomes increasing difficult to maintain control over who has access to your personal computer. Don’t make it easier for the bad guys and gals to get your information. Don’t give away your private information without knowing whom you are dealing with. And why! A request for account information should be a warning flag every time.

Real Internet commerce always uses secure encoding when dealing with a customer data. The key lock symbol or it’s equivalent will highlight on your system tray portion of your screen when working with a secure site. Sending credit card information to a real on line vendor is usually safe and secure. If you initiated the purchase, and you know the vendor, there is no problem.

You wouldn’t give your credit card to a stranger in a store. Don’t do it with your PC!

George Mindling

George Mindling Column 4-8-2005 - Not From Around Here

People Here Not From Around Here

My wife didn’t think much of my idea of hanging an old license plate from the bottom of our mailbox. She really isn’t used to having a mailbox out on the street as it is, having always had a mailbox mounted just outside our front door wherever we lived before.

“Perhaps you should get a hobby and meet people!” she cheerfully suggested, “Just leave the mailbox alone.”

Hanging on to old identities to create a comfort level in a strange, new land sometimes takes strange twists. Looking for commonality among strangers is reminiscent of being in the Armed Services stationed overseas. Every American is your immediate buddy simply because of the common bond of citizenship and language. Where in the states someone is from is immaterial, at least you have something in common with somebody! Listening for a familiar accent or someone who knows the history of your hometown is always a challenge in Port Charlotte. Every neighbor is from somewhere else, quite a melting pot of ethnic backgrounds and traditions.

Some newly retired couples seem to go through phases of adjustment before moving toward reality and away from the fantasy of constant partying. Not golfing is the one and only trait I share with H. Ross Perot. Tennis? I never seemed to have the time to learn. We do love to dance, though. We really miss the passing of the dance floor at the Best Western. It unfortunately died a strange, grotesque death well before Hurricane Charley, turning into a vast one-table pool hall while everyone wondered where the music went. Fishing? Well, with the price of gas headed toward the stratosphere, it looks like the old kayak is going to get a live well. Well, a bait bucket, anyway.

Staying busy isn’t hard to do here. Retirement takes on new meaning for many people after getting through the often-tumultuous first year. Volunteering or serving in service groups is what many people turn to once the initial culture shock of retirement wears off. If you join a volunteer group here, you soon notice the Boston accents mix with the mid-west chatter and Georgia cracker drawl as Port Charlotte evolves into a new kind of community.

It is also becoming a younger community. According to Sperling’s Bestplaces, the median age of our area here in Northwest Port Charlotte (zip code 33953) is 48.2. Obviously, not everyone here is a retiree, but many new younger families are from areas other than southwest Florida. Still, we long to carry on a conversation with people familiar with our hometown. There doesn’t seem to be any one, single focal point in our adopted little paradise.

Even though we seem to have more people rooting for New England Patriots or Pittsburgh Steelers than for the Tampa Bay Bucs or the Miami Dolphins, I’m glad we picked Port Charlotte as a place to live, not just retire.

Even if we do have a hard time finding anybody else from Florida.

George Mindling Column - 4-22-2005 - Top-Notch Identity Theft Program

Sheriff Has A Top-Notch Identity Theft Program

I won a neat little personal nail file kit because I knew the Federal Trade Commission is the one government agency that acts as a clearinghouse for acts of white-collar crime. Charlotte County Sheriff’s Deputy Gordon Baer gave his excellent presentation on Identity Theft to our homeowner’s association and had been tossing out semi-useful, mainly symbolic rewards for correct answers to his questions to the audience. Everyone enjoyed the interactive presentation that involved the audience in the actual exchange of information. When he got to the one question about which Federal agency acts as a clearinghouse for crime, the audience was stumped. Guesses from the FBI to the Treasury Department were met with a disappointing “Nope! Anybody else?”

I had been on the FTC web page earlier in the day, checking out the page on Identity Theft and what to do about it at: http://www.consumer.gov/idtheft/. I forward all of the e-mail “Phishing” attempts I get to uce@ftc.gov. Phishing is the fake e-mail that tries to get you to log on to an official looking website and enter your account information because your account is in dire need of immediate attention. The web site that looks very official is in fact a scam. When in doubt, pick up the telephone and call the financial institution to tell them about the e-mail.

The FTC page at the ID Theft page lists the four steps to take if you think you are a victim of identity theft: First, “Contact the fraud departments of any one of the three major credit bureaus to place a fraud alert on your credit file. The fraud alert requests creditors to contact you before opening any new accounts or making any changes to your existing accounts. As soon as the credit bureau confirms your fraud alert, the other two credit bureaus will be automatically notified to place fraud alerts, and all three credit reports will be sent to you free of charge.”

Second thing to do is “Close the accounts that you know or believe have been tampered with or opened fraudulently. Use the ID Theft Affidavit when disputing new unauthorized accounts.”

Next, “File a police report. Get a copy of the report to submit to your creditors and others that may require proof of the crime.” Finally, “File your complaint with the FTC!” The FTC web page actually has a link on step four that will take you through the process.

The Charlotte County Sheriff’s Department Identity Theft program is excellent and should be attended if you get the chance. It’s worth driving across town to attend the presentation. It shouldn’t be missed. Call the Sheriff’s Crime Prevention office at (941)-764-1533 for more information on their community programs.

Visit the FTC web site at http://www.ftc.gov/. Click on the box at the top that’s marked “consumer.” Put that page in your bookmarks or favorites folder. It is a nice page to have handy. We need all the help we can get.

Letter to the Editor - May 28th, 2005

Letter to the Editor

May 28^th, 2005

I always read the curmudgeons articles with great enthusiasm: they confirm my definition of CAVE people, Citizens Against Virtually Everything! With the exception of Frank Lukasik, who actually had something positive to say about Murdock Village, they are a waste of talent. They are, in my opinion, subversive. Look up subversive before you blast me with a letter or e-mail. I will send you a definition in case you don’t have, or do not know how to use, a dictionary.

Many of the Curmudgeons have written surreptitiously as supposed “letters to the editor” when in fact they are carefully publishing a political manifesto of a self appointed group of narrow minded right wing conservatives who want to drive the political bus in Charlotte County without paying for the bus or the gas! Certainly without being elected!

Curmudgeon Joe Dixon’s pro-phosphate mining column of October 20, 2003, really caught my attention. I have read all of their articles ever since, waiting to see if in fact they would contribute something to actually help the people of Charlotte County.

Where were these guys when the people of Charlotte County needed them? Were they serving food, or delivering ice? Or working with the emergency teams throughout the county? Did they work with the Sheriff’s Office, or even with the church groups, service clubs, homeowner’s associations, and myriad volunteers that came to the aid of residents of Charlotte County. Did they attend any of the FEMA meetings, or get involved with any aspect of the reconstruction of the damaged areas of our county? Or were they sitting around, pissing and moaning, trying to decide who should write the next letter to the editor?

Have they presented to the Commissioners any alternatives to any of the issues they have written about? I don’t remember seeing any one from the Curmudgeons at any of the commission meetings I’ve attended.

Tell me anything positive about the Curmudgeons. I would love to hear it.

I believe these guys would take away my freedom to express my views: they have in fact demanded that the newspapers only print articles that fit their beliefs! They want their freedoms, they just don’t want you or I to have any.

Time to shine the light on the Curmudgeons.

George Mindling

Port Charlotte, FL

George Mindling Column 5-6-2005 - Ideas On Fixing I-75

Got Any Ideas On Fixing I-75?

While sitting idly on I-75 on a recent Friday morning, I couldn’t help but think about the future of southwest Florida. There was no accident and it wasn’t rush hour! Traffic simply jammed and stopped. With estimates running at somewhere around 10 to 14 million new residents for our state within the next ten to fifteen years, it isn’t hard to imagine what traffic will be in 2015. 

The completion of I-75 just a little over twelve short years ago changed southwest Florida forever. Traffic now zips east/west across the southern half of the state effortlessly. The biggest change, however, isn’t the east/west flow: it is the flow to and from the Naples/Marco area and the high growth corridor north to Tampa and the connector at I-4. With the soon to be completed $386 million expansion at Southwest Florida International Airport, I-75 will again be asked to absorb a greater traffic load.

Prior to I-75, US 41 had been the prime connector between southwest Florida and the rest of the country. Planning had centered on that one north-south highway as the main artery of most coastal communities. One can only thank the Commissioners of Charlotte County for six laning US-41 when they did.

Got an idea to fix the problem? Want to get involved in the planning process? The State of Florida Department of Transportation wants to hear from you! Go to the web site “Get Involved!” at http://www.ftp2025.com/get-involved.asp. Take a look at the planning for year 2025. There is an on-line survey that, unfortunately, only works with Microsoft Internet Explorer. The survey is limited in scope, but does have a page for comments and citizen input at: http://www.ftp2025.com/comment.asp. I’m sure you have a view you’d love to share.

According to the DOT, “The Florida Transportation Plan (FTP) is the long-range plan that identifies the goals and objectives for the next 20 years to address the needs of the entire state transportation system. Perhaps more importantly, the FTP provides the policy framework for allocating over $100 billion in funding that will be spent to meet the transportation needs of residents, tourists and business people between now and 2025.”

Perhaps you can attend one of the public planning workshops at either Sarasota or Ft. Myers. They will be held:

May 9, 2005 -- Sarasota (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport
Dan P. McClure Auditorium

5900 Auditorium Lane
Sarasota, FL 34243 Contact: Johnny Limbaugh 239-461-4300

May 11, 2005 -- Ft. Myers (4:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.)
Florida Gulf Coast University, Sprint Room
10501 FGCU Blvd. South
Ft. Myers, FL 33965-6565
Contact: Johnny Limbaugh 239-461-4300

Just remember if you plan on using I-75 to get to Sarasota or Ft Myers for the workshops, you’d better leave home early.

George Mindling

George Mindling Column 5-20-2005 - Punta Gorda's Not Escaping

Punta Gorda's Not Escaping Area Changes

Will Rogers, the great American humorist, is supposed to have responded to a small city mayor who asked him what he thought of their fair town with, “It’s a good place for one…”

While I can’t verify the town or the quote, the quip certainly brings to mind Punta Gorda.

While getting my wife’s car serviced in the “Great Auto Mile” on US 41, we decided to grab a bite to eat and do some shopping. The several restaurants on the block at Marion are very nice and well priced, just be sure to check the schedules as most are in summer schedule. Several other shops, sorry, shoppes, appeared to be on hiatus as well

Since the central shopping area appeals to those looking for specialty items, we wandered over to Fisherman’s Village, which caters to the tourist crowd, or trickle, depending on the time of year, to see if we could really do any shopping. After an ice cream cone and a leisurely stroll along the shoppes, we decided we really didn’t want a tee shirt or a bumper sticker. Now where to?

With all the autos for sale and being serviced in the concentrated area on Tamiami Trail, I expected to find abundant proof of life in the neighborhood. There seemed to be plenty of traffic, especially pick up trucks laden with ladders and PVC pipe, even sheets of drywall, but everyone seemed to be in a hurry to get into PGI or leave town.

According to a local, well known real estate broker, Punta Gorda Isles, the high dollar salt water canal front part of town, is just now, for the for the first time, seeing clusters of kids waiting for school buses. The comments were broadcast during a local cable television show that highlights our area and activities. The significance of the observation may not be seen immediately, but our area is changing and so is Punta Gorda.

While the residents of Punta Gorda have always raised families here, the next generation of PGI residents offers a new paradigm to retailers. That will dictate the changes that will transpire in the quaint town of Punta Gorda. Retailers know where the money is. Home Depot and Wal-Mart will be the first of the new retailers, but don’t be surprised if other national chains have their eyes on the changing profile of Punta Gorda.

The hurricane rebuilding effort is underway, but what will it bring? What will rise from the rubble of a hotel and the County Auditorium yet remains to be seen. What had been a central shopping area for Punta Gorda remains barren. The vacant land is more than an eyesore, it is a reminder that now is the time to do things right. Empty lots will hopefully grow new structures and buildings to be the face of a new City.

The heart of Punta Gorda is still there. It just isn’t beating very hard at the moment.

George Mindling