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The tradition of urban legends and ghost stories had existed for centuries. Humans have an innate desire to tell stories and also have fantastic imaginations, especially when it comes to trying to explain mysterious circumstances. So it’s no surprise that, when e-mail became accessible to the mass market, that these urban legends quickly turned into e-mail forwards and hoaxes, some of which were entertaining and mischievous, but a small number of which were actually malicious in intent. Being able to tell the difference between the two will prevent you from falling for any online scams.

Most of the e-mail forwards that you get will probably be entertaining and fun to read. Many of these stories are funny, usually regarding a ridiculous situation that someone got into or maybe a funny story about an animal or that. Often times, these stories will even have a picture that goes along with them that is supposed to prove that the story is real. These pictures are just as easy to fake at the stories are.

Another smaller set of these types of stories are scary stories, on evolution of the campfire ghost stories that kids still like to tell. One of the more recent stories was that of Carmen Winstead, a girl who supposedly was accidentally killed by bullies when they pushed her down a well. This story is false, just like most of those camp stories. It is fun to tell stories about the supernatural, but that does not make it real.

The stories and e-mails you need to watch out for usually try to persuade you to take some kind of action. The classic e-mail hoax is that of the Nicaraguan prince, who supposedly has a fortune that he needs to get out of the country and he will deposit it in your bank account if you just send him the information. Clearly, if you do this, your bank account is going to be drained by somebody. Any e-mail that persuades you to take action probably needs to be investigated before you actually take that action. This is also true if that tells you to download or click on something, as this is a classic way of getting viruses installed onto people’s computers.

E-mail forwards can be fun to read, but if an e-mail is trying to convince you to do something, you need to do some research before you actually take that action. This is to protect you from malicious intent.

Are you worried that your marriage is about to end? Noticed the typical signs of a cheating spouse, and feel like you are about to be replaced by your partner? Before you start confronting them, make sure you gather enough proof that they are in an affair. This doesn’t mean trying to observe more signs of cheating, it means actual verifiable proof that they can’t lie their way out of. No proof leads to a yelling competition, a he said she said war of words. Hold the urge to confront until you are well equipped with facts.

To Save your marriage, you will first need to stop an affair. Here are some ways that you may use to catch your spouse cheating.

3 Ways to Catch A Cheating Spouse

1. Emotional affairs are a common cause of relationship breakups, and the best way to catch an emotional affair is the same place an emotional affair begins: the internet. You have two ways of monitoring your spouse’s internet behavior. First is by installing a key logger and collecting the data it provides (websites visited, passwords, and anything typed on the keyboard), second is by using your browser’s features to log the visited websites. The key logger, if you have the spare cash, would be the best way to catch them cheating. There’s no lying your way out of data collected by a key logger. The second method will only work if your spouse is not tech savvy. To set your browser to monitor the sites it’s visited, press CTRL+H on either Google chrome, firefox, or I.E. This should show you what sites have been recently viewed. Go to tools > options > privacy to further customize the data your browser stores; you may even opt for the “remember passwords” option so you can login your spouse’s emails.

2. Tired of getting that same old “working overtime” excuse? Want to know whether your spouse makes any stops between home and work? The two methods you can use to monitor where they go while out of the house are : GPS car trackers, and keeping a daily log of their car’s miles. The GPS car tracker will allow you to monitor your spouse’s car via Google Maps, so there’s pretty much no way to lie out of this method. The record keeping, although less reliable than the GPS tracker, still works in telling you whether or not your spouse is lying. Whenever a spouse gives the “overtime” excuse, you can compare it with your daily records. If they travel 30 miles a day, and on their overtime days they travel 40+ instead of the regular 30, you know you are being deceived; overtime means more hours in the office, not longer travel time.

3. Another method of catching a cheating spouse is by leaving voice recorders on places that they may use the phone or cell phone. The best places to keep a recorder is under a car seat, near the home landlines, inside the bathroom, and right next to a computer (for voice chats). Be sure to get one of those voice recorders that have the automatic voice activation record function, so you don’t waste any storage space by blankly recording even when there’s nothing to record.

To save your marriage, you really must end the affair first, or confirm that there isn’t an affair. Gathering proof to either prove or disprove an affair will help you save your marriage.

It is a little disheartening that one of the most popular beverages in the world is so likely to cause stains on clothing, table cloths, and carpeting. Though a coffee stain left untreated is almost sure to leave a mark, these coffee stain removal tips are designed to help you salvage your garment or furniture after a spill. It should be noted that each of these tips represents general advice, and readers should defer to the care instructions on the stained piece if they recommend different types of care.

The first thing that should always be remembered is that problem areas should be dealt with as quickly as possible. The longer they are allowed to sit on the fabric, the more likely it is that they will sink in and become impossible to remove. As soon as you notice a spill, begin to dab at the area to remove as much of the liquid as possible. It is important that you not rub, as you may only succeed in rubbing the coffee further into the fabric.

Once you have removed much of the liquid, you can begin to work at removing any stains that may have formed. When trying coffee stain removal methods, you should always try to start with those that are the least abrasive, and the least likely to cause further damage, first. For many, this means initially attacking the stain with a mixture of diluted vinegar and water. In order to increase your chances of success, make sure that the water is lukewarm but not hot. Also, do what you can to work this mixture into the fabric. As you rub, you may begin to notice the stain lifting.

If vinegar and water do not seem to be doing the trick, you can move on to applying commercial spot removers. Before doing so, it is important to consult the ingredient list on your stain remover of choice. This is because some contain bleach, which can remove the color from a fabric or cause the fibers to disintegrate. For this reason, it is a good idea to invest in an addition stain removing product to be used with your more delicate fabrics. Apply this product as directed but use it as sparingly as possible.

In situations where professional cleaning is called for, time is of the essence. Getting your garment to your dry cleaner of choice as quickly as possible, and before you have washed and dried the fabric, will increase their chances of success. When you do drop it off with them, make sure to point the stain out and let them know what caused it.

With these coffee stain removal tips, you do not have to worry about fabrics being permanently ruined by coffee spills any longer.

Wine gift baskets can be a nice way to surprise a special person or present to your business associates. Wines are usually a popular item in occasions such as weddings, birthdays and engagement parties, and a must on Valentine’s Day. It is also common item in formal parties. If you do not know the recipient very well, it is always important to find out if that person is allowed to take wine before you decide on what to put in the gift basket. Knowing their special preferences is also important as some people are wine snobs.

Most corporate gift baskets that are popular during holidays usually comprise of a bottle of wine alone or among other items. Different dealers will put different things inside the gift basket, so it is best to look inside before you buy. Most dealers can customize the package for you if you want. Most of the items that are commonly found in wine gift baskets are a bottle of red or white wine or both, cheese, crackers, cookies and a wine glass or two. Some baskets will also include corkscrew, caviar, chocolate (especially with red wine), pate, a decorative wine stopper and also a cheese slicer.

If the recipient does not take wine, a gourmet gift basket is a good alternative especially if they appreciate good food. There are various kinds of gourmet gift baskets in the market and most can customize it according to your specifications. If you have the time then you can use it prepare gourmet food items that will really make the recipient feel special. Fruit baskets can also be a nice alternative as they can suit anyone and every occasion.

If the special person is a beer lover, then you will find a variety of beer gift baskets to choose from in the market.

Birthday celebrations are occasions that come quite often. You can make your loved one feel special by giving them a birthday gift basket. There are many kinds of birthday gift basket that you can choose from, depending on the kind of person to whom you want to present the gift.

Another special occasion to present a gift is during the time of grief. Thoughtful sympathy gift baskets can really mean a lot to the recipients. Due to the kind of occasion, more care needs to be put in putting together sympathy gift baskets so that they are appreciated. Some motivational books, music to lift up the spirit, or journals can be nice items to put in your sympathy gift basket.