纽约公共Wi-Fi电话亭成学生逃课看黄片据点

纽约已经根据“连接纽约“(LinkNYC)计划，把市内7500个电话亭改装成Wi-Fi热点，打造全球规模最大和最快的城市Wi-Fi网络。据悉，每个热点覆盖方圆约45米区域，数据传送速度每秒1G，是一般家居互联网速度的20倍。为了查询方便，有些电话亭安置了平板电脑，还提供了充电接口。不过意想不到的副作用出现了：警方发现，不少民众和学生居然利用这项便民服务，公然在大街上看黄片。

为了避免这样的情形，纽约政府已经增设了系统防火墙。不过，这项措施遭到许多人的抗议（哈哈，那是当然）。

巴黎旅行注意事项

Kelvin Koh, a frequent traveler to Paris, the capital of France, recounted in his Facebook about how he was almost scammed by a syndicate which steals from tourists. Kelvin gave valuable tips to travelers about how they can avoid being victims of such scams and we reproduce it in full.

I have been visiting Paris for the past 9 years and here is a very important tip. Something that will help u have a more pleasant stay.

Just moments ago at Gare Du Nord, I was almost a victim (yet again) to a couple of con men. I had placed my camera bag on the shelf next to me while I checked my tickets. A guy walks up to me and asks for directions (yes a local looking guy asking a Singaporean tourist for directions! Hahaha) I have seen this before and immediately turned to check on my bag and true enough, his accomplice was trying to grab my bag.

When spotted, he suddenly didn’t need to know the directions and both walked away in separate directions.

So dear friends, do be vigilant especially when anything out of the ordinary happens:

1. Stranger asking for directions, offering a cookie, inviting you to do a survey, tries to sell you a friendship band, tries to sell you a gold coin, tries to sell tou a picked up watch and passes a child to you (yes it’s true).
2. When at a restaurant, do not put your hand phone or valuables on the table. Be wary of people coming in to ask u to fill a survey/ ask for directions.
3. Whenever anyone bumps into you, check and double check.
4. When going up escalators, if it suddenly stops, be wary. They usually try and pickpocket you when climbing up the escalator (now stairs).
5. In the metro, the doors beeps before closing, if a guy rushes out just before the door closes, quickly check on your belongings. If stolen quickly press the stop button and chase or seek help. This happened to me. I caught the guy.
6. At the metro again, at the gates, a guy may rush u from behind to fluster u. Look out for your handbag or bags. They may be trying to pick your valuables.
7. Some days, the queue for metro tickets can be very long especially at popular stations. You may find a shorter queue for a guy selling loose tickets. Don’t be conned. He offers child priced tickets at a regular price. No problem entering with the ticket but when you try exiting, you may be stopped by station security and be asked to pay a fine of 30+ euros.

All of the above has happened to or witnessed by myself or friends I know of. Personally the following areas are pickpocketing hotspots in Paris.

1. Gare Du Nord
2. Outside of Galleries Lafayette
3. Chatelet
4. St Michel/st Germain
5. Montmartre
6. Trocadero and Champ Del Mars
7. Notre Dame

Mostly touristy areas. I do hope this helps. Being a victim of pickpockets isn’t a pleasant experience especially when on a holiday. Please share your own experiences and hopefully we will be more aware of their tactics.

往后观光客到纽约游玩就有免费的电话和上网服务了

市长白思豪（Bill de Blasio）今天宣布启动LinkNYC计划，在市内架设WiFi电信基地台取代传统电话亭，让民众可以免费拨打电话和上网，且网路传输量最高可达每秒1 GB。

LinkNYC是一台类似电话亭的复合式基地台，民众除了连接无线网路上网外，还可用它免费拨打美国国内任何的室内或手机电话，遇到紧急案件也可以拨打911报警，还提供触控萤幕让没有手机或电脑的民众可以上网查资料，若手机没电了，也有两个USB孔贴心让你充电。

现场实测LinkNYC的网路速度，在繁忙的曼哈顿第3大道上，下载速度每秒有到98.14Mbps，上传速度是每秒55.6Mbps，虽然距离白思豪所说的每秒1GB有一段差距，但浏览网页和拨打电话都没有问题。另外WiFi接收距离在400公尺以内都十分稳定，整条第3大道共有14座LinkNYC，串成一条贯穿曼哈顿南北的“无线网路”。

白思豪说这项每个民众都可使用的免费网路建设不用花纳税人一分钱，因为LinkNYC上面的电子看板将会贩售广告，预计未来12年，每年还能为市政府带来50万美元的收入。

今天起在曼哈顿第3大道已有14座LinkNYC可以使用，预估到7月底前全纽约会有500座，到2019年中，估计可以达到4500座。

有了自动护照检查服务器 美国公民与绿卡持有者不必再排长队

旅游旺季来临，美国各大机场入境也开始出现排队人龙，美国海关与边境保护局(CBP)表示，持有美国及加拿大护照的公民，以及美加两国永久合法居民，还有包括台湾、欧洲、澳洲等38个与美国有相互免签协议地区、国家旅客，只要使用设于各大机场的自动护照检查服务器(Automated Passport Control)，平均一分钟就可以入关。 CBP强调，四成以上的国际旅客，都可以使用这项快速通关机器，减少入境大排长龙的痛苦。

2013年由芝加哥欧海尔机场率先启用的“自动护照检查服务”，至今已有1300多台服务器，分布34个美国机场，以及其他包括日本等八个国家的机场，使用人次达9500万次。

CBP表示，这项服务快速而且免费，不像全球入境计画(Global Entry)，要求旅客必须提前注册，并支付100元费用。

另一方面，联邦交通运输局(TSA)大力倡导旅客申请预先通过(PreCheck)、全球入境计画，希望借此抒解机场安全检查长龙问题，5月份上述计画申请个案激增三倍，达1万6000件。

申请人数踊跃带来新难题，就是申请者要等好几周、甚至好几个月才能排到面谈，面谈时又得排队好几小时，而且并非人人都能过关。这项新难题，无疑为今夏旅游人潮增加新变数。

当旅客经过长途飞行抵达美国，忍着时差和旅途疲劳走下飞机，最痛苦的事情，莫过于看到海关大排长龙，而蓝色外观的自动护照检查服务器，可彻底解决可能长达一、两小时的入关等待。

美国每天有30万人次的旅客，搭乘国际航班抵达各大机场，目前40%以上的国际客，下机后可以直接跳过人龙，到自动护照检查器，自己扫描护照，并回答海关申报问题，接着，这项设备会让旅客完成大头照自拍，最后只要拿着服务器打印出的信息，直接交海关官员即可。

这项服务大约可缩短27%的机场入关等待时间。

Amazon的Gift Card可以买第三方的Gift Card了

Amazon Gift Card常常有一些好Deal，大家都多少积了一些Amazon Gift Card。但是Amazon把免邮寄的购物起点升到$49以后，如果你不是Prime会员，因为常常要付邮费，所以Amazon Gift Card用来购物并不太好用。

但是网友最近汇报说可以用Amazon Gift Card在Amazon上买第三方的Gift Card了。这样如果你在Amazon上的购物不满$49，你就可以再购买一张第三方的Gift Card，凑够$49，这样就可以免邮费了。

Amazon上有上千种第三方的Gift Card，比如：Burger King Gift Card，Cheesecake Factory Gift Card，Dominos Pizza Gift Card，JCPenny Gift Card，Lowes Gift Card，Nordstrom Gift Card， Papa John's Pizza Gift Card，Starbucks Gift Card，Sears Gift Card，Subway Gift Card，Whole Foods Gift Card等等。

大家要注意的是购买第三方的Gift Card是有一些限制的，比如说买Gamestop Gift Card一次就只能买两张，等几个星期后才可以再买。

生活小常识：怎么比较医疗价格

你可以通过使用比较有信用的在线工具来比较医疗的价格从而控制你的医疗和牙科费用。 

HealthBlueBook.com和NewChoiceHealth.com提供保险公司支付给医院或诊所的很多典型医疗程序的费用。
  
不管你有还是没有保险，FairHealthConsumer.org可以估计你被医院或诊所要求支付的费用。

SaveOnMedical.com列出本地医疗成像服务提供商及服务项目的价格，如核磁共振，X光和CT扫描。

6月1日起中国海关新政策：五种旅客行李不予放行

6月1日起，旅客的以下等5种入境行李海关暂不予放行：

1、旅客不能当场缴纳进境物品税款的；　　
2、进出境的物品属于许可证件管理的范围，但旅客不能当场提交的；　　
3、进出境的物品超出自用合理数量，按规定应当办理货物报关手续或其他海关手续，其尚未办理的；　　
4、对进出境物品的属性、内容存疑，需要由有关主管部门进行认定、鉴定、验核的；　　
5、按规定暂不予以放行的其他行李物品。　　

据悉，海关暂不予以放行的行李物品，可以暂存，并出具《中华人民共和国海关暂不予放行旅客行李物品暂存凭单》。自暂存之日起三个月内，旅客应当办结海关手续，逾期不办的，由海关依法对物品进行处理。

20种不予免税的商品分别为：电视机、摄像机、录像机、放像机、音响设备、空调器、电冰箱(电冰柜)、洗衣机、照相机、复印机、程控电话交换机、微型计算机及外设、电话机、无线寻呼系统、传真机、电子计数器、打字机及文字处理机、家具、灯具和餐料。

在美国之外的ATM机取现金没有手续费的银行卡（Debit Card）

如果你经常出国，又觉得带现金太麻烦，就可以带一张没有手续费的美国银行卡（Debit Card）。这样在中国你可以用这张卡在ATM机上直接取出人民币。根据网友的总结，美国主要有两种银行卡在国外取钱没有手续费。

（1）Charles Schwab Debit Card

这张卡可以在全球任何一家ATM免手续费取钱。如果ATM本身有手续费的话，Charles Schwab会在月末时报销这个费用。取款时会按照当天汇率取出当地货币，汇率比较合理。每日ATM取钱上限是$1000。用此卡在国外直接消费时也没有手续费。

用推荐链接开户，存$10000可以拿到$100的开户奖励。

（2）Fidelity Debit Card

这张卡可以在全球任何一家ATM免手续费取钱。如果ATM本身有手续费的话，Fidelity会在月末时报销这个费用。取款时会按照当天汇率取出当地货币，汇率比较合理。每日ATM取钱上限是$500。注意用此卡在国外直接消费时有1%的手续费。

另外有些网友提到Capital One 360 Checking以及很多Credit Union的Debit Card都不收手续费。

需要注意的是中国不少银行的ATM必须要6位密码，而美国的银行卡只有4位密码，你可以在国内ATM直接输四位密码，大多数情况下都会成功的。

带芯片的美国信用卡在欧洲购物时PIN的问题

在欧洲几乎所有的信用卡都带芯片，而美国的带芯片信用卡（chip credit card）最近才开始流行。欧洲的带芯片信用卡都有一个PIN，而美国的带芯片信用卡有的有，有的没有。

有网友去欧洲旅行就很担心，如果带芯片信用卡没有PIN的话，在那边怎么买东西呢？其实这种担心大部分是不需要的。如果带芯片美国信用卡没有PIN的话，在机器上购物的话，可能会被要PIN，这种情况下，一般按Cancel就可以接着完成交易了。但是个别情况下遇到没人服务的机器(fuel pump, parking, train ticket sales machine等等)，会出现机器无论如何都要PIN的情况，这个时候没办法，就只好用现金了。

Bank of America和Barclay这两个银行发行的带芯片信用卡是有PIN的，它们的PIN和cash advance的那个PIN是一样的，可以自己设置。

所以去欧洲旅行，带Barclay发行的Arrival Plus信用卡很不错，因为这张卡不但有PIN，还没有foreign transaction fee，并且还有2%的cash back。这张卡第一年免年费，以后每年有$89的年费。

Sheradill: A New Social Media Way to Stay in a Nice European Hotel for Cheap (With a 20 Euro Credit to Start)

I’ve been planning for my Europe trip and found an amazing website: Sheradill.  Simply put, Sheradill is the liquidation arm of the HIP Hotel Chain.  HIP is a Kimpton-esque boutique hotel chain with properties worldwide but concentrated in Europe.

Sheradill operates on a flash sale model similar to Secret Escapes but with three distinct twists:

1. Dates are limited and spelled out in advance.
2. Auctions work in reverse: the price goes down to 90% off until someone buys.
3. Not only do you earn referral credits, and credits daily for sharing their sales, but 30% of the credits everyone earns go into a kitty to be shared.

Their system seems a little convoluted but because of this is quite intuitive once you get it- and once you do get it 90% off is definitely worth a bit of work up front! Here’s what I’ve figured out so far:

• Once you sign up you can see the list of properties and dates. The list changes frequently.
• Deals start at the retail price and go down based on everyone’s credit until someone buys or the price hits the min (90% off). The price then resets and the credits go away.
• There are three types of credit: referral credit (20 Euro per “signup”), earnings credit (activities like sharing on Twitter or liking the hotel), and community credit.
• If you have friends (who you trust not to snatch the deal from under you) you can ask them to share and like the deal as well. If your friend does a ten Euro activity (like retweeting the deal), the deal gets 3 Euro cheaper for everyone.
• Some earnings credit activities (like visiting the website) can be repeated daily on the same deal!
• Earnings credit is only valid on a specific package (which can mean more than one available date at a property).
• Community credit is only valid until someone buys one deal. It then resets to full retail (minus your earning and referral credit). Earning credit is attached to that package till it ends.
• Referral credit is good until you spend it, but if you get to 1,000 Euro it will stay there until you spend some.
• THIS IS IMPORTANT: Do not perform any of the “general tasks” (updating your profile, liking Sheradill or HIP Hotels on Facebook or Twitter, getting the newsletter) until you have located a deal you want to try to buy. You can only get credit for each task once!
• Deals are non-refundable.

 

How Sheradill works in real life

• I saw the deal at the Marseille hotel and double checked that the dates I wanted were available.
• The deal retails at 410 Euro and was down to 116 with Community credit.
• I was able to do 60 Euro worth of activities (liking the hotel on FB, Twitter, retweeting, etc) which gave me 60 Euro earnings credit (which is actually 78 since 30% are added to the community pot).
• The deal went down to 41 (90% off).
• After I bought it the deal went back up to 410.

There’s a definite “know when to hold ’em” aspect to Sheradill: you have to decide if  you can afford to wait the deal out till it gets to 90% off or if you think someone else will reset the till.

HT: The Deal Mommy