James L. Paris's Blog, page 181
January 6, 2016
FREE RFID Blockers Protect You From Digital Pickpocketing
Radio frequency identification, or RFID, is fast becoming the new standard in the maintenance and transfer of personal information. RFID involves the use of microchips that contain sensitive personal data, microchips which are now commonly embedded into such things as credit and debit cards, driver���s licenses, passports, and various identification cards. The idea is that the electronically-stored information can make it easier and faster to complete a variety of standard identification and payment processes commonly engaged throughout society.
In a vacuum, it sounds like a great idea, except that when you think through the potential risks associated with such convenience, you quickly determine they can be very daunting. For example, one of the biggest threats associated with the massive and ever-increasing use of RFID technology in ���tools��� like debit cards and driver���s licenses is the nefarious use of equipment that reads the information contained on the microchips. As the use of RFID technology by banks, government organizations, and others has been on the rise, so, too, has risen the potential for theft of your personal information directly off of these chips. As it turns out, anyone in your physical vicinity with some simple equipment can capture your sensitive information with complete anonymity.
To help keep you safe in this new era of electronically-maintained data, I wanted to mention a great deal running right now on a pack of five wallet-sized RFID blockers that you can use to protect your various debit/credit cards and ID cards that now contain the microchips. If you���re within the U.S., the cost of the RFID blockers is just $4.95 for shipping, and if you live outside of the U.S., the cost is just $9.95. Plus, you have added peace of mind knowing that the transaction is backed by a 60-day, money-back guarantee. To grab your five RFID blockers for just the cost of shipping, Click Here.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
Should Christians Have New Year's Financial Resolutions?
Three years ago I wrote a book cleverly titled, "How To Pray For A Financial Miracle." The title did exactly what I expected it to do - grab people's attention. I can not even count the number of angry e mails I have received over the years from people that admittedly did not read the book, but were critical solely because of the title (some even wrote negative reviews on Amazon - even without reading a single page!). It is the story of my own life and struggles, and in many cases what I considered to be UNANSWERED prayers (AKA God not following my plan). Most importantly, how my own plans and goals imploded and left me bankrupt. The key message - Christians should approach goals with a much different perspective than the world. As believers, our focus should be God's Will for our life. While I do think the bumper sticker God Is My Co-Pilot is cute, a better idea is to make God the pilot and take our seat as co-pilot.
...We should approach goals and plans with a much different perspective than the world. As believers, our goals should all be about God's Will for our life.
I think it is totally fine to have New Year's resolutions and goals, so let me be clear on that. I do believe, however, that these should be developed not as the result of reading a Tony Robbins book, or attending a motivational seminar. Rather, much time should be spent in prayer and meditation asking God what His plans are for you. When you heart is right, and you are in a genuine relationship with our Lord, something amazing happens... the desires of your heart, and God's plans for you become one in the same!
"Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4
The World's View Of Success
Tony Robbins, Author Of Awaken The Giant Within, Teaches That We Can Do Anything That We Set Our Mind To. As Christians, However, We Have A True Giant Within, The Creator Of The Universe (And We Don't Have To Wake Him Up).
I recently viewed a video of a motivational speaker addressing a gathering of ten thousand people. The man truly had an amazing story of success (in spite of grave personal adversity), and offered a truly inspiring message. When listening to such an inspirational speaker, we all might tend to accept everything he says as sensible; after all this guy is "successful" and who are we to question his philosophies of success, right?
His opening line was one that is employed by many success-oriented speakers: "You are where you're at in your life because of decisions you have made. The level of success you have achieved is simply a compilation of all of your decisions and actions up to this point in your life." The speaker went on to say, "No one ever becomes a success if they can not first take responsibility for their current circumstances." This kind of statement is certainly an enigma and a tough one to come to grips with as a Christian. I thought for a moment, could he be right? Can we all just sit down and make a list of our life's decisions and accompanying actions and determine that we have steered ourselves to our present destination? Are we truly just the "captain of our own ship?" "How does God fit into all of this?"
"We know that in everything God works for good with those who love him, who are called according to his purpose." Romans 8:28
Throughout my career I have counseled hundreds, and through my seminars and other public appearances, tens of thousands. While it is clear that many of those seeking my financial advice had made bad decisions and seemed to me to be at least partly responsible for their financial predicament, many truly were victims. The stories would fill volumes; people who were facing financial loss due to actions of a business partner, spouse, natural or economic disaster, the economy, unexpected health problems, and the list is endless.
"If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else." Yogi Berra
How do we deal with the reality that no matter what we do or what plans we make, in the end we can not control the final outcome? Show me a motivational speaker who uses that as an opening thought and I will show you 10,000 empty seats. How do we come to grips with the reality that even our best laid plans can and do fail? How can we look at all of the broken pieces of our lives and not feel guilty and hopeless?
Regardless of the reason our finances may be failing, God offers us a new perspective on life's challenges. He promises to those who love him an amazing gift. The gift is a new tomorrow, a renewed life, and that he will take our financial failure and create something even better than what we could have hoped for in our own "success plan."
"Don't bunt. Aim out of the ballpark." David Ogilvy
What an unsettling thought that we are not ultimately in control of our own lives. It is, for most people, painfully obvious what they have done to contribute to their own failure. It is also our responsibility to strive each day to make the most of the material blessings that God has provided to us. In the end, however, we can not control the final outcome. Accepting this truth is a bold step, but realizing that our Heavenly Father can turn our failures into success provides the ultimate peace and security and true "success."
While life will no doubt bring with it a series of good times and not so good times, I have finally come to accept the reality that God's plans are much better than mine. I have also learned that the accumulation of material things does not equal happiness. The Apostle Paul had it right when he said, "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength." (Phillipians 4:12 -13)
I pray that you will find the perfect balance between self reliance and trusting in God, and that through prayer, your goals and God's Will come into perfect alignment.
James L. Paris
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
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January 2, 2016
Buck the System and Join the Tiny House Movement
As greater numbers of people seek ways to push back against ever-complicated existences, one of the ways they are doing so is by dedicating themselves to living physically uncluttered lives, and, as a big part of that effort, downsizing their homes.
To some people, downsizing a residence might mean moving from a 3,000 square foot house to an 1800 square foot house, but, to others, it is a more extreme jump���to a truly tiny house. Tiny houses are becoming all the rage as people seek to do what they can to regain control over their lives. If you, or someone you know, is seriously interested in moving from ���regular��� principal residence to a tiny house, or would like to build one to serve as a getaway location or even a survival retreat, then the following package may be of great interest to you.
How to Design and Build a Tiny House is a comprehensive, multi-platform manual that will provide you with what you need to assemble your own tiny house. It is a digitally-based resource, but one that is loaded with information. In total, there are 19 videos totaling about 2 �� hours, seven SketchUp files, four PDFs (one with 351 pictures), one spreadsheet, and 34 other pictures. Here is a further breakdown:
300+ pictures with narrated explanations
A building supplies list with Lowe���s item numbers and prices
A 25-page manual on how to design each part of your tiny house
A Google SketchUp file of the framing plan used
A Google SketchUp of different ways to mount different trailers
Google SketchUps of different ways to design doors, lofts and levels
Google SketchUps of 16��� and 20��� trailers
Pictures of each framing angle separately
Various diagrams, drawings and floor plans
Links to other essential and recommended resources
One of the really great resources provided is the Microsoft Excel spreadsheet that details all of the component pieces used to build the tiny house featured here, including their prices and product numbers at Lowe���s home improvement store; talk about detailed assistance!
Something else: If you have questions, there is an email provided which you can use to contact the product developer. So, not only do you receive all of these manual resources for just $17, but you can also ask questions along the way of your tiny house journey.
Maybe the aspect of this package I like the best is that it is abundantly clear, particularly through the video narration, that this is a regular person, like you or I, who embarked on his tiny house venture; he is not some hired spokesperson or professional contractor.
A few things: As mentioned, this is a digital package, and while most of the programs you will need to open and view the various materials are ones you likely have already, one you probably do not have is Google SketchUp (it is a free download, and the link to it is provided in the package). You will be using the resources provided to draw your own tiny house using SketchUp. To aid you in this effort, the author has included a link to the video resources of Michael Janzen, he of tinyhousedesign.com, that show how to use Google SketchUp to map out your tiny house.
It should be made clear that this package is really for those who are already quite handy. If you are not at all handy, and have no convenient (including cheap) access to anyone who is, then while this package may still be an excellent information source for you, it is not likely that you will be using it to build your own tiny house. This may all be obvious, but I just don���t want you to think that this is a ���build your own tiny house in one afternoon��� sort of gimmicky package; this is a genuine guide, for serious people looking to construct their own tiny houses.
As with so much of what we feature in this space, this product comes with a 60-day, money-back guarantee. I doubt you will use it, because even if you decide not to rush out and build your tiny ���dream��� house anytime soon, the price of this very comprehensive package makes it easy to hang on to for future reference.
Whether you are a traditional homeowner who is looking to do some extreme downsizing, a budding ���minimalist,��� a recreational outdoorsman looking for a home away from home, or a true survivalist in need of a cost-effective retreat, the tiny house just may be the ticket for you. To learn more about the comprehensive How to Design and Build a Tiny House digital manual, or to pick yours up for just $17, Click Here.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
December 30, 2015
Bill Cosby Charged in Connection with Sexual Assault
As bad as things have been for Bill Cosby since numerous and well-publicized allegations of sexual misconduct against him began entering the public forum, he has not seen any criminal charges come of the uproar���until now.
On Wednesday, Bill Cosby was criminally charged in Pennsylvania for the first time in connection with the numerous sexual assaults he is accused of committing over a period of several decades. The case that brought about this initial charge concerns an allegation that he drugged and sexually attacked a woman in his home 12 years ago. As opposed to the civil suits he is facing, the criminal charge���as well as any others that may follow it���puts the 78-year-old entertainer, once so beloved by the public that he was affectionately known as ���America���s Dad,��� at risk of spending the rest of his life behind bars.
The case at hand concerns a former employee of Temple University, Cosby���s alma mater, by the name of Andrea Constand. According to prosecutors, Cosby drugged Constand and then penetrated her with his fingers. Cosby is specifically charged with aggravated indecent assault, which is punishable in PA by five to 10 years imprisonment and a $25,000 fine.
Cosby was charged just as the 12-year statute of limitations on the crime was set to run out. An added twist is that a previous allegation of Cosby���s assault on Constand was made several years ago, but the district attorney in office at that time did not feel as though there was enough compelling evidence to bring charges then. It was not until documents from a separate civil case brought against Cosby by Constand in 2006 were recently unsealed that further details came to light, which prompted the DA���s office to bring charges now.
���Affluenza��� Teen Not Likely to See Much Jail Time
Ethan Couch made headlines in 2013 when, driving drunk as a 16-year-old and killing four people (and also badly injuring two others), his defense team successfully argued that he suffered from the ���disease��� of ���affluenza.��� Affluenza is basically a pop psychology concept that refers to the inability of a person to connect bad behavior with consequences as a result of having lived a privileged lifestyle. While much of the public believes that the average person convicted of what Couch had done would have been sent to prison for decades, the court���s receptiveness to the affluenza defense translated into Couch receiving just 10 years of probation as his punishment.
Couch made what might be even bigger headlines recently when, after violating the terms of his probation, he fled the country with his mother. The disappearance of Couch, with the help of one of his wealthy parents, reignited the public outrage over not only the light punishment doled out two years ago, but over the broader idea of wealth buying undue privilege.
Unfortunately for those hoping that Couch will really ���get it��� now���it does not appear that, after all of this, Ethan Couch will face much in the way of punishment.
The District Attorney of Tarrant County (Texas), Sharen Wilson, said at a press conference yesterday that Couch is looking at four months in adult jail, at the most. The reason why Couch is not looking at anything more severe goes back to the fact that his original case was adjudicated in juvenile court. There is no provision in law that says, for example, if a convict violates the terms of his probation as assessed in juvenile court, that he is then automatically looked at as though his original case was settled in adult court; this holds true even if he is legally an adult when he violates the juvenile probation.
The bottom line is that despite what so many see as the gross unfairness of the original sentence, as well as the tremendous disrespect shown by Couch and his family to both the people he killed and injured and to the justice system itself in having fled, Ethan Couch will very likely see little punishment for all that he has done.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
December 24, 2015
School District Cuts Bible Verse from ���Charlie Brown Christmas���
As students at W.R. Castle Elementary School in Kentucky were recently preparing their presentation of the now-classic ���A Charlie Brown Christmas,��� a decree came down from Johnson County Schools Superintendent Thomas Slayer that any and all religious references, to include the Bible verse recited by ���Charlie Brown��� character Linus Van Pelt, were off-limits from all school activities. The decree from Superintendent Slayer came after what was apparently a lone complaint from just one parent.
For those of you who remember watching ���A Charlie Brown Christmas��� on TV as a kid, or who may still watch it today, the verse likely stands out to you. It is considered by most to be the most important part of the presentation, and is recited by Linus as an answer to a question asked by the exasperated Charlie Brown about whether anyone knows the meaning of Christmas anymore. Linus responds simply, but poignantly, by quoting Bible verse Luke 2:8-14:
And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and they glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring to you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
And this shall be a sign unto you; Se shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
The ���Part B��� to this story, however, almost makes the fact that the school district banned the verse from the play a good thing. When the play was actually staged, and the point in the production when Linus is supposed to recite the verse is reached, many of the parents in the stands read the entire verse aloud. It is believed that the much of the impetus for the parents��� ���taking charge��� of the play at that moment came from a suggestion by radio host Glenn Beck to do that very thing.
As I have recently written in another piece, I actually understand what government offices, school districts, etc., are doing in situations like these. In so many cases, the people behind these decisions do not genuinely support them, but must protect the agencies they represent from lawsuits that anti-Christian and anti-religious activists will unquestionably file. No one in his right mind thinks that a character���s recitation of Bible verse in a student production of ���A Charlie Brown Christmas��� is tantamount to the Johnson County School District endorsing Christianity. However, until greater pressure is mounted on elected officials���to include getting out there and electing the right ones, to begin with���incidental expressions of faith on government property will idiotically continue to be banned.
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
December 23, 2015
Warning To Public Urinators In San Francisco
Beware, public urinators, some of San Francisco���s walls now pee back.
Public Works crews have finished painting nine city walls with pee-repellant paint and more are in the works. The painted surfaces make urine spray right back onto the shoes and pants of unsuspecting relief-seekers. It���s the city���s latest attempt to clean up urine-soaked alleyways and walls.
Image 1 of 6Using the wall at 16th Street and Mission as an example, Public Works director Mohammed Nuru demonstrates how the walls deflect liquid onto the clothes of those that urinate on the walls.Using the wall at 16th Street and Mission as an example, Public Works director Mohammed Nuru demonstrates how the walls deflect liquid onto the clothes of those that urinate on the walls. Photo: Cameron Robert, The Chronicle
via m.sfgate.com
Jim Paris Comments On This Story
I guess I will have to find a bathroom the next time I visit...
Lunch Lady Loses Job After Giving Free School Meal To Penniless Pupil
A lunch lady at an Idaho school who gave a hungry 12-year-old a free hot meal after the girl said she had no money has been fired following the incident.
Dalene Bowden, who worked at Irving Middle School in Pocatello, Idaho, said she offered to pay the $1.70 lunch charge for the girl, but her supervisor refused the offer.
Jim Paris Comments On This Story
This is really sad, but there may be more to the story here. What about all of these free meal programs? I could never see a kid go without lunch in a situation like this. Most schools have a system to allow a student to get a minimum lunch if they forget or don't have lunch money on a given day (e.g. a peanut butter sandwich, etc...). To fire someone over something like this is just not right. I wonder how much waste exists in that school system and how many people are on six figure salaries? I hope this brings embarrassment to those behind the firing and this lady turns ends up being celebrated as a national hero.
December 22, 2015
Are Terrorists About To Take Down Power Grid?
We know now that the hacking of housing files at the University of California, Santa Barbara, was the work of the Iranian government, with an eventual attack on the U.S. power grid the ultimate goal of this and other covert efforts by the Iranians to access sensitive information within the U.S.
An investigation by the Associated Press reveals that hackers have been able to get their hands of highly-detailed engineering schematics and other drawings of a multitude of networks and power stations stretching across the country. Investigators learned that Iran was behind these attacks, and that the information accessed by the Iranians included log-in information that could be used to breach generating stations and potentially facilitate a nationwide blackout.
Additionally, a just-published piece in The Wall Street Journal disclosed that Iranian hackers successfully accessed the control center of a small dam located less than 20 miles from New York City back in 2013.
Despite the public face of the U.S. government on this subject, which minimizes even the idea of any threats to the U.S. power grid at the hands of terrorists, continued investigative efforts on the part of key news agencies like the AP are confirming for us ���regular people��� that the America���s power grid is, indeed, under constant threat of breach by her enemies. The fact that a successful, widespread attack against the grid has not yet occurred is not at all because no one is trying���and common sense dictates that such an attack is not a matter of ���if,��� but ���when.���
Given the U.S. government���s public posture on this issue, it is up to you to learn more about how to protect yourself and your family when America���s power grid finally becomes a successful target���perhaps even on a regular basis���of terrorist hackers.
Jim Paris is recommending the book, Darkest Days. It is a 177 page spiral bound, fully illustrated manual (8 1/2 x 11 page size), that goes through the A to Z of how to survive an electromagnetic pulse attack. Click Here To Get Your Copy
"I have this book sitting on my desk right now. I have to tell you that watching the NYSE and United Airlines taken down last week really got my attention." Jim Paris
By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large
December 21, 2015
Bank Of America Creating New Bitcoin?
In the news this week was the revelation of multiple patent applications filed by Bank Of America related to the creation of a new cryptocurrency, could it be the next Bitcoin? Why online college degrees are now the smart way to get an education. How to get prepped in one trip to Wal-Mart, $100,000 Christmas bonuses, two scams to avoid this holiday season, and will gas prices stay this low for very long?
