Make a list of your stuff

The recent outbreak of storms and the coverage on the TV makes us feel fortunate that this time the tornados spared our community.  As I watched those who lost literally everything to Mother Nature’s fury begin to start over I pondered what I would do in such a situation.  It is one thing to rebuild a home, but replacing the contents is a much more complicated challenge.  For some things like photos, keepsakes and family heirlooms it is impossible to even begin to make a replacement.  For other items like appliances, furniture, computers and musical instruments, just making a list can be a challenge.

Faced with a catastrophe, be it a storm effecting thousands or a more personal tragedy like a house fire, having an home inventory can make things a lot smoother when dealing with insurance agents.  A few hours of work now can save several hundreds of hours later.

For most of us, if asked to list all the items in the house the task would take hours and the resulting list would be very incomplete.  Luckily there are several tools available that can help you develop a complete inventory of your stuff.  Some are very simple.  Some will take several hours.  You need to decide which is best for you.

First, let’s keep it simple. Many of us have a video camera.  Some of us have one built into our smartphone.  A simple inventory can be recorded just walking around your house.  Going room by room you can record all the major items.  As you walk, describe what you are seeing.   “Here is a Sony Bravia 42” Plasma TV purchased in 2009.”  Once you complete your entire house, upload the video to your computer and make a CD or DVDcopy of it.  Store the CD in a safe place such as a safe deposit box or in a fireproof and waterproof box in your basement.  Make a second one and ask a friend to hold on to it for you.

If you have a smartphone there are apps that can assist you.  Using the camera on the phone you develop an inventory using step by step instructions.  One completed, the inventory can be stored online or copied on to a CD for safe keeping.

There are several apps available for the iPhone and many Android models.  You can just search your app store for “home inventory.”  There is a good free app from the Insurance Information Institute that will help you develop a complete home inventory and then allow you to save it securely online for free. It is called “III Inventory” and can be found online at iTunes or from various Android app sites.

Remember that things change so you need to update your inventory periodically.  That mobile phone in your sock drawer with the cracked screen really doesn’t need to stay on the inventory.

Having a home inventory is a good idea.  I hope you never need it.

Make a list of your stuff

The recent outbreak of storms and the coverage on the TV makes us feel fortunate that this time the tornados spared our community.  As I watched those who lost literally everything to Mother Nature’s fury begin to start over I pondered what I would do in such a situation.  It is one thing to rebuild a home, but replacing the contents is a much more complicated challenge.  For some things like photos, keepsakes and family heirlooms it is impossible to even begin to make a replacement.  For other items like appliances, furniture, computers and musical instruments, just making a list can be a challenge.

Faced with a catastrophe, be it a storm effecting thousands or a more personal tragedy like a house fire, having an home inventory can make things a lot smoother when dealing with insurance agents.  A few hours of work now can save several hundreds of hours later.

For most of us, if asked to list all the items in the house the task would take hours and the resulting list would be very incomplete.  Luckily there are several tools available that can help you develop a complete inventory of your stuff.  Some are very simple.  Some will take several hours.  You need to decide which is best for you.

First, let’s keep it simple. Many of us have a video camera.  Some of us have one built into our smartphone.  A simple inventory can be recorded just walking around your house.  Going room by room you can record all the major items.  As you walk, describe what you are seeing.   “Here is a Sony Bravia 42” Plasma TV purchased in 2009.”  Once you complete your entire house, upload the video to your computer and make a CD or DVD copy of it.  Store the CD in a safe place such as a safe deposit box or in a fireproof and waterproof box in your basement.  Make a second one and ask a friend to hold on to it for you.

If you have a smartphone there are apps that can assist you.  Using the camera on the phone you develop an inventory using step by step instructions.  One completed, the inventory can be stored online or copied on to a CD for safe keeping.

There are several apps available for the iPhone and many Android models.  You can just search your app store for “home inventory.”  There is a good free app from the Insurance Information Institute that will help you develop a complete home inventory and then allow you to save it securely online for free. It is called “III Inventory” and can be found online at iTunes or from various Android app sites.

Remember that things change so you need to update your inventory periodically.  That mobile phone in your sock drawer with the cracked screen really doesn’t need to stay on the inventory.

Having a home inventory is a good idea.  I hope you never need it.

A Little Planning Will Save Some Big Bucks

 I got an email from a reader who is planning a trip to Europe this summer and he was wondering about how to stay in touch with his family back at home.  He has a smart phone and was going to get an iPad before his trip.  Since others may also be going out of the country this summer I thought I would share some of the hints I gave him. No matter where you will be traveling, it is a good idea to do some planning and research.  Time spent now will save dollars on the trip.

Let’s first discuss phones.  The cellular networks in most other countries differ from the networks in the USand Canada.  This means that your phone will not work unless you make some modifications.  You should start with your carrier.  They should be able to either provide you a different SIMcard that will allow your phone to work in the foreign country you plan to visit or they may be able to provide a short term rental of a different phone.  There is no one answer so talk to your mobile phone carrier.

Be sure to also ask about the billing.  Most contracts do not cover minutes used out of the country.  This is especially important if you plan to use the data network.  It is easy to rack up hundreds of dollars in bills in a few short weeks abroad.  Find out ahead of time what your plan includes and the cost per minute for telephone use as well as the data rates.

It you are going on a cruise, very likely there will be wifi on board.  The same is true with most hotels but they usually charge extra for the wifi.   I can’t understand why even in this country inexpensive motels give away wifi free and the upscale hotels with room rates of several hundred dollars a night charge an arm and a leg.  Nevertheless they do, so find out ahead of time what they will charge.  If you have wifi available your tablet, smart phone, lap top and any other wifi devices should work fine with no modifications.

You will need to keep all your devices charged up.  This too takes some preparation.  Many chargers like the one for iPhones and iPads can operate on the various voltages found in other countries but you have to be able to plug them in.  Go to Radio Shack or other electronics store and purchase an adapter kit.  Most will have all the different plug configurations found outside North America.  To be extra prepared bring along an extra battery that is charged up and ready to go.

With a bit of planning you will be able to stay in touch using email.  If you have Skype or Face Time you can share the sights and sounds of you trip as it is happening.

A Little Planning Will Save Some Big Bucks

 I got an email from a reader who is planning a trip to Europe this summer and he was wondering about how to stay in touch with his family back at home.  He has a smart phone and was going to get an iPad before his trip.  Since others may also be going out of the country this summer I thought I would share some of the hints I gave him. No matter where you will be traveling, it is a good idea to do some planning and research.  Time spent now will save dollars on the trip.

Let’s first discuss phones.  The cellular networks in most other countries differ from the networks in the US and Canada.  This means that your phone will not work unless you make some modifications.  You should start with your carrier.  They should be able to either provide you a different SIM card that will allow your phone to work in the foreign country you plan to visit or they may be able to provide a short term rental of a different phone.  There is no one answer so talk to your mobile phone carrier.

Be sure to also ask about the billing.  Most contracts do not cover minutes used out of the country.  This is especially important if you plan to use the data network.  It is easy to rack up hundreds of dollars in bills in a few short weeks abroad.  Find out ahead of time what your plan includes and the cost per minute for telephone use as well as the data rates.

It you are going on a cruise, very likely there will be wifi on board.  The same is true with most hotels but they usually charge extra for the wifi.   I can’t understand why even in this country inexpensive motels give away wifi free and the upscale hotels with room rates of several hundred dollars a night charge an arm and a leg.  Nevertheless they do, so find out ahead of time what they will charge.  If you have wifi available your tablet, smart phone, lap top and any other wifi devices should work fine with no modifications.

You will need to keep all your devices charged up.  This too takes some preparation.  Many chargers like the one for iPhones and iPads can operate on the various voltages found in other countries but you have to be able to plug them in.  Go to Radio Shack or other electronics store and purchase an adapter kit.  Most will have all the different plug configurations found outside North America.  To be extra prepared bring along an extra battery that is charged up and ready to go.

With a bit of planning you will be able to stay in touch using email.  If you have Skype or Face Time you can share the sights and sounds of you trip as it is happening.

Gone Phishing

Over the past few weeks I have received numerous strange calls on my cell phone.  These calls are all coming from the same 800 number and a little research indicates that I am not the only one getting these irritating and potentially malicious calls.   The calls are coming from 800-754-0961.  After about the tenth call that I ignored (you have to give them an “A” for effort) I decided to do some investigation.  What I found is that it is a “phishing” scam. 

If you should answer this call or place a call to this number you will be connected with an automated system identified as “Verizon Wireless.”  It should be identified as “Joe’s Bait Shop and Phishing Emporium.”

Phishing is attempting, via some electronic means, to get personal information such as passwords, credit card details, social security account numbers and even cash by masquerading as a trustworthy company or service.  This “Verizon” scam seems to have been around for a while.  I guess it took them a while to find my number.

Calling or answering a call from this number will present you with a very professional greeting indicating that you have reached Verizon Wireless.  You are immediately asked for some personal information such as the last four digits of your social security number or the password for your Verizon Account.  You are invited to make a payment by entering you credit card number.  All of this is bogus.

If you pay your Verizon bill by credit card they already have that information.  Same for the account password.  No legitimate company will ever ask you for your password on the phone. You already know it and so do they, so why would they ask?

I talked to Verizon this week and they confirm that this 800 number is not connected with the company.  A quick search of the web will show that this scam has indeed been around for several years and seems to ebb and flow over time.

The lesson here is to be very careful to whom you provide information.  For example, in one call the “phisherman” may just ask for the last four digits of your Social Security Card.  Two weeks later he might ask for the first six digits.  Voila….they have it all.

When communicating over the phone with a company or service be sure that you are indeed talking to that company.  If you are in doubt, hang up and place a call to the company using a telephone number that is verifiably one that the company really uses.  These numbers can be found on your bill.  When in doubt hang up.  If they have a legitmate reason to contact you, they will get in touch with you.

I  have a complete guide to Phishing scams.  To get a copy just call me at 800-555-5555 and give me your credit card info, your social security number, your bank routing number and account information.  Oh yes, I will also need your mother’s maiden name.

Gone Phishing

Over the past few weeks I have received numerous strange calls on my cell phone.  These calls are all coming from the same 800 number and a little research indicates that I am not the only one getting these irritating and potentially malicious calls.   The calls are coming from 800-754-0961.  After about the tenth call that I ignored (you have to give them an “A” for effort) I decided to do some investigation.  What I found is that it is a “phishing” scam. 

If you should answer this call or place a call to this number you will be connected with an automated system identified as “Verizon Wireless.”  It should be identified as “Joe’s Bait Shop and Phishing Emporium.”

Phishing is attempting, via some electronic means, to get personal information such as passwords, credit card details, social security account numbers and even cash by masquerading as a trustworthy company or service.  This “Verizon” scam seems to have been around for a while.  I guess it took them a while to find my number.

Calling or answering a call from this number will present you with a very professional greeting indicating that you have reached Verizon Wireless.  You are immediately asked for some personal information such as the last four digits of your social security number or the password for your Verizon Account.  You are invited to make a payment by entering you credit card number.  All of this is bogus.

If you pay your Verizon bill by credit card they already have that information.  Same for the account password.  No legitimate company will ever ask you for your password on the phone. You already know it and so do they, so why would they ask?

I talked to Verizon this week and they confirm that this 800 number is not connected with the company.  A quick search of the web will show that this scam has indeed been around for several years and seems to ebb and flow over time.

The lesson here is to be very careful to whom you provide information.  For example, in one call the “phisherman” may just ask for the last four digits of your Social Security Card.  Two weeks later he might ask for the first six digits.  Voila….they have it all.

When communicating over the phone with a company or service be sure that you are indeed talking to that company.  If you are in doubt, hang up and place a call to the company using a telephone number that is verifiably one that the company really uses.  These numbers can be found on your bill.  When in doubt hang up.  If they have a legitmate reason to contact you, they will get in touch with you.

I  have a complete guide to Phishing scams.  To get a copy just call me at 800-555-5555 and give me your credit card info, your social security number, your bank routing number and account information.  Oh yes, I will also need your mother’s maiden name.

I Just Finished Paying For the Old One

The seeming endless improvements in digital technology come with a price and some frustration.  The other day I was helping one of my colleagues hook up his new AppleTV.  He was interested in having access to the vast library of TV programs and films available on demand from Netflix Online, Hulu Plus and others.  But the big reason he went with AppleTV was that he wanted to watch these programs on his large flat screen TV rather than on his computer or iPad.  He also wanted to use the TV to view web sites and YouTube and TED videos rather that only on the small screen of the iPad.

Everything went fine.  The AppleTV is a cinch to set up and after loading in some information about his home Wi-Fi network he was good to go.  We set him up with a Hulu Plus account and I was getting ready to leave.  I had checked the AirPlay feature using my iPhone and was able to see and use all the apps on my phone on the TV but he was having trouble getting either his iPhone or iPad to synch up with AirPlay. 

I tried several fixes with no luck.  Since it was getting late I told him I would do some investigation and get back to him.   I have to say here that when he bought the AppleTV he asked the Apple Store ‘Genius” if his iPad Version 1 and his iPhone Version 1 would work with AirPlay and AppleTV.  They assured him it would.

I guess they don’t read their own customer support documents.  Giving several reasons, the official Apple web site notes AirPlay for AppleTV only works with “iPhone 4S (or later), iPad 2 (or later), iPad mini, or iPod touch (5th generation)”

I tell this story not so much to complain about Apple (although the “Genius” should be demoted to just a C+ student) as to point out how quickly our digital devices become obsolete.  Gone are the days when a TV was never pitched out, it was just relegated to another room in the house. 

At my place of work we used to depreciate our broadcast equipment over 10 years. Today that has been reduced to 3 years.  While it is true that some of the digital equipment is less expensive than the old analog gear, it is difficult and frustrating to try to find money in tight budgets for a new piece of equipment to replace one that is 3 years old because the parts are no longer available or the new required software will only run on the new model.

Perhaps this is the new normal and the price we pay for new services.  Guess there is indeed no free lunch even in the digital world.

 

I Just Finished Paying For the Old One

The seeming endless improvements in digital technology come with a price and some frustration.  The other day I was helping one of my colleagues hook up his new AppleTV.  He was interested in having access to the vast library of TV programs and films available on demand from Netflix Online, Hulu Plus and others.  But the big reason he went with AppleTV was that he wanted to watch these programs on his large flat screen TV rather than on his computer or iPad.  He also wanted to use the TV to view web sites and YouTube and TED videos rather that only on the small screen of the iPad.

Everything went fine.  The AppleTV is a cinch to set up and after loading in some information about his home Wi-Fi network he was good to go.  We set him up with a Hulu Plus account and I was getting ready to leave.  I had checked the AirPlay feature using my iPhone and was able to see and use all the apps on my phone on the TV but he was having trouble getting either his iPhone or iPad to synch up with AirPlay. 

I tried several fixes with no luck.  Since it was getting late I told him I would do some investigation and get back to him.   I have to say here that when he bought the AppleTV he asked the Apple Store ‘Genius” if his iPad Version 1 and his iPhone Version 1 would work with AirPlay and AppleTV.  They assured him it would.

I guess they don’t read their own customer support documents.  Giving several reasons, the official Apple web site notes AirPlay for AppleTV only works with “iPhone 4S (or later), iPad 2 (or later), iPad mini, or iPod touch (5th generation)”

I tell this story not so much to complain about Apple (although the “Genius” should be demoted to just a C+ student) as to point out how quickly our digital devices become obsolete.  Gone are the days when a TV was never pitched out, it was just relegated to another room in the house. 

At my place of work we used to depreciate our broadcast equipment over 10 years. Today that has been reduced to 3 years.  While it is true that some of the digital equipment is less expensive than the old analog gear, it is difficult and frustrating to try to find money in tight budgets for a new piece of equipment to replace one that is 3 years old because the parts are no longer available or the new required software will only run on the new model.

Perhaps this is the new normal and the price we pay for new services.  Guess there is indeed no free lunch even in the digital world.