UPDATE: Wham Scam, No Thank You Ma'am

*** UPDATE ***

I spoke again with my friend who had encountered a fraud form in establishing their new business LLC. According to my friend, the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is currently involved in catching these fraudsters (yes, there is more than one bad guy involved), and seeking civil penalties, injunction and other equitable remedies and costs. Although they have my friend on record, there is still no guarantee that there will be compensation … unless they catch the bad guys.

Say you’ve already sent in a check to the address listed on the fake form. What should you do? In order to help strengthen this case and potentially get your money back, immediately get in touch with the OAG’s Complaint Department and file your complaint electronically here.

After contacting the Better Business Bureau and the OAG, they replied. Here is their letter they sent in response to my friend’s filed complaint:

“Effective October 8, 2009 the Attorney General has sued George Alan Miller, Rebecca Miller, Arghisti Keshishyan, and Kristina Keshishyan who work together operating two corporations and one LLC: Annual Review Board, Inc., Business Filings Division and Corpfilers.com, LLC. Miller and his co-conspirators mailed solicitations to California limited liability companies and corporations, demanding that the recipients complete the form and return it with payment or risk penalties, fines and suspension. The payment amounts varied from $195 to $239, but all mailers were designed to be official looking government documents that misled the recipients into sending money.”

All defendants are accused of violating:
-Business and Professions Code section 17533.6 (Deceptive Solicitation Statute)

-Civil Code section 1716 (Phony Billing Statute)

-Business and Professions Code section 17500 (False Advertising Statute)

-Unfair business practices within the meaning of Business and Professions Code section 17200.

If you see any suspiciously generic-looking forms, either in your own or a friend’s mailbox, remember those names: Annual Review Board, Inc., Business Filings Division and Corpfilers.com, LLC.

Take time to read this, don’t allow yourself to be susceptible to these low-life white collar criminals attempting to steal your money.

Swine Flu Shot Disables 26 Year Old for Life

Someone recently shared this video about a beautiful 26-year-old woman, Desiree Jennings, who wanted to become a professional cheerleader. In lieu of achieving that dream, the Virginia local had a one-in-a-million neurological reaction to the H1N1 flu shot just 10 days after getting it at her local Safeway drugstore. Her reaction, which suddenly caused her crippling spasms and an inability to talk without jerking, was diagnosed by doctors as Dystonia, a rare neurological condition with no cure caused by trauma, certain medications, and mutated genes. But at the same time, scientists don’t know the origins of Dystonia, which impedes their ability to find a cure for it. Strangely, Jennings is unable to walk forward without uncontrollably jerking but can function and speak if she run or walks backwards.

According to the Dystonia Foundation, in Dystonia cases, “the neurological mechanism that makes muscles relax when they are not in use does not function properly. Opposing muscles often contract simultaneously as if they are “competing” for control of a body part. The involuntary muscle contractions force the body into repetitive and often twisting movements as well as awkward, irregular postures. Dystonia affects more than 300,000 (100,000 of them children) people in the United States.

Obviously tragic in itself, I think Jennings’ rare case will bring to light the importance in being aware of what the FDA is approving and understanding what you’re putting in your body. Remember when they recalled ? If you’re curious about more information on the H1N1 flu shot or how to get involved with supporting those affected by Dystonia, visit her website.

And everyone should watch this video about the makers of the H1N1 virus not even taking their own medicine, literally. I’ll leave you with a quote from physician Marcia Angell MD:

"It is simply no longer possible to believe much of the clinical research that is published, or to rely on the judgment of trusted physicians or authoritative medical guidelines. I take no pleasure in this conclusion, which I reached slowly and reluctantly over my two decades as an editor of The New England Journal of Medicine."

According to the CDC, the H1N1 vaccine contains the “killed” virus and is injected into muscle, just like the annual flu shot. It also contains Thimerosal, a mercury-containing organic compound that guards against microbes (bacteria) and has been used since the 1930s. Over the years however, Thimerosal has been associated with autism and toxicity concerns. Because of this, Thimerosal “has been removed from or reduced to trace amounts in all vaccines routinely recommended for children 6 years of age and younger, with the exception of inactivated influenza vaccine,” as stated by the FDA’s website. We all know mercury is bad to have in our body, even with small amounts that might break from our thermometer we’re told to immediately contact our poison center. This is just information, you do what you want with it.

For more on the H1N1 virus, check out the CDC’s official vaccine information statement.

The Pest I Still Remember

This is an illustration by Louis Darling, from the Beverly Clearly book, “Ramona the Pest.” I read the entire collection of Ramona Quimby at a very young age. “Ramona the Pest” was by far, my favorite one.

I saw this image and in a flash I recalled things I hadn’t thought about in a long time. I was nine years old or so when I first saw this picture of Ramona determinedly coasting down a hill with her new dress wildly flapping behind her. She was leaning as far left as she could to keep from falling over, since she had decided it was time she rode a two wheeler – and that meant unscrewing a training wheel herself. Her boy companion, left behind with the derelict wheel in hand.

Ramona, like myself at that age, was especially self assured. She was confident, hilariously mischievous, and was emphatically curious, to the point that she was an exceptional brat, particularly with her big sister, Beatrice – a trait I could easily relate to with my own three big sisters. Curious to ride a two wheeler like her older sister (as pestering as she was to Beatrice AKA Beezus, Ramona always looked up to her big sister), Ramona used her friend’s tools, being used to tighten the wheel, and simply loosened the wheel until it came right off. And then shot off down the street as fast as she could. She figured if she could ride the wheels on the left side, while leaning her body the opposite side, she could pull it off. And, she did.

It made me smile to think how reading all about Ramona’s shenanigans still to this day makes an impact on me. More so, what an impact it made on my growing curiosity and imagination as a child. Even though it’s been a couple of decades, I can remember how I felt reading this story, and could even relate to Ramona’s rail-thin frame, and short, black hair. My mom often called me her little shrimp, because I really didn’t grow until I hit high school. I was really so small that I could shop in the Junior’s section at Macy’s long after my schoolmates had moved onto Adult.

Nostalgic, reminiscent and random thoughts like this always make me appreciate the wonderful childhood I was given, and remind me to work to give that sort of outlet for imagination to my future children.

Ramona dressed up as a witch and chasing neighborhood kids. Happy Halloween.

I need to really focus on this right now. I think we often fall into the rhythm of the rest of the world (its rat race) or our environment (trying to prove what others expect or want from us, what we expect from ourselves), and allow our souls to be stamped with the idea, ambition even, to take control of and over examine every fraction in our life - to the point it drives our minds on the verge of loony. It's cliché, but life is already complicated without our pushy involvement in it.

Wham Scam, No Thank You Ma'am

Been learning the power of tech-savvy bad guys. Nearing the end of reading Michael Connelly's "The Scarecrow," in which a techi gone sadistic-killer tracks down his victims by freely going in your email, credit card information and using various means of online technology (blog, facebook, etc) makes the impression that it's VERY EASY to find all there is to know about someone at the comfort of their laptop. 


This week, my friend whom just started a business, got totally scammed by a very professional and legit looking company, dubbed "Business Filing Division" that asks for a fee of $239. Basically preys on new business owners. Here's the scam. According to my friend, they even talked twice on the phone with a lady, who advised them (in a very professional matter, no less) how to fill out the forms and pay. TOTAL SCAM!

One thing that tips me off is the generic sounding name "Business Filing Division." The second thing is that little sentence at the bottom that says, "This product or service has not been approved or endorsed by any government agency, and this offer is not being made by an agency of the government." But if you look into the top left corner of the form, it appears like a California or government-like emblem. Hmm. Not to mention, the forms are sent in alongside junk mail and the address is NOT that of the Secretary of State's as it claims to be. While the form states the Secretary of State's address is 980 Ninth Street, 16th Fl, Sacramento, CA 95814 - the real address is totally different. Apparently, this is being investigated by the REAL Secretary of State, but you can file a complaint by calling (800) 952-5225. It looked pretty darn official, even fooling my buddy who is always critical about trusting in things right away.



It seems that the bad guys have outgrown our stereotypes we've given them - unshaven, moronic individuals who carry out unprofessional and ill-prepared illegal ventures. Now, they're not only shaven and appearance professional, they're smart as hell, and are taking every step needed to pull the wool over our eyes. They probably realize newer business owners are more susceptible to being fooled by forms since it's likely the new business owners are already filling out a myriad of forms and paying left and right to start it up. This white-collar criminal activity is intolerable but is happening everyday unless we do our part and educate ourselves about the bad things that are now out there.


Be (legally) careful out there folks, especially you new business folks.

A Book Engagement with Ms. Bushnell

One of the top interviews I've ever had the pleasure of experiencing happened to me without much planning. A friend had mentioned a notable author was planning on visiting Vroman's in Pasadena, as part of her book tour. The book was called "One Fifth Avenue," and the author was Candace Bushnell. Though not much for being starstruck, as it happened, I was a longtime fan of Bushnell and so, felt more thrilled for that interview than any other before. Just to give you a little perspective, all but one season of Bushnell's Sex and the City still sits among my other DVDs. My current Calvin Klein comforter is the same exact one Carrie Bradshaw used for the entire series (total coincidence though folks, I got mine before I knew about the show). A former New York Observer columnist-turned iconic author, Bushnell and her novels have grown to epitomize today's redefined portrayals of brazen and self-reliant female bunch.  

When I first laid eyes on the lovely Bushnell, she was slenderly framed in a pleated, sleeveless dress and sporting black Manolo Blahniks, no less, as she read from a beginning chapter in her book. "I love their world," said Bushnell later about the characters. She mentions that she lives in the neighborhood where the actual One Fifth Avenue building is located. "I think the book captures the small-town aspect of New York City," Bushnell remarked. "It creates its own little world." Her latest prose, "One Fifth Avenue," explores the lives of five ambitious women who take up residence at the posh One Fifth Avenue in New York City—a co-op notorious for its real estate exclusivity. 


She was a big reader since the young age of three and today sometimes writes for 12 hours of the day. Bushnell, who admitted she loved reading "sentimental" stories like Gustave Flaubert's Madame Bovary and William Somerset Maugham. "There's a part of fiction writing that is no conscious (thinking) - one that cannot be explained," she told her audience.



Afterward, her audience, comprised of giggly fashionistas, moms, and believe it or not, straight guys holding stacks of her books (ok, probably for their girlfriends, wives and mothers), waited in line for the 30-year-veteran writer to offer her greeting and a much-prized signature. I lingered just long enough to get my seven-minute chat with the best-selling novelist/producer before her publicist dragged her away, probably to some exotic new city or destination to continue a fabulous chic city life made infamous by Candace Bushnell.

"Hi, I'm Candace, nice to meet you." Candace was extremely friendly - despite the fact that I immediately felt her sizing me up in that moment - thankfully I had dressed stylishly appropriately for that interlude and felt confident in my appearance. She is from Connecticut (she came to the city in 1979 as a 19 year old) but has a semblance of accent, elongating many of her vowels when she wants to emphasize something she's saying. 

Funny, during the Q&A part of her reading, I'd been the one to pose the question, "Is she wearing her Manolos tonight?" She looked right in my eyes, smiled and asked, "Are you the reporter interviewing me later?" Petite that I am, I'm 5'2" on a good day ... Candace was incredibly tiny in real life - let's be honest, she is rocking the body of a 25-year-old. Her hair is professionally colored but she is not fake-looking. For one, she is not busty like a lot of successful or in-the-spotlight women these days (ahem, Girls Next Door) but that's the point! Her body looks better for not trying to fit into the flippant status quo that so many women fall into for their own insecure and shallow neuroses. She's an embodiment of the city better known as New York City, she has written innumerable columns and five books about her city. That said, Candace was perfectly comfortable interacting with me with a mere four inches between our faces. To be frank, the whole thing ended faster than I realized - but I was happy, I'd finally met someone I admired and was ready for for my next adventure.



photos by Sarah McClure.

Pasadena Goes Belly Up

Pasadena isn't called the Green City for no reason. In 2007, the City of Pasadena undertook what only a handful of cities in the nation have only now started to do nowadays: go green with a purpose. See, many cities view the green movement as a marketing ploy, using it more to advertise the city to potential renters, buyers and businesses, rather than actually taking the steps to make a city cleaner. This month, Pasadena's City Council authorized the purchase of 40 more Big Belly Solar Trash Compactor, at a cost not to exceed 146,550. 

However, it was back in 2007 that Pasadena began participating with Big Belly Compactors by renting out four for a six-month test period. It was spearheaded by Pasadena's then-environmental team, along with Pasadena Public Works Director Martin Pastucha. With much success, the city more recently bought an additional six compactors, and placed them in high traffic areas.  

 

According to the City Council's Agenda Report, "The compactor takes up as much space as an ordinary bin, but has a capacity five times greater than a normal trash bin. The compactor can compact up to 200 gallons of trash into one neat bag that weighs 40 to 60 pounds."
 

Another perk? The 540-pound compactors are said to reduce the number of collection trips from five times a week for regular trash bins to once per week - helping to trim fuel usage and greenhouse gases emissions. Pasadena's city website further posits that the Big Belly Compactor "has a battery reserve that lasts two to three weeks without sunlight, a waste capacity of more than 45 gallons and a sensor that sends a signal whenever compaction needs to take place." 


Often, I've seen Pasadena at the forefront of environmental initiatives. A while back, I wrote about their integration of CFL bulbs, even offering free CFLs to Pasadena residents as an initiative. I know, I still haven't used the FREE 35 or so bulbs (of varying size and watt) stored in my cupboard. I saw this on on Lake Avenue while getting a Starbucks. It really stood out and probably wasn't more than four feet high. 

Photos by Sarah McClure.