Wednesday, September 5, 2007
Depending on your age or where you grew up, you probably remember never locking the door to your house. It seems like just yesterday, but those days are long gone. Our way of life has changed rapidly. People do not know their neighbors as well as they once did.
The following are some crime facts in neighborhoods today.
- Burglary and thefts from auto's are the most prevalent neighborhood crimes.
- Household burglary is one of the easiest crimes to commit, and to prevent.
- Most home burglars are young amateurs looking for easy targets.
- In over one-half of household burglaries, there was no forced entry involved.
- Most home intrusions occur during daylight hours while homeowners are away.
Is the choice either to be burgled or turn your house into a high tech security fortress? Not at all. The first step is to know the ways burglars break into your home and what to look out for to reduce your chance of being burgled. Inexpensive precautions like installing better locks will make your dwelling more secure while at the same time a less desirable choice for the criminal. Install outdoor motion sensor lights. This is an inexpensive way to reduce the risk of someone coming onto your premises at night. Make sure you do not make it obvious that you are away. Have a neighbor pick up your mail. Make a list of all your valuable items. Neighborhood Watch is a proven crime-reduction program. Members watch out for their neighbors and report suspicious activities to their local police department.
What about installing a home security or surveillance system? Undoubtedly the largest benefit you receive when an alarm is installed in your home is the peace of mind in knowing that the percentage of homes that are broken into with an alarm is 97% less than homes that do not have an alarm. The homeowner should have a basic knowledge of the types of systems available to make the most cost effective choice. Perimeter sensors protect each door and window and detect an initial entry attempt. Motion sensors detect an intruder moving inside the house. Systems are either hardwired or wireless, using radio signals. Once an intrusion is detected the alarm system can sound a local alarm or contact an alarm monitoring company. The security representative surveying your home and living patterns can make recommendations for your best protection.
With the level of home intrusion increasing everyday there has never been a better time to make sure your home is secure.
For more information I suggest reading The Ultimate Guide to Home Security E-Book. It is an instant-download that you can print. Visit http://www.home-security-solutions.net
Brian Bees has 30 years experience in residential and commercial electronic security systems.
Retire to Asia - And Why
In reading this article you may realize that the best part of your life could be in Asia, and the best time is now.
The theme of most retirement articles is the best place to retire in the USA. However, according to the AARP about 80 percent of Americans do not plan to move when they retire. Work a lifetime, and with the door open to have a fresh start in retirement, one just stays in the same town, the same house, the same routine. There must be a better quality of life in retirement, and there is! Nowadays, more retirees are not only moving from their house to another city or state, but are moving out of the United States.
Over recent years I have had an increasing number of friends write to me about my life in Asia. The motives behind the questions have varied from political discontentment to financial. Many of the concerns are related to the high cost of living, including heating and A/C bills, taxes, grocery bills, the cost of gasoline, medical bills, dental bills, home repair bills, and list goes on. There is no doubt about it, the cost of living in the USA goes higher each day. Many of those who write to me are not really enjoying their Golden Years but are just getting by. If you are in the stage of retirement planning or are now retired that should concern you, as each day is precious and we should be enjoying life to its fullest. The best is yet to come.
Travel with me down a different road of thought. I have lived in retirement for the past 7 years in Asia, in the beach resort city of Pattaya, Thailand. Being a tourist destination, you immediately picture an area with a beautiful bay view, fine restaurants, and entertainment galore. It is more than just that. It is so easy to get around the city using public transportation that my car sits in the driveway. We have modern shopping centers, movie complexes, health spa's, fitness centers, golf courses, and even an IT center with 5 floors of computers, mobile phones, and electronics. Pattaya has not one, but two International Standard hospitals. Health care is affordable. Being a tourist city, the Thai staff in most stores and restaurants speak English, German, Russian, and other languages. Language is not a problem, but learning a little basic Thai is both fun and useful. A Hollywood movie with English sound track, shown in a high tech theater costs around $2.50. The air-conditioned city bus is 50 cents, private buses around 25 cents. A Thai food-bar meal runs around 75 cents. We have clubs that meet weekly where the foreign community can get together. They have Open Forums where newcomers to the community can ask questions. The glimpse just given is representative of life for foreigners in most Asian countries. A stress free, quality lifestyle on your retirement pension.
Why Asia? Because Asia is the most exciting, the most user friendly continent on earth. Luxury living for pennies - not just "getting by" on your retirement pension. The United States and Europe are becoming almost impossibly expensive to live and retire in. Learn more about the Asian countries, which ones to consider for retirement, and why. If funds permit, plan a holiday visit to some of the countries of interest. Alternatively, the Internet is a great source of information. Also, one can join an Internet blog or group and gain information and tips from persons already living overseas. As I said in my opening, the best part of your life could be in Asia, and the best time is now.
To learn more, country by country, a "must read" is the Retire to Asia! E-Book. It is an instant-download that you can print. 67 pages of text and stunning photographs. Visit me at http://www.retiretoasia.net Brian Bees has lived and worked in Asia for 27 years and has been retired in Thailand for the past 7 years.
Specifications Of Granite Countertops
Countertops are obtained from different varieties of natural stones like granite, marble, travertine, limestone, onyx. Especially granite countertops are said to be the essential and most required countertops by the people. Most of the people suggest granite countertops and marble countertops for their homes, buildings and monuments. Granite countertops are a durable material, with good resistance to scratch and stain. Granite countertops play a significant role in both interior and exterior decoration of houses, buildings and monuments. Most of the home owners and builders suggest granite countertops for their houses and building is that, its durability and resistance to heat, scratch, stain and spills.
Natural stones come in different colors, designs and varieties to satisfy the taste and requirements of the customer. Specifically granite countertops expose the natural beauty and originality of the natural stones in different colors and designs. Granite countertops are the prominent material required all the home owners and builders. Since granite is a durable material, most of the home owners and builders prefer to install granite countertops for their buildings. Granite countertops are highly a resistance material to heat, moisture, scratch, stain and spills. Even any stains or spills occur it can be easily removed using quality cleaning agents. Granite countertops add everlasting beauty to your houses with easy removal of scratches.
Installation of granite countertops should be made properly and correctly. Installation is the important factor to be considered by the home owner or builder. Nowadays, trends have been changed and most of the people prefer to install granite countertops and marble countertops for their houses and buildings. Granite countertops can be used as either countertops or tiles or slabs. Granite countertops are used for sinks, kitchen and bathtubs. Granite Countertops varies as per color, design and specification. Granite is one of the natural stones which come up with tremendous differences with other natural stones. All natural stone countertops are not same and they differ in their durability and resistance power.
Granite countertops are easy to remove and install. Since granite comprises of heat and fusion, it as good durability and resistance power. Installing granite countertops for kitchen and bathrooms has more advantages like ever lasting beauty, durability, and resistance and so on. Granite countertops should be installed through quality expert, professional or installer. So, there are many reasons for choosing granite countertops for kitchen and bathrooms by home owners and builders. Granite countertops provide an efficient and prominent service to the house owners and builders. Therefore, granite countertops is said to be the best countertops for kitchen and bathrooms as per professionals or experts knowledge.
Ron victor is an expert author for Granite Countertops Texas. He written many articles like Granite Countertop, Granite Houston, Countertops Texas, Granite New Orleans and Marble Countertop. For more information visit our site. Contact me at ron.seocopywriter@gmail.com.
