Archive for the Antique Car Parts category.
Apr 13
My House
. I find it not quite typical to live in my house. Do want to find out what’s intriguing? I live with both of my grandparents, dad (-), mom (-), brother (-), and Me. This is designed proportional to those bungalow houses you had seen. It was built way back in 1938, thus, it is still standing strong for 71 years. Imagine that! And because it could be considered as an ‘antique’ house, the exterior before was different. But after some years, we had given our house a new look the exterior of the house before was different, but since the house was really old and we had to give a new look from the outside and we decided to put siding in. We had also replaced our old windows to add a fresher look. Another thing that I like about it is that it had been established in a quiet neighborhood. Our house is also pretty close to school. That’s an advantage for me as a pupil studying there. Going in to the interior part of our house, it also has an amazing feature. It has three doors mainly used for our entrance (and exit). Of all those, my favorite door is the one we mostly use, that could take us to the kitchen. Speaking of which, we had nine rooms in our house. Specifically, we had four bedrooms, two bathrooms, an average-sized living room, dining room, and of course, my favorite, the kitchen. Adding to that, we also have a concrete basement. Could you imagine how spacious our house is? But if would be given a chance to re-model our house, I’d probably give much focus on the area of the bedrooms and the basement. And of course, the basement is too dark and horrible that a family of ghost could reside in it. Then there’s the hipped styles roof, and I really like it because it’s a old look of the house and not a lot of people now days have that kind of roof. My house was made for one-family house because there’s not that many bedrooms, or space. But about couple yards away we have the 2 car garage and that’s not attached too the house. But what about the persons residing in it? I am so glad to have a complete family residing in our two-storey house. I live with my complete family plus my loving grandparents.
In conclusion, I had realized that a house could be a place where you could treasure everything — old socks, delicious food, broken windows and etc. But most importantly, a house could treasure lifetime memories.
Positive-
Big living room
Big dining rooms
New bathrooms
Two stories
Very big yard
Negatives-
Old
The rooms are too small
Basement too cold
Closets too small
The one thing I like about my house it’s a very nice quiet neighborhood and the yard is really big, so during the summer I have friend over, and we go outside and have fun by playing sports and etc.
If I could change anything to the house it would probably be the bedrooms to be a little bigger although we have four bedrooms, they are too small for an individual. Basement to be fixed because like I said its pretty scary looking there right now.
The best memory that would associated to this house that I live in right now, it would be when we first moved in my uncle and his family had to live with us too, and we all had so much fun living together because we where so many people around the house and the time would go by really fest, just by talking to each other, playing games, and etc. So I think that would be the BEST memory about the house when my uncles family and us live together.
I loved reading about your house, your relatives,the neighborhood and all your memories. You’re a good writer. I have made several changes, as you read over it you’ll find them. Good Luck!
Living in my house is not like living in the typical house. Do you want to find out what’s intriguing? I live with both of my grandparents, dad (-), mom (-), brother (-), and Me. My home is designed proportional to those bungalow houses you have seen. It was built way back in 1938, thus, it is still standing strong for 71 years. Imagine that! And because it could be considered as an ‘antique’ house, the exterior before was different. But after some years, we have given our house a new look; the exterior of the house before was different, but since the house was really old and we had to give a new look from the outside, we decided to put siding in. We had also replaced our old windows to add a fresher look. Another thing that I like about it is that it has been established in a quiet neighborhood. Our house is also pretty close to school. That’s an advantage for me as a pupil studying there. Going in to the interior part of our house, it also has an amazing feature; it has three doors mainly used for our entrance (and exit). Of all those, my favorite door is the one we mostly use, that could take us to the kitchen. Speaking of which, we have nine rooms in our house. Specifically, we have four bedrooms, two bathrooms, an average-sized living room, dining room, and of course, my favorite, the kitchen. Adding to that, we also have a concrete basement. Can you imagine how spacious our house is? But if I would be given a chance to re-model our house, I’d probably give much focus on the area of the bedrooms and the basement. And of course, the basement is too dark and horrible that a family of ghost could reside in it. Then there’s the hipped style roof, and I really like it because it’s an old look of the house and not a lot of people now days have that kind of roof. My house was made for one-family house because there are not that many bedrooms, or space; however, about a couple of yards away we have the 2 car garage and that’s not attached to the house. The important part is what about the people residing in it? I am so glad to have a complete family residing in our two-story house. I live with my complete family plus my loving grandparents.
In conclusion, I have realized that a house can be a place where you can treasure everything — old socks, delicious food, broken windows and etc. But most importantly, a house can treasure lifetime memories.
The one thing I like about my house is the location it’s a very nice, quiet neighborhood and the yard is really big, so during the summer I have friends over, and we go outside and have fun by playing sports and etc.
If I could change anything to the house it would probably be the bedrooms to be a little bigger although we have four bedrooms, they are too small for an individual. The basement, as I said, its pretty scary looking there right now and desperately needs remodeling.
The best memory that would be associated to this house that I live in right now, would be when we first moved in, my uncle and his family had to live with us too, and we all had so much fun living together because there where always so many people around the house and the time would go by really fast, just by talking to each other, playing games, and etc. So I think that would be the BEST memory about the house, when my uncle’s family and my family all lived together.
Apr 6
ok so i have written a story about a rocking chair and how a man makes it for his wife and their new born baby and then when the woman dies her kids sell it because they don’t look at it as a symbol of the dads love for his family they only look at it as what it is worth in terms of money. so they sell it to an antique dealer and a guy buys it and he is restoring it to give to his wife and unborn child and this is my last sentence few lines:
That night, while his wife slept, the man carried the chair from his car to his shed where he began sanding the arms back, smoothing out each scratch. Night after night the man continued lovingly restoring his gift preparing it for his family to grow around.
does that make sence? should i change it? is the growing around part stupid? anything else?
thank you so much to anyone who answers! if you like please send a link and i will answer yours
the ‘growing around’ part does bring the sentence down a little…
try this:
‘And as the man carried the chair from his car, he thought about the love and time he would put into restoring it, and the wonderful feeling he’d get watching his family grow up around it.’
or this:
And that night, as his wife slept, the man sanded back the arms of the chair, and worked out the scratches put into its surface. He smiled, and thought of the joy it would bring to him as he watched his family grow up around it.
it sound like an interesting story. although instead of saying the man, you should say his actual name. Putting ‘the man’ is making the story sound mediocre so make sure you’re not that throughout the entire story 
Email me if you need more help, i love doing this kind of stuff
edit: okay NOW its letting me send it, it wasn’t at first so i emailed it
Mar 30
I sat in church back home and listened to their stories of how god helped them personally…
A friend wrote me a letter saying that he had gotten out of jail and was at a half-way house and had found god.
He had been detained in California for selling acid. I had returned to our home state with his belongings.
His father called me some time later saying he was worried that his son had become part of a cult and could I please go retrieve him. I agreed.
I arrived two days later and found him at a Victory Outreach where he had quickly become a director after exiting county jail.
I let his family know that he was doing fine but that I would stick around to monitor the situation.
I attended the church there out of curiosity.
I became nearly broke after a few weeks and was sleeping in my car down by the beach.
I decided to give prayer a try one day as I drove through town. I was cold at night in the car.
I felt a bit foolish but asked for a sleeping bag. Almost immediately I found myself turning the car into a residential area. I came upon a yard sale. The yard sale consisted completely of three items; two freshly cleaned sleeping bags and an antique sewing machine. I paid five dollars for both sleeping bags.
I was putting applications in everywhere during the day but it was pretty desperate there. I decided to pray again for a job and somewhere to stay. I found an ad for an apartment manager and walked in off the street. The general manager hired me on the spot. I was now the manager over two huge complexes and was provided a free two bedroom, all bills paid apartment, and, received a weeks pay in advance.
So at this point in the story it would seem that a miracle had taken place, hallelujah? No. Not yet.
I became active in the community there and would take the kids, with their parent’s permissions, to se some of the outreaches programs where they put on plays about avoiding gangs and drugs. But this was still not the miracle.
One night as I lay on the floor in my huge empty apartment on my sleeping bags, I dreamt I saw two eyes open in the dark in front of me. They studied me and looked deep inside of my soul.
One Saturday morning my phone rang. It was a tenant who’s crapper had failed. The maintenance men were gone for the weekend so it was up to me.
As I worked on the guys toilet I turned for a moment and was shocked that the guy was standing behind me watching. I was shocked because I never "felt" his presence. There was a cold emptiness about him. A void.
He walked away and I heard him talking to his step-daughter. Then they went into a bedroom and closed the door. I heard things that didn’t sound right. Then they exited the room. I was alarmed but I didn’t want to assume anything on so little evidence and I just wasn’t sure.
I finished the job and was leaving when I saw her sitting on the couch staring at me with the saddest look. Then I was sure. I decided to act and called the police.
They came and interviewed the girl and found that she had been being abused terribly for some time.
That night I thought about everything that had happened. As I lay there, I saw the eyes open again and then slowly close. I knew in my heart that the miracle had been served and that it was time to go home.
The miracle was never for me or about me or my friend. It was about one kid who was in terrible trouble.
So as I sat in church back home and listened to the testimony, I wondered, "Why do most Christians think that it’s all about themselves?"
Because when you are a "baby" Christian, meaning newly saved, it is all about you. As you grow in the word, you begin to understand that being a Christian means being a servant of God.
Mar 23
*Repost*
Some people thought the first paragraph wasn’t intriguing enough but I like it so see if the 2nd paragraph wants to makes it better/work.
And the two brackets in first paragraph instead of using "Mm" which one should I use?
It’s a short story horror, One out of my 6+:
What a doll
Larissa Collins was turning thirteen today and instead of having a party or spending time with friends she agreed to go to a little town in Brighton, half an hour from where she lived. Her grandparents Eloise and Lou Collins remembered an antique store they always use to take their son too. “Larissa! Put your hand back in the car” ordered Eloise, Larissa did as she was told, always did. “What if a car came speeding by and took your arm with it” Larissa just said “Mm” {Larissa just made an agreeing sound}
{“Mhm” Larissa sighed} and put her head closer to the window. She loved the cold wind through her hair and on her skin, her mother would stick her whole upper body through the window, she missed her so much, even though her memories were fading. Her grandmother was right of course, the car would take you with it, just as it did her daughter in law, Sarah.
They arrive at the antique store just after 3:00.
Larissas parents died when she was just seven in a car accident, even though her mother was asking for it. Sarah was decapitated by a passing car, she had half her body out the window. John didn’t hear anything, he {just} felt the warm spits of blood on his face. The rest of her body slithered out they window and he let out a never ending scream just before crashing into a nearby tree, the branch broke straight through the glass and pierced his head. A tear dripped from his eye and he was gone.
Of course Larissa was never told what really happened.
I wanted to put in a bit more but it’ll just give away the "real" main part which has nothing to do with the mother and fathers death 
Sooo what ya think? This is basically my first real story..and I’m 14 (If you’d like to know..)
Sorry made some spelling mistakes :s
For the second to last line:
Instead of "A tear dripped ect."
Tears of blood dripped down his face.
?
Oops yeah forgot the d… Ok I listened to the feedback and I changed it a little
But still people tell me what you think of this draft..
I like it.
Its got a good feel so far, if its a horror. Nice and graphic. I love the way you used the word slithered. haha!
For the "mm"s I suggest you just use "yeah", or "okay". Lets the reader know Larissa is just saying something because she was being spoken to, not because she wanted to talk or elaborate.
For the "just" I would put "only". He only felt the spits of blood on his face.
I just have one little pick.
"They arrive at the antique store just after 3:00"
You’ve gone from past tense to present tense and it doesn’t fit, you know?
You should probably put something like, "They arriveD at the antique store just after three"
But other then that, its really good. Keep it up and good luck.
Hope I helped. And thanks for helping me.
Mar 16
JC eases up in to a park entrance. In the ditch next to the park entrance yellow crime scene tape surround a body. He takes a deep breath, reminding himself why he does this; to make the world a little better for others and himself and saving the world from more murders.
JC was a slim and tall figure. He was 21 and just got out of college. He had light blue eyes and thick brown hair. Every girl at his office dreamed of going out with him, all but one girl. He was dressed like he always did when working; black jacket, white button-up shirt, black pants, black socks, and black shoes. The only thing that he was wearing not black or white was purple and red tie.
As JC gets out, Marcos Dually, JC’s partner catches him up to detail. “A Jane Doe, no ID, about 26 years old, and one shot to the back of the head.”
“Did you find her vehicle or the killers?” JC asks.
“Nope, but parts of tire tacks. The guy is too smart, he got out of his van and took a branch and wiped the tire marks away.” Marcos said.
“He is very smart.”
“Yes, lucky for his there are not many any rare plants in this park.” Marcos replied.
As Marcos led JC to the body JC said, “O.K.”
Irad was already examining the body. “From the looks of it, the gun was a .45 pistol.”
JC standing over the body asked, “Anything big yet?”
“I found this note pined to her chest.” Irad told him.
As Irad held the note out to JC and Jenny, the crime scene photographer, started taking pictures. After putting rubber gloves on, JC took the paper from Irad and read it silently.
After a minute Marcos said to JC, “Read it aloud!”
You are running out of time and I have an eye out for something. Want to find me ask Lizzie Zillion about Alisa.
Kil Kill
Time
Lizzie was in the living room of her house playing tea party with a 5 year old that she and Clair were watching. It was Sunday so Lizzie did not have work, Faith did not have school, and her babysitter, Clair, sometimes lived with Lizzie.
Lizzie went into the kitchen to get some more tea when the phone rang. Faith ran into the kitchen. “Lizzie! The phone says it is your work!” Faith said with her head tipped to the side.
Seeing her that way had Lizzie laughing as she answered the phone. “Hello?”
“Did I interrupt something?”
Cutting her laugh short she said, “No, who is this?” Knowing it is not her boss.
“Oh, I am so sorry. I am JC.”
“JC, who?”
“Detective Justin Covio.”
“It is Sunday, way are you calling me” Lizzie asked. Out of the corner of her eye she saw Faith pouring tea into her tea cup. “Faith, that is hot! I will do that.”
“Who is Faith?”
Lizzie was pouring tea and spilt some of it. “What, did you talk to my boss? I don’t even know you! Who the hell are you and what do you want?”
Faith watch as Lizzie cleaned up her spill. “Let Me do that, I did not spill.”
Laughing again and forgetting JC she yelled, “Clair!”
As Clair came and got Faith and the tea, JC asked, “Who is Faith and Clair?”
Having forgotten about JC, Lizzie jumped. Grabbing the edge of the counter she shouted “You have one minute to tell me why you have called me! Start!”
JC explained, “We found a body and a note. On the note it said to ask you a question.”
“So shot.” Lizzie said.
“No, we need you to come in.”
“Fine, I will be there in ten minutes.” Hanging up the phone, she got her coat and keys. “Clair, I need to go to the office for a few minutes.”
Faith came running in, “But Lizzie we are playing tea party!”
She got down to Faith’s eye level, quickly thinking, “I will stop at the antique shop and get a new tea set.”
Faith’s eyes got big, “You will!”
“Yep, back in an hour.” Lizzie got up and went into her garage and climbed into her car. Started it and backed out into the road.
JC paced outside of the office. When Lizzie came he was going to be the first to meet her and apologize for asking so many questions, she sounded really mad. Hopefully she wouldn’t tell they’re boss.
Then a silver car stopped and. A tall, skim, dirty blonde slip out her car and shut the door. She had on a sundress, it was a spaghetti strapped, it was three colors, at the top it was yellow, at the hips it faded to white, then it darkened to brown, to finish it of was a brown fabric belt. It was stunning or ratter she was stunning. JC’s eyes moved down the all of her curves, he walked over to her, “Hey cutie, can I have your number?”
She grinned flipped her hair back and said, “Close your eyes and hold out your hand.” As he did she pulled out pepper spay and her card, she put the card in his hand and said, “O.K. Open your eyes.”
Dragging a man she just sprayed with pepper spray behind her, Lizzie walk to her buss. “Is this way I had to come to work on a Sunday?”
Dan, Lizzie’s buss, looked to Lizzie then to JC. “You said hey cutie didn’t you?”
“You never said what she looks like!”
Lizzie’s eyes filled with anger “I have pepper spray, so someone better tell me why I am here.”
Dan said, “Follow me.” Lizzie,
It seems like a really good plot, just need to edit and maybe turn a few words into contractions. I noticed a lot of that, and it quickly got annoying. I want to read more!
Mar 10
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Being one of the well known luxury hotels in New Delhi, The Taj Mahal Hotel offers state-of-the-art accommodation with a blend of style and comfort. The hotel consists of 422 guest rooms and 40 luxury suites. You can choose your ideal lodging center from:
You will simply cherish the lodging facilities in the hotel. All rooms are air conditioned and have en suite bathrooms with stylish toiletries and bath fittings. The interior of the rooms are decorated with a traditional touch with antique furniture. The private balconies or terraces in the rooms offer splendid view of the sprawling lawns and the surroundings. The presidential suites have separate master bed room, dining room, living room, library, workout area and drawing rooms.
Other lodging facilities offered here are:
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In addition to these, you can also enjoy other facilities like car parking and rental services, airport transportation services, currency exchange, laundry facilities, security services, smoke detectors, child care, gift shop, concierge and disabled care services and lots more.
Sumit Singh
http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/taj-mahal-hotel-get-the-best-deal-of-comfort-and-luxury-719496.html
Mar 9
Two guys meet up in a bar. The first one asks, "Did your hear the news - Mike is dead??!!!"
"Woah, what the hell happened to him?"
"Well he was on his way over to my house the other day and when he arrived outside the house he didn’t brake properly and boom - He hit the curb, the car flipped over and he crashed through the sunroof - Went flying through the air and smashed through my upstairs bedroom window."
"What a horrible way to die!"
"No no, he survived that, that didn’t kill him at all. So, he’s landed in my upstairs bedroom and he’s all covered in broken glass on the floor. Then, he spots the big old antique wardrobe we have in the room and reaches up for the handle to try to pull himself up. He’s just dragging himself up when bang, this massive wardrobe comes crashing down on top of him, crushing him and breaking most of his bones."
"What a way to go, that’s terrible!"
"No no, that didn’t kill him he survived that. He managed to get the wardrobe off him and crawls out onto the landing, he tries to pull himself up on the banister but under his weight, the banister breaks and he goes falling down on to the first floor. In mid air, all the broken banister poles spin and fall on him, pinning him to the floor, sticking right through him."
"Now that is the most unfortunate way to go!"
"No no, that didn’t kill him, he even survived that. So he’s on the downstairs landing, just beside the kitchen. He crawls in to the kitchen, tries to pull himself up on the stove, but reached for a big pot of boiling hot water, whoosh, the whole thing came down on him and burned most of his skin off him."
"Man, what a way to go!"
"No no, he survived that, he survived that! He’s lying on the ground, covered in boiling water and he spots the phone and tries to pull himself up, to call for help, but instead he grabs the light switch and pulls the whole thing off the wall and the water and electricity didn’t mix and so he got electrocuted, wallop, 10,000 volts shot through him."
"Now that is one awful way to go!"
"No no, he survived that…"
"Hold on now, just how the hell did he die?"
"I shot him!"
"You shot him? What the hell did you shoot him for?"
"He was wrecking my house."
2.Woman: Is there a problem, Officer?
Officer: Ma’am, you were speeding.
Woman: Oh, I see.
Officer: Can I see your license please?
Woman: I’d give it to you but I don’t have one.
Officer: Don’t have one?
Woman: Lost it 4 times for drunk driving.
Officer: I see…Can I see your vehicle registration papers please.
Woman: I can’t do that.
Officer: Why not?
Woman: I stole this car.
Officer: Stole it?
Woman: Yes, and I killed and hacked up the owner.
Officer: You what?
Woman: His body parts are in plastic bags in the trunk if you want
to see.
The Officer looks at the woman, slowly backs away to his car, and
calls for back up. Within minutes 5 police cars circle the car. A senior
officer slowly approaches the car, clasping his half drawn gun.
Officer 2: Ma’am, could you step out of your vehicle please!
The woman steps out of her vehicle.
Woman: Is there a problem sir?
Officer 2: One of my officers told me that you have stolen this
car and murdered the owner.
Woman: Murdered the owner?
Officer 2: Yes, could you please open the trunk of your car,
please.
The woman opens the trunk, revealing nothing but an empty trunk.
Officer 2: Is this your car, ma’am?
Woman: Yes, here are the registration papers.
The first officer is stunned.
Officer 2: One of my officers claims that you do not have a driving
license.
The woman digs into her handbag and pulls out a clutch purse and
hands it to the officer. The officer snaps open the clutch purse and
examines the license. He looks quite puzzled.
Officer 2: Thank you ma’am, one of my officers told me you didn’t
have a license, that you stole this car, and that you murdered and hacked
up the owner.
Woman: Betcha the lying bastard told you I was speeding too
I think im gonna try the last one if ever a cop stops me for speeding. Lmao
LMFAO haha i love the first one
lol im guna try the second one :]P
Mar 3
By H. Paul Leyva, J.D., C.AM.C.
October 1, 2008
International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR), March, 2008:
 ” ⦠there are already indications that money launderers and those that finance terrorism will avail themselves of the new m-payment systems.â
NEW YORK, NYâBrittany has never filed an income tax return to report her $200,000.00+ income as a high-class call girl. To continue to hide her illegal profits from the IRS and law enforcement, Brittany added an m-payment function to her mobile phones and PDA. With the m-payment feature in place, she now lives virtually cash-free. For example, Brittany asks her clients for the âe,â (street slang for electronic mobile payment, or e-pay). âEâ is a text message-like transfer of funds from a clientâs mobile phone m-account to the m-account contained in Brittanyâs phone. After hours, Brittanyâs Blackberry now functions as a debit card for all of her spending needs: shopping at Nordstromâs to buy that designer purse, sending a car payment for her new Mercedes-Benz via text message, and clubbing all night with her friends. Today, Brittany earned $800 for her services. Before m-payment technology, she had no other choice but to make suspicious daily cash deposits into her bank accounts. With the advent of m-payment, she no longer worries about anyone tracing her bank activity. As a safety precaution, Brittany destroys the SIM memory cards from her phones and PDA devices at the end of each week and replaces them with new ones. As a result, if she ever gets arrested for her activities, no digital evidence of her occupation, income, or lifestyle remains.
LOGAN SQUARE, CHICAGO, ILâAlex, an accountant by day and drug user by night, uses his PC to transfer $400 from his personal checking account to his mobile phoneâs m-payment account. Alex is in need of Ecstasy from his dealer. Per their standing arrangement, buyer and supplier meet at the local café on the corner of California Avenue and Logan Square Boulevard. As usual, the dealer has cleverly hidden the Ecstasy in an empty cup of coffee, and Alex transfers the âeâ via text message to the supplierâs mobile phone. When the transaction is complete, Alex slips away to plan his evening.
As the dealer enjoys his latte, he uses his mobile phone to text the funds to a bank in the Cayman Islands, where the deposit will easily get lost in the multitude of other small value transfers. Once the transaction is complete, the supplier gasps a sigh of relief because he knows he is safe. If a rival gang member tries to steal the cash, he will find no trace of the money. Similarly, if the police tried to apprehend him, by pressing the âDelete Transaction Historyâ function on his cell phoneâevidence-erasing software that he downloaded from the netâall incriminating evidence is gone. With no evidence of his crime, the authorities would be forced to let the dealer go.
NAIROBI, KENYAâInternational Press: August 7th. On the anniversary of the suicide bomb that killed more than two hundred people at the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi, yet another suicide bomber kills fifty-eight people near the rebuilt U.S. Embassy in Kenya. At this point, the authorities are unable to determine the identity of the terrorist or group responsible for this attack, but many believe it to be the work of Al Qaeda. The FBI officer-in-charge and top Kenyan Security officials admit that they found the remains of a pre-paid m-payment mobile phone within the wreckage; however, since these devices are unregistered, the phone could have been purchased anywhere and by anyone. In Kenya as well as in many other parts of Africa, the use of mobile phones and m-payment technology as miniature banking devices is commonplace. Critics have reiterated that m-payment technology makes it easier for terrorists to send and receive transfers of funds via text message transmission.
These scenarios exemplify the warnings issued in the March 2008 International Narcotics Control Strategy Report (INCSR) entitled âMobile Payments: A Growing Threat,â which describes the potential exploitation of m-payment technology by money launderers, criminals, and terrorists.
What is m-payment? How does it work? Does it already exist in other countries? How can money launderers, criminals, and terrorists exploit this technology to hide their illicit activities? Most importantly, what steps can the United States and other countries take to curtail the potential abuses of m-payment?
âSome of the most innovative are electronic payment products which include mobile payments or m-payments ⦠Driven by a remarkable convergence of the financial and telecommunications sectors, the rapid global growth of m-payments demands particular attention. M-payments can take many forms but are commonly point of sale payments made through a mobile device such as a cellular phone, a smart phone, or a personal digital assistant (PDA).â
                                                           -INCSR, March, 2008
The Virtual Wallet
M-payment (mobile payment) is synonymous with the terms m-commerce, m-accounts, m-wallet, m-banking, e-money, or digital cash. For the sake of this article, the more widely accepted term âm-paymentâ will be used. The best way to envision this relatively exciting technology is to imagine a time in which your mobile phone or PDA will act like a wallet. Furthermore, it will be a wallet that not only allows you to withdraw money from it to pay for goods and services, but also enables you to deposit money into itâthus making this monetary device even more flexible and useful than a credit card. The widespread adoption of m-payment could eliminate the need to carry cash, visit an ATM machine, send wire transfers, or even use a credit card.
Currently there are two platforms that facilitate the use of m-payment. The first enables your mobile phone to link to m-accounts, such as your bank account, credit card, internet payment service, or other financial institution. The second makes it possible for mobile phone companies to act as banks and allows customers to deposit and withdraw funds using their mobile accounts. Although this service is not yet available in the United States, m-payment has already enjoyed acceptance and success in countries such as Japan, Korea, and the Philippines. M-payment technology is also beginning to thrive in South Africa, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Kenya.
At present no special hardware is required to utilize m-payment. A subscriber can surf the Web for an internet-based m-payment service and then download the necessary software onto almost any existing mobile phone. M-payment software uses existing text-messaging technology to send and receive funds, confirm payments and credits, and check balances.
The Virtual ATM
Imagine going to a McDonalds (or nearly any retailer) to buy lunch and then asking the cashier for an extra $50 (or more) in cash. For a small fee, the McDonalds cashier will not only charge a customerâs m-account for the hamburger, soda, and fries, but will also ring up the $50 in cash that he or she requested. Similar to debit cards, there is no need to locate an ATM Machine or pay high banking fees.
Person to Person (PTP) Transfers
Person to person (PTP) transfers are also possible. For example, friends, family, and private parties involved in business transactions can transfer funds to each other via their mobile phones. A mother can send her teenage daughterâs allowance via text message. Employers can text message wages to their employeesâ mobile phones. After winning an auction on EBay, a buyer can text the payment to the seller. Or, an individual wanders into a garage sale only to find that beautiful antique he has been seeking, but he has no cash. Moreover, the seller does not accept credit cards. The solution is simple: the buyer text messages the payment directly to the sellerâs mobile phone. The possibilities are endless.
Wire Transfers via Mobile Phone
The World Bank estimates that global remittances (i.e. international wire transfers) exceed one quarter of a trillion dollars annually. Increasingly, in many areas, m-payments provide a new option to expatriates and âguest workersâ that wish to send part of their wages home to support their families.
In the United States, many migrant workers from Mexico and Central and South America use wire transfer services such as Western Union and Money Gram to send money to their relatives abroad. In 2005 alone, funds transferred to Mexico from the United States totaled more than $20 billion. Unfortunately these wire services come with high fees, and some of the recipient banks also charge fees for the transaction as well. Furthermore, in rural areas abroad many people do not have access to banks. With m-payment technology, a migrant worker can literally text message the payment to his relativeâs mobile phone, thus circumventing the exorbitant fees charged by wire transfer services and receiving banks.
Virtual Travelerâs Check
           Another amazing feature of m-payment technology is that it allows a mobile phone to act as a virtual travelerâs check. Before leaving on a family vacation, a subscriber can deposit money into his mobile phoneâs m-payment account then withdraw the funds as needed during the trip. Consumers will no longer need to purchase travelers checks or travel with significant amounts of cash.
Contract-Less, or Touch and Go, Mobile Phones
Beyond their use for text messaging to send and receive funds, mobile phones can also be placed in âcontract-lessâ mode. To activate this feature, a special chip can be attached to or inserted into the phone. It is likely that future cell phones will come with this feature already built into it. When a consumer wishes to make a purchase, he or she can simply âswipeâ a mobile phone over a cashierâs scanning device and complete the transaction. With the âswipeâ or âtouch and goâ feature, no signature or additional data entry is necessary at the cash register.
Pre-Paid Mobile Phones and M-Payment
Low-income consumers or those with poor credit who would not be eligible for monthly phone contracts or credit cards can use pre-paid mobile phones to conduct m-payments. These individuals can load pre-paid cards holding various monetary denominations ($50, $100, $250, or more) onto a mobile phone to enable the device to be used as a virtual wallet. As in previous examples, friends and family can also transfer funds to the pre-paid phone via text message as well.
Potential Displacement of ATMs, Wire Transfer Companies, and Credit Cards?
As with m-payment accounts holders in other parts of the world, Americans will undoubtedly also embrace the convenience and cost savings of this virtual wallet. With the continued proliferation of m-payment technology, it may be argued that m-payment services could actually result in the death of ATM machines, wire transfer companies, and high interest rate credit card fees. This prediction is well-founded when one considers that the United States contains approximately 250 million mobile phone subscribersâa number equal to 82 percent of the populationâand over three billion mobile phones are currently in use worldwide. In addition to these facts, The Wireless Association reported in its 2007 Wireless Industry Survey that consumers send almost one billion text messages each day worldwide.
Even more compelling is the convenience offered by this service. Given this technology, customers no longer have to locate an ATM machine in order to withdraw money. Using a PC, they can transfer funds from their bank accounts directly to their mobile phone accounts. When a migrant worker needs to send money to his family abroad, he or she can merely speed-dial the funds directly from his mobile phone to a relative’s phone. An individual will no longer need to drive to the local Western Union outlet to complete the transaction. In contrast to high interest credit cards, m-payment service providers will offer competitive rates, discounts, or other incentives to attract new customers. Finally, another cause for concern on the part of banks and wire transfer companies is the fact that mobile phones have already contributed to the demise of pay phones, cameras, and retail music stores.
PayPal Facilitates a Fundamental Shift in M-Payment
In a report published by Juniper Research, a respected consultancy group that provides analytical services to the global hi-tech communications sector, Senior Analyst Alan Goode concluded that the entry of PayPal into the micro m-payment and m-retail sector, âwill only serve to facilitate a fundamental shift in global consumer payment services now and into the future.â Moreover, Goode predicts that âmobile payments are set to rise to $10 billion in total revenue by 2010.â
Other players that have already entered the m-payment market include Googleâs G-Pay, Firehorn Holdings, LLC, mFoundry Inc, and Obopay, Inc. The largest provider is PayPal with more than 100 million Internet accounts worldwide.
 âThere are numerous money laundering and terrorism financing implications [of m-payments], but digital value smurfing represents a very clear threat.â
                                                           -INCSR, March, 2008
Smurfing
The dark side of m-payment, if the service remains unregulated, will enable money launderers, criminals, and terrorists to exploit this new technology. In specific, this new technology will undoubtedly facilitate smurfing.
It is generally known that astute money launderers, criminals, and terrorists have always been willing to keep their financial transactions under $1,000 per day to avoid financial reporting requirements. One way to hide money is by using multiple âsmurfsâ or ârunnersâ to make deposits, purchase money orders, travelerâs checks, or other transactions involving illicit or âdirtyâ money. Smurfing can be accomplished by spreading small denomination drug payments, or contributions to terrorist causes, across various remittance centers or multiple bank accounts. In essence, smurfing breaks down illegal proceeds into small amounts that can be moved with less risk of attracting the authoritiesâ attention.
For instance, a drug dealer or terrorist can order ten different soldiers, or âsmurfs,â to open ten different bank accounts, or conduct ten different financial transactions per day. After the accounts are open, the drug dealer or terrorist orders his smurfs to deposit amounts less than $999 per dayâfor example, $756 one day, $922 another day, and so on. By ensuring that the bank deposits, or other financial transactions, fall below the $1,000 threshold, they can avoid suspicion and prevent the triggering of financial reporting requirements. In this example, ten different smurfs with ten different bank accounts who deposit an average of $850 per day can launder $2.21 million annually.
Although more sophisticated detection systems, increased government oversight, and heavier penalties have slowed down the practice of âsmurfingâ in recent years, this system remains a fundamental method for moving cash and cash equivalents.
Digital Value Smurfing (DVS)
M-payment with digital value removes the fundamental element of money laundering: cash. In the future, money launderers, drug dealers, and other criminals will no longer demand cash for their products or services; instead, they will demand digital payment sent via text message. With digital value, multiple smurfs will no longer be needed to make suspicious cash deposits. Criminals will be able to bypass regulated banks and their financial reporting requirements and exchange dirty money for digital value in the form of stored value cards or mobile payment credits. Moreover, with digital value instead of cash, they can instantly sendâwith a touch of a cell phone keypadâtheir digital value across the country, around the world, or to secret offshore bank accounts.
A single Digital Value Smurf (DVS) could open multiple m-payment accounts with multiple service providers, such as m-payment bank accounts, Internet payment accounts, and pre-paid mobile phones. Other avenues could include renting cell phones from others, or utilizing false identities to open additional accounts. The number of m-payment accounts that a single DVS could establish is unlimited. Thus, using the same example as above, a single DVS with merely ten different m-payment accounts could arguably launder the same amount of money that it would take ten different smurfs to accomplish.
Other Implications: Facilitation of Tax Evasion by Small Businesses
M-payment technology can facilitate tax evasion. Three billion people around the world own mobile phones, but only one billion possess bank accounts, according to the GSM Association. BearingPoint, a major management and technology consulting company, estimated the unbanked marketplace in the United States alone at $510 billion in 2006.
The fundamental rule in small business accounting is that all financial transactions are conducted through a business checking account provided by banks. For instance, when a sole proprietor, a partnership, or a corporation conducts business, it does so by using a business checking account. As required by law, banks employ the Know Your Customer (KYC) protocols by requesting identification from new customers along with evidence of the business entity (assumed names registration, business license, or articles of incorporation).
With an m-payment account, however, a small business owner can conduct business virtually under the radar. Instead of business deposits, the company can receive e-payments. Furthermore, instead of disbursing expenses through its business checking account, the company can make payments via m-payment. With no paper trail, the unbanked small business owner could easily evade income tax filing requirements, thus depriving the U.S. Treasury of billions of dollars in tax revenue.
âMuch work and creative thinking will be required to maintain the advantages NPMs [new payment methods], including m-payments offer, while at the same time preventing exploitation and misuse by money launderers and terrorist financiers and simultaneously protecting user privacy and the integrity of the global financial systems.â
                                                                       -INCSR, March, 2008
M-payment is revolutionaryâmainly due to its convenience. This technology will literally change the way consumers pay for goods and services, the way they are compensated, the way they save money, the way they spend it, and the way they send money to family and friends abroad. This service will create new industries and new opportunities. M-payment is also radical because it may represent the final piece of the financial puzzle that moves our world into a cashless society.
With the convenience that m-payment offers, however, comes the potential for criminal misuse. M-payment technology, if unchecked, can be exploited by money launderers and terrorists. Presently, the United States is ill prepared to handle the dark side of m-payment. As the INCSR acknowledged, âThe United States has few safeguards against abuse of m-payments.â Moreover, the report also warns that the only applicable federal reporting requirement to providers of stored value cards is the Currency Transaction Report (CTR) rule. A CTR must be filed for all cash transactions greater than $10,000 per day. However, the CTR can be filed up to fifteen days after the transaction has occurred, giving terrorists and criminals enough time to disappear. Although almost all U.S. m-payment service providers are registered as Money Services Businesses (MSB) with the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), the regulations do not have specific provisions pertaining to them.
New legislation is needed to regulate m-payment service providers. Legislation can include requirements that service providers monitor accounts, enhance suspicious activity reporting, require maximum transaction limits (e.g, $1,000.00 per day), require the registration of pre-pay cell phones with m-payment, and development of new, m-payment specific software to detect suspicious activity.
With m-payment projected to grow to 52 percent by the year 2011, there is ample time to put the necessary safeguards and regulations in place to combat the threat to anti-money laundering.
H. Paul Leyva, J.D., is Certified Anti-Money Laundering Consultant (CAMC) and a student at Thomas Jefferson School of Law, Walter H. & Dorothy B. Diamond, Masters of Law (LL.M) International Tax Program. Â Per the request of the distributor, this article was published without footnotes or references. Â The original version of this report with all footnotes and references is available upon request.
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H. Paul Leyva
Mar 2
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Feb 24
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Article Manager
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