The design of outdoor mailboxes have remained fairly constant over the past 100 years, despite the changes in the way information travels. Individuals receive many correspondences through the mail that are filled with personal information such as bank account numbers, health records or credit card info. While in most situations, this information would be kept under lock and key, mail is often left unsecured in outdoor mailboxes, easily accessible to the public.

To most people, the security of their mail isn’t even an afterthought. To that end, all of their personal information, from bank statements to tax information, is an easy target for individuals bent on getting it. When you consider that identity theft accounts for losses close to one billion dollars each year, metal mailboxes no longer seem an excessive protection

Although it may seem like an extreme solution to use metal mailboxes, not all metal mailboxes are built the same and not all of them are convenient to use. In fact, most people probably picture large metallic contraptions built with a heavy cement base. Although these designs can keep your mail safe, they do little in the way of d

Portable generators are great to have when the power goes out. But when using a generator, there are three dangers that you need to know about in order to avoid them. They are electric shock, Carbon Monoxide poisoning, and fire.

When using a generator there is a chance of getting electrocuted. Make sure to keep your generator dry and if it rainy or wet don’t use. Operate your generator on a dry surface under an open, roof-like unit. Don’t touch the generator unless your hands are dry.

Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning occurs when you inhale your generators toxic exhaust. Most important, is to never use a generator indoors. This includes: inside your home, garage, basement, crawl space or any partial or enclosed area which is connected to your living space. Using a fan, or opening windows and doors is not enough to prevent CO build-up.

Finally, preventing fires while using your portable generator can be done easily. Propane, gasoline, kerosene, and any other flammable liquids should be brought outside for storage. All containers should be properly labeled.

Don’t store fuel near any fuel burning appliance like a gas water heater. Invisible fumes can move along the ground if fuel is spilled. It can then be lit by the appliances pilot light. Lastly, turn your generator off and wait for it to cool down before refueling. Spilt fuel could ignite on a hot engine.

George Thomas helps you find the right portable generator for your needs. Choose from electric, diesel, gasoline, Coleman, and more.

There are a variety of measures you can take to insure that your PBX is safe from hackers.

Listed below are tips you can use right now to protect your business.

1. Take steps to secure your authorization codes on a permanent basis. Remind employees of the need to keep all access codes secure and change them frequently.

2. Contact your equipment vendors and ask for any and all information on the available security systems in place to detect toll fraud. They should also provide information on monitoring services available to help you quickly detect unusual usage.

3. Work closely with your PBX administrator to ensure that all of the PBX security features available are in place and are being implemented.

4. Unless needed for routine business, block outgoing international calling, 809 and 900 calling capabilities.

5. Conduct regular and routine auditing of your telecommunication systems and bills, especially just after regular vacation months and holiday seasons. It is during these times of year that PBX toll fraud most often occurs.

6. Wherever possible, limit the number of employees who are authorized to use remote access. And if possible, change pass codes and authorization codes when an employee permanently leaves the company.

7. NEVER transfer a call outside your PBX if you are unaware of the identity of the caller. Instruct employees that phone companies will never ask customers to be part of a “test” – no matter how official the caller may sound.

8. Always be alert to possible PBX abuse signs. These could include repeated calls of short duration, sudden increase in 800 usage, or unexplained changes incoming, outgoing or especially after-hours calling patterns.

9. Consider out sourcing your telecom bills to a firm that will provide bill paying and audit services on an ongoing monthly basis. You’ll save money across the board and catch toll fraud at the time it happens.

Karen Thatcher is President and CEO of TelCon Associates, Inc. a 32 year old telecom audit and bill management firm. For a 66 page report on PBX safety and security, visit http://www.telconassociates.com

The ‘Consumer Product Safety Commission’ reports that thousands of people are treated for fractured bones, bruises and cuts from improper use of ladders every year. Hundreds of people die from ladder related injuries.

Some common safety tips that can be followed for a smooth working with your little giant ladder are:

(i) Inspect the little giant ladder. Make sure the ’spreaders’ can be locked when open and that there are ’safety feet’ on the ends. When choosing a little giant ladder be certain the ladder is able to carry the amount of weight that will be applied.

(ii) Check for ‘loose or bent rungs’ of your little giant ladder.

(iii) The little giant ladder should be kept clean of oil, grease, mud, snow and other slippery materials.

(iv) Carry a ’single or extension’ little giant ladder parallel to the ground. Hold the side rail in the middle of the ladder for balance.

(v) The ground under the ladder should be level and firm. Do not set your little giant ladder up on a muddy surface.

(v) Set the base of your little giant ladder one foot away from the wall for every four feet of ladder height.

(vi) Do not use bricks, boxes, etc. to raise the height of ladders to make them gorilla ladder.

(vii) Keep ladder off from windowpanes or sashes.

(viii) While using the ladder as an orchard ladder, turn the it sideways, and ease into the tree.

(ix) Face the ladder when you climb up or down. Hold on to the side rails with both hands. Use a rope to lift heavier equipments.

(x) Keep your body centered ‘between the rails’ of your little giant ladder. Wear shoes with ‘non-skid soles’. Do not wear ‘leather-soled’ shoes; they can be slippery.

(xi) Never use a ladder in high wind. Never stand on the top rung of any ladder.

And the last and not the least never leave a raised ladder unattended.

We offer the best online ladders and ladders accessories source. Check it out now on the Gorilla ladders and Little giant ladder guide.

Find all about ladders on – http://www.multipurpose-ladders.info

Many people are interested in purchasing security
mailboxes. This can be for many reasons. One is that you
may be on vacation and you want to be sure your mail is
safe while you are away. Some people like the idea of
security mailboxes because they are vandal proof (no one
can put an M-80 inside and blow it up)! But the main reason
for purchasing one is to prevent identity theft from
someone stealing your mail and obtaining your personal
information. But before you look into purchasing security
mailboxes, there are some things you should know.

Not all security mailboxes are as good as others. Be sure
that the one you purchase is approved by the Postmaster
General. Also, be sure that there are no exposed locks, and
that it is tamper proof and wrench proof. You also need to
be sure that it is welded together and not just pop riveted
together. Be sure to pay attention to where the mail
retrieval location is. Some are located in the rear, which
can be a bad spot if you place your security mailbox in
certain locations.

The last thing you should know is that security mailboxes
are quite expensive. They can range from $350 to $850. This
price does not include installation. Keep all of this in
mind before purchasing yours. Once you get one, you will be
glad you did. You will have peace of mind knowing that your
mail is safe, and your identity as well!

You can now browse our large selection of Security
Mailboxes online. To view our complete and
comprehensive selection of Security Mailboxes, visit:
http://mailboxes-for-sale.partnersinsuccess.net/

At the dinner table, I leaned over and whispered urgently to Kate, our host, “Smells like something burning.” A bit startled, she got up and went into the kitchen to check. At her sudden departure, the conversation around the table fell silent.

As we waited, she returned and announced, “Everything seems to be all right.” Things went back to normal. We were having a good time. The food was delicious and the conversation lively. It was Kate’s husband Alex’s birthday party.

But the smell lingered and seemed to grow stronger. “Any one smell something burning?” I asked loudly this time. In the silence that followed, Alex raised his head, sniffed the air, and said, “I believe you are right.”

With some urgency, we got up from the table and started looking around the house. I decided to go upstairs. Past the first guest bedroom, outside the second recently converted into a study, the smell was perceivably stronger. It seemed something plastic or synthetic was smoldering.

Not knowing what to expect, I cautiously opened the door and flicked on the light. Everything appeared to be normal but the burning smell was strong. Then, I noticed an extension cord running from an outlet next to the door to a computer workstation across the room. The cord was covered with a rug. The smell seemed to originate from the rug. There was no smoke.

After unplugging the cord, which felt quite hot to the touch, I guardedly turned the edge of the rug over. I could see a dark smoky brown welt on the under side of the rug and a faint brown line on the carpet. A few more minutes and the rug would probably have caught fire.

Hearing me call out, Alex and Kate came up. We opened windows, took the rug outside, and double checked to make sure everything else was all right.

The dinner that resumed was a bit subdued and when the birthday cake was brought out the singing and gaiety seemed bit strained, but we were all happy and thankful to have averted a potentially serious mishap.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reports that each year about 4,000 injuries associated with electrical cords require hospital visits. About half the injuries is a result of people tripping over extension cords.

The CPSC also reports about 3,300 residential fires resulting in 50 deaths and more than 300 injuries each year are due to misuse of extension cords.

Alex had one part right. Running out of outlets, while setting up a new computer, he used an extension cord and covered it with a rug to avoid tripping. The weather was unusually cold, so to keep warm, he later plugged in a portable heater into the same cord and forgot to turn it off.

The cord’s rating was adequate for the current being drawn. It would have run warm but it would not have been dangerous. However, the rug over it was acting as a heat trap, the combination a serious fire hazard. The synthetic backing of the rug made the situation even worse.

The moral of the story: don’t use rugs to cover extension cords. They act as thermal insulators and can cause electrical cords running under them to overheat. Use specially designed cord covers instead. They are available at your hardware store, and they are not costly.

Accidents and injuries due to electricity are actually relatively low. But electricity can still be dangerous. Imagine what might have happened if no one was at home, or if it was late at night and everyone was asleep.

For additional safety tips related to electricity, please do a search on the web. There is an enormous amount of information available.

Brian Medini in association with http://safety.1800inet.com. For training material related to electrical safety in the workplace, please visit http://safety.1800inet.com/top/electrical.

Every single time you access a website, you leave tracks. Tracks that others can access. If you don’t like the idea, find out what software can help you cover them.

Anti Tracks

Anti Tracks is a complete solution to protect your privacy and enhance your PC performance. With a simple click Anti Tracks securely erase your internet tracks, computer activities and programs history information stored in many hidden files on your computer.
Anti Tracks support Internet Explorer, AOL, Netscape/Mozilla and Opera browsers. It also include more than 85 free plug-ins to extend erasing features to support popular programs such as ACDSee, Acrobat Reader, KaZaA, PowerDVD, WinZip, iMesh, Winamp and much more. Also you can easily schedule erasing tasks at specific time intervals or at Windows stat-up/ shutdown.
To ensure maximum privacy protection Anti Tracks implements the US Department of Defense DOD 5220.22-M, Gutmann and NSA secure erasing methods, making any erased files unrecoverable even when using advanced recovery tools.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/antitracks.htm

East-Tec Eraser

East-Tec Eraser goes beyond U.S. Department of Defense standards for the permanent erasure of digital information and easily removes every trace of sensitive data from your computer.

Completely destroy information stored without your knowledge or approval: Internet history, Web pages and pictures from sites visited on the Internet, unwanted cookies, chatroom conversations, deleted e-mail messages, temporary files, the Windows swap file, the Recycle Bin, previously deleted files, valuable corporate trade secrets, business plans, personal files, photos or confidential letters, etc.
East-Tec Eraser 2005 offers full support for popular browsers (Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, America Online, MSN Explorer, Opera), for Peer2Peer applications (Kazaa, Kazaa Lite, iMesh, Napster, Morpheus, Direct Connect, Limewire, Shareaza, etc.), and for other popular programs such as Windows Media Player, RealPlayer, Yahoo Messenger, ICQ, etc. Eraser has an intuitive interface and wizards that guide you through all the necessary steps needed to protect your privacy and sensitive information.
Other features include support for custom privacy needs, user-defined erasure methods, command-line parameters, integration with Windows Explorer, and password protection.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/eastteceraserstandard.htm

Ghostsurf Platinum

GhostSurf Platinum ensures your safety online by providing an anonymous, encrypted Internet connection, and GhostSurf stops spyware, eliminates ads and erases your tracks. GhostSurf lets you customize your privacy level in real-time to suit your surfing needs. A variety of options enable you to block personal information, mask your IP address, route your data through anonymous hubs and even encrypt your Internet connection. GhostSurf’s Privacy Control Center allows you to see and block every piece of data that your computer emits over the Internet, preventing even your Internet Service Provider (ISP) from creating a profile on you.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/ghostsurfplatinum.htm

CyberScrub Pro

Sensitive data can easily fall into the wrong hands. And because Windows is not capable of deleting information beyond recovery, you are at risk!

Passwords, financial documents, even those “about last night” e-mails are fair game for the IT professional, computer technician or hacker.

CyberScrub allows you to purge, wipe and erase data with methods that far exceed US Department of Defense standards for file deletion (DOD 5220.22).

CyberScrub Erases:

* Selected Files/Folders beyond recovery

* Cookies

* Cache (Temporary Internet Files)

* All traces of Peer2Peer activity (16 popular apps)

* Website History

* Chat Room Conversations, Instant Messages

* Pictures viewed

* Email & “previously deleted files”

* Recycle Bin, Recent Documents

* Swap and other “locked” files that contain sensitive data

* Peer2Peer Applications activity

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/cyberscrubprofessional.htm

John Deprice owns and operates http://www.deprice.com

What is domestic abuse?

There are many forms of domestic abuse, ranging from screaming threats to pushing and shoving. Contrary to what many women think, abuse isn’t just physical battering.

Domestic abuse may include emotional abuse, economic abuse, sexual abuse, using children, threats, using male privilege, intimidation, isolation and a variety of other behaviors used to maintain fear, intimidation and power. In all cultures, the perpetrators are most commonly the men of the family.
Nearly one in three adult women experiences at least one physical assault by a partner during adulthood, according to the American Psychological Association in a 1996 report.

Domestic abuse does not discriminate against race, age and socioeconomic background. No specific type of woman is more prone to being battered by her partner, nor is one type of woman completely safe from abuse.

What Victims of Domestic Violence Need to Know?

• The abuse is not your fault
• You don’t deserve to be abused
• You can’t change someone who is abusive
• Staying in the relationship won’t stop the abuse
• With time the abuse always gets worse
• If you stay, make a plan to keep yourself safe when the abuse happens again
• You CAN Fight Back!

Signs of Domestic Abuse

Acts of domestic violence generally fall into one or more of these categories:

• Physical battering — The abuser’s physical attacks or aggressive behavior can range from bruising to murder.
• Sexual abuse — Physical attack by the abuser is often accompanied by or culminates in, sexual violence.
• Psychological battering — The abuser’s psychological or mental violence can include constant verbal abuse, harassment, excessive possessiveness, isolating the woman from friends and family, and depriving her of food, money, clothes, and destroying her personal property.
  Be Prepared!

If you have been assaulted, you can report it to the police.

The Criminal Code says that assault is a criminal offence. The Code describes three types of assault and sets maximum penalties (called sentences) for each type.

The three types of assault are:

• Simple assault (most common assault). Examples are slapping, pushing or shoving, punching or threatening that he or she will harm you or your children.
• Assault with a weapon or causing bodily harm. Examples are an assault where you are beaten with a baseball bat or an assault where you get a black eye or broken bones.
• Aggravated assault is an assault where your life is endangered or you are wounded, maimed or disfigured. Examples are where the offender threatens to kill you or where your injuries from the assault leave you with a limp or scars.

Warning signs of an Abusive Relationship

• Are you frightened of your partner’s temper?
• Are you often compliant because you are afraid to hurt your partner’s feelings or are afraid of your partner’s anger?
• Do you have the urge to “rescue” your partner when your partner is in trouble?
• Do you find yourself apologizing to others for your partner’s behavior when you are treated badly?
• Have you been hit, kicked, shoved, or had things thrown at you by your partner when he was jealous or angry?
• Do you make decisions about activities and friends according to what your partner wants or how your partner will react?
• Do you drink or use drugs to dull the pain or join your partner so he won’t get mad?
• Do you consent easily to your partner to avoid angering him?
• What are some of the warning signs?
• He is extremely jealous.
• Wants to know where you are at all times.
• Gets upset if you spend time with friends or family.
• Holds rigid expectations of male/female or adult/child role.
• He expects you to meet his emotional needs.
• Blames others and you for his problems.
• Threatens you with violence.

There may be many other warning signs; you can phone the nearest Woman’s Shelter for further information.

Do something before it’s too late!

In your contact with any family member, the following observations should be considered clues to the possibility of wife assault.
A history of wife assault or child abuse in his family of origin.
A suspicion of child abuse or sexual abuse in his role as a father.
Abuse of drugs or alcohol.

A history of suicidal thoughts or suicide attempts.

Such characteristics as:

• Impulsiveness
• Temper tantrums
• Jealousy
• Possessiveness
• Excessive dependence on his wife
• Immaturity

What do we know about abusers?

• They try to isolate victims from family and friends
• They minimize and deny their behavior
• They veil power and control over others
• They blame victims
• They distrust others
• They often have been victims or witnessed abuse
• They usually have low self-esteem
• They are not in touch with their own feelings

Preparing to Leave

• Keep evidence of abuse (i.e., pictures, police reports, etc.) in a safe place that is accessible to you
• Know where you can go to get help; tell someone you trust what is happening to you
• If you are injured, go to a doctor or emergency room and report what happened to you
• Make sure that they record your visit
• Make sure that your children know that it is their job to stay safe, not protect you
• Keep a journal of all violent incidences
• Start an individual savings account and have statements sent to a trusted friend
• Acquire job skills
• If you must sneak away, leave extra money, extra car keys, important papers, and extra set of clothes for yourself and children with a trusted friend (avoid family members and mutual friends who may be influenced by the abuser). Include a list of important numbers (insurance numbers, driver’s license, medication, checkbook, credit card numbers, etc.)
  Practice effective Self Defense Tricks… just in case

Getting Out

What to do when leaving an abusive relationship?

If you are contemplating leaving an abusive relationship, there are some things you should do that may assist you in the process of leaving:

Make a safety plan

• Write down Contact Places in the community for support
• Assess your safety and that of your children
• Contact a shelter for a safe place to stay
• Seek interim custody
• Seek a support system from family, friends and advocates
• Be prepared, it helps you in a case of emergency

Make an Escape Plan

• Make sure you have important documents
• Save money in secret when you can
• Keep extra keys and clothes with friends
• Plan out all possible escape routes – doors, first floor windows, elevators, stairwells and rehearse escape routes with your children
• Arrange a safe place to go such as a friend or relative who will offer unconditional support – or a motel, hotel, or shelter
• Memorize the telephone number of a domestic violence shelter or call 911
• Secure transportation
• Work out a signal system with a friend or other family members so that they know you are in danger
• Go when he is gone
• Don’t tell him you are leaving
• Create an excuse to slip away
• Avoid arguments in areas with potential weapons such as the kitchen, garage, or in small spaces without escape routes
• When leaving your home, be aware. Your spouse may try to hurt you to stop you escaping
• Start to learn self defense techniques immediately!

What can you do if you have been abused?

You can, and you should talk to someone about the abuse. You can tell a family member, a friend, or your doctor. You can also talk to a support group in your community. Women’s centers and legal aid offices may be able to tell you of other services which offer help.

You can get medical help – if you have been hurt you can go to your doctor or to the Emergency Department at a hospital. If your injuries are visible you can have pictures taken. They can be used in court should you decide to lay assault charges. There are special medical and police procedures for sexual assault cases. For more information, check the Sexual Assault Department and the law in your country.

You can apply for a peace bond (in the countries where this system exist)

A peace bond or ‘recognizance’ is a paper signed by a person (such as a spouse) promising to keep the peace and be of good behavior. The peace bond may have other conditions such as requiring the person to stay away from your home or place of work. A peace bond may last for up to one year. The judge decides how long it will last.

You have to go to court to get a peace bond. You do not have to be assaulted to apply nor do you have to lay assault charges. You do have to convince the judge that you have a reasonable fear of the offender. The offender will also be in court.

Finding a Place To Go

When an assault occurs you should attempt to protect yourself. One way you might do this is to leave the home. If you don’t have a friend or family member with whom you can safely stay, and cannot afford a motel, there are shelters in your country which will accommodate you in an emergency. The RCMP or the police, if requested, will escort you out of the family home to any safe place you specify.

If there are no shelters for you in the vicinity, the Salvation Army may be able to provide temporary assistance. It might also be worthwhile to check with the local Crisis Line or Help Line which may be able to provide a list of the organizations that can help during a crisis.

National Domestic Violence/Abuse Hotline
1-800-799-SAFE
1-800-799-7233
1-800-787-3224
TDD 24-hour-a-day hotline staffed by trained counselors ready to provide immediate crisis intervention assistance to those in need. Callers can be connected directly to help in their communities, including emergency services and shelters as well as receive information and referrals, counseling and assistance in reporting abuse.
This is a vital lifeline to anyone – man, woman or child – who is a survivor of domestic violence, or who suspects that someone they know may be the victim of abuse. Calls to the hotline are confidential, and callers may remain anonymous if they wish.

On Olga Timbol’s web site First Home Security you can find self defense tips and tehniques for women, as well as products to help protect yourself and your loved ones.

Imagine this “You have a new colleague who seems very nice but too nice until you feel suspicious about her motives. To be on the safe side, you decided to test her by inviting her to your house for tea. She started sneezing the moment she entered your house. Before tea, she complained about having a stomachache. She left early for home due to a severe headache. Confirmed! She has evil intentions!”

Above is just an exaggerated example. However, Chinese Feng Shui believes that by placing a pair of Fu Dogs (also known as Temple Lions) on either side of your main door (outside the house), those who have evil intentions towards you will feel uncomfortable whenever they enter your house. It will also protect you from these people. Try it! The best part is these Fu Dogs are really interesting home decor for your entrance. Most house entrance is plain and boring. Having these dogs will highlight your front door/main gate and lift it to a grand looking entrance. If you can’t imagine what it’ll look like, go rent a Chinese film/series.

Fu Dogs should come in a pair (male and female). The one with a ball in its mouth is a male. From inside looking out, the male Fu Dog should be placed on the right side of the entrance while the female Fu Dog on the other side. If your front door is exposed to sunlight and rain, do get those Fu Dogs carved with high resistant materials such as bronze.

Michele Lum (michele@ideastoenhancehome.com) is the founder and CEO of Ideas To Enhance Home, a site where you can get free tips and ideas on how to enhance your home for better life in health, business, romance, children and security just by placing interesting home decors and setting up simple systems.

Sign up for a FREE subscription to tips and ideas on how to enhance your home by visiting www.IdeasToEnhanceHome.com

An increasing number of Americans are relieved to learn there are non-drug ways to ease pain now that safety questions have been raised about another well-known and widely used painkiller, Bextra.

Recent meetings of the FDA were preceded by a petition from a leading consumer group, Public Citizen, asking that the drug be taken off the market. Both the FDA and Public Citizen raised concerns about the safety of Bextra, one of the so-called Cox-2 inhibitors. The Cox-2 drugs Vioxx and Bextra were once viewed as “wonder drugs” for arthritis and painful menstrual cycles.

Bextra has moved into the spotlight while the maker of Vioxx is being investigated. Vioxx was one of the nation’s most popular ways to treat pain and arthritis and was taken by an estimated 20 million people before it was withdrawn from the market. That happened after studies linked it to a heightened risk of heart attack and stroke – information that may not have been fully understood when the drugs received FDA approval.

Researchers released information indicating that the chances for heart attack following prolonged use of Vioxx were four times greater than with older over-the-counter pain relievers. It has also been linked to angina and stroke. A University of Pennsylvania study released at a meeting of the American Cardiology Association indicated that those taking Bextra had a 2.19 times greater chance of heart attack, stroke, sudden death and Stevens Johnson Syndrome, a life threatening disorder in which blisters occur on the patient’s body.

The result is many people are now seeking alternative non-drug therapies. They are also investigating legal remedies.

Those seeking non-drug alternatives to relieve chronic pain should discuss their plans with a physician. Known alternative remedies include:

MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane), a compound normally found in foods. It’s used to relieve the pain of osteoarthritis and help strengthen collagen in the joints.

Glucosamine, primarily used to treat osteoarthritis. Research indicates that glucosamine is as effective as low doses of non-steroidal anti-inflammatories such as ibuprofen. It appears to relieve pain and improve movement, slow the progression of the disease and protect joints from further damage.

Wobenzym, an enzyme combination and a top-selling supplement in Europe, now available in North America.

Bromelain, an anti-inflammatory and digestive aid used primarily in Japan, Hawaii and Taiwan.

Those who have suffered heart attacks and strokes while taking Bextra or Vioxx can explore legal remedies at www.painkillerinfo.com or by calling 800-320-5081.