I received an email from my own account informing me I was a pervert and they had video to prove it. It had indeed come from my account so I logged in, fished around and found an activity log I didn’t know existed. What I saw was alarming. Nefarious people are constantly trying to hack us – or at least me – so I immediately changed all my email passwords (I have several accounts) and set up 2-step verification. As annoying as it may seem, having to get a code on my phone or at an alternate email is actually a very good security measure.

If you can check the activity with your email account, you may be startled. We have to have layers of security these days. Be prepared to gasp if you views your activity log and see this kind of thing, and take measures now to prevent hackers from being successful.

Here are some essential tools to enhance your email and password security:

1. Use Strong Passwords

Create strong, unique passwords for each of your accounts. A robust password typically contains a mix of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters, and is at least 12 characters long. Avoid using easily guessable information, such as birthdays or common words.

As subscribers to my Mark McNease On Topic Substack know, I’ve eliminated paid and renewing subscriptions. Everyone gets everything, ’cause that’s the kind of provocateur I am. You can, however, donate and get a lifetime subscription for just $25. It’s a subscription! It’s a donation! It’s a tip jar! You decide.

If you haven’t subscribed yet, this is a great way to do it. Or just sign up at MarkMAMcNease.substack.com. We don’t twist arms at the Tree House, we just imply.

Let’s roar into 2025 with heads high, open hearts, and curious minds. – Mark

“What the Chicken Knows: A New Appreciation of the World’s Most Familiar Bird” by Sy Montgomery
c.2024, Atria Books
$22.99  71 pages

Every day, you and your closest lady-friends have a good old-fashioned hen party.

It’s never too formal. You’re happy just winging it as you gather and gossip, squawking about this subject and pecking at that one. Life ruffles your feathers a whole lot less after you’ve cackled at each other’s jokes and crowed at your triumphs. As in “What the Chicken Knows” by Sy Montgomery, time with your ladies is pretty clucking great.

It’s not often that it happens, but when Sy Montgomery needed a rooster expert, she was happy to find one almost right next door.

The problem was that Montgomery’s pet rooster had gotten aggressive. Ashley, the expert, advised Montgomery to do the unthinkable: pick up the creature with scimitar-like claws and cuddle him.

Read All My eBooks Free!

Santa’s at the door! Merry Christmas, everyone, happy holidays. Enjoy some freebies and deep discounts at the Smashwords Year End Sale!

All of my ebooks – you heard that right, all of them – are available for free download at Smashwords from December 12 – January 1. That includes:

6 Kyle Callahan Mysteries
3 Marshall James Thrillers
2 Maggie Dahl Mysteries

Can you say “up all night?” It will take a lot of those sleepless evenings to get through all these page-turners.

AND there are lots more, from dozens of terrific authors offering their books for free or at deep discounts.

CHECK OUT MINE HERE AND GET READING!

Narration provided by Wondervox.

By Mark McNease

I love getting rewards for the money I spend, and I have to put a word in for the Venmo credit and debit cards. I’ve been using an Amazon Chase card for years, and while I like the money I get from it credited to my Amazon account, I really like the rush of a monthly cash deposit. Costco, too, is good to have, but they pay out once a year!

I’ve been using Venmo for a few years to pay our cat sitter and send money to people, as well as getting paid for workshops and books. It was only a few months ago that I got pitched the Venmo credit card with a promotion for $200 cash back if I spent $1000 in six months. It sounded too good to be true, but it wasn’t! I hit my required amount in just a few months, and one day there was $200 in the account, which I promptly transferred to my bank. (There’s something ‘rewarding’ about putting the money in the bank instead of using it to spend more money with the card. I also keep these amounts on a spreadsheet so I can track how much I’m getting each month.)

Now I find myself with an extra $20 to $100 a month, which is terrific. It’s one of the more generous cash back programs out there, and I recently added to it by getting the Venmo debit card. I just signed up for that a few weeks ago and already earned $19.75, sent off to my checking account within minutes.

There are a lot of options out there. If you’re like me and you never carry a balance (I haven’t paid interest in many years) these are a great way to get something for the money you spend.

Some ideas tailored to senior

As we look to make the most of our finances, choosing the right credit card can significantly enhance our purchasing power and provide valuable rewards. With a variety of options available, it’s crucial to select a card that aligns with our spending habits and lifestyle preferences. Here’s a roundup of some of the best rewards cards for seniors—but also good for anyone!

VENMO! See my own experience with this above.

Narration provided by Wondervox.

By Mark McNease

It’s that time again when those of us who choose to buy Christmas presents try to figure out what to give people. I only buy presents for my husband Frank and my sister Cathy. With Cathy, I collect small things throughout  the year and then send them all in a box, which I’ll be shipping off tomorrow. For Frank, it’s always some more clothes and trying to figure out what to get someone who always says “I don’t need anything.” I believe in paring it back as the years pass. We’re at a time in our lives when we want to get rid of things, not add to them. And I try to be budget conscious. Here are some suggestions for keeping an eye on the gift bills.

Budget-Conscious Ways to Celebrate Christmas

Christmas is a wonderful time of the year, filled with joy, love, and togetherness. However, it can also become overwhelmingly expensive. With thoughtful planning and creativity, you can have a festive celebration without breaking the bank. Here are some budget-conscious ways to enjoy the holiday season.

Set a Budget

Start by determining how much you can realistically spend on Christmas. Having a clear budget will help you make informed decisions about gifts, decorations, and activities without overspending.

Did I mention I love my job? Another client satisfied!

A Normal American Life, by Robert Montagnese

If the currency of life is time, then the currency of truly living is making decisions.

Meet Katie and Claire, two young girls living in the Midwest who are about to graduate high school.  On that one warm Spring Day, they decide to skip classes to go to the lake; a rumor spreads not based on any facts but rather a perception.  It is the end of innocence as previously embraced and the start of truly living, and the clock ticks.  There is an enormous world to discover beyond small-town people and their gossip.

A Normal American Life is a bar set high by how deeply you can go within to define yourself and live by those standards.  It is a story about people using words to demonize and promote their own skewed beliefs.  It’s also a tale about small-town traditions and beliefs, both good and bad.  The characters are universal, and they all come from Elkhart, Indiana.  Welcome to this America, the land of the free, if you look, talk, and live your life like a “normal” American.

The author, Robert Montagnese, brings a unique perspective to this narrative. Growing up in a small town in Connecticut, he remembers the turbulent late 1960s and the rapid changes of the 1970s. A bell-bottom boy in platform shoes, he ventured out to explore the world, learning quickly that what sometimes feels normal may not be normal to others.

This is Robert’s 4^th novel.  His career in beauty marketing provided a deeper insight into women and their worth, which is the heart of this new novel.  Robert moved to NYC to start his career as an OR Nurse at New York Hospital and completed it as the Global Brand Director for L’Oréal years later.  Along the way, his interest in writing became a reality with his first collection of short stories about influential women in his life, Lucky 7.  Praise for Lucky 7 encouraged him to continue with a new-found passion for storytelling, leading to his latest, A Normal American Life.  Robert happily resides in NYC with his partner John, of 30-plus years, and a new puppy, Patrick II.