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Proof Your Smart Doorbell Is A Security Risk
Most people have some type of security camera – whether outside, inside, or both. Ring is a popular company that sells “smart doorbells” with video cameras installed. The camera allows you to see anyone at your door, using an app on your phone, whether you’re home or not. And Ring also sells standalone cameras you …
Why Do Shooters Cut Shotgun Shells?
Reloading ammo can be risky business. Tom P. is a farmer in Iowa. He works with his hands every day. One day he was clearing pigeons off his property with his shotgun. As he fired a round, the shotgun exploded in his hands. The blast broke bones in his hand and fingers, almost tore his …
Lightweight cookware for your bug out bag
Claire N. is an avid hiker who’s been backpacking and hitting the trails for as long as she can remember. Early one morning, Claire set out for Joshua Tree National Park from Palm Springs, CA. Once there, she began her hike on the Lost Palms Oasis Trail. The 7.5-mile trail is popular, but on this …
How to Keep a Generator Quiet So You Have a Low Profile
Pacific Gas and Electric Company (PG&E) is a utility company headquartered in San Francisco, California. PG&E provides natural gas and electricity to two-thirds of northern California (5.2 million households). The past few years the utility company has shut off power to its customers during bad weather. These shutoffs are called “public safety power shutoff events.” …
3 Top Military Vehicles You Can Get Your Hands On
In March 2003, members of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines were making their push north to Baghdad. They came upon a berm that ran parallel to the road where their convoy came under attack. The humvees in the convoy took intense fire from Iraqi soldiers. Machine gun, rocket-propelled grenades, and mortar fire came from behind …
How a Couple Discovered $10 Million in Coins
One morning, a California couple took their dog for a walk around their property – something they’d done many times before. But on this morning walk, one of them noticed something strange. The woman spotted a rusted tin can sticking out of the ground. As they dug the can out of the dirt, the couple …
Deleting Yourself From People Search Websites
If you’ve ever done an internet search on your own name, and city where you live, you may have been surprised. Most people are shocked to find out how much information about them is freely available online. Not to mention, the amount of that information that is wrong. “People search” websites such as Spokeo, White …
Drop In Trigger For Your AR-15
An unreliable trigger can be frustrating to a shooter, create accuracy problems, and in rare occasions, be deadly. For example, in the summer of 2011, Zachary S. and his younger brother Justin were alone at home in Columbia, Miss. Zach was holding his Remington Model 700 deer rifle, which was loaded. Justin was sitting in …
Did You Pay That Invoice?
Imagine getting an invoice from the IRS claiming that you owe $100 in taxes for Covid-19 tax relief. The e-mail might read something like, “You have been awarded a $10,000 government grant.” It may go on to say that to get your grant you must provide your banking account information and pay a $100 tax. …
Company Paid CIA Spy As Part of His Cover?
Garrison Courtney worked for the federal government as a public affairs official. But Courtney, along with his five aliases, will now spend the next seven years in federal prison. His crime? He lied about working on a highly-classified intelligence program. He told people he was a covert CIA officer engaged in significant national security work. …
Technology Will Fail
The Nest Thermostat is a smart thermostat that is Wi-Fi enabled. It allows users to control it from their smartphone, tablet, or computer – even when they aren’t home. Unfortunately, Nest users learned how smart devices can fail the cold, hard way. One evening, Nest’s thermostats suffered a software bug that drained …
Defense in a Recreational Vehicle
Carol and Alan C. live in a quiet neighborhood in Modesto, CA. One weekend, they had visitors in town who were staying in an RV parked in the driveway. Around 5 a.m. one morning, an intruder broke into the motorhome through the main door. The RV was equipped with an alarm system …
The Puppy Scam Costing People a Small Fortune
Frank T.’s beloved 17-year-old, long-haired dachshund dog had recently died, and he wanted a new puppy. But, he couldn’t find any local breeders with puppies available. So, he began scrolling through pictures of puppies for sale online and found a dachshund puppy named Pippa. At first, the seller responded to Frank’s e-mail with follow up …
How to Quickly Fortify Your Home Against Attacks
In September 2020, Paul C. and his wife, Barbara were arrested after an armed standoff at their Utah home. The couple were evicted from their home, but moved back in without permission, and said they would never leave. It all started because the pair did not file tax returns from 1999-2005. They owed more than …
Your Computer Is Running Slow, But Not Because So Many People Are Online
The The Clark County School District is the fifth-largest school district in the U.S. with about 320,000 students. This year, because of the pandemic, the first day of school was supposed to consist of online classes. But the first day was nothing but anxiety and frustration for many students and parents. Many students were unable …
Protecting Your Head When Bugging Out
Abraham Lincoln was our tallest president. At 6-foot-4, he towered over people of his era. But to make himself stand out even more, he wore his famous top hat. These days, when you think about Abraham Lincoln you can’t help picturing a tall man in a long top hat. Historians believe that Lincoln first wore …
Which optic is best: red dot or green dot?
You know the following story, but there’s something important to learn… Almost ten years ago, a team of Navy SEALs raided a small compound in Abbottabad, Pakistan. Their mission was to kill or capture the most wanted man in the world. The mission was a success. For years, the U.S. had hunted Bin Laden. And, …
Best Places to Buy Ammo Online?
Efraim Diveroli and David Packouz are former American arms dealers. Their company, AEY Inc., was a weapons contractor for the U.S. Department of Defense. The duo became famous after their arrests and there was a movie made about them called War Dogs. So, why did they get arrested? The two men tried to fulfill their …
Survival CB Radios?
Survival CB Radios? John L. is a truck driver based out of Winnipeg, Canada. One afternoon, around 2:30 pm, John was on his way to deliver a load. As he neared Golden, British Columbia he became stuck in a traffic jam on Highway 3. Cars were at a standstill and no one was moving. John …
A Deadly Bear Attack, The Feds and 9mm Pistols
A Deadly Bear Attack, The Feds and 9mm Pistols Phil S. has been a backcountry guide in the Alaska wilderness for over 33 years. He’s led hunters, anglers, and photographers all over Alaska. One summer he took clients salmon fishing near Becharof National Wildlife Refuge. During the trip, a brown bear showed up. Phil had …
“Lady Death,” the infamous Russian sniper
“Lady Death,” the infamous Russian sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko was the most successful female sniper in history She is credited with 309 confirmed kills, including 36 kills of enemy snipers. Her nickname was “Lady Death.” She earned her nickname as a female Soviet sniper in the Red Army during World War II. And she became a …
Kydex Holsters?
Kydex Holsters? Last year, a North Carolina woman was shot in both feet by a single bullet at Valley Hills Mall. The woman was at the mall with her child and the child’s father. When the father went to pick up the child, the kid kicked a pistol from the dad’s waistband and it fired. …
How to Survive a Raging Inferno With These 3 Tools
Since the year 2000, an average of 71,300 wildfires occur, burning 6.9 million acres every year. More wildfires occur in the East and Central states, but the wildfires in the West are larger and burn more acreage. Only a small fraction of these become deadly, raging, destructive fires. The problem is, predicting which fires will …
Best Burner E-mail Address Programs
A few months ago, a federal grand jury returned a 26-count indictment against a Pasadena, CA man. Samuel H. allegedly made threats to harm, rape, and kill 10 women he met through social media. He sent his victims grisly emails saying things such as: (warning, they are graphic) “Someone I can guarantee will come out and …