This is not a political diary but I wanted to warn people about what just happened to me.  Most of you are too smart to have this happen to them, but I thought I was being careful.

Anyway, on Monday of this week I discovered that my whole checking account was emptied by someone using my cash card Visa number (I still have my card) over the weekend.  These purchases were made in Kentucky at BP Oil ($823), Chevron ($556), Marathon Oil ($225), and Shell Oil ($142).

That's alot of gas.

Since I still have my card and my checkbook, we believe my card was swiped at a convenience store I recently visited which is under new management.  The cash machine did not work and he offered to get my cash for me.  He took my card behind the desk, did a regular charge, and gave me my cash and card back.  But I did not see what he was doing behind the desk nor did I look.  Did not think about something like this I have to admit.

They did not have my pin number, nor the expiration date on the card (we think unless that can be swiped too).  how did they make these purchases?  And why only oil companies?  Incidentally, the convenience store sold Marathon gas.

They will investigate but since I cannot be in Minnesota getting cash from the machines as I did over the weekend, and in Kentucky doing huge gas purchases, they will find it is fraud.

And then all my money can be returned.  But for now my checking account is frozen so I guess I will doing alot of computer reading for the next 3-4 weeks.

I just wanted to re-warn people about the dangers that lurk.

P.S.  The only time I have used that same card on the internet was to make one purchase last fall and to donate to campaigns.  Any possibility there?  doubt it but possible I suppose.

I caught this on Buzzflash and it is stunning how blatant they are about stopping all help for AIDS victims worldwide.

The fact that the global conference on AIDS had to pull certain papers and conferences being led by American AIDS experts because they were not allowed to travel to the conference is stunning.

I cannot officially link but I copied the "address" here.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/aids/story/0,7369,1259156,00.html

Sorry for distracting from the Edwards announcement et al., but for days have either been unable to stream Air america at all, or the sound has been terrible.

I emailed them and they responded saying they are aware of the problem.

I stream through Portland, KPOJ.  Is it just that station and/or is there another station that might be getting better sound?  When Air America first started, people linked to many stations streaming the programs.  Which ones other than Portland are doing streaming radio?

Is anyone else having trouble?

Sorry for the distraction but I really wanted to listen to Air america today, and the bad, tunnel sound is getting worse.

Any answers, responses et al would be greatly appreciated.

P.S. The Air America page says to download, and I have Quicktime and Real player, but continues to say cannot "find file."  I have 98 windows and probably have limited abilities.  so streaming seemed to be the way to go.

And again thanks.

P.P.S.  This diary may be trivial, but at least I am not like "Billy the kid."

Today I participated in an online Zogby poll.  I have been receiving these since last fall when I was very active in the Dean campaign.  Every month or so I get one on a certain topic.  The one I did today was just on who I intended to vote for and some general voting history.

But other polls were about medicare, about Iraq, and other topics.

I was just curious if Zogby is doing a massive email poll or if they are tracking Dean people.

Thanks.

Today, right now, in Spain there are large demonstrations in front of the ruling parties headquarters demanding they release information about the terrorists attacks.  

By law, these demonstrations are illegal one day before elections.  However, the people who have come out to protest are saying that they believe this was Osama's work, and is a direct result of Spain's close ties to Bush.  Newscasters are saying that if it is Al Quaida, tomorrow's election might prove bad for the ruling party.  Ninety percent of Spain was against the Iraq war.  And while Asnar (Bush's close friend) has suffered no significant loss in the recent elections, this one might prove different.

This protest is basically against Asner's close ties to Bush.  I wish we could protest along side of them.