1. Should newer cell phones (like 3G and 4G IPhones be avoided in favor of older cell phone models? I'm asking from a privacy point of view. Clearly, some of the prepaid phones don't have GPS, internet, bluetooth, etc. I'm guessing this is better in staying under the radar than GPS equipped phones. What are your thoughts?

2. Is it prudent (and advantageous) to buy an Apple Iphone, unlock it, and then use a prepaid sim card in order to remain private? Since such phones are convenient.

3. I have seen videos on youtube and reports on google of individuals not only unlocking Apple Iphones but supposedly using them without any sim card; thus, using the phone and internet for free. Any thoughts?

4. Does anyone know of any software (web links) that unlock Apple Iphones (without damaging the phone)?

Thanks

If I use Paypal, which withdraws money from my Canadian personal checking account, in order to buy online, would I lose privacy?

Would a PI be able to find out my Paypal transactions?

Is it better to just mail cash or money order then?

Thank you.

... It depends on which PI is involved, and how much a client is willing to spend. I don't consider any of my e-books to be subversive, but cash is always the most secure of course.

Most people are best off having their kid go with JJ's advice and skipping college altogether.

This is now nearly every case, even for doctor and lawyer types. I'm seeing too many sob stories of kids graduating with mortgage-like and no jobs when the 4-7 years they spent of school they could have saved enough money to buy a modest home or fast food franchise.

The invention of modern labor-saving devices, and the resulting division of labor and of the arts and crafts into many different branches, has, to a large extent, taken these processes out of the ordinary home. Thus it is the exception rather than the rule for the farmer to mend his own harness or to half-sole his own boots, to make repairs on his own premises, to paint and varnish – or in some cases even to whitewash. All these different tasks are let out to persons who do them by the day or hour at prices that formerly would have been prohibitory.

The argument that the farmer himself makes more money than he did formerly, that his time is therefore more valuable, and that it is cheaper for him to have work done by others than to do it himself, is sometimes put forth as though it were unanswerable. Whether or not it is cheaper in dollars and cents to neglect the family workroom and hire everything done, the saving of money will be dearly won if it results in the making of cheap men. The minds of the children are turned over to the common schools, their morals to the Sunday schools, and their hands and fingers are neglected altogether except for what they learn in play. This is a convenient arrangement, and obviously at the moment saves time and trouble for the parents; but it offers little assurance of the development of a sort of manhood and womanhood in the children that will not in time come to be a source of much more serious trouble.

-------- Broad brushing here, but if our children are not being taught the lessons of the past, if they live only in the moment, and wile away their time without building character or learning its value, we will truly be a country without a history.

The above quote is from "The Snitch in Your Pocket: Law enforcement is tracking Americans' cell phones in real time—without the benefit of a warrant", written by Michael Isikoff and published in NEWSWEEK, March 1, 2010.

Submitted Link #1: http://www.howtobeinvisible.com/index.cfm/fa/showq...

" A career in law: I have yet to meet a lawyer who’s content and happy in his profession. Many would get out of the racket tomorrow if it were not for the money. (A Nevada partner in a big law firm once told me that he had no friends at the office because “I can’t stand lawyers!”) If money is the goal, trust me: Many paralegals—and I’ve been one of them—make more money than others with a law degree, and as a bonus, the paralegals sleep better at night!"

Since I was recommending Mr. Luna's books, I thought that I would include this blog writer that also recommends Mr. Luna's book, as well as advising to avoid law school and debt:

"Friends Don't Let Friends Go To Law School...Just Say No To Debt For Life..There seem to be four ways recent JDs are dealing with their school debt: paying, income based repayment (IBR),leaving the country, and becoming invisible (all cash) and staying in the US.

"This is a tough decision, and everyone has to do what makes them happy; everyone has a different pain threshold...if you have the stomach for it, there is an excellent book that will help you, How To Be Invisible by J.J. Luna, is full of useful tips for eluding just about everyone, sort of a guide to a modified witness protection program."--The Jobless Juris Doctor

Submitted Link #1: http://www.notolawschool.com/2010/01/ibr-leaving-c...

"Most of us have fond memories of growing up of someone or some place where memorable things happened. Or perhaps memories of someone like our father or mother teaching us something when we're young that will come in handy in our adult lives.

I pose this question to young parents today: ­ what memories and skills will your children carry with them into adulthood? Did you teach them know how to replace the brakes on their vehicle for that future day when they cannot afford to have it done for them? Or how to replace a light switch when it quits? How to change the oil in a vehicle, or simply grease a squeaky car door hinge? Or replace a door lock on the door of a home? How to change a spark plug in a car or a lawn mower? Will they know how to use a electric or hand saw? Or select the right size drill bit for an electric drill for a woodscrew? Or build something from scratch?

Or will your children become adults and be forced to find skilled help for any electrical or mechanical job they need done? If you don't teach them any of these things, then you are seriously negligent in your duties to prepare them for adult life. Any parent that thinks their child will do so well in life right out of school that they will always be able to hire someone for these jobs, are parents who are simply lying to themselves. It's absolutely never too late to teach your children simple skills to survive, no matter what age they are."

Submitted Link #1: http://rense.com/general90/hands.htm...

Anyway, the real purpose of my message, was this great article. Check it out.

Submitted Link #1: http://redtape.msnbc.com/2010/04/the-constitutiona...

I also decided to make a really convincing fake secret stash in the event that a burglary ever breaks in while we're out. Here are some of the ideas we came up with.

First, I went to a local coin dealer and bought some old hyperinflation bank notes from countries like Belarus, Brazil, Argentina, and Peru. I put them in rigid plastic holders. Very nice notes in clean condition with denominations like 1K, 5K, and 10K. I did a bit of careful searching and located an old worthless stock certificate of a defunct railroad company. It happened to have my last name on it and was for 100 shares. I threw in some very convincing gold-plated tungsten jewelry that looks and weighs almost exactly the same as the real stuff we own and added some eye-catching plastic-encased gold-plated collector coins that could easily pass for bullion. There's also a few very old but worthless uncanceled postage stamps in a stamp collector case and a very convincing replica U.S. savings bond for $10,000.

I also a small wad of 20s and 5s (20s on the outside) to a fake "silver" luxury-brad money clip that I got from a seller in China on eBay.

Total cost was under $150. Thoughts?

... I see you have indeed read my e-books. Well done!

Setting up Utilities without using the Mark of the Beast

This was a challenge. Especially with the power company. However, we have succeeded in getting all of the utilities into our name so that the landlord does not have to pay them and bill them to us.

The Water and the Gas companies were no big deal, except that you have to do it in person if you do not bear the Mark. The second question out of everyone's mouth is "Social?" I am very social, I answer. But that is not what they want to hear. However, going into the office and showing the Affidavits of Identification that we have made (complete with "ID number" that we make up), was sufficient. A letter of credit from an old utility company waives any deposits.

The cable company (for internet service) was a little worse. "Government-issued ID" is what they want. Sorry, no can do. I have no SSAN, so I cannot get state ID. Do you have a passport? Why would I need one of those in the land of my birth? Sorry, we cannot set up service without knowing who you are.

A bit of research into the laws of the state is the next order of business. In most states, I would have filed a complaint with the "civil rights" department of the state government. In Nevada, the "civil rights" department only handles "employment" issues. So who "regulates" the cable and electric companies? In Nevada, it is the Public Utilities Commission. The statutes and regulations are pretty clear: They can do nothing outside their Tariff that is filed with the PUC. So let's take a look at the Tariff. No mention of an SSAN here (except for those on public assistance who need help with their bills). No mention of identification, government or otherwise here. I guess they are attempting to compel a contract that is not in keeping with their Tariff.

NRS ｧ 704.120. Commission may substitute just and reasonable rates, regulations, practices or services after investigation and hearing 1. If, upon any hearing and after due investigation, the rates, tolls, charges, schedules or joint rates shall be found to be unjust, unreasonable or unjustly discriminatory, or to be preferential, or otherwise in violation of any of the provisions of this chapter, the commission shall have the power to fix and order substituted therefor such rate or rates, tolls, charges or schedules as shall be just and reasonable.

2. ****/If it shall in like manner be found that any/**** regulation, measurement, ****/practice/****, act or service ****/complained of is unjust, unreasonable, insufficient, preferential, unjustly discriminatory or otherwise in violation of the provisions of this chapter/****, or if it be found that the service is inadequate, or that any reasonable service cannot be obtained, ****/the commission shall have the power to substitute therefor such other/**** regulations, measurements, ****/practices/****, service or acts ****/and make such order relating thereto as may be just and reasonable/****.

3. When complaint is made of more than one rate, charge or practice, the commission may, in its discretion, order separate hearings upon the several matters complained of and at such times and places as it may prescribe.

4. ****/No complaint shall at any time be dismissed because of the absence of direct damage to the complainant/*.***

5. */***The commission may at any time, upon its own motion, investigate any of the/**** rates, tolls, charges, rules, regulations, ****/practices***/* and service, */**and, after a full hearing as above provided, by order, make such changes as may be just and reasonable, the same as if a formal complaint had been made.***/*

NAC 704.321 Terms of agreement with customer.

1. Except as otherwise provided in this section, ****/a utility may not enter into any agreement with a customer under terms which are inconsistent with the provisions of NAC 704.302 to 704.390, inclusive.***/*

2. Nothing in NAC 704.302 to 704.390, inclusive, shall be deemed to preclude a utility from entering into an agreement with a customer under terms which are more favorable to the customer than those provided by those sections.

So, I asked the customer service representative if I could talk to someone in their legal department. I was connected to Diane and I asked her the following questions:

1. Is your company regulated by the PUC? (yes)

2. Do you follow all of the regulations and tariffs published? (yes)

3. Can you force me to enter in to any agreement under terms that are inconsistent with the provisions of NAC 704.302 to 704.390, inclusive? (No)

4. Do you realize that I do not have an SSAN because of my religious beliefs and that I cannot get state issued photo ID for the same reason? (I do now).

5. Can you show me in the regulations or in the tariff a requirement that I give you an SSAN or show any identification in order to contract for service? (big silence)

Diane told me that she was going to call the corporate office and get back to me.

20 minutes later, she told me that my service was going to be connected and that someone would call me to set up an appointment. I get connected on Monday, between 10 and 1.

The electric company took 3 hours. We first went to the local office and talked to Darnell. He was kind, but not helpful. He was not willing to look at the tariff and show us the requirement. He used the "Nuremburg" defense: I am just following orders. I had Stumpy talk on the phone to Antoine, as she had done most of the research and had the "beligerent claimant" attitude down pat. Besides, I could always swoop in later and be "good cop" if they had enough of Stumpy. On the phone Antoine told us one thing and told Darnell something else. Stumpy told Antoine that we were coming downtown and that he had that amount of time to find the part of the Tariff that required an SSAN or government issued photo ID to set up service. When we got downtown, Antoine had completely changed his tune. He was courteous (instead of curt) and helpful (instead of helpless). The service set up was completed before we left.

So even in Las Vegas, people of faith can live without the Mark of the Beast or even government-issued identification.

Fancy that.

I ordered not one but both of the Canary Islands addresses from Rosie. So far, so good, the persons in a certain group (that I am anxious to get away from) have taken my story at face value. However, I suspect they may later check for any indication that I am ACTUALLY in the islands, and they have good resources. How can I do that without actually going over there (which I have no time to do)?

... Check with Rosie. Among other things, she once had a client send his ATM card to the islands, and the agent there made a few small withdrawals from time to time.

While I might be able to find a nominee for a day to obtain an EIN then resign, finding someone distant enough yet trusting enough to put his credit at risk is a daunting task.

... As you correctly say, they are a "monopoly," which means it's their way or the highway. (I once ran across a similar requirement with a trash-collecting company.)

Since you prefer not use a nominee, nor give your SSN, you have the choice of obtaining an EIN or using candles.