Students who regularly make online purchases from campus computers or from the university's wireless network might want to take some precautionary steps before punching in their credit card numbers. “If [students] are using the encrypted wireless [network], I think that's fine," said James Shook of Technology Support Services. “[But] I don't think I'd be doing that on the visitor's [network], which anyone can get on."Students can obtain a password for the secured wireless network at www.nss.appstate.edu. Appalachian State also offers free anti-virus software with built-in firewall and anti-spyware protection at www.antivirus.appstate.edu. Students transferring data should do so from secure Web sites, which are signified by “https" in the Uniform Resource Locator (URL) or a secure lock graphic, said Director of Technology Support Tom M.

Oscar Betting Promos - Online Promotions and Bonuses for Oscar Betting

The following online gambling websites are offering signup bonuses and special promotional offers for this year's Oscar betting.

For fastest credit card deposits and processing the minutes before show time go to Sportsbook.com - Visa or Master Card.

BetOnline has a wide offering of Oscar betting odds when you click on "Future Props" then "Entertainment" under their "Live Lines" section (top left hand side of their website). In addition to the top signup bonus of 10 to 45 percent depending on how much you deposit, BetOnline also features betting odds on the winning Foreign Language Film and Best Short Film Animation. Of course they have odds on all the major categories as well, some with decent size payouts.

Sportsbook.com - In addition to a 10% signup bonus, Sportsbook.com is offering the opportunity to win free movie tickets throughout the year.

Just Rewards?

Cash back, frequent-flier miles, gift certificates: more than 55% of all credit-card offers have some type of reward attached to them, according to the latest survey by Mintel's Comperemedia, a company that monitors direct-mail solicitations nationwide.

Va. hookup thief released after pleading guilty Gay

A Richmond resident was sentenced to jail time Jan. 10 but released soon after for stealing money and credit cards from men he hooked up with in Arlington. Shawn Boyd, 36, was sentenced at the Arlington County General District Court to 12 months in jail and 10 months probation. Since he had already served jail time while awaiting his trial, he was released on the same day he was sentenced. Boyd served his time in the Arlington County Detention Facility. As part of a plea bargain, Boyd pleaded guilty to petty larceny and failure to appear in court in September 2005. Boyd stole a credit card from an Arlington resident on Feb. 15, 2005. He also stole less than $200 from another Arlington resident on March 19, 2005. Officer Loreann Grimes, team coordinator for the Arlington County Police Department’s Gay and Lesbian Liaison Unit, said Boyd had been hooking up with men he met online and stealing their money and credit cards afterward.

Councilman MikeK Recalls Knievel Action Figure

The card goes everywhere with me; it's one of my favorite things. Evel was a good person, demonstrated quite recently by the fact that he forgave the rapper Kayne West before he died. I guess that was one of his last acts. "Happy Landings," Evel. RIP/Brent Andrews.

The Unspeakable R Word

Why are there imbalances in the global economy? Until recently, conventional economic wisdom has held that the U.S. has a huge trade deficit, a gaping current account deficit, and large federal budget deficits because Americans consume too much and save very little. Newly emerging conventional wisdom takes the opposite view. The problem in today's global economy is that the rest of the world, in particular people in Asia, consume too little and save way too much.

Signs of this meme can be seen all over. The lead article in today's Wall Street Journal speaks of a global housing boom spurred by a "saving glut." An op-ed in today's Financial Times by Ricardo Hausmann of Harvard notes that "excessive savings are at the root of the imbalance in China." Elsewhere, the FT applauds a tentative sign that the Japanese—"who control the world's largest pool of savings," some $1.28 trillion—are showing signs of spending and investing more.

Honey, you blocked my card

Dear Heloise: In reference to the hint about NOTIFYING YOUR CREDIT-CARD COMPANIES if you are going on a trip, especially out of the U.S., be sure to let them know if your spouse is not coming with you.

As a corporate travel agent, I recently had a spouse whose husband was overseas call me because her purchase was declined. He had to contact the credit-card companies to let them know that his wife was still at home and had access to the cards. Kitty Hodges, Frisco, Texas

Who would have thought? It could sure put a crimp in shopping. Heloise

Dear Heloise: I think making a welcome basket for guests is a great hint, with one word of warning: When we had company visit last year, I prepared a lovely basket with essential items and left it in their bedroom. However, I used a very expensive basket.

Families struggle to pay bills as the basic cost of living rises 5% in ...

It found that the average family had to pay 6.1 per cent more for food in January compared with January 2007, and 6.4 per cent more for transport. Petrol prices were nearly 20 per cent higher. Only a 4.8 per cent fall in the cost of clothing helped lessen the pressure on consumers’ wallets. Average earnings rose by £22 a week.

Households in Wales have been worst affected by spiralling costs, the CEBR said. The average family has £45 a week to spend on leisure and recreation once weekly bills are met. This is more than 12 per cent less than they had to spend in January 2007. Prompted by the rising mortgage costs, the Financial Services Authority (FSA), the financial watchdog, launched a £2 million advertising campaign yesterday to encourage home-owners to seek help and advice.

Thinking of spring training, Francoeur’s future

It's a January 2005 Baseball America with top 10 prospects for each NL East team. It's easy to forget how young Fracoeur and McCann are until you read this and realize it was exactly three years ago, and that at the time Francoeur had only 76 at-bats above A-ball and McCann had zero. Think about that.

(As if falling short in most offensive categories when compared to one of the very best young players in the game is somehow terrible for Francoeur.