Secret Shopper Scam Warning

Beware of the Scam:

Someone on LinkedIn gave my information to someone to become a mystery shopper. They said it was easy and legitimate. I thought, why not? Easy. Quick money. and can supplement the home improvement projects. I'm close to a store. But it's hard to tell who is a sam or not.

The scammer in my case was:  Benjamin Hartfold of the SM RESEARCH GROUP  (Probably onto the next name now).

Phone number: 253-642-3708 (probably deactivated now... but you never know.)

Email address: sm-researchinc@outlook.com

The check for $2955 he sent:

They send you an assignment with a check. You deposit it and funds become available immediately. The assignment is to buy gift cards to assess a local Apple store. They want you to fill out a form on customer service and store cleanliness, etc. They also want you to scratch the gift card strip on the back, and send photos of everything via email. They will schedule a pick up time for the cards, and complete this action before your bank gets the returned check. You think you made $300 for less than an hour of effort. But when the bank takes the funds from your account, you'll be out $2900. 

How to Protect Yourself: 

I called Mid-American credit union and simply gave them the check number. They will tell you immediately if it's fraudulent. Which this was. 

Whenever someone provides you a check... call the bank. That is the best way to determine if it's legitimate.

Nobody will ever send a blank cashier's check in the mail.

If someone calls and needs money via gift cards... don't do it. 

The sad thing is that these types of people are scamming people daily. My Mom got a "High grandma, I just got in a car accident, can you send me money" call. What's a Grandma to do?  But they too wanted money cards. Unfortunately there are too many people out there doing this, that the police don't have time to track them. This is my second event that I tried to catch. But, due to timing, I was unable to finish scamming my scammers to put them in jail. That is also not recommended, because there are too many crazies in this world. Best to just ignore them. 

This is a warning to be careful! 

Also... in the event that Benjamin Hartford

did not change his number...

I think it would be incredible 
if everyone who reads this

to send him a text message... 

253-642-3708

The message will be your option!

Be Safe!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

Barbequing Aviation Style

Every Pilot Needs This!

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene

Eastern Airlines

Aviation History at its Best!

PSIloveyou.xyz

"And now the purple dusk of twilight time

Steals across the meadows of my heart

High up in the sky the little stars climb

Always reminding me that we're apart

You wander down the lane and far away

Leaving me a song that will not die

Love is now the stardust of yesterday."

Aviation Explorer

Join the Eastern Airlines 

Kitchen Talk Radio

Breaking news and so much more!

Episode 376

July 30, 2018 

Call-in number is 

213-816-1611

at 7:00 P. M. EDT 

or listen in by clicking the hyperlink:

www.blogtalkradio.com/capteddie.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

Captains Needed!

Ethiopian Airlines would like to invite qualified 

candidates for the following position.

Job Title: - Captain B777/787, B757/767, B737NG and Q400

Required Qualification; - 2500 hours PIC on jet aircraft & 500 hours PIC on type.

Screening Details:

• Screenings are held every week, Monday to Friday, in Addis Ababa
• You only need two days for the assessments, first day for medical and second day for interview & simulator
• Travel on Ethiopian Airlines network, hotel accommodations, and ground transportation are provided.

Why you should apply:

• Globally competitive salary 
• Excellent commuting roster (20/10)
• Free Healthcare
•  Per diem allowance during training
• Up to 5 years’ renewable contract
• Fly to 65 years of age
• Confirmed business class ticket to Ethiopian networks at the start of contract and on completion of contract 
• Low cost of living & many more with 12 months of sunshine

Interested applicants can apply on 

recruitment@ethiopianairlines.com

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

From Russia With Love

History of Aeroflot...

AviationTribune.com

"Aeroflot is one of the oldest airlines the world, tracing its history back to 1923. During the Soviet era, Aeroflot was the Soviet national and the largest airline in the world. Following the dissolution of the USSR, the carrier has been transformed from a state-run enterprise into a semi-privatized company which ranked 19th most profitable airline in the world in 2007"

Learn more tonight on 

Eastern Airlines Kitchen talk radio

Tonight!

Retired Aeroflot Captain Valerie Khodykov will be the guest speaker and you can ask him questions!

Join the Eastern Airlines 

Kitchen Talk Radio

Episode 375

July 23, 2018 

Call-in number is 

213-816-1611

at 7:00 P. M. EDT 

or listen in by clicking the hyperlink:

www.blogtalkradio.com/capteddie.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

Dan Roach

Friday's Fabulous Flyer!

Dan Roach

Dan Roach... A pilot, a writer, and an all around great guy who is inspiring and sharing his love of aviation with the world, has joined us today. He also has some exciting news of recently getting published. The fact that he can write has made my life easier today. 

Dan: 

"I’ve wanted to fly for as long as I can remember. Probably since before I could properly walk, and definitely before I could run (although I’ve since discovered I quite like this too). As a kid I was constantly looking skywards. I watched TV programs about flying, I read books about flying, I built plastic kits of model aircraft. I went to airshows, played flight simulators that were running on the expansive 48k computing power of my Sinclair ZX Spectrum, and, when I was old enough I joined the Air Cadets.

Whilst in the Air Cadets (1444 Squadron) I was privileged to have my first flight in an aircraft of any kind (we didn’t do holidays to Benidorm so I’d never been on a jet or anything). So, on camp, at RAF Hereford I was taken for my first ever trip into the skies in an RAF Puma helicopter! Not only this, but the pilot took us flying round the welsh hills at low level with the doors open. I’d been waiting for this moment my whole life. So how did I celebrate? By throwing up copiously into the conveniently provided sick bags. I bet the pilot was pissing himself with laughter at me. I bet he also won that day’s little game of “who can make the most cadets sick on Air Experience Flights?”

Anyway, despite this rather inauspicious start to my flying career I was not put off.

After leaving school and being rejected by the RAF on medical grounds, normal life took over and I got a job and the dream of flying faded into the background. Don’t get me wrong, I was still mad keen on anything with wings, but I didn’t have the money or time to learn to fly. Well money really, and I’d discovered girls and night clubs, and beer, and girls…

Finally as I was approaching 40 and after my brother and his wife had brought me a flight simulator experience in a Boeing 737 simulator I approached the local microlight school about lessons. I finally had a little disposable income and it really wasn’t as expensive as I’d thought it might be. Ten months later and I was shaking hands with the CFI who was congratulating me on passing my General Skills Test.

I was a pilot at last!

So I guess the next thing that I should address 

is why did I start writing?

One of the things that drives me is the belief that with enough energy and enthusiasm I can do anything. I think that is definitely something that is a common attribute amongst pilots. During my life I’ve set and achieved lots of goals. I’ve also come close and missed some, that sub 90 minute half marathon eluded me by 25 seconds back in 2013.

So I decided I want to write.

I have a lot of passion for flying and aviation in general and I wanted to make a blog initially that was accessible to anyone, even with little or no knowledge of aviation. The idea being that it might inspire others to follow their passions as well as hopefully entertain some people along the way; as well as fulfilling my desire to write.

I have a friend who is a big part of my inspiration to write. She started writing following a previous career as a scientist and is now a very successful indie author. I’ve also had some encouragement and help from Karlene, the author of this very blog. I remember I asked Karlene, a complete stranger to me, for help and advice on writing a while back and she was willing to take the time to give it to me. We’ve corresponded infrequently since and I promised to let her know as soon as I got something published.

I suppose ultimately, what I want to convey in my writing is that I’m an ordinary bloke, from an ordinary family, who had a desire to fly. And that some of the relatively ordinary things that happen when you are in the air can be quite funny when viewed from a certain point of view. I hope that on my blog I bring you that point of view and that in doing so both inform and amuse you.

In the few years since I qualified I’ve had some interesting experiences including getting lost sandwiched between the Manchester control zone and an active RAF base, arriving back at Barton Airfield a few minutes prior to the RAF Vulcan flypast on its farewell tour and landing next to what looked like an airshow-size-crowd (had to grease that landing…); and a bird strike right through my propeller on short final, which leads us nicely to my first published article “Forgive me Feather”.

I sent the copy of what became “Forgive me Feather” to the editor of the UKs Microlight Flying magazine after sitting on it for TWO years. To my surprise (and delight) the editor was extremely enthusiastic about publishing it as a feature. It was twice as long as the normal feature length but he asked if they could run it as a two part feature over two issues. Of course, I said yes!

And if you are a member of BMAA,

or become one, you can download the magazine 
And read the article. 

If you are not a member, you can read the article

on Dan's Website: 

Dan Roach Author

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

A330 Pilots Needed!

A330 Captains and First Officers Needed 

for FAA Simulator Research Project

FAA Mike Monroney Center

Oklahoma City

Subject: System State and Energy Awareness Experiment

Requirements: Pilot requirements Airbus A330: Qualified and current in aircraft type, Part 121 air carrier line pilots, currently flying line operations. One captain and one First Officer from the same airline for each day.

Dates: August 20, 21,22, 24, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31 & September 5, 6, 7 (Note: you can only participate for one day)

Working Hours: Each crew will participate in one 6-hour Research and Development session.

Tentative times are a show time of 0700, an on-motion time of 0730, three 10-minute breaks, off-motion at 1230, de-brief and release not later than 1300.

Compensation: $575.00. For non-local travel, meal per diem and hotel reimbursement will be provided. Standard mileage reimbursement for personal vehicles. Pilots are asked to non-rev or jumpseat, if possible. 

How to participate: Email your name, seat, airline and cell number to: BTAeronautical@gmail.com

Provide the day, or days you are available. You can only participate once. 

I've participated in this type of experiments on a couple occasions, and it's actually very fun and worthwhile.  The reason they want to know your airline is because they pair you up with same airline to keep standard operating procedures the same. So, if you want to grab your favorite Captain or First Officer and sign up together, they could make that happen! 

Enjoy the journey!

XO Karlene

I Want to Be a Pilot

"When I grow up I want to be a pilot because it's a fun job and easy to do. That's why there are so many pilots flying around these days. Pilots don't need much school. They just have to learn to read numbers so they can read their instruments. I guess they should be able to read a road map, too.Pilots should be brave to they won't get scared it it's foggy and they can't see, or if a wing or motor falls off.

Pilots have to have good eyes to see through the clouds, and they can't be afraid of thunder or lightning because they are much closer to them than we are.

The salary pilots make is another thing I like. They make more money than they know what to do with. This is because most people think that flying a plane is dangerous, except pilots don't because they know how easy it is.

I hope I don't get airsick because I get carsick and if I get airsick, I couldn't be a pilot and then I would have to go to work."

Written by a fifth grade student at Jefferson School, Beaufort, SC. It was first published in the South Carolina Aviation News

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

Aviation Update

Qualifying Pilots in the Right Seat

135-43 - Part 135 Second in Command Professional Development Program
Date IssuedJune 28, 2018

This AC provides information and guidelines to Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) part 135 air carriers/operators to aid in the development of a Second in Command Professional Development Program (SIC PDP) which meets the requirements of part 135, § 135.99(c). 

This program allows a pilot employed by the part 135 air carrier/operator and serving as an assigned second in command (SIC) in a multiengine airplane or single-engine, turbine-powered airplane to log SIC flight time during operations that do not require a second pilot.

Answer to the 1500 hour rule?

Enjoy the Journey!

OX Karlene 

Amelia Earhart

Eastern Kitchen talk Radio
Shares the history... 

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own reward."

 Amelia Earhart

Join the Eastern Airlines 

Kitchen Talk Radio! 

Episode 374

July 16, 2018 

Call-in number is 

213-816-1611

at 7:00 P. M. EDT 

or listen in by clicking the hyperlink:

www.blogtalkradio.com/capteddie.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

Empowering Women! 

Joana Visa 

PhD, ACC, CTPC, CAA

Owner

Coach for women

Anytime we can empower anyone, that's a good thing! Please meet my friend Joana, who is doing just that. In that women are under presented in the airline workforce (6-7%), I think that Joana's coaching could be just what the doctor ordered. To empower and educate our sisters, friends, daughters, and mothers. Since I'm a grandmother, I think we can add grandmothers to the list. I'm pleased to introduce you to Joana

Joana: 

"If you are willing to take your career to the next level, if you want to take the fast track to the top, if you are an executive woman who wants to jump the innovation curve, then I can definitively help you. I am a STEM women ( Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths)

I am an internationally certified coach who delights in empowering women so they can become senior executives and impact the world. I have accelerated young talented women by guiding them into a new dimension of their selves. My passion is sharing their own experience as a scientist, as a university teacher, and as an executive to launch women into the arena, like the gladiators in Roman Coliseum. I believe that by working with my clients’ strengths, every woman can have her 'me time', balanced life, they can grow and learn every day, be visible, lead amazing projects and, finally find an inspiriting job. 

You can walk this path alone, spend a huge amount of time, or walk in a partnership with me and go faster. If you have a clear purpose in your life, you will be able to see the path. I will be there with you. Don’t go alone. Go with me.

Female leadership: 

Are you ready for a robot workforce?

I had the opportunity to attend Global Female Leadership, Berlin June 2018. I knew nothing about robotics and bitcoins before going to Berlin. Now I know a few but the summit rose my curiosity about these topics, and even more. I wish to know what is the link between artificial intelligence, blockchain and female leadership.

Visit Global Female Leaders website

The intention for this international economic summit for women was to establish a global network of high-ranked female executives and thus to provide a platform for women to share a variety of thoughts, perspectives and solutions – we establish the “Davos for women“.

Do you have a robot as a colleague? The reality is that, in the near future, we will all be answering ‘yes’ to this question. are ready for Artificial Intelligence? 

These are some quotes took my attention:

• We have not been afraid of robots, they are not able to create anything, humans do.
• We have to be able to move from human rights to cyber human rights. 
• 40% of the jobs will be automated in 20 years. How are we going to solve this? Focus on people. 
• Some jobs will be merged, some will disappear and these changes will not be in the same place. 
• As a leader, you are watched all the time. Leadership is a mindset for shared success Learning is a long life event. Leadership qualities: authenticity, listen, invest, permit and let go.
• I got the position I have now, I have a huge variety of functions. True humility is not to think less of yourself, It is to think of yourself less. Be in a continuous learning mode: humility, adaptability and engagement. 
• Robots has to have a neutral voice to reduce the gender bias.
• The robots are coming, we as an executive women have to ready for them.

Do you want to become a female CEO? 

I offer you a free webinar 

to help you to take your career to the next level. 
Visit 35 Executive Women 
to see the free Webinar! 

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene 

History Soars...

Eastern Airlines 

and the Good Ole Days...

"From fabric to metal fuselage and wings, changes were rapidly occurring in aviation. From the pioneering days of the Mailwings to the Curtis Condors and Kingbirds the introduction of the Douglas DC2 – an all-metal aircraft - enabled Eastern Air Transport to cut the scheduled time from the Northeast to Florida to just eight hours. Shortly after, the Douglas DC3 arrived on the Eastern property giving Eastern the title of its fleet of aircraft – The Great Silver Fleet. The Year was 1935 and to market the new speedier aircraft this song was introduced..."

Join the Eastern Airlines 

Kitchen Talk Radio! 

Episode 373

July 09, 2018 

Call-in number is 

213-816-1611

at 7:00 P. M. EDT 

or listen in by clicking the hyperlink:

www.blogtalkradio.com/capteddie.

Enjoy the Journey!

XO Karlene