Serendipity

An Oregon woman fell for the well-known Nigerian email scheme, which defrauded her of $400,000. She doesn't feel that she was an easy mark, and because the email identified a long-lost relative, she thought everything was on the up and up. Sweet Home, OR - We've all heard of them or at least knew someone who has received an email from an individual in Nigeria claiming that there were funds from a now-deceased relative waiting to be dispersed to them or some variation of that theme and that help was needed to get the money out of the country. Most of us simply hit delete, but Janella Spears told AP that it only made her became more curious. The particular email that she received stated that "if" she helped this long-lost relative, her grandfather "J.B. Spears", she would then be entitled to $20. million. "That's what got me to believe it," She said. "So, why wouldn't you send over $100?" Spears sent the first $100 through an untr...

**The Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) is considering using Renovate, a chemical designed for European milfoil, to kill the invasive seaweed. Although the DEC says that it should control the milfoil, but not completely eradicate it. **Bath, NY - Between two of the Finger Lakes, Keuka and Seneca, lies two smaller lakes, Lamoka and Waneta , where many people, live, vacation, boat, fish and swim. But with the lake's usage, came unwanted invasive species of plants, namely European milfoil. ** European milfoil has clogged these lakes every year, becoming a danger to both boaters and swimmers. The Lamoka-Waneta Lakes Association vice-president, Dennis Fagan, told Steuben County officials Monday that plans were again being considered to eradicate the non-native weed this year. The Department of Environmental Conservation is considering the use of a chemical called " Renovate " (pdf) to kill the weed. **In 2003, the herbicide SONAR (pdf) was used, and it took 59 ...

Friday, the family of Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham took part in the "keel-laying ceremony" which begins the construction of a Navy ship that's being built and will be named after their son. Jason Dunham of Scio, NY, was 22 when he died in Iraq in 2004. Maine - Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham died as the result of trying to save his fellow Marines' lives, by throwing his helmet over a grenade. He sustained injuries on that fateful April 14, 2004. Two years later, President Bush awarded Marine Cpl. Jason L. Dunham the Medal of Honor. That medal was "the first Medal of Honor — the nation’s highest award for battlefield heroism — bestowed on a Marine in the Iraq war and the first earned for combat action since 1970, during the Vietnam War." Dunham was assigned to of the 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, I Marine Expeditionary Force, at Twentynine Palms, California. The 22-year old machine gunner was manning a checkpoint near Karabilah, which is...

The Virunga National Park, is home to a bit more than half of the world's last 700 mountain gorillas. Here, a senior park official has been arrested due to claims that he organized the killing of ten rare mountain gorillas in 2007. Democratic Republic of Congo - Honore Mashagiro has been charged by the Congolese Nature Conservation Institute (ICCN), which he was a member of, for ordering and allowing the killing of ten of these rare gorillas in 2007. The Virunga National Park is one of the Unesco world heritage sites. Each World Heritage Site is the property of the country on whose territory the site is located, but it is considered in the interest of the international community to preserve each site for future generations of humanity. The protection and conservation of these sites are a concern of all the World Heritage countries. Unfortunately, the park is located in an area where rebels have set up base making it a volatile region. Reports say that there are six other foreste...

St. Paul - At this time, it is unknown who this man is that purged in various offices in the Homeland Security Offices. Several rooms were spoiled with smelly piles before the man disappeared. Based on the description that was given, there's an indication that the man might have been homeless. At any rate, he disappeared before police arrived. As it turns out that the building wasn't secure to begin with. A contractor who is doing work there did not secure the door behind him, tells the spokeswoman for the Minnesota Department of Pubic Safety, Susan Lasley. I wonder...did he feel any better afterwards...

The handyman. We all know one or two. What is it about him that we like or rather what does he have that perhaps we need? Does he have a winning personality? A friendly smile? Is he smart, funny, what is the draw to the man with this name: handyman? A handyman may be called this for a variety of reasons. He may be a skilled gardener, mechanic, roofer, brick layer, builder...the list goes on and on. He provides for us a service that is needed at a lesser cost, without leaving us with shoddy work and a huge dent in our checking accounts. Or that's what we initially think and hope. When you open your door to him, what is the first thing that you notice? In my experience, it's not only an air of professional quality, but also a personality that breaks through the ice and if he should try to sell you the Golden Gate Bridge...well, you'd be might interested! This is, maybe, where we make our mistakes. This man, who you've welcomed into your home, told him what you need done.....