Seniors

Oh, isn’t that EXPENSIVE now? USDA Edition…

~ grant.gallagher ~ 2 Comments

Author ScotShot Scott is an NRA and USCCA certified Instructor and Training Counselor in a range of firearms, and home and personal defense disciplines. In an Alternate Universe, he is a husband, father, grandfather, scientist, musician, educator and grumpy old professor. Just your average reactionary, short, fat, old, bald guy!

Two Wednesdays ago I discussed in general terms how food prices are rising generally, not just here in the USA but also in the UK and abroad. Shortly after that, a report emerged suggesting that grocery costs in Germany were about to rise by between 20 to 50%, which is pretty dramatic.

Now, the USDA has released its “Food Outlook for 2022”, presenting their data which, “…summarizes the March 2022 forecasts, which incorporate the February 2022 Consumer Price Index and Producer Price Index numbers...” Let’s review some of the highlights, so that we can plan ahead for the next three quarters of 2022. They report that inflation in food prices overall is 7.9% (ie, 8%); that is, overall food is 8% more expensive at the end of February 2022, compared with the end of February 2021. This includes both grocery store costs and eat out costs, and the number for grocery stores is higher, at 8.6%. Is that your experience, Tigers?

Let’s now consider some specifics. You can go to the report and digest the details of the 11 food categories used for yourselves. However, here are some salient points of predicted changes:

  • Poultry – costs to increase between 6 and 7% in 2022
  • Dairy – costs to increase between 4 and 5% in 2022
  • Oils and Fats – costs to increase between 6 and 7% in 2022
  • Fruits and Veggies – costs to increase between 3.5 and 4.5% in 2022
  • Beef and Pork – costs to increase between 3 and 4% in 2022

Interestingly, they have a separate section on producer and wholesale costs. These are generally higher, suggesting that grocery store prices may be higher than predicted, towards the end of the year. For example, they note that the wholesale price of beef is expected to rise between 4 and 7% in 2022. You can download their data, here, as Excel spreadsheets.

So, what does all of this mean? It ain’t over yet, kiddies. This particular Tiger is buying a little extra of things my family eats each trip. I’m scoping out sources of favorite brands in more than one store. I’m expanding the range of flavorful things such as marinades and sauces. I’m making sure we have our over-the-counter medicines. If I may be storing things for longer, I’m also thinking about protecting then a little better – so pancake mix is going into a ziplock bag for example, to help keep the beasties out.

Last year we noticed odd shortages everywhere – for example we couldn’t get “Raid” at Home Depot, in store or on-line. So, we are preparing now against that recurring. Let’s all think ahead and not expect to be able to find all the things we routinely buy as easily as we did previously. Good Luck!!

Please, take a moment to leave a comment using the link at the top of the page. Thanks!

They’re always wanting your money, Part 3.

~ grant.gallagher

Author Ryan M. Chippendale has been in public safety/service for over two decades. He has held the roles of Police Officer, Firefighter, EMT, CPR Instructor, NRA Instructor, Glock Armorer, and Notary Public, among others.  He is the proud father of three girls (12, 10, 4) and has been married for thirteen years.  He is the son of a senior mother who keeps a running honey-do list for him, and he has expertise with firearms, electronics and computer systems.  He is an ordained minister, is fluent in sarcasm, and has been known to be found at a karaoke bar once or twice in his life. This is the final article of a series of three blog posts.

The Joys of the internet. In the third part of this series I am going to dip my toe into the senior scams that come through the internet.  We’ve seen soooo many different tactics in the category.  Some that would be embarrassing if you fell for and some that I personally have to second-guess their legitimacy.  Years ago I was excited to get an e-mail but it was super common to get tons of actual paper “snail mail.”  Today I’m happy if I get one personal paper letter from the mailman along with the 300 garbage e-mails I get.  No matter how much I unsubscribe, everyday there’s offers to get my gutters cleaned, purchase a vacation, or lose weight (not that I don’t need all of those services).

While those are all mundane and ignorable messages, what about the e-mails saying your personal information is being exploited on the dark web or a message from Amazon informing you that your account has been compromised and they want you to confirm your credentials.  As I was writing this article I received this very e-mail:

Oh my!  Did someone from Mexico try to log into my Amazon account?!? Onset panic-mode.  Quick, let me click this link and make sure someone didn’t order themselves a TV to Mexico.  But wait, deactivate panic-mode and lets actually read the e-mail.  The e-mail was sent from a nonsensical e-mail address which is too long to fit on the screen.  It was sent to an address that isn’t mine.  That seems suspicious.

Lets read further. In the subject line there appears to be some kind of error code maybe but I don’t know what MGLTVTHF-131630461 means.  Is that something official?  Let’s keep reading, a greeting that doesn’t have my name and a body that has spelling mistakes, improper grammar as well as improper English.  Too many red flags for me but here’s the kicker… the button they want you to click is not a link to Amazon’s actual website!

Had I actually clicked the link it probably would take me to a website that looks similar to Amazon asking for my e-mail and password.  It might even ask me for some common security questions – your mother’s maiden name, the street you grew up on, your first car.  All in the name of security, you enter all the information and get: “oops, your user name and password don’t match.  Please try again.”  We’ve all done this.  Fat fingers or just can’t remember which kid’s birthday you used for this password.  Either way, while you’re blaming yourself for typing it incorrectly, the imitation website has loaded the actual Amazon website.  Now again, you enter your user name and password only this time it logs you in and everything seems normal.  That was close, you may have thought you’d been victimized.  Here’s the problem, you WEREN’T a victim until you gave up your password and security questions.  But you don’t know that you’re a victim so maybe the scammer sits dormant with your information for a bit and then attacks your identity or your accounts or simply sells the information to someone who gets a credit card in your name.

Now you’re compromised.  I hope you don’t use the same password for your Amazon account as your e-mail account, do you?  So now that the scammer can get into your e-mail they send one to everyone in your contact list.  “Hey, I’m in trouble.  I went to Europe on vacation and my bag was stolen.  I lost my wallet AND my passport!  To make matters worse, I got just got a flat tire and I have no way to pay the guy from roadside assistance.  I don’t have international calling so the only thing I was able to do is send a desperate plea for help via e-mail.  The service guy said if you have “CashApp” you can send him $200 for the tire change and I’ll pay you back when I get home.  He said if you don’t that Appy thingy if you go get a gift card and take a picture of it, you can e-mail it to me.”  (Sound familiar?). Now think about everyone in your e-mail contacts…. Would someone fall for this?  They got an e-mail from “you” from your actual e-mail address.

Here’s another common one.  Imagine you get an e-mail from your boss and it says “I’m stuck in a meeting and I need a gift card for my nephew’s birthday party this evening.  Can you please run to Walmart and get me a $100 gift card.  Thanks”. By now these should sound like obvious scams but you might be inclined to do your boss a favor.

A simple trick to limit the amount of messages you get is to unsubscribe from any many of the unwanted e-mail lists that you can.  You’ll scrutinize the messages better if there’s less of them bombarding you. 

My mother regularly calls me about something computer related.  Some of those phone calls are asking if something is real or a scam.  It’s almost always a scam.  Her litmus test is “what’s Ryan going to say if I click this and something goes wrong?”  Feel free to use that mentality… take a moment, escape panic-mode and evaluate the situation.

Training with your Home Defense Firearm

~ grant.gallagher ~ 1 Comment

Author Glenn McDermott is the owner of the Firearms Education Center, and runs First Level Training, where he focuses on providing new shooters with the skills they need to confidently take their first shots on the live-fire range. He is an NRA Certified Pistol and rifle Instructor, and Chief Range Safety Officer. Glenn is also certified in defensive firearm instruction by the USCCA. This is the second of two blog posts.

Training with your firearm is important. As the saying goes, owning a piano doesn’t automatically make you a musician. There are several ways of training with your firearm, but the most important thing IS to train.

I like to train my students with a S.I.R.T. pistol. S.I.R.T. stands for ‘Shot Indicating Resetting Trigger’, and these pistols use a laser to indicate where your ‘shots’ are hitting. The resetting trigger simulates the feel of the trigger on your gun. These features help you developthe critical skills of sight alignment, sight picture and trigger control. Other tools are very useful when it comes to training. For example, the “iTarget Pro” uses an app on your smart phone to simulate target-shooting or air-soft guns. You could even set up a small laser ‘shooting’ range in your garage, basement, man-cave or she-shed.

It’s important to train with your surroundings. Not only do you have to train with your firearm, you must train in the place you may have to defend. What do I mean by this? Well, several considerations must be taken into account. What is ‘cover’? What is ‘concealment’? In what direction is it safe to fire?

A typical 9mm round can penetrate 6 layers of drywall easily, so you must pick directions in your house that it’s safe to fire from, and not dangerous to fire towards. For instance, in my home, looking out the front of my house, I can only shoot safely at a 10-2:00 o’clock position. The other areas in my home have houses in the line of fire, so they are not an option. Pick a safe spot inside or outside the home for family members to congregate out of harm’s way if an intruder has breached your security measures.

Make sure your home does not invite an intruder; home security starts with a secure home. Do a perimeter check, take a walk around your house and look for ways to get into your home. Think like an intruder. Do you have lawn furniture by a window that can be used as a step to enter by a window? This is just one way your home can be broken into.

Keep your house well-lit; burglars do not like to be seen. Use 3” screws on your door hinges and striker plates to make it more difficult to break in through a door, and have a code word to communicate a potentially bad situation to others in your home.

Taking all these factors into consideration, now you must ask yourself a tough question. Do you have the temperament to shoot someone? Are you able to shoot someone, knowing that your action may take another’s life? Do you know when to shoot and when not to shoot? These are hard questions that you and only you can answer. Ponder the consequences morally, ethically and mentally. If you do shoot someone, are you prepared to watch them die? If you have any problem with the outcome of a personal defense shooting, or the legal ramifications, then maybe a firearm in your home is not for you.

So then, let’s talk about some non-lethal forms of personal defense. There are some effective non-lethal defense tools on the market, one being pepper-spray guns. Kimber makes a very effective product called the “Pepper Blaster II”. It’s a compact gun that shoots an irritant-like pepper spray, at a speed of 112 MPH , with a range of 13 feet, powered by a CO2 cartridge. It’s a thick sticky substance that sticks on your attacker, and causes extreme eye and breathing discomfort, incapacitating him so that you can get away.

Another product is the “Byrna SD”. This gun shoots small paintball-like projectiles that break open on impact and expel a pepper “dust-like” substance that causes your attacker much discomfort and pain by affecting vision and breathing. If you have never seen these in action, search them on You Tube and see for yourself.

Finally, be a responsible gun owner. The gun owning community receives a lot of bad press, so be an advocate of the second amendment and your Constitutional rights. Know how to use your firearm safely, know how to fieldstrip, clean and maintain your firearm, and remember the three NRA safety rules:

  • ALWAYS keep the gun pointed in a safe direction.
  • ALWAYS keep your finger off the trigger until you are ready to shoot.
  • ALWAYS keep the gun unloaded until ready to use.

And treat all guns as though they are always loaded, know your target and what’s beyond, be sure your gun is safe to operate and know how to use your gun safely.

“The Firearms Education Center” – Be Safe, Be Smart, Be Educated.

Editor Note: check your local laws regarding the ownership and use of products mentioned in this post. Some States such as New Jersey are very restrictive.

Oh! Isn’t that EXPENSIVE now…?

~ grant.gallagher ~ 2 Comments

Author ScotShot Scott is an NRA and USCCA certified Instructor and Training Counselor in a range of firearms, and home and personal defense disciplines. In an Alternate Universe, he is a husband, father, grandfather, scientist, musician, educator and grumpy old professor. Just your average reactionary, short, fat, old, bald guy!

I was chatting with my aunt in Glasgow recently, and she was telling me that they had been told by Scottish Gas that the Government has agreed to a price rise for natural gas. In April, their bill is going up from eighty pounds a month to one-hundred and sixty. It is about to double. What’s more, they have been told that a further increase has been approved for October, just in time for winter. She also mentioned that gas (‘petrol’) is currently up to 1.70 pounds per litre and was expected to reach 2.00. At the current exchange rate ($1.33 per 1 GBP), that’s $2.66 per litre x 3.79 litres per US gallon = $10.08 per gallon.

Her husband suggested that they “start stocking up on things we use” and in the course of doing this, she noticed that something she had last paid 0.68 GBP for, now cost 0.75, which is a 10.3% increase. It’s happening everywhere and across all commodities. She mentioned that it was difficult to get meat (“shelves are empty”).

So I decided to ask the Silver Tigers what they were observing, and what they were doing about it. I asked who has seen food shortages and/or price rises, and what action were being taken. The answers are illuminating. People are seeing shortages everywhere – for example:

  • John R: Not necessarily shortages but certain items were out. For example, yesterday I stopped at a Sam’s Club to get coffee and nuts. They had plenty of coffee but no peanuts or mixed nuts. I did buy an extra can of coffee to be prepared.
  • Chet W: Meat prices are insane, shelves run empty but are filled in a day or two.
  • Heidi BS: Definite food price rises! Prices are high particularly for meat. Occasional short term shortages, usually of chicken. But still seeing areas of empty shelves on occasion.
  • Theresa RM: Rising prices for almost every products for groceries. Our local ‘Giant’ stores in SE PA, have had low inventory on canned goods, and some other items. Other stores are ok.
  • Debbie M: Certain items, like aluminum foil, have been quietly increasing in price for the past 3 years. I was buying extra when it was on sale but am not seeing sales anymore. Check out the aluminum price increases. Aluminum Price is at a current level of $3245.79 per metric ton, up from 3005.98 last month and up from 2078.59 one year ago. This is a change of 7.98% from last month and 56.15% from one year ago.

People are up-stocking and gardening more, too – for example:

  • Lateif D: I can’t fit any more in my freezers.. need to start rotating food…
  • Chet W: We have a freeze dryer and preserve our own food. We go to the local farmers’ markets, and have our own chickens.
  • Dawn D: My ‘hoop house’ [what is a hoop house – Ed] is full of seedlings and we’re doubling the garden size this year. We’ve added additional chickens. We have all the freezers full and I’m prepared to can all the meats if needed. I want a freeze dryer and have been sporadically researching them for what seems like years. I’ll get there eventually.
  • Matthew M: I just bought a meat canner.
  • Heidi BS: We started raising meat chickens last year, have had laying hens for years. This year we’re raising 2 hogs. And we hunt. Thankfully an option for us

So the question is – is this a Real Thing? If so, what are YOU doing? Not all of us has a big garden, or are fit enough to use one. My township prohibits the keeping of chickens. Are you allowed to have them? What about rabbits?

Do you even think it’s serious? If you do, then maybe start by buying an extra jar of your favorite pasta sauce and see where that takes you (if you can still get it, of course…).

Reaching out with Ham Radio.

~ grant.gallagher ~ 3 Comments

Author Todd Ellis balances his work life with community volunteerism.  A Critical Infrastructure communications expert, Ellis helps design systems for rail, bus and airports and was awarded two related patents.  After hours, Ellis is an Auxiliary Police Officer in his local township, teaches firearm safety courses, is an adult Scouter and a 4th Degree Knight of Columbus.  Ellis and his wife Stacey reside on their uniquely sloped property known as Leprechaun Hill in southeastern Pennsylvania.

The Internet is a wonderful tool for people to communicate with each other via e-mail and websites. Newer technologies like video conferencing have moved from the business world to everyday use. Different video conferencing platforms like “Microsoft Teams” or “Cisco Webex” or “Zoom” are great, but contact has to be pre-arranged; rarely will you bump into someone online for a chat. It also requires good data speed or bandwidth, and reliable connectivity.

There are some older communication technologies that need reconsideration. One method is amateur (or “ham”) radio. The term “ham” started in the 19th century when telegraph stations using Morse code had poor technique – they were said to be “ham fisted”, and the term stuck. The wonder of ham radio is that it does not require an internet connection, and ham operators are located worldwide, so it’s a great way to make new friends all across the globe!

So, how do you get started? It’s a little technical. People must take a test as stipulated by the Federal Communications Commission (or the federal agency in their own country abroad) and receive their license to operate. However, if you can figure out how to set up a computer and run programs, you’re probably technically minded enough to pass the test.

Once licensed, hams can buy two-way radios and talk to one another both locally, and over long distances. Generally, your capabilities are limited to your interest in the hobby, how much physical land you own, and your bank account. Some radio equipment is very cost-efficient and good for using around town. Some people have erected small radio towers or erected large antennas that allow reliable communications worldwide. Most find a place in the middle that allows for high enjoyment with moderate cost and effort.

Ham radio operators come from every walk of life. Everyone from truck mechanics to physicians have come hams. Some of the more famous people who have been licensed hams include Senator Barry Goldwater and King Hussain of Jordan. However, the most important folks are those who use their radios during emergencies to provide communications where no communications infrastructure exists. Case in point, amateur radio has certainly been in use across Kentucky during December’s awful tornado event. Following Hurricane Maria in Puerto Rico, ham radio was the only method to reliably connect with those in the affected area.

Those who have limited mobility or other disabilities enjoy the hobby. It’s truly gratifying to know about people who have made friends in other countries without ever leaving their home. Radio allows people to broaden their horizons who otherwise would have been limited to their immediate surroundings. It’s amazing to finally meet someone face-to-face without ever realizing they were physically handicapped. In one memorable situation, a young man who professed to have “a map in my head” really did – he had memorized directions from listening to taxi dispatchers and had effectively memorized a map of a city. However, being completely blind, he had never actually “seen” a map, yet he provided cheerful assistance to anyone asking for local road directions.

The hobby also causes one to use one’s brains! Cognitive decline happens faster with those who put their brain in neutral; having a somewhat technical hobby can help keep you sharp. Making new friends along the way is certainly a terrific side effect!

Basic Preparedness – One Woman’s Journey, Part 2

~ grant.gallagher ~ 1 Comment

Author Tara Fleming is 56 years old, a 25 year resident of NJ, mother of 3 and employed in financial services. This is the second of two blog posts.

We reviewed some ideas for how to prevent and avoid emergencies in Part I. Now we will review some ideas for preparedness for disasters, small and large.

If you are comfortable, you may want to learn to safely and responsibly operate a firearm. Many ranges offer their own training courses, but there are great independent trainers, such ScotShot LLC and Compass Defense LLC, who may work better for you. If you are a woman, you may want to join an association such as Armed Women of America, which has Shooting Chapters across these United States. This really does make it much more comfortable for the beginner to learn along with others at the same level, or benefit from the wealth of knowledge of more experienced shooters.

If you do decide to explore this self-defense option, it is incumbent upon you to undertake the appropriate training for safe handling and operation of a firearm. Be prepared to spend time and money. Understand that training and practice should be continuous and consistent. It is a serious commitment, but very rewarding and worthwhile. You will need to check the laws in your state regarding required permits and licenses. The best place to start is with your local police department website, where you will be able to find the necessary forms and applications. You will also want to join an association such as US Law Shield, to protect yourself from legal events.

Pay attention and be aware of your surroundings! This is super important, especially as we age. It may seem obvious and natural but I guarantee you that it is not. We must make a conscious effort when out and about to keep our minds clear of distractions, eyes up and forward and remain aware. This is not saying to be paranoid and fearful when out and about, in fact it is the exact opposite. It is not complete relaxation, such as when we are at home, but neither is it a state of high alert, which would be very stressful. It is somewhere right in between. Just a slightly elevated state of awareness is what we should work towards. This takes practice, but it can become intuitive.

If able, you should consider learning a self-defense skill, such as Krav Maga, which does not depend solely on strength or size for effectiveness.

Learn about long term food and water storage. An organization called Outdoor Core has an excellent set of short on-line classes that covers a wide range of preparedness ideas and skill-sets, including one on preparing food storage in your home.

Form or join a preparedness group or club in your local community. Your friends and neighbors are a good place to start. It is good to have a reliable local network of like-minded individuals. Take advantage of free resources, too – the Federal Government makes a great starting point.

Prepare a “bug-out bag”. This will help you get to safety if you have to move in a hurry. You can buy them, or build one of your own, that is tailored to your specific needs. This can be as simple as a back pack with some basic supplies, or as much as you can reasonably carry.

Have a plan to get in touch with family members, understanding that cell towers may be down or overwhelmed. Agree on a meeting place out of town for extended communications disruptions or emergencies. Many towns and cities have citizen volunteer organizations, such as fire departments, police auxiliary and emergency management offices. Consider joining one of these organization as the training and knowledge you will gain is priceless.
Consider getting your HAM radio license so that you can be a communications resource for your community. This is a bit involved but if you are mechanically inclined, you may want to give it a go. Again, you may want to start with Outdoor Core and their Ham Cram course.

Take a first-aid and/or CPR course from the Red Cross. I’ve taken a few courses and really learned a lot. You would probably want to take some of the courses every year or every other year to keep your skills sharp.

Please keep the gas tank full or nearly full in all of your vehicles. Please. If you have to leave the vicinity in a hurry, chances are so will everyone else. You do not want to be stuck on a gas line or worse if the gas station is closed. I have gone from someone who drove around perpetually on “E” to now filling my tank once it is half empty.

There is a lot to learn in the world of preparedness. It is important not to become overwhelmed and discouraged. Remember, take it one step at a time and do your best within the scope of your finances, skills, ability and available space. If you are able, consider dedicating one evening per week or one day per month to preparedness activities. This can be done in an enjoyable and fun way, especially along with family and friends. It should not take away from your other regular life activities, but rather should enhance them. It is very likely that some of the things you already enjoy doing or skills and knowledge that you already have (exercising, gardening, firearms training, canning, fixing cars) are also prepping activities!

So have fun, learn new skills and share your knowledge with others. Be part of the solution, not part of the problem! To quote the great Creek Stewart, “It’s not if, but when.”

Who’s listening to you?

~ grant.gallagher ~ 1 Comment

Author ScotShot Scott is an NRA and USCCA certified Instructor and Training Counselor in a range of firearms, and home and personal defense disciplines. In an Alternate Universe, he is a husband, father, grandfather, scientist, musician, educator and grumpy old professor. Just your average reactionary, short, fat, old, bald guy!

Hands up if you’ve seen the recent TV advertisement for the “WhatsApp” messenger app. The gist of the ad is that it is not ‘secure’ to send regular text messaging using an SMS messenger such as the one that comes on your phone. The ad suggests that if you switch over to using WhatsApp for messaging, no-one will be able to see your texts except the person to whom you sent it.

WhatsApp is more secure than regular text apps. However, it’s also owned by Facebook. So, the ad is simply designed to drive even more of your information and data to that company. It’s just another scam.

This then begs the question: who does harvest information from us? Our phone calls, location, internet use, and text messages all contain saleable information. As for who is doing the selling, the answer is “pretty much everyone”. The phone manufacturer, the people who write your favored apps, your home internet provider, your phone service provider, Uncle Tom Cobley, and the Man who owns a dog called Bingo. The list is pretty much endless. Did you ever notice how you can be talking about something with a friend, and the next time you’re on the web, there are ads for that very thing?

So, let’s stop for a minute and ask ourselves, “Do I want people I don’t know to sell my information?” That information can be our location, the number of times a day we text, or make calls out of state. Do we want them to harvest keywords from our emails to push ads to us? Do we want the things we think of as our private business to be part of our someone else’s business model? For me, the answer is “no!”

The question then becomes, “what can we do about it?” So it’s basically impossible to stop it, but with a few simple changes, it’s very possible to minimize it. It’s all about the tools we use.

Text messaging: Texting is probably the way people communicate most often now – way more frequently than an actual phone call. However the pre-installed messaging app on your phone isn’t secure (yes, even the one on your iPhone, although it’s pretty good when texting another iPhone). Two recent studies, one from 2018 and one from 2022 provide the answer. The best messaging app to use on iPhone and Android is “Signal“. This handy-dandy summary from the FBI lays it all out. So, use “Signal” Download it from your App Store, and have your friends and family do, too.

Searching for webpages: aka “googling”. Well, there’s a reason that Google is a fabulously wealthy company. It sells your search data, and scans your emails for keywords that it uses to push ads to you. Ever wondered where those ad links at the top of your Gmail come from? They come from your email. Google also uses algorithms to push certain search results and suppress others, much as Facebook does.

Not every search engine does this. There is one that protects your privacy and it’s called “DuckDuckGo” (I have no idea why). It is true that DDG is a (slightly) less mature product than Google and has a (slightly) lesser scope, but the key difference is that it does not store your information (especially your ip address) that can identify you and be used to target you with ads. There are multiple articles that discuss this and the key privacy that DDG affords, here and here and here, for example. So, the next time you fancy a Google, try a duck instead…!

OK – so you’re ready to jump on the web? How? In other words, which browser do you use? Well if you’re using a Mac, it comes with “Safari”. “Firefox” is common on both MACs and PCs. Microsoft promotes it’s “Edge” browser, and Google has “Chrome”. I’m sure some if not all of these sound familiar. Chances are that you’re using one of them right now. But, you’ve guessed it, all of these vacuum up your data and browsing histories like so much pocket-change scattered at a Scottish Wedding, and turning them into real money for themselves.

It’s important to use a secure (or at least, more secure) browser than the one that comes on your machine. Secure browsers don’t only block pop-up ads and pesky auto-play videos, they also protect you from malware, viruses, hacks and so on. Personally, I use “Brave”. It runs on Macs and PCs. At the time of writing, it has blocked 1,013,727 ads and trackers from my computer. Perhaps the most secure browser, and the only one that allows you to be completely anonymous is “Tor”. Tor was designed from the ground up to be secure, but it is the browser associated with the “Dark Web” and so many people don’t like to use it. So, be brave, and use “Brave”.

What is a VPN anyway? When you log into the internet from the comfort of your sofa, generally you use the service provided by the people you get your TV from (eg, Comcast, Optimum, Verizon etc). Well they harvest and sell your search and brower history, too. So, imagine you just loved looking at “Netflix”. Every time you go there, your Internet Service Provider (ISP) makes a note and uses that for commercial purposes. Every time you log into Gmail, or Foxnews, or CNN, they log this away and learn a little bit more about you. Are you a prepper? Do you read firearms news? You can prevent this information gathering by using a Virtual Private Network, or “VPN”.

Using a VPN stops your ISP from collecting your browsing history. It sends your browsing request out to a server somewhere in the world first, and it’s forwarded from there. So, all your ISP collects is the address of a server in Canada, or the UK, or wherever, and it never finds out what you are actually looking at. If you decide to go shopping for a VPN, you’ll find lots of pages such as this one and a lot of recommendations for various VPN providers.

I am sure that the service offered by such widely-used VPNs is excellent, and I won’t say anything against them. However, I don’t use them. I use “Proton VPN”. I use it for the simple reason that it is based in Switzerland. As such it is outside the “Five Eyes” intelligence network. It’s also outside the wider ones such as “Fourteen Eyes”. If you’re going to use a VPN, Proton VPN should be one you consider.

Hey! Shoot someone a quick Gmail about all this! How many people use Gmail I wonder? More than the number of fish in the sea, that’s for sure. Gmail and the suite of tools that go with it are very useful. It’s just not secure. My advice is to get a Proton Mail account. It’s free and secure, and completely encrypted when sent between other Proton mail users.

You can improve your cyber security. So, why don’t you?

They’re always wanting your money, Part 2.

~ grant.gallagher ~ 1 Comment

Author Ryan M. Chippendale has been in public safety/service for over two decades. He has held the roles of Police Officer, Firefighter, EMT, CPR Instructor, NRA Instructor, Glock Armorer, and Notary Public, among others.  He is the proud father of three girls (12, 10, 4) and has been married for thirteen years.  He is the son of a senior mother who keeps a running honey-do list for him, and he has expertise with firearms, electronics and computer systems.  He is an ordained minister, is fluent in sarcasm and has been known to be found at a karaoke bar once or twice in his life. This is the second of a series of three blog posts.

 

If you’re just joining us then you missed the first article where I briefly discussed senior scam phone calls.  The takeaway from that was if any stranger calls you, filter it though a skeptical lens.

There is one small caveat though… what if the phone call is from someone who claims to be NOT a stranger?  “Hi Grandma, I got arrested in Mexico and the only way they’ll let me out is if you go by a Walmart gift card and send it to me.”  First, you know from the first article that no government agency known to me will accept a gift card but what about your poor grandson?  Are you the heartless person to leave him sitting in a Mexican prison?!?  Take that drop of cynicism and apply it to this scenario… ask a challenge question.

What is something super obvious that your grandson would know?  It doesn’t have to be tricky like asking the color of the sweater you wore at Christmas, more like the name of the street you live on.  Or his mother’s first name.  The scammer will just hang up, or if you’re lucky, they’ll spew some curse words at you before hanging up.  Believe it or not, a lot of people are taken by this method.  

Phone calls are the Mecca of scammers because it removes the ability of the victim to get a feel for what’s real and what isn’t.  With technology these days, they are even able to remove accents from their voices.  You might be more comfortable speaking with someone who has a southern drawl than a foreigner.  If you’re on the phone, listen for things that sound culturally improper… those are harder to fake.

Another example of a common telephone scam relies less on sympathy and more on fear.  You receive a call from someone who tells you that you’re a victim (they hope) of a fraud.  “Hello, this is Bank of America and we’ve detected some fraudulent activity on your account.  Before we can continue, we need you to verify your social security number?”  How responsible and thorough of Bank of America, right?  The problem is that it isn’t actually Bank of America calling… do you even have a Bank of America account?  What if there actually is some kind of fraud happening and the person calling is legitimate?  No big deal… ask for a reference number or the like.  Hang up and call the phone number on the back of your credit card.  I don’t even trust the Google searches in a situation like that.  Pull out your paper statement or the physical credit card to get the phone number.  Always be wary of someone who calls you and asks you for information.  Always be suspicious of someone who calls you and wants to pressure you into doing anything as if time is a factor.  

Along the lines of fear, your power is about to be shut off.  It’s not, but imagine I made the scenario real enough and you believed your power was about to be shut off?  It’s 30 degrees out, you have electric heat, you have an electric stove, your family is about to sit in the dark and eat uncooked food!  As a scammer I’m going to slap you with whatever I can make you afraid of.  But don’t worry… we can clear this outstanding bill up with a quick and easy trip to Wallgreens for a gift card to satisfy the debt.  Ding ding ding… red flag!  Gift card for anything = scam.  Often criminals will pretend to be some type of utility company and call about an outstanding bill and threaten suspension of services if payment is not immediately made.  Same as the Bank of America story… Hang up, pull out the bill and call them yourself.  Maybe there is actually a delinquency, butseek it out yourself.  Don’t trust a stranger who called you.  

Trust but verify!

 

How to survive, just in case SHTF.

~ grant.gallagher ~ 1 Comment

Author Frank Liso is an avid coin collector and Silver & Gold stacker.

It’s no secret that we are seeing high inflation. In parallel, we have historically low interest rates. The Federal Reserve could reduce inflation by restricting the money supply through increasing interest rates, but that is a precarious position, since it could crash the Stockmarket, which is already spiraling downward.

Inflation is being driven in part by the eight trillion Dollars of stimulus money that has wreaked havoc in the US stock market, falsely inflating stock values, and real estate values. The Pandemic has not only destroyed supply chains but also, world economies.  Inflation may be just the beginning of the bad effects. 

World leaders are taking full advantage of the Biden administration and USA’s assumed weakness. This has led to the current War in Ukraine, and may lead to another one potentially over ownership of Taiwan. In addition, we have the Iranians apparently itching to nuke the USA and Israel. Then there is our good buddy in N. Korea with his twitchy missile finger.  Wow, what a difference a year makes!

Russia and China are trying to overtake the US dollar as the world currency and truthfully, they have a shot at it. The only reason the dollar hasn’t been dethroned is that the dollar is the currency for Oil world wide. Imagine if Iran (say) decided only to accept payment for oil in Rubles, or Yuan, or Euros for that matter, something other than US dollars.

So, what can the average person do about it? People can protect themselves and their loved ones with a little planning and proactive preventative measures. What is important in uncertain times like these is hoping for the best, but being prepared for the worse.

Financially speaking the secret is how to deal with it at minimum risk and a potential upside should there be a bull market in commodities. 

I am offering a few things to consider, based on how I am dealing with the present situation. Think about whether these are right for you and your family.

My priorities for 2022 are straightforward. 

  • Food: have a few months of food stored staples that can keep you from starving should supplies get low at the local market. Ideally, this should be a mix of your favorite regular food and some food designed specifically for long-term storage.
  • Water: we use a lot more water than we think. It takes a lot of water to get by for a 3-month period. If you can’t store water, then get a water purifier – they are relatively inexpensive.
  • Get your home secured: consider a system such as ADT or Ring, perhaps get a firearm and training, reinforce your window and door locks, and get a dead bolt system for your front door. These will all help in the event of potential gang violence, robberies and break-ins.
  • Get some gold and silver: if you don’t have any it would not be a bad idea to have a few months of living expenses worth of it. After all, paper money might not be trusted. Also, what happens if the banks don’t you allow access to your bank accounts for any reason? What happens if there is an EMP strike? If the internet goes down, do you have Silver or Gold to get you through when traditional paper money fails?
  • Bartering: can you Barter goods or services?  Do you have a trade or a skill that you can barter for meat, veggies, etc..
  • Keep your expenses as low as possible: think about how to reduce your credit card balances as much as possible.
  • Don’t talk about your hoard or stockpile: Why attract attention to yourself from people who are less prepared?

Basic Preparedness – One Woman’s Journey, Part 1.

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Author Tara Fleming is 56 years old, a 25 year resident of NJ, mother of 3, and employed in financial services. This is the first of two blog posts.

As part of the 55 and older crowd, we should be leading the charge in terms of preparedness and guiding our younger friends and family members to incorporate preparedness as part of everyday life. The preparedness lifestyle should not be looked upon as panic-mongering or hoarding. That perception among the “unprepared” needs to change. It should be part of our culture as Americans so that when an emergency comes, and come it will, we can be part of the solution, rather than part of the problem.

Admittedly, I joined this community very late in the game and I am still a beginner. It was after Hurricane Sandy, that it first dawned on me that I needed to change things. I just was not sure of exactly what to do, and still it took me years to really get started. There is so much to know and learn. But it is important to understand that it is never too late to adopt this survival and preparedness mindset. I would recommend taking it one step at a time, and breaking it down into small steps. There are many great resources available and especially for beginners.

To start let’s split this down into two main areas: 1) Steps you can take to help prevent emergencies from occurring and/or avoiding them in the first place,and; 2) Steps you can take to be prepared for unavoidable emergencies that cannot be prevented or avoided. Here we will focus on prevention, and in the next post we will focus on preparation. You may probably heard some of these things before, but they are crucial to a preparedness mindset, and so they bear repeating.

Physical fitness and health. This cannot be emphasized enough. Become as physically fit as you can, considering any limitations you may have. At a minimum, take a daily walk and get outside. If you cannot walk, invest in a punching bag and throw punches. If a punching bag is not feasible, you can throw air punches. Punches will blast your heart rate and boost your cardio health. Consider programs such as Yoga and Pilates to improve your balance, flexibility and range of motion.

Get an annual physical, including bloodwork. Discuss any findings with the doctor to determine next steps, such as supplements if necessary. Maintain a healthy diet and weight. Of course, consult your doctor before starting any physical activity or adding or removing anything from your diet. Here is a great resource to keep up on all the latest health science and studies – The Andrew Huberman Lab.

Mental and spiritual fitness are also important and all 3 pillars should be in balance. Learning new skills or reading/listening to a book will certainly contribute to mental fitness. If you have a religious affiliation, consider renewing or reconnecting with it. If that is not your thing, just getting out there in nature or learning to meditate or volunteering to help others in some capacity can nourish your spirit. However you choose to do it, balance of the 3 pillars will put you in the best possible position for whatever comes. Our duty as American citizens is to be physically, mentally and spiritually prepared to the best of our ability.

Around your home, make sure you have fire and carbon monoxide detectors installed and working as well as easily accessible fire extinguishers in your place of residence. Plan for how you will exit your home, from any floor, in the event of a fire.

Know what emergency and contingency plans your town or city has in place. Contact your local township committee, city council, etc. or even better, attend the meetings regularly and stay informed.

Read, learn, know, understand and educate others on the Constitution! Understanding freedom and liberty, where it comes from, and how to protect and defend it, is an often-overlooked subject in the preparedness community, but it is crucial for a self-governing citizenry that wishes to remain so – (“A republic, if you can keep it!” -Benjamin Franklin). Here are some great resources that you may not have come across before. You may be shocked at how much you actually do not know and stand to learn about the foundations of freedom and our Constitution!

We can find ways to incorporate these prevention plans into our existing schedules. Try swapping a monthly lunch date with a friend for a skills class together every other month. While you are doing household chores, commuting to work or exercising, listen to an informational podcast or audible book. These are just a few ideas to help you get started along your self-reliance and preparedness journey. Safe travels!