Cyber Space Play

Emergency or safety measures in houses and offices are really profound since they can avert extensive loss to belongings. In addition to the fire suppression system, it is likewise needful to sustain a really sound escape plan when fires do happen. All residents need to be prepared regarding the preventive and emergency program once the system is put in place. Another fundamental thing to execute is to educate children what to do during a fire emergency.

Fire Suppression alarms and equipments in offices are essential in keeping all building occupants secure. It can’t be averted that sometimes, occupants may be in an area where fire alarms are not heard really well. In order to minimise the casualties when fires break out, a stable fire emergency program should be set.

In homes, fire detectors with heat sensing elements (they detect unusual heat levels) can also be applied. Once the heat levels go beyond normal levels, the warning devices are triggered. In the example of cooking rooms, the settings should permit more heat as compared to the entire house.

However, these fire warning devices require regular care checks. Fire alarms should also be ideally equipped to produce blaring emergency noices similar to a horn. The nice thing about it is that it likewise notifies people within the neighborhood that a fire is happening and that they should act accordingly.

Putting up a fire prevention technology in your home imparts additional value to it. A impression of security and confidence will be present particularly if there are little kids around. This is the reason why fire suppression procedures and equipments are installed in infirmaries, schoolhouses and nursing centers.

Outdoor security systems are of particular importance at outdoor sporting events such as baseball games, soccer fields as well as schools, airports, companies and homes. Here are some new developments in outdoor security technology so you can relax and enjoy the game in safety.

Deterrent Properties - Outdoor Security

Outdoor security relies on the deterrent properties of the fence or other outdoor security apparatus to detect and block entry of unauthorized people, vehicles and animals, etc. Today, the issue of outdoor security is of major importance to everyone whether we like it or not and the outdoor security is a serious and lucrative business.

Complete Perimeter Security - Outdoor Security

Among the latest developments in outdoor security is a line of taut wire perimeter intrusion detection systems. The unique component in this outdoor security system is a fence combined with a sophisticated intrusion detection system. If someone or something tries to enter the restricted outdoor security zone, the system will sound the alarm at the outdoor security system headquarters

Analog Sensors - Outdoor Security

While the technical aspects are secret, outdoor security systems based on self-balancing analog sensors are used extensively to monitor fences worldwide. An attempt to invade the outdoor security safe area is recorded on the analog sensors and analyzed before sounding the alarm. These outdoor security systems are based on highly sensitive analog sensors for detecting possible intrusions along with a very low false alarm rate. There is so much at stake in outdoor security for airports, stadiums and public events - and the first and best line of defense is the outdoor security provided by these analog sensors.

False Alarms - Outdoor Security

If outdoor security was not such a serious issue, false alarms would be quite humorous such rain, snow, hail, shifting soil, and the odd fox looking for a hen. The accepted rate for outdoor security false alarms is about one alarm per kilometer of fence in a three month period. There are also outdoor security systems based on this technology for home owners. Look out your window at the shifting weather, vehicles and people zipping by your house. Are you safe? For peace of mind, check out cost effective outdoor security systems to protect you and your loved ones.

Magal Group of Companies is the leading manufacturer in the field of outdoor outdoor security solutions. For more information on outdoor security technology, visit Magal Systems

Microcircuit, or microchip, video cameras are miniature cameras about the size of a US quarter or smaller and have been around for about ten years. These tiny video cameras have been the cutting-edge of surveillance technology. The cameras are everywhere and are especially useful for documenting instances of theft in the workplace or capturing video evidence for later use in court.

Pinhole video cameras are micro-video cameras that have been designed with a small pinhole in the front of them. They are optimized so that the image sensor can obtain images through a hole the size of a pin, making them very easy to hide and use in covert situations. Many professionals in the surveillance business offer ready-made setups of micro-video cameras built into just about anything including clocks, teddy bears, coffee pots, lamps, radios, etc.

Pinhole and Microcircuit Cameras hidden inside of everyday objects and then used for surveillance around the home are oftentimes referred to as nannycams or nanny cams. The name became popular when videos of babby sitters and in-home child care workers, who were abusing children while the parents were away, began surfacing regularly in the nightly news.

When choosing a nannycam, or building one for that matter, it’s important to watch the quality of the board cameras you are going to obtain simply because the US market has been flooded by low quality cameras that have a limited life and a high rate of failure. One company hawks them for as low as $29.95 but this is definitely not the type of camera you want to use for professional or long-term applications. It’s also important to note that these cameras require that you wire them in the proper manner for power supply and video output which can be confusing to albeit the most technology saavy users.

It’s also important to be aware of the available features of these cameras. Here is what to look for:

Automatic Electronic Shutter Adjustment

Video cameras need to have an electronic shutter that automatically compensates for lighting changes. You will find that cameras without AES will under or over expose the resulting image.

Resolution

Resolution is the number of lines that compose the image captured; more lines equals a better resolution equals a better picture. Many of the lesser expensive cameras have resolution of 360 lines or below. I suggest looking for cameras with 400 lines or better.

Light Rating

Light ratings for cameras are measured in “lux” ratings, which is a measurement of the minimum amount of light needed to capture an image. Many of the cheaper cameras on the market have lux ratings of 1 to over 2.5 and require a lot of light to reproduce an image; you are best staying below 0.5 lux in black and white cameras.

Small Size

Of course, all of these cameras are small. Very small. But size will vary. Size can be as tiny as 29mm (w) X 29mm (h) X 12mm (d) with the best cameras.

Wiring and Power

Many of these cameras aren’t wired; that means you will have to wire them and determine how to route power to them. Some of the better cameras come prewired and allow you to plug them into a standard electrical outlet or a battery pack. Typically these cameras are also prewired with a standard RCA jack to plug into a recorder’s input.

Camera Housing

The better cameras come with a protective housing; the less expensive cameras don’t have a housing are called bare-board cameras. If you are going to install the camera yourself into something like a clock or smoke detector, it’s best to obtain the bare-board camera. The purpose of the housing is, of course, so circuits remain protected during use and remain dust free.

Power Supply

Low quality cameras require a lot of power and will drain batteries very quickly; color cameras consume more power than black and white ones. A short battery life, measured by a few hours, will make using these cameras impractical for most hidden camera applications. Quality professional cameras will give you an extended battery life or offer an optional wall-outlet connection for a limitless power supply.

Aside from these features, there are other important factors to consider. Do you you’re your images in black and white or color? Do you want to use a wireless camera or a hardwired camera? If you use a wireless model, you will also need a video transmitter; these can be quite bulky. However, with the advent of new technology, there are now self-contained microcircuit cameras that have transmitters built right into them while maintaining their very small size.

Microchip cameras can be hidden almost anywhere. They can be set up in a stationary position or hidden on your body. Covert Microchip cameras are most often inserted into the following items for stationary applications:

VCR

Book
Desk Lamp
Table Clock
Smoke Detector
Wall Clock
Floor Lamp
Portable Radio
Coffee Maker
Thermostat
Teddy Bear

A Word About Audio… I am generally against it!

Although you will find a number of covert video cameras and microchip cameras with built-in sound, they are actually illegal; in fact, U.S. Customs has raided some places selling these units in the past. The laws dealing with covert audio recording are much different than those dealing with covert video recording; there is no such thing as a “no party consent” thus, a covert video camera with audio could be considered an illegal eavesdropping devise.

L. Scott Harrell is a noted author, speaker and private investigator with 14 years of experience as a private detective and principal of CompassPoint Investigations.

More information regarding CompassPoint Investigations can be found via his website: http://www.CompassPointPI.com

Part 1 of this article described some of the characteristics of hurricanes and the damage they can cause. In the days before high tech weather forecasting, well organized emergency services, and mandatory evacuation, major hurricanes resulted in hundreds, if not thousands of deaths.

Most deaths, much property damage, and significant financial loss are all preventable with sensible forward planning and early action. Let’s have a look at how you can protect yourself, your family, and your property if a hurricane crosses the coast in your area

To find out more about hurricanes visit http://www.home-weather-stations-guide.com/hurricanes.html

Advance Preparation for the Hurricane Season

The North American hurricane season starts on June 1st, reaches a peak in August and September, and fades out over the next two months. This doesn’t mean that major hurricanes won’t occur before or after the peak - July 2005 set new records for early hurricanes.

Unlike a tornado, a hurricane can be monitored and tracked for some time before its final landfall or decay. If you are a resident or visitor in a target area, you will normally have considerable advance warning of a hurricane’s approach, and time to safeguard your home or prepare for evacuation.

But the best time to start preparing is before the threat is visible. You can do this by

• Insuring your house and property to the maximum extent possible. An up to date inventory of your possessions is a smart move.

• Storing important documents and valuable possessions in a secure place away from your home.

• Checking with your local emergency co-ordinators on the risk of storm surges and flooding, and assessing your risks of damage from strong winds.

• Preparing for evacuation if you live in a high risk coastal area. Familiarize yourself with evacuation routes, and put together an emergency kit which you can grab at short notice if you need to leave.

• Owning a battery operated Weather Radio. This will provide you with warnings about the storm’s location and time and location of landfall, and will also advise when the crisis has passed.

• Considering strengthening your roof against lifting by severe winds - options include roof strapping or extra clips.

• You may also consider reinforcing an internal room as a safe room, a practice recommended for tornado prone areas. A bathroom on the lower level of your house may be ideal, and would provide last resort protection for you and your family against destructive winds.

• Preparing an emergency kit in case you lose power and water during the hurricane. This should contain basic food supplies, water, torches and battery operated radios, a portable bottled gas stove, and anything else that will make life a little more bearable.

  Obviously most of the components of your kit will be somewhere around the house, but imagine how much easier it will be if everything you need is in the one place when the lights go out.

When A Hurricane Is Approaching

• Listen out for hurricane watches, warnings and special bulletins on Weather Radio, normal radio and TV. A Hurricane Watch (which also covers slightly less severe tropical storms which can develop into hurricanes) means hurricane conditions are possible in the next 36 hours. Check for updates on radio, TV, internet.

  A Hurricane Warning means a hurricane is expected within 24 hours.

• Put up storm shutters and secure firmly. Don’t bother with taping windows - it won’t help and it’s no fun to remove when the threat has passed

• Secure all outdoor and garden furniture - store in an enclosed area.

• Evacuate if advised, or if you are threatened by flooding or storm surges, if you live in a mobile home or high rise, or if you feel unsafe. Leave as soon as you can. Turn off power, gas and water if advised.

• If you are staying, assume power and water may be cut. Fill your bathtub and other containers with water, turn your refrigerator to its coldest setting and keep the door closed, and turn off propane gas.

During a Hurricane

• Stay inside. The main dangers are flying debris and downed power lines. Listen to Weather Radio, and don’t go outside until the hurricane has passed. If the eye passes over you, a deceptive period of calm will be followed by the return of strong winds and heavy rain.

• Secure all doors and windows, close off windows with curtains or blinds, and close all internal doors.

• At the peak of the hurricane, go to a safe room on lower floor - lie or crouch under a sturdy table or other piece of strong furniture.

With a little good fortune, these fairly simple precautions should get you through the hurricane safely. You will have done well, and will emerge healthy and fit enough to tackle the inevitable clean up. Good luck.

But always remember that hurricanes are short lived and are only likely to be a threat for a small part of the year. Think of them as an occasional tax to be paid for the benefits of an otherwise pleasant climate.

©2005, Graham McClung. This article is adapted from a free special report on weather emergencies. It can be downloaded from http://www.home-weather-stations-guide.com/tyvm.html

While you’re there, check out the rest of the site for more information on dangerous and spectacular weather.

Having a home security alarm system installed is a great step to take to help improve the security for your home and family. There are lots of choices to be made when selecting a security alarm system itself, but after selecting the appropriate alarm for your home, it’s a good idea to consider whether you want to have an outside service monitor your home alarm as well.

Oftentimes, security alarm companies offer this option along with the alarm system that they install, but if you decide to install the alarm yourself or have it installed by a local contractor, you will need to decide on taking this extra step and which company you would like to choose for a monitoring service.

The good news is that most monitoring services are very reasonable and affordable. In fact, you can get a monthly subscription to many monitoring services for $10 or even less per month. A lot of homeowners conclude that this is money well spent for the extra peace of mind that it affords.

So how does a monitoring service work?

Well, usually the alarm system is set up so that if the alarm is triggered, a phone call is made to the monitoring service automatically, where the personnel on duty call your home first and try to determine if a false alarm has sounded or if a real break-in has happened. This can save you money in case of an accidental triggering of the alarm.

If a break-in is in progress they then call the local law enforcement who can then get to your house quickly and investigate the matter. This kind of home protection is especially valuable when you are away from home as that is when most burglaries take place.

So which monitoring service should you choose? There is a wide variety of these services available and not all are as vigilant as you would like them to be. Our suggestion is to poll your neighbors, family, friends, and perhaps your real estate agent to see what recommendations they have for a reliable service that they know of. Quite often, you will begin to hear the same names come up in conversation, and that is the short list of companoies that you should investigate regarding the features they offer that you feel will be of most benefit to you.

It is not necessary to have an alarm monitoring service, but it is cheap insurance that does you one extra layer of protection in your home security plan.

Jim Johnson writes on many consumer related topics including home security. You can find out more about home security alarms and home security surveillance by visiting our Home Security Review website.

Man oh man! You know I’d like to think I’m smarter than the average bear, but sometimes I amaze myself with my lack of common sense and good judgment.

You know the emails circulating about helping those poor souls (tongue in cheek) “hide” their money overseas? You know the ones I mean, they come addressed to you from the Prime Minister of This and That country, all desperate to sneak their cash out of the country before the roof falls in… promising you the moon if you’ll only “help” them.

All scams of course, we all know that, but…

Well, DUH!

I must get 10 of these a week. I KNOW what they are, even when they change the subject line - my esp is going ballistic - my finger hovers over the delete without opening key - and STILL 10 times out of 10, I’ll click that little puppy open, just to be sure.

You know why I open it? I open it on the remote and totally unlikely chance that it WILL be someone I know, truly needing my help.

I swear… Now who’s kidding who?

Okay, so maybe the “desperate” appeal works - too often. But, tell me, would YOU be willing to play such a con line over and over AND hope to walk away with your integrity intake? I think not. I certainly hope not.

Recently I read and published Sam Knight’s latest article entitled, “What’s The Matter People and Why Aren’t They Reading My Ads!” I laughed myself blue in the face, she just writes so well! And, in my smug little way, I sat there confident that no one was “getting to me” in such a fashion.

And then, what, just two hours later, I’m clicking open the very next “Dear Sir or Madam, please help me!” letter.

Unbelievable (shaking head at oneself).

Integrity, truth in advertising, taking the high road, call it what you want, but you and I both know it is the only true road to success.

The redeeming factor to all this? Study the subject lines in your own inbox. Figure out what really ticks you off and what actually prods you to open those emails and use them to your best advantage.

All the while maintaining a much higher level of professionalism, of course.

To your success!

© Theresa Cahill - All Rights Reserved. Feel free to distribute this article. Please keep it intact and with the resource box included below.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Theresa Cahill, a two decade veteran of marketing, is the owner of http://www.mywizardads.com and invites you to take a look at the services of MWA and download fr.ee helpful information and more at http://www.mywizardads.com/sitemap.html

People often worry about leaving their homes unsupervised while they are at work or on vacation. They may even be scared in their own homes for fear that some intruder may break in and harm them. People today are becoming more aware about making their homes more secure with the aid of home security systems. They appreciate the sense of security that a good home security system affords them.

It is important that you make all effort and spare no expense in protecting your home from danger and theft. It is always wise to invest into a good home security system for your house instead of leaving yourself vulnerable to crime and danger. Make no mistake; having a good home security system will do wonders for your peace of mind.

Nowadays home security systems utilize highly sophisticated technology, and employ innovative techniques to understand the psychology of burglars and criminals. Though these home security systems may not be completely foolproof, they at least help reduce the risk of crime and burglary significantly.

You may naively think that just using sturdy doors and windows with strong bolts may discourage a would-be-intruder, but that is far from the truth. Intruders and burglars are very good at locating easy access to the inside of the house. These criminals study the house well to look for the weakest points of entrance and also the best escape routes such as the doors, windows and ventilation system. They also carefully observe for any security system in use such as home security cameras and home security alarm etc. Burglars may think twice about breaking into a house outfitted with home security products, so a good home security system is a good deterrent against these crimes.

When you decide to install your home security system the first thing you need to do is to find a trusted home security company that can recommend to you the most suitable home security products to get, for example inconspicuous safes that are hidden or blend into the wall or furnishings etc.

There are certain cost factors to consider when setting up your home security system, including:

* Initial cost: You have to invest some amount for the initial set up cost, but it generally is not too expensive.

* Recurring cost: You have to pay a monthly or annual monitoring fee to the home security company for its home security products and services.

Regardless of the cost of setting up and running a home security system, it is definitely worth the investment as it affords you a sense of security and peace of mind.

Well here we go again as they say and Tropical Depression, now Tropical Storm Alberto is on its way. Indeed it is expected to reach Hurricane status and that means series destruction for where ever wind and sea meet land.

As folks finally are getting over the 2005 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season and the Gulf Coast is not even close to getting rebuilt and New Orleans is still a natural disaster area we are rip roaring and ready to go again. This has been La Nina year and generally those are followed by more robust Hurricane Seasons.

Indeed the 2006 Atlantic Tropical Hurricane Season is expected to be a major one and perhaps not quite as bad as the last record breaking years, however it is expected to break some records, we just do not know which one’s yet.

Suffice it to say that if Alberto is headed your way into the Gulf or Mexico or along the Florida Coast, that if you are told to evacuate, then take that advice and get your family and yourself out of dodge. Hurricane seasons come and go, some are worse than others and we can replace the damage to our civilization, but if Tropical Hurricane Alberto comes for your family remember we cannot replace you. Consider all this in 2006.

“Lance Winslow” - Online Think Tank forum board. If you have innovative thoughts and unique perspectives, come think with Lance; http://www.WorldThinkTank.net/wttbbs/

Technology has given spies the ultimate weapon in listening devices: the spy mobile phone. The great thing about these cell phone bugs is that they are so ordinary looking and function normally. When you are listening in, you do not look suspicious because just about everyone now has a mobile phone. Their very presence in every aspect of society is a plus. There is virtually no place that your spy mobile phone cannot go, and therefore it is the ultimate in infiltration.

The new generation of spy mobile phone allows you to listen in on conversations that are being had on the phone, as well as listening to conversations in the area of the phone when it is not actively in use. The phone is the ultimate in surveillance technology. You can send it off with your teenager to make sure that he or she is not engaging in inappropriate activities, or you can give it to your significant other and make sure she or he is not cheating on you. It is an excellent way to learn all that you need to know, and never be suspected of listening in.

You give the spy mobile phone to whomever it is that you need to listen in on (heck, get them for the whole family!). Each phone is programmed with two numbers. The first is the regular phone number that anyone can call. The second is a secret number that you choose. When you call the secret number, the phone activates without giving any sign to the person who has it. It is quietly active (even if it is not in use) allowing you to listen. If you dial in and the person is using the phone, you have instant access to both ends of the conversation. If you dial in and the phone is not in use, you can hear everything that is going on in the room.

Not only can you dial in at will, but it is also possible with the spy mobile phone to program the phone to call you. It calls you when the person is calling someone else or even when the person receives an incoming call. There is no reason for you to miss a single communication when you have the ultimate spy mobile phone.

(c) 2005 Copyright www.spyassociates.com. This article is about: Spy Mobile Phone.

Start by making a list of your possessions, describing each item and noting where you bought it and its make and model. Clip to your list any sales receipts, purchase contracts, and appraisals you have. For clothing, count the items you own by category — pants, coats, shoes, for example — making notes about those that are especially valuable. For major appliance and electronic equipment, record their serial numbers, usually found on the back or bottom. It shouldn’t take you very long at first… TV, clock radio, clothes, and your goldfish!

• Don’t put it off!

If you are just setting up a household, starting an inventory list can be relatively simple. If you’ve been living in the same house for many years, however, the task of creating a list may seem overwhelming. Still, it’s better to have an incomplete inventory than nothing at all. Start with recent purchases and then try to remember what you can about older possessions.

• Big ticket items

Valuable items like jewelry, art work and collectibles may have increased in value since you received them. Check with your agent to make sure that you have adequate insurance for these items. They may need to be insured separately.

• Take a picture

Besides the list, you can take pictures of rooms and important individual items. On the back of the photos, note what is shown and where you bought it or the make. Don’t forget things in closets or drawers.

• Videotape it

Walk through your house or apartment videotaping and describing the contents.

• Use a personal computer

Use your PC to make your inventory list. Personal finance software packages often include a homeowners room-by-room inventory program.

Storing the list, photos and tapes

Regardless of how you do it (written list, CD, floppy disk, photos, videotape or audio tape), keep your inventory along with receipts in your safe deposit box or at a friend’s or relative’s home. That way you’ll be sure to have something to give your insurance representative if your home is damaged. When you make a significant purchase, add the information to your inventory while the details are fresh in your mind.

Submitted by Joe Kahler, author of Out On My Own…Now What?! Tips and Insights So You’re Not Left Hanging in the Real World! http://www.outonmyown.com/house.htm

Joe Kahler is recognized as an expert on helping young adults successfully transition from home to being “out on their own”. His latest work has recently been assembled in his book, Out On My Own… Now What? Tips and Insights So You Won’t Be Left Hanging in the “Real World”!
Joe received his undergraduate degree from Whittier College in Social Sciences and his Masters in Education from Arizona State University. His experience includes teaching, coaching, running numerous businesses, investing, selling insurance and real estate AND attending numerous personal, “hard knocks” training classes!