10 Tasks for December

Here's hoping you had a wonderful Thanksgiving (it's been a zoo around our place with people coming in from all over the country to spend the holiday in Vegas thus the dearth of posts...).

Here are 10 tasks to consider for December:

1. If you are going to hit up the Black Friday/Cyber Monday sales, you might as well buy some useful stuff.  I went to REI yesterday and made a haul on some new gear (new headlamp, new trekking poles, a daypack, etc).  Many places will have outdoor gear on sale during the month of December so if you need to replace stuff, now is the time to do it.
2. Pull your free credit report.  I make this an annual habit just to make sure no one has jacked my credit.  If you do notice things on your credit report that aren't yours, be sure to get them corrected as soon as possible.
3. Sign up for health insurance if you need it.  Apparently the whole Obamacare thing is a cluster f*^k but it is open enrollment time for healthcare so if you need it, now is the time to sign up.
4. Stock your food pantry.  The holidays bring some pretty good loss leaders/sales on all kinds of staples so now is the time to add to your pantry.  Our local store had turkeys on sale for 57 cents a pound (much cheaper  than chicken these days) so now I have a half dozen turkeys in the freezer for future use.  Ditto for flour, sugar, butter, etc.
5. Make note of anything that needs to be fixed, either now or in the spring.  You really can't tell that there is wind whistling through the door frame or a leaky spot in the roof until winter so if you notice things that need to be fixed around the homestead, make a note of it so you will remember to fix it in the spring (or sooner if the situation will create an emergency if it isn't repaired soon).
6. Use up your HSA dollars.  Depending on what kind of health/dental insurance you have, you might have left over money in your account that needs to be used up by the end of the year.  If this is the case for you, make a quick appointment with the doc/dentist/ophthalmologist/etc and get those use-it-or-lose-it dollars spent.
7. Consult your accountant (or your previous tax returns, online financial program, etc) and make sure any financial loose ends get wrapped up by the end of the year.  Here's a good checklist to cover all of your end-of-the-year financial bases.
8. Do it up for the holidays.  Whether that means hosting a big Christmas dinner, going on vacation, or making new holiday traditions, you have only a couple of weeks to pull this off so start now.  One idea, go out an cut your own Christmas tree.  Google cut your own Christmas tree and your state for information on local u-cut places and/or permits needed for cutting on state or federal land.
9. Get outside and get active.  Yes it is December and in some places the snow is knee deep but it is also a good time to expand your abilities and learn some winter skills.  Camping in the winter is totally different than in the summer, shooting in the winter is totally different than in the summer...you get the idea...
10. Give back to others.  Although those in need can use help all year round, December is usually when people realize how much they have and how much others need.  Whether you choose to donate you time, money, or skills, helping others in your community is a great way to make the place that you live even better.

Conspiracy Theories

While I am not one of those tin-foil-hat wearing conspiracy theorists, there are some theories floating around that are just so blatant that it makes one wonder why the whole of the general public doesn't rise up in revolt over being treated like unwitting pawns in a global game of greed and power plays.  But I suppose if the public is kept fat and happy and drowning in the swill of mass media and government handouts they are loath to complain and 'rock the boat'.  Quite a sad state of affairs.

Here's some of those blatant conspiracies..

• A dying Vet's letter to Cheney and Bush   (and the comments generated on reddit)
• The Obama Administration Dupes the Public with Obamacare
• And while the 9/11 event has been quietly put to bed, there are still plenty of people who think the government was more involved in the situation than the public was led to believe
• Our food is making us fat and sick (thanks to the FDA, USDA, and those in power who own stock in both the food companies that make us sick as well as stock in the pharmaceutical companies that purport to "save us").

Remembering Those Who Served on Veteran's Day

Today is Veteran's Day.  Take a minute to remember those who served, thank those who served for their sacrifice and, if possible, help those who have served our country or who are currently in the armed forces.

Veteran's Day is a big deal in Las Vegas.  There is a parade, a run, many restaurants and casinos give all sorts of freebies to vets (I had a nice buffet lunch compliments of the Southpoint Casino which provides free meals to vets each Veteran's day; bonus, while I was standing in line I got to thank a WWII vet for his service), the Lt Dan Band and Gary Sinisi were entertaining the troops and everyone else downtown this weekend, and the MGM hosted Veteran's Day weekend for wounded warriors.

It made for a very celebratory atmosphere and reiterated the fact that those who serve and protect our country are true heroes and should be recognized as such.  If you are a vet, thanks for your service.

Technology...More Terrifying By The Moment

George Orwell wasn't far off (maybe by a few decades) when he wrote about government tyranny, doublespeak, and perpetual war (read the first couple of paragraphs here and tell me if it doesn't sound familiar) in '1984'.  And now for the latest in technology that can hunt you down and otherwise make your life miserable...

• While I am happy that the case of the young woman who was kidnapped right off the street was solved (and successfully no less), the method by which she was found should put everyone on alert as the kidnapper was found by tracking the GPS device which had been installed in his car.  To protect yourself: buy an old car that doesn't have a black box or GPS installed.  Worst case scenario: having such lousy credit that the car you buy comes with a trackable GPS unit so the dealer knows where the vehicle is every moment of the day.
• And then there was the new/old story of Russian hackers who (probably?) can take control over US infrastructure with the click of a mouse.  To protect yourself: continue to prepare for the possibility of no water/power/other infrastructure that you have come to depend on.  Worst case scenario: think "the government will fix it so I don't need to do anything but live my life as obliviously as I am doing now."
• Of course you know that your cell phone can track you but now it can do so with impunity as discussed here.  Best case scenario: you don't have or use a cell phone at all.  Second best would be using a burner phone.  Worst case scenario is, well, the status quo: allowing the cell phone companies to do whatever they want with your cell phone and your personal data.
• And, in a "didn't I see this in a movie plot?" twist, your medical implants are wide open to hackers as well (this document discusses the problems related to cybersecurity and medical devices.  Of course the hackers can read the same document so there is that...).  To protect yourself: I don't really have an answer for this because people who have implanted medically devices usually really really need them no matter how unsecure they are.

Unfortunately we live in a world where technology has taken over.  There is no going back to the good old days (within reason,  You could, actually, live as an anti-tech hermit should you choose to do so) so we are pretty much stuck with ever evolving technology that is doing as much for us as against us.

10 Things for November

In no particular order:

1. With the holidays coming up, now is a good time to stock up on a lot of food basics (frozen turkeys, flour, sugar, and other baking items, etc) since many stores will be deeply discounting these items as loss leaders for Thanksgiving.
2. While I haven't heard of much of a problem with the flu so far this season, consider getting a flu shot if your doctor recommends it.  The flu can be fatal and a shot is better than a flat-on-your-back-for-a-week illness.
3. Now is a good time to get your vehicle ready for winter.  Check the fluids and the wiper blades, change the oil, and make sure your snow tires/chains are in good condition.  Also keep some winter emergency supplies in your vehicle in case you end up stranded.
4. People are looking for gifts for the upcoming holidays so consider cleaning out your stuff and listing items for sale on eBay or Craigslist in order to generate a bit of cash which you can then use to buy your own gifts.
5. Get a carbon monoxide detector for your home (and the garage if you tend to hang out in the garage a lot).  This is prime season for carbon monoxide poisoning since people are both using heating and cooking appliances AND keeping the doors and windows closed up to keep the cold out.
6. Speaking of cold, you can simply and relatively cheaply make small improvements to increase your home's ability to keep the heat in and the cold out.  Weather stripping, plastic over the windows if necessary, more insulation in cold areas of the home, wrapping pipes, and other small tasks will lower your heating bill and keep your home warmer.
7. Be sure you take care of your pets as the weather turns cold.  Things like breaking the ice on the water bowl for your outdoor animals, thicker bedding, and washing off your animal's feet if they walk where salt or chemicals are used on frozen walkways are some of the things we haven't had to think about in quite a while.
8. Take a camping trip.  Although this is not prime time for camping it is #1, good for practicing winter survival skills, and #2, you will probably end up with many great camping areas to yourself.
9. Keep up your exercise routine.  Consider other, weather-appropriate activities to stay in shape and change things up as the weather gets colder.
10. Give to others.  I'm into preparedness to take care of me and mine but giving to those in need when I am able to is also important.  You can donate officially (through a reputable service agency like the Red Cross or Toys for Tots, for example), or unofficially (I've got a couple of local homeless guys that I keep in clothes and the occasional bag of food as well as a few single mothers we know who can always use a little extra).