Warning: The Casanova Conman

Troubling article published in the Kuwait Times. Lynn, Anna and Isabel, three divorced women hailing from different corners of the globe who now call Kuwait home, have one thing in common: they built a dream for living happily ever after meeting their soul mates in cyberspace. In an odd twist their dreams for family ended with a broken heart and for Isabel with financial loss.

Allan Straus, seemed like the best thing that ever happened to her -  an engineer with a good job on an oil rig in the UK, financial independence and a five-year old daughter whom he was raising alone.  “He sounded like a very warm individual who was searching for his soul mate after losing his spouse,” Lynn recalls.

Read the complete article: Casanova conman on the prowl – When Mr Right turns out to be Mr Wrong.

 

 

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Pen Pals by Balloon!

Students at a school in Texas decided they wanted to spread a message in a different way. After a brainstorming session, the students came up with the idea to write poetry and put their poems on balloons. The teacher agreed that it was a great idea. The students released 500 balloons with personal messages or a dream attached thinking that their unusual message in a bottle might never be found.

Their balloons however, were found by another teacher 160 miles away who got her students to write back. Now the project has come full circle and the students have learned the valuable lesson that there is no limit to who you can reach.

Watch the video: Balloon Pen Pals

 

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Want to Write to an Author?

Letters in the MailA site called ‘The Rumpus’ is offering something novel in this digital age. It’s called Letters in the Mail. Almost every week you’ll receive a letter, in the mail. Letter writers will include Dave Eggers, Marc Maron, Stephen Elliott, Janet Fitch, Nick Flynn, Margaret Cho, Cheryl Strayed, Wendy MacNaughton, Emily Gould, Tao Lin, and Jonathan Ames. Think of it as the letters you used to get from your creative friends, before this whole internet/email thing.

The service is $5 per month ($10 for international). Visit The Rumpus for more information. In particular, view the comments at the end of the article.

 

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Snail Mail Writing Tips

For many of us, the holiday season is fast approaching. It’s a wonderful time to spend with family and friends but also a chance for some of us to get caught up on our letter writing. Having difficulty deciding what to write?

You don’t have to be a language major to write letters to your pen pals. All you have to do is write from your heart. Here are a few reminders and (hopefully new) suggestions:

  • Hand-write your letter as neatly as you can and always use your own words.
  • Don’t just answer your pals questions, ask a few of your own so you can keep the letters flowing between you.
  • Always tell your pen pal a little bit about yourself and why you think you would be a great pen pal
  • Never tell someone that you expect to hear back from them soon. Invite them to write you back if they are interested in being your pal.
  • Talk about what is going on around you. A pen pal from another country will not have the same access to the things you do.
  • If your home town has a unique history, share it with your pal. Send them a local ghost story, tale or tidbit of real history. Write down all the local slang phrases with their meanings.
  • Grab an envelope and add some character to it. You can use doodlings, stickers, gift wrap, pictures, glitter or more. Just make sure the address is clear and is easily found and read by the postal service.
  • Print out some unique stationery or create your own. If you want, you can purchase stationery that reflects your personality.
  • Make your letter colourful by using different coloured pens or markers. Make every other line a different color, highlight feeling words with color, colourize ever fourth word, etc.
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The Write Stuff!

The convenience of computers notwithstanding, from 1969 to 2000 Nena O’Connell and Sandra Hislop wrote the old-fashioned way — in longhand — and cherished every bit of mail that arrived at their respective homes.

This is why we write! Continue to the complete article: The write stuff: After 40 years, pen pals meet in person for second time in Hartford City

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Relieved Her Japanese Pen Pal is OK

An American woman who has been in coorespondance with her Japanese pen pal for over 40 years is relieved to hear that her pen pal had survived the catastrophic, 8.9 magnitude earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan’s northeast coast on March 11.

Two days after the quake, Jill Carter, who has corresponded by mail with Shoji Tamaki since childhood, took her worries about his whereabouts to her keyboard. Although the town of his latest address, Tsubame, is near Japan’s west coast, he shared in his last letter plans to build a new home elsewhere, location unknown.

Read the complete article here: Local woman relieved her Japanese pen pal is OK.

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Penpals on Twitter!

What is Twitter? Twitter offers a social networking and microblogging service, enabling its users to send and read messages called ‘tweets’. Users may subscribe to other users’ tweets – this is known as following and subscribers are known as followers or tweeps. In late 2009, a “Twitter Lists” feature was added, making it possible for users to follow (as well as mention and reply to) lists of authors instead of individual authors.

Do you have Twitter? The following is short list of the growing number of Twitter Lists associated to penpal-ing that you can easily subscribe to:

You can also follow us at @easypenpal!

 

 

 

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Millionaire Leaves Fortune to Pen Pal

A South African pensioner became a multi-millionaire overnight after her Cape Town pen pal, whom she never met, left her millions when he died four months ago. The executor had been trying unsuccessfully for months to locate the woman by placing advertisements. A friend alerted the woman and her family after reading the advert in a local newspaper classified.

Another reason to find a pen pal! From the South African Times.

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Penpals For Your iPhone & iPod Touch!

Can’t get enough of penpal finding on your mobile phone? iPenpal was released today on the Apple app store.

In iPenpal, users can create messages using text and photos, and their messages are automatically routed to other penpals throughout the iPenpal network. Or, using a matching system, users can build a unique profile with interests and then be connected to other penpals who are like-minded.

Users are rated using a star system, there is a friend list and ability to block or report people who don’t play nice. Finally, there is an ability within the app to limit users by geography (for example, if you are only seeking pen pals in Europe).

Do you have an iPhone or iPod Touch? Buy it on the app store for $0.99 US. We’ve been given some promo codes that will be shared on our Twitter page to a few lucky tweeters @easypenpal.

 

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Review: Sandbook.net

Sandbook does more than help you find e-pals and traditional penpals, they’ve also got swapping for friendship books, postcards, stamps and coins and an e-magazine dedicated to penpals and swappers which can be downloaded directly from their site.

The site is well structured and organized, distinct pages for e-pals and traditional penpals. Under the penpal page you can specify age range, military penpals and mom penpals. If you choose to participate, Sandbook has a penpal of the month contest. Finally, don’t forget to check out the section with beautiful templates for friendship books!

  • Penpals: unknown
  • Activity: a few new penpals daily
  • Hidden email address: No (be sure to use a disposal account to avoid spam)
  • Internal messaging: No
  • Profile pictures: No
  • Block penpals from contacting you: No
  • Ability to hide/pause account: Yes

Pros: Well moderated, simple to navigate. Penpal e-magazine is a great idea and a good read!

Cons: No ability to block penpals from contacting you. Email addresses exposed.

Sandbook: http://www.sandbook.net/

Was this review useful? Rate it below and/or add your comment.

 

 

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