More Spam Than Monty Python

Well, it seems to be raining spam at the moment. Someone has obviously got hold of my online email addresses and I'm being inundated with the standard spam messages every day. Annoying but unfortunately a fact of life in these days of the internet and email addresses.

It's all basically 'selling' the same stuff although it's interesting to see the new approach that spammers take every few months. The latest seems to be validating your login id to some spurious site - Wine Lovers and Cat Lovers spring to mind. None of which I've subscribed too, although it's sometimes difficult to remember what I've signed up with.

I've also had a few recent emails supposedly from Paypal with the title 'Protect Your Identity' - just the usual phishing emails. While the more obvious 'medical' spam and emails from Banks you've never heard of is easy to recognise and ignore, some of the less obvious one's may be leading you to sites which will download malware which could enable your computer to be used to send out further spam.

Just make sure your virus and firewall software is up-to-date.

Meteors And Satellites

Well, if even I managed to see the meteor shower from my garden surrounded by street lights, then it must have been pretty spectacular if you were in the heart of the country with a dark, unpolluted night sky. I was out late evening and spotted at least three satellites (two following each other across the night sky) and a few of the Perseid meteors before going to bed and deciding I was going to make the effort and get up early morning to see them at their peak, as this was such a great opportunity with a clear sky and a new moon and the fact that I could see them from the garden.

I guess I wasn't the only one standing out in the garden in the early hours looking skyward to spot the streaks of light as the speed across the sky and at least with enough about it on the news, anyone spotting me in the garden, seating on the bench wouldn't be thinking I was too weird ... well, I hope not. I hadn't quite made it up for 3am, when they were at their peak but was out an hour later and spotted at least half a dozen in twenty minutes. Just as the sky was starting to lighten up , I decided I really needed a couple of hours sleep and before my neck developed a permanent crick, headed back to bed.

Don't worry if you missed them. The Perseids are an annual event and can continue to be seen for another week until the 20th August. There are also regular meteor showers that occur throughout the year - you can find out more on the BAA site. Just look up into a clear night sky and if the crick in the neck doesn't get to you first, you should see one ... or two. You're much more likely to see a satellite these days, the sky is littered with them - bright points of light tracking across the sky in a pretty straight line.

What Car?

I'm a Mercedes SLK! (apparently)

You appreciate the finer things in life. You have a split personality (well, I am a Gemini) - wild or conservative, depending on your mood. Wherever you go, you like to travel first class (would like to, doesn't mean I do!). Luxury, style, and fun - who could ask for more?

Take the Which Sports Car Are You? quiz.

Mmmm - maybe I won't sell the car! :) Not quite but almost the same.

September Newsletter - Procrastination - The Art Of Putting It Off

My latest newsletter is just out - if you'd like a free copy of the August issue and you're not on the list - let me know and I'll be happy to send it to you.

Featured in this month's issue:

• Article: Procrastination – The Art of Putting Things Off
• What On, What's New - Teleclasses & Workshops
• Recommended Reading
• Website of the Month
• This Month’s Quote