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I’ll bet that headline grabbed your attention!

The sad part is – it’s true. I did get robbed by a Thai prostitute on the streets of Bangkok, but it’s not how it sounds (geez, get your head out of the gutter).

Now, before I tell you the story, let me first state that Thailand is a safe country . You don’t need to worry about getting robbed, just stay away from prostitutes at 3:00AM and you should be fine!

This story begins back in 2004 , when we visited Thailand for the very first time. In fact, it was our first trip to the Asian continent, so you can imagine our sensory overload.

We did what most young backpackers do when they first visit Bangkok’s popular Khao San Road – drink excessively until the early hours of morning.

After filling ourselves with delicious street food and several cold Chang Beers, we began our slow walk back to the hostel. On the way, Nicole stopped at a 7-11 convenience store to pick up a new calling card for her cell phone.

The plan for the next day was to meet up with friends from Nicole’s student exchange program in Penang, Malaysia. To do so, we needed a calling card so that we could inform them where our hostel was located. A seemingly uncomplicated task that turned out to be quite the ordeal.

While Nicole was inside the store, I stood outside and waited patiently. Within seconds, I was approached by a hungry prostitute who offered me some “lovely good times”.

It was my own fault. I clearly looked intoxicated and was easy pickings, not something one should do in public (especially in a foreign country).

When the offer for “lovey, lovey” was refused, the prostitute decided to heat up the request and headed south, to the “no fly zone”. Startled by the clear lack of personal boundaries, I pushed her (or him?) away and politely declined once again.

The alcohol slowed down my internal processor. I was in shock - did that really just happen?!

I pushed her away and cautiously said, “not interested, move along”. She finally got the hint and walked away, turning back every few steps to see if I had miraculously changed my mind. No chance.

I actually thought the incident was quite comical.

In fact, I recall opening the door to the air-conditioned 7-11 and yelling to Nicole, “you’re never going to believe this, a prostitute just grabbed my !”

The store clerks didn’t care for my colourful commentary.

This is the EXACT store where the incident occurred (about 10 feet to the right).
We revisited Bangkok in 2009 and took this picture to capture the memory

What I failed to realize was that the “junk grabbing” was just a diversion for the crafty pickpocket to reach into my back pocket and grab my wallet.

Mission accomplished!

I didn’t realize that I had been robbed until the following morning, when it came time to check out of the hostel. I reached for my wallet and then it hit me. My mind raced to put the pieces back together. After we ripped apart our bags and searched every corner of the hostel room, we realized what had happened. Then panic set in.

“What if she got into my bank account?!”

“What if my credit card has been compromised?!”

A quick inventory revealed that I didn’t actually lose much. Fortunately, I make it habit to split up my important items. That night, I only carried my bank card, drivers license and about $75 cash, all items that can be easily replaced.

We spent the better part of the day trying to call my Canadian bank (back in 2004 it wasn’t as easy to make international phone calls). When we finally connected with someone, we were informed that several attempts had been made on my account before the card was automatically cancelled.

No damage was done , the thief was unsuccessful in breaking into my bank account. But I can only image what happened to my drivers license!

At the time, I was super pissed off because we were on a tight budget. But, I’ve been telling this story for years now, so I think it was well worth the lost $75!

Have you ever been robbed while overseas?
Share your story in the comments section below – we’d love to hear about it!

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Chadwick Boseman as James brown in Get On Up Photograph: Allstar/UNIVERSAL PICTURES/Sportsphoto Ltd./Allstar

1. The quiff James Brown, 1964, New York Photograph: Michael Ochs Archives

The afro became a symbol of his association with civil rights but the quiff looked amazing, too. Bruno Mars, not to mention Janelle Monae, are channeling Brown’s excellent quiff work more than 50 years on. Coiffed and full, rising from the centre of his forehead, it was truly a thing of beauty. No wonder, as Arbus’ picture attests, it needed a hairdresser on hand at all times.

Brown went on to wear full-on jumpsuits, tracksuits, capes and flares but as befitting a man raised in Georgia, he started with the motifs of a Southern gentleman. The tie or bow tie is part of that look but works best when slightly skewed and pulled to the side after a trademark performance of blood, sweat and tears.

Brown had performance uniform during this period, which the slightly short, boxy jacket was part of. Sometimes double-breasted, sometimes brocade, and always worn with a bright white shirt, the effect is razor sharp, all the better to take off and fling on the stage.

A James Brown performance is nothing without the godfather of soul dropping to his knees during Please, Please, Please. Who knows how he did this in trousers so tight they make American Apparel’s Disco Pantslook like Boyfriend jeans? Ours not to reason why. Marvel instead.

Another element of the Southern gentleman styling – smart shoes finish the look. They also, with thin slidy soles, work as a prop for dancing, as seen when Brown taught a bunch of teenagers to dance in 1962 or attempting to do the same with Tonight Show host Johnny Carson in 1967.

Former BBC reporter and documentary film-maker Olenka Frenkiel, whose experiences ‘provide yet another frustrating reminder of the dismissive way women are treated in broadcasting’. Photograph: Teri Pengilley

Although your editorial in the same edition focused mainly on ageism and older women “not looking the part” in our visual world (which of course is true), I suspect – as acknowledged by Penny Marshall ( Report, theguardian.com, 5 November) – that the real root of the problem lies in men keeping top jobs for themselves.

As a criminal barrister for over 20 years I have witnessed how women in my profession are too often sidelined as their careers progress. One of the most obvious ways this happens at the criminal bar is that senior women are increasingly instructed on sexual abuse cases (often to the exclusion of little else), while men get murders, lucrative frauds and many of the high-profile cases. I agree that the BBC has a special duty to lead the way on gender imbalance, and Tony Hall’s announcement that, by 2015, 50% of breakfast presenters on local radio should be women is a good first step. However, it does little to solve the problem of older women and top jobs.
Mary McKeone
Manchester

• Olenka Frenkiel’s experiences provide yet another frustrating reminder of the dismissive way women are treated in broadcasting. I have just written my third letter of complaint to the BBC over the last 18 months about the paucity of women panellists on Question Time. Last week, four out of the five panellists were male.

I was informed in response to my previous complaints that “programme contributors are appointed on the basis of their experience and talent”. Can they seriously expect us to believe that they continue to be unable to find enough sufficiently experienced and talented women to address this gender imbalance? Your editorial rightly emphasises the duty of the BBC to lead the way on gender equality in broadcasting. The BBC needs to recognise that the time for excuses is long past.
Dr Edie Friedman
London

• It is a sad fact that it is not just in journalism that older women are being pushed out. I am a 51-year-old primary school teacher now working as a supply teacher. Olenka Frenkiel talks of women being encouraged to sign a gagging clause and of not doing so herself ( Why I rejected gagging clause – BBC journalist, 8 November). Teaching unions give the impression that there is no choice but to be gagged. The unions seem to not be interested in the situation faced by older women. I go to many different schools now and rarely meet other teachers as old as myself. Older teachers are more expensive but we do not take maternity leave or time off with sick children. We are also more experienced.

Perhaps Olenka could undertake some research into the fate of older women. Could she start with the statistics for women leaving work with gagging clauses?
Mary Daykin
Chorley, Lancashire

• BBC, what are you thinking? As a licence payer I demand that you commission Simon Mayo and Mark Kermode forthwith ( Everybody thinks we’d be great on TV – apart from channel controllers, Media, 10 November). White, middle-class, middle-aged males with large protuberances of self-regard are clearly in short supply.
Karen Peploe
Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire

If you’re in business and have an online store, a corporate website or blog or just want to monetize your own personal blog, you’re bound to have heard of WordPress. Using WordPress is one of the easiest ways to make a fully functional, usable, easily navigable and eye-catching website that will cater to your niche or business.

But what about WordPress themes? Where do they come into play, and why should we use them? Won’t we have invested enough time and money on website content, images, hosting, and the like? Well, here is why choosing the right WordPress Theme is so important for your business.

- The correct pick of a WordPress Theme can really bring out your niche. Themes are practically custom made for every niche or business. That’s why you see them named Photography themes, Magazine themes, News Portal themes, etc. For instance, Best WordPress Themesis a great example of a WordPress Template website that filters and sorts themes by category. It’s not a coincidence that every theme can be used for a specific purpose. Of course, it isn’t an exact science – if you fall in love with a theme, just because it’s labeled “photography” doesn’t mean you can’t use it as your personal blog, handicraft sales page or restaurant review website. It’s not a coincidence that there are hundreds of other websites that their sole purpose is to find and add themes to the website, making web masters easily find the best theme for their blog. You can also check Best Themes WP, or 100 WP Themesfor more WordPress Themes

– Using the right theme can optimize usability and guide your visitors’ eyes exactly where they should be. For instance, take the portfolio themes or photography themes we mentioned earlier. These WordPress templates have specific “portfolio” and “gallery” pages, most of the time as the home page, which focus on image-intensive niches, like – you guessed it – photography and design. Everyone in a specific business should make use of these special pages and templates to maximize exposure of their work. Looking at it from the other side, if you choose the wrong theme, you can lose out on a lot of things that need to stand out. You shouldn’t make your readers and potential clients have to look for your stuff. When it comes to choosing new wordpress themes, it’s best to go in with no fear, then see how your content will look with each design.

– The various widget types and functions that come with each WordPress theme by default can really help each niche, and save you precious time from searching for and adding plug-ins that weren’t there before. If you have a newsletter site, you’ll need a subscription form; if you have a restaurant or service by appointment, you need a reservation form; if you’re a blogger, you’ll need a Twitter stream and social media buttons. Advertising space for marketers, pricing tables for e-Commerce, an About Us page or footer for corporate profiles, Flickr galleries for photographers and photoblogs – the list goes on forever! (Thanks to Lars’ 11 tips on finding the best themeon Trip Wire Magazine for this one!)

- The dilemma of free or premiumshouldn’t come that much into play here. Don’t get me wrong, none of us are rich (yet)! Free themes are awesome if you’re just starting out , but some of them have limited functions and are not unbranded. You should cough up some dough (but not that much!) and invest in a good one. We mention this here, because it’s better to research and invest in a premium WordPress theme which will have more functions, customization options, documentation and support when you’re going professional.

– Other themes can make your blog or website look happy. Others will make it look silly, or not serious enough, when the website should be professional. Sure, everything can take a little silliness or cupcake pink, but if you’re building a corporate profile or design portfolio that you want everyone to take seriously (and your name isn’t Barbie), you should try to stick to professionalism. It doesn’t have to be bland or boring, just useful and not too playful. (Thanks to Karlos from ComLuvfor his article on how to find the best WordPress themes for this idea!)

– When you’ve researched, tried, and paid for the perfect WordPress template for your website or blog, it all shows how much time, love and hard work you’ve invested in the whole thing. When you carefully pick out the best theme for your blog or website, it automatically shows how involved you are and how seriously you’re taking the whole venture. Serious is as serious does, and nothing shows you’re taking the whole thing to heart than a carefully, lovingly crafted online presence!

How has choosing the best WordPress site possible helped your business? Share your stories with us!

This guest post was written by Vicky, who is a professional copywriter and Internet Marketer, who writes for the Internet Marketing Blog Moneytized. Her favorite topics range from how to successfully create and maintain an online business, to maintaining personal relationships. When she’s not writing articles or proofreading her friends’ posts, she indulges in her personal time with her family and two cats.

By Joe Donatelli July 16, 2013 672,199 Views

Comstock/Comstock/Getty Images

After beating myself up for not burying my valuables in the yard every morning, my thoughts turned to detective work. I have seen every episode of NYPD Blue , The Shield , and The Wire , and I am certain that, had I not become a journalist, I would have made an excellent detective. This conceit was confirmed when I arrived at the house 30 minutes after the police left and discovered the open window the robber used to gain entrance. The police had missed it ENTIRELY. I took a flashlight outside and found the window screen in a recycling bin and shoe scuff marks on the wall. I felt like Bunk and McNulty when they recreated Deirdre Kresson’s murder in The Wire ‘s famous ” fuck” scene.

In which the word “shit” is uttered 137 times.

The following day, I walked around the neighborhood at the same time our house was robbed the previous day. I talked to my neighbors and chatted with two delivery guys and the mailwoman. The mailwoman said she had just seen a suspicious car. I had seen it, too. It was driving a little too slow. Just then the car in question turned a corner in front of us. The mailwoman wrote down the plate number. I called Mike. Mike called the plate in to an actual detective. Twenty minutes later Mike got a call back. The mailwoman and I had made the undercover cop who was assigned to patrol our area.

Between that brilliant piece of undercover work and the responding officers who failed to notice an open window on a cold and rainy day, I had no faith in the LAPD’s ability to solve this case. I was convinced that it would be me who broke this case wide open and took down the burglar and Avon Barksdale and Stringer Bell in the process.

As always, Marlo Stanfield got away.

I have come to grips with the fact that I don’t actually own anything. I have no personal possessions. None of us do. We all just have some stuff that is ours until some highly motivated and unscrupulous individual decides he wants it for himself. So, yeah, just like communism.

Stalin was a cat burglar in his off-hours.

Postscript:

They caught the guy who robbed our house. He was 21 years old. Unfortunately, police were unable to locate my belongings, which they believe were pawned. Here’s how he was caught. The guy robbed another house nearby. That house had a camera system, which did not deter the robber, but it did catch a look at his face. Like I said, you picture your robber as a maniac or a criminal mastermind, but this guy was pretty bad at his job when you consider that he set off our alarm and was caught on a neighbor’s camera.

Anyway, the cops knew what he looked like. During a routine traffic stop, patrolmen pulled over the guy who robbed our house, but they did not realize that he was our robber until later. So the LAPD got hold of the guy on the phone and one of the officers said, “Hey, my partner lost his wedding ring and we think he lost it in your car. Can we come and take a look?” This robber — the one who had shown so much promise by incorporating my pillowcases into his home invasion — told the police where he was. The police snatched him up, questioned him, and got a confession. Good work by real police.

George Doyle/Stockbyte/Getty Images
Not bad, for a cop with no mustache.

If Signs Were Actually Helpful

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More by Joe Donatelli: 5 Problems You Can’t Blame on How You Were Raised April 12, 2014  |  439,434 Views Inside the Mind of a Man With a Comb-Over May 21, 2013  |  151,649 Views See More

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1. Website Integrity Monitoring

So unlike their free scanner which you have to run manually, the website malware and blacklist warning checks the site as frequently as every 3 hours to ensure that your site is clean of malwares, malicious javascripts, malicious iframes, suspicious redirections, spammy link injections etc. They also make sure that your site is not blacklisted by any of the popular services like Google, Norton, AVG, Phishtank, Opera and others. How does this benefit? Well it keeps your reputation intact, so your users don’t see signs like “Warning Something is Not Right Here”.

So the website monitoring just checks your website on the front-end. But what if you are dealing with a smart hacker, who doesn’t care about infecting your users with malwares. They are simply adding banner ads in your older posts that you don’t know about. What if they have already established a backdoor access that they can use to change your affiliate links with theirs and steal your revenue. This type of hack cannot be detected by their free website scanner. However for the paying customers, there is an option called Server Side Scanning which does just that. It scans your server to make sure there aren’t any suspicious files that are being harbored on your server. It also audit events like file changes and such to keep you informed.

You would think that you would have to install some sort of bloated software on your server to do these scans. All you have to do is upload one simple php file and that’s it.

Because it is created by folks who love WordPress just as much as we do, they have a special plugin for WordPress users. This plugin is like a gem for beginners and advanced users alike. It audits all the events that happen on your WordPress site. File Changes, New post additions etc.

Often hackers try to disguise their hacked backdoor access files with WordPress file names. So it can be a file sitting in your wp-includes folder called wp-user.old.php or something that an average user wouldn’t suspect to be a malicious file. SucuriWordPress plugin makes that the integrity of all core files are intact. So if there is a suspicious file among the mix, it will alert you right away. Often hackers try to hide the malware inside your wp-config.php file. Which is a core file. This plugin checks for all that.

1-Click Hardening

If you are a new user, you see various security posts on different blogs. You try to remember all of those on your next site and the one after etc. Some of the hardening tricks are not even talked about. Well Sucuri gives you the ability to improve your security by hardening your WordPress install. With one click, you can protect your uploads directory. Often hackers like to hide their malicious files in your uploads folder. Because the upload folder is organized by year and month, it is an easy place for hackers to hide stuff. Most folks don’t ever check their uploads folder. With a simple click, this plugin will make your uploads directory unbrowsable and disallow php execution. It does the same for wp-content directory and wp-includes directory. With 1 click, you can also move your wp-config file one directory up. With 1 click, it gets rid of your readme.html file and others.

As of right now, there is no way to change the default database prefix with 1 click, but it says that it will be available in the future versions. In the meantime, you can use our tutorial on How to Change the WordPress Database Prefix.

Last but certainly not the least, this plugin adds a web firewall that block spammers and blacklist their IPs. We checked a lot of the IPs that were trying to access areas they are not supposed to be are known blacklisted IPs. For WordPress users, this plugin is the best thing ever.

The most important part about monitoring is alerts. Sucuri allows you to configure email alerts, twitter alerts, IM alerts, SMS alerts, and RSS alerts. This is great because if there is ever a hack, you will be the first to know.

Aside from Malware and Blacklist monitoring, they also have monitoring for DNS changes, whois changes etc. Recently a lot of popular domains were stolen from their webmasters, and this type of monitoring can keep you alerted.

Even though all the reasons above well justify the cost, they also offer malware cleanup service with no page limits along with blacklist removal. We haven’t had to use this part of the service yet, but can you imagine having security experts cleaning up your site. Normally some of these guys charge $250+/hour for consulting. Let’s say if your site gets hacked and you have their monitoring, they will do the cleanup for you. Chances are that it will be caught before Google and other services blacklist you. But if you did get blacklisted, then they will help you with blacklist removal.

We have the power plan which costs $189.99 / year which covers 5 websites. The monthly cost comes about to be $3 per website. We would much rather pay $3 per website and keep it secure rather than getting hacked and pay someone $$$$ to clean up our site.

Web is a really scary place. Day after day, we hear stories of people and websites getting hacked. Having helped numerous people cleanup their websites from malwares, we can honestly say that Sucuri is hands down the best and most cost effective security service in the WordPress industry. It’s much better to find out that your site is hacked from a monitoring service rather than finding out from your users or better yet from Google when they blacklist your website.

We are using Sucuri and if you care about your site’s security, then you should too. There is a reason why major publications like CNN, USAToday, PC World, TechCrunch, TheNextWeb, and others are recommending these guys. Having personally talked with one of their co-founders Dre Armeda, we know that we are in good hands.