Fall is in full swing, and lately, it has been business as usual for me—which means staying active in the community and hitting the road for a few great events. I recently headed out to Ames for the Iowa State Landlord Convention to stay up-to-date on housing trends, property management, and local regulations. Shortly after that, I took a solo adventure to ICON Iowa (Iowa’s long-running science fiction convention). Whether it’s learning about property policies or geeking out over sci-fi and retro tech, it is always great to get out and connect.
A Quick Reminder: Health Insurance Open Enrollment
Before we dive into the tech updates, I want to remind everyone that we are right in the middle of Open Enrollment for Medicare.
Additionally, if you are not yet 65, it is also Healthcare.gov Open Enrollment. Since I am self-employed, I get my health insurance through the Marketplace. If you are shopping for ACA plans, I highly recommend using the calculator tools provided by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF) to easily compare your options. As a quick tip for the Marketplace: the Silver plans that include Cost-Sharing Reductions (CSRs) tend to be the absolute optimal choice for getting the best coverage-to-cost ratio.
Looking Back: Title Fraud & The Zillow Market Report
In my recent fraud prevention classes, we had some fantastic, eye-opening discussions. I wanted to highlight two major things I’ve been researching since that class:
Protecting Against Title Fraud: We discussed the growing concern of home title fraud, where scammers attempt to forge deeds to take out fraudulent loans against properties. Protecting your hard-earned equity is critical. I highly recommend checking with your local county recorder’s office—many Iowa counties now offer free “Property Fraud Alert” systems that will automatically notify you if any document is recorded under your name or on your property. https://www.linncountyiowa.gov/1860/Property-Fraud-Alert
The Zillow Rental Report: For those interested in real estate, Zillow’s new market report highlighted some massive shifts. While typical U.S. rent is up, nearly 40% of Zillow rental listings in September offered a concession (like a free month of rent or waived fees) just to get leases signed. It is a rapidly changing market, and staying informed is the best way to protect your investments.
November Feature: The Black Friday Tech Shopping Guide
November is officially Black Friday shopping month! Before the holiday rush begins, here is my quick guide on what to buy, what to skip, and how to snag the best deals:
Secure Your Privacy (ProtonMail & VPN Deals): Privacy is a huge topic in our classes, and Black Friday is generally the best time of year to invest in your digital security. Look out for steep annual discounts on ProtonMail and ProtonVPN. Using a reliable VPN is one of the best ways to keep your data safe—especially when you are connected to public Wi-Fi at coffee shops or airports. https://proton.me/black-friday
Streaming Service Annual Deals: Black Friday is the absolute best time of the year to lock in digital subscriptions. Services like Hulu, Peacock, Max, and Paramount+ historically run incredible promotions during the week of Black Friday, often dropping to just $1 or $2 a month for a full year. If you are a cord-cutter, this is the time to sign up or switch.
Magnetic “Qi2” Power Banks: If you have a newer smartphone (like an iPhone 15 or 16), keep an eye out for “Qi2 Magnetic Power Banks” from brands like Anker, Baseus, or UGREEN. These battery packs snap magnetically right to the back of your phone to charge it without any cords. They are fantastic for traveling or keeping in an emergency kit, and they typically see steep discounts on Amazon this month.
Streaming Hardware (The Roku Advantage): As we discussed last month, do not buy a brand-new television just because your current “Smart TV” interface is getting sluggish. Slapping a new $30 to $50 Roku Streaming Stick into an HDMI port breathes instant new life into an older television.
Smartwatches for Safety: If you’ve been thinking about getting an Apple Watch, Google Pixel Watch, or Samsung Galaxy Watch for their automatic fall-detection features, keep an eye on warehouse clubs like Costco or Sam’s Club. They often run the best bundle deals on wearables during the holidays.
Black Friday info on Reddit on websites
Community Giveaways & Retro Tech
Free Linux Desktops: I currently have a number of Linux desktop computers that I am giving away for free to anyone who would want one. If you need a basic, secure machine for web browsing or want to tinker with the Linux operating system, let me know!
Free Plasma TV: Someone recently gave me a Plasma television that I am also looking to give away to a good home. These older screens are still fantastic for watching movies or hooking up classic video games.
The Story of the Nintendo Wii: Speaking of retro tech, I recently watched a fascinating video breaking down how Nintendo built the Wii. Instead of chasing high-end graphics like Xbox and PlayStation, they intentionally made a weaker console focused on the motion-control remote so that anyone—from kids to grandparents—could instantly play. It is a great look at how prioritizing simplicity over sheer power won the market. You can check out the video here: Nintendo’s Most Over-Engineered Console.
Looking Ahead: Closing Out the “-ber” Months
As we head into Thanksgiving and gear up to close out 2026, I am incredibly thankful for all the great community conversations we’ve had this year. I plan to keep these monthly newsletters going as a regular touchpoint for practical tech tips and local updates.
I’d love to hear your thoughts on this newsletter! Just hit reply to let me know if you want to claim one of the desktops or the TV, or tell me which tech topics you’d like to see covered as we head into the new year.
Warmly,
CJ Flynn
Technically Easier