family tips and article

In December 2004, a fire destroyed three townhouses and damaged a fourth in Lorton, Va., just south of the nation’s capital. Investigators later determined that faulty wiring had sparked the blaze.

Raul Castillo, a spokesman for the Fairfax County Fire and Rescue Department, said that fire marshals digging through the rubble uncovered an anomaly in the internal wiring at the back of one of the townhouses. This launched the fire, which spread to the adjacent townhouses.

Two firefighters were hurt, one burned, while navigating the smoky townhouses in the pre-dawn darkness. Seven adults were left homeless by the fire, which marshals estimate caused at least $800,000 in damage.

To avoid such a disaster, the National Concrete Masonry Association advises that you evaluate a building′s fire safety when you rent or buy a home in a multi-family dwelling, or if you are planning to lodge somewhere overnight or house your loved ones in college dormitories or nursing facilities. Buildings should contain these three components of a balanced fire-safety design: smoke detectors, sprinkler systems and concrete masonry walls between housing units. These elements, working in concert, provide the highest levels of safety and property protection.

Find out if the building′s walls and floors also are constructed of concrete and concrete masonry. Concrete masonry helps keep fire from spreading and does not produce smoke or generate toxic fumes. The NCMA recommends that you urge local building-code officials to ensure that multi-family homes adhere to the principles of a balanced fire-safety design, including non-combustible concrete masonry construction.

In 2004 2.1 million burglary offenses occurred in the United States. Of those less than 15% of criminals were arrested.

One reason the arrest rate is so low is because burglaries often happen when no one is home or around to witness.

The reality is most people cannot physically monitor their home, or office at all times without installing a monitoring system and paying costly monitoring fees.

Monitoring companies are not a solution for everyone. The new business owner, the business owner with high overhead or the lower income households need to save money and they can do so with the TeleSpy Intruder Alarm.

The TeleSpy is a monitoring device equipped with a motion detection sensor and a highly sensitive amplified microphone.

It operates from any working phone jack and requires no installation. The TeleSpy phone model is the common slim line telephone that an intruder would not recognize as a monitoring system.

Simply enter a phone number that you can be reached at while away from the location. Cell phones work great because you can take them anywhere. If motion is detected the TeleSpy will call you automatically.

You will be able to listen in for 30 seconds through the TeleSpy’s high powered microphone. After 30 seconds the TeleSpy disconnects and instantly re-arms to detect again and again.

If you hear an intrusion call the police. Your emergency will be a confirmed burglary in progress and treated as top priority.

You will want the best listening experience and sensor range to give the police as much details as possible. So consider a couple things when deciding a place for the TeleSpy.

The motion sensor range is in excess of 30 feet and the width is about 20 feet, creating about a 45 degree wedge beyond the sensor.

Now think like a criminal. Where would they enter and what are they looking for? There is a self test feature that allows you to run trials.

If you have pets include them in the test trials. Raising the TeleSpy or pointing it in different directions will help you  pin point your pet(s) sensitivity and eliminate interference.

The TeleSpy is ideal for apartments, small homes or offices. But it can be a great supplement to buildings with existing systems.

The point is that if your property is being burglarized you need the police there as soon as possible. Criminals cost Americans five billion dollars a year and stolen property is often never returned to the owner.

Bring some life and colour to the theme of your baby shower party by choosing carefully what it is you have in mind. Not all ideas thought up on the spur of the moment are the best. Ideas on how to decorate your venue or home are ten a penny. Without doubt baby shower decorations are a sure way of setting the atmosphere and brightening up this special day.
Simple baby shower decorations or the more elaborate decor will be denoted by your pocket. If you are on a tight budget do not despair because cheap can be just as eye catching if created with style.

After the decision has been made on what your theme is about it is all systems go for the decorating to begin. When setting up baby shower decorations always have the topic lingering in your mind so that you do not get carried away and lose track. May I remind you if opting for a traditional theme then your baby day decorations will consist of silver and china?

However the more modern approach is becoming very popular at these parties. Cartoon characters are most favoured so therefore the host of the baby shower will work around that particular Disney character

Perfect ideas do not have to cost you a packet especially if you are of a creative mind. Baby shower decorations can be made up of tin foil if you like. If arranged tastefully tin foil will be no different than that of your Christmas tinsel. Another penny saving idea worth a thought.

Arrange for flowers in season and cuddly toys for your display, cost effective as well as effective. If money is no object and you choose to have an elaborate look and feel then decorations will include a touch more than toys and flowers. How grand you want to be with this occasion is entirely up to you.

Cheap baby shower decorations that are guaranteed to add a bit of sparkle to this happy event are balloons which come in every colour of the rainbow shape and sizes. Use the balloons as a focal point to where the entire display of baby gifts is on display. Tie the balloons to some of the items you may want to highlight at this baby shower like baby milk bottles or toys. Why not fill the baby bath full of punch for everyone to toast mom-to-be. The bath tub can host many ideas like filling it with gifts or tasty edibles. Baby parasols and umbrellas can be hung from the ceiling adorned with colourful streamers and ribbons. The options are on going.

Fabulous tip below

Think creatively. Give each guest a balloon to tie to them selves this way you have a moving display of colour at no extra cost

Many people have only the vaguest notion of what certification means. When asked if having a certified technician work on their home comfort system is important, their first reaction is often that certification really isn′t that important.

But the truth is, certification makes a difference in the quality of service and really means peace of mind and assurance. When consumers realize that, their reaction and answer change.

Consider the benefits of certification. To know how important the benefits of certification are to a homeowner, ask yourself if it’s important that the technician working on your heater or air conditioner:

• Knows heating and cooling

• Has proof of his knowledge

• Is proficient

• Actually repairs the problem

• Does the job efficiently

• Does it right the first time.

Getting a certified technician means you know you′re getting the best for your money. No one has a money bin-and the boss is only going to let you have so many days off, so any waste of time or money because you′re using a non-certified technician could actually cost a homeowner twice.

NATE-certified technicians know heating and cooling. Certification does not necessarily mean that the certified technician is better than one who isn′t certified-but anyone can say they’re good. The consumer knows that a certified technician is knowledgeable because an impartial third party has had him checked out.

The moral: It’s your money-don′t take people’s word for how much they know-ask them for proof. And NATE certification is proof of knowledge of HVACR.

These tips are brought to you by North American Technician Excellence, or NATE, the nation’s largest nonprofit certification organization for heating, ventilation, air-conditioning and refrigeration technicians. The U.S. Department of Energy endorses NATE for raising quality standards and energy efficiency. For a contractor with NATE-certified technicians, go to the Consumer Contractor Connection at www.natex.org. Remember, when purchasing a new unit, please select an Energy Star-qualified model.

It’s your money. Don′t take people’s word for how much they know. Ask them for proof.

As technology becomes more and more sophisticated, virtually every type of electronic device becomes even more miniaturized. This is especially true of the spy technology that is available on the market today. As the various types of spy equipment that is used to listen, record and photograph have gotten phenomenally smaller, so have the devices that are used to detect them.
There are now hand held versions of several different types of bug detectors. One such unit can perform a multifunctional sweep of the environment and works just like the larger units do; only now they have more functions as well as offering the convenience of portability. Other hand held devices can detect even the smallest hard wired video camera.
If you’re worried about someone listening to or recording your conversation by wearing a hidden, miniaturized listening device upon their person, you’ve got the perfect countermeasure. There are compact sized RF detectors that are so small, you can conceal them upon your person, allowing you to perform a complete sweep for wireless listening devices without anyone knowing you’re even doing it. You can completely eliminate the worry of saying something you don’t want recorded or heard by others when you know whether or not your conversation is truly private./p
pOther types of portable, hand held devices could be used to locate wireless cameras as well as microphones. If you don’t want a video and audio record of something you are about to divulge, you can rest assured that you are in the clear with one of these handy, portable devices.

Of all of the ways that people can use listening devices, whether it is for fun, helping to detect problems with plumbing, pest control, covert operations, or keeping tabs on baby, one of the most important reasons for the use of listening devices is to just be able to hear with. That is hearing what the person standing across the room is saying to you. Hearing the timer go off on your stove so that your dinner or that cake you made doesn’t burn. Hearing what is being said on the TV without having to turn the sound up so loud that the whole neighborhood knows what you are watching. More importantly, so that a would be intruder, listening to that blaring TV, doesn’t know that you are hard of hearing and might not hear them breaking into your home until it is too late.
Let’s face it, hearing aids, the type that are typically sold to people with hearing problems are expensive, very, very expensive. And if you don’t have health insurance that pays for the cost of these pricy devices, you may be living in a world of partial silence unnecessarily. There are listening devices on the market today like the dynamic new slim line SuperEar. What are so great about these devices are not only their high degree of sensitivity and their mere three-ounce weight, but the price is unbelievably listed at under a hundred dollars. That’s right! And these listening devices are so compact they can be easily stowed into a pocket or purse when you are not using them.

Is it just me, or do we spend more time worrying about the safety of our computers these days than the safety of our own homes? You’ve got firewalls and virus protection for your CPU, but have you changed your door locks since you moved into your house? Do you have ladders, tools, and other things lying around your yard that a burglar could use to break a window and access your home? Do you have an alarm system you never arm? Windows you leave open? Doors left unlocked? When was the last time you walked around your house and, thinking like a burglar, considered just how easy it would be to break in? Yeah, that’s what I thought.

Let’s take a look at some smart security tips that can help make your home safer for you and your family. And guess what? Most of them are easier to implement than the security software loaded on your computer.

First off, remember that in general burglars will avoid occupied houses. That doesn’t mean your family is always safe when they′re home, however. There always exceptions to the rule, and you shouldn’t assume that nothing can ever happen just because someone is there. If a burglar breaks in while you’re not there, your belongings are at risk. If a burglar breaks in when your family is home, your family is at risk as well.

Now that I′ve got you thinking, let’s look at some measures you can follow in order to minimize the risk of being targeted.

Keys: Don′t hand out keys to friends, even if they’re trustworthy. Make sure you know the location of all your house keys all the time. Never use hide-a-keys or leave the key under the doormat, above the door, in a flowerpot, or anywhere outside the house. You may think you′re being clever, but guess what? Burglars know all the tricks. It’s their job to (however despicable). Also, it’s a good idea to keep your car keys and house keys on a different ring if you ever use valet parking or leave your keys with parking lot attendants or even at a repair garage.

Don’t let strangers in the house: Adults have no problem telling this rule to their kids, but they don’t realize it should apply to them too! Home security means being cautious. Even before you open the front door to accept a package, you should ask for photo identification. This goes for anyone you don’t recognize. Don’t assume someone is “legit” just because they are wearing a uniform or driving some company’s truck (these things can be stolen). If somebody comes to your door and asks to make a phone call, offer to make it for them, but don’t let them some inside. If someone looks like they’re injured, call 911, but don’t open the door. When you walk away to make that call, lock the door behind you; you don’t want to leave the door unlocked and unmanned. A chain on the door helps insure people can’t force their way in while you’re home.

Locks: Keep your doors and windows locked, even if you’re at home. Get your children into this habit, too. It’s too easy to forget an open window when you leave the house, and that provides an easy way in for burglars. Don′t assume a second story window is out of reach for a thief. They’re good at finding ways in.

Don′t be predictable: If you always leave home at the same time every day and return at the same time, thieves can easily memorize your routine to take advantage of the times you’re not at home. Work is work, and you probably can′t change those hours, but if you always go to a class or the grocery store at the same time, try to make yourself less predictable. You can also consider automatic timers for your lights and electronics, to make it seem when someone is home, even when they′re not.

Valuables shouldn’t be on display: I know you want to show off your hard-won plasma TV, but if somebody can look in your window and see your wallet, credit cards, purse, jewelry, or fancy electronics in open sight, they’re going to be tempted. A computer or television placed in front of a ground-floor window may make an easy target. Likewise, electronics placed across from a window are easily visible, too. In a similar vein, don’t leave your garage doors open for the world to see all the cool stuff you have in storage. Lightweight items could be snatched away quickly and easily.

Be mindful of your trash: Just bought a new entertainment system? There’s no need to tell the world about it. A bunch of empty boxes out by the curb is an open invitation to would-be burglars. Instead of putting boxes out in plain sight, cut them down, and stuff them in trash bags. Also be wary of identity theft. Never put personal identification information in your trash until it’s been shredded.

Be alert: Try to be aware of your surroundings on a day-to-day basis, even in your own neighborhood. This doesn’t mean walking around like a crazy paranoid person; just get in the habit of watching for suspicious activity.

Paying attention to the simple things can make you and your family much less of a target. Burglar alarms and home security systems are great investments, but common sense prevention is the best way to stay safe.

Further resources:

Home Security

Home Security News

In today’s world of miniaturization, body worn cameras, along with just about everything else, have gotten almost so small that they can be virtually undetectable by the naked eye. A prime example of that is the new interchangeable button/screw camera set that is not only high resolution, but color as well. These little beauties run on a simple nine-volt battery pack and come with an on/off switch.

Another great way to use body worn cameras is by using the wireless cell phone version. It comes in a flip style phone and contains a wireless CCD color camera. With only a 4.3mm pinhole lens, no one would suspect that your cell phone is actually a camera because it doesn’t have the telltale large lens opening that regular cell phone cameras have. Plus, this cell phone camera can transmit up to three hundred plus feet.

Better still, who would suspect that little pocket pager you have in your hand, of being capable of documenting a video of whatever is going down or whoever is up to no good? And this discreet little color pager has an even smaller 3.6mm lens and comes complete with easy to use plug and play operation that you will love.

Another way that miniaturization and covert has come into to play is through the body worn cameras that come concealed inside a pair of sunglasses. But these glasses are great to use in more areas than just the sun. They come with interchangeable tinted lenses that range from dark, to blue, to nearly clear. So that no matter if it’s day or night, inside or out, you can use them to catch all of the action using a tiny pinhole camera that works great along with a pocket DVR, and there is no distortion from the lenses either.

The vast array of home security products available on the market today can be dizzying. Home security products can be wireless or hard wired, optional or required or simple or complex. Determining which home security products you need can be difficult enough and it becomes more complicated when you have to choose between the assortment of models that are available for each product. Wading through all of the available information can be overwhelming. For this reason choosing only the most basic home security products can greatly simplify the process. The control panel, keypad, access control sensors and an audible or visible alarm are some of the basic home security products that are used in just about every home security system.

The control panel is one of the most important home security products available. This is the heart of any security system. All of the wiring for the other home security products meets at the control panel and the entire system is tied together at this location. Without this valuable component, the security system would not function properly.

The keypad is another of many home security products that exists in just about every security system. The keypad is where the homeowner interacts with the system. The system can be activated and deactivated at this location. The keypad is also where the system displays messages for the homeowners. If there has been a breach of security while you were away or if one of your home security products is malfunctioning, the keypad will display these important messages for you. The other purpose that the keypad plays is to display the current status of the system.

Access control sensors are other home security products that are critical to the function of a home security system. These home security products are used to detect if a door or window is opened while the security system is activated. When these sensors are triggered an alarm will sound either immediately or on a delay. The reason that most security systems incorporate a delay is to enable the homeowner to deactivate the system upon returning to their home.

Finally, an audible alarm and strobe lights are other home security products that are commonly used. These home security products can be used separately or in conjunction with each other. The importance of these components is that they alert the homeowners as well as their neighbors to a possible intruder. In most cases a triggered alarm is enough to cause the burglar to vacate the property as quickly as possible.

Not all home security products are necessary. Many home security products such as motion detectors and security cameras are optional while home security products such as the control panel, keypad, access control sensors and audible or visual alarms are necessary for the system to function properly.

Of the numerous different ways in which to disguise covert hidden cameras, clocks have, by no means, been left out of the equation. They are just one of the many items being used that cleverly allows you to keep an eye on things. There are a couple of different types of clock radios that contain covert hidden cameras. One is shaped like a cube and is a fully functional clock radio besides, offering a choice of black and white or color pictures.

Another one contains not only a hidden camera but a transmitter as well that will penetrate between two to three interior walls that are up to six hundred feet away. These covert hidden cameras also have a signal that travels up to fifteen hundred feet away from the camera to your VCR and or your TV. You can also move it from room to room as easily as you would any regular clock radio.

If you believe that having your covert hidden cameras inside of a clock radio just would not be classy enough for your living room, library or office, then you might want to take a look at the covert hidden cameras that come inside a mantle clock. This beautiful Seth Thomas mantle clock contains either a black and white low light or color/black and white high-resolution camera with a motion activated DVR, which is hassle free and easy to use.

By using a wireless remote control, you activate the arm button, and then the moment any motion is detected, the video camera begins running and will continue to run for fifteen seconds after the motion stops.