Yes the weather is getting better. We all are looking for warmer weather and getting our yards resued from the winter throws.

As you know, the economy is still not the best. Many are still losing their jobs and not finding work.

I formed a lawn service business six years ago and I have noticed that because of the down economy many are supplementing because of their lost jobs by cutting grass. I have been seeing more and more trailers being hauled behind cars and pick-up trucks with lawn equipment on them. I’m not putting someone down for doing so, but I have heard some real war stories of people hiring these down and out people to be their lawn care person only to find several things missing from their property or being charged for work not done.

My recomendation before hiring a stranger to have access to your property is to have them supply referrals of others they have worked for. Also, ask if they have insurance. If they get injured on your property you could be facing a law suit.

If they insist on being paid only in cash, be aware. Be sure you have an understanding of what services they are to perform and for what price. It is best if you have this agreement in writing so that there will be no missunderstanding of additional charges after the job is completed.

Ask if you might contact some of their other customers if you feel uncomfortable.

Some communities require lawn services of any kind to be licensed by the town or community. This can be some assurance of the validity of the person you are about to hire.

I’m looking forward to this summer and I hope all of you will have the best ever.

I came across an interesting idea. I’m not endorsing the company or it’s products, but only to give out the information.

Years ago I worked for a company that sold “safe rooms” and hidden safes. Yes, they were steel vaulted rooms with unique hiding accesses. Even the experienced intruder would never suspect there was anything behind this hiding technique. Each safe room had an actual safe door behind the whatever they used to hide the existance of the safe room. Needless to say, they were not inexpensive to have installed. To date no one has reported ever having their safe room or safe found after over 30 years they have been installing them.

The problem bought up by the company Burglar Bombs has a valid drawback to a safe room. While most crimes are on the decrease home invasions are on the increase, most invasions are done at night while the victims are sleeping and the intruder can get a surprise attack. So getting into a safe room is not viable. So what can you do to prevent being surprised attacked in your own bedroom?

The best security system has a delay time after it has been triggered. It takes time for the police to get to you. So why not have a device that will cause a would be intruder to flee your home in seconds before he can harm you or take any of your possesions?

Burglar Bombs feel they have the answer. Place one of their devices in the hallway leading to your bedroom. When triggered it puts out a fine mist of non-toxic pepper spray that will engulf the hallway. It effects the breathing of the assailent such as coughing and making it hard to breath. Needless to say, if that were happening to you, you would find the nearest exit to get away from the pepper spray. So the intruder leaves the home before actually getting to his objective, you.

They have several different devices to be used in the area you want protected. They can also be used in conjunction with your existing security system.
You can get more information on their website here.

I am really amazed at the advancement of closed circuit camera systems now available to the general public. Most systems now are “plug & play” so you don’t have to be a computer programmer to set up and use your own system.

One of the relatively newcomers to this market is company called SVAT. They have some really advanced systems that are user friendly. In the past you had to partition out different phases for what you wanted to achieve, but this product can do it with one simple DVR. (digital video recorder) SVAT systems automatically shift from daylight to darkness and can record in total darkness. It’s true you are limited to about fifteen feet seeing in total darkness so the placement of the camera can be critical. The day light hours are recorded in full color and can distiguish facial features clearly.

They have several systems ranging from one to sixteen cameras that can be used both inside as well as outside monitoring. Some come with a full color flat screen that you can have four cameras, quad screen, displayed at the same time. You may wish to view just one camera full screen by itself.

Most of the cameras have a “built-in” motion sensor so that the DVR will only record if there is movement. Most of their DVR’s can record up to 154 days before the hard drive is fully loaded. You may have the DVR over-write at that time if you wish or have the DVR stop recording at that time.

I have not used any of these sytems myself, but looking at all of their specifications, they look impressive. For more information about SVAT systems, click here.

Recently I got a direct mailer from the NFRP, “the National Federation of Retired People.” I went to their website and found out they have been under investigation since 2001 for their deceptive mail out practices.

It seems they try to represent themselves as being approved by the Social Security Agency. By law no company, corporation or business may use any language that denotes any connection with the SSA.

In fact, they are really a company that buys mailing lists especially concentrating on people of retirement age. This is very dangerous because they ask you to respond and give your personal information. Having access to this information can lead to identity theft. Any insurance agency can buy these lists from them so, infact, they indirectly represent the insurance company that bought the mailings. Santonio, Texas is where they operate out of.

The owner of the company’s name is Elmer Gibson. Has been appearing in several different court proceedings beginning in a case initiated by The Social Security Administration October 28, 2002. Legislation is still pending in several other courts about this matter. Until a final ruling can be met it seems Mr. Gibson’s company is still mailing out these confusing and misleading mailers.

Bottom line, “the the buyer beware.” I suggest you check into any company before releasing your personal information you receive via the mail or phone. The mailer I got wanted me to mail back to them on an enlarged post card and place my personal information on the outside of the for the whole world to see. Anyone handling this return mailer would have my personal information in plain sight for identity theft. Common sense should tell anyone it doesn’t make any sense to broadcast your personal information on the outside of any material you are mailing. you for me or anyone

Be cautious responding to any phone call or emails from Area Code 809, 284, or 876. There have been many scams connected with these area codes.

Here’s how it works. You get an email or call from one of these area codes saying sorry I missed your call. Or they might tell you that some relative of yours is sick or in trouble. No matter what the call or email it is designed to get you to return a call connected to an “international” phone number the results of which you will be billed an exuberant rate and billed as such. (has been reported to be as much as $25 per minute)

Unfortunately there’s not much you can do because these are legal charges for the country that they are operating in. Most of them are in the Dominican Republic, Canada or a Caribbean country. They don’t have to comply with United states Laws regarding such calls. The bad thing about these calls is that you probably will not realize the costs of these calls until you get your telephone bill.

Never return calls to any unfamiliar number or person. You can call the directory assistance operator to get information on any suspicious call you may have recieved. They can check the area code location of the call.

Carefully read your telephone bill when you receive it. Check all charges and any fees that might be connected with any charges listed on your bill.

If you feel you have been scamed contact the carrier the charge was originated from. The name and phone number should be printed on your bill. Often the charge can be resolved by simple phone call. If the carrier refuses to resolve the charges then call your carrier or ATT&T. ATT&T will work with your carrier to try to cancel any fraudulent charge and help remove it from your bill.

ATT&T has been working hard to eliminate these scams for some time now. You may also file a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission and give them the information to look into your situation.

Before getting into the home emergency Supply Kit, I have some recommendations about Emergencies.
Every family member should know what to do in all types of emergencies. Have practice drills with all members. Have a meeting place to gather so that you know all members are safe if an emergency should occur. Many have lost their lives looking for family members or pets going back into a burning or destroyed home.

All family members should know where all utilitiy cut-offs are located and how to shut them off. If a tool is needed, know where it is kept and how to use it.

The U. S. Department of Homeland security has prepared an emergency suply list. Here are some of their suggestions:

* Water, at least one gallon for each person for at least three days.
* Food, at least a three day supply of non-perishable food.
* Battery-powered or hand-cranked radio and a NOAA Weather radio with extra batteries.
* Flashlight with extra batteries.
* First Aid Kit and instructions on first aid.
* Whistle or some other signaling device.
* Dust masks and plastic sheeting with duct tape to form a shelter-in-place”.
* Moist towelettes, garbage bags, plastic ties for personal sanitation.
* Can opener for canned goods.
* Local maps.
* Prescription medications and glasses.
* Infant formula and diapers.
* Pet food and water for them.
* Have important papers in a water proof container, ie: Insurance papers, Bank information, any
account information.
* Cash, travelers checks and change.
* Sleepings bags for each person. Extra blankets and a change of clothes for everyone.
* Household bleach,(with eye dropper) Mix nine parts of water to one part of bleach.
* fire extinguisher
* Matches in a water proof container or lighters.
* Feminine supplies and personal hygiene items.
* Mess kits, paper cups, plates, towels and utensils.
* Paper and pencils.
* Books games, puzzles, or other activity items.
Have your family review and discuss what’s in your kit and what else they feel should be included. There may be some unique items needed for your family.

There are two types of gas fireplace inserts that can be installed in your home, Direct vent and Unvented systems. I will be discussing both systems in this blog. Choosing the wrong system can be dangerous and even become a health problem. This is why it is important to contract with a competent “certfied” specialist to install your system.

An improperly installed system can emit carbon monoxide gasses and other pollutants into your home. These gasses are undectable because they don’t produce any oder. For this reason carbon monoixde poisoning is sometimes called the silent killer.

A direct vent system is the reccomended system to install. The best systems will be sealed from the room so that it draws in air (oxyegen) from outside rather from in your home. This is done with a tempered glass panel to seal the insert from the room. You will still have the enjoyment for the fire glow. It is also vented to the outside of your home so that all gasses, soot, and pollutants ars not discharged into your home. They have a chamber that provides warmeth into your home by drawing cool air in the bottom of the chamber and directing heated air into the room at the top.

Safety Tip: At the beginning of the colder season, have youe venting system checked to be sure there is no blockages. Birds have been known to build nests in the flu.

An unvented system does not require an outside vent. This also means that all the air it uses for the fire comes from inside the room where it is installed. Yes, they are less expensive but they are more hazardous than a direct vented system. In fact, some communities have strict regulations about installing an unvented gas insert into some rooms. Unvented systems are more likely to emit moister into the home that can cause mold build up and even structual damage to the home..

No matter which system you choose it’s important to install the correct size for the area it is to be installed. The National Fireplace Institute Is a good source for more information about your technician and system requirements. The American Lung Association is another source of good information.

Here are some questions to ask your system installer:
* size, type, and features of the system
* Selection of proper fuel
* Appropriate size, type and configuration of the venting system
* proper materials for heat protection of walls and floors
* Compliance with code requirements and manufacturers instructions
* Guidlines for operation and maintenance of the hearth and venting system

In a study done by the Jackson Police Department of Jackson, Tennessee, they found that certain crimes are most likely to occur according to the season of the year. There are many factors to consider as to why a certain crime is most likely at any one time of the year.

It seems that shorter days and cooler weather we find fewer assaults and car thefts. The closer you get to the Christmas Holidays, the more likely stores find higher shoplifting and identity theft.

Here’s a breakdown of incidents they found in their community:

Fall seemed to have more vandalism than in February
Winter showed the lowest number of burglaries as compared to July.
Spring had a rise in simple assaults whereas May and December were much lower.
As you might expect, Summer had the highest of violent crimes, murders and rapes.

You will notice that the frequency of crimes has a lot to do with the weather. People are more active in hot weather and less social in colder temperatures. Some increases can be attributed to juveniles out of school with more time on their hands. The dark hours of winter makes it easier for burglaries because it affords more cover the burglar more confidence he will gwt away with it.

What this article showed me was that we need to always be aware of our surroundings no matter what time of year. Summer months we tend to not lock windows and doors which allows more crime of opportunity. Winter months we’re so wrapped up to keep warm that we tend to not see around us. Spring brings a euphoria that we tend to be more trusting of people and may let our guard down. Fall brings us Halloween and more vandalism.

Your best thing a person can do to avoid being a target is to always be alert. Remember, most crimes are crimes of opportunity. People are too often preoccupied and not paying attention to their surroundings.

Report suspicious activity even if it’s not your home. You will be protecting yourself in the long run.

I bet most of you are thinking, “what’s colon cancer got to do with Home Security” Well, if you think of it, the first line of defense is to keep yourself healthy so you can protect your home. If you are not there to protect you and your family then you don’t have to worry about home security.

Most of us think we are ten feet tall and bullet proof. At least that was my attitude until I was recently diagnosed with colon cancer. (The second leading cause of death) It was a very awakening experience. I didn’t feel bad or had any idea anything was wrong with me. I was continuing to be just as active as I always was breezing through life.

That’s the problem of most cancers. Early symptoms may not affect you. That’s why it’s so important to have regular check-ups and certain tests at different ages . Know your family’s background as to any diseases your mother and father or relatives may have had. Cancer tends to run in the family. No matter how small it might have been, yes, even a little small skin cancer taken off Aunt Bee could be an indicater for you.

Most colon cancers are very treatable IF treated early. They usually appear in adults around age 50, but can occur at any age. They start as a small polyp, (a growth), on the inside of the intestine wall. Most are benign (non canerous) at this time. They are detected by a procedure called colonoscopy. They mildly sedate you and insert a flexible instrument that has a light and video camera on it so the physician can look at the inside of your colon. If he detects one of these polyps and they are small enough he can remove them with this scope. That’s why early detection is so important because larger polyps may have to be removed by surgery.

After the polyp has been removed they can test it for cancer. In my case it was “maligment” (cancerous) and it had spread into the wall of the intestine. For this reason, I now am facing major surgery to remove a section of my colon and some of the surrounding tissues and lymph nodes. Probably if I had had a regular colonoscopy I might not have to be facing this surgery.

Consult your doctor to see if you need to have this procedure done. My doctors even recommended that my children who are in their early forties be checked. Because you feel good and appear to be in good health is no reason not to have regular check-ups.

Your doctor will have some really good brochures on this subject. At your next doctor’s visit, ask him if he recommends this test for you. Good luck and good health.

I’ve been asked many times over the years, “Why can’t I install my security system?” I’d answer, “yes you can, but it does take some knowledge of electronics, electrical wiring and computers in most cases.” I got asked that question again just yesterday so I went digging into and looking at some of the security systems available to the general public.

Security companies buy their components from a wholesaler. These wholesale distributors do not sell to the public because most states require a state license to install security systems. More manufacturers are now offering their products directly to the public via the internet. My opinion is that you might spend more money having a professional install your system, but it’s the best option you have. What kind of a price tag would you put on protecting your family or business? So you must ask yourself, is it worth taking the chance on a “self installed” security system.

Be that as it may, YES you can install your own system. I did have a lot of fun looking up systems and companies on the internet. Let me state, I DO NOT recommend the average person to install their own system.

There is a website called, Home Security Store that gives a good place for the do it yourselfer. They give a lot of options in many catagories. Here again, I am not endorsing them but they do give you several different companies to get information from.

Before trying to decide what system you are about to install first determine what you want it to do. Some of the questions are:

* Do you want the system monitored by a professional “central station.”
* Check out the central stations that might monitor your system. Is it UL approved? Is it one person
or are there many persons on duty 24/7? Can they receive signals from the security system you are
to install. Some security systems will only call their particular monitoring station.
* Do you want video surviellance? If so is it important to have “night vision.”?
* Do you want to be able to access your system remotely anywhere?
* Do you want a DVR (ditital video recorder) that saves and records all happenings to be reviewed at
a later date?
* Is the system going to blend in with the decor of where it is to be installed?
* Do you need to get permission from a landlord or historic society before you can install it?
* Do you need to get a permit from a city or management group? Some cities require a permit and
can fine you heavily if the police or fire department are dispatched to your home and you do not
have your system registered with them.
* Is the system user friendly? If a system is hard to operate most likely you will never use it.
* Is there weather or temperature conditions to be met? Some components have to be housed in
weather housings to operate under certain conditions.
* What distances will the devices transmit their siganals to what ever receiver it is programed into?
* What height must a device be installed at? Too high of a ceiling or too far of a distance may mean
the device will not cover the area you want to secure.

Before installing your own system contact your local Police department. They will be glad to give all the information you will need.