SurvivalRing

Shared via USA.GOV email U.S. (Department of Homeland Security)

MAY 2012 UPDATE

 IN THIS ISSUE

· Stop.Think.Connect.™ Encourages Small Businesses to Take Action
· Stop.Think.Connect. Celebrates National Older Americans Month
· Stop.Think.Connect. Minnesota Cyber Tour Summary
· GFIRST Conference to Address a Wide-Range of Cyber Topics
· DHS Spotlight: The Cybersecurity Education Office
· Stop.Think.Connect. Shares Resources on Social Media

Stop.Think.Connect. Encourages Small Businesses to Take Action
National Small Business Week will take place in Washington, D.C. from May 20-26, 2012 to recognize the special impact made by outstanding American entrepreneurs and small business owners since 1963. As part of National Small Business Week, the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign encourages small business to think about cybersecurity and consider steps to protect their companies against cyber threats.

With limited budgets and few or no technical experts on staff, small businesses generally have weak security and can be easy targets for cyber criminals. Visa estimates about 95% of the credit-card data breaches it discovers are on its smallest business customers.

There are several resources available to help small business take action to improve their cybersecurity. The Small Biz Cyber Planner available at http://www.fcc.gov/cyberplanner was created by the Federal Communications Commission in collaboration with public and private sector partners, including the Department of Homeland Security, the National Cybersecurity Alliance, and the Chamber of Commerce. This easy-to-use, free online tool helps business create a custom cyber security plan that includes various categories, such as network security, website security, payment cards, and incident response and reporting.

The United States Secret Service has Electronic Crimes Task Forces (ECTF) across the country that bring together Federal, State and local law enforcement as well as prosecutors, private industry, and academia. These task forces concentrate on the prevention, detection, mitigation, and aggressive investigation of attacks on the nation’s financial and critical infrastructures. Local businesses can join their local ECTF, for more information visit http://www.secretservice.gov/ectf.shtml

In addition, the U.S. Computer Emergency Readiness Team (US-CERT) distributes bulletins and alerts for both technical and non-technical users, shares cybersecurity tips, and responds to incident, phishing, and vulnerabilities reports. For more information, visit http://www.us-cert.gov/.

Stop.Think.Connect. Celebrates National Older Americans Month

May is National Older Americans Month, a tradition since 1963 that shows our nation’s commitment to recognizing the contributions and achievements of older Americans. This year’s theme, “Never too Old to Play,” encourages older Americans to stay engaged, active, and involved in their own lives and in their communities.

As technology becomes more present in our daily lives, older Americans are increasingly using the Internet to stay engaged. Email, social networking, and personal websites allow us to stay informed and connected with family and friends. The Internet also provides an easy way to shop, plan travel, and manage finances without leaving the comforts of home. However, just like any other public environment, the Internet requires awareness and caution. Many of the crimes that occur in real life are now done – or at least facilitated – through the Internet. Many online scammers target older Americans via emails and websites for charitable donations, dating services, auctions, health care, and prescription medications.

In commemoration of National Older Americans Month, the Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign offers the following tips for enjoying the benefits of the Internet while staying safe from cyber fraud and predators. Below are some common sense rules from the real world that apply in the online world:

1) Don’t judge a book by its cover. Cyber criminals hide behind the anonymity of the Internet. Don’t communicate or reveal any personal information to strangers online. Personal information includes your name, address, age, phone number, birthday, email address, social security number, and insurance policy numbers – even your doctor’s name.

2) Look before you leap. Don’t enter contests, join clubs, open attachments, or share your personal information for any reason, unless you know you are on a reputable website. Most organizations – banks, charities, universities, companies, etc. – don’t ask for your personal information over the Internet. Beware of requests to update or confirm your personal information.

3) All that glitters is not gold. Be wary of emails offering “free” gifts, prizes, or vacations. These are tricks designed to get you to give up personal information. Personal information can be pieced together to steal identities, money, or credit.

4) A chain is only as strong as its weakest link. Once we understand the dangers we face online, we need to tell other people who might not be as cyber savvy. Every Internet user, no matter how young or old, is our nation’s first line of defense against people who might want to do harm. If we all become more aware of who we talk to, what we say, and what we share online, we can all make a big difference.

For a list of common fraud schemes aimed at older Americans, visit the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).

Stop.Think.Connect. Minnesota Cyber Tour Summary
The Minnesota Cyber Tour, launched on April 16, 2012, provided a collective, hands-on approach to online safety through interactive presentations, forums, and roundtable discussions. Several senior-level government officials, including White House Cybersecurity Coordinator Howard Schmidt and the Department of Homeland Security’s Deputy Undersecretary for the National Protection and Programs Directorate Suzanne Spaulding joined celebrity personalities to raise cybersecurity awareness among the Twin Cities area.

The Kick-Off event at the Mall of America® included special appearances from Minnesota Vikings player Brandon Fusco (#63), entertainer Goldy Locks, and the interactive, educational program Mad Science. Other notable events included three cybersecurity awareness sessions hosted by the University of Minnesota, and a roundtable discussion at the St. Paul Chamber of Commerce. For a complete list of Minnesota Cyber Tour events, click here.

The next Stop.Think.Connect. Cyber Tour will be in Atlanta, Georgia in August, and it will be followed by a Cyber Tour in Omaha, Nebraska in October 2012 as part of National Cyber Security Awareness Month. Please email stopthinkconnect@dhs.gov to get involved in future Cyber Tours.

GFIRST Conference to Address a Wide-Range of Cyber Topics
The Government Forum of Incident Response and Security Teams (GFIRST) conference will be held in Atlanta, GA from August 19 – 24, 2012 and provides an opportunity for individuals with varying levels of technical knowledge to increase their understanding of cybersecurity and incident response. US-CERT sponsors the GFIRST conference that is designed to bring together public and private sector leaders serving in non-technical roles as well as information security and incident response practitioners that deal with cyber security issues.

The 2012 GFIRST Conference agenda includes a wide-range of classes addressing topics, such as introduction to control systems security, network security analysts training, and a cyber readiness exercise. The Stop.Think.Connect. Campaign will be joining numerous other DHS speakers to participate in panel discussions, demonstrations, and hands-on learning activities. To view the complete agenda or register to attend, please visit www.us-cert.gov/GFIRST/.

DHS Spotlight: The Cybersecurity Education Office Paving the way—defining the cybersecurity field

When asked broadly about the engineering field, one’s first thought is likely, “Are we talking about Mechanical Engineering? Chemical Engineering? Environmental Engineering? How about Structural Engineering?” However, often people don’t consider cybersecurity as an emerging part of the engineering field. Furthermore, individuals often don’t understand the various professions related to cybersecurity—both within and outside of engineering. For most people, it’s likely they just know that cybersecurity professionals work with computers—and that’s about it.

To increase understanding about the cybersecurity field, the Department of Homeland Security’s Cybersecurity Education Office leads efforts to create a robust national cybersecurity workforce by promoting and fostering interagency coordination on cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development. The office also develops education and scholarship programs that help students become able and willing cyber citizens with a drive to pursue cybersecurity careers.

In support of the National Initiative for Cybersecurity Education, the Cybersecurity Education Office collaborates with government, industry, and academia to build and retain a cybersecurity workforce through talent management, workforce planning and professional development strategies, standards, and tools. The office works closely with the Department of Defense and the Office of the Director of National Intelligence to accomplish these objectives.

To make cybersecurity resources more easily accessible to the public, the Cybersecurity Education Office is developing a National Institute for Cybersecurity Studies portal that will include information about cybersecurity education, training, and workforce development opportunities in one central location.

For more information, please contact Robin “Montana” Williams at robin.williams@hq.dhs.gov.
Stop.Think.Connect. Shares Resources on Social Media
1) “Like” the Stop.Think.Connect. Facebook Page at www.facebook.com/STOPTHINKCONNECT
2) Follow us on the Department of Homeland Security’s Twitter account, @DHSJournal
3) Visit www.dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect for upcoming forum locations, cybersecurity tips, and new partnerships

Here’s yet another request for volunteers who would like to share their prepping methods, tools, equipment, and knowledge with the world, via Reality Television. As always, volunteer at your own risk.

 

ORION ENTERTAINMENT IS CASTING FOR A DOCU-REALITY TELEVISION PILOT FOR PREPPERS IN THE PERSONAL SECURITY SPACE

Orion Entertainment, the world’s leader in outdoor-adventure television, is currently casting for a new docu-reality television pilot that explores weapon-savvy Americans and their families. These regular and everyday citizens are armed and prepared for when the fabric of society unravels in the wake of any major cataclysmic event.

The weapons preppers featured in the television pilot will be armed with the latest in firearms technology, ammunitions, night vision optics, vehicles and security systems. They believe their preparedness and armament is to ensure the safety of themselves and their loved ones for catastrophic events such as terrorist attacks, economic meltdowns, global pandemics and natural disasters.

Potential candidates would need to be available for approximately 4 days of filming and provide camera access for a full 360-view of their defensive strategies:

• On-camera interviews with preppers and their family and friends (when applicable). Need to hear of any past incidents and events that have shaped their mindset today. What motivates them now, and what are their biggest fears and thoughts on the future of the world?
• An “all-access tour” of their security items – firearms, ammo, knives, night vision, etc. What do they have, and more importantly, why?
• Access to test-firing weapons – our preppers will show our host and audiences what their firepower can do.
• A sneak-peak into their security and safety plans and strategies. What is the plan for an economic crisis? Tornadoes that wiped out the states power grids? A terrorist attack on U.S. soil?
• What is their training of real-world scenarios and situations to keep their skills up-to-date? The preppers and our host will run the drills. 
• We want to see it all, hear it all and feel it all. 

Orion Entertainment has a reputable and long standing relationship with the firearms and accessories industry as well as a proven track record in successful awareness and preparedness programming through the likes of our Don’t Be a Victim series on Spike TV. We take the need for personal protection, preparedness and awareness very seriously and our end goal is to educate the public on this vital need. Our mission is to showcase the people that are smart and are prepared. This is their insurance policy, and they’re on the right track to keeping themselves and their loved ones safe for when society unravels and for whatever the future may hold. 

This is an exciting opportunity to explore the harsh realities of society today, told through the lives of the most armed people in America. 

Together these American citizens – and their chilling motivations – establish the fundamental premise of this series: nothing matters if the society unravels and you can’t defend yourself, your family, and your survival cache.

PLEASE NOTE: We fully understand the need for anonymity and respect that. Only first names will be used when requested (or can be changed for protection) and only general locations will/can be used – i.e. south, east coast, mid-west. 

This open casting call is for a limited time only, filming will begin very soon, so it is important to take action now. To submit yourself or someone you know for the program, please send contact information, a brief bio and a “preview” of what security items you have to gunshowcasting@gmail.com or call 720-259-1547 for more information. 

Well, hello again!

Yet another resource has been added to the SurvivalRing network. The PrepGeek daily news is a creation of Rich, using the Paper.li network. It’s an automated process, using the best of cutting edge technology, and targeted information, in a concise, fast, and automatic publishing system. Check it out. Subscribe! It’s good stuff.

Read below…and click through.

Rich

We don’t get 24 hour notice of severe tornado outbreaks very often, but you NEED to be aware of them when they happen. As of this morning, Fox news and the national weather service are forecasting a storm system that will have “large hail, damaging winds, heavy rain, and MANY STRONG TORNADOES that could be long track and potentially life threatening.”

The conditions that are forming the basis for this storm, also have the potential to keep moving east, and affecting Louisiana, Arkansas, Mississippi, Alabama, and nearby states.

If you live in these areas, please take the time now to make sure your weather radio has fresh batteries, your go-bags are ready, and you have shelter to go do if needed.

This is a dangerous situation. Please act accordingly. Your life may depend on it.  Being in west central Wyoming, this frontal system is bringing us a chance of rain and snow for the next several days, courtesy of the moisture coming up from the gulf and even the pacific. While we won’t see tornadoes, the instability that is bring us this change, is going to get worse the farther south and east the frontal boundary moves.

So, don’t take any chances. Be prepared…be ready…and be safe.

Today is the 13th anniversary of an event that changed my life. We came TOO close to an F5 tornado on April 8th, 1998. Because of that, my SuvivalRing website changed direction, and I shifted my research into overdrive on preparedness and survival tools.

Read my report of this deadly and wide ranging disaster…here…

http://www.survivalring.org/awareness/storm-stories/f5-tornado-april-8-98/

My old stomping grounds, the Dallas/Ft. Worth area, where I was born and raised, were hit 5 days ago with massive tornadic storms. Some of the most amazing tornado footage ever taken, of multiple semi trucks and trailers being lifted hundreds of feet in the air, made the international news.

Over a year ago, the worst tornado storms in decades struck the southeast, in what is now called the 2011 Super Outbreak .  The largest tornado outbreak ever recorded passed over country where I spent almost 9 years in Alabama as a federal employee.

Today, on this Easter Sunday, so many years later, I give thanks to the Lord for keeping us safe. Granted, we’ve been through a lot more than this tornado, before, and after, but we’re all still here.

I want to remind all of you that are reading this that as this spring continues, we can expect more and more deadly and unexpected storms at all times of the day or night. If you’re in the areas of this country that have been threatened by tornadoes at any time in the past, NOW is the best time to prepare for how to deal with them, be safe around them, and have protection from them. As mentioned in a post from May 25th last year,

Thankfully, this website, online for 14 years, provides shelter information and actual plans that can be used SPECIFICALLY for storm shelter. Yes, fallout shelters work GREAT for shelter from tornadoes, high wind events, and can also be used for backup shelter for when a home becomes unlivable because of storm damage.

…ANY protective shelter is better than NONE.

When the winds blow, the sky gets dark, and things you don’t normally see flying, are passing by your windows…well, it might be too late. Have a plan, get together 72 hour kits for everyone in the family, and know what to do, if you can’t get out of the way.  My family and I have seen more than our share of tornadic storms in our life, enough that we moved across the country to get away from them.   Still, not everyone can do this. Do the next best thing. Develop a plan to move to a shelter in your yard, in your basement, or in your neighborhood…when tornadoes are forecast, or actually moving on the ground…in your direction.

Study Yesterday…Prepare Today…Live Tomorrow.

It’s in your BEST interest to get ready NOW for the inevitable. See what the rest of the country is doing to deal with what has already happened with this vicious storms in our nation, here… http://www.survivalring.org/feeds/tornado-news-google/

Til next time,

Rich

Ahhhhhh….the greening of the greenery.

Friday Update…The end of the week…the first week of Spring 2012. A long one, with some stress, worry, anxiety, and finally…relief…so, let’s review…

1. After weeks of work, maybe $3,000 in cost, stitches, scrapes on my arms and hands, dents in my head in various places ( I did all the under

Rich making Vroom Vroom sounds...

chassis work, dinging my noggin on the frame, calipers, cross members, floor jack, and yes, the floor)…I got my new engine installed and running in my 2000 Nissan Xterra. Brand new 0 mile full block, new manifolds, new water pump, new timing belt, various tubes, belts, and hoses, and so many other things. It runs like new…so very happy. Saved $$$ by doing what I’ve always done…learned the skills, the tools, and the resources to do the job myself. Took investing in the right tools, too. Engine hoist, 60 gallon air compressor, specialized tools….not the best, but effective and workable. Harbor Freight is my friend.

2. None too soon, as our old set of wheels (older than my oldest child), The Beast, died a painfully wheezing death last week, from a cracked valve. Not having any plans to fix it back to full health (especially after the fateful day last July 30th, when we hit a deer at 60 mph), all my work, time, and efforts, along with my oldest son Rob, got the engine ordered, delivered, installed, and tuned in our own garage. What a relief to see the completion of this long awaited project finally come, after months of worry. Today, around 11am, a driver with a roll-back, from Billings, Montana company, arrived to pay us $100 for the hulk of The Beast.

Upper right. The Beast drivable after the deer hit, but REAL ugly. Took a new radiator and replacing shattered headlights, and it got us thru the rest of last year.

I removed several very recently replaced parts, that will be going on eBay, as well as 12 different custom light fixtures that I have future uses for.  12 volt lighting is a VERY good investment for any long term, holy crap, end of the world scenarios…especially if one is forced off the grid by the power that be. Just a deep cycle battery and a decent set of solar cells…lots of possibilities. Had plans, if we didn’t get rid of it, to cut the front cabin off, enclose it with fiberglass, and make a nifty, balanced, and roomy camper out of it. Would have been too heavy for the Xterra though. Drats.

3. After over a year out of work, son Rob got a job in Casper, Wyoming, with benefits that will cover his wife and 3 kids, who have all been staying with us since last year. Very happy for him.  Now we just need to make a day trip to Rawlins, Wyoming and pick up his motorcycle…and do a bit of work on my Kawasaki ZN1300 (valve shims…which may be a yearly thing now, as it’s a 1984 road bike.

4. Grandson Hudsin, currently in Kindergarten, just learned to read last semester. This past week, they’ve kicked him up to the next level of reading at his elementary. He hates change, but is moving forward with great comprehension. I’m proud of him.  He has worked really, really hard for a 5 year old.

5. Tax Season….OMG. Been doing our own taxes for years, using TaxAct. Haven’t had any problems. Unfortunately, I have to go through ALL our receipts, with Annie’s help, as well as pull records for our business from all affiliate programs, PayPal transactions, offline sales, and more. Hate it, but over the years, I’ve finally comprehended trends, and have plans for this year to upgrade many business models and funnels to the next level.

6. Projects…Finished that CD project for good friend James Stevens, and working on a new HUGE project for another long time business associate. Some urgency in completion, based on world events.

7. Newsletter…I’m fairly deep into my next SurvivalRing Ezine Newsletter, Volume 2, Edition 3. My last newsletter in 2009, pushed 39 pages in length. I’m pretty sure this new edition will push 60 (sounds more like a magazine, eh?). Timely commentary on recent events, societal change, how-to articles, preparedness planning, family safety, frugal living, and so much more. Needless to say, with 15 years online, and thousands of digital ebooks available on my website, I’ve got resources out the proverbial wazoo to share with the world…and you. Read my last newsletter here…

http://www.survivalring.org/community/survivalringezine-newsletter/

Enough for now. Chew on all the above…comment if you like…spend some time and read this most recent newsletter. In this time of economic fear and terror, global terrorism being ever present, and political chaff and untrustworthy leaders and administrators, the act of self preservation and family preparedness become a moral imperative.

Thanks for reading. Have a great weekend.

Over 78 tornadoes across the eastern part of the U.S, as of 6pm MST on March 2, 2012

I shared this link 9 months ago here on SurvivalRing during the historic 2011 tornado outbreak.

http://www.nws.noaa.gov/view/national.php?prodtype=tornado

This is the National Weather Service live feed of all new tornadic storms…as they happen. I’ve got friends all over this part of the US…and I am worried for them.

Have a SAFE place to go, if you’re still in the path of these oncoming storms, and if possible get BELOW ground, or in your bathtub with mattresses over you…

MORE live tornado warning tracking info, right here on the SurvivalRing website, here…

http://www.survivalring.org/feeds/spc-tornado-watches/

http://www.survivalring.org/feeds/breaking-news-tornado/

http://www.survivalring.org/feeds/spc-mesoscale/

http://www.survivalring.org/feeds/tornado-news-google/

Big Problem…it’s nighttime in these areas of the country…the WORST time to try to stay ahead of these storms. If you have a weather alert radio, right now, TURN IT ON. If not, and you’ve got some time til the storm systems move through, go to Walmart or Radio Shack and buy one or several NOW.

This is a deadly situation, so practice situational awareness,

From this evening….