even more old articles



Thank God for Mr. Daubert
 Who has helped stop bad technology?

By : Nick Markowitz Jr.
Fire Investigator

You may have read in the Newspapers or seen on TV the 60 Minutes program where a
Technology known as “ Ballistics Lead Analysis “  which could determine if a particular Bullet ,came from a particular box of ammunition has been thrown out as junk science and may no longer be used in a court of law .
This ruling was based on a court case from many years back which has developed into what is now known as a” Daubert Challenge “ where a defendant has the right to challenge an experts credibility at trail.


Daubert decisions have thrown out many items in the field of fire investigation which were taken as matter of fact in courts of law but never ever scientifically proven like.
Collapsed springs on a bed or alligator charred wood was a sign that an accelerant was used. Innocent people where put behind bars based on testimony which had no factual basis .Yet for years because a so called arson expert said this is what happened it became an excepted testimony till some one put up a Daubert Challenge
In effect the statements being made in court by expert witnesses where asked. Your testimony is “based on what”
The Daubert Challenge came about in the federal court system over a series of 3 trials.

Daubert VS. Merrel Dowell Pharmaceutical

General Electric Corp. Vs. Joiner

Kumho Tire Vs. Carmichael

These trials help to ask the question of credibility when it came to expert witness testimony, and the methods they used to arrive at there conclusion.
Modern Investigators like myself must base our investigations and testimony based on the Scientific Method . Not rumor not suggestion or innuendo but on provable science.
And this is why many so called arson cases when reexamined fail to meet the standards.
Now there are those who claim that scientific examination can miss items and even be skewed to show favor one way or the other. But this is not the case when a complete audit trail of how a test and the evidence used was completed.
Yes finger prints and even DNA has been manufactured and been used to throw cases but
The science eventually catches up and proves or disproves what happened .
Science everyday is slowly revealing what really happened in our past and Daubert Challenges are there in our court system to help make sure conclusions are valid.
As we enter into the Digital Age more and more technology is coming into our court systems and we must insure that this technology is valid or we will be right back where we started several years ago to insure court trails are fair and beyond a reasonable doubt.
When a verdict is announced.
One such technology I see facing this challenge is the use of Digital imaging and Analytic s and how it has been handled and manipulated to show a suspect and there actions.
The more the case relies on a single digital picture or clip as the whole effort to convict the more you can bet on the fact that more Daubert Challenges will be thrown up .Which they should be if there is any doubt an image has been illegally manipulated.
Analytic s allow for a suspect to be identified even thou they have a hood and complete body covering clothes to be identified by a way they walk etc.
Which is all controlled by how a computer has been programmed to interpret the information and since all we are talking about is a stream of-  I and O’s
They can be manipulated as well as the electronics failing to function properly as well.
I see many challenges coming into the courts as criminals get wise to how to try and beat these systems.  25 years ago I saw just such a case where many traffic speeding tickets got thrown out here in Pa. when an Electrical Engineer was able to go into a local court
And prove that when a police officer sitting in a undercover car and was using the timing system  VASCAR to check speed could accidentally skew the results when he put the cars magnetic revolving red  light which has a very strong magnet to hold it on the roof
Next to the VASCAR system .
The officer unknowingly caused the system to not work properly so this is why we must be certain when using technology we get the right results and why Daubert is there to do so.  So thank you Mr. Daubert and all those who where involved in the 3 cases who helped to keep our justice system fair and balanced.

 


The Fire just waiting to start in your home
Counterfeit and Knock off Electrical Items

By Nick Markowitz Jr.
Fire Investigator

You find yourself on a nice sunny spring day deciding to go for a walk what better way to enjoy it than a stop at a local Flea Market and all the great smells from food vendor’s carts and the busy activity everywhere.
Unfortunately though you do not realize that choices you make this day may well result in the destruction of your home and possibly your family.
You see a vendor selling all kinds of new cheap dollar stuff from many different boxes he has laying on plastic sheeting on the ground and find he has some plug strips you have been needing for your computer system and kitchen , very cheaply priced  at $3.00 each compared to $12.99 at hardware store .  So you buy a couple unaware what you think is a good deal on a legitimate item is actually a very dangerous built counterfeit or look alike Knock Off .
You go home plug in your computer system and start working with your new laser printer
  And get it all set up and ready to go. Its getting late and time to go to bed and you leave your computer on and printer becuse it also works as a fax machine.
You go to bed to be woken up by your smoke detector becuse your house is filling with smoke. You wake everyone up and get everyone out just in time as flames come out of the family room where the computer is located.
Luckily tonight everyone is safe and firefighters arrive to stop the fire in the family room but there’s water and smoke damage everywhere.
The Fire Marshal Arrives after the fire is out and begins his investigation. He traces the fires origin to near where the plug strip was plugged in but it is almost totally destroyed. Luckily you have the duplicate strip from the kitchen to give him and upon closer examination he finds it is counterfeit a knockoff made to look like a good product but made very cheaply instead of a 14# gauge wire cord it is only 16# gauge and can only carry half the 15 amps the packaging says it can carry the switch is inferior and also undersized the unit has no UL or other testing agency’s approval and no manufacturers name on it other than made in China.
This plug strip never should have been imported and sold in this country it is absolutely illegal under Federal Import rules yet every day illegal and dangerous items made cheaply and dangerously make it into this country and are being sold at Flea Markets, Dollar stores and 2nd hand/variety type stores.
This is a serious problem just a survey of local flea markets here in the Pittsburgh area
Revealed 10 out of 12 visited had illegal items for sale. All of them having been imported illegally thru an importer in New York City.
But when it comes to electrical items it not just small stuff being made its large frame breakers and switch gear as well Cutler Hammer a division of Eaton Corp has started a campaign to make electricians aware of knockoffs as well. Can you imagine the apartment or office building you may be in has illegal copycat electrical switch gear items in it. But it happens, it even happens in the airline and automotive industry as well and has caused numerous accidents and deaths and it is a growing problem. Some times manufacturers will also illegally copy the UL  testing label just to make an item look legit as well.
The Consumer Products Safety Commission also known as CPSC is in charge of protecting consumers from dangerous products and they have field agents in every state
But with the proliferation of illegal items coming into this country, agents are often overwhelmed and they need input from average citizens to report dangerous items when they come across them. Almost weekly the CPSC issues bulletins about all kinds of dangerous items being recalled from children’s toys with lead paint issues to exploding candles to lawnmowers with blades that break.
A recent effort by the CPSC is a downloadable booklet which is being issued to every 
2nd hand and variety type stores to help them identify dangerous products they may be selling so they can be removed and destroyed of properly. The selling of items like the above mentioned Counterfeit items.
Merchants and vendors who continue to sell these dangerous items face fines well in excess of $10,000.00 as well as all illegal items they bought to resell seized and destroyed.
The only way to stop this scourge going across the country is by consumers becoming educated and learning what to avoid if it sounds too good it usually is.
For more information on how to spot dangerous products or to report a dangerous product check out www.cpsc.gov




The Killer Winter Storm of 2010
Has proven the lack of foresight
And planning when it comes to using
Digital Technology

By: Nick Markowitz Jr.
The winter of 2010 has been a real challenge for Power Company’s and there crews
With snow amounts of 36+ inches plus temperatures in the single digits and lower.
But one thing which has been a real headache is the ability of individuals to communicate.
The problem the continuing increase in the use of Digital technology for phone and 2 way radio communication along with remote control.
When the power is on everything works fine but loose power any where along the path and all chaos begins. Since analog technology gets powered from only one end such as POTS- Plain Old Telephone Service.
 Digital requires power at both ends such as T1, DSL, Cable, FIOS and other Broad Band services.
While some of these services provide a 8 hr battery back up which is fine for most minor power outages when it goes over 8 hrs and starts stretching into 24 hours to  several days with out power this is when real problems start setting in and the problem with Broad Band signals when they go out you loose all signals and phone lines. But you say no problem we have installed bigger back up batteries at out location to make sure the phones stay on, not so fast my friend. Digital Broad Band services require several repeaters along its route before it gets to you. This means broad band providers have to have back up batteries located in boxes on telephone poles or in underground vaults along the way to insure the signal stays on.
Loose one of these repeaters any where along the path and every one beyond this point looses service.
Well no big deal you say our employees have cell phones they can use. That’s fine and dandy if the towers are working and not overloaded and they have power but while some
Towers have back up batteries and generators some do not and this does not mean they will come on and operate properly. And also T3 circuits run between towers to get signals to land lines if there out guess what you can call cell phone to cell phone but not to a land based line. Now what are you going to do when you need 911.
Keep in mind also cell phones need charged do the employees have there charger with them do you have power to charge them and if there is no power do the have a car charger they can use or did most come to work by public transit.
No problem I will just send every one home but what if you are a nursing or other facility how are you going to move patients now that you have no power no alarms and no communication. No problem 911 will get a bus or other transit here so we can evacuate to a warming center really; remember all the snow out there emergency responders will be lucky if they can get to you.
In fact the emergency responders are having there own problems since those same T1 and other Broad band services allows remote 911 dispatchers to get radio transmissions out to Fire and Police so in some cases they can not use there 2 way radio systems properly and those depts. using trunked digital 2 way radios there having problems as well since the repeaters are out as well  so communicating for them is difficult becuse many digital radios do not have simplex channels which allow radio to radio communication they must got thru the repeater tower which is not working becuse the power is out to it.
So now you find your self sitting in the dark. No phone, No Power, No heat No help coming and 20 patients to deal with what are you going to do.
Think digital was worth getting rid of all the POTS lines for the money you where saving. Better think it over again.
Analog is sure technology which works those little red boxes many towns had which worked no matter what are all gone now as well. Yes Analog maybe a dinosaur in today’s modern world  but with out proper back up and planning  it is a sure fire proven technology.




There would not be a need for the FCC
If Businesses behaved themselves?
By Nick Markowitz Jr

Believe it or not we would not need an FCC  and many other government agencies if
People/business would learn to behave them selves but since we can not we allow government to get out of hand and grow bigger everyday.
So how did the FCC come in to being it was because in the early day of AM Radio Stations individuals would put up stations where ever they thought on the band and run them at what ever power they felt like. In particular with the night time atmosphere issues which allow the signal to travel many miles when it was dark cites on the west coast where unable to listen to there local stations because east coast stations would not reduce there power and vies  versus ,  east stations where pounded by west stations .This was even a day time problem where 2 stations on same band where over powering each other So instead of the people who owned the stations sitting down and working out a way everyone could be happy  they instead kept fighting and arguing becuse of the almighty buck and no one wanted to give an inch because of greed and allowed the FCC to be established and then no one has been happy since.
It is the same old story you see it all the time some one opens up a business and starts making great money then others get into the same business until the market saturates and then no one makes money. Be it Laundromats, mini storage facilities etc.
And of course since the first ones in want to be the only ones doing what they do so they can charge what ever they want , they try every dirty trick they can use to stop the others
From trying to fairly compete  and then the government and the courts are the only one you can call to keep big business in line. There is no one else to call.
Time and time again business has proven it can not behave it self and another regulatory agency comes about. OSHA, EPA, MSHA, USDA, FDA, NIOSH, CPSC, NIST have all come about because big business can not behave it self. A small handful of individuals are responsible for all the rules and regulations we now follow. It is  not getting any better as corporations continue to turn out products no one wants and corporations keep doing what they dam well please. This same problem is now playing out over in India with an
Electric Car Manufacturer who will not recall there cars for repair even though a number of them have experienced ignition problems which have caught the cars on fire.
And the same thing has happened here in the USA with the big 3 until CPSC with court order stepped in and forced a recall.
A responsible company would have realized they had a problem and recalled there cars
And fixed the problems and come out of it smelling like a rose Instead they sat there and denied it and smugly ignored everyone till courts ordered it. Then they sit there and wonder why there stock price has bottomed out. Until Big Business gets its act together and starts acting responsibly just get use to more and more regulations and bigger and bigger government it is what we deserve when we can not behave our selves. When we do not complain, when we do not hold individuals accountable for there actions.
When we reward bad behavior. We leave the door open for over regulation and bigger government and eventually a Nanny State becuse we can do nothing for our selves and this leads to Socialism and then communism. Which is exactly what we have allowed to happen . We now have a government that tells us what to do when to do it and where to do it. Because we could not take a stand as citizens and do the right things.
Think I am wrong then name me 10 things you can do which there is not some type of government regulation.





This temporary wiring set up
By registered electricians
 Could have gotten some one killed!
By Nick Markowitz Jr.
Fire Investigator

I was listening on my scanner the other day when I heard the local Fire Marshal call dispatch and request a Police Officer on scene to identify a worker refusing to identify himself to the FM who was checking out a citizens complaint over how a large tent was set up in a shopping center .
After requesting the Police the worker all of a sudden found his wallet and identified himself as working for an electrical contractor and the FM cancelled the Police.
Just another interesting day in the life of a Fire Marshal.

Next day I get a call from the FM he had some electrical questions plus a story to go with it.
Seems like one of the local merchants was getting ready for a 3 day tent sale and got permission and permits to put up the tent in the shopping centers large parking lot and hired an registered electrical contractor to provide 120 volt outlets and data lines for cash registers out to the tent. The tent was a properly erected fire resistant tent ,but the electricians who came on site decided to run the temporary wiring out thru the store lobby by clipping it to the wall and then drilling a hole in a outside Fire  emergency exit door then running the wire across the side walk and road way by means of a small conduit pipe with a wooden 2x4 on each side to protect the pipe as cars ran it over.
Needless to say the FM got on site saw the way the wire was run and had them remove it immediately.
So then the next day they run the wire from the roof along with the low voltage wires over top a temporary pole which was not fastened properly and the low and high voltage wires should not be tied to each other. The FM asked the electrician about it and he said that’s the way they always do it. So needless to say he called me and a couple other electrical experts on what should be done to make things safe we each cam on site and gave our suggestions and a electrical inspector is due the morning of the sale to make sure things are right. If not the sale will be cancelled or they will run it with no power.

Which again brings up the question these are registered insured electricians doing work they knew was improper but did it any ways because there not in the city of Pittsburgh and figured they could get away with it because its out in the suburbs.
So once again we prove even thou laws are in place and licensing and registration and everything else is in place and a contractor chooses to ignore it.
Except this time he did not get away with it and he has done nothing but squeal like a stuck pig saying he is loosing all kinds of money . He would not be loosing money and he would have made a profit had he properly designed the job and stuck with the principle of doing it right but because he thought he had a bunch of suckers he could pull the wool over there eyes he slopped the wiring ,and has now been caught.
Needless to say any time in the future this companies name comes up in this community they will be taking an extra look because they have proven they can not be trusted.
Now im sure the other excuse he will try to use to the FM is everyone else was doing it this way so he could not put the system in properly. Because the store would not pay the price for a proper install. In this case I would have declined to do the work to even give a bid and would have called the code enforcement office to advise them to keep an eye on things which is what appears to have happened.
The store manager did everything right and followed what she was told to do, it is strictly the electricians fault for what happened.
But of course the electrician feels he is being picked on and singled out  which is not the case at all .He was conducting bad business and should pay for it.





Understanding Modern Digital Video Surveillance Systems
And Keeping the recording secure and court admissible

By Nick Markowitz Jr.
Fire Investigator- Alarm Installations

A young man sets a fire outside a local grocery store loading dock and is caught by the stores Surveillance Camera System in which police obtain a CD of the incident from the store manager who has called the local security company who has sent a tech to pull and record it.
The court hearing arrives and the young man walks free when the judge rejects the video during a suppression hearing despite the fact the young man is clearly visible in daylight and color .What went wrong.
3 items chain of custody a lack of a Water Mark on the CD to show tampering did not take place and the system is also Internet Accessible.
So how do you make sure you have a solid conviction and video evidence that will hold up in court . It starts with understanding the technology and its vulnerabilities.
In the old days surveillance systems were known as CCTV systems Closed Circuit Television Systems.
The earliest systems were composed of a Camera the size of a big shoe box and a small
9” B&W TV Monitor which had to be constantly watched and monitored ,which were developed in the early 60’s for business. Then in the early 70’s an easy to use tape recorder came on the market known as the VCR  which used standard VHS Cassette tapes instead of some very expensive real to real recorders some sophisticated systems used or in the case of banks and savings and loans
which used stationery 35 MM film cameras. The VCR revolutionized camera systems allowing most business owners to install a camera and recording system for around $2500.00 a camera. As systems became more popular and affordable Electronics was totally revolutionizing Camera systems by eliminating tubes and allowing images to be captured on a Integrated chip set plus the advent of SMD Surface Mount Device technology   which has allowed cameras to be miniaturized to the point they are almost totally un-recognizable .However VCR units lagged behind many could only real time record for several hours so to get around this they used a technique called Time Lapse recording now you could record up to 720 hours on one tape but one problem was the unit only took photos every few seconds allowing much activity to go on and not be recorded and  then in a famous case with a nanny accused of child abuse  in the UK  a large lawsuit came forth after it was reveled the jerky film the VCR produced was wrongly used to convict the nanny and her case was thrown out . But finally after many years a VCR which could record 24 hrs real time on one tape .However 1 month at a time was what was really wanted but the units did the job most tapes easily went thru court challenges because it is hard to change video tape and tamper with it at the time but that was soon to change. In the late 90,s as portable computers became more powerful with there video capabilities like Apples I Book there came to be what is known as the DVR or Digital Video Recorder there are basically 3 types of DVR units one which is built into a desk top computer case via a line card and utilizes the computers hard drive for storage .The others are known as Embedded or dedicated units which
Are stand alone boxes with built in hard drive and software some of which the hard drive can be removed for allowing multiple hard drive archiving.
There are now IP Network based DVR systems known as NVR capable of recording 64 or more cameras real time for up to 1 yr or more as the technology jumps weekly.
Cameras have also drastically changed what was once a camera that had to be hooked up to a dedicated DVR box to be recorded there are now totally independent IP Based Cameras you can buy for your home and business under $200.00 and view over the internet.
While all of this is bringing us fantastic video we never would have gotten back in the old Analog Camera days the new technology can and has been challenged in court and been denied and beaten because of concerns over tampering. Every Digital device puts out a stream of I/O data which can be manipulated unless it is properly locked down and secured and even then hackers are beating even the most secure of systems every day.
So How do you insure what video you have when challenged in court will be able to meet the test .It starts with understanding which system you have who the manufacturer is and what its capabilities and vulnerabilities are. Systems today can be watched clear across the country or the world and in live real time by Central Station Security agencies paid to monitor sites 24/7. Systems can be as simple as a 4 camera system with a simple DVR box in a back room to multi camera multi technology systems all being used at once like in a casino.
Let’s start with the basic small system you might find at the corner convenience store. They likely have 4-8 cameras tied to one of 2 DVR units either an embedded DVR or a Desktop computer. The system may even be tied to the stores  high speed computer or POTS line so the owner can look in when he is not there.

Ok here are questions which must be asked for even a very simple system.

No 1# is the DVR locked in a cabinet? If it is who has access what kind of locking mechanism  is it a common key or is it open on a shelf so anyone has access. Does the DVR require codes to manipulate the buttons or can they be locked down were they locked down can it be proved on a log.

No2# If the DVR is a desk top computer type is it also used to do other programs and go online. If so who has access and when? Does the computer have Anti Virus, Anti Spy ware Anti Root Kit running and updated is it behind both a software and hardware firewall with up to date software.

No3# Does the DVR have a built in anti tamper system such as a Water Mark or other feature to warn when a video has been altered.

No4# Does the DVR have the capability to log who and when it was accessed.

No5#Does the DVR have a built in CD/DVD Burner so recordings can be instantly burned or does a tech have to come on site with a laptop to pull the recording and burn it.

No6# Is the tech who is pulling the video using a dedicated laptop just for pulling video or does he use it to access internet and other programs? Did he take all antivirus etc precautions does he use the lap top on WIFI or Cellular system which could be compromised.

No7# Does the DVR have a removable Hard drive who has keys and does DVR record when it has been removed.

No8# Is the DVR remote reviewable who has access how is it accessed Internet Browser based or special software or both  what level of user and pass codes are used?
 are they simple or complex the codes is it logged in DVR who accessed and when?

No9# Was video when it was pulled handed directly to police or court authorized officer or was it given to manager who gave it to officer at later time and date?

No10# were there any IP cameras tied to this DVR system is it a hybrid DVR

No11# Who installed ,programmed and services the system are they available to testify as to what there role is in the system if needed

If you can not answer all the above questions in my court to my satisfaction proper precautions were taken, your video has now been quashed period.

The reason as you can see there are so many ways the digital stream could be tampered with it is almost impossible to prevent it in some cases even with the water mark. Also what is there to taking the cd burn it back to a VCR tape and no one is the wiser. You bring a supposed VCR tape in which was originally digital and you can not tell unless very sophisticated examination is done so now even all tapes are suspicious. This is why absolute chain of custody must be kept and any copy’s etc noted and all master copy’s kept secure in the chain of custody.
Which brings us to tampering .Having worked for a company who is now defunct that did remote video recording I was called one day to go from Pittsburgh are to a Cleveland Ohio Welfare High rise on 13th street where a shooting had occurred overnight to retrieve the video for the police. The system consisted of 2 desk top computers DVR’s each with 16 cameras and when I went to pull the video yes you guessed right it was not there .The guards for the complex had used the computers online and gotten virus in them which crashed the hard drives and lost all possibility of retrieving the footage and remote site did not record the incident either suspect walked because no one would come forward.
Plus there are many other problems which can happen.
Lets say you have a recording involving a capital case on one of the cheaper DVR’s which have no CD/DVD Burner do you take the DVR as evidence and aggravate the store owner who now has no recording system in some cases I have impounded a unit then had a back up tape system I lent got there DVR back also what about the tech pulling the video is the officer right there when video was pulled which can take a while or did he go else where in store and come back to it. If he did chain of evidence is broken.
Ok have a given you a headache are you saying to your self what about my past cases “What If”?
If you are review them now and be ready in case a challenge arises as defense attorneys
Now its time to talk about hybrid and IP based systems

The IP Camera is a camera which can sit stand alone all by itself on an Intranet or Internet Connection and can be viewed by any computer on the network which has proper software or in some cases all that’s needed is an Internet Browser and user and password or it can be both .
A Hybrid DVR allows conventional cameras and IP cameras be connected to it.

When multiple IP cameras are used they are recorded to a NVR Network Video Recorder
It is basically a DVR that sits on the Intranet or Internet and records all feeds from cameras assigned to it. The record capability of IP cameras is fantastic however they come with a whole new set of concerns when it comes to tampering. Again all the video is broken down to a code stream of I/O’s which can be manipulated with any computer and the right software this is where the person installing and setting these cameras up have to be extremely skilled to insure they are not tampered with.
Let alone when the cameras are used behind a corporate systems Firewall. Which is a whole different subject.

So what questions should you be able to answer in court this time

No1# Is the IP camera system Hybrid or stand alone

No2#Is the IP system on its own dedicated wiring network or regular business network

No3# Where does camera video stream record to is it a secured location and how is it secured

No4# who set up the network a tech with some computer knowledge or a Microsoft or Cisco Certified Network or similar qualified technician

No5# Are cameras before or with in company firewall are cameras video streams encrypted or otherwise secured.

No6# Is video pulled from NVR watermarked or otherwise tamper resistant

No7# How is the NVR accessed Browser special software both what are the user and security levels who is allowed to view.

No8# Could you also apply any of the above questions from the first set of questions

Your head should be pounding right about now.
Now also consider the considerable headache when these IP cameras are behind a corporate fire wall with all your computers and some kiddy hacker gets into the video stream and then the company computers and it has happened.
This is one reason I am not putting in many of these cameras as there are not enough security features built in yet in many case’s.
So what can you do to help prevent problems use this checklist i have developed to answer all questions possible when you go to court.

Disclaimer
This document at time of publication covers the best available information at the time but DVR/NVR technology is moving so fast it is very hard to keep up with
Wear by Nicholas J. Markowitz also known as  Nick Markowitz Jr    and Markowitz Electric Protection
Shall not be held responsible for any inaccuracies and  uses of  this document are at  own risk



Questionnaire for DVR NVR VCR  Surveillance Systems

No1# Is the system    stand alone VCR     DVR       or  NVR  or Hybrid

No2# Who is manufacturer of equipment –Model numbers

No3# How many cameras  on system and what type whose make and model

No4# DIY or Professional Install who installed ,programs maintains system.
Are they sup enable if needed for court to support your claim recording is not tampered with

No5# type of wiring method used  Coax or Cat 5 with Balun’s

No6# is hard drive removable –common key  -

No7# is there a built in CD/DVD/ or tape recorder  what style or type?

No8# has DVR/NVR Manufacturer built in a Water Mark or other security feature can you show how it works?

No9# Does DVR/NVR have an activity log can it be dumped or otherwise displayed to court?




We must never forget what happened during WWIII
Or we will be condemned to repeat it.

By nick Markowitz Jr.
I want to start this article by first stating that I am not of Jewish Decent although my last name has a Jewish type spelling to it which happened when immigration agents changed my grandfather’s last name many years ago. We are still not sure what the original spelling was but we know he emigrated from the Ukraine area, Galitzia Austria to be exact
And that he was a farm peasant. With this stated .
  I do want to talk about the atrocities that happened across Europe  During WWII and what is being billed as the last full trial proceeding against an individual being accused of being a guard at the Nazi concentration Camp .
While many Nazi meet there fate at Nuremberg many more escaped including the now accused low level Sobibar Camp Guard John Demjanjuk 89 a retired US Auto worker who Prosecutors a ledge was responsible for the deaths of 250,000 Jews, gays .gypsies and other undesirables.
Many might say he is 89 let him live out his life in peace after all he spent almost 50 years a solid citizen in the US without any further misdeeds. But I do not agree.
Im Mr. Demjanjuk was a Nazi he deserves to meet his fate as well as all the others who escaped along with the many Japanese who committed war atrocities.
Because if we do not do it and let them go about there way who will be around to assure our  next generation will not be caught up in the fanatical means which lead the German people on to a path of destruction and shame. 
Already since WWII we have had cases of mass murder and genocidal ethnic cleansing in
Rwanda and Bosnia  plus in Iraq against the Kurds by Saddam Hussein .









When a customer is willing to cross
The Ethical Line with Technology
Its time to get rid of the customer

By Nick Markowitz Jr.

Had a friend call me the other day who needed help with a job he was doing at an old car dealership building. He was installing camera system in the place which was now going to be used as a Limousine Business and the owner wanted push button keypads to be able to open the garage doors. I stopped by and helped my friend install and program them when the owner approached and asked if we could make certain doors open and close automatically , which can be safely done when all rules and codes are followed but when I looked at 2 of the doors I determined they did not have the modern safety controls of a photo beam  and pressure sensing auto reverse that’s required to do the auto close feature.
A child or vehicle could be trapped under these doors and crushed and there was no way to add these controls. I advised the owner I could do the auto open but not the auto close
Do to the missing safety features. He then told me he would pay me cash to do it so there was no trace who did it. With that I told him no thank you and to not call on me again.
This owner with that statement told me just what kind of business man he is and I want nothing more to do with him. If he is wiling to cross one line he will cross others and I do not want my name associated with them. Now I have had other alarm dealers tell me I did the right thing while others said what’s the big deal.
Needless to say those who told me what’s the big deal will never see me associated with them either. How any one could live with the fact they were responsible for the injury or death of a child is beyond me.
Yes life is full of risks and we can not avoid them all but even in business when we follow codes we should follow what is known as the spirit of the code where we made a decision based on sound judgment when we understand we are dealing with a gray area.
This way if something does go wrong those involved in the investigation will be able to understand what the problem was and why an action took place.
But in the case of these garage doors it is cut and dry auto closer was wrong thing to try and install. But then again that’s the problem in our modern society when do we say no
And where is the line.
Because it seems to be constantly moving. The Hippocratic oath pretty much says it all “ Do No Harm “
A good thing for doctors and alarm dealers to follow.
What are your thoughts.







Why does the BSA
All of a sudden need to raise funds?
On there 100th anniversary
Bu Nick Markowitz Jr.
Eagle Scout Class of 1976

Yes I have no loss of words when it comes to telling how I feel about the Boy Scouts of America and how I my family members and friends have been screwed by them.
But what is the Boy scouts up to especially since they are going to turn 100 years old.
All of a sudden every week I get a letter or post card asking to attend a meeting to learn about what BSA is doing and help the BSA or to buy an expensive story book on Eagle Scouts  or even but a Commemorative 22 gauge single shot riffle at $1200.00  all this time nothing but now all kind of desperate pleas to help raise money.
Well if you have read my articles on BSA and how they have screwed people over I can think of just one thing, they are raising money because they have some major litigation coming against them during the Obama years where there is no protection like you would have during the Busch years and rightly so.
Maybe it is time for all the dirty laundry the BSA has been hiding and suppressing all these years come to light finally its time for the BSA to do its Mia culpa.






A BAD SITUATION COULD HAVE BEEN MADE WORSE
WHEN A FIRE ALARM WAS NOT RESTORED AFTER A FIRE?

Nick Markowitz Jr.
Member Emsworth VFD and
Private industry Fire Investigator

Recently one of my long time Fire Alarm customers suffered a 12:30 am   fire in building 90#of his group of apartment buildings90# 100# and 110# which are all under one common non fire braked roof he owns south of Pittsburgh Pa.
An electric Space heater a tenant was running on a top floor apartment over heated wiring and caused it rub against a wall stud which had metal lath running along it, resulting in a Arc Fault that failed to be cleared by a conventional breaker and the local fire dept had to respond and pull down the apartment ceiling and put out the fire, and turned off power to building 90#.
The local Fire system in the building went off and was silenced and the dept left after determining the fire was out. Not allowing any one to occupy building 90# till power was safely returned. I received an early morning call to restore power to the building and upon my arriving to start electrical repairs to the effected apartments to my horror I found that the fire dept had allowed tenants to stay in the attached buildings 100# and 110# with no fire protection working as they had silenced the alarm which feed all 3 building sections but had never reset it. 12 units of the 16 units building were occupied for over 9 hours with no fire protection. What if another fire had broken out or worse yet what if there had been a rekindle temperatures were below freezing and there easily could have another tragedy. The building should never have been left un protected .Had I been called early enough the system could have been isolated from 90# and continued to protect like I did to the system after I arrived or at the very least the fire dept should have left a fire watch in place with fireman or Apartment maintenance personnel till I arrived to isolate and fix the Fire system. Had there been another fire the fire chief could have faced serious criminal and civil problems over his negligence for not either making sure the system was working or a fire watch being in place. I can under stand his concern so many people with out a place to stay with as cold as it was but at the very least a fire watch would have been sufficient till the system was restored. As required by NFPA 72c
This is another case were poor training and lack of professionalism could have lead to another far worse tragedy. A fire system in a building should never be left silenced and not reset unless an appropriate Fire watch is in place. Especially In an occupied residential structure like an apartment building.

  
 




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