Bruce’s Poor Man Survival Bulletin
A Digest of Urban Survival Resources
For Independent Minded People!
ISSN
2161-5543
"Necessity is the plea for every
infringement of human freedom.
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
-- William Pitt
It is the argument of tyrants; it is the creed of slaves."
-- William Pitt
From The Frozen Dog Ranch Files
In
This Issue:
1. Our
paranoid leaders
2. Multiple uses for an RV Solar Power Kit
3. 41 Ways to Waste less, 21 things to
consider if filing bankruptcy
4. Privacy protection tips on a smart phones,
email, etc.
5. The Privacy Threat Matrix
What doesn’t
the government monitor or collect on citizens?
Anti-Freedom zealots like
corrupt socialists Chuck Schumer and Obama have been engineering IRS attacks on
the tea party and other pro-freedom groups…
The
administration and its allies are pushing for legislation that would force
political groups to reveal their donors to the IRS, effectively regulating free
speech.
-- Robert A. Heinlein
PM’s
Roundup of Useful Resources…
You can get an RV solar
power kit in any size configuration and the cost is very affordable.
Sometimes we have to look at the world and our situation
differently to see the real value of things like RV Solar Power Kits, like the
ones from UL Solar.
They don’t just need to be used on an RV anymore.
They don’t just need to be used on an RV anymore.
We started thinking of them as a backup power system for all of our vehicles and thought we had a new idea.
RV solar kits are a wonderful way to extend the amount of time that can possibly be spent camping in an RV. We plan to use one or two on our small hide-away cabin.
By utilizing solar power, the normal energy options may be greatly supplemented or entirely supplanted.
With solar panels, you can rely far less on generators and batteries.
There are several RV solar kits on the market today. Here’s one I found on eBay. Available in 200 to 600 Watts.
Are
Electric Cars Bad for the Environment?
If it is electric, it must be good. As you might expect, that is the general consensus around PCMag. We are a bunch of freaks and geeks that can't wait to get out hand on the next hot gadget, whatever it is. Fortunately our resident green tech guru, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, is around to remind us that there is sometimes a downside to all our technological wonders. And even electric vehicles may not be all they appear to be.
If it is electric, it must be good. As you might expect, that is the general consensus around PCMag. We are a bunch of freaks and geeks that can't wait to get out hand on the next hot gadget, whatever it is. Fortunately our resident green tech guru, Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, is around to remind us that there is sometimes a downside to all our technological wonders. And even electric vehicles may not be all they appear to be.
Smartphone Privacy Tips
Using your phone at public
WI-FI locations leave you vulnerable to thieves. Before doing financial transactions or using
a service where you need to input a password, turn off your Wi-Fi and switch to
your phone’s more secure 3G/4G mode and further protection is offered from
sites that begin with https://, a more secure site.
Privacy at the hands of the government has been kicked
to the curb…Since the passage of the
rights bashing Patriot Act, you can no longer get pre-paid debit cards without
providing a Social Security number, something which was against the law
(Privacy Act of 1974) at one time…a domestic alternative is get pre-filled gift
cards. American Express, Visa and
Mastercard all offer them. Instead of
giving up your privacy to the IRS and other which troll social networking
sites, use Privly (www.priv.ly) which makes it impossible for others to
control or own data…they also keep your email host (Gmail, Yahoo) from reading
your emails or turning them over to warrantless so-called authorities.
Free – Updated Sideline Income Resources and Tools
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41 Ways to
Waste Less
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23
Resources for Anyone Considering Bankruptcy: This article
will give you some good resources if bankruptcy is a possibility.
The Nanny State-We love our government
Lawsuit Against NSA to Continue Despite
Government Objection
A federal judge has overruled the U.S. government's
objection that allowing a five-year-old lawsuit against the National Security
Agency (NSA) to continue will endanger national security. While U.S. District
Judge Jeffrey White's ruling is not a final decision, it does bode well for the
Electronic Frontier Foundation, the organization that filed the lawsuit in 2008
to contest a NSA warrantless surveillance program that targeted Americans'
confidential electronic communications. "Given the multiple public
disclosures of information regarding the surveillance program, the Court does
not find that the very subject matter of the suits constitutes a state
secret,"…
The
Parting Thought – Not to worry in the land of the free!
The Privacy 'Threat Matrix'
By Dr. David Eifrig, editor, Retirement Millionaire
We've identified government as the core of the privacy threat matrix. It "sets the table" for rampant privacy violations. Unfortunately, private companies and corporations are almost as bad as the government…
The cozy relationship between government snooping agencies and dominant corporations like Verizon and Google is bad enough in its own right. But where government snooping tends to impact your civil liberties the hardest, corporate privacy violations may have an immediate impact on your wallet.
The widespread use of credit cards, online banking, and smartphones has created several holes in your personal privacy "firewall." If this information falls into the wrong hands, your credit, even your savings, can get erased in a blink.
The good news is, protecting yourself from these risks is simple. Follow the suggestions below to keep your business, credit, and personal activities as secure as possible.
1. Slow, even freeze, your credit. The mass centralization of credit scores into just a few hands (there are only three credit rating bureaus) is dangerous. A negative blemish in one area of a person's credit sphere has the potential to cause a catastrophic loss of his creditworthiness to all businesses across the board.
The blemish could have been accidental (for example, a reporting error by one firm), or intentional (credit cards or whole identities stolen by thieves). It really doesn't matter how it occurs… the results are the same: You may be locked out of the credit markets for years. Even when you do regain some access to credit, your interest rates may remain sky high.
By Dr. David Eifrig, editor, Retirement Millionaire
We've identified government as the core of the privacy threat matrix. It "sets the table" for rampant privacy violations. Unfortunately, private companies and corporations are almost as bad as the government…
The cozy relationship between government snooping agencies and dominant corporations like Verizon and Google is bad enough in its own right. But where government snooping tends to impact your civil liberties the hardest, corporate privacy violations may have an immediate impact on your wallet.
The widespread use of credit cards, online banking, and smartphones has created several holes in your personal privacy "firewall." If this information falls into the wrong hands, your credit, even your savings, can get erased in a blink.
The good news is, protecting yourself from these risks is simple. Follow the suggestions below to keep your business, credit, and personal activities as secure as possible.
1. Slow, even freeze, your credit. The mass centralization of credit scores into just a few hands (there are only three credit rating bureaus) is dangerous. A negative blemish in one area of a person's credit sphere has the potential to cause a catastrophic loss of his creditworthiness to all businesses across the board.
The blemish could have been accidental (for example, a reporting error by one firm), or intentional (credit cards or whole identities stolen by thieves). It really doesn't matter how it occurs… the results are the same: You may be locked out of the credit markets for years. Even when you do regain some access to credit, your interest rates may remain sky high.
The average American does not realize how vulnerable his
creditworthiness is… until it is too late. But there is a solution…
You can limit, even freeze, the issuance of new credit under your name.
Limiting the issuance of new credit just means establishing an extra layer of credit security, across the board. You can do this by issuing a "fraud alert" for your credit. (You don't have to suspect your credit has already been hacked to do this.) It's free and takes less than two minutes to do. You'll even get a free update of your credit report in the process.
Once the fraud alert is active, lenders are to double check with you whenever new credit is requested and verify you did the asking. Here's how to set this up…
Go to the website of any of the three credit-rating bureaus (Equifax, Transunion, or Experian)
You can limit, even freeze, the issuance of new credit under your name.
Limiting the issuance of new credit just means establishing an extra layer of credit security, across the board. You can do this by issuing a "fraud alert" for your credit. (You don't have to suspect your credit has already been hacked to do this.) It's free and takes less than two minutes to do. You'll even get a free update of your credit report in the process.
Once the fraud alert is active, lenders are to double check with you whenever new credit is requested and verify you did the asking. Here's how to set this up…
Go to the website of any of the three credit-rating bureaus (Equifax, Transunion, or Experian)
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•
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Search for "Fraud Alert"
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•
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Submit the appropriate information
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•
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Once the alert is active, it lasts for 90 days
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You can renew the alert every 90 days, indefinitely
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For active-duty military, the alert lasts one year, and
can be renewed indefinitely
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It's important to note that this measure does not stop the issuance of new credit… but it does make the process more accountable to you. It's a great, free way to establish an additional layer of credit security.
If a fraud alert doesn't give you enough peace of mind, you can take things a step further. You can place a freeze on any new credit issuance. This method is typically not free, but it does ensure that no lender will issue new credit in your name. It locks your credit profile and prevents any lender from accessing it.
The fee to freeze your credit profile is minimal and varies depending on the state in which you reside. It ranges from free to $10. The credit bureaus may charge to both "freeze" and "unfreeze" your profile. It takes a few business days for the changes to apply.
If you are in the market for a home or business loan, you may want to avoid doing this. But if you have no new credit needs, this technique brings great safety and peace of mind.
Search for "freeze" on any of the three credit bureaus' websites and follow their instructions.
2. Monitor your credit for free. There is a free service called CreditKarma. This service monitors your credit every day, and sends you an e-mail if it detects any significant change. It also creates a CreditKarma score similar to the FICO credit score.
The website also helps you do debt analysis and suggests how to improve your scores. It even extrapolates what type of interest rates to expect for various purchases like houses and vehicles. And again, this is all free.
With this tool, there's no excuse for anyone not to have a firm grip on his credit. You can check out their website here.
A similar service is called LifeLock. This company charges for many of the same things that CreditKarma does not. But LifeLock also boasts a $1 million guarantee if someone hijacks your credit or identity "on their watch." LifeLock charges between $10 and $25 per month, depending on the suite of services you order. You can visit its website here.
3. Get a temporary credit card number. You can get a temporary credit card number. Most major cards offer this service. Log onto your card's website and search for "temporary card number" or call them directly. They should be able to give you an alternative number to use for your next transaction.
Depending on the company and your own preferences, this number may be good for one transaction or for unlimited transactions up to a certain pre-determined date. You may also be able to set maximum credit amounts for this "virtual card."
One of my favorite ways to use a temporary card number is for limited, free trials. Let's say I get the first month free, but then must pay monthly after that. I can establish a temporary number that's good for one month only. Then, if I really want the service and trust the company, I can supply them with my regular payment details later.
Internet transaction king PayPal also offers this option. You can establish your own temporary PayPal numbers by looking under the "Profile" section of your account. Click the "secure cards" link and then select "generate new card." You can then specify rules for how you want to use your temporary "virtual" card.
4. Use your credit card to enhance your privacy. I've discovered a trick that will allow you to stay in a hotel using a credit card and no one will know you're there…
Credit card companies give you the ability to request multiple cards for one account. Parents add their children onto their own account in this way. But you can also add a "stage name" or "professional name" to your account… and use this when booking a hotel room.
When providing ID to the desk clerk, use your passport (for added security – it doesn't show your home address). If questioned why the card differs from your picture ID, just explain it is your business or professional name. There shouldn't be an issue.
I first learned of this trick when I read the great privacy masterpiece, How to be Invisible, by J.J. Luna. I recommend it to all those looking to "plug the holes" in their privacy firewalls.
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he does for free. Donations made to support him in these efforts are much
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