This will make identity theft easier. Our DMV had the

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If this will help prevent identity theft, then I think it may have some good points.

I don't like the idea of electronic tracking. I read the part of the bill dealing with the Real ID and it said the "machine-readable element" is "to be determined". That is a little ominous. I think visual inspection should be enough. I really don't think electronic tracking is justified.

Yesterday, I got a call from QVC. I had ordered a GPS system for my hubby and QVC called to say they were unable to complete processing of my order because my credit card wouldn't get through. QVC said the address I gave them as the billing address did not match the billing address of my credit card. I asked the rep to hold on while I pulled my credit card account up on line. When I did, I saw that my address and phone number had been changed to somewhere in TX (I live in PA). I told QVC I would have to call them back. I immediately called the credit card company. They pulled up my account and said that yes my address had been changed just a few days ago. When I asked how, they couldn't tell me. They did not know if it was done on-line or by telephone. This, I don't understand. If someone called in to change it, shouldn't that be documented? Furthermore, if it was changed on-line, wouldn't there be a computer trail?

At any rate, it was changed, and my cc company tried to contact me to verify it by calling the new phone number given. (Makes no sense). Having received no answer, they sent a letter to me, which I have yet to get. One day after changing my address, someone made a $10 on-line purchase with cc account, which went through. Immediately following that, a $4500 on-line purchase was attempted to be put through. This one the cc company did not allow (thank God for small miracles).

After having all of this explained to me, I was then transferred to an Identity Theft Specialist, who would help me close this account and reopen another one as well as put into action security alerts for me. For the next 7 years, my credit report will be flagged as a "fraud alert", meaning that if anyone tries to open a new account in my name, the lender will have go through extensive verification to confirm it's me. I'm told this will not affect my credit score.

I also had to file a report with my local police, which I doubt will accomplish anything. Local police are not trained in the same manner as state police, and I don't see how they have any jurisdiction over this since the offender is out of state. We will see.

I did, however, write down the address and the phone number that my account was changed to. My husband called the number last night from his cell phone and no one answered. He left a message stating he was looking for "my name" and to please return his call to "his number". They immediately called back, but when my husband answered, they said nothing. They called back again later that night and did the same thing.

Here's the real kicker, when I called QVC back to give them a different credit card (which I immediately verified all of my credit cards after this incident), the lady asked if I knew what happened. I told her that apparently I was a victim of identity theft. She said that's what she sort of figured had happened especially with the credit card company I had. I said what do you mean and she proceeds to tell me that there have been a lot of "account takeovers" with this particular company and that it was determined to be an "inside job". This left me feeling less than secure about setting up a new account with that company. It also makes me wonder if that's why they weren't able to trace the original address change. My husband says as soon as the new account is set up, we're going to cash in our reward points and pay off the balance and close the account.

Fortunately, this cc company has 0% identity theft liability, so we will not be responsible for the charges that did go through. However, the bigger concern here is that this person obviously has enough personal information about me to set up new accounts without my knowledge; hence, the reason for the fraud alerts on my credit report.

I am so furious, if I ever get my hands on this person, I'll likely wring his neck! My husband and I have worked hard all our lives to have good credit and some skuzbucket thinks he can just come along and take it. I don't think so. I intend to pursue this fully. If it is an "inside job", I will make sure that this credit card company does something about its current employee background checks.

So, take a minute today and call your credit companies or go on-line and check to make sure that noone has changed your address and phone number.

Have you ever wondered what happened to the 56 men who signed the Declaration of Independence?

Five signers were captured by the British as traitors, and tortured before they died.

Twelve had their homes ransacked and burned.

Two lost their sons serving in the Revolutionary Army; another had two sons captured.

Nine of the 56 fought and died from wounds or hardships of the Revolutionary War.

They signed and they pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

What kind of men were they?

Twenty-four were lawyers and jurists. Eleven were merchants, nine were farmers and large plantation owners: men of means, well educated. But they signed the Declaration of Independence knowing full well that the penalty would be death if they were captured.

Carter Braxton of Virginia, a wealthy planter and trader saw his ships swept from the seas by the British Navy. He sold his home and properties to pay his debts and died in rags.

Thomas McKeam was so hounded by the British that he was forced to move his family almost constantly. He served in the Congress without pay, and his family was kept in hiding. His possessions were taken from him, and poverty was his reward.

Vandals or soldiers looted the properties of Dillery, Hall, Clymer, Walton, Gwinett, Heyward, Ruttledge, and Middleton. At the battle of Yorktown, Thomas Nelson, Jr. noted that the British General Cornwallis had taken over the Nelson home for his headquarters. He quietly urged General George Washington to open fire. The home was destroyed, and Nelson died bankrupt.

Francis Lewis had his home and properties destroyed. The enemy jailed his wife, and she died within a few months. John Hart was driven from his wife's bedside as she was dying. Their 13 children fled for their lives. His fields and his gristmill were laid to waste. For more than a year he lived in forests and caves, returning to find his wife dead and his children vanished. A few weeks later he died from exhaustion and a broken heart. Norris and Livingston suffered similar fates.

Such were the stories and sacrifices of the American Revolution. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousing ruffians. They were soft-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. Standing tall and straight, and unwavering, they pledged: For the support of the declaration, with firm reliance on the protection of the divine providence, we mutually pledge to each other, our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor.

They gave you and me a free and independent America. The history books told you a lot of what happened in the Revolutionary War. We didn't fight just the British. We were British subjects at that time and we fought our own government!

Some of us take these liberties so much for granted, but we shouldn't. So take a few minutes while enjoying your 4th of July holiday and silently thank these patriots. It's not much to ask for the price they paid.

How come a guy can waltz in and land the high-paying job without a degree, yet the woman has to have the proof of degree in hand, the multiple references (which with us are ALWAYS checked--men hardly ever), and the johnny-on-the-spot answers to such stupid-ass questions as, "If you were a tree, what kind of tree would you be?" ...all for a job (whether it's this field or whatever) with crappy benefits and crappy pay and even crappier treatment when you want time to also do the most noble thing of all and be a mother.

When we lived in the city, we let both of our cats out on leashes but they wore harnesses, mainly so they couldn't slip loose. They did start out as kittens with them though, not as adult cats. They would hear me jingle their leashes and harnesses and come RUNNING to be tied outside to the little backyard there. They absolutely loved it and the worst that would happen is they would get tangled to each other and around a bush. I was always around to supervise though...usually enjoying morning coffee out on the back deck listening to the thumping cars and sirened-vehicles drive by. Man do I miss the city--NOT!

still coming off as a spoiled woman and not deserving of her time, money, or affections. Lady, you are one spoiled woman.

husband wants another (we already have 3). I'm secretly taking the pill and he wants to know why I am not getting pregnant.

I was thinking of making up something like "I cant have kids anymore because of something" ..... anyone know what "something" I can make up?

think it is not your fault. That is what I am saying. That is what others are saying also. You can be stubborn and refuse, but it is the right thing to do. You can say it won't work, he won't listen, but you still need to try.