Links (With Commentary, Of Course)

Here's some links from around the web (with appropriate commentary of course):

• Man accidentally kills self during gun safety demonstration (what are the four rules of gun safety???)
• I'm quitting my job...thanks Obamacare (actually it should be thanks tax payers, they are the one's who will be paying for your insurance in all of these scenarios)
• Hackathons (this is definitely the new wave of learning useful skills for the marketplace)
• The History of Bitcoin (not regulated, not backed by anything...yep that's a great investment /s)
• And now for something more relaxing and enjoyable...Nature Valley Trail Views 

10 Things on My 'To Done' List

After a very nice vacation I came back to perfect Vegas weather and a lengthy to do list which, at this point, is nearly done.

1. Taxes.  These were done simply and inexpensively online, months before some procrastinators will be heading to the post office at midnight to beat the April 15th deadline.
2. Garden.  Unlike most of the country, we got zero snow and now temps in the high 70s which means gardening time.  I've got a half dozen vegetables planted and the fruit trees are already flowering.
3. Cleaning out the garage. Spring cleaning is best done in, well, spring.  And since it is very much spring here, cleaning has been commenced.
4. CraigsList.  Which leads us to CraigsListing many items we no longer need.  This both clears out the clutter and provides cash to add to the emergency fund.
5. Pantry and freezer.  As we get set for the spring influx of guests, it was time to review our food stores in both the pantry and freezer, rotate stored food, and restock.
6. Revamp the BOBs.  Also as the weather changes it is time to dump out the BOBs (house BOB, car BOB) and review/replace/exchange items as needed.
7. A semi-annual home inspection.  Fortunately the "need to fix" list is short after a thorough home inspection but there are a couple of fire extinguishers that need to be recharged, an AC unit that needs an annual service, a vehicle that needs its oil changed, a stockpile of batteries that have dwindled over the winter and need restocked, etc.
8. The annual bill review.  This is done once a year, usually at the beginning of the year, and includes a review each expense we pay.  For example, the house payment.  I am quite please with this and the interest rate is much lower than anything I can get today so that bill is left as is.  However, when I looked at vehicle and home insurance bill the rates seemed a bit high so I did some comparison shopping, got quotes for better rates than what I was currently paying, then marched over to my insurance agent's office and finagled a lowering of said rates to my satisfaction. 
9. Summer travel.  In our case, winter is generally a good time to stay home but summer...not so much.  So summer travel has been planned, tickets purchased, hotels booked, etc.
10. Fitness goals.  Fitness activities are an integral part of my life anyway but I do have some particular goals for this year and need to plan out how they will be reached.  For example, I want to walk 1200 this year which should be accomplished with daily three mile walks and a couple of "big walks" of 20 to 50 miles which need to be scheduled.  Ditto I need to get busy scheduling a Grand Canyon rim to rim hike and a long distance walk in the UK.

And from today's BS-conspiracy-theory-inducing-let's-hope-this-cover-up-gets-exposed news: this

Getting Clobbered By Bad Weather? 10 Things to Remember

Yet another snow story as more than 60% of the US is covered in the stuff.  Here's 10 things to remember:

1. Beware carbon monoxide poisoning, it can kill you
2. And so can suffocation (a la avalanches, etc)
3. Be prepared for power outages of indeterminate length
4. Road conditions are treacherous
5. And there are shortages (of road salt, propane, and natural gas)
6. Cold weather increases the chances of house fires (and seriously impedes response)
7. And it is even worse if your area is not used to very bad weather
8. Chain reaction accidents are common in this weather
9. And you aren't even safe from delays if you are flying
10. No matter what you are doing during the storm, remember to stay safe

Are You Prepared to Be Stranded?

It seems a bit ridiculous that two inches of snow in Atlanta has managed to strand thousands of people in stores, schools, and businesses for more than a day but it has.  Which just goes to show that no matter where you are (even in places that don't usually get hard winter weather) or how you usually travel (a two hour commute each day there isn't unusual, but that distance certainly makes it unlikely to be able to leave your car and walk home), you need to be prepared to be stranded in the most unexpected times and places.  Here's how to be prepared for such an occasion:

• Pay attention to the weather reports.  This storm was expected a couple of days out and anyone who has lived in Atlanta knows the city is NOT prepared for snow of any kind.
• ALWAYS have your car BOB with you.
• Have maps of the area you are traveling in (freeways were impassable but back roads may have helped people get around the traffic).
• If there is even the slightest possibility of snow, carry tire chains (no one I know who lives in Atlanta even own car chains since snow is so rare there).
• Always keep your car stocked and ready for the season (always extra food and water stored in your car, blankets and hand warmers during the winter, a tarp and rope during the summer, etc).
• Make sure your BOB has a stock of important items you would need if you were stranded for two or more days (additional prescription meds, a charger for your cell phone, etc).
• If you commute more than a few miles or you are on a trip, never let your gas gauge fall below half.
• Stay with your car unless you are close enough to seek shelter somewhere else (like Home Depot and many restaurants that were allowing stranded people to camp over night).  

And some more simple tips can be found here.

101 Ways to Prevent Identity Theft and Consumer Fraud

Stories of identity theft are rampant, there have been a number of recent retail data hacks, and consumer fraud alerts hit the news on almost a daily basis.  Here are 101 ways to prevent identity theft:

1. Don't have your name on your mail box; just an address is fine.
2. Send your mail from a locked mail box.
3. Receive your mail at a locked postal box (your own or at the post office)
4. Get on the 'do not mail' list.
5. Be sure to shred any mail you receive that has personal information on it.
6. Review your free annual credit report and correct any problems; do this yearly.
7. Leave a generic message on your phone (don't add the fact that you are out of town until X date).
8. Leave a generic message on your email auto responder (ditto the above).
9. Get on the do not call list.
10. Shred any old documents you no longer need with a cross cut shredder (old financial records, etc).
11. Have online access to your financial institutions and check your accounts regularly for discrepancies.
12. Cancel all but a couple of credit card (more cards mean more you need to monitor).
13. Don't participate in surveys, raffles, "win a free car" drawings, etc. which require you to provide all of your information (name, address, birthdate, etc).
14. Put a 'no soliciting' sign on your door and don't open your door to people you didn't invite to your home.
15. Don't leave items with your personal information (bills, documents) laying around the house, on your desk at work, or sitting in your car where others can see them, take a photo of them, or simply take them.
16. Don't carry more in your wallet than you need (no social security card, no birth certificate, no list of passwords, etc).
17. Ask that your information be marked confidential on county and state tax databases.
18. Consider paying your bills online instead of via the mail.
19. If someone calls and asks for any personal info, get the name of the company and call them back (don't call the number they give you, look up the company's number yourself).
20. Opt out of unsolicited credit offers.
21. Take care of your personal security when out and about (keep your wallet in a front pocket, make sure people aren't watching you enter your PIN when using the ATM, never leave your purse unattended, etc).
22. Be sure your children are safe online.  Children can be targeted by child predators as well as identity thieves who would be only too happy to ask for their name, birth date, and social security number.
23. Pay with cash instead of credit card.
24. If you carry items with an RFID chip (credit cards, passport, driver's license, etc) used a wallet that block RFID scanning.
25. If you notice that something looks "off" with the ATM or credit card reader you are using, don't use it (putting fake scanners on ATMs is not uncommon).
26. If you sell your used computers and cell phones, make sure all of the information on them is completely and permanently erased.
27. If you have particularly sensitive information on an old computer, consider destroying the hard drive.
28. Change your online passwords and PINs regularly (and make them difficult to guess).
29. Do not download files to your computer or apps to your phone that you didn't request.
30. Make sure you regularly update your computer's security (firewall, anti virus, anti spyware) software.
31. Make sure you regularly update your cell phone as well (firmware and other updates).
32. Keep a list of your passwords and PIN numbers (preferably handwritten and in a secure location like your safe; don't put this list on your phone or in an unprotected file on your computer).
33. Keep a list of all of your financial documents/information in a secure location (in the event of theft you will have the information at your fingertips to cancel credit cards, lock down financial accounts, etc).  Keeping photocopies of these items is a good idea as well.
34. Regularly back up all of your cell phone's content.
35. Regularly back up all of your computer files and online files.
36. Be wary of uploading sensitive documents to cloud storage.
37. Know your cell phone's IMEI number (cell providers can use this to disable a stolen phone).
38. Encrypt your email, your files, and be sure if you shop online that you are using a secure website to process the financial transaction.
39. Use a dumb phone instead of a smart phone.
40. If you must have a smart phone, be sure to log out of financial accounts each time you use them.
41. Always require a password to access your cell phone.
42. Use tracking software which will lead you to your lost or stolen devices.
43. Be certain of the software and apps you download (some could allow access to your private information).
44. Never put too much personal information (your vacation plans, your address, etc) on social networks.
45. Be wary of putting too much information about yourself on online service sites (like when you list your resume on Monster.com).
46. If you order checks, pick them up at the bank instead of having them mailed to you.
47. If you don't use credit and want extra protection, request a "credit freeze" through the big three credit reporting agencies.
48. If you notice something wrong or odd (credit card bills in your name that you didn't request, incorrect information on credit reports, ATM charges you didn't make, etc) report it to the financial institution immediately.
49. If you have your phone stolen or know you are a victim of identity theft, file a police report immediately.
50. Don't give or loan your information (driver's license, insurance card, PIN numbers, etc) to anyone, even a trusted friend.
51. If you want your kids or someone else to use your credit card for whatever purpose (on iTunes, to put gas in your car, etc) give them pre-paid gift cards or pre-paid credit cards instead of giving them your debit/credit card and access to your bank accounts.
52. Have accounts at multiple banks.  Use only one of these for online financial purposes (to make purchases on Amazon, to attach to your PayPal account, to pay for your monthly Netflix subscription, etc).  Also, keep a minimum amount of money in this account and do not allow overdrafts on this account.
53. Be sure that agencies that have your personal information (bank, mortgage company, doctor/insurance company, etc) keep this information secure.  And throw a fit if you find they don't.
54. Keep receipts of your debit/credit transactions then compare them to your online bank statement (make sure amounts weren't changed, that credits were applied, and that there are no mystery charges).  When you no longer need these receipts, shred them.
55. Be careful of putting "auto charge" authority on any of your credit cards (like with iTunes, etc).
56. Know what bills you are expecting (monthly bills, annual bills, etc) and if any turn up missing, find out why.
57. Be sure to check each and every financial transaction (amount, name of store, location of store) on your bank statements (sometimes scammers start with small purchases at McDonalds just to see if the card is valid).  Report any transactions you didn't make.
58. Keep confirmation receipts for any online purchases (and don't delete these receipts until you receive and are satisfied with your purchase).  Receipts for large purchases should be kept until you no longer have the item.
59. Make sure your home looks "lived in" when you are on vacation.  You may want to put expensive or sensitive items in a friend's secure safe while you are gone.
60. Make sure your internet modem/router wi-fi signal is password protected (WPA/WEP encryption is best).
61. Be careful of using unsecured wi fi networks (and be really really careful if you are using an unsecured network for financial transactions).
62. Keep the camera feature of your laptop/phone covered unless you are using it (these can be remotely turned on).
63. Also turn off features you aren't using on your phone (bluetooth, GPS, wi fi, etc).
64. Be knowledgeable of popular scams (there are thousands of them--everything from the kidnapped grandchild to the Nigerian prince who wants you to hold his money).
65.  Be wary of buying items from from CraigsList or other non-secure online sources (items such as vacation rentals, and big ticket items should never be bought site unseen.  And you should never wire money instead of using a credit card as there is no consumer protection once the money has been sent).
66. Donate only to verified charities (after disasters you may get all kinds of unsolicited requests for donations).  Ditto for religious organizations and smaller community assistance funds.
67. DO NOT co sign for others (rental agreements, student loans, etc).  When they bail your credit will be on the line until the loan is paid back.
68. Be wary of getting into contracts that are notoriously difficult to get out of (gym memberships, time shares, etc).
69. Be extra careful when emailing or faxing sensitive documents (ie: financial documents to your mortgage company, etc).  If the item is sent to the wrong number/address you may have problems.
70. Decide how much security your various online activities need:  when banking online be sure to log out completely when done, your generic email program can probably be left open, when finished online shopping, log out completely.  Ditto for these activities on your cell phone.
71. Beware of tax scams.  Places that promise to find you "more money" than regular tax preparers or who will advance you money at a high fee in anticipation of your tax refund could be fraudulent.
72. Stay away from payday lenders and title loan places!
73. Check your important documents regularly to ensure that #1 they are still where you left them and #2 have not expired or need to be renewed.
74. When making big purchases, do your research (ie: state Lemon Law, store return policies, a businesses BBB rating, etc).
75. Only deal with reputable e-commerce sites (like Amazon.  Small, unknown sites may not provide any sort of consumer protection and you may not even get the item you order).
76. Immediately return any packages you didn't order (scammers sometimes try to beat the homeowner to a package they had delivered to your address).
77. When you are at your wit's end with a consumer issue, contact your state's consumer advocate or even you local media (TV, newspaper) consumer help line.
78. Beware of investment fraud and scams.
79. Also beware of education fraud and scams.
80. If someone calls or email you and asks for your account number, password, or other personal information do not respond, these are called phishing scams and are a way that thieves can steal your identity.
81. Be aware of what the CARD act covers.
82. Do not participate in fraudulent or illegal online activities (child porn, insurance fraud, welfare fraud, foreign lotteries, etc).
83. Never send money to someone you don't know or receive money from someone you don't know (a common scam is that you receive a check and the sender asks you to deposit it into your account, keep some of the money, then wire them the rest).
84. Keep open communication with elderly or infirm friends or relatives and note/report anything that seems off (ie: your 90 year old grandfather sending money to his "girlfriend" in Asia).  
85. Be aware of the ways that the elderly can be targeted for identity theft and fraud.
86. Don't be intimidated or rushed to make a financial decision or to provide more information than your are comfortable with.
87. Don't allow strangers in your home unless you know they are coming (ie: the cable guy who need to make repairs).  You will also want to make sure they don't see your wallet, credit cards, cash, financial documents, etc laying around.
88. When leaving your car with the valet, only give them the key to your car (not the entire ring of keys).  Also, hide insurance and registration information which would give them your address.
89. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is (like being paid $5000 for a paper marriage so someone can get a green card or being given a "once in a lifetime opportunity to join a Multi Level Marketing program).
90. Do not carry debt (personal loans, car loans, credit card debt, etc); this makes your financial life much easier to keep track of.
91. Always do your own homework (ie: don't just buy a bottle of pills because Dr Oz's face is on it, don't give a friend money to invest for you, don't fall for the spiel of a convincing salesman, etc).
92. Hang up on robocalls.  If someone wants to talk to you, they can certainly wait on the line until you answer.
93. While the housing market is getting better, mortgage scams are still around.
94. If you need help, seek qualified assistance.  Find a real CPA, a real lawyer, or a real doctor to help you.  And you should seek them out, they shouldn't seek you out (although personal injury attorneys are pretty good at tracking you down if you've been in the press).
95. Gambling is pretty much a scam anyway but if you must gamble, choose legal options.  Illegal gambling scams abound but they are just that--scams AND illegal.
96. There are enough car fraud opportunities to write an entire blog post about--everything from fraudulent dealer practices to more fraudulent practices to other types of fraud.
97. Believe it or not, you aren't even safe from identity thieves when you are dead.
98. Even pets can be used for identity theft (if your dog gets a credit card in the mail you have a problem) as well as scams (someone scoops up your dog--or says they did--then demands a reward).
99. Pyramid schemes have been around, probably since the pyramids were built. 
100. And if despite following all of these tips, you still become a victim of identity theft, here's what you do.
101. This is what you do to report other types of fraud.

10 Old Time Food Skills

These days, many old time cooking skills have gone by the wayside since basically any sort of food stuff you want can easily be bought at the store.  However, while you don't NEED to be able to cook many things, you still SHOULD know how to make said items (which requires some practice):

1. Beer and wine making.  This is a fun and interesting hobby with some mighty tasty rewards at the end of the process.
2. Cheesemaking.  It really isn't as hard as it sounds and many cheeses don't require mold, a deep cave, and a lengthy shelf time.
3. Pickling.  Whether you are pickling cucumbers or cabbage, this is an old skill that can easily be learned today.
4. Canning.  What better way to put away the harvest or take care of a super good deal on a crate of vegetables?  Once you buy the supplies for canning you will be set for years and be able to put plenty of food away for later use.
5. Baking.  Everyone should know how to make a loaf of bread but surprisingly, many people have yet to figure out this simple skill.  Give it a try.
6. Making jams and jellies.  Again, this is another old-time food skill that many people don't do anymore (it is pretty simple and cheap to run to the store for a jar of jelly) but it is rewarding to be able to create your own preserves.
7. Smoking.  With a bit of creativity and a couple of YouTube videos you can turn your barbecue into a smoker and do some pretty interesting things with pork or fish.
8. Sausage making (and other meat processing).  If someone handed you a pig (dead, not alive) would you know how to process it from snout to tail?  Knowing how to cut up and process all parts of an animal is a useful skill to have.
9. Candy making.  Whether you are making taffy or gourmet chocolates, learning how to make your own candy is a unique and interesting experience.
10. Create your own food items from scratch.  Look in your pantry and pick a few items then figure out how to make them yourself--mayonnaise, vinegar, salad dressing, cake mixes, etc.

MLK Day and Helping Out Your Community

Today is Martin Luther King Jr Day and part of the holiday involves doing volunteer work in the community.  While doing a day of service is a good idea, volunteering regularly in your community has a range of positive benefits--you get to help people in your community, you get to learn some valuable skills, you make friends, and you may even get some freebies and rewards for your service (ie: a free meal if you volunteer at a soup kitchen, etc).  Here are ten places to volunteer that will give you not only skills and the satisfaction of helping people, but other side benefits as well:

1. Your local non-profit shooting range (these places are usually staffed by a lot of volunteers and can often use any help you can provide).
2. Your local Search and Rescue group (these are often coordinated through city, county, or non-associated SAR groups and provide very useful training)
3. Your local Red Cross (this organization has offices in many communities and can almost always use volunteers)
4. Become an EMT (with a two month course, often free if you agree to volunteer, you will be able to provide a very needed service in your community; ask at your local fire department/ambulance company for details)
5. Become a volunteer fire fighter (many fire departments in rural areas rely very heavily on community volunteers; free training is provided)
6. Your local Department of Emergency Management (in addition to Search and Rescue, and sometimes in combination with it, your local Department of Emergency Management can often use volunteers to help with their programs and response efforts)
7.  Use your special skills to volunteer in your community (ie: HAM radio operators often volunteer with ARES and RACES, doctors volunteer with disaster response organizations, dentists volunteer their services at community health fairs, SCORE, VISTA, etc).
8. Use your non-special skills to help out at non-profits in your community (everything from domestic violence shelters to food pantries to free meals for the homeless to Habitat for Humanity can use volunteers--training is provided).
9. For longer term commitments consider becoming a Big Brother/Big Sister, a Boy Scout Troop leader, etc.
10. Volunteer to help people you have an affinity for (veterans, those in hospice, at a hospital, through your church, with the homeless, etc).