Always Call 811 Before You Dig All kinds of utility lines could be buried underground on your property. So, before you dig into outdoor projects that involve digging—from installing a new mailbox to planting trees and shrubs—call 811 first. That way, the utility lines in the project area can be located and marked, preventing accidental damage. Thanks in advance for your cooperation! Cornerstone Group © 2023 Contact Butler-Bremer Communications 715 Main Street / PO Box 99 Plainfield, IA 50666 Phone: 319.276.4458 24/7 Tech Support: 1.866.276.8253 Office Hours: Mon - Fri, 8am - 4:30pm Email: comments@butler-bremer.com Online: butler-bremer.com SUMMER 2 0 23 P Bits&Bytes A NEWSLETTER FROM YOUR FRIENDS AT BUTLER-BREMER COMMUNICATIONS Frommultiplayer matches to multigenerational moments, U YOUR GAME NEXT-LEVEL INTERNET LEADS TO NEXT-LEVEL EXPERIENCES Online gaming is a fun way to connect virtually with fellow gamers and connect in-person with family members. To make the most of it, however, you need to have an internet connection that’s up to the challenge of each new adventure. BBC’s next-level internet provides super-fast download and upload speeds as well as low ping and latency rates. After all, every millisecond in response time matters when you’re in the thick of things. CALL 319.276.4458 FOR AN UPGRADE.
BUTLER-BREMER COMMUNICATIONS • 319 . 276 . 4458 • but l er-bremer. com Phone Scammers Use Phony Threats and Phony Promises To steal your money or identity (or both), phone scammers use all kinds of sneaky strategies. Unfortunately, they can be convincing if you aren’t aware of their “bag of tricks.” To help prevent you or someone you know from being conned, review these common phone scams and warn others: FBI Impersonator – The caller says they’re with the FBI and there’s a warrant out for your arrest or you need to pay money to avoid the forfeiture of your assets. Basically, they’re trying to scare you into wiring them money. Can You Hear Me? – It might be a scam if someone calls and simply asks, “Can you hear me?” These callers are trying to get you to say “yes” on a recorded line, so they can manipulate audio on their end and falsely claim you agreed to buy a product or service. If someone calls and asks you that specific question, it’s safer to say, “I can hear you fine.” The (Fake) IRS – You know it’s a scam if someone calls you claiming to be from the IRS and demanding some kind of payment. The IRS only gets in touch with people for matters like this through the mail with letters written on their official letterhead. Tech Support – Victims are called and told their computer has been infected with malware or other malicious software, and they need to buy a specific product (which is completely unnecessary) to fix the problem. This type of phone scam can cost victims hundreds, if not thousands, of dollars. “Grandchild” Needs Help – Sadly, scammers take advantage of elderly people by preying on their trust and kindness. In one such scam, a person calls on a crackling phone line and claims to be their grandchild, saying they’re in serious trouble and need money sent immediately. Health Care and Insurance Fraud –The goal in these phone scams is to get sensitive data such as Social Security numbers and bank account information by posing as a representative of a health care or insurance company. They may offer free services or discounts on insurance premiums to tempt their victims. If you encounter a suspected phone scam or an abusive telemarketer, file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Understanding the Two Main Types of Streaming Services There are 200+ streaming services now available, which can be overwhelming. However, it simplifies things to remember there are only two main types—live streaming services and on-demand streaming services. Live streaming services enable you to watch content online in real time. They’re often called cable replacement services since they promise to replicate the cable TV experience but with lower monthly bills. Most live streaming services provide at least a few live local channels as well as an assortment of cable networks, concerts, sporting events, comedy specials, and gaming events. Examples of live streaming services are YouTube TV, Sling TV, FuboTV, Hulu + Live TV, and Philo. On-demand streaming services offer extensive libraries of TV series, movies, and documentaries to subscribers for a monthly fee. Content can be watched on your own schedule and on any device. It’s easy to set up an account, and in most cases, you can start a free trial and cancel at any time. Popular on-demand streaming services include Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, Prime Video, Disney+, Discovery+, and HBOMax. Visit the StreamNow section of our website at butler-bremer.com for help navigating through the many streaming options in devices and services.
Cornerstone Group © 2023 Parental controls are valuable tools, since they empower you to manage your children’s internet usage at home. You can prevent exposure to potentially dangerous or inappropriate content and set limits on when each child can be online and for how many hours. While the specific parental control features and capabilities will vary somewhat from router to router, you’ll likely be able to do the following: Filter Website Content Filtering enables you to restrict or blacklist certain types of websites that aren’t suitable for children. Some systems have an on/off switch that blocks adult content, while others have age-based controls (for child, pre-teen, teen, or adult) or allow you to block certain types of content based on topics and keywords. Group Devices Many routers allow parents to group devices by users. For example, you could schedule WiFi shutoff for a younger child’s smartphone and tablet on weeknights at 7:30 p.m., turn off your teen’s desktop and gaming console at 9:30 p.m., and keep your own connection active at all times. Limit Screen Time Using your router’s scheduling feature, you can curb the amount of screen time available for your children by restricting usage and creating internet breaks for activities such as homework, chores, and dinnertime. You can also schedule a time to shut off internet access on school nights and a different time for weekends. Pause WiFi Another commonly available option is to pause WiFi for a child, outside of the normal schedule, should distractions need to be kept to a minimum for any reason. You may be able to sync your router with a virtual assistant such as Siri and just say, “Siri, pause Tommy’sWiFi.” Review Reports Want to know the sites your children visit and how long they spend on each? Today’s routers typically give parents access to these types of detailed reports. BBC offers Managed WiFi, which can help protect your children from negative online experiences and keep them on task. Managed WiFi includes a premium router and the CommandIQ app offering parental controls and network security. Call 319.276.4458 to learn more. Today’s WiFi Routers Offer Parental Controls If Trees Could Talk, They’d Ask You to Use Paperless Billing Paper creates more than 25% of landfill waste, which means trees that took years to grow are being cut down to make paper that will be thrown away, perhaps after just days in the home. Does that make sense? We think trees would say, “No, it doesn’t.” One simple thing you can do to help reduce paper use (and save trees) is to sign up for BBC’s paperless billing. This means that instead of receiving a paper bill from us in the mail each month, you’ll receive it electronically via email. All the same information you’re used to seeing on your paper bill will also be in the electronic version, accessible 24/7 from any device. Plus, to save even more paper, you can pay your bill online and eliminate the check, envelope, and stamp. It’s quick and easy to sign up for paperless billing. Simply visit butler-bremer.com, click on “Pay Your Bill,” and follow the instructions. If you have questions, call us at 319.276.4458.
GRADS 715 Main Street / PO Box 99 Plainfield, IA 50666 Phone: 319.276.4458 butler-bremer.com Cornerstone Group © 2023 BUTLER-BREMER COMMUNICATIONS • 319 . 276 . 4458 • but l er-bremer. com Generously butter a standard-size mug. In a small bowl, mix these dry ingredients with a fork: 9 Tbsp. all-purpose flour • ¾ tsp. baking powder • 1/8 tsp. salt Then add 3 to 4 Tbsp. milk to the dry ingredients and stir until a smooth dough forms. Once the dough is flexible but not sticky, turn it out onto a lightly floured surface and knead it a couple times. Roll it into a long strip about 4 inches wide. Melt 1 Tbsp. butter and brush it on the strip. Sprinkle with 1 tsp. cinnamon and 1 Tbsp. of sugar. Roll up and put in mug. Microwave for 45-60 seconds, or until set. Mix 4 Tbps. powdered sugar and 1 tsp. milk to make glaze. Give Mom and Dad a hug and a cinnamon roll in a mug. Happy Mother’s Day and Father’s Day! EASY CinnamonRoll IN A MUG congrats B I G A C H I E V E M E N T S L E A D T O B I G S M I L E S Have Fun in the Sun at These Town Celebrations Pioneer Days: June 8th-10th New Hampton Heartland Days: June 9th-10th Water Over the Dam Days: June 22nd-25th Frederika Days: July 1st-4th Shell Rock 4th of July Celebration: July 1st-4th Plainfield Days: July 6th-9th Janesville Days: July 20th-22nd Tripoli Days: August 3rd-6th Denver Break-Away Days: August 18th-20th
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