Life Hacks

Do you have a home security camera – like a Ring doorbell? 

Well, a recent OnePoll survey found that 1-in-4 homeowners with cameras regularly check their security footage to see what’s happening around their property. And as you’ve probably noticed, some of the funniest footage is then being posted online for anyone to watch. But considering the average North American is now captured on surveillance cameras at least 70 times PER DAY, you may be wondering if it’s legal to post that footage online?

Well, for the most part, the answer is “Yes.” According to the law non-profit New Media Rights, any surveillance footage captured in a public space – where there’s no expectation of privacy – is legal to post. But cameras pointed toward private spaces, like a neighbor’s fenced-in yard, are off limits…… and you could be charged with spying if you post anything collected from them!

You also have to be careful making public any conversations recorded on a security camera. There are a lot of “two-party consent laws” that make it illegal to record audio conversations without the consent of everyone involved. Plus, it’s almost always illegal to record a conversation if you’re not participating in it at all. 

So what about their intended purpose, to deter criminals? Well, a study by the University of North Carolina Department of Criminal Justice found that outdoor surveillance cameras DO make most burglars reconsider targeting a home.

These days, it seems like there’s a new superhero movie or TV show debuting every week. So why are they so hot right now? 

According to clinical psychologist, Dr. Robin Rosenberg, it’s because we’re living in difficult and uncertain times……With crime, financial struggles, and war.  And that leaves us wanting to be entertained and distracted. 

We’re also searching for positive role models, and wishing for heroes to swoop in and stop the madness. It’s the reason our grandparents loved superhero comics in the 1930s during the Great Depression. 

Also, with superhero movies – it’s about good versus evil, and saving the little guy. 

We also see ourselves in superhero stories. Because most of us believe in fighting for justice. And superheroes often come from tragic beginnings……

That inspires us, and provides a model to help us cope with adversity, and find meaning in loss.

Parents and grandparents : Psychologists are strongly recommending that we give our children some chores!

That’s the message from family psychologist Dr. Richard Weissbourd. He says decades of studies have shown that simple household chores have big benefits for kids. 

But these days, a lot of parents don’t make their kids do ANY chores. In fact, according to a new survey, only about 1-in-4 parents say they require their kids to help around the house.

But here’s the problem with that: Research from the University of Minnesota found that giving kids chores, starting at an early age, helps them build a lasting sense of responsibility and self-reliance. That explains why kids who started doing chores in preschool were more likely to achieve academic AND career success earlier in life.

Also, according to a Harvard survey of more than 10-thousand middle and high-school students, those who did chores were more empathetic and caring. That’s because they learned how to care for others, by doing chores that benefitted the whole family – and not just themselves.

If you’re thinking of selling your car, or trading it in, cybersecurity specialists are recommending “wiping it clean” before you hand over the keys…… As in: Erase all the data on your vehicle’s infotainment system! 

That’s according to Justin Schorr, president of DJS Associates, a company that analyzes vehicle data! He says, these days, you have to think of your car as a smartphone on wheels. Because if you’ve ever paired your smart phone with the infotainment system, it likely has copies of all your text messages, emails, contacts, and even your photos! 

Schorr says all of that personal data can easily be accessed by others who drive your car……and there have been recent cases of hackers buying old vehicle infotainment systems on eBay, and finding troves of personal information still stored on them!

That’s why Schorr says, before you even think about selling or trading-in your vehicle, read the owner’s manual and perform what’s called a “factory reset” – which should erase most of that data. Then, just to be safe, ask your car dealer to do a separate data wipe, to erase anything you may have missed.

Because the right ones can make you more like-able and the wrong ones can make you look out of control! That’s according to psychologist Dr. Carol Gorman. So, let’s start with the gestures we should NOT use: 

First: Finger pointing and wagging. It’s used by scolding parents, and politicians or executives to emphasize a point, or show dominance. But experts say finger pointing suggests you’re losing control of the situation.

Also, avoid self-pacifying gestures. People who are nervous or stressed tend to rub their hands, tug at their clothing, and play with their hair or jewelry. But that can make you look unprepared or insecure.

And beware of OVER-gesturing – especially if your hands are above your shoulders – it can make you look frantic, less powerful and out of control.

So which gestures are positive? 

Ones that show composure. Arms held waist-high help you, and the people you’re speaking to, feel centered and composed. In fact, Dr. Gorman coaches executives to keep their arms at their waist, accompanied by a stance about shoulder-width wide. It helps keep them grounded, energized and focused.