I received yet another notice from Toledo Telenet warning Internet users to protect their passwords. Apparently, some customers fell for a recent scam, and I think I was nearly one of them.

When you receive an e-mail requesting your password or other personal information, whether it is intended to appear to come from us or from some other trusted entity (such as a bank), the contents of the e-mail will almost always tell you something about the messages validity, the notice stated.

Toledo Telenet said hints flagging emails as scams include poor spelling, grammar, punctuation and capitalization; conflicting information such as in the subject line and signature; odd salutations; statements that are out of context or dont make sense; and inclusion of fancy words not used in everyday speech.

Although its not really a scam, it seems a bit like one when nonprofit organizations continually send requests for money to elderly people.

A friend of mine in Centralia told me her husband, who is suffering from Alzheimers, has been inundated with solicitations from the Republican Party and conservative causes. Because hes conservative, he sends money but its money he cant afford to spend.

The same thing happened when my mother suffered from dementia. At first she gave a rational answer, saying that for years she never could afford to support charities and the church, so she wanted to make up for it now. But the more money she gave, the more solicitations she received often three or four every day from charities and political organizations.

I wrote a short note asking the organizations to remove this address from their mailing lists and we began stuffing one into each return envelope. Eventually, the solicitations stopped.

When my friend told me about her problem, I discovered a link on the Internet at www.govspot.com/ask/nameofflist.htm that tells how to remove your name from lists. Send a letter asking to be placed on its delete list to Mail Preference Service, Attn: Dept 6150403, Direct Marketing Association, P.O. Box 282, Carmel, NY 10512. Your name will stay off lists for five years. The website also tells how to remove your name from telemarketer and email lists.

Vietnam Veterans

If you know any Vietnam-era veterans, invite them to the Vietnam Veterans Remembrance Day in Chehalis on Saturday, Aug. 6.

Keynoter at the annual Veterans Memorial Museum event is Rear Admiral Cathal L. Flynn, a native of Dublin, Ireland, who served on an underwater demolition team and led SEAL team detachments in Vietnam in 1964 and 1967-68. He later commanded an underwater demolition team and the U.S. Pacific Fleets naval special warfare forces.

Flynn graduated from the Naval War College and the National War College. He was promoted to rear admiral in 1985, and served as assistant director of Naval Intelligence for Counter-Intelligence and Anti-Terrorism; director of Plans and Policy, U.S. Special Operations Command; and deputy assistant Secretary of Defense for Special Operations. He retired from active duty in 1990 after three decades of service.

The events purpose is to honor all men and women who served in the military during the Vietnam War years. We can never say thank you enough to those who have served and sacrificed for our nation.

Idaho Visit

During a weekend trip to Silverwood, a combined theme and water park just north of Coeur dAlene, Idaho, we noticed much lower gas prices. Most stations charged $3.64 a gallon for regular gas compared with the $3.85 a gallon in nearby Spokane.

It stands to reason, though, considering that Washingtons gas tax is 55.9 cents a gallon, compared with 43.4 cents in Idaho. I wonder how border communities can compete.

Julie McDonald, a personal historian from Toledo, may be reached at memoirs@chaptersoflife.com.