It’s astonishing how times have changed.

As the holiday season peaks, so do conversations around bitcoins, the online currency that your children are aware of and quite possibly already using to do things you are totally unaware… The philosophy around the bitcoin boom is that its users are anonymous and their transactionsuntraceable, something that both makes the currency desirable and dangerous. With that in mind, I thought it would be crucial to do a crash course with the hope that you follow this up with a conversation with the youth in your home.

What are Bitcoins?

Bitcoins are an electric currency or a cryptocurrency that lives online. This online currency (there are no physical coins) is currently worth billions of dollars. As of Dec. 11, 2017, bitcoins were trading at $17,183.34 per electronic coin. To date, there are 16.73 million bitcoins in circulation with a cap of no more than 21 million bitcoins available. This makes them very desirable to this growing online world (a world you and I are still figuring out but one our kids have grown up in.) In fact, bitcoins are hitting mainstream media and pop culture, even appearing in major TV sitcoms like Big Bang Theory.

Parents Beware – why do teens want them?

Because the bitcoin user is anonymous and their transactions are untraceable, teens love to be able to purchase online items through bitcoins. Not only will you never know but no one else will either. Add to that the sort of mining exercises or online digging that is required to gain or purchase bitcoins and these electronic gems become even more exciting to own. A recent survey found that millennials have a greater interest in cryptocurrency than any other age group. It follows that their younger tech-savvy siblings will be just as curious.

But what can they purchase, you ask? A lot. Gambling sites and gaming sites love bitcoins. You can even make purchases through websites such as Overstock.com, Microsoft, Newegg, Expedia plus many others. Add to that the potential purchases through the “dark web” which opens the door to pornography and other unsavory purchases that are ideal for the bitcoin user… it doesn’t take too much to see where the potential problems lie. Law enforcement is not too happy with bitcoins either and is working hard to meet digital criminality wherever it exists.

So How Does a Teen Get Them? 

While technically one must be 18 to mine (literally dig online for…) bitcoins, there is no way to tell and no enforcement when minors purchase bitcoins. It follows then that teenagers use a variety of different platforms to gain hold of these online treasures, including:

• eBay / Paypal: Teens can purchase small amounts of bitcoins on these sites but will pay dearly. Teens must be aware of sellers’ ratings before paying cash for bitcoins.
• Bitcoin ATMs: While you can find these in parts of Asia, some feel bitcoin ATMs are making their way to the United States. That said, the world is smaller to a teen who has many online connections. Teens must be aware of risks in sending cash to a foreign country with the hope of getting bitcoins in exchange.
• Cryptocurrency exchanges exist like Localbitcoins.com: People buy and sell bitcoins peer-to-peer on these sites, transferring funds directly from bank accounts. Buyers and sellers also meet in person to exchange cash for bitcoins. Teens must be aware of fraud, theft and other crime risks when meeting anyone in person or when making online transfers.
• Local cryptocurrency groups: One search on Facebook or Twitter will allow you to connect with many for crypto meetups in your area. Again, teens must be aware and extremely careful before meeting and trading cash for bitcoins with strangers they meet online. Also, teens must know how to authenticate the online currency before cash is given.
• Paxful: These sites allow teens to trade gift cards for bitcoins.

Now What?

Have a real conversation with your kids. Ask why they would want to purchase and use cryptocurrency. Discuss the dangers when trying to acquire bitcoins. Remind them that technically, one must be 18+ to legally purchase and use the online currency. More than anything, let’s encourage our kids to shy away from any operations that are secretive and remind them that because the bitcoin market is not regulated or tied to any banking system, the bitcoin market is volatile and unsecure. What you are holding today may not be worth the same tomorrow.

We are truly living in a new world and, as parents, we have a lot to keep up with. The online cryptocurrency world is a complicated one, but I assure you it’s targeting your children and mine. We must be aware of what it is and the dangers it imposes.

Not anymore.

In just the last few months, our country’s culture has literally turned on a dime. Employers are now standing by victims and immediately addressing claims of sexual abuse in the workplace, leaving us all shocked and stunned and saying goodbye to so many leading men, such as:

• FOX NEWS icon Bill O’Reilly
• Powerful movie producer Harvey Weinstein
• Oscar winning actor Kevin Spacey
• Hollywood screenwriter and director James Toback
• ABC News political director Mark Halperin
• NBC Today Show anchor Matt Lauer

And as I write this, we’ll add one more to the list, Russell Simmons. As I write this, news is literally breaking that CEO and music mogul Simmons will be stepping down due to sexual assault allegations.

So now what? How do we as a country manage this swinging pendulum and make sure we keep the integrity of both the victims and their cases? How do we make sure we don’t turn our newfound justice into a meaningless witch hunt?

We do two things:

1. Stick to the law and the legal definitions of sexual assault.
2. Encourage women in the work force to continue to say NO and sexual assault victims to SPEAK UP.

According to the Department of Justice, sexual assault is defined as any type of sexual contact or behavior that occurs without the explicit consent of the recipient. Falling under the definition of sexual assault are sexual activities as forced sexual intercourse, forcible sodomy, child molestation, incest, fondling, and attempted rape.

Readers and friends, please note: Something like fondling in and of itself may not be labeled sexual assault. The contact must be done in a sexual manner, or a manner that was intended for the purposes of sexual arousal and gratification. A pat on the rear while you walk by or a hand placed on a rear during a photo, (although HORRIBLY disrespectful, made in poor taste and worth reporting under certain company codes of moral conduct) may not (and in isolated cases most likely will not) rise to the legal level of sexual assault.

So, to all our female friends and colleagues in the workplace, to all the young women who are just entering, we want you to continue to say NO and to SPEAK UP FOR YOURSELF. Know both the legal definitions of sexual assault and your company’s policy on moral codes of conduct. Don’t be afraid to use your voice, society is on your side! And if you have been a victim of assault, keep records of everything – emails, photos, gifts, etc. Build your case and get ready to take your accuser to court. We are standing behind you!

The only people who can ruin the path we are on is us. Let’s be careful, mindful and respectful of the employers who now seek to protect us. As far as these leading men, while you had great talents and contributed to all our lives in different ways, to think that you were ever above the law or entitled to such abuse is beyond us all. Goodbye, goodbye and good riddance.

This post is for you and for me. It’s a challenge to take this time of slowing down and giving thanks to have some important, and very real, conversations with your teens and college students home for this holiday break.

What to talk about? We have many suggestions, but one topic comes to mind: sexting.

Wait! Keep reading! This is not a new trend but it’s still just as relevant and scary today. The practice has evolved with kids moving on from partial nudes to full nudity shots. Why are teens doing this? Because they live, breathe and fully engage via that smartphone in their hands. Even when alone, they spend their time taking photos, editing photos and keeping photos of themselves. So, whether these photos are for themselves or to send to a girl/boyfriend or online stranger, it’s of course, critically dangerous.

Here’s what to talk about with your teens:

• Nude photos should never be taken, even if only for personal use. They can and will end up in the hands of someone you didn’t intend. At this point, that’s a fact.
• Don’t think that hiding these photos in hidden apps protects you. It doesn’t. Don’t take them.
• They are illegal and considered child pornography. You break the law by sending and simply receiving them.
• Once these photos are in the hands of someone you didn’t intend, you enter a very dangerous situation that goes something like this: I have your naked photo. I’m sure your parents would kill you if they knew you took it. I won’t show anyone as long as you take another photo and send it to me. Fearing YOU, time after time, the teen will do what is asked. Soon, she will be told to move from photos to videos.

What parents should do:

Parents, go through this entire scenario with your child. Walk through the options. Make sure they realize they should never be blackmailed. Yes, an inappropriate photo sets them up for embarrassment and hardship BUT, together, you and they will get through it. You love them more than you could ever be upset; their fear of disappointing you should never lead them to be a target of this activity.

Teens and college students are dealing with a whole new world of issues. Crime Stoppers is aware of this and wants to empower them to rise above the risks and make the most of this special time in their lives. With that in mind, we recently launched a Youth Media Advisory Council that gathers smart teens from a variety of high schools and colleges and brings them together to talk about real issues and seeks their input on a solution. Additionally, we partner these teens and college students with opportunities to blog about their ideas, join us on radio or even TV segments when appropriate.

The theory is that together, we can reach a wider audience and promote the safety of youth everywhere. If you have a teen or student who is interested, make sure to contact me at rmankarious@crime-stoppers.org. I personally want to hear about them as we build our esteemed Youth Media Advisory Council.

As we get ready to give thanks together, is there anything on earth you are more thankful for than your children? They are worth every word and every effort to keep safe. It doesn’t matter what school they are enrolled in. It doesn’t matter what zip code they sleep in. Their safety relies on you and the conversations you are willing to have with them. Let’s collectively have them, together.

I ran to the TV. Deadliest mass shooting in Texas . . . Estimates that over 20 have been killed including many children [we now know 26 died] . . . Small quaint town of Sutherland Springs, Texas…

My mom continued, Is this near you?

I replied. No, it’s not. But, yes, it is.

News unfolded in the days following the attacks. The shooter point and aimed at crying children and their moms who plead for their lives. And, as a nation, we followed the same post mass shooting playbook – (1) argue over gun control (2) point fingers (3) do nothing (4) repeat steps 1-3 after the next mass shooting.

And yes, after the next mass shooting . . . because at the rate we are going, this will happen again. So here is the bigger question: If this is our new normal, what are we really going to do about it? I was able to have a long discussion with Sandy Hook Elementary School moms Alissa Parker (who recently spoke at the Crime Stoppers of Houston Gala) and her program partner Michelle Gay about this very issue. Both Alissa and Michelle lost their daughters in that terrible shooting just days before Christmas in 2012. Since the tragedy, they founded the nonprofit Safe and Sound Schools and, like me, have chosen to focus on life in the post Sandy Hook world and what we can do to thwart mass shootings and survive them once in them. This must now be our collective focus.

One Miami school agrees. According to CNN, Florida Christian School in Miami is selling ballistic bulletproof panels to go inside students’ backpacks. The dean of students and head of school security, George Gulla, has even gone as far as to instruct teachers how to show students to use their bulletproof backpacks in the event of a school shooting. Stating that the bulletproof backpacks would add “another level of protection,” the $120 panel is being marketed to all students pre-K – 12th grade.

The school has never had an incident but is going above and beyond in preparation. And while it is shocking and a purchase that would require tons of thought and discussion before I “added to cart,” it’s one that, at the end of the day, I would be thankful for in the event of an attack.

Here’s the reality: Five of the deadliest shootings in US history have occurred in the past 10 years. Orlando, ranked #2, took place in 2016. Las Vegas, ranked #1, took place in 2017 and Sutherland Springs, Texas, ranked #5, also in 2017.

This Miami school is not the only school taking precautions. Following the 2012 Sandy Hook shooting, a Maryland university invested in 200 bulletproof whiteboards. Upon further research, it seems that there is an entire industry now dedicated to bulletproof school supplies including: notebooks, computer briefcases, barrier blankets, furniture, raincoats, formalwear and even underwear.

So here we are, in a new world. And there are two issues staring right at each other: Prevention and survival. We must be aggressively focused on preventing these types of tragedies. This means working together to identify and treat mental health issues and tightening legislation that allows those with no prior record but signs of mental health complexities to walk into a store and purchase a gun. And then we look to survival. Gone should be the days where people think this could never happen to them or where they live, in their town, in their schools, places of worship, malls, movie theaters or more. We must embrace a new era of being aware, having a plan, being ready to fight for our survival and safety while continuing to do all the things we love to do.

I go back to my mother’s s question: Is this near you? Yes, it is and no matter where you live, it’s near you too. The same goes for Sandy Hook, Orlando and Las Vegas. And each incident requires a response. How I wish for my kids and yours that this topic would never be one we were faced with, but that’s not the case.

But while all that was going on, there was another story of triumph brewing in our city, one that sneaked up on us and unfolded slowly, game after game. It’s a story of a team made up of players who didn’t inherit a legacy of championships, but each came to the field with a fighting spirit. It’s the story of a team who saw their time on the field as representing their coaches and their craft but also as representing their city during a unique time of hope. It’s a team that recognized that the viewers who tuned in did so with tired eyes and sore hands.

It’s a story of a team that ran every ball and played each inning with a determination to give excitement back to those who love them and those they love. And as win after win moved our team up through the ranks, today, our Houston Astros are going into game four of the World Series with a 2 to 1 lead over the Los Angeles Dodgers.

It’s fair to say, whether you are historically a fan or not, the Astros have us all proudly seeing orange. This is our story, our team, our championship and, my goodness, we all want to bask in the glory.

As with all things though, a beautiful scenario filled with hope and emotion creates an opportunity for criminals seeing green. Please keep these safety tips in mind:

• Astros have sold out of their set price tickets, so you now must go to a secondary market. Always use a reputable merchant like Stub Hub, Vivid, Seat Geek and Houston Ticket Store. Avoid sites like Craigslist.
• Make sure you look at ticket prices AND processing fees.
• Worried about the cost? If you are ready and willing, you can sometimes go on these secondary merchant sites and purchase a game day ticket immediately after the game has begun. Prices may fall slightly after the first pitch.
• Avoid sellers that ask you to pay now but pick up your tickets later or the day of the event. A legitimate seller should send you your tickets electronically, right away.
• Avoid purchasing tickets from a random ticket seller outside the stadium, especially where cash is exchanged. That said, if you want to go that route, ask the seller to walk you to the gate and stand with you until your ticket is scanned. If it’s the real deal, they won’t mind.
• Most tickets are printed PDFs so beware of copies. Only the first person to show the PDF printed ticket will get in, that means the remaining purchasers will be at a total loss (not attending the game and usually out of whatever money they paid for their fake tickets). If you have purchased fraudulent tickets, call the HPD non-emergency number to report the incident at 713-884-3131 or file a police report.
• Best practice is to use a credit card and keep a copy of a receipt when purchasing tickets. That said, only enter your billing information into secured sites that begin with https://. Beware of identity theft from unsecured online sites or calling strangers/entities unknown to you but who ask for your credit and billing information over the phone.
• Buy merchandise from an established retail store, especially autographed items or items that need authentication. Counterfeiters thrive during these times. Look for inferior quality, loose stitching or off-center logos. Also, be suspicious of odd places of sale, for example, a random parking lot kiosk.
• Remember to lock your cars and hide any items of value when you are parking your car at the venue where you are watching the game; this means, be weary of items you leave in your car while you valet as well.
• Have fun at the game but be responsible and gracious. In the excitement, there is no need to insult, injure or risk the lives of others due to erratic behavior or drinking. Fans exiting the stadiums also have to deal with fans leaving area restaurants and bars. It’s an exciting time, let’s all enjoy it wisely and safely.

Houston is a city that continues to amaze me . . . with its changing skyline, unique character, growing personality and unbreakable resilience, we have layers upon layers that make us exceptional. No matter what happens moving forward, we are already a city undoubtedly known for beating the odds triumphantly, with grace and class. Enjoy this time with family and friends, building memories and cheering our team on. It’s no wonder we are all #HoustonStrong and #HoustonProud! Go Astros!