James L. Paris's Blog, page 195

Has Your Kid's Identity Already Been Stolen?

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

What you likely don���t consider is the possibility of your kids or grandkids becoming victims of ID theft. Why would they? They don���t really own anything, and they certainly don���t own the kinds of financial tools and assets���like credit cards and bank accounts���that are ripe for capture by nefarious people. Given that, you might be surprised to learn that children are over 50 times likelier to become victims of ID theft than adults, according to a Carnegie Mellon study.

What makes kids such big targets for identity thieves is that they do possess the one thing that remains the most sought-after possession for these criminals: Social Security numbers. With a Social Security number, an identity thief can file a false tax return, as well as establish credit���and the age of the person to whom the Social Security number really belongs makes no difference whatsoever in the ID thief���s ability to do those things.

So, what can be done? Credit monitoring services are of limited value, so the best way to help guard against ID theft is through the use of a credit freeze. This is where things get a little tricky, though; in most states, the credit reporting agencies���Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion���don���t create credit reports for minors, which means, in turn, there���s no way to freeze them. However, because of the growing problem of minor ID theft, an increasing number of states are passing laws that require the agencies to create credit reports which can then be frozen. 19 states have such laws, presently, and the list is expected to grow.

Other than credit report freezes, parents can help keep their kids safe from ID thieves by being good stewards of their sensitive information. This includes ensuring that school directories, youth sports information resources, and social media accounts do not reveal any more than is absolutely necessary (in the case of social media accounts, revealing nothing is maybe the best way to go).

It���s a shame that the way of the world these days means we have to remain on the lookout for those who would steal our kids��� identities. Nevertheless, it is a growing problem, and so one that we must take seriously and guard against, even as we do all we can to protect our own identities.

A book we heartily recommend is The Patriot Privacy Kit. The book contains substantial content and strategies on how to protect yourself and your family from identity theft. Grab Your Copy Click Here.

Are Graduate Degrees Worth The Money?

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Most news items about the financial payoff associated with having a college degree focus on the bachelor���s degree vs. the high school diploma comparison. Most people who attend college and earn a bachelor���s will stop there, and, traditionally, many jobs that demand college degrees at all don���t require advanced degrees beyond the level of bachelor���s.

However, that has all started to change in more recent years, and you can thank, in part, the ubiquitousness of associate���s and bachelor���s degrees in today���s society...due, in no small way, to the big business that higher education has become in recent decades. Another factor is the longstanding belief that you���re nothing without a college degree, a perception not helped by the demands of many employers that eligible job applicants now have college degrees, even for jobs that don���t really need one. It has been said that today���s bachelor���s degree is like yesterday���s high school diploma, and today���s advanced degree is like yesterday���s bachelor���s degree. So, does this mean that investing even more time and money, beyond what it took to secure that bachelor���s, into getting a graduate degree���is a good idea? Well, that depends.

As with bachelor���s degrees, the worthwhileness of a graduate degree, in terms of its financial reward, is largely dependent upon what one studies. The good news is that getting a graduate degree, in general, will boost one���s lifetime earnings. However, all graduate degrees are not created equal. For example, according to data, an MA in Humanities may add another $200,000 or so to lifetime earnings, while dental and medical degrees can add millions. Of course, professional schools in health care can be difficult to complete, expensive, and can demand a lot of time. So what about MBAs? Well, it turns out that MBA degrees can boost lifetime earnings by between 40 and 90 percent, typically; not too shabby.

None of this is rocket science, really (although an advanced degree in that will surely translate into a lot of money over the course of one���s lifetime); in general, the same fields of study that produce financially unrewarding bachelor���s degrees���many of the liberal arts, for example���tend to produce less-rewarding graduate degrees, while those degrees representative of business, engineering, science, and medicine can mean many hundreds of thousands, and even millions, more in lifetime income. If you���re thinking about investing a bunch of time and money into a graduate degree to improve the financial position of your family, just make sure you do the research beforehand to be sure it���s worth those expenditures.

Shocking Smartphone Ransom Scam

Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Christian Money.com has published a regular flow of articles here lately on the subject of Internet security, and hacking, more specifically. Not only is the subject more important than ever, but it seems as though hacking efforts have become more frequent than ever. Just recently, a friend of mine was the target of a specific, deliberate hacking attempt against all of his devices, and we���re hearing a lot now about smartphones being the new ���favorite��� targets of hackers, as more people spend more of their ���Internet time��� using their phones as the access devices.

*** Top Trending Article - FREE Survival Gear, Just Pay Your Own Shipping Click Here

Now comes word of an app���a porn app, in this case���that is causing big problems for the people who���ve downloaded it; it seems that this app is not a genuine app at all, but a cleverly-disguised piece of malware that takes control of the phones of those who download it. Those who download ���Adult Player��� will find themselves locked out of their phones...but it goes further: the malware also takes control of the ���selfie��� camera, takes a picture of the user, and then displays the picture, along with a ransom note, demanding $500 in order for the owner to regain control of his phone. This kind of attack is becoming more prevalent, and a new term has been coined for the type of malware it uses: ���ransomware.��� With ransomware, the malware takes control of your phone, locks it, and demands payment to unlock it, as is the case with Adult Player.

Again, Adult Player is a porn app, and it is not available through the Google Play store, so in order to access this specific app, one must not only be looking for an app that allows for the viewing of pornography, but it must be accessed from an illegitimate app platform. However, the point here, for our purposes, is not the fact that this is a porn app, but that your smartphone is becoming increasingly vulnerable to bizarre, even dangerous, malware attacks.

*** Top Trending Article - Would You Survive An EMP Attack - Click Here

How do you protect against this stuff? Admittedly, it���s getting more difficult to assure yourself of hack-free phone use, but when it comes to smartphones, remember that any apps you do download should come from the Google Play store; adhering to that ���rule��� is a good start to staying safe. You can also look into anti-virus software for your phone, but opinions vary on its effectiveness; it wouldn���t hurt to call your cell phone service provider, though, to find out what���s available ��� the technologies are always evolving.

Something else you can do is limit the Internet use of your phone, and otherwise refrain from allowing your phone to become a repository of a lot of sensitive information. How practical is that in this day and age? Only you can decide that on behalf of yourself and your own situation, but there is no question that your little cell phone is becoming a much bigger security risk to you than you likely ever thought imaginable.    

I Need A Lawyer But I Have No Money...

We get e mails almost every day at ChristianMoney.com from people that have legal problems and need help. Hiring an attorney is almost always going to set you back a significant sum of money. No knock on attorneys here, they deserve to be paid like everyone else that practices their profession. The truth is, however, that today many legal problems and issues can be handled without a lawyer. We have seen the rise of services like Legal Zoom, which allows people to prepare a wide array of legal documents using a simple online portal.

The other major change that has taken place is within the court system itself. More and more people are representing themselves in court, and provisions are being made to accommodate those that decide to forgo an attorney. Those appearing without an attorney are referred to as Pro Se litigants (which in the Latin literally means 'on behalf of themselves'). Although it is has been commonplace in small claims court, it has now become a similarly common practice in family court as well. Divorce is costly enough, but when you have to shell out money over and over again when disagreements arise about issues like custody, you will quickly run out of money.

Although it might seem like a daunting and frightening proposition, you too can learn the basic skills needed to be represent yourself in court. In the process you will learn a lot and save a tremendous amount of money as well. All of this leads to an online training course that I absolutely love. It is aptly titled The 7 Day Crash Course To Representing Yourself In Court. The course is taught by a trial attorney and comes with a 60 day money back guarantee. 

I love empowering people, and I hope that this course gives you an option if you simply need to handle a legal matter and just can't afford to pay an attorney.

Helping you make the most of God���s money!  

 

James L. Paris 
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com 
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice 
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio

 

 

 

Drive Across The Country In A Free Car Or RV

Have you ever dreamed of taking one of those cross country road trips? I recently discovered an interesting way to do this with a free car or RV. Not only is there no fee for the use of the car on your trip, in some cases you might be given money for gas. This definitely falls into the category of 'too good to be true,' right?

What's The Catch?

You will be driving a car or RV on behalf of a delivery service or a rental company needing to reposition a vehicle in their fleet. In some cases these are privately owned vehicles that the owner needs to be relocated across the country. Having a car driven from point A to Point B is much less expensive than it being transported on a truck. 

The list below is from the website AutoDriveAway.com.  If you look at the list there is a trip that looks interesting to me from Florida to California. There is even another one to drive from California to Florida (maybe I can make it a roundtrip). 

What Are The Details?

Each company will have its own requirements, but generally you will need to be at least 21 years old (some require age 23) and have a good driving record. Of course, you will need a driver's license and will have to pass a background check. You may also have to leave a refundable deposit with the transport company. The amount will vary (e.g. Auto Driveaway requires $350).

TorontoDriveaway.com as the name implies is based in Toronto, but does car transports to the United States. There looks like quite a lot of transports between Toronto and Florida, but there are other trips as well to consider.

Major Rental Car Companies - The rental car companies offer so called 'drive out' deals that are exceptionally low priced rentals that help them to reposition vehicles (as low as $3 per day). You can do a Google search for the name of a given rental car company and the words 'drive out' or you can simply call and ask about these deals. For example, here is the page that Enterprise has set up for one way drive out deals from Florida.

*** Top Trending Article - FREE Survival Gear, Just Pay Your Own Shipping Click Here

Other Companies Seeking Drivers

TransferCar takes things a step further by making available not only cars, but also recreational vehicles (and gas is included). They also offer a hybrid option of giving the driver the ability to extend a trip at an agreed on cost per day  (since these are not personal vehicles but rentals).

RV Relocations Deals

The deals range from A to Z on recreational vehicles. In some cases, you get an RV for a $1; in other cases you enjoy a very large discount for taking the special one way drop off intinerary.

CruiseAmerica
RoadBear RV (one way drop off deals)
Road Bear RV (new transport program)

Vehicle Relocation Search Engines

Imoova.com
Apollo RV
Jucy

I also found it very interesting to note that this opportunity exists all over the world. I found quite a few listings for Australia and New Zealand. Fascinating...

Of course, some people might ask what strategy I have for them to get back home after completing a one way drop off. Well, I thought about the same thing and came up with two options on that. First, there is always a one way plane or train ticket. Secondly, you might find a 'drop off' deal coming back to your original point of departure. Yes, you need a little bit of an adventurous spirit to jump into this kind of thing, but you only live once.

*** Top Trending Article - Would You Survive An EMP Attack - Click Here

If you have ever done a 'drive out' or 'drive away'  I would love it if you would use the space below to share your own experience and we can start a conversation.

Helping you make the most of God���s money!  

James L. Paris 
Editor-In-Chief ChristianMoney.com 
Follow Me on Twitter Twitter.com/jameslparis
Christian Financial Advice 
Jim Paris 24 Hour Radio

Executive Order 11110 - Did The Fed Kill JFK?

Authors James L. Paris and Robert G. Yetman, Jr. take you back to the founding of the Federal Reserve 100 years ago, and expose the little known unconstitutional operations of the U.S. Central Bank. Who are the financial elite that formed the Federal Reserve, and why are they considered the most powerful organization in the world today? Did JFK threaten the power structure of the elite by usurping power from the Federal Reserve with this executive order? Did JFK have plans to dissolve the Federal Reserve as he intended to do with the Central Intelligence Agency? Could the financial elite have been part of an extensive conspiracy to kill the nation���s youngest president? Why was a former president of the World Bank on the Warren Commission?

How Hackers Can Take Control Of Your Car

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

The threat of hacking is everywhere. The reality is that hackers can take so much from us, and can even make our lives miserable for years. Most of us do at least the rudimentary things to try to keep our computers and tablets safe from hackers, because those are the devices we tend to think of being compromised. Cell phone hacking is a real threat, as well - as cell phones have morphed into computers, they have become more vulnerable to hacking; hackers can now penetrate the data on unsecured cell phones simply by dialing the number. Incredible!

Well, PC���s, tablets, even cell phones���those are devices that we can at least ���understand,��� in a way, being hacked���but cars? Yup; now that computers have become the centerpieces of our vehicles (and you thought it was still the engine), the cars we drive can be dangerously susceptible to hacking. In July, Wired published a chilling piece that detailed what happened when one of their writers agreed to be the guinea pig in an experiment that tested how vulnerable automobiles are to hacking efforts. In that case, the writer, driving a Jeep Cherokee, found himself completely helpless as the experimenting hackers sent signals through the entertainment system to immobilize the entire vehicle.

Now comes word that Fiat Chrysler Automobiles has just ordered its second recall in two months so that it may install software that rebuffs hacking attempts. This latest update is for the benefit of the Jeep Renegade, and while the company has issued a statement declaring that drivers of their vehicles have nothing to worry about and the recalls are simply precautionary, it makes sense to think that the Wired story captured their attention.

In the end, anything that is or becomes computerized is basically vulnerable to nefarious actors; that���s just the way the world is now. You can help yourself by remaining extra-aware of your own vulnerability to intrusion, based on the devices and systems you own, and making inquiries of manufacturers and service providers about just how much at risk you might be from the threat of hacking.

The Heavy Bag Route to Becoming ���Fighting Fit���

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

I���ve written before about the benefits of heavy bag training, and I swear by heavy bag training myself, as it remains, after several decades, a centerpiece of my overall fitness and self-defense regimen. One of the particularly great aspects to heavy bag training is how it fully integrates both fitness and self-defense work; in order to properly engage the heavy bag, you have to strike it and kick it, over and over, with great speed and power.

The key to realizing a benefit from your heavy bag training is to apply a high degree of energy and enthusiasm to it. It���s little different from running in that way - if you���re a runner, you know when you���re really pushing things, and when you���re ���half-stepping��� just a bit. The bag will always be an inanimate object, so the benefit you derive from it is entirely dependent on the vigor with which you approach your training.

Amazon.com Widgets

I will have a lot more to say about heavy bag training in the future, but I wanted to more generally broach the subject at this time, as well as introduce you to a very fine heavy bag instructional product in which you might be interested.

The Heavy Bag Blueprint is a program created by Muay Thai fighter Sean Fagan. Muay Thai is the ���official��� martial art of Thailand, and is known as ���the art of eight limbs,��� because it prioritizes the use of the fists, elbows, knees, and shins. It is principally a striking martial art, which I happen to like, and relies little on fine motor skill technique, which is as it should be in a self-defense situation.

The Heavy Bag Blueprint represents basically the ���A to Z��� of heavy bag training. The product is structured into four training modules that present the person looking for both serious fitness training and a heightened ability to execute powerful strikes���with a comprehensive set of instructional guideposts. The modules are: Heavy Bag 101; Advanced Combos; Drills & Burnouts; and Intense Workouts���and each is packed with all of the training you would expect to find in videos with those titles.

The Heavy Bag Blueprint comes with several bonuses, as well, that deal with subjects like diet, cutting weight, warrior mindset, applying specialized techniques to enhancing striking speed and power, and more. One other thing ��� The Heavy Bag Blueprint carries with it a 60-day, money-back guarantee, so if you decide anytime within the first two months of purchase that you���re not satisfied with the product, you can get your money back; how cool is THAT?

One side note: Use of some ���salty��� language will occasionally pop up in the materials, but it wasn���t anything that I found off-putting, so I have no problem suggesting this course. Plus, I have to keep in mind that pro fighters and others who live in the world of hardcore fitness and the fighting arts must, be necessity, keep an ���edge��� that sometimes evidences itself in that way. Like I said, I don���t see a problem with what���s contained in the materials, and I doubt you will, either, but I thought it appropriate to mention, nevertheless.

As I said earlier, there���s more information to come in this space on heavy bag training, but I wanted to get the word out on The Heavy Bag Blueprint as soon as I decided it is something worth having. Again, it���s a serious product for people who are themselves serious about taking their fitness and self-defense training to another level; if that���s you, then this should be right up your alley. To learn more about The Heavy Bag Blueprint, Click Here.

Before beginning any exercise routine, you should seek the advice of a physician or other appropriate, qualified health professional.

Chinese Warships Operating Near U.S. Coast

By Robert G. Yetman, Jr. Editor At Large

Recently, I wrote an article about the significant uptick in the number of Chinese secret agents operating in the United States. Now, there is news that, for the first time, vessels of the Chinese navy���including three surface warfare ships���were ���operating��� off of the coast of Alaska. The sightings took place earlier this week, and it is believed their appearance was meant to coincide with President Obama���s visit to Alaska on behalf of the issue of climate change.

The Chinese military had recently finished a joint training exercise with Russia toward the end of August, and the five ships continued on to the Bering Sea for additional training once the exercise had wrapped. However, according to official reports, the ships moved into U.S. territorial waters as a part of their undetermined activities, operating roughly 12 nautical miles from the coast of Alaska. According to Pentagon officials, there was no issue because the warships adhered to the principle of ���innocent passage,��� which basically means that although they were present in U.S. territorial waters, they were doing so as a function of moving from Point A to Point B, and never displayed any demeanor consistent with threatening behavior.

Still, that leaves more questions than answers, a fact to which the Obama Administration itself even admitted; according to White House spokesman Josh Earnest, although the Defense Department did not detect ���any sort of threat or threatening activities,��� he also said that the purpose behind the presence of the ships was ���unclear.��� China has been unhappy with U.S. surveillance operations near the Chinese coast, and was particularly displeased with the May deployment of U.S. military aircraft near the Spratly Islands, a strategically-located island chain in the South China Sea. The bottom line is that whatever the reason for the presence of these warships so close to the U.S. coastline, it seems unlikely that it was genuinely innocent or incidental.

Arby's Refuses Service To Police Officer?

An Arby���s employee is alleged to have refused service to a uniformed police officer in Pembroke Pines, Florida, on the basis that he was serving a police officer. The officer, on duty and driving a police vehicle, was attempting to order food through the Arby���s drive-thru window when things started going sideways. According to multiple reports, Kenneth Davenport refused to deal with the officer (who remains unidentified, presently) basically from the get-go, and ultimately processed the officer���s credit card for the order only when ordered to do so by the store manager, Angel Mirabel. Reportedly, Mirabel told the police officer, when the latter pulled up to the window, that Davenport ���doesn't want to serve you because you are a police officer.��� The officer ultimately decided to have his/her order refunded after expressing concern over the safety of the food that may have been prepared by any restaurant staff who harbored such a strong dislike for police.

When news of the incident broke, Arby���s CEO Paul Brown, along with Senior VP of Operations Scott Boatwright, contacted Pembroke Pines Chief Dan Giustino to formally apologize. A statement issued by Arby���s about the incident said, in part, ���We take this isolated matter very seriously as we respect and support police officers in our local communities���We will be following up with our team members to be sure that our policy of inclusion is understood and adhered to.���

Obviously, any right-thinking person is, at the very least, highly irritated by this kind of behavior, if not completely outraged. Particularly concerning is how some sort of mystifyingly stylish, chic sentiment about hating the police has taken on the weight and gravitas it has throughout society, with the dire consequences we���ve seen in all too many cases. Police officers are now direct targets of grave violence, and it is considered perfectly appropriate to casually view cops with a great deal of animus simply for being cops. What I thought particularly revealing is Arby���s citation of its ���policy of inclusion��� as the basis on which employees should treat members of the American law enforcement community with civility - that���s why a uniformed police officer should expect to be served when he asks for a meal at a restaurant? Because of a restaurant���s ���policy of inclusion?���

I have been hesitant to use the phrase ���war on cops,��� because it just strikes me as a little too hyperbolic; however, I have to admit that, given the regular displays of hostility toward members of law enforcement that we���re seeing nowadays���everything from incivility to murder���it���s now looking very much like there is a true war, of sorts, being waged against the police. It is now time for anyone and everyone who appreciates the hard and dangerous work done by cops on our behalf to do what they can to help change the shameful narrative about police that has sadly taken root in our society.