Topic: Making Life Better

So, Let’s consider: Getting and staying Tech Savvy 0

Posted by on in Health, Hobbies, How To, Internet, Laptops and Tablet PC's, Life, Living, Making Life Better, Self Improvement, Technology Trends And Directions



So, Let’s consider: Getting and staying Tech Savvy

As the old addage goes: The only thing constant is change. The days of pencil, paper and protractor are quickly being replaced by every day tools the likes of which we first saw in Dick Tracy in the comics decades ago. The little toys that Diet Smith Industries came up with back then were the tools which we’re finding to be becoming standard and indispenseable items of today and tomorrow.

Now I have to confess, I’ve been in computers for over 45 years, and I still learn stuff every day. So, I’m writing this basically directed towards those of my generation and the one before as many of us now have to use these new toys as requisites to getting through our daily lives!

Once one learns what’s out there, where it is and how to use it, you’ll find your life can be very positively impacted. For many that are retired, living alone, etc., it is also a great way of rebuilding your life social and communication structure. The factors that lead to isolation for many can be replaced by the simple tools like FaceTime, Facebook, and other video and social applications. Even though you’re several time zones away, you’re basically in the same room. But, you don’t have to be retired to use and want to use these resources!

Learning about and how to use basic consumer technologies can help you keep current on events. You will no longer have to depend on Tom Brokaw, Huntley, Brinkley or any of the rest. It’s there for you to just got get and very current if not in real time. Your biggest challenge will be in selecting from the crowd!

This also lets you connect with other people that share your hobbies and interests. Explore new hobbies, places to go, and many other things of interest. The educational resources are amazing and many of them are free – and these are everything from simple how to’s to MIT and other university classes. They’re just a web browser or google(www.google.com) away! Had a nagging question that you just can’t find the answer to? Google it!

So how can you find and learn of these resources if you don’t know what, where or how?

Well, ask someone else or ask a kid. Kids are totally immersed in this world. Have them show you what they’re finding and using. And, by “kid” that also applies to high school, college and adult “kids” as well. Don’t feel you have to reinvent the wheel as chances are someone has done that already!

Get your feet wet! Take a class on basics. Libraries are a great resource for this and they can also tell you who are the good resources in your area to learn from. Sometimes this is a local civic group, club, community college, church group or university.

Don’t be afraid the ask the “dumb questions”. Many of us have found that they’re the best kinds of questions to ask. You’ll also find that Coursera and Udemy classes are really great places to start on many topics.

Use online resources like YouTube (www.youtube.com). This resource is loaded with how-to’s on most anything you’d ever want to know about or how to do. It’s also loaded with music and videos to just watch. And it’s free just for the browsing.

Search for it. Using search engines like google can make your life so much easier. Just go to the search line and ask you question. Keep it simple and then refine it details as you learn and see your options. For example you could enter “beekeeping” on the search line, and sit back as you get back and get inundated with responses. Then you’ll learn things like using “beekeeping mite control” and other ways to refine your search questions. And a “How do I…” is always a good way to start. If you’re looking for more advanced responses, try scholar.google.com.

As with the other parts of life, crawl before your walk, before you run. So, start small. Don’t feel you have to conquer the world with your first google search! Buy do get in there and play. The more you play, the more you learn. The more you learn the better your life will be.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of December 3, 2023 0

Posted by on in Making Life Better, Quote of the Day, Thought of the day, Word of the Day



Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of December 3, 2023

December 3, 2023

Haberdasher – N. – Dealer in menswear

December 4, 2023

Caveat emptor – n. – “Let the buyer beware.”

December 5, 2023

Patronize – V. – Visit as a customer

December 6, 2023

Mercantile – Adj. – Related to buying and selling

December 7, 2023

Haute Couture – N. – High fashion

December 8, 2023

Millinery – N. – Related to women’s hats

December 9, 2023

Floorwalker – N. – Roving sales person

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Last Week’s Words Can Be Found At

Word(s) Of The Day – For The Week Of November 26, 2023

This Week’s Thoughts Of The Day Can Be Found At

Thought(s) Of The Day – For the Week of December 3, 2023

This Week’s Quotes Of The Day Can Be Found At

Quote(s) Of The Day – For the week of December 3, 2023



So, Let’s consider: Sometimes you have to do what’s right…regardless of what the rules are. 0

Posted by on in Doing what's right, Life, Living, Making Life Better



So, Let’s consider: Sometimes you have to do what’s right…regardless of what the rules are.

There’s a story that’s told about a school teacher that took a small fish out of the fishbowl he had in his classroom and left it on the desk beside the bowl and let it flap around. Before he left the room, he admonished the class that if anyone left their seats during his absence that they would be severely punished. And then he left.

All the children sat and watched as the fish flopped about gasping for air. None left their chairs for fear of punishment.

Finally, a little a little girl in the back jumped up from her chair and ran up to the floundering fish, replacing it in the bowl and giving it life. She was the only one attempt to aid and rescue the fish versus watching it die.

In time, the teacher returned to the room and informed his students that the fish had been a lesson for them. That the fear of getting in trouble should never stop you from doing what’s right or coming to the aid of someone in need.

Sometimes you may have to challenge and even oppose authority and group think simply because it’s the RIGHT thing to do.

Never forget this little parable.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let’s consider: We see things differently… 0

Posted by on in Election, Elections, Family, Immigratoin, Inside The Beltway, Law Enforcement, Let's Consider..., Making Life Better, Media, Press, Self Improvement, Self Respect, Socialism, Washington Politics



So, Let’s consider: We see things differently…

I still love my democrat friends and family but, you see it your way and I’ll see it my way!

You see Trump’s arrogance, I see Trump’s confidence.

You see Trump’s nationalism, I see Trump’s patriotism.

You hear Trump’s unsophisticated words, I hear Trump’s honesty.

You see Trump’s racism, I see Trump’s words being misconstrued and twisted by the biased media daily to fit their narrative.

You see Trump as a Republican, I see Trump as a Patriot.

You see Trump as a dictator, I see Trump as a leader.

You see Trump as an Authoritarian, I see Trump as the only one willing to fight for our freedoms.

You see Trump as childish, I see Trump as a fighter, unwilling to cave in to the lies.

You see Trump as an unpolished politician, I see Trump as a breath of fresh air.

You think Trump hates immigrants, I know Trump is married to an immigrant.

You see Trump putting an end to immigration in America, I see Trump welcoming immigrants to America, BUT LEGALLY.

You see cages at the border, I ses cages Obama built at the border.

You see Trump with a struggling economy, I see Trump with an amazing economy until the Democrats shut it down.

You see the violence in the streets and call it “Trump’s America”, I see the violence in the streets of Democratic run cities who are refusing Trump’s help and call it “Liberal America” or “Progressive America.”

You want someone more Presidential, I’m happy we have someone who finally doesn’t just talk the talk but actually walks the walk.

You and I? We see things very differently… But, that difference is part of the STRENGTH that makes America Great.

Let us try to find strength in our differences and strive to continue to make our constitutional republic the best country on earth.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let’s consider: What if America panics AGAIN? 0

Posted by on in Corona, Covid-19, Customer Service, Food, Home, Inside The Beltway, Making Life Better, Media, Press, Safety, Walmart



So, Let’s consider: What if America panics AGAIN?

If you endured the 2nd, and thankfully last, presidential debate, you were probably struck with Joe Biden’s response to Trump not telling the world what he knew in the early days of the Covid Pandemic. “America doesn’t panic” crowed sleepy brain dead Biden in response to Trumps comments that he withheld information he knew due to fear of people panicing. This would be in the same line as the reasoning why it’s illegal to yell “FIRE” in a crowded theater. People would kill themselves as they all stomped over each other on their ways to the exits and history has proven this time and time again.

BUT AMERICA DID PANIC! Clearly Biden totally missed all the EMPTY SHELVES this past winter, spring and early summer. Walmart and most every other grocery had totally EMPTY SHELVES as, for reasons known but to God, Americans PANICED and raided the stores for basic needs and stores! Brain dead Biden must have someone else doing his shopping, which would be nice, but he CLEARLY WAS OUT OF TOUCH with what was happening in smoke stack America. ANYONE and EVERYONE that does their own shopping, of which I am one, were clearly well aware that people clearly had and were PANICING! So, where was Biden during all this time? I have no clue, but he wasn’t in any Walmart or grocery store that I was in!

So, was Trump warranted in his withholding information for the good of America? The evidence would suggest that yes he was.

So, not to freak all of you out, but just some words of cautional contingency of what may happen again this winter, but that all of us hope like hell doesn’t!

In all probability, based on the current published trends, we’re going to have another freakout on covid like we had last spring. And, as then, I fully expect the marxist, irresponsible, media to be leading the charge of hysteria. Some think the impact may be worse as people remember how things were last winter/spring in terms of food and other stocks availability…or lack of the same.

Don’t freak out! But, do take serious stock and review of what you have, would need and didn’t have during the great panic of this past spring. If you needed it and couldn’t find it, make sure you have it and enough of it. I’M NOT SAYING TURN YOUR HOME INTO A WAREHOUSE! I’m NOT advocating the panic hording of stuff that happened back then! Just be PRUDENT AND JUDICIAL! Remember what problems you had during the panic of this past winter and plan accordingly…should we get hit by another event like the last.

Think and plan. Don’t hoard more than you need or will use…someone else may need some as well.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: Some thoughts on planning your move…. 0

Posted by on in Family, Home, Making Life Better, Moving





So, Let’s consider: Some thoughts on planning your move….

I’ve moved more than enough times in my life and I gave up count after the number hit 25. You don’t have to have moved over 25 times to know that any move is a royal pain in the ass. So, here’s a few thoughts that may help make your next (or perhaps current) move a little easier…

Talk with your insurance agent about your move.

I’m putting this at the top of to-do’s intentionally. It’s an item that is very frequently overlooked or just ignored…until something goes wrong and you find out you’re not covered. A quick call to your insurance agent telling them that you’re moving, where from, to, how and a quick review of your move’s plans can save you a lot of potential pain and loss later. Make sure where you’re going is covered properly as well as your goods in transit and any intermediary storage facilities and processes. Caveat: CYA is the order of the day.

Plan, plan and plan some more…

There are times when your moving time window is lengthy and there are times when you gotta move next week. In either case, it’s well worth the time to just sit down with pad and pen and do a little thinking on paper. Write down things like: Where am I going from and to? How do I plan to get from here to there? How much stuff am I taking? Where am I going to put it when I get there? Do I need a hotel, etc., while there and moving in? Do I need any help and if so who and what?

Plan how to handle your stuff.

Walk through your current abode with your pad and pen. Make a notation of what you have and how you think you should pack it. Does something need special packaging, handling or treatment? Is it something that is fragile or valuable to the point you want to move it yourself vs the movers?

Don’t feel you have to BUY boxes.

A little simple planning and a few drives past your local liquor stores when they have their empty boxes outside or just call them and you’ll have more boxes than you’ll need and they’re happy to get rid of them. If you keep the subdividers in them they’ll also work for things like vases, etc., provided you don’t play soccor with the boxes while moving. And, saving a couple weeks newspapers for packing $ave$ on padding expenses as well…
LABEL your boxes as to what’s in them and where they should end up at in the target venue. This will help you, your movers and save you alot of “where the heck is that box with the…” frustrations. I’m not talking detailed inventory, per se. Just grab a black sharpie and make notes on the outside of the box. I would also suggest that if you have boxes of valueables that you NOT write things like “gold bricks” or “firearms” on the outside. Rather use a codeword that works for you: “Wally’s rock collection” or “Special plumbing parts” should work. You’ll know what’s inside and nobody else needs to… And, PLEASE UNLOAD ALL FIREARMS BEFORE YOU PACK THEM.

Access to your stuff during transition and after landing.

There’s going to be stuff that you’re going to need during the move and immediately after the move. Identifying these items should also be part of your pen and pad walk around planning. Label these items clearly during packing and perhaps place them in a special and different area for special handling versus the bigger piles. Also, think about what you will need during the transition: PC, laptop, small table(s), chair(s), cooking items, items/toys for kids, etc…

What’s hanging on your walls…

The old addage of “what goes up, must come down…” applies to anything you’ve put on your walls. Pictures, posters, etc., need to be part of your packing and planning process as they may require special handing and packing.

Change of address notifications.

Frankly this is a very simple but important function of your move. The poney express office has a simple form for you to fill out for their forwarding purposes and you can write a simple “effective today, my new address is: xxxxx” letter to drop off at your bank, put in your credit card payments, etc. Frankly, I prefer getting a post office box as it makes my relocation easier and my mail delivery smoother and more secure. Further, if I take a weekend away, nobody knows it from the pile of junk that is cluttering my mailbox on the street or in the apartment complex.
Finally, good luck with your move. Keep some non-alcoholic drinks handy during the process and be safe.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider: 'Tis the Season – for Shysters 0

Posted by on in Christmas, Holidays, Hope, Let's Consider..., Life, Making Life Better





So, Let’s consider: ‘Tis the Season – for Shysters

Well, it’s that time of year again… Somewhere shortly after the last of the fireworks have gone out on the 4th of July and and frequently by July 5th, you’ll start seeing every store from Walmart to your local drug store starting to bring out their xmas schlock and reminding you how few days it is until “Christmas”. And they’ll be pounding that drum until the champagne starts flowing on New Year’s Eve. Forget that there’s 6 months of holidays yet to come and that the historical and Biblical records are overly clear that the overly marketed fat jolly elf of December 25th has nothing to do with the birth of the Christ Child, you’re going to be inundated with all kinds of crap that you just can’t live without buying for “The Season”…history and logic be damned.
Along with these shysters will come a more sinister group of shysters that just as predictably show up every year wanting your money. These are the shysters that have prey on the good hearted people wanting to help others. These are they shysters that tell you how much good your donation to their cause is going to do for the world. How blessed you will be once your fork over your cash to them and their cause celeb or foundation or whatever buzz word will get you to part with your money. And, of course, little to none of your cash will get to where it’s supposed to go.
Now, I’m not stupid enough to not fully understand that there’s an abundance of well meaning and credible organizations of good will towards mankind out there, but there’s just as many organizations that are more interested in their own good will than helping the homeless people down the street.
This season I would encourage you to be generous with your giving, but I would also encourage you to be vigilant with whom you give to. Giving to help others not only shouldn’t be just one day a year, it should also be to those methods and organizations that actually are interested in doing good for their fellow man versus lining their own pockets, and that do so throughout the year as well. Preferably ones with a good existing record of having done so in the past.
Remember, the homeless guy down the street needs as much to eat on September 30 as he does on December 25th.
This year, please be generous, but also, be smart about your giving…and remember that generosity is needed 365 days a year.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.

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So, Let's consider – Interviewing yourself 0

Posted by on in Career, Family, Friends, Life, Making Life Better, Self Improvement





So, Let’s consider – Interviewing yourself

Of all the stuff I read and have to read, I find that a good interview is amongst the most interesting, enjoyable and enlightening types of articles. I read interviews in things as diverse as Parade, business and trade journals, food and social journals and there’s always the gold standard of interviews – Playboy.
Now interviews can vary in terms of focus from a profiling, business centric, solution centric and may other ways that the author/interviewer is attempting to skew the direction of the article. The ones I enjoy the most are the ones that profile a person and tell me about them, their history, likes, dislikes, priorities, goals, etc. They can also make one think about their own directions, values, history, decisions, etc.
Now chances are, very few of us are ever going to be interviewed for a magazine article, but I was wondering what it would be like to interview my self and how I might answer the questions I see being asked others a lot. Frankly, I’m going to cheat a bit, I’m only going to ask the questions and let you answer the questions for yourself, as if you were being interviewed. If you like this idea and some of the questions, you may find this concept useful at a party or as an ice breaker for a social event.
So here goes and I hope you come up with the right answers:
How did you end up in the occupation or line of work that you’re doing?
What skill sets would you like to acquire or improve on?
What’s your favorite part of the day?
What is the largest lesson you’ve learned in your life?
The game I still play is?
The best gift I ever recieved was?
What one thing can you not live without?
Who has had the greatest impact(s) on your life and the decisions you’ve made?
What would you be doing if you weren’t in your current occupation? Why aren’t you doing it?
What would you like to hear God say when you arrive at the Pearly Gates?
What trends are most impacting your life?
What is your most favorite word?
What is your least favorite word?
What is your favorite curse word?
What’s the first thing you do when you get home each day?
What profession other than your own would you like to attempt?
What profession would you not like to do?
What’s the first thing you do when you get to the office or work place each day?
What do you like to hear? What’s your favorite sound?
What is your idea of earthly happiness?
To what faults do you feel most indulgent?
Who are your favorite fictional heroes?
Who are your favorite characters in history?
Who are your favorite heroines in real life?
Who are your favorite fictional heroines?
Who is your favorite painter?
Who is your favorite musician?
What quality do you most admire in a man?
What quality do you most admire in a woman?
What is your favorite virtue?
What is your favorite occupation?
Who would you have liked to be?
What’s the one thing that most people don’t know about you?
What’s the best advice you’ve ever been given? Did you follow it? Did it work?
If you had infinite money, what would you buy? Why?
Who’s your favorite composer or musical artist?
The last movie you saw was?
What was the Best movie you’ve ever seen?
What’s the best book you’ve ever read?
Where would you like to live?
What’s your guilty secret pleasure?
If you could have a superpower, what would it be?
If you were stuck on a desert island, what three items would you want?
What’s the nerdiest thing you’ve ever done?
What do you value most in your friends?
The biggest trend affecting what I do is?
What are the biggest challenges that you are facing?
What accomplishment are you the most proud of?
Who are your favorite fictional heros?
What do you like to do in your spare time?
What natural gift would you most like to possess?
What’s your favorite part of the day? Why?
Where do you see your life going?
What will be your next “big thing”?
What historical figures do you most despise?
What event in military history do you most admire?
What was the best decision you ever made?
What was the worst decision you ever made?
What is your favorite color?
What is your favorite flower?
What is your favorite bird?
What decision in your past would you like to have a “do over” on?
What place would you like to visit and haven’t?
What do you like on your pizza?
Boxers or briefs?
Favorite ice cream? Least favorite ice cream?
What person in history would you like to have lunch with? Why?
How would you like to die?
How would you like to be thought of?
Where would you like to be buried?
What should they write on your gravestone?
Think of a few I missed? I’m sure there’s many. Add them to your list and see where the answers take you.
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.


So, Let's consider: Under age drinking prevention and our kids 0

Posted by on in Around the House, Family, Health, Making Life Better, Self Respect





So, Let’s consider: Under age drinking prevention and our kids

OK, we all know that high school and college is the time to do our hell raising, stretch the limits, do things we know we shouldn’t because, well, we’re kids and it’s our time. And given some of the subjects raised during the last Supreme Court nomination fiasco, perhaps we should look at a few things.
One of the things being used to stretch limits and limit rational thinking is alcohol. No, I’m not writing a column about prohibition. I’m writing one because I’m concerned and you should be as well. I just want you to think about your kid’s future…or perhaps even your own…for a few minutes. Gimme that?
OK, so, the concerns are simple. In the last month: over 7 million people under the age of 21 drank. Over 30 percent of high school students drank. 14 percent of high school students binge drank. Over 6 percent drove after drinking alcohol and 17 percent rode with someone that had been drinking. By the time they get out of high school, over 62 percent of high school students and 23 percent of 8th graders will have experimented with alcohol.
Over 4,300 kids will die from alcohol related incidents this year and about 120,000 will be treated in hospital ER’s for alcohol related injuries.
And, if you’re not awake yet, under aged drinking is a direct lead to unwanted, unplanned and unprotected sexual activities, not to mention pregnancies and STD infections. It also directly leads to disruptions in a person’s normal healthy growth, physiological and emotional development and opens them up for physical and sexual assault.
By the way, these aren’t numbers I pulled off the top of my balding head, they’re directly from the CDC.
So, what’s causing some of these things? Well, let’s consider a few things: Major social and/or psychological transitions during middle and high school. Getting a driver’s license leaves one to a much free’er life. There’s also the situations where someone has a history of depression, social or other emotional issues. The ever looming use of alcohol in the family – face it, your kids are mirrors of you, and if you think you’re finding the answers to your problems at the bottom of a glass or bottle, so will they. Then there’s the ever present peer pressure of being a kid – my friends are drinking so I should as well to stay kool.
Many think under aged drinking during this time of development is normal and acceptable. After all, kids need to experiment to learn about life, so they say. Really? How many of you intentionally put your kid’s hand in the fire to prove to them it’s hot and dangerous? Likewise, it’s incredibly important to consider the incredibly negative ramifications and consequences of these actions and is it really worth what your kid may pay for this education either now or in the future?
So, how can we help our kids to have good healthy lives while developing normally mentally, socially and physically by preventing their underage drinking? Let’s look at a few things.
Stay involved in your kid’s lives. Be proactive in developing your relationship with them. They ARE your future, as well as part of all of our futures.
Get to know who their friends are as well as where your kids are and what they’re doing. A major part of successful parenting is proactive management. No, I don’t want you to become a little Hitler in their lives, but but you DO need to be involved and provide direction(s) – and that includes with who they associate with and when.
Part of parental guidance and management is setting and enforcing clear standards – and this includes standards regarding use of alcohol, drugs and other things that are damaging to your kid’s future and life.
Stay away from alcohol yourself. Especially in higher risk scenarios and don’t allow anyone to operate a vehicle or other dangerous activities after drinking.
Don’t allow under aged drinking in your home. Better yet, just don’t have booze in the house if at all possible.
A really important thing to remember is: none of us has a monopoly on brains. If you think you have an alcohol problem or your kid might have a problem get help! Talk to your family doctor, pediatrician, clergy or someone else that’s a medical professional. There’s no dishonor in understanding that we all have limitations and there are times when we need to get help that’s qualified and knows more than we do. Hell, you goto a mechanic when your car needs fixing, so don’t be bashful on other topics as well.
Finally, talk regularly with your kids. Let them know that you care and that you have expectations. Explaining these expectations to them and the “why” behind them today may be the reason that they’re here tomorrow…
I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.


So, Let's consider: Guarding Against Identity Theft 0

Posted by on in Credit Cards, Family, Identity Theft, Let's Consider..., Making Life Better, Security, Technology Trends And Directions





So, Let’s consider: Guarding Against Identity Theft

Identity Theft. We’ve all heard it. Some of us have be the victims of it. It’s a royal pain in the ass when it happens to you. It’s not going away any time soon.
So, let’s consider a few things we can do to help protect ourselves in this war against identity thieves.

Memorize your Social Security Number (SSN) and leave the card at home!

Frankly, unless you’re applying for a job or have to show proof of citizenship, etc., there’s no real reason to be carrying your SSN card around with you at all. Leave it at home in a secure place. Perhaps the same place you leave your passport, birth certificate, etc.
Your SSN is THE biggest piece of identity information that a thief would want. Once they have it, there’s very little about you that they can get, find and use against you. It IS the key to your identity.

PROTECT YOUR SSN

We’ve already said that it’s the single most useful key to you that anyone would want. So, don’t give it out to anyone that doesn’t have a REAL need for it.
Real needs to NOT include: Credit card application, “we need it for ID”, or my favorite: “we need it for our computer…” Trust me, their computer won’t die of malnutrition if it doesn’t have your SSN and if they want your business they’ll find another way.
One of the biggest issues I run into with SSN’s is things like doctor’s offices that think they need it to “verify your insurance.” Uh, that’s what your insurance card is for. Period, end of story. Ask them how they treat patients that aren’t US citizens and you’ll find that they generally assign them some arbitrary number – tell them to do the same for you. Having been in IT for over 35 years I’ve seen how your SSN can be used and abused against you and trust me you don’t want it out in some medical history database for any other insurance companies or vendors to be able to paw through at will.
Further if your student ID or driver’s license is your SSN, ask that it be removed and that another number be issued to you immediately.

Get a good shredder and USE IT

In getting a shredder you want one of those models that makes total confetti out of what you feed into it. The ones that just make strips of paper out of your documents are basically useless. Here what you’re doing is making the other guy’s data easier to use than yours. Thieves are generally looking for quick access to information and if you make yours hard to get then they’ll most likely go on to someone else that’s not as smart.
If you have a fireplace or a fire pit handy, use it. In my office I have 2 trash cans by my desk. One is for non-burnables (empty coke cans, etc) and the other is a paper bag for burnables…I call it my “burn bag”. When it gets full, I take it over to the fire place and strike a match to it. Problem solved.

Shed or burn anything sensitive

My personal policy is that if it has “names or numbers” on it, it gets shredded or burned. This includes credit card statements, bank statements, anything from any government agency, tax office, business associates, etc. If it’s not something I wouldn’t mind reading on the front page of the Washington Post, it gets shredded.

Use public Wi-Fi hot spots with care

Connecting to Wi-Fi in the coffee shop can be really convenient, but don’t use it to pay your phone bill. Same thing with any other public Wi-Fi connection be it at the airport, school, shopping center, etc. Presume that someone is monitoring what you’re sending across the internet, and trust me it’s not hard to do.
Further, if you don’t see “HTTPS” at the start of your web url line, DO NOT EVER trust the connection for any financial transaction security or any other connection security that you’re going to be sending someone private data to. Connections without the httpS at the front of them are presumed to be unsecure by definition.

Use common sense with your mail

OK, this may sound redundant, but don’t leave your outgoing mail in a pile somewhere. Put it IN the US Mailbox. Also give serious consideration to getting a post office box for your mail. They’re not cheap but they’re not that expensive either and they can buy you a lot of peace of mind when it comes to reducing the risk of someone pilfering through your stuff.

Treat your personal information as “need to know”

To many this is obvious but you’d really be surprised how stupid some people can be. If it’s your private information and someone doesn’t have a need to know it, don’t tell them! When filling out forms that want your whole life history and all the information they can get about you, THINK! If they don’t need it to provide the services that you’re negotiating for, then don’t give it to them! You can’t control what other people do with your information but you can damn sure prevent them from getting it in the first place!
This also extends to what you share on social media. Presume that if you post it to your page that the whole world can find out about it. It never ceases to amaze me how stupid people can be when I read “we’re going to Aruba next Sunday for 2 weeks!”….if I’m looking for a house to hit I now know I have 2 weeks to hit theirs! Wait until AFTER you come back to post your pictures from your vacation and share your good times with others. And avoid the “check in” options on social media where restaurants and other sites use the “check in at Charley’s bar and grill” feature while you’re there. You’re just telling the world where you are and making yourself a target. THINK!

Don’t share PIN’s or passwords – and don’t write them down!

You’d be surprised how obvious this is and how frequently it’s what compromises a persons security. Never tell anyone security access information unless you not only trust them BUT that they also have need to know. And, NEVER WRITE THEM DOWN in a public place – like posting them to your fridge door, under your keyboard, post it pads on your computer screen, etc. This is just asking for problems and they will find you.
These tips are not intended to be totally foolproof or to provide 100% security. Nothing can do that, but they’ll go a long way to making someone else a much easier target for someone that wants to do harm. Don’t make life easy for criminals. They’re unforgiving once they find a way to get what they want and that can be really expensive and painful for you to recover from
Finally, some companies offer what they call “identity theft insurance”. If you look at this kind of a policy, use a strong reputable firm and make sure you read all the details before you sign up. Caveat emptor.
If you feel that your privacy has been compromised, contact the appropriate agency, vendor, credit card company, law enforcement agency, etc., and get things resolved quickly. The sooner you’re aware and act the sooner things can get fixed. Be proactive at all times. Read and review all your financial statements watching for any anomalies and transactions that you didn’t incur.
Here’s hoping that you’ve gained a few items you can use from this list and that the crooks find someone else more interesting than you.

I’m Don Rima and that’s the view From Where I Stand.