What A Card Skimmer Looks Like On An ATM

My card was recently compromised by using either the ATM or MTA Metrocard Machine. When thinking back the MTA's machine did seem to not swipe my card correctly the first time. I'm thinking this is where it happened at Grand Central Station off 42nd Street enroute to the shuttle to Times Square.

A lot of you have been asking to see what a skimmer looks like before it's yanked off an ATM. Are they easy to spot or virtually unnoticeable? Our reader Timeus works for a bank and deals with this sort of thing every day, and he sent in the following photos. Enjoy.

He writes,

“

Now, let me explain some of the pictures. The scary thing when it comes to skimming device problems is that, the skimming device itself is only half the battle, per se. Take the following example.

See that gray rectangular box? That box was attached to the lighting above the ATM screen. If you look closely, you see a small pinhole in that box? There is a camera in that box, aimed right down at the ATM keypad where people enter their pin codes. Here's this device pulled off, sitting on the ground upside down, to show you the camera, with its Sony Lithium-Ion battery powering it.

[Editor's note: another reader, Will Z, sent us a link to a tiny battery-powered video camera he found through a simple Google product search. It looks strikingly familiar.]

Also included are pictures of the skimmer on the ATM, as some members of the site had asked to see, as well as the skimmer when it was removed.

The strange thing that gives this away to me as a skimming device is that the skimmer itself appears to be a part of what we call a Dip-Reader. A Dip Reader is where you slide your card in and out, like on the card reader you see in this picture of a Shell Gas Station card reader:

The other type of Card reader we use is what we call a motorized reader, where you slide your card in, and the machine takes the complete card, and then ejects it when you're done with your transactions. From the pics of this location, they stuck the housing for a dip-reader onto an ATM that has a motorized reader. That's a huge red flag to me, had I been someone who walked up to use this ATM before the reader was found.

”

Timeus also points out that even though the standard customer service rep may have no idea how to respond to your call if you try to report a suspected tampering, the bank's ATM security people will definitely want to know. He left a lot of good information in the comments to this post, so we've collected it together below for easier access.

“

I won't lie, skimming devices are still uncommon to come across. I can't tell you how many times we've spoken to a technician who says, "Well what do you know? I've heard of these things but this is the first time I ever saw one, what do you want me to do with it?" Not to scare anyone, but I've spoken to more than one police officer who has said, "Ok, what do you want us to do with it?"

The bank has to tell these people what to do with them, a lot of the time. Some PD will hold the device as evidence while our investigations unit tries to build a case and find out who was responsible, some PD simply destroy it, it seems to vary frm one police department to the next.

[...]

If we get notified, we can begin notifying all potentially affected customers and begin the process of safeguarding their accounts. If we don't get notified, potentially hundreds, maybe thousands of accounts are at risk for fraud depending on how busy a particular ATM is.

[...]

We have procedures for situations where an ATM skimming device is found. There's almost always a number on the ATM to call in the case of any emergency, that goes directly to our Corporate Security Department. They will contact us, unless a customer gets to my department first via Customer Service. We would immediately shutdown the ATM, dispatch a Second level technician to the site to evaluate the situation, remove the device, and send out a Privacy Event Notification to our investigations department as well as dispatch the police to meet our vendor tech on-site. We would also pull all ATM logs and submit that information with the Privacy Event Notification to notify all customers who were potentially effected.

In the future, if you ever come across a skimming device on an ATM, if you have the time, I know we appreciate a call to be notified. Trust me when I say, when a device is found, "alarm and whistles" go off in my department, upper management is notified and everyone gets involved.

”

In other words, if you end up talking to a standard CSR who doesn't get what the big deal is, try to find a way to reach the bank's security or fraud department instead.

Gainful Employment Act Could Benefit Non-Profits & For-Profits & Work To Their Advantage

It has been over two weeks since the gavel came down at the U.S. Senate hearing examining for-profits and deceptive recruitment/financial aid tactics. The highlight was the release of videos of congressional investigators catching the largest for-profit schools “in the act.” While the hearing was little more than a forum for politicians to pontificate, it had a devastating impact. The secret-shopper scenes could not be defended and ever since, the media has been full of highly critical articles of how for-profit schools are taking gross advantage of students and taxpayers.

Over the past week, much of the chatter has turned to the implementation of so-called Gainful Employment regulations that would in effect establish price controls and eliminate certain occupational programs. These career programs are some of the most popular and profitable offerings for companies such as Kaplan, EDMC, and Corinthian Colleges. While the proposed regulations would apply to all institutions, the impact would mostly be felt by for-profit entities. Ironically, many of the schools that were highlighted by the secret-shopper videos are schools that would be most impacted by Gainful Employment.

Many of the larger for-profit education corporations have warned investors that regulatory changes and most specifically Gainful Employment could have a materially adverse impact on their businesses. These warnings coupled with all the negative press out there are not only hammering stock prices but also leaving many of the for-profits with questions on what to do next and what may happen next. Conversely, many non-profit institutions are trying to determine how they might be able to benefit from all of this.

STRATEGIES FOR FOR-PROFITS

Let’s start with ideas for the for-profits. The largest obstacles for having students obtain “gainful employment” so that they are in a position to benefit from their education and repay their student loans are a) making sure students actually persist until completion and b) securing appropriate employment opportunities for students. For-profits that have found ways to address these two issues (and there are ones that have) have a significant advantage.

For-profits should consider implementing proactive retention strategies as well as career placement solutions. This starts with providing each and every student with a caring, dedicated Retention or Reenrollment Counselor. The focus of this counselor should be to get to know each and every student as well as their unique needs. Furthermore, this counselor should make consistent contact with the student to check-in, motivate, and mentor. Whether it is providing a bridge to student services, social services, academic advisors, or financial aid; this counselor should be trained and empowered to help remove any and all obstacles that might prevent a student from completing a specific program. In essence, a counselor should act as a student’s advocate and be just as passionate about seeing a student graduate as an Enrollment Counselor might be to matriculate a prospective student.

Retention Counseling should be supplemented by professional Career & Education Advisors who not only help students write a resume or show them how to login to Monster.com but can prepare students for interviews, build confidence, and work as each student’s partner in securing employment. These advisors should be available to students not only before graduation but long afterward.

Another key strategy is administering a simple online personality assessment to all new students that measures student strengths and weaknesses in 15 key areas. The assessment provides counselors, career advisors, and faculty with a proactive glimpse of how each individual needs to be motivated, mentored, or coached.

These solutions seem costly and complex. The reality is they are, however, the ROI is substantial. Clients of ours that utilize these solutions see on average a 26% improvement in graduation rates and a 39% improvement in career placement even in today’s challenging economy. Not only do these solutions allow schools to better serve their students while providing better outcomes but they also help schools with their bottom line. Finally, schools that promote the existence of these services will recruit more students – especially in the current press climate!

For-profits also need to ensure their programs are at the cutting edge of employment demand – ensuring that students have a better chance to secure employment and maximize earning potential. The cumulative effect of all these strategies is to enhance enrollment revenue and profitability, possibly enabling schools to lower prices without reducing their margins which is so important to Wall Street.

HOW CAN NON-PROFITS BENEFIT

There is no way to sugar coat it. With each passing day, the for-profits are gaining a worse reputation than BP and the common cold combined! This provides non-profits with a unique opportunity to benefit at least in the short-term. While I prefer strategies that allow for long-term gains, a short-term advantage can help many non-profits generate more momentum that can produce long-term results. So what are the 3 key steps that every tuition dependent non-profit that loses student enrollments to for-profit schools should consider taking?

First, an applicable institution (schools that are not highly selective and cater to non-traditional students) must come to the realization that even though they may not compare themselves to a for-profit school, they may be losing students and relevance at the hands of for-profits. Stakeholders must decide to change and act with time of the essence so that they may effectively compete. Part of this decision involves taking risks and thinking outside of the box. There are many resources out there to help schools do just this. Further, institutions do not need to sacrifice their values or educational quality but they should realize that whether they like it or not for-profits will and (in the long-term) probably continue to be a growing competitive force that will draw students.

Next, schools must reevaluate their offerings. If non-traditional students are being served, fully online options should be available. Online programs should be of the highest quality, interactive, accelerated, and applicable to today’s most relevant career opportunities. In some cases, this may mean that institutions may need to look to offer new programs. In other cases, existing programs may need to be modified or reinvented. By way of example, an MBA with a concentration in Accounting that was popular 5 years ago may need to be retooled into a Masters of Accounting program that has much greater career relevancy today.

Finally, non-profits should not only focus on their strengths such as history, having traditional campuses, reputation, full-time faculty, and distinct missions but also on areas that have been traditional benefits offered by the for-profits – acceleration, career-focused programs, flexibility, and in many cases technology. Providing special support services including the type of proactive retention and career counseling mentioned earlier is also key – as it is a competitive advantage compared to most for-profits and non-profits alike.

Dancing With The Stars Cast Revealed

The 12 participants for the next edition of ABC’s Dancing With the Stars were announced tonight during a live teleconference in Hollywood. They are:

Mike “The Situation” Sorrentino, from MTV’s Jersey Shore

David Hasselhoff, best known for his roles on Baywatch, Knight Rider, and America’s Got Talent

Rick Fox, retired pro basketball player from the Los Angeles Lakers. “They had concerns about my height,” Fox told EW after the press conference. “Jason Taylor broke a little bit of the mold, which made it possible for me. There aren’t a ton of tall female dancers, so it puts a strain on those women. But I’ve shaken a lot of the fears of whether my body could actually do some of the things I’ve seen on this show.”

Bristol Palin, daughter of ex-Alaska governor Sarah Palin.

Kurt Warner, retired NFL quarterback

Florence Henderson, best known for her role TV’s long-running comedy The Brady Brunch

Audrina Patridge, from MTV’s The Hills. “When they asked me, I was like, `Yes, I want to do it!’ We get to learn from professionals, very talented dancers. But it is intimidating because it’s live, and, I mean, there are so many different dances to learn. I’ve never done this before!”

Michael Bolton, singer-songwriter

Brandy Norwood, singer-songwriter and star of the old UPN comedy Moesha

Margaret Cho, comedienne and current co-star of Lifetime’s Drop Dead Diva. “I’m so out of my element. Everybody is so classy,” she told EW. “If this was Dancing with the Whores, I would do better. But it’s not, so we’ll see.”

Kyle Massey, best known for starring in Disney Channel’s That’s So Raven

Jennifer Grey, actress best known for starring in Dirty Dancing. “It felt like the right time,” said Grey, who’s been approached by the show before. “It felt like, `OK if not now, when? What if I did something that would be fun? What if I just went for it I love the idea of it. It’s not what I used to do but I feel like, right now there is where my head is at. I have to walk through fear to go to joy.”

The professional partners won’t be revealed until Wednesday. Dancing with the Stars returns on Sept. 20.

Nuff Said'

ABC's What If Episodes Continue...

State controller's office to launch 'forensic audit' of MTA - could lead to criminal charges

BY PETE DONOHUE
DAILY NEWS STAFF WRITER

The state's top fiscal watchdog has launched an exhaustive probe into questionable overtime payments and possible fraud at the MTA, sources told the Daily News.

The state controller's office could announce the so-called forensic audit as early as Monday. It's expected to be the most thorough review of the transit authority's finances ever.

The audit follows a more targeted probe last year that revealed an excess of unnecessary overtime. It also showed some employees were getting paid for hours they didn't actually work.

Metropolitan Transportation Authority officials reached late Sunday showed no fear over the new investigation.

"We welcome the controller's assistance as we continue to fulfill our commitment to reduce overtime," said Jeremy Soffin, an MTA spokesman.

The earlier audit, released by state Controller Thomas DiNapoli in September, revealed what he described as troublesome practices. Low-level supervisors were assigning themselves overtime. There was lax oversight by higher- ups and a dearth of documentation for overtime claims.

The MTA spent nearly $600 million in overtime last year.

Routine audits look broadly at finances and management practices, focusing on such things as where savings can be achieved. Forensic audits delve deeper to identify fraud and can lead to criminal charges.

The MTA, which came under new management last fall, had begun to target excessive overtime even before the September audit as it has battled budget gaps resulting in part from state funding cuts and lower-than-projected tax revenues in the continued recession.

MTA Chairman Jay Walder has said he wants to change work rules to increase efficiency and curb alleged sick-time abuse by some workers.

pdonohue@nydailynews.com

Madonna's adopted Malawian daughter Mercy won't meet man who claims to be father

Madonna's adopted Malawian daughter won't be meeting the man who claims to be her dad.

James Kambewa, 26, was pressing for a meeting with the 4-year-old he says is his daughter - a claim the pop star disputes.

"The extended family members had no knowledge of a father. The village leadership had no knowledge of a father ... the mother was raped and left," Madonna's spokeswoman Barbara Charone told the Sunday Times, a South African paper.

Madonna, 52, adopted Mercy last year from an Malawi orphanage after the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned a lower court.

She is Madonna's second adopted Malawian child.

Mercy was born in January 2006 to a 14-year-old mother who died days after giving birth.

Kambewa, who works as a waiter in Durban, initially vowed to fight the adoption, but told the Sunday Times this month that he was happy the star was looking after Mercy.

New website aims to shine light on city's worst slumlords t

BY BEN CHAPMAN AND ERIN EINHORN
DAILY NEWS WRITERS


Now they can't hide.

Not Alan Fein, whose Bronx tenants live with urine-soaked hallways, crackhead squatters and filth so severe that one tenant was attacked by a rat in her toilet.

Not Chris Grijalva, whose roach-infested Brooklyn building sports a giant pile of garbage on the front lawn.

And not any of the 153 landlords whose buildings are so disgusting - or so unsafe - they've earned a place of shame on a new slumlord watch list from city Public Advocate Bill de Blasio. The site launches Monday.

"We want these landlords to feel like they're being watched," de Blasio said. "We need to shine a light on these folks to shame them into action."

If the scarlet letter treatment works, it can't come too soon for tenants like Lakisha Haywood, 35, who lives in a fifth-floor apartment in a building Fein owns on Bryant Ave. in the Bronx.

She went to use her bathroom last month and says a giant rat lunged at her from inside the toilet bowl.

"I screamed, slammed down the seat and flushed the toilet 10 times," said Haywood, adding that the rodent was sucked away.

When the Daily News visited her building last week, there was no hot water in the faucets, the front door lock was broken and hallways were covered with gang graffiti. Residents said squatters smoke crack on the stairs and urinate on the floor.

"My living conditions are making me suffer from depression," said Haywood, who has lived in the building for 14 years with two teenage sons. "It's miserable."

Fein, who lives in a house with a picket fence on a golf course in Woodmere, L.I., owns or has ties to three buildings on the city's worst-10 list, but denied responsibility.

"I don't manage those buildings," he said, insisting he has only a "small interest" in the properties.

De Blasio's new website - www.pubadvocate.nyc.gov/landlord-watchlist - will let tenants look up a building owner to see if he or she is on the list. They can plug in an address, type in a street or sort to see the worst slumlords in the city. They can also sort by borough or see a map of slumlord buildings in their neighborhood.

Tenants' right to know

The site, which offers tenant resources and lets them nominate landlords for scrutiny, will regularly update names based on tenant information, media reports and data on the worst health and safety violations from Department of Housing Preservation and Development inspectors.

"Tenants and would-be tenants have a right to know what the overall conditions are in any building they either live in or are considering moving into," said HPD spokesman Eric Bederman, who encouraged tenants to call 311 to report hazardous living conditions.

HPD has a list of 200 slumlord buildings that get special attention from the city but it isn't sortable and can't be searched by landlord.

Grijalva, who owns a four-story hellhole on Eastern Parkway, didn't return calls seeking comment. The shaming site fingered his building as the worst in Brooklyn. Tenants reported mice, roaches, peeling paint and plaster falling from walls. Many also endured winter months without heat or hot water.

"They make us live like animals here," said Belita Delgarde, 61, who had to leave a two-bedroom apartment with her family when her kitchen ceiling came crashing down due to water damage.

Other landlords on de Blasio's list say they're stepping up to fix their buildings.

Shawn Curry, who bought two buildings on the worst-10 list in April, says he's working to improve conditions and is negotiating to pay off at least $248,000 in emergency repairs done by city workers.

The News visited his building at 2710 Bainbridge Ave. in the Bronx and confirmed that seven units were recently renovated. Residents said the building is on the upswing.

eeinhorn@nydailynews.com



Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2010/08/30/2010-08-30_keepin_tabs_on_the_rats_public_advocate_aims_to_shine_light_on_citys_worst_sluml.html#ixzz0y614jz00

Power Hour - Spoof on Kanye's 'Power" video

I'm Strokin' out! - My New Catchphrase

Ok, I'll admit it I'm addicted to the Rachel Zoe show. BUT she hasn't given us any new catchphrases yet this season so I've come up with a new one so that me and my friend at work (Gretchen) can keep up our vocabulary.

"I'm Strokin' out!" - Meaning - "That is SO fab - My heart is having an attack!"

"I'm Crushing..." - Meaning - "I just have to have that ... or do I?"

So just remember you heard it here first - copyright Len Carter 8/27/2010

Hope my girl Gretch' comes up with a few so we can keep this thing going.

China's Got Talent - Young Amputee Plays Piano With Feet

After losing both his arms in an accident at age 10, Wei taught himself to play the piano with his toes in secret.

The years of hard work have paid off: His perfect recital of "Mariage D'amour" earned him a standing ovation on China's Got Talent along with the respect and awe of millions.

The Real Housewives of New Jersey - The Final Showdown

Jersey Shore's Ronnie Get's BUSTED!

Martin Scorsese Directs New Chanel Cologne Ad

AMC's 'Walking Dead' - Trailer

Danielle Staub Sings her song REMIX

So what if Danielle Staub was really fired from The Real Housewives of New Jersey? That’s not going to stop the world from hearing the song that’s in her heart. Who cares about a reality show when you’ve got a dance remix? You may have thought things were getting weird when we watched Danielle perform her debut single “Real Close” with “lesbian superstar Lori Michaels” on Watch What Happens: Live, but that was before the hair pull, the lawsuit, Kim G., “square tit,” “proverbial,” “woman,” and “clown.” After being called garbage (again) on last night’s finale, today, Danielle just wants to dance. Lucky for us, the Morning Show Gods gave her some airtime. Watch Danielle, Lori, and dancers perform “Real Close (Dance Remix)” below:

 

At least she’s committed (though not in the way you might have hoped). And yes, they’re wearing “Danielle’s Mafia” tank tops, but wouldn’t it be better if Danny and He Who Doesn’t Speak were the backup dancers? (They are a part of Big D’s mafia). Will this remix be blasting through speakers at clubs around New York in a month’s time? How long until Bravo announces the premiere date for Danielle Attempting a Singing Career?

Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell have joined the cast of Scream 4

Anna Paquin and Kristen Bell have joined the cast of Scream 4, which has already started shooting in Michigan and is slated for release next April. The USA Today broke the news yesterday and Dimension Films confirms that the True Blood star and Veronica Mars will join the franchise’s holdovers Neve Campbell, Courteney Cox, David Arquette, as well as new characters played by Emma Roberts, Hayden Panettiere, and Adam Brody in director Wes Craven’s new frightfest.

But will the recently-announced additions play major roles, or will they be sacrificial lambs of the Drew Barrymore variety (which, in turn, was an homage to Janet Leigh’s demise in Psycho)? Would Scream 4 dare kill Sookie or Veronica off in the first 10 minutes?

Danielle Staub Still Bringing on the Crazy?

Season two of "Real Housewives of New Jersey" may have come to an end Monday night, but the drama continues behind the scenes for the reality show stars.

According to Life & Style, resident villainess Danielle Staub has become even more deranged since getting fired from the show. Though the drama magnet mother of two was handed a pink slip from Bravo last week, a source tells the mag that it's not stopping her from tormenting her on-screen foes.

"She spends her days driving around Franklin Lakes, slowing down outside her co-stars' houses," an insider told the mag.

Staub, 48, was reportedly spotted pulling up to co-star Caroline Manzo's home in her white Range Rover on Aug. 5.

"Danielle pointed to Caroline's house and said something to the other people in the car," an eyewitness tells Life & Style, adding that after identifying the home to her passengers, Staub sped off.

During Monday night's season finale, Staub and Manzo came face to face in a dramatic showdown that rivaled a scene from the "Sopranos." The two women squared off, hurling accusations and insults at one another before Staub couldn't take any more and walked away.

But Manzo isn't the only housewife still having to deal with the drama. The other "Real Housewives" stars, along with their children, feel especially vulnerable because none of them live in a gated community, according to the mag.

"None of them needed security before," a second source added. "But now everyone's nervous."

After Staub admitted on the show to bringing an entourage of men armed with guns to the sit-down with Manzo, the women have apparently had enough.

"Danielle didn't tell anyone she was bringing armed men with her," the source said. "No one realized it until Danielle filmed her testimonial and admitted it. When Caroline found out, she completely flipped. Who can blame her? She could have been shot!"

The source added, "It's one thing to create silly drama for television. It's a completely different story when you involve guns."

The View - Spinoff?

Think of it as "The View" — with chest hair.

An insider tells us that Barbara Walters and Bill Geddie, who created the hit ABC women's talk show and serve as its executive producers, are quietly developing a "unisex" spinoff of "The View" that will attempt to inject a male perspective
into the topics of the day.

The source adds that, if the show ever makes it past the development stage, Walters and Geddie envision it being produced in L.A., instead of New York, where the original show is based. It also would be geared for the afternoon time slots that Oprah Winfrey's talk show is expected to relinquish next year. "They don't want to do anything that will compete with "The View," the source says.

Like the original, which has been running on ABC since 1997, our source says Walters and Geddie want to assemble five co-hosts who can gab about a wide variety of topical subjects. We even hear the duo have worked up a wish list of four personalities
they'd like for the show. Each has appeared at least once on "The View" and fared well with viewers and the audience.

At the top of their list, we're told, is former "Today" show host Bryant Gumbel, as the show's moderator. "He brings the same kind of vibe as Meredith Vieira when she was one of the co-hosts," says the source.

The other male whom Walters and Geddie have in mind would balance Gumbel's reserve with a splash of flamboyance: Filipino-American comedian Alec Mapa, who played newscaster Suzuki St. Pierre on "Ugly Betty." The insider says Mapa did so well on his first appearance on "The View" that he was brought back as a guest host.

The women on the exec producers' wish list: former BET news anchor Jacque Reid, who, the source says, came very close to getting the spot on the original show that went to Sherri Shepherd, and former Fox News show host E.D. Hill. The latter would fill the politically conservative role voiced by Elisabeth Hasselbeck on the all-girls version.
Indeed, Hill filled in for Hasselbeck when she was on maternity leave. Prior to her work with "The View," Hill made headlines when her Fox News show was canceled in 2008 after she questioned whether the fist bump between then-presidential
candidate Barack Obama and his wife, Michelle, was a "terrorist fist jab."

The source says Walters and her partner are "undecided" so far about whom they'd like to fill the fifth chair.

Not that they want to talk about it. When we ran the story by an ABC spokeswoman, she first laughed, then called back to say: "We don't ever comment on anything we may or may not be developing."

ABC's What If Episodes Continue...

Smallville news: Lionel Luthor RETURNS!

This may be the closest thing to a Michael Rosenbaum comeback we get, so enjoy it people: John Glover has signed on to reprise his role as Lex’s late pa, Lionel, for multiple episodes during Smallville‘s 10th and final season, sources confirm to me exclusively.

Glover last graced the Smallville canvas at the end of season 7 when Lex pushed his father out a window to his death. (He appeared briefly in season 8 via archival footage.) The actor is booked for at least two episodes, both of which are expected to air in November.

Glover joins a growing list of Smallville alums rejoining the show in its final season. That list includes John Schneider (Pa Kent), Laura Vandervoort (Supergirl), James Marsters (Brainiac), and Michael Shanks (Hawkman).

Thoughts? Theories as to how Lionel will be brought back from the dead? Still holding out hope for a father/son reunion before The End? Hit the comments!

Behind the Scenes at Rachel Zoe's Harper's Bazaar I Die Photoshoot

RACHEL ZOE: "I DIE"

The much-talked-about stylist has developed a cult following for her look, her reality show, and her dramatic turn of phrase. But what would happen if she really did die for fashion? America’s top designers go in for the kill. Click here to seeRachel Zoe’s finest red-carpet moments. For a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot, watch the video!

Gangsta hit by ice cream truck while dancing to "Teach Me How To Dougie"

Picture of the day;

Here's a new feature I'm testing on the blog. We call it "The Picture of the day." What say you?

WHAT MAKES GROUND SACRED?

“Sacred Ground: Who Decides?” Ellis Henican Column, amNewYork, August 20, 2010

One day – not too soon, I hope – I will die.

And when that tragic moment arrives, those who love me will be saddened. Then a nice person in rubber gloves will come along and squirt 409 spray on my desk. An hour later, some new guy will be sitting in my chair, typing his words on what used to be my keyboard.

Goodbye, hello!

That is what we do in America when people die. We note the passing. We clean up the mess. We honor the dead by living.

So now comes all the uproar over the mosque being proposed for two blocks from Ground Zero. Do Muslims have the same right as other religions to place their houses of worship where they see fit? Or is this location an intolerable affront to the people who died on 9/11? That, right there, is the core of the debate.

And it’s a passionate one.

But beneath the raw nerves is an assumption that hardly anyone is reflecting on this week. What makes ground sacred anyway? The simple fact that a tragedy occurred nearby? Clearly, we apply the theory inconsistently.

When a teenager is killed in a drunken-driving wreck, no one proposes we close the highway forever. When a person loses their battle with cancer, their apartment isn’t forever sealed.

And when I die — well, you already know what happens then.

Back in the ’90s, there was a long-running dispute in lower Manhattan about a new federal building where an African cemetery had been. The graveyard was partially built on. Several people noted that much of downtown once had been cemetery land, though no one proposed demolishing area buildings.

Death is always tragic, whether it arrives in ones and twos or by the thousands. Those left are always bereaved.

The mosque debate raises many questions. But before they can really be answered, maybe we should answer these:

What makes certain ground sacred? How long does it remain that way?

Forever?

How many blocks constitute the sacred zone?

Who gets to decide?

The mother of that teenaged accident victim might have her own answer. I know I have some thoughts about the new guy who is suddenly sitting in my chair.

E-mail ellis@henican.com. Follow him at twitter.com/henican

Ricky Martin: 'Me' Memoir Is a 'Spiritual Journey'

Ricky Martin is getting even more personal and set to release his memoir 'Me' on Nov. 2. The 'Livin' La Vida Loca' singer will open up about everything from his experiences in Menudo to his sexuality and fatherhood.

"From the moment I wrote the first phrase, I was sure the book was the tool that was going to help me free myself from things I was carrying within me for a long time. Things that were too heavy for me to keep inside. Writing this account of my life, I got very close to my truth. And this is something worth celebrating," he said (via CNN.)

The Puerto Rican singer said that preparing to write the book was one of the reasons he decided to reveal earlier this year that he is gay.

Martin said in a statement Thursday that the project led him to extract memories that he had erased from his mind and the book was not easy to write but allowed for an "incredible spiritual journey."

In March, he dropped the bombshell about his sexuality and posted the following message on his official Web site :"Today is my day, this is my time, and this is my moment. These years in silence and reflection made me stronger and reminded me that acceptance has to come from within and that this kind of truth gives me the power to conquer emotions I didn't even know existed ... I am proud to say that I am a fortunate homosexual man. I am very blessed to be who I am."

The 'Livin' La Vida Loca' singer is a single dad to twin sons, who were born via a surrogate in August 2008.

"This is just what I need especially now that I am the father of two beautiful boys that are so full of light and who with their outlook teach me new things every day. To keep living as I did up until today would be to indirectly diminish the glow that my kids where born with. Enough is enough. This has to change. This was not supposed to happen 5 or 10 years ago, it is supposed to happen now," Martin wrote.

Teresa Giudice Blames Bravo for Financial Woes

Teresa Giudice and her husband Joe owe creditors nearly $11 million in various debts, and the 'Real Housewives of New Jersey' star blames her fame for why she's still bankrupt.

"If she wasn't on the show, this all would be much easier," a friend of Teresa's says.

"Everything would be settled by now, but because she is now famous everyone is using the situation to get press for themselves and humiliate her and her family. It's honestly got to the point where she's not sure if she wants to come back for another season."

A few days ago, new evidence proved the couple went on a $60,000 shopping spree not long after they filed for bankruptcy.

Teresa and Joe bought $8,800 curtains and spent $45,000 on wall hangings, mirrors, frames, tables and chairs, while at the same time trying to convince a Newark federal bankruptcy judge to stop the August 22 auction of their personal belongings. Judge Morris Stern refused to stop the auction, but postponed it until Oct. 3.

"Teresa is sick of everyone knowing all her private financial business," an insider tells me. "She didn't sign up to be on 'Housewives' so that everyone could look into her bank account. Millions of couples go through what they are going through, except no one knows about it. It's just not fair."

Bad Azz Kids Of The Week: Hood Kids From ATL Talking A Gang Of Mess! "Ill Shoot The F*ck Outta You"

And this is what the world is coming to...

The Real Housewives of Atlanta

Lisa Wu out—Cynthia and Phaedra in! EW has exclusively learned that Bravo will officially add two new housewives to the cast for its third season of The Real Housewives of Atlanta, which is set to premiere on Oct. 4 at 9 p.m. ET. The network will make the announcement this afternoon. As you can see from the first-look cast photo above, NFL wife Lisa Wu Hartwell went the way that DeShawn Snow did after season one—she’s no longer a full-fleged cast member. However, sources tell us that Hartwell will indeed make occasional appearances on the show, much like Dina Manzo did after she departed The Real Housewives of New Jerseyearlier this season. Atlanta‘s season three cast is, from left to right: Phaedra Parks, NeNe Leakes, Shereé Whitfield, Cynthia Bailey, Kim Zolciak, and Kandi Burruss. Pretty glam cast, eh? As for new adds Cynthia and Phaedra, here’s what you need to know:

Cynthia Bailey: She’s a model who was born in Alabama, has appeared on the cover of Essence magazine, and has a 10-year-old daughter, Noelle.You might remember her from a brief guest role on The Cosby Show (she played a character named Sheniquah Watkins) or her spot as Roxanne opposite Sandra Bernhard in the musical comedy Without You I’m Nothing. This season on The Real Housewives of Atlanta, the independent woman will grapple with a marriage ultimatum from her boyfriend of three years, Peter Thomas, and deepen her bond with NeNe.

Phaedra Parks: This friend of Dwight and Kandi’s is an entertainment lawyer—specifically, the managing partner of an Atlanta-based boutique firm that works with entertainers and athletes. She’s a self-proclaimed “Southern Belle,” and does charity, which is a hallmark of theHousewives franchise. Her big storyline this season? She’s married to a younger man, Apollo, who went to prison for a “white collar crime,” and the ladies love to gossip about that. And surprise: Phaedra’s pregnant! Much of her time will be consumed with planning a baby shower. Also worth noting: Phaedra is from the same hometown as spitfire NeNe. Here’s hoping for a little from-the-archives drama between the pair!

The rest of the ladies have been busy, too: NeNe will deal with a rocky marriage and focuses on finding a career by landing a job as an entertainment reporter for the local news; Kim will do the music thing again, and even embark on a tour alongside Kandi; Kandi will reel from the death of her former fiancé, AJ, and try to rebuild a relationship with her cancer-stricken father; and Shereé will pursue acting—she claims to want to win an Oscar one day! Which means she enlists an acting coach. Good luck with that!

Overall, could this possibly be a classier, less wig-ripping season of Atlanta? With the addition of the “Southern Belle” Phaedra and model Cynthia, seems like we’re headed toward less trashy territory. Are you excited for the news cast members?