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Dear Member, We hope your July is filled with fun in the sun whether in your backyard or away on a vacation. If you do take off on a trip, make sure your Facebook posts don't alert burglars to your empty house, as our Social Media Warning explains. If you'll be spending lots of time relaxing on your porch or deck this summer, check out Great Sites for ideas on decorating outdoor spaces, choosing healthy foods for meals, and finding the next book to read in your lounge chair. In this issue we’ll brighten your day with a couple of funny videos. We believe you'll find the information contained in this newsletter to be a valuable tool for enhancing your Internet experience. Here's what's inside: 1) SOCIAL MEDIA WARNING - POSTING VACATION NEWS CAN TRIGGER BURGLARY 2) TWO TO VIEW - TWO FUNNY VIDEOS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS 3) SITES OF THE MONTH - GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT IN JULY We hope you enjoy this monthly eNewsletter and feel free to view it on our website as well as past issues at http://www.molalla.com/eNewsletters.html. Tell a friend! -  Your MCC Team

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SOCIAL MEDIA WARNING - POSTING VACATION NEWS CAN TRIGGER BURGLARY

Cybercriminals are increasingly using social media to search out burglary opportunities. These thieves watch for information about upcoming or current vacations and time their crimes for when homes will be empty. When users of Facebook, Twitter, foursquare, and other social media sites post when they will be (or are) out of town, they run the risk of unknowingly making their homes prime targets for burglary.

Thieves obtain this information in several ways:

~Facebook: Say your status reads "Can't wait for Monday, starting week-long trip to the Caribbean." If you haven't adjusted your privacy settings, this information can be seen by all of your Facebook friends. Even if your privacy settings are secure, people who can see it may decide to "share" or pass on the information to others who might be disreputable.

~Twitter: On Twitter, if you haven't activated the "protect my tweets" setting, anyone (even those not following you) can see the information you post. A tweet like, "Stopping in Omaha on our long drive to Denver" lets everyone know you are away from home.

~foursquare: This application is meant to let people know where you are. If you live in Boise and you have checked in at a restaurant in San Francisco, that's a huge tip-off to anyone who may want to enter your home without you there. Foursquare can be doubly dangerous providing the option of sharing your activity on Facebook or Twitter.

To protect yourself, post as little as possible about your vacation plans, and ask friends not to talk about trips before they happen or while in progress. Remember, you can tell everyone about your vacation when you return. If you're simply too excited, be sure your privacy settings are secure. To do this, in the upper right-hand corner of your Facebook home page, click Account and select Privacy Settings. Then click the Customize Settings link, which will take you to a page where you can specify what others see.

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TWO TO VIEW - TWO FUNNY VIDEOS YOU DON'T WANT TO MISS

Charlie Bit My Finger!
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2011/07/VIDEO_A.htm
One of the all-time most popular YouTube videos with more than 338 million views, this captures a funny exchange between two young brothers. The older boy, Harry, discovers what happens when he puts his finger in his baby brother's mouth. It's been described as a life journey in less than a minute -- including joy, laughter, surprise, pain, and anger.


Catch These Fishing Bloopers
http://www.eNewsletterHome.com/_eNewsletter/2011/07/VIDEO_B.htm
This collection of fishing bloopers, with over 8 million views, will reel you in from the first scene. It features veteran fisherman, Bill Dance, and shows the hilarious results when boats and fishing poles don't quite do what they're intended. Who cares if you catch any fish as long as you enjoy a laugh?

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SITES OF THE MONTH - GREAT SITES TO CHECK OUT

Have A Royal Good Time
http://royal.gov.uk/ThecurrentRoyalFamily/Overview.aspx
If the recent visit to the U.S. and Canada by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (William and Kate) stirred up your royal fever, you won't want to miss the official website of The British Monarchy. Here you'll find a wide variety of content including biographies, speeches, and little-known facts. You can also check out photo galleries, watch the latest videos, and follow recent activities of the Royal Family.

Dishing Up Food Advice
http://choosemyplate.gov/
The U.S. Department of Agriculture has replaced the traditional food pyramid with My Plate, a concept that makes it easy to maintain a healthy diet. This site describes the My Plate graphic and offers many ideas for eating well and staying healthy. Here you'll find details about each food group, healthy eating tips, information on physical activity, and much more. Don't forget to check out the Daily Food Plan section to get a personalized eating plan.

What to Read Next?
http://yournextread.com/us/
Wondering what book to put in your beach bag this summer? This site can help. Get recommendations by browsing the featured lists or by entering the name of a book you like to see similar picks. You can "thumbs up" or "thumbs down" recommendations to improve future results. And when you find something you like, save it to your list or click on the social media buttons to get opinions from friends.

This Day in History
http://history.com/this-day-in-history
History buffs and trivia hounds will love this site. Each day it lists what happened "on this day in history" in business, politics, entertainment, sports, and more. Check out the featured stories such as "First Roller Coaster in America Opens." Or skip to another day such as your birthday to find out what happened in history on that day. Visit the site often to get new updates or sign up for the daily newsletter.

Build a Backyard Paradise
http://hgtv.com/dream-decks/package/index.html
Can't afford a tropical vacation this year? Create a little paradise in your own backyard with inspiration from the photos and videos on this site. Find ideas for big yards or small: fire pits, fountains, pools, decks, furniture, and many other relaxing features. The site includes ideas for all budgets so you're sure to find at least a few you can use. Your yard may end up so beautiful that you won't want to leave!

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©2011 Cornerstone Publishing Group Inc. Trademarks: All brand names and product names used in this eNewsletter are trade names, service marks, trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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