Can you tell phony from real officer ?

Where from the government
Really?
The problem with Phony Authorities, and made up stories

By Nick Markowitz Jr.

The above picture shows a genuine classified project as you can see it is clearly some type of secret government weapon assembly .Really?
Who says because any one with any kind of mechanical background could tell you this is some type of industrial assembly and they would be right .It is used to heat oil that’s about to be recycled and cleaned .But what about the classified picture it really does look official does it not does it not look like some kind of nuclear device you have seen on TV ? Yes to the untrained eye .So now this picture will be spread all over the net about this so called top secret government weapon which never was.
Unfortunately this is what has happened with the internet, and extreme right and left wing
Wing web sites and the hysteria they spread.
To make an intelligent decision on what you are seeing, you must take all factors into consideration.
Where from the FBI really? Do you realize how many phony Police officers, FBI , Code Enforcement etc. pretenders there are out there? Plenty , many with criminal intentions. If you were stopped by some one who said they were an FBI agent do you know what one of there badges look like .
No they do not look like the ones you saw on X-Files not even close. What you see on TV is TV not realty a gun shot into a planes pressurized fuselage will not bring it down like in the movie Gold Finger but that’s what TV would have you believe.
I had some police detectives come to my door one time after a crime was committed in my niehborhood I did not recognize them and I asked them for there names and said I would let them in after I called 911 to verify they where you they said they were. A professional officer should be more than accommodating to this if not then you
Either have a phony who will run and disappear , or you have an unprofessional officer who needs to be reported disciplined and if necessary him and his dept. should face a lawsuit.
We have a big problem with phony officers pulling over single women on highways around here . We had an arrest the other day when one of these phony cops got caught pulling over a real off duty officer .We even had a phony Coast Guard Patrol craft spotted and stopped by the real Coast Guard on the Monongahela river .Plus plenty of phony military as well. So when some one says there so and so be sure they really are. Especially if there calling over the phone this is a common trick to gain information that is no ones business.
It is a shame all the people who will take advantage of situations by posting items which are supposedly the honest to god truth and there is absolutely no truth to it. total and complete fabrication.
How many E-mails I get about this and that congressional bill etc. and none of it true it is all a made up story some one is getting a good laugh off at every ones expense.
A responsible Writer/Journalist should either report it as confirmed fact with backed up materials which should be at least 2 independent sources or as an unconfirmed rumor or allegation which needs further investigation.
With a recent mass shooing at an L.A. Fitness Center near Pittsburgh Pa. the TV news were interviewing
Witnesses to the crime and several times it was mentioned by one of the people who where shot at ran running out saying it is my ex- boy friend trying to kill me .Again really? This was not the case the gunman was a mentally disturbed man with no connection to any one at the fitness center .Just a bad complex against women.
But it did not come out till the day after the rumor in the news was let loose.
Unfortunately it has been proven time and again in studies Eyewitness Testimony is faulty. But yet we have many people in jail based just on faulty eyewitness testimony
This has been the case too many times. DNA fortunately has freed many of them.
We had a case with a kidnapping and rape of a Photo kiosk clerk near Pittsburgh Pa. who I went to school with who swore up and down the man she says did it, did it yet 7 years later the real suspect who was an almost perfect double was finally convicted and wrongly imprisoned man let loose.
This is why checking and double checking of facts and circumstances and incidents needs to be carefully evaluated so you do not fall into a trap and become a victim of some ones deliberate stunt or criminal actions. There is a reason Con artists are called Con men it is because they gain there victims confidence.
Check out stories and rumors you hear thru sites like www.snopes.com and others
Do not just believe everything you hear. Beware of what you are watching on TV as well when it comes to movies and documentaries .How many WWII movies like Bridge on River Kwai, The Fighting Sea Bees ,Wake Island etc. are almost all totally made up.
Just because you saw it on the History and Discovery Channel does not make it true either. How many of the Myth Busters shows are based on real provable scientific studies using the scientific method to obtain accurate results , very few unfortunately.
None of the crew is scientists or engineers etc. There mostly special effects guys.
If how they busted a myth was presented in court it would be ruled inadmissible.
Remember the Daubert Challenge. Based on what?
Sorry if I sound very skeptical about what I see and hear but there is so much misinformation going on out there it is hard to get to the truth of a matter ,and if its hard
For some one like me with a highly trained technical background what must it be like for the general public?
Of course this is what these merchants of propaganda and misinformation count on so they can get away with things .The old saying you can fool some of the people some of the time but not all the people al of the time is so true.
Take the FEMA Camps I have personally went to all these so called camps in Pa. which where on a map being circulated and there was nothing there or it was a misidentified utility company installation.
Are there FEMA Camps .There are plans etc. which are part of FEMA’s programs that in case of nuclear attack , plague etc . That they can and would be set up in extreme circumstances . But actual set up built camps none that I could find.
Now there’s plenty of old unused barracks etc at military bases like Indian town gap which could be quickly used and converted to detainment centers . But again available information has been blown out of proportion by who for what reason.
Take the rumor the government has a switch to power over all Radio and TV stations
And take control . Wrong again Im a broadcast engineer
There is the national emergency alerting system but it has been years since it was tested 1994 to be exact and even then only 50% of the stations even got the test signal. If a real national emergency message came in from the government it must first be verified by station personnel it is a real message and most station personnel have no idea how to verify it or retransmit it. Stations have special binders with sealed envelopes which contain codes which must first match, This is why during 911 it was not used most stations are automated and the message would have stopped at the station and not gone further. As no one is there though your suppose to maintain a presence from 9-5 at the station yea every one does right?
The EAS as it is known is being revamped again for the umpteenth time and this time its suppose to work everywhere right?
In today’s radio and TV world so many stations like the one I engineer at are all totally automated and computers control them and these same computers are running automation software that in many cases has so many glitches that programs cut off short and commercials run on top of each other etc. because stations do not want to pay to have a full time board operator on staff to make sure the station is running properly its all satellite and computer switching get as many commercials in as you can and its not very good.
But it seems Robot Radio and TV and its poor quality is a constant point of conversation in engineering magazines ,and it is here to stay.
Yes there are bad people in this world who are conspiring and who wish us all bad and even dead ,but being able to make clear judgments is a must.
Remember check it out and ask if this information you are seeing , reading or hearing is real. Remember the guide rule “ Based on what” Than decide how to react properly to it. Is it real or is it some one trying to fool you and make you look like a fool or attempting a criminal act.

Note: there are currently phony Fire Inspector cases in Westmoreland County and Phony Health Inspectors in Allegheny County Pa.
In addition there have also been several cases of phony state troopers as well.
and now a phony FBI Agent http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11087/1135376-455.stm

Low voltage and NEC most do not get it?

Do you run Low Voltage Wiring Outside?
Are you following National Electrical Code?
Are you putting your self at risk by not doing so?

An alarm company runs a cable between 2 buildings across an alley way and put it at 12 foot assuming it is high enough, no truck tall enough coming down the alley can hit it they thought.
Wrong one day a Crane Truck 12’9” comes down the alley and pulls out all the wiring and causes
Damage to both buildings .Which also resulted in a surge in the wiring destroying the camera system.
The Alarm Company assures the building owner since the trucker took it down the truck companies insurance will pay. Wrong the investigator comes on scene and denies the claim because the installers failed to follow National Electrical Code which requires wires in this situation to be 14 foot high. In addition the wire was not properly grounded and surge protected as required by the NEC the alarm company will now have to pay for the damages.
An alarm company is hired to install a camera system in an open dock area of an industrial building to watch where flammable gas cylinders are being stored. Under NEC this area is defined as a hazardous area even thou it is open on 2 sides it still requires the use of very specific methods as to how the wiring is installed and wiring sealed to prevent explosions becuse gas is being transferred in this area .The alarm company mistakenly believes its low voltage wiring does not require the use of explosion proof fittings and components and installs standard equiptment in the room, a month later there’s a major explosion and the room is destroyed and three employees are hospitalized with serious burns. And the investigators trace the ignition source back to the alarm company not using proper wiring measures, besides the lawsuits and local code violation citations they are facing they are also facing massive fines from OSHA as well.
An alarm company installs IP Cameras on several light poles in a parking lot and lightning strikes one of the poles sending a surge thru all the equipment and takes out the computers in the building and at the same time starts a small electrical fire.
The alarm company claims it’s an act of god and not there responsibility. Wrong again when the investigator gets on scene and again determines the install fails to meet the NEC section 900 which requires all low voltage cables entering buildings be properly protected by using surge protection and bonding and grounding applications. The alarm company also faces a code violation citation for not following the code as well after the fire and code people investigate.
Cable companies and Telephone Companies include surge protection on all of there installs what makes an alarm company think it is exempt from following these same codes.
Mostly it is a lack of proper education in our industry and apathy on the part of alarm company owners to get there employees properly trained. Plus when going to even an approved training class all too often these courses fail to properly recognize and endorse the use of the NEC .
I see it all the time when it comes to fire alarms better than 90% of the fire systems I have taken over or serviced for others are non code compliant when it comes to how Fire Alarm wiring is to be properly run and installed. This is why I feel alarm companies should be employing electricians to install the wiring to code not using techs who are not trained to follow the NEC and when wiring is not properly installed this is when systems fail. It is time the Security Industry takes a good hard look at its self and its training and start turning out properly trained techs becuse as the world gets more in the mood litigate
And as OSHA , NFPA, ICC and other codes are being more closely watched and updated as technology is changing at a fast pace and more and more integration of computers becomes involved there is now a much higher chance of something going very wrong and an incident hitting seven figures in damage.
The industry needs to get out of its head we are doing low voltage and do not need to meet codes and instead realize we are installing Class II and III wiring which must meet all applicable codes because if we do not do it right some one gets hurt.

EAS not used

Pa. Has one of the most Technologically Advanced
Emergency Alerting Systems and fails to utilize it.

Being a Broadcast Engineer for a 5000 Watt AM Radio Station
I became aware of a new Emergency Alerting System( EAS ) Being installed in stations and 911 centers across the state. Designed by Com Labs in FL.
Known as “Em Net “
Instead of what we had in the old days where we monitored KDKA -AM and WQED -FM who sent the signal via broadcast which activated our EAS Receivers to rebroadcast the message (We Still use this as a back up )
We now get messages via a Satellite on the roof a little bigger than used for TV. The system is also hooked to the internet connection at station as well.
So now when something is going on in the state PEMA in Harrisburg or NWS can send a signal instantly and then gets return message from each station via internet that the message has been received Vs. the old system where you hoped everyone got it and up in the hills of Armstrong County where I am at it was a crap shoot.
So the other day in the City of Clairton Pa. A young girl reports seeing another young black girl with Duct Tape over here mouth in a blue van being driven by a middle aged white male . A possible Abduction . Clairton Police immediately issued a Amber Alert as there have been several abduction attempts of children in the Mon Valley this year.
My station WAVL 910 AM along with couple others sent the message as soon as they got it. WAVL is unattended so we have our equipment set to always retransmit immediately no matter what is playing.
While the other stations took as long as 10 minutes to report it. Waiting till news or commercial break.
10 minutes time could have been life or death in this situation but as far as police can confirm no young girl is missing. However there could still be as Clairton has a very huge drug and crime problem and a irresponsible parent may not know there child is even missing.
So Clairton did the right thing but the stations where slow to respond.
But what if this had been a serious Hazmat situation and a cloud of poisonous vapor was in the air. This along with 60 other emergency warnings can now be sent over Pa. Em Net System and in fact there have been several bad industrial accidents where the EAS system could have and should have been used to alert the public and was never used.
What better way to alert the public to what is going on all Broadcast radio and TV stations would receive it along with Cable and FIOS TV broadcasters as well.
I immediately got the Amber Alert on my cell phone thru a text from www.Pa Alert.gov
All this technology in place and our local officials fail to use it. Millions was spent putting it in place 7 years ago and much of it has been upgraded as well.
In fact there is a big debate in the US right now involving EAS to upgrade it nation wide. The national alerting system has been in place and other than a test in Alaska many years ago a full nationwide emergency test message has never been conducted.

So here we go we have the technology and it sits there and is not used.
Why did we ever spend the money on it if our local officials are not going to use it?
When the time does come to actually us it will any one even remember how to do it?
Once again our hard earned taxpayer money being wasted.
It is not only in Pa. But across the country.
Just hope to god nothing major happens on a weekend like another 9-11
So many places have no one attending them or very small staff and rest on call. With 30-120 minute response time.

Theres alot to concider when installing Cameras

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

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 &Integration
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 equiptment –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?

The Medical Alert Mess

Medical Alert Systems
Can be a real headache to First Responders
When not properly installed


One of my clients owns several large multi building apartment complexes and has had a problem with some of his tenants who have installed Medical Alert Systems in there apartments and not told him about them.
He has had Fire Trucks show up looking for the building the fire alarm is going off in.
To go to the main annunciator and there’s no alarm sounding and had to do individual building searches, only to find out it is one of these medical alert systems which has a wireless smoke detector installed to it that has been improperly placed and has been set off by shower steam or toast burning. In one case medics called the fire dept to gain entry by breaking a small window to find out the apartment has been sublet and system was moved and current tenant is not the one having a emergency event.
The whole matter is 100% avoidable had the medical alert installing dealer gave the proper details to the central station exactly what building the apartment is located in and had notified the management to the system.
My customer has now sent letters to all his tenants advising them they are to notify the rental office when they get a medical alert system and that there maintenance emergency number be notified when there is activation so apartment management can dispatch a maintenance man to the site to help stop the confusion. He also advised them about the permit they are supposed to get from the municipality.
But even with these steps being taken the Medical Alert Systems being sold in many cases are of questionable value due to how they are constructed and who is installing them.
While many have a UL listed medical alert labeling and approval and are professionally installed many do not, they are also not professionally installed instead a salesman simply plugs them in and there is no proper training and use and no
Phone line supervision or RJ31-X jack installed for making sure a phone left off the hook does not block the transmission.
Many company's also charge exorbitant fees for the equipment $1500.00 and the monitoring $50.00 a month, when in fact there are programs thru major hospitals which charge zero to a small amount for monitoring and supplying the systems. It’s the old Buyer Beware when it comes to these systems.
But until the industry cleans up its act you can bet there is going to be an epidemic of problems with these systems as our population ages and gets interested in some type of protection. The rip off’s will continue.

In the digital world are you Viking or Victim?

The Digital World
It’s not about making things better for you
It is about Charging Fees and controlling you?
Why Analog had to die a slow death.

When it comes to the digital age you’re either a Wolf or Sheep a Viking or Victim
Which are you?

As we go bravely into the digital world and all the new and fantastic things it is bringing into our lives
In medicine, Entertainment, Safety and Security it also comes with a price.
The price is slavery to Fees and poor service and limited availability.
Do not pay a fee then your living in the Stone Age. In the digital age there are the haves and the have not’s.
And the digital divide grows bigger each and every day as newer technologies come out and totally exclude entire generations and groups of individuals. Can not afford to pay a fee or figure a way around it then you will find yourself out of the digital game period.

Take the simple ATM and debit cards.
Why carry cash use your debit card it is so much more convenient and easier to use and carry and so much cheaper for retailers and banks to do electronic transfers. Really then how come every time you turn around banks keep slapping more and more fees on use of these cards.
Now a bank wants to charge $5.00 for you to withdrawal cash from an ATM which is not in there network.
Remember when checking was free because banks made money off our money well they still do but they have gotten so money greedy you now pay for the privilege. Do not keep a minimum then there’s a fee. That’s why I stop and get cash from a local small town bank I use I do not stop at an ATM and I use a smaller home town bank because it does not fee me to death. The ATM is convenient but I figure time in my schedule to stop at my bank and avoid ATM fees period. I try and avoid at all costs impulse buying as well.
The Big banks hate me because they can not rip me off too bad. If more people where like me and refused to put up with big bank shenanigans it would stop but people are like sheep instead of wolves and willing stand in line to get bent over and screwed by big banks and there fess and then say thank you for screwing me. Because It was more convenient for me, instead of doing my home work and making a plan.
Take a look at your home security system once a luxury now unfortunately a needed realty in too many places.
In the old days you bought a system had it put in and you had a tape dialer which called local police for cost of local phone call when alarm activated. But in today’s new digital world where there is no longer a local police dispatcher it goes to a 911 center where tape dialers are no longer permitted. Instead you now pay a fee of $30.00 or more dollars per month for ever for a system that is worthless and poorly installed by a big national alarm company who wants your money and provides you with nothing its all about the fees .They charge for everything and they charge big. There are still a few small independents out there doing good work with good prices but there few and far and hard to find but ask around.
And yes panels can be designed to call your cell phone or pager if you want to self monitor but many company’s will not service your system unless you’re monitored by them.
Again I say screw them you can put your own professional system in and self monitor with some good research.

Then look at the new Digital TV service again a total rip off of the consumer who had existing analog TVs
Using over the air broadcasting. Set top converter boxes.
These converter boxes are nothing but a big consumer rip off and of inferior quality. If you live high on a hill like I do your fine you can still get most local channels but any where else your screwed.
And in a effort to get better pictures consumers ran out and bought all kinds of antennas to improve the picture which did not work either. When the real problem was the converter box it self. People who went out and bought new digital TVs with real digital tuners where getting over the air broadcast with few problems. With just a simple set of rabbit ears. And all these fancy antennas all you really need is a good quality UHF antenna that’s where digital is being broadcast , again do your home work you can get around paying for cable or satellite.
Ok so let’s say you really can not get over the air well then you need cable or satellite. But do you really how much TV do you really watch. Do you have a good internet connection many TV shows you can now get over the internet next day you can even get old movies and TV shows for free as well on sites like www.veoh.com
Oh have you tried to use your old VCR on digital TV yes you can record what’s being shown but want to record another channel at a different time forget it now you need to either purchase a DVR rental from the cable company or buy a DVR where you use a service like Tivo or buy a very high end unit for $2000.00 that lets you select when you want to record but again pay me a fee for your convince Now you can go to TV guide site and use there free DVR recorder ad record a show and watch it via internet to your TV as an alternative to get around this.
And talking about internet you can still get a free 10hour dial up account from Net Zero .com
Not great but still free and good for email etc. when you do not need full internet service or are some where you can not get free WIFI.
Also are you paying for software from Microsoft and others Why? Again with good computer skills and research there are all kinds of free alternative programs that work as good or better than Microsoft and Adobe etc products. Why are you paying $150.00 to 500.00 for something you do not need. Especially anti virus software there are plenty of free programs got to www.komando.com this computer users info site has many good articles etc where you can find all kinds of tips and links to solve what ever problem you are having with your computer.
Tired of paying for phone service have internet there’s all kinds of company’s like Vonage etc offer almost free telephone but again why are you paying a fee. Goggle voice offers free calls all over US.
Then there are service contracts and yes some plans like for water, gas and sewer lines etc make sense if you can not physically do your own work and own a home or business but many things you can do again why you are paying for services you do not need to pay for. Learn how to do them and slowly acquire the tools you need
My wife severely jammed the sink drain line other day did I call a plumber no way and where related to several.
I got out my hand snake and took care of it to point I had to open up the copper drain line take a section out work the hand snake thru clog and then put pipe back in place with 2 rubber Fernco couplings. Total cost couplers and snake $30.00 not having to call a plumber saved $350.00.
There are all kind of free and inexpensive trade classes you can take to learn how to take care of the little things in life even right on line. Do your research and learn about them.

Again it takes time and effort to do the research and learn how not to pay all the monthly fees and be kept a slave to them. But are you a Wolf or Sheep a Viking or Victim If your sheep or victim step right and welcome to the new digital age. Now Pay Me. Forever

Think before you enter a Pool or Spa Rescue.

WATER AND ELECTRICITY DO NOT MIX
THE POTENTIAL RESCUE DANGERS YOU FACE
WITH SWIMMING POOLS AND SPAS

It absolutely amazes me that with the potential fire and electrocution dangers that Swimming Pools and Spas pose that the majority of owners of these devices allow slipshod wiring to be installed to these Units.
One of the main problems when people purchase a pool or hot tub is they never consider
the Additional costs of having the Pool or Spa wired properly and what usually happens is they either have a friend who knows a little about electric do it or they do it themselves or they hire a less than reputable Maintenance man / Electrician to do it.
and what results is danger to everyone who goes near that pool or spa including you the rescuer. And this even includes Large public Pools and Spas I have found dangerously wired.
It should be part of every SOP when performing a rescue from a Pool or Spa that involves a Possible drowning that in fact the drowning may be from Electrocution and proper precautions be taken. Which would include making sure the power is off to the pool or spa.

One of the most frequent violations I run across is people with above ground pools running these pools off of extension cords often times plugged into an outlet which has no ground or ground fault protection unit.
The other major violation I run into is in ground pools that have concrete decks around them not being properly grounded and bonded to the electrical system .
When it comes to in ground pools all surrounding metal parts are to be bonded to each other and to the electrical system grounding wire this type of grounding known as a Equipotential Plane,
Keeps all potential items that can be come energized at the same potential there by eliminating a shock hazard when swimmers go from the water on to the deck and vice versa .Pool Contractors mistakenly believe this grounding procedure is to protect you from lightning so they often will not install it. If you do not have correct grounding and bonding of an in ground pool should one of the Electrical devices such as a light or pump become energized to a shorted out wire against its metal case the current can travel thru the swimmer delivering a fatal
Shock to the swimmer instead of being carried away by the Equipotential plane grounding.
And when it comes to the proper wiring and Inspection of all types of pools and spas the specialized education needed is very much lacking . When it comes to commercial pools and Spas most jurisdictions require either annual or bi annual inspections of wiring to commercial pools and spas in PA it is every 4 years but all too often I come across commercial pools newly re-inspected or Just Built inspected and find major code violations missed by the Inspectors. Even after these inspectors had to pass a special test to certify Pool Wiring. This is because the rules for wiring Pools and Spas are very complex and can be confusing even to the pro's .
Often times I would be called to give bids on a Pool or Spa too be told I was too high on my bid.
but in reality I was not ,the other Electricians did not figure in all the proper wiring and equipment
Required such as GFCI Breakers, 4 wire cable not 3 wire and a disconnect within 10 feet of the tub
and correct size and type wire or piping for the application, which would put there bids similar or higher than mine.
And of course 6 months down the road I would have these same people calling me up complaining
how there pool or spa was burned up or malfunctioning and even giving them a mild shock ,would I please come out and correct it.
Then there is the problem related with Spas and Proper GFCI Protection of Electrical outlets
near by how many times I walk into a home to find the home owner has put a spa in inside his home and there would be an electrical outlet right next to the spa or even covered up by the spa and they have no GFCI protection as required by code. All electrical outlets within 5 feet of a spa are to have
GFCI protection but the home owner brings his new spa into his already built home puts it in the basement and never converts the outlets to GFCI Protection and what do you know some one plugs a radio etc into one of the receptacles puts it on the Spa tub rail and the next thing you know it falls into the tub and who ever is the lucky person inside the tub is toast.
You name the possible hazardous wiring condition you can create with either a Pool and Spa and I have seen it. Like the man who built his pool deck up against his home and right under his Electrical meter with out any type of proper grounding, But until there is proper education and installation combined with proper inspection and enforcement these ticking time bombs are out there waiting to get you and remember you are no safer going to a public facility.
like I tell every home or building owner who tells me he knows how to do proper electrical wiring my response is always " Well people prove to me just how well they know what there doing with electric wiring every time I have to get on a fire truck and go to a call"

Sound the Cyren Call.

This Cyren Call
Should Be heeded?
If your involved in Your Fire Depts. Communications


In 2009 all Terrestrial based Television Stations in the US will have to begun transmitting in Digital Format and there will be no more Analog Broadcasts. On channels 2-13
Which means a large block of Radio Spectrum will be freed up and Auctioned off by the FCC in the 700 Mhz band but 30 Mhz of this band has been reserved for 1st responder use. And the Cyren Call Communications a large provider and manufacturer of 2 way and various other communications products has proposed a Public /Private partnership whereby
Police ,Fire and Medic depts. would be able to get the latest in 2 way technology in the 700 Mhz band by leasing the towers and repeaters at a reasonable rate from a public service provider in 12 Mhz of 700 Mhz spectrum
Instead of having to fork out thousands of dollars for towers and repeaters that are dept owned. Often times by the time a department specs out equiptment comes up with the money to pay for it and have it implemented the technology is already old.
then there’s the maintenance etc. that goes with it.
This would all but be eliminated with this new agreement and depts. would have access to the latest technology and professional tower sites that are secured 24/7 and with back up power in place.
When Hurricane Katrina Hit one of the biggest problems responders had was lack of 2 way communication while the 900 Mhz Radio System designed by Ma-com for business
Kept functioning and there was little damage to there hardened sites.
OK so there are potential down sides such as monthly bill for service etc. a private company not coming thru and customer service issues etc. but you can still have all this and worse with privately owned systems .You can find further information at
www.cyrencall.com and to stay up with issues on 2 way radio issues
check out the Mobile Radio Technology Magazine at www.mrtmag.com