Steve Aves - My Thoughts #NewsSteve Aves - My Thoughts #Newshttps://www.steveaves.com/blogs/tag/newsFri, 06 Mar 2026 19:56:27 -0800http://zoho.com/sites/<![CDATA[Black Hole Image!]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Black_Hole_ImageAn image of a big, black hole we have heard about, but never have seen.]]>

This is the first image of the black hole at the heart of the Milky Way

    So COOL!

    The article and press conference with a Q&A is HERE.

]]>Sat, 14 May 2022 11:46:05 -0500<![CDATA[Snakes in a house ]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Snakes-in-a-house

Two 9 foot snakes! Of course, in Australia

Quote: "A man in Australia got a shock when he returned home to find two snakes had crashed through his ceiling and were slithering around his Queensland house."  You think!?

Complete story at the BBC: click here.
Reminds me of  one of the funniest books I've read, "In a Sunburned Country" by Bill Bryson.  He had this observation when he visited Australia: " “But don't worry," she continued. "Most snakes don't want to hurt you. If you're out in the bush and a snake comes along, just stop dead and let it slide over your shoes."
This, I decided, was the least-likely-to-be-followed advice I have ever been given.”
]]>Tue, 01 Sep 2020 08:50:01 -0500<![CDATA[Why Nigeria's internet scammers are 'role models']]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Why-Nigerias-internet-scammers-are-role-models

Letter from Africa: Why Nigeria's internet scammers are 'role models'
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-49759392


This part stuck out to me; "When Nigerians first attained notoriety in the 1990s for defrauding Westerners..." I remembered back in the 1980's travel agencies were constantly dealing with telephone scams dealing in pre-paid tickets. Nigerians were the vast majority of the callers.


Back then, airline tickets were physical coupons for travel. Prepaid tickets were the first "electronic ticket." You'd purchase the ticket at a travel agency like mine for someone to travel, we would complete the paperwork (there was still that) then call in the ticket number to the originating airline. Once we called that number in, that's it, the ticket was paid and there was no way for us to cancel the financial transaction. 


The scammers would have someone on the receiving end cash that ticket. The travel agency would be on the hook for the money when the stolen credit card would deny the charge.


We just did not do business with Nigerians because it was too risky.

]]>Fri, 27 Sep 2019 09:35:00 -0500<![CDATA[Why we recycle - I forgot about this!]]>https://www.steveaves.com/blogs/post/Why-we-recyle-I-forgot-about-this

This story is fascinating. I remember that garbage boat, but never knew the rest of the story.


The interview with Mr. Harrelson is worth the whole show.

]]>Sun, 14 Jul 2019 15:32:00 -0500